You can spot an Egyptian in any airport across the world, and it’s not because of the usual loud phone calls or the fact that they clapped when the flight landed. No, it’s something more subtle. Whether you’re in Heathrow, Charles de Gaulle, or LAX, the telltale sign is their overly stuffed suitcase, labeled with “fragile” stickers—and what’s inside? A carefully concealed stash of Egyptian food.

They act like it’s no big deal, walking through customs with a smile that says “Nothing to see here”, but in reality, they’re secretly sweating bullets. Because the real challenge isn’t the flight, the jet lag, or the fact that they forgot their charger. It’s the food they’re hiding. And trust me, they’ll do whatever it takes to get that roumy cheese and baladi bread through the scanner.

You know what they say, you can take an Egyptian out of Egypt, but you can’t take Egypt out of an Egyptian—especially when it comes to food. Because nothing, and I mean nothing, tastes the same outside of Egypt. Sure, you can find fancy restaurants, gourmet this, and fusion that, but let’s be real, none of it hits the spot like a melted roumi sandwich in fresh baladi bread, and no amount of that fancy avocado toast is going to fix it.

So, if you’re traveling abroad and wondering what to take with you, here’s a list of food that just tastes like home. However, SceneEats is not responsible for any customs debacles, confiscated bags, or awkward conversations with airport security regarding the contents of your luggage.

Baladi Bread

Best From: ‘Ay Forn Gamb El Beit’

Your freezer definitely has trust issues after the 17th loaf of baladi bread shoved inside, but honestly, no one’s complaining. It’s the kind of bread that holds so much power and nostalgia that even if you’re 10,000 miles away, you’ll bite into it and somehow feel like you’re back home, sitting at the family table.

Roumy Cheese

Best From: El Hawary

No foreign fancy cheese will hit like this. Brie? Camembert? Nah, roumy cheese is home—the taste of Egypt in every bite. You could put it on anything and suddenly it’s the best thing you’ve ever eaten. Forget the wine pairings, just give me my roumy and call it a day.

Feseekh & Renga

Best From: El Haloty

Make sure it’s wrapped properly, or that smell will follow you from the airport to your hotel, and let’s be real—it won’t just trigger airport security, it’ll probably call in the national guard. Pack it tight, or you’ll be left explaining to officials why your bag smells like a crime scene. But once you finally tear open that bag and take that first bite, it’s all worth it, because no amount of awkward security checks can stop you from enjoying the taste of home.

Hawawshy

Best From: Al Refaie

Perfect meal? Check. Perfect snack? Check. Perfect food to settle all family arguments over? Absolutely. Hawawshy is a little bite of perfection, wrapped in crunchy, spiced bread, and honestly, it never gets old. Once you eat it, no other meal will ever feel as satisfying.

Mesh (Old Cheese)

Best From: Katilo

Egyptians know that no trip is complete without sneaking a bit of mesh in their luggage. This aged cheese is practically an Egyptian delicacy that no one, not even customs, can take away from you. The magic that happens when you eat with tomatoes and onions is something no foreigner, with their fancy wine pairings, can ever understand.

Batt & Hamam

Best From: ‘Ay Farargy Gamb El Beit’

Now, you could end up in a situation like Hammam in Amsterdam, where Hammam tried to grab a duck from a canal and got caught in a whole feather-filled debacle. Instead of risking an impromptu duck chase or becoming besties with angry birds, people wisely opt to smuggle Batu and Hamam from Egypt. Not only is the quality miles ahead, but the hygiene? Top-tier, my friend. Forget the canal drama, and enjoy your premium duck and pigeon without the need for a duck-taming career.

Mekhalel

Best From: Mekhalelaya, El Abassiya

A cultural experience in a jar, mekhalel has the magical ability to make anything you eat instantly better—even if it’s just a sad sandwich at 2 AM. One bite, and suddenly, that bland meal transforms into a full-on Egyptian feast with all the spice and flair it’s been desperately missing.

Basterma

Best From: Share’ El Geban, Manshia, Alexandria

Bresaola who? No amount of Italian cured meat will ever hit like basterma. This spiced, cured meat has a bold attitude and refuses to be overshadowed by any charcuterie board. If you’re not eating basterma on a lazy afternoon, with bread, olives, and no intention of leaving the house, are you even living?

Foul

Best From: California Garden

When you land, open it up, heat it up, and your soul is immediately fed. Canned foul isn’t just a snack, it’s a mood. No matter where you are in the world, a can of foul will take you straight to the heart of Cairo. You don’t need fancy gadgets, just open the can, and you’re ready to conquer the world (or at least breakfast).

Frozen Molokhia

Best From: Sunbulah

Of course, you smuggle that frozen molokhia, but the real challenge is cooking it abroad—making your entire apartment smell like garlic, while you desperately try to recreate that perfect shah’a, but ultimately fail. It may not taste as good as back home, and your neighbors may file noise (and smell?) complaints because of your cooking “struggles,” but hey, it’s worth the try.

Basbousa

Best From: Mandarine Koueidar

With basbousa, you can flex on all the foreigners who think they’ve tasted good dessert. It’s the kind of sweet, simple joy that’ll have them questioning their life choices and wondering how they’ve been settling for mediocre sweets all these years.

Pro tip: If you’re taking basbousa on your travels, have your local dessert shop pack it in a tinned can to survive the journey. That way, you won’t end up with a sad, crumbled mess—because a broken basbousa is like a broken heart, and no one’s got time for that kind of heartbreak.

Dates

Best From: Al Tahhan

When you carry dates, you’re not just carrying fruit, you’re carrying a piece of home. They’re small, but they pack so much cultural power that you could probably build an entire civilization with them. Try explaining that to customs, and watch them wonder if they just stumbled upon Egypt’s most valuable export.

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