This Pasta Spot in Zamalek Started With an Argument

Some of our favourite restaurant finds don’t come from hype or big openings. They come from a lunchtime scroll on a delivery app. That’s how we found Zamalek's Parm at SceneEats. We ordered lunch once, then ordered again. So we did what we always do when something feels real: we went looking for the people behind it.Parm didn’t begin with a business plan. It began with an argument. Mohamed Zakaria, co-founder, remembers the moment clearly. “It was my birthday, and we were all arguing over who makes the best pasta,” he says. What started as a debate turned into action. “We ended up in the kitchen, everyone trying their own version, figuring out who does what.” By the end of the night, it clicked. “That’s when we realised that was the most time we’d ever spent together, and that’s how Parm started.”At the centre of Parm is Doaa El Mosalami, co-founder and head chef, whose relationship with food started long before the restaurant. “I’ve loved cooking since I was a little girl,” she says. “Even after getting married, I spent my time baking cakes and cupcakes for my kids and school events.” Wanting to take that passion further, she trained professionally at The Chefs’ Academy. When Parm began to take shape, Doaa was clear about who she was cooking for. “I use ingredients that feel right for Egyptians,” she explains.Seif Zakaria, who oversees operations, brings perspective shaped by years spent abroad. “We wanted to do fresh pasta and traced back where the best restaurants source their ingredients, reaching the source ourselves,” he says. “Everything is fresh, everything is high quality, without being too overpriced.”

Behind the scenes, the rest of the family keeps things running smoothly. Youssef manages IT, while Yassine handles accounts, making sure the kitchen stays the heart of it all.One dish, in particular, captures how Parm approaches food. Doaa points to the Shroomi Beef. “It’s different and unique,” she says. “It takes six hours to cook, and the flavours really develop over time.” It’s slow, simple, and thoughtful, much like the menu as a whole.

Right now, Parm exists in quiet pockets. You’ll find them at Gezira Sporting Club, with deliveries to nearby areas. And for Maadi residents, keep an eye out. Parm might be opening a spot near you very soon.