Cairo Station Café

Ramla Ahmed

2 months ago

★★★★★

I ordered the chicken plate and my husband ordered the beef shawarma. We ordered takeout, so I can only speak to the service and food, but the staff were kind. For the price, I expected a larger portion of rice with the chicken plate, and the chicken could have used a bit more flavor. The beef shawarma was much better though, great taste and a generous amount of protein in the wrap.

Melvin Dizon

2 months ago

★★★★★

I recently visited Cairo Station Café in downtown Oakland along Telegraph Avenue, an area known for its vibrant mix of international restaurants and student-driven energy due to its proximity to several cultural and academic institutions. Cairo Station Café adds a distinctive Egyptian culinary presence to the neighborhood, offering dishes that are not commonly found across most American dining scenes. The atmosphere feels casual and welcoming, very much in the spirit of a street café you might encounter throughout cities in Egypt. The space is modest but lively, with a relaxed environment that works well for quick meals, casual dining, or stopping in for coffee and conversation. The setting emphasizes comfort and accessibility rather than formal dining. The menu focuses on Egyptian comfort foods and popular street-style dishes. Items like koshari, falafel, shawarma-style sandwiches, and grilled meats reflect the everyday foods commonly enjoyed in Cairo. The flavors are bold and layered, often built around lentils, rice, chickpeas, herbs, and warm spices that create satisfying and filling meals. Service during the visit felt friendly and approachable. Staff interactions were relaxed and welcoming, contributing to the neighborhood café feel that makes the space approachable for both locals and visitors. From a global travel perspective, Cairo Station Café reminded me of the small urban cafés I have visited in Cairo and Alexandria where simple ingredients, bold spices, and quick service come together to create deeply satisfying meals.

Julianne Kapner

4 months ago

★★★★★

We ordered the falafel as takeout, and it was absolutely phenomenal. The falafel itself was moist and flavorful, not too dry or salty, the pita was fresh and soft, and the other toppings (lettuce, tomato) we're fresh and plentiful. It came with seasoned fries and ketchup, garlic sauce, and chili sauce. For only $15 this was a good deal. The garlic sauce warrants its own shout-out: it was absolutely fantastic. The place is very small for dine-in but very atmospheric and cute. Service was fast and professional. Highly recommend - some of the best falafel I think I've ever had.