The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

The Land of the Rising Sun is famous for more than its technological advancements; Japan is also big on its sweets and baked goods. In fact, some Japanese dessert delicacies are probably one of the better-known features of the country’s culinary culture. In recent years, Asian-inspired foods started making an impact on global consumers. For example, here in Egypt, everyone was fascinated with the ever so wobbly Japanese cheesecake that was introduced to the Egyptian food scene a few years ago by brands including Keki. However, Keki did not stop there and expanded with a more extensive assortment of specialised Japanese baked goods.

Keki first started as a truck, but a month ago welcomed customers to its brand new store in Galleria40, offering baked goods, speciality coffee, and an array of Japanese pancakes. Galleria40 is a spacious high-end mall and business hub with a luxurious yet laid-back vibe that suits the Keki brand. As soon as you walk into the store, you see the minimal Japanese-style ambience and aesthetics. The tiny details made the difference in the overall vibe, from the mural to the Japanese books and bonsai plants.

Keki is self-serve, so we headed over to the counter and started ordering; we took a look at the menu and the baked goods that were delicately displayed alongside some coffee drip gadgets. We decided to try a bit of everything, so we got one Iced Keki Latte (60 LE) and one Cold Brew (60 LE) bottle to go. Both coffees were delicious; the iced latte was the right balance of good strong coffee and sweetened milk, and the cold brew was cold, flavourful yet not bitter, and the bottle was convenient to take away to finish later.

As we patiently waited to get our Tiramsi Pancake (160 LE), we tried the Pistachio Cheesecake (75 LE) and the Cheese Tart (50 LE). Having tried their Original Cheesecake before, the pistachio version was not really a hit; the cheesecake itself was fluffy, but the pistachio flavour was faint. As for the cheese tart; It was smoothly sweet with a hint of saltiness – perfect as a midday coffee snack or an afternoon delight. Last but not least, our pancake arrived looking fantastic; the tiramisu pancake had two fluffy pancakes with cream, powder cocoa, and hints of coffee. The pancake tasted as good as it looked; however, if you have a sweet tooth, you are better off with their other flavours like Custard, Salted Caramel, Strawberry, or Chocolate. The tiramisu cream itself wasn’t very sweet, so it would be perfect if you’re trying to watch your sugar intake or in the mood for a light dessert or brunch item.

Keki is undoubtedly an experience; from their signature desserts to their coffee, everything stands out. They are one of those brands that seem to be on the right track, and we can’t wait to see what else they have planned. Their prices might be on the more expensive side, but very much worth it.