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

When in Dahab,
one is always confused about where to dine, mainly because most restaurants sport the
same exact menu but in different book covers. The Kitchen isn’t one of those
places, though.

Located along the
famous Mashraba walkway, The Kitchen is a three-storey Asian eatery located just a
couple of metres past the wooden bridge. The restaurant isn’t anything fancy, but in
comparison to most venues in Dahab, its upright dining furniture and tables are
a welcomed change. All three floors are furnished similarly, with basic wooden
chairs and matching dining tables dressed in white tablecloths.

The menu at The
Kitchen can be a little overwhelming to a newbie. The heavy, bound menu lists
items from all over the Asian continent, with a specific section for each type
of cuisine; Indian, Thai and Chinese. If none of these cuisines match
your taste buds, don’t fret: a little red booklet is handed with the giant menu,
boasting a tasty selection of sushi.

For starters,
we opted for some sushi and soup. The spider roll was absolutely brilliant and
crunchy on both the inside and out: made up of avocado, tempura shrimp, rice
and salmon, the roll was wrapped up nice and tight. The greatest thing about eating
sushi by the sea is that you’re sure that the contents are fresh. The hot and
sour seafood soup (30LE) was fresh too but a little too spicy for our taste, and
had us calling for a delicious order of hot butter baked naan (10LE) from the
Indian menu. Steamed Chinese dumplings (15LE) seemed to douse the flame;
alternatively you can enjoy them with a sauce of your choice.

An order of
crispy fried duck with pancakes from the Chinese menu (60LE) came as crunchy and
as fresh as ever. Served with soft mini-crêpes, onions and hoisin sauce, the
mini-duck tortilla made for a tasty combo. Not overwhelmed with any sort of
spice, the duck was perfect for dipping in whatever sauce you prefer. A side
dish of noodles is always in order, and the glass noodles with chicken, soaked
in soy sauce and topped with shredded chicken and vegetables, were a great fit
(25LE).

While this
eatery may be a little further from the Dahab waterside than other restaurants such as Ali
Baba or Friends, the second and third floor both have balcony tables
with great views of the Red Sea. The first floor’s outdoor area gives you a
chance to watch people stroll along the walkway.

The Kitchen serves a lot of
beverages, including fresh juice, but alcohol is not on the menu. You
have to bring your own here, but don’t worry; they’ll serve it up bouchon-free.