Nubian House — Restaurant in Al Baairat Village

Fantastic food and friendliness, but dubious services from a 'friend' which cause me to give the place 4 stars instead of 5. Read on!

As everyone else has said, the food is excellent. Authentic and delicious. Be sure and pop by for a legit wonderful breakfast if you get the chance. No set prices, so a bit awkward when paying. Have an idea as far as meal costs go beforehand.

The Friend

I was staying nearby and had dined at Nubian House previously. Hajjaj (the owner) saw me walking by his place one afternoon and said hello. I was headed to find a taxi for a quick visit to the Valley of the Queens. He invited me to sit and we sipped tea and chatted a bit. He asked of my plans and I mentioned catching a lift. He said he had a friend who drives and could help.

Aside--EVERYONE in Egypt has a friend.

I wasn't really thrilled because this usually means higher prices, but I didn't want to be rude. He phoned his friend.

The man was nice enough and listened to my plan--drive to the Valley of the Queens (15 or so mins), wait about half an hour, then drive me to Medinet Habu (5 minutes) and leave me there. Done. The gentleman said of course he could help, he would be right over. he finally answered after my second time asking his price... I figured this could be done via a street taxi for the equivalent of US$7 or $8 (120EGP). His quote? US$30.

Side note--an all-day taxi, from 6am until whenever, maybe 4 or 5pm, visiting any sites you want in Luxor can easily be had for US$30. I did, in fact, with a friendly driver via a Trip Advisor recommendation. So this friend's US$30 quote was truly astronomical.

I said that was crazy and offered US$10. Cue annoying bargaining. I refused anything higher than US$10, which was still a good fare, all for an hour's work. Eventually he said okay, reluctantly, and we would go. "Ten dollars?" "Yes." Hajjaj said he doesn't set the prices, he just connects people who could use one another. They're just friends, not in business together....

The guy comes by--'Mr Kind', is his name. Mr Kind starts talking up his family shop and how he would take me for a visit later. Then he starts telling me the restaurant near Medinet Habu is really bad and makes people sick. The usual BS. This is the same place with impeccable Google reviews, is mentioned in guidebooks, etc. Not that I was even planning to eat there! Conveniently, Mr Kind just happened to know a great local place with excellent food! In fact, we would stop by so he can say hello to his friend. He pulls the car up in front of a random restaurant. Did he say hello? Sure. He also probably ensured they recognized me in case I stopped by later. Tout/taxi driver commissions, you see...

After all this we get to the Valley of the Queens. I go in and do my thing. I return after about 40 minutes and tell Mr Kind I am not interested in his shop and just want to go to Medinet Habu. So off we go. Cue more restaurant falsehoods and misinformation. It's only a few minutes away, so we arrive quickly. I am done with Mr Kind, who obviously wants more business out of me (for obvious reasons). He gives me his card and says I should call him when I am done and he will pick me up. Yeah, sure...

I head in to Medinet Habu to finish out my afternoon.

From the second Hajjaj's friend got on the phone to the second I stepped out of his taxi, what an annoying experience. Sorry to say, Hajjaj--this reflects poorly upon you and makes me less likely to return for your admittedly excellent food. Please consider this next time you offer up a friend to rip off a tourist--whether you're aware of his ridiculous price ask or not.

I enjoyed the food at Nubian House and chatting with Hajjaj. But whatever he has going on with his friend is a joke. Mr Kind is a rip-off artist (like many others in Egypt!). Do patronize the restaurant for a meal, but be VERY suspect about hooking up with any friends...

I read the reviews on Google and I had to give this place a try. The reviews did not disappoint, nor did the family! My whole experience in Egypt thus far has not been the best because of all the aggressiveness from hustlers and scams that come from the streets. But at last! I finally come across a genuine, happy, transparent, loving, generous, and honest family! They treat you like a family and cook your food with soul! Took 1.5 hours to make, because everything is made from scratch. There is no menu; you choose from fish, rabbit, cow meat, chicken. The food is very very fresh. We even harvested some veggies together from their own farm. Their relatives that lives nearby provide the fish, meat, and rabbit as well. A lot of the restaurants/hotels I have been in Egypt are not cooking with much love as this place. They even provided free shisha (hookah) before our meal! Everything is organic and you can taste the freshness and quality of the food. I was surprised and worried that we couldn’t finish the amount of food presented to us, it was a lot! But it was so good that we finished it (besides the rice, which was used for their pigeons and their dogs afterwards). They incorporated great spices in the food which was very flavorful. Not just the best food in Luxor, but it’s the best experience we had in Luxor. We even bought dried hibiscus (for tea), and handicrafts made by their son. I wish I can meet more lovely people like them in the rest of my journey in Egypt. Skip the touristy restaurants and tasteless food from expensive hotels, and support the village people of Luxor. I wish this family the best and I hope their family...

Although listed as a hotel, it's not. It is actually an amazing restaurant, in the home of a beautiful family. They set the restaurant up 3 years ago to help them pay for their 2 daughter's educations. So by eating there you are also helping 2 girls to live their dreams. But believe me, you will get back far more than you give. There is no menu, the dishes cooked by the lady of the house are based on what the father has fished that day, and the produce that is ready to be picked from his garden. We ate there 3 times, twice for dinner, and once for breakfast, and the food was amazing. Nile fish, cooked to perfection, with crispy skin and tender white meat, and so tasty. The dishes that accompanied the main were varied and delicious: Sanyet El Batates, (potatoes in tomato sauce), fresh grilled vegetables, Egyptian rice with vermicelli, cooked to nutty perfection, a tasty salad and fresh cooked bread. We were stuffed to the gills. We also had breakfast: the mother makes the best Falafel I've ever tasted, and she makes her own creamy cheese from the milk that their cow produces. We had a tour of Mr Hagag's garden, met his cows, his chickens and the horse. He grows everything from mangoes to spring onions. He even gave a large bag of dried hibiscus flowers that make the most delicious hibiscus tea I've ever had. I've eaten in restaurants all over the world. I live in France and am accustomed to great food, and I can honestly say this was one of the best and most authentic restaurants I've ever had the pleasure to visit. Thank you for inviting us into your home. Till next...