Oum hashim main restaurant — Restaurant in Luxor City

This place is an absolute tourist trap to avoid at all costs. Right in front of the entrance, they display a menu with prices in Arabic, which I could clearly understand. However, they presented us with English menus listing prices three to four times higher! To make matters worse, they brought me a salad loaded with both chicken and beef, despite my explicit order for a vegetarian option. The waiter insisted I had ordered it and that I had to accept it, a truly bizarre situation considering that this same waiter had earlier noted our preference for no meat and even commented, "ooh, you are vegetarian" I ended up giving the unwanted meat to the numerous stray cats and dogs roaming the area, which, unfortunately, is also true for the abundant flies. Upon leaving, I informed them that I understood Arabic and was aware of their deceptive pricing. The waiter's only response was a shrug and the excuse, "I'm only working here! I'm not the owner!" So, how did we stumble into this disastrous restaurant? We were exploring the vibrant atmosphere of the old market, El Souk, and paused at a spice shop. We asked for 100g of cardamom, and the vendor, without even glancing at a scale, simply poured some into a small plastic bag and declared it to be precisely 100g. I questioned his lack of a scale, but he swore by God that the amount was accurate. At that moment, the Quranic verses came to mind: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful. ﴿١﴾ وَيْلٌ لِلْمُطَفِّفِينَ Woe to the defrauders. ﴿٢﴾ الَّذِينَ إِذَا اكْتَالُوا عَلَى النَّاسِ يَسْتَوْفُونَ Those who, when they take a measure from people, demand in full. ﴿٣﴾ وَإِذَا كَالُوهُمْ أَوْ وَزَنُوهُمْ يُخْسِرُونَ But when they measure or weigh to others, they cheat. Trusting his oath, I took his word for it. However, upon returning home to Granite Bay, California, and weighing the cardamom, the bag contained a mere 47g. He had brazenly cheated us, violating the very principles of his own religion and culture. Seeking a recommendation for a good local restaurant, I asked this same spice merchant. He enthusiastically suggested a place owned by his cousin and offered to take us there. On our way, his behavior became even more unsettling. He was openly shoplifting pistachios and other snacks from various shops along our route. When I questioned his actions, asking why he was stealing, he nonchalantly replied, "No, they are my friends!" This bizarre introduction, unfortunately, led us directly to the tourist trap described earlier, where the dishonesty continued with inflated prices and unwanted meat dishes. Despite the unfortunate experiences at the tourist trap and the dishonest spice shop, our culinary journey through Egypt wasn't entirely bleak. We discovered that the most authentic and delightful food, coupled with truly genuine hospitality, was found in establishments frequented solely by locals. The key was venturing off the beaten tourist paths and seeking out those hidden gems where English menus were nowhere to be found. These were the places where the rich flavors of Egyptian cuisine truly shone, untainted by the desire to overcharge or mislead. If you're looking for an unforgettable and honest experience, that's where...

Warning: Avoid Oum Hashem Restaurant in Luxor!

We were three people (my girlfriend, our Egyptian tour guide, and myself) and had one of the worst dining experiences ever.

The meat was dry, tough, and absolutely not worth the money. Worse, they deliberately brought out a bunch of extra dishes we never ordered — and then tried to charge us a small fortune for them. We assumed the sides were complimentary (because they just dumped them on the table without saying a word), but no — everything was charged separately and heavily overpriced.

Even our Egyptian guide was shocked by the outrageous bill. When I challenged the charges, I found out they had the nerve to add 300 EGP for a salad we never even asked for. More “extras” we didn’t order were sneakily added to inflate the total.

Only after a lot of arguing did they grudgingly lower the price a bit. But the damage was done — I will never set foot in this place again, and I strongly advise everyone else to stay far, far away.

For the same money, I can eat in Germany (!) at excellent Syrian or Turkish restaurants with much better food, bigger portions, and actual honesty.

Pro tip: Only order exactly from the menu with clearly listed prices, and if they try to scam you, don’t hesitate to threaten to call the police. It’s the only thing that makes...

Disappointing Experience Despite Good Food – Beware of Overpricing and Hidden Fees!

We recently dined at Oun Hashem Old Main Restaurant, and while the food was undeniably good and the server was very friendly, the overall experience left a bad taste in our mouths—mostly due to the pricing and deceptive charges.

First, the menu prices were hugely inflated, with dishes costing 4-5 times more than similar restaurants in the area. It felt like blatant overcharging, especially considering the type of food being served.

On top of that, the menu included a 17% service charge, something we haven’t seen at any other restaurant around here. To make matters worse, when the bill arrived, we were told that the service charge was actually tax, which felt misleading. Despite this, the staff still hassled us for an additional tip, creating an awkward and uncomfortable situation.

Overall, while the food and service were good, the pricing tactics and lack of transparency ruined the experience. There are plenty of other places nearby where you can enjoy the same food for a fraction of the price—without the unnecessary hassle. I wouldn’t recommend dining here unless you’re prepared for steep prices and...