Visit this outdoor eatery for a unique dining experience surrounded by Cairo’s artisans and potters. HanaDays is the brainchild of Hanadi Al-Khanji and Waleed Ads, serving home-cooked goodness fuelled by love. Relying heavily on Al-Khanji’s Palestinian-Jordanian roots, the menu also boasts global dishes with a twist. We visited on a Thursday evening and enjoyed a traditional Levantine meal.
Signature Dishes
Fettat Jagh, Penne Rose with Shrimps, Maklouba. HanaDays has a rotating menu of daily main dishes, salads, and soups, while a fixed menu of appetizers and sandwiches is available every day.
Dishes Sampled
Upon arrival, we were led by a friendly waiter to the rustic table adorned with flowers and attractive pottery serving ware from Darb’s talented artists. We enjoyed fresh Hibiscus juice while waiting for our creamy zucchini and potato soup, perfect to warm a chilly evening. After wiping the bowls clean, we were offered a large serving of tabouleh salad with quinoa. The tabouleh was very tangy, just the way we like it, and got our taste buds prepared for the next amazing dish: Kofta Wrapped in Vine Leaves. We have never heard of this type of appetizer, but it was divine. Round portions of high-quality beef wrapped in vine leaf and topped with a slice of potato and tomato and drizzled in a tangy dressing. The dish came served with a portion of rice to cut down on the tang a bit for those who needed to, but we could have easily gobbled down at least 3 more.
Next came a portion of Jordanian Bruschetta comprised of Italian bread slices topped with feta cheese, olive oil, zaatar, and chopped tomato. Our main dish was a traditional Palestinian meal of Masakhan; marinated chicken breast and thigh in bay leaf, pure olive oil, onion and sumac served on tabon (traditional Palestinian flat bread). The oven-baked chicken was tender and flavorful and the portion was big enough for two.
Other Menu Items that Appealed & Beverage Options
Each day brings a new daily menu, but the fixed appetizers menu looks amazing and could be a meal in itself. Chicken Livers in Pomegranate Dressing, Spring Rolls, Hummos, Sambosak, Alayet Bandora.
Fresh juices, soft drinks, and hot beverages are on offer.
Décor & Ambience
The dining area is an L-shaped outdoor patio space under colorful domes and fenced in by hedges. HanaDays has a perfect vantage point for peeking into the surrounding workshops of Darb1718, and the simple and quirky furnishings give the sense of being in another era. Refurbished antique sewing stands serve as tables with rickety Shisha café-style chairs and all the serving ware is pottery from the workshops of Darb. The large kitchen is encased in windows, so you can get a peek at the action happening inside.
The ambience is very peaceful and laid-back with ambient music playing on a speaker. Perfect for a weekend lunch or chill dinner with friends.
Clientele Mix & Price Range
A younger crowd who work in the area pop in for a quick bite, young couples enjoy a date while checking out what is on offer in Darb, and a whole host of different clientele drives in from all over town… it’s worth it!
The price range is inexpensive considering the quality.
Top Tips!
Brunch is offered on Fridays and Saturdays from 12 pm to 5 pm. Private dinners can be hosted for 20 to 25 persons, and cooking classes may be on the horizon.
Contact Information
Opening hours: 12 pm to 8pm as supplies last. Calling ahead is recommended in the evenings.
Address: Darb1718, Old Cairo.
Tel: 0127 505 7850
Facebook: HanadaysKitchen
Instagram: hanadays_
