Mad about Gad

No, not the plastic wrap. This place rocks and is a major food chain here. There's nothing else like it - here's why:

The food is great but even more so, the variety of food is really good for Cairo. Move over falafel, back seat fuul, Gad offers all kinds of eats such as pizza, shwarmas in a toasted bun, rice plates including fish, variety sizzling meat dish on top of fries, kibda (liver) sandwich, desserts made in front of you and my favorite, Sherpa Kudor (Vegetable Soup) with limon!

What's crazy about this place is it's always busy - I mean, back to back people all the time. There's no organized way of getting the food; you press your way towards the cashier first, tell him what you want, pay, then take your ticket to the next long counter to order your food; soup is a quick lesson at a different counter in the back. People are always lined up at the counters, arm stretched far and long to show their ticket to the food preparer in hopes theirs will be next. If you're short, forget it - you're better off with the cats as they find better luck on the floor. People crowd out in front too - it looks like a night club just let out!

People eat in a frenzy there too. Taste your food? I highly doubt it for as fast as they eat, they have no idea how to explain it. With that in mind, these places have tiny spots for people to eat. Oh you can sit upstairs but for a hefty price, apparently. Taxes (if you sit down to eat) are too much for most Egyptians to care about sitting down while eating. So instead they take to the 3, yes 3, small 2 ft. diameter round plastic bar tables that center the joint and they stand at them, not without an ocassional bump, while throwing down their delicious chow. If you don't fancy that, you can sit outside on the sidewalk curbes (you know the ones, the tall ones) on the busy thoroughfare, 26th of July - yea, nice and quiet (I'm joking!).

However, the food smells amazing, is certainly fresh and fast. The price is special too - two hearty meals for no more than 20 EL ($4).