El Gouna Gets Its First Korean Street Food Spot With Garu's
From bao to banchan, Garu's becomes the first Korean street food concept in El Gouna, answering a growing demand for casual Asian dining in Egypt's luxury beach town.
Jun 22, 2025
El Gouna's food scene is expanding its palate with the arrival of Garu's, the town's first-ever Korean street food restaurant. From bao buns to rice bowls and crunchy banchan, the new spot offers playful, casual dishes that have been missing from the beach town's limited Asian offerings.
Founder Omar Khattab, a Maadi resident, said the idea came naturally: 'Being a Maadi, I've always been surrounded by Korean restaurants and culture, so I thought why not bring that to El Gouna?" he tells SceneEats.
He saw a clear gap in the local market and acted on it.
'The timing felt right,' Kattab added. 'Asian food has really been swiping the market—mochi, boba, bao buns—so I think now is the time for Asian food culture to shine.' He also noted a wave of creativity in Egypt's dining scene, saying, 'There've been so many pioneers lately in the food scene, and it's truly wonderful to see how innovative we've become.'
While sushi and poke have long defined the town's interpretation of Asian cuisine, Garu's introduces Korean comfort food to a more laid-back, street-inspired setting.
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El Gouna Gets Its First Korean Street Food Spot With Garu's
From bao to banchan, Garu's becomes the first Korean street food concept in El Gouna, answering a growing demand for casual Asian dining in Egypt's luxury beach town. Jun 22, 2025 El Gouna's food scene is expanding its palate with the arrival of Garu's, the town's first-ever Korean street food restaurant. From bao buns to rice bowls and crunchy banchan, the new spot offers playful, casual dishes that have been missing from the beach town's limited Asian offerings. Founder Omar Khattab, a Maadi resident, said the idea came naturally: 'Being a Maadi, I've always been surrounded by Korean restaurants and culture, so I thought why not bring that to El Gouna?" he tells SceneEats. He saw a clear gap in the local market and acted on it. 'The timing felt right,' Kattab added. 'Asian food has really been swiping the market—mochi, boba, bao buns—so I think now is the time for Asian food culture to shine.' He also noted a wave of creativity in Egypt's dining scene, saying, 'There've been so many pioneers lately in the food scene, and it's truly wonderful to see how innovative we've become.' While sushi and poke have long defined the town's interpretation of Asian cuisine, Garu's introduces Korean comfort food to a more laid-back, street-inspired setting.
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