Seafood · Egyptian
⭐ 4.4 (575 Google reviews)
What it is
Friends Restaurant is a no-frills seafood kitchen in Mashraba, the residential southern stretch of Dahab where prices stay closer to local rates than tourist-strip rates. The format is straightforward: a chilled display of whole fish and seafood by the door, you point to what you want, and the kitchen grills, bakes or fries it to order. It draws a steady mix of long-stay backpackers, dive-school staff finishing afternoon shifts and Egyptian families who know the neighbourhood. Expect plastic chairs, fluorescent light and a focus on the plate rather than the setting. If you want sea views and white linen, look at the seafront in El Masbat instead. If you want fresh fish without padding the bill, this is the room.
Menu
The menu is built around the fish counter rather than a printed list. Daily catch includes whatever has come up from the Red Sea that morning, sold by weight and cooked your way, usually with rice, salad, tahini and bread alongside. Calamari, shrimp and prawns rotate in when stocks allow. A short Egyptian section covers soups, grilled chicken and a few meat dishes for non-fish eaters. There is no online menu and no app delivery; check the day's selection in person or call ahead on +20 109 170 6565. Vegetarian sides exist but the kitchen is built for seafood.
Sample prices: Fish by weight (per kilo) 350–600 EGP · Calamari plate 180–280 EGP · Shrimp plate 250–400 EGP · Grilled chicken 120–180 EGP · Rice and salad sides 30–60 EGP · Soft drinks 25–40 EGP
Practical
| Reservations | Walk-in only. For larger groups or to check the day's catch, call +20 109 170 6565. |
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| Payment | Cash is safest. Card acceptance is not confirmed in their listing, so bring EGP. |
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| Suitable for | budget travellers · solo diners · backpackers · seafood lovers · long-stay residents · halal-only diners |
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| Accessibility | Casual indoor seating with a small outdoor area. Step-free at the entrance from the street; no dedicated wheelchair facilities listed. |
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The basics
How to get there
Mashraba, Dahab — see our Dahab map guide for the area layout.
Worth it?
Budget-friendly seafood spot popular with locals and backpackers. Choose your fish from the display and have it grilled, baked or fried. No frills, great value. Reliable choice — not a destination, but worth a stop if you're nearby.
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FAQ
Where is Friends Restaurant in Dahab?
Friends Restaurant is in Mashraba, the southern residential neighbourhood of Dahab, set back from the main seafront. It sits roughly 10 minutes' walk south of the El Masbat tourist strip and is easy to reach by tuk-tuk from anywhere in town.
What does Friends Restaurant serve?
Friends Restaurant serves Red Sea seafood and Egyptian grills. The core format is a fish-counter pick: choose your fish, calamari or shrimp from the chilled display and the kitchen grills, bakes or fries it. A short selection of soups, chicken and side plates rounds out the menu.
How much does Friends Restaurant cost?
A full seafood meal at Friends Restaurant typically lands between 250 and 500 EGP per person, depending on which fish you pick and how heavy the cut is. Sides such as rice, salad and tahini are 30–60 EGP each, and chicken plates start lower than fish.
Is Friends Restaurant cash only?
Plan to pay cash at Friends Restaurant. Card acceptance is not confirmed in the venue's public listing, and small Mashraba kitchens often run on EGP cash. Withdraw before you go; the closest ATMs are along the main El Masbat strip.
Does Friends Restaurant take reservations?
Friends Restaurant operates as walk-in. There is no formal booking system, but for groups or to check whether a specific fish is in that day, call ahead on +20 109 170 6565. Tables turn over quickly, so a short wait is the worst case at peak hours.
What are Friends Restaurant's opening hours?
Friends Restaurant is open every day from 11:00 to 23:00. The kitchen takes orders until close, and the busiest windows are roughly 13:00–15:00 for a late dive lunch and 19:00–22:00 for dinner. There is no listed weekly closing day.
Is Friends Restaurant good for vegans?
Friends Restaurant is not built around vegan diners. The kitchen is fish- and meat-led, and most cooked sides involve dairy or animal stock. Vegetable salads, bread and tahini are available, but plant-based travellers will find better options at dedicated cafes in El Masbat or Lighthouse.
Is Friends Restaurant halal?
Friends Restaurant serves halal food. The menu is rooted in Egyptian seafood and grills with no pork or alcohol on the list, which matches the practice of most kitchens across Dahab. Confirm details directly with the team if you have specific requirements.
Is Friends Restaurant good for kids?
Friends Restaurant works for families with kids, especially older children comfortable with whole fish. The kitchen can grill plain fillets, chicken or rice for fussier eaters, and the dining room is informal enough that noise is not an issue. There are no high chairs listed.
How fresh is the fish at Friends Restaurant?
Fish at Friends Restaurant is sold from a daily counter rather than a frozen menu. The selection rotates with what comes off Red Sea boats that morning, which is also why some species are missing on slow days. Ask the staff what landed that day before you commit.
Is Friends Restaurant expensive?
Friends Restaurant is one of the cheaper places to eat fresh seafood in Dahab. It carries a single-dollar price-range tag, with mains pricing well below seafront restaurants in El Masbat. Costs scale with fish weight, so a smaller cut keeps a meal under 300 EGP.
How do I get to Friends Restaurant from the Dahab seafront?
From the El Masbat seafront, walk south along the lagoon road into Mashraba for roughly 10–15 minutes, or take a tuk-tuk for 20–40 EGP. Drivers know the spot by name, and Google Maps places it at 28.4979, 34.5174 if you prefer to navigate yourself.
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