Gs Is Filling The Bagel-Sized Hole In Cairo’s Culinary Soul

When my parents flew in to visit me in Cairo, they asked the usual question: What should we bring you? My answer was immediate and embarrassingly desperate: Bagels. Proper, chewy, New York-Style bagels. Because while Cairo may have conquered most cuisines, there has long existed a bagel-shaped void in the city’s foodscape.

Apparently, I wasn’t alone in my yearning. Sisters Naira and Hajar Abo Elnaga felt it too, and decided to do something about it. Enter G’s Bagels & Coffee, a one-stop-shop where bagels are the main event, not just an afterthought.

The idea began on an innocent trip to New York. Hajar Alhoussein Abo Elnaga was completing the quintessential New York activity - waiting in line for a bagel - and she had an epiphany. Cairo was missing out. Big time. One phone call later, Naira, Hajar’s sister, had booked her own ticket to New York. Together, they began their doughy revolution.

Taking inspiration from the iconic cross sections of New York’s stacked bagel sandwiches, the menu was crafted in collaboration with Chef Omar Abdelaziz. It’s all about bold flavours and visual drama. Think Tropical Roast Beef Bagel (Naira’s favourite) or the Falafel Bagel that stole the show this Ramadan. And for the bagel purists, there’s an entire lineup of schmears - those dreamy cream cheese spreads - to further enforce the authenticity of their New York style offerings.

“We knew we wanted to create the best flavors, finest quality ingredients, and uniquely crafted layers,” Hajar and Naira tell SceneEats. “We engineered our menu to suit every time of the day.” Because of course bagels should never be limited to the province of ‘breakfast food’ - they’re an all-day affair.

Thanks to Naira’s graphic design background, G’s is dripping in visual flair too. From the vibrant branding to the store’s punchy interior, every detail reflects the brand’s personality: “fun, young, joyful, and vibrant.”

And yes, there’s more to come. G’s is planning on spreading their gospel of carbs and cream cheese to bagel-starved locations across Egypt and beyond. The bagel revolution is coming. Schmear the word.