Winter Park, October 9, 2025
News Summary
The Cairo Express, a new food truck, has opened in Winter Park, offering traditional Egyptian street food. Operated by Gigi Elgharbawy and her children, the truck serves a range of dishes, including koshary, hawawshi, and shawarma, all made from scratch. Located behind the Chevron gas station at Wymore and Lee roads, The Cairo Express is noted for its emphasis on freshness and authenticity, making it a valuable addition to the local dining scene.
Winter Park
The Cairo Express is a food truck located at the corner of Wymore and Lee roads in Winter Park, behind the Chevron gas station and next to Salon Ciséaux. The truck is operated by Gigi Elgharbawy and her children, Iman, Mustafa, and Omar and serves a menu of traditional Egyptian street food with an emphasis on freshness and authenticity.
What’s most important
The food truck specializes in koshary, Egypt’s national dish, which includes black lentils, chickpeas, rice, macaroni, spaghetti, tangy tomato sauce, fried onions, and shatta (hot pepper sauce). Gigi’s koshary is priced at $10.99 and is noted for being made from scratch, with no shortcuts. The shatta is prepared using fried cayenne peppers, tomato sauce, and salt.
Other key menu items and prices
Another highlight from the menu is grilled hawawshi for $11.99, which features charred pita stuffed with seasoned ground beef. Baba ghanouj, a chunky dip with a deep charred flavor, is available for $7. The grape leaves dish is stuffed with rice seasoned with warm spices, parsley, dill, turmeric, and tomatoes, priced at $6. Mombar, tomatoey rice stuffed into beef casings, is offered at $8.99. Chicken and beef shawarma served over fragrant yellow rice costs $12.99, with shawarma prepared by pan-frying marinated meat shavings. On special occasions, molokhia is served at $16.99, consisting of an earthy stew made from corchorus olitorius (jute shrub) flavored with chicken broth and garlic oil, accompanied by grilled chicken and rice. A piece of baklava is available for $3.
Location and operations
The food truck is located at the corner of Wymore and Lee roads in Winter Park, behind the Chevron gas station and next to Salon Ciséaux. The food truck is operated by Gigi Elgharbawy and her children, Iman, Mustafa, and Omar. Gigi previously worked as a cook at Makani, Orlando’s only Egyptian restaurant, which permanently closed last summer after a change in ownership.
Quality and pricing
The menu prices reflect street food fare, and the overall review describes The Cairo Express as a treasure in Winter Park. The food truck emphasizes the freshness and authenticity of its meals.
Preparation and specialties
Koshary is prepared to include multiple grains and legumes topped with a tangy tomato sauce and crispy fried onions; the shatta that accompanies it is specially prepared using fried cayenne peppers, tomato sauce, and salt. Shawarma on the menu is prepared by pan-frying marinated meat shavings and serving them over fragrant yellow rice. Molokhia, offered on special occasions, is an earthy green stew made from corchorus olitorius (jute shrub) and served with grilled chicken and rice.
Context and background
The Cairo Express arrives in Winter Park in the wake of a closure in the local Egyptian dining scene: Gigi previously worked as a cook at Makani, Orlando’s only Egyptian restaurant, which permanently closed last summer after a change in ownership. The truck fills a niche for authentic Egyptian street food made from scratch in a casual, mobile setting.
Publication date
The article was published on October 8-14, 2025.
FAQ
- Where is The Cairo Express located?
- The Cairo Express is a food truck located at the corner of Wymore and Lee roads in Winter Park, behind the Chevron gas station and next to Salon Ciséaux.
- Who operates the food truck?
- The food truck is operated by Gigi Elgharbawy and her children, Iman, Mustafa, and Omar.
- What is the signature dish?
- The food truck specializes in koshary, Egypt’s national dish, which includes black lentils, chickpeas, rice, macaroni, spaghetti, tangy tomato sauce, fried onions, and shatta (hot pepper sauce).
- How much does koshary cost?
- Gigi’s koshary is priced at $10.99 and is noted for being made from scratch, with no shortcuts.
- How is the shatta made?
- The shatta is prepared using fried cayenne peppers, tomato sauce, and salt.
- What other menu items are available and what are their prices?
- Another highlight from the menu is grilled hawawshi for $11.99, which features charred pita stuffed with seasoned ground beef. Baba ghanouj, a chunky dip with a deep charred flavor, is available for $7. The grape leaves dish is stuffed with rice seasoned with warm spices, parsley, dill, turmeric, and tomatoes, priced at $6. Mombar, tomatoey rice stuffed into beef casings, is offered at $8.99. Chicken and beef shawarma served over fragrant yellow rice costs $12.99. On special occasions, molokhia is served at $16.99, consisting of an earthy stew made from corchorus olitorius (jute shrub) flavored with chicken broth and garlic oil, accompanied by grilled chicken and rice. A piece of baklava is available for $3.
- Is the food made from scratch?
- The food truck emphasizes the freshness and authenticity of its meals.
- When was this information published?
- The article was published on October 8-14, 2025.
Quick Features Chart
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Corner of Wymore and Lee roads in Winter Park, behind the Chevron gas station and next to Salon Ciséaux |
| Operators | Gigi Elgharbawy and her children, Iman, Mustafa, and Omar |
| Signature Dish | Koshary — $10.99 (black lentils, chickpeas, rice, macaroni, spaghetti, tangy tomato sauce, fried onions, shatta) |
| Other Notable Items | Grilled hawawshi $11.99; Baba ghanouj $7; Grape leaves $6; Mombar $8.99; Shawarma $12.99; Molokhia $16.99 (special); Baklava $3 |
| Food Style | Authentic Egyptian street food, made from scratch |
| Publication Date | October 8-14, 2025 |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Additional Resources
- Orlando Weekly: The Cairo Express Rolls into Winter Park
- Tasting Table: Best Mediterranean Restaurants in the US
- Orlando Weekly: Restaurant Reviews
- Wikipedia: Egyptian Cuisine
- Google Search: Egyptian Street Food
Author: STAFF HERE ORLANDO WRITER
ORLANDO STAFF WRITER The ORLANDO STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREOrlando.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Orlando, Orange County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival, Megacon Orlando, and Central Florida Fair. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Orlando Economic Partnership and Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Metro Orlando, plus leading businesses in leisure and hospitality that power the local economy such as Walt Disney World Resort, AdventHealth, and Universal Orlando. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREJacksonville.com, HEREPetersburg.com, HERETallahassee.com, and HERETampa.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Florida's dynamic landscape.
