The story
Chris Khalifa, an Egyptian American former banker, opened Zooba in Cairo in 2012 with the chef Moustafa El Refaey. Their aim was an Egyptian food brand built on dishes people already ate daily, such as ful, taameya and koshari. Because Zooba used better ingredients and larger portions, it charged more than street vendors, and some customers were angry at paying restaurant prices for familiar street food. Chris expected the brand to appeal mainly to wealthier Egyptians, but a customer study showed people were comparing Zooba with chains such as McDonald's and KFC rather than with street stalls, giving them an Egyptian option at a price they already paid. Zooba raised $4 million in 2019 to open in New York, and through a franchise partnership has expanded into Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait. In 2026 its original Zamalek branch ranked No. 32 on MENA's 50 Best Restaurants list.
By the numbers
On Founding MENA
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