On the Cairo Grill menu, hawawshi sits in the Pita Sandwiches category, each version described in a single line. There are three versions, with a combo for each and a place in the Mediterranean Family Box. This guide explains what hawawshi is, compares the three listings using the menu’s own wording, and suggests what to order with it.
What hawawshi is
Hawawshi is a traditional Egyptian dish made from flat bread stuffed with minced meat, according to Wikipedia. The filling is seasoned with onion, black pepper and parsley, and sometimes hot chilies. The filling is baked inside the bread. Egyptian cooks make two main styles, the standard baladi and the Alexandrian, which uses different spices.
The same source notes that there are regional variations in the bread and the spices. Cairo Grill’s menu keeps to one bread, pita, and varies the filling. Where the menu does not say how something is made, such as the exact spice mix, this guide says so rather than guess.
The three hawawshi on the menu
The Pita Sandwiches category on the ordering page lists three hawawshi:
- Hawawshi Traditional (Egyptian Meat Pie): seasoned halal ground beef, onions and garlic on pita bread.
- Hawawshi Jalapeno (Egyptian Meat Pie): seasoned halal ground beef, onions, garlic and hot peppers on pita bread.
- Hawawshi Sujuk (Egyptian Meat Pie): grilled halal Mediterranean sausage and tahini on pita bread.
Each one also has a combo listing in the Combos category. The first two share a base. The third changes the meat.
Hawawshi Traditional: the reference order
Start with the Hawawshi Traditional if this is your first. The menu describes it as seasoned halal ground beef, onions and garlic on pita bread. It is the closest listing to the dish Wikipedia describes: minced meat and onion in bread.
It is also the right reference point. Once you know the traditional version, the Jalapeno and Sujuk listings are easy to read as variations.
Order Hawawshi Traditional if:
- You want the classic version of the dish.
- You like seasoned ground beef and onion.
- You are introducing someone to Egyptian food and want an easy first order.
Menu card — Hawawshi Traditional (Egyptian Meat Pie)
Listed under Pita Sandwiches on the Cairo Grill ordering page as seasoned halal ground beef, onions and garlic on pita bread.
Hawawshi Jalapeno: the same, with heat
The Hawawshi Jalapeno adds hot peppers to the same list. Wikipedia notes that hot chilies are sometimes part of the filling, so this is a recognized version of the dish. The menu does not say how hot the peppers are, so ask the staff if heat matters to you.
Order Hawawshi Jalapeno if:
- You liked the idea of the traditional version and want some heat.
- You are ordering for a table and want one hot and one mild hawawshi to compare.
Hawawshi Sujuk: sausage and tahini
The Hawawshi Sujuk is the outlier. The menu describes grilled halal Mediterranean sausage and tahini on pita bread. Sujuk is a spiced, air-dried Turkish sausage, per Wikipedia, so this listing trades minced beef for sausage and adds tahini. The restaurant’s website also describes the hawawshi as using grilled halal Mediterranean sausage.
Order Hawawshi Sujuk if:
- You prefer sausage to ground beef.
- You like tahini and want it in the sandwich.
Menu card — Hawawshi Sujuk (Egyptian Meat Pie)
Listed under Pita Sandwiches on the Cairo Grill ordering page as grilled halal Mediterranean sausage and tahini on pita bread.
Combos and the Mediterranean Family Box
The Combos category lists Hawawshi Traditional Combo, Hawawshi Jalapeno Combo and Hawawshi Sujuk Combo. The listings describe the hawawshi but do not say what the combo adds, so check the item when you add it to your order.
For a group, the Mediterranean Family Box is listed as 2 hawawshi (cut to 4 pieces), 1 beef and lamb shawarma wrap, 1 chicken shawarma wrap, 1 dozen falafel, 1 side of salad (hummus, baba ghanoush, tzatziki or garlic spread) and 1 assorted pickles. It is the simplest way to put hawawshi on a table with other dishes. The blog has a post comparing it with the Family Grill Feast.
Menu card — Mediterranean Family Box
Listed under Family Meals on the Cairo Grill ordering page as 2 hawawshi cut to 4 pieces, shawarma wraps, a dozen falafel, a side of salad and assorted pickles.
What to add: dips, pickles and drinks
Cool and sharp sides pair well with a baked, filled bread:
- Tzatziki (Cucumber Yogurt Salad) or Toumiya (Garlic Salad Dip) for dipping.
- Assorted Pickles (8oz) to cut the richness.
- Hummus (8oz) or Baba Ghanoush (8oz) for a dip table.
- Mint Yogurt Drink, Mango Lassi or Turkish Coffee to drink.
- Rice Pudding or a Pistachio Baklava (ea) to finish.
Hours, location and how to order
Cairo Grill is at 805 Scott Blvd, Santa Clara, CA 95050, phone (408) 708-7075. The website lists Monday to Sunday, 10 AM to 9 PM. Check the ordering page for current ordering hours.
Order through Cairo Grill’s own page rather than a third-party app. The restaurant receives the full order with no app commission.
FAQ
What is hawawshi?
Hawawshi is a traditional Egyptian dish of flat bread stuffed with minced meat seasoned with onion, black pepper and parsley, and sometimes hot chilies, according to Wikipedia. Cairo Grill’s menu calls it an Egyptian meat pie.
What hawawshi does Cairo Grill serve?
The ordering page lists Hawawshi Traditional (Egyptian Meat Pie), Hawawshi Jalapeno (Egyptian Meat Pie) and Hawawshi Sujuk (Egyptian Meat Pie), plus a combo version of each.
What is the difference between the three?
The menu describes Traditional as seasoned halal ground beef, onions and garlic on pita bread. Jalapeno adds hot peppers to that list. Sujuk is described as grilled halal Mediterranean sausage and tahini on pita bread.
Is hawawshi at Cairo Grill halal?
The menu descriptions use the word halal for the ground beef and the sausage, and the restaurant’s website describes its food as halal Egyptian and Middle Eastern.
Where is Cairo Grill and when is it open?
It is at 805 Scott Blvd, Santa Clara, CA 95050, phone (408) 708-7075. The website lists Monday to Sunday, 10 AM to 9 PM.
Order hawawshi at Cairo Grill
Pick a version, add a dip and a drink, and order straight from the restaurant. Ordering direct means Cairo Grill gets the full order with no third-party commission.
