I had been looking for this truck for years and somehow it kept evading me. Today on my bike ride home it appeared out of nowhere like an oasis in the desert. I was immediately greeted by chef Elmy and his staff. I ordered a gyro to go as I knew my wife would want to try as well. I was expecting a gyro neatly wrapped like a burrito in foil that I could place in my bag. Instead I was presented with two heaping plates of food covered in foil. Luckily the bike I was riding had a basket. Chef Elmy told me which plate to keep on top and instructed me to be careful with the food on my ride home. "Yes sir". I got home and present the plates to my wife. She removed the foil unveiling two colorful delicious looking plates of food. We were both glowing. One was the gyro I had ordered and the other was a mix of some of the most delicious beans I have ever had along with a salad, a roasted pepper and pickled vegetables. The portions were huge, but more importantly delicious. Food like this could only be made by someone who loves feeding people which I believe Chef Elmy does. I cannot wait to come back and try more of the menu. read more

Royal Egyptian Cuisine - Food Trucks Near Me - Berkeley, California

This was the most perfect hearty meal I've had in a while. Chef Elmy is a brilliant, funny, kind, caring guy and he does not disappoint! From the very beginning, we were welcomed with bowls of soup as soon as we approached the truck. We were asked if we had any restrictions or preferences, and Chef Elmy cooked us a personalized meal. Note that everything is made-to-order so be prepared to wait a little - but for his cooking, anything is worth it. We were handed two gorgeous generously filled plates that could feed a family of 6! He also gave us bottles of water to keep us hydrated. The plate consisted of two wraps, chicken and kofta, with a couple of sides. We were not sure what the sides were (besides the delicious corn that was crusted and seasoned beautifully) but everything had us smacking our lips, especially the fried one. The food was intentional and made with so much love and care, something that is so rare to find nowadays. A real hidden gem and they deserve all the support! We cannot wait to return to try all the other food and specials Chef Elmy has to offer. Thank you for an outstanding and delicious lunch (and dinner)! read more

Royal Egyptian Cuisine - Chicken and kofta wraps - Food Trucks Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Wow what else is there to say. The man who runs the truck treats you like family, Chef Emily seems to be a major creative force with boss ass fusion ideas. He gave us free soup suggested by his "girlfriend" Mother Nature which was delish, the gyro was incredibleeeee the shawarma was great, and there was this like polenta w middle eastern chili on top that was so delicious. Great vibes, great value-worthy food, please stop by and meet them! read more

Royal Egyptian Cuisine - Shawarma wrap, Gyro - Food Trucks Near Me - Berkeley, California

I ate here 2 weeks ago, bought 2 plates, ate them for 5 days, and pined for-- and dreamed of-- Chef Elmry's labor of love for 9 days. (My work schedule didn't allow me to come last week.) Today I finally was able to go, and saw that on the menu was Chef's Famous Philly. Two weeks ago I watched as a young white guy asked Chef to please, please offer Philly's again. And lucky me, second visit, and there it is on the menu. Hey, not to stereotype anyone, but I figured a white guy would know more about Phillys than me! So of course I had to order it. Wish I could personally thank that gentleman. I wanted two plates, to last me a few days, and Chef Elmy offered to make me a pastrami sandwich, which I gladly accepted. Again, all parts of both the dishes, as well as the complementary vegetable soup, are superb. I've been trying to figure out how an Egyptian cuisine chef can make these non Egyptian dishes so delicious. As I savored each item slowly -- the purple cabbage and other veggies, the couscous, the sandwiches and their fillings, the soup, the dressing -- I realize it all comes down to Flavor. Flavor as in the harmony of salt, sour, sweet, bitter, spiciness, etc, and the hard to describe something-more (like a squeeze of lime in many dishes). Chef Elmry is surely a master at achieving harmony in this flavor-symphony. In addition, the plates were colorful and a feast to the eyes. Photos do not do them justice. If only my schedule allowed me to come every week to get my fix. read more

Royal Egyptian Cuisine - Food Trucks Near Me - Berkeley, California

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You don't find this truck. This truck finds YOU. And then Chef Elmy will burst out of nowhere and start bringing you food. The experience was confusing, delicious, and lightly ominous. He said we couldn't leave until we ate all of our plates?!?! And boy, did we try. The peppers are SPICY so be very careful if you want to taste anything else the rest of the day. I got the vegetarian dish, which had a lot of everything. We were only walking by and got handed a free bowl of soup, so we had to stop to eat it, and then eventually had a whole lunch too (did I even order? was I delirious?). Did I pay with money? Or years of my life? Who knows. I felt ambushed, but left very full. Chef Elmy feels more like a supernatural eldritch being than a human person. I live in constant fear that the Royal Egyptian Cuisine truck follows me wherever I go, yet every time I turn around, it disappears. read more

Chef elmy changed our lives. I walked up to the truck and was immediately greeted with a hot bowl of vegetable soup. Hardly any words were exchanged but an offering was given so quickly. I immediately could read his desire to feed and care for the people who eat his food. We didn't really order, he just asked if chicken and gyro were good so we said of course. Moments later he comes back with generously portioned and beautifully plated meals. He told us to eat then pay after. He also gave us a couple of waters. Mind you, water, entree, soup all was $16 ea. Elmy is humorous, sweet, and generous. I would recommend this place to anyone. Such delicious and flavorful food too! There were some folding tables and chairs outside of the food truck shaded by the trees. read more

Royal Egyptian Cuisine - Gyro and Chicken - Food Trucks Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Wonderful food with healthy portions! Chef is hilarious about strangers making friends while waiting for their respective friends to show up. :-) He's also health conscious so avoids using salt and other unhealthy items. Parking is a pain so plan accordingly of meeting friends there at a particular time. read more

As soon as we approached the Royal Egyptian Cuisine food truck, the owner Chef Elmy handed us little bowls of a dark brown soup, which he called our "medicine." The hot, sour soup was chock full of vegetables including baby carrots, baby corn, celery, and bamboo. The menu featured Egyptian-inspired fare, and my favorite item was the Egyptian Falafel, four fritters made with ground fava beans mixed with spices. The plate also came with a creamy yogurt dip, a side salad (arugula, red onions, red cabbage), bulgur topped with a fava bean puree, and a griddled flatbread filled with onions, cabbage, and a creamy white sauce. I also tried the Chicken Shawarma Wrap, which featured tender spiced chicken thigh pieces along with vegetables and white sauce in a lavash flatbread. There were plenty of tables and chairs by the food truck for enjoying the food outdoors, and everything we had was flavorful and delicious. The real highlight was meeting the owner, whose genuine passion really showed through in his cooking and hospitality. read more

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Gyro salad and some absolutely incredible side. The flavors here are unbelievable and this is an incredible hidden gem. I've had a lot of food from food trucks and restaurants and this is unbelievable. Don't sleep on this one. Nicest people too working here. read more

Royal Egyptian Cuisine - Gyro salad and some absolutely incredible side. - Food Trucks Near Me - Berkeley, California

Chef Elmy is awesome sauce! The Man has a touch to food!!! His sweetheart, she's super nice and you will see her cashiering- only been here twice and I simply love! The first time I tried a beef gyro- I've never had one prior to this and it did not disappoint. They start off with a bamboo shoot soup that is very comforting and light. The couple were kind enough to make me an awesome dish for a special holiday today. I'm sure they sell it often, it's so delicious! It consists of lightly fried Salmon, prawns, and the most delicious sausage I've ever tasted! I can't eat pork so I was very happy to hear it's Lamb. I'm so surprised how tasty it was! He makes the sausage from scratch- someone should help him package it for the stores! It's that good!!! I'm so satisfied and grateful today. It's not the best pictures because I started eating right after I gave my grace!!! Thank you Chef Elmy and his sweetheart!!! A must if you're in Berkeley! read more

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This food truck is five stars. We stumbled upon this on yelp and saw that the food looked delicious so we gambled and it was a good decision. We ordered two chicken shawarmas and portion size is enough for a family of 3-4. We finished about 1 1/4 and didn't touch the sides bc we were so full. The chicken and wrap was juicy. Everything was flavorful and the sauce was on point.. By far the best shawarma wrap I've had compared to those I've tried in Europe and in the states. I don't live in the east bay but if I did, this would be a regular spot for me. The owners were nice and have great customer service. They want you to be satisfied before paying. Let me tell you we were beyond satisfied. read more

My first time tasting Egyptian cuisine. If I tell you the King did not lie about his food! I will definitely be back for more. I absolutely recommend an audience with this ambience. It will have wishing you lived closer for the next meal read more

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An unexpected surprise! We were at Ashby Lumber and took a wrong turn, ending up behind Urban Ore. Suddenly, we saw a popular food truck next to a little park and decided to pull over. It was my first time having Egyptian food! The fish of the day was already sold out so I had lamb kebabs. I wished the chunks were a bit smaller, because it's hard to cut them (no knife). But they were very flavorful. Surprisingly, my favorite thing was the homemade pickles! They were uniquely flavored and I ate all of them! My husband had the gyro which was humongous! It came with a delicious sauce and fries. We need to go back! read more

Royal Egyptian Cuisine - Food Trucks Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Excellent food. We asked Chef Elmy what was good and he hooked three of us up with more food than we could possibly eat in a large catering style tray. It was full of chicken, kofte, and beef wraps with flavorful rice, some grain, a fresh salad and roasted peppers. Chef Elmy was extremely friendly, and we loved chatting with him. We ended up paying a little under $60 for three of us which was a steal considering how much food we received. We will definitely be back. read more

Royal Egyptian Cuisine - Food Trucks Near Me - Berkeley, California

Omg 10/10 experience!!! One of the best food trucks I've been too and truly a hidden gem. As soon as you arrive, the owner makes you feel right at home. He gave us a soup to start with which was perfect for a cold day. For food, all we had to tell him was what were in the mood for and me made us a dish with a combination of different items. The food was SO good! Everything felt and tasted homemade and so flavorful. The portion size was huge also I ate half for lunch and half later. I highly recommend checking this place out. There's some benches outside by the food truck which you can sit at read more

Royal Egyptian Cuisine - Food Trucks Near Me - Berkeley, California

Love this food truck! It has Delicious food and the owner is the kindest man ever! Highly recommend!

today they are at the Frida Kahlo's birthday celebration Connor of Prince Street and Shattuck Avenue. So glad to have found them-their food blew my socks off! To say it was good would be such an understatement and they are very nice even gave a bowl of chicken and rice to my dogs. I will be a regular from now on. read more

I don't know how to start this review but eating food here as an Egyptian immigrant was so so nostalgic for me. The care and love Elmy puts in his food and its preparation really takes you decades to warm happy childhood. We got the fava beans, pickled veggies, falafel and gyro wraps , my goodness it was really a taste of home. I loved that it didn't taste like restaurant food, that it was prepared with loving intentions. For non Egyptians, please visit this place and taste authentic Egyptian home cooking. Elmy is so fun and generous to be around, really makes your day. Will look forward to stopping by here next time I'm in town. read more

Delicious food made by Chef. Obviously made with care and love. Best falafel I've ever had! Everything so good and fresh!

It took an hour to get food... no one was in line but a ton of people were waiting for their order, which I didn't realize. A heads up with how long it would take would be great. Also paying after you get your food (and eat) is a nice gesture, but it would be easier for the customer if you wrote down the order, had them pay, gave a receipt. It looked like a couple times it was needed to check what people were waiting for. Food itself looks really great, taste was good too. Just, if you like this style food prepare to wait for it. For me, it's just not worth going back. Even if I loved it, it wouldn't be worth the time spent waiting. read more

Royal Egyptian Cuisine - Chicken shawarma. If you like this sort of food you are in for a treat, after a 1hr wait. - Food Trucks Near Me - Berkeley, California

Love love love this truck. Hella delicious food and a friend of mine who grew up in Egypt says this place is legit - the owner is from Alexandria. Couple of tables among the trees for seating is quite lovely. Entertainingly sassy and caring folks. read more

Royal Egyptian Cuisine - Lamb+beef gyro - Food Trucks Near Me - Berkeley, California

Yum! Amazing flavor, just wish I could have stopped myself from eating the whole thing (full portion). Highly recommended. read more

Royal Egyptian Cuisine - Gyro - Food Trucks Near Me - Berkeley, California

One of the best gyros I've tried. The owner was so sweet and friendly. I've never tried this place but always pass by it on the way to the gym. Im glad I finally decided to stop by for lunch last week. The food was flavorful and so fresh! read more

Killer prices for beautiful, generous and colorful food. Super tasty and lovely owner. This place is serious about churning out incredible food at reasonable prices. read more

If I could give them 6 stars, I would! We first went to the wrong place in Oakland (I have since requested an edit to their address on Yelp! They are on Folger Ave in Berkeley at the Emeryville Greenway). I called to say we were at their old location & asked if they could stay open til we got there (5-10 mins post closing time), as it was my twins' birthday & this was supposed to be their bday lunch! Sharon said absolutely yes--then greeted us sweetly when we arrived. They not only served & we ate gorgeously presented gorgeous-tasting food--all 4 of our orders plus beautiful sides (gyro shawarma falafel n more)--in generous portions in a big aluminum platter; but we ate at a table under the warm sun, leisurely & happily without feeling the least bit rushed. Chef Elmy even came out to say hi & happy birthday & we took a photo with him! Sharon & an assistant stayed until we finished our meal. A truly special bday meal!! read more

Great food food truck owners really care about their customers came out and asked each patron how they like their food our chicken Shawarma and beef euro even came with free soup and a bottle of water. I must try if you're in the neighborhood. read more

Royal Egyptian Cuisine - Chicken Shawarma and beef Gyro - Food Trucks Near Me - Berkeley, California

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WARNING: 1. come hungry 2. make sure you have the time. 3. Expect leftovers 4. Dog eat free Coming to eat at Royal Egyptian is like going over to grandma's for a meal. Expect to be cared for, expect to be fed and lastly expect to bring home left overs. I have never met anyone who ate here finishes their meal in one sitting. Luckily, the chef will help you pack left overs. Chef Elmy is a caring and kind man. Some might call him eccentric, other might say he really likes to have conversations, but others know he is just a caring uncle who shows he cares through his food. And helps feed your dog. His menu is limited but has gyro, shawarma, kofta, beef liver, falafel... I have never ordered a plate or meal where I thought it didn't taste good. If you have dietary restrictions, let him know. He will accommodate. For 10$ a 3 course meal and then some. Usually my main entree will come with a bowl of soup and salad. Chef changes up what he serves as the sides daily. So some days you have soup and salad, other days you get a grape leaf wrapped rice, side hummus or something sweet. It's seriously a bang for your buck. I know people worried now a days about what $ can get you for a meal, but you can always expect a side or two plus your entree for that $. For example usually 10$ you'll get just one shawarma wrap, maybe about 3 inch wide and 8-10inch in length. With Chef Elmy, you'll get two of those wraps and plenty of sides just for 10$. See my photo attached to this review for a better visual. He also will make a small bowl of food for you dog too. The food here I would have to say is some of the best I've eaten. I don't have much experience eating Egyptian food and a lot of his food reminds me a bit of Middle Eastern and flavors of Morocco, but everything is just SO GOOD! The chicken is always cooked to perfectionism velvety. The Kofta and shawarma always moist. The falafel just simple and delicious. And I cannot emphasize that he loads up your plate. Follow his Twitter to see where he is next or you can find him in the middle of the block in his royal blue truck on 68th st and San Pablo in Berkeley. read more

Royal Egyptian Cuisine - Meal for 2 - Food Trucks Near Me - Berkeley, California

If you are in the Bay Area check out the Royal Egyptian food truck - today it was outside of Urban Ore in Berkeley. The food is amazing and the owner's humor, generosity, and kindness shown as bright and warm as sunlight! 10/10 recommend! read more

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New to this area so I thought I'd give it a try. Don't come here if you're in a hurry. I ordered a gyro and it took almost an hour. A guy who ordered after me got his food before me and finished. I even asked if they forgot about me and they said I came when they were slammed and they do the orders in batches. The gyro was ok. Nothing worth more than a 20 min wait. read more

I'm not exaggerating when I'm saying this is the best meal I have ever had. This food truck is incredible. The food is fresh and unique, I'd guess authentic too but I haven't had any other Egyptian cuisine so I can't say for sure. For 15$ I got a 3 course meal which I didn't think I could finish. Yet it was all gone. The owner came out and chatted with me while I was eating. Great guy, even better food. It's an absolute must try in Berkeley. read more

Royal Egyptian Cuisine - Food Trucks Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Just Follow Elmy's rules : 1- Don't eat anything before you come. 2- If you are not hungry, don't come. 3- look everywhere around you and bring your sense of humor. 4- Make sure to have time for your meal because he doesn't pre cook. I can assure you that will taste the real Egyptian hospitality, delicious food and Egyptian sense of humor. read more

Royal Egyptian Cuisine - A piece of heaven/Egypt. - Food Trucks Near Me - Berkeley, California

Holy crap are they not messing around. Before I even get into how things tasted (spoiler alert: very good) you just get an absolutely ludicrous amount of food for $11. My gyro came with this vegetable soup, a dolma, a bunch of cabbage, lentils two ways, and some sort of fritter. And it wasn't just a bite of each thing either. It was a lot. And when I went to pay, the owner asked me if I was still hungry! I cannot imagine being hungry after that and apparently there's a $14-feed-me-I'm-hungry option and I have no idea how much more food you could possibly get. Anyways, from my understanding, the various sides and soups are different every day which adds a fun element of randomness to each visit. My gyro was extraordinary. A great mix of sauce and fillings with fluffy and very well spiced meat. I might like this more than Wally's in Emeryville (which has long held the title of best gyro in the bay to me). I'd have to eat them back to back to really come to a judgment about this but the real takeaway is that the gyro here is very very good. It's a little hard to tell what their hours are (not what yelp says) but given how good it is, it's probably worth just taking the chance that they won't be there to give it a try. Worst case scenario, you'll just have to eat something else good in West Berkeley and there's plenty. read more

I'm going to echo the same disclaimers you'll see in many reviews, and one of Chef Elmy's rules: Do not come here if you are in a hurry, do not come here if you are not hungry. Elmy will feed you like it's Thanksgiving and Christmas all in one day. The first thing Elmy told me when he learned I was also Arabic, was "Habibi I will take care of you, and if you don't finish your food I will tell your mother you threw away your food." Needless to say, he wasn't lying. Everyone who eats there gets the royal treatment. As we were waiting, they kept throwing more food at us while our orders came out. Vege soup, and a falafel like ball made from leftover vege soup. It was so good. My meal (pictured) was the chicken wrap. It was stuff d with chicken and mixed greens. Take a bike ride on a Saturday and work up an appetite with your friends on a beautiful day, then come here. Elmy and the crew will take care of you, and you will leave feeing satisfied for the rest of the day. read more

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5 stars for Chef Elmy!! We used to walk along the greenway almost everyday and have passed by this truck so many times for years but haven't tried until today. Chef Elmy is like an uncle who you visit and insists on feeding you until you're completely glutted. Although this is a food truck the experience feels more like a sit down fast casual restaurant (or your grandma's kitchen). We were started with a bowl of warming cabbage soup and then got a gyro plate which was served with pickled peppers, pickled cabbage, and fava bean falafel over grits. Food is all made to order. Texture and balance of everything was superb. Everything was strongly spiced and flavored but nothing too overpowering. The gyro is truly some of the best! The pepperiness of the arugula contrasted well with the hearty tangy yogurt sauce and rich flavors of meat. Can't wait to come back and try something else! You could probably order anything from their menu and come out satisfied. read more

Royal Egyptian Cuisine - Gyro plate with falafel over grits - Food Trucks Near Me - Berkeley, California

A gem in Berkeley! So much food and a lot of character in this spot. Nice seating outside too

This is a special, special institution. Yeah it's a food truck, but the immersive experience is beyond the words you're about to read in my feeble Yelp review. Bow down to Chef Elmy and his wife. Here was my A+ experience: I had been eyeing this truck off and on for a couple years and just never made it over. But a few weeks ago I had an errand nearby and a vision of the truck popped into my head. I showed up and a few folks were waiting on their food. I placed my order and began to wait. After a few minutes, the Chef shouted for EVERYONE to come over to the truck window. He had cooked up veggie fritters for us to snack on and he didn't want anybody in line saying "this fucking guy" about how long it took to prepare our meal. I didn't really mind because I was too busy reading the genius copy plastered all over the truck. Remember, it's not all about grammar. It's about how the words make you feel. Anyways, fast forward a couple of minutes and Elmy calls me over to deliver my soup first. It was tasty, full of vegetables, and totally home-cooked goodness. I appreciated him feeding me (and others) while I waited so no one got hangry. When my entree was ready, I asked for a piece of foil because I was taking it back to my studio. "You want my wallet, too?" he quipped. Goddamn. I'm such a huge fan of sass in small business owners. Please never change. Once I got back to eat the rest of my meal, I was delighted. Everything was flavorful, healthy, and if I wasn't feeling like a fatty that day, there definitely would have been leftovers for a future meal. You've got to try this place and please, please, please bring a friend that's never been. Your immersive experience awaits! read more

This place should be called Egyptian Hospitality...they know how to woo customers and leave people feeling loved like family. I went here, out of my way, for my first time based on yelp reviews. I'm so glad that I did. The food is fresh, hot, and delicious. The portions are big and can feed two people. The prices are much better than other places especially since the chef insists on giving you soup and several little bites of appetizers. When I was leaving I asked for a foil to wrap my gyro (highly recommend this wrap) and he had me try a few more bites of special food that he put together for me. He asked if I wanted more and even though I was full to the brim I knew better and I said Yes! He said, "I like you. I like when people come here and they're not shy and they like food. It makes me happy." It's so obvious that they run this truck because they delight in feeding people good food. This was my first time eating here and I am excited to try all the other things! read more

What a lucky day for me! I was meeting my daughter at Urban Ore and wanted lunch before we browsed. I ordered the felafel plate and oh my. Splendid flavors and preparation. Just spicy enough. The serving was enough for lunch and dinner and the price was right. The staff are very warm and friendly and gave me several appetizers while I waited. I will be back with friends and family. read more

Come hungry! Elmy never disappoints with his fresh made food! So delicious, everything is amazing! read more

Royal Egyptian Cuisine - Chicken, halibut, mussels, sausage, shrimp! - Food Trucks Near Me - Berkeley, California

The food is so fresh and delicious! Everything is cooked from scratch. And the service is it if this world! He even made me something special for my apprehensive 3 year old who, after one bite, proceeded to gobble up the entire bowl! Street parking is free and easy and he has tables and chairs set up under shade trees for guests. AWESOME EXPERIENCE! read more

Royal Egyptian Cuisine - Food Trucks Near Me - Berkeley, California