Seattle restaurant hopes to feed Egypt's FIFA World Cup team in Ballard
Seattle cafe serves up Egyptian national dish ahead of World Cup
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup just ten days away, the owners of a local Seattle cafe are hoping players from Team Egypt will stop by to try their signature koshary dish.
SEATTLE - A local husband and wife owning a Middle Eastern restaurant in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood are preparing to share their culinary heritage during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Ayman Almasri and Amani Abouammo, the owners of Koshari, hope members of Team Egypt will visit their restaurant when the team arrives in the city. Egypt is scheduled for its first match at Seattle Stadium in a matter of weeks.
Ayman Almasri (right) and Amani Abouammo (left). (FOX 13 Seattle)
Bringing Middle Eastern flavors to Seattle
The restaurant specializes in traditional Middle Eastern dishes, serving as a connection to the owners' roots. Almasri is originally Palestinian with family living in Egypt, while Abouammo spent part of her life between Lebanon and Egypt.
The establishment's signature dish, koshari, features layers of rice, lentils, macaroni, and garbanzo beans topped with fried onions. The menu also includes Lebanese fattit hummus, drawing from deep family traditions.
"My grandmother had an encyclopedia of vegetarian, vegan recipes," Almasri said.
Welcoming international soccer stars
As Seattle prepares to host World Cup matches, the owners are eager to see how their authentic recipes compare to options in Egypt.
"Do you think some player can come here and eat and try our koshari and compare it to back home?" Abouammo asked.
Almasri specifically hopes to welcome some of Egypt's biggest sports stars to the Ballard eatery.
"I am hoping Mo Salah or Omar Marmoush wanders in to eat a bowl of koshari thinking nobody knows them and that would be a dream come true," Almasri said.
Expanding to Seattle Center for the tournament
Beyond their brick-and-mortar location, the couple is expanding their operations to accommodate the influx of international soccer fans.
Almasri and Abouammo said they plan to serve their dishes at Seattle Center during the tournament matches in town. They are encouraging both locals and visiting fans to stop by and try the food during the global sporting event.
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The Source: Information in this story comes from original reporting by FOX 13 Seattle reporter Dan Griffin.