A visit to Syria in Egypt's 6th of October City

Ahram Online, by Zainab El-Gundy

Ahram Online visits one of the best known "Syrian streets" in 6th of October City — a district on the outskirts of the capital that is home to many thousands of Syrian refugees

The famous Syrian street in October city (Photo: Zeinab El-Gundy)

It was more than telling that when asked about directions to reach to "Syrian Street" in the heart of 6th of October City area, a young Syrian gave directions in a perfect Syrian accent.

"You will find Syrian Street in front of Al-Hosary Mosque," he said. It is not a coincidence, as Al-Hosary Mosque and its charity association have been helping Syrian refugees in Egypt for five years now.

"Syrian Street" starts from a building in front of the mosque that is known in the area as "Al-Amerikya" (The American) occupying a whole block.

This is not the only "Little Damascus" in October City, which embraces thousands of Syrians, but it is one of the most famous.

On the ground floor of Al-Amerikya building, which includes residential and administrative apartments, dozens of restaurants, from international fast food chains, famous Egyptian fuul and falafel outlets, and Syrian restaurants and cafes stretch all the way.

Located beside 6th of October University, those restaurants do not suffer any lack of customers from young students who are looking for affordable food.

Behind the building is a narrow street that leads you to "Syrian Street": a passageway between a complex of buildings full of Syrian shops and restaurants.

Longtime Egyptian residents of October City told Ahram Online that many of those shops were formerly owned by Iraqi refugees who settled in October City for a couple of years following the US invasion of Iraq, before returning to their country.

The word "Sham", which usually refers to Damascus for Syrians and the Levant for Arabs, in general is a common fixture in the names of the shops, regardless of what they sell.

Shops at the Syrian street in October

You will find large and famous Syrian restaurants selling shawerma and barbeque chicken as well as Syrian dessert shops selling grilled cheese konafa and Syrian ice cream. There are also Syrian mobile phone accessories shops, a barbershop, and a Syrian spices shop selling imported Syrian and Turkish spices via Turkey.

There is also a small Syrian grocery where Syrian residents of October City come to buy Syrian cheese and other Syrian products that cannot be found in usual Egyptian groceries, along with pickles and spices that are currently made in factories in Egypt. "Made in Egypt by Syrian hands" is what you read on the products.

A Syrian grocery at the street in October city (Photo: Zeinab El-Gundy)

In the passageway, chairs and tables are placed for a couple of cafes, some owned by Egyptians that seem oddly out of place.