Al Refai

Al Refai is a no-frills charcoal grill restaurant on Mahatta Street in Luxor, widely regarded by local residents as one of the best-value grilled meat addresses in the city. The restaurant has built its reputation purely on the quality of its charcoal cooking — kofta skewers seasoned with spices and onion, quarter chickens split and grilled over coals, and mixed grill plates that combine both. The smoke from the grill drifts into the street and serves as its own advertisement, drawing local workers, students, and budget travelers who have discovered it through word of mouth. The dining room is simple: plastic chairs, tiled walls, and practical lighting that communicates the restaurant's priorities clearly. Service is fast and the staff are accustomed to the mixture of Arabic-speaking locals and tourists who fill the seats. Prices are firmly in the budget tier — a satisfying meal of mixed grill with bread and salad rarely exceeds 60 to 80 Egyptian pounds per person — making Al Refai an essential option for travelers stretching budgets while visiting Luxor's temples and tombs. The restaurant is open through the day from noon to midnight, with the charcoal most active and the grill most productive in the evening hours when the dinner crowd arrives. No reservation is required or practical; the turnover is high enough that waits are rarely long.