Weekend launch for their second Leeside location
17:37, 28 Aug 2026Updated 17:43, 28 Aug 2026
The new Cairo 2 Cork location at 22 Douglas Street
The owner of a much-loved Egyptian food truck in Cork is launching her first brick-and-mortar location on the southside tomorrow.
Nivene Sadick, of the popular Cairo2Cork grub spot at Paul Street’s Fifth Quarter, has confirmed her new restaurant at No. 22 Douglas Street will open for a soft launch 12pm on Saturday. The Leesider said she and her staff “genuinely cannot wait” to welcome customers after the long, tiring journey of getting their new spot up and running.
The establishment will mainly be focused on takeaway, however will also have eight spaces for those looking to sit-in and eat. Speaking to Cork Beo, Nivene said this weekend, restaurant staff will be serving the usual menu from her busy food truck, which is still up and running in the city centre.
Over the next fortnight however, the new location will start bringing in even more “authentic flavours of Egypt”, with plans to start opening earlier for breakfast next week. Their new food offerings will include a range of highly requested dishes like koshary, often made with carbs like lentils, rice and chickpeas in a tasty tomato sauce.
Nivene Sadick – with family members Alaa Barket and Mohamed El Shouky – at the Cairo 2 Cork food truck on Paul Street
Other options will be Grilled Kofta, a dish made with mince and a blend of herbs and spices, as well as molokhiya, a green stew made out of jute leaves.
Nivene said that the place is “nowhere near” where she wants it to be eventually – but after several delays, she says that “at some point, you just have to open the doors and start.”
She added: “So for now, consider this our little soft opening. We’re testing the waters, finding our feet and getting used to our new home while we continue working behind the scenes.
“Please bear with us over the next couple of weeks while the menu grows and the place comes together. And then… once everything is ready, we’ll have a proper BIG official opening day.”
Inside the new location
Nivene also shared a big thank you to everyone who has supported her business over the past few months. Communities in Cork city rallied to support the business owner through a GoFundMe when she first announced plans for a brick-and-mortar location. In total, over €5,200 was raised, which went towards securing the new premises and buying equipment.
The fundraiser came after Cairo 2 Cork and several other vendors had to leave the food truck plaza on Paul’s Street in June as a result of a planning issue concerning the space outside the shopping centre. Trucks returned to Fifth Quarter late last month.
Cairo2Cork on Douglas Street will open from 12pm-7pm on Saturday and Sunday (August 29th and 30th), and Nivene hopes to start a 9am opening time next week.
Nivene was born on Leeside and has lived here for most of her life. She was raised at the Lough by her mum Geraldine – also from Cork city – and her dad, from Cairo, who taught her all about cooking and making delicious, authentic Middle-Eastern food.