A fun food collaboration between Urbaanite + Nashville Hidden Gems
King Tut’s is the crown jewel of Nolensville Pike hidden gems. Permanently parked at 3716 Nolensville Pike, King Tut’s serves authentic Egyptian food with a New York flair. Over the last year, Owner and Chef Ragab Rashwan has built a beautiful outdoor patio adjacent to the truck. Complemented by a mural of the great Pyramids of Giza and plenty of plants, the BYOB patio provides a serene respite from the commercial hustle and bustle of South Nashville.
Egypt meets Nashville
Do not let the food truck or friendly prices fool you into thinking this is an average Mediterranean-inspired restaurant. Chef Ragab carefully crafts his menu with local ingredients and the community in mind. Built on his experience owning a cafe in Cairo and working as a chef in New York City, nothing on the menu disappoints. Customer favorites are the falafel, lamb sandwich, and whatever specials Chef Ragab has cooked up for the day. The falafel, which are vegan, are truly the best I have ever had. I always get started with an appetizer platter for fresh falafel, hummus, pita, and a delicious grilled eggplant dish. The tahini sauce that goes with the dishes is so flavorful that I have been waiting for Chef to tell me when I can buy it by the pint.
Community over everything
While the food is excellent, King Tut’s is a neighborhood favorite because of Chef Ragab’s kind-heartedness and generosity: WPLN did a write up on Chef when he temporarily covered the property tax for his tenants (Rashwan owns the property the truck sits on) who were struggling in the height of the pandemic. When he moved from New York City to Nashville, he would take the food truck to festivals and park the truck downtown. When he told his downtown customers he was moving permanently to Nolensville Pike, many expressed doubt. They asked him why he was moving to an area that they considered underdeveloped, even going as far as to call it a ghetto. Rashwan explained that this is where he feels he belongs, amongst other immigrants in a vibrant area where people from all walks of life interact in community.
A unique international experience
King Tut’s is open Thursday – Sunday from 4PM-8PM. I recommend going early to catch a table, or to call them beforehand to make a reservation. Keep an eye on their Instagram @kingtutsnashville, as they occasionally do pop-up Egyptian brunches that are a must try. For people seeking a truly special meal, reach out to Ragab about setting up a private dinner at the patio. He goes out of his way to make private dinners and catering uniquely crafted to the wants and needs of his guests.
One of my favorite experiences in Nashville is going to King Tut’s around sundown, watching Rashwan and his business partner Wael joking as they take on the dinner rush, blasting colorful Egyptian music as people eat and drink on the patio. My hope is you enjoy Nashville’s little slice of Egypt as much as I do!
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