Food in Tel Aviv
The cuisine of Israel is an incredible mix of different cultures, all sorts of national dishes, a fusion of East and West. Local dishes are prepared with religious observance, so you won't find pork or shellfish.
So what to try in Tel Aviv? There's a very well-developed fast food network here - lots of trays and stalls with a variety of local fast food. You can buy, for example, pita with hummus (a snack made from chickpea puree, olive oil, garlic, onion, lemon juice and spices) or the famous falafel (deep-fried balls of chickpea flour with pita and various sauces).
What to Try in Tel Aviv
Bourekas pies are popular, made of thin unleavened or puff pastry and filled with cheese, potatoes, and spinach. Also worth trying is the local kebab Al ha-esh (translated as "on fire"), meat cooked on a barbecue.
In Tel Aviv's restaurants, try shakshuka, a dish of eggs in a spicy sauce of tomatoes, onions, and bell peppers, and cholnt, a hearty roast of meat, potatoes, beans, onions, chickpeas, and spices.
Don't forget to try the delicious local treat, knafe. It's made from Kadaif vermicelli and goat's cheese, and before serving, it's drizzled with sugar syrup and sprinkled with nuts. Another local sweet is bamba. These are corn sticks soaked in a thin layer of peanut butter.
Fresh juices and a variety of coffees are popular drinks. Want something stronger? Try local beers and wines, as well as arak, a 50-degree aniseed vodka.
