Ad Haetzem Express: Tel Aviv

The fast food burger has revolutionized the way the world eats. We always know that there will be a McDonalds somewhere we travel and can count on to be decent at best, but fast. I tend to stay away from the golden arches because quite frankly, I abhor McDonalds. It lacks quality and taste. Fast food doesnt have to be made cheap and cooked in a microwave. Lucky for many of us that live in Tel Aviv we have Ad Haetzem Express. Ad Haetzem Express is an Israeli fast food restaurant that is a definite upgrade from McDonalds or other burger chains. They specialize in freshly made burgers, shoe-string fries, onion rings, chicken tenders and fountain sodas. The burgers are cooked right in front of you on a large griddle. You can either get a single, double, or triple. Toppings include the usual lettuce, tomato, red onion, and mayonnaise. Of course you can add ketchup and mustard if you please. Additional toppings include cheese, fried onions, lamb bacon, or a fried egg. Meals range from 45 shekels for the single, 52 for the double, and 60 for the triple. Prices are reasonable which is also a good sign. The burger itself is nothing special, but is perfect for when you have had a few too many drinks and need a good munch to bring you back to life. It is the best fast food style burger though I have had here in Tel Aviv that is for sure. With three locations throughout the city, you are not far from satisfying your hunger.

Bunny Chow: Tel Aviv

The food scene in Tel Aviv is extremely unique in that you can sample food from all around the world. Jews that have come to settle here have brought their cuisine and thus have contributed to Israeli cuisine as a whole. For example you can sample Turkish bourekas for breakfast, Moroccan couscous for lunch, and a local falafel pita for dinner. The whole Jewish diaspora is represented here. One unique culinary contribution from the South African Jewish community would be the Bunny Chow. Bunny Chow can trace its roots to the city of Durban, where there is a significant Indian diaspora. There, the locals would put their curry lunch into a hollowed out piece of bread. The bunny referring to the bread or bun, while the chow is referring to the curry filling. Bunny Chow here in Tel Aviv has a local spin to it as they use a hollowed out Challah bun as the bread. You can fill your bunny with chicken, beef, or vegetarian curries. It is topped with cilantro, almonds, and yogurt. If you are vegan you can opt for tehina instead of yogurt. You can also sample their curries over rice if you want. Besides their curries, Bunny Chow sells other South African delicacies such as the Gatsby sandwich, boerie rolls, and biltong. The Gatsby is a sub sandwich filled with sweet pulled beef, mayonnaise, mango pickle, a fried egg, emmantal cheese, fries, and lettuce. It is an absolute messy delight to eat and highly recommended. The boerie roll is a South African sausage roll. The sausage itself is seasoned with nutmeg, cloves, and coriander seeds. The sausage is placed in a bun with apple raisin chutney, spicy mayonnaise, and lettuce. You can also sample locally made Biltong, which is South African dried and cured beef.  Everything is decently priced with most items being between 30-40 shekels and you will be pretty full after eating each South African delicacy they serve. You can find Bunny Chow in the Allenby Rothschild Market or deep in the heart of HaCarmel Market here in Tel Aviv. For a unique taste of South Africa, Bunny Chow is worth every shekel spent.

Old Man and the Sea: Jaffa

Every city has that go-to restaurant for when you have friends visiting or for a special occasion such as a birthday. A restaurant that captures the essence of its surroundings and most importantly its regional cuisine. Found in the Jaffa port complex is one of these restaurants. Old Man and the Sea specializes in grilled meats and fish. What sets it apart from any other grill is the 23 unlimited salads, laffa bread, and mint lemonade that shows up at your table before your main course is served. Each salad is freshly prepared and uses only the best available ingredients. Even the falafel they serve is some of the best I have tried. Its not just the quality of the salads that bring me back, its the grilled meat and fish they serve as well. Most of the fish is served whole expect for the salmon and mix shellfish platter. As for the grilled meats the lamb chops and the ribeye steak are must tries if you are against eat fish. Each main dish also comes with a side of addictive roasted potatoes. When you finish your meal you will be spectators for the most unique way of clearing the table. The waiter takes all the plates in one fell swoop. It is something left only to the professionals so do not try it at home.  Even after you have eaten all the salads and grilled meat and fish, you are served these fried honey balls called Awame. Think of fried doughnut holes covered in honey syrup. The dessert is served with either Arabic coffee or mint tea. With a price point of about 115 shekels per person, it is well worth the price for how much food you get. It is definitely worth the trip to Jaffa to eat amazing food and soak up the great atmosphere with your friends and family.

Bretonne: Crepes in Tel Aviv

The crepe is a typical French pancake which can be filled with a variety of fillings whether it be sweet or savory. Crepes are known around the world and many cultures share the crepe as part of their culinary repertoire. Here in Tel Aviv, the best crepes can be find at a creperie called Bretonne. It takes its name for the northwest province of France called Breton or Brittany, where the crepes are supposedly the best in all of France. Bretonne has two branches in the city. One located in the center on Ibn Gavirol and the other located in the hipster paradise of Florentine. Bretonne offers a wide selection sweet and savory crepes. Their savory options range from vegan friendly, to meat and cheese filled crepes. An important note to make, if you have a gluten allergy you can ask for a gluten free crepe made from buckwheat flour. The smoked cheddar crepe is one of their best cheese-centered crepes which features Emmental cheese, potato, spinach, garlic, zhug, olives, and arugula. Another favorite savory crepe of is their palamida crepe which is filled with cured mackerel, creme fraiche, green onions, capers, cilantro, garlic, lemon juice, and arugula. My favorite savory crepe though has to be the one with cured goose breast. For a while, they offered it with locally produced lamb bacon which really set it off. This crepe features cured goose breast, smoked cheddar, spinach, potato, red onion, garlic, zhug, and arugula. While the savory crepes are good for a good snack, lunch, or light dinner, the real reason to go to Bretonne is their sweet crepes. Any sweet crepe is destined to be delicious, but there are a few that stand out as must tries. The Tatin crepe is a play on the classic French dish tarte tatin. The crepe features, creme fraiche, apples, salted caramel, and sliced almonds. Another winner is the dark chocolate, banana and condensed milk crepe. Sounds strange but it totally works. The cheesecake and berries crepe is another interesting crepe that totally works as well. Finally the classic nutella filled crepe is always there to satisfy everyone's sweet tooth because who really does not love nutella. The crepes are very reasonably priced with most of the sweet crepes being between 18 and 30 shekels. While each of the savory crepes are between 32 and 42 shekels. The great food, friendly service, and great price makes Bretonne a must try for anyone who loves a good crepe from time to time. 

EatMeat: Tel Aviv

About 3 years ago I was wandering outside Dizengoff Center and suddenly the smell of grilling beef and fried onions came to my senses. I was hungry at the time so I followed the intoxicating smell to a small, casual eatery called EatMeat. Ever since then, I have become a regular customer. EatMeat specializes in steak sandwiches that might just be the best sandwich you can find in Tel Aviv. They use thinly sliced ribeye steak and grill it up on the plancha(griddle). Their sandwich features warm, fresh Moroccan Frena bread. Toppings included fried onions, lettuce, tomato, red onion, mayonnaise, chimichurri, Dijon mustard, and hot peppers. At 39 shekels, EatMeat is reasonably priced and worth it. You can sit counter side while watching the staff cooking up the steak or if you are into people watching there are tables on the sidewalk. They also do steak salads, but why would you order a salad when you could eat arguably the best sandwich in the city. EatMeat also provides the option to take away your steak sandwich, but why would you wait to eat. I recommend eating your sandwich there, while it is hot, straight form the griddle. Located on King George and the corner of Haneviim, EatMeat is Tel Aviv's best bet for a steak sandwich. 

Joseph 'N' Sons: Fish and Chips in Tel Aviv

A steaming hot platter of freshly fried fish and chips is beautiful thing to behold. The search for the best in the city stops at Joseph 'N' Sons on Rabin Square. Joseph 'N' Sons is a very small casual eatery specializing in seafood. Their flagship item is of course the fish and chips which is fried in their delicious beer batter. Served with hand-cut chips, tartar sauce, and a lemon wedge is probably the way to go for any first timer. You can choose between cod, catfish, or shrimps and calamari mix. If fish is not your thing they have crispy chicken bites, but for real you go to Joseph 'N' Sons for the fish. If you are a freak for sweet potato fries, Joseph 'N' Sons also has them available for your desires. If you are really hungry you can ask for there extra large portion. You can even have a pint of London Pride with your fish and chips platter to make it the ultimate experience. For the health conscious, there is an option for fish and salad. The fish is prepared on the plancha (griddle) and is served with their house salad. You can choose between salmon, mullet, sea bream, or shrimps and calamari mix. If you are on the rush, try their half portions to go. It is the perfect portion for strolling the streets of Tel Aviv. Portion sizes are fantastic considering you will pay at the most 72 shekels and a regular portion of fish and chips for 49 shekels. Everything is fresh and delicious so there is no real reason for you to not try this fantastic place out. For the fish and chips in Tel Aviv, Joseph 'N' Sons is your best bet.

Poke: Tel Aviv

Poke is a dish that hails all the way from the beautiful islands they like to call Hawaii. For those that do not know, Poke is a traditional raw seafood salad. It is seasoned traditionally with sesame oil, soy sauce, green onions, purple onions, or anything the chef desires. Over the past few years, Poke has become extremely popular and trendy. From Los Angeles to New York foodies are clamoring for this dish and are posting their pictures of it on Instagram. To my amazement, there is a restaurant right here in Tel Aviv that specializes in Poke. Located on the corner of Ibn Gabirol and Eliezer Kaplan, Poke serves what other than its namesake. While there are five specials for you to try, Poke really wants you to mix and match your meal to your specifications. For your poke bowl you can choose either white rice or brown rice as your base. After you choose your base, the options are limitless. You can choose between salmon, tuna, white fish, or tofu as your main protein. Now comes the veggies, sauces, and toppings for your bowl. The outcomes are endless and delicious. For fresh seafood at a reasonable price, Poke is a must try. 

Turk Lahmajoun :TLV

There are many places in Tel Aviv where you can eat shawarma. Some are better than others and there are places I would definitely recommend staying away from. This place however is a place I would suggest to anyone who is craving shawarma. Located on the corner of Nachalat Binyamin and Yehuda Halevi, Turk Lahmajoun serves one of the best shawarmas in the city. You can order between three types of shawarma which include the lamb doner, pargit (spring chicken), or turkey. You can have your shawarma on a plate with salads, in a pita, baguette, laffa, or in a lahmajoun. If you dont know what lahmajoun is, it is a flatbread topped with spiced ground beef or lamb. It hails from Turkey and Armenia. Like most shawarma joints, you can get as much salads and pickles with your meal to eat on the side. Besides shawarma, you can order grilled meat skewers called in Hebrew shipudim. The real reason however to go to Turk Lahmajoun is the shawarma. Its one of the best shawarmas in the center of the city. Easy to find like I said before on the corner of Nachalat Binyamin and Yehuda Halevi, just bring an appetite and discover one of the best in the city.

Texas Barbecue: Tel Aviv

One of the specific American foods that I miss and crave at times here in Tel Aviv is old school Barbecue. I am not referring to putting meat on a grill and calling it a barbecue. I am referring to meat that has been slowly cooked with wood smoke. The taste of slow smoked brisket or short ribs is incomparable. It is an authentic taste of America that any homesick American will want to comfort their souls. It is a good thing that my friend told me about this place called Texas Barbecue in the Ramat HaChayal neighborhood of Tel Aviv. When you walk into the restaurant you immediately smell the wood smoke which is a good sign in my opinion. By the smell you know they are actually smoking the meat and not just cooking it in an oven. The menu reads like any other barbecue menu except it does not have any pork. Meats include brisket, beef short ribs, pulled beef, pulled chicken, chicken wings, half smoked chickens, rib eye steak, beef sausage, and smoked salmon. Side dishes include mac and cheese, coleslaw, potato salad, french fries, baked beans, and sweet potato wedges. You can order a meal with your choice of meats and sides, a sandwich with choice of side, salads, family meals, or if you come during the afternoon there are business lunch deals. It is definitely worth the trip to Ramat HaChayal which is in the northern part of the city. If you are an American craving barbecue, Texas Barbecue is your best bet in the Tel Aviv area.

Yam Yam: Tel Aviv

If you like shellfish, Yam Yam is the place for you to try in the heart of Tel Aviv. Located right off of posh Rothschild Boulevard, Yam Yam specializes in classic shellfish preparations which will leave you wanting to come back for more. The appetizers I would highly recommend is the bacon and shrimp skewers, and the tempura shrimps. The shrimps were not overcooked and dry which is key to eating good shrimp. The tempura shrimps were by far my favorite as it was still crisp even when coated in sweet chili sauce. As for the main dishes, you can choose between shrimps, calamari, mussels, or a mix in a choice of sauces or fried. Choice of sauces include white wine garlic butter, curry butter, and white wine and cherry tomatoes. The atmosphere is extremely casual and deserves to be situated on the beach instead of center city Tel Aviv. Yam Yam will not set you back in the wallet as well. Most main dishes cost 45 shekels which is very reasonable considering its seafood. For real, if you are craving seafood Yam Yam is the place for you.

America: TLV

When I miss home its not just the friends and family that are still in the States, it the food as well that I miss. For whenever I am home sick I would make the American classics at home or head to my favorite hamburger joint. Tel Aviv did not have a restaurant that represents the diverse cuisine found across all fifty states. That is until America opened up on Ibn Gavriol. America specializes in interpretations of American comfort food classics. Wings, burgers, and fried chicken are obvious foods that are featured on the menu. Other American classics included on the menu are barbecue chicken, baby back ribs, short ribs, and macaroni and cheese. America also features the American classics from south of the border. Great tacos, quesadillas, and tostadas can be had here as well. The wait staff is friendly and very helpful. The atmosphere is great as well with live music on the weekends. Overall, America is a must eat restaurant for the homesick American living in Tel Aviv.

Chop Chop: Tel Aviv

Everyone loves a good stir fry for themselves for a meal. It is a meal that everyone likes to customize for themselves. What if I told you there is a restaurant that allows you do just that here in Tel Aviv. Chop Chop is the spot for you to create your very own stir fry creation. It is pretty easy once you understand how to order. You first pick your base of either a variety of rice options or noodle options. Then you choose your choice of sauce. After the sauce you can choose between a plethora of vegetables and toppings to make your stir fry the way you want it. For an additional cost you can add steak strips, chicken, shrimps, or tofu. The possible combinations at Chop Chop are endless. You can easily eat there every day and eat something different every time. You can find Chop Chop centrally located at the corner of Eliezer Kaplan and Ibn Gavirol. If you are not in the mood to get out of the office of bed, Chop Chop does have delivery service as well.

Dede: Florentine

Living in Florentine, Tel Aviv, you stumble upon a variety of dining options ranging from the classics to the more out of the ordinary and inventive options. Nestled on the quiet Uriel Acosta Street in the heart of the neighborhood is Dede. Dede serves a unique egg crepe stuffed with a variety of fillings both for omnivores and vegetarians alike. They even now have vegan options for those in that crowd. The atmosphere is very relaxing, great music selection, friendly staff, and most importantly the food is fantastic.  Dede really attracts every part of society that calls Florentine, home. It attracts the stoners, hipsters, punks, artists, students, and those just wanting to look cool and important. Great food and drink at a great price is really what brings me back time and time again to Dede. If you want a true Florentine experience, head to Dede.

Schnitzel Beer

Schnitzel is universally loved here in Israel. It is comfort food and quite frankly I have not met someone who does not like it. Its food that warms the soul and can make anyone feel better about themselves. Here in Israel you will most likely find schnitzel made from chicken, usually the breast. It is pounded thin, breaded with golden bread crumbs, and then ultimately fried to golden brown. Served immediately from the fryer and onto your plate is how most like their schnitzel. Cold schnitzel never really works, unless you are too hungover from the night before. To find the schnitzel of the neighborhood, you can head to Sderot Washington where you will find Schnitzel Beer. Yes, that is the name of the restaurant. They specialize in big buckets of hot, crunchy, and juicy schnitzel to accompany your favorite cold adult beverage.The buckets come in sizes that range from personal size to enough for two people. They come with a side of shoestring french fries, salad, and all the sauces you would want. The prices are pretty decent as well. Not worth an arm and a leg, plus the beer is cheap which is always a good thing. Just head to the heart of Florentin, and sniff out the schnitzel. Once you smell it you will know you have arrived.

Men Tenten Ramen

A bowl of noodle soup is one of the most comforting meals that I can think of. It soothes the soul, and can even cure you when you are sick. A dish that rejuvenates the soul as well as satisfies any hunger. Many great food cultures feature a dish like this. There are many variations of noodle soup found throughout the world. I grew up on my Nana's chicken soup with noodles and the matzah balls. The Vietnamese grew up on pho. In Taiwan they are crazy for beef noodle soup. While in Malaysia laksa is the go-to noodle dish for the masses. Yet the noodle soup that has become extremely trendy hails from Japan, and that is ramen. You might be thinking its just ramen, the same old noodles you can get for a dollar at the corner store while you were broke in college. Yet the world of ramen is actually quite deep, and more interesting than the instant ramen that we are most accustomed to.

High quality Japanese style ramen is taking the world by storm. Famous places like Wagamama, and Momofuku are stylish examples of just how far this trend has gone. The key to good quality ramen, is a quality stock, fresh noodles cooked to order, and of course all of the necessary condiments. To my surprise there is such a place here in Tel Aviv that offers quality Japanese style Ramen. Located in the Rothschild/Allenby Food Market is Men TenTen Ramen and Izakaya.

Men TenTen Ramen is the spot for Ramen in Tel Aviv. Men TenTen offers five styles of Ramen. The first on the menu is the Tongara Ramen. Tongara Ramen consists of a pork and chicken stock that has been simmered for over 18 hours. The ramen noodles are homemade and cooked to order. The ramen soup is garnished with a slice of roasted pork, scallions, bamboo shoots, and a soft boiled egg. One noticeable distinction for this ramen is that the broth is extremely rich and creamy. That is because it has been cooking for a long time so the fat from the chicken and pork actually emulsifies and becomes part of the stock. If you do not like pork, try their chicken ramen soup called the Torigara. For the vegan and vegetarians there are two options. One option is a take on Japanese style curry with their homemade noodles, potatoes, carrots, and curry broth. The other option is a seaweed and mushroom based ramen soup garnished with deep fried tofu, carrot, and daikon radish. The final and most unique version ramen Men TenTen serves is the Tsukemen ramen. Tsukemen ramen is unique in the the noodles are served on the side and are meant to be dipped into the concentrated soup broth. Add-ons include additional noodles, soup, slices of pork or chicken, deep fried tofu, or soft boiled egg.

To start or accompany your ramen meal, Men TenTen also offers a variety of traditional Japanese dishes. A variety of gyoza(potstickers) are on the menu with pork, chicken or mixed vegetable fillings. Another Japanese delight they serve is call Kushikatsu, which is deep fried skewers of either chicken or pork. Besides these absolutely delightful side dishes, they also over Karage(Japanese fried chicken and Tonkatsu(deep fried pork or chicken cutlet).

I think I have said everything that has to be said about this place. If you have not been yet I highly suggest checking this place out. They have absolutely delicious and beautiful food so you really have no choice but to check it out.

Vitrina Lili: Tel Aviv

I had avoided going to Vitrina for a long time. I had no reasons why in particular, but I finally had to go. I needed some clarity to what is supposedly the best burger in Tel Aviv. All the hype, noise, Instagram posts, and hashtags made me realize I had to try it at least to say I have had Vitrina. I went with one of my best friends here and at first we thought it would take forever, but upon further investigating we ordered and found two spots at the bar. When you have the option for bacon and cheddar as toppings for your burger you order it medium, with all the toppings because you are one that wants the best. If you think ordering your burger well-done is a normal thing, please try it the proper way. Now that you have ordered your bacon cheese burger the proper way you must wait. This waiting time makes you even more hungry. By the time your burger and fries comes to you, you are famished. You have waited for half an hour for burger bliss. Your mouth is watering, salivating over the thought of grilled beef and melted cheese. You take your first bite and your taste buds are flooded with amazing tastes that puts you into euphoria. You realize you have found the spot for the best burger in the city.

I know I went on a tangent there but it was exactly how I felt sitting at Vitrina waiting for my burger. Their bacon cheese burger features their own barbecue sauce, bacon-onion jam, lettuce, and tomato. The bacon-onion jam is a genius delivery tool for bacon as it covers the whole burger, so you get bacon in each bite you take of your burger. The fries Vitrina serves are a mix of regular and sweet potato fries, dusted with lemon zest and parsley. Reminiscent of the shoestring french fries of burger joints back home in United States, these fries are quite the delicious side to your burger.

The atmosphere was pretty happening when I went. They were playing a combination of 2000's hip hop and trap music. The open concept makes the experience fun as you can watch the cooks make your burger. The staff is really helpful and does not try and ignore your requests. The main thing is they aim to please. As a burger destination, Vitrina has to be on the list for those who love burgers in Tel Aviv. One Hundred percent recommend Vitrina for a burger experience not to miss.