Hamalabia: Tel Aviv's go-to spot for Malabi

If you spend anytime in Israel, you will probably be exposed to the traditional dessert called malabi. For those that do not know, malabi is a traditional milk pudding served with a rosewater syrup and crushed peanuts on top. It is a typical dessert found almost everywhere from on the street corner to fancy restaurants. There are many places where you can find this delicious and refreshing dessert, yet one the best versions can be found at Hamalabia. Like its name would suggest, Hamalabia specializes in malabi. You can try the original malabi with a raspberry and rose water syrup, topped with toasted coconut and chopped peanuts. However, if you are a vegan you can try their vegan version made from coconut milk. Besides doing the classic version at an incredible level, Hamalabia also offers other syrups and toppings to customize your malabi experience. You can try their vanilla and cinnamon or their lemon and cardamom syrup if rosewater is not your jam. A single serving will set you back 10 shekels which is quite inexpensive. The atmosphere at each branch is very cool and is conducive to hanging out with your friends. You can easily sit back, relax, and eat a dessert unique to the Israel. You can find Hamalabia on Allenby Street next to the beginning of Carmel Market, and in the Jaffa Flea Market. It is hands down, one of the best places for malabi in the country.

Shi Shi: The Sushi Burrito takes Tel Aviv

There is something unique about seeing the evolution of food fads. At first you see it on the internet and you question yourself on how could people actually pay money to eat it. Fads like the cronut, ramen burger, or anything red velvet have become mainstays in the food world. Even if these food fads are ridiculous, they will sell at the end of the day because it is a novelty to some people. For somebody to eat a ramen burger just to say they ate it is why these fads stay with us. Yet, what if a food fad stays relevant because it is genuinely a delicious dish. A dish that people actually want to eat and are excited about like it was something completely normal. This is my opinion on the sushi burrito. Yes I know the sushi burrito sounds like the gimmick of all gimmicks, but hear me out on this one. I thought it was just like any other food fad, with people eating it just so they could post to their social media that they indeed ate it. This opinion changed when I heard that there was a restaurant serving the sushi burrito here in Tel Aviv. I wanted to be proven wrong so I tried it out to see if it was actually delicious, and if it worked as a dish. I found the Tel Aviv version of the sushi burrito at Shi Shi on Ibn Gavirol and the corner of Haneviim. Shi Shi has a diverse menu of rolls which goes beyond the usual suspects of tuna and salmon in sushi. You can try rolls with grilled steak, fried shrimp, panko crusted cod, tofu, crispy chicken, ground chicken, and even a cauliflower filled roll. On my first visit to Shi Shi I tried their tuna roll which was stuffed with tuna, sliced red cabbage, cucumber, fresh herbs, crispy sweet potato, black sesame seeds, and their wasabi aioli. To my surprise it was absolutely delicious and mimicked any sushi experience I have had in the past. Once I got hooked I started to try their other rolls and was not disappointed. Besides the tuna and salmon rolls, I recommend their steak roll and their panko crusted shrimp roll. The fresh, bold flavors meld together to create one of the most satisfying sushi experiences I have had in a while. Depending on which roll you choose to order, it can set you back between 38 and 55 shekels for a roll. This is not bad on the wallet as you get a lot of food for the price you pay. Each roll does come with side salads available at the bar to take with you. Wait time even at peak hours is about 5 to 6 minutes which in my opinion is totally worth it. It is a great option if you are looking for healthier fast food, especially if you order the tuna or the salmon. It is also vegetarian and vegan friendly as there are rolls featuring tofu and cauliflower. The thing I like about the sushi burrito at Shi Shi is that it is not a bunch of rice with little filling. You taste more of the filling than the rice. It is a complete meal in one with protein, vegetables, and grains all in one convenient package. I fell for the sushi burrito and a lot of Tel Aviv has as well. Almost every time I stopped by, Shi Shi was packed with customers trying to also get their fix. If you are a sushi fanatic in Tel Aviv, Shi Shi is a must try.

Beer Shop: The Ultimate Beer Bar in Tel Aviv

Once again you find yourself out in Tel Aviv city. You hope and dream that the beer prices will be reasonable, but who are you kidding. You already know a beer at the cheapest will be around 28 shekels, which in dollars is around $8. This is makes Tel Aviv a very expensive city to go out in. There is however a place that shines a light onto the bar scene here. A place where they have 30 beers on tap that do not include the usually suspects of Goldstar, Carlsberg, Tuborg, or Maccabi. A place where you do not need to spend an arm and leg for a beer. Located on Yehuda HaLevi and the corner of Herzl Streets, Beer Shop has become in my mind the bar to go to for beer fanatics in Tel Aviv. Beer Shop features 30 beers on tap ranging from local craft Israeli beers such as Jems, Bazelet, and HaDictator, to European standards such as Franziskaner and Spaten from Germany. They even brew their own beers and their Summer Ale is one of their must tries. There are two real kickers that set Beer Shop apart from other bars around the city. The first has to be the price. Most half liters are priced between 16 and 20 shekels or between 4 and 5 dollars. This is a complete steal in Tel Aviv for quality beer at a bar. The second kicker is that you can ask for a liter of whatever beer you want to take home with you. Liters will set you back between 34 and 40 shekels. The value you get at Beer Shop is without a doubt the best in the city. Not to mention you actually receive half a liter of beer, which is refreshing due to some bars charging for a half liter while serving less than a half. Alongside your beer you can order quality beer snacks such as their hot dog, pizza, or locally sourced olives which going perfectly with your beer of choice. Israeli bars are known for sub par service when it comes to their bartenders, this is not the case at Beer Shop. Each staff member actually talks with you and tries to figure out which beer on tap is right for you. They know their beers and this knowledge is exactly what you want from bartenders at a high quality beer bar like Beer Shop. In short, go drink beer at Beer Shop and be happy among your friends.

Brooklyn Pizza: Tel Aviv's best slice

Sometimes I just want a few excellent slices of pizza to comfort my soul after a long day. The problem with that is in Tel Aviv there is a lot of mediocre or above average pizza places that serve slices. Tony Vespa serves pizza by weight or pizza al taglio, which is served as a rectangular slice. This would usually satisfy my pizza cravings, but I have grown to want something different. Dont get me wrong, Tony Vespa is damn good pizza, but its not the same as a massive New York slice. I looked far and wide for a slice like I would find in New York. Lucky for me I found the spot with a fitting name. Brooklyn Pizza is situated on the corner of Dizengoff and Nordau streets in the Northern part of the city. Brooklyn Pizza as its name would suggests, specializes in New York Style pizza you will find in all of the five boroughs. You have the options for slices, or whole pies.  Slices range from the classic cheese to pepperoni, mushroom, meat lovers, and a vegetable slice. Prices range from 16-19 shekels depending on your choice of slice. You can also order a whole pie to bring home or eat among your friends as well. As for the pizza itself, it's thin, crispy, and chewy crust reminds me of those slices I had back in New York and even back home in Boston. Easily foldable and portable, this slice of pizza is as good as it looks. It truly satisfied my standards and I have been back almost every week since first finding this place. I strongly recommend Brooklyn Pizza to anyone looking for a high quality slice of pizza in Tel Aviv.

Prozdor-Tel Aviv

The burger craze has taken Tel Aviv by storm in the past few years. Almost everywhere you look, there are restaurants serving the tasty American delight and claim they serve one of the best. The positive about this burger craze is that there are now awesome burgers available in Tel Aviv. The negative is that there are too many options and quite frankly some are just awful. One of the best burgers you can find in Tel Aviv is at Prozdor. Located a short walk from the beach on Mendeli Street, Prozdor serves a burger that deserves to be in the conversation for best burger in Tel Aviv. As you walk in and observe the funky decor and friendly staff, you seem to be transported to some local joint found throughout the United States. The menu is separated between burgers with cheese, double decker burgers, burgers without cheese, other offerings, and side dishes. Something unique and fun about Prozdor is that they name each of their burgers with a fun name. Some great names include the Swiss Army burger, the Better Call Saul burger, the Hard Knock Life burger, the Onion Champion, Le Royal fondue burger, the Juicy Lucy stuffed cheese burger, the Coward burger, and the Casablanca Job burger. My favorite burgers would have to be the Hard Knock Life burger featuring bacon, cheddar cheese and guacamole and the double decker Juicy Lucy stuffed cheeseburger. They also feature a crispy chicken sandwich called the Pollos Hermanos which is a must try if you are feeling like having a chicken sandwich instead. Each month, Prozdor creates a new burger of the month. For instance, the last time I was there this past month they had a pizza inspired burger with mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, tomato sauce, and basil. The burger of the month is always recommended but the regular offerings on the menu are also delicious. Prozdor offers as well business lunches from Sunday through Thursday starting at noon till 5 pm. For the price of your burger, you can choose your side dish and a drink. As for the damage to the wallet, Prozdor does not hit too heavy, especially if you go when they have their lunch time specials. The single patty burgers cost between 54 and 60 shekels which is not bad considering you get around a half pound burger. While the double patty burgers cost between 72 and 76 shekels. Great food, awesome atmosphere, and fantastic service make Prozdor a must try for the burger obsessive living in Tel Aviv. I would totally place Prozdor in my top 5 burgers in Tel Aviv.