If you are not in Tel Aviv at the moment and think that this article has nothing to do with you, think again. As Danielle Sanger, a good friend and colleague of mine, stated after visiting the city, "I will go there again just for the food.” Clearly, getting to know Tel Aviv's cuisine scene will help you make a better decision when it comes time to study away. Food is an integral aspect of culture, and Tel Aviv’s unique dishes represent the inherent innovation that puts Tel Aviv on the list of the great cities in the world.

Tel Aviv's famous, local Middle Eastern dishes are better than you can imagine. You may think you have had Falafel and Shawarma before, but you have not really had it until you eat it in the Middle East. The flavors are strong due to the local spices, and the hummus is made daily with fresh chickpeas and tahini. However, unlike other cities in the area that specialize in and serve delicious local dishes, Tel Aviv offers a vast range of restaurants serving authentic food from different countries, and, more importantly, there are plenty of fusion restaurants which combine cuisines from various parts of the world.

Hanoi

One of the best examples of authentic 'unusual to the area' food in Tel Aviv can be found in Hanoi, a Vietnamese restaurant located in the heart of the city. I traveled in Vietnam for a month and I can honestly say that this restaurant's dishes are as authentic and perhaps even more delicious then the ones in Vietnam. The meal begins with a mango salad, served with cilantro, peanuts, and their secret sauce. The deliciousness continues with a bite of their classic Vietnamese Banh Mi sandwich. Their menu is full of different kinds of Vietnamese rice and noodle dishes which are as flavorful as their origins abroad; however, I am particularly enamored by the desserts. Vietnam is not known for great desserts, and this is where Tel Aviv’s innovation view is seen vividly. The restaurant created an original sweet dish of chocolate mouse covered with popcorn that has been seasoned with Vietnamese spices. You have to try it to understand how good it is. Diego San

As I mentioned earlier, the most unique Tel Aviv restaurants are the fusion ones. My personal favorite is Diego San, a clever combination of Mexican and Korean food. It has a young vibe, an urban aesthetic design, and a DJ at the entrance. Diego San's walls are decorated with neon lights and the type of wallpaper that you would only find in tiny authentic Mexican restaurants. Next to the bathroom hangs a framed picture of Mao next to a Buddhist Temple. It has nothing to do with either Mexico or Korea, but it definitely supports the overall cool, colorful vibe. This eclectic vibe is observable in their serving style as well. Their great cocktails are served with little umbrellas, and many dishes are served on patterned papers in plastic baskets in the 80's kitschy fashion. Diego San can also be considered as a bar with great little dishes. Pad Thai Popcorn is a great example of that. It is popcorn cooked in caramel, fish sauce, peanuts, cilantro, and lemon. It sounds strange, but it is a great snack that echoes the flavor Pad Thai noodles. What’s great is that they offer small dishes in pairs of two, which makes it easy to share and try different ones - from steam buns made in pita shapes to tacos filled with Mexi-Korean flavored dishes. Additionally, Diego San's menu offers its own versions of Korean Kimchi and Bibimbap, and a pork belly dish, which is not common in Tel Aviv. It is a great place to eat whether you are looking for a quick snack, drinks, or a whole meal. Chocolulu

For more traditional European food, go to Chocolulu, an Italian restaurant in Florentin, one of Tel Aviv's thriving nightlife neighborhoods. The prices are cheap compared to other restaurants in the city, but the quality is as good if not better. The main attraction of Chocolulu is their pasta dishes, which are served on big, beautiful parmesan cheese wheels. The waiters stir the cooked pasta on the parmesan wheel, filling the paste with cheese from the inside, then put it in your plate, pour the sauce of your choice on it, peel chunks of parmesan from the wheel and put it on top. There are obviously pastas with vegan sauces which can be served regularly, but as a vegan I must admit the parmesan wheel serving process is so good it comes up in my dreams ones in awhile. In addition to this amazingly creative serving technique, Chocolulu offers a wide variety of dishes such as classic breakfasts, burgers, sea-food, salads, and soups. If you go there, make sure to try the onion soup. It is served in a bowl which has been put in an oven with a Mellawah (a thin, crispy, light, flaky pastry) on top of it, so you first must break the Mellawah in order to reach the creamy soup.

You do not need to travel all over the world to taste different cuisines; you can try them all in Tel Aviv. If you did not consider studying abroad in Tel Aviv, reconsider, because the food is worth it. This article was written by Nofar Hamrany. Send an email to [email protected] to get in touch. Photo Credit: Nofar Hamrany