Port Said Tel Aviv

There's an ongoing debate in Israel about the chef Eyal Shani who created a few of the most successful yet expensive street food places in Tel Aviv. Some say he's a genius, some say he's overrated. Either way, it's worth checking it out for yourself. And what better place to do that than at one of his successful gastro-bars?

Most of the seats are outside, on the sidewalk with a few steps. It's always crowded, and usually you will also find people sitting on the stairs with their beers. The design is super casual: low tables covered with brown papers, mismatched chairs and food that is served on a piece of carton. Most of the guests (and staff) are covered with tattoos and have weird-cool clothes. All this creates a really cool, vibrant atmosphere.

And then there's the food. The dishes are not big and it's best to share a few. They are simple but oh-so good: my favorites are the lima beans msabbcha (cooked beans with tahini, garlic and lemon), and the one-piece yam which is baked just enough to be soft and is served with cream and thick salt. One of the most famous dishes is the baked cauliflower head with butter and cream.

Other than the food, there's a variety of alcohol like at any other bar. You can start with a beer or a glass of wine to go with the food, and also have a few shots between and after the dishes. Cheers!