In Tel Aviv, the first location of an internationally renowned Israeli street food chain, Miznon by Eyal Shani, offers a lamb kebab sandwich at the top of its game, legendary “the original world famous baby cauliflower,” and more. *I last visited this place in 2018.
As a Japanese writer who lived in Israel for 3 years, I have struggled enough to explain what Israeli food is (to Japanese readers, primarily).
“There’s no Israeli food” is how the explanation usually starts (and often ends). “Middle Eastern/North African/Mediterranean food with an Eastern European kick in the kosher-versatile form” is what I often resort to.
To define Israeli food in one phrase unabashedly, it can be “kosher Levantine cuisine.” But it’s not enough because the kosher diet in Israel is not the major diet (roughly 60% of Jewish Israelis in Israel keep kosher. But the Jewish population in Israel only consists of 70%, roughly). So what’s Israeli food anyway?
Obviously non-kosher, pork chop at Claro in Tel Aviv.
Obviously non-kosher, octopus curry at Ya Pan in Tel Aviv.
Obviously non-kosher, pepperoni pizza at La Repubblica in Tel Aviv.
Whatever the definition of Israeli food is, there are absolute quintessential foods such as hummus, falafel, kebab, and etc. And they all, almost all the time, come with/in pita bread.
Absolutely kosher, falafel sandwich at an IKEA in Israel.
One thing for sure is that a pita sandwich is the king of Israeli street food. Falafel sandwich, kebab sandwich, and full-fledged kosher sabich are all pita sandwiches, essentially. And the king of street food, the pita sandwich, in Israel means Miznon in Tel Aviv.
The first location of Miznon (מזנון) on 23 Ibn Gabirol St. in Tel Aviv.
The “all-inclusive” counter at the Miznon. Order, pay, and eat before the chefs.
Miznon is a legendary, upscale Israeli pita sandwich restaurant chain from Tel Aviv in Israel. It all started on 23 Ibn Gvirol St. in Tel Aviv back in 2011 and now has 18 locations worldwide (as of August 2022): 7 in Israel; 4 in the US (New York and Boston); 3 in France (Paris); 1 in Austria (Vienna); 1 in Australia (Melbourne); 1 in Singapore (Singapore); and 1 in the UK (London).
Miznon’s mastermind is a mighty Israeli chef Eyal Shani who used to be a judge of MasterChef Israel. Even for a temporary diaspora like me, it was impossible to ignore the influence of Eyal Shani who operates yet another variety of the city’s hottest eateries such as Romano, Port Sa’id, and more (I only made it once for each out of 288 trials: every weekend for 3 years, roughly). Whisper “Romano,” “Port Sa’id,” or “Miznon” with your favorite English accent to any Tel Avivian, you’ll find the communication.
A larger than life, mighty Eyal Shani banner at an IKEA in Israel.
The Miznon’s table (my table) on a street.
The first location of Miznon was unpretentious and understated and definitely had the soul of street food. The Miznon offered pita sandwiches: any sophisticated, modern Israeli gastronomic repertoire in a pocket of pita bread. International (French and Italian) matters could also be concluded in the pita bread, which is akin to the spirit of ramen in Japan.
The menu at the Miznon.
Lamb kebab at the Miznon.
“The best kebab I had” is what anyone including me can easily say because it’s true. It was uber-fresh, rich, and flavorful. The pita bread was extra fluffy yet strong enough to hold the seriously juicy lamb kebab and fresh Mediterranean vegetables. It was just, delicious. I’m sure Miznon is totally capable of being the best pizzeria or any other pie-related eatery in Tel Aviv if it wants to.
“The original world famous baby cauliflower” at the Miznon.
“The original world famous baby cauliflower” was how Mizon put it on the menu. I, as a Japanese, wasn’t 120% sure about “world famous” but 100% sure that it was a local legend dish in Tel Aviv.
Pre-cooked, the original world famous baby cauliflower(s) on a shelf at the Miznon
They were all waiting for orders to be the perfection.
My “the whole roasted baby cauliflower,” one of Tel Aviv’s staple dishes, was perfectly cooked and insanely soft and moist. It was drop-dead rich and almost tasted like cheese. If it was a non-fake vegan cheese the world can sustainably offer, I would happily abandon moderately priced and flavored cheeses like Velveeta. I’ll be fine with “mac and cauliflower” for good.
Tables on a street in front of the Miznon.
Given the fact that Tel Aviv is one of the most expensive cities to dine out in the world (a rail drink costs 50 Israeli shekel / $15 on average), the prices at the Miznon for such quality are beyond fair. At least for a non-Jewish forager like me, the Miznon was quite a land of miracles.
On top of that, the extra, artisanal high-quality pita bread and condiments were free: all-you-can-eat. I totally understood why my iPhone translated this place as “buffet (מזנון/mizon).”
Miznon | 23 Ibn Gabirol, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
Lamn kebab: ₪46 / $14 / £11.90 / €14
The original world famous baby cauliflower: ₪34 / $10.40 / £8.80 / €10.30
Website | Menu
Miznon | 23 Ibn Gabirol, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
☞ Find more Israeli food
☞ Find more street food
