Is in Taiwan, where the best of China and Japan do the dirty and have scrumptious little babies. But if I titled this post “World’s Second Best Street Food”, would you read it? Of course not.

So, after the bait, here’s the switch: sabich is really, really, really, really delicious. A refugee dish from Jewish Iraq, some intrepid individual took all the basic ingredients of the traditional shabbat (sabbath) meal and shoved it all in a pitta.

Fried eggplant, boiled egg, chilli salad, cucumber, onion, tomato, spring onion, potato, fresh chilli, crushed chilli, lettuce, cabbage, lemon, tchina, cumin and amba (an Iraqi mango chutney which – warning! – alters your body odour like asparagus changes your pee); this is one very pretty and crazy complex tastebud-assault.

Nom Nom Nom…

Some people will tell you that the best sabich in Tel-Aviv is on Frischman St. near the corner with Dizengoff. This, I am sorry to say, is complete bullshit. The best – by far – is on Tchernikovski just a few meters from Allenby. It’s so good, it’s just named Sabich. Ask for a “Mana shlema im hakol” (a full portion with everything) with a side of chilli pepper strips in salt and cumin, and prepare to have your life changed for ever.

You’re welcome.

Now if only someone could return the favour with some tips on how to shift the extra tyres I’ve developed living too close to this place…

Sabich Tchernikovski