Sabich Frishman

Sabich Frishman is a small sandwich shop at 42 Frishman Street in central Tel Aviv-Yafo, devoted to sabich, the Iraqi-Jewish pita sandwich that became a staple of Israeli street food. Sabich originated with Iraqi Jewish immigrants, who traditionally ate fried eggplant and eggs on Shabbat mornings, and it is now a local classic. The shop is a street-food counter rather than a chef-led restaurant, with no Michelin recognition to cite. The signature dish is the sabich: a pita or laffa filled with fried eggplant slices, hard-boiled egg, tahini, amba (a tangy pickled mango sauce), Israeli salad and pickles. Diners can ask for extra tahini and salad, and the sandwich is assembled quickly in front of the customer. The setting is casual, with a counter and limited seating, noise from the street, and no dress code. Most customers eat standing or take the sandwich away. There is no wine or beer programme to speak of; drinks are soft drinks and water. The price is low at $, and a sabich usually costs roughly NIS 30 to 40, among the most affordable full meals in the city. The shop serves during the day from Sunday to Friday, closing in the early afternoon on Friday and staying closed on Saturday, so visitors should confirm hours before going. Reservations are not taken. Lunchtime brings a queue, but the line moves rapidly. The sandwich is messy, so napkins are useful and eating it over the wrapper avoids spills. Frishman Street is a short walk from Dizengoff Street, Gordon Beach and the Bograshov area, so the shop pairs well with a stroll toward the seafront.