One thing I learned when I was in Israel was that there really is no “Israeli food.” All of the food was brought from somewhere else when people immigrated to Israel, and their food became the food of Israel. Really, it’s all just Middle Eastern food, and let me tell you -- it’s amazing. Here are some “Israeli” foods and drinks you should try.

Meals:

Shawarma

You can either get chicken or beef shawarma and it’s so good. I ate shawarma almost every day for lunch for over a week and I never got sick of it. Stick it in a pita or laffa (basically just a bigger pita that makes it look like a shawarma burrito) with hummus, tahini and any veggies your heart desires and you’re set. The best part is when they put french fries in your pita. Unlike anything you’ve ever dreamed.

Falafel

You really can’t go wrong with falafel in the Holy Land. I mean, that’s probably where falafel was perfected. Eat these chickpea balls of happiness by themselves or in a pita. If you do get a pita, you can also get french fries inside.

Shakshuka

This dish may look a little weird or unappetizing, but it’s so good. It’s a poached egg in a tomato sauce with chili peppers, onions, and sometimes spiced with cumin. You can also get shakshuka with different meats and vegetables that will make your mouth water.

Kibbeh

To put it simply, it’s kind of like a meat ball wrapped in dough with pine nuts. If you get it in a soup, it’s usually boiled, but by itself you’ll find it to be fried. Try both if you get the chance.

Hummus

It’s not really a meal on its own, but the Israelis eat it with everything. Have you seen “You Don’t Mess With The Zohan?”

Snacks/Desserts

Bamba

The way I describe bamba is that it is like Cheetos, except instead of cheese, it’s peanut butter. Amazing. There are also different kinds of bamba. My favorite is the Nutella-filled bamba. Nutella and peanut butter have never been so perfect together.

Baklava

If you don’t know what baklava is, you’re 100 percent missing out. It’s a pastry made with layers of filo with nuts all held together with a sweet syrup or honey. Get on that.

Pop rock chocolate

You read that right. Chocolate that is filled with pop rocks. One bite and your mouth will be popping. It’s a party in your mouth, literally.

Drinks

Shoko Besakit

This chocolate milk will be unlike any chocolate milk you have ever had. It’s chocolate milk in a bag. Sounds weird, but it’s the greatest thing in the world. I’m still waiting for shoko to come to the States.

Aroma

Really you can get anything if you visit Aroma, Israel’s version of Starbucks. But it’s better. The best thing to get is an Iced Aroma, which is a blended coffee that you can really only get in Israel. You even get a little chocolate with your drink. What could be better? If you’re lucky, you live near one of the few Aromas in the States. If you do, I envy you.

Arak

Arak is an interesting type of alcohol in that it tastes like black licorice. Don’t like black licorice? Me neither, but it’s definitely something everyone should try at least once when in Israel.