A foodie's paradise on Djerba Island, Tunisia! An amazing culinary trip guided by locals.
—Honestly, I didn't have high expectations for Tunisian food, but it was three times better than I imagined.
I was convinced from the first bite upon arriving on Djerba Island.
"Wow, Tunisian food is actually pretty good!"
On this small island in the Mediterranean, from counter meals at local eateries to home-cooked meals at local families' homes—I'll honestly report on everything I ate that made me think, "I absolutely have to write about this on my blog!"
[Divine Food ①] Lablabi — The best dish of this trip
The absolute No. 1 dish of this trip was Lablabi.
Tears of baguette are submerged in chickpea soup, topped with a generous amount of tuna. The aroma of spices and cumin wafts up, and although it looks simple, once you start eating, you can't stop.
The earthenware pot is far from photogenic, but before I knew it, I had eaten it all (lol).
If you come to Tunisia, you absolutely must try this. Seriously.
[Cafeteria Food] Brik, Salad, Baguette — The Reliable Favorite Set
At a local café, I ordered **Brik**, a type of fried pastry.
It has a thin, crispy crust filled with egg or tuna, and is eaten with a squeeze of lemon. Crispy on the outside, gooey on the inside—this is what you can get for just over 100 yen in Djerba.
The Tunisian-style salad that came with it was a mix of tomato, tuna, and harissa (chili paste), much more flavorful than it looked. Apparently, the local style is to tear off pieces of baguette and eat them together.
[Seaside Cafe] Coffee and Juice While Gazing at the Blue Sea
I took a break at a seaside cafe.
The Mediterranean Sea stretched out before me, with rowboats floating on the water—I enjoyed a strong espresso and a cold, reddish-purple juice (probably grenadine?) while gazing at this view.
It was a moment when I realized this is why I came to Djerba.
[Dinner] Shawarma and French Fries
I've had it in Japan before, but this was the dish I wanted to try the most: shawarma!
Authentic shawarma in a lively restaurant.
It came wrapped in aluminum foil, and when I opened it, it was packed with meat, tomatoes, lettuce, and sauce. The moment I took a bite, I spilled everything. How do people manage to eat it so neatly? (laughs)
And the authentic shawarma was amazing! This is something I could eat over and over again without getting tired of it.
[Local Home Cooking ①] A Story About Being Impressed by an Egg Dish
I was invited to the home of someone who lives on the island and treated to a home-cooked meal.
An egg dish with plenty of herbs (like Chakchuka?), a spicy stew, and a green paste with a deep flavor that I couldn't quite identify...
Even though we couldn't understand each other's language, "delicious" was conveyed.
The egg dish was incredibly delicious. It was simple, yet why was it so different? I think it must be the difference in the blend of spices and love.
[Home Cooking ②] Bean and Meat Stew with Baguette
On another day when I was invited back, the meal was a tomato-based stew with green peas and meat.
The style of eating was to mix the red stir-fry (onion and tomato sauce?) in a small glass bowl in the center into the stew. Soaking it up with the baguette left me speechless.
It reaffirmed my belief that home cooking is truly the best.
[Something I didn't really like] Danette Assida Zgougou
I'll be honest.
Danette Assida is a local Tunisian sweet, a cream dessert with pine cone (zgougou) flavor.
It has a unique pine resin-like flavor, and apparently it's a staple for Tunisians, but for me, it wasn't just a little strong, it was extremely peculiar... It was a valuable bite in the sense that I could experience a difference in food culture (lol).
I tried it after being recommended it as delicious... Huh? I honestly blurted out that it wasn't delicious; it was a taste I couldn't accept. It's amazing that someone thought of eating pine cones…
[Bonus] Meatball Pizza
A pizza piled high with small meatballs (merguez?) and olives, enjoyed at a local pizzeria.
The Tunisian-style pizza was spicy and much better than I expected.
Summary: Djerba Island is worth visiting for its food
As a tourist destination, Djerba Island is charming with its relaxed pace and white streets. But what left the biggest impression on me this time was the egg dish I was given by a local family and a glass of La La Vie.
This trip made me realize that there really are flavors that money can't buy.
I hope this is helpful for your next trip to Tunisia!
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