Global cities are hotbeds of students and young professionals who left their families and friends in faraway suburban towns and provincial cities for a taste of cosmopolitan living. Tel Aviv is no different, having emerged from a popular lifestyle choice to virtually a predetermined phase in one’s life, no different from army service or university studies. Alas, nostalgia for home and the simpler life of the periphery undoubtedly arises periodically, often sated by good home-cooking during a weekend’s visit. For locals unable to make the trip, and travelers seeking a taste of the typical family kitchen, Odelia is there for you.

Founded first as a hummus restaurant, the owners delved into their North African roots, expanding the kitchen’s repertoire to a range of meat and seafood dishes. Highlights include spicy fish plate known as Chreime, and Mafrum, a Libyan dish of cinnamon-effused ground beef stuffed in potatoes, fried and serve in a tomato-based sauce. Try it with a side of Magedra for a true gastronomical delight. The restaurant is quick and cheap, a perfect snacking option for those spending the day at the beach.