EL AL | Atmosphere

Men Ten Ten | A Japanese bubble in the heart of Tel Aviv Some regard this as Israel’s most authentic Japanese restaurant – and rightly so. Men Ten Ten is Japan is restaurant form. This is where you’ll not only find traditional Japanese fare, but Japanese bathroom facilities as well (think pampering toilet seats). The chef is Japanese, as are the ingredients, and even the soy sauce is prepared in house, just as it would be in any self-respecting Japanese establishment. The menu includes robata grilled meats, ramen, sushi, nigiri, miso soup, and a myriad more Japanese specialties. A side door leads you towards a Japanese food bar in an authentic atmosphere, and all forms of Japanese alcohol are served alongside the wonderful food. Whenever you feel like taking a trip to Japan without leaving Tel Aviv, Men Ten Ten is undoubtedly the place to go. mentenentlv.com, Nahalat Binyamin st 57, Tel Aviv

Kamakura I Photo: Afik Gabay

The Pastry Box | Hedgehog buns and kitten-shaped ice-cream If it weren’t for the sound of Hebrew in the background, you’d swear you were in Japan. In a typically Japanese décor, pastry chef Nurith Chitayat delights customers with extraordinary creations designed with the precision of French patisserie and playfulness of Japanese cuisine. There are soft milk buns that look like hedgehogs, teddy bears or frogs, kitten-shaped ice-cream, handmade chocolate pralines of all kinds, unicorn pastries, and matcha-flavored marshmallow, just like you’d find in a pastry shop in Japan. This little gem of a place screams authenticity, and there’s no mystery as to why: indeed, Chitayat was born and raised in Japan and her profound familiarity with the culture is felt in every bite of every one of her baked delights. The Pastry Box has “kawaii” vibes in spades, with its feet firmly in the heart of Tel Aviv, and its head and heart in downtown Tokyo. thepastrybox.co.il, Rival st 7, Tel Aviv

Kamakura | Japanese grilled meats and sake Located inside Ramat Gan’s ‘Indigo’ boutique hotel, Kamakura is a kosher Japanese grilled meat eatery with an impressive selection of sake bottles. The name Kamakura harks back to the Japanese Shogun era during which the Japanese tradition of smoking and chargrilling meat was perfected. Chef Ilya Goldman has created a menu that fuses Japanese cooking techniques with western flavors – and it’s a delight to the senses. Skewers of delicious meat, dips and sauces, are served alongside either sake or a cocktail in an elegant décor and quiet atmosphere that’s ideal for a business lunch or an afterwork meal. kamakura.co.il, Ahaliav st 5, Ramat Gan

Men Ten Ten I Photo: Anatoli Michaelo

The Pastry Box I Photo: Daniel Layla

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ATMOSPHERE NOVEMBER 2022