Couscous: Tunisia's national dish steamed semolina grains served with vegetables, chickpeas, and meat (lamb, chicken, or fish). Eaten at least weekly in Tunisian households. Expect generous portions. Traditional Friday lunch dish.
Brik (Brique): Crispy deep-fried triangular pastry filled with egg, tuna, potatoes, capers, parsley, and harissa. The goal: bite carefully to catch the runny egg yolk! Available at street stalls (1-3 TND). Tunisia's most popular snack.
Harissa: Essential spicy paste made from roasted red peppers, chili, garlic, cumin, coriander, and olive oil. Used to flavor stews, couscous, and sandwiches. Ranges from mild to very hot.
Ojja (Chakchouka): Eggs poached in spicy tomato-pepper sauce, often with merguez sausage. Similar to shakshuka but Tunisian version typically includes meat. Eaten with fresh bread.
Fricassee: Fried bread sandwich filled with tuna, hard-boiled egg, olives, potatoes, capers, and harissa. Popular street food invented by Tunisia's Jewish community in the 1800s.
Lablabi: Hearty chickpea soup with garlic, cumin, harissa, olive oil, capers, and stale bread. Comforting winter dish eaten hot. Common at lunch/dinner (not breakfast despite some guides).
Mechouia Salad: Grilled vegetable salad (tomatoes, peppers, onions, garlic) with tuna and boiled eggs. Refreshing starter, especially in summer.
Tunisian Salad: Fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, peppers light and refreshing. Perfect in hot weather.
Merguez: Spicy lamb or beef sausage seasoned with harissa/chili peppers. Grilled and served in sandwiches or with couscous.
Makroud: Sweet semolina pastries filled with date paste, deep-fried, and soaked in honey. Traditional dessert.
Bambaloni: Sweet fried donuts dipped in honey perfect with coffee or mint tea.
Medina Restaurants: Authentic traditional cuisine in atmospheric settings historic dars (houses) converted to restaurants.
Street Food: Safest at busy stalls with high turnover. Try fricassee and brik from popular vendors. La Marsa's "Chez L'Ami Mustapha" famous for brik.
Avenue Habib Bourguiba: Mix of international and local restaurants, sidewalk cafés.
Coastal Restaurants: La Goulette and La Marsa excel at fresh seafood grilled fish, calamari, prawns.
Sidi Bou Said: Upscale dining with sea views but tourist prices. Restaurant l'Arabesque recommended.
Foodie Tip: Don't miss trying couscous with fish (coastal specialty), mlawi sandwich (roadside), and fresh Tunisian olives. The food around La Marsa's "La SafSaf" area is particularly good for authentic local cuisine.