10 Tunisian Street Foods You Must Try (And Where to Find Them)

From crispy brik to spicy lablabi, a local foodie's guide to the best street foods across Tunisia.

Tunisian cuisine is one of North Africa's best-kept secrets. Influenced by Berber, Arab, Ottoman, and French traditions, the street food scene is vibrant, affordable, and absolutely delicious. Here are ten dishes every visitor should try.

Brik is arguably Tunisia's most iconic street food. A thin pastry shell (malsouka) is filled with a runny egg, tuna, capers, and parsley, then deep-fried until golden and crispy. The trick is eating it without breaking the egg yolk. You will find brik at virtually every street food stall, but the best versions are in the Tunis Medina, where vendors have been perfecting the recipe for generations.

Lablabi is the ultimate Tunisian comfort food, especially popular in winter. This chickpea soup is ladled over torn pieces of stale bread, then topped with harissa, olive oil, cumin, a soft-boiled egg, and capers. Each bowl is customized to your taste. Head to any working-class neighborhood in Tunis early in the morning for the most authentic experience.

Fricassé are small deep-fried sandwiches filled with tuna, olives, harissa, and boiled egg. They are everywhere in Tunisia and cost less than one dinar. These golden pocket sandwiches are a staple breakfast and snack food.

Bambalouni are Tunisian doughnuts sold on beaches and street corners. These ring-shaped fried pastries are dusted with sugar while still hot. The beachside bambalouni sellers in La Marsa and Hammamet are legendary.

Makroudh from Kairouan is a semolina pastry stuffed with date paste, deep-fried, and soaked in honey syrup. Kairouan is famous for producing the best makroudh in the country, and you can watch them being made in the old medina.

Ojja is a spicy tomato and pepper stew with eggs poached directly in the sauce. Variants include merguez sausage or shrimp. It is typically served in a small tagine pot with crusty bread for dipping.

Kafteji is a salad of fried vegetables including pumpkin, peppers, tomatoes, and onions, mixed with beaten eggs and fried together. It is served with bread and harissa as a quick, filling lunch.

Chapati tunisien is a thin, grilled flatbread filled with grilled meats, mechouia salad, and harissa. Street vendors in Tunis and Sousse grill these to order on charcoal.

Assidat zgougou is a traditional dessert made from Aleppo pine nuts, topped with whipped cream and decorated with nuts and candied fruits. It is traditionally prepared for Mawlid (the Prophet's birthday) but can be found in pastry shops year-round.

Mint tea is not a food but deserves mention. Tunisian mint tea is served with pine nuts floating on top and is heavily sweetened. It is the national drink and is offered as a sign of hospitality everywhere you go.