The story
Iraqi Jews traditionally ate fried aubergine, slow-cooked eggs, potatoes and amba pickle as a Sabbath breakfast, served separately on a plate. In 1961 Sabich Tzvi Halabi, who had come to Israel from Baghdad, opened a kiosk with his wife Rina on Uziel Street in Ramat Gan. Bus drivers ending their shifts at a nearby stop asked for something more filling than snacks, so Halabi stuffed those breakfast ingredients into a pita. People in the queue kept asking for 'a dish, Sabich', and the sandwich took his name. Sabich stands spread across Israel, and in 2020 Ramat Gan named the corner of his stand Sabich Square.
Also known as sabih, sabich sandwich, סביח.
On the Meridish menu
Sabich was the street food course on menu No. 18 on October 18, 2026. Its clue in the game, which hints at the place without naming it:
Pita stuffed with fried aubergine, hard-boiled egg, tahini and mango pickle: an Iraqi Jewish Sabbath breakfast turned into a sandwich at a kiosk here in 1961.
In Meridish, every dish is pinned to the town or city most widely credited with creating it. A guess within 25 km scores all 100 points. How scoring works.
Sources
Food history is often disputed. Think we've pinned it in the wrong place? Tell us at hello@meridish.com, ideally with a source.
