Food of Gabes (what I ate and where)

_{Edited with Livecollage.}

Hello Steemians,

During my stay in Gabes, I wanted to experience the city not only through its views and streets but also through its food the everyday dishes, small restaurants, family kitchens, and simple street stops that give the real taste of life here.
This post is a glimpse into what I ate, where I found it, and how every plate told me something about Gabes and its people.

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Street Flavors (Ice Cream by Day and Night)

Gabes has a calm rhythm, but its evenings come alive around the small ice cream shops scattered near the main streets.
At night, I joined locals enjoying industrial ice cream from the little freezer at the shop window families, children, and neighbors sharing a quiet moment together.
The next day, high above town, I tried another one under the warm daylight same cold sweetness, different light. It’s one of those simple pleasures that linger after the trip.

_{Ice cream moments, simple industrial flavors by night and by day cool, sweet, and nostalgic.}

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A Traditional Plate (Macaroni with Cheese & Beuf)

In a local family-style restaurant, I was served a generous plate of macaroni mixed with cheese, potatoes, and minced beef.
It looked simple but tasted deeply comforting the soft pasta absorbed the creamy cheese and the flavor of fried onions and black pepper. A homey plate that fills both stomach and memory.

_{Macaroni with cheese, potatoes, and minced beef a warm, familiar comfort dish.}

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Couscous Stories (Sea & Desert on a Plate)

No meal in southern Tunisia is complete without couscous, and in Gabes it appears in many forms.
At a traditional restaurant, I tried couscous with swordfish the grains light and fluffy, the sauce rich with tomato, garlic, and pepper.
Later, at the Star Wars Hotel, I tasted couscous with vegetables and chicken, slow-cooked in a clay pot until the flavors blended perfectly. Both plates felt like a bridge between sea and sand heritage meeting daily life.

_{From the coast to the desert couscous with swordfish and couscous with chicken, two worlds in one grain.}

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From the Sea (Green Peas with Octopus)

Among the coastal flavors, this dish of green peas with octopus was a highlight.
The sauce shimmered with olive oil and tomato, the peas added sweetness, and the tender octopus carried the taste of the sea.
It was rustic, generous, and perfectly balanced a plate that smelled of the Mediterranean breeze and local kitchens by the coast.

_{Green peas with octopus sea, sun, and olive oil on a single plate.}

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Traditional Flavors (Ojja and Morning Sahlab)

For mornings and small meals, Gabes offers humble dishes that warm the body and spirit.
I had Ojja, the spicy Tunisian egg and tomato dish, rich with peppers, garlic, and olive oil fiery, fragrant, and full of energy.
Another morning, in a tiny corner café, I drank Sahlab, a creamy, milky drink flavored with orange blossom and cinnamon soothing, light, and perfect for early hours.

_{Ojja and Sahlab two different mornings in Gabes: spice and calm, fire and silk.}

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At Aunt Fatima (Chakchouka, Tea & Family Warmth)

Some of the most memorable meals came from a family kitchen. At Aunt Fatima, we shared chakchouka with bardi (beard), thick with tomato, peppers, and olive oil.
Afterwards, small glasses of mint tea were poured slowly, the scent of mint filling the room.
Here, food is conversation and hospitality simple gestures that stay with you long after leaving.

_{At Aunt Fatima table home cooking, warm tea, and shared stories.}

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Morning in the Center (Garlic Bowl & Early Light)

One final morning in the town center brought a garlic bowl, smooth and aromatic, served with warm bread.
It was simple yet powerful creamy garlic mixed with lemon and olive oil, waking both taste and senses.
As I ate, the streets slowly woke, vendors arranged their goods, and the air filled with the smell of coffee and baking.

_{Morning energy garlic bowl in the heart of Gabes.}

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Practical Tips & Visitor Info (Traditional Restaurants in Gabes)

Location	Gabes city centre and coastal neighborhoods
Plus Code (Google)	V4P3+C7Q, Gabes
Google Maps	https://maps.app.goo.gl/5CvRCaqZVSuUCtTV6
Atlas Pin Code	[//]:# (!steematlas 33.88703058 lat 10.10341359 long Market Bab Bhar Gabes d3scr)
Getting there	Most traditional restaurants are within the city center or along the coastal road. By car, park nearby and walk. Shared taxis (louages) and local buses connect main points in town.
By Car	Drive through the city center or along the corniche. Parking is usually roadside or in small lots near restaurants.
By Public Transport	Louages and local buses stop near the central market and main squares. Ask locals for the closest stop to a named restaurant.
Tips	Try lunchtime for the freshest cooked dishes. Order family-style and share plates to taste more. Ask about daily specials (poisson du jour or couscous variations). Dress modestly when visiting smaller, family-run places. If you have dietary preferences (less spicy, no garlic), tell the cook they are usually happy to adapt.
Hours & Price	Many restaurants open for lunch (12:00–15:00) and reopen for dinner (19:00–22:00). Prices are local and modest couscous and mains are usually affordable. Confirm price for seafood dishes which can be higher.
Safety & Etiquette	Ask permission before photographing staff or inside family-run kitchens. Respect private spaces and avoid bringing large groups without notice. Tipping is appreciated but not always expected rounding up the bill or leaving 5–10% is a kind gesture.

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Final Thoughts

Eating in Gabes felt like reading a book of small stories. Each plate, café, and kitchen page revealed something new about daily life here.
From the industrial ice cream bought at a humble shop to the slow-cooked couscous shared at a family table, food became my way of meeting people and listening to their lives.

This visit left me with images of spice and steam, mint and laughter, and the wish to return for more meals under the palm trees.
In the next post, I will share Souks and Crafts of Gabes handmade wares, practical finds, and the small objects worth taking home.

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Best Regards,
@marwene

_{Photo Credits: All photos in this post were taken by me, @marwene, using an iPhone 13 Pro Max.}