Bala Bite has opened in Townsville delivering flavour packed Middle Eastern inspired dishes

Traditional Israeli cuisine has arrived in Townsville with the opening of ‘Bala Bite’, a street food inspired cafe.

Bala Bite head chef Avi Cohen has open his Israeli street food cafe on Eyre Street. Picture: Shae Beplate.

TRADITIONAL Israeli cuisine has arrived in Townsville with the opening of Bala Bite, a street food inspired cafe in North Ward.

Described as a “mosaic of flavours”, owner Avi Cohen said his food was made with love to take diners on a journey of Jewish history.

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“It’s a story of a journey of flavour,” Mr Cohen said.

“Five hundred years ago when they ran away from Spain they went north and south and picked up all the flavour from all of Europe.

“Seventy years ago, when Israel established, all this flavour came into one little, little place and it’s an unbelievable mix of everything.”

Mr Cohen said the food was simple in its ingredients but the flavour of homemade pita bread, hummus and other Middle Eastern inspired dishes were representative of Israeli culture.

“When you try this food you actually try a piece of history,” Mr Cohen said.

“It’s a story of so many different families and different methods.

“There is nothing here very complicated or very unique but you actually feel the food and the taste of each ingredient.”

Mr Cohen said Bala Bite was designed to make customers feel like they were going home when walking inside the Eyre St shop in North Ward.

A large photo mural of a busy Israeli street food market greets you with mosaic tiles and fresh produce lining the shelves.

“It’s come together fantastically,” Mr Cohen said.

Originally published as Bala Bite has opened in Townsville delivering flavour packed Middle Eastern inspired dishes