2 Best Restaurants in Haifa and the Northern Coast, Israel

Here you'll find a welcome combination of jolly atmosphere and casual pan-Asian cuisine. It's sort of a New York lounge–style hangout, with a stainless-steel open kitchen; black tables, chairs, bar, and stools; silver photography-studio ceiling lights; and a staff in bright white T-shirts, jeans, and long black aprons. Noodles are the specialty, and most dishes are prepared in a wok. You might start with a crispy Thai salad in peanut sauce; then feast on spicy egg noodles with chicken, coconut milk, and red Thai curry; or try your luck with black egg noodles (dyed with squid ink) with calamari and green onions.

This pan-Asian gem on the top floor of the Castra mall is a bit hard to find, but worth the effort. Five kitchens (Japan, India, Korea, Vietnam, and Thailand) offer flavorful dining options in unusual juxtaposition. Relax with inspired cocktails or a Thai beer before dinner. Standout options are the Bombay butter chicken and red Thai curry. End the evening on a sweet note with a coffee-infused Saigon crème brûlée. The kitchen operates on a you-get-it-when-it's-ready concept, so your food will arrive at different times. Give your order one course at a time to keep the table paced together.