The Carmel Market (or, Delicious Israel’s unofficial office!) is not only Tel Aviv’s largest open-air market, it is also a hotbed of culinary innovation. The Carmel Market (known in Hebrew and to locals as Shuk Hacarmel) is the place for chefs to experiment with new flavors, techniques and ingredients, as they take inspiration and ingredients from the market stalls and small restaurants lining the adjacent Yemenite Quarter.
For hungry visitors and locals alike, this means there is always something new to eat at the market! Savvy vendors have taken notice, leading to wave of market vendors opening up tiny stalls serving prepared versions of their best products.
As Tel Aviv, Israel and the world are eating less meat than ever before, a school of fresh fish-based restaurant stalls have popped up in and around the Carmel Market. With Tel Aviv on the shores of the Mediterranean and with Israelis’ sophisticated palates, it is no surprise to see such a wave of fish restaurants around. Nowadays, no matter where you are in the market, you’re a stone’s throw away from a delicious fish meal. Some of these eateries are brand-new, while others are ways for veteran fishmongers to relate to new audiences without changing their great products.
Check out our picks for sea-based eating at the Carmel Market:
Fish and Chips Market
Tucked away in the ‘meat alley’ backstreets of the market just where the Shuk hits the Yemenite Quarter on Yom Tov street is the longstanding fishmonger. In recent years and in keeping with current trends, they’ve converted 1/3 of their store into a restaurant stall with the freshest Israeli-style ceviche (think many vegetables, like an Israeli salad with pomegranate seeds) and fish and chips. With the fresh fish literally within arms’ reach, you know you’re getting top-quality products at Fish and Chips Market. They are Kosher and even switch to a Kosher-for-Passover batter on Passover!
Yom Tov St 7, Tel Aviv-Yafo
Ceviche Hacarmel (Friday Pop-up)
For the brave shopper/eater who doesn’t mind getting lost in a crowd, Fridays are the time to visit the Carmel Market. With the Israeli weekend being Friday-Saturday and the market shutting down in the late afternoon, people are in a rush to both eat something delicious and manage to buy all their groceries -- which means special food options and casual pop-ups. The veteran Shabtai fish shop has started serving customized ceviche just outside their store, with salmon, tuna or Israeli bass, and some beer or white wine to wash it down. Perfect for fueling up before a crazy Friday afternoon! Take an insider tip from us and start your journey at the bottom of the market with ceviche, rather than from the top at Magen David square.
Shabtai Fish, corner of Simtat Hacarmel and Kapach streets
Moroccan Fish at HaMorokait
Moroccan food is very popular in Israel (Moroccan Jews making up the single largest ethnic group of Israel’s Jewish population!) but is too often found only in the realm of traditional restaurants or home cooking. As the Carmel Market stalls change, they make way for chefs to modernize their old-school comfort foods for new audiences - like HaMorokait (means ‘the Moroccan woman’ in Hebrew), where you can find traditional North African specialties. We are particularly fond of the Moroccan Fish sandwich, with a spicy red tomato sauce known as hraime that Israelis of all stripes have come to associate with traditional Friday night dinners, making this the perfect Friday afternoon food stop.
Hacarmel 38, Tel-Aviv Yafo (located on the Carmel Market’s main drag)
Hacarmel 40
You guessed it - look just next door from our last stop and you’ll find another ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ fishmonger-turned-street food stall. But not all are made equal! Located on the busiest strip of the main part of the market (Hacarmel street) just in front of the Rostom fish and seafood seller, you’ll find diverse and delicious fish and seafood dishes at this unassuming eatery. Options include fresh fish salads and grilled seafood, but we are particularly fond of the Fishermen’s Sandwich with perfectly-grilled fish and toppings like chimichurri and saffron mayonnaise.
HaCarmel 40, Tel Aviv-Yafo (located on the Carmel Market’s main drag)
Igra Rama
Just outside the Carmel Market on a quiet side street hides the low-key oasis of Igra Rama. This restaurant is dedicated to using solely Israeli ingredients, importing only black pepper and coffee), and does not feature any meat choices on the menu. Their ‘type’ of cuisine is local, but with Israel being a paradise for fresh produce and delicious fish, this means Igra Rama specializes in plant-based eating and fish/seafood mains. Dishes are creative and genuinely interesting, with the menu changing daily and even the vegetables in the house Igra Salad changing based on market picks. The restaurant’s lovely courtyard at the back is romantic enough for a date, but also well-suited to a foodie family who wants to be able to hold a conversation!
Brenner St 2, Tel Aviv-Yafo
Coming soon…
When the beloved Asian-fusion restaurant ‘The Bun’ closed its doors, eaters were optimistic about the China Club restaurant that took its place just near the entrance to the market. Sadly, this closed too! We are excited to see that a new fish restaurant will be opening up in its place - details to follow!
Hillen Hazaken 18, Tel Aviv-Yafo
Hungry for more? Our local expert culinary guides would be thrilled to show you their insider spots and explain the changing nature of the Carmel Market and Israeli food on our Carmel Market tour!
