With Israel’s borders closed to tourists, it may seem that the possibility of an authentic and tasty Israeli meal is out of reach. However, this is not actually the case. Across the world, there are many incredible Israeli food spots that you can try before you finally board your flight to Israel. Here are a few of the top places for Israeli food around the world.

Balagan

Balagan is THE Israeli spot to try in Paris. It was created by a French restaurant group along with two top Israeli chefs, Asaf Granit and Uri Navon, who also started the famous Jerusalem restaurant, Machneyuda. The restaurant has an open kitchen concept, and a fun atmosphere with great music. The menu is full of Mediterranean-Israeli ingredients with dishes like eggplant carpaccio and tartare shpahtel (a tuna tartare with Israeli ingredients like labane and dates).

Location: 9 Rue d'Alger, 75001 Paris, France

Website: http://www.balagan-paris.com/en

Reservations: http://www.balagan-paris.com/en/booking

Instagram: @balagan_paris

2. Taim

Chef Einat Admony’s Israeli chain, Taim, has several locations across New York, New Jersey, and Washington D.C.. Taim is a fast casual establishment, and serves pitas and bowls, filled with classic Israeli ingredients and foods like falafel, eggplant sabich, and traditional sauces like amba. There are also plenty of great vegan options like impossible kebabs and cauliflower shawarma. Taim uses the freshest ingredients, and even fries their falafel to order. If you are craving a classic Israeli dish but don’t have a lot of time or don’t want to break the bank, Taim is the best option for you.

Location: 222 Waverly Pl, New York, NY (Flagship Location)

Website: https://taimfalafel.com

Instagram: @taimfalafel

3. Shaya

Shaya in New Orleans serves modern Israeli cuisine with a Southern twist. All of the dishes are made with seasonal, local ingredients. Even the pita bread is made in-house. The small plate-style restaurant is a James Beard Award-winning establishment and is well-known across New Orleans for its outstanding food. The menu is utterly mouth-watering with dishes such as warm cinnamon babka, fried chicken hummus, and crispy halloumi.

Location: 4213 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70115

Website: https://www.shayarestaurant.com

Reservations: https://www.shayarestaurant.com/reservations

Instagram: @shayarestaurant

4. Zahav

Michael Solomonov, the Israeli chef and restaurateur, is best known for his restaurant Zahav in Philadelphia. This James Beard Award-winning restaurant serves incredible Israeli cuisine, in a fun, hip atmosphere. The food is exquisite and creative while remaining true to its Israeli roots at the same time. The menu ranges from items such as grilled apricots to pomegranate lamb shoulder. It is a must-try!

Location: 237 St James Pl, Philadelphia, PA 19106

Website: http://www.zahavrestaurant.com

Reservations: http://www.zahavrestaurant.com/reservations.html

Instagram: @zahavrestaurant

5. Kanaan

Kanaan in Berlin, makes the best hummus in Germany. The restaurant is quite special as it was started together by Oz Ben David, who is Israeli, and Jalil Dabit, who is Palestinian. Not to mention, the food is fantastic too and very well-priced. Kanaan serves vegan and vegetarian dishes including hummus shakshuka, malawach pizza, and za'atar fries. Expect a wait to get your food since this spot is so popular, but the line is very much worth it.

Location: Schliemannstraße 15, 10437 Berlin, Germany

Website: https://www.kanaan-berlin.de/de

Reservations: https://www.quandoo.de/place/kanaan-58776?nc

Instagram: @kanaan_berlin

6. Bavel

Bavel in Los Angeles was started by Ori Menashe and Genevieve Gergis, a husband and wife chef duo who run multiple restaurants. Bavel aims to share their Middle Eastern-Israeli heritage through food. The restaurant is incredibly popular, with fantastic dishes. They serve menu items like lamb flatbread, roasted cauliflower, and a strawberry and sumac sweet cheese pastry. The restaurant is beautifully designed and guarantees a delightful experience.

Location: 500 Mateo St, Los Angeles, CA 90013

Website: https://baveldtla.com

Reservations: https://www.opentable.com/restref/client/?restref=987409&lang=en-US&ot_source=Restaurant%20website&corrid=d158d973-cecb-40fd-aff2-6ad30eadf93a

Instagram: @baveldtla

7. The Barbary

The Barbary is known as one of the best restaurants in all of London. It was started by the Machneyuda Group which consists of chefs Assaf Granit, Uri Navon and Yossi Elad. The Barbary serves food that has Israeli, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and North African influences. They serve Jerusalem bagels, octopus masabacha, and Jaffa style cauliflower, amongst many other phenomenal items. London has many Israeli restaurants, including several others created by Assaf Granit, but the Barbary is definitely one of the best.

Location: 16 Neal's Yard, London WC2H 9DP, United Kingdom

Website: https://thebarbary.co.uk

Reservations: https://www.sevenrooms.com/reservations/thebarbary?venues=thebarbary,thepalomar

Instagram: @barbarylondon

8. Shaffa

Shaffa serves fun, Israeli style cuisine in Sydney, Australia. The restaurant is incredibly Telavivian–from its vibey ambience to the creative dishes. The ingredients are always fresh and the staff is always friendly and welcoming. Shaffa serves items such as chicken tagine with apricots and caramelized onions, coconut malabi with saffron poached pears, cauliflower sabich, and even ferrero rocher baklava. The experience of eating at Shaffa is truly spectacular.

Location: 80 Albion St, Surry Hills NSW 2010, Australia

Website:http://shaffa.com.au

Reservations: https://resy.com/cities/syd/shaffa?date=2021-07-20&seats=2

Instagram: @shaffasydney