Delicious Israel's Top Restaurant Recommendations
At Delicious Israel, we pride ourselves on introducing you to the backstreets of authentic Israeli cuisine, but we also hope that your experience with local flavor extends far beyond your Delicious tour. We passionately believe that there is no room for a sub par meal in this delicious country!
Here’s a short and highly curated list of our favorite spots in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem (along with these in Jerusalem). Whether you’re in the mood for a quick bite or an indulgent dining experience, there’s something delightful for you here. In case you enjoy (or dislike) one of these based on our rec, please let us know - the list is always in flux. Bete’avon!
TEL AVIV
Street Food
Abu Hassan - HaDolfin Street 1
Renowned hummus joint famous since 1966. Definitely try the masabacha, the warm, creamy, chunky style of hummus. Make sure to visit the original shop at this location for the freshest hummus and the chance to eat with the locals.
Jasmino - Allenby Street 99
Whether it's 2pm or 2am, Jasmino will always have a line wrapped outside their register. The lamb kebab in a pita is a must-have menu item. Pro-tip: order the kebab with everything on it, and even a little extra amba on top. If you are a vegetarian, this is not the place for you.
Miznon (or HaMiznon) - Shlomo Ibn Gvirol 23
Famed chef Eyal Shani's more casual take on local street food ~ everything is served in a pita, including ice cream! The shop has become so iconic for modern Israeli street food that branches have now opened across the globe in Paris, Vienna, Melbourne, and New York.
Sabich Tchernikovsky - Tchernikovsky Street 2
Home of our favorite sabich in TLV, an Israeli delicacy invented by the Iraqi Jews for their Shabbat breakfast. Filled with eggplant, egg, salad and tehina, this street food is your perfect on-the-go lunch.
Authentic Israeli
Itzik HaGadol - Raziel 3
A classic Israeli grill house where they place 15 salads and dips on the table before you even get a chance to choose your main dish. Meat is the centerpiece of the meal, but vegetarians can easily be satisfied from the abundant salads and pita that are included as a starter.
M25 - Simtat HaCarmel, off the butcher street in the Carmel Market
Vegans beware, this is not your haunt. Carnivores, start licking your lips. M25 is positioned 25 meters from their newcomer butcher shop called Meat Market, nestled amongst the historic market butchers. Selling only local cuts, you will find yourself sitting alongside the city's top chefs coming to get their fix pre or post service. The menu is streamlined and focused on, well, Israel's best meat.
Modern Israeli
Abraxas North - Lilienblum Street 40
Chef Eyal Shani's gourmet restaurant takes on modern Israeli fare with an eco-friendly vibe, like serving the meals on a piece of paper on the table, no plates! This is our favorite for experiencing the best direction of how Israelis are using local ingredients yet keeping the style rustic. Slight "warning" - service is hit or miss.
Ha'Achim and/or Dok - Ibn Gvirol Street 26 & 27
From the same brother team (Asaf and Yotam Doktor) Ha'Achim and Dok have taken the reigns in the return towards serving up the best of what's local. Call it "farm to table" if you must, Dok is serving only what you find in Israel- the freshest fish, best olive oils, seasonal produce, boutique wines. Recent dishes include pickled mackerel salad, roasted kohlrabi and fresh chickpea and preserved lemon salad. Ha'Achim serves up one of my favorite (and most simple!!) dishes in the city - a grilled lettuce with spicy tehina pistachio dressing. Ha'Achim has more vibe and the dishes are more diverse, in case that is what you are after.
HaBasta - HaShomer Street 4
A market restaurant in its pure sense, inspired by the fresh, seasonal ingredients from the adjacent Carmel Market. Atmosphere is casual and prices are quite high for the look of the place.
Milgo & Milbar - Rothschild Boulevard 142
A lively spot offering Mediterranean seafood fare that highlights fresh ingredients, well plated dishes and surprising flavor combinations.
Santa Katarina - Har Sinai 2
Dynamic Israeli fusion, mostly coming out of their taboon oven. Chef is globally trained, and focusing on his Syrian and Egyptian roots, which plays into the spices and flavors of the creative dishes. We recommend ordering and sharing all of the starters!
Fine Dining
Burek - Tsrifin Street 29
Following the trend of having a set menu, the Burek, by Barak Yehezkeli encompasses good food, music, and overall vibes. With a menu that changes each week, and without any say in your order, it really is quite an experience. That being said, this can be compared to a dinner show, where it’s expected to stay seated for the entire “performance” brought to you by the chefs and in house DJ. Reservations are the only way you’ll get in - and make sure to book well in advance, as the restaurant is only open two days a week.
Mashya - Mendeli 5
The "It" restaurant at the moment with hard to get reservations. Dishes are carefully plated, and although fine dining, the Moroccan influence from the young chef keeps the flavors down to earth. Definitely order the 18 spices taboon frenna for a great photo op :)
OCD - Tirza 17
Tel Aviv's first set-menu only restaurant. Two seatings each night for 19 people around a bar facing Raz Rahav's extraordinarily detailed 9-course molecular-gastronomy-influenced meal. Reservations are a must and dietary requirements can be accommodated with advance notice.
Popina - Ahad Ha’Am Street 3
Located in historic Neve Tzedek, Popina's young chef offers innovative dishes like shrimp burgers, beet and kohlrabi "pasta" and foie gras homemade ravioli. Opt for the tasting menu to savor a little of everything.
JERUSALEM
Casual
Azura - 4 Ha Eshkol St, Jerusalem
Located in the Machane Yehuda Market, Azura is famous for its Turkish-inspired delicacies. From hummus, kebabs, and rice to boiled potatoes and red beets, Azura prepares every dish the old-fashioned way. You may find yourself having to wait in line at lunchtime, but that only shows you how popular this stop is.
Tmol Shilshom - Yo’el Moshe Salomon St. 5, Jerusalem
Tmol Shilshom provides a cozy atmosphere for any occasion. A cafe filled with wall to wall books of all kinds and known for its outstanding Shakshuka, a dish of eggs poached in a tomato sauce eating at Tmol Shilshom is an experience of its own.
Menza - Betsal'el St 10, Jerusalem
Nestled in between the bustling Machane Yehuda Market and downtown Jerusalem, Menza is a Jerusalem answer to the French bistro. Their diverse menu offers something for everyone, including seafood lovers! Menza is also open on Shabbat, but it is delicious any day of the week.
Modern Israeli
Yudale - Beit Ya’akov St. 11, Jerusalem
A brother restaurant of the famous Machneyuda, Yudele provides a more casual setting, while still delivering top-quality food. Bringing in ingredients fresh from the Machane Yehuda market, Yudale’s menu is very similar to the original Machneyuda restaurant. At Yudale, visitors love watching the chefs prepare their dishes right in front of them!
Chakra - King George St 41, Jerusalem
Open since 2000 when Jerusalem had very few non-Kosher options, Jerusalemites have long known Chakra as one of the city’s best restaurants. They serve Italian-inspired, modern dishes like lamb shank radiatori and sea bream with gnocchi. For the best culinary experience, be sure to sit near the bar and watch the chefs work in the open kitchen.
Talbiye - Chopin St 5, Jerusalem
Located next to the Jerusalem Theater lies another one of Assaf Granit’s culinary successes. Talbiye isn’t super spacious, nor is their beer menu lengthy, but the menu items that combine a French and Israeli taste are truly delightful. Of all the times you should eat there, we feel that brunch is their best served course.
Majda (outside of Jerusalem) - HaAgas Street, Ein Rafa, Israel
Majda is known as the blue house located at the top of the village of Ein Rafa. Run by a mixed-marriage couple, Majda offers unique cuisine that is a blend of their cultures. They offer dishes such as Arab meat pie, lamb kebabs, and bass filet all with their own cultural twists. They also offer traditional desserts including knafeh and halva ice cream.
For a longer list of Jerusalem food faves, check out our list here.
NORTH
1910 - HaRishonim, Degania Alef
Located in Kibbutz Degania A, you can find the hidden gem known as 1910. Where fine dining is less common in the Northern region of Israel, 1910 has set the tone for an all around Delicious experience. From the service to their menu, you’ll find it hard to believe that this restaurant so far removed from the city life has just as much class and taste as anything you could find in Tel Aviv. While this may be an upscale place to eat, their pizza is a must have when it comes to ordering your entrees or even to split as a starter amongst the table. For our meat lovers, their beef carpaccio sprinkled with parmesan cheese on top is truly delicioso.
Magdalena - Migdal Junction, Road 90, Migdal
SOUTH
Kornmehl Farm - located on the northern side of road 40, approximately two kilometers after the Tlalim Junction in the direction of Sde Boker.
