A food-lover's guide to Middle Eastern cuisine

Azura Tel Aviv is the little sister of the famous Azura restaurant in Jerusalem. Here you will find distinctly Jerusalemite hummus - creamy and smooth, seasoned to perfection with a steaming pile of chickpeas, beans, olive oil and parsley on top. Paired with hot, fluffy pita and tasty homemade pickles, there is no better meal. Azura also boasts delicious tomato salad, bean soup, kebab, meatballs, eggplant, lamb stew and other delicacies. It's so good, it will leave you craving a day trip to Jerusalem just to try the original.

One of the hottest debates within the Israeli foodie scene is – you guessed it – where to get the best hummus in Israel. For many, Hummus Said takes the cake. Their hand-mashed hummus is in a league of its own. It boasts a tangy flavor and a soft, creamy texture that seamlessly melts in your mouth. Expect long lines and a chaotic scene - hummus fanatics come from far and wide to sample their secret recipe. Once their homemade pita, classic hummus or makhlouta hits your tongue, you’ll see what the hype is all about. Pro tip: when it’s super crowded, go through the back door to grab a quicker seat! 

This protein-packed treat can be found all over—but wouldn’t you like to find an amazing one that is kosher too? Ben Sira is the place!  An excellent kosher restaurant with a young, lively vibe to match. This tiny spot serves up hummus with all the trimmings: juicy pickles, fluffy pita alongside their decadent falafel. You’ll also find soups, omelettes, shakshuka - all foods that will make you feel like you are dining in an authentic Israeli home.

At the corner of Carmel Market and Hashomer Alley is Hashomer 1, an Israeli street food kiosk. Known for its meaty sandwiches and salads, this shuk gem also boasts a heavenly hummus and spinach shakshuka. Chef Naor Cohen collects fresh produce daily in the shuk ensuring that each dish is crafted from only the finest local ingredients. Aiming to recreate the magic of his mother’s kitchen, the recipes are traditionally Israeli. Each meal is served with a loaf of warm, melt-in-your-mouth challah, a tasty addition to the gourmet plates.

When you hear the word “pita,” you may automatically think of falafel, shawarma, and sabich. At Miznon, celebrity Chef Eyal Shani is redefining the pita as a serving vessel for a plethora of mouthwatering meat and vegetarian options. Just about anything you can fit in a pita is on offer here, including a rich and meaty minute steak, shakshuka, chicken liver, and kebabs. Vegans and vegetarians alike can find tasty fare here too, with a slow-cooked ratatouille that melts in your mouth and the juicy head of a whole cauliflower that oozes flavor. Paired with the loud and lively atmosphere and the free pita and tahini nibbles, Miznon is the Mecca of Israeli street food. Don’t forget to visit their other locations at 1 HaNechoshet St and 30 King George.

While this restaurant may seem like a simple dining experience, it is clear that an extreme focus and attention to detail is paid to each dish. Fresh eggplant, hard-boiled egg, potato and tahini come together to create the perfect combination of flavors. This masterpiece in a pita is well worth the wait. Rich and affordable at the same time, this quick eat will fill you up and fuel you up for the rest of the day. At only NIS 18 per pita, you can't go wrong!

Chef Ronen set up his street food stall, Lahuhe Original Yemenite, in Tzfat’s Old City aiming to bring “spiritual soul food” to tourists and locals alike. Offering Yemenite delicacies such as lachuchs, malawach, and jachnun, this eatery is a must-visit while touring the city’s art galleries. Chef Ronen, who enjoys dispensing Jewish knowledge and lore to diners, adds to the authentic experience of food and music at this stall. You’ll never know how delicious cheese, vegetables, and herbs served on a lightly fried flat bread can taste until you visit this charming street food stand.

This joint gained notoriety for its attempt to create a 15-ton plate of hummus, and its lesser known, but equally impressive, phone policy–owner Jawdat Ibrahim offered a 50% discount to customers who turned off their phones during their meal. If tasty, discounted hummus and uninterrupted dining appeals to you, head, sans phones, to this Jerusalem destination.

The perfect accompaniment to a brisk summer stroll down Tel Aviv’s Bialik Street is one of the most charming cafés in Israel. It attracts for its Israeli breakfast – salads finely chopped, jams, cheeses, eggs, but the neighborhood-coziness keeps you coming back for more. Nearby spots are Bialik House and the cultural Beit Ha’ir center, but hanging out there until the evenings witnessing live music bewitch the night is an unforgettable experience. Local musicians aren’t the only things on the menu - it’s the laidback spirit that turns it into a daily urban haven.

Celebrity Chef Eyal Shani’s North Abraxas is a bustling restaurant with a happy-go-lucky atmosphere and excellent food. The bar seating around the open kitchen is a great place to sit and soak in the lively atmosphere. The food is creative and extremely well-executed. Shani manages to take the best and freshest ingredients and bring out their flavor in his own creative yet down-to-earth style.

Look for the endless line of ‘sabich’ sandwich seekers, in a seemingly unassuming corner in upper Haifa, and you have probably found Eyal and his famous food stand. Eyal’s passion for feeding his regulars is evident in watching him serve customers from behind the tiny counter, and from his smiling eyes, as he describes his food. Unlike many in the street food business, he left a life of comfort as a working engineer to carry out his mission of bringing the best sabich to Haifa’s food scene. We’re glad he did, as this Iraqi specialty, comprised of slow roasted egg, sliced, fried eggplant (a perfected recipe), cooked potato, salads and sauces, carries an indescribably comforting feeling. Eyal’s of course features all homemade and fresh ingredients, including his tahini sauce, and all handmade salads, and is topped off with a dash of his secret spice blend (and even a ball of freshly fried falafel if you please). Trust us when we say that sabich has never tasted it better.

A symbol of coexistence between Arab and Jewish residents, this small, yet colorful market in the heart of the Wadi Nisnas neighborhood has been a sensory celebration for decades. It’s scattered with bakeries, delis, coffee shops, fresh seafood, falafel stands, restaurants, fruits, and vegetables. Unlike other typical markets in Israel, this one is literally imbedded in the neighborhood streets and less organized in one area - so taking the time to wander around is beneficial - and how you'll most likely find the gems. 

Running the length of Levinsky Street in South Tel Aviv, Shuk Levinsky has a massive range of products, from dried fruit to soaps, spices and nuts. Filled with cuisines from cultures spanning the globe, Shuk Levinsky has ingredients that provide the perfect addition to just about any meal. Among the places to visit are bakeries, delicatessens, and restaurants. Certain shops and restaurants are unique to the shuk, and cannot be found anywhere else in Tel Aviv. The magic of Shuk Levinsky lies in its deep history of culinary growth and discovery; stories that continue to appeal to local residents and foreign visitors alike.

No trip to Israel is complete without a visit to the insanely delicious Frishman Falafel. For those looking for a casual and filling meal at an unbeatable price, welcome home. Get the falafel in a pita and go wild with the endless world of additions, from hummus to pickles to eggplant, concoct the perfect combination of falafel topping ingredients. While the focal point of Frishman Falafel is the falafel itself, the schnitzel is a close contender and fits perfectly in a hummus smeared pita pocket. Stop by this charming spot on the way to the beach or after a night of Tel Aviv partying, it’s always popping.

As all the restaurants and eateries in the city are becoming increasingly more sophisticated, polished, and sealed with a neat bow, an authentic initiative feels like a breath of fresh air. Such is Jasmino, the cool snack bar helmed by restaurateur Shaul Tevet. Perched on Allenby - the busy nightlife hub, Tevet offers locals a quality street food establishment that draws the drunk munch crowd. The unexpected gem serves simple, yet sensational, charcoal grilled options in grab-and-go pitas. The four options include: kebabs, chicken, housemade sausage, and spicy veal heart. All of these come with salad and pita, hot peppers, grilled onions and tahini. Be the first in your group to swing by this hot spot magnet, then tell all your friends. The more the merrier.

When Azura opened in Mahane Yehuda Market in Jerusalem in 1952, it was a kind of small niche that served meatless dishes, a product that was once considered a luxury. Since then, the restaurant has had a serious case of wanderlust, changing locales several times before returning to Mahane Yehuda. Azura's big break occurred in the first part of the 2000s, when Jerusalem's largest local market became a culinary attraction. Oh, how the queues have grown since then! Politicians, actors, and frequent victims of the paparazzi now come to Azura to fall in love with their kibbeh, red beets, boiled potatoes, hummus, kebabs, rice, and beans - all made the old-fashioned way. The lines are always long, but the service is always strong. Plus, it's the kind of no-hassle place where you guzzle down and get out. Although the experience is relatively short, every bite is enjoyable, as is the friendly service and extra special Jerusalem atmosphere.

Elad Bardicef takes the hummusia to the next level with hummus like you’ve never tasted before. Always made fresh, in small batches, and served warm as it should be, it is exceedingly rich from smooth, creamy tahini and jazzed up with elevated, yet classic toppings such as mashed broad beans, stewed chickpeas, parsley (in this case parsley-pesto) and olive oil. Also try their other Israeli dishes, such as sabich and shakshuka that are plated beautifully, and made with organic and fresh ingredients, yet are still just as affordable as the humbler versions found elsewhere in the city. Made with extra care by an attentive staff, it’s no wonder you’ll be hard pressed to find a stool here most days of the week. The charm and cool Israeli attitude only add to the experience, making this an absolute favorite.

Bardicef’s branch at 34 Shivat Tzion street brings their brand of heavenly hummus and other freshly prepared Israeli gourmet vegetarian delicacies to Haifa’s lower city. You’ll be blown away by their elegant take on homemade Israeli flavors that will simultaneously warm your heart and satisfy your belly.

The age old question of living in Tel Aviv: where can one find the city's best falafel? While this may be hotly debated for eternity, one sure contender is Falafel Gabai. A local mainstay since 1946, Falafel Gabai has certainly earned a reputation for one of the best falafel joints that Tel Aviv has to offer. As patrons wait in line, they are gifted with a sampling of the place's main star: falafel balls. In addition to the fried chickpea classic, Falafel Gabai also offers hummus dishes, schnitzel, and many wonderful soups that are hugely popular as well. Next time you are in the mood for an affordable and delicious bite, Falafel Gabai should be your go to.