Best eateries in Mahane Yehuda Market

This restaurant in the alleys of Machane Yehuda Market rose to fame because of its shamborek, a fluffy Kurdish-Syrian pastry with hearty fillings: Syrian kebab, chicken satay, tongue or a vegetable-stuffed vegan version. This is not the only thing that makes this spot so busy; everything is cooked in-house, including the roasted meat soup, brisket, shakshuka and more. The clay oven known as the tabun seals the deal, making everything that comes out of it excellent.

You know that feeling when you just want something home-cooked after a day of walking around? Stop into Manou Ba Shouk to taste comforting kosher Lebanese food in a lively setting. The dishes range from shakshuka with merguez sausage in the mornings to their version of “kubba,”stuffed bulgur croquettes filled with meat in the afternoons. Try creamy hummus, crispy-fried falafel, stuffed cigars, roasted eggplant and so much more. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options are available.

With three Jerusalem chefs running the show, this rustic haven for foodies offers a changing market-to-table menu with all ingredients sourced from the nearby Machne Yehuda Market. The open kitchen gives you a front seat to the action, and the lively, spirited vibes are like no other. This restaurant was the inspiration for two of the most-talked about restaurants in London, The Palomar and The Barbary. Both are known for bringing this ‘Machneyuda’ genre of energetic Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine to the city.

One of the hottest spots in town, owner Dini Kasorla’s pita joint has become a hub for hip people seeking a good vibe and a hearty meal. It’s simple, from the meatiest, to the most vegetable-overflowing pita you can find. Everything that works well in a pita is here. Local seasonal ingredients take center stage alongside nostalgic dishes and new ones, all in a fluffy pita pocket. You’ll find “chraime” (a spicy North African fish), fried red mullet, plump vegetables and endless fillings. The vibe is pumping and overflowing with a young, happening crowd. Don’t miss the iconic 3-step fries that locals are drooling over.

Rachmo, which has been a local institution since the 1930s, is now an integral part of Jerusalem’s dining repertoire. Internationally-recognized Chef Yotam Ottolenghi listed it as one of his top restaurants worth traveling for in Conde Nast Traveler. Accordingly, the locals have made it a weekly favorite. Enjoy wholesome and down-to-earth Kurdish food including home cooked “kubbeh” (meatballs wrapped in dough and then cooked in soup), pots of hearty meatballs and creamy hummus. Forget fancy and opt for the simple pleasures of home-cooked food that feeds your soul.

Chef Zakay Huja pulls off hip, cool and kosher at Jacko’s Street. The charm starts with seasonal ingredients from the market and an open kitchen that lets you watch the chefs energetically cooking up the food right in front of you. Select a dish like the endive and artichoke salad with pistachio, dried cranberries and a honey vinaigrette or the hearty Cuban corn beef sandwich with a poached egg, a chili aioli and a mojo verde sauce. 

Upon sitting down in Bardak you are greeted with a sample flight of the six beers on tap, friendly service and patrons, and the scent of oven-baked pizza. Nestled on a side street in Mahane Yehuda Market, this pizza and beer bar serves up Israeli and international brews alongside various flavors of pie until the very last customer is satiated. From pizzas bearing the names of different Jerusalem neighborhoods (artichoke, spicy pepper, and tomato – did someone say Talpiot?) to cold pints and bottles of beer, Bardak spells out a winning combination.

Sick of the usual Israeli street food? Craving some good old fashioned greasy grub? One meal at Crave and you’ll throw your falafel and shawarma days right out the window without looking twice. At this Jerusalem diner bar, Todd Aarons (former chef at Tierra Sur in California) has concocted the ultimate menu that pairs classic American street food staples like sliders and Reubens with mexican favorites like pulled brisket burritos and a little added Korean flare. If you haven’t fallen in love yet, Chef Todd has even dedicated a section of the menu to the ‘munchies’ – with sinfully delicious snacks like truffle oil french fries, wings and ‘The Big O’ (panko crusted onion rings). Plus, the whole restaurant is kosher so greasy favorites like burgers that are usually taboo due to cheese and bacon fixings are now a dream for all parties. Feed your craving today.

Sabich is to Iraqi Jews what French toast is to Americans, a staple that may have started as a breakfast dish, but is amazingly satisfying at any time of the day. Aricha  Sabich serves this pita stuffed with generous slices of fried eggplant, perfectly hard-boiled eggs, and tasty tahini sauce – and all this sandwiched between layers of salads. Not only is the place spotless, the staff extremely welcoming and the pita spilling with goodness, but everything is made with the freshest ingredients around. Aricha Sabich has everything you could ever want in a tiny, low-key eatery.