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Middle Eastern Restaurants in Israel

An Israel tour  is not complete without sampling the culinary delights of Middle Eastern food. In Israel, eating is a popular pastime, and although there  a huge variety of restaurants serving international cuisine, for many Israelis the basic Middle Eastern dishes are old favorites, and ideal for a relaxed afternoon meal with friends, a bite to eat on the go, or while on vacation. Middle Eastern food is simple, hearty and fresh, and vegetarians and meat lovers alike will surely find something to excite the palate.

Middle Eastern Food - Vegetarian Dishes

Hummus - most popular Middle Eastern dish in Israel

Without a doubt, the most important Middle Eastern dish in Israel is hummus. Made of ground chickpeas, tehini (ground sesame seeds), lemon juice and garlic, hummus is a simple yet wonderfully earthy and filling dish, and to top it all, it’s even good for you.  Many Middle Eastern restaurants serve hummus with “ful” (fava beans), whole chick peas, or slices of boiled egg, and, most importantly, a generous quantity of good quality olive oil. Everywhere you go in Israel will see Jews and Arabs alike, “wiping a plate” of hummus with fresh pita bread.

Other Middle Eastern vegetarian dishes

Other popular vegetarian dishes include falafel, a fried patty made of chickpeas and spices; tehini, usually garnished with parsley and lemon juice; labneh, a local type of strained yogurt; matbucha, a spicy dip made from tomatoes, peppers, oil and garlic; and eggplant dip. At many Middle Eastern restaurants, especially those serving meat as the main course, these and other vegetarian dishes will be served as starters once you are seated.

Middle Eastern food - Meat Dishes

Popular Middle Eastern meat dishes at restaurants include kebab, “shipudim” – skewers of meat, usually chicken, cooked over a brazier – and other grilled dishes such as chicken breast and beef steaks.  Simple eateries serving shawarma – small thin pieces of spiced lamb or turkey built up on a skewer in cylinder-like form, and served in pita bread as a sandwich –  can be found everywhere in Israel

Restaurant Recommendations

Recommending Middle Eastern restaurants in Israel, is a tough business, as everyone has their favorite place. Still, the recommendations below are all well established and respected restaurants. Many of the good Middle Eastern and hummus restaurants are owned and run by Arabs, and do not have a kosher certificate, although they do not serve game, pork or seafood.

Not surprisingly, the old city of Jerusalem is full of Middle Eastern restaurants. Abu Taher, at 16 Butcher’s Market, just off the Cardo, is a good example of a restaurant well known for its hummus. Abu Ghosh, an Arab village west of Jerusalem, on the road to Tel Aviv, has many excellent Middle Eastern restaurants, and is very popular with Israeli day trippers. The Lebanese Restaurant  at the entrance to the village serves a wide range of Middle Eastern dishes and is very popular. In the middle of the village are the two Abu Shukri restaurants, both known for their hummus.

In the Tel Aviv area, you can try Abu Hassan, located at 14 Shivtei Israel, Jaffa. Its hummus is held in high esteem among Israelis. Knafeh, at 53 Sderot Chen, near Rabin Square in central Tel Aviv, is a good all-round Middle Eastern restaurant. Finally, Hummus Ashkara, at 45 Yermiyahu Street in northern Tel Aviv is an old favorite for many of Tel Aviv’s hummus loving residents.

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