If you ask me where is the best food is – I’d say Israel. Israeli food is one of the major reasons why I’m super happy to visit… and revisit Israel. Ha!
There’s a lot of food to eat in Israel – and don’t worry, many restaurants have a fixed menu which means you’ll get to try many dishes in one visit.
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I guess it could be explained by the fusion between Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine. If you add the International factor to it – because the culture is pretty diverse and people come from everywhere – you get a bunch of great Israeli dishes.
I love Israeli cuisine because of its flavors, freshness and it also feels healthy – even though I always end up eating too much bread.
Israeli Foods You Have to Try
If you’re a foodie, you’re going to love my suggestions of food to try in Israel.
Below, you’ll find a list of the best Israeli food including suggestions on where to eat them. Bon appetit!
Hummus
If I’m honest, I was never a big fan of hummus… until I visited Israel. It ruined it for me. I finally started to like it and I can’t find any hummus as good as the one I had there.
The hummus found in Israel is something else. It can even be a proper meal on its own. Hummus is strongly present in the food culture and the locals would even say something like “Let’s go wipe some hummus” – of course, this is an average translation, but still, you get the idea, don’t you?
If you’re a hummus beginner here – you should know that the base is made of chickpeas. In Israel, they add toppings to it such as paprika, lemon juice, olive oil, parsley, etc.
So grab some pita bread, and scoop it.
The best hummus is normally found in “hidden restaurants” which means they might look like “nothing special” but if the place is super busy, it’s usually a pretty good sign.
We had some delicious hummus pretty much everywhere but the one found in Carmel Market (see the photo below to find it) was absolutely delicious.
Baba Ganoush
Baba ganoush is a bit like Hummus’s best mate and is easily one of the best Israeli dishes. It’s a creamy grilled eggplant dip – and another great reason to eat more pita bread.
Baba ganoush isn’t a meal on its own. It normally comes with a bunch of other things and is more of a side dish that comes with the appetizers.
If the hummus is good, the Baba ganoush is going to be good too. Again – busy restaurants that look like “nothing special” should do the job.
We had found a very busy restaurant located in the Old City of Jerusalem with great hummus and baba ganoush.
Shakshuka
Shakshuka is one of the best Israeli meals I had. This dish is very popular in the Middle East. It’s hard to know who really invented it – everyone claims it.
That said, it doesn’t change the fact that you can find some good shakshuka in Israel.
Shakshuka is basically a sauce of tomatoes with poached eggs. It sounds pretty simple, but it’s actually delicious.
You can find many restaurants that specialize in Shakshuka in Tel Aviv.
Falafel
Falafels are quite popular and known worldwide. When you think about it, the idea is quite simple – a deep-fried ball of chickpeas.
If you haven’t noticed yet, it’s super easy to eat vegetarian in Israel. There are a lot of options for non-meat eaters.
You can eat falafels on their own, with a salad, in a pita, there’s no right or wrong.
You can find falafels pretty much everywhere!
Tahini
Tahini is a popular Israeli condiment. Basically, Israelis eat tahini with pretty much everything. You can dip your falafels in tahini, add it to your daily dose of hummus, or simply wipe your pita into it.
Tahini is basically a sauce made of crushed sesame seeds (it’s like a dense paste), lemon juice, garlic and water.
Fortunately, you’ll find tahini everywhere.
Stuffed Vine Leaves
Even if this can sound a bit odd, stuffed vine leaves are pretty popular amongst Israelis. This dish is also popular in Greece, Turkey, and many countries in the Middle East.
The grape leaves can be stuffed with cheese or other things, depending on where you’re getting them from.
We had some in Jerusalem at Cheese & Wine Rooftop Restaurant.
Burekas
Burekas are pretty popular in Israel and in Turkey. It’s a very tasty snack easy to find in markets. These pastries are stuffed with different things such as cheese, spinach, or sweet potatoes. They are usually served with boiled eggs and sauce.
You can find very good ones in both Carmel Market and Levinsky Market in Tel Aviv.
Street Food in Israel – Photo by @Git Photography
Halva
Halva is a very popular dessert in the Middle East and in North Africa. As you walk around the markets, don’t be surprised if you see these big creamy cakes.
Halvas are usually made of ground sesame paste, tahini, and other things to make them sweet.
I personally think the taste is a bit too strong for my liking, but it’s loved by Israelis.
Burika
As you walk in the market, you might hear some people yelling “Burika”. This means you should be in the right spot to try one of the popular street food snacks in Israel. It’s definitely not the healthiest option, ha!
Imagine a deep-fried dough that is filled with things such as egg, potato, and other things.
You can find burikas in markets – we found them at Carmel Market in Tel Aviv.
Israel Cuisine – Photo by @Git Photography
Malabi
Malabi – is my favorite food discovery in Israel. This pudding which looks pretty simple is absolutely delicious! The pudding is topped with rosewater, nuts, coconut and cookie crumbles. It might be simple, but what a tasty combination!
We found this dessert right outside Carmel Market.
Israeli Dessert – Photo by @Git Photography
Markets in Tel Aviv
Now let’s talk about the best food markets in Tel Aviv. These food markets allow you to buy fresh food, or to try some of the best food in Israel!
Carmel Market
Carmel Market is the largest and the most popular market found in Tel Aviv. You can find everything from clothes, souvenirs and food. Carmel Market is popular amongst travelers and locals.
Photo by @Git Photography
Levinsky Market
Levinsky Market is a great alternative to Carmel Market. It’s a bit smaller, more local and you can find a lot of great options food-wise there too. In fact, I tasted a lot of street food snacks there.
Photo by Or Kaplan
Markets in Jerusalem
Now, let’s talk about the best food markets in Jerusalem.
Mahane Yehuda Market
Mahane Yehuda Market is a food market during the day and a party place at night which is very popular amongst the younger generations.
Markets Around the Old City of Jerusalem
You will also find a lot of good options while touring around the Old City of Jerusalem. There are many great food options in the market and in restaurants.
Photo by @Git Photography
Food Tours In Tel Aviv
If you want to experience the markets in Tel Aviv without missing out on the best snacks and restaurants – I’d suggest you book a tour with BE Tel Aviv Tours.
I did two tours with them – in both Carmel Market and Levinsky Market and it was a great (and tasty) experience.
Food Tours In Jerusalem
If you’d rather experience a food tour in Jerusalem, you can take a look at the options here.
Food is very important in Israeli culture. You will eat a lot – and eat again. Good news: you’re never going to be hungry (or “hangry”) over there.
Final Thoughts On Israeli Food
As you can see, there are lots of delicious food to try while in Israel. This list includes the most popular food in Israel, but you’ll find plenty more options when you’re there.
Traveling to Israel soon? Read one of the following blog posts:
Disclaimer: Thanks to MediaCentral for inviting me to Israel. As always, all opinions are my own. Happy travels.
