A food-lover's guide to Middle Eastern cuisine

Israeli kosher food goes way beyond your deli classics or your bubbe’s Shabbat signatures. From Asian to Italian, street food to fine dining, there’s nowhere aside from Israel where you’ll find the level of diversity and quality when it comes to kosher food (and wine!). To help you cover all of your kosher cravings, we’ve rounded up the best Rabbi-approved kosher restaurants in Israel. 

Cuisine, from the street to haute, is not something for which the Jews are renowned. We're good at math, science and money and bad at drinking and avoiding national trauma. We gave the world matzo and we have been punished accordingly. Jewish food refers to what we nicked from the Eastern Europeans. This means chopped liver, gefilte fish, ikra, brisket, stuffed spleen, kneidlach, kreplach, kishke and that all-glorious sabbath meal, cholent. So if you are up for the challenge, here are the best places to chow down on some funny named dishes.

The smooth and creamy concoction, in both its hot and cold forms can be found on many a street corner in Haifa. Spun into wells on a plate topped with olive oil and parsley, and drowned in the savory topping of your choice, you’ll be in heaven from the very first bite. Here in Haifa, it is not a party dip, but a hearty lunch. Not just a food, but a sub-culture, and the hummus shop that serves it is the meeting point for your next Friday brunch – Israeli style. There are “ways” to eat it, and everyone claims to be an expert, but as long as you indulge in the creamy goodness, every little thing will be just fine. Here are our top picks for the highly debated prize of the best hummus restaurants in Haifa.

While you can wander down just about any Jaffa or central Tel Aviv street and find at least one – if not more – falafel stands and hummus shops, we’re all about quality over quantity. The warm, creamy combination thrives on the perfect balance of stewed chickpeas, lemon, garlic, tehina, oil and other herbs & spices. From decadent flavors to ideal textures and adventurous toppings (including vegan-friendly options like sautéed mushrooms or the iconic meat-lover’s ground beef), these hummus hotspots set themselves apart from their tourist trap neighbors. Check out the best hummus restaurants in Tel Aviv for a little taste of heaven that will keep you coming back again and again and again...  

Israeli breakfast is a rite of passage for those visiting Tel Aviv and whether you head to a place that sticks to the classics (eggs, chopped cucumber and tomato salad with a range of house-made spreads) or veers away from the norm with options like shakshuka, bourekas or jachnun, we guarantee you'll be tied over for the rest of the day. So, If you’re looking for some serious a.m. fuel to charge up before a day of activities and shopping in the White City, turn to these Tel Aviv restaurants and you will not be disappointed.

Israeli breakfast is Israel’s answer to the relaxing weekend brunch. It is a time to sit in your favorite spot – whether it be a Jerusalem café, a bustling Tel Aviv bakery or a Haifa restaurant – and enjoy the simpler pleasures in life. At the heart of every Israeli breakfast is: eggs cooked to your liking, a basket of fresh bread, a variety of spreads, dips, fresh salads and cheeses. And at the heart of Haifa are five of the best boutique Israeli breakfasts in the city. These are the local neighborhood cafés that are handcrafting their breakfasts with care from only the freshest ingredients - a delicious and inspirational change from the ordinary, and a must try any day of the week on your next trip to Israel’s North.

Israel has some of the finest tomatoes in the world, so it’s no wonder they are a daily dietary staple. From raw to slow cooked, Israelis have mastered making the most of their abundance of this fresh produce, which explains the ease with which they've accepted the vegan trends. Enjoy the art of the tomato in its full glory as it is put on display like an exhibition, while also getting your fill of protein and energy revving spices by treating your taste buds to a warm pan of shakshuka. This dish promises a true traditional Israeli breakfast experience. If it’s your first time, be ready to come back - no one eats shakshuka just once. If you want to try it at home, head up to the closest market, or for different budget meals, take a look at our list of best street food in Tel Aviv and Jaffa. Bet you can't eat just one.

After just one flavourful bite of vegan-friendly greasy grub from these falafel and sabich establishments, you’ll be singing, “I got a pocket, got a pocket full of sunshine” from the rooftops. Walk down the busy streets of Tel Aviv any time of day and you’re bound to pass at least ten shops serving up Israeli street food squeezed between chic designer boutiques and vibrant juice stands. With so many options, how do you weed out the authentic street eats from the tourist traps? By following our helpful guide to pita pocket paradise. We’ve scavenged the city far and wide in search of the juiciest chickpeas, crispiest eggplant, and perfectly hard boiled eggs in Tel Aviv. The lines may be long at famous Tel Aviv restaurants like Frishman Sabich and Falafel Gabay, but with good reason. Grab some free pickled vegetables and some patience because we promise you, these spots are well worth the wait.

We get it, falafel is delicious. Yes, sabich is so sensual it can make you feel things you’ve never felt before. But, imagine a world outside these staples...a pita-centric world packed with new flavors, vegan cauliflower creations that will melt-in-your mouth, and meats so juicy they might even give you an orgasm. The Tel Aviv and Jaffa street food vendors have been on their game this year as they come up with new ways to elevate the fluffy pita, following in the footsteps of Eyal Shani, while Jerusalem is holding strong to their authentic roots, but also upping their game. Check out what these popular pita spots have to offer.