The best shakshuka in Tel Aviv

This lively Carmel Market spot is a shakshuka haven, serving up fancy versions of the über-popular baked eggs in tomato sauce. Take your pick of any of the unique renditions of this local dish, such as the Spanish version with salami, spinach and chickpeas, or the Italian version featuring goat cheese and basil.

This hearty spot, located in the Jaffa Flea Market, is the brainchild of Bino Gabso, aka Dr. Shakshuka. For many years, people have flocked to this restaurant for authentic Tripolitan food and the signature shakshuka (baked eggs in tomato sauce). These come in many different renditions; try it with mushrooms, or shawarma, or a selection of other amazing add-ins.

Benedict has become synonymous with breakfast in Israel, and you’ll find multiple locations across the country. People come here to munch on breakfast at any time of the day or night. Open 24 hours and jam-packed with every single comfort food possible: whether it be towering pancakes, eggs Benedict, French toast or shakshuka, breakfast knows no boundaries here.  

While wandering Shuk HaPishpeshim (Jaffa Flea Market), grab a seat at Shaffa Bar serving up local food, seasonal ingredients, and super creative dishes. During the day, the spot is hip and chic and serves up a mean shakshuka; at night, the scene is complemented with creative cocktails and occasional music shows.

The authentic, richly flavorful Yemenite breads and stews at Saluf & Sons are served in a hip, casual atmosphere, bolstering the Levinsky Market reputation for spices and yuppies. Yemenite cuisine is famous for taking water and flour and miraculously shapeshifting them into a thing of beauty: heavenly breads with incredible tastes and textures. Start with the 'kubaneh' to have fresh, hot bread with a variety of dips, and follow up with a flaky 'malawach' wrap (fried pancake-like Yemenite bread) paired with a 'shawia' beef stew over couscous. There's nothing more refreshing than ending a heav(enl)y meal off with juicy watermelon slices and a side of bulgarit cheese, an off-menu item that all the locals in the know order. Their already reasonable prices are even more reasonable during their daily happy hour, so much so that they'll have you on your knees thanking Israel for “Operation Magic Carpet.”

Featuring a family recipe passed down through several generations, Shakshukia specializes in an Israeli classic made with tomatoes, sweet peppers, onions, eggs, and of course, lots of love - shakshuka! The cozy restaurant serves up several adaptations of their classic recipe, including shakshuka with hummus, chicken shawarma or the always adored eggplant. Dig into other Israeli specialties alongside your main course, such as chopped salads and hummus starters. Located just steps away from Gordon Beach, Shakshukia is a go-to place to rewind after a long day of tanning and drinking, especially if home feels too far away.    

Located in the impressive, urban Hotel 65 on Rothschild Blvd is Café 65. Open to both guests of the hotel and visitors, the delicious and varied breakfast buffet is offered throughout the day. Café 65 has daily specials with eggs and omelets, several types of Halva, sabich, an assortment of cheeses and vegetables, French toast and many other treats designed to make this your best breakfast experience in Israel. Come with an empty stomach; the mouth-watering smells of Café 65 will have you filling your plate and coming back for more.  

Ha’achim is a bustling restaurant on busy Ibn Gvirol Street. Lively and friendly, it is like dining in the welcoming home of a Tel Aviv local. The emphasis is on fresh ingredients set in a location that radiates a trendy Tel Aviv vibe in an unpretentious atmosphere. The menu is composed of a myriad of house-made salads, kebabs and homegrown Israeli food.

From the minute you lay eyes on Anastasia, you will feel at home. Everything is in superabundance at this spacious café: from the light shining through the windows to the health-savvy staff and the extensive menu of vegan, raw and gluten-free options and uber-nutritious dishes. The primary focus at Anastasia is healthful vegan food. Tasty menu options include: the sweet potato quiche with a spelt crust filled with a lush walnut-based cheese, buttery lima beans and Jerusalem artichokes, all served with lightly-toasted bruschetta. Also try their towering salads boasting carefully-selected fresh vegetables and immune-boosting ingredients. 

Down the street from the beautiful Nachalat Binyamin craft market (open Tuesdays and Fridays) stands a neighborhood spot with an extensive salad bar buffet of down-to-earth hot and cold dishes. Cafe Birenbaum has over 50 options from light cabbage salads and bean salads to buckwheat and couscous. A cast of distinctive “Tel Aviv” characters – from hungry young beachgoers to patrons of “a certain age” –  have been eating here for years, all for the same reason: to feel at home. For NIS 50 (cash only), you get all you can eat hot and cold salads, quiches and other vegetarian grub. This hidden gem has been open and serving these sensational salads since 1962.

Opened by Shlomo in 1937, his grandson Doron carries on the legacy of serving this humble chickapea staple with no frills attached. While hummus is their speciality, this longstanding establishment sticks to tradition, and has a divine, reliable traditional shakshuka on the menu. Outdoor seating on a cobblestone street, with an atmosphere heightened by the sounds and smells of Carmel Market, Shlomo and Doron has a truly authentic feel.