5 Foods You Must Try in Israel and Where to Find Them

Israeli cuisine is a huge mix of cultural influences from all over the world. However, there are a handful of dishes that are traditionally known as Israeli foods.

We’ve put together a list of some of the best places to find these delicious traditional delicacies.

Hummus at Abu Hassan

Cost: Israeli new shekel ILS 19

One of the foods Israel is most well-known for is definitely their hummus. With a handful of restaurants that specialize only in hummus dishes, it can be hard to know where to begin. We recommend the most famous spot in Jaffa, Abu Hassan.

With hummus made fresh every morning, Abu Hassan keeps its doors open until it runs out of hummus for the day. You can pick from classic smooth hummus, chunky hummus, and hummus topped with fava beans.

Don’t be surprised when you are given a side of onions with your hummus, it can be used to eat with the hummus and creates a great flavor.

Falafel from Hakosem

Cost: Israeli new shekel ILS 22

With so many falafel stands lining the streets, there is no way you can end your trip without tasting these fried balls made from ground chickpeas. However, if you are looking for the best falafel in the country, you’ll want to make your way over to Hakosem.

Located in Tel Aviv, this restaurant offers more than your average falafel stand. You can choose to have your falafel in pita, lafa, or as a platter. The lafa essentially becomes a falafel burrito, making for a very filling meal. They even pass around bowls of falafel while you wait in line to give you a taste!

Shakshuka from Dr. Shakshuka

Cost: Israeli new shekel ILS 38

Another traditional dish in Israel is Shakshuka. Shakshuka is typically served as a breakfast dish and is composed of poached eggs in a stew of tomatoes, peppers, and onions. It is typically served with bread or pita for dipping. At Dr. Shakshuka, you’ll find some of the best authentic Shakshuka in Israel. It even comes served right in the pan.

Malabi from Hamalabiya

Cost: Israeli new shekel ILS 10

Malabi makes for a light dessert or great snack during the day. The custard-like dessert comes with both a vegan and non-vegan option and is topped with syrup and your choice of nuts, coconut, and cookie crumbs.

Hamalabiya serves it up fresh every day and also offers Turkish coffee to accommodate your Malabi. If you have some downtime, you can hang around and even play a game of backgammon or two.

Sabich from Sabich Tchernikovsky

Cost: Israeli new shekel ILS 22

While many of the food listed above were adapted into Israeli cuisine from around the world, it is said that Sabich may be the only dish that actually originated in Israel. Sabich consists of a pita filled with fried eggplant, hardboiled eggs, tahini sauce, and Israeli salad. Make sure you grab some amba sauce to top it off!

All of these restaurants are popular choices for tourists and locals alike. If you’re travelling to Israel soon, make sure to stop at as many of these restaurants as possible.

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