Food of Jerusalem - 15 Must Try Street Food & Local Dishes

Whenever tourists think of Jerusalem, food is likely not the first thing that pops to their minds. It is a place frequently visited for its stunning architecture and religious significance. However, once you land in the city, you will realise the vibrant food culture here. Apart from the traditional and exceptionally scrumptious Israeli food, you will find influences from other cultures such as North Africa, the Mediterranean and other Middle Eastern countries. There is no dearth of options when it comes to bona fide street food that will make you fall in love with the flavours in Jerusalem. In addition, you will find great vegetarian as well as meat dishes in restaurants and eateries. 

Here's a quick look at some of Jerusalem's popular food dishes and street foods, with the best places to try them! 

1. Hummus

Hummus is no mystery to most people today. But when it comes to the hummus found on the streets of Jerusalem, there is absolutely no match anywhere else in the country. For those unfamiliar with the dish, it is a Middle Eastern speciality consisting of blended mashed chickpeas with lemon juice, tahini and garlic. Often used as a side dip and eaten with a warm pitta bread, there is no wrong time to savour this delicacy.  

Where to find: Abu Shukri (Near the Mosque, Abu Gosh, Jerusalem, Israel): Open 24 hours 
Ben Sira Hummus (Ben Sira St 3, Jerusalem, 9418103, Israel): Open from 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM; Closed on Saturdays 
 Aricha Sabich (Agripas St 83, Jerusalem, Israel): Open Sunday-Thursday from 9:30 AM - 11:00 PM and from 9:30 AM - 2:30 PM on Friday
Approximate cost: ILS 20 per plate

2. Falafel 

Israel’s national dish and one of the most popular street foods in the country, you have to definitely try these deep fried fritters for a true-blue food experience in Jerusalem. They are made up of chickpeas and/or broad beans, garlic, parsley, and lemon juice. They are often eaten with a pita bread and hummus or tahini dip on the side or in the form of a falafel sandwich. If you want the authentic taste of Israeli falafels, your go-to choice should be the street vendors. 

Where to find: Shalom Falafel (Betsal'el St 32, Jerusalem, Israel) : Open Sunday- Thursday from 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Falafel Brothers Levy (Ha-Tut St, Jerusalem, Israel): Open Sunday- Thursday from 8:00 AM - 9:00 PM and from 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM on Friday
Pisgat Hafalafel (Ben Yehuda St 23-21, Jerusalem, Israel): Open Sunday- Thursday from 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM and from 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM on Friday
Approximate cost: ILS 15-30 

3. Jerusalem Bagel

Locally known as 'baygaleh', Jerusalem bagels are airy baked sweet bread with seeds on top and soft moist interiors. They are popularly enjoyed with hummus, white bean dip or olive oil and are easily found at open-air markets and kiosks. 

Where to find: Sam’s Bagels (Ben Yehuda St 11, Jerusalem, Israel): Open Sunday- Friday from 8:00 AM/ 8:45 AM to 10:30 PM 
Bagel Cafe (Emek Refa'im St 54, Jerusalem, Israel): Open Sunday- Thursday from 6:30 AM - 10:00 PM and from 6:30 AM - 2:00 PM on Friday
Approximate cost: ILS 10-90

4. Baba Ghanoush

Another very famous dip, Baba Ghanoush is a combination of finely chopped roasted eggplant, olive oil, lemon juice, tahini and other seasonings. It is best served cold with labneh, pickles, pita or flatbread. 

Where to find: Nafoura Restaurant (Latin Patriarchate Rd 26, Jerusalem): Open Monday-Saturday from 12:00 PM - 11:00 PM 
Al-Mihbash (Nablus Road 88, Jerusalem): Open 11:00 AM- 12:00 AM 
Amigo Emil Restaurant (El-Khanqa Street 15, Jerusalem): Open 11:00 AM - 9:30 PM from Monday to Friday and 11:00 AM- 8:00 PM on Saturday
Approximate cost: ILS 30-40 onwards 

5. Sabich 

An originally Iraqi breakfast dish, Sabich has become a common food item on the menu in Israel. It is a sandwich of pita bread, eggplants, eggs, salad, tahini sauce and spicy mango sauce called amba. It is among the top favourite street foods of travellers on the go which can honestly be eaten at any time of the day. 

Where to find: Aricha Sabich (Agripas St 83, Jerusalem, Israel): Open Sunday-Thursday from 9:30 AM - 11:00 PM and from 9:30AM - 2:30 PM on Friday
Adom Restaurant (David Remez St 4, Jerusalem, Israel) : Open Sunday- Thursday from 12:30 PM - 12:00 AM and Friday-Saturday from 12:00 PM - 12:00 AM 
Approximate cost:  ILS 17-20 (Street vendors); ILS 132 onwards (upscale restaurants) 

6. Shakshuka

It is a Maghrebi dish of poached eggs in tomato sauce with goat cheese, eggplants and sometimes even sausage. It is a popular Israeli breakfast meal, but it is often enjoyed during other times of the day. 

Where to find: Cafe Yehoshua (Azza St 17, Jerusalem, Israel): Open Sunday- Thursday from 8:00 AM - 12:00 AM, Friday from 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM and Saturday from 8:00 PM - 12:00 AM
Coffee Nadi (Hillel St 39, Jerusalem, Israel): Open Sunday- Thursday from 7:00 AM - 11:00 PM and Friday from 7:00  AM - 4:00 PM 
Cafe Ella (Ha-Rav Herzog St 69, Jerusalem, Israel): Open Sunday- Thursday from 7:30 AM - 10:30 PM and Friday from 7:30 AM - 2:30 PM 
Approximate cost: ILS 3-9 

7. Börek

Also known as Burek, Börek is originally a Balkan or Middle Eastern dish. It is a puff pastry with different fillings like meat, cheese, mushrooms and spinach. It is often a great alternative to Shakshuka. 

Where to find: Bulghourji (The Armenian Patriarchate St 6, Jerusalem):  Open Sunday- Thursday from 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM and Friday from 10:30 AM - 3:00 PM 
Bourekas Ramle (Agripas St 44, Jerusalem, Israel): Open Sunday- Thursday from 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM and Friday from 7:00 AM- 3:00 PM 
Burekas Ima (Rivka St 17, Jerusalem, Israel): Open 24 hours on Thursdays, Sunday- Wednesday from 5:00 AM - 8:00 PM and Friday from 12:00 AM - 4:30 PM 
Approximate cost: ILS 4-20

8. Shawarma 

A very popular Middle Eastern dish and one of the most liked street foods in Jerusalem, Shawarma is a must-try meal when roaming the markets/souks of the city. It is a predominantly non-vegetarian dish with meat slices roasted on a skewer and served with salad, tahini sauce and pickles. 

Where to find: Moshiko Falafel (Ben Yehuda St 5, Jerusalem, Israel): Open Sunday- Thursday from 8:00 AM - 12:00 AM and Friday from 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM 
Maoz Falafel and Shawarma (King George St 19, Jerusalem, Israel): Open Sunday- Thursday from 9:00 AM - 10:30 PM and Friday from 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM 
Halo Teiman (Weizman Blvd 7, Jerusalem, Israel): Open Sunday- Thursday from 10:30 AM- 12:00 AM and Friday from 12:00 PM- 2:00 PM
Approximate cost: ILS 34-45

9. Maqluba 

A well-liked meat dish, Maqluba is a traditional Israeli and Palestinian dish served with rice and fried vegetables. 

Where to find: The Eucalyptus (Felt St 14, Jerusalem): Open Sunday- Thursday 6:00 PM - 11:00 PM  
Approximate cost: ILS 90-100

10. Me'orav Yerushalmi

A Jerusalem delicacy, Me'orav Yerushalmi is a meat lover's food fantasy with chicken heart, liver, spleen and lamb grilled together with Middle Eastern spices like garlic, cumin and coriander. It is served with pita bread or individually on a plate. 

Where to find: Hatzot (Agripas St 121, Jerusalem, Israel): Open Sunday- Thursday from 11:00 AM - 1:30 AM, Friday from 11:00 AM -  3:00 PM and Saturday from 6:30 PM- 1:30 AM 
Fortuna (HaArmonim St 2, Jerusalem, Israel): Open Sunday- Thursday from 11:00 AM - 11:00 PM and Friday from 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM 

  11. Israeli Salad 

Isreali salads are a whole meal in themselves. Described as the "most well-known national dish", they are mostly eaten as a full-fledged meal or are a part of a meal as a side dish. The most common recipe includes tomato, cucumber, onion, bell peppers, lemon juice and tahini. Tabbouleh and Carrot salads are also very famous. 

Where to find: Mr.Green (Jaffa St 38, Jerusalem, Israel): Open Sunday-Thursday 7:30 AM - 11:00 PM, Friday from 7:30 AM- 3:00  PM and Saturday from 6:00 PM - 12:00 AM 
Azura (Ha-Eshkol St 4, Jerusalem, Israel): Open Sunday-Thursday from 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM and Friday from 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM 
Approximate cost: ILS 25-30 

12. Taboon

Taboon is a Levantine flatbread baked in a clay oven, giving it a bubbly shape. It is made up of flour, water, yeast and sugar. It often forms the outer layer of wraps and is stuffed with falafel, hummus or meat. 

Where to find: Taboon and Wine Bar and Restaurant (New Gate 31, Jerusalem): Open 5:00 PM - 11:00 PM, Closed on Mondays 

13. Knafeh

A delicious and highly addictive sweet dish, Knafeh is a pastry (kataifi) soaked in a sugar-based syrup with a layer of cheese on top. Typically sold by weight, it can be easily found in the Muslim quarter of Jerusalem. 

Where to find: Jaffar Sweets (Khan Al-Zeit Street, Old City): Open 8:00 AM- 11:00 PM 
Sarwa Street Kitchen (Salah Ad-din St 42, Jerusalem): Open 10:00 AM - 11:00 PM 
Approximate cost:  ILS 132 per kilo

14. Baklava 

Another exceptionally popular dessert, Baklava is a layered filo pastry filled with chopped nuts and stuck together with a sweet, sugar syrup or honey. It is quite easily found at the Mahane Yehuda market. Since it is an extremely sticky dish, it is less of an 'on-the-go' dessert and more of a 'sit-down-and-eat' snack. 

Where to find: Jaffar Sweets (Khan Al-Zeit Street, Old City): Open 8:00 AM- 11:00 PM 
Marzipan bakery and pastry (Agripas St 44, Jerusalem, Israel): Open 24 hours on Thursdays, Friday from 12:00 AM - 3:00 PM, Saturday from 7:00 PM- 12:00 AM, Sunday- Wednesday from 6:00 AM - 12:00 AM 
Kadosh Café Patisserie (Queen Shlomziyon St 6, Jerusalem, Israel): Open Sunday- Thursday from 7:00 AM - 11:00 PM and Friday from 7:00 AM - 2:00 PM 
Approximate cost: ILS 75 for a kilo 

15. Halva 

Halva is a dessert found not just in Jerusalem, but all across the Middle East, North Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean. The dish which is widely beloved in Jerusalem has a tahini base and a crumbly texture. Different recipes include different ingredients to give varied flavours to the sweet dish. 

Where to find: Machneyuda (Beit Ya'akov St 10, Jerusalem, Israel): Open Sunday- Thursday from 12:30 PM - 12:00 AM, Friday from 11:30 AM - 3:30 PM and Saturday from 10:00 PM- 12:00 AM 
The Halva Kingdom (12 Etz HaChaim St., Machane Yehuda Market): Open Sunday-Thursday from 8:00 AM - sunset and Friday from 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM 
Approximate cost: ILS 50 for 500g 

Food in Jerusalem borrows from various other cuisines and cultures while maintaining its own traditional and authentic dishes. So be sure to try out some, if not all, of these mouth-watering foods during your next visit to Jerusalem!