Food · Jerusalem · Israel
What to eat in Jerusalem
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Jerusalem, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: askii, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Quick answer
Start with Hummus, Jerusalem mixed grill and Ka'ak al-Quds. Taste your way through the market's halva stalls, bakeries and delis at lunchtime, then return on a Thursday evening when the lanes become a street of bars. Many restaurants in West Jerusalem are kosher and close from Friday afternoon until Saturday night; East Jerusalem and the Old City's Christian and Muslim quarters stay open.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Hummus
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 7
- Tipping
- In restaurants a tip of around 10–15% is customary if service is not included; round up…
- Food experiences
- 3
10 foods to try
Dish · Vegetarian
1.Hummus
Warm, freshly made hummus with olive oil, whole chickpeas and pita is a lunchtime staple; many places serve it with ful or mushrooms and close once the day's batch runs out.
Where: Counters in the Muslim and Christian quarters around Al-Wad Street, and near Mahane Yehuda.
Street food
2.Jerusalem mixed grill (Me'orav Yerushalmi)
Chicken hearts, spleen and liver with onions and spices, fried on a flat-top griddle and stuffed into pita; a late-night dish closely associated with the city.
Where: Grills along Agrippas Street beside Mahane Yehuda market.
Bakery · Vegetarian
3.Ka'ak al-Quds
Long oval rings of bread coated in sesame, sold from carts with a twist of za'atar or with eggs and falafel, often eaten on the go in the morning.
Where: Carts and bakeries around Damascus Gate and inside the Muslim Quarter.
Dessert · Vegetarian
4.Knafeh
Soft white cheese under a layer of shredded or semolina pastry, baked in large trays, soaked in syrup and topped with pistachios, served warm by weight.
Where: Sweet shops in the Muslim Quarter, especially off Souq Khan al-Zeit.
Dish
5.Kubbeh soup
Semolina dumplings stuffed with minced meat, simmered in a sour beetroot, pumpkin or lemony vegetable broth; a Kurdish and Iraqi Jewish dish that is a Jerusalem lunchtime favourite.
Where: Small lunch restaurants in and around Mahane Yehuda market.
Dish · Vegetarian
6.Jerusalem kugel (Kugel Yerushalmi)
A baked noodle pudding that is both caramel-sweet and black-pepper hot, traditionally eaten on Shabbat in the city's Ashkenazi communities.
Where: Bakeries and delis in the city centre and Mahane Yehuda, especially on Fridays.
Dessert · Vegetarian
7.Rugelach
Small rolled pastries filled with chocolate or cinnamon, sticky with syrup and sold by weight, best when still warm from the oven.
Where: Bakeries in Mahane Yehuda market.
Street food · Vegetarian
8.Falafel
Freshly fried chickpea balls in pita with salads, pickles and tahini; Jerusalem stands often add fried aubergine or chips.
Where: Stands on Ben Yehuda Street, around Mahane Yehuda and in the Old City souq.
Dish
9.Maqluba
Rice cooked with chicken or lamb, fried aubergine and cauliflower, turned upside down onto a platter so it holds the shape of the pot; a Palestinian family dish.
Where: Restaurants in East Jerusalem and home-style cooking classes.
Drink · Vegetarian
10.Mint tea and Arabic coffee
Sweet tea with fresh mint or sage, and strong coffee with cardamom, poured in small cups at cafés and shops throughout the souq.
Where: Cafés inside Damascus Gate and around the Muslim and Christian quarters.
Food experiences
Mahane Yehuda grazing
Taste your way through the market's halva stalls, bakeries and delis at lunchtime, then return on a Thursday evening when the lanes become a street of bars.
Friday Shabbat shopping
Friday morning before Shabbat is the busiest time at Mahane Yehuda, with locals buying challah, flowers and prepared dishes before everything closes in the afternoon.
Old City souq breakfast
Start with ka'ak and za'atar from a cart at Damascus Gate, then hummus and ful at a counter in the Muslim Quarter.
Quick bites and street food
- Jerusalem mixed grill — Grills along Agrippas Street beside Mahane Yehuda market.
- Ka'ak al-Quds — Carts and bakeries around Damascus Gate and inside the Muslim Quarter.
- Falafel — Stands on Ben Yehuda Street, around Mahane Yehuda and in the Old City souq.
Vegetarian options
Of the 10 foods in this guide, 7 are usually vegetarian: Hummus, Ka'ak al-Quds, Knafeh, Jerusalem kugel, Rugelach, Falafel and Mint tea and Arabic coffee. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Many restaurants in West Jerusalem are kosher and close from Friday afternoon until Saturday night; East Jerusalem and the Old City's Christian and Muslim quarters stay open.
- Kosher restaurants serve either meat or dairy dishes, not both, so a steakhouse will not offer cheese.
- Hummus is a daytime dish; many counters close by mid-afternoon.
- Check whether a service charge is included before tipping, and carry some cash for market stalls.
- Book Thursday-night dinners in advance; it is the busiest night of the week.
Tipping
In restaurants a tip of around 10–15% is customary if service is not included; round up for taxis and tip guides at the end of a tour.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Shalom | Hello / goodbye (Hebrew) |
| Toda | Thank you (Hebrew) |
| Marhaba | Hello (Arabic) |
| Shukran | Thank you (Arabic) |
| Bevakasha | Please (Hebrew) |
| Kama ze? | How much is it? (Hebrew) |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Jerusalem famous for?
Hummus, Jerusalem mixed grill, Ka'ak al-Quds and Knafeh. Warm, freshly made hummus with olive oil, whole chickpeas and pita is a lunchtime staple; many places serve it with ful or mushrooms and close once the day's batch runs out.
+Is Jerusalem good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Hummus, Ka'ak al-Quds and Knafeh.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Jerusalem?
In restaurants a tip of around 10–15% is customary if service is not included; round up for taxis and tip guides at the end of a tour.