Appreciation of food is very personal (see also my list of ”worst food places in Israel“..). I sometimes find it difficult to appreciate expensive wine, but I can always tell a good HummusJ.   This list is there for very personal list by my taste, but it is based also on feedbacks of tourists.

The biggest buzz over a restaurant in Jerusalem for the last few years is over Mahaneyudah which is located at the edge of the vegetable market by the same name. In its over end is another chef restaurant of Ezra Kedem, Arcadia.

Other good choices would be Chakra, Adom and kosher Angelica in the city center, and restaurants along Shlomzion street, such as Focachetta, kosher Canela, Osho, andGabriel. An excellent combination of  location and cuisine  is Mamilla rooftop, as well as its neighboring Kedma.

For an ethnic experience go either to the authentic Armenian Tavern in the Armenian quarter of the Old City, the vegetarian Eastern European style Café harova in the old city, the very special Eucalyptus restaurant, the Moroccan style Darna restaurant, or the Kurdish style IMA restaurant.

And of course the best Hummus joints are in Jerusalem!. In the old city go to Hummus Lina or Hummus Achramawi, and in western Jerusalem go to Pinati (which is now a chain, but only the Jerusalem original branch is really good!). near it Ta’ami is also a good choice, and so is Hummus Talpiot, which is,well, in talpiot.

If planning a tour of the Israel museum the new Modern restaurant is a pleasent surprise, and off king David street and in Baq’a the two sister restaurants “Olive” and “Olive and Fish” are worth a dinner, and even better choice in Baq’a would be Colony.

Outside Jerusalem a popular destination for an Arab cuisine is the village of Abu Gosh, of which Abu-Gosh and Naura restaurants are especially recommended. If you continue to the Shephela, Fresco in Beth-Shemesh offers good Italian style dishes (including an optional unique Gluten free menu!), and if heading towards Gush-Ezion, Gavna will provide a good kosher vegetarian meal (with the most spectacular view in Israel!).

Tel-Aviv has many good restaurants, and the list could always include more. Starting from the top, chef Yonathan Roshfeld is in charge of 3 gourmet dinning experiences: Herbert Samuel, Tapas 1 Haam, and Yavneh Montefiore.

Opposite the last, in the Montefiore boutique hotel one can appreciate a very nice meal, as well as at nearby Catit and Cafe Noir, and Kimmel.

Besides Herbert Samuel, on Hayarkon street is also Rafi Cohen’s excellent Rafael, and  if you are seeking a fast food option in that area, nothing beats Sabich Frishman (except for Maybe Falafel Frishman, ah ah..). For Pizza try excellent Tony Vespa.

In Jaffa go for Cordelia or it sister Noa Bistro, both mastered by chef Nir Tzuk, or nearby Greek style KALAMATA. For an Arab kitchen experience go for the Kebab HAlabi in Khaj-Kahil, or a Shwarma at Abulafia.

In Tel-Aviv port you will enjoy most the formerly Jerusalemite Gilly’s institution, as well as his neighbor Mul-Yam which is perhaps the best sea food in Israel (!). And if you are a vegi, nearby Bariba is also a good choice.

If strolling in Neve Tzedek you can fetch some nice steaks at Makom shel Bashar (=”place of Meat”), and complement it with romantic Nana-Bar.

Segev and Segev Express are managed well by chef and celebrity Moshe Segev, and Aviv Moshe’s Messa will also provide a very good meal experience. So will Toto.  For an Ethnic experience go to Dr. shakshuka, who provides an excellent shakshuka as well as a Lybian kitchen. For Chinese go to Sing Long near the central bus station, and for Italian go to the SUPERB Amore Mio restaurant on Ibn Gvirol Street, Or try its neighbor Brasserie.

For a very special food+culture experience join the Samaritans, who live outside Tel-Aviv, for dinner. Not gourmet, but very special people and very special food!.

Outside Tel-Aviv, in Rosh Ha-Ayin, one can get a genuine Yemanite food experience at GAM VEGAM.

The north offers a wide range of dinning possibilities, from Arab and druze kitchen, chef restauants, to Kibbutz lunch meals. In kibbutz Sdot Yam one can find a standard kibbutz lunch, but that by itself is a special an inexpensive experience. A more maritime flavored option is the veteran establishment Ben-Ezra the Fisherman in Atlit.

Further north, in the Carmel, the best Druze restaurant is Andarin. For an Arab cuisine go to Diana or el-Tanur in Nazareth, or best – El-Babur, not far from Megiddo. In Haifa itself, Hashuma 1872 and Hanamal 24 are grea gourmet restaurants.

Around the Sea of Galilee don’t miss the opportunity to try St. Peter fish in Decks or Little Tiberias in Tiberias, or in kibuutzEin-gev fish firestaurant, or at Dag al Hadan at the source of the Jordan river.

Near Tiberias and Ginosar, Dalia also serves good fish,  and its neighbor Kseh Hanahal offers a nice Lebanese style experience, while Abu Salach near Amiad offers a good Arab cuisine.

The best gourmet and organic restaurant in the north would probably be Muscat in Mizpe Hayamin Spa Resort, or the superb Organic AND KOSHER Makom BeSejera near Golani Junction.

In the Golan heights there are several good food options. In Katsrin you can enjoy a good burger and locally made beer in the Golan Brewery, or a meaty meal at  Meat Shos. Other good options are Havat Habokrim in kibbutz Meron Golan, , Doris in Rosh Pina, Betty and Nachi in Ramot, and Vered Hagalil. And If you wish to try some Druze Food, go to Peace Restaurant in Masa’ade.

If returning to Jerusalem via the Jordan valley you could have a nice (and kosher) lunch stop at Kibbutz Tirat-Zvi (that’s where I gree up!), or at Kimmel Bagilboa, or at The Last chance, located near Jericho.

Heading south? I am afraid there is not much to offer along the way. If driving by Gaza strip, stop at Nethachim at Yad-Mordechai junction. If you drive thru the Negev, in some of the farms a nice goat cheese branch is worth a stop (especially Kornmel or Haroa farm).  But perhaps best to pack some sandwiches and drive along the Aravah the fastest way to Eilat. Ok, you can do one stop at Yotveta for some locally made ice cream.

In Eilat there are several good places to ear, of which I recommend Eddie’s hide a way, and especially “The Last refuge a SUBERB fish restaurant (!). For a smaller budget Barbis is my favorite burger joint in Eilat, and if touring Timna park, Timna restaurant offers a surprising nice desert meal, made of home made pitah bread with a variety of light salads.

Macdonalds can be seen in every corner in Israel too, but if you are after fast food, atleast go for the local chains. There are several pretty good burger bar chains (Moses, Black bar n burger, Burger’s Bar, and more), or go for some oily fatty and so tasty veal shawrma in Hashamen.  Hummus Pinati is now a chain too.

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For the ultimate coffee you MUST try an Aroma coffee, or even better – their Ice Coffee (!). You will not be disappointed also at  competators like – Café hillel, Café Café, and Cup ‘O’ Joe.

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A tour of Israel is not complete without a Falafel of which the chain Falafel gina and Falafel Arba Taamin ( = “Falafel four flavors”).