A bit of a hole in a wall, extra smokey, with always an endless line of people and utterly delicious – it only takes four adjectives to properly describe Jasmino, a street food stand in the middle of Allenby street next to historic Rothschild street. It seems only suitable to use four adjectives when the menu consists of only four items (kebab, chicken thighs, spicy sausages and calf hearts) and where each pita is carefully stuffed with only four basic ingredients (not including the meat): fresh salad, roast vegetables, tahini and amba.
Jasmino looks like your classic street food, with its classic Tel Aviv shawarma stand feel to it. There is just one catch, there is a constant long line of hungry foodies looking to fuel their appetite, due to amazing reviews by both locals and tourists.
Having only 2 or 3 stools, you can either carry your pita across the street and sit on the stairs leading to Tel Aviv’s Great Synagogue (as most people here do), or you can try and act like a local and devour you meal standing up, slightly leaning forward as to prevent any drops of tahini and the delicious meat juices from staining your clothes.
When asking most regulars at Jasmino what to order, they tend to suggest the kebab. This isn’t surprising as a quarter of the dishes on the menu are kebabs (30 NIS), spicy sausage (29 NIS ), grilled spring chicken (NIS 30) and for those with tough stomachs spicy calf hearts (28 NIS).
All you now need to decide is what to put in the pita along with the meat. We suggest everything. All the additions – roasted tomatoes, a simple salad, grilled onion, roasted hot peppers, fresh and delicious tahini and of course, to top it off, amba sauce. With choices of meat, vegetables, and various sauces, it is served in a thick, soft pita. With each bite, you ask yourself, “Should I order another one?” Luckily, you can also ask for an additional half portion.
The place is conveniently located close to many of the Tel Aviv’s hippest night spots, which makes it perfect for either a quick, satisfying pre-drinking meal or for a light night snack.
Jasmino isn’t your classic Tel Aviv dinner option where you can spend a whole evening with your friends over a long meal. But, if you occasionally crave a perfect piece of meat in a pita with lots of tahini, Jasmino is going to become your new best friend.
NOT KOSHER
Address: Allenby St 99
Tel Aviv Affordable Dining 