Bar Gurion- Affordable Israeli bistro in the heart of the city

While walking down busy Ibn Gabirol street, you will find yet another Israeli cuisine gem. Bar Gurion, named after David Ben Gurion (their logo is a drawing of him), is an Israeli cuisine restaurant which continues the new concept of set price meals. Their 25 NIS per plate is proudly displayed on the walls of their restaurant.

Bar Gurion, located in the heart of Tel Aviv across the northern part of Kikar Rabin, provides a young lively bistro, where the door is open around the clock. During the day you can enjoy a huge selection of meals. At night, the restaurant becomes a full service bar.

Bar Gurion provides the real Israeli bistro, rich in flavors and always fresh. Open around the clock, you can enjoy good food at any time. Bar Gurion will help you start your morning with hearty breakfasts, tasty sandwiches and fresh coffee which is served with delicious fresh cake. In the afternoon, you will find a attractive business deal (37 NIS) and their dinner menu offers a huge selection with all sorts of options such as different kinds of fresh pasta, salads, hamburgers, classic chicken liver, and fish and chips

When the sun goes down, Bar Gurion becomes a Tel Aviv bar/restaurant. The atmosphere is lively with music and drinks flowing all night. Prices for their drinks are very affordable. For 10 NIS, you can choose from a glass of wine, a glass of beer, champagne or assorted shots of alcohol. For 15 NIS, you can choose from two types of excellent beers and Arak with grapefruit juice. For 20 NIS, they offer they different whisky and vodka based drink specials.

Business meal: Bar Gurion offer three different business specials – a pasta based meal, a salad based meal, and a meat based meal. I recommend ordering the pasta business meal. You receive  your pasta of choice as your main course, with drinks and appetizers for only 37 NIS.

Order: I recommend ordering their famous schnitzel. It is one of the better schnitzels in the white city. The chicken is fresh and it is cooked perfectly, served with fresh lemons and french fries.

Recommendation: Pasta. They offer many different types of  pasta with excellent sauces. Each plate of pasta cost you a mere 29 NIS.

Address:  Ibn Gabirol Street 82

Hours: Sunday-Saturday 7AM- till the last customer

Falafel Gabay

When searching for the best authentic Israeli foods, my advise is to go to Falafel Gabay. They have delicious choices, among them amazing soups, falafel, hummus and other amazing dishes. Falafel Gabay has two locations in Tel Aviv, one on the busy street of Borgoshov and the other the trendy area of north Dizengoff.

Falafel Gaby has been the premier spot in Tel Aviv since opening their doors in 1946. Their staff is super friendly, making each customer feel like they are at home. They shout as a group joyfully (in Hebrew or English) “we will hug you” meaning they are here for anything the customer needs. If there is a line, the helpful and friendly staff offer falafel and fried potato balls while waiting to order.

Their menu offers authentic Israel food at a reasonable price. The most popular dishes are Moroccan soups, fresh schnitzel, fresh hummus and their amazing falafel. After finding a seat, go to the free salad bar and indulge yourself with fried bread with zatar , pickles and pickled vegetables. Within minutes your tasty order will be ready to enjoy..

My advice:Order the falafel .The falafel is fresh –  brown on the outside and yellow within.  They are very generous with the pita packed with delicious falafel balls. The cost of the falafel is 16NIS.

What to Order: Try the Dabushiya which is hummus with shashuka. This dish is like no other – the warm and spicy shashuka meshes so well with the hummus

Price: 30-50NIS

Address: 269 Dizengoff Street and Bograshov Street 25,

Hours: Sun-Thu 10:30-22:30, Fri 11:00-17:00

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Hamitbachon

Great home cooking with a great atmosphere for a perfect Friday night or Shabbat afternoon meal

In and around Tel Aviv there are few home cooking style options that really live up to their name. Hamitbachon, which in english means the kitchen, is a cozy restaurant that has some of the best home cooking style food in the city. Their offerings include Austrian Schnitzel,  Mousakka, North African couscous, Middle Eastern Mujaddara, European quiches, lasagna and salads.

Hamitbachon is located in a very quiet street between the bustling Carmel market and Allenby street. In the past few years, Hamitbachon has become one of the favorite places for Tel Aviv locals. Almost every dish is made fresh which to many, represents true Israeli soul food. One of their best dishes are ground beef and chicken meat balls over white rice.

During the cool winter months, it’s a great idea to make the trek for their many amazing home made soups. Hamitbachon typically offer three different soups a day which change daily. I recommend that you order the hot spinach and yogurt soup – it is my favorite.

If your looking for something more on the lighter side, they also have a long list of appetizers. They include beet salad, chopped liver, hummus and many more. If you are a large group I recommend you order the appetizer sampler which includes four different appetizers from the menu on a large plate for only 40 NIS. If you are not so hungry, it’s worth to come to taste one of their homemade desserts or have a glass of beer and enjoy the surroundings.

Recommendation:  Order Couscous – served with a stew of cooked carrots, zucchini, red onions, potatoes and beef.

Shabbat recommendation: order the cholent. Hamitbachon’s cholent is a traditional Shabbat morning cholent which is cooked all night long. Their cholent consists of eggs ,beans, potataoes and beef. Trust me – this plate of cholent will keep you full all week.

Price: 30-40 NIS

Address: 18 Rabi Akiva st.

Hours: Sunday-Friday 8AM-2AM, Saturday 9AM-2AM

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Erez

 When wandering in the Carmel Market area you’re looking for some local ethnic food but can’t decide from all the different options. Erez is the true hidden gem in the Yemenite quarter next to the Carmel  Market.

Erez menu varies from different chicken and meat dishes to hummus plates to authentic Yemenite soup.  My advice is to get the lunch special for only 33 NIS. In the lunch special you choose from two skewers ( spring chicken, liver, kebab, red meat or heart of chicken) and three side dishes ( Israeli salad, hummus, white rice, fries, tehina, white beans or green beans).

Average price per plate: 25 NIS

My advice: to order the schnitzel with three side dishes. The schnitzel is fresh and rich in taste. My advice of the three sides is to take the white rice, fries and israeli salad.

Tip: come either before 12pm or after 1.30pm, if you don’t want to wait in line for a table.

Address: 24 Nahliel Street, The Yemen Quarter
Hours: Sun-Thurs 9 a.m. till 7 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. till one hours before Shabbat enters
Phone: (03) 510-2555
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