25/04/2024
A culinary trip in Jerusalem - an experience of flavors and stories
Jerusalem is not only a pilgrimage site for the three religions or an amazing tourist destination.
It also attracts quite a few food lovers, thanks to its diverse and rich culinary landscape, which reflects the city's history and multiple cultures. A culinary trip to Jerusalem is an opportunity to discover the city's secrets through the flavors, aromas and stories that hide among its picturesque alleys, markets and unique restaurants. Whether you are looking for an authentic street food experience, a taste of traditional home cooking, or a sophisticated gourmet meal, Jerusalem offers a variety of options.
Mahane Yehuda market - the culinary heart of Jerusalem
Mahane Yehuda market is one of the most authentic and lively places in Jerusalem. This is the perfect place to start your culinary trip in the city and absorb the real atmosphere of the city. The market offers a huge variety of fruits, vegetables, spices, cheeses, meats and fresh and high-quality local foods. Here you can taste the fresh goods, enjoy the unique atmosphere and absorb the aromas and colors that characterize it. Don't miss the famous stalls or "Levi Brothers Falafel" with their quality spices. Among the alleys you will also find hot and fresh pretzel stands, shawarma stands and other street foods. And if you chose the option of renting a car, you can go back to the hotel or home when you are happy and comfortable in your stomach.
Photo credit: Zeev Stein, from the wikiwiki website
Guided culinary tours - tasting tours
One of the best ways to get to know Jerusalem cuisine is to join a guided tasting tour. You can choose from a variety of tours, such as the food tours that focus on certain cuisines, or the well-known culinary tours around Mahane Yehuda and the Old City. The professional guides will reveal local culinary secrets to you and take you to hidden places, hidden bakeries, or authentic home restaurants. Choosing such an option is a way to get to know the city from a slightly different angle and discover places that you probably haven't heard of before. You can choose private tours or tours that include a group of different participants. For those who do not like large groups or want to go at their own pace and time, there is also the option of joining an independent culinary tour using the Dguide app in the Mahane Yehuda market.
Jerusalem pastries - pretzels, bureks and local stories
Jerusalem is known for its delicious and unique pastries, chief among them of course the pretzels and borax. You will find the legendary pretzels of the local bakeries in a variety of flavors, with za'atar, sesame or crispy onion. Burkes are also honored in Jerusalem, when in many neighborhood bakeries you can enjoy crispy and juicy cheese burkes. Buy yourself some and get to know the city through your feet, while tasting these perfect pastries.
Photo credit: Liv, from the wikiwiki website
Gourmet restaurants - world flavors with a Jerusalem touch
In recent years, an impressive chef restaurant scene has developed in Jerusalem. Talented local chefs draw inspiration from culinary traditions from around the world and combine them with modern techniques and quality ingredients. For example, at the "Mechanioda" restaurant you will find a unique fusion between local and international cuisine using local ingredients. At "Tzemach", which is from "Mechanioda" you will enjoy excellent vegetarian dishes and a dynamic menu, which changes according to the produce in the market. "Afaim Farm" is a special place, offering a pastoral courtyard and local food, which is based on produce that comes directly from the family farm in the Arava, and "Mona" is a leading restaurant in the city, which offers a prestigious and very meticulous taste experience. Please note, these are very popular restaurants, so you should make sure to reserve a table in advance.
Street food - falafel, hummus, shawarma, sabih and kadaif
Street food is the beating heart of Jerusalem cuisine. "Yehudit" an old local institution, offers you delicious local food, with the option to sit down or take it with you on the go. If you fancy a fine Sabih, "Aricha Sabih" in Mahane Yehuda is the place you must go. Everything is fresh and delicious. Don't forget to stop at "Dvini Pita Bar" aka a modest place, which offers you good shawarma in pita and all kinds of other dishes in a similar style that definitely make your stomach happy, and if you want to try a successful Jahannon, "Jahanunbar" in the center of the city is also a mythical place which has been active for quite some time, is the appropriate address. There may be a long line at the entrance, so be patient.
Delicious sweets for dessert - knapa, baklava and orchid
No culinary visit to Jerusalem would be complete without the city's famous desserts and sweets. Many bakeries in the city prepare knapa filled with sweet cheese, pistachios and whipped cream - a celebration of flavors and aromas, as well as other pastries that tell the story of the local cuisine. In the "Kada" pastry shop you will discover crispy and juicy baklava in many shapes and sizes, alongside almond and date sweets and in "Knaftea", a relatively new place in town but gaining momentum, you will find the perfect knapa that you must try. Try as many sweets as possible (preferably ones you are less familiar with) and save some to take home with you later.
