A List of Recommendations of the Best Restaurants and Street Food in Jerusalem.

I get asked a lot about my favorite restaurant in Jerusalem, and my response is always the same. I don’t have one favorite; I have several favorites. The same applies to the best restaurant in Jerusalem. It depends on what you are looking for, such as the type of food, atmosphere, location, and so on. Specific categories frequently yield very straightforward answers. So, here is my list of Jerusalem’s best restaurants and best street food.

Best Burger in Jerusalem

Since it opened, Golden Burger (Kosher) on Hillel Street has become my favorite burger. The slightly toasted brioche bun paired with the 100% Entrecote beef patty, seared with the signature house sauce to create a caramelized flavor, is delicious. It is a takeaway restaurant, so if I am looking for a sit-down burger experience, I go to Josef Burger (Kosher) on Agripas.

Read more: Top 10 Burgers in Jerusalem

Best Cafe in Jerusalem

One of the most popular cafes in Jerusalem, Naadi Cafe (Kosher), is known for its great breakfasts, fresh and creative salads, and interesting pasta and fish dishes for dinner. The cafe is located in the city center and has a large outdoor seating area.

Best Coffee in Jerusalem

The coffee game in Jerusalem keeps getting better and better. I am a cold-brew fanatic, and the best I have found so far in Jerusalem is from Sybaris (Dairy not supervised) in Rehavia. I also buy my ground beans from them. I like the coffee from Roasters (Tzohar), but their cold brew is not as good.

Read more: The Best Speciality Coffee in Jerusalem

Best Dessert in Jerusalem

Arale Crepe (Kosher) is a tiny store near the shuk that serves one dish in various flavors. The crepe is wrapped into a cone shape, with a choice of fillings, and topped with creme brulee and melted sugar. It is pure indulgence.

Best Friday Night Restaurant in Jerusalem

HaSadna is the sister restaurant of Machneyuda (closed on Shabbat). Its kitchen specializes in aged meats, but there are plenty of fish and vegetarian options on the menu. I like sitting at the large bar, where you can watch the bar staff prepare a variety of great cocktails.

Read more: Top 10 Friday Night Restaurants in Jerusalem

Best Fries in Jerusalem

Just Meat (Kosher) is a meat sandwich restaurant on Ben Hillel Street, off Ben Yehuda. Although I love the meat sandwiches, their fries really shine. There are a few secrets to their success. They are double fried, then dried off and well salted.

Best Hummus & Falafel in Jerusalem

Hummus Ben Sira (Kosher) is a simple hummus restaurant popular with young locals and tourists alike. The falafel balls have an incredible crunch to them and are full of flavor.

Hummus Ben Sira, Jerusalem

Best Kosher Restaurant in Jerusalem

Jacko’s Street is one of my favorite restaurants in Israel (not just kosher ones). It is my go-to place for taking out-of-town guests, and even those who don’t eat kosher are impressed by the creative menu and energetic atmosphere—it epitomizes the expression “fun-dining.”

Read more: Jerusalem Top 10 Kosher Restaurants

Best Non-Kosher Restaurant in Jerusalem

If you are looking for an interesting Israeli culinary experience, Machneyuda is a must-visit (if you can get a booking). The menu combines high-end dining with homestyle cooking and changes daily, but the style, ambiance, and essence stay the same.

Read more: Top 10 Non-Kosher Restaurants in Jerusalem

Best Pizza in Jerusalem

Craft Pizza (Mehadrin) has a stall in the shuk and a restaurant in town. Both serve great pizza with a lovely sourdough base and flavorful sauce. I love the Umami pizza with a white sauce base, mushrooms, and truffle oil. I also love the pizza from Anthony’s Pizza (Mehadrin), but it is not a fun place to sit and eat, and they do not sell by the slice.

Read more: Top 10 Pizza Places in Jerusalem

Best Shawarma in Jerusalem

Aka (Kosher) is a Turkish kebab/shawarma fast-food restaurant near Shuk Machane Yehuda. The meat is served on a Lavash Flatbread, and you can add parev yogurt and other interesting sauces. Tachina and hummus are not available. Gourmet shawarma is a trend right now; this is the best I have tried.

Best Steak in Jerusalem

Black Iron (Kosher) is a steakhouse bar on Agripas near the shuk. The menu focuses on Wagyu steaks and dry-aged steaks in a variety of cuts. I love the Wagyu Denver Cut and Rump steaks for their texture and the dry-aged Prime Rib for its juicy flavor.

Best Steakiah in Jerusalem

Hatzot (Kosher) is one of the original steakiah (meat grill) restaurants near the shuk. Before the main course arrives, the table is covered in freshly made salads and dips, along with pillowy fresh pita bread, all of which can be refilled as much as you like. The meat skewers are well-cooked and seasoned with a secret spice mix. Hatzot claims to have invented the famous Jerusalem Mixed Grill. The restaurant has a separate takeaway window and street-side tables to grab a quick bite.

Best Vegetarian in Jerusalem

Tzemah (Kosher) is the vegetarian restaurant of the Machneyuda group. It offers inventive vegetarian dishes such as eggplant brulée, camembert focaccia, cabbage shawarma, and mushroom shashlik. The restaurant is also open for breakfast and lunch.

Best View in Jerusalem

The restaurant with the best view in Jerusalem is Rooftop Restaurant (Kosher) in the Mamilla Hotel.  The view over the Old City is incomparable, and the menu is always fresh and exciting, with mostly Mediterranean dishes with a Middle Eastern influence.  The Veranda (Kosher) meat grill restaurant on the terrace of the David Citadel Hotel also has a lovely view overlooking the Old City. Still, neither the view nor the food and service are comparable to the Mamilla Rooftop. The rooftop of the Notre Dame (Not Kosher) pilgrim guesthouse has a restaurant with spectacular views of the entire eastern side of the Old City. The service is impeccable, and the menu offers some great dishes, but I prefer cheese, wine, and starters at sundown.

For more information about my favorite Israeli food and the best restaurants in Israel, check out these posts:

• Top 10 Israeli Cookbooks
• Top 10 Kosher Restaurants in Tel Aviv & Herzliya
• Top 10 Israeli Chefs Worldwide

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