A List of My Best Israeli Restaurant Meals for 2024

The resilience of Israel’s culinary scene has provided me with some light in the dark of the past year. From cozy neighborhood gems to luxurious hotel dining experiences, I’ve enjoyed eating at some great Israeli restaurants, old and new.  I’ve curated a list of my favorite restaurant experiences across the country during 2024, including a culinary trip to Eilat. It saddens me that the list does not include any restaurants in the North of Israel, but I plan to rectify that in 2025.

Each meal stood out for its unique flavors, masterful presentation, and welcoming atmosphere. From perfectly grilled steaks to delicate fish dishes, vibrant vegetarian creations, and decadent desserts, these spots showcase the best of Israel’s culinary world. Whether planning a trip or just curious about the local food scene, I hope these highlights inspire your next dining adventure.

While I rarely post full restaurant reviews on this blog, I regularly share stories and posts on Facebook and Instagram, so follow me there for more restaurant reviews.

I continue to pray for the safety of the brave soldiers fighting to protect our homeland and the safe return of all hostages.

Best Israeli Restaurant Meals 2024

• Azia 19 (Kosher) is a Japanese restaurant in Rehavia, Jerusalem, owned by Station 9. It is conveniently located next to where I live, so it is my new go-to restaurant when friends visit, and the food is excellent.  My favorite starters are the sesame Caesar salad and the grilled foie gras gunkan (boat-shaped sushi), which has a unique flavor combination of rich liver and fish-like seaweed. The dry-aged prime rib is juicy and flavourful, with a beautiful crust from the Japanese charcoal grill.  The lunch menu is more limited, but I love the burger and fillet of fish (photos & more info).

• Beit Ha’am (The People’s House) (Kosher) is a joint venture between Cafe Yehoshua and Pizzeria Flora in the Gerard Behar Center in Jerusalem. The Amberjack Carpaccio was delicate and full of flavor. The Caesar Salad was a classic with a fresh twist, pilled high with clouds of parmesan (but missing the croutons). The white Pizza was salty with a spicy kick. The Spicy Margarita stole the show—just the kick to make it unforgettable.

• Calata 15 (Not Kosher) is an Italian restaurant in Herzliya Pituach run by Italian restaurateurs. I have eaten there several times, and it never disappoints. This year, they opened Casa Tua, which serves authentic Italian pastries and ice cream.
• Cena Eilat (Kosher) is an Italian restaurant & bar in the lobby of the Brown Eilat. My favorite dishes were the beautifully presented ceviche with labneh, kiwi aioli, and chili oil to start, wild fish on a rich, buttery risotto bed for the main course, a classic tiramisu for dessert, and the Pink Lady cocktail with gin, thyme, and grapefruit (photos & more info).

• Eser by 1868 (Kosher) is a dairy and fish restaurant in the historic Anna Ticho House in Jerusalem. The dishes are innovative, and the presentation is impeccable.  I particularly enjoyed the grilled lettuce Caesar salad and seabream fillet served on lemon cream & garlic spaghetti. Save room for the lemon pie with white chocolate ganache.

• Darya (Kosher) is an excellent restaurant in the Hilton Tel Aviv with a sea view that is especially impressive at sunset. I was lucky enough to eat in the private dining room for some work events, where I loved the Yellowtail Sashimi and Cig Kofte to start, as well as the Grilled Duck and Grilled Tenderloin Skewer for the main course. For my birthday, I ate a meal in the main restaurant and devoured smoked lamb short ribs, a dish unfortunately not on the set menu.

• Gaston Steakhouse (Kosher) is an American-style steakhouse in Airport City. We sat at the bar, and the waiter was knowledgeable and friendly. We started with the Tagliata Steak with baby spinach and a sweet chili sauce, an interesting and tasty dish. For the main course, we shared the Chateaubriand, which was a perfect rare, as we had requested. The only thing missing was a nice bearnaise sauce or red wine sauce. Despite the waiter insisting that the dessert would impress us, we were disappointed and would skip it the next time.
• I hadn’t been to Herbert Samuel (Kosher) restaurant inside The Ritz-Carlton in Herzliya Pituach for some time, and I forgot how good it was. We started with fresh bread and a vibrant hot pepper plate. The okra salad offers a refreshing medley of textures, while the grouper sashimi provides a delicate taste of the sea. For the main course, we shared the beef fillet with field mushrooms and the aged prime rib with ratte potato, bone marrow, and gremolata.

• Jacko’s Street (Kosher) in Jerusalem is one of my favorite restaurants in Israel. The restaurant was closed for renovation for the first few months of the year and reopened with a new menu. For a catch-up with friends, we ordered only starters, cocktails, and desserts (photos and more info). 

Jacko’s Street, Jerusalem

• Kerem Wine Bar (Kosher) is a small wine bar in Kiryat Anavim, next to Harim Bakery. The menu is designed for sharing and includes delicious pasta and fish dishes, such as sea fish sashimi with tzatziki, burnt tomato vinaigrette and shallots, roasted camembert with garlic confit jam and toasted brioche, and tortellini stuffed with soft cheese in a sage butter and white wine sauce. The chocolate tart with salted toffee and peanut ice cream was a delicious end to the meal (photos & more info).

• Machneyuda (Not Kosher) is one of my favorite restaurants in Israel. Even when the group opens new restaurants, there is something special about returning to the original. My last visit was on a Saturday night in the summer, and we shared a selection of starters, including the fresh and flavorful Nablus Salad, sashimi with fresh figs, and Thai-style albacore tartar.

• Mood Eilat (Kosher) is a poolside rooftop restaurant on top of the adult-only Now Hotel. Standout starters were the ceviche with prunes, chili, and fresh herbs, which was refreshing and flavourful, and the Amberjack sashimi with a tangy ginger dressing. The Labneh tortellini with a sage butter sauce was a delicious and modern take on the Arabic shish barak. The sea bass green curry was also delicious and well-seasoned, with just a touch of heat after each bite (photos & more info).

• Ranch House (Kosher) is an iconic American steakhouse in the Royal Beach Hotel in Eilat. It has stood the test of time, remaining one of the Eilat’s top spots for kosher foodies. We began the meal with the New Orleans hot chicken (cornflake-crusted chicken thigh in a peanut butter & coconut milk marinade), which was juicy and full of flavor, and the veal carpaccio. For the main course, I loved the barbeque lamb spareribs and the grilled entrecote, and the lemon yuzu cream with cornflakes and white chocolate was an incredible parev dessert (photos & more info).

• Satya (Not Kosher) is a Mediterranean bistro in Jerusalem’s Talbieh neighborhood. Its menu changes daily and features seasonal dishes such as amberjack sashimi with nectarine, chili, and ginger, corn and gouda cappelletti in a buttery sauce, Lalique lettuce with gorgonzola and roasted apricot, and red tuna tartare.  

• Super Hamizrah (Kosher) is an Asian restaurant owned by Jacko’s Street in Baka, Jerusalem. I have tried most of the menu, and it is all delicious. Standout starter dishes are sirloin foie gras nigiri, tuna tartare on crispy rice, and seafood sashimi. Thai fried fish and Khao pao Thai rice are great mains, and it is hard to believe that the desserts are parev. I always struggle to pick a favorite, but it has to be the olive oil chocolate mousse (photos & more info).

Super Hamizrach, Jerusalem

• Tipsy Cafe (Kosher) is an American diner in Jerusalem. Its savory offerings include mozzarella sticks, pretzel bites with honey mustard dip, and cheesy waffle fries. For sweet indulgences, the Babka French toast, Belgian waffle, and frozen mudslide are also delicious (photos & more info).
• Tzemah, the Machneyuda Group‘s vegetarian restaurant near the Shuk in Jerusalem, offers a vibrant brunch experience with several dishes from the evening menu. We devoured the freshly baked Frena bread with a za’atar honey, wine leaf Schug, and signature eggplant brûlée. The Fattoush Salad, with frozen grapes, gazpacho, and feta cheese, was as delicious as it was beautifully presented, and we loved Jerusalem’s Bread Pudding with sour cream aioli and za’atar.

• Waldorf Astoria (Kosher) is one of the grandest hotels in Israel. I had the pleasure of experiencing the quintessential English afternoon tea in the charming setting of the King’s Court off the lobby. Read the full review here.

For more end-of-year summaries, read my Israel Restaurant Openings 2024.

If you try any of these restaurants, please share your feedback on Restaurant Club Israel or Restaurant Club Jerusalem. Follow Debbest on Facebook and Instagram, and subscribe to this newsletter for regular updates on the Foodie Israel scene.