List of My Best Israeli Restaurants for 2023

I was fortunate to enjoy several great Israeli restaurants this past year and rather than focus on my favorite dishes, I decided to create a round-up of the best restaurants. Eating in restaurants is not only one of my favorite hobbies, but I also get to do it regularly as part of my work, often with people visiting from abroad. This provides a great insight into what tourists and business travelers enjoy during their trips to Israel.

Hopefully, this will provide some ideas for those who are visiting now to show support for Israel, and then many who will continue to come.

Best Israeli Restaurants 2023

• Andalucia (Mehuderet) is a tapas and cocktail bar in Kikar HaMusica in Jerusalem. My favorite starters are the Asado Croquetas and Red Tuna Tataki. For the mains, I love the lamb shanks, duck breast, and beef fillet. The cocktail menu is extensive but if you are feeling adventurous, ask the bar manager to make you an off-menu cocktail

• Black Iron (Kosher) is a steakhouse bar on Agripas near Shuk Machane Yehuda. The menu focuses on Wagyu steaks and dry-aged steaks in a variety of cuts. The Wagyu carpaccio is a great way to start a meal. I love the Wagyu Denver Cut and Fillet steaks for the texture and the dry-aged Prime Rib for the juicy flavor.

Black Iron, Jerusalem

• Darya (Kosher) is a wonderful restaurant in the Hilton Tel Aviv with a sea view that is especially impressive at sunset. The menu is described as modern Silk Road cuisine, a fusion of the Far East and Mediterranean food. It is possibly the best kosher restaurant I have ever eaten in.  Highlight dishes include the Yellowtail Sashimi and Cig Kofte to start and Grilled Duck and Grilled Tenderloin Skewer for the main course.

Darya, Tel Aviv

• Dvora (Kosher) is a spacious restaurant off the lobby of the Debrah Brown Hotel on Ben Yehuda in Tel Aviv. The Roast Beef Carpaccio and Green Beans from Nablus are great starters and the Lamb Shoulder roasted for 6 hours is a delicious main course.

Dvora by Eyal Shani, TLV

• Fringe (Kosher) restaurant in the Jerusalem theater serves a delicious fish and dairy Levantine menu with a variety of interesting dishes. I don’t love the setting and the service is not always seamless but the food is usually very good. I like the Vegetable Salad with Bryndza cheese and the Fillet of Sea Bass with tagliatelle.

• Harim Bakery (Kosher) in Kiryat Anavim from the owners of Derech HaGefen and Naya, is one of the most talked about bakeries in the country. The self-service cafe serves a variety of savory pastries, sandwiches, and salads, but the highlights are the sweet creations. From Tonka Vanilla Croissant and Poppyseed Chausson to Lemon Yuzu Tart and St Honoré, it is all delicious.

• Jacko’s Street (Kosher) in Jerusalem is one of my favorite restaurants in Israel. In September, Jacko’s Street expanded and can now hold about 200 diners. For starters, I love the Beit Zafafa Sashimi and the Moroccan Cigar. For the main course, I love the Foccacia Goose Breast, the Hamburger, and the Entrecote.  Be sure to leave room for dessert as they are all delicious and don’t taste like parev desserts at all.

• Lotte (Kosher) is a beautiful chef restaurant in the Galei Kinneret Hotel in Tiveria with a terrace directly overlooking the Kinneret. The menu was designed by the Machenyuda Group, using local Galilean produce, but the group is no longer involved in the running of the restaurant. I have eaten at Lotte several times in the last few years. My favorite starters are the Eggplant Carpaccio and the Fish Tartar, and for the main course the Charred Sea Bass and Aged Entrecote steak.

• Machneyuda (Not Kosher) is one of the best restaurants in Israel. The menu combines high-end dining with homestyle cooking and changes daily, but the style, ambiance, and essence stay the same.

• Margo (Tzohar) is a dairy restaurant and bar, inside the Stay Inn Hotel in the Jerusalem City Center, with a relaxed ambiance.  The Camembert Knafe and Date Carpaccio are must-try starters, and the Sea Fish Fillet is a perfect main course. The labneh and zaatar cheesecake is far less heavy or sweet than you would expect and the flavor is so interesting. There is a good choice of wine by the glass and cocktails.

• Mitzle (Kosher) is a meat street food restaurant on Yafo Street near the Shuk, with local Jerusalem and Turkish influences. The shawarma is a mixture of veal and lamb meat, cooked on an open flame and served in freshly made, paper-thin laffa bread. There is a trend right now for gourmet shawarma and this is the best I have tried so far.

• Naya (Kosher) is an Asian restaruant in Beit Nekofa, just outside Jerusalem. The setting and decor are beautiful and the menu is very creative. I particularly love the Spicy Chicken Wings, fresh lime and mint sushi, and the Duck Ramen. The service can be temperamental but overall it is still a fun place to eat.

• Rai Winery & Restaurant (Not Kosher) is located in the scenic village of Rama overlooking the Beit HaKerem valley in the Galil. The menu combines traditional Bulgarian and local Galil foods. I particularly enjoyed the Cheese Casserole, along with the Shopska Salad to start. The stars of the main course were the savory Kataif and Kubbeh in White. Rai is the perfect stop-off for a meal when traveling in the area.

• Super Hamizrach by Jacko’s Son (Kosher) is an Asian restaurant on Derech Bet Lechem in Jerusalem, from the owners of Jacko’s Street. The restaurant serves a selection of sushi, bao buns, stir fry, and other Asian meat dishes. The restaurant serves a business lunch. I have tried most of the menu and it was all delicious, and the service was attentive.

• Sushi Bazel (Kosher) is a sushi restaurant in the lobby of the Prima Hotel Tel Aviv.  I liked the avocado tempura, fish cigars with a spicy dip, Asian tofu salad with a delicious dressing, and the sushi itself.

For more end-of-year summaries, click here to read my Israel Restaurant Openings Roundup 2023.

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.