11 Foods You Must Try When Visiting Israel
Travelers visiting Israel for the first time will discover a nation of incredible, diverse flavors.
A mix of Jewish diaspora cooking combined with Middle Eastern and Mediterranean influences, Israeli cuisine is flavorful, fresh and healthy. Whether you're into no-frills street food and market fare; elaborate multicourse gourmet meals; or if you possess a major sweet tooth, Israel has something for you -- even if you're vegan, and especially if you're kosher. While we recommend eating as much as possible, make sure to try these 11 things when visiting Israel. And come hungry!
Hummus
Well-known all over the world, this dip is made from mashed chickpeas combined with olive oil, tahini, perhaps a squirt of lemon juice and sometimes a dash of paprika. Eaten as a meal with pita bread, Israeli salad and falafel, the dish is famous in Israeli -- your toughest decision will be where to get it, as it's served in most Israeli restaurants. Particularly popular is masabacha hummus that has a different texture as the chickpeas are left whole. Check out Abu Hassan in Jaffa for some of the best hummus in Tel Aviv. The atmosphere is casual, with waiters shouting and rushing around, but it may be the best hummus you ever eat.
Falafel
Chickpeas are a favorite in Israel. Falafel is a fried ball typically made of mashed up chickpeas and fragrant herbs. Often eaten in a pita layered with hummus and other sauces and vegetables, falafel isn't something you need to spend a lot of money on. In fact, some of the best falafel can be found on the street, like at the market in the town of Acre (also known as Akko). For a restaurant experience, sample it at Afteem in Bethlehem.
Shakshuka
Israeli breakfasts are pretty much always incredible — but what really stands out is the savory baked egg-and-tomato dish, shakshuka. Often served directly in a cast iron skillet, shakshuka is warm, hearty and delicious. Get it at Cafe Kadosh in Jerusalem, where you can enjoy your dish outside on a sunny day.
Tahini
Tahini is a simple sauce made from sesame paste, lemon juice, olive oil and other herbs and spices. It's typically used as a dipping sauce, a topping for pita bread, as part of an Israeli breakfast or alongside hummus and falafel. Get it almost anywhere, and eat it with almost anything.
Israeli Wine
Although winemaking in many regions of Israel dates back to biblical times, local wines only recently made a splash on the international scene. While some varieties are kosher, others are not, and you can find both in the five main wine regions around the country: Shomron, Shimshon/Samson, Judean Hills, Negev and Galilee. Visitors can sample wine at over 300 Israeli wineries, or sip glasses at intimate wine bars in Tel Aviv, such as Elkalai.
Druze Cuisine
Israeli Druze are an ethnic minority and religious group living mainly in the north of the country. Druze cuisine is a mix of Israeli, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean fare, and the recipes often mix together sweet and savory flavors. Some of the best dishes to sample are siniya with tahini (ground meat mixed with cardamom and rice), and the Druze version of maqluba — a savory dish of meat, vegetables and rice cooked in a pot and then flipped upside down. Look for restaurants in the north of Israel near Golan Heights to sample this type of food. Some locals will even invite tourists into their homes for a special experience of sampling home-cooked Druze delights.
Sabich
On the go? Grab a sabich -- a warm pita sandwich overflowing with hard-boiled eggs, roasted eggplant, tahini, spices and more. Sabich Frishman in Tel Aviv is the place to go for this flavorful street food. Just be warned, you may have to wait in line during peak hours for your order.
Malabi
This milk pudding is made with rose water, and the sweet treat is served for both dessert as well as breakfast. Recipes vary, but some of the best varieties have a light dusting of pine nuts or pistachios on top. Get it at the Shuk Hapishpeshim, the famous flea market in the Jaffa neighborhood of Tel Aviv.
Knafeh
Contemporary chefs around Israel are reimagining gourmet takes on this famous pastry, but the best way to sample it is the original way: with cheese baked in a special noodle, vermicelli-like pastry dough soaked in a sugary syrup. Snack on this at the Mahane Yehuda market in Jerusalem.
Halva
Tahini sauce makes a sweet reappearance in the classic dessert, halva. Blended with nut butter and sugar, halva is a crumbly, dense treat perfect for snacking. Try this, too, at the Mahane Yehuda market in Jerusalem. It's also served at the breakfast buffet at the Waldorf Astoria if you want to start your day off sweet. (Very, very sweet.)
Seafood
Much of Israel is along the sea (or at least close to it), meaning you can enjoy fresh, delicious seafood in many parts of the country year-round. One of the best places to get it is at the Uri Buri Restaurant in Acre (Akko). Famous chef Uri Buri uses only the freshest and highest quality ingredients in his dishes, which range from scallops in cream to raw shrimp and St. Peter's fish with beetroot.
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.