Jerusalem Restaurant Tips by NYC2TLV

Restaurant Name: Little Italy (Kosher)

This small restaurant is extremely popular among western tourists to Jerusalem. Here you can get good Italian food and service in English. The restaurant has both outdoor and indoor seating though you are likely to wait a bit to get a seat if you didn't book in advance. So best to call in advance and get a reservation.


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Theme: Italian
Comparison: about average

Phone: +972-2-5617638
Address: 38 Keren haYesod, Jerusalem

Restaurant Name: Olive (Kosher)

Located on the scenic Emek Refaim, this restaurant has great meat dishes. We went a bunch of friends for a night out and found that service was fast, efficient, the food was of high quality and overall enjoyed the ambience in the glass covered "outdoor" section.


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Theme: Middle Eastern
Comparison: about average

Phone: +972-2-5611102
Address: 36 Emek Refaim Street, Jerusalem

Restaurant Name: Norman's Steak & Burger (Kosher)

If you would like to experience American cuisine with an American atmosphere, then Norman's is your kind of restaurant. Frankly, that is the kind of thing that puts me off so I advise against eating here. The restaurant itself is fine, the meat is tasty, but mostly the restaurant is overbooked, loud, and too American for my liking during high season. Even a lot of the staff are American ex-pats.


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Theme: American
Comparison: more expensive than average

Phone: +972-2-5666603
Address: 27 Emek Refaim Street, Jerusalem
Directions: German Colony (Hebrew: haMoshava haGermanit)
Website: http://www.normans.co.il/

Restaurant Name: El Gaucho (Kosher)

El Gaucho is a chain of Argentine steakhouses in Israel. This one in Jerusalem is small, uniquely styled to be as authentic as possible and extremely good. The only problem is that in Argentina you would pay rock bottom prices to eat even at a kosher steakhouse, here it is a bit more expensive. The empanadas are excellent, very authentic and the meats are of top quality. I rank this as one of the top restaurants in Jerusalem.

Favorite Dish: I personally like the fillet steaks. 300gr or 500gr are good sizes though they are also a bit expensive.

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Theme: Steakhouse
Comparison: more expensive than average

Phone: +972-2-6242227
Address: 22 Rivlin Street, Jerusalem, ISRAEL
Website: http://www.elgaucho.co.il

Restaurant Name: Diner Burger (Kosher)

This small hamburger joint is excellent for a late bite. They also deliver for free in the Jerusalem area. Prices are reasonable, the service is fast, and the chimichouri is excellent. They also have combo meals and side dishes but the best is their hamburgers.


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Theme: American
Comparison: about average

Phone: +972-2-6244464
Address: Yafo Street 36, Jerusalem, ISRAEL
Directions: At the bottom of the Ben Yehuda Street pedestrian mall. Across from Zion Square.

Restaurant Name: Felafel Maoz (Kosher)

This small little shop sells excellent felafel and shawarma. With a central location, you are bound to run into it while walking through downtown Jerusalem. Following the scents will leave you with a great meal and for cheap.

Kosher Mehadrin certification is given by the Rabbinate of Jerusalem as well as an additional Badatz certificate.

Favorite Dish: If you are a lover of junk food, try with combination. Pita with hummus, felafel, chips and hot sauce. Buy some water as well, you will need it because of the hot sauce.

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Theme: Middle Eastern
Comparison: least expensive

Phone: +972-2-6257706
Address: 19 King George Street, Jerusalem, ISRAEL 94261

Restaurant Name: Cafe Rimon (Kosher)

Since 1953, Cafe Rimon has been one of the leading restaurants among western tourists. There really is nothing wrong with this place, actually it is quite good, my real complaint is that the prices are basically made for tourists and there are smaller places of good quality that have better prices. It has seperate meat and dairy sides of the restaurant. Servings are reasonably portioned, not generous, but reasonable. The restaurant has outdoor seating as well as indoor seating. There is a security guard as well and they charge customers for security.


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Theme: Eclectic/International
Comparison: more expensive than average

Phone: +972-2-6252199
Address: 4 Luntz Street, Jerusalem, ISRAEL
Directions: Off of the Ben Yehuda pedestrian mall. Across from Big Apple Pizza.
Website: http://www.caferimon.co.il

Restaurant Name: Vaqueiro (Kosher)

Not far from Me'ah She'arim and the Ben Yehuda pedestrian mall, this restaurant is the invention of a South African immigrant. He is trying to recreate what Brasilians call "churascuria" or an all you can eat. The presentation of meats as the night progresses was not to our liking. We found the meat to be of low quality and the experience very annoying as you wait between carvings of different meats from the grill. All together it disturbed the dining experience and provided us with an akward situation waiting for the next serving. It is a nice concept, but the service and quality of food was not of high standard. Despite all the recomendations from western tourists, I would not recommend this place.


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Theme: Barbecue
Comparison: about average

Phone: +972-2-6247432
Address: 54 haNevi'im Street, Jerusalem, ISRAEL
Directions: From Jaffa Street, head toward Kalifa Shoes, where the taxis to Tel Aviv are located. Go up the block to the T-intersection. Entrance is straight ahead.
Website: http://www.vaqueiro.co.il

Restaurant Name: haMarosh (Kosher)

Right on the Ben Yehuda pedestrian mall, this shawarma place was new to us and we decided to go there to get a bite. It was amazing! Unfortunately, I don't have the phone number or exact address but you will recognize it if you see my picture. It is located near the corner of the pedestrian mall with Zion square and across the street from Union Bank.

If you are adventurous and like to try new things, order the sabikh. It is an eggplant dish that will arouse your taste buds. For the less adventurous they have great felafel and shawarma.


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Theme: Middle Eastern
Comparison: less expensive than average

Address: Ben Yehuda Street, Jerusalem, ISRAEL
Directions: Near Zion Square. Across pedestrian mall from Union Bank.