Jerusalem Restaurant Tips by Ekaterinburg

Hashipudiya: A Foodie Experience to Savour

Hashipudiya is a Middle Eastern, kosher restaurant in downtown West Jerusalem. It's the sort of restaurant where you don't order. You just sit and are served whatever's on the menu for that evening. Huge stone-baked pittas, hot from the oven were thrown down on the table and dish after dish of hummous and every type of salad and dips. These were absolutely delicious and could have constituted a meal in themselves but after about 30 minutes long skewers of sizzling roast chicken made their appearance. These were followed by lamb patties, small potato chips and a few platters of another chicken dish. All the food was cooked right next to us and served immediately and for freshness and tastiness was simply outstanding. Afterwards we had fragrant mint tea and droolingly-good little filo pastry parcels.
All this along with soft drinks and water, came to EURO 18 per person. An absolute bargain and a dining experience that I relished every minute of .

Favorite Dish: The chicken on skewers was tender and tasty and the portions served were unbelievably generous.

Address: 3 Ha'Armonim Street

Comparison: less expensive than average

Directions: At the corner of Agrippa Street, in the new city centre

Phone: 02-6254036

Price: US$21-30

Rating: 5

Theme: Middle Eastern

Moshiko: Shwarma or Falafael

In Jerusalem there's really only one thing to eat when you're on the go and that's shwarma or falafael. Okay you can get burgers or other snacks but this is what you will find in 95% of the street stalls selling food. The reason ? Because it's delicious and traditional and Jerusalem does it really well. On Friday lunchtime we got a chance to try this local delicacy on Ben Yehuda Street, where some of the best falafael and shwarma in the city are served. We ate at Moshiko's which if popularity is anything to go by, should be getting 5-star ratings from customers. You go inside to where they roast the meat then bring your food back outside and eat on the tables on the street. A great way to observe life in downtown Jerusalem.

Favorite Dish: I had the shwarma here which consists of a large pitta choc full of thin slices of roast meat, chips and whatever salad you choose. The texture was a little strange at first, all the food tossed in together like that, but after a few mouthfuls, quite tasty.It's also the most economical and filling food you can buy on a budget.

Address: Moshiko, 5 Ben Yehuda Street, jerusalem

Comparison: least expensive

Directions: In West Jerusalem at the Zion Square end of Ben Yehuda Street.

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 3

Theme: Kosher/Halal