The Hottest Restaurants in Tel Aviv Right Now
Nothing makes Tel Aviv more happening right now than its culinary scene. Good food, some would say, is Tel Aviv’s most respected art form these days, with an emboldened new generation of chefs leading a gastronomical revolution. With such a rich local culture and countless regional and local influences to add spice, local foodies have had no lack of options in recent years. To help you find exactly what you’re looking for, here’s a list of all the places everyone in Tel Aviv is trying to score a table at.
1. Taizu
Cocktail Bar, Restaurant, Asian
After overtaking Pronto as Tel Aviv’s best (and most expensive) restaurant, this stylized culinary powerhouse has remained the go-to place for far out Far East food in the Middle East. Taizu is the brainchild of Yuval Ben Neriah’s travels in Southeast Asia and is well worth the splurge. More a conceptual journey than your average gourmet dinner, Taizu’s menu is divided into the five elements. Together they form a gastronomical gradient, with diners progressing from the lighter “water” dishes—like the amazing shrimp-based har gow dumplings—to the heavier grilled “wood” or “fire” dishes—like the Japanese roasted short ribs—to must-haves “metal” dishes like butter chicken.Address and Phone Number:
Mashya
Opened by Chef Yossi Shitrit to rave review, Mashya is Tel Aviv fine dining at its most regional, offering traditional Maghreb cuisine in a variety of high-end styles. With a menu based on fresh local fish, Mashya takes staples of the local Arabic Galilean kitchen up a notch by bringing them into the 21st century. Dishes like Mashya’s amberjack tartare or its kubenia offer a new twist to the Moroccan classics, but as their starter frena bread shows—sometimes just doing the basics is more than enough.
Ahuzat Bayit 3
Though less than a year old, Ahuzat Bayit has made quite a splash in the local scene. A Tel Aviv-ized French brasserie, Ahuzat Bayit defies any single category, offering French classics like coq au vin and plateau de fromage with a local flare. Billing itself as Tel Aviv’s version of New York’s Balthazar, it’s based in the heart of the White City that is central Tel Aviv. The restaurant brings together chefs from local gems like Santa Katerina (also on this list) to create an urban amalgam of food that is both aesthetically pleasing and hearty. Trust me, the oxtail lasagna is to die for.
Address:
2. Halutzim 3
Bar, Cocktail Bar, Market, Restaurant, Israeli
3. Kitchen Market
Restaurant, Mediterranean
4. Asia
Market, Restaurant, Asian
5. Santa
Bar, Pizzeria, Restaurant, Israeli
6. Lorentz And Mintz
Cafe, Restaurant, Israeli
7. Susu and Sons (Omer Miller)
Restaurant, North American
8. Fifi’s
Restaurant, Market, Asian, Fusion, Street Food
At the cheaper end of the spectrum is Fifi’s Asian food, a hole-in-the-wall just off Levinsky Market. The new kid on the block, its owner, Fifi, has managed to bring the best of Asian street food to Tel Aviv without the heavy prices Tel Avivians have grown accustomed to.
This Berlinesque spot has built up so much hype that you should expect a line (especially because of its small size) but turnover is high and it’s worth it. Try the Chinese Worker’s Dish with a shot of sake, and don’t forget to wait for the Indian halva that comes with the bill. It’s addictive and can be bought at the Levinsky Market.
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