At Carmel Market, you can find food from all over the world: Middle Eastern, Asian, Latin American, and European. But of course, it’s best to come here to get acquainted with traditional Israeli food: there are stalls selling falafel, kebabs, and shawarma, hummus, one of the best places for shakshuka, and local homemade dishes. Let’s start our gastronomic tour.
One of the most famous establishments in the market is the hummus restaurant Magen David (also known as Hummus aKarmel). Its decor resembles that of a synagogue, and the hummus here is one of the best and cheapest in the city. You can add a boiled egg, beans, and tahini to the classic hummus—I recommend trying it.
Prices: around $7.
Falafel is deep-fried balls of ground chickpeas, sometimes with the addition of beans, seasoned with spices. Falafel is usually served in pita bread (a soft white bread flatbread).
At the intersection of Carmel and Rambam streets, there is a place where three generations of one family have been making falafel. It is called “Falafel Rambam.” I can’t say that their falafel is better than others in the city, but I like that you can get a half portion here. It’s still a very filling meal, and we have a lot more to try. Their prices are much higher than other places, though.
Prices: $7/$5 (for a whole portion and a half portion).
Another classic Israeli dish is shakshuka. Shakshuka is fried eggs in tomato sauce with spices. Shakshuka is usually served with a basket of bread, tahini, and other appetizers. At the Carmel Market, I highly recommend trying shakshuka at the Ayevanya café. They prepare it in several variations: with sausage, with goat cheese, or classic. Prices: $13 per dish.
Bar Ohel is one of the most popular places at the Carmel Market, especially on Fridays. They serve grilled vegetables, kebabs, sausages, falafel, several types of shakshuka, and salads. Everything is very filling and delicious. I consider this place a must-visit!
Prices: $7-$19.
The Carmel Market sells fresh fish, and of course, there are places that serve fish dishes. One of my favorite places in Carmel is a kiosk that makes ceviche.
Ceviche is a fish dish believed to be of Peruvian origin: fresh (i.e., raw) fish with vegetables and spices added. At Savichia, salmon and tuna are mixed with greens, vegetables, fruits, and berries (surprisingly, the combination of fresh fish and strawberries can be delicious!). The portions are large, with plenty of fish (in a restaurant, you would hardly taste the fish in a dish for this Another classic Israeli dish is shakshuka. Shakshuka is fried eggs in tomato sauce with spices. Shakshuka is usually served with a basket of bread, tahini, and other appetizers. At the Carmel Market, I highly recommend trying shakshuka at the Ayevanya café. They prepare it in several variations: with sausage, with goat cheese, or classic. Prices: $13 per dish.
Bar Ohel is one of the most popular places at the Carmel Market, especially on Fridays. They serve grilled vegetables, kebabs, sausages, falafel, several types of shakshuka, and salads. Everything is very filling and delicious. I consider this place a must-visit!
The only drawback of this place is the lack of tables. And the smell of fresh fish from the neighboring stall does not whet the appetite (even though that is what we are going to eat). You can walk to the nearest park (5 minutes) and sit there, or sit on the sidewalk off to the side and enjoy this dish like a simple sailor who despises all comforts.
Prices: saviche $13, wine $7.
Another fish place is Fish and Chips. As you can guess from the name, they serve fried fish and potatoes in a variety of ways, as well as savich and the traditional Middle Eastern dessert malabi (something like cream or mousse with spices).
Prices: $8 per dish.