We will be in Jerusalem next week. I have been on trip advisor looking for reviews but I had hoped that I could get recommendation from Rick Steves readers. We are not looking for super fancy, top chef type experiences. That being said we like good food and a good glass of wine with dinner. We like good value but not cheap. We are not kosher. We don't like touristy places but if there is a tourist place we shouldn't miss than we will consider it.
Thanks
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
Falafel stands. The best and cheapest meal in Jerusalem.
You will pay 10% of what you'd pay for a fancy restaurant. And it will taste better.
And get your wine at the local convenience store.
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15794 posts
Recommendations depend on what kind of food you want. Most restaurants in the Jewish areas are kosher, which means you have to choose whether you want a meat meal or a dairy meal. Also most restaurants (except those in hotels) are not mainly for tourists - locals here eat out a lot. If you want wine, you'll usually have to buy a bottle.
Try one of the "oriental" restaurants (typical Middle Eastern food) - meze (lots of little dishes, generally refilled as often as you want) with pita (ask to have them warmed), grilled meat (over an open flame) and very limited side dishes. My favorite is Sima's, 82 Agrippas Street (very near the Mahane Yehuda market). There's also a really good Italian restaurant a block or two farther up the street - the name escapes me.
For a varied dairy menu in nice surroundings, I like Ticho House, 9 Harav Kook St. (a short walk up from Jaffa Road). They have a reasonable corkage fee so you can bring your own bottle of wine.
A nice setting is the patio restaurant at the 3 ARches Hotel - opposite the King David Hotel. It's typical Middle Eastern food and not kosher, so they have really good pastries too. Lunch, afternoon snack, or dinner. For lunch or dinner on Friday orSaturday, you usually need a reservation, unless you get there early. If you go there, take a look at the lobby - lovely Ottoman decor. Then go across the street to the King David and see the "walk of stars" in the lobby and the lovely public rooms.
There are many other good places throughout the city.