Places to eat in Tel Aviv:

General advice:

Tel Aviv has a large variety of great restaurants serving various food types, in a relatively low cost. However, most restaurants in the "hotels' area" close to the beach serve bad food for a high price.

Booking: On Thursday, Friday or Saturdays it is wise to book a table. If you want a relatively large table (5 and more) – book also on other days of the week. 

Tipping: Israeli waiters expect 10-15% extra tip. Some places may (illegally) add 1-2 NIS per person as a "security fee".

Dress code: There is usually no official dress code in restaurants. Nevertheless, you may feel a bit uncomfortable entering one of the restaurants on the last section in our list wearing your flip flops.

Special event : TAA`M HA`IR ("the taste of the city"):

During the week of the conference, Tel Aviv's yearly food market will take place. This is a very crowded event, taking place in the park (~15 minutes down hill walking from the university). It operates 6pm through midnight daily, Monday-Thursday, and you can get various (small) dishes from pricey restaurants for just 20-25 NIS.

Our advice : go there only if you like a market atmosphere (reasonably priced good food can be found elsewhere too), and try to avoid the busiest hours (19-22).

Cheaper places:

Having either Humus or Fallafel will satisfy your appetite for less than 20 NIS. 

Humus: ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hummus )

• Humus Abu Adham: Very good Galilee-style humus (which is a bit lighter than the usual). Try the "Humus with Mashawashe" to enjoy both worlds at once! (Iben Gvirol & Habashan, open 12pm-22pm daily).
• Humus Ashkara: The best Jerusalem-style humus in Tel Aviv. Don't plan any sport activity afterwards. (Yirmiyahu st., open 24 hours except for Saturdays)
• Abu Hassan: Probably the best humus, in the least accessible location. Ask one of the organizers for more details if you insist.

 

Fallafel / Shawarma: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallafel , http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shawarma, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabich)

• Oved's Sabich: This is the only place on the list which is actually not in Tel Aviv, but in Givataim – a small suburb of Tel Aviv. A Sabich is basically fried eggplants and a boiled egg in a pita bread. When you get there, Oved will probably ask you where you are from, and then say that you are not the first from that place to eat his Sabich – and that will probably be true (even if your country of origin doesn't exist). Expect a long queue and don't plan any activities that involve moving, afterwards. 7 Sirkin st. Givataim.
• Falafel Hakikar: 79 Iben Gvirol st. A very good and fresh falafel, usually made on the spot.
• Dabush: Considered to be one of the best Shawarma places in Tel Aviv. A Shawarma is a Middle-Eastern style sandwich comprised of a mixture of meats, usually turkey and lamb. Two "serving containers" are available, a Pita and a "Lafa" (a larger yet thinner Pita). Adventurers should try the "Amba" dressing (mango-based and not the least bit spicy, yet it carries a unique odor). Open Sun-Fri, 64 Iben Gvirol st.

 

Coffee shops:

Tel Aviv has plenty of them, nearly everywhere (e.g. there are many all along Dizengof and Iben-Gvirol streets).  Most of them serve light meals at reasonable prices (usually 40-50 NIS for a large salad/sandwich/pasta + coffee). Most places should be good. The best advice is to choose a coffee shop where you see many locals.  

A sure bet is trying one of these local chains: Ilan's, Espresso Bar, Arcaffe, Caf? Caf?, Cafeneto, Caf? Hillel. There are many branches of Aroma, serving the best-value sandwiches (and good coffee too), however the atmosphere is somewhat like a cafeteria.

However, essentially all coffee shops are decent (and the non-chain ones might have more authentic atmosphere).   

Another option: many pub-caf? places are located right on the beach or in Tel Aviv's sea port area. These usually overlook the water, and some of them serve good food. Again : go for ones that accommodate many locals.

Mid-range (a full dinner should cost about 100-150 NIS):

The price of a main course will be around 50 NIS. 

Italian:

• Pasta Mia: Fine home-made pasta. 10 Wilson st., Tel Aviv Tel. 03 5610189, there is another branch in Ramat Hachayal.
• Big Mama: Their thin Pizza's are great, the pasta dishes are nice, 12 Hillel haZaken st. (next to Shuk Hacarmel), Tel Aviv Tel. 03 5107805

 

Sea food:

• Goocha: Great sea food in this popular and affordable restaurant, within a walking distance from the hotels. 171 Dizengof st. (near Shderot Ben-Gurion), tel. 03-5222886. Another branch is located in Iben Gvirol 14, 03-6911603.
• Shtsupak: Order a main course and get all-you-can-eat bread and salads for no extra charge. Expect to pay 60-80 NIS not including drinks. 258 Ben-Yehuda st. (situated in the northern part, close to Yirmiyahu st.) Tel Aviv.  

 

Asian:

• Minna Tomei: You can sample the large variety of fine Asian dishes in this trendy place. You can't book a table, but shouldn't wait too long once you get there. 30 Iben Gvirol st.
• Giraffe: Excellent Thai food, large dishes at moderate prices. Hence, the restaurant is usually crowded with diners. If you get lost around the large menu, we recommend the "Cheza", the "Spicy dish" and the "Pahd-Thai". Delicious deserts, such as the "Pavlova", are also available, to complete a calories-packing-experience. 49 Iben Gvirol st.

 

Bistro / Meat:

• Moses: they have very good hamburgers (try the "artburger"),   http://www.mosesrest.co.il/english
• Odeon: Very good meat dishes, 10 HaArba'aa st. (next to the Tel Aviv Cinematheque), Tel: 03-5628868
• Coffee Bar:  13 Yad Charutzim st., Tel. 03 6889696
• Brasserie M&R: a very trendy brasserie, serving classical French dishes, open 24h, 70 Iben Gvirol st.(near the municipality building), Tel. 03-6967111.
• Dixie: open 24h, with varying menu. The nicest time is during the night (after 23:30). Their chicken wings and beer is probably the best night "snack" in town. Add their unique home fries and you have a whole meal. 120 Yigael Alon st, Tel: 03-6966123. The menu - http://www.dixie.co.il/englishmenus.html
• The Random Restaurant: In this unique Polish bistro you don't have to decide and order from the menu – your order is picked uniformly at random from the whole menu (including the empty dish). You pay the expected cost, and the standard deviation is the common tip. 13 RSA st., Tel. 2852007.

 

Sushi:

• Hasushia: Sushi fast food, very good for its price. 54 Iben Gvirol st.
• Sakura: A fancier Sushi place, with many interesting choices. The prices are of course higher as well… 79 King George st.

The best restaurants in Tel Aviv (a dinner should cost 100-250 NIS):

 

• Mika: a trendy fusion restaurant, they have fixed dinner menus for ~90 NIS,  27 Montifiore st., Tel: 03-5283255
• Orca : A fine French Bistro, with fantastic sea-food. 57 Nachalat Binyamin st.  Tel (03) 566-5505.
• Manta Ray: A great sea-food restaurant right on the beach in between south Tel Aviv and Jaffa. Within walking distance from Old Jaffa and Neve-Tsedek. Almah Beach, Tel: 03-5174774
• Rafael: One of the best restaurants in town. Serves fusion dishes of French and North-African cuisine, 87 Hayarkon st., Tel: 03-5226464.
• Onami:  An excellent Sushi place – don't expect to find a vacancy during peek hours without reserving one beforehand by phone. 18 Ha'arbaa st., Tel: 03-5621171.