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Food tours in Jerusalem: what to eat and which tour to book
Jerusalem's food reflects the many communities that live in the city: Kurdish, Iraqi, Moroccan and Eastern European Jewish cooking around Mahane Yehuda Market, Palestinian Arab bakeries, hummus places and sweet shops in and around the Old City, and Armenian kitchens in the Armenian Quarter. Meals are often simpler and cheaper than in Tel Aviv: hummus and ful in the morning, sesame ka'ak bread, kubbeh soups, knafeh, and Jerusalem mixed grill (me'orav yerushalmi).
Use this page to decide what to eat and where. Opening days depend on the community: most Jewish-run places close from Friday afternoon to Saturday evening, while many Muslim-run places in the Old City are quieter on Friday around midday prayers and some Christian-run places close on Sunday. The tours listed are real listings on GetYourGuide and Viator; only a small number could be verified, and prices are approximate, so confirm on the booking page before you pay.
What to eat in Jerusalem
| Dish | What it is | Where to eat it | Typical price* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hummus | Chickpea and tahini purée, often with whole chickpeas, ful (fava beans) or pine nuts, eaten with pita, raw onion and pickles. | Long-running hummus places in the Old City (Christian and Muslim Quarters) and around Mahane Yehuda; many close by mid-afternoon. | roughly ₪25–40 a plate (about €6–10) |
| Jerusalem sesame bread ka'ak al-quds | Long oval sesame bread ring, eaten with za'atar, falafel or egg; sold from carts and bakeries. | Bakeries and carts around Damascus Gate and inside the Old City. | roughly ₪5–10 (about €1–3) |
| Jerusalem mixed grill me'orav yerushalmi | Chicken hearts, livers and other cuts fried with onion and spices on a flat griddle, served in pita. | Grill counters on Agrippas Street beside Mahane Yehuda Market. | roughly ₪40–60 (about €10–15) |
| Kubbeh soup kubbeh | Semolina dumplings stuffed with meat, cooked in sour (beetroot, or lemon and chard) broth; a Kurdish and Iraqi-Jewish dish. | Small family restaurants in and around Mahane Yehuda Market, mostly at lunch. | roughly ₪40–55 a bowl (about €10–14) |
| Knafeh | Warm, soft white cheese under shredded or semolina pastry, soaked in syrup and topped with pistachio. | Sweet shops in the Old City, especially around Damascus Gate and the Muslim Quarter. | roughly ₪15–25 a portion (about €4–6) |
| Rugelach | Small rolled yeast pastries filled with chocolate or cinnamon, sold warm and sticky. | Bakeries inside Mahane Yehuda Market. | roughly ₪20–40 for a box (about €5–10) |
| Halva | Sesame-based sweet sold in large blocks in dozens of flavours; you can usually taste before buying. | Specialist halva shops in Mahane Yehuda Market. | sold by weight, roughly ₪40–80 per kilo (about €10–20) |
| Falafel | Fried chickpea balls in pita with salad and tahini. | Stands throughout the city, including the Old City and the streets around Mahane Yehuda. | roughly ₪15–25 (about €4–6) |
Where to eat: markets and neighbourhoods
Mahane Yehuda Market (the Shuk)
The city's main food market with more than 250 stalls: produce, spices, bakeries, halva, cheese and small restaurants. After the stalls close, the lanes fill with bars and eateries.
Old City markets (around Damascus Gate and the Muslim and Christian Quarters)
Covered souk lanes with bakeries, spice and coffee sellers, hummus places and sweet shops selling knafeh and baklava.
Agrippas Street
Runs along one side of Mahane Yehuda; known for Jerusalem mixed grill counters and inexpensive local restaurants.
Armenian Quarter
A handful of Armenian restaurants and bakeries serving dishes such as lahmajun and Armenian-style kebab.
Emek Refaim (German Colony)
Street of cafés and restaurants in a residential area; useful for sit-down meals and kosher dining outside the centre.
Food tours in Jerusalem compared
Every tour below is a real listing on GetYourGuide or Viator, checked on 2 Oct 2026. Prices move with season and group size, so treat them as a guide and confirm on the booking page.
| Tour | Length | Price* | Group | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mahane Yehuda Market Tasting Tour | — | see listing | — | First-timers who want an introduction to the market and its communities. | Check dates |
| Jerusalem: Mahane Yehuda Market Guided Food Tour | 1.5 hours | from €79 per person | — | Morning people who want to see where locals shop and taste produce at the source. | Check dates |
| Private Tour to the Culinary World of Jerusalem Market | 2 hours | from €216 per person | private | Couples, families or friends who want the route and pace set around them. | Check dates |
Mahane Yehuda Market Tasting Tour
On Viator
- Price
- shown on the booking page
- Included
- Guided tastings in Mahane Yehuda Market; market tours here typically cover rugelach, hummus, halva, fresh juice and sweets.
- Suits
- First-timers who want an introduction to the market and its communities.
- Starts
- Mahane Yehuda Market
Jerusalem: Mahane Yehuda Market Guided Food Tour
On GetYourGuide · run by Tel Aviv Walks
- Length
- 1.5 hours
- Price
- from €79 per person
- Rating
- 1.0 ★ from 3 reviews (on 2 Oct 2026)
- Included
- Guided walking tour of Mahane Yehuda Market Food tastings including rugelach, hummus, halva, fresh juices, and gourmet ice cream Stories and history of the market and its vendors
- Suits
- Morning people who want to see where locals shop and taste produce at the source.
- Starts
- Marzipan Bakery and Pastry
Private Tour to the Culinary World of Jerusalem Market
On GetYourGuide · run by Nissim Slama - Tour Guide & Lecturer
- Length
- 2 hours
- Price
- from €216 per person
- Rating
- 5.0 ★ from 3 reviews (on 2 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- private
- Included
- The story of the place and the shops Between 6 to 8 tastings Shopping in the market :-)
- Suits
- Couples, families or friends who want the route and pace set around them.
- Starts
- In front of the mural
Some links on this page are partner links. If you book through them TonyPlan earns a small commission — the price you pay is exactly the same.
Street food, sit-down or a cooking class?
Street food
Street food is cheap and mostly daytime: ka'ak, falafel, hummus, mixed grill and sweets. The Old City is best in the morning and early afternoon; Mahane Yehuda works by day for stalls and by night for bars and small restaurants.
Sit-down meals
Sit-down meals range from small hummus and kubbeh places at lunch to modern restaurants around Mahane Yehuda and the city centre in the evening. Check opening days before you go: many kosher restaurants close from Friday afternoon to Saturday night, while restaurants in the Old City and East Jerusalem are generally open on Saturday.
Cooking classes
Cooking classes exist but are fewer than market tours; they usually combine a Mahane Yehuda market visit with a home or studio class. None could be verified on GetYourGuide or Viator for this page, so check the platforms directly.
How much to budget for food
| Style | Per person, per day* |
|---|---|
| Budget (street food, markets) | ₪100–150 / about €25–40 (hummus, falafel, market snacks) |
| Mid-range (one sit-down meal a day) | ₪200–350 / about €50–90 (one sit-down meal) |
| Splurge (tasting menus, wine) | ₪500+ / about €125+ (chef restaurant with wine) |
Vegetarian, halal and gluten-free
Vegetarian & vegan: Easy. Hummus, falafel, ka'ak with za'atar, salads, many soups and kosher dairy restaurants are meat-free. Vegan options are common in the city centre.
Halal: Muslim-run restaurants and bakeries in the Old City and East Jerusalem serve halal food. Jewish-run kosher places serve no pork, but kosher is not the same as halal certification; ask if it matters to you.
Gluten-free: Hummus without pita, grilled meat and salads are naturally gluten-free. Bread, pastries and ka'ak are central to the local diet, and shared fryers are common, so coeliacs should ask carefully.
Food scams and tourist traps to avoid
- Shops and juice or pomegranate stands in the Old City with no prices shown, quoting tourists inflated amounts. Ask the price before you order, and walk on if no price is given.
- Self-appointed guides near the Old City gates who offer to show you a restaurant or shop, then expect payment or take a commission. Politely decline and use a booked tour or your own map.
- Spice and halva sellers who weigh far more than you asked for and charge by weight. Say clearly how much you want (for example 100 g) and ask the price per kilo first.
- Taxis not using the meter to and from the Old City and the market. Ask for the meter or agree the fare before the ride, or use a ride-hailing app.
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Staying near the markets saves time and taxi money — most food tours start in the old centre.
Common questions
Is Mahane Yehuda Market open on Saturday?
No. Most stalls close from Friday afternoon until Saturday evening for Shabbat, and Friday morning is crowded as people shop for the weekend. Sunday to Thursday daytime is best for tastings; Thursday evening is the busiest bar night. The Old City markets stay open on Saturday, while some Muslim-run shops are quieter around Friday midday prayers.
Do I need to tip in Jerusalem?
In sit-down restaurants, a tip of about 10–15% is normal if service is not already included on the bill. At counters and stalls tipping is not expected. On food tours, a tip of roughly ₪20–40 per person for the guide is appreciated if you enjoyed it.
Which food tour is best for a first visit?
A Mahane Yehuda tasting tour is the most common choice: it covers bakeries, halva, hummus and sweets in one place in about 2–3 hours. If you want history as well, choose an Old City walking tour with tastings, which covers bakeries, hummus and sweet shops inside the walls.
Is street food safe?
Generally yes. Tap water is safe to drink, and busy stalls with high turnover are the safest choice. As anywhere, avoid food that has been sitting out in the heat in summer.
How much should I budget for food per day?
A budget day of hummus, falafel, ka'ak and market snacks costs roughly ₪100–150 (about €25–40). With one sit-down meal it is more like ₪200–350. Jerusalem is generally a little cheaper than Tel Aviv for casual food.
What about religious holidays?
Jewish holidays can close Mahane Yehuda and many restaurants for one or more days, and during Ramadan many Muslim-run places in the Old City change their hours, often opening for the evening meal. Check your dates and the tour's operating days before booking.
* Prices are approximate, gathered on 2 Oct 2026 from menus, markets and the booking pages linked above. They change with season and exchange rates.