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Food tours in Tel Aviv: what to eat and which tour to book
Eating in Tel Aviv mixes the cooking of Jewish communities from North Africa, Yemen, Iraq, the Balkans and Eastern Europe with the Arab and Mediterranean food of the wider region. Day to day that means hummus counters that close when the pot runs out, falafel and sabich in pita, Yemenite pastries such as malawach and jachnun, and a strong café and bakery culture. Much of it is eaten standing or at small counters around Carmel Market, Levinsky Market and Jaffa.
Use this page to decide what to order and where. The dishes and areas below say what each market and neighbourhood does well and when it is open; note that most of the city's markets close on Friday afternoon and stay shut on Saturday (Shabbat). The tours are real listings on GetYourGuide and Viator with approximate prices as seen when we checked; prices and group sizes change, so confirm on the booking page before you pay.
What to eat in Tel Aviv
| Dish | What it is | Where to eat it | Typical price* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hummus hummus (חומוס) | Warm chickpea and tahini purée, often topped with whole chickpeas, ful (fava beans), egg or meat, eaten with pita and raw onion. Usually a breakfast or lunch dish. | Dedicated hummus counters (hummusiya) around Carmel Market, the Yemenite Quarter and Jaffa; many close in mid-afternoon or when sold out. | roughly ₪30–45 a plate (about €7–11) |
| Falafel | Fried chickpea balls in pita with salad, tahini and pickles; most stands let you add your own salads. | Street stands across the centre, especially around Carmel Market and Dizengoff. | roughly ₪20–28 a pita (about €5–7) |
| Sabich sabich (סביח) | Iraqi-Jewish pita filled with fried aubergine, hard-boiled egg, hummus, tahini, salad and amba (pickled mango sauce). Vegetarian. | Small sabich stalls in the centre and around Givatayim and Ramat Gan on the city's edge. | roughly ₪25–32 (about €6–8) |
| Shawarma | Turkey, lamb or veal shaved off a vertical spit, served in pita or rolled in a large laffa flatbread. | Counters throughout the city, many open late. | roughly ₪40–60 in pita or laffa (about €10–15) |
| Malawach and jachnun malawach / jachnun | Yemenite-Jewish layered fried flatbread (malawach) and slow-baked rolled dough (jachnun, traditionally a Saturday breakfast), served with grated tomato and zhug chilli paste. | Yemenite stalls in Carmel Market and the Yemenite Quarter (Kerem HaTeimanim). | roughly ₪25–40 (about €6–10) |
| Shakshuka | Eggs poached in a spiced tomato and pepper sauce, a North African dish now eaten all day. | Cafés and breakfast places, with well-known versions in Jaffa. | roughly ₪50–70 in a café (about €12–17) |
| Bourekas | Flaky pastries from the Balkan and Turkish-Jewish kitchens filled with cheese, potato or spinach, often with a hard-boiled egg and pickles. | Bakeries and stands, including around Levinsky Market and Jaffa. | roughly ₪15–30 (about €4–8) |
| Malabi | Chilled milk or cream pudding set with cornflour, topped with rose syrup, coconut and nuts. | Market stalls and dessert stands, especially around Carmel Market. | roughly ₪15–25 (about €4–6) |
Where to eat: markets and neighbourhoods
Carmel Market (Shuk HaCarmel)
The city's largest open-air market: produce, spices, bakeries and a growing number of small food counters, with the Yemenite Quarter's eateries right beside it.
Levinsky Market
Older and quieter than Carmel: spice and dried-fruit shops, delis and bakeries founded by Balkan, Greek and Persian Jewish families, plus newer cafés.
Jaffa and the Flea Market (Shuk HaPishpeshim)
Old port town on the south side of the city with Arab bakeries, hummus places, fish restaurants by the port, and cafés and bars around the flea market lanes.
Yemenite Quarter (Kerem HaTeimanim)
Small grid of streets beside Carmel Market with Yemenite-Jewish home-style restaurants, hummus counters and stalls selling malawach.
Sarona Market
Large indoor food hall with delis, bakeries and stalls; less character than the open markets but convenient, air-conditioned and open when they are not.
Food tours in Tel Aviv 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tel Aviv Food Tour: The Magic of Carmel Market | about 2 hours | from €44 per person | — | Budget-conscious first-timers who want a short introduction to the market. | Check dates |
| Tel Aviv: Carmel Market Food Tasting Tour “Shuk Hacarmel” | 2.5 hours | from €71 per person | private (your group only) | First-timers who want market food plus the background of the communities behind it. | Check dates |
| Tel Aviv: Carmel Market & Tel Aviv Tour with Tastings | 4 hours | from €44 per person | — | Visitors who want city history and architecture as well as food. | Check dates |
| Tel Aviv: 2-Hour Carmel Market Tour in English with Lunch | 2 hours | from €75 per person | — | Daytime visitors who want the tour to replace lunch. | Check dates |
| Levinsky Market Culinary Tour | — | from about $78 per person | — | Repeat visitors or anyone who has already seen Carmel Market and wants a quieter market. | Check dates |
| The 10 Tastings of Tel Aviv With Locals: Private Food Tour | — | see listing | private | Families or couples who want a private guide and flexible pace. | Check dates |
Tel Aviv Food Tour: The Magic of Carmel Market
On GetYourGuide · run by Bein Harim Israel Tours
- Length
- about 2 hours
- Price
- from €44 per person
- Included
- English-speaking guide, food and drink tastings in Carmel Market, bottled water; hotel pick-up and drop-off listed.
- Suits
- Budget-conscious first-timers who want a short introduction to the market.
- Starts
- Carmel Market (hotel pick-up listed)
Tel Aviv: Carmel Market Food Tasting Tour “Shuk Hacarmel”
On GetYourGuide · run by Tel Aviv Walks
- Length
- 2.5 hours
- Price
- from €71 per person
- Rating
- 4.0 ★ from 8 reviews (on 2 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- private (your group only)
- Included
- Walking tour with several food stops and a licensed local guide; tastings mentioned include a malawach sandwich, shredded beef in pita, falafel and Middle Eastern sweets.
- Suits
- First-timers who want market food plus the background of the communities behind it.
- Starts
- Carmel Market
Tel Aviv: Carmel Market & Tel Aviv Tour with Tastings
On GetYourGuide · run by Tourist Israel Tours
- Length
- 4 hours
- Price
- from €44 per person
- Rating
- 3.8 ★ from 36 reviews (on 2 Oct 2026)
- Included
- Walk from the Old Railway Station (HaTachana) through Park HaMesila, Nahalat Binyamin, Herzl Street and Rothschild Boulevard, ending at Carmel Market with tastings such as falafel, kubbeh and fresh juice.
- Suits
- Visitors who want city history and architecture as well as food.
- Starts
- Old Railway Station (HaTachana)
Tel Aviv: 2-Hour Carmel Market Tour in English with Lunch
On GetYourGuide · run by Be Tours
- Length
- 2 hours
- Price
- from €75 per person
- Rating
- 4.8 ★ from 24 reviews (on 2 Oct 2026)
- Included
- Guided market walk in English with lunch included.
- Suits
- Daytime visitors who want the tour to replace lunch.
- Starts
- Carmel Market
Levinsky Market Culinary Tour
On Viator
- Price
- from about $78 per personapprox.
- Included
- Tastings in Levinsky Market covering Balkan, Persian, Yemenite and other Jewish food traditions.
- Suits
- Repeat visitors or anyone who has already seen Carmel Market and wants a quieter market.
- Starts
- Levinsky Market
The 10 Tastings of Tel Aviv With Locals: Private Food Tour
On Viator
- Price
- shown on the booking page
- Group size
- private
- Included
- Ten sweet and savoury tastings and drinks, from a local hummus place to hand-made malabi.
- Suits
- Families or couples who want a private guide and flexible pace.
- Starts
- Central Tel Aviv (check listing)
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 the core of eating here: falafel, sabich, shawarma, bourekas and hummus at counters, cheap and quick. Most of it is daytime food around the markets; shawarma and some falafel stands stay open late. Prices are high by regional standards because Tel Aviv is an expensive city.
Sit-down meals
Restaurants range from Yemenite family places by Carmel Market to modern Israeli restaurants that serve small sharing plates. Dinner is late, from around 20:00, and Thursday and Friday nights are the busiest; book ahead for popular places. Many kosher restaurants close from Friday afternoon to Saturday night, while non-kosher ones stay open.
Cooking classes
Cooking classes usually cover hummus, salads such as fattoush, and challah or flatbreads, often in a private home or combined with a market visit. Supply is smaller than in Rome or Bangkok, so book a few days ahead and check the menu.
How much to budget for food
| Style | Per person, per day* |
|---|---|
| Budget (street food, markets) | ₪120–180 / about €30–45 (street food, market lunch, simple café) |
| Mid-range (one sit-down meal a day) | ₪250–400 / about €60–100 (one sit-down meal with drinks) |
| Splurge (tasting menus, wine) | ₪600+ / about €150+ (well-known chef restaurant with wine) |
Vegetarian, halal and gluten-free
Vegetarian & vegan: Easy. Hummus, falafel, sabich, salads and bourekas are meat-free, and Tel Aviv has a large vegan scene with many dedicated places. Kosher dairy restaurants serve no meat at all.
Halal: Pork is uncommon, but halal certification is not standard in Jewish-run places. Arab-run restaurants and bakeries in Jaffa are the most practical option for halal meat; ask if certification matters to you. Kosher meat is pork-free but is not the same as halal.
Gluten-free: Hummus plates without pita, grilled meat and salads are naturally gluten-free, and gluten-free bread is increasingly available in cafés. Fryers for falafel and schnitzel are often shared, so cross-contamination is possible.
Food scams and tourist traps to avoid
- Restaurants or juice stands without displayed prices that charge tourists much more than locals, especially near the beach promenade and in Old Jaffa. Ask the price before ordering and check that it is on the menu or board.
- Being charged per item at self-serve salad bars in falafel and shawarma places, or for extras you assumed were free. Ask what the price includes before you add extras.
- Service charge added to the bill and then a tip requested on top, particularly for groups. Read the bill; if service is already included you do not need to add a further tip.
- Taxis taking a long route or refusing the meter to and from the markets and Jaffa. Ask for the meter (moneh) or use a ride-hailing app such as Gett.
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Staying near the markets saves time and taxi money — most food tours start in the old centre.
Common questions
Are the markets open on Saturday?
Mostly no. Carmel Market and Levinsky Market close from Friday afternoon until Saturday evening for Shabbat, and Friday morning is very busy as locals shop for the weekend. Sarona Market and many places in Jaffa stay open on Saturday. Plan food tours for Sunday to Thursday, or Friday morning, and check the operating days on the listing.
Do I need to tip in Tel Aviv?
Yes. In sit-down restaurants a tip of about 10–15% is normal and is often not included in the bill, so check first. Some places add a service charge for larger groups. At counters and street stalls tipping is not expected. For food tour guides, a tip of roughly ₪20–40 per person is appreciated if you enjoyed the tour.
Which food tour is best for a first visit?
A 2–2.5 hour Carmel Market tasting tour is the usual starting point: it covers falafel, hummus, Yemenite pastries and sweets in one area. If you also want city history, choose a tour that starts at the Old Railway Station and walks through Neve Tzedek and Rothschild Boulevard. Levinsky Market tours suit people who have already seen Carmel.
How much should I budget for food per day?
Tel Aviv is expensive. A budget day of street food and market snacks costs roughly ₪120–180 (about €30–45). With one sit-down dinner and a drink it is more like ₪250–400. Cocktails cost roughly ₪50–65 each, and coffee about ₪12–18.
When do people eat?
Breakfast is a big meal in cafés, often served until noon. Hummus places do most of their trade from morning to early afternoon and some close when the hummus runs out. Lunch is around 13:00 and dinner from about 20:00, later on Thursday and Friday nights.
Should I book food tours in advance?
For popular group tours, book a few days ahead, especially around Jewish holidays when markets may be closed or very crowded and some tours do not run. Check whether your dates fall on a holiday before booking. Most GetYourGuide and Viator listings allow free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
* Prices are approximate, gathered on 2 Oct 2026 from menus, markets and the booking pages linked above. They change with season and exchange rates.