Culinary Gems of Old Jaffa

In addition to being a city with a rich and volatile history, Jaffa (Yafo in Hebrew) happens to also be a culinary hot spot for Israeli and Palestinian cuisine. Featuring cafes to restaurants, Jaffa has got it all. 

Travelers can utilize a versatile app called JournAlong, a travel matching app that connects people who are traveling to a new city and helps them plan meetups centered on trying new foods, photography around the city, sight-seeing tours, family activities, music & café meetups, and outdoor excursions. 

JournAlong foodies in Tel Aviv and Yafo can schedule a meet-up for a food-centered hangout through the app in one of Israel’s oldest neighborhoods.

Visiting all the venues is no easy task, but one has to start somewhere. If savoring the plethora of tastes and smells in Jaffa sounds like your thing, check out our top four picks below.

Doctor Shakshouka: Shakshouka is a dish of poached eggs in tomatoes and spices from North African origin. The owner, a celebrity chef by the name of Bino Gabso, perfected a one-of-a-kind version of Libyan Shakshouka, a recipe passed down through his family in Libya, in the most unlikely of all places- a prison cell. Caught in the mid-80s for his money changing business, Gabso earned the nickname “Dr. Shakshouka" from his inmates for whom Gabso cooked his famous Shakshouka. 

      For almost 40 years since his release, he has continued his restaurant business and was one of two winners for London’s Royal Chef Competition in 2013. His restaurant sees thousands of visitors and is notorious for his Libyan-Jewish recipes, kind heart, and tasty Shakshouka served in a personal pan.

Blackout Restaurant in Na Laga’at: Kosher restaurant in Na Laga’at Center where guests are escorted into the pitch-dark restaurant and served their meal by waiters who are blind or visually impaired. Guests can select a “Surprise” menu or a meal from one of the traditional menu items which include Italian, American, English, and Southeast Asian cuisine, as well as a variety of fish, vegan, and vegetarian dishes. 

      The sensory experience in Blackout is a unique one where guests experience a heightening in their sense of smell and taste, while interacting with the blind wait staff who known to share their personal stories. This is the place to go if you are looking for a dining experience that is less traditional but filled with good food and lots of social interaction!

      Old Man and the Sea Restaurant: Located on Jaffa Harbor, the 700 seater restaurant recreates the mood of Hemingway’s 1952 novel. As the name suggests, guests have a sea-side view of the beautiful Jaffa port while dining on the vast selection of fresh seafood, kabobs, freshly squeezed jug of lemonade, and 23 salads as part of the Special Deal. 

      Appetizers are a symphony of starters and side-dishes ranging from hummus, tahini, basil falafel, roasted cauliflower, eggplants, and sauerkraut, to mini-stews and fresh salads. Whether you’re in for a hearty lunch or a romantic dinner, the flavorful dishes and attentive service at The Old Man and the Sea does not disappoint.
   

Abu Hassan: If there’s one thing available in abundance in Israel, it’s Hummus. However, Abu Hassan Restaurant takes this tasty chickpea and sesame delight to a new level. Since 1959 Abu Hassan, previously known as Ali Karavan, has been serving authentic home-style hummus to customers from all over the country. Unofficially dubbed the best Hummus in Tel Aviv, Abu Hasan operates on the simple idea of serving Hummus with Ful (fava beans), masabacha (tahini with garlic and lemon), and fresh pita, as a meal of its own.