Best Israeli Restaurants in NYC (2026)
Market-driven dinners, charcoal-grilled skewers, all-day Tel Aviv cafés, stuffed pitas, falafel, burekas and modern kosher cooking.
New to RoamRecs? Save these places to your own map in one tap, find them again on your phone, and share lists with friends. It’s free.
Run a business in this guide, or want yours added? Get in touch. Or get featured.
New York's Israeli restaurant scene is too broad for one shorthand. There are Jerusalem-born chefs cooking daily market menus, Tel Aviv imports built around music and late nights, Persian and Yemenite family recipes, Kurdish and Iraqi Jewish dumplings, all-day cafés, kosher destination restaurants and tiny counters devoted to falafel or burekas.
Many of these dishes also belong to broader Levantine, Middle Eastern, North African, Mediterranean and diasporic Jewish foodways. The best restaurants don't flatten those traditions into a generic menu. They cook from a specific point of view, whether that comes from a chef's family, a city, a market or a style of eating.
We included restaurants whose chefs, owners, origin or menu have a clear connection to Israeli cooking, not every Mediterranean restaurant that happens to serve hummus and shakshuka. Israeli also doesn't automatically mean kosher, so certified options are summarized in their own section below.
The Best Israeli Restaurants in NYC at a Glance
| Best for | Restaurant | Neighborhood |
|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Shmoné | Greenwich Village |
| Visitors and groups | Laser Wolf | Williamsburg |
| Kosher dinner | Malka | Upper West Side, Dumbo |
| Live-fire date night | Or'esh | SoHo |
| Neighborhood dinner | Miss Ada | Fort Greene |
| Dinner that turns into a party | HaSalon | Hell's Kitchen |
| Brunch | K'Far | Williamsburg |
| Stuffed pitas | Miznon | Multiple locations |
| Falafel | Falafel Tanami | Midwood |
| Burekas | Buba Bureka | Greenwich Village |
The Best Israeli Restaurants in NYC for Dinner
Book these when dinner is the plan. The list starts with the city's biggest destination restaurants and moves into easier neighborhood rooms for a weeknight dinner, a date or a meal with parents.
Shmoné
61 W 8th St, New York, NY 10011, USA
The menu changes daily at this tiny, Michelin-starred room, so you might find market vegetables, raw seafood, handmade pasta, offal or whole fish depending on the night. It feels spontaneous, nothing like a formal tasting menu. Book it for a date or special occasion and let the kitchen lead.
Laser Wolf
97 Wythe Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11249, USA
Hummus, pita and a wide spread of salatim land first, followed by a charcoal-grilled skewer and brown-sugar soft serve, all with the Manhattan skyline in front of you. That format makes it the easiest call for out-of-town guests or a group celebration. It's not a cheap skewer dinner, but the rooftop and full-table pacing make it feel like an event.
Malka
161 W 72nd St, New York, NY 10023, USA
Eyal Shani's oversized schnitzel stuffed with mashed potatoes gets the attention, but the better move is to surround it with focaccia, hummus and at least one vegetable dish. This is our top full-service certified-kosher Israeli restaurant. Choose the Upper West Side for a neighborhood dinner and Dumbo for a larger, more occasion-ready room. Also at 56 Adams St in Dumbo.
Or'esh
450 W Broadway, New York, NY 10012, USA
Chef Nadav Greenberg ran the kitchen at Shmoné before opening this live-fire restaurant in 2026. It bills itself as modern Mediterranean, but the Israeli point of view comes through in the Jerusalem bagels, dips, market fish and vegetables cooked over coal. Wagyu and cocktails push it toward a SoHo night out, reservations can be difficult and prices match the room.
Port Sa'id
88 King St, New York, NY 10014, USA
Come here when dinner should feel like the beginning of the night. The menu changes with the market and leans into shareable vegetables, seafood, sandwiches, stews and grilled meats, while DJs and a serious analog sound system keep the room moving. Go with four to six people so you can order widely, and note that it's closed Sundays.
Liba
107 N 12th St, Brooklyn, NY 11249, USA
The 12 Chairs team built its first kosher restaurant around an 800-degree brick oven, with raw fish, house bread and large-format meats such as dry-aged ribeye. Tuna tartare, a steak tartare sando and kebab show the range. Expect loud music and plenty of energy, and book it over Malka when you want a dressed-up kosher dinner in Williamsburg.
HaSalon
735 10th Ave, New York, NY 10019, USA
This one is for a very specific night: expensive, theatrical and increasingly party-like as dinner goes on. It's open Thursday through Saturday only. First seating is calmer and food-focused, while second seating gets loud, is 21 and over, takes no walk-ins and carries a food minimum.
Theodora
7 Greene Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238, USA
Miss Ada chef Tomer Blechman's more ambitious Fort Greene restaurant leans on wood-fired cooking and dry-aged fish. It calls itself Mediterranean, but Israeli breads such as Jerusalem bagels and kubaneh anchor the table. Go when you want a bigger dinner than Miss Ada and don't need to leave the neighborhood.
Rothschild TLV
1129 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10075, USA
Inspired by Tel Aviv's Rothschild Boulevard, this OU-certified Upper East Side restaurant is the kosher pick for steaks and cocktails. The modern Israeli menu runs from black risotto and short rib flatbread to dry-aged steaks for the table. Save it for an anniversary, a client dinner or any night when price isn't the first question.
Naked Tomato
476 Kent Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11249, USA
This Williamsburg Wharf opening arrived in October 2026, which makes it too new for us to rank with the essentials. The early appeal is clear: ingredient-first Eyal Shani classics, including tomato pasta and a giant schnitzel, plus waterfront energy and a chef's counter with its own menu. Put it on the map, but keep Shmoné, Miss Ada or Laser Wolf ahead of it for a one-night-only NYC meal.
Miss Ada
184 Dekalb Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11205, USA
If we could keep one restaurant on this list around the corner, it would be Tomer Blechman's Bib Gourmand favorite in Fort Greene. Build a table around hummus masabaha, labneh, crispy cauliflower, falafel, lamb shawarma and a few skewers without overthinking the order. The backyard makes it especially good for a date or relaxed dinner in warm weather.
Balaboosta
611 Hudson St, New York, NY 10014, USA
Chef Einat Admony draws on her Israeli upbringing and Persian and Yemenite family cooking, so the menu feels domestic, generous and personal. That gives it a clearer voice than most broad "modern Mediterranean" restaurants. It's a strong West Village choice for parents, a double date or a polished dinner without a nightclub atmosphere.
Kubeh
464 6th Ave, New York, NY 10011, USA
Chef Melanie Shurka's kitchen centers on hand-rolled dumplings from Kurdish, Iraqi and Syrian Jewish traditions, served fried or in broth. Hummus, muhammara, shawarma, sabich and brunch dishes fill out the menu. Order at least two styles of kubeh and treat everything else as support.
Sami & Susu
190 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002, USA
This small Lower East Side wine bar holds a Bib Gourmand and cooks a seasonal menu shaped by family memories and food from across the Mediterranean. It's Israeli-influenced, not a checklist of Israeli standards, which is precisely why it works. Go for a date, order whatever lamb or vegetable dish is on the current menu and let the natural-wine list fill in the rest.
Bustan
487 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10024, USA
Modern Israeli roots and a pan-Mediterranean menu make this one of the Upper West Side's better dinner options. The taboon bread, hummus, 700-degree cabbage and Moroccan fish are the reasons to go. Ask for the garden when the weather cooperates.
Shoo Shoo
371 Broome St, New York, NY 10013, USA
Tel Aviv café energy runs through both Manhattan locations, with a menu broad enough for brunch, a casual date or a group dinner. Mezze, salads and grilled dishes are all easy to share. Nolita is livelier, and the Upper East Side branch at 1477 Second Ave is the better neighborhood standby.
Email me this guide
All 32 places with map links, in your inbox. No account needed.
The Best Israeli Brunch and All-Day Cafés in NYC
Start here for shakshuka, Jerusalem bagels, jachnun and a long table of coffee and mezze.
K'Far
97 Wythe Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11249, USA
Start with a Jerusalem bagel or kubaneh toast in the morning, come back for a salad or chicken shawarma at lunch, or stop in for an easy dinner before drinks in Williamsburg. No Israeli restaurant in the city covers the whole day better. The glass-covered atrium stays bright and comfortable even when the weather is bad.
19 Cleveland
19 Cleveland Pl, New York, NY 10012, USA
The menu moves from Tel Avivian avocado toast and shakshuka to bourekas Benedict, jachnun, hummus, shawarma and schnitzel. The room has enough energy to keep brunch from feeling sleepy, and it stays busy through lunch and dinner. Visitors wandering SoHo or Nolita can walk right in for one of the strongest downtown brunches in this guide.
Miriam
79 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217, USA
This neighborhood version of Israeli-Mediterranean dining opened in Park Slope in 2005, long before it became a citywide trend. The original remains our favorite, especially for shakshuka, a full Middle Eastern breakfast, brunch plates and a casual dinner with friends. Manhattan locations on the Upper West Side, on the Upper East Side and in the West Village make it easy to use without planning a trip around it.
12 Chairs Cafe
56 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012, USA
Come here when someone in the group wants a proper Israeli breakfast at 2 p.m. Order shakshuka, schnitzel, mezze and coffee, then accept that the table will feel crowded in the best way. SoHo has the history, and Williamsburg, at 342 Wythe Ave, gives you more room and a neighborhood feel.
Dagon
2454 Broadway, New York, NY 10024, USA
The Upper West Side has its answer here when the group wants Israeli flavors but not a narrow menu. The cooking pulls from the Levant and North Africa, the dining room is spacious and brunch is as good a reason to go as dinner. It's especially good for families, mixed diets and the table where one person wants shakshuka and another wants a burger or grilled fish.
The Best Casual Israeli Food in NYC
These counters and casual spots are built for a quick meal: falafel, stuffed pitas, hummus, shawarma and burekas. Several are certified kosher.
Miznon
435 W 15th St, New York, NY 10011, USA
Eyal Shani's stuffed pitas are messy, vegetable-forward and much more interesting than a standard lunch wrap, while the whole roasted cauliflower is still the side everyone should order once. Chelsea Market is the most atmospheric location. Other branches are in the West Village, Hudson Yards, Rockefeller Center and Times Square and at The Hugh in Midtown East. Times Square is the only certified-kosher Miznon in NYC, and Rockefeller Center and The Hugh are weekday-only.
Shifka
324 Bowery, New York, NY 10012, USA
The Sami & Susu team runs this NoHo counter, where schnitzel, harissa chicken, lamb kebab, sabich and cauliflower shawarma come with chopped salad, pickles, tahini and the namesake pepper. The combinations feel composed, not build-your-own. Finish with tahini soft serve if it's available.
Buba Bureka
193 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10012, USA
One Israeli bakery staple becomes a full meal here. Each oversized bureka comes with pickles, crushed tomato, tahini, schug and a jammy egg, with fillings such as cheese, potato-leek, spinach-artichoke and mushroom. It's a takeout counter closed Mondays and open only until mid-afternoon, and it sells until it runs out.
Falafel Tanami
1824 Avenue M, Brooklyn, NY 11230, USA
This is our pick for the best Israeli-style falafel in New York. The setting is plain, the prices stay reasonable and the focus remains on crisp falafel, fresh salads, hummus and pita. Midwood isn't a convenient Manhattan lunch, but the falafel justifies the trip.
Soom Soom
1108 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10075, USA
Formerly Tamam, this Upper East Side counter still fries falafel to order and piles on cauliflower shawarma, sabich-style toppings, salads and sauces. The January 2026 rebrand added meat, so it's no longer all vegan, but the plant-forward side remains the draw. Keep it in mind before or after the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Hummus Place
305 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10023, USA
Hummus comes first here, which is why this place still matters. Order the four-way sampler or the mushroom hummus, add falafel or shakshuka and use the pita to clear the plate. It's casual, affordable by Upper West Side standards and better for a quick lunch than a big night out.
Taboonette
30 E 13th St, New York, NY 10003, USA
Israeli chef Efi Naon's recipes shape this fast-casual spinoff of the Taboon concept. The chicken shawarma, sabich and kruveet, a roasted-cauliflower pita or bowl, taste like restaurant food compressed into a counter format. Takeout suits it better than a leisurely meal, and that's exactly the point. Also at 138 Montague St in Brooklyn Heights.
PitaBar
11 Delancey St, New York, NY 10002, USA
On the Lower East Side, this certified-kosher counter sticks to shawarma, falafel, schnitzel and grilled meats in pita, laffa or a platter. The room is casual and the portions are built for hunger. Use it for a quick dinner, late lunch or takeout.
Moshe's Falafel
142w W 83rd St, New York, NY 10024, USA
This is old-school New York falafel with an Israeli point of view, served since 1981. The Upper West Side storefront makes it easier to visit, but the order remains simple: falafel, sabich, cauliflower, salad and plenty of sauce. It's certified kosher, vegan and an inexpensive meal near Central Park or the Museum of Natural History. The original Midtown truck parks on W 46th St between Fifth and Sixth avenues.
Shawarma Shabazi
668B Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025, USA
Come here when falafel won't be enough. The menu covers shawarma, schnitzel, sabich, kebabs and grilled meats in pita, laffa, bowls or platters, all in a casual glatt-kosher setting. Go hungry and prioritize the shawarma over the broader menu.
Grill Point
1215 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10028, USA
This family-run Israeli grill has served Queens since 2003 and now has an Upper East Side branch. The move is shawarma or kebab in a fresh pita or laffa, with Israeli salad, pickles and sauces. Both locations are certified glatt kosher, and the Queens original at 69-54 Main St is worth knowing even if it's outside the usual restaurant loop.
The Best Certified-Kosher Israeli Restaurants in NYC
Israeli doesn't mean kosher, and several of the city's most famous Israeli restaurants aren't certified. These are the strongest certified options in this guide. Certification and hours can change, especially around Shabbat and holidays, so diners with specific requirements should confirm the current certificate directly with the restaurant.
| Restaurant | Neighborhood | Certification |
|---|---|---|
| Malka | Upper West Side, Dumbo | Glatt kosher under Rabbi Mehlman (National Kosher Supervision), with separate certificates for each location. |
| Rothschild TLV | Upper East Side | Orthodox Union (OU). |
| Liba | Williamsburg | Mehadrin Kashrus, Rabbi Avrohom Marmorstein. |
| Miznon Times Square | Times Square | Glatt kosher and pas Yisroel under Rabbi Aaron Mehlman. The only certified Miznon in NYC, closed Friday and Saturday. |
| Buba Bureka | Greenwich Village | International Kosher Council (IKC); takeout counter. |
| Falafel Tanami | Midwood | Certified kosher. |
| Hummus Place | Upper West Side | Menu certified kosher; open daily. |
| PitaBar | Lower East Side | Glatt kosher under OK Kosher. |
| Moshe's Falafel | Upper West Side, Midtown | Certified kosher and vegan. |
| Shawarma Shabazi | Upper West Side | Glatt kosher, Rabbi Marmorstein. |
| Grill Point | Upper East Side, Queens | Glatt kosher: OU on the Upper East Side, Vaad Harabonim of Queens in Kew Gardens Hills. |
Save this guide
Keep this guide in your RoamRecs so you can find it again later.
Email me this guide
All 32 places with map links, in your inbox. No account needed.
Own or run a place in this guide? Update your info. Want your business included? Get in touch. Own a restaurant or bar here? Become a featured partner on this guide →
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Israeli restaurant in NYC?
What is the best Israeli restaurant in Manhattan?
What is the best Israeli restaurant in Brooklyn?
Is Laser Wolf worth it?
What are the best kosher Israeli restaurants in NYC?
Where can I find the best falafel in NYC?
What is the best Israeli brunch in NYC?
Which Israeli restaurants are best for groups?
Related guides
More in New York
About the creator
Your guide to eating, drinking, and exploring NYC. From neighborhood favorites and date spots to happy hours and holiday plans, we’ll help you find your next favorite place.
View profile →