Vegan food is easily found in Israel, and Tel Aviv vegan restaurants are so many and the food they serve so flavorful and inviting that you’ll want to eat vegan even if you are not.
There are more than 200,000 vegans living in Tel Aviv alone, making up for almost half of the entire city population. With such a large vegan population, it’s only obvious that so many restaurants offer vegan options or solely focus on vegan food.
In this post, I will highlight the best vegan restaurants in Tel Aviv – the ones that I have tried and loved. Let me start by sharing some background information on Israeli and Tel Aviv vegan culture.
Curios to learn more about Israeli food? Make sure to read my post A Complete Guide To Israeli Food.
Some Background Info On Israeli Vegan Food Culture
Tel Aviv vegan food culture is probably one of the oldest in the modern world – which is incredible, considering this is such a young country. Israel has become the center of veganism. You see, not only many dishes you’ll commonly eat in Israel (hummus and falafel, for example) are naturally vegan. Israelis love animals and becoming vegan is their way to express concern against animal cruelty in intensive farms. They argue that veganism is better for the environment, since large animal farms make extensive use of pesticides and are thus highly polluting.
If you think of veganism as a trend, you’ll see that Tel Aviv is quite fast at picking up anything that’s new – including new culinary habits – and in making it its own.
Another reason why there are so many vegans in Israel is that many Israelis follow a kosher diet, and going vegan makes their life much easier in this sense.
All restaurants in Israel serve vegan options, and many only focus on vegan dishes. Curious to discover the best vegan restaurants in Tel Aviv? Continue reading!
To discover more about Israeli vegan culture, you may want to join a guided food tour. You can book it here.
13 Tel Aviv Vegan Restaurants You Can’t Miss – Even If You Aren’t Vegan
Citizen Garden
The minute you’ll walk in this small café (with a cozy backyard) you’ll be captured by the welcoming, lively yet relaxing atmosphere. This lovely place is usually not mentioned in Tel Aviv vegan food guides, as it also serves vegetarian food. But the vegan food options are the majority.
At Citizen Garden you’ll find out of this world toasts – try the Waldorf Skordalia, with a spread of blanched almonds, topped with crunchy green apples, walnuts, pineapple, celery and olive oil. The Avocado Toast is also yummy.
The Salmani’s Bowl is another great dish, with a base of zoodles (zucchini noodles) and baked sweet potato, kale, broccoli, edamame, hazelnut and fabulous tahini.
Citizen Garden is also pet friendly.
LOCATION: 15 Montefiori Street
OPENING TIMES: Sundays to Thursdays from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.
Meshek Barzilay
Located in Neve Tzedek, one of the most charming neighborhood in central Tel Aviv, this beautiful vegan bistro summarizes everything that Israel has to offer in terms of food – but in the vegan version. Breakfast options include a vegan version of boureka – a phyllo pastry stuffed with spinach and cheese (in this case vegan cheese).
If you happen to go for lunch, opt for the fabulous mushroom risotto – they use venere rice, one of the hardest ones to cook but also the tastiest one.
Meshek Barzilay also prepares what are considered the best vegan desserts in Tel Aviv. Try the drunken pear – a dessert of pears poached in wine in a shortcrust pastry and served with a wild berries and a lemon cream.
LOCATION: 6 Ahad Ha’Am Street
OPENING TIMES: Mondays to Thursdays from 11:30 am to 11:00 pm; Fridays from 8:00 am to 12:00 am; Saturdays from 9:00 am to 11:00 pm.
TIP: For a more budget friendly option, go to the annexed deli. You won’t be disappointed!
Goodness
Allegedly the best (vegan) burgers in Tel Aviv. Accompany the burger with some fries and a vegan beer for pure perfection. If you happen to go there for breakfast, make sure to try the vegan shakshuka. For Tel Avian standards, it’s also quite budget friendly.
LOCATION: 41 King George Street
OPENING TIMES: Sundays to Fridays 11:00 am to 11:00 pm; Saturdays 12:00 pm to 11:00 pm.
416
Vegan steaks are a thing and if you didn’t know that what you are eating has no animal elements in it at all, you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. Eat it with the mouthwatering polenta fries and it’ll be perfection.
But there’s more. 416 makes excellent comfort food such as tacos, shawarma, nutritious salads and fabulous cocktails.
LOCATION: 16 HaArba’a Street
OPENING TIMES: Mondays to Sundays from 12:00 pm to 11:00 pm.
The Green Cat (Hatool HaYarok)
Pizza at The Green Cat is so good that you forget it’s vegan. Don’t expect Italian style pizza – this is more New York style. You can order a slice or create your own whole pizza (which is more than enough for two persons). They use cashew cheese instead of mozzarella.
LOCATION: 7 Levontin Street, right next to a very busy underground bar with live music.
OPENING TIMES: Mondays to Wednesdays from 6:00 pm to 12:00 am; Thursdays from 6:00 pm to 1:00 am, Saturdays from 6:00 pm to 1:00 am; Sundays from 6:00 pm to 12:00 am. Closed on Fridays.
Tenat
Reflecting the presence of a large community of Ethiopian Jews living in Tel Aviv, one of the best vegan restaurants in Tel Aviv is indeed Ethiopian. Stuff your face with injera – the sourdough, spongy flatbread thought to be a super food and used to eat stews such as shiro, a spicy mix of peas and hummus. Make sure to try Ethiopian tahini for a change!
LOCATION: 27 Chlenov Street
OPENING TIMES: Sundays to Thursdays from 12:00 pm to 11:00 pm; Fridays from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Alegria
This small vegan deli in the Old North of Tel Aviv is the best place to get a salad or a vegan cheese platter – so a perfect place for an apertif style dinner. The decadent desserts are actually raw!
LOCATION: 165 Shlomo Ibn Gabirol Street
OPENING TIMES: Sundays to Thursdays from 9:00 am to 10:00 pm; Fridays from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm.
Bana
One of the nicest vegan restaurants in town, it’s located in the heart of the city, just off Rothschild Boulevard. The garden is a nice place to try the specialties which include a cashew quiche and the roasted portobello mushrooms on cream. The menu changes regularly to reflect seasonality.
LOCATION: 36 Nachmani Street
OPENING TIMES: Daily, from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm.
Abu Hassan
One of the best finds in Old Town Jaffa, Abu Hassan is a favorite of Tel Avivians. It serves the creamiest, smoothest, tastiest hummus you can hope for, and crispy yet moist falafel. It’s a very easygoing place, so you may end up at a table next to someone you don’t know – but it’s worth it for the sake of hummus.
As hummus is a breakfast dish in Middle Eastern tradition, Abu Hassan opens early and closes in the very early afternoon hours. Go no later than 1:00 pm and be prepared to stand in line for some time, especially on Fridays.
LOCATION: 14 Shivtei Israel Street
OPENING TIMES: Sundays to Fridays from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm; closed on Saturdays.
Anastasia
With a strong focus on healthy vegan food, Anastasia is a lovely, cozy yet spacious café in the heart of Tel Aviv. You’ll find plenty of salads, fruits shakes, delicious toasts and sandwiches, excellent breakfast options. The blue tahini – prepared using spirulina – is a must try. The bonus? It’s also pet friendly.
LOCATION: 54 Frischman Street
OPENING TIMES: Sundays to Thursdays 8:00 am to 11:30 pm; Fridays 8:00 am to 5:00 pm; Saturdays 9:00 am to 11:00 pm.
Herzog
If you are in the mood for a tapas kind of dinner, trying small portions of many dishes – but in vegan style – go to Herzog, which takes its name from famous chef Roey Herzog. The menu changes daily. Definitely one of the best vegan restaurants in Tel Aviv.
LOCATION: 48 Ibn Gvirol Street
OPENING TIMES: Sundays to Thursdays from 12:30 pm to 11:00 pm; Fridays from 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm; Saturdays from 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm.
Rainbow Burgers
Owned by the same person who owns The Green Cat, and located where Buddha Burger used to be, near Rabin Square, Rainbow Burgers makes some of the best burgers in Tel Aviv – and they are vegan. You’ll find soy and mushroom burgers, seitan shawarma and fabulous kebab. It’s budget friendly.
LOCATION: 88 Ibn Gvirol Street
OPENING TIMES: Saturdays to Thursdays 12:00 pm to 11:00 pm; Fridays 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm.
Dosa Bar
Go to Dosa if you need a quick fix for Indian street food. The chef spent two years living in Southern India to learn to master the flavors, so if you decide to eat here you know you’ll be in for the real thing. It specializes in – guess what – dosas – sort of pancakes filled with potatoes and other vegetables. Each is served with a soup and a side salad, as well as a delicious chutney.
LOCATION: 188 Ben Yehuda Street
OPENING TIMES: Sundays to Thursdays 12:00 pm to 11:00 pm; Fridays 11:00 am to 4:30 pm; closed on Saturdays.
Other Useful Information
For updated information about vegan restaurants anywhere in the world – and anywhere else in the world – download Happy Cow – an app that contains reviews of the restaurants as well as information on their opening times. It’ll also tell you whether a place has changed name, location or if it’s been closed for good.
Further Readings
For more readings about Israel, head over to one of the following:
- Twenty Absolutely Unmissable Things To Do In Tel Aviv
- Where To Stay In Tel Aviv: Recommendations By An Almost Local
- Abraham Hostel Tel Aviv: A Complete Review
- How To Plan The Perfect Trip To Israel
- The Best Places To Visit In Israel
- Traditional and Alternative Things To Do In Jerusalem
- The 17 Best Restaurants In Jerusalem
- 9 Fantastic Day Trips From Jerusalem
- Everything You Need To Know To Hike The Jesus Trail
- 17 Unmissable Things To Do In Eilat, Israel
- A Guide To The Things To Do In Haifa, Israel
- Masada Sunrise Guide: Hiking The Masada Snake Path
- The 13 Best Day Trips From Tel Aviv
- What You Need To Know About Shabbat In Jerusalem
- Where To Get The Most Impressive Views Of Jerusalem
- What You Must Know Before Visiting Temple Mount And Dome Of The Rock
- The Best Airbnbs In Tel Aviv
Further Readings About International Cuisine
If food pushes you to travel, make sure you read the following posts:
- The Most Delicious Cuban Food: 35 Mouthwatering Cuban Dishes
- 21 Mouthwatering Guyanese Food And Drinks You Need To Try
- All The Food In Rome You Should Eat: 25 Delicious Dishes
- All The Sardinian Food You Should Try
- The Most Delicious Food In Mexico – All The Dishes You Should Try
- 33 Countries With The Best Food
- Food In Sri Lanka: 25 Delicious Dishes You Should Try
- All The Nicaraguan Food You Should Try
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