Tel Aviv vegan restaurants are many, and the food they serve is so flavorful and inviting that you’ll want to eat vegan even if you are not.
I am not vegan myself, but I must admit that whenever I visit I end up mostly eating vegan, because it is just so easy to do so, and it requires zero effort (for those of you who don’t know yet, I am probably the laziest person when it comes to cooking).
Israel is a fabulous food destination, with a very large number of chefs that have made it a mission to deliver excellent, innovative dishes prepared with the strictly the best, freshest ingredients.
Curios to learn more about Israeli food? Make sure to read my post “A Complete Guide To Israeli Food.”
Vegan food is a massive component of the culinary scene in Tel Aviv: with a whopping 200000 vegans living in Tel Aviv, making it almost half of the entire city population, you can figure out why so many restaurants offer vegan food options or only focus on vegan food.
What’s certain is that you shouldn’t skip vegan food when in Tel Aviv. I recommend going on a vegan food tour to get a better understanding of the vegan food culture. One that I did and truly enjoyed was Tel Aviv vegan culinary tour: it goes to the best vegan restaurants in town, and the guide does an excellent job in explaining the whys and hows of the local vegan food scene. You can book it here.
In this post, I will highlight the best vegan restaurants in Tel Aviv – strictly the ones that I have tried and thus wholeheartedly recommend. Before I do so, however, I will share some background information on Israeli and Tel Aviv vegan culture.
Commonly found across the Middle East, falafel are deliciously vegan
Some Background Information On Tel Aviv Vegan Food Culture
Tel Aviv vegan food culture is probably one of the oldest in the modern world – not simple, in a country that is so young.
Many Israeli dishes are naturally vegan – think of hummus and falafel, for example. Literally all restaurants serve vegan options, and there are many vegetarian vegan restaurants in Tel Aviv and other cities – making Israel one of the most vegan friendly countries in the world.
In case you have doubts, you should know that in recent years Israel has become the center of veganism. This happened for many reasons. First of all, Israelis love animals and becoming vegan is their way to express concern against the cruelty animals in intensive farms face. They also claim that veganism is better for the environment, since large animal farms are known for having a heavy impact for their extensive use of pesticides and thus being highly polluting.
Where veganism is often seen as a trend, Tel Aviv, as a very young city, is quite fast at picking up anything that it’s new – including new culinary habits – and in making it its own.
Last, but not least, you should keep in mind that as Israeli is mostly a Jewish country lots of people follow a kosher diet, and that going vegan makes their life much easier in this sense.
Continue reading to discover the best Tel Aviv vegan restaurants.
A perfect mesabaha as served at Zakaim
13 Tel Aviv Vegan Restaurants You Can’t Miss – Even If You Aren’t Vegan
Zakaim
When it comes to Tel Aviv vegan restaurants, it’s hard to beat Zakaim. I visited this restaurant during a recent vegan food tour and I was truly impressed. Located on a side street of Allenby, so extremely central, Zakaim features an open kitchen, with ingredients pleasantly on display, and is incredibly cozy in its retrò way (I personally love the piano sitting at the back).
With regards to the food, it is pure perfection. Using seasonal ingredients, Zakaim creates fabulous dishes that are as pleasant to the eye as they are to the palate. I tried the re-fried potatoes (potatoes that are baked, then frozen and then fried) with a bunch of dips; a soya-cream cheese spread that I couldn’t stop eating; and mesabaha – a variation of the most popular hummus, made with fuhl (fava beans) and topped with lightly seared mushrooms.
LOCATION: 20 Simtat Beit HaSho’eva Street
OPENING TIMES: Sundays to Thursdays from 12:00 pm to 11:00 pm; Fridays 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm; Saturdays from 9:00 pm to 12:00 am.
Vegan Waldorf Skordalia as served at Citizen Garden
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, and the place is so wonderful that I wouldn’t do it justice if I didn’t include it.
At Citizen Garden you’ll find out of this world toasts – I tried the Waldorf Skordalia, with a spread blanched almonds, topped with crunchy green apples, walnuts, pineapple, celery and olive oil. But the Avocado Toast that the guys sitting at the table next to mine were having looked just as yummy.
The Salmani’s Bowl is another great find, with a base of zoodles (zucchini noodles) and baked sweet potato, kale, broccoli, edamame, hazelnut and fabulous tahini.
Last but not least Citizen Garden is also pet friendly.
LOCATION: 15 Montefiori Street
OPENING TIMES: Sundays to Thursdays from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.
The fabulous drunken pear served at Meshek Barzilay
Meshek Barzilay
Located in Neve Tzedek, one of the most charming neighborhood in central Tel Aviv, this beautiful Tel Aviv 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 there for lunch, opt for the fabulous mushroom risotto – they use venere rice, one of the hardest ones to cook (and here they make it just perfect) but also the tastiest one.
Meshek Barzilay also prepares what are considered the best vegan desserts in Tel Aviv. I tried the drunken pear – a dessert of pears poached in wine in a shortcrust pastry and served with a wild berries and a lemon cream. I honestly wished I had ordered two.
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. I must say that even though I am not vegan I was very happy to try this vegan version of one my favorite comfort food. 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
When a friend told me that there is a place in Tel Aviv that serves vegan steak, I asked what he meant exactly and how can a steak be vegan. He took me there to try it so that I’d believe what he said. Yes, 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 make 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
As an Italian, the thought of vegan pizza would normally a shiver down my spine. Except, pizza at The Green Cat is so good that you forget it’s vegan. Don’t expect Italian style pizza though – 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.
Tanat serves excellent Ethiopian vegan food
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. This is the kind of place where you can 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.
Hummus perfection at Abu Hassan
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. Make sure to go no later than 1:00 pm for your chance to try its food – 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.
TIP: For a truly Tel Aviv vegan food experience, go all in and try the fuhl hummus. You won’t regret it.
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.
Mushroom Venere risotto as served at Meshek Barzilay
Herzog
If you are in the mood for a tapas kind of dinner, trying small portions of a plethora of dishes – but in vegan style – go to Herzog, which takes its name from famous chef Roey Hertzog. The menu changes daily. Definitely one of the best Tel Aviv vegan food restaurants.
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. Want more? It’s even 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 of Dosa Bar 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.
24 Rupees
This lovely vegetarian and vegan restaurant in the center of Tel Aviv focuses on thali, a typical Indian dish where in on the same plate you get various tastes of several Indian staples, such as dahl (a lentils stew), rice, chapatti or other kinds of bread and other vegetable dishes. Customers are required to leave their shoes at the entrance.
LOCATION: 16 Schocken Street
OPENING TIMES: Saturdays to Thursdays from 12:00 pm to 12:00 am; Fridays from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
Zakaim even bakes its own bread
Other Useful Information
For updated information about Tel Aviv vegan restaurants – and anywhere else in the world – make sure to 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 about Israel
For more readings about Israel, head over to one of the following:
- The 10 Best Places To Visit During A Trip To Israel
- 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
- Traditional and Alternative Things To Do In Jerusalem
- 9 Fantastic Day Trips From Jerusalem
- My Jerusalem: Places I Love In This Timeless City
- Everything You Need To Know To Hike The Jesus Trail
- Why I love Eilat
- 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
Further readings about international cuisine
If food pushes you to travel, make sure you read the following posts:
- Mouthwatering Egyptian Food: 15 Egyptian Dishes You Have To Try
- 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
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