Being Vegetarian in Israel

Being vegetarian in Israel isn’t a challenge. Kosher food rules mean that for many vegetarians, Israel is an easy country to maintain their diet whilst enjoying their food, as many restaurants serve no meat whatsoever. In addition, those restaurants that serve meat will almost always offer vegetarian options, and Israeli street food is also vegetarian-friendly. So vegetarians, read on, and any fears you might have about being a vegetarian in Israel will be alleviated.

Kosher-Vegetarian in Israel

Kosher food laws stipulate that meat and dairy products must not be mixed. The result is that kosher restaurants either serve meat or dairy dishes. Fish is considered to be neither meat nor dairy (it is grouped with what’s termed ‘parev’) and so fish is served at both, but other than that, dairy restaurants in Israel are completely suitable for vegetarians.

Around one-third of restaurants in Israel are kosher, meaning that a very high proportion of restaurants in Israel are almost effectively vegetarian restaurants. Those that are kosher are either supervised or non-supervised, but from the perspective of vegetarianism, this is irrelevant. Additionally, restaurants that are kosher but serve meat will usually have some options for vegetarian diners. Be sure to check out our recommendations for the best kosher restaurants in Tel Aviv and surrounding areas for inspiration.

Vegetarian in Non-Kosher Restaurants

Restaurants in Israel that are non-kosher will, like restaurants in most of the Western world, serve a fusion of foods including a selection of vegetarian dishes. Israelis are health conscious and many keep a vegetarian diet, with salads being particularly popular. In addition, Jews who only eat kosher meat, but would eat non-meat products in a non-kosher restaurant constitute a reasonable market share, and many meat restaurants will serve products catering to them (for instance, high-quality tofu burgers).

Additionally, Israel does have several specifically vegetarian restaurants, as well as restaurants serving exclusively hummus.

Vegetarian Street Food in Israel

The most popular Israeli street food is falafel and hummus - two vegetarian favorites around the world. These dishes are cheap, tasty, and convenient. In addition, bourekas, pastries filled with savory fillings (cheese, mushrooms, potato, spinach), are incredibly popular and available at most bakeries.

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