Mesiba ba ba and all that balagan
As you may know, Toronto has the biggest Jewish population in all of Canada. While it was originally composed of Ashkenazi immigrants from Europe Israeli restaurants, many Israeli migrants have made The Six their home. Israeli food is unique and super delicious, ranging from shawarma to falafel to coos coos and more. Everything is made super fresh with each ingredient perfectly complimenting each other.
What is Israeli food?
Jews are originally from the Levant, having been forced into exile by invading governments. As a result of the expulsion, Jews have settled in (nearly) every corner of the globe, using local ingredients within a kosher framework. While many Israeli restaurants are not Kosher today, many avoid pork, shellfish, and the combination of meat and milk. If you are looking exclusively for kosher restaurants in toronto, please click on the hyperlink contained in this sentence.
While some dishes have foreign origins–like in Morroco, Poland or Ethiopia-some are indiginious to Israel. The modern Israeli palate is multifaceted and brilliantly complex, highlighting traditional cooking techniques and produce. While there are many halal restaurants in Toronto, few offer the authentic Israeli experience as offered in the restaurants below.
The Haifa Room started as a takeaway window during the pandemic, serving things like falafel and sabich. That window is still open for lunch, but a full-fledged restaurant was always part of the plan. The owners and chef, all close friends, collaborated on a tight menu that draws on their Palestinian and Israeli backgrounds. But here, everyone co-exists peacefully… mostly. “Do we fight? Sure. We fight about glassware,” says Dabdoub. Small plates meant for sharing and snacking feature heavily—think deep-fried halloumi sticks with a harissa-labneh dipping sauce, or lamb kibbeh “torpedos” with sumac-yogurt dip. A few hearty mains and desserts round out the selection, like the meltingly tender, shawarma-spiced boneless lamb shoulder, or a vegan stuffed eggplant.