Best Salad Deal in Jerusalem

The other day my friend and I needed a quick lunch before going to our "next stop/event." All I wanted to eat was a salad, and she was more flexible. We found ourselves in the Jerusalem Central Bus Station and checked out all the the options in the food court there. Even though there are about ten Israeli-style "fast food" places, nothing appealed to us, or at least to me.

Suddenly I remembered that there's a branch from the Neeman Bakery chain on the other side of the escalators. We went to check it out. They had a small custom-made salad for NS17, and it cost less than a shekel more to be able to eat at the table and be served in a regular bowl instead of the plastic container. My friend ordered soup. They both came with a nice-looking wholewheat roll, which she took home, since we didn't need to eat them. I was asked what dressing I wanted, and they were very generous with the olive oil.

My salad was fantastic. I had a choice of tuna and took the one that was plain. In addition, as you can see in the photo, I was able to get all sorts of cut salad until the bowl was overflowing.

This was a very pleasant surprise, and I plan on eating there in the future. I found the salad filling and the service excellent. You order at the counter, and they bring you to food to your table.

Best Salad Deal in Jerusalem!

After enjoying that spinach knish from "Coney Island," the taste of Brooklyn on Jaffa Street by the light-rail stop, a few steps from Zion Square, I just had to try something more dietetic. Maybe one day when I enter with a few friends, I'll share one of their gorgeous cupcakes.

I took a tuna salad, which kept eyeing me... As you can see, the container is full of goodies. It only costs NS19- In other take out places a similar salad would cost more, well over twenty shekels.

Actually, I didn't eat it immediately, and it was still nice and fresh when I did. And it looked even better when I finished it off in a nice fancy bowl at a friend's apartment.

Israel's Coney Island is more than an inexpensive food place, it also does catering and has totally separate dairy and meat kitchens. And they also do strictly parve catering and takeout. Contact Avi 054-569-6135 or Yael 052-668-4005

Salad Meal on a Budget in The Center of Jerusalem

Yesterday, my friend and I decided that we wanted a simple, low calorie meal. We had just found her the perfect tzni'usdik, modest bathing suit, ok a bit more expensive than the same one would have been in Yafiz, Sha'ar Binyamin, but close enough to the price, so it wasn't worth traveling there. Yes, the store where I work does have great prices, not only the best over-age saleswoman!!! 

As only good friends could do, we both pointed to the nearby Cafe Ne'eman, on the iconic corner building on Jaffa and King Gorge, where you can get your choice of ready-made salads plus a fresh roll for all of NS24.90. I chose the Tuna and she took one of the White Cheese ones. And we both took the rolls home to freeze for some other occasion, or our husbands...

Even though Downtown Jerusalem was loaded with people, tourists, locals, families etc, the lovely tables for budget diners were empty, and we had our choice as to where to sit.  We could watch all the action on Jaffa Street, while we had a nice, leisurely lunch and chat.

They also have a nice selection of sandwiches, pastries and great coffee. "Fast food" does not always mean greasy and fattening.

Best Deal for a Tuna Salad in Jerusalem

You'd think from all my restaurant reviews that I eat out all the time. Actually it isn't so. When I need to get something to eat, I do look for real food and low prices. And I have been spending Tuesday nights in Jerusalem a lot, to make it easier to get to my Matan class early Wednesday morning. But it's now summer, so I don't have the class until after the Jewish Holidays in the fall.

A few weeks ago, I was in Jerusalem on a Tuesday night and couldn't find a dinner partner. Since I was in Machane Yehuda to get some fruit, I passed the Angel Cafe Bakery on Jaffa Street and noticed the menu posted outside. 

They offered a Tuna Salad for ns19.90 if I remember correctly. It was a bit smaller than the ns24.90 at the Ne'eman a few blocks away on the corner of King George and Jaffa. I discovered that it didn't come with a roll, meaning that you paid less and got less, but that was perfect. I didn't need extra salad, and I didn't need a roll at all.

It was tasty and fresh and the perfect size. To make things even better, there were a few tables available for sitting, so I had a very pleasant dinner.

I'm sure that it wouldn't cost much to buy a roll if you want one, but I was very happy not to have one. Yes, definitely recommended. They said that they had just recently begun selling ready-made salads. Enjoy!

New Dairy Restaurant on the Corner of Emek Refaim and Rachel Imanu

Yesterday I had to find a place to eat with a visitor. Recently there has been quite a turnover and closings of restaurants on Jerusalem's Emek Refaim area. The once very popular dining corner of Emek Refaim and Rachel Imenu has seen many changes of late, and lots of storefronts are empty of signs other than "For Rent."

But since it's not far from Matan, where I had studied in the morning, that's where we met. I spied a new dairy restaurant Ness Cafe, which is Hebrew for "instant coffee." Emek Refaim St. 42, Jerusalem, Israel, Tel. 02-5661303.

I ordered their Nicoise Salad aka tuna.

Instead of canned tuna, it was a tuna steak on top, which the better restaurants are now offering. There were too many potatoes for my taste, though I should have asked for them to leave them out. Instead I left them over. It was tasty but not spectacular.

And contrary to pretty much every single other similar restaurant, neither my dining companion nor I was offered any bread or a roll. I was glad not to have the temptation, but if I had been given a roll, I would have made up a sandwich for dinner at work.

The food was good, though not spectacular. We had neither coffee nor dessert. But the biggest surprise was that it wasn't air-conditioned, although it was a very hot day. They relied on open windows. And I must admit that we were comfortable where we sat. It also didn't seem like they invested much in fixing the place up. Maybe they will if they make enough money to stay there.

Quiet Lunch Escape in the Center of Jerusalem

As you know, I'm always on the quest for a low-cost worthwhile lunch in Jerusalem. I've tried out many of the ns5 places. They are fine if you don't need the nutrition of a "real meal." The rolls are large enough, but sometimes there's barely a dessertspoon (smaller than a teaspoon) of tuna in the sandwich, and I'm not always in the mood for eating on the sidewalk or in motion.

One solution I've used a few times has been the "two meals for the price of one"  ns25 large tuna salad which comes with a roll from the Neeman on the corner of King George and Jaffa Streets. I eat about 2/3 the salad for lunch and then take the roll and the rest of the salad to work for my dinner. Yesterday I was not in the mood for that. I also didn't want any "too big" sandwich for ns18 or so. I decided to have their sandwich and coffee deal for ns20. The roll was large enough, and from what I could see, there was the equivalent of about ten ns5 sandwiches of tuna if not more.

When I asked where to wash my hands, I was sent "upstairs." There I discovered a quiet place, much nicer than the few tables on the street overlooking the busy corner, which one shares with pigeons and strangers.

Tired, I sat at the table closest to the sink, which was by the 00 WC's. The downside was the strong smell of urine. Apparently they don't clean there often enough. Next time I'll just pick a different table.

I definitely did need that escape from the hustle and bustle of the street. The ready-made whole-wheat tuna sandwich was full and tasty and just the right size. The coffee was good, too. I don't usually drink coffee in the middle of the day, but I did feel the need and had a long day of work still ahead of me. It did end up to be a good choice, because I functioned well for hours after eating that meal.

Two Meals for the Price of One!

I've written before about the ns10 salad I've bought from the Cafe Ne'eman on the corner of King George and Yaffo Streets in Jerusalem. Not long ago I needed to buy both a lunch and dinner, since I was going to work. So I bought their larger salad which comes with a roll for ns25 (or was it ns24?)

For lunch I ate most of the salad. When I got to work, I put the left-overs in the staff fridge. What remained was more than enough to fill the roll.

It made me a very satisfying dinner, and healthy, too.

PS The service was very accommodating. I requested olive oil, since the dressing they provide isn't my "cup of tea." And they gave me two little containers of olive oil.

The Ambiance of a "Street-side Cafe"

I rarely eat on the sidewalk when there's an option to eat inside, but sometimes, eating inside costs extra. I budgeted the big ns10 for a salad, so I sat down with this view.

and

and this

Great Salad Deal in Jerusalem

The one important menu item missing in the ns5, aka five shekel places is a simple, healthy raw salad. You can always get small sandwich, piece of cake, some coffee or even carrot juice, but no salad. A couple of weeks ago, when I really desperately needed to find a quick, easy inexpensive lunch in downtown Jerusalem before rushing to work, I walked into the Cafe Neeman, on the corner of Jaffa Street and King George.

For some people, it's the site of Sabarro and  that terrible terrorist attack with multiple fatalities. I remember it as the old Weill Shoe Store where I purchased many pairs of shoes, especially in the months the old man was closing the store.

Now it's a branch of that very large chain of what once was more a bakery, but now it's also a dairy restaurant. I saw that they had ready prepared salads in two sizes, large and small. Both were good prices. The large was less than ns30 and included a roll. I don't remember the exact price. And the smaller one was only ns10. I got the small one and figured if I was still hungry I'd pick up something at work from Rami Levy.

As small as it was, it was satisfying. Yes, I took the Tuna Salad. It also had a hard-boiled egg.

With a salad so small, there's no temptation to overeat. It was fresh and delicious. I presume, but didn't check, that you can get the same sort of salad in other branches of the chain.

Great Deal on a Tuna Salad at Cafe` Hillel Express

A couple of weeks ago I met a friend in the Talpiyot neighborhood of Jerusalem for lunch.  The most convenient place for us to go to for lunch was the Hadar Mall, since she had been to a lecture in the new (at least for me) offices and hall of AACI, which is just across the street.  We walked around the mall a bit until we found what we hoped was the quietest place to sit, and that's how we chose in which restaurant to eat.  Neither of us has great hearing, and we wanted to have a nice chat.  The Cafe` Hillel Express seemed relatively quiet.  It also has an outdoor eating area, where you hear passing cars and seemed a lot more popular than the small indoor set up.

There's a counter where you order, and the food is brought to wherever you're sitting. And there is also a take-out option for even less money.  If I'm not mistaken the small Israeli salad, mostly cucumbers and tomatoes, cut into small pieces was just NS30.  The addition of some tuna added just NS5 to the bill. From what I understand, the Cafe` Hillel Express menu has some less expensive options than their restaurant menu.

It was served with rolls, butter and salad dressing.  They were very accommodating when I requested olive oil.  My tuna salad was filling and delicious.  I took the rolls home, which I frequently do when eating out.  They're in the freezer and my husband will be given them as a lunch treat.

Yes, I do recommend this pleasant restaurant.