The cultural experience of summer in Israel gives you access to the thriving food culture recognized worldwide. Managing food expenditures while living independently for the first time proves complicated for students who are summer interns or pursuing a college education. Practical advice follows for those who want to experience Israeli culinary diversity without breaking their budget.
Shop at Local Markets
Israel’s busy markets function as your household food supply point. Most fresh vegetables along with hummus and pitas cost less at markets than at supermarkets while Bourekas and dried fruits or candies have better prices at markets. In addition to budget-friendly clothes shoppers will discover inexpensive jewelry and museum-quality souvenirs at the marketstands. Despite drawing countless tourists daily, the Carmel Market in Tel Aviv and Machane Yehuda in Jerusalem remain busy with residents searching for discounts.
Carmel Market, Tel aviv
Learn to Bargain
At markets, visitors should never be afraid to negotiate prices. Regular haggling has become the norm for vendors selling clothing and souvenirs as well as daily provision items. By sharing your opinion that a seller’s price seems too expensive they often respond with a cheaper proposal. The abundance of vendors at the market lets you try different sellers until you find a deal that works.
Pro Tip: Don’t forget to browse Bein Harim Tours deals for exciting discounts on guided tours and more.
Meal Prep for the Week
Proper meal preparation in advance helps both save money and eliminate wasted time. At the end of a busy day, your exhaustion along with hunger levels will probably render homemade cooking out of the question which will push you toward restaurant meals. Preparation of meals during the beginning of each week helps prevent this situation. Start your cooking week by making a big Israeli salad using cucumbers and tomatoes alongside purchasing hummus and vegetables and preparing basic foods including quinoa pasta along with rice. Prepare shakshuka for your roommates during your Taco Tuesday dinner experiment.
Homemade Meal
Host Potluck-Style Dinners
Using potlucks enables two goals: maintaining friendships with enough funds for additional savings. An effort from each guest to bring one dish or food item results in a wide variety of meals served at reasonable costs compared to restaurant prices. Shabbat dinners provide optimal conditions for this strategy. Your space needs should prompt you to host at a local beach or park instead of your apartment space. Simply lay out towels to enjoy the park environment.
Potluck-Style Dinners
Take Advantage of Happy Hours
Many restaurants and bars in Israel offer happy hour deals, such as 1+1 on drinks. Your savings will reach its maximum potential when you take the time to look up happy hour information from restaurants through their websites and social media platforms beforehand.
Cafe during happy hour in Tel Aviv
Avoid Buying Food at the Beach
The beach prices for snacks such as watermelon and feta will cost you much more money than standard locations during your visit. Instead, purchase food from a market or a nearby AM:PM grocery store before heading to the beach. You should bring your towel to the beach because paying for lounge chairs only wastes your money.
Embrace Street Food
You can eat on Israeli streets while spending a reasonable budget even though you will have delicious food. You can enjoy a cost-efficient meal from any of several food items including falafel and Sabich and cor hummus. Travelers visiting Israel must check out Hakosem in Tel Aviv along with Hummus Abu Dhabi where they operate restaurants throughout Tel Aviv and Beersheba.
Pita Shawarma
Treat Yourself to Restaurants
You can have the experience of eating at nice restaurants when you manage your money effectively. You can have shakshuka at Tmol Shilshom in Jerusalem alongside Tamara frozen yogurt and enjoy late-night fare at Benedict and Druze village cuisine in Haifa and The Old Man and The Sea provides Mediterranean feasts in Yaffo. If you plan smartly enough you can experience Israel’s most luxurious dining without needing to worry about splurging excessively.