Ever wonder what the best burger is in Tel Aviv? Well, we did, so we set out to find out! After lots of research (online and then eating), here it is! We did our best to search for highly ranked burger-specific restaurants. We also added places we found along our explorations. It is by no means the most exhaustive list, but we definitely think it hits the best burger options.
We love trying new foods in new places, especially love Israeli foods, but we decided it would be fun to see how Israel makes burgers their own. We have not been disappointed! They have really gotten creative or, in some cases, incredibly specialized with incredible ingredients. One thing to note is that Kosher burger places will not offer cheeseburgers. As dairy and meat cannot be eaten together to remain kosher.
Criteria for Ranking Burgers
We ranked the burgers on three criteria.
- The Bun
- The cook and flavor of the meat patty
- Overall flavor
This criteria gave an overall rating out of 10, with ten being the best. We also ranked the fries and the overall experience at the restaurant. The restaurant experience in Israel is very different from that in the US. You will not see your server nearly as often, and in many cases, it is self-serve and self-bus. We will also make special note of places you can order in English either by using the English menu or by using a touch screen ordering menu.
Map of Burger Places
Burgers We Tried & Their Ranks
26 Hamburger Gourmet
It’s one of the most recommended burger places since we got here. 26 Hamburger Gourmet is a French twist on a burger place. From the bun to the fries and desserts, they really bring in the French flavors. There are a variety of flavors and toppings, all giving a nod to France. Unfortunately, as you can see by the rankings, it is not our favorite burger place.
The bun was definitely one of the best buns we have ever had. It is a brioche with a great toast. The meat is cooked to a medium heat. There are plenty of options for toppings, like the raclette one, which has cheese and a sauce, or the tartare with caramelized onion with a different sauce. They also have three different potato options for fries. Overall it was okay, unfortunately its also one of the more expensive places which puts it lower on our list.
Located: Mikve Israel St 26, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
Our Ranking:
| Larry | Daphne | |
| Overall Burger | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Fries | 4/10 | 5/10 |
| Customer Service | N/A | N/A |
America Burgers
America Burgers was one of the first burger restaurants we tried in Tel Aviv. It was recommended as one of the best burger places by Secret Tel Aviv, along with 26 Hamburger Gourmet and Port 19. America Burgers did not disappoint. It is a very solid burger.
The entire restaurant is set up with 1950s vibes of the USA. It attempts to bring a diner to life in Israel. The menu (which is available in English) offers a wide array of starters and burgers. It is one of the bigger menus we’ve seen at a burger place here. America Burgers is not kosher, so they offer cheeseburgers. Additionally, part of the menu does not allow substitutions or changes (which is common here).
As you’ll see, most burger places offer a vegetarian and/or vegan option. America Burgers is no exception! I ordered the classic cheeseburger and Larry ordered the spicy burger. It was not very spicy, but it was an interesting twist on a burger as it had Sloppy Joe as a topping.
The buns were fresh and complimented the burgers well. The biggest downside was the cook on the burger, it was rawer that we asked. The fries were pretty good, nice, and crispy. We especially liked the sauce they had. Overall the service was fairly good. It was originally confusing because you had to order at the counter and then sit and pick up your order when they called it. But it is not obviously set up to understand that.
Located: Allenby St 112, Tel Aviv-Yafo, 6581705, Israel
Our Ranking:
| Larry | Daphne | |
| Overall Burger | 7/10 | 6/10 |
| Fries | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Customer Service | 5/10 | 7/10 |
Benz Brothers
Benz Brothers is a burger place with a small but mighty menu. With plenty of outdoor seating, its high-quality ingredients and excellent fries mean there is a constant crowd of people here. They offer one type of meat burger, one chicken burger (or sandwich in the US), a vegan meat option, and a fried cheese vegetarian option. Now, to differentiate themselves, you can add additional toppings to your burger. I added cheese to mine, and Larry added bacon maple butter. The buns were excellent and fresh. The burgers were cooked to the temperature we asked for. I will say the bacon maple butter didn’t add much flavor.
While the burgers at Benz Brothers are some of the best on this list (check the ratings below), the fries are the main star! We were kicking ourselves for only ordering one side of fries. The garlic fries are the way to go. Trust us on this one. Additionally, they have homemade garlic mayo sauce for the fries, and I’d like a vat to take home, please! I’m pretty sure we will talk about Benz Brother garlic fries for the rest of our lives. Oh, and yes, they have an English menu!
Located: Shlomo Ibn Gabirol St 37, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
Our Ranking:
| Larry | Daphne | |
| Overall Burger | 8/10 | 8.5/10 |
| Fries | 9/10 | 8/10 |
| Customer Service | 8/10 | 8/10 |
Burgerim
Burgerim is one of the places we visited because we saw it on a walk one day. Unfortunately, we were not impressed by the burgers or the fries, or frankly, the customer service. The positives first: they are fast, they have menus in many languages, they are relatively inexpensive, and have many options for combos. Additionally, you can pick the kind of protein you want, like meat, lamb, vegetarian, or spicy. Burgerim is kosher if that is something you’re looking for.
Now the reality. When we went, they didn’t have any large burgers available, only mini burgers. Which likely means they don’t have freshly made patties. After tasting it, we knew they weren’t freshly made patties. The bread was stale, cold, and not toasted. This really detracted from the burger. There was more lettuce than meat. The fries were on par with fast-food fries. Overall, it’s not a place we’d go again. They have multiple locations throughout Israel, like a local chain restaurant.
Located: Carlebach St 25, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
Our Ranking:
| Larry | Daphne | |
| Overall Burger | 4/10 | 3/10 |
| Fries | 4/10 | 4/10 |
| Customer Service | 3/10 | 3/10 |
Fat Cow
While Fat Cow may have a strange name, they do specialize in great and plain burgers. They don’t have many options in their menu. There are 5 options of burgers (one being vegan). There is a cheeseburger, plain, “deconstructed”, and short rib. Unlike most other places these burgers do not come with the usual veggies (pickles, lettuce, tomatoes).
The whole restaurant has a fun vibe especially for dinner time! They offer both a lunch combo option as well as many cocktail options. Finally, Fat Cow offers some fun desserts. In terms of the burgers, we really liked the buns and the cheeseburger. The deconstructed burger was okay, but not the greatest I would avoid. The fries are nicely crunchy and soft inside.
Located: Dizengoff St 265, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
Our Ranking
| Larry | Daphne | |
| Overall Burger | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Fries | 6/10 | 7/10 |
| Customer Service | 7.5/10 | 8/10 |
GDB
GDB, or George’s Dry Aged Burger, as it’s formally known, is a very, very busy burger place. There is always a crowd in this outdoor seating restaurant. They have English menus on the touchscreen ordering. Additionally, they seem to always have a 45-minute waiting warning (although they always seem to go faster)! They also have a smaller menu with only two burgers and a vegetarian option. It is not kosher, offering cheeseburgers if you want it.
We ordered both the classic and the GDB. The GDB can be differentiated by the black garlic topping on the brioche bun. The brioche buns are toasted to perfection and are the right ratio of bread to meat. Which brings me to the meat. It is dry aged with a pepper crusting which adds a depth of flavor that I think about to this day. GDB, like Benz Brothers, offers toppings to add to the burger (consider caramelized onions to the classic).
The burger and its bun are great, but the fries are nothing to write home about. They are good enough but mostly plain.
Located: Shlomo Ibn Gabirol St 22, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
Our Ranking:
| Larry | Daphne | |
| Overall Burger | 7/10 | 9.5/10 |
| Fries | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Customer Service | N/A | N/A |
Hasimta
Owned by a resident of Northern Israel who is taking refuge in Tel Aviv, this burger is a great treat! There are two types of burger patties at Hasimta. The smashed patty and the full patty. We got one of each, then headed to Sderot Rothschild for our little picnic. The fries with rosemary and garlic are one of the best fries we’ve had! Especially with their sweet garlic aioli.
This Tel Aviv burger is very tasty. The smash patty is very thin and nearly falls apart in your hands. It comes with pickles, lettuce, and their own sauce. I added caramelized onions. Larry’s burger had pickles, lettuce, tomatoes, and the same sauce. We also added caramelized onions. The smash patty is definitely more juicy than the fuller patty.
Located: Yehuda ha-Levi St 109, Tel Aviv-Yafo, 6522721, Israel
Our Ranking:
| Larry | Daphne | |
| Overall Burger | 7.5/10 | 6.5/10 |
| Fries | 7/10 | 8/10 |
| Customer Service | 5/10 | N/A |
HaMosad
Found next door to MB Burger Bar, HaMosad is a fun, hip burger place. There are a lot of bright neon lights, loud music, and a variety of different types of burgers. They definitely cater to a younger crowd. HaMosad has a greater variety of burger options. They have lots of different toppings, which makes it fun to order. Unlike most other burger places in Israel, they have many options on their menu. HaMosad also has an English menu but no touch-screen ordering.
While it is a solid burger choice in Tel Aviv, it is not on the top. The bun was good but too large for the burger patty. We also found the meat to not be nearly as tasty or juicy as other places. We enjoyed the variety of options, especially since we didn’t find a lot of variety in other places. We really enjoyed the Alice in Wonderland burger, which includes a delicious fig jam. Remember, you likely won’t find bacon on burgers here!
Located: Shlomo Ibn Gabirol St 67, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
Our Ranking:
| Larry | Daphne | |
| Overall Burger | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Fries | 7/10 | 6/10 |
| Customer Service | 5/10 | N/A |
LoKal
LoKal Burger specializes in “smash burgers.” This popular burger style is where the meat patties (or meatballs) are mushed on the griddle to a thin patty that is then caramelized for crispy edges. This makes the meat thin, crispy, and delicious! LoKal only has one type of burger that you can get as a “double,” “single”, or “half” burgers. They also have a chicken option and a vegan option.
LoKal is not kosher so that you can get cheese on your burger in Tel Aviv. They have good buns that are toasted. Unlike HaMosad or Prozdor, they do not have a variety of topping options. However, LoKal has many different dipping sauces. It makes a fun way to change up the burgers or for dipping fries. The fries were good enough.
Located: Ahad Ha’Am St 30, Tel Aviv-Yafo, 6515105, Israel
Our Ranking:
| Larry | Daphne | |
| Overall Burger | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Fries | 5/10 | 5/10 |
| Customer Service | 7/10 | 6/10 |
The Little Burger Shop
Found on Dizengoff Street, The Little Burger Shop is a great and fun burger place. They really focus on making a variety of different flavored fries. The fries and sauces definitely add to the deliciousness of the burger shop.
The burger itself is well cooked. The bread has a great toast to it. They also have several different loaded burgers with more toppings than you usually see in Israel. There is even a burger with lamb bacon! The burger shop is not kosher so you can get yourself a cheeseburger.
Located: Dizengoff St 125, Tel Aviv-Yafo
| Larry | Daphne | |
| Overall Burger | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Fries | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Customer Service | 8/10 | N/A |
Marlen Burger
Found on King George Street is Marlen Burger, with lots of outdoor seating; this restaurant offers both burgers and hot dogs in Tel Aviv. They have a variety of topping options, but not a ton. There are cheeseburgers, a classic burger, and even a truffle burger. There is actually more variety in hot dog toppings. So, if you’re looking for a break from the burgers and want a hot dog, then go for it!
One of the best parts of the burgers at Marlen is the bun. They definitely feel homemade daily. Additionally, the meat is cooked to perfection. Unfortunately, it is a very normal patty, not aged meat or anything. It also feels a little greasier than we’d like.
Located: Ben Tsiyon Blvd 2, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
Our Ranking:
| Larry | Daphne | |
| Overall Burger | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Fries | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Customer Service | N/A | N/A |
MB (Meat Bar) Burger
With two options on the menu, MB Burger simplified burgers to perfect them. You can either get a cheeseburger or a regular burger, additionally it can be a single patty or double patty. That is all. Now because of this, they really focus on the meat. You can see them preparing it and making it delicious. They use dry-aged meat, and you can really tell the difference.
Not only does MB Burger focus on the meat, but they also ensure high-quality vegetables and buns for the burger. They focus strongly on the ingredients to make the burger the finest possible. Additionally, they have a homemade sauce that goes on the burger, which adds to the delicious flavor. The burger is definitely one of the top burgers we’ve tasted. Finally, MB has many locations throughout Tel Aviv to get these burgers.
Located: Aluf Kalman Magen St 1, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
Our Ranking:
| Larry | Daphne | |
| Overall Burger | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Fries | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Customer Service | N/A | 7/10 |
Osu- Japanese Burgers
Osu is found in Shuk Carmel. It has six items on the menu, one of them being a burger. The rest are a salad, miso soup, noodles, and shushioki. It is definitely one of the most unique burger places in Tel Aviv. There are not a lot of spots to sit outside this restaurant, but luckily the shuk has lots of places to sit!
The fries are seasoned with a spicy mix, which is definitely delicious and a great addition to them. The burger comes with all the vegetables and cheese. They also have their own sauce in the burger. These patties are also smashed thin patties. The bread is good, but not our favorite. The top of the bun has a strange filmy texture.
Our Ranking:
| Larry | Daphne | |
| Overall Burger | 8.5/10 | 8/10 |
| Fries | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Customer Service | 5/10 | N/A |
Port 19
We’d been trying to go to Port 19 for a while, so we were very excited when we finally made it! Port 19 has multiple locations throughout Tel Aviv to get burgers. They have a touch screen menu to help order in English. Port 19 offers a variety of different burgers with many toppings as well as a bunch of hot dogs.
Port 19 makes the different burgers fun by offering different burgers according to different cuisine themes, like the “Mexican burger” or the “French burger.” They also have a monthly burger flavor of the month. One of the keynotes about Port 19 is that the onion rings are better than the fries. Other than that the burgers are pretty good, they however are not cooked to the temperature we asked. They were a little on the greasier side. And some of the toppings didn’t hit the mark for us.
Located: HaHashmonaim St 95, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
Our Ranking:
| Larry | Daphne | |
| Overall Burger | 7/10 | 7.5/10 |
| Fries | 6.5/10 | 5/10 |
| Overall Experience | N/A | 5/10 |
Prozdor
Want a menu with the largest variety of burger options? Head to Prozdor! It was so hard to choose which burgers we wanted to try! So many of them looked so good, and we got some really delicious ones. The buns are very good, not too large for the burger patties. It’s important to have the right burger-to-bun ratio.
We also got sweet potato fries and onion rings. While the onion rings were not the best, the sweet potatoes were so good! Now, the biggest win of Prozdor is that they have BACON! Bacon is incredibly hard to find in Israel, so if you’re missing bacon on your burgers in Tel Aviv, head to Prozdor! They also have their own “orange sauce,” which is delicious both on burgers and with fries. The garlic mayo is a pass, however.
Located: Mendele Mokher Sfarim St 6, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
Our Ranking:
| Larry | Daphne | |
| Overall Burger | 9/10 | 8.5/10 |
| Fries | 7/10 | 6/10 |
| Customer Service | 8/10 | N/A |
Smash
This unassuming burger place on Allenby makes a smash burger! Smash is a good place to go for smashed burgers. With thinner patties, they know how to make a solid burger. There is a good bun-to-burger ratio (which I said was so important)! Smash also has hot dogs and options for different kinds of fries.
The burger options include cheeseburgers as well as double patty burgers. While the menu may not be as extensive as other places, it offers many different options with various toppings. Larry particularly enjoyed the spicy burger. Additionally, we really liked the potato wedges over the fries.
Located: Allenby St 47, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
Our Ranking:
| Larry | Daphne | |
| Overall Burger | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Fries | 6/10 | 5/10 |
| Overall Experience | 8/10 | 8/10 |
The Winners: Best Burger in Tel Aviv
This was a hard choice and took great debate. Some places had more variety than others; some places had really great fries or onion rings but not as good burgers, or the opposite problem. Some had incredible sauces. We still haven’t found that one perfect restaurant with the best burger, best fries, and best value – But we’ve got some incredible choices to choose from when desiring a local burger.
So, here are our top choices in these categories:
Overall Winner
Benz Brothers – It cumulatively ranked highest for both the burgers and the fries! Make sure you get enough fries especially the garlic mixed fries. The burgers are moist, with a great bun, many options for added toppings, for a complete package.
Best Burger
For Daphne: GDB; For Larry: Prozdor – We disagreed on this one, but both are solid choices. They both included fresh solid buns, good juicy meat, and a good meat-to-bun ratio. You won’t go wrong with either choice; we just have slightly different tastes and couldn’t agree on first place in this category.
Best Fries
Benz Brothers followed by Hasimta – As mentioned above, Benz Brothers fries pushed this one into first place overall, and we’ve learned that one order of garlic mixed fries is never enough. The garlic mix and the mix between potato and sweet potato makes for the best fry combo! Hasimta’s rosemary fries were also incredible, and it’s supporting an evacuee who started a restaurant in Tel Aviv.
Cheapest Meal
Burgerim – At just under $35 for two burgers, two fries, and two drinks, this was the cheapest option we found in Tel Aviv (Of course, we didn’t even consider the usual international fast-food places in this ranking.) Of course, they are the cheapest, but definitely not the best, and in our opinion, not worth the cost. Pay a little more and get a better burger.
So, that’s the list. As I said at the beginning, there are so many burger places that we haven’t yet tried, and we continue to find new ones all of the time. But, on your next trip to Tel Aviv, we’ve at least given you some of the best places to get your burger fix.
