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Yemenite food near the Carmel Market, Tel Aviv


Kerem HaTeimanim, (Vineyard of the Yemenites) - The Yemenite Quarter, is a charming neighborhood adjacent to the Carmel Market.  This treasure of a neighborhood has been established in the late 19th century by Yemenite Jewish immigrants.  When you leave the loud and at times suffocating Carmel Market, the blissfully quiet streets of the Yemenite Quarter bring some much needed calm.  This is one of our favorite places for a nice afternoon stroll, or a delicious lunch.

Here are two places that we happen to really like.  Both offer a simple menu of delicious homemade Yemenite specialties.

Shimon The King of Soups



As we sat down, two breads and some dips with spices were placed on the table.

Lachuch - a spongy Yemenite pancake-like bread which is cooked only one side, leaving the other side full of holes that give the bread nice texture.   The bread has a bit of  a gummy consistency and  is perfect for dipping it in soups.   The second bread is the saluf, which resembles a pita without a pocket.



The Yemenite chicken soup is a touch thicker than the Eastern European version, and is packed with much more flavor, and some kick if you add the zhug.  It begins as your average chicken soup to which hawayij (Yemenite spice combo), zhug (Yemenite hot sauce), and hilbe (Yemenite fenugreek dip), are added.

I have made both, the beef and chicken, Yemenite soups at home.  It was much more work than when I make the regular Jewish penicillin, but the satisfied expression on my husband's face made it all worth it.  I followed the recipe from Michael Solomonov's Zahav cookbook.



The beef soup has a very similar taste but it is just beef instead of chicken.  The savory soups come filled to the brim, and once the waiter notices that you are almost done eating, offers of "topping off" with some more broth, are usually greatly appreciated.  These soups are delicious, hearty, and taste like pure love.


The charming restaurant has a couple of tables inside and a few tables located outside on the quiet street.   The food is wonderful, and clearly made with great care and adherence to long standing traditions. .  The owner was really wonderful about explaining all the dishes to us.




The second restaurant that we enjoyed was Hummus Ful Hateymani.  They have a much larger outside seating area as well as tables inside the restaurant.



Here, we ordered some hummus, salad, Yemenite chicken soup, rice, beans, and a couple of chicken skewers.  Everything was tasty, fresh, and served with a smile.  Although the soup at Shimon was spectacular, this one was also very enjoyable.



Ha'Teymani
Malan street 25

Shimon The King of Soups
Yehya Kapah 28

Joanna

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