On our recent visit to Levinsky, we had a chance to check out one of the newest additions to the market. Levinsky 53 was opened in recent months by Dalit and Avi, and it’s a mecca for kibbeh lovers. Kibbeh, kubbeh or kubba is a popular dish in Levantine cuisine. It can be fried, baked or cooked in a broth and it’s made from bulgur/semolina and stuffed with minced meat, onions and a mixture of local seasoning but there are also vegetarian versions. Dalit is no stranger to Levinsky Market. For the past 15 years, Dalit and her sisters have been helping their father run the family delicatessen HaHalban (The Milkman in English) which is located at 48 Levinsky St. In this little shop you’ll find, among other things, the best cheese from all over the world, homemade salads, smoked fish and other delicious delicacies.
But we’re here for the kibbeh so let’s return to that, shall we? Stepping into Levinsky 53, feels like stepping into your grandma’s kitchen. That is if your grandma is from Iraq, Lebanon or Syria. Dalit is welcoming us with a huge smile on her face and starts piling different kinds of kibbeh in simple old-fashioned dishes. She’s surrounded by huge pots and everything smells delicious. Later we even visited her husband, Avi who was busy in the small kitchen, creating these yummy dumplings according to a recipe he had learned from his Iraqi grandma. Try the classic fried kibbeh with minced meat or mushrooms or any of the delicious kubbeh hamusta which are served in a broth. We loved the lemony kubbeh hamusta with celery and swiss chard and the bright purple beetroot kibbeh. There are many other kinds of kibbeh as well (and vegeterian/vegan options) as well as kebabs, schnitzel and other classic Israeli homemade dishes. However, you have to try the kibbeh, trust us on that! You’ll pay around NIS 40 (around $ 10) for a filling dish of kibbeh, rice and grilled vegetables. That’s a bargain in our eyes!
Address: 53 Levinsky St.
So much cool things to buy 🙂 But that Stuffed Hibiscus, I would say no thanks 😛
Cheers from Stcokholm Sweden 🙂
Thanks, Ann, it was actually delicious! 🙂
What a lovely post. I love your blog layout by the way and the photos. I’ll be in Tel Aviv for the first time in March so I’m saving this for future reference. Thanks!
Thanks so much Laureen! You’ll love Tel Aviv! Hopefully, by then we’ll have a few more posts about what to di in Tel Aviv 🙂
Such an in depth review and stunning photos! I get the feeling you either frequent these places regularly or you’re really good at striking up a conversation! Either way it was lovely to learn about some of the personal histories behind the shops 😊
Thank you so much, Gabby! Depending on the mood and vibe, we do like to try and get an in-depth look at the places we’re covering and Shuk Levinky was really unique. We’ve actually visited it a couple of times before writing this article. Glad you like it 🙂
Absolutely love this. I am quite a picky eater when I travel so I appreciate all this detail information. This seems like such a treat to all your senses – I can almost smell and taste these foods. A must visit and I am going to book mark this for reference!
So glad you like it Karthika! We know you also love to learn about different cultures through their food and arts. Hopefully, you’ll get to experience this gorgeous and unique market for yourself soon!
I am always so enthralled by your photos. You capture the true feeling of a place perfectly. I’m not sure I will ever go here, but I almost feel like I’ve been.
That’s a great compliment Sarah, thank you so much! We do try to capture the places we’re visiting with our photos and descriptions so our readers would see the place through our eyes and get to experience the destination with us.
Just – WOW! We looooove to visit local markets in the places we travel to. This one is now definitely on the list. Amazing photography, also!
Thank you so much, Susan! As you can tell, we love markets as well. So glad, you like it! Hope you’ll visit Levinsky Market soon!