It’s expensive – so expensive – in this city, and dear to us are all its restaurants. In fact, even the “cheap” restaurants in town have become pretty expensive overall. And when that’s the reality you’re dealing with, you start talking about VFM – Value For Money – to tell the difference between those who are simply robbing us, and those who at least try to give good value for every shekel you spend with them, without compromising too much on quality. Now that every shekel counts, that’s what matters.

>> הכסף שלכם שווה יותר: 13 המסעדות הכי משתלמות בתל אביב

1. Gurkha Kitchen

“An incredible restaurant at a ridiculous price,” our critic wrote when first discovering this Nepalese-Indian spot, which will take you straight back to the post-army trip – with the smells, the flavors, the simplicity, and the modest total you’ll leave at the end – and it’s still accurate. You can flood the table with absurd amounts of food and leave a great meal feeling like they didn’t tear your wallet apart – priceless.
What to eat:Chicken Tikka (55 NIS), Beef Noodles (40 NIS), and plenty of options for vegetarians and vegans.
Rosh Pina 16, Tel Aviv

2. Gogo’s Grill Bar

“Everything is insanely expensive and we want to try to break the market,” the owners of Gogo’s Grill Bar told us at opening. Since then, the cost of living has gone off the rails and led to unavoidable price increases, but despite everything, it remains one of the best-value places in the city.
What to eat:Turkey thigh skewer/kebab/chicken livers/hearts (28 NIS).
Allenby 47, Tel Aviv

3. Guido

True, since opening the prices at this great-value Italian spot have gone up a bit, but there’s still no need to hesitate before walking in and attacking the menu. For a generous pasta plate and a glass of wine, you’ll get change from 100 – and in Tel Aviv, that’s a real find.
What to eat:Eggplant Parmigiana (46 NIS), Pasta Ziti (48-75 NIS) and Tiramisu (46 NIS) – everything Carmela would serve.
Ben Gurion 34, Tel Aviv

4. Batshon

In a world where fish costs as much as meat and sometimes more – welcome to Tel Aviv – Batshon is still an island of financial sanity. Cutting out the middlemen between the fisherman and your plate guarantees not only maximum freshness, but also fair pricing with no tricks. Add store-price wine and you’ve got a winning deal.
What to eat:Crispy Fish Slider (62 NIS), whole fish on the plancha (76 NIS), plus specials and deals at lunch and during happy hour.
Carlebach 29, Tel Aviv

5. Taqueria

Mexican food is supposed to be cheap and tasty, and at Taqueria they do everything they can to stick to that – despite avocado prices and municipal taxes. You can roll up to the casual spot on Levontin (and its little sibling in Yad Eliyahu) in flip-flops, quickly eat a solid burrito or taco with no unnecessary fuss, pay and go – or just order delivery. And still, it’s one of the best Mexican spots in town, serving fun, hefty Tex-Mex and a proper frozen margarita.
What to eat:Nachos (55 NIS), Carnitas Burrito (57 NIS), Frozen Margarita (34 NIS).
Levontin 28, Niriyim 1, Tel Aviv

6. Ahan Thai

Carmel Market is fertile ground for Thai restaurants – a blessed phenomenon by any measure. Ahan Thai does a great job recreating, in the most expensive city in the world, Bangkok street-food culture in all its forms – heat, casualness, and authenticity (the owner and family members cook and serve) – and the price is an extra bonus.
What to eat:Pad Krapow (55 NIS), Stir-fried chicken and noodles (55 NIS).
Yishkon 45, Tel Aviv

7. WABI

At opening, chef Dean Shoshani promised to be the McDonald’s of Japanese food. In real life – and especially compared to other Japanese places in the city, in terms of investment and quality – that statement kind of proves itself, because even at McDonald’s there isn’t a dish that costs 23 NIS. Now he just needs to bring back the jiggly cheesecake and add deliveries, and Tel Aviv will have its redeemer.
What to eat:Sea grape seaweed salad (23 NIS), Katsu Sando (35 NIS), Ramen (60–65 NIS).
De Pijotto 23, Tel Aviv

8. Saluma

At first glance you’ll see only a tiny spot tucked away on dug-up Ben Yehuda Street, but this little place pulls magnificent Georgian baked goods out of a big taboon, with a twist from the immediate surroundings. The fact that it’s entirely run by women only adds to the charm and appeal.
What to eat:Acharuli with sheep cheeses and truffle honey (55 NIS), cheese khinkali (42 NIS).
Ben Yehuda 32, Tel Aviv

9. Shoko Lulu

If you focus only on pasta – and that’s the right thing to do at an Italian restaurant – it’s hard to compete with Shoko Lulu’s menu. Even if you add chicken (10 NIS) and shrimp (15 NIS). At lunch, the deal is even better: starter, main, and a drink for the price of the main, and alcohol for 18 NIS. There’s nothing like it – literally.
What to eat:all spaghetti dishes for 48 NIS.
Vital 3, Tel Aviv

10. Abu Hassan

Do we really need to explain?
What to eat:the best hummus in the city and maybe in the entire Middle East. 28 NIS—and say thank you.
HaDolphin 1, Shivtei Yisrael 14, Jaffa

11. El Mano

For the brave who aren’t afraid to step into Neve Sha’anan: this gem of a Vietnamese-Philippine restaurant will feed you the abundance of the diverse cuisine of the Asian foreign-worker mix—at prices that will remind you of a village trip. The vibe is, of course, accordingly—so is the authenticity of the food, which in its required simplicity will blow your mind. You’ll still be in Neve Sha’anan at the end, but at least you’ll be full.
What to eat:spicy crispy wontons filled with tender chicken with a crazy sweet-spicy sauce (40 NIS), Sisig—crispy pork belly in a spicy sauce (60 NIS), and plenty of dishes that can easily make a fantastic meal for two for under 200 NIS.
Yesod HaMa’ala 46, Tel Aviv

12. Port 19

Listen for a second: a hot dog is dirt-cheap food, and even though you need to pay extra for a good one, Port 19’s hit the sweet spot – 33 NIS gets you a quality, filling (for a hot dog) sausage by Alan Talmor with special seasoning, house pickled cabbage, excellent mustard, and crispy onion bits.
What to eat:Irish lamb sausage seasoned with gentle ginger, coriander seeds and marjoram; veal sausage with garlic, pepper, nutmeg and cheddar; Italian beef sausage seasoned with oregano, thyme, rosemary and fennel.
Shlomo HaMelech 2, HaHashmonaim 95, Herzl 20, Tel Aviv

13. Falafel Ratzon

Some will argue that falafel is a snack to grab on the go, but to us, it’s absolutely a meal. For 9 shekels – the cheapest portion in the city by far – there’s no argument to be had.
King George 17, Tel Aviv

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