In Israel, many restaurants and eating places are kosher meaning that they observe the Jewish dietary laws of kashrut. For a restaurant to be officially kosher and have a Kosher Certificate, in addition to serving only correctly prepared kosher food, it must also not open on the Shabbat – from sundown on Friday through sundown on Saturday.
In many places in Israel such as Tel Aviv, there are non-kosher restaurants that will open on Shabbat and will serve non-kosher food (e.g. the restaurant serves both meat and milk dishes). Comparatively few places serve non-kosher food items like pork.
In some religious villages and small towns there are very few if any places that open on Shabbat.
- A table for one person/two people, please.
- בבקשה, שולחן לאחד /לשניים (b-vakasha shulhan l’ehad/ lishnayim b’vakaSHA, shulKHAN l’ekhAD/ lishnAIYM)
- Can I look at the menu, please?
- אפשר תפריט בבקשה (Efshar tafrit, b’vakasha?)
- I’m a vegetarian.
- אני צמחוני /אני צמחונית (Ani tsimhoni (masc)/ Ani tsimhonit (fem))
- I don’t eat beef.
- אני לא אוכל/ אני לא אוכלת בקר (Ani lo okhel bakar (masc)/ Ani lo okhelet bakar(fem))
- I only eat kosher food.
- אני אוכל /אוכלת רק אוכל כשר (Ani okhel (masc)/okhelet (fem) raq okhel kasher)
- Can you make it “lite”, please? (less oil/butter/lard)
- אפשר עם פחות שמן בבקשה (Efshar `im pahot shemen bevakashah)
- breakfast
- ארוחת בוקר (Aruhat boqer)
- lunch
- ארוחת צהריים (Aruhat tsohorayim)
- supper
- ארוחת ערב (Aruhat `erev)
- I want _____.
- אני רוצה _____. (Ani rotseh (masc); Ani rotsah (fem))
- I would like to eat _____.
- אני רוצה לאכול _____. (Ani rotseh/ rotsah le’ekhol)
- chicken
- עוף (`Off)
- beef
- בקר (Baqar)
- fish
- דג (Dag)
- cheese
- גבינה (Gvinah)
- eggs
- ביצה (Beitsah)
- salad
- סלט (Salat)
- (fresh) vegetables
- ירקות (Y-raqot)
- (fresh) fruit
- פירות (Peirot)
- bread
- לחם (Lehem)
- toast
- טוסט (Tost)
- noodles
- נודלז (Nudelz)
- pasta
- פסטה (Pastah)
- rice
- אורז (Orez)
- chickpeas
- חומוס (humus)
- hummus: חומוס (humus)
- May I have a glass of _____?
- אפשר כוס (Efshar qos)
- May I have a cup of _____?
- אפשר כוס (Efshar qos)
- May I have a bottle of _____?
- אפשר בקבוק (Efshar baqbuq)
- …coffee
- …קפה (Kafeh)
- …tea (drink)
- תה (Teh)
- …juice
- …מיץ (Mits)
- …(bubbly) water
- …סודה (Sodah)
- …water
- …מים (Mayim)
- …beer
- …בירה (Birah)
- …red/white wine
- …יין אדום. יין לבן (Yain adom / Yain lavan)
- May I have some _____?
- אפשר (Efshar)
- salt
- מלח (Melah)
- black pepper
- פלפל שחור (Pilpel shahor)
- Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)
- סליחה (Slihah)
- I’m finished.
- סיימתי (Siamti)
- It was delicious.
- היה מצוין (Hayah metsuyan)
- Please clear the plates.
- אפשר לפנות (Efshar l-fanot)
- The check, please.
- אפשר חשבון, בבקשה (Efshar heshbon, b-vakasha)
- Where is the bathroom ?
- איפה השירותים ? (Eifo Hasherutim?)