The Old Jerusalem Restaurant In Northern California Is A No-Fuss Hideaway With The Best Mediterranean Food
By Lysa Allman-Baldwin|Published July 27, 2022
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Lysa Allman-Baldwin
Author
For over 25 years Lysa Allman-Baldwin has fed her wanderlust for “everything the world has to offer” by passionately writing travel and feature articles for numerous global print and online publications. A Digital Nomad, Lysa is also a professional speaker, workshop facilitator, and author.
We’ve always said that the best eats are found in back alley and hole-in-a-wall joints. And that’s not to say that the places themselves are dives. Rather that the no fuss places are often the ones that will blow your socks off! Such is the case with the Old Jerusalem Restaurant which serves up some of the best Mediterranean food in Northern California.
Located in the heart of San Francisco’s Mission District, the Old Jerusalem Restaurant has been a neighborhood fixture since 2005.
At first glance you might think there is not much to the place. But you never judge a book by its cover. Once across the threshold, you’ll feel as though you walked into an authentic Middle Eastern café in a foreign land.
The menu here encompasses a wide array of authentic dishes commonly prepared along Jerusalem’s West Bank.
For starters, you definitely must order their hummus. Light, creamy, and with plenty of flavor, this perfect combination of crushed garbanzo beans, tahini sauce, olive oil, and lemon juice is the perfect accompaniment for any meal.
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If you love to mix and match, a combo plate would be a great option.
Choose from their delicious Ful (Fava beans), Qudsiah (Ful and hummus mixed together), fried cauliflower, marinated Mediterranean salad, falafel, and stuffed falafel (bursting at the seams with fried onion, roasted pine nuts, and sumac), just to name a few.
Imagine sinking your teeth into this delectable piece of roast chicken!
This perfectly roasted half bird resting on a piece of baked Arab flatbread and seasoned with deep-red sumac, roasted pine nuts, and sweet onions is a popular Palestinian dish called Mousakha.
The Old Jerusalem menu is quite extensive, making it hard to make up your mind!
The close-knit, family-owned ambiance and commitment is evident in the service and every dish they prepare. It’s wonderfully obvious the amount of love and attention poured into every aspect of the business.
For example, the shawarma plate can be ordered with lamb, beef, or chicken, and served with yellow rice, hummus, or half of each. Or you might try the Kalaya – a sauteed coarse lamb dish made with tomato, hot pepper, garlic, and spices. No matter what you order, you’ll get a sumptuous plate brimming with tradition and flavor.
Bringing a delightful taste of the Holy Land to San Francisco, the Old Jerusalem Restaurant is a must for some of the best Mediterranean food in Northern California.
Have you been to the Old Jerusalem Restaurant? If so, we’d love to see your photos and hear about your experience there.
Read on to learn more about the Mission District, one of the most historic neighborhoods in the City of San Francisco.
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