Review: The Legendary Abulafia Bakery in Jaffa, Israel (near Tel Aviv)
Sambusac Stuffed with Potato, Mushroom, Cheese and Hardboiled Egg
Here are your directions. (1) Board plane for Tel Aviv (2) Clear immigration and customs (3) Ask taxi driver to take you to Abulafia. You could tell him that it is in Jaffa, but he already knows.
SP's dad, you mention anything related to the Middle East and his eyes glaze over with desire as he tells you about how you have to make it to Abulafia.
Do you get what I'm trying to say here? This 24-hour streetside bakery has been located at the same corner in Jaffa since 1879. They pretty well have the recipes tweaked out at this point. That turnover, calzone looking item you see above is called a sambusac, and this one was filled with silky smooth mashed potatoes, onions, mushrooms, and cheese. Big deal right? When you order it, they put it on the grill for a minute, then cut it open and add a sliced hardboiled egg. The warm, creamy potatoes, the rich egg and cheese, slightly chewy but tender dough, lots of black pepper. Dang! Suddenly I understand what all the other pastries I've ever eaten filled with cold, dry mashed potatoes were referring to.
Just up the street, Abulafia has another location that serves sit down meals and apparently has unbelievable hummus, according to Hillel. I didn't have room for it today.
If you are doing any more web research about the bakery, be sure and check multiple spellings. Even on their own sign they have both Abuelafia and Abouelafia, and I've also seen Aboulafia.
While you are in Jaffa, you can stroll up to beautiful overlooks of Tel Aviv and the Mediterranean, and walk through one of the nicer, cleaner Old City areas I've seen, with some high quality, not so touristy art dealers.
Just to whet your appetite further, here's a picture of Abulafia's pita with zatar, if you don't mind looking through the glass.
Pita Bread Covered in Zatar
We'll have to check it out--last time we went, it was during Passover--we'll be going again this winter and I'm going to get me some bread at Abulafia!
Sep 13, 2007 10:36:34 AM
This was my last taste of Israel before boarding the planes home to USA. It was a good last taste- worth the parking ticket we got across the street! It was well-packed on a Saturday, and there's no question why.
Be well
-UF
callto://uncleflip
Oct 19, 2007 9:35:29 AM
This was my last taste of Israel before boarding the planes home to USA. It was a good last taste- worth the parking ticket we got across the street! It was well-packed on a Saturday, and there's no question why.
Be well
-UF
callto://uncleflip
Oct 19, 2007 9:37:38 AM
I IN LOVE WITH ISRAEL OLD JAFFA BAKERY THE BEST
Feb 4, 2008 5:56:22 PM
Every time I go to Israel, Abulafia is on my first place to go list. I just love to eat the delicious bread they prepare since 18th century. When you buy a lot of stuff from there, the man in charge gives you for free some of the bread you did not take. That's what I call "client service". Does somebody remember the name of the place where you can buy arab yogurt that is warm, they also sell ice cream, corn, it´s close to Abulafia.
Thanks
Feb 12, 2008 2:44:43 PM
zatar yafa
Jun 19, 2008 3:28:25 AM
We were there a few times, well more than a few times, last winter, November to February. EXCELLENT. Just made me think about it again today. Best wishes from Canada, to the staff and bosses who make the good things at Abulafia!! Mike
Jul 2, 2008 8:21:20 AM
Hi you are good!I'am not good, though not as good as you. You have such a great potential. Keep it up!
Kabonfootprint
Sep 8, 2008 7:57:28 AM
My father's side of the family is from good old Jaffa. I had a fabulous Pita with za'atar at Abulafia's in Jaffa. I didn't know Abulafia from Adam.
At the time, I was part of the US team that was introducing McDonald's to Israel. I introduced za'atar Pita to my colleagues and they were in heaven.
Abulafia knows how to make delicious baked products that are hot fresh, and delicious.
More power to him.
Oct 7, 2008 12:54:41 PM