Old akko
Kurdi Spice Shop
Marwan Kurdi is the owner of this famous spice shop, decorated with oceanic treasures. Locals come here to buy ras el hanout, a combination of 12 secret spices, or other rarities like Madagascar cinnamon.
back to culinary
Akko’s diversity shines in its scrumptious ethnic street food
Akko truly is a melting pot of different cultures from the Middle East and Mediterranean, and nowhere is this more apparent than in the diversity of its quality street food. Whether it’s in a pita or baguette, there is an impressive variety of ethnic munchies you can buy at a stand and then devour on a bench while watching the sea.
Akko is home to famous falafel stands that attract visitors from all over, Moroccan rolls stuffed with beef patties in red sauce, a Tunisian stand serving the Jerusalem inspired mixed grill sandwich, Turkish falafel, Shnitzel sandwiches, American burgers and of course, many variations of Shwarma. Unless you’re a local you won’t know if you’re being served by a local Muslim or Christian Arab, a Jew, a Druze or any other ethnic religious identity, and that’s the beauty of Akko.
Just like the rest of Israel, two of Akko’s most common street foods are falafel & shwarma. Like Hummus, falafel is considered an iconic Israeli cuisine and a great Vegan street food as it’s made from deep fried balls of ground chickpeas and/or fava beans. Falafel stands are not only judged by the quality of their golden falafel balls, but also in how they are placed and topped with the right balance of salads, pickled vegetables, hummus, tehina, and hot sauce. The same is true for Shwarma, which in Israel is usually made from a mix of turkey and lamb fat. The marinated meat is roasted on a huge rotating skewer and then shaved off to get stuffed in a pita with all the usual toppings. While falafel is served at many restaurants in Akko, just like Shwarma, it’s best eaten in a local food stand.
Ready to munch?
There are many fabulous options:
