Just a few years ago, Israeli cuisine in Lisbon was known mainly to those who traveled often through the Middle East. That changed in 2018, when Israeli chef Hagay Elle opened the restaurant Yallah. It first operated in the Chiado neighborhood, and later moved to Santos, where it quickly became one of the district’s most popular culinary addresses.
The restaurant’s name speaks for itself. Yallah is one of the most common words in the Middle East, roughly translating as “let’s go!” or “come on!” That’s exactly the atmosphere Hagay Elle set out to create: a relaxed spot where friends gather, share mezze, eat hummus with warm pita, and never seem to be in a hurry.
The interior matches the kitchen’s spirit: no unnecessary pretension. A small dining room, an open terrace, Middle Eastern music, and a steady stream of guests. It feels like half the visitors come on a friend’s recommendation, and the other half because they’ve already been back more than once.
The main reason to stop by Yallah is the hummus. Velvety, silky, with just the right amount of tahini and excellent olive oil, it fully earns its reputation as one of the best in Lisbon. The shawarma in pita is just as well executed. Juicy meat, fresh vegetables, fragrant spices, and soft, freshly warmed pita make this dish a true classic of Israeli street food.
The watermelon salad was a pleasant surprise too. The combination of sweet watermelon, salty cheese, herbs, pomegranate seeds and a light dressing turned out to be remarkably well balanced — especially fitting on a hot summer day.
The shakshuka, however, left mixed impressions. There’s almost nothing to fault in flavor: good tomatoes, properly cooked eggs, a good hit of spice. But the portion size was frankly modest. For a dish traditionally considered a full breakfast or lunch, the serving looks unusually small — especially given the restaurant’s price level.
The average bill here runs €20–25 per person, excluding wine. Shawarma in pita costs around €14, starters €6–9, desserts around €6. That’s slightly above average for similar places in Lisbon, but the quality of the ingredients and the consistently high level of cooking largely justify the cost.
Yallah is hard to call simply an Israeli restaurant. It’s more of a modern Middle Eastern bistro, where the culinary traditions of Israel, Lebanon, and the wider Eastern Mediterranean intertwine.
