Abu Hassan (Ali Karavan)

Abu Hassan, also known as Ali Karavan, is one of the best-known hummus restaurants in Israel and a fixture of Jaffa's Ajami neighbourhood in southern Tel Aviv-Yafo. The small, no-frills hummusia sits at 1 Dolphin Street and has built its reputation on a single craft: smooth, freshly made hummus served warm in a shallow dish. Cuisine is Palestinian-Israeli Middle Eastern home cooking, and the kitchen is a family operation rather than a chef-led restaurant, with no Michelin lineage or tasting menu. The signature plates are hummus with whole chickpeas and warm fuul (stewed fava beans), and hummus with masabacha, in which warm chickpeas are folded into tahini and lemon. Raw onion, pickles, pita and a spicy sauce arrive on the side, and eating with pita rather than cutlery is the norm. The dining room is basic and informal: plastic or simple wooden tables, a few counter spots, fast turnover and a loud, communal feel. There is no dress code, and diners often share tables. There is no wine or cocktail programme; drinks are soft drinks, water and tea. The restaurant operates on a sell-out basis, so the hummus is made in batches in the morning and the doors effectively close once the kitchen runs out, usually by mid-afternoon. Reservations are not taken. A queue forms by late morning and again on weekends, particularly on Saturday, when the restaurant remains open while many other places in the city are closed. Arriving before about 11:00AM gives the shortest wait. A plate costs a modest amount by Tel Aviv standards, and the whole meal usually stays well under NIS 60 per person. The surrounding area of Jaffa, with its old port, clock tower and flea market a short walk away, makes the restaurant an easy pairing with a morning of sightseeing. Cash is commonly used, and visitors should confirm hours on arrival because the schedule depends on how quickly the day's batch sells.