Israeli Food at Ta-Im

Last week I went to Ta-Im, an Isreali restaurant in Ebisu, with a friend.  I'd been interested in going for a while, and I'm glad I finally did because it's amazing!  We decided to order lots of things to split, and there wasn't a single thing I didn't love.

We started off with falafel, which is hard to find in Tokyo as it is.  These were crispy and delicious!  You can order as few as two, so they won't ruin your appetite.

Next we ordered the Israeli Salad, a delicious mixture of cucumber and tomatoes in lemon juice with mint and other herbs.  I'm not crazy about raw tomato, but loved this dish anyways.

As out main course we ordered the lamb with hummus, which was fantastic.  A generous portion of hummus is served up with sautéed lamb, peppers, and onions with a bowl of pita wedges.  They happily refill your pita bread, so don't worry about running out.  This dish was great for sharing since it allowed us to order a number of other things, but if you'r hungry you could definitely eat the whole thing by yourself.

For dessert we each had a piece of baklava, which also came with a chocolate!  If you're too full you can also get the baklava to take home.  I got some for John and saw another couple getting theirs to go as well.

The place itself is pretty small.  There aren't tables, just a number of counter seats, but the atmosphere is warm and cozy.  It's the sort of place where you can easily chat with other diners and the owner without feeling uncomfortable or crowded.

In fact, the owner seemed to know almost everyone that came in.  He speaks English, Japanese, and Hebrew and is happy to chat and make recommendations while whipping up delicious food.  One whole wall is covered in writing, and as I learned he writes the names of all his customers on the wall in Hebrew.  I can't wait to go back!

Ta-Im
Hours: Lunch 11:30-2:30, Dinner 6:00-11:00, last order 10:30, Closed Wednesdays and Jewish Holidays
Phone: 03-5424-2990
Address: 1-29-16 Ebisu, Shibua-ku, Tokyo
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