Yummy Yummy is one of the newest gems for kosher diners who work and live on the east side of Manhattan. Yummy Yummy offers a dairy Mediterranean menu, primarily focused on their highly touted falafel. Although their menu isn’t necessarily ground breaking, it’s their attention to detail that really sets them apart from like menu’d restaurants in the area.

The front of the restaurant is opened to the street in classic Israeli style, which is quite inviting. The interior is clean, sleek and modern. Although the look of the restaurant is welcoming, the atmosphere in the restaurant can be a bit overwhelming. On my visit to Yummy Yummy, there was loud techno music playing, and the place was very busy, as it was during their lunch hours. While both of these by themselves are not bad, coming in to that from the hot summer sun makes it all slightly off-putting.

The negatives come to a screeching halt at this point, as the food at Yummy Yummy definitely lives up to its name. I approached the counter and was greeted by friendly staff, who were more than happy to recommend their favorite items. I began my meal with a split pea soup, a bold choice on a summer afternoon, but even on such a warm day it turned out to be a good choice. The soup was creamy, but not to thick, and had just the right amount of spice to make it really interesting. To make sure I covered all the recommendations I was given by friends, I ordered a Falafel box, which came with 6 falafel balls on a mound of chumus, along with 2 sides and unlimited use of the salad bar. In addition, I ordered a Sabich sandwich which consists of eggplant, chummus, and a sliced hard boiled egg, along with all the salad you can fit inside. The chummus had a really authentic homemade Israeli taste which is a giant upgrade from the packaged supermarket variety that is often repurposed and used in restaurants. The falafel was crispy on the outside and soft and warm in the center, and even when I asked for a bit of olive oil to be drizzled over the top, it still was not overly oily. The Sabich sandwich was a new experience for me, and one that that I will be sure to repeat. Gearing up to try the Sabich is when I found the hidden gem of Yummy Yummy: authentic Israeli Amba sauce (Mango Chutney). Whenever I visit Israel, I drizzle Amba over almost every dish I have, and their version brought me right back to the streets of Jerusalem. I had my Sabich in a whole wheat pita, with Israeli pickles, and a healthy amount of Amba over the top. I highly recommend this for anyone looking to have a filling lunch, without going into a “heavy food coma”. The last dish I tried was the classic Potato Boureka. I wasn’t expecting much from the Boureka, but I was pleasantly surprised. The dough was flaky on the outside but still held together well, and the potato in the center was quite tasty.

One thing that you will notice in Yummy Yummy is the diverse crowd. Most kosher restaurants attract mostly kosher customers, however, at Yummy Yummy, the majority of patrons were not Jewish. It definitely seems like they have made a great impression on more than just the kosher the community in a very short amount of time.

All in all it is nice to see a new kosher place open up with a real focus on customer service, and attention to detail. The prices are highly competitive and the staff is friendly and helpful. I highly recommend giving Yummy Yummy a try!

Insiders tips:
- Try and check it out a little before noon or after 1:30 for a calmer experience.
- If you’ve had your fill of falafel recently, make sure to try the Sabich Sandwhich which is fresh, light, and delicious.

Click here for the Yummy Yummy listing