At nearby Ishtabach, which took over spaces formerly occupied by a vegetable storage warehouse and an adjacent barbershop, ample bar seating and talkative cooks mean you’re bound to strike up conversation and swap stories. Even the main dish, called shamburak (a pastry filled with meat and potatoes and baked inside a large domed oven), comes with its own tale. Almost everyone who works at Ishtabach will tell you about how these pastries were inspired by owner Oren Sasson-Levy’s Kurdish grandmother, who would stuff the remaining Sabbath stew into dough and bake it, creating a fresh meal out of her leftovers each week.

This restaurant in the alleys of Machane Yehuda Market rose to fame because of its shamborek, a fluffy Kurdish-Syrian pastry with hearty fillings: Syrian kebab, chicken satay, tongue or a vegetable-stuffed vegan version. This is not the only thing that makes this spot so busy; everything is cooked in-house, including the roasted meat soup, brisket, shakshuka and more. The clay oven known as the tabun seals the deal, making everything that comes out of it excellent.

8.Ishtabach (Kosher)- HaShikma Beit Yaacov corner 1, Jerusalem, a Kurdish-Syrian boat shaped savory pastry, filled with a variety of fillings, served along with Indian condiments, like chutney, is a hybrid you would probably find only in Israel. The owners are a husband and wife: He is Kurdish-Syrian, she is Cochini Indian. Order their signature siske, a shamburak filled with a slow cooked, tender meat with mashed potatoes and chimichuri-like sauce.

Specializing in Kurdish meat pastries, Ishtabach has gained such popularity that it recently opened a location in Toms River near Lakewood, NJ. Located near the bustling Machane Yehuda market, Ishtabach offers a unique dining experience, focusing on traditional Kurdish cuisine. The restaurant’s signature meat pastries are a must-try, featuring flaky dough filled with savory, well-spiced meats. View this post on Instagram

Ishtabach is a new restaurant, located on one of the side streets of the Machane Yehuda market. The restaurant serves the Syrian-Kurdish version of a hot pocket called a Shamborak: a meat boureka packed with ethnic flavors, baked in a stone oven from made-from-scratch dough. What makes these meat pockets different than any you have ever eaten are the fillings: Short ribs, chuck, cheek, lung, tongue and more.

Ishtabach is one of Jerusalem’s most well-loved restaurants, known for serving a single dish: a traditional Syrian Kurdish stuffed-pastry called shamburak. For Kurdish Israelis, Ishtabach is an ode to Kurdish-Jewish history.

Owners who claim their businesses can update their profile details, add photos, respond to reviews, and more. Address: השקמה פינת, Beit Ya'akov St 1, Jerusalem, Israel. Telephone:+972 2-623-2997

Ishtabach should also be on your list for their now famous Kurdish-Syrian meat or veg filled pastries called Shamburak served with an assortment of dips and spreads that go perfectly together.

Known as one of the best restaurants near the shuk, Ishtabach (tagline: “Bread, meat and what goes between them”) is always serving up something delicious.