Looking for kosher restaurants? Here are spots in Broward & Palm Beach counties

Lois K. Solomon, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
·8 min read

In some places in the United States, it’s hard to find a kosher restaurant. But we in South Florida are blessed with an abundance of eateries that meet the high standards of a regional certification agency, the Orthodox Rabbinical Board of Broward and Palm Beach Counties.

The board has been supervising restaurants for 23 years to make sure they follow Jewish dietary laws. These rules include prohibitions against pork and shellfish. The meat must be killed in a certain way and salted or broiled so no blood remains. Mixing meat with dairy items such as milk, butter and cream is also forbidden.

The agency oversees restaurants, markets, caterers, bakeries and ice cream shops to ensure they follow these intricate laws and many more.

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Here’s a sampling of kosher restaurants in Broward and Palm Beach counties with a diversity of offerings and price ranges. All the eateries close on Jewish holidays and the Jewish Sabbath, usually beginning Friday afternoon and ending Saturday night after dark; some don’t reopen until Sunday.

For more information, go to orbkosher.com.

BROWARD COUNTY

Ariel’s Delicious Pizza, 3330 Griffin Road, Fort Lauderdale; 754-888-9262; arielsdeliciouspizza.com

Besides its pizzas, wraps, salads and fish plates, Ariel’s offers flavors of the Middle East, including Tunisian Sandwiches ($11.50) and Malawach, or Yemenite flatbread with egg, pickles and tomato sauce ($12.99). The pizzeria also has a large selection of pastas and bourekas, or filled pastries.

Bissaleh, 501 Silks Run, Suite 1130, Hallandale Beach; 786-899-7999; bissalehmiami.com

Bissaleh means “a little bit” in Yiddish, but get ready to spend a lot at this upscale steakhouse, which is located inside the Village at Gulfstream Park. Filet mignon goes for $62, while an Aliani Tomahawk steak will set you back $200. A hamburger is $32, a mixed grill platter is $65. There are lots of dessert choices, including Sfinge, a Moroccan donut with caramel and walnut ($12).

Café Noir, 3000 Stirling Road, Suite 112, Hollywood; 954-584-5171; cafenoirhollywood.com

Sushi lovers will have a feast with the large assortment of rolls, poke bowls and sashimi. Sandwiches, burgers and pizza are also on the lengthy menu, with a 10-inch Margherita pizza priced at $13.50 and a seared tuna burger for $24.95. According to an amateur reviewer in “Let’s Eat, South Florida,” the South Florida Sun Sentinel’s foodie Facebook group: “Cafe Noir on Sterling Road in Hollywood FLA, Mediterranean (kosher dairy) (of which I am not!) was unbelievable!!! Bar/restaurant … both beautiful! Give it a try! Thank me later!”

China Bistro, 5650 Stirling Road, Hollywood; 954- 505-4729; chinabistrogk.com

Jews have long had a love affair with Chinese food, for many reasons: Restaurants are open on Christmas Day, which they’re not at home celebrating; Chinatown was next to the Lower East Side in the early 20th century, when Jewish immigrants were newly arrived; and the food is lactose-free (for those with sensitive stomachs or who don’t want to mix meat with milk products). At China Bistro, menu items include Sesame Chicken ($23.95) and Mongolian Beef ($24.95). There are lots of sushi and salad options, too.

Friendship Grill, 1304 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale; 954-999-9676; thefriendshipgrill.com

The restaurant is in the Las Olas Chabad Jewish Center, an Orthodox synagogue in the heart of downtown Fort Lauderdale’s busy pedestrian district. Falafel on pita is $10.95, a plate of schnitzel, $15.95. The grill employs adults with developmental disabilities.

JZ Steakhouse, 4000 N. 46th Ave., Hollywood; 954-367-6608; jzsteakhouse.getsauce.com

This family-run restaurant is owned by Juke Yankovich, a native Israeli, and one of his sons is the chef. Jewish Journal contributing editor Linda Chase said she loved her recent meal: “The butternut squash soup, one of my favorites, lived up to my expectations. I had the Chicken Schnitzel (tender crusted chicken breast served with your choice of one side dish) and my guest had the Ribeye Skewer (10 oz. boneless steak served with grilled onions, peppers and tomatoes), which we enjoyed very much. We walked out of JZ’s satiated and content.”

Mizrachi’s Pizza Kitchen, 5650 Stirling Road, Hollywood; 954-505-3190; mizrachispizzakitchen.com

Those who love their pizza the old-fashioned way, by the slice, will appreciate Mizrachi’s Big Slice for $4.69 and a Sicilian Slice for $4.99. Other traditional Italian favorites include Baked Ziti ($16.99) and Eggplant Rollatini ($17.99). Soups, subs and salads are also plentiful.

Vish, 2893 Stirling Road, Hollywood; 954-404-8855; vish.rest/branches/hollywood

Hummus lovers will find a home at Vish, which uses “premium Ethiopian Tahini” in its hummus and even puts the sesame paste in shakes. Try the Complete Vish Bowl, with hummus, fava beans, egg, cumin and sweet paprika ($14.95) or the Chopped Salad ($13.95). You can also buy their hummus, tahini, pita and other products in containers to take home.

PALM BEACH COUNTY

Boca Grill, 8903 Glades Road, Suite G-9, Boca Raton; 561-419-8434; kosherbocagrill.com

Boca Grill revels in its Mediterranean and Middle Eastern specialties, including Sabich (a sandwich of hard-boiled egg, eggplant, hummus and salad; $12.99) and the Shawarma Platter (marinated turkey and lamb; $29.99). There are so many items rarely seen on South Florida menus, such as Moroccan cigars (filled phyllo pastry), Moroccan “Marguez” Sausage sandwiches and Spicy Fresh Arabic Salad.

Bowl’d Boca, 7600 W. Camino Real, Boca Raton; 561-872-6953; bowldboca.com

Bowl’d accommodates both vegetarians and carnivores with an assortment of smoothies, toasts, juices, soups and hot and cold bowls. For vegetarians, options include the Aloha Bowl, with charred pineapple, mango, roasted sweet potato, pickled onions and cabbage ($20; add meat for $3) and the Smashed Chickpea Toast ($15). For meat-lovers, there’s a Beef Yemenite Soup ($10) and Toast This (grilled steak slices on sourdough; $20).

Bissli Grill, 12355 Hagen Ranch Road, Boynton Beach; 561-944-3984; bissligrill.getsauce.com

Boynton Beach’s growing Jewish community welcomed this restaurant in February. Falafel, shawarma, hummus combos and salads are plentiful, as are an assortment of platters that range from $20.99 for falafel to $31.99 for beef shish kebab.

Burnt Smokehouse & Bar, 8177 Glades Road, Bay 21, Boca Raton; 561-816-2784; burntbocafl.com

Smoked meat is Burnt’s specialty. Options include Smoked Veal ($38) and Smoked Prime Rib ($58). A barbecue platter for two, with your choice of meats, goes for $175. Main dishes on a bun are more moderately priced, including fried chicken, pastrami or brisket ($22).

Century Grill, 9060 Kimberly Blvd., Boca Raton; 561-571-6144; centurygrillboca.wixsite.com/cgboca

Chicken, brisket, salads, burgers and several vegetarian options are available at this family-run restaurant near Century Village in West Boca. Meat lovers will get their fill with the Pastrami Burger, which tops a burger with pastrami ($24), while vegetarians will appreciate the Israeli Pargiot Plate ($30), filled with mushrooms, onions, hummus, Israeli salad and warm pita.

Ditmas, 21077 Powerline Road, Boca Raton; 561-826-8875; ditmasboca.com

This kosher restaurant with a sushi bar wowed former Sun Sentinel food critic Mike Mayo, who wrote in 2018: “It is a good restaurant that happens to be kosher, not simply a good kosher restaurant. It features creative takes on vegetable and sushi dishes and the best restaurant steak I have had in a year.” More recently, amateur reviewers in “Let’s Eat, South Florida,” have been recommending the restaurant when questioners seek upscale kosher meals.

Jon’s Place, 22191 Powerline Road, Suite 10B, Boca Raton; 561-338-0008; jonsplaceboca.com

Jon’s calls itself “Boca’s home for kosher pizza, pasta and more”; it’s been open since 1999. The menu is filled with an assortment of pizzas, calzones, lasagnas, sandwiches, salads and soups. A slice of pizza is $2.25, while the Jon’s Place Special Pizza, with vegetables on top, goes for $9.95 and the Spinach Lasagna, $11.95.

Orchids Garden, 9045 La Fontana Blvd., Suite 109, Boca Raton; 561-482-3831; orchidsgardenorb.com

Jewish lovers of Chinese food, and there are many (see China Bistro above), rave about the wontons, dumplings, General Tso’s Chicken, and egg foo young at this little restaurant, which also offers Jewish twists on traditional Chinese cuisine. (Pastrami egg rolls, anyone? How about some Dr. Brown’s soda with that?) Prices range from $21 for vegetable fried rice to $41 for Asian BBQ short ribs.

Smash House Burgers, 21065 Powerline Road, Boca Raton; 561-367-3401; smashhouseburgers.com

This is the second location for Smash House; the first is in North Miami Beach. The joint prides itself in allowing customers to feel like they’re not missing out on the traditional American burger experience: To ensure there is no mixing of meat and milk products, for example, you can order vegan cheese on your hamburger ($15 for a double on a bun) and dairy-free ice cream. The menu includes many other burger-adjacent dishes, including chicken tenders, hot dogs, wings and coleslaw.