when i visited Israel, my tour guide insisted that we make time for this market so that we could try his favorite rugelach -- which seem to be the ones in your picture. so so good. wish i'd had more time to try things and buy things to bring home.

FYI, it's called Machane Yehuda. Enjoy!

Best. market. ever. I was just there last month when I was in Israel. I love Machane Yehuda! The food scene in Israel is definitely something worth discovering. It's amazing!

Don't leave Israel without trying Abulafia (in Jaffa). It needs no explanation.

Please tell me you got to try the rugeluch from Marzipan in Machane Yehuda? They literally melt in your mouth, it's like heaven. Like @Nomim said, this is the best market ever! I love going here when I'm in Israel. There is also an incredible tourist farm where they are growing carrots, cucumbers, strawberries, cherry tomatoes, every type of herb you could imagine and more in the desert. I believe it's called Shvil' La Salat. Amazing, amazing, amazing. I can't wait to hear about the rest of the trip.

10 years later, and I still dream of those rugelach...

Absolutely lovely looking food and I'd love also to know where you got that awesome giraffe top.

You're killing me. I lived in Jerusalem for 2 years and Machane Yehuda was one of my favorite places in the city. I really want to go back and visit, but finances won't allow.

@amydolgin, I did forget the "n" when I first published the post, so thanks for catching that! However, I've spelled it "Machne" not "Machane" because that's how locals here told me to spell it!

Oh geez, I meant camels. sorry.

I was there on a Friday afternoon as people were buying for Shabbat so you can imagine it was crowded. I was on the inside part and it started to rain. The river of people was so insane that I couldn't stop moving

Wow, I could just dive into that gorgeous pile of dates. Incredible!

Hi Cambria,
How are you?
It was so nice to meet you today,I wish we could talk some more, but never mind, maybe we can on Sunday. I was with Pille, and we had fun.
I really like your blog and I think you're wonderful!
it`s a lovely post. I lived in Jerusalem and I love the Mahane Yehuda market, including the holy city and all other amazing places.
Sends you a great big hug and have a lovely weekend.
Ariella

I love Machne Yehudah - always a highlight of any Israel trip, especially on a crazy Friday. I think I recognize those rugulach from Marzipan - always worth the long line! Nice pictures.

Oh this makes me so nostalgic. I lived in Israel for a year and honestly, it was one of the best experiences of my life. Shopping on a Friday morning/afternoon for groceries at Machane Yehuda was one of my most cherished memories. There, they only eat what's in season, the produce is beautiful, the fish is fresh, the spices are out of this world...it's unlike anything we have here in the United States. Gosh I miss it so much!!!

It makes me sad that where I live, I will never see a market like this. It is a dream of mine to buy fresh food this way. Not in plastic wrap and in a giant concrete supermarket, but where the vendors know where the produce comes from, and who made the bread, and how to use the spices that have never been inside a plastic bottle. Where the butcher knows the meat he sells came from animals he watched being raised. *Dreams*

I was in Israel in 2008 for 3 weeks with my parter and it was an amazing experience, great food included. There is so much to discover- Machane Yehuda, those small spots in almost every city where you can buy freshly squeezed juices, the small yemenite bakeries for yachnuun breakfast rolls, shakshuka at Dr. Shakshukas in Jaffa, those italian cafes at Tel Avivs beaches...
Will be back in Tel Aviv for two weeks in September with two female friends, so any idea where to go and what to do is appreciated!

Oh, I forgot to add something.
Yotam Ottolenghi, Jerusalem born cook from London, is going to publish a book about Jerusalem food in autumn.
http://www.amazon.com/Jerusalem-A-Cookbook-Yotam-Ottolenghi/dp/1607743949/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1341041392&sr=8-4&keywords=yotam+ottolenghi

Young people are opening some great restaurants in the market too. You can get great indian food and freshly made pasta at hip new dive restaurants there. If you go near Mamilla, go to HaMarakiya (the soup place). It's my favorite place to eat in Jerusalem and a student favorite.