Beloved Bulgarian Jaffa restaurant Monka to close after 78 years

Monka, the longtime Bulgarian restaurant on Yehuda HaYamit Street in Jaffa, will close at the end of this month after 78 years in business. The venue was founded in 1948, the year Israel was established, and became one of the city’s best-known culinary institutions.

The restaurant was a gathering place for longtime Jaffa residents and their descendants, as well as new visitors seeking what the article calls an authentic Balkan taste. Its history was closely tied to the Bulgarian community that settled in Jaffa and helped shape the neighborhood’s cultural identity.

Monka was especially known for its Bulgarian kebabs, praised for their airy texture, careful balance of meat, and generous use of garlic. Another signature dish was its shakmbe chorba, the sour tripe soup that became a weekend staple for many regulars. The menu also included thick goulash, stuffed vegetables, and classic moussaka with beef and eggplant, served simply and in a family-style atmosphere.

The closure marks not only the end of a restaurant, but also a gradual farewell to the founding generation of Jaffa’s food scene. As the neighborhood continues to change with modern chef restaurants and trendy bars, the article says places like Monka stood as a living reminder of its culinary past. It is still unclear whether the family will renovate the building for a real-estate project or open a new restaurant.