A Mako food report says the most expensive falafel meal found in Israel is sold in Eilat, despite the city’s VAT exemption and lower-price reputation. At the city’s long-running “Butaqa Falafel,” also known as the blue falafel booth, a pita falafel costs 29 shekels, eaten outdoors without air conditioning. The article was published on June 22, 2026.
The stand, described as a local institution, is said to have operated since around 1970. Owner Itzik Biton has continued the business started by his parents about 50 years ago, and has worked there since he was 13. The booth is a small blue-tiled kiosk on Sderot HaTmarim 107, with a small service window, a single table, and a newer air conditioner and blue awning to shield customers waiting in the heat.
The report says the menu is pricey across the board: a falafel pita costs 29 shekels, one shekel more than Tel Aviv’s HaKosem; a falafel baguette costs 38 shekels; a single falafel ball costs 1.5 shekels and is given free while waiting; and a falafel tray costs 45 shekels. The writer noted the baguette portion was especially large.
The food itself was praised as unusually fresh and well-made. The falafel balls were described as larger than most others, though not as large as those at Jack in Beersheba, and the pita was soft and flexible. The falafel was said to be very yellow, lightly seasoned, airy, and dominated by chickpea flavor, with standard but especially fresh toppings, including tomatoes, pickles, fresh cucumber, tahini, hummus, and a tasty amba. The report said old online accounts show the same pita cost 24 shekels two years ago, a 20% increase, and concluded that while the falafel is excellent and rooted in local history, its size and heritage may not justify the price.
