SHUK charms Elizabeth Bay with its Middle Eastern flair.
Mahane Yehuda Market, or The Shuk, is a marketplace in Jerusalem where some of the world’s most vibrant melting pots of culture, food and mayhem exist. Inspired by the fragrant communal market, SHUK in Bondi has become renowned for its mutual adoration of hearty dishes and customer service.
After conquering Australia’s most beloved beach, SHUK has spent the past twelve months spreading its aromatic spice across Sydney. Opening a venue on the other side of town in Chatswood at the end of 2018, SHUK have crafted a secluded middle man on a leafy street in Elizabeth Bay.
Setting out to capture the passion for food gleaned from their families in Israel, owners Yoni Kalfus, Erez Beker and Ariel Hefer prioritise creating a memorable share food experience at their venues. The textures and tones of the powerful and diverse Middle Eastern share style cuisine work as the foodie glue uniting friends, family and strangers.
Far from any bustling brunch or coffee nook competition, SHUK Elizabeth Bay has instantly drawn in hoards of hungry locals and tenants from the apartment block above. With a coffee vendor serving cuppas streetside side, an expansive outdoor area and an indoor dining room lined with bottles of wine and an impressive pastry cabinet, SHUK Elizabeth Bay is catering for any communal eating demand. There is even a secret dining room perfect for a debaucherous mimosa infused brunch, or a leisurely Israeli feed.
While the city-fringe location might not be as glamourous as the Bondi setting, SHUK Elizabeth Bay is just as tempestuous when it comes to the food. Open seven days from 6am, the kitchen is primed to settle stomachs until 3pm, with coffee orders finishing at 5pm.
No visit to SHUK would be complete without a taste of the famous shakshuka (starting from $17). A stunning broth of tomatoes and capsicum with two divine eggs is simplicity done to supremacy. Swap out the eggs for eggplant, and you have a Vegan shakshuka ($18).
Be you a hummus or tahini fanatic (and who isn’t) SHUK’s menu is awash with the beloved spreads. The hummus with lamb ($20) is a mouth watering 8 hour creation paired with pickles, olives and pita (of course). Meanwhile the Sabich bowl ($18) blends tahini with a smorgasbord of Israeli insanity, including smoked eggplant, amba and broken falafel.
With a rotating daily lunch special (served from 12pm-3pm), a list of fresh salads and salivating sandwiches, SHUK is constantly proving that everything tastes better with a Middle Eastern twist.
The beach in Bondi, the hustle of Chastwood and a calm sidestreet in Elizabeth Bay, nowhere can escape the aromas and frivolity of SHUK.