Grill 443
The best grill and shipudiya in Israel. Hands down! Of course it is in a gas station. Worth the trip!
Chances are that when you arrive at Grill 443 and you see it is attached to a gas station, you might think WAZE is not working properly. It is. First of all, in Israel, gas stations serve more than gasoline. As those who have been buying challah and pastry at the gas station bakery in Jerusalem, or those that meet for coffee at the filling station on the highway can tell you. New Jersey has diners. Israel has gas stations.
Israel loves its Stekiyah – those are places that grill meats, often called Shipudiya – which means skewered meats. I would argue that 443 is the very best in the country for grilled meats and skewers, not to mention shawarma. Owned by three sisters, this place outside of Moddiin, which is the mid way point between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, is the perfect stop for lunch or dinner. Or, if you are hosting Shabbat and want to buy prepared foods. It has the most robust offerings and they simply could not taste better.
When you sit down you will first notice the young wait staff working jobs between army duty. Then your eyes will realize you are the only English speaker in the joint. This is a well known place among the locals. You will not find tourists here, unless of course, I sent you.
Before you even order, you will be greeted with a long and narrow platter of about 14 different salads: Tabouleh, pickled vegetables, four types of eggplant, tehina, falafel balls, corn in mayonnaise, French fries and more. EVERY SINGLE SALAD IS MADE IN HOUSE! Which means, the hummus here is authentic and I would recommend the mushroom and onion version, though there are quite a few to try. The pita and challot for shabbat are also made on premises, and usually comes directly from the oven to your table. It takes a few moments for it to cool to touch, but it is worth the wait.
When ordering, you cannot go wrong with ANYTHING on the menu. Personally, I never miss a chance for the Pargit on the skewer. Pargit is usually translated as spring chickens, but it is really boneless chicken thighs, a rarity in the Western Hemisphere. It is soft and savory. The meat kebabs are flavored perfectly and go great with a dollop of hummus. My family is also a fan of the schnitzel, which is more than just fried chicken. In this case it is seasoned perfectly and flash fried for a crunch on the outside and a soft meat on the inside.
There are many sides to choose from at 443 Grill too. Including, rice, yellow rice and stewed vegetables with rice (my favorite).
The locals live for the shwarma – of which there are at least 2 varieties: meat and chicken. Often there is turkey too.
On one occasion, we found ourselves inside the restaurant in 2014, when rockets were raining down from Gaza and sirens were blaring. A police officer with his lights flashing came running to the restaurant for what we thought was shelter. He ran inside and ordered a shwarma at the counter claiming he was famished, ignoring the alarms in the background. That moment should tell you everything you need to know about the eats there.
By the way, get the shwarma in the laffa bread….and thank me later!
