Q: Any opinion as to why no new kosher restaurants are opening in Fort Lauderdale? Every place that looks hip and good and especially kosher is in Boca Raton or Hallandale Beach. I grew up here as a Jewish gal. Being Jewish, when I lived in Miami Beach and Aventura, there is kosher-Israeli food to eat, like falafel, hummus and shawarma (which I do not eat as a vegan). I’ve noticed a big jump: from Miami and Miami Beach and Hallandale Beach, they always skip Fort Lauderdale. — Susan Schaffel, Fort Lauderdale
A: Susan, you are right that there is a kosher void in Broward County’s biggest city. First, let’s define kosher, as opposed to “kosher-style,” a term often used by restaurants and delis that serve non-kosher pastrami or corned beef or other delicacies of Eastern European origin.
Restaurants that are strictly kosher are certified by the Orthodox Rabbinical Board of Broward and Palm Beach Counties. These establishments serve only kosher meat, separate meat and milk products, and make sure a mashgiach, or kosher supervisor, is on-site. I found a few of these not far from the city, but I also wanted to figure out the reason why the options are so limited within Fort Lauderdale’s boundaries.
A Jewish Federation of Broward County report from last year shows Broward’s Jews tend to live in just a few cities, and Fort Lauderdale is not among them. Out of 31 cities in Broward, half the Jewish population is concentrated in Hollywood, Hallandale Beach, Davie and Parkland. So the Fort Lauderdale city limits don’t seem to have the Jewish demographic cluster needed to support an abundance of kosher or Israeli restaurants.
Here’s what Joy Prevor, the Jewish federation’s chief impact officer, said when I asked about kosher restaurants in the city:
“The availability of kosher restaurants is largely driven by private business decisions and the economics of operating a kosher establishment, which can be complex and costly. Factors like population density, consistent consumer demand, access to kosher supervision, supply chains, and real estate all play a role. While the city of Fort Lauderdale has fewer stand-alone kosher options, Jewish Broward is fortunate to have a wide range of kosher dining available across nearby neighborhoods.
“Jewish life in Broward is diverse and spread across the county, and food offerings tend to follow where communities live, gather, and sustain long-term demand.”
That said, here are some options not too far from you.
Cook Tomer Levi plates a customer’s order at The Friendship Grill in Fort Lauderdale on Jan. 5, 2026. (Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
There’s The Friendship Grill (1304 E. Las Olas Blvd.; thefriendshipgrill.com), which is in the Las Olas Chabad Jewish Center, an Orthodox synagogue in the heart of downtown Fort Lauderdale’s busy Las Olas pedestrian district. They serve falafel, matbucha (a North African tomato stew), Israeli salad and much more. By eating here, you are doing a good deed: The grill employs adults with developmental disabilities.
Within the city, there are several restaurants that are not kosher or Israeli but offer the falafel and other Middle Eastern items you crave. Here are three:
The Hummus House, 900 NE 20th Ave., Fort Lauderdale; 754-247-1310; thehummushouseftl.com
Mini Pita Mediterranean Café, 1019 W. State Road 84, Fort Lauderdale; 954-451-5118; minipitacafe.com (there’s also a Pompano Beach location at 2555 E. Atlantic Blvd.)
Olive & Sea, 1881 SE 17th St., Fort Lauderdale; 954-527-6716; oliveandseaftl.com
And here are a few ORB-certified restaurants, serving vegetarian menu items, that are about a 20-minute drive from downtown, although they are outside the city limits.
Ariel’s Bamboo Kitchen, 3322 Griffin Road, Fort Lauderdale; 954-966-9975; bamboo-kitchen-fort-lauderdale.cloveronline.com (with multiple Miami-Dade County locations)
Grand Cafe, 2905 Stirling Road, Hollywood; 954-986-6860; grandcafe.us
PALA Mediterranean Kitchen, 3317 Sheridan St., Hollywood; 754-217-3182; palamediterraneankitchen.com
Pita Plus, 2145 Stirling Road, Dania Beach; 954-241-2011; pitaplus.com
Pita Xpress Mediterranean Grill, 2445 Stirling Road, Fort Lauderdale. 954-251-1799; pitaxpressfl.com
Got a question about Jewish life in South Florida? Send to AskLois@sunsentinel.com.
Randy Kugler cleans a countertop inside The Friendship Grill, which is in the Las Olas Chabad Jewish Center, an Orthodox synagogue in the heart of downtown Fort Lauderdale’s busy Las Olas pedestrian district. (Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Assistant teacher Josh Stedner, right, trains Randy Kugler to use the cash register at Friendship Grill in Fort Lauderdale on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Friendship Grill in Fort Lauderdale is shown on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Student Randy Kugler cleans a table in the dining room at Friendship Grill in Fort Lauderdale on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)
A shawarma plate with pita is shown at Friendship Grill in Fort Lauderdale on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Friendship Grill in Fort Lauderdale is shown on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Cook Tomer Levi plates a customer’s order at The Friendship Grill in Fort Lauderdale on Jan. 5, 2026. (Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
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Randy Kugler cleans a countertop inside The Friendship Grill, which is in the Las Olas Chabad Jewish Center, an Orthodox synagogue in the heart of downtown Fort Lauderdale’s busy Las Olas pedestrian district. (Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
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