Alma: The Restaurant That Brings Ashdod to the Plate 

In Aramaic, Alma translates to “world,” and that’s exactly what their menu encompasses. Elements from the sea, land, local farms and the Ashdod terroir all find their way to the table. Standout dishes like the Tuna Sashimi with tomatoes, watermelon, za’atar and local buffalo yogurt are refreshing and reminders of the sea and surrounding dairy farms. The caprese salad with caramelized onions was a unique twist on the Italian roots of the dish and the creamy polenta with grilled artichokes and beets is another spin on a classic dish that really improves with the added earthiness the grill brings to the vegetables.

Alma was built by a group of childhood friends who grew up together in Ashdod, explored the culinary world in various ways, and came back with the same idea: bring the message back home. To the streets, the friends and the beach they knew before any of them had ever touched a chef’s knife.

Casual but fancy are the best words to describe the energy at Alma. Alma isn’t trying to be the place you save for anniversaries. They want guests coming back twice a week.

When we walked in we were received like family, not customers. It’s a small distinction that changes the whole feel of a meal, less “seated and served,” more “invited in.” 

The kitchen’s guiding philosophy is to highlight local produce. It’s not a marketing line; it’s reflected directly in a menu built around what the land actually gives. For our entrees we enjoyed the Lag Ba’omer, which was grilled crispy sea bream with blistered skin served atop fire roasted potatoes, slow cooked cherry tomatoes and barbecued onions. Evoking strong memories of bonfires and childhood BBQs. 

Their crispy bruschetta with soy glazed salmon, chimichurri and mustard aioli blends inspirations and influences and creates a unique bite. 

For dessert we enjoyed the chocolate lava pie, which tasted rich, velvety and deep with fudgy flavor, countered by the light vanilla ice cream and crumble it was a perfect way to finish the meal. 

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Alma is what happens when people who grew up somewhere decide to build something for the place that raised them. The refined techniques match the local ingredients and bring out the best in each other. For Ashdod locals, it’s a reason to come back twice a week (they even have a customer loyalty program) and for visitors it’s a reason to drive south. 

📍 Alma Ashdod Location

• 2 Yonah HaNavi Street, Ashdod
• Hashgacha: Kosher (Rabbanut Ashdod)*

*Kashrut status is subject to change over time. We always recommend verifying current hashgacha certification directly with the venue before visiting.