Kosher restaurant facts for kids
A kosher restaurant is a place that serves food following special Jewish rules called kashrut. These rules are part of Jewish law. Kosher restaurants can be many types of eateries, like diners, cafés, pizzerias, or fast food places.
What makes a restaurant truly kosher is that it has a special approval called rabbinical supervision. This means a rabbi or a Jewish authority checks to make sure all the kashrut laws are followed very carefully. For example, if the restaurant is owned by Jewish people, it must close on Shabbat (the Jewish day of rest) and during Jewish holidays. Also, a very important rule is that meat and dairy foods must always be kept separate. Most kosher restaurants serve either only meat dishes (called fleishig) or only dairy dishes (called milchig). Some places, like delicatessens, might serve both, but they have separate areas and equipment for each. If a restaurant serves only vegetarian food, it's called pareve.
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Where to Find Kosher Restaurants
Kosher restaurants are usually found in places where many Jewish people live. For example, cities like Jerusalem in Israel, New York City in the United States, and Toronto in Canada have lots of kosher restaurants.
In 2017, there were over 500 kosher restaurants just in the New York area! Other cities, like Philadelphia, have fewer. In places with smaller Jewish communities, there might only be one kosher restaurant, or sometimes none at all. In those cases, Jewish residents might get their kosher meals from special grocery stores or other arrangements.
Important Kosher Rules and Holidays
To be a kosher restaurant, the food must follow strict Jewish dietary laws called kashrut. These rules are checked by rabbinical supervision. Here are some key rules:
- Meat and dairy foods can never be mixed.
- Certain foods, like Pork and shellfish, are never allowed.
- Animals that are allowed must be slaughtered in a special way by a trained person called a shochet.
- Grape products (like wine) made by non-Jews are not allowed.
As mentioned, most kosher restaurants serve either only meat or only dairy. But some places, like delis, might have both, keeping them completely separate.
Kosher restaurants owned by Jewish people must close on Shabbat (from Friday evening to Saturday evening) and during Jewish holidays. For example, many kosher restaurants in New York close for the eight days of Passover. This is because during Passover, no bread or bread products are allowed. Restaurants need to be super clean and free of any bread crumbs to stay open for Passover. However, in recent years, some kosher restaurants have started staying open during Passover.
Popular Kosher Foods
Many different types of food can be kosher, as long as they are prepared according to Jewish laws. So, you can find kosher steakhouses, kosher pizzerias, kosher Indian restaurants, kosher Thai places, and more!
Unlike regular restaurants that often specialize in one type of food, many kosher places offer a mix. For example, kosher delicatessens might serve both dairy and meat items, but always kept separate. Dairy items include cheeses and cream cheese. Meat items include cold cuts and meat spreads. They also serve pareve (neutral) items like fish, such as smoked whitefish salad.
Pizza is very popular in kosher restaurants. Kosher pizza shops often also serve Middle Eastern cuisine like falafel, and other foods that go well with dairy, like fish and pasta.
Bagel shops are also common. They serve bagels and cream cheese with lox (smoked salmon) and different spreads. You might also find salads there.
Kosher fleishig (meat) restaurants often serve Middle Eastern dishes like shawarma, along with American favorites like hot dogs and hamburgers. Fish can also be served at meat restaurants, but it must be on a separate plate from the meat.
Kosher Chinese restaurants are also popular. These are usually either meat-only or vegetarian (pareve). A fun tradition in Jewish communities is to eat Chinese food on Christmas Day and Christmas Eve, because many Chinese restaurants are open then. There's even a song about it!
Different Kinds of Kosher Eateries
Restaurants and Big Chains
Most kosher restaurants are small, local businesses. But some big restaurant chains also have kosher locations, especially in areas with large Jewish populations. For example, in Israel, you can find kosher KFC, McDonald's, and Sbarro restaurants. In the United States, there are kosher Dunkin' Donuts, Krispy Kreme, and some Subway locations.
Some big companies, like Baskin-Robbins ice cream, have most of their flavors certified kosher at all their locations. Rita's Italian Ice also has some kosher locations in states like Maryland and New Jersey.
Other Kosher Food Places
Many cities with Jewish communities also have kosher grocery stores. These can be small corner stores or large supermarkets. The biggest kosher supermarket in the United States is Seven Mile Market in Maryland. Big supermarket chains sometimes have special "kosher" sections inside their stores in Jewish areas.
You can also find kosher cafeterias and food stands in places like college campuses, Jewish community centers, hospitals, sports stadiums, and tourist spots. Sometimes, if there isn't a special stand, you can find prepackaged kosher sandwiches or order kosher meals in advance. Some airlines even offer kosher meals if you ask for them ahead of time.
