A new kosher spot in Midtown Manhattan is telling a powerful story through food, culture, and resilience. Taboonia, a vegetarian Israeli Druze restaurant run by Nova Festival survivor Raif Rashad, is now officially kosher certified.
Originally from the Druze village of Isfya in Northern Israel, Rashad was working at the Nova music festival on October 7th, 2023, when Hamas launched its brutal terror attack. He survived by hiding for hours in a bomb shelter and fled to New York shortly after, seeking treatment for trauma and PTSD. What started as a healing journey soon transformed into something more: the creation of Taboonia.
“Taboonia is part of my journey to heal myself,” Rashad told the New York Post. “It’s my way to share my culture and my story, and to help others feel connected, even through difficult times.” The restaurant, rooted in authentic Druze culinary tradition, offers a deeply personal experience, yet universally inviting.
Rashad chose to make Taboonia kosher as a gesture of inclusion and accessibility. “Kosher, everyone can eat, OK?” he said. “But not kosher, not everyone can eat.” With a fully vegetarian menu, the path to kosher certification was straightforward, and Taboonia is now welcoming the kosher-observant community with open arms—and full plates.
The menu features handmade Druze pita with spreads like labaneh, za’atar, and spicy muhammara; za’atar-topped manakish; and savory bourekas stuffed with cheese or za’atar. For dessert, customers can enjoy sweet pita topped with tahini, silan, halvah, or Nutella. A range of traditional drinks includes hot chai, cinnamon-ginger tea, Druze coffee, and fresh nana (mint) lemonade. For those looking to bring the flavors home, Taboonia offers to-go items like hummus, olives, labaneh, and za’atar.
>>> Click here for Taboonia’s menu
The Taboonia team emphasizes that they’re not just serving food—they’re passing down flavors and stories that have defined generations of Druze families. From the pita oven (taboon) to the heartfelt hospitality, every bite carries meaning.
Taboonia is located in Midtown South, just steps from Herald Square and Penn Station, making it an easy stop for commuters, locals, and tourists alike.
The restaurant is located at 832 6th Ave, New York, NY 10001 (enter on 29th St) and is open daily until 10 PM.
It is kosher certified by IKC (International Kosher Council) under the supervision of Rabbi Zev Schwarcz.
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