Holy Land Market — Restaurant in Knoxville

We stopped for lunch today and were reminded of just how good the food is at the Holy Land Market. I enjoyed the Brisket Ruben with homemade coleslaw and the beautiful lady I am married to had the classic Ruben. We shared a basket of fries and as Walter said… “A beautiful Frenches Red (Ketchup), vintage 2022.” The Brisket is new but will hopefully be a regular menu item according to Walter’s son. The sitting area was full of families, regulars, and a few folks who looked like they were making love to their lunch… it is that good. The Holy Land Market never disappoints. Stop by and have a hot lunch on a cold day. You will not regret your decision. AND… NOT-FOR-NOTHING… Just before I wrote this, I went back and read all the posted reviews. After reading the negative reviews, I realized something everyone should know…Walter is like his food... either you like him/his food, or you do not. There is very little middle ground. In my opinion, the negative comments come from people who have very thin skin and FEEL like they need to be doted on just because they got up for the day. If that is the way you FEEL… Walter is not your man. Just walk in, order some of the best food in Knoxville, and enjoy it! While you are eating, Walter or his son will come by to check on you to see if you have everything you need, and to make sure you are enjoying your meal. The market is simple, the food is delicious, and Walter, and his family, are real people making memories...

The main attraction for us was their vegan friendly menu. We grabbed a table and then ordered at the counter. You order everything at the counter, they bring it to you when it's ready, and then you pay after you eat. They have pitchers of water for you to take to your table and cans of soda, tea, etc. Just let them know when you pay if you grabbed any drinks. Don't forget to bring cash for a tip (you can pay with a CC but can't add tip). We ordered a basket of vegan fries (must specify vegan), regular hummus appetizer (they have various flavors), falafel sandwich with tahini and a vegan philly cheesesteak (you can get beyond burger or impossible burger) with vegan cheese and mayo. The hummus was delicious and the pita bread was amazing (best pita bread in town)! The fries were hot and crispy. Perfect! My husband loved his cheesesteak sandwich. However, I didn't care for the falafel. I thought it was bland and there was barely any tahini so it was very dry. I'm used to Yassin's falafel which is very flavorful. The owners were as wonderful as everyone says. Very warm and were greeting everyone personally. Don't forget to check out their market before you leave. They have lots of veg friendly items including frozen food...

Had the baklava, some mozzarella thing that look like baklava, the garlic hummus and a pita. The baklava was really good though I'm not sure it's freshly made. The mozzarella thing wasn't anything special, pretty bland. The garlic hummus I expected to be a lot better than what it was. I think it needs oil and salt, and smooth a bit longer in the blender or something. Pita was a regular pita, not like any of that I've had fresh baked at some of the Lebanese restaurants. I've been to a lot of Mediterranean places around the country, and a lot in Morocco too, so I've tried a lot of Mediterranean food, so perhaps my standards are different. Perhaps the Reuben is worth a try since people seem to love it. I thought it was kind of pricey for the quality. I didn't really understand the atmosphere. Never been to jerusalem, but if I were ever to go to the Holy Land, I would expect very good food and maybe a more colorful or interesting interior. I was a rug with a weaving of a woman entertaining some Arab men. Not what I think of when I think of the Holy...