Three Ways
to Eat With Us
Dine in at Ballina, grab and go at Evans Head, or let us cater your event across the Northern Rivers.
Our Story
A Family Table
in the Heart of Ballina
A small, family-run restaurant inspired by the flavors of the Middle East and North Africa. Crafted with love, tradition and bold spices, Tel Aviv Yafo brings a vibrant, community-driven dining experience to River Street, Ballina.
Open daily from 7am, we’re known around the Northern Rivers for honest hummus, Turkish coffee and a table with room for one more.
“A place where cultures meet over good coffee, honest food, and warm service.”
Roy, OwnerThe Chef
French Training, Middle Eastern Soul
Roy Chason · Executive Chef & Owner
Roy Chason is the executive chef and owner behind Tel Aviv Yafo, the much-loved Middle Eastern café in Ballina. With a passion for honest food, strong community values and flavours rooted in heritage, Roy has created a dining experience that goes far beyond the plate.
A professionally trained chef, Roy studied French cuisine in Sydney before working in Middle Eastern kitchens, blending classical technique with the bold, familiar flavours of his upbringing. After relocating to the Northern Rivers, he opened Tel Aviv Yafo in Ballina, bringing a fresh and vibrant style of Israeli-inspired food to the region.
Food, for Roy, is about connection and memory. His cooking draws on family traditions and home-style dishes, re-imagined with modern presentation and café sensibility. Each dish reflects his belief that food should be generous, welcoming and made to be shared.
Beyond Ballina, Roy has expanded his hospitality vision through additional venues and food businesses across the Northern Rivers: cafés, catering and bakery operations, all deeply community-focused, shaped by years of daily interaction with locals and visitors alike.
At the heart of his philosophy is inclusivity: a place where people from all backgrounds feel welcome. Through dedication, resilience and a genuine love for his craft, Roy has made Tel Aviv Yafo not just a café but a community cornerstone in Ballina, one plate at a time.
Menu Highlights
Hummus, Shakshuka, Falafel
Everything made in-house, every day. A few favourites from the Ballina all-day menu.
Fresh, house-made every morning
Signature
Doctor Shakshuka
Slow-Cooked
Hummus & the Lamb
Vegetarian
Mushroom Bruschetta
Syrian Style
Araies
Signature
Avo Smash
House Favourite
Roy Sabich Plate
Vegetarian
Lebanese Sinaia
From Google Reviews
What Our Guests
Are Saying
Real words from real guests, straight from our Google page.
★★★★★
“Absolutely incredible Middle Eastern food in Ballina. The falafel is perfectly crunchy, and the velvety hummus and slow-cooked lamb are to die for.”Bart Evers
★★★★★
“It’s authentic Israeli food and it transported me to Tel Aviv. My partner had the shakshuka, which was equally delicious.”Deborah Travers
★★★★★
“The staff are incredibly friendly and helpful. The food was just as impressive and great value. We’ll be making the detour whenever we pass through.”Adrian Wojciechowski
★★★★★
“We had brunch with the kids and enjoyed every dish. We are Middle Eastern, and the falafel was the best we had in Australia.”Sharon Schwarzkopf
Follow Along
Tel-Aviv Yafo on Social Media
Daily specials, behind-the-scenes and new arrivals. Find us on Instagram and Facebook.
