After nine years, McDonald’s is back at Ben Gurion

Another restaurant is already operating at Terminal 1, although because of the terms of the bid, it is not allowed to sell burgers.

JANUARY 2, 2020 15:03

McDonald's at Ben Gurion. (photo credit: COURTESY MCDONALDS) — McDonald's at Ben Gurion.

(photo credit: COURTESY MCDONALDS)

The original Big Mac is back at Ben-Gurion Airport. After a nine-year absence, McDonald’s reopened its flagship store in the duty-free area of Terminal 3 on Wednesday.

The fast-food giant originally opened at the airport in 2004 but lost the bid to its rival Burger Ranch in 2011.

The company said in a statement that for the first time in the world, the restaurant offers several self-ordering kiosks spread around the airport, to allow both passengers and workers in a hurry to place their order in advance. The kiosks accept both credit cards and cash, and in the future will also take dollars and euros.

McDonald’s at Ben-Gurion is unique also for another reason: in November, it was announced that the fast-food company obtained the seal of rabbinic approval to provide kosher food and be open on Shabbat. The certification was one of the first times that the Chief Rabbinate, through its national supervision division, gave approval for its kashrut supervision in a restaurant that is open on Shabbat.

According to the agreement, the facility works on the basis of a kosher hotel, so that the food is cooked before Shabbat and reheated in an oven, and the staff is not Jewish.

Another McDonald’s branch is already operating at Terminal 1, although it is not allowed to sell burgers.

A third McDonald’s restaurant is expected to open soon in the Sky Hall at Terminal 3, as well.