Craving Hummus

Kent Nichols: Okay, so I've been back in LA from Israel for less than 24 hours and I'm craving hummus. While I was over there I had hummus and keBAB (following the Flight of the Conchorads pronounciation guide) once or twice a day, along with huge pitchers of mint lemonade. It's 9:20, so I'll leave for Zankou in about fifteen minutes and get taken care of (it opens at 10), but while searching for other places I came across this recent review by Jonathon Gold: Hummus Bar, a newish Israeli hummus specialty restaurant in Tarzana, is a cheerful place, with the sharp angles and open kitchen of an upscale fast-food restaurant and the jangly Israeli pop of a kosher coffeehouse, menus printed on place mats and a dining patio thrust into the mini-mall's parking lot. ... The hummus at Hummus Bar ... is very good indeed: thick and creamy, with the lemony, nutty tahini suspended over the earthier chickpea paste so that when you sweep your chunk of hot pita across the plate you are custom mixing the flavors and textures. Every bite is subtly different from the last. Hummus made from scratch is an entirely wonderful beast -- and no beasts are harmed in the making. There's also this Shwarma joint I want to check out. Any other suggestions for my new food obsession? Comments (9) Comments on this Entry: (Jay on Jul 9, 2007 9:43 AM) I am a hummus addict! Back in the day, the best place in town to get hummus for home-use was from a Middle Eastern deli in Valley Village: Italian Middle-Eastern 13246 Riverside Dr Sherman Oaks, CA 91423 (818) 995-6944 By the way, it's still great. However, now when I don't feel like going to the Valley, there are two amazing and easy options. You're not going to believe me, but here are my two favorite places for getting take-away hummus. 1. Trader Joe's started making a new Middle Eastern-style hummus last year with olive oil on top. It's cheap and tastes nearly identical to the one above. 2. Costco - They carry a new line of gourmet hummus called Sabra. The supermarkets carry it and sell it for an insane amount. Costco sells enormous tubs for $5.99. You can't go wrong with any of these! (Oren on Jul 9, 2007 10:22 AM) Marouch. (Travis Koplow on Jul 9, 2007 11:11 AM) The humus is okay, but the falafel is divine at Simon's on Sepulveda and Ventura (right across from the Whole Foods). Truly it's the best falafel I've ever had. (ted on Jul 9, 2007 11:34 AM) Make your own-- it's shockingly easy if you have a food processor. (rich on Jul 9, 2007 2:10 PM) If you want an awesome Sharwama Lafa Wrap go to: Nagila Its on the North side of Pico just east of Beverly. (lee on Jul 9, 2007 3:47 PM) I LOVE the shawarma (I never can spell that) at King's Kabob, corner of Sawtelle and Sepulveda in Culver City. They only have three tables outside, but the food rocks! Gaby's in the Marina also is good. (frazgo on Jul 9, 2007 3:54 PM) gak...someone can have my share the stuff gives me gas (Jessica on Jul 9, 2007 8:10 PM) Ditto to Ted. You don't even need a food processor- I've made it in a blender. -couple cans of chickpeas (garbanzo beans) -a bit of olive oil -a bit of tahini (sesame butter) -a bit of lemon juice -some garlic if you like garlic totally easy, and you will totally impress yourself and friends. (jk on Jul 10, 2007 1:12 AM) It's even better in a blender. I'm surprised that there are restaurants that used packaged hummus.