For foodies looking to try hummus for the first time, check out these eight halal restaurants located right in your neighborhood.
Eid al-Fitr signals the breaking of the fast in Islam, people are feeling inspired to celebrate the event with the Muslim community by feasting on food influenced by their religious traditions. But while the typical Filipino would cite “shawarma” as their top- of-mind choice for Middle Eastern food, one appetizer is currently climbing the ranks to give it a run for its money: the humble hummus.
Once a mere appetizer, hummus is currently becoming a favorite among frequenters of restaurants that offer Middle Eastern cuisine.
For the unoriented, hummus is made by combining mashed chickpeas or garbanzos with tahini, olive oil, and lemon juice. It’s normally eaten by dunking flatbread into it or by pairing it with grilled meat or vegetables, but true-blue lovers find it just as satisfying on its own.
If you’re looking to experience the dish for the first time, check out MyProperty.ph’s eight picks of great halal restaurants in Metro Manila that offer hummus to suit all budgets and ambiance preferences.
Ziggurat
Those who wish to try Ziggurat’s dishes will have to head to its only branch in Sunette Tower in Poblacion, Makati. The place—which offers a combination of Indian, Pakistani, Mediterranean, and African cuisines—has a very extensive menu that’s in the middle of the affordable-to-expensive scale, Ziggurat’s hummus is actually the most affordable in this list at Php75 per serving. And good news: Ziggurat is open 24 hours, so you can get your fix any time of the day.
Berhouz Persian Cuisine
Another favorite go-to place of bargain-hunting foodies is Berhouz, with branches for shoppers at Greenhills Shopping Center in San Juan, live music lovers at Pasig’s Metrowalk, as well as foodies in Parañaque’s BF Homes and Quezon City’s Tomas Morato area. A serving of plain hummus here, which they prepare with yogurt, costs Php80.
Mister Kabab
Starting out as one of the midnight haunts of foodies in the West Avenue area, Mister Kabab now also serves the mall goers of Fisher Mall and Ayala Fairview Terraces in Quezon City, residents and visitors of Mezza Residences in Santa Mesa, and employees of the UP-Ayala Technohub. Here, a serving of hummus costs Php120.
Persia Grill
Persia Grill is the restaurant in this list with the most number of branches: four in Makati, two in Pasay, and one each in Taft Avenue in Manila, Bonifacio Global City (BGC) in Taguig, and Pasig’s Kapitolyo, plus a soon-to-open branch in BF Homes, Parañaque. Their version of hummus comes with garlic and is sold at Php120 a serving.
Shawarma Snack Center
Shawarma Snack Center (SSC) has a stall open for patrons of Waltermart in Chino Roces, Makati, as well as people strolling around Ermita (Robinsons Manila and along M. H. del Pilar Street) and BF Parañaque. Hummus in SSC is slightly more expensive at Php135.
Hossein’s Restaurant
Hossein’s has been offering a combination of Iranian, Arabian, Indian, and Mediterranean dishes since 1985. The restaurant currently has over four branches in the country, including those found in BGC’s Serendra and Makati’s Bel-Air Village, while a Hossein’s restaurant called Gilak is in Greenbelt 3, Makati. If you enjoy having your meals served and eaten in grand style, Hossein’s is the place, but the experience will come at a hefty cost: a single order of hummus comes at Php150, while a serving for sharing costs Php250.
Kashmir
Kashmir is said to be the oldest Middle Eastern restaurant chain in the country, offering Indian dishes since the early 1970s. One branch is located along Padre Faura Street in Ermita, Manila, while the other three are in Makati, with a bonus regular appearance at the Salcedo Saturday Market. Being a fine dining restaurant, their hummus is understandably a little more costly at about Php150 a serving.
Arya Persian Restaurant
Lucky for those who often embark on retail expeditions and crave Persian cuisine afterwards, all branches of Arya are located inside malls: Robinsons Magnolia in Quezon City, Greenhills Shopping Center in San Juan, Shangri-La Plaza in Mandaluyong, and Robinsons Place Manila. Plain hummus at Arya is priced over Php150 per serving, but if you’re up for a more filling variety of the appetizer, try the pricier Shahi hummus that comes at around Php260 and is topped with chunks of meat.
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