Where can you buy Hummus in Seattle and who has the best?

[widehomehi]

Where can you buy Hummus in Seattle and who has the best?

[foodieseattlelady]

As a side note, why not just make your own? With a food processor, some chickpeas, olive oil, tahini and garlic, you'll be on your way. Most local supermarkets stock tahini. If you make your own, it's less than half of the retain price.

[Lauren]

I make hummus quite often but, as I mentioned above, peeling the chickpeas isn't the easiest and the skins make it a little bitter and not as smooth.

[mrnelso]

Buy dry chick-peas, soak them overnight, and bring them to a boil in the morning (or get them from some cans). Cook til your tooth likes them, cool, add a whole lotta lemon and garlic and whiz them in a food-processor to a consistency you like. This is easy. Go from there...

[savvy savorer]

and get some zaatar spice at any of the spice shops to put on top...

[PaqpIn]

Just a note on spice shops - Penzey's has finally opened in Seattle. There is now a nice shop on Pine right up the street from Pike Place Market.

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Pike Place Market
1501 Pike Pl, Seattle, WA 98101

[LemonyRoux]

I like the hummus found on the salad bar at Central Market.

[Scott O]

The fresh hummus at sold Goodies Market on Lake City Way is the best I've had in this area.

[bighound]

the best hummous and babba and lebanese food in seattle are all produced by Karam's restaurant on 15th Ave E on capitol hill. the retail products are sold at metropolitan markets and some qfc stores. they also produce a fantastic garlic sauce. you can thank me later.

[RandyB]

Tried Goodies a few days ago. Very good hummus, wonderful baba ghanouj. Also moroccan dark olives - great for tagine, and that saves me a trip down to Pacific Food Imports.

On the other hand, despite four kinds of canned dolmades, none are made with olive oil. Two from Turkey, two from Bulgaria, none from Greece.

[breadparty]

As someone who grew up in Metro Detroit I have a serious case of arabic food jones out here. My favorite place that Ive found is Garlic Crush in Bellevue. It usually takes a lot to get me to cross the water to go out to eat, but they have the best Lebanese style shwarma and hummus in the area. No kibbeh, or foule though, I miss Dearborn.

[eat.rest.repeat]

The best hummus is in Kirkland at Meze. I think that its a bit overpriced, as is most of the menu, but it is the best. You can stop in and get it by the ounce. They also have awesome stuffed grape leaves.

[savvy savorer]

by far, Gorgeous Georges has the best hummus. I don't know if he sells take out but this is the kind that you would find in the middle east. Sabra is the kind you find in a supermarket in the middle east and has way too much garlic,

[PrawoJazdy]

another thumbs up for Gorgeous George's hummus! By far the best I've ever had in a restaurant.

[worldtravelerr]

If you've had real hummus in the Middle East, you'll know Sabra isn't that good either. It's too sour and uses soybean/canola oil, doesn't even have real lemon juice or olive oil. However, its better than Tribe or Athenos which taste like chemical bean paste.
For a good hummus in Seattle, try "Dreamland" brand, they carry it now at QFC. Authentic and creamier as the secret is to remove the skins of the chickpeas.

If Americans had the good hummus as in the Middle East, they'd eat it more and wouldn't see it as healthy food. Its a shame American companies botch and mass-market this Middle Eastern staple.

[Lauren]

Thank you for this suggestion. I love hummus and agree that most you get around here is bad, bad, bad. I make my own using chickpeas from Rancho Gordo but I must admit, removing the skins is the pain in the ass and sometimes I just want to buy it pre-made. I'll give the Dreamland brand a try.

[morof3]

I just wanted to second the Dreamland recommendation. I lived in the Middle East for many years and this brand is the closest to authentic Lebanese hummus that I've found. Unlike Sabra, it's natural and contains all the ingredients that it should.

[Nutty Squirrel]

Hummos King is very good and available at Ballard Market deli section (Grocery Store). It is very similar to the the recipie from the Barefoot Contessa. Trader Joe's Mediterranean-style with pine nuts and herbs is also very good.

[equinoise]

If the best hummus here is that which is manufactured en masse by Sabra in Astoria, NY and sold at Safeway, that is is truly pathetic. The middle eastern food scene here is a sore spot for me. It seems sort of embarassing, doesn't it?

On the flipside, Persian food seems strong here.

Is there any hope for someone seeking Lebanese, Syrian and the like? I'm stumped on this front.

[aaustin]

that is sad, I agree, but I usually just make my own since it's so easy.

[ssusu]

I was just lamenting the absence of good Lebanese food in Seattle today. Portland's got great Lebanese food -- why not us? Re hummus, Vios makes excellent hummus which you can get to go.

[Tom Armitage]

Where do you go for good, authentic Persian food in Seattle?

[GourmetLight]

Caspian Grill in the U-District!

[equinoise]

I really liked the sandwiches and very limited lunch fare (soups, etc.) at Persian Grocery, since moved and now operating as Persepolis in Bellevue. I have been meaning to try Saffron Kebab for years now, but haven't yet. The menu at Caspian Grill today (I have not been since I was in college) looks much more extensive than Saffron. Despite my early assesment after moving here in late 2006, It seems that the restaurant options locally don't seem to live up to what you might expect given the local presence of the Iranian community (in the manner that the oft-debated Filipino, Lao, and Cambodian examples are under-represented). As a former LA resident, I'm sure you would find the Persian options wanting.

[Wanda2day]

Issaquah has a nice one, in Gilman Village. I am horrible at names. It has Afghani and Persian food, lovely Persian tea. Went there with a Persian gentleman and it was given the thumbs up. Will repost if name pops up in head.

[HotTomato]

It's called Bamiyan, and it IS really good! Two separate menus for the two different (quite) cuisines, and wonderful, educational service (the owner in our case). Definitely worth crossing the lake to eat there!

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Bamiyan Restaurant
317 NW Gilman Blvd Ste 31B, Issaquah, WA 98027

[aaustin]

I think the Trader Joe's Mediterranean-style (had herbs and pine nuts on top) hummus is by far the best. They also have a tomato-basil version that's completely addictive.

[jlbs]

after living for a while in israel i struggled to find local hummus similar to what i had there. my favorite so far has been the hummus you can get at mr. gyro in greenwood. you can also come close by making it at home.

[Charles]

You can buy Hummus almost anywhere in this city. I honestly think the best hummus around is the Sabra Brand available at Safeway. This hummus is nearly identical what I ate almost every day when living in the Middle East.

[terrier]

I agree that the Sabra brand is the best hummus you can get in Seattle, even though it's not a local product.

Now for baba ghanouj, Zaina's got the best in town.

[mrnelso]

I also like Zaina's eggplant pita sandwich (with Sri Racha for hot)