Kirtis D.
Yelp
I'm a sucker for chicken shawarma. It's one of the best Middle Eastern foods ever. If you disagree, we might have to throw hands.
Anyway, when I saw this place was walking distance from my hotel, I knew I had to try. From the outside, it's underwhelming. The sign is easy to miss. It's in an older strip of storefronts beside Hawthorne that could definitely use some love and care. However, immediately on walking in, I was sure I chose wisely. I had flashbacks to my time working in the Middle East. All the very best restaurants I found over there seemed to be hidden away, hole in the wall places. Hummus House fits that mold perfectly. Inside, there was football (soccer to us in the States) on a TV, Middle Eastern music playing just loud enough, and bit of tasteful decor while staying mostly utilitarian.
I was greeted and seated by a very friendly young man who turned out to also be my server. Another thing that reminded me of Oman, where not many places had separate hosts and servers. I instantly liked his attitude, energy, and how welcoming he was to the only white dude in the place.
I ordered the zucchini dumplings, a chicken shawarma plate with habanero hummus (the hottest of their 9 hummus choices), and a Coke. My new friend brought me some crispy pita strips and garlic sauce as a starter (think chips and salsa in a Mexican restaurant). The pita chips were perfect, not overcooked or stale. And the creamy garlic sauce worked perfectly with them. 8.5 out of 10. Then came the zucchini dumplings. I don't know what all is in them but I guarantee one ingredient is magic. These things are absolutely indescribably good. Amazing, fabulous, delicious, any other word I can think of falls short. They came with the same garlic sauce and I wasn't mad about it. The flavor combo wasn't just good, it was otherworldly. Over 9000 out of 10. Then came the main event. Perfect strips of chicken shawarma, simple yellow rice, a salad with Greek dressing, and warm pita quarters. I opened a pita and stuffed it with all the things. And, friend? No lie, it was another level, again! I just sat there with my eyes closed, shaking my head in disbelief at how good it was. My server friend noticed and popped by to make sure it was happy head shakes. I don't know, a billion out of 10?
Hummus House was the whole package for me. Excellent, authentic ambiance. Super friendly and fast service. Food to die for. Seriously, go! It's worth it!