Oren's Hummus
Israeli restaurant · South of Market ·
Mediterranean eatery serving hummus, kebabs, falafel, beers
Mediterranean eatery serving hummus, kebabs, falafel, beers
"Because salad chains and leftovers are boring midday fuel-ups, head to Oren’s Hummus. The Israeli spot is a step up from monotonous weekday lunches—for starters, a massive and random chandelier is the dining room’s centerpiece. And the food, from hummus plates and shakshuka to pita sandwiches with falafel or plant-based lamb, will be the star of all future lunchtime fantasies. The fluffy pita is the standout, so definitely get some extra to-go. If you’re in a rush, ordering at the takeout counter adjacent to the restaurant is the move." - julia chen 1, lani conway, ricky rodriguez
"If we worked in one of the tall buildings close to Oren’s Hummus, we’d probably ask maintenance to install some sort of zip line system directly to this Israeli spot because the food here is great and it works for almost any lunch occasion. Between the chandeliers and table service, you could bring your boss, clients, or mentees here, but it’s also casual enough to swoop in and grab something from their to-go section, like some of the excellent hummus or chicken skewers. They also cater if you need to feed a lot of people during a lunch-and-learn and are sick of getting the same chopped salads delivered to the conference room." - taylor abrams, jess basser sanders, will kamensky
"Not only is Oren’s Hummus a pretty healthy option for lunch or dinner in the Financial District, it feels nice enough to bring your boss to, but it’s also cheap enough for you to afford before you ask for a raise. You could sit here and eat your way through dips for a while, but if you want something bigger, go for the lamb hummus and get some whole wheat pita if you’re really sticking to the whole health thing." - taylor abrams, will kamensky
"Thanks to the chandeliers and table service, Oren’s Hummus feels like a nice lunch option you can casually drop into near Union Square, and thanks to their food, it’s somewhere you’d actually want to do that. Come here with a few friends, split the lamb hummus with them, and let the inevitable passive aggressive struggle for the last bite ensue." - will kamensky
"Okay, let’s lay some ground rules here. This is Silicon Valley. It’s not San Francisco, New York, or even the unfairly-maligned-around-these-parts LA dining scene. From a food and atmosphere perspective, we’re grading on a bit of a curve. That said, Oren’s Hummus is unequivocally the best dollar-for-dollar spending on food you can do in Palo Alto. (The closest In-N-Out is technically in Mountain View, but even if it weren’t, Oren’s still would take the crown.) Some background: a guy named Oren makes (like everyone, we assume) a gajillion dollars on four successful startups, but finds something still missing in his life. That thing? Authentic Israeli hummus. He teams up with his wife, who conveniently happens to be a successful restaurateur, to bring the flavors of home to the Valley. Fast forward a year or so, and the duo are running the best restaurant on University Avenue. Given that the restaurant is already a favorite of luminaries like Paul Graham, it’s safe to say that millions of dollars of deals have gone down over skewers at Oren’s, with millions more to come. It’s also open until 11 every day, which is like being open until 4 a.m. around these parts. But those aren’t the best reasons to go to Oren’s. The best reason is that the food—from the skewers to the falafel to, yes, the hummus—is consistently, uniformly delicious. You know how you can often tell in one bite whether the guy who made your food actually gives a crap? At Oren’s, they always do. And that’s harder to find than it should be in the South Bay. Food Rundown Hummus Oren’s makes excellent hummus. Do I have a sophisticated enough palate to tell if it is truly legendary hummus? No. But if you like hummus, you will dig it. Beware the “hummus entrees”—you are essentially signing up for a bowl of hummus (with toppings) that could serve as a challenge on Man vs. Food. Much better as a side. Skewers This is where the magic happens. The chicken, beef, and vegetable skewers are spicy, tender, consistently delicious, and come with two magical sides. This is the sweet spot. Pita “Rip, scoop, eat,” is Oren’s mantra. Follow the instructions. The white pita is perfect. The wheat is inferior and not worth its supposed health benefits. Red and green spicy sauces My god, the red chili garlic sauce is good. It’s basically Israeli Sriracha. Put it on pita, meat, quinoa, your finger, whatever. Enjoy. The green sauce has a little more spice and a little less flavor. Solid second place. Knock ’em back with a Goldstar (the Budweiser of Israel). Sweet potato fries These are on every single menu in Palo Alto. We’ve concluded there’s a municipal mandate that you need them to get Department of Health approval. These are the best, of course—you can actually taste how high-grade the sweet potatoes are and the aioli they come with is absolutely off the chain. Oren’s dominates in the sauce department. Israeli chopped salad, cabbage, beets, carrots, rice, etc. Above-average vegetable preparations, nothing to get too worked up about. Quinoa This gets special mention because it’s the first quinoa I’ve ever eaten that had flavor. The rest have been at salad bars, admittedly. Babaganush Eggplant If hummus is good vodka, this is high-quality scotch—smoky, refined, a must-order. Falafel As good as Taim’s in NYC. Sometimes. Depends on the day." - Max Child
