January 2018 - Food

Where To Eat This Month - Hummus Bros

Seriously good houmous – and a lot more besides – at London’s prime practitioner of chickpea worship. Houmous may be nothing more than cheap student-fuel to many, but this humble chickpea paste is elevated to something altogether more delicious in the hands of Hummus Bros. The original Wardour Street outlet is still spartanly decorated, despite a ten-year refit, with communal tables and big windows – with queues of office workers snaking into the street at lunchtime: scenes replicated at the Holborn and Cheapside branches. Though the wraps aren’t bad, go for the bowls of silky-smooth houmous sprinkled with paprika and olive oil, and make use of the garlic-infused lemon juice on every table. Mashed, cumin-scented fava beans is a good choice of topping, but our favourite is the chunky slow-cooked beef. A regular portion comes with two warm wholemeal pittas (one with a small serving). Side dishes are heartily recommended, with deliciously smoky barbecued aubergine and zingy tabouleh particular highlights. There’s the option of customising your plate with tortilla chips, carrot sticks or hard-boiled eggs, though it’s probably best to keep things simple. Service is quick and casual, but the Middle Eastern flavours and big portions make this a top budget lunch spot. My rating 8/10.