Better late than never, they say. After a couple of months of searching for my missing food review photos, I finally found the little bugger of a memory card that decided to play hide and seek. Now, I can tell you about a place in Berlin where all my hummus dreams have been realised. Kanaan Berlin – a vegetarian restaurant in Prenzlauer Berg serving Israeli and Palestinian food.
If you’ve been following me on Instagram, you’re probably tired of all my hummus posts on stories by now. I’d eat it every day if I could. So, when my friend in the foodie industry, Mathaios, asked me to join him on a visit to Kanaan, he got an immediate and – admittedly overly eager – yes.
Israeli marketing expert and entrepreneur Oz Ben David and Jalil Dabit, a Palestinian-Arab of the famous “Humos Samir“ family, founded the restaurant. For most Berliners and expats who frequent P-Berg, the place is practically an institution. For people who haven’t gone, let me give you a couple of reasons why you should make your way to this side of the city.
Diversity
Whatever your religion is, whatever your sexual orientation may be – everybody is welcome. Muslims, Jews, Christians. Gay men and women, heteros, transgenders, Berliners, refugees, and more. Yes, das ist Berlin. But I’ve never seen a restaurant with a team as diverse as Kanaan’s. It was refreshing and the service is friendly without the need to demand for it.
The Kanaan Hummus
Whatever background or religion you may come from, you’ll have to agree that Kanaan has one of the best (if not the best) hummus recipes in the city. Admittedly, I don’t think I’ve been to enough Levantine restaurants to be able to say which one is the best. However, after one visit, you’ll just know that their’s is truly up there on the list.
Creamy with a slight crunch from the whole, chickpea toppings. My hummus-loving mouth is watering as I type this. There’s a storm in Berlin today and I can’t even make my way to P-berg to get myself some. Oh, the torture!
It goes with everything in the menu – from the usual falafel, their fries, even down to the vegan currywurst. Talk about a dish that really represents this city.
The things you learn about Levantine food
Every now and then, you will see David coming up to people and giving them advice on how to eat the food, even encouraging them to eat up using their hands. Just like how his own grandmother would do to him and the people he brings over to eat.
I am someone who – if possible – will refuse to eat with her hands. A remnant of my germophobe past, if you will. However, David was convincing enough to get even someone like me to drop the fork and knife and really get in there.
Grab a piece of bread, tear it up and open the middle part. Add hummus and a little bit of the side dishes. There is no wrong combination. Go ham on it. You won’t regret it. If it gets messy, congratulations. You lived a little.
10/10 will definitely be back not just for the hummus but for their t-shirts that say “Ich bin Hummussexuell”. I’ve never seen any other shirt that spoke to me as well as that one did.
Kanaan
Schliemannstraße 15, 10437 Berlin
Hours: Tuesday-Friday 1200-1500 | 1800-0000, Saturday-Sunday 1000-1500, 1800-0000 | Closed on Mondays
Phone: 01590 1348077
Visit their website via this link
Reservations – click here
**I was a guest at Kanaan but that does not – in any way – affect my review and opinions expressed in this article.
