01Middle Eastern / Oud-Zuid
Esh Pitabar top pick
Van Baerlestraat 51, Oud-Zuid · €€
They are serious about their dough - everything is made in-house, from the warm, charred pitas to the pizzas, and you can taste the difference. The menu is strong across the board: start with the sabich (fried eggplant, boiled egg, tahini, amba, pickles in the pita) and you will understand why people keep coming back. Great atmosphere and excellent cocktails, especially on a sunny day when the terrace fills up. The Rijksmuseum location gets busy when the museums shut; go before noon or after three.
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02Lebanese / Centrum
Dabka Lebanese, city centre
Oudezijds Kolk 69, Centrum · €€ · daily 09:00-23:00
A Lebanese kitchen in the old city, on a canal just off the main drag, open till 23:00. The hummus is fresh and well-made, the pita baked in-house, and the surrounding mezze - tabbouleh, kebbeh, flatbreads with olive oil and garlic - is how you should eat here. Go for a full spread rather than a quick pita stop. The better choice for an evening meal.
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03Middle Eastern / three locations
Hummus Bistro d&a shakshuka & siniya
Westerstraat 136 (Jordaan), Maasstraat 72, Oostenburgergracht 185 · €€ · daily from 12:00
A solid, fun and casual hummus bistro - the kind of place you can drop into without a plan. Hummus is the anchor but the menu goes further: shakshuka (two eggs in spiced tomato sauce with pita and pickles), meatballs, siniya (chopped lamb and beef on roasted tomato and eggplant with tahini), and more. Three locations across the city so there is usually one near you.
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