There are a thousand ways to make hummus, with competing blends of chickpeas, tahini and even baking powder all trying to achieve the perfect spread. With The Hummus Dealer we might just have found the ultimate recipe for this Middle Eastern classic. Israeli-born founder Chen Jakov has made it his mission to bring the best hummus to Berlin, first in 2019 via a stand at Markthalle Neun and now directly to your door with home delivery three days a week. The all-vegan menu features six mezze essentials, including a perfectly-smoked baba ganoush, charred aubergine halves and tender roasted cauliflower. But no order is complete without the hummus: a smooth, nutty blend of creamy chickpeas finished off with paprika, olive oil and pomegranate. And since you can never have too much hummus, Chen offers 500g and even kilo-sized portions of the stuff, with fresh pitta bread included.

All the dishes come delivered in biodegradable boxes made from cornstarch and can be eaten immediately or stored in the fridge for later. And if you want to dip into the world of home-made hummus, you can order jars of high-quality tahini that Chen personally imports from Israel. In pursuit of the perfect pulse? Look no further than The Hummus Dealer himself. 

Text: Benji Haughton / Photos: Kirsten Kaminski

The Hummus Dealer 
You can order via Instagram for free delivery within the Ring
Mon, Wed & Fri, 12–18h (order by 18h the day before, minimum order value €13, pay with cash or Paypal)

Pick up at Weserstr.40A 12047 Berlin–Friedrichshain; map
Mon, Wed & Fri, 11–12h & from 18h

@thehummusdealer

Small is beautiful at Crackbuns, the grab-and-go slider restaurant that opened in December 2020 on Auguststraße. For those who haven’t witnessed the slider craze in its New York home: these are mini hamburgers which – like all good things – come in twos, sixes and twelves, making them a great way to taste several different burgers at once. Founded by the team behind gastro ventures Zenkichi and House of Small Wonder, this US/Japan-inspired joint offers four sliders to pick from, including classic beef with two organic patties, red onions, cheddar and salad as well as the flavorsome karaage chicken, marinated in ginger, garlic and soy sauce for an umami twang. For max indulgence you can add organic bacon, while veggie appetites are also well served with the red bean and mushroom burger. All are served on soft, glossy fuwa fuwa buns (Japanese for fluffy) that are baked daily on-site. 

The mixing and matching continues with the sides, amongst them the mochi mochi fries with a crisp yet velvety texture and the cheesy-saucy shrimp gratin. You can order the whole line-up – which also includes combo deals and family meals – for delivery within a 3km radius or simply pick up at the restaurant. The place is easy to find: it is located, strangely enough, on the corner of Kleine Hamburger Straße… 

Text: Benji Haughton / Photos: Sven Hausherr

Crackbuns, Auguststr.63 (corner of Kleine Hamburger Straße) 10117 Berlin–Mitte; map
Open daily 11–22h30 for pickup and delivery via Wolt.

@crackbuns_berlin