La Hummuseria, Fresh Food in Madrid

Hummus is a staple of vegetarians and vegans around the world. The simple harmony of chickpeas, tahini, and oil can become anything: a spread for sandwiches, an appetizer for parties, or a protein-packed salad dressing. But at La Hummuseria in Madrid, it’s the main event.

Tucked off a side street from Calle Fuencarral is the charming restaurant that’s taken a meaty city by storm. The menu is simple: several flavors of hummus with a few fresh salads and mezze to round out the offerings.

The decor is simple and friendly, the waiters are attentive, and the atmosphere is perfect for lunch with friends or a quiet spot to eat with a book. Do people still do that?

Maddy and I visited on a rainy and cold day but we opened the doors to find warmth and comfort in the atmosphere and food. I started off with a Greek lemonade: hand squeezed lemon juice with raw sugar and ouzo garnished with star anise and mint leaves. Maddy chose a non-alcoholic lemonade and also loved his choice.

The tapas came fast and fresh: harissa flecked carrots with caraway seeds, grilled beets with a balsamic reduction, and tabouleh bursting with fresh mint and pomegranate seeds. The beets were nothing short of spectacular, the earthy flavor came through and met with the chopped green onion which was the perfect complement. Every bite was a taste of nature at its finest.

La Ensalada Primavera was another favorite, even though it was a chilly day outside. The combination of soft mixed greens, mango chunks, seeded grape halves, with toasted walnuts covered in a green tahini dressing was magnificent. Maddy took this salad down with a huge smile.

La Fresca was reminiscent of many Moroccan salads we’ve had in the last year, crisp cucumbers and juicy tomatoes with finely chopped onions – but we loved the twist of sunflower and pumpkin seeds to pack in Vitamin E, copper, and some B’s! With creative and complete salads like this, it’s simple to meet your nutritional needs while indulging in fantastic flavors.

Just look at all that bursting flavor. No wonder their slogan is “Fresh Kitchen”.

Now for the main event: the hummus! All hummus at La Hummuseria is served warm, which really opens up the flavors and allows you to notice the wonderfully creamy texture that they’ve managed to capture time and again. The hummus is served with warm bread, onion slices, and green peppers for a classic Israeli touch.  Maddy chose to go with the fried tomato sauce hummus — it was rich and perfect for the day.

Always a sucker for pine nuts and almonds, I chose the “Irresistible” hummus. It certainly lives up to its name — weeks later I am still craving a pit stop at La Hummuseria!

Yes, it tastes just as good as it looks.

Incredible bread served toasty from the oven to scoop up warm hummus — what more could you ask for?

If you can believe it, we chose to make room for dessert and drinks — I chose the Gin Tonic Desierto and Maddy went with the Guayabanita — a guava margarita. Wow! Both were lovely, especially the cinnamon and fresh orange slice in my gin, but the margarita was the real winner… Next time we go out with friends for dinner and drinks in Madrid you can be 100% sure this is where we’re heading.

Finally, we tried the halva. Halva is a rich sweet typically made from sesame seeds, nuts, and a sweetener. At La Hummuseria the halva is perfectly crumbly and served with walnuts and apple slices to cut the sweetness. It’s a perfect harmony together, just like all the food offerings at the restaurant.

If you’re in Madrid and looking for a place to nourish and treat yourself while eating good, wholesome food then look no further. And hey, while you’re there grab a Greek Lemonade — you won’t regret it!

You’ll find La Hummuseria at Calle Hernán Cortés 8 from Tuesday through Saturday 13:30 – 16:30 and 20:30 – 23:30 or on 
Sunday from 13:30 – 16:30. Please note they are closed on Monday, but you can always call to confirm hours and reservations at 910226240 or send them a message via their Facebook page. 

We hope to see you there on our next trip to Madrid and would love to hear from anyone who has eaten there. What are your favorite dishes? Let us know below!