Editor’s Note: Unfortunately, Hasiba closed in early 2022. 😞
Hasiba Restaurant is a hummusiya (hummus eatery) in Los Angeles, Pico Blvd, near La Cienega Blvd. This area of LA is known as a center for the Jewish community and its numerous Kosher restaurants, including delis, Chinese, Italian, and Mexican restaurants. Hasiba is one of the latest certified Kosher restaurants to open in this area.
The owners of Lodge Bread have a strong passion for Middle Eastern cuisine and opened Hasiba in mid-2018. The inside has a large communal table lined with bar seating along the walls and front window. Presently, indoor seating is not permitted, and outdoor seating is available in front of their establishment.
From the Vogue article, “A Hummus Crawl Through Israel With the “Chickpea Whisperer,” chef Michael Solomonov said, “Israeli hummus is mostly about the tahini. I think the misconception is that it should be the garlic and lemon juice, and that’s actually a small part […] The temperature, too. It’s not cold; they make it and then serve it.”
Hasiba isn’t a fast-food restaurant as they make pita to order. When I arrived home, I was surprised the pita was still warm. The pita had a wonderful earthy aroma and was thick and fluffy. They prepare the pita so that it naturally creates a pocket for a sandwich.
Hummus is made fresh each day and topped with paprika and fresh herbs. It is soft and creamy, and the clean taste is superior to store-bought. They offer unique toppings such as mushrooms. One of the mushrooms they use is beech mushrooms, a crunchy earthy mushroom with a bold, savory taste.
They make their sandwiches using their pita and stuff them to the brim, where it is difficult to eat without making a mess. I think the pita saves the falafel sandwich and I enjoyed their roasted tomato sandwich. The latter consists of greens, roasted tomatoes, marinated onions, sweet peppers, hard-boiled eggs, and chilis.
Shakshuka is trending in LA, and since it is a Middle Eastern breakfast dish, you will find it on many weekend brunch menus. Hasiba prepares both the traditional style with tomato and Abba style that is potato and onion based.
They have quite a few pre-prepared sides and Middle Eastern condiments in their refrigerated case. I tried the tabbouleh, and while it wasn’t overloaded with bulgar wheat and had the requisite amount of chopped flat-leaf parsley. They also feature labneh and za’atar, matbucha, and other items to create a mezze platter.
Hasiba, 8532 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90035; 424.302.0225; hasibarestaurant.com