I’m a sucker for a good dip. And by God, did Hanar do right by my hummus craving when I stopped for a bite on Tuesday. I stumbled into Hanar back in September when I first moved to Peckham. A friend and I had planned to get dinner and explore our new neighbourhood, but discovered the restaurant we had intended to go to was closed. Thankfully, Rye Lane has no shortage of restaurants, and after noticing moody string lights illuminating a dark alley across the street, we braved the short trek, hungry and hopeful.
Hanar, a Kurdish restaurant, did not disappoint, but even still, I hadn’t been back until this month when I was hit by a sudden longing for halloumi and chickpeas. This time I returned solo on my quest. I remembered why I liked it so much the first time around as soon as I passed under the string light arch: sitting inside on the lower level, it felt like I was in someone’s living room. Warm lighting, cozy decorations…there was even a guitar in the corner that I wasn’t so sure was decorative. I went on the earlier side of Tuesday evening, and by the time I left around 7:30, the place was getting busy, even on a Tuesday. Also worth noting that they’re closed on Sundays and Mondays.
Our first visit, my friend and I split the £38 vegetarian sharing platter for two, which felt reasonable considering we got to try a bite of nearly all the vegetarian dishes on the menu. This time around, I prudently ordered the vegetarian mezze platter for just under £14, which was like an appetiser version of the larger platter, excluding the two mains but with all the sides. Safe to say it was still plenty of food, and included the signature sprinkling of pomegranate seeds (that’s what “hanar” means in Kurdish). We’re talking rice in the centred surrounded by multiple dips, cucumber and mint salad, falafel, sweet halloumi, and, looking back at their menu, I am nearly certain they threw on some yapragh (similar to Turkish dolma) and a veggie kubba (filled, doughy, fried something or other). Oh, and naan on the side. I tried to take my time licking my plate clean. I will say the naan wasn’t anything special, though maybe that’s because it was cold by the time I was through figuring out where to even begin. I left quite full, all for the fair price of £15 with tax. If I had an ounce of room left in me, I would’ve tried their homemade semolina cake for dessert, apparently a house favourite.
Hanar is a perfect spot for vegetarians, but there are also plenty of options for meat-eaters: namely chicken and lamb, but please just promise you’ll try the dips.
Lauren Miller
Address: Arch 163 Peckham Rye, London SE15 4ST