Hacı Nebil Fast Food (Syrian Cuisine)

“I chose to call my restaurant ‘fast food’ so that customers will know the restaurant is not Turkish,” says the owner of Hacı Nebil Fast Food. Sadly, if one were not in the know, this hint may not be sufficient to reveal that Hacı Nebil is in fact a traditional Syrian restaurant, just a few metro stops from Kızılay in the Demetevler neighborhood.

Open since the summer of 2017, Hacı Nebil saves up a storm of Syrian casual faire.  Hummus, falafel, fateh, ful, greens, chicken and rice, as well as desserts.  So far, the fateh the falafel and the hummus have stood out.  Fateh, a dish unfamiliar to me, made for an excellent late breakfast.  Hummus is mixed with chickpeas and torn up lavash flatbread, and then copiously seasoned with cumin, tahini and other spices.  Their falafel is crispy on the outside, soft on the inside and well seasoned, served with a yoghurt-tahini sauce. And most mouthwateringly the hummus comes out served on a plate and seasoned with cumin and a generous splash of olive oil. The hummus alone, alongside the complimentary lavas and salad make for a satisfying meal.

But it’s not only the food that makes the restaurant, it’s the atmosphere.  There’s a counter, behind which the food is prepared and diners sit at one of 4 or 5 plastic tables.  The owner is friendly, speaks English and is more than happy to discuss his food with the new initiate.  And finally the prices don’t hurt, with nearly everything on the menu costing 5-10 lira. They also offer delivery to the city center at least, and will sell take out 

Certainly not haute cuisine, but usually that’s for the best. Hacı Nebil delivers in every way a dive restaurant can.

DON'T MISS: The Hummus-creamy and dressed with olive oil and spices.

GET THERE:  From Kızılay Metro Station take the Batıkent metro line to the Demetevler metro stop (about 15 minutes).  From there it’s a short walk to its location on 398 cd.

​PRICE: $

LOCATION:  Demetevler Mahallesi, 398th Cd. 1-3 06200 Yenimahalle / Ankara