Little Sesame

For the life of me I can’t understand why this has such amazing reviews. It’s hummus. That’s it. Is the hummus good? Sure. Is it mind blowing? Not so much. It’s good hummus, and it’s honestly too much hummus. And there are some other things that are served with the hummus depending on which you order. It’s a reasonable price for what you get, and will fill you up. I got the roasted cauliflower one, and despite what people say, it was too much to eat — I couldn’t finish it.
But really, it’s hummus. That’s it. Pretty easy to make at home with a good blender…

I like little sesame and go there about once a month for lunch carry out. today I walked over on a lovely day and ordered out the #4 cauliflower and green onion. the hummus was as usual very good. however, I was disappointed for the first time by the pita (stale and tough) and salad (mix of reasonably fresh but also seriously wilted greens). I always try to share feedback with managers or owners. but despite looking I could not find a contact Email or texting address. hence my journey to post here.

I’m usually not a huge fan of eating plain hummus but enjoyed it with the topped veggies and feta cheese. Yum! The size is really filling too. Just wish there was more meaty options. Would love to have some hummus with roasted lamb or gyro meat.

Very good hummus, interesting toppings, pita a bit weak.
It feels bad to give a restaurant four instead of five stars because it isn’t as good as another restaurant in a different city. But the fact is, it’s not as good Dizengoff in Philadelphia. The pita isn’t as good, and the toppings not quite there. It’s still very good, I’m happy to go here for lunch any time. So why should it being slightly inferior matter?

Tried Little Sesame for the first time with Über Eats. Total was over $ 12 and I’m not sure if I’d order without getting the Über discount. I think it’s cheaper in person, however. I had the shawarma hummus which was a medium to large sized humus bowl with chicken shawarma, pickled onions, and other greens, plus a side salad and one pita. The hummus is good but nothing to write home about. Average in general. The hummus is very thick and even a bit sweet. Shawarma on top was great, and I’m glad I got it. One pita is definitely not enough, however, and I didn’t need the side salad (hummus is filling enough) and the greens weren’t fresh. I would go back again if the hours were not limiting and the price was at $ 8. I would also go back with a friend to split something as a snack.

Best hummus ever tried, so thick and smooth. My favorite is the cauliflower and the salad, so fresh and well seasoned with perfect dressing! The other thing I love is the utensil (carry out box, plates, bowls, etc.), very environmental friendly. The staff was very friendly and helpful, always greet people with a good attitude.
The place is a little hard to find, you have to take the stairs as it is in the basement.

I was skeptical of hummus for lunch. It seemed like eating french onion dip or salsa for lunch. I was so wrong.
The hummus at Little Sesame is amazingly fresh and tastes nothing like that pasty Sabra hummus you get at the grocery store. (The friendly staff told me that it is made fresh every day.) The toppings all pair well with the creaminess of the hummus – I have had them all (or almost, the menu does change seasonally) – and the salad is a nice counterpoint to the richness.
To finally vanquish my doubts this lunch actually had me feeling good, energized and not hungry again at 4 PM. (Which may be why I eat there all the time.)

I’ve been to Little Sesame twice for lunch. It’s a cute little spot below DGS. The best way to get there is to walk down 18^th and there is a sign and small staircase. There are a lot of options on the menu but I would recommend sticking with vegetables over the meat options. I didn’t love the chicken but the roasted cauliflower was delicious! My co-​worker tried the potatoes and said those were also great. They give you a generous portion of food — hummus topped with whatever you choose (veggies, etc.), seasoning, a piece of pita and a side salad. The hummus is so good and I love their hot sauce. You can also add on feta or a soft-​boiled egg. It’s comparable pricing for similar lunch locations in the Dupont area. Great new lunch addition!

Little Sesame is my favorite lunch spot in the area. It is surprisingly filling (I’ve been able to split this into two meals before, although it can be hard to try not to devour it all because it’s so good). The hummus bowls come with toppings as well as pita and a salad. The toppings are very vegetarian friendly, but there are also non-​vegetarian toppings (have seen chicken or lamb) as well. You can also add a hard-​boiled egg, although I don’t think the texture of the hard-​boiled egg goes that well with the hummus.
My favorites:
— Spring greens with crispy chickpeas (Spring Menu). I really like the addition of peas, and the crispy chickpeas are perfectly seasoned.
— Roasted winter squash (Winter Menu). This comes with pomegranate molasses which makes it deliciously sweet and savory.
— Roasted cauliflower with green onions (Winter Menu). The roasted cauliflower is delicious, although i do have to say that this option is not as filling as some others.
The vanilla ice cream with halva also looks really good. that’s next on my list!

I hadn’t heard of this place until I saw it mentioned in an article on GOOP, and it looked so good that I decided to go check it out that same day. The shop was hard to find, but then I noticed a sign by he deli saying to head downstairs. The #4 (cauliflower and green onions) was absolutely delicious. I didn’t feel like I needed an extra pita.
The hummus was tahini-​heavy and very smooth, and very mildly garlicky. It was really tasty.
The hot sauce is a tomato based sauce with a weird spice added to it but it was delicious! Also, the lemon water was a nice touch.

Delicious and filling! Who would have thought! And a nice change of pace for lunch. A gluten free pita would be an added bonus but you don’t need the pita to make it a meal.

So simple. So delicious! For people turned off that they «just serve hummus,» know that this is the best hummus ever and they give you a LOT of food and salad! I went with my coworkers and we were all very full after our meals and will certainly be returning to the all the different kinds!

A bit overpriced given that they only give you one piece of (albeit delicious) pita to eat with your hummus.
Little Sesame has a lovely small space below DGS Delicatessen, with long communal tables. Patrons order at the main counter and then take their trays (once their orders are prepared.)
The hummus itself is quite good and the menu has a number of excellent variations to choose from. However, as mentioned above, each bowl only comes with one fresh pita. The pita are also excellent, but for such an amount of hummus, two pitot are really the minimum required, if not more.

Delicious hummus! Among the best I have had.

You really have to be looking for Little Sesame to find it. It’s basically in the basement of DGS. I was skeptical walking down the stairs, but once inside, I was pleasantly surprised by how bright and clean it is. Also, you can see into the kitchen. It was kind of fun to see them grinding a massive vat of chickpeas. The hummus is definitely made fresh on site.
The basic dish is a plate of hummus and then you select a topping from a menu of about six or seven items. The meal comes with a side salad and a pita.
I chose the roasted cauliflower, which was delicious, as was the hummus. I also tried the 10 day egg, which I didn’t love. This place is just a block from my office and I can definitely see myself becoming a regular.

First off I LOVE hummus and pita. Shaya in New Orleans has the best hummus and pita I’ve ever eaten (my favorite meal in 2015) and Little Sesame has the second best hummus I’ve eaten. It was delicious and creamy, really awesome. I got it topped with fried cauliflower which was a delicious decision, very creamy and filling. The side salad was light (just greens) with a great tasty dressing with some special ingredient that I couldn’t place. Be sure to try the side sauces. I honestly couldn’t tell you what was in either of them but the red one was especially delicious.
My only complaints — the one piece of pita they serve you is probably not going to be enough for you. You can either do complicated calculations to figure out how to balance your pita to hummus ratios or you can just buy another piece for $ 1. They have free water which is spiked with fruit (two different flavors) which is awesome but the cups they give you are so small I had to get up and refill it three times. What is it with restaurants and small cups? There is also limited seating — two big communal tables. Might want to carryout. I was not starving but ended up fuller than I thought I would be. If you are travelling with someone who is a super heavy eater they might leave hungry. Maybe they should get meat on top of their hummus. Also the entrance on 18^th street has some super steep and narrow stairs. If you are coming with someone who is mobility challenged I would recommend entering and exiting through DGS on Connecticut instead. When I went up the stairs on 18^th street in my high heel boots I almost tripped 3 times.
I just wish it had non-​lunchtime hours :(

I actually found out about this place on the Unilocal app as a Hot and New business. The restaurant is basement level and it’s next to DGS Delicatessen. The steps are narrow and there is no railing but the restaurant is so cute. It’s a cozy space with nice, soft lighting. There are two long communal tables and you can see the kitchen through the glass. However, it is small so you might have to get your order to go. The cashier was very friendly; she was all smiles which made me smile. Smiles are contagious.
For my meal, I ordered the hummus with roasted beets which came with warm pita bread and a side salad for $ 9.90 with tax. I have to say that I really enjoyed my meal – the hummus was just so creamy and loved that they drizzled olive oil over it. Also, the beets were perfect, you can’t go wrong with beets! They had some other options and you can get add-​ins such as pickles and some type of egg (I forget the type, sorry). While most of the menu items are vegetarian, there is a hummus dish with pastrami so if you gotta have meat, there you go. I thought the food was filling and healthy. Also, it didn’t take long to get my food. I would call that good food fast!
If you’re in the area, check out Little Sesame, just mind the steps!

Down a narrow set of steps, in a basement-​level restaurant, lies the cutest hummus mom-​and-​pop type restaurant I’ve ever laid eyes on. The idea, alone, to have hummus as the menu star is brilliant, as Little Sesame lets you know just what you’re in for.
After careful deliberation (and advice from the Little Sesame waitress), I went with the roasted beets, soft yogurt & hazelnut dukka hummus. Paired with the sweet Sumac dressing that comes with the side salad, as well as the pita, the sweet notes of the beet really comes through. It’s everything a hummus should be: textured, creamy, nutty, and drizzled with olive oil.
With other options such as pastrami, pickled mustard seeds & chives; winter squash, pomegranate molasses & parsley; fried cauliflower, green onion & «everything» spice; and sauteed greens, crispy chickpeas & smoked paprika, this won’t be my last trip to 18^th St.

Always on the search of new places– little sesame was bookmarked for the next time I didn’t wanna bring lunch.
I ordered the cauliflower hummus which was delish. I appreciated the smooth creaminess of the hummus and the charred cauliflower. LOVED that the pita was warmed. Salad was a basic spring mix with some radishes. The homemade sauce is an oil vinegar mix. Finished the whole thing no problem.
While I enjoyed my meal, I don’t know if it would have been filling if I was really hungry. Suggestion would be to add a protein (chicken or falafel) option for the carnivores and then to lower the price point by a dollar or two to be able to match places like sweet green and chopt.
Overall, love the concept and the recyclable packaging!

Everyone in my office has been raving about Little Sesame since the day it opened, so today I finally decided to give it a try. I got the fried cauliflower hummus plate, which I enjoyed. The hummus was quite good — I’d never had it warm before, but now I see why people say it’s better than out of the fridge — and the cauliflower went better with the hummus than I expected. The pita, while warm, was very hard around the edges. The salad that came with it was nice, but inconsistent — mine had a lot of different vegetables in it, while the woman sitting next to me got 100% arugula (or whatever the green was) and nothing else. I’m not sure why that was, but she sure wasn’t happy about it. For $ 13 (including a drink), I thought it was well-​priced. I wouldn’t recommend dining in — it’s a small space, pretty crowded, and fairly loud.
To conclude, I plan to come back here another time to try a different hummus — the pastrami one sounds really good — but there are people in my office who loved it a lot more than I did.