Gazala’s NYC | Eating With Ziggy

Posts Tagged With: Gazala’s NYC

Gazala’s – Hummus and the City

Posted on April 26, 2026 by Ziggy

Just a bit further afield, in a remote area of the city I call Upper West Side, the legend lives on. In fact its right next to another displaced legend, Pig & Khao. Its like the forming of an EWZ classics refugee camp. Add a Song’ E Napule branch, one of our Neapolitan standouts, along with Miriam, Malka and more, and just like that, the UWS is not as bad anymore.

That means spending some time in the area can yield some delicious results, and tough choices. But since I had much of the day last Sunday, I just picked both legends. Brunch at Pig and Khao, long stroll in blooming Central Park, Jim Gaffigan at the Beacon, followed by dinner at Gazala’s.

Inside Gazala’s it doesnt feel like a legend. It feels like a regular casual Middle Eastern restaurant, even though it bills itself as “Mediterranean”. The difference can be subtle, but to me its closer to classic Middle Eastern. Gazala’s is still the only Druze Restaurant in the US. Yes, I Google this from time to time when I make this statement. Taboonia, opened by a Nova festival survivor, opened and closed within a year or so, but that was more of a fast casual Druze, not a full service restaurant.

The original Gazala’s was of course one of the staples in Hell’s Kitchen. I spent many hours there, including introducing it to co-workers and tourists as part of my original food tour (still suspended and have no plans to resume sorry). Visiting the UWS location, tasting the flavors, and seeing some familiar faces brought many memories.

Druze is an ethnic group living in villages in Israel, Syria and Lebanon. They have their own unique culture, and known particularly for their hospitality. In 2012 we were able to experience that just outside of Haifa, right next to the village where Gazala Halabi came from. She immigrated to NYC in 2001 and pretty much has been cooking for New Yorkers ever since. The original Gazala’s was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, NYT, Eater, and most importantly multiple times on EWZ.

The menu hasnt changed much. The classics are still the classics, and the Hummus is still some of the best you’ll find anywhere. We had a light meal after the marathon brunch at P&K, and as usual nothing but winners.

Boureka Tomato – One of the specialties since the beginning. You can have it with spinach but I’m partial to this one. A beautiful flaky combination of homemade cheese and sun dried tomato. It can feel a bit heavy so best to share.

Hummus Mosabaha – Hummus is one of the least exciting items a blogger can write about. I probably lost some followers when they read the title. But Hummus can indeed be a revelation. At Gazala’s its silky smooth, perfect consistency, and just the right flavor you’d expect from fresh Hummus. I bought extra to take home, and enjoying it with hard pretzels and whatever else I can dip there.

Moshakal – Like a grilled meat platter, and roughly 80% terrific. Didnt care for just one of the meats. The marinated grilled chicken in particular is excellent. This easily feeds two so that’s the end of the post. Go!

447 Amsterdam Ave

Walk in the Park Part 3 – Dinner at Gazala’s

Posted on June 16, 2014 by Ziggy

The trilogy conclusion you were so anxiously waiting for. Part 1 is here. Part 2 is here

****Spoiler Alert****: The killer is the hummus!

Although I’ve been to Gazala’s Place in Hell’s Kitchen probably more than 20 times, I never actually met Gazala herself, the hardest working woman in showbiz. That’s because she is hardly ever there. A few years after opening tiny Gazala’s Place she opened this Upper West Side flagship where she spends most of the time. To finally meet her and see her in action was as thrilling to me as meeting Michael White, or Bobby Flay. She is a woman of few words, and all business in that kitchen.

Thankfully for us, Gazala chose the al-Juhhāl (loosely translates to “the Ignorant”) way of life in the Druze village near Haifa, Israel where she grew up. It essentially means she chose the non-religious way, which meant among other things, she is free to travel and in this case, spread the word about the Druze. The word is Hospitality. When you visit a Druze village like we did in Israel a few years ago (coincidentally Gazala’s sister village), you are welcomed and greeted with warmth warmer than your aunt Sally. And so much of that welcome is conveyed via what I can only describe as Trays of heaven. No way aunt Sally can cook like this

Treys of heaven started flowing in very quickly at Gazala’s by the usual army of Russian waiters/waitresses I’ve come to know over the years. Don’t be fooled by the “Asian” looking waitresses, as they are also Russian. For some reason, perhaps a misunderstanding with the agency Gazala works with, other than the cooks, she only employs Russian workers at both branches. A fine Labneh (goat cheese) with Zaat’ar spices to start the party. The Bourekas (flaky pastry) is top notch as usual. They call it the “Boureka of the day” but we all know they always have the Cheese/Sun Dried Tomato which is what I usually get, Cheese/Spinach, and on occasion the Cheese/Mushroom. This is the only place where I order this as I’m not normally fond of the Bourek/Bourekas. Fresh Israeli salad, and surprisingly punchy meat cigars were in the starters mix.

Here me now and listen to me yesterday (an old SNL joke for the uninformed, or “Ignorant”). As I’ve said before many times, this is my favorite Hummus in town. Freshly made daily, it has that perfect creamy texture and that extra oomph that I’ve only had in Israel. Nish Nush makes a fine rendition, the Hummus Kitchen chain produces a good one, but this is still the one. I can taste it as I’m writing this.

The big meat platter, Moshokal, with lamb, chicken & kafta kebab with rice delivered strong flavors, perhaps with the exception of the slightly bland lamb. The Date cookies and the Baklava we got by mistake were fine but perhaps the biggest discovery this time was a pair of Yogurt puddings charged with oranges and rosewater called Osh Al-Saraia. A heavenly finish at heavenly Gazala’s

Gazala’s
380 Columbus Ave
$$
Recommended Dishes: Hummus (plain or with chickpeas), falafel, Bourekas, grilled chicken, Osh Al-Saraia