Mana Mana

It’s brunch time and I’m choosing Mana Mana West. Look, I’ve been kinda avoiding them, even though I’ve only heard good things. They’re based where my dear BROER used to be and that was a bit too painful. Anyway, I finally let go and went to try that famous cauliflower and other goodies.

Not gonna lie, it was a pretty hungover Sunday morning and I already had breakfast, so I wasn’t super hungry. All I could think of was a Bloody Mary, which was…okay. Needs some work, more kick, more booze, better tomato juice. I then moved on to tap beers and delicious Bloesem blonds.

Thankfully, food at Mana Mana is to be enjoyed slowly, between talks and laughs. And that’s what we did. We’ve ordered a couple of things for the table, and we slowly ate them all afternoon long. This time we went all veggie, so everyone at the table can share. Here’s our choices!

The Psychedelic Cauliflower aka the star of the menu. This was beyond words, 10/10. It’s just so unique, so well thought, so flavorful. The cauliflower is nice and crispy, but the tahini and garlicky tomato sauce make it moist. The pomegranate adds the “bite”, and the final squeeze of grapefruit juice completes the scene. A must try.

The Hummus. This comes with so many extras (as you can see below) that I didn’t know where to start. Take the ideal scoop with a little bit of everything and you’ve got yourself a delicious thing. I think I would’ve liked it a bit saltier.

The Shakshuka. Always a good idea! This was really tasty, a good mix of flavors. I would’ve liked the eggs to be a bit softer. Nothing like a good runny yolk, if you ask me.

The Mujadarra. This was completely new to me. Still not sure how you cook it, and the description on the menu doesn’t do it justice: “rice with black lentils, topped with fried onion”. It’s more than that, it’s better than that, and it’s very comforting yet simple. You’ll definitely taste the olive oil!

We’ve had a great time at Mana Mana, with delicious beers and even better food. It’s a spot that I know I’ll return to, as I’m already eager to try their meaty dishes – like the Kebab that comes on a cinnamon stick? I’d recommend this to everyone who’s looking for a nice Middle Eastern lunch, packed with flavor. Service is friendly too! You can find them in the 2 best areas of Amsterdam: De Pijp and West (ok, ok, I’m biased).

Value for money: 9

Food Quality: 9

Location: 9 (Frederik Hendrikplantsoen 36, Eerste Jan Steenstraat 85H)

Service: 9

Website: https://mana-mana.nl/