Hanan restaurant Belgrade

Chains of pastry shops with Mid Eastern/Turkish cakes have taken over Belgrade's downtown, and some of them actually started offering regular dishes, not just sweets.

Hanan first attracted attention as a place with all kinds of baklava/gurabie/harissa cakes, and then introduced a wide array of typical Arabian/Lebanese dishes. From fattoush and tabbouleh to kebab, kofta and shawarma. They also have separate small breakfast and takeaway menus, with different sandwiches, falafel, shawarma, hummus...

You can start off with a nice and feel-good Sorbet adas bil sabaneh, a soup with lentils and spinach, to bring up your appetite.

A choice of cold and warm appetizers is tempting - they can make for a great dinner even without the main meals. I'd definitely recommend some muhamara, a great pepper, nuts and cashew spread and baba ganoush - smoked eggplant with pomegranate juice. Some falafel always goes well, as well as pita bread with tomato & parsley, or a spinach pita.

Main courses are mostly with meat, so as a vegetarian I wouldn't know what to recommend. However, the portions are huge and ordered here often, so I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

Hanan is located in the center, just across the Radio Belgrade building. The premises are a bit sterile for my taste, but it's the food that actually spices up the atmosphere and makes it worth coming. Visiting the place in the evenings may mean you'll get a chance to see a belly dancer as well. Mid Eastern food lovers will be satisfied.