A vegan and vegetarian guide to the Bazaar in Beverwijk | Getting around | The Food Court | Hal 30 - besides the food court | The Eastern Market | The Boulevard | The Randweg
Image from tripadvisor.com
The main food court of the Bazaar is in Hal 30, on the side of Randweg/Boulevard. A good place for resting, sitting together, and sharing food from all around.
The King Syrian Sweets / Sweet Damascus
Syrian, vegan and vegetarian options
Yet another Bazaar classic of “restaurants with misleading names”. Yes there are sweets here, but also so much more. Shawarma, of course, but many vegan and vegetarian options. Fatayer (fatayer is the plural word; in singular it's fatira) with various fillings (spinach, cheese), and manaqeesh (plural; singular is manqoushe) with various toppings (like za'atar and muhammara). Also falafel, a small plate of hummus, a serving of 12 rolled grape leaves. The hummus is nice but quite plain, it is obviously intended as a side dish. Probably best to take it with a plate of falafel. The grape leaves are nicely warm, soft, and comforting, but to be sure, always check if they are vegetarian on that day.
The manaqeesh and fatayer are truly the highlight here, and they are also great to take home: manqoushe with muhammara feels a bit like an Italian pizza marinara, za’atar manqoushe is great, of course, for lovers of za’aatar. The spinach fatira is rich, complex and nicely sour from sumac.
Some of the menu
Manaqeesh and fatayer
Hummus and stuffed grape leaves
Official name, location, and phone number (according to the Bazaar map):
Sweet Damascus, Hal: 30 - Stand: 30009, 06-87 38 07 72 / vader 06 87 60 69 54
Aaya’s Fried Chicken / Falafel - Doner Kebab - Shoarma en Rahimi
Turkish, vegan and vegetarian options
Mostly a grill, including very visible meat parts. This is quite similar to many street restaurants in Turkey – with the biggest advantage being “what you see is what you get” – it’s all in a big pile right in front of you, so you can point and ask. A nice feature here is an impressive “do it yourself” salad and sauce bar, including pickled aubergines, pickled peppers, acılı ezme and various spicy sauces – that in itself is worth going for the falafel here. Just avoid the yoghurt if you’re vegan. Alternatively, go for a plate of side dishes (rice with cumin, a delicious rice with saffran and raisins, grilled potatoes, very oily grilled vegetables, and very nice and very oily fried aubergines), which also includes a free portion of salad. If you really don’t like meat flavours, avoid the potatoes (and possibly the grilled vegetables) – they are very obviously roasted on the meat grill, and you can taste it.
Salad bar
Rice, roasted and fried vegetables, salad
Official name, location, and phone number (according to the Bazaar map):
Falafel - Doner Kebab - Shoarma en Rahimi, Hal: 30 - Stand: 30045, 0299-64 60 85 / Sam zoon 06 24470885
Pizza Pasta & More
Iraqi-Kurdish, vegetarian and vegan options
Despite the name, this is mostly an Iraqi/Kurdish grill, with a lot of meat, including all kinds of internal organs. Vegan options are hummus, lentil soup, and briyani rice. For vegetarians, they also have one of the many ayran fountains that are found around the Bazaar.
Lentil soup and hummus
Biryani and plain rice
Menu (click to enlarge)
Official name, location, and phone number (according to the Bazaar map):
Pizza Pasta & More, Hal: 30 - Stand: 30957, 06-83 17 10 70
Yemeni Restaurant
Yemeni, vegetarian options
Two vegetarian options here are extremely fulfilling deserts: masoub, a banana-based bread pudding, and areeka, which is (according to the staff at Yemeni Restaurant) similar but with dates instead of bananas. The Adeni tea (contains milk), is a relaxing, warm, and aromatic drink, similar to Indian chai.
Official name, location, and phone number (according to the Bazaar map):
Yemeni Restaurant, Hal: 30 - Stand: 30042, 06-85000090
Café Restaurant Rumi, Afghaanse Maama Restaurant, Afghaans Restaurant
I have not yet made a full review of Afghan restaurants in the Bazaar but it is worth mentioning one of the highlights of Afghani vegetarian cuisine: aushak. These are small dumplings filled with spring onion or gandana, an Afghan perennial leek, topped with a tomato and lentil sauce, yogurt and dried mint.
Caution: it seems that aushak is often served with a meat sauce, but in the Bazaar I've always seen it served with a lentil sauce instead. Be sure to ask! I believe all Afghan restaurants in the Food Court serve it, even if it's not mentioned on the menu.
Another Afghan vegan dish is shor nakhod, a fulfilling warm salad made of chickpeas, grated potatoes, and a spicy sour sauce on top. Again, ask at the Afghan restaurants, it is likely they serve it.
See also Wahid Plaza in the Randweg and Afghan Burger in the Boulevard.