Bronzed falafel with a crisp outer shell and an inside filled with a fluffy, harmonious blend of herbs and spices. Creamy, garlicky tzatziki with cool cucumber, spiked with mint and dill. Smoky baba ganoush topped with sweet pomegranate molasses. And a fattoush salad bursting with crunchy cucumber, radish, juicy tomatoes and lemon with a crisp bread. Sounds pretty good, doesn’t it? Well you can get this feast – and more – at Palestinian eatery Khamsa (pronounced ‘ham-sa’), which now has a new home in St Peters on the south end of King Street (right next to St Peters Train Station).
Chef and co-founder Sarah Shaweesh, along with husband Fares Hassan, and her parents Eman and Issa Shaweesh, originally opened Khamsa in Newtown in 2019 (up the street from the current location), driven by a passion to share Palestine’s rich and beautiful cuisine and heritage with the local community.
The Palestinian café quickly won hearts for its plant-based and flavour-packed food with soul, made using recipes passed down from generations. And you can still get those great flavours at the fresh digs – plus new dishes with chicken, fish and cheese. What’s more, Khamsa is now open for dinner on Friday and Saturday – so there’s even more reason to come check it out.
The all-day menu includes freshly baked Palestinian bagels, pastries, wraps, and share plates. Standouts include the Jerusalem bowl with hummus, baba ganoush, mujadara (rice with lentils and crispy onions), fattoush, falafel and cauliflower; golden hand-cut potatoes with coriander, garlic and lemon (you can add them as a side to their coveted wraps); and pumpkin kibbeh balls with plant-based mince and tzatziki. Pair your meal with a freshly squeezed juice or traditional Nablus coffee infused with fragrant rosewater and maple (and you can’t go wrong with an orange and rose water cake for dessert).
The sunny eatery opposite Sydney Park features colourful Palestinian artworks, wooden furniture, and pops of lush greenery. When we visited, we spotted Sarah and Fares both running food and welcoming guests with warmth and a smile.
It’s true that heritage, community and vibrant flavours come together at this family-owned Palestinian gem, and it’s one we’re keen to keep on returning to.
Go deeper: Read our interview with Khamsa Café founder Sarah Shaweesh from 2021 over here.
