Oren's Hummus Shop

About Oren's Hummus

Oren's Hummus Shop at 261 University Avenue is where the Oren's Hummus group began. According to the company, the original shop opened on University Avenue serving fresh, authentic Israeli and Mediterranean food and quickly caught on with both locals and Stanford students. The company calls itself a Bay Area favorite since 2011. It now runs restaurants in San Francisco, Mountain View (126 Castro Street), Los Gatos and Lafayette, plus Oren's Hummus Express at Town & Country Village in Palo Alto, stands at several farmers markets and a catering kitchen in San Jose.

The company sums up its approach with a few values. It says its hummus and tahini are genuine, with many ingredients imported from the Mediterranean. It prepares pita and hummus fresh several times a day. It serves Angus beef, all-natural chicken and organic eggs and buys most of its produce from local family farms. It also says it composts organic waste and recycles as much as it can.

Community work is part of the story too. Under a program it calls Food for a Cause, Oren's says it provided meals for first responders and healthcare workers early in the pandemic and has donated food to crews fighting California wildfires. School groups and other nonprofits can apply through its website for donations or fundraising support.

What to order

Hummus and pita are the core of the menu. The company says both are made fresh several times a day. The happy hour menu gives a taste of the smaller plates, with schnitzel bites, falafel, French fries, sweet potato fries, quick-fried cauliflower florets, bourekas and challah French toast sticks. Israeli desserts are on offer too. A separate Grab & Go menu of dips and sides is meant for stocking up for the day or the week. Oren's posts its full lunch and dinner menus on its website, with separate versions for the South Bay and San Francisco, so check there for current dishes.

The drink list includes wines by the glass and bottled beers, among them a gluten-free beer. The restaurant suggests asking about its seasonal wine and beer selections.

Happy hour and wine tastings

Happy hour runs Monday to Thursday from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Palo Alto restaurant and several others. It covers bottled beer, wine by the glass and small plates at reduced prices. Oren's also hosts a free wine and beer tasting on the first Wednesday of each month from 5 to 8 p.m. A food purchase is required. The tasting is dine-in only at full-service locations.

Ordering, waitlist and catering

You can join an online waitlist for the University Avenue restaurant from the locations page, which helps on busy evenings. Pickup and delivery orders go through the online ordering page; choose the Palo Alto location. Gift cards are sold online.

Catering runs from the company's kitchen in San Jose. Peninsula and South Bay customers can order catering delivery online, with a $250 minimum for delivery and a limited delivery area. For pickups at any location or full-service catering with staff and buffet equipment, fill out the inquiry form or call 650-204-0017, extension 1. Oren's adds a 3 percent living wage surcharge to orders in Palo Alto.

Tips for visiting

Oren's lists two sets of hours for this location. Its online ordering page shows 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and until 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, while its locations page shows later closing times. Call ahead if you plan a late meal. The company says it is open every day except major holidays. If you want a quicker meal, the smaller Oren's Hummus Express at Town & Country Village, 855 El Camino Real, Suite 162, takes its own pickup and delivery orders.

The restaurant sits on University Avenue downtown, so it pairs well with a walk along the street. Our downtown Palo Alto guide covers the surrounding blocks. For more meat-free options, see our vegetarian and vegan guide. Our cheap eats guide lists more casual meals around town.

Location and getting there

Oren's Hummus Shop is at 261 University Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301, in the Downtown area of Palo Alto. Our Downtown guide covers what else is around.

The Palo Alto Caltrain station is less than a quarter mile away, a walk of a few minutes.

Parking: street spaces and city garages with posted limits (see parking in Palo Alto).

Hours

Hours from the business's own website, checked October 29, 2026.

What is nearby

• Arnoldi Jewelers, store, under 0.1 mi
• Fidelity Investments Palo Alto, service business, under 0.1 mi
• Miniso, shop, under 0.1 mi
• Salt & Straw, bakery or dessert shop, under 0.1 mi
• LensCrafters, practice, under 0.1 mi
• University Avenue, under 0.1 mi
• Cogswell Plaza, under 0.1 mi
• Lytton Plaza, under 0.1 mi

Other restaurants nearby: Local Union 271 (under 0.1 mi); Ettan (under 0.1 mi); Nola (under 0.1 mi); Zingsters (under 0.1 mi). Browse the full restaurants list.

Before you go

• Popular dinner spots in Palo Alto fill up on Friday and Saturday nights, so book ahead where the restaurant takes reservations.
• Many kitchens close earlier than in big cities. Plan to order by about 9 p.m. on weeknights unless the posted hours say otherwise.
• If you have allergies or dietary needs, call ahead or check the current menu on the restaurant's website.

About this listing

Checked October 29, 2026 against Oren's Hummus official website; Locations; Online ordering; About us; Happy hour; Catering. How our listings work. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Frequently asked questions