A vote for Le Souk is a vote for the tastiest spot in the city
By Thomas Ansell
It’s midday in Groningen’s city centre, and you’re hungry. So, you set off in search of lunch options: a cone of fries? Too heavy. A typical Dutch broodje? I still have some care for taste. Pizza? Oh wait, I had that last night.
Then you remember that you’ve got friends coming over for dinner (this is hypothetical, remember), and you promised a dazzling mezze feast.
There’s only one shop in Groningen that can help you in that, admittedly specific, situation, and that shop is Le Souk (they also have an achingly aesthetic Insta). Located on one of the city’s most tourist-friendly streets, Le Souk is quite unlike anywhere else in the city for ready to eat food and North African ingredients. And now, Mohammed Kemmoun, who started Le Souk in the days of big hair and bad taste (1982, to be precise), is up for Groninger business of the year.
Despite being in its fourth decade of operation, Le Souk is as fresh as a preserved lemon covered in harissa. It’s also one of the most welcoming shops in the city, and is part of a burgeoning network of veggie-friendly shops and restaurants in the city, not least including El Maida next door.
Kemmoun is up against Musetta Blauw of the Musjes kids shop on the Zwanestraat, and Renee de Best, who runs Hairforce by Renee de Best (which is an exceptional name).
But does Musjes do fresh babaganoush? And can De Best provide you with everything you need for a 12-person dinner? Do either offer money off all their veg on Mondays? Thought not.
And whilst we’re at it, try the babaganoush.
