This used to be some other Middle Eastern restaurant. This was my first time going since it became Em Karam. As before, parking is ample and the interior is nice and spacious. Service was friendly. Menu selection was decent. Pricing seemed to be on par with some of the surrounding restaurants we eat at.We ordered a toshka with chicken sandwich, mixed kabob entree, and mutabal (roasted eggplant) appetizer.The toshka sandwich was okay, but not nearly as good as the one at Hello Shawarma or al-Badia. The bread was hard and dry, and there wasn't much chicken inside. They also didn't serve it with garlic sauce or any other sauce.The mixed kabob grill was pretty good. The kefta, chicken, and shish kabobs were also tender and juicy. But...there wasn't much meat. We had a ton of leftover rice. Fattoush gives more meat in their mixed grill entree. The hummus that came with this entree was good; it had a nice kick to it.The mutabal was pretty good, as was the bread it was served with. This was a nice appetizer.All in all, not bad, but not stellar. 3.5 stars. I prefer Fattoush and Bawadi.
Nohra Samrah
It was my first time coming here. Many people recommend it to me ao i decided to take a friend here from out of town. The staff was so polite and welcoming. The decor was beautiful and the food was delicious. I highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Seafood with a Side of Hummas and Rice
Ahmed Abuelhawa
Food is disgusting! I’ve been ordering the same thing for about 8 months now. Never had any issues but the past 3 times I did, meat smells, old tahini for sure. Never again!
Suhair Mahmoud
Sitting, Decoration, Food and service were excellent.We ordered Traditional Middle Eastern Breakfast such Hummus, Falafel, Foul, Fattet Hummus, Friend Halloumi Cheese. Food was tip top so delicious. We sat outside and it was beautiful. Friendly Staff. Big Thank to the owner Mr. Thaer for his generous hospitality , the Chef, and staff for their warm treatment. If you happen to be in Chicago and craving Middle Eastern Food , ‘Em Karam is your place.Vegetarian options: Middle Eastern Breakfast has plenty of vegetarian options such Hummus, Falafel, Foul, Salads.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fateh Hummus, Hummos Fatteh, Falafel with Parsley Pickles Tomato and Tahini Sauce
MD
Best restaurant I've been to in so long. Food is delicious, portions are big, and service is excellent. I would come here all the time if I'm a Chicago resident.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Hummus Appetizer
Omar S.
One BDE after that they straightened out their act ,good Arabic spot , good food , friendly staff
Max M.
Came here for my birthday! Classily done up decor and good looking compared to the other restaurants in the area. But not sure what they are aiming to be? A hole in the wall shawarma place or a nice classy restaurant due to the following reasons: a) you serve bottled Costco / Walmart water and charge for water by the bottle at the rate of $1 each.You do know that for a couple of dollars you can get a whole 24 case of bottled water. Why charge for water? Which restaurant does that? You also dont call this out anywhere on your menu. b) You include 18% service charge and then on top of that on the sly ask for a tip. why ? why? While we want to thank our server for the service, just put that as the suggested tip and recommend the tip to be 18 - 25%. Else charge a flat 18% and call it even. c) While your meats are great, your skewer quantity can be improved. For nearly $20+ it's just two short skewers of Kufta kabob and a lot lot of rice. d) Your menu is not clear if breads come with all the meals and what comes in your party tray other than the meats, etc. Small tweaks and you would go from good to great !
Engin Katirci
I had the pleasure of visiting this wonderful Restaurant and I must say, it exceeded all my expectations! From the moment I stepped inside, I was greeted with warm smiles and a cozy atmosphere. The staff was incredibly friendly and attentive, ensuring that every detail of my breakfast Buffet experience was perfect.The menu options were absolutely fantastic! There was an impressive variety of both traditional and innovative dishes to choose from.The eggs were cooked to perfection, and the freshly baked bread was simply heavenly. Each bite was bursting with flavor, and I couldn't help but savor every mouthful.What truly set this place apart was the attention to detail. The presentation of the dishes was impeccable, with colorful and vibrant ingredients that made everything look even more appetizing. The portion sizes were generous, ensuring that I left feeling satisfied and content.The ambience of the restaurant was cozy and inviting, with comfortable seating and tasteful decor. It was the perfect place to relax and enjoy a leisurely breakfast. The service was top-notch, with the staff going above and beyond to ensure my dining experience was exceptional. They were knowledgeable about the menu and offered great recommendations.I must also mention the excellent tea they serve. It was rich and flavorful, the ideal accompaniment to a delicious breakfast.Overall, my experience at this breakfast spot was absolutely delightful. The combination of delectable food, friendly staff, and inviting atmosphere made it a memorable visit. I can't wait to return and try more of their mouthwatering options for dinner If you're looking for an amazing Middle Eastern breakfast Buffet experience, I highly recommend giving this place a visit!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fateh Hummus, Pita Bread
Tariq Khan
Delicious food and great service, best place for small events and get together. Fast service, highly recommended.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Eman Yousef
The place is amazing, staff are friendly. Nice place to have a family meal together even if you have a gathering. Food was really good.
Last Saturday, I went to dine in at this beautiful restaurant for a lunch. I ordered shrimp Ke on platter with rice and mint + lemonade which was so cool and relaxing. The jumbo shrimp was so amazing and a must try dish if you are a seafood lover and a fan of huge, massive shrimps. I also ordered other food for other members who travelled along with us. They were also equally tasty. This is a good place to dine in but a little expensive I guess but I’m not sure though. Don’t forget to get down here when you pass by or planning to have a good meal, and please don’t forget to give your honest reviews and opinions so that it would make it easier for others to choose. Thank you ?
Mohamad Sultan
What an incredibly friendly environment. We came here for dinner as a group of 6 and decided to order the family platter. This thing was so good and we even had leftovers to take home. Multiple boxes of it!Very kind staff and they brought us these cute little glasses of coffee as well.I had the lemon mint as a drink and it was super refreshing.
Tareq Alhams
This is my second visit and absolutely the last. Same issues in both visits. I have never been so frustrated with poor service and staff attitude.Waitress provided us with wrong information about our order. Food was good but served cold. Our order was less in quantity than what we were told.To add insult to injury, we were charged more than the prices listed in the menu and were charged for items not order.In short, competitors provide much better service and food much tastier. It is not worth.
Imran Ghori
Em Karam offers a decent dining experience with good portion sizes and a pleasant ambiance that's suitable for a family dinner. While we didn't get to try their specialty ribs and other dishes due to the limited menu, the food we had was satisfying. The restaurant has room for improvement in terms of menu options, but overall, Em Karam is worth considering for a decent meal out.
Nora Alrashed
Our server was great, very friendly. Food came fast, pretty large portions as expected for the price.
This used to be some other Middle Eastern restaurant. This was my first time going since it became Em Karam. As before, parking is ample and the interior is nice and spacious. Service was friendly. Menu selection was decent. Pricing seemed to be on par with some of the surrounding restaurants we eat at.We ordered a toshka with chicken sandwich, mixed kabob entree, and mutabal (roasted eggplant) appetizer.The toshka sandwich was okay, but not nearly as good as the one at Hello Shawarma or al-Badia. The bread was hard and dry, and there wasn't much chicken inside. They also didn't serve it with garlic sauce or any other sauce.The mixed kabob grill was pretty good. The kefta, chicken, and shish kabobs were also tender and juicy. But...there wasn't much meat. We had a ton of leftover rice. Fattoush gives more meat in their mixed grill entree. The hummus that came with this entree was good; it had a nice kick to it.The mutabal was pretty good, as was the bread it was served with. This was a nice appetizer.All in all, not bad, but not stellar. 3.5 stars. I prefer Fattoush and Bawadi.
It was my first time coming here. Many people recommend it to me ao i decided to take a friend here from out of town. The staff was so polite and welcoming. The decor was beautiful and the food was delicious. I highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Seafood with a Side of Hummas and Rice
Food is disgusting! I’ve been ordering the same thing for about 8 months now. Never had any issues but the past 3 times I did, meat smells, old tahini for sure. Never again!
Sitting, Decoration, Food and service were excellent.We ordered Traditional Middle Eastern Breakfast such Hummus, Falafel, Foul, Fattet Hummus, Friend Halloumi Cheese. Food was tip top so delicious. We sat outside and it was beautiful. Friendly Staff. Big Thank to the owner Mr. Thaer for his generous hospitality , the Chef, and staff for their warm treatment. If you happen to be in Chicago and craving Middle Eastern Food , ‘Em Karam is your place.Vegetarian options: Middle Eastern Breakfast has plenty of vegetarian options such Hummus, Falafel, Foul, Salads.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fateh Hummus, Hummos Fatteh, Falafel with Parsley Pickles Tomato and Tahini Sauce
Best restaurant I've been to in so long. Food is delicious, portions are big, and service is excellent. I would come here all the time if I'm a Chicago resident.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Hummus Appetizer
One BDE after that they straightened out their act ,good Arabic spot , good food , friendly staff
Came here for my birthday! Classily done up decor and good looking compared to the other restaurants in the area. But not sure what they are aiming to be? A hole in the wall shawarma place or a nice classy restaurant due to the following reasons: a) you serve bottled Costco / Walmart water and charge for water by the bottle at the rate of $1 each.You do know that for a couple of dollars you can get a whole 24 case of bottled water. Why charge for water? Which restaurant does that? You also dont call this out anywhere on your menu. b) You include 18% service charge and then on top of that on the sly ask for a tip. why ? why? While we want to thank our server for the service, just put that as the suggested tip and recommend the tip to be 18 - 25%. Else charge a flat 18% and call it even. c) While your meats are great, your skewer quantity can be improved. For nearly $20+ it's just two short skewers of Kufta kabob and a lot lot of rice. d) Your menu is not clear if breads come with all the meals and what comes in your party tray other than the meats, etc. Small tweaks and you would go from good to great !
I had the pleasure of visiting this wonderful Restaurant and I must say, it exceeded all my expectations! From the moment I stepped inside, I was greeted with warm smiles and a cozy atmosphere. The staff was incredibly friendly and attentive, ensuring that every detail of my breakfast Buffet experience was perfect.The menu options were absolutely fantastic! There was an impressive variety of both traditional and innovative dishes to choose from.The eggs were cooked to perfection, and the freshly baked bread was simply heavenly. Each bite was bursting with flavor, and I couldn't help but savor every mouthful.What truly set this place apart was the attention to detail. The presentation of the dishes was impeccable, with colorful and vibrant ingredients that made everything look even more appetizing. The portion sizes were generous, ensuring that I left feeling satisfied and content.The ambience of the restaurant was cozy and inviting, with comfortable seating and tasteful decor. It was the perfect place to relax and enjoy a leisurely breakfast. The service was top-notch, with the staff going above and beyond to ensure my dining experience was exceptional. They were knowledgeable about the menu and offered great recommendations.I must also mention the excellent tea they serve. It was rich and flavorful, the ideal accompaniment to a delicious breakfast.Overall, my experience at this breakfast spot was absolutely delightful. The combination of delectable food, friendly staff, and inviting atmosphere made it a memorable visit. I can't wait to return and try more of their mouthwatering options for dinner If you're looking for an amazing Middle Eastern breakfast Buffet experience, I highly recommend giving this place a visit!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fateh Hummus, Pita Bread
Delicious food and great service, best place for small events and get together. Fast service, highly recommended.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The place is amazing, staff are friendly. Nice place to have a family meal together even if you have a gathering. Food was really good.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Hummus Appetizer
Restaurantji Recommends
Last Saturday, I went to dine in at this beautiful restaurant for a lunch. I ordered shrimp Ke on platter with rice and mint + lemonade which was so cool and relaxing. The jumbo shrimp was so amazing and a must try dish if you are a seafood lover and a fan of huge, massive shrimps. I also ordered other food for other members who travelled along with us. They were also equally tasty. This is a good place to dine in but a little expensive I guess but I’m not sure though. Don’t forget to get down here when you pass by or planning to have a good meal, and please don’t forget to give your honest reviews and opinions so that it would make it easier for others to choose. Thank you ?
What an incredibly friendly environment. We came here for dinner as a group of 6 and decided to order the family platter. This thing was so good and we even had leftovers to take home. Multiple boxes of it!Very kind staff and they brought us these cute little glasses of coffee as well.I had the lemon mint as a drink and it was super refreshing.
This is my second visit and absolutely the last. Same issues in both visits. I have never been so frustrated with poor service and staff attitude.Waitress provided us with wrong information about our order. Food was good but served cold. Our order was less in quantity than what we were told.To add insult to injury, we were charged more than the prices listed in the menu and were charged for items not order.In short, competitors provide much better service and food much tastier. It is not worth.
Em Karam offers a decent dining experience with good portion sizes and a pleasant ambiance that's suitable for a family dinner. While we didn't get to try their specialty ribs and other dishes due to the limited menu, the food we had was satisfying. The restaurant has room for improvement in terms of menu options, but overall, Em Karam is worth considering for a decent meal out.
Our server was great, very friendly. Food came fast, pretty large portions as expected for the price.