My husband and I were driving from Ohio to Kansas over this past holiday and decided to stop here along the way. We did read the reviews before we stopped so we were prepared for a wait because there truly was ONE man doing everything. Mostly every seat was occupied when we walked in and it smelt amazing. This joint serves the best Middle Eastern cuisine I have ever had in my life. The lamb was so tender and juicy plus all of the spices used were delectable. Additionally, you get so much food for a reasonable price. I honestly have been thinking about this place ever since we stopped and I will for sure be back the next time we road trip!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Hypatia Alexandria
The owner is one of the most unkind, unfriendly, and disrespectful beings you can ever encounter. He makes sure you know you are hated by him the second you step a foot in his shop. The place is beyond shabby and dirty. The food is barely mediocre. This place should have closed down many years ago.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 1
Siddhant Kale
This place is hands down one of the most underrated ones. Based on what I understood from asking other friends and people, this place doesn't seem appealing from the outside. But trust me, just take a leap of faith, walk in and try their food. It's mind blowing how much this place makes me miss home. I have nothing but love for the owner and the food he serves. My favorite is their lunch or dinner platters, so do try them out.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Lentil Soup, Hummus, Falafel
Nandini B.
An absolute staple. Different unique sabzis daily, excellent quality food, and a healthy, nutritious, and filling meal every time. Sometimes the owner will throw in some fruit or snacks on the side as well :-) Be prepared to wait for at least 15 minutes as there is just one employee handling the cooking and serving, but it is well worth the wait. Pictured is the veggie lunch platter.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Veggie, Falafel
David Vizgan
Slow service and more expensive than other Middle Eastern restaurants in CU. But it’s one person who mans the grill and the food is much much better than every other ME restaurant in town! Delicious and
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Vaibhav Tipnis
This was my go-to lunch place for 2 years! I've been here no less than 30 times. The food is always very tasty, healthy, and the lunch plate value for money can't be beat! The owner takes great care in serving and keeping the place neat! Jerusalem introduced me to middle eastern food and it's my favorite cuisine now!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fish Lunch Platter
Saraf Diya
Portion is big. Google review menu is outdated as the prices have increased for each dish. There's only one person running the establishment but he didn’t keep me waiting for a long time.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Shreyank Sreenivasa
Very healthy and affordable food, feels like a home cooked meal. Owner is is very hospitable.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ahmed Al Eid
It was put halal in zabiha and other websites but when i went there and asked the owner he said nothing halal in this restaurant and he was really
I have eaten at this place twice and was pleased to find the taste so close to a comforting and satiating home-cooked meal. The flavors are so subtle and not like other random fast-food restaurant or greasy spoons. The place was single-handedly run and managed because of which one needs to be patient to be attended to. As much as like a smiling or welcoming face to plate my food, I recommend you just pretend like you don’t care about hospitality or soft skills and are there to fill your tummy with most-likely healthy food.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 3
Darren Poon
Fantastic food, no frills but full of flavor, the lunch specials are quite a deal and absolutely delicious. The owner/chef/waiter heard us talking about falafels and stopped by our table with a fresh batch that were amazing! Later he dropped off some watermelon as well! Just amazing hospitality! We will definitely make it out go to spot every time were in the area!Bus your own tables but make sure you don't throw out the cutlery!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Hummus, Falafel
Allison K.
Honestly, this is the most underrated spot on campus. Everything is home made, fresh, and absolutely delicious. From the hummus to the grilled meats, every bite I had was amazing. Since this is all ran by one older gentleman (the owner himself), the meal takes a little longer to prepare so please be patient when ordering. He wasn't exactly in the best mood when I was ordering but the food definitely makes up for the service and I respect the hard work he puts into this restaurant. I am definitely coming back here when I get the chance to visit UIUC again.
Jay Corwin
We just had lunch at Jerusalem today. It was excellent. I would echo the comments about it being very healthy food, homemade, reasonably priced and it is a one man shop, so don’t be in a rush if you eat here. I will definitely come again.Vegetarian options: Many reasonably priced vegetarian items—-falafel, hummus, and much more.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fish Lunch Platter, Hummus, Falafel
Xochitl Sekiya
Loved every bit of this meal and place! It’s cute, located near Everett on campus (perfect for uni students and staff). My friend and I went here, and the food was great. Sure, as some of the replies mentioned, the owner can be a little crabby at times. However, he’s only crabby if you show up late (and I’m talking, like, 30 minutes before closing). My friends and I made the mistake of that, came back the next day, and guess what? He was super nice. I got dolmeh, baba ghanoush, and lentil soup. Absolutely delicious. I have to try the baklava eventually, and I will be returning to try the rest of the menu!
I loved the food!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Beef and Lamb
My husband and I were driving from Ohio to Kansas over this past holiday and decided to stop here along the way. We did read the reviews before we stopped so we were prepared for a wait because there truly was ONE man doing everything. Mostly every seat was occupied when we walked in and it smelt amazing. This joint serves the best Middle Eastern cuisine I have ever had in my life. The lamb was so tender and juicy plus all of the spices used were delectable. Additionally, you get so much food for a reasonable price. I honestly have been thinking about this place ever since we stopped and I will for sure be back the next time we road trip!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The owner is one of the most unkind, unfriendly, and disrespectful beings you can ever encounter. He makes sure you know you are hated by him the second you step a foot in his shop. The place is beyond shabby and dirty. The food is barely mediocre. This place should have closed down many years ago.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 1
This place is hands down one of the most underrated ones. Based on what I understood from asking other friends and people, this place doesn't seem appealing from the outside. But trust me, just take a leap of faith, walk in and try their food. It's mind blowing how much this place makes me miss home. I have nothing but love for the owner and the food he serves. My favorite is their lunch or dinner platters, so do try them out.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Lentil Soup, Hummus, Falafel
An absolute staple. Different unique sabzis daily, excellent quality food, and a healthy, nutritious, and filling meal every time. Sometimes the owner will throw in some fruit or snacks on the side as well :-) Be prepared to wait for at least 15 minutes as there is just one employee handling the cooking and serving, but it is well worth the wait. Pictured is the veggie lunch platter.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Veggie, Falafel
Slow service and more expensive than other Middle Eastern restaurants in CU. But it’s one person who mans the grill and the food is much much better than every other ME restaurant in town! Delicious and
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
This was my go-to lunch place for 2 years! I've been here no less than 30 times. The food is always very tasty, healthy, and the lunch plate value for money can't be beat! The owner takes great care in serving and keeping the place neat! Jerusalem introduced me to middle eastern food and it's my favorite cuisine now!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fish Lunch Platter
Portion is big. Google review menu is outdated as the prices have increased for each dish. There's only one person running the establishment but he didn’t keep me waiting for a long time.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Very healthy and affordable food, feels like a home cooked meal. Owner is is very hospitable.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
It was put halal in zabiha and other websites but when i went there and asked the owner he said nothing halal in this restaurant and he was really
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Restaurantji Recommends
I have eaten at this place twice and was pleased to find the taste so close to a comforting and satiating home-cooked meal. The flavors are so subtle and not like other random fast-food restaurant or greasy spoons. The place was single-handedly run and managed because of which one needs to be patient to be attended to. As much as like a smiling or welcoming face to plate my food, I recommend you just pretend like you don’t care about hospitality or soft skills and are there to fill your tummy with most-likely healthy food.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 3
Fantastic food, no frills but full of flavor, the lunch specials are quite a deal and absolutely delicious. The owner/chef/waiter heard us talking about falafels and stopped by our table with a fresh batch that were amazing! Later he dropped off some watermelon as well! Just amazing hospitality! We will definitely make it out go to spot every time were in the area!Bus your own tables but make sure you don't throw out the cutlery!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Hummus, Falafel
Honestly, this is the most underrated spot on campus. Everything is home made, fresh, and absolutely delicious. From the hummus to the grilled meats, every bite I had was amazing. Since this is all ran by one older gentleman (the owner himself), the meal takes a little longer to prepare so please be patient when ordering. He wasn't exactly in the best mood when I was ordering but the food definitely makes up for the service and I respect the hard work he puts into this restaurant. I am definitely coming back here when I get the chance to visit UIUC again.
We just had lunch at Jerusalem today. It was excellent. I would echo the comments about it being very healthy food, homemade, reasonably priced and it is a one man shop, so don’t be in a rush if you eat here. I will definitely come again.Vegetarian options: Many reasonably priced vegetarian items—-falafel, hummus, and much more.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fish Lunch Platter, Hummus, Falafel
Loved every bit of this meal and place! It’s cute, located near Everett on campus (perfect for uni students and staff). My friend and I went here, and the food was great. Sure, as some of the replies mentioned, the owner can be a little crabby at times. However, he’s only crabby if you show up late (and I’m talking, like, 30 minutes before closing). My friends and I made the mistake of that, came back the next day, and guess what? He was super nice. I got dolmeh, baba ghanoush, and lentil soup. Absolutely delicious. I have to try the baklava eventually, and I will be returning to try the rest of the menu!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lentil Soup