Middle Eastern Restaurants in Chicago, IL

“A treat for all of the senses! My introduction to The Gundis was a Sunday breakfast. What a beautiful feast was laid before me, my husband and a local friend who we were visiting. We ordered the Kurdish breakfast for two plus an order of baklawa crêpes. An array of colorful, tantalizingly-scented dishes soon filled our table. Superb savory and sweet flavors awaited our taste buds. All of us were amazed by the diverse deliciousness. The atmosphere and service were also excellent. It was truly pleasurable to indulge in a breakfast feast like no other. My only complaint is that I live too far to return often. Kudos to this Kurdish delight.“

“Came upon this restaurant from a recommendation by the show store clerk at Alamo two blocks away. Amazing food. What a gem. The falafel was so so good and the danish pastry filled with meat and cheese was out of this world delicious. We had something Falafal Lala or something like that. Sorry I am probably butchering the name. Really loved the taste .there were small potatoes in a garlick sauce that was a new tangy taste that I loved“

“On the evening of July 5 my wife and I tried Avaspi on Belmont Avenue in Lakeview for the first time. It will not be the last! I love lamb and am quite particular as to how is it prepared. The “lamb delight” menu item was the best lamb I have ever had in a restaurant: tender, succulent, and prepared to perfection. The side salad accompanying it was not your ordinary side salad! My wife and I both enjoyed the Mixed Meze appetizer plate. Each of the five items was quite good but the muhammara was to die for. We ended our meal with tea, baklava and kubralice. The décor and ambience were refreshing and relaxing, and the service was outstanding. The pricing was very reasonable. Please give it a try. We do not think you will be disappointed.“

“The experience was overall great! The food is amazing and good value for its price, the portions are generous and shareable. The Meze tower is enough for two people, scallops and bucatini where exquisite. The interior is beautiful, though quite noisy. Service was very good. Our server messed up the cocktail and the main dish, but both were replaced very quick, and we got compliment drinks. Would definitely recommend visiting!“

“The food is amazing: tasty and healthy. I love it. Thank you for also baking the Masala biscuit for our dinner.“

“Thank you for being so accommodating to our group tonight… we appreciate you moving us outside and back in with the rain. The food hit the spot and we will definitely be back to try more of what you have to offer! Welcome to the neighborhood!“

“We came for the food, which was excellent, but we'll return for the show. It made for a fantastic date night. When we sat down, the server brought stuffed mushrooms, which served as a perfect start before the falafel appetizers. I ordered the beef kefta platter, and my girlfriend chose the salmon, both of which were delicious. I enjoyed my leftovers from the dinner.“

“I had an exceptional experience at Galit. From the moment we sat down, the service stood out in a way that felt both professional and genuinely warm. Our server was incredibly attentive and immediately aware of my guest’s food allergy without us having to remind anyone. Every dish that came out was presented with clear explanations, and when we had questions about specific ingredients or preparations, the staff answered them confidently and in a way that actually made sense. I didn’t recognize half the things on the menu, and they made everything approachable without dumbing anything down.

We were there to celebrate my friend’s graduation, and Galit went above and beyond in a way I honestly didn’t expect. Toward the end of the meal, they surprised us with a hand-drawn card congratulating him. It was such a small gesture on paper, but one that felt incredibly intentional and heartfelt. It’s the kind of thing that reminds you why locally owned places matter. They care enough to make moments like that personal.

Between the food, the service, and that thoughtful touch at the end, Galit delivered one of the best dining experiences I’ve had in Chicago. I absolutely loved it and can’t recommend it enough.“

“I love having JK in the neighborhood. Always fresh and delicious and the staff is so kind and welcoming. Would love to see them operating here as long as they desire to run the restaurant.
Having Jarasa Kabob in JP has been a great boost to our food options in the neighborhood. One year now, Alhamdulillah!
Inside is nice and clean and there's plenty of space if you're dining in. It's a no-brainer for a killer takeout option.“

“Start with the 15 or so types of fresh hummus made on the premises. You will never buy store hummus again!

Then there are 10 or freshly made middle eastern empananas with a variety of fillings.

There are all sorts of freshly made dips and more. And the store has a large assortment of traditional middle eastern sweets and other delicious offerings. The staff is very nice and courteous.

In additon to the bakery, there is a countertop informal middle eastern restaurant with great fresh food like kebab, shwarma and falafel. Scrumptious.

Just a wonderful eating experience.“

“Excellent Mandi we had, we ordered family plate half and half, OH my god, the quantity and the quality of the food was so great, we were 5 people and still not be able to finish it, had make it to go, the meat was falling of the bones and melted in the mouth, great work guys, Keep it up!, when back in Chicago, will visit you again, you have a repeat customers for sure“

“The ambience is elegant and comfortable. The food is delicious. The service was excellent. One of the best restaurants I ever been. Highly, highly recommended.“

“Beautiful people. Family feeling. The food tastes like love. Absolutely amazing. Definitely will be back.“

“It's wild that food this good can be this cheap. Dollar-for-dollar it is one of the best places to eat in the city. Also a great spot to grab hummus or babaganoush - the babaganoush is legit extraordinary - to go and eat at home. Cash only, not a lot of seating.“

“Fool and falafel and the kushari“

“Great Mediterranean food!! The chicken shawarma wrap was delicious. They also have a cute patio in the wicker park location“

“Fantastic authentic Israeli food. The falafel were amazing and the pita and hummus is some of the best I’ve tasted outside Israel. This place deserves 10 stars. Will definitely go back again.“

“We dined on Easter for brunch- it was delicious and lovely with excellent service - our server Dylan was so sweet and took great care of us! We really enjoyed all of our dishes but the shakshuka, mezze platter, oysters and the chicken & waffles were stand outs! Good coffee and nice cocktails too! We’ll be back for sure!“

“I ordered for first time the All in platter which gives u a little bit of everything.. n I tried the stuffed grape leaves and the chocolate cake.. 😋 the cake is more than enough reason for me to order from them again . the Rumi sauce is also very good.. not too spicy.. has a little kick..“

“Food was delicious! The decor was very nice. Different from what we have seen“

“Very friendly and the food delicious !“

“A must try spot! Great food, coffee and atmosphere! Definitely recommend!“

“I absolutely love this place. The food is always fresh. The team is always recommending great dishes to try. You also get a ton of food for a great price which is hard to find nowadays! I definitely recommend this place to everyone you will not be disappointed.

Vegetarian options: They have vegetarian options, including falafel!

Parking: There is a parking lot there with ample amount of parking

Kid-friendliness: This place is very kid friendly a lot of good seating and baby seats available.“

“The Nile of Hyde Park is my local comfort food. Even though I grew up in the Midwest of the United States whenever I’m in need of comfort food these days, I’m ordering Lebanese food from here. There are too many things to name as favorites from this menu, but I’m very partial to; the lentil soup, the hummus with chopped beef, the Jerusalem salad, and the combination 14 for the meat eaters. Amazingly well done food for as long as I can remember (and I’ve been in Hyde Park since 1989).“

“I love this place! The staff is warm and inviting, the space is clean and they do a great job of hosting fun events for all ages. I highly recommend going here for work during the weekdays or going here for coffee with friends on the weekends. You won't be disappointed!“

“Great place. For house made items in the grocery section: their hummus is quite good. They get much of their bread from another bakery on Kedzie. Only complaint there is the Lebanese style bread cannot be split easily because the bread is packed into half while it is still warm. For this reason, but the thinner style bread (some call it mountain bread) which this store receives in smaller quantities, so I recommend going in the morning. Good selection of dried lentils, beans, etc. In the restaurant section, the food is delicious. Wonderful atmosphere too, with a wide range of Chicagoans bustling in and out: families, bus drivers, couples, etc. That said, I do generally recommend Taste of Lebanon across Foster Ave for shawarma.“

“My wife and I went back to Maman Zari last night for our 2nd visit and had a wonderful time.

Miriam is very friendly and diligently followed up about our dietary restrictions. Josh was enthusiastic and attentive through both food and wine service.

The food was excellent! Kudos to the back of house team, who strike a satisfying balance between authenticity and creativity (not to mention, delicious and well-portioned). The tasting menu was great and I'll encourage friends to try it, and we'll visit for a non-occasion to try the a la carte menu too.“

“New to the neighborhood, I was excited to try this place, and MAN OH MAN. It was so good. Classic comfort with a delicious twist. We got the Tahini Ranch Fried Chicken Sandwich, the Kefta Burger, and the Stuffed Falafel; not a dud in the bunch. The toppings and condiments that some on the burger and sandwich made basic diner food such a delight without feeling over the top. The real stand out was the stuffed falafel. I never thought of having a filling in a falafel, and the sweetness of the caramelized onions was such a delicious complexity to a classic Middle Eastern dish. Now I want to eat through the whole menu to find my favorites.“

“Excellent food! I had the veggie platter and everything was very tasty.“

“It's fantastic old school Chicago, and the food is so good, you just want to live there...“

“This place is great! The service is excellent- the servers are always so pleasant. The food is fresh and tasty! The portions are huge! The bowl feeds 2 people and they always give you a pita! I frequent this place at least 3 times a month!“

“They had excellent service, the food was great, and the falafel came right off of the fryer. They were very kind, and the employees were very understanding when I asked for change. Overall, the restaurant was really good, and it was the best food I’ve had for a while.“

“Delicious food - great ambiance - great Melvin Taylor!!“

“You can eat light and healthy here. But three of our 4 people found Tinfoil in their food. I had tabouli, hummus, cucumber salad, pickles, rice and double order of spicey chicken and a pita for only $11.99. They didn’t charge extra for the Tinfoil!!“

“It's fantastic old school Chicago, and the food is so good, you just want to live there...“

“Nothing to take you girlfriend to on a date, it's super stark abs drab in atmosphere, but where it lacks in looks, it delivers in some delicious ass shawarma, ages you get a ton of food for the money. The last who works at night, she's a doll, crazy nice and so helpful and kind as well. You never leave here feeling like you've missed out on something, they do what they do well.“

“This place is truly a hidden gem. Absolutely delicious food, great portion sizes and incredibly affordable. Owners and workers are super kind and hospitable. Can’t recommend enough.“

“Food was outstanding as was the service! We definitely recommend it!“

“absolutely delicious! the falafel was perfectly crispy on the outside and moist in the middle“

“Good food I love this restaurant“

“You guys really need to get rid of that DJ who talks more than he plays music. It’s extremely annoying and boring to hear him shouting every few seconds — “DJ we wanna…,” “Are you readyyy,” “Happy birthday toooo youuu,” “Pianooo,” and so on. It completely kills the vibe. The drinks aren’t good anymore either — I had the worst Long Island ever, ridiculously bad. I was there this Saturday (10/11), and we left after just one hour. Even people around me were telling the DJ, “No man, we’re not ready — just shut up.“

“A very well, clean, great customer service atmosphere with very reasonable prices and the food is very tasty. You will not be disappointed. Keep up the great works Crave Khebob team, thanks for your undying efforts. My favorite spot to eat at when I'm in Chicago about three times a week.“

“The Kid's Bowl is the perfect size for a light lunch. Add a side of Mediterranean Pickles and I'm in heaven.“

“Decided to try this place since our usual place was closed. So glad we did! Excellent food, HUGE portions and good service. Love that the kabobs come with peppers and onions and not just the meat. It was a great surprise to find the chicken shawarma under the kabobs! (I just ordered two combination plates without really reading the menu.) Definitely trying more in the future.“

““Absolutely amazing food! We used their catering service and everything was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. Our guests couldn’t stop talking about how delicious everything was — truly authentic Middle Eastern taste. Highly recommend for any event!”“

“I've been coming to this restaurant for over 10 years absolutely the best humus I've have hands down love seeing the same people behind the counter“

“Amazing food & service! Thank you Chicago♥️“

“Absolutely delicious, as always! We miss being closer to Hala In. #supportlocal“

“Oasis Fresh is a hidden gem. The food is great. They stay open late, usually closing at 4am. Fast service. Not to mention, the food is ALWAYS fresh. I’ve ordered close the closing time and the food is just as good as opening and midday, which is rare and hard to find. They have great vegan options: Vegetable and falafel salads, bowls, and wraps. They really do have the best falafels in the Chicago. I’ve taken plenty of my friends and family here and they all love the food. Oh and Everything is Halal.“