Middle Eastern Restaurants in Chicago, IL

“Great staff, absolutely delicious food in a warm welcoming atmosphere. can't recommend them enough.“

“Amazing all around!!! The food was delicious and service was great. The pita was incredible and the hummus was truly authentic. We had the schnitzel which was super crunchy and the sauce on the side was very flavorful. The patio in the back is so nice and spacious and the word burning oven inside really sets the vibe. The drinks were also unique and delicious. You have to go!!“

“My first time here having a dinner with my best friends and I came to celebrate my birthday and everything was so great. Adnane was our server and he was so nice, he gave us a great service, he heard us to speak Spanish and he talked to us in Spanish too, so that’s so awesome! So for sure we will back with family and friends.“

“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.“

“Refreshingly laid-back service & focus on quality of food. Teamwork of the staff was flawless and as soon as I was done with the meal I wanted to come back and have a second one! Lots of vegan/plant-based options. Cool wine list and cocktail program.“

“Q.D.A - quick, delicious and awesome 👌. When i order the guy at the cash register let's the team know what is being ordered, and they all seem to have that chemistry down pat. Food comes out quick, right, i mean I never have to double check and i just know it's gonna be good! No matter how much i order it also hits the spot! This place is my number #1 spot during the work week“

“Fool and falafel and the kushari“

“Highly recommend! Good food that 3 generations of Desi immigrants approve of, from those born in colonial India, to post partition Pakistanis, to American-Born little ones. Suits all palates.

All food was good but saag paneer in particular was the bomb. So was nihari (authentic!). Elachi chai was great , too. Very clean, down to the bathroom. Kind service.“

“I recently checked out this relatively new River North restaurant. It’s located in the old Bernie’s Lunch and Supper location. Bernie’s was one of favorite spots to grab an elevated burger and fries so this place has some big shoes to fill (I lived around the corner for many years). Thankfully Sifr has done a good job at just that. I went with wife to check out not only the restaurant, but to check out the mini martini collaboration between Kastrae Vodka and Petrossian caviar. The service was good as the hostess sat my wife and right away at the bar. Yes, this a busy River North spot and you might have to be a bit flexible at to where you sit to get seated quickly. The interior of the restaurant is a cool vibe. It features neutral colors and a cool bar. After we were seated at the bar we let the bar tender know we wanted to try the mini martinis. While it was busy night, he got to work right away. It was super cool that he made the drinks right in front of us. I enjoy watching the process. The martinis featured a Petrossian caviar stuffed olive. The martini went down smooth and the briny Petrossian caviar stuffed olive was the perfect complement. My wife and also order a kabob to go along with our drinks. We both enjoyed it; it was delicious. Make no mistake this place is expensive, but remember this is in River North and it’s worth the money.“

“I ordered lunch for my employees to have during a class. It was very, very delicious! Everything we ordered was great! Dill rice, hands down the best dill rice any of us have had. It's definitely worth a try... you will not be disappointed!“

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

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

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

“The food is delicious and made quick! It's the first time I've been to a place where I ordered spicy rice and had to eat it with rests in between. Lol
I always enjoy their shawarma dinners and wraps. 😊 😊“

“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.“

“This place has become a GO-TO for me here in the neighborhood. As a vegetarian 🌱 I always enjoy the healthy and delicious Mediterranean foods here, be it in the cafe or on the grocery side! I highly recommend this place to everyone. The staff is friendly and always makes me smile.“

“Been here a few times and finally decided to write a review. Prices are fair. Food is always consistent, warm, tasty, and portions are large. Haneeth Mandi was fabulous. Chicken was spicy and tender and juicy. Fall off the bone cooked perfectly. Rice was also fresh and cooked to perfection. They provide sauces that compliment the dish nicely. Love that this place has maintained the quality and their service is always friendly. Restaurant is clean and a good atmosphere to sit relax and enjoy a meal.“

“THE FOOD IS BEYOND DELICIOUS! 🔥“

“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.“

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

“Very friendly and the food delicious !“

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

“Laimoon Restaurant is a great spot in Chicago. The food is always fresh, flavorful, and made with care, and the portions are generous. The staff is friendly and welcoming, and the service is consistently good every time I visit.

If you’re looking for delicious food and a relaxed atmosphere, I definitely recommend checking out Laimoon Restaurant. I’ll definitely be coming back!“

“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..“

“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.“

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

“The food was genuinely excellent and exceeded expectations. Everything tasted fresh, flavorful, and well prepared. On top of that, the staff were incredibly friendly, welcoming, and made the overall experience even better with their great service. Another thing that gave peace of mind is that the place is HMS certified, so there is confidence and reassurance regarding it being halal. Overall, a very enjoyable experience and definitely a place worth visiting again.“

“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.“

“Amazing food & service! Thank you Chicago♥️“

“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“

“Thank you Sana & Fátima,the food was delicious and your service outstanding!I enjoyed every bite I took from your delicious food.Falafel, chicken shawarm wrap and lentil soup were delicious. Oh and I had dessert I forgot what is called but it was delicious.lol“

“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).“

“this is one of the best Mediterranean food I have ever ate I would definitely come back“

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

“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.“

“Great food. Very friendly staff“

“Stopped in for lunch at Falafel & Grill between thrifting in WP, and so happy we did! Service was fast and friendly, and the food was super filling and tasted very fresh. The Chicken Shawarma Sandwich is a MUST!“

“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.“

“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...“

“Food was great. The service was perfect from beginning to end. Our waitress melissa was courteous and helpful, ensuring that our whole meal experience was flawless. She was very busy taking care of several other costumers at once but that did not stop her of making sure that we a group of 4 people were taken care of. We would come back definitely for the service and the yummy food. Thank you!“

“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.“

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

“Best falafel and lentil soup in Chicago! Since 2009, I have been dining at Lincoln Park, Wicker Park, and Logan Square locations over the years. The fresh and filling falafel sandwich with sweet and satisfying baklava is a meal my body enjoys. Yum! Thank you! The best part about the Logan Square location is the luxurious and mindfully designed patio and terrace. Where Sultan's and Masada partner in the warmer months to host weekly outdoor dance parties! Excellent!“

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