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.“

“We’re FoF, Fans of Fiya. We’ve been there a zillion times. The last time we were there, which was this past Friday night, we listed all the people we had introduced to the restaurant. We counted a dozen. Food is always good. We like the lively vibe and love the quaint back patio in the warmer months. 🌟Obviously, we highly recommend it.🌟. Enjoy!!“

“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.“

“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.“

“We aren’t Michelin Star eaters but couldn’t pass up the opportunity to try Galit during Restaurant Week 2026. Service was friendly but felt stretched thin on a busy Saturday night. Every dish was solid but nothing was a true standout except maybe the Crispy Phyllo Pie. I understand RW isn’t usually a good representation of a place, but I do feel like many Chicago Bib Gourmand restaurants deliver better quality, flavor, and service.“

“This place is very close to our home, and we chose it to dine in last night after having driven past it several times. Last time I saw a buffet through the window though that seems to be during the weekends.

Our food was delicious and the service very friendly. Portions are generous and everything was seasoned very well. I recommend to start with the tomato lentil soup, so good. The bread was warm and delicious. Prices are very good. It’s byob; we will be coming back next time with wine. Also, it was not crowded at all, though we arrived before iftar. I will be telling all my neighbors and friends to try this place.“

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

“Had an amazing experience at Jarasa Kabob! The food was fresh, flavorful, and clearly made with care. The kabobs were perfectly grilled, juicy, and well-seasoned, and the portions were generous for the price.

The staff were friendly and welcoming, and the service was quick without feeling rushed. The place itself was clean and comfortable, making it a great spot whether you’re grabbing a casual meal or bringing friends and family.

Definitely one of those spots you leave already planning your next visit. Highly recommend!“

“We came in for our 8:30 reservation and were seated right behind a large structure, which completely blocked our view of the show ( baila habibi). It was frustrating because there were clearly other open tables, but we were told those were reserved for a private party. Throughout the night, we never actually saw any private party happening, so that explanation didn't really hold up. The atmosphere itself was fun, with good music and a lively vibe, but the show was just okay—and honestly hard to enjoy when we had to stand up and walk away from our table just to see anything. Service was where things really fell apart. It took about 45 minutes before we even got menus or water. Our waiter seemed to be covering a huge section alone, but he walked by us multiple times without acknowledging us until we flagged him down. Drinks were inconsistent each time, and overall he felt very inexperienced. That could be forgivable, but the situation got worse—he actually left his shift before the night was over without handing our table off to anyone. We ended up waiting another hour just trying to find someone—anyone—to help us pay our tab. As for the food, the flavors were good, but kebabs came out a bit dry and didn't come with sauces unless we specifically asked for them. The appetizer platter was excellent and very authentic tasting. Overall, the place has potential because the vibe is there, but between the poor seating, disorganized service, and lack of basic attention to guests, the experience ended up being more frustrating than enjoyable.“

“My favorite place to get take-out food of any kind in all of Chicago. For real for real. I've been going here regularly since 2008. Still as delicious as ever, and still economically priced in these tough times when the price of everything seems out of control. I wish them all the best now and in the years to come. A customer for life!“

“Not bad for first time...
Biryani was good...
Chicken on the biryani was slightly undercooked and a lot of white rice...🤭🙈
But, still it was good...
And the samosa chat was also decent...
Make sure to ask for plenty of tamarind sauce on the side...“

“The absolute best! I have been going over here for over two decades and love so many things. I love the hand pies, kibbeh, hummus, fresh pita, herbs, spices & loose leaf teas to name A FEW of my favorite things. Also, I purchase lots of the beans, lentils, rice, and other pantry staples here. They also have the best Middle Eastern sandwiches and amazing lentil soup. My kids always request it and we no longer live close but still visit often.“

“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.“

“We ordered the chicken and lamb mandi with Zurbian rice, and my family loved it. The food was fresh, flavorful, reasonably priced. The portions were generous. We’ll definitely be coming back to this place. Don’t miss the Dubai chocolate at the counter as a dessert option“

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

“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!“

“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.“

“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“

“It was my first time with family, we ordered lamb mandi & chicken haneeth we drove an hour for it and must say the food was delicious worth the drive & price. The only drawback was the service though the staff was really friendly but they lack professionalism. It would be great if they work on staff.“

“Very friendly and the food delicious !“

“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..“

“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!“

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

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

“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).“

“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“

“Went here for restaurant week and I was not disappointed! The service was impeccable from coat check and seating thru the end of the meal. The food was so flavorful. My favorite were the lamb lollipops and cucumber salad. Very intimate setting and perfect for a date night or special occasion.“

“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.“

“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.“

“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!“

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

“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!!“

“Amazing food & service! Thank you Chicago♥️“

“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!“

“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!!“

“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.“

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

“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.“

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

“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“

“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“

““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!”“

“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.“