Middle Eastern Restaurants near Elmwood Park, IL

“Everything was very fresh, clean, and most importantly, delicious! They have two different styles of chicken shawarma, which is really nice.
I tried the chicken kebab, and it was amazing - very flavorful, juicy, and different from what I've had at other places. You can tell the food is freshly prepared. Definitely recommend
Shawarma Bite!“

“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!!“

“best falafel and lentil soup i had in chicago by far. cheap, fast, and rly yum. i can't have the pita bread that comes with the soup so they throw me an extra falafel everytime. great place & P.S. its cash only! Updated from previous review on 2026-08-18“

“First time having dinner here and it was so good. Fast service and nice atmosphere. Looking forward to coming back!“

“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.“

“Good food and good service I hope keep the good luck and good jobs“

“My first experience at this restaurant was enjoyable due to the staff explaining what items came with which plate, recommending dishes/drinks and understanding my food preferences. I ordered a Lamb Koubideh and Persian Iced Tea with sugar packets, both were flavorful and full filling.“

“Absolutely delicious! I would totally recommend. 🫶🏻“

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

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

“I don’t always write reviews but when I do it’s because I’m impressed or disappointed. I ordered for to go. I had the grilled platter. Rice two kind, beef I think or lamb, chicken and kafta. Everything was delicious. Chicken was the best it was soft inside and just fall apart in the mouth. Hummus was great not too strong not too salty. Fattoush salad was also great. Overall I would recommend as a place to go for a quick middle eastern bite.“

“Do not buy the baklava unless you want to eat an unhealthy amount in one day, like me.

It is the best I’ve had — not too sweet and so crisp and buttery. My waistline is thankful I don’t live closer.“

“I got the combination plate, it was a lot of food and everything was 🔥 they also gave me a scoop of hummus to try which was also good“

“A nice place and the food is delicious they have and the staff there are nice people fresh food every day and clean something indescribable Thank you guys“

“For the amount and quality of food you get for the price, this place is a steal. After traveling all day and parking at the Cumberland Blue Line, we came down the road to Bab Alsalam and I cannot rave enough how amazing this place is and will be coming back each and every single time we travel out of O'Hare. The food was not only delicious, but so much flavor punched into every bite. We ordered a Chicken Shawarma Entree and the Mixed Shawarma and both were exceptional in taste. Comes with salads, pita bread, and incredibly flavorful hummus. Attached is a photo of how much food they give you. It's massive. We had enough for leftovers the next day. HIGHLY recommend this place and I'm already trying to find a way to make my way back to Chicago just to eat at this place again lol. Thanks for the amazing service!“

“Very friendly and the food delicious !“

“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! 🔥“

“The food is so delicious. The people are very kind and so patient. The workers are so happy to help and work fast too. My family always comes here and my sisters and I love the vegan options. The owner is very kind and looks out for everyone with great conversations. They have a lot of delicious drinks. We are looking forward to coming back soon!“

“One of the best restaurants in Chicago! The lunch special is my favorite - the most flavorful kabobs and rice (I upgrade to the Kabuli style rice). I also love the Kabuli Palaw (lamb shank). Service is always efficient and friendly. Afghan Kabob is worth a visit even if you're not in the area!“

“This place *never* lets us down. The food is delicious, fresh and just so tasty. Their hummus is the BEST- they add some delicious garnishes on it. Best hummus I’ve ever had. Just too good and reliable. My kids love it too which is great.“

“Store front restaurant in a strip mall is find! Plenty of parking. Half a dozen tables for dining. While we were there, they had a steady stream of take out orders. Their is a nick-nack with a flag of Jordan, maybe the influence is coming from. Their Gyros is not the typical style in the USA, all the same ingredients firmly wrapped in their flat bread rather than a pita. Baba Ghanouj is one of my favorite dishes from middle eastern cuisine, EZ Shawarma does an excellent version. Also impressed by their Lamb Chops at $24, serverd on Basmati yellow rice with grilled vegetables. We also had chicken Shawarma entrée also served on Basmati yellow rice with grilled vegetables. We finished off with Baklava.“

“انصح في زياره مطعم بهار ونار يتوفر لديهم جميع انواع المأكولات الشرقيه والغربيه والخدمه في المطعم سريعه واسعار مناسبه“

“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..“

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

“One of the nicest, cleanest place to eat the delicious hot mandi. We got the family platter for 4-5 people and ma sha Allah what a luxurious portion they gave. It was enough for probably 7 people. Will definitely come here again. And people who know the chai (tea) in Madinah, dont miss the adani chai. They made it fresh and it tasted exactly like the madinah shareef tea place“

“is a good place for eat healthy.“

“Best food, very kind staff, all around great place!“

“We have a nice dinner the food was so good, and for sure we will back 💖💖“

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

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

“Food, service and ambiance are perfect for a dinner out. Highly recommended!“

“Amazing food & service! Thank you Chicago♥️“

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

“We had a wonderful dinner tonight at Al Bawadi Grill. We had Mandi (Lamb with Rice) which was amazing and so tasty!. We ordered Salmon kabobs plus Kefta Kabob which were both so tasty and fresh! Yogurt drink was awesome and so fresh! Kanafa was not so sweet just the way we like it. Thanks again!“

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

“We loved our pistachio cold brew lattes-the best and best price! Especially Jose who was an amazing server! We will come back!!“

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

“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.“

“Came here with a friend for a quick bite. Got the combo plate. Was fresh, fast and delicious. We were stuffed and super satisfied. Prices seemed a little high until we seen the portion size. Was well worth it 🔥🔥🔥“

“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!“

“Best Mediterranean fast food I have ever had! Very good quality meat, always tender and marinated to perfection! My kid’s favorite restaurant and always a hit for our family party’s!“

“I came here on a Wednesday with a friend and was honestly surprised by how much fun I had! Apparently Wednesdays are more of a house music night, and the vibe was great. The crowd was a cool mix of ages, which made the atmosphere feel welcoming and fun.
The venue itself is BEAUTIFUL. There are multiple levels, including a rooftop, and the rooftop was definitely my favorite part. The greenery, patio furniture, and overall aesthetic make it such a cute spot to hang out and take in the atmosphere. The bottom floor has the main dance area, and the energy there was really fun.
Also, the bathroom deserves a shoutout 😂 The all-mirror design is so trippy and unique—it’s one of those little details that makes the place stand out.
I had a great time and would definitely come back with more friends. The only thing I’d hope for next time is a DJ who mixes in a little more variety, but music is subjective and that really depends on the night.
Overall, a really cool spot with a great atmosphere!“

“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.“

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

“ordered a large order. they provided lots of sauce but forgot two main courses. instead of saying oh well and hanging up they went out of the way to bring us the items and a treat of baklava. this business has always been great and make all customers feel valued“

“I just picked up falafel and baba ghanouj and it has to be the best falafel I’ve ever had. I was coming back from Skokie and I wanted to go to Pita Inn on Dempster and it was too busy but I did not miss anything - this is better!“

“The best food & Staff very yummy 😋“