50 Best Mediterranean Restaurants near Evanston

“Habibi In is as good as it looks! The servings were so generous and everything was delicious. The falafel was my favorite dish and the best I’ve had in the Chicagoland area. The staff was so friendly and welcoming.“

“excelente, todo el menú delicioso 😋 las bebidas. muy buen servicio“

“I use to eat at the Reza's downtown many years ago, it was my favorite restaurant in the city before it closed down. I didn't think they had a location that was open (the one in uptown closed down too) and when it popped up as a nearby option when I was recently in Evanston, I had to go. Unfortunately, they were closed for a private party but they still had the to-go option available so I ordered the combo #2, filet and lamb with dill rice. Even to-go, it was everything I remember from before. I definitely will be back more often and have added this place to my list of restaurants to take people who want to eat various ethnic foods.“

“I love this place, they have the best pitas in the city. Hands down. They’ve gone through I think 3 chefs in recent years as our waiter was explaining. But we both had the steak Laffa sand which and fries. 10/10 from both of us. It’s a sandwich I could eat daily. Tbh I feel like they gave too many fries, but they’re still really good, and the mango curry sauce mayo thing they give is unique, punchy and bright. We thought it was a curry mustard but it’s actually a mayo (I think).

We also learned you can buy the pita in bulk which is a game changer.“

“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.“

“My daughter who is living in Asia tracked down this place for me (well, actually she wanted to eat there vicariously)and it was a great find. She asked me how I would rate the food (1-10) and when I said 10, she was impressed since I am not a foodie. Food just doesn't do it for me well.. until this meal. It started with me picking up the meal. The family who own this gem are so generous, so welcoming that I stayed talking to them longer than my dogs, who were waiting outside, would have liked. When I arrived home, the lentil soup was stilling piping hot and wow, so delicious. I am not a lentil soup, or even soup, person but I am definitely returning for more. The sauteed spinach with bulgar was well-yeah, I would definitely eat bulgar all the time if it tasted like this. As it turns out, there was so much food that I have a second meal. Thank you for this great meal and the welcoming. I, and people I know, will be there.“

“We found this restaurant while walking around the neighborhood. The service was excellent. Staff always friendly and attentive. The menu had items new to us, which we loved exploring. We enjoyed the lamb kebab and manty dumplings. Delicious.“

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

“The food was absolutely so delicious. I ordered a steak shawarma plate and it tasted very fresh and warm. Everyone who works here is so kind and the cashier was a young girl who read me the whole menu and helped me choose what to get. She was so nice and I loved everything about this cute cafe.“

“Don’t be fooled by the uninviting fluorescent ambience. This food is very fresh tasting and filling. I got the chicken Shawarma mixed plate which came with very well seasoned meat, a salad, hummus, fresh, pita and rice. while I originally thought that I should get more hummus the portion actually ended up being perfectly sized as I was full by the end. For the price this was very tasty and healthy feeling.“

“Absolutely delicious food perfect customer service Decent prices very clean place“

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

“Excellent service, clean restaurant ,delicious food the best in Glenview , I always order the shawarma chicken made to perfection, thanks for the good service.“

“Love this place! Food is so good, well packaged, and quick delivery.“

“Service and food all outstanding. I will be going back.“

“I recently had the pleasure of dining at Medi Kitchen & Cocktail in Chicago, and it was truly a gastronomic adventure that exceeded all expectations. From the moment I stepped in, the warm and inviting ambiance set the stage for what turned out to be an unforgettable dining experience. To start, I ordered the Potato Borak as an appetizer, and it was a revelation in flavor. The crispy pastry wrapped around creamy mashed potatoes and herbs created an exquisite contrast in textures, and the accompanying dipping sauce added a delightful tangy kick. It was an ideal prelude to the culinary journey that awaited. The Fattoush Salad was a refreshing and colorful medley of fresh vegetables, toasted pita bread, and a zesty dressing that awakened the palate. The balance of flavors and textures in this dish was impeccable, making it a perfect palate cleanser before the main course. Speaking of the main course, the Beef Kabob and Shish Tawook were nothing short of spectacular. The Beef Kabob was tender and succulent, with a delightful smoky char that added depth to the taste. The Shish Tawook, featuring marinated chicken skewers, was incredibly flavorful and cooked to perfection. Both dishes were served with fragrant saffron rice and a medley of grilled vegetables that complemented the proteins superbly. The crowning jewel of the meal, however, was the Fairouz drink. Each sip was a symphony of textures and flavors, a sweet crescendo to an already exceptional meal. What sets Medi Kitchen & Cocktail apart is not just the outstanding cuisine but also the impeccable service. The staff was attentive and knowledgeable, offering recommendations and ensuring that every need was met. In conclusion, my dining experience at Medi was nothing short of extraordinary. The culinary artistry, attention to detail, and warm ambiance combined to create a memorable evening. I can confidently give this restaurant a resounding 5/5 rating, and I eagerly anticipate my next visit to savor more of their delectable offerings. If you're in Chicago and looking for a taste of Mediterranean cuisine at its finest, Medi Kitchen & Cocktail is an absolute must-visit.“

“The food is delicious. Probably the best quick service style Mediterranean I’ve ever had.
The service is quite lacking here tho. If you do an online order for pickup, expect for something to go wrong. I’ve had multiple orders be late by 20+ minutes, or I get my order home and it’s completely wrong. I recommend just waiting in the line to order in person.“

“Let me say this restaurant is an absolute must try. I came in this morning for their falafel and hummus, they know how to do it right everytime. The girl at the front is always welcoming while the food is always freshly made. Also want to say they know how to keep up with cleanliness. They have a costumer for life!“

“Really fresh, delicious food. I watched the guys making my falafel and trio of kabobs. The baba ghanouj is a stand out - smoky perfection. The kabob combo (chicken, beef & Kafka) was a major hit and the falafel is great. Portions are generous and although prices are not low, they’re really fair given the quality and the quantity of the dishes. Very clean restaurant, very friendly guys who are happy to accommodate special requests. Why we waited so long to order from this restaurant is a mystery. We’ve now been twice in less than a week.

Dietary restrictions: Veg options are plenty.“

“We thought the atmosphere was cozy, service was very nice, and food was really good/tasty. We shared the Arugula Beet Salad and Grilled Octopus apps, then had the Grilled Salmon (really tasty!) and Chicken Verdura (tasted as expected) entrées. Also, the cheesecake they served we both agreed was better tasting than any we’d had before.“

“I stop in every time I am anywhere near a location. VERY GOOD FOOD. Natiff at the Skokie is the nice guy on the planet. super welcoming.“

“Excellent food, superb wait staff, excellent atmosphere! We had an absolutely fabulous dining experience!!“

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

“The service at Yaba's Middle Eastern Grill is top-notch!, the staff is friendly, attentive, and goes above and beyond to ensure a memorable dining experience.

Overall, the food is really outstanding,hands down, some of the most delicious food I've eaten lately!, and the staff were absolutely amazing.

- Omar Alqudah“

“When i tell you this place is to die for ... I mean that..... I am puerto rican ... and this food tops Puertorican ( rice n bread )
I even ordered their smoothies and wow 👌 top tier ... everything looks so good on my plate that I even eat the jalapeños... the garlic sauce is amazing 👏 ... I can't wait to eat here again“

“The food tasted so good we felt like gourmets there. It really was one of the best we tried so far. The staff are really friendly too which is one of the most important things in a restaurant. They surely made our evening quite better, thank you.“

“all food are very good ,the best!!“

“The best food and good service give them 5 stars ⭐️“

“Excellent food and service. It wasn't a fancy table setup, but it was cozy for our family and the art on the wall helped us enjoy the atmosphere.

Got an appetizer combo and meat combo with lentil soup and a Turkish coffee. It reminded us of our favorite Mediterranean restaurant In Cleveland.“

“عاشت ايدكم على هذا الكباب ، طعم عراقي اصلي“

“Walking down Diversey and found this place off the street. Ordered Chicken Shawarma Platter. Boom. Just enough spice to make the tongue dance with some nice rice, hummus and salad to cool it back down. 411 I'm , on a scale from 1 to 10, a 3.5 on the spicy scale. This rides about 4.5. Not a big variety but what they do they do right. If you do gyro, shawarma, falafel and the like you're in. A very basic interior but the food is worth the stop.“

“this is a restaurant for people with taste buds. people that enjoy flavor. people that enjoy food made with passion.“

“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!“

“Absolutely fantastic food.... There was a guy playing the piano on the East side of the restaurant. They also have outside dining if you want that. Everything was top notch. Turkish coffee martini was so so good.... I've never had one before but will def remember this one.“

“Legit my favorite kabob and shawarma in the city. The unassuming storefront is a casual yet charming family owned business with friendly staff. I usually get the chicken kabob plate or schwarma, and the chicken is always extremely juicy, flavorful, and delicious. It comes with seasoned rice, salad, falafel, hummus, and pita, for about $15. Very reasonable prices for the portions. Overall, I love this spot and will keep coming back. Pro tip: the hot sauce is the best“

“I have gone to Andros Taverna for many years now where I am never disappointed and always impressed with the service, the quality of food and ingredients, the atmosphere and the passion in general. Chef Doug Psaltis is a true expert and artist performing at the highest levels. The gyros are the best, best gyros in Chicago by far, the seafood world class, the homemade bread and pita are incredible. The foods and meats are cooked over wood fire, wood fire grilled. We had our daughters baptism catered from here which was excellent assortment of Greek food - this is a Greek restaurant you will go to for many years to come.“

“It's a really great Mediterranean restaurant in Niles. A group of people I work with every Saturday, and I order lunch from here. We order the platters, they are huge! The rice, meats, and vegetables are all perfectly seasoned and cooked perfectly as well. Owners are very gracious and helpful. Great place to eat, a great place to cater from.“

“The chicken sandwich was delicious. I thought it was just the burger, but it ended up being a burger and fries. There was a lot of food for $10. The place was clean, and the folks were friendly. Totally worth it.“

“Food was fresh and delicious, tasted very authentic! We were a party of 5 that all ordered a different dish and all was very good. Restaurant itself is a bit plain but it’s modern, clean and friendly service which is more important. Ordered the baklava at the end and it is GREAT! Thank you!“

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

“This is probably one of the worst food pics I've ever taken only because I knew how super delicious everything was going to be and I took it in a hurry to dive in! My husband and I travel through the area a few times a year on the way to see a medical specialist. We discovered this restaurant about 4 years ago and the roasted Greek chicken dinner is ALWAYS a homerun! You know how you hyper fixate on a certain meal, but eventually it loses its shine so to speak, well I keep thinking that will happen with this chicken. But it is consistently amazing. You get a nice big salad or soup, rice with Greek potatoes, freshly cooked vegetables, half or whole chicken, (the whole chicken order only comes with the sides for one like the half chicken, but it could easily feed two) warm pita and a lemon wedge. I happy dance from the first sprinkle of squeezed lemon over my plate on through the last bite. We always have enough to bring home for lunches as well. Such good food that really makes you feel good. Friends back home always ask if I had the chance to stop by during our trips because they know what a highlight it is for us.
The atmosphere can be a little loud and echoey at times. I had an injury that makes bright lights and loud spaces pretty painful at times. When we can't eat in, we order for carry out and picnic in the very nearby, super beautiful park with great facilities, Sunset Woods Park. Greek chicken in a beautiful park? **Chef's kiss**“

“Some of the best tacos I've had in the city! Amazing service as well!!“

“My first time eating lunch at Ema was outstanding. I was meeting a colleague and wasn’t sure what to expect because we had a lot of work to cover. The entire staff was very helpful, courteous and knowledgeable about the menu. We received wonderful service and had a very healthy lunch. The food was great and all our salads were fresh and delicious.“

“Food was fresh and delicious. 😋“

“Lovely place, looks like Santorini. Food was delicious. Chef Ruben was very nice, came out and talked to us. Very nice evening.“

“they have good food and their plats are vary big and good staff“

“I’ve lived less than a mile from this place for a decade and never tried it; tonight was the night. It’s a unique establishment - hookah lounge, banquet hall, bar. Walking in was a little confusing for first timers but we were quickly welcomed and seated at the bar. Drink pours were impressively heavy. Our food came out fast and was great. The cheese burek appetizer deserves special mention with its garlic and hot sauces! Our waiter/bartender was in full hustle mode on a busy Friday night but still found time to take good care of us and have a few short chats. Overall I’d highly recommend eating here. It’s a bit “different,” but who likes the same old thing over and over? I’ll be back.

Dietary restrictions: Plenty of vegetarian and vegan options here.

Parking: Parking in front and behind the building, one lot has a small curb to traverse. Not an issue for most vehicles.“