50 Best Mediterranean Restaurants near Lyons

“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.“

“Hands down one of the best restaurants in Chicago. It’s rare to find a restaurant where every dish is so flavorful and on point but Elia does it so gracefully! Amazing atmosphere and great service - Ebrar made our dinner experience so enjoyable. Can’t wait to go back!“

“I live across the street and go here often; I have never had a bad experience. From the wine shop , to the grab and go coffee & pastries, Nettare never disappoints. But, the star of the show is dinner. It is a rotating menu, and all of them have been delicious.
You need to go here!“

“I never had kabobs presented on skewers like at Reef Kabob; such fun! Excellent hummas and tabular salad. The most gracious staff!“

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

“My husband and I were very impressed with the food. It's made fresh and is delicious. The fries tasted great and were not greasy. My husband had a huge delicious hamburger that he couldn't finish in one sitting. I had the steak shawarma which I enjoyed very much. We sat outside because the weather was perfect for it. The people working there were friendly and polite. We were definitely impressed.“

“Awesome service, line behind me, but Malachi handled it very well. I can tell he serves with a passion. Explained the ingredients after letting him know I was avoiding the sugar.

The food is celestially delicious 😋. I ordered the garlicky chicken shawarma bowl. He kindly offered me another salad in place of the rice which was, kao, broccoli, and feta cheese mixed with jalapeño.

Definitely sticking to this place.“

“Honestly these are the best shawarma in the neighborhood I love them anyone I take here always has nothing but good things to say about the food, the atmosphere is very inviting and the staff is very nice. I recommended the food to everyone that visits Chicago. I love it.“

“We had a good experience while celebrating a friend's birthday. The staff adeptly managed our large group with grace and humor. The courses were well timed, the perfect temperature, aromatic and flavorful. Our only minor complaint was the 1 hour wait to be seated, and they don't take reservations. Perhaps they can offer tea to those who are waiting? As they grow, a separate prayer space would be a welcome addition.“

“Wedding soup is spot on! had the lamb chops absolutely delicious! We Highly recommend you!!! Derek and Anna“

“phenomenal food! Great accommodations, and the christmas display is everything they say!“

“This charming little restaurant is small and cozy, offering an inviting atmosphere that makes you feel right at home. The menu features a delightful range of dishes, each more delicious than the last. From the moment you walk in, the aroma of freshly prepared ingredients fills the air, tempting your taste buds. It’s truly a hidden gem that deserves a visit. Whether you're in the mood for comfort food or something a bit more eclectic, you'll definitely want to stop by and enjoy a meal here.“

“I was scrolling Grubhub then decided I deserved better than fast food that’s going to be delivered cold. So went to Google and saw this place which I pass almost everyday without thought. I wish I caught my waiters name but he was a pleasure and very attentive. The fried octopus was unique and flavorful. Short rib wasn’t as tender as advertised but still quite delicious. I got a sample of the lobster bisque which honestly tasted like tomato soup to me. The bread pudding was excellent. I appreciate the balance and gelato on top. I got the mezcal cocktail which was also great. Also ordered tequila on the rocks. I was given a complimentary shot of the pistachio martini which was delicious. Overall ambience was lovely. You can have a great date night right in the burbs. Who knew? Overall, can’t wait to visit again to try different apps and their pasta. All of that was around $140 including 20% tip.“

“Delightful food choices that are always tasty“

“La Parra is an authentic restaurant. Each time I go, I try something different, because I know they won't disappoint me. Everything tastes great and the staff are extremely attentive.“

“This place is EXTRAORDINARY. Food is phenomenal, everything on the menu is delicious. Tàma team is wonderful and welcoming. In my opinion, the best seat in the house is the counter. You get the experience of watching the chefs make your lunch/dinner which is an experience in itself.“

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

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

“My husband and I had an amazing dinner experience at Autre Monde! Exceptional service, excellent food, and delicious desert! Cannot wait to come back!“

“I was just there with my husband we had dinner and our experience was great the food was fresh moist and tasty top Noch 👌we will definitely come back“

“Shaymaa is amazing! Her food is delicious, portions are generous, and her customer service is great! She makes an effort to work with your requests and make any adjustments to suit our family’s needs whenever we order. We especially love the chicken kabseh and the chicken shawarma sandwiches - but there isn’t an item we’ve ordered that we haven’t loved!!“

“My friend got a platter and shawarma sandwiches It was delicious 10/10 I recommend“

“THE FOOD IS BEYOND DELICIOUS! 🔥“

“The shawarma is my favorite thing on the menu 👍“

“saw it as driving to get my car wash & decided to check it out / went thru drive thru got the bowl chicken and steak it was delicious“

“I stopped in here recently and was really impressed. I had the chicken curry platter, which came with yellow rice, hummus, a falafel, and a salad with tahini sauce. Everything tasted super fresh and crisp, with great attention to flavor. The colors and presentation were vibrant, and it honestly felt like one of the better meals I’ve had in a long time.

The restaurant itself is small—kind of cramped—but it’s clean, well-painted, and actually works nicely for a casual lunch or dinner. They seem to be known for their shawarma, but if it’s anything like the curry platter, you can’t go wrong. I really hope more people give this place a shot—it deserves some love.“

“Absolutely one of the best middle eastern restaurants in Chicago. The mezas dish, exceptional. The lamb stew on egg plant, among. The specialty drinks, creative. The desserts, light custard, delicious. The service, friendly, helpful, interesting, delightful. Value, worthwhile. Go out to Turqoise for the meal and experience.“

“الاكل ممتاز والمحل نظيف والاستقبال ممتاز ربنا يوسع عليكم“

“Perfect taste and super service 😍“

“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!“

“Got our order for pick up! Food is delicious and great size for the price. We didn’t stay to eat but the vibes were very chill, and the brown couch is honestly great. They do not do online orders though, so make sure to call ahead if you want to do a quick pick up“

“Petra Falafel is my favorite Middle Eastern restaurant in the area. Their chicken shawarma platter is a masterpiece, and the garlic, jalapeno, and habanero sauces are very tasty, be sure to order extras! Their portions are generous, often leaving me with leftovers for at least another full meal. The staff is always friendly and attentive, making the whole experience even better. We always order for pick up, but they do have a dining area and I believe they are also BYOB. Next time you are craving falafel, baba ghanoush or shawarma give Petra Falafel a try - you will not be disappointed!“

“My partner and I enjoyed a delightful weekday evening dinner, and the experience was extraordinary from the moment we sat down. The flavors and aromas were so inviting, they hit us even before the main dish arrived. We started with Mazza, which featured the creamiest hummus and a smoky, perfectly roasted eggplant baba ghannooj. The falafels were the highlight—simply the best I've ever had, like the perfect cherry on top of a sundae. As for the Mansaf, it was nothing short of exceptional. The rich yogurt sauce, tender lamb, crunchy almonds, and flawlessly cooked rice made for a dish that was out of this world. It was so good, I couldn't resist having the leftovers for breakfast the next day. The service was top-notch, and even though we live over two hours away, we’ll definitely be coming back.“

“Hello Shawarma is literally the best shawarma I've had yet, and I've tried a ton of places. The shawarma here is incredible, the wraps are flavorful and the bread is always fresh!
You can tell everything is made with high quality ingredients. The portions are very generous and the flavors are authentic.
If you’re looking for amazing shawarma this is the spot. This is my go-to place for the best wraps, pita, and baguettes.“

“I love alasala the food is wonderful and super clean. It feels like im eating in jordan with the fresh ingredients and amazing seasonings. I absolutely love bringing people here just from how beautiful the restaurant is and the service is always wonderful. The place is always clean and super friendly to me and my guests. Could not recommend this place more.“

“Food was very tasteful. Service a bit slow.“

“Food was fresh and delicious. 😋“

“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.“

“I love this place, it’s my favorite!“

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

“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!“

“I had a kafta sandwich and it was totally not what I was used to, but all the same it was amazing. The flavor of the beef was ridiculous and I'm pretty sure there was hummus on there too. I'd Def recommend stopping by this place.“

“Not really any indoor seating, I think this is mostly a takeout store, but the food is good, and they give HUGE portions. The people here are really kind and gave my friend and I free drinks. I ordered the falafel and Beef shwarma which ended up being more like a beef burrito. This order ended up being $19. I don't recommend the shwarmas but i do recommend the falafel and my friend liked their hummus. Definitely would come again.“

“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 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“

“Best Mediterranean restaurant in Chicago! Upon arrival I received kind and welcoming hospitality. The food was AMAZING!!! I ordered the combo plate and it was delicious! The combination of kebabs, with fresh falafels, and savory hummus is the best! I highly recommend this place to everyone!!!“

“Café Istanbul is a must-visit for anyone looking to experience authentic Turkish cuisine in Chicago. From the moment I walked in, the ambiance transported me straight to Istanbul. The food was simply amazing; each dish was bursting with flavor and expertly prepared. What truly stood out was the exceptional service, especially from our server, Amir. He was incredibly knowledgeable and took the time to explain each unique dish in depth, enhancing our dining experience. I highly recommend Café Istanbul for a memorable culinary journey.“

“Excellent food for dine in and creative, well presented catering service options. Karim worked with me to create a menu that our guests loved.“

“Yay can’t miss lamb mandi“

“Great selection of American & Mediterranean. Falafel plate & Kefta kabobs were fantastic & prepared fresh. Unexpected array of dessert options, as well. Win!“