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.“

“We had a big event of 30 people (wedding rehearsal dinner) and Ada took care of us with no issues. Easily managed our entire tables orders with a calm, kind, and positive attitude. The food was also top notch. Highly recommend for a casual meal or for a large group if you need to rent out a space.“

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

“Love CAVA! The build-your-own bowls are amazing, the pita dishes are delicious, and everything feels fresh and healthy. Cute spot on Milwaukee Ave, but be prepared if the line is long, because it's popular for a reason!! Would deffo come back :)“

“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!“

“By far, one of my new favorite restaurants in the city. The food was creative yet simple, the cocktails were craft, and the ambiance was just perfect for the mood. I enjoyed my whole experience so much, I wish I could come here regularly, but unfortunately I do not have that kind of budget. Nettare stole my heart for sure.

And a huge shoutout to the staff, they really made the place so special.“

“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.“

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

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

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

“Omg!!! This place is too amazing to not try. The food is so fresh and super tasty. This location is my favorite one!! The way Amina and the rest of the staff recognize us it’s just so heartwarming, they make us feel like family. We are so happy when we’re here and leave even happier with a full belly. Thank you Amina and staff for an amazing experience as always! You guys are amazing! We travel an hour to eat here so that tells you how delicious the food is but the service makes it even better. We love you Baba Saj Oak Lawn“

“Delicious Mediterranean food with rich flavors and fresh ingredients. Everything was well seasoned and perfectly cooked. Great atmosphere and friendly service. Highly recommended!. I had chicken kabob and chicken shawarma. Was a good find for Logan square.“

“Where do I even begin? The pita? Perfect texture and taste. The cherry tomatoes? Obviously fresh, juicy, and sourced from a great farm. The romain? Plentiful and CRISP. The Dill and Taziki sauce? Also VERY fresh, has a citrus kick somewhere, and seems to be made fresh as well. Because it doesn't taste like a store bought sauce filled with preservatives. The hummus? That might actually be where the citrus is from. However, the hummus is not overly salty! You can actually taste the Chickpeas and they use good ingredients as well as olive oil for the hummus too! The chicken? Is in NO way shape or form dry and it's actually seasoned! It's juicy and normal is it overcooked. The olives? Brothers and sisters I HATE olives by themselves, rarely on certain foods. But these olives are not overpowering and stealing the flavor profile, it just adds more depth to the flavor bomb of the Greek chicken Pita! The feta? What could be bettah? Seriously though if you can see this picture you should've seen that they don't skip on the feta either. Again the flavor is ALL the way there but not overpowering. While the texture is almost creamy. Probably with assistance from the sauce but still, it's not overly dry! 10/10 Would recommend & I will be back! Now the facility was spotless, the cleanest "fast food" I've ever seen. The staff? Phenomenonal, personable, kind, attentive to details, and downright superstars that make that place run like clockwork! Wooooo wo weeeee wo!!! If you haven't been here then you've got to go!! Moderate prices, exceptional ingredients, lovely staff, and clean facilities(where the staff actually care like the NW Expressway location in OKC). I'm out, ty for listening to my Ted talk! 🫡“

“Went in bold without ever trying this place to celebrate my 30th birthday and this place was absolutely stunning and delicious. The staff including the chef were truly attentive(compliments to the chef), thank you for an amazing experience . They asked if anyone had allergies to start off too. Their food and drinks was delicious. I had their chicken Alfredo, my husband the gnocchi with braised beef & various of my family their seafood linguine and the flavors were bold and exquisite. Flavored shots were amazing and so was their dessert (my favorite was the banana pudding). I have a few family members who are picky eaters and even they really enjoyed it. I have worked in the restaurant business downtown and this place is better than some places ive had in downtown Chicago. Great for dinner & special occasions. 10/10 for everything this is one of our new favorite places in the area.“

“Amazing smoked beef brisket sandwich with fresh cut fries. Everything was was made fresh and served piping hot. The BBQ sauce is delicious... sweet, smoky and a tad spicy. The portions are large and well worth the money. If in the area again, I would definitely go back.“

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

“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.“

“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“

“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.“

“Attended a very lovely wedding + reception there today (not a usual function they perform) and it was absolutely amazing! The decor, the atmosphere, the food & service were all top notch! Tres Bien!!!“

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

“Last Saturday May 23 was my son’s katb Kitaab at Mecca Center Banquet Hall. We had an incredible evening! The catering service was fantastic!!! My guests enjoyed the food so much! The service was excellent and the whole staff were very professional and absolutely welcoming. A great evening and very delicious food!! Overall excellent service in all aspects!“

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

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

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

“Delightful food choices that are always tasty“

“THE FOOD IS BEYOND DELICIOUS! 🔥“

“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!“

“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 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!“

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

“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.“

“Great place to grab lunch. Their pizza is perfect 😋 and wings were delicious. My daughter wanted something on the sweeter side so she had their delicious Nutella panini. I couldn't resist to ask for a bite 😅. I will definitely be back often. Highly recommended.“

“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“

“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“

“الاكل ممتاز والمحل نظيف والاستقبال ممتاز ربنا يوسع عليكم“

“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!“

“Perfect taste and super service 😍“

“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.“

“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“

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

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

“Amazing food flavors and service. Friendly owner always has a kind word to say. Love this place so much. 🧆🥙“

“Kefi has some of the most delicious Greek food in the Chicago suburbs! The lamb chops, souvlaki, and gyros are phenomenal and so are the moussaka, pastitsio, and spanakopita. When it comes to appetizers, you can’t go wrong with the flaming saganaki cheese, the grilled octopus the fried calamari, the loukaniko sausage, or the taramasalata. Don’t forget dessert! Try the baklava, galaktabouriko, and the chocolate cake! They have amazing drinks too! The employees there are very kind and friendly and the chefs really know how to cook! Eat at Kefi! You won’t be disappointed!“

“⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

As someone who has spent more than 30 years exploring, reviewing, and appreciating food across 35 countries, I do not make compliments lightly. Hello Shawarma is genuinely among the finest shawarma establishments I have encountered anywhere in the world.

What immediately stands out is the quality of the meat. The shawarma is expertly marinated, perfectly seasoned, and cooked with remarkable precision, achieving that ideal balance between tenderness and caramelized crispness that defines truly exceptional shawarma. Every bite is rich, flavorful, and unmistakably authentic.

My strongest recommendation is the Crispy Shawarma with a touch of Shatta. The contrast between the crispy edges of the meat and the subtle heat of the Shatta creates a beautifully balanced flavor profile that keeps you coming back for another bite. It's bold without being overwhelming and showcases a deep understanding of how texture and spice should complement each other.

Beyond the shawarma itself, the freshness of the ingredients is evident. The bread, vegetables, sauces, and accompaniments are all carefully selected and prepared. Nothing feels mass-produced or rushed. The garlic sauce is especially noteworthy—creamy, balanced, and crafted to enhance rather than overpower the shawarma.

The restaurant maintains high standards of cleanliness, service, and consistency, which are qualities often overlooked but essential to a truly great dining experience. The staff are welcoming, attentive, and clearly take pride in what they serve.

Having enjoyed street food, fine dining, and regional specialties across Europe, the Middle East, North America, and Asia, I can confidently say that Hello Shawarma ranks among the best shawarma experiences I have had. It is a rare example of a restaurant that combines authenticity, quality ingredients, technical skill, and genuine hospitality in every meal.

If you appreciate outstanding Middle Eastern cuisine, do yourself a favor: order the Crispy Shawarma with a touch of Shatta. You will not regret it.“

“I really enjoy Mediterranean food and this dish not disappoint. The trio of dips was super tasty and salmon and spinach salad good too and both were plenty to share between two for lunch and arrived to our table quickly. Pricing was reasonable too“

“We had an amazing experience this evening for a birthday dinner, everything was amazing and we will be back for more. The staff was wonderful and we had some moments to talk more with the manager and learn history behind dishes and about Morocco. For some reason pictures won’t attach but everything was beautifully presented and so flavorful!“

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

“Fifth time enjoying a meal here over the last three years . Every time spot on food and service excellence. Today was no exception. We sat outdoors and we appreciated how genuine the staff was and how attentive they were. The meal was very well paced--no sense of rushing us through all the courses. We had appetizers and then we chose Rack of Lamb, Braised Lamb Shank and Braised Short ribs. Honestly each meal was perfection. Rack of Lamb was unanimously voted the very best lol. I've never had better. Portions were generous and we were served complimentary warm bread with a tasty dip to start the meal as we looked at their menu which had a bit of everything. You really can't go wrong.
Dessert was Baklava and Flan and again--so good. Turkish style. We went home with leftovers for another meal. Thank you to the lovely Staff. Outstanding meal all the way around!“