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    Arzan Cafe

    4.5 (39 reviews)
    Open 10:00 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)
    Updated 2 weeks ago

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    zaid a.

    I was looking for something unique and stumbled upon this restaurant. It's in a plaza so there's parking and they have a grocery store right next-door with the same name. The cuisine is central Asian and is also Halal certified. I was in a hurry so I did not get to ask more questions about the cuisine. Staff is very friendly, and the place is very clean. I asked my waitress what she recommended and this was the noodle dish She directed me too. This noodle dish came with a hot spicy sauce for added flavor. The bathrooms were clean, and there was plenty of parking, which I appreciate. Overall, I look forward to visiting this place when I have a bit more free time to experience this unique central Asian cuisine restaurant.

    Soroosh P.

    Tried a few dishes on Uber Eats and the central Asian food was subpar. The lagman wasn't very flavorful. I liked the spicy beef and the tomato salad. The naan with the spinach came out a little soggy. Be sure to ask for the ajika. I've had better central Asian food in Chicago and I would categorize at his place as ok.

    Menu
    Joy E.

    We went on a hike at Naperville, and was hungry and decided to check for food "nearby" and Yelp brought us here. Haha, it brought us back to Chicago, we took it. Anyway, this place is a central Asian restaurant that's affordable and cultural. Everything about this place speaks Turks, Uygor, Kazak etc. it's so beautiful like you are walking into those countries. The food tasted natural and NOT made in America. Which is a plus for me. The place is also Halal!

    In the basket is Boorsok ($5),  the plate is Boso Lagman, hand pulled noodles with beef and veggies. Black tea w/ lemon, mint & honey.
    Leah B.

    Can't wait to go back to try the fish, the dumplings and the samsa. This is a very warm, family friendly place where you can experience an amazing range of Central Asian cuisine. In a strip mall on Kimball in Albany Park. I went with a friend on a Monday evening and it was cozy with families and groups of friends enjoying a meal out. We ordered black tea which came with honey, lemon slices and mint leaves, then started with the wee pillows of dough, they come in a basket with a mild cheese sauce to dip them in. They are called Boorsok. My friend got shawarma with beef, lamb and chicken, which was familiar and brand new at the same time. Really tender meat, intense flavors. We could not get enough of that. I would have included a picture, but we dove in too fast for that. The beef with hand pulled noodles had such a surprising, wonderful texture and flavor. It is served with strips of fresh, crisp cucumber, which adds crunch and brightness to the depth and warmth of the noodles, beef and veggies. I recommend coming here with a big group, everyone orders something different. The portions are really generous so that way you can try a bit of everything. Or just come back five times over the next month or two, which is my current plan. No matter what: get a piece of the honey cake. Life changing. I don't say that lightly. No picture of that because again, we couldn't be bothered to wait before we started eating it. Service is friendly and quite fast for the amount of food they bring you and the depth of flavors on each plate. I can't wait to come back here!

    soooooo good. food was fresh and high quality. i tore up the lamb soup omg
    Eva F.

    Food was good asl!!!!!! Fresh and high quality. I got the lamb soup, beef samsa, and chicken samsa. I wanna try the Achu Et when I come back. Server was so sweet :')

    Plov with kazy :the traditional sausage didn't add that much to it...could go with the regular...but we're not big plov fans.
    Elvin C.

    We've had a little experience with Uyghur cuisine closer to home, so we came in knowing a little bit about our favorites and what we hadn't tried yet elsewhere. We went with a plov (a standard that we had previously passed over) and oromo. To round things out we added an avocado salad and tandoor samsa. Pot of green tea is just $2 (stays hot) and is served in wonderful bowls. With their bakery next door, having dessert here is a bonus with a selection in a case that you can peruse up close. We went with a slice of poppyseed milk cake that was great with our tea (still hot) at the end of our meal. Nicer chairs and tables (still in good shape) than expected for strip mall dining and service was great on getting everything we needed at the table without us asking first. Clientele seemed mostly central Asian with families mixed in with others without children.

    Steve B.

    I have never eaten at a halal restaurant. Have to say I highly enjoyed it. The food was hands done one of the best places I have been to. You could Taste how fresh the food was and the flavors in every bite. The server was also the best I have seen at any place. I will suggest the central Asian bread, honey cake, fruit tea, and stir fried vegetables with hand pulled noodles!

    Kebab Set 1(Lulya&Lamb)

    This is the worst restaurant to order food from, especially for Kyrgyz cuisine. Not only did they send us an incomplete order--missing fries and with a ridiculously small portion of meat--but the meat itself was just scraps, tiny leftover pieces from the edges of the skewers. There wasn't even a single proper piece of meat that could be considered a normal serving. On top of that, the employee who answered the phone was incredibly rude. When we called to express our dissatisfaction, she hung up on us and then refused to answer our calls. She never apologized even once. When we sent her a photo of our order, she replied, "From the photo, I only see that the fries are missing. Everything else looks fine." No apology, nothing. When we told her that the meat portion was way too small, she insisted it was supposed to be 120-130 grams. We then weighed it and sent her proof that it was only 40 grams. After seeing this, her only response was, "I don't know how that happened." Again, no apology. Then she had the audacity to blame the Dasher, claiming he must have eaten the missing meat on the way. This is complete nonsense and a blatant lie because the DoorDash driver took a photo of the bag when he picked it up at the restaurant, and it arrived in the exact same condition. The knot was still tightly sealed--we couldn't even untie it and had to rip the bag open. I strongly do not recommend this restaurant. They refused to refund our money. At the very end, the employee messaged saying she would "try to process a refund through the app." I said, "Okay, go ahead." But then she just disappeared--no refund, no response. I had to contact DoorDash support myself to get my money back. If I could give this place zero stars, I would. I've ordered from them many times before. There were occasional mistakes, but in the past, the employees were polite, apologetic, and accommodating. They always tried to fix any issues, even offering to include missing items in future orders free of charge. But this time, the rudeness of the employee and the dishonesty of the staff were unacceptable. The restaurant needs better management, and their cooks should be fired immediately.

    a variety of food items on a table
    Valentina J.

    Arzan has became one of my favorites places to eat shawarma. It is very authentic and full of flavor. I prefer the chicken one. Don't hesitate about ordering fries, one of the best I have tried, they are crunchy and soft inside. I highly recommend to try the pancakes. They are very different and unique, better if you order a pot of tea to accompany it. We always have received a really good service. The staff is friendly and helpful. I enjoy to see the paintings of Kyrgyzstan, makes the place look nice and authentic.

    Beef soup with vegetables

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    4 months ago

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    2 months ago

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    3 months ago

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    9 months ago

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    10 months ago

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    4 months ago

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    7 months ago

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    6 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    9 months ago

    Amazing food and ambiance! Great zabiha halal food selections. Lovely spot for friends and family gatherings. Service is top-notch!

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    2 years ago

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    9 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    7 months ago

    1. The staff REALLY needs to learn the menu. 2. My food contained something I had specifically asked not to be included.

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    1 year ago

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    9 months ago

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Amazing food and excellent service!!! Try their pulled noodles. Can't go wrong with. The place is extra clean and the decor is fantastic.

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    3 years ago

    The food is really delicious - highly recommended. I really like the variety of their cuisine and the service of the staff.

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    2 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Awesome food! Great service. Loved the Lagman and the chicken shawarma wrap . Will def come back.

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    3 years ago

    Little place with a great service! Food was amazing! My friend had to wait longer for grilled mix

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Good food for good price, delicious tandoori samosa. Clean and humble service. Shawarma a bit dry, parking is a problem.

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    Ask the Community - Arzan Cafe

    Aba

    Aba

    4.4
    (2k reviews)
    6.4 mi
    $$$

    Food: delicious, tasty. Modern Mediterranean…read more Service: upscale restaurant, fancy atmosphere for brunch/lunch or dinner Value: expensive but worth it imo

    We came in from out of town and on short notice was able to grab a table at 3:30pm for a late…read morelunch. The place is beautiful with a lively terrace on nice days but also a very open and bright interior with modern decor. We were seated right away at a table off to the side of the bar area. We must have waited like 15-20 minutes before anyone even realized that we were there. It seemed as though none of the servers running around serving other tables around us had our table to service. Eventually we caught the attention of who I can only imagine was a manager or supervisor who finally came over to take our orders. We ordered the Smokey garlic hummus which fresh pita bread and this was very good. We also ordered the crispy potatoes and the Brussel sprouts as a side. These were also nice and crispy and the brussel sprouts had a tasty kick with the harissa honey. For our main we had the chicken kebab which was perfectly cooked and tender, braised short rib (not as good), and the shawarma skirt steak frite. We quite enjoyed our meal and everything very fast which more than made up for the initial delay in service. For dessert we decided to share a frozen Greek yogurt with Olive Oil and sea salt. This had an interesting taste with a tanginess at the end. I'm not sure I would order this again but you could tell the Greek yogurt was of very good quality. All in all we enjoyed our meal at Aba and would definitely come back if in town.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Muhammara
    Muhammara
    Frozen Greek yogurt

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    Frozen Greek yogurt
    Ema

    Ema

    4.3
    (2k reviews)
    6.8 mi
    $$

    The atmosphere was great for our 6 person group for brunch! Service was fantastic…read more A very nice ambiance that wasn't too loud for a brunch at 11am where we could all hear each other, sat at a round table so we could see each other. That part was lovely because often I find that with larger groups it's hard to ensure everyone is able to interact (especially since I was taking my parents) Lamb shakshuka was a winner in my book!! So flavorful and perfect hearty brunch. The skewers my parents got were wonderfully cooked. Others got a more standard scrambled egg breakfast that they said was nothing special. Definitely opt for a Mediterranean breakfast if you're at a Mediterranean spot imo.

    I was really disappointed with my experience at Ema. The portions were much smaller than expected,…read moreespecially considering the prices. The biggest issue was that our drink glasses had a terrible odor, as if they hadn't been washed properly. We mentioned it to the manager, who promptly replaced the glasses, and the new ones did not have the smell, which confirmed there was an issue with the original ones. I ordered the short ribs, which cost $35 and the portion was extremely small. One of the pieces was also mostly fat, leaving very little actual meat. For the price, I expected a much better-quality dish and a more satisfying portion. Overall, the experience did not live up to the restaurant's reputation or pricing. Unfortunately, I won't be returning.

    Photos
    Ema tables and bar
    Ema tables and bar
    Double chocolate.
    Double chocolate.
    Inside

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    Inside
    The Purple Pig

    The Purple Pig

    4.3
    (9k reviews)
    7.0 mi
    $$$

    My new favorite restaurant! the food is DELICIOUS and the staff was incredible. I don't give…read morereviews much but just loved it here so I had to :)

    This place had a line that went out of the door during the multiple times I've crossed the…read moreMagnificent Mile bridge in Chicago. Made last minute reservations for brunch next day after the infamous architecture tour. It was quiet as we've put in an early morning. All the more better to savor all intricate dishes from start to finish. Like the name, The Purple Pig, their specialty is pork dishes so majority of our orders were this. Daily special of the bone marrow bacon jam toast - glazed, slippery off the bone, savory and sweet. Always love a good bone marrow dish to get the sweetness off it. This was so good that there were bits of the marrow and jam left stuck to the bone, I took a piece of the toast and scooped the bone dry. Nothing left for anyone to attack this. Non pork dishes were the Mushroom 3 ways and Spanish octopus. Mushroom dish was savory with all the coated sauces elevating this. Spanish octopus was kicked lightly and easily can bite in to enjoy the tender and charred portions. But the award went to my main course - the braised pork shoulder with saffron, apricots and Swiss chard. Aside from the rippable pork meat when dining on it, the sauces fused together on this dish elevated it and had everyone coming back for more. I needed an official Chicago culinary experience and found it at The Purple Pig without a doubt.

    Photos
    The kitchen
    The kitchen
    Chicago style hot dog
    Chicago style hot dog
    Squid Ink Chitarra

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    Squid Ink Chitarra
    Falafel & Grill

    Falafel & Grill

    4.3
    (669 reviews)
    4.8 mi
    $$

    Good "bang for buck" would be an understatement when describing this place. The quality of the food…read moreat Falafel & Grill is absolutely OUTSTANDING, and comes at a beyond reasonable price. As typical for a counter serve, this facility is no thrills but it's kept very clean and the service is straightforward and great. We've gone back here a few times and have never had an issues with wait time, which is impressive as it can get pretty busy with orders. We've tried both the Chicken Kabob Plate and the Kifta Kabob Plate and both were fantastic. They truly make the meat here the PERFECT tenderness - probably the softest and juiciest chicken I've had in the city!!! The hummus and falafel that the Plate meals come with are also delicious. 10000% recommend for a casual Mediterranean meal or takeout

    I lived in Chicago ten years and always wanted to try this place. Sadly it took me moving away to…read morefinally give it a try! This place is a local gem: simple, quick, casual, but packed with flavor. The falafel is crispy crunchy and herby served with two sauces (the red is bright and spicy - my fav), and you can see that juicy shawarma rotating in the window as you pass. Though unassuming on the outside, this place serves yummy Lebanese food at high ROI. Of the two shawarma plates I tried, I fancy the beef, but I tend to lean beef. The chicken was clean and flavorful. The hummus is creamy and delicious and the plates are served with a balsamic fresh salad on the side. The guys behind the counter are working hard and if you're picking food up to-go, you're likely in and out of line with hot fresh food in under 10 minutes. Definitely a spot to try if you've never had shawarma or Falaffel, or need a quick bite while on your lunch break. Also wouldn't be a bad late night snacky

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    Falafel & Grill
    Falafel & Grill
    Kofta Kabob Plate Baba Ghanoush

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    Kofta Kabob Plate Baba Ghanoush
    Al Bawadi Grill

    Al Bawadi Grill

    4.1
    (1.2k reviews)
    16.7 mi
    $$

    food was delicious, great serving size and fresh !! customer service was also fantastic, super…read morefriendly and accommodating. will be coming back

    I really liked this place. They have parking in front of the restaurant and back. I highly…read morerecommend a reservation on Friday-Sunday even if you are just one person. I called them because I wasn't sure if the online version would be too slow. We were a group of three that came in Saturday night at 7 pm. It was moderately busy. The staff were all welcoming with smiles on their faces and attentiveness. Prices were fair for the amount of food you receive. Food portions are colossal so I would recommend one appetizer and one entree if you are a couple. They give you a complimentary dish. We ordered arayes with meat, meat toshka, mixed grill with baba ghanouj, fillet of basa fried, and mint lemonade. They also offer you fresh Arabic coffee before you leave. This is about a 4.5-5. -arayes with meat 4 - this was not bad. It's like a tamer version of the meat toshka. -meat toshka 5 - I prefer this over the arayes because they add the Syrian cheese. This one was bursting with flavor the moment you took a bite out of it. The minced beef and lamb just melt in the mouth. -mixed grill 5 - this came with 3 big skewers (shish kabab, kufta kabab, and chicken tawook. It also has tomatoes and onions to help cut down the meat when digesting. There are two heaping portions of biryani and saffron rice and baba ghanouj. The baba ghanouj was creamy and flavorful. It goes well with the pita bread. The meats were cooked medium well unless you want something. I think next time I'll ask for the shish kababs to be cooked medium rare or medium for a more juicy taste. The chicken tawook and kufta were both succulent. -fillet of basa fried 5 - the two pieces of basa fillet were astronomical. It also comes with two different kinds of rice. The fish was flaky, moist, and seasoned. Make sure you add the lemon and eat it with the sauce. -mint lemonade 5 - this was very refreshing after eating a heavy meal.

    Photos
    20 minute wait for two. Food smells delicious though
    20 minute wait for two. Food smells delicious though
    Kenafah
    Kenafah
    Lotus cake

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    Lotus cake
    Avec - Chicago

    Avec - Chicago

    4.3
    (2.7k reviews)
    6.7 mi
    $$$

    We came here on Saturday for their brunch and I wanted to say our server was amazing!! The food was…read moregreat especially the Meijoo dates. We got a lot of dishes to share between four people and it was more than enough. A lot of the dishes had eggs which is great and everything was so flavorful. We choose to sit outside and it's so lovely and nice. Will be back to try more on their menu.

    This came highly recommended by multiple people, and for a good reason! Our friend made a late…read morenight reservation, which was perfect after the architecture boat tour. This location runs a long narrow path with tables on the right and bar seating on the left. Beware, you'll be pretty cozy with your neighbors since some of the tables aren't split up. Mediterranean food is usually a hit for group dinners since we get to try a ton of small dishes. - Endive peach salad: delicious parm greek yogurt on the bottom, and was just what we needed after a day full of carbs. Light and refreshing - Wild mexican prawns: they added another for us since it usually only comes with 3. Make sure to dip the pita bread in the sauce - Chorizo stuffed dates: not a favorite for me, it was a bit too salty - Hummus with glazed short rib - this one was also just ok, the short rib was quite fatty - Heirloom tomatoes: another light and refreshing, but very savory starter. Loved this with the endive salad - Shwarma spiced chicken: we had to order this after seeing and SMELLING our neighbors' chicken. The spices are so fragrant and reallly good. I don't usually order chicken because it's usually dry, but even the white meat was moist As you can see, we left STUFFED. happy bellies

    Photos
    Restaurant view from bar
    Restaurant view from bar
    Roasted Corn & Freekeh Tabbouleh
    Roasted Corn & Freekeh Tabbouleh
    Whole roasted branzino

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    Whole roasted branzino
    Avaspi

    Avaspi

    4.8
    (109 reviews)
    3.3 mi

    An absolutely standout meal, each dish better than the next. The stuffed dates, however, were about…read moreas spectacular as anything I've had. A perfect place to go with a group to try as many different things as possible. And don't sleep on their happy hour, which makes the experience even better!

    Avaspi is one of the best restaurants I've been to in Chicago. My party of six split 6 appetizers…read moreand 3 entrees. Mediterranean Meze - very flavorful blend of 22 ingredients according to our waiter. This dish was truly unique. 5/5 Grilled Halloumi Meze - delicious cheese with olives and garlic bread. 4/5 Stuffed Eggplant - savory and creamy dish which actually might be even better served hot. 5/5 Calamari Meze - Excellent and tender. Not chewy at all which was nice. There were a ton of olives which I didn't think complimented the calamari. Overall, still 5/5. Mushroom Tava - mushrooms were cooked perfectly and were delicious. One of my favorite dishes of the night. 5/5 Stuffed Mushrooms - this dish fell flat on flavor and had more of the typical mushroom texture. 3/5 The Hunkar entrée initially was extremely salty. I mentioned this to the waiter and they remade it, which turned out great, so I'm hoping the salty dish was a one-off. 5/5 Our waiter was very friendly and attentive throughout. The restaurant itself is also casual upscale, so nice for most occasions. Avaspi exceeds expectations and I highly recommend this excellent Mediterranean restaurant.

    Photos
    Avaspi bar
    Avaspi bar
    Bread
    Bread
    Cool bar

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    Cool bar

    Arzan Cafe - halal - Updated August 2026

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