I visited Samarkand Cafe for their pilaf, and it was absolutely delicious--authentic Uzbek food…read morefull of flavor. I also loved their compote; it was refreshing and very tasty. The atmosphere is warm and cozy, with a beautiful traditional Uzbek-style interior that makes the experience feel even more authentic. If you're looking for real Uzbek cuisine, I definitely recommend this place.

This place is a complete scam. The food they advertise and what you actually get are two totally…read moredifferent things. We ordered plov expecting the full dish shown in the picture, and instead got a pathetic pile of plain rice with a tiny piece of beef literally the size of my palm and one sad, undersized boiled egg that looked like a joke. Then we ordered lamb skewers and got ONE skewer, even though the picture clearly shows 4-5. It honestly feels like they're intentionally misleading people to squeeze more money out of them. To make it worse, we spoke to the manager about it, and all she did was say "sorry" without giving any real explanation or trying to fix the situation. Completely dismissive and unprofessional. We were so fed up that we ended up calling the cops because of how blatantly misleading this whole thing was. Portions are embarrassing, the advertising is deceptive, and the service is a joke. Avoid this place unless you want to feel ripped off.

Jannat Restaurant is truly a hidden gem when it comes to Eurasian cuisine -- bringing together rich…read moreflavors from Central Asia, Turkey, and Europe all under one roof. It's halal, super clean, and the staff? Genuinely some of the kindest and warmest people you'll meet. You can tell they really care about their space and their food -- gloves, masks, and great hospitality all around. The vibe inside is lowkey but elegant, great for a quiet night out or a new food experience with friends or family. The menu reflects a wide variety of authentic dishes -- some comforting, others bold and new depending on your palate. Pelmeni (dumplings): Very strong in flavor, not what I'm typically used to. The texture might take some getting used to -- I wasn't the biggest fan, but my friend loved it. Plov: So flavorful and hearty -- slightly on the greasy side but still really satisfying. Manty: If you're into juicy, steamed dumplings, this is the move. The spices are deep and warming. Honey Cake: Hands down one of my favorites. Soft, lightly sweet, and melts in your mouth -- definitely a must-try. If you're into exploring lesser-known cuisines or just want a meal that feels like a journey across cultures, Jannat is a beautiful stop. It's an experience more than just a dinner, and you can feel the passion behind the dishes.

The owners did an awesome job renovating the place. As you…read moreentered, tables are set placemats, plates, silverware, and cloth napkin. This place is a full service dining restaurant. Overall service was wonderful and the staff was very helpful with the menu and recommending apps, dishes, and drinks for first timers. Their menu offers food Europe, Central Asia, Turkey. You're offered complimentary Pita Bread as a starter. We ordered the Pelmeni, Chicken Kabob, Plov, Fruit Tea, Zavarnye, and Honey Cake. Everything was yummy! Portions are decent so definitely explore, order a few items and do it Family Style. They also offer lunch specials for $20. We will be back to other menu items!

Surprisingly good place especially with lamb dishes. Pretty clean lobby with a cake/dessert show…read morecase. I was very surprised with eggplant salad in which the cubed eggplant was fried to crisp and tender inside; on the top of greens. Different and delicious. Lamb soup and lamb noodles are delicious too. Big portion and perfect for a winter cold day. Finished up with the honey cake In a right sugar taste. There was only one girl which was very attentive and polite.

Great service, very cozy hole in the wall for Uzbek food (can't say I've had it before). Yummy…read moresamosa meat pastry, very yummy spicy stir fry lagman noodles with lamb (a lil oily...), and cutie lil dumplings (mantu) in the soup. Halal!

Jibek Jolu was all I could ask for to relive my time in Kyrgyzstan!! As soon as I walked in, I saw…read morethe familiar design, camels, and all the detail that transported me out of Chicago, yay!! It's so refreshing when a restaurant can do this! I wanted my family to experience a glimpse of Kyrgyz food, so of course we ordered all the things only a local would know about ! Shout out to our guide during our trip- he made sure we tried lots of cuisine that was all the way Kyrgyz food! The crispy eggplant is a must and is my favorite ! The eggplant is light and the sauce that is drenched on top is perfect to balance the fried crispy exterior. Next I ordered Samsa, Plov, and lamb kurdock. My husband ordered the beef rib and mash potatoes. Not the most Kyrgyz but he did try everything and loved it all! If you want a taste of central Asian cuisine please come to Jibek Jolu! Don't forget the honey cake!

Beautiful space, delicious food, huge portions. A lot of us hadn't tried this kind of cuisine…read morebefore or this restaurant so we tried asking our server for recommendations. He wasn't very helpful unfortunately other than naming some appetizers that we tried, though these came after some of our entrees came out. It was also very difficult to get water and refills on water but other than that we loved our experience. We over ordered because again, we were not aware of how big the portions would be and our waiter wasn't very informative: Carrot salad- even as a side this was a big portion to share with delicious light Asian flavors Jibek jolu salad- another great shareable with a tasty dressing and cuts of tender beef Khachapuri- one of the recommended apps, also a big portion to share though we didn't know what to do with the raw egg that came on the side. After flagging someone down to help us, we discovered that this was a delicious cheesy bread with egg mixed in. Crispy eggplant- another recommended app which was delicious and sweet Lamb kurdock- I didn't love this dish it was kind of dry and lacking in flavor but huge with lots of potatoes and veggies Combo skewers- so much meat that was all very tender and flavorful, though it came on one thin soggy tortilla. It would have been nice to have more tortillas on the side to make a wrap. I also tried the chicken tabaka, and this was delicious with a curry flavor. Overall, most dishes were so delicious, but it was a bit of a learning curve on how to order and what to expect.

After a wonderful evening listening to an intimate concert by a Russian cellist at Arcada Theatre,…read moremy two Russian friends and I decided to have dinner at Chinor. What a fantastic choice! Even better, it's only a few blocks from my house, so I know I'll definitely be back. The restaurant is elegant without feeling pretentious. White tablecloths, a warm atmosphere, and attentive, friendly service immediately make you feel welcome. Our server was knowledgeable about the menu, answered all our questions, and guided us through dishes that were new to me. Everything we ordered was excellent. We started with one of their traditional breads, which was fresh, warm, and absolutely delicious. We also shared several salads, including an eggplant salad that completely stole the show. It was flavorful, beautifully prepared, and one of the best eggplant dishes I've had in a long time. Another highlight was their large steamed dumplings, similar in spirit to pierogi but distinctly Uzbek. They were generously filled with lamb, perfectly cooked, and incredibly satisfying. Comfort food at its best. One thing that really impressed me was how authentic the restaurant felt. It was busy with people who clearly knew and appreciated the cuisine, including many Eastern European and Central Asian diners, which always feels like a good sign. It is wonderful to find a restaurant serving authentic Uzbek food in the suburbs, and doing it so well. Excellent food, gracious service, and a beautiful atmosphere make Chinor an easy recommendation. If you're looking to try something beyond the usual restaurant choices, this place is absolutely worth the visit.

Quite an experience!…read more Like nothing else I've had. Some extremely authentic/cultural masterpieces and incredible hospitality make me excited to go back again SOON!!!

The only thing better than the service is the food. You can't for wrong here. If you're in North…read moreChicagoland, this needs to be ok your list!

Good food and friendly service! Beef stroganoff was solid. Pizza was tasty and the Goose Island…read morewas cold and complimented the meal well. Cheese burger was very good as well. In the spirit of the old Tap House Grill or a slightly less fancy Greenwood, it is great to have a nice bar and grill in Highland Park again to treat the family to a nice night out!

Love this place! Food is amazing! It is very cozy and staff are friendly…read more Every dish is delicious and the portion size is huge! My friend who I dragged to this place was talking about inviting our other friends here after the meal because it is so good! We came a little later than usual dinner time. Parking was still a challenge, but i was able to find a free spot eventually.

This was our second time here. Still we loved every single dishes that we ordered (maybe except the…read morebread).

My wife and I recently stopped by Anjir Halal Restaurant for a pickup order, and the entire…read moreexperience exceeded our expectations. From start to finish, everything felt welcoming and well put together. We ordered the Chunchvara Dumplings along with two pieces each of their chocolate cake and honey cake--and every single item was absolutely delicious. The dumplings were flavorful and perfectly prepared, while the desserts were rich, fresh, and incredibly satisfying without being overwhelming. What really stood out was the tremendous customer service. The staff was friendly, attentive, and made the pickup process smooth and pleasant. Even during a quick visit, their hospitality made a lasting impression. The ambiance of the restaurant also deserves recognition--it's beautifully lit and has a calm, peaceful atmosphere that makes you want to come back and dine in next time. Overall, a fantastic experience. We'll definitely be returning and highly recommend Anjir Halal Restaurant to everyone looking for great food and excellent service!

I went for dinner on a weekend. The restaurant is so beautiful it has booths with beautiful rugs…read moreand woodwork really nice but you've got to sit on the floor. We sat at a table and got the fresh made cherry/apple/strawberry it was not that great then we got the rolled kabob-it's rolled with fat ps- and and strip steak kabob as well as a noodle dish and soup and dumplings Everything had a lot of flavor and came with sour cream chili sauce and all. It was all very tasty aside from the juice The servers were so kind, offered advice and were attentive. I will be coming back