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    Cedar Palace

    4.8 (533 reviews)
    ModerateLebanese, Falafel
    Closed 12:00 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order Cedar Palace Takeout or Delivery

    Cedar Palace Photos

    CEDAR PALACE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Intimate
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Cedar Palace

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    Reviews With Photos

    Chicken Kafta Dinner
    Anthony D.

    Ordered through Uber Eats and was very happy with the order. We tried: - Chicken Kafta Dinner - Chicken Shawarma Dinner - Hummus The portions are huge and one dinner could most likely feed two. We both had leftovers. For sides we tried the lentil soup and salad. The salad was refreshing and the lentil soup was warming. Overall definitely recommend it.

    Hummus Beef Shawarma
    Jack L.

    First time here, the hummus and the hummus beef shawarma were great! It's located right by all the shops, but wasn't too busy and was easy to get a table during a busy time. The shawarma was my favorite, highly recommend!

    Dubai chocolates
    Julisa W.

    We were in town and unfortunately (and regretfully) in about a half an hour before closing. Next time we will eat in and not at the worst time to be in a restaurant! We got the dinner combination with the beef shawarma, shish tawook, and Kafta chicken. We opted for rice and bulgar, both were good, but it was the end of day. The chicken we got was a little charred, we had to get it to go obviously. I forgot to take a pic of our plate. The shawarma was very tasty! There was a lot of good flavor but it just felt like end of day food. This is family owned, we got to hear the story of them surviving through Covid and there's a lot of love that goes into this spot. The daughter who was working up front gave us Dubai chocolates and they were show stoppers. Walking in weirdly felt like we were in a home but elevated, elegant and middle eastern. Loved the lamp and the table so much I had to take pics. I'm positive everything would've been so delicious if we had gone at another time of day. We will be back for an updated review!

    Kate M.

    The reviews don't lie --- Cedar Palace is SO GOOD. A friend and fellow Yelp Elite (shout out Joneice!!) recommended it and me and my husband went the next day. The space is really cute and home-y, which is great because it's a family business! We started with the hummus and fattoush salad. Both were delicious. The salad was refreshing and tangy with lots of fresh veggies, lettuce and toasted pita that gave it a nice crunch. For my meal I went with the shish tawook lunch plate -- insanely good!! The chicken is so juicy and flavorful and is served with creamy garlic sauce for dipping. Truly the perfect lunch! We ended with a piece of baklava to share which was just as delicious as everything else. Cannot wait to come back to explore more of the menu and support this awesome family and business!

    Vegetable Vegetarian Combo Dinner
    Annette D.

    I discovered this eatery after tasting some of the delicacies at the local Farmer's Market. The Beef Shawarma, hummus, lentil soup and salad were all delicious and tasted homemade as if I were seated at a friend's dinner table. In addition to indoor dining, there's a cute outdoor patio in the back. The attentive service, overall, is one of the reasons for my high rating. One of the owners, Sylvanna, also made a point to visit every table, which just enhanced our experience. The STANDOUT of the evening was the French Waffles with Dubai Chocolate. OMG. So incredibly decadent and delicious.

    Veggies
    Michelle M.

    My husband and I booked an adventure in the city that takes us around little restaurants in Lincoln Park to "collect" food and end with a picnic in Oz Park and just... so much fun! We got hummus here with pita bread and the freshest veggies. So very yummy. We'll be back to try the rest of their menu.

    Dinner combination: chicken shawarma, beef shawarma and shish tawook

    We got the dinner combination to share between two people, and we still had leftovers! The service was quick, the portion size was generous and the shawarma was delicious. We will definitely be returning!

    Demolished this Chicken Kafta Sandwich before I thought to snap a pic
    Garrett M.

    This spot came recommended by a fellow Yelp Elite who really knows her stuff--- I couldn't believe how good it was. Very unassuming entryway and decor was understated and comfortable. The staff was absolutely next-level. Talk about a super on-point crew and friendly as can be. The food was some of the best I could ever hope to have for lunch. Meat was perfectly cooked and presentation was stunning. Words don't do it justice- just put this spot on your short list. Their Yelp rating should speak for itself.

    Andre A.

    Cedar Place is a little piece of heaven. Family owned, and great service. Their soup is delicious, their pitas are delicious. Everything about their menu screams five star. Love, the decor, and all in all comfortable place. Do yourself a favor and try this restaurant out if you're in that area. You won't be disappointed.

    Outside Sign
    Joneice B.

    Gem in plain sight in the Lincoln Park. This restaurant had been on my list for a while. I love Mediterranean food. This hit all my taste buds and more. We arrived on a Thursday evening and was able to sit on the outdoor patio. We were assisted by Anthony who was very welcoming and friendly. For food we ordered the Dinner combo that came with 3 meats. Additionally the combination came with rice and salad. We also got a lentil soup because my husband loves lentils. The lentil did not disappoint. Also the cabbage salad had such unique flavors to include a hint of mint. We adored our food and all the accompaniments. The garlic sauce is out of this world. In addition to our entree, we got potato boorak with special sauce. 10/10 would recommend this appetizer. We honestly enjoyed all the food and the service. When I tell you that the owner makes your feel at home, we are family now. Loved hearing about the origins of the restaurant and how the recipes come from 55years of loving family history of cooking. Will be back. The food was flavorful. The dessert held up good until we got home. Next time I am gonna put on some vanilla bean ice cream with that. The restaurant is BYOB with a reasonable corking fee. Check this place out for breakfast, lunch or dinner as you won't be disappointed. In fact will probably become one of your favorites.

    Alvin T.

    A surprisingly good Mediterranean spot deep in Lincoln Park. This small place boasts a lot of delicious entrees in a small restaurant atmosphere. The service is excellent, and you are truly supporting a local mom and pop shop by going here. My only real criticism with this place is that price-wise it is steep, but understandable considering the location.

    Lentil Soup
    Allison G.

    This place was so cozy and welcoming!! My favorite part was the meat boorak with a super yummy sauce. Shish tawook is my absolutely favorite and it was really yummy here as well. They have a patio out back that looks super cute so I will definitely be back in the summer to check that out!

    Cal
    Emma T.

    This place isn't fancy but every bite was delicious. The hummus is garlicky and fresh. The falafel is crispy and creamy. If you're in Lincoln park and need something satisfying and comforting without a reservation, this is your place.

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    Cedar Palace Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Cedar Palace

    Is this place BYOB? If so, how much is the corkage fee?

    Yes they are. I believe it’s $15/bottle or $10 if you have two or more. It’s on their online menu. Worth it though. The food is 🔥

    Is the meat halal?

    I believe it is

    Are there gluten free options?

    Yes

    View All 4 Questions

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    Suda’s Lebanese Cuisine - Dessert

    Suda’s Lebanese Cuisine

    (132 reviews)

    DePaul, Lincoln Park

    Suda is one of my favorite Mediterranean Restaurants in Chicago. Even though it is pricey, I…read morerecommend it as I enjoy some of the dishes a lot. First-Their free bread is served hot and fresh, and the sauces they come with are so flavorful! I will always get seconds because they're just that good. -Their Baba Ghanoush was one of the best Baba Ghanoush I have ever had (I don't say this lightly). It was very smokey and savory. The pomegranate on top perfectly complements it. -Arnibit (Cauliflower): People like this one a lot, but I personally think it's just the presentation that is appetizing. It tasted like a regular cauliflower, and I wished the sauce complemented and infiltrated the cauliflower more. It felt like I was eating two separate things. -Mixed Grill: the chicken and the beef were juicy and well made. The kefta was the star. It was soft and so well seasoned, and every time I order it I wish we could have more. My only comment would be that we wish the portions are bigger, considering the price was pretty expensive. This could only fill one person in my opinion. Nevertheless I love it. They also have very specific and unique dishes that you don't normally see at bigger restaurants. We have tried some before and they were not bad (but again just wished the portions were bigger) Overall we recommend this place. Baba Ghanoush and the Kefta are musts!

    Can't express how much I enjoyed this place…read more Everything from the service, the food, and the feel in the restaurant was great. You can tell this place is family owned and run with care. Me and my gf had the hummus, mixed grill plate (with fries), and a chicken schwarma sandwich. We also really enjoyed the arak lemonade drink. First time trying Lebanese food, was not disappointed. Highly recommend!

    Taste of Lebanon - Lamb Kabob Wrap

    Taste of Lebanon

    (880 reviews)

    $

    Andersonville, Ravenswood, Uptown

    A red awning with a cypress tree covering the entrance to one of Chicago's famous…read more"hole-in-the-wall" urban eateries and all that announces the presence of one of the city's best Lebanese/Mediterranean restaurants. This place has all the staples you expect in Levant cuisine, and best of all, they do everything well! I love this place because it's no frills, inexpensive, quick, and SO GOOD. The hummus is fantastic, and the falafel is some of the best I've had, but my hands down favourite item is the Chicken Shwarma Wrap. That's the winner for me. The crew here was very accommodating with catering when we had a company event... and I watched a huge tray of wraps disappear in what seemed like minutes, so I can attest they were popular with our attendees. This place is truly are more than meets the eye.

    In this day and age, even though the prices have gone up at Taste of Lebanon, they're still okay…read morecompared to other places making similar food. I enjoyed my beef shawarma over baba ghanoush plate, ~$11 (it made quite a filling lunch!) although I would've loved if they'd thrown some pickled veg in there. The beef shawarma is a bit different from shawarma I've had elsewhere--almost ground beef-like in texture--but the flavor was pretty good. Their baba ghanoush is also creamier than others I've had, seems quite similar to their hummus, with a lot of tahini mixed in maybe? I didn't love their chicken shawarma wrap in the past, but that might be because I'm not that into their hot sauce. I'd love to get their veggie platter sometime! Service is friendly and quick. Cash only.

    Ema - Salmon bab.

    Ema

    (1.9k reviews)

    $$

    Near North Side

    I've come here with my boyfriend a handful of times and we love it. We like to try different…read morecocktails every time. The mimosa on a nice summer day on the patio is my happy place. The entrees are amazing too. The rice with the chicken skewer is my favorite so far and my boyfriend loves the beef and lamb skewer. The service has always been great as well. We've had the same server a couple times now and she's friendly and gets the job done. (Wish I could remember her name!) The ambience is great. With natural light coming in and the soft lamps, it's calming. Truly a beautiful restaurant.

    So disappointed. I…read morecame about 5 years ago and loved my meal, especially the sticky date cake, which lingered in my memory as my favorite all time dessert. This year I was so excited to bring my family and Ema was the only restaurant in Chicago I couldn't wait for them to try. I booked it as our final meal in Chicago and lay awake at 4am being so disappointed in my choice. Our server's greeting was monotone and emotionless, which I realize now, would be foreshadowing the meal to come. Ordered the following 1) Smoky eggplant- arrived appearing as an unappetizing curdled purple grey mush. This was the worst tasting baba ghanouj I have ever eaten. It was acidic and had the texture of cottage cheese. The only redeeming thing about this appetizer was the warm naan. 2) house made stratciatella with side of green falafels- The stratciatella was bland and stringy. I would not order this dish expecting the creamy interior of typical burrata. However, if you like string cheese mixed with heavy cream- you may enjoy this dish. The tomatoes and basil were good. 3) chicken kefta- kefta was bland, rice even blander . 4) short rib with polenta- bland and the meat and polenta had the same texture, which seems impossible but somehow the plating was over complicated by the addition of mushy dates and grapes. 5) buttered noodles- my 8 year old ordered this. It was decent with a good amount of Parmesan and cooked perfectly al dente. By the end of the meal, I was so shocked by how terrible the food was I didn't even want to order the sticky date cake that was my main purpose for returning to this restaurant. Ema, what happened to you?!

    Cedar Palace - lebanese - Updated May 2026

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