Dubai Grill

9

113

23

9 months ago

Great food. I had been yearning for ME food for a while and Dubai Grill did not disappoint. I haven't had Basbousa (Egypt's cousin to Greece's Galaktoboureko) in ages, so I especially enjoyed that as well. Fast prep, friendly staff and a very clean environment. Definitely will be back to try the Dolmas and Kebabs! read more

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Steve A.

4748

5539

8461

4 years ago

Cool small place in Urbana for Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food. It's super casual and fits in with the campus atmosphere around here. Dubai Grill is one of those build your own kind of operations while they fill the base of your choosing. Get a bowl or a pita. The prices aren't bad for this kind of thing. A pretty bare looking place but forget about that and just focus on the good ass food. It was lunch and we were looking for something easy and fast, and this was it. They have a choice of bowls or pitas. Choose a protein like a meat or falafel. Then get toppings. It's about $5 for a pita. We got these with falafel, and got a few toppings. Falafel was soft, and not as crunchy as it usually is. This still had pretty good flavor though. Portions were good. These were filled with a lot. Get the pita if you like falafel. It's good for holding it together because it's kind of messy. The bowls are good if you're hungry because they can put in a crap ton of good stuff. read more

Dubai Grill - Falafel Pita - Middle Eastern Near Me - Urbana, Illinois

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Katie S.

32

6

0

1 year ago

I've been there twice and ordered falafel to go. The gentleman making it is very friendly and kind. While he prepared the food, we chatted about how it takes 3 days to prepare the skewered meat that was roasting, and it looked delicious. I don't eat out much, but if I did, I would go here a lot and try everything. read more

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A P.

0

7

0

7 months ago

Customer service is really good and the food is really tasty. Owner works over there and he's also very polite.

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Syd P.

0

11

8

1 year ago

The, I assume, owner, an older man, was so lovely and hospitable. The falafels were out of this world. Food was fresh and satisfying.

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Runzer W.

8

410

1498

3 years ago

Delicious food and okay prices! But a little not satisfactory service... I ordered the Middle East Vegan. Since it was my first time trying this restaurant, I wasn't sure about the options as well as the set of their catering. The lady who helped me order and check was really indifferent, which made me feel not being taken seriously and a little embarrassed... They do provide various healthy and delicious food, and the dining environment is good, but I may not go again if the server is still frosty...which might make me down for the rest of my day. read more

Dubai Grill - Middle East Vegan - Middle Eastern Near Me - Urbana, Illinois

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Heather S.

0

1

26

1 year ago

Dubai Grill . If you haven't tried this amazing restaurant in the CU you haven't lived. The customer service alone was 10/10 the food on the other hand is OUT OF THIS WORLD. There was nothing on our plate that wasn't amazing. Definitely going back. I've decided this is weekly worthy. My opinion, and if you don't agree I honestly don't care, because this meal was amazing even with eating it at home slightly re-heated. They're so accommodating. We asked for all salads/toppings on the side so we could eat at home and they had NO issues. We go back because their food is phenomenal. But on top of that their customer service is top knotch. read more

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Diane L.

0

2

0

9 months ago

Great food. Friendly owner. I had the chicken shwarma sandwich and a cup of lentil soup. The only problem is, Google Maps has them at the wrong address. Luckily, they are right around the corner on the side of the block facing Krannert. We had to call them to figure out where they were! The owner said it is costing them big time. Anyway, definitely worth walking around the corner . read more

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John L.

0

2

4

1 year ago

This place has good food. The inside is a little sparse, but nothing unexpected. I like to get the food to go and eat outside.

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B A.

0

1

2

1 year ago

Went into this restaurant and expected the prices to be correct from the menu up until when I pay the wraps said that they were 9.99 each but on the receipt it was 10.99 each also, the sales tax is incorrect. It's not 11.5%. It's 9%. The food was not up to par as it was when they first opened. I am an expert in Arabic food and this food is kind of bland the hummus,baba ghanoush, Arabic salad and cabbage salad tasted bland and I couldn't really taste the flavor of the garbanzo beans or the eggplant and, the Taziki sauce was very watery. If this establishment can fix their foods, they would do a lot better I was not impressed with the food. read more

Dubai Grill - I looked up the address for the correct sales tax - Middle Eastern Near Me - Urbana, Illinois

Dubai Grill - This is the receipt showing the price of the two chicken wraps being overcharged, and it's also shows the sales tax which is incorrect - Middle Eastern Near Me - Urbana, Illinois

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Joe S.

6

40

18

4 years ago

Great, healthy, low cost middle eastern food. Vegan plate has everything, best smoothest hummus n baba ghanoush, tasty grape leaves, grilled eggplant, multiple pickled vegetables, parsley salad, falafel, and more. Pita bread average. Lunch and dinner. $10 I have had it 3X slight differences in composition everytime Tried chicken shawarma sandwich roasted parts of chicken awesome, unchared parts boring. Positive service read more

Dubai Grill - Vegan plate - Middle Eastern Near Me - Urbana, Illinois

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Munchy M.

9

121

177

4 years ago

Dubai Grill has the best Middle Eastern food I've ever eaten in C-U. The prices are reasonable and the portions are generous. If you enjoy Middle Eastern food, I urge you to try this restaurant the next time you eat out... I doubt you'll be disappointed! My wife and I ordered the kufta kabob and chicken shish taouk, with spicy rice, pitas, and a sample of everything from the wide variety of salads and sauces. The shish taouk was extremely tasty, and the kufta kebab highly delectable. The salads and sauces were super fresh, and added so much complexity and richness to the meal. Some standouts were the babaganog, the hummus, the cucumber sauce, the dolmas, and the Jerusalem salad, but honestly it was all very delicious. After lunch, we had a light dessert of chai karak (warm coffee-drink with notes of honey) and baklava, both of which we thoroughly enjoyed. Dubai Grill has exceptional food, especially the grilled meats. It's got me and the wife wanting to come back and try the shawarmas! We certainly will return the next time we're in town! Highly recommend this place. read more

Dubai Grill - Storefront - Middle Eastern Near Me - Urbana, Illinois

Dubai Grill - Menu (cont.) - Middle Eastern Near Me - Urbana, Illinois

Dubai Grill - Toppings, sauces, salads - Middle Eastern Near Me - Urbana, Illinois

Dubai Grill - Menu - Middle Eastern Near Me - Urbana, Illinois

Dubai Grill - Our meal, rice with kufta kabob and shish taouk chicken, and a large bowl of salad / sauce goodness - Middle Eastern Near Me - Urbana, Illinois

Dubai Grill - Dolma, sauces, salads - Middle Eastern Near Me - Urbana, Illinois

Dubai Grill - Open view of kitchen - Middle Eastern Near Me - Urbana, Illinois

Dubai Grill - Closeup of meal - Middle Eastern Near Me - Urbana, Illinois

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Rajagopalan M.

0

12

1

2 years ago

Awesome food. Staff is super nice. Highly recommend to everyone traveling to Urbana Champaign area. All the kebobs was super tasty. read more

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Aaron W.

0

35

4

4 years ago

Amazing. Just amazing. Beautiful. Tasty. Amazing. Gorgeous. Wonderful. Amazing. I like it a lil bit‍ read more

Dubai Grill - AhhhhhhMaayyyyyyZiiiiinnnngggg - Middle Eastern Near Me - Urbana, Illinois

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Alanie N.

104

146

178

3 years ago

I absolutely love this place, not only is the food made fresh Everytime but the people (and what I assume is the owner) are so welcoming and friendly! It's super large portions, I also have left overs! We eat here as often as we can with it being on campus. I promise it's worth the hassle of parking! read more

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Jacob F.

74

9

1

4 years ago

A locally owned place that puts in the effort. Their falafel is fried fresh to order, making it probably the best I've had in town. All of the workers I've interacted with have been incredibly pleasant and helpful. (They love to make sure you don't forget Tahini or salad on your sandwich.) If you're a broke undergrad or grad student, come for the very reasonable prices and satisfying portions. If you're a townie, come for some of the best falafel in town. Regardless of who you are, try to support the buisness in cash, so that they aren't eating those 3% credit card fees. If you like Shwarma Joint, but hate fighting crowds on Green, I encourage you to try Dubai Grill. The strip they are in has some great competition, and I would still choose Dubai over the other options more often than not. read more

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Maryam Q.

0

4

1

4 years ago

I've been here three times and the food was amazing every time. Staff is also very helpful and patient, and location is clean and well-maintained. I recently went and placed a group order for 8 Dubai grill large mixed plates, and we got everything exactly as ordered. They were really accommodating and the food was fresh and delicious. Servings are generous and satisfying. Healthy food. I highly recommend the shawerma, kufta kebab, shish tawook, vegan plate, lentil soup, falafel. I think all of the salads and hummus/baba ghanoush are really good. They also have hot sauce and a variety of sauces, as well as hot tea. read more

Dubai Grill - Middle East Vegan Plate - Middle Eastern Near Me - Urbana, Illinois

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William G.

0

29

1

4 years ago

Yo ngl this spot bussin fr no cap Good vibes from my habibi behind the counter Ong gyros hit the spot frfr read more

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Suren K.

Elite 24

422

106

89

4 years ago

This is a simple Mediterranean fast food place where you can select shawarma rice bowls, sandwiches and other options. The staff are very friendly and very accommodating. I got a chicken shawarma which came with 3 toppings. It's a nice quick grab and go kind of place when you're in a hurry. read more

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Xavier M.

0

8

0

2 years ago

Very good middle-eastern food. The vegan platter, falafel sandwich and shawarma sandwich were very good. The restaurant room was bright, quiet and clean. The service was quite friendly. We will come back during one of our future visits. read more

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Harris B.

2

35

22

3 years ago

I actually live in Dubai for six months if the year. The food here is pretty good... healthy portions, fresh and the shawarma is very tasty. People are nice and the place is calm. I've been several times and will keep going back. read more

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Julian A.

0

1

2 years ago

wanted to try both chicken and beef shawarma, so he let me split it half and half at no extra charge. It was absolutely delicious, got the baba ganoush and jerusalem salad for the sides- both were phenomenal. service was great along, price was extremely reasonable, and food was great 10/10 would recommend and will be coming back. oh and there was a bunch of rice under the meat! very filling meal read more

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Trixie S.

215

135

214

3 years ago

Once you've had really good Halal Mediterranean food, the bar has been set and it's hard to pay for food that was mediocre. But I'm guessing students are the ones who have 5 stars? Okay if you're starving and service is good. Food meh. read more

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Dushyant U.

0

9

0

3 years ago

When therefore lunch one day and then ended up buying tea. It was the best tea in the town. And it also did not cost as much.

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Cara N.

0

3

2

3 years ago

I had a gyro, which was very good. I'd definitely recommend it. My only complaint is that the Baklava is a lot smaller than expected. The picture shows 4 triangles of baklava for $4.99 (which makes sense), but I got 1 triangle :( read more

Dubai Grill - Baklava - Middle Eastern Near Me - Urbana, Illinois

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Blue H.

0

11

9

2 years ago

Made a pickup order online 6:20 PM on a Sunday. Ordered an entree, soup, fries, hummus, salad, and pita. Friend got there to pick up at 6:36 PM and was told they didn't have our entree or the soup. Guy said they couldn't make it because they close in 20 minutes... but we ordered 40 minutes before close. I've worked in a restaurant, so I get that, but no one gave us a call or let us know beforehand so we could have planned our meal. Hummus and pita were really good. Fries were soggy and undercooked. I'm sure the food is good but I didn't get to eat it read more

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Isabelle G.

0

1

3 years ago

Not from the area, but stopped by for a quick lunch. Such a good experience: delicious authentic food, barely any wait time, and the staff were all so helpful and friendly :) read more

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George C.

0

30

0

2 years ago

Made a second visit about 6 weeks later. The falafel and baklava were still excellent but the shish taouk wasn't as good as the first time round. read more

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Mehdi D.

275

164

6

4 years ago

Great food and awesome service. Lots of options as far as sides with the bowls. Love this place

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Tammy O.

0

9

4

4 years ago

Experienced Dubai Grill with my college student daughter this weekend after her high recommendation...It did not disappoint!!! The BEST hummus I've had, hands down. Vegetables were fresh. The food was wonderful- The service was just as impressive. Everyone was so personable and welcoming! We were given a sample of the lentil soup in addition to the food we ordered, and I will order that next time as well- curry perfection. This is a delightful gem on the edge of the U of I campus!! read more

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Billy B.

1

13

5

2 years ago

Really really good! Had their chicken shawarma, which can be hit or miss for me depending on the restaurant, but this was definitely a hit. Try their chai, it's delicious! read more

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Cyril G.

1

109

5

4 years ago

Great food, fresh and very friendly staff. Only drawback is location and parking (not free). But i will definitely visit the place again, great flavors out of the chicken shawarma and you get to pick the garnishing! read more

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Mindy P.

845

368

562

4 years ago

Yummm gotta love shawarmas, falafels, and hummus on a hot summer day. Dubai Grill replaced where it used to be Merry Ann's deli and had been under construction for a while. I'm glad they opened and in a prime location as well. I think I read a review somewhere saying that Dubai Grill is better than Shawarma Joint on Green Street, but it's hard to weight out which is better because they have equal pros and cons. I was pleased to see that their prices weren't too high, but they're not cheap either. For a chicken shawarma bowl, you can expect to pay around $15 total, but you do get a few different toppings and pita on the side. I had to try the falafels because I love me so falafels and they were perfectly fried. A 10/10 for the falafels. I had a chicken shawarma bowl and first impression was that their portion sizes are small. I barely had an rice underneath the bed of chicken. Portion sizes at Shawarma Joint are insanely large, so by comparison, I'd say that you get less than what you'd pay for at Dubai Bowl. I was pleasantly surprised by how nothing was too salty. Definitely do give this place a shot if you're a fan of Mediterranean-style food. read more

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Fouad H.

0

1

4 years ago

Food was delicious! Staff was kind, informative, and accommodating. The restaurant was clean . I would definitely recommend it. read more

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N O.

0

51

50

4 years ago

Very good food. Lovely service. Wrapped well for takeout. Would go back again. Close to campus. read more

Dubai Grill - Chicken schwarma bowl with hummus and Jerusalem salad. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Urbana, Illinois

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Jason S.

50

28

37

4 years ago

Ordered just falafel with tahini sauce (want to know if the flavors are good order a basic item). Having been in the Middle East many times I am pretty picky about falafel, and the Dubai Grill delivered. Excellent! The only down side is that they were out of chai, but I'll be back. read more

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Jenna C.

0

22

10

4 years ago

Loved everything on the vegan platter, and it includes the creamiest hummus I've ever dipped into. The chicken shish taouk and chicken shawarma sandwich were also huge hits! read more

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Dan D.

0

8

13

4 years ago

Great gyros, my wife's new favorite place for middle-eastern food. This restaurant is Halal. I wish the friendly staff and this business all the luck and good fortune I can give. read more

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More info about Dubai Grill

701 S Gregory St
Urbana, IL 61801
Directions
(217) 552-1276
Call Now
Order Takeout or Delivery
Start Order
Visit Website
https://www.dubai-grill.com

Full menu

Hours

What time does Dubai Grill open?

Dubai Grill opens at 7:00 AM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.Dubai Grill opens at 9:00 AM on Saturday and Sunday.

What time does Dubai Grill close?

Dubai Grill closes at 9:30 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.Dubai Grill closes at 8:00 PM on Sunday.

Mon-Fri 7:00 AM - 9:30 PMSat 9:00 AM - 9:30 PMSun 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Food & Alcohol

Does Dubai Grill serve alcohol?

Yes, Dubai Grill serves alcohol.

Indoor Amenities

Does Dubai Grill allow dogs?

Yes, Dubai Grill allows dogs.

Outdoor Amenities

Does Dubai Grill have outdoor seating?

No, Dubai Grill does not have outdoor seating options.

Does Dubai Grill have parking?

Yes, Dubai Grill has parking options. Garage Parking, Street Parking, Validated Parking

Other Amenities

Does Dubai Grill have free WiFi?

Yes, Dubai Grill has free WiFi.

More Info

Health Score

Dubai Grill Reviews in Other Languages

Chinese
1 Review

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Jerusalem Middle Eastern Cuisine

3.7(72 reviews)

0.5 mi

•$

I really like this place. The owner is nice and friendly. I saw him nodding to other frequent…read morecustomers, which makes this place very warm, especially during pandemic when people have less communications. The food here is fantastic, as always. I have tried fish, chicken and veggie platters for lunch and kabob for dinner, and they are all flavorful and tasty. Shout out for the hummus and baba ganoush, they are my must-have things each time I go there. The price is lower than you typically have to pay for a meal in this area, but the quality is higher than a lot of other restaurants. Sometimes there will be lamb shank for lunch, if you are lucky enough because not everyday serves it. There are also desserts which are also tasty. Once I went there the owner also let me tried the fresh tomato salad made from the tomato he grew himself, super grateful for his friendliness!! Overall this is a fantastic restaurant, and is my first choice when I don't want to cook my own. Highly recommend!!

Honestly, this is the most underrated spot on campus. Everything is home made, fresh, and…read moreabsolutely delicious. From the hummus to the grilled meats, every bite I had was amazing. Since this is all ran by one older gentleman (the owner himself), the meal takes a little longer to prepare so please be patient when ordering. He wasn't exactly in the best mood when I was ordering but the food definitely makes up for the service and I respect the hard work he puts into this restaurant. I am definitely coming back here when I get the chance to visit UIUC again.

Fish Lunch Platter

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Old Time Meat & Deli Shoppe

4.6(61 reviews)

1.6 mi

Little old fashioned deli butcher shop. Totally recommend them. The selection and prices are very…read morecomparable. Great service, excellent products

Online ordering apparently has errors. Ordered 6 3packs of sandwich ribeye and when picked up it…read moredidn't seem right I asked clerk is this 18 and was told should be got to my tailgate and had 6 steaks. I had 18 people so it was frustrating. I will say gave me a full refund but would have preferred the steaks.

Proof the labeling is a lie

So awesome they're open til 6

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Great meat case!

Les Gourmets Cuisine

5.0(2 reviews)

0.9 mi

The fact that I'm the first review in 3 years on yelp for this restaurant is CRIMINAL. This place…read moreis SO good. I had wanted to try egusi soup and fufu for years (thanks top chef) and I was finally able to right in the middle of cornfield, USA. I can't even begin to explain how yummy this was. I got a large serving of goat egusi and plenty of fufu for the dish. It came out hot, and fresh. I don't handle spicy things very well an I thought the meal to be absolutely tolerable. Seasoned, but not spicy. My date got the beef skewers with plantains and they were equally delicious. I can tell they make everything fresh, so it's not necessarily a quick "pop in pop out" eatery, but if you have 2 hours to slow down and eat a great meal, I highly suggest this restaurant.

Delicious!! We got the goat and kwanga (cassava) at the recommendation of the staff. Goat was…read moretender and had a really savory tasty light sauce. Cassava was delightfully bouncy and chewy. Can't wait to come back!!

Goat egusi and fufu

Specials menu

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Goat Meat & Kwanga

Sepelas Restaurant

5.0(3 reviews)

1.2 mi

This is a late post, but our experience this past summer was too good not to share. Our group of 10…read morevisited while attending a nearby retreat, and we had a wonderful experience. There was no wait, which was perfect for a group our size. The owners themselves served and cooked, providing friendly, personal service that made us feel truly welcomed. We tried a variety of African dishes, many of them new to us, and the food was plentiful and flavorful. They were happy to share their culture through the food and explain the dishes, which made the experience even more meaningful. I would definitely recommend Sepelas for authentic African cuisine and warm hospitality.

I ordered an Egusi soup and a fufu. Both were delicious! I went there in the early afternoon for a…read morequick pickup lunch, and the food I got was just warm and ready to eat. The lady was so friendly and nice, and the inside was clean, with plenty of seats for dining in.

Beans mash potatos chiken fish choces african food selection fresh sepelas

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Outside front entrance with a few tables

The Himalayan Chimney

4.0(193 reviews)

1.5 mi

After watching the Illini cap off their great season on low note my husband and I decided to drown…read moreour sorrows at Himalayan Chimney. As expected the food didn't disappoint. We had the Tandoori Vegetables cooked to perfection in an incredible sauce (10/10 for presentation). We also ordered the Chicken Kadai. So aromatic, what a unique flavor! For dessert we enjoyed the Rasmalai. We are sad the Illini lost but we finish our evening at a high note.

Upscale Indian spot with thoughtful spices…read more The seasoning in our meal was both rich and subtle. We ordered chicken biryani, saag aloo, and butter chicken. The biryani rice was moist, with curry and saffron infused, and the chicken was very tender. The dish risked being under seasoned but the raita it came with completed it, by adding sourness and herbs. The saag was pleasantly herby and managed to be vegetal without getting earthy. The dishes were well balanced and worth checking out when the mood for Indian strikes.

Onion Kulcha ($3.99) - good

Mango Lassi ($5) - pretty sweet

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Fish Mollee ($15.99)

Kohinoor Indian Restaurant and Lounge

4.4(297 reviews)

1.5 mi

This establishment has a very gorgeous interior and friendly staff as we were greeted upon entrance…read moreand received fast and friendly service . We got the lunch specials and it did not disappoint! It came with an appetizer, various main dishes and a dessert which was amazing. The dessert had the perfect amount of sweetness and I would definitely come back for round two. The portion sizes are very good and we had more than enough to take home.

Was craving good Indian in the Champaign area and heard good things about this place! We ordered…read morethe shrimp chili: good flavor, would recommend ordering rice with it ; Chicken tikka masala: has more of a tomato flavor rather than the spices. The chicken pieces were a bit dry and the dish itself was very small ; Chicken biryani: this was my favorite dish! So flavorful and the chicken pieces were very tender. The portions were also big; Garlic Naan: wasn't my favorite naan that I've tried, very flat and not fluffy Staff were kind and food came out at a reasonable time!

Restroom

6. Aloo Tikki Chat ($6.99) - smashed aloo tikki garnished with onion, yogurt, chutneys, tamarind, and chat masala

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Lamb Biryani ($16.99)

Baxters American Grille

4.0(229 reviews)

44.9 mi

We went to celebrate our anniversary we both had steaks they were cooked as we requested the…read moreservice was very efficient

So we've been coming here since it opened and in fact had been to its predecessor in St. Louis…read morebefore that. We're pretty familiar with what they used to, and are trying, to be and while we have come to expect lofty goals, it seems like the longer in the tooth this place gets, the more they lose focus. Our most recent Valentines visit reinforced this with some disappointing bar service and a 'special featured' appetizer that took our disappointment to the next level. I get that on a busy night like Valentines, stuff happens, but in this case it was still relatively early (5:30 pm) and they had more than enough employees, it's just that those workers constantly stepped on each other, ignored customers for lengthy stretches, and missed a few details that used to come naturally at this place. Combine that with food delivery confusion and a complete fail on the supposed special feature of "sealed scallops with risotto" app and it left us feeling unfulfilled on what should have been a romantic visit. The next time they offer the scallop app, we strongly suggest they actually do more than wave one side of the scallop over a lukewarm-warm pan (nothing that resembles a 'sear') and figure a way to cut the greasiness of the garlic rice dollops without covering everything in pea tendrils such that you don't notice the lack of sear marks and oily pooling. We give the place three stars based on the still modern and comfortable decor, nice ambiance, robust cocktail & beer selection and the execution of the Tuna Tartare - still one of the lady's favorite bites in town. Perhaps it's just a management/training issue, but it touches both the kitchen and the floor and will hopefully be addressed before our next visit.

Chilled Wine

Parmesan crusted Halibut

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Signature Cafe

4.8(55 reviews)

46.3 mi

I can't tell you how much I love Signature Café. It's just everything I need in a restaurant! I…read morehave a very strict medical diet right now (no nightshades, no olives, insulin-resistant friendly), and I need to hit high protein goals. Ordering a custom bowl here was the perfect solution today. I ordered a base of super greens and brown lentils, topped with grilled chicken and steak shawarma, purple cabbage, cool cucumber, and sumac onions, finished with the garlic sauce. The flavor profile was so rich, fresh, and savory without needing any spicy or nightshade-heavy sauces. The meats were cooked perfectly and the portion sizes are incredibly generous. If you are eating clean, managing blood sugar, or just want a high-quality, flavorful meal, this is the spot in Bloomington. Oh, and bonus, it's locally owned and not a chain. (I'm just sad I forgot to photograph my bowl.)

Signature cafe is a very well ran takeout operation with a nice clean restaurant. You get all the…read moremeaty benefits of Mediterranean food with a twist of Indian spice and flavor, honestly a perfect combination. Priced are a little high but it's always consistent and very good with nice organized packaging. If you need a middle eastern meat and rice fix, look no further.

DUBAI CHOCOLATE (BAR)

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Chicken and lamb Entree

Bloom Bawarchi

4.4(212 reviews)

46.4 mi

Came again today. My favorite Indian restaurant in Bloomington. Love those lollipops.read more

Very friendly as you walk through the door. Placed a to-go order. You can place an order ahead of…read moretime which I would recommend because while not appearing super busy it would be about 30 min for food to be done. They seems to have a busy to-go busYou can choose how spicy you want your dishes and they range in American / Desi on how hot you want your selection to be. I got the: Bawarchi Gombi 65 - I got medium but could have gone spicer. Delicious Chicken Lollipop - so much better than I thought. Amazing crunch and good level of spice Parotta- flaky and crisp. Like a smashed croissant Cheese Kulcha- very good. Mild and great to go with something spicy to calm it down. Now only bad thing it's 90 miles from home but when going this way will stop again

Euro styled dance vibes

Butter Chicken, Garlic Naan, Afghani Chicken Kebab

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Dark and neon atmosphere in main dining area

Martinelli's Market - Bakery & Deli

4.5(43 reviews)

1.4 mi

First of all, the quality and variety of the baked goods, as well as the hand made sammiches that…read moreemploy those baked goods are the bomb and probly worth the trip. I've had occasion to make it over to this large bakery/cafe just north of downtown C-U for lunch a couple times and never been disappointed. Granted the food (including a couple fantastic side salad options) isn't cheap, but everything is made properly with high quality ingredients and well worth the occasional splurge. Although we have only tried some samples, there's even a fancy coffee cafe within.5 Factor in that all the employees we've met (including the delivery people out in the Central IL grocery stores) have been pleasantly passionate about their products, and you start to understand how they've come to stand out in what seems like a fading industry. That said, it also seems like the shelves with high end grocery items like exotic olive oils, Momofuku noodles, hard to find jams and other condiments, have dwindled in the last year or two, likely due to tariff-based cost models, but you are still likely to find a new favorite 'something' just browsing while they craft your sammy. Even if it's just a 'cronut' or a loaf of that amazing olive ciabatta or sourdough, it is becoming a mandatory C-U stop for us.

The Reuben at Martinelli's Market sets the bar. House-roasted Angus beef brisket arrives tender,…read morejuicy, and generously stacked, layered with Grand Cru Alpine Swiss, sauerkraut, and a house-made Russian dressing that ties everything together. Served on their rye, the sandwich is rich yet balanced, showcasing the quality and care behind every ingredient. Quite simply, the top sandwich in Champaign.