Ho-hum, just another fast-casual Mediterranean joint? What an erroneous assumption on my part! The ambience is bright, spacious and mod with a preponderance of yellow trim and yellow neon signs. Dark gray marble walls and LED light fixtures add a touch of class. Tables are spread out and the seating is much more comfortable than most restaurants. The Missus and I were warmly welcomed by the worker who took our order and gladly answered our questions. The traditional recipes and unique ingredients are inspired by the cuisine of Jerusalem, and all of the meats are zabiha halal. About ten minutes after we ordered, a friendly server brought our meal to our table. On the warm summer day of our visit, no ice was available for beverages and neither the canned sodas nor bottled water were sufficiently chilled. Apart from that, the food far exceeded our expectations. Portions are huge and prices are reasonable. Our appetizer, baba ghanoush, was fresh and creamy although I prefer a bit more smoke flavor. My Missus ordered a steak shawarma on crispy pita, which contained a generous amount of nicely seasoned meat, with a side of yellow rice. But the chicken bashka sandwich, best described as a Middle Eastern cheesesteak, blew me completely away. This enormous thing is served on a remarkably good sesame-studded roll cut into fours and accompanied by two cups of sauce - garlic and sweet chili - both heavenly. Each quarter was so overstuffed that it was difficult to maneuver to my mouth without some of the contents spilling out. It was so filling, I took half home. I'm putting Hello Shawarma's bashka on my personal list of favorite Chicago sammiches. read more

Hello Shawarma - Chicken Bashka - Mediterranean Near Me - Niles, Illinois

Great food. Really exceptional. But... 1) Don't go if you're in a hurry. There was an absurd backup on the line, and nobody seemed like they were in a hurry. There wasn't a manager fixing things or expediting. There's a sign that says "this isn't fast food," but... IT IS. I've seen countless kitchens burn and turn the *same exact food* with half as many people on the line... all over the world. My food was cold when I got home, and there was no tahini. The place was a mess. I felt embarrassed for the woman at the register. It was like the opening scene of an episode of Restaurant: Impossible. 2) The takeout packaging is insanely wasteful. I get that y'all want your branding to stick, but people care about the environment, and your brand is filling up an entire landfill. There's lots of this food all over the city, and lots of it is phenomenal, and comes out quickly. It's a very crowded market. I wish I was walking away remembering how good the food was instead of what a hot mess your line and your packaging are. read more

Service was ok. Place was bright and big. Parking isnt an issue. And upside is its one of the places thats open late. I ordered their chicken puff pastry, i thought some parts of the chicken was a bit dry but towards the middle it was better. I didnt like their garlic sauce it was a bit sour for me, and i dont like sour food. I do want to try their crispy shawarma. It looks intetesting but not anytime soon. Happy eating! read more

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02/25/26 - Hello Shawarma located at 5606 Touhy off of Central Ave opened recently. This is yet another Mediterranean restaurant. Pita Inn use to be the only ball game in town for Mediterranean food for many years, but lately so many new places have been popping up that are so freakin good like Al Bawadi or Kabobi Grill to name a few My wife and I went here after meeting w/our financial planner. Hello shawarma is fairly new within the past few months and has a large dining area. My wife ordered the Mansaf Shawarma bowl w/chicken, yellow rice & toasted almonds & a cup of jameed soup? (Yuk). This dish was bland the chicken was overcooked & dry. I ordered the Shawarma fluffy bowl which is a pita stuffed beef & lamb seasoned ok but the meat was very dry & overcooked. In addition this was stuffed w/tahini sauce, pickles, red cabbage, tomatoes, lettuce & sumac onions. This was pretty tasty but dry & overcooked Overall I was disappointed by not only the quality of the food but also the price point as I feel like Kabobi Grill & Al Bawadi offer better food for comparable prices read more

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Hello Shawarma! On a cold December day, the bright and cheerful interior of the restaurant really warmed my spirits. The bright yellow accents, the classy looking interior, the sparkling lights, the roomy space was a lot more elegant than I was expecting. I ordered at the kiosk -- hummus plate and 3-piece falafel. From looking at the reviews I was anticipating a long wait, but it was just about five minutes before they called my number. The hummus plate was quite large -- and they're so smart, they served it in a container with a takeaway lid underneath -- so one could easily take it to go. The hummus was smooth and creamy, with a layer of olive oil and garbanzo beans scattered on top -- very tasty. The falafel was served in a little fryer basket, and with the pink pickled cabbage, the nicely fried falafel with the pistachio-green inside and pink turnip dust atop, this was quite a tasty little technicolor treat. This was like eating with the eyes. The bright colors, the fresh tastes, the comfy ambience, this was quite refreshing! Also, the brisk December breeze that came in as customers opened the door -- this added a piquant chill to a very cozy lunch. There are other menu items to explore. Hello, shawarma? I look forward to returning to this little oasis in a strip mall for another meal. read more

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I think I lucked out and finally came when they had their grand opening. While most places have their starting jitters, this place still was able to send out a great product! I like how open the kitchen was! Those spits look beautiful. The menu was a little confusing, but I was able to use the touchscreen to make my custom order. I will say that my bill was a little high, but I had high hopes. It took a bit of time to get food, but..... The food was nothing less than amazing. I got the lamb pita meal which comes with a side (fries for me) and a drink. My sauces were great, especially the garlic sauce and the pita was toasted perfectly to give some heft and crunch. The only downside was they slightly messed up my order by including lettuce which I asked for it off. It wasn't too much of a dealbreaker as it wasn't a lot, but they messed up the order a little. The portion was HUGE so the slightly higher cost wasn't too bad. Criticism aside, those mistakes can easily be fixed and I think it being open for less than a week is the factor. Still, the food was excellent and I would highly recommend checking it out next week! Yum! read more

Hello Shawarma - Lamb Pita Meal - Mediterranean Near Me - Niles, Illinois

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Great food, great service and nice place The staff were kind and polite Highly recommend read more

Welcome to the area Habibi. What I like about this type of shawarma shop is the ease in acquiring a shawarma wrap the way I want it. You can order with a counter associate or use a touch pad ordering system with photos. The menu lists many options for fillings, double meat, or extra veggies and all the different sauces or "shmears." They also offer different proteins, not simply beef or chicken. For me, lamb or lamb & beef is preferable. Make my wraps with garlic sauce, tahini, lamb, sumac onions and tomatoes. Normally I might ask for a bit of hummus in there but as is the wrap could become messy. Prepared this way, that shawarma wrap will be fire! If I'm feeling a need for more, I may go with Jerusalem salad and jalapenos. Meals are served in small pizza boxes with additional sauces should you want them for your sides. I have tried one other offering. Their rice entree served with meat and a side of soup. I ordered a small portion which was served in a cup. Tbh, it should be poured out into a bowl and with a bit of labneh or hummus and Jerusalem salad it would be a complete meal. As is, not a fav. Since my first visit, I've been back twice. For a sandwich on the go, it hits. If I was hitting a long movie*, this would be a great option. IYKYK. read more

Pretty greasy and disappointing I thought it would be like Pita Inn or along those lines, one and done for me won't be back.

I have seen it on Instagram and love middle eastern food. The chicken shawarma was good and satisfied but the restaurant had no ambiance at all. No music and fake plant decor on all the table. I would say it is a 5 star for take out but would not recommend dining in if you are looking for a nice ambiance to have lunch or dinner. Price was $14 for the chicken shawarma pita à la carte. read more

Hello Shawarma - Chicken Fluffy Pita - Mediterranean Near Me - Niles, Illinois

Great food and definitely worth a visit! Everything we ordered was fresh, flavorful, and well prepared.The only downside was that the service was a bit slow, especially during lunch time. Overall, a lovely spot for a relaxed meal--just be prepared to take your time. I'd happily come back for the food alone! read more

Hello Shawarma - Mediterranean Near Me - Niles, Illinois

I ordered a chicken shawarma sandwich. The meat was cold. I give them the sandwich back and I ask if i can get a refund. He says I can't give you a refund. I said ok and try to walk out, but another guy said hold on I can give you the refund. Hi walk inside come back and say the owner is in the restroom. After 10 more minutes I gave up y 15$ lost and left read more

Ok shawarma spot but in this area there are a lot better choices. The onions and the tahini sauce they use completely overpower the unflavored meat. The wrap is nice and I like that they cut it into bites but I've tried twice now the second time I had them hold the onions which I normally like. The sauce still is overpowering. Food is also overpriced. I will say the fries are really good. The staff is pretty nice but you can tell they're over it. Plenty of parking and plenty of space inside. It was also freezing in there. Had no idea why they kept it so cold. If that's the case sit in the back by the restrooms. It's a little bit warmer back there. I've tried twice don't plan on going back. It's ok but way better spots in the area. read more

Hello Shawarma - Lamb shawarma cut into bites - Mediterranean Near Me - Niles, Illinois

Quick service and good food. Staff was friendly as always and the food made the mouth water. As usual :-) read more

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This place just opened and it's so great. The food is very good, the service was great. It was very busy but it was worth the wait. Tables and chairs were kept clean despite the amount of people eating. Definitely will be back. read more

Hello Shawarma - Chick Fluffy Pita - Mediterranean Near Me - Niles, Illinois

We checked out Hello Shawarma right when they opened in Niles and it did not disappoint. I ordered the steak shawarma and asked for it spicy -- it was absolutely amazing. My boyfriend had the lamb shawarma, and it was just as flavorful and tender. We arrived right at opening, so everything tasted super fresh, which really made a difference. The fries were seasoned to perfection, and the portions were generous -- we had plenty of food left over. We upgraded one order to a meal and were accidentally charged for a bottle of pop, but one of the workers noticed it on their own and took care of it without us even saying anything. That kind of hospitality really stood out. Fresh, tasty food with great service -- we'll definitely be back. Highly recommend checking them out if you're in the area! read more

Hello Shawarma - Steak shawarma with fries - Mediterranean Near Me - Niles, Illinois

It was nice place and very clean! Customer service was amazing and funny to make you laugh. The food was fresh and packing absolutely amazing I love the garlic sause but not the sweet sauce on the side. Over all it was fresh and satisfying ) read more

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We waited in line for 20-25 minutes then when we got to the front the guy at the counter said it would be at least 45 minutes to an hour before they could fill any order for us, before he even asked what we wanted. It looked like everyone ahead of us was able to put in an order except for the guy in front of us and us, and it seemed really off putting to wait that long in a line and not hear about a delay until we made it to the front of the line. Couldn't they make an announcement? Or tell us what is available sooner than that like soups or sides? The food looked really good and the people who were served looked like they were enjoying it so I was excited to try this place and may be back at some point but honestly, if I see a significant line from the road I don't think I can bring myself to go back knowing that waiting in the whole line doesn't actually mean you're getting food any time soon read more

Their bowls are absolutely delicious, tasty, with a vast variety of toppings that just adds so much Yum. Their chicken and lamb are very tasty, moist, sliced thin with generous portions. The chairs are very comfortable and nice new decor. The service was excellent and friendly. A great value. A BIG thumbs up and YUM! read more

Hello Shawarma - Lamb and chicken bowls, with a large variety of toppings. Salad Bowl - Mediterranean Near Me - Niles, Illinois

I work a few minutes from here and couldn't wait for the place to open and they did not disappoint. I absolutely love the decor, vibe, and of course the food. The staff are very nice and although the wait time is about 15min it's after ordering, to me it's worth it. I rather have my food cook to order than it sitting around any day. I was able to try a couple things over the last 2 weeks....here are my ratings... Chicken Shawarma Wrap 9/10 Perfectly seasoned and the Shraq bread was so warm and fresh Steak Shawarma Wrap 8/10 I usually prefer steak and although the flavor was on point, it was a bit oily Chicken Bashka 10/10 This was amazing!!! I can't even describe it. It's a must try!! Falafels 8/10 Great crunch on the outside and soft on the inside. The spices used weren't overpowering. Fries 6/10 Nothing spectacular. To be honest, it can be excluded and not missed. I do think if they were tossed in some Mediterranean spices, they will be special. read more

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The service started out good, one order was wrong, they forgot our fries, asked twice about the fries and when they finally came they were cold. The prices are on the high side for what you get, $3.99 for a little half cup of watery lentil soup with no pita, definitely not worth it, more of a drink than soup. Chicken Mansaf bowl was good Falafel fluffy pita was ok, $43.34 for what we had, They need to step up their quality ( I did leave a tip, ) Inside looks amazing !! Love the ambiance and feel !! They need to bring the food quality up to the quality of the look, read more

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Very dirty, the people preparing the sandwiches and food don't changes their gloves often as they should when touches outside the kitchen items. People who prepare food touch their cell phones, which are used in the bathroom and then prepare a sandwich with the same gloves read more

...and GoodBye Shawarma, place is overpriced for being a low-mid tier middle eastern chain. Meat was dry and like warm rice was flavorless ... sauces were nice that's the only plus. Regret going to a chain like this. I will stick to the ogs at Detroit kabob read more

Horrible wait times, ordered a salad and waited over 30 minutes! They have not figured out how to work the lunch crowd!!

Finally got to try @helloshawarma1 in Niles. 30 minute wait for our food. Take out kiosk won't let you order for dine in. We ordered Rice Bowls with everything. It was VERY heavy on the pickled vegetables. The steak and chicken were tasty, as was the yellow rice. They were out of red rice, fried cauliflower, and the yogurt drink. The staff was hustling to try to keep up with the demand. Check your orders before leaving, especially if you ordered a drink. The vibe was busy, full of people of all ages and ethnicities. read more

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This place is very spacious and clean. The food is ok or at least it depends who makes your sandwich sometimes they fill it up and sometimes barely anything! Employees are very friendly. The reason I am giving 4 stars is because of the prices. $20 for a wrap and little fries??! I think it's a lot! I hope they work on this as I do want to keep coming and supporting them. read more

The food is amazing but selective "friends" getting preferential treatment is disrespectful. Women and kids wait g in line for 1+ hour and the announcers friend is called out to cut the line. Unfair to all of us waiting. And before someone says that they had another order or something, that is not the case at all. They were told to come up and took a side order for them to cut the line. read more

This is a relatively new restaurant in Niles, and it was my first time at any of Hello Shawarma's locations. The food is fantastic. Portions are very generous, though prices also reflect the size. Still, I'm willing to pay a bit more for quality food. The wait in line was about 20 minutes and there were only two people in front of me. One of the people ordering took about 15 full minutes at the register, and there was only one register operating. I know it's not the staff's fault a customer may be asking a lot of questions, but it would have been prudent to open another register to keep the line moving. I counted at least 10 employees working when I visited so I think the restaurant can do a better job allocating where staff need to be working to keep things running smoothly. I only took away one star because I know they just opened recently and are still getting things up and running. But once that issue is ironed out this will be a fantastic restaurant. read more

Amazing efficient staff. Very organized. Love their food! Ali was very welcoming and helpful. read more

I thought I'd try it out because it's close by and I was craving middle eastern food. The food is just bland and mediocre and unappealing. I won't be eating there again. read more

Why I get a order that cost $45 lady with hijab today 06/02/2026 charge me for the Sauce I got. She had an attitude too I've always came nobody has ever charged me is it because I'm not middle eastern.? read more

Terrible service and zero accountability. Avoid this place. I should have listened to the reviews. I decided to give this place a try anyway, and now I completely understand why people warn you to stay away. I went here yesterday with a group of 5 people. I was the second person in our group to order. Everyone else got their food within 20 minutes, but they didn't bring my shawarma. I kept going up to check on it, and they just kept stringing me along, telling me "10-15 more minutes." After 30 minutes of this, I went directly to the shawarma cook to ask about my order, only for him to tell me he can't find it. Meanwhile, some kid in the back had the nerve to chime in with, "I told you it was coming." Coming from where? I ordered 45 minutes ago, my entire table had already finished eating, and multiple people who walked in long after us had already gotten their food and left. They seriously need to learn how to talk to people and actually help customers. Shawarma should never take 50 minutes. When I finally demanded a cancellation and a refund after waiting an entire hour, none of them cared at all. There was no apology for the massive waste of time. They charged me for my sprite, refunded my shawarma from my receipt, and sent me on my way. Extremely unprofessional staff and horrible service. I will never go back here again. read more

The food was very good and full of flavor. The portions were just right - not too small and not too big. The place was clean and well organized. The staff was friendly and helpful. You can easily order by yourself or get assistance if needed. I definitely recommend this place! read more

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What should take 10 minutes took about 55 minutes for a basic meal. So unorganized and unprofessional. brutal

Food is delicious, Chicken Shawarma wrap is a must try Service is good Ambience is great read more

The meat is piled on top of rice and salad. They call it a bowl and they don't have shawarma plates. You can't see what is under the pile of meat which is dry and not very tasty. I'd rather have the traditional plate in which they separate each item. read more

The salad bowl was so delicious! Vegetables were fresh, pickled vegetables were tasty, and the chicken and lamb shawarma were both tender and seasoned perfectly! Staff was very nice, and the place is very clean and bright with a lot of comfortable seating. Will definitely be going back! read more

Went back again and service greatly improved. Chicken shawarma with falafel very good and a very good size portion.

I felt the need to write this review while waiting for our order. This is one of those places that you have to step out of your comfort zone but still offers a variety of options that you're familiar with. We had the honor of meeting the owner, Nazar, who will help guide you through the menu to make sure you are getting the best experience. Super excited to try this cuisine for the first time. The options alone can make your mouth water with the variety of meats and flavors that they showcase in this restaurant. So happy that we have a new spot for authentic middle eastern cuisine! read more

I tried the shawarma here and it really impressed me. The meat was juicy, well-seasoned, and cooked perfectly not dry like a lot of places. The garlic sauce had the right amount of flavor and that sweet chili sauce was nice without being overpowering, and the wrap held together nicely while still being soft. Portion size was generous, and everything tasted fresh. Overall, definitely one of the better shawarmas I've had in a while. I'd happily come back for it again. Excellent service !! read more