I come here often. It's a great place to get middle eastern food. I've tried almost everything on the menu and have yet to be disappointed. Service is good and they have a lunch buffet during the week. They also serve vegetarian dishes as well. You might be waiting a little bit for the food though, depending on what you ordered, but it's worth the wait. read more

This place is amazing! We have been ordering from them for years! Love the kifta Kabob sandwich and berry berry berry smoothie.....I'm never disappointed!!! Lunch buffet is wonderful too!! Great selection of meats and terrific spicy rice. Highly recommend their smoothies :-) I could eat this food everyday. read more

This is the winter go-to spot for fresh, clean Arabic style food( which I miss tremendously since lvg Cali). Service is awesome & prices reasonable. read more

Great food, great service. Owners are very nice, he even gave me a free drink and 3 free cups of taheeny sauce.

It is a decent little middle eastern spot. They have good hummus. And the Chicken Shwarma was good.

This is a good place to grab a bite before a movie. The food is pretty good. Fast service. Small outdoor patio.

Worst chicken shawarma I have ever eaten! I love Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine, but this is fast food. If you are looking for quick and good, try the Pita Inn on Demster in Skokie, IL. They know shawarma! read more

Went in, nice atmosphere. Really reminded me of a few cafes in which I dined while in Israel. Ordered the Kifta kabab, was not disappointed. It was just the right amount of spicy. The rice was great. I also enjoyed the water dispenser with lemon. Interestingly enough, the window in the side of the building views directly into the movie theater hallway. Next time I'll try the hummus, as that's usually the best standard. read more

So so good! Our food was hot, fresh, and made to order. Everything was delicious and the prices were reasonable. This is a must have when you're craving shawarma! read more

Raves for the buffet -- fantastico! JC also pushes the boundaries on the traditional fare -- the Avocado Falafel as example, one of my standard lunch go-tos. Never disappointed, however I do wish JC would imitate the NafNaf style 'bowl' items (a ripoff of Chipotle). I respect their adherence to the traditional on that account, though. The hummus is smooth, the variety veggies is wide and so are the tasty ways to serve the meats -- all keeps me coming back for more. read more

Love the falafel sandwich and the Chicken Shawarma! Love them so much, no one in my family has ever tried anything else yet, in over 2 years. Both yummy, all natural ingredients, homemade, and very filling.And we all also love the Berry, Berry, Berry Smoothie! And, they deliver, which works best for us! read more

I'm a big fan of beef shawarma sandwiches,(gyros got nothing on them) and this is my favorite in the Chicago-land area. The beef is not on a rotisserie like most gyros places, but they give you lots of meat. I recommend calling ahead since the service can be slow. But any middle eastern fan should be use to that. I grew up eating Shawarma's in West Africa (Lebanese style), and so far this is the most similar. I travel around the USA for my job and make it a point to find the best shawarma place, and this is one of my favorites. Don't know about the rest of the food since I only get the beef sandwhich. I also recommend getting the shawarama spice to add to your steaks at home. read more

Delicious food, we order from this place consistantly. The Hummus is delicious, great smoothies, awesome Beef Schwarma Sandwiches. The delivery staff is always extremely prompt and courteous. read more

Not sure why I hadn't been to this place earlier, but I will definitely be back again! I had the chicken shwarma, which was not only very tasty but included enough food for me to bring home leftovers and have it again for lunch the next day. I need to remember to order extra hummus with it next time. Also, I ordered the fresh-made iced tea, expecting the usual packaged stuff that every other restaurant claims is "fresh," but what I got was delicious--I think it might have been lavender black tea, but whatever it was, it was really good. read more

I haven't worked my way through the entire menu yet, but the parts I have make me convinced that this is the best "fast food"/casual dining restaurant in Oak Park. The different dishes are consistently good, cooked well with just the right level of seasoning. read more

Very fresh veges I liked how the steak was marinated my smootie was also good price point

Getting through the traffic of Lake Street was worth the trouble to try it, a pleasant surprize was the pricing didn't reflect like it was on Lake Street. Most places inflate prices because of being on Lake but this was still a good deal. Low key and veggie friendly and vegan options. Tried the salad and hummus, and the kabob was flavored nice too and tender. Parking was still a pain in the rear as anything on this strip is. read more

Very good food and fast service. Came here for the first time today and ordered the lunch combination plate. Good price for all the food I got. meat was tender rice was soft, and the falafel were crunchy. Would go back anytime I'm in Oak Park read more

They have the worst service i experienced in my life i asked for a box to pack my food and the guy throw it on a table and when i asked for an extra piece of bread the girl said you gotta pay for it nothing is free here i dont like to write bad review but they deserve it read more

I have been to this cafe 3 different times and all 3 times have been great. I am especially fond of the hummus. I have had the lunch buffet a couple of times and the offering is great and the food is hot. I don't always care for everything on the buffet line most of the items I have tried have been great. The falafel is very good. I would recommend this cafe to anyone. The staff is always friendly and helpful. Great atmosphere. I especially like sitting along the windows. read more

We order from here for lunch a couple of times a month. Good prices & good food. The combination feast is a good way to try a little bit of everything. read more

Ok well I dont like to be spiteful, however I've stopped in here after a movie, and counter service was BAD! Food was not the most flavorful or fresh. Second go- delivery 1:30 mins later-2 phone calls, no food, and no comp. TIME TO CANCEL AND CALL another PLACE!!!! read more

Love the buffet. Great deal, the food is fresh, and all of the middle eastern favorites are represented.

Over all it was a great experience. Had a spectacular menu and there combo feast was very delicious not only delicious but under 10 dollars. Parking was a bit complicated but was well worth it. read more

Great place and tasty food. I would eat there everyday when I worked down the block. The employees and owner are very nice. I wish I still lived near the area. When ever im in oak park I have to stop by to get my fix. Keep up the great job! read more

My go to middle eastern spot in Oak Park. Being from the Middle East it fulfills everything to expect in good middle eastern cuisine. Not my moms cooking but it fills the void better than expected. read more

Ordered two dinners. The Chicken Kabob and the Salmon dinner. The salmon was inedible. The chicken was better but not good. The grill had burned a bitter crust and the spices lacked any of the savory profile you would expect from an experienced cook. Service was also spotty. I was given my take out order in a bag and left the restaurant only to realize a block later that they neglected to include the drinks I ordered or any silverware. I returned to get the drinks and was told I should have got them myself from the cooler. No problem, just please let me know when you drop the to go bag on the table in front of me. Poor meal experience all around. Will not return. Note: Check your to go order carefully before you leave!! read more

I cannot get enough of this place! I am in love with their chicken shawarma sandwich and whatever spice they put on their fries is AMAZING! I'm also really into their shakes, my favorite is the berry berry berry. If you haven't been here, you definitely owe it to your taste buds to check it out! read more

Anytime I have an out of town visitor, this is one place I always take them to! The food tastes authentic and hearty! Try their kufta kebab on a bed of rice with sauce.. delicious! The nice outdoor seating is great to enjoy the lively ambience of downtown oak park! read more

The chicken shawarma entree is out of this world. The rice, veggies and chicken are so tender and delicious without being over salted. Finish off your meal with baklava and you'll end your day off right! read more

I've known about this place for 5 years or so, but never bother to try it, and I shouldn't have. Not much to be excited about, the food is either bland or dried out. I got the combo feast , a decent amount of food for around $8.50, but they neglect to tell you drinks are not included . The chicken was so dry, I could only eat a couple of chunks, the steak was good and the veggies were the only thing that stood out as flavorful. The hummus wasn't very appetizing and the cold stale pita bread didn't help, rice was bland and uninteresting. I might go back just to try out there lamb entrees, and to see if they have goat too, otherwise stay away from the chicken. read more

First off: isn't really a restaurant. More like a fast-food joint that is ridiculously highly priced and serves mediocre food. I went on a Thursday night, expecting culinary greatness (some coworkers had raved about it). Instead, I got stuck with horrible food and terrible service. The woman behind the counter was rude and not helpful at all. Not even a smile at me when I said hi, and every time I inquired about a menu item she sounded angry having to explain. I am not familiar with middle eastern food, that's why I ask. The food was.... dry. The pitta bread was cold. The hummus tasted like soap. I ordered the combination feast, and the best feature was the kifta. Pretty good taste. The chicken was inedible. The shish kabob was dripping with grease. After I finished, I decided to get the ice cream cone they sell. Bad idea. I asked if it was yogurt soft serve, and, who I assume was either the owner or manager, told me yes. I licked the ice cream . It was NOT YOGURT. Not at all. I went and asked again. They told me yogurt again. Liars. SO I am NEVER going back. Seriously folks, this place is not good at all. read more

This is my third review on Yelp. Unfortunately this is my second not so great review of a place I ate at. I know see the importance of reviews. It gives a multi-diverse set of opinions, facts, and commentary that help in shaping a solid review for the end-user. In hopes of not disappointing him/her when choosing to patronize a business. Let me first start of saying, the people who run this restaurant really get over on people. I am a middle eastern food freak. I leave my community and travel to north Chicago, to experience authentic food. I grew up in Oak Park, and saw the many restaurants that occupied the same space. When this restaurant came, I said I would try them, and support the business. I grew up eating at Grape Leaves in Oak Park, on Oak Park Ave. I decided to order the vegetarian platter (babaganoush, hummus, Jerusalem salad, falafel, and grape leaves) all of which was not good. 1) Grape Leaves: Not fresh, and filled with babaganoush (which I already had on my plate) 2) Hummus, no flavor, and very very creamy. Definitely not authentically made if so I could not tell. 3) Jerusalem Salad: Might as well just stuffed my mouth with cilantro, because that's all it was. No flavor, no bounce, no spice. Not edible. 4) Falafel: COLD! f-ing Cold! I was so pissed, and so hungry that because I know myself, I decided not to go back in the mindset I was in. I'm not sure how the family that owns this business, STAYS in business. I'm sure they have some good things on their menu, but their lack of food preparation is unprofessional to me. I should have went with my first instinct and went to Grape Leaves, on Oak Park Ave. which has been in Oak Park for 20 years. That alone says a-lot. If you want authentic food, go to Grape Leaves in Oak Park, or Semiramis on N. Kedzie Ave. rated best middle eastern/Lebanese food in Chicago. If you are reading this review, think twice. Jersulem Cafe is for young high school cat's who don't know the difference, but want to "experiment". Jersulem Cafe is for people who are high after smoking weed, and want something fast to eat. Middle Eastern food is known for it's richness in flavor. I did not get that here. read more

Ever have trouble making up your mind? That's why I love buffet style. There is a delicious lunch buffet with felafel, grilled chicken breasts, lovely vegetable, yellow rice, hummus, lots of yummy choices. It's only $7.95. My other favorite is the super booster drink, with celery, carrots, and apple, which is a great cure for any hangover or to nip a cold quickly. read more

Pretty much what I expected. Traditional tasty mid-eastern food that's not too pricey. Yums.

Good place! Had a good time here with some close friends. I would def recommend going here and I will be going back next weekend. They have a variety of lunch items on the menu, it's easy to choose from. I had a salad that was large enough for me with some extra left over. read more

I've tried this place 3 times (twice on the Thursday night out and once on a weekend) and each time it was bad. The rice is bland and the sandwiches are overpriced with little meat. Oh, and service was horrible too. read more

Jerusalem Cafe was a last minute decision with my fiance for some dinner. We've been looking for another location to have some chicken sharwarma...this is not the place. We did come in about an hour and a half prior to closing. At first glance the place was dirty, as were the restrooms. Tables were not wiped and as you sit at the tables and look at the kitchen area, the floors were extremely littered. For a place this size, it should be spotless. The girl at the register was kind but not a smile on her face. We ordered the hummus, chicken sharwarma plate and falafel plate. The hummus was way under par. It tasted like glue and was served to us in a plastic container. The chicken sharwarma plates were mediocre at best. The only thing on the plate that was hot was the rice, which was also overcooked. The vegetables on the side were cold. The chicken sharwarma was dry and under-seasoned, came with no sauce and was also luke warm to cold. The falafel plate was the only thing that we received piping hot and were tasty but dry. This may have been a nice little place at one time but they were not having a good night when we were there. We wouldn't eat here again. read more

do yourself a favor and head to falafill across the street, or falafelji in lyons. this place can't hold a candle to either of those. the food is bland, and sometimes isn't fresh. if i wanted cut up veggies with no seasoning and dried out falafels, i'd make them myself! the food here is mediocre at best. read more

Oh Jerusalem, you used to be so good. I started coming here when it was a little hole in the wall off of Marion Street. Since it moved on Lake St. the service was always a little spotty, but the food was always so good so it didn't matter. The last time we went here we were armed with a coupon we received in our clipper magazine. We ordered our food, falafel sandwiches and hummus, and presented the coupon. The manager stated that those coupons do not exist and it isn't for Jerusalem Cafe. We questioned him about and he insisted that coupon was not for their establishment. We let it go and sat down to enjoy our food. I've eaten many a falafel sandwich in my day, but never have I had horrible stomach pains 3 minutes after diving into my sandwich. My husband began to experience the same sensation a few minutes after digging in on his sandwich. Not sure what was going on, but we left our half eat grub and were out of commission for the rest of the night. When we returned home and checked out the coupon it, indeed, WAS for Jerusalem Cafe. Sorry JC, if you need me I'll be at Grape Leaves. read more