I really like this place. The owner is nice and friendly. I saw him nodding to other frequent customers, 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!! read more

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Honestly, this is the most underrated spot on campus. Everything is home made, fresh, and absolutely 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. read more

Jerusalem Middle Eastern Cuisine - a meal in a styrofoam container - Middle Eastern Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

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Small restaurant in the center of campus with a cozy interior. The lunch platter is 10.99 and comes with either fish or chicken and a wide variety of sides. Everything paired together extremely well and the owner also provides you with a free tea or coffee with the lunch platter. Even though the owner is the only person working at the restaurant, service was still extremely quick and also added to the cozy experience! read more

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What a hidden treasure this restaurant is for campus and the community. I like the #202 lunch platter with fish as my chosen "protein." He always then selects some delicious and surprising side dishes of hot vegetables, a generous serving of good hummus, a cold salad with heirloom carrots and a warm pita. That's about $6.49 in March, 2019. read more

Jerusalem Middle Eastern Cuisine - #202 with the fish option, hummus, chickpeas and a cold salad - Middle Eastern Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

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Excellent food. It's a one man operation, so expect it to take a little longer to get your meal.

If you are new in town, this is the place you get a nice lunch or dinner. It is not a fancy place, but you receive great hospitality and excellent food. I have been eating in this place for years, at least a couple meals a week. The owner is also the chef, so be patient. He is busy. There are daily specials for vegetarians and meat eaters. There are many good middle eastern food on the menu, kebobs, beef, lamb, chicken, bean dishes, falafel, humus, eggplant, salads, trukish coffee, arabian tea, and home-made baklava and other dessert etc. The owner grows many of his own vegetables, they are healthy and delicious. The best dish in the house is lamb shank, you cannot get a better meal like that in town. You will not be disappointed. read more

Restaurant review Do you remember that episode in Seinfeld at the soup restaurant. I won't refer to the name given to the owner of that restaurant but this experience is very similar. You go up to the counter to order from a surly man who is cooking and running the register. He will ignore you for a few minutes and finally come over to take your order. You sit down and after a few more minutes or more he will yell your food is ready with only the bare minimum of words. Not the best customer service, but I digress. The upside is the food is inexpensive compared to chicago. There are daily specials. I ended up with the lamb dish with rice, split pea soup, and some beans. The flavors were very authentic, not too salty or spicy. I just wish the lamb was not cooked way through. For the price you pay it is good, but the food would not be acceptable restaurant quality in a big city. All said and done, I will be back if I crave Mediterranean food. Pro: inexpensive, authentic middle eastern food Cons: average food quality, overcooked, poor customer service, NO free refills... Hidden gem: Daily specials are a bargain, check out my picture for the menu read more

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This place does not get enough attention in my opinion, especially when it's next to cravings. You can get a lot of food here for a great price, and it's food that will fill you up and is healthy. The meal I got in the picture was under $9 for reference. read more

Jerusalem Middle Eastern Cuisine - Middle Eastern Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

This place is the perfect remedy for homesickness. I ordered the chicken lunch special, and the okra stew that came with it almost brought me to tears since it reminded me of my mom's cooking. The chicken and rice was comforting and familiar, and the hummus was one of the best I've ever had. I will definitely be returning :) read more

Jerusalem Middle Eastern Cuisine - chicken lunch special with okra - Middle Eastern Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

The owner is nice and friendly and he is part of my best memory about UIUC. The food is very good and Affordable. I used to visit the restaurant frequently and the owner frequently gave me an additional piece of meat for free. I feel that the owner is super nice to frequent customers. Upon my leave from UIUC, the owner offered a free meal to my wife and I. read more

I'm new to the area and wanted to try the local middle eastern cuisine, as back home I am blessed with a nice variety of it in the southwest suburbs. I went into the (just about empty) Jerusalem Restaurant and looked over the menu before being silently greeted by the notorious owner. I stepped up to order and he turned his back, apparently cooking someone else's food. I patiently waited and eventually ordered the daily special of kufta, salad and hummus. After observing my meal being cooked and assembled, I dashed home to try it. I opened up everything and was initially let down by the quantity I received for about $9. I started with the salad which looked to be a combination of many different vegetables including onions, celery, carrots, spices and a couple of other unrecognizable things. Even though there was a large array of different ingredients for this salad, it was unbelievably bland and some of the vegetables pretty hard in consistency. I couldn't figure out why, there was some kind of a dressing on it, but it wasn't much more than some type of oil, maybe a really light olive? I'm not sure. It then occurred to me that this salad was probably sitting for a very long time before I had eaten it. I wouldn't get it again. Next, my order came with Kufta (lamb & beef), 2 pitas and a very small dollop of hummus. The Kufta had a pretty unique flavor to it that I did like, but the quality of the meat was fair, at best. The pitas were decent but by far the best part of my dinner was the hummus. The hummus had a very nice taste and was complemented well by a splash of olive oil. It was not bland and definitely the highlight of my meal. Overall, I was disappointed having spent almost $. The portion size wasn't much, and the starch (pita) is really what filled me up. I will be back in sometime just to try something else and see if my review is consistent for all the food, rather than just what I had. This place has a variety of options and maybe I just picked the wrong one. read more

Jerusalem Middle Eastern Cuisine - Daily dinner special: kufta, salad and hummus. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

I always got the lamb dinner. The lamb was flavorful and the beans that came with rice were tasty as well. Salad was fresh and healthy. Soup was authentic. But it often takes the owner 10 min to make a meal, so I won't come in when there are more than one people waiting in front of me. read more

This place doesn't look like much, but it has the best food in Urbana. We go here every Friday for a cheap and fabulous lunch meal.

Great portion size for the value meal! I paid $7.55 for rice, lots of veggies, chicken, pita bread, and hummus. Meat was tender and veggies were very flavorful! The man working behind the counter seemed very humble and I hope this place gets more business. read more

I hate to give bad reviews, especially as it seems the owner tries really hard (as seen in other reviews). However, this just cannot stand. I ordered the combination meal during lunch today with my friend, and, although it looks pretty in my picture, it really just wasn't good. The food was almost flavorless, the chicken was very pink inside, the hummus was thin, and the salad was cold. This is coming from a Middle Eastern person, mind you. Also, for some added protein, I got a free ladybug in my salad! I'm so, so happy I looked at my fork before eating, or else I would've eaten this little (dead) guy. I really wanted to give this place a try, as Mashawi Grill is gone now, but it just isn't great. I don't think I'll be going back. The owner was nice about giving me a refund for my food, though, so there's that. read more

Jerusalem Middle Eastern Cuisine - Combo meal for lunch - Middle Eastern Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

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This restaurant is excellent. The menu has a lot of variety and the food is very tasty and fresh. The atmosphere is also very comfortable and relaxing. read more

The complaints I've heard about this restaurant are numerous, ranging from bad food to the infamous Soup-Nazi-like owner. So why did I give it so many stars? Many people would hesitate before eating at Jerusalem Restaurant, and I can't blame them if they have been spoiled by American restaurant standards. In defense of these kinds of restaurants everywhere, I would argue that you have to be at least a little adventurous (and patient) when it comes to eating ethnic food. I've become a regular customer because Jerusalem Restaurant is just so STRANGE, and kind of endearing in its own way. I know that there are limitations to excusing poor service/attitude because of cultural differences, but I have never thought of the owner as malicious or incompetent. Every visit, one of my friends makes an attempt to get the owner to smile (I've witnessed it, and it is a truly uplifting sight). Below, I've documented some of my observations while eating there. I know that these are probably factors that cast the restaurant in a bad light, but personally, these are the type of experiences that have made me come to enjoy (at least for humor value) my visits to Jerusalem Restaurant. Read on: * I first came into Jerusalem Restaurant with friends, and we all decided to order the daily combination plate. When we got to the counter and placed our orders, the owner just asked each of us, "Meat or vegetable?" We all requested meat, assuming that we would just receive whatever he was making for the daily meat dish. To our confusion, when we received the meals, we each had been given a different meat: lamb, fish, and chicken! (We learned later that you can just request a specific meat.) * I have struggled to decipher the numbering logic used at this restaurant; this is the first example. When you look at the front counter, there are sheets of paper that show a condensed menu, just the most popular items served at lunch. Instead of writing Combo #1, Combo #2, etc., their items are listed as #576, #708, etc. (not even in sequential order!). * This is the second example involving weird numbers. After you order, the owner will write a number on a piece of scrap paper and hand it to you. This number is separate from the receipt, so it does not correspond to the price of your meal. My friend and I thought it over, and we interpreted this as the same system employed at fast food restaurants, where your number is called when your order is ready. When we looked, my number was 16 and my friend's was 28 (again, not sequential, even when he had ordered right after me). Then, when our food was finished, the owner just waved at us instead of calling our numbers. ...Huh? * Unlike most restaurants, the owner doesn't leave unlimited boxes of napkins at the silverware station or your table. Instead, he leaves just a few napkins (less than 10) at the front counter, so you always feel bad about taking more than necessary. Great economic/environmental tactic...? I'll briefly summarize a few more important points if you decide to try Jerusalem Restaurant: (1) Order the spiced hot tea in the winter, (2) the restaurant is only open for lunch, not dinner, and (3) no matter how much you're initially intimidated by the owner, he is actually a warm person once you become familiar with him. read more

Of all restaurants in Chambana, this is by far my favorite. I used to go several times as week for either lunch or dinner when I was still in the area. The food is homemade-like, which was always a big plus for me. I prefer to be on the healthy side, and Jerusalem offers that option with the bonus of being cheap. And this fact makes it unique in a college town, where most people are craving for cheap junk food. I would go most frequently for the "plate of the day" #202 with chicken. It is a big tray with an assortment of tasty items. So big, that sometimes you would end up saving half of it for dinner. I can more simply define Jerusalem as: tasty, tasty, tasty. Totally love it. Ah, yes, the owner. Some people complain about him. Well, after going for so many times, I found out he is a very warm person. He might not give you a fake smile the first time you walk into his restaurant, but he will give you a genuine smile the fifth time you go there. read more

Food is very fresh here ! I am a big fan of Jerusalem these days. I can see the one and only guy cooking, taking orders and cleaning. Freshness of food and the guy's dedication to serve quality food impressed me. Nonetheless, I see some reviews complaining about an absence of "smiley" welcome or food being served late. It's up to you, folks !!... Go to a chain restaurant if you want it "fast" with lots of "smiles". Whatever makes you happy. read more

This has become one of my favorite restaurants in town as of late. Fresh, healthy ingredients are sold for an extremely fair price. The store is filled with plants and paintings, classical music is always playing, the menu is on the counter and you order at the register. The owner works alone, so you may need to be a little patient if it's busy. He's a very stern and quiet man, he's been dealing with annoying college kids for a long time, and unlike a lot of campus restaurants, he lets the food do the taking. The meal options come with free tea or Turkish coffee. The lunch platter is the no-brainer, it's comes with a protein, vegetable mixes that vary by the day, hummus, pita, and a salad. I've also had the falafel sandwich if I'm not super hungry and it really does the trick on its own. Don't even think about leaving without buying the homemade baklava. This place is as genuine as it gets, eating here feels like eating a home cooked meal, because it is. read more

Jerusalem Middle Eastern Cuisine - Chicken lunch platter with lentil soup - Middle Eastern Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

This is our favorite restaurant in Champaign, IL when we drive down. The food is very authentic and deliciious. Haven't had a bad item here. The Baba Ganoush is delicious and the Dolmas are one of our favorites. The Chicken Kebob sandwich is outstanding. It is probably one of the worst looking restaurants I've seen inside all the way around, but it's fine. It's still a great casual place to eat. Not sure if the man behind the counter is the owner. He seems to be a good person, he recognizes us and with much effort sometimes we can get a few words out of him, but just has zero personality, no smile, no life to him, nothing. It would be nice if he could be more outgoing and social, but might not be possible for him. It's fine though. Service is slow, but again the food is authentic and delicious, so it's worth it. If you appreciate good quality food, then I'd highly recommend this place. If you are looking for fine dining in a modern restaurant, then you won't like it. read more

The person took our order was not helpful and short with us when we asked questions about the food that I saw on the menu through yelp. I ordered a $13.00 super meat plate and a $3.50 side of fatouch. My husband picked it up and was charged $29.00. No clue what he gave us for that charge. The meat was sliced dry and it was not what was on the menu. The salad and side of fatouch were chopped vegetables without any seasonings or dressing like it said on the menu. We called back to complain and was told that they do not use a computer and everything on the YELP menu is 15 years old and wrong. He said they do not put any dressings on anything like it says they do on the menu unless you eat it there. HUGE waste of money. Do NOT believe anything that is on the online menus. Go to Arby's and get a $3.00 Gyro if you want good flavor and juicy meat. read more

The sign on the door says they close at 7:30, I got there at 7:15 and the man says they close at 7. I let him know that when you google his establishment it says you close at 8 and then VERY RUDELY he says, "I can't control the internet", Then he points to the sign on the door that CLEARLY says Monday through Friday they close at 7:30. It's a Tuesday at 7:15. Was looking forward to trying this place out but after that interaction with the owner I'll never spend my money here. read more

I want to love Jerusalem. I really, really do. Here are the reasons why I can't: The tabouli is the worst intentionally edible thing I've ever tasted. By any stretch of the imagination, if it were good, it should be called a tomato and cucumber salad. But it is awful. The rice tastes like Uncle Ben's instant rice. Here are the reasons why I gave it three stars: The grape leaves/dolma are delicious. The guy always seems stressed out and I feel empathy for him. Everything else there that I've tried is really just okay. My argument should be that it's fast and easy to get, but it's not because with just one employee during the day the service takes forever. I guess I just want to support the business in hopes that it will some day improve. read more

This place is fantastic! The guy works by himself, and sometimes there's a bit of a wait, but not too much. The lunch specials are ridiculous! For just over 7 bucks, you get a plate, (or a to-go box, like me), filled to the brim with delicious and authentic dishes such as schwarma; falafel; fried fish; lentil options; and the best hummus I've had in my life; it's like it was made from chickpea clouds! Ha! From chicken to fish and all of the tasty vegetable dishes, Jerusalem Restaurant is one of the best place to eat. If you haven't tried it, you are truly missing out. read more

Got here almost an hour before they said they closed at 730. Walked in open sign was on but they wouldn't serve us.

There are so many diverse cultural experiences to be had in Champaign and that's what really makes this community so great- we integrate together by sharing stories of home, through our food heritage. Today brought me to Jerusalem Middle Eastern Cuisine. Parking was very convenient; call it luck, but I got a wonderful spot right outside the restaurant with metered parking. The interior is decorated in middle eastern Arabic themes, some telling stories of being at the mosque, others depicting cities in rich watercolor or Arabic writings. The menu is tasty and varied; lots of options of meats vegetables and other middle eastern delights. I choose the special beef and lamb shwarma to-go with Turkish coffee and the owner was super nice compared to what some reviews say. I waited about 10 minutes and done, done; my food was ready. The Turkish coffee was piping hot and lightly sweetened, yet the taste was out of this world refreshing, delicious and politely sweetened. The notes smelling it were of sage, turmeric; as well as other spices. The shwarma had a similar flavor and it was still pretty delicious yet different; I will say I wish the lamb had more body and wasn't so...falling apart, there wasn't much tenderness. The beef was very tasty and I loved the sauce. Overall I will return to try something different. I did however commit the crime of putting my coffee over ice; living a little. Still very flavorful and delicious. read more

Possibly the best value in the whole Urbana-Champaign area. The food is prepared on a daily basis using homegrown veggies, it is very delicious and healthy (for the most part). The 202 meal is an amazing deal and I do not understand how it could cost so little. Favorite items: 202 meal with beef or fish Dinner menu with lamb or kufta Vegetarian - Okra, Falafel, Lentil soup read more

I entered, ordered at the counter, and only then did I look around and notice every single person had ordered the special that comes with hummus, salad, and chicken. Every one of them. Wish I had noticed that before I ordered the lamb kebab. The food itself was the only disappointing part of my experience at Jerusalem. The lamb kebab was a decent sized portion - not at all generous, but totally within the realm of "decent". The flavor, and particularly the texture, of the kebab was a totally different story. It was somewhere between "acceptable" and "gross" and possibly the worst kebab I've ever had. It is worth mentioning that I didn't have the same experience other reviewers had with the owner. He was not at all rude. I hadn't even decided yet before he asked if I was ready to order, and he gave me all the time I needed to read the menu. The decor that other reviewers complained about is unpretentious and perfectly fine by me. There's absolutely nothing wrong with the place except the kebab. I do want to return to try the special - it looked like lots more food for the price. I will update this review if I have an experience that changes my opinion, but for now, I'm giving this place a solid "meh". read more

Get one of the lunch or dinner platters: chicken, beef, fish or falafel, with salad, cooked vegetables, rice, hummus and pita bread -- delicious, filling and inexpensive! A great value. The desserts are also a standout. The restaurant itself is very casual; the owner Hamid works mostly alone, so there may be a wait during busy times. read more

I always walk past this place but never thought of trying it because it looks kinda shady. It is usually pretty empty, lunch or dinner time. So, I have no clue how this place survives. One day, my friend ordered some falafel and grape leaves wrap for takeout just for the heck of it. She was a little unsure if she wanted to try them and I ended up being the scapegoat. The food wasn't fresh and my friend saw the guy reheating the food in a microwave instead of preparing them from scratch. The falafel ended up a little dry and the little leave wraps were sour. I was not sure if it was supposed to taste like that but I found it awful. Maybe I should try the shwarma instead. read more

This place is fantastic- I eat lunch here at least once a week (have not tried it for dinner). I know middle eastern food well, and have eaten falafel in many cities. The falafel sandwich is one of the best I've ever had. The yogurt salad (yogurt with cucumber, mint, parsley, etc.) is delicious, and the lamb kebab sandwich is also fantastic. The prices are AMAZING. This place is so far above most of the junk you find on Green St.- I highly recommend turning on to Wright St. instead of continuing on Green when looking for a tasty, inexpensive lunch near campus. They also have incredible meat and spinach pies, and a samosa with the most delicate, tasty shell I've ever had. It's definitely a hole in the wall, but the owner plays jazz, blues, and middle eastern music, or the news, which makes it a pleasant place to sit and eat. It's a must try. read more

I know other reviewers took issue with the interior of the restaurant or the attitude of the owner, but I absolutely love Jerusalem for its excellent food. The hummus is to die for. So creamy! We usually get the dish of the day. All the vegetable dishes I've tried are very yummy (especially the spinach dish), and there are many options if you are a vegetarian. My personal favorite is the fish. It's fried tender and juicy without being greasy and seasoned perfectly with a hint of spiciness. The most important reason why I always prefer Jerusalem to other restaurant options in the area is that all dishes taste like home-made food, prepared according to traditional recipes with great care. It's cheap, but definitely not cheaply prepared! read more

The restaurant itself is small place, with a bad lighting. Looks like an old and unloved place by its owner. The owner usually has an attitude towards the customers! He's angry and look fiercely in your eyes, as if you shouldn't be there to taste his cooking! It is not irritating though, I feel it's more funny and something to laugh at with friends! It's a one man show by the way, he is the cook and the counter-holder. Works almost like a fast food, except for the fact that it is not fast! Now the food itself. I've had Shawerma here, as well as Falafel and some other stuff which I can't remember their names. By far, the meal you want to order in this restaurant is the Shawerma. Having said that, I prefer the Gyros from "Zorba's" which is just 2 minutes walking south of this place. They are more tender and juicy, and the bread in their Gyro is much better. read more

Awesome lentil soup, tasty entrees. Yes, the owner is an interesting guy. I have had similar experiences as other reviewers. Excellent value. read more

Wonderful hummus and everything else, too! Take your chances with the plate of a day, it's a bargain and an adventure! And you'll get delightful hummus, pita, salad and rice along with the special items of the day. The service can be a little slow since it's ONE MAN running the show but he takes his time with each person's order and serves up tasty plates! The Arabian tea is also delish! read more

Not sure I'd evem give them 1 star..false advertising. Menu on Yelp states Lentil soup is made with Olive oil. Upon driving out of way here I was informed by an authentic looking & sounding Soup Nazi that it's Soy oil. There will be NO soup for me here! read more

My classmate and I went here recently because we hadn't heard anything about it and were feeling adventurous. The food was actually pretty good and I, at least, left satisfied. But this may have been for of the same reason I thought the 5th fast and the furious movie was pretty good - I wasn't expecting much. highlights: -fairly cheap -probably not as bad as you think read more

This place is usually empty for a reason. Like the 3 other restaurants adjacent, it is dated and unattractive. That would be fine though, if the food was any good. It's not. The meat (lamb) was dry and stringy; overcooked and with a texture like cotton. The bread is meh. The fries? From frozen, and they're no good either. A waste of my time (took a while for my order to be ready) and money. To top it all off, service is abysmal. The owner, who is probably the only employee, is cold and withdrawn, speaking little to no words, even when taking your order. This is not a comfortable place to eat, and the food doesn't help. read more

This is my favorite place in C-U for a quick, cheap lunch. I always get the falafel sandwich combo ($6), which isn't anything mind-blowing but also never disappoints. Atmosphere is very relaxed and the restaurant is never too crowded -- I am always comfortable here. The guy at the counter is pretty stony-faced, but he's always polite. When you order he'll give you a number that (as far as I can tell) is totally random. I wonder if there's some kind of secret pattern to them... read more