North Ave Falalfel

Great spot in Chicago. The food had amazing flavors, the space was beautiful, and the overall…read moreexperience felt special without being too formal. A place I'd gladly visit again.

Ambiance was great, food was quite good, and service was good. I recommend for the ambiance…read moreespecially, since the decor is so nice!

Interior

Muhammara

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Frozen Greek yogurt

Ema

4.3(2k reviews)

8.6 mi•Near North Side

I LOVED my meal here! Ēma (Ay-mah) brings some glamour and glitz to the Mediterranean dining scene,…read morewith an airy, elevated hotel-lobby feel that still doesn't demand a dress code. Dresscode: Smart Casual / Casual Noise Level: Medium (it gets buzzy after 5:30pm) Thursday night Happy Hour was lively, so it took about 10-15 minutes for someone to come around, but service was attentive once we got going. The food is where Ēma really shines. From the Happy Hour menu, the Charred Eggplant Hummus and Crispy Potatoes were generously portioned and great for sharing. On the main menu, the Indian-Mediterranean fusion Bhel Hummus was a party for my taste buds, while the Hot Honey Halloumi and Chicken Kefta rounded out the table nicely. The halloumi is more of a side than a main, but that sweet-and-salty hot honey combo was chef's kiss. For our finisher, the Chocolate Torte knocked us out. Decadent, delicious and chocolate with lots of depth. Overall, Ēma is an excellent spot to order a bunch of dishes for the table and get an elevated meal without feeling stuffy, and delicious without taking itself too seriously. DO's: - Make a reservation ahead, especially for happy hour 4-6pm - Treat apps like small plates, order 2-3 to sample - Entertain their wine list, they have a lot! - Bring vegetarians here, there are plenty of options DON'Ts: - Dismiss the desert menu. It's fantastic and shareable! - Forget to ask for extra pita with the hummus! - Miss out on the LettuceEats loyalty points (check-in with your server before paying your check)

Mixed feelings on this place. Really pretty decor and nice vibe, but portions have greatly…read moredecreased in the last few years. The food is good, but I don't like that the portions have gotten smaller with the price staying the same. I've added pictures to show the difference. Their spicy hummus is probably my favorite hummus I've gotten from a restaurant, but it isn't always on the menu. The Kefta kabob is always good.

6.1 mi•Wicker Park, West Town

Ema tables and bar

Tuna & Watermelon* june 2026.

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Inside

Rumi Middle Eastern Grill

4.5(405 reviews)

This place is beyond welcoming and such a refreshing spot to eat at. The food is delicious,…read morefilling, and so affordable. It's your typical kind of ambiance for a place like this--clean but not at all sterile. A welcome quiet spot in the chaos of Wicker. Aside from the delicious, comforting food, the service is incredible. It is rare to find spots like these nowadays and I sincerely hope the CAVA heads (don't get me wrong, I love CAVA!) try this out, too. We were accidentally charged for two orders of dolma when we ordered one, but I didn't realize. The person who took the order--wearing a propellor hat, by the way (hello whimsy!)--walked over to our table to let us know and asked if we'd like a refund and apologized. This already took me by surprise, so while I was fine without it, I said "sure." Next thing I know, they walk over with still two orders of dolma and the refund. I looked for a tip jar to put it back but couldn't find one. It was such an act of kindness and generosity. The kind of small interaction that reminds you of what being human is all about. Any time I'm in Wicker, I will try and stop at this place. Reminds me so much of Bulgaria and the "" I'd always beg for as a kid. 10/10 -- please support this independent restaurant!

I got delivery from here, interesting take on middle eastern food. I go the falafel wrap, with…read morehummus, it did not come with many veggies on it, the falafel itself was quite dry and the hummus was not very flavorful. My partner got a falafel plate. He liked the meal. He also got a salad, which he reports was good. I also got some French fries with tahini and extra garlic sauce. Overall average.

Wicker Park Platter

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The Purple Pig

4.3(9.1k reviews)

8.9 mi•Near North Side

The steak melted in my mouth and was paired so well with the sauce…read more Tiramisu was a must-try! It was so flavorful, the chefs know what they are doing. Glad we discovered this restaurant!

Wow, oh wow... the food was AMAZING! I was especially impressed with the pork AND seafood…read more The pork belly was so good, the two of us devoured it in less than a minute. If you're hungry, try the potato gnocchi. The pork ragu was so rich and delicious. The pork is tender, and the gnocchi was creamy and filling. I also recommend the Spanish Octopus and the Roasted Bone Marrow. Service was excellent. They had 2 dedicated food runners so that everyone receives their food as soon as humanly possible. Everything is served tapas style, so food goes out as soon as each plate is ready vs waiting for the entire table's meals to go out at the same time. Ambiance is modern and casual even though the food tasted like I should have dressed nicer.

The kitchen

Chicago style hot dog

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Squid Ink Chitarra

Roti

3.9(453 reviews)

8.8 mi•The Loop

pros: -fast and friendly service…read more-such a yummy meal!! i ordered the harissa chicken bowl -clean tabled and restaurant cons: -none

Good quick service and options for food. Very filling meal. Spacious and great for dining in…read more Ambiance is good.

Salad and rice bowl to-go with all the toppings

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Bowl with rice, chicken, onions, tomatoes and cabbage

Kabobi Grill

4.5(1.3k reviews)

6.0 mi•Albany Park

Love this place for lunch! The lunch specials are great and the portions are huge!…read more This is a pretty good deal. You order at the counter and then sit down. Please know that if you pay with card you pay extra fee, which I didn't know. This is a pretty big portion so I did have leftovers. For one of our lunches we upgraded to the dill rice which wasn't as different from regular rice as I wanted. But when you add sumac it's perfect! This place is bright and airy.

I needed this meal so bad. So delicious and great hospitality. This place is located on a busy…read morestreet but I was able to find street parking no problem during rush hour. When you walk in, you are brought to the dining room to your table but are instructed to order at the counter. The space is big with tons of tables. Vegetarian sampler: We got this to share. Comes with hummus, tahini sauce, falafel x2, persian salad, baba ghanoush, and dolma. Something nice to sample for the table. Everything tasted great. The falafel could've been more crispy. The platter also comes with a basket of pita bread! Combo mix grill #1: For my entree I got the mixed grill and chose both beef and lamb koubideh as my proteins. I really couldn't tell which meat was which since the meat is ground but both were super delicious otherwise. Great flavor. Got the half & half rice (basmati/dill) which is a great choice and I highly recommend. The platter also comes with red onion, a whole roasted tomato, and some butter. If you've been here before, you already know the portion sizes here are massive!!! So great for sharing!

6.4 mi•Wicker Park, West Town

Assorted Kabob Platter

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Jujeh Kabob with Dill Rice

Falafel & Grill

4.3(670 reviews)

Good "bang for buck" would be an understatement when describing this place. The quality of the food…read moreat Falafel & Grill is absolutely OUTSTANDING, and comes at a beyond reasonable price. As typical for a counter serve, this facility is no thrills but it's kept very clean and the service is straightforward and great. We've gone back here a few times and have never had an issues with wait time, which is impressive as it can get pretty busy with orders. We've tried both the Chicken Kabob Plate and the Kifta Kabob Plate and both were fantastic. They truly make the meat here the PERFECT tenderness - probably the softest and juiciest chicken I've had in the city!!! The hummus and falafel that the Plate meals come with are also delicious. 10000% recommend for a casual Mediterranean meal or takeout

Falafel and Grill has become a neighborhood favorite for my little family. The falafel is soft and…read morefluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside. Large selection of vegetarian and gluten free options on the menu. Prices are good and the food comes out quickly every time. Though it's a casual place, it's clean and pleasant inside, with a decent amount of seating. The falafel platter is where I'd start, but return to get a gyro sandwich.

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Kofta Kabob Plate Baba Ghanoush

Al Bawadi Grill

4.1(1.2k reviews)

12.1 mi

This restaurant was recommended to me recently and I finally had the chance to visit. The staff…read morewere super friendly and helpful in guiding me while placing my carry out order. The decor transports you, very intentionally decorated. I had the chicken shish tawook dinner, the eggplant, falafel, wings, and hummus. This was legitimately some of the best middle eastern food I've ever had. The wings were extremely flavorful, the chicken shish tawook was juicy and beautifully seasoned, and the eggplant was delightfully tangy. I was really looking forward to coming here again.

The whole concept and aesthetic of this restaurant completely wowed me!! It feels so well thought…read moreout. The service was amazing too, super professional, friendly, always on top of everything without being overwhelming. And the hummus was especially good, and creamy, which I loved!! The food overall was great. Such a cool experience from start to finish.

8.0 mi•West Loop, Near West Side

20 minute wait for two. Food smells delicious though

Kenafah

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Lotus cake

Avec - Chicago

4.3(2.7k reviews)

Avec is such a cozy and cute spot right along Randolph! We stopped in around dinner time on a…read moreFriday evening and they were able to get us in! We shared some wine carafes and they suggested splitting a few lighter bites and a main. We had the Endive and apple salad which had a light, refreshing flavor, and the chorizo- stuffed medjool dates to start. Both were flavorful and delicious! We also split the Shawarma spiced chicken which was fantastic and filling, the pitas here are to die for. All of the staff were friendly and helpful in suggesting dishes and portions, and we felt perfectly full and brought some home for later too! Definitely a cozy date-night spot to add to your list!

The missus got a reservation for 1045am for two on the Sunday of Labour Day weekend 2026 for our…read morefirst trip to Chicago. We opted to sit outside on the patio (other side of the sidewalk) because it was an option. We ordered the shakshuka, heirloom tomatoes and the famous Medjool dates - all three to share. Overall, nothing stood out - the dates are indeed good but the portion sizes are somewhat small and whole we were full when we finished, it definitely was pricier than I expected it to be, given the size and quality of the food. Nothing wrong with this place - but I probably wouldn't go back. Nothing special here.

Restaurant view from bar

Whole roasted branzino

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Roasted Corn & Freekeh Tabbouleh

Avaspi

4.8(114 reviews)

7.2 mi•Lakeview

If you only know of the Kurdish people or culture through the news, it's time to remedy that-- head…read moreover to Avaspi for drinks and snacks at the generous Happy Hour or for a full dinner. The beautiful bar is set back in the glowingly dining room that has a painting of the Kurdish area in Turkey from where the owner comes from. Remixes of contemporary tunes gives a kind of clubby feeling inside, and the large sidewalk patio (on the side street) to enjoy the season is a completely different vibe. It's not just another variant on Mediterranean/Middle Eastern/ Persian cuisine, though you'll find familiar salads, spreads and cuts of meat. The presentations and flavors are different. The friendly (and easy on the eyes) staff will guide you through the menu. Very nice wine list as well as creative takes on standard cocktails (some mocktails too) complement the meal. Come in a group so you can sample many things; I assure you it'll all be good. Loved the calamari and the meze plate on this last visit. Grilled haloumi and shrimp were great previously. Easy to get to so get going!

An absolutely standout meal, each dish better than the next. The stuffed dates, however, were about…read moreas spectacular as anything I've had. A perfect place to go with a group to try as many different things as possible. And don't sleep on their happy hour, which makes the experience even better!

Avaspi bar

Bread

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Cool bar

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12 reviews that are not currently recommended

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g p.

132

11 years ago

Very good,much needed for the neighborhood where pizza is on every corner. Sure maybe they have to work on things as others experienced but what really pisses me off with other reviews is that people just feel they know sh**. But in fact all they know is how to troll hard working family run small businesses. Shame on you all haters. I love their felafel, prices are great, freshest food made to order ( sorry fast food haters...it's being cooked for you as you wait. ) And if they are out of beef? Good sign, they sell out if beef so it must be sliced from a new slab.....means fresh. People are ignorant! Do what you are doing Felafel and don't let yelpers bring you down!!! read more

Miranda B.

1 year ago

I visited this restaurant on a Saturday night and had a fantastic experience. Amir and Joseph were incredibly helpful and prepared all of our food from scratch, which really made a difference. We ordered the mixed meat fateer, it was packed with flavor and perfectly cooked. As far as I know, this is the only spot in Chicago that serves this dish, which makes it even more special. We also tried the hawowshi, which was delicious as well. For dessert, we had a sweet fateer topped with powdered sugar and cream, a perfect ending to the meal. Highly recommend! We are Egyptian and we loved it read more

shell c.

5 years ago

This place is great! Atmosphere is chill and cool but the staff is also really friendly. They know what they're doing and what they're talking about, and you can tell making the customers happy is their main priority. Food is pretty good, Mediterranean classics such as Falafel and Hummus. I tried the Jerusalem salad and Grape leaves and for their prices it's 100% worth it. Ask for the owner Yousef! He was amazing! read more

muath A.

4 years ago

Bad not even shawarma you feel .......I never going to order again.................................:::::.:.............

Norma N.

11 years ago

Great Food I was very impressed. The portion is great for the price, very clean and friendly service.

Doris F.

11 years ago

We absolutely love it. The price for the portion is amazing and the food is very flavorful and fresh.

Todd R.

11 years ago

Great! worth trying! my food was delicious and I only waited around 5 minutes. I'll for sure go back!

brian m.

9 years ago

Best falafel place around. Everything is made fresh so you have to wait a bit but its all excellent.

Pamela M.

6 years ago

Great taste! Really enjoy! One problem the parking lot...owner needs to keep up with cleanness!

Rachael V.

3 years ago

The food was amazing, and the portion sizes were huge. The service was fast and nice.

Janet J.

6 years ago

Great and authentic food. Our take out order was excellent!

Matt G.

8 years ago

Great food! Friendly staff. Always gives me a happy belly

North Ave Falalfel - mideastern - Updated October 2026

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Jerusalem Cafe

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Big fan of Jerusalem Cafe. The food is always on point. Our group ordered the Yogurt salad, lamb…read morekabobs sandwich, hummus and shawarma, and gyro plate. Our favorites were the chicken shawarma hummus plate and the gyro place (with the cucumber salad on top).

I have been coming here for many years and it never disappoints! There is something for all tastes…read moreand dietary needs. The food is freshly made, quality ingredients and very reasonable priced. It's hard to say that anymore about restaurants after Covid. Lots of seating, no frills decor, quick service and overall great options. My favorites are their hummus and Jerusalem salad but everything is good!

Petra Falafel

4.2

(197 reviews)

The Falafel is OUTSTANDING. Freshly prepared. Excellent crisp. Wonderful spicy, umami flavor. Some…read moreof the best I've ever had. The place was pretty peaceful. Great place for after work dinner and quiet conversation.

Ordered to-go and did not get all of my items, which was a bummer. Did not take too long to get my…read morefood after I ordered. The combination dinner was a good option to try a little bit of everything. The hummus, pita, and baklava were fresh. Everything was seasoned well, but the meat was pretty dry. There are tables if you wish to eat at their restaurant.

Shawarma Bite

4.8

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I wanted a non corporate Middle Eastern spot and the spots in Oak Park make you pay to park there…read moreso yea..out of principle, that was not going to happen....soo happy I came across this spot!! Free parking..attentive service..very clean and well lighted inside and the food was awesome.. I will definitely recommend this spot over the others and plan on returning even though Im not from the area.

Great addition to the neighborhood. Simple and Delicious offerings. I order ahead and stop in oftenread more

Grape Leaves Restaurant

3.9

(345 reviews)

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Stopped for dinner with family this evening. Cozy spot welcoming atmosphere absolutely wonderful…read morefood and service. Karim and his team were wonderful. Not to be missed

Others have corroborated our experience of many years. One of the best restaurants in Chicago…read more Great caterers as well. For example best Falafel ever. Try the fig and goat cheese salad-- and serve to your special guests. I just ate lamb tagine-- heavenly. Ambience very special. People owning and serving, the best ever.

Habibi's Chicken & Falafel

4.6

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Definitely will be back. Let's start there!…read more I entered close to closing time to try a new spot before heading home. O was greeted by all the workers. There was an older lady who was toooo kind and showed me how to order my food. You use the self service and wait for your meal. I ordered the chicken shawarma bowl and a cup of lentil soup. My meal was made in maybe 10 minutes. That actually might be exaggerating. They even threw in a free cup of Zatar chips encouraging me to try them. I felt my bowl was more than enough for one person. The soup could use more flavor but I appreciate the texture and love lentils so I won't complains.

I ordered the Chicken Shawarma Bowl with everything and honestly it was sooo good. Super flavorful…read moreand the portion was big; I even had leftovers. I also got fries and a side of falafel. The falafel was really good and not oily like some other places, which I liked. Customer service was great, everyone was really welcoming and helpful with suggestions. Prices are pretty affordable for how much you get. Definitely worth it, I'll be back!

CAVA

3.4

(54 reviews)

FINALLY tried Cava!!!! My first visit here was efficient and successful! Its very clean inside and…read moreI was in-and-out so fast with my food. Process is pretty straight forward. It's basically a Mediterranean chipotle. Everything tasted fresh! The pita chips are a must!

I attempted to eat here today and had the weirdest experience with the shift lead. Explained it was…read moremy first time trying them to let him know that I would need them making my selection. The restaurant was pretty slow. I was the only person in line and there were a few folks dining in. I wanted just a small bite so I opted for a kids portion, when it got to the toppings I wanted 4 toppings instead of 3. The person was adamant about my order only coming with 3 which is no problem I requested to purchase the additional topping. He informed that I couldn't buy toppings so essentially I just couldn't have it. I made the comment of like well I think you could decide to give me the additional topping if there is no price for it and he goes only if you give us 5 stars. Ummm... that doesn't sit well with me, you're only willing if I give an inaccurate review of my experience. I opted to try cava at another time when purchasing a large bowl made sense for me but I really think some better training for someone who is potentially in management would be helpful. 100% align with company policy but fishing for positive reviews while not being customer focused is it's. Also, Cava should have an option for people to purchase additional items if they want more than what's allotted.

Falafelji

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This is one of my go to places during my lunch hour because the food is always fresh and delicious…read more I'll place the order online. I'll get there within 20 minutes and it's ready. The place is always clean and the guys behind the counter are always friendly.

Mezze platter and chicken and beef swarma plates. Fresh cucumber salad and stuffed grape leaves…read more Friendly service. Full of flavor! Decent prices and servings

Falafel Makers

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Ok, so I firmly believe this is what keeps Us all a float....small business.....so I thought id try…read moresomething different...the lady behind the counter was warm, inviting and wonderful. ....she had me try something with chickpea and something else....pretty good! That made me order the Beef Schawarma..... She had me taste this drink which was a lemonade and mixture of something else.....wow that was truly refreshing ! Which made me do this review........go for this drink alone and try the food..... Found this in the food center of the HIP mall??

I tried Falafel Makers for the first time the other day, and it was honestly just okay…read more This quick service restaurant is located in the HIP (Harlem Irving plaza mall) in the food court. The workers are very friendly and provided good service, but the food itself is just kind of bland compared to other Mediterranean restaurants I tried. They also only have wraps, no pitas if you want a sandwich. Overall, it's an okay place to get a quick service lunch in the mall, but don't expect something like Pita Inn.

Grill & Shawarma House

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First time trying! I got the chicken and beef shawarma combination entree. The chicken & beef were…read moreboth outstanding. The rice is soooo good too. Loved everything about it. No complaints. I will be back! I didn't dine in but plenty of seating in the restaurant and the food came out quickly.

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