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

Petra Falafel - The seating area - Falafel Near Me - Forest Park, Illinois

Ordered to-go and did not get all of my items, which was a bummer. Did not take too long to get my food 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. [[HIGHLIGHT]]There are tables if you wish to eat at their restaurant.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

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Keep giving this place another try but today was the last time. Order was wrong as usual. The pita was stale and cold. Nothing was fresh. Falafel was burnt, cold and greasy. Two tablespoons of tiny dried Chicken shawarma for the plate- the rest was cold rice. Flavorless hummus. I was hungry and quickly lost my appetite. Ended up throwing it away and made some eggs later. Major bummer. Not going back. read more

Petra Falafel is one of the best Mediterranean restaurants in this area. They are very popular for take out but also have a dine in option with several tables. The restaurant is cute and cozy. It's family owned and run. They have a decent menu with appetizers, salads, plates, and pita pockets. Everything is very reasonably priced. I highly recommend the falafel - probably one of the best I've had. I ordered the combo platter, which had chicken, Kafta, and beef. The portion size is very generous. I preferred the kafta and chicken over the beef. I appreciate that the platters are served with salad and pita bread. And, I love their white garlic sauce. I would like to note that their baklava is the best I've ever had. It's perfectly flaky in layers and not too sweet!! I would stop by just to pick up their baklava! read more

Petra Falafel - a plate of food on a table - Falafel Near Me - Forest Park, Illinois

I stopped by this place for a quick lunch during work week. I got their falafel sandwich and baklava. I thought the falafel sandwich was pretty good, but it was a bit small and I was still a little hungry. I would have liked a little more filling. If you are starving, this sandwich alone will definitely not be enough. The baklava was very good. read more

Petra Falafel - Baklava - Falafel Near Me - Forest Park, Illinois

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I'm very confused by the good reviews. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It has a dining room, but this is more of a fast food takeout.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] When we dined in, we got an appetizer, but I had to ask the server for plates. I later had to ask for water as well (none were automatically served). The food was pretty gross. I eat a lot of kafta, and this was probably my least favorite. The flavor was so bland, greasy, and all I tasted was the thick wrap. The chicken shawarma plate was served with a tiny burnt onion, small burnt tomatoe and burnt pepper- you couldn't eat the veggies. The waters came in styrofoam cups which are horrible for children as they're flimsy, light, no lid- and all 3 of my children ended up spilling. The server never came to check on us, so I ended up asking to pay at the front counter. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The bathrooms are utterly disgusting- there's mold on the garbage and on the trim, it smelled terrible and there was no soap.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]There was no music playing, and the person at the counter was watching a video on his phone and we could hear everything.. we could also hear all conversations in the kitchen.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]There def should be some music playing at a dine in restaurant.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]There were posters all over the windows of Petra, but they were tattered and hung up with scotch tape that was falling off.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Overall, this isn't a place I would come back to. read more

Food was delicious, order two sandwiches - falafel and chicken shewerma. Young lady's were very welcoming and everything was made fresh. Great customer service. Will definitely be coming back to have a platter, [[HIGHLIGHT]]ambiance was very retro.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Thank you! read more

I've had the shawarma here and enjoyed the food. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Nice place to meet someone form lunch or dinner.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Beautiful interior: historic hardwood floors and dark wood panel walls.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Menu is somewhat limited, but offers standard fare: falafel, dolma, tabouleh, chicken and beef shawarma, kibbeh, etc. [[HIGHLIGHT]]We were the only ones not doing takeout on a quiet Sunday afternoon, so our group of 8 adults and 3 kids had the place to itself.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] They seemed not to be accustomed to having bigger groups or eat-in customers, but did well enough with service. Food was good, but not great. read more

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The food at Petra Falafel is always fresh and delicious. it has the best hummus and great falafel sandwiches!

This is my go-to place for Middle Eastern food. I've tried just about everything there, and my favorites are the falafel and the chicken shawerma. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The inside is cute, and the people are nice.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

The food is consistently delicious at Petra. I've picked up trays for my family before, and everyone loved it! I love their baba ghanoush and hummus, which are clearly freshly made in house. The tahini has a perfect nuttiness to it. I mix it in with the rice and it's so yummy! I usually don't like chicken bc it's always dry, but I love the chicken kabobs at Petra. They're never dry and quite flavorful. You can't go wrong with this place! read more

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We order delivery from here. They make the freshest falafel I've ever had. I think the prices are decent for the quantity and quality as well. I live about 2.5 miles away and they can usually get my meal to me in 30-40 minutes, hot. read more

Dear Vansa K., I'm sorry Uber Eats screwed up our order and gave me your food. I tried to give it back, but Uber Eats only cared about refunding me and leaving me with your order. Thankfully, you have good taste! You ordered enough food for a great sampling-- the hummus was fresh and divine, the combo platter had delicious kafta and rice. I hope maybe you got to enjoy the food I ordered from Katy's Dumplings. Looking forward to enjoying more of Petra's offerings on purpose next time! read more

Top highlight: Best Baklava I've had. Not too sweet, just perfect. Highly recommend you order one before leaving. Ordered a chicken shawarma platter and it was good but wish the chicken had a little more sauce and slightly more flavor. Had better in other locations but I was craving Mediterranean and this satisfied by cravings. The owner was really sweet, funny, and helpful. Worth checking the place out for decent price. They do give you a lot so they don't skimp out on food. You'll leave full. read more

Petra Falafel is my favorite Middle Eastern restaurant in the area. Their chicken shawarma platter is a masterpiece, and the garlic, jalapeno, and habanero sauces are very tasty, be sure to order extras! Their portions are generous, often leaving me with leftovers for at least another full meal. The staff is always friendly and attentive, making the whole experience even better. We always order for pick up, but they do have a dining area and I believe they are also BYOB. Next time you are craving falafel, baba ghanoush or shawarma give Petra Falafel a try - you will not be disappointed! read more

Petra Falafel is a small, neighborhood restaurant in Forest Park with a simple menu of Mediterranean eats. The inside was beautifully decorated with oriental furnishings and pictures of Petra in Jordan. The Mezze Platter was a beautifully arranged plate with hummus, baba ghanoush, tabbouleh, 3 dolmas, and 4 crispy, freshly-fried falafels served with pita on the side. I also tried the fattoush salad, made with lettuce and tomatoes tossed in a sumac vinaigrette, and the chicken kebab, made of juicy grilled chicken breast topped with garlic sauce. The portion sizes here were on the small side, but the flavors and the value were just right! read more

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The problem with yelp reviews is that it relies on people and let's face it : people are unreliable and they are super unreliable when they don't know what the food is supposed to taste like. Middle eastern food is flavorful. Kebab is NOT supposed to taste like something you would order at your local hospital that is extremely bland and doesn't have an ounce of flavor. Kebab is supposed to be GRILLED. This is by far the worst middle eastern restaurant ever !! I have tried their dish labeled as "kebab" , their kefta, their chicken, their rice, their hummus, their falafel and "herbed fries" over two visits. The only good thing on this menu is the hummus. The hummus was pretty good. I would have given this place 2 stars but the fact that they gave me 5 olives, charged me $1 for it the fact that the herbed fries actually had no herbs or even the side salad had any flavor made me drop it back to the 1 star. My fellow yelpers, whoever thinks this is good, I implore you to go try a legit middle eastern restaurant and if you can't please don't call this Middle Eastern or give it good reviews. This place is like an apple pie but it's just dough dabbed with an apple scent. This place should just make and sell hummus and then think really hard about renaming the place because even your falafel was not good. In conclusion, go eat somewhere else and don't let these good reviews fool you. read more

We have ordered takeout a couple from Petra Falafel and enjoyed it but I'm writing this review for a great experience we had with their catering. We got a variety of dishes to try, all sorts of grilled meats, rice, hummus, baba ganoush, falafels, and all types of salads. My guests had such great feedback on the food! I got asked multiple times where it came from. In particular, people loved the falafel, the kafta, and the Jerusalem salad but everything I tried was delicious. I also appreciated the customer service. They offered delivery and all the food arrived well packaged and punctual. I wish it had gotten more photos of the food because it was plated so nicely but it was demolished pretty quickly. My one piece of advice is to be careful about over ordering, the portion sizes are very generous but for a big group I'd much rather have leftovers than not enough. read more

Petra Falafel - Catering order of a mixed Grilled Combo Tray - Falafel Near Me - Forest Park, Illinois

This is a small family owned restaurant, nothing extravagant. I've been here a couple of times. I ordered the chicken Shawarma entrée, both times were good. Can't speak for the other items. Great service as well . I will recommend and return to this restaurant. read more

For takeout or eating in, prepare for a yummy experience. Would only be improved by outdoor seating, or a larger indoor space.

Excellent food. Prefer to order the falafel and chicken shawarma. Food is always quick to be prepared. When I order by phone or app, it's ready within 10 minutes or less. Have eaten here over 10 times. I will continue to come back for a casual dinner or to pick up for lunch. read more

We were craving some Mediterranean food and I kept seeing people rave about this place on the Facebook group, Take Out 25. We ordered baba ganoush and hummus, as well as grape leaves for our appetizers. I thought both dips were delicious. The pita was perfect! My fiancé ordered the grape leaves as I'm not a big fan of them. He said they were ok. I got the chicken shawarma dinner that cake with rice and salad. The meat could have been juicer and there was a lottttt of rice. But the garlic sauce that comes with it. Mmmmmmmm mmmmmm good! I will order extra of those next time. My fiancé got the chicken shawarma wrap and he loved it! We'll be back! read more

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Best hummus in town. Best Middle Eastern food in the neighborhood. I love all of their plates. Their hummus has spoiled me from buying it at the grocery store. Price point is good. You can't go wrong. Treat yourself to this place. You won't regret it. read more

I love this place. They have amazing food, great prices and the employees have always been very kind. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The atmosphere is very cozy[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] and I have recommended countless people to give them a try! read more

We thought the hummus, the kebabs, and the falafel were terrific. Lots of flavor, better than expected and generous portions. The baklava was fine but not special. Worth another visit. read more

Had a great dinner last night! Be sure to specify if you want small or large portions of the appetizers... we weren't asked when we placed the order and we paid for & received large portions. Luckily they made a great breakfast - but just a heads up! Falafel was some of the best I've ever had in Chicago! Crispy on the outside and moist inside. The hummus flavor and presentation was outstanding! We still have half a large order in the fridge. We ordered the chicken schwarma sandwiches and they're definitely different than most schwarma but still tasty! You just can't be expecting what you'd get at like Jerusalem Cafe. Very flavorful, good citrus flavor and love the "pita wrap". read more

Petra Falafel - Large Hummus - Falafel Near Me - Forest Park, Illinois

What an authentic little gem we found today! Everything was cooked from scratch to order by the family from Jordan. Beef kebab was very tasty, chicken kebab very juicy, and kafta had a delicious flavor. Vegetables were fresh and rice cooked to perfection. At the end of the meal , we were presented with a complimentary dessert - baklava. I highly recommend this restaurant and cannot wait to come back to try their shawarma. read more

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We ordered the combination plate, beef kabob dinner and chicken fatoush salad. The taste was not good for the chicken on the salad, which only included lettuce and the portion sizes were small for the entree plates. Everything cost extra from the sauce to the pickles and olives. Will not go back.and confused with the high rating read more

Food is good. Fast service. Very friendly staff. They give you a good portion for the money. I've eaten from there many times and the food is Always consistent I've never been disappointed with anything from start to finish. Highly recommend read more

Petra Falafel has excellent falafel and chicken shawerma. I am a big fan of their food and highly recommend them for takeout or delivery. I am meaning to eat there in person soon. read more

It was my first experience with them and their food is amazing! The owner and his staff are such good people! They offered me a discount when I had told them that I had ordered off their menus that I had gotten in the mail and the prices were different. He explained to me that they began 6 years ago and the prices were different. Also, because of Covid, the price of meat had gone up and that's why the prices were a little higher. Really not a big deal! It was absolutely scrumptious and I cannot wait to order again! Highly HIGHLY recommend! read more

Didn't look like much at first glance, but I was very surprised at how good the food was. highly recommend for everyone. Will definitely come back within the next week. read more

Petra Falafel - Chicken Shawerma Platter, Hummus, Grape Leaves, Pita bread - Falafel Near Me - Forest Park, Illinois

We had this restaurant for take out. The process went smoothly. We had the chicken shawarma meal which was good with delicious rice. The falafel was done well and the beef was enjoyed. The hummus was delicious! The only thing I wish that the cucumber salad on the side of the falafel came with the shawarma dinner, too. I would recommend this place. read more

We have Petra Falafel once a week - the hummus & falafel sandwiches are SO GOOD. The food is fresh & incredibly flavorful. And the people who own & work at Petra are very nice. I'd absolutely recommend it!! read more

Very nice people. Meal quickly prepared. Outstanding hummus and pita. Beef shawarma and rice on the platter had no flavor. Salad was bland. Roasted veggies were good, only because they were super spicy. Our kids had the beef kabob and combo platters. They liked theirs. Maybe I just ordered poorly. My husband had the chicken shawarma sandwich which was okay. The fries he got with it which were inedible. I'm really hoping this is a temporary situation and that their quality is typically much better. It was our first visit and I so want to support local places. read more

Friendly & welcoming staff, very bright & tidy space and delicious fresh food! The lentil soup was amazing. Had the vegetarian grape leaves too and they were the perfect portion size and expertly prepared. Very fresh! Plenty of soda options. I appreciated the cans of Diet Coke. Reasonable prices. Easy street parking or there are a few nearby lots. I'll definitely return for more. read more

Cute little place for a quick bite. Food is fresh and good. Falafel was full of flavor and followed by sesame dressing. Kefta was seasoned good. Try meze with baba ganush and hummus. Meze plate is enough food for one. Prices are ok for a food you get. They use healy ingredients so it is better to have lunch here than in some fast food deep fried restaurants. read more

Petra Falafel - Quick lunchtime - Falafel Near Me - Forest Park, Illinois

Nice people and good service, but I don't care for the hummus or baba ganoush, my gauge for all Mediterranean restaurants.

Ordered for takeout, and one meal was forgotten. We went back to grab it and they gave us some baklava, which was kind of them. They offered to deliver it as well. Family run, great food, will go back! read more