With limited time for dinner and uncertainty/disagreement about what we were in the mood for, this was such a good choice. What are the odds one restaurant can be a serious contender for the best falafel AND the best burgers in town? I've been there a few times and I'm in love with the ka'ak patty melt burger. Its not only melted cheese and grilled onions. It's bacon and jalapeño and za'ater mayonnaise. And it's two burgers. Served on an amazing sesame loaf. We split it and fries (also delicious with za'atar seasoning) and that was plenty.. But the onion burger is also pretty great. And you have to get the falafel. Also the onion rings. You may want to skip lunch. Ragadan has quickly become one of the first places I think of when we consider picking up dinner somewhere. We've eaten in, but there's not a lot of ambience. And even though they have a powerful space heater, the dining area is kind of cold in the winter. The kitchen is open though, so you end up interacting with the friendly staff. It's a bonus to see how clean they keep the kitchen. read more

See all

I had Ragadan saved for so long, as a burger guy, you know that took some will power and every time I wanted to come, they were either closed or we were too far away. But on this day, everything aligned, we picked up some cupcakes from Jennivee's and I found street parking in one minute flat and walked over here. It's a nice and inviting space and there's a lot going on in here with the owners being from Jordan, the chefs being Mexican, the burgers being Oklahoma style smash burgers. We were talking to this dude with his girl and he was from Italy and he seemed to have enjoyed his burger as well. We get double protein as much as possible as we're big eaters and the double pattie OK smash cheeseburger was excellent. The Ragadan salad was different with kale and it was pretty good (bright, fresh, and colorful) with extra kefta beef patties. We also smuggled in those Jennivee's cupcakes and ate them after our peaceful meal here in Uptown, which happens to be my old hood. I still remember eating sardines for dinner, just like Biggie. :) read more

See all

The burger was magical, perfect spiced and covered in grilled onions. Can't wait to try other things.

This is a local mom and pop shop. Everyone should try a burger here. It's in my top 5 for burgers in chicago. There's like 3 tables and some counter seats. You order at the counter and clean up after yourself. The burger flavor is just so good and they have Arabic spins on sauces, smoothies, etc. please supper this small business! All the onion rings are seasoned so well read more

Really good and FRESH! Service is quick and seating is limited. Very cozy and nice to eat with friends. Not too loud

Everything was delicious! One of the best burgers I've ever had and the chicken sandwich with their house made bread was delicious. We also tried the baklava shake - which was also really good. There is limited searing inside, so might be best to take to go or stop by with just one other person so you have somewhere to sit. They are relatively quick with food. Definitely worth coming in to eat! read more

See all

I recently moved back to uptown after 5 years away from the neighborhood and have been trying lots of the newer restaurants that have appeared in the meantime. Ragadan is a standout one-of-a-kind restaurant with a unique take on falafel sandwiches and an impressive burger menu as well. The falafel sandwiches are the best I've ever had anywhere. Their fries & onion rings are perfect too. Highly recommended. read more

I heard Ragadan mentioned on WBEZ during an interview of the author of the Burger Bible. She was sharing her favorite burger places in Chicago and Ragadan was among them. I planned a visit with two friends who were delighted to try a new place. The food is delicious. I ordered the famous Oklahoma Onion burger (side of green chile sauce), fries, and a pistachio shake. All were great! We went for lunch. Service and ambiance are friendly and casual. Order at the counter and take a seat. The restaurant has relatively few tables so you might plan for being slightly off prime time. Today I learned that they have a pizza place - A Pizza Pie - just a bit farther up the block. Looking forward to trying it. read more

Sorry I wanted to love it after hearing so many good things but it just was not that good and really expensive. 2 Oklahoma onion burgers, 1 order of fries, and a milkshake cost us $40. The burgers were.... fine. The fries were good but they don't give you much, the baklava milkshake which people claimed was one of the best milkshakes in the city was downright kind of gross. It was super overly sweet and whatever ice cream they used tasted cheap.... plus it's $13. Unfortunately hard pass for me and my fiance. read more

Solid burger, but honestly I was disappointed considering all the hype. Ragadan has been steadily creeping up the charts and lists for top burgers in the city. The reality is they are a solid small business owned by friendly locals. The onion rings are reminiscent of Portillo's and were the best item we tried. The Blueberry Halawa Milkshake looks nice, but the flavor was subtle aside from the toppings. I might be open to revisiting to support, but sadly can't say this is a top 20 burger. Go with tempered expectations as you support local business. read more

Ragadan - Blueberry Halawa Milkshake - vanilla ice cream, blueberry halawa compote and candied pistachio - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

I fell for the hype about this place but was pretty much let down. I live 2 minutes from here. My falafel was cold. It wasn't ver y good tasting at all. We bought like 4 sauces and they were ok. The burger was a skinny joke not worth the money. It tasted ok but was so small and skinny and over priced. The fries and onion rings were small amounts and fairly good. Honestly nothing warranted the cost. Hype is hype but reality is real. read more

Overall thoughts: Ragadan is a small Jordanian-American fusion restaurant that I've been wanting to try for awhile, and I'm happy to say that it was fire. If I lived closer, I would love to come here more regularly to try more of the menu. The owners/staff are sweet and friendly, and the food came out quickly after ordering at the counter. The prices are also great-- you can get most sandwiches / wraps for under $10, and they're pretty filling. The ambience is casual and comfortable, and the space is decorated nicely and aesthetically. Food I tried: - Falafel Ka'ak (4.5/5): Excellent falafel, not dry at all. The ka'ak was warm and had light hints of sesame flavor. The sandwich had a great ratio of sauces to ingredients. - Kefta Burger with fries (4.6/5): A wonderful, simple burger with a Middle Eastern flair. The kefta patty was super flavorful and juicy. The fries were also seriously crispy and tasted great. -- Price (relative to peers): 4.6/5 Food: 4.5/5 Ambience: 4.7/5 Service: 4.4/5 Overall Value: 4.5/5 read more

See all

Addictingly good fare for very reasonable prices. Over the course of many visits to this friendly FAMILY-OWNED and -OPERATED enterprise, I have had the pleasure of trying the falafel wrap, the fries, the onion rings, the yogurt-marinated chicken sandwich, and some of their baklava products (including the OG baklava and the baklava shake). I can assure you that ALL are GREAT. The one downside is that because of how busy they get, you will end up waiting quite a bit (~15 mins.) for your food if you order at the restaurant. The seating inside is also not super comfy. Ragadan is IDEAL for take-out, however. Grab a wrap and head out to nearby Montrose Point for some skyline views! What's not to love? read more

Finally got to drop by for burgers at Ragadan and wasn't disappointed! Burgers were good and well seasoned. Greasy, meaty, and savory as expected from a good burger. I got the patty melt x ka'ak burger which was delicious! The Oklahoma burger was really good with the sweet onions. I loved their French fries the most I think, just because it's crispy and flavorful. read more

See all

Just got Ragadan to go and it absolutely blew me away. I got the Double Dan burger, fries with Maria's combo sauce, and my daughter went for a chocolate shake. Every part of the order was outstanding. The Double Dan is legitimately a top-tier burger. Way better than Small Cheval or Shake Shack. Just a killer mix of flavor, texture, and execution. The fries were solid, the combo sauce is money, and the shake vanished in about two minutes. The whole menu looks great, and the staff couldn't have been friendlier or faster. No attitude, just great food and people. I'll be back soon. This place is a real hidden gem. read more

Excellent food. Flavors I hadn't tried before and they were excellent and the quality was fantastic as well.

Forgot those hipster places that charge $28 for a smash burger. I got their Oklahoma onion burger and it was one of the best I've ever had. Don't sleep on the fries, either. They get the perfect creamy on the inside, crispy on the outside balance. Definitely get the zatar mayo to dip them in. read more

I ordered a Falafel Ka'ak, Eggplant & Roasted Red Pepper and Baklava Classic on my way home from a doctor's appointment (I'd been fasting for bloodwork to be drawn). It took me 20 minutes to get home, so I wasn't sure how that would affect my order. It was all so delicious! The bread on the ka'ak blew me away, the fillings were equally yummy. The eggplant was good... the baklava (and I'm someone who has been eating baklava since the late 1970s) was literally the best I've ever had. Many thanks to everyone there! I'll make ordering from here a tradition when walking by. :-) read more

I've had delivery from here a few times,and it was great, but I actually went to the restaurant and tried the patty melt. It was one of the best burgers I've ever had. They are super nice, and service was really fast. The restaurant doesn't have a huge dining area, but it's clean, and I really only needed a shame-curtain, to hide behind as I crammed that burger into my face hole. read more

Amazing food. Not much space. The ragadan salad was insane. So many ingredients. I got the Oklahoma onion burger which was perfectly misshapen and lots of flavor. Wife got the stuffed falafel sandwich which competed with my burger. Pistachio shake was a nice way to top it off. read more

See all

Gotta give kudos where kudos are due and they're due big time at Ragadan. I was in the mood for a burger and recalled reading about this place a few months ago. As well, I had heard the buzz in the neighborhood about Ragadan's burgers. Being in the mood for a good burger and it being right in my neighborhood it was convenient. In a neighborhood like Uptown with the eclectic fare and league of nations culture we are fortunate enough to have here there aren't many truly great burger spots. Upon entering I was greeted with warmth by Dan the owner, who by the way has a great hairdo, and like I, shaves his head. He was welcoming and explained his menu really well when I had a slew of questions for him. He also shared a bit of his personal journey about how he got to Chicago. Dan is a true Midwestern guy and fits right in the neighborhood. What I thought would be a burger joint was far more than that. Dan, a 1st generation Jordanian-American, has a nice menu of Middle Eastern fare, Jordanian street food to be exact. It was a pleasant surprise as I am a huge fan of Middle Eastern street food. His menu is good size but not overwhelming. And believe me, It's ALL fresh and homemade. You even get to see him prepare your order from the counter. Like I said, Dan was very welcoming from the get-go and open about his journey in this business. He even shared where he gets certain items and baked goods as he only likes fresh ingredients and bakery goods like pita that stand up to his expectations. After a little menu banter and his descriptions of traditional Jordanian street food I opted out of the burger and went with the Hardboiled Egg 'N Cheese Sandwich on a fresh ka'ak sesame roll with Dans famous zatar mayo and a dash of red chili topped with diced onion and mini Middle Eastern pickle slices, which are different than the traditional you usually get. This sandwich was bomb! Light and filling with unique flavors waking up my taste buds. The sesame roll was as fresh and soft as you get with a slightly flakey crust. A truly great traditional sandwich. I added a side of three on-the-spot very freshly made falafels accompanied by a side of homemade hummus and it was a treat that replaced standard fare french fries I normally get. What a great meal! I was full for sure, but well, me being me, I couldn't stop myself from trying the "Single Dan" Burger. A 5th lb. patty on a toasted Turano Bun topped with shoor pickles, ketchup, mustard and zatr mayo, and of course with a slice of cheese. Let me tell you for an 8 buck burger freshly made in front of you, the 5th lb. "Single Dan" is righteous and filling. The ingredients meld together perfectly, it's all in the sauce. A really exciting bonus is watching Dan prepare your meal in front of you. The preparation, execution, and love you see him put into his food tells his story about the trained culinary perfectionist he is. A true chef who knows his way around ingredients, preparation and presentation. The decor is warm and inviting in a bright, airy room. There's a nice sized counter with classic brushed aluminum chairs in a big picture window looking out onto Broadway and the urban landscape. He also has attractive table seating for about 8-10 people. The walls are decorated with beautiful plants. All in all Ramadan is super comfy. It's people like Dan and places like Ragadan that keep Uptown a viable, eclectic community. It's these kind of folks that keep the neighborhood growing and a unique urban landscape. He keeps this neighborhood alive. You have to stop in and show Dan some Uptown love. I have a feeling Dan and Ramadan will be around for a long time to come. I know I'll be back! read more

See all

I'm sorry to say that I was also underwhelmed recently at Ragadan with my order of falafel ka'ak. Mostly because of the lack of flavor, to say the least it was underwhelming. Also, they substituted a pita with average tasting sesame seed bread that didn't seem all that fresh. Another thing I didn't like was the way they combine all the ingredients together - the hummus, pickle, tomato, tahini, and parsley, one big sloppy mess! If they had put the tahini and hummus on the side, it would've seemed more like a meal and I would have enjoyed it much more. Won't be returning anytime soon! read more

Ragadan - Falafel Ka'ak - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came here for a quick falafel salad. This is one of the top Falafel spots in the city!!! Fried fresh, crispy on the outside, soft (but not mushy) on the inside. Paired with some excellent hummus. Also, I loved that the salad was on a bed of kale! I can't wait to go back and have more falafel! read more

I come here just for the baklava milkshakes!! Service is always sooo friendly Small hole in the wall restaurant that is cozy and has great food and the best shakes!! I tried the pistachio and asked to add balaclava pieces in it and was also amazing !! read more

Ragadan - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Oh. My. God. One of, if not the best, burger lunches I've ever had. The burger I ordered was the Oklahoma Onion Burger. Their in house mayo pairs so well with the beef, onions and sesame bun and really elevates it to another level. I could have maybe added a second patty, because the burger essentially vanished after I had my first bite. I also had their French fries and Blueberry Halawa milkshake. The fries are those really good nearly orange crispy type fries, and the milkshake was very good. The staff was also extremely kind and friendly. I can't wait to return and try the other items on the menu. read more

When you go to a restaurant with no frills or ambience, no embellishments or bells and whistles, they better have some straight forward, genuine, unequivocal great food! Ragadan, here in Uptown had exactly that and more; believe me, they didn't disappoint. My wife and I came for their (famous) Oklahoma Cheeseburger, fries and (of course) a wedge of Baklava. Let me start with the burger: It was so simple, it defies logic how that little sandwich packed more flavor, more gusto, more wallop than just about anything I've ever had. It was damn GOOD. Their french fries were cooked perfectly, not at all oily and had a great crunch. We loved them. The Baklava we had here at Ragadan was as delicious as any I've had in Istanbul or McAlister Street In San Francisco. I'm saying , this small quaint diner is pumping out some righteous vittles. You absolutely know, I'll be coming back. read more

This is a takeout place with a few places to sit. We ordered straight takeout, our order was ready at the time they promised which was awesome. The food was so good, I am going to dream about the Ok onion burger for weeks. I have had Red Hot Ranch and other top spots in the city but this burger has changed my life. My spouse had the chicken sandwich which was excellent. We shared the onion rings and they were on point, we got the ranch and the mayo sauce which felt like they were mixed and prepared with so much love based on how good they were. This place is a win. read more

I know three stars seems low. Blame Falafel & Grill for spoiling me. I'm all for "street food"--their description, but these aren't street food prices. The stuffed pita was ok though the caramelized onions threw me off--a nice addition. This is Jordanian-style falafel; things are done differently. The pita wasn't as hearty as I'm used to which made the sandwich difficult to hold together without cracking about halfway through. The little blueberry-Halawa Hand Pie (is "pie" translated? it was a flattened greasy fritter) seemed more like greasy dough with a subtle--very subtle--blueberry taste. Uptown needs this neighborhood café to survive, so go visit and see what all the fuss is about. read more

Ragadan - Fries, stuffed pita, can of pop, and a hand pie, $19.64, inc. tax - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Got the onion burger and it did not disappoint. Owner was super chill and explained what their signature burger was. The burger was comparable to the quality you'd get at like Red Hot Ranch. Also BYOB which is clutch. Not crowded at all either. read more

Fantastic falafel, milkshakes are awesome and worth a stop for the Oklahoma style burger alone. Very nice people too. Will return!

First-time visitors after reading a great review in the Tribune. The falafel ka'ak sandwich, which has uniquely Jordanian elements to it like the sesame toasted bun it's in, was delicious: great falafel and a very tasty parsley sauce. The accompanying fries were cooked perfect. The Ragadan salad with very fresh ingredients was a healthy and refreshing addition: thinly cut lettuce and kale, chopped tomatoes, sliced cucumbers, green bell pepper, celery, green olives, hot pepper, feta and sesame seeds. The menu is a mix between American diner foods and Jordanian equivalents. For dessert, there's for instance your classic milkshake flavors, but there's also baklava shake. They sold a fried hand pie, but with blueberry and halwa filling, which was great. read more

Ragadan - From left: Falafel Ka'ak sandwich with toasted sesame bun, fries, blueberry and halwa hand pie, Ragadan salad. - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Got the falafel pocket, fries, and Apple baklava. Everything was good. Service was quick. Portion sizes are just right.

3.75 - Stopped in randomly craving some middle eastern food. Ragadan had very warm and friendly service, even though they were busy prepping other orders they made sure to check in with us to welcome us in. The portions were a good size and value and the food came out quickly. Being middle eastern myself I grew up with some variations of many of the menu offerings so admittedly the bar might be a bit higher for me. Eggplant Sandwich - The fried eggplant slices were plentiful and the hummus was nice and creamy. I could see the chickpeas soaking in the back so I had a feeling the hummus was good. This was very much like a riff on a dish called "Sabich" (Sa-Beech / pronounce the 'ch' like you got something stuck in your throat :P ) In the original dish there is a mango chutney called amba. Along with the pickles it tends to help to balance out the fried eggplant and creamy hummus. I found myself kinda looking for a bit of that flavor and more pickled veggie texture (like shredded cabbage) and acid here. Stuffed Falafel Pita - The tastiest of the items we had. Admittedly, I only had one bite since it was my partners dish, but the falafel was nice and crispy and the sauce inside the pita was herbaceous and tangy. Ragadan Salad - The salad composition itself was pretty good, with fun and interesting components like pickled turnips and olives. However the herb dressing included along side felt like somewhat of an afterthought. It lacked any salt or acid to elevate the greens. The feta was also very mild in flavor so it didn't really help round things out. I will say that we didn't get any of the additional toppings on our salad which may have brought more of those flavors to the party. Baklava - Nice flaky crispy texture but could do with a touch more sugar syrup as it felt a bit dry in the interior. Kind of a delicate balance to get with the syrup as I did enjoy that it wasn't cloyingly sweet as many baklava tend to be. I know that perhaps my tastebuds might be used to certain flavors more than other clientele so these milder flavors may be a conscious decisions from the chef. For my taste, I would say that just upping some of the lemon, garlic and salt in several spots would likely elevate all the savory dishes we had (most notably that dressing). As this is in my hood I look forward to coming back and trying the rest of the dishes. read more

Famous Chicago Chef doing great Satisfying meals and generous portions. lNo brainer read more

Really good. Different from what I'm used to as a Los Angeles based Armenian ! But that's the beauty of it. A super midwestern take on our favorites. Caramelized onions and pickles (no, not picked as in pickled turnips ... just actual pickles!) and parsley sauce and a good blob of hummus on fresh crisp falafel ... yes please! My husband had the chicken pita and it was also delicious and well put together. The baklava was good but needed a lil more juice but ... it was not soggy which is always a plus. Recommend this sweet little spot! read more

See all

Ragadan is an adorable family-owned falafel restaurant located right on Broadway in Uptown. It's a small restaurant but they have seating or you can take it to go. Their prices are affordable, the food is freshly made, and they give big servings! I ordered the falafel pocket plus two sauces, the red tahini ranch side and parsley side sauce. The falafel pocket has the crispy falafel lining the bottom, flavorful tabouli, and veggies, plus the extra sauces make it that much better. I highly recommend checking it out! read more

See all

I cannot recommend Ragadan enough: -The service is super friendly and efficient (I love that you can fully see the kitchen and watch them make your food too) -The restaurant itself is small on the inside but in a very charming way with fun seating options -And the food is simply incredible, especially for the price. I've had the Ramadan salad, the Grilled Chicken Pita and the Lentil Soup from here and all have blown me away. The Ramadan salad is a super nice refreshing compliment to any of their dishes. The grilled chicken pita is absolutely nest level with the caramelized sumac onions and combination of hummus, tahini and parsley sauce makes for an amazing creamy texture in every bite. Lastly the Lentil soup is everything you want, it's creamy and earthy with perfect fish of olive oil, I dip my sandwich in it too. I love this place and will continue to explore the rest of their menu! read more

Ragadan - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

I was so excited to try this place, but it left me extremely underwhelmed and a little irritated--I'm inclined to give 2 stars (below average) because a cup of water costs 50 cents. Water. In a cup. From a faucet. And we spent like $50, including on some bottled sparkling water. Ketchup, mustard, and all other condiment sides are also all extra charges. The service was fine, the space is small but clean, and the portion sizes are on the smaller side, which I appreciate. The shakes for example are reasonable sizes and not ungodly large like at many other places. The best thing we got was the basbousa shake (syrup soaked semolina cake pieces, candied orange, and almonds in vanilla ice cream). It was very tasty. The light orange flavor was quite nice. The falafel ka'ak was lacking in flavor for us. It was stuffed with falafel, hummus, pickle, tomato, tahini, and parsley sauce so it was unfortunate that it all doesn't result in something with more flavor. Each of the ingredients seemed under-seasoned or something. The "single dan" burger was nowhere near the high praise I've seen from other reviews. It's a pretty average burger, if a little on the small side. It can hit the spot if you're really in need of a burger I'm sure. The baklava shake tasted mostly like a cinnamon shake with bits of baklava that didn't really taste or feel like what I'd expect baklava to be in a shake. It was good, but not at all what I was expecting and really hoping for. It was not the ice-cream-blended-with-baklava sort of thing I was expecting. After the first few bites the cinnamon flavor became a bit clawing and one-dimensional. read more

See all

I just had the Oklahoma burger and I HAD TO WRITE A REVIEW! It was so good! It comes with a zatar mayonnaise that I had put on the side. So glad I did, because I then dipped my fries in it. Menu looks amazing and I will definitely go back! read more

Read about this place on one of the "best burgers in Chicago" list and it lives up to the hype. Had the Oklahoma Onion burger and it was to DIE for. In my opinion, like this one better than Au Cheval and the burger at Little Bad Wolf. For $10, you couldn't possibly get a better burger. Do it. Now. read more

Ragadan - Oklahoma Onion Burger - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois