With so many options in the C-H-I it's hard to pass up R-O-T-I but uh...somehow, some way, Yelp offers up delicious-ass hits like every single day. The Yelp app strikes again! Combine a place to visit that's been on my radar for a long time and the close proximity to a nearby hotel where a friend was staying, and I've got friends thanking me for the recommendations and now they all think I know all the cool places to eat. Which I do. Obviously. *adjusts shirt collar* Kiss-ups aside, Roti actually was tasty, fast and super efficient at handling the business flow. Consider the food comparable to Naf Naf, for all you west suburban outposters like myself. I selected the Chicken Roti Mediterranean plate, which were thin grilled strips of chicken, marinated and seasoned well, and it came with lemon-rice and three sides. They ended up being couscous (cooked perfectly), hummus- a bit creamier in consistency than I expected, but delicious anyway- and a little serving of feta cheese crumbles. Feta makes it all betta, and a little bit goes a long way. Just a few blocks away from Ogilvie and Union Stations, it's good for a quick lunch or a little something on the train home. read more

Consistently delicious. I do order the same thing every time, steak pita pocket with extra feta and extra olives. I enjoy enjoy this place. The lunchtime line moves nicely and escdcially considering the location (across the street from the Sears tower). I do enjoy this place for the occasional fast good meditteranian meal. read more

This is my new go to when it comes to lunch treat. It's calorically responsible, quick and they have their process DOWN. On top of that, the food is pretty delicious as well. They have pretty innovative ideas coming out of this place that I see will lead them to expand past their current couple of stores. read more

I wasn't that impressed with this place. Another Chipoltesque Mediterranean joint that was a little pricey for the quality of food. A unique feature about Roti that other Mediterranean places in the loop don't necessarily have as much of is a side spread. Roti has an extensive olive, goulash, and other side selection. In any event, there are much better choices for Mediterranean food in the loop. Might as well check it out once but no need after that. read more

Well, this place has only been open for a few days in this new location - you've got to keep your eyes peeled because it's hiding in the middle of a construction zone. I was lucky enough to find that they open for breakfast at this location (I think it's the only Roti that does breakfast) so I got a whole smattering of goodies to try them out and see how well they fare. I've heard someone say before that "Roti is the Chipotle of Mediterranean cuisine", but I disagree. Chipotle pretends to be Mexican food while getting none of the ingredients right except for cilantro (which is the worst ingredient in Mexican food, so who the hell cares). Roti may not be the most authentic Mediterranean food, but they try a lot harder and come a lot closer even if they don't quite get there. For breakfast, they made a steak-n-egg type of breakfast burrito, though it's made with pita. Although the pita is incredibly thin so it can be folded into a burrito shape, which seemed weird but tasted alright, so it was okay. Maybe the grilled onions, steak and eggs were a little heavy for breakfast - but I liked the taste... I also went with a bagel because it's a dollar - $1.50 if you're getting the cream cheese as well. That's pretty cheap for a bagel w/ shmear and unfortunately you get what you pay for. It was a bagel, I can't deny that, but it compared more with a bagel from Dunkin Donuts than a bagel at NYC Bagel deli about a block away. Also, the selection was rather pitiful - they only had plain, cinnamon raisin and wheat. Okay, if you offer bagels and you have no sesame, you're not really offering me a bagel. And who eats a WHEAT bagel?? *shudders* Lastly, I walked away with two muffin tops. The manager-type lady walking around checking on things at 7am when I came in let me know that I could have some of the muffin tops since they were from yesterday and they hadn't put out the fresh ones for the day yet. So I can't complain about them being less than perfect since I was warned they were a day old and they were also free. Nice that they have chocolate chip to go with berry and banana nut. I went with the first two (not a fan of nuts). The place will likely do well, as they are in the place where a mediterranean-type deli used to be, even if they aren't offering the most standard of dishes. I'm looking forward to coming back for hummus - just because it's the best way I know how to rate a middle-eastern restaurant. And maybe also try out their baba ghannoush. Yum, I hope! The staff is friendly, but it seems like some ingredients tend to sit on that grill for a while and get a little mushy. I'd rather have slightly mushy steak, though, than tough steak that takes an uncomfortably-long time to chew and swallow. I like the general layout with one long corridor leading to someone who takes your order, and the trail ends at the register near all the seating so nothing's going to traffic jam up the line. In conclusion, we'll just have to see how this place goes once people realize it's actually open. I'm just glad it's right next to the Tower so it's a new choice that will work for our damned 30-minute lunch breaks. read more

Had the chicken plate and loved it. I had the chicken roti with rice, lettuce, and hummus. The plate came with pita bread. All the flavors were great except for the hummus which I personally did not care for. It is usually really crowded during lunch but the line moves pretty fast. I will def be back! read more

Roti - Chicken roti plate with couscous, salad, hummus, and onions - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

So I said I'd be back and I did go back. I ordered the steak kebob in a whole wheat pita. I got through one very, very chewy piece of meat before I looked away from my computer screen (workin' lunch) to see blood all over the place. Not mine! The kebob was completely raw - and had only been seared, not cooked through. Yick. But the place still gets two stars because I ate all the other fixin's on the sandwich and they were delish. I'll go back. I just won't order the steak. read more

The food here is tasty, fresh, and delicious. I always get a pita sandwich or the chicken shish kebab plate. I have never had a bad experience here. The line can get long, but it moves pretty fast! If you work in the loop, you should definitely try it. read more

Roti, how I wanted to not just like you, but love you. Instead, I'm feeling rather indifferent. And that's just sad. I was amped to try this place, as it's another in a long line of middle eastern places I've recently discovered in the city. Walking in, the look and feel is very modern and chill - so, good first impression. The line set-up is such that you end up feeling pretty pressured to make a quick decision once you get to the front, and the staff add to that feeling as they push you along at warp speed. Alas, I ordered the Venetian - a happy lil' combo of couscous, chicken roti, hummus and baba ghannoush (though I opted for double hummus instead, cuz I'm not a big fan of the BG). My overall impression = eh. The chicken at I Dream of Falafel is way better, and the hummus from Pazzos is off the charts compared to this place. There are so many options for middle eastern fare in this area, that I can't justify returning here, when I can be enjoying my meal so much more at another location (just steps away). Like I said, I'm very sad about this discovery, but hey - it is, what it is. read more

This place gets super busy during lunch and it's hard to find a seat, so take this Middle Eastern yumminess to go! I did manage to get a seat, amazingly, with my mom and cousin. It was noisy and crowded so you wont want to stay long. You can pick whether you want a sandwich, plate, or salad - and I went for a falafel plate. I got roasted vegetables, feta, and couscous for my sides. For relatively fast food, everything was pretty fresh and well-made. The roasted vegetables were a great side and the falafel had really nice texture. Line moves quickly, so know what you want before you step up to the front! I just read below that somebody described this as Mediterranean Chipotle, which I think is pretty accurate, but don't we all love Chipotle? That's a compliment. I'll definitely come back and try some new combinations. read more

Oh here we go! If you're looking for quick Mediterranean grub, Roti is the place to go. I usually have to pass on this place because the lines are always ridiculously long, but I finally got a chance to experience lunch here and it was worth the wait. I got the pita sandwich with chicken and many other ingredients I don't know the name of....and it was outrageously good. I am definitely going to be returning to this place to try the kabobs cause those looked slamming too. Make sure you're ready to order, because the pressure builds with the long line and the many options you have to choose from. Overall Roti deserves a BOOM! read more

It was fine. The service was not great. They seemed very confused because I altered a menu item slightly. I wanted dish x with y on instead of z. They said that's dish a with b instead of c. Sure I said. Just make what i want - call it what you want. Well the three people making it (assembly line) were very confused. then when I tried to pay the check-out person was even more confused. I told her I was told I was having dish a with b instead of c - she said are you sure it's not dish x. I just wanted my xyzabc&%$£% lunch! The food once I got it and managed to pay was fine but I've had better in the loop. read more

I'm in love with Moroccan bowl w/chicken, double hummus, dill sauce and cucumber and tomato salad....yum! I love the hummus!!! I'm still upset that they moved the half off time from 2:30 to 3:30 :( but hey, that just made me change my lunchtime altogether, it's worth it. read more

The "new" Roti is in my office building, and boy am I happy about that. This Roti also has a long line at lunchtime, but it always seems to move along at a fairly quick pace. They gave you a side of Israeli couscous with your sandwiches at the Riverside location, but here you have to ask for it (it's still free). The furniture at this location is a bit more woodsy than at the other location. The food is still delicious and fresh here, though perhaps I am more accustomed to Roti nowadays so the "magic" is not quite there for me. Still, having Roti in my building will be really convenient during the long winter. read more

The food here is good, but way overpriced. I had a chicken shawarma salad that came to close $10. It was good, but not worth the price. I would suggest one of the breakfast items which are delicious at a fair price. It also includes a cup of coffee. So much better than a McDonalds breakfast. This place feels like the Chipotle of Mediterranean food. read more

Yummy! I finally got a chance to eat here when I was downtown on a weekday. I wish this place was open on the weekends so I could try more items on the menu. It basically is a Mediterranean version of Chipotle. Quick and tasty, and quite packed during the lunch hour. A bit pricey, but the food was good and you were in and out quickly so I'd say it was worth it. Definitely will try to come here again! It's the bf's favorite, and he loves going here when he doesn't bring his own lunch since it's right by the Sears Tower :o]. read more

With a few new locations downtown, Rōti is sure to quickly become (or because I'm not hip and wouldn't know) a trendy spot for lunch in the loop. When my colleagues and I stopped by on a Friday afternoon a few weeks ago, the line was out the door and extending into the patio area--and like my momma always told me, that, like a parking lot full of cars, is sure sign that you're somewhere good to eat. Rōti has traditional Mediterranean fare--kabobs, wraps and dinners--but like I Heart Falafel, serves customers in an assembly line, a la Chipotle. Perhaps I'll have to stop by Rōti a few more times before I'm comfortable with the offerings, but going through the line on a busy Friday afternoon was more stress than it should have been. Due completely to my own neuroses, I panicked and basically put everything on my sandwich. Good thing putting everything on my sandwich is much like putting everything on your burrito at Chipotle--glorious. read more

Yup. "Mediterranean fast food" is the best descriptor for this place. I'm not a big fast food fan to begin with, so it's no surprise that I wasn't a fan of Roti. I've been seeing these bags all over the Loop, so fellow Yelper/Coworker CWOW and I went to check it out. I opted for a chicken roti pita. First off, I was less than impressed with the quality of meat I got for the price. It tasted like fast-food chicken (not in the fake McD's way, but you know what I mean). As a first-timer, I felt overwhelmed by the Chipotle-esque process - did I want hummus? Onions? Cheese? Yes??!! I added two sauces, one was supposed to be their "very" spicy sauce, and the other was the yogurt/dill/cucumber. Um, I can handle spicy and this was not "very" in my book. Other toppings - feta, onions, cous cous - were just OK; nothing special here. Bottom line: I'd much rather hit up I Dream of Falafel or Benjyehuda for my Mediterranean/Middle Eastern food fix. read more

Great for large family at 5pm. We had a 5yr, 3yr and 1yr old with us and it was so easy. read more

Roti - Falafel rice bowl with all the sides - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Wow, might be one of the best lunch spots I've been to in a while. It's super quick, there's lots of variety (so many options to add to one bowl!), tastes great, and is reasonably priced. I tend to be way too conscious of making sure I eat my veggies when eating out, so this place is perfect! Lots of different options (cucumbers, kale, cabbage, etc etc) and super tasty! read more

If you like Chipotle, even though it's not authentic Mexican, you'll like Roti, even though it's not authentic Mediterranean. I mean, sure, it's not the best middle eastern food you'll ever find, but it is quick and convenient for lunch, they let you order online and skip the line, they have a lot of toppings to customize your pita or wrap, they have vegan and gluten free options, and the people who work there are always very nice. read more

Hands down my favorite lunch place in the loop, Roti is a real treat. The ingredients are always fresh, food's always delicious, portions are large,prices are fair, and if the poster on their wall is accurate, it's pretty damn good for you too! The line gets pretty long at peak hours, but they really move people in and out. Get the chicken roti sandwich, either pita or flat-bread, with everything in it + feta cheese. For about $7 you won't find a better deal in town. They're about to open another location at Washington and Dearborn - right across the street from my office - and I'm actually starting to get nervous that I'll never bring my lunch again. I now gladly make a 15 minute hike across the loop to eat there on a fairly regular basis, and it's worth every step. I seriously take every out of town visitor I have there to eat, and nobody's ever been disappointed. Tip: I hear that everything is 1/2 price if you go later in the afternoon... read more

The line was pretty intense as it stretched around the restaurant, but it moved pretty fast. People ate and left pretty quickly, so getting a table wasn't too hard. We ordered one of their chicken wraps as well as a hummus combo plate, and both were pretty tasty. The reason for my 3 stars is because I thought there was too much sauce in each item, so everything ended up tasting the same. Pretty fast though in terms of service, and definitely reminds me of a Mediterranean version of Chipotle like many other reviewers have mentioned below. They are in a prime location though, being across the street from the Sears Tower, so they get quite a bit of traffic during lunch! read more

Wasn't bad, but the two-star description says it all. "Meh. I've experienced better". Had the falafel salad and the falafel was mushy and soft in the middle, not crispy and crumbly. Salad and dressings were fine but nothing memorable. Food was fine but can't say i'll be back in a hurry. read more

I was here for lunch with my husband and my daughter on a Thursday afternoon for lunch. I had the chicken salad, uhm..don't ever get it! it was terrible. The falafils were good and the hummus is very good also. I think the next time I eat there I'll try the true dishes like the kabobs. I think it's definitely healthy eats though. read more

This is in my standard list of places to go to lunch when at the office. I recently changed jobs and had to find new lunch spots. So into Roti I went. First thought is - why is there such a line? After ordering, I figured it out. I had a chicken skewer with falafel and was very impressed with the food. It's not authentic - it's fast casual mediterranean. The prices are fine - maybe a bit pricier than I normally pay for lunch but do enjoy it. It feels like quality ingredients but should be due to the price. Down a star due to what I feel is an inefficient setup to handle the lunch rush. read more

One of my favorite lunch spots, partially due to it's right next to my building. It has fast service, and as long as you come here before 11:30am, the line is relatively short. I always get the salad because you get to choose as many sides as you want. I like their new salmon kabob, and Chicken and beef roti are tender with a lot of flavors. Plus they always give you a warm pita bread to go with the lunch. Love it. read more

Best salad i've had in a long time. I had a bite of my friend's chicken roti pita and found the chicken to be quite flavorful. We split an order of falafel, and although they do not taste like more authentic falafel I've had, they were both flavorful and creamy - most definitely still a nice treat. Finally, we split both the baklava and a chocolate chip cookie. Meh to both. I've never had baklava better than this one made for a work party a few years back, so pretty much every time I try it now, it just lacks that homemade deliciousness. Also, the cookie looked better than it tasted. I would have potentially raised my review to 4 stars if 1) they would have provided my roasted vegetables on my salad (it was my requested 'meat' and noticeably missing) and 2) they would have provided my dressing on the side as I requested. Service was incredibly friendly and seating was 'a' plenty. I just can't help but wonder if my salad would have been some level better (or *gasp* not as good) had it been made as I requested. Despite these errors, I look forward to going back in the future, for sure. read more

Ate here about 5 times while I was working in the area. The tomato and cucumber salad was bland tasting so I got the roasted broccoli and carrots instead they were much better. The hummus and felafel were very good. If you get there before 11:30 you get some free felafel with your meal. I hope this chain expands to other cities. read more

Really spacious lunch spot in the Loop. I started at their "5 minutes from lunch" point and they delivered. I got my yummy sultan sandwich in less than 5, at 11:45 on a workday. Impressive. Very fresh ingredients. Chicken so juicy and tender that after one bite, I thought I was having a chicken-steak hybrid. Hummus was very very flavorful. The pita bread had the perfect warmth and texture, complimenting the ingredients nicely. The sauce was deliciously spicy but I won't say it's "very spicy". Not a big fan of their bigger than necessary paper to-go bags though. They should have multiple sizes because my sandwich took up maybe 1/5 of the space of the bag . read more

This was my first time dining at Roti and I was so impressed! A Chipotle for Mediterranean food? What more could an Italian girl want?! Seriously, every single person working on the food line was so friendly and so happy. It was such a pleasure interacting with them all because they seemed so genuine. The Roti HR dept. does a great job in selecting the right people! They know that it's easier to train a nice person how to do a job than to train someone to be nice. I'm also happy to know that Roti is not just in Chicago and I am able to dine where I live in DC as well. Two thumbs up! read more

We had this catered at work last week. yum yum yum yum!!!! I think im obsessed with mediterranean food. yep. I had pretty much everything we had catered (alot) and its quite good. My fav is still Pita Inn though. Too bad they are only in the burbs. We also had desserts with the food. another big YUM on that. Unfortunately this was catered so I cant comment on venue/service/etc read more

Best breakfast/lunch in Chicago. Hands down. Freshest food, made fresh everyday. I've been going here since they opened a year and a half ago. Friendly people and super legit food. Breakfast go to: Egg and steak on flatbread, green peppers, extra hot sauce, kalamata olives, shredded asiago cheese. Have eaten this countless times and have never once been tired of it. $3.50, awesome value. Lunch go to: chicken on flatbread (ohh the chicken is so good), little bit of rice, hummus, lettuce, tomato, extra hot sauce, kalamata olives, lime red cabbage, feta. Again, have never ever been disappointed. The freshness is key, I always feel great after eating here. Don't waste your time on platters, etc. Not as good, more $$, and same amount of food as the Roti sandwiches. Also, if there's a line, even do the door (which it usually is), don't worry, it's always less than 5min and you're paid and sitting down. They're really speedy. read more

Chipotle is to Mexican food as Roti is to Mediterranean food. Fast, yummmy and consistent. Yummity-yum! I just love the steak salad here. I crave it! A little pricey, and they do charge you extra for add-ons ($1 for grilled veggies, a couple extra dollars for meat, etc.) Don't forget to ask for a piece of pita bread with your salad! It's included, although sometimes they forget to give it to you with your order. CRAZY busy at lunchtime and not many places to sit. Have a friend grab a seat while you wait in the line (it moves quickly). TIP: From 2:30-3:30pm everything at this location is 1/2 price!!!! There might mot be a lot left at the point, but it's worth a shot! read more

My office had their holiday party and we ordered the Roti buffet into the office. They provided a large amount of food and supplied us with plates, utensils and napkins. They also provided free delivery and set up the spread for us. It was a simple lunch, but everyone enjoyed it! The food was hot, flavorful, and there was a little bit of everything for everyone. All in all, it was a satisfactory choice for a more casual holiday gathering, since we're not a very large office. Thank you! read more

I came here for the free lunch giveaway in celebration of their one-year anniversary. Awesomeness. The line looked scary since it was out the door and down the block (well, halfway), but it moved pretty quickly. The food was good as always - chicken kabob platter is the way to go. This is not my usual location (the one one Monroe is across the street from my office), but who can say no to free lunch? I like a business that appreciates their customers. This wasn't an invite only kinda deal - you got an email if you're on their mailing list, but you were free to send away to everyone and their mama. They def came well prepared and well staffed. Roti is blowing up with locations everywhere so I am glad to see that they are giving back. Two thumbs up here! read more

Middle eastern food with a fast-food style? OK...wasn't sure what to make of this place when I first came here in Chicago this past summer (they have also expanded to my home city of DC as well in Foggy Bottom). When you walk in here, the place seems very reminiscent of Chipotle. Unlike Chipotle though, there is no "Chipotle Monster" (Beware of the Chipotle monster). There is a wide selection of different options here, from wraps to open plates that you can get with a mix of hummus, baba gannouj or a host of other foods. The line may look long, but service is incredibly fast. Plus, the food is absolutely delicious. I've had the open bowls and absolutely love it, very filling for the $12 or so that you pay for (price including a drink; $10 for food itself). If you're looking for a change of pace from the usual fast food, make sure to stop by here and check out Roti Mediterranean Grill. read more

Really good food and really good service. I love the hummus and the pita chips. I used to intern in the adjacent building, and it is always SO busy at lunch. The line is usually around the entire restaurant. At least, they are fast. When I would crave it, I would just take a late lunch so I didn't spend my lunch break in line and scarfing down my food. Like Au Bon Pain, the prices are a little higher than I would like them to be. Maybe I'm just really cheap. (Yeah, I am.) When I do treat myself to Roti, I love getting the steak roti in a pita. So if you have time, you should come here to get some good Mediterranean food. read more

I'm a lucky girl....there is a ROTI in my building which can be accessed without even walking a step outside. I am sure to find this useful in times of cold, bitter cold and rain. Which Chicago has all three (and often, unfortunately). Today was my second time visit and I was not disappointed. I had the salad, with roasted veggies, eggplant, cous cous, tomato/cucumber and other yummy delights. It was fresh, ingredients were flavorful and I love the in-house made pita. I am also in aggrement that this is the Chipolte of Mediterranean. Don't let the line scare you, it moves quick and you'll be eating your tasty delight in under 10 mins from start to finish. I foresee this being a favorite spot among the loop options. It is a little pricey.....but I'm finding most things in Chicago are. Le sigh. read more

My whole experience started off extremely frustrating in this place. Everytime I ordered, or said anything, it seemed like the people behind the counter either didn't understand me or were flat out not listening at all. "Chicken kebab." "Pita or Wrap?" "Pita." "Here or to-go?" "Here." Waiter pulls out a plate and places rice on it, and chicken kebab on top of said rice and starts to pile up the plate. "No! Sandwich, not plate." "Oh, to go, right?" "No, here!" Server pulls out hot wrap from grill. "No! Pita, not wrap." Further down the line... "Can I get a side of cous cous?" Server proceeds to pile cous cous into my sandwich. "No! A SIDE OF COUS COUS, not IN the sandwich!" Server proceeds to put two tiny spoonfuls of cous cous in this tiny dressing container. "NO, A FULL SIDE OF COUS COUS." Server looks at me blankly cue cartoon blinking eyes while her colleague stands there and stares watching the whole thing, and not saying a word to the obvious language barrier going on. Finally, they get a normal sized side and fill up a side of cous cous. Total bill: $11.00 Total frustration: Endless Look, I know it's not a four start restaurant, but if you're going to be dealing with a lunch rush, learn to LISTEN. Know the difference between pita vs. plate, to-go vs. here, side vs. in. All that being said, it WAS a good lunch there and I could see myself going back again, the chicken was quite good and I was very impressed with the cous cous (even after all that trouble). Next time I'm bringing a giant posterboard with my order on it. read more