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    Shawarma Garden

    4.1 (218 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order Shawarma Garden Takeout or Delivery

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    SHAWARMA GARDEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Quiet
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Shawarma Garden

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    22. Chicken Shawarma Plate
    Paige K.

    Ok not enough credit here! It's kinda hidden on the south side of division but this is the best Mediterranean I've had in Chicago and I've tried a lot! I made an online order shortly before close on a Monday night and it was ready within 10 minutes. I anticipated having to give them a little grace being the meat was probably roasted much earlier in the day but I was wrong... The meat was tender and delicious! The flavor was amazing and this is the best yellow rice I think I've ever had. Great flavor here too! The plate comes with a pretty generous portion, a salad, a few pitas on the side, and hummus so it was a pretty good value for the price. My husband got the Shawarma wrap and he also enjoyed that. I can't wait to try the other meats here! Highly recommend.

    Paul M.

    Really impressed. I usually head up to Andersonville for these types of offerings but was staying by here off the Blue Line. Decided to walk 10 min here based off of various online reviews. Excellent lentil soup and was really craving it since it was cold out last Tues. Chicken shawarma grilled pita also terrific. Can't beat the price for both. Definitely a gem in Wicker Park. The gentleman (Israeli perhaps?) preparing my order was very nice as well. I'll be back for sure!

    James F.

    I ordered carry out at Shawarma Garden after getting the taste for Shawarma & seeing many 4 to 5 star reviews across platforms. I was very excited to maybe have a new go-to for Shawarma in Chicago. Sadly, I cannot call Shawarma Garden that place. I don't understand it. Maybe I have just had really good Shawarma that set the bar too high, or maybe the place just is not up to the same standards as it once was. When I got my order and opened my wrap, I was disappointed to see that it, along with the wrapping, was drenched in grease. I decided to eat it anyways. It was tasteless, the shell was somehow & amazingly crispy, and they charged a premium for the tzatziki sauce--something that other restaurants often include at no charge. I also ordered naan and hummus to snack on later on in the day. I have bought better tasting of both at the grocery store. I sadly could not finish it. Perhaps the kitchen was just having a bad day. I am sure that they make food that satisfies some. Not me though. I will not be ordering again.

    Baba ganoush looks good but wasn't the style I like.
    Cathy T.

    Shawarma Garden is serving food inside or for carry out. They do not have outdoor seating. You order at the register and they will bring the food out to you. Food pros and cons: Pro: The falafel was tasty and made to order. Con: The babaganoush was quite disappointing. It tasted fermented and felt fizzy on my tongue. I did not finish it. I've experienced this at another restaurant, so maybe this is a way it is sometimes prepared, or maybe they don't sell it fast enough and it was old. The woman at the register seemed friendly but bored. When she stood in certain places, the radio sounded staticky. It was quite painful. But by then I was mid meal and just wanted to finish and get out of there!

    a plate of salad
    Carolyn C.

    I visited Shawarma Garden and I was totally impressed. I was visiting from New Jersey, which has its own excellent shawarma, and I came in with no expectations. I ordered the Gyro sandwich, the Fattoush salad, and a falafel platter to share. Everything was amazing! The dressing on my salad was particularly fantastic. The staff was friendly and even delivered our food to our table and they remembered exactly what each of us ordered. Definitely check this place out if you're in the area!

    Chicken Shawarma

    Was completely worth the 30 min travel from downtown Chicago. The chicken shawarma in pita bread and the veggie combo plate were fantastic!! Very tasty and fresh!!! Definitely recommend!!!

    11. Chicken Shawarma Sandwich- YUM
    Anna E.

    I used to live in this neighborhood and took a little walk down memory lane on Division street. It's so different! But I digress...I stopped in here for a quick bite and ordered the chicken schwarma sandwich. It was amazing! Lots of tender, juicy chicken and the pickles were a great touch. The garlic sauce was creamy and rich and they have hot sauce to balance it all out. I would definitely go back for an inexpensive tasty meal!

    10. Kifta Sandwich with French Fries
    Edward K.

    Great authentic local Middle Eastern restaurant. Had the kifta in a pita and it tasted really good. Ordered over the phone and did takeout. Food was ready when they said it would be. Fries were nice and crispy! Great place!

    Shwarma Plate
    Sai S.

    Always a pleasure to visit one of my favorite Division St. shwarma places. The guys at the grill are always so kind and chill. I ordered Chicken Shwarma combo plate and it was ready for pickup in under 10 min. There doesn't seem to be inside seating but I was getting takeout anyways. My favorite part of this dish aside from the great meat is the garlic sauce added to the hummus, just gives it an extra special kick.

    Vegetarian platter
    Michael C.

    There's quite a bit of good Mediterannean fare in the area but Shwarma garden has some excellent food to compete. Was feeling pretty lazy on Easter Sunday and decided to grab some takeout. I told the guy at the counter how I had a food allergy to chickpeas and he didn't hesitate with slapping on extra tahini to compensate. I ordered the chicken shwarma and the combo with the basmati rice and chili sauce they give you--pretty tasty comfort food. Nice little side salad had cucumbers and tomatoes with lettuce. GF had the vegeterian platter and loved how creamy the baba ganoush was. Wish I could give it 5 stars but prices were pretty standard. Will be coming back!

    26. Falafel Plate

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    2 years ago

    Chicken Shish Kebab, pita, tzatziki, and hummus were all great. Baklava cheesecake was absolutely incredible!! Also BYOB which is a plus.

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    4 years ago

    Falafel sandwich was made very well. It was stuffed with a lot of veggies and hummus and sauce. Fairly reasonable and quick.

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    Issa is a fantastic human. The food the atmosphere... all I have to say is you'll love it!

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    5 years ago

    One of Wicker Parks' gems. Friendly owner and consistently delicious. Thank you Shawarma Garden!!!

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    Aba

    Aba

    4.4
    (2k reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$$

    Stylish Fulton Market Brunch with Great Food and Service…read more Booked brunch for two on OpenTable at Aba in Fulton Market, and it's easy to see why this spot is so popular. The space is beautiful--open, bright, full of natural light, and stylish without feeling overdone. We ordered the Short Rib Shakshuka, which was flavorful with just a hint of spice and a generous portion size. The warm, soft pita served alongside was perfect for dipping. The Steak and Eggs was also excellent--the steak and eggs were cooked perfectly, and the fried potatoes were a standout: crispy on the outside while still moist and tender inside. Portion sizes were just right. We also tried both of the recommended brunch cocktails, and they were strong, flavorful, and well balanced. Service from Mike was great--friendly, efficient, and attentive throughout the meal. Overall, Aba delivered a polished and enjoyable brunch experience. Highly recommend, and based on what we tasted, I'd absolutely come back to try dinner.

    We came in from out of town and on short notice was able to grab a table at 3:30pm for a late…read morelunch. The place is beautiful with a lively terrace on nice days but also a very open and bright interior with modern decor. We were seated right away at a table off to the side of the bar area. We must have waited like 15-20 minutes before anyone even realized that we were there. It seemed as though none of the servers running around serving other tables around us had our table to service. Eventually we caught the attention of who I can only imagine was a manager or supervisor who finally came over to take our orders. We ordered the Smokey garlic hummus which fresh pita bread and this was very good. We also ordered the crispy potatoes and the Brussel sprouts as a side. These were also nice and crispy and the brussel sprouts had a tasty kick with the harissa honey. For our main we had the chicken kebab which was perfectly cooked and tender, braised short rib (not as good), and the shawarma skirt steak frite. We quite enjoyed our meal and everything very fast which more than made up for the initial delay in service. For dessert we decided to share a frozen Greek yogurt with Olive Oil and sea salt. This had an interesting taste with a tanginess at the end. I'm not sure I would order this again but you could tell the Greek yogurt was of very good quality. All in all we enjoyed our meal at Aba and would definitely come back if in town.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Muhammara
    Muhammara
    Frozen Greek yogurt

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    Frozen Greek yogurt
    Ema

    Ema

    4.3
    (2k reviews)
    2.5 mi
    $$

    The atmosphere was great for our 6 person group for brunch! Service was fantastic…read more A very nice ambiance that wasn't too loud for a brunch at 11am where we could all hear each other, sat at a round table so we could see each other. That part was lovely because often I find that with larger groups it's hard to ensure everyone is able to interact (especially since I was taking my parents) Lamb shakshuka was a winner in my book!! So flavorful and perfect hearty brunch. The skewers my parents got were wonderfully cooked. Others got a more standard scrambled egg breakfast that they said was nothing special. Definitely opt for a Mediterranean breakfast if you're at a Mediterranean spot imo.

    I was really disappointed with my experience at Ema. The portions were much smaller than expected,…read moreespecially considering the prices. The biggest issue was that our drink glasses had a terrible odor, as if they hadn't been washed properly. We mentioned it to the manager, who promptly replaced the glasses, and the new ones did not have the smell, which confirmed there was an issue with the original ones. I ordered the short ribs, which cost $35 and the portion was extremely small. One of the pieces was also mostly fat, leaving very little actual meat. For the price, I expected a much better-quality dish and a more satisfying portion. Overall, the experience did not live up to the restaurant's reputation or pricing. Unfortunately, I won't be returning.

    Photos
    Ema tables and bar
    Ema tables and bar
    Double chocolate.
    Double chocolate.
    Inside

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    Inside
    The Purple Pig

    The Purple Pig

    4.3
    (9k reviews)
    2.8 mi
    $$$

    My new favorite restaurant! the food is DELICIOUS and the staff was incredible. I don't give…read morereviews much but just loved it here so I had to :)

    This place had a line that went out of the door during the multiple times I've crossed the…read moreMagnificent Mile bridge in Chicago. Made last minute reservations for brunch next day after the infamous architecture tour. It was quiet as we've put in an early morning. All the more better to savor all intricate dishes from start to finish. Like the name, The Purple Pig, their specialty is pork dishes so majority of our orders were this. Daily special of the bone marrow bacon jam toast - glazed, slippery off the bone, savory and sweet. Always love a good bone marrow dish to get the sweetness off it. This was so good that there were bits of the marrow and jam left stuck to the bone, I took a piece of the toast and scooped the bone dry. Nothing left for anyone to attack this. Non pork dishes were the Mushroom 3 ways and Spanish octopus. Mushroom dish was savory with all the coated sauces elevating this. Spanish octopus was kicked lightly and easily can bite in to enjoy the tender and charred portions. But the award went to my main course - the braised pork shoulder with saffron, apricots and Swiss chard. Aside from the rippable pork meat when dining on it, the sauces fused together on this dish elevated it and had everyone coming back for more. I needed an official Chicago culinary experience and found it at The Purple Pig without a doubt.

    Photos
    The kitchen
    The kitchen
    Chicago style hot dog
    Chicago style hot dog
    Squid Ink Chitarra

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    Squid Ink Chitarra
    Falafel & Grill

    Falafel & Grill

    4.3
    (669 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$

    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

    I lived in Chicago ten years and always wanted to try this place. Sadly it took me moving away to…read morefinally give it a try! This place is a local gem: simple, quick, casual, but packed with flavor. The falafel is crispy crunchy and herby served with two sauces (the red is bright and spicy - my fav), and you can see that juicy shawarma rotating in the window as you pass. Though unassuming on the outside, this place serves yummy Lebanese food at high ROI. Of the two shawarma plates I tried, I fancy the beef, but I tend to lean beef. The chicken was clean and flavorful. The hummus is creamy and delicious and the plates are served with a balsamic fresh salad on the side. The guys behind the counter are working hard and if you're picking food up to-go, you're likely in and out of line with hot fresh food in under 10 minutes. Definitely a spot to try if you've never had shawarma or Falaffel, or need a quick bite while on your lunch break. Also wouldn't be a bad late night snacky

    Photos
    Falafel & Grill
    Falafel & Grill
    Kofta Kabob Plate Baba Ghanoush

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    Kofta Kabob Plate Baba Ghanoush
    Al Bawadi Grill

    Al Bawadi Grill

    4.1
    (1.2k reviews)
    13.3 mi
    $$

    food was delicious, great serving size and fresh !! customer service was also fantastic, super…read morefriendly and accommodating. will be coming back

    I really liked this place. They have parking in front of the restaurant and back. I highly…read morerecommend a reservation on Friday-Sunday even if you are just one person. I called them because I wasn't sure if the online version would be too slow. We were a group of three that came in Saturday night at 7 pm. It was moderately busy. The staff were all welcoming with smiles on their faces and attentiveness. Prices were fair for the amount of food you receive. Food portions are colossal so I would recommend one appetizer and one entree if you are a couple. They give you a complimentary dish. We ordered arayes with meat, meat toshka, mixed grill with baba ghanouj, fillet of basa fried, and mint lemonade. They also offer you fresh Arabic coffee before you leave. This is about a 4.5-5. -arayes with meat 4 - this was not bad. It's like a tamer version of the meat toshka. -meat toshka 5 - I prefer this over the arayes because they add the Syrian cheese. This one was bursting with flavor the moment you took a bite out of it. The minced beef and lamb just melt in the mouth. -mixed grill 5 - this came with 3 big skewers (shish kabab, kufta kabab, and chicken tawook. It also has tomatoes and onions to help cut down the meat when digesting. There are two heaping portions of biryani and saffron rice and baba ghanouj. The baba ghanouj was creamy and flavorful. It goes well with the pita bread. The meats were cooked medium well unless you want something. I think next time I'll ask for the shish kababs to be cooked medium rare or medium for a more juicy taste. The chicken tawook and kufta were both succulent. -fillet of basa fried 5 - the two pieces of basa fillet were astronomical. It also comes with two different kinds of rice. The fish was flaky, moist, and seasoned. Make sure you add the lemon and eat it with the sauce. -mint lemonade 5 - this was very refreshing after eating a heavy meal.

    Photos
    20 minute wait for two. Food smells delicious though
    20 minute wait for two. Food smells delicious though
    Kenafah
    Kenafah
    Lotus cake

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    Lotus cake
    Avec - Chicago

    Avec - Chicago

    4.3
    (2.7k reviews)
    2.2 mi
    $$$

    We came here on Saturday for their brunch and I wanted to say our server was amazing!! The food was…read moregreat especially the Meijoo dates. We got a lot of dishes to share between four people and it was more than enough. A lot of the dishes had eggs which is great and everything was so flavorful. We choose to sit outside and it's so lovely and nice. Will be back to try more on their menu.

    This came highly recommended by multiple people, and for a good reason! Our friend made a late…read morenight reservation, which was perfect after the architecture boat tour. This location runs a long narrow path with tables on the right and bar seating on the left. Beware, you'll be pretty cozy with your neighbors since some of the tables aren't split up. Mediterranean food is usually a hit for group dinners since we get to try a ton of small dishes. - Endive peach salad: delicious parm greek yogurt on the bottom, and was just what we needed after a day full of carbs. Light and refreshing - Wild mexican prawns: they added another for us since it usually only comes with 3. Make sure to dip the pita bread in the sauce - Chorizo stuffed dates: not a favorite for me, it was a bit too salty - Hummus with glazed short rib - this one was also just ok, the short rib was quite fatty - Heirloom tomatoes: another light and refreshing, but very savory starter. Loved this with the endive salad - Shwarma spiced chicken: we had to order this after seeing and SMELLING our neighbors' chicken. The spices are so fragrant and reallly good. I don't usually order chicken because it's usually dry, but even the white meat was moist As you can see, we left STUFFED. happy bellies

    Photos
    Restaurant view from bar
    Restaurant view from bar
    Roasted Corn & Freekeh Tabbouleh
    Roasted Corn & Freekeh Tabbouleh
    Whole roasted branzino

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    Whole roasted branzino
    Avaspi

    Avaspi

    4.8
    (109 reviews)
    2.7 mi

    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 is one of the best restaurants I've been to in Chicago. My party of six split 6 appetizers…read moreand 3 entrees. Mediterranean Meze - very flavorful blend of 22 ingredients according to our waiter. This dish was truly unique. 5/5 Grilled Halloumi Meze - delicious cheese with olives and garlic bread. 4/5 Stuffed Eggplant - savory and creamy dish which actually might be even better served hot. 5/5 Calamari Meze - Excellent and tender. Not chewy at all which was nice. There were a ton of olives which I didn't think complimented the calamari. Overall, still 5/5. Mushroom Tava - mushrooms were cooked perfectly and were delicious. One of my favorite dishes of the night. 5/5 Stuffed Mushrooms - this dish fell flat on flavor and had more of the typical mushroom texture. 3/5 The Hunkar entrée initially was extremely salty. I mentioned this to the waiter and they remade it, which turned out great, so I'm hoping the salty dish was a one-off. 5/5 Our waiter was very friendly and attentive throughout. The restaurant itself is also casual upscale, so nice for most occasions. Avaspi exceeds expectations and I highly recommend this excellent Mediterranean restaurant.

    Photos
    Avaspi bar
    Avaspi bar
    Bread
    Bread
    Cool bar

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    Cool bar

    Shawarma Garden - mideastern - Updated August 2026

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