This place has forever ruined Pita Inn for me... and all the rest of the Middle Eastern food that I've ever had. Be careful before you come here because it will change your world.
It might not look like much on the outside, but usually hole-in-the-wall places with the best food barely even have a sign on the door. We came here on a recommendation from a family friend who lives nearby- and were instructed specificaly to order the Lamb Kalaia.
Our party of 3 was seated at a table with the most hospitable server, who zipped around the entire restaurant taking orders, cleaning plates and not missing a beat.
We ordered:
A large hummus, Lamb Kalaia, Lamb Shank and a Kabob Entree. The entrees all came with salad and a bowl of soup. We ordered two lentil soups and a white bean soup. Salad comes without dressing, but with bottles of oil and vinegar on the table. When our hummus came (drizzled with olive oil and diced tomatoes, I needed to pace myself to save room for the entree. You know when you feel like you can live off pita and hummus for life? That's me thinking exactly that for the first 1/3 of this meal.
Their portions are big, their pita paper thin, fresh and warm. The food also comes out on these heavy, white cermaic pIates and bowls - it's so simple and no-nonsense that you know their food is comfort - that it is cooked well, with love and perhaps with a longing and memory of a distant land. The owners are maybe Assyrian or Armenian (?) please don't quote me - but the men in the kitchen, shaving the meat etc definitely know what they're doing.
I also ordered a cup of steaming black tea and there will be a big tub of sugar to sweeten it on your table. Each entree was about $15.00 but the portions are very large and you will have enough to take home for leftovers.
You must order the Lamb Kalaia. The lamb cubes were so tender and the sauce, with a mix of onions, peppers and mostly tomatoes were spiced and stewed to perfection. You will get enough rice to put you in a food coma - and your dollar will go a long way.
I love the bustle here too: dine-in and pick-up patrons provided a steady flow of business. During the hour or so I was here, people were always calling in and lining up to pick up their orders. There was wait no wait time to be seated to dine-in. When I've driven by this place (dozens of times before eating here) I was always curious as to why their tiny little parking lot in the front was always seemed full. (Now I know and the secret is out - their food is amazing.)
Looking around our table at the other patrons, there was a diverse crowd. To begin, there was a Chinese family (mine) but also a Middle Eastern father with her daughter, a group of Ethiopian middle-aged friends, a couple of young Hispanic guys, a solitary silver-haired man who looked like he might be a professor and perhaps a family who looked like they lived in Ravenswood.
Shawarma Inn draws in the local community from all walks of life. I don't mean to put labels on people but the observation was more of a reflection as to why I love Chicago. The diversity of culture and food, all at your fingertips to experience. If you want Indian food you go to Devon. If you want Vietnamese you go to Argyle. If you want to fried chicken you head to JJ's on the south side, and if you want Chinese you go to Chinatown and so on...
So if you want really good Middle Eastern food, you go to the source, to a hole-in-the-wall tucked in between the neighborhoods of North Park, Edgewater, Albany Park and Lincoln Square. The authenticity of Shawarma Inn will bring in a diversity of crowds. They're open 24 hours, you can order online, they also serve breakfast and delivery is available. Good food here, no nonsense, full stop. read more