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    Taza Cafe

    4.5 (698 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Order Taza Cafe Takeout or Delivery

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    Business Info

    TAZA CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Taza Cafe

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    Gyros Plate
    Jessica M.

    Highly recommend! Food 10/10 Service 10/10 Generous portions and the service was welcoming and attentive. Thanks for three delicious plates!

    Vegetarian Combination
    Steve A.

    Better than expected place just outside The Loop. It seems like a good place for Mediterranean. Taza is convenient for anyone around here at lunch and especially for downtown workers. Has quite a lot on the menu including things such as falafel, hummus, and tabbouli among the classic favorites. The prices aren't bad for the big portions. Came in before getting on a train and had a pretty good meal. It's a small place but it wasn't crowded because no one else was in here, which could have been a bad sign. This is the kind of place that's only open weekdays. Most people coming here work downtown. That's why. I got the Vegetarian Combination. It's about $11 for a lot. There was dolmas, falafel, house salad, hummus, pitas, and tabbouli. A feast. This was filling and certainly almost worth the price. Also this is fairly healthy. The rest of the menu features stuff like gyros if you're looking for meats. Good place much better than expected. It also had pretty friendly service. This is one of the better cheaper options around here for vegans and vegetarians.

    Gyros Plate
    Kathy K.

    I was craving falafel and I'm glad I discovered this spot! Staff was very friendly and made my to-go order when I got there so it was super fresh. Good portion sizes as well. Would definitely come here again!

    Sandrine H.

    This place is such a good find. Food is delicious, affordable and portion sizes are generous. So far, I've posted on my instagram, tiktok, and google because the food was that good. Plus, the service is so friendly and hospitable. I will definitely be a regular!

    Baklava
    Bessy T.

    Best falafel I've had in Chicago hands down @tazacafechicago The Loop, Chicago Made with so much LOVEEE , this Mediterranean spot is super low key but been around for 13 years! Come in for platters , order catering for your office, group order with your office (sharing a ), or even grab a quick dinner after work in the loop All the food is made daily by Hamza (originally from Jordan). He gets in about 5-6am before the 10:30am lunch period begins. We got the below plates, all of their popular items that comes with fluffy dill basmati rice (so good!), Creamy Hummus + pita, and a cucumber tomato Mediterranean salad: Taza Combo (Chicken Shawarma & Gyro) Chicken Kabob & Falafel combo Falafel salad Their falafels are the BEST I've had in Chicago so far. hamza makes 500-2000+ of them daily They're fried fresh so they're super crunchy Packed with flavor with chickpeas, garlic, coriander, spices like cumin, s&p Make sure to get the assorted baklava. They're also made fresh in Chicago by a partner . They're so crispy, not too sweet, and filled with a variety of nuts! So dang good. They've started to extend their hours till 8pm and are closed Saturday and Sundays. Check it out! More videos and reviews on Instagram @midwestmunching (Sponsored)

    Mike K.

    Food was just OK. The chicken did not have a lot of flavor. Nothing blew me away and I probably wouldn't be back.

    Rebecca H.

    I'm a little bit surprised by the incredibly high ratings for this place. It wasn't bad by any means whatsoever but it wasn't excellent either. There are a few options I have considered for why I wasn't impressed but everyone else on here is losing their shit over this place: 1. I was having a stroke, 2. everyone else has been having a city-wide stroke, 3. Mediterranean food just isn't that great overall and relative to everything else, this place is amazing, 4. they had an off day the day I just happened to order their food, 5. I have inappropriately high expectations. We had just arrived from Boston and checked into our hotel. We were starving and wanted to order some lunch for delivery. This place was highly rated and has plenty of vegetarian options. I also appreciate the fact that everything is clearly designated vegan and GF on the menu. Easy on the eyes. We both ordered a lentil soup, fries, jerusalem salad, and vegetarian combo platter. The lentil soup and the fries were the best of the bunch. The fries were DELICIOUS and seasoned delightfully. The lentil soup was warm and tasty. The Jerusalem salad contains diced tomatoes, cucumbers, parsley, mint, dressed with "their special tahini sauce". It was just ok, I only wanted a few bites. The vegetarian combo platter contains dolmeh, falafel, hummus, tabbouleh, served with pita bread and house salad. Dolmeh are stuffed grape leaves and this was also just ok. The falafel were crispy. The tabbouleh was fresh. The hummus was PERFECT in texture but as far as taste goes: JUST OK. It wasn't bad, just "meh". We didn't finish our leftovers. GF feels differently than me and enjoyed it so maybe I really just am having a stroke.

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    11 months ago

    Such fresh and tasty food for good prices! The staff is very polite and quick to get you exactly what you need. Highly recommend.

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    1 year ago

    They donated catering services for our teacher appreciation week! Delicious food and so appreciated the generosity!

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    1 year ago

    Super chill and amazing people and the food is delicious. It's not very expensive either and the portions are great!

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    1 year ago

    Best Falafel I've ever had! Very welcoming staff!! I would definitely return, quick and easy service

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

    My only complaint is quantities - the plates are such a small portion. The food tastes good!

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    2 years ago

    Simple menu with good variety. Plentiful portions of very tasty eats. Great service in a cafe setting.

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    Page 1 of 18

    Ask the Community - Taza Cafe

    Is this zabiha /halal?

    From the zabiha dot com website: The owners of this restaurant are Muslim and have confirmed its halal status. Everything but the turkey is zabihah Halal.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Ema - Salmon bab.

    Ema

    4.3(1.9k reviews)
    0.5 miNear North Side
    $$

    I've come here with my boyfriend a handful of times and we love it. We like to try different…read morecocktails every time. The mimosa on a nice summer day on the patio is my happy place. The entrees are amazing too. The rice with the chicken skewer is my favorite so far and my boyfriend loves the beef and lamb skewer. The service has always been great as well. We've had the same server a couple times now and she's friendly and gets the job done. (Wish I could remember her name!) The ambience is great. With natural light coming in and the soft lamps, it's calming. Truly a beautiful restaurant.

    So disappointed. I…read morecame about 5 years ago and loved my meal, especially the sticky date cake, which lingered in my memory as my favorite all time dessert. This year I was so excited to bring my family and Ema was the only restaurant in Chicago I couldn't wait for them to try. I booked it as our final meal in Chicago and lay awake at 4am being so disappointed in my choice. Our server's greeting was monotone and emotionless, which I realize now, would be foreshadowing the meal to come. Ordered the following 1) Smoky eggplant- arrived appearing as an unappetizing curdled purple grey mush. This was the worst tasting baba ghanouj I have ever eaten. It was acidic and had the texture of cottage cheese. The only redeeming thing about this appetizer was the warm naan. 2) house made stratciatella with side of green falafels- The stratciatella was bland and stringy. I would not order this dish expecting the creamy interior of typical burrata. However, if you like string cheese mixed with heavy cream- you may enjoy this dish. The tomatoes and basil were good. 3) chicken kefta- kefta was bland, rice even blander . 4) short rib with polenta- bland and the meat and polenta had the same texture, which seems impossible but somehow the plating was over complicated by the addition of mushy dates and grapes. 5) buttered noodles- my 8 year old ordered this. It was decent with a good amount of Parmesan and cooked perfectly al dente. By the end of the meal, I was so shocked by how terrible the food was I didn't even want to order the sticky date cake that was my main purpose for returning to this restaurant. Ema, what happened to you?!

    Photos
    Ema - Ema tables and bar

    Ema tables and bar

    Ema - Double chocolate.

    Double chocolate.

    Ema - Inside

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    Inside

    Kabobi Grill - Mixed #1: Lamb Koubideh Kabob (Lamb Kofta) and Chicken Koubideh Kabob (Chicken Kofta Kabob)

    Kabobi Grill

    4.5(1.3k reviews)
    6.9 miAlbany Park
    $$

    We stopped by as a group of 5 for dinner Sunday night and we were promptly seated. We visited…read moreChicago for St. Patty's, but my two Persian friends were eager to show us some authentic food and Kabobi did not disappoint. The food was absolutely delicious and I particularly loved the Shami and Koubidehs. The koubidehs were so tender and juicy. The service was phenomenal and they even brought us some tea and dessert (bamieh) for free. Kabobi is open late and was the perfect spot to chat while the rain died down. Definitely coming back when I'm in Chicago next time!

    Ordered: Caspian Mix Grill (~$25) with Albaloo Polo (~$6): 1…read moreskewer boneless chicken breast, 1 skewer filet mignon marinated in a pomegranate walnut sauce, with grilled onion, raw onion, and butter Bamieh & Balava (complimentary) Aya's take: I was really craving Persian food before leaving Chicago and decided to place an order for pickup to take on my way. I arrived 25 minutes later and they hadn't even made my order. From there, 3 different people told me it'll be another 5 minutes, 10 minutes, and 15 minutes. I ended up waiting 20 minutes and during that whole time there was no apology. One of the workers handed me a tea and later I saw they included dessert in the bag. It was a nice gesture but I was frustrated that it wasn't acknowledged by the staff at all and part of my order was still missing. I paid $2.25 for a Yogurt & Cucumber Sauce which I never received. The Caspian Mix Grill with Albaloo Polo was very good. The filet mignon & chicken breast were both juicy and well-seasoned. The Albaloo Polo is plain basmati rice mixed with saffron, caramelized onion and sauteed sweet & sour cherries. I liked the rice but it felt like they just threw the cherries on top rather than incorporate it into the rice. It was very filling, enough to share with 2 people, and good value. The Bamieh & Balava were also fresh, sweet, and a nice bite to end on. Ultimately, I would give the food a 4/5 and the service a 2/5, hence my 3/5 rating.

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    Kabobi Grill - Dine in area

    Dine in area

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    Kabobi Homemade Mango Saffron Icecream

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    Al Bawadi Grill - Family Platter (serves 5-6 people)

    Al Bawadi Grill

    4.1(1.2k reviews)
    13.5 mi
    $$

    Came here for lunch to celebrate my birthday. It is located in the Harlem Corners shopping center…read morewith ample parking. The staff is warm and welcoming, and we were seated quickly upon arriving. Love the ambiance! It is very cozy and inviting. We were served a complimentary appetizer: pita bread strips, pickled veggies, and what I believe to be an eggplant dip. We also ordered the Bawadi wing appetizer. It was delicious, and those wings! It came with a sauce, but I cannot comment on that because none of us tried it. The wings by themselves are delicious! My friends both ordered the lamb chops, and I ordered the Al Bawadi mixed grill with hummus and bread. Everything was good, and the portions are generous. The meat was tender, juicy, and seasoned well. We all enjoyed our meals. We plan on coming back in the Fall to celebrate another birthday. This is definitely a neighborhood staple and will come back with family.

    We came here for a quick bite to eat before a game. The place was packed including the parking lot…read more They stay had plenty of tables available and we also received quick service. We ordered two sandwiches. A Chicken shawarma and meat shawarma. Both were fantastic and came with a lot of fries. Overall a very filling dish and a great option for a quick meal. The sandwiches were very flavorful and priced very fairly. Definitely do want to return to perhaps order some bigger entrees.

    Photos
    Al Bawadi Grill - 20 minute wait for two. Food smells delicious though

    20 minute wait for two. Food smells delicious though

    Al Bawadi Grill - Kenafah

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    Avec - Chicago - Chorizo-Stuffed Medjool Dates

    Avec - Chicago

    4.3(2.6k reviews)
    0.4 miWest Loop, Near West Side
    $$$

    I finished work early and wanted to find a spot where I could have a light bite and drink to…read moreunwind. I remember seeing an Avec in River North, but my office was near West Loop so that made this location more convenient. I made a reservation for myself as I wasn't sure how busy the place got. Hospitality was great right off the bat. My reservation was for 5:30pm, but I arrived early and was offered a seat at the bar immediately. My hostess asked if I wanted to have my jacket held at coat check, which I was much obliged to maximize my space at the intimate bar. I got a Last Frontier, a gin-based cocktail that was sweet, slightly tart and refreshing. It was well crafted and hit the spot. I loved their Potato and Salted Cod Brandade. Talk about stick to your ribs! The brandade's warmth, thick texture, and rich flavor made the dip oh so comforting. Perfect for the blustery weather. I'll be back to try other popular items from the menu!

    I went to Avec for my birthday and from food, service, and ambiance the entire experience was a…read moredisappointment. The endive salad was warm and not cohesive at all. Nothing really went together and it was warm, which didn't make sense and made it worse. The steak was cooked how I asked, but the sauce was extremely oily and had this strange burnt flavor which likely was from the onions? The onions were extremely burnt, nothing like a typical caramelized delish onion. The chicken had the same issue, everything had that same burnt tasting oil and the chilies sitting in it just made it more intense. It was honestly just edible and nothing I would come back for or recommend. I love middle eastern food and know that even with a midwestern there are some considerations to take with the flavor profile but the burnt onions, burnt spicy oil in the chicken, and a warm salad are all indications for poor execution. As for the actual ambiance and experience it was my birthday and there was no acknowledgment at all not even someone to check in on whether the food was okay. I did not want to order a dessert after the salad, steak, and shawarma all missing the mark. The seating was very uncomfortable. It is cramped and communal and at this price point I expected a much better experience. Will admit I should have looked into the actual dining set up before booking a late night reservation but even still there are so many better places in Chicago where you can get better food and actually feel comfortable. Overall it just was not worth it. I would not return or recommend this spot.

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    Avec - Chicago - Restaurant view from bar

    Restaurant view from bar

    Avec - Chicago - Roasted Corn & Freekeh Tabbouleh

    Roasted Corn & Freekeh Tabbouleh

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