I visited Zizi's Cafe on 2/1 for lunch and had an incredible experience. The staff were friendly, welcoming, and knowledgeable on the menu. The waitress brought us a carrot dip with very warm bread which was delicious, and I ordered the Döner wrap which was filled with delicious ground lamb and beef. The restaurant was very clean, there was plenty of seating, and they had wonderful decor to look at. I cannot wait to return as the restaurant had a homey feeling to it. Thank you Zizi's for a wonderful experience! read more

Zizi's Cafe - Carrot dip and Bread - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This has become one of our regular spots both for takeaway and a great night out. There is so much that makes this place special - starting with their warm and always fresh bread to start. The carrot spread makes it refreshing as well. I'm always a fan of their wraps. I love the gyro wrap - the lamb and ground beef mix is tasty and there is no shortage of helpings that I always have left overs. Fries are always fresh cut and piping hot. Service is always top notch. We are taken care of in a friendly, timely and professional manner. read more

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Zizi's is a hidden gem. The food is fresh and flavorful. Upon being seated they'll bring you carrot dip and homemade bread. I'm not a huge fan of carrots but I could eat this by the spoonful. Their pides are a cross between a calzone and a quesadilla. I highly recommend the tomato, cheese, and spinach pide. Every meat dish I've had here is good, but the beef kabob is truly special. It's a huge portion of high quality meat that almost rivals a steakhouse. You will not be disappointed! read more

Zizi's Cafe - Turkish Feta Salad - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The staff seemed very welcoming. I ordered takeout, and the order came out quickly. The Döner sandwich was huge! I was not expecting that. My only compliant was that it was a bit too greasy. Overall, still good! read more

Fresh, flavorful Mediterranean spot with great portions and delicious dishes every time. read more

Zizi's Cafe - Great happy hour and AMAZING food - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Down bad I ordered two desserts in the afternoon. Whoever was working must have felt for me because I got a third in my delivery. That was what I needed to turn my day around. They were all outstanding. (Don't worry, I have leftovers!) Thank you! read more

Food was super tasty and portion size was nice! I have a huge appetite and ordered the doner sandwich and fries After eating half the sandwich I tapped out and boxed up the other half and brought it home. More importantly the sandwich and fries were delicious. read more

So much food for a very reasonable price point. They offer complimentary bread + carrot dip (which is rare these days) and the bread is served warm (seems freshly baked). Service is very quick too. My absolute favorite thing we had was the cigar burek which is kind of like an egg roll stuffed with feta but the pastry was so flaky. Great, chill vibes on a Friday night. read more

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Sooo yummy! Came with a large group and shared everything. Great appetizers, entrees & baklava. Delicious for vegetarians & meat eaters. Kind staff & lovely space. You can tell they really care about your experience. Please have the server review the photo and below description to ensure I'm referencing the right dish. Because this is otherworldly and you can't miss out... The Doner Iskender Kebab Platter ‍ I'm simply obsessed. It looks like a plate full of meat (lamb) but there is also pita bread pieces and a tomato yogurt sauce that made this absolute perfection! Cannot wait to have this again. Thank you, Zizi's We got way more but I only snagged a couple pics. Sowwwyyy read more

Zizi's Cafe - I believe the Doner Iskender Kebab Platter is on the left - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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My roommates and I love ZiZi's. It's the perfect casual spot to grab dinner and a drink. The food is always delicious, the service is amazing, and everyone there makes you feel like family. Can't recommend it enough! read more

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I have been coming back here with my family for years and the food and service is always top. When I walk in I feel like it's my home and always greeted with a smile. The new remodel of the restaurant is also definitely a great touch. They also have a wonderful lunch menu read more

Zizi's Cafe - Lunch menu Kofte with rice - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We came to your restaurant solely because we thought you served "trilece". When we realized it wasn't on the menu, we wanted to leave. However, your waitress insisted we stay and brought us a piece of sponge cake with cream and strawberries -- presenting it as "trilece". Without even tasting it, I told her this has nothing to do with what we call trilece in Turkey. There was no caramel at all. I said, "This is not trilece," and your staff rudely responded with, "Are you mocking me?" and took the plate away. I always pay for what I eat, but expecting me to pay for a cheap sponge cake falsely labeled as trilece is not hospitality -- it's disrespectful. Who was supposed to bring the bill? The invisible spirits in the room? If you could add caramel upon request, why didn't you offer it before I had to ask? I'm 100% sure no restaurant in Istanbul would dare serve that as trilece. This is not how our culture works, and I hope you're not misleading others about what Turkish hospitality truly is. I didn't even mention the dark, suffocating atmosphere inside. I gave 1 star initially, but I'm now editing this review because of your disgraceful response. I sincerely hope you learn decency before trying to run a business. read more

A hidden gem you need to try! Zizi's Cafe has one of the best kebabs in the city! And the service was even more impressive. A family owned small business and the son is the waiter! I will highly recommend the Adana kebab plate. You must add this to your list of places you should try when you come to chicago! read more

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In a word... outstanding! We were seated right away on an early Saturday evening for dinner the server was so welcoming and friendly. They bring out fantastic homemade bread with a shredded carrot spread. Just so good and fresh. We had the Döner and the Chicken Döner. The sandwiches were huge and loaded with meats and vegetables. The sauce was a great accompaniment and the fries were crispy and hot. We shared the Kazandibi for dessert and it was a lovely way to end the meal. Zizi even stopped by to say hello! Please go here. You will love it! read more

Zizi's Cafe - Doner Sandwich - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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3.5 Super friendly staff serve up very tasty meats and excellent bread. The veggies and salads are less compelling. The dining room is a bit gloomy and dark. Also: Overpowering. Disinfectant. Smell. Not cool. read more

Those who know and love of Zizi's, know what an outstanding, solid, reliable, delicious meal and dining experience one has there. Now with a liquor license, you can get a reasonably priced beverage to accompany your meal. The Lebanese wines are tasty and affordable. I've been a regular there for years and it never disappoints. Charming positive energy staff, including Zizi, . Neighborhood Gem! read more

Zizi's Cafe - "Eggplant lover" Doner Kebab Platter. Outstanding! - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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It's been a min since I was last here but the food was exceptional. It was one of my first times trying Turkish food as I was still unfamiliar with it. Service was great. Food portions were sufficient, we were able to try a variety of dishes. Meat was tender and juicy. Bread was hot, fresh, and soft. Parking was not a problem, you can find street parking available. Prices were fair and reasonable. Plenty of seating. read more

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If you want great Turkish Food, head over to ZiZi's in Lakeview neighborhood of #Chicago. This is a place that the locals love. Highly recommend you get the Doner Wrap, which is made with ground lamb and beef and served with fresh handcut fries. They also gave us a free dessert since my friend is such a loyal customer. Super friendly staff! They even gave us a complimentary dessert ( my friend is a regular ) . Cool vibe and place to eat a quick lunch outside. read more

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Zizi's is ridiculously good! The portions are huge as well. We had the Combo Starter Platter which was great for our party of 4. I then had the Doner Kebab platter which was delicious! Everyone else also liked their dishes. Everyone here was super friendly and nice as well. I highly recommend this place! read more

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Overall an underwhelming experience. The kebab was a bit too salty, and the borek was a bit greasy. The staff were nice, and the freshly baked bread that they serve in the beginning was outstanding. Wasn't a bad experience, but wouldn't return, sorry. read more

ZiZi's is a great bang for your buck spot for Mediterranian. I got take out of the falafel wrap and the chicken doner sandwich, and it was hot and ready right on time. Staff were also very friendly upon pickup! The food was good - Nothing life changing but predictable and safe for falafel! The portions are also super large and kept well. A great bang for buck spot if you want lunch the next day! I would visit again and try more on the menu - The people near us got the Ezme and carrot spread and it looked good! read more

Zizi's Cafe - Chicken Doner Sandwich - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Ok food. Can't say any dish I had or share were particularly great,....just good. Ok atmosphere. Kind of dark and I think it was updated that way to give it some ambience. Very good service, no question that staff was attentive and very nice. Miserable place to find parking especially in inclement weather. read more

My last summer to have in Chicago before an East Coast move and decided on lunch while walking in Lincoln Park. Craving lamb so headed to Zizi's per a Yelp search. Very pleasantly pleased with this decision. Service cheerful and attentive. Outdoor seating is shaded under beautiful locust trees. Portion size was definitely enough for 2. They allow substitutions for the rice, so I had couscous instead, which was wonderfully prepared I believe in a broth base as it had awesome flavor. Vegetables were excellent, but the bread, oh my, the bread was heavenly! I was informed that the bread is baked twice a day on site. It is definitely worth it. The ground lamb kebabs were underwhelming. I think they were too dry or over grilled, but the rest of the food was great and the service so attentive that I would try them again. I also had Turkish coffee for the first time at this location and it was very good. For this coffee drinker who typically has coffee with her milk or cream, I was able to drink the coffee as served as it was so smooth and tasty. Yes, I definitely would return to this family run restaurant. read more

Zizi's Cafe - Lamb kebabs served over couscous, grilled vegetables and a tzatziki sauce, carrot salad and heavenly bread. Turkish coffee - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Come on admit it...every once in a while you wake up and are like "what's missing in my life? It must be turkish coffee and baklava" I was overjoyed that this was not one of restaurants closed during the pandemic . Everyone who goes there is properly spaced. The room is devided by boxes. If your mom was Turkish she would force you to eat everything you ordered in one sitting. But since that's not the case unless it is you can eat leftovers for another time. My friend had the baklava and I had turkish coffee. Apparently you have to tell them if you want it extra hot, strong, more sugary or just a little sugary. I wanted mine just a,little sugary... They give you this carrot salad that has I think mayonnaise and bread while you wait. The people next to me come all the time and order Turkish pizza with coffee every few days. It looks razor thin and and has beef in it with no cheese. Something to come back and try. I had some beef skewers as appetizers with what I thought was a side of taboule...that's not just a,side ...that's a portion for paul bunyan...yowza. I chose the veggie options on the side very carefully because me and spicy dont get along. The baklava is the best in chicago or is on par with the best I've ever had. Ironically I came here to prepare for a trip to Turkey in a few months...I think I'm gonna have to prepare more. Awesome food spot that has indoor dining. Yes I put back the mask when they come over and ask us if we want more. read more

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Amazing service and food! I can't think of a more satisfying lunch than the one we had at Zizi's Cafe in recent memory. Their homemade bread for the sandwich is absolutely incredible!!! so chewy, fluffy and flavorful. It was so filling and they give you huge portions of meat and filling. Baklava was so good, loved the tea that came with the dessert too. read more

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Such an incredible meal and a real hidden gem. Everything was 10 out of 10. You can tell the people who work there are super passionate about the food they are serving. Service was impeccable and the food was delicious. Everything was incredibly fresh. Huge portions as well. It's a small spot but it was cozy and welcoming. Highly recommend! read more

Zizi's Cafe - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Insanely FRESH & clean ingredients. Zizi's is probably my favorite restaurant because they make everything fresh on the spot and never compromise quality of ingredients. They never serve anything that has been frozen and no additives (like sugar or preservatives). They use simple fresh ingredients and spices. The owners clearly take pride in their restaurant and know exceptional customer service. Love this place! read more

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On a return visit to Chicago, I wanted to bring my family to some good food that we just can't get back in Tennessee. So when we came across Zizi's, we were all game for some Mediterranean and Turkish food. From the moment we walked in the front door, we were welcomed as though we were regulars. Everyone greeted us with a smile and a warm hello. The server brought us some fresh bread and a carrot yogurt sauce that absolutely blew our minds. It had the perfect amount of garlic -- letting you know it's present in the sauce, but not overpowering. We ordered the egg and cheese pides, döner kebab (lamb) platter, a feta platter, and a chicken döner iskender. All of it was incredible. I would say we could have split a couple of dishes among four of us. The portions are huge...but I'm not complaining, I now have leftovers! Hands down would go here again! read more

The food was delicious. The staff was amazing. I will definitely be going back. We got the Doner wrap and would recommend. read more

Zizi's Cafe - Doner Wrap - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

What an absolutely marvelous meal I had here with my cousins! The restaurant itself is a bit plain inside, but the food blew my mind. We ended up having two platters of food, plus salad, plus other appetizers. My cousin did the ordering so I didn't really know all of what I ate, I just know it was all amazing. The food itself, like all other meals I have had in Chicago, was an absolute steal too. I legit don't know how any of the businesses here keep their doors open at these prices. The service was great too, they kept my water full, food came out quickly, the wait staff was attentive and friendly, and they even brought us some free baklava. Cannot recommend Zizi's more. read more

The carrot spread they give as a freebie while ordering is amazing. I crave it! The pendants that have over the tables are gorgeous stained glass masterpieces. read more

This is what a gold standard local restaurant looks like from where I'm at right now having tried it for the first time. The staff here seem to really care--we had John (tall blonde guy) and he was the best. He'll hook you up right if you need any guidance. We wanted dessert but were so full and couldn't decide. He gave us a couple baklava to try and they were delicious. Really fantastic service with delicious food provided by people who seem to take a lot of pride in what they make. I just love to see food treated in such a respectable and loving way overall. Doner Iskender platter is a must order. The meat with sauce on a bed of chewy and crispy bread along with the yogurt is top notch. Lahmacun we were told is as Turkish as you can get, and we loved it. Like a "Turkish pizza" it's pretty light but very tasty. The pro tip we were given was to put the onions, parsley, and lemon juice on it flat, then roll it up to eat it. Excited to return. Excited to try the Kunefe dessert, which was highly recommended. Excited to get my butt over to Turkey which I have yet to do. read more

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Terrific Place; some of the best Mediterranean food in the Midwest. Great for takeout or a casual date night.

This place is amazing, a true hidden gem. Everything we had was outstanding. We started with the free carrots and fresh bread. The bread was crispy on the outside and pillowy in the outside. The carrots were soaked in yogurt. Then we had the Lacubnah, a flatbread with spiced beef. It was spiced perfectly and served with lemon, onions, and parsley. The star of the meal was the entree - doner kebab iskander platter. Lamb and beef covered in a spicy tomato sauce with garlic yogurt on the side. This is one of the best dishes I've ever eaten. Truly amazing! Will definitely be back soon! read more

Delicious Turkish food. Huge portions! Bread and stewed veggies brought to the table were a delicious and nice touch. Second time here. Will continue to enjoy the delicious food. Friendly staff! read more

Zizi's Cafe - Inside dining - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Yesterday was craving some middle eastern food, so my roommate and I decided to check out this Turkish restaurant. The owner himself welcomed us at the door with a very warm welcoming. After we checked the menu we decided to take the (Döner Iskender Kebab plate). This particular dish was made with a lot of love and the quantity was unreal. We couldn't even finish the plate and had to take it to go. We've also tried the (Pide with Diced Lamb and Cheese), like Turkish version of pizza, and it was absolutely delicious. We also Loved the beautiful Turkish atmosphere with hanging lanterns. Overall, I'd definitely go back and I recommend this place for those who like to try new dishes read more

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Overall: Arguably the best Turkish food in the area, with great prices to go with it. The good: We started off with the lahmacun, which was thin, crisp, and flavorful. I'd never had one before and, paired with the amazing and complimentary bread, was a great start to the meal. The bread was warm and soft, I had to contain myself to not eat more. The service was friendly, they have outdoor seating (though the inside's atmosphere is a nice touch), anad it's BYOB. Oh, and the prices are right. The not-so-good: The Adana (lamb) wrap was great but didn't blow me away, nor did the fries. They were still great, but nothing out of this world. Food: 8.5/10 Atmosphere: 8.5/10 Service: 8.5/10 read more

Zizi's Cafe - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I was not sure what to expect, but I will be back. Delicious food. The staff kindly gave me a menu with photos after they saw me struggling. We had the sampler platter to start. Fortunately they brought out more bread to eat with the food. It was dipping fabulous. The humus is spectacular. The main course was recommended by one of the owners so that I had a taste of different things. Iskander is the closest spelling I have. I don't care what it is called, delish and large portions. I highly recommend. read more

Zizi's Cafe - One of the owners and her son's English teacher from his sophomore year. - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Very excellent food. Tasted like a home meal. Baklava was super delicious. The service was amazing, we had John as our server and he did an amazing job at making sure we enjoyed our first experience at this restaurant. Definitely will come again! read more

Zizi's Cafe - Chicken Doner Wrap - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Pretty solid. We took it as pick-up, so can't comment on the experience dining there, but I can review the food! I was in Turkey for a couple weeks over the summer and stayed with family who are locals. So was able to try many various Turkish cuisine straight from the source. Zizi's wasn't exactly what I expected, but it did impress/exceed on a few items. To start - the portions were big. We loved that. Both Chicken dishes were huge and had plenty leftover. The breakdown: 1. Kebab Platter - the chicken was great, and was well sauced. Definitely would order again. Compared to Turkey - it had a lot more going on, but I wasn't complaining. 2. Fries - standard, could have been more crispy though. I'm not coming back for fries here but they were fine on the side 3. Pide with Egg and Cheese - Ok so this was awesome. The handful of Pide I had in Turkey was always too bread-heavy and not enough filling. This one though was full of cheese and such, and we loved it. 4. Hummus - seemed standard. Nice to have with the dishes, but nothing mind blowing. *We got a collection of veggies, and sauces. I liked this, and not sure what item it was coming with haha. This is a great place in the neighborhood. I'm for sure going to be back, and maybe upgrade to 5 stars if the in-dining experience means the dishes are fresher/better. read more