Middle Eastern Restaurants near Lincolnwood, IL

“Disclaimer: I’m Lebanese. Decent food (not as authentic as could be though) and cute decoration and display of desserts. Prices are decent and portions are generous! The waitress was speaking too fast and constantly seemed in a hurry. We felt pressured to order and communicate any requests. It would be nice to add some music to add some ambience (Fairuz!).“

“My sister and I visited The Gundis to celebrate a special occasion. Our reservation was on a Saturday morning and the restaurant was very busy, but the ambiance was comfortable and service was attentive. We shared the Kurdish breakfast for two and it was exceptional. We loved the variety and the balance between freshness and richness. We left full and satisfied. I would highly recommend and we will definitely be back!“

“This is a no frills, cash only spot, but don't let it fool you. Some of the best food around at super affordable prices. The service is top notch as well. The people running this place clearly care about the food and service they provide!“

“This has become our special occasion dinner spot. We are always fiending to try new plates every time and 3 or 4 plates fills us up as a couple! Amazing service and atmosphere. My favorite dishes are the kappa bonda (fried yucca bites), kallumakaya (mussels), and pazham pori (dessert plantains). MUST order the ginger cooler as your drink, wishing I could have this on every hot and sunny day! Can't wait to come back for another dinner. Also, very easy to park for free on Fletcher.“

“Food was 4, the romaine was underwhelming, cold, and soggy. Please take this off the menu, it doesn’t tie into anything or have any caliber of elevation/finesse like the other dishes.Service was good, though the woman refilling the water spilt everywhere every time she refilled. Tyler was exceptional and we enjoyed him!!The gin cocktail was incredible and delicious. Very unique.Bathrooms were not reflective of what this restaurant needs to be recognized for. Investing in rehab would be beneficial to their brand.Overall, the food was worth it!“

“One of the best places in town. The fixed course menu is flexible and the wine pairings were a delight (and presented well by staff). We sat at the counter in full view of the kitchen (the cooks seemed unflappable). As soon as we left, we already started talking about when we might come back. It was my wife’s birthday so they sent us home with cookies and put a candle on dessert. A lot of little nice touches.“

“Koshary - very flavorful rice based dish, twist of added macaroni was surprisingly good, fried onions toppings was pretty good too. Although the fried onions didn't seem freshly fried Spicy fried eggplant - Very unique dish with beautiful flavors. A wetter roasted eggplant, goes well with pita bread. Eggplant is super soft and juicy inside, with slightly spicy toppings, wrap it in a hot fresh pita is perfect. Molakheya - chicken is very soft and tender, with seasonings well preserved in the meat. It comes with chicken vegetable soup, interesting sour flavor. Baklava - it's perfect. You can feel the layers crunchy and melt in your mouth with right amount of sweetness Staff are very friendly!“

“I love falafel , whenever I can I go to a different place, and this place has the best falafel sandwiches I've ever had, but unfortunately the service wasn't good, when I arrived there was only one other person waiting for the order, and they took a while It took a lot to prepare a simple sandwich where everything was already ready, so that left me a little disappointed.“

“This is the best Mediterranean restaurant I have ever been to. The kabobs are perfectly seasoned and are the real deal. The hummus is amazing. It has an almost whipped texture and is very fresh tasting. The yellow rice is great, too. Usually I love to drown all my food in tahini sauce, but here I barely use any. I don't want to mess with the food. It's perfect as is. The staff is super friendly and the prices are reasonable, especially considering how big the portions are. I definitely recommend giving it a try“

“Truly excellent. I totally see why this place is so highly rated - it deserves more reviews even!I went here with my sister on a random Sunday for some Mediterranean food. We passed it by a million times but never knew it existed in this small strip mall! The person working the front is one awesome guy. I’m not sure if he’s the owner (he gives me owner vibes) but he was so personable, attentive, hospitable, and welcoming. Such a gracious host!The food was phenomenal, period. The hummus was so creamy and seasoned nicely, the chicken was flavorful and juicy, the lentil soup was delicious, the salad was refreshing, and the falafel was crispy on the inside and so soft on the inside. Everything was very fresh and flavorful. We took what we couldn’t finish home but rest assured we devoured everything lol.There’s convenient parking right outside and even though it’s a relatively small place, there’s tables inside for you to dine in if you’d like.I’ll totally be back here again! 5/5!“

“New to the neighborhood, I was excited to try this place, and MAN OH MAN. It was so good. Classic comfort with a delicious twist. We got the Tahini Ranch Fried Chicken Sandwich, the Kefta Burger, and the Stuffed Falafel; not a dud in the bunch. The toppings and condiments that some on the burger and sandwich made basic diner food such a delight without feeling over the top. The real stand out was the stuffed falafel. I never thought of having a filling in a falafel, and the sweetness of the caramelized onions was such a delicious complexity to a classic Middle Eastern dish. Now I want to eat through the whole menu to find my favorites.“

“Went for the happy hour (W-F 4pm-7pm with $10 burgers, spreads | $10 cocktails, wine | $5 beer.Spreads were unique and fantastic, particularly the octopus hummus - grilled slices of octopus on a bed of hummus. Nice burger but would have been better if it had some fresh tomato/lettuce on it.Overall would definitely come back for the happy hour.“

“The food is incredible and well priced at every Pita Inn location but this location goes the extra mile. I think his name is Latif, but he is the nicest worker ever. Always checking in and asking how things are.We will DEFINITELY be back ??“

“Sinya just catered the 175th anniversary celebration dinner for our church. They were extremely helpful in the ordering and preparing phase...reassuring us that the portions identified in the group menu were plentiful...and I must say they really were! The food arrived on time, still hot, and delicious! We couldn't have asked for a more. My husband and I order from Sinya regularly for ourselves but this experience prompts this review for folks looking to serve large numbers of people.“

“This was one of my best experiences dining in the city. Very kind and friendly owner who made our experience all that much better. Food was amazing I would recommend anyone who’s in the city or nearby to come and visit this place. MUST TRY!!!“

“Trying Afghan food for first time…. and I love it. Roasted Eggplant with tomatoes & garlic yogurt . Tender not mushy & bitter, definitely for garlic lovers, then dumplings that reminded me of russian plemieni finally traditional Afghan rice with cinnamon & raisins ( not sweet at all) with veal. We finished with Afghan milk tea for dessert . Food in this place is delicious , but decor is minimalistic & basic. Very reasonably priced, friendly service. If you in area worth stopping by.“

“Went for my brother's graduation. Food and performance was great! Huda (our server) really took care of us. Had an amazing night, this is the place to be on a saturday night!!Parking: There's valet parking available. Stree(meter) parking is also available.“

“No pics of the food because i gobbled it down as soon as i got it. Amazing!! The rice was out of this world delicious! I haven't enjoyed a rice dish this much in a long time. So freaking good. The chicken and lula kebab were also pretty delicious. The flavors were on point, and the meat was incredibly juicy!! Definitely going back.Get the lunch special. It's worth it.“

“Place has an amazing smell of home cooking, clean and inviting atmosphere. Food was delicious, full of aromatic spices, beautifully arrange on the plates.Cup of Chai was a perfect final accent.Special thanks to talented chef ?Can't wait to visit this restaurant again!“

“Had a wonderful dinner here. Appetizers Hummus, baba GhannoujI and spinach Boereg were very good. I had the Trout with fine herbs which is always my favorite and it was delicious as usual. My friend had the Sautéed Lamb which was also delicious. It is a beautiful Restaurant with great ambiance. Our Server, Armando was wonderful. Cannot wait to go back again.“

“Pita Inn is consistent in quality and service. The business lunch special is great! I call my order in 10-15 min before arriving during lunchtime rush and it’s almost always ready when I walk in to pick up. There is plenty of parking in the back, no need to jam up Milwaukee Ave trying to find an open spot in front of the building. Perhaps management could place a sign showing that.“

“Decided to try this place since our usual place was closed. So glad we did! Excellent food, HUGE portions and good service. Love that the kabobs come with peppers and onions and not just the meat. It was a great surprise to find the chicken shawarma under the kabobs! (I just ordered two combination plates without really reading the menu.) Definitely trying more in the future.“

“My go to place when I'm craving Mediterranean. The food is beyond good. I typically get the combo plate and lentil soup. The grilled chicken is always seasoned perfectly, the grilled kefta kabab is very tender, chicken and beef shawarma is insanely delicious. Their lentil soup is packed with flavor- hummus is creamiest I've ever had. Service is friendly - ambiance is not the best but that's okay, the delicious food makes up for it. Highly highly recommend“

“Great service - friendly owner makes you feel like you are eating at home. I go weekly for lunch and order the falafel wrap. It's fresh, and the tahini sauce is dairy free. The falafel bowl is outstanding; with delicious yellow rice and a fresh salad. There's a sense of perfectionism, and how simple ingredients are executed. They have an amazing deal on Fridays four dollar sandwiches or wraps! Highly recommend.“

“Middle Eastern Kosher. We had a pleasant light lunch with pita sandwiches off the grill. Don't miss the Yemenite soup. They have a kids menu that was just fine for our three year old.Dietary restrictions: Kosher-meat-CRC certificationParking: Located in a strip mall with shared parking“

“I just have to say, the owner went above and beyond for us this afternoon after a mishap ordering through Uber eats. We thought that we ordered a buy 1 get 1 free chicken shawarma plate but were disappointed when we realized we did not hit the correct button to apply the promotion. When we called they graciously offered to deliver the second shawarma plate. Love their food and after this experience we will be recommending them to everyone we know!“

“THE BEST FROM ALL THE REST! YOU WILL LOVE THE DELICIOUS FOOD HERE! MAX, THE OWNER IS INCREDIBLY TALENTED AND SUPERB #1 VIP SERVICE! YOU WILL ALWAYS RETURN AGAIN AND AGAIN! YOU WILL LOVE IT HERE AS MUCH AS I DO! MY FRIENDS LOVE IT! MY FAMILY LOVES IT! SO DON'T MISS OUT! GO! TRY IT! AND YOU WILL SEE WHAT EVERYONE IS RAVING ABOUT; ?“

“One of the most amazing food experiences..from the welcome mezze platter to the Arabic coffee at the end…a complete dining pleasure! Food and drinks were amazing and plentiful and full of flavor… shewerma sandwiches and falafel and hummus and fries were all amazing… the garlic sauce was amazing… service was amazing and attentive..all the staff was inviting and hospitable… the decor and ethnic clothing gave this a true vibe..a night in the Middle East…“

“Ordered a beef schwarma dinner with a yogurt cucumber salad and coffee. My dinner was excellent. Our server went above and beyond, was warm, welcoming and polite.. And overall the atmosphere was nice. Only complaint is there was a considerable draft of cold air everytime the door opened.“

“Best persian food mA. Not a a 5 star thought because bathrooms give me a nasty vibe. Floors are always super wet and the soaked carpet is nasty.Edit: new location is nice, and bathrooms are clean (for now).Change the music, it's depressing and ugly.“

“I’ve never felt so welcomed, at a restaurant, in my entire life! Everything about this place is 100/10. If I could give them more stars, I totally would!! Highly recommend everyone to check them out! My very first time at an Iraqi restaurant & it beat my expectations by millions!! Beyond happy with my experience here, can’t wait to return. Mashallah“

“One of the most underrated lunch spots in the west loop / loop area! Great food and affordable. Dietary restriction friendly, and very kind staff / owners.The people there know me as a regular and remember my order, which I find very sweet. One time I left my scarf there during lunch and when I returned shortly after they had closed they remembered me and my scarf and let me in to retrieve it.Incredibly kind and lovely people with good and affordable food. It’s my “secret spot” I will share with anyone who listens!“

“We stopped here for breakfast with a friend and Hassna was wonderful, she answered all our questions about every dish and confection. Many of the Moroccan dishes i hadnt tried before so i wanted to try the stuffed Msemmen, fish pastilla, and shebekia. I really wanted to try basbussah, but it had Dairy in it which I have an intolerance to. We got all the and it was delicious! We also ordered Moroccan mint tea which was perfect. Hassna offered to teach me how to cook Moroccan food which was so generous and kind, I wish I lived in the area I would love to learn!“

“We were told by people that this IS the place to go for Middle Eastern food, so we had to give it a try.We were greeted as we walked in and I have to say, the folks here are the friendliest we've had. Now to the food...I had the Kufta Kebob and my wife had the Chicken Shawarma. The server brings out a Salad, a plate of Baba Ghanoug and a plate of Hummus. All three dishes were outstanding.The main courses arrives and I feel that it was the best I had ever tasted. The Chicken Shawarma was also delicious and the rice with the dishes were moist and flavorful. We will be returning to EZ Shawarma very soon to try out the rest of the menu!“

“Caspian Kabab has wonderful food with such a wide variety, there is something for everyone! The owner, Massoud, goes out of his way to ensure that everyone feels is happy and full! The sample platters are a great way to try a lot of different food. His homemade hummus, crabcakes, lamb kabobs, chocolate cake are the best and you have to try his tea! Thanks you, Massoud, for a great night out with the family!!!!! We'll be back!!!!“

“Jerusalem Cafe is like a cheat code for affordable, nutritious food in Oak Park. It's just about the cheapest place to get tasty salmon in downtown OP, and all the food is reliably delicious. I've lived here long enough to remember the restaurants that used to occupy this space, and I'm glad Jerusalem Cafe has stuck around.“

“Decided to try this place since our usual place was closed. So glad we did! Excellent food, HUGE portions and good service. Love that the kabobs come with peppers and onions and not just the meat. It was a great surprise to find the chicken shawarma under the kabobs! (I just ordered two combination plates without really reading the menu.) Definitely trying more in the future.“

“Do you hate the chicago version of middle eastern food like me? THIS IS THE PLACE. The shish tawook wrap is made with real pita - not that pita pocket junk. They have REAL GARLIC DIP. Not that weird brown stuff every place else has. This reminds me of some of my favorite restaurants in the suburb of Detroit.“

“The grilled Za’atar chicken rice platter (Za'atar spiced chicken over rice with cucumber and tomato salad. Served with hummus, pita and side of tahini) was delicious. The chicken tastes like it came off a charcoal grill. The falafel was okay but it looked almost burnt on the outside.“

“Tiba is under new ownership as of a few months ago, and it is*very clear*. They've completely renovated the interior, their website is very well done - and best of all, the food is delicious and the service is great. I'm already planning on how many times I'm going to come back with my family. I really wish the new owners the best and thank them for a great dinner!“

“Good authentic middle eastern food. The chicken shawarma and kabab are marinated very well. I recommend the chicken shawarma as a pita rather than the wrap. Falafel pita was also very tasty and pairs great with the tabouleh. All in all definitely worth it.“

“Wonderful neighborhood spot! I get lunch here a couple times a month. The food is always delicious, and the portion & variety in the specials is great. Everything ingredient is incredibly flavorful and fresh. Staff is also very nice. Highly recommend.“

“One of my favorite places back home- recommend to all! Amazing food, great vibe, fast service and usually not very crowded so peaceful.Wheelchair accessibility: Can get inDietary restrictions: Mom is lactose intolerant and never has an issue“

“Went for dinner with some friends and we all agree the food was delicious! The owner (I presume) was very friendly & accommodating to us all.Not only that, but he gave us all wraps to try as a possible new menu item ( we all say go for it, it was delicious! )Also, they make some of THE BEST tahini.Will be back for sure!“

“From the moment I stepped into North Avenue Falafel for the second stop on my Ramadining adventures, I knew I was in for something special. Opting for the combination special was a decision I’ll never regret. This platter is a culinary journey that brings the best of the Middle East to your table - featuring beef kabab, chicken kabab, kofta kabab, alongside a chicken shawarma sandwich that’s nothing short of a masterpiece. The chicken shawarma was exceptionally moist and flavorful, wrapped in a cloud of pita bread that carried every bite to new heights.But it doesn’t stop there. The accompaniments - rice, baba ghanoush, hummus, fatoush salad, alongside generous servings of garlic sauce - each added layers of flavor that complemented the main dishes beautifully. It was a symphony of flavors and textures that danced harmoniously on the palate.North Avenue Falafel has truly outdone itself, creating a space where food transcends mere eating; it’s an experience, a celebration of culinary excellence. The warmth and authenticity of this place are unparalleled, making every bite feel like a slice of home, no matter where you’re from.For anyone embarking on their own Ramadining adventure or simply in search of exceptional Middle Eastern cuisine, North Avenue Falafel is a must-visit. Their chicken shawarma alone is worth the trip, but it’s the whole package - the food, the ambiance, the hospitality - that will keep you coming back for more.“

“Restaurant Ambiance - clean, spacious, airy Service - 10/10 Food - Ordered pita wrap chicken. It was absolutely delicious. The sauces the chef gave were good but the shawarma was so good, it did not really need any sauces. It is important to me that the restaurant was HMS certified. If I am in Chicago again, I would I've to try their shawarma bowl!“

“A neighbor recommended Mr Shawarma and decided to give them a try. I ordered the fried shrimp and the chicken wings and they were fried to perfection. However the chicken wings were too salty.The place is very clean and the employees very attentive.It is located on a business strip so parking can be challenging. I live next door so I am lucky.I do recommend Mr Shawarma. Open everyday from 12 to 8 PM except Saturday from 12:30 PM to 6 PM.Parking: There is free parking on a strip mall but it is often busy. More meter parking on Wilson“

“Shawarma Garden is my favorite place to eat real food accurate, clean reasonable price and wonderful service with the personality of IssaDietary restrictions: Veggie, vegan, and Kony, but we’ll find anything that they need for the Nutrition and satisfactionWheelchair accessibility: Speed level just stepped inside“

“1st time here and the food was super yummy and authentic. Had falafel, kefta kabob, and lentil soup. The falafels were huge and nice and crunchy on the outside and rich and flavorful on the inside. The rice was savory without being sticky or clumpy and was delicious. The kefta was aromatic and cooked perfectly. And the lentil soup was deep and rich.Every dish had deep rich flavors and tasted fresh and authentic with a variety of tastes and textures and spices.Will definitely return to try more dishes.“

“I came here with my mom and we had a pretty good experience! You first order at the front then they call your name out to go get your food when it's ready. You also have to get your own silverware and napkins. The place itself was nice and clean. The cashier was really nice and helpful when deciding what to try. We ended up getting a mixed grill and a gyros sandwich which fries. The mixed grill was HUGE cause it comes with two types of rice and 2 salads. The meat itself was okay - some of it was a little dry but they have so many sauces so it makes up for it! We also tried the falafel which was amazing - highly recommend trying it! My mom said both the gyros and fries were great!! The prices are a little on the expensive side - mixed grill was about $30 so I think the pictures of the menu on Yelp are quite old. You do get pretty good sized portions so still worth it.“