It’s a no-nonsense room with no-nonsense service and a no-nonsense menu—and yet, for quick, dependable Middle Eastern grub, this tiny restaurant makes perfect sense. The lentil soup has an addictive peppery flavor, and it threatens to fill you up. But leave room for the creamy baba ghanoush and hummus, and especially for the lamb kebab wrap, a thin pita stuffed with full-flavored ground-lamb patty, parsley and tahini. (You can skip the overly thick beef shawarma wrap, though.) Picking up a piece of baklava here may seem odd, given that the Middle Eastern Bakery is right across the street, but since you’re being sensible, why make an extra stop?
Chicago's best Middle Eastern restaurants run the gamut from hole-in-the-wall falafel joints like Taste of Lebanon to sunny sit-down restaurants like Semiramis, where you'll find platters of meats, rice dishes and hummus. Plus there are quick lunch options in the Loop, like Falafill, which has a giant condiment bar, and Naf Naf Grill, which serves its Mediterranean dishes with freshly rolled pitas. Here's where to head when cravings for the cuisine strike.
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