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Name: Dawali Mediterranean Kitchen
Address: 1625 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL, 60614
Telephone: (312) 944-5800
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 4.32

Dawali Mediterranean Kitchen

1625 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL, 60614

(312) 944-5800
Store is closed

Dawali Mediterranean Kitchen Menu

Soups

Lentil soup

Soup Of The Day
Sides And Sauces

Fresh Cut French Fries*

Grilled Vegetables

Rice

Falafel

Pickles

Pickled Turnips

Feta

Hot Sauce

Curry Sauce

Garlic Sauce

Tahini Sauce
Drinks

Hot Tea

Arabic Coffee*

Fountain Drinks
Salads

Village Salad

Fattoush Salad*

Jerusalem

Cucumber Yogurt

Tabbouleh

Salad Sampler*
Appetizers

Falafel*

Hummus*

Zesty Hummus*

Baba Ghannouj

Ful Mudammas

Qudsiya*

Masakas*

Kibbeh

Grape Leaves

Appetizer Sampler*
Bread Pies

Lamb

Spinach

Jiben

Feta Cheese
Desserts

Baklava*

Knafeh

Crème Brulee
Sandwiches And Wraps

Falafel Sandwich

Classic Falafel Sandwich*

Chicken Shawerma

Classic Shawerma

Shish Kabab Sandwich

Kufta Sandwich

Grilled Veggie Sandwich

Sabich*

Shawerma Wrap

Veggie Wrap
Entrees

Shish Kababs

Shawerma

Kufta

Shrimp

Fish Of The Day
Classic Entrees

Hummus*

Veggie Saniya

Veggie Galaya

Galaya

Falafel Plate
Make Your Own Combination

Chicken Kabab

Lamb Kabab

Chicken Shawerma

Chicken Kufta

Beef Kabab

Shrimp Kabab

Beef Shawerma

Beef Kufta

Spicy Chicken Kabab

Healthy Meal suggestions for Dawali Mediterranean Kitchen

Soups

Lentil soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Soup Of The Day [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sides And Sauces

Fresh Cut French Fries* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Vegetables [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Rice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Falafel [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pickles [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pickled Turnips [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Feta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hot Sauce [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Curry Sauce [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Garlic Sauce [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tahini Sauce [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Drinks

Hot Tea [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Arabic Coffee* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fountain Drinks [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Salads

Village Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fattoush Salad* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Jerusalem [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cucumber Yogurt [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tabbouleh [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Salad Sampler* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Appetizers

Falafel* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hummus* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Zesty Hummus* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Baba Ghannouj [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ful Mudammas [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Qudsiya* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Masakas* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kibbeh [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grape Leaves [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Appetizer Sampler* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Bread Pies

Lamb [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spinach [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Jiben [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Feta Cheese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Desserts

Baklava* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Knafeh [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Crème Brulee [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sandwiches And Wraps

Falafel Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Classic Falafel Sandwich* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Shawerma [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Classic Shawerma [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shish Kabab Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kufta Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Veggie Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sabich* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shawerma Wrap [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Veggie Wrap [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Entrees

Shish Kababs [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shawerma [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kufta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shrimp [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fish Of The Day [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Classic Entrees

Hummus* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Veggie Saniya [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Veggie Galaya [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Galaya [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Falafel Plate [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Make Your Own Combination

Chicken Kabab [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lamb Kabab [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Shawerma [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Kufta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Beef Kabab [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shrimp Kabab [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Beef Shawerma [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Beef Kufta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spicy Chicken Kabab [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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Write An Anonymous Review

Tammy L.

I really enjoyed my visit to Dawali before seeing The Doyle and Debbie Show at the Royal George. My friend and I split the vegetarian appetizer platter, veggie grape leaves, and each had a bowl of the lentil soup. All of the food was very tasty and fresh. The hummus was nice and creamy, the baba ghanoush was smoky and flavorful, and the falafel was good. Not the best I've ever had, but yummy. I'm not usually a fan of grape leaves because it seems like they're always too acidic, but these were nice and mild--very enjoyable. I really liked the lentil soup--it would be so comforting on a cold day. Also, the portion was really generous! We were stuffed and our bill was about $30, I think. When this friend and I go out, we usually end up spending a lot more. :) The service was friendly--I would definitely go back!
(4)
Janice W.

It's funny - I went to the Dawali on Halsted and thought it was SO AMAZING. Seriously, I'd drive out of my way to get it. So when I saw they had one much closer to home I was thrilled. I've tried it a couple of times and it's just not nearly as good. Both times I got Chicken kabob with rice. AT the Halsted location, the rice was perfect - light, fluffy, seasoned just so. And the chicken was incredibly juicy. At the Albany Park location, the same dish was a bit more average. I still like it but I'd be eating there much more often if the food was as good as the Halsted location.
(3)
Andrew L.

Best mediterranean in the city!
(5)
Jeanine H.

Almost as good as the one on Kedzie
(4)
C G.

Hands-down the BEST Mediterranean/Middle Eastern restaurant in Chicago and it's BYOB! I take-out frequently for lunch, and also go for a romantic evening with my wife or with large groups of friends for a fun night out. The zesty hummus is unbelievable and I've never had a better chx shawarma. The staff is also always attentive, quick, knowledgeable, and friendly. The atmosphere for dinner can be loud, as the tables are close together, and it adds to the fun experience. I HIGHLY recommend Dawali!
(5)
James C.

I went to this place after seeing favorable reviews. We had a show to see at Steppenwolf, so we wanted a close restaurant that would be quick. The restaurant was a great choice. Food: Very good chicken shawerma. It was tender and cooked nicely. Some of the pieces got a little hard to eat at the end, but that was likely do to how slowly I was eating it. Good portion size. The fact that it's BYOB is a big plus. Atmosphere: Very casual. It adds to the charm though. Service: Prompt and friendly. Not too overbearing. Price: Very affordable. Overall, I would recommend it to a diner who is either in a hurry or wants to try something tasty and casual.
(4)
Jessica P.

I will definitely come back to Dawali. The food was excellent and the prices are incredibly reasonable. The atmosphere is very casual, few tables but friendly staff. Our waitress was extremely helpful and accommodating when we mentioned my finances seafood and nut allergies. She promptly pointed out everything on the menu he should avoid. I don't have much experience with Mediterranean food, so I can't comment on the authenticity but I really enjoyed my meal and the falafel was delicious! I think they also offer take out!
(5)
Dan P.

The wife and I went here before a play at the Steppenwolf theater. The service was fast and friendly. The food was delicious. For a long time, we have not had a standby pre-Steppenwolf restaurant. This place may now be that restaurant. We started with what was essentially a purÃ©ed fava bean dip. It came with pita bread and was delicious. I had the chicken shawarma sandwich and the wife had the chicken shawarma plate. Both were good. My sandwich came with what appeared to be a yogurt sauce of the type that Greek restaurants put on gyros. The server recommended getting appetizers next time because we told her how delicious the fava bean app. was. We will certainly be back and will consider her advice.
(4)
Shambavi K.

We came here at an odd time at 4pm on a Thurs. it wasn't lunch or dinner so the place was empty. Service was fine but seems unneeded since we didn't order too much. We just got 2 sandwiches which came with a little dish of tahini sauce: -the classic falafel - this had a different take from other places because it had eggplant and cauliflower in the sandwich. wasn't too crazy about the bread itself otherwise it was good. -the classic shawarma. - the meat was a bit skimpy. I expected the pita to be packed in more. It's no Pita Inn, like the chain in the 'burbs that I love, but it's still a good option for this part of town when you want something different. From NYC perspective, this would get 2 stars for the pitas not being packed for the price or the taste... like it would be in east or west village. I still hope to come in and try other items.
(3)
Jeffrey C.

There are lots of baby stores round these parts, so we always end up finding ourselves cruising with a kid, semi-exhausted and scouring for lunch places. There's not too many things I like more than a good lentil soup, which is how we ended up at Dawali for lunch one day. The Yelpers aren't wrong: Dawali makes a dang good lentil soup, amongst other things. We totally overindulged for lunch, also getting a very good hummus, a cucumber-yogurt dip (their proxy for tzatziki), in addition to a wrap apiece. You'll be happy to know baby really enjoyed the dips. Their wraps are stellar, amongst the best I've had in Chicago. The generous top layer of vegetables surely helps, but the pita is soft and fluffy, and the meat well-seasoned and tasty. Dawali is a very solid lunch spot, and despite the proliferation of our order, very cost-conscious as well.
(4)
F.C. B.

We've gone there twice to order vegan sandwiches, and both times the food has been excellent. For the appetizer platter the waitstaff substituted vegan options for the normally-included feta for us, and the staff was quite friendly in general. And the sandwiches themselves are very good; the falafel sandwich with bonus eggplant is excellent, probably the best I've had. And much cheaper than I'd expect for that quality of food. The other dishes I've had here have not been quite as good as the sandwiches, so I might just order two sandwiches if I'm there and especially hungry at some point in the future.
(5)
Jessica C.

I mean 2 stars by the yelp definition "Meh. I've experienced better." Two things were great, the rest either meh, or just BAD. First of all, service was good, probably 4 stars there - attentive, helpful, no complaints. The ambiance is ok. It's cute, but not really well done - it's rough around the edges and the kitchen is pretty visible considering it's not very fancy/open grill. The good: Excellent hummus, with wonderfully flavored olive oil on top - definitely the "good stuff" - no problems Lamb Bread Pie - I ordered these for my husband, and you get two little ones for 3.95. I didn't have one, but he said they were excellent. Another person tried some, and agreed. I trust their judgment. The meh: Pita bread was fine. Pita Inn, for all its shortcomings, has MUCH better pita. The pretty bad: My husband's chicken shawerma wrap was borderline bad. It was strangely sweet and there was waayy too much cinnamon in the spice on the meat. I really tasted nothing else. I have to compare here to other wraps, and even compared to Shawarma Inn (which I didn't give a great review to), it was pretty meh. I know it's grilled, so they can't really add veggies...but maybe they should to perk it up and get rid of the sweet taste (and not grill it) The bad: Galaya - Lamb OMG, bad. The lamb was so chewy it was inedible - literally inedible. And I found a hair. I should have sent it back, but there were 8 of us, and I didn't want to make a scene. The rice was just blah. I saw the other meals served - didn't try, so I'm not basing my star rating on it, but the chicken looked poached/boiled rather than rotisserie and properly charred. . So, yeah, 2 stars. I really would NOT want to go back, and if I do, I'm sticking to appetizers.
(2)
Katherine A.

This place is so, SO good! It's not in my neighborhood, but is worth going out of the way for.
(5)
Aaron Jae M.

Pros: Very close to the North and Clybourn red line stop BYOB - beer and wine only Accepts credit cards and takes reservations Delicious food Cons: None My go to here is the house falafel. They add in a extra ingredients and it really takes an already tasty falafel to the next level. It also goes for only $6 which is a steal for both your wallet and your taste buds.
(5)
Lauren K.

I found this place on yelp and thought it would only be appropriate to leave a review! The food was great, especially considering the price. I was a big fan of the hummus and falafel. The portions are on the larger side. I went with a friend and we got the appetizer sampler and schwarma to share -- so it was more than enough for both of us. The service was good, our waitress was very attentive and have some good recommendations about options on their menu. Ambiance is nice too -- I will definitely be coming back!
(5)
Adam S.

This is my favorite eatery in this neighborhood, I eat here about once a week. Every time, it's either their falafel sandwich or chicken shawarma sandwich, depending on my mood. No matter what my entree is, however, I always get their fries. Their fries are seasoned and always flavorful and definitely enough for two people to split a single order.
(5)
Nate L.

I was supposed to hit this place up for the Office Hours..... Sorry but I don't know if I can make it! I felt bad for at least 10 minutes until the Appetizer Platter. We started with the Appetizer Sampler - sampler of hummus, baba ghannouj, ful mudamas, masaka's and falafel (3 pieces, that sucked). It's big enough for 3 very HUNGRY people. I'm pretty familiar with the Arabic/Med types of food (although I don't remember the names of the dishes) since I've lived in Gulf area for over 3 years. Hommus - Pretty good, little too runny for my me but the whole chickpeas added a nice texture to the dish. Falafel - Pretty darn good! Crispy on the outside, and the flavors just explode in your mouth! I had to eat it fast since there is no way in hell i will give up the 3rd falafel to my co-worker. Ful Mudammas - Not bad. Not my favorite though. Baba Ghannouj - I seriously think they sprinkled crack on them bad boys because that stuff is addicting. Texture can be a problem for some since eggplant is somewhat mushy and cold. Lamb Galaya - Their tomato based sauce is just rediculous, lamb is soft, succulent and just melts in your mouth. Only thing though, they do have peanut shavings in it. I would've been in big trouble if I was allergic to peanuts. It doesn't say anything about that in the menu. Not sure if they A/C was working but they have this industrial size fan that makes alot of noise. I can only imagine how hot that place will get if it was packed.
(5)
Kristin S.

Went here after seeing a play at the Royal George. I had the ful mudammas, which is fava bean puree with garlic and lemon. It was not my favorite. It had a very different taste to it, perhaps my palate is just not sophisticated enough.... I also had the falafel, which I thought was mighty tasty. Their pita was average. We also had the baklava, which was average and the knafeh, which I did not care for. It seemed a bit custardy and nothing like the other I've had in other restaurants in the US and in Turkey. Had a great coupon though and thought for the price, not a bad deal.
(3)
Brett C.

Classic falafel has potatoes/fries in the pita with the falafel and veggies, I think that's all that needs to be said! BYOB TOO!
(5)
Rebecca B.

Being both tasty and affordable, Dawali quickly won my heart. Dawali is a welcome addition to the neighborhood with falafel, hummus, shawerma, lamb bread pie, and stuffed grape leaves, all of which are delicious. They make both my stomach and my wallet happy. And the fresh cut fries! Let me tell you about these fries! My co-workers and I refer to them as "crack fries" because they are dangerously addictive.
(4)
Will N.

Nice place. Great hummus, quick service. Too bad it doesn't have more windows (feels kind of like a cave). Great just before a show at the Steppenwolf.
(4)
Chicago N.

This great new Middle Eastern restaurant just opened last week and it is already my new favorite. I went with my family for dinner and the food is great, they were very accommodating to kids, the price is right and it is much nicer than your typical Chicago Middle Eastern place. I didn't get to try everything (yet), but here is what I would recommend - Lentil Soup is outstanding and a bargain. Also, the hummus and baba ganoush are great. We ordered the hummus and baba with the half dozen falafels. Please don't miss the falafel. It came out perfect. Crispy on the outside.....hot and delicious and the inside. We also had the tabouli which was served on whole leaves of romaine lettuce. Nice presentation and very good. At that point, we had probably only spent $17 and were starting to get full. But I had to try the chicken kabob. We ordered the plate which came with a small salad, rice and a good amount of chicken for the price. It was excellent! The Shawarma looked great but we could not eat any more food. Portions are good. The servers were also very friendly and the overall service was good.
(5)
Tosha J.

This place is fantastic! The service was great and the food is absolutely amazing! My favorite restaurant went out of business years ago and I have been on the hunt for great beef shawerma ever since. I finally found it here! It was seasoned perfectly and they give you large portions. Again,in addition to the amazing food our waitress was friendly and attentive as well. I can't wait to go back and try the rest of the menu!
(5)
C K.

Outstanding middle eastern food, friendly and attentive service, and so inexpensive! Appetizer sampler will please everyone; we asked for zesty instead of regular hummus and it was a great choice. If they have pumpkin creme brÃ»lÃ©e, jump on it! Picked up a cheap bottle of wine at Whole Foods and enjoyed no cork fee; walked away totally stuffed and completely happy for $30 for two of us. This is our new spot for pre-Steppenwolf dinner.
(5)
Patti N.

I absolutely love, love, love, their chicken schawarma wrap! I smother it in their OMG garlic sauce and dip it in their extremely delicious lentil soup! They deliver, which is a big plus for me, I want to eat this every day! LOL! There's another one at 4911 N Kedzie.
(5)
John Richard D.

Delicious, authentic, healthy meals. Apparent under-staffing made for slow service.
(3)
Michael B.

Finally had the opportunity to give this place a shot after the rave reviews. I must say that I was impressed. I took my order to go on a Friday night and shared the lentil soup, broccoli soup (soup of the day), half dozen falafel, and the chicken shwarma wrap. Everything was excellent! The soups were amazing and came with some pita to dip into. The wrap came with piccles and a couple of different sauses to try. Although it sounds weird, the pickles were a nice touch that took the wrap to the next level. Finally the falafel...oh the falafel....crispy and delicious! The entire meal was $17 and we have plenty of left overs for tomorrow. I cannot wait to go back and try the full dining experience BYOB style.
(4)
jame s.

Tasty and fast. We've been here twice and each time the service was prompt. We ordered the falafel each time and the first time it lacked the necessary savory quality. When brought to the waitress' attention, we suggested she try one and she agreed. The chef came out and acknowledged they forgot an important ingredient. Very decent people. This place is a good value and worth the stop. The second visit we snagged the yelp deal....why not?!? We noticed a couple who were sitting at separate tables and appeared to do the same. It takes all kinds, I guess.
(4)
Julia C.

FINALLY! a non Italian restaurant on the 1600 block of Halsted!! I was so excited to see Dawali was open, after seeing the the storefront come to fruition over quite a bit of time. Checked out their menu online first and was so surprised to see how cheap it was!! My favorite quick bite combo is the 2 spinach pies and small baba ghanouj. SO tasty and it's under $6! Though I've never actually dined-in, the vibe inside is LOVELY. Calm and peaceful, but plenty of tables to tackle a pre-Steppewolf show crowd. Great all around!
(4)
julie q.

We had delivery from GrubHub. The hummus was EXCELLENT. So fresh and mild tasting. But three stars because they gave us the wrong sandwich. And the beef/lamb combo tasted like they doused it in vinegar for 36 hours before serving it. Much better mediterranean places to go...Probably won't order again.
(3)
Adam C.

Loved my meal here. I went for lunch on the suggestion of a coworker and was glad I did. I had the chicken shawmera sandwich and it was awesome. Tender and not dry at all. They also brought me some hot sauce. The service was top notch. Highly recommend you try it.
(5)
Stephanie A.

I've been looking for a good sharwarma place since I moved to Chicago from southern California. And I love this place. I ordered the baba ghannouj and the chicken sharwarma with hummus plate. And I fell in love. This is my new go to place. And the prices are very decent especially because you get a lot of food.
(5)
KM I.

Great food Great people Jiben pie, hummus with meat, kanefah, baklava, everything here is fresh and delicious
(5)
Nazy H.

Definitely not my cup of tea. Ordered a shawarma plate, 2 kibas, and hummus. Everything had the after taste of old oil. Quite disgusting and the meat was dry considering everything was soaked in oil. The kiba, which is one of my favorite apps was the worst. Horrible texture and really bad after taste of meat soaked in old left out oil. I really don't know how else to describe it. There are way better middle eastern places like Nesh! thats in the area that is wayyyy better, edible and delicious.
(2)
Sandy S.

YUM! This place has it all for excellent, cheap, tasty eats. I went with my hub after a matinee at Steppenwolf (which is right across the street - Dawali seems to be a popular hangout with casts and crews from the theater as several people from the production we saw were either there or walked in after we were seated). The restaurant itself is new construction on the inside, simple, bright and very clean, nice little details like the subtle middle eastern-esque wallpaper and small festive lights hanging from the ceiling and a few framed pictures. Tables/seating was "glorified deli/cafe" but with table service. The bathrooms were SUPER clean (sorry, but I always have to check out the comfort stations!). We ordered the small baba ganoush (plenty for 2 to share) and the grape leaves (5) which were super tasty. We each had a sandwich, I the shwarma (sp!) and hubby the falafel. Both were great, savory, well seasoned. Service was speedy and everyone seemed super sweet and competent. Best of all our entire bill was $20 including tax. Not bad, not bad at all!!! If we're ever in the 'hood we'll definitely stop in (unfortunately they don't deliver to Evanston - damn!).
(5)
Danielle B.

Unreal. Good. Wow. My boyfriend and I stepped out for a nice walk and came upon Dawali and we left happier than ever for trying out the newest hot spot to hit North Avenue since the Apple Store. Not only is the place BYOB but the prices are beyond reasonable for some of the tastiest dishes this side of the Mediterranean. I would recommend the sampler appetizer platter - who are we kidding? Variety is best. You'll melt in your chair after tasting the pita bread alone, mix it in with the hummus and the grilled veggies, delicious. I ordered the lamb kabob, and can safely say this may have been the tastiest lamb I've had in my life, seasoned simply with the house rub. You won't regret your experience, and plan on rescheduling a visit very soon.
(5)
Eliza T.

I did not expect this place to be so amazing. The service was awesome, the food was incredible, and so affordable. Two falafel sandwiches, a lentil soup and a coke for under $15? Amazing. Nice atmosphere too, I can't wait to go back again.
(5)
Natalie E.

This place was tasty! We decided to check it out because of the $5 for $10 deal on yelp and we were thoroughly satisfied. I ordered the falafal pita (sandwich?) and my husband ordered the chicken. We went around 2 or 3 and it was pretty empty, maybe one or two other tables had customers. But the service was good and our food came out quickly. Aside from the waitress mixing up our plates and us not noticing until I bit into some chicken (I'm vegetarian), we definitely enjoyed our visit and recommend the pita sandwiches.
(4)
Star L.

I love hummus. When I found out it was mashed up chickpeas years ago, and that it can be used in place of mayo for a healthier sandwich, I was hooked!!! Since I am back in the Windy City, I wanted to find some good, quality hummus. After looking at your reviews, I decided to check out DMK. I love that it is located mere minutes from the North/Clybourn Red Line station, as well as Steppenwolf. I was there on a Saturday early afternoon, and there weren't a ton of people inside. I was seated quickly and given a menu. Wait staff consisted of two people, and one of them also served as greeter/cashier, so it took some time before my order was taken, but I didn't mind. I was taking in the quiet atmosphere and people watching. I have heard of falafel, but never knew what it was made of. It takes me a while to try new things, but I am on a mission to step outside of my comfort zone with food. So when my server arrived, I told her that I wanted hummus, but also inquired about their falafel. She took the time to tell me how it was made and what it consisted of. She also suggested that I could try one (.50) instead of buying a plate full. I decided to give it a try. Presentation of food was nice. I was surprised that for a small order of hummus/pita bread (5 total), it was more than enough for one person. The taste was not bland, but not super salty or overly full of garlic--it was a good mix of flavor. As for the falafel, I am not quite sure how to describe it: initially it tasted like a hush puppy (outer crust), but inside it didn't taste like...anything. I don't know if falafel should have a distinc taste or not. However, for .50 I am not complaining. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't something that had me wanting to get more (I will say that I am not a fan of the tahini sauce for dipping). My meal was less than $4...you definitely can't beat that. I think I will return to DMK in the future.
(3)
Heather C.

My 2yr old and I went for lunch today. We shared the hummus and pita and a falafel sandwich. The food was great and the service was amazing. I will definitely come back.
(5)
Cait A.

Heavenly! Love this place. Nice atmosphere, reasonable prices, many vegan options, and our waitress was super hospitable & friendly. I recommend the hummus (duh), Jerusalem salad, falafel (duh), grape leaves, and obviously you wanna get some pita bread on the side.
(5)
Jason G.

Love it. This place is within walking distance of work and every time the food has been on point. The waitstaff is overly friendly (almost to a fault) but the food is worth the inane chatter. My favorite is the chicken shwarma sandwich and their hummus. Top notch for a great price. It's always pretty empty which makes me hope even more they do well at this location. Oh, I also have heard from coworkers that the fries are surprisingly amazing.
(4)
Kris R.

3.5 stars (down from 4) guysguysguys! i am an admitted frequent customer here. i still love the food and in fact, crave it every week. but this time, my feelings are starting to change and i'm started to get disappointed... last week, my coworker and i ordered our usual, chicken shawerma & a salad. it was nice out, so after we picked up our food, we ate at the apple store. open the bag... NO SANDWICH! AW BALLS! i was a little bit frustrated BUT, i went back, got my sandwich and they gave us baklava and a $10 gc. GREAT. definitely redeemed themselves!!!! happy customer! this week was different. i needed to eat healthy so i ordered the Jerusalem salad. the menu says (and under the salad section): jerusalem fresh chopped romaine, tomato and cucumbers with our tahini dressing. GREAT! so i order that, add chicken and feta. cannot wait for my SALAD! we pick up and they give me a "side" of the "salad," NO ROMAINE! this is more of like a topping, or a side (the stuff that they sometimes put in falafel sandwiches, i guess), rather than an actual salad. i call over there and let them know. the server, whom i've met many times was as helpful as she could be, but basically, they said if you order to-go, it comes with no romaine. THEN SPECIFY THAT ON THE MENU! i was super disappointed and pretty peeved. they said i could come back and get the romaine, but i did NOT want to. i had been back last week twice and wasn't up for it again. the disappointment keeps coming week by week. next time, i'll be sure to check everything in the bag before i leave. :( :( :(
(3)
Ramya P.

Still maintaining the title of "best falafels in Chicago" for me. Please try the hot tea with mint/sage... Its therapeutic!!
(5)
David R.

Dawali is very near work and it never disappoints! You can't beat the lunch deal and the food is awesome!
(4)
Corinne S.

Solid Mediterranean for a fair price. The appetizer platter was delish and they even let us sub tabouli instead of falafel.
(4)
Elizabeth W.

Some of the best falafel I have ever had! Their chicken shawarma is also really tasty, although I'm disappointed by their rice - it's pretty bland. I ordered the roasted vegetables and found them to be pretty oily. The cheese and spinach pies are incredible!
(3)
Temi C.

Dawali has the best falafels I've ever had. They're crispy on the outside and moist in the inside. Plus, a dozen will run you less than $5. I've tried a variety of the sandwiches and I think the chicken shawerma is my favorite. It's not the processed meat kind of shawerma, but marinated chicken breast cut into slices. Ask for extra garlic sauce. As for the other items, I think the rice and hummus are just ok. Prices are reasonable. The lunch special is $8 and includes: sandwich, fries, and a drink (if you're dining in). BYOB.
(4)
Daniel C.

I don't care about ambiance or decor. I want fresh and well prepared food. Dawali is my first choice when I want some wonderful Mediterranean/Near East grub! I love it!
(5)
Michelle L.

You must have the Chicken Schwarma wrap. It's deeelicious. And if get the hummus get the small portion. THe large portion is still too big for 4 people. The lentil soup is one of the best I've had. The place is cheap and it's byob. Eaten there or ordered out atleast 8 times and never had a bad meal.
(4)
Nikki L.

Deeeelish!! I enjoyed the food, the service and the prices!! I will definitely be back!
(5)
Penny D.

I am in love with this place, even though I wasnt overly impressed with the food and I only had delivery. The people who work there are the nicest people I have ever encountered. The woman on the phone was very nice and my food came in record time (like 30 mins). The delivery guy was incredibly nice too. I misheard the total on the phone and was $1 off. When I told him I'd go get him more of a tip, he told me to just not worry about it and was happy with what he had. Wow. NEVER heard that before. On to the food - the hummus was pretty good, very creamy but maybe a little too much oil on top. The baba was good. The falafel was really good. On par with Taza or Baba Pita. The pita was fresh and they gave SO much. My salad was alright but the feta on it tasted a little off to me - like maybe a little too smokey or blue cheesey. Maybe it touched something else. I dont know. I usually love feta. Otherwise, my meal was good. I'd love to try it again and get some of the meat or chicken dishes. I'd also really like to go check out the restaurant. A little good customer service goes a long way so Dawali will definitely stay on my list.
(3)
Lynnda P.

This is my go to place for amazing Middle Eastern food. As a former Michigan resident, I had become somewhat of a hummus fiend while there, and Dawali is the best I've found in Chicago. The hummus with portobello mushrooms is so flavorful and a nice combination of flavors. The lentil soup is phenomenal and is beyond hearty. I am eternally grateful that they are right around the corner from work as you never know when the hummus monster will strike.
(5)
Stephanie C.

Food was delicious! Met the owner and he seemed pretty cool, too. LOVE that it's BYOB.
(4)
Linda K.

I am never let down by this whole in the wall. Average looking plays and decor,however WONDERFUL fresh food and $20 goes really far. I never leave hungry and I'm always impressed by how good their hummus is. Great place to head with a big group of people for BYOB. Waitstaff is real nice too. I always get a craving to head back every other week or so.
(5)
Fahim F.

This place one of the best!!!
(4)
dev p.

terrible service, they have inconsistent food. Delivery left part of my order and manager did not rectify. I will not go back.
(1)
Billy M.

I loved this place. The prices were reasonable and the taste was great. Thanks Dawali.
(5)
Christina R.

Talk about flavorful food!!! Being Greek I know a little something about Mediterranean style food. It's safe to say I can be picky about it - but when I find a good spot with food that hits the spot, I'm a happy camper. My friend and I shared a bowl of lentil soup and a small baba ghanouj, both were equally delicious... and the pita bread kept coming. Kind of like when you eat too much chips and salsa at a Mexican restaurant, except with a spicy roasted eggplant puree dip! I ordered the lamb galaya and boy was it tasty! Lamb cubes stewed in a tomato sauce, how can you go wrong?? I drizzled the spicy tahini over for a cooling kick. Absolutely delicious and enough to take home for a second meal. My friend ordered the lamb shwarma and it was delightful. She almost cleaned her plate, that's how tasty it was! We can't resist a sweet ending to our meal so we got a baklava and a bird's nest with lemon curd in middle, topped with fresh berries. Both were divine, but we couldn't bring ourselves to finish. My friend even mentioned how she normally doesn't like lemon curd, but she enjoyed the bird's nest (which is basically shredded phyllo dough shaped like a nest). Best part? TWO apps, TWO entrees and TWO desserts was only $30!!! Flavorful food and a small bill at the end of the meal will DEFINITELY bring me back!
(4)
Kristin C.

Really great Mediterranean food at excellently cheap prices. The hummus was good (but not as good as Maza) and the falafel balls were superb. I also had the chicken kabob - delicious! I love the fact that Dawali is BYOB - a rare gem in an unsuspecting spot. I will be back for sure!
(4)
Min G.

awesome spicy hummus!
(5)
Reuben S.

Delicious, fresh, and inexpensive food in a lovely setting! My husband, 12 yr old son and I went to Dawali last night before the movies at Webster Place. The food was very fresh, service was very friendly! We brought a bottle of wine, which they chilled for us. We all loved our meals, and had lots of great appetizers too, including hummus, baba ganoush, spinach and cheese pie and cucumber salad, all yummy! Great options for vegetarians. BYOB really keeps prices down. The atmosphere is tastefully simple, welcoming and comfortable for a casual bite, but also somewhere you can go before or after the theatre, and not feel over-dressed. Oh yeah, the place is spotlessly clean too! Will try and go back soon.
(5)
Kristine L.

Dawali is a great casual dining restaurant with delicious food, quick service and great prices. I've tried several things there (all great), but keep going back to the chicken schwerma sandwich. The chicken is expertly seasoned and very moist. The pita it is served in is very fresh. I also love the hummus! It is so creamy and yummy! I've also tried the lamb schwerma, ful madammas, spinach bread pie and falafel -- all were fantastic, but I can't get enough chicken schwerma!!
(5)
Courtney A.

Great middle eastern food, creative presentation, great service (and in my neighborhood). Really enjoyed the meal and will definitely come back soon.
(5)
Rebecca H.

So popped in for a quick lunch with my sister, was very surprised at how large and nice the place was on the inside. The server was super friendly, the food came out pretty fast. We tried the jiben bread pie for the first time and it was heavenly! The shape was beautiful, the dough perfect, and the cheese was mild and a great fit. It was too bad that was the best part of my lunch.... After reading all the reviews I was super excited to try the falafel, but it was not very tasty. The part I really didn't like was the giant cauliflower in my sandwich, eek, not my favorite, totally turned me off. I have never had that in a falafel sandwich, or eggplant for that matter, which also made an unhappy appearance. All could have been forgiven if the falafel was fresh and spicy. Not so. The lentil soup was ok, not very much flavor overall. The pita bread was nice and fluffy and the hummus was creamy and added a good touch to my sandwich. Can I go back to the jiben pie? So yummy. Not sure why the rating was so high on here, maybe I got in on a bad day. I would give it a second chance because I have a falafel addiction and if I'm shopping at CB2 I just can't make it to Sultan's market in time, but thats about it.
(3)
Han Y.

Awesome middle-eastern restaurant. Great food, great service, at a very reasonable price. I'm definitely going back there more often. Just a quick tip, chicken dish is very dry, so go with shrimp, lamb, or beef.
(5)
Jalal J.

Fresh Fresh Fresh ...Try their Chicken Kabob to me its the ultimate but doesn't mean the rest aren't better..I love their Shwaerma as well as Falafel..I wont write more because your experience will speak the rest ..I recommend it , price was very convenient ..its their first year and every day I like it more I want it more than twice a day
(5)
Bill T.

Wife & I went here last night with a restaurant.com coupon & were quite satisfied. While the menu is far from adventurous, containing only familiar middle eastern dishes, all were quite good and plentiful. Note that this place does not serve alcohol. We ordered an appetizer sampler plate, which came with hummus & pita bread, 3 falafel balls, some kind of been dish & another dish that looked a bit like hummus but wasn't (should've asked, but didn't) & roasted eggplant & tomatoes. Very good & very filling; we agreed that we would be taking much of our entrees home before seeing them. My wife ordered an arabic coffee & the lamb hummus appetizer. She loved the coffee & said the entree tasted very good, but noted that the lamb was a bit fatty. This dish consisted only of the lamb & hummus, along with another basket of pita bread. I ordered the 3 item combo, & & picked a beef kabob & beef & chicken shawarmas. These came with basmati rice, a few roasted veggies & the same veggies in a cold salad, plus 2 sauces. All again was very good, although I received only 2 pieces of beef with the kabob. However, the plentiful beef & chicken shawarma made up for it. The service was quick & courteous. This little restaurant is a across the street & a doors south of the Steppenwolf Theater & would be well worth a visit before or after seeing a show.
(4)
Maryam S.

This place is definitely worth a try. We went there last night just because we wanted mediterranean food and the best thing that came up on yelp was this. Well, we weren't disappointed, that's for sure! The environment is pleasant and our waiter was a delight! He was helpful and attentive and had a big smile! What else would you want in a waiter?!;) I got the falafel sandwich (the classic with cauliflower) and it was really good. The sauce came in a deprecate little container on the side which made me happy for two reasons: 1) I had control over the amount of sauce I wanted in my pita sandwich and 2) the sauce wasn't that great. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't bad but not worth the calories! We also got curry fries with curry sauce and stuffed grape leaves for the table. The fries were the star of the show! They were incredible! The grape leaves were ok (I personally think that Persians make the best stuffed grape leaves around!). hubby had the chicken shwarma and he enjoyed it. All in all, this was a good find on yelp and we will be visiting again!
(4)
B B.

Excellent service, high quality food, great portions, well prepared. What more could you really want? Highly recommended.
(5)
Chester W.

This place is great! I've always been a fan of middle eastern food and was excited to try this place. I only grabbed a lamb schwarma with hummus (I definitely recommend adding hummus) and thought it was excellent. I also recommend trying their coffee. It's definitely different, strong but sweet.
(5)
Thomas G.

First time having Middle Eastern food. Was very impressed!
(5)
Loren E.

We are not from Chicago and we were looking for a great Mediterranean restaurant near Michigan Avenue. We came across Dawali from all the great Yelp reviews, and we loved it! It was only 10 minutes away by car in Lincoln Park. The food was great and our server Sebastian was very friendly and attentive. The small hummus was tasty and not too garlicky and was plenty for 2 of us. We had the salad sampler and let me tell you it's a lot food and incredibly yummy. For dessert, the baklava was out of sight ... my wife liked it so much she licked the plate clean! Thanks for great food and service. Next time we'll try the French fries with curry dip...yum!
(5)
Cecil S.

Better food at Roti or Pita Inn
(2)
Kareem A.

Went for lunch. Good sandwiches. Great seasoned fries. Used the 5$ for 10$ deal. Plan on returning
(4)
Sam K.

I've never had less than a five star experience at Dawali in the six to seven times I've been. The staff, chefs, and owners are amazing (especially Lea and Sam). The service is attentive and helpful, and the food is seriously the freshest Mediterranean I've ever had. My boyfriend is Lebanese and he and his family have high standards for their favorite foods - they always leave here raving over how good it is. With super reasonable prices, new menu items all the time (they recently added spicy hummus - so good), and great deals through yelp and restaurant.com , this place really can't be beat in their category. I recommend: Jiben bread pies Fattoush salad Chicken shwarma wrap (grilled w/ the garlic sauce) Salad sampler (for a group) Kefta Kabobs Lentil Soup Most importantly: bring your stretchy pants, because you'll want to try everything.
(5)
behnaz h.

as far as mediterranean food goes in chicago, this is the BEST i've had. I myself and middle eastern and VERY picky. Also, this is my first review... I just had to rave about it! I've been to dawali a number of times Things I've tried: falafel sandwich falafel platter side of fries (OMG.. the dipping sauce? from heaven) beef shawerma wrap lamb and chicken kabob combo kibbeh spinach pie tea with mint everything... perfect. i highly recommend this place!
(5)
Ash K.

It's a new place that's close to where I work & has really good food. I tried Chicken shawarma with fresh hummus and the meat was cooked to perfection.
(5)
Andrew H.

Grabbed some food to go from here, so I can only really speak to the quality of the food. I had the lentil soup, baba ganouj, and tabbouli. All of the food was solid, but the baba was particularly scrumptious. Smokey and full flavored, it was honestly some of the better baba ganouj that I've ever had. I'll be back to Dawali, and I'm glad to have them in the overpriced Lincoln Park food scene.
(4)
James Michael S.

Price/quality here is what makes this place a 5 star. Great food and very inexpensive. Lentil soup was perfect.
(5)
Hooshna A.

The best falafel I have ever had (among other things). Really, you can't go wrong with anything you order here. The fresh ingredients and the recipes are awesome. The restaurant is also clean and well-decorated. SUPER cheap for the quality and portion size. I'd recommend it to anyone.
(5)
Bernie H.

I work down the street. Love the restaurant, and it is def a GREAT change from all the italian that I can't eat because I am GLUTEN FREE. The girls and the kitchen staff are really friendly. I think they are still getting the ball rolling, because every time I order they don't have something I want or they mislisted an item on the menu as an entree. Also the girls are super sweet but they haven't quite got it down yet, my order is always missing something. But I can never get mad b/c they are so nice! So there have been some confusing moments but I'm rooting for them!
(4)
Colin M.

Service was incredible. Brought a bottle of white in a grocery bag that they immediately whisked away and put table side in ice. Far more fancy than the $11 vintage. Also substituted sliced veggies for pita at our request without question. The consistency of the hummus, creamy and silky, is remarkable. Try the lamb hummus plate, as the smoothness of the hummus and the savory spice of the lamb compliment each other perfectly. I had the kabobs and they were quite flavorful. Bought the yelp 5 for 10 deal tableside and used it minutes later without any problems. The Lady and I left the restaurant buzzed, full and very content
(5)
Lisa T.

Sooooo glad this place opened...... a new favorite. Very well done decor and friendly staff..... blah blah blah, you know you just want to hear about the food :-) Amazing falafel, which is no small feat. Crispy on the outside which great texture and flavor. Excellent pita, which I consider a MUST HAVE at a good mediterranean place. Creamy, flavorful hummus that was garnished with a few whole chickpeas which I always think is a great touch. The falafel plate is an EXCELLENT value.... for like $7 you get 6 falafel, a portion of hummus, and a side salad (pita comes with everything). The lentil soup was also excellent and I can imagine it to be even more satisfying in the dead of winter. I will be a frequent diner at Dawali!
(5)
Cheryl S.

The reviews are right-on, this is definitely a four and a half star place. I had to take one star off becuase it was VERY noisy, which wasn't so much the restaurant's fault as the table of drunk cougars, but it would have been nice to have some music playing to drown the noise. We started with the spicy hummus which was very flavorful and containted the perfect amount of spice. We also had the lentil soup whcih was thick and hearty. It was difficult to choose an entree but my husband and I both went with the pita sandwichs, his with lamb and mine with roasted eggplant, hummus and Greek salad. YUM! The pita was fresh and delicious and the hummus was just the right touch to blend the flavors together. Our server was great and the owner himself brought our food out and checked on us serval times. Such a nice guy. Our total bill came to only $22 and I had a Yelp deal which brought it down to a mere $12. A steal. We loved the food so much that we picked up a carry-out menu on our way out!
(4)
Dane D.

Amazing fries and great prices.
(5)
Trish G.

It's awesome. I work nearby and it seems like at least one of my coworkers or I order something from here everyday. It's so tasty and so reasonably priced, there's really no reason not to try it. Its byob, no corking fee, so bring along a bottle of wine and get the baklava for desert. It's small and cheap and delicious.
(4)
Chris F.

Great food and service, very affordable
(5)
Stephen S.

We were killing time before the play across the street. We had the hummus and the ful and both were very good. The coffee was good as well. The service is prompt and friendly. We will return in the future for a full lunch. Definitely worth a stop if you are in the area.
(4)
Alex C.

Have gotten this place twice for delivery. This last time was really great. The delivery guy was in cook's gear and explained that they were a bit short handed. I informed him that I loved their food and that the spinach pies and feta pies were incredible. Rarely do you get the cook delivering your food and I liked it. The hummus, Shwarma, dipping sauces, everything was an A+. Always a great experience.
(5)
Robin D.

Picked up some to go items here like the chicken shawarma on a bed of hummus and the galaya which is a veggie dish. It was OK but ive had much better med food aka Rezas. The hummus was not that good and the veggie dish was just ok. The girl who answered the phone to get our order was very helpful. The quantity is generous. Im not sure if id go back. For me it was just mediocre.
(3)
Melissa L.

I'm not a yelpper...but time after time Dawali does everything right and I want this place to make it! This place is amazing and a welcome gem to Lincoln Park. BYO for more than beer and wine is a must as I only drink vodka. It's definetly my go-to for carry-out and they deliver as well! The food is always packaged nicely and done correctly. I've probably had Dawali delivered 30+ times. There was a missing sandwich only once and they made a fresh sandwich and brought it to me immediately! AMAZING. If you're planning on eating in the restuarant, I've always had great service. The servers seem to be happy and they haven't gone through a bunch of waitresses which is so nice! Because the same waitresses are there, they remember me and how I like my food. I've enjoyed everything I've tried, the service is always great, and the atmostphere is calm even during the busy theatre hours. Each dish has an invidividual flavor and seasoning. The vegetables are always extremely fresh! A few favorites.... Lentil Soup Salad Sampler..perfect amount of each salad so you can get a great variety of flavors. Kufta Kabob Shawarma Wrap with Chicken...to die for Do yourself a favor and get hte baklava
(5)
Hebob B.

Great food. Excellent service. Clean environment. Very affordable prices. Will definitely recommend to friends and family. Can't wait to go back.
(5)
Matt T.

reasonably priced, quality food, and clean restaurant. Great food for the price.
(5)
Gabriela A.

food was great!
(4)
Robert S.

One of the best flavor+value places around. Fantastic Mediterranean fare across the menu. You can't beat the prices, either, and it's BYOB. Right across the street from Steppenwolf; they'll even hold your wine/beer for you while you're at the show. Try it, you'll love it, and you'll be back again.
(5)
Beth P.

My favvvorite restaurant! Kabobs and Schwarma are delicious and their hummus is the best I've found in Chicago! Major pros: BYOB anddd they deliver! Perfect! :)
(5)
Mike G.

Best Mediterranean in the city.
(5)
Earl R.

I was in the area and was searching for a falafel sandwich when I noticed this new addition to the Lincoln Park area. My friend and I selected a good spread, including spinach pies, falafel plate, shwarma sandwich, baklava, and lentil soup. Everything was top notch. The service was very friendly and helpful, despite being alone and having to manage five tables. On the way out, I realized that this restaurant is the new branch of the original spot, and everything made sense. The Halsted location has a great feel, excellent prices, and everything was very good. Highly recommended!
(5)
Elc E.

We went there at 8:30 on a Thursday night. Place was empty. My partner had the pick-two entree with beef and chicken. Also came with a salad and rice. She asked for medium-cooked beef; it came out a little overdone. The salad came drizzled in some not-so-tasty dressing. Rice was not fresh. I had the hummus with chicken entree; it was okay. I have definitely had better. They did not tell us that the hummus plate was enough for two people. It came with three pitas. I wouldn't go back.
(2)
Food Maniac M.

We have eaten from here twice now. Good place. Shawerma was a little dry (but flavor is amazing), kufta was moist and delicious, and they didn't cook our kabob to specification (asked for medium rare but got medium well to well) but it was still really moist and flavorful. Great flavor all around.
(4)
Kitty R.

Solid middle eastern find in the Lincoln Park neighborhood! Very friendly staff and food was outstanding! I recommend trying the zesty hummus and their falafel were among the best I've had anywhere. Fattoush salad was excellent, too. Will definitely dine there again!
(5)
Jeanne F.

Last night, my guy and I were looking for a place to go to before a show at the Royal George. We searched Yelp and decided to take advantage of a Yelp deal going on here and what a pleasant surprise. The wait staff was friendly and fast. Dawali is a great casual dining spot with reasonable prices and excellent food!! I would highly recommend the Classic Falafel, Hummus and the Lamb Shish kabob sandwich which came with a yummy garlic sauce that I could have drank. Also, do not miss the seasoned fries with a curryish sauce - Amazing! We will definitely be going back.
(5)
Annie D.

Visited here with my sister for the 1st time based on recommendations from friends. The Box Office at Royal George was also recommending Dawali when I picked up my tickets. We ordered a variety of things to sample including lentil soup, mushroom soup, hummus, bread cake, kibbeh, the Village salad, and 2 desserts. Everything was amazing, and priced quite reasonably. Our server was so helpful with questions about portion size and how different items are prepared.
(5)
Sherri K.

The food here is phenomenal. I had the spicy hummus, which was spicy and delicious, especially with the fresh pita. Chicken Shawerma sandwich was seasoned perfectly. I will definitely return here again to try more menu items. I loved the atmosphere as well. Small, nicely decorated, clean, comfortable. Service was great as well!
(5)
Jaclyn C.

im A HUGE falafel fan and have tried it at many places through out the city, however this is forsure my new favorite! i paid under $10 for both my falafel sandwich, delicious lentil soup and tip. thats about the same price id pay at a fast food joint for falafel and fries! my friend ordered fries and they were hand cut and covered in herbs, YUM. this place was super cute, clean and our waitress was super attentive. i couldnt possible be happier. this place would be great for lunch like we did or a cheap dinner date. food is high quality, great atmosphere, good prices.
(5)
Sunshine H.

I'm Middle Eastern and I can tell you the place is pretty solid. I had the chicken shawarma and it was very flavorful. We also shared the tabbouli and lentil soup - both good. The only thing was I had to add salt to the food. Nice atmosphere. Good prices. Definitely will go back.
(4)
Rachel A.

Loved this place. Came here to eat w/ a group before seeing another great Steppenwolf show. I just had to try the hummus and ordered both the regular hummus and spicy hummus ( made with red peppers). Loved both especially the spicy hummus. Entrees all looked good. Had the beef kabob, which admittedly is pretty standard but they did it well. BYOB so bring a bottle of red. I'll be back & am happy to see they deliver.
(4)
Hilary M.

Happy the moved into our neighborhood. Great place to get fresh mediterranean food at reasonable prices!
(4)
Mark G.

This place is fantastic--Chicago has needed a Middle Eastern restaurant like Dawali. The food is higher quality than most Middle Eastern restaurants, but not overly expensive. I have found the lamb/beef Swama and the kababs to be fantastic. I have been going to Dawali once a week since I discovered it a few months ago. Everyone in my family loves Dawali, even my little kids.
(5)
Jennifer C.

delicious falafel sandwich, nice sized portion and good price! Love the seasoned fries. Very clean inside and the service is fast and good.
(4)
Joel P.

LISTEN UP, Chicago! IF you like Middle Eastern food, and IF you like to get way more than your money's worth, and IF you are not crazy, then GO to this restaurant. The quality of the food was excellent, authentic, fresh and cheaper than sin. This was my wife's and my first visit, and we decided to go after the Halsted crowd fled the street's restaurants for Steppenwolf, and when we got there, there were no other diner's ON A SATURDAY NIGHT. BUT, we were amazed by the food and hope you go to keep this 2 month old restaurant in business because it needs to survive so we can make a habit of eating there. DON'T BE STUPID! GO EAT THERE! You'll love it; and can believe me 'cause I'm a foodie with fabulous taste. By the way, a dinner for two with a huge tip cost less than a single course at Alinea down the street (also an awesome restaurant).
(5)
Celia L.

This is an amazing value!!! The Mediterranean food is so fresh and delicious, it seems like you're eating in an organic, locally-sourced restaurant. It tastes homemade in the best sense of the word. The restaurant is extremely spacious and clean, with a casual atmosphere. The service is quick, friendly and helpful. Go for take out or eat-in. An excellent place to sit and talk for as long as you like---the servers/owners are happy to have you stay. This is the kind of restaurant that is needed in every Chicago neighborhood. byob.
(5)
Ccc C.

The lentil soup was really good and the bread was good. But the chicken kabob I ordered was dry and my friend ordered the combination platter. His beef was fatty and the chicken schwerma was dry. We will try it one more time probably. Why is it so hard to find good middle eastern food in chicago. We will probably go back up North to Semiramis for good middle eastern food but its so far.
(2)
Shruti M.

honestly I've had better greek food....grape leaves were good, but the shwarma was on the dry side. nicer inside than most greek places though and the prices were good.
(4)
Randy K.

awesome middle eastern food. excellent service and great atmosphere
(5)
Mary K.

Fantastic little BYOB, couldn't be more reasonably priced. We had a group of 4, we all ordered either a sandwhich or a dinner, plus two apps and a soup. With a $10 off coupon (that I had found on yelp deals for $5) our dinner with tip was $7/person! Thats rediculous...everything we had was very fresh and very good. Would go back in a heartbeat!
(5)
Christopher J.

Came here on a Sunday afternoon with my parents, my sister, and her two kids. We made reservations for six and they already had the tables pushed together when we arrived (they're not normally set up for groups of six). Started with an appetizer sampler and extra falafel, then my folks had various shawarmas while I had the veggie saniya. Not to mention the BYOB wine. (The kids had fries and sodas and nibbled on a few other things.) Great food, friendly service, good prices. Cozy little place, too.
(5)
Aiya A.

This place is by far the best Mediterranean food I have had throughout the city of Chicago. Walking in we were greeted and seated immediately by a friendly, welcoming staff. The food had just the right amount of spices and everything was served hot and fresh. The portions are very big and extremely satisfying. 5 stars!
(5)
tatiana c.

I'm lucky to have this gem around the corner from my house. I discovered it by accident and am so glad that I did! I've met many friends here for dinner and have gotten take away many times as well. Their hummus is delicious (and according to a friend from Jordan, the best she has had outside of Jordan) as are the rest of their dishes. From falafel to their wraps to the spicy chicken kabob. I haven't had anything on the menu that hasn't been delicious.
(5)
Lisa N.

I've only ever ordered for takeout, but the falafel pita is delicious and only $5!
(5)
Michael V.

Went to Dawali with a friend on a Friday night around 9-9:30. There were only a few tables occupied so we had our choice of sitting wherever. This place is BYOB, which is great! We brought a bottle of red wine to share. It's a pretty small restaurant, just north of the North/Clybourn red line stop and has a homey feel to it. We started with the small humus (good for 2 people) and the grape leaves. For entrees I got the chicken schawarma and my friend got the beef kufta. Everything was pretty solid. They give pretty generous portions for relatively cheap prices. My friend is used to home-made Lebanese food and thought this was just okay but my tastebuds aren't that refined and was satisfied enough with the meal. Overall, this is a nice, quiet place to grab some Mediterranean food in Lincoln Park/Old Town.
(4)
Erin Y.

Great spot for lunch or casual dinner. Food is quality and affordable. I enjoyed the baba ganoush, chicken shish kabob sandwich, and baklava. Especially enjoyed the garlic sauce that came with the sandwich. Ingredients seemed very fresh. Honestly, it's a great deal. I'm a fan!
(4)
Andrea H.

We checked out Dawali for late lunch. The restaurant is moderate sized, clean, and tables well spaced. I liked the art and pieces on the wall, but otherwise it felt like a pretty average take out space. I assume they do steady business given the high yelp ratings and the fact that there was a moderate crowd on a random weekday at 2:00. Byob is a nice perk for sure. Service was friendly and attentive. The food was really just okay though. I'm not sure what all the rave reviews are about because I've definitely had better middle eastern food in the city. We started with baba ghannouj, which was pretty good. I ordered the beef shawarma wrap, which was a miss. Fiance had the pick 3 platter with chicken kabob, beef kabob, and chicken shawarma. The meats were pretty tasty, but nothing extraordinary. The best part at the end was the price; definitely more affordable than other similar establishments.
(3)
Justin B.

While the pita was a bit dry and not always served that warm, the food, prices, BYO policy, space and service bring it home in a big way. Dawali is a favorite of a friend of mine so we brought a group of six for dinner last night; the Zesty Hummus was spicy, my Classic Falafel sandwich was good and these prices are ridiculous for a sitdown restaurant in this neighborhood (I mean, you really could spit in a high arc and hit Balena or Alinea, just a short distance away). The six of us got six entrees, two orders of appetizer bread pies, and the hummus, and the total with tax and tip was $66. WTF!!!! If my pita bread that came with the hummus (and the falafel sammie, which also had just average bread) was even decent, this is an easy five-star review. Since we hold preview series tickets at Steppenwolf across the street, we'll be back for sure!
(4)
Sarah P.

An overdue update to four stars. The chicken shawarma wrap with garlic sauce is phenomenal. It seems so simple and is so juicy and flavorful and my new addiction. Dawali has a great casual atmosphere and whenever we go, even on off hours, there are people there eating. Although the entrees are tasty the wraps are otherworldly. Our servers are always pleasant and attentive and the restaurant always smells so good when we walk in. Fangirl. Dawali is a go-to favorite spot of mine.
(4)
William N.

To start things off the decor of the place is very cozy the lighting gives the place a nice glow that's not too bright or dark. We came with 3 people we each had a lentil soup and shared the appetizer plate which contained hummus and falafel for all 3 of us. I ordered the 3 combination entree with spicy chicken kabon, lamb kabob (adds a 2 dollar charge), and chicken shawarma. To me the lamb and chicken shawarma taste very similar to most Mediterranean places, but what tasted delicious was the spicy chicken kabob, it contained a great spice with a nice kick for people who love spices.
(4)
Nari H.

We ordered this via GrubHub and always come back. Portions are large, their hummus and meats are very good, and the front desk was friendly. I checked out the ambiance inside while waiting for my order and saw that the interior presents a very nice setting (good place for a date!). I didn't like all the salads we got, but the cucumber with yogurt and the cucumber/lettuce/feta cheese salad were both pretty good. I would recommend this place and come back. Meat-wise - I would recommend going with chicken rather than a red meat selection. Have yet to have a meat portion selection that I like.
(4)
Mia C.

I have had better shawarmas elsewhere. Between our orders, I got to try the Chicken Shawarma, Beef Shawarma and the Kofta Kabob wrap. Out of these 3, the Chicken Shawarma was the best. Meat in the beef shawarma was fatty. Kofta Kabob although good, is relatively small and may not be suitable if you are very hungry.
(3)
Eliannah S.

I was anticipating trying this restaurant and I was hoping I wouldn't be disappointed. I'm Middle Eastern so I know what the food should taste like for the most part (food varies by region). We sat down and the waitress was very nice. We order our appetizers and our food. The appetizer's came out and they sat on our table well after we were done. The dinner came out but there was no place to put the food because nobody cleared our table even after we were done with the appetizer. The waitress came, food in hand asking who had which meal. I suggested clearing the table first so there would be a place to set down the entrees. In regards to the food, I was not impressed. The falafel were tasteless, the rice was cold and bland. The fries were great but I didn't come for the fries. It was my first visit and my last.
(2)
Joel S.

Very good traditional Mediterranean food at a surprisingly low price considering the location. He lentil soup was great. The falafel appetizer was fresh made. I will come back again for sure.
(5)
Cecil H.

Super tasty, super cheap, clean, nice atmosphere, friendly staff: what more can you ask for? We got the veggie wrap (really yummy), and the classic falafel sandwich. It was $5.75 and really good. The pita is fresh and the falafel flavorful. The cheese hand pie was a bit underwhelming, but not too shabby either.
(5)
Joe R.

My favorite middle eastern restaurant in chicago. I've been to kurah, nile, maz, cedars, albawadi, rezas, naf naf grill, etc. The food is tender, really reasonably priced, byob, and very fresh. Best lentil soup ever. Good service as well.
(5)
Ryan C.

Had one of the kebob pitas, which was really good. Probably the best falafel and lentil soup I've had in quite some time. I initially wasn't going to get the lentil soup as I'm not a fan of brothy soup. However, their lentil soup was more of stew and very thick. Loved it. I highly recommend coffee to top it off. The service is great, too. It does get extremely loud when the place is packed. If you are trying to have a conversation, it's hard to hear over all of the echoing noise. And with kids running around screaming, it was rather annoying. (If you have kids that can't sit still or be quiet, get take out or have some control over your kids.) That really didn't ruin my dinner. The shallow and conceited broad that I went there with was the only disappointment of my visit, which I can't hold Dawali responsible for my poor choice of people that I meet. One of the owners was there and he talked to us for a moment, which was nice. Unlike my "guest", the place is classy. I look forward to going back...just not with "her." Bitter? Nah...
(5)
Victoria B.

I had the pleasure of meeting beautiful Chicago Yelper (and former DC Yelper), Amanda S here for lunch one Friday afternoon. The restaurant was empty sans one other table. We were greeted as soon as we walked in and shown to a table. The server was very nice and attentive. For appetizers, we shared the hummus, pita and greek fries. These were the best greek fries I've ever had, the sauce was amazing. The fries were hot and crisp and covered in feta and spices. For the entree, I got the chicken shawerma platter and Amanda got the chicken shawerma wrap/sandwich. Both were delicious although the shawerma platter came with a lot more food, to include rice and a salad. The chicken was juicy and flavorful. The best part of the meal was the price. You get a lot of delicious food here for a very affordable price. I definitely recommend this place if you are in Chicago. Can't wait to go back
(5)
Vivi Z.

THIS PLACE IS RIDICULOUSLY GOOD! I came here for my birthday with my boyfriend and we had an amazing time! We ordered falafel, pick 3 combo (chicken, shrimp, and beef kufta), and the lamb/beef shawerma. I love Mediterranean food and this place definitely did a good job! Price was just right for the amount of food you get. We barely had to wait on a Friday night and it was 8pm when we got there. We parked like 3 blocks away where we found free residential parking.
(5)
Leang E.

I've passed by so often that having come here I feel like it's a shame that I didn't come earlier. I'm glad my cousin and his friend were adventurous enough for us to try all the sampler platters - the salads, appetizers, and 3 meats. We also tried the lamb bread pie and baklava. There were 5 different salads - Tabbouleh, Cucumber Yogurt, Jerusalem, Fattoush, and the Village. All were very delicious and fresh. The Baba Ghannouj and Hummus had a unique texture and the flavors really stood out compared to other Mediterranean restaurants that I've been to. I can understand why there are so many positive reviews for this place. I really enjoyed the Masakas and falafels too. The Ful Mudammas was pretty good, too. We got the chicken shawarma, lamb, and beef. I was impressed that the beef was so tender and flavorful along with the rice. The pita bread was piping hot. What really tops it off is how affordable it is. Service is quick and both waitresses brought our foods out. The first one was a bit better as she explained what was what from the samplers.
(5)
Yvonne M.

Every time i have came in to this place i get the same equal and excellent service all the time. I work for a pretty big retailer down the street and Dawali is usually the top choice for my coworkers and i to have lunch. Its cheap and the food comes out really quick. You all should try their shrimp entre!!! Its flipping amazing! Its usually pretty empty when i go maybe two to three tables filled. The ambience is very relaxing. They always have a middle eastern playlist they play and its not intrusive its just relaxing. Come here give this restaurant business! They are one of the few establishments in chicago who deserve recognition for their excellent work.
(5)
Jessica M.

Went here before a Steppenwolf production, and it was the first of many treats of the night. The waitress and host were both very nice, friendly and attentive! The waitress offered us suggestions, and everything she said was spot on. We ordered the Hummus (A MUST), the spinach pies (a little too much dough, not enough spinach), a falafel sandwich (I liked this, but hate parsley and the salad mix they put in there kind of fights for attention with the falafel, but overall great falafel great pita and great hummus), and my friend ordered a spicy chicken kabob, which she liked, but said the chicken definitely was better when dipped in hummus. So moral of the story is get their hummus and put it on everything!
(4)
Aldo G.

What could I say that has not been said before. It's high reviews are true and well deserved. The food was tasty and fresh. Pretty busy so make reservations. Perfect spot to dine before a play at the Steppnwolf Theatre across the street. Service fast and friendly. I had the Lentil Soup to start - excellent. Then did not know what to choose for my entree many things looked good in the menu; so went for a combo of beef Kabob and Chicken swarma to give me a chance to try different things. Both had amazing flavors. The weak point was the beef pieces which were not perfect cuts so one star off for that. Loved the garlic sauce that came with it; the also included Tehini was just ok. Ended the meal with a delicious creme brulee - it was not huge but a perfect sized to end a very good meal. Very reasonable prices and clean (even the bathroom which says a lot about a place). My favorite thing was the Lentil soup. Well worth a visit and often too.
(4)
Hannah C.

I love this place. The schwerma wrap is the stuff of my dreams. Seriously, pickles, garlic sauce, and tasty meat wrapped in lavash? I'm a happy camper. Service is always fast and friendly, and they're very good about accomodating Steppenwolf patrons (it's just across the street!).
(4)
Shannon K.

Man oh man, why did it take me so long to discover this little gem? It's so good! The chicken shawerma is some of the best I've had. I've had it as an entree with basmati rice, grilled veggies, pita and some mind-blowingly good garlic sauce and inside a wrap. The entree is a well-spent $11.50 and if you're not as gluttonous as I am then it might even make two servings. If you need a quick lunch, then I would advise you to go the shawerma wrap route - your choice of meat (get the chicken) and pickles (go with it, it's a great combo) grilled inside a delicious flatbread with that delish garlic sauce on the side for dipping! OMG, the crunch from the pickles, the smokiness of the chicken, the grilled flatbread all dipped into that garlic sauce culminates into an explosion of flavors in your mouth. I balked a little at the $7 price tag when I thought about other stellar sandwich creations like Cafecito's jerk chicken or guava Q, but it's an exceptional wrap so I didn't grumble too long. I can't wait to try some other menu items. Yummy.
(4)
Stephanie C.

The chicken shawerma was delicious and the price I had to pay was the cherry on top! Service was average though...
(4)
Lauren D.

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE FOOD...'BOUT THE FOOD....'BOUT THE FOOD... I love this place like a fat kid loves chocolate chip cookies, ice cream or a huge bag of chips! Sleek, understated lines, large glass windows up front makes dining here an airy yet cozy affair, with all the emphasis on the food. This joint is not faustuous. We went here for lunch and met up with another couple. This is what we ordered for our appetizers: (1) Cucumber yogurt salad (2) Lentil soup and (3) two falafel plates. Each of us ordered the Lentil soup, which I have never had before. I was fine with being parorexia (no, dammit, not paranoid), because after all I am open to trying new things! The Lentil soup is 5-star worthy. It was rich, hearty, creamy and abask. Let's face it, in the end, it's all about the food...'bout the food..'bout the food! I highly recommend it as it hit the spot on a cold, overcast Chicago Sunday. I was super fain that I had this soup! Usually, the falafel we have had at other restaurants are not very impressive, and consisted of the three B's (bland, boring and burned). Falafel is a simple dish as it should be, but it was evocative and superbly presented here. It was crunchy crispy with a tender interior and incredible sabor. We enjoyed the sauce served with our falafel. The sauce elevated it to an ethereal level and made for the perfect amalgamation. We also ordered the stuffed grape leaves, chicken shawarma grill wrap, the lamb pita sandwich and the spicy chicken. Although this place is not super small, nor is it huge. Our dining experience was punctuated by the sizzle of the grill and the clanking of pots. The authentic Mediterranean decor was somewhat contemporary. It wasn't very polyphloisboisterous, which we appreciated. Our Server was hospitable, friendly and effusive. We were all super fain! The ratio of meat was proportional to perfection. The veggies were super fresh with a nice, crisp bite. We appreciated the Owner's philoxenia. We love that this restaurant is BYOB. If we would have come for dinner we would have indulged in several bottles of fine wine. However, it was lunch time, and I didn't want to wake up with a katzenjammer tomorrow. Maybe another time. ;D We all agreed that everything here is worthy of 4-stars, but we thought the Lentil soup and falafel deserved 5-stars. I think I walked out of here with a paunch belly, five extra pounds and more "junk" in my trunk! The couple we were with lived in NYC for 20-years, so they compared the food here to other Mediterranean cuisine from NYC. The four of us ate lunch for under $50 (excluding tip and tax). We enjoyed our lunch. The parking in this area is pediculous, so this is the reason for our final 4-star rating.
(4)
Mark H.

Sensible Mediterranean Cuisine. Whether you're taking in a play at the Steppenwolf theater, shopping at the local Mac superstore or just hanging out on Halsted in Lincoln Park, I'm sure Dawali's isn't the first place in mind for satisfying your appetite. I dare say... Discover the hummus....their version is def worth a try. Ignore the basic exterior facade or the lack of interior visual symmetry and flow, although admittedly I was hesitant at first. Glad I was coerced. Tried the popular hummus appetizer. Perfect blend of chick peas mashed and whole, spices, and olive oil that teases you to turn it into a meal. Kudos to the chef. Also sampled the chicken "gyro" shawerma and beef kabob. The chicken was succulent and the beef was very well seasoned. I was actually surprised. The yellow rice was OK and the salad is meh. Overall a win. Great lunch option or to-go pick. Check it out!
(4)
Moksha M.

Such good food. So authentic, fresh and down to earth. Loved the Qudsiya - the dip was delightful. No frills place with great flavor. Definitely going back again.
(5)
Michael G.

I eat here all the time and the food is generally good. The problem is that the service is terrible. I routinely have come in and half the tables are empty and they say they can't accommodate me because they have reservations later that night. It's not like it takes a long time to eat your meal here so I really don't understand them turning away customers, especially regulars. Zoe the main hostess is particular unpleasant. Management should really consider upgrading the staff.
(1)
Kat N.

Priced a little above average but that's prob due to the yuppies in this area near the great De Paul university! I'm trying a beef: * update, this beef shawarma wrap was very disappointing.. It was greasy and the meat was sliced thick instead of thin like it should be. It was tough - leather like: I could not tolerate eating it, had to throw away $16 worth of wraps. $not happy$:( This was a take out order. Also I ask several times for pickles cucumber lettuce and tomato: what I got was lettuce n tomato only . Highly disappointed:
(2)
Diana T.

This is the kind of place to go to for an easy meal and a good time. I could just end my review here with "It's BYOB" but this place is so much more than that. First, the staff. So unbelievably nice and attentive! Both times I've been there they've immediately asked if they could uncork our wine or chill the white that we brought. They are very helpful with their menu since it can be overwhelming. They are also really chill. I love that when they aren't waiting on their tables, they are just hanging out at a table in the back, chatting with each other. Yet somehow, I never feel like I'm trying to get their attention. Their relaxed attitude makes for Dawali a great BYOB location since I don't feel like I'm overstaying my welcome. I really can't say enough good things about my waiters. Both times I've been there, I've gotten the combination entree plate which comes with your choice of protein/vegetable (lamb, chicken, shrimp, etc.) and as my first waiter pointed out, you can get half-and-half. I get half-spicy chicken and half-shrimp, both of which have a lot of flavor. It also comes with rice, and you can substitute for grilled vegetables (it will cost you though, unfortunately). I love their pita bread, but am always too full from the rest of my dinner to eat it all. I wasn't a fan of the spicy hummus which left a weird aftertaste but the baklava was really good! The restaurant is super clean and I've never had to wait for a table. The staff is incredibly cool and the food tastes great for a good price.
(5)
Daniel N.

Happened to be in the area furniture shopping. 4.5 stars with hundreds of reviews caught my attention. I don't think I had raised expectations. The food just wasn't that good, particularly compared to other Mediterranean paces I've eaten. The babaganoosh was bland. The beef/lamb schwarma had a bit more flavor thankfully but still wasn't great. I even got a couple nasty pieces, yuck. The best thing about the place was the nice server.
(3)
Dave R.

The food was only 3 stars, but I'm giving them an extra point for very clearly and accurately indicating on the menu which items were vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, etc. Hummus -- 3 stars Tabouli -- 2 stars Falafel -- 4 stars Fatoush salad -- 3 stars Grape leaves -- 2 stars Pita -- 2 stars One thing to note: this place is BYOB.
(4)
Jeffrey C.

I like Dawali for affordable Mediterranean cuisine. It's pretty rare to find warm ambience and attentive service for a menu that has a mixed array of sandwiches and wraps. I especially liked the lentil soup, chicken shawerma wrap and the baba ghannouj appetizer. The veggie wrap with reliance on eggplant was a bit bland. In general, I'd like the offerings to be more savory and spicy.
(4)
Svitlana P.

It's a winner in my book, but let me break it down. Saturday night, my better half and I were running some errands in LP and got really hungry. Had sushi reservations at 9pm, but couldn't wait. Found Dawali nearby and decided to try. Didn't have reservations but got seated in 20 min. The place isn't huge, and is very popular. I'm assuming partly due to the fact they're cheap and BYOB. The food came out quick and was outstanding. Lentil soup with pita chips is unbelievable!! Cucumber and yogurt salad was pretty good as well. Now the classic falafel sandwich with roasted cauliflower and potatoes (fries actually) is making me hungry as I type this review, so yeah, it's amazing. The mint tea is actually black tea with dry mint leaves. Not bad, but I'd prefer real mint tea. So to sum up, 2 soups, cucumber salad, 2 classic falafel sandwiches and 2 teas came out to $32 plus tip. Definitely will be back again.
(5)
Yuehao B.

The place is okay but price is somewhat high. The ambience is good and food is served fast.
(4)
Hannah T.

Diwali is not only incredibly delicious, but it is cheap too!! I was stunned by the amazing quality of the food, considering the price can't be beat. When my family came in town to visit me, I wanted to take them here because it's my favorite restaurant! :) This place definitely exceeded my expectations. I would also really appreciated the staff, who patiently let a huge group of my friends stay and drink our wine for hours after we had finished eating. This place rocks!
(5)
Eli G.

Simple good middle eastern food. Great for a meal before theater.
(5)
Arturo V.

The meat in my classic shawarma was terrible. It made my entire meal unappetizing. But luckily I got to try the veggie saniya along with the rice which was amazing. Service was great and friendly. Might come back to try something else. Not sure what was going on with that classic wrap I ordered though...you'd think they'd make it right and not with bad meat if it's a "classic".
(3)
Romana Y.

Not great, but good. Good meats, simple rice, average falafel, good pita, and average sides (hummus/baba ghanoush/ tabouli). There are greater Middle Eastern spots, without a doubt.
(3)
Ashley L.

Came here in light of the many positive reviews of the Mediterranean food here. Ordered the chicken kabob entree ($12.95) and found it to be very filling! The chicken is well seasoned; didn't find anything memorable about the Basmati rice (which is quite short and thin) and the salad. The white sauce, which is reminiscent of sour cream), goes well with the chicken. One of my friend ordered the chicken shawerma entree and switched the rice with grilled veggies. The only vegetable I remembered the waiter mentioning was eggplant but if you are curious, they would be happy to share what they include. They also provide pita bread and allow you to take home the ones you don't eat. The establishment is quite clean and orderly as well. Overall, pretty satisfied with the food!
(4)
Kate R.

Yum!!!! If you are a hummus lover this is the place to be. Service was good and food was delish
(5)
Ameer A.

Great real Arabic food, the chicken is great and the shawarma is highly recommended. The price is a little on the higher side but still worth it
(5)
Anurag D.

The place is the best there is! Great flavor, their schwarma is juicy and flavorful. Also, don't forget to try a side of their hot sauce, there is nothing like it! Also, great service! Tsk, and it's BYO!
(5)
Nathan E.

Quick and delicious! Had the shawarma and Arabic coffee, both were great! It's a very large space but wasn't too busy. The staff were friendly and attentive. Would definitely recommend.
(4)
Eric D.

One word: Amazing! Saw Dawali as one of the delivery options when I had my Yelp map up and made note to myself that I needed to try it. Then today I saw the Check Please that featured them and we decided it was going to be our dinner tonight. We got the combination plate with Spicy Chicken, Beef kebab, and shrimp kebab, an order of hummus, 2 falafels, and the grilled veggies. Nothing disappointed! The hummus is some of the best I have ever had and it came with great pita bread. The falafel was money. Like fan-freaking-tastic. Great crunch on the outside, the inside was exactly the consistency you would expect, and the flavor had some depth. I've had good falafel before but this blew it away. Main dish- the beef was well seasoned and cooked perfectly. The spicy chicken had a beautifully spicy outside crust with a juicy, tender inside. It has this crazy orange/red outside and it definitely packs a spicy punch. The Shrimp was awesome. Perfectly cooked and the right spices. We definitely found our Mediterranean place. My fiancÃ© says we can never buy hummus from the store again, we have to order it from Dawali now.
(5)
Jo-Ella S.

A great BYOB spot across from Steppenwolf Theater. We've dined here twice in the past two months. Offers all the classics you'd expect. Well prepared, fresh and flavorful. The chicken shawarma is browned to perfection and served with a great garlic yogurt sauce. Lamb kabobs were cooked to perfection, smokey and flavorful. They offer a wonderful sage tea and small desserts. The creme brÃ»lÃ©e comes in a a cup sized for a tea party. Perfect ending to a pre-theater meal. Our only complaint was the small salad side dish that comes with entrees. Perfect size, nice addition of color and freshness -- but anemic on flavor. A small blip on an otherwise nice meal.
(4)
Nichelle J.

I went here for dinner a few days ago Saturday night. It was my first and by far probably one of the best middle eastern food experiences yet. I arrived around 5:30 with a table for five. We had no reservation but got lucky. We arrived just before the rush. The waiter was very friendly and patient with us throughout the entire evening.We probably changed our order at least 3 times. We started with a falafel appetizer. I really wasn't a big fan. It had a really bland taste even with the tahini, but it was cooked really well. The outside was crispy and the inside was soft. So I will just say it's an acquired taste. One I'm not accustomed with. For main entree I had a combination of Spicy Chicken Kabob, Beef Kufta, Basmati Rice & Side Salad. It came with Tahini & Garlic Sauce but I also ordered a side of hot sauce. I really enjoyed the spicy chicken kabob.I'm very picky about meat if it is undercooked or not well seasoned, I won't eat it. To my surprise the kabob was "well done" and had just the right amount of spice. I didn't like the Beef Kufta as much. It was cooked well but It was seasoned blandly just like the falafel. I tried to request it spicy but it wasn't possible according to the waitress. The Middle Eastern hot sauce really helped. I think it was Green Skhug. Whatever it was it's deliciously. I seriously plan on adding homemade Skhug to my grocery list now. The Basmati rice seemed dry and somewhat burnt to me but the other people at my table really seemed to enjoy it. So maybe I just revived a bad batch. It happens, it was quite busy. The side salad was good surprisingly. I'm not a big salad person but it was actually pleasant and had the perfect amount of dressing. For desert I had Baklava. It was extremely sweet. I had to eat it layer by layer. For some odd reason the taste kind of reminds me of Peach Cobbler. I think it was the crust. Our bill came out to $93 so a little under $20 each. Not Bad All in all, I'd give the place like a 4.5. I will defiantly be revisiting but I will probably go to the Dawali near Kedzie & Lawrence I read it has just reopened. It will probably have more of an authentic feel given the neighborhood. This Dawali is nice but the crowd is very uptown. Everyone was dressed in business casual attire. The only things middle eastern in this place were the food and maybe one of the waitresses. So If you're looking for authentic environment look elsewhere.
(4)
Krupa A.

This is my husband's and my favorite middle eastern restaurant in the city. The atmosphere is nice enough to bring friends and all the ingredients are super fresh! They have plenty of seating. I love their piping hot lentil soup(mmm it will the hit the spot as weather gets colder...). The servers are excellent and definitely remember faces! I always order the soup and usually a falafel or custom baba ghanoush sandwich. The appetizer platter is also very good. Their hot sauce is also fantastic (homemade and with a real kick, ask for it on the side if you like heat) They give you an ample suppy of pita bread. Their tea is also a really pleasant ending to a meal and the servers don't rush you out if you're lingering over tea/coffee. I've had their baklava( too small of a serving) and creme brÃ»lÃ©e, but I'd stick to the other starters/entrees and hot beverages. BYOB and vegetarian friendly!
(5)
Andrew W.

Banging flavors, great service. Ordered the appetizer sampler to try out the famed hummus and falafel, also grabbed the spicy chicken entree. Best falafel ever, loved the baba ghanoush as well. Picked up extra side of the garlic sauce, cause I slathered it on everything. To top it all off, there was only one lady (don't know her name but she had long brunette hair) covering seating and serving for the whole restaurant, but she managed to refill drinks as soon as we were empty, was super attentive, and so nice and smiley the entire time. We've been to much more expensive restaurants with much worse service - this place is exceptional!
(5)
Sheetal R.

I was sadly disappointed in the food. I had such high hopes. The falafel was a little mushy inside. The chicken kabab (regular) was cooked well. So was the spicy, but we didnt like the flavor of the spicy. We also tried the hummus, spicy hummus, and Baba. The Hummus (regular) was the best. For some reason, the seasoning they use for the spicy is not that appealing for me. I wanted to try the lamb, but we didnt get a chance to since we ordered enough food for the table already. The chicken sharma was just okay. We also tried the spinach and feta pastry pies, again not a lot of flavor. We wont be going back..
(2)
Rishabh A.

This place is a hidden gem on Halsted. The mediterranean food is good and authentic over here. We ordered Falafel and Chicken shawarma along with some sides. Both of these items tasted good. The only downside was that the pita bread was not warm and hence not freshly prepared. Decor and ambience is casual and server is helpful. If you want to try a different med restaurant and if you are closeby then definitely go for it.
(4)
T D.

Dawali has the best babaganoush and falafel in town. We eat here at least twice a month. The food and service is consistently good. If you enjoy lamb, you've got to try out the lamb kabob. It's delish!
(5)
Roseann M.

Lovely atmosphere, good service, reasonably-priced food, and a menu that notes which items are vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free -- I don't ask for much more from a restaurant. Add BYOB, and you've got a place I'll visit again and again. I was fairly confident, coming to Dawali, that this would be a good place. My Lincoln Park friend is a discriminating diner. Not pretentious, mind you, but someone who has standards. If she recommended Dawali, I'd have a pretty good experience. Arriving first on a very cold night, I found a table along the north wall, far from the door and the cold air coming in with each new arrival. Even that was a pleasant surprise, though. Dawali has the - I don't know what you call it, but an enclosed extra entrance that traps most of the nasty cold and keeps the restaurant comfortable. The atmosphere is Middle Eastern but not kitchy. The ceiling lights are in the Middle Eastern style, as is the artwork adorning the walls, but the tables and settings are modern. It all blends beautifully. Being the first to arrive, as usual, I ordered an Arabic coffee. This is available sweetened or unsweetened. I'm a middle aged American woman, so I ordered sweetened. It is served in a pot with a small cup. This is typical of what I've had before, also called Turkish coffee. It is very thick, intense, and sweet. I liked it. The menu very helpfully indicates which items are vegan, vegetarian, or gluten-free. I wish more places did this. It's nice that Dawali is so inclusive. It makes ordering a lot easier. My friend has been to Dawali before, and she ordered the beef and lamb shwarma. She loved it. If she wasn't such a Lady with a capital L, she might have picked up the plate and licked it. I wanted to try a couple items, so I ordered the Lentil Soup. Other Yelpers described it as the best in Chicago. Sorry, friends, it's not the best. Go to Meditteranean Kitchen in Lincoln Square or Royal Coffee in Rogers Park for the best in Chicago. Dawali's is good, but pretty bland. Still, on a cold, cold night, it warmed me up. I ordered the falafel sandwich. You can get a falafel sandwich that's a bit more grand, with eggplant and other foo-foo stuff. I've had falafel in a lot of places around the world. Dawali's is very good. A big pita, stuffed with perfectly cooked chickpea croquettes, with tomato, cucumber, and lettuce, and the tahini sauce served on the side. Falafel in the Middle East doesn't come with lettuce, in my experience, but this was very good, and very messy, the way falafel should be. I recommend it. We split a chocolate mousse cake. Not very Middle Eastern, but a restaurant does have to meet expectations of its customers. It was very good. Dawali is very good. I would definitely go again.
(4)
Khan K.

Ordered food in, it was not stellar. It was just satisfactory but nothing beyond that l, not the kind which would make me want to go back. The lentil soup was pretty good though, that's the only reason this place gets the 4th star.
(4)
Mohammed A.

I give this place 4 stars based on the lentil soup and chicken schwarma. They both tasted like food I'd get back home in Saudi. The beef kufta was ok as was the kibbeh. The hummus tasted as though they cooked the chickpeas first so it tasted a bit strange. The pies with haloumi were quite good. Interior was nice. Liked that it was BYOB. Service was good but food took a long time considering we were the only customers there later in the evening. Will definitely return, if for no other reason, to get the lentil soup.
(4)
Anthony M.

FOOD IN A BLINK! It was 9:30pm on a Thursday Night. My wife and I had just left the theater and our intentions were to pop in here for a free smell. We were greeted at the front door by the owner. We asked to see a menu for a future meal. As we were looking at the menu we both decided to grab a quick bite. We only had about 20 minutes and the owner told us he could have our food to us in 5 minutes. Can I tell you how much I am in love with this place! First great customer service. The owner was getting ready to close for the night and he still was able to be friendly and nice to us. Plus he didn't turn us away when we went from just looking at the menu to ordering the food. We grabbed a table near the kitchen. We wanted more of the free smells. Our lentil soup arrived almost immediately. We dived in and I will say it was delicious. It was nice and hearty. I hate watery lentil soup, which I've experienced elsewhere. They even had some toasted pita chips on top, which was a nice touch. As we were still eating our soup, our chicken shawarma arrived. Yes everything was delivered in under 5 minutes as promised by the owner. The chicken shawarma was full of fresh veggies. I wish I had some hot sauce too but we were in a hurry. We had to get home for the babysitter. We walked out the door in under 20 minutes. For the record, this is not a fast food restaurant, so to have an amazing dinner ordered and served fast is incredible. But not only was the food fast it was delicious. And not only was it delicious it was really cheap. Could my bill be correct? I really love this place! We will be back. In fact, I can hardly wait until we come back. I did spy my wife checking out there carry out menu yesterday. Oh boy!
(5)
Rachel A.

I had read good reviews on yelp and was excited to try the food... unfortunately, I was disappointed. We live less than a mile away so decided to order delivery food rom here. Cons - The food came 30 minutes later than they told us it would arrive (it took 90 minutes) - By the time the food arrived it was room temperature - The chicken and rice were dry and the chicken had NO flavor! The only reason I gave it one star was because I liked the falafel.
(2)
Eli W.

This place is great. We ordered hummus, chicken kebob, lentil soup and grape leaves. They were all very delicious, packed with flavor, and very filling. It was a great meal. The tahini sauce is the best ever. The lentil soup was exceptional. It was really really delicious. They delivered our order on time too and the delivery girl was very nice. I love this place and I'll definitely eat here again. Thanks for a great meal!!
(5)
Kyle D.

The good: Great tasting food and great service. The meats served were very tender and cooked perfectly. The salad, rice, and sides were good enough to hold the 5 star rating, but they could have been better. The service was fast and friendly. Pretty decent menu as well. Also, BYOB. Prices are solid. The bad: The atmosphere is good, but you can see the kitchen and it's fairly loud. The lighting was off putting because of that reason as well. Overall: Great tasting food for an average price. Good place for a casual dinner and a great lunch option as well I'm sure. Highly recommend. Atmosphere: 8/10 Service: 10/10 Food: 9/10
(5)
Kristina A.

I rarely crave Mediterranean food but after watching the Beirut episode of No Reservations, I knew shawarma was going to happen in the near future. And this place totally hit the spot. Oh God, I'm still thinking about the lentil soup. Now, that is comfort in a bowl - warm, flavorful, and ingeniously topped with pita chips, it was just the thing to nourish my hangry soul. We also tried the zesty hummus, which my guy couldn't seem to get enough of, and we shared a combination plate of chicken and beef shawarma that came with salad, rice, and two tasty dipping sauces (something tahini-y and tzatziki). The salad was fine, the rice was on the dry side, but the beef shawarma was so, so delicious I really don't think it mattered what else was on the plate. The chicken was good, but the beef...oh, the beef. I think some might've found them both to be on the dry side but I am all about the crispy bits so I was happy as a clam. All in all, a great place to pop by to satisfy that hankering for Mediterranean food. The service is friendly, the space is open and airy, and they're BYOB. Will definitely be back to take advantage of that.
(4)
Danny W.

Holy hummus! They've got to be putting something illegal in that isht cause I can definitely see myself real Requiem For A Dream-y for another taste. I only had it in the Sabich sandwich, but you could tell it was one of the best things on their menu. The Sabich itself was pretty crack pipe good with fresh eggplant hard boiled eggs and some silky smooth Greek yogurt on the side. At under $8 including tip it's got to be one of the best deals in pita bread that I've ever had. Despite the sit down/BYOB atmosphere, my food came out lightening quick so it's an excellent place to grab either a quick bite or sit and sip some boxed Franzia. (keep it classy Chicago) In summary, these reviews don't lie. Make it hapepn cap'n.
(5)
Bill H.

absolutely the all time best. Chicken Shawerma, and Chicken shish kabobs were to die for. Moist, tender, and the best blend of spices ever. :) Don't miss it, and service was great, but, it was a week night and slow.
(5)
Jeff S.

Definitely the best Mediterranean I have had in Chicago. Went for lunch today and got the Chicken Shawerma pita sandwich which was awesome. The chicken had a nice seasoning on it and the salad that they put in the pita added a lot of freshness to the dish. I added hummus to the pita which was a nice touch even though most of it fell to the bottom of the pita. Presentation is nice too as they use a second piece of pita to have the sandwich "stand up" and face you. Best of all, the pita came within ten minutes of ordering. I will definitely come back.
(5)
Brittany K.

Yum! This place was delicious! We started off with the grape leaves and hummus which were both amazing. I had the sabich sandwich and I would highly recommend it, very tasty and filling. We also split a side of the rice, the side portion was large enough to share. Out of of all the Mediterranean restaurants I have been to this is one of the best. Very affordable, great food, and BYOB (which is always a plus). Service was attentive and food came out very quickly. No complaints!
(5)
Eric L.

What a pleasant surprise! While waiting for a show at the Steppenwolf (which is just across the street) we we're looking for some place to get a quick bite. Being cold & snowy we didn't want to do much walking and saw this place. At first, looking in, it looks more like "formal dining" than we though we'd have time for. Plus, we didn't really want to spend a lot for a small/quick meal. Had it not been freezing, we might have missed out on this little gem of a place. But as it was freezing, we thought we'd at least go in and look at the menu - perhaps for another time when we had more time. We didn't even take a minute to look it up on Yelp to see the great reviews. They asked us if we wanted to be seated and we told them we were short on time for a 7:30 curtain which they said would be no problem. The menu also looked good and was a little surprised at the prices as I was expecting higher. We were seated right away and got some great recommendations from our server. Only after we ordered did I look it up on Yelp (to check in) and was glad to see the high rating. Always encouraging - particularly AFTER you've sat and ordered! :) Everything went really well from the timing, the service and the quality of the food. Everything seemed fresh, well prepared and great flavors. The dining room is setup well and nicely appointed. I will definitely be going back and while they did a great job of getting us in/out on time, I would like to take some more time to try a few more things and sit and enjoy it a little longer.
(4)
Stefanie A.

Best middle eastern place in the area! Had lunch here on Saturday. Def recommend the zesty hummus, lentil soup, and combo of lamb/spicy chicken kebobs. The sage hot tea was perfect on such a cold day. Finished our lunch with a perfect little piece of baklava-delicious!
(5)
Yelper Schmelper X.

Service was super friendly and very attentive without being over done. We had the baba ganoush to start and the falafel. Delicious! We also had the chicken shawerma and combo plate with shawerma and spicy chicken. Everything was piping hot and tasty. I tried the sweetened arabica coffee that is quite strong flavored with spices-imagine chai and espresso with a slightly antiseptic quality. Not too bad, but I probably won't get it again. Parking is a challenge. We had to park about four blocks away. Wonderful experience overall, we'll be back.
(5)
John K.

One of the better 'Mediterranean' restaurants in Chicago,Dawali is one of my go-to places for what i consider the best hummus in town. They have a small menu, most of which i've gone through and enjoyed. Service is usually quick and courteous, and i've never had to return any dish for any reason. Dinner rush can be tricky due to space limitations, so arrive early or late. P.S. Stop by and pick up a large order of the hummus (or the new zesty version recently added) even if you can't stay and eat (or eat 'real' food). It makes everything better. My fridge is never without one or both.
(4)
Christina N.

Incredibly delicious and affordable Mediterranean food. What more can I say!? Food: I came here with my boyfriend to meet a friend we hadn't seen in years. We all shared a small hummus appetizer, lentil soup, falafel plate, three-combination plate with chicken shawerma, beef kufta, and lamb kebob. MY GOD. EVERYTHING was sooo delicious. I'm not even kidding. Each dish was kicking with flavor. I particularly enjoyed the chicken shawerma and would definitely order that in a heart beat. We finished off the meal with creme brulee (don't ask me why they are serving creme brulee in a mediterranean restaurant), but seriously the custard was smooth, the right consistency and the sugar layer were all dancing in harmony. It was the perfect ending to my meal. Ambience: For a Sunday night at 8:30pm, the restaurant was pretty empty, but I didn't mind as the restaurant was nicely decorated with dim lighting. Service: The waitress was kind and gave great recommendations and we never had to haul her down for anything. This is another restaurant that goes in my book during my Chicago visits. Really though, give this place a visit already!
(5)
Ellen W.

Delicious food and great service. What a combo! I order out from here as well and they are always prompt and friendly. They are very flexible with their menu dealing well with special requests. Yum!
(5)
Shilpa M.

Wow! Undoubtedly the best mediterranean food in Chicago! I would suggest taking the shrimp kabob and creme brulee !!
(5)
Diana S.

I went there on Thursday of last week. There was a group of four of us. I ordered a combo- one friend ordered a veggie combo, one a falafel sandwich and one ordered a chicken kabob. What a freaking nightmare. Flat sodas all around and it took 45 minutes to get our food. And it came out burned, dry, and overcooked. The falafel tasted like coal- the combos was rubber- the hummus tasted like you got it out of a can- and it looked like the tabbouleh was soup. The lettuce garnish had dirt on it. I swear I'll never go there again!
(1)
ZeroSporkFoodie C.

I'm of Armenian descent and prepare practically everything on Dawali's menu from scratch several times each year with family. We can't make it any better or fresher than the food at Dawali. The meats are choice, marinated perfectly and cooked to order with the right amount of "grilled" flavor contributed. Spices are just the right amount and authentic combination. We live in Old Town and Dawali is our go-to Near Eastern and Middle Eastern restaurant for dine-in and takeout.
(5)
O K.

Delicious lentil soup. Falafel pita was fantastic. Reasonable prices. Close to red line stop.
(4)
Jacqueline N.

You know, sometimes you have that craving... for some Mediterranean food! So happy to have found Dawali. Parking was an absolute pain in the bum. And its essential for a parking-challenged individual (like moi) to have easily accessible parking.... BUT through all odds, we got there and since I was just REALLY craving some Falafel and hummus - I was hoping for a refreshing dinner. and THAT i got. Food we got: 1. Falafel appetizer (~$3 for half dozen, $5.50 for dozen): amaZINGG! Perfectly crunchy on the outside while it's hot/crumbly on the inside. The herb/spices/seasoning was spot on and this was amazing as an appetizer and it took our Lamb Shishkabob Pita to a whole 'nother level! 2. Chicken shawerma on hummus bed ($9.25): I was really excited about this dish because I liked Chicken Shawerma but, the texture was too powdery with the spices... It was not how I remembered from other restaurants. But this is definitely for the hummus lovers. Enough to put into the sandwich! 3. Lamb shishkabob sandwich ($6.50): FAVORITE! So refreshing and delicious! The vegetables were so crisp and balanced the savory hummus and lamb wonderfully. In combination with the piping hot Falafel and hummus, this was perfection! I will DEFINITELY get more of these sandwiches Before we were seated we had to wait, and I requested that the host call us when our table was ready and when I just happened to walk back, the restaurant cleared OUT and never received a phone call. :/ That was kind of disappointing, but I will attribute that to poor communication with fellow hosts. All in all, the food was great and will be coming back here for the next Mediterranean food craving!
(4)
India K.

I believe this to be the best restaurant of its kind in the city. Granted, I am comparing my experience here with roughly only a half dozen restaurants. Beautifully smooth and lightly lemony hummus is served with nice quality pita. The sirloin kebab is delicious, flavorful, high quality cut of meat. The meat is on par with other high end steak houses in town. The tahini was anything but bland. Very quick delivery with no compromise of food quality. So so so good.
(5)
Michelle K.

Yum! I had the appetizer sampler and the veggie galaya. Oh so good and inexpensive! This place is BYOB though so make sure you bring something to wash it down with.
(5)
Kaela W.

Loved this place. Ordered the Falafel app (1/2 dozen). Comes with tahini sauce. They were very good, great flavor, perfectly fried. Ordered the Chicken Shish Kabobs. They were very delicious, coming in a pita with salad and tahini. Also the Veggie Saniya which was amazing! Comes with a veggie mix cooked with sauces. Side of rice, a salad, and pita. The flavor was amazing, portions were big, and lots to eat. The atmosphere was nice, good space. It is BYOB!
(5)
Kelley G.

After the 80th Italian restaurant opened on Halsted, we were ecstatic about a Mediterranean place opening in our hood! Finally. My Italian husband suggested we order delivery from here, and considering we live on the street behind them, I was quite amused by his laziness. We ordered the hummus (the best I've ever had), a selection of bread pies (they are small, so you can order three and share), and the classic Shawerma sandwich. Our order came within 25 minutes and the delivery person was incredibly sweet. Everything was so delicious! I loved every single item we ordered. The bill was under $20!! What a welcome addition to this side of Halsted! I highly recommend Dawali! We'll be back :).
(5)
brittany s.

Dawali is awesome. The prices are great and the food is even better. Aside from Sultan's Market, they have some of the best falafel in Chicago, the zesty hummus is delicious and the coffee is really tasty. The ambience is nice, for a restaurant of its kind, and it's never overly crowded, even before shows at Steppenwolf, which is across the street. I think it is BYOB, I've never used that service, but I've always had a good dining experience here.
(5)
Cynthia C.

Have ordered a few times here. The food is delicious, to say the least. My favorite is the chicken kebab, and chicken shwarma. Noticed the food is not overwhelmed with seasoning, and the spices are just right. They packed your food really nicely for delivery. Is not the absolute best Mediterranean food I ever had, but definitely worth for ordering take-out nonetheless.
(4)
Katarina X.

How have I not posted a review? I procrastinate and take this place for granted. Is that any way to demonstrate my love? No, it is not. I love the delicious lentil soup- they serve with fresh hot pita and extra lemon. I love the hummus with lamb- feeds two or three easily. I LOVE that they are open late. Love it. I'm stuck at work? Boyfriend at the gym? Call Dawali, anything you order will be great.
(5)
Vincent B.

The menu has great cheap options (soups, salads, sandwiches) and more expensive options (shwarma platters) but is missing something in the middle. I was just stopping in to get a bite so I went the falaffel sandwich route which lived up to my expectations, it was really fresh and all around solid. I was asked whether I wanted hummus added and I did which was the right choice, might have been a little dry without it, I do feel a little cheated that they keep what's basically a necessity as an 'option' to make the price lower but even after adding it its pretty cheap. If you're looking for a real dinner, I can't speak to the entrees personally but they looked huge (maybe split that and some appetizers between two people?) -- I would just appreciate if they offered something more reasonably sized. The atmosphere was pretty uninteresting, just a large room, very little effort.
(3)
Pj M.

I absolutely love this place! Delicious falafel and shawarma. I also love their hot sauce on anything. Really fresh food for great cheap prices. I work around the corner so it's a great lunch spot for way under $10 a person! Highly recommend!!
(5)
And E.

We thought the food was average. The lentil soup was disappointingly thin with a bit of an aftertaste. Falafel sandwiches were fine, but certainly nothing exceptional. The meal served its purpose as a quick bite after the theatre, but I doubt I would eat here again.
(3)
Bobby S.

Come here. Get the Lentil Soup. To die for. Het the beef shish kabab. Pay cheap prices. Leave happy. If you work in the neighborhood they will get you a discount.
(5)
Alex J.

Not authentic in either taste, style, or atmosphere. The humus was only okay. Anyone who has traveled to East Asia, North Africa, or anywhere on the medditeranean sea will find the humus rather lacking. It gets 3 stars because it wasn't horrible.
(3)
Robin R.

Great food, quick, efficient and friendly service and super easy if you're going to Steppenwolf or Royal George theatre. What more can you ask for? I'm looking forward to going back.
(5)
David M.

Loved the fried cauliflower on the falafel sandwich. Would definitely recommend. Not bad prices for the neighborhood either.
(4)
Nicole L.

Stopped by for lunch and was not disappointed! The reviews are right. This place is affordable, convenient and most importantly delicious. The chicken shawarma sandwich was amazing. The wrap that it comes with gets crispy and really differentiated it from others I've had. The homemade hummus and ful was a great starter to share. There was only one server at lunch but she did a great job working the slightly busy restaurant. As new residents to the neighborhood, we will definitely return again.
(4)
Belle L.

Good value for $$. BYOB. Lamb Shawerma -- wonderfully marinated marble lamb. Nice dish presentation. Fresh salad. You put them ALL in a pita bread with tahini sauce...voila! All flavor complement each other. Plate can serve 2. Lightly Sweeteened Arabic Coffee -- perfect! Lightly sweetened can be tricky. Arabic coffee generously served in a 4 oz copper dalla with cool handle. Creme Brulee -- serves one in a cute cup with firm texture. I know it is a crime to choose it, but I shall be back for knafeh and baklava. The front area of the restaurant is a little beat up and disheveled. The Charming Man assures me it will be repainted soon. A good addition to the neighborhood that is a welcomed variety.
(5)
Shannon S.

We went here on a whim after a grueling day of suit shopping for the hubs. We searched Yelp for restaurants near us and this one looked intriguing. Someone else wrote that it was the best lentil soup in town - agreed wholeheartedly. It was amazing. The coffee - delish. I ordered black since it was my first time having it, and next time I think I'll try the sweetened. I love the spice in it. We had the app. sampler - the falafel are the real deal. They were awesome! The whole sampler was great. I had the lamb kabobs and the hubs had chicken shawerma and beef kabobs. Everything was flavorful and light - not greasy or heavy at all. We got a piece of baklava to bring home and haven't tried it yet but if the other stuff is any indication, then it will be great. It's only a few minutes from our house so we will be returning - all the time! ** Forgot to add - the portions are HUGE. My husband is a slim man, but can eat for a whole family and even he couldn't finish his!
(5)
Anli C.

My husband is picky when it comes to restaurants. He wants good food, good service, good ambiance, and good price. I often argue, can you have it ALL?! Dawali certainly hits the spot for that. My favorite is shawarma wrap with beef and pickle in their lunch menu for $6.75. It's just the perfect balance which you crave for. The flat bread is crispy and loose, the beef tender and flavorful, accompanied by the pickle for the pop. The garlic sauce is light and sweet, which harmonizes all the ingredients together in the wrap. Both my husband and I love to request the habanero chili sauce for the extra extra kick. If you love the heat, it's a definite must-have. The fact that we keep coming back for that perfect bite means you CAN have it all after all.
(5)
Camille C.

OM-GEEEE! The lentil soup was very flavorful! It was our first time trying the Ful Mudammas (fava bean puree) and we were blown away! It was full of flavor with a hint of spice. For the entree we split a Combination plate with Beef Shawerma, Shrimp & Spicy Chicken kabob with a side of grilled veggies. The proteins all had that grilled smokey flavor, and were so tasty. The veggies were very good as well! Overall the atmosphere was quiet, and peaceful. This is a great place for weekend lunches!
(5)
Trey M.

Great lunch spot. Food is good, prices are very reasonable compared to everything else in the area. Big fan of the Classic shawarma and the spicy hummus. Definitely worth a visit. That said, pretty casual for a dinner spot, and I wish it was open Mondays.
(4)
Marisa A.

Some of the best Mediterranean food I've ever had, if not the best. The falafel and hummus are sosoosososo good, it doesn't even make SENSE. I want to try everything on the menu.
(5)
Patti W.

Wanted to love this place. Was going to give it 4 stars, but as I reflected back on my night, it only earned a 3 (and one of that is my love of the Middle eastern food in general). What this place needs desperately is a manager and some training for the waitstaff. Food: 4 Front of house: 2 Went on a Sunday night, there were probably 10 tables, 3 waitresses. Started out with the tabbouleh (good) along with a pretty meh pita. We waited to really eat the tabbouleh until we had the hummus too, but after waiting quite a while for our hummus, finally had to ask for it. When it came, it wasn't "spicy" as we had ordered. But we were just starting to enjoy our delayed apps when out comes our food. There was absolutely no room on our small table, so we ended up having to move. And then we find out that our orders were switched--his entree was sitting on my roasted veg (excellent) and my entree was sitting on his rice. They made no effort to correct this, so we had to scoop and scrape our meals together. The side salads were completely undressed. The next basket of pita was warm, fluffy and yum! Makes me wonder if our first piece was a leftover from a previously heated basket. So while we are trying to enjoy our dinner, one waitress is counting change in the register--throwing pennies in the bin SO loudly. Our waitress drops our baklava (good), and then there is no more table service. No more water, and no one around to bring our check. I had to get up to go get anyone to help us--all 3 waitresses were at a back table going through the checks for the night. Mind you, there are still a good 6 tables eating. Good food. Really awkward vibe in the restaurant. Bad service.
(3)
Wayne H.

Great Mediterranean BYOB spot. I had the chicken shawarma entrÃ©e and it was some of the best I have ever had. Packed with great freshness and flavor. The biggest hit was the garlic yogurt sauce it came with. It was amazing! I asked for another one b/c I couldn't stop dipping everything in it. We also had lentil soup, which was good, but it was more of a pureed soup then whole lentils. My girlfriend loves the falafel plate, which comes with really good hummus. Our server was especially nice and I definitely will come back here.
(4)
Raheem L.

Overall, the food was very good. The beef kabobs were very juicy and had plenty of flavor. The hummus had a little bit too much oil but other then that it was wonderful. When it comes to the falafels, they were possibly some of the best falafels in Chicago.
(5)
Erica L.

I am sad to only give this a 3 because I wanted to like it as much as everyone else has on Yelp. Our server was SO great. She was very attentive and gave great recommendations. She gets a 5 for such good customer service! I came with a group of 7 loud people and she handled it very well! Sadly, the food was good but didn't blow me away. I got the Chicken Shawerma -- yummy but not the best I've had (Pita Queen on Clark is better). The most interesting parts of the meal were the Knafeh dessert and the Garlic Sauce. I will go back for convenience (it's in my hood), good prices, BYOB, and customer service, but wouldn't say the food itself is 4-5 star worthy.
(3)
Billy M.

I agree with everyone who has said this is the best Mediterranean place in Chicago. I also don't know how it took me so long to find! I just ordered for delivery. I got a classic shawarma sandwich, lamb bread pie, zesty hummus, and fries. Wow, it was all absolutely delicious. The sandwich had all fresh and crunchy vegetables with great tasting beef and lamb. I thought the lamb meat pies would be a good side but I could order a whole plate for an entree. Hummus was delicious as expected. The fries had an interesting spice seasoning that I loved. I ordered extra curry sauce and dipped about everything in that. I want to see if they sell bottles of that alone. Definitely going back to dine in. Please try and prove me wrong.
(5)
Bettina S.

Definitely the best Middle Eastern food I've had outside of the Middle East. The food is fresh and the portions are gigantic. Try the Qudsiya (a spicy mix of hummus and fava bean puree) and the Sabich!
(5)
Stephen S.

I'm a big fan of Dawali because the food is good and the prices are right. I really like the Jiben bread pie filled with halloumi cheese and the lentil soup but have not been disappointed with anything I've had. The atmosphere is casual leading to a nice leisurely dining environment.
(4)
AV G.

A neighborhood place for me that is fantastic. I have been here a few times and plan to go plenty more. Lentil soup is great. The mixed salad assortment ($12) is great, but this is served for a group of four (or more)--excellent entrees as well. BYOB. Excellent service. This is a branch of another shop in Albany Park, so it si very much the real deal. Not fancy, but nice and very clean. Highly recomended, and cheap!
(5)
Racheal C.

Authentic, delicious, friendly. Definitely our new go to Mediterranean restaurant !
(5)
Katie K.

Wow, this place is stellar. I can't believe I had never been to this gem. I can't wait to go again. The prices are reasonable and the food is outstanding!! The falafel was moist and flavorful. The chicken shawarma was delicious. And the fotush salad was great. The humus was so good and the small was a huge portion. I can't wait to come here again!
(5)
Elle W.

When you turn away 3 hungry people who just walked a mile in the freezing winter cold to eat at your restaurant, you deserve a 1 star review. We walked in, very aware that you close in 25 minutes, and asked if we could place a to-go order. Nope. Kitchen was closed. Really? You deserve this one-star review no matter how good the food is.
(1)
Sejal P.

liked it but wish there were more Veg options!
(4)
Jennie T.

Yum! This place is possibly my favorite Mediterranean restaurant in Chicago so far! My roommate and I decided on this place for dinner as it was right across the street from the Steppenwolf Theater, where we would later watch a play. At around 630p on a Thursday evening, the restaurant was packed! I was surprised, and as I waited for my roommate, I felt my stomach growling at me as I caught whiffs of the yummy food coming from the kitchen in the back. My roommate ordered the galaya. The lamb meat was cooked with a tomato broth, and it came served with a side of basmati rice, salad, and pita bread. She let me try some, and it was delicious. I ordered the beef/lamb shawerma. The broiled beef and lamb combination was super tender and soft. I loved the spices they cooked it with. It wasn't too heavy and I thought it was delicious. The basmati rice was out of this world though. Rice is always a great complement, and it's even better when it's cooked perfectly. As we finished our dinner, we saw a plate of hummus arrive for another table, and boy, it looked really good! I want to come here again.
(5)
Sania K.

Best falafel I've ever had as well as the baba ghanouj and hummus! I absolutely love this place
(4)
Hayley N.

Absolutely the best hummus in town! I lived in the Middle East for a year and got really used to authentic hummus. It has been hard to find a place with hummus that is up to par. This place has it! I usually order take out from here and it's awesome. Delicious food and beautiful presentation-- even in the take out containers. Always impressed with this place and will continue to order from here. The chicken hummus plate is a great choice and so are all of their salads. Their falafels are awesome and their lentil soup is authentic! Definitely a great place to go!
(5)
Jaci Y.

Good food and nice dining room. The service was good too. We had their combination platter with a choice of two meats and rice and salad. I liked their falafel and their hummus with pita bread. They are not cheap but I felt their prices were fair. I would recommend to friends because it is a nice sit down place to eat middle Eastern cuisine.
(4)
Stephanie L.

YUM! Such great flavs in the chicken shawarma pita. It was AMAZ! Cheap-at like $6 how can you complain?!
(4)
Nicole L.

The food was just okay. The rice was hard and the chicken was dry. The beef was more fat than meat on some pieces as well. What kind of put me over the edge was that I found a hair at the bottom of my to-go container. With that being said, I told my co-workers about it and we will not be ordering from there again. Sorry Dawali, but you lost our business!!!
(1)
TingTing Y.

the food was really flavorful; the portion was large. We loved the appetizer platter. def recommend it. I don't know much about Mediterranean food; but my friend who is middle eastern said the food was pretty authentic. We didn't know it was BYOB, will def bring a bottle of wine next time.
(4)
Bianca C.

A good falafel is hard to find, which is why it is important to recognize those who do it right! Dawali makes a delicious falafel so if you visit, don't forget to at least get it as an appetizer. Don't leave out the hummus and babaganoj as well, both equally delicious. My boyfriend ordered the lamb kabob which was delicious. It was tender, juicy, and perfectly spiced. I had the chicken shawarma, which was also good, but I think the kabob was better. Don't forget to ask them for their hot sauce, it's awesome! Also if you eat Halal food, everything there is halal except for like 2 items. To end the meal we got sweetened Arabic coffee and mint tea. Everything was delicious! We will definitely be back!
(5)
Angie K.

This is my comfort food spot. BYOB is of course convenient and awesome and they don't really care how many bottles you bring. I saw a huge group of 20 people once with a bottle each and no one said a peep to them. The food is my favorite Mediterranean in the city. It's so well-priced, two people can have a serious feast for $20. The hummus is awesome and the falafel is just as food as Sultan's Market. The lentil soup is sooo yummy and hits the spot on cold winter nights. One thing you HAVE to get that I would not know if it were not for Yelp are the fries!! Fries at a Mediterranean place, you say? Yesssss!! The dipping sauce is so delish, I could just eat a tub of it. It's so addicting, I seriously have withdrawals. The space is cute and quaint, nothing super fancy but it is always clean and comfortable. The staff can be a little slow but when you have multiple bottles of wine, it's a.o.k.
(5)
M D.

Definitely impressed with the quality of food for what the location is: very casual and not pretentious. All the food we had was seriously delicious and will definitely revisit Dawali! Yum! Looking forward to it already! Our waitress was pretty responsive yet totally unobtrusive. Seriously good food - delicious falafel. (We were seated right away mid-evening on a Saturday night.)
(4)
Sierra G.

Amazing food, quick & friendly service! We found this place with our Yelp app and it is a gem! It's a small, casual place, but the food is authentic and delicious. The portions are huge and it's so cheap. We always end up overordering and take leftovers to-go. They had a coupon on Yelp a while back and I highly recommend buying it if the promotion returns. I always get the spicy hummus and the falafel. Falafel usually isn't my thing, but this is an exception! There are too many delicious items on the menu, it's hard to make a choice. Go hungry and plan on sharing because you are going to want to taste everything.
(5)
William F.

My favorite place in Chicago so far. The food is so fresh and affordable. I have liked everything I have ordered. My favorites are the zesty hummus and the chicken shawarma sandwich. Do not miss this place!
(5)
Meredith K.

I had heard that they have great hummus and I can confirm it. Fantastic! I like that its bright and friendly and clean inside. Very friendly too. You can tell they do a lot of carry out biz. We forgot that it was byob. Next time! We started with the large hummus and a village salad. Both were fresh and bright. The salad had 2 huge chunks of feta in it. The hummus is served with warm pita and really is that good. I got the large thinking we'd want to put it on our sandwiches and have some to take home. Well we finished it. I got the falafel and my boyfriend got the lamb shawerma. Both were very good. I liked the eggplant in mine and the falafel had a great herb flavor to it. But not greasy or heavy. We were too full for dessert. 1 diet, lg hummus, salad and 2 sandwiches came to around $25. We will def be back even if we're not seeing a show at the Steppenwolf.
(5)
Frank F.

Dawali has a pretty lengthy menu with lots of meat and vegetarian options. The hummus and babaganush were superb, and the service was on point. Add in that the little creme brulee desert was loaded with vanilla beans, this place rocks. Oh wait, it's so cheap! My hummus and portobello mushroom plate was ~$10, and the desert was only $3.95. All of the sandwiches were around $7. Excellent. Just a heads up, this place is BYOB!
(5)
Elias G.

Wow!!! Went there last night for the first time. Every couple of weeks, I go to Chicago. With every trip, I like to experience different restaurants. I located this one by accident. It was my second choice, as I really had a taste for Italian. I ordered a number of items, because I had company with me. Everything, everything, everything was a pleasant surprise. This is not your average everyday Mediterranean restaurant. These people pay attention to every detail, and you can readily tell that they sweat the small stuff. Portions are generous and prices are reasonable. I will definitely revisit this restaurant.
(5)
Andrew L.

Great atmosphere. We ordered the salad sampler and the portions were huge. Bread was served warm.
(5)
Debbie H.

Food is good but not special. Chicken kabobs seemed slightly like processed meat, felafel just average. The hummus was very good. Service was also attentive, at least until a waitress asked to clear my plate while I was actually still chewing a bite of chicken. There are better middle eastern places to try..
(3)
Chicago's 411 G.

OMG! This place it unbelievable! We had the stuffed grape vine leaves and spicy hummus to start. Talk about freshness...it was so flavorful as if it was just whipped up. For an entree, we had chicken shwarma wraps which were the best I've had in the city. The chicken was extremely tender and bursting with flavor! I will for sure come back as this is now my favorite Mediterranean place in Chicago. Thanks Dawali - I had to check it out based on your yelp reviews and I am glad I did!!
(5)
Christine S.

I was in the neighborhood doing some shopping and I worked up an appetite...I found Dewali on my phone and I quickly headed over for lunch on Saturday afternoon. From the minute you walk in, to the minute you leave, you feel so warm and welcome. Leah( or Lea) was amazing! Anytime I needed a refill she was right there to refill me. Anytime I was looking for something, it's like she popped up and gave it to me without me asking. She was so kind to everyone who walked in the door and it seems like there are a lot of regulars who come here. I started off with the lentil soup and it was delicious...a real treat. Next up, the Appetizer Sampler which is made up of Hummus, Baba Ghannouj, Ful Mudamas, Masaka's, and Falafel. I'm new to Ful Mudamas and Musaka's but I really enjoyed both. You really need to like eggplant to enjoy the Musaka's. I really only like Baba Ghannouj from the Holy Grail of all Mediterranean food (Pita Inn) but I thought the baba was actually pretty decent here. I also tried a spinach bread pie and a feta bread pie. I was a fan of both, but I liked the feta one just a little more than the spinach one. I'd come back here again in a heartbeat. Oh and it's BYOB, so that's a huge plus :)
(5)
Yaniv K.

Oh man, Dawali has the best decoration in this side of Lincoln Park. Love this place. It always comes to mind everytime I think about Mediterranean food in the city. The best part of it all? The prices. I couldn't believe the numbers when I first took a look at the menu... While you're here, I urge you to try their lentil soup. Yes, I know. There's nothing like it. For only $2 is one of the best deals in town. Their baba ghanouj and shawarmas are also stellar. Try the chicken or lamb sandwich (only $6) one with humus included. Don't blame if you find yourself coming back to Dawali over and over and over again.
(5)
Abbe N.

This place is amazing! BYOB, most starters are under $5 and entrees are HUGE and around $10. My friend and I went, were sat immediately, shared two small apps and an entree and were stuffed at the end. The hummus is fantastic! It's a big serving (and I only ordered the small!), the feta stuffed bread was to DIE for! and both were under $5! We walked out of there for less than $15 each. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
(5)
Tyler W.

Can't believe I haven't wrote a review for this one as many times I have been here. I love this place! The only reason I am giving it 4 stars instead of 5 is because I don't agree that I had to pay for the extra sauce I needed for my meal. I believe it was around $0.50 for each little small container or sauce. (I needed about 3) I also didn't like the salad part that came with the meal. I believe it is only put there to make the plate look fuller. It isn't that great. Please substitute for something else. Other than that, the food was great. Fresh and the smell of it waters your mouth. The hummus is the best too!
(4)
Dan N.

Clean, pleasant atmosphere. Friendly staff was patient and suggested what turned out to be great choices in food. The hummus is particularly delicious here.
(5)
Naisan M.

They just decided to close 30 minutes early. ..told me Oh sorry we decided to close early tonight. ..so much for service.
(1)
Ryan M.

I've been looking for a good Mediterranean place to take the spot of Oasis in Iowa City. Dawali may have done the trick. The restaurant is a quaint, little place, surrounded by super-fancy looking places. There were not many others inside, and it was a bit warm, but nothing too bad. The hostess/waitress was very nice and seated me quickly. I started off with the Lentil Soup -- I ordered a cup and received... a HUGE cup. It was thick and hearty, and I appreciated the lemon wedge that came with it (it needed some acid). Pita bread came with the soup, which was a plus. The bread was soft and warm, but not stand-out. My main course was a falafel sandwich, and it was also HUGE. The falafel itself had just the right amount of crust, green hints of fresh herbs inside, and was overall very tasty. The hummus that I ordered with the sandwich (extra 50Â¢) was also nothing special, but was not bad. A nice tahini sauce came with the sandwich, too. The total bill for all this deliciousness: around $7.50. Terrific. Overall, Dawali had great food for little cost. It was a comfortable setting and in a comfortable neighborhood. (I did not take advantage of the BYOB, but that's another huge plus.) I'll be back. You should go, too.
(4)
Rebecca R.

I love this place! There food is amazing and cheap. I have enjoyed every dish I have ever tried. The service is friendly and fast. Also, its byob!
(5)
Keith A.

While I've established my love affair with falafel, I need to repeat it constantly. What can I say, ground up chickpeas that then get fried are wonderful. I was furniture shopping near by, so the crave needed to be taken care of once more for a late lunch/early dinner. It was the late afternoon, so there weren't going to be a lot people here. I came in here with my mom and we were the only ones around. Entirely fine as it would mean that we'd get our food faster. I was hungry. Like, really hungry. So, multiple things were ordered with the two appetizers for sharing. I liked the falafel that they had here. It wasn't amazing, but it really scratched the itch. What I did love however was the spicy hummus. I forgot to take a picture, but it was really done up as well on the presentation. I needed the spice kick it had and was doing my best not to inhale the hummus. My chicken shwarma sandwich was very good. The sizes of the meat were perfect and it wasn't overloaded with more veggies than meat. There was a good combination of both, which is always nice. Since my mom and I were the only people there at 4 in the afternoon, the service was naturally very good. What was nice was that we weren't hounded the entire time and just left to eat. The order was also inexpensive too. With all the food I and my mom ordered, it came out to about $20. I gave them a nice tip and away we went. I'm sure my obsession with falafel will bring me back here (well that and a friend living close by).
(4)
L H.

Decided to check this place out after seeing all the great reviews on Yelp. Almost changed my mind when I arrived and saw it was a BYOB. But couldn't pass up the opportunity for a potentially amazing Mediterranean dinner. The appetizer platter and the lamb shawarma were superb. It's obvious the chef must love what he does. The only small complaint I have is regarding the bread. It must be store bought not homemade. And it would be lovely if they served wine because the lamb was definitely calling for a good red.
(4)
Erin S.

I first got introduced to Dawali at their original Albany Park location -- they moved in right before my sophomore year at North Park U, so I got to walk past them every day on my way home from class and drool all over the sidewalk. Probably went here at least once a week if not 2-3x til I graduated. After I moved to another area of the city, I started going to this location since it's more convenient. I dunno who they have cooking here, but the food is even better in some ways than the original Dawali. Having studied Arabic, lived in the Middle East, and generally just being a big fan of Arabic food, I eat a lot of it, and if I go to a restaurant for it, 98% of the time it is Dawali (barring a few trips to Salam in Albany Park and one very underwhelming visit to Naf Naf Grill). Hands-down, Dawali is one of my top 3 favorite places to eat in the city. The food is always fresh, flavorful and it has a few unique touches above and beyond your typical Mediterranean fare (like the lovely curry yoghurt sauce they serve with the tangy-salty french fries...mmmm), but without being at all gimmicky or inauthentic. Basically every sandwich on the menu is worth trying, but my favorites are the chicken shawarma wrap (that garlic sauce...omg), the grilled veggie "shawarma" wrap (the tahini-mint dressing they put on the grilled deliciousness adds such a great touch), and the classic falafel (because sometimes you just want some fried-ass cauliflower to go with your chickpea balls). Definitely also try the fattoush and cucumber-mint salads, the lentil soup, the kibbeh, the hummus, the foul mudammas, the baba ghannouj, the qudsiya... all right, basically try everything. And don't forget baklava (or knafeh if they have it fresh) and a nice Arabic coffee to round everything out. Authenticity alert: one of my dear friends is Jordanian born-and-raised, and this is the only chicken shawarma in the city that he gets genuinely excited about eating. I also enjoy that they play actual Arabic music there and not the sort of vaguely "exotic" elevatory stuff you hear in most Mediterranean places. Basically, the only major difference I notice about Dawali compared to shawarma/falafel joints in the Middle East is that they don't put the bright pink pickled radishes on the table/in your sandwich, but in my opinion that's no huge loss. :-P Also, the wait staff is so incredibly sweet and very attentive, whether or not you're a regular (or in my case, an addict, lol). Oh, Dawali, how I love you. My waistline, on the other hand....
(5)
Evan S.

Hands down best Mediterranean restaurant on the north side. Great service and the food was delicious.
(5)
Andrew T.

Everything on the appetizer platter was delicious. Best hummus I have ever tasted. The wraps are really good, too. Check this place out! Servers and owner were reeeeeaaaalllly nice.
(4)
Dennis L.

I visited Dawali with my wife and a friend for lunch. It is a quaint little Mediterranean restaurant with great food at a good value. I ordered the chicken shawarma sandwich, and I truly enjoyed it. The chicken was moist and flavorful. The other ingredients made the sandwich pop. Overall, a great experience. I would definitely pay another visit.
(4)
Angela F.

Delicious and good price! The garlic sauce...to die for!
(4)
Erin M.

Five stars all the way baby!! This is an amazing restaurant from the food to the customer service and comfortable interior AND they deliver!!!! The best lentil soup in the city hands down. The shawarma is outstanding as well. The food is all home made which scores big for me and it comes out super fast with a smile. Can't wait for my next visit!!
(5)
Amy A.

I LOVE this place. Consistently fresh and delicious. I love the combo dinner options. The shrimp is amazingly fresh and delicious. So hard to save leftovers for the next day because I want to eat the whole darn container.
(4)
Emily B.

My mom and I were down the street for a show at the Royal George and did not have a lot of time for dinner. Where does the time go? We settled on Dawali based on proximity and star rating. Thanks for the help, Yelp! For appetizer we had the baba gannouj. It was very good, but a bit minty for me. I had the Classic Shawerma Wrap for my entree. The meat was equal parts salt, lemon and yum. If you order a sandwich or a pita, they will likely try to up-sell you on the french fries. Let them! They are not exaggerating about how good they are. The Moroccan spices and the curry sauce is a dream combination. Certainly the star of our meal. Great servers and a great meal. We were in and out just in time and everything is super affordable.
(4)
Coleen K.

Fun, inexpensive BYOB spot for groups! Came in with about 8 girls on a Saturday night for an 8:45pm reservation. The restaurant was filled to the brim with dates and big groups, everyone chatting! Definitely a louder, upbeat dinner atmosphere. Food is fantastic, would highly recommend their falafel sandwich, hummus and grape leaves were also delish. Restaurant didn't mind the noise of the big groups, and no corkage fee was definitely a plus.
(5)
Kathleen M.

Where do you go for dinner when you have been running all over the city all day long and only have about 50 minutes before you show at the Royal George Theater? Dawali Mediterranean Kitchen, duh! It was a great friendly atmosphere, welcoming and comfortable. Our server was friendly and efficient. We split the Baba Ghannouj with just the right amount of lemony deliciousness. I then had a classic Shawerma which was really good. The waiter suggested that we split the fries and they were fabulous, the curry sauce was ideal. Between the app and the fries, I couldn't eat all my sandwich so I ended up eating only the meat which was the flavorful taste I was wanting. Done, check and on our way with time to spare. Perfect!
(5)
Abby S.

Came here for the first time on Monday night, we ordered appetizers and combination plates. The pita bread was cold and the hummus just didn't taste right. Their meat was good but they could increase their portions to match the price. Also the place was busy and it was running with only 2 girls working.
(3)
Ian N.

great
(5)
Irineo B.

Delicious Mediterranean food.
(4)
Pete B.

The two times I went to Dawali started out as me getting groceries at Whole Food with a dinner plan in mind and then out of the sudden got lazy and hungry very quickly. Dawali was the first restaurant up on yelp with a decent review, so I stopped by. I got some kind of sandwich and falafell on my first trip. I was not familiar with Mediterranean food, but the waitress who was genuinely nice and polite explained everything to me in detail. She was also very friendly and efficient. My meal was great, the portion was big, and I left a happy man. The second instance, I planned on getting pizza after my trip to Whole Food, but then I saw the $5 for $10 deal on yelp, so I gave Dawali another try. Eventhough I enjoyed my meal last time, Mediterranean food is somewhat out of my comfort zone, so the discount was definitely an incentive for me to go back there and try other things. I got a pick 2 combo: Chicken Kebab and some sausage-like beef thing (as I said, Mediterranean food is not my forte). I dont know if it was me just being hungry or what, but I finished that plate in ten minutes. The waitress was, once again, very nice and helped me choose my meal. The food was great and the service was excellent; it's definitely as good as it gets. This place would also make a good first date place (very casual and comfortable but still nice enough).
(5)
M B.

A-M-A-Z-I-N-G Mediterranean food! The servers are friendly and super accommodative. They had no trouble seating our group of 7 on a Friday night! The portions are HUGE! All of us (including our large appetite friends) had to pack up some of our food coz it was impossible to eat . The falafals are super light and fresh! Loved the food and everything else about this place. Will surly be back.
(5)
Adam K.

I was promised food of a certain caliber, like that of what they have in Israel, and even that delicious mango sauce they only get in Israel, but dude, they didn't have it, so that is the only reason they don't get 5 stars. I know this isn't their fault, but I had really high hopes RE: the mango sauce. Everything was tasty and great service, the chicken dish I got was amazing and the spice hummous I will for sure be back to get again. But lets get that mango sauce figured out.
(4)
Andrew N.

Like always - another great meal. Chief stopped by the table, explained the entire menu to us and answered our questions. Excellent Lentil soup, and the soup of the day was a spicy chicken soup (but not too spicy). Almost a meal in it's self. Next we had the lamp pies, which with great flavor. The four of us tried the family style entrees at the chief's recommendation. The real surprise was the family style platter, which was the best. The platter's meat (lamp, beef, two types of chicken, shawerma, shrimp), where all top shelf. Also severed with grilled vegs and onions, rise, and fries where all the best. For desert we split a pumpkin creme brulee and the warm Knafeh, which was a great way to finish the meal. We took the left overs home, and just finished them up.
(5)
Dennis S.

This is a great byo alternative near Steppenwolf Theatre. Not fancy, but well done, with excellent food. Their falafels were outstanding - fresh, tasty, great spices but not overwhelming. The rest of our dishes were good, but didn't match the falafels. Service was very attentive and friendly.
(4)
Natasha F.

I'm sorry Sultan's for cheating on you... I was excited to try this place because of the great reviews, but I left feeling extremely disappointed. I came in for lunch and ordered the falafel sandwich, hummus is 50 cents extra. Adding feta was $1.80. What?! The hummus and falafel were so bland. It was painful eating it. I'm middle eastern and used to eating flavorful food, but this was just awful. I wanted to like this place but just couldn't... Looks like I'll be going back to Sultan's!
(1)
Emily Z.

Don't forget to Bring You Own Booze, as nothing goes better with a plate full of humus than wine, right!? A quick Yelp search from my seat told me the closest 'wine store' was .5 miles away at Whole Foods, yeah not gonna happen. 3 gorgeous gals, 3 different choice and ultimately 3 full bellys and smiling faces. - Appetizer Sampler - beans, hummus, baba ganoush, and eggplants and onions with three falafel. - Chicken Shwarma - why didn't I get that came to my mind when I saw this dish - huge portion of very flavorful chicken with rice and a salad. Comes with a garlic sauce that is almost like eating raw garlic, you have been warned, if you are on a date do not even try it! - Hummus and Beef - really good but it was a huge plate of hummus with maybe a 1/2 cup of cut up beef. Delicious, but not really an entree. Our server was sassy and ridiculous but very nice and helpful. I will definitely be back, especially since its so close to the Red Line!
(4)
Sophia Q.

I love this place! I've been here for both dine-in and take-out and both experiences were equally delicious. The food is reasonably priced, well-portioned, and fresh. That's often hard to find in my experience, especially with take-out. The only dish I've had that I wasn't such a big fan of were their shish kababs. Maybe it was an off night but the kababs were cooked too dry and a bit bland. Rice is good but nothing too spectacular either. The standouts here are the lentil soup & hummus w/ meat on top (I usually get seasoned lamb). Best lentil soup I've had in Chicago and it's so cheap (less than $3)! The hummus is sooo creamy and they give you a very generous portion to eat with the abundant pitas. Service is friendly and food is quick. It's clean, casual, and BYOB- my kind of place.
(4)
Team B.

Try the knock-out classic falafil sandwich, with eggplant a a few french fries included, and the qudsila, a serving of ful atop hummus, and better than the sum of its parts. The staff was also sweet and attentive. Completely delightful.
(5)
Angelica G.

Dawali appears understated and it's easy to drive by, but don't. Our meal of two appetizers, tea, and entrees felt like a feast and I wish we could have pushed past our limits for dessert. Service was great considering there was only one person taking all the tables, so thanks again to Katie.
(4)
Allie H.

I *thought* I wasn't a fan of Mediterranean food until I came here. Turns out all I needed was great Mediterranean food, like the kind you get at Dawali's. I visited the Lincoln Park location- and it's very convenient right off the red line. The entrees are a bit pricey, but the sandwiches are delicious and reasonably priced.
(4)
Adam F.

Dawali already has plenty of excellent reviews, and deservingly so. I've been here for lunch and dinner over a dozen times and have enjoyed each of my meals - classic falafel sandwich, chicken shawerma sandwich, french fries (really excellent with an amazing dipping sauce), ful, village salad, tabbouleh, all of the kebabs, veggie galaya, and more. I have had such a great experience at Dawali that I decided to use them to cater a baby party for my wife. I don't think they heavily publicize catering services, but the owner was certainly experienced in the planning. What really stood out was that the head chef Sam made a custom menu for the party, tailored to my guests (mostly vegetarian) and tailored to how people would eat at the party. What that means is that Sam came up with new dishes that would keep and stay fresh in a buffet scenario. The results were perfect. If you have a catering need, do not hesitate to consider Dawali. The pricing was in line with their overall dine in menu, which is to say, an excellent value. In short, the owner was a pleasure to work with, I would trust Sam with anything food related (including the specials - definitely give them a try when available), and excellent value.
(5)
KJ M.

VEGAN REVIEW Dudes, this restaurant was so fancy for the monies. What an incredible array of vegan foodstuffs. Waitstaff was really helpful and considerate, bringing us multiple rounds of condiments and pointing out what could be subbed on our Huge Plate o' Appetizers. The falafel were really, really fluffy, in addition to being really tasty. I was really, really happy we ate here!
(5)
Kaitlin M.

This place is perfect for Mediterranean delivery. Don't both ordering from anywhere else. They will impress you in many ways ... 1) The delivery is always quicker than any other restaurant (30 min or less), meaning your food is not sitting in tin foil or getting soggy like other places. 2) Whatever you order is well worth the value... The portions are great! 3) The authentic flavors are complimented by superbly cooked veggies, meat, etc. 4) The pita bread is homemade and absolutely scrumptious with its thicker fluffier texture than store bought junk. 5) Its just pure Mediterranean bliss... you must try some!
(5)
Amanda S.

I just left here. I know that it almost has 5 stars anyway, but I feel I should do my part to get it closer to a perfect 5 star rating because this place is great. Good lamb is hard to come by. Some people over cook, other places not enough. My lamb Kabobs were P-E-R-F-E-C-T. The rice was great. I was kind of sad that they didn't have dill rice, which is what I usually get with my kabobs other places, but it was delicious any way. The little salad that come with it was good too. I will be back when I have an itch for good Mediterranean, (as long as you don't tell Rezzas). See you then
(5)
Chris P.

Perfect spot for a pre-theater dinner or snack. Simply prepared food that is delicious and reasonably priced. Highly recommend the falafel, hummus, and bread pies. BYOB which makes this place an incredible value given its location. We will be going back often.
(4)
Jeremy N.

Just had lunch at Dawali - it has been so long since I have had good hummus, and it's not one of those things I crave but when I go to a place that makes it right - YUM! Dani started with the lentil soup which we both really enjoyed since I had to steal from some her naturally. I had the tomato stew with lamb (can't remember the exact name from the menu) - it comes served with a very large portion of seasoned basmati rice and the tomato stew and the lamb were just delicious. mixed a little hummus in there and BA BAM amazing. I think my dish was $11.50 and for me it will be 2 entire meals, pretty awesome.
(4)
Nadav Z.

Great home made hummus. The best in chicago! !!
(4)
Jenny A.

Dawali is the BEST place for a quick, inexpensive meal with tons of flavor. Definitely try the zesty hummus and the shawarma chicken wrap. But everything is delicious!
(5)
Matt P.

Mmm, shwarma. Enough said about the tasty cuisine. Very affordable shwarma for under $6. Pleasant atmosphere.
(4)
O. R.

First, the food. The village salad is, hands down, the BEST Mediterranean/Greek salad: delicious, light dressing that allows the flavor of the freshest crispest cucumbers,(pitted!) kalamata olives, ripe garden tomatoes to shine. Topped with a generous portion of awesome Feta cheese. I often pair this was a bowl of wonderful lentil soup and, together with the warm pita that comes with the salad, call it a meal. My wife had a chicken shwarma wrap and, despite being Pita Inn (Skokie) devotees, she claimed it was the best she ever had. Now, about the service. On a rainy Friday evening my wife and flew through the front door at 6:25 and said we had 7:00 pm tickets for a Royal George Theatre play (Put The Nuns In Charge - LOL!!). We were instantly seated and offered several dishes that were 'ready to go'. Within minutes we had food on our table and the entire experience was accentuated by smiling, pleasant, accommodating hostesses, waiters, and servers. Way to go! Finally, the bill. Our light dinner came to $16.00. Really? It would've cost more to eat at McDonald's. As if... We love Dawali and make this our 'go to' place whenever we're at the Royal George or Steppenwolf Theatre (across the street). Highly recommended!
(5)
Chris G.

Dawali is a nice BYOB situated in the northern theatre district. Since nearby Landmark closed and the crappy Mangy Roma is next door, it's a no brainer to stop here for quality Mediterranean food.
(3)
Luke S.

This is my favorite Mediterranean restaurant in the city and possibly my favorite overall restaurant. The food is excellent and the cost is shockingly low. Their spicy hummus is out of this world and I love all of their sandwiches/wraps. Surprisingly their fries are also excellent. The restaurant is BYOB and you and a date will be absolutely stuffed for less than $30. I don't know how this place isn't busier all the time, but if you do go only spread the word to those who are worthy of such a treat.
(5)
Janet E.

Wow!!! I was so impressed with Dawali. The food here is not only fresh and healthy, but it tastes good, its very reasonably priced (falafel is as cheap as $3.95!) and the service was fast and friendly! I was starving for dinner, but ordered an appetizer to hold me over until my dinner companion arrived. I swear the hummus arrived within 3 minutes of me ordering it, and it came with toasty hot pita bread. OHHHH so good!!!! When we were both settled in, we ordered two classic falafels which included falafels, eggplant, cauliflower, potato and tomato salad. I thought these ingredients (other than the falafel) were going to be marinated together in some type of sauce. But the potato and cauliflower were both deep fried (the potatoes were actually fries). Everything tasted well together, except I would suggest getting some hot sauce or some type of sauce to put on the falafel. It felt like it need a little more saltiness or flavor. But for the health conscious, its perfect! We purchased a yelp deal and using it was super easy. We advised our waitress that we needed to make a show at 7:30p and we were told it would be no problem! We ordered at 6:50pm and we were done with dinner by 7:20pm. SUPER!!! Thanks Dawali!
(5)
Kimberly M.

I came here awhile back and forgot about it until I came across it again. I LOVE this place. They have the best Falafel and their Hummus is amazing. I would recommend this place to anyone who like Mediterranean style food.
(5)
K B.

I'm upgrading this place. Wow, that chicken schwarma sandwich was perfect. 5 stars worthy.
(5)
Kristine G.

Loved this place! First off, the service was great. I went with some friends around 8 pm and we had to split the check three ways, splitting the cost of a few things, etc. and the waitress was totally cool with it and everything came out exactly like it was supposed to. She was incredibly accomodating and patient! Also the atmosphere is great. Good music and it looks fairly fancy, but the prices can't be beat! Big portions for way less than you'd pay pretty much anywhere else. $3 for enough hummus/pita to split between 3 people and I got bread pies for $3 but I took half home with me! And most importantly, the FOOD! Amazing! I got the lamb bread pies, and having never tried lamb before I was skeptical, but they were fantastic. I don't know what the spices were, but they tasted perfect. Hummus was amazing and smooth, and my friends both got chicken schawarma which they said was the best they'd ever had. Also: their grape leaves are fantastic. I would definitely come back here! Amazing food, great prices, and awesome staff!
(5)
Nemcikova C.

Nice :)
(5)
Seth F.

Dawali Mediterranean Kitchen offers noticeably better dishes (in at least the meat arena) than the other options for Mediterranean food that I frequent. But you pay a higher price so as far as I'm concerned that evens out. Seriously I feel dirty every time I post of these Mediterranean reviews. To not give full marks to a restaurant that consistently delivers a solid food experience but it's easier to rank these against each other and once I started with an average 3 for Baba Pita the other 3 kind of all fell in line (spoiler alert: they're all 4's).
(4)
Susan F.

3 falafels+small appetizer of pita and hummus=$4.95! Awesome. I was in the area, starving, and glad to see Dawali was willing to make a quick carry-out order. The inside was very clean and cozy, but it was a beautiful day and I wanted to eat in the park. Their falafels are 50 cents each and their pita and hummus appetizer ($3.00) is plenty for one person--I had a lot of leftover hummus. -The tub of hummus was legit and flavorful. It didn't taste like paste and there were chickpeas, paprika, oregano, and parsley sprinkled in there, too. -The 4 half-pieces of white pita were soft, warm, and filling. -The falafels were crunchy on the outside--but soft, fluffy, and aromatic on the inside. I was quite pleased with everything I got. I will come back here again to either carry-out or dine-in, for sure! I'll keep it at 4 stars til I try everything.
(4)
Dhruv P.

We came here after a show at steppenwolf. Mostly because it was open until 11, it was close by and fellow yelpers have out 4.5 stars. And thus, our evening was spent there. Maybe I had my hopes high, maybe I was delusional, but I thought it would tidy me over until my next fix at pita inn. Oh how wrong, how naive I was. The food ended up being blah. Of the four of us, only one really liked her meal, and it was a plate. The rest of us got various sandwiches (pitas) and our opinion was from mediocre (can't eat) to just ok (no flavor). It started out great... the lentil soup and sage tea was great. But my grilled veggie sandwich had no discernible taste. I would give 3 stars, but come on, there are so many better places to get middle eastern food, it makes me sad they weren't even trying.
(2)
Jenny V.

like this place because -got a sweet parking spot right in front, didnt see a meter soo..free parking! -BYOB -attentive service and she offered extra pita! -combo meal is always a plus, comes with garlic sauce and tahini sauce -shrimp kabob is super flavorful -beef shawarma and chicken sharwarma both yummy, a bit dry but thats okay cause the rest was delicious! I just wish that they included hot sauce with it, thats extra.
(5)
Amanda M.

So good! my first time trying this place out, as take out in fact, and it was incredible experience. likely the best Mediterranean food I've had in Chicago thus far this side of Lincoln park. will be back for sure!
(5)
Christina F.

I bought a groupon for this place and remmeber the meats being dry but everything else being good (especially the hummus!) We had leftovers for two more meals enjoyed a quiet meal with romantic ambiance.
(3)
Pratheep S.

I never give one star reviews based on quality of food so I am giving two stars. I was hugely disappointed with the food here. The hummus tasted weird and we ended up throwing it out. The sandwiches were served in pocket pitas rather than wrapped. This makes eating the sandwiches much more difficult as the bread does not stay together and the contents fall out very easy. Speaking of the contents - where was the meats? The shwarma sandwich was just a salad with a few pieces of chicken. I could go on but you get the point... Maybe it's because I am spoiled coming from SE Michigan where there are several hundred of Middle Eastern restaurants competing for your business, but the food here was bad plain and simple. This restaurant would have gone out of business in SE Michigan. I hate giving bad reviews when service is good...so this pains me.
(2)
Mina I.

Is it possible to have an orgasm with food? Well, I do not care because I definitely did after eating everything from Dawali. My friends and I came here last night after the Rock and Rock Half Marathon to celebrate my twin sister and our other friend, Dana completing 13.1 miles since my sister was craving Mediterranean food. My other girlfriend started searching on yelp and Dawali was the first query to show up and after reading the reviews, all 7 of us showed up at last night at 8:30pm (actually, 8:00pm for all of our white friends and 8:3pm for us 2 Koreans since we tend to be on Asian Time unfortunately). pros: 1. Their Falafels - for those of you do not know what is is, they are chickpea fritters highly seasoned and fried to golden perfection! And perfection it was! I must say these are the ABSOLUTE BEST falafels that I have ever eaten! 2. Grapeleaves - These were divine! They made them homemade stuffed with rice, tomato, lemon and spices! Just perfect. 3. Baba Ghannouj - My twin sister is dating a Syrian so she kept raving about how delicious these were so we ordered these as well and they definitely tasted just as good as my twin said it was! For those who do know what it is, they are a tangy puree of fire roasted eggplant, tahunu and garlic! 4. For my main entree, I ordered their chicken shawarma and it was da bomb! Perfectly roasted and blended with the most perfect spices and the flavor just oozed out with every bite! 5. We had to order their dessert so we ended up getting their knafeh which was a baked shredded filo dough with cheese and simple syrup. More sweet than I thought it was going to taste but delicious nonetheless! cons: ZERO! My favorite part of this place was that one of the owners kept coming to our table and making sure we were doing okay and just for that, I have decided this is my new favorite place to eat in Chicago and even though I just moved to the city 3 weeks ago and still have many places to try and eat in this great city, Dawali is somewhere I will coming to time and time again! Overall, delicious food, amazing service, and great prices ... what more could you want yelpers?! :)
(5)
Amanda H.

I absolutely love this place. It is so clean and everyone there is so friendly and helpful. The owner is so nice and helped me understand their gluten free options. He really was knowledgeable on what gluten is and it made me feel comfortable eating there since I have an allergy. Their lentil soup is amazing. Also it is, BYOB which is awesome!
(5)
Hoof S.

I just left the place and I'm already craving the fries again. Have been twice so we've only tried a few things, but it has ALL been AMazing. My lamb kabob sandwich was ridiculously good. The falafel is fantastic. The fries are the best I've ever had. This place definitely has earned its high rating.
(5)
lars h.

Liked it a lot. Quick and courteous service. The food was good, and it hit the spot after a long day walking around Chicago. Will be back, when in the neighborhood.
(4)
Fe T.

Came here for lunch and ordered a lentil soup and a dozen falafels. Deliciousness! Dawali is surprisingly inexpensive for the location. The staff was friendly. There were some Arabic music playing (if I am correct) which added an ethnic feel to the restaurant. Will come back again!
(5)
Catherine S.

This place is in a great location, and we really loved the atmosphere. The service was good, and the pies were amazing! Particularly the meat pie and feta pie. The hummus was beautifully presented, and the prices were very affordable. Only downside was that I didn't care much for the falafel sandwich.
(5)
Jacob A.

Great Mediterranean food! Service was great! Very reasonable pricing and generous portions. Convenient to get to on the redline. We will definitely be back!
(4)
Rieti G.

Dawali has the best chicken shawerma I've ever had, hands down. This really is as good as it gets, guys. I've been here tons of times and have never been disappointed yet. Really everything they have is good, but I keep going back to that delicious, juicy, perfectly seasoned chicken shawerma with garlic sauce so amazing I could drink it with a straw. And at around 6 bucks for a very filling pita sandwich or wrap, you can't beat the price. Also go for the feta bread pies as an appetizer - piping hot, melty feta inside soft bread, with just a hint of mint. Incredible! Consistently fast, fresh, and delicious, this is a definite favorite. Several friends and I have even been known to eat here 2-3 times in one week! Go there right now!
(5)
Vivian Y.

Superb value! except their pitas need some improvement. i felt like it was just warmed up pitas from the grocery store. perhaps they need to get some tips from Naf Naf on fluffy pitas. I had the lamb kebabs. AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING!!!
(4)
nicole d.

The hummus is hands down delicious! The service was good and the food was good. Its a great local option if your crazing Mediterranean. My fav place is way up north so I would definitly go back to this one, location was great and its BYOB!
(3)
Prix L.

This is 10 stars! not five. I am addicted to this place. The plp that work here already know my partner and me. Love that its BYOB and the food is spectacular! The hummus with that perfect touch of lemon, then the lamb is perfectly cooked, the wraps are great that my partner always gets. I always order the plates of sometimes lamb and other times chicken. Cant eat it all though but always for take out. The baba ganoush is perfect!!!! Also the desserts are really good!!!! They really cook with love because the food is PERFECT! And it's cheap!!!!
(5)
Ashley B.

I went here with a couple friends of mine on a lunchbreak. Right off the bat, I have to say it was weird because we were quite literally the only people there. The service was definitely good though and we got quite a bit of food for the price. It was great. Everything tasted fresh too. I think I'd come back or grab take out, but as far as atmosphere goes, it was weird.
(3)
James N.

For two years in a row we've worked with Dawali Kitchen for helping our large group(25 people) in setting up a dinner before attending a performance at the Royal George. Asad has gone out of his way to make everything wonderful for us. We've used family style meals-the food has been plentiful and delicious, with enough variety to make everyone very happy. Service was great. This is the perfect venue for doing group meals before the theatre, and we would certainly hope to eat here whenever we are in the area.
(4)
Tiffany S.

All I can realy say is meaahhh... The service was slow and there was only 2 other tables in the restaurant the entire time we dined. The lentil soup was bangin!! Both of our entrees were sub par, Im usually a big fan of doggie bags and I hd no interest in eating any left overs from this place. I will not return..
(2)
Sara P.

I have only positive things to say about this Mediterranean restaurant- delicious & fresh food, very reasonable prices, and friendly/attentive staff. This is a frequent visit for us in the North/Clyborn neighborhood.
(5)
Samuel M.

I audibled a visit here a couple of weekends ago, and I was very happy. Dawali does great, classic Middle Eastern food - Baba, lamb sandwiches, hummus, falafel, and fool mudammas are all beyond competent options. Pita bread is hot and fresh. Plus, you can actually get in on a weekend. What more could you ask for? All in all, this is a great, chill spot for authentic ethnic eats. If you manage to spend more than $20 you're truly mental.
(4)
Tom M.

Steppenwolves are required by law to eat here. And that's fine because a cheaper and more delicious falafel sandwich (go ahead and add hummus) you will not find. At least not within stumbling distance of North & Clybourn. Quick, easy, friendly.
(5)
Anuj S.

Just like my review of the other location, I loved the food at Dawali in Lincoln Park. Even better here was the decor was more of a sit-down place compared to the Albany Park location. Great job Dawali.
(4)
Darryl J.

Solid place for Arabic food in Chicago. Dawali has never disappointed me and you gotta love a place that carries knafeh. If you don't know what knafeh is, just save some room for dessert and order it.
(4)
Amanda G.

My husband and I live in the neighborhood and randomly decided to try Dawali one Saturday for dinner, and we were very pleasantly surprised! We didn't make a reservation, but there were a decent amount of people in the restaurant. The atmosphere is great; it's intimate but roomy. It's very clean (restroom included) and the decor is simple yet interesting. It's also BYOB, which is a huge plus to me. Now for the most important part, the food and service, which were both phenomenal! My husband got the lamb kabob and I got the Galaya. My husband's lamb was cooked perfectly, and both dishes tasted very fresh and authentic, right down to the sauces. Additionally, you get a lot of food for a reasonable price. Also, our server was awesome. I wish I could remember her name, but she was very friendly and attentive. I would definitely recommend this place, and I think it's good for any occasion: group outing, date night, lunch, etc.
(5)
Jenny M.

I live super close to this place and it's always my go to! Very friendly staff and quick carry out service. I always order the lentil soup and village salad..healthy, gluten-free, and reasonable! Also fun to dine in!
(5)
Melissa L.

OMG what a delicious value. Solid and authentic Mediterranean food. Super fresh and homemade tasting. Nice selection of items on the menu. I went with a friend and we ordered the salad combo for 2-4, which we suspected would be more than enough food. But I'm loath to pass up an opportunity to get falafel when all signs point to it being delicious -- so I did. Even though we ended up ordering enough to responsibly feed a family of 5, we didn't regret it! PS - I bought a $5 for $10 coupon through Yelp! just before sitting down. I felt like they were paying me to eat there. Whatha?
(4)
Fernando M.

Best kibbe I have had! Had the sample appetizers, and it was great! Service was exceptional.
(5)
Kevin T.

Great little place. Large servings, reasonably priced and a great option for food in the area. Much better than Olive on North ave. Everything we had was tasty. The baba ganoush was especially good (in the sampler). Will definitely be back.
(4)
W U.

Amazing food. I order delivery all the time. Best Baba Ganoush I've found in the city.
(5)
Steven G.

This was our second visit to Dawali Mediterranean. We loved it and found the staff to be friendly and helpful. Definitely a great place to go for a delicious quick inexpensive lunch or dinner. It's also very close to the Apple Store so you can grab a bite to eat while they fix your computer at the Genius Bar. Don't miss the Mediterranean Fries.....yum. The Classic Falafel and Lamb Shishkabob were also delish with an addictive garlic sauce.
(4)
Erik M.

This place is SO great! I've eaten here a few times before shows at Steppenwolf and have fallen head over heals like Alanis. The food is absolutely delicious. It is BYOB. I used a WONDERFUL Yelp Deal and spent next to nothing. The service is also uncomfortably nice and helpful. Woohoo! As good as it gets!
(5)
George B.

Perfect food ... Very convenient prices
(3)
Joe H.

I eat a lot of Mediterranean food and the lamb was awesome and the kafta was the best I have had in the city. A lot of places dry their meat out and this was done perfectly. Great service.....very clean tables, kitchen....I couldn't have had a better experience. Get in there!
(5)
Alton D.

Went here for the first time for a birthday celebration for a friend. The food was fantastic!! When you hear people talk about food being fresh and you're not quite sure what that means, then go here everything we had tasted like it was cut or killed when we ordered it. The service was excellent for a BYOB. Perfect price point. Plenty of vegetarian options. Friendly service. Nuff said.
(4)
Pete H.

Dawali's shawerma wrap is the Muhammad Ali of sandwiches. The panini press makes the sammy float like a butterfly while the garlic sauce stings like a bee. The wrap was the greatest before it even knew it was.
(5)
pamela c.

Dawali on Halsted is absolutely wonderful. We had a terrific Friday evening dinner there. The restaurant itself is spotless with a nice warm dÃ©cor. The food is really reasonable and everything that we tried was delicious. Here is the run down: Fries with curry sauce - Great seasoning on the fries and the curry sauce takes it up a notch. Baba Ganoush was obviously home made and delicious. The pita bread was just plain pita bread, but slather it with the baba ganoush and who cares! We ordered the trio combination plate: The beef kofta - I do not eat a lot of beef, but it was flavorful and completely different from anything I had tried. The Shrimp kebab - delicious, fresh really big shrimp, grilled to perfection. The spicy chicken kebab - my absolute favorite and the best kebab I'd ever had anywhere, ever. It was moist and super flavorful with some great heat to it. The platter also came with some really good seasoned rice and a side salad. Plus, it is BYOB. The price tag for two people (before tip) - $25.00. I am pretty sure that this is the best value in Lincoln Park. The service was friendly and attentive. The owner was friendly and gracious. Definitely the kind of place that you want to be around for a very long time!
(5)
Danielle S.

Just moved to the neighborhood and this place is a gem!! The fries with curry dipping sauce are amazing as is the shish kebob sandwiches and my favorite - cucumber yogurt sauce. BYOB, and in general doesn't break the bank. Two sandwiches, fries and a couple sodas was less than the Subway just up the street and WAY more satisfying. Highly recommend!
(4)
Anna P.

What a lovely little spot to fill up on fresh, delicious food and still have money left to hit the stores nearby! We had a party of 3 for lunch on a recent Saturday. The place had just opened when we arrived so was completely empty. The waitress/hostess was really nice and attentive. The menu is very extensive - they have everything you could want in a Mediterranean restaurant: falafel, hummus, baba ghannoush, schwarma, grape leaves, and it goes on and on....they also have fresh mint tea, which is a rare find and a perfect fit for a chilly winter day. We started out with the appetizer platter, which included generous portions of three delicious dips plus a grilled mixed vegetable salad. They brought us as much pita as we could handle, and it was fun to try everything out. The only downside was that I was already full by the time my main course came, but it was so good I had to wolf that down as well! I got one of the sandwiches - the chicken schwarma, which came on a pita loaded with chicken, hummus, and fresh veggies. It was taaassttyyyy. The best part? Our bill came to only $15/person with tax and tip included. Amazing! I'll definitely be back.
(4)
Dana A.

This place is so great! Their hummus is soo good!! The also give you a great amount of pita to go with the delicious hummus! Amazing falafel! I have had a good amount of falafel in my time ha and Dawali's is really delicious! The owner at this place is so nice and very attentive to customers! Their falafel sandwich is great, good size and perfect for dinner! Great prices and BYOB! How can you go wrong! I would highly recommend this place to any one wanting yummy mediterranean food!!
(5)
AJ D.

A hidden gem in Lincoln Park! Great food, Great service. Modern Decor. BYOB.
(4)
Kristina W.

I went here with my boyfriend after one of his friend suggested it. It's a great find for some good Mediterranean food. The interior is uniquely interesting, and I really liked it. When you first walk in, there's a hostess behind a desk-like structure who is waiting to seat you. They even have hand sanitizer, which is awesome! So, of course, I had to use it. We were seated near the wall, and served water. We ordered the pick 3 combination plate to share: chicken shawerma, beef kufta, and lamb kaba. All of these meats were delicious. The sides included rice, veggies, pita bread, and a minty like sauce. Everything was fresh and it arrived quick. Great place for yummy Mediterranean food.
(4)
Abeer A.

Dawali is a cozy restaurant in Lincoln park. The food was very tasty! We ordered beef/lamb shawerma hummus, falafel, grape leaves (dawali), and tabbouleh. They were all up to par with my standards! Service was excellent and I LOVED the ambience (setting and music)!
(5)
Li S.

I never liked Humus until last night. Big fan thanks to this place. Didn't care for Lentil soup until last night. Both are award winning. The Lamb pie was awesome. I had the beef/lamb Shemewra. It was good, the rice was just okay and vegetable just okay. Others had the kabos and really liked the Chicken. I would go back. Prices were great. Don't like BYOB but others thought that helped keep prices low. Service good and I could put the Garlic Sauce on a shoe and eat it. That amazing. Tahini ok.
(4)
Gary F.

Was looking for a bite after REI - yelped and found Dawali. Simple, authentic, perfect portions, fresh, warm service, very reasonably priced. Excellent!!
(5)
Andrew W.

Let me start by saying that Dawali is seriously great. I found this restaurant about 2 years ago and have come regularly since then. I've NEVER had a bad experience of any kind. I've taken tons of people here, and they all loved it. This is a great neighborhood mediterranean restaurant. Try the chicken shawerma wrap, and order it with hummus. I get that nearly every time I eat at Dawali because it is just that good. The place is BYOB and the ingredients are incredible. For the quality of food, the prices are so low I'm not sure how they stay open. I could easily eat here every day and not get tired of it. Oh yeah, try the baba ghanoush too, it's pretty amazing.
(5)
Aldi J.

Was driving around the area and came across this place on the Yelp app. Great location, clean, and very reasonable prices. Started off with the classic hummus. This was probably the best hummus I've ever had! Opted for the spicy hummus, but it really wasn't spicy at all. The hummus was just creamy enough, with the perfect combo of oil and chickpeas. They were generous with the pita for refills. Also ordered the Classic Shawerma sandwich and the Chicken Shawerma entree. The chicken was a bit too dry for my taste but the sandwich was very good - the salad was seasoned really well. I'll have to try the lentil soup next time!
(4)
Angie A.

As a man used his fists to pound on my vehicle at the intersection of Clybourn & North Avenue, I drove forward, and POP! went my tire. So, I had to pull over. While I waited for roadside assistance to arrive, I found myself rather hungry and thought I'd give Dawali a try. Boy, am I glad I did. I didn't really have any expectations, all I knew was I was hungry and annoyed. When I stepped in and took a look at the menu, I knew hummus was a must! I asked the waitress to recommend something and she was quite knowledgeable and helpful. I ended up ordering some chicken wrap she had recommended and I was impressed! I took my order to go and was glad that when I opened it up it was still hot which made it easier to enjoy as I fumed on the side of the road with my flat tire! I ordered a small order of hummus and I still have some left over. The wrap I ordered was really big also. Lots of bang for my buck. I will be back!
(5)
Ermelinda C.

We ordered takeout from here yesterday and I can't wait to devour the leftovers tonight! The food was delicious. We ordered the three way combo:, chicken kebab, lamb kebab and chicken shwarma, which came with basmati rice, tahini sauce, garlic yogurt, pitta bread and a small refreshing salad. We also ordered the beef Kafta, which was delicious and seasoned just right. Everything was packed neatly, the delivery service was fast and very friendly. We will surely plan a in-restaurant visit during one of our Steppenwolf visits. Keep up the great work Dawali!
(4)
Alicia D.

Food is delicious and HUGE portions. My entree turned into 3 meals--and for only $11! Loved the pita bread. What I was most impressed with was the service. After we were seated and given water no one came to our table for probably 10 minutes. A man came over (I'm assuming the manager/owner) and asked if we had been helped. We told him no and he immediately apologized and told us the hummus app we ordered would be on the house. During our meal, he came over again to see how everything was and again apologized. He then had the waitress bring us a free baklava dessert (which was delicious!!!). I really appreciate when businesses can acknowledge a slip up and make up for it. They really went above and beyond considering we weren't in a hurry and really weren't that upset about it. I'll definitely be back!
(5)
Hector N.

Good food but my experience here wasn't very memorable.
(3)
Chan K.

Stopped by for lunch and ordered a beef shish kabob sandwich and some sides. The sandwich was juicy, lean and grilled to order. It came with an amazingly fresh and flavorful tahini sauce, probably the best I've had here. I also liked their hot sauce, which carried heat and subtle flavor but was not too vinegary or otherwise overpowering in any dimension as to diminish the main dish. The eggplant side was unremarkable. The side of hummus was creamy and garlicky as it should be. Everything was reasonably priced.
(4)
Kyle P.

inexpensive good food. Get the app sampler to start and kufta I think it is called. You know what made it great was the hostess/server. She was great and although you can see they may be down a server everyone kicked in and really made it a good experience. BYOB as well
(4)

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Address : 1625 N Halsted St
Chicago, IL, 60614
Phone (312) 944-5800
Website https://www.dawalikitchen.com/
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes

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Dawali Mediterranean Kitchen

1625 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL, 60614

Dawali Mediterranean Kitchen Menu

Soups

Sides And Sauces

Drinks

Salads

Appetizers

Bread Pies

Desserts

Sandwiches And Wraps

Entrees

Classic Entrees

Make Your Own Combination

Healthy Meal suggestions for Dawali Mediterranean Kitchen

Soups

Sides And Sauces

Drinks

Salads

Appetizers

Bread Pies

Desserts

Sandwiches And Wraps

Entrees

Classic Entrees

Make Your Own Combination

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