Jaafer Sweets
4825 N Kedzie Ave, Chicago, IL, 60625
Jaafer Sweets Menu
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Chicago's Top Handcrafted Desserts
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Vegan and Sugar Free Baklava
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Jaafer Protein Bars
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Exotic Dessert Bar
Healthy Meal suggestions for Jaafer Sweets
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Chicago's Top Handcrafted Desserts
-
Vegan and Sugar Free Baklava
-
Jaafer Protein Bars
-
Exotic Dessert Bar
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Address :
4825 N Kedzie Ave
Chicago, IL, 60625 - Phone (773) 463-3933
- Website https://www.jaafer.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :10:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
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Evie H.
Holy smokes. SUPER DELICIOUS!!! I'm not a baklava expert by any means but I've had my share of them at different locations. I was in the area when I felt like I needed something sweet. Luckily, this place was close by. They charge by weight so I picked a few in a mini-tray (can hold up to 8, maybe 10, little treats). My favorite was the walnut baklava which was complete heaven in my mouth. The baklava itself is not terribly sweet but the honey infused really brings out the flavor. For those with a bigger sweet tooth, the chocolate walnut is delicious too! The baklava with cashew was close to being on par with the walnut. Also a big plus is that there's a parking lot right in front of the store. Anyway, I've found another reason why I love being in Chicago!! The best baklava!
(5)Asim A.
Sorry but I did not like this place. I honestly believe the reviews are highly overrated.. The customer service was lame. The employee wasn't very helpful with the questions. I have also received hate mail after reviewing this location negatively. The sweets are okay as well.. nothing exceptional. I am hoping to try a different place next time, since this is definitely not the place for me. ============== Update 9/2 As you can see I received an unapologetic response on this review from the store. According to them I must like cheap not so good tasting sweets and that's why I didn't like their store. As you can tell, even the store owners are not very friendly and customer oriented. Read the reviews and you'll notice how many people have complained about lack of customer service.
(1)Cindy H.
I wrote a review on April 17 but it's not showing up. I think it's because I referenced something that I shouldn't have. So I will edit and remove that portion. Hopefully, my review won't be deleted. We were ripped off! We came here after dinner at the restaurant next door last night. It was about 8:35 pm and there was no one at the front. Finally a guy came from the back and asked what we wanted. We asked what do most people order because we had never been there before. I said I love pistachio, so what's a good pistachio item. He pointed to the top row which had ballourie, baklava, and pistachio ring. We picked the ballourie from his recommendations. It was literally only 1 inch x 1 inch. TINY but we just wanted to satisfy our sweet toothes. He walked over to the cashier and rang it up ... $1.99 EACH ... for a 1 inch x 1 inch piece of ballourie. We had already eaten it because it was so tiny, so we reluctantly just paid and left. We were clearly overcharged because the cashier knew we were not regular customers. So my WARNING to fellow yelpers, is that you should not go to this place. They will rip you off. Such a dishonest stunt of cheating customers should not be tolerated. Thanks for letting me have "someone" to complain to.
(1)Mahubah A.
The owner is rude!! I just went in and because I asked when the baklava was made he thru me out!!! Obviously this guy doesn't need any business so I suggest no one go in!!! His product I can't speak about but his customer service skills doesn't even deserve one star!! I live 60 miles away today and was excited about getting good sweets!!! So sad...maybe he will learn!!
(1)Marcee W.
Best baklava in Chicago! Many varieties to choose from including pistachio or cashew, but the chocolate walnut is my favorite hands-down! Great texture and just the right amount of honey. Always pleasant service and my Yelp check-in garnered me two free pieces!
(5)Erica L.
The baklava here is delicious! They make a variety of flavors, but the pistachio and walnut ones are my favorite. The lady behind the counter was so helpful in making recommendations especially since we weren't as familiar with the other types of desserts they offer. We went ahead and bought a small tray of assorted baklava and pastries. You can check in on Yelp and get a few pieces of walnut baklava for free, I think it's 4.
(4)David L.
We recently came here with some friends that we were visiting in the Chicago area. We were eating in the cafe next door and noticed the high Yelp ratings so decided to stop by afterwards since my wife loves baklava. We did not feel welcome at all in the store from the moment we walked in. And that discomfort grew when we asked to buy just 2 pieces since we were all stuffed from dinner and then used the Yelp check-in to get an additional 2 pieces. The baklava itself was good and we probably would have gone back again the next day to get some more had we not had such a negative customer service experience.
(3)Mallory S.
Yum, so many Mid East style treats!!! Make sure to "Check-In" for a sweet deal! Most of the pastries are nutty and sweetened with honey. The baklava has a light, flakey crust which is delicious. I couldn't help myself and got an entire box. There are a few tables to enjoy your desserts, but it is mainly a stop and go bakery. Will definitely return!
(4)Laura K.
YUM! Ran in here on Easter to pick up some yummy treats. Love that they have sugar free options (who knew!) that tasted as incredible as the full sugar treats. Will definitely be back.
(5)Jamsaheb ..
Had mostly all types of baklava - mostly pretty good... Great service... and they do have vegan options (just in case)... Will try custard someday...
(4)Tyler S.
This is a great bakery. We came here based off yelp reviews. We opened the door to the sound of wind chimes, a nice sound, and the beauty of the treats immediately had me saying, "This is sacred ground." The older guy was super nice, I had asked him how do we go about ordering since it was our first time. Pick whatever, he puts it in the tray, and its paid for by the pound. We bought two pounds of assorted treats and I'll be damned if it wasn't amazing. A fine example is that we hate coconut. Not the thing itself, but everything that claims to taste like it or is made out of it. One of the treats was made from coconut, to which we dismissed, but he offered us a free sample saying how people usually don't like coconut. No wonder he had us try it while reinforcing how we felt, cause he beat back how we felt about the treat. We loved it, considering how much we don't care for coconut. It's cheap, its quality, and we will be going back there again easily.
(5)Linda SingaSong S.
One of my Assyrian gf explained that Jaafer is the place to go for best middle eastern treats. How could I forget this gem?? Been here a long time ago with my world religion class and I still remember to this day how nice the owner and workers were. On this particular day, I stopped by to pick up a plethora of birthday goodies for my bf's father. He loves his baklava and I wanted to spoil him on this special day. We were instantly greeted by a sweet lady, who discussed the various types of party trays that I can assemble along with mixed assorted desserts baked daily every morning. ** Sugary goodness I snagged ** : -Knafeh Kishna with side of liquid sugar-honey and crushed pistachios on top - assorted gift tray full of different baklava, pistachio birds nest,etc Store is clean & the aroma inside Jaafer Sweets hits up all your 5 senses to another dimension. Price is decent. I'd rather pay little more for well-made, quality desserts than a bland, fluffy cake from grocery stores. If you check in at Jaafer, they have an offer for 2 free desserts =] How can you beat that?!
(4)Ammar A.
I will never buy from this place again! I went couple weeks ago and there was a girl who I ask her what the price of bamia which is kind of arabic sweet she told me 1.5$ I told her I want 6 she ask me do you want to put it in the plate? I answered yes, and when I paid in the end I surprised she took more than 10$!! In the first I did not noticed because I bought several sweet , but when I checked the receipt I noticed , I try to ask her and it was very silly when she told me the price of the plate is 10 $ !! I told her I ask you first what the price of one piece , she told me but you put it in the plate , next time hold it with your hand ! So I advise everyone ask about the prices carefully before you buy anything and do not let them make fun of you!!
(1)Majed S.
They are not friendly
(1)Uber City Girl D.
Walked into this place thinking it was the same place I had come to know growing up. I was wrong:-( ordered a tray of Kenafe and was told over half a dozen times by the driver that if I knew I wanted Kenafe I should have ordered it in advance. Was told it would take 10 minutes to prepare and almost 25 min later it was finally ready. I asked them not to add pistachios on top of it but to give me a little on the side because although my daughter is allergic to nuts my mom likes a little on top of her kenafe. The driver proceeded to tell me how we can't please everyone and about a second later who I could only assume may have been the baker came out and said they don't give pistachio on the side in a very snippy way. Almost $45 and 25 minutes later that's the least they could have done. No worries, I won't be back again, so you can save your pistachios since I ended up throwing away almost the entire Kenafe.
(1)M A.
Konafa kishna = sweet cheese. Konafa kishta= sweet cream. We tried the kishta- it was delicious. Tastes just like the way my mom makes it. Three sizes, the smallest tray was 11.99 and definitely worth it. It took exactly 9 minutes to have it ready. They offer extra syrup on the side. Make sure you take it because you will need it when you reheat any leftovers in the oven. But you won't need any extra syrup when it's fresh because they pour the syrup right before they give it to you. When you reheat at home the next day or two (don't use the microwave because that dries it out), immediately AFTER taking it out, poor some of the extra syrup over the top. It will absorb the syrup while hot. If you pour it BEFORE you heat it, the syrup will stay on the top and then will carmelize in the oven.
(5)Myaw M.
The baklava was good. However, it is just as good as the place across the street "Nazareth Sweets". The reason why i give this review 2 stars is because of the price. I feel as though I got ripped off. I got a medium tray of baklava, for initially $42 dollars, after a discount it was $30 dollars. The people across the street will give you baklava just as good (maybe better) and just as much for HALF THE PRICE! ($15). I feel as though this place is just a much more expensive version of other baklava bakeries. I feel as though I got cheated by this place.
(2)Aaron K.
Jaafer is an institution in this part of the city and for quite a good reason..their sweets are incredible! Jaafer is my go to for a great selection baklava while in AP. I've stopped in here a few times when it is my turn to bring in treats to work or I feel like surprising my colleagues. Their selection of baklava is incredibly extensive and you can either get the prepackaged trays or make your own if there is something that you really like. I don't stop in here regularly for myself as their treats are addictive. I doubt a tray would last 2 days in my house as it is typically gone in 15 minutes when I bring it to work.
(4)Angela P.
I once saw an episode of "Bizarre Foods," where Zimmern went to Dearborn, MI. and spent some time in local bakeries. In one he tried "Knafeh," a sweet cheese baked with a sugar glaze on top. Since seeing that episode, I've wondered where in the sam hell I could find that delicious treat. Enter Jaafer Sweets, a small Middle Eastern bakery located in a strip mall on Kedzie directly across the street from Nazareth. There are a TON of bakeries in this area, but I picked Jaafer since several reviews highlighted the Knafeh. They also sell a wide variety of cookies, baklava, and loads of other things I couldn't pronounce. Cookies are sold by the pound, at $9.99. I also scored an awesome check-in deal on Yelp for 2 free pieces of baklava. I've never had baklava before, but the walnut baklava was very good. The pastry was a little flaky, and the filling had a chewiness that reminded me of toffee. The Knafeh takes 10 minutes to bake, so be sure you have the time to wait. We both had a few bites before we continued on our way, and it is definitely an interesting treat worth trying AND it is big enough to feed 2-4 people. We barely made a dent in it. I was a little thrown off when we walked in, and two men working in the back were listening to Mexican Mariachi style music. I expected this bakery to be a family-run kind of place. I didn't think much of it until the man behind the counter wasn't able to explain to me what any of the pastries were. I asked him about the "baked cheese with pistachios" since I could not recall "Knafeh," and I didn't understand a word he said to me other than when he showed me the pan and said, "$9.99." Despite the language barrier, he was very nice to us and patient while we decided. There is only one table with two chairs in here, but we were lucky that other customers took their orders to go. I'd sort of intended for us to split a few pastries, but aside from the Knafeh, most of the cookies were 1-2 bites big and not ideal for sharing. The cookies all looked really good and would make a great treat for your office, holiday party, or birthday. They also sell vegan and sugar-free baklava. I would go back for the baklava for sure. I would have liked for the menus to be more descriptive, including the random labels on the glass, because I probably would have purchased a sack of cookies.
(4)Annette U.
My sister wanted baklava for her birthday, so after a bit of research I settled on checking out Jaafer Sweets. I really liked the set up of the shop - colorful cookies and slices of baklava and other phyllo/nut/honey treats as well as colorful butter cookies stacked on serving stands. We bought some cookies and an assortment of baklava and another walnut/baklava type sweet. The cookies were just ok- they all kind of tasted the same. They looked better than they tasted. The baklava was just ok too- I think homemade baklava dripping with honey syrup is the best. Honestly, the best thing we tried was that walnut treat- I have no idea what it was called and I can't find it on the website. I would go back for that.
(3)Rita B.
I purchased several trays yesterday for myself and two family members. I drove to the city for the sole purpose of stopping here. The former owner sold the business to a man who was sitting at the counter at the window. When I was asking the woman behind the counter for specific items the man at the window would answer me, not her. A bit odd. But I presume he was the owner and the woman was his wife. (I later found out that that was true). Not too many options since the last time I was there. The stuff I did end up buying was not fresh. I'm very disappointed as I drove over an hour for the desserts I remembered being so delicious. I have two groupons that I can't use because she wouldn't let me use them on separate transactions or allow my mother who showed up later to use one of them. I'm for sure not driving back to the city just for this place. However, the place was pretty clean. No complaints about that. I was more put off by the fact that the owner was too lazy to talk face to face with me but rather spoke to me while his back was to me. Nice. I was also not happy that I paid $45 (after using my one groupon) for stale desserts. Too bad, I used to love this place.
(2)Lila S.
Really friendly helpful owner, very tasty cashew baklava that we got for free with yelps check in offer, and overall very tasty middle eastern sweets. Definitely authentic arabic desserts. They also sell desserts at whole foods and marianos, so I'll definitely be purchasing more baklava from here. They also have chocolate baklava which looks fantastic! Go figure!
(5)Katie K.
On a recent vacation in Jordan, we fell in love with knafeh, and a taxi driver there tipped us off to the Chicago Jordanian neighborhood on N. Kedzie. We made a point to visit as soon as we got back and this place is the real deal. Not as huge an operation as Habiba in Amman but if you are craving those particular items in Chicago, well worth a visit. Good assortment of Baklava and Warbat in addition to the knafeh - which is probably best eaten on premises, rather than carried home and reheated as we tried to do. Enjoy!
(4)Bonnie A.
They were really good just a little too sweet.
(4)Anna S.
Love this place... the staff is very friendly and the sweets are super good and taste just the same as they do back home, even better! and most importantly the place is always clean.. which tells you a lot about the people who works there!! over all my favorite sweet place in town! :D
(5)Hauwei L.
Came here for a sweet fix after I found the baklava I had with dinner at Noon O Kebab was less than awesome. The store is bright, clean, and cheerful and smells great. They sell over a dozen different baklava as well as several other Middle Eastern sweets. The owners are very friendly and enthusiastic that you try their different products. They have a long (20+) year history selling sweets and apparently you can get their baklava in many places including Whole Foods. You can mix and match most varieties of sweets for $9.99 a pound with 1 or 2 types being a little more expensive. After buying a good size box for less than $10, the owner offered us free drinks to go with the dessert. The only downside is that there is not really any seating so you have to take your desserts to go. I'm interested to compare this place to Nazareth Sweets across the street, which also has very good ratings.
(5)Debra L.
I visited Jaafer for the first time today. The first thing that I noticed was how attractive the shop is and how inviting the sweets look. There was one woman working and she was super busy with someone who was ordering huge, multiple trays of sweets. I spoke with the customer who was ordering the massive trays and she assured me these are the best. When I finally got my turn I inquired about vegan sweets. The woman not only pointed out the vegan varieties, but took the time to explain how they were made and what ingredients they used. The time she took was greatly appreciated. So, I walked out with a good sampler of vegan treats. The highlight was the baklava made with walnuts. It was gooey and flakey with a buttery (but not butter!) flavor. I also had a taste of the sesame bar. It wasn't too sweet but was packed with sesame seeds that had a nutty toasted flavor. There was also a roll that reminded me of a shredded wheat biscuit, packed with walnuts. It was rich and decadent. So, even though sugar isn't the most healthful thing, I feel like these sweets redeemed themselves with nutritious ingredients like nuts and seeds. Or, maybe I'm just justifying my next visit.
(4)Seosamh D.
I'd give it a 4.5 stars. Nice place and great selection of Mediterrean/Arabic treats. Yummy:)
(4)Jenny L.
I've tried a fair share of baklava but Jaafar Sweets is on top. The shop is located on a small strip on Kedzie, the place is very neat and well presented. They sell the trays (small, medium, large) but charge you depending on the weight. We mix and matched getting some cookies, fried dough and of course the different flavors of baklava. The sweets tasted very fresh and well worth it. Not recommended to sit and eat, there are a couple of fold-chairs. Overall great place to go for some Mediterranean treats!!
(5)Hina Q.
We were in the area for grocery and meat shopping and decided to stop by this place to fulfill our sweet tooth. This place is very clean and has a lot of different Middle-Eastern sweets. We didn't buy much but the stuff we did buy, was really delicious. Some of the sweets they make only for occasions, like for Ramadan. All the sweets are made on the spot in the back and we got the fresh batch for our sweets. It seems as though this place does a lot of catering. Quite delicious and the price wasn't too pricey. Definitely a great place for fresh home-made style sweets.
(4)Roseann M.
My first bad experience using a Groupon. Bottom line of this review - excellent product, horrible service, and an uncomfortable experience. I won't be back. Groupon has started offering a Daily Deal - the deal is good only for that day, and you have only hours to take advantage of it. On the first day I got a Daily Deal message from Groupon, I saw the offer from Jaafer Sweets - $7 for $10 worth of goods. This deal seemed to have everything I wanted - an opportunity to try something from a different culture, in a convenient location that I regularly pass, and at a low introductory price. I purchased the Groupon. Jaafer is located at the south end of a small strip mall on Kedzie, just north of Lawrence Avenue. There was plenty of parking available at the mall. That seemed like a promising start. The store is cute and well-laid out. The glass bakery cases are loaded with delectable-looking goodies. Also displayed were three different sized packages that offered a variety of sweets. Still looking good at this point. When I came in, the young woman behisnd the counter was talking to four male customers, in English and Arabic. She was busy, so I looked at the displays while she worked. It became clear very quickly, even with different languages, that she was conducting a social visit. No products or money changed hands. I stood and waited. After about 5 minutes, the men left. The clerk went into the back and did something for a minute (I could hear banging around - she wasn't in the washroom), then came back out and asked if I needed help. I said, yes, I had a Groupon. She asked to see the Groupon. I gave it to her. This is where it gets weird. She called someone on the telephone and said, in an English conversation, that someone had come in with a Groupon and what was she supposed to do about it. The conversation went on for maybe two minutes. I stood and waited and looked at her back. When she finished the conversation, she looked at the groupon. I don't mean she "glanced" at it. I mean she stood, with her back towards me still, and inspected the groupon. FDA meat inspectors should be so careful. No lie, and no exaggeration - she spent two solid minutes (I watched the clock) inspecting every millimeter of my groupon. Finally, she turned around and said "What do you want?" Not in a rude tone, but completely without a smile, or inflection. Lovely customer service - not. Mind you, Gentle Reader, I was still my sweet and polite self. I said, "what do you suggest?" She showed me a small sample package that cost just over $10, and I said, that sounds good, thank you. And I left. I can't remember when I've felt so uncomfortable in a store. She acted like I was trying to pass off a phony Groupon. She made me feel like a criminal, or, at least, that I was making some unreasonable demand and imposing terribly on her time. I took the sweets to school on Monday, and they were a big hit, as well they should have been - they really were delicious. Had it not been for the rotten customer service, Jaafer Sweets would be at the top of my list for a return visit, Groupon or no. But I will never go in that store again.
(2)Kate S.
I walked into this place and it smelled SO GOOD. Absolutely everything we tried was delicious. I had pistachio, cashews, almonds, chocolate and walnut...mmm...I'm getting hungry again thinking about it! The owner also gave me and my friend each a free drink! They were really nice. Definitely come here.
(5)Vince V.
My mom learned of Jaafer Sweets from buying a package of baklava from Whole Foods. She figured why not go to the source? The location is about a block away from North Park University. Parking isn't bad. Hanna was working behind the counter and she was very helpful answering my mom's questions. A Yelp offer came up on my phone upon check-in as well. The quality and assortment was very good. Very sweet, maybe too sweet if you aren't familiar with Mediterranean sweets. I was missing the strong hit of butter and honey I typically associate with baklava but there was still plenty of flavor. The excellent service is what merits the most attention though. Good stuff here, I will return soon for more.
(5)Rebekah H.
Hubby and I tried this place for the second time the other night. The thing to remember when eating pastries from an ethnicity that is different from your own is to be open minded. Allow yourself to give the flavors a chance. Be adventerous, sometimes this will be a good thing, other times not so good. BUT at least you can say you gave it a chance. That being said, the chocolate and walnut baklava is phenomenal here! The little fried "dough" balls were also delicious. We were shocked when the owner told us it is actually made from potato! The owner was super nice and friendly, we had a kgb deal and walked out with a container full of pastries. The pistachio baklava was also very good and buttery, he let us try a kindof baklava "basket" with dried fruit in it, so good, buttery and flaky, yummy! Definitely recommend you give this place a try!
(4)Michelle P.
Stopped here after dinner in the neighborhood. I had bought their small baklava tray before at my local grocery store, but I wanted to see what other varieties of baklava they had. Wow. I don't know a lot about Middle Eastern desserts, but there were trays and trays of different cookies and baklava (or baklava type) desserts. The person serving us (I think it might have been the owner) was very friendly, offering to describe different pastries, and offering us samples. In the end we bought walnut baklava and pistachio fingers, and one I hadn't tried before : CHOCOLATE BAKLAVA. Okay, maybe chocolate isn't a traditional middle eastern sweet, but it was the perfect combo of phyllo, chocolate, and nuts. We were also given a couple of free Bamia, which I had never tried before and they were good - I'll definitely get them again next time I go there.
(4)Liz M.
I like this place :) It has it's quirks, but it's definitely worth a visit. The baklava is top notch. It's flaky and sweet and delicious, just how it should be! The store is spotless and nicely decorated. Prices are reasonable, especially if you're a girl. The guy who usually works there will frequently give girls free stuff... he tried to convince me that the entire refrigerator of drinks were complimentary gifts with each purchase lol!!! But he also gave me 3 pieces of chocolate baklava for $1.75- a highly discounted price- so I'm not complaining about his weirdness. The product is excellent, if you can put up with a little awkward flirtation, and just smile and nod and enjoy your delicious treat.
(4)Anthony C.
I came in here after eating at a cafe next door and I haven't had baklava in a long time, nor did I know that there were so many different flavors and shapes. I came in based on the 2 free baklava they offer from checking in on yelp. I asked the lady about the different dessert and she kinda just distracted me to the prepackaged stuff. Not knowing how much I would like everything, I didn't want to spend $17 and up on a box of unknowns. So I pointed and asked about a couple in the case and asked for one of each, and she kinda rolled her eyes like I was wasting her time. Then I showed her my two free baklava offer and she rolled her eyes again and made a comment that they don't have bags for such a small order. I just wanted to try these desserts and possibly come back later to purchase more next time. But I left that place feeling uncomfortable and awkward. Like maybe this place isn't the right place for me. When I got home I tried each of the different desserts that I brought back and they all tastes the same. I can respect the amount of work that goes into making these but the fillings were all so dense and sweet it's a little too much for me. The phyllo had a nice flaky crunch but when I bit into the filling it was chewy and stuck to my teeth. I don't know if this is how baklava are meant to be, but I feel that I would have enjoyed it more if the filling was lighter in texture and flavor. Whether I liked it or not, I wouldn't return based off of the rudeness of the worker. You don't have to smile to give good service, but it helps. And making your customers feel like they're wasting your time is not a way to get repeat business. Based on the other reviews here maybe It's just me, and everyone else can appreciate the quality of desserts here.
(3)Sarah A.
Best knafe in Chicago, hands down. We stop here every time we are on Kedzie. Owners are very friendly and kind and happy to explain each of the pastries/desserts.
(5)Tim F.
Just great! I've had baklava and knafeh from here, and both were delicious. The decor and seating are pretty haphazard, but the sweets are topnotch and the owner is friendly. Free drinks are a nice touch too!
(4)Jenifer B.
Jaafer Sweets is amazing! I first tried their baklava and ma'amoul at I Dream of Falafel on Franklin and loved it, so when it came time to cater an event, I knew this was the place to get our desserts from. Among all the pastries, Hanna is the sweetest thing there. She is welcoming, friendly, and extremely helpful. Given that I don't know of any other place around here that does Middle Eastern pastries and that these are such fantastic pastries, the price is justified (~$32 for a variety platter of 52 pastries). I really don't know the names of any of the pastries we had, so I can't give specifics, but there was not a single thing on the platter that wasn't delicious. Definitely going back!
(5)Jillian P.
They make some of the best baklava ever!! I think the pistachio birds nest is my favorite. The "cigars" are a bit too sweet for me, so I eat them one bite at a time. If you have a taste for them and you're downtown. The 7-eleven on Michigan (just north of Randolph) sells a little sampler pack. Oh man I want some right now.
(5)Donovan H.
I love this place. I get their Havla...its amazing. I love Pistachios and they are in alot of their sweets. I also love thier baklava here, and the service is always great. Definately check this place out.
(5)Kate S.
I've never been here, but they sell a variety of baklava from Jaafer Sweets at the Pita Inn Market & Bakery in Skokie, and it is delish! If I'm ever in the Albany Park area (although I don't know why I would be), I will definitely stop by and see what else they offer.
(4)Nathan S.
I went here with Mr. Becker's Middle East class. On top of the food being delicious, the staff was very knowledgable about the culture and history surrounding the food. They were all very friendly, and made us all feel very welcome. 5 Stars.
(5)Laura K.
I went here after a vegan friend said they had vegan baklava, so I wanted to pick some up for a party. It took about 5 minutes to explain to the man behind the counter what I was talking about when I asked for vegan baklava. He kept thinking I meant for Passover. They were delicious, however, the ingredients listed "vegetarian butter" so we were wondering if it really is vegan or not. I'm not vegan and she's not 100% militant about it, so she ate it anyway and it was fantastic. But I'd suggest trying to get clarification if you really do need to have vegan baklava, just in case.
(4)Grace K.
I love their vegan baklava, you can't even taste the difference
(5)Egan V.
Only one vegan option, but it is FANTASTIC. Many vegans miss baklava, as it has honey and often butter as well. It's always at the felafel shops just staring back. Well fret no longer friends, because Jaafer is here to help, and how! Super buttery (almost to a suspicious degree), chewy, and moist. And you do not have to special order it, it's just there. So much better than any baklava I have ever had. It may look unassuming from the strip-mall parking lot, but it's warm and friendly inside. Staff was super nice and expedient. I am told more vegan options are on the way. They even catered a vegan wedding. Definitely worth a trip out here, no matter where in the city you live.
(5)Farha K.
Middle eastern families around the state bring their visiting friends and families to Jaafer to show off Jaafer as their own, its a little bit of home in a strip mall on kedzie.Visiting relatives always pack boxes of this honey smothered goodness to take back home where they may not be able to quench their bakhlava cravings as easily as Chicago natives. Thankfully now you can find Jaafer's bakhlava at your local grocery store and don't always need to drive out to the main store, but nothing substitutes the freshness of eating these goodies off the counter. They even cater to the diabetic bakhlava lover with their sugar free options! The bakery is clean and has a surprisingly boutique shoppe type feel to it even though its nestled in a small strip mall between a middle eastern grocery store and a dunkin donuts.. but with the best bakhlava this side of the caspian at your fingertips why would you opt for a donut?
(5)Leyla A.
The kinafa here has brought me to tears on occasion, especially when they are sold out. The other night, i really wanted this dessert called "Jiban- something or another", in English it is called "Cheese Delights." I used to get it in the South Suburbs at a Syrian Bakery in Bridgeview, but they went out of business. Needless to say, when I mentioned this sweet, the owner said he had it! It's not exactly the same as the Syrian one, but the taste is close. Jaffar makes it with kinafa dough on the outside, the Syrian one is cheese dough with cream inside, making it a bit more delicate and complicated texture when you take a bite. If you try it, do not forget the syrup on the side to dip it in. If you use Yelp, and sign up for email alerts, you get free baklava and a free beverage! So Tayip! Shukran!!
(4)Shawn m.
I LOVE THIS PLACE sooo much!!!! The owner is really nice and always around...The staff is very friendly....everything is just SO friggen yummy! AND ....(as im eating it in bed and giggling like a 5 year old).......They have Sugar-free Baklava!! **HEAVEN!
(5)Victoria W.
We used to go to Nazareth, but ever since we tried Jaafer's sweets I don't think we will ever go anywhere else. We picked out a small sampler pack of various treats, and they were all delicious. They really pack in the high quality nuts, and there's a purity to the flavor of Jaafer's sweets that I can respect. Plus they are beautifully presented in the store, and the man behind the counter was very helpful when describing the differences. You can get the same sweets in other stores along this cooridor in Albany Park, but I think you will find the highest quality will be Jaafer's.
(5)K S.
We found this gem through Groupon and tried it out a few weeks ago. I have had a fair number of Middle Eastern sweets in my day, but this is definitely the best I've ever had! They have a wide variety to choose from, and everything is absolutely delicious. We made a customized assortment, and the server at the shop was incredibly friendly and helpful in picking out sweets. He even gave us free samples and tea while we were deciding what to get. It was super fast, and I really can't say enough nice things about the service. I don't typically go back to the same place twice, but I'll make an exception for this place. Try it! :)
(5)Wesley S.
Jaafer Sweets specializes in Middle Eastern sweets and pastries. The shop is in Albany Park. The product is superior to that of a major neighboring bakery, but it is still not that good. I purchased a tray of assorted baklava type Middle Eastern pastries. Having tasted one of each of the six types of pastry, I find all of them to be so-so in flavor. The ingredients need an upgrade. The pastries themselves are well put together: good handling of the pastry dough. These are two of the ingredients that are absent from Jaafer's baklava: butter and honey. There might be others, but these two are pretty fundamental components to standard baklava. The overall effect of their absence creates a flavor-dead filo dough drenched in sugar syrup. Perhaps there are no bakeries in Chicago that produce genuine baklava. Jaafer does not. However, Jaafer's product is superior to that of a major, well-known bakery down the street. In short, Jaafer Sweets is a disappointment. 10-2-11 (update) Having read the other reviews, I should let Yelpers know that I have a high regard for the hospitality of the shop owners and workers that I met during my visit. The woman was welcoming and extremely enthusiastic. She was also genuinely interested in getting feedback regarding Jaafer's product. The man offered us both a complimentary drink. We had to decline because we were in a hurry, so I'm not sure what it was he was offering to us. My experience with Jaafer was entirely consistent with meeting small business owners, ones who are actually running the business and greeting customers. To me, they seemed genuinely interested in growing their business and working with customers. I don't know if this is entirely "good service", but it is good business practice, and their attitude was genuinely hospitable. The hospitality component might be cultural, something that is more Middle Eastern. Chalk me up on the plus side of the service evaluation of Jaafer Sweets by Yelpers. '--wys
(2)karina p.
I love baklava and I usually get it by the kedzie stop. I first went to this place on 5/20/2011 to take advantage of the $ 1 groupon. The place was really clean and the staff was so helpful, friendly and attentive! They even wanted to waive the extra $ 2 of my purchase (I ended up buying more so I could pay, they were sooo nice it didn't seem fair!) they also had free samples out there, which I thought it was a nice touch. I loved every single pastry I got, and was really greatful I Iisten to their suggestion and got those cookies! ooh delicious!! This place will totally replace the other store I used to go to!! You need to go there NOW!
(5)Vegan M.
Had the vegan baklava and it was great! Growing up on non-vegan baklava I was worried it just wouldn't be the same, however it was freakishly close! The first one I ate I did notice a slight difference, perhaps maybe not as sweet as the non-vegan version. However, I ate one more and I was totally adjusted to the very slight difference and thoroughly enjoyed it. Had to put the box away for fear I'd eat too many!!!
(5)David L.
Incredible smells and baklava
(5)David T.
Picked up some Persian sweets for a party, they turned out great. Would buy from again.
(4)Christina S.
My friend and I were craving for something sweet after having dinner at a nearby restaurant, but the dining experience there was pretty dismal so we looked for an alternative and happened upon this place through my Yelp phone app. I was not to be disappointed! In fact, Jaafer made my day by having an awesome Yelp deal, which made our visit even sweeter. (Sorry, couldn't stop myself with the play on words). First off, their display of sweet offerings is amazing and made you want to try everything. The service was very welcoming and friendly. He was very helpful in giving us advice on what to choose and even threw in a few extra tasty treats b/c he didn't want us to miss out. We ended up w/ a container of various goodies. Their baklavas are sooo GOOD, especially the chocolate baklava. It is heavenly at the first taste. Also, do not miss out on the pistachio-filled birds nest. You really can't choose anything bad at this place. I look forward to coming back to get my fill of sweets again.
(5)Reem T.
This place is amazing, and if you haven't gone, i suggest you go asap. We got knafe khishna (tray of 6) and some of the powdered sugar cookies. The knafe is layered, unlike any knafe ive ever had, so the cheese is sandwiched between 2 layers. it's amazing. We used a coupon we got from kgb deals (they deal with kgb deals and also post specials on their facebook) and it was $20 worth of sweets for $10. Our entire order totalled $22, and we got A LOT for that amount. The knafe is, by far, the best in the area, possibly the best in chicago. I highly recommend this place to everyone who loves Mediterranean pastries. The owners were so welcoming and kind. We've never been so pleasantly surprised by such a well run pastry shop. They apparently have their products in groceries all around chicago and they ship. I couldn't be happier with the service we received and we'll be coming back VERY soon!
(5)Ron I.
Umm, awesome! It's a bit of a hike from UChicago but it was well worth it. Bought a Groupon and used it to bring home a giant tray full of delicious sweets. I don't know what half of them are called but the chocolate walnut was excellent...hell, all of them were excellent. The girl who helped us was very helpful and helped me pick out a great assortment of all the different sweets they had to offer. I will definitely be back!
(5)Travis B.
I took advantage of the $5 for $10 deal during Yelp's Sugar Week promotion. Jaafer sweets was definitely as good as I've heard! My cohort and I got an assortment of delicious different types of baklava and treats. I had eaten normal baklava before, but it was really interesting being able to directly compare different types to one another--you can really taste the difference in texture and flavor. Even at regular prices, it was a pretty good amount of sweets for the value. Dropping $10-$20 here before a potluck would make you a very popular person. If you've never tried arab sweets before, I highly recommend stopping in here and just trying one of everything they have. They also have cookies and this one snack that I would describe as a sesame seed rice krispy. Great stuff. The customer service was also great, the people there seemed very nice. My only gripe, like others have mentioned, was that the store was hot as hell. It's not a huge deal but it would be nice to sit down in there and eating during summer.
(5)Malena A.
I'm Norwegian so I don't know a lot about baklava, but I go to this place several times a months. The chocolate baklava is to die for!
(5)Jenny C.
Excellent sweets, and the owner/or attendant is very nice!
(5)Lilith K.
A friend of mine who grew up in Cairo used to bring me a tray of baklava every time she went home to Egypt. Now she lives in New York, and when I go to visit her, I bring her a tray of baklava from Jaafer sweets. She swears that this stuff tastes as authentic and delicious as the stuff that she gets at home. This is a small pasty shop localed in a strip mall in Albany Park. There are at least 20 different types of baklava and other pastries, made with combinations of honey, chocolate, pistachio, walnut, cashew, dates and cheese. If you are not familiar with middle eastern pastries, you can buy a prepackaged tray, but I prefer to choose individual pastries and purchase by the pound. Among my favorites: the date baklava, has a dense, sweet flavor that tastes almost like chocolate. Zalabia is a crisp version of fried dough, dipped in honey instead of powdered sugar. The pistachio bourma is not as sweet as the traditional layered baklava, and has a crunchy center of roasted pistachios. There are also several variations of layered and rolled baklava, made with cashews, walnuts, or pistachio. I'm not sure if the guy I usually see there is the owner or the baker or both, but he is generous with the samples and seems genuinely pleased seeing how much I enjoy the treats. Paired with a nice hot cup of tea, this is as good as it gets.
(5)Patrick M.
Jaafer Sweets is a Albany Park treasure. The baklava is great. The staff is really friendly and very helpful. It may seem expensive, but each of those little treats is packed with goodness. We recently used a $1 groupon now that was for $10 worth of treats and he loaded our box with almost $14 worth, but didn't charge us for the extra. Definitely worth a visit.
(5)Stephanie V.
authentic baklava with all kinds of fillings! friendly staff! you get a sample just for checking in here!
(4)Parker L.
I had a bit of a manic experience here today. I brought a groupon here and was met with confusion from the clerk. Didn't exactly feel welcome, or was met with suggestions on what to buy. That said the sweets were fabulous. Very fresh.
(4)Dalyan K.
This is a quaint little bakery that succeeds in making very delicious baklava (and many different varieties too) but the one problem is that there isn't a large variety of desserts. The only thing that is really served there is baklava and a couple of drinks in a small fridge. Other than that, though, it is an amazing find for those who want quality baklava.
(4)Darlene L.
Saw this reviewed on Hungry Hound and could not wait to try the baklava. It was spectacular. Loved the traditional as well as the chocolate. Each tiny slice is $1.00 and I recommend one of each. Of course, you can taste the butter in each bite which Julia Child would appreciate. Took ours home and brewed a good cup of tea. It was a lovely way to celebrate great dessert.
(5)Colin K.
Short and sweet. Solid experience, nice and fast. Nice decor, excellent pastries
(5)Jess M.
Walk in the door and "try-try-try". if it looks interesting, order it. Drop a good 10-20 dollars and share with a friend, you will *not* be disappointed.
(5)John H.
I found out that Jaafer Sweets uses an ingrediant called Maltitol in their sugar free baklava. Many companies use this to be able to say that their products are sugar free. Diabetics have to be careful since Malitol is not like splenda and has more than 75% of the carbs of regular sugar.
(2)Jonathan H.
This small Middle Eastern bakery has a surprisingly upscale feel despite its somewhat dismal location. Beautifully painted walls, elegant displays, and well-dressed staff all contribute to a unique and pleasant experience. Of course the real attraction is the sweet stuff: three kinds of claicha cookies, two types of knafeh (ricotta cheese baked between two layers of finely shredded dough and topped with sugar syrup and crushed pistachios), a dozen varieties of baklaweh, and tons of other treats I've never heard of. You won't find any pita, lahmajoun, or savory pies here, but that's what Tannourine (across the street) and Al Khayyam (one block south) are for. This is truly the neighborhood's sweets specialist.
(4)Yahaa T.
Everytime my family and I go to visit relatives we stop by Jaafer Sweets to bring to them. The baklava is to die for, bursting with honey and pistachios. Okay and I don't what these are called in english but the Kahi is absolutley delicious. Its just like a baklava but it has cream inside and is dusted with crushed pistachio dust on top, no pistachios in it. It is sooo good when its warm and crust is flaky. The Kanafa is soo good too. It's has like sweet cheese in it and shredded sweet wheat on top of it with sugar and the phllyo dough.Come here if you want great middle eastern sweets.
(5)Bianca J.
Imagine my delight in moving to Albany Park and discovering a wealth of baklava bakeries in my hood! Fresh + cheap+ so delicious, bursting with fresh nuts and crispy syrupy goodness.
(5)Mallory S.
Yum, so many Mid East style treats!!! Make sure to "Check-In" for a sweet deal! Most of the pastries are nutty and sweetened with honey. The baklava has a light, flakey crust which is delicious. I couldn't help myself and got an entire box. There are a few tables to enjoy your desserts, but it is mainly a stop and go bakery. Will definitely return!
(4)Laura K.
YUM! Ran in here on Easter to pick up some yummy treats. Love that they have sugar free options (who knew!) that tasted as incredible as the full sugar treats. Will definitely be back.
(5)Evie H.
Holy smokes. SUPER DELICIOUS!!! I'm not a baklava expert by any means but I've had my share of them at different locations. I was in the area when I felt like I needed something sweet. Luckily, this place was close by. They charge by weight so I picked a few in a mini-tray (can hold up to 8, maybe 10, little treats). My favorite was the walnut baklava which was complete heaven in my mouth. The baklava itself is not terribly sweet but the honey infused really brings out the flavor. For those with a bigger sweet tooth, the chocolate walnut is delicious too! The baklava with cashew was close to being on par with the walnut. Also a big plus is that there's a parking lot right in front of the store. Anyway, I've found another reason why I love being in Chicago!! The best baklava!
(5)Asim A.
Sorry but I did not like this place. I honestly believe the reviews are highly overrated.. The customer service was lame. The employee wasn't very helpful with the questions. I have also received hate mail after reviewing this location negatively. The sweets are okay as well.. nothing exceptional. I am hoping to try a different place next time, since this is definitely not the place for me. ============== Update 9/2 As you can see I received an unapologetic response on this review from the store. According to them I must like cheap not so good tasting sweets and that's why I didn't like their store. As you can tell, even the store owners are not very friendly and customer oriented. Read the reviews and you'll notice how many people have complained about lack of customer service.
(1)Mahubah A.
The owner is rude!! I just went in and because I asked when the baklava was made he thru me out!!! Obviously this guy doesn't need any business so I suggest no one go in!!! His product I can't speak about but his customer service skills doesn't even deserve one star!! I live 60 miles away today and was excited about getting good sweets!!! So sad...maybe he will learn!!
(1)Marcee W.
Best baklava in Chicago! Many varieties to choose from including pistachio or cashew, but the chocolate walnut is my favorite hands-down! Great texture and just the right amount of honey. Always pleasant service and my Yelp check-in garnered me two free pieces!
(5)Erica L.
The baklava here is delicious! They make a variety of flavors, but the pistachio and walnut ones are my favorite. The lady behind the counter was so helpful in making recommendations especially since we weren't as familiar with the other types of desserts they offer. We went ahead and bought a small tray of assorted baklava and pastries. You can check in on Yelp and get a few pieces of walnut baklava for free, I think it's 4.
(4)David L.
We recently came here with some friends that we were visiting in the Chicago area. We were eating in the cafe next door and noticed the high Yelp ratings so decided to stop by afterwards since my wife loves baklava. We did not feel welcome at all in the store from the moment we walked in. And that discomfort grew when we asked to buy just 2 pieces since we were all stuffed from dinner and then used the Yelp check-in to get an additional 2 pieces. The baklava itself was good and we probably would have gone back again the next day to get some more had we not had such a negative customer service experience.
(3)Jamsaheb ..
Had mostly all types of baklava - mostly pretty good... Great service... and they do have vegan options (just in case)... Will try custard someday...
(4)Uber City Girl D.
Walked into this place thinking it was the same place I had come to know growing up. I was wrong:-( ordered a tray of Kenafe and was told over half a dozen times by the driver that if I knew I wanted Kenafe I should have ordered it in advance. Was told it would take 10 minutes to prepare and almost 25 min later it was finally ready. I asked them not to add pistachios on top of it but to give me a little on the side because although my daughter is allergic to nuts my mom likes a little on top of her kenafe. The driver proceeded to tell me how we can't please everyone and about a second later who I could only assume may have been the baker came out and said they don't give pistachio on the side in a very snippy way. Almost $45 and 25 minutes later that's the least they could have done. No worries, I won't be back again, so you can save your pistachios since I ended up throwing away almost the entire Kenafe.
(1)M A.
Konafa kishna = sweet cheese. Konafa kishta= sweet cream. We tried the kishta- it was delicious. Tastes just like the way my mom makes it. Three sizes, the smallest tray was 11.99 and definitely worth it. It took exactly 9 minutes to have it ready. They offer extra syrup on the side. Make sure you take it because you will need it when you reheat any leftovers in the oven. But you won't need any extra syrup when it's fresh because they pour the syrup right before they give it to you. When you reheat at home the next day or two (don't use the microwave because that dries it out), immediately AFTER taking it out, poor some of the extra syrup over the top. It will absorb the syrup while hot. If you pour it BEFORE you heat it, the syrup will stay on the top and then will carmelize in the oven.
(5)Myaw M.
The baklava was good. However, it is just as good as the place across the street "Nazareth Sweets". The reason why i give this review 2 stars is because of the price. I feel as though I got ripped off. I got a medium tray of baklava, for initially $42 dollars, after a discount it was $30 dollars. The people across the street will give you baklava just as good (maybe better) and just as much for HALF THE PRICE! ($15). I feel as though this place is just a much more expensive version of other baklava bakeries. I feel as though I got cheated by this place.
(2)Rita B.
I purchased several trays yesterday for myself and two family members. I drove to the city for the sole purpose of stopping here. The former owner sold the business to a man who was sitting at the counter at the window. When I was asking the woman behind the counter for specific items the man at the window would answer me, not her. A bit odd. But I presume he was the owner and the woman was his wife. (I later found out that that was true). Not too many options since the last time I was there. The stuff I did end up buying was not fresh. I'm very disappointed as I drove over an hour for the desserts I remembered being so delicious. I have two groupons that I can't use because she wouldn't let me use them on separate transactions or allow my mother who showed up later to use one of them. I'm for sure not driving back to the city just for this place. However, the place was pretty clean. No complaints about that. I was more put off by the fact that the owner was too lazy to talk face to face with me but rather spoke to me while his back was to me. Nice. I was also not happy that I paid $45 (after using my one groupon) for stale desserts. Too bad, I used to love this place.
(2)Lila S.
Really friendly helpful owner, very tasty cashew baklava that we got for free with yelps check in offer, and overall very tasty middle eastern sweets. Definitely authentic arabic desserts. They also sell desserts at whole foods and marianos, so I'll definitely be purchasing more baklava from here. They also have chocolate baklava which looks fantastic! Go figure!
(5)Angela P.
I once saw an episode of "Bizarre Foods," where Zimmern went to Dearborn, MI. and spent some time in local bakeries. In one he tried "Knafeh," a sweet cheese baked with a sugar glaze on top. Since seeing that episode, I've wondered where in the sam hell I could find that delicious treat. Enter Jaafer Sweets, a small Middle Eastern bakery located in a strip mall on Kedzie directly across the street from Nazareth. There are a TON of bakeries in this area, but I picked Jaafer since several reviews highlighted the Knafeh. They also sell a wide variety of cookies, baklava, and loads of other things I couldn't pronounce. Cookies are sold by the pound, at $9.99. I also scored an awesome check-in deal on Yelp for 2 free pieces of baklava. I've never had baklava before, but the walnut baklava was very good. The pastry was a little flaky, and the filling had a chewiness that reminded me of toffee. The Knafeh takes 10 minutes to bake, so be sure you have the time to wait. We both had a few bites before we continued on our way, and it is definitely an interesting treat worth trying AND it is big enough to feed 2-4 people. We barely made a dent in it. I was a little thrown off when we walked in, and two men working in the back were listening to Mexican Mariachi style music. I expected this bakery to be a family-run kind of place. I didn't think much of it until the man behind the counter wasn't able to explain to me what any of the pastries were. I asked him about the "baked cheese with pistachios" since I could not recall "Knafeh," and I didn't understand a word he said to me other than when he showed me the pan and said, "$9.99." Despite the language barrier, he was very nice to us and patient while we decided. There is only one table with two chairs in here, but we were lucky that other customers took their orders to go. I'd sort of intended for us to split a few pastries, but aside from the Knafeh, most of the cookies were 1-2 bites big and not ideal for sharing. The cookies all looked really good and would make a great treat for your office, holiday party, or birthday. They also sell vegan and sugar-free baklava. I would go back for the baklava for sure. I would have liked for the menus to be more descriptive, including the random labels on the glass, because I probably would have purchased a sack of cookies.
(4)Annette U.
My sister wanted baklava for her birthday, so after a bit of research I settled on checking out Jaafer Sweets. I really liked the set up of the shop - colorful cookies and slices of baklava and other phyllo/nut/honey treats as well as colorful butter cookies stacked on serving stands. We bought some cookies and an assortment of baklava and another walnut/baklava type sweet. The cookies were just ok- they all kind of tasted the same. They looked better than they tasted. The baklava was just ok too- I think homemade baklava dripping with honey syrup is the best. Honestly, the best thing we tried was that walnut treat- I have no idea what it was called and I can't find it on the website. I would go back for that.
(3)Katie K.
On a recent vacation in Jordan, we fell in love with knafeh, and a taxi driver there tipped us off to the Chicago Jordanian neighborhood on N. Kedzie. We made a point to visit as soon as we got back and this place is the real deal. Not as huge an operation as Habiba in Amman but if you are craving those particular items in Chicago, well worth a visit. Good assortment of Baklava and Warbat in addition to the knafeh - which is probably best eaten on premises, rather than carried home and reheated as we tried to do. Enjoy!
(4)Tyler S.
This is a great bakery. We came here based off yelp reviews. We opened the door to the sound of wind chimes, a nice sound, and the beauty of the treats immediately had me saying, "This is sacred ground." The older guy was super nice, I had asked him how do we go about ordering since it was our first time. Pick whatever, he puts it in the tray, and its paid for by the pound. We bought two pounds of assorted treats and I'll be damned if it wasn't amazing. A fine example is that we hate coconut. Not the thing itself, but everything that claims to taste like it or is made out of it. One of the treats was made from coconut, to which we dismissed, but he offered us a free sample saying how people usually don't like coconut. No wonder he had us try it while reinforcing how we felt, cause he beat back how we felt about the treat. We loved it, considering how much we don't care for coconut. It's cheap, its quality, and we will be going back there again easily.
(5)Linda SingaSong S.
One of my Assyrian gf explained that Jaafer is the place to go for best middle eastern treats. How could I forget this gem?? Been here a long time ago with my world religion class and I still remember to this day how nice the owner and workers were. On this particular day, I stopped by to pick up a plethora of birthday goodies for my bf's father. He loves his baklava and I wanted to spoil him on this special day. We were instantly greeted by a sweet lady, who discussed the various types of party trays that I can assemble along with mixed assorted desserts baked daily every morning. ** Sugary goodness I snagged ** : -Knafeh Kishna with side of liquid sugar-honey and crushed pistachios on top - assorted gift tray full of different baklava, pistachio birds nest,etc Store is clean & the aroma inside Jaafer Sweets hits up all your 5 senses to another dimension. Price is decent. I'd rather pay little more for well-made, quality desserts than a bland, fluffy cake from grocery stores. If you check in at Jaafer, they have an offer for 2 free desserts =] How can you beat that?!
(4)Ammar A.
I will never buy from this place again! I went couple weeks ago and there was a girl who I ask her what the price of bamia which is kind of arabic sweet she told me 1.5$ I told her I want 6 she ask me do you want to put it in the plate? I answered yes, and when I paid in the end I surprised she took more than 10$!! In the first I did not noticed because I bought several sweet , but when I checked the receipt I noticed , I try to ask her and it was very silly when she told me the price of the plate is 10 $ !! I told her I ask you first what the price of one piece , she told me but you put it in the plate , next time hold it with your hand ! So I advise everyone ask about the prices carefully before you buy anything and do not let them make fun of you!!
(1)Majed S.
They are not friendly
(1)Hauwei L.
Came here for a sweet fix after I found the baklava I had with dinner at Noon O Kebab was less than awesome. The store is bright, clean, and cheerful and smells great. They sell over a dozen different baklava as well as several other Middle Eastern sweets. The owners are very friendly and enthusiastic that you try their different products. They have a long (20+) year history selling sweets and apparently you can get their baklava in many places including Whole Foods. You can mix and match most varieties of sweets for $9.99 a pound with 1 or 2 types being a little more expensive. After buying a good size box for less than $10, the owner offered us free drinks to go with the dessert. The only downside is that there is not really any seating so you have to take your desserts to go. I'm interested to compare this place to Nazareth Sweets across the street, which also has very good ratings.
(5)Debra L.
I visited Jaafer for the first time today. The first thing that I noticed was how attractive the shop is and how inviting the sweets look. There was one woman working and she was super busy with someone who was ordering huge, multiple trays of sweets. I spoke with the customer who was ordering the massive trays and she assured me these are the best. When I finally got my turn I inquired about vegan sweets. The woman not only pointed out the vegan varieties, but took the time to explain how they were made and what ingredients they used. The time she took was greatly appreciated. So, I walked out with a good sampler of vegan treats. The highlight was the baklava made with walnuts. It was gooey and flakey with a buttery (but not butter!) flavor. I also had a taste of the sesame bar. It wasn't too sweet but was packed with sesame seeds that had a nutty toasted flavor. There was also a roll that reminded me of a shredded wheat biscuit, packed with walnuts. It was rich and decadent. So, even though sugar isn't the most healthful thing, I feel like these sweets redeemed themselves with nutritious ingredients like nuts and seeds. Or, maybe I'm just justifying my next visit.
(4)Seosamh D.
I'd give it a 4.5 stars. Nice place and great selection of Mediterrean/Arabic treats. Yummy:)
(4)Jenny L.
I've tried a fair share of baklava but Jaafar Sweets is on top. The shop is located on a small strip on Kedzie, the place is very neat and well presented. They sell the trays (small, medium, large) but charge you depending on the weight. We mix and matched getting some cookies, fried dough and of course the different flavors of baklava. The sweets tasted very fresh and well worth it. Not recommended to sit and eat, there are a couple of fold-chairs. Overall great place to go for some Mediterranean treats!!
(5)Hina Q.
We were in the area for grocery and meat shopping and decided to stop by this place to fulfill our sweet tooth. This place is very clean and has a lot of different Middle-Eastern sweets. We didn't buy much but the stuff we did buy, was really delicious. Some of the sweets they make only for occasions, like for Ramadan. All the sweets are made on the spot in the back and we got the fresh batch for our sweets. It seems as though this place does a lot of catering. Quite delicious and the price wasn't too pricey. Definitely a great place for fresh home-made style sweets.
(4)Roseann M.
My first bad experience using a Groupon. Bottom line of this review - excellent product, horrible service, and an uncomfortable experience. I won't be back. Groupon has started offering a Daily Deal - the deal is good only for that day, and you have only hours to take advantage of it. On the first day I got a Daily Deal message from Groupon, I saw the offer from Jaafer Sweets - $7 for $10 worth of goods. This deal seemed to have everything I wanted - an opportunity to try something from a different culture, in a convenient location that I regularly pass, and at a low introductory price. I purchased the Groupon. Jaafer is located at the south end of a small strip mall on Kedzie, just north of Lawrence Avenue. There was plenty of parking available at the mall. That seemed like a promising start. The store is cute and well-laid out. The glass bakery cases are loaded with delectable-looking goodies. Also displayed were three different sized packages that offered a variety of sweets. Still looking good at this point. When I came in, the young woman behisnd the counter was talking to four male customers, in English and Arabic. She was busy, so I looked at the displays while she worked. It became clear very quickly, even with different languages, that she was conducting a social visit. No products or money changed hands. I stood and waited. After about 5 minutes, the men left. The clerk went into the back and did something for a minute (I could hear banging around - she wasn't in the washroom), then came back out and asked if I needed help. I said, yes, I had a Groupon. She asked to see the Groupon. I gave it to her. This is where it gets weird. She called someone on the telephone and said, in an English conversation, that someone had come in with a Groupon and what was she supposed to do about it. The conversation went on for maybe two minutes. I stood and waited and looked at her back. When she finished the conversation, she looked at the groupon. I don't mean she "glanced" at it. I mean she stood, with her back towards me still, and inspected the groupon. FDA meat inspectors should be so careful. No lie, and no exaggeration - she spent two solid minutes (I watched the clock) inspecting every millimeter of my groupon. Finally, she turned around and said "What do you want?" Not in a rude tone, but completely without a smile, or inflection. Lovely customer service - not. Mind you, Gentle Reader, I was still my sweet and polite self. I said, "what do you suggest?" She showed me a small sample package that cost just over $10, and I said, that sounds good, thank you. And I left. I can't remember when I've felt so uncomfortable in a store. She acted like I was trying to pass off a phony Groupon. She made me feel like a criminal, or, at least, that I was making some unreasonable demand and imposing terribly on her time. I took the sweets to school on Monday, and they were a big hit, as well they should have been - they really were delicious. Had it not been for the rotten customer service, Jaafer Sweets would be at the top of my list for a return visit, Groupon or no. But I will never go in that store again.
(2)Kate S.
I walked into this place and it smelled SO GOOD. Absolutely everything we tried was delicious. I had pistachio, cashews, almonds, chocolate and walnut...mmm...I'm getting hungry again thinking about it! The owner also gave me and my friend each a free drink! They were really nice. Definitely come here.
(5)Vince V.
My mom learned of Jaafer Sweets from buying a package of baklava from Whole Foods. She figured why not go to the source? The location is about a block away from North Park University. Parking isn't bad. Hanna was working behind the counter and she was very helpful answering my mom's questions. A Yelp offer came up on my phone upon check-in as well. The quality and assortment was very good. Very sweet, maybe too sweet if you aren't familiar with Mediterranean sweets. I was missing the strong hit of butter and honey I typically associate with baklava but there was still plenty of flavor. The excellent service is what merits the most attention though. Good stuff here, I will return soon for more.
(5)Rebekah H.
Hubby and I tried this place for the second time the other night. The thing to remember when eating pastries from an ethnicity that is different from your own is to be open minded. Allow yourself to give the flavors a chance. Be adventerous, sometimes this will be a good thing, other times not so good. BUT at least you can say you gave it a chance. That being said, the chocolate and walnut baklava is phenomenal here! The little fried "dough" balls were also delicious. We were shocked when the owner told us it is actually made from potato! The owner was super nice and friendly, we had a kgb deal and walked out with a container full of pastries. The pistachio baklava was also very good and buttery, he let us try a kindof baklava "basket" with dried fruit in it, so good, buttery and flaky, yummy! Definitely recommend you give this place a try!
(4)Michelle P.
Stopped here after dinner in the neighborhood. I had bought their small baklava tray before at my local grocery store, but I wanted to see what other varieties of baklava they had. Wow. I don't know a lot about Middle Eastern desserts, but there were trays and trays of different cookies and baklava (or baklava type) desserts. The person serving us (I think it might have been the owner) was very friendly, offering to describe different pastries, and offering us samples. In the end we bought walnut baklava and pistachio fingers, and one I hadn't tried before : CHOCOLATE BAKLAVA. Okay, maybe chocolate isn't a traditional middle eastern sweet, but it was the perfect combo of phyllo, chocolate, and nuts. We were also given a couple of free Bamia, which I had never tried before and they were good - I'll definitely get them again next time I go there.
(4)Aaron K.
Jaafer is an institution in this part of the city and for quite a good reason..their sweets are incredible! Jaafer is my go to for a great selection baklava while in AP. I've stopped in here a few times when it is my turn to bring in treats to work or I feel like surprising my colleagues. Their selection of baklava is incredibly extensive and you can either get the prepackaged trays or make your own if there is something that you really like. I don't stop in here regularly for myself as their treats are addictive. I doubt a tray would last 2 days in my house as it is typically gone in 15 minutes when I bring it to work.
(4)Liz M.
I like this place :) It has it's quirks, but it's definitely worth a visit. The baklava is top notch. It's flaky and sweet and delicious, just how it should be! The store is spotless and nicely decorated. Prices are reasonable, especially if you're a girl. The guy who usually works there will frequently give girls free stuff... he tried to convince me that the entire refrigerator of drinks were complimentary gifts with each purchase lol!!! But he also gave me 3 pieces of chocolate baklava for $1.75- a highly discounted price- so I'm not complaining about his weirdness. The product is excellent, if you can put up with a little awkward flirtation, and just smile and nod and enjoy your delicious treat.
(4)Anthony C.
I came in here after eating at a cafe next door and I haven't had baklava in a long time, nor did I know that there were so many different flavors and shapes. I came in based on the 2 free baklava they offer from checking in on yelp. I asked the lady about the different dessert and she kinda just distracted me to the prepackaged stuff. Not knowing how much I would like everything, I didn't want to spend $17 and up on a box of unknowns. So I pointed and asked about a couple in the case and asked for one of each, and she kinda rolled her eyes like I was wasting her time. Then I showed her my two free baklava offer and she rolled her eyes again and made a comment that they don't have bags for such a small order. I just wanted to try these desserts and possibly come back later to purchase more next time. But I left that place feeling uncomfortable and awkward. Like maybe this place isn't the right place for me. When I got home I tried each of the different desserts that I brought back and they all tastes the same. I can respect the amount of work that goes into making these but the fillings were all so dense and sweet it's a little too much for me. The phyllo had a nice flaky crunch but when I bit into the filling it was chewy and stuck to my teeth. I don't know if this is how baklava are meant to be, but I feel that I would have enjoyed it more if the filling was lighter in texture and flavor. Whether I liked it or not, I wouldn't return based off of the rudeness of the worker. You don't have to smile to give good service, but it helps. And making your customers feel like they're wasting your time is not a way to get repeat business. Based on the other reviews here maybe It's just me, and everyone else can appreciate the quality of desserts here.
(3)Grace K.
I love their vegan baklava, you can't even taste the difference
(5)Egan V.
Only one vegan option, but it is FANTASTIC. Many vegans miss baklava, as it has honey and often butter as well. It's always at the felafel shops just staring back. Well fret no longer friends, because Jaafer is here to help, and how! Super buttery (almost to a suspicious degree), chewy, and moist. And you do not have to special order it, it's just there. So much better than any baklava I have ever had. It may look unassuming from the strip-mall parking lot, but it's warm and friendly inside. Staff was super nice and expedient. I am told more vegan options are on the way. They even catered a vegan wedding. Definitely worth a trip out here, no matter where in the city you live.
(5)Farha K.
Middle eastern families around the state bring their visiting friends and families to Jaafer to show off Jaafer as their own, its a little bit of home in a strip mall on kedzie.Visiting relatives always pack boxes of this honey smothered goodness to take back home where they may not be able to quench their bakhlava cravings as easily as Chicago natives. Thankfully now you can find Jaafer's bakhlava at your local grocery store and don't always need to drive out to the main store, but nothing substitutes the freshness of eating these goodies off the counter. They even cater to the diabetic bakhlava lover with their sugar free options! The bakery is clean and has a surprisingly boutique shoppe type feel to it even though its nestled in a small strip mall between a middle eastern grocery store and a dunkin donuts.. but with the best bakhlava this side of the caspian at your fingertips why would you opt for a donut?
(5)Leyla A.
The kinafa here has brought me to tears on occasion, especially when they are sold out. The other night, i really wanted this dessert called "Jiban- something or another", in English it is called "Cheese Delights." I used to get it in the South Suburbs at a Syrian Bakery in Bridgeview, but they went out of business. Needless to say, when I mentioned this sweet, the owner said he had it! It's not exactly the same as the Syrian one, but the taste is close. Jaffar makes it with kinafa dough on the outside, the Syrian one is cheese dough with cream inside, making it a bit more delicate and complicated texture when you take a bite. If you try it, do not forget the syrup on the side to dip it in. If you use Yelp, and sign up for email alerts, you get free baklava and a free beverage! So Tayip! Shukran!!
(4)Anna S.
Love this place... the staff is very friendly and the sweets are super good and taste just the same as they do back home, even better! and most importantly the place is always clean.. which tells you a lot about the people who works there!! over all my favorite sweet place in town! :D
(5)Reem T.
This place is amazing, and if you haven't gone, i suggest you go asap. We got knafe khishna (tray of 6) and some of the powdered sugar cookies. The knafe is layered, unlike any knafe ive ever had, so the cheese is sandwiched between 2 layers. it's amazing. We used a coupon we got from kgb deals (they deal with kgb deals and also post specials on their facebook) and it was $20 worth of sweets for $10. Our entire order totalled $22, and we got A LOT for that amount. The knafe is, by far, the best in the area, possibly the best in chicago. I highly recommend this place to everyone who loves Mediterranean pastries. The owners were so welcoming and kind. We've never been so pleasantly surprised by such a well run pastry shop. They apparently have their products in groceries all around chicago and they ship. I couldn't be happier with the service we received and we'll be coming back VERY soon!
(5)Wesley S.
Jaafer Sweets specializes in Middle Eastern sweets and pastries. The shop is in Albany Park. The product is superior to that of a major neighboring bakery, but it is still not that good. I purchased a tray of assorted baklava type Middle Eastern pastries. Having tasted one of each of the six types of pastry, I find all of them to be so-so in flavor. The ingredients need an upgrade. The pastries themselves are well put together: good handling of the pastry dough. These are two of the ingredients that are absent from Jaafer's baklava: butter and honey. There might be others, but these two are pretty fundamental components to standard baklava. The overall effect of their absence creates a flavor-dead filo dough drenched in sugar syrup. Perhaps there are no bakeries in Chicago that produce genuine baklava. Jaafer does not. However, Jaafer's product is superior to that of a major, well-known bakery down the street. In short, Jaafer Sweets is a disappointment. 10-2-11 (update) Having read the other reviews, I should let Yelpers know that I have a high regard for the hospitality of the shop owners and workers that I met during my visit. The woman was welcoming and extremely enthusiastic. She was also genuinely interested in getting feedback regarding Jaafer's product. The man offered us both a complimentary drink. We had to decline because we were in a hurry, so I'm not sure what it was he was offering to us. My experience with Jaafer was entirely consistent with meeting small business owners, ones who are actually running the business and greeting customers. To me, they seemed genuinely interested in growing their business and working with customers. I don't know if this is entirely "good service", but it is good business practice, and their attitude was genuinely hospitable. The hospitality component might be cultural, something that is more Middle Eastern. Chalk me up on the plus side of the service evaluation of Jaafer Sweets by Yelpers. '--wys
(2)Shawn m.
I LOVE THIS PLACE sooo much!!!! The owner is really nice and always around...The staff is very friendly....everything is just SO friggen yummy! AND ....(as im eating it in bed and giggling like a 5 year old).......They have Sugar-free Baklava!! **HEAVEN!
(5)karina p.
I love baklava and I usually get it by the kedzie stop. I first went to this place on 5/20/2011 to take advantage of the $ 1 groupon. The place was really clean and the staff was so helpful, friendly and attentive! They even wanted to waive the extra $ 2 of my purchase (I ended up buying more so I could pay, they were sooo nice it didn't seem fair!) they also had free samples out there, which I thought it was a nice touch. I loved every single pastry I got, and was really greatful I Iisten to their suggestion and got those cookies! ooh delicious!! This place will totally replace the other store I used to go to!! You need to go there NOW!
(5)Bonnie A.
They were really good just a little too sweet.
(4)Jenifer B.
Jaafer Sweets is amazing! I first tried their baklava and ma'amoul at I Dream of Falafel on Franklin and loved it, so when it came time to cater an event, I knew this was the place to get our desserts from. Among all the pastries, Hanna is the sweetest thing there. She is welcoming, friendly, and extremely helpful. Given that I don't know of any other place around here that does Middle Eastern pastries and that these are such fantastic pastries, the price is justified (~$32 for a variety platter of 52 pastries). I really don't know the names of any of the pastries we had, so I can't give specifics, but there was not a single thing on the platter that wasn't delicious. Definitely going back!
(5)Jillian P.
They make some of the best baklava ever!! I think the pistachio birds nest is my favorite. The "cigars" are a bit too sweet for me, so I eat them one bite at a time. If you have a taste for them and you're downtown. The 7-eleven on Michigan (just north of Randolph) sells a little sampler pack. Oh man I want some right now.
(5)Donovan H.
I love this place. I get their Havla...its amazing. I love Pistachios and they are in alot of their sweets. I also love thier baklava here, and the service is always great. Definately check this place out.
(5)Kate S.
I've never been here, but they sell a variety of baklava from Jaafer Sweets at the Pita Inn Market & Bakery in Skokie, and it is delish! If I'm ever in the Albany Park area (although I don't know why I would be), I will definitely stop by and see what else they offer.
(4)Nathan S.
I went here with Mr. Becker's Middle East class. On top of the food being delicious, the staff was very knowledgable about the culture and history surrounding the food. They were all very friendly, and made us all feel very welcome. 5 Stars.
(5)Laura K.
I went here after a vegan friend said they had vegan baklava, so I wanted to pick some up for a party. It took about 5 minutes to explain to the man behind the counter what I was talking about when I asked for vegan baklava. He kept thinking I meant for Passover. They were delicious, however, the ingredients listed "vegetarian butter" so we were wondering if it really is vegan or not. I'm not vegan and she's not 100% militant about it, so she ate it anyway and it was fantastic. But I'd suggest trying to get clarification if you really do need to have vegan baklava, just in case.
(4)Dalyan K.
This is a quaint little bakery that succeeds in making very delicious baklava (and many different varieties too) but the one problem is that there isn't a large variety of desserts. The only thing that is really served there is baklava and a couple of drinks in a small fridge. Other than that, though, it is an amazing find for those who want quality baklava.
(4)Ron I.
Umm, awesome! It's a bit of a hike from UChicago but it was well worth it. Bought a Groupon and used it to bring home a giant tray full of delicious sweets. I don't know what half of them are called but the chocolate walnut was excellent...hell, all of them were excellent. The girl who helped us was very helpful and helped me pick out a great assortment of all the different sweets they had to offer. I will definitely be back!
(5)Christina S.
My friend and I were craving for something sweet after having dinner at a nearby restaurant, but the dining experience there was pretty dismal so we looked for an alternative and happened upon this place through my Yelp phone app. I was not to be disappointed! In fact, Jaafer made my day by having an awesome Yelp deal, which made our visit even sweeter. (Sorry, couldn't stop myself with the play on words). First off, their display of sweet offerings is amazing and made you want to try everything. The service was very welcoming and friendly. He was very helpful in giving us advice on what to choose and even threw in a few extra tasty treats b/c he didn't want us to miss out. We ended up w/ a container of various goodies. Their baklavas are sooo GOOD, especially the chocolate baklava. It is heavenly at the first taste. Also, do not miss out on the pistachio-filled birds nest. You really can't choose anything bad at this place. I look forward to coming back to get my fill of sweets again.
(5)Darlene L.
Saw this reviewed on Hungry Hound and could not wait to try the baklava. It was spectacular. Loved the traditional as well as the chocolate. Each tiny slice is $1.00 and I recommend one of each. Of course, you can taste the butter in each bite which Julia Child would appreciate. Took ours home and brewed a good cup of tea. It was a lovely way to celebrate great dessert.
(5)Colin K.
Short and sweet. Solid experience, nice and fast. Nice decor, excellent pastries
(5)Travis B.
I took advantage of the $5 for $10 deal during Yelp's Sugar Week promotion. Jaafer sweets was definitely as good as I've heard! My cohort and I got an assortment of delicious different types of baklava and treats. I had eaten normal baklava before, but it was really interesting being able to directly compare different types to one another--you can really taste the difference in texture and flavor. Even at regular prices, it was a pretty good amount of sweets for the value. Dropping $10-$20 here before a potluck would make you a very popular person. If you've never tried arab sweets before, I highly recommend stopping in here and just trying one of everything they have. They also have cookies and this one snack that I would describe as a sesame seed rice krispy. Great stuff. The customer service was also great, the people there seemed very nice. My only gripe, like others have mentioned, was that the store was hot as hell. It's not a huge deal but it would be nice to sit down in there and eating during summer.
(5)Vegan M.
Had the vegan baklava and it was great! Growing up on non-vegan baklava I was worried it just wouldn't be the same, however it was freakishly close! The first one I ate I did notice a slight difference, perhaps maybe not as sweet as the non-vegan version. However, I ate one more and I was totally adjusted to the very slight difference and thoroughly enjoyed it. Had to put the box away for fear I'd eat too many!!!
(5)David L.
Incredible smells and baklava
(5)David T.
Picked up some Persian sweets for a party, they turned out great. Would buy from again.
(4)Malena A.
I'm Norwegian so I don't know a lot about baklava, but I go to this place several times a months. The chocolate baklava is to die for!
(5)Jenny C.
Excellent sweets, and the owner/or attendant is very nice!
(5)Victoria W.
We used to go to Nazareth, but ever since we tried Jaafer's sweets I don't think we will ever go anywhere else. We picked out a small sampler pack of various treats, and they were all delicious. They really pack in the high quality nuts, and there's a purity to the flavor of Jaafer's sweets that I can respect. Plus they are beautifully presented in the store, and the man behind the counter was very helpful when describing the differences. You can get the same sweets in other stores along this cooridor in Albany Park, but I think you will find the highest quality will be Jaafer's.
(5)K S.
We found this gem through Groupon and tried it out a few weeks ago. I have had a fair number of Middle Eastern sweets in my day, but this is definitely the best I've ever had! They have a wide variety to choose from, and everything is absolutely delicious. We made a customized assortment, and the server at the shop was incredibly friendly and helpful in picking out sweets. He even gave us free samples and tea while we were deciding what to get. It was super fast, and I really can't say enough nice things about the service. I don't typically go back to the same place twice, but I'll make an exception for this place. Try it! :)
(5)Lilith K.
A friend of mine who grew up in Cairo used to bring me a tray of baklava every time she went home to Egypt. Now she lives in New York, and when I go to visit her, I bring her a tray of baklava from Jaafer sweets. She swears that this stuff tastes as authentic and delicious as the stuff that she gets at home. This is a small pasty shop localed in a strip mall in Albany Park. There are at least 20 different types of baklava and other pastries, made with combinations of honey, chocolate, pistachio, walnut, cashew, dates and cheese. If you are not familiar with middle eastern pastries, you can buy a prepackaged tray, but I prefer to choose individual pastries and purchase by the pound. Among my favorites: the date baklava, has a dense, sweet flavor that tastes almost like chocolate. Zalabia is a crisp version of fried dough, dipped in honey instead of powdered sugar. The pistachio bourma is not as sweet as the traditional layered baklava, and has a crunchy center of roasted pistachios. There are also several variations of layered and rolled baklava, made with cashews, walnuts, or pistachio. I'm not sure if the guy I usually see there is the owner or the baker or both, but he is generous with the samples and seems genuinely pleased seeing how much I enjoy the treats. Paired with a nice hot cup of tea, this is as good as it gets.
(5)Patrick M.
Jaafer Sweets is a Albany Park treasure. The baklava is great. The staff is really friendly and very helpful. It may seem expensive, but each of those little treats is packed with goodness. We recently used a $1 groupon now that was for $10 worth of treats and he loaded our box with almost $14 worth, but didn't charge us for the extra. Definitely worth a visit.
(5)Stephanie V.
authentic baklava with all kinds of fillings! friendly staff! you get a sample just for checking in here!
(4)Parker L.
I had a bit of a manic experience here today. I brought a groupon here and was met with confusion from the clerk. Didn't exactly feel welcome, or was met with suggestions on what to buy. That said the sweets were fabulous. Very fresh.
(4)Sarah A.
Best knafe in Chicago, hands down. We stop here every time we are on Kedzie. Owners are very friendly and kind and happy to explain each of the pastries/desserts.
(5)Tim F.
Just great! I've had baklava and knafeh from here, and both were delicious. The decor and seating are pretty haphazard, but the sweets are topnotch and the owner is friendly. Free drinks are a nice touch too!
(4)Jess M.
Walk in the door and "try-try-try". if it looks interesting, order it. Drop a good 10-20 dollars and share with a friend, you will *not* be disappointed.
(5)John H.
I found out that Jaafer Sweets uses an ingrediant called Maltitol in their sugar free baklava. Many companies use this to be able to say that their products are sugar free. Diabetics have to be careful since Malitol is not like splenda and has more than 75% of the carbs of regular sugar.
(2)Jonathan H.
This small Middle Eastern bakery has a surprisingly upscale feel despite its somewhat dismal location. Beautifully painted walls, elegant displays, and well-dressed staff all contribute to a unique and pleasant experience. Of course the real attraction is the sweet stuff: three kinds of claicha cookies, two types of knafeh (ricotta cheese baked between two layers of finely shredded dough and topped with sugar syrup and crushed pistachios), a dozen varieties of baklaweh, and tons of other treats I've never heard of. You won't find any pita, lahmajoun, or savory pies here, but that's what Tannourine (across the street) and Al Khayyam (one block south) are for. This is truly the neighborhood's sweets specialist.
(4)Yahaa T.
Everytime my family and I go to visit relatives we stop by Jaafer Sweets to bring to them. The baklava is to die for, bursting with honey and pistachios. Okay and I don't what these are called in english but the Kahi is absolutley delicious. Its just like a baklava but it has cream inside and is dusted with crushed pistachio dust on top, no pistachios in it. It is sooo good when its warm and crust is flaky. The Kanafa is soo good too. It's has like sweet cheese in it and shredded sweet wheat on top of it with sugar and the phllyo dough.Come here if you want great middle eastern sweets.
(5)Bianca J.
Imagine my delight in moving to Albany Park and discovering a wealth of baklava bakeries in my hood! Fresh + cheap+ so delicious, bursting with fresh nuts and crispy syrupy goodness.
(5)