I liked this place when I stumbled upon it one night. I was saddened to go back... I placed an order for work & they messed up the entire message (language barrier); thus, stating that my order had been canceled. I was forced to go elsewhere for a quick meal! I placed another order & confirm it for the next day (called once to make it & once more to confirm that I was going to pick it up at the agreed time the next day...well, I called about 12 times but he didn't answer until 11:47 am yet they list being open at 9 am), but when I got there, he changed the price & made me wait a half hour for the order! I was late to the office party I was supposed to be hosting! The owner was apologetic but that wasn't enough for the aggravation. In other words, the online menu is NOT what he is using (he hand wrote the prices on the printed menus at the restaurant)! So I guess the lesson here is, only go if you're starved & craving falafel. You WILL wait even for a small order because they are made fresh, but do not fret; you can watch the neighborhood hookers work while you wait!
(1)
MC B.
If anyone is looking for a fancy schmanzy place to dine, this isn't the place to go. Having said that, the food was decent. Being at the counter and waiting on my order whilst it was being cooked, so reminded me of being in Amman. Falafel sandwiches, shawarma, hummous, and salads were all good. They can be improved upon a bit as every place can. I've picked up lunch a couple of times from here and it's been consistent.
(3)
Antonio R.
The place was closed in the middle of the day 11:30am. Drove from for to try their food and the sign says open but it looks dark inside and no one to be seen. Not a good experience. Not very reliable if you can't show up during their posted business hours. Two thumbs down!!!!
(1)
Roman A.
Not the same owner. I had a shawarma and it wasn't the same. I ask what happened to the little guy that was always there. He told me that he bought the place off him. Will not be going again.
(2)
Kalena M.
The food is not good anymore, I went there for 15 years and loved all the food the previous chef cooked. Now it's a different owner and the place looks dirtier. The food is nasty the only thing I like is the rice.
(1)
Simma Down Na H.
I hope your face found this place when you tapped on the "nearby" selection on your Yelp app!!! I really recommend this place if you're in the area and want something other than Mexican food that's here, there, and everywhere! I've only been there twice and I love the shawerma sandwich and falafel sandwich and they're less than $5 and you'll be full. About that shawerma sandwich, I kept saying (to myself of course) "Oh my gawd, this is sooo good!" I also got hummus and they make it for you right there and then. I caution you: the place is super shabby but who cares?! It'll be yummy in your tummy.
(4)
Shonda K.
This place is the best, the Shawarma is great and the pita bread is to die for. I think me and and the cook have a special connection, I'm psychic, or just plain lucky because every time I go there they are just coming out of the oven. The rice is cooked to perfection and the best part is the charred onion and tomato. I'm glad that they are open today - I just talked myself into wanting some.
(4)
Ruth H.
Hole-in-the-wall lovers rejoice! This is your place. We stopped here on the way to MDW before our flight out and will definitely be back whenever we fly through. Ambiance is minimal- with older tables/chairs and a TV on in the back. Does have a water cooler which is nice. Service is friendly, although the guy who took our order spoke minimal English. I asked him for recommendations or what his favorite thing was, and got back a smile and blank stare. That's cool. Smiles are fine. We ended up sharing a Schwarma plate and ordered falafels on the side. The portions were huge, and included arabic salad, meat, and pita. A bit salty, but otherwise good. The wait was kind of long, but as a result they gave us each half falafel wraps FOR FREE! Now that's good customer service.
(4)
Kensey W.
this place is a diner for middle eastern food. the prices are good and the portions are HUGE. don't expect anything fancy of course. i'm sure the furniture and decor came right from a coney island. the hummus is delicious and served with warm delicious filling pita bread. and it's a huge portion. i had the kifta in tomato sauce, which was super super salty, but not bad otherwise. (so if you like salty food, it's still good and moist and all.) i loved that they have an option for a side of potatoes rather than rice. i'm not a fan of rice, especially rice that isn't sticky and these potato chunks really make my day. service was really good too. our waitresses were really nice and oddly, everyone who worked here, and maybe even owned the place, was not middle eastern at all, but east or southeast asian. we had a pretty big party and they put us on one check, which was kind of annoying but then they were super nice about splitting it up for us. if you're in the area and want a quick meal and don't want to spend a lot, this is the place to go!
(4)
barbara g.
Food is great and I can deal with the hole-in-the-wall atmosphere, but the neighborhood is just a little too sketchy for me to deal with unless it's completely light outside.
(3)
Jeff G.
picked up hummus and baba from here as an appetizer for some pizza we got at palermos down the block. The nile still gots it going on!
(4)
Amanda F.
Was in town visiting from the NYC metro area. What amazing food for a great price! Got the falafel sandwich (an astounding $5) and it was the best falafel I've ever had. The hummus and babaganoosh (spelling?) in the appetizer sampler were delicious.
(5)
Josette J.
Okay, I'll admit it. I stuffed my face. Though, I didn't beat myself up about it because my boyfriend was stuffin' his, too! This establishment has a pretty confusing set up--well, to me at least. When you first enter, you see a large counter where you can order take away and then six tables further down with no waitress in sight. I had to confirm whether we sit and order or do we order first and then sit. It was the former, so we situated ourselves, and then one of the men behind the counter came by and gave us menus. We ordered 6 "balls" of falafil, hummos, baba ghannouje, shawerma and a side of pita bread. The man taking our order asked if we wanted mint tea, and I had a flashback of Paul Coelho's The Alchemist (no, it didn't come in crystal cups, and, yes, I'm an unrepentant nerd). I nodded enthusiastically and knew this experience was going to be great. The food arrived very quickly and was plated very attractively. We dove in with great aplomb--it wasn't very hard. I do wish I took the time to take pictures, but it's hard to do when your food looks so appealing and then your mouth starts watering . . . :) My boyfriend's favorite of the night was the hummos, which I didn't expect at all. He's a meat-and-potatoes kind of guy who counts ketchup as a vegetable, but he was pita breading it up, scooping up some of the whole chickpeas as well! My favorite of the night was the falafil, which I also didn't expect. The falafil weren't ball-shaped, really. They were medium-sized oblong pieces--ahem, very TASTY, medium-sized oblong pieces. The insides were moist, but I scooped some baba ghannouje on it anyway. Boy, did that taste great. The baba ghannouje has tahini sauce in it, which was very yogurty. I kind of expected the tahini sauce to be on the side instead of mixed in with the eggplant, but it was still wonderful. By the way, the small portion of this is HUGE, and definitely enough for 4 people. The shawerma was topped with tahini sauce, slices of onion and tomato and pine nuts. My boyfriend and I were able to make ourselves 2 shawerma sandwiches each (with the pita bread). Needless to say, we killed it. All in all, we enjoyed our dinner tonight. Personally, I am going to snack on some of the leftover falafil and baba ghannouje later. Erm . . . just don't tell my boyfriend! If you're still wondering if you should visit this joint, check out their menu online here: allmenus.com/il/chicago/… The prices have changed, but not by much.
(4)
Ebi C.
Hands down THE BEST falafel in the city! Fried fresh to order! Ginormous hummus plate and warm pita makes for a heavenly experience. I can't wait to visit this place after a horrendous experience on the north side. Save my taste buds, Nile!
(5)
M G.
Ok so the place is not the cleanest or the best looking place on earth but they do have decent food! Their Falafel sandwiches are pretty good and the Kefta Sandwiches are also pretty delicious. However, be prepared to wait a little bit for your food. It is not an excessive wait but it is not quick either. Sometimes even when they have no customers the food stil takes a while which is fine if you are not in a hurry but when its lunch hour, it can be a little annoying.
(4)
Tom E.
Decor= leave much to be desired Food= very good Really enjoyed my lunch here. Ordered the falafel sandwich, arabic salad and the Mossabaha (hummus with whole chick peas added). Didn't even try to eat it all. The sandwich had just the right amount of hot sauce for me. The arabic salad is cucumbers, tomatoes and lemon juice with a hint of mint- simple but good. I would probably go with the hummus next time since I like that consistency better. My lunch mate enjoyed his Shish Taouk (chicken kabob). All in all, will definitely return when in the area again.
(4)
Janice W.
Went for lunch. it's not a sit-down-and-have-your-order-taken kind of place. The owner was super friendly and warm. he gave us a little of a special he had on the menu to try. It's priced very well. I'd go back if I were up in the area but I didn't find anything that would compel me to drive clear across town for.
(3)
Robert C.
Although the scenery and view is not the best, I'll just rate the food. Simply put, the best Middle Eastern food in the city. It starts form the owner. He treats you like family as soon as you walk in and is more than helpful with suggestions and will be more than happy to give you a sample to see if you like it, and chances are, you will. The hummus has a perfect texture and in the middle has whole chick peas. It has the right amount of olive oil and a green relish with some paprika around. They offer a combination plate with shawrama, chicken, steak and beef with grilled veggies over rice and sauce...enough for two people. The cheese pastries are made fresh and a must. Try the mint tea as well. Stop being a whinner about neighborhoods and go here and feel welcomed and enjoy the best Middle Eastern food around with a comforting cup of hot mint tea. You won't be disappointed.
(5)
Michael T.
Had a kefta sandwich, a swarerma sandwich and some falafels. All were awesome. Will be back for sure. I've also had their spinach cheese pies and those are great too though they aren't always available. Everything seems very fresh at this place.
(5)
Tony D.
Great food at great prices!! Do not judge this place by its appearance (because it looks quite sketchy). We had lamb & chicken kabobs and hummus, which were great. The lentil soup starter was very flavorful. The only item that didn't wow me was the spinach pie. Will definately come back!
(5)
Paul F.
I get it, Sultan's Market is good and its affordable, but everytime some chump gets on about "the best falafel in the city" I send them to 63rd street. Its rare they make the trek, but their loss. I believe it has no relation to the nile of hyde park. The owner is friendly and frequently undercharges customers. Decor is sparse: Dome on the rock hung on the south wall. For a while post 9/11 a painting of the Palestinian flag was converted to the stars and stripes. Frequently by older men in the community, the nile makes phenomenal falafel and even better hummus. If you order meatless (which is rare for myself, but works here) your party can get out for less than $4 a piece including tip. Stay for the coffee.
(5)
Ben E.
Absolutely incredible. I stopped in on a whim since I was working in the area. I dragged my coworker in, though he had brought lunch. While it's a definite hole-in-the-wall, it's got very nice corner windows and is very clean. The (presumed) owner was running the counter and was quick to greet us and offer us menus. I ordered a plate of baba ghanouj, a plate of hummus and some ceylon tea with sage. The food was brought to the table in under ten minutes, the bread *piping* hot and the tea perfectly steeped. As we ate, the owner offered us some stuffed grape leaves and answered a few questions about the food (no yoghurt in the baba, surprisingly!) and when we were done offered us some coffee. The baba was spot on. It was so intensely creamy I had to ask the owner if it had any yoghurt in it. Intensely mild is the only way to describe it. The balance of seasonings is superb in this sesame-based dish. The hummus was equally subtle, not drenched in garlic as Chicago's chefs are so want to do, and bathed in a squeeze of lime. Each bite was a quest to dig out another flavor layered under the others. Like the baba, it had the balance afforded by generations of scrutiny and practice. Both were served with a light drizzle of very nice olive oil and a stuffed cabbage leaf. The bread was so hot that I was unable to tear it for a few minutes. It was nice and chewy-soft on the inside and nearly-charred crisp gold on the outside. Only the best bread could ever be paired with such delicate dishes. Alongside these was also served some pickled carrots and peppers and a halved fresh lime. These seemed a concession to Chicagoans love of giardiniera, but were nonetheless a nice touch. The sage tea was incredible. When I saw the generic-looking paper label hanging over the edge of the cup I was wary. However, this was suitably high quality ceylon with a pinch of fresh sage leaves. Served with sugar, this tea combination ran laps around most restaurants' teas which tend to be second-string acts at best. Ceylon is not a very aromatic tea and sage is not a very flavorful herb. Together they were terrific. The coffee we were offered was readily identifiable as middle-eastern coffee but with a slight twist. Most middle-eastern coffee is heavy with cardamom, but in this coffee it was difficult to taste even the small amount present. Instead, the coffee was citrus-acidic and leant a lovely flavor to the after-dinner mouth. Overall impression: a must try. A great place to take a good friend; you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Monica B.
People have completely lost their minds to give this place 4 or 5 stars. This place is a complete dump inside and if I took a date here for the first time, I would have been so ashamed. The food was totally boring and nothing special either. I ordered lamb kebob and the guy actually gave me beef and tried to tell me it was lamb, I think I can tell the difference. The rice was the blandest rice I ever had- I could have made better middle eastern food at home. The salads were so full of lemon juice that is all you could taste and there were falafils sitting on top of the fryer and he served us cold falafil that was sitting on top of the fryer because I saw that when I walked in. The only thing that was acceptable was the hummus and the pita was cold, so this place really sucked and I never said a place sucked before on here, so believe me it did. Will never go back or recommend. I was disgusted just sitting there because the atmosphere was so divey and dirty feeling that I wish I hadn't ordered any food and after the food came I really wished I hadn't order any food. Last but not least you have to pay for parking, so this place has nothing going for it at all. Zero stars if possible.
(1)
Christine H.
FYI, the tahini sauce has yogurt in it. But the falafel is good and there are other options for Vegans here.
(4)
Salvador C.
Good stuff at a good price. I dunno if it's the best, but I like it. The falafel is good and moist, not stale. I dunno if I would send someone here, but if you're in the area and you need your hummus tray now, try this place. You won't be disappointed.
(4)
Vanessa H.
I don't know why...but I was a little scared of going in here. For years I drove by this little corner hole in the wall, but never had the guts to go in and order anything. It wasn't until I found people on Yelp who had already tried and reviewed that I built up the courage to give it a try. So glad I did! I took carryout on a weekday afternoon: order of hummus (which included 2 pitas and pickled carrots/jalapenos) and 3 falafel. The bill was only $6. I loved the falafel and the fact that I can just drop in and pick some up whenever I make some home made pita pocket sammies. The hummus was different (not bad different, just different) because it had whole chickpeas over the hummus with sprinkled parsley on top and a hella-lot of olive oil (wasn't a fan of this). Will definately return for my falafel fix!
(4)
Rosie p.
The Best Middle eastern food in the city! I have been going here for years with my family and it is So Great. I personally prefer taking the food to go since the seating isn't the best but the workers are so friendly. Everything on the menue is yummy!
(5)
jay d.
where do i start... i lived on the north side for about 3 years by Kedzie an lawrence, and they dont hold a candle to this spot, once you try there hummus you will never try store bought stuff again, there falafel is amazing by themselves or in a sandwich, there shawarma is the best ive tried in the city i live about six miles from the restaurant but if i have a taste for a shawarama i head down REAL QUICK, it never fails to satisfy my hunger, i hear they have a spinich pie that is awesome but ive never tried it because there always gone by the time i get there, if youve tried the rest now its time to try the best, you will not be disappointed.
(5)
Yo U.
They make a decent shish taouk sandwich here, but I don't know if I'd make a habit of traveling to this neighborhood just pick up one of these pita pockets of goodness.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Street Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes
Lupe G.
I liked this place when I stumbled upon it one night. I was saddened to go back... I placed an order for work & they messed up the entire message (language barrier); thus, stating that my order had been canceled. I was forced to go elsewhere for a quick meal! I placed another order & confirm it for the next day (called once to make it & once more to confirm that I was going to pick it up at the agreed time the next day...well, I called about 12 times but he didn't answer until 11:47 am yet they list being open at 9 am), but when I got there, he changed the price & made me wait a half hour for the order! I was late to the office party I was supposed to be hosting! The owner was apologetic but that wasn't enough for the aggravation. In other words, the online menu is NOT what he is using (he hand wrote the prices on the printed menus at the restaurant)! So I guess the lesson here is, only go if you're starved & craving falafel. You WILL wait even for a small order because they are made fresh, but do not fret; you can watch the neighborhood hookers work while you wait!
(1)MC B.
If anyone is looking for a fancy schmanzy place to dine, this isn't the place to go. Having said that, the food was decent. Being at the counter and waiting on my order whilst it was being cooked, so reminded me of being in Amman. Falafel sandwiches, shawarma, hummous, and salads were all good. They can be improved upon a bit as every place can. I've picked up lunch a couple of times from here and it's been consistent.
(3)Antonio R.
The place was closed in the middle of the day 11:30am. Drove from for to try their food and the sign says open but it looks dark inside and no one to be seen. Not a good experience. Not very reliable if you can't show up during their posted business hours. Two thumbs down!!!!
(1)Roman A.
Not the same owner. I had a shawarma and it wasn't the same. I ask what happened to the little guy that was always there. He told me that he bought the place off him. Will not be going again.
(2)Kalena M.
The food is not good anymore, I went there for 15 years and loved all the food the previous chef cooked. Now it's a different owner and the place looks dirtier. The food is nasty the only thing I like is the rice.
(1)Simma Down Na H.
I hope your face found this place when you tapped on the "nearby" selection on your Yelp app!!! I really recommend this place if you're in the area and want something other than Mexican food that's here, there, and everywhere! I've only been there twice and I love the shawerma sandwich and falafel sandwich and they're less than $5 and you'll be full. About that shawerma sandwich, I kept saying (to myself of course) "Oh my gawd, this is sooo good!" I also got hummus and they make it for you right there and then. I caution you: the place is super shabby but who cares?! It'll be yummy in your tummy.
(4)Shonda K.
This place is the best, the Shawarma is great and the pita bread is to die for. I think me and and the cook have a special connection, I'm psychic, or just plain lucky because every time I go there they are just coming out of the oven. The rice is cooked to perfection and the best part is the charred onion and tomato. I'm glad that they are open today - I just talked myself into wanting some.
(4)Ruth H.
Hole-in-the-wall lovers rejoice! This is your place. We stopped here on the way to MDW before our flight out and will definitely be back whenever we fly through. Ambiance is minimal- with older tables/chairs and a TV on in the back. Does have a water cooler which is nice. Service is friendly, although the guy who took our order spoke minimal English. I asked him for recommendations or what his favorite thing was, and got back a smile and blank stare. That's cool. Smiles are fine. We ended up sharing a Schwarma plate and ordered falafels on the side. The portions were huge, and included arabic salad, meat, and pita. A bit salty, but otherwise good. The wait was kind of long, but as a result they gave us each half falafel wraps FOR FREE! Now that's good customer service.
(4)Kensey W.
this place is a diner for middle eastern food. the prices are good and the portions are HUGE. don't expect anything fancy of course. i'm sure the furniture and decor came right from a coney island. the hummus is delicious and served with warm delicious filling pita bread. and it's a huge portion. i had the kifta in tomato sauce, which was super super salty, but not bad otherwise. (so if you like salty food, it's still good and moist and all.) i loved that they have an option for a side of potatoes rather than rice. i'm not a fan of rice, especially rice that isn't sticky and these potato chunks really make my day. service was really good too. our waitresses were really nice and oddly, everyone who worked here, and maybe even owned the place, was not middle eastern at all, but east or southeast asian. we had a pretty big party and they put us on one check, which was kind of annoying but then they were super nice about splitting it up for us. if you're in the area and want a quick meal and don't want to spend a lot, this is the place to go!
(4)barbara g.
Food is great and I can deal with the hole-in-the-wall atmosphere, but the neighborhood is just a little too sketchy for me to deal with unless it's completely light outside.
(3)Jeff G.
picked up hummus and baba from here as an appetizer for some pizza we got at palermos down the block. The nile still gots it going on!
(4)Amanda F.
Was in town visiting from the NYC metro area. What amazing food for a great price! Got the falafel sandwich (an astounding $5) and it was the best falafel I've ever had. The hummus and babaganoosh (spelling?) in the appetizer sampler were delicious.
(5)Josette J.
Okay, I'll admit it. I stuffed my face. Though, I didn't beat myself up about it because my boyfriend was stuffin' his, too! This establishment has a pretty confusing set up--well, to me at least. When you first enter, you see a large counter where you can order take away and then six tables further down with no waitress in sight. I had to confirm whether we sit and order or do we order first and then sit. It was the former, so we situated ourselves, and then one of the men behind the counter came by and gave us menus. We ordered 6 "balls" of falafil, hummos, baba ghannouje, shawerma and a side of pita bread. The man taking our order asked if we wanted mint tea, and I had a flashback of Paul Coelho's The Alchemist (no, it didn't come in crystal cups, and, yes, I'm an unrepentant nerd). I nodded enthusiastically and knew this experience was going to be great. The food arrived very quickly and was plated very attractively. We dove in with great aplomb--it wasn't very hard. I do wish I took the time to take pictures, but it's hard to do when your food looks so appealing and then your mouth starts watering . . . :) My boyfriend's favorite of the night was the hummos, which I didn't expect at all. He's a meat-and-potatoes kind of guy who counts ketchup as a vegetable, but he was pita breading it up, scooping up some of the whole chickpeas as well! My favorite of the night was the falafil, which I also didn't expect. The falafil weren't ball-shaped, really. They were medium-sized oblong pieces--ahem, very TASTY, medium-sized oblong pieces. The insides were moist, but I scooped some baba ghannouje on it anyway. Boy, did that taste great. The baba ghannouje has tahini sauce in it, which was very yogurty. I kind of expected the tahini sauce to be on the side instead of mixed in with the eggplant, but it was still wonderful. By the way, the small portion of this is HUGE, and definitely enough for 4 people. The shawerma was topped with tahini sauce, slices of onion and tomato and pine nuts. My boyfriend and I were able to make ourselves 2 shawerma sandwiches each (with the pita bread). Needless to say, we killed it. All in all, we enjoyed our dinner tonight. Personally, I am going to snack on some of the leftover falafil and baba ghannouje later. Erm . . . just don't tell my boyfriend! If you're still wondering if you should visit this joint, check out their menu online here: allmenus.com/il/chicago/… The prices have changed, but not by much.
(4)Ebi C.
Hands down THE BEST falafel in the city! Fried fresh to order! Ginormous hummus plate and warm pita makes for a heavenly experience. I can't wait to visit this place after a horrendous experience on the north side. Save my taste buds, Nile!
(5)M G.
Ok so the place is not the cleanest or the best looking place on earth but they do have decent food! Their Falafel sandwiches are pretty good and the Kefta Sandwiches are also pretty delicious. However, be prepared to wait a little bit for your food. It is not an excessive wait but it is not quick either. Sometimes even when they have no customers the food stil takes a while which is fine if you are not in a hurry but when its lunch hour, it can be a little annoying.
(4)Tom E.
Decor= leave much to be desired Food= very good Really enjoyed my lunch here. Ordered the falafel sandwich, arabic salad and the Mossabaha (hummus with whole chick peas added). Didn't even try to eat it all. The sandwich had just the right amount of hot sauce for me. The arabic salad is cucumbers, tomatoes and lemon juice with a hint of mint- simple but good. I would probably go with the hummus next time since I like that consistency better. My lunch mate enjoyed his Shish Taouk (chicken kabob). All in all, will definitely return when in the area again.
(4)Janice W.
Went for lunch. it's not a sit-down-and-have-your-order-taken kind of place. The owner was super friendly and warm. he gave us a little of a special he had on the menu to try. It's priced very well. I'd go back if I were up in the area but I didn't find anything that would compel me to drive clear across town for.
(3)Robert C.
Although the scenery and view is not the best, I'll just rate the food. Simply put, the best Middle Eastern food in the city. It starts form the owner. He treats you like family as soon as you walk in and is more than helpful with suggestions and will be more than happy to give you a sample to see if you like it, and chances are, you will. The hummus has a perfect texture and in the middle has whole chick peas. It has the right amount of olive oil and a green relish with some paprika around. They offer a combination plate with shawrama, chicken, steak and beef with grilled veggies over rice and sauce...enough for two people. The cheese pastries are made fresh and a must. Try the mint tea as well. Stop being a whinner about neighborhoods and go here and feel welcomed and enjoy the best Middle Eastern food around with a comforting cup of hot mint tea. You won't be disappointed.
(5)Michael T.
Had a kefta sandwich, a swarerma sandwich and some falafels. All were awesome. Will be back for sure. I've also had their spinach cheese pies and those are great too though they aren't always available. Everything seems very fresh at this place.
(5)Tony D.
Great food at great prices!! Do not judge this place by its appearance (because it looks quite sketchy). We had lamb & chicken kabobs and hummus, which were great. The lentil soup starter was very flavorful. The only item that didn't wow me was the spinach pie. Will definately come back!
(5)Paul F.
I get it, Sultan's Market is good and its affordable, but everytime some chump gets on about "the best falafel in the city" I send them to 63rd street. Its rare they make the trek, but their loss. I believe it has no relation to the nile of hyde park. The owner is friendly and frequently undercharges customers. Decor is sparse: Dome on the rock hung on the south wall. For a while post 9/11 a painting of the Palestinian flag was converted to the stars and stripes. Frequently by older men in the community, the nile makes phenomenal falafel and even better hummus. If you order meatless (which is rare for myself, but works here) your party can get out for less than $4 a piece including tip. Stay for the coffee.
(5)Ben E.
Absolutely incredible. I stopped in on a whim since I was working in the area. I dragged my coworker in, though he had brought lunch. While it's a definite hole-in-the-wall, it's got very nice corner windows and is very clean. The (presumed) owner was running the counter and was quick to greet us and offer us menus. I ordered a plate of baba ghanouj, a plate of hummus and some ceylon tea with sage. The food was brought to the table in under ten minutes, the bread *piping* hot and the tea perfectly steeped. As we ate, the owner offered us some stuffed grape leaves and answered a few questions about the food (no yoghurt in the baba, surprisingly!) and when we were done offered us some coffee. The baba was spot on. It was so intensely creamy I had to ask the owner if it had any yoghurt in it. Intensely mild is the only way to describe it. The balance of seasonings is superb in this sesame-based dish. The hummus was equally subtle, not drenched in garlic as Chicago's chefs are so want to do, and bathed in a squeeze of lime. Each bite was a quest to dig out another flavor layered under the others. Like the baba, it had the balance afforded by generations of scrutiny and practice. Both were served with a light drizzle of very nice olive oil and a stuffed cabbage leaf. The bread was so hot that I was unable to tear it for a few minutes. It was nice and chewy-soft on the inside and nearly-charred crisp gold on the outside. Only the best bread could ever be paired with such delicate dishes. Alongside these was also served some pickled carrots and peppers and a halved fresh lime. These seemed a concession to Chicagoans love of giardiniera, but were nonetheless a nice touch. The sage tea was incredible. When I saw the generic-looking paper label hanging over the edge of the cup I was wary. However, this was suitably high quality ceylon with a pinch of fresh sage leaves. Served with sugar, this tea combination ran laps around most restaurants' teas which tend to be second-string acts at best. Ceylon is not a very aromatic tea and sage is not a very flavorful herb. Together they were terrific. The coffee we were offered was readily identifiable as middle-eastern coffee but with a slight twist. Most middle-eastern coffee is heavy with cardamom, but in this coffee it was difficult to taste even the small amount present. Instead, the coffee was citrus-acidic and leant a lovely flavor to the after-dinner mouth. Overall impression: a must try. A great place to take a good friend; you won't be disappointed.
(5)Monica B.
People have completely lost their minds to give this place 4 or 5 stars. This place is a complete dump inside and if I took a date here for the first time, I would have been so ashamed. The food was totally boring and nothing special either. I ordered lamb kebob and the guy actually gave me beef and tried to tell me it was lamb, I think I can tell the difference. The rice was the blandest rice I ever had- I could have made better middle eastern food at home. The salads were so full of lemon juice that is all you could taste and there were falafils sitting on top of the fryer and he served us cold falafil that was sitting on top of the fryer because I saw that when I walked in. The only thing that was acceptable was the hummus and the pita was cold, so this place really sucked and I never said a place sucked before on here, so believe me it did. Will never go back or recommend. I was disgusted just sitting there because the atmosphere was so divey and dirty feeling that I wish I hadn't ordered any food and after the food came I really wished I hadn't order any food. Last but not least you have to pay for parking, so this place has nothing going for it at all. Zero stars if possible.
(1)Christine H.
FYI, the tahini sauce has yogurt in it. But the falafel is good and there are other options for Vegans here.
(4)Salvador C.
Good stuff at a good price. I dunno if it's the best, but I like it. The falafel is good and moist, not stale. I dunno if I would send someone here, but if you're in the area and you need your hummus tray now, try this place. You won't be disappointed.
(4)Vanessa H.
I don't know why...but I was a little scared of going in here. For years I drove by this little corner hole in the wall, but never had the guts to go in and order anything. It wasn't until I found people on Yelp who had already tried and reviewed that I built up the courage to give it a try. So glad I did! I took carryout on a weekday afternoon: order of hummus (which included 2 pitas and pickled carrots/jalapenos) and 3 falafel. The bill was only $6. I loved the falafel and the fact that I can just drop in and pick some up whenever I make some home made pita pocket sammies. The hummus was different (not bad different, just different) because it had whole chickpeas over the hummus with sprinkled parsley on top and a hella-lot of olive oil (wasn't a fan of this). Will definately return for my falafel fix!
(4)Rosie p.
The Best Middle eastern food in the city! I have been going here for years with my family and it is So Great. I personally prefer taking the food to go since the seating isn't the best but the workers are so friendly. Everything on the menue is yummy!
(5)jay d.
where do i start... i lived on the north side for about 3 years by Kedzie an lawrence, and they dont hold a candle to this spot, once you try there hummus you will never try store bought stuff again, there falafel is amazing by themselves or in a sandwich, there shawarma is the best ive tried in the city i live about six miles from the restaurant but if i have a taste for a shawarama i head down REAL QUICK, it never fails to satisfy my hunger, i hear they have a spinich pie that is awesome but ive never tried it because there always gone by the time i get there, if youve tried the rest now its time to try the best, you will not be disappointed.
(5)Yo U.
They make a decent shish taouk sandwich here, but I don't know if I'd make a habit of traveling to this neighborhood just pick up one of these pita pockets of goodness.
(3)