Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Bab Al Salam

    4.3 (169 reviews)
    InexpensiveMiddle Eastern, Halal
    Closed 10:00 am - 9:30 pm

    Order Bab Al Salam Takeout or Delivery

    Bab Al Salam Photos

    BAB AL SALAM ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Bab Al Salam

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Falafel Plate, Mixed Grill - Combination Plate
    Ryan W.

    Still the GOAT. Every time we come into Chicago we think about renting a car so we can make it out here. Today was a time where we needed to rent a car anyway so... off to our favorite Falafel Falafel is crunchy exterior, perfect crumb interior. The only thing that might give it a run for its money is the Chicken Shawarma, which is lightly spiced with cinnamon and absolutely phenomenal. Might be back before dropping off the car in a few days...

    Chicken Shawerma, Baba Ghanoush, Hummus
    Shanel S.

    Growing up in the metro-Detroit & Dearborn area, aka the Middle Eastern Mecca, I can say I'm somewhat of a connoisseur when it comes to the cuisine. I'm also from the Middle East so I have some street cred haha. This place hits everything with a 10 - service, quality, consistency, cost, and cleanliness. It's our new favorite weekend treat after cooking all week. Our go-to order is the mixed platter that comes with beef and chicken tikka, beef kebab, and chicken shawarma with rice and choice of soup or salad. I absolutely love their Arabic salad so I always opt for that and no rice (even though their rice is very fluffy and flavorful!) My husband loves their chicken shawarma and gets a full order. We also add the baba, hummus, and lentil soup (all comes with bread but we opt out) - best in town!! Random craving, but an egg with leftover lentil soup is really great the next day. The gentleman that has been there the last three times we visited, and I believe also owns the restaurant, is very friendly and welcoming. The restaurant is a decent size with an option to dine in. We've done both and prefer the convenience and comfort of to-go. Don't just believe me, go check it out for yourself! Enjoy!

    Chicken Shawarma wrap, Falafel, Hummus
    Brittany P.

    First time trying this place, but will definitely be back. I originally ordered the chicken shawarma on pita, but the employee recommended the wrap and I'm glad he did because it was fantastic. Their falafel was really fresh and crispy. Great service and friendly staff.

    Chicken Shawerma
    Janet M.

    Bab Al Salam Mediterranean Restaurant offers a fantastic dining experience! Despite its casual vibe, the restaurant excels with ample parking, a friendly staff, and most importantly, incredible food. The Chicken Shawarma stands out with its delicious flavor, while the fluffy, warm pita, creamy hummus, and delightful sauces add an extra layer of perfection. Highly recommended for a satisfying and flavorful meal! I love Mediterranean food and have had a combo of good, bad and should not be served. This place is with in my top 3. Recommend and will not be disappointed. Prices are decent but definitely worth it during lunch hours as they offer a variety and have great lunch specials.

    Seriously, great food great prices, great service, fast service, dining, takeout, freshly cooked

    Combination tray for 5 people ?
    Tim M.

    Food was pretty good. Their order prep is awful. Absolutely do not order the combination tray for 5 - order the combination meal 5 times... it's cheaper and you'll get more food. We ordered through Grubhub and maybe that's where the disconnect was. The amount of food included was woefully short with several items missing. That being said, the food was tasty - so I would put it on my list of places I would try again.

    Mixed Shawerma
    Kyle F.

    Low key location in a stip mall with delicious food and great service. My wife and I would br happy to come back.

    Chicken Kalaya Chicken

    See all

    Photo of Sara S.
    160
    136
    3

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ryan W.
    0
    19
    32

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 3
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of JP H.
    53
    1239
    24

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    The staff is friendly and kind. The food is amazing and the establishment is clean and welcoming. High recommend

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    REALLY GOOD! ask for their hot sauce, it's so so delicious! the food didnt take too long to make and either.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kyle F.
    6
    60
    105

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Customer service could be improved and a smile would be nice. Otherwise food is good and price is reasonable.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lefai K.
    328
    1244
    3425

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Paul S.
    30
    815
    21

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Whenever I'm in town, this is always a must stop for me! Food is consistently great. And make sure to always get the soup too.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    7 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of K M.
    0
    25
    1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Nav K.
    7
    45
    6

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jie S.
    218
    564
    1055

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 5

    Ask the Community - Bab Al Salam

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Middle Eastern 2,914 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Al Bawadi Grill - mixed platter

    Al Bawadi Grill

    3.9(467 reviews)
    4.7 mi
    $$

    I first visited Al Bawadi Grill at their Bridgeview location, and it was an outstanding experience…read more The food was delicious, and the service was exceptional, which is why I kept coming back. I've since visited the Niles location several times. The food has always been consistently excellent, but unfortunately the service has never matched the quality of the kitchen. Today's visit was by far the worst. It took over 10 minutes for our server to come to the table to take our order. Throughout the meal, I had to repeatedly flag her down whenever we needed something. To make matters worse, she seemed to disappear halfway through dinner--I'm assuming she clocked out--because we had to get another server's attention just to receive basic assistance. The food, however, was fantastic. I ordered the Al Bawadi Seafood Mixed Grill, and it absolutely delivered. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. That's what makes this so frustrating. This restaurant serves some of the best Middle Eastern food in the area, but when you're paying premium prices, you expect service that matches the quality of the food. I still recommend the food without hesitation, but the consistently poor service at the Niles location is making it harder to justify returning.

    I cannot recommend this restaurant enough. If you are looking for delicious food in a beautiful…read moreroom with excellent service, you've come to the right place. Our server was so kind and never let us make the mistake of ordering the wrong thing. She gave us her recommendations every step of the way and every single one was perfect. What we got: Mint lemonade: 5/5. SO refreshing and delicious. Perfect sweetness and the little bit of pulp you get is great. I only wish there was more of it! Chicken arayes: 4.5/5. Crispy, cheesy, garlicky. Need I say more? Get some extra garlic on the side if you wanna take it up a notch. Fried halloumi: 4/5. These are like a soft mozzarella stick, so tasty. Definitely eat the pickles with them. Lamb chops: 4.5/5. 4 tender lamb chops seasoned beautifully. Definitely recommend the red rice over the yellow if you can handle a little bit of heat. Kanafeh: 5/5. Whoever thought that cheese, sweet syrup, phyllo, and pistachios would go together is a genius. Definitely don't leave without getting this dessert. The salt of the cheese perfectly balances out the sweetness. No notes! And get some peppermint tea to go with it too. And the portion sizes are huge! Definitely get your money's worth here. My only issue is this place is right by my job so now I'm gonna go broke getting food here all the time. But that's a problem I'd love to have!

    Photos
    Al Bawadi Grill - A view of their colorful rear dining room.

    A view of their colorful rear dining room.

    Al Bawadi Grill - Mediterranean salad

    Mediterranean salad

    Al Bawadi Grill - A view of their colorful rear dining room.

    See all

    A view of their colorful rear dining room.

    Ema - Salmon bab.

    Ema

    4.3(2k reviews)
    12.0 miNear North Side
    $$

    I LOVED my meal here! Ēma (Ay-mah) brings some glamour and glitz to the Mediterranean dining scene,…read morewith an airy, elevated hotel-lobby feel that still doesn't demand a dress code. Dresscode: Smart Casual / Casual Noise Level: Medium (it gets buzzy after 5:30pm) Thursday night Happy Hour was lively, so it took about 10-15 minutes for someone to come around, but service was attentive once we got going. The food is where Ēma really shines. From the Happy Hour menu, the Charred Eggplant Hummus and Crispy Potatoes were generously portioned and great for sharing. On the main menu, the Indian-Mediterranean fusion Bhel Hummus was a party for my taste buds, while the Hot Honey Halloumi and Chicken Kefta rounded out the table nicely. The halloumi is more of a side than a main, but that sweet-and-salty hot honey combo was chef's kiss. For our finisher, the Chocolate Torte knocked us out. Decadent, delicious and chocolate with lots of depth. Overall, Ēma is an excellent spot to order a bunch of dishes for the table and get an elevated meal without feeling stuffy, and delicious without taking itself too seriously. DO's: - Make a reservation ahead, especially for happy hour 4-6pm - Treat apps like small plates, order 2-3 to sample - Entertain their wine list, they have a lot! - Bring vegetarians here, there are plenty of options DON'Ts: - Dismiss the desert menu. It's fantastic and shareable! - Forget to ask for extra pita with the hummus! - Miss out on the LettuceEats loyalty points (check-in with your server before paying your check)

    Came for a late lunch. Split a meal: *Whipped spicy feta -…read moreVery tasty. The pita was warm with lots of za'atar. Enough to share with 2-3 people *Braised short rib sandwich - In a pita stuffed with cabbage. The beef was extremely tender. Unfortunately there was several large pieces of cabbage core vs shredded. The fries were crispy and seasoned with za'atar. The au jus provided, tasted it had a bit of red wine vinegar. That was a winner! Would order both items again. The decor is beautiful. Sat at the bar and the bartender wasn't in the best mood. Minus one star for the combination of the large pieces of cabbage core and sat at the bar for about 15 minutes - no one was there to serve us.

    Photos
    Ema - Ema tables and bar

    Ema tables and bar

    Ema - Tuna & Watermelon*  june 2026.

    Tuna & Watermelon* june 2026.

    Ema - Inside

    See all

    Inside

    Jarasa Kabob - Jefferson Park - Shawarma Wrap Meal

    Jarasa Kabob - Jefferson Park

    4.3(66 reviews)
    3.6 miJefferson Park

    Was driving through the hood and decided to grab carryout for dinner. A couple friends were…read morestopping by and Mediterranean fit our dinner needs. We split chicken shawarma sandwich, lamb kabob sandwich and a small hummus with beef shawarma (requested they add this on). The shop provided two pita breads for the hummus. The lamb kabob was out of this world. Meat was juicy and condiments within wrap worked. Unfortunately the other items were mediocre. I waited in the shop as they put together my food. It's exasperating how the shredded chicken and beef were both overcooked and dry. Then the hummus which was lacking flavor. Tahini and lemon juice weren't properly incorporated.

    I really wanted to like this place because there are some good things about it. However, the meat…read moreportions were quite small, and the meat itself was served cold rather than freshly sliced from the spit, which was disappointing. Another area that needs improvement is the beverage setup. Not having a fountain drink station feels outdated, and getting water from a jar with a shared ice bucket did not leave the best impression from a cleanliness standpoint. That said, the rest of the food and overall experience were fairly decent. If the restaurant increased the meat portions slightly, served the meat hotter and fresher, and upgraded the drink station, I would definitely consider coming back.

    Photos
    Jarasa Kabob - Jefferson Park
    Jarasa Kabob - Jefferson Park - Mixed Shawarma. (keepsmilingphoto.com)

    Mixed Shawarma. (keepsmilingphoto.com)

    Jarasa Kabob - Jefferson Park - Booth seating

    See all

    Booth seating

    Bab Al Salam - mideastern - Updated September 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...