Simply the best!…read more Love this location, the ownership team is friendly and professional and their positivity is reflected in the quality of the food!

Had a great experience here and wanted to call out the service in particular. I ran into a bit of…read moretrouble with my order, and the team handled it quickly and professionally and no hassle at all. They even went above and beyond and gave me a gift card, which was completely unexpected but really appreciated.

First things first, cafe yaya is by the same group that operates galit and is literally right next…read moreto galit! So if you aren't able to get a reservation at galit, cafe yaya is a great option to consider. Cafe yaya was a great experience for us! We had a prior reservation and came here for brunch. We ordered a bunch of things for the table, including the Yaya fries, shakshuka, veggie bowl with sweet potatoes, mushroom, some more veggies with a side of some slaw and a sauce, lamb burger, pistachio rose bun and a veggie twist (this was at the cafe counter). The food was good but for me he standout was the pistachio rose bun. Omg it was to die for, it was not overly sweet, very decadent and had a great amount of pistachios and rose flavor in it, YUMM! The veggie bowl and the shakshuka were decent. My friend loved his lamb burger. The veggie twist was ok, and our server had forgotten about it for a while so we got it late. Overall, the service was great! The server was super friendly, explained everything really well to us and even offered a replacement when I spilled my coffee. Very hospitable staff overall! The ambience was great! Felt like we were in a Mediterranean cafe.

Tried a grain bowl recently for lunch, as there are no vegan breakfast options from what I could…read moretell (disappointing but I'm used to it), and it was alright but the upcharge for tofu was ridiculous. $6 tofu upcharge. Tofu is less than $2 per 14 oz pack and this is a lot less than a block. This may still be a fine price to pay for someone prepping my food were it not a miss. It feels like miscellaneous vegetables thrown together without much thought or anything to tie it all together. There's also completely random unadvertised services charges? Wtf? There's barely any service! The atmosphere is nice but the entryway is always crowded and chaotic, it's confusing when you enter the building. Overall disappointed. It's cute but really felt like I was getting charged nearly $25 for beans and rice. Wanted to like this place as it's near where I live and looked promising.

My friend recommended this place and so glad we were able to try! Was feeling a little nibbly in…read morethe afternoon and this was the perfect fix! Mt friend and I split the chicken shawarma sandwich and some side falafels. We loved it! Inside is small with only a couple seating areas. We ordered our food to go and it took about 5-10 minutes. The sandwich was delicious and falafel had great seasonings and good crisp. The prices were so affordable! Such wonderful quality for what you pay! Would definitely recommend and come back!

5/5 easy. Falafel had the perfect amount of sauce, was moist…read moreand crisp, flavorful, not too spongey, everything about it was done perfectly down to the pita. The pita doesn't drip or get soggy, they leave an extra flap of bread in the bottom. Perfect way to end the sandwich. Ambience is cool, they have a full buffet. Definitely many options for food, especially for vegetarians! The baklava assortment was delicious, but having a good Turkish and Greek baklava near me, I'm not sure if I'd get it again. Service is unbelievably fast and fresh!

Came as a solo diner after having tried Cafe Yaya. Absolutely delicious and a HUGE amount of food…read morefor one (they're meant to be sharing portions so for one I had plenty of leftovers, which were delicious the next day). The wait staff were SO sweet and did warn me about the portions so I didn't fill myself up too early! I could eat that hummus by itself with a spoon and be perfectly happy. LOVE the tiny little tasty side dishes! The highlights for me were the foie gras and the lamb chops, which were a special item: they were so tasty and juicy in their sauce and absolutely perfectly cooked. There were protestors outside who screamed at people coming in and out of the restaurant, but honestly obnoxious people like that just make me want to come back and support Galit MORE, not less.

Galit offers a cozy four course meal that is both creative and filling. When we arrived, our table…read morewas not ready so we were seated at the bar. Service was fine but not overly warm, and since it was our first time, we found ourselves asking about the menu rather than having it introduced. The menu starts with a shared hummus. We had the bubbe's brisket, which was very tender, along with four sides to mix and dip with pita. For the second course, we chose the kubbeh halab and beef tongue. The kubbeh halab, a fried dumpling with lamb, was flavorful and came with some dill and brown sauce, that worked well together. The beef tongue was extremely tender and paired nicely with its rich sauce. The stuffed cabbage with rice was a bit plain compared to the other dishes. For mains, we had the barramundi and lobster. Both were cooked well. The sweet potato purée with the barramundi did not work as well with the beurre blanc since the textures were too similar, and there was a bit too much sauce. The lobster stood out with a citrus sauce and slices of blood orange, and paired nicely with the parsnip purée. Worth the additional $20. For dessert, we had the malabi, which was described to us like a panna cotta. The citrus topping was a bit too tart, so this was probably my least favorite course. Overall, really good execution on their meats and seafood. We would come back and try other dishes. They also offer a happy hour with some dishes available à la carte.

Fast and friendly service! All of the food we ordered tasted so fresh (make sure to get the Chicken…read moreShawarma Sandwich). Makes for the perfect lunch pit-stop between thrifting in Wicker Park!

I forgot how good this place is!! Came by tonight around 9pm and was provided friendly service and…read morea fantastic meal. The kofta kebab was perfectly cooked and seasoned. Baba Ghanoush was delicious as well. They were a little heavy handed with the oil on top, but it still tasted great!

I ordered through Grubhub and did pick up. My order was ready promptly! I got the kebab sandwich…read moreand the mixed meat (lamb, chicken and  kefta kabob). The chicken was so tender! All the protein was flavored nicely. I liked the white and red sauce they gave. I got the curry rice. For the price, this is a really good value. I didn't dine in, but the booths have beautiful tile on the side and a pretty lamp above.

Ordered this for delivery through DoorDash, and I cannot recommend it enough! The food was…read moreinexpensive, the delivery was quick, and the portions were HUGE. We ordered two meals and a side of pita and that was enough for two meals for two people ( could have been more as both meals were very filling). I would highly recommend the lamb shawarma dinner. I will definitely return to their physical location in the future.

It's been there for 50 years so they must be doing something right. We came in on a cold night and…read morewere greeted very warmly. Service was wonderful and it seems to be a family run business. The menu had lots of selection and it's BYOB for drinks. Our food came out and was definitely plentiful. Taste wise we thought it was fine, not super remarkable, but did the trick. Prices were very reasonable. There looks to be a small sidewalk patio for the summer, but otherwise the ambiance was nice - not fancy. We would stop in again for a casual bite if we were in the neighborhood.

Definitely this would be a regular spot if I lived in the city…read more As soon as we walked in and there was a slumbering hijabi grandma at the kitchen counter that didn't speak much English, I knew this cooking was bouta be good (and it was). The kefta with salad was kind of expensive ($18) but everything else was very affordable and really tasty, especially the knafeh (highly recommend!!). My friends and I were speaking some Arabic in the restaurant and the lil ladies in the restaurant started giving our table special treatment, haha (refilling water often, clearing plates, checking on us, generally smiling and taking good care of us). I would definitely make this a regular spot with my friends if I lived here. Quiet little place with intimate family feel.

Out beyond ideas of wrong and right, There is a field…read more I will meet you there. Food was great, prices were fine and the quality of the meal made it worth it, cool interior, kid behind the counter was helpful could maybe take off the headphones but that didnt really make or break my pickup experience.

I got delivery from here, interesting take on middle eastern food. I go the falafel wrap, with…read morehummus, it did not come with many veggies on it, the falafel itself was quite dry and the hummus was not very flavorful. My partner got a falafel plate. He liked the meal. He also got a salad, which he reports was good. I also got some French fries with tahini and extra garlic sauce. Overall average.

Falafel & Grill is my go-to fast-casual spot in the neighborhood. I'm here at least once a week,…read moreand it's consistently excellent. The food is great across-the-board. The Chicken Shawarma wrap and gyro sandwich are my go tos. The kabob plate is a steal for the quality and portion size. Service is fast every single time, prices are fair, and the staff is always polite and welcoming. The restaurant is clean, organized, and easy to get in and out of even during a rush. This is exactly what great fast-casual should look like: reliable food, good people, no hassle. A neighborhood staple.

Just went here to order a gyro sandwich for $12 and received the tiniest portion I have ever…read morereceived from a local Mediterranean place. Have to be honest the price doesn't match the food you receive. I know at least 3 nearby places that give you way more for the same or less price. Please work on your portion sizes or else your place isn't worth it Also had a friend order separately and the workers never called out his order. He had to ask if his order ready and it was just sitting on the counter for 8 mins already at that point. Do better

They've made me a customer for life and I will tell everyone to go to their restaurant for as long…read moreas I talk about Chicago. This restaurant is 50+ years old and has been in the same location for that long too. The inside is a bit darker and there are very few windows but they have ambient lighting and music playing that doesn't make your really realize it. There is a lot of seating for smaller and larger groups. The service is some of the best I've had. The owner, Max, personally comes to take your order depending on the rush and he is so sweet to recommend dishes. The food itself is so flavorful and all of the proteins fall right off the bone. They were also able to accommodate a big group and were so kind to play music and serve cake for my birthday! Truly one of those spots where you will leaving feeling full in your stomach and your heart

How can a restaurant be both cozy and dungeon-like at the same time? The unusually shaped,…read moreunconventional-looking Pars Cove somehow managed it! This is just a provisional review, as I've only eaten here twice. The hummus was good and the pita was delicious (unlike most American restaurants, where the pita tastes like cardboard.) The main dish, lamb shank in walnut and pomegranate sauce, was somewhat disappointing. The lamb was fairly tender (though not on par with Greek-style lamb) but I couldn't taste any walnuts or pomegranates whatsoever. It came with a big heap of flavorless rice. I'll update my review when I try some other dishes. I'm a little worried about this place. They've been around forever, but the two times I've been here, it was almost deserted.