Tried this place for the first time the other day when I ordered it for lunch via DoorDash. Tried to mix it up and ordered the Kafta combo meal (typically a chicken shawarma gal). The portion was enormous. I chose half rice/half veggies as my side and the chicken lemon soup as a starter. It also came with three small fluffy (and delicious) pieces of pita bread along with a small side of incredible garlic sauce. My takeaways - the kafta was yummy but a tad dry. More dry the next day when I reheated the leftovers. It probably would have been incredible eaten fresh in the restaurant. The rice was good and I liked the texture. The veggies were crisp but slightly too charred for my liking. I was surprised the soup didn't have rice, but the flavors were on point and I really enjoyed it. As previously mentioned, the pita and garlic sauce were superb. I easily could have gotten three meals out of this one entree- an incredible value. I'll definitely try it again! read more

Chef Restaurant Mediterranean Grill - Kafta with rice and veggies - Mediterranean Near Me - Ypsilanti, Michigan

This place has been on my list of places to check out. Had an errand in the area today around lunchtime so this was a logical stop. I'd planned to eat in, but that doesn' t seem to be what they're set up for these days. There are some tables along the walls, but no one was sitting at them and there were no placemats, silverware etc. set down. The center of the restaurant was wide open and empty, and the whole place had this air of bereftness. I'd swear I'd walked back into late 2020. There were some take-out orders on the counter, and guess those represent the bulk of their business now. The person at the counter seemed surprised when I said I was there to order, not pick up, and confused by taking my order in person. What I ordered was a greek salad w/ chicken. That would be a few minutes, she said, since she would have to go into the kitchen and cook the chicken. Must have been the only one working. I'd expected to to wait a bit, so I sat down at one of the tables along the wall, but had already decided I was going to take the salad to go. The atmosphere was kind of depressing, and I didn't like the picture of me sitting alone in the empty restaurant under the gaze of the lone employee. I'd rather eat alone in my car. Plus, there was an unpleasant rancid smell hanging about. Once I'd parked in a quiet, shady spot and opened the clamshell, my first look at the salad wasn't encouraging. Lettuce seemed tough and a bit dry, lot of outer leaves. Only a light sprinkling of feta, and no pepperoncini. The kalamatas were pale and very hard--it took some pushing to get a fork into one. When I ate one it had little flavor. I didn't eat any more. Two cups of creamy-style greek dressing were tucked into the greens, and these tasted more oily than tangy. And I should menton, I paid $20 for this delightful entree. I get greek salads fairly regularly, and have had them at many diners and middle eastern restaurants, and I can say this was the second worst one I have ever had. The only saving grace to it was the chicken. A heaping portion of it, very tender and lightly seasoned. The chicken is the only reason this place gets two stars instead of one. If the hummus and tabouli here are decent, a few slices of the chicken with those would make a pretty good meal. But in spite of the glowing yelps others have given, I am not at all inclined to return and confirm that. read more

I got the vegetarian platter for lunch. I wonder if the baba ganouj had fake smoke added to it. It was a little overwhelming, as was the salt level. I'm here for a salty dish, but this was next level. In general, I love this type of food, so I probably would go back, but I would hope to see these small changes. read more

Chef Restaurant is the BEST! The woman that owns the restaurant is a wonderful soul that makes incredible food. My go-to is the rice almond salad and I will occasionally add the grilled chicken to it. It comes with pita and garlic sauce on the side and it is SO GOOD. Inside is usually fairly quiet. I think it's set up mostly for carryout, which is my pick for there anyway. Go check her out! read more

We ordered 3 items last night "to go". The lentil soup was very salty, the chicken schwarma was ok but very dry, and the fattoush salad came with the dressing on it already. It was a watered down Italian dressing. We dumped it. Plus it was more expensive than what we've paid for the same thing at other restaurants. read more

Legit place with quirky service. Excellent food. Weird layout, but the owner is great

Hello I wanna let you know about the Chef Mediterranean Restaurant. It is really delicious, the food is always fresh and hot. I ordered the Meat Sharma... which is your choice of Chicken, Beef or lamb and it comes with your choice of rice or fries, and your choice of soup or salad. I got the rice and soup. Man oh man is it sooooo good. And the owner Morna is such a sweetheart. She is very nice and attentive to what you want. She makes everything fresh so you have to wait a bit but not too long. But if you Ypsilantiers really want some good food you gotta go here. I promise you won't be sorry. And the prices are good..... nothing too high. But you definitely get your money's worth and huge servings. So go ahead get on down there. I promise you won't be sorry. read more

Chef Restaurant Mediterranean Grill - This is the Meat Shawarma. I couldn't help myself and I ate some b4 I took the pic Lol lol - Mediterranean Near Me - Ypsilanti, Michigan

The food was amazing! I had spicy white fish. Best Mediterranean food I have had. Not fancy but service was quick and comforting. Lovely place. read more

I'll start by saying I set my bar high for Mediterranean food. This is the best I've found in this area. I'd give it a solid 4.5 Chicken schwarma= 5 flavorful, tender, not overly seasoned. Great with the garlic sauce Hummus =5 the best tasting of the five or so that I've tried in this area. Fattoush Salad=5 mild, but not boring. Not overly dressed. Rice=3 meh nothing special Vegetarian Grape Leaves=3.5 decent, but I'll try other things next time. I'm still trying to find VGL that compare to Woodys Oasis in EL read more

This place has the best falafel, perfectly done and no bitterness. The grape leaves are also a standout. I wish they were open on Sundays, my typical dining out day. I also wish they offered wine or beer. Ambiance is non-existent, so maybe that's why. But if your dinner date is interesting enough and the food is good, who cares? read more

Portions here are HUGE! I ordered a chicken and lamb plate for takeout during COVID and I easily got enough for 2-3 people per meal. Tons of meat and spiced rice. The flavors are a little different than your traditional Middle Easten flavors (a little spicer) but overall yummy and a great option for a healthyish dinner. Everyone was also super friendly, and clean. read more

Chef Restaurant Mediterranean Grill - Gyro plate - Mediterranean Near Me - Ypsilanti, Michigan

Pretty good Middle eastern food. Lentil soup was different in texture from what I'm accustomed to: more of a cream soup but with lots of flavor and a definite kick. It was pretty good. Ordered the best kibbeh I've ever had! It was delicious! Between four of us, we ordered the lamb, lamb chops, and shrimp. Everything was was really good. The server and chef were very nice-the chef gave us complimentary dessert! read more

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From outward appearances only, this place doesn't look like much. Sandwiched between Bank of America and Subway in a shabby strip, Chef's is easily overlooked. The inside was much nicer and cleaner than I was expecting. There weren't many other people sitting in to eat, but I noticed quite a few ordering to go and pick up meals. For an appetizer, we split an order of hummus with pita and vegetarian grape leaves. Amazing. It was all amazing. The grape leaves were perfect! The hummus was creamy. We also had lentil soup, which was fantastic as well. For our main dishes I had the Vegetarian Mousaka, and my mom had Shrimp Cilantro. The Mousaka was out of this world delicious! First of all, wasn't that supposed to come in a lasagna-like loaf?! No?! It was like a delicious and hearty soup with a side of rice. The flavor was outstanding, and the serving size was huge! My mom loved her dish. I'm vegetarian so I didn't try it myself, but it looked and smelled great. Everything at Chef's was fantastic, and that totally caught me off guard. That's what I get for judging a book by its strip. This little hole in the wall has seriously blown me away with their food. The service was great as well, and they even had wifi. What more can you ask for? I seriously can't wait to come back! My stomach is growling just thinking about it. read more

Chef Restaurant Mediterranean Grill - Shrimp Cilantro with Rice - Mediterranean Near Me - Ypsilanti, Michigan

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This restaurant is a gem and seriously the best business in the entire depressed strip mall behind EMU. The food coming out of the kitchen is always clean yet flavorful and all of the dishes have a home-cooked taste. From the chicken and shrimp gallaya dinners to their wraps and fattoush salads, I haven't had a bad meal here. In the past couple of years, this has become one of my favorite post-gym dining spots because it feels like both a treat and a healthful option compared to the greasy joints in the Washtenaw corridor. Fair warning, however, the dinner entrees can get really pricy, especially if you're on a mindful student budget. The dinners range from $11-16 (think 11 for the vegetarian options and 16 for the shrimp entrees), but I think every now and then, the splurge is worth it. Note though they have the best school year round deal in the neighborhood, the $5.99 lunch special, which comes with a sandwich wrap and a choice of soup, salad, or fries. I love all three, but I usually get the fries at lunch. Gawd, it's so wonderful and way tastier than the corporate combo you get at McDonalds or Subway next door. Service is always really friendly and the food is consistently delicious. My favorite staple here is the chicken shawarma sandwich with a spicy lentil soup. The sandwich is so simple with the perfect proportion of meat, tomato slices, pickles, and a schmear of their garlic sauce rolled into grilled perfection. The sauce plus tomato and pickle tanginess symbiotically creates the best juicy bite (with almost a hint of curry?) that leaves me craving it again and again. They take credit cards and they're Closed Sundays. read more

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I have been very ill and am physically challenged. My husband and I have not had the luxury of eating in a restaurant in months. Needless to say this is my first dining out in a long time. It was on our way home from EMU. The food is amazing and super affordable. I had enough for two separate meals. The hummus is great, chicken shawarma is yummy and the most impressive were the grape leaves, I am in luv with them. A table by us ordered their homemade lemon aid which is kinda like a pulpy freeze looking dessert. If able to go back again. It will also be ordered. This place is worth the time and money the staff is kind and sweet. Please enjoy the Chef's creations they are delicious and presented beautifully. The Chef should get a pat on the back he is amazing he produces food from the heart and you can feel it in the food. Thank you. Check it out!!! NOM :0) read more

Chef Restaurant Mediterranean Grill - Menu front - Mediterranean Near Me - Ypsilanti, Michigan

Nice clean place. I loved the garlic sauce and the chicken was good. The small fattoush salad that came with my salad was DELICIOUS. The lunch portion was much much smaller then similar places and prices. I had 4 small chicken pieces and the salad came in a small carton. The main reason for the 3 stars was the rice. I usually love the rice. This rice was yellow as if it was soaked in chicken broth but it was tacky, not tasteful and dry. I would not go back but I can see why some love it. read more

Stopped in for lunch between classes and was not disappointed. Ordered a cup of lentil soup with the chicken shawarma lunch special. The soup was hot and pureed just enough to leave some texture in the mix. Although I do like my shawarma served already wrapped, the open plate was fine. The chicken seasoning is on point! So delicious! My only critique would be that there was only one slice of pickle. The guy at the counter was friendly and was very attentive to bringing me my food quickly. I will be coming here more often when I get the chance :D read more

Chef Restaurant Mediterranean Grill - Cup of lentil soup - Mediterranean Near Me - Ypsilanti, Michigan

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This place was recommended by my neighbor who ordered from there before. Everything was excellent, huge portions, an explosion of flavors, great service from the owner, will sure be ordering from them regularly! read more

Excellent falafel. Finally I found a place that is exceptionally fresh. Nice spin with pickles in the mix. Love that. Lentil soup is also yummy. Babaganoush also top notch. Love this place. read more

I can't express enough how great the food was! FRESH rice, salad wonderful, meat flavorful, HUMMUS ( she made a special hummus with avocado for me to try) . Not to mention the customer service. She disinfected my card before handing it back! The drinks are wonderful! I am so happy I have this place a try. The owner is really nice, like your favorite auntie nice. I will be spending all my money here. P.S. I frequent Dearborn for authentic Mediterranean food and this is on the same level if not better. GO NOW! read more

Place is clean in the dining area. Was waited on immediately. Service was good. Did not have the raw kibbie that was in the menu though. Food was good. Service was good. I recommend it. Very nice place. read more

OBSESSED. The hummus is perfect, the tabbouli is excellent and all of the sandwiches are SO GOOD. This is, without question, some of the best Middle Eastern food I've had in Michigan. Fresh, flavorful and NOT GREASY. You know what was also awesome? Getting a sample cup of lemon chicken soup while I waited on my pick-up order. I can't wait to get through the other menu items. Don't sleep on this place. I'm telling you. read more

I want to give them 10 stars! This is one of those places where you can tell that the chef loves preparing the food and takes great pride in what they do. Their food is VERY good! The Tabbouleh is super fresh and tasty...and BOTH types of grape leaves are excellent. (I usually don't like the spices in vegetarian grape leaves, but really liked these) I would personally suggest anything on the menu that says "garlic cilantro", which was recommended to me by the chef, himself! It's his favorite dish, and mine too! He makes it with the garlic spread.....Unlike anything I have ever had before. My mother and I are now totally addicted!!! My neighbor friend and I found a coupon, that's what brought us in... the people working here are very friendly and the atmosphere is nice, I would just like to see MORE people inside! Don't wait for a coupon, they prices are nice (under $4 for a sandwich, appetizers under $6) ...I hope that the inexpensive sandwiches become student favorites, River Rain apartments is right next door. I bring all my picky friends and family - no complaints. They love it just as much as I do. I've seen too many good Med. places come and go around these parts and don't want that to happen to this place. Remember this saying - it holds true here just as anywhere else: Buy local, or bye-bye local! C'mon guys! read more

Oh. My. GOSH AND GOLLY! What a fabulous place this is! Like Laura P, I would give them 10 stars if I could. I decided to give the place a try on election night, after a very busy and anxious day when I didn't feel like cooking. I called in a pick-up order, took the food home, and had to restrain myself from devouring every morsel of the generous portions within minutes. I always judge Middle Eastern restaurants on the basis of their baba ganouj. Let me just say this: The Chef's baba ganouj is among the best I have ever had anywhere! It's smoky! It's spicy! It's smooth and creamy! It is delicious! I also ordered a falafel sandwich--delicious--and vegetarian grape leaves, which were, without a doubt, the best grape leaves I have ever had anywhere. Fat, rich, full of flavor. Nothing at all like the stuffed grape leaves you get at the grocery store--or at inferior Middle Eastern restaurants. The portions are very generous and the price is right! Next time, I am going to spring for the lamb chop plate, and I'm sure it will be as good as all the dishes I had tonight. This wonderful little place is right around the corner from my house. I have tried other Middle Eastern retaurants in Ypsi and Ann Arbor and been disappointed every time. PLEASE--I am begging you!--give Chef Restaurant a try so that they succeed and prosper and so that I can count on fabulous Middle Eastern food in the future! Oh--and the family members who work in the store? Could not be nicer if they tried! Go! Eat! Enjoy! Order the baba ganouj!!!!! read more

After driving by this place countless times, normally on my way to other Mediterranean around the area, I finally stopped by today. Glad that I did! I ordered the chicken schwarma sandwich, fattoush salad, and a feta cheese appetizer. The sandwich was very tasty...and not greasy at all. It's made a little different from other places. For example, there is no garlic sauce. And it has a yellow dressing, which tasted like honey mustard. But it was very light and refreshing. The same can be said about the fattoush salad. Fresh and crispy vegetables, and just the right amount of dressing. Be forewarned the sandwich is fairly small so if you are hungry, you may want to get 2 or 3. Can't wait to go back and work my way through their menu. read more

Very friendly nice people and Good shawarmas. Even offered to bring it to my car while I waited.

I am so glad I happened to notice the sign for this place driving by the other day! It is a fantastic option in the Mediterranean field that is so crowded in this area. It would be really, really easy to miss this restaurant and not even know they exist. Tucked in a corner of a strip mall that I tend to blow by without giving it a thought, Chef is actually pretty special. The atmosphere is super clean and appealing on the inside (in contrast with the rest of the neighborhood :-/ ), and the food is crazy fresh. The tabbouleh tasted like they just picked the parsley from a garden in the back, and I really loved their smoky, smooth baba ghanoush. The prices struck me as just the tiniest bit high, but the quality and fresh preparation of the food kind of warrants it. This place is special in a very crowded field, and it's worth stopping by if you're as into Middle-Eastern food as I am. read more

The chicken lemon soup served here is one of the most delicious soups I've every tasted! Forget making lemonade when life hands you lemons-make soup! Next visit, the soup will be what I order but for my first visit I dashed in for a quick carry-out order and chose the meat shawarma lunch special so that I could compare to my favorite from another restaurant. I arrived just as they opened and found an empty but spotless restaurant, staffed by a very kind, welcoming lady behind the counter. She patiently answered all my questions about the menu, took my order and then went back to prepare my food. While I waited, she brought out a complimentary cup of that awesome chicken lemon soup! What hospitality! The meat shawarma was good, but regretfully not as good as what I get from the other place. But, the other place does not have chicken lemon soup so I'll be stopping back by for warm soup and another warm reception in the very near future. read more

I realized, after going there so many times I cannot count, that I NEVER had the felafel! So, we ordered felafel - and, Oh My Freaking, Chef! It's the BEST felafel I've ever stuffed into my head. It made my girlfriend moan. I also , finally, got around to ordering the lamb - and I did some moaning of my own. Chef is a genius, and his family is wonderful - they work hard, and they deserve all the business you can give them. I hope I die before this place closes; I don't think I could bear to live without it. read more

I had such a great experience here today. The chef/owner is so kind and the food was delicious. I highly recommend it. read more

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Quick, friendly service, clean space, good prices and tasty food. All that you want in a lunch place on the go. Can be in and out in 30-40 minutes on a weekday with the limiting factor being table conversation and never the food. Unobtrusive but attentive service. read more

This restaurant never lets me down. Their food is full of flavor and their service is top notch. Very friendly people. Lunch specials are my go to as they are filling and very reasonably priced. Thanks so much! read more

20150124 We like this place. The tabouleh is fresh. The lentil soup has its own unique tasty flavor. And we have yet to have a dish that we didn't like. This visit we shared a chicken kafta dinner with a side order of fried kibbeh. Turns out that the chef only had one piece of chicke kafta left and asked if we were okay with a slice of chicken and a slice of lamb. OKAY? I thought....that is terrific...this way we get to try both of them. Hurrah! Turns out that they were both flavorful and the accompanying sauce helped with the dryness factor. As a thank you for being so accommodating, the chef sent out pretty little demi-tasse cups of rice pudding. It worked out perfectly. Gerry ate the rice pudding, which he said was bland--but isn't that the nature of rice pudding?--and I ate the bananas! Perfect way to end a delicious meal. We will be back to work our way down the menu. Addendum: Parking is easy and as others have observed the restaurant is very clean and the Chef and staff are really gracious. read more

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Having just moved to the area and without many groceries in our fridge yet, we took a chance and relied on Yelp reviews to try this restaurant out via Grubhub delivery. My family of four ordered the combo for two and it was more than enough for us all. Plenty of variety and food, very tasty. Delivery was on time. Everyone was happy and satisfied! Will definitely order again. read more

Freshly cooked food that you can tell is made with love! The whole family works there and is so sweet. The chicken lemon rice soup and the lamb is my favorite. Don't forget the baclava too! read more

Employees are always very nice. Food is very good. Lots of vegan options. I typically get the falafel wrap. I also recommend the lentil soup, it's very good. read more

Had chicken shawarma wrap/lunch special. It was ok. Nothing special and confused as to the high ratings for this place on yelp.

Incredible shawarma. The chicken was a bit dry and tough in some parts though. Fast and friendly service! I ordered a pick up online in advance. I arrived a few minutes early and my order was just coming out of the oven. Warm, fresh and still delicious! Will be back. read more

The Chef Restaurant has exceptionally high quality food, and the chef takes great pride in this. I particularly love the moussaka, the tabouli, the lentil soup, the hummus, and the fattoush. read more

Fattoush salad is off the hook. Love it every time however wish they would stop burning the lamb chops.