Hot Chi Chicken

497

1038

5363

3 months ago

Skip this place. Chicken is not spicy. It is drenched in sauce and isn't even that crispy. And the amount of oil/grease is disgusting!! The bread was a slice of room temp wonder bread. The best part of the whole meal was the pickles, which is soo sad. It was soo unenjoyable to eat, my guy didn't even want to finish it and we hate wasting food. Expensive garbage. read more

Hot Chi Chicken - Chicken Shop Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Helpful 9

Thanks 2

Love this 2

Oh no 9

Tim O.

491

1439

320

5 months ago

Sloppy mediocre chicken sandwiches. Fall apart easily, low quality chicken with gristle throughout. Ordered two and both were the same deal. $15 each for these is insane. read more

Helpful 2

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 1

Janea V.

52

207

364

1 year ago

If you're in the loop, and looking for a quick and tasty bite for lunch, I certainly recommend Hot Chi Chicken! Visited a little after the lunch hour rush and was impressed by the service and efficiency, between ordering and receiving my meal I was out of there in less than 10 mins. Hot Chi offers huge juicy, tender chicken sandwiches with your preference of different heat preferences! I got their original sammy in the "hot" heat level. Finally a place that packs the heat/spice I'm looking for!! Very spicy, awesome flavor and a big portion-- I had enough for now and a lot to later! I can't wait to get here on another lunch break (prepare to be sleepy by the time you get back to work lol)! Highly recommend! read more

See all

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Angel A.

1

42

52

1 year ago

Everyone seems to dub this place as the best hot chicken which leads me to believe they haven't been to what I call The Big 3 (Roost, Fry The Coop, and Dave's Hot). Hot Chi Chicken is what I would consider to be a very here and there meal, not something I'd crave or put in a regular lunch rotation. To start, the price point is egregious for what you're getting and I've been here a couple times (hoping they'd improve) and the food is always cold, clearly sitting there for who knows how long. The customer service is great but the chicken leaves something to be desired, especially if you've been to The Big 3. Generally an okay sandwich, the flavor is decent but missing the mark in my book. I wouldn't personally recommend this place but I leave it up to you to cast your judgement. read more

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Mark T.

525

1437

3613

2 years ago

There was a case once when my reviews [hopefully only in part] were described as nasty. Far from it, I try to be fair, and give praise more often than nastiness. At the same time, if a motel has a cardboard box for a mattress, I'm going to let you know. While I do call out bad experience, I sometimes wonder if I am being too nice. This is the case with Hot Chi and this review. Had you asked me last Monday, it would have been an immediate slam dunk and five stars. Then I returned on Tuesday, and while still great, I'd only call it a layup that time - still great, but not something that invites me to return the next day. I was left with a question: do I award four stars or five? Is five being too nice? Is four me being too much of a Lillian Bloom (or Anton Ego, if you prefer)? I think I am going to be nice, and bump up the 4.5 to a five, plus Yelp doesn't allow half-stars anyways. Both times, I ordered a "Popeye's Ain't Sh*t." First time ordered as Medium; second time as Hot. First things first, the sandwiches go out at incredible speed. The first time I was handed my food before I was done paying. The second time I had a couple orders ahead of me, but these were seemingly constrained by how fast orders could be packaged, versus the cooking and assembling. Now, as great as speediness is, quality matters too. Both times, the chicken within was hot, crisp, and tender. This was far removed from the sad, soggy pieces that sit under a lamp at so many fast-food-chicken-shop places. Flavor-wise, both had a little sweetness, with the medium having an approachable level of heat, and the hot being more up there, but still perfectly enjoyable. (Proceed with caution - I have high heat tolerance). Unfortunately, the Hot was almost the fifth star's undoing. I am not sure why, but this piece of chicken was very heavy on the acid notes. I am not sure if this is the nature of their Harissa sauce, if this chicken spent a little too much time in brine, or if some pickle juice sneaked over. While I still devoured it like no one's business, I can't say I enjoyed it quite as much. Now, let's talk about veggies and sauces. These were wonderful for adding flavor and moisture. The garlic sauce gave very light garlicky notes that worked wonders. The tomatoes added a little moisture, the onions tang and crispness, and the pickles a little more crunch and salt. Finally, when it comes to the assembly itself - one round one, there was no issue, but on my second visit the sandwich fell apart about halfway through eating. Though, I am not sure this is entirely their fault - chicken thighs, for all their benefits, tend to be uneven. I don't know if I am brave enough to try the hottest level ("Call Ya Mama!!!!"), I have found heat-tempered-self gasping for air more times than I would care to admit. I am open to giving the "hot" another chance, and if it doesn't work out, I will happily drop down to a medium and continue ordering them more often than is good for my health. read more

Hot Chi Chicken - Popeye's Ain't Sh-t - Medium - Chicken Shop Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 1

Oh no 0

Tank G.

345

3524

41916

9 months ago

You will find this restaurant in the Sterling Food Hall. There is a lot of seating available in the food hall dining area. This is a fun place with uniquely named food like the "Popeye's ain't sh!t" Chicken Sandwich. The have fried chicken, chicken tenders and Chicken sandwiches on their menu. The staff there was very friendly and there is metered street parking and commercial parking garages available within a reasonable walking distance. I ordered the Hot Honey Butta' Chicken Sandwich, with a medium heat. I also got some fries to go with it. The heat level was as described, a little tongue tickle. It was just right for me. I hate a sandwich that is too hot to really enjoy the flavor. The sandwich was so delicious and really hit the spot. It was tasty, flavorful and filling. I highly recommend it. This spot is one of the better spots in the food hall and is definitely worth checking out. read more

Helpful 7

Thanks 1

Love this 4

Oh no 0

Ruby M.

1

29

51

9 months ago

I got the Popeyes Ain't Got Shit on This sandwich. For me the white sauce tasted like Mexican crema sauce. I didn't like it. The Elote was sweet and soupy. For me this was a thumbs down. The Watermelon Sugar drink was delicious. $22.00 was a hard lesson to learn. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Anna M.

61

172

267

2 years ago

Just ordered the hot honey chicken sandwich at the HOTTT level of spice, no sides. It was $16.00 with tax and tip. Standard service, took the standard amount of time one would expect for a walk up counter fried chicken sandwich. I ended up sharing half with my hubs, and thought it was an appropriate amount of food for a lunch. It's a juicy, great quality chicken thigh- with tons flavor. The bread was great, the sauces and pickles were spot on. I couldn't tell the hot honey, but there was a lot happening between the buns. read more

See all

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Gino W.

249

703

2006

2 years ago

I have stopped by this location a few times whenever I have had to come downtown to work. Lunch is always a crowded session, so I tend to hold out until an hour or so after high noon. The Popeye's Ain't *Blee Blah* and the Hot Honey Butter have been my go-to sandwiches when I order from them. Those are some sloppy sandwiches, but they are so good. I keep telling myself to get the sauces on the side so that I can add however much I want when I return to the office. Somehow, I keep forgetting to follow through. Nevertheless, their tasty sandwiches get an encore every few months when I walk over to Revival Food Hall. read more

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Chasity A.

4

27

51

10 months ago

The food was excellent. The chicken was fresh moist fully cooked with a little spice . The service was very good as well.The area was clean organized and cool. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Kylie O.

0

8

17

2 years ago

I went around 6pm on a Thursday, the food hall overall was pretty empty. There was no line for Hot Chi Chicken and I've seen it on TikTok before so I thought I'd give it a try. I got the Hot Honey Butter Chicken Sandwich (mild). The staff were nice and the service was quick. There were many seats available in the food hall so my friend and I ate there. As for the sandwich it was a little disappointing. It didn't look as good as the ones I've seen reviews of. In addition to that it wasn't hot, just warm as if it had been sitting for a bit. The flavor was good but would have been better fresh. I would recommend coming here during a peak time for a better experience. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Jim D.

145

913

6358

2 years ago

I first discovered this place at their south side location a couple years ago so one may wonder why I'd write a review for another location with almost the exact same food. Well to be honest this is probably the meal/lunch in the entire loop area & what I discovered about 2 months ago is they even have delivery. Now of course the price skyrockets when getting it delivered but you'd be hard pressed to find something this tasty in the entire area. Again they're heavy handed with the sauce & the fries are the heaviest so much so that the healthiest appetite won't be able to finish them. The fries could also use more time in the fryer but nonetheless this is the best meal/lunch in the loop & best chicken sandwich in Chicago. read more

Hot Chi Chicken - the location of the hot chi grille - Chicken Shop Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Greg I.

0

9

0

11 months ago

A disappointment. Flavors and craftsmanship were very good, but the fried chicken sandwich was a fried batter sandwich with a few chicken bits. Was about one thigh of chicken. That's it. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Khalid F.

Elite 25

46

528

1929

3 years ago

Third time's the charm. My last two attempts at trying the new Hot Chi location didn't work out, but I finally got it. They claim to be halal, but in full transparency I couldn't find any certification posted. This one is located inside Revival Food Hall. The menu is simple enough and there are five heat levels for the chicken. The place was well staffed and service was friendly. I ordered the hot chicken tenders with medium spice; it came out pretty quickly. They didn't have plastic knives when I went, so eating the tenders was a bit tricky. This dish consisted of two tenders served atop toast with a couple of pickles and some sauce on the side. It cost $10, which was very reasonable. The tenders were awesome. Nicely sized, battered, and fried. They were juicy and tender, and the flavor was outstanding. I've tried a few hot chicken places like Dave's and Hangry Joe's, but Hot Chi has a very unique flavor. It seemed to be a mix of spicy, tangy, and a bit sweet. The side sauce was pretty good, too. And the medium spice level was actually medium spicy. read more

See all

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Shahzeb T.

28

209

546

2 years ago

It's really disappointing when you read good reviews and then you walk for 15 mins and get to the restaurant and that becomes the end of your excitement. The lines were all empty but I still stood there abd waited for the cashier to call me, to my surprise I looked into my eyes and ignored. Another gentleman came from the back kitchen looked at me a again ignored. I tried to initiate the conversation with the first gentleman, again ignored but I guess 3rd time is the charm. So finally he said how can I help you, I asked about the halal food and he saif the sandwiches are halal. So I ordered 2 of their sandwiches he asked me how spicy I want them to be and I said mild. Got my sandwiches from him immediately and then came to my table with my partner. Hahahaha no fries or anything else but a small sandwich in a big box starring at me. I picked it up and took a bite and wow the amount of vinegar in it was outrageous so I thought I should try the seconf one and hahaha again same the amount of vinegar was mind blowing. The chicken was crispy on the top but inside very soggy. The buns were small and thr presentation was below average and they charged me almost $27 for this. This was my first and last visit to this establishment. This is outrageous and disappointing at the same time. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 1

Willo M.

0

81

8

1 year ago

Better than expected! Hot spicy fried chicken sandwich was excellent. A huge deep fried breast. Crunchy! Spicy mayo is not too spicy. Just enough. Sandwich, fries and drink is about $20. Not lunch every day for most people but in the west loop once in a while, this is a great choice. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Tyrone W.

0

1

0

10 months ago

customer service was great! Greatly appreciated my cashier. the Food was breath takin, along with the ambiance/area of the restaurant was beautiful. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Sean C.

1.1 mi•Fulton Market, West Loop, Near West Side

191

202

24

3 years ago

Stopped in during peak lunch period, but that always means the food is fresh! I ordered the Cheat Day Fries with the chicken at medium heat. it came piled high with crinkle-cut fries, lots of sauces, chopped up chicken tenders and a sprinkling of cilantro. This was a tasty bowl! I would say the Alabama white bbq sauce overwhelmed the cheese sauce for me, so I would've liked less of that and more of the cheese sauce. The spice on the chicken was good. I like some good spice, and I think the medium had a nice kick, but not a suffering burn. The taste of the chicken, to me, was more like buffalo chicken than Nashville chicken. It had that vinegar tang from hot sauce instead of the slightly sweet spice rub. not a complaint, just an observation. I also had a peachy sweet tea, which, as a southerner, I thought was pretty spot on, but I was disheartened to see about half an inch of empty cup when they handed me my meal. I saw on the menu they had a buttermilk mac and cheese that sounded really interesting. I don't know if it would be feasible for the restaurant, but a dish like the Cheat Day fries with the mac and cheese instead would be amazing, right??? I love sitting in Revival during a busy rush. Great people watching! read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Rami M.

Elite 24

461

439

61

2 years ago

Best hot chicken sando in Chicago! We tried both of them at Revival Food Hall before heading to The Nederlander for a fun musical, and they hit the spot. Both of the glazes, the honey butter and harissa, were amazing. The watermelon sugar drink was the perfect accompaniment. If you like crinkle cut fries, you'll love theirs. I know where to go next time I'm craving hot chicken! read more

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 2

Oh no 0

Vicky D.

11

40

7

2 years ago

I got the cheat day fries the first time I tried this place and while they were good, they are bathed in sauce, too much sauce to the point where the fries are totally soggy. So if soggy fries is your thing then this is your dish. Second time around I got fries and they were good. Third time I got fries and mac and cheese. The fries weren't salted or hot and the mac and cheese was warm at best. This it's important because my order wasn't ready when I arrived, which means that my food should have been hot by the time I got back to my office across the street. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Sara K.

Elite 25

455

71

67

3 years ago

Located in Revival Food Hall, this is a yummy spot to stop by for lunch if you work in the Loop or anywhere downtown! I liked that you found customize how spicy you wanted the chicken (based on a scale with about 5 options) and the unique twist on the items (e.g., harissa glaze on the Popeyes Ain't Sh!t). Service was great and despite being a busy lunch spot, moved quickly! I will definitely be back! read more

See all

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Owen W.

Elite 24

77

66

2

2 years ago

Carry-out hot chicken in Revival Hall is tasty, but so saucy that the breading is falling off. I guess I'm spoiled by the hot crispy Korean chicken we have in Northern Virginia like Wooboi and Chong Man. Busy, but service was quick. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Kyle M.

12

163

11

2 years ago

Ordered the Nashville hot tenders with the hot spicy level. While I was expecting these tenders to have more heat, they were still good. I enjoy spicy food so had I known that the hot spice level to me personally wasn't very spicy. I would've kicked it up to the top one. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 1

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Ameta W.

0

24

1

2 years ago

I don't know...when I looked on Instagram and saw the "commercial", I was so excited. couldn't wait to go and try this chicken sandwich. I looked better than Popeyes. well I finally went and it was just meh. Even my teenage boys were not impressed. It was like a fried chicken sand with hot sauce. I tried to get the fries, but they said they were no longer making for the day. Whattt?? Soooo... you didn't run out..you're just no longer making it for the remainder of the day? Who does this? Nahhhh. I shall not return. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Maila M.

Elite 24

3

47

51

2 years ago

Service was quick. Ordered the Popeye's Ain't Sh*t sandwich at medium heat which was phenomenal. The chicken was a generously portioned, was well-battered & crunchy, and that sauce... I'll be thinking about it over from SF. Was surprised to see the low reviews on this place, but all-in-all this was probably my favorite food stop in Chicago and I only ordered the sandwich to be fair. Will be back for my next visit! read more

Helpful 1

Thanks 1

Love this 1

Oh no 0

Dwayne J.

0

22

13

3 years ago

On 5-24, I ordered lunch (via DoorDash) for my co-worker and I. I placed an order for 1 Popeye's Ain't Sh1t sandwich, 1 Nashville Hot Tenders and 2 Crinkle Cut Fries. When the Dasher arrived, she only had the Tenders (and those were cold). The Dasher said that the restuarant was VERY busy and the restaurant said that I did not order the sandwich and fries. This was my first time trying Hot Chi and it will be my last. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Iamiesha I.

0

36

8

3 years ago

I ordered the chicken tenders with the medium sauce & side of fries. This chicken was seasoned wonderfully & tenders were soooo tender. The fries had a crispy & good as well. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

More info about Hot Chi Chicken

125 S Clark St
Chicago, IL 60603
The Loop
Directions
(312) 278-3040
Call Now

Full menu

Hours

What time does Hot Chi Chicken open?

Hot Chi Chicken opens at 10:30 AM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

What time does Hot Chi Chicken close?

Hot Chi Chicken closes at 7:00 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.Hot Chi Chicken is closed on Saturday and Sunday.

Mon-Fri 10:30 AM - 7:00 PMSat-Sun Closed

Food & Alcohol

Does Hot Chi Chicken serve alcohol?

Yes, Hot Chi Chicken serves alcohol.

Outdoor Amenities

Does Hot Chi Chicken have parking?

Yes, Hot Chi Chicken has parking options.

Other Amenities

Does Hot Chi Chicken have free WiFi?

Yes, Hot Chi Chicken has free WiFi.

You might also consider

Verify this business for free

People searched for Chicken Shop 7,979 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

Verify this business

Explore benefits

Aba

4.4(2k reviews)

•$$$

Aba Restaurant review -- Fulton Market, Chicago…read more This was my husband and I first time visiting Aba Restaurant, and we left impressed on every count. From the moment we arrived, the service stood out. We had an 8 PM reservation, but since we were in the area early, Chris B. kindly accommodated us for an earlier seating. We settled on the rooftop deck, which set the mood with a vibrant, buzzy vibe. The service was outstanding throughout. Our waiter greeted us promptly, with a trainee at the table. (My apologies for forgetting their names). Both were exceptionally pleasant. The trainee did a superb job walking us through the menu, explaining the concept of ordering. We decided on a variety of dishes, and Aba delivered: - Wild Mushroom Hummus: A smooth earthy dish with roasted mushrooms folded into a creamy hummus, finished with truffle oil and herbs. Yummy! - Tuna & Watermelon: A refreshing pairing of tender tuna balanced with juicy watermelon, cucumber, pomergrant seeds and mint. Loved it! - Green Chili Shrimp: Served in a metal dish used for escargo. The shrimp were covered by breadcrumbs and lots of butter with a slight kick to it. Great for dipping your bread in. It did not disappoint! - Pan Seared Halibut: A perfectly seared, delicate fillet, moist and flaky that highlighted the fish's clean, buttery profile. And from the cocktail menu, the Aloe? It's Me. It has a kick to it. Loved it too. Everything was excellent--the food was inventive and delicious, the service was great and the rooftop ambiance added a memorable layer to the evening. Highly recommended for a refined yet relaxed Chicago dining experience.

Aba is in Fulton market and has outdoor and indoor seating! The restaurant is open and bright. I…read moreloved the olive trees that made the room feel like I was outside! The plates are shareable so this is great because you can share a few dishes! I tried the smoked garlic hummus (comes with pita bread), short rib Shakshouka, crispy potatoes, and the beef and lamb kofta! This was for two people and we had left overs. The hummus was fantastic! I highly recommend getting the crispy potatoes as well! I have never tried shakshouka with meat in it before and didn't love the texture. However, the flavor was sweet and savory! The only thing that was not ideal was that an optional surcharge was on the receipt, when we tried to get our server to help remove it per instructions on the receipt no one was to be found. That was disappointing and potentially strategic? I would have rather just tipped. I'm not sure how others feel about the surcharge?

Interior

Frozen Greek yogurt

See all

Green Falafel

Ema

4.3(1.9k reviews)

0.8 mi•Near North Side

Great service and lovely atmosphere Many gluten free…read morechoices available Kids friendly

Had a reservation for two and were sat immediately. Server was great, attentive but not bothersome…read more We ordered the spicy whipped feta, crispy potato's and chicken ketfa. All were pretty good but the chicken and rice were a bit oily. I got the do not disturb cocktail which was really yummy and my friend got the Paloma which was just okay. Overall good experience would come back

3.1 mi•Wicker Park, West Town

Ema tables and bar

Double chocolate.

See all

Inside

Rumi Middle Eastern Grill

4.5(401 reviews)

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.

See all

The Purple Pig

4.3(9k reviews)

0.8 mi•Near North Side

•$$$

"We stopped at The Purple Pig for lunch and we were pleasantly surprised at how great everything…read morewas. From the impeccable service to the great food, ambience and extensive wine list, we couldn't have been more pleased with our dining experience.

Just an amazing experience all around!! The tuna tartare was exceptional as well as the sorbet with…read moreBailey's. A little tight on seating but no complaints!!

Inside

Chicago style hot dog

See all

Squid Ink Chitarra

Roti

3.9(449 reviews)

0.2 mi•The Loop

Tried Roti for the first time this past week after walking by it a million times and wanting to…read morecheck off another fast-casual Mediterranean spot in the city. Overall, it was just okay for me. Chicago has a ton of strong options in this category, and I don't think this one stands out as the best. I ordered the Mezze protein bowl with steak, chicken. The lettuce wasn't great so I mostly picked around it, and the steak was a bit more well done than I'd prefer. Everything else was solid and what you'd expect from a classic Mediterranean fast-casual setup, but nothing that really wowed me. Not a bad spot by any means, just one where I'd probably choose a few other places in the city first before coming back.

Shout out to the catering team! I ordered for a group, and everyone loved it. The food was…read moreflavorful, well-prepared, and packaged nicely for sharing. The only small improvement I'd suggest is labeling the sauces it would make things even easier. Overall, a fantastic experience and a reliable choice for group orders!

Salad and rice bowl to-go with all the toppings

See all

Bowl with rice, chicken, onions, tomatoes and cabbage

Kabobi Grill

4.5(1.3k reviews)

7.4 mi•Albany Park

We stopped by as a group of 5 for dinner Sunday night and we were promptly seated. We visited…read moreChicago for St. Patty's, but my two Persian friends were eager to show us some authentic food and Kabobi did not disappoint. The food was absolutely delicious and I particularly loved the Shami and Koubidehs. The koubidehs were so tender and juicy. The service was phenomenal and they even brought us some tea and dessert (bamieh) for free. Kabobi is open late and was the perfect spot to chat while the rain died down. Definitely coming back when I'm in Chicago next time!

Ordered: Caspian Mix Grill (~$25) with Albaloo Polo (~$6): 1…read moreskewer boneless chicken breast, 1 skewer filet mignon marinated in a pomegranate walnut sauce, with grilled onion, raw onion, and butter Bamieh & Balava (complimentary) Aya's take: I was really craving Persian food before leaving Chicago and decided to place an order for pickup to take on my way. I arrived 25 minutes later and they hadn't even made my order. From there, 3 different people told me it'll be another 5 minutes, 10 minutes, and 15 minutes. I ended up waiting 20 minutes and during that whole time there was no apology. One of the workers handed me a tea and later I saw they included dessert in the bag. It was a nice gesture but I was frustrated that it wasn't acknowledged by the staff at all and part of my order was still missing. I paid $2.25 for a Yogurt & Cucumber Sauce which I never received. The Caspian Mix Grill with Albaloo Polo was very good. The filet mignon & chicken breast were both juicy and well-seasoned. The Albaloo Polo is plain basmati rice mixed with saffron, caramelized onion and sauteed sweet & sour cherries. I liked the rice but it felt like they just threw the cherries on top rather than incorporate it into the rice. It was very filling, enough to share with 2 people, and good value. The Bamieh & Balava were also fresh, sweet, and a nice bite to end on. Ultimately, I would give the food a 4/5 and the service a 2/5, hence my 3/5 rating.

2.7 mi•Wicker Park, West Town

Dine in area

Kabobi Homemade Mango Saffron Icecream

See all

Chicken fesenjan

Falafel & Grill

4.3(668 reviews)

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!

See all

Kofta Kabob Plate Baba Ghanoush

Al Bawadi Grill

4.1(1.2k reviews)

13.4 mi

Came here for lunch to celebrate my birthday. It is located in the Harlem Corners shopping center…read morewith ample parking. The staff is warm and welcoming, and we were seated quickly upon arriving. Love the ambiance! It is very cozy and inviting. We were served a complimentary appetizer: pita bread strips, pickled veggies, and what I believe to be an eggplant dip. We also ordered the Bawadi wing appetizer. It was delicious, and those wings! It came with a sauce, but I cannot comment on that because none of us tried it. The wings by themselves are delicious! My friends both ordered the lamb chops, and I ordered the Al Bawadi mixed grill with hummus and bread. Everything was good, and the portions are generous. The meat was tender, juicy, and seasoned well. We all enjoyed our meals. We plan on coming back in the Fall to celebrate another birthday. This is definitely a neighborhood staple and will come back with family.

4.5/5 Food is good…read moreKababs are ok but still pretty good Fish is also good Bread is fresh Good eat in Great service

0.7 mi•West Loop, Near West Side

20 minute wait for two. Food smells delicious though

Kenafah

See all

Lotus cake

Avec - Chicago

4.3(2.6k reviews)

•$$$

Overall experience was great! Made a reservation online and sat at a shared table. Went for a…read moremid-week lunch date, which was a really nice and easygoing experience. The entry door is a little fun, just push where the pig is. The hummus is an absolute must. We got an extra pita (one per person) and I would recommend getting the extra. For the lunch menu -- the prix-fixe is a really great option. It's only about $26 for the stuffed date, sandwich & chips, and rolled baklava. Service was great, our server was amazing (thank you Marlee)! Waters were consistently refilled, timing was great, atmosphere was enjoyable. Will be going back!

I went to Avec for my birthday and from food, service, and ambiance the entire experience was a…read moredisappointment. The endive salad was warm and not cohesive at all. Nothing really went together and it was warm, which didn't make sense and made it worse. The steak was cooked how I asked, but the sauce was extremely oily and had this strange burnt flavor which likely was from the onions? The onions were extremely burnt, nothing like a typical caramelized delish onion. The chicken had the same issue, everything had that same burnt tasting oil and the chilies sitting in it just made it more intense. It was honestly just edible and nothing I would come back for or recommend. I love middle eastern food and know that even with a midwestern there are some considerations to take with the flavor profile but the burnt onions, burnt spicy oil in the chicken, and a warm salad are all indications for poor execution. As for the actual ambiance and experience it was my birthday and there was no acknowledgment at all not even someone to check in on whether the food was okay. I did not want to order a dessert after the salad, steak, and shawarma all missing the mark. The seating was very uncomfortable. It is cramped and communal and at this price point I expected a much better experience. Will admit I should have looked into the actual dining set up before booking a late night reservation but even still there are so many better places in Chicago where you can get better food and actually feel comfortable. Overall it just was not worth it. I would not return or recommend this spot.

Restaurant view from bar

Roasted Corn & Freekeh Tabbouleh

See all

Chorizo-stuffed Medjool Dates

Avaspi

4.8(101 reviews)

4.4 mi•Lakeview

This place is good. Legit good food. Went for the first time the other night and was very happy w…read moreservice, food, atmosphere etc. Will be back for sure.

Came with our friends and food, service and ambiance were all great. Had the stuffed mushrooms,…read morehalloumi, and meat platter for two. Everything was amazing. Our server was great and our friends were so happy with the food.