The best place for lunch time! I live near with the awesome Turkish cafe, you can also buy there food of Central Asia! It's like manty (my favourite!), lagman, shorpo (lamb soup). I went there before and don't like, but with the new owner it became the best place for my lunch! read more

New to the neighborhood, spotted the cafe on our way home. We decided to check it out for dinner. And so glad we did....most delicious Turkish food in the area. Everything we tried was fresh with amazing flavors. Go! read more

Largely mediocre food and service. We went in as a group of four on a Saturday night, when it was not busy at all. We started off with the beef and cheese pide, which turned out to be one of the highlights of our meal. Is it just basically a slightly open calzone? Sure. Is it tasty? Totally. I opted for the lentil soup and lahmacun. Sadly, I wound up not being particularly keen on either. The lentil soup was puréed and thin, so all you really got was the taste of starch. The lahmacun also lacked flavor and may have been slightly overcooked. My friends got a variety of meat dishes and largely agreed that the kebobs, rice, and yogurt sauce were all pretty good. The shaved meats were decidedly under-seasoned. We also struggled with service. We had to walk up to the counter repeatedly to ask for additional water or for our check, even though it is a table service restaurant. Overall, I might return if I was in the area and really craving a kebab, but I wouldn't make a special trip. read more

My family and I get baklava from there on occasion, but today we came in to eat lunch. The food was delicious, well priced, and of course the dessert was as spectacular as ever. We went for lunch and got chicken korma and beef korma. Both good portions and inexpensive. read more

Extremely poor service. Our order was wrong. The correction took 40 minutes to be made. When I checked the order at home, the chicken salad was missing feta. read more

A favorite of mine when craving an excellent lahmacun or Turkish pide. A pide is similar to open top calzone. Lahmacun is to Turks as a burger is to Americans. I also love beef/lamb kebabs over yogurt and bread chunks topped by tomato sauce. The lentil soup with diced mint is amazing! I also like their hummus, babaganoush and grape leaves appetizers. The desserts are delicious! My favorite Turkish custard or kanzadibi is amazing. Also try the fresh baklava, rice pudding or sekerpare. You can't miss with any dessert selection. Service is friendly and you will see lots of Central Asian Turks dining here. It is 100% Halal. No alcohol is served and BYOB is not allowed. Their follow up service needs improvement, but they are very welcoming. read more

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As someone who gets on the El Irving Park Brown Line Station daily to go home from work, I can't help but wonder about this little storefront practically located under the tracks. Yolanda Be Cool's "We No Speak Americano" seems to play in my head on repeat. Throughout the day cabbies park their cars and talk the day away inside I-Cafe, in between running out to their vans to make a run. I only purchased a pop late at night because they are open 24-hours and boast themselves as an Internet Cafe. However, they also sell Mediterranean food and serve as a Turkish Cafe. It's more of a carry-out kinda place but they have soups (lentil, chickpea and haricot bean), sandwiches, Turkish breakfasts, salads, sweets (baklava and the like), hot drinks (Turkish coffee, mint tea, Lipton's tea) and a large variety of cold beverages. When you walk in, you're bound to get stares which can be a tad uncomfortable but it's worth the overall adventure. Interesting place but fits in with the cultural diversity of Chicago. read more

This place gets MAD BUSY on weekend nights. 90% of their customers are regulars because they come in and order right away, and they seem to love it! If you come here, do not expect 5 star customer service and expect to wait (we waited 40-50 minutes our food). We arrived here via Google Maps and were confused because we didn't see I-Cafe anywhere. Reason being is because they don't have a real sign, they got some poster board in the window above the door. So don't waste your time driving around looking for this place to stick out. [Note: You can take the brown line here] We went inside with a group of 7, we each went up individually an ordered stuff from the 2 menus they had in the restaurant (ONLY 2 MENUS! See what I mean when I said only regulars come here?). 4/7 got the food, and they missed 3 of us somehow. After 20-25 minutes of me waiting for my friends to get their food, I went up and asked them what's going on. They didn't tell me they forgot about the order, but I stared them down as they went to the back and realized they forgot it. He came back and told me 10 more minutes. I didn't really care... we weren't in a hurry. My food did get cold due to waiting, but at least we were with friends! I got their gyros sandwich, it was good but if you want it spicy, ask for their red spicy sauce and put it on yourself. They won't do it for you even if you ask them to make it spicy. Their complimentary bread is amazing! My friend got the $9 Cold appetizer something and it was delicious with the bread. One of us got a rib eye steak sandwich, he got his sandwich with barely any meat on it and he went back and told them (another mistake). He said he didn't want to wait another 15 minutes and just to put whatever meat on their, so they loaded that thing with gyros (I guess they felt bad and threw in extra meat). Overall, an outsider would think of this place as a 3.5/5, but all their regulars would rate it as 5/5. The only reason why I would go out of my way to go here is because they are open at 3:00 AM. read more

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Really, I Cafe? After I wrote you a glowing yelp review? After I even started a thread telling everyone on yelp to come here? After I became a regular? I don't sway off the menu. All I want is your shepherd salad with chicken. That's it. It's my special twice-a-month treat, because I have a standing appointment in that area for every other Tuesday. I came back, and it was just as good as ever. A little too much meat, but that's okay. I can take it home. The more the better, as long as you don't skimp on quality. And then, out of nowhere, I tasted it. Raw meat. In my mouth. Raw chicken in my mouth. I spit it out, shocked. Yes, it was true. The outside was grilled, but the inside was entirely uncooked. And you know what? I forgave you. You gave me a pile of perfectly cooked chicken and somehow one tiny little undercooked piece made it's way in there. But then you got cocky. You started making the servings smaller. You started adding a ton of salt - way, WAY too much salt. Tonight, I got my salad to go, and here I am, looking at my salad, typing a yelp review instead of ravishing it. You have switched to that weird rubbery feta that I despise. The chicken is wet and weird has chunks of chicken fat clinging to them. You stopped putting lemon juice in the dressing, and have switched to a very cheap red wine vinegar. The dish has an overall bitter taste to it. And the worst part? YOU FORGOT THE CUCUMBER. It's a shepherd's salad - you can't forget the cucumber. What the hell is this crap you've given me? Tomato, weird chicken, and a lettuce and cabbage garnish. This isn't a salad. I don't know what it is. Look, I get that there are bad days. You seemed to have had a new guy tonight. He's really, really cute. I admit that. If I were sixteen again, I would totally be crushing on him. But I saw that the regular cook was right beside him. This should not have gone out. And I have a sneaky suspicion that you cut corners because I was getting my meal to go. Maybe I'll give you once more chance. That's it though. Please, just raise the damn prices if things are tight. I'd rather pay more than deal with another meal like this. read more

Horrible. The bread was stale. Food was cold and retried and old. They added water to their sauces. No salt. Meat was old and bad. They refused to try their own food. DO NOT GO. read more

I-Cafe - a plate of bread and dipping sauce - Halal Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The sucuk pide is that good! Use the spicy red pepper paste (available table side) on the crunchy texture of the thin dough, perfectly stringy cheese, and the slightly-too-salted sucuk, the optional egg balances it off just right. Can you eat it all by yourself? Barely - but a tall cup of cold ayran will help wash it down. I can't wait to explore more of their menu next time. read more

I-Cafe - Pide options, egg add on is worth it! - Halal Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Çok teşekkur ederim. My final exam was due and my computer crashed. They let me use the computer for at least two hours and I was able to get my research paper in on time. I really appreciate it! After the stress of exams, I had delicious chicken korma with rice, salad, and their home made bread. I really enjoy having breakfast or tea here, watching Türkçe televisiyon, especially when the owner's wife is working because she is genuine and kind and it feels more like an Aile Solonü (family restaurant) now than the taxı driver place except when Beşiktaş or Antalyaspor has a big game on. I had to edıt my last post from two years ago because I Cafe has changed for the best. read more

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Always great service - I say that with sincerity; the servers (women) are always so caring and friendly. Came here @ 11pm on a Tuesday, and I notice that the bread is served warm and it's very soft/crispy/just right. Not sure if it's made fresh, new cook, or just got lucky, but usually when I come here (afternoon) the bread is stale - still tastes really good, just a bit stale. $6.99 for 1 quarter chicken (w/ rice and salad). They have a new deal where you can add lentil soup to said order (maybe all entrees, not sure) for only $1 more (=$7.99 pretax). 4.5 stars - recommend. read more

I-Cafe - August 2016 - lentil soup is +$1 if you order chicken entree. - Halal Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Ok so I am sitting here having breakfast and man the special breakfast plate is tasty. Not only is it affordable ($8.99 with coffee) but it's a great spread of flavors and food that doesn't make you feel too heavy or bad about yourself. Definitely now a huge fan of the chicken samsa. Excellent flavor. read more

I-Cafe - Great deal, great flavors, full but not too full. Highly recommend the chicken samsa. - Halal Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Food is delicious, portions could be a tad more. Good bread and meat. Parking is paid on street. Space is cozy. Cuisine is genuine Turkish, hands down. read more

This is one of those hidden gem locations. Once you taste their sandwiches, you want to try them again every once in a while. Coffee is great here. Service may depend on your opinion, but overall it's a nice cafe! read more

This restaurant is located right below the bridge next to a train station. It has cute, traditional decor and a great variety of authentic Turkish food. I got the chicken doner kabob wrap and my friend got the egg with sucuk. Both were good but the wrap was not extremely flavorful. Another thing is that the hot sauce is not really authentic. I've seen a lot to Mediterranean / Turkish places use store bought chili garlic type sauce instead of the authentic hot sauce, which is so delicious. I feel like some authentic yogurt or hot sauces would really add to the flavor. read more

I-Cafe - Cute, traditional decor. Here is a picture it a mosque in Turkey. - Halal Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Food is amazing, and atmosphere is so cool, you should try honey cake in here, unbelievable tasty! And they have great service!

I am so glad I tried this place! When I was in Istanbul, I never tried pide, and it's been a regret of mine. Thankfully, I was able to try it here and I think it just might be superior to regular pizza. The crust was divine. My roommate also enjoyed it. I ordered it with ground beef and onions, and it was definitely one of the best late night meals I've had. Every time I promised myself that this would be the last slice, my hand kept reaching for me. Aiyayaya what am I gonna do... Also, their lentil soup is super good! It was very creamy with a delicate taste. Quite delicious! Give it a go! The decor is very simplistic, a taxi driver spot one might say. But I don't know. I find these places to have a certain charm, and I really enjoyed it. read more

We got a delivery today from I-cafe Sukur's Place. Is was super fast. It took about 30 minutes. The food was delicious. We got islander kabab, sujuk pide and Adan kebab. We liked all the food. Also, they gave us 2 complimentary desserts. We loved the desserts too. We recommend this place for their generosity and how fast they brought the food in a rainy day. Oh, one more thing by accident I choose the Yelp suggested address and I was not careful to check it so the address was wrong then the driver called to check the address and he was professional. read more

Nothing in my love for Icafe has changed, the pide and kazandibe are a must here. Iskender kabob I highly recommend too, honestly everything on the menu is comparable with my time in turkey if not even better because of the care put into the food read more

I-Cafe - Kazandibe-- a must try - Halal Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Ok today I'm dining in the popular I cafe turkish restaurant ... restaurant seems clean prices overpriced!!! I ordered my food but they totally screwed up my order had to wait over 30 minutes to get my food .... food was warm fries tasted like cardboard not to recommend this place to anyone read more

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Food service fantastic. Love the pide soujouk and Doner(Gyro) plates . The Kazan dibi ( Bottom of pot ) dessert is to die for. A must check out. Tried everything on the menu cant mention anything I didn't like. Loved the lentil. Only thing the tables and chairs could use a upgrade. Everything else is awesome read more

Got takeout during quarantine, and was extremely pleased. The pide with beef cubes and extra cheese was delicious and certainly better than a lot of mediocre pizza I've had in town. The dolmades were more flavorful than many versions at similar places, and the soups (white bean and lentil) were excellent, and these are bellwethers for me at any Mediterranean restaurant. There was enough for 2 dinners and a lunch for two people, so I consider this a value, both in price and flavor. Give this place a try for tasty food! read more

Service is extremely problematic since COVID-19. I used to come occasionally with my wife and kids however on a recent pick order the contact person informed me that my order was given away to another person without verifying their name. When I asked what should I do he said to take the issue up with Grubhub. I will not be coming here again. read more

Halal food all the time good for your soul every time. The food is delicious and tasty. No regrets to eat from this place.

I had high hopes for this place after reading the great Yelp reviews. An avid lover of middle eastern cuisine myself, I was ready to check out what this place had to offer. The food itself was pretty good--the bread, humus, and dolmas were some of our favorites. This place is not the greatest atmosphere though. They need some good ac and airflow in order to make guests more comfortable. In addition there is no pita bread nor pilaf. read more

I-Cafe - Lajmajoon - Halal Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

From time of taking my order to giving the bill, no one checked on me to see if I needed anything else. The Sheppard salad for 5.99 features one small miserly block of feta (see picture attached). The fries were over salted, the beef and lamb plate only had lamb and it was dry. The bread was served by itself, nothing to dip it with. I don't see anything special to recommend here and certainly nothing to come back read more

I-Cafe - See the glorious amount of feta that you get for 6 dollars. - Halal Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Amazing place so nice and nice staff the food was unbelievably good and amazing I am definitely going back 100%

Best Turkish Pide ever in America. We cannot find that much beautiful pide in Los Angeles and Orange County. Pastirma and Kusbasi Pide adviced! read more

Came here one night with a friend and we're both pretty knowledgeable about Turkish/Mediterranean cuisines. We absolutely loved it. From the appetizers like dolma to the kabobs to desserts. This place did not disappoint at all! Highly recommend . Great service as well. read more

I feel like a ridiculous human being for just now discovering this place after living four blocks away for...three years. Yes. Three years. For three years I have gone without pides. I have gone without their glorious trio of dips into which I dunk their warm, doughy bread. I've gone to Mariano's to get soup instead of picking up their silky lentil. And that was okay. But today, life is so much better. That is all. read more

Great anytime spot. Everything is delicious. The lentil soup is delicious and filling, the hummus is great, the tea is always amazing. Fresh-baked bread is served with every side and soup. I could go on. The only complaint is that service can randomly be a little slow so expect a relaxed diner-style pace most of the time. However, if you're not in an absolute rush, the wait is always worth it. The kebab sandwiches are drool-worthy. The pide gets my vote for best cheesy-bread in Chicago. The breakfast plate has a selection of cheeses and jam. The rice pudding and kazandibi (milk pudding- like a soft creme brulee) are ridiculously good. The salads are never wilted. Does it sound like I'm being overly dramatic yet? I assure you, everything is good. I could throw a dart at the menu and enjoy whatever shows up at the table. read more

This review is based on ordering food thru grubhub . The delivery was very fast and the food was hot and my fries were hot and not soggy at all . I got the soup , hummus , the Turkish chicken donner (chicken wrap ) with fries . The hummus was delicious !! The fries are also a major hit !!! I really loved the fries ! The lentil soup was good but was a little thin for me . the wrap was good with the hummus . overall the food was good and the delivery service was very fast !! The only downside was the soup , it was thin and watery . But to be fair I am comparing it the Arab style lentil soup . read more

Great traditional Turkish meals here. It might not be the fanciest Turkish restaurant but the food is the best. And Turkish tea... About the looks when you walk-in: its not that you look like an alien, its just people hanging out there mostly know each other and its a tradition to welcome people that walks-in. As usually men are hanging out there, going there by yourself(for ladies) may be a little unconfortable. Breakfast plate along with tea is highly recommended... read more

Popped in to grab a to-go lunch after walking by and seeing a lunch specials sign. I was hesitant due to most the other spots in the area just being so-so and not worth the trip down three flights of stairs. (Yes I'm work lazy..) I'm glad I made the painless trek down as it's worth the trip and then some. The portions are large, the price is great, the food is unique, and it was pretty quick. Based on Yelp help, I was able to pin point the cuisine as Turkish and since I didn't know what many menu items where, the pictures on the menu are a saving grace. I got the Beef Korma lunch special, which came with lentil soup, a simple salad, what I'm calling a loaf of bread, Beef Korma (pot roast like beef and peppers) and a huge helping of rice. No joke, this lasted me two lunches. Everything was tasty and fresh, a welcome reprieve to something dripping in grease. Did I mention it was only 8 bucks.. a steal! I'll be back to try some of their specialties as they all look delicious, the pizza boat looking guy especially (Pide?) The space is nothing special, more of a hangout for the regulars BUT don't let that stop you. Service was friendly and quick, just a tiny wait at peak lunch lunch time. Try something new Ravenswood workers, Subway will still be there tomorrow. read more

I loooove I-Cafe! It's authentic and so tasty every time.

We were starving late one night and my husband tells me about this place he found randomly one night when he walking home from the bar. When he described it to me I was a little skeptical: "A Turkish restaurant? Under the Irving Park Brown Line? That's open 24 hours? How come I never noticed it before?" It turns out it's an Internet cafe that also is a huge cabbie hangout - it even says "Cabbies Welcome" on the website. It's a pretty small, unassuming place, and the decor is nothing much to speak of. Considering all this, their food is pretty damn good. We always get the same 3 things. Their lentil soup is awesome - it's my favorite lentil soup in all of Chicago. The chicken sandwich is simple, but big, and really good. And the beef plate - freshly grilled beef atop some fluffy white rice cooked in broth with a side salad - is amazing. Not sure what they use to marinate their meat, but it's pretty awesome. We usually order carry out from here late at night when everything else is closed and we don't really feel like getting food from a typical 24hr grease joint. I think it is cash only. read more

My nine and seven year olds are writing this review. Service very quick and attentive. We got bread, hummus, lentil soup, beef plate and chicken plate. Chicken was tender and flavorful, beef was tough and had barely any flavor. The hummus was creamy and not overly seasoned. Bread was light, fluffy and crispy. Lentil soup was creamy and flavorful. I am defiantly coming back! read more

I'm really disappointed by this place. We got carry out. We went here because it had 4.5 stars on Yelp. Am I missing something? Our food was all cooked to order, so it took about 25 minutes (we walked in to order). While taking that long to cook doesn't bother me too much, no one ever said anything to us about the length of time. We were standing outside on the sidewalk for most of the wait, then every so often we'd go in, stand at the counter, they'd stare at us and say nothing. The whole thing felt very awkward. So when we finally get home with the food (hummus, lentil soup, and a combo dinner of chicken & beef with rice) we dig in only to find that this is some of the blandest, most flavorless mediterranean food I've ever tasted. The steak was cooked to well done and very tough. The rice was literally just plain white rice. The chicken had very little flavor to it. The hummus didn't have any flavor and nor did the soup. Honestly, most of the food got thrown away (and we don't waste food in our house). All of this came to the tune of about $25. I just don't see any point in trying this place again. I'm bummed since it would be nice to have a great mediterranean place close by. read more