This place has really tasty food. They make everything for you fresh, you can sit and watch them make each and every falafel. I usually get a dinner combo of either steak or chicken - both are very good. Large portion of rice, and you get a small salad and hummus and a pita. Falafel is amazing fresh, it's not too bad at room temp or reheated either. I typically fax my order in because I don't like to wait, and they always have my order ready for me when I get there. Prices are a little bit high for the atmosphere, it's a very bare bones restaurant and it looks fast-foody. But when you factor in they make everything fresh for you, it's worth the slightly higher prices. Street parking is always hard to find, but park in one of the nearby lots less than 2 blocks away, on the week days it's free for 2 hrs, and I believe it's free for longer on the weekends, or just free ALL weekend long. read more

Currently eating a chicken shawarma sandwich. YUM!!! The place not only smells delicious, but it tastes delicious too!!! The music is awesome. It's just what I would want to be listening to in a place called Jerusalem Cafe. This sandwich is filling me up and tasting incredible the whole way through : ) The reason I give it four stars rather than five is because the customer service could use a little work and the atmosphere was a little tacky. read more

Being a creature of habit I always order the Combination Feast with a few extra falafel on the side. The quality of food at least matches the price and in some cases exceed it bumping my rating to 4 stars. Some days I stop in and buy 4 or 5 falafel for $2. I agree with Valerie with the food being greasy. But I think that maybe how the cuisine is prepared here in the states. read more

I'm not too impressed with the food. The only thing that I really liked was the meat. Everything else is pretty bland. The lentil soup was blah and the smoothies were just ok. I could eat the meat all day though. The favor is just right. Don't go looking for garlic sauce b/c they don't have it. A nice feature is they have a small condiment bar with pickled veggies, fried pita and hot sauces. read more

First time having dinner at Jerusalem coffee in oak park area, highly recommended for amazing shish kabobs and the falafel. The only thing did not like was salty fries! read more

Jerusalem Cafe - Mouth watering shish kabob - Middle Eastern Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

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I love middle eastern/mediterranean food. Having lived in the Albany Park area I'm used to great middle eastern cuisine such as Noon O Kabab, Dawali, and Semiramis but goodness I have no idea what happened here. There were times when I thought, "How could someone screw up hummus?", and then that questioned was answered with but one taste of this hummus. I've had hummus that was great and hummus that wasn't awesome but still edible. I've tried the hummus twice here and both times it was just not up to par. I'm so used to loving hummus with pita that I always order extra pita just to make sure I have enough to scrape the last bit of hummus, but the pita was just outright thin and dry, as if someone left it out to dry on purpose to make me sad. The shawarma was also dry and the kefka was so overly spiced I thought maybe they were trying to cover up something? I give it 2 stars cause I like the inside and the people are nice, but I've returned to many other places solely for food, regardless of decor or service. read more

Today I visited this establishment and even though the food is delicious because I order a lot online I noticed that the cook's don't wear mask when cooking that was very concerning because of the COVID-19 I hope other customers speak up and state their concerns about these. They need to follow the health and sanitation regulations. the only one I saw wearing a mask was the girl up front please WEAR A MASK!! Our lives matter, covid is REAL!!! read more

I agree with other reviews on portions size - the chicken shawarma had enough food in itself to be at least two meals.... There was no dill rice :( but instead roasted veggies, which were good as a side to compliment the yellow rice. The boy had the chicken and hummus, and commented that it was a little boring; that the hummus lacked pizzaz (my word, not his). The pitas were large and warm. Again, hummus aplenty for another meal. The chicken itself in the shawarma, though, was a little on the dry side, which was a tad bit disappointing. But the portions were so large that I'm still giving it an "ok" review. Nothing superb, but nothing bad. Would not be opposed to trying some other menu items, as maybe the flavor was lacking on an off night. The leftovers, ironically, had more flavor than the meal did the night of delivery! read more

I stopped by this place with a friend for something different than what I normally eat. I was impressed with the buffet selection, pleasant environment and tasty food. They had stuffed peppers, delicious rice, soup, hummus and a nice selection of salad. It wasn't too pricey so was great pick for that day. read more

Jerusalem Cafe - A picture of my plate - Middle Eastern Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

Maybe I have been spoiled by growing up on Pita Inn's marvelousness, but Jerusalem Cafe does not compare. The hummus and baba ganoush are tasty, nice and lemony, but the falafel always leaves a weird after-taste in my mouth. Like they cook it in oil that isn't quite right. Or leave it frying for too long? I can't be sure what it is.. Despite the unfortunate falafel situation, I am still willing to come here for a quick, easy lunch or dinner when I visit my brother in O.P. But, it just doesn't provide the pre-dinner excitement or post-meal satisfaction that Middle Eastern food usually gives me. read more

Try their Salmon Entree, and Chicken Shawarma entree. The chicken shawarma sandwich is also delicious. For the people concerned about the Halal meat, only the chicken is Halal as per their server. A must go place for anyone in Forest or Oak Park. read more

I've eaten here dozens of times, and each time I have yet to be disappointed. Good food. Friendly staff. Perfect for a quick lunch or dinner. My usual order is either chicken shwarama pita sandwich or the entrée (the tahini sauce is out of this world good). The entrée is served w/ fresh sautéed veggie mix consisting of carrots, zucchini, and squash & a side of rice pilaf. I also love their fresh all natural fruit and/or vegetable smoothies. read more

Jerusalem Cafe - Falafel dozen served w/ yogurt dipping sauce - Middle Eastern Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

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Decor: The decor is what turned me away from this place. It doesn't look very nice with the cafeteria-like setup. Service: Okay. The girl behind the counter seemed a little annoyed that we didn't know what we wanted right away. Food: I had the falafel plate that came with 6 falafels, hummus/pita, and a cucumber salad. I wasn't too crazy about the sides, but the falafels were pretty good. My boyfriend ordered the lamb kebab plate which had a lot of rice and just a little bit of lamb. Basically nine dollars worth of rice. Overall: i'm willing to give this place another try. It will help determine if we just got little portions that day or if they're normally cheap with how much they give you. read more

I've been going to Jerusalem Cafe for quite a few years now and I would have to say that this is by far my favorite restaurant in Oak Park. And one of the reasons is the manager Mohammed. He always makes you feel welcome and makes the best food around. If you're looking for the BEST falafel ANYWHERE, this is the place to go. I've eaten falafel in a lot of restaurants but nothing compares to the taste here. Being a vegan, I appreciate the many vegan options that Jerusalem Cafe offers but it's the falafel that keeps me coming back. The vegetarian plate is to die for. You get more than you can finish and it is delicious. The restaurant itself is quaint and inviting. Outdoor seating is nice and the waitstaff is courteous and helpful. I highly recommend Jerusalem Cafe for the best in Middle Eastern dining. read more

Ordered lunch from here today. Chicken shawarma with rice and veggies! Super yummy! Delivery took as long as expected, about an hour. I've ordered before and I have had it delivered freakishly fast! (15mins?) Even though it took an hour, the food was still hot and delicious. Driver is always super nice. Portion is large enough to keep you full for hours! Would definitely recommend! read more

Jerusalem Cafe - Chicken shawarma with rice and veggies after I attacked. (Red drizzled sauce is Sriracha that I added, not supplied by restaurant) - Middle Eastern Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

Their falafel is almost as good as it is in Ramallah! That's the best compliment I can give them. I grew up eating falafel and I haven't found a place that comes close to Jerusalem Cafe. What's great is you can purchase it by the dozen along with bread and make your own sandwiches at home. read more

Living in Oak Park for almost four years, you think I would have tried Jerusalem Cafe by now, but I always seem to find something else. Not today. My sister dragged me here after trying the hummus at Oak Park's Thursday Night Out. It was really good. I like more olive oil on mine, and wish they had put some in the middle of the hummus, but it was still delicious. I had the lamb kebob sandwich, minus tomatos and onions. It was delicious and refreshing on a 95° day. Tons of lettuce in it, which at another place you might think is stingy, but it's the perfect balance for the very seasoned lamb and sauce. My sister ordered the Fatoush salad, which I thought looked odd, but one bite convinced me that I HAD to return to this restaurant in the future and order that salad. Staff was friendly, albeit a little slow. 1 star off because they really didn't clean up after people left, which drew flies that buzzed all over everyone. read more

I came here expecting to meet Jesus Christ himself. Very disappointed that the name is so misleading.

The food is great! Fresh and hot. The service? Friendly but VERY slow. If you think you are going to catch a quick meal before a movie, you are definitely wrong. It takes abotu 15 minutes to get your food, sometimes more. Their smoothies are wonderful. I would recommend the Tangy Tangerine to ANYONE! It has outdoor seating and just a great ambiance for hanging out on the sidewalk. read more

Awsome Chicken Shwarma, you will have leftovers unless you are half-starved. Great place to go before you hit the Lake theater. Affordable, staff has been friendly the times I have been here. read more

Ever since I've experienced Falafelji, I really can't compare any other middle eastern food to them. They're just so fantastic. BUT! I have decided that as a closer option to home and one that is open slightly later than Falafelji, Jerusalem Cafe is my place to go. The falafel is pretty good- a little dry for my taste, but still good. Their baba ganoush is also pretty good. I still enjoy Falafelji more, but they're a good substitute. One thing I really liked about this location is the cute interior. It's cliche, yes, but it's still cute. When I went, they had some pretty cool middle eastern music on, which was a nice change of pace. The service was decent, although, I have never been to a restaurant that didn't give me a plate, basket, or anything to place my food down on. That was a little irritating. I got over it pretty quick though because falafel makes my insides happy. Mediocre to say the least, but better than other options that I have tried. They're close and convenient. I will be returning...because I'm obsessed with falafel. Guilty as charged. read more

Great for lunch - though make sure you have a little while to wait if you are going in to just pick something up. I love their chicken breast pita sandwich or the chicken fatoush salad. My office also caters in lunches every once in a while that are always delicious! read more

Let's just say I've had better middle eastern food. I ordered the combination lunch special which includes beef shish kabob, kifta kabob, shwarma, falafel, rice pilaf, and salad for $7.59. I was a little disappointed. There was way too much rice, not enough meat, and I didn't get a falafel. The kifta and shawarma were pretty dry. I would half expected a little bit more meat for an $8 lunch. On the other hand the beef shish kabob and pita were very good. If you have the downtown OP app you can get a free sandwich when you buy one with a drink. I say come for a beef shish kabob sandwich not for the lunch special. read more

Lunch Buffet is fantastic food and fantastic value. Really a wide selection and very tasty. The dining area is small for busy lunch time, but this was originally designed as a Panda Express. Great place on a cold day because the Cafe is on the sunny side of Lake Street. read more

Chicken shawarma is my usual order, and contrary to a number of reviews I think the sauce/flavor is great and the portions filling. Hummus and pita are blah, but Lord knows I'll eat it if it's in front of me. My biggest complaint about J Cafe is the smell - the restaurant has a constant window-cleaner odor, and I can barely stand to eat inside (call me crazy, but Windex and hot med food just don't mix). The best way to enjoy the offerings, IMHO, is on a warm summer evening, sitting at the bistro tables outside watching Oak Parkers stroll by. read more

I dragged my sister here for lunch a after spending the morning riding bikes. Their hummus is really good, I almost ate all of it. I also ordered the fattoush salad, and it's a little different than the Americanized version I've had before, it was still really good. There weren't a lot of people working for a Saturday morning, so it took a little bit to get our food, but when we came for Thursday Night Out, we had our food in minutes. read more

This is VERY good. I've been meaning to come here since it moved from Westgate and Marion a few blocks away. It is a small place, with a small outdoor area, but it was okay when I went for lunch. It is somewhere between fast food and sit-down. I had the delux falafel, stuffed grape leaves, and an iced tea (those are my test items when get this type of food and try a new place). This meal was a little high, but it was really my own fault since I did not get some sort of special or combo. The falafel was great and very fresh, and the grape leaves were pretty good too. There is also something on the menu just called a "combination plate" for $5, but it might only be for lunch. I asked about it and it sounded very good. I came back one day and got the Combination Feast at dinner time. It was about $7 and this was good too. It had cooked veggies, rice, hummus, chicken, lamb, and one falafel "nugget." I personally would go for the delux falafel sandwich again instead, but this was pretty good and definitely something to try if you are new to this kind of food. They also have a veggie version and I think it is cheaper. read more

Oh hello, AMAZING and CHEAP falafel sandwich! So nice of you to drop by in my life! I love Oak Park because it has that story-book like neighborhood and downtown area. Jerusalem Cafe just tops it off. However, their lentil soup is kinda sour and cold sometimes. Beware! read more

The best Mediterranean food I've ever had. The falafel was so flavorful and the grape leaves didn't have that strong vinegary after taste. Simply delicious! read more

Jerusalem Cafe - Delicious vegetarian plate - Middle Eastern Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

Pretty standard stuff here... I had some combo plate that was good. All meats = good. Rice = ok. Veggies = a couple of sliced carrots. I think maybe I saw a small, square piece of onion... My gf liked the hummus, I didn't really think it was anything special. You know, as I write this, it's really coming to light how mediocre this place is: everything was basically just "ok". Wait, it's important that I reiterate that all of the meats were really good. Long story short: call ahead and place a pick-up order for standard fast-food-esque Mediterranean food. There's no reason to eat here. It's kinda' weird inside... and I saw somewhere that this place is BYOB. Don't get confused and bring down a nice bottle of Shiraz in the hopes of having a romantic dinner. I think the only reason this place is listed as BYOB is because no one would care if you were drinking a 40oz while waiting to pick up your food.... read more

If you are in the Oak Park area and just left the movies or just plain hungry, make your way to Jerusalem Cafe. Friendly staff and good portions. Food is very flavorful. read more

Ordered delivery. Had the beef kabob entrée, AWESOME! The steak was very well seasoned. The rice and vegetables that came with the entrée were very good as well. The food arrived on time, was very tasty, and I will definitely be ordering again soon. read more

Jerusalem Cafe - All you can eat buffet and menu - Middle Eastern Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

Ate the lunch buffet the other day. They had a nice selection of meats such as chicken and beef. They also had a nice selection of salad such as cucumber salad and Jerusalem salad. They also have hummus and baba ganoush. If you haven't had middle eastern cuisine this is a nice place to try out since you can sample items from the buffet. The price for the buffet was around 10 bucks, which isn't to bad. The service was nice and friendly as well. A decent place to check out if you are in Oak Park, since it's not to far away from the Frank Lloyd Wright Homes. It's also not to far from Hemingway's childhood home. read more

BEST FOOD EVER! Just takes a while to get your food. My family and I usually order for pickup, they say 15-20 minutes and its more like 30. Not a big deal cause we almost expect it now, but the food 100% makes up for it. Get that service time down a little and I will edit this to 5 stars! read more

I've been here twice. Absolutely the best falafel ever. Also, love the fresh juices! My only problem when I go here is that I order too much food. I want to try everything... read more

Haven't eaten *in* here, but have ordered 3 times now in the past 18 months - and each time was a bigger disappointment than the last. 1st time - order came cold, not late - but Grubhub allows a wide window for delivery so it would be hard to compete with that, unless.... 2nd time - order came cold and late (so much for Grubhub's wide window).... 3rd time (most recently) - having learned from the first two times NOT to order via delivery, so opted for carry out. What could possible go wrong? Let's see, walk over, pick up food. Check. Notice that bag seems lighter than normal - mention to cashier, she shrugs. Check to see if there appears to be the correct number of items, which it did seem to be. Arrive home to learn one's instinct are correct and am indeed missing one complete item from a four item order (had mistaken extra pita bread as fourth item - wrapped in foil). Call. Explain situation. Wait (on hold - conversation occurs between cashier and cook, much back and forth, totally professional). Instructed (sans apology) to come back and get missing item. Yay me. Hottest day of the summer... on foot. Told that I can choose from a store credit or extra food. Extra food? Meh. It's "good" as in edible and alright but hardly 4 (or 3) star food... So. Arrive at store to retrieve missing item, sweating like crazy.... Wait (food has yet to be cooked, what were they doing while I was sweating it out on a 2nd walk? Who knows?). Ask about credit. Blank look. Shake head. "No, I'll just give you more of that food you didn't get the first time." "No thank you, I'll take the credit." says I (how many falafel can two people eat, I'd already ordered 12 - 6 more?!). Bit of haggling back and forth, I mention that an *Apology* ~ otherwise known as an "I'm sorry for the trouble we've caused you (our customer)" ~ has not yet been received. "Oh. Sorry." Excellent. Receive said food. Walk back home in dreaded heat, now bordering on The Last March of the Sopping Wet Mop. Arrive home (other food is now cold). Sit down to eat cold & semi-warm food only to realize .... Never received sauce for food. Awesome. Nothing better than dry falafel. And now my story is all told. aside: the only reason I gave 2 stars instead of 1 star is because I did, in the end, finally receive a 50% credit on the one item that was left off - all $2.50 of it. Well worth the trouble, wouldn't you say? read more

When you're in Oak Park and you're having a felafel emergency, the Jerusalem Cafe seems to be the perfect place to go to quench any and all urgent falafel cravings. In this particular bout, I opted for the avocado felafel pita sandwich, which provides an interesting twist on the whole falafel sandwich formula... In that, it has, avocado. (As the name implies.) Also, I never know if it's more appropriate to spell it felafel or falafel, so I'm just alternating. That seems legit. read more

I used to eat from here everyday for like a year straight but then I moved. Anyway, the service is great and fast! I stop by every time I'm in the area because it's soooo delicious! I always get the chicken shawarma and fries for my son. Food comes in big portions so I'm always happy to have left overs. (The day of the solar eclipse 2017, I was at a nearby park with the family while waiting and I ran to Jerusalem for some food. My family was so pleased and I think it made everyone around us hungry, you guys are the best!) read more

My family was going to eat here for dinner for my graduation, but then found it wasn't really a sit-down kind of place. There's hardly any seating and it's served in take-out containers. We opted for some catering trays instead (and some vegan falafel for me). It was a lot of food. It wasn't as good as some of the places in the city, but it was alright. The meat was piled on top of the yellow rice, which is probably how it's supposed to be served, but it made it a task to scoop out a meatless portion for myself. The rice was a little salty for my taste. If I recall correctly, the falafel was a little more of "sweet" spices - perhaps cinnamon - than I've had at other places, which isn't a bad thing; I like the variety of falafel recipes. I also liked the touch of lemon zest in the fresh salad; it added a lot of zing. I don't get out to Oak Park much, and this place wasn't exciting enough in itself to warrant a trip out there. However, it's a good option for when I'm around. read more

I noticed Amaliya had been here and gave it a good review, so I knew it would make for a good visit. I ordered the combo and the beef shawarma to go. I had to wait because they actually cooked it up on the spot! Love that! We couldn't wait to get home and eat it (my son loves Middle Eastern food). We tried a little bit of everything and I must say that the chicken shawarma was the best item though the others are very good. If I'm in the area again, I would definitely stop in for more. read more