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Old Jerusalem Restaurant

4.0 (504 reviews)
ModerateMiddle Eastern
Open • 11:00 am - 10:45 pm
Updated over 3 months ago

Order Old Jerusalem Restaurant Takeout or Delivery

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Business Info

OLD JERUSALEM RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Quiet
Casual
Dogs allowed
Good for kids

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Recommended Reviews - Old Jerusalem Restaurant

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Reviews With Photos

Jerusalem salad
Chris M.

Of all the Mediterranean/Middle Eastern restaurants I've had in Chicago, Old Jerusalem is undoubtedly in the upper echelon. The moudardara is indescribably delicious. I've had this dish many times but the one here is head and shoulders above the rest. If you're not familiar, moudardara is a blend of rice, lentils, and caramelized onions, which pairs wonderfully with the plain yogurt they give you. Another favorite is the Jerusalem Salad. So fresh and so perfectly balanced. Of course, everything else here is great too (including the grilled meats and classic sides/appetizers) but these are just my personal favorites. The family members that run the place are also the absolute sweetest people. Please do yourself a favor and pay Old Jerusalem a visit ASAP!

Combination Platter
Amelia B.

Takeout order from Old Jerusalem Restaurant. They've got the meats with their combination platter, complete with rice and some salad. Also had to try to vegetarian platter which was loaded with hummus, baba ganoush, and falafel. The order came with three pitas too. Ended the meal on a sweet note with a baklava. This is a place where you'd probably want to just do takeout. You wouldn't have trouble securing a table if you dine in.

Menu
Anthony D.

Great food at a great price! The staff is friendly and the interior is comfortable, we ordered: - Combination Platter - Hommos with Meat - Grape Leaves The Grape Leaves may not be for everyone, they are served warm and have sour kick. The meat in the other dishes were all flavorful. Definitely recommend stopping by.

Savanna B.

Tried this place for dinner last night. The couple running the place were extremely nice and accommodating towards my toddler- definitely kid-friendly. The dining room was slow last night although they were doing brisk takeout business. The pita bread was delicious- fluffy and warm. I could have almost made a meal of that! I had the vegetarian combination and liked it, especially the tabbouleh. The baba ganoush had a nice smoked flavor. We split an order of French fries for the table and those were also good. My husband had the chicken kabob and didn't love it for the price. He said it was mostly rice and not enough chicken. He also said that while the rice was served hot the chicken was cold. Our niece had the chicken and hummus and liked that a lot, so maybe that's the way to go. We all shared baklava, which I thought was just okay.

Restaurant from back.

Great food, service and vibes. Beautiful location with lovely people. Clearly family owned and made. You can't go wrong here. The grape leaves were moister compared to others that I have had and I savored every moment! Greta portions sizes and the combo are perfect for sharing although we did get a couple apps to help my tummy feel full. The veggie platter is spectacular and everything is great. They are ready to serve at anytime.

Kunefe, Baklawa and Harisa
Zirish K.

Loved the ambiance and a very nice lady welcomed me. Felt very humble. I got the Kunefe, harissa and baklava. Everything was delicious!! I will definitely go again

Shawarma Sandwich
Amy D.

BYOB! Their portions are very generous and definitely worth taking home for later! I'm personally impressed by the pita sandwich. At initial glance, it seemed like there wouldn't be enough shawarma, but after a few bites it becomes immediately apparent that there's SO MUCH inside - well-portioned meat, sauce, tomato, onion and lettuce. The vibes inside are pretty standard with decent service. I recommend sitting outside instead to really feel a part the Old Town action. -AT

Combination Platter
Ernie H.

Outdoor seating is best. Especially since the eye candy here is more sophisticated than say - Lincoln Park. The patina of time has taken its toll inside. My Arabic coffee was perfectly sweetened rich and strong. The combo platter was ok. The gyro/ lamb and kefta is fine but the beef was overcooked and dry. The kinafa desert is Ok. I prefer the Turkish version.

Falafil Sandwich
Simran S.

Old Jerusalem was probably the most different type of Middle Eastern food I've had in Chicago. I had the falafel sandwich. It was quite filling, tasty with all the stuffing and sauces! Pro tip: order a side of the garlic sauce. It is AMAZING. Service was quick and overall a decent ambiance. Very family friendly.

Falafel and Baba Ganouj

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9 months ago

Delicious food! I always get the chicken Schwarma platter with a side of dolma. They're byob which is nice.

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3 years ago

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4 years ago

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1 year ago

Service and food are amazing. LOVE THE FAMILY !! Style and seasoning of food is one of a kind.

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11 months ago

Great, inexpensive, family-cooked Mediterranean food. Wish they were in the Northwestern suburbs.

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3 years ago

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Ask the Community - Old Jerusalem Restaurant

Does anyone know if the feta cheese is pasteurized?

Hi,yes our feta is pasteurized.

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Old Jerusalem Restaurant - mideastern - Updated May 2026

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