Shawarma Joint

The food was incredible. I got the seasonal banana bread French toast which was very indulgent but…read morenot overly sweet or heavy. I pared it with a side of the corned beef hash which had a very nice house made corned beef, and I think it was the perfect combo. The inside was also very cute and clean, and the service was great. We will be going back!

We LOVED Maple & Yolk! We found it from Google Maps suggestion when looking for a place to eat…read moreafter an appointment at the doctor and wanting to shop at Costco. So the location was perfect right off I74! We went on a weekday around 10 am. As we pulled in, the parking lot had a lot of cars and it being a weekday and not a holiday, right off this seemed like a great sign! As we exited the car we were already hit with great scents as we approached the front door! The building had been easy to spot and was cute! The interior design was nice and in excellent condition. I really hate seeing places with like water damaged ceilings it's just gross. This place was in tip top shape! We were seated right away in a nice booth but had passed a long seating area which I'm sure gets used a lot during busier times and it's nice to see that they have seating for waiting customers. The booth seating was comfortable. The environment was peaceful enough not too quiet but not too loud. We were attended to perfectly by the server who answered any questions we had and politely took our order. She allowed a substitute for my boyfriend and when I had picked pancakes with two sides she pointed out a breakfast dish to me that was better priced. I really appreciated that as I had not see that combination. My boyfriend ordered biscuit and gravy and a fruit cup with coffee as his beverage. His coffee stayed filled. It seemed a little odd that it was just one biscuit but the dish normally came with hash browns not sure if that drowns in gravy? But his dish had TONS of gravy and he LOVED it! He really wanted to pick up the plate and lick every drop of gravy but he resisted!! The fruit was incredible as my dish came with strawberries so I got to experience it too. No idea where they get it but it was incredibly fresh and so tasty it definitely did not seem like grocery store fruit.he had scrambled eggs too I almost forgot. I opted for two pancakes (you could get 3) and bacon (it came with 3 thick slices perfectly cooked and they also offer turkey bacon but I got real), oh and I had the strawberries as a topping! Fresh creamy butter and a tall, hot maple syrup dispenser was provided. Oh I also had scrambled eggs! Cage free. Everything was delicious! So good! The server checked in with us enough. I shared one piece of bacon and some pancake with my boyfriend which he used to help get that gravy! My boyfriend cleared his plate except for a little fruit but I couldn't finish my 2 eggs and as I mentioned I gave my boyfriend some of my bacon and pancake so it was perfect. We felt the pricing was fair in today's market and for how much we enjoyed it. We definitely will go back!

Part of the seating in waiting area

Eggs over easy with toast & coffee

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Mimosa flight

Aspen Tap House

To Go order…read more Hostess was efficient. Kitchen was efficient. Not too loud. High tops, low table and a bar. Chicken sandwich is okay.

Beers are plentiful in this action packed bar and grill in Champaign. It also has pretty okay food…read morebut people really aren't coming here for it. Aspen Tap House is a great place for watching any games. Has tons of TVs around and there's a party atmosphere usually going on. The prices are okay for portions. A location away from the campus craziness but it still can get loud. It's close to a few hotels, so it's a great place for travelers. The menu has about what one should expect, with shit tons of beers and many of these are local as well. Got a few good ones. It's about $7 a pint. Best we had of these was the White Oak Brewery selection #CharmingAF. This was refreshing and smooth. It's about $12 for the cheapest burgers. We each got the Black Bean Burger, which comes with guacamole, pico de gallo, and sour cream but I left off the last one. Also gets a choice of a side, so okay value for it. I got it with a salad. A lot of other meaty options available. They have tacos and the Impossible meat is an option. For sure it pretty much seems like Applebee's or some generic polished sports bar and grill but it's okay to be honest. It's located on Neil Street to the south of the campus stuff. There's meaty things as well as options for vegans and vegetarians.

Bar

Fried pickles

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Main area

The Courier Cafe

3.8(497 reviews)

1.1 mi

This was a top notch place back in the day! But past owner from the 1980's, Allen Strong, has…read moreretired and the new owners don't seem to add much. A glass display case sits empty at the hostess station displaying nothing but lots of smudgy fingerprints. A fitting analogy to the current Courier unfortunately. Patrons come in for lunch and wait several minutes for somebody to seat them. The service suffers from understaffing. I ordered a Veggie Dagwood sandwich. Remember Dagwood Bumstead and his multi layer skyscraper sandwiches?? Not here! This was more of a very dry bread sandwich. Where are the layers of veggies? The layers of cheese? The alfalfa sprouts? The sauce? My sandwich was served with a stale pickle. I asked if I could order a side like potato salad. They had coleslaw - $4 up charge. The place needs to be cleaned up! Put a little pride into the menu.

Revisited the Courier Cafe today and I need to drop it a star. After trying a few items across the…read moremenu, I now believe the food warrants two stars although the ambience and service remain very good. I won't belabor the point but the items we ordered lacked thoughtful preparation. The scrambled tofu was just tofu with curry powder. The veggie Dagwood consisted primarily of plain toast with little in the way of "veggie." An extra tomato and another dollop of special sauce (sweet mayo) would go a long way here.

Charming interior stained glass windows

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Detail on tableside light

Signature Grill

4.2(63 reviews)

0.1 mi

This place is Indian and Asian fusion. There are Singaporean and Chinese dishes. If you look…read moreclosely at the menu, there seems to be "Specials of the Day" every day. The focus seems to be on take out and you self-serve to water, utensils, napkins. The Chicken Kothu Parotta came out quickly. I liked the curry sauce that came with it. The dish is a little spicy by itself. The Biryanis take a little longer and looked great. The Chicken in the Biryani was fried which surprised me a little. The Mutton Dum Biryani was spicier, so I had the yogurt sauce that came with it. 3 dishes for 3 people and we took about half of the leftovers home. The price is good value for students.

Only authentic Telugu spot in town. Idli, vada, dosas are really good!! Chettinadu chicken fried…read morerice hits the spot. Rasamalai has been getting smaller in size, thanks to inflation but still delicious. Not a fan of ambience at this place, and pickup experience has been sub-optimal but the food is good

Rice bowl with tikka chicken and Korma Sauce

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The Red Herring Vegetarian Restaurant

4.5(76 reviews)

0.3 mi

This isn't really a review because the cafe wasn't open, even though we went during the hours…read moreposted. Maybe because it is summer and it's located within a university affiliated building. It looked awesome, if you like homegrown authentic vegan vibes which we definitely do. So my review is: CALL AHEAD! Make sure they're open! The website listed with Yelp is DOA but here's a better one. https://www.channingmurray.org/the-red-herring

Went for the kale Caesar salad and it was actually better than I expected. The kale was massaged so…read moreit wasn't tough, and the dressing was garlicky with a nice kick. Croutons were house made and super crunchy. I added shrimp and they were cooked just right. It's a casual little place with friendly staff. Not much noise and easygoing atmosphere. I'd come back to try their other salads for sure.

Black Bean Burger

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Farmhouse Restaurant At Harvest Market

2.5(28 reviews)

1.7 mi

•$$$

Food is delicious, Sunday breakfast buffet all you can eat, plus order off menu if you aren't a…read morebuffet person. Scratch made items! Local ingredients. Relaxed Upstairs seating area.

Waited over 30 minutes for a single egg. The two cashiers were rude and unprofessional when they…read morerealized I was bothered by the long wait. Sausage gravy and biscuit were both very cold.

Veggie omelet, Hash brown with a side of biscuit and gravy.

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Sun Singer Wine and Spirits

4.1(226 reviews)

2.6 mi

I can't believe it's taken this long for me to write a review about my fav restaurant in CU. I…read moreabsolutely love this place, I have never had something I didn't love here but one of my new favorites are the yellow fin nachos! Omg they were so amazing, fresh and flavorful! Also our waitress was seriously nice and attentive we never needed for anything! I seriously cannot recommend this place enough!

We stopped into Sun Singer for a lunch break during a business trip, and it ended up being one of…read morethe highlights of our time in the area. It's a wonderfully unique space--part wine and spirits shop, part lively daytime dining room--with a steady flow of customers browsing bottles alongside a full bar and tables occupied by ladies who lunch and retirees enjoying a relaxed weekday afternoon. It is a surprisingly chic space for Champaign. The dining room was busy enough that there would have been a wait for a table, but we were perfectly happy at the bar. Our bartender was very friendly and welcoming, even while clearly managing a high volume of guests in what felt like a short-staffed moment. Despite that, service remained warm and attentive. We shared the traditional fondue, which was generously portioned and stayed hot for an impressively long time thanks to their setup--ideal for lingering over conversation. We both enjoyed wine pairings, and I especially loved the Winter Warmer Knob Creek cider: cozy, well-balanced, and a standout choice, particularly for anyone who appreciates Knob Creek. Sun Singer has an excellent atmosphere--social, distinctive, and effortlessly inviting. I very much look forward to returning the next time we're back in the area.

Chargrilled oysters

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Shawarma Joint

5.0(1 review)

1.3 mi

I love shawarma joint, their food is so delicious. Everything is hot and fresh. I always get the…read moreshawarma plate and it's enough to feed me twice. All the employees are friendly and kind and welcome you when you open the door. Definitely check this place out.

Spicy Rice

Spicy Rice and Hummus

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Hummus

Black Dog Smoke & Ale House

4.4(931 reviews)

1.2 mi

Ambiance: Interior has a nice vibe to it. Pretty stereotypical for bbq restaurants when it comes to…read morethe theme and decorations. There is also an outdoor section. During the colder months the outdoor seating also has heaters. Service: The servers are respectful and quick. Food: The burnt ends is extremely juicy and would recommend getting over regular brisket. The rib tips are also great if you enjoy eating cartilage. The Mac n cheese is good but I'd say it's standard. The potato casserole however really stands out to me. It has a very rich flavor and is one of my favorite things there. Sometimes certain meats are unavailable during the end of the day so it's important to keep that in mind and maybe call ahead if there's something specific you're looking for.

Had a lunch meeting there. The food was excellent quality though the portions were slightly…read moresmaller than normal for this type place. The service was very good. The general atmosphere was friendly and customer oriented. The restaurant/bar was clean and well taken care of. Everything considered I would definitely go back again.

Beer sampler

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Gigantic piece of corn bread

Piato Catering

3.4(16 reviews)

1.6 mi

We had a great experience ordering food for our graduation party from Piato Catering. The food was…read morea hit from the Party Potatoes to the Macaroni and Cheese. Everyone enjoyed it. The presentation and taste were both a 10! They are easy to work with and accommodated our every question with grace and patience. I highly recommend you use them for your next event!

We found ourselves having to cancel our Easter plans with our children and grandchildren due to a…read morecase of Covid. I called Piato (after the deadline to order their Easter Dinner menu) and they were more than polite and accommodating enabling us to pick up a delicious fully cooked dinner for 2 making our quarantine just a bit more bearable. Exceptionally nice to deal with and healthy food offerings. Please give them your business!

Tuna sandwich on sourdough, sweet potato fries - $7.50

Piato & Piato Too Cafe-Urbana LS

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Piato Cafe & Catering

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6 reviews that are not currently recommended

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Kelly C.

5 years ago

I want these guys to exist forever because their food is absolutely delicious and they give you so much of it! Seems they have a few hiccups to get over as far as customer service, but I trust they will smoothen it out over time. Go here! read more

Lauren B.

4 years ago

I'm so impressed with the portions, flavors and selections. Everything was delicious and so fresh. Give this place a try and you'll likely be glad you did. Let's make sure this place can make it in C-U read more

Jaelen L.

5 years ago

absolutely amazing. food is delicious and service is great. i'd recommend to anyone !!

Gabriel O.

2 years ago

The food is great and fills me up! The staff is friendly and the restaurant is clean.

Na Ya L.

4 years ago

the best people and food ever that i tested in USA

Gerry B.

4 years ago

The definition of "Quality and quantity"

Shawarma Joint - mediterranean - Updated August 2026

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My partner and I stopped in to visit for the first time today. The place was bustling with a Sunday…read morecrowd, but the staff looked after us and got us seated in no time. My partner and I split a Mediterranean dip, and we each got a Pita Gyro. The food was excellent; definitely my favorite gyro in town! Really liked my Nitro Cold Brew coffee as well. Atmosphere was nice; the place had a great vibe. They've clearly put a lot of work and polish into making the ambiance pleasant, and it shows. Everything was very clean and well kept, and you could see the importance the staff put on keeping it that way. Great food, excellent service -- we can't wait to visit again!

It gets one star because of the younger ladies working here. They have to start somewhere and I…read morehope they learn from this place. The breakfast menu was minimal? 3 American style items and crepes. If you're going to open for breakfast, read the room. You need to make the menu for most. I ordered biscuits and gravy, bacon, and my eggs over medium. I did get that, but one half of one egg was over medium. The gravy was from a can, no doubt. And the biscuits were pre-made. But that's not what threw me back initially. The food came in a Styrofoam to-go container. STYROFOAM TO-GO container! Are y'all that cheap you can't wash dishes? I mean, the "silverware" is plastic as well. Being in a liberal state, you think you would have been shamed into not contributing to the landfills like this. Then you have the old guy on the griddle who thinks this is Benihana. Scrambled eggs are normally scrambled in a container. This dude cracks the eggs onto the griddle and literally chops them as they cook on the flat top. No stirring the yolk, nothing but chopping. Next, you have a soda machine that screams "yes, we are so cheap we are showing you in everything we have". Let's not forget the "mug club". $128 plus tax for beverage fills. I'm not sure anyone would visit enough to make this worth it. I am not so sure the owner has ever done this before. Needless to say, 1st and last visit.

Napoli's Italian Restaurant

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This place is AMAZING! Excellent authentic Italian and excellent service! I visit every time I'm…read moreback in Illinois. The ziti and lasagna are outstanding!

100% recommend this place, the food is amazing and the family running the business is so sweet.read more

YGF Malatang UIUC

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(4 reviews)

The soup is so good I really like the beef broth the price is pretty good too it was about 11-14…read morefor nine every time I go

Was really excited to eat her tbh, the food is good and you can add on rice which I like. The beef…read morehere is very good and fatty but they also have different types. The service was also pretty good here, the people are nice and give recommendations if you ask. It is a bit awkward here since there is nothing in the background but honestly it's ok. Overall really good place will be back here

Thara Thai

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(298 reviews)

I came here late at night with my mom looking for some great food and this place delivered! The Pho…read morehere is top tier!!! If you get anything off this menu the Pho is a must. The service here is amazing and the food is so good we came back the next day!! The inside is very nice and great for dinner !

I tried a few dishes here, and overall, the food turned out pretty good…read more * Pineapple Fried Rice with Tofu (Medium Spice): Really tasty and well-balanced. The pineapple added a nice sweetness that worked perfectly with the spices. * Yellow Curry with Tofu: Decent but nothing too special. It's okay if you're craving curry, but not a standout. * Fried Rice with Basil: The star of my order! Very flavorful and aromatic--definitely the best dish I had. As for the place itself, the ambience is just okay--a small spot with plenty of parking, which is a plus. Service is fast and efficient, no complaints there. The only drawback is the pricing. Portions felt a bit on the smaller side compared to other restaurants offering similar dishes, so it did feel slightly expensive for what you get. Overall: Good food (especially the basil fried rice), quick service, but I'd say value for money could be better.

Sepelas Restaurant

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I ordered an Egusi soup and a fufu. Both were delicious! I went there in the early afternoon for a…read morequick pickup lunch, and the food I got was just warm and ready to eat. The lady was so friendly and nice, and the inside was clean, with plenty of seats for dining in.

This is a late post, but our experience this past summer was too good not to share. Our group of 10…read morevisited while attending a nearby retreat, and we had a wonderful experience. There was no wait, which was perfect for a group our size. The owners themselves served and cooked, providing friendly, personal service that made us feel truly welcomed. We tried a variety of African dishes, many of them new to us, and the food was plentiful and flavorful. They were happy to share their culture through the food and explain the dishes, which made the experience even more meaningful. I would definitely recommend Sepelas for authentic African cuisine and warm hospitality.

Bevier Cafe

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Bevier Cafe has a really nice vibe when you walk in. It's almost like a cafeteria but at the same…read moretime a nice restaurant. It is very spacious and has a lot of seating. I really like the warmth I get from the restaurant and how it gives a very welcoming vibe. The Cafe is open to everyone and does not have a particular dress code. The restaurant was very clean and put together. The workers were very polite and were able to satisfy any needs. They recommended a lot of great dishes. They switch up the menu quite often, which I think is a very great idea. I like seeing different meals and trying different things each time I visit. My favorite was the BBQ burger with fries(10). It was very tasty and had a great flavor.

Ever since I discovered it a couple of months ago, I have practically been living here. It's a…read morenice cross between a fancy restaurant and a cheap cafeteria. There are always at least a few dishes to pick from, rotating daily. They also have a house salad and Greek salad every day. They charge $5 for (practically) every entree, which is sometimes too much, sometimes too little for the dish. On the other hand, all sides are $0.75, so it all kind of evens out. They also have rotating desserts, but always have big, soft, fresh cookies. Although going through the line to pay with your tray feels like a cafeteria, the seating is basic, but very nice, wooden, and pretty comfortable. You sit with a number and relax and wait for your dishes to be brought to you--which usually isn't too long. They do serve breakfast, but I haven't been able to try it yet. The convenience of being able to check the menu on the website pushes the score to an A+!

La Veya Mexican Restaurant

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This was my first time eating here. The food was authentic Mexican food with so much flavor. The…read moreservice was really good. The free chips and salsa were also very good. The music is classic Spanish music and gives a great vibe while eating. This place is a super alternative to the same old places in Urbana and Champaign. I will be coming here weekly to try something new since they have a large variety on the menu!

Had dinner at La Veya this evening. The food was very good and the service was great. I ate…read more"Salad La Veya," which had grilled chicken and steak and was topped with lettuce, sour cream, cucumbers and tomatoes. It also comes with shrimp, but I didn't have that.

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I ordered a Dee-Dee's Cutlets Sandwich (on the restaurant week's menu) to go. It was delicious! The…read moresandwich contained a big chicken cutlets, and mozzarella (kind of herb seasoned), and was just suitable for feeding me full during dinner. People here were so nice and friendly! I see that it's only open during dinner time through Thursday to Saturday. I think students would be happy if Dee-Dee's Beef could expand its opening hours to lunch throughout the week! Looking forward to that to happen!

Prediction: Dee-Dee's Beef will soon become a Champaign-Urbana institution…read more This place is the real deal. They know what they do extraordinarily well and stick to it. I had never had an authentic Italian beef sandwich before, but after last night, I knew I had had the best in the state, outside of Chicago perhaps. Their menu is straight-forward and harkens back to deli and sandwich shops of old. In fact, I had assumed that Dee-Dee's had been around for decades. My combo sandwich was heavy duty, bursting with beef, juice, and flavor. If you are a more economical eater, unlike myself, then you could certainly get two meals out of it. Customer service was above and beyond. I imagine that I corresponded directly over the phone and counter with one of the Owners when placing and picking up my order. Located in the Cracked restaurant space right on Green Street, they are open three days a week (for now) and accept all major credit cards. We will be back, no question.

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Cafe Sababa is absolutely a hidden gem inside the Illini Hillel!…read more I ordered the sweet potato croquettes this noon, which is listed on their menu for the restaurant week. The croquettes were just amazing! The sour sauce and the vegetables made the food more refreshing. The amount (5 croquettes in total) was just suitable for a quick lunch. The people here were so nice, while there were not so many seats for dining inside. Anyway, it must be a 5 stars cute place on campus!

I've been going to Cafe Sababa inside of the Cohen Jewish Center for about a year now - and I have…read moreyet to be disappointed. Aaron Stevens and Matt Harsh work in the kitchen, occasionally with a student (like myself) who will help out. The lunch is non-meat, so tuna melts, grilled cheese, pizza slices, and BYOB's (build your own bagel) are the standard fare. They also do some really tasty nacho fries, which is jalapenos, cheese, tomatoes, and onions on seasoned french fries.

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