I visited Samarkand Cafe for their pilaf, and it was absolutely delicious--authentic Uzbek food…read morefull of flavor. I also loved their compote; it was refreshing and very tasty. The atmosphere is warm and cozy, with a beautiful traditional Uzbek-style interior that makes the experience feel even more authentic. If you're looking for real Uzbek cuisine, I definitely recommend this place.

This place is a complete scam. The food they advertise and what you actually get are two totally…read moredifferent things. We ordered plov expecting the full dish shown in the picture, and instead got a pathetic pile of plain rice with a tiny piece of beef literally the size of my palm and one sad, undersized boiled egg that looked like a joke. Then we ordered lamb skewers and got ONE skewer, even though the picture clearly shows 4-5. It honestly feels like they're intentionally misleading people to squeeze more money out of them. To make it worse, we spoke to the manager about it, and all she did was say "sorry" without giving any real explanation or trying to fix the situation. Completely dismissive and unprofessional. We were so fed up that we ended up calling the cops because of how blatantly misleading this whole thing was. Portions are embarrassing, the advertising is deceptive, and the service is a joke. Avoid this place unless you want to feel ripped off.

Jibek Jolu was all I could ask for to relive my time in Kyrgyzstan!! As soon as I walked in, I saw…read morethe familiar design, camels, and all the detail that transported me out of Chicago, yay!! It's so refreshing when a restaurant can do this! I wanted my family to experience a glimpse of Kyrgyz food, so of course we ordered all the things only a local would know about ! Shout out to our guide during our trip- he made sure we tried lots of cuisine that was all the way Kyrgyz food! The crispy eggplant is a must and is my favorite ! The eggplant is light and the sauce that is drenched on top is perfect to balance the fried crispy exterior. Next I ordered Samsa, Plov, and lamb kurdock. My husband ordered the beef rib and mash potatoes. Not the most Kyrgyz but he did try everything and loved it all! If you want a taste of central Asian cuisine please come to Jibek Jolu! Don't forget the honey cake!

Ambiance is nice. You can really tell there's a little community that goes there a lot. The…read morelocation is kind of quaint, you can totally miss it on a corner at the end of the downtown plaza if you're not paying attention. I definitely felt a little underdressed but it's not technically a super fancy place but i would recommend dressing up. The night i went there was also live music, which was so nice! Exploring the menu was awesome because some of the food was very new to me and I wish there was a way for me to order and try more than just one dish. I had the Rice Plov which was SO GOOD!!! I had never even heard of it before until i came here! Would definitely recommend coming here to try at least once!

Jannat Restaurant is truly a hidden gem when it comes to Eurasian cuisine -- bringing together rich…read moreflavors from Central Asia, Turkey, and Europe all under one roof. It's halal, super clean, and the staff? Genuinely some of the kindest and warmest people you'll meet. You can tell they really care about their space and their food -- gloves, masks, and great hospitality all around. The vibe inside is lowkey but elegant, great for a quiet night out or a new food experience with friends or family. The menu reflects a wide variety of authentic dishes -- some comforting, others bold and new depending on your palate. Pelmeni (dumplings): Very strong in flavor, not what I'm typically used to. The texture might take some getting used to -- I wasn't the biggest fan, but my friend loved it. Plov: So flavorful and hearty -- slightly on the greasy side but still really satisfying. Manty: If you're into juicy, steamed dumplings, this is the move. The spices are deep and warming. Honey Cake: Hands down one of my favorites. Soft, lightly sweet, and melts in your mouth -- definitely a must-try. If you're into exploring lesser-known cuisines or just want a meal that feels like a journey across cultures, Jannat is a beautiful stop. It's an experience more than just a dinner, and you can feel the passion behind the dishes.

The owners did an awesome job renovating the place. As you…read moreentered, tables are set placemats, plates, silverware, and cloth napkin. This place is a full service dining restaurant. Overall service was wonderful and the staff was very helpful with the menu and recommending apps, dishes, and drinks for first timers. Their menu offers food Europe, Central Asia, Turkey. You're offered complimentary Pita Bread as a starter. We ordered the Pelmeni, Chicken Kabob, Plov, Fruit Tea, Zavarnye, and Honey Cake. Everything was yummy! Portions are decent so definitely explore, order a few items and do it Family Style. They also offer lunch specials for $20. We will be back to other menu items!

highly suspect of former Players location. wanted to try local. Delicious..pizza great wood fire…read moreand inexpensive. pasta great along with Beef Stroganoff. Great for families, great service. telling my friends.

Good food and friendly service! Beef stroganoff was solid. Pizza was tasty and the Goose Island…read morewas cold and complimented the meal well. Cheese burger was very good as well. In the spirit of the old Tap House Grill or a slightly less fancy Greenwood, it is great to have a nice bar and grill in Highland Park again to treat the family to a nice night out!

5/5 We had an incredible meal at Restaurant Chinor (Halal)!…read moreWe ordered the Uzbek plov, green tea, and samsa. The samsa came with an amazingly delicious sauce; even though the pastry felt like it might have been baked the day before, it was still so good that it doesn't change my 5-star rating at all. We also ordered a lot of plov and kazan kebab to take out. I haven't tried the kazan kebab yet, but it looks so tempting and delicious that I'm sure it will taste amazing too. Highly recommend! Good service Cozy atmosphere, delicious food, and friendly staff. Will definitely come back! More parking lots, free parking

After a wonderful evening listening to an intimate concert by a Russian cellist at Arcada Theatre,…read moremy two Russian friends and I decided to have dinner at Chinor. What a fantastic choice! Even better, it's only a few blocks from my house, so I know I'll definitely be back. The restaurant is elegant without feeling pretentious. White tablecloths, a warm atmosphere, and attentive, friendly service immediately make you feel welcome. Our server was knowledgeable about the menu, answered all our questions, and guided us through dishes that were new to me. Everything we ordered was excellent. We started with one of their traditional breads, which was fresh, warm, and absolutely delicious. We also shared several salads, including an eggplant salad that completely stole the show. It was flavorful, beautifully prepared, and one of the best eggplant dishes I've had in a long time. Another highlight was their large steamed dumplings, similar in spirit to pierogi but distinctly Uzbek. They were generously filled with lamb, perfectly cooked, and incredibly satisfying. Comfort food at its best. One thing that really impressed me was how authentic the restaurant felt. It was busy with people who clearly knew and appreciated the cuisine, including many Eastern European and Central Asian diners, which always feels like a good sign. It is wonderful to find a restaurant serving authentic Uzbek food in the suburbs, and doing it so well. Excellent food, gracious service, and a beautiful atmosphere make Chinor an easy recommendation. If you're looking to try something beyond the usual restaurant choices, this place is absolutely worth the visit.

Great service, very cozy hole in the wall for Uzbek food (can't say I've had it before). Yummy…read moresamosa meat pastry, very yummy spicy stir fry lagman noodles with lamb (a lil oily...), and cutie lil dumplings (mantu) in the soup. Halal!

Highlights: * Such delicious food…read more* Hidden gem of Bolingbrook * Good value Context: * Takeout * Treated my parents and they went again so they could try other dishes It's tough to find Uzbek food in the SW suburbs of Chicago so Caravan is a rare treat! We went with some of the Uzbek classics like manti and Lagman and they did not disappoint. Manti were packed with meat and goes so well with plov.

My wife and I recently stopped by Anjir Halal Restaurant for a pickup order, and the entire…read moreexperience exceeded our expectations. From start to finish, everything felt welcoming and well put together. We ordered the Chunchvara Dumplings along with two pieces each of their chocolate cake and honey cake--and every single item was absolutely delicious. The dumplings were flavorful and perfectly prepared, while the desserts were rich, fresh, and incredibly satisfying without being overwhelming. What really stood out was the tremendous customer service. The staff was friendly, attentive, and made the pickup process smooth and pleasant. Even during a quick visit, their hospitality made a lasting impression. The ambiance of the restaurant also deserves recognition--it's beautifully lit and has a calm, peaceful atmosphere that makes you want to come back and dine in next time. Overall, a fantastic experience. We'll definitely be returning and highly recommend Anjir Halal Restaurant to everyone looking for great food and excellent service!

Weird entrance and very disorganized. A lot of ethnic places have a store inside but right when you…read morewalked in it looked like inventory was just dumped on the counter. Seemed like a place owner/manager friends were just hanging out and didn't come across as professional. Food was horrible. They were out of what we wanted so got a couple salads. Large chunky raw vegetables and not a lot of lettuce. Dressings were ok but sparse. Veggie kabob came with whole tomatoes and whole peppers. Half cooked. Not seasoned. And a chunk of meat fat on it. Why would someone who wanted veggie options get meat? 0/10 recommend.

I've been begging to get back here for a warm meal! If you're going to see a movie in the winter,…read morecome here before for a nice comforting pot of tea before- I have to have it! We tried the tomato soup with seafood this time on top of the normal order of kebab, and we are still talking about it. So yummy. The Moroccan tea can heal any ailment physical or otherwise. This time it was more filled with citrus than cinnamon, making it warm and fruity with seasonal citrus. The atmosphere is always so calm and cozy here. I just love this place! The food is so fresh and the service is good. When the weather gets cold Anor comes top of mind!

Really solid central Asian food, as someone who has traveled to Central Asia several times I can…read moresay this place is one of the best I've ever had delivered. I've never eaten here but both times I got delivery it was extremely solid. The flavor profile and contrast between the meat and carbs is quite nice. I recommend the Kurdak and lagman, both are flavorful, rich and satisfying. I recommend asking for Ajika, to add some spice. Overall highly recommend, especially for those who have never tried this type of cuisine. Can't comment on service or ambiance as I've never dined in here.

Having only had Uzbekistan food one other time, I was not expecting Shahirizada to blow my first…read moreexperience out of the water, but it did. The food here was excellent, both in flavor and value. I'm already planning on going back for more. Bread $4 - Good flavor bread, light golden crust and chewy in the middle. Turkish Style Liver $12 - Lightly breaded, crispy on the outside, well done. Fried Manti with beef $13 - This was like a giant gyoza. My friend loved it, but I would pass on it next time. Wedding Plov $14.50 - Very tasty and keeps you going back for more. Kavurma Lagman $16 - Noodle dish like I've never had before, would order again. Honey Cake $8 - Not only adorable, but a delicious layered cake that is not too sweet. .|\---/| | @_@ | ..\_^_/..2026

We were looking for something more unique for dinner and came across Shahirizada…read more We started with a half order of bread and two samsas. The bread was a good starter and came with a light tomato sauce. The samsas were also a good starter...warm and flaky. The pumpkin one was my favorite! For our main meal, we shared the wedding plov and a lamb and lulya kabob. The wedding plov came in a portion that can easily be shared between 2-3 people. The dish itself is pretty simple but I enjoyed it! The lamb kabob was a bit overcooked (still good though) and the lulya kabob was so tender and perfect. The food was good and fit exactly what we were craving. The service was also good but a bit slow at times. It's hard to believe all this food came out to less than $50.

Amazing authenticity and fantastic execution!…read more Central Asian cuisine absolutely shines in every dish. This place presents pride and quality! The dough is thin the meat is tender the vegetables are cooked to perfection! Best lagman I ever had, Monty were juicy and delicious, excellent carrot salad-- love love love! Fantastic service, pregnant lady from Kyrgyzstan treated us graciously even though they were closing she made us feel welcome!

Love this place! Food is amazing! It is very cozy and staff are friendly…read more Every dish is delicious and the portion size is huge! My friend who I dragged to this place was talking about inviting our other friends here after the meal because it is so good! We came a little later than usual dinner time. Parking was still a challenge, but i was able to find a free spot eventually.