Taza made me a falafel convert. A falafel ball virgin (who knew they were green inside!) I went here and got a hummus pita with two falafel balls on the side. The price was right (under 5 dollars) and the hummus was DELICIOUS. I couldn't have asked for a better pita sandwich. The people inside were SO friendly and really concerned about whether I would like my lunch. I even left without -gasp - the falafel balls and a worker ran after me down the street yelling, "You forgot your balls, Miss!" Puzzled, I turned to head back. Thankfully, in the end I left with everything I ordered and also with the reassurance that they would never mess up my order again. For the record, an employee has NEVER run after me down the street at lunch time - good thing he did, those balls were delicious! Come to find out, the manager even threw one in for good measure! ** I just wanted to update this review. If I could give this place an extra star, I would. The people who work here are phenomenal. I always leave here with a big smile on my face. The manager/owner (not sure) THANKS me for coming in every time. He truly appreciates people's business. If more people acted like him, the world may be that much more pleasant.** read more

I'm happy to report my mouth is still a little bit on fire as I write this. I anxiously awaited the first nice day to make the trek from my office to try Taza. What I found is unquestionably one of my go-to places relatively near my office. While it's not the best falafel I've ever had, their falafel sandwich with all the fixings, plus hummus, and "normal" hot sauce have me ready to go back for more. Love the hot sauce! Take note that if you get your sandwich "Gourmet" (with hummus), it'll cost you extra. The signs are easy to miss, especially if you're being rushed through the line. The lentil soup is a healthy alternative to some other places around. It has a very tiny kick and is refreshing with the addition of lemon. Definitely one of the best I've tried. Skip fast food and other ho-hum loop lunches. Head to Taza and save your taste buds and your wallet. read more

So I must say that this place had a lot of hype before I went there for lunch last week. I found the people to be super friendly and partially for that reason they are getting four stars. The food is typical Med/M.E. fare. Being Persian I have high expectations for my Gyros and rice and Hummus, and all these things were satisfied. I agree that the Falafel is amazing, but stay away from the carrot juice and pita chips...they were both sub-par. BTW...two people can order any of the "plates" and have more than enough. I ordered the gyros plate on my own and had tons of leftovers to stick in the company fridge. I'm sure I'm not making too many friends have that smell up the area...but oh well...it smells great to me! read more

One of the best lunch spots for Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food in the Loop. I usually order the Combo Plate, which comes with charbroiled chicken, kifta kabob, dill basmati rice and pita bread. I also get tahini and hot sauce on the side. It's delicious! I've also tried their chicken schwarma plate and the roasted turkey plate, both excellent choices. They have great baba ghanouj, hummus, and falafel by the piece. For dessert, they offer baklava. I really like going here for lunch. The staff is friendly, and the owner is always very generous. He's always offering samples or adds extra goodies to your meal, like crisp-fried falafel... mmmm. The majority of the customers are regulars, and he knows exactly what they like. Check it out, especially if you're looking for something other than the typical fast-food chain restaurant. Prices are also very reasonable for downtown. read more

Mmmmm mmmmmmmmmmmmm! So far, hands down - best falafel in the Loop. Falafel-virgins, take note: There are samples of the fresh, crunchy, moist, delicious falafel available for the taking at the far end of the counter so you can try before committing. I had the gourmet falafel sandwich - falafel & hummus in a pita for only $4.50! Rounding out my lunch was a Boylan's Grape Soda in a glass bottle (so vintage!). These sodas are made with cane sugar and just as delicious as you'd thus expect them to be. Alas, they are not always so easy to find, so I was delighted to see them available here. read more

Love is patient, love is kind... LOVE IS TAZA according to my taste buds! So I've had take out from Taza (see Steph H.'s review), but I had yet to experience it for myself until today. And yes, I say experience. When I think fast food, I tend not to think of delicious, healthy fare. I think grossness. Taza is incredibly fast and far and away some of the most delicious middle eastern/Mediterranean cuisine I've had. All the meats are fresh, flavorful and light. Grease is NOT the main ingredient in anything on Taza's menu, but rather fresh ingredients and a ton of flavor. This is some of the best falafel ever to touch these lips! I'd say their food is AT LEAST on par with a place like Reza's, if not superior to. If Taza had a dish on the menu that was called "Hot Trash" I think I would be inclined to eat it simply because it came from Taza, and nothing bad could be dished out by this crew. And while we're at it, let's discuss portion size - my combo plate was ginormous and I'm fairly certain I ate enough to last me until next Wednesday. And I still had leftovers. Affordable - Check Quick - Check Clean - Check GREAT STAFF - Check Fresh - Check Tasty - Check Yeah, that should be enough reason for you to visit. If not, perhaps the fact that this place is run by one of the nicest gentleman EVER will be enough to get you in the door - great if you value good customer service! Recommendations: Try the Taza Chicken of the Kifta Kabob. Mmmmm..... read more

A great find, and only a block from where I work! I love Greek and Middle Eastern food (okay, I love LOTS of ethnic cuisine :) , and have really enjoyed Grape Leaves in Oak Park. Taza is quite affordable for a downtown "joint", especially considering the area it's in, where the prices seem to be $1 or $2 higher than other areas of downtown that I've worked in. If you love falafel, you MUST try Taza's. Their tahini sauce is very, very good, and at 40 cents per piece, the falafel is a phenomenal bargain. Where else can you have a super-cheap lunch for less than $3 in the Loop? C'mon, where else? I've tried most things on the menu, and they are all good. Another nice point is a kind of salsa they give you, but I haven't quite figured out what it's made of - but it's good, and it's HOT. It really adds brightness to chicken shwarma and the absolutely spectacular white rice they serve. Seriously, the rice is amazing. I guess that means Taza is amazing! read more

The best Mediterranean restaurant in the Chicago land area! Great customer service! Great catering! The food is super fresh & healthy. They have a great variety of foods. The restaurant is located in a very accessible area in downtown Chicago and provides top notch service. The staff is super professional, polite and friendly. Hamza made our day! You will not be disappointed going here for lunch or dinner. We will definitely be returning to Taza Cafe. read more

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Since starting working right around the corner from Taza in December, I've probably eaten here at least 50 times. That's not a joke... eating there, ordering to go, yeah probably about 50 times. Taza gets better every time I go. I LOVE the employees...they now recgonize me. I feel like we're besties. The owner is amazing and simply THE NICEST person in the entire world. My new pita creation: 1/2 turkey, 1/2 chicken shwarma...all the fixings. Flavor explosion, BOOM! Throw some falafel on the side and you're in a good spot. read more

Taza lives up to all the comments here--the food is fresh, inexpensive, and served quickly. The staff on hand bends over backwards to make sure you have what you want, as well as offering you samples of items on the menu. For instance, I recentlyy went in for a falafel sandwich (went at 1PM and got freshly made falafel, as in, I watched it being made!) and the owner, I assume, offered me a free soup, in a way in which it would be rude to turn down. Regardless, I'm glad I didn't, because it really hit the spot--spicy, pureed lentil soup, no broth, no oil! I'm almost (but not quite) sad that winter is nearly over. Not a lot of seating, a couple 2- and 4-person tables, 2 6-person tables and a bar that runs along the front and one wall with stools. Either go late or carry out. I highly recommend Taza--as good as is if not better than Sultan's Market--and I love Sultan's Market! read more

Just when I thought my life couldn't get any better, I had the falafel & hummus sandwich at Taza, and it did. Then I had the baklava, and it got EVEN BETTER. The falafel & hummus sandwich tastes like a summer day, and the baklava tastes like honey mixed with a little bit of heaven. Even the iced tea is good. read more

We didn't make it to "Greek Town" so this place was the next best thing. My wife & I both had the "Combo Plate Special." We had skipped breakfast, so we came here at 11:30 am, just before the lunch rush. They are very nice here, and the food is amazing! Even the "greek salad" was good. Loved the sauces they provided (one was tzikiki, the other was a hot sauce). My only complaint is styrofoam boxes. That will always give a reduction of one star. Had they used hard plates and silverware --- I'd give them a "5". read more

I had heard nothing about this place at all before accidentally stumbling here around 2pm on a Thursday. I felt pretty special about finding it until I realized everyone else thought the same thing I did - it's really good, authentic, and hidden. Bottom line: tiny clean place, ridiculous falafel pita. Perfect salt kick and unlike a lot of the crumbly shitty falafel downtown ( most of it is consistently underwhelming) frying it doesn't make it fall apart. The hummus is silky and not overkill on the tahini. The owners are super nice and will offer you a free sample of anything you don't order, so I've also tried tiny cups of lentil soup, baba ghanoush, and the shwarma. It tasted like mediterranean should. Not that I'd know. This place is also fairly priced for the portions you get, which means it is cheap as hell for Loop food. Hugely recommend. Especially at a slightly off hour, because having an extra few minutes to talk to the owners and workers is one of the best parts about coming here. read more

Our group came to this location since it was close to the theater where it was going to play the Broadway show "Chicago". We only saw two staff working at the time and they were very friendly! They greeted us which I always appreciated in restaurant. We came in to eat sometime around 5 PM and there was no other customers at that time. Our orders came out fairly quickly. One of my friends even had an incident where he accidentally dropped his tray on the ground. The staff saw kindly told us to not worry about it and that they were going to remake my friend's order. Eventually, more customers became to come in too. The staff were still friendly towards them, even though some of them ended up leaving. I felt the staff kept a positive attitude which is always great to have these kind of staff. Love this kind of service and how friendly these people are. In any case, there food was great. The atmosphere in the restaurant is nice and comforting. Our party came here by uber. Looking around the area, it did not look like there was much area for parking except for street parking. I am definitely planning on coming back here when I get the chance. read more

Oh, how I love Taza. I have my girl Janet to thank for this. I'm a pretty picky eater, and when she first mentioned eating here, I thought she was crazy. My first falafel was amazing. Chicken shawarma was so good, and the hot sauce makes you sweat. A plate of chicken, falafel and rice is only $6?! A fantastic price and a TON of food. The guys that work here are very friendly and do pay attention to who comes in there- many times that we went, we were happily greeted and not the usual "hello, what can I get you?" standard response. Check this place out. Very limited seating, so grab it to go- or you might get lucky and grab a seat- either way, it'll be delicious!! read more

Today, after returning from eating lunch at Taza for the twentieth time this year a coworker of mine asked "Why do you walk seven blocks over to Taza's when Petra Cafe and Haifa Cafe are two blocks away from here?" I looked at her with a furtive look and replied "Why you ask? I'll tell you why. This place blows all the other places away. They have the best falafels and Mediterranean food in the loop! That's why." The food is very tasty and the staff is always very generous. They always give the patrons free samplings of food. As an added bonus the owner bears a strong resemblance to Goundskeeper Willie from The Simpsons sans the red hair. "yyyaaaaaaaaaaH! Make way for falafel!" read more

Everyone is so dern friendly here. You'll find yourself cussed and jostled by impatient, red-faced men. Their jowls often spill over their sweaty collars. They shove and peer and strain at the menu board, over damp and swollen cheeks, trying to figure out how much food they can pry out of the place for $4. But you won't be ruffled. You won't even be grossed out. 'Cos the guys behind the counter are patiently grinning at everyone in line, assuring all their patrons that they can take their time making a selection. They'll ask if you like the look of one thing or another, and will add it to your order if you're not keen on the dolma or something. The lady at the register unfailingly double-checks each 'to go' order. Then she expectantly reminds you that there's baklava today. I don't feel the need to remind anyone that their food is delicious. read more

Best Falafel outside of Dearborn, Michigan. This is it. I challenge you to find better falafel in Chicago. I've tried and failed. 5 stars for this hole in the wall. I only wish they were open later. The value is amazing. Extraordinary service. I'm willing to trek the cab ride from the office. You will not be disappointed. read more

I can't believe that I haven't reviewed this restaurant before. Taza is one of my lunch staples. My co-worker and I are there at least once a week. The food is always so good and fresh. I haven't had anything that wasn't good, but I have two favorites, the falafel (which are the best I've ever had), and the chicken shawarma. I like to order the spicy shawarma sandwich, no pita, which basically means that I want the salad instead of the rice, and two falafel. The owner, who I think is amazing, now knows my order and always asks if I'm having "the usual." The owner is fantastic. He's always so nice and generous. People like him deserve success and I'm so happy to see that Taza is gaining popularity! read more

Simple but delicious Mediterranean food. Tastes on par with fancier restaurants. I got the potatoes, falafel, baba, and roasted veggies. Would probably eat here every day if it was more convenient. The staff is super friendly and welcoming, I felt like they definitely wanted me to come back, which sadly isn't a common feeling around lots of restaurants these days!! read more

I knew I hit the lunch spot when I walked in here with all the businessmen and women eating their delicious falafel and shwarma here. Friendly was the service and delicious was my gourmet falafel sandwich. I don't even live in Chicago and I think this is my new favorite in the rotation! read more

This place is sooooooooo awesome! Cheap, yummy mediterranean food.....what more could you ask for? I usually get the Combo Plate which comes with two mini skewers of Kifta (beef/steak) and two skewers of Chicken Schwarma, dill rice, a small side salad and half a pita bread ($7). I also order a few falafels on the side for about 50 cents each. The owner is super nice and offers free samples of the falafels (just dont talk on your cell while you're in line or they won't let you order!). The food is super tasty and I can usually never finish the combo in one sitting because they give you so much food! I like to make little falafel and meat sandwiches with the pita bread (squished together because it tastes better that way! lol) and then eat the rest of the meal with the rice and salad. Ask for a side of the white sauce (tahini?) because it goes so unbelievably well with EVERYTHING. This place is an awesome place to go to if you need something different for lunch or are just sick of getting sandwiches everyday. Luckily its less than a block from my work so I will definitely be back again and again and again! read more

Dear Taza, I'm writing this to apologize for betraying you today. I was too lazy to walk the extra block, so instead I tried another place that is similar. I am so disappointed by the quality of this meal and promise I will never eat at another Mediterranean in the Loop! The Falafel is not greener on the other side. Thank you for your great customer service and quality food! read more

Kabab sandwich: full of tender beef. Beef so tender it makes tender say, hey, that's tender. The sauce of the tahini genre is a perfect compliment. Grape leaves were another winner, served up chilled, they are most certainly a summer delight! read more

I am actually surprised that Taza has the reviews that they do. I went today and got 2 chicken shawarma salads. I am Indian and I eat a lot of kebabs (Indian, Mediterranean, Turkish etc.). The salads were meh to say the least, and the chicken not all that flavorful. In addition, I didn't realize until after the fact that they charge extra for hummus (which was later reversed). Given that the city of Chicago has seen a huge explosion of Middle Eastern fast food that includes Roti, Naf Naf and I dream of Falafel to name a few, Taza ranks at the bottom for me and I will not be back. Finally, Naf Naf and Roti offer unlimited toppings, and Pita bread, Taza offers neither and is the most expensive of all. read more

Five stars for frickin' fabulous customer service. Coworkers and I voted on Taza for today (yay, cuz I love it). We order our respective plate to-go, and the sweetheart of a man who's always giving out good suggestions to eat and free samples says, "Hey, wait...here...." and hands each of us a serving of baklava. Um, free sweets? Why? Well, he says to my male coworker "This is for bringing these two ladies in with you." Free dessert, compliments, and a huge lunch of falafel-y goodness. Nothing but five stars here, my friend. read more

This was my bread and butter working in the loop. Falafel extra hot, lentil soup, and when it was a grueling day I would throw on seasoned pita chips. Now the food itself does not wholly deserve four stars alone, but the attention to detail, speed and finesse by which my most humble chefs did juggle all the ingredients of my lunch begs attention. Curious as to how fresh the falafel are? During lunch hour they are right out of the fryer 100% of the time. Doubt it? The weary owner/operator will gladly berate your incompetence while making absolutely fresh ones, shaming you in front of us regulars who are busy snickering. He regularly puts out or offers samples to demonstrate the quality, there's a lot of pride in the food. Can't address the quality of the meat cuts as I don't eat it but my picky eater coworkers were never shy to dine here. Last I went credit cards were discouraged in lieu of cash, fyi. Batman was also filmed in front of them. Dunno if they're in the shot. read more

So I woke up today for some reason craving a falafel sandwich for lunch. It's been so long and thank you to this lovely website and your reviews I decided to check out Taza and I was so glad I did. However, it turned out to be an expensive adventurous lunch trip -- But I have no regrets. Well I was determined, I walked 15 minutes looking for the place, thought I went the wrong way so I went another 10 minutes in the wrong direction, finally I go to my phone to call my co-worker and get directions but of course my phone was dead. I was about to give up but I decided to just hop in a cab and find it that way. And guess what I was going the right direction in the first place and it was o about another 20 second walk and I would have found the place. When I finally made it, there was a bit of a line but that didn't discourage me and the pleasantries regarding the food that patrons exchanged while eating their lunch confirmed that I made the right choice in seeking out this place. The staff was very friendly, great prices and yum the falafel was excellent. It's a small place so eating there provides minimal option during the crazy lunch rush but I will definitely be back now I know where it is. Two cab rides, a 25 minute walk and I am not all disappointed, that gets 5 stars in my book. read more

I'm rewriting my review. Yes this place is about 8 block from my work. I go there at least twice a week. C'mon now... that's about a mile to grab some eats. That says something. It is so worth the walk. I have to cross a river and a highway to get there! Falafel - at 40 cents a piece. A BARGAIN. And forking tasty. Kefta Kabob sandwich is meatastic wonderfulness. Chicken Shawarma sandwich - Saying "shawarma" is fun.. but this chicken, "salad", tahini sauce and the hot hot hot sauce is better. The Taza's Chicken sandwich is also quite tasty. Funny thing is that these are not sandwiches, but pitas filled with "salad", sauce and meat. One day I will try a straight falafel sandwich. CAN'T WAIT. YUM! read more

If you like fresh, healthy, and tasty food, you must visit Taza during your lunch break. I've been going here since they opened and it truly has one of the best combinations of great food, great service, and great prices. The owner/manager (Ahmad) is incredibly personable and friendly. He provides generous samples to new customers and makes suggestions for first-timers. When you order the "plate", you get a dinner size portion for under $10. Grilled chicken tenderloins, turkey, chicken shawarma, rice, and hummus are favorites. The falafel is divine and in a class of its own. Order an extra two or three with your plate and you won't regret it. Other yelpers definitely got it right on that. Perhaps the greatest downside to Taza is the small space. In the winter it gets drafty, but for the spring/summer, I suggest ordering take out and finding a nice spot outdoors. Also, if you're not used to Med food, rice and pita will seem dry; ask for a little extra sauce and you're good. Don't be turned away by the long line, it moves quickly. I visit Taza once a week and... whenever friends and family visit the Loop. The staff recognize me and my co-workers and always offer a free sample and a smile. You can't get a better combination for lunch in the Loop. read more

How can one place have the best, cheapest, and fastest falafel? I wouldn't have thought it possible, but Taza proved me wrong. It's a close competition with Sultan's Market for flavor, but barring a double-blind experiment, they're pretty damn similar. Taza is one of the best lunch options in the Loop by far. They get the food out to you super-quick, and the service is always helpful. If you're a doubter, they have constantly refreshed free samples, so you can taste for yourself the crunchy, delicious falafels. I have yet to see a falafel sandwich this cheap ($3.95) anywhere else... it's a steal for the area. The portions are very generous: I ordered a falafel sandwich and a side of baba ghanoush, and I had enough for dinner that night. Un... believable. It astounds me how La Cocina has a line out the door, while Taza doesn't. I'm chalking that up to Taza's speediness; I simply can't live in a world where there's any other explanation. This is a five-star experience. read more

So, it's lunch time. And you're craving Mediterranean. BAM! Taza. Quick, cheap, delicious, convenient. It would really just be silly for you NOT to go here. It also doesn't hurt that their chicken is as succulent as salt cured duck slathered in foie gras and that the guy behind the counter's grin is infectious. The falafel was a little on the dry side, but alongside that luscious chicken & tzatziki dipping sauce you'll forget about it. They only serve lunch so get outta that office! read more

I'm having my own special moment right now with this food from Taza. As I type, I'm eating a chicken kabob in a pita, and it is so freaking good! This is the highlight of my day. The food at Taza is consistently delicious, and the staff there is so nice. They recognize me whenever I come in, and I don't come in very much. I also like to get the Gyro sandwich - they have the best Gyros in town - the seasonings are perfectly balanced. There is a difference between just eating lunch and enjoying lunch, and I am truly enjoying my lunch right now. UM!! To top this off, I'm going to have a cupcake from Crumbs bakery. The perfect lunch and dessert. :) read more

EDIT: (04-25-2007) I HEART their gyros! Oh man. Yum! There's so much meat a girl just doesn't know what to do with it all! Ok, I'm lying. I know exactly what to do with that much meat (as I always do, HA!). :) ~*~*~*~*~*~ The staff is extremely friendly. The service is always quick. But more importantly... It's a small joint with big flavor. The food here is reasonably priced, first of all. And secondly, it all tastes good (I haven't tried it all...yet...but I'm gettin' there!). Get their Taza chicken plate for lunch (Chicken, a small salad, and a large helping of basmati rice, served with pita bread! Yum!). If you're looking for a quick snack at work in the middle of the day, try a small order of their hummus. Although, after you get addicted, you MAY want to switch to the LARGE! :) read more

Great food, but even better hospitality. Wanted a quick but filling dinner before a show at the Lyric Opera House and this place was perfect. The food was so good but especially the falafel. There was only one man working at the time and he was so kind to our somewhat large group. Will definitely be heading back. read more

OMG New Favorite Lunch Spot!! First of all: they are GREAT there, and he'll remember you! I was a newbie today and he gave me about 2 pounds of free samples so I could try it! And he notices these things...So in conclusion- AMAZING CUSTOMER SERVICE The food is great!! Falafels are amazing!!! And the food is so fresh...The tabuleh was great! Their pita chips with hummus are to die for! And the best part is its under $10...which not a lot of places can say in the loop. read more

Not sure why the diners nearby rave about this place. I've had a lot of Middle Eastern food in my day. Here, it's good. But nothing special. It's a pretty basic lunch kitchen with fountain soft drinks, plastic silverware, and paper napkins. A lot of stuff is sold to go, and you can see why. So the place pretty much rests on the laurels of its food. And its food takes a bit more of an Jerusalem bent on the Middle Eastern spectrum. The falafel here is good: not greasy. But it's not very crisp nor overly flavorful of fresh chickpeas. The rest of the food is pretty standard: nothing bad, nothing great nor that memorable. This is what three-stars was made for. read more

I went to Taza for the second time today. The first time I was impressed with the Lentil soup and Tabbouli. This time I was delighted for a different reason. I got back to my office after lunch and realized I left my purse at Taza. When I returned to retrieve it, I was relieved that the staff had it waiting for me behind the counter. I looked in my purse on the way out and found the walnut baklava I had wished I ordered earlier. They turned a stressful situation into a pleasant one and it scored them a loyal customer. read more

Great food as always and fairly priced I've been coming here for years You must try it read more

I skipped out on work early for the day to come eat here for lunch. Seriously. I've heard all sorts of excellent things about Taza, but working waaay far away from it and it's 10-4 M-F schedule was making it impossible. But I've been dying for some falafel and just had to have it. So buh-bye work! Pick up the girl from her place of employment and run over in the freezing cold to Taza. What else could be said that hasn't already? Not much. I had the gourmet falafel sandwich which was simply amazing. I could have eaten 3 right there. So good...a plethora of flavors all in one nicely packed pita. And that hot sauce was too good! Nice and spicy but not too bad that I had a hard time eating it. The manager/owner was walking about and picking up plates. He was talking to some girls who were telling him they heard about Taza on Yelp. He coyly played it off that he hoped there were at least some good reviews on there. Like you don't know how good your place is! A well deserved "People Love Us On Yelp" sticker is in the window and I can't wait to play hooky from work again to come back. read more