The service here is top notch ! Ahmed (Somalian waiter ) is the best ! He is Always on the move serving smiling ,helpful, and attentive to customers. He makes the best coffee , hot chocolate, and lattes. I'm glad Besma is back! She is by far the best chef Zebda has ever had!! Besma makes the best Kefta pizza! I recommend this place now. I'm glad they changed owners. Bob ,the new owner , is very nice. read more

Great service, delicious food, generous portions, and the price is right! Zebda definitely has a community feel and casual ambiance. The cashier was very friendly and offered recommendations and chatted with several regulars during my visit. Counter service with about seven tables in front. Wonderful coffee! My latte was $3.50 for a 16oz. They do not have ice but you don't need it! I really enjoyed this latte even with the summer heat. I got the kefta sandwich with fries for a casual solo lunch with a latte. I will be back to explore the menu further! I was for sure eyeing everyone else's food for what I should get next time and everything looked good! The pastry case looked delicious and I will have to come back earlier in the day next time for their full selection. So glad I popped in and very excited to know this neighborhood spot! read more

Zebda - Kofta Kefta Sandwich w fries - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Awesome stop, pretty cozy, food delicious , personal realy friendly, I got a merguez sandwich with french fries, I'm whole wheat bread toasted, with some inside was a smoke seriously pretty good, added 2 shot of espresso and 2 Algerian baklawa, my God I want it that so badly... read more

See all

I was so excited to order based on their menu online; turns out they don't carry most of those item anymore. Our food was nearly inedible -- both our sandwiches had dry meat, soggy bread and no flavor. We were also excited about the tagine, and it was simply not what a tagine looks or tastes like. I was so dissapointed as our food was inedible. The baked goods looked decent, otherwise I'd skip. read more

The food was great, and a great ambience overall. I will definetly go back with my friends to try more dishes! I a delicious lamb tagines!

Extremely friendly, welcoming, helpful staff and delicious flavorful meal!! We got the lamb and chicken tagine and both were packed with spices, meat, and veggies. Simple yet comfortable ambiance! Very inexpensive and big portions. We'll be back! read more

Zebda - Lamb and chicken tagine - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The kefta Tajine was so good also 9alb elouz desert . am coming for the Lamb tajine next , prices are very reasonable also .

It was decent but I didn't like how unclear the menu was. I think they need to work on that. The kafta tajine lacked flavor but it wasn't bad. read more

Zebda - Kafta tajine . It could use more flavor. - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I am loving this place, full of uncles arguing in arabic. Food is incredible. Ambiance is very dive-y. Place is small so you can't really come here in a big group. The menu is super simple too. The portion is HUGE. I had the Lamb Couscous, heavy on the couscous. With a serving of their chorba(soup). Lamb was cooked well, tender, moist, flavorful. The couscous had cooked chickpeas, chunks of squash, and carrots. It was really exceptional as a dish. I didnt mind all the couscous at all. This dish is big. You will definitely have takeout. Their cafe latte is also exceptional. I could tell once I saw the coffee machine they had in the back. Will absolutely come back here, can't recommend enough! read more

Zebda - lamb couscous - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

The literal hole in the wall with a dedicated proprietor who makes great dishes not found elsewhere with a homemade quality. However space is limited and restroom options are insufficient (at the time of this review). read more

Zebda - kefta tagine - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

i've been here twice. Absolutely delicious food employees are extremely nice friendly! definitely recommend! read more

See all

Shout out to Mr Bill M (Yelp Black Elite 15 Years) AKA Mr Zebda (he checked in 102 times). There must be a reason he went here 102x's. I finally made it here to Zebda to try their Kifta pizza Very good crunchy thin crust pizza unlike any pizza I ever ate before. The kifta pizza has crumbled pieces of cooked kifta meat, green & red peppers, potatoes & feta cheese baked onto a thin crust pizza. It made for a tasty yet very different pizza. I got it to go as I scarfed down the generous size pieces of pizza (4 pieces) Zebda is located on Elston Ave right near the corner of Pulaski Ave. I will be back to try some of their other menu items, but I seriously doubt if Bill was anything to worry about me trying to top his check ins there lol read more

See all

This place was AMAZING! Everything was so so delicious, and the service was 10/10. I had the spinach and feta omelet, and it was really good, spicy and rich, and very filling. Also, I'm not a huge fan of coffee, but this was the best coffee I've had in years. I'd definitely come back here! read more

Yes the kefta pizza at Zebda is still great, and now I have my love hooked on the delicious kefta pizza as well. The falafel is also pretty good, as you get six pieces in an order plus a creamy dipping sauce. We are so glad that Zebda is still open for takeout during these days of sheltering in place - Thank You! read more

My husband was an ardent fan of the kefta pizza long before he met me, yet it took him nearly a year into our marriage to introduce me to it! This dish is outstanding, and the portion is generous. I have also enjoyed the zebda lamb kebab. We have appreciated their streamlined takeout process during quarantine. read more

Zebda - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Ordered through Seamless yesterday and got the merguez sandwich with harrira soup. The sandwich was delicious, especially the merguez which was tender and flavorful. I saved the soup for later in the fridge, and the next day when I took it out it had become gelatinous (ie jiggly jiggly) even after popping it in the microwave. I admit I was a bit too alarmed of its new texture so I threw it out... that took off a star. But otherwise really good. read more

Zebda - Merguez sandwich (featuring my gloves) - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Not that best ambience at all, it's more of a coffee shop with a glass baked goods, but the food is very good. If you are hungry. Service is ok, but don't expect to much from them, this is a middle Eastern restaurant, with good food but that's about it. read more

Food was very dry and not seasoned. Got a chicken salad and a chicken sandwhich. Both very very dry and not seasoned at all.

Second time coming here so I think this place deserves a review. For one this a mostly male dominated restaurant. So might not be the best date spot lol. But the food here is fresh and delicious and they also have expreso and other cafe options. I asked what they recommended for lunch and I was told the combo plate. I didn't want to do rice so they swapped it for zucchini and mushrooms which was excellent. Only thing disappointing was that I had a taste for something sweet along with my cappuccino and they quickly suggested the tiramisu..which was super watery and not the greatest. Nonetheless, if you enjoy middle eastern flavors then check this place out. read more

Zebda - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place is horrible by all means. The food was awful, Tasteless greasy. The place was dirty.unfriendly/ noisy staff. The server was bragging about his private life how he is married to two women and have three kids with each one. I came to enjoy a meal I don't need to know about your business. read more

Tried Zebda tonight, to go. They had a smaller menu, due to Ramadan, but the three dishes we ordered were delicious. The lamb tagine was tender, falling off the bone, with peas, carrots, and a nice gravy. The chicken tagine was a bit spicy, but quite tasty, with some aromatic spice and a different sauce than the lamb one, which was not spicy at all. The person taking orders and the clientele were both friendly and welcoming. Looking forward to going again. read more

I had a great meal here. Lentil Soup was a wholesome soup. The Kafta sandwich was great. I really enjoyed the bread on this sandwich as well as the kafta that was inside of it. Kinda like a hamburger but a bit different and way better. I saw everyone enjoying the baked goods with their espresso so I did the same. good espresso and a great baked good. Sorry if I get the name wrong but I think it is called berja. I'm not sure. but it did have fades and there is a yellow date that sounds something like that. Anyway It was great!! I do want to let you know the menu on the day I went was much smaller than the menu I see in the older picture on yelp. on the day I went there was no bri cigars, eggplant, or any hummus or spreads. But what they did have was great so I am still giving 5 starts for the great casual dining for small groups. read more

Any time I want something representative of North Africa, Zebda is first on my list. Having been there several times, I felt that the restaurant warranted a visit so that I could order something to satisfy my appetite. Pomegranate glazed tilapia with couscous and apricot salad. I had two orders of that dish. The tilapia is always prepared just right: not squirting juice and not dry. The couscous reminds me of cornbread dressing and that is always a good thing. Let me not forget about the apricot salad that needs no dressing at all. Yes, there is a reason that I keep going back to this little Algerian cafe. read more

See all

Wonderful food very helpful and kind staff will definitely be back! Chicken sandwich was AMAZING

I've been coming to Zebdas for 4+ years - I come from a Mediterranean background and this establishment is as authentic as they get. You go in and it is a real Mediterranean cafe and experience. The food is amazing and I have never left there feeling dissatisfied. A great local spot. read more

Worst hummus and falafel ever! Spent about $18 dollars on falafel, hummus, tabbouleh and rice. I got home opened up everything, tried a spoonful of the hummus and nearly gagged. I have never experienced hummus so bitter before, oh my goodness there was no flavor or spice just clunky bitter hummus. I moved on to the falafel with the included sauce and immediately spit it out. The falafel had no flavor whatsoever and the sauce tasted like blue cheese (???). By this point I was seriously agitated and angry that I even wasted money on this food. Reluctantly I moved on to the tabbouleh and rice which wasn't good but definitely not terrible like the hummus and falafel. I don't understand how there are so many positive reviews, maybe I came in on an off day but nevertheless this was a horrible experience. Beware. read more

Zebda - This looks pretty decent, but it's not. - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

I'm new to the neighborhood, so I've been checking out Yelp for reviews. My daughter and I went to Zebda's today for lunch. The brie cigars sounded wonderful (tasted like cheap mozzarella), so we ordered that, hummus, the chicken kebab special and the tandoori chicken sandwich. This was the most bland and unremarkable food I've ever paid for. The service was ok, but it was a huge disappointment overall. read more

Zebda - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Who says this place ain't good for groups? That all changed after today, when a group of four including myself dined in. Yes, you read correctly, DINE IN :D When you walk in there are only two small round tables and 4 non matching chairs. Though, this isn't your typical dine in restaurant, 'Simir', the very nice gentleman working, was happy to have us. He literally said as we were exchanging our names and leaving, "believe me, it was good seeing you guys here." We just met the man, but he reminds me of a really cool uncle that likes to spoil his nieces and nephews. It didn't come off creepy at all. I would say one of the most hospitable person I've met, who just so happen to be our server. They are obviously not large enough for a full blown dine in restaurant, but the food is well over qualified. The kabobs were so tender, the kefta pizza was fantastic, and the hummas/dips were seriously so flavorful. If you want a wholesome experience with quality food and great hospitality, then drop the phone or close your web browser and just head over to Zebda! read more

See all

They were clearly out of feta today. The spinach was, however, just as amazing with the goat cheese they added as it was with the feta. Those roasted scallions really make that dish. The potatoes were still awesome, as was the chicken tandoori sandwich my husband ordered again. But, then there's my order. Again. I ordered the watermelon salad. It was listed as having feta, cucumbers, red onions, & mint. I thought, "Hey, that's different & I like all those things. I'm gonna give it a try while watermelon is still in season." What the salad actually was (rather than the primarily watermelon dish mixed with feta, cucs, & onion) was your typical mixed greens salad with all those items on top. Except, of course, for the feta that was also missing from the spinach. The dressing was awful, so I ate the watermelon off the salad & threw some viniagrette from my fridge on the salad. So, in short, it resulted in a very typical salad. We also tried the brie cigars. The chutney was a great compliment to the flavor, which was a little more bitter than I had expected. They were also very greasy. Not sure I'd go for them again. I'd still go back & gorge myself on spinach & potatoes, but apparently I have a gift for ordering the least appealing thing on the menu when I venture beyond that. read more

What a let down! I was so excited to try this place, especially since its right down the street and the reviews sounded so good. I've been hanging on to a restaurant.com coupon for a couple months and we finally decided to use it. You had to spend $35 so we ordered a whole schmorgasboard-Couscous salad, Tandoori chicken sandwich, Marguez panini sandwich, Balsamic glazed steak sandwich, and Kefta pizza. The only thing that I enjoyed was the couscous salad-tasty chicken, the harissa vinaigrette with a nice kick, I would order it again. Everything else was a serious fail. First off, the Kefta pizza-had NO KEFTA! Come on, that's what I was looking forward to the most. The highly recommended Tandoori Chicken sandwich was blah-the ingredients did not taste fresh at all-hard m'semene, little to no cucumbers, NO feta, and I think they forgot the cilantro yogurt as well, just felt like I was eating some minty lettuce wrapped up in a hard shell. The Marguez panini was tasty but just did not do it for me-tiny little sausage, nothing special. The Balsamic steak sandwich was tasty as well (I love anything doused in balsamic vinegar) but the steak was really grisly, I was constantly struggling to bite off a piece and then picking pieces out of my mouth. I was so hoping to find a new dinner stop, sorry Zebda, you didn't do it for me. read more

See all

I cannot say enough great things about this place. Honestly, you would not expect the quality of food that comes out of this place. Everything is beautifully plated and absolutely delicious. I have come here 4 times and ordered different things each time (and got to enjoy some of the hubby's). WOW. I am so impressed. The plating is beautiful and all of the flavors work perfectly. First time I went in I had the salmon with salad. I don't know what dressing they use on the house salad but it's delicious. Not to mention it was perfectly dressed. Salmon was cooked to perfection. Second time I had the balsamic steak sandwich and asked for the meat medium rare. They cooked it right and flavor was on point. Third time in I had the Chicken Kabab with cous cous salad. Oh. My. Goodness. It was soooooo good. The dressing was great along with the roasted veggies they throw in there. The harissa dressing was to die for. Fourth time I had a chicken sandwich and it was great. Nice, juicy and well flavored. I had some of hubby's soup (forget what it's called, kind of a lentil soup but not quite). It was delicious. Honestly I want to try everything on that menu. If I could I would go every day to try something new. Hubby and I will continue to come here... being that it's right next to the mosque makes it that much more convenient. Oh and all the staff is great. I'm not sure where these other reviewers are dining because the food here is great! read more

See all

Absolutely delicious with such a wonderful atmosphere and lovely people who run it. We were in Chicago this weekend and ate here twice because it was so good and the owners were so sweet. 10 stars. We had the kefta tagine and lamb tagine, and pastries for dessert. read more

I cannot emphasize how much I love Zebda. So often I crave takeout but don't want pizza or Chinese or fried foods. I want some meat/seafood and some veggies without having to sit down at a steakhouse or get it from a fancy restaurant and pay over $25 for the dish. Zebda fulfills this need EVERY time! They have AMAZING meats and salmon, served with flavor-packed veggies and at an affordable price. Truly one of the best restaurants in the area. If you go in, you'll be captivated by their dessert case and will probably get an array of desserts as well (or maybe that's just me). read more

I really enjoyed this little hole in the wall. The food is delicious, the portions are LARGE, and it's not bad on your pockets. The place is a bit shabby, but the service was great. Try some of the homemade desserts. read more

See all

I love Zebda! We used to eat there frequently pre-covid and now we're doing our best to continue through takeout. My personal fave is the grilled chicken sandwich with brie and balsamic onions. Such a simple yet divine sandwich. They also run specials with new and rotating items. I haven't had a single bad thing yet. read more

Stopped here for lunch. This place is small but you can feel the love in the food and the men who seem to be regulars laughing and having a good time. The goat with sweet peas was the ultimate comfort food for a cold autumn day. And the bread was pillow soft on the inside with a great crunch in the outside Definitely will be back!!! read more

Zebda - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I really recommend this restaurant , the food is amazing and the price is the best! But the service from the chef and the young guy that helps in the restaurant was also great!! The young guy is really kind and it makes me happy to see young people working with such a passion in life .. read more

I sure hope there dine in is better than there delivery! The chicken kabob I ordered was in a word AWFUL! Dry, tasteless little charred pieces of nastiness! Excuse me for being highly critical, but if you can't properly prepare an item don't put it on the menu. If I didn't know any better I would almost have to say that someone intentionally sabotaged this meal thats how horrible it was. The baba ghanoush, was ba ba BAD! Dare I say rancid. They over did it with the lemon on the zucchini and mushrooms that came with the kabob. Let's not forget the saffron mashed potatoes, oh wait a minute those weren't supposed to be mashed! More like mushed. Bottom line, dine in is probably the way to go if you're considering this place. Delivery is more of a crap shoot emphasis on CRAP! read more

That chicken salad with the roasted vegetables is just something else . The staff is nice and the food is great Nice lil Moroccan restaurant read more

Delicious. Yes, there's not much room for in-store dining (2-3 tables) but if you come here on a Sunday afternoon, the odds are with you that you'll be able to sit down, smell the awesome aromas coming from the kitchen and enjoy a well-prepared meal that will transport you halfway around the world. But, yes, I would recommend take out. This is a VERY small operation, so delivery probably is not your best option. As soon as my friend and I sat down, the nice kid (he was young, not like 'call CPS' young, but, like 19) got up, asked us if this was our first time here and explained some of the more popular items of the menu. We told him that I was hungry, she was not and that we wanted dishes that represented what Zebda could do. He told us, 'no problem.' I liked the confidence. The meal began with a sweet mint tea. Made in-house, this tea is the blessed union of Big Mama from Jackson, MS and Tae Tae from the Middle East. Awesome. Minty Sweet Tea. Homemade. I could have drank a gallon. Get it hot or cold but just get it. For the lady, she ordered the kefta pizza. Topped with ample amounts of the lamb/beef mixture, this flatbread popped from the vegetables. Based from a tomato confit (what??), the potato and roasted peppers transformed this from a regular pizza to one that you need to try. Not being that partial to beef, I didn't have as much opportunity to devour her meal as I wanted. Slightly defeated, I was left to concentrate on my dish. Having had a hard time deciding, my young guide led me to the stuffed chicken and I am so glad he did. And before you roll your eyes at a chicken dish, let me inform you that this chicken was stuffed with a soft cheese (dgebna?), caramelized apples, roasted grapes AND walnuts. Did you read correctly? All of that stuff was IN the chicken? Now, can you get off my back about ordering a chicken dish? And this meaty masterpiece was served over a bed of rapini. I was truly blown away by the flavor combination. The chicken, which could have just been a vessel, was tender, seasoned and buttery. Cheese, apples and nuts are always a good combo and the texture/taste profiles only added to the meat. But the revelation, for me, was the roasted grapes. Perhaps I'm late, but I never thought to roast grapes. I've baked them but never roasted them. I'm a fan. I'm a big fan. I could have eaten a bowl of just the roasted grapes. If you get this dish (and, you should) make sure to add a bite of rapini with the meat. The balance is perfect. Stuffed and in a food afterglow, it was time to get the check and leave. But, our young gun had an extra surprise for us: free cookies! Much like my blue felty counterpart, C. Monster, I can't resist cookies. I can't. Given free cookies at the end of a wonderful (and VERY affordable) meal was the icing on the cake. Treat this place right, Chicago! I'm warning you ((shakes fist)). read more