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Al-Khyam Bakery & Grocery
Categories: Food Bakeries Food Specialty Food Ethnic Food Bakeries, Ethnic Food [Edit]
4738 N Kedzie Ave(between Leland Ave & Lawrence Ave)
Chicago, IL 60625
Neighborhood: Albany Park
(773) 583-3077
- Nearest Transit:
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Kedzie-brown (Brown Line)
Kimball (Brown Line)
Francisco (Brown Line)
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 9 am - 9 pm
Sun 9 am - 8 pm
- Price Range:
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$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
6 reviews for Al-Khyam Bakery & Grocery
6 reviews in English
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Review from M M.
Chicago, IL
4/2/2010
I Yelp-searched for Sumac in desperation and the amazing Yelpers advised Al Khayam Bakery--thanks guys! Spices at a bakery?? I've been going to the restaurant next to it for years, which I never reviewed it for selfish reasons :o
I knew this "bakery" was known for its pitas (not into pitas that much), but little did I know it was actually a little mid-east grocery store disguised as a bakery. I never saw such a humongous can of chick peas in my life! After almost loosing hope not finding the Sumac in their big selection of mideast spices in plastic bottles, I was relieved to finally find the Sumac Spice $3.59/lb in a bag with help from a friendly store clerk in another section of the store.
I no longer have to smooch for extra dressing from Pita Inn that comes with their Chicken Fattoush salads. I treated those little containers as gold. Now I feel I struck a gold mine--I can make as much as I want :)
I loved going through the cookware. Found some kind of mold--package was all in Syrian so I didn't know what it was but it looked interesting so I got it anyway. I googled it when I got home and found out it was a Momoul cookie mold and found videos of how to use it. Can't wait to try making some! I bought some spicy dired mangos and spicy toasted pita chips to try as well. 'Tho the food items weren't to my liking and the store isn't very astheticly appealing, the 5 stars are for the Sumac, nice employees, and the enlightening cultural food discoveries. I'll have to go back and try some actual Momoul cookie varieties-dates, pistachios, walnuts--before I decide which one to make, and pick up that giant can of chickpeas when I get on my occasional hummus kick. -
Review from Erika G.
3/16/2009 1 photo
Ya, habibi! Go here for the Pita bread, it's the best in the city. Verily, all the Middle Eastern groceries and restaurants in town serve THIS bread (albeit at a markup!). It's that good. Go on a Sunday when it's right out of the oven, buy a dozen bags - you can freeze them for quite a long time. I prefer the larger, round bread, but they also make the popular "pocket" pita bread. Honestly, I think the bread they make here is better than anything I've had "over there", and I ate a LOT of that stuff "over there!" Giant selection of sweets, cookies, baklava - all made here.
Awhile back, they got a new bread oven that is out in the middle of the bakery. It's so cute to see all the kids gathered around, mesmerized, watching the guy take fresh Zatar bread out of the oven.
Zatar bread - it's the stuff in the plastic bags that has spices, meat (lamb) or cheese on it. Especially good the day it's baked, but you can also do the ol' "third world" method of warming it up by throwing it on an open gas burner (ditto for the pita bread). Drizzle a little olive oil on it, and wallah - lazeez!! (delicious!)
The guys who own the store are Lebanese, I believe - and they are the greatest. The Lebanese, along with the Syrians *really* know good food, in my experience. Syrians are like Italians who speak Arabic. Lebanese would be like Frenchmen who speak Arabic (and French). So, if you're unsure about what something is, just ask one of the guys, you'll have your own personal shopper in a minute!
The olives and feta cheese in the deli cases here is WAY cheaper (like dollars per pound cheaper) than Dominick's and the large corporate chains.
Plus, it's way more FUN to shop here. Delicious bakery smells, free sample tastes, charming owners - YALLAH!Listed in: Middle Eastern food in Chicago
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Review from An P.
Chicago, IL
3/14/2010
In Albany Park you can damn well find anything if you look hard enough. After a devastating awesome dinner at Al-Khaymeih, we saw a sign for super megacheap hummus over at the grocery store next door and couldn't resist. Stepping inside into Al-Khyam, we walked into another universe.
Stepping in, you will be greeted by the biggest wall of shisha that you have ever encountered. The amount of shelf space dedicated solely for shisha made me wish I had a hookah as all flavors under the sun were represented with plenty of charcoal to keep your hookah locked and loaded. Shisha is stacked on two shelves five feet high and three feet wide, if you can't find something you like there - you don't like shisha.
Plenty of olive oils to choose from of all different sizes as well as honey with honeycombs still inside, nuts, pineapple jam, more fruit preserves. I am not jam or honey expert, but I can imagine getting lost in their tidal wave of preserves! Across from this shelf, you'll find dried apricots, dried oranges, and dried all manner of fruit you didn't think could be dried. If dried fruit and honey are your thing - stop on by immediately!
If you are a fan of baklawa, make sure you check out their bakery! For $6.99 a pound, you can rock baklawa of all kinds with plenty of nuts and sweet crispy honeyed goodness. The baklawa I had was super sweet, super crunchy and packed with nuts. YUM!
You'll find hookahs from $40 and up on the top of the shelves along with more aisles of candy, spices, and more neat little gifts for people. There are pots and pans if you need some and some interesting teapots. Stop by Al-Khyam next time you are in Albany Park, you'll soon find yourself becoming a regular.Listed in: #81 Lawrence Bus, Secrets of Albany Park
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Review from Rashid T.
Chicago, IL
12/5/2006
Its not only a bakery. They also have restaurant right next to it. Awesome Awesome food. I'm a big fan of middle eastern food and had tried lots of places. This is the best in all. Their Kefta Kabob and steaks are the best. They melt in your mouth. They own a meat shop right next to them so I'm sure they are getting best meat. Service and environment is good as well. Waiter we had was well behaved and well informed. Food cost isn't much expensive but its not cheap either. It also worth its price. Compare to Reza's this is better, specially price wise. Best thing about them is they are Zabhia Halal. ( Zabiha Hala is something that matters to Muslims. One good thing about Zabhia Halal meat is its Organic. )
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Review from Adam S.
Chicago, IL
6/11/2009
As Erika said, best pitas in the city. They're magical. They're so robust, I make thin-crust pizzas out of them with better results than when I use raw dough. I'm especially fond of the large, flat kind, which are closer to what we greenhorns think of as a tortilla (and they make wonderful tortillas too, for the record) than what we greenhorns used to think of as a pita (thick, spongy flatbread that you can make a pocket out of).
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Review from imran k.
IL
4/25/2008
one of my favorite places to eat around chicago.
they use zabiha meat
very affordable
delicious food
next to the restaurant is the actual bakery. this is also where i buy my meat. consistently fresh, and good cuts.
