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Aladdin's Eatery - CLOSED
Category: Restaurants Middle Eastern Middle Eastern [Edit]
614 W Diversey Pkwy(between Broadway St & Clark St)
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 327-6300
- Nearest Transit:
-
Diversey (Brown Line, Purple Line)
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
159 reviews for Aladdin's Eatery
Review Highlights
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"And the lentil soup is really the best I've ever had." In 15 reviews -
"The falafel was light, crunchy, and delicious." In 36 reviews -
"My favorite thing about Aladdin's though, is the hummus." In 43 reviews
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159 reviews in English
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Review from April P.
3/24/2011
Where do girls go when their chefs/significant others go on vacation? To get a sandwich! You can't have these 2 girls starving, of course!
But not just any sandwich, this wrap is like a burrito, chalk full of Mediteranean goodness. I opted for a falafel wrap which was generously stuffed with the Persian version of the hushpuppy. Very tasty and sauce had a nice complimentary effect.
So many choices to choose from, it's no wonder you can go back time and time again for quick meals...Carry out, in and out of there with order within 12 minutes flat. Great service! Prices are reasonable as well for their sandwiches. -
Review from Kristy N.
3/30/2011
This rating is purely based on the service I received during a late Saturday lunch. I stopped in with a friend just after the rush for a quick bite. We split the baba, which was delicious, and she ordered the beef kafta rolled. While the busser ensured that my diet coke never went empty, our server virtually ignored us for the entire meal. We had to stop another server more than once and ultimately asked her for the check.
I understand if our guy was in the back doing side work but we saw him whisk by our table multiple times without even glancing at as.
Perhaps take out is the way to go b/c their food is too good to miss on account of bad service. -
Review from Tim Y.
11/28/2010 1 Check-in Here
The spicy kafta rolled pita was really good though I'm stumped why they'd serve it in a foil wrapper while dining in. It was spicy but not overwhelmingly so. The meat was cooked perfectly and not dry nor greasy. The mint tea was a perfect companion and was always kept fresh and hot by the staff, who were all very, very service oriented.
The falafel was also really good. Seasoned well, fried just slightly and not until it has an impenetrable barrier of fried crust on it.
I also had a side salad that was really good - not because it was full of special ingredients, but rather because it isn't like a typical salad from any other chain: slathered in sickly sweet dressing. -
Review from Elaine C.
Chicago, IL
6/29/2010
I ordered a bunch of food thanks to my groupon. It was all really quality, but the clear winner was the beef thing that looked like a turd. It was grilled. It tasted like cinnamon... it was SO good.
Get the beef turd grilled thing.Listed in: Thanks to Groupon
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Review from Tom L.
8/8/2010
Coming from Detroit, with the world's largest Arabic population outside of the Middle East, I am particular about my Middle Eastern cuisine. I will say that I was not disappointed by the cuisine but was not knocked out by it either. I was with a group of four and we all had different tastes. So, I'll go plate by plate.
One of us had the Majadera which was pretty good. It seemed weird that the grilled onions were more like onion straws than something incorporated into the meal, but it was tasty. It was cooked well without it becoming mushy or over cooked and dry. The seasoning was actually quite good. Two had the Flavor Savour combo which was shwarma, kaftka and fallafal. Both seeemed quite pleased. Portions were ample and the almond rice that accompanied the dish was very good.
I ordered the kibbee and was disappointed as they were out of it. Having made the dish myself, I understand it is time consuming and needs to be prepped, but i was disappointed to say the least. The recovery was good. I asked the waitress to surprise me and received a Kaftka plate (something I had inquired about earlier, so she wasn't very sneaky about it!), which wound up being quite good. The spice mix was nice, but it was all beef and no lamb...this was a disappointment as Kaftka is normally a nice mix of the two red meats. All in all, a good meal, just not outstanding.
They had a nice but modest selection of beers that included Sierra Navada Pale Ale, which was good enough to me. Here is where the place made me happy. I was there with a mentor who is wheel chair bound and it had ample space for him. The staff was also attentive to his and our needs, and they did a great job making us feel comfortable. There was no rush and that was appreciated.
This was a fine dining experience. It was very good middle eastern, but being from Detroit and eating ME at least twice a week, this was not out of the park. I will go back again if in the Lincoln Park area. It was a nice little place and the food was enjoyable. -
Review from George R.
"Aladdin's Eatery"
(To the tune of "The Addams Family" theme song)
They've got fresh juice for sippin'
And lentil soup with chicken
With pita bread for dippin'
Aladdin's Eatery
Fattoush I eat a lot of
With Lebanese Salata
And olives Kalamata
Aladdin's Eatery
Do do do doot, (snap, snap)
Do do do doot, (snap, snap)
Do do do doot, Do do do doot,
Do do do doot, (snap, snap)
So walk on down to Clark Street
Then head east on Diversey
A few more steps then you'll see
Aladdin's Eatery.Listed in: My Creative Reviews
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Review from Brett D.
7/10/2009
Yummy Middle Eastern chow? Check.
Splendid Outdoor Patio? Check.
Menu longer than Rapunzel's hair? Check.
You certainly won't find yourself with a shortage of choices when visiting Aladdin's, the menu is a whopping 8 or so pages long. Insanity!! Fight the urge to become monumentally overwhelmed and settle into one of the sure fire favorites; crunchy falafel, garlicky fattoush, fabulously filling rolled pita sandwiches or hey, a specialty combo plate gives you the best of a whole new world - sue me, I couldn't resist the Aladdin reference.
Dinner with the lovely Jelena Z. proved to be win/win both in great company (natch) and our glorious tasty delights. Our app of hummus was HUGE and totally satisfied with some crisp veggies, toasty pita and a drizzle of olive oil... Mmmm mmm, I wanted to lick that plate clean! Round two of hearty salads was just as gratifying... my shawarma specialty salad abounding with fresh veggies, seasoned char-grilled steak and a tangy crown of feta cheese was more than enough to send me into Aladdin overdrive. Honestly I can't remember the last time a salad was this spot on, must have been that housemade lemon vinaigrette!
Service was a bit spotty... it's a bit inappropriate for your server to inform you he's making a Walgreen's run in the middle of your meal, ain't it? Uh, get me a pack too while you're at it, Bro. Kidding...
All in all though I can't hate on a lax vibe, especially when I've come to soak in a chill sidewalk café atmosphere. 4 happy stars from my very happy - and healthy - no-longer-grumbling tummy.Listed in: J'Adore Al Fresco, Lean, Mean & Green, Pretty Pleasant Pita…
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Review from Krsna V.
2/18/2008
Decent food at a decent price. Nothing mind blowing but the food is good if you are hungry and in the mood for some OK Mediterranean food. We ordered the chicken with hummus plate, a lamb pitza (that's right people, it is a pita+pizza), and a pita sandwich like thingy
All items were good....specially the hot sauce. It is not the kind that comes out of a bottle that says "Louisiana hot sauce". The pita is thin, my favorite variety. Portion sizes are adequate.
We also ordered a chocolate mousse cake for dessert. Eh, not really satisfying....it was more sweet than chocolatey....the coffee was good though
I wouldn't go out of my way to go to Aladdins but, I wouldn't mind eating here if I am in the area.
Ask for the hot sauce, it makes every dish taste better. -
Review from reem t.
Chicago, IL
3/5/2011
I'm gonna start off by saying we loved this place, we loved all the food and didn't leave anything on our plates.
We ordered 2 sandwiches each, 1 shishtawook, 1 beef shawarma. (both without turnips) and some extra garlic sauce
The beef shawarma tasted amazing. The tahini sauce was perfect and the amount of meat was decent.
The shishtawook...we've had better. It tasted wonderful, dont get me wrong, and if you've never had it, you'll LOVE it (if you like garlic), we've just had it made by people in the past with much more knowledge as to what makes a good shish tawook sandwich.
They use the bigger, thin pita, which IMO is the best for sandwiches.
why'd we knock off a star? because of the pricing. In cleveland, the same sandwich costs $3.99, not $6, and for what you get, $6 is a little much.
We ordered a tropical smoothie, and it was amazing, all fresh fruit and made right when you order it. highly recommended.
Our total tab:
2 shish tawook
2 beef shararma
1 tropical smoothie
total: $30.16 plus 20% tip = $36.16
great food, but overpriced for what it is. -
Review from Rocky B.
9/26/2007
Uh uh....don't do it. Okay do it if you want but I wouldn't recommend it because believe you me...I was sorry I hadn't decided on going to Cousin's or Pars Cove instead.
Pita was as thin as crepe paper and as cold as...well unwarmed Pita bread.
Got combination appetizer...forget what it was called but it came with two kinds of hummus. I swear one of the hummus' tasted like ranch dressing. What they ran out and decided to go next door to Walgreens and get a tub of chip dip?
The chicken shawarma was the consistancy of chicken pebbles...not saying it was horrible tasting but I don't like feeling like I'm eating kibble.
I'm not even sure why I'm giving this place two stars maybe because it was clean and I didn't end up curled over a bowl all night. -
Review from Jelena Z.
9/20/2008
The food is pricey for what you get, but it's a better, healthier and more fresh option than neighboring Chipotle and Panera. The patio was perfect for Diversey/Clark people-watching while resting my tootsies post-shopping.
I've always been a bit put off by Aladdin's menu (so long), but my knowledgeable server helped me sort it all out. I ended up ordering the beef kefta rolled pita, which I'd liken to a Middle Eastern burrito. The cool crunchiness of my side salad complemented the warmly seasoned beef kefta nicely. Oh, and get the yogurt tahini dressing. I would've dipped my Diet Coke in it if I could've.
Friendly staff serving up fast, healthy meals... I'll be back. -
Review from Elisabeth N.
Denver, CO
7/19/2008
While the food from here is very good, the portion sizes are small for the price. I ordered the spicy kefta rolled pita, and the kibbeh as an appetizer. While it was filling, it was $13, and there were no leftovers. The 'side' of Lebanese salad was in a condiment cup, hardly a side, more like a sample. It was all very good though, but the kibbeh had just a little bit too much cinnamon, which overwhelmed the flavor somewhat.
The boyfriend ordered falafel as an appetizer (which were well-seasoned and very tasty) and the lamb rolled pita. The standout of the rolled pita was the pickled turnip slices in it- delicious! I could eat those on their own.
I love their spicy sauce, and the food was fresh and delicious, but it's just a bit pricey for the portion, especially since it's a chain. -
Review from MaryAnne M.
Chicago, IL
11/14/2007
More like 3.5, still grading on the curve.
My favorite Middle Eastern restaurant in the area.
Nice room, quick service. Reasonably priced.
I particularly like the many veggie options. -
Review from Lisa F.
Chicago, IL
7/8/2007
Did I miss something with the service here? Wanting to eat outside, we walked in and asked for a table outside. The waitress behind the counter (not by herself) hands us two menus and says we can find a seat. WTF? Then... when we see two empty tables sharing only one chair, we ask another waitress if there are anymore chairs. She looks around and says "Hmm, I guess not." She walks us in to the empty inside of the restaurant and says (as if it were our lucky day), "Where would you like to sit?"
The food? Meh. I've had better.
The service? What service? -
Review from Kelsey O.
Chicago, IL
3/26/2008
All Hail Commercialized Mediterranean Cuisine!
Seriously, commercial, fake, the Panera of Med. Food....you name it, I can take it, because I friggin' LOVE Aladdin's. Ask my roommate. I could eat at this place for lunch and dinner every day of the week. Luckily, I have restraint, and can hold out for my weekly Saturday Aladdin's indulgence. Read: great hangover food.
The soups are varietal and delish. The pockets are awesome and are the best of both worlds--salads and sandwiches! Fresh pita, great falafels, dolma, tabouli...I have yet to try something at Aladdin's that wasn't satisfying. The portions are huge and, for me, the price is perfect. Delivery is SUPER quick. I mean, you're right, I do live a block away but hey, someone's got to support the delivery guy, right? Nothing to do with laziness, nothing.
Aladdin's also serves alcohol so I would consider a casual dinner there, but prefer my weekend feasts spread across the couch in front of the tv. Then again, that's just me. -
Review from Kate W.
Chicago, IL
5/11/2009
So my parents were visiting and didn't think to pack umbrella's. We're out and it starts pouring... it's around dinner time anyway so we duck in to Aladdin's to kill time before their play starts.
The staff was friendly and helpful. They both had a couple questions about the menu which were quickly answered. I got us falafel to start with and we each had a different entree. The falafel was good but I've had better. All of the entrees were good, but I was a big fan of the rice which was well seasoned and had just a touch of cinnamon. Not something I thought I'd like but it was quite tasty.
They have a case full of cakes that are just begging you to order them so my mom saved room for dessert. She got a slice of their signature chocolate cake which I had a taste of and I must agree was wonderful. I also love black forest cake which I noticed they had so I plan on going back to sample that.
All in all a nice spot but nothing super special about it. If you're in the neighborhood give it a shot but don't make a special trip. -
Review from Jackie P.
Chicago, IL
1/3/2010
The service is great and the food is great. I didn't even know I liked this kind of cuisine. My dining companions were kind enough to each pick something different so I could try a little of everything. I had falafel, pita bread, hummus and some kind of wrap. It was all so tasty, great prices and I have a ton of leftovers.
I'm tempted to go back later this week I enjoyed it so much! Score one for me! -
Review from Dima M.
Minneapolis, MN
5/6/2009
I have eaten a lot of Mediterranean food, and when I say a lot, I mean A LOT! I lived for 4 years down the street from Aladdin's, and the first sign that this place wasn't all that is that I did not eat there at least once a week, as I would have done that had it impressed me. The food itself is mediocre, and I think the place is packed because of its location and atmosphere, which I cannot deny are great, especially in the summer time. I guess I'd give the place more stars if that's all was needed to rate a restaurant. The bread always tastes microwaved to me, and not genuinely fresh. Not to mention, they skimp out on the meat in some of the "meat" dishes. I'm not a big meat eater, but hey, on the rare occasion where I want some meat in the entree, I want a good amount.
I do have to say, the desserts and the drinks are great, but as far as Mediterranean food goes, I can't say this is the best I've had. -
Review from Susan F.
8/22/2009
I'll tell you why this deserves 5 stars.
Location--for me at least. Restaurant is nicely sized and they have outdoor seating, great for ppl watching
Menu-huge, granted you can only do so much with middle eastern food, but still great!
Service-orders are taken in a timely manner and they are nice
Bathrooms-hey, they're actually super clean!
As for the food, I've never had a bad meal here. I tend to stick with the chicken kebob roll or spicy kafta or beef rolled. I could probably eat these all day and not get sick. They have great hummus/pita bread and combo dinner platters too that are pretty big. A friend of mine swears on the fattoush salad!
They sell beer and wine, though I've never sat down with either. Carry-out here is great, never tried delivery though.
This is my neighborhood staple and I hope it never leaves!!Listed in: Ma hood
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Review from jennifer b.
Chicago, IL
6/20/2006
Cleveland represent!
I've eaten at the original one in Cleveland (Lakewood) years ago and I'm glad to see the one here in Chicago is just as good. Although it's often hard to choose this over neighborhing Panera Bread (three cheers for Cleveland!)
More expensive than Sultan's, but also in a nicer sit-down place with a wait staff. -
Review from Sara G.
Chicago, IL
7/31/2007
I think Aladdin's is a good place to go if you want some Mediterranean food that is alright, not "Oh-my-gosh-this-is-an-orgasm-in-my-mouth-deliciou s!" It's a great place to go for lunch with some friends if you don't want to spend a lot of money but still want to sit down in a nice atmosphere and get really good service. Their smoothies are really good and a little less than 3 bucks! I think their baba is very good but I've had better hummus elsewhere.
Next time I'm getting their falafel, it looked tasty and my friend really enjoyed it. I've been twice and both times my wrap had just a bit too much sauce.
I do like Aladdin's, but if I want to step it up a notch, I'll go to Zad's down the street on Broadway. -
Review from Arlene A.
3/30/2010
Mmm, Mmm! Can't wait to come back here for another leisurely lunch. After running errands in the nabe, I was looking for some sustenance that wouldn't leave me feeling bogged down. Mission accomplished Aladdin's! I ordered the beef kibbie (sp) with salad and the house dressing, delish! Bright flavors in the dressing, and perfectly crisp kibbie make for a great meal. Service was great, my ice tea was kept refilled, and my waitress was always in view.
I'm looking forward to my next visit, and making it soon. -
Review from Isla E.
Chicago, IL
7/26/2008
I have eaten here 3 times, twice dine-in and once take-out. I have never been disappointed. There are several notable aspects of the restaurant that place it fairly in the 5 star realm. They are listed below.
1) freshness and quality of ingredients
2) serves beer, wine, AND fresh raw juices
3) best value
4) nice restroom
5) fairly diverse menu
Aladdins is sandwiched between Panera and Chipotle. I think it would be cool if someone took a $5.95 salad from Aladdins over to Panera and Chipotle to illustrate the possibilities (i.e.-no iceberg lettuce!, just one of many differences). If you are getting a salad in the area the best bet is Aladdins. There is a close second but I'll save that for another review. And I've heard good things about their falafel as well. But really I like the look and feel of the vegetables.
I'm not a beer or wine connoisseur but selection good enough. And they have green tea (iced if you like). Plus raw juices.
As mentioned above, you get better salad here for $5.95 than you do at the places on either side. I'm just sayin'
The restroom is nice. Check it out.
Menu diversity...its Middle Eastern but if you are with someone that isn't into it they could still find something to eat. And they have cakes and cookies that look really American.
Staff is friendly. And sometimes attractive. -
Review from Melissa B.
Los Angeles, CA
4/18/2008
A good friend of mine absolutely loves this place, so she's always suggesting that we go here. I like it, very much. They've got a HUGE menu, so there's something for everyone. Mmmmm, and fresh squeezed juices, how can you go wrong with that?
The only reason I'm not rating this place higher is that Zad is down the street and my personal favorite.
Great, now I want a falafel...... -
Review from LuLu R.
1/6/2010
I like you Aladdins, and its hard to please me.
Got some take out from here from one of our vendors. He told me that one of his buddies owned this joint. I never knew that Middle Eastern food can look at appetizing as it tastes. The food was beautiful and was cooked perfectly. We had:
The Chicken Salad- It tasted so fresh and the chicken wasn't dry, Thank God!
Chicken breast with some kind of cheese on a bed of mixed greens- FANTASTIC! It came with this spicy sauce and it made for a great dressing on everything.
Lamb-Lemony, tender, and grilled to perfection
Rice with some veggies was delicious(maybe i can figure out the recipe)
Hummos and falafels- Never disappointing and it tasted super fresh. I also appriciated that they added some veggies in there.
The pitas were wrapped and still warm. Thank you Aladdins and I can't wait to come to see your spot in person! (that is what I am saving the last star for) -
Review from Susan L.
Chicago, IL
3/12/2007
Here's what to get:
1. a smoothie
2. falafel (wrap, pizza, appetizer, or salad)
3. all of their wraps
Here's what not to get:
1. hummus
2. their pita isn't very good
Love this place so much that I OD'ed on it and need a break. -
Review from Mateo S.
Chicago, IL
4/16/2009
I had a feeling this place was a chain while I was eating there (institutional decor, corporate branding on the menus...) but I wasn't sure. Now that I have confirmed that it is, I feel less guilt about my two stars.
The good: cheap, healthful, great smoothies, kibbie appetizer
The bad: brusque manager, our rolled pitas (one with spicy kafta, one with grilled tuna) were wrapped in microwave-safe-foil: as if preassembled and reheated
The ugly: tuna tasted old, when the waitress cleared our uneaten mains, she simply offered dessert and never asked if there was a problem
If I lived or worked nearby, I was consider coming in for lunch and trying something else... patrons seated nearby seemed to have great looking food. -
Review from Ang R.
Chicago, IL
3/4/2007
Yum. The hummus is really great, and I think the portion is huge for the price. Plus, the pita supply seems to be unlimited. After we finished our original portion, they supplied us with another good-sized portion to go.
(I have to say, the service was simply fantastic all-around. Great on the refills, and above and beyond in other ways. When we couldn't decide which piece of baklave to order, the waitress offered to bring small samples of each, to help us decide. And I noticed the woman sitting next to us also received a sample of something...baba ganouj maybe.)
I ordered the shawarma roll-up, which was tasty, though far too oniony for my taste, and my b/f had the turkey roll-up (which I tasted), and that was fantastic. I had a small salad, too, and that was nicely seasoned and just lemony enough. Sam got rice, and it was a little strange (cinnamon and nuts on it), but he seemed to enjoy it. Oh, and his banana/chocolate smoothie was delish too.
We'll definitely be going back, because I'm looking forward to trying the falafel.
Update: The falafel was awesome. I had the falafel roll-up on my second visit here, and I can tell you now that I'm going to just work my way through every falafel dish on the menu to see which one I like best.Listed in: Places I Would Eat Every…
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Review from Brook G.
Chicago, IL
8/11/2008
This was my first experience with any kind of Mediterrraneanish food, and I loved it! I got the Hummos Chicken Plate which came with several pieces of Pita bread. I thought it was delicious and the portion size was perfect. My boyfriend also loved his meal, though I couldn't even tell you what he ordered. The prices for both our meals were very reasonable.
The atmosphere here is also fantastic! Tables aren't too close together and the decor is warm and inviting.
We will definitely go back. And next time, we're going to have to try one of their giant-sized (and delicious-looking) slices of cake. -
Review from Devan P.
Chicago, IL
1/18/2011
LOVE this place. A friend took me here once and I've been in love with it ever since. The staff is super friendly and nice - I had Christine wait on me the last time I went and she was really great. Super attentive, checked up on me enough, but not too much, and really sincere.
The food is also incredible. I haven't really been to other Lebanese/Mediterranean restaurants, but I almost see no need to. The food is great and their hummos is freaking amazing. -
Review from Puja D.
Manhattan, NY
2/27/2008
This place has decent medierranean food. Granted the prices are low - the food is average. They put pickle in the sandwhiches which I didn't like.
Other than that, the soups and salads are okay. The hummus and falafel are decent. Nothing amazing, but not horrible either. They do have some good hot sauce and tahini which makes the food taste a lot better.
The serving sizes are medium. Place is cute and in the summer you can sit outside too. -
Review from Robyn T.
12/10/2008
Aladdin's is a fabulous chain and it has found a home in a great location. I'm a fan of the Ohio chain and often go with the family because it appeals to meat lovers (can't go wrong with the sharma) and vegetarians alike.
Food is decently affordable, decor is refreshing and there are options on the menu for everyone. I love the len-chichen-chili with cheese, the fruit & nut platter (great melons topped with vanilla yogurt, honey and almonds) and usually tend towards Jaffar's Pitza (big enough to share, but why not just eat it all yourself?)
Desserts always look amazing but they never seem to taste as good as they look. Baklava is good though. -
Review from Melissa P.
Franklin Park, IL
4/19/2011
This place closed down as of the 13th according to what the sign on the door says. What happened...does anyone know? They always seemed to do good business. My favorite restaurant is gone. Bummed.
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Review from Nisarg S.
San Diego, CA
11/30/2010
I had seen the Living Social Deal with 52% off. I love Middle Eastern Food. One of my school friends was in town and we decided to check out the place. I ordered the falafel wrap with humus and it was really good. I have had middle eastern food at a lot of places and this is one of the best. I loved the food. Very reasonably priced too.
I would definitely go here again. -
Review from Jennifer K.
Los Angeles, CA
8/17/2007
My friend and I wanted a light lunch before heading off. We stopped by for a bit of salad and falafel. Their smoothies are yummy. I had the Crazy Berry, and it was wonderful against the hot weather.
The falafel was light, crunchy, and delicious. I tend to not like falafel, but the restaurant served tasty ones and I enjoyed them. As for the salad, I had the Fattoush. The salad was okay - the sauce didn't exactly floor me. Overall, the meal was okay. -
Review from Ambrosia C.
Chicago, IL
1/24/2011
So freakin good. I love everything I order here. The juices are wonderful and the dishes are tasty and healthy. Just a quality middle eastern joint! Prices are good too.
Definitely recommended! -
Review from Whitney J.
Chicago, IL
5/6/2010
Two menu items you can never go wrong with:
*Spicy Kafta roll
*Lentil Soup
A friend of mine introduced me to this place and I can't get enough. The lunch special is an awesome deal, and they even - if you have room - have splendid cakes! The triple mousse cake? Trust me. You can't go wrong. I've heard great things about the pistachio cheese cake from EVERYONE who works there, but haven't had a chance to try it yet.
The managers are great, and even when I went in with a coupon from Social Living, the service was excellent. (I've worked as a server. I know how much we fear the coupon crowd). Always friendly, familiar faces, and great food. Takeout, or Eat in, I've never been displeased. -
Review from Natalie G.
San Francisco, CA
3/13/2009
First, never knew this was a chain, until now...
I used to come here quite often when i lived in chicago. the chicken kabob sandwich was always a guarantee for tasty snack, me and my girls lived off their hummus and pita, scooping that all up while talking for hours on randomness. The desserts and cookies look amazing displayed, but definitely fell a little short.
But! all in all. pretty good. If and when there is a beautiful day in Chicago, eat outside. The food is light and all decently price. -
Review from Jenna H.
Chicago, IL
10/29/2007
I used to live 4 blocks from Aladdin's & ate there at least 3 times a week! It's definitely the best casual place for salads I've found in the area. Around $8 for a great fresh salad with a whole tuna steak or full grilled chicken breast! The almond-yogurt dressing is AWESOME--to the point where, in the privacy of my own home, I've eaten it right out of the to-go cup! (Skip the house dressing, though, it's pretty flavorless)
The lentil soup is delicious & the best I've found in the area; the chili & V-9 (veggie) soups are also really good. The smoothies are tasty & to be extra healthy/decrease the sugar I've even had them leave out the honey... & they're still good!
-1/2 star for the pitas--they are a little too paper thin/flat. -1/2 star for the desserts, the only thing I've tried that aren't as fresh as I'd like. That being said there are plenty of great options & the service has always been friendly. I've been to Cousin's, Zad (better for hummus/apps not as good for entrees), & Pars Cove (good but more formal setting, & no real salads)...Aladdin's is still my pick for weekday or quick meals. -
Review from Briana J.
Chicago, IL
12/7/2006
I very much enjoyed this place. They have a very large selection of food, some healthy and some not so much. Their hummus was very tasty as was the free pita bread that accompanied it. I do not enjoy falafel but my friends do and they enjoyed the falafel here. They also make there own tea which was a tasty and warm treat for a bitter cold winter day.
The dinning area is somewhat small which can prove to be a problem but it should not deter you from trying this place.
There is wide dessert section which is nice. The waitress was very friendly and quite concerned that we all liked our food.
I will definitely return.
