Kan Zaman
Category: Middle Eastern [Edit]
Neighborhoods: Near North Side, River North617 North Wells Street
(between Ohio St & Ontario St)
Chicago, IL 60610 (312) 751-9600
- Nearest Transit:
Merchandise Mart (Purple Express, Brown)
Grand (Red)
- Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Good for: Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol: None
60 reviews
Neighborhood: Near West Side
"Best delivery food ever! You get alot for your money too. If you order the special of the day, you get an entree, tons of rice, a small…" read more »
40 Reviews for Kan Zaman
This is my favorite spot for middle eastern. There's nothing like sitting in one of the comfortable booths, smoking a hookah and watching the belly dancing. Food is tasty, and it's BYOB so you end up spending less than you normally would. Highly recommended for groups. Bring a camera so you can embarrass your friends into dancing too.
I was pleasantly surprised by Kan Zaman. We ordered a mess of different dishes and everything was pretty damn tasty. The chicken and lamb were prepared perfectly - not too heavily spiced so as to overwhelm the meats and cooked on par. I loved that there was enough pita on the table that we didn't have to ask for more. BYOB is a huge plus too! Give it a try!
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I really want to like this place however our main waiter was a bit gruff and wasn't quite sure if it was part of the ambience or if he was having a bad day...
I took my friend here since she never had Lebanese food before and wanted to try something different. We sat in the booth which is basically a low tiered table with pillows behind you to help you sit up. We pored over the menu as I explained the appetizers and entrees to her. Our main waiter seemed impatient with my friend since my friend didn't know what she wanted and only offered the Kafta Kabob as a choice. It would have been nice if he could have given her a few other recommendations and taking the time to explain it to her. (It wasn't that busy - there were only 4 other tables occupied)
Anyway, we ended up picking two appetizers - the veggie combo and the Soujouk. The veggie combo consisted of two dolmas, feta cheese on top of some lettuce, hummus, tabouleh, two falafels and baba ghannouj. The soujouk was cut up lamb and beef sausages in tomato sauce. This plate definitely had the right herbs and spices to give it that nice kick. It wasn't overpowering at all but then again my palate is pretty seasoned compared to some other folks who like their tastes a bit milder.
My friend ordered the beef shish kabob and I ordered the Kafta Kabob because according to the menu, "this dish would drive your tastebuds wild."
Our 2nd waiter was great and attentive by constantly refilling our water, asking if we wanted more pita bread, and making sure we were taken care of.
As the food arrived, it sealed the deal that I would give this place three stars. The basmati rice was fluffy and delicious and the two kafta kabobs had the right amount of flavor to satisfy my hunger. The rice portions were huge - I could have split it with my friend.
Overall, the food experience was great. I would raved about it more if our first waiter had the same attentiveness as our second waiter
Kan Zaman is my "go to" place to bring friends and family visiting Chicago. I was brought here by friends when I first visited Chicago upon deciding to move here and have carried on the tradition.
You should definitely first go on a Saturday night when they have belly dancing and sit in one of the booths.
I actually brought my best friend here who is Lebanese and she LOVED it. Though she did say the decor is not actual Lebanese decor it still is some great atmospere.
This place is also great for groups, I've been with as many as 15 and we had the same service as we did with 2 people. Plus the BYOB is huge.
BELLY DANCING!
I could not believe that someone could have such a small waist!!! But we are going off the topic in question - food! Amazingly good food. I have this new craze middle eastern food and my friends and I went to Kan Zaman. We were a group of 10 and they easily accommodated us. We started with some falafel and hummus, baba ghanoush and salad. I was already full!!
The main course consist of kebabs, shawarma and grilled chicken spiced so subtly(don't remember what it was called) on a bed of flavored rice. I had to be literally rolled out of the place. BYOB too. There is a Binny's up 2 blocks from the restaurant. Our waiter was also very good at answering all our questions. With the 10 of us, he definitely worked that night. :D
I would definitely go back for some more grilled yumminess.
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I've only tried one menu item at Kan Zaman but that's because it's so incredible! Get the Vegetarian Combo for sure. It's a wonderful mess of hummus, tabouli, baba ghanoush, falafel, dolma, feta cheese, olives and pita bread. So much food, though it's on the pricey end for lunch: $10.95. However, their lineup of shawarma, kabob and falafel sandwiches is a much more reasonable $6-$7. Hookahs available (heh) and the exotic booths remind me of Cousin's in Lakeview. I'm coming back for dinner-- BYOB people!
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Yum yum, I love me so Kan Zaman. I hadn't been here in a really long time. I had a middle eastern food faze which faded. Now I might be able to get back together with this cuisine. Things I like:
1. Cheap lunch! Yes, very yummy, big portions and inexpensive.
2. Seating in the back has pillows so it feels authentic.
3. The food is really good, quality and authentic (don't order the lentil soup, go to Sultan's Market)
4. BYOB + Belly Dancers on the weekends. It doesn't get much better!
Great place for a group! I have been here for my B-day and friend's B-day and both were lots of fun. BYOB- gotta love that. Belly dancing on the weekend too! Did I mention the food is so delicious?!
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If you want Mediterranean food - head over to Reza's a few blocks away. The chicken kabobs here were not good - veggies were not grilled AT ALL. It was almost like they cut it up and placed it on the table. Place is really small and the restrooms were kinda creepy.
Belly dancer was not authentic at all either. Please just find another place to go to if you want Middle Eastern food.
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This is a fun place with really good food. They were also very friendly which is a big deal to me.
Veg and meat dishes are pretty darn good. I haven't had a bad meal here ever.
Left happy hour at Fado ravenous, so we first headed to Quartino. It was packed (hour + wait for 4 people), so I remembered this place as I ride past it everyday on the bus to work. Someone remembered a coworker recommending it for the belly dancers, so we went in with an adventurous spirit. We were seated right away and ordered the falafel appetizer, which was good. I can't quite remember the dish names and their website isn't quite up yet, so I'' do my best to describe our orders. We all ordered dinner, which come with a lentil soup or salad. I recommend the salad as the soup doesn't have too much flavor. I got something spinach off the vegetarian menu, which everyone agreed was the best dish. The beef/pork entree was the next favorite followed by the chicken schwarma. The last chicken dish ordered was dry and not all that flavorful (I'll have to update the name once I remember it). One friend got the Arabian coffee, which has a strange aftertaste: I suppose it's an acquired taste.
We didn't realize that it was a BYOB until after we arrived, and were a little disappointed when the waitress told us the closest liquor store was closed. We experienced the belly dancer and apparently snuck enough sideways glances when she wasn't looking to appease our curiosity but not attract her to our table and drag us out of our seats to join her. I couldn't comment on her skills as I was a first timer, but it was definitely something different...?!? Our server was a bit slow near the end of our meal, but we were trying to get our check while the belly dancing was in full effect, so maybe we were being rude or she thought we wanted to stay for the whole show. I would say this is definitely a place to try, though I'm not sure it will make it into my list of regulars.
I thought the food was ok. I have had better. The only thing that is not great is the service. After i ordered, it literally took 30 min for the food to arrive (i had to get somewhere which is why i was paying attention to the time). So needless to say, i will not go back!
I am not built for sitting on floors
So I rolled in with people of Jordanian, Persian, and Egyptian heritage to sample what this place had to offer. Not really knowing what to expect, the Lebanese cuisine here was reasonable.
Atmosphere: Circa the region near Ed's this is sort off away from the shiny surroundings. Inside there is available seating at tables for four, or you can sit on raised platforms on the floor covered with comfy blankets and pillows, really nice to sit back with a cup of tea and just talk.
Service: They were terrific, very friendly offering their opinions on what to order and always very attentive to our needs.
Food: We also sample different cuisine. I got the Kafta Kabob with rice which came with either Lentil Soup or Salad. I was little disappointed with the portion size, but it was very tasty and the house salad and soup were good also. Other people ordered the Hummus Shwarma and whatever beef dish is under Kafta Kabob (see menu) which people seemed to really enjoy. We washed it off with some tea.
Mommy Factor: Family safe, sanitized for your protection
Date Factor: I think not a bad place to show him/her you are willing to try new things.
Bling: Dishes ran between 12-15 bucks for a dinner entree. I personally thought the portions were smaller than expected, but then again I am sure I have a tapeworm. All in all we spent about 20 bucks for entree and tea at the end.
Upshot: Good food with a fun atmosphere, but I would recommend stretching beforehand if you want to spend 2 hours sitting on the floor.
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I agree with everyone who says this is a great place for birthday parties or large groups. When we arrived, shocker, half our party was late, and they still sat us. I'm always the early one, and I hate being shoved in the bar waiting, and longing for a table. So that was awesome - our wine was corked immediately, and we had a bunch of appetizers - they were so good!
The sharwma was AWESOME - the the beef kabobs were super tender.
Since I went last weekend, I have been craving it, and I need to go back really soon. Oh, and the belly dancer was great - she danced for at least and hour straight.
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I have never been to the actual restaurant but they slipped a menu under our door so we ordered delivery service. The food is excellent, portions are a bit too big if you ask me. We enjoy the houmous, tabbouli, lamb and chicken kabobs or shwarma plates. Their side salad is quite good too.
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This is an excellent dinner-date place -- Fine Mediterranean food, good service, and an intimate atmosphere for conversation -- and besides, nothing breaks the ice better than belly dancers!. Make sure to reserve one of the couch-seating tables, especially if you want to smoke hookah. As mentioned in other reviews, the restaurant is BYOB.
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Great food at a reasonable price. Hummos is great, the shwarma sandwich with fries is good as is the combo plate that gives you three meats. Cozy and friendly atmosphere with low seating option and big open windows. Also good for take-out if you work in River North area.
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If you are in River North this is certainly the place to go for some authentic Lebanese food. The lentil soup is great and whatever else you order you should order that. I also recommend the hummus. Since I have mostly eaten lunch here, I can't comment on the nightlife aspect, nor do I particularly care about that, but beware that smoking does cost $15. You can't go wrong with any of the sandwiches or wraps, although I find the pickled turnip they supply as a side to be really gross, but it's possible someone might like it.
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Went here for a big dinner for my friend's birthday. The food was hit or miss. It gets three stars because the two things every middle eastern restaurant should get right were just average. The pita was lifeless and tasted oddly like pretzel. The hummus was also forgettable. But the baba ganoush was really great, the moussaka was the best I've had (probably because roasted potatoes instead of chickpeas were used), and falafel was light and not too greasy. One of the dishes I had was a spinach and lentil dish strangely tasted exactly like lasagna. Hookahs are tasty but pricey, if that's your thing. Belly dancer provides extra fun on weekends.
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Every time I've been here, it has been a treat. Go authentic and sit in one of the floor-booths where you sit shoeless and cross-legged around a hammered metal table. Make sure to get something with their FANTASTIC hummus. Best in the city? Maybe!
The service here borders on over-zealous but that's certainly preferable to the other way around. I've recommended it before, and I would again.
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We went here the other week in between lunch and dinner so the place was empty and we had our choice of seating.
We crawled into a booth/couch (looks like a booth, but you have to cross your legs) and began ordering away. The food was tasty, but its not the absolute best you can find- my bf is quite an expert on middle eastern food growing up on Bahrain. The hookah was strong and delicious, but you only have one choice of flavor which i believe was apple.
Our server was alittle off, listing to us a million reasons why we couldnt order just a hookah without food. It took me a few minutes to get through to her that we WERE ordering food, if she would stop talking and give us the chance to order. With her big curly hair and long nails she made it clear that she was too good to do anything with her hands, sending over this very young girl every time something needed picked up or dropped off at our table- even though she had no other tables and we were the only people in there. Atleast she was attentive.
Overall, I would go back here again because the decor was so cute with an authentic feel and the food was tasty.
Overpriced Lebanese food. However, if you're in the area and want some decent Lebanese food, then this is your place. They had a belly dancer and fun little tables where you can sit on pillows with no shoes. Fun! But, not worth the hike (for me anyway) and overpriced (goes with the area).
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Great food, service, and entertainment! I never had Lebanese food before my visit to Kan Zaman, but now I'll try it anytime.
Kan Zaman is also a BYOB. Just in case, you forgot your booze, about one block south and a 1/2 block west from the restaurant is a Binny's.
Also, Kan Zaman accommodates large parties. I was there for a birthday gathering with a total of 20 people. The restaurant was able to accommodate us quite nicely with reservations.
I strongly recommend Kan Zaman for anyone.
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I had a blast here. I threw a bachelor party for one of my good friends and the whole group had the best time. The belly dancer was fantastic. The food was really good. The waitress recommended appetizers that were delicious. My favorite was the hush puppy type things filled with meat, those were incredible. Being BYOB was also a huge advantage otherwise our bar tab would have been outrageous. I highly recommend going there if you're looking for something fun and different to do.
I like to go here to eat and smoke hookah. They dont serve alchol so dont forget to bring your own.
I always order the Kabis, a tray with olives, pickles and turnip pickles
(so good the only place I have had it). For my main course I usually get the lentils and rice. The hummus is very good, creamy.
Like watching the belly dancer on Fridays. I sometimes get the food delivered, once they messed up the order.
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I frequent BYOB places often and Kan Zaman is one of my few favorites.
I first discovered it for a girls night out two year ago. We read reviews on Metromix and thought we give it a shot and was in for a pleasant experience. Since then, I've returned many times bringing new people with me.
The service was amazing...these people are genuinely nice. One night, we wanted to sit at the Hookah tables, but was full. So the host said he would call us once a table is open while we grabbed a drink nearby. The wait staff was honest with their recommendations.
Excellent food. My favorite: shish taouk, marinated chicken breast with onion, tomato and green peppers, served along rice and a healthy lime juice salad.
Decor is mediocre...not that it was intended to be fancy anyway...it's just perfect with the family-style size and floor-level Hookah booths. It leaves you with a cozy feeling.
Price is definitely reasonable and affordable. Only drawback is that it closes somewhat early, but still a must go.
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On the same block as Al's Italian Beef and a methadone clinic, you'd expect it to be a dive. But it's nicely appointed inside.
I work a block away, so when I tire of Portillo's (yes, it's possible) and Al's and get so desperate that I'd even consider eating at McDonald's, I get a flash of inspiration and go get a shawerma sandwich. I keep forgetting this place is here, yet I always have a good, cheap meal when I go.
Lunch service is rough, but I usually get carry-out so whatever.
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Really enjoyed the atmosphere, good service, and entertainment (belly dancer). The choice of tobacco was limited, but it was a good smoke. Food was decent but not great.
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Kan Zaman is a great place to celebrate your birthdays especially with a large group. On Friday nights, between 8 and 9 pm, there is a belly dancer who performs for about 45 minutes. Plus, after dinner, it's fun to indulge in some hookah action. Prices are not that cheap, but not outrageous. Be sure to make reservations ahead of time. I don't know if I would go there just to eat with friends. The food was decent and the service is not bad either. It's not my first choice for middle eastern cuisine, but like I said before, it's great to have a birthday dinner due to the large space.
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This is the old Kan Zaman, formerly from Andersonville, and the food is every bit as excellent. Lebanese owned, and highly recommended. Excellent meat dishes - they really know how to grill.
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The Lebanese flag is draped over the hostess stand. I htink they are trying to make a statement. The food has excellent flavor and give great portions for the price. The chicken entree I got was definitely enough for two people and they don't charge to share. I really hate it when places charge extra to bring you another plate. The only issue I had with the meal was that the chicken read on the menu that it came with onions, tomatoes and peppers. It had ONE onion, One piece slice of pepper and ONE Slice of tomatoe.
There was a belly dancer on saturday night and although she did a nice performance, it was far too long. Show me the gimic for one or two songs and let us eat in Peace.
Overall, good food and good value.
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The sign makes it look like a dive, especially comparing it to the glistening red curvaceous sea star entrance of nearby Tizi. Once inside, however, it's fairly nice. To the left are multiple large tables and only three small tables for two. Clearly a group dining establishment. I only had one other person with me making it a bit awkward and much less attention was given to us from the service b/c we were not one such group. To the right when you walk in are the cozy large pillow booths. One large birthday party was going in those while we were there. Pretty decent falafel and hummus. Tried Foul Moudammas, nothing foul about it, quite tastilicious. As the night went on each group seemed to have a hookah delivered one by one. However, I guess you just ask b/c there is nothing on the menu about it. It's obviously BYOB but that appears not to be noted anywhere either except in the appearance of personal wine all over the place. Guess ya gotta ask.
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While there were several *bad* things that happened to us while my party and I were here, overall the experience was great. I went with a large group for a friend's birthday, and I am thinking Kan Zaman is the type of place for large groups, and large groups only. The loudness escalates as the night progresses, and the belly dancer would be odd if you wanted to have a romantic evening out. However, for the group setting, the belly dancing was awesome! The belly dancer is personable and will help you learn some moves, if you are so inclined, or will shimmy next to you if you are into that kind of thing.
The waiter simply asked if we would like appetizers, then walked away only to return with lots of plates of food such as hummus, falafel, feta and olives, and a weird sausage (in oil- not good). Most of the appetizers were good, but we had no option to order what we wanted so it seemed. Upon getting full from the plethora of appetizers, we decided to order three entrees and split. One was chicken sharma, then another chicken dish, and something with beef. All were served with rice. They were delicious, seasoned perfectly. Since it was a friends bday, we let the waitstaff know and they brought us 4 baklava and a piece of chocolate cake. While the baklava was amazing (I didn't have the cake), we were charged for it! We simply said it was her birthday, but didn't know we were going to be charged $12 for a birthday extraveganza. We also didn't know about the $3 per bottle charge for corkage. That was a surprise. Since our bill amounted to $32 a person (we split evenly), no one truly cared. Plus, given the fact we had a great time and didn't mind spending cash on a good friend, we were not about to argue over the bill (also, slurring words and arguing is not attractive).
Kan Zaman is a great location for a group dinner because it provides entertainment and stays on the cheap, while you feel like you are having a very nice, authentic lebanese meal. Just be leary of the odd price additions they suspect no one will care about due to factors such as overall price and group drunkeness.
I believe that BYOB is dangerous. I personally feel the need to finish the bottle of wine (can't take it with you...), which leads to me drinking quite a few glasses.
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Nice atmosphere, and friendly service. The kafta lamb was very good, and I like that you have the option of eating bulgur wheat instead of rice. Overall though, dishes run pretty dry - I actually added olive oil to mine to give it some balance. Chicken shawarma got a bit gummy after the tahini sauce sat on it - that's not something you want it to do.
BYO for alcohol, so come prepared.
Other than the dryness of food, everything felt very authentic - I'd go here for appetizers but head elsewhere for my main meal.
This is a great middle eastern restaurant! Real authentic in the way its decorated and the food they serve and they even have live belly dancers on friday and saturday nights! When you go , definitely get the mazza (sampler) its a little bit of everything and guaranteed to leave you ready to relax with a hookah (regular or flavored tobacco) that you can have by your table side!
One of my favorite hidden treasure in chicago. It looks like a dive, but its a nice one! All the food selections are delicious! You can reserve the couch eating area, you take your shoes off and relax with a nice pillow on your back. The decor is authentic Lebanese and the washroom is always clean. big plus! its BYOB so you definitely have a nice savings and they don't have a cork charge. they bring a chilling bucket for your white wine and pour it for you. the belly dancer is a little entertaining, i guess to each its own...i personally don't prefer to see feet and cleavage when I'm eating. nonetheless, you shouldn't miss a show and order the feta cheese and olives, very good olive oil!
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I love the decor of this place. Its very beautifully decorated. I thought the food could have been better - I actually found it to be a bit bland. But the experience here was great. The service was very good, the decorations were really nice, and the belly dancers provided good entertainment!
I used to go here for lunch, and it was fantastic. However, somewhere along the line, the prices nearly doubled! It's no longer affordable for lunch, and it's often closed when I want dinner. Luckily there's other options. Nice decor though.
Great food, great atmosphere, outdoor seating in the summer, and BYOB (always a plus!) Although the belly dancing is fun to watch, after about 15-20 minutes it's enough (yet she usually goes about an hour).
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Bellydancing AND BYOB--can you believe it? I had a blast at this place. The meze appetizer platter was a great treat. Hummus, dolmades, pita, feta cheese....yum! My boyfriend and I had brought a great bottle of cabernet with us, and the waitress graciously brought us a corkscrew. No charge! Better yet, the table next to us offered us tastes of their wine, as they had brought about 6 bottles with them...:) Clearly, this place can get very social, especially with a bellydancer grabbing diners to get up and dance with her. Anyway, this is a great relaxed place with superb middle eastern appetizers, kebabs, and of course hookahs! Try it out--I liked this place much better than Tizi Melloul. :) Great for groups too!
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