On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Category: Middle Eastern [Edit]
Neighborhoods: Near North Side, River NorthMerchandise Mart (Purple Express, Brown)
Grand (Red)
Loading...
Yo, dawg! Do the downward dog before you get here. You will need some stretching before sitting on the floor style seating.
Rainy evening, dinner time, looking for something different from standard fare. We walk into Kan Zaman. The host offered us the floor style seating. I was immediately hooked.
This is like eating at your Lebanese aunt's house. Or, in my case, my Moroccan, Algerian, and Libyan peeps' homes. Sitting around a big circular plate and sharing a meal with family members (I was the only non-family member at such dinners). Ah, the joy of growing up in North Africa. Took me back to the good old times.
The husband struggled a little with the seating. His waspy ass is not accustomed to sitting cross legged during dinner. I, on the other hand, have incredibly flexible legs due to my whorish past (and present). My legs automatically assumed the lotus pose upon sitting.
Started with the vegetarian combo for an appetizer: a sampling of hummus, tabouleh, baba ghannouj, falafel, dolma, feta cheese and olives. The portion size was big enough to be a dinner entree. Everything was well prepared - silky hummus, salty feta, tangy tabbouleh, and crunchy falafel. We were full from just eating the appetizer. A 5 star item.
I got the lamb special, the husband ordered chicken shawarma. My lamb was absolutely perfect - shank of lamb slow cooked to perfection. I didn't have to use my knife to get the meat off the bone. It fell off as soon as I put my fork on it, and melted in my mouth. Definitely a 5 star dish. The husband's shawarma was good.
Did not get dessert because all they have is baklava. Not a fan of sweets.
I hear they have hookah, but I am a non-smoker, so I wouldn't know anything about it.
Do it, get the floor style seating, be transported into the middle east.
Ladies, if you are on a first date, you can tell how good this man can be in bed if he can sit through the length of the meal without being uncomfortable. A flexible man is a good man to find... just like a hard man :)
And, gentlemen, same rule applies for your lady date. You know she is a keeper when you see her stretch and maneuver her legs.
And now, fellow 'mos, if you see your guy/ girl assume various "poses" through dinner, you know you are definitely getting laid after dinner. I know from experience! Hey-yo!
A tip for all the ladies out there: Do not opt to sit on the pillowed "floor" seats if you have chosen to wear a dress or boots with funky socks. You end up sitting funny, for starters and also, everyone can see your stupid socks (cuz you have to take your shoes off.)
Helpful hints aside, this place was our savior on date night. Our initial plan to drop into Club Lago for its opening was thwarted due to everyone and their mother being there that Saturday night. That left us in River North with no din-din.
BYO in River North? You've got it! $5 corkage, but the sweetest server ever, and a friendly manager that kindly opened the windows when it was stuffy on the inside. A belly dancer shaking her thang set further set the mood for a very "Arabian Nights" style date.
Oh yeah, we ate too. The hummus was lovely and full of olive oil goodness, served alongside a variation of a pita. Lentil soup was spiced (but needed a nip of salt). I stuck with my usual kafta kabob cuz I love my salty meats. This one did not disappoint. Tender, flavorful, and just wonderful. I enjoyed wheat bulger on the side (the rice was good too) along with grilled tomato, onion, and green pepper.
We sampled the baklava for dessert (what else goes with the final bits of a bottle of wine than sweet stuff, right?) and it was perfect. Light, crispy, and perfectly sweet, it ended up being a lovely ending to our meal.
Great for a large group or for a date, bring your wine or beer, your favorite people, and wear matching socks.
Been here a couple times now. Both for dinner with big groups. Both during belly dancing!
Just to cover, the food is pretty good; the standard genuine Mediterranean done very well. Kabobs, shwarma, kafta, rice, hummus, etc. So if anything, don't worry about getting something you won't like to eat. You'll like it.
The biggest aspect of Kan Zaman is the atmosphere, I feel. This place is great for groups, family-style dinner; the space and the service was made for it. The service is a quick and efficient, if not a little curt. And it can get a little rowdy, depending on how many/big groups there are (especially during the belly dancing).
but then the same rowdiness/energy coming from all these groups can be a little distracting/intimidating as well, as every group continually checks each other out and it becomes a big BYOB/cheers/bday singing competition. the belly dancing portion of the night probably lasts a bit too long; a straight hour of one dancer and blasting music. the first 30 min is probably long enough to enjoy the novelty, the last 30 min is probably unnecessary and a little awkward... especially after seeing the dancer get out as quick as possible after she's done, like a belly dancer version walk of shame
also, i guess there's a "per-bottle" BYOB corkage fee. this means bring a couple huge bottles of alcohol/wine instead of a lot of regular ones.
anyhow, a solid choice for Mediterranean food and large groups. just get ready to get rowdy
The first night of my first trip to Chicago brought me to Kan Zaman. A friend and I went walking around my hotel at the Merchandise Mart and stopped here. It was just what I wanted after a long day of traveling -- comfy seating (take off your shoes and settle into a booth lined with pillows and rugs) and a warm atmosphere. Our server was friendly and attentive, but never rushed us. And the food was tasty -- I had falafel and rice with lentil soup; my companion opted for the evening's special (lamb, potatoes, peppers, and tomato sauce with rice). Finished with a mini pot of mint tea (with fresh mint leaves floating in it). The whole meal warmed me up and stuck to my ribs, easing the transition from Atlanta to Chicago for my chilly October visit. We left shortly after the belly dancing started at 9:00 -- she put on a fun show, but it was too loud to talk.
I understand that the location is River North, and the rent is high - but I wasn't expecting to pay 2x-5x as much for the same food as I get up on Kedzie, in smaller portions no less. The food, as far as middle eastern fare is concerned, is not bad. Hummous is nothing special, sharwarma is pretty decent, falafel o.k. The shawarma pita sandwich is woefully small, however. The fries that accompanied the sandwich were mediocre at best.
This would all seem like 3-star review material; alas, it is not. I came in for lunch with a friend, when there was one other party in the restaurant. We ordered, and other tables started filling up. As the 25 minutes elapsed between our order and getting our food, we watched as every table but ours received theirs before us. Our waitress seemed to forget our existence; we had to yell to another waitress to ask why our food was taking so long. "There was a problem in the kitchen." Yeah - a problem that affected us and no other table? Please.
Anyway, I will not be returning to this place. Overpriced, small portions, average food, and crap service. Oh- and I almost forgot - the bus boy decided to try to take away our hummous while I was eating it. Shameful. Best of luck to everyone else!
-Cozy, quiet atmosphere - relaxing with the doors open in summertime
-Authentic seating and food
-Chicken Schwarma is a great dish
-Excellent Hummus
Kan Zaman is a little gem in River North that I am SO glad we discovered on lunch.
Their pita is different than other pita I've had before. I guess what I really mean by that is that the pita is actually authentic, and doesn't come from a plastic bag :)
I prefer to order their vegetarian plate-- complete with dolmas, falafel, rice, olives, hummus, and baba ghannouj. honestly... does it get any better?
their fava bean appetizer dip is also to die for!
in short, go for a visit. the firendly staff, great food, and choice of interesting seating will have you coming back.
Detroit is known for plenty of things, not many of them good at the moment, but it will always have a mighty big place in my heart with an artery or two saved for baklava and falafel on Warren Avenue. Michigan, and specifically the Detroit area, has the second largest population of Arab Americans in the country, after California.
So I'm not effing around when it comes to hummus, kafta, kibbeh, baba and his little brother ghanouj. I'm mighty protective. I don't claim to be Lebanese or Syrian, but I have a few taste buds reserved just for that part of the world and I guard them with it's some serious artillery. A fortress with Khalil Gibran standing watch under a cedar tree.
You get the picture. We walked into Kan only because it was BYO (nevermind they charge you a $10 'corkage' fee, even though we had a screw top. . . a bit bogus). I was also ready to invite Chicago's Middle Eastern into the buds. And the flavors really didn't disappoint.
Was it crazy good like the rave reviews I hear from Albany Park haunts and Sultan's? Not a chance. But did we thoroughly enjoy our olive oily, creamy hummus, warm (but store bought, lose a star) pita, beef and lamb shish and falafel plate? Yes. The staples scored, so I'd be back to get pine nutso over this place.
The ambiance is nice, the service was mostly helpful, though a bit distracted on a slow Monday night. The beef kabob was about the most tender cuts of meat I've had in kabob form. I don't know how close it stuck to hallal, but I'm not adding up demerits for that.
We ended the meal with baklava (can you EVER get enough rose water syrup??) and a lovely tiramisu. All in all, though the dishes were interchangeable save their main ingredients, we walked away happy and flushed. I'd love to come back when it's packed. Because Middle Eastern food just isn't the same without the pluck of a lute and hookah smoke, right?
In a former life, I worked as a waitress at a medeterranian restaurant, and have a soft spot in my heart for that style of food. I think that overall, Kan Zaman was decent, but not somewhere I'm aching to return. Based on the food - 3 stars. The comments below will explain the tragic loss of a star...
The food was good - solid, nothing flashy. I had the lentil dinner, and have had the spinach also, and enjoyed it...again, nothing all that exciting, but food is food...I guess. The other people I was with got a range - most got the chicken cabob - and all had food remaining when the meal was over. The appetizer platter was some of the best - but that tends to be my favorite part of the meal anyway. :) Great hummus, feta, etc. Very fresh.
So I have two other comments about this place - one that gives it a plus, and another that was somewhat uncomfortable.
Plus side: It's BYO. Great, great byo place...reasonably priced food, good for groups, etc.
Negative: So they have belly dancers...yah. The music that was played was so loud that my fellow diners (not a demanding crew) asked if it could be turned down somewhat b/c we couldn't hear each other talk across the table...our request was denied. Pair that frustration with the odd fact that some tables occupied by creepy guys who were clearly there only for the show, and oggled you each time you had to walk by to go to the bathroom. I appreciate the attempt to bring some culture to the experience, but this perhaps is a great example of the difference between an idea that's good in theory but fails in practice...
All in all, would go back with a group for cheap food and byo...but would make an effort to avoid the belly dancing.
My husband and I are big Middle Eastern food lovers (he is from Iraq). We passed this place a few times, since it's close to our neighborhood. We finally went in with expectations of nothing special, and we were pleasantly surprised.
First, the lentil soup is the best I've had in ages! I decided to eat vegetarian and the selection was great. The Foul Madamas (fava beans) was really tasty and the Dolmas (grape leaves) were spiced to perfection. The rice had a unique spice to it that I have not tasted in other restaurants, and it was prepared just perfectly. Very yummy. I left completely satisfied for a reasonable price.
We sat at the window and enjoyed the open air. Our waiter was Mayson. He was incredibly attentive to our needs, checking on us often and even telling us a bit more about the food and introducing the owner. He's a top rate server.
I was really happy to find that the reviews just didn't do it justice.
I had the beef shish kabobs last night and the steak was sooooo tender and delicious. The rice that came with it was immaculate. The hummus and pita was very good too. I never had lebanese food before and it was awesome. definitely coming back here!
I would have given this place 3-stars had the service not been so off-putting. The food itself was delicious: super tender beef shish kabobs, smooth hummus, plump shrimp... but the wait staff was too brash for my liking.
Upon sitting down we were told we had to hand back half of our menus and "share" because they needed them for other customers. Then we were basically ordered to get appetizers by the waitress, who then got a bit angry when we said we didn't want all of her suggestions. Our food took forever and one dish was late because it was forgotten. The manager routinely came to our table to tell us to tip the belly dancer, even though we were not participating and trying to eat our meal. Just made for a undesirable experience.
Kan Zaman... I do not like you. But if you polled my group of friends I'd be the 1 of 20 dissenting vote. Maybe it's the cheesy interior, maybe it's the forced one entrée per person rule, maybe it's the strange mob vibe I get from the man in charge... I don't know. Actually, I think it's pretty much that every time I enter the establishment I feel like I'm spending way too much on sub par food, even for a BYOB.
But I do love that belly dancer.
This place is ok, not great. Its pros and cons effectively balance to mediocrity.
The food: more or less it's not bad. The hummus is a travesty; it needs more of everything, i.e. tahini, lemon, salt. The meats are good, good marinades and flavorful. They cook red meat to order decently as well. The plating is pretty bad, just some chunks of meat on a bed of white rice. No color, no other flavors, nothing. They certainly could make some more interesting sides, or do SOMETHING with the rice at least - maybe some dill? Honestly, I was bored and for almost $20 for an entree, I shouldn't be. The value is terrible, but I guess you're paying for the ambiance. I'd rather have reasonably priced quality food personally.
Ambiance: Music is WAY too loud. I could not hear what people at my table were saying. At times we just gave up and sat there in silence. Eating on the floor is quaint, but I could take it or leave it. The service was fine. $10 to open a bottle of wine and wash a few glasses seems excessive.
I can't believe Kan Zaman received so many negative reviews. I absolutely LOVE this place. I've dined here at least 6 times and every time my food and service have been outstanding. The have a vegetarian combo appetizer (about $10) that is delicious. It has hummus, baba ganouj, falafel, dolmas, and tabbouleh. I've had their schwarma, chicken kabobs, and kibbeh and have loved it all. They have some tasty rice too that's served with most dishes. The only downfall is that if you want to share a dish they charge $7 for a split plate charge; so either come really hungry or expect to have leftovers. The average cost of a meal is $14; this includes a salad or soup.
Kan Zaman is a BYOB (they charge $5 for a corkage fee) and they have belly dancers on Fridays and Saturdays (I think starting at 9). They take reservations too.
I was looking for an out of the ordinary dinner experience when a friend suggested this restaurant. We called to make reservations and were told that there was no chance of a table. I am a eternal optimist so I figured we would give it a try anyway.
When we arrived we were seated right away. When we didn't byob the manager was more than hospitable. My husband's kaboob was far better than my schwarma. (had a strange nutmeg pumkin spice) The grilled cheese plate, falafel, lentil soup, and house salad were tasty.
The belly dancer wasn't exactly what I would call authentic but quite entertaining and I definitely enjoyed dancing with her. I would suggest this restaurant as a break from the typical dining experience.
The food here is excellent. I've been here many times for lunch, and only once was it sub-par. On this particular day it smelled a bit smoky in the restaurant as if there had been a small fire in the back. Their solution? Open the doors! This was in February, in Chicago. I could see my breath and wore my coat for the entire meal.
I am only giving this place three stars there due to their service. The service is average to poor, don't expect them to come to your table often or hurry back when you ask for something.
Seriously, I've probably passed by this place about a hundred times before finally going in.
First time eating there was for a bachelorette party. I made reservations for a Saturday night, and we were pleasantly surprised that a belly dancer was there (they're there every Saturday around 8 pm)! We brought two bottles of wine, ordered plenty of appetizers (I recommend the feta with olives and the hummus plate) and delish main dishes (the chicken shish tawook is *amazing* -- you must try it).
The atmosphere on the "booth" side of the restaurant was very romantic -- low lighting, plenty of room to snuggle, etc. The other side of the restaurant had tables and chairs, perfect for casual diners.
Overall, the experience was awesome. I didn't give it a full "5" because the bathroom situation was a little sketchy (1-seater per sex, and the women's room door seemed to be perma-locked), and my mom's baklava is definitely tastier (theirs was a bit dry).
Delicious food, reasonably priced, BYOB - along with interesting decor and a cool vibe. We sat in a booth that was filled with cushions and held a giant silver platter as our "table." It was really neat but I wasn't sartorially prepared - note to the ladies: don't wear a skirt if you plan on sitting in the cushion seat area!
I loved the lentil soup and my entree - chicken shawarma on a bed of hummus. The chicken was fantastic and such a huge portion. It would have been enough for a dinner + lunch the next day. The falafel dinner was also gigantic - I want to say the plate had about 10 falafel balls! Hummus was very creamy and I loved the freshly-baked pita bread. I normally don't go crazy over very thin pita bread but this was quite delicious. The baklava was a nice treat for dessert - just a few bites but that's all you really need.
I'll definitely be back and I thought that BYOB was a nice touch. I didn't even know there were BYOB restaurants in this part of the city!
Kan Zaman's paper-thin pita bread tastes like stale communion wafers. If you have to order their unoriginal tasteless hummus paste, I'd just eat it by the spoonful.
The beef kabob, however, was fantastic. I usually do not expect much from a kabob, quantity wise. But this one; this one was generously festooned with perfectly cooked meat. It might be the most satisfying kabob there is to be had in Chicago. Maybe I am qualified enough to make that kind of statement.
Hey Kel! If you're reading this, you should know that "belly dancer" is not synonymous with "stripper." Under no circumstances should you ever stick a one-dollar bill into a belly dancer's (bejeweled) underpants. I
Head's Up: the Hookah is gone. Thanks to the City of Chicago's newly minted smoking ban, any establishment that derives 80% or more of its revenue from food service may not allow smoking in its premises.
After reading some of the (2008) reviews of KAN ZAMAN, I had assumed that there was some exception to the ordinance that allowed this great restaurant to keep the hookahs. No such luck. And it's a shame, since Kan Zaman was supposedly the first place in Chicago to have hookahs.
No matter. The food was awesome. The lady and I came here for a lavish two hour feast before heading over to the Lookingglass Theater last night. It was early on a Wednesday night and there was no one else in the restaurant when we arrived.
Valet parking was $8 across the street in the Carson's lot.
Starters were hummos and korma (stuffed grape leaves). I'm accustomed to having grape leaves with a yogurt dipping sauce, but these were excellent simply served warm with a squeeze of lemon. Hummos was the best I've had in Chicago (although options here are somewhat limited).
Lady had chicken kepab over cracked wheat - a bonus since most places only have rice as an option. I had the vegetarian moussaka. The 1.50 baklava was a decent finish, although not nearly as good as the rest of the meal.
Our waiter was excellent. He uncorked and poured our wine (no corkage fee that I recall) without any prompting. The timing was perfect and we did not feel rushed at all.
My only complaint is that we got there so early, the staff didn't seem prepared for dinner service to begin. A television was playing in the other room and the lights only dimmed about halfway through the meal. Nonetheless, the lady and I will be back here again soon.
I've been putting this off for two years and I can be silent no longer:
KZ has the best fattoush, the silkiest hummos and the most consistently delicious lentil soup I've found in Chicago.
The pita is always the perfect texture and temperature, and the zaalouk and lubia are delicious.
I'm moving in.
Since I work on the block, Kan Zaman is on my rotation for lunch spots. I generally order for carryout but on occasion will eat in. The restaurant is nicely decorated, with tables and booths with cushions for the hookah smokers. Service is always very pleasant there. In my experience the food here is the best of it's kind that you'll find in the city, but it is also not cheap (anymore). I don't want to say "overpriced" because the food is well worth it, but you will pay a little more here than at other similar restaurants like Reza's down the street. They've gone through a few menu and prices changes over the years, got rid of the lunch specials, no more substitutions, etc.
I continue to patronize them (though not as often) because I am hopelessly addicted to their creamy, wonderful hummus - the texture of this stuff is divine! The chicken shawarma sandwich (which now comes with seasoned fries - no price break if you don't eat fries though) is tender and delicious, always with fresh tomatoes. They have a chicken salad that is so good it deserves a fancier name than "chicken salad".
This place was pretty awesome. My man took me here for a surprise dinner date last night, and I was thrilled. It's so hard to find good mediterranean food in Chicago!
We ordered two appetizers (hummus and grape leaves), and two entrees. All of the entrees are also served with your choice of lentil soup or salad, and they are quite generous - if we hadn't been going to the theater from there, I would have had at least half of my entree to take home for another meal.
The decor is great, the service is attentive but not intrusive, and the food is fantastic - highly recommended!
This place is right by my work, so I frequent it for take out. I usually stick with a combo of hummus and falafel appetizers and make my own falafel sandwiches back at the office (to avoid yucky sogginess). I've also had the chicken shawarma entree. Both choices are fresh and delicious, and well-packaged to keep the food warm. The staff have always been friendly and efficient.
I've dined in on a few occasions as well, and the service is attentive and fast (my work schedule is a little crazy, so my lunch is usually during non-busy times). The decor is maybe a tad overdone, but it's a comfortable dining room. I've never used the restroom, so you're on your own there.
I'd definitely recommend Kan Zaman for lunch, and I hope to make it back to the 'hood for dinner sometime to see the belly dancer in action.
0
5
Lunch diner a few times now and have had mostly the vegetarian sampler and a few sides. They do very well on the basic items like hummus, that is very smooth and mild, baba ganoush, fallafel that is small but not over cooked, grape leaves, again small but good flavor. I am not a big fan of the pita which is very thin but is not bad. Service is acceptable and it is nice to have Lebanese patrons mixed in with other diners.
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.
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
Update to my previous review:
Noted the the following on my third visit:
1.) each individual must order an entree otherwise they charge you $7 for sharing.
2.) there is a $2/person corkage fee
3.) they charge you extra for sauces
4.) the shishtawook is delish
5.) service wasn't as slow this time
please see my other review for more info...
I came here for a friend's bday in October and had a really great time. I decided to try it once… Read more »
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.
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.
This place convinced me to register because of how awful the service was. The appetizers came out wrong and we had to beg for bread. They screwed up our entrees and did not apologize. They ran our credit cards incorrectly. We finally complained to the manager about the 18% mandatory tip and he wouldn't "let us" lower it, which i have never experienced.
The food was average: hummus and other vegetarian items were bland, meat dishes were decent.
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.
Kan Zaman is a swell spot for Mediterranean, whether for lunch or dinner. The hummus and the various schwarmas are pretty awesome, and there is plenty to choose from on the menu. They deliver, and have gotten it to me within a half hour.
I'm only knocking a few points off for the last two times I went there for lunch, and they double charged my credit card. The first time I called and they said the manager would call me, and he never did. The second time, I just disputed the charge on my card. Several co-workers have had the same experience.
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.
The only thing that kept this restaurant from 5 stars was the female hostess yesterday.
Awesome location. Waitstaff friendly, but not too friendly. (You know, not silly or giggly.) The food was exquisite and decently priced. We even sat in the booths, where you take your shoes off and sit at the table on beautifully embroidered cushions.
Note: There's no wine or beer at this restaurant. A slight let-down on my day off, but a Coke held me over. :)
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!
I just want to update this to say that a few weeks ago, the big party next to us basically took us in to their party, administered foot massages, and offered up their beer. Then they asked about my bag and my dimples, and we couldn't leave without high-fives all around. Awesome! It's just a fun atmosphere when everyone goes shoe-less. Never a bad time here!
Every time I've been here, it has been a treat. Go authentic and sit in one of the floor-booths… Read more »
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.
Ah, I went here today after the Gay Marriage Anti-H8 Rally. It was perfect timing! We were starving, freezing and with tired feet. My friend whipped out her Peach Schnapps to warm us up. Thanks to the BYOB warm eating environment, delicious home-mixed chai/mint tea and comfortable floor cushion seating...we almost fell asleep after a filling meal. While the rice was a bit blah, the falafels and hummus were yummy. The service was friendly and laid back. I'd probably go back for their lunch special when I'm in the area.
Neighborhood: Dunning
Category: Middle Eastern
Neighborhood: Lakeview
Category: Tobacco Shops
Neighborhood: Ukrainian Village
Category: Hookah Bars
Neighborhood: Near North Side
Category: Mediterranean
Neighborhood: Near West Side
Category: Nightlife
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
Dinner in River North? C'est facile. Lunch? Not so…
The 3 and 4 star ratings. It's like you are almost…
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
Where to go for chickpea goodness. (And the places…
My favorite cafes to hit up and enjoy a cup of…
Opa! Love the saganaki, love the atmosphere...just…
