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Kan Zaman
Categories: Restaurants Middle Eastern Restaurants Halal Middle Eastern, Halal [Edit]
617 N Wells StChicago, IL 60654
Neighborhoods: Near North Side, River North
(312) 751-9600
- Nearest Transit:
-
Merchandise Mart (Brown Line, Purple Line)
Chicago-Brown (Brown Line, Purple Line)
Grand-Red (Red Line)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11 am - 10 pm
Fri 11 am - 12 am
Sat 12 pm - 12 am
Sun 3 pm - 10 pm
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
About This Business:
Bombay Spice Grill & Wine offers a unique twist on Indian cuisine: healthy, delicious dishes in a contemporary dining environment. Executive chef Sunil… read more »
148 reviews for Kan Zaman
Review Highlights
"The belly dancer is always entertaining."
(in 35 reviews)
"Lentil soup was spiced (but needed a nip of salt."
(in 20 reviews)
"...the kafta kabob while my husband loves the beef shish kabob."
(in 5 reviews)
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147 reviews in English
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Review from Ryan P.
Chicago, IL
11/12/2011
Kan Zaman is a great restaurant with tasty Middle Eastern food and a friendly wait staff. Their Beef Shish Kabob with bulgur wheat is tremendous and their Vegetarian Combo (hummus, tabouleh, baba ghannouj, falafel, dolma, feta cheese and olives) is great!
Enjoy...
PS...If you had bad service, maybe it was you... -
Review from Adam M.
2/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
This might be an unfair review as I realized I may just no be huge fan of Mediterranean food.
We got the Vegetarian Combo for our table as an appetizer. I enjoyed all the options and really liked the falafel. We took a poll around the table and everyone voted it one of the best they have had.
For my main course I ordered the Shish Tawook Entree. That is marinated breast of chicken chunks charbroiled and served with tomatoes, onions and green peppers. This meal was alright but really nothing special.
I'm not sure if it was Kan Zaman or just Mediterranean food in general, but it's pretty straight forward and bland. I would like something with more flavor or spice to it. -
Review from Steve L.
Chicago, IL
10/27/2011
I went to KZ for dinner this past weekend for a group birthday dinner. There were thirteen of us which means you are going to make a lot of money off of us....so take care of us. And I'm not asking to be pampered. Just, you know, do your job.
We were there for twenty minutes and weren't even offered menus. I had to go up to the counter to both ask for them and ask for a server. NOBODY had been our way. That seemed to wake them up a bit as service (sort of) steadily improved, but I'd never give it more than a 5 out of ten.
As a few people here have sort of alluded to, they really seem to turn their nose up to and roll their eyes towards large groups on a busy night. Our server even hurried us to order insisting that the food would take over an hour if we didn't order right then. Look, Any Restaurant in the World, if you don't want big groups then don't take the reservation.
(Speaking of reservations, after reading some of these reviews I'm glad we even had a table when we got there. Yeesh.)
The food itself was only OK. It was definitely fresh but, again, it was nothing mind blowing.
No, I take that back. My meal was mind blowing. $13.95 for a "Chicken Shawarma Dinner."
Now I've had shawarma at many different places and I've always been under the impression that what makes shawarma "shawarma" is the fact that it's shaved meat. I did some googling to confirm my thoughts and I found nothing to say otherwise. So why did I get a plate of PULLED chicken and rice? It was like a Lean Cuisine but with an actual amount of food.
OK, I will say that the chicken was tasty but it just wasn't shawarma. And it CERTAINLY wasn't worth fourteen dollars.
In the end, I was OK with spending what I spent there because it was a big birthday event. You mentally prepare yourself for these things, you know? And plus one star for the environment (the belly dancer really woke up the room). But if I ever took a date there and experienced that sort of rude and ignorant service and then paid fourteen bucks for the simplest meal on the planet, I'd certainly never return.
That said, it's unlikely I'll ever be back. -
Review from Jami S.
Chicago, IL
1/10/2012
Went on a Friday night to check this place out b/c we heard they have BYOB and belly dancers. Where are you going to get a better combo! :) We got a booth that we had to sit crosslegged which the girls enjoyed but the boys not so much... We brought a couple bottles of wine, no corkage fee is great! The dinner was really good too. If you are looking for something different to do on a friday or saturday, definitely check out Kan Zaman for some good food, service, and entertainment! We will def be back!
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Review from Natalie M.
Chicago, IL
10/3/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I was inspired to go to Kan Zaman for my 26th birthday due to the great reviews on yelp and the belly dancer. I have to say I will most likely not be back.
To get the positives out of the way, the food was good, not to pricey and the belly dancer was a lot of fun.......
On to the heart of the matter, when I made my reservation I specifically requested the authentic booths along the the wall with the lovely cushions. When I called to confirm my reservation a week later, I again made sure there would be a booth for me. When my party arrived at the restaurant, I was told we would be sitting in the back in a corner at a table, and that all the booths had been reserved by other parties. NEVER MIND that I had requested said booth 2 weeks earlier and had been told twice that it would be available. No one bothered to apologize or seemed sorry that my booth was gone. Their suggestion was to split my party up between two smaller booths and thus have a mini divider between us. Waiting to enjoy my birthday dinner, I sat at the table.
Once at the table the service was subpar. After taking our order and bringing the food we never saw our waiter again until it was time for cake. Thankfully the poor bus boy refilled our water or we would have been completly neglected. When it came time to cut the cake, we bummed a lighter from an individual at the table next to us, and when we asked for take out boxes to take the cake home the waiter wanted to know "where was the box the cake came in". They did not offer to take it away and cut it for us, nor did they offer to box the cake.
After all this, the food wasnt really worth it. I must applaud the belly dancer for being the highlight of my evening, but if I wanted a great belly dancing show and OK food, I would have gone to Alhambra where they know how to put on a show. -
Review from Diane H.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 10/16/2011
I came here for the third time on Friday night and was once again not disappointed. We had a group of 9 so I called during the day and made a reservation. We were promptly seated at a great table near the front. The waiter (I forget his name) was great.
Since we had a large group the waiter recommended some apps. He brought out the usual and delicious hummus, tabbouleh, baba ganoush, and then some other that were his favorites but I can't recall the names of. Then he suggested we do family style platters of a few different kebobs for dinner. First he brought salads and then the platters of deliciousness. There was a bed of rice topped with chicken, beef, and I think kafta was the third meat option, and then some grilled tomatoes and green peppers. It was definitely enough food for everyone.
Dinner was great...food, friends, and lots of wine. This is definitely a great place for larger groups but smaller groups or date night would be great here as well.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/20/2011
Came here on a Friday night at 8 for a going away party and had a great time! The staff was great… Read more »
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Review from Ha-ti N.
Chicago, IL
10/5/2011
I am a fan of this place for lunch. I got the kefta kabob lunch entree - a flavor explosion! My friend got the chicken shawerma sandwich. I can't imagine not being satisfied with this lunch. Lunch costs around $7-12 depending on what you get.
The interior is creatively decorated, its warm and comfortable. A sit down place for sure. The service is great as well.
If you're craving some Lebanese or Mediterranean food, hit this place up. Nothing is unsatisfactory! Filling and flavorful yum yummmzzzi -
Review from Anat S.
Chicago, IL
10/24/2011 Seated via OpenTable
I love their falafel and hummus.
The service is great and the atmosphere is very nice as well. -
Review from Kate D.
6/13/2011
Really great place for a group dinner. I dined at Kan Zaman with a group of about 10 girlfriends on Friday night and everyone had fun and enjoyed their meals across the board. And yes, KZ is BYOB!! Bring your bottles kids (although brace yourself for the corkage fee).
We had a reservation for 8pm, although the place didn't fill up until about 9pm. They have long, family-style tables so everyone can share. Our waiter was quick and polite and humored us by taking several group pictures despite the busy restaurant. The belly dancer got the crowd clapping and several mom-looking women shakin' it like Shakira, - well done, belly dancer.
We ordered the vegetarian platter for an appetizer and practically licked the plate clean. We weren't totally sure what everything was, but it was delicious. Most people had beef kabobs as entrees, and a member of our group with food restrictions had no problem getting a gluten-free meal. I had the lentil soup and then hummus chicken. I liked the chicken so much I made my own version at home two days later! YUM.
KZ wasn't 5 stars for me because of the cost. It's a bit pricey for what you're getting, plus a hefty corkage fee (our bill was something like $40/pp). Also, I wouldn't go there on a date. This is a fun, energetic but group-oriented restaurant. There was a couple with a small baby dining while we were there and they looked really uncomfortable and out of place, especially once the belly dancer got going. I'll be back next time I'm planning a quirky, fun dinner with friends. -
Review from Carolyn M.
Chicago, IL
1/8/2012
Excellent dishes, love the lentil soup that they give you with entrees. KZ is reasonably priced and BYOB which is always a perk. Recommend.
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Review from Palak P.
Chicago, IL
10/17/2011
I HAD THE WORST EXPERIENCE EVER AND WILL NEVER RETURN! The system won't let me give it lower than 1 star but it doesn't deserve any stars!
I've come to this restaurant several times before for girls nights since it's byob and have enjoyed it so I decided to host my birthday dinner there this past weekend. I made the reservation a month in advance since we had a party of 20. The guy on the phone confirmed the reservation and the conditions I asked for, being the careful planner I called back a few days after the initial conversation to confirm the reservations. BUT when I called back a week before my birthday dinner to confirm for the third time they could not find my reservation and were upset at me and not very helpful since they were booked to capacity that night. They kept confirming the number in my dinner party because they were short on chairs since they over booked. I was upset but let it go and decided to go and enjoy the rest of my birthday weekend. The service only got worse when we got there. They were rude and did not provide a friendly greeting, they did not like having such a big party there on a busy night and made it very clear. We also had an additional guest attend dinner and they were extremely rude about adding another chair to the table and ignored us for a few minutes so our poor guest had to stand in the corner for a bit. We also never saw our waiter after the order was put in until the check came.
We brought in a cake and they said they would store it in the cooler but ended up leaving it on the kitchen counter next to the hot stove ruining the cake. They never apologized for that!!
The service and attitude from the staff continued to get worse throughout the night and they ruined my birthday dinner. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND NEVER GOING TO THIS RESTAURANT AND ESPECIALLY NEVER HOSTING A LARGE PARTY THERE!!! -
Review from Laura L.
Chicago, IL
6/13/2011
Recently tried this place out for a birthday dinner and had a blast! The food and service were good and the belly dancer was lots of fun!
We made a reservation because of the size of our group, but it seems that if you do dinner before 8ish, you won't have a problem getting a table (but you will miss the belly dancing which starts at 9). I was the first to arrive and brought a bottle of wine with me. They were quick with bringing wine glasses and offering to open the bottle which was great, but I was a little surprised at the $3 per person corkage fee.
We started with the vegetarian combo platter, which was delicious. We were not very familiar with middle eastern/mediterranean food, so this was a great way to try a few things at once. Our group ordered beef kebabs, lamb kebabs, falafel, and the hummus chicken. We had a group member with celiac, and they were very helpful with telling us what was in each of the dishes we asked about and offered to make something special if she needed. It's nice that the entrees all come with a choice of soup or salad, so you don't necessarily need to order an appetizer. The food was so yummy! My one complaint is that I ordered the lamb medium and it came out medium-well. It still had great flavor, though, so not a huge problem.
The belly-dancer came out as we were finishing dinner. We were worried that they would rush us out, as the restaurant was starting to get busy and we were done eating, but they offered to open our last bottle of wine for us while we watched and chatted. The belly dancer probably isn't the best dancer out there, but she was certainly entertaining. She got people to join her dancing and got everyone clapping along.
Overall great group-dining experience. Doesn't get 5-stars from me b/c of the slightly overcooked meat and also because of price. It's a little expensive for the food and the corkage fee is a bit high. We ended up being at about $30 per person. -
Review from ANDREA g.
Chicago, IL
8/17/2011
Favorite restaurant... Ever?! I think so. 1st and most important is the food kabob beef or lamb AMAZING, order medium, melts in your mouth. Falafal, AMAZING! BYOB, affordable... ambiance is great, Friendly staff, location is perfect. Portions great for sharing. I recommend the Arius(?spelling). Free belly dancers about 8 pm on friday and saturday nights, some places you have to pay to sit in the room where the dancers are. Music is festive but not annoying for a romantic dinner.
I don't know what else to say but I LOVE THIS PLACE!!!! -
Review from Anastasia S.
Chicago, IL
5/31/2011
I've been here several times and have always enjoyed the food. The vegetarian combo is great, and the dinner entrees are usually large enough to share.
I suppose dinners are a bit pricey, but it's to be expected in River North. Plus, as I mentioned, dinners can be shared. The lunch specials during the week are a good deal for what you get.
I'd definitely recommend this place. -
Review from Sid P.
Chicago, IL
8/2/2011
Highly recommended. This place looks like your typical Middle Eastern restaurant, but it has a few standout reasons why it's actually one of the best in class. First of all, the portions are generous. The food is fresh and uses excellent quality ingredients. You can taste the love. Second, the staff couldn't be better: friendly, helpful, accommodating and not once intrusive.
This place has ethnic flavor and atmosphere and yet it is completely accessible to its American customer base in downtown Chicago. Lunch prices are reasonable and are big enough to satisfy even my large appetite. Their chicken is impressive because, I swear, it has more flavor than the typical chargrilled sliced or kabob versions which is usually satisfactory for me anyway. I was impressed. And the beef is amazingly tender. Honestly, everything I tasted was great, including the french fries that came with my lunch special sandwich.
Seriously, the Mid-East restaurants near where I live should be glad that Kan Zaman is downtown as it would easily be my go-to place for kabobs, tabbouleh, baba ghanoush, pita, and dolma. -
Review from MeLissa M.
Chicago, IL
3/23/2011
Good things: the food, bellydancer, service for the most part.
Bad things: they charge you for every little thing. I went with a party of 24 and come out with an incredible bill no one felt was fair to what was offered eg the corkage fee is $6 per person, the set menu price that they didn't explain before serving us, and then we had to hunt down our server just to get things paid off.
I felt like the experience of eating here at the end was ruined by prices because it came out like $40 per person when it shouldn't have been. -
Review from Kara B.
Chicago, IL
4/7/2011
Came here for a birthday party and could not have been more unimpressed.
I'm going to start with the service, since that is clearly where this restuarant EPIC failed. First of all, we were not offered menus. We were told we could have menus if we weren't going to go with the family style option. They STRONGLY recommended we do family style. Personally, I love family style and wanted to go that route, I just didn't appreciate their heavy handed behavior. They never volunteered a price for the family style meal (and they wouldn't give us a menu, remember) so eventually we just had to ask.
Throughout the course of the night they continued to do really bizarre, annoying things. At one point, we were asked to hurry up and finish eating because they needed our table. They had yet to bring out our main course! We politely declined because we were in the middle of our meal and felt that it was inappropriate to even ask of us at that point.
Then our meal finally came out, and it was only one small platter of food for a group of 10 people. We saw them bring out to plates of food to tables of 5 - 6 people, so we knew they were trying to cheat us. Another member of my party spoke to them and asked for the additional platter we were owed. We recieved several different excuses (including, you only get one, we forgot and the orders were mixed up?!?!) We requested they bring us the extra platter and after 20 min of waiting they finally did. We were pretty much ready to leave at that point though.
Bellydancer: Ok, so I am probably biased on this point because I belly dance myself and have seen some AMAZING shows here in Chicago but I wouldn't even call what she did belly dancing. It was more gyrating, similar to a nightclub dancer. Ok, fine, but not very inspiring. And really annoying when she kept trying to get you to tuck dollar bills in her clothes like a stripper. Most real belly dancers I know pass a basket at the end because they are artists and not strippers.
Food: It was medicore. Maybe the family style meal gets less effort or something, but all of the food was dry. Very well seasoned but dry. The appetizers were very bland. Overall, nothing to complain about but nothing to write home about either.
So all in all I felt like I spent $40 to eat mediocre food served by people who didn't want me there. Yuck. -
Review from Maram K.
3/17/2011
I go hear a lot and it is always a welcoming environment.
Sometimes we've experienced slow service, but not terribly slow, just slower than normal. And on one occasion, we had overcooked kabobs.
Always accommodated our larger groups, offered suggestions, bread is always fresh, and overall a relaxing environment. Food is authentic and menu is easy to understand for someone who isn't familiar with Middle Eastern Food.
Of all the times we've been here, we've never seen the belly dancer (early afternoon dinners for us).
I've brought out of town friends numerous times and they all loved it. -
Review from Pascale B.
Chicago, IL
9/13/2011
Yummy and would definitly recommend it. From the food to the decore its very ethnic and authentic!
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Review from sandra t.
Chicago, IL
11/4/2010 1 Check-in Here
Let me start by saying, middle eastern is my favorite type of food. So I have been around; middle eastern food that is.
Our server was simply splendid, so kind and very intelligent. We got into a very deep conversation with her. It was quite stimulating.
I had red lentil soup many times, this was very good. It was made differently than others I had. We also had the vegetarian appetizer. It was very good and so fresh. I have to make an extra special comment on the tabbouleh, it was the best, the absolute best I ever had!
We also had middle eastern coffee, I had better. The server did fix it up. Did I mention the server was great?Listed in: Middle Eastern Food
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Review from Peter B.
Lincolnwood, IL
8/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
Waiters were wonderful and atmosphere is great. The food was even better. Would definitely recommend kan zaman if your interested in having authentic Lebanese cuisine. Overall two thumbs up!
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Review from Jose B.
Chicago, IL
9/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
Went here a while ago with a less than enthusiastic attitude and boy was i wrong, the ambiance, delicious food, and entertaining belly dancer (on select nights) were more than enough to change my mind completely!!!
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Review from Abuna D.
Chicago, IL
9/19/2010
Kan Zaman...I really wanted to like you, but you made that impossible. Earlier tonight I was excited about trying the Lebanese restaurant just a 5 minute walk from my house. I called and placed a carry out order, and the gentlemen on the phone told me it would be ready in 10 minutes...perfect! I walked over to the restaurant eagerly anticipating the falafel dinner with a side of tabbouleh that would soon be in front of me.
I walked into a nearly empty restaurant (only 1 table occupied), and approached the host stand. The gentleman at the stand (presumably the same person who took my order) was talking on the phone, and I patiently waited for him to finish. After he finished on the phone, he stood there completely ignoring me (remember...empty restaurant) and continued to do who knows what. A couple minutes pass and he still hasn't acknowledged that I'm standing there, then he goes back to the kitchen and brings out my order without saying a word.
A women walks up to the register tells me the total is $18.80, so I hand her $19 and also ask for a side of hot sauce (I like my falafel spicy!). She glares at me with a look of disapproval, and asks the man to go get the hot sauce. He comes back and puts the hot sauce in the bag, and the women tells me they've given me everything I need and I can go.
I ask her for the change, she barks back that its only $0.20 cents and proceeds to point out that she didn't charge me for the 0.5 oz of hot sauce I got on the side. Clearly its not about the $0.20, but that was completely lost on her.
Needless to say, I won't be inconveniencing them with my business in the future. Especially when I can just go to "Old Jerusalem" about a mile up Wells St. It is a shame to, because the food I ordered was actually quite good and I could have seen myself ordering from here often.
Food: 3.5
Service: 0 -
Review from Vineet S.
11/3/2010
Even though I am not a very big fan of Middle Eastern Cuisine, but went to Kan Zaman to explore more. We started off with Lentil Soup which was good. Our server was very nice and we had a very good conversation with her. We ordered the Vegetable Combo on our server advice. It was kind of Ok not that great.
We finished our lunch with some turkish coffee.But we could not gulp it down So we got the coffee remade.
The menu is reasonably priced. They do have belly dancing on Friday evenings if you one likes that. -
Review from Janet E.
7/25/2010
We walked in around 1pm on a Friday and we were the only table there. Shortly after two other parties arrived after us. Definitely come here for lunch because the place is not packed and has lots of seating.
We ordered the beef and lamb kabob and the beef and lamb shawarma. Both dishes came with rice or something that looks like brown rice (I couldnt figure it out). I'm not a huge fan of rice or brown rice, but they tasted pretty good. All the meat was VERY tender and delicious! I always worry about meat being overcooked and extremely tough to chew, but this stuff was yummie!!!!
Service was good. The place was clean and most of all AIR CONDITIONED!!! We're so glad we came here! -
Review from julie q.
1/11/2011
Went for dinner on Friday around 7:30. Hummous is awesome...food was fantastic...my friend got the mediterranean spinach - it was like eating a stuffed spinach pizza from Giordao's. It was that good. My hubby got the combo plate and the filet was to die for. I got the kefta kabob. Super good. Service was great, belly dancer was super cute, and the hookah was fantastic. If I can't make the trek up to Semirami's I'll definitely come here instead. Super good and fun.
By 8:30, the place was PACKED! -
Review from Shradha A.
Chicago, IL
1/5/2011
What they did well?
+ accommodate a very large party of people (22)
+ byob
+ belly dancing and hookah
Why only A-ok?
- food was very mediocre, especially vegetarian selection
- they forgot part of our order and after we told them so, still made no effort to bring it out -
Review from Boon K.
6/19/2011
Best place to go for big group outing, I have had my birthday, thrown Bachelorette party here. If you call ahead, they can get your group set up with appetizers, Kabobs, and deserts family style for about $20 a person. I think they have the best falafels and they have belly dancers on the weekend great for dinner and then you can head to the bars after.
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Review from Jen B.
11/29/2010
Kan Zaman is a pretty fun dining experience but not the best option for lunch as service is slow. My party of four sat "Indian-style" in the cushiony booths to the right of the entrance. I think you have to ask to sit here, otherwise they put you in the pretty boring section with regular tables.
We started off with the appetizer sampler platter. It's a great way to try a lot of different snacks: hummus, tabbouleh, dolmas, feta and few other goodies. I loved the hummus but wish it didn't come topped with onions.
I got the falafel sandwich for my entree. It was delicious but a total carbsplosion. And it came with fries. There were not a lot of veggie options (most things include lamb or beef) so it's hard to eat your way around the falafel. Maybe try coming here for dinner. It's impossible to concentrate after eating on these sammies. I just wanted to lay back in the booth and take a nap afterwards.
Like I said, service is SLOW and then became non-existent. We literally had to walk back into the kitchen to find someone to bring us our bill. So not the best lunch option but definitely worth a try if you like Mediterranean food and are in the mood for a unique dining experience. -
Review from Tania H.
Austin, TX
If you are Lebanese you can truly appreciate the authentic food here!! What a surprise!!!
I am always skeptical of Lebanese restaurants in the US it's kinda like you never know what you're going to get and what spin they will be putting on things... This is truly exactly how it would be if you were in Lebanon. The portions, the presentation and the flavors are very traditional and authentic
BYOB is typically not how it rolls but you do need to be aware of this if you are planning to enjoy a drink with your meal.
To be honest i can't vouch for the meats and kababs at this place, but what i sampled was exactly how it should be: Hummus, Tabouleh, Kebbeh, Falafel and Lubieh were all cooked well and seasoned perfectly at the exception of adding some salt or lemon here and there.
Highly Recommend.. can't wait to go again next time i'm in the windy city! -
Review from Michael L.
Lake Forest, IL
4/18/2011
A co-worker got take out from here for my Birthday lunch which made for a nice afternoon. I had the steak kabob with rice and was very happy with my selection. I liked that you they gave you a choice of how done you preferred the meat. I asked for medium and it may have been cooked alittle more thatn that, but it was still moist and very flavorful. The yellow, probably basmati, rice was a nice side as was the tahini sauce that accompanied the order. You can also choose bulgar wheat instead of rice for a healthier option. I will definitely try Kan Zaman again.
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Review from Helen C.
4/19/2010
I don't think we knew it was BYOB. In fact I'm certain and this is why: they serve Lebanese wine. It is, according to the extremely friendly waiter who rather unnecessarily wrote his name on the tablecloth and spelt it very s-l-o-w-l-y out loud (we hadn't even had the wine yet), 'the best'. Funny that, since it's the only wine you have.... Normally, this would prompt me to dart across the street and buy something - anything - else. But alas, I was out with work and that wasn't an option. Nor was darting anywhere, at that stage.
So - the wine is truly atrocious. So BYOB. Just a tip.
Aside from this, the food was ok. Very good falafal, and very good dolma, tasty sauage, and reasonable baba ganoush, with generous starter portions. I'd stick with these though, and have yourself a little meze, rather than move onto entrees. I had a beef shish kebab, and although the meat was incredibly tender, the rice was overcooked and bland, and the salad was a bit of a waste of time. All in all, the flavour promised by the starters was sadly lacking thereafter.... this didn't matter too much as I'd eaten rather too much hummus so I was full, but I'd be gutted if I'd paid full price. God bless expense accounts.
The server was over-enthusiastic - which riles me because I'm a miserable Brit, and really, I can spell. Sorry. Not my thing. He said everything was 'the best', which is not helpful when you're trying to pick a dish. Also, when I went to the ladies', a bloke - presumably a chef - walked out. Bad form. Left the seat up. Worse form.
Having said that, we were a party of 8, late on a Thursday, and half of us were on the tipsier side, so the staff did well to look after us. The restaurant itself is quite cosy and homely and I'd happily pop by for some bread and hummus if in the mood for a bit of Lebanese food. I'll bring my own bottle though. -
Review from colin b.
Chicago, IL
4/5/2011
Not the best falafel I've had, but for being cheap, around the corner from my office, and an alternative to the salad bar, I like this place. I've never been at night, but during the day it's relatively empty but not in a depressing way. attentive service and a wide range of vegetarian options make this place a pretty good place for lunch!
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Review from Joel H.
Chicago, IL
7/17/2011
Good service, and nice menu selections for the Middle Eastern pro or first timer. I really liked the bulgar wheat option in addition to rice or french fries for the healthy enthusiast like myself. Food did not "blow me away" but it was good, and I would definitely go back. We also sat by the large open windows on a nice day and it was a great addition to the experience.
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Review from Bob B.
Austin, TX
12/29/2010
Simply Amazing!
I tried this place a few months back with my friends and just loved it!
Food was really delicious and all my friends really enjoyed the food at this place. It is a bit pricey but in the end, it was worth it. Service was good, and the atmosphere is something to delve more into. -
Review from Krsna V.
10/19/2009 1 Check-in Here
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!Listed in: Playin' it safe, Date night, Mr. United Nations, Ethnic nights, Downtown living
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Review from Michael P.
Chicago, IL
4/3/2010
KZ is my go-to middle Eastern spot.
My advice, get the vegetarian combo (if you want it for dinner, you have to order it from the "appetizer" section - whatever, just labels).
Every one I bring there orders something else, and when they see how beautiful the veg-com is, they always say "Man, I should've gotten that"
Still haven't made it there for the belly dancing on weekends ...
Top service, good diet Cokes, good arabian coffee.
Baklava was so small as to be laughable, don't bother with that.
Six flags. More flags, more fun! -
Review from Emily D.
Chicago, IL
5/5/2009
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? -
Review from Amanda Z.
10/14/2009
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.Listed in: B.Y.O. Pleeeease?!, I geek for the Greek...or…
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Review from Nilda R.
Chicago, IL
7/10/2008
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.
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