From: gft_robert@gsbacd.uchicago.edu (opcode ranger)
Subject: Re: Where's good Middle Eastern Food?
Organization: 
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 1992 22:17:24 GMT

For another interesting Middle Eastern part of town check out Kedzie between
Wilson and Lawrence (and just north of Lawrence too).  There is a mix of
Korean, Thai and Arab stores/restaurants there, so it's an interesting mix.  My
favourite pita bread in town comes from the "Al Alkhayam" (or something like
that) bakery on the West side of Kedzie just south of Lawrence.  They
distribute all over the city.  There seem to be good sweets at the Holy Land
bakery on the same side of the street just north of Lawrence, but I've not had
much there.  In the (mostly Korean) shopping mall across the street (100 feet
north of Lawrence, on the East side), there's an interesting looking sweet
shop, open 9-9 everday.  Haven't checked it out, but plan to.  There's also a
mid-east restaurant there (the Nile) that looks pretty good, but -- again -- I
haven't tried it out.

The 'Middle East' bakery on Foster (north side) just west of clark has quite
good pita bread, and on weekends they make a really good thick 'n' chewy bread
with lots of little dimples in it.  They have good babaganoush there, as well
as tasty meat, spinach, and spinach/cheese pies.  There sweets seem OK, but
nothing too special.  Their hummus is not so hot, but they make a really good
flat meat pie (meat spread on top of thin bread).  They'll heat things up for
you there, and you can get stuff right out of the oven if you get there at the
right time.  They also have falafel.

A quite good mideast rest.  I've found is called "Cousins" on Broadway, just
north of Diversey on the West side of the street.  They make a large variety of
dishes, and they're all quite good indeed (as confirmed to me by someone who
grew up in Syria). BUT: their portion size has gone down from huge to normal
and I haven't been frequenting there in awhile, so you'll need to check it out
yourself.  They make all sorts of chicken, meat and veggie dishes.  Forewarned:
as of last time I was there, there was no bathroom, so try to use the one at
the Century mall around the corner if you need to go.

Another interesting place I went to (only twice though) was a small Egyptian
hole-in-the-wall in Rogers Park, on Sheridan, right near the 400 theatre.  It's
on the East side of the street.  I have no particular opinion about it, but it
seemed good, and was cheap and friendly, with a variety of veggie dishes, so
you may wish to check it out.

Finally, one of my favourite ME places is "Pita Inn".  It's on Dempster, in
Skokie, on the north side of the street.  I think it's in the 3900 block.  It's
a free standing place (reviewed last month in Chicago mag) next to Dunkin
Donuts.  Sorry I can't be more specific, but you'll find it.  It's East of
Skokie Blvd, and West of McCormick.  They make really good kefta kabobs, and
really good (and garlicky) babaganoush.  They are cheap, good and friendly, and
they make their own sweets, which are some of the best (if not the best) I've
had so far in Chicago.  They have a somewhat limited menu, though, with the
only real veggie dish being falafel (although they have yummy yogurt salad and
jerusalem salad too).  Check it out.

Robert

-- 
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