Chicago’s best Middle Eastern restaurants | Eater Chicago

"This Hyde Park restaurant has been a classic among students and University of Chicago staff for ages, and it’s easy to see why. The food is filling, cheap, and delicious. Abed Moughrabi opened The Nile in 1991 after years of watching his grandmother and mother cook. Now his son Rashad keeps up the family tradition. All the mainstay dishes like shawarma and falafel are here, as well as maklouba–a Palestinian classic of meat, cauliflower, eggplant, potato, garlic and rice layered and braised, then turned upside down and served with yogurt. The Nile is also known for “Steak In a Sack,” a family tradition of sliced steak, sauteed onion, tomato, and a mix of sauces in pita. It’s a great quick lunch." - Rebecca Holland