Al Bawadi Grill

Al Bawadi Grill is an exceptional spot for authentic Middle Eastern cuisine. The atmosphere is a perfect 5/5, with beautifully decorated interiors that create a warm and inviting dining experience. The food is absolutely top-class, with every dish bursting with rich flavors and perfectly cooked ingredients. From the tender kebabs to the fresh, flavorful hummus, everything is prepared to perfection. The service is solid at 4.5/5—friendly and attentive, though it can be a bit slow during peak hours. Overall, it’s a must-visit for anyone craving high-quality Middle Eastern food in a stunning setting.

Our first time at this place exceeded all expectations! The service was incredibly friendly, and the staff went above and beyond to explain every detail about the food, which we were unfamiliar with. It was a great experience for trying something new, and I’d definitely recommend it to anyone looking to introduce someone to this kind of cuisine. We also had the chance to celebrate a birthday, and they did an amazing job with a special birthday song, complete with a sparkler and dessert—such a fun touch! Highly recommend this spot for both first-timers and special occasions.

This places pleasantly surprised us. Had a wonderful experience. Not sure why it has only 4.2 stars. Great food. Amazing , fresh naan and delicious food for reasonable price. Staff were friendly and available. If I make one constrictive suggestions to fix the few table tops that are getting old and showing. Other than that wonderful experience.

07 Feb 2025 Al Bawadi Grill is a fantastic place for a quick coffee and dessert. I had Turkish coffee with Kunafa, and both were excellent. The coffee was rich and bold, perfectly complementing the warm and sweet Kunafa. The ambience was cozy and inviting, with a charming Middle Eastern touch that enhanced the dining experience. Service was quick and attentive, with the staff ensuring everything was just right. Whether you're stopping by for a casual dessert or looking for a relaxed spot to unwind, this place delivers on quality and atmosphere. The menu offers a variety of authentic options, making it a great choice for those who appreciate Middle Eastern flavors. I’m already looking forward to my next visit to try more of their offerings. If you’re in the area and craving great coffee and dessert, Al Bawadi Grill is definitely worth a stop!

Drove past this place, and it caught my eye. On the way back, we decided to try it out. It was a great decision. From the decor to the vibe and service, this place was exceptional. The food was great. We decided to try the meat and the sea food platters. Also, the humas with the fresh bread were delicious. And the plate they brought to the table when they sat us down was amazing. Overall, this is my new go-to place. And we took the desert to go. Great decision because it is so good!!!

My 2nd time here. Food is amazing and service is outstanding 👏! Everything was so delicious and perfectly cooked!

The hummus and mint tea were really good, and the service was excellent. But overall, the food was just above average.

I had an amazing time! The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, and the staff made us feel right at home. The highlight of the evening was the fish mixed grill—perfectly cooked, flavorful, and absolutely delicious! Every bite was a delight. Highly recommend this place for great food and a wonderful dining experience. Will definitely be coming back!

We stopped in for a late dinner on a Saturday(8:30PM). The restaurant was pretty full still but we were seated right away. I've ordered take out from Al Bawadi before and the staff is always very nice & attentive. It was a group of 4 of us. We ordered 2 mixed grill plates to share and they each came with a choice of hummus, baba ganoush, or a choice of their house salad. I absolutely loved the hummus with their fresh baked pita bread *chefs kiss* My go to, To-go order is the tiki masala sandwich w fries, also chefs kiss! Haha If you haven't stopped by to try Al Bawadi, you must!!

12/17/24 - My wife and I came to Al Bawadi for my birthday dinner. We have eaten here many times before & as usual the food was exceptional. For a change we didn't order a seafood platter & were rewarded w/chicken seasoned & cooked to perfection. The chicken was juicy a& moist w/just the amount of seasoning w/a little heat which I really enjoyed. The Kifta Kabob of ground beef & lamb was also excellent, both meals came w/2 different kinds of rice & is enough for 2 meals We first went to the Al Bawadis in Bridge view but it's so far south. When we heard they were opening the one in Niles we were so excited. It took over 5 years for them to open this restaurant. I'm so glad they did. Outstanding food, ambiance & service

My kids took me for dinner here and we had a good experience. We came in for a Sunday dinner, around 6pm. We were immediately greeted and seated by the host. We tried several dishes since we have been wanting to dine here for a while. On this visit, I tried: KUFTA CASSEROLE- rich and delicious MIXED CHICKEN & MEAT SHAWERMA- the chicken, lamb, and beef were all tender and seasoned well CHICKEN TIKKA BONELESS SKEWERS- the chicken was very tender although it was kind of bland. FILET MIGNON KABAB- very tender and delicious meat SAMOSA- this was just ok HUMMUS & PITA- wonderful hummus with the warm and fresh pita KENAFA- delightful. Great with coffee too. Parking was not too bad when we got here because it was still a little early but it did get very busy. I like the interior and cleanliness of the place. Service was very efficient and friendly. The food was delicious and satisfying. I will definitely come back here to try other dishes on the menu. Til next time!

It was okay. I would order from them again if nearby but it won't replace Libnais as my favorite spot. The service was friendly, though I did place my order online so they didn't have a lot of service to provide. I appreciated the woman getting someone to help me out with the food since I had my kiddo with me going into the restaurant. The food wasn't bad, but it was just okay to me. Shish taouk is probably my favorite and it was fine, but not as flavorful as I've had at other places. The mint lemonade was really good though! It was like a blended drink, lots of mint and it seemed to be mostly of a spearmint flavor which was nice given how much mint was in the drink, since it could be incredibly overpowering otherwise. The prices were pretty high. Even for a Mediterranean place which often is a higher priced restaurant. They have lots of parking.

I've never had middle eastern food before but I was in Chicago for a work trip and we came to eat here for a team dinner. Super authentic restaurant! Once you walk in , the aroma is filled with the grilled meats which smelled so good! Our team ordered the mixed meat platter which is a various amount of meats served on rice. I tried the chicken and it was juicy and really good! Service was fast and knowledgeable in what they were serving! Will come again!

I've been trying to come here since Al Bawadi opened during the pandemic. My experience? Lets just say that a simple check off of my list will not do. This place deserves many more checks (as in visits)! We experienced nothing less then top tier courtesy and service from entrance to exit. The place is beautifully decorated. We were warmly greeted. I celebrated my wife's birthday here. Since we had a large group, we ordered platters to share family style along with a few appetizers. Fantastic muthawama, baba ghanouj, mouth watering hummus, delectable Syrian cheese, grape leaves, all with fresh, warm pita. Great salads and tea. Don't sleep on their grilled wings, they're yumzy. We ordered large mixed meat platter with shish kabab, kufta kabab, chicken kufta, shish tawook, fish, quails, lamb chops, shawerma, grilled onions and tomatoes. We also ordered a large mixed kabab platter with shish kabab, kufta kabab, shish tawook, and shawerma. I can never turn down a good kunafa, but I also didn't turn down their baklava..or chocolate cake..the bloating was worth it. Everything was delicious. In my opinion, the platters are a great value. You get a TON of perfectly grilled, delicious meat on top of fragrant rice. This was an evening appealing to the eyes, ears, and mouths of course.

Al Bawadi is a phenomenal Jordanian/Palestinian restaurant! The highlight was the Knafeh dessert, a sweet cheese with a crispy dough crust that looks like vermicelli noodles. The mixed grill and seafood mixed grill dishes were phenomenal. I love the two types of rice and the slivers of nuts that give it a nice crunch. The chicken, kufta, and beef were delicious. You can really taste the wood smoke on all the kebabs. The pita bread, hummus, and baba ghannoush were all so fresh and delicious. We also had the meat toshkas which is pita bread stuffed with beef, lamb, and melted Syrian cheese. Service was phenomenal, the servers checked in frequently and had a good demeanor. This is a great restaurant to eat family style. This was a great amount of food for 4 people and we still had leftovers. Parking was easy since they have a parking lot and there was no wait on a Saturday at 8:30pm. I still think about this food and want to go back for the Knafeh. This is also a great spot to celebrate birthdays, I saw other tables where they bring sparklers out and sing a birthday song. For the high quality and volume of food I found the price to be really reasonable too, about $25 per person before tip was really great. I love the ambiance and decor which feels luxurious but also casual.

Got food poisoning about one year ago. It lasted for three days. I was looking for some good Middle Eastern food.

My experience at Al Bawadi was different due to dining in during Ramadan. I was here on a weekday and dinner was buffet style, $40 per person - excluding canned drinks. Hummus, tabouli, baba ganoush and pita appetizers were on each table as well as bottled waters. The hummus and tabouli were my favorites out of the options to start with. The texture of the hummus was creamy and smooth. The tabouli was refreshing, light and very good. As far as the food and dessert during the buffet I thought it was meh. Majority of the food was pretty cold and lacked seasoning. My guess is since everything was made earlier and in bulk that could be why it was lacking in taste for me. I do appreciate that literally the entire menu was offered during this dinner. I took full advantage of that and tried a little bit of everything. For drinks - Mint lemonade, date juice and black teas were offered throughout the evening. If you're looking for a place that gives the full atmosphere to dine in the middle east - this is it! There is so much detail in their decor and it is stunning. Service throughout was fantastic, the staff was attentive and made sure everyone was enjoying themselves while dining in.

Service was great. The servers are very attentive and nice. The place looks nice and inviting. The food was prepared well and fast. They give you an appetizer of eggplant dip with the bread. We ordered the large meat platter and more than enough for 7 people. There are more to-go. The food is flavorful, even the rice. It's good to try but to combination of spices for me. My friends enjoyed the food though. I love the dessert we ordered-Kenafa. Lightly sweetened cheese withthin noodle like pastry on top. It's so yummy. Plenty of parking space.

We had a reservation for 10 people to celebrate a birthday. I've been to the Bridgeview location but this was my first time trying the Niles location. We ordered both of the mixed platters to share family style because each is meant for 5-6 people. Honestly it was so much food we probably didn't need to order both! We also ordered the samosas, falafel, and mozzarella sticks for appetizers. The bread they provide is unlike any bread I've had at other Middle Eastern restaurants. It was fluffy and slightly crispy topped with a seed, maybe black sesame seeds. It was super tasty with the delicious hummus and garlic sauce that come with the platter! The garlic sauce and hummus is a must. The platter also comes with a salad and baba ganoush as well. The tray brings two types of rice topped with various grilled meats. We also ended up ordering separately a plate of lamb chops because the platter only came with 4 pieces. The second platter comes with a spicy tandoori style chicken kabob. That's the primary difference between the two platters. I will say the only thing that was disappointing was their hot sauce! Other than that, I was very pleased and I had leftovers. This is a fantastic spot to try if you have a large group.

We had an excellent experience at Al Bawadi grill. I was staying near the airport and was looking for good food in the area. A friend from Chicago recommended this place to us and the recommendation was on point. The way the staff is dressed to the decor, it all makes you feel like you went through a little portal into Palestine In terms of the food we got: * Fresh juice- I highly recommend it. I got a mix of carrot apple and orange. * Chicken wings- I never dipped them in the sauce because they were so lemony and delicious on their own * Chicken Toshka- it is a sizable portion of a delicious sandwich * Chicken Tikka- dont forget to request the hot sauce and garlic sauce on the side * Pomfret- I can't speak for this one since I was too stuffed to eat it but my family loved it. Now the highlight- the Kanafeh. It is amazing!! One of the best I have ever had. I highly recommend it. We washed it down with a pot of their mint tea. The service was excellent as well. I have nothing but praises.

What an absolute tree! Everyone knows the original is legendary for their food, service and quality! However, for those of us that live on the north side... Having a location in Niles is perfect! Yes, there are some differences... But not with the quality as the food is just as delicious as the original And the decor is stunning! Came with some friends from out of town who had never eaten Mediterranean... They were blown away and absolutely loved it! We requested a private VIP room and they absolutely accommodate us... THANK YOU! Wish I could say I had photos of the food to upload... But the truth is everyone was loving everything so much and so fast... Cameras just weren't fast enough! You should absolutely give them a try... And then come back again and again and again! You will not be disappointed

Best GRILLED SALMON KABAB, very clean and calming atmosphere, the other foods I tried are 1. Chicken tika 2. Shrimps 3. Combination Great taste and soup with bread as starter was excellent, decent size portion, chois of yellow or red rice. Both were equally mouthwatering. Professional and courteous staff and serving crew, we were greeted at the entrance with person wearing traditional Arab dress, very impressive.

This past week, I had the opportunity to dine at Al Bawadi Grill, and I am very pleased to report that it turned out to be a delightful experience. The standout feature of the evening was, without a doubt, the food. Al Bawadi Grill serves up authentic Middle Eastern dishes that sing with flavor and leave one's taste buds dancing; I've certainly never had cuisine like that in the neighborhood. What was particularly great were the grilled meats, which were perfectly cooked and full of flavor. The appetizers were also great; the variety alone was impressive, but the real highlights for me were the hummus and the tabbouleh. The service was another strong point. Our server was friendly and attentive without being overbearing. He was knowledgeable about the menu and offered some great recommendations, which I've no doubt enhanced our dining experience. As for ambience, Al Bawadi Grill is what I'd call a comfortably casual dining experience. It is, in fact, nice enough that it feels special while not being overly fancy.

A group of 4 of us stopped by on a Saturday night for dinner. It took about 45 minutes to get seated and another 5 minutes for our waiter to acknowledge us. The food came pretty quickly which was a plus. The mixed platter is amazing; the meats are tender and flavored so well. The rice is definitely some of the best rice I have ever had. The downside about the experience is definitely the service; I understand it was busy but they forgot a few side dishes and a soda. They actually never brought back the soda even though we asked and still charged for it. Overall, still a great experience but the service could use a bit of work.

I love Al Bawadi Grill! The service is great. The food if fantastic! My wife enjoy the 2 person sharing beef plates! The Rice is really good. I enjoy the mild rice. If you enjoy spicy rice, they can accommodate you. I do enjoy the pitas.

I ordered Baba Ghanouj, grape leaves, falafel-mostly vegetarian- and a chicken shwarma sandwich. I put "NO ONIONS" in the special instructions. When my husband picked it up they told him they were out of grape leaves and substituted kefta. WHY would you replace a vegetarian entree with chopped Meat and Onions? The Baba Ghanouj came with 0 pita. I do NOT recommend

What a better family meal then takeout from Al Bawadi Grill for some middle eastern cuisine We finally tried this restaurant after talking about it so much everytime we drive by it and we finally got to try it, and we were so glad we did!! It was DELICIOUS got a mixed chicken and beef shawarma dinner with a side salad and we ate it all so quick, definitely will be ordering or trying it in person at the restaurant soon!!

Might have just been an off night, but it took awhile to get a server to swing by and over an hour to get our food. We ordered: Baba ganouj Mixed shawarma platter Lamb kebab platter (sub tabbouleh salad instead of rice) Chicken tawook sandwich Lamb kebab sandwich Hummus with meat If we were to do it again, we'd do the sandwiches and the hummus with meat for sure.

If you like burned chicken and disappointment order from albawadi. Called to let them know the lady in the phone didn't even care. Bad food and bad customer service.

Started off with their very refreshing fresh mint lemonade, and a few of their signature mezzes. We did the hummus, and it was solid along with the Baba Ghanouj which I think is perfectly smokey and paired nicely with the warm naan. My favorite here though is the muthawama, its very garlicky, so if you love garlic as much as I do, I wouldnt pass up on the muthawama. The Jerusalem Salad, Fatoush Salad, and Tabouleh Salad were all light and flavorful in their own way. The fried cheese here is shaped like a rectangle, perfectly prepared, and mildy salty which I had two whole chunks of cheese, theyre amazing. The arayes with meat had minced beef and lamb, this one is one of my Dads personal favorites. Fried Kibbeh was deep fried and had a shell of bulgur wheat that was more mild and nutty, but still juicy from the ground beef and spices. Their wings are unbelievable, and grilled over a mesquite flame, they're juicy beyond belief. For the main courses we did their kababs which were all grilled over a wood fire, and definitely prepared the right way. It was my first time trying the chicken kufta kabab here, I liked it, but personally I'm more team lamb and beef when it comes to kababs. The lamb shish kabab, kufta kabab, and chicken tikka kabab were fantastic, but my favorite out of all of them is the filet mignon kabab, it was extra juicy and tender from the type of cut of meat, but dont sleep on the shawarma. Both the chicken shawarma and meat shawarma options were sliced traditionally, I really would love to try them as a wrap next time, they were great. The red rice and yellow rice arent dry, and you really cant go wrong with either one. For dessert, I had a turkish coffee and they brought out the knafeh for my Dads birthday, and the whole restaurant sang happy birthday to him. The knafeh is sweet and cheesy, nice crunch as well.

Honestly I don't understand the hype. The place was huge. So much seating. It would be great for large parties. I went alone to waste some time before a doc appt down the block. I ordered some lamb pita sandwich. I lit was dry and flavorless. But it was piping hot. The water was a bit funky. But the service was great. I don't think I will be going back, but I feel bad because they were so nice there.

This place deserves a 10/10 on customer service, ambiance, and food!!! From appetizers to the main course, everything was full of flavor and amazing. We ordered the platter for the main course that feeds 5-6 people, includes chicken, lamb, and beef. AMAZING!!! The quantity is huge so you can have leftovers for lunch the next day. Definitely check out this place if you like Middle Eastern food. It's worth it!!

I was looking for a good middle eastern/mediterranean place to eat with my family, and this place was recommended to me by a friend. So glad I went! The ambiance is great, and all the staff are really friendly. I went with a party of six, and we ordered the arayes with meat for an appetizer, sage tea, and a large mixed kabab platter that came with kababs, biryani and saffron rice, vegetables, and pita bread. Everything was really delicious and a good deal. To top it off, they gave us several free samples of their turkish coffee which was delicious! I would definitely come to this place again if I'm in the area.

Excellent service very authentic Middle East food went out of their way to meet and greet and offer exceptional service the atmosphere is very welcoming and super clean will definitely be back soon.

Al Bawadi is an authentic Middle Eastern restaurant which offers some amazing food. Everything that I tried was delicious, and the portions were large. The mixed grill is a great choice as it comes with a variety of meat along with rice. The chicken was my favorite part of the meal, but all of the meats were succulent and tender. Moreover, the shrimp was very tasty as well. The red snapper was ok but was not as good as the other dishes. Everything also comes with a good amount of rice. Lastly, in terms of food, the Kenafa dessert is amazing. It was my first time trying this dish, and I'm so glad I had it at this restaurant. It is not too sweet and is very unique. The dessert is cut into 4 pieces and big enough to share with around 3-4 people. The service here was excellent. The staff were friendly throughout the night and gave us some nice recommendations. The interior of the restaurant is also very clean and decorative. I'll definitely be coming back to try more dishes here.

Delicious and fun experience. Best hummus and fresh bred (complementary) and the desert was the best ever. Great service too. Can't wait to go back!

Great food, starting with the relish plate as we sat down. Great falafel, really good meat.

Always have good service here! The place is actually huge and I love the decorations. Feels like I am taken to the Middle East and I have never been. Love getting a bunch of things and sharing with the table. Love the spreads with the bread. The shrimp is also one of our favorites. And to end with some kenafa is unbelievable. It comes out hot and they cut it and serve you right away. Pairs well with a hot tea. Really enjoy coming here!!!

Massive servings of delicious food! Everything we ordered was good but the chicken shawerma was my personal favorite. I haven't found many great middle eastern restaurants in the area so this was a great find!!

This was an experience. The staff were dressed impressively. The restaurant is decorated with great details. It's an old building and it was evident by the flooring and the table area we were seated. The staff were attentive though and service was fast. The food were delicious. They walk around with coffee samples as well, which I appreciated that day.

A couple of friends swore by this place so we went to check it out together and I was so pleasantly surprised. First of all the interior is beautiful and clean. Second the service was quick, but most importantly the food was delicious. As a self proclaimed baba ganoush connoisseur it was the best I've ever had.

Sorry but I think the thrill of this restaurant is gone...quality is noticeably down. The size of the sandwich is 40% smaller. The tahini tasted very weird. A falafel sandwich shouldn't be $10 if all ur adding to it is some salad.

Food selection & freshness of meat & dessert yummy! Facility adequate for large groups. Average per person for good selection of a few entree is about $40 per person- staff is limited if in a hurt let staff know otherwise expect to spend 2 hours lunch or dinner. Best to order combination meat platter & share split food bill.

This place is always busy, be ready to wait for a table during the dinner time. Great food as always! Service is also very good!

On a Wednesday night we arrived and were seated promptly. We had a staff approach us and we received answers to questions about beverages and ordered an entree, appetizer, and a drink. They served us two beverages where we ordered one, and brought out NO ENTREE when we had ordered the mixed grill platter. There had been a miscommunication and 2 large mistakes in the order as well as lack of proactive service to compensate for the errors. Instead we were told "the order was read out to us" when I recall that it wasn't. When asked to repeat the order off their page, it was not written anywhere for them to share back with us. We still gave them the benefit of the doubt and payed for both drinks. No staff approached us to check in during the duration of our visit. This resulted in us waiting for 30 minutes for an entree that was never ordered on their end. Finally we requested for the bill, but ended up contemplating if we should walk to the front due to the significant tardiness of our waiter (another 5-10 minutes). He continued to converse with a group across our table without attending to our bill and now unmet needs. Luckily we were assisted by another staff and left without complaining (as there was no one seemingly available).

I love this place. Everything I've had is fantastic. My favorites are the hummus and meat plate, chicken tawook sandwich, and whatever eggplant dip they serve when you dine in. Plus the staff is always extra friendly.

Sadly disappointed with the food here. I heard great things and really wanted to like it. The Arayes (both meat and cheese) were the biggest letdown (way too little meat/cheese and basically tasted like a toasted pita). The Hummos was good (the meat they added not so much), the lebaneh was great, and the mixed grill was average. I wish I tried the Kunafe but ordered too much and was too let down to give it a try.

I LOVE this place. I come here every time I come visit from Houston,Tx! The food quality is out of this world and the service is always top notch! They are always so accommodating and their ambiance helps take you to another world. Their chicken tawok and mint lemonade are a MUST!

Amazing atmosphere and service! The good was amazing, portions were huge and we took home more than half of it. Had the meat and seafood mixed grill dishes and enjoyed it all. Muthawama was delicious (first time trying that) and easily one of my favorite appetizers! Wish there was room for dessert lol

Let me start with the ambience showcasing the best of Palestinian hospitality... A very warm welcome from a traditionally garb gentleman....Middle-eastern music wafting in the background...this is the real deal ... this is the most Authentic of Palestnian cuisine.. Starting off with my favorite seafood combo, freshly baked Pita bread with baba ganoush and musabaha, transporting you to the most high end culinary delights of the Middle East.. The homestyle cuisine here in Albawadi is a tough act to follow in the other area restaurants ...they simply give you more than your money's worth ! The Mint lemonade gives you somewhat a sense of how those sturdy desert bedouins survive the desert, this beverage just rolls on my tongue and mouth like a honey to a bee ! So refreshingly delish and healthy ! In shallah, I'll be back over and over again Albawadi for my dream of splendid dining experience or if I'm too busy , I'll have some take out to quietly enjoy home with my family... God bless this resto and all the staff always!

The best Middle Eastern food in Chicago. Seriously, if you are anywhere near this place or their other restaurant in Bridgeview, you need to try it. The manager and host are always so friendly and again- the food is outstanding. 5 stars all the way. Highly recommend.

Ambiance and service was top notch and food was 10/10. The owner and chef came to our table to inquire how was everything.

It's my first time , we went there to celebrate a bday. Food was very good, service was great and it was worth it

Excellent and not much more to say it's that good for sure and the service is great. Best lamb and apps

Great food!! We typically do take out but I decided to have my birthday dinner there and it was awesome!!! Ambience and vibes are fun! We were a slightly big group and they were very accommodating and kind. Food is delicious, we got the large meat platter, a new dish pronounced "Mehdi", I'm probably butchering the name, sorry. But it was delicious, they described it as a biriyani (lamb). Good to share. Their falafel sandwich and chicken shwarma were also on point. They also came out with sparklers and blasted birthday song, embarrassing, but fun. I'm glad to have done my birthday there. Thanks to all the people there!

This place has everything. The food is the best in the area, the service is amazing, and the dining area is GORGEOUS. I've been here 7 times in the last year and left satisfied every time.

Just wow! Gorgeous, comfortable, exotic interior space, friendly professional management and servers and fresh, deliciously flavored and spiced cuisine. I've not come across many, if any places this good! The Foul was probably the best we've eaten but everything was delicious. No alcohol served.