Amici-Chicago

Wow, this place is great! If you love arancini, you’re in for a treat. Amici serves up delicious Sicilian rice balls in a variety of global flavors. Arancini are crispy, golden-fried balls of risotto, often stuffed with cheese, meat, or other flavorful fillings, making them the perfect combination of crunchy and creamy. At Amici, you can get a full-size arancini (try the classic Italian arancino) for $8, which comes with a side. Or, if you want to mix and match, go for five smaller arancini with two sides for $20. Sides include fries, house salad, pasta salad, or corn salad. The atmosphere is small and the service very friendly. Perfect for a casual date night or a relaxed meal with friends. A true gem of a local spot!

This was simply amazing, if you're wondering what to get I'd suggest getting the flight which gives you your choice of 4 with two sides. We settled on jerk, original, birria, and doro and all of them were very good. I am still debating which one I liked best. There are more options of sides but I settled with fries and pasta salad which were both delicious. The service was amazing the two gentlemen there checked on me multiple times and also did so to others sitting around. This is definitely a must have.

My first time at Amici and they did not disappoint. I recommend getting the “flight” if you haven’t been here before so you can try multiple arancinis. With the flight you get 4 smaller arancinis with 2 sides. The Mexican birriachino is my fave but I have an affinity for quesabirria. It also came with the Italian arancino, the Caribbean jerkicino, and the Indian currycino. All good! The sides I got were the corn salad which is a cold version of elote, and the pasta salad. Both were delish. The staff is also super friendly and accommodating. So glad I live right down the street so I can come back and try the rest of their menu.

Ordered a Dorowat Bowl. Was fresh and very flavorful. Update: still good, but less food than before (no hard boiled egg and pita)

Delightful owner! Don’t skip out on the house salad. I recommend the flight so you can try many flavors.

When I'm in the area, I like to drop in. I appreciate the different flavors crammed into the little rice balls! The arancini, without the sauces, is still out of sight. But the fact that there's a separate sauce for EACH ONE is phenomenal and really kicks up the flavors! I've had them all, and I would do any first time reader/ visitor a disservice to choose a favorite. You can't go wrong, so give the flight a try! During my last visit I was given a taste of a side of veggies and I commented on the seasoning. The owner (a very genuine and kind man) gave me a small container of his own seasoning for me to try at home. 🥹 as someone who LOVES to cook, this gesture is don't take lightly. I will continue visiting Amici as long as Alfi will have us! ❤️

Really delicious spin on an assortment of different food cultures including Ethiopian, Italian, Mexican, Indian, and so on. Food tastes almost like home! And the owners are so sweet and nice 😊

There has only been two times in my life that I’ve cried over how good food is. This was one of them. The owner of the shop definitely puts his heart and soul into his dishes. The atmosphere was so calming and I appreciated the fact that the music was at a good volume to hear your conversations. This place is definitely something coming back to. If I am ever back in the area, this is definitely my go-to for food.

Standard takeout style vibes inside with some seating The staff was very friendly and helpful I tried the Mexican Birriancino, which I thought was really good and had good amount of meat in it and was very seasoned. also tried the Caribbean Jerkcino which I wasn't a fan of. I guess it might be the jerk marinade they used. It had a fragrant spice in there that left an aftertaste that reminded me of perfume. The corn side was decent and the fries were a been soggy.

Spontaneously decided to stop in here one evening - the space is small but the owner and staff are SO nice and welcoming. I ended up getting the butter chicken arancini and corn salad. It was delicious! I wish there was a bit more corn in the salad portion but the flavor was great. I like that they have a variety of flavors to choose from. The arancini was more rice than curry than I was expecting, but still great and I loved the texture.

Loved our experience from beginning to end! The food was delicious- and we were treated like a member of the owner's family! Highly recommend trying the different arancinis- and the french fries with their special sauce are soooo good! I had the chicken tikka masala which was great - also you need to sample their pasta salad and corn salads- not your usual preparation with mayo base, so yummy! Thank you Amici for the warm welcome and wonderful food!

Visiting Chicago for the weekend so I had to come to Amici. Food was excellent! I got the chicken tikka arancini and jerk arancini. Both packed with flavor and delicious. Bf got the jambalaya arancini. That one is bomb dot com. Not too spicy. Has sausage & as well. Small space but VERY clean. The cashier cleaned the tables after each patron left. Very friendly and attentive and clean. Owner was so nice. Will recommend and return.

Breaking news: Keith Lee was spot on as usual, y'all! After his recent visit and glowing review, Amici hit my along with many others' radars as a new must-try. Amici is a classic mom-and-pops shop- its unassuming exterior belies the innovative and fresh comfort food cooking inside. The interior is small but cozy, and the customer service was outstanding with super friendly and attentive staff. They have a slew of globally-inspired arancini all of which look great. I opted for the Italian and butter chicken arancini, which each came with a side (yep, it's a great deal!). They arrived piping hot and were probably the crispiest arancini I have ever had, each containing perfectly cheesy and sticky rice. The Italian was extremely flavorful and rich with tender ground beef- I would definitely order this again! The butter chicken was good, but I personally felt that it could have had a bit more flavor. The sauce seemed a little heavy on one of the spices to me. For sides, I ordered the pasta salad and corn salad, the latter of which stole the show! Both were extremely refreshing and perfectly contrasted the rich arancini. I need the sauce recipe for that corn salad ASAP. Highly recommend paying a visit to Amici whether you're in the area or not! I will absolutely be back and can't wait to try more of the menu.

Cute little place with kind work staff and a very nice owner that we chatted with for a bit. Between 2 for lunch we got 3 different arancinis with 3 different sides. Favorite arancini was the currycino and favorite side was the fries. The curry was very flavorful and the fries had a really good seasoning. The corn salad and pasta salad were both decent, but neither was incredible. The arancino was a little overhyped for us and was just ok and the sauce it came with was more of a salsa than a marinara. The birriacino was the second favorite but mostly because of the smoky sauce. The owner said his favorite is the doorway Uni which I definitely would want to try next time!

Fabulous! The man who owns this place is the sweetest and I will be back many times. Food is delicious and a steal for the price. He gave us a taste of the jambalaya as well...and OMG!!! Delicious

The arancini is actually quite good. What I do not care for is how the menu works. You get ONE piece and then a side for $8. Now that price is not terrible but my side salad was just not worth it. Give me 2 for $12 or something similar. I feel like if this place focused on what they did best and really focused on their concept, it could be really successful. Instead it's trying to be a mix between a soul food/Italian restaurant with Indian vibes. This could work but it's just not there. I wish them well and hope they focus on what they do best. I also want them to come up with more approachable flavors or approachable ways to describe their flavors. Especially if you are adverse to spicy food it becomes hard to figure out what is going to have too much heat. All in all, it's almost there but I do think management needs to rethink how best to make this food approachable to the average consumer in Lakeview.

*Keith Lee effect review* My girlfriend and I had been walking past Amici-Chicago for a while before finally deciding to give it a shot. Since the inside is a bit on the smaller side, we opted for takeout. Hence, everything was well-seasoned, and we'd definitely recommend the Mexican Birriacino Arancini. However, we did wish there was a bit more meat inside as it felt more like a rice ball with just a small amount of filling. Overall, Amici-Chicago offers something different and is definitely worth stopping in to try!

Stopped by again and the food is still as good as the first time. They seemed to change the layout and added more tables. I miss the little flags for identifying the arancini but the little bags make more sense.

The customer service was top tier. From the moment I walked in, I was greeted with a smile and patience as I decided between my order. Keith Lee's review brought me all the way from the south suburbs and it did not disappoint. Everything was so good. I will be back soon. I went over the summer, but the experience is still with me!

We saw the five star reviews and wanted to give it a try. The place had only about five tables and a very unassuming look. But the food was fantastic! Try the Jerkicino, jambalaya or tikka masala. The french fries were absolutely delicious and surprisingly the cabbage was just fantastic. The Mexican Molay with Spanish rice and corn salad was so good. I really don't think he can go wrong with anything here. The owner is also the head chef and he's a super nice guy from Sicily

Went due to the *Keith Lee* effect on a Monday afternoon and was able to get my food without a crazy long line or getting sold out! I tried the birria, Indian curry, Ethiopian chicken, and traditional Italian arancini. It was freshly make, with the crunch of the crispy outer rice divine! Personally, the inside meat flavorings are lacking without the sauce, so their sauces really add that next level. Their sides were a surprising winner for me - the pasta and corn salad are both SO good! Will come back to try the other flavors like jerk chicken! :)

Loved the place! The food was soo good! Multiple option for vegetarian peps! Some of the dishes have the perfect combo of Italian and Indian food! Weekends they have the flight specials so totally worth it. They have dips on the side too which mostly are vegetarian. They have chicken, beef, vegetarian options. Cozy place, fun spot to hangout with friends. You get to talk to the owner too incase it's less busy. Super quick with the service!! Will be coming here back soon!

Like many others, I decided to come here after seeing the review from Keith Lee. I'm a sucker for arrancini, so I was very excited to try out the creative, global options at Amici. I decided to get the birria option with fries and I was amazed by the price--under $10 for the set. You can't find a lot of deals like that anymore. Each rice ball comes with its own side dish, which makes trying more than one a little difficult (I would love a combo--two arrancini plus one side), but that makes a great value. I loved the flavors and textures of this arrancino and I will happily go back when I'm in the area, which is not uncommon for me. The restaurant itself feels like it's meant to be more of a takeout spot, with limited seating and decor. It's certainly not unpleasant, but it's an odd-shaped corner room, charmingly decorated. If you're able to, maybe take your food to go. The service is very warm and friendly. It's wonderful to see how proud the owner and staff is of this restaurant. I look forward to trying all the different arrancini flavors, but take note they offer plate specials (think curry and rice) and even desserts!

My favorite part of walking around Italy was trying different arancini and I could not be more excited to have a local option that has unique flavors and combinations. My favorite was the Jerk arancini - the smoky chicken flavor is to die for. During weekends they offer a mini flight option which I definitely plan to check out next time.

The Indian, Mexican, and Italian ones are SOOOOO GOOD!!!!! The people that work there are also so kind and genuinely want to get to know you!!! Ps- that pasta salad and corn salad are also not to be slept on!! So good!!

Found this place because of the Keith Lee review and he did not steer me wrong. While waiting in line i found out that the owner hand makes the arancini, and knowing this KL review would bring a big influx, he was up since 3 am prepping! The cashier ( I believe the owners daughter) smiled the whole time, you can tell there was genuine gratitude for their new found consumers. Okay now the food, everything is handmade, quality is top notch. I don't remember what the desert was called but it's delish! It was like a mix between a cake and bread pudding similar to a coffee cake. We got the African arancini and Jerkicino. Keith Lee gave the jerk a two on the spice level but it was more like a 7 spice for me ( I have a low tolerance lol.) but the flavor was great even if I could only get through half! I wasn't sure what to expect but really glad I tried the African arancino. It was more mild than the jerk but still had a really nice flavor. Also the concept - AMICI (friends) African / Mexican/ Indian/ Carribean/ Italian. Like every one is a friend? Beautiful! Can't wait to try the other arancinis!

Place definitely is avant garde as it mixes many flavors & foods from different regions. Owner is the nicest guy ever. My initial thought was that the jerk chicken arancini was average at best but when coupled with the sauce it's actually pretty damn delicious. I'm not sure what the sauce actually is but it's a flavor bomb to say the least. Price is extremely affordable & im not sure one could take down more than two of these things especially considering they come with an handful of fries. I went toste at night but was out in about 5 minutes. Definitely worth a try

I've had the flight weekend special previously - great way to try them all especially as a first timer! And then today I had the Tikka masala chicken plate. It was so good, and well portioned. The tastes are still buzzing in my mouth in the best way. I love corn. I also realized when looking them up afterwards, I walked in before they were even open. They didn't miss a beat and let me order early - a nice little added surprise. Thank you.

I honestly won't think that you could devote an entire restaurant menu, or at least the majority of a restaurant menu, to arancini. However, Amici has totally proven me wrong. While I was there I tried four different kinds of Arancini. I tried a traditional Italian style, an Indian inspired one two inspired by Mexican food. I loved them all. They were fresh and hot out of the kitchen. I was told my owner/chef that all aspects of the dishes are made from scratch and in-house. Everything from the arancini to the salad dressing to seasoning on the French fries are made from scratch. It's hard to pick a favorite because they were all so good, but if I had to pick I would pick either be the traditional Italian one or the Indian inspired one. I also tried some of their plates. I tied the jerk plate, which you can also get in arancini form. The chicken was juicy and homemade sauce was delicious. I also had the jambalaya. It was season well and not overly spicy. If you like melt your face off spicy this is not for you. As a note, you cannot get a jambalaya arancini. The staff were very nice and the chef owner was super passionate. The restaurant is no frills and simple, but doesn't let that fool you, the food is excellent. Last, the dishes are great values. At the time this review is being written, all of the dishes on the menu are less than $12.00. In sum, this is a perfect spot to grab some delicious food that is made quickly. It's a must try in Lakeview.

This is A CHICAGO GEM. Please stop by if you're in the area! - Awesome owner who is a trombone player and great conversation -DELICIOUS unique food for reasonable prices -Great fusion of foods from different nationalities and does justice to all of them, even though the name is Italian Arancini was great especially the one with coconut rice. Only point of feedback was it would be nice if there was a vegetarian option for the arancini or main entree.

I really wanted to like this place- it's a 2 minute walk from our home, the owner is really nice, and the prices are great. But husband and I just didn't care for the food. They were out of the Italian arancini which was disappointing but understandable I guess (at 6 pm on q Saturday?). So we chose the butter chicken and the mole version. I got the corn salad as a side and husband got the fries. The butter chicken arancini was ok but lacked flavor except in the small amount of sauce that was included in a plastic container to put on the inside of the rice ball. Same for the mole version- and I have had much better mole. The fries were not crispy, and the corn salad was meh. In addition, the air conditioning was not working and it was really warm in there- so we got our meal to go instead of eat in. One and done for us.

First off the jerk chicken arancini was top tier and I can't wait to try the rest! Second the service was sooo friendly and quick! Owner greeted my dog and got our to-go order out. Definitely recommend and will be back soon!

Was looking for a quick lunch spot with a friend and found this place that just opened up near his apartment. We came in for a late lunch on Saturday afternoon and were able to order immediately. The girl at the counter was super helpful with explaining the menu and answering our questions. Made us feel very welcome! We decided on the birria and thai arancinis with side of chickpea salad and potato salad. Both arancinis were amazing and I really liked the sauce that came with them. We also got to try a sample of their jambalaya which was SO GOOD and packed with spice and sausage! Definitely come on a Saturday and get the jambalaya because they only make it on the weekend. I can definitely see this becoming a popular neighborhood spot and we already have plans to come back and try all the arancini flavors. Service was so nice and we loved our experience here!

You have to stop in here if you live in the neighborhood or not! Chef owner was really cool. We talked for 15 minutes. He is originally from Sicily. He knows what he is doing in the kitchen. Limited menu but you don't need much. Everything we tried was flavorful and well done.

I ordered delivery and it came exactly on time and I ordered each flavor and they were all so delicious. My personal favorite was the Birria and Italian. The birria by like 1 point. The fries are very well seasoned and perfectly fried, which I appreciate when fries are seasoned and not just plain. If you get the burrito, get the side of corn with it they're a perfect pair. The corn side is so good and you can definitely tell all of the ingredients are really fresh. 100:10 recommend and even though it looks small they are VERY filling. 1 of these and a side is definitely a MEAL so don't underestimate the quantity of food!

First time visiting this place. came for some arancini, and this place has a interesting variety of selections which is what made me come visit. I ordered the jerk chicken arancini and butter chicken arancini. It was SO delicious!!, I don't know which one I liked the most. I wasn't able to take a picture of the food cause I gobbled them up the minute i got in my car Will definitely come back to try the other flavors they have.

You havvvve to try Amici! Everything on the menu is reasonably priced and very filling. If you're ever in the Lake view area right near boystown? Check them out! Small eatery vibe and a home cooked meal feeling. Pasta salad was also bomb! It's only Alfie the owner when I went, but 10/10, he pays attention to you and is always answering questions and taking feedback!

I put my fork down 30 seconds ago and rushed to post this review! YUM! What a great, family owned, local gem (that i can walk to in 3 minutes!) So quick, food was super fresh and my tastebuds are dancing with all of the flavour. I can't wait to go back and try other things on the menu. This is one of those trust the process and trust the chef moments, even if the food seems unfamiliar, or doesn't seem to make sense, just try it. I had the chicken tikka masala arancini with a side of fries. Absolutely delicious! I can't recommend this place enough!

The tikka, birria, and jerk arancini was all amazing! Cant wait to try all the flavors. Great first experience!!

We stopped by Amici today as part of their soft opening and this place is delicious! We had the Birria and Butter Chicken options and wow, I just love this idea for a restaurant serving various fun arancini. The flavors were all delightful and the owners were super nice! I recommend the pasta salad for a refreshing treat. We will be back for the grand opening on Saturday and can't wait to try everything on the menu. There are too many good options!

absolutely the best homemade italian food old fashion best and quality ingredients

I'm sure it's a great place, but the butter chicken arancini wasn't impressive. For the amount of rice and breading, there should've been more meat. The prices were good (8 bucks for an arancini and a side). The fries came out more greasy than crispy, but they had good flavor. Should've ordered an italian instead of an indian arancini.

As an individual looking to try different cuisines, I welcomed trying the plethora of cultures evolved in one restaurant/location. We tried three different Amici dishes where none disappointed. The cook and cashier are the owners who were friendly & welcoming. I highly recommend Amici.

I love this place! The owner and staff are so friendly and helpful. While we were waiting for our food (which did not take long at all), a staff member asked if we like carrot cake. When we said yes, the owner came out and gave us two complimentary pieces. It was the best carrot cake I've ever eaten. Highly recommend this restaurant!

Some of the best food I've ever had, and I loved the variety of the flavors and choices! The rice balls were just absolutely wonderful. Whenever I swing through Chicago again, I am for sure coming back here.

Amazing service, people, and food a must try Chicago location. Beautiful location good seating and wonderful food!

Keith Lee approved! See for yourself... https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/food-critics-visit-sparks-massive-boost-buena-park-restaurant?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR06B9maT8xv1RYI-MDX0B8ApK6s41oHmq0o14_qCq1elBwRlts-JSCBfrM_aem_kt3gfC8bf4VcUfOtt3l3sg#lz1qxla1k5jnwf54b0j

Some of the best food that I've ever had! The owner, Alfio, and his daughter (cashier) were so kind and genuine, and had smiles on their face the whole time. It was nice to eat somewhere knowing you're truly appreciated as a customer, their customer service is INCREDIBLE! My husband and I ordered the Italian (8.7/10), Jerk Chicken 10/10), Birria (9/10), Curry Chicken (8/10). For our sides we got the corn salad (8/10) and fries (7/10) , they were delicious just like everything else! Each were super flavorful and filling. Loved the dipping sauce it added extra flavor, and we loved the little kick of spice each one had. The restaurant was very clean and the ambiance was stellar with seating inside, but since it was packed we got our food to go. The owner of AMICI truly takes some much pride in his craft and it's amazing to see him succeeding! Alfio truly created something unique! Thank you for sharing your talent with us! Definitely a top restaurant in our household now!

Went to amici following a Keith Lee review and I wasn't disappointed. Food was great and so flavorful

Delicious food, very good prices and friendly service! We got two different kind of arancinies and Ethiopian plate and liked them all.

This is such a wonderful find. The food is excellent, from the entrees to the sides. Each a unique taste experience. And the owner seems as wonderful as his product; always pleasant. Support a local business, you won't be sorry.

The owner and waiter were so friendly and helpful. The arancini are amazing--loved the veg one & the birria. And the side salad and corn salad were both SO good. Definitely pop in!

We tried it all. Managed to order all of the arancini flavors. They each came with their own sauce. Plus we tried all the sides. Food was very good. We ate in but I can see this being a huge carryout restaurant in such a busy area. The nicest people work here!

There's a reason this place is blowing up. The flavor that they manage to pack in their rice balls is unbelievable! Must visit, already planning my next visit.

Amazingly delicious! I'm mad at myself, I've lived a block away for 4 years, was unaware of this hidden gem. Moving forward, I'll be going there weekly! I had the Ethiopian arancini, masala plate and corn salad.

I saw this place on TikTok and am excited to bring my friends to this establishment the next time we're all in Chicago - have heard nothing but great things about the food and service!

Food: Excellent (all of it; not kidding) Service: Down-home friendly -- they appreciate your business and are kind and friendly. Ambiance: The first day I went, it was pure excitement because Keith Lee had just reviewed it and there was a line down the block. Second time: still a small line, same sort of excited crowd. I live a short walk away and think about this place constantly. I don't eat there every day, but that's just restraint. It's that good!