Mazal

"This vegetarian Israeli cafe in Lincoln Heights has quickly become one of our favorite dinner spots on the Eastside, and its wrap-around patio is a big reason why. With patterned walls, red canopies, and a basketball hoop, Mazal works just as well as a casual midweek date spot as it does a big friend hangout on the weekends. We recommend going all-in on the spreads (hummus, madbuka, babaganoush) and rounding out your meal with a fresh Israeli salad and a Jerusalem bagel toast that comes with melted provolone, spicy schug, kale, and pesto. If you feel like drinking, most of their wine bottles fall in the $30-40 range." - jess basser sanders, brant cox, brett keating

"We used to have this go-to vegan falafel place that shut down during the pandemic. I was so sad, because a lot of falafel places also serve kebabs and shawarma so I can't eat there. I've really been looking for a replacement. My friend ordered delivery from them one night, so I’ve tried their hummus and a falafel, and I was like, “I cannot wait to go to the actual restaurant and try everything.' The hummus was amazing. And you know what? You think you can't get hummus wrong, but hummus can go wrong. You can get hummus so wrong.”" - brennan carley

"Mazal is a restaurant that proves big group dining doesn’t have to be some monstrous chore. The casual Israeli spot in Lincoln Heights has a homey, string-lit back patio, a natural wine program with most bottles falling in the $60 range, and an all-vegetarian menu full of easily shareable dishes. We recommend going all-in on the spreads (hummus, madbuka, babaganoush) and rounding out your meal with a fresh Israeli salad, a big plate of couscous, and the Jerusalem bagel toast, which comes with melted provolone, spicy schug, kale, and pesto." - brant cox

"You know a meal is a success at Mazal when every inch of your table is filled with some sort of dip, salad, or warm pita. People will be ripping and tearing, dipping and dunking, and sharing bottles of natural wine. Feta-stuffed bourekas and smoky babaganoush fight for space amongst big bowls of couscous and goat cheese flatbread. Food comes out fast at this vegetarian Israeli spot in Lincoln Heights, but don’t be surprised when you look at your phone and hours have passed. Mazal’s warm, string-lit alleyway patio—and never-ending parade of excellent mezze—has a way of extending any group hangout session. " - sylvio martins, brant cox, nikko duren

"There are plenty of meat-free options at this vegetarian Israeli joint, including a range of dips and spreads, bourekas, cumin beets, Moroccan carrots, and more." - Virali_Dave, Eater Staff