The Gundis Kurdish Kitchen

"The Gundis is a lowkey spot on Clark that’s perfect for an easy dinner with friends. But it’s also a great spot in the morning—the full Kurdish breakfast is a spread for two that includes three kinds of cheese, three house jams, honey, butter, sesame butter, vegetables, fries, fried cheese rolls, and your choice of egg scramble. If you’re someone who reliably orders two eggs and toast wherever you go, this is an excellent place to branch out." - sam faye, adrian kane, john ringor, veda kilaru

"It's a simple, sleek spot with weathered wood floors, exposed brick, and pendant lights. Leather banquettes along the periphery and tables in the center are some of the other features of this Central Asian culinary operation. The menu is chock-full of Kurdish classics, with similarities from the cuisines of Turkey, Middle East, and even India. Start off with addictive spreads like tirşik and sac tawa, before digging into hearty meats, available at lunch and dinner. Breakfast is no laughing matter though, with black sesame-studded bread, house preserves, kasheri cheese, and cucumbers dressed in olive oil. Eggs scrambled with roasted peppers, onion, and tomatoes are matched with golden cups of coffee as well as bottomless Kurdish tea for a warming treat." - Michelin Inspector

"Chicagoans might not have been familiar with Kurdish food when The Gundis opened in Lakeview 2017, but owners Mehmet Besir Duzgun and Mehmet Besir Yavuz have done their part to change that. The Gundis serves food from the Kurdish regions of Turkey, Iraq, and Iran in a communal style and bright, airy space. Kurdish food shares similarities with other Middle Eastern regions–hummus, baba ganoush, kebab–but is a bit spicier and with more citrus and seafood. A Mediterranean sea bass in a tomato caper sauce is a highlight, as is the mountain salad with apricots and walnuts and the adana kebab, a lamb specialty from southeast Turkey. The Gundis also serves a great Kurdish breakfast, a feast for two that includes cheeses, jams, honey, olives, tomatoes, fried cheese rolls, eggs, and bottomless Kurdish tea." - Rebecca Holland

"The city’s only Kurdish restaurant is home to a wide-ranging mix of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean flavors. Try options such as ezme with walnuts, baba ghanoush, chicken shish, lamb shank, and sac tava — a traditional stir-fry. Order delivery here." - Jeffy Mai, Ashok Selvam

"The Gundis is a low-key spot on Clark that’s perfect for an easy dinner with friends. But it’s also great in the morning - the full Kurdish breakfast is a spread for two that includes three cheeses, three house jams, honey, butter, sesame butter, vegetables, fries, fried cheese rolls, and your choice of egg scramble. The Kurdish baklawa crepes are another great breakfast dish that pairs well with their Kurdish coffee, which is made from pistachio beans. If you’re someone who reliably orders two eggs and toast wherever you go, this is an excellent place to branch out." - Josh Barnett