The Nile Restaurant

This small place carries more than one story, and an authentic Arab flavor, but the original flavor comes from Palestine, which you will recognize through the dishes. The best way to start is with breakfast; the falafel is fresh, the aroma of the bread is irresistible, and the hummus and mutabbal are a story of their own. The service is excellent, and I highly recommend visiting this place.

Niles restaurant is my favorite breakfast/Palestinian/Jordanian food...every time I eat there I feel like im back home. The food so delicious & the services always excellent & fast & very friendly & respectful people. Specially basma the waitress . She always make sure we're satisfied & happy with her services. I love her & love nile restaurant and I recommend this place to everyone. I give them 5 stars. Keep up the good work 👏

Updated November 2025, still the best. The Original Middle Eastern Palestinian Owned Restraunt in Chicago. Nothing more to say They have updated the interior, But kept the Best food served in the area. Always fresh Filafil and The combination platers are filled with the best meats and flavorful rice. The service is awesome.. from the kitchen to the servers Updated 11/19/2025.. again, why go anywhere else?

This is the true OG headquarters can't complain it was spot on. Flavor and taste is legit.. potions are for one and half person, you will see hospitality there. Tips are mandatory btw lol but like i said can't complain a bit Love you and see you again!

The food that we did order was good. But I do have to say, it was not clean, the seats and floor had crumbs at almost every table so it took us a minute to find seating as we didn't want to sit at a dirty table. The outside of the property was covered in bird droppings and looks like it hasn't been cleaned in years. There is so much room to be better. The service was great staff is very friendly.

This place brings back so many great memories. Good quality food at an affordable price that is made love. The staff is super friendly and always great you with a smile. Their sage tea and mint tea is a must have! Highly recommended!

One of the best authentic Middle Eastern restaurants around. I literally drive two hours from Indiana to go and eat at this place. We are Middle Eastern and the food is better than most places in the Middle East.

Great food, great service! Our family was seated quickly, got our food very timely and enjoyed!

Just stopped for hummus and baba ganoush appetizers. Hummus was just okay but baba had a nice Smokey eggplant flavor. Service was friendly and speedy.

I've been a customer for a long time at this place the food always good, customer service is good. Also, the girls are trying their best to help and accommodate the people. However, my concern is the prices are way high for what it is in terms of quality, an item menus. If you're here for hummus and falafel and paying over 30 bucks, I don't think it's worth it doesn falafel over $13. That's a lot. Especially there are many competitors around this place. Hate to see this place getting downhill as I grow up coming and eating here. I hope they work on their price and not make it overpriced.

I love this place and the service, food is delicious and the servers are supper nice compared to other Arabic restaurants. I really recommend this place for a delicious Arabic breakfast

Ordered Shish Kabob Sandwich, Falafels, Kalaya and Eggs and Potatoes. And man, everything was AMAZING!!! Even the side of pickled vegetables that were served with the food were absolutely phenomenal! The service was friendly, sweet snd prompt. Neto polish everything off, the best (and most comforting) mint tea!!! It's an absolute MUST to visit and eat at this restaurant!!!

I've been coming here since they originally opened their first location in Chicago! The food is authentic and fresh every time! The service is fast including when ordering through Grubhub! I've never had the opportunity to dine inside so I can't comment on the ambiance however I will vouch that the quality of the food is always outstanding! Palestinian owned and operated! The owner is a kind person and always goes above and beyond for his customers ensuring that they have a great experience! I usually order the hummus (with steak), baba ghanouj, kelaya, and shawarma wraps. If you haven't tried the Nile Restaurant, I highly suggest you check them out!

I had good time with family we have very good food ,Nice people also service, I recommend this place .

Authentic taste! Great service! They are very friendly and fast. The fried cheese is definitely a must have!!!

Excellent Food and Service. Always come back for the hummus and combination plate. Have been eating here for years. Never disappoints.

I like chicken shawarma it's tasty and fresh of 5 stars but they were making good foods and sweet delicious and drinks

very authentic palestinian place + everything is always so quick, fresh and hot. wonderful falafel, hummus with beef and foul. ladies are so nice, generous portions and inexpensive too

My favorite place for falafel and chicken shawarma. Service is ok. Ambiance is authentic

I did not like the food here. I did order goat but I didn't line it here at all. I won't be returning, too many better choices in the area.

So delicious and fast! We tried a couple of other middle eastern restaurants in the area but the Nile surpassed them in food taste and service. All of the other restaurants were slow but the Nile was packed with nowhere to sit. Great!

For Middle Eastern food, this is a great hole in the wall joint. You get a selection of old school middle eastern sandwiches in pocket pitas and now they offer wraps. There's a barrage of, what looks to be, family members working the back kitchen. Every employee seems to help out one another, as well. I prefer my beef shawarma in a pocket pita, and that's why I ordered it. It came quickly and had lots of beef. The tahini sauce is a great compliment. You also receive a pickled turnip and peperoncino dish with it. They taste great when you add it to your sandwich. I also ordered tabouli and foul (pronounced fool). The tabouli wasn't too bad. I squeezed some more lemon and it tasted just right afterwards. It was chopped finely, which is how I like it. Foul is moudamas/fava beans slightly mashed with olive oil, garlic, salt and lemon. I was disappointed in that dish. It had no flavor. It needed lemon and salt. Booooo. If you're looking for fancy, go somewhere else. This is very authentic and isn't expensive at all. You'll be brought to an establishment that has the same style cooking as mom's in Palestine. That's why I keep coming back.

First time there not disappointed. Ordered hummus baba falafel and parsley salad for 2. All very fresh and delicious. Very fast and friendly service. Thank you and we will be back again.

Taking another star off for terrible service... rude inattentive entitled waitresses.

Food was ready for my order when I got there. But that is where the positive stops. Ordered chicken shawarma plate and a chicken shawarma sandwich. Got beef for both. Too far away now to amend it. Do better please.

My favorite middle eastern restaurant. I love to come here for breakfast, best food in town

The best falafel of all time, never tasted something that delicious in the entire United States, the hummus and baba ghanoush are to die for, good food overall. Friendly cashiers, not so much on the servers side. My only concern now during the pandemic that they're open and face masks are not required for the seated customers and social distancing is none existent either. But all and all is a great place to eat vegan and vegetarian food, and the food quality is beyond excellent.

Worst falafel sandwiches I ever had. Shame on you.. Dry pita. Very less salad hard falafel.

If you're looking for the best, authentic hummus around, this is the place! Schwerma, lamb chops and falafel were also cooked to perfection. Very casual place, food comes out hot, fresh, and fast. Only reason I took a star off is because for the first time ever, they served me slightly stale pita bread with my meal. I'm giving them a pass because this is the first time it's happened. Other than that, great food, large portions, reasonable prices. Update, last 3 times I have received stale, old pita bread so at this point I will have to remove a few more stars. It's unfortunate to serve such great hummus only to be ruined when paired with stale, old pita bread.

We have experienced a lot better in this area. Most restaurants around them are much better; customer service is terrible, food is also sub par. Did not like their chicken shawarma at all. Their falafel is not okay but just forget it. I have no idea why this restaurant gets busy, it is very weird. Just forget it.

Food was decent, service could have been better I know it was busy I wish they would hire more servers. Overall I'd still go back and try again.

loved this restuarant ever since they were on 63rd st. no one can beat this restuarant! no one!!!!!!

Fantastic food. Great value. Lamb kabobs, lentil soup, fatta... playing the hits, keeping time, even crooning a few harmonies.

Amazing, I love you guys. Best middle eastern restaurant in Illinois. Just like downtown Ramallah

I went to the establishment to have sunday dinner because it was a recommendation. Sat down and was ready to order no waitress yet. Another party comes in and the waitress walked right over and began taking orders. I was slightly pissed because we had been sitting at the table for 5minutes and no service. I will not visit again

This is my favorite spot for middle eastern. There food is always good. Never disappointed when I go back. Sharwarma is great. The mensaf is great but needs more meat. But hummus and everything else is amazing.

The BEST Mediterranean restaurant in Illinois. Falafel is 10/10 tastes like the falafel back at home (Amman Jordan) they also sell spicy falafel which is also 10/10. Hummus is on point and great portion in a plate. Shawarma a bit salty. They have a big variety of food on their menu and everything is fresh. MUST HAVE!!

Terrible customer service and very bad over price food, Do yourself a favour and avoied this place

Had the pleasure of having a mediterranean breakfast here. Very attentive staff and everything I had was good. Would recommend the falafel as well!

Food is excellent best in town if you ask me. Service was prompt this time around. Tried the liver for the first time it was amazing. Great middle eastern breakfast don't think twice just come !

Food is exceptional a little bit on the dry side. Portion wise not as generous as other restaurants the rice wasn't enough. There's a new restaurant now in the same plaza competition is going to be tough. -Keep your prices and you'll keep your customers. Good.Luck

Homemade Middle Eastern cuisine is right. This place serves up a tasty Chicken Shawerma Sandwich. For those who are not familiar, its a sandwich wrap sort of toasted with shaved chicken or beef meat. I like to order hummus on the side for dipping, just an FYI there is a charge for the side too. The sandwich is a generous size, so you will get full. They also served Jerusalem Salads, Arabian Coffee, Baba Ghannouje and more! Lot of parking and located in a plaza.

Second time here. I think it is because of the thanksgiving , the food was not as good as last time. Also the service was slow and made some mistakes with our order. The small dishes were ok but the beef（we actually ordered lamb ）was saulty and the rice tasted and felt like it was parboiled. it could be because of the holiday, so I am willing to cut them some slack

Easy order by phone and pick up. Slow during covid times, but great food and service. I enjoy the vegetarian dishes. Friendly atmosphere.

A hidden gem that serves authentic middle eastern food. ONE OF THEE BEST IN CHICAGO. The food is always cooked to perfection and seasoned well. From Hummas, Shawerma, Falafel and pita bread you can never go wrong with eating here.

This was the first casual restaurant I took my now husband to and the food was great although the place seemed run Down. We were weekly customers because my then-fiancé loves it so much and he could not get enough. Fast forward to 10/26. We should've known something was not right since it was dinner time and the restaurant was empty. We ordered our food and sat for about 15 mins. I wish we didn't get our food because we were both ill afterwards and I was nauseous for three days straight. Never going there again.

Great middle eastern breakfast at The Nile !! Fettah hummus, falafel, and qualiyah. Delicious meal with some traditional middle eastern fare. The falafel was steaming hot and fresh... crispy on the outside & deliciousness on the inside. We also had some Turkish coffee and tea which was a perfect compliment.

I love this place the food is delicious and they play Fairouz in the morning it reminds like back home when I was in high school I used to go to the restaurant in the morning have the same food listen to same music so it's not just a typical Arabic restaurant the customer service is excellent, that's the experience I had at this place

Lamb Chops were amazing flavor but too many hard pieces Other than that, everything else and the service was great

This my favorite place for Middle Eastern breakfast. Falafel, hummus, fresh bread, mint tea, and so much more. It gets crowded early for breakfast, so brunch may be easier to schedule. They're open for dinner, too. Also very delicious.

Food is good. But not a single employee is wearing a mask. Unbelievable. I think one thing we learned from covid is when we breath and speak we spread saliva. So anyone serving our food should be wearing a mask covid or not. And we are still not free from covid.

The food deserves 5 stars, but the horrible service from the waitresses brings my rating down. Hands down best hommus I've ever had. Anything from their menu won't disappoint. I always order to-go because of the waitresses. They don't check on you, they have such a bad and unwelcoming attitude that's intimidating.

A friend recommended this place and it did not disappoint. The food was really good. I ordered the combination plate and all the meat choices were very tasty and I was able to choose the type of salad.

The food was well worth the long drive from the other side of town. I really liked the hummus and sage tea. There were also other dishes that I don't remember but all of it was delicious.

A BIG WOW!!!!! Food was fabulous the Falafel's were so authentic and nice and warm, bread was fresh and my hummus with chicken shawarma was creamy and delicious with the side of pickle peppers and pickles.....service was right on point.

I don't understand how they get away of having different prices on the menu. The menu at the table has different prices that the TV monitors and what is online. Please be aware of your charges on your receipt. The food quality has gone down and the prices gone up now 40%. The Shawarema they serve is from a pot from days before and not from what is spinning. Buyer beware!!! No one in the kitchen wears masks and they offer indoor dining that is slow and the waitress i had did not care for anything except for her tip!!!

My wife and I had to get our driver's licenses renewed at the SOS facility across the street, and we decided to stop and have lunch. I love places that exude the ethnicity it touts, that is to say a place that caters more to the locals rather than the tourists (which, by the way, there aren't many of them around here). To be sure, when you walk in you KNOW you've entered a Middle Eastern Restaurant. The old-timers are hangin' and you definitely get 'the eyeball' as you enter should you be, say, 'other' than Middle Eastern. But, immediately we were greeted with glee and welcomed and told to sit wherever we felt comfortable. The service was great, prompt, helpful. The menu is short and sweet, with kabobs and Falafils. Because it was lunch I ordered a Falafil sandwich ($4) with everything which means a great homemade cucumber sauce, and a killer hot sauce on the side....and fresh, fresh, fresh. My wife had the combo plate (about $13) upon recommendation, which turned out to be the thing to do. The meats were tender, well presented and a grand example of quality Middle Eastern Fare. Lunch prices were very reasonable and I suspect the dinner menu doesn't change. Put aside your unmitigated, current political climate, unwarranted paranoias and embrace this place. I have a new favorite place and I am going to explore more Bridgeview Middle Eastern restaurants,... and someday I'll get the balls to go into one of them all male smoking Houkah joints. Who wants to go with me? I'm kinda chicken.