Kan Zaman Lebanese Restaurant [Pictures]

My lunchtime wandering in River North took me to Kan Zaman Lebanese Restaurant today.



I’ve walked past the restaurant many times, without entering. Today, with it (at the time) threatening rain, I walked the relatively short distance from my office to sample some of the menu.

My choice for lunch was the Combo Kabob combination of beef kabob, shish tawook and kafta kabob served with charred tomatoes, green peppers and onions. The entrée was accompanied by basmati rice and a small serving of tahini sauce. I enjoyed the marinated chicken [i]shish tawook]/i] the most. After lunch, I looked-up the typical marinade for this dish and it includes: yogurt, garlic, prepared mustard, paprika, cinnamon, curry, garlic and ketchup.



As I was eating the pieces of the shish tawook I must have been moaning sounds of pleasure because the waitress stopped at the table, sort of stared at me and asked if everything was alright. It was, indeed! The kafta and beef were good-tasting as well. What I liked also was the smoky flavor of the meat – it lingered above the plate and on the meat . . . and could be tasted on the pita bread. Some fresh-brewed iced tea washed-down the enjoyable meal.

While I was dining the skies opened and it was raining strongly – and as I walked the several blocks back to the office in the rain, without an umbrella, the slightly smoky flavor of the meal stayed with me and I didn’t mind getting a little wet.

The space in the restaurant was warm, comfortable and I can picture myself stopping here with friends one evening for a good meal.

Kan Zaman Lebanese Restaurant
617 N. Wells Street
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 751-9600

Kan Zaman has been on my lunch rotation for a while now. I generally go for the shish tawook sandwich: shish tawook (chicken) with lettuce, tomatoes, onions and tahini, wrapped in a pita. The sandwich comes with seasoned fries and extra tahini for dipping. I always ask for hot sauce as well. They have a nice chunky hot sauce that goes well on the sandwich and mixed with the tahini as a fry dip.

Also of note: In addition to the regular tables, Kan Zaman has several of the low tables where you sit on the floor with pillows.

Intriguiging. I had heard of this place but it receded to the back of my mind and I never thought about it even though I go to school every day more or less in that neighborhood. Quick question regarding the fries - are the homemade or commercial? Just curious.

I've never asked, but I'd guess the fries are commercial, with the addition of seasoning/spices after they're fried. They're of the thicker fries variety - about as thick as Wendy's fries. I'm definitely a fan of their fries, especially when dipped in a mix of tahini and hot sauce.

Their sandwiches also usually (but not always) come with a pink pickles turnip slice. I think this is left off sometimes simply because most people don't eat them. Whenever I go with co-workers, they're all scared off by the neon pink color, which I believe comes from being pickled with a beet.

eli wrote:Also of note: In addition to the regular tables, Kan Zaman has several of the low tables where you sit on the floor with pillows.

While fun, that type of seating is not really conducive to business attire (at least mine). I'll have to check this place out for lunch.

Bill - I'm really enjoying your lunch exploration posts.

Several years ago the Kan Zaman in Andersonville burned down. Is this the same ownership?

eli wrote:Also of note: In addition to the regular tables, Kan Zaman has several of the low tables where you sit on the floor with pillows.

Those low tables were great for for having a leisurely dinner, then kicking back with a bottle of wine or three (BYOB...gotta love it) and enjoying some hookah. Incidentally, does this smoking ban cover tobacco-free hookah use in restaurants?

We've never been for lunch, but from their dinner menu the lentil soup's not bad (not the best I've ever had, but more than passable when some of the aforementioned chunky hot sauce is added). I've gotten the lamb chops once before and enjoyed them, but I usually end up getting the KZ Combo (kafta, lamb & chicken kabob) with rice...the meat is usually tender & has a bit of nice char flavor. My wife is a huge fan of the Vegetarian Moussakaa with bulgur wheat instead of rice.

I stopped at Kan Zaman at lunchtime for a pita sandwich of shish tawook (marinated/seasoned chunks of white-meat chicken). I was eating solo and though there was room at some 4-tops in the front room (at 12:45 p.m.) I was shown to a 2-top in the rear, darkened and poorly-lit room. It was an odd feeling, but I didn't protest or ask to be seated elsewhere. I was alone back there. The seating and table setting was comfortable, though. I wasn't as impressed with the shish tawook as a sandwich as I was with it as part of a plated entrée. I'm no student of (nor very experienced with) Lebanese food and I was a bit surprised that the "pita" was two thin, (large) tortilla-sized discs. The pita didn't support the filling and it easily tore, so I ate the filling with a fork. The seasoned French fried potatoes were good; freshly cut fries I'm thinking. My beverage was iced tea, which was as fresh and flavorful as what I was served the only other time I visited the restaurant. Lunch for under $10.

I can confirm- this place rocks!
I ordered a bunch of stuff to share including......
Foul Modammas (Fava "Hummus") - great spice. chucks of favas throughout
Baba Ghannouj - Seriously Best Baba Gannouj I've had....ever
Kabis (pickled tunips, cucumbers, kalamatas)....great pickles. Not too acidic nor sweet..I love hove you can actually taste the turnip. Plus for 4.95 I say it is a GREAT value. 21 Kalamatas (yes, I counted...)
Zaalous (mushroom, peppers, & potato in tomato sauce) - very fresh tasting. Light but didn't leave you wanting more....
Mdardara (Lentil, Rice, Roasted Onion) _ I love lentils but was afraid this dish was going to be boring. Afterall, it doesn't sound real exciting but even after the GREAT Baba Ghannouj, this dish was my fav. The flavors were rich and deep but maybe my favorite part; the lentils still had texture.
Lentil Soup Probably in top 3 of lentil soups i've had in restaurants. Texture is huge for mke in lentil soup and they nailed it. It was pureed and creamy but still had small chunks of vegetables and lentils. If it can with some lemon, it propably would be that much better....
Hummos Only miss of the night (for me). I couldn't detect any chickpea flavor, in fact I could not detect much flvor other than a faint bitterness from the tahini. It really wasn't so much of it being bad than just real plain.

All in all, I urge you to give this place a shot if you have not. Trust me too, Baba Ghannouj, Kabis, and Mdardara are worth the trip

I must have been moaning sounds of pleasure because the waitress stopped at the table, sort of stared at me and asked if everything was alright. It was, indeed!

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