Falafel & Grill

Boy, was this place ever a surprise.

I have been lamenting the state of Middle eastern food in Chicago since the metamorphosis of Salam. A recent meal at Dawali was middling and led me to believe options were running thin up Kedzie. I don't make the trek out to my homelands of the SW burbs too frequently these days, but it seems worth a jaunt to Bridgeview to check out the good stuff. And the options in my immediate striking distance range from over-priced and under-seasoned (Chickpea) to douchey- scened and gringo-ized (Sultan's Market). The arrival of a new kabob spot across the street from me fell from immediate enthusiasm to straight up boycotting (pre-sliced and reheated shwarma, rancid! hummus).

So the sudden appearance of an innocuously named falafel place in the heart of the southward gentrification of Milwaukee Ave. sparked very little interest. And then last week a few friends showed up to my place with kabobs wrapped in well griddled thin pita stuffed with fragrant kifta and home made looking pickles, I was shocked to hear that they'd picked them up from that place.

The next day I tried them out. The update to the old 7D grill is a near complete makeover, a squeaky clean room flanked in windows that has a nice open feel that puts you right in the action of this busy corner. The place was bustling with all sorts of folks at a late lunch hour. The staff were polite and attentive, more than a bit of family resemblance between the young servers and the men tending to the grill. The doners were amply stocked and for me good shwarma is always a benchmark for the rest of the cuisine. The chicken looked like it had spent a little more time caramelizing to a lovely dark golden hue than the beef/lamb, so I went with that. Too hungry to weigh options on the menu I instinctively ordered a small hummus to start.


This was quite good, though perhaps over garnished. An extra squeeze of lemon juice skewed things a bit too acidic. The minced pickle (peppers?) top knot contributed to further puckering. No matter though, the hummus itself was light and ethereally emulsified, quality tahini bringing up the rear. Interestingly, this dish was served with fluffy pocket-like pita, different than the ones served with the kabob. It was very soft and fresh.


The chicken shwarma kabob was by far the best in recent experiences in Chicago. Very well managed, a perfect balance of meat, veggies, and sauce. The pita was amazing, charred and crisp on the outside and chewy inside. The meat was great, roasted crisp. It had a curry-like spice set with turmeric and fenugreek, I believe. Tahini sauce was rich and tangy. And the addition of very nice full sour pickle really set this sandwich apart. Really good stuff.

Hopefully they will continue to operate at this level, offering fresh and authentic grub to an area lacking in cheap, healthy on-the-go dining options. I'll be back very soon to find out.

Falafel & Grill
1317 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 292-8888
http://falafelgrillchicago.com/

Jefe,
I can sooo relate to your observations

A recent meal at Dawali was middling and led me to believe options were running thin up Kedzie. I don't make the trek out to my homelands of the SW burbs too frequently these days, but it seems worth a jaunt to Bridgeview to check out the good stuff. And the options in my immediate striking distance range from over-priced and under-seasoned (Chickpea) to douchey- scened and gringo-ized (Sultan's Market).

Logan Square's definitely in need of a Middle Eastern restaurant/Shwarma Shop!
Anything on Milwaukee Avenue from California through Central Park would be an immediate HIT
( given that they produce a consistently tasty product )
Nice write up, BTW!

I'll have to check that place out. If you want another great place for falafel and shawarma, try Zaytune Grill in Bridgeport. Their food is amazing and they've won lots of awards.

All -

Just wanted to post about F&G as I have been slowly aligning it as my ONLY place in the area for my falafel, shawarma, and kebob needs. Previously I was tied up at Sultans or the place on Milwaukee north of Augusta - neither of which blew me away - ever. Consistently underwhelming actually.

Then this place comes along. First thing I try is the Chicken Shawarma. From almost the first bite it is a different experience. Freshly shaved chicken that you actually taste. Throw in their outstanding garlic sauce and some cucumber situation and you have an excellent $5 dollar sandwich. This is a lunch staple for me. Btw, you can also get the Shawarma in a plate format if you are craving a larger meal.

Another item I am now hooked on - the Chicken Kabob. This is a dish I am consistently uninterested in because I find the flavorings to be lackluster or the meats to be too dry. I am not referring to the kabob from here but from other places I frequent. However, last night with the convincing of a friend I had the chicken kabob plate.

I literally spent half of the meal thinking about high fiving the guys behind the counter. Two kabobs, perfectly cooked. Very tender and moist and tons of flavor from the marinade. Perfect char on the peppers and onions making each bite of those delicious too. In addition to the chicken you get a basket of pitas, a rather large portion of outstanding hummus, a little greek salad, and a gigantic pile of rice. It is a crazy value for $10.62. I told my friend I think they should raise their prices.

To me this no frills (aside from the food) is on the heavy rotation list for good reason - its simple but great food!

If you live in the hood you should most definitely give it a look.

More.

F&G Is still in full rotation on my weekly schedule. Working from home this has become my default option. Affordable, very tasty, and very quick.

Today my buddy and I ate there and crushed the chicken shawarma plate (comes with rice, salad, and their delicious hummus), beef shawarma sandwich, and a sidecar 6 pc falafel.

All were great. Entirely too much food for a lunch, but we still finished it all. Its amazing how much more flavor their food has than some of the other similar joints in the area. Also, if you are a fan of garlic, the garlic sauce is a nice dipper for... pretty much anything.

Other day had the kifta sandwich and to date it is the only thing I thought was just ok.

Anyway, if you haven't been yet and you are in the hood, they are worth a stop.