There are some more well-known and fancier Middle Eastern restaurants in the immediate vicinity, but I prefer City Noor. It is by far the most vegetarian-friendly Middle Eastern restaurant I've been to in Chicago. The okra and lentil soup are both to die for, and the falafel is simply perfect. Turkish coffee is made fresh and just right. There are plenty of vegetarian dishes, and any other dish can be ordered vegetarian. Sorry, can't comment on the comparative quality of dead animal items...
It's always nice to sit and chat with Noor, the Jordanian owner and chef. She prepares all meals to order in the open and visible kitchen (always a good sign for any restaurant!). Her polite, shy children occasionally help with service.
My only complaint is that the prices are a bit high. With around $10 for entrees, you'd expect a fairly classy place. Instead, the decor is rather fast-foodish. I'm stint and care more about the food, so I'd rather they keep the place dumpy and lower their prices! The interior design highlight (or drawback?) is an eleventy-billion inch TV screen on which you can watch Arab music videos in magnificent detail while you devour your okra.
After dinner, why not go south 2 blocks to Nazareth Sweets for fresh knafe for dessert? Mmmm, knafe.
My husband and I ate there tonight. Â He had the okra special and LOVED it - it's a huge portion of braised lamb with rice and the okra in a bowl on the side.
I had the kufta beef and was unimpressed - in a city filled with Middle Eastern restaurants, you can do better. Â
The prices were reasonable and again, the special was excellent - but with so many other choices this is not one of my favorites. Â I prefer Pita Inn, Reza's, and Semiramis.
Not to be missed! Most of the customers seem to come here for take-out, so it can often be empty, even at lunch or dinner time. Don't let that fool you -- the food is terrific.
They start you out with a selection of pickled vegetables and olives, along with a basket of toasted pita. My husband loves the yogurt drink -- a cool, salty beverage spiked with fresh herbs -- so he gets that and I have the mint tea. Â
Then it's on to the main attractions. They serve a version of what is elsewhere known as kibbeh -- meat surrounded by bulgar and deep-fried -- and theirs is crispy, fragrant, and luscious. The "stuffed chicken" is a perfectly roasted half-bird, resting on a bed of chicken-infused, cinammon and cumin spiced rice. Kababs are tender and served on a moist mountain of rice, and they come with a lovely sauce. If you're more daring, or more in the mood for unusual, authentic dishes, try the lamb with yogurt sauce. Â Both lamb and yogurt are rich and pungent, and you'll get an extra dish of spicy sauce to pour over the lamb and rice. Â
If you can manage it, try coming by some afternoon when you can chat with the charming, friendly chef!
Fire up your hookah, this place will get you in the mood! Â
Having just returned from a trip to Egypt I was jonesing for some REAL falafel, so I tried City Noor Kabab. Â I was pleasantly surprised, it was awesome! Â So very, very close to the real thing, I was amazed.
Yes, the portions are outrageous, I got about three meals out of my order, which consisted of  falafel sandwich, the vegetarian appetizer plate, and a bowl of lentil soup that they threw in for free.
I keep City Noor Kabab's menu in my car so I can place my order on my way home from work. Â I think it's cheaper to eat here than it is to cook at home! Â Excellent food!
Dammit! Sly Guy M. beat me on the "first to review" this place! :-)
It's good - nay, my husband and I almost bought this place once it's so good - but Salaam up the street has better falafel. This place, though, has the kind of crazy, random atmosphere and decor that I know and love on Kedzie Avenue. Worth a visit!
This place is amazing, offering astoundingly good Middle Eastern food (and select Pakistani & Indian offerings), made fresh, obscenely generous portions and rock bottom prices. Â Prices range from $2 for a tasty cup of Lentil Soup to $12 for Stuffed Chicken dinner plate. Â $12 is the most expensive thing on the menu?!! You've got to be kidding me....no, I'm not! Â The menu is HUGE (and diverse with tons of offerings for meat eaters and vegetarians) and the prices just are sooo low. Â This place is the real deal where people who know good Middle Eastern food come to dine, forget about nearby Noon O Kabab. Â I will never go back there after eating at City Noor Kabab. Â Don't be fooled by the outside appearance, the dining room is spacious and clean, (even if it is very plain inside - but I could care less about the atmosphere when the food is this good as it is here) Â All in all, some of the very best Middle Eastern food I've ever had in Chicago, if I could give this place 6 stars I would. Â This is the kind of quality restaurant that I wished was around the cormer from me as I would be their #1 customer/stock owner. Â Yes, and I'll say it loudly and proudly....It's that GOOD here...
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