Middle East Bakery & Grocery

Yummy olives, dips, spreads, bread, cheese, and sweet treats. Check out the cured Turkish black olives in particular. They have a wide assortment of spices, lentils, rice, and other pantry staples too. Staff are very nice and helpful. I can’t wait until they open the attached restaurant!

I now live in Albany Park and I am able to get most of the stuff closer to home. But I don’t have a place that makes pies like they do. Their baked goods are why I make the trek to Foster. They have decent hummus, but there are better places to get hummus in the city. But the baked goods… yummmmm! Oh yeah, and he makes a mean harrissa, imam Bayildi, and tapenade!

Been shopping here for over 30 years. I’m Lebanese, know middle eastern cuisine. No other me grocery close except Feyrouz Bakery. Quality, consistency, variety, taste just way better than anywhere else.
My favorites; French feta, garlic hummus, many dif esfihas, uncooked felafel to make fresh at home, their meat grape leaves, Zdan yogurt, etc.

Snack? Done. Lunch? Done. Stuff for entertaining your guests? Done. Ingredients for multiple dinner options? Done!
Get:
— anything from the back/​east refrigerated section (baba ganouj, hummus, LENTIL SOUP, dolmas, guacamole, harissa, etc.)
— anything from the falafel/​savory pies/“pizzas,” flatbreads counter
— small fresh bread rolls and pita from the wall along the front windows by the door
— pilaf with roasted vermicelli
— red lentils
Affordable prices, always fresh baked items, friendly staff.

I’ve been here many times for the bread, they have good arabic bread but one time I was hungry and I ordered cheese and oliv e pies, I took them and went home when I started eating I was surprised they were both spinach Pies and I had severe diarrhea after eating it. It’s weird the guy who was standing there doesn’t know what inside the pies !!!
I think their Falafel and Pies are old and not clean .
Some stuff are overpriced, I can find them cheaper in other middle eastern groceries.
Otherwise it would be a good place for shopping don’t try to eat from them .
My one star for the fresh bread only.

This authentic grocery store is so awesome. It reminds me of the the places I visited while in Jerusalem. It smelled so good from the first step into the store. I love how the hummus, baba ganoush, dips, tapenades, cheeses, deli items, and other delicious and super healthy bakery goods are so natural with no preservatives. You can get Hummus any way you like, spicy, dill, garlic, red pepper, you name it! There are a variety of other natural dips which I can’t wait to go back and try. I was so thrilled by the variety of choices of super fresh bread! I love my pita bread right out of the oven. I am so happy to have stumbled apon this gem! I know I will be back again for my middle eastern grocery shopping.

I love this place, I go once a week for a number of things. I am really looking forward to their expansion. I like to get my hummus, dips and gluteen free chips there. I also like the patties. Lamb and potato as well as the bean and lentil!

I’m a huge fan of this place. Their pastries pies are all delicious and at $ 2 each you can’t go wrong. They have a wide variety of spices and that small neighborhood store vibe. Love it!

Falafel sandwich, you complete me. Love the hand pies and the fact that I can never remember which hand pie (olive or artichoke) is which in the bag. It is like the most successful and tasty game of Russian roulette ever. Yep, I’m a rebel living on the edge.

Great neighborhood gem that was recommended by a colleague, and I’m so glad I finally paid them a visit! They have every spice imaginable, as well as teas, pastries, pastas, and food to grab on the go, which I plan to try on my next trip. I was so glad to find some of the teas and honeys, and hazelnut spreads that I grew so fond of when visiting Istanbul a few years ago, so this place is a must if you’re looking for ingredients/​items that aren’t carried by grocery chains.

I can’t say enough good things. I’ve been shopping at Middle East for at least 20 years. The selection is amazing! Falafel, olives, meat pies, hummus, breads, spices and tons of snacks! I could go on and on!
And the owner is super, super nice. He’s adding on a restaurant. I can’t wait!!!

I visit this place as often as possible and have dreams about the delicious savory baked goods! Have your coffee beans ground with cardamom! The loose tea mixes are better (IMO) than fancy tea houses and more affordable too. Butter beans, tabouli, hummus and other mixed dips or salads are delicious– great to take to dinner parties! Vegan friendly pizza, and gluten free friendly crackers.
They are opening a restaurant next door and I am looking forward to it.
The staff is always kind and attentive.

I try to make biweekly trips to the Middle East Bakery & Grocery to pick up hummus, spicy babaghanuge, and their spinach and cheese pies, and lentil soup. YUM. The spicy babaghanuge never lasts long because I put it on everything. The lentil soup is perfectly lemony, yet savory, and total comfort food for me. A pie dipped in the spicy babaghanuge accompanied by a bowl of lentil soup is a satisfying and filling meal.
My only complaint, nitpicky as it is, is that the store itself is a little crowded. They are in the process of expanding, but they are trying to stay open as much as possible during the expansion, and don’t anticipate being closed more than two or three days. This will remedy the issue of the cramped quarters. Because the change, they seem to be reorganizing the shop. This complaint is only a testament to the large variety they carry.
All in all, I love this place, but I love the feeling when I get home with a bag of awesome noms even more.

We recently ordered all the food for what we called my mom’s «Bön Voyage Party» — her memorial service — from the Middle Eastern Bakery. Mom’s happiest time of her life was when she and my dad lived in the Middle East when he was in the service, and Middle Eastern food always was one of the most visceral ways she connected to that time of her life.
Two years ago, I moved her to Chicago because her Alzheimer’s disease was progressing to the point she needed round the clock care — but also because I wanted her to experience some of the greater ethnic diversity that Chicago had to offer. One of the first places I took her in Chicago was the Middle Eastern Bakery, and she fell in love with it, and with the people, who were extremely kind to her.
I knew her send-​off couldn’t be catered by anyone else! We got food for 45, and ended up with three times what we needed, for less than 300! And everyone was SO nice. Plus, this is the best Middle Eastern food I’ve had in Chicago — they don’t do everything, but what they do is SUPERB. AND they won over many of the party-​goers to Middle Eastern cuisine.
Thank you for helping my mom go out in the style she deserved, and would have wanted.

I always enjoy coming here, especially for the delicious house blended middle eastern and other regional spice blends. It still has a small grocery store feel despite the emergence of the incredibly more trendy and upscale Andersonville neighborhood.
They are expanding into the building next door, previously the Algerian Crêpe place (which I loved and miss) and I suspect they will expand their selections spruce up their store in the process. Can’t wait.

Stopped in yesterday to pick up some goodies. The love hasn’t died and in fact it’s stronger than ever. Try the lentil soup that’s in the refrigerator case. It’s delightfully light, clean and lemony. The lemony artichoke spread is addictive and wonderful on pita bread or pita chips. I also got the lentil pie, as well as the spinach and onion pie. So much portable tastiness in a neat little pocket. I’m looking forward to the café opening, which they said should be open early summer. It will be a great addition to the corner of Foster and Clark!

Love this place. It’s so easy to grab a handful of pies, a couple salads, and some hummus, and then take it all over to the lake for a picnic. The premade food items we’ve tried have all been delicious. The potato pie and lentil pie are spiced perfectly, and the fava bean salad is phenomenal. My husband also loves the olive salad, which has a little bit of a kick.
The selection of dried goods in the store is also great. You can buy bulk rice and beans, grains, dried fruit, pasta, tea and coffee, and lots of different herbs and spices. Additional refrigerated items include blocks of cheese, olives, and pickled veggies. The staff aren’t overly friendly (I don’t often see smiles when I’m in here), but I don’t need them to be with food like this. Prices are generally reasonable; some items I can find cheaper at the grocery store, others are cheaper here.
I’m looking forward to many more lakeside picnics with Middle East’s delicious foods this summer.

Spinach cheese pies. Years ago, I used to live in Hyde Park, and relished any trip to far-​away Andersonville so I could get these spinach cheese pies. And artichoke pies, and parsley olive pies… but the spinach cheese pies are the best (I don’t eat meat, so possibly the meat pies are just as good).
Then I moved away from Chicago and on my yearly-​or-​so return trips to Chicago, I would try to finagle a trip to the Middle Eastern Bakery so I could get more pies.
And now I live within walking distance, and my life feels charmed. For it’s not just the savory pies that I have unlimited access to now, but the makings of a picnic or meal in with such little effort and such big flavors: multiple kinds of hummus and baba ghanoush, multiple kinds of fresh pita, tzatziki, lentil soup, olives, zaatar flat bread, cheeses, sweets, etc.
At least stop in for a spinach cheese pie: they will warm it up for you if you ask, so you can eat it on your way out the door. Also, if you’re like me, you’ll possibly walk away with sour cherry jam and preserved lemons, even though you only came in for a snack.

This place deserves 5 stars for the spicy babaghanuge alone. It no joke changed my life.
I like to buy a bunch of the savory pies (I’ve tried most of their varieties and haven’t found a dud yet – favorites are the meat pie and the spinach with cheese) and dip them in the spicy babaghanuge. Throw in a cup of their fresh lentil soup and you’ve got a mindblowingly yummy lunch!
If I can tear myself away from the prepared foods part of the store, I’d love to scoop up some of their other items like spices, teas, etc. Staff has always been friendly when I’ve been there.

One visit. Multiple yums.
I needed preserved lemons for a dish I was making Christmas Eve. Whole Paycheck was my first thought but then I thought I should check Unilocal first. I’m glad I did because not only did I find I could purchase the preserved lemons here, but it looked like I could get more of the items I needed here as well. The store is full of Middle eastern food staples as well as a counter/​fridge for prepared items.
My list:
Preserved lemons
Large grain couscous
Zaa’tar seasoning
Hummus
Fresh Pita
Dried fruits
Pistachios
My impulse buys:
Baba Ghannouj
Zaa’tar bread
Lamb and potato hand pie (2)
Cheese and artichoke hand pie (1)
feta cheese
olives
Everything I purchased was delicious. The hummus and baba ghannouj was well seasoned and flavorful. Hummus super smooth and creamy; the BG a little chunky but the perfect consistency for me. The hand pies were yummy and well-​made – great crust and fillings. The cheese, fruits, nuts, olives were great quality as well.
I love trying new foods and Zaa’tar was a great discovery for me. I needed the spice blend for a vinaigrette I was making and just about fell in love with it.
I arrived there shortly after opening and the bread racks weren’t filled yet. I asked the friendly staff if there was more pita bread and they said it would be about 10 minutes. My tip to you, if you have 10 minutes and can wait for the fresh pita, DO IT. because it was so very very good. The aroma of fresh bread is heavenly and I didn’t mind browsing the store while I waited for fresh pita.
I already have the falafel sandwich on my list for my next visit as well as more baba ghannouj. Love this store.