Sinbad’s

It is right next to the El, so I thought I would try it on the way home this week. The hummus was runny and not good, and the chicken shawarma was very dry. I will not come here again.

You should get your falafel’s here. It’s pretty cheap and really delicious. I think I got fries a falafel sandwhich and a drink for $ 7. I was so full afterwards. Plus, it’s right off the Belmont red line so it’s really easy to get to.
Definitely recommended.

Yummy Spicy Falafel Sandwich to go! It is absolutely delicious and only around $ 3! I have been back 4 times this month already.
I’m so glad this place is close by. I might just be back tomorrow again. :)

Check out Sinbad’s if you want good Med fair in Lakeview. It is right by the Belmont stop which is convenient for a quick lunch or dinner. Don’t try and park near it. Only go if you can walk!
I had the shawrma sandwich and it was great. A few points to note — I dont believe the meat is freshly cut off the gyro block. It appeared as if it were stored underneath the stove. However, you wouldn’t know. They throw it on the flat top to crisp it up and it brings out all the oils and is great! The meat has an amazing seasoning that I would go back for in a heartbeat. It comes with lettuce, tomato and cucumber, but all I really tasted was the lettuce. I wish the veggies were evenly distributed with the meat, but that is not the case. As I said before, the meat is a bit oily, which breaks down the bread quite quickly, so eat fast. Don’t worry you will want to when you have one bite! I added feta cheese for 50 cents which adds a nice creaminess. The tahini sauce is fantastic. You probably neex extra, which they will charge for.
Don’t try and trade out items on the «specials» .it won’t happen no matter how much you beg. The fries were freshly fried, but nothing to go back for.
A heads up –everything cost extra — sauce, cheese, refills, etc. I typically don’t like that, but I was able to get by with only the extra feta. They didn’t seem to strict on the refills, but my morals prevent me from doing the deed.
My friend got the first special, which was the meat plate, which included shawrma, chicken, beef, and a hearty side of rice pilaf. He said the meat was delicious, echoing my opinion with the spice and grilling. He felt the dish needed more of the sauce, which was sparingly used on the dish. I would recommend asking for a hefty ladle in the beginning to try and prevent the extra charge. The rice was cooked well and made it feel like a «dinner»
Nothing to say about the atmosphere, but there is a TV which seems to be more for the employee use. The service was good and the man was enthusiastic about the food. However, he committed my pet peeve. I asked him what his favorite menu item was and he told me this «special dish» he makes with like every meat, all these sides, cooked in hot sauce, etc. It would have cost me $ 42 dollars to put that combo together, so that was an unrealistic recommendation.
Overall, great value and I will be back in the near future!

It’s sad to see this place getting negative reviews because I thought it was great. They have a full menu and a decent salad bar. It’s not fancy and nothing stands out on the inside, but it was good.
I went in during dinner hours and the place was empty. I had the Med. Plate, which consists of Chicken, Lamb and another meat I forgot on a bead of rice, small portion of salad/​veggies and a piece of pita for $ 7.99. It wasn’t the best, but for $ 7.99 it was well worth it and left me full.
There is also a salad bar with limited selection to choose from at $ 4.99/lb. There is enough to fill you up, but could use some meat items to add to the plate.
I hope more people start going there. The positive of it, is that you don’t have a huge wait.

As I have mentioned in previous reviews of Middle Eastern restaurants, I haven’t found a place I like as well as a place I used to frequent in California. Sinbad wasn’t that great in my opinion. Again, I like my hummus dripping in garlic and this didn’t have much garlic flavor. And they only gave one measly pita with the hummus! The chicken schwarma sandwich was disappointing – it had both white and dark meat chicken. eeeewwww. Please, only white meat. Otherwise, I feel like I am getting royally ripped off.
I will continue my quest for good Middle Eastern food in Chicago… sigh…

I love the falafel sandwich here. I get it with baba ghanouj. Sometimes I get a couple of falafels on the side. I would recommend that over the combo, because the fries aren’t that good.
Sometimes the wait can be a little long, but it’s alright because they make it fresh.

Before a movie at Landmark Theatre I thought Sinbads would be a good, cheap choice for dining. I heard great things about the Fullerton location… so I was hopeful.
Turns out — all good! The Baba Ghanouj was delicious… and for $ 6.95 you can get a Veggie Combo plate with hummus, baba ghanouj, salad, 3 falafel balls, loads of pita bread and a soft-​drink. I was stuffed at the end which is unfortunate because their homemade juices and smoothies were very tempting.
I only wish this place was a little closer to home. I will certainly be back, and recommend this place to anyone on a budget but looking for something delicious.
My only recommendation to the owners, clean the tables more frequently.

Surprised it only gets 3 stars, but that is better than 2 or less!
I was surprised by this place. THere was no one in there when I went in, but I ordered the chicken kabob special, almost $ 8 bucks. BUT, It includes 2 small pitas, a good portion of hummus and a drink.
I’m pretty impressed with the lack of grease. The sandwich isnt too fancy, but it’s not bland bland. Lettuce, chicken, mayo maybe and tomatos, but a good portion of chicken.
Hummus is great and I love myself some extra pitas!
They have a big salad bar for $ 4.99 per lb and there was tuna salad, whole hard-​boiled eggs, fruit, etc.
You can’t expect too much, but I like it so far!

So I was walking up Clark, on my way to Halsted’s Market Days and found Sinbads. Of course considering I’ve only ordered from them I talked my friend into going here. She was hung over from the Red Sox game so Middle Eastern sounded perfect.
Not much ambiance but the food makes up for it. The woman and gentleman working there were total bunnies and very nice. Quarter for refill of fountain pop and the Olympics playing on the TV… nice way to spend a Saturday afternoon.
Falafel, hummus, spinach pie: all amazing.
They have a salad bar which looked tempting as well. Will for sure be back.

Okay, it’s only been a day later, but I was CRAVING the baklava. So I got the falafel sandwich AGAIN as a side to the baklava. Yum, yum.
The baklava was pistachio. It didn’t have the floral undertones the Sinbad’s on Belmont had. But it was twice it’s size. Yum, yum.
I’m debating whether or not I’ll end up there again tomorrow.

Sinbad’s Grill specializes in Eastern Mediterranean cuisine which includes foods from Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Israel and Morocco (which is really categorized as North African.)
This type of cuisine is prepared in a really mild, fresh and healthy way. Interestingly enough, this is where wheat and barley was originally cultivated, along with chickpeas and fava beans. As for meats, goat and lamb are staples. Some of these countries also use tahini (a thick sesame seed paste) and yogurt.
Common preparation techniques include baking and slow cooking in ovens, as well as slow cooking in liquid. The flavors include fresh parsley, dill, mint and especially cinnamon. Two flavor principles are common: the combination of tomato sauce and cinnamon (usually with lemon and dill), and a mix of lemon and parsley (enhanced with garlic and mint).
We started off with a common appetizer of fresh, warm pita bread and marinated black olives. My husband also ordered a lentil soup, which was smooth and creamy.
For our entrees, my husband ordered a combination of a lamb kabob and chicken shawarma. The lamb kabob is a skewer of charbroiled seasoned ground lamb mixed with onions, parsley, herbs and spices. The chicken shawarma is thin slices of seasoned and marinated chicken breast that’s been grilled. Both of these were served on top of a bed of basmati rice, grilled vegetables and tahini sauce.
I ordered the couscous plate, which included tender lamb coated with Moroccan spices. It was simmered in a tomato sauce and cooked with zucchini, carrots and chickpeas. This lamb stew was served over a bed of couscous.
Everything was delicious — the place was romantic because it had it all to ourselves and it ended sweetly with walnut baklava that we took home.

Excellent falafel. Clean, friendly establishment… food takes a bit longer than «fast food,» but at the same price… I will wait patiently for the quality. Veggies were fresh, falafel was well done… and a generous side of warm pita accompanied my dinner.
And, Diet Coke. Fountain. YES.
Good stop for a quick bite to eat. Not for the ambience, for the falafel.