Al Khayyam

 

9

10

sabrina a.

Chicago, IL

The best Shawarma Sandwish in Chicago is served in Al Khayyam. Very Clean place, Great service, Fresh food, I love the Entre ( Olives, Pickles and goat cheese ) ohh My favourite dip I would go crazy if that dip isnt there anymore my Garlic yummy Dip it tastes so good. and the hot falafel no comment!!
Give it a try. you will be hooked as me.

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Elite '08

90

259

Michael S.

Chicago, IL

Looking for lamb tongue? $4.99/lb.  

Veal breast? $1.99/lb.

Fresh Pita bread? they make it on site.

Spices: $2/jar twice the size of the stingy $7 bottles you buy at Jewel or Dominicks.

Want to see an annoyed Middle Eastern woman complain to the butcher that he should de-bone her meat before weighing it?

Want to gaze at the beautiful glaze of homemade pastries in one of the longest bakery cabinets ever?

It's all here.

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Elite '08

44

215

Angela P.

Elgin, IL

We stopped in here after eating dinner at Semiramis down the street to pick up some baklava to take home.  The store itself is a typical ethnic grocery store filled with everything that you would need to make an authentic Middle Eastern meal at home!  My friend from Turkey would love it here! =]  We were only here to get sweets so we went into the bakery area and asked about the million different shapes of baklava.  He said that one side was pistachio and the other side was walnut.  We decided to try one of each to try it out cause that's how I roll!  When we got home I tried the pistachio and all I could think of when I bit into it was about the smell of the store because that's what hit my nose first, even before I bit down.  (BTW...the store smelled like a lemony cleaning product which is good because it means it's clean but it's not good when it gets attached to food!)  So I almost didn't bite into it because it smelled so strongly of the store!  But, of course, I did anyways and the taste didn't get much better for me.  The texture was nice but I could not get past the flavor!  So I will definitely not be going back for the baklava which deserves a 2 star rating in my opinion.  But I would probably go back to the 3 star store to get some Middle Eastern items you really can't find many places!

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Elite '08

7

80

Kimberly L.

IL

Excellent baklava, pita, spices. I used to walk past this place every day on my way to the train and it always smelled so good. I was not disappointed upon my first visit and there have been several more visits since. Quite delicious.

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6

69

Louay B.

Chicago, IL

Wonderful grocery store to find anything you can't find at a chain.  They bake their pita bread fresh everyday, Make their own pickles, olives, and pickled turnips.  Al Khayyam has a huuugggee variety of spices, which can be bought from the oz. to the lb.  

I highly recommend this place for spices, pita bread, olives, middle eastern cheeses, and rice.

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Elite '08

27

125

Amanda P.

Pawtucket, RI

The best pita in the city is right here.  Here's a tip:  They make the white pita in the morning and the whole wheat in the early afternoon.  Show up at the right time of day, and it's still warm.  The pita bread is also certified kosher.  The bakery staff speaks mostly Spanish (though the owners are Lebanese), so a rudimentary knowledge of Spanish helps.

There are all sorts of other Middle Eastern goodies in this store.  Looking for halvah?  They've got like 20 different kinds.  Ditto with yogurt.  Browse the aisles, pick something exotic, and take it home and sample it.

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Elite '08

156

635

Erika G.

Chicago, IL

Excellent Arab grocery store - they have all the goodies! Go on Sunday, when they make their excellent pita bread - better than bread I've had in the Middle East - but go early, because they sometimes run out! Get large bottles of spices here, at a fraction of the price of the corporate groceries.

Their restaurant next door is excellent also, very fresh and delicious. This place really knows how to cook meat - it is so juicy and savory. Charming, if a bit shabby, but excellent food and good service. Incredibe prices too - a real value!

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19

246

Me, Myself and I.

Chicago, IL

"I'm with Erika G one this one a thousand and one percent.  Al Khayyam is the very best - this bakery/middle-eastern grocery store rules!  I was in there this (Sunday 2/12) morning and watched an employee bake bread in this giant fire-powered oven in the store.  Great Selection and prices so low that shoplifters don't even bother coming here..."

I would say of all the places that I have reviewed for Yelp.com that is among my very favorite, I truly love coming here and just browsing and all the very interesting array of middle eastern food (and some non-food) products here....

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0

6

L C.

Chicago, IL

Great Lebanese (Mediterranean) food for sure.  Extensive, authentic bakery/ethnic grocer next door.  Make it a mission to try entire menu offerings.  Forgot to mention that Al Khayameih (correct spelling-bakery next door is Al Khayam) has hearty vegetarian selections.

Food:  Fresh tasting food, very large portions.  Consistently good.  Quality lean tender cuts of beef.  Super flavorings & spices.  Great food always.  

Ambiance:  Medium sized restaurant, clean, and tables comfortably arranged.  Lebanese, locals & the young eat here regularly.  A gem, and they know it.

Service:  Professional attentive wait staff.

Wish:  Newer wait staff is hit or miss.  No worries with long-time staff.

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