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The Gundis Kurdish Kitchen
Master Critic Reviews (2 Lists)
The Gundis Kurdish Kitchen
8.5
Chicago’s first Kurdish restaurant serves mezze, hearty lamb plates, and a standout Kurdish breakfast in a cozy Lakeview dining room. Locals use it for relaxed date nights and long, share-heavy meals that feel special without going full white-tablecloth.
Must-Try Dishes:
Kurdish Breakfast, Sac tawa with lamb, Red lentil and goat cheese soup
Scores:
Value: 7.8
Service: 8.4
Consistency: 8.4
Food Quality: 9.3
Atmosphere: 7.2
Cultural Relevance: 8.9
What makes it special: Chicago’s first Kurdish restaurant, pairing soulful mezze with a serious Kurdish breakfast.
Who should go: Din ers seeking regional Middle Eastern cooking beyond the usual.
When to visit: Weekend brunch or early dinner when pacing feels relaxed.
What to order: Kurdish Breakfast, sac tawa with lamb, red lentil goat cheese soup.
Insider tip: Book brunch; it’s one of the few places serving a full Kurdish breakfast spread in the city.
Logistics & Planning
Parking: Primarily street parking on Broadway and nearby side streets; availability can be tight on weekends and peak brunch hours; no valet service.
Dress code: Smart casual — jeans and sweaters are fine, but many guests lean slightly dressy for date nights or brunch.
Noise level: Moderate — typically conversational, with a livelier buzz during weekend brunch.
Weekend wait: 20–45 minutes without a reservation, shorter if you arrive early evening.
Weekday lunch: Usually no wait; walk-ins are generally seated quickly.
Dietary Options
Vegetarian options: Yes — several mezze, salads, and breakfast plates work well for vegetarians.
Vegan options: Limited — a small number of mezze and sides may be suitable; ask staff to confirm ingredients.
Gluten-free options: Multiple naturally gluten-free dishes available, but there is no dedicated gluten-free prep area.
Good to Know
Is this good for a first date? Yes — the cozy room, shareable mezze, and relaxed pacing make it a strong first-date pick where you can talk without shouting.
Can I get a table without a reservation? Often yes, especially on weekdays or early evenings, but expect waits during weekend brunch and peak dinner; reservations reduce uncertainty.
Is it kid-friendly? Suitable for older kids and families during brunch or earlier seatings; evenings skew more date-night oriented and quieter for couples.
Best For
Better for: Regional Kurdish dishes, share-heavy meals, and a distinctive Kurdish breakfast that feels special without being formal.
Skip if: You want a loud party atmosphere, large-group seating, or a very broad menu of mainstream Mediterranean standards.
The Gundis Kurdish Kitchen
8.9
The Gundis Kurdish Kitchen brings Chicago a rare focus on Kurdish cooking, pairing lamb shanks, mezze, and grilled kebabs with a warm, modern dining room. Brunch platters and generous portions make it as useful for daytime spreads as for date-night dinners.
Must-Try Dishes:
Lamb Shank, Stuffed Chicken, Adana Kebab
Scores:
Value: 7.3
Service: 9
Consistency: 9.1
Food Quality: 9.4
Atmosphere: 8.6
Cultural Relevance: 8.8
What makes it special: Chicago’s flagship Kurdish restaurant with serious cooking and brunch spreads.
Who should go: Din ers seeking rich Kurdish mezze and lamb-focused plates.
When to visit: Weekend brunch or early dinner before peak noise.
What to order: Lamb shank, stuffed chicken, Adana kebab with mezze.
Insider tip: Share a mezze spread first, then split one or two mains.
Logistics & Planning
Parking: Mostly metered street parking on nearby blocks; spaces get scarce after 6pm on weekends and there is no valet, so plan a few extra minutes to circle or use a nearby paid garage.
Dress code: Smart casual — jeans are fine, but most guests lean slightly dressy for dinner and dates.
Noise level: Moderate-to-lively at peak; you can hold a conversation, though voices may need to raise during busy dinner service.
Weekend wait: 30–60 minutes without a reservation during peak hours; earlier seatings are easier to secure.
Weekday lunch: Typically no wait when open outside of brunch or peak meal periods.
Dietary Options
Vegetarian options: Yes — several mezze, salads, and egg dishes qualify, though many plates include dairy.
Vegan options: Limited — a small handful of plant-forward mezze and sides; confirm ingredients with staff.
Gluten-free options: Several kebabs, rice plates, and grilled items are naturally gluten-free, but there is no dedicated gluten-free prep area.
Good to Know
Is this good for a first date? Yes — the warm, modern room and shareable mezze create an easy conversational flow, especially at earlier dinner seatings before peak noise.
Can I get a table without a reservation? Often, yes for small parties if you arrive early or off-peak; on weekends and brunch, reservations or arriving before the rush is strongly recommended.
Is it kid-friendly? Reasonably — earlier meals work best for families; portions are shareable, but there’s no dedicated kids’ menu and space for strollers can be limited during busy service.
Best For
Better for: Kurdish specialties, generous portions, and brunch platters served in a warm, date-night-ready setting with shareable mezze.
Skip if: You need a very quiet room, strictly vegan choices, or a venue with dedicated gluten-free handling and ultra-fast in-and-out meals.