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Best Middle Eastern Restaurants in Gold Coast & Old Town (60610)

5 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked

Last Updated: January 2026

Our Top Pick
Old Jerusalem Restaurant
Decades-old Old Town fixture for Palestinian and Middle Eastern comfort plates.

Notable Picks

$$ Old Town
A longtime Old Town standby since the 1970s, Old Jerusalem serves classic Palestinian and broader Middle Eastern staples in a compact, homey dining room. Locals come for plates of kebabs, shawarma, and vegetarian mezze that have stayed remarkably consistent over decades.
Must-Try Dishes: Chicken shawarma plate, Falafel sandwich, Hummus with meat
What makes it special: Decades-old Old Town fixture for Palestinian and Middle Eastern comfort plates.
$$ Near North Side
A late-hours halal Pakistani option that locals use for hearty staples like biryani and curry plates when you want maximum food for the money. It’s functional and no-frills inside, but the kitchen leans into big flavor, big portions, and reliable takeout.
Must-Try Dishes: Lamb biryani, Nihari, Tandoori chicken tikka
What makes it special: Late-night halal Pakistani comfort plates in Old Town.

Worthy Picks

$ Near North Side
A casual halal counter focused on quick Mediterranean and Middle Eastern staples—falafel, gyros, and grilled skewers—built for takeout and delivery. It’s not a destination dining room, but it’s a practical neighborhood option when you want fast, filling plates.
Must-Try Dishes: Chicken Tikka, Chicken Boti, Beef Seekh Kabab
What makes it special: Neighborhood Pakistani grill with a tight lineup of kebabs, tikka, and curries.
$$ Near North Side
A halal Central Asian kitchen that offers a different lane from the neighborhood’s usual shawarma-and-falafel rotation, leaning into dishes like plov and dumplings. It’s best when you order classics that highlight slow-cooked meats and rice rather than chasing novelty.
Must-Try Dishes: Plov, Manty, Samsa
What makes it special: Halal Central Asian comfort dishes beyond standard kebabs.
$ Near North Side
A newer Lebanese street-food stop built around shawarma and falafel for fast lunches and straightforward takeout. The menu is focused and the format is grab-and-go, making it most useful when you want a quick, saucy plate that still tastes freshly assembled.
Must-Try Dishes: Chicken shawarma wrap, Falafel wrap, Hummus with pita
What makes it special: Delivery-first Lebanese street food with tightly focused shawarma and falafel.