Best Trendy Mediterranean Restaurants in Chicago
30 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Galit
A James Beard–driven, Michelin-starred Middle Eastern tasting menu built around obsessive hummus and salatim.
Essential Picks
#1
Galit
9.1
Galit is a Michelin-starred Middle Eastern restaurant from chef Zachary Engel that turns hummus, salatim, and wood-fired meats into a structured tasting menu. Locals use it for special-occasion dinners where bold flavors, precise cooking, and a deep wine list justify the spend.
Must-Try Dishes:
Hummus Masabacha, Labneh with za'atar and olive oil, Bubbe's Brisket
What Makes it Special: A James Beard–driven, Michelin-starred Middle Eastern tasting menu built around obsessive hummus and salatim.
Notable Picks
#2
Aba
8.9
Aba is a high-energy rooftop spot in Fulton Market where modern Middle Eastern–leaning mezze, shawarma-spiced proteins, and a deep cocktail list are matched by one of the most polished patios in the city. Locals treat it as a go-to for celebratory dinners, brunch with out-of-towners, and nights where food and scene both matter.
Must-Try Dishes:
Whipped Feta with charred pita, Short Rib Hummus, Shawarma-Spiced Skirt Steak
What Makes it Special: Destination rooftop Mediterranean spot where polished mezze meets a lush, scene-y patio.
#3
Ema
8.9
Ema is Lettuce Entertain You’s bright River North Mediterranean room, built around Chef CJ Jacobson’s lighter California-style mezze, hummus, and kebabs in the lobby of the Hyatt Place. High-volume, multi-platform reviews and a steady local following make it one of the neighborhood’s most reliable spots for shareable small plates and vegetable-forward spreads.
Must-Try Dishes:
Spicy Hummus with Lamb Ragu, House-Made Stracciatella with Vine-Ripened Tomatoes, Lamb Kefta Kebabs
What Makes it Special: High-volume Mediterranean mezze from Chef CJ Jacobson with consistently strong execution.
#4
LÝRA
8.8
LÝRA is a modern Greek flagship in Fulton Market, pairing live-fire cooking and island-inspired dishes with a high-energy, design-forward space opened in 2022. Locals use it for big nights out where charcoal-grilled lamb, pastitsio, and cocktails turn dinner into an event.
Must-Try Dishes:
Charcoal Grilled Lamb Chops, Deconstructed Pastitsio, Cast Iron Moussaka
What Makes it Special: Modern Greek showpiece blending Mykonos-inspired cooking with a high-design Fulton Market space.
8.8
Opened in 2009 by chef Jimmy Bannos Jr., The Purple Pig is a high-volume Mediterranean small-plates restaurant on the Magnificent Mile where pork, offal, and vegetable dishes pull from Italian, Greek, and Spanish flavors. A Bib Gourmand pedigree, tens of thousands of reviews across platforms, and an always-busy dining room make it one of downtown Chicago’s most proven small-plates destinations.
Must-Try Dishes:
Milk Braised Berkshire Pork Shoulder, Charred Cauliflower, Pork Belly
What Makes it Special: High-volume Mediterranean small plates spotlighting pork and Spanish-leaning tapas.
8.7
Andros Taverna is a contemporary Greek restaurant in Logan Square from chef Doug Psaltis, serving wood-grilled meats, seafood, and house-baked breads with a focus on seasonal produce. Locals treat it as the neighborhood’s destination Mediterranean spot for date nights, group dinners, and brunch, thanks to polished service, a deep mezze menu, and a busy dining room with a large patio.
Must-Try Dishes:
Kataifi Cheese Pie, Charred Octopus with Chickpeas, Lamb Chops with Lemon Potatoes
What Makes it Special: A chef-driven modern Greek tavern where wood-fired cooking and thoughtful mezze make it a destination within Logan Square.
#7
Sifr
8.7
From the team behind Indienne, Sifr brings wood-fired Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cooking to a bi-level River North space, backed by a Michelin Bib Gourmand and steadily growing review volume. Charcoal-grilled meats, seafood, and vegetables come in shareable formats that pair well with a cocktail program locals use for date nights and small-group dinners.
Must-Try Dishes:
Black Tiger Prawn with Toum and Harissa, Hokkaido Scallop with Zaitoon, Lamb Kebab with Wood-Fired Vegetables
What Makes it Special: Michelin Bib Gourmand wood-fired Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cooking in a design-forward space.
#8
Apolonia
8.6
Apolonia is chef Stephen Gillanders' contemporary Mediterranean dining room at the edge of McCormick Place, blending Northern Mediterranean flavors with a European-leaning small-plates menu and a focused wine list. Guests come for dishes like black truffle puff bread, branzino, and pastas, plus a Bib Gourmand–recognized experience that works for both conventions and date nights. The minimalist, high-ceilinged room can run loud, but it feels like one of the South Loop's most polished Mediterranean options.
Must-Try Dishes:
Black Truffle Puff Bread, Mediterranean Branzino, Fiorentini al Sugo
What Makes it Special: Bib Gourmand Mediterranean restaurant balancing ambitious small plates with convention-friendly polish.
#9
avec
8.6
A West Loop Mediterranean room built for shareable small plates that still eat like a real dinner: bold, wine-friendly flavors, smart technique, and a menu that rewards committing to a few signature lanes. The move is to anchor the table with one big protein, then stack 2–3 high-impact plates that bring spice, acid, and smoke into balance.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chorizo-stuffed Medjool dates, Slow-roasted pork shoulder, Short rib hummus
What Makes it Special: High-impact Mediterranean small plates built for a tight, shareable order.
#10
Cira
8.6
Set off the lobby of The Hoxton, Cira serves vegetable-forward Mediterranean and Turkish-leaning plates, from hummus and flatbreads to lamb and seafood, in a high-ceilinged space that feels bright by day and moody at night. Its dog-friendly street-side patio and all-day menu make it a flexible option for brunch, coffee dates, or lingering dinners with a four-legged companion.
Must-Try Dishes:
Lamb Hummus, Shakshuka, Grilled Halloumi with Seasonal Vegetables
What Makes it Special: Mediterranean all-day cafe with design-forward dining room and dog-friendly patio.
#11
avec River North
8.5
Avec River North scales up the beloved West Loop original into a larger wine-focused space serving rustic Mediterranean-inspired small and large plates. Chorizo-stuffed dates, flatbreads, and paella-style pastas lead a menu that works as well for a bottle-heavy date night as it does for business dinners and group celebrations.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chorizo-Stuffed, Bacon-Wrapped Dates, Taleggio Flatbread, Fideo Noodle Paella
What Makes it Special: Second-generation Avec with a larger room and Mediterranean-leaning small plates built for sharing.
#12
Avli Taverna
8.5
Avli Taverna is a contemporary Greek restaurant from a small local group, known for shareable mezze, thoughtful seafood, and a strong cocktail program in a narrow Lincoln Park townhouse space. It’s where locals book date nights and small celebrations when they want Greek beyond gyros and souvlaki.
Must-Try Dishes:
Flaming Saganaki, Octopodi (grilled octopus), Spanakopita
What Makes it Special: A Bib-Gourmand-recognized Greek spot where mezze, cocktails, and polished service make Wrightwood feel like a night out in Athens.
8.5
Le Sud is a cozy Roscoe Village bistro where Southern French and broader Mediterranean flavors show up in burrata, seafood towers, and bistro-style mains under soft lighting. Brunch service, a popular patio, and strong event business make it a neighborhood choice for date nights and small celebrations.
Must-Try Dishes:
Seafood tower, Burrata with seasonal accompaniments, Steak frites or grilled steak specials
What Makes it Special: French-leaning Mediterranean cooking in a romantic neighborhood room with a patio.
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
What Makes it Special: Chicago’s first Kurdish restaurant, pairing soulful mezze with a serious Kurdish breakfast.
#15
Anatolia
8.4
Anatolia is a modern Turkish and Mediterranean restaurant on Clark where Adana kebab, mezze spreads, and Turkish cocktails land in a softly lit room. It functions as Lincoln Park’s sit-down Turkish option for lingering dinners that still feel neighborhood casual rather than formal.
Must-Try Dishes:
Adana Kebab Plate, Stuffed Grape Leaves, Pink Lady dip
What Makes it Special: A Clark Street Turkish dining room where kebabs, mezze, and Turkish cocktails come with more polish than most neighborhood spots.
#16
Avli on The Park
8.4
A contemporary Greek dining room that leans into shareable mezze, seafood-forward mains, and a lively, group-friendly pace. Order best when you build a progression—spreads and small plates first, then one whole-fish or lamb centerpiece—so the table stays coherent instead of scattered.
Must-Try Dishes:
Whole red snapper, Kataifi shrimp, Flaming saganaki
What Makes it Special: Greek mezze-to-mains progression in a lively, polished room.
#17
Nora Restaurant
8.4
Opened in 2024, Nora Restaurant & Bar brings a modern coastal Mediterranean menu with Sardinian influences to a polished Streeterville dining room. Cocktails, seafood, and pastas draw both hotel guests and locals looking for a newer, design-forward spot a short walk off Michigan Avenue.
Must-Try Dishes:
Tuna Tartare, Pulpo a la Gallega, Prime Hanger Steak
What Makes it Special: A newer Streeterville dining room pairing coastal Mediterranean cooking with a cocktail-first bar program.
8.3
Beatnik West Town leans into maximalist decor and a cocktail-heavy menu while sending out Eastern Mediterranean-inspired small plates meant for sharing. Brunch and dinner both skew social, so guests come as much for the plants-and-textiles backdrop and drinks as for dishes that pull from Lebanon, Jordan, and beyond.
Must-Try Dishes:
Crispy artichokes, Hummus with house flatbread, Lamb kebab skewers
What Makes it Special: Maximalist, plant-filled space pairing Mediterranean small plates with serious cocktails.
8.3
A Hyde Park Mediterranean mainstay that’s strongest when you lean into its crispy falafel and shawarma-driven plates, with a modern, lively dining-room energy. The menu has range, but the best results come from anchoring with one classic and adding one shareable (soup or wings) rather than ordering across every category.
Must-Try Dishes:
Crispy falafel, Chicken shawarma, Lentil soup
What Makes it Special: Falafel-and-shawarma execution that holds up across high volume.
#20
Fiya
8.3
A modern Middle Eastern/Israeli-leaning kitchen where the move is to build the meal around hummus-and-pita and one larger centerpiece, then stop before it turns into a crowded table. The food lands best when you let the spice blends and sauces do the work—bright, savory, and designed for sharing.
Must-Try Dishes:
Hummus (Original or Shawarma), Shakshuka, Khachapuri
What Makes it Special: Modern Middle Eastern cooking anchored by hummus, pita, and bold mains.
8.3
Medi Kitchen & Cocktail is a Lebanese-inspired small-plates restaurant on Halsted where shareable mezze, kafta, and shakshouka meet a serious cocktail list in a dim, design-forward room. It reads like Lincoln Park’s Mediterranean lounge: part dinner destination, part bar for lingering over drinks and dips.
Must-Try Dishes:
Falafel Benni, Kafta Kabob, Shakshouka
What Makes it Special: A cocktail-focused Mediterranean spot where Lebanese family recipes meet a moody, club-adjacent dining room.
#22
Taxim
8.3
Taxim focuses on regionally specific Greek cooking, serving wood-grilled meats, seasonal produce, and meze in a dim, brick-lined room with a rooftop patio over Milwaukee Avenue. Locals treat it as the neighborhood’s serious sit-down option when they want a longer Mediterranean dinner instead of quick counter service.
Must-Try Dishes:
Wood-grilled octopus, Braised lamb shank, House mezze platter
What Makes it Special: Rooftop-friendly modern Greek spot emphasizing regional dishes and meze.
#23
Avaspi
8.2
Avaspi brings an Anatolian slant to Lakeview with tapas-style mezze, charcoal-grilled kebabs, and a polished room of velvet seating and cocktails. It’s where locals upgrade a neighborhood dinner into something closer to a night out without leaving the zip code.
Must-Try Dishes:
Mixed meze appetizer, Grilled halloumi meze, Anatolian Breakfast for Two
What Makes it Special: Design-forward Anatolian spot where mezze, cocktails, and brunch meet in a chic space.
#24
Ragadan
8.2
An Uptown counter that treats falafel like the main event, with Jordanian flavors and a menu designed for quick, high-satisfaction meals. The smartest order is one sandwich that shows off the texture—crisp outside, soft middle—plus one sweet closer if you’ve got room.
Must-Try Dishes:
Falafel sandwich, Labneh egg salad sandwich, Baklava milkshake
What Makes it Special: Falafel-first Jordanian cooking with a fast, modern counter rhythm.
8
Vibes:
Date Night Magic
Trendy Table Hotspots
Birthday & Celebration Central
Group Dining Gatherings
A polished Greek dining room that leans more modern steak-and-seafood than taverna, with a menu built for a composed, course-like progression. It’s at its best when you treat it as an occasion: one strong starter, one seafood or lamb lane, then a clean finish instead of over-ordering.
Must-Try Dishes:
Lamb chops, Smoked lamb ribs, Spanakopita
What Makes it Special: Modern Greek cooking with a polished, occasion-forward dining room.
Worthy Picks
#26
101 Bar
7.8
The 101 Bar & Grill anchors a multi-level bar and rooftop complex at Rush and Erie, pairing Mediterranean-inspired dishes with burgers, salads, and a strong cocktail focus. Guests come as much for the covered patio and skyline rooftop as for the food, making it a social, view-driven way to work Mediterranean flavors into a night out.
Must-Try Dishes:
Hummus with Warm Pita, Grilled Salmon Entrée, Chicken Sliders
What Makes it Special: A Mag Mile–adjacent bar and grill where rooftop views, cocktails, and Mediterranean-leaning plates share the spotlight.
7.8
Beatnik On The River is a boho-chic cocktail and Mediterranean-leaning restaurant perched over the Chicago River, known more for transportive decor and views than for purist regional cooking. Guests mix mezze, globally inflected mains, and elaborate drinks on patios and lounges that feel designed for date nights and group hangs.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken musakhan, Branzino al pastor, Baba ganoush with warm bread
What Makes it Special: Riverfront, plant-filled rooms and patios that frame mezze, Mediterranean-influenced plates, and cocktails against one of the Loop’s most theatrical backdrops.
#28
Masada
7.6
Masada is a sprawling Middle Eastern restaurant and lounge in Logan Square known for hookah-friendly patios, late hours, and large-format mezze and grill platters. Food feedback is solid but mixed compared to peers, with the draw leaning more toward lively atmosphere, group outings, and nightlife than tightly executed plates.
Must-Try Dishes:
Mixed Grill Platter, Hummus with Lamb, Chicken Kabob Plate
What Makes it Special: A high-energy Middle Eastern restaurant with one of the area’s largest patios and late-night scenes, built around mezze, grills, and hookah service.
7.6
A Greek-leaning South Loop brunch room known for big-portion breakfast plates and a menu that leans into Mediterranean flavors without going full taverna. The best orders stay focused on egg-forward dishes and one sweet signature, especially when you want a sit-down meal that still moves at a cafe pace.
Must-Try Dishes:
Shakshuka, Banana Bread French Toast, Eggs Benedict
What Makes it Special: Greek-leaning brunch staples with high-portion, cafe-style execution.
7.6
Vibes:
Outdoor Dining Oasis
Girls Night Out Approved
Birthday & Celebration Central
Trendy Table Hotspots
Perched on North Avenue Beach, Shore Club pairs a Mediterranean-leaning menu and big mezze platters with lakefront cabanas and a glass-walled dining room. Food quality is solid if uneven, but the draw is cocktails, shared plates, and postcard views over Lake Michigan.
Must-Try Dishes:
Mezze platter, Shrimp tacos, Whipped feta dip
What Makes it Special: Seasonal lakefront spot on North Avenue Beach with Mediterranean-inspired share plates and cocktails.