Sinbad’s

Went by today and they were CLOSED. Paper covering the windows and no sign saying they moved or remodeling. I’M REALLY BUMMED!

Great place for Halal meal in heart of Belmont street with Muslim food. That said, since it is very close to the L, it can have some transients coming over begging for a bowl of soup. A kind man bought this homeless a bowl of soup in this extreme weather of -17 °F so I have no problem with that. The place is decorated by many artwork from Middle East and the food is quite authentic. It is NOT the greatest Gyro that I had so I cannot give a 4+star rating since it is a little under seasoned. The counter service was nice and friendly and she allow me to take a photo of her place for my travelbook. (It is always nice to ask).

I wasn’t aware middle eastern food could be so terrible. An ultimate low for me. The shawarma was terrible: the meat dry and tasteless and very tough, the veggies putrid and pale, and the bread stale. Yikes. I’d avoid this place like the plague. So sad its in such an ideal location.

My friend and I went here on a whim because we were in the area and searching on Unilocal.I should have read the reviews more closely… We called Sinbad’s for pick up and shortly got our food.
I got the shawarma entrée and it was awful. The beef was really dry and the rice tasted like it was Rice-​a-​roni. The vegetables did not taste fresh. Also the sauce was extremely watery… Not appetizing at all.
My friend got the vegetarian sampler, and it was of the same quality.
The woman that rang us up was nice and the pitas were good. But that’s it.
Don’t go.

Don’t go. The hummus was like chalk and the chicken was terrible.

Love Sinbads! Best lentil and chicken soup. The tabouli salad and falafel are fresh and tasty. Be sure to try the hummus!

Nice people but the chicken was dry and the hummus was just ok. Overall, just not great food.

This place has my favorite falafel sandwich I have found in Chicago. The falafels are warm and moist; the hummus is creamy and flavorful without taking away from the falafel; the tomatoes and lettuce have always been fresh and crisp. I always ask for their hot sauce to add a little kick to the sandwich. I’d ask for it on the side though so you can control how much and when you want it.
The service is really quick and friendly and the prices are very reasonable.

Ordered in. Fast and filling and fairly tasty. Tried the hummus (yum), baba ganoush (eh), falafel (yum), jerusalem salad (oh so yum) and tasted the husband’s shwarma, which was also tasty.
I’d order from here in a pinch, though I’m sad because I actually preferred the falafel at Aladdin’s, which is now closed. Win some, lose some. *shrug*

The falafel is not that great. It’s big and filling, but there’s no crunch to it and it’s kind of bland.
However, the baba ganoush is really good. It’s smoky and full of flavor. Not sure how one works and the other doesn’t, but come for the latter.

Great food for cheap price!
I got the dolmates and a bowl of lentil soup and couldn’t have been happier. Huge portion sizes and worth the money. You can’t beat the price. I’m a vegetarian so I can’t speak for the meat dishes.

Ehhh…
The only problem I had with Sinbad’s was with their Chicken Shawarma pita. It didn’t taste like Shawarma at all. No spice, nothing differentiating it from any other type of chicken. It was shaved, and not kebob style, so I guess that was the only difference… shape of chicken pieces.
You can’t beat the prices here though. They always have specials.
If you order the hummus, they only give you 2 half pitas. There will be plenty of hummus left for other dippings.

Once again, as a sucker for anything Middle Eastern, I had to satisfy my hunger pangs after a LONG night at the Steamworks. Luckily, Sinbad’s was open at 11:30 PM! Nothing in Chicago is open that late! Anyways, the food was good, definitely not the best. The kifta was a little on the dry side, but spiced to perfection. The rice was fine, but the humus is a little bland. In fact, I needed to add some salt. They do give a $#it load of pita bread though and the staff is hospitable. If I ever find myself in Lakeview in the late night, I will definitely hit up Sinbad’s again.

This is one of the few places I trust to not overcook veggies or add unnecessary oil to the food. The falafel salad is perfectly seasoned and not so damn greasy as I have found at… many restaurants in Chicago. They also have freshly made vegetable juice. This is definitely my favorite restaurant near the Belmont red line stop.

was walking down the street and I saw the sign saying Shawarma from across the street so had to dodge some traffic and see what they had to offer
I was spoiled in Seattle I could get Lamb Shawarma but I have not found it our here yet, all the places I have been to only do Chicken or Beef, so I tried the Lamb shish kabob plate, it was the most tender Lamb I have ever had and it was so good tasting also, the cucumbers were fresh and crisp along with the Rice it was just right not over or undercooked and good flavor too it also, and a good size portion but not too big
I will go back for sure and try some other plates

Disappointment doesn’t even begin to cover it.
I am not an expert on shawarma, but this concoction that showed up when the cook called my number was not at all something you would expect. The beef was extremely dry and had a terrible flavor. The fries were good, but after having the so-​called shawarma taste in my mouth, I literally lost my appetite. Then, not only was the soda flat, they charge a quarter for refills. I mean, really, fountain drinks only cost around 5 or 10 cents anyway and they have to charge for refills.
So the search for great shawarma in the Chicago area continues… any suggestions?

Best Honey cakes in town! :)
I always go for the falafel, fava beans and tabouli! Have always left full without spending a bunch! The people here are really nice.
Just dont sit in the window. Every passer by will stare at your food. Kinda weird! :)
But great place, definitely go!

Boo, Sinbad.
Now Middle Eastern and Mediterranean (as Sinbad’s bills themselves) are probably my favorite cuisines, and I am pretty lenient when it comes to falafel, pita, hummus and baba ghanoush. I mean, it’s all usually good, and that’s why I’m so dedicated to it.
That’s why it pains me so to write a 2-​star review. Oh, and spending $ 17 on what I just ate also pains me.
I ordered the hummus chicken, which is served with lettuce, tomato, tahini and pita, and a small order of baba ghanoush. The good news is, I really enjoyed the baba. It had a really nice smoky and complex flavor. The pita was okay until I tore off a hard, dry piece. It was this way all along the edge. At this point, I’m only slightly annoyed because I still have my hummus chicken to try.
The chicken was cold… and I mean cold. The portion was meager, wasn’t properly sliced and the tahini was the most watery I’ve ever seen. Hummus? Mmmm okay, but not good enough to compensate for its underachieving neighbors on the plate. Also, packaging is very ‘fast food’. I don’t judge a book by its cover, but presentation could use an overhaul. For example, putting your best face forward shouldn’t include yellow lettuce. Just sayin’.
Sorry, Sinbad’s. I was really looking forward to this meal (especially as it as my first and only of a very long day) but it doesn’t look like this relationship is going to deepen. Yes, the food is cheap, but it shouldn’t taste like it.

It’s no Pita Inn, that’s for damned sure (but really, what is?).
Decent food… but no napkins. Why are there no napkins?

I was told this place was pretty shanty by a friend but I wasn’t so dissappointed when I went in. It’s definitely not Charlie Trotter’s but it did serve up really good falafel, baba ghanouj, and «mousaka» for a good price and quick service. I would definitely visit again when I’m in the area.