Sinbad’s Restaurant

This is a place that’s easy to walk past on Belmont
But honestly I usually get the Chicken Shwarma. And honestly it’s always really
really good.
That’s not to say the rest of the menu isn’t good. But as a bang-​for-​your-​buck style spot open at 11 pm after drinking you can’t beat it. And for what it’s worth the Shwarma pita ways like a fucking pound.
Also the staff is very nice, the food comes out fast and it’s good.

Went to get my Shawarma and felafel they were closed down and the windows covered with paper. No sign saying moved or remodeling. Does any know if they are done or moved? Love this place. Decent food at a great price. One of my regular stops. I HOPE THEY ARE JUST REMODELING.

The following is a word-​by-​word recall of my experience at Sinbad’s.
Me: «Hi, what type of soup do you have today?»
Young man upfront: «Chicken»
Me: «I would like a small chicken soup and a chicken kebab plate»
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15 min later…
Cook: «Your chicken plate is ready!»
Me: «Thank you, how about chicken soup?»
Cook: (looks at the receipt.). «Oh. you wanted lentil soup?»
Me: «I wanted chicken soup»
Cook: (yelling to the young man upfront). «Common man, wake up, he wanted chicken soup»
Young man upfront: (Walks over, looks at the receipt) «Oh, sorry, just make him chicken soup»
Me: «Guys, dont worry, I’ll take the lentil soup if you have it ready»
Cook: «Dont worry man, I’ll bring you chicken soup in a bit»
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15 min later… No soup. I am finished with a bland-​tasting chicken plate, come back to the young man upfront and ask for a refund for the soup that i never received. He looks at me in stupor and asks: ” You didn’t get your chicken soup?.. I say «no», take the refund and walk out.
WTF?

Sinbad’s is awesome, it has become tradition for my friend and I to come when we’re shopping in the Lakeview area. I usually get the combo meat platter, which comes with a large amount of food for a little under $ 10. I’m talking 2 – 3 pitas, a large bed of rice, lettuce and tomatos on the side, and a sampling of their meat. It is very inexpensive and pretty tasty, though I am not too well versed on middle eastern food besides the trip to Pita Inn once in awhile. The window seating is awesome for people watching, I like to wave at the people whose eyes I catch: p

I have only had a couple of dine-​in experiences here, and they were all positive. I went here on a bitter cold, blustery evening. I wanted something to warm my soul. I ordered their lentil soup, and it was piping hot and delicious. Exactly what I was looking for.
To top it off, as I sat down, The Simpsons started playing on the television. Any place that airs The Simpsons while I eat hot soup is a place I want to be!
I live right down the block, so I will definitely be back at least for the soup.

Anyone giving this place a bad review has no idea what good Mediterranean food is. As a vegan I can always count on them. Good food wonderful people. Best Baba Ghanouj in the city!

We always get take out from here, and it is fantastic! Love the dishes, they are always perfectly prepared and right on time when we come for them. They are always pleasant and smiling when we walk in, and the portions are enough for me, and my girlfriend has leftovers for the next day. Try their combo plate!

All I had was humos. It was the worst I’ve ever eaten! Watery and bland! It was a joke! The counter lady talked with someone the whole time I was there. She never asked me about the food (if you call it that) or offered me a glass of water. This is my first and last visit at Sinbads. It is Sobad. From now on I’ll check with Unilocal.I can’t tell you how horrible the humos was!

I’d go back. It’s convenient (right next to the Belmont El stop). Friendly service, hummus and chicken shawarma were great. My friends said they weren’t too impressed with the falafel, but I didn’t try it so can’t really rate it. I really liked their fries too.

I ordered a delivery for this evening. When we received it our order of hummus was all over our food. When I called to tell them the guy at the counter didn’t apologize or make any sort of offer, instead he just asked what he could do for me. I told him he could replace my hummus. He asked my name and hung up. No explanation, nothing. My husband and I drive down there to get a refund after which counter guy said he apologized, told me the hummus was on its way, and said thank you before hanging up. He did none of those things because if he did I’d be eating my kabob plate right now instead of posting this review. I can get even quality food with more respectful customer service.

Watery Hummus that tastes nothing like authentic Middle Eastern Hummus. The spinach plate tastes like cold canned cut spinach. Baba ghanouj is not any better than the Hummus. The Falafels are less than average. Avoid!

went there today for the first time. I specifically said I wanted a combination of beef and chicken kabob, the grilled meat, not Swarma, with a salad.
When I got home, i had schwarma meet — not grilled, no salad and a plate full of rice. As pissed as I was, I decided to try it, lets just say that I’m never going back to this place.

Pretty good chicken shawarma. Enjoyed the meal and fair pricing. Will be returning when I have time to run in and not miss my bus.

Bland! Got the chicken shawarma pocket with fries and i’m not sure there was seasoning on anything. Nothing really tasted bad, but there was zero flavor. Fries were pretty normal. Overall there is no reason for me to go back.

‘Used to go there regularly, but i guess i don’t get up to Belmont that much anymore.
Here is the secret to Sinbad’s: Wait/​ask for fresh falafels. Just out of the fryer, they are fantastic! All the lamb and chicken off the grill is equally good. hummus and baba are very good, the fried eggplant is to die for. drinks are good, but pita is uninspiring. the owner is quite friendly, but won’t let you open any alcoholic beverages (religious reasons i think). still, great place for a quick falafel or lamb kabob fix, or take-​out.
nb — the falafels for the place on Clark are made on belmont and reheated on Clark. Buy at the source, fresh!

The owner is always happy and friendly and the food is tasty. It’s a little bit of a dive but it’s a friendly one.
I love the chicken pita with hot sauce and extra tahini. Jerusalem salad and Falafel are yummy as well.
The juice is good too… try carrot, beet, and ginger for a sweet juicy kick.

OBSESSED!
I got dolmates (Grape leaves) Vegetarian and Lentil Soup for 5 bucks! What a steal and really great food. I shall return often. Fast service and huge serving sizes.

It’s cheap enough… but that’s about it.
The chicken shawerma has no distinct flavor and the falafels are the same deal.
Kinda depressed about it, but it’s so close and somewhat decently priced. There is no salad bar however like Pita Queen down the street (bummmmer)
The employees here are nice too. Dats all I got.

I’ve been going to this place for quite some time and the owner is very friendly. Customer service is very important to me. It is not a «five star» restaurant but I give it 5 stars compared to other restaurants on the same level.
I don’t know what it’s called but I normally get a greek salad (that might be what it’s called) with grilled chicken and it is delicious. I sometimes get falaffel and that’s good too.
I usually go to this restaurant when I’m running around in the neighborhood and I want something good to eat. The prices are low. Why spend your money at these fast food restaurants when you can have real food for the same price.

I gotta update this one. Went here last night with my seven star companions, and really changed my opinion of their food.
I got the Kofta Kabob sandwich, and it was juicy and delicious. Nice amount of yogurt/​tahini sauce, and the pita held together well. An appropriate amount of lettuce.
My little friend got the Falafel salad, and YUM! That was the winner of our three meals. Three falafel balls, appropriately green inside. On a bed of chopped red cabbage, lettuce and seasonings — this was great. I had to keep sneaking bites of it.
I returned not expecting to be impressed, and I was.