Chicago's Hidden Gem for Middle Eastern Cuisine

FIYA ✅One of Chicago's finest Middle Eastern restaurants, FIYA features a charming Mediterranean-inspired design. The restaurant operates all day, offering pastries and sandwiches for breakfast and lunch. What's truly commendable is that a portion of their proceeds is donated to World Central Kitchen, providing meals for residents in Gaza, Ukraine, and other regions—a rare and praiseworthy initiative. The dinner experience is quite good; the appetizers are outstanding, though the main courses have some room for improvement. Note that if you're dining in the evening, the restaurant starts off less crowded, and service can be a bit inconsistent at first. ✅Best Dishes: ❤︎ Salatim & Hummus (Small Dishes & Hummus) Highly recommended. Salatim includes a variety of dips and small plates, with detailed information available on their online menu. The Hummus comes in two options; we tried the Im Basar, which features lamb and pine nuts. These are the most impressive appetizers I've had in Chicago's Middle Eastern scene. The pita bread is baked to a crispy perfection on the outside, yet remains soft and tender inside, like a steamed bun. The cumin-infused Hummus is rich and aromatic, reminiscent of the lamb skewers from childhood. Wrapping the Hummus in pita bread and dipping it in the smooth, flavorful dips is pure bliss. Note that the portion size is quite large, so it's best shared among a group. ✅Recommended Dishes: • Beignets (Fried Whitefish Cakes) The whitefish is mashed and coated in a batter, then deep-fried, served with pickled red onions and an onion sauce. The flavors are well-balanced and delicious. • Khachapuri (Georgian Cheese Bread) While it might seem unusual to order Georgian cuisine at a Middle Eastern restaurant, this Khachapuri is given a unique twist with the addition of Shakshuka (North African eggs). If you're craving cheese, this is a good choice. • Pistachio Martini A creative and delicious cocktail made with pistachio paste and orange juice. The only downside is its high alcohol content, which might be too strong for some. Not Recommended: • Mushrooms A standard dish of mushrooms stewed with cheese and cornmeal; it's average and can be skipped. • Lamb The lamb loin and belly rolls with saffron rice are very greasy. By the time you get to this dish, you might already be too full. If you're not a fan of oily dishes, it's best to pass. #ChicagoFood #Chicago #ChicagoExplore #ChicagoMiddleEastern #MiddleEasternCuisine #Avondale #ChicagoLife