Sultan's Market — Restaurant in Lake View Township

I’ve always wanted to try Middle Eastern food, especially Veg Shawarma, so when my husband found Sultan's Market, we decided to visit on a Wednesday evening. Here’s my experience:

Food: Unfortunately, they didn’t have a vegetarian option for shawarma, which was a bit disappointing since it’s a common dish in many Middle Eastern restaurants. However, we ordered the falafel sandwich and spinach pie instead. The falafel sandwich was the star of the meal—the falafel was hot, crispy, and packed with flavor. The spinach pie was okay, but it didn’t stand out as much. They also have a salad bar with a variety of fresh options, which is a nice addition for those looking for lighter meals.

Ambience: The restaurant has a simple, no-frills vibe. It’s cozy but can seat only a limited number of people inside, so it might get crowded during peak hours.

Price: The prices were reasonable—not too high nor too low. It felt like good value for the quality and portion sizes.

Parking and Transportation:

Street Parking: Metered street parking is available nearby, but it can be limited. Rates are typically 2–4 per hour, depending on the time of day.

Parking Garages:

SP+ Parking Garage (2610 N Clark St): A short walk away, with rates around 10–20 for a few hours. Lincoln Park Self Park (233 W North Ave): About a 10-minute walk, with competitive rates for longer stays. Parking Apps: Use SpotHero or ParkWhiz to reserve parking spots in advance at discounted rates.

Public Transportation: CTA Bus: The #22 Clark Bus stops nearby, and the #36 Broadway Bus connects to the Red Line. CTA Train: The closest stations are Fullerton (Red Line) and Armitage (Brown/Purple Lines), both within a 10–15 minute walk. Divvy Bikes: Bike-sharing stations are available throughout Lincoln Park for a quick and eco-friendly ride.

Overall Experience: Despite the lack of veg shawarma, Sultan's Market delivered a satisfying meal, especially for falafel lovers. If you’re in the area and craving Middle Eastern food, I’d recommend giving it a try. Just be prepared for limited seating and consider checking out their salad bar for fresh,...

The food here is great. Large portions and very good. One of my favorites for this style of food in the Chicago area. Been going here since this location opened 15 years or so ago. Usually once a week but the last year only once every few months and there's a reason for that. The sultan tax( as me and my CO workers have been calling it). Every other Restaraunt in this area charges 11.75% but sultans charges more for some odd reason. We've speculated they're trying to accommodate their new credit card only policy...or trying to pay for their proposed new location in pilsen. Either way, I've brought it to their managers attention every time I've been charged the sultan tax to no avail. And they've been doing this for about a year now. I'm thinking ever since they upgraded their menu board and cash machines. In the beginning of the sultan tax I noticed you can order online instead and get it for the regular rate. Now, they updated that as well and it's in the wide open how they're overcharging right on their own ritual online system. $15 dinner at 11.75% is like$1.70 or so in tax. Not $1.99 as charged. This shows on the receipt as Restaraunt and Pier tax. Well, 2521 n Clark is not navy pier so guess what? You've been gouging people for over a year. Time to FIX IT(that's my hopes with this Google post... and I rarely ever post Google reviews. Always use my personal Facebook to review instead). So if you like the food like I do then just be aware that you'll have to pay the sultan tax to eat here. Unless, the Chicago department of finance gets...

I visited Sultan’s Market on Clark Street, Thursday, Aug 28, 2025, around 6pm, and placed an online to-go order. My daughter went inside to pick it up, and the Hispanic Latina cashier who handed her the food was unnecessarily rude. When we checked the order, the hummus was missing. That meant I had to drive back through Chicago rush hour traffic in the busy Lincoln Park neighborhood, which was very inconvenient.

When I returned, I calmly explained the situation, only to be told the hummus had been placed in the bag. This was simply not true. I asked her to check the security cameras, which would clearly confirm the mistake. Instead of accountability, I was treated as if I were trying to take advantage of the restaurant over an $8 item. That kind of baseless accusation is both unprofessional and insulting.

For over 20 years, I’ve gone to the North Ave location, usually paying in cash, and never once had a problem. This was my first time ordering online, and the service was sloppy. On top of that, the chicken was dry and disappointing. I’ve written hundreds of reviews with 200k+ views, only 3 negative total—so for me to write this says a lot. Next time someone accuses me of stealing food, I will demand cameras be checked, not leave until they are, expect an apology, and even make a blog if necessary. This one’s a lesson to all of us as customers and workers. Don’t accuse a loyal customer of over 25 years period...