The Gundis Kurdish Kitchen — Restaurant in Lake View Township

The Gundis Kurdish Kitchen is a hidden gem tucked away in Chicago's West Ridge neighborhood. As soon as you step inside, the warm and inviting atmosphere makes you feel like you've entered someone's home. The décor is simple and unassuming, with traditional Kurdish textiles adorning the walls and soft lighting that adds to the cozy ambiance. The restaurant is small but intimate, with just a few tables and chairs. I went last weekend and had a table for 10 and so I'm excited to go back on Sunday with a table for 25.

One of the first things you notice when you sit down at Gundis is the aroma of spices wafting from the kitchen. The menu is filled with classic Kurdish dishes like mezze platters, lamb kebabs, and soujouk. There are also a few vegetarian dishes, like the mezze plate and the veggie scramble. The menu is not extensive, but it's clear that each dish has been carefully crafted and perfected over time.

The Kurdish Breakfast at Gundis Kurdish Kitchen is truly a feast for the senses. As soon as the platter arrives at your table, you are greeted with an array of colors, textures, and aromas that make your mouth water. The breakfast platter is designed for two people to share, but it's generous enough to feed a small army.

The platter includes a variety of cheeses, including feta, fresh mozzarella, and kashar cheese. Each cheese has its own distinct flavor and texture, and they all pair well with the house jams, honey, and butter that are also included on the platter. The Kurdish sesame butter, in particular, is a standout. It has a nutty and slightly sweet flavor that is perfect for spreading on the fresh bread that is also served with the platter.

In addition to the cheeses and spreads, the platter also includes black and green olives, fries, cucumbers, tomatoes, and fried cheese rolls. The fries are crispy and salty, and they are a nice addition to the platter. The cucumbers and tomatoes are fresh and juicy, and they add a nice contrast to the rich and savory flavors of the cheeses and spreads.

But perhaps the best part of the Kurdish Breakfast platter is the bottomless Kurdish tea. The tea is strong and aromatic, with a slightly bitter flavor that is tempered by the sweetness of the honey and jams on the platter. The tea is served in traditional Kurdish glasses, which are small and delicate, adding to the overall experience of the meal.

Overall, the Kurdish Breakfast at Gundis Kurdish Kitchen is an unforgettable dining experience. It's perfect for a lazy weekend morning, or for a special occasion with friends and family. The platter is abundant and delicious, and the bottomless Kurdish tea is the perfect accompaniment. If you're a fan of cheese, bread, and eggs, then the Kurdish Breakfast is not to be missed.

For our other main course, we ordered the Soujouk Scramble. Honestly, I wanted to get the Kurdish Baklawa Crepes since it was calling my name, but I wanted something a bit more filling.

The soujouk was tender and juicy, and blended so well with the eggs and veggies. The marinade had a subtle blend of spices that complemented the meat perfectly. I added the bread into the mix to get it more of a heavier texture.

The service at Gundis was excellent, with friendly and attentive staff who were happy to answer any questions we had about the menu. Our server was knowledgeable about the Kurdish cuisine and offered great recommendations for both food and drinks.

Overall, our experience at Gundis Kurdish Kitchen was exceptional. The food was delicious, the service was excellent, and the atmosphere was warm and inviting. It's clear that the chefs at Gundis are passionate about Kurdish cuisine and take pride in crafting each dish with care and attention to detail. And the servers are always walking around ready to fill your water/tea cups to the top. If you're looking for an authentic and delicious dining experience in Chicago, I highly recommend checking out Gundis...

We keep coming here almost every weekend because it’s a very solid neighborhood type spot. Over the years the service can miss in a few areas, but overall it’s an enjoyable experience with delicious food. There are some really lovely staff members here while others don’t show any emotion lol but it’s all fine.

Great brunch spot and dinner is delicious. For brunch we always do the Kurdish breakfast for two and it’s lovely with the included tea. Bread, cheeses, jams, fries, egg scramble, stuff everyone will enjoy. Highly recommend the Kurdish balawa crepes as well.

Dinner options are also very flavorful. We’ve tried a few things.

The sampler platter with ezme, hummus, octopus salad, and baba ganoush was delicious.

The stuffed chicken was very flavorful, great sauce, and the creaminess of the goat cheese makes for a deliciously rich dish.

Zaza pasta chicken and goat cheese is great, kind of reminds me of a vodka sauce, but a little less creaminess and slightly more pepper taste. Very good.

The desserts we’ve had the rice pudding and flan-type custard dish I don’t recall the name of. Both great, but I highly recommend the rice pudding. Rich, sweet flavor with a thicker consistency and some candy chewiness from the bits of peach I think it was. Trust me, it’s good. I thought it would be too sweet of a flavor in the rice pudding, but it is not, it’s brilliant.

The atmosphere of the space itself is nice, slightly elevated feel that’s great for a date, family outing, or just meeting up...

Amazing Kurdish food!!!

Came here for a brunch. Had sujuk (halal beef sausage) omelet and the Wayne spicy spinach omelet. Both served with freshly baked whole wheat bread, olives and house fries. Everything was so tasty.. We ordered Kurdish tea (which is the same as Arabic/Turkish/Persian black tea) and it was so good. Personally, next time I would get only the bread with their BLACK olives (green olives were just OK here), house cheese and tea. It is definitely not your typical regular brunch.

Olives Olives are sacred to me. They burst in vitamins, righteous lipids, essential minerals, significant iron, antioxidants/oleic acid (protects against aging, dementia and wrinkles). And they're so tasty with hot black tea like the one served here.. You should eat at least 1 olive a day..

Atmosphere Classic, clean and standard place. Parking was a piece of cake, but it was a snowy super bowl Sunday!. Love the snow fall outside while enjoying a hot cup of tea inside.

Staff and service Professional and friendly. Prices are very reasonable.

If you're looking for a healthy, tasty, out-of-routine weekend brunch, The Gundis is a lovely option. Remember to get the black tea and the black olives. And read my lecture about the importance of...