Hello Shawarma — Restaurant in Palos Township

UPDATE AGAIN: I honestly hate coming back to change my review—especially when it’s for one of my favorite restaurants. But they’ve left me no choice.

I was so happy when it seemed like they finally listened to their customers, improved their food, and brought back that amazing taste. But sadly, I was wrong. I recently placed a to-go order for the Bashka meal, and when I got home and opened it, I was shocked. Just look at the photos. You can compare them to my previous ones—this portion is embarrassingly small.

Where is the meat? Why isn’t it juicy anymore? The Bashka used to be filling, flavorful, and satisfying. Now it’s dry, skimpy, and bland. I was still hungry after eating it, which has never happened before with this meal. They’ve clearly cut back on the portion size—and even the fries are fewer now!

It’s incredibly disappointing, especially knowing they’re planning to open two more locations. Shouldn’t you be making sure the original one is running well first? The quality is slipping, and it honestly feels like they just don’t care anymore.

This might be my last straw. I don’t think I’ll be going back—at least not for a while. I’m truly disheartened.

Attached recent photos again as proof.

UPDATE: Okay, hear me out—I take back everything I said!

I went back after nearly two months, wanting to give this place a second chance since it used to be my favorite. With a heavy heart, I walked in, ordered a Bashka meal, and specifically asked for it to be well-done and toasty.

And trust me, as a foodie, from the very first bite, I fell in love with this place all over again! The Bashka meal is phenomenal! This is my comfort food, my absolute favorite—for real.

For those who haven’t tried the Bashka meal, you are seriously missing out. Trust me on this. If you haven’t had it yet, you need to try it—100% recommend!

The fries? Perfectly golden brown, seasoned just right, with the ideal crunch. And the Bashka? So juicy, so flavorful, so incredibly delicious. The veggies are now cut to the perfect size, the mushrooms are no longer raw, and the meat-to-everything-else ratio is just right.

I’m beyond happy that the taste is back! I’m officially a regular again. Honestly, I don’t know if they read these reviews, but at this point, they should definitely start giving me discounts—haha!

Going to attach new photos as proof 🙂

Old review: They hired a new chef, and the taste is not the same anymore! They ruined my favorite spot.

The fries aren’t seasoned well, and some of them are slightly burnt.

The cheese isn’t melted.

The veggies are cut too big, and the mushroom was barely...

I recently had the pleasure of visiting Hello Shawarma, a hidden gem in the Chicago area that left me completely impressed. This place stands out from the crowd by offering certified hand-slaughtered zabiha halal options, something that is often hard to find in other establishments.

Let me start by saying that the flavor of their shawarmas was absolutely wonderful, hands down the best I've had in the USA. Every bite was a burst of deliciousness, and the quality of the ingredients was evident. I couldn't have asked for a more satisfying experience.

Beyond the food itself, the atmosphere at Hello Shawarma was exceptional. The establishment was impeccably neat, clean, and hygienic. What impressed me the most was the provision of a separate hand-washing station, distinct from the restroom. This thoughtful touch ensures that patrons don't have to wait for others using the restroom to wash their hands, maintaining a high level of hygiene at all times.

The menu at Hello Shawarma is simple yet delicious. They focus on quality and deliver it with excellence. From the first bite to the last, I savored every flavor and was left wanting more. The variety of options provided something for everyone, making it easy to find a favorite.

Not only was the food exceptional, but the people and staff at Hello Shawarma were also wonderful. Their warm and friendly demeanor created a welcoming and enjoyable dining experience. They were attentive, accommodating, and genuinely passionate about their craft, making the visit even more memorable.

I understand that some reviews mention concerns about wait times and pricing. However, I personally did not encounter any such issues during my visit. It's important to note that Hello Shawarma is a new establishment, and like any new place, it may take time to settle in and fine-tune their operations. As for me, I received my food quickly and found the prices to be very justified considering the outstanding quality they offer. I even found their prices to be quite affordable, given the top-notch flavors and experience.

In conclusion, if you're a fan of shawarmas and find yourself in the Chicago area, Hello Shawarma is an absolute must-visit. Their shawarmas are unrivaled in taste, the hygiene standards are exceptional, and the friendly staff adds to the overall enjoyment. Don't let any concerns from other reviews deter you. Give this new establishment a chance, and I'm confident you'll be as delighted as I was.

Thank you, Hello Shawarma, for providing such a memorable dining experience. I'll definitely be back for more of your...

Although this place takes us at least 30 minutes or in today’s case close to an hour cause of trains and traffic… this is our second time coming after we saw the recommendation review from… channel 7 I think?

Anywho the first time we went we had the pitas with lamb meat and my son had the chicken rice bowl. Honestly while our pitas were absolutely delicious we were eyeballing my son’s rice bowl. It was absolutely huge and they def. Didn’t skimp on the meat. The bowl not only has flavorful rice, I love the pickled veggies and the fresh veggies inside. So this time around we all got bowls. Oh my goodness it was so much I could only eat half. We also got falafel and hello pickles which they actually gave you a little plastic container in which you get to choose your own pickled veggies from their pickle bar. Very well worth it.

In terms of service, I gave them one less star only because of the time it takes to get your food. While the first time we went it was a Sat. And I understood since there were so many people, I honestly thought it was a bit odd it took longer on a weekday when there were hardly any people during the time we went.

Atmosphere… well it is a fast food place, it is what it is. While last time we came I may have given it 3 stars because it was so tight and chaotic and a bit dirty cause of the sheer amount of people coming in and out to eat in the small space ( however I did see them make quite an effort to try to keep the place clean as people got up from eating), after this visit I thought it felt so much more open.

They got rid of the wall between their Hello shawarma and Hello Thai and it just seems so much more open and brighter. Also, yes as we got up they rushed in to clean the table… maybe a little too quickly as my husband was waiting for me at the table while they bum rushed him with cleaning fluid… an no there weren’t that many people at the time we were there 🧐

Haha it was ok to know though they try to keep...