Middle Eastern restaurants

Shawarma Inn

4.2 1,085 reviews 11:00 AM - 12:00 AM 5523 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60625, United States

Discover this place

Shawarma Inn is a Middle Eastern restaurant located on North Lincoln Avenue in Chicago. The menu features a range of traditional dishes, including signature soups like White Bean Soup and Lentil Soup, both prepared with fresh ingredients and warm spices. Guests can also choose from a variety of salads, such as the classic Tabouleh Couscous and a crisp House Salad dressed simply with olive oil and lemon. The kitchen offers grilled seafood options, including salmon with lemon butter garlic sauce, catfish Masgouf, and seasoned shrimp skewers, as well as combination plates that blend different kebabs and shawarma selections. The atmosphere at Shawarma Inn is casual and inviting, providing a straightforward setting to enjoy familiar Middle Eastern flavors. The emphasis remains on authentic cuisine that highlights fresh, wholesome ingredients, making it a notable spot for those seeking traditional dishes in a relaxed environment.

Photos

Amenities & More

Service options

Outdoor seating
No-contact delivery
Delivery
Onsite services
Takeout
Dine-in

Highlights

Serves local specialty
Sports

Popular for

Lunch
Dinner
Solo dining

Dining options

Breakfast
Brunch
Lunch
Dinner
Catering
Counter service
Dessert
Seating
Table service

Amenities

Restroom

Atmosphere

Casual
Cozy
Quiet

Crowd

Family-friendly
Groups
LGBTQ+ friendly
Tourists
Transgender safespace

Note: Amenity details are aggregated from verified visits, the venue's website and Google. They may change without notice. We recommend confirming key details (pet policy, accessibility, reservations) directly with Shawarma Inn before visiting.

Reviews for Shawarma Inn

4.2

1,085 reviews

100%

24%

10%

15%

Review highlights

Based on 1,085 reviews

Shawarma Inn is widely recognized for its authentic Middle Eastern cuisine, particularly praised for flavorful shawarma, tender lamb dishes, and comforting lentil soup. Customers frequently highlight generous portion sizes and consistent quality across a diverse menu that caters to halal and vegan preferences. The restaurant’s casual, unpretentious atmosphere offers a “hole in the wall” charm, though some note the ambiance is modest and better suited for casual dining. Service is generally described as friendly and attentive, contributing positively to the overall experience. While most dishes receive strong acclaim, a few customers mention minor issues with sauce distribution affecting certain sandwiches. Overall, Shawarma Inn is appreciated for its well-prepared, flavorful dishes and welcoming environment, making it a notable spot for Middle Eastern fare in Chicago.

Tazkia Hossain

Mar 22, 2026

We were looking for a halal place around and ended up here! Food was very good! The flavors were great, and portion size was big. We ordered 2 entrees both came with salad and soup. The lentil soup is such a comfort food! Loved it! Also the guy who served us was very nice to us. Will definitely visit again!

Stephanie Polakowski

Mar 17, 2026

Great hole in the wall kind of vibe. A group of 4 of us got there around 6pm on a week night and it was empty, based on the looks of the place, I was a bit hesitant to stay. Ambience is not great. But menu was promising. Service was great- by time we ordered over 6 other tables filled up, places got packed. Quality beef shawarma and homemade soups- my friends said the beef Kefka was also very good. They have wraps for like $9-10 with fries and drinks for additional charge. Combo plates are huge, rice is tasty. The chicken kabobs was excellent- moist and flavorful!

Rich Lawrence

Mar 12, 2026

This was, BY FAR, the best shawarma and fattuoush that I have had in years. I was raised in a primarily Iraqi/Lebanese neighborhood in Detroit and I honestly think this food is better. I HIGHLY recommend this place!

Erica Schmidt

Mar 11, 2026

Delicious! Had the shrimp twice this week. Highly recommend. They have 2 locations here in Chicago

Abdulkader Dadou

Feb 17, 2026

Lamb chops are very good and tender, shawarma entree is good, shawarma sandwich was full of veggies, but almost no sauce, so was kinda dry. Shish lamb sandwich was good and the meat was tender. Hummus was good, Jajig was very good and is recommended. well grilled food and served with lots of rice. Entrees are served with salad and lentil soup. The rice was warm and delicious. It's served with Arabic bread a.k.a. Shami/Lebanese bread, which is more famous and popularly used in middle east.

Joe Mancilla

Jan 31, 2026

The food is just amazing...The young lady who served me was super attentive and patient while I made my decision on what to order...The place is a bit small, but if you aren't there during a rush you will be just fine...I ordered the combination plate and it was delicious...

Brianna Jackson

Jan 05, 2026

High quality food. I often get the chicken and shrimp skewers with hummus and rice. Spicy sauce is really spicy so try at your own risk lol. Love this gem

Aaron De Lange

Dec 19, 2025

The service was great. The casher was super nice and understanding for how late it was. Initially we werent too sure of the place but when we walked in we felt welcomed. This was after drinking and it was at 3am or so. I felt no rush or anything, however the showarma wasnt as juicy and saucy as i would have liked. I think maybe because it was late and i was drunk and high but i appreciated that they were open very late. All in all a good i honestly dont remeber the price for the reasons mentioned above.