This place is just not good at all. I would never recommend it to anyone, especially since there are so many wonderful halal restaurants in the Chicagoland area. We got there at prime dinner time, but the place was deserted. So therefore there is no excuse for the awful service we received. The waiter took about 15 minutes to even take our order, again I'm not sure what he was so busy with since we were literally the only people there. I ordered the chicken fajitas, my sister ordered the steak fajitas, and my cousin ordered chicken 65. The chicken fajitas were awful. It was supposedly fajita style chicken served with rice. It was bland and watery, it simply did not taste good. Same with the fajita style steak served with rice. The chicken 65 on the other hand was way too spicy. I cook and eat spicy desi food all the time, but this was just overloaded with chili powder, and lacked the many other fragrant spices chicken 65 should have. Overall, the waiter was inattentive, did not speak clearly, and just not friendly, the typical crappy desi waiter. In addition to this, the waiter gave himself an automatic 20% tip, despite there being only 5 members in my group. The meal was overpriced and I extremely regretted going there.
(1)
Nabeel S.
This place is under new ownership and now it sucks! Their spicy gyros was to die for and now I can't stand even a single bite. They have become stingy with their servings and their staff is apathetic towards their service. Last month I placed a carry out order for a spicy gyros pizza. I live 40 minutes away and was told it would be ready in 30. 20 minutes later I got back to back harassing calls from the restaurant as to why I didn't pick up the food yet. I guess they thought it was a prank. When I got there the pizza was cold, cheese was rock solid, and gyros was dry. Worst service ever.
(1)
Princess F.
They are one of the pioneers of halal fast food in Chicagoland. However the $ they charge is not worth it anymore (based on my last three visits). Have to strike them off my "regulars" list.
(2)
Shumaila J.
Ever since they had a new owner this place has been terrible! I ordered the ravioli which first of all SUPER expensive, second they only gave us 4 pieces of ravioli and third we went back because we didn't give us a piece of bread for our ravioli and they gave us a COLD HOT DOG BUN CUT IN HALF!!! I was expecting a breadstick like the menu said not a HOT DOG BUN THAT WAS JUST TAKEN OUT OF THE FRIDGE AND WRAPPED IN ALUMINUM FOIL!!! Guys don't even waste ur time here. This place use to be amazing but now under the new ownership it's expensive, dirty, and straight up bad.
(1)
Ht B.
I have never ever written a review for any place in my life but I can not ignore the experience I just had at this place. I went to this place about a year or two ago and even though the place is not as clean I didn't have any problems with the food. Today I ordered a large pizza half spicy gyro and half tandoori chicken. The was no chicken or gyro. The chicken was literally minced and used very sparingly. There was about 1 small piece of gyro per 2 slices. I complained to the waiter who just smiled and said there was more under the cheese and walked away. We looked under the cheese and there was nothing to be found. I called the waiter but was ignored. My wife and I were so furious. I went up to the counter and made him bring me more meat. What he brought out was a slap in the face. The chicken tasted old and burnt. There was no taste what so ever. No wonder there was no one else in the restaurant. Unfortunately we were so hungry that we decided to stay and eat. Also the waiter had to be told about three times to to bring our pop. Mind you I always leave a tip even if the service is bad but this was beyond ridiculous so I didn't leave a penny. While we were leaving the waiter just stared us down. I was waiting for him to say something so I can yell at him for the horrible service. Good thing he didn't or else he would have gotten the scolding of his life. The only reason I'm giving them one star is so I can write this review. They deserve a negative star rating.
(1)
Fadi A.
Italian Express.... is NOT an Italian place, it is however a Pakistani Place with Italian food prepared VERY BADLY. This place does not gives a sh** about you as a customer and they strongly believe in very poor customer service. Few times we went, they did not acknowledged their mistakes for example, In Steak Salad, the salad is supposed to GREEN not yellow, on pointing it out to them, the owner disagreed with me by saying " I just bought the lettuce yesterday " and did not compensate or apologized. Secondly my cheese burger was over cooked, I brought it up to their attention and the server just smiled and walked away..... seriously? Buffet service on Sunday is a JOKE, food is sooo greasy and tasteless that it is not even worth the $10 they charge for the tray of junk they try to feed us. This place used to be very good in late 90 and early 2000 when Zabihah Halal FAST FOOD was very very hard to find, it is then they made their name with their spicy Gyro sandwiches and Gyro Pizza. But in 2012, they need to realize that there are MANY restaurants in Chicago land that now offer the same offerings, and pride themselves in outstanding customer service. For this place to be successful they need to stand out by preparing quality food and flawless customer service that people will keep customers returning to them....
(2)
F K.
Dont go here for italian food lol. Its really bad. Most locals go here for two things. The spicy gyros pizza and the breaded chicken wings. Thats it. Order anything else and you'll be disappointed. Also the service is random. Sometimes its fast other times it feels like forever for your food to come.
(3)
Josh M.
First off what is up with the name? This place is a Mediterranean place that is just using an Italian pizza joint as a front. When I came in to order takeout they had a buffet set out with a bunch of little kids running around and I just wanted to turn around and walk back out. What came after that was a little bizarre but at least the food was decent. We tried the spicy gyro, chicken shawarma, and a regular gyro. I wanted to sub some rice instead of fries for one of the meals but the guy taking the order told me it would be a few more dollars and after trying to get my point across I just conceded to the fries. As for the food, although not exactly what we expected, was actually pretty good. The fries were hand cut and somewhat fresh which made confused. How could they pay attention to a detail like that but overlook something like being an Italian place serving gyros. Its like the twilight zone all over again. Anyways the chicken shawarma was not carved off of a spit but rather dark meat sauteed in a spicy sauce that once again was very good but obviously not what we expected. As for the gyro and spicy gyro they were both good with ample meat and a very hot chili sauce mixed in for the spicy one. Very strange experience, food was strangely good, but I would suggest takeout. Maybe they should change their name and they would be able to get some more business. Who knows anymore...
(3)
Shakeel K.
I have been a frequent visitor of this place. Their food, especially Gyros and chicken wings, is great and I would highly recommend it. When it comes to cleanliness I would rate it below average. Their bathroom floor is always wet and nasty. Neat bathrooms are a way to judge a restaurant's hygiene.In this case it makes me wonder how clean their kitchen is. Water pitcher and glasses on the table are not washed properly ( we always order soda or bottled water and drink out of can to avoid it) This restaurant has a lot of potential if they can brush up on their hygiene. And management if you are reading it, do change the paper towel disposer, I don't want to crank on the wet metal handle after I have washed my hands and plan to eat finger food with them.
(3)
Sharon S.
Food is substandard and makes a mockery of Pakistani food. It was a shame to see the food of my heritage be prepared in this manner. The restaurant is dirty, service is horrible. I would never eat here again.
(1)
Dan K.
This is a decent place, lol let me give you a hint, don't get a cheeseburger. Regardless of the name it's an indian/middle eastern joint. Decent biryani and samosas. Cleaner than the other one on Devon. Also, has halal food, so that's a plus for some people.
(4)
Bob G.
I love Pakistani food, I love gyros, and I love that this place is right near my house. Everything from the gyros to chicken shawarma is so tasty. I disagree with some other post that said it is fast food style cuisine, it isn't. It is probably as freshly cooked as you are going to get without having made it yourself. Despite it's lack of interior design, this place has great food and should be tried.
(4)
Amy N.
I tried this place for the first time when I was craving gyros and my friend suggested we go here because this is usually where she comes for gyros. I was not impressed by the atmosphere of the restaurant at all. The whole place just feels dirty and drab. I would not suggest dining here. Get take out if you absolutely want to come here. As for the workers, they seem sort of bitter and bored with their lives. Now onto the food.. I've only had the gyros, and I'll admit they're pretty good, but I just think the proportions are ridiculous! The meat is cut pretty thick and they give you so much of it that by the time you're halfway through the gyro, you're already almost full (at least that's how it is with me). If I were to order gyros from here again, I'd probably split it with someone. Also, I don't know if it's from the onions, but sometimes the pita is drenched from the oils, which make it sort of unappetizing to eat. I don't think I want to even try anything else on their menu. But until I find a better gyro joint, this will have to do.
(2)
Umer G.
It is not exactly an italian restaurant but the food was really good i recommend the spicy gyros pizza
(4)
Ben D.
not very good. it should be named sandbox express! food was gross,nothing dago about this place. the dine area is dirty and gross. there once was 2 bathrooms but they knocked down the walls on one, plugged the hole in the floor and left the sink. yes thats in the dine room. dirty tables too. seems a front for some kind of money laundering operation. we should have left the second we walked in but there was a hot black chick with a phat a$$ outside, waiting for her food, and we were so distracted that out logic was lost for a few minuets. as we sat there waiting for our food about 4 or 5 partys walked in then turned around and left. that should have been our clue,but we were to busy looking at the smokin hot black chick.
(1)
a w.
Decent place to get a good fast food type meal. Their menu is small, but the food is pretty good. Try the spicy hamburger or the spicy gyros -- the spicy sauce adds a cool twist. This is pretty much a no-frills spot, so expect the likings of McDonalds or Wendys. But service is fast, portions are big, and the food is tasty and fresh.
(4)
Carlos T.
After going there after a year, I noticed how bad this has gotten. $12 Lunch Buffet that does not carry much. The food is so bland & greesy. Dont deserve to be open, after the all mess you see as you walk in the store.
(2)
Deena H.
We just ordered the chicken tikka pizza thru eat24 today on 8/29/15. It was subpar compared to last time. Barely any jalapeño, the meat tasted dry and it was not that good. We were so bummed out and had been looking forward to this pizza and it was disappointing.
(3)
Sam K.
Terrible customer service (they treat you like they are doing you a favor by selling YOU food) and the food quality over the past few months has gone down hill. I used to order the Gyros and the meat portion is so little now. Don't recommend at all!
(1)
Bubba R.
The worst ever. As a muslim, halal food is very important and this place was a disappointment and half. The place looks like a garbage dump from the dirty carpeting on the floor to the bathroom right there in the dining room. I had ordered 3 sandwiches for myself and family to go. I got the double cheeseburger and once I got home and started eating it, I noticed that there was a hair in the box with my burger. The hair does not match my hair in any capacity. I contacted this place via phone and the person who I spoke to first denied it saying there is no hair..when I told him there is a hair. Then when I insisted that I am looking at it, he said oh no, that's a thread! I asked him does he think I am stupid and doe he cook food wrapped in threads, he changed the story to say that oh it could have came in the hot sauce bottle! Problem is...there is no hot sauce in the food! and this hair was not coated in hot sauce even as absurd the claim was. Instead of offering to comp the whole food and offering replacement, he only offered to make me another one. I asked if they were hairnets when they make food and he would not answer my question Thanks but no thanks! Never again.
(1)
Nelson M.
Restaurant review Halal buffet, this was a first. I had seen this advertised on there website for 9.99 on the weekend and I thought this would be a good change from the normal indian buffet. There were highlights and low points as well. When we went at noon there was only a few tables being served. The buffet items were different and if you like pizza and gyros it actually is not bad. The best items would have to be the gyro or chicken pizza. It came out piping hot and with lots of cheese. Other items that were less exciting but still tasty was the frontier chicken, the curry with lentils, and the gyro meat that was cooked in some chili pepper sauce. A lot of the other items were pakistan food items that I was not as familiar with. There was also fresh fruit, chai tea, orange juice, and lassi provided which is a plus. I went up to the counter to check out and somehow with tax the bill was 24 dollars which appears slightly high given tax should not be 20% eating out.... Overall it is a good one time try experience, but I think I will try something else next time Pro: AYCE halal food, pizza/gyros Cons: average customer service Hidden gem: If you like AYCE buffet then you should give this place a try
(3)
Dan B.
In my ongoing search to find some of the best junk food in Chicagoland I try a lot of different places. Italian Express is if anything, one of the most unique places I've come across. It's an Italian/Middle Eastern Restaurant, two things that normally wouldn't go together but are united here as one. I initially was going to go to another "Italian Express" located in nearby Hanover Park, however I was soon told by a co-worker that they had a much closer location to my office and soon changed my plans. In visiting this Italian Express I set out to try the hot dog. I came in and looked over the menu board located behind the register and didn't see one. Once I thoroughly checked the menu I ordered the spicy gyro, soon after checking the paper copy of the menu, the hot dog was on there and ordered that as well. It took around 20 minutes for my food to be ready. Once I returned to the office I ripped open the bag of food and started to dig through it in order to find out what was what. First off being the hot dog critic I'll go over the hot dog. This hot dog is quite a bit different than a typical Chicago-style dog found in most of my reviews. This hot dog came with onions, tomatoes, some sort of white sauce (mayonnaise?),mustard and even ketchup on a Italian roll similar to those served with Italian Beef sandwiches. I can say in the nearly 150 hot dog places I've visited, this is the first time I've ever come across a dog served in this particular style. So how was the hot dog itself? Well it wasn't bad, but it was definitely small and while it came with fries I don't think it was worth it. It was 3.99 if I recall correctly, which is a lot of money for a small dog and fries. Next off is the spicy gyro. In my bag was a cup of tzadziki sauce to accompany it. Wrapped in foil I noticed seeds and other pepper sticking to the sides of the packaging as I unraveled it to see these same garnishments on top of some thick gyro meat. The gyro meat itself was very nicely seasoned and had a good flavor, the garlic mixed with the spices added were a great combination. On the pita was lettuce, and tomato in addition to the meat itself. As far as how the meat was cooked, it was a bit of a mixed bag. Some strips of meat were nice and juicy, others were crisp, hard and tough. Overall I liked the gyro though there were a few bad strips of meat in it. This was one of the harder reviews I've had as far as giving a score goes. On one-hand this place is very unique, it's a Pakistani place serving Chicago-style comfort food and Italian dishes. On the other hand the hot dog was overpriced and not too great, and the gyro wasn't a knockout either. I'm going to give this place two stars. I can see it having it's fans, and I might come back someday to try something else. But based on this experience this seems to be the most appropriate rating. If you're looking for an interesting combination of food styles, this might be a good place to try. However, if you're looking for a great gyro or hot dog, better options exist nearby.
(2)
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Address :2041 Bloomingdale Rd
Glendale Heights, IL, 60139
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Tooba G.
This place is just not good at all. I would never recommend it to anyone, especially since there are so many wonderful halal restaurants in the Chicagoland area. We got there at prime dinner time, but the place was deserted. So therefore there is no excuse for the awful service we received. The waiter took about 15 minutes to even take our order, again I'm not sure what he was so busy with since we were literally the only people there. I ordered the chicken fajitas, my sister ordered the steak fajitas, and my cousin ordered chicken 65. The chicken fajitas were awful. It was supposedly fajita style chicken served with rice. It was bland and watery, it simply did not taste good. Same with the fajita style steak served with rice. The chicken 65 on the other hand was way too spicy. I cook and eat spicy desi food all the time, but this was just overloaded with chili powder, and lacked the many other fragrant spices chicken 65 should have. Overall, the waiter was inattentive, did not speak clearly, and just not friendly, the typical crappy desi waiter. In addition to this, the waiter gave himself an automatic 20% tip, despite there being only 5 members in my group. The meal was overpriced and I extremely regretted going there.
(1)Nabeel S.
This place is under new ownership and now it sucks! Their spicy gyros was to die for and now I can't stand even a single bite. They have become stingy with their servings and their staff is apathetic towards their service. Last month I placed a carry out order for a spicy gyros pizza. I live 40 minutes away and was told it would be ready in 30. 20 minutes later I got back to back harassing calls from the restaurant as to why I didn't pick up the food yet. I guess they thought it was a prank. When I got there the pizza was cold, cheese was rock solid, and gyros was dry. Worst service ever.
(1)Princess F.
They are one of the pioneers of halal fast food in Chicagoland. However the $ they charge is not worth it anymore (based on my last three visits). Have to strike them off my "regulars" list.
(2)Shumaila J.
Ever since they had a new owner this place has been terrible! I ordered the ravioli which first of all SUPER expensive, second they only gave us 4 pieces of ravioli and third we went back because we didn't give us a piece of bread for our ravioli and they gave us a COLD HOT DOG BUN CUT IN HALF!!! I was expecting a breadstick like the menu said not a HOT DOG BUN THAT WAS JUST TAKEN OUT OF THE FRIDGE AND WRAPPED IN ALUMINUM FOIL!!! Guys don't even waste ur time here. This place use to be amazing but now under the new ownership it's expensive, dirty, and straight up bad.
(1)Ht B.
I have never ever written a review for any place in my life but I can not ignore the experience I just had at this place. I went to this place about a year or two ago and even though the place is not as clean I didn't have any problems with the food. Today I ordered a large pizza half spicy gyro and half tandoori chicken. The was no chicken or gyro. The chicken was literally minced and used very sparingly. There was about 1 small piece of gyro per 2 slices. I complained to the waiter who just smiled and said there was more under the cheese and walked away. We looked under the cheese and there was nothing to be found. I called the waiter but was ignored. My wife and I were so furious. I went up to the counter and made him bring me more meat. What he brought out was a slap in the face. The chicken tasted old and burnt. There was no taste what so ever. No wonder there was no one else in the restaurant. Unfortunately we were so hungry that we decided to stay and eat. Also the waiter had to be told about three times to to bring our pop. Mind you I always leave a tip even if the service is bad but this was beyond ridiculous so I didn't leave a penny. While we were leaving the waiter just stared us down. I was waiting for him to say something so I can yell at him for the horrible service. Good thing he didn't or else he would have gotten the scolding of his life. The only reason I'm giving them one star is so I can write this review. They deserve a negative star rating.
(1)Fadi A.
Italian Express.... is NOT an Italian place, it is however a Pakistani Place with Italian food prepared VERY BADLY. This place does not gives a sh** about you as a customer and they strongly believe in very poor customer service. Few times we went, they did not acknowledged their mistakes for example, In Steak Salad, the salad is supposed to GREEN not yellow, on pointing it out to them, the owner disagreed with me by saying " I just bought the lettuce yesterday " and did not compensate or apologized. Secondly my cheese burger was over cooked, I brought it up to their attention and the server just smiled and walked away..... seriously? Buffet service on Sunday is a JOKE, food is sooo greasy and tasteless that it is not even worth the $10 they charge for the tray of junk they try to feed us. This place used to be very good in late 90 and early 2000 when Zabihah Halal FAST FOOD was very very hard to find, it is then they made their name with their spicy Gyro sandwiches and Gyro Pizza. But in 2012, they need to realize that there are MANY restaurants in Chicago land that now offer the same offerings, and pride themselves in outstanding customer service. For this place to be successful they need to stand out by preparing quality food and flawless customer service that people will keep customers returning to them....
(2)F K.
Dont go here for italian food lol. Its really bad. Most locals go here for two things. The spicy gyros pizza and the breaded chicken wings. Thats it. Order anything else and you'll be disappointed. Also the service is random. Sometimes its fast other times it feels like forever for your food to come.
(3)Josh M.
First off what is up with the name? This place is a Mediterranean place that is just using an Italian pizza joint as a front. When I came in to order takeout they had a buffet set out with a bunch of little kids running around and I just wanted to turn around and walk back out. What came after that was a little bizarre but at least the food was decent. We tried the spicy gyro, chicken shawarma, and a regular gyro. I wanted to sub some rice instead of fries for one of the meals but the guy taking the order told me it would be a few more dollars and after trying to get my point across I just conceded to the fries. As for the food, although not exactly what we expected, was actually pretty good. The fries were hand cut and somewhat fresh which made confused. How could they pay attention to a detail like that but overlook something like being an Italian place serving gyros. Its like the twilight zone all over again. Anyways the chicken shawarma was not carved off of a spit but rather dark meat sauteed in a spicy sauce that once again was very good but obviously not what we expected. As for the gyro and spicy gyro they were both good with ample meat and a very hot chili sauce mixed in for the spicy one. Very strange experience, food was strangely good, but I would suggest takeout. Maybe they should change their name and they would be able to get some more business. Who knows anymore...
(3)Shakeel K.
I have been a frequent visitor of this place. Their food, especially Gyros and chicken wings, is great and I would highly recommend it. When it comes to cleanliness I would rate it below average. Their bathroom floor is always wet and nasty. Neat bathrooms are a way to judge a restaurant's hygiene.In this case it makes me wonder how clean their kitchen is. Water pitcher and glasses on the table are not washed properly ( we always order soda or bottled water and drink out of can to avoid it) This restaurant has a lot of potential if they can brush up on their hygiene. And management if you are reading it, do change the paper towel disposer, I don't want to crank on the wet metal handle after I have washed my hands and plan to eat finger food with them.
(3)Sharon S.
Food is substandard and makes a mockery of Pakistani food. It was a shame to see the food of my heritage be prepared in this manner. The restaurant is dirty, service is horrible. I would never eat here again.
(1)Dan K.
This is a decent place, lol let me give you a hint, don't get a cheeseburger. Regardless of the name it's an indian/middle eastern joint. Decent biryani and samosas. Cleaner than the other one on Devon. Also, has halal food, so that's a plus for some people.
(4)Bob G.
I love Pakistani food, I love gyros, and I love that this place is right near my house. Everything from the gyros to chicken shawarma is so tasty. I disagree with some other post that said it is fast food style cuisine, it isn't. It is probably as freshly cooked as you are going to get without having made it yourself. Despite it's lack of interior design, this place has great food and should be tried.
(4)Amy N.
I tried this place for the first time when I was craving gyros and my friend suggested we go here because this is usually where she comes for gyros. I was not impressed by the atmosphere of the restaurant at all. The whole place just feels dirty and drab. I would not suggest dining here. Get take out if you absolutely want to come here. As for the workers, they seem sort of bitter and bored with their lives. Now onto the food.. I've only had the gyros, and I'll admit they're pretty good, but I just think the proportions are ridiculous! The meat is cut pretty thick and they give you so much of it that by the time you're halfway through the gyro, you're already almost full (at least that's how it is with me). If I were to order gyros from here again, I'd probably split it with someone. Also, I don't know if it's from the onions, but sometimes the pita is drenched from the oils, which make it sort of unappetizing to eat. I don't think I want to even try anything else on their menu. But until I find a better gyro joint, this will have to do.
(2)Umer G.
It is not exactly an italian restaurant but the food was really good i recommend the spicy gyros pizza
(4)Ben D.
not very good. it should be named sandbox express! food was gross,nothing dago about this place. the dine area is dirty and gross. there once was 2 bathrooms but they knocked down the walls on one, plugged the hole in the floor and left the sink. yes thats in the dine room. dirty tables too. seems a front for some kind of money laundering operation. we should have left the second we walked in but there was a hot black chick with a phat a$$ outside, waiting for her food, and we were so distracted that out logic was lost for a few minuets. as we sat there waiting for our food about 4 or 5 partys walked in then turned around and left. that should have been our clue,but we were to busy looking at the smokin hot black chick.
(1)a w.
Decent place to get a good fast food type meal. Their menu is small, but the food is pretty good. Try the spicy hamburger or the spicy gyros -- the spicy sauce adds a cool twist. This is pretty much a no-frills spot, so expect the likings of McDonalds or Wendys. But service is fast, portions are big, and the food is tasty and fresh.
(4)Carlos T.
After going there after a year, I noticed how bad this has gotten. $12 Lunch Buffet that does not carry much. The food is so bland & greesy. Dont deserve to be open, after the all mess you see as you walk in the store.
(2)Deena H.
We just ordered the chicken tikka pizza thru eat24 today on 8/29/15. It was subpar compared to last time. Barely any jalapeño, the meat tasted dry and it was not that good. We were so bummed out and had been looking forward to this pizza and it was disappointing.
(3)Sam K.
Terrible customer service (they treat you like they are doing you a favor by selling YOU food) and the food quality over the past few months has gone down hill. I used to order the Gyros and the meat portion is so little now. Don't recommend at all!
(1)Bubba R.
The worst ever. As a muslim, halal food is very important and this place was a disappointment and half. The place looks like a garbage dump from the dirty carpeting on the floor to the bathroom right there in the dining room. I had ordered 3 sandwiches for myself and family to go. I got the double cheeseburger and once I got home and started eating it, I noticed that there was a hair in the box with my burger. The hair does not match my hair in any capacity. I contacted this place via phone and the person who I spoke to first denied it saying there is no hair..when I told him there is a hair. Then when I insisted that I am looking at it, he said oh no, that's a thread! I asked him does he think I am stupid and doe he cook food wrapped in threads, he changed the story to say that oh it could have came in the hot sauce bottle! Problem is...there is no hot sauce in the food! and this hair was not coated in hot sauce even as absurd the claim was. Instead of offering to comp the whole food and offering replacement, he only offered to make me another one. I asked if they were hairnets when they make food and he would not answer my question Thanks but no thanks! Never again.
(1)Nelson M.
Restaurant review Halal buffet, this was a first. I had seen this advertised on there website for 9.99 on the weekend and I thought this would be a good change from the normal indian buffet. There were highlights and low points as well. When we went at noon there was only a few tables being served. The buffet items were different and if you like pizza and gyros it actually is not bad. The best items would have to be the gyro or chicken pizza. It came out piping hot and with lots of cheese. Other items that were less exciting but still tasty was the frontier chicken, the curry with lentils, and the gyro meat that was cooked in some chili pepper sauce. A lot of the other items were pakistan food items that I was not as familiar with. There was also fresh fruit, chai tea, orange juice, and lassi provided which is a plus. I went up to the counter to check out and somehow with tax the bill was 24 dollars which appears slightly high given tax should not be 20% eating out.... Overall it is a good one time try experience, but I think I will try something else next time Pro: AYCE halal food, pizza/gyros Cons: average customer service Hidden gem: If you like AYCE buffet then you should give this place a try
(3)Dan B.
In my ongoing search to find some of the best junk food in Chicagoland I try a lot of different places. Italian Express is if anything, one of the most unique places I've come across. It's an Italian/Middle Eastern Restaurant, two things that normally wouldn't go together but are united here as one. I initially was going to go to another "Italian Express" located in nearby Hanover Park, however I was soon told by a co-worker that they had a much closer location to my office and soon changed my plans. In visiting this Italian Express I set out to try the hot dog. I came in and looked over the menu board located behind the register and didn't see one. Once I thoroughly checked the menu I ordered the spicy gyro, soon after checking the paper copy of the menu, the hot dog was on there and ordered that as well. It took around 20 minutes for my food to be ready. Once I returned to the office I ripped open the bag of food and started to dig through it in order to find out what was what. First off being the hot dog critic I'll go over the hot dog. This hot dog is quite a bit different than a typical Chicago-style dog found in most of my reviews. This hot dog came with onions, tomatoes, some sort of white sauce (mayonnaise?),mustard and even ketchup on a Italian roll similar to those served with Italian Beef sandwiches. I can say in the nearly 150 hot dog places I've visited, this is the first time I've ever come across a dog served in this particular style. So how was the hot dog itself? Well it wasn't bad, but it was definitely small and while it came with fries I don't think it was worth it. It was 3.99 if I recall correctly, which is a lot of money for a small dog and fries. Next off is the spicy gyro. In my bag was a cup of tzadziki sauce to accompany it. Wrapped in foil I noticed seeds and other pepper sticking to the sides of the packaging as I unraveled it to see these same garnishments on top of some thick gyro meat. The gyro meat itself was very nicely seasoned and had a good flavor, the garlic mixed with the spices added were a great combination. On the pita was lettuce, and tomato in addition to the meat itself. As far as how the meat was cooked, it was a bit of a mixed bag. Some strips of meat were nice and juicy, others were crisp, hard and tough. Overall I liked the gyro though there were a few bad strips of meat in it. This was one of the harder reviews I've had as far as giving a score goes. On one-hand this place is very unique, it's a Pakistani place serving Chicago-style comfort food and Italian dishes. On the other hand the hot dog was overpriced and not too great, and the gyro wasn't a knockout either. I'm going to give this place two stars. I can see it having it's fans, and I might come back someday to try something else. But based on this experience this seems to be the most appropriate rating. If you're looking for an interesting combination of food styles, this might be a good place to try. However, if you're looking for a great gyro or hot dog, better options exist nearby.
(2)