I Dream Of Falafel
18 W 066 22nd St, Oakbrook Terrace, IL, 60181
I Dream Of Falafel Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Oakbrook Terrace for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Oakbrook Terrace for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Oakbrook Terrace for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
18 W 066 22nd St
Oakbrook Terrace, IL, 60181 - Phone (630) 468-2606
- Website https://www.idof.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Accepts Bitcoin : No
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Susan H.
I had a really nice experience at I Dream of Falafel. I got a vegan falafel wrap which I thought was perfect. Granted I'm not a falafel expert but I am very selective when it comes to freshness and food quality. The server helped me navigate through the choices since I was never there before. He even gave me a free sample of couscous. The food was healthy and even sauce was perfect for my "not too hot" request but it still had a kick. They were very attentive, actually a lot more so than most restaurants of their category. I usually don't eat at "fast food" restaurants, but I would definitely go back for the fresh/healthy choices, clean environment and friendly service.
(5)Justin G.
Not bad, I think the overall rating of 3.5 stars it has at the time of this writing is accurate. The price is right and it's filling. The salads are good, the falafel is ok...just a little dry. It was the sauces that made the falafel good. The jalapeno sauce is less of a sauce and more like ground jalapenos and water, but the I Dream of Falafel Hot Sauce is like a spicy & sweet chipotle mayo or mustard. Different and interesting, but maybe not for everyone. The pita is also crispy and like it was toasted, somewhere between a pita bread and a pita chip.
(4)Odranre B.
food ok...cost ok...I did not dream of falafel...but I did dream of Jeannie...
(2)Cathy M.
I heard about I Dream of Falafel and wanted to check it out. I loved it! It's kind of like a middle eastern Chipotle. The staff was very nice and explained how to order. I got the chicken schwarma wrap and it was really delicious. The flavors were very fresh and I thought it was a good size for my appetite. I wish that they had outdoor seating but that is the only thing I can recommend, I can't wait to go back!
(5)William B.
IDOF is another entry into what I call the 'Chipotle' format. While I'm sure Chipotle didnt invent the format (maybe it was Subway, but I don't really eat there), the method has taken off recently. The method I mean is where you go down the assembly line while the prepper assembles your order to your liking. It works. Anyway with,my first experience with IDOF, I come away thinking they are keeping things fresh & light. This cuisine, whether you call it Mediterranean, Arabic, middle eastern, or other, is one of my favorites, and the Chicagoland area is seeing some growth into the cuisine. IDOF enters with a kitchy atmosphere, leaning on the play on the name (I Dream of Genie), with a light 70's decor, instead of a decor leaning towards the ethnicity, which is more common. So, wanting to get a wide sample of as many tastes as possible (plus, I'm used to the combo platter lunch special @ Pita Inn), I ordered the All-In platter. While very good, It was actually too much food, and they just pile it all on top of each other, so all the flavors kind of mixed together. So, I cant really comment on any specific flavor. Though it was all very tasty. I wanted to try, but didn't, the sweet potato falafel, and the hummus. I will certainly try IDOF again, but will probably keep it simple, maybe with a wrap. I'm not usually a wrap person (mainly because a tortilla sandwich seems boring to me), but IDOF uses a freshly baked laffa, so sounds delish. Will likely upgrade to 5 stars if I'm as impressed with my next visit.
(4)Andy L.
This is exactly the restaurant I've been waiting for to open up on 22nd street. Prices are reasonable compared to the standard lunch fare around here. Service is friendly and quick and there are plenty of options for healthy and flavorful meals. For $7.75 I got a Doner Kebab (really tasty seasoned beef) plate with hummus, rice, and fresh tabouli salad. The extra toppings, sauces, and breads were all tasty as well. Next time I'll have to try the falafel - I can see myself coming back here every week. The portion size leaves me satisfied but without that heavy afternoon burrito coma I tend to get from their neighbors next door...
(5)Cook L.
What an awful customer service experience. Food may be cheap but if you don't have the right people behind the counter it just shows you get what you pay for. It is ok for kids and people on budget who do not care how food is served and how they are treated but Katie and Ahmed proved that IDOF in oak brook will not have the good customer service or good manners. Wish them well. I paid for the food but I walked out without eating in that place.
(1)Slava S.
Great Mediterranean food. The chicken shawarma plate is amazing. Friendly workers, always smiling. Freshly baked pita bread is awesome
(5)Sarah T.
I don't like Mediterranean. For some reason, I thought we were going to falafel waffles, or Aldo's waffles... I dunno... I thought I was getting waffles. But it's urban decor and modern choose-your-own menu has won me over. I like the crispness of the falafel and the textural crunch in my wrap. Yay falafels!
(4)Katie W.
I'm afraid to go to sleep in case I do dream of this falafel. The food was ok, not as flavorful as Roti or Naf Naf. The worst part was the server behind the counter. I ordered a chicken lafa wrap and instead of putting the hummus on the wrap, I asked if I could get it on the side so that I could put it on myself. The server said they can't do that because they sell it separately and she would have to charge me separately for it. I wasn't asking for anything extra, I just wanted to control the amount that was put on my wrap. I don't understand the policy that if I don't get it directly on the wrap, I have to pay extra for it.
(1)foodie c.
Loved the food!!! Place was nice and clean. Definitely going to go back.
(4)Deb G.
I love this place! The people are friendly and helpful with menu and the food is delicious. I had the babaganoush, hummus, tabouli, falafel and some cucumber salad. I will certainly be returning to this place for another great lunch. However, I am not a fan of their pita bread-have definitely had better pita. I Dream of Falafel in Oakbrook Terrace is a clean, casual and friendly establishment!
(4)John S.
The McDonald's of Mediterranean. I was definitely disappointed. They give you multiple courses (salad, rice, veggies, meat) but they slop them all in this one big plastic trough resulting in kind of a stew of all your food. Everything is in trays Chipotle-style, except I know they don't freshen their trays as often here. It all has a prepackaged, chemical look and taste, and I wonder if the spits you see are just for show. I've been to a lot of mom-and-pop gyro and pita places, and two local ones that stick out in my mind are Moogie's and Pita House. I definitely prefer both of those places to this one. On top of the food's mediocrity, I gave the place another chance when they mailed me a grand opening coupon. Buy one get one, and the fine print said the coupon was reusable or you could just mention the offer. I got there and the man curtly took my coupon and pointed to a copy of the coupon taped to the register with the fine print altered in all caps MUST PRESENT COUPON! He called it a typo but, I saw it for what it is, a bait-and-switch. A smart businessman would take the hit, even if it was truly a typo, and learn from his mistake, but NEVER argue with a customer or say "no." Even though I wasn't really planning to return before the deal expired, this interaction sealed it. Mediocre food AND awful customer service. I'll stick to Noodles & Co, and Moogies and Pita House, and pass this one up.
(2)Lea P.
Just bad business all around. First of all the place is cramped. You can't move around without tripping on people, knocking other's food, elbowing someone or eat without being bothered by someone trying to move around. Second, they only have 2 highchairs so if you have kids be prepared to eat a meal with your children on your lap. Oh and third and most annoying THERE'S NO KIDS MEAL!!!! I had to order a bunch of sides to build a decent meal for my children and it ended up being more expensive than my plate!!!! As we were finishing our food my husband noticed that their pita bread is store bought. I walked around with my baby while my husband ate and noticed it's the same brand sold at Costco. WTH????? There's no way we're going back there again. We've had much better experiences at Pinched, just down the road across the street from Yorktown mall. The lady that runs that business is so awesome! they even ran to the dollar store and got a few coloring books and crayons so the kids can be busy while we wait for our food.
(1)Tiniko S.
Next time I am getting more sauce with my falafel!!! This time I didnt and my food was pretty dry! Cant do the dryness, but I sure the next time I am back..I wont have that issue! Cute decor as well!
(4)Liz C.
Not quite what I expected. Picture qdoba but for falafel. The food and service were good. Portions were more than fair.
(4)Mary P.
We each have our own opinion and I am surprised to see negative reviews for this place. The food is fresh, employees friendly and restaurant clean. The name is catchy and each time I think of it it reminds me of I Dream of Genie. I've ordered the Vegan Platter and it is a generous portion of food (might be 3-4 meals). You have a choice on some of the selections. Hummus, babaghanoush (sorry about spelling), rice, couscous, salad, etc. For me, its delicious and I'm sure a healthier choice. Its definitely a good switch from burger and fries or fast food restaurant salads. The prices are comparable to other places $7.75 for the Vegan Platter, then again for me its at least 2 meals, maybe 3. I suggest you try it for yourself and see. Its next to Noodles and Co. and is setup like Chipolte - you walk down the aisle and select what you want and the employee builds your meal. I give it a THUMBS UP! If you are looking for a fancy restaurant, look elsewhere. Its simple with simply good fresh food.
(4)Sara P.
I hope to change my review later. I had the wrap. You get a good amount of meat but not a lot of vegetables. The meat seemed a little dry. You can easily eat all of it and probably still want something else. This place is not cheap but its not inexpensive either. Wrap and soda just under 10$. I'd imagine its healthier than other Mediterranean places in the area but better ones in my opinion have come and gone. Maybe it will survive because its more generic / americanized.
(3)S K.
Very nice staff and food was good. Really a solid option for Middle Eastern food in the area. Chicken Kebobs and Shwarma were pretty tasty! The falafel were not all that, however. The entire meal for two of us was only 20 bucks.
(4)Anand P.
The all-in platter is the way to go! Mixed greens, quinoa and couscous salad, stacks of good meat and topped with the idof hot sauce. Very good and really filling, definitely coming back soon!
(5)Tina F.
Went here today for lunch as it is near my work. The best thing about this place is it's clever name. I frequent naf naf and this is a poor imitation. Had the vegan plate. Pita bread was tough and tasted old. Hummus and Israeli salad were bland and tasteless and needed salt and seasoning. The Falafel was heavy and not tasty at all. The only positive is that it was a decent price for a lot of food. But if you don't like the taste who cares if it is a good deal. I dream of Falafel left me dreaming of Naf Naf-I won't be returning.
(2)LT B.
I was a little bit disappointed by this place. I've been wanting to try it for a while since it's close to my office. I picked up carry out on my way home from work this evening. I really wanted to like this place and was encouraged by the menu and 'fair' price point. I should qualify this by saying I've eaten in many Middle Eastern restaurants have been to Jordan and have plenty of exposure to Middle Eastern home-cooked meals. I went with the plate with Chicken shawarma, hummus and tabouli. The hummus was very runny which is something I've never experienced. The chicken , was dry, although I did see a roasting spit with chicken and another with doner I'm guessing. I asked for tahini and the spicy sauce. The tahini was unremarkable and the spicy sauce ...I didn't even notice.. They give you a small piece of pita bread which was thick and not very fluffy. I'm accustomed to a stretched out fluffy bubbly pita bread. I went with three stars instead of two stars because the staff behind the counter seem nice.... Despite one of them not knowing what tabouli was. I do think this place has potential if you need a quick meal however they have some work to do with flavor and consistency. For a similar price I can go down the street to an unnamed Middle Eastern place which has consistently dependable shawarma., hummus , tabouli as well as amazing pita bread. I may give I dream of falafel another chance but it would take some convincing. If the owners read these reviews I only hope they recognize that Chicagoans are accustomed to Middle Eastern food of a certain quality and the hummus as well as the meat and pita bread need work. I hope they can pull it together because 22nd St. can use an additional Middle Eastern Pl.
(3)Maile M.
Not so much... I'll give them 2 stars because the food wasn't horrible...but the service was. You stand in a line similar to chipotle/subway to order your plate/wrap. Each person along the line acted extremely impatient and annoyed that I didn't know what I want, what things were, and how to pronounce them. This was my first time here so of course I wasn't familiar with their menu. Then I got to the cashier and she automatically charged me for an extra pita bread that I didn't even order. I explained to her that I didn't order it and instead of refunding me, she was just goign to take the bread away! And anyway, while I'm on the subject...how are they going to only give one tiny pita bread for an entire plate of food? Anyway, I'm sure she was flustered/confused but all together the experience was uncomfortable and overwhelming. Like I said the food was alright, but not worth the price and experience. Won't be coming back here again. If you're looking for good middle eastern food, go to the Pita House! Much better, much cheaper, much more friendly.
(2)Jordan M.
Staff was kind and helpful, a staff member was going to be taking a break and was gunna order his food but instead explained the menu to me and let me order. The atmosphere was fun, and a great name. But let's get down to the food- I LOVE falafel so I got it in a wrap. Over all the wrap was good, I wish there was more hummus in it, but everything was good. Now for a place to have falafel in the name I was not impressed with their falafels. They were not hot, I prefer mine nice and hot. They seemed to be sitting under the warmer for sometime. I have had much better falafel at other establishments. I will try this place again, maybe get something else, or on another day it will be better, but it won't be my first choice of place to go, it's very close to my work .
(3)Crystal-Lynne W.
So, I just tried out I Dream of Falafel's new menu this evening. I have to say, AMAZING!!! I LOVE the new menu. "CYO"(choose your own) plate with 2 bases, a protein, and 2 toppings with some sauce. They have redone their couscous, simple, but stands on its own, especially being cool. I also tried the chickpea salad, the sweetness of raisins I think really add a flavor boost with the chickpeas. I also tried their new Grecian chicken with rosemary and thyme, I believe. It was Superb, no sauce needed, just try the creamy tzatziki salad with the meat, soo good. I also loved the pickled cauliflower and carrots, there is a spice in there that you pick up right away (cinnamon maybe), that added pleasant dimension to the soft crunch. I also had the quinoa tabouleh which is a great vegan revamp of their previous tabouleh salad with cracked wheat grain. Ahh let me tell you, I loved every bite! The hot off the press new menu inside their restaurant is a nice improvement that better helps the customer decide what to get quicker. Not to mention everything looks good. Bright fresh green parsley, daffodil yellow couscous,ferrari red cherry tomatoes, very pleasing to the eye. Not to mention the golden falafels! This glistening new menu is "A Fresh Continuation". If anyone has gone there before and did not like their previous shawerma or cold salad, I encourage you to stop by for a meal and try out I Dream of Falafel's new tummy and taste-bud satisfying Authentic dishes. Before it felt more Americanized, though I feel this menu really pulled together true Middle Eastern/ Mediterranean cuisine, with more vegan options. To end, I want to just mention that I was a recent part of the I Dream of Falafel team, so I had tasted EVERYTHING. I'm very happy to see what went and the new items that I tried (and enjoyed). I honestly am just a foodie and want to let others know of some truly wonderful, real, fresh food. I Dream of Falafel as a matter of fact (believe me, I know as I did food prep!) makes their salads fresh everyday. All the food is seriously brand-new from week to week. Well, I hope you trust my statement and check I Dream of Falafel snazzy new menu out soon.
(5)Manal D.
Wow, this place was amazing. It brought me back memories from back home. The falafel is the best I've ever tasted and I know my falafel. I recommend the falafelishious wrap it truly is delicious. The tabouli in the wrap tops it off and good for digestion. One of the main platters is the All In Platter which is a variety of their homemade specialty, perfect for an undecided protein meal.
(5)Kris P.
Excellent food ... and I had it delivered so I did not have to leave my hotel room. Had the Vegan Plate, a side of their pita bread and salad. I would highly recommend this and will be dining there again this week.
(5)Rod G.
My first experience was great. The food is fresh and healthy. The falafel and cous cous in particular are killer. Can't wait to work my way through the menu.
(4)Jennifer N.
I love the falafel here! The rice plate and the wrap is the best. I would say the falafel's here are better than the one at Pita Inn. I usually go with the falafel plate with quinoa salad, cucumber and tomato salad, and tzatziki sauce. Love this place.
(4)Zhong Y.
A Naf Naf wannabe. Execution is marred by poor coordination behind the counter. They have tried to pull off a Chipotle/Subway assembly model; not working. During the rushes, it gets backed up. And so, that's that. Ask for a light hand on the sauces. They can get very gloppy. Drowns out the shawarma. Toum could be a lot more garlicky. Sadly not many options for Middle Eastern in area.
(2)Niroshan D.
man, this place was the bomb! talk about service, and flavah! Luis was the bombdiggity. he hooked us up with so much good food! I cannot even start to say how good it was. as a man who has travelled the world, this was some awesome food. tabouli baba ganoush and more! MMM MMM GOOD! You gotta go get some!
(5)Salma J.
I dream of falafel is one of my favorite go to restaurants! I personally like it better than chipotle. The staff are really friendly and the setting is really nice. I love getting the chicken shawarma wrap with tabouli, cabbage, and the cucumber mix, and garlic sauce. I usually get regular hummus in it bc the red pepper one sounds odd to me as an Arab that's used to the traditional way lol. but I might try it the next time I go just for kicks :)
(5)Jo Ann B.
Glad to see this restaurant has joined the area. The food is fresh and delicious....inexpensive too! I had a sandwich on Pita Bread. It was awesome! Home-made pita chips were good too. Could use more selections for the children.
(4)Ravi G.
It's no Pita Inn. The falafel is not that great. I liked the fresh salad options (Jerusalem etc.). I gave it three stars mostly because there is lack of good Mediterranean food in the area. If you have 15 extra minutes to spare, head to Naf Naf.
(3)Mike P.
Great fast Mediterranean food. I always get their chicken schwarma with their hottest sauce to put on it. It's really good and the hummus / falafel is good too...not sure what the guy below had in his falafel, but mine was green inside it.
(5)Michael C.
While searching for food in general one day I put into a search engine Falafel and to my shock "I DREAM OF FALAFEL" came up, I was confused, confused that such a place would exist. I looked into it further. Apparently they have just built this new location located near the Noodles and CO by my work [in fact they share the same Bldg, it replaced what was COZI] At first glance this place looks funky and retro, it is very clean and dinning area is of decent size, however the middle area is more like community eating, but tables against hte walls seperate you from the zone. Upon walking in you are moved down this big straightaway right to the first station where you start step 1 of a 3 step process Step 1: The Base: Wrap or Plate - I went with a wrap, you are given a very nice sized Freshly Baked Laffa Bread and asked what if any Hummus you would like to consume, they had regular and a red pepper option. I went with the Red pepper. There was also option to put jerusalem salad, cabbage slaw and/or pickled turnips. I went with the Jerusalem salad (which was tasty) Step 2: Pick your protein: The options are Falafels Chicken Shawerma Doner Kebab Lamb Kebab CHICKEN KEBAB Steak Kebab I decided to go with the Falafel (since my craving for them helped me find this place), however with it being almost 12:15 PM when I came the Falafel was sold out? And I was asked to wait while they made some more, since I was not in a hurry I was ok with this, but wanted to note and ask out loud ITS NOON, YOUR NAME IS "I DREAM OF FALFEL" HOW CAN YOU BE OUT OF FALAFEL? either way it was a quick 3 to 5 min wait for fresh falafel to come out the back and I was back in business onto step 3 Step 3: Choose your Sauce - I decided to stay classic and enjoyed the Tahini, there were some other options as well at end to add, you can choose Lettece, redcabbage, pickles and some other items, I topped off the Wrap with Red cabbage and pickles. Now that the wrap was complete one final step was left the person behind the counter wraped it up and placed in a warmer helping to keep the wrap togher and adding a nice warm crisp to the outside. I was leaning towards a 4 when I first started writing this review, but will stick with my 3 star rating. 4 Stars for a good concept and brining a "new" type of food to the market and making it very easy to understand and consume. I am by no means an expert when it comes to FALAFEL and my experience has been limited, by limited I mean for one month the local subway offered it, So I ate it, my next experience was even stranger and came when on a trip to Los Angeles, Ca with my wife we somehow got lost on Hollywood Blvd and ended up in little Armenia [ a pleasant, yet still very confusing experience ]. Soooooo by no means do I even know at this point if have ever tasted "true" falafel or falfel done well. This place was OK not great by any means, but I will be back once the falafel cravings comes back. The store itself is very clean and everything moved in timely manner. (even if they ran out of falafel 10 mins after 12 on a Tuesday)
(3)Morris N.
This location recently opened and we decided to try it out for lunch. The kebob platter was $10 which had one skewer of chicken, three sides, and a pita. I tried the rice and two different salads. It was all very fresh and good. For a new business, they had it together. The staff was well trained. This is a nice healthier alternative to your typical fast food chain.
(4)Dave S.
This may be the worst name I've ever seen for an eatery. Then again, when the food you're pushing rhymes with "awful," you have to think outside the pita. This particular location - the only one outside of the city - shares a building with Noodles & Company. You'd think that they are owned by the same group, but they are not. "We hate each other," an employee told me, half-jokingly. Yep, this place smacks of Chipotle. The menu boards, the food in metal trays, the assembly line. Though the smells from up front are superior. Will I get the same tummy-ache as with Chipotle? My wife chose the vegan platter, while I went all in (with the all-in platter). Between the two of us, we tried an awful lot of what they had, with mixed but generally good results. My wife's highlight was the couscous, which had a great mouthfeel and pleasant crunch, due to something within. She enjoyed the baba ganoujeh (their spelling, not ours) and the red-pepper hummus, which was smooth and creamy and well worth it. It might be worth a trip to get the hummus alone. For me, the doner kebab was seasoned nicely, and I liked the salad greens that came along, combined with the sauces that a worker suggested for my plate. Both of us sampled the falafel, and we know now to sample them right away. Falafel (at least here) has a relatively short half-life. If you don't eat it hot, you won't like it as much. The below-freezing outdoor temps and often-opened side door kept the place on the cold side. Overall, I wanted my food to be hotter, but I don't know where to place blame. Neither of us were fans of the pita bread. It was a bit on the dry side, but the main complaint was the thickness. I enjoy tearing off bits for hummus-dipping, and the thick pita bread didn't cater itself to that very well. But it eats. We couldn't finish all of our food, but we spent less than 20 bucks. You get a LOT of food, so it's a pretty good value. The place filled up rather quickly, so it was cramped, but this is an urban sort of place; you expect to rub an elbow or two. A small carton of baklava to go is being eaten right now, and it's decent. It appears that I Dream Of Falafel has a polarizing effect on reviewers. Think of it this way: we saw a fair number of middle-eastern customers there. You don't see Latino customers at Taco Bell, so I guess it has enough authenticity. Honestly, the reason I'm giving this four stars instead of three is that, despite the Chipotle style, it's not a mega-huge conglom... wait a sec. Their web site pushes franchising opportunities, as if they plan on taking over the mediterranean food world. Ooh, big turn off. Three stars. Anyway, I'll still visit Pita House in Lombard for my falafel fix, but if I'm on Butterfield Road, IDOF will catch my eye. To quote an old friend, "they have good chow." Just not great.
(3)Daisy D.
The place is called "I dream of Falaffel" and it's indeed a fact that I have been dreaming of this place since I first went. It is amazing. So delicious. The staff is extremely friendly and helpful, they seem insightful, and even give suggestions. I love it! The portions are large and the eating place is clean.
(4)Annie N.
Went here while I was visiting a friend in Chicago- and boy oh boy was I glad I did. I was never a big fan of falafel (carnivore in the house) but their falafel pleasantly turned me over to team chick pea! It was flavorful and well made. The lentil soup was scrumptious, as well as the DELICIOUS grape leaves! Open a location in Dallas, PLEASE!!
(5)Sidra Y.
No sure why there are so many negatives reviews for IDOF... We had a wonderful experience and delicious food! IDOF is a welcommed replacement to Cosi, which had good food but ridiculously short hours- even on weekends! For the reviewers who complianed that Pinched was more kid-friendly, maybe so but I hope realize that it is not a restaurant's obligation to go to a dollar store and buy your kids crayons and coloring books to play with while you eat! For those who are complaining it's Chipotle style serving, um, who cares? The food is excellent! IDOF has three very successful Chicago locations and it seems this first suburban location is getting it's act together on quantities of meat and falafel. They did run out of steak which meant many people behind us had to wait. The owner personally went to those tables and offered all those customers free large drinks to compensate, which seemed thoughtful. They have many meat options, sides, and sauces. This place is wonderful and I'm guessing it will thrive as they figure out how much of everything to make on a daily basis. Best of luck IDOF!
(5)Ally H.
Only the 4 star rating for a wrap. Otherwise their "plated" dishes are not as good if you're looking for authentic Middle Eastern flavor. I get a chicken swarama wrap with Tahiti sauce. It is delicious and actually pretty big! (But finishable) I DO NOT at all reccomend their homemade potatoe chips; they are not good. As for their pita chips in the bag, they are okay. Overall a good place.
(3)H Q.
The new ownership is terrible. I used to come here twice a week for lunch, and they would always provide a generous helping of meat/chicken. However the other day when I was getting dinner here, the new owner signaled to my server to lower the amount of chicle shawarma he was providing me. So the server actually stopped midway to take some shawarma out. The food still taste great but two thumbs down for terrible service on behalf of the ownership. I will no longer be a customer based solely off this experience. To me good service matters as much as the quality of food being served.
(2)Darci S.
I Dream of Falafel is a welcome addition to the 22nd street corridor! It feels a bit like a Mediterranean Chipotle, so for my first visit I went with a suggested wrap, the IDOF Falafel Wrap (hummus, falafel, and a variety of veggie toppings), so I wasn't faced with as many decisions. I really enjoyed the sandwich! The wraps are pita-like but thinner, larger and stretchier. The falafel were delicious, and they nicely smashed them to make them more wrap-able. They are a bit stingy with the veggie toppings (cucumber, tomato, cabbage, pickled radish, etc). Next time I might ask for some sauce on the side because it was a bit dry. But, overall, it was tasty and affordable. I hope it sticks around because I want to try some of their other choices!
(4)Mansi J.
This used to be great when it opened until recently when they had some management change I think. Initially when it opened, my husband and I used to eat there pretty often. We recently ordered our usual (falafel and lamb shawarma), and the quality has definitely come down. Their sauces used to be delicious. This time we got garlic sauce and hot sauce, both were just creamy (to the point where it coats your mouth) and no flavors. Their falafels seemed a little raw. And my husband's lamb shawarma was without much flavor too. Earlier, they would permit as many fillings, now it's restricted to 3. If I had reviewed IDOF a year earlier, it would have been between 3 and 4, unfortunately due to lack of flavors, it is 1. I hope they get it back up, if not, there is good competition around - Shawarma Express, Jerusalem Cafe, Pinched...
(1)Carm C.
Very good food! Their menu changed recently so it's a little confusing to me, but I still go there lol. The staff is very nice, quick, and the food is tasty. I hope they stick around!
(4)Farah K.
Had the vegan entree and my husband had the chicken shawarma. The food was the poorest excuse for middle Eastern Food. If your looking for authentic Middle Eastern cuisine, this place is not for you.
(1)Amanda L.
Cute atmosphere, and the set-up is very Chipotle/Noodles & Co.-esque, but the food was mediocre in my opinion. I'm half-Arab, so maybe my standards are high, but I've experienced much better at Naf Naf Grill in Naperville, or Pita Inn in Wheeling. The staff seemed uninspired, and when we went in after the dinner rush, they were out of rice and didn't want to make more, so they gave my Dad couscous, but it took them 10 minutes of discussion amongst themselves after we ordered and he was promised rice to finally come negotiate with him about it at the table and offer the couscous as a "how about you try this and then let us know" kind of deal. And the acoustics must have been terrible because the people behind the counter couldn't hear anything we were saying unless we were shouting. There was practically no one else in the restaurant, it's not like it was super loud. I also looked all over for baklava while we were paying and didn't see it until we sat down...it was on a rack to the side, hard to notice. The concept is good, but it was also a little confusing...which things are included from which stations? For people not familiar with how Middle Eastern food works, it would have helped to not have to ask the guy what every single thing was...maybe some signs or stickers on the counter glass? I didn't recognize everything so I had to ask a few times, and with the struggle to hear each other, it was kind of a tedious process. It took us forever to order (group of 6) mostly because no one understood what came with what, or what certain items were. And we had read the menu before getting there...it was just confusing translating the menu to what we saw before us behind the glass.
(2)Leonard W.
It's not fair to compare McDonald's to Burger king So I'll try to avoid comparing this place to Naf Naf.. The sweet potato falafel was good and wish that Naf *pause* this is going to be hard lol. It was good but not great. I think I had too much dressing or just didn't general care for it. I think for those that really enjoy salads or are into vegan food. They will most likely enjoy this. It's easy to order and once you go through the system once or twice you'll find yourself whipping through like subway wondering why they are taking so long to move their body with yours. Staff was friendly and gave me a chance to try out a few of the items I wasn't sure about.
(2)Amy D.
The staff here is incredible! They went out of their way to assist our family and made sure that everything was great. One of the staff even brought out cloths for under the high chair so my son couldn't push himself away from the table while eating. On the weekends kids eat free, which is always a bonus! The food is delicious and the staff couldn't be better... we will surely be back!
(5)Atiya K.
Yum! I am a fan. Love this place. They got rid of their raita sauce which is a major bummer because mixed with the spicy tomato over their rice it was absolutely delicious. I love middle eastern food and they have a great selection here. I recommend the chicken shwarma, doner kabab, lentil soup, falafels, and tadziki sauce. They also carry some delicious bottled "real ginger ales" with chunks of real ginger in the bottle. It's spicy though, so heads up if your meal is also spicy. It is delicious though and in my opinion well worth the pain. :)
(4)Amy B.
My husband, son, and I love eating here! There's a great selection of food. I eat vegetarian, my son vegan, and husband is a meat eater, and it's nice to eat somewhere that we can all have food that tastes good and is enjoyable.
(5)Shin M.
This place is set up like chipotle/subway where you walk down the row and pick out all of your ingredients. The employees were all very nice to me. They also had some outdoor seating. I played it safe and got the chicken schwarma wrap with garlic sauce (~$8 w/ tax). It was pretty good! The sauce was very flavorful and went well with the rest of the ingredients in the wrap. I was pleasantly surprised.
(4)Shaheen R.
Customer service is always great here! And when you check in on yelp you get a free order of falafel :). Tons of options! Doesn't matter if you're vegan, vegetarian, organic only, low carbing, low fatting, paleo, or a carnivore! Setup: Set up "chipotle" style. Meaning everything is assembled fresh for you EXACTLY how you want it. You can either create your own (CYO) rice plate, salad plate, wrap or plate in general. If for example you want to CYO plate (arguably the most customizable), then this is how it works: A) Bases: you get to pick two bases (regular hummus, red pepper hummus, baby spinach, spring mix salad leaves, chickpea quinoa salad, baba ganouj/roasted eggplant spread, couscous or saffron rice). You can definitely add more bases for 75 cents extra each base. The portions are quite generous! B) Protein: 1 protein choice (falafel, chicken shawarma, doner kebab, steak shawarma). Extra protein is $2.25 each and again, generous portions! All their shawarmas are vertically slow fire roasted-- always delicious and juicy! C) Toppings: Pick three! (Tabouli Quinoa salad, cabbage slaw, tzatziki salad, green olives, pickles, DELICIOUS sumac onions, romaine lettuce, or cucumber tomato salad). All options are delicious but my favorites are the sumac onions and tabouli quinoa salad. Extra toppings at 75 cents each D) Sauces: you can easily get these on the side if you don't want to commit. 4 options! IDOF hot sauce (ITS HOT.), spicy tomato, garlic and tahini. Feel free to try all of them on the side especially if you have never been here before-- they're more than willing to accommodate! My favorite is definitely the tahini sauce and the IDOF hot sauce IF and only if you try it in conjunction with food. Other food items: stuffed grape leaves, lentil soups, in house made pita chips, in house made Kennebec potato chips, baklavas, artisan bottled drinks-- and more stuff that I'm definitely forgetting off the top of my head "But what if I don't want to CYO? I'M LAZY!" No worries! they have a pre picked menu ("Chef Inspired") where you can choose from "Vegan Dream" a selection of all of their yummy vegan options, "All in one platter" which gives you a taste of almost everything on their menu, "Mediterranean Chicken Salad"-- the name is pretty self explanatory, and other things. Don't worry, whatever your mood, IDOF's got you! Staff: Always a pleasure being served by them. Even when they're totally backed up they work as fast as they can with a smile and a sense of humor. On one occasion a couple months back the line was a little longer than usual (nothing that bothered me though), and the manager made it a point to come out and extend his apologies for the wait, asked us how the food was and to extend us coupons for free entrees and sides upon our next visit. They are always willing to offer samples of their various sauces, meats, sides, and as mentioned they will always have that smile on their face. As opposed to the death stare that other places will give you if you asked for a measly sample, leaving you looking at them with puppy dog eyes quoting Oliver Twist when you say "Please sir, I want some more". Not here! No miserliness with IDOF. Notes: 1) Right next to a chipotle, a jimmy johns and noodles and company. IDOF is a great place to come to with a group of people even if they don't particularly care to try something new because they can easily bring in their meal from the neighboring restaurants in here 2) Chicken (and perhaps the rest of the meat too if I remember correctly) are all "Zabiha-Halal", which for those who are wondering mean that the meat has been humanely raised, fed an all natural organic diet, and slaughtered humanely (quick, no chemicals or poisons) 3) You can order online and pick it up in store! Perfect for those rush hour/lunch days! TL;DR: Excellent place for customized Mediterranean food on the go/sitting in. Preselected menu for those days you don't want to customize your food. Options for even the PICKIEST diets (paleo, low carbing, vegan, carnivore etc). Price is great, service is consistently excellent, and you can place your order online if its rush hour/lunch hour. Check in on yelp for a free side order of falafels!
(5)Kunal C.
Staff 5/5 Chicken shawarma 5/5 Fact that the stopped carring raita sauce 3/5 :p So I work in the area and they remember my face now as I drop by every now and then and show that I have 10 punches in my reward card feeling excited for a free lunch lol. This is a decent place. The staff is really friendly and are really really nice to customers. Food- Now this is a quick fast food place, which is way better than other fast food places. It may or may not have the authentic middle eastern taste, but I personaly love their chicken shawarma and cucumber salad. Also, they have good falafels, house chips, and hummus. So for the price and quickness, this is a good place. Also, they wear a funny tshirt that cracks me up everytime. The tshirt says WTF, maybe it means Want the Falafel or something, or may be I am being positive here lol.
(4)Mike O.
Very good fast-casual Middle Eastern restaurant. It joins a host of others (Naf Naf Grill, Falafill, Benjyehuda, and Pinched Mediterranean Grill etc.) in this category. I enjoyed my meal quite a lot, though I think it would have been better to dine in - as the cool/cold toppings quickly cool the protein off, making everything lukewarm. This is an order at the counter then guide them through the toppings-type place (like its Mexican spiritual ancestor, Chipotle Grill. The toppings guy was pretty brusque with me, but I'll chalk it up to a busy lunch service. My check-in triggered a free order of falafel, which was awesome. Thanks IDOF. On to the food: Create your own Wrap: The wrap comes with a "base" layer of hummus - other options give you more than one base. My protein was Doner Kebab, something I miss greatly from my trips to Germany, where it has a reputation for ummm.... being good for late night noshing. I topped it with sumac onions, cucumber and tomato salad, and tzaziki. I asked for IDOF hot sauce, and got a healthy squirt. They put it into a panini press to brown the outside a bit, then it was ready to serve. The flavor of the Doner was excellent, and this particular combo of toppings and sauce seemed to work really well. On the whole, this sandwich rocked. Side of Falafel: It would have been nice to have some sort of dipping sauce for the Falafel, but they had quite a bit of flavor on their own. They were well-seasoned and still had a little bit of moisture inside - no crumbling. I thought these Falafel were very nicely prepared. I'll definitely come back here when I'm in the neighborhood. Perhaps I'll come at the very beginning of lunch service, when it's not too crowded yet, and the ingredients are all really fresh.
(4)Rehan A.
Chicken shawarma wrap amazing with the add of spicy hummus; one of the best wraps i have ever had. Very delicious the chicken has bursts of flavor in it. The rice and salad also delicious. Its always fresh its always tasty. Was recommended from the Eid fest they had in villa park.
(5)Nathasja T.
We came here with one specific reason in mind: Döner kebab. Then I saw the Yelp check-in deal and got some free falafels: bonus! Short version: walked in wanting döner, walked out preferring their falafel. Longer version: my husband and I simply adore döner kebab and Turkish food in general. After moving to the US we have yet to find a döner close to what we are used to consuming all across Europe, juicy, spiced meat (mystery, lol) wrapped in lahmacun or pita with a sweet, creamy garlic sauce. So for us, the search is continuously on to find that dream sandwich once more. If you have ever had this outside of the US then you know what I am referring to, and you will know it is very difficult to find here domestically. Did this one come close? Yes, it did. The spices on the meat were very enjoyable and we really liked our sandwiches overall. If you aren't familiar with the döner which I am describing, or with döner in general: it is spiced rotisserie meat (usually beef or chicken, compressed) which gets shaven onto a sandwich. It is somewhat similar to Greek gyros or shawarma, but there are subtle differences (mainly in spices and cuts of meat used). Here, you can create your own sandwich with choice of several meats or falafel, and there are plenty of toppings. Rice, couscous, salad, hummus, lettuce, sumac onions, tomato/cucumber salad, tahini, garlic sauce, etc. Speaking of falafel, theirs is fluffy on the inside, crispy on the outside and they have a great, almost curry-ish flavor to them. These are light, airy balls and they are so much better than the mostly rock-hard, heavy pucks of grease which other places sell. My quest for 'my' döner still continues, but I will return for some falafel action for sure! Lastly, do NOT follow your GPS here. Once you get close keep your eyes peeled, they share a building and parking lot with Noodles & Co, as soon as you see them, turn in immediately. Your GPS will take you around back to a parking lot which is not connected to theirs. Trust me. we had to wade through the bushes for our food - not fun.
(3)Danny V.
A face full of fresh is a mouthful of fun. This place was like an oasis in the desert to this traveling boy. My ability to acquire a little foodular action was thwarted by early closing times with most things in the vicinity of my hotel and I spent two nights hunting and gathering at 7-11. Fresh ingredients make each dish pop. The CYO (create your own) allowed me a protein,a few bases and toppings. On paper, doesn't sound like much, but it was a good amount of food. The chicken schwarma had good texture and good flavor, but marry it with a little tahini, a little baba ganoujeh, a little cucumber-tomato salad and a little couscous- life was a little brighter and a whole lot tastier. Verdict: quick, fresh, convenient Whole Foods quality grub at Trader Joe's prices.
(5)Angela B.
Cool concept, create your own with bases, proteins, toppings and sauces. Fresh ingredients, very yummy. Excellent service, especially Luis! Thank you Luis! Bring the kids on the weekends because they're free!
(4)Jen R.
I'm a pretty big schawarma freak. I've had every iteration you can think of chewed and swallowed year after year. I'm always down to try a new schawarma place, in hopes that it would be a new favourite, but honey, this ain't it. I went here with my friend for dinner and ordered a create-your-own plate, which consisted of baba ganoush, spring mix, chicken "schawarma", tzatzki salad, tabbouleh, kalamata olives and hot sauce. My friend got a falafel wrap. You see the quotes up there? This was not schawarma. It lacked that spicy sweet taste that I have grown to love and tasted like generic grilled chicken that you'd get at a food court. The tabbouleh had giant jagged pieces of parsely, the tzatzki salad tasted like it was made with heavy whipped cream, and the hot sauce tasted like taco sauce. Really, the only things they got right were the olives and the spring mix. The baba ganoush was decent, but I've not had a lot of experience with that to tell you otherwise. My friend's falafel wrap looked like a Chipotle burrito. She said it was good, but it ended up giving her the same uh... intestinal distress that Chipotle is often known for later. Not going here again. Sorry, guys.
(2)Kelli M.
Similar to chipotle but the create your own is not piled together but spread separately on your plate. Lots of choices and everything is delicious, healthy, and authentic. Lots of vegetarian options. They have dessert options and lunch boxes to go. Staff are friendly and helpful. Check in to get free falafel side. Very affordable and quick place.
(5)Denise E.
Haven't had the pleasure to actually eat inside of the restaurant(always order delivery) so this is all based on my food and delivery. Food is out of this world!new favorite VEGAN place! The delivery guys have always been kind as well:)
(5)Tony F.
I stop in here because the veggies fest in Lisle was postponed for the rest of the day due to inclimate weather..... :( So I went on yelp to find something different and really glad I picked this place..... Very laid back and helpful staff and very clean environment...
(4)Samantha G.
Ever heard of a middle eastern fast food joint? Well now you have!!! I was craving some protein hard core after work, and thought, "mmmm beef shawarma....!!" Well, they have this entree with different types of shawarma, a side of rice, falafel, salad, and if you want, hummus. My favorite salad was a chickpea one with cucumbers, tomatoes, and onions. I have never walked out of a fast food joint feeling healthy and satisfied until today. Try it. You will like it so much, you will come back twice in a week (like me!)!
(4)Jennifer P.
Yesterday I swung by and got the Falafelicious Wrap and those coconut cookies. Empty @ 3:45 ish and no one behind the counter. (Maybe elsewhere prepping food?) The ingredients looked fresh. A few minutes later a kid comes out. He made some fresh falafels for me. I asked for garlic sauce, so he added it on there. All is well. Except, um, my total: $10 and some change. Really?! My wrap was good but wrapped kinda loose. The sauces were VERY watery, so my wrap had one soggy part. Meh. No likey. Cookies are always good. I dunno if the place is poppin' during lunch hour or what, but the execution and price point were a bit much for me. Off to find another falafel..
(3)S s.
This place has great food! I stopped in for the first time today and got carry out. The place was pretty empty, which is super unfortunate for the quality of the food. It's a big menu with a lot of options that I really appreciated, but it was tough to figure out right up front. I went with a rice plate. It came with a meat option and then three sides. The food itself was VERY good. The portions are pretty decent as well. I went with the steak which was very well seasoned and not tough. And then the cabbage salad and sumac onions. I wish I would have tried the tahina salad but next time. Everything was fresh and tasted great. I was in a rush so I didn't try the falafel but I will, I'm going back for certain it was very good and I want to try this doner kabab. I'd think of it like a Mediterranean chipotle. It's pretty reasonable price wise as well. Check it out. The restaurant was really colorful and had a lot of seating, I would dine in. The service is very quick not a lot of chit chat... so take it for what it's worth. The food was awesome, try it out.
(4)Padma A.
its close to my workplace but never tried it, hence today felt like some Chicken Shwarma. It was done in a tortilla wrap with 2 addons and sauces. When i said spicy a whole bunch was squirted generously. I asked for a side chickpea quinoa salad and was charged extra 75c. When i got back to the office i noticed a free side on my yelp page because of my Checkin. Darn! next time i shall watch out.
(3)Yvonne I.
I had passed by this restaurant a million times, but didn't really make an effort to learn more about it until I was looking for Mediterranean food in the area one day. People on Yelp gave this place good reviews, so I decided that I needed to give it a try. I got the CYO plate, which basically allows u to get 2 bases, a protein, 3 toppings, and a sauce. My two bases: Baba Ganoujeh and spring mix Protein: falafel Toppings: Cucumber tomato salad, tzatziki salad, Tabouli Quinoa salad Sauce: spicy tomato The ingredients tasted really fresh & I liked that the falafel was not too crispy/hard like at some places. I will be coming back to try some other combinations, and even their pita bread.
(5)Fatima H.
One of our favorite go-to places for a quick wrap or salad! Favorites include the shawarma wraps. Bonus that the food is zabiha halal!
(5)Kyle M.
Food was ok at best. Went in and asked for steak they said they would be out of it for the day, this was at 11:30am. Not a lot of flavor in the food. I may give it another go, just to see if it as good as my cousin says!
(2)Ivan J.
Very helpful employees that make you feel comfortable. A lot of room to spread out. I would compare it to a Chipotle but with Mediterranean options! Enjoyed the food with no wait.
(4)Joshua N.
This location (or possibly the entire chain) has gone completely downhill. You are now limited on toppings. And instead of being fresh cut from the spit roaster, meats are minced in advance and allowed to dry out in a metal drawer. The namesake falafel is still good, and the saffron rice is a nice touch. Otherwise, nothing here is good anymore. Came back here with a Groupon. Will not return.
(1)Michele S.
Great, clean fresh place for a delicous lunch. You can customize any of their dishes. I had a falafel wrap with pita chips. The chips were crunchy and flavorful pieces of heaven in your mouth. They must serve these to you as you enter the pearly gates. My husband had a chicken wrap with stuffed grape leaves and a jasmine tea. I believe he liked it because he was asking about locations near our home before he was even finished with his meal. That is a good sign. Everything that they serve is pretty much organic in the restaurant. The place is clean and inviting and the workers are very polite. They have hummus, Tabouli salad and pretty much all of the other Mediterranean favorites. This place is a solid good place for a lunch. Good clean food in a good clean place.
(3)Christina B.
I was dreading trying this place because of my disappointing experience at Naf Naf Express in Rosemont. Luckily, I tried it today and enjoyed it immensely. The menu reads just like Chipotle. I didn't make that comparison at first, so I had to ask the worker a ton of questions to get me started. She was really sweet about explaining the process to me. I created my own plate and it was pretty good. Not a huge fan of the hummas, but the babaganoosh, veggies, and falafel was delicious. Pita was excellent. Overall, a really huge step of from the Naf Naf Express...still so disappointed about my experience there. But, this quick, easy, and delicious Middle Eastern treat is worth the stop.
(4)Alex A.
After a long eye exam and a trip to a post office east of IDOF, I remembered it was there and how good the lamb kebab I had many months ago was so I doubled back west, away from my city home. It was about 3:30, a dead time for suburban food spots. The format had changed slightly from when I was last there. Seemed like a couple fewer options, but still really good ones. Last time I had the lamb kebab wrap but lamb was off the menu now, a supplier issue. This time I got a CYO (create your own) plate for $8. Bases of a quinoa/chickpea salad and a chickpea vegetable medley were topped by tabouleh, tzatziki, doner kebab, and a cucumber/tomato salad. All were pretty delicious, the doner kebab a standout because of its rich, intense flavor. It's like a Bostonite said about a lemon donut once, "you don't have to LOOK foa the flavah...the flavah's gonna find you!" The creamy jalapeno sauce and the hot tomato one were fab. A great meal and portion size for about $8. Good drink selection too including Pellegrino's flavored bubbly water cans and a good ginger beer called "Bruce Cost." Since it was so slow I got to talk to the owner, one Hassan, a Pakistani gentleman of all things. He was ultra friendly and that goes a long way toward establishing a business as a spot you want to visit over and over. He has locations in Chicago which I'll definitely check out. I was deciding on a drink and the Vimto can looked interesting to me and he ended up giving me one to try later. Really nice. And he's good to his employees. The place is well lit and ultra clean too. Recommended!
(5)Farwah R.
My family and I went here on Friday night to celebrate my brother's birthday. It was the end of the day, and they had packed up some of their stuff. They had to unpack some things for us. I guess they thought that there wouldn't be anymore customers. We decided to order the platters. They come with rice, meat, and two sides. We ordered two chicken platters, one chicken and gyro platter, and two all in platters, we also ordered a side of felafels. There was only one person working there that night, and she completed all five of our orders at once. It was honestly a little confusing. We went there for the first time, and didn't understand what was a part of our order. She didn't bother to explain it to us either. She seemed a little confused by our order too. Anyway, we eventually sat down to eat. The food was mostly a hit! The gyros taste very good, and nicely salted. The chicken and steak were grilled. They tasted pretty flavorful, but they were a little bland. I have a well-spiced palate, so I thought it could use come spicy-ness. Their safron rice was okay. I loved their hummus it was creamy and yummy just like hummus should be! The falafel was crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside. I thought it was undercooked. The manager came out and made them fresh. I guess he took them out too quickly. I though the decoration were interesting. It seemed like they had a throwback to 1970s in mind. The chairs, tables, and logo looked like it was from that era. It is a little quirky to eat middle eastern food in place with 70s era decor. However, a great benefit to this restaurant is that it is HALAL! It is awesome to have a chain restaurant that is halal. I would recommend this place. If you are tired of chipotle, noodles and company, panera or other comparable places, then check this place out! They also have stores in downtown Chicago.
(4)Bill T.
Made the mistake of stopping in on a Sunday. Lunch time and they once again didn't have the proteins ready. I have eaten at this location many times before and I still don't understand what's included with your order. Staff never seems to know what they are doing. The staff was especially incompetent on Sunday. My wife pays for our two dinners, while I'm patiently waiting for the missing proteins, the cashier finishes with my wife, takes off, and the kid schlepping my proteins wants to charge me again! No matter, they didn't give her a receipt, so they probably pocketed the cash. The owner should take the staff on a field trip to Naf Naf!
(2)Diana R.
This place is amazing. I fall in love with falafel more and more every time I come here. The employees are beyond nice too. The falafel is always warm and fresh. It's like a mediterranean Chipotle, and I mean that as a high compliment. Seriously, if you haven't tried this place out, you're missing out!
(5)Raj D.
This place is awesome!!! Plenty of options. Portions are large and the wraps are quite full. I really enjoy the home made chips. Staff I'd great and I had the opportunity to meet one of the partners who was a real stand up gentlemen who even offered us free lunch coupons. My wife and I dine here once a week and don't plan on stopping! One of the best fast and healthy options in oakbrook. Roasted paper hummus is top notch!
(5)Anu M.
Food was quick and good. We really liked the falafel. The baklava was not the greatest.
(4)Courtney C.
My first experience with I.DOF was pure love. My 2nd experience was not as good so I'm unsure where to score this. I'm not vegetarian or vegan but I have an enthusiastic amount of love for vegetables. Aside from ordering a salad every day, it's hard to find places with a variety of fresh veggies. However, I.DOF delivers on this. This has potential to be my new lunch spot. The first time we came, we ordered the vegan platter and some kind of chicken kabobs. Sometimes its hard for me to try unfamiliar things but I dove in head first. I didn't really like the baba ganoujeh, but I loved everything else on the plate. My only time trying falafel was at Subway, so I'm probably not qualified at speaking to theirs versus other places. BUT I loved it! They made it fresh for us and it was one of the best things I've ever put in my mouth. The chicken kabob was really amazing too, but I'm starting to think I will stick to the falafel in the future. I went to I.DOF again for lunch the other day and ordered the Chicken Schawarma rice plate and my husband ordered a falafel wrap. His was fuhreaking delicious and I stole more than half of his. The rice on mine was lacking flavor as was the chicken schawarma. I tried peppering it up but the chicken was still too bland and dry. Even a little butter didn't save the plate. Going forward, if I only order the falafel wrap or the vegan platter, it will be a 5-star lunch spot for me and will be included in my lunch rotation.
(4)Jahanzeb H.
Went to this location on Sunday with the family. Tried the steak wrap, chicken shawarma, doner shawarma. Service was excellent. Food was delicious. Place is clean, friendly and food is awesome.
(5)Dave D.
I've been to this location a few times, because I do basically dream of falafel, so they had me pegged from the beginning. Everything I've had has been very good and ridiculously filling for the price. I don't think i've ever left here less than stuffed. Most of the food is pretty standard for a place like this, but they have some real standouts. The best thing is the sweet potato falafel. I have never seen anything like this anywhere else and it's absolutely delicious. The sauces are also fantastic (especially the really spicy one) and there are 2 types of hummus to choose from. So while a lot of the food here is pretty basic for what you get, the sweet potato falafel and sauces will definitely have me coming back. Now if only I could get the sweet potato falafel on Naf Naf Grill's pitas... then this would be my favorite place of the moment.
(4)Nasah A.
IDOF is an awesome concept. I think of it like a Mediterranean "Subway." Anyways, I am I big fan of their wraps, whether it's chicken or steak. The tzatziki salad is a must!!! Eat it with your wrap, your plates, or just by itself! Their falafels are always crispy and flavorful. Their sauces are distinct but all wonderful. Why the four stars? Like Subway, I'd like to add a few more toppings aside from the 3 I am only allowed to. The atmosphere and food are both wonderful. I recommend trying their tzatziki salad. Try it with some more tzatziki salad.
(4)Bryan M.
The Chipotle version of falafel.
(4)Michelle M.
I spotted an I Dream of Falafel in the city a few weeks ago and thought I might like to try it sometime, so I was excited to stumble across this Oak Brook location (although I'm sad that Cosi is gone). Unfortunately, my experience was a disappointing one. The format is like Chipotle or the newfangled Naf Nafs. I picked two bases (hummus and couscous), two toppings (onions and tabbouleh) and a sauce (garlic) for my falafel. The sauce was really disappointing and salad dressing-like when I was expecting something more like toum. Everything else was bland, especially the hummus and couscous, and the falafel was especially disappointing- they were a sickly yellow color and looked like they came from a boxed mix or something. The pita chips were very tasty at first but after a while they felt very greasy, along with the rest of the meal. Anyway... if you're in this area with a craving for falafel, just skip this place and go elsewhere. I Dream of Falafel left me dreaming of Naf Naf instead!
(2)David B.
IDOF is my go-to joint when I am forced to work on Sundays. The food here can be described with one word: orgasmic. I always get either the chicken shawarma wrap or the Falafeliciuos wrap. Both of these have the ability to make my taste buds quiver with pure ecstasy. The staff are always super friendly and service is quick and accurate. I usually order online and have never received an incorrect order. I hope this place stays open forever and never changes, it's fantastic.
(5)Angela B.
Food was fresh, hot and full of flavor. Luis was helping my indecisive best friend with what she wanted to eat during Happy Hour...(1/2 off everything from 4 to 7pm). Friendly environment and Luis and his coworkers were very professional...The place is clean! RESTROOM was FLAWLESS. Will make it a point to come back!
(5)Mike G.
Used the same gloves to maneuver the trash can that the used to make the wraps. Not sanitary. Falafel wasn't ready and took 15 minutes to make, this during peak lunch time. Good was good.
(1)April F.
Love that there is a great falafel place in the suburbs. I miss the ones from living in the city. However, even better is the great service. Plus, as a vegan sometimes dining out options are limited, but not here! Will definitely return, especially for the Happy Hour special during the week!
(5)Adam J.
This place is phenomenal! Alex was the man. He gave me great service and food. The place is very very very clean and the food is extremely fresh. I will definitely be back soon. Prices are also very reasonable
(5)Maria A.
Ok food, better to go to authentic Mediterranean restaurant. Not my favorite place but I would go back. I hear the chicken shawarma with rice is better. I got a wrap and wasn't too amused.
(3)Jenn C.
fast food falafel and the two times I've been here, its been pretty decent. I like the selection of toppings and the sauces (the hot sauce in particular) I really enjoyed. I can't rate on all the menu items, because I've only had the exact same falafel wrap each time. I don't think I can come on a regular basis, but its definitely on my "where to go eat for lunch" option list when I'm in the area.
(4)Don R.
Seems like every time I come here it just gets better and better! The wraps are amazing. It was love at first taste when my wife and I decided to try this place a few months ago. I'm eating one now that tastes so good. Also, the chefs are friendly and quick.
(5)Dan B.
This has become a weekly tradition for me at work. Love being able to customize my wraps and always have the opportunity to go full beast mode and get the all-in platter if I'd like to. I wouldn't consider myself a falafel connoisseur or anything but the falafel here is great, and they have such a nice selection of sauces. Variety is definitely one of their strong suits. They deliver, too, and their delivery guy seems chill and is usually on time if maybe a little late at times. Oh well.
(5)Jill F.
The food and dining experience was excellent. I had the combo platter with double hummus, chicken shwarma, falafel, cabbage salad, tzatziki salad, romaine, and spicy red tomato sauce with a side of pita bread. I really felt like I got my money worth and the quality of the food is like going to a sit down Mediterranean restaurant. I would definitely recommend this place. Oh, they also let you try samples of their dishes so you know you will make the right choices.
(5)Rich W.
Soggy falafel, unclear instructions on how to order and just not a very good experience
(2)Cristie F.
I Dream of Falafel had everything that would typically make for a great little restaurant - a bright and trendy atmosphere, delicious sounding menu items, friendly workers, and dishes to appeal to everything from the most ravenous carnivore to the hippie-est vegan. However, they total lacked execution. IDOF = fail. Where did IDOF go wrong? The cafeteria-esque assembly line. Granted, this may work for Chipotle but I don't see it working for them. Why you ask? The shawarma was dry from being cut off the pistol and sitting in a container, open to the air. The falafel were far from crispy. And the tomatoes and cucumbers in Jerusalem salad were soggy. I'm assuming from sitting around and not being made fresh. Granted, the flavors were good. It wasn't all bad you know. I loved the idea of making sandwich wraps instead of stuffing all the ingredients into a pita - which is something you don't often find at Mediterranean restaurants. I also loved the vast amount of choices for sauces and the option for sweet potato falafel. Yum. And, I was definitely pleased with their couscous salad and fluffy pita bread. However, it wasn't enough for me next to my soggy falafel balls and dried out meats. I left with somewhat of a buzzkill feeling. Unfortunately, I Dream of Falafel left me with a lot to dream for...Especially crispy falafel.
(3)Laura H.
Middle eastern/ Mediterranean is my favorite fare and I Dream of Falafel is my favorite place to to acquire it. This is a great lunch spot- the food is so delicious and fresh and even on the busiest day- the wait is minimal- so never be deterred by lines-- the staff is professional and friendly and you will have your lunch in minutes. Besides being the best Mediterranean lunch spot in the area -- it is very affordable- you will have a fabulous, fresh,delicious meal --don't pass it up.
(5)Terry R.
This is another attempt to franchise middle eastern food with mixed results. Lots of fresh toppings and dips/sauces. My falafel was gummy though and 'wrap' completely fell apart. The pita bread was awful.
(2)Ruth F.
Is this the best falafel I've ever had? No. However it was pretty darn good, and as a quick bite for dinner on the way home, it was fine. They were nearly out of sweet potato falafel, so I got them freshly fried. In addition to the sweet potato falafel, they have couscous (the large Israeli kind you have to soak forever, so best to have someone else make it), red pepper hummus, a variety of sauces, and pretty tasty vegetarian dolma. Yes, the one half-piece of pita bread is a little sad for a whole vegan platter - but I'm sure if I asked they'd sell me more pita bread. (How cool that they have a vegan platter!) The nutrition calculator on-line is pretty awesome; I'm sorry to discover the sweet potato falafel have 10 g of sugar per serving, so I'll probably get the regular next time. But it's great to know. Yes, it's high in sodium - it's pre-prepared fast casual food and at least with the calculator you can order items to minimize the damage. Service was very friendly (yes, it is hard to hear them over the sneeze guard) and I'm thrilled with the selection of sides.
(4)Connie L.
I decided to make a trip out here because of a Groupon I bought. I got a salad plate with chicken schawarma, which was quite satisfying. However, the portions are small so I don't recommend coming here if you're famished (unless you plan on paying for multiple plates). The lady working at the time was super nice and allowed me to swap out my pita bread for an extra side. :D
(4)Jose P.
Had to stop here before my drive back to California, I haven't had a good vegan falafel wrap since I lived in Maryland, this lived up to the insane expectations I had given it. Phenomenal wrap, perfect flavor, and it's not cause I'm exhausted from fighting demons in dungeons all day, it's cause it's f'ing delicious. I'd say the real word, but by the loud xtian music, I'm sure that's not welcome here, yeah, the Jesus music could def be turned down, it's burning my skin. I can only be exorcised so many times before I feel the pain. Anyway, this place is gold, don't sleep on this.
(5)Deena H.
Delicious Middle Eastern food with a 21st century twist. The sauces are deliciously fresh. The lamb is juicy. The hummus is decent. The stuffed grape leaves are OK. It is Chipotle style ordering. The salads are all worth a try. It's a great lunch option and it is quick.
(4)Mohammed K.
I am usually in the Lombard area on a weekly basis and there are few Zabihah halal places but usually Indian/Pakistani places. I went to I Dream of Falafel Oakbrook location this Labor day with my family and it was an awesome experience. I talked to one the managers there and they assured me they served Zabihah halal meats and Crescent chicken because my family is very particular. Service was good as well. The food was fresh, delicous and filling. I had to take a nap right after lol. I have been to their downtown location by myself. First time with my family and I am glad they have a suburban location. Definitely worth a try for folks in the suburbs. They are right next to the Noodles and company.
(5)Lily P.
Great quick lunch for excellent price. More than I could eat. Everything I tried on the create your own plate was great. The hummus and falafel were spot on. I am traveling from Texas and I wish that we had these back home.
(4)Sara T.
What I ordered: Step 1: Plate (comes with up to 3 items for the "base"). I got the Baba Ganoujeh, Jerusalem salad, and Tabouleh Step 2: Doner Kebab (Turkish style seasoned meat made of 100% premium beef fire roasted on a vertical rotisserie) Step 3: IDOF's Hot Sauce They pile your 7"W x 7"L x 1"H plate full of mediterranean goodness. I enjoyed the doner kebab, however I will want to try the felafel on my next trip. Beware of the IDOF Hot Sauce if you can't handle spice; although rated at 2 flames of spiciness (1 less than the spicy tomato sauce), it is unsuspectingly spicy. I enjoy eating spicy foods on a regular basis, so trust me when I say that your mouth will be on fire! At around $8 and with a mostly healthy offering, this place is definitely worth checking out.
(4)Emily B.
The food is so delicious! However, it doesn't have the vibrant colors of freshness. The spinach and spring mix was pretty wilted. The chicken was amazing and worth the wait. The dining area is clean and well lit with good relaxing music.
(4)Ryan C.
I was rather surprised to see a few negative reviews, because I couldn't come up with anything wrong. Great food, great customer service and the place is clean. First thing you'll notice is that the menu process is very similar to Chipotle. I heard some people gripe about it. Get over it...it's a model that works and even IDOF's web site mentions that it is "Chipotle inspired." I do like the easy to follow menu. I've had the all meats plate and the vegan plate. I was more than satisfied with both. If you are vegan/vegetarian, I think you'll be quite happy with the vegan plate. One thing to note, the food may good, but it is high in sodium. If you go to their website, you'll see an easy to use nutritional calculator. If you are trying to avoid Gluten, there is a notation for the Gluten-free items. Ohh, you'll want to try sweet potato falafel. Very tasty! The only thing I don't like is the location. They share a lot with Noodles and the parking lot is narrow and limited with spaces. If you go there for lunch, make it early because it's a cluster funk once people start pulling in for lunch.
(4)Dustin T.
I have yet to come across a fast food-esque chain Mediterranean restaurant that I really enjoyed. I had a lamb wrap with yogurt sauce. I really did not think anything special of it. I personally would rather spend my money on the Chipotle next door (cuz Chipotle is friggen awesome!) but I do not regret trying this place out.
(3)Naveed S.
Have gone to IDOF a handful of times since it opened. The food quality has stayed consistently good but the portions have decreased. Previously you can get as many toppings as you like but now they have a limit of only 3 toppings. The environment is relaxed and there is plenty of seating. I've been there at different times and I was always served promptly. Food is a little on the salty side so make sure you drink plenty of H2O.
(4)Neil M.
Eating out on a budget has become a challenge for me since I've been in town (just moved from Vegas) because it can get redundant. Middle Eastern food sounded great when I saw I Dream of Falafel. I'm always up for something new but, sometimes it can be a bit intimidating if you don't know what a particular food/dish is. But, those annoying barriers were knocked down at I Dream of Falafel. I Dream of Falafel has a great format that assures you that you are getting fresh food. They break down how you should order the same way Chipotle is set up. Start by choosing either a wrap or a plate. I grabbed the all in plate for about 10 bucks. It came with Falafels, Lamb Kebab, Chicken Shawerma, and Doner Kebab all on top of rice with a small side salad and pitas. I gotta say, I loved it. It was delicious and quick. I can also see this place being a great place for vegetarian options. For someone that would like to try new food but, needs some training wheels this is a good start.
(4)Annn F.
Oh mah gawd, I love this place. We went twice just to make sure what we tastedon the first visit was That Good and ah-HA! It was! We got the Vegan plate and we shared it and it was so tasty! The tzakiki salad was fantastic. Absolutely worth the extra 75 cents. I think I'm coming back on my birthday.
(5)Jay V.
I have to say, this place was different and good when they first opened. I first tried them in downtown Chicago and was blown away. This suburban location has changed since it first opened up and is not as good and as a matter of fact is dialed down on quality and portion. This place seems to nickel & dime on everything for some reason. A little more expensive than other mid eastern places and not as good. Big emphasis on the different salad offerings. Who cares about that, that is secondary to the meat which you don't get a lot of. The staff has also gotten ruder as time has past. Not going to be back here anytime soon. What was once a dream has turned into a nightmare...I guess I will stick to my other middle eastern options as I know the food will be good with bigger portions and I will get better service at a more reasonable price.
(2)Robert G.
Total fuster cluck. I dream of falafel is a type of 'quick serve' restaurant or the alternative definition could be- 'fast food that people think is reasonably healthy.' I was there before noon, they were out of both pita chips and falafel. It's kinda like Chipotle where they can whip together a burrito for you in 2minutes. My lonely, unfinished tortilla sat on the counter for 15 minutes while they cooked more falafel. They didn't really address the situation with me either, ideally they could have said: "Sorry dude, 2 cooks didn't show up today, as you can see in our open kitchen, the one cook we have is diligently preparing fresh falafel for you, it will be a few more minutes. Thanks for being patient as this is quite embarrassing-having run out of falafel at a restaurant by the same name just before the lunch rush." As people bottle-necked near the falafel station of the line, it became apparent that this was becoming an emergency for staff. Later after receiving my food, I realized this place monopolized their sauce behind the counter. I could barely taste the sauce and wanted more. To my surprise there was no sauce in the self-help soda pop/ utensil area. Protip: bring your own hot sauce.
(1)Dan K.
I like the food here. I like the sweet potato falafel. I'm kinda tired of this whole quick service trend. But, I guess it is what it is. The parking situation still sucks from when it was Cosi if you go during lunch. I recommend the one plate which has like 4 different meats on it. It's a great deal and you get some variety. Also, try the sweet potato falafels. One thing I was a little disappointed in was the fact that they "ran out" of the garlic sauce. I'll be honest, sometimes we go to these places just so we can enjoy the taste of garlic on our breath for hours afterwards. We ended up going with the spicy sauce. It was pretty pretty spicy. In between chugging my drink and breathing fire through my nose I cursed the fact that they had run out of garlic.
(4)Bill O.
This is the worst place I've ever been, the food just by lookin at it is old. I ordered chicken shwarma with two toppings an hour later I was in the hospital. On top of that the booths are disgusting as if they are never cleaned.
(1)Glenda C.
I am happy to know that there is a good middle eastern place here in the burbs! The place is casual, has decent prices, and portions are on the larger side. The staff was a bit disorganized, but the food was yummy! My toddler enjoyed the rice, pita bread, hummus and falafels. Be weary that the place only has 2 high chairs, so if other babies are in attendance while you are there expect to duke it out. Noodles & Company is right next door, so if your little ones aren't into Mediterranean food you could always go next door for Mac & cheese. I'll be back for more!
(4)Samar S.
Love this place!!!!!! Best chicken shwarma wrap. Must add the sauces. The IDOF sauce and toum (garlic sauce) are my favorites. Lastly, don't forget about the falafel. Tried the dinar kabob and must say that was good too!
(5)Jacki A.
I have driven past this place numerous times and after a job interview, I finally decided to stop in and see what it's all about. I was the only person in there and the guy was very friendly and helpful since I told him I had never been there before. I believe I decided on a plate with beef and tomatoes with rice and feta with a tomato-like sauce. But I could be wrong. Either way, the gentlemen were very nice. It was a little pricey, but you get a good amount of food. If I'm ever in the area at a good time again, I'll probably stop in and grab a quick bite.
(4)Robyn C.
I Dream of Falafel ... what a fun name for a restaurant. i dream of falafels too ... good ones ... not the falafels that they are serving up at this Mediterranean fast food spot. These were a joke and if I ate what everyone else has eaten, then you my friends have not tried truly spectacular falafel from the North side from a ridiculously good place called Pita Inn. My falafel was crunchy but the consistency in my mouth wasn't satisfying and it wasn't even green, it was a yellowish color. So what are they filling these with? I am used to the nice green appetizing color of falafel, not this one. The chicken shawarma was dry. Where are the spinning grills of meat? What was good were the veggie sides, those were excellent. I appreciate them trying to be more organic and much more healthy than other places, but the taste needs to be there as well. Their pita bread isn't fluffy and incredibly tasty like Naf Naf grill and their rice is sadly lacking in taste, wish it was more like Reza's dill rice. Service was lacking, the lady piling on the food onto the plate needs to be a lot nicer especially for people who have never eaten here before. You get a ton of food though. The cashier was really nice and friendly though.
(2)Samar S.
This was my first time here and i must say i was very impressed with the staff. They were very informative, made great suggestions and allowed us to take our time when deciding what to order. Also, the food was delicious! Try the sweet potato falafel its awesome!!! My only recommendation is to put more meat on the wraps.
(4)chantelle p.
The chipotle of falafel's. Great food. Very convenient.
(4)Michelle T.
Delicious!!! It was great!! Great Staff, great service and food!
(5)Bradley A.
For my first time I had the chef inspired, vegan dream which I got to choose a bunch of delicious assorted entrée items. The sweet potato falafels were really good, and the sauces were delicious. Everything was fresh and the restaurant environment was very clean. Louis was super helpful and friendly.
(5)Mika C.
Much better selections than when they first opened. Everything is always fresh and flavorful. My new favorite fast casual restaurant and you can eat healthy and low carb!
(5)Prashant C.
Went here for the first time with office colleagues and loved the food... Ordered a wrap with the base of red pepper hummus, protein of falafel and three topping consist of onions + 2 salads with hot tomato sauce. It tasted great and I am sure I will visit again.. Totally recommend it !!
(5)