Sultan’s Market
2521 N Clark
Chicago, IL
We recently came upon yet another ranking of Chicago’s top falafel spots, and this time Sultan’s Market came out on top. Why had we still not been there? So many friends raved about it, so we finally made the decision to go, trekking down to Sultan’s Market hoping for falafel paradise. The space is super tiny, with just a few tables a food counter and a salad bar. You order at the counter where your sandwich was prepared for you with freshly fried falafel and shewarma from the spit. The food is super quick and you pay after you eat (I guess they assume you are pretty honest!). There is shiny golden tin on the walls and ceiling which adds a cool ambiance, amplified by a few colorful glass lamps.
The value-ratio at Sultan’s Market simply cannot be beat. Matt ordered a lamb shawerma dinner ($7.00), expecting a light meal. He got a big plate of marintaed, spiced lamb, accompanied with pita, hummus, cucumber salad, and a *small* lentil soup ($2.00, which, as you can see from the photo below, was by no means small). Meanwhile, Lindsay ordered a falafel sandwich ($3.75) and another small lentil soup. Total bill was less than $20 for two people, and we had way more food than we needed – we ended up taking about half of the food home for lunch later. Everything was very good, especially on the falafel front. Lindsay enjoyed hers, very delicious, fresh, and it comes in regular or spicy versions. It also has the characteristic green tint, provided by fresh herbs, that we appreciate.
One brilliant aspect of their business model is how they seamlessly integrate self-service into a sit-down restaurant concept. Everything seems made-to-order, but they have a salad bar There is also a salad bar where you can fill up a container with tabbouleh, baba ghanouj and other Middle Eastern favorites (oh, and salads…), as well as mounds of take-home containers for those who inevitably cannot finish their meals. Keeps costs down and portions big! We are totally smitten with Sultan’s Market, and will certainly be back. The menu at Sultan’s Market is so cheap, it is just a bonus that it is so good!
Eating The World 