IDOF

Chicago, United States

4

Open now

20 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards
Free Wi-Fi

Contacts

QR code, vCard

Telephone:
+1 773-672-2780
Website:
www.idof.com
Address:
851 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL, 60657
b/t Wilton Ave & Clark St
Lakeview
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
140 ftBelmont & Clark WB
200 ftClark & Belmont SB
240 ftClark & Belmont NB
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Bussiness info

Takes Reservations
No
Delivery
Yes
Take-out
Yes
Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Accepts Bitcoin
No
Good For
Lunch
Parking
Street
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
No
Wi-Fi
Free
Has TV
No
Dogs Allowed
No
Waiter Service
No
Caters
Yes

Today

Today 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
Open now
Local time (Chicago) 13:12 Wednesday, 2 July 2025

Business hours

Monday 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
Tuesday 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
Wednesday 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
Thursday 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
Friday 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
Saturday 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
Sunday 11:00 am – 10:00 pm

Description

Specialties

I Dream of Falafel relishes in bringing you quality ingredients highlighting ethnic recipes served fresh and fast. Customize your own vegan or shawarma meal, add a perfect side and chilled drink, and your dreams have come true!

Diverse, healthy, and affordable, create your own mirage in our urban oasis.

History

Established in 2009.

Established in 2009.

At I Dream of Falafel, we have created a unique concept of combining fresh, local, healthy ingredients to prepare delicious Mediterranean cuisine with great, quick service and at a price that is just right. Our food is prepared daily with the highest quality of fresh ingredients and is customizable to suit your dietary needs and taste buds. Our menu has something for everyone (vegan, gluten-​free, low-​fat, low-​carb, high protein) and provides a variety of slow cooked meats and vegetarian selections with an impressive level of taste you’ll be dreaming about.

All meats are always fresh, preservative-​free, hormone-​free, and free of additives. Our beef is premium AA sirloin, while our poultry is cage free and grain fed. Our menu offers an authentic, appetizing and healthy cuisine that is preservative-​free, hormone-​free and contains no trans-​fat.

I Dream of Falafel is devoted to bringing quality ingredients while highlighting authentic Mediterranean cuisines served f

Meet the Business Owner

Hassan N.

Business Owner

What’s our secret? It’s simple. Raw, fresh, healthy ingredients like 100% organic chickpeas. Honest, good food that just happens to be gluten-​free, vegetarian, and packed with protein. We know, we had you at chickpeas.

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Nearby

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1
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20 reviews of IDOF

No registration required
Place rating: 5
Des Plaines, IL
ZABIHA HALAL! :) We came here on a cold, blustery day after being tourists in our own city. It was about midday ans the place wasn’t packed but there were a few people having lunch.
I was here with 3 other family membera and we all ordered the wraps with different meats and toppings. I had the steak wrap and it was DELICIOUS. I was afraid it would be dry and rubbery. but it was sooo good… moist, perfectly seasoned and cooked. We also had falafel and it was amazing… idk about authenticity regarding «pressing it down». but having tasted it at legit Arab stands… it’s pretty damn close. Perhaps rhe difference is the lack of sweat and grime from the street. :)
Anyway, i’ve already been to the one in Oakbrook and food-​wise it’s the same deal. Very tasty and basically a fast-​food (but healthy!) version of Mediterranean food. Most of the stuff is organic and there’s vegan options too. The best part about this place is the cleanliness and the décor. There are wonderful wall murals and the place is casual but comfy.
Overall. great place to drop in for lunch. A much healthier and cleaner option than Subway/​Chipotle etc.
Place rating: 5
Evanston, IL
First time here. Mediterranean food is hot these days, it seems, and here is another Chipotle-​model. The chicken, chickpea/​quinoa salad and cucumber salad offered me plenty of flavor w/​o a ton of bready/​sugary carbs. Not too noisy, hip ambiance. I’ll be back!
Place rating: 4
Chicago, IL
Amazing. By far my favorite «fast food» like restaurant. The food is always high quality. I’ve never had a bad meal here yet! :)
Place rating: 2
Chicago, IL
I used to LOVE I Dream of Falafel … I ate there daily for lunch when it was located on Monroe downtown. However, while this location is all hip and modern, the food was gross and I felt terrible afterwards. The falafel in my dish was cold and tasteless, and all the other vegan items (on the vegan plate) were not very good. Flavor was lacking overall, and even the lentil soup was bad. Sadly, my love for IDOF has been lost.
Place rating: 2
Chicago, IL
First let me say that I am familiar with authentic Mediterranean restaurants, and already know what true middle eastern dishes taste like.
With that being said IDOF is like what Chipotle is to authentic Mexican food. Just not the real deal.
Don’t get me wrong the food had flavor, the staff was great but it just doesn’t do it for me. The falafel gets pressed flat (why?), the hummus tastes like it comes out of a container from the grocery store, the rice is no where near what true basmati rice tastes like, and the pita probably came off the shelf of a store. However the salads were not bad, but it’s pretty hard to mess up a salad right?
If you don’t mind an American take on Mediterranean food than by all means come here, but if you’re looking for food that tastes like its directly from the motherland I wouldn’t bother.
Place rating: 5
Schiller Park, IL
I went into IDOF because I had a freebie. It’s a nice clean, casual place. They have assembly line style ordering. The staff was helpful and friendly. I got a donor wrap with all kinds of yummy stuff inside. It was huge and the Joe Tea was very good (half and half). The music was great not too loud and the restroom was clean. Be prepared to take some home for later. Everything was inexpensive yet nicely done.
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
I am vegan and I love their vegan dream. It’s one of my favourite meals, lots of food, tasty and about $ 8. You get to choose Hummus or Baba Ganoujeh, and you get Falafels, Couscous, Chickpea-​Quinoa Salad, Cabbage Slaw, Tabouli
& Tahini Sauce.
Place rating: 4
Ann Arbor, MI
This place is great! The ordering system is done in an assembly line (like a Moe’s or a Chipotle): choose a wrap or a bowl or a plate, add a base, choose a protein, add toppings, choose a sauce.
My boyfriend ordered a falafel wrap and I ordered a falafel plate. We were both extremely pleased with the variety of items that we were able to include in our orders. The toppings salads were fresh and tasty. The servers were very friendly. When I couldn’t choose a sauce, the woman behind the counter gave me a sample of each one. Honestly they are all really good – my favorite was the IDOF hot sauce.
The food is delicious, the portions are large, and the price is more than reasonable.
The environment is very casual – an easy place to sit and enjoy lunch or to run in and grab a quick bite or something to go.
Check in on Unilocal for a free side of falafel!
Place rating: 4
Chicago, IL
Fast. Fresh. Friendly. IDOF. I wouldn’t necessarily say that I dream of falafel, but IDLTP (I Do Like This Place.). First thing that came to mind is a middle eastern variant of Chipotle. You first walk in and see a large, minimalist dining area. Menu is simple and broken down into wraps and plates. I opted for the wrap with steak shawerma along with a plethora of toppings. The steak was juicy and the ingredients were freshly prepared and assembled into my wrap. I liked the wrap a lot. It certainly didn’t leave me feeling heavy for the rest of the day. I will come back to try the plates and other toppings options.
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
This is a great place with a nice very casual atmosphere. The create your own plate option is a nice option because you can choose from a variety of dishes to make a giant salad with pita on the side.
The pita bread is fantastic with hummus. You are allowed to choose a protein and several sides and toppings. They also offer home made pita chips that are delicious. There are many more options than the typical Mediterranean spot.
I had the chicken shawarma which I will have again!
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
Nothing bad to say. Staff always pleasant. Above-​average portion size. Fresh ingredients. Tasty food. Clean. Nice décor. Windows open to the outside. Been here 4 – 5 times, not a bad meal in the bunch.
Sorry for the short review, but there really isn’t much more to it. For what this place is supposed to be, it does a 5-​star job.
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
There are many reasons I love this IDOF in particular (besides the amazing food). The interior design and finishes are impeccable, very clean, the staff is always cordial, AND the staff reflects the GLBTQ community. That is refreshing in itself.
Anyways– The Vegan Dream is a must try. Broaden your horizons beyond the meat… no pun intended to all of my fellow Boystown residents.
Place rating: 4
Chicago, IL
Rosa J. was having a «groupon» day with hubby. I Dream of Falafel (IDOF) was another one advertising themselves on groupon with their two (2)-person meal deal. I believe that I paid $ 8.50 at that time for $ 16 worth of food.
The friendly young lady briefly explained how the deal worked; we could choose one (1) among four (4) entrée formats: a wrap, a salad, a rice bowl, or a cyo (not quite sure what this was, so didn’t select this option). I chose one of the chef’s recommendations: Mediterranean chicken salad. On the other hand, hubby customized his wrap by adding some vegetarian-​friendly toppings and sauce.
Although the items on the chef’s recommendations menu are pre-​set, you can ask to remove some ingredients that you don’t like as well.
It was quick, clean, and delicious. They also have self-​service fountain drink station with some healthier options. I was glad that I didn’t need to stuck with an option of coke or Mountain Dew. I was able to have some unsweetened tea since I’m a passionate tea-​drinker.
The dining hall was spacious and relaxing. There are many comfy chairs and booths. They also have free wifi for patrons in the house.
I personally think what they offer is a good value for a quick-​lunch, even without a groupon. The location is also fabulous: CTA Belmont Brown-​Red-​Purple station is seconds away west to the restaurant; CTA buses 77 (Belmont) and 22 (Clark) are also readily accessible.
Place rating: 4
Chicago, IL
Super yummy Mediterranean food! Everything tastes fresh and not greasy or heavy. I got the chicken schwarma rice plate with the cabbage slaw, lettuce, onions and tzatziki. Also got tahini sauce.
I would come back here to fulfill my mediterranean craving. Wish they had pitas plates, though.
Place rating: 4
Normal, IL
LOVED it! The only downside for me was that many items were pretty bland and could’ve used more seasoning. The selections were great and LOVED the falafel’s. They were fluffy and fried perfectly.
I opted for a variety plate which comes with choice of 3 sides, a protein and a sauce. Excellent pricing for the variety, freshness/​quality of food you get.
Extra ½ of a pita is only $.25 — so recommend getting an extra.
Place rating: 4
Chicago, IL
My secret obsession is IDOF. I love this restaurant. Friendly people, a Unilocal check-​in special and excellent food make this my newest guilty pleasure. They offer a unique menu and experience. My usual is the CYO plate (create your own) which ends up being a lot of small sides and different meats. Skip the greasy, deep-​fried «artisan» pita chips and get the Kennebec potato chips if you want something crunchy.
Place rating: 2
Chicago, IL
The I Dream of Falafel locations have been trying to reboot as IDOF (sort of like IHOP??). Recently they had a coupon promotion for its location on Belmont just east of the CTA Brown/​Red/​Purple Line station, so I checked it out with my bud. The interior seemed quite spacious for a fast-​food operation.
We each ordered a «create your own» plate (CYO Plate). My selected protein was doner kebab, sort of like gyros-​style beef slices. Doner kebab is a Turkish-​style staple in places like Berlin, and actually my Thanksgiving meal many years ago in Berlin was a memorable doner kebab sandwich. Alas, this plate of doner kebab at IDOF was no match, flavorless and rubbery in texture. What was worse, the array of sides I ordered was equally flavorless (couscous, chickpea quinoa salad, cucumber and tomato, olives, tabouli), though nutritious I’m sure. I desperately tried to resuscitate the meat with splashes of tahini sauce, with minimal positive effect. The pita bread was the best part of the meal by default. My bud had chicken shawarma and supposedly the chicken was better. My IDOF plate was a far cry from delicious Mediterranean-​style mainstays like Roti and Naf Naf. I suppose I should have ordered some falafel as it is in the restaurant name (or is it??).
Place rating: 2
Chicago, IL
This place is really cute. This used to be the strange Japanese store that seemed to sell dust and empty hangers. Now it’s IDoF which is decked out Jetson’s style.
Sadly the food doesn’t match up to my passion of the décor. The menu is cute enough, perhaps I ordered the wrong thing? I ordered a kebab, I wasn’t expecting much as I was recently on vacation in Turkey, but well, you can get better at Gyromena. My kebab was lukewarm and not very filling. I also got a side of falafel which was actually good, it wasn’t greasy at all.
There are so many places to eat in this area of Belmont/​Sheffield/​Clark that this one just doesn’t stack up right now. Maybe in the future it will be better, but I’d rather go elsewhere.
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
Totally awesome. If you’re in the area for lunch, I would definitely check out IDOF. I recommend actually sitting inside because the interior is clean and quite modern. If you can’t sit in, order takeout or delivery and it’s 25% off your first order.
I got the rice plate with chicken schwarma. Sides of Tzatziki salad, Cucumber with tomato salad, Tabouli quinoa salad with the tahini sauce. As if that wasn’t enough food, I had to try their falafels too. Well, what can I say — ordering was so easy with it all being very Chipotle like but for Mediterranean food. All the ingredients are so fresh and tasty too. I was a very full and satisfied customer by the end of lunch.
The falafels are amazing. It rivals Pita Inn’s falafels to tell you the truth. I virtually loved everything on my plate but I have to especially point out the tzatziki salad which surprised me with how good it was. It is unexpectedly spicy which I loved.
The only kind of ehhh is that I wish they gave more meat. The chicken schwarma is not as dry as it looks so it’d be nice to have a bit more of that.
Place rating: 3
Chicago, IL
Don’t tell anyone, but I sometimes do dream of Falafel, all food for that matter.
If you work in the loop you are probably familiar with I dream of Falafel, but if not, in short it is a Mediterranean Chipoltle.
You can pick between a wrap $ 6.75, Create your own bowl, salad bowl or rice bowl which are all $ 7.90. They also have a few specialty Chef Inspired wraps.
They offer a choice of 4 proteins, falafel, chicken shwarma, Doner Kabab (beef) or steak shwarma for +$ 1 surcharge. With a lot of toppings including cucumber tomato salad, tablouli quinoa salad, tzatziki salad and pickles.
Today was free wrap day for their grand opening so I can’t complain, but honestly mine was just okay. I have to take partial blame because I think I should have chosen more flavor full toppings, but based on pictures online and my past experience the bowls seem to be a much better deal, my wrap was a little puney!
The falafel at the closed Monroe location were amazing, so I definitely recommend trying that!