Mediterranean small plates and spreads with fresh breads paired with regional wines in an airy surrounding.
At a glance
#71 of 240 Restaurants in Chicago #11 of 20 Mediterranean restaurants in ChicagoLocalGuideWorld score: 4.50
Rating breakdown
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5 ★68%
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4 ★21%
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3 ★6%
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2 ★2%
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1 ★3%
Quick facts
- What is the rating of Ema?
- Ema is rated 4.5 out of 5 based on 2,588 reviews.
- How does Ema rank in Chicago?
- Ema is #71 of 240 Restaurants in Chicago by LocalGuideWorld score (rating weighted by number of reviews).
- Where is Ema located?
- 74 W Illinois St, Chicago, IL 60654, United States — 1.3 km from the center of Chicago.
- How can I contact Ema?
- Phone: +1 312-527-5586 · Website: emachicago.com
Went for restaurant week! Although there are lots of tables, the music volume and configuration of those tables lended to a pleasant ambiance. Dare I say - we liked it better than aba?? Only missing the whipped feta! It’s all very similar food (if not the exact same). Really enjoyed it. Eggs were super creamy and too salty. I wouldn’t order that again, but there’s plenty more that I’d try.
First time visit, based on great reviews and recommendations from our hotel. Food is delicious, out of this world! Great presentation is a plus. Mediterranean Greek is my favorite. Great service, in a cozy, welcoming atmosphere. Would go back again. Highly recommend.
Amazing ambience and quick service. We ordered the charred eggplant and grilled halloumi, grilled eggplant is flavorful and the bread with it was fresh, the grilled flavor of the Halloumi was amazing, tasted fresh and perfectly cooked. However the accompanying rice tasted a bit undercooked. The quantity is good and fulfilling. I found the tables to be a bit cramped up and the restaurant had an odd rag odor when we entered, luckily we couldn’t smell the odor at our dining table. Also we were charged 3% surcharge, for just 2 people seems unreasonable.
I was absolutely blown away by everything we have ordered. Everything was a 10/10. My friend is celiac and our waiter gave us a dedicated gluten free menu. Everything we ordered was so flavorful and fresh - it was a shame we didn't have room to order more. The atmosphere and vibes were also emaculate and the staff attentive despite it being pretty busy. A really solid brunch/lunch spot for sure and I would 100% come back.
Gorgeous ambiance and terrific food! I can’t stop thinking about the charred eggplant dip. It is not what you would expect, truly whipped and creamy, but absolutely phenomenal. The grilled branzino may have been one of the best entrees I have ever had. It was so fresh and light.
Awesome location!!! So many delicious gluten free options, and they were super accommodating with my dairy free requests as well. They even brought out gluten free crackers to eat with the hummus, even though I hadn’t thought about ordering that (wasn’t even on the menu)- so thoughtful!! The salmon kebab with the rice was amazing, as was the Bhel Hummus (omg), the green beans were great and the falafel also very tasty. Felt like a lot of food for two people but we ate it all, of course!!! Service is awesome. Highly recommend!
First impression of this place is definitely the ambience! Super cozy and the food was amazing; Hummus was full of texture and the Lamb was cooked to perfection. Chicken skewers in combination with their tzatziki was fantastic! Highly recommend
Tasty food for a casual Mediterranean experience, but we aren’t dying to go back. Spicy lamb toothpicks were filled with flavor. Greek salad was nothing memorable, and heavy on the lettuce and lacking the rest of ingredients. Salmon kebab was also acceptable but lacked a unique flavor. Frozen Greek yogurt was delicious. Staff was super nice and the beer they recommended was just what we asked for.
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