NOK

I have been into Middle Eastern Cuisine for a long time, I generally am not a fan of the quick serve places (I do NOT care for Pita Inn or Naf Naf) but frequent more authentic places like Reza’s, Afghan Kabob and Detroit Kabob,
NOK is a a tad slower than quick serve because everything is made fresh. They serve high quality Middle eastern food and have killer weekday specials. They do not have an expansive menu, but what they do they do very well.
The food is on-​point and the hot components are served hot and cold components are cold and fresh (no brown lettuce).
Also, it is probably the healthiest way to get a great lunch on the north-​side if you want more than a salad. The chicken dishes are moist and delicious and they many healthy apps.
The one improvement I could see if them adding a vegetarian meal, I mean you can get the falafel plate or build a meal from veggie apps, but it would be nice to see a mean with multiple veggie components.
A great place for a satisfying meal!

Knock knock.
Who’s there?
NOK NOK.
NOK NOK who?
NOK NOK is one of the best meals for under $ 10 you’ll get anywhere in Chicago.
The Joujeh Plate is deliciously marinated chicken breast, a side salad, and rice for only $ 7.95. That Persian Lamb plate with the same sides? $ 9.95 and the meat is fall off the bone. Knock Knock jokes never lie.
Very friendly service and free board game entertainment as well. Noon O Kabab is an inexpensive date that doesn’t cheap out.

Oh my gosh.
This place is sooooo good. I got the hummus and a falafel wrap. Hands down. Best hummus and wrap ever. The hot sauce is delicious too. I just moved in the hood so i will be back!!!

Great place! Amazing salads (that could make 2 meals), the best lamb shank in town. And such a great service. Always with a smile.

My Persian friend first brought me here more than a few years ago. I was new to Persian food & he said this is the place to go.
This place opened my eyes to their way of cooking meats & roasted veggies. The spices & care put into the dishes really made me appreciate middle eastern food.
I’ve tried everything from the babaghanoush, koubideh ground beef, chunks of sirloin steak, & cubes of chicken. Everything came out tender & juicy. The rice had a nice saphron spice on it that blended all the flavors together, also nice & al dente. I loveed the side of tomatoes & onions, the fact they char grilled them brought out their natural sweetness even more.
The prices are so decent & the new location is easy to get to. I wish to try some desserts next time!

After being on a three month hiatus due to a job relocation, I can’t tell you how happy I was to be back at N.O.K. Unfortunately since my last visit the customer service and quality in food has substantially deceased.
I called in to place my regular lunch special pick up order. To my surprise I was a bit taken a back when the female who answered the phone said «hello what do you want? At first I was initially confused, did I dial the wrong number? Who answers the phone without even stating the business name??? I should have hung up, but instead I asked her if this was N.o.k. She said, «yea what do you want»??? In my book of common courtesy she already receives a F for horrible phone skills.
I placed my order and not only did she not ask for my name but she did not tell me my price total or how long the wait would be. I let this slide and decided to show up 15 minutes after placing my order. I show up and not only is it completely empty, but my order is not ready. Shocking…
Upon entering I received crap customer service. I didn’t get a hello or a smile, instead I got a «do you need something»? Ummmmmm yes, «my food that I called in for a pick up «was my answer. After 10 minutes of waiting she coldly grabs my food from behind the counter. I immediately inspect the food by opening up the box and what do you know??? No pita bread, side salad, or complimentary sauces that are ALWAYS given. Not only that but the food looks like it was literally tossed into the white styrofoam box. «Yuck». Presentation is the key to success.
Of course I ask for all the sides that are missing and she couldn’t have looked anymore confused. It was as if she didn’t understand a word I was saying. It was truly one of the most bizarre food ordering experiences I have ever encountered. Really disappointed in N.o.K. Also, as if the service didn’t suck enough the food was totally under cooked. The most edible thing was the rice. I threw almost all of the food out. Sooooo disappointed in N.o.k. Will not return regardless of the fact I live 2 blocks away. Save you’re time and money and go to Pita Inn in Park Ridge!!! You won’t be let down.

This place is a great addition to the Gladstone park neighborhood. Staff was friendly and professional. Man at the front gave me a comp hot tea! Nice gesture for sure. Lentil soup came out hot and was flavorful. I would highly recommend for a quick lunch or a family dinner. Added bonus It byob too!

Great place in a good location. The décor is updated and the place is always clean and inviting. They have a bunch of board games you can play as well as a charging station which is awesome! Some of the female cashiers are a little strange but the male cashier was very respectful and helpful. The food is always ready on time!
The food is fresh and tasty all the time but sometimes my Koubideh is a little charred on the bottom but always full of spices and yummy.
The lunch special deal is outstanding for such a large portion! It’s only about 5.95 monday-​friday and it comes with your choice of meat, your choice of rice and some grilled veggies and pita bread!

The lunch special is definitely what gained my attention. For $ 5.95 (without tax) you get chicken, beef, falafel, rice and salad.
Since I don’t eat meat I asked if I could instead receive more falafel. I was told no by the cashier and ended up paying more for a separate order of falafel. I took a seat and then overheard a different cashier tell the one that took my order that I do in fact receive extra falafel in substitution of meat. Yes this little mix up was annoying, but I’m guessing the first cashier was new. I also added a small order of hummus which came with pita for a grand total of $ 12. Not incredibly expensive, but it would’ve been a few bucks cheaper if not for the mix up. (Who doesn’t love to save money?)
The rice and hummus was good, the falafel lacked in flavor, and the salad was basic. Overall I feel that my purchase was worth it, and even have enough food left over for dinner.
To my non meat eaters, just make sure you clarify what items you get extra before paying for them, especially if you are substituting meat.

It gets even better. You can’t beat the lunch special.
I can’t recommend this place more. If your cheap, (yes, I’m talking about you) or you want a great meal, fresh food, delicious food in a pleasant atmosphere that’s BYOB, check out this place for a great Middle Eastern food delight.
Listen or «I kill you.»!!

This place has bomb lamb shank!!! It falls off the bone and is so tender. The price was around $ 13 – which is an amazing price for lamb shank. Nok also serves a healthy potion of basmati rice and carrots which is also delicious. Also, if you want to relax after or before dinner there’s a variety of board games which my girlfriend and I had fun with.

We’ve eaten here 3 or 4 times now. Slightly better preparation and plating than similar restaurants on the north side. Pleasant atmosphere. I do tend to think that their dishes can be a touch bland, but my wife disagrees;)
Overall recommended, and the lunch specials are a good value.

N.O.K. Fine Persian Food @ the intersection of Elston & Milwaukee Ave. I live about 1 ½ miles from here and have driven by many times. This is the first time I have stopped in.
The food is ok, but nothing exceptional. The special comes with chicken (which was delicious), beef kifta (ehh tasted like hamburger, no seasoning to differentiate the flavor, persian rice, salad & falafel. The falafel was kind of different then any falafel I had before. It was fried and crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, but lacked seasoning.

Unlike Noon O Kabob, which is the sister restaurant to N.O.K., there is no table service. You order at the counter and then take a pick of seats. Playing it safe, I ordered the joujeh plate for a main dish and bamieh with Persian tea for the finale. The joujeh were tender cubes of chicken breast served over Persian rice with salad. Each bite was an explosion thanks to the chicken being juicy, but without being undercooked. The bamieh were little doughnuts that had been accented with honey, very rich, and extremely delectable. Accompanied with a glass of Persian tea, they were perfect as a wrap-​up for a Saturday afternoon lunch.

The food is Persian, so do not let that turn you away if you are afraid of ethnic foods. Everything you order will always be delicious.
The food here is always delightful every time that I have visited. Fresh tasting.
The staff is always great full to help you if you have any questions.
The place is always kept clean.
I would definitely recommend this place for anyone who is visiting the neighborhood.

We used to frequent their other restaurant on Kedzie, but this location is closer and the dining experience is more relaxed. I think the prices are cheaper here, but the quality and taste remain very good and it’s prepared in just 5 or so minutes.
My favorite dish is the Chenjeh and I always order their hummus. I wish they had more hot sauce or at least had it easier to get. I feel like bit of a mooch when I need to ask for more hot sauce.
If you’re looking for Persian food you can’t really go wrong here.

First time eating at this Persian restaurant… The menu was very detailed with descriptions and pics. The food was phenomenal! We got the combo plates of marinated choice tenderloin steak and koubideh plate,
joujeh koubideh plate, and the salmon plate and pomegranite chicken wings. Service was good. Oh the chairs were comfy and they have a table with some board games to pass the time while waiting!

Great place for lunch ($ 5.95 lunch specials) and dinner. Plus it’s BYOB. Had the chicken and seasoned ground sirloin (koubidech). Also tried the falafel and i found it a bit dry.
Did love the hot Persian tea on a nice brisk day. Would come back for sure.

How is it that I check-​in here more than anywhere else and I’ve reviewed? Well, I cannot begin to tell yoy how excited I was when NOK opened! My favorite place to get my Persian on is Noon O Kabob, in Albany Park, and they open up a quick service place in Gladstone, 15 minutes from my ‘hood… it doesn’t get any better than that!
It’s an abbreviated menu compared to their full service restaurant, but the food is fabulous, as is the service. We have never had any problems with the food, the staff or the owners.
BEST HUMMUS! (Check-​in on Unilocal!for a free appetizer too!) My daughter doesn’t even like hummus and eats it at NOK. Husband and daughter love the Dolmeh too.
Cannot beat their koubideh! Perfect rice!
Love their baklava too!
Will keep coming back because it’s a great deal for great quality food!

I gave this place 5 stars because the taste and value truly deserves 5 stars. Now this isn’t a Michelin grade ambiance but my goodness, the food is AMAZING! I know I can be a little cheap giving out really high grades in my reviews but see for yourself!
Must HAVE: chicken kabob– juicy, lots of flavor, tender. Beef kabob– perfectly spiced and juicy. The mix of regular and dill rice is superb too. Side salad— awesome dressing. Not too tangy. $ 5.95 for the lunch special that includes everything I mentioned on the Must have gives this place 5 stars. The cashier was friendly, the food came out very fast and fresh AND it’s a clean place. This place is a HOME RUN!
Skip: baba ghanoush was ok. I’ll try the wings the next time I go back =)