Ema

Name: Ema
Address: 74 West Illinois Street, Chicago, IL, United States, 60654
Telephone: (312) 527-5586
Price range: $31 to $50
Rating: 4.7

4.7

3873 Reviews

$31 to $50

Mediterranean

Top Tags:

A Mediterranean & California-inspired restaurant featuring small plates & Chef CJ Jacobson's lighter style cooking in Chicago's River North.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Jun 3, 2023

11:00 PM

Booked 205 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

(312) 527-5586

Other options

Order online

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Cuisines
Mediterranean, Californian
Hours of operation
Lunch Mon–Fri 11:00 am–4:00 pm Brunch Sat, Sun 11:00 am–3:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 3:00 pm–11:00 pm Sun 3:00 pm–9:00 pm
Phone number
(312) 527-5586
Website
http://www.emachicago.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive chef
CJ Jacobson
Catering
Enjoy Ema Catering for your next event at home, in the office, or for your next celebration! Contact emaparties@leye.com for more information.
Private party facilities
The open and inviting dining room features reclaimed wood, rustic white brick and an indoor ivy terrace with operable windows. The dining room accommodates groups up to 150 guests and may be custom configured for your next family-style dinner, business lunch or cocktail reception event.

Location
74 West Illinois Street, Chicago, IL 60654
Neighborhood
River North (Chicago)
Cross street
Clark & Illinois
Parking details
Valet parking is located just east of Ema on Illinois Street at the Hyatt Place/Fairfield Inn valet. It costs $21 for 3 hours with validation, and increases to $45 after 3 hours.
Public transit
Red Line Stop at Grand / Blue Line Stop at Clark
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

Gift card

Send gift cards instantly by email or print to present in person.

Send a gift card

Popular dishes

Hummus$13.95
za'atar, vegetable crudité
Toasted Almond & Garlic$13.95
castelvetrano olives, fresh herbs
House-Made Labneh$13.95
spring pea & lentil salad, radish, mint, dill
Charred Eggplant$14.95
walnut, garden herbs, pomegranate molasses
Ginger Turmeric Labneh$15.95
spring onion salsa verde, sesame
Hummus w/ Lamb Ragu*$17.95
braised lamb, spicy harissa
Sampler$18.95
select 3: hummus, labneh, toasted almond & garlic, charred eggplant

Cold Mezze

Feta & Olives$12.95
marcona almonds, lemon zest, middle east spices
Ora King Salmon*$16.95
japanese sesame, shaved asparagus, radish, crispy shallot
House-Made Stracciatella$16.95
mighty vine tomatoes, sherry shallot vinaigrette, basil

Hot Mezze

Crispy Potatoes$11.95
mizithra, rosemary, scallion crema
Green Falafel$12.95
beet tzatziki, garlic tahini, dhania spice
Brussels Sprouts$13.95
crispy shallots, pumpkin seeds, sherry glaze
Pan-Roasted Romanesque Cauliflower$14.95
house yogurt, local honey

Salads

add green falafel $5.95, add roasted chicken $6.95, add ora king salmon $9.95

Greek Salad$13.95
romaine, tomatoes, cucumbers, feta, red peppers, dijon vinaigrette
Mediterranean Chopped$14.95
arugula, romaine, cauliflower, capers, dates, parmesan, olives, red peppers
Spring Greens w/ Roasted Sumac Chicken$16.95
roasted artichokes, asparagus

Kebabs

Grilled Halloumi$15.95
greek cheese, red onion, date, red zhoug
Chicken Kefta*$17.95
lemon, olive oil, tzatziki
Grilled Chicken*$18.95
yogurt marinade, sweet peppers, zhoug
Lamb & Beef Kefta*$18.95
lemon, olive oil, tzatziki
Faroe Island Salmon*$24.95
sweet peppers, red onions, lemon, olive oil, zhoug

Gluten-Free Dinner

served daily after 3:00PM

Spreads

served with gluten-free crackers

Hummus$13.95
za'atar, vegetable crudité
Toasted Almond & Garlic$13.95
castelvetrano olives, fresh herbs
House-Made Labneh$13.95
spring pea & lentil salad, radish, mint, dill
Charred Eggplant$14.95
walnuts, garden herbs, pomegranate molasses
Ginger Tumeric Labneh$15.95
spring onion salsa verde, sesame
Hummus w/ Lamb Ragu*$17.95
braised lamb, spicy harissa

Market Vegetables

Grilled Leeks$13.95
romesco sauce, piquillo, almond, roasted garlic, aleppo
Pan-Roasted Romanesque Cauliflower$14.95
house yogurt, local honey
Roasted Smoky Carrots$15.95
labneh, spiced dukkah, roasted garlic oil
Beets and Berries$15.95
strawberry harissa, charred avocado, crispy lentils, herbs

Raw

Ora King Salmon*$16.95
japanese sesame, shaved asparagus, radish, crispy shallot
Hamachi*$16.95
avocado, rhubarb, serrano, sesame, cilantro

Cold Mezze

Feta & Olives$13.95
marcona almonds, lemon zest, middle east spices
Greek Salad$14.95
romaine, tomatoes, cucumbers, feta, red peppers, dijon vinaigrette
House-Made Stracciatella$18.95
mighty vine tomatoes, sherry shallot vinaigrette, basil

Hot Mezze

Crispy Potatoes$11.95
mizithra, rosemary, scallion crema
Green Falafel$12.95
beet tzatziki, garlic tahini, dhania spice
Brussels Sprouts$13.95
crispy shallots, pumpkin seeds, sherry glaze
Spicy Toothpick Lamb$18.95
cumin, chilies, house yogurt

Seafood

Grilled Octopus*$24.95
calabrian chili conserva, fava bean masabacha, cara cara orange, piquillo
Grilled Branzino*$28.95
brown butter, ramps, caper, pine nut, charred lemon
Crispy Skin Seabass*$29.95
beluga lentils, black kale, medjool date, basil pistou

Kebabs

Grilled Halloumi$15.95
greek cheese, red onion, date, red zhoug
Chicken Kefta*$17.95
lemon, olive oil, tzatziki
Grilled Chicken*$18.95
yogurt marinade, sweet peppers, zhoug
Lamb & Beef Kefta*$18.95
lemon, olive oil, tzatziki
Faroe Island Salmon*$24.95
sweet peppers, red onions, lemon, olive oil, zhoug

Gluten-Free Brunch

Brunch

Soft Scrambled Eggs$13.95
sautéed mushrooms, parmesan cream, closed loop farm herbs
Kefta & Eggs$18.95
choice of: chicken or lamb & beef, fried eggs, cucumber & tomato salad, lemon dill rice
Lamb Shakshuka$18.95
baked egg, spicy harissa, gluten-free crackers

Spreads

served with gluten-free crackers

Hummus$13.95
za'atar, vegetable crudité
Toasted Almond & Garlic$13.95
castelvetrano olives, fresh herbs
House-Made Labneh$13.95
spring pea & lentil salad, radish, mint, dill
Charred Eggplant$14.95
walnuts, garden herbs, pomegranate molasses
Ginger Tumeric Labneh$15.95
spring onion salsa verde, sesame

Cold Mezze

Feta & Olives$13.95
marcona almonds, lemon zest, middle east spices
Greek Salad$14.95
romaine, tomatoes, cucumbers, feta, red peppers, dijon vinaigrette
Ora King Salmon*$16.95
japanese sesame, shaved asparagus, radish, crispy shallot
House-Made Stracciatella$18.95
mighty vine tomatoes, sherry shallot vinaigrette, basil

Hot Mezze

Crispy Potatoes$11.95
mizithra, rosemary, scallion crema
Green Falafel$12.95
beet tzatziki, garlic tahini, dhania spice
Brussels Sprouts$13.95
crispy shallots, pumpkin seeds, sherry glaze
Pan-Roasted Romanesque Cauliflower$14.95
house yogurt, local honey

Kebabs

Grilled Halloumi$15.95
greek cheese, red onion, date, red zhoug
Chicken Kefta*$17.95
lemon, olive oil, tzatziki
Grilled Chicken*$18.95
yogurt marinade, sweet peppers, zhoug
Lamb & Beef Kefta*$18.95
lemon, olive oil, tzatziki
Faroe Island Salmon*$24.95
sweet peppers, red onions, lemon, olive oil, zhoug

What 3,873 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7

4.7 based on recent ratings

4.7Food
4.4Service
4.6Ambience
4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Chicago / Illinois
Mediterranean
Chicago / Illinois
Most Booked
Chicago
Mediterranean
Chicago
Most Booked

Sort by

r
riley
Chicago
4 reviews
vip
3.0
4 reviews
Dined 2 days ago
overall3food4service3ambience3
The food and meal were good, but the table after us arrived early and they rushed us through the end of the meal to get it turned over, including taking away wine we hadn’t drunk yet.
CD
CrystalD
Chicago
3 reviews
3.0
3 reviews
Dined 2 days ago
overall3food5service2ambience5
I ordered my rations in true tapas style. Had four courses. My salad was last. To be spit per waitress’s suggestion was delivered to table across from me. Twenty minutes later waitress informs me my salad was delivered to wrong table. Too much time for waitress to notice mistake. Saving Grace fro-yo fridays next door was given to me by waitress with lit birthday candle. Way to turn a bad experience around. Wasn’t charged for salad either. P
PB
PeterB
Chicago
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined 3 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Fabulous from start to finish!
LC
LCANDFRIENDS
Dallas
3 reviews
vip
3.0
3 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
overall3food3service2ambience3
Usually love Lettuce restaurants, but this was a miss. Sat @ our table (w/res) for 15 min before being greeted. Food was quite bland IMO for Mediterranean…hummus had little flavor, cauliflower a bit better. Beef/lamb kebabs were tasty as was the seasoned pita. Just an ok meal for me.
LJ
LanceJ
Chicago
3 reviews
2.0
3 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
overall2food5service1ambience2
The service at this restaurant leaves something to be desired. The wait staff, the host, bartenders…they all require some additional training around how to treat their guests. I appreciate Manish and how he has helped correct the less than positive experience. The food, however, continues to exceed my expectations.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Chicago
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 5 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience4
Our server Mel really made my birthday experience amazing. She went above and beyond to make my night extra special. Staff was great you can really tell they love what they do. From someone who is middle eastern Food was shockingly PHENOMENAL! Lebneh was my favorite and the Branzino was to die for. Definitely Recommend this cute lil spot!
PM
PMH12
Chicago
9 reviews
vip
4.0
9 reviews
Dined 5 days ago
overall4food5service4ambience5
Overall good plates (octopus, hummus w/ lamb, falafel) but definitely can skip the cauliflower. Make sure to reiterate to your server to space the plates out because all of ours arrived very quickly and close to each other even after he said they’d be spaced out.
MJ
MJ13
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined 6 days ago
overall2food1service2ambience3
Food was below average. Hummus was very sour and salty. Chicken kefta was not fresh and has no taste
BK
BrinsleyK
Orlando
30 reviews
vip
5.0
30 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
overall5food5service4ambience5
We loved our food at Ema! Our favorites were the toothpick lamb and the falafel. Great cocktails. Beautiful ambience.
L
Lala
Chicago
29 reviews
vip
5.0
29 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Everything was delicious with great recommendations from our server!
OT
OpenTable Diner
Dallas
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined 7 days ago
overall3food5service1ambience5
Server ruined the whole experience- everything else phenomenal.
MA
MichaelA
London
6 reviews
vip
3.0
6 reviews
Dined on May 26, 2023
overall3food4service4ambience3
Love the food, music was too loud and manager wouldn’t turn it down.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Chicago
4 reviews
4.0
4 reviews
Dined on May 26, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience4
Food tasted good but not worth the money you’re spending. Nothing exceptional here. You can get the same quality and quantity elsewhere.
BF
BobF
San Francisco
28 reviews
vip
5.0
28 reviews
Dined on May 25, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
This is the third time that I have been here and the food is so consistently good it is amazing. For me one of the hardest things for a restaurant is to have consistently great food over time. Every dish was so flavorful and perfectly executed. I would definitely recommend it.
DS
DebraS
Chicago
3 reviews
3.0
3 reviews
Dined on May 23, 2023
overall3food3service2ambience3
Service was slow and tables aren't big enough to accommodate sharing
AB
AmyB
Chicago
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 23, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience5
Would definitely eat here again! Great good!
h
hyojinl
Hawaii
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 22, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
N
Nicky
Richmond
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 22, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We came here for a sunset Sunday dinner and sat outside. The food and drinks were delicious! It is an affordable, upscale restaurant. I would recommend it to a friend!
OT
OpenTable Diner
Chicago
1 review
vip
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 21, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food. Excellent service. Beautiful place with a nice ambiance
OT
OpenTable Diner
Houston
5 reviews
vip
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on May 21, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience2
The patio was lovely & very sunny. Food was delicious & the zero proof drinks were nice too.
M
Mizzougirl96
Chicago
42 reviews
vip
5.0
42 reviews
Dined on May 21, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The absolute best falafel and halloumi! We had the best time enjoying my friend's birthday here. The service was great. It was best and fun. And there's a great patio!
MW
MichaelW
Chicago
22 reviews
4.0
22 reviews
Dined on May 21, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience4
Very good food; all well prepared and seasoned; only glitch was Brussels sprouts served at very end of meal after other courses essentially gone; still tasted good but would have complemented other food if served at same time; thx
OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
16 reviews
5.0
16 reviews
Dined on May 20, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Everything we ordered was delicious; service was excellent.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Milwaukee
1 review
vip
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 20, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE. Went for a girls’ night dinner and had delicious shareable plates, cocktails and desserts. Can’t wait to go again!
OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 19, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience5
Our server was extremely friendly and attentive. Lots of veggie options! The portions were a great size for sharing - we ordered 5 plates for 3 people and finished them all. The asparagus and faro dish was amazingggg. Also ordered humus, the kebabs, and the cauliflower, which was just ok.
K
Kerry
Phoenix
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 19, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food was fabulous and the service top notch. A must eat.
SA
SeetalA
Chicago
5 reviews
vip
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on May 19, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food is delicious and feels healthy if that makes sense. Great selection for various preferences.
RV
RVAFoodie
Chicago
18 reviews
5.0
18 reviews
Dined on May 19, 2023
overall5food4service5ambience5
The service was great, as always. The menu is inventive and delicious. That said, it seems as though the prices of small plates is a bit high. All-in-all though, this is an automatic for me when I’m in Chicago.
VL
VictoriaL
Charleston
11 reviews
5.0
11 reviews
Dined on May 19, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
It was a great dinner. Loved the environment and our service was dope!
OT
OpenTable Diner
Detroit
3 reviews
vip
3.0
3 reviews
Dined on May 19, 2023
overall3food3service3ambience5
Took 20 minutes to bring us our drinks from when we ordered - cans of beers and empty glass. Appetizer arrived before our drinks.
A
Andrea
Montreal
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 18, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Ēma has the best falafel I've had outside of NYC and a great romanesco dish
OT
OpenTable Diner
Las Vegas
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 18, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
One of my favorite restaurants. Such a good vibe & the food is exquisite. Will be coming back often!
D
Dodo
Chicago
12 reviews
5.0
12 reviews
Dined on May 17, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent service. Chicken Kofka. Great cocktails.
ED
EllaD
New England
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on May 15, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great atmosphere and food!
OT
OpenTable Diner
Chicago
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 15, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Juan was an absolute outstanding waiter. Made our Mother’s Day Lunch unforgettable. Can’t wait to bring my boyfriend back for a pleasant date night.
D
Dangerus
Chicago
15 reviews
vip
3.0
15 reviews
Dined on May 14, 2023
overall3food4service3ambience3
We went for Brunch and food was very good , although we never got the cauliflower and caught that it was on our bill. That happens. Overall nice experience . I would recommend if someone is in the area and wanted a good Mediterranean brunch
g
gddo
Chicago
25 reviews
3.0
25 reviews
Dined on May 13, 2023
overall3food5service2ambience5
The food was really tasty, but the portions were teeny. My favorite was the Ora King Salmon. That was so delicious, but expensive and TINY. The kefta kebabs were good, but there was way too much rice. There should be less rice and perhaps a small bit of vegetables or hummus or something else instead. The falafels were very good. The House-Made Stracciatella was also very good but was basically like deconstructed caprese with croutons instead of Italian bread. The hummus was fairly standard but had delicious pita bread to go with it. Service was lacking, however. They never came to check on us at all. If we needed anything, we had to flag someone down.
CC
ClareC
Chicago
1 review
vip
3.0
1 review
Dined on May 12, 2023
overall3food5service2ambience5
Very slow service. Waitstaff was not apologetic at all about slow service
OT
OpenTable Diner
Atlanta Metro
3 reviews
4.0
3 reviews
Dined on May 12, 2023
overall4food5service4ambience5
Jen was a fantastic server and guide. Disappointed the restaurant forgot it was a special occasion for two birthdays-I made the reservation and specified this a month prior. Food was fantastic!!
AS
AndyS
Chicago
11 reviews
vip
4.0
11 reviews
Dined on May 12, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience4
Bird flying around the restaurant! Think the staff was a little too busy to notice.

Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing
- Surfaces sanitized between seatings
- Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
- Common areas deep-cleaned daily

Screening
- Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

You can order delivery directly from Ema using the Order Online button. Ema also offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (312) 527-5586.

Ema is rated 4.7 stars by 3873 OpenTable diners.

Ema does offer gift cards which you can purchase here.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Jun 3, 2023

11:00 PM

Booked 205 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

(312) 527-5586

Other options

Order online

74 West Illinois Street, Chicago, IL 60654

Additional information

Cross street
Clark & Illinois
Neighborhood
River North (Chicago)
Hours of operation
Lunch Mon–Fri 11:00 am–4:00 pm Brunch Sat, Sun 11:00 am–3:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 3:00 pm–11:00 pm Sun 3:00 pm–9:00 pm
Cuisines
Mediterranean, Californian
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Valet parking is located just east of Ema on Illinois Street at the Hyatt Place/Fairfield Inn valet. It costs $21 for 3 hours with validation, and increases to $45 after 3 hours.
Public transit
Red Line Stop at Grand / Blue Line Stop at Clark
Payment options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Executive chef
CJ Jacobson
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.emachicago.com/
Phone number
(312) 527-5586
Catering
Enjoy Ema Catering for your next event at home, in the office, or for your next celebration! Contact emaparties@leye.com for more information.
Private party facilities
The open and inviting dining room features reclaimed wood, rustic white brick and an indoor ivy terrace with operable windows. The dining room accommodates groups up to 150 guests and may be custom configured for your next family-style dinner, business lunch or cocktail reception event.

Featured in

Gift card

Send gift cards instantly by email or print to present in person.

Send a gift card

Ema

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

Other options

Additional information

50 Chicago Restaurants to Connect In For Mother's Day

Favorite Local Restaurants in Chicago

The Diner Reviews Are In: 100 Best Restaurants in America

Gift card

Lamb & Beef Kefta

Hummus w Lamb Ragu

Grilled Octopus

Gluten-Free Lunch

Spreads

Hummus$13.95

Toasted Almond & Garlic$13.95

House-Made Labneh$13.95

Charred Eggplant$14.95

Ginger Turmeric Labneh$15.95

Hummus w/ Lamb Ragu*$17.95

Sampler$18.95

Cold Mezze

Feta & Olives$12.95

Ora King Salmon*$16.95

House-Made Stracciatella$16.95

Hot Mezze

Crispy Potatoes$11.95

Green Falafel$12.95

Brussels Sprouts$13.95

Pan-Roasted Romanesque Cauliflower$14.95

Salads

Greek Salad$13.95

Mediterranean Chopped$14.95

Spring Greens w/ Roasted Sumac Chicken$16.95

Kebabs

Grilled Halloumi$15.95

Chicken Kefta*$17.95

Grilled Chicken*$18.95

Lamb & Beef Kefta*$18.95

Faroe Island Salmon*$24.95

Gluten-Free Dinner

Spreads

Hummus$13.95

Toasted Almond & Garlic$13.95

House-Made Labneh$13.95

Charred Eggplant$14.95

Ginger Tumeric Labneh$15.95

Hummus w/ Lamb Ragu*$17.95

Market Vegetables

Grilled Leeks$13.95

Pan-Roasted Romanesque Cauliflower$14.95

Roasted Smoky Carrots$15.95

Beets and Berries$15.95

Raw

Ora King Salmon*$16.95

Hamachi*$16.95

Cold Mezze

Feta & Olives$13.95

Greek Salad$14.95

House-Made Stracciatella$18.95

Hot Mezze

Crispy Potatoes$11.95

Green Falafel$12.95

Brussels Sprouts$13.95

Spicy Toothpick Lamb$18.95

Seafood

Grilled Octopus*$24.95

Grilled Branzino*$28.95

Crispy Skin Seabass*$29.95

Kebabs

Grilled Halloumi$15.95

Chicken Kefta*$17.95

Grilled Chicken*$18.95

Lamb & Beef Kefta*$18.95

Faroe Island Salmon*$24.95

Gluten-Free Brunch

Brunch

Soft Scrambled Eggs$13.95

Kefta & Eggs$18.95