The Best Places to Eat and Stay in Niles
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The best places to eat and stay in Niles, according to the experts: The New York Times has weighed in, and their honors are what rank this list. Kouklas Greek Eatery comes out on top.
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The flaming saganaki arrives tableside, and in Niles, Illinois, that feels correct and necessary. Kouklas is a big, boisterous Greek eatery in Chicago's inner-ring suburbs, with a menu to match: wood-fire grilled octopus, spicy tirokafteri, souvlaki, and a Greek salad that makes you wonder about the lamb's provenance. The New York Times put it on their 2026 Restaurant List, which tracks for a place this mission-driven about making suburban Greek food something people drive for.
The awards
- The New York Times The New York Times: 2026 · The Restaurant List
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Rank 2. Al Bawadi Grill
Middle Eastern
Colorful fabric drapes the ceiling like a Bedouin tent, and the smell of mesquite smoke hits you before you find a table. Al Bawadi is a sprawling Middle Eastern grill in Niles where the portions arrive on banquet platters, hummus and rice piled high enough to guarantee tomorrow's lunch. Kefta, kebabs, lamb, chicken, seafood, all over hardwood. The New York Times put it on their list of the 25 best restaurants in Chicago right now.
The awards
- The New York Times The New York Times: The 25 Best Restaurants in Chicago Right Now