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Sayat Nova

Cuisine: European, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern

Price: $$

10Best Says

Armenian eats that can't be beat keep locals lining up at this East Ohio Street gem. The prices are just as good as the food and make for a great value, especially for midday diners. Kebabs, chops, baba ganouj, and hummus are just a few of the house specialties that await guests. Twice a month, DJs spin tunes, turning the unassuming eatery into a popular nightspot. A full bar serves bottled beer and wine.

Address:

157 E Ohio St
Chicago, IL 60611
312-644-9159

Hours:

Mon-Sat: 11:30am-10pm
Sun: 3pm-9pm

Website:

sayatnovachicago.com

Lunch
- Main
  
  Lulla Kebab
  
  Pita sandwich stuffed with char-broiled ground beef and lamb, sliced onions and tomatoes. Served with rice pilaf and green salad. ($10.95)
  
  Combination #2
  
  Stuffed eggplant, plaki, and boereg served with house green salad. ($10.95)
  
  Combination #3
  
  Sarma, stuffed eggplant, taboule and green salad. ($10.95)
  
  Vegetarian Combo
  
  Cheese or spinach boereg, taboule, Plaki, rice and house salad. ($10.95)
  
  Kibbee
  
  Fresh ground lamb mixed with cracked wheat stuffed with meat and spices, then baked. Served with jajic and house green salad. ($10.95)
  
  Trout with Fine Herb
  
  A fresh whole trout deboned and stuffed with dill, cilantro, scallions and parsley. Lightly char-broiled and napped with fine herbs, lemon juice and olive oil. Served with rice pilaf. ($15.95)
  
  Chicken Legs and Thighs
  
  Chicken legs marinated in lemon juice, garlic and olive oil. Char-broiled and served with rice pilaf and red cabbage. ($10.95)
  
  Sauteed Chicken
  
  Marinated boneless breast of chicken sautéed with green peppers and onions. Served with rice pilaf. ($11.95)
  
  Sauteed Lamb
  
  Bite-sized pieces of tender lamb lightly sautéed with onions, green peppers and tomatoes. Served with rice pilaf. ($13.95)
  
  Shish Kebab
  
  Cubed leg of lamb char-broiled to perfection, served with rice pilaf and garnished with pepper and tomato. ($13.95)
  
  Kebab Combo
  
  Three pieces of beef kebab and 3 pieces of chicken kebab char-broiled. Served with rice pilaf and garnished with pepper and tomato. ($13.95)
  
  Chicken Kebab
  
  Marinated cubes of boneless, skinless chicken breast char-broiled. Served rice pilaf and garnished with pepper and tomato. ($12.95)
  
  Lamb Chops
  
  Three tender lamb chops broiled to your taste. Choice of soup or salad. Served rice pilaf and garnished with pepper and tomato. ($28.95)
  
  Shrimp Kebab
  
  Fresh jumbo shrimp char-broiled. Your choice of soup or salad. Served with rice pilaf and garnished with pepper and tomato. ($18.95)
  
  Sauteed Shrimp
  
  Fresh jumbo shrimp sautéed with onions, green peppers and garlic. Your choice of soup or salad. ($18.95)
  
  New York Strip Steak
  
  Prime beef char-broiled to your taste. Your choice of soup or salad. Served with rice pilaf and garnished with pepper and tomato ($20.95)
  
  Shawerma Plate
  
  Marinated beef fillet char-broiled with pickled turnips and tahini. Served with rice pilaf and red cabbage salad. ($12.95)
  
  Beef Kebab
  
  Marinated fillet of beef cubes char-broiled. Served with rice pilaf and garnished with pepper and tomato. ($14.95)
  
  Vegetable Kebab
  
  Marinated onions, peppers, tomatoes, zucchini and eggplant char-broiled. Served with rice pilaf. ($10.95)
  
  Chicken Kebab Sandwich
  
  Marinated boneless, skinless chicken breast cradled in hot pita. Served with rice pilaf. ($10.95)
Dinner
- Served Cold
  
  Hummus
  
  Our special chick pea dip - a delicate blend of tahini, fresh lemon juice and garlic, garnished with a splash of olive oil and parsley. ($5.50)
  
  Raw Kibbee
  
  Armenian steak tartar - fresh lean beef ground with cracked wheat and delicate spices, topped with onions, parsley, tomatoes and light olive oil. ($10.50)
  
  Labneh
  
  "Farmer's cheese" dip of creamy strained yogurt topped with fresh mint and olive oil. ($5.50)
  
  Baba Ghannouj
  
  Smoked eggplant dip - a tasty blend of tahini, fresh lemon juice and garlic, garnished with a splash of olive oil. ($5.50)
  
  Yalanchi Sarma
  
  Vegetarian grape leaves stuffed with rice, chick peas, pine nuts, onions and tomatoes and cooked in olive oil. Served with a fresh lemon wedge. ($5.50)
  
  Vegetarian Eggplant
  
  Plump eggplant fried in olive oil then topped with sautéed peppers and onions. ($5.50)
  
  Armenian Spinach
  
  Spinach lightly sautéed in olive oil and onions. Served chilled with a fresh lemon wedge. ($5.50)
  
  Olives & Cheese
  
  Assortment of marinated olives & Armenian String Cheese. ($5.50)
- Served Hot
  
  Cheese Boereg
  
  2 flaky philo triangles stuffed with delicate cheeses and green onions then baked to a golden brown. ($7.50)
  
  Spinach Boereg
  
  2 cheese boereg philo triangles with fresh sautéed spinach. ($7.50)
  
  Red Lentil Soup
  
  An Armenian favorite. A hearty mixture of red lentils, onions, carrots and celery served piping hot. ($4.50)
  
  Lamajoun
  
  Baked Armenian thin-crust pizza topped with savory ground beef, minced onions, peppers, tomatoes and spices. ($6.50)
  
  Plaki
  
  Great northern beans and sautéed onions are slowly simmered in a light tomato and olive oil sauce. ($5.50)
  
  Sarma
  
  Tender grape leaves stuffed with minced lamb, vegetables and spices, cooked in a light garlic sauce. ($5.50)
  
  Stuffed Eggplant
  
  Plump eggplant stuffed with ground lamb, green peppers, tomatoes and garlic, baked in a light tomato sauce. ($5.50)
  
  Rice Pilaf
  
  A traditional favorite with delicate seasonings. ($4.50)
  
  Mezza Sampler
  
  Choose 3, Hommos, Labneh, Baba Ghannouj, Armenian Spinach, Plaki, Taboule, Jajic, Sarma, Yalanchi Sarma, Red Cabbage & Tourshee. ($10.50)
- Salads
  
  Taboule
  
  A refreshingly light salad of diced tomatoes, green onions, cracked wheat and parsley dressed with fresh lemon and olive oil. ($5.50)
  
  Jajic
  
  Creamy garlic yogurt mixed with crisp cucumbers and mint. ($5.50)
  
  Red Cabbage
  
  An Our house specialty of thinly sliced red cabbage marinated in a lemon vinaigrette. ($4.50)
  
  Tourshee
  
  A tangy assortment of pickled vegetables. ($4.50)
  
  House Salad
  
  A crisp mixture of greens dressed with mint vinaigrette. ($4.50)
- Kebabs
  
  Shish Kebab
  
  Tender cubes of leg of lamb char-broiled to perfection. ($18.95)
  
  Beef Kebab
  
  Cubed fillet of beef marinated, then char-broiled. ($19.95)
  
  Chicken Kebab
  
  Marinated boneless skinless chicken breast char-broiled until tender. ($16.95)
  
  Lulla kebab
  
  A delicious combination of lean ground beef and lamb mixed with parsley, onions and aromatic spices, then char-broiled. ($17.95)
  
  Shrimp Kebab
  
  Fresh jumbo shrimp char-broiled to perfection. ($19.95)
  
  Vegetable Kebab
  
  Char-broiled chunks of marinated onions, mushrooms, peppers, tomatoes, zucchini and eggplant. Served with basmanti rice. ($15.95)
- Mixed Grill Kebabs
  
  Kebab Combo
  
  A tasty combination of char-broiled beef, chicken and lulla kebabs. ($17.95)
  
  Chicken, Shrimp Kebab.
  
  Served with rice pilaf and garnished with pepper & onion ($18.95)
  
  Lamb, Shrimp Kebab
  
  Served with rice pilaf and garnished with pepper & onion. ($19.95)
- Cous Cous
  
  Lamb Cous Cous
  
  A traditional North African dish of tender lamb, fresh vegetables and steamed semolina, cooked in a light tomato broth and served with our special hot sauce. ($18.95)
  
  Chicken Cous Cous
  
  Boneless, skinless chicken breast char-broiled and served over a bed of steamed semolina. Accompanied by fresh sautéed spinach in a light tomato sauce. ($17.95)
  
  Vegetable Cous Cous
  
  Assorted fresh vegetables and steamed semolina gently cooked in a light tomato sauce. Served with our special hot sauce. ($16.95)
- Specialties
  
  Sarma Dinner
  
  Meat-filled or vegetarian grape leaves cooked in a light garlic sauce served with your choice of vegetarian stuffed eggplant or meat stuffed eggplant. ($16.95)
  
  Kufta Dinner
  
  Armenian-style meatballs stuffed with tasty diced lamb and spice filling. Served in a hot yogurt mint soup. ($17.95)
  
  Armenian Combo
  
  A generous serving of sarma, boereg, kufta and eggplant. ($16.95)
  
  Vegetarian Combo
  
  A delicious combination of spinach boereg, taboule, rice, hot plaki and Armenian spinach. ($16.95)
- Classics With Armenian Flavor
  
  Sauteed Shrimp
  
  Fresh jumbo shrimp sautéed with onions, green peppers and garlic. Served with rice pilaf. ($19.95)
  
  Trout with Fine Herbs
  
  A fresh whole trout deboned and stuffed with dill, cilantro, scallions and parsley. Lightly char-broiled and napped with fine herbs, lemon juice and olive oil. Served with rice pilaf. ($19.95)
  
  Lamb Chops
  
  Three tender young lamb chops char-broiled to taste. Served with rice pilaf and garnished with pepper & onion. The finest in Chicago. ($28.95)
  
  Sauteed Lamb
  
  Bite-sized pieces of tender lamb lightly sautéed with onions, green peppers and tomatoes. Served with rice pilaf. ($18.95)
  
  Sauteed Chicken
  
  Boneless, skinless chicken breast of chicken marinated and sautéed with green peppers and onions. Served with rice pilaf. ($16.95)
  
  Chicken Topped with Spinach & Cheese
  
  A boneless breast of chicken char-broiled and topped with spinach and cheese. Served with rice pilaf, garnished with pepper & onion. ($16.95)
  
  New York Strip Steak
  
  Our prime strip steak char-broiled to order. Served with rice pilaf and garnished with pepper & onion. ($20.95)
Dessert
- Desserts
  
  Paklava
  
  Rich philo pastry with either pistachio or walnut filling. ($4.00)
  
  Mahalabeya
  
  Milk custard pudding accompanied by a light syrup and walnut topping. ($5.00)
  
  Knafi
  
  Delicate shredded philo with a creamy custard filling. ($5.00)
  
  Chocolate Mousse Cake
  
  Silky, chocolate mousse with a chocolate crumb crust and whipped cream topping. ($5.00)
  
  Raspberry Cheesecake
  
  Raspberry cheesecake with a graham cracker crust and whipped cream topping. ($5.00)
- Loose Leaf Tea Service
  
  Pomegranate
  
  RRich infusion blends the delicate, nectar-like flavor of White Tea with the sweet-tart punch of California pomegranates. ($3.00)
  
  Ginger Peach
  
  MPeach, ginger and rare white tea. ($3.00)
  
  Black Currant
  
  A strong lightly sweet black tea with hint of currant. ($3.00)
  
  Green Sencha
  
  Traditional Japanese Sencha Green Tea infused with Matcha. ($3.00)
  
  Armenian Mint
  
  Bold, refreshing flavor - a perfect complement to the end of a meal. ($3.00)
- Other After Dinner Treats
  
  Armenian Coffee
  
  Strong, dark, double roasted coffee served with grounds. ($3.00)
  
  Armenian Coffee Martini
  
  Blend of Vanilla Vodka, Govida Chocolate, chilled with our Armenian coffee. ($11.00)
  
  Mint Chocolate Chip Martini
  
  Chilled mint and chocolate liqueur, with whip cream and chocolate chip top. ($9.00)

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