Clients reviews about Serai Cafe & Deli

I recently visited Serai Café & Deli and was seriously impressed. The mocktails deserve real praise — they’re thoughtfully crafted, well-balanced, and genuinely enjoyable. Not just “nice for a non-alcoholic option,” but actually something you’d come back for. And the sandwiches? All hits, no misses. Fresh ingredients, generous portions, and flavors that clearly weren’t rushed. Whether you’re in the mood for something classic or a little more elevated, everything we tried was solid across the board. On top of that, the space is warm and welcoming, and the staff is friendly without hovering. Serai feels like a new neighborhood gem in the making — the kind of place you casually stop into once and then keep thinking about. I’ll definitely be back and can’t wait to see this place take off. ~ Saleem K

I had the absolute best experience at Serai Cafe. It’s officially my new favorite spot!!! The service was top notch, and everything I tried was absolutely delicious 😋 Here’s what I tried 👇🏻 🍔 The Thinker Serai Burger 🥪 Reuben Sandwich 🥪 Turkey Pesto Panini 🥪 Chicken Pesto Panini 🥪 Caprese Panini (Veggie) ☕️ Iced Macchiato 🌸 Lavender Mint Mocktail 🥭 Mango Refresher Every item was bursting with flavor. You can truly taste the freshness and quality in every bite. I honestly loved all of their food items and oh my gosh don’t get me started on their drinks. The lavendar mint mocktail is just the best mocktail I’ve ever had! I really loved their iced macchiato too. This spot is definitely a must visit for anyone in or visiting Chicago and the best part is that it’s halal!! ~ Sehrish

Hands down the ONLY halal deli sandwich spot in the Chicagoland area that truly gets everything right. From the moment you walk in, you can feel the care and passion behind this place. The owner is genuinely amazing, welcoming, kind, and clearly invested in making sure every customer has a great experience. The prices are very reasonable, especially for the quality and portion sizes you’re getting. The food is outstanding, fresh, flavorful, and made perfectly every time. On top of that, the refreshers and mocktails are next-level, easily some of the best I’ve had anywhere. This spot fills a huge gap for halal food lovers and absolutely delivers. Highly recommend supporting this gem, you won’t be disappointed! ~ Mubashir K

Great restaurant! Despite being a new spot, they’re already delivering amazing food that I highly recommend trying. The service is absolutely top-notch – attentive and friendly staff who make you feel welcome. The restaurant maintains a very clean and inviting atmosphere that adds to the overall dining experience. What really stands out is the quality of their meat – you can taste the difference. As someone who appreciates halal options, I’m glad to confirm all their meat is halal certified. Honestly, I’ve never really seen a halal deli sub restaurant before, which makes this place very unique and interesting within the halal food scene. It’s refreshing to see this kind of variety and creativity. Whether you’re looking for a new go-to spot or just want to try something fresh in the area, this place won’t disappoint. ~ Musti M

I stopped by this new halal deli and was seriously impressed. The food was outstanding — I tried the smash burger, the reuben, and a deli sub, and each one was packed with flavor and made with care. The smash burger had that perfect crust and juiciness, the reuben was hearty and satisfying, and the deli sub was fresh with great balance in every bite. I also tried both the hot and iced coffee — both were smooth, rich, and a perfect match with the food. On top of that, the service was excellent — friendly, quick, and welcoming, which made the whole experience even better. It’s not easy to find a spot that nails both the food and the atmosphere, but this place definitely does. Highly recommend checking it out — I’ll definitely be back! ~ Umer G

I received excellent customer service at Serai. The entire team was very welcoming. Serai burgers were made with just the right amount of sauce and juicy patties. I also tried chicken panini that had a unique recipe and a distinct taste. I couldn’t resist their freshly brewed coffee with a smooth and rich texture. I have been to a lot of burger places but honestly , this place has quickly taken the number one rank on my list. Excitingly, they also deliver via Uber Eats, as well via Toast making it very convenient to order my food especially after a long and hard day’s work. The word is that they have had a soft opening recently. Not a day goes by that I don’t wish for the grand opening to occur and more exciting options on the menu! ~ Masuma K

This place is just excellent. I had previously tried the pesto panini and today had the Signature Sub (I think that’s what it was called) - it was awesome. Far and away best sandwich in the area at the VERY least. Service is awesome. Place is very clean. Prices are very, very reasonable for the quality. This place is well on its way to becoming a neighborhood staple in Lincoln Park. My only suggestions: list the ingredients on the menu for the signature sub (more people would be inclined to order it, and everyone has gotta try it) and play the music just a little bit louder inside. Fantastic place. Highly recommend and I will certainly be back. ~ Ryan D

Had a really great experience here. The owner is ridiculously kind and had us try two desserts that aren’t on the menu yet but will be soon! The pineapple dessert was phenomenal, warm and gooey perfect for a cold night. And the biscoff cheesecake was also great, sweet but not too sweet. We also got the lavender mint mocktail, again so good would come back for it! The owner was telling us how refreshers traditionally have caffeine and he makes sure that his refreshers have caffeine. You can tell he was really passionate about his craft and open to feedback, the staff was very kind, and the place was clean. Would definitely recommend this place! ~ SJ

Serài is an amazing cafe/deli, plus it’s zabiha halal which is great for the area. Very friendly customer service and the atmosphere is very chill and comfortable. The coffee is superb with a very robust and distinct aroma and taste, I drink black coffee and it’s very hard to come by good coffee, their pistachio espresso is particularly great and definitely a must as well even though I’m not the biggest fan of flavored coffee. The pastrami sandwich and hamburger are some of the best I’ve tried in a while as well, not too bland with some very exquisite flavors and just right amount of spices. I also ordered the pineapple upside down cake, and it was amazing!! The cake was moist and the vanilla ice cream on top was gooey but still cold. The pineapples tasted warm and comforting. I also ordered the Biscoff cheesecake and Nutella cheesecake and those two were really tasty as well. ~ Muhammad

Decided to have a team dinner here after an event and we were all blown away by the quality and flavor of Serai cafe & Deli. Not only was the entire staff kind and hospitable they were incredibly knowledgeable about the entire menu and were able to quickly answer any questions/ offer advice to fit our needs. The space was cute and cozy - perfect for us to recap after a busy event day and recharge our social Battery. As a team we could tell that the menu and ingredients were very intentional! It was so great to hear how all buns/ breads are locally sourced from a bakery. Produce was intentionally selected, and Meats were halal. Cant wait to revisit! ~ Ashi K

I stopped by Serai and had such a great experience. The food was excellent – I tried the Reuben, the beef burger, and a sub. Everything was flavorful and satisfying. Their coffee game is strong too – both hot and cold options were spot on, smooth and well-prepared. What made the visit even better was the personal touch from the owner, who shared a bit of the café’s background and story. It added so much warmth and character to the experience. The overall vibe of the place is welcoming and relaxed, the kind of spot where you just want to sit back and enjoy good food and good company. Definitely a café worth returning to! ~ Muzammil K

We were so happy to have stumbled upon this restaurant during a walk last week. We ordered the burger and it was excellent. While we were there, the owner was kind enough to offer us two different flavors of matcha, which he said will be added to the menu in the next month or so. They were absolutely exquisite and we look forward to coming back ASAP when the matchas are officially on the menu as well as to continue to try many of the other delicious offerings. So happy to have this place in our neighborhood! ~ Alyssa M

It was my first time here. I'm not a big meat eater and I haven't had a burger in years. So, this was my first in a long time. It was SO good. My burger was very light, flavorful and juicy. Their French fries were impressive. They weren't dry. They were perfect. I ended up making an extra order to take home, too. The staff is very kind, and they care about their customers. They're also willing to customize the order which was great. Their food is clean and Halal. The place is also new, nice and very clean. Definitely going back again. ~ Sarah A

The best burger in the neighborhood!! Seriously delicious, juicy without being greasy or sloppy, perfect condiments. Even the bun was great. We also ordered the pastrami sandwich (only half in the photo because my husband ate the other half before I got my pic!), which had a great sauce and bread, too. Everything was really fresh. The drinks were also really tasty. I had the fall flavored one and my husband had the lavender mint. While I loved mine, I *have* to go back for another lavender mint. ~ Jessica G

All the food was amazing! Everything has a unique flavor profile and I will definitely be coming back! Mango refresher- is really good for sweet drink lovers Peach dragon - fruit refresher is fantastic if you like mildly sweet drinks! Chicken panini - the pesto hits!! Turkey panini - the most flavorful turkey cuts i’ve ever had!! Signature sub - great for meat lovers, packed with protein! Serai Burger - the buns are heavenly! The sauce complements it Fully halal, they also have vegetarian options! ~ Lena K

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Serai is hands down my new favorite spot in Chicago! The sandwiches are packed with flavor, the cold cuts are fresh, and you can really taste the quality in every bite. Their coffee is smooth, and the mocktails are perfect if you want something fun and refreshing. What I love most is the warm and welcoming vibe — it feels like a place where you can relax, eat, and actually enjoy the moment. Highly recommend checking it out if you haven’t yet! ~ Jaydipsinh C

I've found my new happy place! What started as a quick stop for a coffee turned into a three-hour stay because the vibe here is just that good. I ended up trying a caprese sandwich on the most incredible focaccia, and later, a lavender lemon mocktail that was both beautiful and delicious. It’s that rare spot that feels buzzing with energy but still cozy enough to relax. This isn’t just another new restaurant; it feels like a real addition to the community. A total hidden gem ~ fahim k

I stopped by Serai and tried their pesto panini — it was savory, cheesy, and packed with flavor. The deli turkey was fresh and well-seasoned, making the sandwich really satisfying. It was also great meeting and talking with the owner, Altamash. As part of the Muslim community in Chicago, it’s refreshing to see more cleaner, healthier halal food options becoming available. Serai definitely sets the bar high for quality and taste! ~ Balal à

One of the best cafes in town. The food is so delicious, and the service is truly outstanding. The owner was incredibly welcoming and attentive, which made the experience even more enjoyable. I highly recommend the signature sub and the turkey panini, easily among the best I’ve had. Overall an excellent, clean, and enjoyable dining experience that I would strongly recommend to anyone. The peach dragonfruit mocktail was also amazing! ~ Aminah A

Amazing food and drinks and even better service. I wanted to gatekeep this place but I also want to support this business 😂 There are some places that are good enough to come back and this is one of those places. I was honestly surprised it was pretty empty when I went (although it is near the holidays and also really early). Im expecting that that wont be the case for long. I recommend coming before this spot gets super popular. ~ Melissa K

Love this place! Have been to this place twice and loved it both times! Serai Burger is our favorite already! Tried the signature sub- very fresh and good to taste! Loved their lattes especially pistachio lattes. The owner Altamash came to check with us on the food and get feedback and was very pleasant to interact with. He mentioned that they are planning on expanding menu soon so looking forward to that as well! ~ salman k

Serai is honestly such a gem. The sandwiches are packed with flavor and the fact that they use halal cold cuts makes it even better. You can tell they actually care about quality, everything tastes fresh. Coffee is on point too smooth and not bitter. The place itself has a nice vibe, clean and modern but still cozy. It’s the kind of spot you can come to chill with friends or just grab something quick. Super happy I found this place ~ M -

My wife and I had just landed in Chicago and were craving lunch before we head into the city. She had found Serai cafe & deli on social media and we had high expectations, needless to say, our expectations were blown away. We ordered the Serai sandwich and the Reuben. We especially loved the Serai signature, as it reminded us of a grinder sub. We actually plan on taking a sub back home with us to Florida because of how much we loved it! ~ Hamza H

One of the best places to have a sandwich, burger and coffee. The mocktails are unique and absolutely delicious as well! The food is made fresh daily & healthy, with alot of care and attention to detail placed into it, which is hard to find in a cafe. Recently opened and will definitely be a routine customer. Highly recommend. The place is zabiha halaal & packed with flavor. They also have gluten-free options! ~ Atoofa

Reviews from our customers

Find us on social media