Clients reviews about Serai Cafe & Deli

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

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

This spot is a hidden gem I’m not kidding! The selection of wraps, paninis, falafels, burgers, and chicken Parmesan sandwiches is top-notch. I’m telling you, this is one place you do not want to miss. I’ve tried just about everything on their menu, and I genuinely can’t pick a favorite because they all absolutely slap. As someone who eats halal, it’s hard to find a place that offers halal options along with high-quality roast beef and such flavorful food I t’s truly top-tier. Not to mention, the owner is a super cool guy who always checks in to make sure your meal is well presented and that you’re happy with everything. The restaurant itself is also incredibly clean, crisp, and comfortable. ~ Haythm A

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Serai Cafe & Deli is an absolute gem! From the moment you walk in, you’re greeted with a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The food is fresh, flavorful, and prepared with great attention to detail. Every dish is packed with authentic taste, and the quality of the ingredients truly stands out. The staff is friendly, attentive, and goes above and beyond to make sure every customer has a great experience. The cafe is clean, comfortable, and perfect for a quick bite, family meal, or catching up with friends. If you’re looking for delicious food, excellent service, and a place that feels like home, Serai Cafe & Deli is definitely worth visiting. Wishing the new location continued success—I’ll definitely be back! ~ Salman S

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

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. ~ Mustafa M

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

Stumbled upon Serai mid-bike ride along the lake and I’m glad I did. They’ve got outdoor seating out back, perfect spot for your bike and taking a breather. I ordered the banana matcha and the pastrami sub. The matcha was solid but the banana flavor fell a little flat. Kind of tasted like an underripe one was used. The sandwich tasted great and had really good ingredients. Only thing was the bread was on the chewier side and made it a bit tough to eat. Both are easy fixes for a place that just opened, and I have no doubt they’ll dial it in. What stood out most was the owner. Genuinely one of the nicest people I’ve met. Since it was my first time there he comped my matcha on the spot. After we finished our meal, he asked for honest feedback like he actually meant it. That kind of attitude is rare and says everything about where Serai is headed. ~ Allen L

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

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

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

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

I had a wonderful experience at this cafe/deli! The food was absolutely delicious, and you could really tell that the ingredients were fresh and high quality. The meat was especially impressive—fresh, flavorful, and perfectly prepared. The sandwiches were generously filled and packed with great taste. Hazel was friendly, attentive, and made me feel welcome from the moment I walked in. The restaurant was clean and inviting, making for an all-around excellent dining experience. I highly recommend this deli and will definitely be coming back! ~ Rumana B

We were looking for a quick and affordable meal and this was a great find. We had the turkey panini and tuna club, both were delicious. Considering that it's 2026 and a hot neighborhood in Chicago I found the prices very good for the quality and quantity. The man at the counter was very nice and obviously cares about his work. If I could provide any critical feedback it's that we both found the overhead lighting a little too bright, but we are light sensitive. I will definitely return when I'm in the neighborhood. ~ Sarah V

Sandwiches are great. Not a lot of options. But I find that when there are more options the quality of the food goes down. Paninis are extremely good. And the mocktails and refreshers are delicious. But it’s the hamburgers that are the highlight: Meaty, juicy and flavorful. Cheese, bacon, jalapeños and a special sauce that is full of flavor. (I have them leave off the jalapeños since I don’t like it too spicy.) So skip Five Guys down the street because you can get a hamburger 10xs better at the same price at Serai. ~ Tom B

Had such a great experience at this deli! The sandwiches were seriously delicious — the pesto panini was fresh and full of flavor, and the Ruben was absolutely on point. You can tell they really care about the quality of their food. The service was just as impressive. The staff were super friendly, welcoming, and made the whole visit even better. On top of that, the refreshers were amazing — definitely worth trying! Overall, a really enjoyable spot with great food and even better people. I’ll definitely be coming back. ~ BOUDRIA A

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

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

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

The Atmosphere Wuz Very Modern Personal Like Vibe. Very Cleann! Service Wuz Absolutely Great 💯 . Very Prompt Knowledgeable, & Accurate With My Order. High Protein Selections Did Not Fail! This Wuz My Third Time Here And They Recommended The Ceasar Salad. Although The Salad Wuz A Ceasars Right, But The Chicken Had Its Own Flavor As Apposed To The Blander Grilled Chicken I've Had In My Salads.... My Daughter Loved The Matcha & Her Panini She Gave a 2 Thunbs Up!! Hope This Helps! #HealthyLiving ~ Angel A

It is incredibly rare to find a classic, authentic deli Reuben that is 100% Zabiha Halal, but Serai Cafe & Deli absolutely nails it! The pastrami was perfectly savory and tender, layered with great cheese, tangy sauerkraut, and crisp toasted rye. It’s hands-down one of the best halal deli sandwiches in the city. The staff is welcoming, the space is exceptionally clean, and the vibes are great. It’s a massive win for the Chicago halal food scene. I will definitely be a regular here ~ Raheel A

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

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