Taza Bakery-Daily Bread & Casual Eats of Iraq and the Levant

Taza Bakery, Chicago's finest Middle Eastern bakery and eatery, seems to be a controversial subject around these parts (or maybe just in my head). Some people think that because it is a bakery, it is therefore not an eatery. Others secretly believe that the only thing that should come on artisan baked flatbreads are tinned tomatoes and flavorless rubber cheese. Yet others ... simply fail to believe.

But a select few; G Wiv, Alain40, Turkob, Cathy2, know the score: that this little gem puts out carefully and lovingly prepared, artisan, laser-focused specialties that can transport an eater to one of the ancient metropoles of Greater Syria (present day Israel, Lebanon, Syria) and Iraq; where one can, as I believe Cathy put it, have a meal "fit for a Sultan."

Not GNR Taza Bakery attracts a diverse crowd; a home away from home for many who have fled conflict; a place for curious locals and seasoned eaters with well-rounded palates alike.

Perfectly and freshly made (and affordable) Lahm bil Ajeen, Muhammara, Za'atar, Jibneh, Sojouk, Kishek, Falafel, Shawerma, Kabab, Hummus, fresh orange and carrot juice. These are the things that a not GNR are made of.

Main thread: Taza Bakery

Taza Bakery
3100 West Devon
Chicago

[edit: this is in fact a nomination.]

Whether you eat in or take out, Taza Bakery deserves to be a GNR. Having some Spinach Pies and Soujouk Pizza and Zaatar Pizza in the fridge makes it certain that you will always have something good to eat.

The pies and pizzas are even better if you eat at one of the tables in the bakery. The Beef Shawarma and Chicken Shawarma are available as sandwiches or entrees and can be enhanced by Taza’s terrific hot sauce.

The Kneffee is addictive for honey-lovers and will sustain you for forty days in the dessert. Each of their three breads is interesting and enjoyable in its own way, including the thicker-than-usual (in a very good way) Pita.

Taza is also one of those places you love to patronize because the people are so nice and customer-friendly. It is open and airy and, perhaps best of all, it smells so good. Definitely a destination and GNR-worthy.

I didn't get to try Taza before the end of the GNR period last time it was nominated but I've been since and it was, truly, delicious! I would love to see them get the recognition--and I hope someone will schedule a meal there during the discussion period so that more folks could give it a try if they haven't been!!!

I will (again) offer my personal support for Taza, which to my recollection bumped up against Sanabel last time. The place is essential curriculum on oiled breads in the city, and they treat fresh and dried herbs and citrus as part of a tradition of centuries of respect. I feel like I could walk into or out of the place from the Muristan in addition to Devon.

I oppose the title of this thread. Taza Bakery IS a GNR, at least in my book. I never really posted anything on this place because most others had said what needed to be said. Fantastic bread, one of my favorite veggie bites in the city (spinach pie) and also the feel on an old school GNR. Hopefully the second time's a charm.

I have not been to Taza Bakery, so I have no opinion on the worthiness of this particular nomination. But I would like to note that there are already eleven bakeries on the current list of GNR's, so Taza should certainly be eligible for the designation.

Ok, fine. Do we need to organize a trip out here so I can finally convince y'all that this is a GNR???

I think that would be a great idea Habibi. There are a LOT of nominees--the more you can do to help get the word out, the better--and a meal would be great for that!!

I'm fine with that. I'll post something in the events thread. Though my schedule is very limited these days due to work. We'll make something happen ....

I went there yesterday. The breads were really nice. The beef shawarma was so so good. Maybe perfect.

I'm with Habibi. Taza Bakery is my favorite Middle Eastern restaurant in town. Their made-to-order manakish (flatbreads) would draw crowds in the Levant just as they do on Devon. The zaatar and muhammara are real standouts and the shawarma is worth going out of your way for. I considered renominating them myself. I'm so glad Habibi continues to champion Taza since it's so deserving. Huge thumbs up from me!

I spent the last year living near Taza and the fact that it's not a GNR is ridiculous. Their spinach pies and breads are superb why this place doesn't get more love is a mystery to me, but let's make it a GNR for goodness sakes.

Definitely support this as a GNR. The food was great. I also enjoyed the theater of watching the workers.

Thanks for all the support. Taza is a great place, and I'm glad that people are seeing that. I'm back in NY now and I'm missing Taza severely. Their breads are one of a kind, and I know of no place like it in New York, even in Patterson, NJ, the Palestinian/Levantine cultural hub of the region (though to be fair there are some really amazing restaurants there that I should write about). Anyway, go Taza!!

Taza Bakery For GNR, Yes Absolutly!

I'm a regular at Taza, love tea and zatar bread for a snack add lahembajin and/or soujouk for a meal and I'm a fan of the breads, samoon in particular.

Taza Bakery, count me a fan!

I've visited Taza once and really enjoyed my meal. I'm not sure how much weight should be put one visit, but I thought Taza was unique and struck me as worthy of a GNR.

Doing something delicious and unique? Check. Would I head up there specifically to eat what they specialize in? Check.

Sounds like a GNR to me.