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Best of Chicago > Restaurants > Best Restaurant
Khan BBQ

Best Restaurant, Reader's Choice: Khan B.B.Q. (seekh kebab)

Jim Newberry

Reader’s Choice

Khan B.B.Q.

Sometimes it’s difficult to access the abundance of edible riches along Devon Avenue because its Western Avenue gateway is occupied by the marvelous Khan B.B.Q. Owner Khalifa M. Amjad Khan and chef Sultan Ahmed both learned to cook from their mothers in Pakistan and have spent years here weathering the storms of the restaurant business, including a devastating 2006 fire that resituated the joint in its current spot. God love Alinea, Hot Doug’s, and, OK then, Lula too, but Khan is an emblem of egalitarian consistency—friendly, embarrassingly inexpensive—and every offering is always just plain delicious, from the charcoal-fired tandoor meats, such as the iconic chicken boti, to the simple stewy platters of chana masala and daal palak. And unlike some uncompromisingly ethnic spots around town, Khan doesn’t make customers suffer through an initiation period to get the real stuff. Open till midnight. Arrow 2401 W. Devon, 773-274-8600. —Mike Sula

Readers’ Choice

Lula Cafe

Arrow 2537 N. Kedzie, 773-489-9554, lulacafe.com.

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Comments

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alan at 1:52 AM on 6/28/2008

inspired choice. well done.

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kathy at 1:42 PM on 6/30/2008

lula cafe is #2? for the food maybe, yes. the service, not so much.

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Not #2 at 1:49 PM on 6/30/2008

Lula is the readers' choice for #1, as opposed to the Reader's choice, which is Khan B.B.Q.

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janet at 2:45 PM on 7/3/2008

I don't know why everyone's so excited about Lula Cafe. Maybe it's the only decent restaurant in Logan Square, but that doesn't make it the best restaurant in the city. I was nonplussed by each of my three experiences there.

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milo at 9:15 AM on 7/7/2008

I think this place is in the top 5 of Indian/Pakistani restaurants, but in the top 50 of the best restaurants... no mention of butterfly, Indie Cafe, Cafe Iberico, Tango Sur, etc? This is a case where volume of votes drowns out precision results. Good place, but not worth the distinction.

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Jon Paul at 6:56 AM on 7/11/2008

Chicago Joe's get my top vote. No pretense. No fuss. No attitude. Just great food, great service. great everything. And it will long outlive those trendy places that are here today and gone tomorrow.

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d-day at 11:04 AM on 7/21/2008

I fully agree that Lula is highly over-rated. The food is good though pricey but the service is just unpleasant...hipsters who let you know with their oh-so-hipper-than-thou attitude, that you're just not cool enough for them to give a care. It got so bad that I do not go there anymore.

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Spook at 10:09 AM on 10/9/2008

Lula Cafe = next to the gang bangers Lula represents all that's wrong with Logan Square.

Go to Azucar Tapas down the street for great food and people who actually will treat neighbors like neighbors

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John234234 at 1:02 AM on 12/20/2008

Are you kidding? Khan BBQ? That's like rating Gary International Airport as the top airport in Chicago for being small and cozy. India House is way way better.

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joeoso at 8:25 AM on 1/2/2009

Oh, please. I like Kahn BBQ a lot, but I cannot imagine a set of criteria wherein it could be considered the best restaurant in Chicago. It may not even be the best place on Devon.

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bangie99 at 1:41 AM on 2/25/2009

Lula again? Sheesh. Get over that place. The sun doesn't rise and set on Lula Cafe. If you like bad attitude and long waits it's the best place in town!

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Brad at 9:47 PM on 3/2/2009

Avec is by far the best restaurant in town. I've eaten there easily a dozen times and have never had a bad meal. Amazing food. Fantastic wine list. Incredibly reasonable prices. Awesome!!

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Sharlie Sanchez at 7:27 PM on 5/21/2009

I totally agree with Brad! Avec is the best by far. The food is always delicious and beautifully presented. The vibe is unpretentious and the experience doesn't leave you broke. I always look forward to my next experience there.

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