Ema - River North

4.7

4594 Reviews

$31 to $50

Mediterranean

Make a reservation

2 people

Feb 25, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 119 times today

Good for special occasions
Charming
Lively

A Mediterranean & California-inspired restaurant featuring small plates & Chef CJ Jacobson's lighter style cooking in Chicago's River North.

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Mediterranean, Californian
Hours of operation
Lunch Mon–Fri 11:00 am–4:00 pm Brunch Sat, Sun 11:00 am–3:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 3:00 pm–11:00 pm Sun 3:00 pm–9:00 pm
Phone number
(312) 527-5586
Website
http://www.emarestaurants.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive chef
CJ Jacobson
Catering
Enjoy Ema Catering for your next event at home, in the office, or for your next celebration! Contact emaparties@leye.com for more information.
Private party facilities
The open and inviting dining room features reclaimed wood, rustic white brick and an indoor ivy terrace with operable windows. The dining room accommodates groups up to 150 guests and may be custom configured for your next family-style dinner, business lunch or cocktail reception event.

Location
74 West Illinois Street, Chicago, IL 60654
Neighborhood
River North (Chicago)
Cross street
Clark & Illinois
Parking details
Valet parking is located just east of Ema on Illinois Street at the Hyatt Place/Fairfield Inn valet. Valet costs $25 for 3 hours, no validation needed. Regular rates apply after 3 hours.
Public transit
Red Line Stop at Grand / Blue Line Stop at Clark
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

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Popular dishes

Classic$13.95
za'atar, vegetable crudite, california olive oil
Spicy$14.95
piquillo pepper, lemon, basil
"Bhel" Hummus$15.95
pineapple, avocado, pomegranate, tamarind, crispy rice, mint chutney
Wild Mushroom$17.95
truffled mushroom ragu, sherry, garlic
Hummus w/ Lamb Ragu$18.95
slow-braised lamb, spicy harissa

Spreads

Charred Eggplant$14.95
aleppo, mint, olive oil
House-Made Labneh$14.95
local honey, date, pomegranate, aleppo, mint
Toasted Almond & Garlic$15.95
castelvetrano olive, fresh herbs
Moroccan Onion Dip$15.95
medjool date, tamarind chutney, crispy leek

Raw

Truffled Salmon*$18.95
roasted garlic, chive, crispy leek
Hamachi & Charred Avocado*$19.95
coconut cream, lychee, jalapeño, makrut lime vinaigrette
Big Eye Tuna & Honeycrisp Apple*$21.95
pomegranate, moroccan mint, yuzu nigella vinaigrette

Salads

add green falafel / $6.95, add grilled chicken / $7.95, add faroe islands salmon* / $10.95

Tahini Caesar$15.95
hearts of romaine, radish, quinoa crouton, mimolette cheese
Brussels Sprouts & Honeycrisp Apple$15.95
pomegranate, marcona almond, honey dijon vinaigrette
Greek Village$16.95
romaine, tomato, cucumber, kalamata olive, feta, red pepper, dijon vinaigrette
Mediterranean Chopped$15.95
arugula, romaine, cauliflower, caper, date, parmesan, olive, red pepper
House-Made Stracciatella$18.95
mighty vine tomato, crouton, sherry shallot vinaigrette, basil

Vegetables

Feta & Olives$14.95
marcona almonds, sweety drops, lemon zest, middle east spice
Brussels Sprouts$14.95
crispy shallot, pumpkin seed, agrodolce
Pan-Roasted Romanesque Cauliflower$15.95
house yogurt, local honey

Hot Mezze

Crispy Potatoes$12.95
mizithra, rosemary, scallion crema
Green Falafel$13.95
beet tzatziki, tahini, lemon zest
Hot Honey Halloumi$14.95
crispy garlic dukkah
Delicata Squash Farrotto$16.95
brown butter, crispy sage, squash vinaigrette

Sandwiches

served with mesclun greens or za'atar fries

Green Falafel$15.95
tomato, hummus, purple cabbage, tzatziki
Grilled Chicken$16.95
hummus, purple cabbage, sweet & spicy peppers
Braised Short Rib*$18.95
beef jus, hummus, purple cabbage, crispy shallot

Kebabs

served with basmati rice

Grilled Halloumi$17.95
greek cheese, red onion, date, red zhoug
Chicken Kefta$18.95
lemon, olive oil, tzatziki
Grilled Chicken$19.95
yogurt marinade, sweet pepper, zhoug
Lamb & Beef Kefta*$19.95
lemon, olive oil, tzatziki
Grilled Shrimp*$29.95
roasted tomato, souvlaki, lemon, zhoug
Faroe Islands Salmon*$24.95
sweet pepper, red onion, lemon, olive oil, zhoug

Surcharge

As a way to offset rising costs, we have added a 3.5% surcharge to all checks. You may request to have this taken off your check should you choose.

What 4,594 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7

4.7 based on recent ratings

4.7Food
4.6Service
4.6Ambience
4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Chicago / Illinois
Mediterranean
Chicago
Mediterranean

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Ema in River North offers a vibrant dining experience with "delicious food and attentive service." Known for its Mediterranean-inspired menu, standout dishes include the "bhel hummus," "lamb ragu hummus," and "hot honey halloumi." The ambiance is inviting, perfect for both casual and celebratory meals, ensuring a delightful visit.

4,594 Reviews

A
Amy
Chicago
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined today
1. Overall 3
2. Food 4
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 3
The food was great. Decor was pretty. But we felt really rushed. Our plates weren't nearly empty and waitstaff tried removing them several times.
Is this helpful?
J
Jayme
Minneapolis
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
Food was delicious! We really enjoyed the mushroom hummus and the hot halloumi.
Is this helpful?
J
Joseph
Chicago
37 reviews
3.0
37 reviews
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 3
Dinner at Ema was nothing special to rave about. The dishes we ordered were fairly bland with no distinctive taste. The hot mezze dish was served at room temp. I will give a 5-star shout out to the pistachio greek yogurt we had for dessert. It was the highlight of our dinner. The service was somewhat substandard. It took almost 15 minutes for the server to greet us after we were seated. We were never offered cocktails. And the server continually referred to me as "Boss" which is completely and totally inappropriate. All things considered, dinner was a bit of a disappointment.
Is this helpful?
m
manny
VIP
Cincinnati
29 reviews
5.0
29 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Had a wonderful evening with friends. Food was wonderful and delicious! Looking forward to going back.
Is this helpful?
J
Jose
Unspecified
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 6 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great food, great service. Definitely recommended
Is this helpful?
J
Jayda
Toronto
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Food was amazing! Loved the Bhel hummus and the sea bass. Would definitely recommend
Is this helpful?
J
Javier
Chicago
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on February 16, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Don’t skip the bhel hummus. One of the best plates i’ve had this year.
Is this helpful?
E
Eftihia
Chicago
3 reviews
4.0
3 reviews
Dined on February 14, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
I went to Ēma for Valentine’s Day dinner and it was very lovely. The dishes are meant to be shared so we were able to try a lot of things for a decent price, I really enjoyed the lobster and the lamb/beef kofta. The service was incredible, our waiter was on top of everything and we had such a great time! The portions are a decent size, some things I expected more but generally it was a good portion!
Is this helpful?
H
Howard
VIP
Chicago
179 reviews
5.0
179 reviews
Dined on February 11, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Excellent spot for a business lunch, great food and service.
Is this helpful?
G
Giselle
Greater Boston
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on February 9, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 5
horrible server. pushy and gave us a dessert without even telling us our options. - manager called and dealt with this situation but overall the food was great here and I would definitely come back.
Is this helpful?

FAQs

Ema - River North offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (312) 527-5586.

Ema - River North is rated 4.7 stars by 4594 OpenTable diners.

Ema - River North does offer gift cards which you can purchase here.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Feb 25, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 119 times today

Order delivery or takeout

74 West Illinois Street, Chicago, IL 60654

Additional information

Cross street
Clark & Illinois
Neighborhood
River North (Chicago)
Hours of operation
Lunch Mon–Fri 11:00 am–4:00 pm Brunch Sat, Sun 11:00 am–3:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 3:00 pm–11:00 pm Sun 3:00 pm–9:00 pm
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Mediterranean, Californian
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Valet parking is located just east of Ema on Illinois Street at the Hyatt Place/Fairfield Inn valet. Valet costs $25 for 3 hours, no validation needed. Regular rates apply after 3 hours.
Public transit
Red Line Stop at Grand / Blue Line Stop at Clark
Payment options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
CJ Jacobson
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.emarestaurants.com/
Phone number
(312) 527-5586
Catering
Enjoy Ema Catering for your next event at home, in the office, or for your next celebration! Contact emaparties@leye.com for more information.
Private party facilities
The open and inviting dining room features reclaimed wood, rustic white brick and an indoor ivy terrace with operable windows. The dining room accommodates groups up to 150 guests and may be custom configured for your next family-style dinner, business lunch or cocktail reception event.

Featured in

Gift card

Send gift cards instantly by email or print to present in person.

Send a gift card

Ema - River North

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

50 Chicago Restaurants to Connect In For Mother's Day

The Diner Reviews Are In: 100 Best Restaurants in America

Gift card

Brussels Sprouts

Brussels Sprouts & Honeycrisp Apple

Chicken Kefta

Hummus

Classic$13.95

Spicy$14.95

"Bhel" Hummus$15.95

Wild Mushroom$17.95

Hummus w/ Lamb Ragu$18.95

Spreads

Charred Eggplant$14.95

House-Made Labneh$14.95

Toasted Almond & Garlic$15.95

Moroccan Onion Dip$15.95

Raw

Truffled Salmon*$18.95

Hamachi & Charred Avocado*$19.95

Big Eye Tuna & Honeycrisp Apple*$21.95

Salads

Tahini Caesar$15.95

Brussels Sprouts & Honeycrisp Apple$15.95

Greek Village$16.95

Mediterranean Chopped$15.95

House-Made Stracciatella$18.95

Vegetables

Feta & Olives$14.95

Brussels Sprouts$14.95

Pan-Roasted Romanesque Cauliflower$15.95

Hot Mezze

Crispy Potatoes$12.95

Green Falafel$13.95

Hot Honey Halloumi$14.95

Delicata Squash Farrotto$16.95

Sandwiches

Green Falafel$15.95

Grilled Chicken$16.95

Braised Short Rib*$18.95

Kebabs

Grilled Halloumi$17.95

Chicken Kefta$18.95

Grilled Chicken$19.95

Lamb & Beef Kefta*$19.95

Grilled Shrimp*$29.95

Faroe Islands Salmon*$24.95

Surcharge

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

Does Ema - River North offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Ema - River North restaurant rated?

Does Ema - River North offer gift cards?

Is Ema - River North currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Featured in

50 Chicago Restaurants to Connect In For Mother's Day

The Diner Reviews Are In: 100 Best Restaurants in America

Gift card