Vegetarian Mediterranean Food in Joliet, Done Right

Why Lebanese food is easy for vegetarians

The Lebanese table was always built on chickpeas, eggplant, olive oil, herbs and grains. Meat is great, but it was never the whole meal. That is how our parents cooked, and that is how our line works. Hummus, baba ghanouj, falafel, bulgur and fresh salads are the backbone, not an afterthought.

Every bowl is built in front of you, so you see exactly what goes in. Not sure about something? Ask for a taste first.

What is marked V and GF on our menu

Our in-store board marks items V and GF. Here is what carries the V mark today:

• Bases: bulgur and tomato pilaf, fresh mixed greens
• Dips: classic hummus, roasted red pepper hummus, baba ghanouj
• Proteins: falafel, roasted veg
• Toppings: all fourteen, from sumac onions to pickled turnips
• Drizzles: tahini, harissa, amba mango sauce
• Sides: Phoenician fries, fresh-cut fries

Vegan at AMBA: what to know

If you eat fully vegan, skip the dairy items: spicy feta, crumbled feta, tzatziki and the Greek fries with feta. A bowl of greens or bulgur, classic hummus, falafel, a pile of toppings and tahini is a solid plant-based meal.

Tell us at the counter that you are vegan and we will walk you through each item, including the toum (our whipped garlic sauce) and anything else you want to double check. We would rather answer a question than guess.

Gluten free options

Saffron turmeric rice and mixed greens are marked GF. So are every dip, every protein except the gyro, all the toppings and all five drizzles. Bulgur is a wheat grain, and the wraps and pitas are not marked GF, so go with a bowl.

If you have celiac disease or a serious allergy, let us know before we start your bowl so we can talk through how it is prepared on our line.

How to build a great vegetarian bowl

Bowls start at $15. Try this: half rice and half greens, roasted red pepper hummus, falafel, then pickled turnips, sumac onions and the tomato and cucumber salad, finished with amba. Amba is a tangy mango sauce and it is the reason our name is on the door. Prices are from our in-store menu and can change.

Want a wrap instead? The falafel and roasted vegetable wraps are $11. Start on the build your bowl page or order for pickup.

Sides, snacks and sweets for vegetarians

Not every visit needs a full bowl. Falafel bites come 6 for $6 or 12 for $10. Hummus or baba ghanouj with pita crisps is $8. Phoenician fries are tossed in sumac, a tart red spice, with a garlic dip on the side for $5. Fresh-cut fries are $5.

To drink, our house-made ginger mint lemonade is $4.25 a cup or $8.50 for a half gallon. For dessert there is honey walnut baklava and homemade rice pudding. Baklava has honey and the rice pudding has milk, so they suit vegetarians but not strict vegans. Ask at the counter if you want to check anything. Prices are from our in-store menu and can change.

Bringing friends who eat meat? Perfect. Everyone builds their own bowl on the same line, so nobody has to compromise.