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Welcome to Restaurant Mehanata — where the flavors, atmosphere, and warm hospitality transport you straight to Bulgaria, right in the heart of Chicago. Our menu features authentic, traditional Bulgarian dishes made with love, passion, and the finest ingredients. Whether you’re craving hearty comfort food or something new and exciting, every bite is a celebration of Bulgarian culture. Come by and experience a taste of Bulgaria—no passport required!
Bulgarian BBQ & traditional dishes served in a casual space with ethnic decor & patio seating.
Address and Contact Information
Address: 1141 Lee St, Des Plaines, IL 60016
Phone: (847) 824-0100
Website: http://restaurantmehanata.com/
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Restaurant Mehanata Chicago – Authentic Bulgarian Restaurant …
Welcome to Restaurant Mehanata. Experience the finest of Bulgarian cuisine and spirits. (use the top left icon to navigate through the menu).
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Restaurant Mehanata Chicago is known for its generous portions, making it the perfect spot for family gatherings or big groups of friends. Try one of their ” …
Restaurant Mehanata (@mehanata.chicago) · Des Plaines, IL
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Reviews
Lindsey Heineman
This Bulgarian restaurant is as authentic as it gets. They have a great selection of very delicious Bulgarian dishes, and use products imported from Bulgaria, like cheese, meats, spices, wines, and beer. The decor feels exactly like you are in a mehana somewhere in Bulgaria. Also the staff are very kind and give good service.
… moreDiane M
Great food with a casual, friendly atmosphere. Ivo took wonderful care of us! He is super nice and does a great job at telling you about the homemade love and care that goes into the food. Try a Bulgarian lager while you’re there!
… moreShelley Waller
My husband and I live 2.5 hours away.
I was flying out of ORD for a travel agent convention and stayed at a hotel down the street.
We found this quaint place by chance and LOVED it. Our server was incredible! He explained everything to us, provided excellent recommendations and made sure we enjoyed our experience.
In fact we enjoyed it so much that as soon as my husband picked me up at ORD today, we headed straight back to the restaurant.
The aromatic salt they provided for the bread was delightful. So much so that I researched it and was going to try to replicate it at home when our server gave us instructions to a grocery store nearby that carried it.
We will most definitely be back!!
… moreI was flying out of ORD for a travel agent convention and stayed at a hotel down the street.
We found this quaint place by chance and LOVED it. Our server was incredible! He explained everything to us, provided excellent recommendations and made sure we enjoyed our experience.
In fact we enjoyed it so much that as soon as my husband picked me up at ORD today, we headed straight back to the restaurant.
The aromatic salt they provided for the bread was delightful. So much so that I researched it and was going to try to replicate it at home when our server gave us instructions to a grocery store nearby that carried it.
We will most definitely be back!!
Robert Salinas
This restaurant was FIRE !!! stop in because wanted to totally try something out the box ..the lamb soup was dang how to explain it with out cussing or anything umm was out of this world soooo delish !!!!had a long drive ahead of me but definitely will be back again …food was just so humble atmosphere was just felt like you were definitely in another country that’s what I look forward too..and my server was great she helped me with everything that I needed didn’t catch here name but again thank you …. Sat at the bar…talk to the owner outside n just told her thank you for a fantastic meal will definitely be back thank you gals again for an absolute amazing experience….
… moreVeronica Ramirez
This place was fantastic. My friend brought me here and we had a very good time. The portions are huge and the food is delicious! This was my first time trying Bulgarian food. I will be going back!
… moreArt JIMENEZ III
Well this was recommended by a Bulgarian coworker that I didn’t know who was Bulgarian cuz his first name is Yuri he suggested to others but he said this was the best one and the only Bulgarian restaurant I’ve eaten in Mount prospect was Sophia grill but it felt more fast food or less formal or less European Ambience. I decided to come here on a bucket list and splurge for a Friday night and I guess you could say i was quite impressed. It has that Eastern European tavern but is also a traditional authentic restaurant although the music they’re playing is more American LOL instead of some Eastern Bulgarian music I expected but the people are the customers dining and are Bulgarian as well as the staff originally I was going to get the tripe soup but my server suggested the lambs which I really wanted online but it was supposedly served for Saturday and Sunday until I found out they serve it on Fridays which I was so happy and it was very delicious it was like a comfort food for lamb soup very Hardy flavorful although the soup itself wasn’t like a thick bra it was very rich in taste. The next thing I ordered was the chicken liver and it did taste like liver usually I assume chicken liver and onions was not sold tasty like beef liver and onions there were two variations one had extra virgin olive but again my server suggested having just plain liver and onions cooked in butter instead of olive oil the other one had extra ingredients that made it more stewy he said. Just FYI most of the dishes here are quite pricey you’re spending between 18.99 to $25 or more I tried to keep it within my means and since I went to Sophia grill they did have the Bulgarian link sausage or karache. Compared to Sophia grill the way they cooked it was much better in texture and taste. I wanted to get some side orders of mashed potatoes or steamed vegetables but my weight or suggested to get sauteed potato cuts it was just the meh okay I should have gotten the steam vegetables with which look delicious one thing I do give credit is that they do get very Hardy dishes for how much you pay for. Otherwise I would come back cuz I saw other dishes I’ve never had like chicken hearts that seems intriguing and when I have more money I probably might splurge on the tartar meatball which is a familiar dish or a seafood dish I shall see those days when I used to go out and my parents were living in Chicago I would have done this in a heartbeat but now that I pay rent and have to live the reality of other people paying a rent it’s going to probably be a while otherwise do come here just very expensive for authentic Bulgarian. Also noted parking can be a little tricky if they have a busy night you could park across the other side of the street in the parking lot with a pet supplies Plus or another bar or plaza across the street
… moreNelly Bulgaria
Love this restaurant. I haven’t had a bad meal here. Quite inexpensive. Food is delicious. Atmosphere is very authentic, welcoming, beautiful. Love all the plants on their patio. Quite beautiful. Convenient location.
… moreNicholas P
I finally came here after having this place on my list for awhile. First things first, the parking situation. To the left of the restaurant, you’ll see a parking lot. Do not park in the first 3 rows because the liquor store is strict about it and will have your vehicle towed. The same goes for parking across the street in the empty parking lot. To be on the safe side, park in the 4th and 5th row after the liquor store parking spaces. The restaurant and the repair shop share the same spaces. You can try parking in that big parking lot in the plaza next door but I can’t guarantee anything.
You can eat inside or outside. We ordered beef tongue with tripe cooked in butter, garlic, and red pepper. We also had chicken roll up, tatar meatball, and the cake Mehanata. There is a 3% convenience fee which is only like $1.77. Prices are typical for this type of food because it’s not very common. Service was excellent and very friendly. Portions are huge so you’ll be taking home some leftovers.
-beef tongue with tripe 5 – I loved this dish. Beef tongue and tripe were soft and tender to eat. Good seasoning.
-chicken roll up 4 – I like the concept of the chicken stuffed with ham, pickles, peppers, and cheese inside. However, parts of the chicken were kind of tough and dry.
-tatar meatball 5 – I had something similar to this at another Balkan restaurant. Meatball is flavorful with cheese inside and very tender.
-cake Mehanata 5 – this is a fig cake with mascarpone. Only slightly sweet due to the chocolate chips, other than that it has a good balance.
… moreYou can eat inside or outside. We ordered beef tongue with tripe cooked in butter, garlic, and red pepper. We also had chicken roll up, tatar meatball, and the cake Mehanata. There is a 3% convenience fee which is only like $1.77. Prices are typical for this type of food because it’s not very common. Service was excellent and very friendly. Portions are huge so you’ll be taking home some leftovers.
-beef tongue with tripe 5 – I loved this dish. Beef tongue and tripe were soft and tender to eat. Good seasoning.
-chicken roll up 4 – I like the concept of the chicken stuffed with ham, pickles, peppers, and cheese inside. However, parts of the chicken were kind of tough and dry.
-tatar meatball 5 – I had something similar to this at another Balkan restaurant. Meatball is flavorful with cheese inside and very tender.
-cake Mehanata 5 – this is a fig cake with mascarpone. Only slightly sweet due to the chocolate chips, other than that it has a good balance.
Jose Huerta
My girlfriend and I really loved this place from the atmosphere to the scenery. We’re always looking to try something different so we decided to try Bulgarian food. They had excellent service and our waiter was very helpful in helping us pick out recommendations to eat. The portions of food are very very generous and quite actually a lot for the price. The food was really good, fresh and well seasoned. It was a new, but a great experience. Definitely recommend.
… moreone 7 five
Restaurant Mehanata – A Delightful Introduction to Bulgarian Cuisine
20 Feb 2025
Our first visit to Restaurant Mehanata was a fantastic experience and a great introduction to Bulgarian cuisine. From the moment we arrived, the warm ambience and friendly service set the tone for an enjoyable meal.
Our server, Ivo, was attentive and made excellent recommendations. We started with the Crispy Cheese Bites served with blueberry jam—a perfect balance of creamy and crispy with a touch of sweetness. For the main course, we tried the Chicken Kavarma and the Chicken and Pork Combo Grill. Both dishes were flavorful and well-prepared, with the chicken being particularly tender and delicious.
The service was outstanding, with the staff making sure we had everything we needed. Overall, a wonderful dining experience, and we’re looking forward to returning to Restaurant Mehanata soon!
… more20 Feb 2025
Our first visit to Restaurant Mehanata was a fantastic experience and a great introduction to Bulgarian cuisine. From the moment we arrived, the warm ambience and friendly service set the tone for an enjoyable meal.
Our server, Ivo, was attentive and made excellent recommendations. We started with the Crispy Cheese Bites served with blueberry jam—a perfect balance of creamy and crispy with a touch of sweetness. For the main course, we tried the Chicken Kavarma and the Chicken and Pork Combo Grill. Both dishes were flavorful and well-prepared, with the chicken being particularly tender and delicious.
The service was outstanding, with the staff making sure we had everything we needed. Overall, a wonderful dining experience, and we’re looking forward to returning to Restaurant Mehanata soon!