CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Ghareeb Nawaz, a fast-growing Pakistani and Indian restaurant, recently opened its third location in Lincoln Park earlier this month — and it’s quickly becoming a main attraction in the neighborhood.
Northwestern graduate student Carlotta Esposito moved to Chicago in May but said she was a fan of Ghareeb Nawaz even before the Lincoln Park location opened.
"It's kind of a staple," she said. “It seems like it has a good local presence. When I moved here, everyone was like, 'Go to Ghareeb Nawaz,' and everyone knows about it. And the prices, and food, are just great."
Besides the low prices and tasty food, customers also attributed Ghareeb Nawaz's popularity to its social media presence.
Jack Marchesi, a graduate student at DePaul and frequent Ghareeb Nawaz goer, said he's fascinated by how popular the restaurant has gotten on Twitter.
"From what I've seen and what's been sent to me, they're definitely in the know of internet trends," he said. "It seems to be an active effort that I think is working. People definitely think it's funny and probably have gone to it because of it, I imagine."
A recent Ghareeb Nawaz tweet reads: "We do not condone cyberbullying. But we have a job to do. Eat ghareeb nawaz."
Kiara Colston, who lives in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood, said the restaurant has already made a fan out of her, despite only a couple of visits.
"They cook their food with love, cause I love cooking, too, and I can tell they put their all into their food, so this is a nice restaurant,” she said. “I love it here.”
Colston works next door to Ghareeb Nwaz, and she said it's a quick and easy way for her to grab good food during a lunch break.
"When I want to get something, eat something quick, I just come here, just to give me something real good, something different, " she said.
Nelson Trautman, who lives in Logan Square, said this new location is also more convenient for him.
During the pandemic, Trautman said he ordered delivery several times and is glad he can go in-person to the Lincoln Park location, which is closer to where he lives.
"The prices are really low, the food is really great, and hopefully with so many locations — I think they have three now — they're becoming more accessible and convenient to other people," he said.
Ghareeb Nawaz's Lincoln Park restaurant is located at 2364 N. Lincoln Ave.
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