CHIReview
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
FIYA
Included In
Like duct tape and all the containers we’ve been reusing from our 2020 delivery orders, Fiya has joined the ranks of multipurpose things that we’ve come to rely on.
Whether you need a place for a date, fun group dinner, or solo lunch after checking out the creepy taxidermy at the Wooly Mammoth, this Israeli-inspired spot in Andersonville works for any situation. Fiya’s flexibility comes from a combination of delicious food, versatility, and ease of entry—not only is placing a reservation effortless, but we’ve often just walked in with five friends on a busy Saturday night and been seated immediately.
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
With seats as abundant as the number of potholes in Chicago, there’s room for every dining scenario. It’s relaxed enough for midday drinks at the bar on your day off, yet the large back room also works for 20 people at dinner singing “Happy Birthday” with the obnoxious enthusiasm of musical theater majors. There are plenty of tables for two, and the lighting is just dim enough to set the mood without needing a headlamp to see the spread of Israeli food on your table. Fiya is like your multifaceted friend who is fluent in Python and a member of the Plumbers Local 130 Union, if this same friend also had a khachapuri side hustle.
The menu highlights international influences on Israeli cuisine, ranging from the northern tip of Africa to the Caucasus. By default, most dishes come with pita, a policy we fully support. The flatbread is airy, a little yeasty, with the ideal amount of char—a perfect utensil for scooping up creamy hummus topped with things like eggplant, falafel, or roasted chicken. The fluffy pockets are also our preferred way of rescuing tender pieces of Moroccan whitefish out of zesty tomato-pepper sauce, and airlifting them into our mouths.
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
Most of the food here is baptized in a glorious smoky flavor by Fiya’s MVP: a massive wood-fired oven in the center of the restaurant. Surrounded by counter seats, it’s the best spot for a solo meal of Georgian khachapuri overflowing with tangy shakshuka, or a flaky Yafo pot pie packed with savory lamb sausage, short rib, and sweet dates. And as you eat, you’ll watch the oven make enough pita to fill every pothole in Andersonville.
In exchange for delicious food, Fiya doesn’t demand much of you. You don’t have to wait outside for two hours just to get a seat at the bar, or give up your seat on SpaceX just so you can grab the only available reservation over the next four months. Just walk in ready for some fantastic Israeli food—come alone, with your coworkers, or with your friend who you need to pay back for fixing both your computer and your sink.
Food Rundown
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
Roasted Chicken with Gribenes Hummus
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
Khachapuri
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
Roast Heirloom Carrots
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
Whole Chicken
Chicken Schnitzel
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
Yafo Pot Pie
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
Moroccan Fish
Israeli Cheesecake