J Beez Fast Food, 976 W Army Trail Rd., Carol Stream, IL 60188, (630) 855-5054), Appetizers $6-10; Entrees $11-17; Wraps $8-11.
Tucked away in a corner on Army Trail Road is J Beez Fast Food, a culinary gem of Carol Stream.
J Beez Fast Food is a fairly recent addition to Carol Stream’s lineup of restaurants, specializing in traditional Mediterranean food, as well as American options like their Crispy Chicken Sandwich. However, the customer favorite is the Mixed Kabob entree, which comes with rice, bread, hummus, and three types of meat: chicken, beef, and lamb.
“Mixed kabob entree is my favorite. It gives an opportunity to try a variety of foods in one entree,” a patron of the restaurant said.
According to the restaurant’s owner, Syed Raza, the founding and success of J Beez was largely unintentional.
“Six years ago, I started it accidentally with my friend. Within three months, my friend quit. I didn’t know how to make the food, but I hired a cook, and I learned. A year later, he left, and the very next day, I took over the recipes, and since then I make all the food,” Syed Raza, owner of J Beez Fast Food, said.
J Beez is a Muslim-owned business, and as such, follows strict Islamic dietary guidelines, such as Zabiha Halal.
According to the American Halal Foundation, Zabiha standards require that animals are kept in humane conditions for the duration of their lives, up to the point of slaughter, which is to be done as quickly and painlessly for the animal as possible. The butcher is also to recite the name of God over each animal killed.
Raza says that this humane treatment of the food yields the high-quality meat that keeps his customers coming back.
“My customers, they eat other types of food, like Thai or Italian. They tell me that the taste of the meat is not good, and the Zabiha Halal is totally different”, Raza said.
There are not many authentic Mediterranean restaurants in Carol Stream, so J Beez gives people a taste of an often-underrated cuisine. In fact, Raza claims that his customers are not only Muslims, but people of all cultures and religions, which is a testament to the mass appeal of the food.
“I would say seventy to eighty percent of the customers are American or non-Muslim,” Raza said.
The affordability and quality of J Beez also makes it a favorable choice to students trying to get the most bang for their buck.
“I really liked how affordable the food was. It was like 9 bucks for a good sandwich, which is way cheaper than other places,” West Chicago resident Clarenz Bugay said.
