Planning Iftar in Chicago's Southwest Suburbs: How Many Fatayer Per Guest
Plan on 2 to 3 fatayer per guest when they are one dish among many at iftar, 4 per guest for a light meal, and 5 to 6 if they are the main course. Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin around February 8 and end around March 8, with Eid al-Fitr around March 9, depending on the moon sighting. Fresh trays need 24 hours, 3 or more trays need 3 to 5 days, and 100 pieces or more need a week.
Fatayer belong on the iftar table. They are warm, filling without being heavy, easy to eat with one hand, and just as good at room temperature an hour after maghrib as they were out of the oven. Here is how to figure out how many you need and when to order them, whether you are feeding a family of 6 in Tinley Park or 300 at a mosque in Bridgeview.
Ramadan 2027 dates
Based on astronomical calculations, Ramadan 1448 is expected to begin on or around February 8, 2027, and end around March 8, with Eid al-Fitr on or around March 9. Local dates depend on moon sighting, so your community may begin a day earlier or later. Plan your orders around the expected dates and adjust by a day if needed. We will post our own holiday cutoffs on the Shipping & Delivery page and in the announcement bar as Ramadan approaches.
How many fatayer per guest
Each fatayer is about the size of your palm. Use these numbers:
| How you are serving | Per guest | For 12 guests | For 50 guests |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part of an iftar spread with soup, salad, rice and a main | 2 to 3 | 2 to 3 boxes of 12, or 1 to 2 trays | 5 to 7 trays |
| Light meal with soup and salad | 4 | 2 trays | 9 trays |
| Main dish | 5 to 6 | 3 trays | 11 to 13 trays |
A box of 12 serves 4 to 6 as part of a spread. A Catering Tray of 24 serves 8 to 12. When in doubt, round up. Fatayer keep up to 12 days in the refrigerator, and leftovers reheat at 350°F for 5 to 7 minutes for suhoor.
A worked example
Say you are hosting 20 people for iftar in Tinley Park. You are serving lentil soup, fattoush, a rice dish and a main. Fatayer are one of five things on the table, so 2 to 3 per guest: 40 to 60 pieces. Order 2 Catering Trays (48 pieces) in Classic Mix, or 1 tray plus a box of 12 in a flavor you love. If a few guests avoid dairy, make one tray All Za'atar or All Spinach in Sumac Spinach, neither of which has milk in the ingredients.
For 60 people at a community iftar in Oak Lawn, the same math gives 120 to 180 pieces: 5 to 8 trays. That crosses our 100-piece line, so order a week ahead.
Ordering timeline
- 1 to 2 fresh trays, or any boxes: order 24 hours ahead. Everything is formed and baked to order.
- 3 or more trays: email deiyaabakery@gmail.com 3 to 5 days ahead so we can schedule the bake.
- 100 pieces or more, or a standing order for several nights: 1 week ahead through the Wholesale & Catering page.
- Frozen boxes for the freezer: order by the Wednesday before you need them. Boxes ship Monday through Wednesday and arrive the next business day.
During Ramadan, bake days fill up. The first week and the last ten nights are the busiest. If you know your dates, order early.
Fresh trays for the southwest suburbs
Fresh Catering Trays and boxes are baked to order and delivered by us within 25 miles of the bakery. That covers Orland Hills, Tinley Park, Bridgeview, Oak Lawn, Palos Heights, Palos Hills, Palos Park, Mokena, Frankfort, Homer Glen and Lemont. Delivery is $5 within 8 miles, $10 from 8 to 15 miles and $15 from 15 to 25 miles, free over $75, $125 and $175 respectively. Two trays within 8 miles deliver free. Pickup at the bakery is always free.
Trays arrive covered. Keep the lid on until the adhan, then serve at room temperature or warm them at 350°F for 5 to 7 minutes on baking sheets. Set out dates, water and the trays first. Everything else can follow.
Frozen boxes: stock the freezer for the month
For a family, the easiest Ramadan plan is a freezer full of fatayer. Order 3 or 4 frozen boxes before the month starts, and every evening you can bake 6 or 12 at 375°F for 12 to 15 minutes while the soup heats. No thawing, no last-minute trips. Frozen boxes keep for up to 2 months, so a box ordered in January is still good at Eid.
Frozen boxes also ship overnight anywhere in the contiguous US for a flat $20 per order, so you can send a Ramadan box to family in another state. Choose from any box in the Ships Nationwide collection: the Deiyaa Box, Cheese Fatayer in 8 flavors, Za'atar Manakish or Spinach Fatayer.
Mosque and community orders
We bake for mosques, Islamic schools and community iftars across the southwest suburbs. A few things that make large orders go smoothly:
- Book the whole month at once if you host on set nights. A standing order gets the same trays on the same days without a new email each week.
- Mix the trays. Classic Mix covers most tables. Add an All Spinach tray in Sumac Spinach for guests who avoid dairy, and note that every item is made in a kitchen that handles wheat, dairy, sesame and nuts.
- Serve at room temperature. Fatayer are traditionally eaten that way, which means no warming equipment and no line at the oven.
- Count on 2 per person for a large community iftar where fatayer are one of many dishes, and round up to the next tray.
Everything we bake is vegetarian. No meat, no pork, no alcohol. Send your dates, head counts and delivery address through the Wholesale & Catering form or email deiyaabakery@gmail.com, and we will reply within one business day with a quote.
Eid al-Fitr
Eid morning is a breakfast table, and fatayer were made for it. Order a fresh box or two for the family, or the Pyramid Gift Tower, 12 fatayer with a cup of house pickles in a ribbon carrier, to bring to the house you are visiting. Order at least 24 hours ahead, and earlier if you can. Eid orders fill early.
Frequently asked questions
How many fatayer per person for iftar?
Plan on 2 to 3 per guest when fatayer are one of several dishes, 4 per guest for a light meal with soup and salad, and 5 to 6 if they are the main course. A box of 12 serves 4 to 6 at a spread; a Catering Tray of 24 serves 8 to 12.
When is Ramadan 2027?
Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin on or around February 8 and end around March 8, with Eid al-Fitr on or around March 9, 2027. Exact dates depend on the moon sighting and may shift by a day in your community.
How far ahead should I order fatayer trays for iftar?
Allow 24 hours for 1 or 2 fresh Catering Trays or any boxes. For 3 or more trays, email deiyaabakery@gmail.com 3 to 5 days ahead. For 100 pieces or more, or a standing order for several nights, allow 1 week through the Wholesale & Catering page.
Do you deliver iftar trays to Bridgeview, Oak Lawn and the Palos area?
Yes. Fresh trays and boxes are delivered within 25 miles of the bakery, which covers Bridgeview, Oak Lawn, Palos Heights, Palos Hills, Palos Park, Tinley Park and the rest of the southwest suburbs. Delivery is $5 to $15 by distance, free over $75 to $175, and pickup is free.