Top 10 Best Indian Restaurants in Chicago 2020

Chicago is not really known for Indian food as much as it is known for Italian meals, yet there are a lot of great Indian restaurants in the city that offer tasty Indian eateries. You must have already heard about the place called Little India, well, the name is derived from the fact there are a lot of great Indian restaurants and stalls in the area.

Some of the best Indian restaurants in Chicago are from this region that stretches from Devon Avenue. However, there are other spots outside this area that offer some of the best Indian food in Chicago too.

Also Read: Top 10 Best Italian Restaurants in Chicago.

Royal Indian Grill, Chicago

If you are looking to dine out in a truly casual uptown place then you can do that with this on the spot, but if you want to enjoy some of the best Indian food in Chicago while at the ease of your home this spot is certainly the best takeout spot.

The menu includes certain classics Indian fare like garlic naan and chicken tikka masala, these are always delivered timely and deliciously hot. The spot is also known for its dal and the chicken makhani that includes a mix of tomato sauce, chicken or lentils.

Cumin

Cumin has been winning the Michelin Bib Gourmand Award every single year since 2011. It is a modern Indian-Nepalese restaurant that offers cuisines that are both affordable and delicious.

You are heavily recommended to drop by at this spot to taste its rich creamy palak paneer, brilliant chicken tandoori or shrimp masala, or its lamb samosas or crispy veggie. It is certainly one of the best restaurants for getting the best Indian food in Chicago.

Pub Royale, Chicago

If you are looking to enjoy some delicious samosas or naans while also drinking a cocktail or craft bar, this casual spot located in Wicker Park is the most suitable place. There is a huge list of different drinks sold at Pub Royale.

There are also 4-ounce (125-ml) pours available for these drinks that can help you decide which special drink to choose. They are also known for serving great brunch and having impressive weeknight happy hours.

Sabri Nihari

This is another one of the top Indian Restaurants found in Little India. The Sabri Nihari was awarded the Michelin Bib Gourmand Award in 2016 and TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence in 2015. There is a wide range of dishes served at this spot including Indian and Pakistan dishes.

From haleen, a lentil stew along with slowly-cooked and shredded beef, to karahi gosht, a blend of vegetables and mildly-cooked goat meat, you’ll find it all here. Another great reason to pay a visit here is the affordability. The Entrees cost about $15, while the costliest one amounts to only $17.99.    

Tiffin, Chicago

Tiffin is a great Indian restaurant located in Little India. This spot is a must-visit if you are seeking a fancy night out. It has one of the impressive menus on the list as it has a large number of veg. options along with a separate section that is specifically dedicated to Indian-Chinese fusion entrees. They also have a separate section for various kinds of bread. You must definitely stop by to enjoy the paneer chills or baby corn.

Mango Pickle, Indian Restaurant, Chicago

Mango Pickle is located in the northern neighborhood of Edgewater and is ran by head chef Marisa Paolillo, who is a Chicago native. Despite being a non-Indian, Chef Paolillo at Mango Pickle offers a wide variety of Indian food and the menu includes such items that you may not even locate in most Indian Restaurants menu.

The secret is, Paolillo has spent 10 years learning and studying cooking all over India. It is definitely one of the best Indian restaurants in Chicago and you must definitely visit to try the feni stir-fry, Lamba khichdi, and cashew rice cake.

Naansense, North Wells Street

If you are a fan of Indian street food or are looking to just try them out, Naansense may just be the place for you. They serve Indian-inspired street dishes in a style similar to that of Chipotle.

You would be allowed to build your own bowls. Just choose protein, base, veggies, and sauce and you’re done. Unlike most fast-food spots, the food offered at Naansense is handmade every day. There are two branches of naansense in Chicago, one on Clinton St. and other on Wells St.

The Spice Room Chicago

The Spice Room is one of the most popular Indian BYOB Restaurants in Chicago. The restaurant located in Logan Square offers food originating from the north side of India.

The north Indian food is spices-heavy but you don’t have to worry about the food being too hot as the customers at The Spice Room are given an opportunity to choose the level of spiciness they want in their food. Moreover, the website of the spot proudly emphasizes “Spicy doesn’t always mean hot,” but rather full and rich of flavor. 

JK Kabab House, Chicago

This restaurant is also situated in infamous little India though just outside of Devon Avenue on Rockwell Street. It is known for serving some of the best Pakistani and Indian cuisines in a fairly casual location.

As the name indicates the restaurant specializes in serving delicious kebabs, that are cooked slowly and made to order. If you do not like kebabs, though, there are other great dishes that the restaurant hosts. You can try the frontier chicken, mixed and sorted with tomatoes and onions or the paneer Kathi roll, a blend between paneer and vegetables wrapped in chapati.

Indian Clay Pot, Chicago

If you want to have an authentic experience of enjoying Indian food that this spot could be just the right one for you. The food at this restaurant is prepared by Chef Sai who has been studying Indian cooking for a long period of time.

As the name may suggest, a large portion of this restaurant’s entrees is dominated by authentic Indian clay pots that offer an authentic taste of a country’s cuisine to the customer.

There is a huge number of options present in the spot for meat-eaters and vegetarians alike. Meat eaters mostly enjoy the butter chicken, Kerala shrimp curry and the lamb vindaloo. For vegetarians, specialties include a large series of masala-based entrees like paneer tikka, herb vegetable masala, and mushroom masala.

Conclusion

There are some great Indian restaurants in Chicago that offer delicious Indian food. The only reason why Chicago is not really known for its Indian food is the awareness, because the quality of Indian food in Chicago is almost unmatched throughout the states. We have listed out the best Indian restaurants that are offering the best Indian food in Chicago right now.

Before signing off we would like to say that we have also considered the food safety standards of these restaurants along with the authenticity and cultural aspect of the spots before listing and ranking them.

If you reside in Chicago and have visited some of these restaurants, you are more than welcome to drop your reviews in the comment section below.