I read an article about Chiya Chai in the Red Eye. I was intrigued that the owners have an organic Nepalese tea import business and use those teas to make the drinks. Not only do they make delicious chais, they also offer Nepalese food. On our first visit we tried the masala chicken w/ basmati rice - Just the right amount of heat and spice. Hubby tried the spicy minced pork pie and although I don't eat pork, I tried a piece of the crust and it was hands down the best crust I've had - flaky and buttery. Needless to say, we ordered another pie, masala chicken. If you're looking for local, natural or organic meals with a kick, this is the place. We've been here twice in the last week and can't wait to go back and try the rest of the menu. read more

Chiya Chai Cafe - Small ginger fennel chai - spicy and not overpowering - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I called to ask about their menu, and I was told to place my delivery order through the website. 1.75 hours later while my food was waiting for a delivery driver to pick up, I called back and learned that the restaurant has had delivery issues "all week." I wish I had that warning when I called before placing my order. My husband drove to pick up our cold food. read more

This place was difficult for me to review because I really wanted to like this place. The stellar yelp reviews for this place made me really want to like it, but I guess I just didn't have the same experience as other reviewers. I came in hungry for a snack and drink around coffee time, and ordered a ginger & cardamom chai and a spicy potatoes. The chai took around 15 minutes to be prepared, and spicy potatoes around 30 mins. I didn't quite understand why the wait time was so long for 2 simple items. It wasn't even peak time either. The chai itself was extremely average. You could taste both the ginger and cardamom but it was overwhelmingly sweet. I couldn't really enjoy the spices when it felt overpowered with sugar syrup. Also, I was really anticipating it after a long wait so maybe it was that. The spicy potatoes were good, but after 2-3 bites I feel like you wouldn't really want more. You get a large plate for $7 but it must be shared because an individual would definitely not be able to finish it. It was very sweet and syrupy which made it heavy and almost feel inauthentic from the Nepalese dish that it is clearly based off. Everything about this place seemed a bit confusing for me. It wants to be a chai cafe but does not feel authentic, which is fine. But if they can't do those few items well either, it just seems to fall flat. read more

A friend told me that I had to come here but that if I did, I should just order the pies. Of course, I didn't listen but he was right. The pies are awesome and you definitely need to get them. I got the chicken masala pie and it was great! I can't wait to try the others. I also got the goat curry which was good but not the best I've had and just doesn't compare to the quality of the pie. The meat was not as tender as I would have liked or that I'm used to. Lastly, I got the lamb dumplings, my second favorite dish so far. They were very good and I enjoyed the chutneys that came with them. I ordered delivery but would like to go dine in. Nice little place. read more

I never order delivery, and since the pandemic began I have ordered the masala, chili potatoes, and bison dumplings no fewer than 6 times. That's it, that's my review. Run don't walk. read more

If it was based on speed, I'd give this place a 2 - not enough employees to assist correctly at a restaurant. Giving it a four because service and quality of food was great. Really enjoyed the chicken dishes! Wish I lived in Chicago to enjoy more - affordable and cute. read more

Do not order takeout from here. I ordered $30+ of food to be ready for pickup at noon. I was there at 12:15pm to get it. The woman at the counter seemed very confused but found the order and went back to the kitchen. By 12:40 I checked in again and was told that the kitchen had not even started the order with a shrug as to why. There is no manager. No way to contact the owner. Counter seems unable to help in anyway. And in trying to cancel the order, was told it will take four days to get a refund. An "info" email isn't responsive. If you want to wait for hours, go for it. I used to order from here weekly for many people, and in the last 6 months progressively the wait times are longer, the staff more confused, and the quality worsening. read more

Unlike common coffee chain chai drinks, the many flavors of chai here are not obviously sweetened and offer somewhat subtle variations of seasoning. You can do a flight of three and there are different options for milk. Momos came in servings of six, with thin chewy skins and juicy flavor-packed fillings. Looking forward to coming back for dinner service. read more

Chiya Chai Cafe - Lamb and dill momos - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Counter service coffee, tea, chai, limited pastries, snack size servings. Excellent service. Very clean. Very helpful professional knowledgeable staff. Stop by if you're in the neighborhood for a quick bite and a dose of caffeine to keep you going. read more

This place is really really good. We have ordered here twice during the coronavirus lockdown and it's delicious. The wings are great and the other curries have great depth of flavor. The bread (a thinner naan type) is amazing too. read more

I love this place. I ordered a bunch of things with my family and everything was good. As a table we agreed that the vindaloo and the meat pie were the favorites. I really enjoyed my chai drink (I believe it was caramel flavored). Overall it is probably the best Indian restaurant I've ever eaten at and I will definitely come back next time I'm in Chicago! read more

Chiya Chai Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Spiced up chai! Nice, creamy, and hot to keep us warm along the River Walk. Tried the Masala Chai and the Ginger Cardamom Chai. The ginger one was sweeter. read more

WOW - Chiya Chai Cafe blew my mind. I came here to meet a friend for dinner, and it exceeded my expectations! Firstly, the Chai selection was amazing! There were SO MANY options for Chai - you could customize flavor, tea type (there is a caffeine free option), and milk type (regular, almond, coconut, soy, etc) and you could get a full cup or you can get flights of 3 or 5 teas. I got the 3 flight and it was a lot of tea! They were all so good. I can't wait to try all the flavors! The meal was amazing as well! The momo dumplings were SO GOOD. I'd recommend the bison one. Also the chicken masala was soooo good - perfect flavor, a bit of spice but not too spicy, perfect texture. The front room is a cafe, but the back room opens up for dinner and it's more of a sit-down restaurant. They also have ladies night on Thursday's with $5 cocktails! I can't wait to come back and try more from the menu!! read more

I've gone to Chiya Chai several times in the last few years, and it's always been good. I've tried most of their menu, including the pies, curry bowls, and dumplings. If you're looking for vegetarian options, I prefer their curry bowls over the other choices. Their samosas are also delicious. Last but not least, they have the best chai. There are not many coffee shops that make their own chai, so I always prefer getting chai from here. read more

Really loved our experience here for a girls' din and would recommend it to anyone for a casual yet special dinner out. We started with one of their signature cocktails with bourbon and masala chai which was bright and bold and went down fast. Then we went for the curries. A coconut spinach curry with potatoes for me (omg their potatoes are so soft and tasty), and a lamb and chickpea curry for my friends. The lamb curry (think it was lamb vindaloo) was incredibly flavorful. I would get it again, and all curries came with white rice. I do wish we got naan or some sort of bread because I always love the dip action, but maybe next time. The waitstaff was incredibly sweet and I am on a mission to bring my hubby here next. Sorry, we ate all the food before thinking of taking pics, but trust me: it was delish. read more

The service was excellent! We had samosa appetizer, darjaling pork dumpling, veggie pie, and creamy chicken masala curry. Also the ginger cardamon chia & mango lassi. The drinks were excellent & will order again & again. There were many on the menu we want to try. The pie & the curry were the best. We'll be back! Wish they open earlier for their drinks menu. Love to have a chia in the morning! read more

Chiya Chai Cafe - Creamy chicken curry, basmati rice, samosa, kale & potatoes pie. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Everything perfect...food, service. and authentic chai. They were very helpful in choosing a chai with the preferred spices. Food was fantastic read more

I went to Chiya Chai Cafe for dinner with a friend who had heard good things about it. We ate in the front section which has a more limited menu and is more casual dining. We split a few of the curry bowls and they were very tasty and a good sized portion for the price. I would like to go back again and sit in the back section of the restaurant that has a longer menu and try the dumplings and samosas. I had tea when I went and it was delicious but I've heard the chai is out of this world! read more

I was really excited to try out this spot and sample some Himalayan/Nepalese goods as I had never experienced it before. As the name states, this is a legitimate cafe- so expect to go to the register first and order what you will. I had heard great things of their pies, so I had both the kale and pork ones, plus a regular chai because, come on, it's Chiya CHAI. How could I not? I must say, the chai is as good as it gets! Definitely not your run-of-the-mill Starbucks or packet tea stuff. It's wonderful black tea; a little thin (bodied) for my preference, but given that I load all my tea down with milk, that's my opinion alone. Actually, all the aromatic herbs really gives this drink character, plus they supposedly make it from scratch in-house, so I still give it 5/5. The pies are good, though a bit on the spicier end of my taste buds. (I'm not kidding; if you're not partial to heat in your flavorings, you've been warned!) They're small in size (about five inches wide), but the filling is very gratifying, and the pie crust itself is delicious. They also come with a couple small sides: a sweet apple chutney of sorts (which balanced the spicy pie fillings very well), though the other I couldn't quite recognize- it may have been thin sliced tart apple with yogurt, which I cared for far less. Still, any pie is absolutely worth trying out! I did note the ingredients, meat and vegetable alike, all seemed very fresh. read more

I love the ambience here. It's a perfect mix for a place to study, and have lunch. But I'm here to write about the food! First, I grew up in Southeast Asia, living in Singapore for 6 years. When it comes to curry, I am somewhat of a snob. But the creamy chicken masala here is SO. AUTHENTIC. The ONLY reason I'm giving 4 stars is that the price point is a little steep for what you get. However, this is the result of what's happening to Logan Square, so I get it. Oh. Lastly, the chai menu can be overwhelming. There are two main columns, the "cut right to the chase" chais and the "sip and savor" chais. The sip and savor chais are more dessert teas. And I personally love the ginger cardamom chai. Love this place and will be back often. read more

Chiya Chai Cafe - Love the ambience. Nice cafe to do some work in! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Great food and teas, never disappointed. The individual sizes of the curries are a bit small so I would get a large if you're hungry. There are a good variety of vegan options, my favorite is the peas and cauliflower curry. read more

I have been coming here often for the last several years because the location is convenient. I love the chicken masala dish but I have to find a new place. The ordering and service is consistently bad but I had always overlooked it. Last Friday night I ordered three dinner portions of Chicken Masala, two naan and a side of spinach. There was approximately 4 small cubes of chicken (not an exaggeration) in each of the three dinners with the rest being sauce only. The garlic naan had barely a touch of garlic and couldn't be distinguished from the plain naan, and the spinach couldn't have been more than a tiny handful. This amount of food was ridiculous for a bill of over $65. read more

Most of the food was pretty good but WAY too salty. I had to rinse out the sautéed greens I ordered just to make it edible. The pork momo was the best of the items we ordered but they were a bit dry by the time we got to eat it (got pick up so definitely would have been better to eat it at the restaurant). Overall, it was good and I'm glad I tried it, but not my favorite restaurant in the area. read more

We started with two masala iced Chai's and holy cow were they delicious. A perfect mix of spice and sweet. For our food we shared a Masala Chicken Pie and some pork dumplings both made fresh in house (and not that we say "in house" but you can actually tell it was made fresh with your tastebuds). The pie crust was delicate and wafery and not too greasy. The ingredients were fresh and the chutney was superb. The dumplings were also very high quality and delicious. The wait staff was friendly and the space was clean. Loved it. read more

Chiya Chai Cafe - Pork dumplings and Masala chicken pie. Yum. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Still a great place, but I am so depressed about their hours. I've swung by three or four times in the morning, only to be reminded by a locked door that they don't open to eleven. What gives? On the weekend? Come on, man, I need to get my chai on. read more

Chiya Chai Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Cute restaurant with some really good offerings. Chai isn't exactly like what it is like back home but it's pretty good nonetheless! I loved the chicken masala curry bowl! I got it with the garlic paratha and the combination was amazing!! It was my first time trying momos and I really liked them too! The curry bowl and paratha combo is one I'll be back for surely (my new comfort food meal)!!! read more

Let me start by saying that I am addicted to this food. It is delicious, consistent, and the portions are large. And the only reason I could not give this five out of five stars, is because the condiments are always half full. By that I mean the accompaniments that go with the samosas or the pies. For example, it looks like they put a teaspoon of chutney in the little cup, and it's never enough to go along with the main dish. It drives me bananas because the food is amazing but even when I ask for extra sauce they don't give it. read more

Such a quaint and trendy spot for delicious Indian food! My friend and I got chai, Lima beans, deconstructed samosas, and vegetable curry. I will definitely be back! read more

Chiya Chai Cafe - Samosa chaat - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Came for the food, but stayed because the wait staff couldn't get anyone's orders right. We did get some entertainment with our dinner, albeit at our own expense and frustration. We had a reservation, but walked into what seemed like a coffee shop. After standing around for a bit we asked someone and they led us to the back. The tables weren't clean and the staff rushed to clean them up so we could sit. The waiter put some menus on the table in a hurry before running off (he did this a lot). After about 15 minutes, he finally came back to take our order. All seemed okay to this point and I felt bad that they were understaffed. The first food items, samosa chaat and curry fries, came out and things still seemed positive. Then one of the kitchen runners brings chicken momos, but we ordered pork so had her take it back. We got our chicken curry and chole, which the runner insisted was lamb, and then our waiter runs out to say that the lamb is out and asked if there was something else we wanted. No dining plates or serving utensils were provided until we asked. We were also given rotis when we ordered paratha, and we had to ask about these several times. This whole time we only got one of our drinks in about 45 minutes of sitting there. Finally we got the chai that 2 of us ordered, but the last drink was nowhere in sight. Another 10 minutes later, a waitress came out with the final drink and the one we got first. When we said we already got the drink, she proceeded to throw it away in the trash next to us. Speaking of trash, the tables were hardly ever bussed and just accumulated plates as the staff moved them from other tables. At one point another diner said "you keep running from table to table with the food and don't know what anyone ordered." Yeah...the waiter asked at least 2 other tables if they got everything they ordered and had to run through their order again. Extremely chaotic and disorganized. Overall, probably the worst service I've ever seen in a restaurant. I'm sure part of it was due to being understaffed, but some of the staff legitimately had no clue about the food. The food was decent, but that's where it stops. read more

My boyfriend and I first visited Chiya Chai when they first opened before seeing a movie at the nearby Logan Theatre. We loved it! Everything was delicious, the back room was gorgeous and cozy, and the drinks were strong. We decided to visit once again, due to its proximity to the nearby theater, this past weekend and were surprised by how much it had gone downhill. We decided to sit in the cafe part this time. They have a self-serve section of water. We noticed that most of the cups had specks of dirt at the bottom. We had to sort through the cups to find a decently clean one. As for food, I ordered the Creamy Masala Chicken bowl, my boyfriend had the Spicy Minced Pork pie, and we ordered the Kathmandu Chicken dumplings to share. The dumplings were fine. Nothing special and neither were the sauces. My Creamy Masala Chicken was the same thing I ordered the first time I visited the restaurant and I was less than impressed. I loved the dish the first time but this time, I found it bland and small for the price. I'm not sure what happened to all the flavor the second time. My boyfriend did not enjoy his Spicy Minced Pork pie. Again, it was lacking the flavor we are used to having in Indian cuisine. But despite the flavor, he found a HAIR in his pie after he was nearly done eating it! We were already put off by the cleanliness of the water, the flavor of the food, and this put it over the top that we will never visit this place again. My boyfriend took his plate up front and they offered him a replacement. He denied (why would he trust a second one?) and we left. We did not speak to management or request a refund because we were in a rush to continue on with our evening and honestly, we just wanted to leave that place. We were excited when this place first opened but it has not kept up with its recent hype. read more

Place for light indian snacks and indian tea. We were in the area and were in mood for indian tea. We ordered masala Bombay cutting, aloo paratha and masala fries. I think the tea was more machine made than what you would get by making on a stove. It was ok tea had paratha was dry. If the tea and snacks are improved, this place would be amazing. read more

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So I debated putting a review up because I had to decide between wanting all of you crowding in here or no one knowing about it and fearing they will go out of business.. So here's my review. If you have the Chai flight and it doesn't change your life than you are a terrible person with no soul. And so help me _____, if this place goes out of business because you don't support them.. I will find you. Love, me :) read more

I ordered a pick up order from here a few weeks ago, I always walk by the cafe and based on the yelp reviews decided it was time to try it out. The wing appetizer and bison dumplings were delicious, would recommend trying those! My boyfriend got one of the meat pies and really liked it (can't recall which one) and I got the chicken masala which was the first time I've ever had it and it was tasty (however I have no other versions to compare it to). The food was done quickly and still hot when we picked it up! We will try the restaurant out to one day soon! read more

Chiya Chai Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We took our (very old school Indian) mother here prior to her birthday dinner and WOW, were we impressed! Not an easily-impressed bunch, might I add. We got a flight of 5 masala chais, masala fries (so good), and 2 samosas with chutney. It was plenty between the 3 of us. I'm still sitting here... stuffed... need a sec before dinner. RAUL you are a gem! Thank you. read more

This is a great spot. The food here is very very good. First there are many vegan or vegetarian options compared to most Chicago restaurants. I ordered the cauliflower and peas curry, friend got lamb dumplings. Beer and drinks are available as well. It's fast here and spacious. Staff is great and when they say spicy it's actually spicy (another rarity in Chicago). Enough seating for a good sized group or a quick stop in. They also have dinner service in the back if you're looking for something more formal. A definite place to try on Milwaukee. read more

Chiya Chai Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Great, casual spot for Indian food and chai. I love pie, and I love meat pies, but Indian meat pies are EXTRA. We tried the Chicken Balti Pie, Masala Curry Fries, Pork Vindaloo Bowl, Mango Lassi, and Ginger Cardamom Chai. Their meat pies come in a homemade buttery flaky crust, you can just smell the butter when you get the plate. It comes with a peach/raisin chutney and some sort of pickled apple with yogurt and maybe turmeric? The pie is very rich and savory so the two little sides definitely complement it well. Their ginger cardamom chai was amazing. It's definitely not for the faint of heart if you don't like these flavors but I love them and I slurped it all up. The mango lassi gets a thumbs up from me as well, a little tart and a little sweet, it's perfect! The pork vindaloo was interesting just because you don't usually see pork on Indian menus, it's a nice change from the typical lamb version. And those masala fries were nice and crispy, ad I would for sure recommend the upcharge of $1.50 to add the masala sauce. It's probably the same masala they offer in the pie and the bowl. It's got bits of chicken and it's super flavorful as expected, and totally makes those fries. Very reasonably priced as well, and its right off the Logan Square blue line stop. Will definitely be back! read more

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Last night we stopped at Chiya chai for dinner and our waiter, David was seriously the best waiter I've ever had in my life. I really wanted to just hang out with him! He was so warm and welcoming and seriously - his energy just made us want to order drinks and eat food all night! Plus the cocktails he made were ten times better than anything we've had lately in the neighborhood. We love the food here and the service is always fantastic but David really blew our minds. Thanks for making our dinner incredible! read more

Okay, so I'm back in the city for the holidays and I had to meet up with some friends. I didn't have a car so I kept it close to home. With the cold weather, what's better than a warm chai drink? Not gonna lie, I came here twice in less than a week. I'm a little bit embarrassed but this will lead to a great review! The chicken masala was great!!! A bit spicy - which I was surprised about honestly - but definitely worth it! It tasted great and the regular was a great portion size. I was glad I didn't order the larger portion. Wish it had a tad bit of more white rice but it was still delicious! I also tried the flight of chai (ginger, maple, and chocolate). I was scared but they all tasted great (tip: maybe stir the chocolate one so the chocolate doesn't settle in the bottom only). One star less only because of customer service on my first visit. I was asking for recommendations and it was just a tad bit awkward as if it were an inconvenience. So my advice would be working on customer service. While food and drinks taste great, the place needs to improve its people skills just a little more. Second visit of the week and the customer service was up to par! The cashier male was friendly and was very cheerful answering my questions. So a star less still because of my first visit... but I'll probably be back again in a few weeks. I order another flight for me and my friend and the curry fries with the sauce. Personally, get the chicken masala dish unless you love love love fries. The fries were great, don't get me wrong but you cannot beat the chicken masala dish. Welp, I promise I'm done with this review for now. I'm sure I'll be back again soon. It's been a great addition to the neighborhood. read more

Really nice peaceful vibe. The food is great too. Highly recommended to anyone looking for a casual lunch spot!

Amazing momos We could feel the spices in the food. Different from traditional indian food. Looking forward to next visit soon read more