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    Chiya Chai Cafe

    4.2 (555 reviews)

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    CHIYA CHAI CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for working

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    Recommended Reviews - Chiya Chai Cafe

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    Royal Masala Chicken (top), Punjabi Spinach Paneer (bottom), and a Chicken Balti Pie to split.
    Ash W.

    I've been a fan of Chiya Chai for years but the last 2 times I've ordered have been terrible. I'm not sure if ownership/management has changed, but both times we were super disappointed with the quality of food. Last time the masala curry fries were burnt and this time they served us burnt rice. The garlic naan was just regular naan with a garlic powder butter spread on it (no real garlic). We won't be back.

    Creamy Masala Chicken Curry Bowl
    Sam L.

    Chiya chai is a great cafe. They have awesome food and awesome drinks, and they're really good at everything on their menu. The ambiance is great and the staff are super cool and friendly. I've been getting the desi chai a lot lately and it tastes fantastic hot or iced. Would definitely recommend. The food items are all great, especially love the chicken curry and saag paneer. I think the pies are their most unique item, very delicious. (still hoping for the apple raita to come back one day it was so fire) Overall though, I think it's a great place. I find myself there all the time because I'm always craving it, and I'm constantly recommending it to everyone I know.

    garlic naan, Creamy Masala Chicken Curry Bowl
    Mona T.

    Overall Thoughts: The menu here is diverse and creative, from pies to South Asian classics and Southeast Asian momos. It's counter service, very casual, and it wasn't too crowded on a Friday night; my friend and I found a table easily. Overall, I wasn't really impressed with the specific dishes I ordered, but I'm giving 4 stars as I think the spot has potential and I'd be interested to try their chai and happy hour drink deals in the future. Food I tried: - Creamy Chicken Masala Curry bowl (3.5/5): The flavors were not as strong or vibrant nor the chicken as tender as I was hoping for. The flavors and textures grew monotonous for me after awhile. - Garlic Naan (4.2/5): Nice strong garlic flavor albeit a little dry. -- Price (relative to peers): 4.3/5 Food: 3.8/5 Ambience: 4.3/5 Service: 4.5/5 Overall Value: 4.1/5

    Masala Curry Fries
    Khadijah H.

    I love this franchise - such an amazing taste of Indian cuisine with a couple of twist on dishes. Logan square location is massive and can house you and your family or friends for a good time. I placed an order rather quickly and all the dishes arrived within 15-30 minutes. Thankfully we order multiple dishes to get a taste of their menu. Each dish was a nice size portion that matches the price and that wows me. The fries were very well seasoned and the sauce to pair was tasty. The wings were so tender the meat fell off the bone. The sauce seasoning and flavor was a triple knockout and worth the taste. Definitely don't miss out on that. The creamy chicken masala was indeed creamy and incredibly Generous with the meat provided. The pot pie was alright and filling. What elevated the dish were the sauces on the sauce. I believe one was Apple base and the other was another fruit base. Super delicious on their own! Definitely visit this location or the one located in downtown Chicago. My only downfall was not ordering their chai flight. This gives me a reason to return!

    Inside
    Kiaya S.

    Have passed this place so many times and finally decided to pop in! I got the vanilla nutmeg chai small and an order of samosas ( comes in 2)! That only ran me about $13 so bang for your buck is here!! This place is very spacious and open and would be great for a remote work day! They also have happy hour that I want to come back and check out! The samosas come with two sauces and both were delicious! This was a great portion for the price and the vanilla nutmeg was delicious ! Their menu is pretty extensive and service was on point! I'll be back for the cocktails !

    Masala Chicken Pie
    Elgin B.

    Mountains of flavors and spice! It's my first time going to Chiya cafe with a buddy. Since I do a lot of Indian events, I'm familiar with the cuisine. Since it was the first time here, we tried a few things. The cafe is cute and was busy that day. It's essential to note seating is first come, first serve cafe style. My friend and I almost left, but after taking a walk around the block, more seats opened up. I got the chicken masala pot pie, which was so delicious and baked to perfection. I wasn't a massive fan of the sauces that came with pastry, but that's just my taste buds--the Samosas were fantastic and also baked well. My friend got the Deep Dish Lamb, which she thoroughly enjoyed, and we shared the chili wings. The wings were good but spicy. It's not unbearable, but it hit the right spots. I did think the physical chili on top of the wing was a bit much for me, but they shouldn't deter anyone reading this to stop them from trying them. I washed everything down with a coffee. Overall, this was a great place to talk with a friend and enjoy food. I loved all the flavors and atmosphere. If you never had Indian food, this is a great introduction. Just remember this isn't a restaurant, it's a cafe with restaurant-style Cuisine. For my first visit, Chiya Cafe got a 4 out of 5

    Monica N.

    I came here for a comedy show in the winter and it was a ton of fun! The whole interior is really cutely decorated and the space gives off very casual vibes. The service is quick and easy. We went up to the registered and ordered the drinks and food we wanted. The samosas are delicious and hearty! The masala fries are delicious. I want to come back to try their momo dumplings. In terms of drinks, the star is of course their chai. Cardamom pistachio and spicy masala are my favorite. It's honestly some of the best chai I've had outside of my home chai! The cocktails are also yummy and unique in flavors. Tip: I found out about their comedy show through their Instagram stories.

    Chiya Veggie Momo
    Zirish K.

    The steamed veggie momos were good and I absolutely loved the seating and surroundings. Would definitely like to go here again to try other food options.

    Masala Chicken Pie
    Shannon W.

    Great little lunch spot! Very inventive fusion dishes. As someone who loves chicken pot pies and also chicken tikka masala (your suspicions are correct. Yes, I am white.) I had to try the chicken masala pie. Delicious! It is a served with green apple raita and peach chutney. If you're new to Indian food, it's a nice sampler! The peach chutney was absolutely delicious, perfect mix of savory and sweet. I also got the horchaitea which for me was a bit overly sweet but I feel like that was my fault for getting something involving horchata, which is by nature extremely sweet. Staff was polite and helpful. Most people eating here were alone, so if you're squeamish about eating out by yourself, you have no reason to be nervous about this place!

    Ginger Cardammon Chai
    Paul A.

    My girldriend and I ordered 4 chai tea drinks, ranked from best to least: 1) Ginger Cardammon Chai - the tastiest chai, with cardammon filling it up initially and then giving way to the ginger bite. This is addicting! 2) Dirty Masala Chai - this is super spicy, for better or worse. We personally love this style chai and think it's excellent! 3) Horchaitea - Iced cold drink mixture of horchata and chai, and it's as cinnamon-y as you'd expect. Super delicious 4) Anise - this was the only one that wasn't excellent, as the anise smokiness is nice but there's not a lot of other flavor. It is what they advertised, there's just others we liked more I recommend ordering the chai's that they make with spices, as opposed to the ones with syrups. Both are good! We just LOVED the spices and herbs baked in to the chai's, as they tasted perfect. Also am glad that they serve these drinks piping hot! Definitely check this place out, and order the momo dumplings. I loved the Lamb & Dill the most, it was full flavor and didn't need the extra sauces served on the side. Cool vibe here too, if you're seeking a study space. Can't wait to come back!

    Rasmalai
    Amanda G.

    Okay, I got a new one from me to you ... the rasmalai from Chiya Chi. It's a creamy and spongy cup cake made with Indian ricotta cheese, sugar, milk and cardamom. It's like a colder, lighter tree leches cake. It was so good I went back two nights in a row and was to pouring the cream into the ice left over at the bottom of my coconut cream chai that I had just crushed and drinking it with a straw. They changed the menu up a little here recently and everything had been just ridiculously delicious. Three-peat tomorrow night? Also got the honey spicy wings, I got so messy, but it was way worth it.

    Farah A.

    Chiya Chai has been on my visit list for a while and finally got to try it. It was worth the wait. True to its name, this place is a chai lovers paradise. With more than 150 combinations of chai brewed in house, this place will make you come back for more. Chiya chai offers Nepali - Indian cuisine. Love their menu choices, tons of meat and vegan options. They have gluten free options as well. We walked in and ordered our food and then got seated. We tried the pani puri, samosa chaat, deep dish lamb, Kathmandu chicken momos, Chicken Balti pie , and the hot curry wings. We really enjoyed all the dishes. The Balti pie was a 10/10. The chicken and peas curry filing inside was delicious. The momos were excellent and freshly prepared. The lamb dish was amazing. Loved the pani puri and samosa chaat. The curry wings were spicy but really tasty. We got the chai growler to go in the masala chai flavor. We refrigerated it and made chai with it. We used 1/2 cup milk and 1/2 of the masala chai growler . Boiled it and delicious flavor and aroma chai ready in minutes at home. Strongly recommend getting it Overall we had a wonderful experience and will be back again to stock up on chai and enjoy other dishes from their menu.

    Curried Kale and Potato Pie
    Lynn N.

    A great place for Indian food!! Chai tea too. Wow soooo good. Here's what we had, in order starting with the most popular items at our table. You'll see the vegetarian items were the most popular. And the spice level for the food was mild/medium so everyone at the table enjoyed the food. 5 stars - Drinks - Ginger cardamom chai (hot). Spicy masala chai (hot). Horchaitea (iced). All soooo good. They had a spiced flavor, a tad sweeter than we are used to, but that wasn't a bad thing. Comfort in a cup for sure!! They have non-dairy milk options too! 5 stars - Aloo Chaat - pan fried potatoes with lime juice, onion, tomatoes, cilantro, spices, yogurt, garbanzo beans and crunchy bhel. The best flavor in this. How everything combined into a flavor packed bite, yet refined. 5 stars - Pani Puri - crisp flour puffs (puri) filled with spiced potatoes and a sauce made with tamarind, cumin, rock salt, mint, cilantro, cayenne and chaat masala. Many at that table never had this cold dish before and they all loved it. Another flavor packed bite with a refreshing taste. 5 stars - Savory pies - Curried kale and potato was the best. The spicy minced pork was also good. The best part of their pies is the buttery flaky crust. The curried kale and potato filling (curried kale, potatoes, carrots and peas) was nice and creamy. Included two different chutneys. 4 stars - we had two other dishes. Darjeeling pork momos. Creamy masala chicken curry bowl. The meat eaters at the table said they liked these, although not as good as the food options above. 2 stars - Hot curry wings (curry, spices, hot pepper sauce, lime, honey). Unfortunately these were too salty to consume. They were very nice to make us a new batch and the saltiness was still only dialed down a bit. But their customer service in response to our comment was a 5 star response... 5 stars - Raul was one of the most friendly employees we ever met. He was so patient and answered our questions. Our party of seven had a lot of differing opinion's, yet he kept a friendly tone and followed every step as we ordered our food. Raul's food recommendations were spot on. Ordering the right dishes suited for a party of seven is hard, but Raul made it an easy experience because of his knowledge about the food and drinks. As a plus, when we mentioned the wings were salty and that we're thinking rice could help, he offered to make it right by asking the chefs to make a new batch. He treated our group with kindness and made our experience a great one. Thank you Raul for your exceptional service!

    Masala Curry Fries

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    6 years ago

    Date night for Valentine's Day. This was alway my husband and I's halfway point when we were dating

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    4 years ago

    Unique menu. Quick counter service in the front section. The chai drinks are fantastic.

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    Page 8 of 14

    Ask the Community - Chiya Chai Cafe

    So what's the best chai here? So many choices!

    All are good! I had the same question and the barista was very helpful and clearly articulated the differences.

    I'm going to a party there and I can't take spicy hot food. I have asked at Indian restaurants what they have that's mild, only to be served a dish of dragon's fire.Can anyone suggest what I can order there? Thanks!

    Most of the momos don't seem spicy! Just ask and clarify and you'll be good

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Sabor no more. Must be new owners. I've been going here for 20 years and this little corner had it…read moreall. But now, not even the puertorican accent . The food was ok, or so-so...which is bad considering their history. The lechón was mediocre, no seasoning (before you could see it on there.) now it looks like chicken or turkey. The alcapurrias were super greasy, hollow (?) and flavorless. Alcapurrias should be more substantial, not super soft like these. The rice was ok, but again it had no authentic flavor. The pastelillos (ground beef empanadas) were thin and dry. They may have been from yesterday. The passion fruit juice (parcha) is still delicious and the only good thing I had, besides Coco Rico soda. They must have new owners trying to mimic old recipes because this was our second chance attempt. We will now go to La Bomba, Jibaritos y Más or Las Palmas when they open.

    My co-worker and I headed over to "El Secreto del Sabor" food truck and grabbed a quick lunch…read morebefore driving back to our store for the closing shift. She's Mexican but told me about this place. She said there are several food trucks stationed in Humboldt Park, yet this one is her favorite. I believe I had Puerto Rican food before when I was out and about in the city, though I never paid attention to any aromatic mobile vehicle in this neighborhood. Umm...Rosa J., did I not tell you to stay vigilant? Fortunately I had some cash on hand. I scrambled $7 for an order of bistec mixta, which came with arroz. Wow, the rice was SO fresh, and the steak was easy to chew and flavorful. When the young lady was preparing for my food, I was staring at a copious amount of "frituras." They smelled heavenly and were definitely soliciting my taste bud. Well, I gotta get back to work. Fried food doesn't mesh too well with my working stomach. Surely we will meet each other again when I have a day off. I didn't see any credit card machine inside the truck, so I have no doubt it is cash-only. I didn't really notice if their hours were posted on the exterior. I bet it depends based on weather or seasonality.

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    Portillo's & Barnelli's Chicago - CHICKEN CAESAR WRAP

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    i tried the italian beef sandwich with extra gravy and spicy peppers. there was generous portions…read moreof beef and the peppers were actually hot! the bun does get quite soggy if you order extra gravy but think of it as a french dip sandwich. i came here on a saturday and the wait was about 30 minutes to get our food. the staff are very organized and have a good system down to handle the big crowds. the ambiance of the restaurant is pure chicago with the sports banners and decor.

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    Fatso's Last Stand - Char dog, depression style, fries, side of Merkts cheddar sauce.

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    I had read about how Fatso's does the char dog. I made this my last meal in Chicago…read more I went with a char dog, depression style, an order of fries, and a side of the Merkts cheddar. How was it? Fries- Delicious! Fresh cut fries, made right in front of you. They were great! Huge portion, too! Merkts Cheddar Sauce- Hell yeah! Give me a gallon of this, and I will chug it! Such a tasty cheese sauce. Loved dipping my fries in it. Great combo! Char Dog- This dog was delicious! Great char, great toppings. My only beef would be the bun. It definitely could have been more soft/steamed and fresh. It held up pretty well, but there were a couple bites where it broke and flaked apart. Hate when that happens. Still...didn't ruin the overall experience. Had a great last meal in Chicago before I headed to the airport.

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    Chiya Chai Cafe - coffee - Updated September 2026

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