I came here tonight for dinner and was so satisfied! I dined here with my 3 other friends and made reservations through Yelp. I was the first one to get here, and when I initially saw this casual café I literally thought, "oh my god, why did we have to make reservations for this place?". I was then instructed by another server to go to the back for my reservation (which it didn't even look like there was a backroom!). The space had dim lighting and was so beautiful and intimate. My friends and I order two bottles of wine, one white and one red, 2 orders of the classic samosas, bison dumplings and pork dumplings, creamy masala chicken, pork vindaloo, garlic paratha, chicken balti pie, masala curry fries, spicy potatoes, and the chocolate cake. Woooooh. Yeah... we can definitely eat. Everything was so authentic and fresh! The food did take awhile, but it was totally acceptable since we ordered half of the menu. The dumplings were tiny, but full of flavor. We could've used another order, but we ended up getting the fries at the end since we still had an appetite. The fries were ok, seasoned with a little cumin and came with a side of curry sauce. Nothing too special, but the fries itself could've fed 2 more people! At the end, our bill ended up to be $113. FOR FOUR PEOPLE! Amazing. The waiter David, who was so entertaining and accommodating, mentioned that there was a special going on so we got a deal on two entrees and a bottle (I think). Outside the discount, the whole experience was amazing with good people and even better food. Looking forward to coming back on either Wednesdays or Thursdays! read more

How often can you sample so many chai tea flavors all in one place! I love flights of any kind and this place offers the unique opportunity to order a flight of five chai teas. I had the coconut creme, vanilla nutmeg, caramel sea salt, ginger cardamom and turmeric curry. They were all delicious! My friend and I also ordered chicken dumplings, garlic paratha, samosas with chutney and a masala chicken. read more

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This place is bad, bad, bad. Don't believe all the good reviews. I think they're heating up frozen Indian food. The naan is the same exact stuff you see in frozen section at the grocery store. I hope nobody else wastes their money here. read more

Cute spots with chai flights! They had normal flavors like cardamom but we were pleasantly surprised but the more adventurous choices. The food is good too- try the momos! read more

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

Honestly I had high hopes for this place and for the most part it was good! Greeted at the register by this smiling girl with shorter dark hair, ordered samosas, the chicken dumplings, the masala chicken curry, a chai flight and an iced coconut creme chai. The masala chicken curry reminded me of my Nani's so much that I almost teared up and the chai was pretty good. I would have given 4 stars but my interaction with one of the employees was unnecessary and unkind. My brother ordered another iced chai after our meal to go and my mother heard him say iced several times. A woman with dark curly hair brought it to our table and I just simply said oh we ordered this iced, she said no you didn't, when I insisted again she argued about it with us until finally I just asked for a cup with the ice and then she stormed off with it. I walked by the counter as I was leaving and she handed it to me warm in a plastic cup with a few ice cubes. I love that they have paper straws but hot drinks and paper straws do not equal success. I was very upset that she not only argued but also ruined a $6 drink we bought. Really disappointed, I hope she gets some customer service training. read more

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

Definitely double check your check here, and ask twice about happy hour specials. A friend and I just had an early dinner here for the first time ever. We sat down at 5:45 and were told that we were just in time for happy hour which featured $2 off appetizers, cocktails, beer, and wine. We ordered the chicken wing appetizer, a glass of wine, and a beer to start. We then ordered two small bowls off of the rectangle menu with all of the teas featured and a side of cucumber after we got our drinks, thinking the small bowl would be plenty since we already got chicken wings. We even pointed to the small bowl portion on the menu while we were ordering. The best thing by far were the chicken wings, our vindaloo and masala were flavorful but not spicy at all. Our bill came and it was considerably higher than we were expecting. We double checked and the staff had charged us $16 for both of the small bowls, instead of the $9 listed on the menu we ordered from. We were also charged full price for both of our drinks instead of the happy hour price we were told about when we sat down. We asked our waitress why we weren't charged happy hour prices for the drinks, and she told us that happy hour was just for cocktails, not beer and wine. It's literally advertised online that happy hour includes beer and wine, and we were also told that by a different server when we first sat down. The manager came over and informed us that because we sat in the back of the restaurant, we automatically ordered "dinner portions" and that the small bowls we had pointed to when ordering were considered lunch portions. We both couldn't find anywhere on the menu that said those were lunch sizes, just by the way. He said that we should have realized that they were larger portions when they came out and that we should have realized we ordered off the dinner menu. I said, this is my first time at this restaurant. How was I supposed to know that the prices were different in the front vs the back of the restaurant, or what the difference in portion sizes were...? Bizarre to gaslight a customer like that. He said he would correct the bill because of the inconvenience, but we were still considerably overcharged and the happy hour prices weren't fixed on our final bill. Both of us have 10+ years of restaurant experience and we're very surprised by how this was dealt with. We were both totally confused as to why the menus weren't more clear or why we weren't told that we were sitting in the "dinner section"... Very confusing and strange, felt like a rip-off. The food was okay (yet, again, a bit bland) and they did bring me extra rice, so I'll give it 2 stars but I absolutely will not be returning after the way our bill was dealt with. read more

I'm so happy that Chicago has a cool modern restaurant that specializes in Indian cuisine. I saw this place on yelp, and I was I intrigued by the chai selection. I ordered the 3 glass Chai flight, Cardamom pistachio, ginger and spicy masala. The chais come sweetend, but you can request to make it unsweet. The pistachio one is light, I wish the taste was more pertinent, bc I love the nutty taste. The ginger chai had a stronger taste and kick in the end. The spicy one also had a strong taste, but the kick was rather mild compared to the ginger. Out of the 3, I like the spicy one the most. The menu has a nice assortment of chais and there's an option for a 5 chai flight. For food, I ordered the masala fries, the hot curry wings and the garlic paratha. The fries were thick cut, sprinkled with a blend of curry seasoning, and for a $1 extra you can get masala sauce. I loved the seasoning, it had a bit of heat and they were also crispy. The hot curry wings had a lot of heat, but it comes with a side sauce that helps neutralize the flavor, it kind of tasted like a plain yogurt lassi? The garlic paratha was good. I wish the garlic was a bit stronger, it was kind of light and faint. Overall, I enjoyed my experience and would definitely come back to try the momos, curry, and of course the other chais! I hope this place stays in Chicago for a long time. read more

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Food The food is average. Definitely a good place for small bites. The chai tea is the star of the show (as expected). I highly recommend getting a flight in order to properly experience this restaurant. Service Real simple, you order and pay, grab a number, sit down and wait for someone to bring you your food and refill your water. Interior Very spacious, great place to study, get some work done, go on a coffee date... the typical "cafe" activities. read more

Chiya Chai Cafe - 5 Chai Flights - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

So lucky this place exists! Great tea, great chicken tikka, saag is off the charts, everything you could want for lunch.

My friend had been talking about their flight of chai tea for some time so I had to try this place with her. It did not disappoint. Not your traditional Indian chai, but the variety of flavors to choose from is interesting and tasty. My favorite was the ginger cardamom. I love ginger and this tea def had a nice spice kick to it. As for options: you can choose to sample 3 or 5 flavors. The tea comes in the small draft beer glasses for sample size. Caution: the tea is hot and you can easily burn your hands - not the best serving cups for the restaurant, especially without any caution signs (hello lawsuit...) The food was good. The front of the store is more casual and you order upfront at the register. Further into the building is a more intimate fancier dine in option (no one really ate there and prices were higher). read more

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

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Me and my husband went here one day after office. Liked the vibe of the place, was very cool. Parking was easy to find on the street. It was kind of an Indian fusion food and I feel they had very limited options, especially vegetarian. With Indian menu there is a lot to play. We ordered honey chili potatoes and momos, felt it was little overpriced. Taste was good though. By reviews it looked like the tea is amazing, but for Indians it is too light even by looking at the color you can tell. Overall, I'm not sure if I will visit this place because I did not like their options and it was over pricey for me. read more

Chiya Chai Cafe - Chiya chilli potatoes and veggi dumplings - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Chiya Chai is a must try for tea connoisseurs. I was particularly intrigued by their chai. A steamy cup of fresh turmeric curry is a quick on-the-go taste of India. Oh, and the longest titled chai was a must have for me. And what was the verdict? The Salty Pink Himalayan with Almond Butter was an absolute dream. It wasn't until I downed half of this sucker that two generous spoonfuls of almond butter unveiled from the bottom. Surprisingly, the SPHAB complemented the chocolate flourless cake very well as the FTC serendipitously paired well with curry fries. You can definitely count on Chiya Chai to be the king of Indian tea, bringing you unique blends of Indian ingredients! My only comment is their paper food menus taped above the open kitchen can use some revamp. ;) FYI: A dining room coated with colorful murals behind the cafe is open for lunch and dinner. read more

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Come with me on this journey. Ordered delivery on a whim - was not familiar prior. Okay. I grew up in the midwest on bland, underseasoned food and little culture surrounding me. I read a novel about India when I was a child and they described the food so wonderfully. This is the first time I've had Indian food that tastes how the book described it. So flavorful and fresh it feels like you are taking a bite of the country itself, you can even taste the love. 5/5. One of my new favorite Chicago restaurants. read more

Well, it looks like I found my new home. Chai and I have had a love/hate relationship for many many years. I like my chai spicy, many places make theirs super sweet and to be honest... i hate it. I tell them to spice it up, its never enough. Today was the day all of that changed, I found the place that creates many spicy chai options. The best part: you can get a buffet (flight) of different kinds of chai. I opted for the 5 chai flight: black pepper clove, spicy masala, ginger cardamom, cutting and I had the server add a mystery flavor. I LOVED all the spicy ones, the cutting was my absolute fave. The chunks of ginger in it were amazing and added so much texture and flavor. My pal had the 3 chai flight and opted for sweeter ones: vanilla nutmeg, caramel salt, and coco cream. The vanilla nutmeg was amazing!! The other 2 were too sweet for me, but my gf loved them. We also got the bison dumplings, curried lima beans, and vindaloo curry. Everything had so much flavor and texture. Those are the words that best describe this establishment. FLAVOR & TEXTURE. I hope they are ready to see my face on a regular basis because I will be frequenting this magical land of chai....very often. read more

Chiya Chai Cafe - 8 different kinds of chai, Lima beans, vindaloo and bison dumplings - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Average chai but delicious food! The curried Lima beans and the masala chicken curry bowl blew my mind! The dumplings were good too. Somewhat of a slow service but the staff was kind. read more

A yummy and different experience. I never had a wing sauced up with Indian flavors (resembled some flavors of jerk chicken in a good way. I don't like jerk chicken so that is saying a lot). It was great just needs a better dipping sauce than what is given. I got the masala fries that were good but I was expecting an orange dipping sauce which I never received in my delivery order but was shown in photos. I would definitely go again. read more

This cafe is a great addition to the Logan Square neighborhood. The space itself is actually pretty spacious, and has a good number of tables and chairs to sit down at. With free WIFI available, you could bring your laptop and spend some quality time here. I came during their weekday happy hour in which some of their appetizers are $2 off the regular price. I ordered some Samosa's during my visit, which were made to order. All of their dishes are made to order from my understanding, so this isn't the best place if you are looking for a quick food option. The samosa's at Chiya Chai are filled with delicious and fresh ingredients. To drink, I had the coconut creme chai with coconut milk instead of the default whole milk. I was slightly concerned that this chai drink might taste a little bit too "coconuty", but I was wrong. The drink had an amazing flavor, and the coconut milk as the base was not overwhelming. I will be back for more of their chai drinks and food in the future. read more

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

This was my second trip, and we had the same issue twice. So, I have to write this review. I basically felt cheated with their Chai Flight. The menu says $5, and they charged me $7. When I raised this to the server, he said "I just work here". When I requested him for the manager, he said "I am the manager, and the owner decides the prices". I then remembered that this happened to me last time too, and it is ridiculous that this hasn't been fixed about 6 months later. But the manager's response was shocking.. I didnt even know how to respond to "Yeah, its not fixed in the menu on the wall or the physical menu we are handing to the customers, but we have it updated in the system". :\ There was also an issue with them seeing that the place was full, and for them to accommodate a group of 4, they wouldnt cater in their backroom, but suddenly 30 minutes later they decided to open it up. Sometimes, its interesting to see how the management's rules are more important than the customer's needs. Its sad about all this, because the food is not that bad. The taste is obviously catering to certain niches, but the quality of ingredients is good (which is uncommon in Indian restaurants). And I get excited about Chai in general, but I guess I had forgotten why I had avoided this place. read more

Chiya Chai Cafe - Menu says the chai flight is for $5, but they charged me $7. (This happened twice 6 months apart.) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Everyone here is very nice and the food always has me wishing I could go here more often. Prices are accurate for what you get and so far everything I've tried is delicious! read more

Cool neighborhood spot packed with flavor! I love their chai lattes. So many flavors to choose from. Their dumplings are like crack, I get the chicken every time. But I would suggest exploring the menu. I have not been disappointed yet and I have been going there for years! read more

Oh how I love you let me count the ways. 1,2,3,4,5 chais and more! Pies, bowls, sides galore! Oh how I love you chiya, let me count the ways! Had brunch at this unique spot when a friend was in town. When you enter Chiya you are immediately struck with a menu of chais for which you need to make several decisions about because there's a flight! So when you're ready to be caffeinated and try variations on your favorite milky tea, suit up! There are specials too so don't limit yourself. Ask for recommendations too! The food was great as well but really just a cushion to absorb the gallons of tea we drank. Spicy Indian American fusion foods compliment this fun experience perfectly. read more

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The food has been decent but is inconsistent in taste. Ordered the same item multiple times and received varied serving sizes too. The service/online ordering needs some work as well. A few nights ago, I ordered online and after about 20 minutes (order was expected in 30 minutes), I get a call saying they were out of the chicken masala that I ordered, so I cancelled the order. I had already left my house to pick up the food. As I'm writing this review, I'm sitting outside of the restaurant waiting for the order that I placed at 6:30pm for an 8:10pm pickup. I arrived at 8:15 and was told my food would be ready in 10 minutes. It's now 8:30... What's the point of placing orders online if one must wait as if ordered in-store. read more

Chiya Chai has been open for a few months serving up teas & other drinks, dumplings, pies and some curries in the front half of the shop. This weekend they opened their 'Back Room' which is a full table service cafe with a longer menu. We were lucky enough to be their first customers back there! There were a few small kinks (nothing even worth mentioning) but nothing unexpected for opening day. The food and drinks are great - and that's what it's all about! We got an appetizer sampler as the opening day freebie which was awesome! We were able to try many things and liked all we had - Samosa, Hot Curry Wings, Dill fried Potatoes, chili chicken - the Samosa was the best of the bunch! But be warned, everything was spicy! It took a good five minutes for my mouth to come back down to a normal temperature. For my main dish, I had the Royal Masala Chicken $16 which was more creamy than a usual masala chicken curry. I loved the flavor and the portion was a decent size. It had a bit of a kick to it but nothing that overpowered the other spices in the dish. I tried some of my friend's Slow Cooked Bone-In Goat Curry $16 and enjoyed that as well - the only item I had at Chiya Chai with no heat/spiciness to it. Drinkwise, I tried a liq concoction and a sober-girl drink. Their coconut creme chai $4.25 can be had hot or cold and we just loved it! You usually can't go wrong with any chai drink but this was particularly creamy and good. On the cocktail front, I went with a Bourbon Ginger Masala $8 and was surprised it wasn't spicy at all. It did have good flavor though and an alcoholic kick however the glass was only about 65% full (see photo) so I think they need to work on their pours a bit. I want to feel like I'm getting the full cocktail! I'd really like to try their dumplings and pies, but we were told those can't be ordered in the back. Sadface! It may be a good idea in the future to allow that...people ordering more is a good thing! read more

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Hidden little gem near cloud gate (the bean)! Stopped by for some chai on a super cold day. Was delish. I normally don't like masalas added to my chai, but their masala chai was really good and done just right - subtle, not overbearing. I will def swing by next time I'm in Chicago! read more

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

Definitely worth the stop! Everything I've had is exceptional and the staff are friendly. There's a front section that's more "cafe" style, but they also have a back section that opens during the evenings for more of a dining experience. The back dining area also has an expanded menu with more options than the cafe area. They always have an array of beer available (types rotate) and cocktails. There's a cute outdoor space as well during the summer. Highly recommend! read more

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For years I have wanted an Indian, Pakistani, or Nepalese restaurant to open in Logan Square. And by happenstance, I walk past Chiya Chai. I had no idea the section of Milwaukee Avenue where the restaurant is was going through such a revitalization. The service is great. The restaurant is relatively new, so I hope the service continues to be good. The atmosphere is rather open, which doesn't make the place feel closed in. But the food is the winner. I've had the balti pie, curry chicken, masala fries, regular chai, and coconut chai. I am so glad I don't have to go to Devon Street in Rogers Park for Indian food. And to make it even better, the food is spicy. Spicy Indian, Pakistani, or Nepalese food is the best to me. Glad Chiya Chai is now local. read more

Chiya Chai Cafe - Masala Fries, Balti Pie, Creamy Masala Chicken, Chai - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I came by here with a few friends to try the chai here. Let me preface this by saying that although I'm Indian, I'm not huge fan of chai nor did I drink it a lot growing up, yet I still liked this place! We came in on a Saturday afternoon, and the place was moderately busy, with a few open tables. The interior of this place is very modern and trendy, and there were a lot of people here. Seems like a pretty popular place in the neighborhood. I ended up ordering the basic masala chai, small size. Our drinks came out to our table really fast, and the employees here were very friendly and helpful in navigating the variety of chais they have. I ordered the masala chai with whole milk. It was pretty flavorful, although with less flavor than some of the other more authentic chai I've tried from my friends or back at home. Next time I really want to try the variety of food items they have on the menu. The prices were very reasonable, and the food items themselves seem to be more Indian fusion type items. Seems interesting and I'll definitely be back! read more

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

wonderful food and location! Will definitely be returning as soon as possible! so good.

Everything we had here was absolutely delicious. From the wings to the pies and the dumplings their food was amazing. very flavorful, spicy and aromatic. Our favorite was the harrisa potato, crispy spicy and full of flavor. The wings were great as well! We though the chai was on par with the chai we got from a decent coffee shop. read more

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This cafe is so cute! The chai flight was probably my favorite thing there, since it lets you select several chais to try and experience. The flavors are super interesting, and each very distinctive. The pies are amazing, and very filling despite looking quite small. The dumplings are also very good. Everything is pricey for the smaller portions, but it is clear everything is freshly made and done with care. Their curry fries are incredible, I could probably eat a whole plate by myself but they're great to share. One downside is the space is a bit cramped and hot in the summers, not sure how it is when the weather cools down. The cashiers are super nice and helpful with choosing your food and drinks though! read more

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Stopped in here for an on the go chai on a Saturday around noon. There were a good amount of people in there but not packed. The women behind the counter immediately greeted us and told us we can order at the counter and then they'll out the order to us. We ordered and just sat at the bar. I got an iced espresso hazelnut chai with almond milk. I asked them to make it less sweet if possible. It cost about $4.50 for a small which is the going rate. It took about 5 minutes to make. It tasted pretty good too. It had a hint of hazelnut/sweetness which was the perfect amount of sweet for me. The espresso made it bold and slightly bitter but it paired well with the sweetness. It did taste a little syrupy but I couldn't exactly tell what it was. Will definitely be back to try some of the food. It all looked delicious! read more

Chiya Chai Cafe - 10.06.2018 Chai Menu - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I really like the concept of the cafe, the Chai is pretty tasty, and the overall ambiance of the cafe was very enjoyable! The food was decent. I wouldn't recommend having the masala fries because they are pretty standard, but the momos are definitely worth trying! I got the Darjeeling Pork momos and wished I tried other flavors as well. It's a good work environment and is a pretty cool place to try out! read more

Most of the aspects that I loved about Chiya Chai from my previous visits still hold true, however, I wanted to update my review to reflect on my subsequent experiences at the restaurant. Ever since I found (and fell in love) with this restaurant, I have been bringing my friends here and raving enthusiastically about the food and the service, only to be increasingly disappointed every time I am back. The chai is inconsistent, and I've observed that the quality depends on how busy the cafe is. Several times I have found the chai to not be strained well, resulting in debris of spice, that make for an unpleasant drinking experience. The place is also very understaffed on the weekend, with only about 3-4 staff member busing, serving, and running the cash register for more than a dozen tables. Although Yelp lets you make a "reservation", it really doesn't mean much, as the place is first come, first serve. They have a whole back room which they prefer to keep closed during the brunch rush, for reasons I cannot comprehend. On our latest visit, the food was brought out at vastly different lengths of time, even though we all ordered together. At least 3 people from my party of 10 had to cancel their orders. It was extremely disappointing, and as much I'd like to support this local business, it is just not worth the trek from Lakeview any more. read more

I have loved Chia Chai since they opened. Today, I have changed my mind about it completely. Kitchen staff had masks on, however, they were pulled down to their chins in a open kitchen. I asked my server to to request to please pull up their masks. 5 minutes later, all masks, including our server, were under their noses. Chai masala was gritty, so much so I took it home and drained an inch of sludge out of the bottom of my cup before i could enjoy it. We ordered parantha- delicious, but the momo's were tough and flavorless, and our balti pot pie was shrunken down to 1/3 of the size in the pan with almost no chicken and a really hard crust. This was so awful we tried to eat what we could because we were starving, but gave up and left. We have eaten here so many times and it was always great- super consistent, but today's sliding of standards were just unacceptable. read more

Delicious and flavorful dishes. Friendly staff. Must try items: pot pie Love the Cold Chia drinks. read more

Excellent Chai!!! I'm a huge fan of Chai and absolutely love the variety they have here. Everything is intensely spiced and beautifully balanced. I love their stalk at the Logan Square Farmers Market during the summer as well! However, the food seems pretty average and nothing to write home about. Granted - we didn't order the momos, so this review may be a bit unjust. We ordered the standard samosas and chicken tikka as a baseline and they were pretty basic. Come for the chai! read more

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

They didn't have coffee and they ran out of ice - unable to make any cold drinks. great inventory management

Have I really never reviewed Chiya Chai? What a shonda. This place is great. The place: it's a cute, unassuming, communal table optional perfect Logan square gem. A robust chai menu coupled with an authentic Nepalese food menu makes for almost too many choices. Sometimes service is a tad slow, but the quality and variety of offerings make up for it. The taste: the vegetarian momos. Yum. The chai flights - complex, spicy, sweet - all around interesting af. I actually haven't ordered a lot of food there, but would like to try more. I'd go back again and again just for the momos (dumplings that melt in your mouth) though. My face: a content gaze. Have had many a good time here. Last time, spent $4 on a chai. And that was just what I needed/wanted in that moment. read more

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Me and my bf came in to warm up and get some tea. I'm not sure what was in the tea but Someone please help him cuz he is glued to the toilet. He is for real struggling to contain himself. I'm not sure if there will be anything left of him when he's done. I may never see the love of my life again. All he wanted was chai read more

So so good, reasonably priced, and good portion sizes. Also many options of chai which were great! read more

Chiya Chai Cafe - Creamy Masala Chicken Curry Bowl - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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