Four stars for the food; I'd give three stars for the atmosphere because you feel packed in like a canned sardine here. So, definitely make a reservation. We got here a few minutes before our reservation and had to wait about 15-20 minutes for our table. We were standing around by the door, kind of in the way, because the bar was so crowded. The whole time we were standing there, about 20 groups got turned away because the wait time for a table was astronomical- the hostess was quoting 2 hours. We kept hoping that we wouldn't be seated at one of the tables closest to the bar, because I'm pretty sure we would have been getting bumped into the whole time. Thankfully, we weren't. We started with the Nepalese Chicken Momo. Those little suckers were good. Then we had the non-vegetarian Monsoon Wedding Platter for two, which consisted of an extraordinary amount of food for not so much table space (tandoori chicken, dal makhani, lamb curry, naan, matar pulau, raita, and kheer). But it was all very, very tasty. The tandoori chicken came sizzling hot, and the lamb curry was spicy and thick. We also had the garlic naan, which tasted like all other garlic naan I've had- pretty darn good. They try to pack like 35 million people into 35 seats here, and the place is sooo narrow and long; basically, you come here for the really fantastic food, and not for some relaxing, cozy, romantic dinner. That is not to say that they haven't made the place look great, because they have. It's just really, REALLY packed. Great addition to Wicker Park. read more

I LOVE Cumin - it might just be my favorite new find this year. A 30 min wait on a Friday night is about par for the course, people watching on Milwaukee is a perfect way to spend that time. The Nepalese influence on the extensive menu is somewhat marginal, but I loved that the owners haven't gone overboard with the fusion concept. The portion controlled chaat with lettuce etc on the side( which we promptly left untouched of course!) whetted the appetite and the entrees hit the spot. A staple Indian dish - dal tadka was deliciously different from the ones I've made or tried in most Indian restaurants, the bhuteko kauli from the "passing by Nepal" section of the menu grew on me through dinner - mild but rich in flavor, it came highly recommended and made a mark. Any Indian restaurant that doesn't include the country or its rather overused landmark in it's name and doesn't feature paintings of kings,dancers or elephants as wall art already makes a good first impression on me. Cumin has successfully retained the "ethnicity" in its cuisine while embracing an ambiance that is part Wicker Park part Lincoln Park and the lively crowds and friendly staff here create a great overall atmosphere - and all this comes at a very reasonable price tag. If the aromas from Cumin that waft through the stretch on Milwaukee avenue don't offer enough enticement to make a stop there, one look at their menu definitely should - I can't wait to get back there the next time I crave Indian restaurant food! read more

3.5 stars Tightly packed spot, 30 min wait for a Friday night but welcomed to grab a drink at the small bar. The recommended drinks were...interesting. Comparable to cough medicine in taste. A reminder not to get too fancy with my alcoholic beverage. Lol I thoroughly enjoyed the lamb samosa for appetizer. Small portion appetizer. The chicken tikka masala was crazy good. Tender chicken served in a creamy, flavorful sauce. Taj mahal beer was okay. Friendly staff and I'm intrigued to try more on the menu. Over priced but overall a good dining experience. read more

AWESOME PLACE!! I really recommend this place they had awesome food, specially the cumin lamb is to die for it! I call at 10:30 pm to ask for a table and i got one for 8 people in 12 minutes!! Service is great and food is terrific! I can't tell you how much i like this place, you gotta try it yourself and you will understand. Tip: if you are going in a Friday or Saturday night make a reservation you will safe yourself a lot of time and a better experience, this place is pack and for a good reason! read more

Wicker Park is one of my favorite neighborhoods in the city. Great atmosphere, vibe and plenty of entertainment! In terms of parking, Damon usually has plenty and it's free! Cumin was my first try for Indian cuisine and I loved it. Chicken Tikka Masala (butter chicken), was a delicious dish for first timers. Amazing garlic naan (flatbread). Great place to try out Indian cuisine for the first time. read more

Cumin - Chicken Tikka Masala, Garlic Naan & Rice - Indian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The afternoon buffet was simply splendid. I finally came here after wanting to go for months and I'm glad I did. The food was simple, flavorful and non-spicy, just the way I like it. I would suggest going here for the buffet rather than the regular dining to save on $$$ and still have an equally satisfying experience! read more

Great little Nepalese and Indian food place in Wicker Park. They have an amazing all you can eat lunch buffet for just $13! They have tandoori veggies, butter chicken, palak paneer, and soooo many more entrees, and a killer rice pudding for dessert. Plus their naan was incredible. Go here asap. read more

Cumin - We got the lunch buffet for $13!!! - Indian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

THIS IS NOT GOOD INDIAN. Lol I feel like the only people who review this place so well are people who don't know what truly good Indian food is. If you want good Indian food try going to Jai pur or a restaurant in an actual Indian neighborhood, Devon. I pass up this place all the time, it always smelled so delicious and when I came in I was just really disappointed. The food was alright, but I definitely would not recommend it to anyone. Save your money seriously. read more

My brother in law's friend recommended this place and it was amazing! Didn't know what to expect from Napalese Indian food but the flavors were a perfect blend. The chicken chili appetizer was the right amount of spicy and the meat was so tender. We had the shrimp masala and chicken jalfriezi both of which were so flavorful and tender. We were scrapped every last bit of sauce with our naan! read more

Decent food, terrible service. Normally I do not deduct major points for bad service, but this service was so bad that I have to comment. I had forgotten that terrible service can really distract from an otherwise pleasant evening, which is what happened here. We went here on Friday night with a reservation, and were sat immediately. We received water and the delicious trio of chutneys and other miscellaneous Indian sauces, which were great. And then we waited. Another 2 top was sat right next to us, and their waitress was taking their drink orders within minutes. So, they had received their drinks, and we still had not been greeted by anyone. Finally, we flagged our waitress, and she rushed us to order our drinks and appetizer. Another 10 minutes later, the drinks arrived. Then our appetizer came, and it was the wrong one. ANOTHER 10 minutes, and we get the right samosa (we got the chaat samosa, a little different than regular samosas). The waitress reappears and takes our dinner order. And then we watch as the table next to us gets their food, eats, pays their check and leaves. So, the table that sat down 10 minutes after us is already gone and we haven't even received our food yet? Mind you, they also had an appetizer and drinks, same as us. They just had the more competent waitress helping them. But that's no excuse! We had to have been waiting for at least 40 minutes before the food arrived. 40 minutes from the time we ordered, not from the time we sat down. At this point my stomach was grumbling, so we tried to get the waitress to bring the naan before the rest of the food, which she said she would....but didn't. When the food did arrive, it was quite tasty. But worth the wait? Probably not. It's a nice addition to the neighborhood, and maybe I'll go back for the lunch buffet (no waiting for food!). They have some serious kinks to work out in the service department, such as designating jobs to specific positions, ie waitresses shouldn't be refilling water (let the bus boys do their jobs). At the end, the manager did come over and give us a discount, which was a nice gesture. But there were no apologies or anything else, he literally dropped the check and pointed to the savings without explanation. I'd much rather try other places before returning here, and hopefully by the next time I return they will have figured out how to run a dining room. read more

My story with Cumin is a long one. One filled with anticipation. About a year ago I was hankering for Indian Food. I searched relentlessly for a good Indian restaurant that would deliver to me. Then I read about Cumin opening soon. So I was left waiting. I'd stare longingly at the restaurant before it opened its doors as i would ride pass it on the Milwaukee bus. Often when i was walking by it, i would peer into the window. I was creeping on the place. Fast Forward to Saturday night: I had tried to go to dinner here one evening before hitting up the Evil Olive one week night two months ago, and the place was closed at 10pm. I thought it was understandable, irritating, but understandable to be closed that early. This Saturday I was going to make it in for certain! Its Saturday and what decent restaurant in Chicago closes before midnight! Well I'm wrong, they close every night at 10pm. So late dinner here is a no go. Which is my biggest gripe so far. Ah! but they deliver, to me, actually they have a pretty big delivery area. Why yes, I can order food and have my friend meet me at my HOUSE for dinner! Genius! With my order placed, all was left was the waiting once more. I was told a little over an hour, which i expected, and had timed it so it would sync up with my friends arrival. A little over an hour really was forty minutes, so i was left waiting and smelling my food, patiently waiting for my friend. I am the first to say I'm not an Indian food connoisseur. I have always practiced the skill of eating in restaurants that won't ruin a kind of food for me with a bad memory. Thanks to you yelpers, it has been a whole lot easier. My chicken jalfreizi was delicious! well rounded, had a depth of flavor to it. My friends palak panner was just as good (which i found out on dinner round number two the next day) I thought it was odd that they didn't include rice with the entrees, but all in all it was a meal of enlightenment. I cannot wait for my next delivery order now, and am still anxious for the ambiance. A great addition to the area! read more

I didn't have high expectations when I first heard about yet another Indian restaurant opening up in Chicago. Its my last week in Chicago, so I thought I'd give it a try since it got great reviews on yelp! It was great. I highly recommend this place as your go to Indian restaurant. Combining this with Nepalese cuisine makes it even better. It was my first experience with Nepalese food and I'm a fan. Dishes could be spicier but not sure if that can be added on request. I'm not into spicy food, but I am in the minority compared to my fellow brown folks. Service is superb. If you go on a late weekday there is no wait, you don't even need to make any reservations! Overall a great find. I will miss it. read more

After spending a week overpaying for food and parking in downtown Chicago, Cumin was a welcome change. I loved the dish I ordered...I cant remember what it was called, but it was like a lamb tika masala. We were promptly seated on a Friday night without reservations and found parking literally across the street for pennies compared with the horrific downtown parking. The only reason that this place doesn't get five stars is because of the close table seating that inhibits good conversation, since there is almost zero privacy. The next table was six inches away and we found that we didn't even feel comfortable talking until they left. that's OK though. Indian is so good...no talking, just eating! :) :) :) The service was very good. Everyone takes care of you, not just one person, so you never wait for anything. Very prompt and polite. I would definitely return to Cumin for dinner. read more

I was in the mood to try nepalese food. The waiter was very helpful in placing my order for take out. I ended up ordering chicken dumpling, goat curry, and rice. They were delicious. read more

Cumin - Chicken dumpling, goat curry, and rice - Indian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

If you're in the Wicker Park area and you want Indian food... Definitely come here! Do not be the stereotypical non-middle eastern or non-Indian person and get Chicken Tikka Masala. It is good here but try something new! The atmosphere for dinner is basically candle lit and would make a great place for a regular date night. My friend ordered the Palak Paneer (spinach and cottage cheese) and I asked the waiter for a recommendation and got the Chicken Vindaalu (chicken and potatoes in a hot and tangy curry sauce). Both dishes were really good but for two people and a side of naan, it meant we were going to be taking leftovers home. Oh yeah order a mango lassi (yogurt drink)! You can't go wrong! I heard their lunch buffet is pretty legit so I think I will check this out sometime. read more

Flavour wasn't lost one bit to spicy heat. My water glass was never empty. The naan was the best I've ever had. Fabulous, I loved it. read more

Cumin - Indian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Cumin is really decent Indian food and best of all - two blocks from my house! I got Lamb Vindaloo (perennial favorite of mine), garlic naan, and chicken momo. The momo were good - I do love me a good dumpling. I was especially happy that the Vindaloo was nice and spicy. I can't tell you how many indian joints here a white person on the phone and turn down the spice. The garlic naan was garlic naan, which is to say awesome. I only had carry-out so I can't speak to the service. The place was packed when I picked up my food - I'll have to try dining in. read more

This place has the best Indian food I've ever had. Im not Indian, nor do I claim to be an expert on Indian food, but I have been to numerous places serving it and no where has been as delicious as here. The chicken jalfrezi is my go to entree. The chicken is so juicy, veggies are cooked perfectly, and the sauce is incredibly spiced. Hands down love this place. Just make a reservation on weekends - its normally packed. read more

I really like Cumin's food. The chicken tikka masala is very good! My only complaint is I think the food is a little over priced. Indian food should come with rice but here you have to pay an extra $3 for rice. Besides that, I've dined in and ordered delivery, both were very yummy! Also my delivery came about a half hour sooner than expected! read more

Comparable to the best Indian food I've ever had, albeit a little pricey. I came in for take out and they were very fast. I got palak paneer and veggie samosas. read more

Overpriced and mediocre. Ate in one time. Another time, ordered delivery for 4 people and we only ordered 3 entrees to share, naan, and another side. $80. And not even enough for leftovers. The quantities were small for what we paid. Will not be going back. read more

I used to love Cumin for the last 5 years. It used to be 5 stars for me but I'm not sure if there is now new ownership or management but the food was all wrong from how it's always been. Took my family there who were visiting from out of town and was very disappointed to see that all our usual favorite dishes tasted wrong and even looked wrong. The garnishes, the spices, everything was very average and not the usual recipes that I have loved for the last 5 years. Even the staff that we knew by name were all gone and replaced by new faces. I am so upset because this used to be my favorite restaurant but I will not be going anymore. read more

We ordered about 35 dishes (almost everything on the menu) for 20 guests making the total bill about $500. We asked the manager if there is a possibility for a discount and he offered us a 5 dollar off coupon for the next meal which seriously offended us. Further the dishes were not labeled( we ordered take out) which conviniently allowed them to skip an item. All the items which finally came tasted all same with the same exact base only making few changes. Don't waste your time here. Go to other better restaurants around read more

I've been to this place 6 years ago at that time it was really good. My favorite was the goat appetizer, I really liked than but now I have a change of opinion. The meat was hard and difficult to chew, I was disappointed. In my opinion the food quality came down. The service is still the same friendly and welcoming staff. read more

I brought my Indian family of 13 here to celebrate. Sadly we won't come back here as the food was mediocre. I mentioned "Indian family" above as that would be nice for our server to ask how we would like the Spice level to our food. Onions and lemon brought to the table is a standard for Indian restaurants. Service was horrible. They never asked us if everything was ok with the food. There are not many vegetarian choices on the menu. We will stick to our usual places for Indian food as this restaurant seems to cater to non-Indian individuals. read more

I'll preface this by saying I LOVE Indian food, and have had a lot of it, in Chicago and in India. I came to Cumin on a Saturday for the lunch buffet and was immediately disappointed. First, the selection was 2 chicken entrees with about 4 sides, rice and naan. Okay, but definitely not as expansive as a lot of other buffets. This would have been perfectly fine if the food was great- but it was so lackluster. I've never experienced Indian food as bland before as was shocked due to the positive reviews on here. The friend I was with grew up in India and agreed it lacked flavor. The best item was the palak paneer, but nothing else lived up to Cumin's yelp reputation. It's possible their regular menu items are more flavorful, but after this experience I won't be back. I will say service was attentive but honestly it was the most underwhelming Indian food I've ever had. read more

Overall it wasn't bad. Not as good as some of the indian places around the city, but they do offer Nepalese dishes and that is hard to find in the city. Does not rival the Himalayan Restaurant, but you'd have to go all the way to Niles for that. First, if you'd normally order medium spicy at most Indian places, then you need to order it spicy here. If you go the spicy route, then it's perfectly medium. :) The chicken momos were really good; probably my favorite thing of the whole meal. Chicken mulligatwany soup was the worst of the meal; definitely skip that. Vegetable samosa, samosa chaat, lamb saag, chicken makhani, malai kofta, and roti were all pretty decent. The vegetable biriyana was a little plain, so I would go with the regular saffron rice next time. Overall the food was pretty decent. There are better places around the city and Devon, as well as the suburbs, so I probably wouldn't go back on my own. But if friends want to go, I would accompany them with no complaints. If you're somewhat new to Indian cuisine, a lot of places can be intimidating, and this place definitely can be a comfortable experience for new comers. read more

Summary: Good food a little more reasonable than like restaurants rice should come with entrees phone stafff needs better training need more phone lines I found the food pretty good here, but the execution was pretty rotten. I ordered delivery for a party of six at my house. When the food arrived, there were my 5 curries but no rice. 15 Immediate phone calls were greeted with nothing but busy signals, so I got in my car and drove back to the restaurant to try to fix my problem - while my guests waited and the food got cold. That kind of sucks. Once there, I was greeted warmly, but informed that rice has to be ordered specifically. 1) what restaurant makes you order rice for your curries, and 2) why the hell couldn't they have told me that so i could have made the necessary decisions. Anyway they gave me the rice and didn't charge me and I was home fast. It wasn't the end of the world. The food was very good and nicely different from our other mainstay indian restaurants (Jaipur, Raj Danbar, and Tiffin).The nepalese stuff is really hard to order because the names are simply unpronouncable to my reading eye and the hostess doesn't know the menu. I think we all agreed that execution aside it was worth another try. I look forward to it. read more

I've noticed Cumin quite a few times in my wanderings, and had wanted to dine there for quite a while, so when I finally got the opportunity, my expectations were quite high. For starters, we ordered chicken momo (reminded me of tiny wow bao) and samosas. Nothing spectacular there, but not bad. Main course consisted of Palak Paneer, Chicken Tikka Masala, Lamb Sahi Korma, and Fish Vindaluu. Didn't care for the fish too much, but the rest was extremely enjoyable. I noticed upon leaving the sign outside indicating they have a lunch buffet, so I will definitely go back. read more

I love indian food!! I have been here numerous times while strolling Milwaukee Ave and I decided to take my bestie to this place after three or four times of checking out the buffet. The food was hot and I loved my dish! Also, we did not have to wait. We got in before the rush came through. Cumin is great and I am glad I live within walking distance of this place. Yippee! read more

Went on a Tuesday night, no wait, not very busy, handful of tables open. Wine selection, rate it a 3/5; carried common well known names (Kim Crawford, Mirassou...) but for what it's worth, not something that i was overjoyed with, or wanted to try--stuck to basics. Started with the goat appetizer, very tasty. I really like goat chhoela; no fat, but very tasty, and soft textured meat! Entrees we split the Spinach cheese, palungoko saag, and lamb kadhi, very tasty entrees, but garlic naan, was ok. The chicken momo's seemed to be on everyone's table, so I definitely want to try that the next time we go back. read more

Wow! Great food and at a great price. Cheaper than less quality food I get in my hometown of Ann Arbor, MI. Had the Baingan Bartha and Navrantan Korma. Even the papadums were tastier. Will definitely come back! read more

Although busy and crowded, so long as you have a reservation, you should get seated promptly. Their food is delicious and beats nearly any Indian food nearby. It is loud inside, but that's to be expected. read more

Although it's a mouthful, the vegetarian monsoon wedding platter is utterly and seriously amazing. Each dish had its own particular flavor, spice, uniqueness that left me feeling so satiated at the end of the meal in a way that only really well done Indian food could do. One thing I cannot get over: tandoori cauliflower! (*mouthwatering*) read more

Very good food. Seated quickly on a Saturday night, the service was very good and the ambiance was modern. The papar (complimentary crackers) were terrific. The samosa chaat was excellent. Had the lamb qeema (good) and chicken vindaloo. We were warned that the vindaloo is their spiciest dish. It was delicious but I wish it was less spicy so you could enjoy it more. The portion sizes were perfect. The qeema naan had barely any meat in them but were good nonetheless. Would certainly go back if I was in the area. read more

Cumin - Lamb keema naan, plain naan, imlee and chutney sauces, chicken vindaloo at the top with lamb keema matar below. - Indian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is my first time here, so far so good! The aroma outside is insanely good and gets better as you walk in. The owner was very friendly, he recommended some dishes to try. I had accidentally forgot my ID at home, so i couldn't drink :( needless to say he accommodated me, made a mango lassy non alcoholic drink....which was oh sooo good! Nice warm ambience. Everyone is friendly. Great food! read more

Cumin - Goat Nepalese style! SO so good. - Indian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Probably THE best Indian food I've had. EVER. (Just don't tell my boyfriend's mom I'm speaking so highly of another Indian's cooking). The samosas, the naan, the main courses (paneer, tikka masala, butter chicken)... they're just cooked to perfection. And our waiter was super attentive, which is pretty rare on a busy Saturday night. Aside from the occasional bone in my chicken, this place was da bomb. EAT HERE. read more

Although the dishes were delicious and plentiful, the trinity of cuisine, decor and service needs to be a bit more balanced, consistent and positive. read more

Cumin - Indian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The neighborhood's best exotic restaurant You can pick a week night or weekend to enjoy the sumptuous meal at this mom-and-popsy place that brings the best of south east Asian cuisines together. Pick anything on the menu and you will have a tasty, aromatic food. They also serve very good meats. For veggie lovers, this place is the haven of good food, that doesn't break the bank. read more

Chicken tikka masala is PERFECT. Zero complaints. Really solid Indian food. Great staff too. Can't go wrong.