Had a severe craving for Indian. Very cute little restaurant. Not too big. Had super cute stained glass hanging lamps and table lamps. Love a place with cute low lighting. Got a spiced mango martini. Was good! Love a mango drink. Always worth it for me. The samosas were delicious. Could have had 5 more. The mains were good! Well flavored, but we got medium and it came out like mild. Next time will definitely be getting hot (or asking for hot sauce). read more

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The Essence of India serves amazing food! I love this restaurant, and in my opinion, it's one of the best Indian restaurants in Chicago. We usually order vegetable biryani, vegetable korma curry, garlic naan, and samosas--everything is always delicious. The wine selection is good too. The owner is very welcoming, and the staff is friendly as well. Highly recommended! read more

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I'm ashamed to admit it, but in all of my sixty-plus-years living in Chicago, I have never tried Indian cuisine. I know...it's strange. It's not that I don't have an educated palate, it's just that it never crossed my radar --- until yesterday. A good friend of mine had been to Essence of India on many occasions, and she just presumed I tried Indian cuisine at some point in my life, but it was never the case. We were going to see a movie at the Davis Theater, which happens to be across the street from the restaurant, and she suggested we go to Essence of India before the film. She told me this is her favorite Indian restaurant, and I eagerly complied. Walking in, I was struck at how elegant and beautiful is the restaurant interior. Gorgeous Indian paintings and fabric art line the walls, and the space itself is warm, intimate and inviting. It's not too large and is ideal for a date night, a casual get-together or those looking to celebrate a special occasion. I was immediately greeted by our phenomenal host, Satya, who also took our order. I mentioned to her this was my first venture into the wonderful world of Indian cuisine, and she was elated that we selected her restaurant as my first experience. I must admit, I was completely won over by the magnificent service and amazing food. Satya was so genuine and kind in offering her suggestions knowing this was my first go-round, and I knew right away she would not steer me wrong. My guest and I started with the vegetable samosas which are two delicately fried pastries stuffed with potatoes and green peas. Airy and brimming with flavor, this appetizer was a perfect dining overture. It was accompanied by a stunning duo of mint and sweet sauces which enriched the already winning pastries. We both enjoyed a smooth masala tea which is a version of chai and was quite comforting on the cold night we arrived. For our main course, I had the jaw-dropping lamb vindaloo which is a spicy combination of rich, beautifully marinated lamb perfectly cooked in a robust, hearty sauce highlighted with potatoes, fresh herbs, vinegar and spices. The deep, complex flavors within this dish was something to relish, and my taste buds were on maximum overdrive. Absolutely astonishing! I also ordered a plate of perfectly cooked basmati rice and fell in love with their butter naan. I never tried naan before and found it to be a more delicate, tastier version of pita. Incredible. My friend had chicken tandoori which she kindly allowed me to sample. Basking in a glorious spice rub, the chicken was perfectly cooked and yet another supreme winner. We finished with a lovely rice pudding which is not as thick as the usual pudding I am accustomed to but was a star in its own right that capped off an unbelievably memorable dinner. The service at Essence of India is top-tier and of a superior level found at upscale restaurants. The two gentlemen who were also part of the staff were so attentive, personable and professional. I again find it necessary to compliment Satya for her exemplary service and kindness. My guest and I were not rushed, and Satya came by a few times to see how I liked my selections. She was genuinely concerned that my first experience in the world of Indian cuisine was a happy and fulfilling one, and I cannot thank her enough for making me fall in love with it. I can now add Indian cuisine to my preferred dining repertoire thanks to the impeccable Essence of India. read more

I used to live near Devon and would have my fair share of Indian food. When I can't make it all the way up there I'd definitely go back to Essence of India. I got the Shrimp biryani and mango lassi. So delicious! My eating companions got the lamb biryani and said it was spicy and very flavorful. The server was really nice and offered us some butter chicken sauce to sample. read more

Essence of India - Non-vegetarian Biryani - Indian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I don't recall giving one star ever. Well maybe to a tailor that ripped me off. It pains me to give this review since they are very nice. On the positive side the atmosphere is chill and relaxing But... How the heck has this place been around so long? And why are there such good reviews? No offense but are Chicagoans willing to settle when it comes to Indian food and I am spoiled by the amazing array of really good Indian cuisine in NYC?? Seriously. It was sadly the worst Indian and one of the worst meals I have had. To start... how go you mess up fried appetizers? Doughy and soggy and CHEWY vegetarian platter. Not to mention a hair in one of them, but I digress. Maybe the naan will be ok? It LOOKED like it might be crispy. Wrong! Doughy and just a smattering of garlic. To their credit the vegetable Korma itself wasn't bad. BUT, I specifically asked if there was cauliflower and broccoli in it. "yes" he said Well, I saw a LITTLE broccoli, but zero cauliflower and the potatoes were undercooked. My boyfriend put his 2 cents in. The samosas were Soggy with oil, the batter was terrible, the oil was old, and parts were overcooked and tough. The mango chutney with pickled vegetables was just mango JAM. Zero pickled anything. Naan was Not toasty. Tasted liked jarred chopped garlic. So very sorry. They ARE very nice. I hope to motivate them to find freshness to add to their menu and save those of you expecting a really good meal from disappointment and expense. read more

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Favorite Indian restaurant in Lincoln Square!! If you're looking for a veggie fix or a more protein heavy fix , Essence of India has got you covered. I am partial to the paneer dishes here. The best part may be their incredibly large Naan basket assortment which has a little bit of everything !! Service is so incredibly friendly here and the food makes it out very quickly! It is not a particularly loud atmosphere so you will be able to easily have conversations! read more

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Dammit! They put an addictive substance in their food! The coconut shrimp, samosas, garlic naan are delicious. The butter chicken and chicken tikka masala are phenomenal. It's a really pretty, ambient, cozy little place so it's perfect for dates. The owners are so nice. The spices are mild so if you can handle spicy ask for extra spice. They do a ton of takeout but I also love eating in. Also lots of vegan and vegetarian options! read more

The food was delicious and the service excellent. I recommend you visit and try Essence of India !

Delicious Indian food that hits the spot. We came right when it opened for lunch on Saturday so there was no wait. We ordered the Goan Lamb, chicken vindaloo, 1 order of butter naan, 1 order of rice, and the Masala Bloody Mary. I was pleasantly surprised that the lamb and chicken meat were excellent. They were tender and not dry. There was a good amount in it too. It was my first time trying goan lamb specifically because the menu said it was spicy. The server asked for the spiciness level. For the spicy lovers out there, medium heat isn't hot enough. Next time, I'll be asking for a bit spicier than medium. The chicken vindaloo was a more tomato-based vindaloo. Both dishes were delicious. I was a little disappointed in the Masala Bloody Mary. I thought I would be able to pick out the the Indian spices, but I guess my taste buds weren't refined enough. Otherwise, it was felt like a standard Bloody Mary. I would definitely come back to fulfill my Indian food cravings. I just wish the rice was included with the entrees as needed. read more

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This place is amazing!!! If you come, you must order the butter chicken, trust me, you won't regret it. The samosas are also really good. The saffron rice and naan bread is also delicious. There's a sampler for the naan bread...do yourself a favor and also order it. There's vibe is authentic and very clean. No designated parking, so if driving check street parking. Overall, one of my favorite places! read more

Best Indian food i've had in chicago! Delicious sauces and good quality meat, definitely recommend !

Our Favorite Indian restaurant in Lincoln Square. Cozy space and wonderful service. Bread assortment is a must - we get it every time. Get 4 varieties of #naan & #roti Non-vetegatian sampler comes with a variety of meats, including tandori chicken and shrimp & kebabs House specialty paneer khurchan has generous portions of paneer cheese with peppers & tomato sauce Always get too full to have dessert, but 1 of these days... Tip - if you pay cash, save 5%. read more

Essence of India - Paneer Khurchan Non-Vegetarian Sampler From The Tandoori Ove Bread Assortment - Indian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We have been customers of this restaurant since it first opened and have brought friends there over the years. Sadly, our experience yesterday makes us think that the restaurant has changed ownership because the food was almost inedible. The cheese filled naan used to have a nice layer of cheese; now there's just a sprinkle of what tastes like cottage cheese. Our favorite used to be the Rogan Josh, but in this new version the lamb was dry, grainy and honestly tasted like a cut of cheap overcooked beef. Even the rice, which used to be multicolored, was a poor substitute. And we ended up throwing away the vegetarian dish that was supposed to be vegetables in a tomato inspired sauce. Instead there were a few chunks of peppers and onions in a thick tomato sauce that tasted like the chef threw in a can of Contadina tomato paste. Horrible. We are sorely disappointed in the changes at Essence of India and will not go back. This is the first time I ever wrote a review, but I am hoping that the owners read this and dramatically change their approach to cooking if they want to stay in business. We're so sad to lose one of our favorite restaurants. read more

Love the dishes and you can choose spicyness level according to your tolerance. In the summer, it was really hot though. Recommend to go during fall or winter for warm dishes read more

This was a cute little spot with a low energy sort of vibe. In other words, not great if you are wanting to have a conversation above a whisper level, but absolutely great if you are wanting to people watch and eve's drop in the awkward first date happening across the room. The server was super friendly and gave me a few recommendations; I got the gosht korma, garlic naan, and vegetable biriyani. The gosht korma was genuinely some of the best food I've had in a while - slow cooked lamb swimming in a sweet saffron, raisin, and almond sauce. Yum! Nothing special about the naan. The biriyani had tons of extra yakhni in it, which is my favorite, but was a little bland other than that. Also, none of the curries come with rice, which makes this much more expensive than most other Indian restaurants. read more

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Very happy with our experience here! I read all the recent Yelp reviews which were really good, so I was excited to try this place. It seems like they do a big takeout business and eating inside was pleasant. We came on a Thursday night around 6pm and had no problem getting a table. There was indoor and outdoor seating and all the tables that came in after us chose to eat outside. Parking in this area was SO easy. The menu is very extensive - you could spend a lot of time deciding. We ordered: - Butter Chicken - Tandoori chicken simmered in tomato sauce, butter and spices, $12.95. This was so good, there were little pieces of chicken and the sauce was almost sweet. I've never had a butter chicken like this before and it was perfect to dip in naan. I didn't want to waste a drop of it! - Gobhi Gulastan - Cauliflower and potatoes cooked with herbs and ginger, 10.95 -Shrimp Biriyani - Traditional Indian rice dish made with vegetables, herbs and your choice of meat. We had someone eating with us that doesn't like a lot of spice, and they made this on the lowest spicy end as possible. I love spicy, and it was spicy! -Onion Kulcha - Flour bread stuffed with onions, $2.95. This was my favorite of the breads. You can taste the cut bits of onion in it. -Garlic Naan - Naan topped with garlic, $2.95 read more

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My boyfriend and I walked by this restaurant about a week ago and remarked on how great the food smelled. We came here last night and had the most delicious meal! I got the vegetable korma, which is divine, and I will update later what boyfriend got because I am blanking right now. We also shared an Elephant Ride cocktail which was also amazing and very unique. The staff was very friendly as well. Will definitely be coming back! read more

Essence of India - Vegetable korma, Garlic Naan - Indian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Amazing service and food. Loved the Samosas, Rogan Josh, and Tandoori Chicken. Great selection of Indian beer as well. Place was busy and did a lot of take out while there. read more

Small place but great service from the moment you walk in and helpful staff. We made a reservation because we were a group of 6 and it was busy almost half the tables said reserved. Small plates were perfect for sharing. Started with the vegetable samosas - sooo good. 2 come in an order (don't share make sure you get your own it's worth it). We also ordered garlic naan, chana masala, butter chicken, Dahl, and lamb vindaloo. The Dahl and masala stood out and were some of our favorites. So much food and dinner was under $100 - Great prices. read more

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With a name so clearly hearkening back to the epochal "Taste of India" in Newark, Ohio (if you know, you know), some friends and I were eager to try the mystical subcontinent's veritable "Essence" in the heart of Lincoln Square. We were not entirely disappointed! The food is tasty (I enjoyed my North Indian Fish Stew), albeit not super generously portioned apart from the positively massive (and delicious) Taj Mahal lager, which you simply must try. The price is just OK (maybe a bit on the higher side, but then again, what do you expect from the wannabe European piazza here?). Service was a bit slow, but we enjoyed the laid-back atmosphere. read more

When you enter, the restaurant greets you with a warm embrace, its understated cultural signifiers of Indian artifacts, warm colors, and a glow that reveals itself to be a reflection of the owners' kind hearts. The food truly conveys the essence of India. The Samosas are piping hot and the lamb just the right flavor, spicing and consistency, a true delicacy. The vegetarian dishes and their sauce combinations are out of this world. Everything in this menu is fresh, delicious, home made and served up by the owner himself, who is always happy to share his profound cultural and culinary expertise. This place is a veritable treasure in Lincoln Square! read more

Essence of India - Lamb Biryani, Vegetable Khorma on the left but sharing the foreground with a Dal Makhani - Indian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Awesome food and the service is exceptional. I think is a family restaurant, very cute and accommodating. They recommended some great dishes, portions were large and very tasty . Will definitely go back. read more

Had a nice meal from this restaurant last month! We ordered Murg Lajwab which was fantastic! Mutter Paneer was also tasty. The spinach with chick peas was mediocre. The naan was tasty and plain rice did its job. The price is fairly affordable for Indian. Would order again for the Murg Lajwab! read more

Some of the worst Indian food my wife and I have ever eaten. Bordering on inedible. The Saag chaman just tastes like cinnamon. The Tikka Masala is weirdly sweet. read more

When prepping for the kiddo to join us we succumbed to the adage of hot food could speed the process along. Been here many time in the past, first time to review. We had multiple plates, some hotter than the other, and was pleasantly full in the end. Always a friendly and helpful staff. Their Indian beers are huge. read more

Could not recommend this restaurant more!! Every dish was awesome, while so well reasonably priced. What a gem in Lincoln Square read more

Essence of India - Indian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We went on a Friday. Disappointed with having to sit inside due to missing staff and no tandoori options. Still, the dishes we had were great. Spice levels are authentic - even for someone of Indian decent so spicy is spicy! The channa Masala lived up to its name, lentils were great and the bhindi tasted good. We had naans and puris which were good as was the paneer pakora. Interesting drink choices also and service was good. I might upgrade the rating if I can get the fuller experience once all the staff are there. read more

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Great curry, delicious naan I wish they included rice, I always have to remind myself to make sure I get some. Next time maybe I'll try to eat at the restaurant. read more

I'm so sad to say this but the food here was super bland. I found myself putting salt on top of everything which in retrospect I should have known this spot is toned-down to people who perhaps aren't used to traditional Indian food. Our lovely waiter was very kind and even told us the food we were ordering would be very spicy but alas it was mild at best. Zero spice and not spicy. Definitely support this establishment but just know that it is not traditional Indian food. A big plus is they provide alcohol, they don't have bar seating, but they do have drinks to compliment your meal. read more

The food is AMAZING and so is the service!! The staff feels like family and the Ambiance is incredible. You MUST eat here

All of the curries were disgustingly sweet. I love Indian food and have eaten a lot as a west India person, but this place was gross. Everything was disgusting and was disgustingly sweet. We had the veg kofta and chicken korma, both tasted like desserts they were so sweet. The Indian spices and taste of tomato sauces were overpowered by the amount of sweetness in both. We asked the server how he felt about these and he said he liked them. We will never come back here. Nothing really tasted authentic. Everything was loaded with excess sugar. No thanks. When we told the manager how upset we were with the meal he did not care that we did not like the meal, he just said it must not be our "taste". So disappointed. read more

This place used to be good but my husband and I just ordered off of Uber eats and I'm beyond over this place now. This was supposed to have paneer, cashews, and rice but all I got was a tub of red sauce with two chunks of paneer. Are you serious? Be for real, that's just absolutely ridiculous. Thankfully Uber made it right but I don't think it should be the third party company making up for their screw up. Giving 2 stars since whatever this is was good, just not at all what I ordered. This restaurant is a scam. read more

Essence of India - a bowl of tomato soup with a whisk in it - Indian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Worst Indian food I've ever had. Lamb Vindaloo was so vinegary it was inedible. Naan was flavorless and charred to a blackened crisp. Murg Tikka Masala was mostly water with barely any chicken. Nothing I ordered was good, Super disappointing. read more

I'm in Chicago for the weekend for a workshop and I stumbled upon this Indian restaurant. I am a serious Indian food lover. This place blew me away. The food is excellent, very authentic, the service is top notch and the ambience is simply charming. if you're in the area, you must stop by. Will not be disappointed. read more

I stopped in for carry out on Wednesday because I decided to celebrate Chicago restaurant week by eating out every day this week because I was too lazy to go get groceries. I have only had Indian food once and this place was highly recommended by one of my friends. The ambience was cool. There was a good amount of seating and quiet music in the background. I ordered the Lamb Vindaloo, Vegetable Samosas, and Garlic Naan. I live about a 5 minute walk away and the food was still pipping hot in 15 degree weather. Let's start with the Samosas. They were very good, hot, and crispy. You were given two, but they were massive. My Indian friends in NYC even said they were the biggest they've seen! The Garlic Naan was good too. Essentially it was like a Pita, which I placed my Lamb on top of. The Lamb Vindaloo was ok and nothing extraordinary. I ordered the medium spice as I didn't want stomach problems and it had a mild kick for a spice enthusiast like me. I liked the sauce, but I didn't really like the lamb. I thought it was not tender at all and lacked flavor. The chutney was the most flavorful thing they offered and it was very sweet. I didn't dine in so I can't say anything about service, but my food was ready around my designated pickup time. Portions are massive here and a very good bang for your buck. I don't think I'm a big Indian food fan as I prefer Mediterranean, but if you like Indian food, then you should give Essence of India a try! read more

Essence of India - Garlic Naan, Vegetable Samosas, and Lamb Vindaloo. - Indian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I have to say... I was plesantly surprised! My husband and I were meeting some friends at Spyner's just around the corner but needed to grab some dinner first. We wandered the Square but he didn't want German... wandered away from the square and saw this place. Is it the best Indian food I've ever had? Absolutely not... that spot is reserved for Hema's Kitchen... and I've eaten in my fair share of Indian places. But this is closer to my house than Devon and delicious so I will be returning. We had the shrimp appetizer... Yum. The shrimp were on the small side but flavorful. We also ordered the chicken murg and lamb vindaloo. The chicken was moist and lamb was tender... can't complain. We ordered our food as spicy as they can make it and weren't all that impressed with the heat... but our tollerance is significantly higher than the average person. When I want AWESOME Indian food, I'll trek out to Devon. When I want something in the area, I'll head here. read more

Essence of India - Naan, lamb vindaloo and saag murg - Indian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is my go-to Indian cuisine! I absolutely love everything and the drinks are amazing! Butter Chicken The catfish is amazing! Poori and naan is amazing! read more

A few years ago, when I frequented Essence of India, they were doing quite well in terms of output from the kitchen and front room service. I never got a chance to blog them when I went in the past, so I wanted to see if they would be a good fit for my blog now. The food is still good, but something in the table service changed between my visits years ago and now. Daal turka. Curry coconut shrimp. Poori. I had a hankering for daal turka rather than the usual daal palaak or daal makhani. Having ordered the daal turka spicy, it was definitely a hit. The curry coconut shrimp was sour, and I don't mean that in a bad way. The coconut was clearly the most dominant flavour in the dish. I ordered rice and poori to accompany the two dishes. It is possible that I may have returned when timing was not good. After the detached disposition received this time, I shall put off any returns for a lengthy stretch of time. I did enjoy the flavours of the dishes I had, though. read more

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Since I've lived in Lincoln Square, essentially the last 8 years, Essence of India has always been there. This is obviously saying a lot for an area that has experienced a ton of change and a revolving door of restaurants during that time. Being that we migrated from Lakeview, we already had our fave go to Indian joint so always intended to give Essence a try, but just never did. That is, until yesterday. Went for lunch, one of three tables. Two employees working, atmosphere was dark and rather dreary. Music was nice and soothing. So far, so good. Ordered the non-vegetarian appetizer plate, read, all meat. It was delicious - there were four different types of meats (2 chicken, one lamb, and a large shrimp). Best part of the meal. Fantastic flavors and a variety of them. My absolute obsession was the Tandoori Shrimp. For my entree, I ordered the Masala Coconut Shrimp. It did not include rice; which I'm not really used to, but not a deal breaker. The Naan I ordered alongside was great and garlicky. The chutneys that were on the table were tasty too. All good so far....until I tried my entree. Ick. I don't know what I was anticipating, but it wasn't this. Actually, I do know what I was anticipating, Masala with a hint of coconut milk. This was not the case. It was so sweet and even though at first I was disappointed that there wasn't rice, I wouldn't have used it anyway because I did not want any of the sauce, not even on the shrimp. The shrimp too were rubbery and small, zero seasoning or flavor on the shrimp on it's own, much different from my experience with the one Tandoori Shrimp from the appetizer. Lesson learned, I ordered incorrectly. I also learned that I do not like Coconut Masala, not the color, not the flavor, not the smell. And, I will always order Tandoori Shrimp if I return; which is pretty unlikely. read more

This place is..well..yeah. There are many reviews on here of praise for this local restaurant, and just as many "eh" reviews of it too. I am not saying I won't go back, but I won't go back for awhile, until I try some other Indian spots first to try and find a better one. First, when I walked in it was basically empty and a very unhappy owner seated me without a word. Got my order taken and food came out, all in due time, but the customer service just wasn't there. The owner, as many have said, had a presence like we were bothering him and that he could have cared less if we were in there or not. I ordered the butter chicken, na'an, and basmati rice. The chicken was good, but not a ton of flavor. Still, the serving was a nice portion, so it was all good. The na'an was nice, light, and a nice compliment to the chicken. As for the $2.50 rice..it was dried out and could have been made better at home in a microwave. Still the ambience was nice and it was clean, so I'll give it props for that. But as I stated above, I won't be in a rush to go back here any time soon. read more

Essence of India - Indian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois