The food was great, tasted very authentic. The service was fast and great. Would recommend chicken masala for spice lover.

We got some premade Indian food, sooo tasty! They offer varieties that I haven't seen in typical Indian restaurants! There are also tons of Indian groceries, seasonings, mixes, and premade batter for Indian 'bread'. I wish I know how to make idli as that's one of my faves and they sell idli batter! read more

Kairali Indian Foods - a man in a face mask looking into a refrigerator - Specialty Food Near Me - Glenview, Illinois

I don't know. We were super excited about the idea of eating kerala food. But we ended up throwing away half of the frozen (home cooked) food, due to an odd taste and odor. The store was small, cramped. I don't know if I'll return. If I do, it would be due to sheer desperation for some biriyani and sabji read more

Really good Malayali food. They chicken curry and biryanis are my favorite. Really good flavors and not too spicy so it works for everyone.

South Indian grocery store that offers many Indian grocery staples. Also offering prepared foods, chilled and frozen goods, South Indian butcher favorites and I think they might honor a request to make marinated meats. I.e Tandoori chicken for grilling, or other South Indian favorites. I'm sure a person could ask for chicken 65 or chili chicken and they may try to oblige. (My fellow Americans, if you'd like to wow a backyard barbecue, then why not order some marinated tandoori chicken) Recently, a cousin moved into the area and I wanted to stop by with some goodies. I'd originally planned to order Indian takeout, but after getting to the area, I realized I'd have to drive some distance to find a decent restaurant. (It just so happens, that there are a few South Indian caterers that have shops in this area. However, this one has the best operating hours.) So, me and Ma stopped in. She needed some grocery items (score!) so this cancelled out a grocery run I'd have to do for her, later, back in Chicago. The store clerks spoke Malayalam and were personable whether spoken to in English or their own language. An area near the counter had a display case full of catered goodies, I believe were prepared in house. Items like: veg and meat samosa, banana treats, beef cutlets and other Indian favorites. These carried a minimal per piece cost. I.e. 60 cents to $1/$2. In the refrigerated cases I found, Avial, fish moilly, mutton fry, beef fry, kappa, butter chicken and more. As well as some breads like fresh paratha ("porota"). Many of these entrees could serve 3 - 4 people and carried a cost of $7 - $10 dollars. I was surprised to find that the prepared items tasted good. If this shop were local to me, this would be a consideration when looking to buy some prepared Indian foods. Shoutouts to the Keralites and the malus! read more

Cram-packed in a small store with five short narrow aisles and a frozen case along a wall, an excellent selection of Indian groceries. About 75% of the items are more generic Indian things that can be readily found in the (considerably larger) stores on Devon Avenue in Chicago: for example, a full selection of dals - chana dal, toor dal, masoor dal, urad dal, etc. Sooji, broken wheat, coconut items, ragi and rice flour for puttu... The remaining 25% lives up to the store's name and premise: specialties of Kerala. A particularly good selection of pickles, more than half of them bottled in Kerala, such items as roasted coconut mix powder, an assortment of sambar powders and mixes, and prepared sambars; bilimbi pickle, and of course many varieties of mango pickle most of which I haven't seen elsewhere. Good selection of boxed mixes (for fish curries etc.). The frozen case, in addition to the usual drumsticks and tinda, includes banana flower curry, cherupayaru (banana peel) curry, South Indian dried shrimp-based curry mixes, several kinds of prepared puttu, readymade porottas, and more. Understandably for its restricted market, what we don't see in this store is much in the way of fresh produce: no chili peppers or mangoes for example. The frozen case did have finger peppers, and I did buy some specially fresh young curry leaves. I went out on a limb and asked if they had nag kesar, true tej patta, or toddy vinegar: they did not - but that's hardly a strike against them: I haven't found any of these three items anywhere on Devon Avenue, and nag kesar is not a special South Indian item anyway. To the store's credit, the bay leaf they sell was not marked "tej patta"- which contrasts sharply with elsewhere in the Chicago area, where I've even been told that there is no such thing as cinnamon leaf (the true tej patta). [Note: although Indian toddy vinegar has so far eluded me in the Chicago area, Philippine stores routinely carry the equivalent coconut vinegar.] When I dropped in, noon on a Wednesday, there were only 3 store-prepared items for sale: plantain fritters, urad dal vada, pinched yellow moong dal vada. I bought all three, they were all good if nothing to write home about. The storekeepers were friendly and helpful. If I lived nearby, or drove, I would shop here regularly. read more

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Best place around to get authentic Kerala groceries, price is reasonable compared to other Indian grocery stores. They serve decent mallu food. Better to call and check the menu and availability. Only take out. read more

Kairali Indian Foods - Kairali foods - Specialty Food Near Me - Glenview, Illinois

We picked up prepared food for carry out (the only way they sell it.) It's a grocery store that happens have a kind of "chef's choice" system, so you're limited to whatever has been prepared. It's damn cheap compared to other take-out places, Indian or otherwise. I paid $20 for about 3 to 4 meals worth of food. Food is placed in containers on a cart, kept at room temperature. I can't imagine how this would pass a food safety inspection--if the health department even knows they're selling prepared food here. If you're Indian, you'll probably have no trouble identifying the items, but between the heavy accent of the nice (owner?), my ignorance, and messy handwriting, it's a bit of a gamble. Given the questionable food safety, I opted for mostly vegetarian choices with the exception of the samosas. The dal masala was amazing, if fiery hot. It reminded me of the best butter chicken I've tasted. I got some other unidentifiable vegetarian entree that was not quite as good, though still enjoyable. The meat samosas were a little weird, but the vegetable ones were quite decent--neither of which was as good as elsewhere. The Indian (tortillas? definitely not naan) were amazing and I wish I got more of them. Kind of a rubbery texture in a good way. Now, honestly, I'm a bit afraid to return--I feel like I gambled here with my GI system and happened to come out ahead. I wish they kept things at least under a heat lamp, if not served as needed from warming trays. Just don't say I didn't warn you! read more

Called up. They had Avial, Kachiya Moru, Beef Fry and Fish Curry. Asked for Puttu. Was not available. Didn't go there. read more

I am a long term satisfied customer of kairali. Today I bought beef fry and mutten biriyani from them. The beef fry was too much salty, and the mutten biriyani is a disaster. The meat is half cooked the biriyani as a whole is not tasty as before. I called one of the partner, instead of looking into the complaint, he is trying to justify by saying that we cook and fry the meet before making biriyani. I suggested him to taste it and call me. no call came so far. Dear Kairali, we expect a basic quality when we buy from you. Your Chef is supposed to taste the food and satisfy himself before you put a food item for sale. I hereby suggest you to improve your quality assurance and take proper action on customer complaints. From saji mukalel sajimu66@yahoo.com read more

New ownership is great, they've changed the whole outlook of the store. Meat samosas and puffs are the best! I Love the store!!

Love their food. The non veg items little costly and have a funny taste like sweet&sour. You get good indian fish like kingfish, mackrel and many others. read more

Food is Ok, the only problem I saw was they are charging 9.75 % sales Tax on food items instead of 2.5 %. Hope they fix this problem.

I could not stop coming over every other day to get cutlets. Beef and fish ones. Better than your mother and definitely better than your wife. Yeah I said it. If you don't think the best tasting food comes out of places that aren't pretty then think about your ammachi's kitchen in Kerala. read more

The food taste better than any Indian restaurant! It's not a restaurant but the food is quality! There are always fresh selections of beef and fish patties samosas etc. read more

This is a small hole-in-the-wall establishment that functions as a grocery store and also as a kitchen. I have never tasted more authentic Kerala food (South Indian food) before. Everything is worth sampling...but their Kerala fish curry and Lamb Biryani are jaw dropping. Not a sit-down restaurant, but you can pack food to take home and enjoy for the rest of the week (yup, their portions are that big)... read more

If you are from Kerala or if you like Kerala cuisine, this is a place you should definitely check out. You get all Kerala groceries here. But what I love about this store is the food they sell. I have had their sambhar, aviyal, beef fry, kappa, fish curry, chicken curry, chicken biriyani, semiya payasam etc. The prices are very reasonable and portions are huge(like 4-5 servings per dish). Great find!! read more

Oh My God!! I was in a hotel in Glenview last weekend and was looking for a place to eat. Based on some google search this name Kairali foods came up. Called the store and asked if they sell any prepared food. The person there said they have fish curry and some other stuff -- I was thrilled and drove to the store. It is certainly not the way I expected. The guy took me to the back of the store in a dark room where he showed a very large drum that had the fish curry. It was red watery curry and fish pieces at the bottom of the drum. I asked who would buy/eat that fish curry. He hardly understood my English. The quantity of the curry was huge enough to feed a marriage party. But he insisted that the curry was fresh and was made that day itself. Was feeling hungry and without thinking much I bought two pieces, it was very cheap. Came back to hotel room. Oh my God!! With lots of hesitation when I tasted a spoon of that curry, oh my God!!! It was simply terrible.too terrible to put my feelings into words. I almost vomited right away. I got no option but to throw out the stuff right away. I will never forget about this experience. read more