Living in the city, we don't typically venture out in the suburbs for dinner, but since we were on our way back and needed a restaurant with vegetarian options, Madura kitchen seemed promising. Overall, I have to say, this food ranks as some of the best Indian food I have had in the Chicagoland area. I was pleasantly surprised considering it's such an unassuming location. They have a mix of South Indian, Punjabi and Indochinese. For our starter, we ordered Gobi Manchurian. This was super flavorful, and had prominent ginger elements. The South Indian options were amazing. The dosa was perfectly cooked and the sambar had an amazing flavor. We were left practically licking our plates. My sister had the rasam vada, which was perfect for a cold night. The chana bhatura was delicious. One piece of advice is they do offer this and all other options with varying spice levels. For the Chana, we ordered a mild for my nephew and medium for me. The medium was pretty hot but the flavors were unmatched. The mild was a bit too sweet for my taste. Other honorable mentions worth trying were the chicken kadai and veg noodles. Probably the only disappointment was the paneer tikka. The flavor was off and almost inedible. Overall, I highly recommend this place for Indian food lovers! I know I will be back. read more

Madurai Kitchen is a good restaurant to grab quality South Indian food. They have a good variety on their menu, and the food is freshly prepared. On my recent first visit, I found the restaurant to be inviting and having a nice ambiance. It was clean and well lit. My party and I had a late dinner. We received good service. We were seated promptly upon arrival. We were served water right away. One of the staff members informed us to scan a QR code to get the menu of the restaurant and place our order from our mobile device directly. We ordered South Indian dishes such as dosas and uttapam. Dosas, for those who may not be familiar, are like savory crepes made from rice batter and uttapam are like savory pancakes made from rice and urad dal (an Indian grain) batter. The uttapams my party ordered were of the onion and chilies kind and came with dipping sides of sambar (lentil and veggie stew) and three chutneys (coconut, peanut, and one other kind that I can't remember). The dosas also came with the same sides. My order was different from the others. I ordered Madurai Kitchen's special dosa made with minced mutton (goat) in spices. I was expecting a traditional dosa with mutton stuffed inside, but no. This dish looked like thick uttapam but smelled like dosa, and it came with a side of curry dal as a dipping side instead of sambar and chutneys. I inquired about it, and one of the staff members said that that's how it served. Strange but cool, I guess. I found my dish to be okay in taste. It lacked a bit of salt, and the flavor wasn't quite what I had expected. I had thought that it would be spicy, but it wasn't. I used the chutneys from other members of my party's dishes for an enhanced tasting experience. The rest of the folks in my party liked their dishes a lot. Their dishes were good. Overall, we had a good experience. The menu pricing is on the expensive side (more than I expected), but the food quality and service were good. If you like South Indian food, then this restaurant is definitely worth checking out. I will be going back to try other menu items. read more

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Just dined here for the first time (Saturday 2-8-2025)! Had their brunch buffet--it was DELICIOUS and had MORE than the photo I just posted! I especially loved that they had Tindora as part of the buffet; I haven't seen any other Indian restaurants serve that in about 20 years (Gaylord in Schaumburg did, but haven't done so, since then!) Anyway, I had just about every item in their spectacular buffet --I almost ended up napping in my truck afterwards! The service here is spot-on: friendly, professional and attentive! Although they didn't have any soft drinks or juices, they did have a chikoo shake (which I never had before, and ended up really enjoying)! They also have mango lassi shakes too, btw! In addition to the great food and service, the restaurant is clean (as are their bathrooms)! Anyway, I do plan on coming back! Glad I was following them on Facebook! read more

Madurai Kitchen - Menu for weekend brunch buffet - Indian Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

I had ordered the chettinad chicken curry with a mango lassi and a garlic naan bread. chettinad chicken curry: potion was very small. There was 4 very small pieces of chicken that had 2 nibbles of meat on each. It was mostly bones. The rice had no seasoning or flavor at all and was dissatisfying. Naan: did not seem homemade. Seemed like a bread from a package topped with make it look home made. Flavor wasn't bad, but it's definitely not the experience you look for when eating curry. Mango lassi: it was alright, a bit tangy but it was ok. Overall do not recommend coming here to eat (or at least this meal) I spent 26.75 for the meal, I threw it away as it was not satisfying. Other places are much better and provide a higher quality of food than here. read more

South Indian Cuisine at its BEST ! If you are craving South Indian food then Madurai Kitchen located in Arlington Heights is the place to be. They serve authentic and delicious South Indian cuisine. Check it out today. First time here and really enjoyed it. The food and service was great, we had a big group as the server was patient with all our requests. They have side selection of menu items , we tried the Vegetable Pakora, Idli, Medu Vada , Masala Dosa, Chicken 555, Mutton Chukka, Karaikudi Curry, and Thalapakkati Goat Biryani. The Thalapakkati Goat Biryani , Medhu Vada, Cone Dosa & Chicken 555 were my favorites. Will definitely be back for their Thursday Dosa night. read more

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If u wanna order Wedding Biriyani do it only on Friday. They cook it on Friday and serve untill Sunday even if it is stale. I ordered two wedding stylebiriyaki today and both are stale, high risk to health and safety. FOH , FSIS and FDA shoild conduct a through review on this restaurant read more

I've dined here 9 times so far - mainly for their Thursday Dosa Buffet Nights and their Saturday Brunch Buffets! Every time was an EXCELLENT dining experience! The food selections are all so different and exotic every time I come here -- definitely not the same tiresome cookie-cutter selections you find at many of the northwest and northern suburban Indian restaurants! In addition, all the food I had each time was fresh and flavorful! The service is great too -- very attentive, quick and efficient! I've had the pleasure of having Dheeraj, Pallavi, Sai and Charan (hope I spelled all their names right), as my amazing servers all those times I've come in! In addition, I love how the restaurant posts its upcoming buffets and specials every week on Facebook! I still have to try placing an online take-out order with them, but for now I'm happy to dine in since they're only 10 to 15 minutes (7 miles) from home, plus I won't need to drive 25 miles/1 hour to my other favorite South Indian restaurant- Trilokah- which made the sad and questionable decision of moving this past February from nearby Mount Prospect to Lincoln Park! Last, the restaurant is clean and cozy...what I love about coming here the most is that half of India dines here -- I'm usually the only non- Indian diner whenever I come here, which is great, since I know I'm getting authentic wonderfully cooked South Indian cuisine! read more

Madurai Kitchen - Thursday Night Dosa Buffet Menu posted on Facebook - Indian Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

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Absolutely! Here's a review for Madurai Kitchen: "I recently had the pleasure of dining at Madurai Kitchen, and it was an exceptional experience. The food was not only delicious but also exceeded my expectations. The friendly staff added to the warm atmosphere, making it a delightful meal for my family and me. We are eagerly anticipating the opening of the Naperville location, and I'm sure it will be just as fantastic as our current favorite spot. Highly recommended for anyone seeking a top-notch dining experience!" The reason why I'm giving 4 star is because of the ambience, I think it can do a little bit of improvement but overall everything is kept clean. read more

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Ambiance: simple, and clean, however it was bit hot even though not many people in the restaurant (they have standing fans to air out the area). 4/5 Service: Bit slow on a Wednesday evening, however our server Akash was approachable, polite and quick to provide requested service. 4/5 Food: we ordered kids come dosa, mysore masala dosa and chilli paneer...mysore dosa was ok (not crispy enough and not a fan of the flavour of mysore...usually I love it at other restaurants). However, star of the dinner was chilli paneer and lime masala soda :). Rating 3/5. Will visit again and try a different type of dosa next time. read more

Madurai Kitchen - Chilli Paneer. - Indian Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

Thursday is dosa day! At lunch or dinner, you can choose the dosa buffet. Dinner costs more. Here, you can order unlimited dosai, choosing various kinds from their dosa menu. Buffet also has pre-made self-serve sides, rice, deserts and masala chai tea on a table. A dosa is a thin pancake in South Indian cuisine made from a fermented batter of ground lentils and rice. Like small savory crepes. We love the masala dosa. Sugar dosa just had sugar sprinkled inside; made a good desert. Not keen on chocolate (just syrup) and onion dosa. We also like the mango lassi [best made fresh] and biryani--it's basmati rice with other food mixed in. Kinda like a stir fry. All the wait staff is nice. Happy to answer food Qs. Small tables of ~4 chairs. It's wheelchair accessible inside and in the bathroom too. But it's tricky outside; no wheelchair accessible parking space and the parking has cement blocks in front. To get in, I need to squeeze between the cement blocks. My small power chair fits, but idk if my newer one can. read more

Madurai Kitchen - Dosa Masala - Indian Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

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The place is nice - looks small from the outside, but decent space on the inside. The servers are polite, yet it took a while for us to get silverware and plates for our appetizers. Plates are served in nice looking metal dishes and all dishes were flavorful. Portions are not very big compared to other places and plates that normally would come with white rice we had to pay extra for. What really is unique about this place and dynamite is their mango lassi! It's not super sweet and has a really nice spice balance. The best in my wife's and my opinion around!! read more

Lucky for us we discovered this place on Thursday night, when they have all you can eat Dosa night and buffet. I went with my wife and daughter who wanted to get the food from the menu instead of buffet but I picked the buffet. Best decision. Their buffet have only vegetarian options but they do have non-veg dishes on their menu. I enjoyed all the items on their buffet and ordered 4 Dosas as well. Everything tasted really good, fresh and authentic. Buffet also included desert and cardamom chai. Their serving staff was pleasant and very accommodating. It is a smaller place but has good ambiance and vibe, although parking is bit tight. We will definitely go there again and try other dishes on their menu. read more

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Grand Thali at Madurai on the weekends is an experience you cannot miss! The service was warm and welcoming, everyone took the time to chat with us and explain each dish while asking about our preferences. I felt totally relaxed here. Each platter came with 15+ dishes/curries including rasam, sambar, goat, chicken, and fried anchovies. You can eat it with the provided rice, chappati, and pappadam. The rasam is some of the best I've tried-tangy and generously spiced with cumin. I also ordered some filter coffee which was another hilight. If you haven't tried this Tamil Nadu specialty drink you absolutely need to it was so flavorful. Thank you to all the staff for making our experience so enjoyable on top of all the delicious food. This is an establishment that cares very much about its customers and the quality of its food. read more

Madurai Kitchen - Grand Non-Veg Thaali Indian Coffee - Indian Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

Tried this place recently again and was disappointed in both the service and quality of food here. The portions are smaller and pricey for what you get; probably won't be back soon. read more

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Lately there has been so many Indian restaurants that have opened up in Chicagoland and neighboring suburbs. I have been to mostly all of them and can with confidence say this is one of top ones out there when it comes to flavor and quality of food. Not only you get tasty and yummy food but also in terms of value it's priced right for the quantity they serve. The way they serve food in stainless steel brings back childhood memories when growing up in India. Please don't get discouraged by the interior in comparisons to the new ones as you would miss out on flavor that reminds you of home! read more

I really really wanted to love it but holy cow it's SPICEY!!! yes, I am a baby so take it with a grain of salt but I told them mild-no spice on all the dishes (I know I am weak) and even my husband who LOVES spice was sweating but he really enjoyed it!!! I just don't know if I can order again and trust it be something I can enjoy too. Picture for reference on my order read more

Madurai Kitchen - Put very mild and our food was definitely medium plus according to my spice loving husband - Indian Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

Very good food and service. I have always enjoyed visiting this restaurant. The ambiance is also cozy and nice.

Ordered 2 Vegetarian Thali carry out food was good, have dined in as well. Good service and good South Indian food. They could add more vegetarian options. The interior is clean. read more

Nothing was right when we attended on Mother's day. It was not crowded for us to get a poor service. We were seated at a table where on one side, there was spilled rice. We didn't want to ask for another table thinking it is probably crowded. When we ordered, they didn't have many of the dosa varieties, no paratha varieties. I asked her why and the waitress said they dont have batter and it will take one hour to prepare and the restaurant closes in one hour. This was around 7.45pm. We ordered whatever was available. They didn't keep plates, spoons, forks. I asked for it once food arrived. They brought a stack of plates and serving spoons and napkins and placed on our table. The top plate was clean and the 2nd plate underneath was used and not washed. I called the waitress and told her. She apologized and brought new set of plates. Then my husband's item, Aloo gobi - one of the Aloo pieces was partially black in color which is a clear sign of spoilt aloo. When we showed it to the waitress she picked only that piece up in the spoon and never came back with the spoon. We asked for spoons and forks as only serving spoons were in the dishes. When she brought them, the waitress removed her gloves and kept it with the spoons. I had to call her and ask her to pick that up. Then suddenly came a cleaner to vaccum the rice that was spilled next to our table. After a very dissatisfied dinner, I decided to use the washroom. It was terrible. The bins were overflowing with paper towels and all over the place. There was another lady with me who was also visibly annoyed. So, this will be my one and only trip to Madurai kitchen in Naperville and have conveyed the same to my friends as well. Highly avoidable read more

Delicious food and good service ... We recommend it highly. Thanks for the good meal. The tandoori fish and eggplant were very good read more

We have been there several times with different friends and it never disappoints. So good!

Super impressed! We went on a Thursday which has the Dosa buffet that is vegetarian! Being a vegetarian this was a huge plus for us the menu is huge too if you don't want to do the amazing buffet. They have meat dishes if you rather that on the menu. The food is very flavorful and fresh! One of the best Indian restaurants I have ever been too. The staff is all super friendly and very on top of things. Totally going to come back and try something off the menu. read more

Madurai Kitchen - The outside sign. - Indian Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

This restaurant is consistent in their quality and flavors! Very yummy and is one of the top Indian restaurants in the suburbs I recommend to everyone who asks! read more

Had the veg thali! Food was great, perfect amount of spice! The servers very attentive and the place was packed with families read more

Madurai Kitchen - Thali - Indian Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

Madurai is a large city in the state of Tamil Nadu of India. The city has historical significance to the origins of Tamil culture. Seeing this name 'one can expect' good South Indian food. This restaurant and owners are new to the biz, so you'll have to give them time to get it together. The restaurant style is casual and waitstaff do a decent job of explaining their foods. If you have questions about the taste of an entree or ingredients, definitely ask. I'm familiar with South Indian food but some of the entree names are so new, I wasn't quite sure. Spice levels: They can cater to your needs, so if you aren't sure just get mild. I don't suggest ordering medium if you aren't prepared to sweat. And if you find yourself in a predicament where the food is just hella spicy. Ask for raita or curds. Raita is usually sour cream or that mixed with a bit of buttermilk. Curds is a thicker yogurt. On your plate add the raita to the curry or rice and that should cool out your taste buds. Families will often mix curds with white rice and have the curry on the side for their young children. On the other hand, a tasty dessert or dessert drink like Mango lassi will cool you down and please the belly. Either the menu or a sign inside has a slogan that says "good food takes time." Sure and with that mention time can draaaaaaaag. Dinner service with my fam' the other night took many hours, more than I would have liked to spend tbh. When orders hit the table they were out of sequence. ie Appetizers and dinner entrees arrived when they got there. We were at the tail end of dinner when desserts orders were placed and just then an appetizer & main entree finally arrived at the table. A waiter with serving knowledge would have asked whether we still wanted the items or to cancel them out. Some food items need more care and prep time than others, these details are just an unknown since their staff serve multiple positions. Servers may go missing for awhile because they are in the kitchen prepping a plate. If you can be extra patient you may get to experience a different Indian cuisine that entices. My family enjoyed the food and ability to chat with restaurant staff in our native south Indian language. Food specials: There are some nights where special food items are offered in a buffet style. Mid week they offer an AYCE dosa special. I hear it can be a good time if you can manage to get a table. Looking at ratings they are both high and low. South Indians and those familiar with the cuisine have a higher bar for what's acceptable. I can agree with many of the differing reviews. With this said, I'll probably give them a year before returning. I expect since they have a following, they will still be around and hopefully learn to expedite. read more

Madhavi Sumalatha nuthi i visited Madurai kitchen it's nice environment to have delicious food good team members and nice service so go and have delicious food once u will visit you will definitely will go more times because the food is very taste and both grand thalli veg and non veg is very yummy thanks read more

We ate here upon first opening and the restaurant was very dirty, food was tasty. We decided to give it another try this past weekend and unfortunately we left with out ordering due to the cleanliness of the table, placemats, door, windows, etc. This is unacceptable in the food industry. Not sure we will return. read more

Good food and service. Little spicy for my daughter. Try this place if you want to try thali or Thalapakatti chicken biryani. read more

Madurai Kitchen - Aatu Kaal Soup Thalappakatti chicken biriyani Non veg thali - Indian Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

Food is absolutely fantastic! Love this place. The staff is super sweet and so patient. The grand thali was amazing. Each item was delicious on its own. They were super kid friendly too. The nannari sharbath and biryani is yummy. Prepare to wait for a bit because good things take time. Madurai kitchen have us a very good dining experience. read more

The food here was amazing, I also had this place cater an event of mine for 400 people! the service is awesome and I will definitely come here again! I recommend you try the Chilli gobi it is to die for!!! read more

The Google reviews are satisfactory, but the food quality does not meet expectations..

Great food. Friendly service. Enjoy going here whenever I'm in the area. Recommend trying the poori

Food is tasty ..Service was slow Chicken 65 was very yummy and we ordered goat Donne biryani it was very tasty read more

If you are coming for South Indian food, this is the place to go! Dosas we're on point. Kids enjoyed the cheese dosas and adults had the mysore masala dosa. Staff was nice and accommodating! We will be back! read more

I've been here twice with my wife. We generally really like the food, particularly the Butter chicken, parotta, and chicken biryani. Last time they were out of biryani (early Saturday evening). That's a little disappointing since they label themselves a biryani place. Last time, we only go one side of rice for two full entrees (butter chicken and chicken tikka). Overall, we like it and will be back. read more

Their special festival and weekly buffet is very good. Friendly service. Wish would label choices in buffet better. Like if soup was chicken please indicate or not just mark pickle as pickle but indicate specific as mango or lemon. read more

Great South Indian fare in Arlington Heights. This used to be Chowpatty before. We had a variety of dishes and they all tasted good and prepared well. This is classic Tamil non vegetarian fare and the type of biryani is different. This place is good for vegetarians as they have a variety of options for non meat eaters. I do see that this is a fairly new place and they may struggle now and then with getting food fast enough due to staff shortage. They were apologetic and more than made up with the food. Please support this local establishment with your patronage. Even though I no longer live in the Chicago area, I wish we have South Indian restaurants like this in Atlanta. read more

It is great for South Indian food lovers. Been here 5 times and tried a new type of dosa or curry, and each time has been a big hit! This may be the best South Indian food place in Chicagoland! read more

Bad Hygiene . Saw roaches near the table. Food quality not good. We ordered non veg thali and some other items from the menu. Shrimp was good read more

Ordered Garlic Naan: 5/5 Paneer Tikka Masala: 4/5 Gobi 65: 3/5 Palak Paneer: 5/5 Paneer Manchurian: 4/5 Kids Penna in Tikka Masala with Paneer: 5/5 Everything was good. read more