Really good place. Loved their pizzas. The biryani was not authentic it was more like chicken and rice like the one in the halal guy. However, the flavor was surprisingly good. We also ordered the chicken tikka momo wasn't a big fan of the tikka sauce on the momos, but the chicken filling tasted good. read more

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As a Bombay kid this was our joint for Vada Pav in the city. Moti was our every weekend place last year. On our first visit this year to this rebranded place, the size of the Vada has been reduced to half what a Sad state. When something works you do not change it . Saving potatoes will not save your reputation. read more

Fast casual indian food that is delcious and cheap - what's not to love about it? This is a perfect weekday lunch spot. read more

I have passed by the restaurant many times but today was my first time going in. I am very glad I did. The food is delicious and the staff is very helpful. The main attendant was kind and attentive to my request. I elected to make my own bowl with rice base, chicken, and tikka style. I wanted to try something else and asked the attendant what he recommends. He told me pav bhaji would be great if I wanted something more like an appetizer. I also added a mango and rose lassi. I wanted to eat in the store but was unsure if I would finish everything. So he helped me by having my bowl be placed in a to go container for ease. Sadly, I didn't take a picture since I was excited to try the food. The service was incredibly fast and my food was served hot. The attendant brought out my food and provided me with utensils. He started off by giving me the pav bhaji. He informed me how to best eat it, to mix in butter and had lime. I was informed that the meal is vegetable based, so I thought it wouldn't be filling. I was proven wrong. They served a good portion. It was very savory and the flavors mixed well. The vegetables were soft and had absorbed the flavors of the curry, making it so much better. It reminded me of Chana masala. The bowl was also very good. The chicken was juicy and warm. The sauce was so good, should have honestly asked for more. The toppings add a nice crunch and texture, when compared to the rice and chicken. I tried mango and rose lassis and it's delicious. Both are very sweet. The rose lassi is very smooth and has the perfect taste of rose. The mango lassi reminded me of homemade mango smoothies/yogurts I would get back in Mexico. Between the two, I prefer the mango lassi but I will be getting the rose flavor again. Overall I am very happy with my experience with the staff and meal. I will definitely be coming again and bringing my friends. read more

the food is delicious and delivered on time. we had a great time. the pizza and samosa chaat was on top.

Spent last week in Chicago and stayed across the street from Mazala. Using the train meant we walked by the restaurant quite often. The amazing smells that hit us as we walked by caused us more than once to linger outside. We did eventually did place a late night order to our room and...the flavors outshined the smell. We ordered a personal Naan Samosa Smash Pizza, an order of Tiki Masala Momos, and Masala Fries. Delivery was really fast and the food was hot. Everything was delicious and we finished if off pretty quickly. Hoping to find something near us that matches Mazala! read more

I had the Chicken Tikka Pizza, and it was very good. Druv P. and the staff did wonderful work.

Only ever delivered food but it's been solid both times. Not like the best food ever but consistent and bursting with flavors. I loved the tikka masala Mac n cheese and my boyfriend's favorite is the samosa pizza! read more

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Great milky masala chai! Prices are on par for fast casual restaurants in downtown Chicago ($4 for an 8oz cup), but it's nice they are open past 8pm throughout the week. Service was quick, but tbh there was also a self serve kiosk where you can order food from if the lines are too long. In addition to great masala chai, they also serve Momos, Indian style pizza (I highly recommend trying any of their options), and street foods like Samosa Chaat, read more

Mazala Pizza River North - Masala Chai - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great samosas and reasonably priced. The chutney was perfectly seasoned. The place sales Indian flavor Pizzas, but I just wanted samosas. I'll certainly be back when in town. read more

Mazala Pizza River North - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The Chicken Tikka Pizza (Thin Crust) was something delicious and new for me. Loved it!

We had the paneer tikka masala (not pictured). We asked if they could make it spicy, and they were unable to and said it was already spicy. They also didn't have spicy sauce on the side. Which is all fine, as long as the dish itself is good. Unfortunately the PTM was basically just tomato sauce with huge blocks of paneer. You can't taste any spices and there was no onion or garlic flavor at all. We also got the momos. Never again. They tasted like they came from the freezer. The filling was bland and mushy. They used the same sauce on top of the momos as the paneer tikka masala. Overall, not good. I've heard the pizza here is decent, so I'll be back to try that. read more

Mazala Pizza River North - Momos - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

FANTASTIC food at Moti Cafe. We love the pizza, both pan crust and thin crust are great. Pav Bhaji and momo's are some of our other favorites, but you can't go wrong with anything here. This has been one of our go to's in the neighborhood for years - HIGHLY recommend to anyone and everyone. Great food, great customer service. read more

Mazala Pizza River North - Tikka Masala Pizza - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Our all time favourite desi fast food joint :) Love almost everything on their menu, wouldnt care for the momos much, there mango lassi is really good! Paneer burrito, wraps are a great option:) I wish they had a slighty bigger space and more drink options - more beverages and some to go cocktails would be a great add ! read more

Walked in for a casual lunch and was pleasantly surprised! The menu has standout Indian-American items with a unique spin ranging from masala pizzas to rice bowls. I grabbed a chicken tikka bowl and a mango lassi and was able to eat it on their outdoor patio. The bowl was topped with lots of veggies and drizzled in sauce making it both savory and refreshing. The mango lassi had a thick consistency and had lots of flavor. Overall, Moti Cafe is a great spot for a healthy, quick bite if you're in the area. read more

Mazala Pizza River North - Chicken Tikka Masala, Mango Lassi - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great spot for a quick but tasty meal! We would have Moti at least once a week when we lived in the area. We love their chicken tikka pizza as well as their custom bowls. They also have street snacks like sweet chili momos and samosas. You really can't go wrong here. There are many vegetarian options too. read more

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We went to the Moti at 2312 N Lincoln Ave. Let's start with the surprising highlight - absolutely the most unique, best popsicles you will ever eat. They are custom made with flavors like Ube, Pistachio and saffron, or strawberry cheesecake! Do not leave the place without trying one. The ambience is unassuming and college decor. The music a bit loud. The manager recommended half and half pizza with Korean BBQ and Tikka. It was delicious although kind of like California pizza style. Samosas have tamarind and mint chutney and the masala fries are different from anything you have tried before. Will have to try the other dishes. read more

Loved the Jain Spinach pizza here! They have recently removed the Jain menu, but their employees were really helpful and accommodating. read more

Street Food - Indian Style. My gosh was this flavorful. I am pretty sure I was eating it faster than my hubby. I am writing this will a very full happy belly. Be sure to check in on Yelp - right now they are giving you a moticake when you check in - don't miss it!! This is a super sweet dessert, you like sweet...you will love this! We ordered a bowl - you get to build this with several options. And the sweet chili momo dumpling also with chicken. Ordering was easy and the lovely girl behind the counter was so helpful when trying to figure out the sides and made some recommendations. read more

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Absolutely my favorite pizza in Chicago !! I will never visit and not go there. Also have a new location closer to downtown

TLDR; DELICIOUS INDIAN FOOD options with great service Never been to MOTI before but I loved Indian food so we stopped by for a late dinner meal. We ordered the Pav Bhaji & yellow rice which was delicious curry and we could have two sides of sauces (Moti sauce is spicy curry Mayo which was unsurprisingly delicious to eat with the rice). I wiped up all the curry with the bread provided. ALSO AFTER I CHECKED IN ON YELP, I HAD A FREE DESSERT OFFER. SO DEFINITELY CHECK IN. We were heading to another bar right after but we wanted to take something to go so we could eat at home because the food was so tasty. I asked one of the cashiers/workers what would taste good after a few hours and he recommended Samosa Pav, which he described as like a samosa burger (they had spicy and mild) and I ordered two of those! Although this location was small inside, the ambiance was cozy. It only had a few tables but we were lucky to get seated. If I'm ever downtown again, I'm definitely hitting up this place and trying the pizzas and the momos fressshhhh. read more

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Small busy spot in River North neighborhood. We had the traditional samosas that were well done and the rest was different but good. Chicken Masala Elote pizza (yes). Great flavors and textures. It blended together perfectly. Then we had the Firecracker Chicken Momos. Great dish and HOT! I might go with the sweet chili sauce next time. Seating areas are tight and full often but the food came out quickly and cashier was great. read more

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Overrated. For all the hype I've seen this place get, I was highly disappointed. We ordered the Paneer Masala Elote Pizza and the Moti fries. The pizza was good, but nothing extraordinary by any means. This was basic stuff you can throw together in minutes at home. I love, love, love fries but 75% of the fries were too soggy to eat, almost tasting uncooked. There was a check in special for Moti Cakes, which were like little pancakes with Nutella and strawberries - good for free food, but wouldn't get again. The restaurant itself was consistently busy so it seemed as if the cashier taking our order was rushing us... not very helpful/informative when choosing what to order. Additionally, customers had to clean their own tables before sitting down because no one was wiping them down quick enough for the turnover. In my opinion, this was a pretty pricey meal for pretty simple food (at least what I ordered), and not worth the hype. read more

Mazala Pizza River North - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Walked by and was lured inside by the delightful pics and aroma of spices. I was happy to hear they would be open on Easter Sunday. I ordered delivery and went with the samosa pizza and the chicken tikka momo, a side of raita, as well as a Thums Up soda. Everything in the delivery was accurate. Holy smokes! The flavors are excellent, so exciting and delicious! I would absolutely eat here again, looking forward to trying some of the other items! read more

More like a 4.5 for me, depending what you order! I was not expecting such delicious taste, but I really enjoyed the bowl that I customized and ordered! The pizza is really good as well! The samosa smash was so good. Great flavor and spices that are just the right amount of heat. It was easy to order. Service was quick! You need a code to enter the bathroom. The ambience is like a fast food joint. It's a small location so limited/crowded seating, but you can eat there. I did NOT enjoy the iced masala chai though. It needed way more sugar than I was willing to put in. Pro tip: check in on Yelp and you can get their Moticakes (kinda like mini pancakes with nutella and fresh strawberries) as free dessert! read more

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unique mix of flavors. I enjoyed the samosa pizza and the moti momas. it can be busy so recommend order ahead to save waiting time. small areas for sitting but nice outside seating. read more

I can not express how great this place is enough! The food? Amazing. The atmosphere? Amazing. The customer service? Even better. I've gone here 3 days in a row now and will be back TODAY. Everything is worth a try but the pizza and masala fries is what really sold me. If you're in the mood for good food this is your spot!!! read more

The cafe has some fast-food american-indian fusion and street food, which is perfect for take-out and those needing a quick lunch. Ordering and take-out was pretty fast, in and out within 15 minutes from place my order and social distancing is enforced. For a full meal, prices are very reasonable. I started with the moti fries which were lightly seasoned and the moti sauce was curry-mayo mix that was super delicious. The fries had a nice crisp on the outside but soft on the inside. We started with the sweet chili momos, which had a nice spicy tangy flavor and the chicken filling was nice and juicy. The momo skin was on the thicker but not starchy. They were doused in sauce which is usually my go to, but were a little soggy. The other main was the Maggi noodles, which I asked for extra spicy. The noodles were a little overdone and lucky for me, that's my preference for ramen - only needed to use a spoon. I like the crispness of the onions mixed with the noodles and they were very flavorful. I ended the meal with moticakes with nutella and strawberries which are this like these mini fluffy pancake balls. Very delicious and the strawberries slices on top were extremely fresh! Loved it! read more

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This is a little gem. Amazing Indian food with great spices and a need concept to create your own dish. I would say very authentic and certainly tasty. read more

Mazala Pizza River North - Desert - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place is amazing. I've had the lamb tikka tacos and today tried the lamb tikka burrito. One bite of that burrito and my toes tapped on the floor. The lamb is so flavorful and there are lots of textures in the burrito. Just spicy enough! You have to try it! read more

I got: 1. Build Your Own Bowl - yellow rice, chicken, tikka gravy, onions, cilantro, masala corn, moti sauce 2. Loaded Fries - baked french fries with moti sauce and chicken 3. Masala Chai drink Chicken was a little dry. I didn't take a photo of the bottom of the bowl but the tikka gravy had a more watery consistency than gravy consistency. Moti sauce is very spicy for a "one pepper" level (an observation, not a criticism). Overall, flavors not bad. Veggies were fresh. I let some friends try the loaded fries and they really liked it. Masala Chai was neither complex nor sweet enough for my liking. Staff guy was patient and nice. read more

Mazala Pizza River North - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Very flavorful food that's a little on the pricier size. Would come again! What we ordered: - Chicken tikka pizza: In the best way, it tastes like the type of dorito chip you find that has all the seasoning on it, or a flavor-blasted goldfish. 100% recommend - Chicken momos: these tasted like soup dumplings without the soup + south Asian spices, and I liked the spicy chili sauce. Only thing is it was $10 for 8 pretty small dumplings so that didn't really equate to me. - chicken tikka masala: tasted like a standard tikka masala (perhaps a tad sweeter). - moticakes: these were free using the Yelp check-in! That alone made them taste great. Truly just like pancakes which I enjoy , but I probably wouldn't buy these if it wasn't free. Overall, I had a fun time with the flavors and would come again! read more

Mazala Pizza River North - Moticakes - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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It's an interesting fusion combination. It's fine but not great; will probably revisit at some point though. We tried a chicken tikka pizza, momos and samosas. The obvious advertising point is the chicken tikka pizza. It was too much fusion and kindof neither here nor there. It didn't have that tomato-buttery tikka sauce but also was more thin flatbread than pizza. I am not sure I'd get it again but worth the experiment. I'd never seen momos before, basically steamed dumplings but with Indian fillings and I really liked the dipping sauces. Samosas were good but feel like it's a bit tougher to screw up a samosa. I'd try it again, some of the other options looked good too. read more

Mazala Pizza River North - Chicken Tikka Pizza. It was OK but still better separately rather than fusion - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Pretty good overall! I'd say the food taste was not absolutely amazing but worth giving a try. We got chicken tikka pizza, loaded fries, and simple corn with iced chai and mango lassi. The pizza tasted pretty good and I personally liked the simple spicy fries. It was a very thin crust pizza and loaded fries had very very little chicken. They were out of the momo dumplings and Chaat before lunch time on a Saturday, so that was surprising and disappointing. I appreciated that the iced chai tasted like legit cold chai and not Starbucks iced chai. There's also nice outdoor seating available. Overall I wish they had all menu options available on a busy Saturday. Also, they had Elote pizza but not the offering of actual Elote which could be a good menu addition. A little bit more chicken on loaded fries and more thin mango lassi (and colder!!) and I would've been fantastic. Otherwise nice modern Indian restaurant read more

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Guessss whatttttttt my second review of Moti on Yelp and my third try eating Moti. 3 TIMES THE charm! I guess Moti is just better delivered. I don't know why but it just is. Maybe it's the laziness of not putting in physical effort to get the pizza, but the flavors enhance more delivered read more

Mazala Pizza River North - Chicken Tikka Masala - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The best quick Modern Indian Fusion spot in downtown Chicago! We tried a variety of food items and all were phenomenal. The loaded fries were yummy and spicy and samosa chaat was good but top recommendation is definitely the pizzas. Super vegetarian friendly and reasonable pricing. The Moticakes are a must try! read more

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Indian street food has, hands down, the most flavor per capita of any category of food. It's no coincidence europeans were diving headfirst into the uncharted abyss for a taste - that authentic spice titillates the loins in a way that just can't be replicated. That's what I love about Moti. They don't compromise on flavor while remaining fun and experimental. It's a madhouse of unique modern takes coupled with some high quality classics, all with great execution. The samosa chaat and vada pav were perfect apps and they didn't compromise on chutney or quantity. The maggi (indian ramen for the uninitiated) is on point, and the loaded fries are packed with flavor. My favorite thing about this place, and what keeps me coming back, are the pizzas. These are truly some of my favorite take out treat in Chicago. These pizzas don't have tomato sauce and cheese, but rather are loaded with some of the classic flavors of classical goats, like vada pav, samosa, tikka, and saag. It's a fun remix that leads to less manual scooping with naan and less of a chance you'll be bedridden afterwards (though definitely not a guarantee depending on how much you eat). While I haven't tried the momo's or wraps, I'm sure they're solid based on the other things I've had here. It's not a coincidence I used the word flavor 5 times in this review. Moti's menu is packed with inventive ways to package classic flavors and in some ways, even improves upon the tradition. 10/10, keeps me coming back. Protip: If you've never tried it, Frooti is a thiccc mango drincc that's sort of like a juice box version of a lassi. A tried and true way to wash down the dregs of chaat masala lodged in your orpharynx between bites. Strongly recommend. read more

Great Indian spot, close to Mag Mile & downtown Chicago. All their meat is halal. They also have a jain menu. Service & ambiance was great! read more

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Fantastic! Fresh and bold flavors. Great helpful staff. Clean and fast! Highly recommend.

If you're craving quick Indian food that hits the spot, it's here. I recommend ordering a few items and share. Every item is full of flavor! I don't know if I would want to just eat one item because I'd want to try other things. We ordered a pizza, Momos, and loaded fries. I prefer take out when ordering from here. read more

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