Tl;dr come here for the food, but maybe go elsewhere for more grocery options. Nice variety of food…read morethat is made fresh and is reasonably priced. ===== I first heard of this place from Reddit and it was described as a good grocery with a food court. The food court part definitely rang true, but I was surprised at how small the grocery store was. I think Metro Spice Mart by Presidential Towers is 20 times bigger than the store here, though it was nice to see that they had fresh injera. You can probably find the basics here, but the grocery part definitely takes a backseat to the food court part, which I'm not exactly complaining about. The food court has a really nice menu with pictures all across one of the walls. Everything looked and smelled really great, and I definitely want to try more of the menu next time! We got some paratha, samosas, kheer, halwa, chai, and a beef roll recently. The paratha took a while since it was made fresh, but the buttery flavor was superb and I'd definitely order it again. Would definitely get the kheer again, too. The samosas came with a yogurt and a tamarind sauce, which I appreciated. The beef roll was a little dry, though a decent size. I don't generally like halwa and this one had a perfumey flavor my family didn't like. The chai was fine. I like how it's near a bunch of other large Asian grocery stores. Next time I'm in the area and have a hankering for Indian/Pakistani food, will definitely be back!

Butter chicken and samosas were 10/10 amazing. Mango lassi too. The samosa was perfectly crunchy…read more The chutney had a subtle heat. Very very memorable dishes. The chicken biryani had bones it which I was really hoping it wouldn't. The website said boneless :( All in all, I will definitely order again and adjust my order. Strong 4/5 this time with a 5/5 possible in the next visit.

Udupi gets my highest rating for Indian cuisine. I'll start eating there 4x a week. Aloo gobi…read moremasala is my favorite meal. Chile pakora is amazing. Mulitawani soup is amazing.

This place is such a cozy place for a dinner on a Sunday night. It's a restaurant thats run by…read morethese elder men and it's so cute. They bring out the food and the service is top notch. The dosa was crispy and filled with so much flavors. We also got their Manchurian broccoli and mushroom and it was so good and had the right amount of spice. Definitely would come back to try other things on their menu but it's a small vegetarian restaurant.

Annapurna is a hidden gem for anyone who loves authentic Indian vegetarian food, especially South…read moreIndian specialties. The flavors here are bold, fresh, and comforting, making it a go-to spot for a delicious, satisfying meal. The Food - Flavorful, Authentic & Packed with Spice Must-Try Dishes: Dosas - Perfectly crisp and golden on the outside, soft on the inside. The Masala Dosa is a must-try, filled with spiced potatoes and served with coconut chutney and sambar. Sambar & Rasam - Their sambar is rich, tangy, and just the right level of spicy, while the rasam is warm, peppery, and great for a comforting start to the meal. Puris & Chole - Light, puffy, and pairs so well with their flavorful chickpea curry. Paneer Curries - If you love paneer, they have fantastic creamy, spiced curries that pair perfectly with their fresh naan or rice. Curd Rice & Lemon Rice - Classic South Indian comfort food. The curd rice is cooling and lightly spiced, while the lemon rice is bright, tangy, and full of flavor. Why I Love Annapurna: Authentic flavors that taste homemade Great variety of both North & South Indian dishes Lots of vegetarian & vegan-friendly options Affordable, generous portions Can get busy, so be prepared to wait during peak times Spice levels can vary--if you don't like heat, ask for mild! Final Thoughts: If you're looking for flavorful, authentic vegetarian Indian food, Annapurna is a must-visit. Whether you're in the mood for crispy dosas, hearty curries, or comforting South Indian specialties, this place delivers every time. Can't wait to go back!

This was our first visit to the restaurant. It's a fairly small space, and when we went over the…read moreweekend, it was quite packed. We started with the masala dosa, but it had more of a North Indian flavor profile rather than the authentic South Indian taste I was expecting -- so that was a bit disappointing. Next, we tried the papri chaat, which was excellent and hit all the right notes in terms of flavor. The chole bhature was also good, though I felt the chole could have been more flavorful. I also had their tea, which was just okay. It's a self-service setup, which is worth noting. I'd definitely recommend stopping by if you're in the mood for some good chaat.

Had a severe craving for Indian. Very cute little restaurant. Not too big. Had super cute stained…read moreglass 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).

The Essence of India serves amazing food! I love this…read morerestaurant, 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!

Ordered delivery from namaste last night and the chicken makhani was fantastic. Lately the place I…read moreusually order from has either had a burned or overly sweet flavor so I wanted to try something new and I'm glad I did. The naan was also perfectly fluffy.

First time visiting this place for dinner. I think the food was just alright. The samosa chat was…read moregood but I didn't love that they had broken the samosa into pieces already. The noodles looked better than they tasted, to me, they were a little bland. Service was decent. The food came out pretty quickly. Not sure if I'd ever be back. TBD!

We fell in love with Basant last night during Chicago Restaurant Week 2026. First of all the…read moreinterior is very well decorated, earthy, and cute. Seats and tables are comfortable and service is quick with attentive servers. All of their cocktails were unique, beautiful, and flavorful. -Gulabo (left): was a light and refreshing vodka cocktail super cute and pink -Pink Palace (right): mezcal that will make your heart melt, especially after trying the raspberry salt coated rim -Hari Pari: Reaallly good, I don't like gin so I subbed for vodka and I was very pleased -Let's Get Tammered: My husband was obsessed with the heat from this one -Punjab da sher: Husband loved this as well The dinner menu was a great sampler of what the restaurant has to offer and honestly we loved everything that we tried. Star of the show would have to be the fish basant, super crispy and with a little bit of heat. The vindaloo pork belly tonkatsu was so well cooked and crispy on the outside but light on the inside. Make sure to order garlic naan on the side, we wish we ordered a second portion to take home that's how good it was. Definitely check them out, it's being added to the rotation for us.

Had a chance to visit this place for dinner and had absolute fun! It is an upscale Indian bistro so…read moremake sure to have reservations before hand. The service was decent even though the place was crowded at the peak hour. Absolutely amazing ambience with light music and sufficient lighting. We ordered lot of drinks and couple appetizers with two mania. All the four dishes were delicious including the drinks !! I will definitely visit again!

What a hidden gem! The food was awesome, and the service was great too…read more Started with the Tandoori Chicken and Gobi Manchurian, and both were packed with flavor (and spicy)! For mains we got an assortment or naan and Malai Kofta, Shrimp Saag, and the Lamb Rogan Josh. Everything was so yummy, and I appreciated how none of the dishes were soaked in oil. Don't skip out on dessert, too - the mango tres leches cake was perfect. Will definitely come back!! One of my new favorites.

Dhanteraz in Chicago is such a great spot! The vibes are cozy and inviting, and the service is…read morefriendly and attentive. We tried the butter chicken, which was absolutely delicious--rich, creamy, and full of flavor. The pieces were a little too big but easily cut and able to eat. The naan was fire--perfectly soft and slightly charred, just how it should be! The chicken tikka pasta was also a standout, packed with flavor and cooked perfectly. I almost liked it more than the actual dish??? So crazy to say but you can imagine how good it was! Overall, a fantastic experience with great food and a welcoming atmosphere. Definitely a spot to hit up if you're craving Indian comfort food with a twist!

We came here shortly after they opened and finally got back around to visiting again…read more It was delicious! I had the Shapta. Unfortunately they were out of the tingmo, so I got the garlic naan instead. My partner got the chow mein with chicken (fair warning, the chow mein noodles are spicy!) I also got the masala tea and it was prepared the traditional way, you can tell because as it cools it forms a skin on the top. Our order was slightly delayed, so they gave us a complimentary dessert. I won't wait as long to come back next time.

I won't say too much about the business that was here before, but let's just say I'm not surprised…read morethey went under. Kathmandu, meanwhile, shows some promise. However, they are not without their kinks that need to be worked out - growing pains, if you will. I ordered the Butter Chicken with rice. Getting the food took somewhere between 10-15 minutes. I am going to assume it was made fresh, but considering it was just rice, chicken in sauce, and a couple veggie slices, I couldn't tell you for sure. With the veggie slices, I am left wondering "why?" It was a couple slices of carrot and cucumber. They lacked any kind of preparation or seasoning (not even salt), and took up half the tray. Again, why? The rice, meanwhile, was cooked perfectly. It wasn't at all sticky, and each grain could be seperated. The issue here is with portion size. Rice not only serves as a carb/starch element, but also works to absorb sauce. While I don't like it, I understand why a business would skimp on proteins... but skimping on rice seems, for lack of a better term, inappropriate. Then we come to the protein. There was an ample amount of chicken. The meat itself was tender, and the sauce had good flavor. While not mind-blowing, it had a mild heat, and light tomato, cream, and spice notes. While I would have liked the flavors to be bolder, I cannot in good conscious call the dish bland. Finally, there is the matter of price. After tax, the Butter Chicken came to just over $14. Even though I appreciate that nothing is cheap anymore, this felt a little excessive considering the quality and quantity of food I received. Final verdict: While Kathmandu Cafe had great potential, andn I am especially looking forward to trying their momo, as well as their Tibetan menu, where it comes to the Indian side of their menu, I do not feel a draw to return and order more.