A guide to the best Indian restaurants in Chicago. You can find Indian cuisine throughout Chicago, plus there are several Indian restaurants located on Devon Avenue in Little India which is in the West Ridge neighborhood.
This list of best Indian restaurants in Chicago has a mix of traditional Indian restaurants, a couple that serve a mix of Indian and Nepalese food, pubs that serve British-style Indian food, and a spot that specializes in Indian Latin fusion tacos.
Last updated: March 2022
The Best Indian Restaurants in Chicago:
Table of Contents
We have organized this list of best Indian restaurants in Chicago by neighborhood and have indicated which restaurants serve breakfast/brunch and/or lunch in addition to dinner.
Bucktown:
Rangoli Indian Cuisine
Indian, Vegetarian
This popular restaurant has locations in both Bucktown and Lincoln Park. Rangoli’s large menu has all the Indian classics. There are a generous amount of vegetarian, seafood, chicken, and lamb mains plus biryani and several appetizers. If you want to order takeout or delivery, Rangoli asks that you order through their website directly.
Gold Coast:
Gaylord Fine Indian Cuisine
Indian, Vegan/Vegetarian
A restaurant with a more formal atmosphere located in the heart of the Gold Coast specializing in Northern Indian cuisine. The menu has tandoori items cooked in a traditional clay oven and a few South Indian delights. Both a gluten-free and a vegan menu are available. A buffet lunch is $14.95.
Lincoln Park:
Armitage Ale House
British, Indian, Romantic
A neighborhood pub by Hogsalt Hospitality which also owns Bavette’s, Ciccio Mio, and Gilt Bar in River North. This beautifully decorated restaurant gets its inspiration from a London pub in the 1920s. The menu includes a mix of British classics and Indian food.
Tandoor Char House
Indian, Pakistani, Vegetarian
A halal restaurant serving Indian a Pakistani cuisines, plus some twists on classics like a tandoori chicken wrap, masala ceviche, tamarind wings, and penne tikka masala. There is also a delivery-only location in River North. Currently, the dining room is reservation only. The website offers the option to order takeout and delivery directly.
Rangoli Indian Cuisine has a second location in Lincoln Park. See the full write up under Bucktown.
Tikka Masala Taco House
Indian Latin Fusion
A sister restaurant to Tandoor Char House, that has won the Lakeview Taco Fest two years in a row. In addition to tacos, the restaurant serves tandoori chicken empanadas, naan burritos and rice bowls.
Logan Square:
The Spice Room
Indian, Vegetarian
The Spice Room serves traditional Indian food made with passion and fresh ingredients. The menu has sections featuring vegetarian dishes such as paneer butter masala, channa masala, and vegetable korma. Beyond the vegetarian fare, the large menu covers all the classics: chicken curry, chicken tikka masala, lamb vindaloo, and lamb madras.
River North:
India House
Indian, Lunch, Vegetarian
India House is considered to be one of the best Indian restaurants in Chicago. The restaurant serves traditional Indian cuisine including tandoori items, curries, vindaloos, and plenty of vegetarian dishes. A buffet is offered Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 11 am until 3 pm for $19.95.
Vermilion
Indian, Latin
A modern Indian Latin fusion restaurant on Hubbard Street with a menu featuring tandoori skirt steak, curry leaf tamarind paneer, and tellicherri crab masala. A tasting menu for two is $60 per person.
South Loop:
Chicago Curry House
Indian, Nepalese
You can find Indian chicken tikka masala, chicken korma, lamb vindaloo, butter chicken and Nepalese momo, dal bhaat, and gundruk on the menu at Chicago Curry House.
West Ridge:
West Ridge is home to Little India. This neighborhood within a neighborhood can be found along West Devon Avenue from West California to North Seeley Avenue. Not surprisingly, some of the best Indian restaurants in Chicago can be found in Little India.
Sabri Nihari Restaurant
Pakistani, Indian, Lunch
Sabri Nihari has a large menu of meat kabobs, curries, biryani, and classic Indian vegetable dishes. Several vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free menu items are available.
Udupi Palace
Indian, Vegetarian, Lunch
Udupi Palace is a casual neighborhood restaurant that serves vegetarian South Indian cuisine including uthappam, vegetarian curries, and Thali dinner specials.
Annapurna Simply Vegetarian
Indian, Vegan/Vegetarian
A family owned Indian that has been on Devon Avenue for 33 years. It’s the oldest vegetarian restaurant in Chicago. The menu includes snacks, street food, South Indian specialities, and vegetarian main dishes.
West Loop:
Rooh
Indian, Vegetarian/Vegan
The menu at Rooh balances culinary trends with tradition. Rooh serves butter chicken, paneer pasanda, plus a chili cheese kulcha, tandoori cauliflower, and tandoor smoked pork belly.
West Town:
Vajra
Indian, Nepalese, Vegetarian
A Michelin Bib Gourmand winner for 2021, Vajra serves elegant traditional Indian and Nepalese cuisine. Currently, Vajra is offering delivery and take out through their website. The menu includes butter chicken, lamb rogan josh, Pahari goat curry, madras curry, cashew shahi korma, several biryanis, and plenty of options for vegetarians.
Wicker Park:
Pub Royale
Indian, Gastropub
Pub Royale is a pub serving up Indian food and burgers. The burger is a wonderful take on a classic single patty burger. Other stand out items are the Gobi Manchurian and the Butter Chicken. The bar has 22 beers on tap and a selection of gin and tonics and other cocktails.
Cumin
Indian, Nepalese, Vegetarian
A Bib Gourmand winning restaurant in the heart of Wicker Park serving traditional Nepalese and Indian food. The menu has plenty of options for vegetarians in addition to tender clay oven cooked meats.
Wazwan and The Coach House
Indian, Lunch
Wazwan is a casual restaurant serving Indian cuisine and some fun surprises like a burger made with a mix of Angus and brisket. The Tandoori honey chicken sandwich is one of the best fried chicken sandwiches in Chicago. The Coach House is located behind Wazwan and serves a fine dining tasting menu focused on South Indian flavors. Reservations are necessary since The Coach House is small, book via Tock.