The 17 best Indian restaurants in Chicago

Named for a mythical weapon used by the Hindu God of Thunder, Vajra illuminates the diminutive yet diverse country of Nepal. Do yourself a favor and spring for the dishes you may not recognize, like the dilliwala aalu tikka, a duo of crispy mashed potato cakes that are stuffed with spiced lentils. Leave room for gaajar ka halva, a dessert of grated carrots simmered in milk and ghee. 

There’s no shortage of Indian restaurants in town but until now, none have been as ambitious as newcomer Indienne. Chef-owner Sujan Surkar, who helped open Rooh, is reimagining traditional South Asian recipes through a modern lens. He presents two degustation menus, as well as an a la carte selection, filled with inventive plates like a remarkable poached egg bathing in curry studded with peas, sweet corn and crispy onions. It’s a fine dining Indian experience set in a stylish industrial-chic space, and the results are mighty impressive.

Chef Zubair Mohajir, whose previous experiences include working at world-renowned Gaggan in Bangkok, launched Wazwan as a pop-up supper club before eventually settling into a space in Wicker Park. His restaurant features both casual and elevated concepts. Up front, expect bites that explore the street food culture of South Asia, such as vada pav—potato croquette sliders—and kati rolls with tandoori chicken. But the coach house located behind Wazwan is where Mohajir really showcases his talents with a dazzling tasting menu. You’ll be treated to refined pleasures like duck numidian, a spin on an ancient recipe, and uni-topped parippu vada in coconut mint chutney. Though it’s a pricey meal, you’re free to BYOB to save some dollars.

Indian cuisine gets the upscale treatment at ROOH. The West Loop restaurant offers creative takes on classic Indian fare, like butter chicken with whole thighs and red pepper makhani, cashews and cilantro. There's plenty here for vegetarians, too, with options such as jackfruit kofta and avocado and green chickpea bhel.

Rangoli has locations in both West Town and Lincoln Park, stretching the delivery radius for fans of the restaurant's extensive menu. Spice fiends must order the bagara baingan, which finds tender young eggplant swimming in a wonderfully nutty gravy that's teeming with whole red chilis. A bite of the butter naan will temper your palate before you reach for a bite of the tarka dal, a dish that comprises hearty yellow lentils stewed with tomatoes and curry leaves.

Let's get something out of the way up front: Superkhana International is not your typical, by-the-books Indian restaurant. Though chefs Yoshi Yamada and Zeeshan Shah and partner Jason Hammel (Lula Cafe) pull from traditional recipes and preparations, the menu is void of potato-packed samosas and saucy chicken tikka masala. Instead, the star of the show is a butter chicken calzone, a savory pastry pocket stuffed with chicken swimming in a spiced tomato sauce. Toss in an order of chili-cheese naan for good measure. The booze offerings are just as interesting, with a collection of cocktails that includes an old fashioned made with ghee-washed bourbon.

This Wicker Park favorite highlights Nepalese cooking with dishes such as chicken choila, grilled chicken that's been marinated in a variety of South Asian spices and herbs. The kitchen doesn't slack when it comes to Indian cuisine either (the peppery biryani is very solid), but ignoring the Nepalese dishes here is like going to a beer bar and ordering wine.

Father-son duo Manmohan and Jeet Singh teamed up to bring North Center this modern Indian restaurant in 2020. The menu marries traditional recipes from different regions of India with French technique and local ingredients. The dish lineup changes seasonally but the namesake fish basant is one mainstay we keep coming back to—delicate salmon with perfectly crisped skin is cooked in creamy coconut milk and served in a spicy tomato-based sauce.

When you need excellent Indian food delivered straight to your door in an hour or less, The Spice Room never disappoints. Rife with classics, the menu covers a lot of ground—from veg korma and lamb-stuffed samosas to haryali chicken with green chilis. The vegetarian options are commendable, too, with both okra and mushroom masala as well as a stellar aloo gobi, an amber-hued dish that finds cauliflower and potatoes coated in rich spices. For dessert, the gulab jamun are not to be missed—golfball-sized balls of fried dough are saturated in sugary syrup.

When we close our eyes, we can almost picture the metal trays loaded with huge portions of biryani and naan at this Indo-Pak spot on Devon Avenue (with additional locations in University Village, Lincoln Park and Lombard). The soothing dal gosht lentil is loaded with bay leaves and chili peppers, and the chili chicken is fiery and fragrant. No matter what you order, you’ll get your money’s worth—most menu items ring up well under $10.

You don’t have to go to Devon Avenue to get your dosa fix. Mild 2 Spicy in Lakeview will satisfy your craving with more than a dozen versions stuffed with cheese, omelet, seasoned potatoes and more. The menu is also packed with a host of classic Indian dishes, most of which can be tailored to your desired level of heat.

Not sure what to order at this Devon vegetarian standout? Try the crispy, two-foot-long paper dosa filled with potatoes seasoned with mustard seed and cumin; order it “masala” and get a smear of tangy chutney. Then try the Swati samosa chaat, a smashed potato pocket drenched in silky yogurt, tamarind chutney and subtly spicy “salsa.” Not sold on those dishes? Order anything and you’re bound to get fresh, flavorful, meat-free eats for a good price.

Love chai? There are few better places to sip the aromatic, spice-infused beverage than Chiya Chai: get yours flavored with chocolate, turmeric, or blueberry lavender—the possibilities are nearly endless. On the food front, the Nepali and Indian-influenced eats are hearty and cozy. The masala chicken pie is bursting with curry, and the pani puri is served with an addictive tamarind sauce. But no order is complete without a gaggle of veggie momos stuffed with red and yellow peppers, mushrooms, kale and onions.

True to its name, this counter-service spot near UIC specializes in all kinds of steamed and fried dumplings. They’re filled with chicken, pork, fish, veggies or cottage cheese, and you can also try them coated in a bevy of sauces like butter masala and creamy alfredo. Craving other Indian staples? The menu offers samosas, curry bowls and biryanis as well.

Carnivores seem to think that without meat on their plate they’d starve. But this 100 percent vegetarian South Indian spot puts an end to that theory with its famous dosa—a gigantic cumin-, potato- and onion-filled rice and lentil crêpe that comes in over 10 varieties. Another good bet is the iddly, steamed rice and lentil patties that regulars swear by.

The name may be cutesy, but at Naansense, a group of experienced chefs are serving fun, delicious takes on Indian cuisine. Led by chefs Hiran Patel (Veerasway, Lafayette) and Sahil Singh (Veerasway), the fast-casual lunch spot offers naan sandwiches and salads. It's a different take on Indian, to be sure, but the spicy, flavorful sauces and warm, pliant naan are as great as those you'd find at any top Indian spot in town.

Before you get to know this bright and modern River North restaurant, you must first meet its owner, Rohini Dey, a former economist and consultant who doubles as a women's activist. The kitchen blends Indian and Latin cuisines to create wow-worthy dishes, but longtime fans will be happy to see that the tiffin "pindi" butter chicken and tandoori skirt steak are still on the menu.