Best Group Dining Indian Restaurants in Chicago
28 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Himalayan Restaurant
Momo variety (including jhol/soup momo) anchors the whole menu.
Notable Picks
8.6
A momo-forward Nepali-Indian kitchen where the best orders start with dumplings and then move into a focused curry lane. It’s most consistent when you pick 1–2 mains and treat the meal like a paced share rather than an everything-on-the-table spread.
Must-Try Dishes:
Jhol (Soup) Momo, Chicken Tikka Masala, Chicken Biryani
What Makes it Special: Momo variety (including jhol/soup momo) anchors the whole menu.
Vibes:
Family Friendly Favorites
Group Dining Gatherings
Comfort Food Classics
Business Lunch Power Players
India House is a downtown stalwart with a huge menu and daily buffet, drawing thousands of reviews and a 4.46/5 aggregate rating from over 7,000 multi-platform opinions that emphasize variety and ambiance. Guests lean on it for classic North Indian dishes, tandoori platters, and an all-you-can-eat spread that works as well for work lunches as family dinners.
Must-Try Dishes:
Vegetable samosas, Lamb biryani, Paneer pakora
What Makes it Special: High-volume downtown Indian standby with a sprawling menu and buffet.
8.5
Cumin’s Lakeview outpost brings the Bib Gourmand–recognized Wicker Park menu of Nepali and Indian cooking to Belmont, with momos, chaats, and rich curries in a polished dining room. Locals use it for fuller sit-down dinners, from butter chicken and lamb curry to shared tandoor orders and vegetarian plates.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken Momo, Butter Chicken (Chicken Makhani), Chicken Tikka Masala
What Makes it Special: A Bib-recognized Nepali-Indian menu in a more polished Lakeview dining room.
#4
Mirra
8.5
Chefs Rishi Kumar and Zubair Mohajir weave Indian and Mexican traditions into bold, spice-forward dishes like crispy scallop tacos in fenugreek roti shells and lamb barbacoa biryani sealed under buttery roti. The Michelin Bib Gourmand recipient opened August 2024 and has quickly become Bucktown's most talked-about reservation, earning a spot on Eater's Best New Restaurants in America list.
Must-Try Dishes:
Crispy Scallop Tacos with Green Curry, Lamb Barbacoa Biryani, Mirra Mezze
What Makes it Special: Chicago's only Indian-Mexican fusion restaurant from a James Beard semifinalist chef, backed by a Michelin Bib Gourmand
#5
Nepal House
8.4
Vibes:
Group Dining Gatherings
Business Lunch Power Players
Date Night Magic
Family Friendly Favorites
A South Loop dining-room option that mixes Nepali specialties with North Indian standards, working well for both dine-in and structured takeout orders. It’s strongest when you build around momos plus one saucy curry and fresh naan, keeping the spread tight rather than chasing the full menu.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken momo, Chicken tikka masala, Chicken choila
What Makes it Special: A polished South Loop Nepalese-Indian menu where momos and curries travel well.
8.3
Vibes:
Family Friendly Favorites
Group Dining Gatherings
Business Lunch Power Players
Hidden Gems Heaven
A full-service, family-run North Indian kitchen where the best orders lean into rich gravies, tandoor heat, and bread made for scooping. The menu reads broad, but the most satisfying meal is one tandoori starter plus a bold curry and fresh-baked kulcha, keeping spice, smoke, and creaminess in balance.
Must-Try Dishes:
Tandoori chicken, Lamb vindaloo, Gajar ka halwa (carrot halwa)
What Makes it Special: Family-run North Indian with strong curries and tandoor staples.
8.3
A North Center dining room that reworks familiar Indian favorites with a modern, chef-driven touch and a strong cocktail-forward night-out rhythm. Order best by anchoring the table with one chaat-style starter, one tandoor/bread moment, and two mains that contrast creamy and smoky.
Must-Try Dishes:
Mushroom kulcha, Sweet potato chaat, Eggplant bharta
What Makes it Special: Modern Indian cooking that hits classic flavors with tighter technique and polish.
8.3
A Nepali-leaning Indian kitchen that’s strongest when you order into the Himalayan comfort lane—momos, thukpa, and deeper, bone-in curries—rather than treating it like a generic tikka-masala stop. The room is relaxed and the menu is wide, but the best meals stay focused: one dumpling starter, one warming bowl, and one slow-cooked main for the table.
Must-Try Dishes:
Jhol momos, Thenthuk or thukpa, Goat curry (bone-in)
What Makes it Special: Himalayan-style dumplings and soups that outshine the standard curry lane.
8.3
Vibes:
Group Dining Gatherings
Birthday & Celebration Central
Business Lunch Power Players
Comfort Food Classics
A full-service Indian restaurant built for groups, buffets, and broad menu coverage without losing its strongest South-leaning and Indo-Chinese-leaning hits. The menu rewards ordering with intent: one starter, one signature-style main, and a tight set of breads/rice rather than stacking similar curries.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken 65, Paneer Tikka Masala, Kerala Masala Wings
What Makes it Special: Large, party-friendly Indian menu with a real buffet-and-banquet lane.
8.3
Tandoor Char House is a family-run Indian-Pakistani spot in Lincoln Park known for its smoky tandoori platters, rich curries, and a broad menu that works for both groups and date night. With more than two thousand cross-platform reviews and over a decade of service, it is the neighborhood s highest-validated destination for North Indian and Pakistani flavors.
Must-Try Dishes:
Tandoor Mixed Grill, Butter Chicken, Lamb Biryani
What Makes it Special: High-volume Indian-Pakistani cooking with standout tandoori platters and long-running local trust.
8.2
Vibes:
Comfort Food Classics
Family Friendly Favorites
Group Dining Gatherings
Quick Bites Champions
Adda Indian Cuisine is a University Village staple where a long, North Indian–leaning menu covers biryani, Indo-Chinese dishes, and tandoori platters. Regulars rely on it for hearty sit-down dinners, consistent takeout, and friendly service from a team that knows its repeat guests.
Must-Try Dishes:
Boneless Chicken Biryani, Butter Chicken, Gobi Manchurian
What Makes it Special: A broad, reliably executed Indian menu that covers both classics and Indo-Chinese favorites.
Bar Goa is a River North Indian gastropub and cocktail bar where Goan-inspired plates meet a strong drink program, with roughly 4.2–4.3 ratings across platforms and around 800–1,500 combined reviews. The room leans buzzy and late-night, using dishes like butter chicken, lamb keema, and prawn-and-chorizo fried rice to anchor group outings around cocktails and DJ or comedy nights.
Must-Try Dishes:
Butter chicken, Prawn and chorizo fried rice, Gunpowder dosa
What Makes it Special: Cocktail-driven Goan-inspired gastropub with shareable plates and nightlife energy.
8.2
Gaylord Fine Indian Cuisine is a 1970s-era stalwart just off the Magnificent Mile, serving classic Northern Indian dishes in a white-tablecloth dining room. Guests lean on tandoori platters, rich curries, and a buffet format at select services, using it for everything from business dinners to special-occasion meals.
Must-Try Dishes:
Lamb Rogan Josh, Chicken Tikka Masala, Saag Paneer
What Makes it Special: A long-running Mag Mile–adjacent dining room pairing classic Northern Indian recipes with old-school white-tablecloth service.
#14
NADU
8.2
Nadu is a modern Indian restaurant in the DePaul stretch of Lincoln Park focusing on regional South Indian flavors, cocktails, and plated dishes rather than the standard curry-and-naan format. It trades buffet-style abundance for focused, spice-driven plates in a contemporary room that draws both neighborhood regulars and citywide diners.
Must-Try Dishes:
Kerala-style Fish Curry, Gunpowder Cauliflower, Lamb or Goat Biryani
What Makes it Special: A contemporary South Indian-leaning kitchen where cocktails and composed plates take the lead.
8.2
Thali Indian Cuisine runs a broad, Kerala-leaning Indian menu out of 2537 S Wabash, covering everything from egg bhurji breakfasts and vegetable samosas to butter chicken, biryanis, and tandoori plates. It’s used by nearby residents and office workers as a reliable, all-day option when you want classic North and South Indian standbys delivered or picked up without much ceremony.
Must-Try Dishes:
Butter Chicken, Vegetable Samosa, Garlic Chili Naan
What Makes it Special: A comprehensive, Kerala-influenced Indian menu running from breakfast through late night.
#16
Essence of India
8.1
A Lincoln Square sit-down staple built around familiar North Indian comfort—rich butter chicken, sturdy biryani, and naan that’s best when it hits the table hot. It shines most when you order like a regular: one signature curry, one rice dish, and a tight set of breads and bright sides to keep the meal balanced.
Must-Try Dishes:
Butter chicken, Lamb vindaloo, Garlic naan basket
What Makes it Special: Classic North Indian cooking with a sit-down, neighborhood-regular rhythm.
8.1
Vibes:
Group Dining Gatherings
Comfort Food Classics
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Hidden Gems Heaven
Rangoli Kabob’s Belmont location runs a broad North Indian menu with dosas, biryanis, and saucy curry standards, plus a kabob section that leans hearty. Portions are generous, the space is casual, and Lakeview regulars lean on it for butter chicken, naan, and weeknight takeout that still feels like a full meal.
Must-Try Dishes:
Butter Chicken, Chicken Tikka Masala, Masala Dosa
What Makes it Special: A Belmont strip spot mixing classic curries, dosas, and kabobs with big portions.
#18
Nepal House
8
The Old Town outpost of Nepal House brings a sit-down menu of Nepali momos, curries, and familiar North Indian staples to Division Street. It works as a reliable option when a proper table, full plates, and a mix of vegetarian and meat dishes are the priority.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken Momo, Chicken Tikka Masala, Garlic Naan
What Makes it Special: Nepali momos share the menu with classic Indian curries in a full-service setting.
#19
Trilokah
8
Trilokah brings Kerala and broader South Indian cooking to a compact Clybourn space, with dosas, kothu porotta, and regional curries alongside a shorter list of North Indian standards. The room is simple but comfortable, and recent praise centers on the depth of spice, flaky parottas, and the sense that they are cooking for homesick South Indians as much as neighborhood explorers.
Must-Try Dishes:
Thalassery Chicken Dum Biryani, Kottayam Style Fish Curry, Trilokah Kizhi Porotta Chicken
What Makes it Special: A Kerala-focused kitchen where dosas, biryanis, and parottas lean proudly South Indian.
Worthy Picks
#20
Momo Factory
7.9
Momo Factory is a compact Lakeview East counter spot focused on Nepalese-style momos alongside Indo-Nepalese curries, biryanis, and noodles. It’s more functional than fancy, but dumpling variety, butter chicken, and big portions make it a go-to for casual group orders and late-ish takeout.
Must-Try Dishes:
Steam Momo Dumplings (10 pcs), Butter Chicken Masala, Samosa Chaat
What Makes it Special: A small, momo-focused Nepalese spot where dumplings and curries dominate.
7.9
Siri Indian Restaurant focuses on South Indian and Hyderabadi dishes, from dosas and idli to dum biryani and rich vegetarian curries. It’s a go-to for neighborhood diners who want a big menu, late hours, and familiar staff for both dine-in and delivery.
Must-Try Dishes:
Hyderabadi Chicken Dum Biryani, Malai Kofta, Andhra Cashew Chicken Fry
What Makes it Special: A South Indian–leaning menu with real depth in biryani, dosas, and curries.
7.8
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Comfort Food Classics
Group Dining Gatherings
A no-frills Indo-Pak counter built for huge portions, fast pickup, and low-stakes repeatability—especially for UIC-area regulars. It’s at its best when you order one rice anchor and one paratha wrap, leaning into bold, saucy comfort over polished dining-room finesse.
Must-Try Dishes:
Butter chicken paratha, Chicken biryani (with bone), Boneless chili chicken rice
What Makes it Special: Big-portion Indo-Pak comfort food at unusually low prices, fast.
7.8
Himalayan Sherpa Kitchen’s West Loop outpost serves Nepalese and Tibetan specialties alongside familiar Indian curries in a low-key dining room just south of the main Randolph strip. Guests mix chicken momos, goat sekuwa, and chicken tikka masala for a meal that feels different from standard North Indian menus nearby.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken Momo, Goat Sekuwa, Chicken Chhoela
What Makes it Special: Himalayan momos and grilled meats sit beside classic Indian curries in a quieter West Loop corner.
7.8
A casual Sauganash dining room for Nepali-and-Indian staples that’s strongest when you order for the table—momos and samosas up front, then biryani or goat-leaning curries to share. It’s a practical, family-friendly option in the ZIP when you want warm spices and straightforward comfort without a fussy setting.
Must-Try Dishes:
Momos, Chicken biryani, Goat vindaloo
What Makes it Special: Nepali-and-Indian comfort built around momo starters and hearty mains.
7.7
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Group Dining Gatherings
Hidden Gems Heaven
New Zaika Restaurant focuses on Pakistani grill plates and curries, with a menu built around kebabs, tikka, and tandoor-friendly meats. It’s a practical option near Clybourn for filling mixed platters or shareable grilled orders.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken Tikka, Chicken Boti, Beef Seekh Kabab
What Makes it Special: Neighborhood Pakistani grill with a tight lineup of kebabs, tikka, and curries.
#26
Ghareeb Nawaz
7.6
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Group Dining Gatherings
Late Night Legends
Quick Bites Champions
The Lincoln Park location of Ghareeb Nawaz brings the Indo-Pak mini chain s huge menu and famously low prices to a student-heavy stretch of Lincoln Avenue. The room is basic and service is counter-style, but for biryani, curries, and combos under typical sit-down prices, it is one of the strongest pure value plays for Indian and Pakistani food in 60614.
Must-Try Dishes:
Butter Chicken Combo, Chicken Biryani, Chana Chicken Combo
What Makes it Special: A bare-bones Indo-Pak counter where huge portions and ultra-low prices dominate the experience.
7.6
Indian Garden sits on the second floor above Ontario Street, offering a more decorative dining room and a well-known buffet within walking distance of the Mag Mile. The menu runs through North Indian standards, catering, and working-lunch platters, making it a convenient option for downtown groups who want sit-down curry without leaving Streeterville.
Must-Try Dishes:
Lamb Rogan Josh, Murgh Tikka Masala, Saag Paneer
What Makes it Special: An upstairs dining room and daily buffet bring classic North Indian dishes to a Mag Mile–adjacent address.
7.5
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Comfort Food Classics
Quick Bites Champions
Group Dining Gatherings
Curry On Fire is a casual Taylor Street counter that leans into delivery-friendly curries, biryani, and Indo-Chinese dishes. Portions run generous and spice levels are adjustable, making it a practical choice when you want straightforward, filling Indian food at home or in a dorm.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken 65, Chicken Tikka Masala, Butter Paneer Masala
What Makes it Special: Delivery-focused Indian spot with a wide curry list and dialed-in spice options.