Best Instagram Worthy Indian Restaurants in Chicago
4 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Indienne
Michelin-recognized tasting menus that modernize Indian flavors in a polished room.
Essential Picks
#1
Indienne
9.1
Indienne is Chef Sujan Sarkar’s progressive Indian fine-dining room in River North, running multicourse tasting menus that reframe regional flavors with modern technique. Michelin recognition, highly rated multi-platform feedback, and a 2022 opening keep it in the conversation as one of Chicago’s destination restaurants for contemporary Indian cuisine.
Must-Try Dishes:
Seared scallops in coastal-style curry, Signature lamb course, Butter-poached lobster supplement
What Makes it Special: Michelin-recognized tasting menus that modernize Indian flavors in a polished room.
Notable Picks
#2
ROOP Chicago
8.6
A modern Indian dining room built for a curated, course-like order: bright chaat, a standout paneer lane, and a tight set of mains that land best when you don’t overreach. The cocktail program is a real co-headliner, making this a strong West Loop move for date-night pacing or a bar-first happy hour that still eats like dinner.
Must-Try Dishes:
Paneer Pasanda, Sweet Potato Chaat, Chili Cheese Kulcha
What Makes it Special: Progressive Indian cooking paired with a cocktail program built as a co-main.
#3
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.
Worthy Picks
#4
Swadesi Cafe
7.8
An Indian cafe-and-bakery concept that translates classic flavors into an all-day coffee shop rhythm—chai, spiced lattes, and laminated pastries that borrow from both worlds. It’s best as a morning or midday stop where you order one savory item, one pastry, and a signature drink instead of trying to turn it into a full restaurant meal.
Must-Try Dishes:
Butter Chicken Croissant, Chicken Tikka Toastie, Salted Jaggery Caramel Latte
What Makes it Special: Indian chai-house flavors reimagined as a modern cafe and bakery.