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Best Indian Restaurants in River North

6 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

9.1
$$$$ River North Indian
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

$$ River North Indian
India House is a downtown stalwart with a huge menu and daily buffet, drawing thousands of reviews and a 4.46/5 aggregate rating from over 7,000 multi-platform opinions that emphasize variety and ambiance. Guests lean on it for classic North Indian dishes, tandoori platters, and an all-you-can-eat spread that works as well for work lunches as family dinners.
Must-Try Dishes: Vegetable samosas, Lamb biryani, Paneer pakora
What makes it special: High-volume downtown Indian standby with a sprawling menu and buffet.
$ River North Indian
Mazala Pizza by Moti operates as a fast-casual Indian street-food and fusion pizza spot at 70 W Huron, backed by 3000+ Uber Eats ratings and over 1,700 aggregated reviews at around 4.4/5. Guests come for masala pizzas, bowls, tacos, and momos that remix familiar takeout formats with assertive Indian seasoning, all at counter-service speed.
Must-Try Dishes: Chicken Tikka Pizza, Vada Pav, Tikka Masala Momos
What makes it special: High-volume Indian-fusion pizza and street-food counter with serious delivery demand.
$$$ River North Indian
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.

Worthy Picks

$ River North Indian
Masala Magic is a halal spot focused on Bangladeshi, Indian, and Pakistani comfort dishes, from goat biryani to rich curries. It’s especially useful for takeout and catering when you want big trays of South Asian food without downtown pricing.
Must-Try Dishes: Goat Biryani, Fish Kebab, Gulab Jamun
What makes it special: Late-hours halal kitchen serving Bangladeshi-focused biryani and curries with Indian standards.
$ River North Indian, Middle Eastern
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.