Chicago Curry House — Restaurant in Chicago

It's been a year since I last dined here (with a large group of people), so when I saw that they started doing brunch buffet I decided to give it a try. And it didn't disappoint! I remember liking the Nepalese lamb curry a la carte last time and was really glad (and a little surprised) to see that it's among the buffet options. Still one of my favorites. The lamb was cooked to have a really tender texture, and personally I like the fact that the meat was bone-in, which means that you get different parts of the meat, like the rack, flank, and tendons. The sauce is rich and flavorful, goes very well with the rice or the freshly made butter naan - the freshness is key! The naan is thicker than some of the other Indian restaurants in town, but this is the kind I prefer since it's got both a fluffy and chewy texture and soaks up the sauces so well. The other main dishes are good, too. The chicken vindaloo is very spicy (which I liked), so be careful if you're not into spices. The larger pieces of tandoori chicken can be a bit lacking in spices when you get into the inside, e.g., the chicken thigh, but overall it's freshly cooked and good. Sag paneer (cheese in spinach sauce) has always been one of my favorites, and they do it quite well here as well. There's a variety of vegetarian curry options as well, each having its own flavor. They've also got some 'street food' type of dishes, like vegetable pakoras (which was sweeter than I'm used to), bhel puri (puffed rice & vermicelli), and masala papad, which go quite well with the raita and chutneys. There were two dessert options. The mango pudding was really just sweetened mango purée mixed with canned fruits, which is ok but not real 'pudding', if you know what I mean. The kheer (rice pudding) is interesting: the kheers that I've had were cold, firmer in texture, and sweeter, whereas this one is hot, liquidy and more salty than sweet. The owner explained that they seasoned it with a lot of ground cardamom, but I was still a bit surprised at the taste - but not a bad experience by any means. In addition to the food, the owner was kind and welcoming. The restaurant's got a lovely ambience, along with an interesting music playlist! One more thing: if you're not here for buffet, their momo's are pretty good as well. I got those last time and would recommend (they're not on the buffet). Will...

One-line Review: Heavenly Buffet with Perfect Flavors!

Taste: 5/5
Quantity: 5/5
Quality: 5/5
Value for Money: 5/5
Service: 5/5
Hygiene: 5/5
Environment: 5/5
Overall: 5/5

➡️ First Impression: I visited Chicago Curry House (Indian - Nepalese Cuisine) at 899 S Plymouth Ct, Chicago, IL 60605, and I’m already kicking myself for not coming sooner. The place blew me away with its incredible food.

➡️ What I Ordered: I went for the buffet, diving into chicken chili, tandoori chicken, chicken makhani, chicken vindaloo, Nepali khasi (bone-in mutton), cucumber salad, rice (not jeera rice), raita, mango pudding, and rice kheer. The buffet cost $19.99 plus taxes, and with a tip, I paid $25—every penny was worth it with unlimited servings.

➡️ Taste & Quality: The taste was superb—pure heaven on a plate! The chicken chili had a perfect spicy kick, while the tandoori chicken was juicy and smoky. Chicken makhani melted in my mouth with its creamy richness, and the chicken vindaloo brought a bold, tangy heat. The Nepali khasi was a standout—amazingly cooked, tender, and juicy mutton that paired flawlessly with the rice. The cucumber salad was fresh and crisp, balancing the meal. The rice with raita was a delightful combo, but the real superstars were the mango pudding—oh, what a heavenly sweetness—and the rice kheer, which was equally delicious. Every dish felt high-quality and authentically prepared.

➡️ Portion vs Price: The unlimited quantity was a dream, and I couldn’t finish it all despite trying. At $25 with tip, the value was incredible for the variety, taste, and portion size—well worth the cost.

➡️ Service & Environment: The service was amazing—the guy serving was really nice and attentive. The music taste was great, enhancing the vibe, and the seating was very good. The restaurant was neat, hygienic, with clean restrooms, and the environment was top-notch. The availability of liquor and wine added a nice touch.

➡️ Final Thoughts: Chicago Curry House is a must-visit for its superb buffet—Nepali khasi, mango pudding, and everything else stole my heart. The amazing service, clean setting, and great value at $25 make it a place I’ll return to often. I can’t believe I waited so long to try it!

If you’re near 899 S Plymouth Ct, Chicago, Chicago Curry House is a lunch spot...

This might be a Nepalese- Indian cuisine restaurant, but it clearly doesn’t have that Indian flavor to its Indian dishes. Ordered the Chicken Vindaloo curry and the Gulab Jamun. The Vindaloo curry does not contain aloo (potato) and is supposed to be a spicy curry. The one we got was wrong on both counts. My friend even had his order of the Chicken Vindaloo curry filled with potatoes and just a couple small pieces of chicken. Basically the taste of the Chicken Vindaloo curry was closer to the ‘Aloo tamatar’ curry- another dish made out of potatoes and tomatoes. The gulab jamun in this order was a disappointment as well. It was unappetizing and it pains me to call a Gulab jamun so. Just so it is clear that this is not an impulsive comment based on fleeting feeling of anger post the order. I also happened to order from this place earlier with similarly disappointing results. That order included Chicken Samosa and Lamb curry. So, this could be a good place for Nepalese cuisine but, I won’t be going there for its Indian fare for sure.

UPDATE: So, I received a “response” from the owner (if that even qualifies as a response). I did a little digging and saw that ANY & ALL the negative reviews were refuted in the most laconic, sometimes even rude way possible. Mostly, as with my post, it was just a single word - “Spam”. A business that is so averse to accepting constructive criticism to the point of nonchalantly refuting everything coming their way without even considering it, is a definite red flag. It didn’t even want to spend any time addressing the comments. I was giving them the benefit of doubt thinking maybe it was just my poor luck all of these times I had their food....