Chiya Chai Riverwalk — Restaurant in Chicago

The samosa chaat and desi chai at this place were absolutely fantastic. The flavors were spot on, and the presentation was appealing. However, I noticed they could benefit from having more staff. The lady at the front was multitasking, taking orders, handling payments, and addressing customer inquiries all at once. While she managed admirably, additional staff would improve efficiency and customer experience.

The standout of my visit was Sahil, the person who prepared the orders. He crafted each dish with great care and precision, almost like an artist. Every order he made was perfect, showcasing his skill and dedication to quality. Watching him work was a delight; he clearly takes pride in what he does, and it shows in the food. His attention to detail and commitment to excellence made my meal truly enjoyable.

Despite the staffing issue, I highly recommend this place. The food is excellent, and the service, though stretched thin, is friendly and professional. Sahil's culinary artistry is a highlight, making each visit worthwhile. With a bit more help at the front, this place could enhance its efficiency and customer satisfaction even further.

In conclusion, if you're looking for delicious samosa chaat and desi chai, this place is a must-visit. The quality of the food, combined with Sahil's exceptional preparation skills, makes for a memorable dining experience. I look forward to returning and hope to see them thrive with a slightly larger team to support their growing popularity. Don't miss out on this gem of a place; it's well...

I find it hard to write a negative review of a small business as I want them to succeed, but I had a less than good experience here and want the owners to take this as feedback. I'm not sure if this is specific to the Riverwalk location. I'll have to give the Logan Square spot a try next time I visit Chicago.

-We ordered the following: 2x Ginger Cardamom Chai, iced 1x Coconut Cream Chai, iced 1x Mumbai Cutting Chai, iced (???) 1x Pani Puri

I tasted all 3 of these and all of them tasted like milk mixed with cinnamon. There was no distinction in taste and neither of them tasted like they had tea leaves in them. It almost tasted like horchata. The powderiness of the cinnamon ruined my drink and I didn't enjoy it. I'm also not even sure if the coconut cream chai was made separately as it didn't have any taste of it.

Re: Mumbai Cutting Chai - This should not be served in multiple sizes, nor should there be an iced option. The term cutting refers to a small (typically 4 - 5 oz portion served in a small glass). "Cutting" comes from the idea of cutting down a normal 7 - 8 oz serving of chai by some amount. This is shown in the picture, but doesn't translate to what is presented to you. It's served hot and you'll see people holding it from the top of the glass to prevent their fingers from getting burnt. See picture for reference

The only thing that was decent was the pani puri. I hope they improve on their recipes and/or train their...

The restaurant owner called and apologized for my experience. They also offered a refund. I am revising this to 4 stars based on this interaction.

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Do not order online. I tried Using their own website and had a terrible experience. My card was charged and an hour+ later when I was almost starving I tried inquiring about the food. They had no idea about my order. Additionally, the person I spoke to berated me, asked me to spell my name multiple times, and refused to refund. They said the order likely went to another location so I asked for the other place’s number and they said they can’t give that to me. When I said just refund me or use the order ID to look up the order (I have both email and message from them), he just got very rude with me and said if I need my money back, I can go to the website and ask for my refund.

Overall, felt like I was dealing with a fraudulent business who would charge you and then treat you poorly so you would stop...