Thali Indian Cuisine — Restaurant in Chicago

I recently dined at Thali Indian Cuisine, and it was a feast for the senses. The restaurant offers an extensive menu that beautifully captures the essence of Indian flavors, making it a must-visit for any food enthusiast.

From the appetizer selection, the Vegetable Samosa stood out with its crispy pastry and flavorful filling of spiced potatoes and peas. The Chili Chicken was another highlight, featuring boneless fried chicken tossed in a tangy tomato chili garlic sauce that delivered the perfect balance of heat and flavor.

Moving on to the main courses, the Butter Chicken was exceptional. Tender morsels of chicken were roasted in the clay oven and then simmered in a rich, creamy tomato cashew sauce, creating a dish that was both comforting and indulgent. The Fish Pollichathu, available only on weekends, was a delightful surprise with its unique preparation of salmon wrapped in a banana leaf with spices and grilled to perfection. It offered a wonderful blend of flavors and textures, showcasing the chef’s mastery of traditional cooking techniques.

Vegetarian options are equally enticing at Thali Indian Cuisine. The Paneer Tikka Masala featured cubes of paneer cheese in a creamy tomato and cashew sauce, which was both rich and satisfying. The Vegetable Varutharacha Curry was another standout, combining baby carrots, green beans, Yukon gold potatoes, and cauliflower in a roasted coconut gravy that was both aromatic and flavorful.

The bread selection is a must-try, especially the Garlic Naan, which was perfectly soft with a hint of garlic and cilantro. It paired wonderfully with the various curries and was perfect for mopping up every last bit of sauce.

For dessert, the Gulab Jamun Ice Cream was a delightful way to end the meal. The deep-fried dough balls, soaked in syrup, were served with vanilla ice cream, creating a sweet and satisfying contrast of textures.

The ambiance at Thali Indian Cuisine is warm and inviting, with attentive staff who are knowledgeable about the menu and eager to provide recommendations. The dining experience is complemented by the rich, aromatic dishes that are prepared with great care and attention to detail.

Overall, Thali Indian Cuisine offers a remarkable dining experience that transports you to the heart of India with every bite. Whether you are a lover of spicy dishes or prefer milder flavors, there is something for everyone on this diverse and well-curated menu. This is a restaurant that should not be missed by anyone looking to explore the rich culinary...

Since moving to Chicago, I have searched for good Indian cuisine. I'd been told I'd be going to Indiana, but it would appear not. This is phenomenal Indian cuisine, and worth the price. I highly recommend it.

Portions are good for a single diner, without being over-abundant. The rice has just the slightest hint of vanilla to it that gives it a pleasant taste and complements most dishes nicely. As the man at the counter said, every region of India has its own variety of cuisine, and I would definitely say there is a robustness to the way that the earthiness comes out in the food. We tried Tikka Masala and vindaloo for our first excursion, and I was very pleasantly surprised by the level of heat/strength of spices at 'mild' levels for the Vindaloo. Their lamb is excellent quality. The taste of the red sauce has just the right level of kick with an earthy quality I struggle to place, but found delightful. Their vegetable samosas are exactly as hot and heavy as I know from other places, and a very hearty snack for an appetizer. They make excellent naan, but I particularly recommend the garlic naan.

The staff are both very friendly, prompt and knowledgeable. I learned something in coming here, which was that our favorite restaurant back in Detroit was likely of Kashmiri or Peshawari origins. There was a particular dish there that was a regional one, and the conversation led me to look it up. I will be asking the people who work here what region they hail from in India so that I can get a better idea about the variation in Indian cuisine.

Prices are about $18-25 per person depending on if you do an appetizer. Your bill for 2 people will probably run you around 50 dollars, though for us it goes a little higher because we're always ordering extras. The meat you choose will also impact your final price. This said, it's absolutely worth the price. The food is extremely well made, and for those of you who yearn for a taste of India, I recommend this without question.

Maybe I'll update with photos and a comment about regional variety later. I, uh, kind of plowed in today. It was that good. The smell of the rice made me...

I've been looking for a good Indian restaurant, so I moved to the area recently. After looking at the online menu, I was very excited about this place and already made up my mind that I was going to come back for a second visit. But... there were 2 things that stopped me in my tracks:

1. Cleanliness of the bathroom: it was very bad. The doors leading to the restroom were caked with fingerprints and dirt. This can be easily wiped clean in 2 minutes. For the doors to get to this stage of filth, it forecasted the conditions of the restroom. Outside the restroom door, there were fresh mouse droppings everywhere. Same on the inside of the restroom. The toilet was brown with filth on the sides. There was soap, but it was in a large detergent container. There was a diaper changing station, but it was grimy to the touch and based on the mouse droppings, I would not change my kid's diaper there. It would be cleaner to use the outside sidewalk. If they can't clean the restroom regularly (it looks like it had been weeks since it was cleaned), just imagine what the kitchen is like.

2. The portions of food: we ordered 2 mango lassi, chili chicken, parotta, and butter chicken. The bill was over $50 for this amount of food, and it was enough for maybe 0.5 person.

We left hungry.

We don't eat out very often because of the food prices these days, but the amount of chicken (collectively, in all the dishes we were served) we were served was less than $5. I went to the grocery store and grabbed a package of chicken to make the same curry at home.

I have never been so disappointed with a restaurant. All the good Indian restaurants have packed seats on a Sunday at noon. It was empty...