Thalaiva's Indian Kitchen Main St — Restaurant in Maine Township

Ordered three things : Chicken Curry Dosa : they gave 2 dosa like pancakes on a plate with a side of chicken curry. Not typically how we are used to dosa being.bot the thin dosa, and it only came with 1 sauce. The taste was ‘meh’. Not good, just okay. Chicken Vindaloo : This was my least favorite of the dishes. It had this weird artificial canned tomato paste like taste to it, but heavily seasoned with spices to try to cover up that pungent taste, which you cannot. This was not good. It was simply bad tasting, not even okay tasting. The aloo was cooked perfectly in this dish, but that is sadly the only positive comment I can mention about this dish. Chicken Fried Rice : this was the best of all three things we ordered, but I would still rate it as mediocre tasting at best (sorry, but you can make better fried rice at home if I am honest). It also has cabbage in it and you can taste the cabbage ‘juices’ in it. I am not a huge fan of the taste of cooked cabbage so my review on this dish may be a bit partial. The chicken pieces in here were rather small and they were overcooked.

Overall the food was rather disappointing. I also can’t recall a time when we ate out where we didn’t bring leftovers home, but today was that day (with the exception of garlic naan. That tasted normal and was not overcooked)

Atmosphere, not so great. You either get to look at a wall or you get to see a lot of ‘to go’ containers. There is plenty of seating outside you could use I am sure, but it was too chilly out for us.

We were going to order masala chai but it was taking too long to arrive and even after waiting we were told it would be 10 more minutes.

Overall, I would not recommend eating here. I definitely do not recommend the Chicken Vindaloo. And if I am honest, I think you could make better tasting food yourself at home. We would not be eating here again. It was not worth the money spent. I also found the chicken to be chewy. The staff was not over the top, nor were they rude or disrespectful, but the food, based on what we ordered, was simply not good. There are much better Indian restaurants around the Chicago area.

Parking, we could easily find parking but we did have to walk a bit...

TRUE ACCUSATIONS!! Based on owner reply- “Calling toddlers ‘grown-up children’? Really?!”

We had a disappointing experience at Thailava. We went for dinner with our family — which included a 3-year-old, 7-year-old, and 12-year-old — and were stunned when the owner referred to them as “grown-up children” just to justify an automatic 18% gratuity on the bill.

Really, wow. Not sure how a toddler is considered a grown-up in any situation. If toddlers are going to be treated and charged as adults, that should be clearly communicated upfront — not discovered at billing time.

To add to that, one of the younger kids lightly pulled an unused chair, and apparently, that was a huge issue. If that was such a “blunder,” then the staff or owner should have said something politely in the moment, instead of silently judging and then using it as an excuse later.

The entire experience left us feeling uncomfortable and unwelcome. Families with kids — especially young ones — might want to think twice before dining here. There are plenty of other restaurants in Chicago that know how to treat guests with basic courtesy and transparency.

“Watch out for the surprise 18% gratuity – even with kids!”

We recently went to Thaiva for dinner with our family, including two young kids, and were shocked to find an 18% gratuity automatically added to our bill — without any notice or mention from the staff. We weren’t a large party, just 4 adults and 2 kids, so this felt completely unreasonable.

The service wasn’t even close to deserving that kind of tip. It was slow, inattentive, and unwelcoming — we had to flag someone down just to get water refills. When we asked about the automatic charge, the staff just shrugged and gave no real explanation. No signs, no heads-up, just a surprise at the end of the meal.

We don’t mind tipping for good service, but forcing an 18% tip without transparency, especially for a small family dinner, is a shady practice. Between the mediocre food, lackluster service, and this sneaky charge, we left feeling frustrated and ripped off.

Won’t be returning — and I suggest checking your bill very carefully...

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Authentic South Indian Experience – A Must-Visit in Park Ridge!

Thalaiva’s Indian Kitchen in Park Ridge is a true gem for anyone who appreciates authentic South Indian cuisine, especially the bold and flavorful dishes from the Kongunadu region of Tamil Nadu. From the moment I walked in, the welcoming aroma of spices and the warm hospitality set the tone for what turned out to be a truly exceptional meal.

We started with the Masala Dosa – perfectly crisp, golden-brown, and generously stuffed with well-seasoned potato masala. The chutneys and sambar were flavorful and tasted homemade. The Kari Dosai was a standout – thick, fluffy, and topped with spicy mutton curry – rich, bold, and deeply satisfying.

We also tried the Chicken Kothu Parotta, a South Indian street food classic, and it was amazing. The parotta was shredded perfectly, mixed with chicken, eggs, and spices to deliver a comforting, spicy dish with great texture. The Vanjaram Fish Fry was fresh, beautifully spiced, and seared just right – crispy outside, tender inside. What I really appreciated was the variety and authenticity of the menu. You won’t find watered-down versions of Indian food here – this is the real deal. Even their thali options are well-rounded with a great mix of curries, rice, breads, and sides.

The ambience is clean, modern, and casual with subtle touches of South Indian culture, and the staff are knowledgeable, polite, and always ready to help with recommendations. They checked on us during the meal and made sure everything was to our liking, which was a nice touch.

They also serve traditional drinks like Sukku Malli Coffee (herbal South Indian coffee) and filter coffee, which was a nostalgic finish to the meal.

If you're anywhere near Park Ridge or even Chicago, this place is absolutely worth the visit. Whether you're South Indian and looking for a taste of home, or just curious to try regional Indian food beyond the usual butter chicken and naan, Thalaiva's is a must-try. Delicious food, great service, and a unique culinary experience you won’t find just...