VANAM - INDIAN VEGETARIAN — Restaurant in Schaumburg Township

No reservations? We were visiting a store up 15 min away. Plan was to arrive by 12:45 but of course, stores never go on schedule. Ended up arriving at 1:15 and yes, there was a wait since they don't take any reservations. We had a 3pm show in Barrington. We were told the wait would be 30 to 40 min. Our hearts kind of sunk; do we wait and try our luck here and risk getting late for our show or shall we take the chance. We decided to chance it and I am pleased to report WE ALL ARE GLAD WE DID.

We ordered a bunch of things. For the not so well versed, while the food here I think specializes in 'South Indian' food, I wasn't quite able to pin point which part of South India it caters to (or does it to different parts?). The rasam; LOVED the texture. I missed one flavor profile you get in a Keralan rasam. Sorry; can't pin point what. Nevertheless, it was really really good.

We ordered a bunch of things to share.

Stuffed mirchi bhaji was not bad. It wasn't the best I've had but not bad.

The paneer manchuran was beautifully cooked. The sauce was DELICIOUS. Had to keep licking my fingers it was that good. The paneer was so fresh, fried (to perfection without it being overdone) and had the amazing 'spongy' feeling to it.

We ordered a vada rasam. The rasam I described above. Vada was fresh and had that crisp from the outside and spongy from the inside feel.

I wanted the chole bhature but they did not have bature this day so I went with the puri chole. This was amazing. This is not a South Indian dish (I think) but they did a phenomenal job with it. The puri while larger than Sindhi puris were thin and light. Did not feel the extra weight after having such a meal. Ran out of puri so ordered a phulka. Amazing phulka. Simple and this actually felt like homemade.

Also ordered a plain dosa. This was one of the best dosas I've had in Chicago. It was thin, crispy and check this out; after about 30 min, it STILL had the crispy texture. Very very well made.

Lastly, we had the the rava desert with pieces of fruit in it. THIS WAS THE BEST RAVA DESERT I'VE HAD EVER; PERIOD. It was not too sweet (yes, it still did have sugar but was not overly sweet like everything else we get in the US), had plenty of ghee. It had the richness yet freshness I can't quote describe.

The servers were friendly and accomodating. Other thing I really loved about the place is; their plates, their metal dishes, glasses, water bottles, etc.; everything had their Vanam branding on it. A nice touch.

Can't wait to try...

This place is fairly new and it's nicely decorated. It has a nice modern feel to it. The menu has good options. We ordered a few items and most of it had a decent flavor to it. Their mint chutney was quite flavorful. I liked their mango lassi, it had a good tangy-ness about it. Unfortunately that's about where the positives end. Their service is just not good at all. We waited a decent amount to be seated, not because there were a lot of people (there were none waiting), but because the staff just didn't acknowledge us for a while. That would have been ok if they were busy but they were not. Once seated it took a while for our waiter/waitress to come over to take an order. No big deal if they were busy, but there were plenty of staff and several tables around us were empty. Our food also didn't come out in order. Meaning we ordered appetizers, but two of our main dishes came first and then the appetizer. There was no sense of when or how the dishes should be timed. We ate slowly as we were waiting for the last dish. It was roughly 50 mins from the time we placed the order during with no one came by to even ask if everything was good. About an hour plus into us being there, a person comes by to ask if we're ready to pay. When we told them we hadn't received our one dish, he looked confused. Then came back another two times saying that it says the dish was delivered. Again none of our dishes were cleared in the almost, now, 1+ hour we were there. So had we received our dish that would have been there. We again explained that we never got our dish. We finally asked to speak to the person in charge. He didn't apologize for the mistake, which is the first thing that should have happened, but he did listen to us and did take it off the bill (which they needed to). He seemed almost indecisive on what he needed to do. I've been in this profession before so anything like this that has happened, my first instinct is to apologize to the patron, and then take the next steps to correct the issue. I had to tell them that I no longer wanted my dish and just to remove it from the bill, as it had been over an hour and I was ready to go. They did tell us that they were making the dish already, but I was just not in the mood to have it anymore. They did give us that dish to go (no charge) but the service experience was just not good. I wanted so much to like this place, but the lack of service and this issue has turned me off. I will not...

If you’re looking for authentic South Indian vegetarian cuisine that delights your taste buds from the very first bite, Vanam is an absolute gem. The menu is not only extensive but also thoughtfully curated, offering a wide range of dishes that showcase the depth and richness of South Indian flavors.

We tried several items—from the crispy Pakoda to the tangy and perfectly spiced Gobi 65, and the indulgent, creamy Kaju Paneer—and every single dish was a hit! Everything tasted incredibly fresh, was beautifully presented, and packed with bold, well-balanced flavors. You can truly tell that quality ingredients and authentic preparation are a priority here.

The ambiance is warm and welcoming, and the service was equally impressive—friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable about the dishes.

Highly recommend Vanam to anyone craving delicious, satisfying South Indian vegetarian food. This place is a standout, and I’ll definitely be returning to explore more of their mouthwatering menu!

Today’s visit was nothing short of exceptional — each item we ordered was packed with flavor and prepared with clear attention to detail.

We started with their filter coffee, which was rich, aromatic, and perfectly balanced — a nostalgic nod to traditional South Indian mornings. The mango lassi followed and was refreshingly creamy, with just the right amount of sweetness and a hint of cardamom.

For starters, the paneer 65 was a standout — crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and coated in a flavorful spice mix that left us wanting more. The onion samosas were perfectly crisp and generously filled, making them the ideal comfort snack.

Every dish was mouthwatering and fresh, with flavors that felt both authentic and thoughtfully elevated. Manam is a gem for anyone craving a satisfying, vegetarian South Indian meal. Highly recommended — we’ll definitely be back to explore more...