Best Indian in the Western Suburbs?

I know my way around Downers Grove/Oakbrook/Willowbrook pretty well, but I wonder if anyone has a particular favorite. I know about Shree, Mysore Woodlands/Indian Garden, Kushaboo (closed?), etc. I noticed a new place on Rt. 83 between 75th and 63rd somewhere as well.

Beyond "Indian," I have no restrictions or strong preferences, North, South, Veg, meat, etc. Looking for a sit-down, non-buffet, "nicer" room.

Thanks.

Hopefully dickson will chime in, but I'd definitely recommend Sri Ganesh in Lombard. Not a hole in the wall, but not fancy either. It's strictly vegetarian but consistently good and reasonably priced. We've sampled the idly, dahi vadai, samosas, baingan bhartha, spinach kofta and both poori and paratha breads. If they have it try the baby coconut milk. It's in a strip mall on Rt 38 pretty close to 355. They also have pan.

Sri Ganesh
837 E. Roosevelt Rd,
Lombard, IL 60148
(Block Away from Intersection of Meyers Rd & Roosevelt Rd )
630-620-9175

Looks good, mullet. Thanks. I think you sealed the deal with the pan. Though, my gums still hurt from my last trip to Devon.

I'm still open to other suggestions but this is a great start.

I'll second Sri Ganesh. You may have to be prepared, however, to push back against the rather overbearing owner (I believe) who thinks all white people need to be ordering the thali. On the other hand, the food was excellent (I don't remember all the details, but looking at the menu reminds me that the spinach kofta were a particular treat) and he brought out an assortment of desserts, including one gratis, that were heavenly. He was also fine with us bringing in a six pack of beer. When we were there it was full of large multi-generational families who were clearly regulars. If I lived out that way I might be as well.

Ann Fisher wrote:I'll second Sri Ganesh. You may have to be prepared, however, to push back against the rather overbearing owner (I believe) who thinks all white people need to be ordering the thali.

I was in the area today, so I stopped in for lunch. I think the owner doesn't discriminate -- he pushes the thali on everyone, white or not. I observed that he suggested it to Indians who came in as well. (Perhaps he is more insistent with us white folk though.)

I came in determined to try one of the many dosas offered on their menu. However, I was convinced to try the thali by the owner. It was good, but I think dosa would have been more interesting. I'll give it a try the next time I'm there.

Tim

I know this topic has been done, but places come and go. I am looking for a reasonably priced, good Indian Restaurant in the Naperville/Westmont/Downers Grove area. The last time we had that cuisine in the area was years ago and that place is now closed..... I trust all of you!

There's an Indian carryout place on the SW corner of Route 59 and 111th Street in a new strip mall very near the Indian grocery store. I haven't eaten there as they are always closed when I've stopped by. I believe they open at 4pm. The Indian grocery store owner told me that it's vegetarian and that the dosas were very good. Again I haven't tried it.

FWIW, I saw a sign for an Indian restaurant in Plainfield just yesterday. It will open on Route 59 south of Renwick and north of Fraser in the Hometown Fitness strip mall.

Veloute wrote:There's an Indian carryout place on the SW corner of Route 59 and 111th Street in a new strip mall very near the Indian grocery store. I haven't eaten there as they are always closed when I've stopped by. I believe they open at 4pm. The Indian grocery store owner told me that it's vegetarian and that the dosas were very good. Again I haven't tried it.

FWIW, I saw a sign for an Indian restaurant in Plainfield just yesterday. It will open on Route 59 south of Renwick and north of Fraser in the Hometown Fitness strip mall.

Wow, excellent and thanks. That new place is fairly close to me.

I like India House very much.

India House
2809 Butterfield Rd,
Oak Brook, IL
630.472.1500

Only been to India House once, for the buffet, which was excellent.
Saffron (used to be Indian Garden) is hands down the best in the area you mentioned.
North of Saffron (just next door to Katy's Dumplings) on Cass there's Shree, which is vegetarian. It's one of those vegetarian places where you do not miss meat one iota. And they've got the most delicious carot halwa I've yet had, which I'd take over any traditional carot cake.
Out near Fox Valley Mall, there's two places I like: Priya, which is hidden down a subdivision road off of Rt 59, and New Cholaa (same space that Sizzle India formerly occupied). As with India House, I've only visited New Cholaa for the buffet, but was pleasantly surprised to find offerings there I've not seen elsewhere, ie not merely Mogul-style heavy curry sauces. Very intersting--and tasty--stuff. It's been awhile since I've gone and I'm terrible at remembering the names of Indian dishes, so forgive me for not being more specific. Do not be put off by the slightly dodgy exterior (assuming they haven't spruced it up since I was last there).



Saffron
6020 S Cass Ave.
Westmont

Shree
55 N Cass Ave
Westmont

Priya Indian Cuisine
1904 Brookdale Road
Naperville

New Cholaa
1570 W.Ogden Ave
Naperville

Oh! How could I forget Cuisine of India, esp since I go there just about every week since it's so close to my work? I think they've really improved compared to a few years ago. The chili chicken is a must when I go for the lunch buffet. The staff is extremely attentive and professional, and they cover all the typical bases well.

Cuisine of India
1255 E Ogden Ave # 131
Naperville

Does this Cuisine of India have any relation to the one in Mt. Prospect? A friend really likes the Mt. Prospect one which I have yet to try. My fave is Gaylord in Schaumburg due to the number of vegetarian items available for my veggie friends. Last time we went, there was a sweet potato dish and another one made with taro root vegetable.

I concur with Saffron for the weekend buffet but weekday selection is just okay. Didn't know about New Cholaa and look forward to trying it. Thanks for the listings oranjuicejones.

Good info oranjuicejones. One minor correction. You mention that New Cholaa used to be Sizzle India. Actually its located in the space that used to be Swagat. Priya is the one located in the former location of Sizzle India.

I think you can still get really good South Indian dosas at New Cholaa (ask for the dosa menu). But the last time I was there the buffet looked so good I couldn't pass it up.

Tim

The lunch buffet at Shikara is also pretty good. I like it better than the one at Saffron in Westmont.

Shikara
1620 75th Street
Downers Grove

na wrote:Does this Cuisine of India have any relation to the one in Mt. Prospect? A friend really likes the Mt. Prospect one which I have yet to try. My fave is Gaylord in Schaumburg due to the number of vegetarian items available for my veggie friends. Last time we went, there was a sweet potato dish and another one made with taro root vegetable.

I concur with Saffron for the weekend buffet but weekday selection is just okay. Didn't know about New Cholaa and look forward to trying it. Thanks for the listings oranjuicejones.

I thought I heard Cuisine of India was closed.

I love Gaylord in Schaumburg, just wish it weren't so far.

Hi,

A friend wants to visit Banda Nawaz, which was commented here along with Desi Grill & Pizza.

This friend doesn't get much Indian, so what we do I want to be terrific. We will be coming from the Naperville/Wheaton area. Any opinions on the current status of Indian in the Western Suburbs is appreciated.

Banda Nawaz Restaurant
17W612 14th Street,
Oakbrook Terrace

http://www.bandanawaz.com - - (630) 889-0786

Thanks!

Regards,

If you are in the north Naperville area, you might want to give Masala a try. It's in Warrenville Cantera, near Diehl & Winfield Rd. (Same plaza as Target.)

I've only been there for the lunch buffet 3 or 4 times. Most of the times the buffet has been outstanding. They have Northern & Southern items.

Last time I was there I saw another table ordered masala dosas instead of the buffet. They looked really good.

http://www.masalachicago.com/

Howdy -

I have a small sample set of places in the west burbs. Flat out, far above all else I've tried is Shikara in Downers Grove. I went once and it was delightful. I went again and it was about as barely average as you can get. I will remember that first meal at Shikara for the rest of my life. It was stellar. Banda Nawaz is a hole in the wall (at least it was the last time I was there.) Just make sure you know you are in for a few formica tables and a counter as ambience if you care about that kinda thing. Along that corridor of Roosevelt rd, there are a few other places. Viceroy, Desi Grill, a newer place called Kurry Khazana which I only tried samosa and an mutter paneer-the samosa were VERY good, but like 2 bux each.

I've never been but always hear good things about India Palace in Wheaton. Couldn't find a site, but they are on Restaurant.com.

I think in the area of Banda Nawaz, tho, for sit down service, the pioneer in me would give the small, very casual, Kurry Khazana a try. If a counter and a table are all you need, then I'd look at Desi Grill or Banda Nawaz with a slight edge to Desi Grill for a chance at a stellar meal for the price (the lunchbox special - greatness of value will vary from decent to exceptional - just luck of the draw.) Viceroy's prices are not in line with their quality control, plain and simple, IMO. You might get good food, you might get worse food than any other random cabbie joint, so I see no real reason to go there and hope I get something good when the prices are far better at Desi Grill, and the chances of greatness are about the same. I think there's an India House in Oak Brook as well - from what I know about them is high prices, and decent food, and a nice room. You could also call an audible if you don't get many other responses, and pick an area and go to restaurant.com. There are a bunch of west burb Indian places on there.

http://www.kurrykhazana.com/

The Bride and I had a restaurant.com cert to try Desi Chilli. Tough location for LTH'ers, with the stellar Katy's a few steps away, and the very good Taco Grill a block away, so hard to find a reason to skip one of those, but we did. Desi does Northern Indian/Chinese fusion at a pretty high level, based on one visit.

Nice choice of sauces at the table - a thick, spicy soy, a chili sauce and some pickled peppers. Vegetarian Spring Rolls delighted the Bride, but were nothing special for me. Crispy Chilli Baby Corn were more like slightly tangy fritters than anything else, but quite nice. For mains, the barbecue fish - tandoori grilled in a pretty thick chili paste with peppers and onions was a bit of a muddle that night, but made a stellar leftover. The Vegetable Coconut Curry was rich, creamy, pea pods, mushrooms and some other vegetables. Very satisfying. The Chilli Garlic Noodles were about the same - flavorful, satisfying - but disappointing because my expectations were higher. Like the Barbecue Fish, the dish was a bit of a mish mash, no balance, noodles slightly mushy, chicken a bit overcooked, large, almost-raw chunks of garlic.

I like this cuisine, and there are not a lot of places out here that do it, so I probably will go back. On the other hand, I do not think the cook(s) are doing a good job. In most cases, it seemed like they cooked everything together, so some components were perfectly cooked, but many were overcooked.

Desi Chilli
677 N Cass Ave Westmont, IL 60559
(630) 325-7545

I go to the India Palace which is in a kind of strip mall on Geneva Rd in Wheaton. I go because its close by. I think the food is as good or better than any of the other choices. Its hard to find an Indian restaurant that stands heads and shoulders above the rest. My decision on Indian restaurants is based on if they serve masala dosa as its one of my favorite foods. I like the dosa, nan and paratha breads, and the aloo gobi. The masala tea is good and warming in the cold weather. They also have a lunch buffet.

I have shied away from Indian cooking all of my life. As a newcomer and not fond of spicey, what would I want to order on a first visit?

kitty wrote:I have shied away from Indian cooking all of my life. As a newcomer and not fond of spicey, what would I want to order on a first visit?

Try the murg makhani ("butter chicken"). Chunks of chicken in a velvety. creamy, tomato sauce. Sometimes with a hint of spiciness, but nothing to worry about at all. And some naan bread, of course.

kitty wrote:I have shied away from Indian cooking all of my life. As a newcomer and not fond of spicey, what would I want to order on a first visit?

Hi
Each place will vary with heat levels. They are all not Mcdonalds, where all things will be the exact same. Also, please do speak up when you visit a place, and let them know your concerns. If you will not tell them what you would like, then you have to take on some responsibility if you don't get something you'd like. That said, for the most part, some safe dishes should be:
Butter chicken (described already)
Korma / quorma (creamy yogurt curry)
Tikka masala (generally same ish as mahkni -butter sauce)
Pakoras (fried things, usually apps)
Veggie preps can vary greatly, you have to ask for heat level if you want to be sure.
Chana masala (chickpea curry)is generally always mild
Dals will vary. Please specify your tolerance
Anything labeled "tandoori" is generally mild.
Naan is decent bread, but greasy chewy paratha is more to my liking.

Vindaloo is generally hot
Kerahi is generally just a bit spicy, and very gingery.

You should really be assertive in telling the people at the place you go to just how mild you want your food to be. They will be better at steering you towards the right choices at that specific place rather than us just generalizing.

Get the mango kulfi for dessert. Mango pulp ice cream. Just try it.

I ate at Kurry Khazanna on Roosevelt last week. This place used to be Sri Ganesh. I did not care for it. The aloo gobi seemed mushy and dead tasting and the masala dosa, while okay were greasy. I think India Palace in Wheaton is better, I particularlly like their aloo gobi. I also prefer the room and they seem to have more customers.

A former Walmart in suburban Naperville will be home to an ambitious cultural complex for Indian food, private events, stores, and more. It’s called Mall of India and the goal is to create a mini Devon Avenue under one roof. The plans call for a food court that will house 10 restaurants including the all-vegan Art of Dosa. There’s also a 25,000-square-foot South Asian grocery store.

https://chicago.eater.com/2020/1/22/210 ... go-suburbs