8 Restaurants that Serves Best Butter Chicken in Chicago
Located on the picturesque banks of Lake Michigan, Chicago is home to the second-largest Indian-American Population in any metropolitan area in the country. Sure to have some hidden gems catering to expats living in the city, in search of a bite to remind them of the flavors back home.
The city may be famous for its Blues and Pizza but let’s dive into this beautiful city and explore its Epicurious side and discover some of the best butter chicken in Chicago, a feast for all the senses. Let’s walk the streets of Little India to discover these hidden gems.
Top 8 Best Butter Chicken in Chicago
1. Indian Garden Restaurant
Location: 247 East Ontario Street, Chicago, IL 60611
Website: https://www.indiangardenchicago.com/
About the restaurant: Warm comforting interiors, swift and efficient service, coupled with an absolutely mouthwatering array of delicacies from Delhi Bombay & Goa. Combining traditional cooking techniques, with contemporary styles they have preserved the soul of the authentic recipe, combining it with something more modern and contemporary.
Indian Garden‘s Butter Chicken: A twist on the traditional take, Chicken grilled over charcoal, is shredded and topped with a flavourful tomato and nut-based curry, with mellow hints of cardamom and fenugreek. Garnished with a hearty serving of butter and cream. Surely a hot contender for the title of best butter chicken in Chicago.
Cost: $20 is a steal considering the ambiance, the overall service, and their attention to detail in regards to the food. Step in for a lavish meal or grab a quick takeaway, it’s bound to blow your tastebuds away.
2. India House
Location: 59 W Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60654
Website: https://www.indiahousechicago.com/index.html
About the restaurant: Whether it’s a Bollywood-styled brunch you’re craving, or maybe you have a party to throw, or probably you’re stepping in for a quick weekday lunch. India house is the place to be. Functional, uncomplicated, and unapologetically Indian is how i would define this wonderful establishment.
India House‘s Butter Chicken: Tender boneless chicken supreme is marinated in a secret in-house sauce, before being cooked in the tandoor. Top it with a sweet yet piquant gravy with fine hints of dry fenugreek leaves. Topped with fresh cream, and homemade butter.
Cost: $25 can be considered a bargain, owing to the generally large portions, perfect for families or friends to share over conversations and cocktails. Putting this wonderful restaurant on our spots for the best butter chicken in Chicago.
3. Gaylord Fine Indian Cusine
Location: 100 E Walton St, Chicago, IL 60611-1448
Website: https://gaylordil.com/
About the restaurant: The restaurant’s name is synonymous with fine dining and has a reputation for being one of the older and finer dining establishments across the country. Offering an authentic and unadulterated Indian dining experience. Known for their legendary recipes, their butter chicken is definitely one of the best in chicago.
Gaylord‘s Butter Chicken: Tender juicy strips of boneless chicken is marinated in a mix tandoori spice rub with greek yogurt and cooked in fresh butter, before topping it off with a creamy and decadent serving of fresh tomato puree seasoned with sweet spices.
Cost: $17 dollars is a steal compared to what the others offer since the restaurant has been an icon in the city since 1972. Serving up memories and more.
4. Chicago Curry House – Indian & Nepalese Cuisine
Location: 899 S Plymouth Ct South loop near McCormick Place, Millennium Park, Chicago, IL 60605-2058
Website: https://www.curryhouseonline.com/
About the restaurant: Specializing in Indo-Nepalese cuisine, from the Northlands of the peninsular. Chicago curry house is known to many as the go-to Indian caterer, for weddings, get-togethers, corporates, events, etc. With a dedicated team of chefs trained in the traditional arts, they crack out some of the best Indian food in Chicago.
Chicago Curry House‘s Butter Chicken: Makhani literally translating to in butter defines the very essence of this recipe where butter is the star performer. Onions fried in clarified butter, pureed, and blended with a creamy and smooth tomato base. Seasoned with sweet spices, with a hint of smokiness lingering in your palette. Reminding you why its one of the best butter chicken in Chicago.
Cost: $16.95 makes this one of the most affordable variants on our list, but leads the table in affordability and accessibility.
5. Sabri Nihari
Location: 2502 W Devon Ave, Chicago, IL 60659-1970
Website: https://www.sabrinihari.com/
About the restaurant: With over 25 years of experience catering to the desi community, they have earned a regal status amongst the ex-pats. Though traditionally a Pakistani restaurant, they specialize in northwest Frontier cuisine focused on the regions of Sindh and Punjab. The restaurant is also famous for its bespoke private catering menu.
Sabari Nihari‘s Butter Chicken: Perfect for those cold winters, their combination of mild chilies pureed and blended with a rich and sweet tomato gravy base is what sets this recipe apart from the rest. With tender smokey tikka being the cherry on the top and don’t forget the ghee and cream to top it all off. A truly gastronomical experience.
Cost: $16.99 puts it on par with the two restaurants above it in the list, but for sheers legacy and their authentic flavor being the same decade after decade makes it worthwhile. And also one of the oldest and best butter chicken in Chicago.
6. Cumin
Location: 1414 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60622-9214
Website: https://www.cumin-chicago.com/
About the restaurant: known for its exquisite collection of Indian Liquors and beers, this restaurant prides itself in serving contemporary Indo-Nepalese cuisine. The restaurant has also consistently found itself featured in the Michelin Bib guide as favourites under the value for money section year on year from 2011-to 2019.
Cumin‘s Butter Chicken: Consistency, quality, and attention to detail is something that is not compromised here and that is visible with one of the best butter chicken in Chicago being made with such care and love. Boneless chicken thighs are marinated for over 24 hours in a yogurt marinade before being skewered and cooked to perfection in a clay oven and then topped off with one of the best makhani gravies in town.
Cost: $18 dollars is a bargain considering the notoriety of the restaurant, just ensure you have reserved your table in advance to skip the long waits.
7. ROOH Chicago
Location: 736 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60661
Website: https://www.roohchicago.com/
About the restaurant: One of if not the best Indian Contemporary Indian restaurants in the county, with branches in California as well. Known for their minimalist yet powerful recipes and elegant and classy style of service.
Rooh‘s Butter Chicken: This is a gastronomical work of art replacing the traditional tomato makhani with a smoked red pepper-based one, topped off with cashew puree and butter powder. Don’t forget the star of the dish the tender succulent smoked chicken.
Cost: $30 makes this one of the most expensive on your list but the sheer presentation and experience of eating this dish make it worthwhile.
8. Jaipur
Location: 847 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60607-2310
Website: https://www.opentable.com/r/jaipur-chicago
About the restaurant: with an exotic blend of herbs and spices, and the intricate techniques perfected in the traditional kitchens back home, the chefs display exceptional skill and make this one of the best butter chicken experiences in chicago.
Jaipur‘s Butter Chicken: Shredded tandoori chicken, topped with cream and butter, cooked in a medley of spices and slathered on with a hearty serving of a a rich thick aromatic tomato and nut based sauce. Surely a mouth watering experience.
Cost: $21 puts this in the mid-range in our list but the sheer authentic flavor and value for money make it a topper on our list of best butter chicken in Chicago.
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