Are your taste buds craving Indian food that reminds you of home? Well, Devon Street in Chicago offers mouth-watering and sumptuous food that can take you back home.
Freshly made garlic naan and hot served curry with garam masala spices up your taste buds while honoring the traditional flavors. At Devon Ave, you would find the most incredible Indian foods stirred to represent the culture of North and South India. In this blog, we’ve pulled out the 10 most popular Indian foods you can find in Chicago, featuring everything from tandoori chicken to gulab jamun.
If you’re in Chicago at Devon Street by any chance. Whether you’re on the hunt to find Indian dishes to make you feel at home or you’re an international traveler exploring traditional foods, these popular Indian foods can be your unforgettable experience and are not to be missed.
1. Chicken Biryani
Who doesn’t love biryani? The most popular Indian food you miss when you’re abroad is chicken biryani. Biryani is the #1 dish that can spice your taste buds and shake them, bringing the old cultural feel back, reminding you of your old days. Vegetable biryani is also an option but let’s face the truth, the taste that chicken adds into the dish is second to none. Each bite craves some meat and spice. After a long time, when you’re eating biryani, it can make you fall in love with it again and again. This lip-smacking biryani makes you want more, and we bet you won’t stop with just one serving. This gem of a dish adds flavor to your day while you chew on the rice infused with all the traditional spices and chicken pieces. To make your meal more energetic, don’t forget to have a soft drink that won’t make your spice levels low but pump those for a while, making you feel the food to your heart.
2. Butter chicken
Butter chicken is India’s signature dish, and it tastes exactly like it sounds: butter and chicken, now that’s a treat! Prepared in thick and spicy gravy, this dish is made with loads of butter, and your first bite can make you fall in love with it. The rich infused flavor makes you feel the need for a tandoori roti and some chopped onion salads to perfect your meal. Enjoy this dish will it lasts because we know it won’t, and you would not be able to stop until you eat the serving bowl to the last bite.
3. Seekh Kebab
Seekh kebabs are minced meat rolls smoked or grilled to give the ultimate crispy and spicy flavor that might be missing from your life. The aroma of these kebabs is full of flavor, and it can draw you in from far away to the restaurant. Kebab lovers can’t resist a hot-served kebab with some mint chutney and chopped onions. People from Indian backgrounds love to eat kebabs, but many foreign places also love to have this dish worldwide, and it’s in the latest food trends.
4. Masala Dosa
A South Indian representative dish, masala dosa, is best tasted in India – the country of origin. It’s traditionally made with rice batter filled with mashed potato and some vegetables. As the name suggests, masala dosa is filled with spices and served with lentil-based vegetables, stew, and coconut chutney to add the traditional glory. The spices don’t always mean hot, but it’s about that exciting flavor and fresh ingredient that makes the dish finger-licking good.
5. Gulaab Jamun
Praise the king of desserts, the famous Gulaab Jamun! Prepared from milk into a dough deep-fried into ball form, this dessert is a treat. When the shape solidifies and is prepared, it makes a juicy sweet dessert that we all crave to get a bite. Gulaab Jamun is widely famous from foreigners to the desi Indians and now is a symbol of happiness. At every wedding or any celebration event in Indian, you’ll find one of the most popular Indian foods, Gulaab Jamun as a staple. Although most people like to eat it right away cold, the best way to consume the king of desserts is hot and fresh. Some even love to add scoops of ice cream to enrich the flavor and sweetness.
6. Ras Malai
Ras Malai – where Ras means juice, and Malai means Cream – is a sweet dish prepared from a combination of unripened curd cheese later soaked in milk syrup made by boiling milk with sugar and cardamom saffron and some fresh pistachios. Ras Malai has been the second favorite dessert after Gulaab Jamun and is one of those nostalgic dishes that remind people of their childhood. This dish has sweetened many relations. As a culture in India, families often eat Ras Malai is after dinner, spending quality family time together.
7. Samosa and Chai
During rainy weather, the go-to food for every Indian is a hot Samosa with a cup of Karak chai – strong tea. A simple yet heart-filling baked item, samosa, is a favorite in the cold season. This triangular fried crispy snack is filled with meat or vegetables or the famous Aloo (Potato). This small yet filling dish can be enough to calm your hunger for 2 or 3 hours, and let us tell you, samosa is irresistible. Preferably eaten with tamarind chutney or ketchup, this dish can fill your day with happiness with less to spend from your pocket. Who doesn’t love a good cup of tea made with the right amount of milk, sugar, and tea leaves? Samosa and chai is the best combination so give it a try. We’re sure you won’t regret it.
8. Tandoori Chicken
Tandoori chicken is an Indian dish filled with bold spices ready to heat your taste buds and give you a ride down memory lane. While eating this piece of beautifully crafted roasted chicken, you will try to remember where you had your best BBQ back home. This dish is prepared when chicken is marinated in a mixture of yogurt and tandoori chicken special masala and grilled on coals to give that Smokey essence to your chicken piece. Served best with a Naan or a Paratha, food lovers never miss eating chopped onions, especially with this.
9. Palak Paneer
Palak paneer, an Indian vegetarian recipe where cottage cheese is cooked with spinach, has many fans. The creamy gravy turns green when enriched with spinach but is equally tasty as a butter chicken. The dish is famous for its color while it’s served with hot Naan or white rice. Indians have loved this dish for quite some time, and it is often a healthy version of a cheesy dish. The dish is equally creamy and healthy as it contains plenty of iron and proteins that come from spinach, so don’t miss this healthy food. Once you’ve tried it, you’ll crave it at midnights.
10. Dal Makhni
Likewise, butter chicken and palak paneer, Dal Makhni is also infused with much cheese and creamy gravy, but this time the ingredient is slightly different. The makhni is cooked using Kidney beans, butter, and lentils. The dish is slow-cooked simmered with onion-tomato gravy adding the deliciousness and luxurious taste.
Is your mouth already watery? Well, rush to Devon Street and satisfy those taste buds. You can find most of these popular Indian foods at Delhi Darbar – The Kabab House, which is located right in the heart of Devon Ave. Check out the menu here; you can also order online. We’re waiting for your order!