I've always enjoyed the original restaurant because the food always felt a bit healthier and less rich. So I was excited when this downtown "tea and chaat" concept opened a few years ago. I've now visited 3-4 times and the experiences have been inconsistent. Some days, the chai is delicious and on one occasion - served not hot enough. Same with their snack items - one time I loved the bhel and brought a friend to try it, only for it to turn out soggy. Same feedback for the service and cleanliness of the limited seating options. read more

small and cozy coffee shop with delicious chai and many other drink options. tried their rasmalai and it was so yummy as well. cute and small with personality. i got a dirty masala chai - so good! read more

Chiya Chai - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Ok chai place in a great location. Didn't blow me away though. Quality of the inputs like the milk and sugar are below average however the tea quality is solid. Recommended if you're in the area but certainly not worth the detour. read more

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Finally got to try this place after spotting it many times in the past. Nice chai fragrance inside and it's very clean. The barista was very friendly and offered to answer any questions I have. It's a cool fall day so I opted to try the hot ginger cardamom chai tea with whole milk and a hint of sugar (sweetness is totally adjustable). It was flavorful and great for the weather. I would go back to try other types of chai tea and the snacks next time! read more

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Loved my pecan maple latte! They were also so nice and helpful! It took a bit but it was naturally made. I have pecan crumbs in my drink making it so good! I will go back and check out the food. It seems to be a small quaint place where you can catch up with friends! read more

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Stopped in looking to try something new, great chai tea. Very authentic taste and fun variety of flavors. read more

Chiya Chai - Menu sept 2025 - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Unimaginably slow service. I started typing this review while waiting on the drinks I ordered almost 20 minutes ago (edit: order placed at 12:22, order received at 12:45). The young lady who took my order was friendly and helpful, but she needed backup, y'all. Her bosses did her dirty by leaving her to work by herself. Unless she is the boss, then bad form on her part. Also, it's hot as hell. I don't mean the actual chai. Which, that's also scalding (more on that in a bit). I mean that it's actually cooler outside on a summer day than it is inside the shop. I saw some complaints about prices, but it's not bad. It's $4.25 for a small (12 oz) and increases by 25 cents until it gets to a large (20 oz) drink for $4.75. You can't get a third-wave coffee shop latte from anywhere for under $5. So the "it's too expensive" noise (especially considering this place's proximity to Millennium Park) is silly. The Raising Cane's across the street charges $20 for 6 tenders and y'all mad about spending less than $5 on a flavorsome chai? The fact that I managed to get two drinks for under $10 is genuinely impressive in this day and age. I got to try the Ginger Cardamom and the Mumbai Cutting. The Mumbai Cutting was better; sweet and strong. The Ginger Cardamom was meh. It was hot as the surface of the sun (I couldn't take a proper sip until 1:35 pm). Once it was drinkable, it was mostly decent, but the really strong tannin quality kinda ruined it. This whole thing would be more stars overall if it didn't take so long to even get my order. The fact that I was able to calculate how long it took, and write up this review tells you how much free time I had to kill. Also the whole boiling the milk to oblivion thing. read more

Chiya Chai - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

It's a small chai place, serving different types of chai and indian street foods. We tried the ginger cardamom chai and cutting chai. The chai was super hot, which was great because of the cold weather. The chai itself wasn't so great, I would say it's somewhat decent. It doesn't do any justice to authentic chai, but they have got some of the flavours right. read more

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It's amazing to see a chai place right across the street from the millennium Park Bean. I never would have thought in a million years. That Ginger cardamom tea really hit the spot on a freezing cold day. I make my own at home And this definitely passed the test. It was nice and packed a punch. read more

Chiya Chai - Decor - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Drinks are great every time, and the menu is super digestible for a newcomer to chai. The food all seems to be microwaved, but the samosas still taste great. I wish they would bring back the chicken balti pie!!!! Super sweet service, everyone is so nice and there's always great music. Love u chai. read more

Chiya Chai is a casual Indian spot with a few locations. They have a smaller location on the riverwalk which I would try for its convenience and just the vibes of eating along the riverwalk in the summer. The location in the loop is a really small space without much seating. It was also incredibly hot (not sure if they have AC) so it made it a little uncomfortable to enjoy the drinks/food. The momos were alright, not sure I would have liked them without the sauces. I also got a Chai with oat milk which tasted a bit artificial and too sweet. Maybe I would try their regular iced Chai next time and some of their other food items on the riverwalk location. read more

Chiya Chai - Chai and momos - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I sauntered in on a Wednesday afternoon right before the lunch rush and the service was quite good! I had the cardamom ginger tea which was very good! The fact that they can make it without sugar and yet not compromise on taste is an added bonus! As I was sipping my tea and taking in the Pakistani music softly playing and transporting me back home, the lunch hour came and and people began ordering food from the menu. The incredible smell of the food wafted across and I couldn't resist. I ended up ordering the samosa chaat and it did not disappoint! Slightly tangy, and chili, it was incredible and gone in 60 seconds! The girl behind the counter was also incredibly sweet and helpful in suggesting what to order :) I'd recommend coming this place! Especially on a cold day, nothing will warm you like a cardamom ginger chai! read more

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We ordered a lot of chai and samosas for two corporate events that were planned overnight. The team was very flexible with delivery (delivering late at night) and helped with some last minute changes to one order. The team communicated well and was so friendly. The chai and samosas were delicious. Highly recommend Chiya Chai!! read more

Oh my gosh, do NOT pass up an opportunity to eat a meal here. The food is absolutely delicious! The gentlemen behind the counter were the most lovely and gave us tremendous recommendations, as we'd not been before. From the spicy and flavorful chai teas to the bowls, we couldn't get over how fresh and incredible each bite was. We can't wait to go back! read more

Super fresh and tasty eats here. Had the samosas and they were perfect for a quick lunch picnic across the street at Millennium Park. Lots of tasty chai options. Hot or iced. YUM. Quick service. A few spots for on-site dining, but I recommend the park. Even on chilly days. read more

My boyfriend and I decided to get some hot piping masala tea from Chiya Chai on a gloomy rainy day. We also shared a samosa chaat along with our tea and the combination was very fitting to uplift us on a dull weather day. Chiya Chai is located in Loop and they also have a stall on the riverwalk that's usually open during the Summer time. It's a decent place to get good Indian snacks, tad bit expensive though! read more

Chiya Chai - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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My husband and I really enjoyed this location. We asked a lot of questions of Adil and he was very helpful, patient, and kind. We ended up sharing a chicken balti pie. They are large enough for one person, but we were wanting to share it for a snack. It was very delicious. As good as the pie was, the chais were even better. I got a hot ginger cardamom with oat milk and my husband got a spicy masala with regular milk. Both were so good 10/10! read more

Came here after I happened upon it on my way to another chai place. It's cute. I entered and the ambience felt casual but welcoming. I really liked the art on the walls, and even asked if it was for sale (I don't think it was - although sometimes cafes display work from local artists). I ordered the Ginger Cardamom chai. The staff was super helpful and answered all of my questions, and the chai was ready quickly. The chai itself was well-made. It was a cold day in Chicago, and the chai stayed hot as I took it on my way to my destination. I thought the chai was a bit heavy on he clove, but that is more a personal preference and less a commentary on the flavor or quality of the chai. The next time I'm in Chicago, I'm curious enough to come back and try more flavors :) read more

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I went here on a whim fully expecting watered down chai, but was completely blown away!! The tea flavor was so strong and tasted pretty much identical to typical chai I have had in the past. The location tbh can't be beat - it's right beside the heart of Michigan Ave. I need to come back and try the other flavors asap read more

Chiya Chai - Iced Masala Chai - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A cozy chai spot right next to the Bean -- stopped in for a morning pick-me-up and this was such a cute space with plenty of seating! They have Indian snacks and pastries in the display case, but I just got the chai. I really loved the Cardamom Chai and even the smallest size is pretty large (aka perfect to share) -- it was flavorful, perhaps a bit on the sweet side. My friend's Masala Chai tasted too strongly of the actual chai masala for my taste, but I'm sure you could explain your preferences to the baristas. Overall, would come back! read more

Chiya Chai - Inside - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Chai needs to be strained better. Too much gunk gets through to the drink. It's very watery instead of milky as chai should be. But it is cheap. read more

The best Chai and Indian-Nepali street food in town! I am not much of a chai person and I am hooked to their chai. They have so many different variety If chai. Recently tried their turmeric chai and the flavor and aroma was a 10/10! Perfect chai for the fall and winter. I like their chat options, we tried the aloo chaat, bhel puri, and samosa chaat and they were so tasty!! I could keep eating them. The Kathmandu chicken momos are also a 10/10. I always order them when I am there. They have to two locations. One on Michigan Avenue and the other on Logan square. I have been to them both and strongly recommend them. Check it out and enjoy delicious chai and snacks. read more

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It was a cold day in Chicago, and my friends and I were craving a hot drink after a lovely brunch. This place is in a convenient location by Millennium Park. It looks a little run-down from the inside. It's quite a tight space, and there is little sitting room. We were able to order right away, and the drinks came out quickly. WARNING: The drinks were SCORCHING hot, so please be careful. We definitely had some burned fingers in our party. After it cooled for 20 minutes outside (in the winter) I tried the masala chai, and it wasn't horrible--just a little too sweet. I ordered the espresso hazelnut chai; it was pretty watered down and lacked flavor. Overall this experience wasn't very enjoyable, and I wouldn't go back, at least to this location. read more

Chiya Chai - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I'm a big chai connoisseur, and brew my own at home. We stopped here to check this place out but I was a bit disappointed. While the inside of the place is cute, the chai was lacking. It was missing key masala ingredients (in my opinion), and wasn't sweetened at all (despite us asking). read more

Chiya Chai - Desi Chai - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've been to both the Logan Square location of Chiya Chai and now the Loop location and I will say Chiya Chai excels at chai. I got the horchaitea and loved it. We also got food which I think is solid but not the star, although I did like the sev puri I got. But I think there's def place to get chaats in the city. Chiya Chai is a great spot for chai and they have so many delightful flavors. Great place to get a drink or snack for folks who work downtown or are in the area. read more

This place does not deserve ANY stars. I absolutely love chai and I have tried chai from places with the best tea leaves - India, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka. So I KNOW what good (even great) chai tastes like. We tried the ginger chai and desi chai - both were tasteless and watered down. Also - not sure why they had to top the chai with so much cardamom and cinnamon powder that wasn't even finely grounded. I actually only could take 2 sips and had to throw the rest. Sorry - not recommended. Chai connoisseurs - move on! read more

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Chiya Chai Chicago was a nice stop during a trip downtown. I stopped to get a drink to enjoy on the train. The person working helped me pick a flavor I would enjoy (I don't love pepper or ginger). I went with a traditional masala chai, cold, with almond milk. It was tasty. A mild masala flavor, not too sweet. A lot of the food looked interesting, so maybe I will try that another day. The only downside is that when I stopped it was quite warm inside. I'm assuming they were having some kind of issue because they were also out of ice, but since I got my drink to go it wasn't a big issue. There's a large mural inside that is lovely as well if you need a good selfie spot. read more

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Authentic feel, I liked seeing all of the cooking equipment behind the counter. I was actually surprised by how big the menu was upon entering, next time I go I'd like to try some of the hot food! The chai is the star of the show and rightfully so, if you're between this and coffee I beg you to leave your comfort zone. I got the vanilla and nutmeg flavor but I wish I got something with more spice. It came out super fast, and the girl taking my order was understanding when I explained I wasn't super familiar with all of the flavor options. I will be back!! read more

Chiya Chai - Vanilla Nutmeg Chai - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I ordered the cauliflower peas and potatoes curry bowl, samosa and blueberry lavender chai. After the meal, I probably would have given them 4 stars. I decided to try another flavor of Chai. Omg! The ginger cardamom is the best chai I have ever tasted! You can tell that it's made with love. I will be back to try all the flavors now! read more

I've had this place on my radar for a bit and finally had the opportunity to try their palak paneer and cardamon chai latte. The palak paneer wasn't my favorite, but I will appreciate the freshness of the dish. I wish it was spicier bu that is my personal preference. I relly enjoyed the chai as well! During the summer, I'd like to try some of the more snackable items like the samoas as well as the raspberry chai as a raspberry lover. I'll be back soon! read more

The perfect spot to grab a snack and a warm drink for a respite from the cold. They have a selection of Indian foods/snacks as well as various versions of chai. Seating is limited with one small table and mostly bar height counters and stools. As of this writing the front door doesn't close all the way so there's a draft if you sit right by the door. Decor is bright and cheery. Staff was great at answering questions. In addition to food and drink they also sell merch which is neat. We tried the Desi chai and the Mumbai cutting which are really the Masala chai and Ginger and Cardamom Chai but prepared slightly differently than the regular one (they explained it, but can't remember exactly). Either way, both were super flavorful but also super hot, like burn your tongue hot. The cup sizes also were bigger than I expected with a medium being more than enough to warm up on a cold afternoon. If you're near the Art Institute or Millennium Park, or even doing some shopping on State Street and need a break check this place out! read more

Chiya Chai - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I only order drink here, so this review is strictly about the service and the beverage I ordered. Instead of taking a coffee break, my coworker and I decided to take a "chai break". We came here for the first time. I ordered Spicy Masala, and it hit the spot. It was slightly cool afternoon, so the heat and spiciness were perfect. When we were waiting for our drinks, the food smelled really good. I'm sure I'll come back for different chai, and their food. read more

I've been to this establishment 3 times already. My best experience was the first time . They had just opened not so long ago . I ordered the drink at the store and talked to the owner who was Nepalese. He was super kind and made me feel like it is a great place to visit. Second time was not so great as the customer service of the staff was very I would call bland:( The last time which was yesterday I ordered it through their website and had the black pepper chai Unsweetened. It was very average and the staff had some kind of attitude. I come to this place specifically for chai as it says in the name of the cafe, but seems my experience just keeps getting worse. The drink itself is def more authentic than any other cafe close by me as they specializes in chai, but the customer service I am not sure keeps me going back? read more

Chiya Chai - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Lovely chai . Authentic , reasonably priced and made fresh while you wait . Lovely hidden gem in the neighborhood ! read more

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I recently went here when I was attending the Mehfil event that was going on nearby. The horchaitea was really amazing! It was a perfect blend of horchata and chai. The samosa chaat was also quite good, it looked like it had an entire samosa in it and was made well. The service was amazing too! All the staff was more than happy to explain items on the menu and one of them even took a picture of us dressed up in our Indian clothes. The ambiance was also really nice inside! It was decorated with some modern Indian paintings and some LED lights. Overall, I would definitely recommend this place! read more

Chiya Chai - Horchaitea and Samosa Chaat - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I absolutely love this place (but I only ordered the drinks). The mango lassi is creamy, not too sweet, and definitely lets the mango flavor shine. Such a perfect drink for the summer. The masala chai was 10/10. It's hard to find authentic tasting chai that isn't overly sweet or only has the notes of cinnamon. This chai had the flavors of cardamom and ginger. The best part is that the servers actually aerate the tea! The location is great and easy to access. The inside of the cafe is clean with very cute decor. The service was very kind and quick. Loved this place and their drinks! read more

Chiya Chai - Masala Chai, Mango Lassi - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

When we walked in at the counter, they were closed-the kitchen was closed so we just grabbed mango lassi. I think the prices are reasonable. Part of the fact it's in a very heavily populated downtown area near river walk. read more

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It's not that common to see specifically chai cafés like we do with boba in the US, so I'm glad to see businesses like this expanding. I came here twice in my visit to Chicago and tried the black cardamom chai and the eucalyptus chai. They are all very sweet, so I think it tasted mostly the same lol. But regardless, I loved taking sips of them and smelling the spices. The Loop location is relatively new, and it's very clean and not crowded. The employees were nice in explaining differen types of drinks offered on the menu. read more

Chiya Chai - inside - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Fast, conveniently located in the Loop, very nice staff, and DELICIOUS FOOD! It's a no frills type place so don't expect bells and whistles here, but the food is always top notch. Another reviewer mentioned expensive prices - please keep in mind YOU ARE IN THE HEART OF THE LOOP. Prices were reasonable and comparable to neighboring fast food corporate chains, however quality and taste are great! Thanks for the extra jalapeños! read more

Highly recommend this place the behl puri was excellent and the chai was made to order with no masala - was perfect - we stopped by one more time before we left the city.. read more

Chiya Chai - Made my chai the way I wanted it with no masala and the Behl Puri was delicious. Highly recommend Only wish it was upstairs not downstairs. - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois