I'm so disappointed that after several years of ordering for delivery from Cumin, they decided to change their delivery boundaries. That's not why I'm reviewing them, because any business is allowed to update their delivery zone; it's how they handle breaking it to the customer... I call, provide my phone number, and confirm my information which they have in their system. The guy says they don't deliver to me, and I mention that I know I usually have to pay a bit more delivery fee. The guy insists they flat out don't deliver to me, and that he doesn't see any prior orders in the computer from me; when I question why they would have my information AT ALL, he just hangs up the phone on me. Really? Who even hangs up on people?! In the end, I'll miss splurging... But I won't beg a business to take my money. read more

I was so excited to get to Cumin on Wednesday night for my 5th GrubWithUs dinner! I got to meet new people, eat some delicious Indian food, and talk about myself. Those are three of my favorite activities. Haha. I was the first to arrive out of the 10 of us strangers. I ordered the Layla cocktail which had lychee in it. It was outstanding. When everyone arrived, we all launched immediately into conversation which was great! Everyone was so friendly and fun. Then the food came out and we were almost silenced by its large quantities!! We had for starters: Chicken Momo Steamed dumplings of minced chicken seasoned with nepalese spices and herbs Vegetable Samosa (THESE WERE ENORMOUS!!!) Potatoes and peas in a mild fragrant spice blend Then, when just the appetizers were enough food, we were hit with this! Entrees: Palak Paneer (my personal fave) Spinach and home-made cottage cheese cooked in indian spices and tomato-curry sauce with a touch of fresh cream Chicken Tikka Masala Spice-marinated diced boneless white meat chicken cooked to perfection in tandoor Lamb Sahi Korma (very mild lamb in a delicious sauce) Boneless lamb deliciously cooked in indian spices and creamy almond-cashew curry sauce Fish Vindaluu (spicy!!!) Filets of catfish and potato cubes cooked in indian spices and hot-tangy sauce They served everything with lots of delicious rice and 7 different styles of Naan. 7!!!!!!! I didn't even know that was possible! Garlic was my fave. We wrapped up the meal with some gulab jamun for dessert. It was a warm donut-y ball deliciously resting in a saffron-rosewater syrup. Simply divine. Cannot WAIT to go back! I enjoyed some of the food the next day because it was served in such abundance! read more

I've been to Cumin 3-4 times now, and can confidently say that it is the best Indian restaurant I've been to. I don't know the cuisine that well, but I know what is tasty. Their samosas have a really rich flavor to them and I absolutely love their chickpea masala and this lentil dish (I can't remember what it's called). Having tried most of the Indian restaurants downtown (India House, India Garden, Clay Oven, Hema's, Kyhber Pass) I'd put Cumin right there with India House way above the others on food, and surpassing all others with the nice decor and overall vibe of the place. And yes I have been up on Devon and will say no thanks to that. read more

We had dinner here and ordered the chicken momos, green chili chicken curry and a lamb curry. I was not at all pleased with the food. The Momos were dry. The chicken curry tasted sweet as if they put sugar in there and the meat it self tasted weird. Mind you, I have been to many Indian restaurants and there are plenty in Chicago that are amazing like Mild to Spicy, Rangoli, Tandoor Char house. I understand that the prices are high here because of the area but the quality of the food needs to improve. I am giving two stars because the lamb curry was good. read more

Ever since I found Rangoli, I haven't been back to Cumin. Although Cumin is in an ideal location (surrounded by bars), the food is just so mediocre. If you've been to Viceroy of India that's the kind of food you can expect. It's okay, nothing to rave about and definitely nothing to go out of your way for. The staff was accommodating and friendly which is the main reason I'll probably stop in to try their lunch buffet. read more

I anxiously waited for Cumin to open. Every time I walked past, I would read the impending menu and drool. I'd been eating Chutney Joe's for months whenever I was at school/work and it wasn't cutting it. I am way too lazy to go to Little India.. so I figured Cumin would be the boost I needed. I went to Cumin the first time for the buffet. I got there after my friend and wasn't aware that we could just go serve ourselves, as they don't seem to have the menu during lunch? The buffet was pretty full with at least five dishes, I believe, and two desserts. There were also salad options and chutneys. It wasn't super crowded, only us and two other tables at 1pm, but this was BEFORE the Time Out Chicago review. It was pretty delicious and super cheap for 11 dollars. Though I did feel like a glutton and a fat pig but it's a buffet, so who doesn't feel that way. Second time I went for dinner. I got the Lamb Samosas. They were amazing. THe pastry was flaky and tasty and the lamb, god the lamb, it was delicate and spiced right and the chutneys complimented it all perfectly. I also got onion garlic naan and Chicken Biryani because I am white and boring. Despite how boring I am, the food did not disappoint. It was flavorful and delicious. My only issue is that it didn't seem to be enough rice. I didn't have enough to take home after, maybe I am just fat and white and boring, but I really wanted more rice. Next time I will convince my friends not to order a dish that gets rice and see how big the rice is then. I am really concerned about rice. I don't know why. All in all Cumin is pretty great, but the other million reviews written while I was busy not writing this review say that too, so there you go. read more

Fantastic. A lot of places don't take me seriously when I say I like my food extra spicy, but these guys definitely do. Attentive, efficient service, fantastic food, reasonably priced. Plenty of veggie options. Absolutely get a reservation, though. This place is packed, even on weekday evenings. read more

Overall, a great experience! We made reservations for 8:15 on a Wednesday - the place was packed when we walked in, but our table was waiting. A very inviting atmosphere, with a nice warm decor. Although Cumin is Nepali owned and operated, the Indian food we ordered was quite authentic and very tasty. The definition of service with a smile! The owner stopped by to chat, and we had a nice conversation - he followed up with an unexpected entree (paneer chilli fry) on the house... Yum!! A definite recommend. read more

Growing up in New Jersey, I have been exposed to Indian food my entire life, from multiple regions. I must say, I have a secret lust for tumeric and cumin.......so when i see a place named for one of my favorite spices, I must explore! The hardest part of this review, is I really want to give 4.5....but since I can not, I will explain why I chose to round up. I know some will say their spices aren't traditional, and how can you blend...blah blah blah...they are trying to encompass as many palates to stay profitable....and depending on region/tradition/availability/habit people spice differently.....does Giada De Laurentiis and Mario Batali make Ossobuco the same? Not quite.....respect the differences enjoy the variation, eat at your 1) Have had both eat in and delivery---quality and quantity did not vary between the two services 2) THE PEOPLE! They are so wonderful, and always accomadate my "extra spicy" requests...even if they still aren't quite spicy enough ;) 3) The high grade ingredients used like in chicken tikka masala, had succulent chunks of white chicken, trimmed to perfection That being said, please try the mirchi masala naan...wonderful, truly a pleasure for your taste buds. read more

I'm an Indian food virgin and the girlfriend wanted to pop my cherry. So we came to Cumin. Arrived at 1st dinner seating, 5pm. Had the restaurant all to ourselves which makes this all so frustrating. Simple and short, service was a nightmare. Having absolutely no idea what I was eating, I had questions. Waiter wasn't rude, he just didnt understand me. Which makes the dining experience uncomfortable. Rather than be difficult and maybe calling someone else over, I simply just trusted all the things my girlfriend ordered. I saw the waiter twice. Once when he took our order and once when he brought the bill. Horrible. The food was tasty, I enjoyed it but small portions. Since there was a language barrier, he never brought the appetizer we ordered. And since he was MIA, I couldn't bring it to his attention. Normally I would say this dude was having an off night but unfortunately that is not the case. I wanna be able to have a conversation with my server. Especially when Im venturing into the unknown :) I want him to educate me on the culture, elevate my dining experience. Show me and recommend all the wonderful Indian dishes that I've been missing out on. I guess if I was on Devon Ave it comes with the territory. But cmon... This is a new modern hip restaurant in Wicker Park. Unacceptable. Unfortunately this place fell short, waaaay short. $70 tab before tip(2 people), no leftovers, NO THANK YOU. read more

Went to Cumin last night and was pleasantly surprised at how good their food was!! We ordered the potato samosas = can't go wrong! Flavorful, yet lightly siced, as they so perfectly described on the menu. Garlic Naan = Carby deliciousness in your mouth. Make sure you save some for when your main dish comes to dip in the sauces. o.m.g! We ordered the lamb stewed in a coconut spice sauce. This was phenomenal. The flavors were spot on and it wasn't too spicy so I felt like I really got to enjoy the sabor. The rice that came with it was pretty standard; however, add some of the sauce from the lamb and you're good to go. So why three stars?? Our sever was PAINFULLY slow and extremely un-attentive! And... The lamb portion, for $16, was wayyyy too small. We literally counted eight pieces of meat. It was just swimming in sauce. overpriced and horrible service? Not good, Cumin, not good. Thank God your food makes you pretty. read more

I want to come to Cumin everyday because as we all know, I lovvvvvve me some curry! Ended up here one random night and I instantly fell in love. The food I had was amazing and spicy, exactly what I wanted. I had the chicken kadhai which is boneless dark chicken, onion, tomatoes and bell peppers cooked in indian spices and curry sauce. There was also some free bites on the table to start your meal. The service is quick and wonderful. The restaurant was jam packed but comfortable. And the big bonus, BYOB! I can't wait to come back. read more

Last weekend, six of us decided to meet in the middle and give Cumin a whirl! Little did I know...I was going to thoroughly enjoy my friend's choice! We started with the appetizer platter and shared simosas, lamb , and vegetable fritters. Next we decided to share tandoori chicken, chicken tikka masala, palak paneer, and dal tadka. The items had some heat and was great great for two of our friends who were having their "Indian cherries" popped. I think this was the perfect place for them to embark on their first Indian experience! Next time, I will like to take them to Devon Street or Lazzatt, so they can dive into the taste of India even more! My only minor gripe was that we were having a difficult time flagging down our server when we wanted to leave. Once we got his attention, he processed and figured out our bill rather quickly. Two thumbs up! read more

Food is not bad but Cumin has possibly the worst service I have experienced in a while! I know sometimes it can be busy and a patron could feel rushed to leave but what I experienced at Cumin would be borderline comical if it wasn't flat out rude. We have spent 40min in there at best, during which time our waiter has asked us if we were "done" not less than four times. The third time around the lady I was with was literally putting her last bite of the night onto her fork and almost got her plate swiped as she was putting food in her mouth. Sure enough one minute later the waiter was back with the same question. That, my friends, is not even unprofessional or rude... that's just disrespectful! Anyways it would be more than two stars if this was the only bad experience I had during my short stay but unfortunately it wasn't. While trying to scramble for more space the service rearranged some tables next to me in a manner that leaves about a foot of space in between - this caused the waiter to brush against me, as I was eating, with his ASS about 6-7 times. Funny right!? Well I suggest you try it first and then laugh. ;-) Is this the end of the physical pleasantries you can expect at Cumin? No, of course not... one of the scrambelers grazed me with a hot plate on the top of my head without so much of a hint of an apology! Needless to say I will never come back and will highly recommend to all not to visit Cumin... unless you like paying (too much) money to be treated like a dog. Also, 3.50 for rice on top of 15.00 dish that comes with rice?? GTFOH read more

My husband and I have been coming here multiple times a year since they opened, actually looked forward to it ever since the sign went up in the window. Funny story. Back before it opened we were in Champaign, Illinois for a conference and held our banquet at an Indian restaurant there. When I spoke to the hostess to compliment them on the food she told me the chef was moving to Chicago to open his own place, and it turned out to be Cumin! He's done well for himself. Everything on the menu is delicious, although I think they may have cut some of the Nepalese items off the menu. I could be wrong, but it seemed more limited than I remember. Anyway, couple of tips. Try their buffet if you get a chance. You must try the onion bhaji; it is to die for. Definitely make a reservation if you plan on eating there on Friday or Saturday night. This past Friday, April 1, it was packed when we got there at 7:15 PM, and overflowing by the time we left at about 8:30 PM. And be patient with the servers when its crowded. The space is long and narrow, so everyone waiting for a table was packed into the small space just inside the door (with some actually hovering near our table. Not cool!) But it is what it is, a fantastic place to dine on delicious Indian food without having to travel all the way up to Devon Avenue. You can't beat that. read more

Cumin = Delish. They have an amazing selection to choose from, so the menu can seem a bit daunting at first. I decided to choose a food group in this case, and ask our server what he recommended. I stuck to seafood and, while I can't remember the name of the dish exactly, it was a mixture of mahi mahi, red and green bell peppers, onions, in a tikka masala type sauce. It was absolutely delicious. The bell peppers really added something to the recipe, a sort of sweetness that created a truly unique dish. I would highly recommend this to anyone and will likely come back for a second round. The service was a bit slow at first, but I think the wait staff was attempting to be courteous and not rush us in our decision making processes. Our waiter ended up being a total sweet heart and took great care of us the rest of the evening. My counterpart did not have such good luck with his dish. He ordered a chicken dish from Nepal, also recommended by our server, but there were just to many bones to be dealt with which I could imagine was very unappetizing. Our server seemed sweetly offended when he noticed the chicken dish had barely been touched and removed it from our bill. So service = A+ in my opinion. They also had a great wine and beer list. And the naan was yummy, as usual. But who can really screw up naan? I'll be back here for sure, and I hope in the not too distant future. read more

This is my husband's favorite. We think the buffet is really good, and the mix of Indian and Nepalese is great. The restaurant is clean, the service is good and the price is fair. I had my first time eating Indian food in this place and I loved it. They pour water in your glass all the time lol and it can be a little annoying, but we get that -- all that spicy food really calls for lots of water. Great place. read more

I feel like I overhyped this place. Having heard great things from friends and read yelp reviews, I came here on a Friday night, it was pretty packed. I was so torn between getting all Nepalese (since I've never tried it) but only ordered an appetizer, the goat chhoela, which was goat in Nepalese spices with this interesting flattened rice side. I'm glad I tried it, it was interesting flavors. Also got the onion pakoras as well, pretty tasty. Smallish portions for appetizers. For our main dishes got the chicken makhani (pretty tasty) and a vegetable assortment in a almond-cashew sauce (too creamy for my liking). Next time I would not order two super creamy dishes. Also got regular naan which was pretty good. Things I didn't like: there was bumpin techno music in the background which was weird/annoying and when we got home one of our dishes was missing in our leftovers bag. I feel like it's a ok Indian place but I'd like to try it again to give it a second chance. I liked the service, it was very prompt and our server was helpful with suggestions. read more

I came here on a first date with my girlfriend a few mere days after moving to Wicker Park. We came in on a weekday evening and were seated easily without reservations. Our waiter had a pretty strong accent, which made it a little difficult to understand what he was saying at times. He was very cordial and an excellent server, though, which certainly made up for the small language barrier issue. We were very well taken care of throughout the evening. To start, we got two orders of garlic naan, a favorite for both of us. It was served piping hot with a distinct garlic flavor. It was perfectly salted; there was no need to add anything else. For my entree, I ordered the lamb madras, which entailed "boneless lamb cooked in a savory and exotic coconut-flavored creamy curry sauce with delicious indian spices and curry leaves" (quote taken from the menu). I loved the coconut curry sauce and enjoyed that it didn't taste overly spicy. I can handle some spice and I didn't find this baby spicy at all, really. This was a great date night spot, especially for a first date! The atmosphere was romantic and classy, it was not overly expensive, we could easily converse without any loud conversations from the tables next to us or music playing, and (the best of all, in our case) the menu was really vegetarian friendly while still catering to meat eaters. My girlfriend doesn't eat meat and I'm a bloodthirsty carnivore, so the menu options boded well for the both of us. If we are ever in the mood for Indian/Nepalese cuisine in the future, Cumin will be the obvious choice. read more

Cumin is a cute little spot on Milwaukee just tucked far enough south that some of the buzz of Wicker Park becomes less annoying. Things started with a bang. I ate one of the best veggie samosas I've had in my life. Seriously, they nailed it. Everything after that was pretty standard. I was a little underwhelmed by the naan. It was the garlic naan, but really sort of lacked that really garlic flavor. The main dishes, a lamb dish and a chicken dish (sorry blanking on the names) were pretty solid. My main complaint was the temperature. The food wasn't particularly hot. Sort of a luke warm. That for me probably took this down to a 3 instead of a 4. Still having said all that, if you're in the area and craving Indian food you certainly could do far worse. Side note, it's not a BYOB joint, but they have a full and impressively well stocked bar. read more

I love me some good Indian food! Cumin is great cause I don't have to drive to Devon for good Indian food and they totally give you what you ask for. The complimentary papadum and chutneys were great. We ate them up and then asked for more! Then we ordered some veg samosas. They were perfectly crispy, fresh, and not oily at all. They weren't one of those samosas that you eat and can tell that they've been sitting in a pan over a hot lamp for hours. They were done just right! Then we finally ordered the main meal; which was a ton of food (btw). I got the vegetarian platter (the guy said the platter was enough for one person but I had leftovers for two meals afterwards.) My platter came with three vegetarian dishes, naan, rice, and dessert. My friend got the Chicken Tikka Masala dish and the garlic naan; which looked beyond good. He even ate the whole thing up. The host commented on how clean the bowl was. Oh - I asked for my food to be spicy hot (like mom makes it) and they totally gave me some good ol' spicy hot Indian food. They just have it down right! It wasn't like they add an overload of spices to make it spicy hot but they did it the right way by adding chill to the meals... My only complaint is that the tables are too small. We had a hard time keeping everything on the table. We had to remove items from our table so we could have room for other stuff or we had to take the food out and put it on our plates so we had room. It was pretty bad. They need bigger tables or they need to put two tables together. Over all, the food was good, the serve is great, and you always leave there happy (with leftovers). Cumin totally hits the shot. I can't wait to go back! read more

I have been here twice now. The first time, the service was great and the food pretty good. I think it lacks for a deeper melding of spices, though. I noticed this both times, and both times I tried at least three new dishes. I also noticed that everything improved the next day when re-heated. The potato pancake appetizer was very bland. The entrees were better. I recommend the eggplant purée dish. Sorry, I forgot the name of it! On to the service. This last time, they must have been understaffed because the bartender/owner?/ manager seated bus and we were promptly forgotten. It took forever for our food to come. Also noted: old dishes with scratches and grime. An app plate with crud on it, and very cheap bent up utensils. Someone is not paying attention to details! read more

I've been meaning to check this place out since it opened. Yesterday was the perfect chance with my best gal pal. We started with appetizers, the aloo tikka chaat and a medley of fried veggies. The fried veggies were super yum. We also got the monsoon wedding platter. I'm used to food not being spicy enough at Indian restaurants and I asked them to make everything super spicy, and they were even nice enough to switch out the plain naan for the one with peppers in it. Don't get appetizers if you're going for the platter. It's too much food. Holy moly! The food was awesome. I was crying from the heat, just how I like it. The only downside is they take forever to pick up empty plates, get the check, and in general forgot about us once the food had been given. Even with a lack of attention, I would definitely go back. read more

You had me at complimentary papadum and mint chutney. An Indian restaurant in this part of town is long overdue, and Cumin does not disappoint. I had the chicken mekhani, which was delicious, an order of samosas, which was delicious, the mulligatawny soup, which was delicious, extra complimentary papadum and mint chutney, which was delicious, and washed it all down with a Newcastle, which, as you might imagine, was delicious. Best of all, plenty to take home and enjoy later, which I anticipate will also be delicious. I visited around 5:30 on a Sunday, and their were only four other occupied tables, so I experienced none of the service problems that other reviews have reported. Also, I was asked how spicy I'd like my entree, so I suspect the restaurant is reading (and responding to) the other reviews who mentioned the food wasn't as spicy as they prefer. Overall, I was extremely pleased with the service and the food. I look forward to returning with friends as soon as I can--I suspect my take-out won't last long. read more

So - there is a relatively new delivery service called CAVIER- you can get it in an APP and it's pricey but efficient. Well I checked it today as I was starving and had too much to do at home so looking for a good Indian restaurant and I happened upon CUMIN! CAVIER delivered a LAMB SAAG and BASMATI RICE( rice is extra) but well worth it and not over my budget ! The LAMB SAAG( I also make it so I know good SAAG) was delish! Just the right amount of Spicey hot but not Red Cheek hot! BASMATI RICE was fluffy and individual not sticky - perfectly cooked and if you know rice - BASMATI is the best but sometimes over steamed- well this was a fab lunch - definitely Five Star pleasant surprise! read more

Food is great and all that. Normally we order from Rangoli but it is closed on Monday. What I was blown away by is that they charge you extra to order rice when the order is carryout. I couldn't even comprehend what she was saying. That a dish that is served with rice does NOT come with rice, only when I don't dine in? It just seems like a shitty practice to make a few extra bucks. We are going back to Rangoli. read more

I love the food here so much that my fiance and I always overorder. I look forward to going to work the next day just so I can have the leftovers for lunch. You can smell this place a block away for good reason; the food is fresh, cooked perfectly, presented nicely, and absolutely delectable. The menu is large but each dish is executed superbly -- order adventurously. Had to take stars away, though, because it seems like the waitstaff is becoming less cordial and welcoming the more popular the restaurant becomes. Declining to leave a tip on a credit card usually means a stack of cash on the table, so my dining partners and I were unappreciative of the leering glares from waitstaff behind the bar as they processed our bill. They also began taking down tables and cleaning the floors with a full dining room a full hour before the placed closed down -- a sour way to end what was an excellent night of food. If you want a yummy place to fulfill your gluttonous vices, this is the perfect place for you. If you're looking for outstanding service, keep walking, at least for now. read more

When we left on Wednesday night, I was so ready to give this place a 5-star review. Everything about our visit just screamed 5 stars. The service was outstanding - they were so patient when half of our 6-person party (we had advance reservations) was an hour late due to the crazy weather. The waitress was a bit hard to find at times, but was mostly very attentive and very helpful with suggestions and answers to our questions. Most importantly though, the food. YUM YUM YUM!! Everyone was thrilled with their selections. We started out with veggie samosas. Lots of veggie samosas. And naan of course. For an entree, I got the lamb chili masala. And for those reviewers below who complained about it not being spicy enough, well, they listened! I ordered it hot and it was HOT! All was well until Friday afternoon, when I ate my leftovers for an early dinner. And a few hours later got sicker than sick. Let me just tell you that food tasted a lot better going down than it did coming back up. So sadly, I doubt that I'll be rushing back to Cumin anytime soon. read more

I've been coming to Cumin and ordering takeout since my first month in Chicago 7 years ago. Everything I've had here has been excellent and consistent. Best Indian food in Chicago? I think so. read more

As Rob and I enjoyed our Chicago honeymoon, we knew the one thing we had to have was Indian food. After an in-depth perusal of Yelp reviews (and with a little help from Time Out Chicago's Eating and Drinking issue), we decided to trek to Wicker Park and try Cumin. Holy wow. We've had some unsatisfactory experiences at other Indian restaurants, and are always a bit wary when we step outside our Kansas City comfort zone. But Cumin knocked our socks off. The menu is part Indian, part Nepalese, and while I was intrigued by some of the Nepalese dishes, I decided to stick with Indian food. We started with vegetable pakora - who knew fried broccoli could taste so very good? The freshly made sauces accented the subtle spice and batter of the pakora, and I had to restrain myself from licking my plate. We opted to split two entrees: paneer tikka masala and navaratan korma (or, more commonly known as vegetable korma.) Rob also picked green chili and coriander-stuffed naan. The food was, in a word, amazing. The korma was the best we've had -- creamy, well-spiced -- the perfect complement to the array of vegetables. The paneer tikka masala was spiked with pieces of pepper and onions, which resulted in a more flavorful dish. The naan was equally delicious but so spicy that I nicknamed it "devil naan." I had to break down and order a mango lassi to cool the heat, and I'm so glad I did. Thick, slightly sweet and just cold enough, the mango lassi was perfection. I'm already craving the navaratan korma again, and I know Cumin will be one of our first stops when we return to Chicago! This is a must-try!! read more

The review is for delivery. We were shocked by the very low quantity of food offered. We ordered malai kofta and navratna korma. The malai kofta was very low. Did not fill the take out container. Given the relatively high prices, the low quantities are unacceptable to me. They also give NO rice with the curries now. Bill was close to $36 and all we got was two low quantity curries, (no naan, and no rice). I was made aware that rice would not come with the curry, but I was not prepared for such low quantity. Taste: malai kofta was excellent but navratna korma was salty and not too flavorful. It lacked the signature pineapple chunks and slight sweet flavor. All in all, didn't find the place to be worth the price. read more

Cumin - Malai kofta comes with 4 small koftas and little gravy. Low quantity in take out. - Indian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

To find a reasonably priced, semi-romantic and delicious restaurant is like trying to find a unicorn in Chicago. Yes, they do exist, but are notoriously difficult to capture on film. Thankfully with the help of Yelp, I found my restaurant journey not to be so fruitless and found Cumin. So to celebrate our 5 year anniversary (the curry anniversary), my boyfriend and indulged. Rewind to last night! I was surprised at how many other tables were full on a Monday night, so I was really happy we had made a reservation. The hostess was really kind, took us to our table right away, and shortly after our server arrived. The menu is HUGE, so it took us a little while to decide on what to eat & drink, but he settled on a beer, and I settled on a cocktail. I don't remember the drink names, something my lingually challenged tongue probably can't pronounce, but they were yum. We opted against an app (dessert is clearly more important) and went with the Lamb Keema Naan, Chicken Tikka Masala & Lamb Sahi Korma (I think. The waiter helped pick the latter out for us). Everything was soooooo good. The lamb was really tender, and the sauce was heavenly and savory, the chicken tikka was also just so effin delicious....I'm so happy that we somehow managed to have leftovers and I cannot wait gorge at lunch. Little details really deserve to be pointed out- my water was ALWAYS full, the manager was visibly on the floor and even checked in with us, and even the hostess was doing much more than just greeting guests. This is clearly a restaurant Team, and is showed. The best part of the entire evening was that my boyf and I felt like we really indulged, and our bill was only $50. I cannot wait to go back again (perhaps in a group) to try more deliciousness. I have to say, finding Cumin has almost been more fun than my unicorn exploits. Which....is pretty tough feat. read more

For being literally the only Indian restaurant in Wicker Park/Bucktown (p.s. major gap in the market, why have no other restaurateurs realized this yet?) the place does very well for itself. I had been hearing murmurings about this place for the past year, and finally went on Halloween night, when crazy loco Antique taco decided that instead of serving tacos that night, they would serve burgers and diner food?? WHAT THE F!?!???? Make me some tacos, i just walked 10 blocks hombre! Anyways, Cumin was just ok....service was really slow, and when we asked for recommendations they gave us what my friends and I like to call "the for white people" suggestions....how original, they recommended the chicken tikka and the lamb vindaloo....great. everything we ordered was fine and pretty tasty but nothing special. I would make the drive up to Marigold, its worth it. read more

Amazing food. Went on a day they were donating 100% of proceeds to the Nepal Earthquake Relief. I'm always happy to support a restaurant that is willing to donate it's time and resources to a good cause. I also got a mango cocktail, found it to be delicious and well crafted. My favorite menu item was the Chicken Tikka Masala. Paired very nicely with the Naan. I can't wait to return. read more

Of all the Indian food in the city, Cumin serves some of the best I've ever had. The samosas are huge and baked perfectly. All the vegetarian entrees I've had have been delicious. Beautiful atmosphere as well. Highly recommended! read more

Cumin - Indian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I need to start off by saying that, I am the biggest indian food enthusiast that I know. Indian food is one of my absolute favorite foods, and I have been to every single known name indian restaurant in chicago, followed by the small , tiny hole In the wall joints. It's a Thursday, and I had somethings to do , so I skipped out on going to Niles to Himalayan restaurant(my number one favorite within city limits) to go somewhere local , so I chose Cumin. This place is beautiful inside when I walk in, and a nice man greets me and proceeds to talk me to sit where ever I would like. It's a buffet , that included butter chicken, khasi ko masu( Nepalese goat curry) dal mahkani , palak and a special vegetable mix. I load a little of every thing on my plate and go to sit down to devour this. As I sit, I notice I only have two knifes and no fork. I ask the host for a fork, and he proceeds to tell me that there are forks on the table. He walks away, and I still have no fork , so I grab one from the nearest table. As I began to eat, immediately, I was pretty disappointed. The food flavor was very off to me on so many levels. The khasi, which is more aromatic than a traditional indian goat curry, lacked flavor. It missed cinnamon or cardamom...something was very lacking in this dish, and considering it's my favorite goat curry, It was a huge let down. The butter chicken was not bad, but not the best either. It could've had a stronger flavor. The dal was the worst, lacked a lot of salt and spices and aromatics. I could've gone with out tasting this. The best things on my plate were the palak(spinach) and the chefs vegetable mix. They were REALLY good, but the lack of flavor in the meat dishes really can't be compromised. All in all , for only 1 dollar LESS, I could've went to Himalayan and called it a day. That's what I should've done and I will do next time. I may try this place again, but will never eat the buffet again. read more

Incredibly overrated. Overpriced. Middle of the road flavor. Don't bother asking for it spicy - they don't know how. It's basically a take out joint. Don't bother trying to come in as a single to sit at the bar; delivery takes precedence. The only reason it gets good reviews is because it's the only decent Indian food nearby. read more

How could you live in Wicker Park and not be tempted to drop in? You can smell the spices from a block away! I've had four or five menu items by now and I've loved them all. They have a nice wine list to boot. read more

It was OK. Nothing new at this place, just the place being new in Wicker Park. Food was cold, and it was the same style and flavors I've had at many indian buffets. Nothing, nothing, nothing new. Decor was cute, service was ok. I probably won't go back. read more

Cumin =YUM-in. Not buying that rhyme? Well, then I shall say it in another way. Cumin brings some much-needed Indian (and Nepalese) spice to Wicker Park. But seriously, bring your reading glasses, cuz the menu is huge. I was worried because many restaurants attempt to undertake too large of a menu and it doesn't quite work out. Lucky for Cumin, we all devoured our dishes with ooohs and ahhhs. Thumbs up around our table for all entrees. More thumbs up for the crisps and sauces brought to the table for a starter. Excellent for people to enjoy while they peruse the menu. I took part in the sharing of the Bollywood Sampler (the meaty version), figuring this was easier to be able to sample rather than choose just one entree. It was an excellent choice, and well-portioned for two young ladies. Pair it with some naan bread and you're good to go. YUM. Don't forget to try one of their delightful Indian beers they offer too. Make it a complete experience...drink appropriately. That's what I do. Service was friendly and fast, despite the place being relatively new. Put it on your to-try lists, friends. Indian cuisine is now much closer for those of us south of Devon. Victory! read more