If you want to explore one of the most underrepresented regional cuisines in Chicago's Indian…read moredining scene, Magic Pepper is a place worth discovering. Magic Pepper is a new restaurant in Niles, and while the menu is broad--featuring North Indian dishes, Indo-Chinese items, and even a small kids menu with American staples--the heart of the kitchen is clearly Kerala cuisine from the southern part of India. That's what makes this place special. You can absolutely order familiar Indian dishes here. But the real reason to visit is the Kerala food, which is extremely hard to find done this well anywhere in the Chicago area. The restaurant itself is comfortable and straightforward. Think of the format of a casual sit-down chain restaurant--plenty of seating, relaxed vibe--but operated as a local family-run spot. Everything is clean, friendly, and welcoming, but it's not trying to be a trendy or overly polished dining room. It feels authentic in the best way: a solid neighborhood restaurant focused on good food rather than presentation. Service & Experience * Friendly, welcoming staff * Food is cooked fresh and brought out as it's ready * Expect dishes to arrive at slightly different times, especially with larger orders * Lots of takeout activity--clearly a popular local spot Sharing dishes actually works well here since the table tends to fill up quickly with all the accompaniments. Food We started with a familiar classic: * Samosa - solid and well executed, though this is more of a North Indian staple. Where things really shine is the South Indian and Kerala specialties. * Ghee Roast Dosa - outstanding. Thin, crispy, flaky, and served with all the traditional accompaniments like chutneys and sambar. * Pidiyum & Chicken Curry - a very traditional Kerala dish that's rare to find in Chicago. Comforting, rich, and deeply flavorful. * Malabar Parotta - a highlight. Flaky, layered, almost lacy bread that's incredible when paired with curry. This is something you rarely see outside Kerala-focused restaurants. * Kerala Chicken Curry - perfect with the parotta; deeply spiced without being overwhelming. We also tried some other menu sections: * Street-Style Indo-Chinese Fried Rice - flavorful and well balanced. * Hyderabadi Dum Biryani - served in a small kettle and executed beautifully. The basmati rice was perfectly separated and aromatic with spices. Dessert: * Gulab Jamun - warm, sweet, and a classic way to finish. Drinks One surprise was the cocktail menu. Even though there wasn't a dedicated bartender working constantly, the drinks were very good. * Indian Mojito * Indian Sunset Both had creative flavor twists using Indian ingredients and fresh juices. They took a little time to come out, but they were worth it. Verdict Magic Pepper isn't trying to be a flashy destination restaurant. It's a relaxed neighborhood spot focused on cooking authentic regional food--and that's exactly why it works. What makes it special is the Kerala cuisine, which is extremely difficult to find in the Chicago area at this level. If you're adventurous with food or want to explore beyond the usual butter chicken and tikka masala lineup, this place is absolutely worth seeking out. Come with an open mind, order some Kerala specialties, and share dishes. Five stars for bringing something genuinely unique to the Chicago area's Indian dining scene.

Other than food, you need to improve on everything. ZERO organizational skills, we waited in line…read morefor 15 mins, no one even came to ask or tell us we will take X number of minutes to even attend to new guests. After that once we got seated, they never even came to get our order and once they did, they didn't even care to bring our food. Fun part we ordered everything at once and we literally got only three out of six items that we ordered. Overall, we entered at 1:45 PM and got out at 4 o'clock. Frustrated the biggest issue I felt was the button idli that we asked for kids we never got it. Their service was so terrible that the guy was taking our order was expressionless didn't even care when we decided to walk out. I was so mad that I didn't want to even pay the bill for the stuff we ate, but we still paid and left. The table which came after us they even got some of their food but we didn't. They are so much potential with their food the management sucks

Nice atmosphere, good food…read more Open for Happy Hour from 3-5pm weekdays. One Mics and special weekly live music after 8pm weekly - check online or call for schedule. Service was good, not exceptional and appears to have mixed staffing roles. Overall a good experience to go with friends and an overall good restaurant to see. Circuses were no nonsense. Good neighborhood place. Will definitely come back.

I had such a fantastic experience at The Clove and will be back again! The food was a 10/10 and the…read moreservice was phenomenal! If you are looking for the best place to unwind, feel at home, and enjoy the best food of your life come here! I was celebrating a big milestone tonight and I cannot stop gushing!

I love their weekend buffet, but I can't give them five stars. Sometimes, their tandoori chicken is…read moreway too dry, as if it was leftovers from the day before and reheated. But, when it's good and freshly made, it is terrific. One thing I recently noticed is that some of their dishes look Chinese/Panda Express inspired, which I do not like at all. I wish they'd keep their dishes more Nepalese/ Indian. I'd much rather see my favorite dishes more consistently like the mushrooms and green/red peppers, okra, creamed spinach, green peas in orange sauce, and roasted potatoes. (The mushrooms are my favorite!)

This has always been one of my favorite restaurants for Indian food, and I've told so many people…read moreabout it. I went back today and was honestly so upset because my go-to dish, the paneer makhini, was nothing like it used to be. It literally just tasted like straight cream. I even asked them to remake it because I thought something was wrong, but it came out the same way. I ended up just eating the other food we ordered, but it was such a disappointment because this has always been the dish I look forward to. I even showed them old photos from past visits compared to today and it was clearly different. The chef tried it and said it was the same, which shocked me because it really wasn't. I get that places can have off days, but this was really discouraging. As much as I've loved this restaurant, I don't know if I'll be back if the quality has dropped this much.

These drinks were sooo good. I got the kiwi mocktail, mango shake, and strawberry juice and loved…read moreall of them. The mango shake tasted just like a mango lassi super creamy and not overly sweet. The kiwi mocktail was really refreshing and hit the spot, and the strawberry juice tasted fresh and natural. I kept asking a bunch of questions about what was good and the guy helping me was super patient and kept recommending things without rushing me, which I really appreciated. The spot is connected with Eggholic and there's plenty of seating, so it's a nice place to sit and chill. Definitely coming back again.

The things to get here include the anda masala sandwich and the chaat! I think the other things are…read moregreat but a little too overpowering in flavor for me. Since eggholic is all about the spices, I like to get the simplest things on the menu! The sandwiches and the classic appetizer dishes are the best way to go.

I've finally had the chance to stop here after driving past the place many times. The mini grocery…read morestore had organized and well stocked shelves and the place is clean. There was also a section for fresh meat and some produce. I went straight to the hot food section and checked what dishes were available. There were many containers of various dishes and appetizer trays as well. New containers of hot dishes were constantly being put on the shelves and they all looked delicious. Since it was my first time here and I was not really familiar with any of the dishes yet, I picked the ones in the small containers only. The Chili Chicken was from the refrigerated food section and the items here were from the day before so the prices were marked down. I also got a small container Beef Fry and Vegetable Fried Rice. Both the chicken and beef dishes were just ok, there was not much spice or flavor on both, a tad oily, and I expected more heat on the chicken dish. The same goes for the fried rice, it was quite bland. I would like to other dishes next time, I'll probably do a research first so I'll be more familiar with what goes in each dish and what to expect, flavor wise. Overall, the service from the guy in the counter was nice although he was very pre-occupied so I couldn't really ask for any questions and suggestions. I will come back to try the other items and hopefully I can get something better. Hopefully.

Our standard take out for Kerala cuisine. Fairly priced and wide selection. We are fans of the…read morebriyani in general (especially ambur briyani, thalaserri briyani and goat briyani), fish moillee, avial and samosas. The chicken curry, mutton stew and chicken ulariyathu were hits too. The kids enjoy as well and parents get a break from cooking. The onion pakoda is also quite nice and the puffs. They should change the spices used for the puffs and cutlets because it all seems to be the same used in stuffing

The food is authentic . Very good. Ambiance is good. It's clean. Staff is friendly and courteous…read moreand helpful. You get free soup.

I always order butter chicken. Today I ordered gobi mancharin and paneer Kathi roll and samosa. It…read morewas absolutely delicious. So fresh .... I could see the steam coming out if the box. Not too spicy , it was just perfect. They give you chutney and sauces to go with your samosa. Always give you rice to go with your butter chicken. They care about their customers and what they will need to make a complete meal. Highly recommend this place. A++++.

Food is alright, I was would it bigger in quantity then the other honest for food wise. Like…read moregetting a sandwich here is bigger and better then other honest where the smush the sandwich. Overall certain food is good. You can ask to make it Jain and they have plenty of options. People is nice, it is a bit empty I mostly do take out there.

Having lived in CA and the east coast, I was so excited to see an honest location in Niles. This is…read morean all vegetarian Indian restaurant. The chaat and pav bhaji with cheese are some of my favorite dishes. It reminds me of home and my mom's cooking. Definitely love coming here when we're in the area.

Great food !! Everything we tried was outstanding (as good as I can rate Indian food - but my…read morefriend was from India and also liked it!) A little pricy but so good ! The service was ok-to-good and the ambiance was very good.

Wow I'm not sure what happened to Tava. This used to be the only place I could digest Indian food…read morewithout having stomach problems. I ordered the butter chicken and it just resembled slop. There was not many chicken pieces and the meat tasted old and not fresh. The container was mostly sauce and it was really liquidy like watered down. I ordered a garlic naan that was flavorless. Barely any garlic on it. $43 for a regular butter chicken , garlic naan and a mango lassi. Prices are very high and does not match the quality of food.

Moti Café delivers bold Indian flavors with a fun, modern twist. The pizza is the standout -- a…read morethin, crispy crust topped generously with spiced paneer, veggies, and a vibrant green chutney sauce that adds a herby, tangy kick without overpowering the dish. The cheese is perfectly melted, and every bite balances savory heat with freshness. The chaat-style dish is equally impressive: crispy bites loaded with chickpeas, red onion, yogurt, chutneys, and spices. It's layered, flavorful, and comforting, with just the right mix of crunch, creaminess, and spice. Overall, Moti Café is a great spot if you're craving Indian-inspired comfort food that feels creative and indulgent. Perfect for sharing, casual dining, or when you want something different from the usual pizza night.

Stopped by for lunch on a weekday, they have a lunch special that really cannot be beat. $10 for 2…read moresamosas, a drink, and either 2 tacos, a personal pizza, or a bowl. Extra cost for specialty drinks like the lassi and for Korean BBQ. Regardless a great price for all the food you get! Place you order at the counter and they bring it out to you, but utensils and water are at the counter. It's a little mix of self-serve but also they serve you. But it worked. Some of our items took longer to come out than others (they forgot about one of the dishes), so I might not come in a time crunch, but the food was all delicious. You can definitely tell it was made with care. And although we didn't get dessert they have plenty of paletas and ice cream options! The place is clean and neat, decor is super bright and cute. There's a decent sized parking lot they share with the rest of the plaza, but it tends to fill up quickly. Not sure why but the lot was pretty busy on a random Wednesday.

My friend and I were coming back from Woodfield shopping center, and we wanted a good meal. We were…read moreso fortunate to find Tandoori restaurant in Des Plaines. Neither of us had been there before, and it had good ratings already. It's a somewhat small place, but there was ample seating since most people seem to take their food to go. When we walked into the restaurant, I immediately noticed that it was clean and had nice modern decor. I am guessing the man at the counter was the owner because he was super helpful and friendly. I asked if there were any vegan options and he showed me what they offered. I chose the Chana Masala with a side of basmati rice. The portion sizes were outstanding, and the flavor was delicious. He also brought a water carafe for our table, which allowed us to refill our own drinks. Prices were very reasonable, especially for the portion size. (The only thing I would recommend is that they repaint their bathroom so it looks cleaner.)

This place gets it. Chai is extraordinary…read more I love the Irani and Zafrani both chai, though it's high on the price but I find it worth. -- not too sweet, great balance. Got the paratha omelette, alu and Kheema paratha and Halwa Puri, everything was delicious. Staff are super warm... New go-to breakfast spot.