Chicago Curry House
899 S. Plymouth Ct.
Chicago, IL 60605
Phone: (312) 362-9999
curryhouse2008@gmail.com
I first discovered Chicago Curry House via a gift certificate a while back. I remembered it being absolutely delicious, a bit pricey and in the South Loop of Chicago. With those 3 things in mind, we ventured back to Chicago Curry House, hoping to relive a gratifying (but maybe expensive?) experience.
And yes we did.
Surrounded by the luminous city lights and modern condominiums, Chicago Curry House, unfortunately, sits in a downright ugly strip mall. I felt like I was walking through the outdoor hallways of a doctor's outpatient office. The exterior did not proclaim "quality restaurant" at all. If one were to drive by, Chicago Curry House would be passed up as salon or dentist office.
However, never judge a book by its cover, right?
Well, that is absolutely true in this case. The ambiance was somewhat nicer than the past restaurants I've been to, but didn't have the high class or elegance, which is fine if you are looking for a nice casual dinner in the city. Let's put it like this - you can either dress up, or look like a hobo (as I did that night), either way, no one would care. We were greeted and immediately seated upon our arrival. For a Friday night, it wasn't packed but did have pockets of customers throughout the place.
We dove right into appetizers, ordering Chicken Momo - a Nepali item that consists of minced chicken and Nepali spices steamed inside a wheat bun. It was deliciously different from the standard samosa we order. I recommend mixing it with the tamarind sauces and mint chutney usually served with samosa.
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| Chicken Momo |
On to the main course. This time it was a party of 4, so we decided to try multiple curry dishes, one red meat, one chicken AND ALL SPICY. Through my experiences at Indian restaurants in America, I learned that "spicy" is a loose term in menus. That being said, we emphasized to ensure that "spicy" meant what in my mind is - mouth watering, savory, tasty, aromatic, seasoned.
And boy was it spicy! I didn't think they would actually listen, but they did. My friends and I were almost in tears, but they were enjoyable tears. If you don't like spicy, make sure you tell them - because they will listen. We ordered the traditional chicken tikka masala, which had the standard taste. Really, the extra spiciness is what made it more interesting, however if you aren't into spice, then this would be exactly what you expect - boneless white meat in a creamy sauce.
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| Chicken Tikka Masala |
Next, one quick note about the naan. The overall taste and texture of this naan was the best I've had in Chicago. Buttery, while being crispy and soft at the same time, this naan was top notch. The portion size was also fairly large.
Next, I love lamb. Lamb will probably always be my first choice anywhere I go, and I definitely was delighted to enjoy the lamb curry here. Yes, it was spicy. However, the overall taste was exquisite (Note, if you don't like spicy, you can still enjoy it with a more mild taste). The lamb was tender and juicy, filled with cardamom spices and the aroma of onions and tomatoes. I couldn't stop eating...and wanting more. However, with the naan and rice, my stomach was starting to feel overwhelmed. The portion sizes are small, but the richness of the food definitely left me satisfied.
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| Lamb Curry |
However, that didn't mean we were going to pass up dessert. We decided to quell our stomachs with something super sweet, and what's better than Gulab Jamun? Served hot, the taste of sugar sweet bliss was the most perfect end to a delicious meal in a strip mall ;)
Joe's Mango Lassi Review - Overall a very large portion compared to most restaurants. A little tangier than usual, but still pretty good. Definitely helped to quell the spiciness on the tongue. 3.5/5
So What's the Score? (out of 5)
Price: $$ ($14-21 Per Entree)
Service: 4.1
Ambiance: 3.7
Food: 4.1
Overall Rating: 4.0
