Ali's Nihari & BBQ

Tried three items: Nihari, Chargha, and Chicken Karahi. Overall, it was a mixed but decent experience. Nihari: The flavor was there—nice spices and aroma—but the gravy could’ve been thicker and richer. The meat was okay, not as tender or juicy as you'd expect from a nihari specialty. It did the job, but didn’t stand out. Chargha: Crispy on the outside and well-fried, but the inside was a bit dry and the tasted the hot American sacuce. Not bad, but not the kind of broast you’d go out of your way for. Chicken Karahi: Probably the best of the three. The tomato base was flavorful and nicely spiced. Chicken was cooked properly, tender with a slight kick. A good option if you’re craving a homestyle karahi. Service and presentation were average, and prices were reasonable. It’s not a must-visit, but if you’re nearby and in the mood for Pakistani food, it’ll satisfy your craving. Rating: 3/5 Hits: Chicken Karahi, naan Misses: Dry broast, average nihari

In the last 25 years or so I have not eaten so delicious and authentic Pakistani Food in any part of the world. Except Pakistan itself. London and England in general has second best out side Pakistan. But Ali Nihari is superb - just the taste that exists in Pk. Ali bhai is a super person to meet - met him twice. I have eaten all over Toronto, CA but still looking for a taste like here. Nihari, Karahi, Seekh Fry Qeema, Chana Gosht - topped up with Paratha - the BEST.

Tucked away on the vibrant stretch of W Devon Avenue in Chicago, Ali’s Nihari and BBQ is more than just a restaurant—it is a transportive experience that captures the very soul of Karachi’s culinary heritage. Inspired by a glowing recommendation from Farhan Syed of Halal Hidden Jewels on YouTube, we made a cross-country journey from the West Coast with high expectations. What awaited us exceeded them in every way. We ordered both the Nali Nihari and Maghaz Nihari, two dishes synonymous with depth, warmth, and tradition. Each spoonful was steeped in authenticity, redolent with slow-cooked spices and the unmistakable richness that only time and care can impart. The marrow in the Nali Nihari was luxuriously silky, melding perfectly into the velvety gravy. The Maghaz Nihari was no less exceptional—delicately balanced, masterfully seasoned, and evocative of home. Equally noteworthy was the service, which was nothing short of impeccable. The staff welcomed us with genuine warmth and attentiveness, striking that rare balance of hospitality that makes guests feel both honored and at ease. Their gracious demeanor and deep knowledge of the menu elevated the entire dining experience, reflecting a level of professionalism and heart that is increasingly rare. What truly set this visit apart, however, was the emotion it stirred. The aroma, the flavor, the ambiance—it all coalesced into a deeply nostalgic moment. For a brief time, we felt as though we were walking the bustling streets of Karachi once more. Ali’s does not simply serve food; it revives memories, honors tradition, and invites you into its story. In a world of culinary imitations, Ali’s Nihari and BBQ is the real thing—a rare gem where authenticity, passion, and heartfelt service converge on the plate. We left not only satisfied, but moved. This establishment comes with our highest recommendation.

Disappointed with Food Quality and Management Response I recently visited Ali Nehari Restaurant and ordered a few dishes, including the mutton curry. To my surprise, the meat in the curry appeared to be a mix of goat and beef. As someone who can clearly differentiate between the two, I pointed this out to the manager and even showed him a photo of the bones, which were clearly from beef, not goat. Instead of addressing the concern seriously, the manager casually responded, “We haven’t had complaints before.” It seemed like he didn’t care, possibly because the restaurant was overcrowded or he assumed most customers wouldn’t notice the difference. But this is not acceptable, especially when customers are paying for specific dishes and trust the restaurant to serve what’s advertised. I hope the management takes this feedback seriously and ensures transparency and consistency in what they serve.

Every time we are in Chicago to DJ an Indian Wedding or Fusion Wedding, we have to make a trip to Devon for some Desi food. We got there around 1pm and the place we wanted to go to was closed. Parking was a bit tough so we decided to stay in the area and eat somewhere else. We heard great things about Ali Nihari but hadn't had a chance to try it. This first thing we did ic called to make sure they were open. We were happy they were. Pro-tip - always call ahead to make sure a place is open on Devon. Don't trust what it says online about their times. Chances are they have never been changed online since the place opened up. Compared to the other places on Devon (take that with a grain of salt), Ali Nihari was clean and had decent service. We ordered the regular Nihari and Seekh Fry. Our food came out fast and hot. It tasted so good. I am usually not a fan of Nihari because its usually too oily and not enough beef or too much fatty beef. This had oil but it wasn't too bad. It had lots of meat and no fat. This was a big winner. The Seekh fry was also good. And its not available at most desi restaurants so I was pleasantly surprised to have it here.

Honestly I went to this restaurant after a year but as always their food disappointed me. Ordered chicken karahi, Naan, goat biryani and zarda. Naan and zarda were fresh and delicious. But, chicken karahi and goat biryani were awful, below average. There are few items they make good like nihari, zarda and Naan but other than that this restaurant is below average. I have heard that lot of pakis like this restaurant but for me it's just average.

A good restaurant is situated in a highly competitive area. The food tastes absolutely amazing. It is flavorful, tender, fresh, etc. The service is outstanding. Simply, they service you. Price is competitive. Would come back with family.

The Nehari was really very bad. Compared to past experiences, this was not up to standard. The Nihari was watery and flavorless. Food is usually very good but today it was not. Naan is usually quite addictive but today the garlic naan was lacking much of that taste. Unfortunately we might to consider not coming back. Hopefully this issue gets solved.

We catered from here for a party and the food was good. The service was very fast. Beef kebab- excellent. It was moist and well seasoned. However, the ones near the bottom of the pan were soggy. Samosas- crispy on outside, not oily or greasy on inside, the vegetables and meat inside tasted great. Biryani- it had a good level of spicyness and the beef was good. However, they didn't give us much meat. Naan- pretty basic. Nothing special or unique about how they do it. Beef curry dish- excellent well cooked chunks of beef. The curry was way too oily in my opinion. Desserts- pretty typical. Nothing too unique about how they do it here.

The food, the service, the atmosphere was absolutely outstanding! Super family friendly. Every dish we had was absolutely outstanding. The beef "stew" was so perfectly cooked ans falling apart moist. The chicken boti! Oh my goodness! The meat was extremely tender and filled with flavor. The Gobi Paratha was huge and spiced perfectly! The garlic Naan was moist and also perfectly bakes. There was this beautiful Vegetable "ball" dish was spiced with the perfect amount of heat, the sauce was extremely creamy and flavorful. We enjoyed a beautiful chicken appetizer that was cooked to perfection!! The kids LOVED the burgers and fries!! Just a quick hint of you want them plain just ask they are happy to accommodate . There was a wonderful "carrot cake " dessert and the chai was just perfect. Looking forward to going back!!! Soon inshallah!

I came to Ali's Nihari on a cold winter day with some friends in search of something to warm me up from the inside and it did not disappoint. One of my friends is Pakistani and was able to recommend various dishes for our group to try. For the appetizer, we ordered the beef samosas. While the outside was nice crispy, I did think the meat inside was a bit dry and crumbly, not my favorite texture. Next came the Ali's Nihari which was just perfect. The sauce has a very rich, comforting flavor full of spice and the beef is extremely tender. I especially enjoyed dipping some paratha and naan in the sauce. The chicken biryani is a gigantic portion, which I can only imagine being shared. The rice was fragrant and chicken was well-seasoned. Finally, we also got a chana masala, mostly for health. It was lighter in flavor compared to the other dishes but still solid. Service throughout the meal was average and I thought the prices were quite reasonable, especially since the portion sizes were large. Next time, I'll come back just for the Ali's Nihari. Food: 4/5 Service: 3.5/5 Price: 4.25/5 Ambiance: 4.25/5 Overall: 4/5

My Pakistani brother-in-law chose this place for a special meal. I had a delicious Chicken Biryani that was just the right level of spicy (I said reduced spicy which was spicy for me). Everyone loved their dishes. Gets packed late but you can beat the rush if you go early. I would love to eat there again and try other menu items.

I was looking to try more restaurants on Devon, and a friend suggested I go here. Super glad I did, everything was amazing. It's very spacious inside, with ambiance and decor a little on the fancy side. And the food is great. My friends and I got the Karahi Gosht, Karahi Chicken, and a grill item, with naan to share. Everything was good, but the chicken was my favorite, the flavor was just so good. I definitely plan on coming back here, and have been telling my friends to go check it out. Very happy with the whole experience!

This is my hidden gem - one of the best halal hamburgers in Chicago is actually at @aliniharibbq Everything about it is simple yet flavorful and the fries it comes with are always fresh and delicious too. And all for under $10? A steal. It is under the kids menu lol but still a pretty decently sized portion. Their other traditional dishes are actually quite good too, nothing to complain about there either! The nihari is still good without being as oily as other places which is wonderful. Prices have gone up since they first opened to be on the same level as other established restaurants on Devon, but I don't blame them. The quality and service is still good and they're a great place to bring family as well. Highly recommend!

I ordered a butter chicken, it only had 5 pieces of chicken for $15 AND was watery af. I got butter chicken soup-ick.

I loved the biryani and nihari, the restaurant was well lit and setting was awesome. The servers were kind. Would definitely recommend it.

Went to Ali's Nihari for lunch and loved it. It's a clean, spacious, and family friendly restaurant serving halal Pakistani cuisine on Devon avenue m. The service was fast and the food arrived quickly. We ordered Nihari, tandoori naan , and mutton pulao. The nihari was delicious. Really enjoyed it with fresh tandoori naans. The mutton pulao was also flavorful with many mutton pieces. Enjoyed our lunch and will be back to try other things from their menu.

Looks like the dedication to taste has taken a steep decline since its opening days. Lots of uniforms but terrible service, and there were only few families in the dining room. Still.

Stop by here for lunch yesterday because I was craving Nahari. The service was impeccable and polite. The portions were big I got the Nihari and nali nihari! Loved both!

If you've had real/ decent nihari, this place won't appeal to you; the meat is tender, but the Nihari spices is missing/diluted and the gravy is almost artificially thickened (probably with copious amounts of flour), all swimming in an ocean of oil. But if you can't have nihari at home, then this place will fulfill your nihari craving I guess. It's just not particularly good or authentic, so manage expectations accordingly. Service is meh. The karahi gosht was more bones than meat.

Excellent food and service. I was very impressed by their ala cater menu. The decor is minimal. I would recommend their Nihari, BBQ chicken, Bihari kebab - all were excellent

I've only had Pakistani food one other time and it was delicious. And Ali's was also! Service was great and everything we had was amazing. We tried the vegetable samosas, Pakistani butter chicken, lamb kefte with curry and of course an amazing garlic naan! Definitely coming back!

Good customer services staff is super friendly. Food quality is great. Recommend it just finding a parking spot is little difficult in weekend specially.

Had a delicious meal here last month! The three of us shared, Nihari, mutton biryani, Bihari kebab and naan. Prices are fairly reasonable and portions are huge. Service was good, considering it was a very busy Saturday night. The food is flavorful, and some of the best I have had on Devon. I've also ordered takeout of the mutton biryani from here and it was tasty. Definitely recommend this area and will be coming here more often!

Was very excited to try this place but was left quite disappointed. We ordered the tandoori naans, beef haleem, chicken biryani, and nehari. The only decent thing was the haleem but even that was swimming in oil. The rest of the food was SO cold and bland, lacked a lot of flavor. We did not finish any of it. Also ordered the mango lassi which was terrible, it was watery and bland. Service was also bad, we had to get up and locate a waiter for a water refill and napkins since not one person checked up on us. Don't think we'll be back.

This is a good place for Nihari , their beef Nihari is to die for , service is good , and much improved recently. Pair it with butter Naans , coming fresh from the tandoor. Order them as you eat , pro tip. Yes don't forget the mango lassi to cool off the spices. Another dish I really liked was the palak paneer, very flavor full and light and fresh. Over great experience. It's family style restaurant so expect some chatter and cross noise. But overall it's great reasonably priced cuisine that make up for it.

Best cuisine in my experience across most restaurants in Devon Ave. Food quality is amazing, quick service and large portions (the price has increased dramatically but you'll have enough to take home) I keep coming back!.

Service and ambience are outstanding. Especially for families. But the food is simply divine!

We finally found a place that serves food as good or even better than Sabri nihari and great service. Recommendations: Beef Nihari Butter chicken Naan Paratha Falooda Gajar ka Halwa. New favorite Pakistani restaurant in Chicago!

Very fast and courteous service We order Nalli Nihari It was really good Bone marrow with Nihari is such a great combo Ambience is also very nice I think it is a must to try Ali's Nihari if you are at Devon Really exceptional

Fantastic gem of a restaurant...Get the giant 65 dollar meat combo to cure all your ills and then wash all that protein down with a big glass of mango Lassi. Can't wait to go back.

Ordered delivery on Saturday. Spent $187 on several dishes. When the order was delivered, a full chicken was left out of the delivery. They refused to deliver the missing item or to refund the amount. Lost $23 on this order. I will never order from them again-will stick to Ghareeb Nawaz.

We had nali nihari, beef seekh kabab and naan. It was the best nihari I have had at a restaurant. We were visiting from California for the first time and this place was recommended by a cousin. Highly recommended if you want the best nihari on Devon Ave. The food is wonderful and the inside is elegant and very clean.

We came in to the restaurant. While We were deciding our order we got kicked out and told that the "kitchen was closed" highly disappointed. We arrived 45 minutes earlier. Doesnt make sense.

We came at a time where the restaurant was open, and they even seated us and took half of our order. But in the middle of the waiter taking our order he randomly left and said their kitchen is closed and can't take our order, and then proceeded to kick us out. Very poor management and don't know how to coordinate with their costumers on their opening and closing times.

The place is a must try if you love nihari. Massive serving of both nihari and chicken boti. The nihari came in 2 separate bowls, even though it was one order. One bowl with the maghaz nihari and one with no maghaz. The nihari tasted good. Chicken boti were thigh meat. They were tender and juicy, spice level was mild and also Ordered garlic nan (tasted average) and plain nan which were fresh and crispy. I rate this place a 4.5 star. Taking the .5 out just for the lighting at the restaurant which is uncomfortably bright. Also the waiters and staff should be more attentive of their customer. We had to ask them to take our order and bring us water.

We stumbled across Ali's on a Friday night. It's in the old Mysore Woodlands space, but they did a beautiful renovation and feels brand new. The lighting is BRIGHT so if you see this Ali, but a few dimmer switches, it will make the dining experience so much more relaxing! We had mango lassis, veggie samosas, palak paneer, frontier chicken rice and chicken makhani with basmati rice and garlic naan. The portions are HUGE and the food was really good, so we will definitely come back. You absolutely will leave with a giant to go container. My only complaint is the food was very salty and I did feel "salted out" after dinner. But that's the only complaint. Service was prompt and attentive. Can't wait to try the rest of the menu!

Great service , great food , kinna paya was great , Nihari was also pretty good Staff is friendly and helpful I can't give five star till I try other items

Look, I get that this place has good food, and I get that we are going through a pandemic and thus help is scarce, but you cannot expect to run an entire restaurant with one teenager playing host, waiter, front desk guy and takeaway packer. Every person sitting in the restaurant and ordering was irked because this poor kid could only take so many orders, and only do so many tasks at a time. Other than that, the food is good. Perhaps order in advance, and get take away. ‍

Ordered veg samosas, beef seekh kabab, chicken malai boti, paratha, and tandoori nan. The kebabs were very dry and only one was moist and felt fresh. The chicken malai boti was also chewy. Both were not very tasty. For $18 each I would expect higher quality. I was trying this restaurant after a while and I was disappointed.

Amazing food. The best nihari in Chicago. Loved it. Service was also good. Definitely recommend it.

Just an amazing Nihari. Best Nihari in USA! Can't wait to go back next time I'll be in Chicago. The Goat Paloau wasn't something to rave about. Just stick to Nihari and you cannot go wrong. Yum!

Nihari was okay. It's not good as it used to be. I will not be going again. I don't understand what happened with Ali Nihari Restraunt. They're not the best Restraunt anymore

Best Nahari, butter chicken & palak goat in Chicago. Every time I visit from LA we stop by to have them. They do get crazy busy so plan accordingly

Tried this place on June 19, 2022 around 8 pm after hearing a lot of positive stuff. Ordered Nalli Nihari, Chicken pakoras, vegetable samosas, mutton biryani and naan. First thing: the portion sizes are huge. The nihari is enough for atleast 4 people. The staff is friendly and courteous. The place got really busy but I can understand why. Food was outstanding. The Nihari was rich and delicious. Chicken pakoras were lightly battered and came out fresh. Mutton biryani was spiced perfectly. Vegetable samosas were delectable. The freshly made naan made the nihari more enjoyable. Will definitely be visiting again

This is fine dining. So the prices are not cheap. Started out with the Keem Naan, Pakora Chicken and then ended off with Chicken Tikka Boti. Also had the Lassi Sweet. Everything including the staff and service was superb.

Absolutely horrible experience at Ali nihari. We were there for an anniversary dinner and called ahead of time to place reservation for 17 people. We knew this is a large party that is why we made the reservation ahead of time. Upon arriving, the staff had no table for us or even was able to accommodate the family. After 15 minutes, we were finally seated in separate tables. Okay fine no worries we said we will manage make it work. The staff was literally running around like their head was cut off. Didn't understand English or Hindi and it was hard to get the manager to even bring us our utensils, food and drinks. We asked for basic things that you would ask for as I mentioned above and we didn't get them til after we were almost done eating. The nihari was HORRIBLE. I mean if your restaurants name is Ali nehari you would think the main dish would be good. I told the server about our experience and all he said was ok. That's it lol he said OK. The crazy part was after we got our bill they charged us for 26 sodas!! 26 sods in 12 adults and 5 kids... are you serious??? Literally it was a shit show and I can go on and on about Ali nihari and our experience today but please be happy I'm giving you 2 stars for the good seekh fry and paratha. I would recommend you do not visit Ali nehari for a family gathering if you want to leave the restaurant feeling crappy about spending a good occasion there.

One of the good options on devon street. We ordered balti mutton and karahi chicken and both were delicious. My friends ordered some vegetarian dishes but that was not up to mark. Service was good and ambiance is average. Not a fine dine place but definitely worth trying for non veg lovers.

We ordered Ali's Nihari and chicken biryani. Great taste. Just like homemade. Large portions for an amazing price. Highly recommend.

Was craving Desi food while visiting Chicago. The name that comes to mind when talking about Devon Street is Sabri Nihari but someone recommended Ali's Nihari over them. Well I haven't been to Sabri so I cannot comment but the Nihari at Ali's just hit the spot. The fact that the gravy with Nalli and base gravy were served separately so that everyone can mix based on their palette. Frontier chicken was another great item I tried out first time. Unlike traditional byriani this was a perfect blend of sweet, savoury and spicy. Chicken seekh kabab was also good. Bihari kabab was a bit dry and chewy. Falooda was ok and there is nothing to brag about.

Where Mysore Woodland's once resided a new restaurant is making a claim. Pakistani BBQ and Nihari. Basically, grilled foods and stews (slow cooked curries). They haven't updated the original layout much. Though added bright lighting. Tuesdays on Devon are usually quiet because that has always been known to be their "Sunday." Their one off day. Most Indian restaurants, markets and businesses adhered to that local routine for decades but as newer businesses are opening up, looks like they are creating their new normal. It was a past Tuesday when I thought to take a random look to see if any such restaurants might be open and we were lucky to find this one. We walked in and were given a table immediately. The place was well lit and had three gents as servers. Once we arrived two more small groups entered as well. I was however taken a bit back by the casual nature of the waitstaff. Many did not wear masks until I asked about it, then they put it on when addressing us. Otherwise, they'd wear it under the chin, dangling from ears or just not at all. When I have my elderly folks with me, I'd like to practice some safety. (Let's be honest, we'd all like to be safe. Breakthrough cases happen but during this time we try our best while still trying to enjoy a few meals out.) Aside from PPE gaffs; their food was excellent and in that cultural, respectful mindset kinda way the waitstaff were extra kind with my folks. So they enjoyed the time and suggested a future return. **Since this is still a new restaurant, their waitstaff could use more direction when taking orders/ fulfilling requests, dealing with customer questions regarding food or recommendations. Plating food could use some advisement as well. When using white porcelain dinnerware it's good if the kitchen staff can wipe down bowls, plates and dishes prior to when food hits the table. When a bowl of curry comes to the table and it looks as if the bowl was used like a serving ladle, it is not appetizing.

Nothing special about this place. Not even nihari and the worst service ever. We gave this place a second chance and still disappointed. Not coming back for sure.

By far the best dal tadka I have had. We also loved the chicken kebabs.. very fresh, authentic. Service was fast and very friendly. Accommodating to special needs. Would highly recommend.

Never had Pakistani food, but this was really good! I will be returning to try different dishes.

I rarely write reviews, but I had to for this place. I moved here from California a year ago and have had a challenge finding Pakistani food that is fresh and authentic, for some reason they always make rice very bland here in Chicago. Every place I've tried before this has had garlic naan that is dry and bland, nihari that has a weird sour aftertaste, and they've even managed to make plain basmati rice bland here. But not Ali's Nihari. This place has the most well balanced dishes. The biryani was perfection and the raita that came along with it was so flavorful. The paratha and the naan were fresh. I ordered the Ali Nihari and it was cooked perfectly, gravy consistency was the right amount of thickness and the meat was fresh and tender. The only thing missing was a ginger garnish on nihari which I also never see here in Chicago. But not a big deal since I had some fresh ginger at home. Overall what's important is this place makes some of the freshest, clean tasting Pakistani food here in Chicago. Perfection. I finally found my place!

Lively, busy Friday night, 40 minute wait. We enjoyed delicious carry-out instead. Every dish we had was fresh, fragrant and savory with just the right amount of heat: Ali Nihari, Chicken Makhni, Frontier Chicken, Beef Samosas, Veggie Samosas and Garlic Naan. How on earth did I forget to order rice? Lucky we had some at home. Everyone is feeling very satisfied after our meal.

We've been visiting Chicago for few days and was looking for some authentic Pakistani food. This is the place have authentic food. We tried most of the dishes and they didn't disappoint us. Servers were very courteous. Overall a great experience!