Essence of India

Essence of India is the hidden gem I’ve been searching for! 🌟 After struggling to find good Indian food nearby, I’m so glad I gave this spot a try. The food is flavorful and satisfying—definitely worth the visit! 🍛👌 The atmosphere is always calm and quiet, making it a great place to relax and enjoy your meal. While I do wish rice came included with the dishes (a small extra charge), it’s a minor thing compared to the overall quality of the experience. If you’re on the hunt for a dependable Indian food spot, look no further. Highly recommend giving them a try—I know I’ll be back! 🙌✨

The spiciness of the lentils is no joke, not too overwhelming in taste, but the temperature was scalding hot and I was in a hurry, so it wasn't the best circumstance for me. It's refreshing to be able to talk at conversational volume without accounting for bad acoustics or blaring music. Give it a try! Great accompaniment to the Davis Theatre.

Stopped by for dinner as a result of a long wait at a nearby restaurant. Indian restaurant located on the corner so we decided to stop by. The restaurant was not crowded for a Saturday night and we were seated right away. The menu was really extensive and had the classic Indian staples. Ordered lamb samosas, garlic naan? butter chicken, and shrimp biryani. Absolutely amazing. Everything was phenomenal and so well seasoned. Perfect flavor. Fast service. I can’t wait to return. The flavors were authentic and I’m so appreciative for this serendipitous.

This was one of our favorite take out spots when we lived in the city. We still go even though we loved to the burbs. The Chicken Shahi Korma (medium) is hands down our favorite. Everyone there is always kind as well.

My kids took me here for my birthday dinner and the food was wonderful. We had a large party with everyone ordering something different. No on e had any complaints.The tandoori chicken was as good as I remember in Jaipur. We'll definitely go back.

I didn't like the taste honestly. I ordered chicken shahi korma and it was sour. The murg lajwab was also not the best I have had. I have eaten both this items in other indian restaurant and they are better than these. The delivery was late too. Maybe it was not their signature item I don't know.

Phenomenal service, great food and great location. Very fair prices and good bar selection. Will be returning!

We went on a Friday. Disappointed with having to sit inside due to missing staff and no tandoori options. Still, the dishes we had were great. Spice levels are authentic - even for someone of Indian decent so spicy is spicy! The channa Masala lived up to its name, lentils were great and the bhindi tasted good. We had naans and puris which were good as was the paneer pakora. Interesting drink choices also and service was good. I might upgrade the rating if I can get the fuller experience once all the staff are there.

Favorite Indian restaurant in Lincoln Square!! If you're looking for a veggie fix or a more protein heavy fix , Essence of India has got you covered. I am partial to the paneer dishes here. The best part may be their incredibly large Naan basket assortment which has a little bit of everything !! Service is so incredibly friendly here and the food makes it out very quickly! It is not a particularly loud atmosphere so you will be able to easily have conversations!

I don't recall giving one star ever. Well maybe to a tailor that ripped me off. It pains me to give this review since they are very nice. On the positive side the atmosphere is chill and relaxing But... How the heck has this place been around so long? And why are there such good reviews? No offense but are Chicagoans willing to settle when it comes to Indian food and I am spoiled by the amazing array of really good Indian cuisine in NYC?? Seriously. It was sadly the worst Indian and one of the worst meals I have had. To start... how go you mess up fried appetizers? Doughy and soggy and CHEWY vegetarian platter. Not to mention a hair in one of them, but I digress. Maybe the naan will be ok? It LOOKED like it might be crispy. Wrong! Doughy and just a smattering of garlic. To their credit the vegetable Korma itself wasn't bad. BUT, I specifically asked if there was cauliflower and broccoli in it. "yes" he said Well, I saw a LITTLE broccoli, but zero cauliflower and the potatoes were undercooked. My boyfriend put his 2 cents in. The samosas were Soggy with oil, the batter was terrible, the oil was old, and parts were overcooked and tough. The mango chutney with pickled vegetables was just mango JAM. Zero pickled anything. Naan was Not toasty. Tasted liked jarred chopped garlic. So very sorry. They ARE very nice. I hope to motivate them to find freshness to add to their menu and save those of you expecting a really good meal from disappointment and expense.

This was a cute little spot with a low energy sort of vibe. In other words, not great if you are wanting to have a conversation above a whisper level, but absolutely great if you are wanting to people watch and eve's drop in the awkward first date happening across the room. The server was super friendly and gave me a few recommendations; I got the gosht korma, garlic naan, and vegetable biriyani. The gosht korma was genuinely some of the best food I've had in a while - slow cooked lamb swimming in a sweet saffron, raisin, and almond sauce. Yum! Nothing special about the naan. The biriyani had tons of extra yakhni in it, which is my favorite, but was a little bland other than that. Also, none of the curries come with rice, which makes this much more expensive than most other Indian restaurants.

With a name so clearly hearkening back to the epochal "Taste of India" in Newark, Ohio (if you know, you know), some friends and I were eager to try the mystical subcontinent's veritable "Essence" in the heart of Lincoln Square. We were not entirely disappointed! The food is tasty (I enjoyed my North Indian Fish Stew), albeit not super generously portioned apart from the positively massive (and delicious) Taj Mahal lager, which you simply must try. The price is just OK (maybe a bit on the higher side, but then again, what do you expect from the wannabe European piazza here?). Service was a bit slow, but we enjoyed the laid-back atmosphere.

Our Favorite Indian restaurant in Lincoln Square. Cozy space and wonderful service. Bread assortment is a must - we get it every time. Get 4 varieties of #naan & #roti Non-vetegatian sampler comes with a variety of meats, including tandori chicken and shrimp & kebabs House specialty paneer khurchan has generous portions of paneer cheese with peppers & tomato sauce Always get too full to have dessert, but 1 of these days... Tip - if you pay cash, save 5%.

Amazing service and food. Loved the Samosas, Rogan Josh, and Tandoori Chicken. Great selection of Indian beer as well. Place was busy and did a lot of take out while there.

Delicious Indian food that hits the spot. We came right when it opened for lunch on Saturday so there was no wait. We ordered the Goan Lamb, chicken vindaloo, 1 order of butter naan, 1 order of rice, and the Masala Bloody Mary. I was pleasantly surprised that the lamb and chicken meat were excellent. They were tender and not dry. There was a good amount in it too. It was my first time trying goan lamb specifically because the menu said it was spicy. The server asked for the spiciness level. For the spicy lovers out there, medium heat isn't hot enough. Next time, I'll be asking for a bit spicier than medium. The chicken vindaloo was a more tomato-based vindaloo. Both dishes were delicious. I was a little disappointed in the Masala Bloody Mary. I thought I would be able to pick out the the Indian spices, but I guess my taste buds weren't refined enough. Otherwise, it was felt like a standard Bloody Mary. I would definitely come back to fulfill my Indian food cravings. I just wish the rice was included with the entrees as needed.

My boyfriend and I walked by this restaurant about a week ago and remarked on how great the food smelled. We came here last night and had the most delicious meal! I got the vegetable korma, which is divine, and I will update later what boyfriend got because I am blanking right now. We also shared an Elephant Ride cocktail which was also amazing and very unique. The staff was very friendly as well. Will definitely be coming back!

Some of the worst Indian food my wife and I have ever eaten. Bordering on inedible. The Saag chaman just tastes like cinnamon. The Tikka Masala is weirdly sweet.

The food is AMAZING and so is the service!! The staff feels like family and the Ambiance is incredible. You MUST eat here

Very happy with our experience here! I read all the recent Yelp reviews which were really good, so I was excited to try this place. It seems like they do a big takeout business and eating inside was pleasant. We came on a Thursday night around 6pm and had no problem getting a table. There was indoor and outdoor seating and all the tables that came in after us chose to eat outside. Parking in this area was SO easy. The menu is very extensive - you could spend a lot of time deciding. We ordered: - Butter Chicken - Tandoori chicken simmered in tomato sauce, butter and spices, $12.95. This was so good, there were little pieces of chicken and the sauce was almost sweet. I've never had a butter chicken like this before and it was perfect to dip in naan. I didn't want to waste a drop of it! - Gobhi Gulastan - Cauliflower and potatoes cooked with herbs and ginger, 10.95 -Shrimp Biriyani - Traditional Indian rice dish made with vegetables, herbs and your choice of meat. We had someone eating with us that doesn't like a lot of spice, and they made this on the lowest spicy end as possible. I love spicy, and it was spicy! -Onion Kulcha - Flour bread stuffed with onions, $2.95. This was my favorite of the breads. You can taste the cut bits of onion in it. -Garlic Naan - Naan topped with garlic, $2.95

Awesome food and the service is exceptional. I think is a family restaurant, very cute and accommodating. They recommended some great dishes, portions were large and very tasty . Will definitely go back.

I'm in Chicago for the weekend for a workshop and I stumbled upon this Indian restaurant. I am a serious Indian food lover. This place blew me away. The food is excellent, very authentic, the service is top notch and the ambience is simply charming. if you're in the area, you must stop by. Will not be disappointed.

When you enter, the restaurant greets you with a warm embrace, its understated cultural signifiers of Indian artifacts, warm colors, and a glow that reveals itself to be a reflection of the owners' kind hearts. The food truly conveys the essence of India. The Samosas are piping hot and the lamb just the right flavor, spicing and consistency, a true delicacy. The vegetarian dishes and their sauce combinations are out of this world. Everything in this menu is fresh, delicious, home made and served up by the owner himself, who is always happy to share his profound cultural and culinary expertise. This place is a veritable treasure in Lincoln Square!

Had a nice meal from this restaurant last month! We ordered Murg Lajwab which was fantastic! Mutter Paneer was also tasty. The spinach with chick peas was mediocre. The naan was tasty and plain rice did its job. The price is fairly affordable for Indian. Would order again for the Murg Lajwab!

I'm so sad to say this but the food here was super bland. I found myself putting salt on top of everything which in retrospect I should have known this spot is toned-down to people who perhaps aren't used to traditional Indian food. Our lovely waiter was very kind and even told us the food we were ordering would be very spicy but alas it was mild at best. Zero spice and not spicy. Definitely support this establishment but just know that it is not traditional Indian food. A big plus is they provide alcohol, they don't have bar seating, but they do have drinks to compliment your meal.

All of the curries were disgustingly sweet. I love Indian food and have eaten a lot as a west India person, but this place was gross. Everything was disgusting and was disgustingly sweet. We had the veg kofta and chicken korma, both tasted like desserts they were so sweet. The Indian spices and taste of tomato sauces were overpowered by the amount of sweetness in both. We asked the server how he felt about these and he said he liked them. We will never come back here. Nothing really tasted authentic. Everything was loaded with excess sugar. No thanks. When we told the manager how upset we were with the meal he did not care that we did not like the meal, he just said it must not be our "taste". So disappointed.

Food is alright but ambience is very cold and service is ok . It is not my cup of tea !

Could not recommend this restaurant more!! Every dish was awesome, while so well reasonably priced. What a gem in Lincoln Square

Worst Indian food I've ever had. Lamb Vindaloo was so vinegary it was inedible. Naan was flavorless and charred to a blackened crisp. Murg Tikka Masala was mostly water with barely any chicken. Nothing I ordered was good, Super disappointing.

Great curry, delicious naan I wish they included rice, I always have to remind myself to make sure I get some. Next time maybe I'll try to eat at the restaurant.

Amazing food and great service. The team was incredibly considerate and more importantly the food was delicious.

This is my go-to Indian cuisine! I absolutely love everything and the drinks are amazing! Butter Chicken The catfish is amazing! Poori and naan is amazing!

This place used to be good but my husband and I just ordered off of Uber eats and I'm beyond over this place now. This was supposed to have paneer, cashews, and rice but all I got was a tub of red sauce with two chunks of paneer. Are you serious? Be for real, that's just absolutely ridiculous. Thankfully Uber made it right but I don't think it should be the third party company making up for their screw up. Giving 2 stars since whatever this is was good, just not at all what I ordered. This restaurant is a scam.

We went on a Friday. Disappointed with having to sit inside due to missing staff and no tandoori options. Still, the dishes we had were great. Spice levels are authentic - even for someone of Indian decent so spicy is spicy! The channa Masala lived up to its name, lentils were great and the bhindi tasted good. We had naans and puris which were good as was the paneer pakora. Interesting drink choices also and service was good. I might upgrade the rating if I can get the fuller experience once all the staff are there.

When prepping for the kiddo to join us we succumbed to the adage of hot food could speed the process along. Been here many time in the past, first time to review. We had multiple plates, some hotter than the other, and was pleasantly full in the end. Always a friendly and helpful staff. Their Indian beers are huge.

Small place but great service from the moment you walk in and helpful staff. We made a reservation because we were a group of 6 and it was busy almost half the tables said reserved. Small plates were perfect for sharing. Started with the vegetable samosas - sooo good. 2 come in an order (don't share make sure you get your own it's worth it). We also ordered garlic naan, chana masala, butter chicken, Dahl, and lamb vindaloo. The Dahl and masala stood out and were some of our favorites. So much food and dinner was under $100 - Great prices.

Such a great experience at this place. Not only was the staff super friendly and attentive but the food was some of the best I've had in a long time.

Great Indian food outside Devon's little India. Don't leave without having one of their delicious mango martinis.

Awful. Several food items were very dry and seemed like they had been reheated. Overly salty. Bartender did not know how to make a Mai Tai. Then replaced with a scotch and soda with three shots. Yikes! One and done!!!

This restaurant is one of my favorites and a go-to when I'm just hungry and need delicious comfort. This is my first negative review - My daughter and I order from here often but I was shocked this time when my butter chicken contained 6 or 7 tiny pieces of chicken and the rest was sauce. With delivery fees and tip, I definitely feel shortchanged. Someone needs to be better about checking orders before they go out.

I stopped in for carry out on Wednesday because I decided to celebrate Chicago restaurant week by eating out every day this week because I was too lazy to go get groceries. I have only had Indian food once and this place was highly recommended by one of my friends. The ambience was cool. There was a good amount of seating and quiet music in the background. I ordered the Lamb Vindaloo, Vegetable Samosas, and Garlic Naan. I live about a 5 minute walk away and the food was still pipping hot in 15 degree weather. Let's start with the Samosas. They were very good, hot, and crispy. You were given two, but they were massive. My Indian friends in NYC even said they were the biggest they've seen! The Garlic Naan was good too. Essentially it was like a Pita, which I placed my Lamb on top of. The Lamb Vindaloo was ok and nothing extraordinary. I ordered the medium spice as I didn't want stomach problems and it had a mild kick for a spice enthusiast like me. I liked the sauce, but I didn't really like the lamb. I thought it was not tender at all and lacked flavor. The chutney was the most flavorful thing they offered and it was very sweet. I didn't dine in so I can't say anything about service, but my food was ready around my designated pickup time. Portions are massive here and a very good bang for your buck. I don't think I'm a big Indian food fan as I prefer Mediterranean, but if you like Indian food, then you should give Essence of India a try!

All the dishes we ordered were delicious and my kids made me go back the next day to get more! My kids are good eaters, but I loved that the spice level "mild" was indeed mild, but it didn't lack flavor. The chicken was tender and the naan was amazing. We also had some vegetarian dish with cauliflower and potatoes that was very good. The ingredients are fresh and the restaurant itself is inviting and clean with lovely staff and great service.

This restaurant has been on my radar for sometime now given the good reviews. I like to order the standard chicken curry on my first visit to any Indian restaurant. Nothing called chicken curry on Essence's menu but the murg lajwab description was similar to a chicken curry so that's what I ordered for takeaway. No rice is included with the entrees at this establishment. The murg lajwab was a yellowish hue that kinda looked like a chicken korma. I ordered it spicy and although the peppery heat was OK the problem with the dish was it was missing the melding of exotic Indian spices that make curries so great. So it was spicy but not flavorful. The heat overwhelmed the dish. The boneless chicken breasts came in huge chunks not chopped but that was no problem. Overall it was about an average curry, nothing special.

Since I've lived in Lincoln Square, essentially the last 8 years, Essence of India has always been there. This is obviously saying a lot for an area that has experienced a ton of change and a revolving door of restaurants during that time. Being that we migrated from Lakeview, we already had our fave go to Indian joint so always intended to give Essence a try, but just never did. That is, until yesterday. Went for lunch, one of three tables. Two employees working, atmosphere was dark and rather dreary. Music was nice and soothing. So far, so good. Ordered the non-vegetarian appetizer plate, read, all meat. It was delicious - there were four different types of meats (2 chicken, one lamb, and a large shrimp). Best part of the meal. Fantastic flavors and a variety of them. My absolute obsession was the Tandoori Shrimp. For my entree, I ordered the Masala Coconut Shrimp. It did not include rice; which I'm not really used to, but not a deal breaker. The Naan I ordered alongside was great and garlicky. The chutneys that were on the table were tasty too. All good so far....until I tried my entree. Ick. I don't know what I was anticipating, but it wasn't this. Actually, I do know what I was anticipating, Masala with a hint of coconut milk. This was not the case. It was so sweet and even though at first I was disappointed that there wasn't rice, I wouldn't have used it anyway because I did not want any of the sauce, not even on the shrimp. The shrimp too were rubbery and small, zero seasoning or flavor on the shrimp on it's own, much different from my experience with the one Tandoori Shrimp from the appetizer. Lesson learned, I ordered incorrectly. I also learned that I do not like Coconut Masala, not the color, not the flavor, not the smell. And, I will always order Tandoori Shrimp if I return; which is pretty unlikely.

My fave place for ordering Indian food. Really enjoy the tandoori and spinach with paneer.

The best/most notable thing about Essence of India was the super attentive server we had. He was very accommodating and knew the menu back and forth. The food was alright, I didn't like how rice didn't come with the already pricier entree. For appetizers, I tried the vegetable samosas which had a pretty mild flavor that I enjoyed. I also tried the paneer pakoras (batter fried cottage cheese fritters) - these were alright, not my favorite. For entrees, I ordered the butter chicken. I was a little disappointed with the overall flavor and texture of the dish. It was too sweet tasting and not like the more savory, thick-sauced dish I was craving. I also got to try the chicken tikka masala, which I can only sum it up as okay. Although this place didn't meet my expectation of standard Indian flavor, they do put an interesting spin on the style and taste of their food.

This place is..well..yeah. There are many reviews on here of praise for this local restaurant, and just as many "eh" reviews of it too. I am not saying I won't go back, but I won't go back for awhile, until I try some other Indian spots first to try and find a better one. First, when I walked in it was basically empty and a very unhappy owner seated me without a word. Got my order taken and food came out, all in due time, but the customer service just wasn't there. The owner, as many have said, had a presence like we were bothering him and that he could have cared less if we were in there or not. I ordered the butter chicken, na'an, and basmati rice. The chicken was good, but not a ton of flavor. Still, the serving was a nice portion, so it was all good. The na'an was nice, light, and a nice compliment to the chicken. As for the $2.50 rice..it was dried out and could have been made better at home in a microwave. Still the ambience was nice and it was clean, so I'll give it props for that. But as I stated above, I won't be in a rush to go back here any time soon.

Love, love, love this place. Either in person dining or takeout you won't be disappointed. The food is always beautiful and flavorful.

My last take out will probably be my last time buying Indian food from there which is a bit sad because it's the closest Indian restaurant to home. We got Butter Chicken and butter naan and the sauce for the butter chicken was watered down, nowhere near that creamy sauce that butter chicken should be like. The naan is big and tastes good. I'm hoping they'll do something about their sauces before they lose too many customers. Fingers crossed!

Decided to venture off of Devon for Indian takeout. BAD idea. We'd had Essence of India years ago and knew it used to be well regarded, but our $100 order is going in the trash. It's that gross. First, we order raita (yogurt sauce), which we've had a gazillion times (my wife is Indian), but something was seriously wrong with this version. It was literally so sweet that it tasted like melted ice cream. Sadly, we didn't taste it before putting it all over our plates. Food wasted. It was inedible. Further, the other dishes just weren't flavorful. No spice. Butter chicken was greasy and lacked the notable richness. The coconut curry shrimp were in a thin, and again ridiculously sweet, sauce. Other than the shock of sweetness, it lacked flavor. I called the restaurant and politely asked about the raita, because everyone at my table agreed that it must've been a mistake. The manager was immediately defensive, basically said "oh well, that's our recipe," and offered no apologies. Just do yourself a favor and steer clear of this spot. There are a hundred better Indian options in the city.

No entree comes with rice so I'm not sure if you are supposed to eat the curry like soup but very dissatisfied to say the least. Order rice on the side for an extra cost if you would like to have traditional Indian cuisine. Two stars to give the benefit of the doubt maybe they will change this in the future.

amazing, friendly service and food is always incredible. very clean, nice lighting especially at night. would be a great family dinner or date night spot. my friends and i keep coming back!

This Lincoln Square place is so friggin underrated. Favorite dishes are the butter chicken (best I've had in the city), samosas, garlic naan, green beans and potatoes, malai kabob, lamb rogan josh, and the goan fish curry. Make sure to remember to add rice! Can't wait for summer to come so I can eat at their outdoor tables. The final bill is never cheap but I have to remind myself that there are *always* plenty of leftovers. Can't get enough of this place.

This place is located near "Taco in a Bag" which I have yet to try. But yeah, this place is located in Lincoln Square, right on the corner of Lincoln and Wilson (Wilsonnnnn!! I always think of Tom Hanks in "Castaway" when I hear Wilson. What's the true relevance? None). I estimate that the place can seat about ~50 people in total, so take it for what it is, in terms of size. The staff was friendly. I thought it was funny how the waiter/server was when taking our orders. Me: "Hmm, I would like the --" Dude: "You want this *points at menu* bhuna chicken." Me: "Umm, sure, I'll go with that" Haha, I love Indian food, so I have yet to have a dish I didn't like, but I thought this was funny. Anyways, we had the buttered chicken, cuz it's usually buttery good. It consisted of tandoori chicken simmered in tomato sauce, butter and spices. And, due to the server's "recommendation"/interruption, I also ordered the bhuna chicken, which was chicken in a masala sauce with onions, tomatoes, garlic, ginger and green chilies. That dish was spicy, but delicious, yo. Prefixed our meal was some papadum and various chutney, everything was awesome. BATHROOM REVIEW: Pretty clean, I was impressed. Everything was in working order and I thought the faucet was pretty cool looking. No time for pictures. Sit or squat? Sit.

The buttered chicken, garlic and potatoe naan was so good! The place is cute and service is good!! I loved my experience!!

The food is usually great here. Good samosas (especially if you need to bring an appetizer to a party - call in advance). Last night we ordered lamb and spinach (great) and my favorite butter chicken - which was NOT good for the first time. It was like too sweet...? What's up with that? I'll try again but last shot.

A few years ago, when I frequented Essence of India, they were doing quite well in terms of output from the kitchen and front room service. I never got a chance to blog them when I went in the past, so I wanted to see if they would be a good fit for my blog now. The food is still good, but something in the table service changed between my visits years ago and now. Daal turka. Curry coconut shrimp. Poori. I had a hankering for daal turka rather than the usual daal palaak or daal makhani. Having ordered the daal turka spicy, it was definitely a hit. The curry coconut shrimp was sour, and I don't mean that in a bad way. The coconut was clearly the most dominant flavour in the dish. I ordered rice and poori to accompany the two dishes. It is possible that I may have returned when timing was not good. After the detached disposition received this time, I shall put off any returns for a lengthy stretch of time. I did enjoy the flavours of the dishes I had, though.

I have to say... I was plesantly surprised! My husband and I were meeting some friends at Spyner's just around the corner but needed to grab some dinner first. We wandered the Square but he didn't want German... wandered away from the square and saw this place. Is it the best Indian food I've ever had? Absolutely not... that spot is reserved for Hema's Kitchen... and I've eaten in my fair share of Indian places. But this is closer to my house than Devon and delicious so I will be returning. We had the shrimp appetizer... Yum. The shrimp were on the small side but flavorful. We also ordered the chicken murg and lamb vindaloo. The chicken was moist and lamb was tender... can't complain. We ordered our food as spicy as they can make it and weren't all that impressed with the heat... but our tollerance is significantly higher than the average person. When I want AWESOME Indian food, I'll trek out to Devon. When I want something in the area, I'll head here.