Ghareeb Nawaz

Disappointing Experience at Ghareeb Nawaz – Quality Compromised Over Price As an Indian craving biryani on a rainy day, I was excited to try Ghareeb Nawaz, especially given the rave reviews about Indian-Pakistani food in the area. Unfortunately, this visit was a letdown, marking one of the few times I’ve had a bad experience with South Asian cuisine. Food: I ordered the vegetable biryani and a spicy potato curry as a side. The biryani was far from what I expected. It lacked vegetables, and the rice was overly sticky, drenched in gravy to the point where it didn’t resemble biryani at all. The plating was unappetizing, and the flavor was underwhelming. The potato curry was equally disappointing—the potatoes were discolored, and the overall quality and taste were subpar. You cannot customize the flavors (make it spicy/less spicy) of the food as they were all pre-cooked. They will heat and place you as you order Price: While the prices are significantly lower (about three times cheaper) compared to other Indian/Pakistani restaurants, the quality was severely compromised. While affordability is a standout feature, it shouldn’t come at the expense of taste and authenticity. Ambience: The ambience is no-frills and basic, which is fine for a quick bite, but the staff seemed indifferent and unwelcoming. They didn’t go out of their way to make the experience pleasant, which added to the overall disappointment. Overall: I won’t be returning to Ghareeb Nawaz or recommending it to others. While the low prices might appeal to some, the lack of flavor, poor quality, and uninviting atmosphere make it a hard pass for anyone seeking authentic and enjoyable South Asian cuisine.

SO affordable! $6.99 for an entire plate of food (a serving of butter chicken, raita, onions, and chappati). My friends ordered their own entree curry and biryani and the portions were humongous. The food was also quite tasty! Service was fast. I do wish they served chai at this location. Will definitely be back to try the other menu items.

A MUST VISIT. Incredible value for the price. The best one I’ve seen so far. No doubt. First of all the food was FLAVORFUL. It was shockingly delicious that it felt somehow addictive lol. My mouth is watering so bad while writing this now 😂 Nice atmosphere to eat inside. Clean tables and well organized dining area. Atmosphere here is pretty chill and friendly for people who enjoys eating alone like me 👍 Definitely visiting again. (Edit: Yes I visited again. This time I ordered boneless chicken biryani and the portion was huge. Like really huge. Tasted absolutely amazing. I had to grab a to go box and bring some leftover with me. This food definitely does its job when it comes to feeding people. I’m so content and satisfied 😛😌)

The server was very rude . He didnt take my order properly and was very rude and behaving like we eat for free .. i consider to teach basic manners to employess..this was the person ..

I was in the mood for Indian food! Soo let me get into it! The food at GN was great! I really loved the garlic nan! It was perfectly cooked. The seasoning and spice level was great that it wasn’t too spicy. I could eat here any time that I am in the mood for Indian food as the menu could entertain someone’s stomach for some time! The service was great the main counter person was friendly and helped me walk through the menu! The atmosphere was great. I like the decor and how it was like walking into a different time zone. Overall, I will say give Ghareeb Nawaz a try if you haven’t had Indian food before.

I had a delicious chili chicken paratha. Affordable, good quality, clean. A little hot inside.

The food was good and very fair prices. The actual restaurant is kind of filthy and you will notice spilled food on the floors and there was barely any toilet paper in the bathroom. The person at the cash register was totally disengaged and talking on their AirPods. They probably don’t pay them much with how cheap the food is. I wanted to order the chicken paratha but accidentally ordered the full entree size of butter chicken so it was too much food.

As a fan of their location in Rogers Park, I had to put Ghareeb Nawaz in Lincoln Park to the test and it passed with flying colors. Though small and plain on the inside, the food is so flavorful and the portions are incredible for the cost. I got the butter chicken plate which came with butter chicken, raw onions, a white sauce for dipping, and paratha which filled me up completely (and less than $10!!). To drink, I got the mango lassi which is very sweet and creamy; the perfect balance to the savory, well-spiced meal. This is an affordable option that doesn’t compromise on quality or flavor!!

got this WHOLLLLE big ole thing of delicious piping hot butter chicken on time of a mountain of fries for only EIGHT dollars!!!! the TASTE was really good too so WOW. this is basically charity on their part. thank you.

Three words: butter. Chicken. Fries. This place is a true hole in the wall with some killer food and values. For roughly the price of a taco bell combo meal you can be served a heaping plate of hot biryani or loaded fries doused in delicious curry chicken. It's nothing fancy, and it doesn't need to be. You can eat in or bring a styrofoam dish home, and either way you'll get amazing food with absolutely no bells or whistles. Fast counter service, but don't expect white tablecloths here.

Updating my review! Still love this place - the only spot I've found to get good affordable Indian food near me. I got the butter chicken and dal palaak along with rice and garlic naan for about $25. This was probably the best butter chicken I've ever had! Ordered in the restaurant to-go and it was ready in about 5 min.

We craved for some authentic Indian / Pakistani food. I missed the flavors and the aromatic foods. To be honest, I missed the frugal prices we pay for good food. We missed going to an Indian / Pakistani place located in the neighborhood. Ghareeb Nawaz checked the boxes for all of the above. While searching for a good place to eat, Joseph found Ghareeb Nawaz by reading the Yelp reviews. The reviews were spot on. After ordering, it does not take long for us to receive our food. I give the service an A. During the weekends, we order in and eat at the restaurant. The kitchen staff prepares a ton of food that we can savor for the next day. The ambiance of Ghareeb Nawaz feels familiar. Situated in a small area, the restaurant provides tables and chairs for customers. The place may not look fancy, but it has a family atmosphere to it. Just a short walk from the Fullerton train station, Ghareeb Nawaz developed a following of DePaul University students, and people working around the area. Many locals - young and old come here to eat. Come and bring friends, family or even a date.

Chili chicken was delicious. Meat thali with chicken and lamb curry. Paratha/roti was tasty and buttery, just the right amount. They have $1 chai. They are open 24/7. They have a huge menu to choose from with a wide variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian options

First time trying Indian cuisine, best food that I've had in a while honestly blew my expectations and the proportions are so good. Fast service and everybody was friendly.The rice had chicken for each spoon full so it wasn't lacking anything, each bite was satisfying.The texture of the garlic nun and paratha was really good and complimented the buttered chicken and rice, perfect amount of spice, wasn't obnoxious spice if that makes sense. Actual flavor.The place was a little small but super cozy. I tried the mango lassi as well and it's very consistent. I will definitely come back. Also I recommend the paratha it is better and just more satisfying to pick your food up with and it's thinner so you won't get too full off of a thicker bread instead (just my opinion).

Our go-to for inexpensive and delicious Indian chow. Always ready for pickup in no-time flat, our mainstays are the boneless chili chicken, dal curry and palak paneer. Add a slice or two of garlic naan and for $30, we've got dinner and enough leftovers for a second meal.

You can't beat the value at this restaurant! For less than $7 you can get an entire plate of rice with curry, bread and sides. They have a large menu with many different options, good for vegetarians/vegans as well. The food is very delicious and filling! Be sure to try the mango lassi as well. The interior of the restaurant has tables for sitting but is a bit small. The service was fast and accommodating. Highly recommend!

One of the best cheap eats under $5, $10, & $15. So many options so much good food. Veg biryani chimes in a $6.99 and they give you a pretty large quantity for rice dishes esp. I'm usually partial to lamb biryani. The vegetarian options awe considerably less and some really economical breakfast options. Great options for college students on a budget but honestly the food is pretty good. Kinda similar tastes to Halal guy but better. But the use zabitha halal if you have a dietary restriction. Service is general counter service. Probably seats around 20 inside which gets filled up and a vert casual atmosphere. Definitely check it out. It's a healthier option too compared to a lot of area staples.

So affordable, and good quality. They give a lot of food for small prices which makes it all the more worth it.

A MUST VISIT. Incredible value for the price. The food was SEASONED. It was so delicious that it felt somehow addictive lol Cashier's attitude was okay, she does her job well, no problems. Nice atmosphere to eat inside. Super clean, well organized. I'm definitely visiting here again.

Ghareeb Nawaz is cheap and super filling. Their Indian/Pakistani dishes hit the spot, and it's a favorite hangout for the college crowd craving cheap food.

Called as I ordered a coke ( they sent Pepsi ). Garlic naan was dry. I requested to separate rice from chicken. They didn't follow instructions. I was excited to try as this place came recommended. I called and restaurant and she said we don't read notes ?!! Also both samosas have no sauce. Unusual from an Indian restaurant

I was in the mood for Indian food! Soo let me get into it! The food at GN was great! I really loved the garlic nan! It was perfectly cooked. The seasoning and spice level was great that it wasn't too spicy. I could eat here any time that I am in the mood for Indian food as the menu could entertain someone's stomach for some time! The service was great the main counter person was friendly and helped me walk through the menu! The atmosphere was great. I like the decor and how it was like walking into a different time zone. Overall, I will say give Ghareeb Nawaz a try if you haven't had Indian food before.

4.5. Boneless Beef Biryani. What an unexpected pleasure. Really all the food items were as good as any ordered anywhere else at any point in time (butter chicken, for example). Just a lot of quality kitchen work at a very reasonable price point. Nice peeps. Flimsy plastic cutlery, overly small garbage can, and suitably shady bathroom are minuses. But the food!

I dined-in for this restaurant, and was very impressed with the serving sizes, price, and taste. We shared the chicken biryani, and had leftovers enough for a whole other meal. For the price and convenience, you really can't beat it. I'll be back to try the other menu items soon.

Great little place by DePaul University. Fairly priced, good amount of food. Their samosas are nice and spicy and their chai masala is on point.

I have been going to Ghareeb Nawaz for 35 years. Recently, I notice the quality and the quantity of the food item is very low and low graded. If you dine in, they will give you one portion as opposed to if you take out the portion is much more smaller. I have complained many times but they don't care about it. Today, I have ordered a chicken korma, which cost me $12, all I get from that order is one small leg and a small Thai piece and the quality of the food is very low, This type of chicken we wouldn't buy from grocery store. They never accept credit cards.

My absolute favorite late night food place for Indian / Pakistani food. I've been going here since I was a kid and I'm glad to see that they've been adding dishes to their extensive menu. My go to is their chili chicken biryani. The quantity is amazing and lasts me 3-4 days at least. Recently I tried to their frontier chicken which was also delicious. Dining in is pretty casual. You pick up your order at the front and then pretty much self service. I'm also so glad they're on Uber Eats now. The prices are great. Back in 2019, the whole biryani was $7! It's about $11-12 now but still a good deal because of the quantity. I order from here / visit at least 1-2 times a month. So good!

Came for the lunch special. One thing I'll say is the price is AWESOME. Pretty cheap food so that's the biggest thing I noticed. I got the butter chicken paratha. Taste was clean. Ambiance - kind of hole in the wall but has decent seating and OK clean. Service - nothing crazy. Gets the job done but nothing to write home about. You pick up ur food and serve yourself water. Overall would definitely come again for the taste and price.

Ordered for take out to share with my coworkers: The food is decent. I mean, don't get me wrong; Indian food is amazing, period. I feel like they kinda scammed us with the butter chicken and chicken paratha servings (they're smaller than I expected). They're delicious but if I'm paying 10 dollars for each of them I expected there to be a bit more, but the boneless chicken biryani was worth every penny. Not only were the proportions good, they aren't greedy with the chicken and it's seasoned very well. We were disappointed when we ordered two garlic naans and were given just one plain naan bread though. Darn. We called and was told to just talk to the manager and they will offer us two garlic naans in house, but when will that be?? Overall, I like the food. If you're smart you would get the boneless chicken biryani and portion it out as meal prep to last you a week or two depending on how much you eat!

Exceeds expectations for a fast casual Indian food spot. The cashier was not incredibly friendly but efficient nonetheless. The highlights were the butter chicken, the flavor of the sauce is some of the best in the city , but the portion could've been a little bigger. The palak paneer was flavorful and a decent portion, but the spice was a little heavy. The daal was the second best dish seasoned to perfection. The garlic naan was huge in size and crispy.

My go to place for affordable butter chicken. Compared to other places that sell the same named item. They don't compare. My usual order is butter chicken and mango lassi ($2.50) - The lassi is the cheapest around and rich and sweet. I just wish they offer garlic naan, but what they offer is perfect. To reduce the heat, I mix a can of coconut milk. I highly recommend.

Ghareeb may not be best quality of food but it always hits the spot. I get ghareeb once every two weeks. Tonight, we got veggie biryiani, butter paneer, 2 samosas, 2 garlic naans, butter chicken bowl. As you can tell we like to eat. Butter paneer has been my favorite for about 2 years now. The garlic naan is great as well. My bf enjoyed the butter chicken and rest of our food. Overall, this is a great hangover food or if your craving Indian food and u don't feel like paying much. We paid only $35 for the food so great value.

Delicious cheap food. The restaurant is basic but they're open late and the food is very good. The two orders and two naan was more than enough for two. I'll definitely be back here.

It's so nice to have a new Ghareeb Nawaz location near Lincoln Park so that I don't have to drive up to Devon street! We ordered the Aloo Samosas (5/5)- essentially samosas filled with seasoned potatoes and were absolutely delicious. The boneless chicken biriyani plate was absolutely huge and could easily feed 2+ people (5/5). The butter chicken had a great buttery flavor (5/5), and I would definitely order this again. Of note, the butter chicken entree didn't come with any rice so we had to pay an extra $2 for some rice to eat the butter chicken with. Also, it is super saturated red in color, which we didn't mind, but something to be aware of if you are choosing this entree to order. Butter naan was yummy and a large portion for $1.50. There are a few indoor seats (4-5 total) so you can either eat inside or take your food to go.

Ghareeb Nawaz is the undisputed king of so much food that is perfectly seasoned and cooked. The atmosphere here is inviting and I love that there are so many options that you can try something new every time. Service is quick for dine in and delivery is packed well. Eat Ghareeb Nawaz!

Had chicken biryani with their garlic naan made from scratch. The biryani was good, and plentiful. The bread was amazing, A+, and the people working there were exceptionally kind, and on a Friday night at that.

Food is good and prices are solid, but they gave me a butter chicken that had been sitting out since before I arrived. Know it had been sitting out for awhile because it was a completely different temperature from the rest of the hot food I was served. All the other food being served hot is why they still get 3 stars.

Indian food has been my new obsession after going here. It's a small little restaurant with a couple spots to take a seat, but overall it's a simple concept. The service is quick and easy, and usually the place gets busy from time to time. I usually get the butter paneer as well as an order of rice for the table. They give VERY generous portions for everything, and my friends get a variety of items on their plate. By the end of our meals, we are all satisfied! Don't be afraid to try it! Originally, I wasn't too fond of it because it was out of my comfort zone, but now it's genuinely starting to become something that I want to integrate frequently within my lifestyle!

Great Pakistani food at a reasonable price. The chili chicken is fire (no pun intended), recommend either the naan or the paratha, both are delicious. Can feed three people for less than $40. In today's economy? Are you kidding? Also recommend calling your order in for takeout, they have the ambiance of a supermarket deli. Very good!

I was quite disappointed at the owner. The food is good and cheap, however, the cashier (who I think is also the owner?) made racial slurs. Of all places, I was surprised to hear racial slurs from an Indian restaurant. The cashier's friend had to come in and apologize for his actions--though the cashier himself did not apologize. I will not be coming back.

It was fine-ish. It scratched my Indian food itch, but it wasn't fantastic. The mango lassi was really thin, the butter chicken was fine, paneer was a bit rubbery. Probably won't go again.

Kind of a hole in the wall place, and a quick way to grab lunch. Everything is kind of just messily thrown on the plate, but that's kind of the point for a quick warm lunch. I got the gyro biryani. The rice to gyro ratio is pretty even and it has a very mild flavor. The gyro was soft and seemed authentic. The portion is so huge; you probably could split it into 3 separate meals. Overall, a good standard place for a quick warm meal.

TLDR: For $5-and-change, Ghareeb Nawaz's Butter Chicken Paratha is a total winner! I happened across Ghareeb while running errands on a Monday morning. I vaguely recalled my bf's niece had some great things to say about Ghareeb, and while it was only 09:30 am when I walked by, made a mental note to stop by later. Came back at 10:50 am after finishing up my errands and thought it might be a little too early for lunch (they open at 10:30!)...but glad I popped in to get my Butter Chicken Paratha to-go. It took about 10-15 min for my order to be ready and while I was waiting, multiple people came in the pick up their orders. My pre-lunch snack did not disappoint!!! For $5.51, the paratha wrap is warm and flakey and was surprisingly densely filled with some delightful Butter Chicken with big pieces of chicken. I furiously munched on it while I sauntered home...to eat lunch with my bf. Definitely will be back again! (Please take no note of how big my bites are in the photo below...)

Came here late after a bar to pick up some late night food. The food came out quickly and we took it to go. The workers are very sweet and I could hear the chef singing so it was a fun environment. Food was quite good. The seating area is bright but quite small.

There's no surprise this place has multiple health violations and barely passing now. Watching behind the counter is disgustingly disturbing with how they handle food. I was reluctant after seeing this but still ordered. Which led to a very unfortunate experience. I've never had food poisoning or a food borne illness before. I dealt with unspeakable stomach issues for multiple days. The food was like warm and didn't taste very well (which makes sense on how food borne illness starts). Will never be going back.

Insanely well priced, delicious food! Service was fast and polite, ordered takeout and was extremely happy. Will be returning

Customer service could be better, lady at the register threw the receipt at me. This place was recommended to me by others, maybe change who you have working at the counter.

The Damen location has been on my list to try for years, so I'm glad they made it more convenient for me and opened up in LP! We ordered for takeout and got samosas, 3 entrees, rice, and garlic naan - all for like $35. It's definitely a steal. My favorite entree was the chili chicken biryani. The portion was HUGE and super flavorful. It is bright red though, so beware if you have food dye issues. We also had a chicken curry and and aloo palak. The chicken curry was bone-in which we weren't expecting but the chicken was fall apart tender. I didn't specify a spice level when ordering but something actually had some spice which I loved! Keep in mind - when ordering samosa, you are ordering one piece lol, not one order. Oops! Very good though and came with lots of sauce.

I've seen the Twitter posts pretty often in the last year and a half. I also don't love cash only spots which makes it nice the Lincoln Park locations takes cards. Got the chicken briyani. The portion sizes are very large, the taste was decent. I eat Indian food pretty often. The spice level/ spices they're using when I dine at other Indian restaurants there's a complexity in it that wasn't in the chicken briyani here. I'd recommend this place to folks just starting their Indian cuisine journey.

This is the best authentic Indian place in Chicago! First, portions are massive! We did not realize that a side of rice was going to be so big and ordered 5 orders for our table. Can easily share 2 orders of it! My friends who I went with typically order 2 dishes when they go to other Indian restaurants because portions are on the smaller size, but at Ghareeb you could easily share a few dishes between everybody. Second, the price is great for what you get! Don't let the price fool you on portion size. I would recommend this place as a takeout joint rather than dining in. Very casual order at the counter and food came out one by one. But staff were really friendly. Would definitely come back!

This place is incredible. Such a hidden gem. The portions are literally the largest I've ever seen. Or rice dish could have easily been 4 different meals. The food was so fresh and so delicious. I went for dinner or Friday and went back for lunch on Saturday it was that good. It's definitely more of a to go place. We sat down and ate and it wasn't the most comfy (mostly because they were just so busy with takeout it was crowded). Prices are dirt cheap also. Would eat here every day if I could!

Good food for cheaper than other local Indian restaurants. Small establishment with very little seating. Seems more of a takeout type of place.

incredibly kind service - i mistakenly made an online order to pick up at the wrong location and when i arrived here they were so quick to help and make my order anyways. huge portions too - one biryani made for 3 meals for me! and very affordable!!

Great value! A good starting spot if you want to work your way into Indian cuisine . No parking so call ahead for carry out

The food was good. Butter chicken fries were a hit. The beef kabob wrap was good too. I wasn't a fan of the gyro wrap. Also ordered a Mango Lassi that was warm.. it should've been cold. My biggest concern was the wait. My order was supposed to be ready at 8:40 pm and it took way longer. Others were also waiting forever. It's a good bang for your buck. Stick with the chicken dishes. But just be ready to wait.

I will buy food here again because the Devon branch (which has better food and bigger servings) is a trek. But please fix your restroom. It smells like it's backed up; you don't want the scent of raw sewage filling your restaurant. It's also likely that bacteria from the feces (and not just the smell) is dispersed into the kitchen through the air every time the bathroom is used. Also, keep an eye on your cooks and food handlers. One of them (a guy) does a haphazard job cleaning the grill in between orders; I saw burnt scraps from a previous order being mixed into the next dish that was being cooked. Another one (a different guy) was packing a sandwich a tenth of an inch away from a very dirty kitchen rag. To my horror, this guy touched the rag (probably to absorb the sauce that had gotten into his palm) before rolling the sandwich in foil. I did not see any handwashing during my visits, even by food handlers exiting the restroom. Not even the sound of running water and hand dryer.

The food is delicious, flavor throughout the whole dish. I got butter chicken, naan, butter veg biryani, and samosas with two friends to share and we had leftovers! Affordable, the service was quick and this spot is absolutely a gem!