Kama Bistro - Wicker Park
Indian restaurant · Wicker Park ·
Modern Indian eatery with fusion dishes, beer, and cocktails
Modern Indian eatery with fusion dishes, beer, and cocktails
"Kama is a Wicker Park Indian restaurant that is the younger sibling of a suburban location that sought to serve Indian flavors in familiar vessels like tacos. The restaurant found a niche, but more than a decade later in the city, Kama arrives more polished with traditional North Indian fare plus Indian-American fusion including ribs, steak, and more. Those special items are available dine-in only where customers will also find an extensive cocktail menu." - Ashok Selvam
"Led by chef Vikram Singh, the new Wicker Park outpost bills itself as 'Indian-inspired Americana,' pairing Indian flavors with American classics—think lobster bisque brightened with fenugreek and tarragon, tamarind-glazed short ribs and even a steak—while offering a lively, cocktail-forward program split into Love, Passion and Desire with drinks like an Old Fashioned riffed with chai masala, a Smokin Berries made with berry chutney, and a mango lassi–based option; the space has been refreshed from its previous tenant to accommodate full dining and separate takeout choices, plus vegan and vegetarian options on request." - Ashok Selvam
"Kama proves that the suburbs have more to offer than perfectly manicured lawns and neighbors who cordially hate you. This La Grange Indian restaurant opened a Wicker Park location, serving familiar staples like vindaloo and malai kofta, plus Indian-adjacent dishes like paneer ravioli. And most of the menu is successful. The tikka masala is fantastic, with a creamy, smoky tomato base and chicken so tender you can just poke it and it falls apart. But some dishes are too mild, and others too one-note—for example, gulab jamun that tastes like it sat in a bathtub of bourbon for 24 hours. The dark, moody walls and tufted leather banquettes might inspire you to drink bourbon anyway, and they help make the place feel more fancy than your average neighborhood restaurant. Keep Kama in mind next time you need a nice place to eat tandoori sea bass with a friend you’re trying to ease back into city life." - Veda Kilaru
"An "Indian-inspired Americana" concept from Vikram and Agnes Singh launching with roughly 90% of its planned menu, which spans Northern Indian classics like rogan josh as well as unexpected items such as tacos, ravioli with makhani sauce and lobster bisque; the team previously opened a suburban restaurant in 2009." - Naomi Waxman
"Slated to open in mid-August at 1560 N. Milwaukee Avenue in Wicker Park inside the former Wynwood Kitchen & Spirits, this smaller, roughly 70-seat outpost will present a tighter menu and a full bar with craft cocktails (examples include a mango martini made with mango chutney and a Smokin’ Berries drink using berry chutney). Described as “Indian-influenced Americana,” the kitchen will offer tandoor meats and traditional North Indian dishes like rogan josh alongside unexpected items such as tacos served in tortillas, beef ribeyes and occasional baby back ribs, seafood like sea bass and lobster bisque, and a ravioli dressed in makhani sauce. The menu also emphasizes expanded vegan options—reportedly substituting ghee for olive oil to make some items dairy free—and vegetable highlights such as roasted cauliflower." - Ashok Selvam