Welcome to Chiya Chai, Chicago’s ultimate destination for the best chai and delicious South-Asian street food. In our warm, modern café, you’ll discover over 150 unique chai combinations, making it one of the most expansive chai menus in the world. Our teas are sourced directly from the owner’s family in Nepal, ensuring every sip is steeped in tradition. Pair your chai with delicious street foods like curries, pies, dumplings, crispy samosas, and tangy Chaat. Our free community room is perfect for meetings, quiet work, or intimate events like baby showers or birthdays. Chiya Chai also offers convenient chai boxes with taps for events, as well as packaged teas and growlers, making it easy to enjoy your favorite chai flavors at home.
Casual Nepalese cafe serving many types of chai plus coffee, booze & a compact food menu.
Tazima Parris
I love chai and there are so many options—and everything is SO good. The person tending me was so gentle with my low blood sugar indecision. Cute decorative detail and I will be back for adult beverages another time.
… morePalak Nath
Got the Mumbai cutting Tea, Bhelpuri and Samosa chaat. The staff were friendly. I liked the amount of variety available in tea. Went on a Wednesday evening, hence, could find a parking spot nearby. The place was not that crowded and has ample of space to sit. The snacks were good but not a fan of the chai. The bhelpuri and Samosa Chaat werd very similar in taste.
… moreMandala Gupta VerWiebe
This restaurant is a hidden gem!! Not only is the menu extremely affordable, but everything is delicious. The quality of the food and drinks is astounding. They have achieved rich, exciting flavors and even transformed them into new unique dishes!!!
… moreLizbeth Rodriguez
The food was so delicious, my family and I ordered 3 times! I’ve never had Indian food before, but I like it now! We started off with Chai tea. The Indian cashier/worker was very kind to recommend me Chai tea; I asked about sweet teas, he recommended me the Caramel Sea Salt one and said I’d like it – and I did! I don’t know his name but he was very welcoming and patient. So I give the service 5 stars. The food surprisingly didn’t take long either, and the food presentation was nice. It came ready and hot as well, but not to the point we couldn’t start eating yet. I also appreciate the detail of giving us the drinks first before the food. The café was clean and well kept as well.
I could tell there were a lot of spices and ingredients in their food. It tasted authentic and it was good. The portions are good too. My family and I didn’t feel awfully full afterwards.
My family and I specifically got garlic Naan bread, the Creamy Masala Chicken, Cauliflower Peas and Potatoes, Saag Paneer, and the Batata Vada Chaat. We got Vanilla Nutmeg, Caramel Sea Salt, and Espresso Hazelnut iced Chai tea as well. The Naan bread was chewy in the center, a bit rough around the edges and flavorful. The curries weren’t too overwhelming while still having many spices.
… moreMindy Bergeron
We ordered a lot of chai and samosas for two corporate events that were planned overnight. The team was very flexible with delivery (delivering late at night) and helped with some last minute changes to one order. The team communicated well and was so friendly. The chai and samosas were delicious. Highly recommend Chiya Chai!!
… moreMadeleine (The Ruiner)
At Chiya Chai, a sip of Nepalese delight,
Where chai varieties dance in the light.
Each cup a promise, warm and inviting,
Priced with care—truly a value worth writing.
Plates arrive with generous share,
Friendly smiles and service that care.
The space is clean, a welcoming scene,
A neighborhood gem, both humble and keen.
Yet a wish lingers on the spice and fire—
The dishes and chai, a touch milder than desire.
Chiya chili potatoes, soft yet shy of a crisp,
A flavor note that I hope someday will twist.
Featured once on Check Please’s lore,
A nod to excellence and so much more.
While I wouldn’t plan a trip just to roam,
If passing by, I’d call it home.
… moreRoss Karlins
One of the curry/masala sauces my wife and I have ever had (the sauce that comes with the masala dumplings and the masala fries, not the tikka masala (although that was very good also)). We were obsessed with the fries and dumplings. The dumplings literally melted in your mouth. The fries were perfectly cooked, seasoned, and came with one of the best sauces ever. All the different chai options are fun. Also, they have one of the best happy hours ever! It’s every dat from 6-9 and it’s $5 margs, old fashioneds, and more! Unbelievable! We also got the pev puri which we enjoyed a lot and the chicken tikka masala which was delicious (although we wished it was bigger for the price). The garlic paratha was good but didnt taste like garlic at all. Everything was very reasonably priced (except maybe the tikka masala). We absolutely loved it here and will definitely come back! Easily top 2 best Indian we’ve ever had anywhere.
… moreAlex
So glad they reopened with atleast 2 of my favorite curry bowls and chaats. Chai is amazing, perfection, best chai in the city! Food spectacular, I really missed all these flavors.
… moreDonna
Came here for the first time to get takeout food and it was a great experience!
I tried the samosa chaat, masala fries and the desi chai and they were all really good. Everything was ready pretty fast and the environment in there was also very cute! I would reccomend for a quick bite or if you want to go to a cafe to study / work. It was also very reasonably priced.
… moreLou Lou
I was craving curry and this place delivered! Great portions at reasonable prices, I’m glad to have this in the neighborhood! They also have a little store selling hats and other goods. It’s also a great spot to sit and work on your laptop and it’s near many other shops and such.
… more