While it’s not as well-known as Fulton Market, Greektown, or Chinatown, Little India, Chicago, is a thriving neighborhood in West Rogers Park. Beginning at Sheridan Road., the street stretches across 15-block and is nestled amongst the bustle of the Chicago.
Filled with packed restaurants, delicious Indian food, shop windows advertising saris, and a quaint park, Little India should be on your radar for a visit. Spend a day on the far North side of town and prepare to be amazed. Little India has been a Chicago staple since the 1970s and is known by locals as a multiethnic corridor—in the West Ridge neighborhood; Devon Avenue is bustling with Indian and Pakistani culture.
1. Immerse yourself in the culture
First, you should stop by the Sikh temple (Devon Gurdwara Sahib of Chicago, 2341 W Devon Ave.) and learn more about the vibrant area as you walk around. Embrace your need for endless home decor at Reshma’s Home Decor (2540 W Devon Ave.), a meditation and spirituality store filled with traditional Indian textiles and clothes, home decor items, and artifacts from all over India.
2. Make a pit stop for delicious Indian food
Next, we guarantee you’ll be able to satiate your appetite with all the delicious restaurants Little India offers. Hema’s Kitchen, Ghareeb Nawaz Restaurant, Udupi Palace, Khan BBQ, food counters like Kamdar Plaza. Whatever you’re craving, from Choosa Tikka Masala and Garlic Nan to Kebabs and Tandoori Fish, you’ll be able to find it here.
3. Stroll Indian Boundary Park
Take in the scenery in Little India. One of Chicago’s beautiful parks, Indian Boundary, is tucked away in the West Ridge community and is 13.22 acres. This community treasure is beyond the quaint Tudor-style field house. Visitors can discover a beautifully restored nature area, a duck-filled lagoon, a children’s spray pool, four tennis courts, and more. Even during the summer, they play free movies in the park
4. Stock up on some groceries
Before you go, stock up on authentic Indian groceries at Patel Brothers (2610 W Devon Ave.), the biggest Indian grocery store in America. Patel Brothers have been around since 1991, serving the community authentic eats and ingredients. With locations all over the U.S., the Patel Brother retail chain focuses on spices, flavors, and foods in the Indian sub-continent and the Middle East. Ingredients like dals, lentils, and rice are nutritional cornerstones of Indian cuisine, and finding the right ones to perfect your Indian dinner will come from here.
This is just a small slice of Devon Avenue–there’s so much to do in Little India, Chicago; you could spend an entire day weaving in and out of shops, stopping for food, and so much more.