Best Bets for Ethnic Cuisine in Chicago: My Top Restaurant Picks

Chicago has always been a city with a rich and diverse ethnic history. This is all-the-more evident when you look at the close-knit neighborhoods that make up the downtown area, each one unique to it's inhabitants heritage and culture. Of course, having all this variety means a great selection of ethnic cuisine for food lovers. Here are some of the best bets for ethnic cuisine that take you outside of the standard deep-dish pizza and hot dog fare:

Indian

Head up to the Northside, right on the city border with Evanston, and you'll find Devon Avenue, your Indian / Pakistani dining mecca. Traveling up here to get your Indian food fix is like traveling across the globe to the country itself. Expansive, colorful sari shops, along with produce-filled markets, fill the street. During the summer, the atomasphere is vibrant and celebratory, full of life and music.

The best pick of the neighborhood has got to be Tiffin Restaurant, located at 2536 W Devon (773-338-2143). Start with their assorted appetizer platter, complete with samosas, spicy chicken tikka, pakoras, and other delights. Next, pick from their extensive varieties of curries (including the always reliably delicious vegetable curry, tandoori chicken, and lamb vindaloo), naan breads and biryani rice dishes. For dessert, if you can handle it, go for the refreshing kulfi (in either orange or mango) to cool down the fire!

Greek

Greektown is just minutes away from downtown Chicago. All the restaurants are pretty much on one long strip of Halsted St. Many of the restaurants are virtually the same in concept and menu, however there is one that I think takes a slightly different, special focus: Santorini, located at 800 W. Adams and Halsted (312-829-8820).