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Baba Palace
Categories: Restaurants Indian Restaurants Pakistani Indian, Pakistani [Edit]
334 W Chicago Ave(between Franklin St & Orleans St)
Chicago, IL 60610
Neighborhood: Near North Side
(312) 867-7777
- Nearest Transit:
-
Chicago-Brown (Brown Line, Purple Line)
Chicago-Red (Red Line)
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Late Night
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
78 reviews for Baba Palace
Review Highlights
"I think it might have been the best naan I've ever had."
(in 45 reviews)
"Both dishes were fantastic for a late night eat."
(in 10 reviews)
"Chapli Kebab, and Frontier Chicken."
(in 6 reviews)
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78 reviews in English
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Review from Pooja K.
Chicago, IL
12/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
Very average place.
Service: Ok, so i know what to expect when i walk into a place. Its definitely not the kind of place where i was going to be served, cool.. but when i pay for my food with a credit card.. don't throw the receipt and pen across the counter and say "sign!" Very rude, i did not appreciate that. Also, i was very nice throughout the order, said please and thank you, he didn't flash his pearly whites at me, not once. BUT, he was all smiles to the Sudanese taxi drivers, i guess im not special enough?
Food:
VERY Average. I would say 2.5 stars, but i guess 3's gotta do. The naan was okay, i got the garlic naan, it was a bit burnt. If you r one of the reviewers who said that this place's naan is the best you have had, then trust me, you haven't had the best. This was average, by far.
I got the frontier chicken , which are dry chicken cubes and the bf got lamb curry. They were both good dishes and came with ample rice but just a sliver of yogurt. When i went back to ask for more, he gave me a tiny container of yogurt ( that i guess they give to take out orders) and that itsy bitsy container was filled about 1/4 way. I was so frustrated because i eat every Indian dish smothered in yogurt.. a yogurt fiend. But that's okay. Oh, i found the goat to be a bit oiler than im used to, but then i realized it was a Pakistani place and their food tends to be on the greasier side. I think Yelp needs to differentiate between indian and pakistani restaurants. Theres some things Paki places get just right and some things Indian places are better for :)
Bathrooms are clean, so def a plus!
They have separate counter for napkins, silverware and plastic wear. I thought it was nice that they had silverware, but i didn't trust it.
Maybe we went at a weird time ( sun night).. idk. I have been looking for Indian places to eat that are a one $ yelp category, and on my escapade, my first one is definitely disappointing. I'm going to try that flaming wok place next and will review it.
Overall, if you are craving Pakistani food ( cause its not really Indian), id say go ahead, its not half bad. But, please don't expect Devon st style food. Actually this place grimes me out a bit ( sanitation wise... i saw one of the workers go into the bathroom, she came out and her hands were dry, i don't think she washed).
So, i wouldn't return and the food looks much more appetizing in the pictures :) -
Review from Maddy K.
10/26/2011
the place has undergone a renovation and its much better than it used to be. I like trying smaller restaurants as usually they're the ones with the best food.
however, this place really disapoints.
An Indian/Pakistani restaurant has to get two things right - dal and naan. The dal here was lumpy and such a disaster. And the naan were ok.
The chicken tikka masala was decent.
Overall, quite disapointing. -
Review from AngryYoungMan X.
Rockville, MD
10/11/2011
I used to live in Gold Coast some time back and have probably been to Baba's dozens of times for late night pick-up. This is the only place in downtown area that serves full meal all night and thus its popularity with cabbies (and myself).
Interior is fairly clean and they always have few tables open. There are few parking spots behind the building that are mostly occupied by the cabbies.
Food is little better than average and naan is mediocre. However on the top side, their food is not that greasy and salty compared to similar late night places near Devon St. I recommend Boti chicken, Frontier chicken and Chiili chicken which are available most days. Keema naan and garlic naan are passable too.
Besides the desserts and fish entrees, I have tried everything on their menu... more than once. Having eaten at most Indo-Pak late night establishments within city of Chicago, Baba pales a little in comparison. But it will do the job if you are in the neighborhood and craving for south-asian goodness at 2am.
Prices are bit higher than uptown competitors but again, this place offers the convenience of being in Gold Coast. -
Review from Katie C.
Chicago, IL
1/23/2012
PLEASE READ!
My company ordered from them via Seamless and one of the guys found a DEAD ROACH in his sandwich. NOT a joke.
DO NOT EAT HERE! -
Review from C R.
San Leandro, CA
10/3/2011
Happened to see this as our taxi drove by, and it seemed to have a nice vege menu so decided to try it out the next day for lunch. Not disappointed.
Its good Pakistani fare and with a nice selection of vege interpretations. Very divey, self-serice, so be prepared for that. The guy behind the counter can be grumpy, but also very helpful if you're friendly enough to him. He went out of his way to go to the back to get extra napkins, a plastic bag and plastic utensils for me to take the leftovers to go.
The naans are outstanding as everyone says. In fact, try the butter naan which is even more delicious. And for $1.50! The prices can't be beat.
Briyani was different but in a good way. I liked it especially with the yogurt raita.
Seems like a mural paint job is happening on one of the interior walls, so would be interesting to check out in a week or so. -
Review from Robert G.
Chicago, IL
11/16/2011
I ordered the felafel at lunch time. Not very good; it was not fresh and the ingredients used were subpar. Sultan's Market is located on North Avenue- too far to walk to from Baba's but the felafel are sooo much better there.
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Review from Wayne B.
Chicago, IL
8/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Wow! Night and day from Baba's Village...
I couldn't believe how lousy the food was and how long it took them to make the daily special...so bad, I can't bring myself to give it another shot...sorry. -
Review from Ivy t.
2/20/2011
Went in starving, came out hungry.
Ordered the chicken kabob sandwich, there were probably 5-6 little tiny pieces of chicken in it. They gave me a little dish with the sauce which poured right through the pita bread. So I asked for more sauce, hoping this one would actually be less liquidy and stay on my sandwich... Nope. went straight through the old bread and on the plate. So now my kabob sandwich turned into some sort of soup. Disappointing. Yeah it was cheap, around $5, but still, there's places i can get much more and fresher food for that price.
Anyway, ended up going to subway (the only place still open at that time i found in my area) because I was still super hungry after eating the soupy kabob sandwich at Baba Palace.
I didn't like it drunk, so I won't even consider eating it sober.Listed in: never again
-
Review from Cheyenne C.
Chicago, IL
11/4/2011
Stopped here for their Chicken Makhni with Naan. Big, quick plate of yummy food at a good price ($7).
Don't expect fine dining, though--I wasn't offered any napkins or utensils (not that you really need them with naan) and...
There was a hair in my food. I have short, light brown hair... this was long and black. It didn't stop me from enjoying my food, but if it would stop you... you might want to eat elsewhere. -
Review from Vignesh A.
Chicago, IL
3/30/2011
If you find yourself craving for some Indian food after a night out, this is the place to go. Everything in the menu is so good!! I Usually get naan, sipcy chicken tandoori and chicken makhni. All under $18 for two!!!
Not the best place to go while you are sober though :-P -
Review from Ashley B.
So I've read some mixed reviews about this place but since I live so close I figured I need to try it out in case it's some awesome gem that I've been missing out on. And the consensus is? Yeah, its awesome.
My boyfriend and I walk in to a relatively empty place, very bare (but we already knew what we were getting into since we drive by it ALL the time) and two tvs were playing, one was Middle Eastern news and the other was some Beatles session. Interesting, I know. I'll just say that if atmosphere is a vital part of your rating of a restaurant, skip this one.
Anyway the guy working immediately greets us, asks us if we like spicy food and if we like lamb or chicken. We understood the menu completely but the fact that he was so helpful was really nice.
I ended up ordering the lamb masala and the bf got the chicken masala. For around $15, we got two huge pieces of naan, two big servings of masala and a nice portion of a cool yogurt/spice/onion/lime/jalapeno mix. (See photo for pic of ONE serving) It was plentiful. It was good. The guy even told me to use my fingers on the lamb because there are bones, which was a nice heads-up. Overall, the food wasn't phenomenal by any means, but if you want something fast and cheap that's not a burger or some other fast food, this is a great option! -
Review from Dmitriy S.
Chicago, IL
3/14/2011
One my favorite places to eat in the world!
Me and my friends absolutely love this place and come here all the time.
This place has just be remodeled so now you can actually enjoy the atmosphere as well as the food. The food portions are huge which is awesome. Prices are really good too, so it doesn't hurt the back pocket. I always get Chicken Makhni they will ask you for either the Naan or rice I always get both. Naan is this really amazing bread that is kinda pizza shaped but tastes amazing. I pour the Makhni over the rice. Also you must ask for the cucumber sauce and onions. Throw that on top and you have a meal that will satisfy and completely fill you up and have you coming back time and time again.
It is really important what you order here. Not everything on the menu is great. But if you order the right food, it will be an experience hard to forget.
Again Highly recommend this place. And leaving now to go get some because I just made myself hungry. -
Review from Sebastian Y.
Chicago, IL
5/5/2011
I like the naan here. The dishes are alright.
This place is good because it's cheap.
If you like indian food, check this place out. -
Review from Paul B.
Chicago, IL
12/8/2010
This might be the scariest bathroom on the western hemisphere. The clientel and the accoutrement combine to create a buzz-hard-neon-light-scratch-n-sniff-David-Lynch experience. I couldn't get out of there soon enough.
The rest of the joint is like a dark cafeteria - nothing special - just functional. I don't have a great knowledge of Indian food - but I recently saw this amazing little movie called "Outsourced" and have been curious about Indian/Pakistani food.
I told the counter girl I had no idea what I was ordering. She recommended the Chicken Makhani. This is chicken - off the bone - in creamy sauce with tomatoes and onions and herbs and Indian spices. The meal deal included a nice plate of basmati rice.
I went for a onion naan (bread) as well.
The Makhani was delicious - not to spicy, but a nice flavor to it. The counter girl showed me the fresh onions and jalapeños and some creamy sauce.
The portion size was perfect - after eating all of the food and wiping the plates clean with the naan - I decided that I would have to get better acquainted with Indian food.
The price was right - the people polite - but until they get their bathroom square away - I imagine I will do most of my Indian food investigation elsewhere - or go to the bathroom therefore going to Baba Palace. -
Review from Anna T.
10/8/2010
GAVE ME SALMONELLA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am not kidding, I was completely laid up sick for two days straight and nearly had to check myself into the hospital for dehydration after eating at this place. It's still hard for me to eat Indian food, and I LIVED IN INDIA.
To get back to that - I was excited to try this place because I lived in Delhi for a while and it's hard to find affordable decent Indian food in the US. I thought this place looked legit and promising, and was very open to it even though when my friend and I walked in it was a complete dive and there was noone else there at dinner time on a Sunday. I was definitely pleased with the portions and the prices - cheap for a ton of filling and relatively tasty food - but not as good as I had in India.
Too bad it made me sick and want to die. It's not worth the risk. -
Review from Shradha A.
Chicago, IL
9/27/2010
Great late night food!
Their paneer makhni, yellow daal and especially their naan were all so good at 3AM!! $7 for a pretty generous portion of curry and you can choose whether you'd like rice or naan with your entree order! -
Review from Omar A.
Upland, CA
10/27/2010
We decided to come here because Zaiqa was closed. It is very similar to Zaiqa except the food isn't as good. Zaiqa also has more "charm" aka looks more seedier, has more strangely friendly cab drivers, and reeks more of the food.
Don't get me wrong, Baba Palace is not that much less seedier, still has those taxidrivers, and definitely has a little stench going on...plus they have that underground prayer space for those who like to pray 5 times a day :)
The food is eh though, not very good. The only thing I liked there was the chapli kabobs which were on point. One extra star for those! -
Review from kiley w.
IL
7/15/2010
A buddy suggested we try this place one night. Omg was it the worse suggestion ever possible. I really wanted to smack him over the head for suggesting we try this place.
Walking in the place, you can tell that its some hole in the wall kinda place. I ordered a chicken kebab dish. And then I headed to the bathroom, worse mistake ever. The bathroom looked like one of those that you would find in a third world country, it was disgusting.
My buddy ordered some other random dish, that same dish was sitting on the counter as we walked in I remembered. And the owner told my friend to just take that dish, even after my friend wanted a new one made, the owner pretty much refused and forced my friend to take that dish. I wouldve just walked out at the point, but my friend took it anyways.
When my food got to the table, I could already tell it was something gross, I forced myself to take a bite and I spit it out and didn't eat anymore of it. It was plain nasty, the chicken kebab had a casing on it that resembled a hot dog.
I will never step foot in this place again. I'd give it 0 stars if I could. -
Review from Mikey J.
7/9/2010
A friend and I came here after a decent night playing poker at the casino. Before we came in we asked one of the numerous taxi drivers outside about the place. When asked what's the food like, a particularly happy fellow smiled and said "It's never given me trouble." Green light.
As soon as we walked in, we felt we had been warped into some strange third-world foreign country. Let's get this main detail out of the way. This place is GRUNGY. Now this restaurant is on some prime Near North real estate, and you'd think the owner would put some effort into keeping it presentable. But no. It honestly is the dirtiest restaurant I've ever been to. They do have some interesting additions like a pool table and mosque for prayer. The bathroom is pretty terrible, AVOID IT. At 4am, we didn't have much options so we stayed course.
We ended up ordering a grilled chicken and chicken masali, both came with the well-known naan. Food came quick and hot, and we carried out (no way we're eating in there). Prices are cheap (about $7 for each dish)
Both dishes were fantastic for a late night eat. Our other option was Mickey D's and this place blew it out of the water. The Naan is EXCELLENT and we ate everything. After our meal we were satisfied and didn't have one ounce of that greasy feeling you get too often at other late-night joints. Ah yes, this place is open 24 hours.
I would give this place 4 stars, but Baba you really have to clean yourself up!
Also, for some odd reason, their colorful menu boasts "We Sell Phone Cards At Discount Prices." Weird. -
Review from Nishan P.
6/10/2009
Oh how thrilled I was to discover there exists a hole-in-the-wall Pakistani restaurant in my neighborhood. No more treks to Devon for me. At the first opportunity I headed over to Baba for lunch. A palace this place was not. In fact, the atmosphere in this dingy restaurant made me a little uncomfortable.
I decided to order one of my staples, a mutton curry with naan. The meal can be best described as "meh." The mutton didn't have much flavor and the naan was hard.
Because I so wanted to like this place I decided to give it another try. On my second visit I ordered another one of my staples, the frontier chicken, to go. The dish was incredibly bland and completely unappetizing. It tasted like boiled chicken coated in a tomato sauce. Never before have I had to recook a meal from a restaurant. However, I had to reduce the frontier chicken with some spices just to make it edible.
I am sorry Baba but that is two strikes. No chance for a third strike from me. -
Review from laela l.
Chicago, IL
11/10/2010
Oh hell no...
I dropped $14 for two vats of...stuff.
Palak paneer cheese tasted sour
Chicken tikka -- decent, but -- tasted more like chicken FAT
Huge portions of naan were nice, but it got stale before I finished
It's a shady place to visit when you're sober -
Review from Erika G.
3/4/2008
The one star is for the cultures that washed over me while I was eating. A group of Arabic-speaking Africans listened to a loud al Jazeera blaring in the back. A charming Pakistani man (though he did not acknowledge me until the last possible second that it was my turn) took my order, while Bollywood videos played in the front of the restaurant. A giant portrait of the haaj at Mecca surveyed the whole scene, serenely. Loved that part of it.
The food, however, could use a li'l more culture. I had the Chicken Boti, since it's a dish I - still love best - at Bism'allah. In the interests of a little compare contrast. Well . . . the chicken was extremely dry and tasteless, the rice desultory. The daal was a mere saucer full, and didn't have the delicious mouth explosion of spices that the Heavenly Daal has at . . . Bism'allah. The lettuce was wilted and brown. The most I could say for this food is . . . functional. Since the place is open 24 hours, I bet it's a place that cab drivers pop in for a quick bite. For someone who really loves the spices of this region, however, and all the delicious flavors . . . it was a bit disappointing.
This place used to be a dessert and wine club, and you can still see the shadows of this . . . through the shabbiness that is there now. And the pool table in the back is slightly puzzling. Absolutely no attention to detail on the interior, it's all just thrown together.Listed in: Indian Restaurants/Devon…
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Review from Jessica V.
Chicago, IL
4/9/2008
So, I went here and saw a sticker that said "people loved us on a yelp!" and i thought to myself really? why? and WHO?
my first inital thought was this place has had a few health code violations. the sticky floors and brown coating on the salt shakers... and the food, while flavorful, gave me goosebumps. i took a bite of my pulled chicken and ended up with a bone in my mouth. ugh.
the layout is weird too. it's like the owner has no pride in the establishment or the quaility of food.
two stars because at least it's different, a little ethnic, has a pool table, and open 24 hours. -
Review from Cali M.
Sacramento, CA
6/22/2006
If this was just open in the day I would give it 3 stars but it is open around the clock it gets an extra star from me! The food is good, but I am not a huge fan of the chicken. It is all dark fatty meat, ick. I am all about the samosas and the guy at the counter is nice. It is a good place to stop by at 5 am when you want somewhere that isn't serving breakfast when you want dinner.
They have an array of specials that change everyday so when you go in it will always be something new. If the pictures on the wall confuse you a bit, go up to the front and they have small samples so you can see the dishes of the day up close. -
Review from Brian N.
Elmhurst, IL
2/10/2011
I've been eating here for 4 or 5 years, and I'd bet cash that I've eaten here more times than nearly anyone who has reviewed here. It's right by one of my company's offices, and while I'm not there everyday I do eat here just about everytime I'm around. I used to get carryout and eat back at my office, but after realizing pretty quickly that their to-go containers gave you a smaller portion (or so it seemed at the time, anyway) of whatever entree you ordered I started eating in. I've been hooked ever since.
My favorites are the Chicken Makhani (which I swear used to be spelled Mahkni - new sign typo?), Chapli Kebab, and Frontier Chicken. I love all the Indian/Pakastani dishes, actually; I've had most of them at least once or twice. They also have really good hommus, not skimping on the tahini like some places. The naan is awesome like many have said.
I've eaten enough Indian and Pakastani food to say that I don't get the harshness of some of the reviews here. I most definitely have never been sick from eating here, and as some have said everyone here is nice, employees and other patrons, so I also don't get references to weirdness etc. I know it doesn't look like a Chipotle but who cares? We don't all have the same standards about appearances, so get used to it.
So it appears that maybe there are new owners as of January '11. They put in a new doorway, new menu signs, etc. and have more mediterranean options now. Also, the tax is no longer included (wink!) in the price. At the moment it's no longer as smooth of an operation - longer wait times - but I can deal. My five star rating reflects my love of the food and my confidence that they will work it out. -
Review from mike l.
Brooklyn, NY
7/9/2007
I always felt like the book "Not For Tourists" was the perfect way to look like a tourist. It doesn't feature touristy sites, but the small, black book is the perfect secret pirate map every suburbanite hopes will guide them through the rough waters of the scary city.
Baba Palace is SERIOUSLY not for tourists. I was waiting for Indiana Jones to burst through the door with a pack of turban'd gangsta's close behind. Of course, the massive menu as you walk in would stop them all in their tracks.
This place ain't pretty, but it is tasty. holy shit, am I stuffed. -
Review from Zachary M.
Chicago, IL
4/9/2008
I've eaten at Baba Palace twice. The first time, I got the frontier chicken and it was pretty decent. The naan kicks ass.
The second time? I don't remember what I had, but all I know was that I woke up at 5am vomiting my guts out despite being totally sober. I can handle spicy food just fine and usually don't get like this so I'm going to attribute it to some kind of health code violation. It's a shame my friends like this place so much. As it stands, the only thing I will ever order here again is the naan or a factory sealed beverage.
Also, it's dingy and dirty. -
Review from Jonathan A.
Chicago, IL
5/10/2009
Yeah, I went with Brad C. for lunch and I have to second everything he said.
If you are looking for a good and cheap lunch spot, I think it's always a good idea to follow where the police officers, construction workers, and in this case cab drivers are going for lunch. They always know the good spots. For about $7, you can get a full meal and choose either rice or naan with your entree. I was brash and ordered it with rice and an extra naan and samosa just because I wanted to try it all. But man, it was too much food. I didn't think the naan was going to be so big. It's not the same quality you might get at a sit down Indian restaurant, but the atmosphere was definitely interesting and for ordering everything and the kitchen sink, my order was still under $10. Amazing. -
Review from Samantha C.
Chicago, IL
11/7/2010
For an Indian restaurant, this place isn't too vegetarian friendly.
We got their only veg dishes on the menu: mixed vegetable and chana masala with rice and naan.
The veggies were unappetizingly over cooked and the chana masala was just o-k. The samosas were given to us from under plastic wrap on the counter, and they offered us ranch dressing to go with them (wtf?). We didn't take the ranch, but instead had them plain. And there wasn't a whole lot of flavor going on.
If you're in the mood for cheap Indian food, I suggest going else were. Flaming wok is so much better believe it or not, or if it isn't a Sunday, head down to University Village to Taj Mahal. Both offer what this joint doesn't: flavor. -
Review from Dan S.
Chicago, IL
4/16/2009
Went here for lunch. The clientele appear to be mostly cabbies popping in for a quick meal. When we walked in there were 3 or 4 lone men sitting watching Indian television and waiting for their food.
The menu greets you as walk in, a giant listing on the wall of the daily entrees (around 10) as well as a rotating daily menu of 6 or 7 more. Each entree is $7 and comes with either naan or basmati rice, pretty standard prices for the River North area. The ordering process is pretty straightforward, with deli-style signs denoting where to order and pick up.
As I walked up to order, I noticed an odd fixture: a pool table in the back of the restaurant. So that's what cabbies do when they're on their breaks. I ordered the Chicken Masala with a Mango Lhassi (called a "Mango Shake" here). I barely had time to get back to my seat before I heard the telltale "ding-ding-ding" announcing the arrival of the food. Yes, you will hear this as well as the shouting of orders over the microphone throughout your meal; be prepared.
This place is pretty simplistic: bare walls with the occasional Middle Eastern tapestry, and cafeteria-style meals served on trays. They must be all about the food, right? Not so: as soon as I saw my dish, I thought, is this it? A chicken leg and 2 wings floating in a soup of masala, with a side of naan. Yes, that was it, unless you count the giant cinnamon bark (which I bit into, not sure of what it was, before I realized it was completely inedible) taking up most of the room in the bowl. My mango shake, while flavorful, could have been blended a lot more. This would have stopped all the ice from constantly clogging up my straw. The single highlight was the football-sized naan, which struck a great balance between soft and crispy.
Unfortunately, the underwhelming dish left me with a feeling of disappointment. I knew going in that it was the Indian equivalent of a greasy spoon, but was shocked when I saw average prices coupled with an average portion size. Have the cabbies lost it? -
Review from Pooja S.
Seattle, WA
2/23/2007
I think this place rocks!! We have gone there so many times and even brought food home. The kabobs are excellent especially the Chicken Seekh Kabob, It is open 24 hours which is a big advantage. To me at least this is the place to go when you are fairly inebriated.
You will find all the taxi drivers here between 1am -5 am plus its very affordable...and a huge quantity. Totally value for money !! -
Review from Janet L.
Chicago, IL
5/29/2008
This place has gooooood food, yo. The naan was a-mazing. I think it might have been the best naan I've ever had.
It's cool how there are different dishes offered for each day of the week. I've only been here once, so I'll definitely have to try everything on the menu. :oP
The mango smoothie was okay, but I don't think it was worth however much it cost (it's kind of small). The samosas are yummy too. The lamb masala was delish as well! I went with 3 friends and we all ordered the same thing...
So it looks like it's pretty sketch to come here late at night, but it was totally fine when we were there (we went around 8pm). I can imagine the food here being awesome drunk food, though. -
Review from Raana A.
5/7/2010
Stopped in to try Baba's after a night out.
So in writing this review, I debated on giving this restaurant two stars over one, even for just their naan and their semi-decent Butter Chicken. But then I remembered the look of warning my dining companions faces when I was about to head to their bathroom to wash my hands after eating my meal. I figured it was best to wait until the short ride home and both of them agreed.
I am well aware that there are certain ethnic establishments where cleanliness may be questionable, but the food is excellent. This wasn't one of those places. Save for the naan and butter-chicken (it was ok, but I've had much, much better...) Every other dish we ordered, including Saag and Lamb, was off is both taste and texture.
Won't be back. :-( -
Review from Chris L.
Chicago, IL
4/12/2010
I went here a few times years ago when I was still a carnivore and I was completely disgusted by it. Gave up meat over a year ago and a friend had raved about their mixed veggie plate, so I gave them another try.
The food itself is decent, and the prices are cheap, but the thing that keeps me coming back is the AMAZING naan. It likely has something to do with the speed with which it gets brought to your table after its cooked, but whatever, point is its damn good.
Can't however say anything good about the ambiance and decor of the place, its actually kinda gross. The other patrons are occasionally stinky also. I suggest visiting in the afternoon when Maury Povich is aired as both the staff and customers really get into it and scream back at the TV. -
Review from Kacie M.
8/18/2009
Funny - when I went to college we used to make an hour-long trek up to Devon street via train and bus to find good Indo/Pak food, until finally our senior year someone finally dared to walk the one-block to Baba's and make it past the dubious-looking exterior.
I've felt uncomfortable eating here as a woman, but that is made up for by the Bollywood videos or soccer games on TV that are viewed by a crowd of Pakistani, Arab, or African-Muslim cab drivers. It's fun! The food is a solid average - nothing amazing but affordable and tasty. Naan is, of course, the best thing there. -
Review from Jackie R.
IL
6/18/2007
We eat here often as it is around the corner from our apartment, it is open 24 hours, and my significant other is hard-core Indian.
First, the guy working behind the counter, despite limited english skills, is super nice, and if you tell him your hungry and dont know what you want (or never heard of any of this stuff!), he'll just place an order for the 5 best things they have and bag it all up for you. 20 bucks later your walking home with 2 days of food.
I recommend the Naan and Paratha- both Indian flat breads. There is a sign right by the register with the different types of Naan, I recommend the Garlic Naan, it has chunks of roasted garlic pressed onto the top. Mmmm Mm! The Paratha is real thin, flakey, and buttery, perfect for rolling up anything you ordered and eating like a burrito! I also recommend the Kebabs too.
What I dont recommend is the chicken. Like someone here has noted, it is dark, fatty, and just has that weird taste that makes you wonder what kind of animal it really is... But if you are the kind of person who enjoys flaming hot food, there is a kind of chicken here so hot its similar to suckling a tube of wasabi. Try it for novelty purposes!
If you have a sensitive stomach, order with caution =) -
Review from Brad C.
Chicago, IL
5/10/2009 6 Check-ins Here
My never ending quest for new lunch places in the loop has brought me to Baba Palace. Walked over with a co-worker around 12:30 and man this place was packed for lunch. The menu is huge but you can only get certain items on certain days which makes if great if you go here a lot. I ended up with one of the Friday specials, mutton and chickpeas. Really I just picked randomly... figured whatever I was going to pick was going to be good. With the meal you get the choice of naan or rice. I figured I knew what the rice was going to taste like so went with the naan. They do have other naan flavors but I think it costs extra. For under $10 you get a ton of food. The food was good, not the best Pakistani / Indian food in the world but it was good. At least good enough that I ate the entire thing, or at least everything I could since a good portion of the mutton was bone.
I'm surprised they serve food 24 hours and they have a pool table too. I'll be back for lunch again soon! I really dug this spot. -
Review from Robin W.
Chicago, IL
1/10/2008
I'm gonna be straight with you...the couple times I ventured into Baba Palace the food was good but some bad things went down:
-The first time, a gun was pulled in a fight between two 4am disgruntled customers (scaring the HELL out of me and justifying a table dive into my saag!)
-The second time, I didn't even make it in the door as an ambulance was in front with paramedics wheeling someone out of the restaurant.
Long story short, I learned that the way to deal with my darling 24 hour Indian restaurant, is to order delivery! They just send my food with whatever cab driver is around, and it gets here quick and hot.
This is not to be mistaken for a dining experience...it's just what you might expect for food option at 5am...oily, fatty dishes that hit the spot. -
Review from Sid V.
Chicago, IL
12/14/2010
This place seems to cater primarily to cabbies so you may feel like a bit of outsider but whatever, don't let that dissuade you from going. The chili chicken is so good I never get anything else. The naan is pretty good as well. Service is fine, prices are fair-yeah it's not exactly a "palace" but I like it just fine. Check it out.
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Review from cassie r.
3/8/2010
Walking in, I felt like I had just broken into somone's living room. And no, the place doesn't look like a living room (FAAAAR from it, it's much more reminiscent of a dingy hole in the wall), but everyone in the place knew each other. Except yours truly, apparently.
But I was on a mission to eat, so I pushed past the slight awkwardness and ordered the wheat naan with the chicken cholay - a wonderfully spicy mix of chick peas and chicken. It was pretty good - I don't often eat Indian food, but this was a memorable foray into some authentic , and very affordable, grub.
