On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
30% Off our regular menu prices for catering orders of $500 or more.
Harrison (Red)
Library (Orange, Brown, Purple Express, Pink)
Jackson (Blue, Red)
Mon-Fri. 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sat-Sun. 12:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Loading...
I love Indian food. When I saw this, I had to try it. I am quite impressed with the concept and the food was pretty good. The store is laid out and decorated quite nicely.
I had the Lamb rogan josh with basmati rice and a pair of samosas. The lamb was spiced just enough, the rice was cooked well and the samosas were really good (and baked, not fried). Mango and tamarind chutneys were a little different than I have had before, but were pretty good.
The mango lassi in the bottle was bland and was nothing more than flavored kefir.
I will be back to try the other dishes. It isn't the best Indian food I have had, but can't beat the idea and would love to see more of these open up around the city.
It's the Chipotle of Indian food.
Portions are huge. Price is right. Food is tasty if a little bland. And it's much healthier than your average fast food meal.
I was a little taken aback by the serving bowls and trays. They're these big plastic things that you just throw away at the end of the meal -- that's a large amount of plastic garbage for every single customer. yikes.
Positives:
Price (!!!!)
Chicken Tikka (drool)
Chutneys
Portions
Service (fast, me likey)
Negative:
Premade naan.. (still tastes good, i suppose)
I love giving 1/2 stars, so this one gets a 3.5 stars. It's good, not change your life amazing, but I think i know why. Other people's reviews have pointed out that "something is missing." What's missing is the ghee and cream that is usually added to most indian food to make it taste sooo good. So considering that its much healthier than the average indian food, its pretty tasty! Perfect for a weeknight dinner or lunch, since you can't always blow the calorie or literal bank on a meal. Spinach paneer is light (geez I do miss the extra fat on that one), chicken curry is delicious, naan is okay.
A great lunch alternative for the loop, and a respectable concept. I had the lamb. My fellow diner had the beef. Both dishes were served in pint deli containers with naan or rice (we opted for naan) and a chutney in a 1-oz container.
The lamb was tasty, though I was left wanting for a bit more when finished. The beef was spicy and if I go back, I'd get that. I had a sweet chutney as recommended by the girl behind the counter, and my fellow diner had the tomato. Both were totally forgettable, though the naan had a nice flavor. Expect to pay like $8 or $9 for entree, starch and a drink. Par for the loop lunch. Nice, clean space.
I think another person hit it on the head. It is definitely an Indian version of Chipotle. If I actually lived in Chicago, I would never go back. But, if I were a poor student from the area I might reconsider.
Fast yet healthy Indian food! Yay! Options for vegans! Their samosas are BAKED, which is pretty cool. I got the samosas, gobi potatoes(vegan friendly), and 3 different kinds of chutneys( I think it was cilantro, indian pickle, and tamarind). Yum.
Perfect for students(student discount) ! They also have this Chutney Joe's card where if you get it punched out 10 times, the 11th meal is free!
Cheap, pretty filling, and vegan friendly!
C. is for the copious cash i spend, on
H.ardly impressive, very very
U.nderwhelming food.
T.alk about
N.ot getting your money's worth..
E.very meat item is 1$ extra.
Y?????????????!!!!!
J.oe's has one good thing, it is very clean.
O.therwise, skip this place and
E.at somewhere else.
S.ucky sucky.
As many others have mentioned, Chutney Joe's is basically an Indian copy of Chipotle (practically plagiarized). It's in many ways a hip, slicker version of Indian whole-in-the-walls that serve full meals for very little money. Funnily enough, Chutney Joe's has the balls to make this claim on its website: "Chutney Joe's aims to correct the errors of typical Indian restaurants in America."
The food here is okay. I had a two-curry combo meal with a fountain soda and a baked samosa ($12 with tax and a student discount). They also had a tofu tikka special which sounded good, but I didn't try. The samosa was pretty decent, though the curries were both bland and seemed to be missing some crucial ingredients. The chana masala was watery and lacked zing; the aloo gobi was made with fresh, tasty potatoes and cauliflower, but the sauce had no flavor other than that of vegetable oil.
I like that they label all their vegan options, which is extremely helpful and progressive. However, they don't offer vegan bread such as whole-wheat tandoori roti (they only have naan, which is made with dairy), and they don't offer brown rice, which is always a travesty. It seems strange that they don't offer these things, considering the restaurant emphasizes its "healthy" aspects (no butter, no cream, no trans-fats, etc.).
The portion size is large and definitely a good value though, again, the food isn't spectacular.
Also like other Indian whole-in-the-walls, Chutney Joe's serves its food on paper plates and styrofoam/plastic and everything here is disposable. That was pretty disappointing and I felt extremely wasteful eating there (not that Chipotle is much better).
On a whole, Chutney Joe's is decent. I'm giving them three stars because they do try to do new stuff (such as the tofu tikka) and because they're one of few places in the Loop that offers labeled vegan food. That said, this is definitely not stellar Indian food and has much room for improvement.
It's like the Chipotle of Indian food - which is... fricking AWESOME, that's what it is - and it's about damn time, too.
And this is why - well, there are actually a few reasons why:
1) Because, why leave all of the bland American interpretations of stuff to Mexican, Italian and Chinese foods? It's a big, big world out there and America is one hungry, hungry mofo, that's why - Why not spread the love around?
2) The movie Anchorman pretty much single-handedly fucked up American ideas about Indian food with that Indian-food-diaper-smelling joke, that's why. Hey! Christina Applegate! Fuck you! You know you love dal, asshole...everyone loves lentils.
So now shit all has to be even more dumbed down than usual for us - some things here are way too spicy, some things are not at all spicy or flavorful enough - Hellooo? Sounds like Taco Bell to me! I'm going to make a run for the border for a fourth meal - the subcontinental border for a chili cheese dosa, perhaps...
So now here "achar" is "Indian pickles", soon "naan" will be just "bread" and "chicken tikka masala" will become "delicious spicy chicken" - It's a food revolution!
3) I came to Chutney Joe's (listen to that! they even have a ridiculously offensive name - America LOVES that shit! Look out Panda Express - they're coming for YOU!) with one of those "afraid of Indian food" people, and you know what? Hells yes is what - he loved it - sopped up the "sweet stuff" (mango chutney) with the bread (naan) and the spicy chicken (tikka masala) and GOT DOWN on it! I'm sure it helped that the whole restaurant is laid out just like a Chipotle, with trays and plastic dishes and whatnot.
Almost everything is fast food perfection - they even have biryani on the menu (let's call it "crazy rice"!), but they have committed one GIANT fuck up - they brag about the lack of butter, ghee (clarified butter) and cream in their food....ummm...what the fuck is wrong with you, CJ? First of all - that shit is all delicious. Second of all - you'll never become McDonald's thinking like that! Shhhhhh!
This is the first and only location so far, but, hopefully, for the love of deliciousness, they will expand far and fast. I long for the day when I can drag my big ass out of bed at 2am and roll through a drive-thru and order a huge mango lassi with a king size dosa and a 6 piece of samosa nuggets - and supersize it.
Well, they lose a star because of their sketchy delivery- half the time they say they'll deliver to me, half the time they refuse.
But really tasty, fast indian food. I definitely recommend it.
As far as the restaurant itself- i've never been. Just delivery and just amazing.
Maybe I'm the perfect person for this place. It's really simple. And that's what I like about it.
What Chutney Joe's does effectively is demystify Indian food for someone as unfamiliar about the finer arts of the cuisine as I am.
Bam. Bam. Bam.
What's your bread? What's your meat (or primary vegetable)? And what's your spice/seasoning?
Bam. Bam. Bam.
Lunch or dinner is served.
The logic behind a cafeteria ordering style to food that can seem foreign to some diners breaks down the other at a time when stubborn hunger could easily be slayed by a slice of pizza or a double cheeseburger. For years, I regrettably thought of food from this area of the world in two ways 1) a butt bomb and 2) ass hot. This was from limited experience at Indian buffet restaurants in another state. The popular culture construct of how Indian food bodyslams an American's insides doesn't help the cuisine win over converts. But Chutney Joe's manages to be the Will Smith of Indian food.
Yeah, I'm making the rap to pop culture/ Indian food to the hungry masses analogy. If you don't get, that's fine. Parents just don't understand. Say what you will about the now-movie megastar he was considered a rap lightweight but successfully won over fans of all ages and ethnic backgrounds to a style of music that had been demonized for years. (Still, Will deserves a beat down for the god-awful "Pursuit of Happyness" movie. I want those two hours of my life back.)
After Chutney Joe's I can see myself eating more Indian food and venturing off into the LL Cool J and even Public Enemy restaurants. Like Chuck D. says, "Bring the Curry!"
I've been driving past this place on the bus since it opened, but had yet to get in there until last week. Partly because the idea of Indian food that is also fast food is somewhat offputting. But, I finally got such a craving for Indian, that I stopped in. I should have gone sooner.
The food definitely was fresh. I found it to be really well-spiced... actually a bit spicier than a lot of restaurant or buffet Indian food. The portions were great for one person. While the selection wasn't huge, it was perfect for a quick lunch.
My only real complaint is that it was a bit pricey. For another $2 or $3, I could have gone to a lunch buffet at one of the other two Indian restaurants not too far away from here. But, I hate going to a buffet when I'm alone, so as long as I'm grabbing lunch by myself, I'll choose Chutney Joe's over one of the Indian buffets nearby,
This place is cool. Totally reasonable and tasty and quick Indian cuisine. Only thing lacking was the heat- there was not much. I understand being that it is supposed to cater to many different age brackets including students and Americans who maybe don't love hottness? Yes on flavor: no on heat. Even the "spiciest chutney" was lacking heat. I did like it though!
But I was super happy to find a cheap place to grab a bite with lots of vegetarian and even vegan choices. Yum. And I even think its healthy-no butter, ghee, cream, or trans fats which is cool.
Fast food Indian in downtown? Why refuse?
The set up is similar to Chipotle, they even have signs similar to Chipotle. They are not owned by Chipotle though, the manager is an entrepreneur.
There are a few choices, enough to keep you entertained but simple enough for you to make a quick decision. I picked the 2 entree which was 7.99, the 1 entree is 5.99 so why not splurge? You can choose naan or rice, but also go half and half. I love that because I love both. I went with the garlic naan, very subtle garlic flavor for those that fear the strong taste. Entrees, the chicken and lamb. I loved the chicken tikka masala but the lamb was too "lamby" for me. I had to use my entire cup of yogurt sauce just to combat the flavor. I love lamb but sometimes, the flavor can be overwhelming. My favorite sauce was the mango one, it went great with the chicken. I tried some of the pork and the spinach paneer. Both were good, not great.
For a quick Indian lunch, this place hits the spot.
The food is average at best, but it could be that I am not used to Indian food without ghee and cream. I may be too old school, but I prefer a creamier tikka masala. The naan was more like standard pita bread, but it was tasty.
The price is right, though, and that is what matters. Sure you can get a much better tikka masala in town, but not as quickly or not for $6. I thought the lunch portion was huge, even though I had been warned it would be small. I didn't even finish mine, and I usually have quite a healthy appetite.
All in all, it's a decent value, not bad if you're craving some Indian, the people were friendly and the place was clean. I'd go back.
It's really not good, at all. And I went in there expecting to give it a lot more credit because duh, it won't taste like something your Indian grandma makes, obviously, or even something you'd find on Devon. Because it's yuppie Indian fast food. It's meant for college kids, not a developed palate. It hasn't been cooking for 12 hours, it's been boiling for 1. Which is why I'm totally bummed it's not good because I was already allowing it so much slack.
It's set up like Chipotle, conveyer-belt style. I tried to spinach paneer and the garbanzo masala. I didn't finish either of them, partly because I was full but mostly because it wasn't worth having to unbutton my pants to get the extra scoops. The price was right, the place looked clean and inviting, and the service was friendly. The food just was nothing to write home about.
I think I read that after 6pm it's BYOB? That would be fun in nice weather, they have a nice stretch of State Street to sit outside on.
Starving and seeking tasty (but cheap!) sustenance in the Loop, my girlfriend and I decided to go to Chutney Joe's since we both love Indian food. As we waited in line, my eye caught a sign proclaiming that they don't use cream or butter or ghee. Wait...what? What REAL Indian food doesn't use cream or ghee?! I know you are trying to be healthy, but I also am trying to enjoy my food. It's all about portions baby, and a little butter and cream won't hurt you in moderation. A little wary at this point, I decided to stick it out.
Getting up to the counter, I found, like everyone else, this is indeed the Qdoba/Chipotle of Indian food. Except much slower. The service was terribly slow. I ordered the chicken tikka masala and the palak paneer with rice and naan. My girlfriend had the dal makiani and another vegetarian dish.
Once we finally got our food (they gave my Naan to someone else and then had to re-heat another bit to give me) we sat down. Now, granted, I realized that the two entree special is a TON of food. Get half naan/half rice - not an order of both. It's just too much.
The tikka masala was....okay. It needed the cream. It just was lacking something. The palak paneer was pretty gross - it tasted like they threw pre-packaged paneer in a bunch of thawed out frozen spinach. Uh, no thanks. The dal was good, and the naan was fine.
Overall, considering the relatively high prices (I can get an entree at a more upscale Indian place for $12) and the low quality food? I won't be back. Especially since there is a great Indian buffet just a few blocks down (Chicago Curry House) that will cost you about the same amount for MUCH better food.
I'm a CTM snob. What can I say? There are a few foods that I feel exercise my snobbery best (pizza, bagels, etc) and CTM is one of them.
CTM, for you lesser types, is chicken tikka masala. It's one of my fave "Indian" dishes (I've heard it's actually English - the expats in India came up with the dish). Whatever. All that I really care about is getting my CTM fix so that I can stop the voices in my head from telling me to do all sorts of bad things.
If it weren't for CTM, I would probably wind up being a character on Law & Order.
So, the CTM at Chutney Joe's? It's good. Not the best I've had, but just enough to stop the nerves from twitching.
We came here tonight for dinner and had a good time. The line was just a few people deep and despite the annoying guy in front of me (who I assume wrongly thinks veggies come free??? Jackass), everything went well.
We ate outside on the patio sidewalk, which was a delight considering how nearly perfect the weather was. The food was very good, the garlic nan was just right and the samosas were quite fantastic.
To calibrate the CTM, I'm used to going to sit-down Indian restaurants and I prefer Tiffins up on Devon Avenue. To I think to be fair, I think it's only appropriate to give Chutney's a little slack in its CTM quality. This is fast food after all and you can't expect fast food to be gourmet. That being said, the food is really good and the prices make it all worth it.
We spoke with the owner for a little bit and he seemed like a genuinely nice guy. I really hope his business succeeds like he hopes, seems like the kind of person who deserves success.
Oh yea, FYI, it's a BYOB on evenings and weekends and they deliver. Wish I knew about the BYOB before I went. But lucky for me, I'll be back.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE the fact that they have a student 10% discount after 2 pm. In this day and age, there are far too few places that have student discounts. Totally contributing to the extra star :)
So the samosas were great! totally like what my mom's friend used to make :D and extra bonus is that they are not greasy b/c they are baked! genius!
i had the palak lamb and spinach paneer (can you tell i love spinach?) and they were both good... the garlic naan honestly had no garlic flavor so this is a skip!
But I love this place b/c it knows what I want before I even know I want it. Example:
Worker:Would you like basmati rice or naan?
Me: ummmm
Worker: Would you like half rice and half naan?
Me: OMG YES!!
They also offer samples so you can try it before picking it! AND they have like five different chutneys (sweet mango, one dateish type, spicy one, and one greenish one, etc) and yogurt in small little containers. And of course, yes I asked to try them all.
Great vegetarian choices as well. So for a 2 combo meal +samosa+fountain drink+student discount I paid around 11 dollars (not the cheapest but i had leftovers so yay :) ) Sigh I love indian food....
If your sick of paying 30/person or Indian, or if you want indian delivered this is the place. not great, but very good. Chipotle of Indian food was a very good comparison. The people who work there dont like indian food, so they cant help you much but I havent had anything bad yet. The red bean rajma is good - quality samosas too (and baked not fried!). If im just satisfying an indian fix and want something quick and cheap this is the spot
It's not that I'd never come back, but it would be for the same reasons I hit up Mickey D's from time to time. And it ain't because of the cuisine. This is Indian fast food, meaning it's bland, salty and not all that satisfying. But, sometimes you want a quick bite of chicken masala without having to wait or pay for a giant portion. Note that the rice and naan are both good. And bonus, student discount. Avoid the paneer.
Interesting concept -- fast food Indian. My client wanted to go out for Indian food, which was a first for me. Usually I have go to the normal loop locations like 312, 1 N Wacker, Lloyd's, etc. So it was a bit of a treat to me to go to an Indian restaurant.
I know a restaurant is good when an ethnic restaurant has people from that ethnicity eating there -- and there were plenty of Indians eating at Chutney Joe's, so I felt pretty good about my decision.
The food selection was decent -- it's fast food, so you're not going to find a lot of different choices. I had the Gobi potato and garbazano masala with a half order of naan and rice.
Interestingly enough, while eating lunch, the owner came to my table and asked how my lunch was. He asked me if it was like home cooked and if everything was cooked properly -- I was quite impressed by this. He wanted brutal and honest feedback. I told him that I thought the rice was a little undercooked, but not raw. It just tasted dry. I'm not sure if that was how the rice was supposed to taste, but I didn't think it was right. He thanked me for my feedback. (In my opinion, the worst happens when you don't ask for feedback and the customers don't return)
Anyway, all said, I wish this place was closer to my office. Chutney Joe's -- you have a bright future ahead of you! I will be returning soon.
First, just to qualify this review, I'm Indian and have lived in India for 16 years.
Second, this place needs to be judged on what it's worth - you can't give a C to someone on their Physics test when they're trying to appear for their Bio!
Third, I met the owner for a while and really think he knows what he's doing and I'm excited for the future of this chain!
Now - I think the food here is good, which is what it's striving for. It's not trying to set the curve for the Best Indian Food and it obviously doesn't quite get close.
The place is healthy - whole wheat naan and cooking with no butter/cream.
It's very good for vegetarians - as many veg dishes as meat dishes.
Great for quick lunch too. I actually think good for introducing people to Indian food in a non-intimidating inexpensive environment.
Now the main criticism of this place I'm hearing here on Yelp is value for money - and I don't know about the meat dishes, but the quantity, variety and fast service certainly justify the $7.99 platters.
The taste - it's more like real Indian food (home-cooked Indian food) than any other restaurants around (India House, Gaylord, Klay Oven). I also want to clarify that those places have "restaurant-Indian food" which in India we would eat only in a restaurant, not at home.
I mean come on people, it's called Chutney Joe's - they're not trying to give you the "full Indian immersion" but rather "Indian food in an American setting" -
It's trying to get you good, healthy, fresh, simple Indian food and it does a good job at that!
I have had good and okay experiences @ Joe's. I recently posted a disappointing review and the owner was concerned enough to contact me and get the problem resolved. That is very impressive in my book. I will be headed back to Joe's soon and hope to update this review with a great experience.
I have finally found a GOOD Indian place near the South Loop! I am not Indian, but I have been exposed to traditional Indian and Pakistani food through good friends and I must say, this place is solid. Price, portion, service, and a clean setting add up to a great value, despite the fact that it may seem somewhat overpriced.
The aromas wafting through the air remind me of dinner hours of days gone by...
I know how much this kind of food costs to make, but THIS restaurant is in a prime location in the Loop/South Loop (they have practically NO COMPETITION) and it is an ACTUAL convenience! I mean, it takes forever to hike up to Devon for authentic Indian food! I'm so glad this place is here.
I ordered a combo with two entrees, one tandoori chicken and one gobi potatoes (and cauliflower), with naan (so-so) and a cup of raita (LOVE raita). It was a LOT of food for lunch, and it was also very flavorful and fresh.
The naan (plain) was the only soft spot of the meal.
With a fountain drink and tax, my total was $11.41, which seems like a lot, but where else would I have gone to eat this? I would have had to make it myself, and that would have taken some time. This was quick, easy, convenient, and GOOD. In my book, that makes it worth every penny.
A few interesting things:
-The place is BYOB after 5pm. Ha!
-No cream, ghee or butter, or deep frying.
-They use Low Sodium Salt!
I will be back!
I wanted Indian food, but didnt feel like going all the way up to Devon since I live in the South Loop and work in the loop. This is perfect. plus its super fast think chipotle style I love the concept.
Price was pretty decent, they have a frequent customer card so after so many times you get a free meal. Also after 5pm (thurs fri sat I believe) they have BYOB!!! oh yeah and they deliver!!! so awesome.
I rank the food about 3-stars, but the value bumps this place up to 4-stars. Basically, it is Indian Chipotle: setup, dining, service (which was friendly and good), price ...
An interesting thing to note, though, is their "healthier" attempt at Indian food: No cream, ghee or butter (though that makes me wonder what they do use... veg oil?).
I got 2 entrees with rice & split baked samosas for dinner with a friend. The rice is white basmati rice. Chicken Tikka was good with a good level of spice. The Spinach Paneer was interesting without the cream, but still pretty good. The sauces were alright, too. It was mostly fun to just try a few. The cilantro one is good. The tamarind sauce is similar to sweet bbq sauce. The rikka is nice too, like a hot sauce. The baked samosas were ok. Probably my least favorite thing. Is it because I'm used to their deep-fried sinful bliss? Most probably...
Overall, I'd definitely come back to Chutney Joe's. It is good, quick, somewhat healthy food for a great value. Lunch or dinner.
Had high hopes for this place and was hopeful it would emerge as the South Loop counterpart to Rajun Cajun in Hyde Park.
Not a chance.
The server I encountered did his best to be helpful but his warm and friendly suggestions couldn't change the fact that the food ain't so great.
My experience with Indian food is that it's all about the spices. When done well, it's a careful, thoughtful and innovative balance. When spiced incorrectly it tastes like what I had at Chutney Joe's -- a masala mess.
My lamb was virtually inedible. The only thing I liked and ate all of was the garlic naan.
I can't stress enough how much I hate having my time and money wasted on a poor meal, but at least now I know better.
Skip Chutney Joe's, skip India Grill, make your way over to Plymouth Court and enjoy a good meal from beginning to end at Curry House.
Yes it's a chain, yes its not super stellar 'youve just rode a rickshaw in from Bhgawhara and youre goin to tear Jaipur UP' kind of food...But I was impressed. I'm all for indian fast food that labels which dishes are vegan. The aloo/cauliflower thing was pretty good(I'm not a fan of super super spiced Indian food- I like to actually taste whatever vegetable I'm eating) and I'm always a sucker for garlic naan.
It's nice to have an option other than Kramers or Tokyo Lunch Box in the loop....
For fast food Indian food this is hands down the best place to go!
The food is good; attention is always awesome and friendly And the place is nice and clean.
Yes, it is a little overpriced. That's why I don't give it 5 stars.
If you are craving for good Indian food and your time for lunch is limited, this is the place to go!
Namaste!
First off I want to say that I agree with the other Yelpers that you have to take Chutney Joe's for what it is......a quick-serve Indian food restaurant.....and within that context they do a beautiful job.
I went here for lunch yesterday with a friend....we both got meals ($7.99).....I had chicken tikka masala & spinach paneer with rice......he had lamb rogan josh and the red bean rajma with garlic nan....we also got an order of samosas.
The service was fast and pleasant......the food was great, not oily or greasy like most other Indian restaurants and the portion size was good......I also like that they give you all of the condiments....chutney, pickles, yogurt etc...complimentary.
I think the prices are absolutely fair considering what you get.....at other Indian restaurants you would get one dish for $7.....not including rice or nan.
Overall......perfect place to grab lunch or if you live in the area....or dinner to go.
I will give Chutney Joe's props for having a clean and modern quick serve environment - something like you'd see at Chipotle. Also, the service we received was very polite. The food on the other hand is so-so but I may be a bit critical since I am Indian.
Lamb Rogan Josh - The Heat factor was low. The rest of the spice mix was over powered by the ginger.
Garlic Naan - soft and moist but lacking in the garlic flavor
Gobi Potatoes - very good but lacking in the Heat department
Palak Paneer - I am not a fan of Paneer but the Palak was quite decent
Black Dhal - not on the menu normally so I tried it. I didn't like it. It was much too savory with cinnamon, ginger and cardamom. I thought that perhaps they used Masala Chai spice mix to make it.
I am not sure if the chutneys are made in-house but here
Cilantro Chutney - tasted more like Mint Chutney
Mango Chutney - Major Grey style meaning more vinegar and sugar added verses the normal kind. Very good.
Indian Pickle - I doubt this is made in-house as it is a pain to make. Very good.
Killa Chutney - I loved this. Not like any other chutney I've had. I guess I'd call it the Indian Cholula.
Yogurt Sauce - don't bother. Watery and mild.
I was surprised that they didn't have Imli Ki (tamarind) chutney - C'est La Vie...
When I walked into Chutney Joe's, I thought "Indian Chipotle."
However, the staff were very helpful as my mother and I made our selections and even offered different combinations that were not on the menu, like having 1/2 naan, 1/2 rice or substituting the samosas in for one of the entree choices in the "meal."
The Gobi Potatoes were okay, but the Chicken Tikka Masala was great! The mango chutney was nice with the samosa and the cilantro chutney was oh-my-god good.
The decor is a little cold, but it seemed to be fairly full during lunch, which made it cozier. Am not from Chicago but wish we had these in Minnesota!
Chipotle of Indian food, Indian Panda Express ... Indian Wow Bao, Indian Potbelly's? I am certainly not a connoisseur of Indian food, but I ate at Chutney Joe's today and very much enjoyed it. Had the garbanzo marsala, gobi potatoes and naan -- meal was $8.91, perhaps a bit steep but perhaps quite a bit delicious. Gobi potatoes with cauliflower are pretty effing great, and vegan!
Besides, I like Chipotle. Big deal, want to fight about it?
If half stars were allowed, Chutney Joe's would get a 2.5. Yes, I have experienced better Indian food. But I came here with the mindset of knowing that there are better places out there, and that Chutney Joe's is an attempt at being an Indian fast food restaurant.
The decor reminds me of a Panera/Chipotle hybrid mixed with red paint and "ethnic" print on the hallway/bathroom doors. You get a nice mix of tables with high stools, including ones by the window so you can people watch, and those at regular height where bench seating is available. There is also limited outdoor seating.
I ordered the pork vindaloo and saag paneer with some garlic naan, and a mango lassi. The garlic naan was more pita than naan, which I didn't mind. The pork vindaloo was pretty salty and I would not order it again. I was disappointed with the saag paneer because the cheese cubes did not have a good consistency and were kind of cold. And the mango lassi was bottled and too thick to drink. But hey, if you crave Indian food and you're there, then by all means eat here.
What I did appreciate about Chutney Joe's was that all of the chutneys were free. I could have easily been content with ordering some naan and eating it with the mango chutney.
The owner is also extremely nice and offered my friend and I some free shell-like carbohydrate thing (I forgot the name of it...sorry!). Also, everytime I pass by it seems the owner promotes something new, like a 10% student discount at 2 pm. I think there's also wi-fi.
Overall verdict: Come here with an open mind.
I really liked Chutney Joes. Compared to other Indian options in the area, it is a great, inexpensive option. I had the Combo and it was great- the Chicken Masala was awesome and I was impressed with the quality of meat that they used.
Cool concept, friendly service and quick. I will be back!
I like Chutney Joe's. I didn't expect to, as I tend to dislike most of these 'ethnic fast food' venues, but the food was pretty good. Thing is, it's inconsistent. So while I loved the spinach dish with naan, I wasn't a fan of the "garbanzo masala" (i.e. chana masala). The chutneys here are delicious- I particularly drooled over the cilantro chutney and used my naan to dip in it like crazy.
Go in -expecting- fast food, but healthy fast food. You'll get served and out of there quickly, and if you pick the right thing, it truly is delicious. They warmed up the naan for us, and even gave us extra to go with our orders. They have mango and strawberry lassis, and were nice enough to offer us cups of water when they could have sold us bottles.
Nice people, good quick lunch option. Enough so that I'll make the hike during my lunch window and eat here, and I'm super lazy around lunch time.
Have been here several times in the past two weeks. Service is always polite and helpful. They seem very sincere about giving you a good meal and dining experience. And they have a lot of vegan options!
The samosas are initially bland, but they finish with a kick. The garbanzo beans, spinach paneer, and gobi potatoes are all great. Everything has been so good that I have been trying hard to ignore the chain aspirational decor and feel. South Loop needed Chutney Joe's. Wish they didn't think they need to look like a Chipotle.
Just did BYOB at Chutney Joe's. You can pick up alcohol at Printer's Row Wine Shop at 719 S. Dearborn.
Before I offer my judgment about Joe's, let's first discuss the difference between "Indian Food" and "American-Indian Food". While Clay Oven has great food, it is Americanized neo-Indian food. To make the food more appealing to the American palate, cream is added to many of the dishes and some of the spice is left out. You would never find this practice in Indian home cooking and you will not find it at Joe's.
Don't let the quick-serve style fool you, the dishes at Joe's are slow cooked over a 4-6 hour period with real spices for maximum tenderness and flavor. The Tikka Masala was traditionally spiced and the yogurt sauce was a perfect compliment. I sampled the Chicken Biryani and Chana Masal as well and am looking forward to having an entire meal of each.
The one element that is more Americanized is the Chipotle-like serving style and dining room. It's simple, clean and accessible. The owner, Vee-Jay, actually stopped by for a chat and to make sure everything was enjoyable. His passion for good food and service was clear. Plans to open 5 more restaurants are the City are underway. Expect good things from Chutney Joe's.
Top o the Southside: Greektown, Chinatown, South…
For all of us vegetarians out there trying to…
Although the food may not be the best, sometimes…
My hood! These are the places where I spend my…
After grilling Yelpers for their favorite Chicago…
I knew her when winter was her cloak And spring…
