Celebrate Diwali At 15 Must Try Indian Restaurants In Illinois
Diwali, the Festival of Lights, brings families together for delicious feasts and joyful celebrations. Illinois offers a vibrant array of Indian restaurants where you can savor authentic flavors during this special holiday.
Whether you’re craving spicy curries, fluffy naan, or sweet desserts, these 14 restaurants across the state serve up the perfect dishes to make your Diwali celebration truly memorable.
1. Tiffin in Chicago
Located in the heart of Chicago, Tiffin offers a magical Diwali experience with its festive decorations and special holiday menu. The restaurant transforms into a colorful paradise with twinkling lights and rangoli designs that capture the essence of this joyous festival.
Their Diwali thali is a must-try, featuring an assortment of traditional dishes like butter chicken, chana masala, and gulab jamun. Each bite transports you straight to India!
What makes Tiffin special is their commitment to authentic flavors using family recipes passed down through generations. During Diwali, they often host cultural performances and offer complimentary mithai (sweets) to celebrate the occasion with their guests.
2. Cumin Club in Naperville
Cumin Club shines during Diwali with its extraordinary festive atmosphere and regional specialties rarely found elsewhere in Illinois. The restaurant’s warm amber lighting and traditional décor create the perfect backdrop for celebrating the Festival of Lights.
Their Diwali special menu features regional delicacies from across India, including Rajasthani dal baati churma and Bengali mishti doi. Families gather around tables adorned with marigold flowers and tiny diyas (oil lamps).
The owner, Chef Rajesh, personally visits tables sharing stories about Diwali traditions from his childhood in Gujarat. His passion for preserving authentic Indian cuisine makes this spot truly special for celebrating important cultural festivals.
3. Mild to Wild in Springfield
If you’re looking for a Diwali celebration that accommodates all spice preferences, Mild to Wild in Springfield has mastered the art of customization. This family-owned gem allows guests to choose their spice level on a scale from 1-10, making it perfect for mixed groups with varying heat tolerances.
During Diwali, they create a stunning entrance with hundreds of tea lights and offer a special four-course menu featuring both traditional favorites and modern fusion dishes. Their tandoori platter for two is legendary!
Kids especially love their mango lassi bar where they can create custom drinks with different fruit purees and toppings. The friendly staff often teaches customers about the significance of different Diwali foods.
4. Bombay Chopsticks in Schaumburg
Fusion magic happens at Bombay Chopsticks, where Indian and Chinese cuisines blend beautifully for a unique Diwali dining experience. This innovative restaurant has perfected dishes like Szechuan paneer and Manchurian gobi that represent the cultural diversity celebrated during festivals.
Their Diwali celebration includes lantern-making workshops for children and a special tasting menu featuring seven courses representing the seven days of Diwali festivities. The chili garlic naan paired with their signature butter chicken is simply unforgettable.
The restaurant’s contemporary design features striking red and gold accents during the holiday season. Their outdoor patio transforms into a magical space with fairy lights and traditional music, creating the perfect ambiance for a festive dinner.
5. Spice Kitchen in Peoria
Spice Kitchen takes Diwali celebrations to heart with their elaborate decorations and authentic home-style cooking. The moment you walk in, the aroma of freshly ground spices and simmering curries welcomes you like a warm hug from an Indian grandmother.
During the festival, they feature regional Diwali specialties that rotate daily, showcasing dishes from different states of India. Their famous mithai platter includes house-made sweets like kaju katli, besan ladoo, and jalebi essential treats for any Diwali celebration.
What makes this place special is their community focus. Each year they host a Diwali community dinner where guests share stories about their own festival traditions. The restaurant’s walls are adorned with customer-contributed photos of past Diwali celebrations.
6. Royal Curry House in Urbana
Students and professors from nearby University of Illinois flock to Royal Curry House for their legendary Diwali buffet. This academic hotspot transforms during the festival with student-created art installations and a special menu featuring dishes from every region of India.
Their signature Royal Thali during Diwali includes over 15 items served on a traditional metal plate. The restaurant’s owner, Dr. Sharma, a former chemistry professor, applies scientific precision to his recipes, resulting in perfectly balanced flavors.
Live music performances featuring traditional instruments like tabla and sitar create an immersive cultural experience. Their outdoor courtyard hosts a small lamp-lighting ceremony each evening during the festival week, where guests can participate in this meaningful tradition while enjoying masala chai.
7. Tandoor Flame in Rockford
Hidden in an unassuming strip mall, Tandoor Flame surprises guests with its authentic flavors and festive Diwali atmosphere. The restaurant’s centerpiece is their traditional clay tandoor oven, visible from the dining area, where naan bread puffs to perfection against the glowing hot walls.
During Diwali, they offer a special menu featuring lesser-known regional delicacies like Kashmiri rogan josh and Chettinad chicken. Their dessert selection expands dramatically for the festival, with homemade kulfi in unusual flavors like saffron pistachio and cardamom rose.
The family-run establishment treats guests like relatives, often sharing stories about their homeland traditions. Children receive small gift bags with traditional Diwali treats and sparklers (to be used outside with parents, of course).
8. Masala House in Evanston
Masala House elevates Diwali dining to an art form with their elegant presentation and contemporary take on traditional dishes. The restaurant’s minimalist décor gets transformed during the festival with subtle touches of gold, marigold garlands, and floating candles.
Their Diwali tasting menu changes yearly but always features modernized classics that maintain authentic flavors while surprising the palate. The chef’s special chaat station allows guests to customize their own street food appetizers with various chutneys and toppings.
What truly distinguishes Masala House is their commitment to sustainability. During Diwali, they use biodegradable clay lamps and donate a portion of festival week proceeds to environmental causes in India. Their signature cocktail menu during the festival features spirits infused with traditional Indian ingredients like saffron and cardamom.
9. Himalayan Chimney in Oak Park
Venturing beyond typical Indian fare, Himalayan Chimney offers a unique Diwali experience featuring dishes from Nepal, Tibet, and northern Indian regions. Their mountain-inspired décor feels especially cozy during the festival, with prayer flags and butter lamps adding to the authentic atmosphere.
Their Diwali special menu highlights lesser-known Himalayan dishes like momos (dumplings), thukpa (noodle soup), and sel roti (sweet rice bread). The restaurant’s signature dish, a slow-cooked goat curry with hand-ground spices, draws food enthusiasts from across the state.
During the festival, they host cultural workshops where guests can learn about mountain region Diwali traditions that differ from mainstream celebrations. Their house-made chai masala mix makes for a popular Diwali gift that customers can purchase to take home.
10. Curry Corner in Champaign
Family traditions shine at Curry Corner, where three generations work together to create an authentic Diwali experience. Grandmother’s recipes, mother’s management skills, and the younger generation’s modern touches blend perfectly in this beloved local spot.
During the festival, they offer cooking demonstrations where guests can learn to make simple Indian sweets and savory snacks essential for Diwali celebrations. Their thali platters feature small portions of multiple dishes, allowing guests to sample a wide variety of flavors.
The restaurant transforms its patio into a “Festival of Lights Garden” with hundreds of small lamps and an impressive rangoli (colored powder design) created fresh each morning. Their signature masala chai comes with unlimited refills during the festival week perfect for lingering conversations with friends and family.
11. Bombay Grill in Arlington Heights
Bombay Grill transforms into a wedding-like celebration venue during Diwali, complete with marigold garlands, mirror work decorations, and staff dressed in festive attire. This restaurant is known for its opulent approach to the Festival of Lights.
Their Diwali Feast features royal recipes from former palace kitchens across India, with dishes like raan (slow-roasted leg of lamb) and biryani served in traditional copper vessels. Vegetarians delight in their extensive meat-free menu featuring rare dishes like undhiyu (mixed vegetable specialty) and paneer pasanda.
Live demonstrations of rangoli-making and henna application add to the festive atmosphere. Their special Diwali dessert platter includes both traditional sweets and creative fusion options like gulab jamun cheesecake and cardamom crème brûlée.
12. Taj Mahal in Bloomington
Taj Mahal restaurant honors Diwali’s spiritual significance with a serene atmosphere and vegetarian specialties that align with the festival’s traditional practices. The space features subtle lighting, classical Indian instrumental music, and artwork depicting the Ramayana story that inspired the holiday.
Their Diwali menu highlights sattvic cuisine pure vegetarian dishes prepared without onions or garlic, following certain spiritual traditions. Specialties include paneer makhani, baingan bharta, and a variety of dals served with freshly made breads from their tandoor oven.
During the festival, they offer a special prayer area where guests can light a diya (oil lamp) and make a wish. Their signature dessert a saffron-infused rice pudding called kheer is served complimentary to all guests during Diwali week as a symbol of sweetness and prosperity.
13. Desi Spice in Normal
College students flock to Desi Spice for their budget-friendly Diwali celebration that doesn’t compromise on authenticity or flavor. This casual eatery creates a festive atmosphere with student-made decorations and a special menu that offers a taste of home for international students.
Their Diwali special includes a “build-your-own-thali” option where guests can select from various curries, breads, rice dishes, and desserts at affordable prices. The restaurant partners with the local university’s South Asian Student Association to host cultural events throughout the festival week.
What makes this place unique is their late-night hours during Diwali, serving traditional festival snacks until 2 AM for students studying for midterms. Their complimentary chai bar features different flavored teas that pair perfectly with their selection of homemade Indian sweets and savory snacks.
14. Maharaja Palace in Decatur
Rural Illinois might seem an unlikely place for authentic Indian cuisine, but Maharaja Palace in Decatur surprises visitors with its genuine flavors and elaborate Diwali celebrations. The restaurant’s owners, who moved from Delhi twenty years ago, have created a cultural oasis in this small Midwestern town.
During Diwali, they host a week-long festival featuring different regional cuisines each day from fiery Chettinad dishes to delicate Kashmiri specialties. Their famous Diwali buffet includes over 30 items, with stations for chaat, curry, bread, rice, and desserts.
The restaurant becomes a community gathering place during the festival, with many non-Indian locals participating in their cultural activities like diya painting and sari-wearing demonstrations. Their signature dish a slow-simmered goat biryani sells out quickly during Diwali celebrations.
15. Spice Route in Gurnee
History buffs appreciate Spice Route’s educational approach to Diwali, where each dish comes with a story about its origins and significance to the festival. This unique restaurant focuses on the ancient spice trade routes that connected India to the world.
Their Diwali tasting menu takes guests on a journey through various regions influenced by these historical trade connections. Dishes feature distinctive spice blends from Kerala, Gujarat, Bengal, and Tamil Nadu, each with its own flavor profile and cultural backstory.
During the festival, the restaurant displays artifacts and informational placards about Diwali traditions across different Indian states. Their signature cocktail menu includes drinks inspired by the Festival of Lights, featuring ingredients like saffron, rose water, and cardamom. The owner personally visits tables to share fascinating historical anecdotes about the evolution of Diwali celebrations.
