Sauntered into this little unassuming restaurant front, unaware that my mustache was about to be dipped into sweet sweet nectar. Greeted by kindness, we were ushered into a nice air conditioned room. There, my travel partner and I waited, excitedly, for our mango lassi's. Out come two cups beaming with a golden corona of sweet, tangy, cool elixir. I will say the straws were really small, but I like to think that was a little backhanded pun by our cheeky new friends. All for $3. You can't beat that, now can you, pal?
(5)
Karan V.
I always visit this restaurant when I am in Chicago. The flavor in each entree or appetizer is the best!!! It feels like home. Chicken Boti kabab is so delicious I feel I am blessed!!
(5)
Harris I.
When you are on Devon, & are looking for a place to eat...you have some 189 different options - Sheesh Mahal Dhaba, a hidden gem is far from a place to take out a date, or expect fine dining from but the quality and taste of the food is better than most places around little india. I have been coming to this place since 2008, and the food never disappoints me. Authentic hyderabadi style comfort food. Their Chicken Boti should be nominated for an award. It comes on a bed of cucumbers and lettuce (always fresh) with a side of chappati. (Indian thin flatbread) The aunty at the counter always welcomes me as if we were related, if I dont go there for a long time she never fails to ask why I hadn't come by. Lol its cute. I tried to get her to give me the recipe for her chicken boti...she of course said no. But it was worth a shot. The chicken biryani is exquizite - generous amount of meat that falls off the bone. A must try.
(5)
Cindy F.
I almost don't write this review because of fear that this place might become the "next hip place" for Indian food. This restaurant has been around for years. If you're wanting a fine dining experience I want to emphasize that THIS IS NOT THE PLACE FOR YOU. However, if you want some of the best quality Indian food with the best prices, this place is the way to go. I ordered the seekh boti roll, chicken roll, lamb biryani, and chicken biryani. Every dish I ordered was great. My only complaint is that it wasn't as spicy as I wanted it to be which I don't fault the restaurant because I eat pretty darn spicy and most places don't make food as spicy as I would like them to. Be cautious of the fact that the interior of this place does look run down and this is one of those joints that you see mostly men hanging out during the day so it's not your typically family friendly place.
(5)
Aaron S.
We ordered delivery on a Sunday night around 7:45pm - about 50 bucks worth of various kababs, sides, etc. I had to call and ask about my order when it still hadn't arrived by 9:30pm. The woman who answered said she had sent the driver at 8:30, and she'd call him. I received a call about 10 minutes later from the woman saying he'd arrive in another 10 minutes, as he had gotten lost. About 10:00pm, the driver called saying he'd be there in 20 minutes. At this point, we had already eaten a different dinner and given up, so I called the shop and explained I wanted to cancel since waiting more than 2 hours for food is unacceptable. She said she was sorry and understood and that she'd call him. The driver showed up at 10:30 after we had gone to bed and rang my doorbell and beat on my door until I came down to answer. I explained I had called and cancelled because, at this point, I had waited for more than 2 1/2 hours. Ever-professional, he gave me attitude and stormed off. The moral of the story: I can't give you a rating on food, but I can warn you against TERRIBLE delivery service and sub-par customer service.
(1)
Steph M.
Very disappointed. Yelpers, you've let us down with this place! We should have turned around when we entered. We had to step over a cord and then sat in front of a broken window. The food was okay. The service was friendly but literally left the restaurant last night before we were finished. I had to poke my head in the kitchen to get our check. There are so many other better options on or around Devon for Indian.
(2)
Keney C.
Fantastic place! First off, the restaurant has a very homey feel. You don't ever feel out of place or uncomfortable. They are extremely friendly, especially once you become a regular of course. I've been going there on and off for nearly 10 years and the quality and service keeps getting better. When I'm in the mood for some simple, clean food, it's my go-to restaurant. You can pre-order over the phone and they'll have everything ready for you to pick up. And since it's not directly on Devon, parking isn't impossible to find most of the time.
(5)
Yousuf A.
My friends have assured me that this place is halal. My wife comes here very regularly to get their chicken kabobs and paratas. My daughter inhales them. THey are nice enough to wash the chicken since my kids can't handle that much spice. The chicken biryani is very very good. The uncle and aunty who run the place are very nice.
(5)
Hannah H.
I still think this place beats most of the other Indian restaurants and buffets; however, the second experience was a little bit underwhelming than my first. Maybe it was a little less lack of hunger; the beef and the spicy chicken kabobs were still how I remembered them, but they seemed to put a bit more cilantro into the white sauce this time around. The mango lassi was still the best I've ever tasted, hands down. Service was again, still slow, but no harassment in kicking us out - we took our dandy ol' time. Parking is available in the residential area a couple of blocks away, so don't try wasting your time in finding a metered one. I found a wonderful hidden gem located in Little India, off of Devon and Maplewood. It's located next to a modern-type of restaurant that serves a more of a 'buffet style'; however, next to it, Sheesh Mahal is truly an authentic place. Their food is unbelievable, and the prices? Even more shocking. I had the Combination plate, and that came with their famous Boti chicken and beef kebob; you had a choice of Basmati rice or a side of roti bread - I chose the rice. There was a huge plateful that comes with it. The chicken? The spice mix they use is unbelievable and grilled perfectly. Inside it's still tender enough (I love how it's cooked), and has a little kick. The beef kebob is also a ground sort that's also charred and has the same spice mixture. There are slices of fresh lime, lettuce and cucumbers on top. The side of roti bread (you can get two kinds) were absolutely thin and delicious. The two little bowls of sauce that's served with your meal (one is a yogurt type with little chunks of tomato and barely-there cilantro; the other one is a heavily cilantro-based one which I avoided) that was great in pouring all over your meat and dipped into with your roti. The service was a little slow, but the owner was very gracious and extremely apologetic. It seems as if a lot of customers come in to do carry out, and there are regulars who dine in as well. Definitely a hole-in-the-wall type of joint, but the food is excellent. The portions are pretty nice and filling. I've also tried their mango lassi, and this is the best mango lassi in the world - fresh mango, great shake mixture, and definitely a great 'dessert' type of drink to wash everything down. Their water is from a water system (Hinkley, I believe). There are metered parking in the front (very scarce), free after 6PM; try a few blocks away in the residential, non-permit spots. You might be a bit more lucky there. After your meal, you can walk around the area. +mango lassi +Combination plate +very authentic!
(4)
Focheez S.
My favorites are Haleem, Briyani, and Sheesh Kabob. But all the dishes are amazing. Great service and Prices.
(5)
Shikari S.
I always get the chicken rolls. They are absolutely awesome. Occasionally, I get other stuff like the kababs, biryani and pepper chicken. They are all good. But, nothing beats the value of the chicken rolls.
(5)
Anita G.
Hands down the best biryani around and so reasonably priced! We never eat here because it is not a great interior but we always take a ton of chicken and goat biryani home and never tire of it.
(5)
Steve B.
We walk up Maplewood almost every time we go to Devon and Sheesh Mahal is usually crowded. On the Sunday afternoon we went, we were the only two at first. They seated us on a platform in the front room. We were served by the waiter but after other people started to arrive, we figured out you order at the counter. Also, they seat families on the other side, which is fine since John and I don't have wives or children and prefer the men's side. Really, more Western restaurants should think about segregating children. We ordered the combo plate of seekh kabab and chicken tikka kabab which came covered in cucumber and lettuce slices. Both excellent. The seekh kababs were exactly like we like them, completely dissolving in our mouths. We also ordered the daily special which was ghosht curry (little square bits of beef). Just perfect! Better than the kababs. The meat was so tender and there was only small traces of fat, just enough to enjoy and give flavor. Another customer ordered a whole bowl of the ghosht with rice, and he got a huge plate of rice too. I was jealous because I could have eaten 5 times, it was that delicious. We didn't have rice but had heard about the chapatis. Definitely homemade. Real chapatis, not frozen like those we buy down the street.
(5)
Sid B.
The Chicken Biryani left a sour taste in my mouth. The quality(meat/rice) was fine but the taste was a let down. This is a sure skip considering the rich array of options that Devon has to offer. Pros: Its not pricey
(2)
Nina P.
I love this place and have been going here since they first opened many years ago! Auntie cooks the food fresh everyday. There is a daily special everyday that is very reasonable in price. There are several grill selections, byrani, and special items such as haleem available daily. This is a family owned business. Friday lunch is very busy, but well worth the wait! This is the spot that the locals of this region go to.
(5)
Daniel H.
I've been to just about every place on Devon, and this one makes the exclusive list of ones to which I'll return. The place seems busy, probably as a result of the Jama Musjid next door. If you're there after prayers get out it can be quite the madhouse. Food: The most charming feature about this place is that it's like home cooked desi food. For starters, the quality of all the meats is excellent - no fatty, gristly pieces of goat, chicken, or lamb, a great virtue in a Devon street context . Moreover, the food is not too oily and spiced in a unique way. It's a lot like eating in someone's house. The bihari kebab rivals Khan's. The liberal use of black pepper makes them quite distinctive (don't worry - it's good). Moreover, this is the only place I've seen that has lamb biryani with boneless lamb without gristle. However, judging by the texture and flavor, the "lamb" was probably more of a young sheep than a lamb... but still good. This is also one of the only places that still serves chapatis regularly. Almost all the other places only have naan and/or oil soaked parathas. The korma was just ok, needs a little more flavor. The menu is a little bare, it could use some expanding, especially in the gravy domain. Considering the prices, it's one of the best values on Devon. Ambiance: not amazing but at least it makes sense! On Devon, there's either nonsensical decor (like Mediterranean impressionist paintings in a desi place), or just disgustingly ostensible. This place is at least sensible. Service: Just one waiter and he was swamped. That said, he was a nice guy who was very hospitable.
(4)
Ed H.
good food for a really good price!!! the best thing to do is take it to go, the place is small and not really somewhere u would want to sit and eat. The chicken boti and behari kabob are really good!! 6 bucks for a meal that taste good!!! only thing that stinks is that they charge u extra for using a credit card, C'mon man!!! this is not 1985 it's 2012 get with it!!!
(4)
david s.
An under-publisized good find in the Devon area. Authentic and tasty 'home-cooked' style food, and relatively inexpensive. The only problem is the smallish menu.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
India is the birth place of Chicken Tikka Masala and Curries. Indian foods are prepared with a blend of finely mixed spices quite popular across the region. The spices develop the rich taste in Indian food enough to boggle your mind. The ever-increasing fan base of Indian food around the New York city is steadily increasing because of the large number of Indians who traveled to the land of dreams. The Indians also brought their very own vibrant, colorful, and aromatic authentic dishes for the people in the West. While most of the Indian population is Vegetarian, Indian food is great for people who are looking for vegan or vegetarian food option. If you are a Meat lover, don't get disappointed yet. Indian food also boasts of some popular non-vegetarian dishes too. Few examples are the famous Butter Chicken, Mutton Biryani and Tandoori Chicken are enough to satisfy your taste buds.
Indian food has gained reputation all over the world especially in the United States. You can find many places serving the appetizing Indian food across all major cities in the US. India is a diverse country with different food culture originated from different parts of the country. While the Northern region boasts tandoori dishes and korma offering royal taste, the Western Ghats offers sea foods that is made in naturally sweet tender coconut milk. The South Indian food servers a quality of different dishes made from rice accompanied with spicy chutneys, curries and famous sambhar. Also, the Indian sweets are a delight to relish. If you ever want to have a burst of sugar syrup in mouth, don't forget to try few Bengali Sweets. Be it spicy, tangy, or sweet flavor, you can find everything in the Indian cuisine. Be assured that the melody of spices will surely bring delight to you.
Nav K.
Great chicken biryani. Good quality and clean!
(4)Karel V.
Sauntered into this little unassuming restaurant front, unaware that my mustache was about to be dipped into sweet sweet nectar. Greeted by kindness, we were ushered into a nice air conditioned room. There, my travel partner and I waited, excitedly, for our mango lassi's. Out come two cups beaming with a golden corona of sweet, tangy, cool elixir. I will say the straws were really small, but I like to think that was a little backhanded pun by our cheeky new friends. All for $3. You can't beat that, now can you, pal?
(5)Karan V.
I always visit this restaurant when I am in Chicago. The flavor in each entree or appetizer is the best!!! It feels like home. Chicken Boti kabab is so delicious I feel I am blessed!!
(5)Harris I.
When you are on Devon, & are looking for a place to eat...you have some 189 different options - Sheesh Mahal Dhaba, a hidden gem is far from a place to take out a date, or expect fine dining from but the quality and taste of the food is better than most places around little india. I have been coming to this place since 2008, and the food never disappoints me. Authentic hyderabadi style comfort food. Their Chicken Boti should be nominated for an award. It comes on a bed of cucumbers and lettuce (always fresh) with a side of chappati. (Indian thin flatbread) The aunty at the counter always welcomes me as if we were related, if I dont go there for a long time she never fails to ask why I hadn't come by. Lol its cute. I tried to get her to give me the recipe for her chicken boti...she of course said no. But it was worth a shot. The chicken biryani is exquizite - generous amount of meat that falls off the bone. A must try.
(5)Cindy F.
I almost don't write this review because of fear that this place might become the "next hip place" for Indian food. This restaurant has been around for years. If you're wanting a fine dining experience I want to emphasize that THIS IS NOT THE PLACE FOR YOU. However, if you want some of the best quality Indian food with the best prices, this place is the way to go. I ordered the seekh boti roll, chicken roll, lamb biryani, and chicken biryani. Every dish I ordered was great. My only complaint is that it wasn't as spicy as I wanted it to be which I don't fault the restaurant because I eat pretty darn spicy and most places don't make food as spicy as I would like them to. Be cautious of the fact that the interior of this place does look run down and this is one of those joints that you see mostly men hanging out during the day so it's not your typically family friendly place.
(5)Aaron S.
We ordered delivery on a Sunday night around 7:45pm - about 50 bucks worth of various kababs, sides, etc. I had to call and ask about my order when it still hadn't arrived by 9:30pm. The woman who answered said she had sent the driver at 8:30, and she'd call him. I received a call about 10 minutes later from the woman saying he'd arrive in another 10 minutes, as he had gotten lost. About 10:00pm, the driver called saying he'd be there in 20 minutes. At this point, we had already eaten a different dinner and given up, so I called the shop and explained I wanted to cancel since waiting more than 2 hours for food is unacceptable. She said she was sorry and understood and that she'd call him. The driver showed up at 10:30 after we had gone to bed and rang my doorbell and beat on my door until I came down to answer. I explained I had called and cancelled because, at this point, I had waited for more than 2 1/2 hours. Ever-professional, he gave me attitude and stormed off. The moral of the story: I can't give you a rating on food, but I can warn you against TERRIBLE delivery service and sub-par customer service.
(1)Steph M.
Very disappointed. Yelpers, you've let us down with this place! We should have turned around when we entered. We had to step over a cord and then sat in front of a broken window. The food was okay. The service was friendly but literally left the restaurant last night before we were finished. I had to poke my head in the kitchen to get our check. There are so many other better options on or around Devon for Indian.
(2)Keney C.
Fantastic place! First off, the restaurant has a very homey feel. You don't ever feel out of place or uncomfortable. They are extremely friendly, especially once you become a regular of course. I've been going there on and off for nearly 10 years and the quality and service keeps getting better. When I'm in the mood for some simple, clean food, it's my go-to restaurant. You can pre-order over the phone and they'll have everything ready for you to pick up. And since it's not directly on Devon, parking isn't impossible to find most of the time.
(5)Yousuf A.
My friends have assured me that this place is halal. My wife comes here very regularly to get their chicken kabobs and paratas. My daughter inhales them. THey are nice enough to wash the chicken since my kids can't handle that much spice. The chicken biryani is very very good. The uncle and aunty who run the place are very nice.
(5)Hannah H.
I still think this place beats most of the other Indian restaurants and buffets; however, the second experience was a little bit underwhelming than my first. Maybe it was a little less lack of hunger; the beef and the spicy chicken kabobs were still how I remembered them, but they seemed to put a bit more cilantro into the white sauce this time around. The mango lassi was still the best I've ever tasted, hands down. Service was again, still slow, but no harassment in kicking us out - we took our dandy ol' time. Parking is available in the residential area a couple of blocks away, so don't try wasting your time in finding a metered one. I found a wonderful hidden gem located in Little India, off of Devon and Maplewood. It's located next to a modern-type of restaurant that serves a more of a 'buffet style'; however, next to it, Sheesh Mahal is truly an authentic place. Their food is unbelievable, and the prices? Even more shocking. I had the Combination plate, and that came with their famous Boti chicken and beef kebob; you had a choice of Basmati rice or a side of roti bread - I chose the rice. There was a huge plateful that comes with it. The chicken? The spice mix they use is unbelievable and grilled perfectly. Inside it's still tender enough (I love how it's cooked), and has a little kick. The beef kebob is also a ground sort that's also charred and has the same spice mixture. There are slices of fresh lime, lettuce and cucumbers on top. The side of roti bread (you can get two kinds) were absolutely thin and delicious. The two little bowls of sauce that's served with your meal (one is a yogurt type with little chunks of tomato and barely-there cilantro; the other one is a heavily cilantro-based one which I avoided) that was great in pouring all over your meat and dipped into with your roti. The service was a little slow, but the owner was very gracious and extremely apologetic. It seems as if a lot of customers come in to do carry out, and there are regulars who dine in as well. Definitely a hole-in-the-wall type of joint, but the food is excellent. The portions are pretty nice and filling. I've also tried their mango lassi, and this is the best mango lassi in the world - fresh mango, great shake mixture, and definitely a great 'dessert' type of drink to wash everything down. Their water is from a water system (Hinkley, I believe). There are metered parking in the front (very scarce), free after 6PM; try a few blocks away in the residential, non-permit spots. You might be a bit more lucky there. After your meal, you can walk around the area. +mango lassi +Combination plate +very authentic!
(4)Focheez S.
My favorites are Haleem, Briyani, and Sheesh Kabob. But all the dishes are amazing. Great service and Prices.
(5)Shikari S.
I always get the chicken rolls. They are absolutely awesome. Occasionally, I get other stuff like the kababs, biryani and pepper chicken. They are all good. But, nothing beats the value of the chicken rolls.
(5)Anita G.
Hands down the best biryani around and so reasonably priced! We never eat here because it is not a great interior but we always take a ton of chicken and goat biryani home and never tire of it.
(5)Steve B.
We walk up Maplewood almost every time we go to Devon and Sheesh Mahal is usually crowded. On the Sunday afternoon we went, we were the only two at first. They seated us on a platform in the front room. We were served by the waiter but after other people started to arrive, we figured out you order at the counter. Also, they seat families on the other side, which is fine since John and I don't have wives or children and prefer the men's side. Really, more Western restaurants should think about segregating children. We ordered the combo plate of seekh kabab and chicken tikka kabab which came covered in cucumber and lettuce slices. Both excellent. The seekh kababs were exactly like we like them, completely dissolving in our mouths. We also ordered the daily special which was ghosht curry (little square bits of beef). Just perfect! Better than the kababs. The meat was so tender and there was only small traces of fat, just enough to enjoy and give flavor. Another customer ordered a whole bowl of the ghosht with rice, and he got a huge plate of rice too. I was jealous because I could have eaten 5 times, it was that delicious. We didn't have rice but had heard about the chapatis. Definitely homemade. Real chapatis, not frozen like those we buy down the street.
(5)Sid B.
The Chicken Biryani left a sour taste in my mouth. The quality(meat/rice) was fine but the taste was a let down. This is a sure skip considering the rich array of options that Devon has to offer. Pros: Its not pricey
(2)Nina P.
I love this place and have been going here since they first opened many years ago! Auntie cooks the food fresh everyday. There is a daily special everyday that is very reasonable in price. There are several grill selections, byrani, and special items such as haleem available daily. This is a family owned business. Friday lunch is very busy, but well worth the wait! This is the spot that the locals of this region go to.
(5)Daniel H.
I've been to just about every place on Devon, and this one makes the exclusive list of ones to which I'll return. The place seems busy, probably as a result of the Jama Musjid next door. If you're there after prayers get out it can be quite the madhouse. Food: The most charming feature about this place is that it's like home cooked desi food. For starters, the quality of all the meats is excellent - no fatty, gristly pieces of goat, chicken, or lamb, a great virtue in a Devon street context . Moreover, the food is not too oily and spiced in a unique way. It's a lot like eating in someone's house. The bihari kebab rivals Khan's. The liberal use of black pepper makes them quite distinctive (don't worry - it's good). Moreover, this is the only place I've seen that has lamb biryani with boneless lamb without gristle. However, judging by the texture and flavor, the "lamb" was probably more of a young sheep than a lamb... but still good. This is also one of the only places that still serves chapatis regularly. Almost all the other places only have naan and/or oil soaked parathas. The korma was just ok, needs a little more flavor. The menu is a little bare, it could use some expanding, especially in the gravy domain. Considering the prices, it's one of the best values on Devon. Ambiance: not amazing but at least it makes sense! On Devon, there's either nonsensical decor (like Mediterranean impressionist paintings in a desi place), or just disgustingly ostensible. This place is at least sensible. Service: Just one waiter and he was swamped. That said, he was a nice guy who was very hospitable.
(4)Ed H.
good food for a really good price!!! the best thing to do is take it to go, the place is small and not really somewhere u would want to sit and eat. The chicken boti and behari kabob are really good!! 6 bucks for a meal that taste good!!! only thing that stinks is that they charge u extra for using a credit card, C'mon man!!! this is not 1985 it's 2012 get with it!!!
(4)david s.
An under-publisized good find in the Devon area. Authentic and tasty 'home-cooked' style food, and relatively inexpensive. The only problem is the smallish menu.
(4)