Ali's Nihari & BBQ
Khawar Syed · 678 Google reviewsAli's Nihari & BBQ — straightforward pakistani in Devon Avenue. Order the Nihari. Good energy here, especially on weekends. Mohammed Misbah Uddin: "The nihari was tender and full of depth, the tikka had just the right amount of spice" [$$]
What 860 diners keep saying
What 860 diners keep saying
verbatim, from Google
“Visiting Chicago from Houston. Nice and clean place with fine dining vibes. Food was good specially the chicken karahi and also beef nihari.”
“This place has best Nihari. Exceptionally delicious. Will definitely come back. Staff is super nice, courteous and polite. 💯 best place. Will try chicken karahi and biryani next time”
“The meat is cooked really well and the gravy is ideal; not too thick or thin and not very spicy . A great place to visit specially if you are a fan of niharii”
“Visited Ali's for Nihari, Biryani, Haleem and naan The food was 5/5 in every aspect of taste, portion size and quality of ingredients and freshness Service was quick and the folks help you with anything you may ask be it questions about the food or anything else The restaurant is clean and located right on the main street Will visit again!”
“I recently had dinner at Ali’s Nihari & BBQ, and it was an excellent experience from start to finish. I tried their Ali’s Nihari, Nalli Nihari, Balochi Chicken Tikka,and Chicken Charga, and every single dish was perfectly cooked with rich flavor and authentic taste. The nihari was tender and full of depth, the tikka had just the right amount of spice, and the charga was juicy and beautifully seasoned. A special mention goes to Mr. Rehan, who provided outstanding customer service throughout the meal. He was attentive, courteous, and made sure everything was just right. Overall, a fantastic dining experience—highly recommended!”
“While visiting Chicago, I knew I had to make a stop on the famous Devon Avenue, one of the best places in the city for authentic Pakistani and Indian food. Instead of revisiting an old favorite, I decided to try Ali's Nihari & BBQ, a restaurant that had been recommended to us—and it definitely lived up to the recommendation. We ordered the Nihari, Seekh Fry, Chicken Pakoray, and plenty of fresh naan. The Nihari was the highlight of the meal, featuring a rich, deeply spiced gravy with incredibly tender beef that had been slow-cooked to perfection. The Seekh Fry was packed with smoky flavor and finished with fresh onions, cilantro, and green chilies, giving it an extra kick. The Chicken Pakoray were crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and paired perfectly with the house dipping sauces. Fresh, hot naan straight from the tandoor tied everything together and was perfect for soaking up every bit of the flavorful curries. If you're looking for authentic Pakistani comfort food on Devon Avenue, Ali's Nihari & BBQ is definitely worth adding to your list. The portions were generous, the flavors were rich and authentic, and everything tasted freshly prepared. Whether you're craving a hearty bowl of nihari or classic BBQ favorites, this spot delivers a satisfying meal that showcases some of the best flavors Pakistani cuisine has to offer. Highly recommended!”
“After my experience last night I would never eat here again. At first my sweet lassi I ordered came and tasted soo damn sour and awful. When I asked waiter to drink it himself he came back and acknowledged that the wrong old yogurt was used by accident and said sorry multiple times. He said I’ll take it off the bill no worries and later came back with a freshly new one which I didn’t drink because my tastebuds were messed at this point. When I came home and opened the to-go box I find mold on the salad. This is totally unacceptable and extremely gross I almost puked. Also they never proceeded to take the drink off and I didn’t care about no $5 and paid the whole meal.”
“I hardly write reviews but I had to write something for this establishment. I ordered Nihari and naan to go and they had the audacity to serve completely burt naans. I have attached a picture. I live more than 1 hour away and when I got home and I saw this. How can a restaurant knowingly pack and give someone something they wouldn’t eat themselves? What poor respect for their customers.”
“Enjoyed the food. Chicken Tikka was great. Had nihari and whole wheat naan and bhindi masala. Good choices.”
“We went back for another visit about a month or so ago and it was deeelicious! My husband and I had to fight our sons for some Chicken pakora! It was sooo delicious! The kids had burgers and fries again. My husband and I shared the Ali Nihari signature beef dish ...again and it's so tender and juicy! Just absolutely perfect! Mashallah! We also shared the chicken Karachi which has a nice little kick to it. Our youngest son who isn't always the most adventurous really enjoyed the rice that came with the dish with some of the Chicken Karachi and Naan! We had chai and mango Lass which were both an absolute delight. The carrot halwa had to come with us this time because I couldn't eat it there but didn't want to miss getting either. I'm soo glad I didn't because it was wonderful! I love that this establishment makes it easy for us to pray when prayer time comes in, they make it very filt friendly for little ones and big one alike. The staff is always on point and most accommodating. I can't wait to go back. Any time we get close to the Chicago area that's always my go to! Thank you Ali Nihari! See you soon inshallah!”
“Ali’s Nihari is a beloved destination on Chicago’s Devon Avenue for authentic IndoPak cuisine, with a reputation built around its rich, slow cooked nihari. The restaurant specializes in traditional dishes prepared with classic recipes and bold spices, offering favorites such as nihari, biryani, kebabs, haleem, and freshly baked naan. Known for generous portions, comforting flavors, and a casual, welcoming atmosphere, Ali’s Nihari has become a popular stop for both longtime locals and visitors exploring one of Chicago’s most vibrant South Asian dining corridors.”
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