Chiya Chai Riverwalk
Chiya Chai Riverwalk draws regulars for spicy masala chai, oat-milk chai, pani puri, and especially flavor-packed samosa chaat with addictive chutneys—an affordable, casual stop for drinks and Indian street-food bites along the Riverwalk. Service is often praised, though busy Saturday visits can mean longer ordering waits, and reviews are mixed on bhel puri portions and consistency of the food and chai.
What 373 diners keep saying
verbatim, from Google
“10/10 good customer service !!! Cheap drinks !!! Affordable!!! Great”
“Tried Chiya Chai Riverwalk location on a busy Saturday evening. Although the wait to order the food was a bit longer but the food is worth trying. Not the best out there in the city/loop area but worth trying it. Chai was good, samosa chaat was made perfect, one issue was bhel-puri was literally a namkeen with way less chutney for $8. And yes, the quantity wasn’t up to the expectations for the price you pay.”
“We had a really great experience here and actually ended up coming back again during our trip to Chicago. It was such a refreshing change to have flavorful Indian food right by the waterfront, especially after several days of mostly pizza and heavier meals. Everything we tried was delicious and well-balanced in flavor. The chats and desserts, the milk cake and rasmalai, stood out for us and made the meal feel complete. Overall, a place we’d happily return to and definitely recommend to anyone visiting Chicago and looking for good Indian food near the Riverwalk.”
“The masala chai at this place reminded me of "Gujarati chai".”
“The place has a beautiful view. The chai is good but the chaat is average in taste. The overall vibe of the place is 10/10.”
“When I inquired about vegan options, they mentioned the oat-milk based chai. So happy they offer a dairy-free chai. The spicy masala chai is amazing. You can taste the tea without the milk overpowering it, and the spices hit just right.”
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