Al Halal Zaiqa Restaurant
Faiz M. Din · 293 Google reviewsAl Halal Zaiqa Restaurant — an indian spot in Old Town. The decor hasn't changed, and it doesn't need to. No shortcuts. You can taste the intention. Family-run. "The kadai chicken was excellent and perfectly seasoned" — Jaspreet Singh [$$]
What 348 diners keep saying
What 348 diners keep saying
verbatim, from Google
“Amazing food. Authentic flavors. Everything we ordered was great including halwa puri, wings, beef nehari, wraps, paratha roll etc.”
“Assalamualaikum, I had a wonderful dining experience at Al Halal Zaiqa Restaurant in Chicago. I ordered the biryani, lamb curry with naan, and masala tea — everything was incredibly tasty and truly felt like home. As someone who misses local halal food, this meal was especially comforting and satisfying. The owner was very friendly and gave such a warm welcome, which made the experience even better. The restaurant itself is tidy, clean, and very comfortable — perfect for group or family dining. I highly recommend this place to Muslim travelers or anyone looking to enjoy delicious halal Indian and Pakistani cuisine. Brother in Islam, Azam from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia”
“The food is delicious! surprised this is not jam packed.”
“Excellent small restaurant with care given at every level of service. Beef was tender as I've had in a large roast. Amazing flavor and spice, highly recommend”
“I went there with with my friends and tried their Halwa Poori. Its tasted better than any other Halwa Poori I have tried yet in Chicago. I would definitely recommend this restaurant.”
“The mutton paya was absolutely delicious. The gravy was rich and flavorful and the bowl came with plenty of good meaty pieces. The meat itself was incredibly tender, almost falling off the bone, which made every bite deeply satisfying. You can really tell it was slow cooked with care and skill. For such good paya, Al Halal Zaiqa Restaurant will always be my go to choice.”
“Ordered some biryani from here and liked the flavors and the spice level. There was lots of meat in the rice and it wasn’t super oily or greasy. I also ordered a garlic naan and that was okay and tasted like any regular garlic naan.”
“The food was really amazing and I really enjoyed the ambiance.”
“I’ve been coming here for a while now and have tried their omelette paratha breakfast with chai multiple times — it’s consistently really good and honestly reminds me of home (Lahore, Pakistan). The flavors feel authentic and comforting, especially with the chai. The owner is super nice and very friendly, which makes the experience even better. I’ve also tried their lamb biryani, which is delicious and well cooked. The only small note is that it can be a bit on the spicier side for non–South Asian palates, so slightly toning down the spice could make it more accessible to everyone. Overall, great food, great people, and a place I’d definitely recommend.”
“I have visited this place three or four times. I don’t have any complaints about the food, but the front desk needs someone who is a bit more active. Also, your payment machine is not working properly—the tap option hasn’t worked during all three of my visits. Please also reduce the color in the mango lassi. I like it to be super dark. And thank you for keeping the bathroom clean.”
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