CAFE NOVA

“They have all kind of a authentic Sri Lankan food and Indian food they do their best customer...”

They have all kind of a authentic Sri Lankan food and Indian food they do their best customer service and food preparation and service. I can say top notch and food. Taste is also great.

Mohamed Husama

Jan 2026

“Drove an hour and a half to come here and it was MORE than worth the trip.”

Drove an hour and a half to come here and it was MORE than worth the trip! The ordering kiosk was easy, the food came out quickly and it was incredible! Tried the jackfruit curry for the first time and was blown away. I highly recommend coming here. The mago lassi and avocado smoothie were wonderful as well!

Adeline Robinson Bihlmaier

Jan 2026

“Incredible value for the price.”

Incredible value for the price. I think they keep it affordable because it’s near the campus. Maybe It’s ok for them to increase the price since I cannot find any $10 chicken biryani anywhere around Chicago. Their chicken biryani is very tasty, detailed and full of complex flavors. The sauce add a nice sour taste to overall dish. The chicken is well-marinated. One downside is that the store is a bit hot to stay in. I hope they keep the temperature around 71°F

Phu N

Sep 2025

“Delicious food and friendly staff.”

Delicious food and friendly staff. We didn’t have to wait long at all for our meals, and everything was full of flavor. Highly recommend!

Bo Zhang

Jul 2025

“My Uber driver was the nicest Sri Lankan man and when we were talking about food here in the city I...”

My Uber driver was the nicest Sri Lankan man and when we were talking about food here in the city I made an ignorant comment about how it must be hard not having access to food from his homeland, assuming there were no Sri Lankan places here. He quickly told me about Cafe Nova and how wonderful it was. He even recommended the Kothu Roti saying it was the best. I ordered in via UberEats and it came piping hot and beautifully packaged. He was absolutely right. It’s one of the best meals I’ve had in ages. I also really want to come eat in the restaurant since the Uber driver said it was clean and comfortable. So unbelievably happy to have learned of this new place and find dishes that are completely foreign to me! I cannot wait to try some of the other dishes in the future, especially the mustard curry and the fish ambulthiyal.

Rachel Hradecky

May 2025

“The experience was amazing.”

The experience was amazing! Great Sri Lanka food! Loved the paratha! Finally we have a Sri Lankan restaurant in Chicago! Woot woot!

Tharaka Ukwatte

Mar 2025

“Wow this place is delicious.”

Wow this place is delicious. Everything I ordered was just so flavorful. The eggplant curry was amazingly comforting. It felt like home cooking. I can tell this made with love and passion. Paired with the warm parottas... ugh my goodness. Incredible. The mango lassi had a bit of cardamom balanced with a bit salt, which stands out from the other mango lassi I've had before and wow it was really good and addicting with every sip. Im excited to order here next time and try other dishes. The owner is also so nice and the space has beautiful art. Everything was just 5/5. If you're in the area, check out this great place. I'll certainly be back

A B

Mar 2025

“I was so happy to see this place close to the Loyola campus because I’m from Sri Lanka.”

I was so happy to see this place close to the Loyola campus because I’m from Sri Lanka. Now we can pick up some of our favorite Sri Lankan food when we visit our daughter at school. I tried the Kothu Roti with Chicken and asked for it to be spicy, it was great. Also tried the fish cutlets and those were excellent as well. My daughter says she likes the samosas and mango lassi. I’m hoping they add a Sri Lankan beef curry to the menu. I’ll be back again to try a few different things.

s e s h a

Sep 2024

“Absolutely recommend this restaurant, tasty food with out the grease.”

Absolutely recommend this restaurant, tasty food with out the grease. Palak was really tasty . I really enjoyed the chicken curry. Masala dosa is great. They have combination of two or three plates you can order if you want to try a bit variety. The manager here is very welcoming . I see why a lot of Cops and Loyola students eat here.

Leo1

Aug 2024

“The food was fantastic.”

The food was fantastic. Mild Paneer Tikka Masala was sweet and lovely. Mild Biryani still had a kick to it and was still great! Both dishes featured lots of caramelized onions. We played ping pong while waiting for our food, and it was very fun. Unfortunately i spilled all of my tikka masala outside and they replaced it for free! Very kind servers.

Joey Ripcho

Jul 2024

“I’ve had so many dishes on this menu, and they’re always mind-blowingly flavorful and authentically...”

I’ve had so many dishes on this menu, and they’re always mind-blowingly flavorful and authentically Sri Lankan/South Indian. Do not miss the mustard chicken (non-veg) or jackfruit (veg) curries with parotta instead of rice!

Rachel Hardy

May 2024

“The food was delicious.”

The food was delicious! The people are super nice! And the atmosphere is very casual! There are plenty of vegetarian/vegan options. And it is reasonably priced! Highly recommend!

Hina Sheth

Mar 2024