Michelin Bib Gourmand · Regional Indian · Lincoln Park
By Monty Khas, Anonymous Critic. Pays every bill.
Most Indian restaurants in America cook from the same short list of North Indian classics. Nadu throws that list away. Its name means homeland, and chef Sujan Sarkar, the force behind Michelin-starred Indienne, uses it to take diners on a tour of India's regions, from the fishing villages of Mangalore to the beaches of Goa and the kitchens of Odisha.
The people
Sarkar's SWADESI Hospitality opened Nadu in Lincoln Park in spring 2025, and the Michelin Guide quickly took notice, adding it to the guide that summer with a Bib Gourmand, the award for excellent cooking at a good price.
The room
Nadu is more relaxed than Indienne but still polished, and it suits a date night or dinner with friends. Reservations are taken for groups of up to six.
What to eat
The five-course prix fixe is the easiest way in, and one of the best values in the city. If you prefer to build your own meal, start with paneer ghotala, a spiced scramble of fresh paneer, and tamatar chaat, a tangy tomato chaat inspired by the streets of Varanasi.
The seafood is where Nadu shines. Prawn balchao, the fiery, vinegary Goan pickle-style dish, is bold and addictive, and meen gassi, a Mangalorean fish curry rich with coconut and tamarind, is the kind of dish that makes you rethink fish curry entirely. Mudhi mansha, a slow-cooked Odia mutton curry, is another rarity worth trying, and the vegetable moilee, mild and coconut-creamy, keeps vegetarians happy. Order ghee bhat, fragrant rice cooked in ghee, to soak it all up, and finish with apricot delight, the Hyderabadi dessert of apricots, custard and cream.
Big groups should look for the crab milagu fry, a peppery South Indian crab feast that must be ordered ahead.
The bar
The cocktail list leans on Indian ingredients, with drinks like the Khubani, named for the apricot. There's also a corkage policy if you'd like to bring your own bottle.
Before you go
Nadu is at 2518 North Lincoln Avenue. Vegetarian, vegan, halal and gluten-free options are available, and reservations are booked online.
Why it matters
Nadu proves that regional Indian cooking deserves a bigger stage. It's ambitious, generous and affordable, and it might be the best introduction to how varied India's food really is.
The Quick Fix
What to order: The five-course prix fixe; paneer ghotala; tamatar chaat; prawn balchao; mudhi mansha; meen gassi; vegetable moilee; ghee bhat; apricot delight; a Khubani cocktail
Pricing: Mid-range. The prix fixe is one of the best fine-dining values in Chicago.
Best for: Regional food explorers, date nights, small groups, vegetarians and anyone who wants Indienne-level cooking without the splurge
How it compares: Chicago's best-value Indian dinner; more relaxed and more regional than sister restaurant Indienne; more traditional than Mirra or Lilac Tiger
See where Nadu ranks: The Best Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi Restaurants in Chicago: Our Top 10 for 2026
The food was always this good. We're just paying attention.