Vajra

4.6

22 Reviews

$30 and under

Indian

Romantic
Vegetarian-friendly
Innovative

The tastefully adapted Nepalese and Indian cuisine in a contemporary rustic setting:
Vajra is a modern yet simple rendering of age old classic cuisine from the sub-continent; heralded for their rich cultural heritage and penultimate piquancy. First concept by Rice Paper & Company ( RPAC), Vajra aims to stay true to the roots; at the same time, introducing modern iterations of fabled dishes and simplicity of spices masterfully created by Chef Min Thapa combined with expertly crafted cocktails by Jean Banchet nominated head bartender Juanjo Pulgarin.
While understanding that the concept of the perfect marriage of the flavors and aromas can only be afforded by the usage of fresh and local produce, Vajra encourages and effectuates the purveyors that are reputable and honest to their respective trades.
Moreover, Vajra celebrates life with good food and the best people.

Not available on OpenTable

Unfortunately, this restaurant is not on the OpenTable booking network. To check availability, please contact them directly.

Is this your restaurant?

Claim this listing

Order delivery or takeout

There’s more to explore

Discover countless more restaurants like this one with our app.

Scan the QR code to discover countless more restaurants like this one with our app.

Open app

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Indian, Nepalese, Contemporary Indian
Hours of operation
Brunch Sat, Sun 11:30 am–2:30 pm Dinner Mon–Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Happy Hour Mon–Fri 5:00 pm–7:00 pm
Phone number
(312) 929-4990
Website
http://www.vajrachicago.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive chef
Min Thapa
Catering
Introducing VAJRA CATERING, providing scrumptious dishes for any private occasion; be it your office meeting, an evening soiree at home or any party at any venue. While tailored and product-driven menu is an emphasis, catering to every host’s individual taste and need to create a perfect occasion is what we are here to help you with. We are available seven days a week for any catering, be it lunch or dinner at any venue.
Private party facilities
The classic and traditionally authentic Nepalese and Indian cuisine is presented in a tasteful way, harboring the essences of freshest and choicest ingredients and best spices available. Please contact us if you need more information about our private events catering. Email us at info@vajrachicago.com

Location
1329 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60642
Neighborhood
Bucktown / Wicker Park
Cross street
Chicago and Throop
Parking details
Street Parking Along Chicago Avenue
Public transit
CTA Blue Line Chicago StopCTA Bus Ada or Elizabeth Stops
Additional
Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Samosa
whole wheat scone, mashed potatoes, english peas, indian spice mix
- Vegetable$7.00
- Goat Keema$8.00
Pakora
Fritters, Chickpea batter, Indian spice mix
Onion Bhaji$7.00
shaved onion, chickpea batter
Corn$8.00
sweet corn, chickpea batter
Original Samosa Chaat$8.00
smashed potato cones, english peas, gujarati sev & papadi, pomegranate, creamed yoghurt, chutneys
Chicken Chilli / Paneer Chilli$12.00
tempura chicken breast / indian paneer cheese, sino-indian garlic chilli sauce, beaten rice
First Class Momo: Cha$12.00
minced goat, savoy cabbage, nepalese spice, charred szechuan - tomato sauce
Goat Seekh Kebab$12.00
farm raised minced goat, red capsicum-makhani coulis, mint, cumin-coriander spice mix, spiced cashew crumble

The Chef's Plates

Paneer Stuffed Capsicum$19.00
indian paneer cheese, smashed potatoes, red & green capsicum, charred tomato & cashew sauce
Oyster Mushroom$18.00
oyster mushroom, english peas, nepalese spice blend
Classic Butter Chicken$25.00
poussin [young bone in chicken], cashew tomato-onion sauce, cumin-coriander
Heritage Goat$25.00
farm raised goat, five spice blend, star anise, ginger sliver
Goan Fish Curry$28.00
charred faroe islands salmon, goan spice mix, grated coconut, curry leaves, mustard temper
Lobster Malabar Curry$34.00
wild caught canadian lobster, cream coconut, tomato sauce, indian spices, cloves
The Goat Steak$30.00
farm raised goat steak, spice-mustard oil rub, buttered makhani sauce
Tandoori Venison$34.00
roasted denver venison, young papaya rub, buttered makhani

The Classics

Cashew Tikka Masala
- Paneer$17.00
- Chicken$19.00
- Lamb$20.00
- Shrimp$21.00
Cashew Shahi Korma
- Vegetables$16.00
- Chicken$19.00
- Lamb$20.00
- Shrimp$21.00
Madras Curry
- Paneer$17.00
- Chicken$19.00
- Lamb$20.00
- Shrimp$21.00
Vindaloo Curry
- Vegetables$16.00
- Chicken$19.00
- Lamb$20.00
- Shrimp$21.00
Creamy Saag Curry
- Paneer$17.00
- Chicken$19.00
- Lamb$20.00
- Shrimp$21.00
Dum Biryani
- Vegetables$17.00
- Chicken$19.00
- Goat$20.00
- Shrimp$21.00

The Vegetarian Plates

Alu Gobhi$15.00
potatoes, cauliflower florets
Bhindi Masala$15.00
sautéed okra
Paneer Chilli$18.00
paneer cheese cubes, garlic chilli sauce
Matar Paneer$18.00
paneer cheese cubes, english peas, creamed tomato-onion sauce
Baingan Bharta$15.00
crushed & roasted eggplant
Dhingri Matar$15.00
sautéed baby corn, english peas

The Tandoori Plates

Tandoori Paneer & Kohlrabi$22.00
paneer, kohlrabi, broccoli, capsicum, red onion, potato, cream cheese, spice blend
Himalayan Grilled Chicken$20.00
free range chicken breast, five-spice blend, mustard oil bath
Tandoori Chicken Tikka$20.00
crystal valley farm chicken, yoghurt-spice blend, makhani sauce
Tandoori Chicken$27.00
roasted green circle chicken, mustard oil bath, yoghurt -spice blend, makhani sauce
Tandoori Mahi Mahi$28.00
mahi mahi filets, mustard oil bath, sour cream-spice blend, makhani sauce

The Side Orders

Alu Tama Bodi$8.00
potatoes, preserved bamboo shoots
Dal Makhani$8.00
black lentil dairy dahl
Chana Masala$8.00
chickpeas, indian spice blend
Saag Paneer$9.00
creamed spinach, paneer cheese

The Rice and Flatbreads

Saffron Rice$6.00
basmati rice, saffron, cardamom
Butter Naan$4.00
white flour, egg, milk
Garlic Naan$5.00
white flour, egg, milk, garlic rub
Goat Keema Naan$6.00
white flour, egg, milk, minced goat
Gruyère Cheese Naan$8.00
white flour, egg, milk, gruyere cheese

The Accompaniments

Boondi Raita$4.00
yoghurt, roasted cumin, chickpea pearls
Cucumber Raita$3.00
yoghurt, roasted cumin, mint, cucumber & carrot shreds
Raw Onions$2.00
raw onion, jalapeno, lemon
Pickles / Relish$2.00
pickled vegetable / sweet mango relish

What 22 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

4.6

4.6 based on all time ratings

4.6Food
4.5Service
4.4Ambience
4.2Value

Noise • Moderate

22 Reviews

LM
LisaMaria
Chicago
17 reviews
4.0
17 reviews
Dined on March 16, 2020
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
Cool ambiance, good food and accommodating for larger groups; I gave a 4 based on pricing.
Is this helpful?
CA
ChicagoAvenueDiner
Chicago
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on March 15, 2020
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Vajra is an excellent restaurant. Amid COVID-19 concerns, each party was seated far from anyone else. Everything was handled professionally and hygienically. Servings are large and we took enough to have another meal. I highly recommend!
Is this helpful?
JH
JaniceH
Chicago
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on March 13, 2020
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Outstanding new Indian restaurant. Reminded of the great places in London. Service is top notch and Bupil is truly interested in how customers feel about the quality. Can hardly wait to go back. Must trys are Salmon, Goat Steak, and Saag Pander. We took home an order of Saag. Have fun!!!
Is this helpful?
B
Badtaste
New York City
65 reviews
3.0
65 reviews
Dined on March 12, 2020
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 3
Have been hearing about this place for a while and was curious to try, but was disappointed to discover that many of the well-reviewed dishes, like the tandoori duck and the goat momo, are no longer on the menu. What remains is adequate but hardly special. Goat stew and okra side were decent, but Goan seafood curry offered dry, overcooked fish and the opening somosa chaat was bland. Indeed, nothing was especially spicy, including the dishes we’d requested as spicy. Points deducted for the piece of ceramic found in the chaat, the long wait to order, and the nearly unintelligible server. This place may have been special upon opening, but it seems to have dumbed down its offerings to broaden its appeal, which means it’s just another neighborhood Indian place now, but with higher prices and less adequate execution. Skip.
Is this helpful?
a
ajax
San Francisco
12 reviews
4.0
12 reviews
Dined on March 9, 2020
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
We really enjoyed the atmosphere and the food. I found a hair in my chick pea curry, and pointed it out. The server took it away and they said they would take it off the bill. It seems that this is a bit more serious than just taking off an unliked dish off the bill. Typically there is an apology and offer of something to make up for the issue. There was none. For this reason, I will not recommend this restaurant to others.
Is this helpful?
JC
JCool
Chicago
27 reviews
4.0
27 reviews
Dined on March 1, 2020
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
My friends and I went here for brunch this past Sunday. One of my friends is Nepali so we wanted to see if we were getting an authentic experience. While not on the menu, we special requested MoMo since I had never tried them. The kitchen put them in for us and in about 15 they were out. So delicious and my Nepali friend said the sauce was spot on. We also shared the goat skewers, chicken dum biryani, and some garlic naan with tea. While the bulk of the menu focused moreso on Indian cuisine at least for brunch, the service and ambiance was great 👍🏼
Is this helpful?
OP
OPfoodie
Chicago
63 reviews
5.0
63 reviews
Dined on February 29, 2020
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We cannot write enough positive remarks about the wonderful dining experience we had recently at Vajra...from the warm welcome at arrival to the innovative mixology, the considerate service and excellent dish preparation, we were hooked...cannot wait to return for more super delicious Nepalese/Indian fare!
Is this helpful?
GC
GabrielC
Chicago
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on February 27, 2020
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Tender lamb dishes.
Is this helpful?
P
Palmer
Chicago
3 reviews
3.0
3 reviews
Dined on February 23, 2020
1. Overall 3
2. Food 2
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 3
I went to Vajra shortly after it opened in April 2019 and thought the food was fantastic. It was so fresh, and I reveled in the taste. This trip ten months later did not yield the same results. The food was meh and not as tasty. I asked that tikka masala be made with tofu as I had the last time I was there. The server snipped we don't cook with tofu. The sag paneer wasn't spicy enough and neither was the dahl makhani. The tandoori chicken was dry. Overall, all three of us were unhappy. We wanted that freshness you often don't find in Indian cooking in Chicago. Vajra is off my list.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
VIP
Chicago
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on February 20, 2020
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 3
Really great food and drinks.... seemed as though they were short staffed that night.. but the food made up for it...
Is this helpful?

FAQs

Vajra offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (312) 929-4990.

Vajra is rated 4.6 stars by 22 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Not available on OpenTable

Unfortunately, this restaurant is not on the OpenTable booking network. To check availability, please contact them directly.

Is this your restaurant?

Claim this listing

Order delivery or takeout

1329 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60642

Additional information

Cross street
Chicago and Throop
Neighborhood
Bucktown / Wicker Park
Hours of operation
Brunch Sat, Sun 11:30 am–2:30 pm Dinner Mon–Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Happy Hour Mon–Fri 5:00 pm–7:00 pm
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Indian, Nepalese, Contemporary Indian
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Street Parking Along Chicago Avenue
Public transit
CTA Blue Line Chicago StopCTA Bus Ada or Elizabeth Stops
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Min Thapa
Additional
Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.vajrachicago.com/
Phone number
(312) 929-4990
Catering
Introducing VAJRA CATERING, providing scrumptious dishes for any private occasion; be it your office meeting, an evening soiree at home or any party at any venue. While tailored and product-driven menu is an emphasis, catering to every host’s individual taste and need to create a perfect occasion is what we are here to help you with. We are available seven days a week for any catering, be it lunch or dinner at any venue.
Private party facilities
The classic and traditionally authentic Nepalese and Indian cuisine is presented in a tasteful way, harboring the essences of freshest and choicest ingredients and best spices available. Please contact us if you need more information about our private events catering. Email us at info@vajrachicago.com

Vajra

Not available on OpenTable

Order delivery or takeout

There’s more to explore

Additional information

The Small Plates

Samosa

Pakora

Onion Bhaji$7.00

Corn$8.00

Original Samosa Chaat$8.00

Chicken Chilli / Paneer Chilli$12.00

First Class Momo: Cha$12.00

Goat Seekh Kebab$12.00

The Chef's Plates

Paneer Stuffed Capsicum$19.00

Oyster Mushroom$18.00

Classic Butter Chicken$25.00

Heritage Goat$25.00

Goan Fish Curry$28.00

Lobster Malabar Curry$34.00

The Goat Steak$30.00

Tandoori Venison$34.00

The Classics

Cashew Tikka Masala

Cashew Shahi Korma

Madras Curry

Vindaloo Curry

Creamy Saag Curry

Dum Biryani

The Vegetarian Plates

Alu Gobhi$15.00

Bhindi Masala$15.00

Paneer Chilli$18.00

Matar Paneer$18.00

Baingan Bharta$15.00

Dhingri Matar$15.00

The Tandoori Plates

Tandoori Paneer & Kohlrabi$22.00

Himalayan Grilled Chicken$20.00

Tandoori Chicken Tikka$20.00

Tandoori Chicken$27.00

Tandoori Mahi Mahi$28.00

The Side Orders

Alu Tama Bodi$8.00

Dal Makhani$8.00

Chana Masala$8.00

Saag Paneer$9.00

The Rice and Flatbreads

Saffron Rice$6.00

Butter Naan$4.00

Garlic Naan$5.00

Goat Keema Naan$6.00

Gruyère Cheese Naan$8.00

The Accompaniments

Boondi Raita$4.00

Cucumber Raita$3.00

Raw Onions$2.00

Pickles / Relish$2.00

Overall ratings and reviews

FAQs

Does Vajra offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Vajra restaurant rated?

Is Vajra currently accepting reservations?

Not available on OpenTable

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information