Reviewed as serving the “Best Indian Food in Chicago,” Hema’s Kitchen is one of the many cozy restaurants lined up on Clark Street. The warm red decorations and soft lighting make the customers feel welcome and sheltered from the cold.

Food wise, I stuck with the usual cuisines I have tried at other Indian places to try to see what makes Hema’s stand out. Unfortunately or maybe fortunately, the dishes seemed about the same as other places in Chicago e.g. Devon Street and for about the same price (or more). I wasn’t a fan of the fact that we had to pay extra for rice and bread either.

The Tandoori chicken appetizer, though it did not come out on a sizzling platter (perhaps because it was an appetizer), was quite soft, tender, and pleasant. The Lamb Vindaloo was by far THE spiciest I have ever tasted, and the Chicken Masala met general expectations.

As for parking, the restaurant does not have its own lot. There are metered parking spaces, but I had to circle a couple of times before I could find a spot. I recommend trying on a weeknight.