The best butter chicken in Chicago.

Maharaj Indian Grill sits on South State Street in the Loop, a short walk from the theaters and from The Bean. The room is clean and spacious, loud with conversation on busy nights, and some seating is styled after dhaba benches. Staff are praised for quick refills and for finding seats during the Friday rush.

Butter chicken is the dish most visitors pick, and it comes creamy and rich with tender, fresh chicken. Chicken tikka arrives sizzling, garlic naan comes out of the tandoor, and lollipop chicken, goat biryani, goat curry and the grill special for two are named favorites. One entree can be enough for two diners, and the lunch express combos are generous.

Practical notes: the rice can be plain, and the sauce rescues it, so order naan too. Friday evenings and show nights run busy, with a short wait at the door. A few diners had trouble with phone orders and with some starters, so dining in is the safer approach. The downtown setting and steady service make it an easy recommendation.

Indian Paradise is on West North Avenue at a corner with parking, in a room diners call spacious and elegantly designed. Everything on the menu is halal, and staff explain spice levels patiently. Many diners say a first visit made them stop returning to old favorites.

The butter chicken sauce is the draw. Diners taste tomato, garlic, cashew and spice, and describe a richness and depth they had not found elsewhere, in mild and spicier versions alike. Garlic naan is crisp and soft, vegetable samosas arrive fresh with a spicy potato filling, and chicken 65 is a common starter. The lamb rogan josh and lamb biryani earn strong praise, and the paradise chicken has fans.

Practical notes: rice and naan are ordered separately, so the total grows as the table fills. Portions are large, and one diner found the price high for the entree. Takeout and delivery are popular and pack well, though a dry naan was reported once. Opening hours on the day of the visit are worth checking.

Adda Indian Cuisine sits on West Taylor Street in Little Italy, in a mid-size room with tablecloths, soft music and attentive servers. Diners describe an upscale neighborhood place that is not too pricey, better for a long dinner than a quick bite.

Butter chicken is the order most diners mention, creamy and savory with just enough spice, and diners praise the garlic naan, basmati rice and mango lassi that go with it. Lamb rogan josh, rara chicken, chicken 65 and angarey tandoori chicken are other picks. Starters such as vegetable samosas, onion pakora, seekh kabab and honey chili potato do well, and the mint chutney earns a compliment.

Practical notes: the dining room is calm, and reservations are rarely needed on quiet days. The kitchen takes last dine-in orders early in the evening, and a party arriving close to that time felt rushed. Opinions on the biryani and on some service moments vary, so ordering the butter chicken and the tandoori dishes is the dependable path.

Superkhana International is on West Diversey Avenue, a relaxed room with plants, warm lighting, bright colors and pop music. The menu adapts Indian ingredients to Western and Asian formats, and diners say it does not need to be called fusion because the flavors stay true. Staff are lively and give useful recommendations.

Butter chicken appears in several forms, including a calzone and a kulcha. Diners say the gravy keeps its flavor and the chicken stays tender in both. The chili cheese naan, served like a pizza, is a regular order, and the achar condiments and chili garlic sauce add more. The Bombay sandwich, eggplant bao, chana chaat, palak paneer pizza and the ice cream sandwich round out the table.

Practical notes: brunch is popular and the patio opens in good weather. Reservations help for groups, and the team handles large parties well. Some diners found the menu too fried for the price, and a few dishes ran out at one brunch, so ordering the butter chicken items first is sensible.

The Spice Room is a small, colorful BYOB restaurant on West Armitage Avenue. A mural of spices covers one wall, cushions line another, and the smell of spices greets diners at the door. Many call it their favorite Indian restaurant in the city for the mix of price, service and food.

Butter chicken has great flavor, according to diners, and the chicken vindaloo comes at a manageable heat. Garlic naan is good enough that one table ordered two more baskets. Chicken malai tikka, lamb korma, kofta makhani, gobi Manchurian, onion pakora and samosas are regular orders, and the menu makes it clear which dishes are vegan.

Practical notes: a table of five found space on a Thursday evening on short notice. Takeout is common, and the packing of sauces sometimes needs care. Delivery timing is the most frequent complaint, and a few diners found chicken sparse in some dishes or the order wrong, so confirming the order at pickup is wise. Dining in is the stronger experience.

Taste of Nepal is on Davis Street in downtown Evanston, a separate city north of Chicago. The entrance is plain from the street, and the dining room upstairs is calm, with the kitchen kept away from the tables. Diners describe kind staff who explain the menu and bring complimentary chutneys and papadum.

The menu is long and covers Nepali and Indian dishes. Butter chicken is a frequent order, with a smooth sauce and gentle spice. Chicken tikka masala, lamb saag, lamb tikka, vegetarian jalfrezi, egg curry, Nepali mutton curry, momos and paneer pakora are also named. Vegetarian diners find plenty to eat, and the momos are called amazing.

Practical notes: a ramp serves guests who need step-free access upstairs. Prices and portion sizes draw some criticism, with a few diners finding the plates smaller than at other Indian restaurants. Service can stretch when delivery orders pile up, so a quieter hour helps. Lunch is a calm option.

Mild 2 Spicy on West Diversey Parkway offers a broad Indian menu plus a South Indian section, and diners return for the dosas as much as the curries. Service is quick and friendly, and drinks such as the Mirchi Guava and the mango lassi get compliments.

Butter chicken comes two ways. The classic curry arrives a bright orange, with tender pieces in a rich, creamy sauce, and the Butter Chicken Dosa is a crisp, thin crepe that diners call a game-changer. Chicken Madras, goat curry, chicken curry and chili chicken are other picks, along with masoor and masala dosas, idli sambar, Gobi Manchurian, baby corn and mixed pakoras. Spice levels run from mild to moderate, spicy and vindaloo.

Practical notes: dosas and fried items are best eaten warm, so dining in beats delivery. A few diners found the butter chicken thin or tomato-forward when ordered to go, and some thought the prices high for the style. Larger groups and birthdays are welcomed, and a free dessert was mentioned once.

Vajra is on West North Avenue in a room diners call lovely, with warm service and attractive decor. It serves a weekday lunch buffet and weekend brunch, and takeout orders placed directly through the website have a steady following.

Butter chicken is rich, with a good ratio of sauce to chicken. Diners also name goat biryani, which is hard to find done well, goat curry, dal makhani, chicken chettinad, saag paneer, sweet potato chaat, chicken seekh kabab and onion fritters. Naan arrives fresh, in garlic and gruyere versions, and brushed with butter. Gulab jamun is served warm.

Practical notes: entrees come with rice, and portions are large. Delivery orders have arrived late or with items missing, so pickup is the safer way. A few longtime customers noted a decline in sauces and bread recently, while others still praise it. Visiting in person tends to go well, and the private event service earned praise from a wedding party.

Dhanteraz Indian Fusion sits on West Roscoe Street in Roscoe Village, on a residential block with boutique shops. Diners describe an interesting, sophisticated room with art and warm lights that works for date night, and servers who give thoughtful recommendations.

Butter chicken is creamy and flavorful, even at mild spice, and diners say it holds its own against the lamb rogan josh. Chili gobi, chili paneer, Gobi Manchurian, herb rice and tikka masala pasta stand out, and the mango lassi is a recommended drink. The kitchen is attentive to vegan and allergy needs, and spice can be adjusted to taste.

Practical notes: the room is compact, so weekend evenings can fill. Takeout is popular, but a few diners found takeout oilier than dine-in, and one felt the butter chicken lacked flavor. Lunch is served too, and parties celebrating birthdays are made to feel welcome. Overall, the praise for service is steady, and the dine-in meal is the strongest way to try it.

Himalayan Sherpa Kitchen is a Nepali restaurant on West Lawrence Avenue, a simple neighborhood corner that diners say delivers high quality cooking. Staff walk guests who do not know Himalayan food through the menu, and diners from Nepal and Darjeeling say it feels like home.

Butter chicken has a following, with one diner who orders it in every country calling this version a favorite, while another found it sweeter than expected. Chicken tikka masala, lamb madras, jhol chicken momo, chicken momo, Chitwan taas, thenthuk, pumpkin curry and garlic naan are also named. Momo wrappers are thin and chewy, and complimentary papad comes with mint and tamarind chutneys.

Practical notes: street parking is easy, and a bus stop sits in front. Delivery arrives hot and well packed. Prices run a little high, and a few diners reported an off night, with a dry chicken or a watery soup, so the momos and butter chicken are the safer picks. Newari sets drew mixed reactions on delivery.