★★☆☆☆ I consider Usmania to be a staple of desi food in Chicago. It's unfortunate that their staff is always extremely rude whenever we visit. I was once even yelled at by a waiter because he called for a party of 5, and as I was getting up to go meet him, another family rushed and sat down. That kind of behavior is not acceptable, but seems to be consistent with all of our experiences there. Customer service is definitely not their strong suit. I also once found a feather in my falooda, which was an absolutely disgusting experience. But the food is usually really good. And so I'll probably keep going back. So if you want good food with abysmal customer service, Usmania is the place for you. Posted on July 13, 2019

★★★★★ [No review submitted] Posted on December 26, 2015

★★★☆☆ Recently had Iftar dinner there and it was average experience - they had good variety with average taste and it was good waste of food unfortunately. Posted on July 8, 2015

★★★★☆ Very very busy place but food with good service. It's a must try place on Devon! Posted on May 25, 2015

★★★☆☆ only chicken boti is the best thing here....rest is like as always missing something ...so try at your own expense Posted on March 23, 2015

★★★★★ Very good authentic food. Well priced. The best Pakistani cuisine in Chicago. Great buffet at $12. Posted on November 29, 2014

★★★★☆ 4.5. ma sha Allah great food, good service. We ordered chicken biryani, nihari, reshmi chicken paratha roll and hot wings. Everything was wonderful. Faluda for dessert to top it off. Excellent. Prices are reasonable. Place was busy but clean. in sha Allah they keep up the taste and quality. Highly recommended. Posted on March 23, 2014

★★★★★ One of the best desi buffets in the USA. Posted on October 8, 2013

★★★★☆ Visited three times in one month. Food is good compare to others in area. Liked Bihari and Chicken Kabob. Matka ghost was Ok. I would love to see food with less spice and oil. Posted on September 19, 2013

★★★★★ Excellent Beef boti, lamb chops, brain masala, matka gosht and soft delicious naans and paratha followed by Doodhpati chai. Very courteous service. Would definitely go again. Two thumbs way up. Posted on June 24, 2013

★★★☆☆ I was in Chicago recent and decided to visit this restaurant; we ordered chicken biryani and haleem, the biryani was OK was not great as I was expecting haleem was the same. The ambiance of the restaurant is very good not doubt about it, the service staff needs a break or just gets rid of them. They don’t know how to treat their guests, the host is good but the servers and bus boys need some training and education. I was there to have a nice time, I was not there to shove food in my mouth and pony up the money and leave in a hurry. That’s how my experience was like. I might give them one more chance when I am in Chicago again but if they fail there are many options on Devon. Posted on November 19, 2012

★★★★☆ The restaurant but i'm wonder why the management doesn't teach their waiter to be friendly !!! they never smile and most of them are not friendly !!! PLEASE SMILE !!!!! Posted on July 15, 2012

★★★☆☆ Place is done up nicely and it is clean. Service is pretty attentive. However, wasn't a big fan of their food. We ordered seekh kabab and chicken boti. Although both were listed as grill items on the menu, neither dish appeared to have been cooked in a tandoor. The chicken actually seemed pan fried with a ton of oil, and it wasn't even chicken breast meat. Cutting corners now will cost them in the long run. Was not pleased, or satisfied. Posted on June 22, 2012

★★★☆☆ Came here while visiting Chicago. The best thing I foiund about this place was the ambiance, probably the best in the area. The good ends there. I was surprised seeing their poor customer service and the food taste. Had their malai chicken, which really had no taste to it, was very bland. Maybe some of the other items are better. But they really need to pay attention to their staff behavior. Posted on January 25, 2012

★★☆☆☆ great kababs, but everything else was horrible. They need to bring everything up to par to their kababs. I would return just for that, the biryani was poorly made, the chicken dishes were disgusting, almost made me vomit, they didnt clean the chicken, and left some of the fat still on. So dont order anything but their kababs, unless you want to get sick Posted on January 7, 2012

★★★☆☆ We went to both the original Usmania and their Chinese version across the street. Food was good but two thing we did not like: first they added $12 tip in the bill without asking us and second the staff was not welcoming. Posted on June 18, 2011

★★★★★ I think this restaurant has the best ambiance on Devon and also the best nihari...Like this place! Posted on April 20, 2011

★★★★★ the place a lot nicer inside compared to many devon restaurant. clean and well decorated and very up to date. The service was great. We ordered the seekh kabob and aloo palak. The seekh kabob were very delicious and a lot better than most places. The aloo palak was good but not great. I really enjoyed my experience eating there and i would recommend it! Posted on February 24, 2011

★★★★★ Nice Food, Reasonable Price :) Posted on February 11, 2011

★★★★☆ Good, clean family-friendly atmosphere unlike a few other Devon restaurants. Food quality not as good as it used to be, while prices steadily going up Posted on June 30, 2010

★★☆☆☆ I visited a few weeks back but was not impressed at all, the food had been reheated and the naan were under cooked. Posted on June 12, 2010

★★★☆☆ We have been to Usmania Chinese several times (and love it) and this time we decided to cross the street and try "orignal" Usmania. Not worth it. Food is about average. The most intresting part of the visit were the frequent shouting announcements by the crew asking about cars parked up front, so if I were you I wouldn't park in their lot, you may have to move your car once or twice. Posted on September 3, 2009

★★★★☆ Very good food......Kunna gosht was top notch! Maghaz, seekh kababs, reshmi kababs were excellent. Only thing we didn't like was malai chicken. Posted on August 3, 2009

★★★☆☆ their biryani is delicious, im not a fan of nihari but my husband seemed to like it. im surprised people say the staff are rude. we went there twice and the staff were great esp with my one year old. bonus that they have parking available. and im also told that their chicken is zabiha Posted on July 27, 2009

★★★☆☆ Honestly I don't remember the food at all! It must not have been that good because I would have remembered it (was there sometime in 2008)..hehe..but what I do remember is the falooda. It was good! I am not a big desi sweet/desert eater and when I ordered it was surprised I liked it. My mother who makes the best sweets and is a good judge ordered a second one! I would not go back here for food but for desert if out of towners were visiting. Posted on July 23, 2009

★★★★☆ The Nihari here is amazing !!! I love dropping by this place whenever I am in Chi-town. Great food for reasonable prices. Posted on May 31, 2009

★★★★★ [No review submitted] Posted on April 14, 2009

NR We have visited here twice. The food is not bad, there are a few items that are good such as nihari then there are the not so good (chicken makhani). Is it tasty? Most of the time. Overpriced? Definitely. We most likely would not go back. Posted on April 5, 2009

★★★★★ I've eaten at Usmania countless times, and I have never ever been disappointed. The food is great, and I have always found the staff to be quite friendly. I highly recommend this place to anyone who wants to have a tasty meal in a nice setting. Usmania was the first Pakistani restaurant on Devon to get really cleaned up. It is a far cry from their old "hole in the wall" where they started (across the street, now home to Usmania Chinese, which is my favorite restaurant on Devon!). Posted on January 15, 2009

★★☆☆☆ Gave it a chance 2 times, and won't be coming back for a third. The only dish that I enjoyed there was bihari kabob, but there are so many other places (look for bbq restaurants) in the area that offer it at a better price, and with better food overall that I wouldn't waste my time or money there. I ordered palak paneer, but instead of paneer, they had used mozzarella cheese, which tasted like an italian dish gone wrong, and the frontier chicken was disappointing. Posted on January 10, 2009

★★★★☆ It was an aboev average restaurant. I would say the food is decent and so is the staff. Posted on July 29, 2008

★☆☆☆☆ Terrible place to dine. The food might taste OK, but the atmosphere is horrific with loud and rude staff. I don't understand how they stay in business and maintain a good reputation! Posted on September 7, 2007

★★☆☆☆ Most overrated restaurant on Devon! The place looks appealing but the food isn't and where i come from, its all about the food. For some reason the food is always cold and the rice doesnt seem cooked all the way. Posted on August 6, 2007

★★★☆☆ Nice clean place, food was good. Nice place to bring family. Posted on July 24, 2007

★★☆☆☆ Rude staff, cold food, and on the high end of the price scale for Devon Ave. (the staff at Usmania Chineese is extremely nice in contrast to the main Usmania restaurant). The taste was average. The restaurant is formal and clean, as are the bathrooms (for Devon standards). The problem I have is that tables are really close together, they pile you in, and seat people really close together even if there is no rush. I don't understand the parking lot in front, you can never find parking there, and if you do someone is always parking you in so that you can't get out. The food is strait Shaan Masala.I am sure they cook the food in the morning and just warm it up or something like that because it always seems stale. The staff acts like they are doing you a favour by allowing you to eat there, and it is all about the Usmania name. Eat at Usmania Chineese if you want to support Usmania. If you don't care about the name, there are lots of other great Pakistani restaurants on Devon with better food, and a better value for the price. Posted on April 19, 2007

★☆☆☆☆ New restaurant but food was just terrible and overpriced, sorry. Our family wanted to try it because it appeared to be a fine dining experience but other than the decorations, nothing was up to par. The biryani tasted just like Ghareeb Nawaz but cost twice as much. I don't like Ghareeb Nawaz biryani too much so this was very disappointing. The kabab was passable. Other than that very disappointed in taste of food. Posted on March 26, 2007

★★☆☆☆ Okay not bad i mean its like you can get it anywhere its not the best!!! But once i got sick from eating there so we dont really go there anymore. Heavy food sits in your stomach feels like you ate melted metal!!! Posted on March 16, 2007

★★★☆☆ The food is not good. I dont know why many people like this place.I have tried many things but nothing is worth mentioning. Posted on December 7, 2006

★★★★☆ I live in the UK but come to the states often, when I came to Chicago this year I arrived on Thanks Giving and I really was craving Chinese and made the whole family go to Usmania the food was lovely the atmosphere lively I love the crispy chicken balls and the chilli beef, I am here for a while and I will def be going back. Posted on December 3, 2006

★☆☆☆☆ My family and I got food poisoning when I ordered their haleem carry-out during ISNA weekend. When I called to complain, I kept getting referred to different people, until I finally talked to the owner, who basically said that it was my fault. He promised to reimburse me my money, but never did. I definitely would not recommend the restaurant; I am not sure about their hygiene practices. Posted on September 23, 2006

★★☆☆☆ The kabobs were good, but everything else was not. Poor dining area. Service was ok. Overall, thumbs down, not recommended. Posted on August 28, 2006

★★★☆☆ The food is average. Everyone says it's Halal, so we took it as Halal. Atmosphere is confusing. On one hand, they tried to make it look elegant, but their dishes don't match, loud place, don't get your own server, and tables are too close to each other. Posted on August 20, 2006

★★★☆☆ The establishment is top notch and very aesthetically pleasing. Good environment to dine in. However, the food was not as great as it is made out to be. Posted on July 29, 2006

★★★★★ My wife thinks its the best restaurant she has been to in USA. We lived in Chicago for 3 years and we found this restaurant at the end. She thinks its way better than Sabri Posted on July 7, 2006

★★☆☆☆ This is worst place i have been, food was not good at all, biryani was worst i have ever had, lamb curry was filled with bones and fatty meat( full of fat), i think if i go there few more times i ll have heart attack.paratha was like papad Posted on July 1, 2006

★★★☆☆ You walk in and it feels like you are at a fish market. People are loud as hell even the employees and owners. There is no privacy. Food is not that great either. Posted on May 24, 2006

★★★☆☆ Usmania's was alright, not the best i've had -Being new to the Chicago area, however their portion sizes were generous. Posted on March 30, 2006

★★★☆☆ I was not impressed too much with this "Usmania" The food was very much off taste and the atmosphere not great, nothing like the real Usmania's in Pakistan. Good portions and naan is good though. Not the first or second or third place I would go to on Devon though. Posted on December 24, 2005

★★★★★ [No review submitted] Posted on December 19, 2005

★★★★★ I visited chicago for the first time and went to this resturant. The food is very good, i ordered paya and naan and took out haleem and they were the best Paya. I went to few other resturants at Devon Ave but Usmania is the best. InshaAllah i will go again to eat. (The only thing that owner should do is change the dinning ware and use new style crockery) Posted on October 11, 2005

★★★★★ Their naan is the best i have eaten in any restaurant on Devon. Their specialty is their paya. Posted on March 22, 2005

★★★★★ One of the best restaraunt in chicago. Posted on April 17, 2004

★★★★★ Very good food and very reasonable prices. Posted on December 3, 2003

★★★☆☆ Pretty decent selection and generous portions. Posted on February 24, 2002