Devon Avenue (Little India)
Overview
Devon Avenue is known as a lively enclave of Indian and Pakistani restaurants, shops, and artisans. The neighborhood has undergone plenty of changes in its 140-year history. It was renamed from Church Road to Devon Avenue by English settlers, and transformed into a main shopping area for Chicago’s Jewish community. The area is a jumble of ethnicities, but is predominantly Indian and Pakistani. The avenue is known as Chicago’s “international marketplace,” as it features beautiful Indian silks and treasures. Many Indian and Pakistani restaurants line the avenue and the scent of their cuisine wafts through the air.
Shopping
You won't find big chain stores here; rather, expect very ethnic grocery stores--which can make for a day's worth of fun for the adventurous home cook. In groceries, exotic ingredients fill out inventories of the basic staples used in Indian and Pakistani cooking. Shops are mostly relegated to foreign merchandise-selling, pawn shop-style shops.
Dining/Nightlife
The city of Chicago's booming dining scene keeps making its way north, but foodies come to Devon Avenue for authentic South Asian cuisines at restaurants big and small.
Culture & Attractions
The culture here is right on the streets, where various ethnic groups are liable to be out in traditional garb and speaking in one of the many languages that are heard in this area, including Russian, thanks to a large influx of Russian Jews over the last few decades.
The Low Down
If you and yours aren't afraid of trying something new when it comes to dining and visiting a community, look no further than this storied stretch of Devon Avenue. A day here definitely won't break the bank, and foodies will enjoy the grocery stores as much as the restaurants.
Listings within the Devon Avenue (Little India) Area
