We Tried Chicago’s Top Indian Grocery Delivery Services—Here’s the Real Deal

As someone who loves cooking Indian meals, we spent weekends hunting Indian grocery stores all over Chicago as an Indian food lover who would prepare all sorts of Indian meals, from heavy rajma chawal to zesty pakoras on a rainy day. But life has become hectic, so let’s face the truth. Not all of us want to risk getting stuck in traffic, parking nightmares, or spending an eternity at the checkout line on Devon Avenue.

When we went out searching for the best Indian grocery delivery in Chicago, we tested seven over the course of the month. The idea was simple: purchase the basics (atta, dal, spices, veggies), try testing the delivery speed, quality, ease of use & customer service – which one really delivers now?

Every service has its strengths depending on what you’re looking for:

Here is how we personally react to the best Indian grocery delivery services in Chicago: Quicklly, Swagat Grocery, Sayweee!, Siri Groceries, Patel Brothers, and Instacart.

1. Quicklly

If you're looking for the full desi grocery experience from fresh produce and pantry staples to everyday essentials and authentic spices, Quicklly is a solid choice. The app is easy to use, deliveries are reliable, and they have a wide variety of items, including regional ingredients that can be hard to find elsewhere. They also have some ready-to-eat options, which come in handy when we might be too busy to cook.

What we ordered: Tur dal, MDH masalas, fresh methi, Royal white rice, Amul Ghee, Parle-G biscuit, and paneer.
Delivery time: Same day
Platform: App + website

What we loved:

• Super-fast delivery (our order came within 6 hours)

• Excellent packaging, cold items came chilled

• User-friendly app and easy reordering

• Great loyalty offers and coupons

Room for improvement:

• Pricing slightly above local stores (but worth it for the convenience)

Our rating: 4.8/5

2 . Swagat Indian Grocery 

Swagat may not have all the bells and whistles of bigger platforms, but we were really impressed by the freshness of their vegetables and how carefully everything was packaged. Their online platform is simple but works well, and they’ve got a thoughtfully curated selection of products that feels just right.

What we ordered: Fresh bhindi, cumin seeds, rice, and banana chips
Delivery time: Next day
Platform: Website only

What we loved:

• Super fresh produce, better than what we found in-store sometimes!

• Authentic product selection with regional variety

• No minimum order amount

Room for improvement:

• Website UX could be better

• Limited options in some sections

Our rating: 4.3/5

3.  Patel Brothers 

Patel Brothers doesn’t have its own delivery service, but you can order through Instacart. We tested this with their Devon Avenue store. The selection was slightly limited online compared to in-store, but we got all the basics delivered the same day.

What we ordered: Laxmi atta, rajma, Tata salt, green chilies, potatoes, and white rice
Delivery time: Same day (through Instacart)
Platform: Instacart

What we loved:

• Trusted brands and consistent quality

• Good delivery speed via Instacart

• Handy for recurring pantry items

Room for improvement:

• Not all Patel Brothers items are listed on Instacart

• Slight Instacart markup on prices

Our rating: 4.2/5

4. Siri Indian Groceries 

Siri is a smaller store with limited inventory, but they do staples very well. They also cater to the South Indian crowd in Chicago with items like dosa batter, sambar masala, and frozen coconut.

What we ordered: Dosa batter, toor dal, curry leaves, rasam powder, curd, and coconut milk
Delivery time: 1-2 Days
Platform: Website only

What we loved:

• Authentic South Indian ingredients

• Reliable delivery, no delays

• Fair pricing

Room for improvement:

• Not ideal for people looking for variety

• No app or tracking updates

Our rating: 4.0/5

5. Sayweee!

Sayweee! isn’t exclusively Indian; it covers Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and more, but surprisingly, they have a solid Indian selection too. We used it when we needed to stock up on Asian snacks and grab some Indian items in one go.

What we ordered: Maggi, Amul butter, haldi powder, jasmine tea
Delivery time: 2 days
Platform: App + Website

What we loved:

• Easy-to-use interface

• Great for multi-ethnic grocery runs

• Decent selection of Indian staples

Room for improvement:

• Lacks fresh Indian produce

• No variety in regional products

Our rating: 4.0/5

6. Instacart 

Instacart is like a grocery mall, you can choose from multiple stores, including Jewel-Osco, Whole Foods, and some ethnic shops. It’s not tailored to Indian groceries, but if you know your brands and are okay with substitutes, it works.

What we ordered: Turmeric root, cilantro, basmati rice (Daawat), yogurt
Delivery time: Same day
Platform: App + Website

What we loved:

• Ultra-fast delivery windows

• Option to shop from multiple stores in one go

• Real-time order tracking

Room for improvement:

• Limited Indian product availability

• Substitutes may not match Indian preferences

Our rating: 3.7/5

Final Thoughts: So, Which One Wins?

For us, Quicklly is our go-to platform for most groceries, but when we’re in the mood for something with a bit more regional, we go for Swagat. If we’re already using Instacart for our usual stuff, we’ll throw in a few desi items without a second thought.

Final tip: Always check for first-time discounts or referral bonuses. Almost all platforms offer a coupon on your first order, and it can make a big difference, especially with inflation on the rise.

So if you’re in Chicago and craving some authentic Indian magic, give these a try. Your pressure cooker and spice box will thank you.