Indian Community • Chicago

Malayali Community in Chicago

Des Plaines/Morton Grove: 2,548 Malayalam speakers (metro high) • CMA est. 1972 (oldest Malayalee org in North America) • 9+ Keralite churches • Thattu: NYT’s 50 Most Exciting Restaurants 2023 • Knanaya Center Des Plaines: community hub

Des Plaines and Morton Grove are the Keralite capital of the Midwest — 2,548 Malayalam speakers (ACS 2022) concentrated in one northwest suburban corridor, anchored by the Chicago Mar Thoma Church (founded 1977, second-largest Mar Thoma parish in North America) and St. Mary’s Knanaya Catholic Parish in Morton Grove (the largest Knanaya Catholic parish outside India, 750 families). The Chicago Malayalee Association, founded in 1972 with 2,500 members, is the oldest Malayalee association in North America. And Thattu restaurant in Chicago made international headlines in 2023 when the New York Times named it among America’s 50 Most Exciting Restaurants — putting Keralite coastal cuisine on a national stage no other city had claimed. From Panchavadyam temple percussion to Kerala nurses shaping Illinois’s healthcare system, this is one of the most institutionally complete Keralite communities in the United States.

Last updated: March 2026 • Full Indian Community guide for Chicago →

Cost Snapshot Schaumburg 2BR: ~$2,200/mo Naperville 2BR: ~$2,250/mo Median home: $320K–$600K Software eng: $120K–$190K IL flat income tax 4.95% Full Chicago cost of living & jobs → Rent: Zillow • Salary: Glassdoor/BLS • Home: Redfin • Mar 2026

Why Malayali Families Choose Chicago

Chicago’s Keralite migration story is anchored in two professions: nursing and medicine. Illinois’s sprawling hospital network — Rush, Northwestern, Advocate Aurora, NorthShore, UChicago Medicine, Cook County Health — has long recruited nurses trained in Kerala, where nursing education is among the most rigorous in Asia. The Indian Nurses Association of Illinois (INAI), founded in 2002, was built to serve this community. For physicians, the Association of Kerala Medical Graduates (AKMG) provides the national network. The healthcare pipeline that brought Keralites to New Jersey and Houston works identically in Chicago: trained professional, employment offer from a Chicago-area hospital, settle in the northwest suburbs near work.

What’s remarkable about Chicago’s Keralite community is how early it took root. The Chicago Mar Thoma Church in Des Plaines was registered in Illinois in 1977, before the 1980 census. The Chicago Malayalee Association was founded in 1972. The St. Peter’s Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Church in Northlake — the first Malayalee church in Chicagoland to own its building — held its first Holy Eucharist in July 1978. These are not recent arrivals building a community from scratch. This is a 50-year-old institutional ecosystem with deep suburban roots, established long before the tech booms that drove later Indian immigration waves.

Chicago also has a singular cultural distinction: it is the city where Keralite restaurant food went national. When the New York Times listed Thattu among America’s 50 Most Exciting Restaurants in October 2023, it validated what the Des Plaines community had known for decades — that Kerala’s coastal, coconut-forward cuisine is distinct, extraordinary, and deserving of recognition on its own terms.

Where Malayali Families Live in Chicago

Unlike many Indian communities that are spread across broad suburban arcs, Chicago’s Keralite community has a clear center of gravity. Des Plaines and Morton Grove function as the Keralite heartland — identifiable by churches, a dedicated Kerala grocery, a major community center, and a church that recently relocated from the city specifically to be closer to its congregation. Here is where Malayalam speakers actually live, based on Census PUMA data.

Des Plaines & Morton Grove — The Keralite Capital (2,548 Malayalam speakers (ACS 2022))

No suburb in the metro comes close. With 2,548 Malayalam speakers (ACS 2022), the Des Plaines / Morton Grove corridor is the dominant Keralite residential zone in all of Chicagoland — a concentration that stands out even by national standards. The community anchor institutions are clustered here: the Chicago Mar Thoma Church (240 Potter Rd, Des Plaines, founded 1977), the St. Mary’s Knanaya Catholic Parish (7800 W Lyons St, Morton Grove, largest Knanaya parish outside India), the Knanaya Center at 1800 E Oakton St, Des Plaines (the multi-use event hall used by CMA, KCS, and other community organizations), and Kalavara Foods (647 N Wolf Rd, Des Plaines), the dedicated Kerala-specific grocery in the community’s backyard. The Chicago Tribune confirmed this pattern in 2015: “Chicago Mar Thoma Church, a Christian church in Des Plaines, is where many families from India’s Kerala region worship. The Des Plaines church dates from the 1970s, after many Indian families from the Kerala region moved to the area.” CSI Christ Church of Chicago relocated its congregation TO Des Plaines in 2025, the most recent confirmation that this suburb remains the community’s center of gravity.

Buffalo Grove & Wheeling — The Northern Corridor (1,105 Malayalam speakers (ACS 2022))

The second-highest concentration of Malayalam speakers in the metro, Buffalo Grove and Wheeling form the northern arc of the Keralite suburban belt. Part of a broader South Asian residential zone in the northwest suburbs, this area is served by the Malayalee Association of Greater Chicago (MAGC), formerly the Chicago North Malayalee Association, which explicitly serves north Chicagoland. Community members in Buffalo Grove frequently connect with the Des Plaines corridor for church, cultural events, and the Knanaya Center — a 20-minute drive south.

Bolingbrook & Naperville — The Southwest Growth Belt (1,030 and 992 speakers)

Bolingbrook (1,030 Malayalam speakers (ACS 2022)) and Naperville (992) are the newer Keralite settlement zones, part of the broader southwest suburban growth corridor that drew South Asian families in the 2000s and 2010s with more affordable housing and excellent schools. NSS of Chicago’s Onam 2025 was held at Plainfield High School (adjacent to Bolingbrook) — a direct signal of active Keralite population here. These residents are further from the Des Plaines institutional core but well-connected to Naperville’s Indian grocery infrastructure (Patel Brothers Naperville, 42,000 sq. ft., the Midwest’s largest Indian grocery).

Kerala Churches in Chicago

Every major strand of Kerala’s ancient Christian tradition is represented in Chicago. Saint Thomas Christians of Kerala trace their faith to the Apostle Thomas, who tradition holds arrived in Kerala in 52 AD — making these among the oldest Christian communities in the world. In Chicago, their descendants have built an extraordinary network: Syro-Malabar Catholic, Knanaya Catholic, Mar Thoma (Reformed Oriental), Jacobite Orthodox, Malankara Orthodox, CSI (Protestant), and two IPC Pentecostal congregations. For a new Keralite arrival, finding YOUR church is the first step.

Chicago Mar Thoma Church — Des Plaines (Second-Largest in North America)

240 Potter Road, Des Plaines, IL 60016 • (847) 376-8745 • chicagomarthoma.org

Registered in Illinois in March 1977; building dedicated November 1986. The second-largest Mar Thoma parish in the entire North America and Europe diocese — a major landmark of Keralite Christianity in the United States. Mar Thoma Syrian Church is a reformed Eastern church rooted in the Saint Thomas Christian tradition, with elements of both Western Protestant reform and Eastern liturgical practice. Services: 7:00 AM Malayalam Holy Qurbana (livestreamed); 8:40 AM Sunday School; 10:00 AM English Holy Qurbana (livestreamed). Ministries: Choir, Edavaka Mission (outreach), Senior Fellowship, Sevika Sangam (women), Sunday School, Young Family Fellowship, Youth Fellowship, Yuvajana Sakhyam (young adults). The church’s 240 Potter Road location has functioned as the anchor for Keralite settlement in Des Plaines since the 1970s.

St. Mary’s Knanaya Catholic Parish — Morton Grove (Largest Knanaya Parish Outside India)

7800 W Lyons St, Morton Grove, IL 60053 • (847) 919-5279 • smkcparish.us

Consecrated July 18, 2010. 750 families. Religious Education School: 500 students, 80 teachers. Described as the largest Knanaya Catholic parish outside India — the community bought a former Jewish synagogue and converted it. Mass schedule: Mon–Fri 7:00 PM; Saturday 10:00 AM; Sunday 7:45 AM, 10:00 AM, 5:30 PM; English Mass Sunday 11:45 AM. Novenas: St. Jude (Thursday), Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Saturday), Adoration (first Friday), Night vigils (second Friday). The Knanaya community traces its origin to a merchant group from Mesopotamia who arrived in Kerala in 345 AD — maintaining endogamous marriage traditions and a distinct identity within Keralite Christianity.

Mar Thoma Sleeha Cathedral — Bellwood (Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocesan Seat)

5000 St. Charles Rd, Bellwood, IL 60104 • (708) 493-1401 • smchicago.org

Dedicated July 5, 2008. 1,200+ families. The diocesan cathedral of the St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Chicago — the seat of the Syro-Malabar Catholic diocese covering the entire United States, one of the most prominent Keralite Catholic institutions in North America. Daily masses in English and Malayalam; multiple Sunday masses. The Cathedral Malayalam School was started in 1992, holds classes every Sunday for one hour, organized into 8 grade levels (Pre-KG through graduating), staffed by approximately 15 teachers and 6 teaching assistants, all volunteers. The oldest and largest Malayalam language school in the Chicago metro, operating for 30+ years.

Sacred Heart Knanaya Catholic Forane Parish — Bensenville

145 E Grand Ave, Bensenville, IL 60106 (parish center); Knanaya Center: 1800 E Oakton St, Des Plaines • shkcparish.us

Established September 1, 2006. The first Knanaya Catholic parish established outside the proper territory of the Archeparchy of Kottayam, India; elevated to Forane Parish status in 2015. Mass schedule: Sunday 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 11:30 AM (English); Weekdays 8:30 AM and 7:00 PM. Signature annual event: Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (first weekend of June) — processions, special prayers, grand community feast. Six Koodara Yogams (prayer groups) maintain continuous community life between larger celebrations.

More Keralite Churches in Chicago

St. Peter’s Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Church — 150 E Belle Dr, Northlake, IL 60164. (708) 562-9963. stpeterschurchchicago.org. Founded 1978; first Malayalee church in Chicagoland to own a building (moved to owned property 1981). Jacobite Syriac Orthodox (under Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch). Ministries: Sunday School, Youth Group, Women’s League, Malayalam School, Bible Study
St. Mary’s Malankara Orthodox Church — 6801 W 96th St, Oak Lawn, IL 60453. stmaryschicago.com. Founded 1982 in Chicago; moved to current Oak Lawn location 2001. Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (distinct from Jacobite Orthodox; both rooted in Kerala’s Saint Thomas Christian tradition)
CSI Christ Church of Chicago — 1095 Thacker Street, Des Plaines, IL (relocated 2025). (773) 282-0229. csichristchurch.us. Founded 1989. Church of South India (Protestant, ecumenical). Malayalam services: 1st, 3rd, and 5th Sundays; English: 2nd and 4th. Recently relocated FROM Chicago city TO Des Plaines — the most recent institutional confirmation of that suburb’s gravitational pull
St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church of Chicago — 710 N Main St, Lombard, IL 60148. (630) 489-8152. stthomasmtcchicago.org. Founded December 2003; serves the western suburbs (DuPage County corridor)
Bethel Pentecostal Church of God (IPC) — 2214 N Nordica Ave, Chicago, IL 60707. (773) 622-4169. bethelipcchicago.org. Indian Pentecostal Church of God (IPC) — Malayalee Pentecostal denomination founded in Kerala 1924
IPC Shalom Church Chicago — 550 E Business Center Dr, Mount Prospect, IL 60056. (847) 801-9098. ipcshalomchicago.org. Sundays 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM. Second IPC congregation serving the northwest suburbs

Malayali Organizations

Chicago Malayalee Association (CMA) — The Oldest in North America

834 E Rand Rd, Suite 13, Mount Prospect, IL 60056 • President: Jose Manakkatte (847) 830-4128

Founded in 1972 — the oldest and largest Malayalee association in North America, with approximately 2,500 registered members. Mission: “Promote social, cultural, charitable, educational, and literary activities among the Malayalees of Metropolitan Chicago area, all over Illinois and the Midwest region.” Annual events: Onam festival (held at Knanaya Center, 1800 E Oakton St, Des Plaines — 2026 Onam scheduled April 11–12), Kerala Piravi (Kerala Formation Day), Kalamela / Youth Festival, Indian Independence Day Parade, basketball and volleyball tournaments, Cheettukali Malsaram (traditional Kerala card game competition). Separate active forums for youth, seniors, and women.

Knanaya Catholic Society of Chicago (KCS) — 6,000+ Members

Knanaya Center: 1800 E Oakton St, Des Plaines, IL 60018 • kcschicago.com

Founded 1983. Described as the largest local Knanaya association with more than 6,000 members — one of the largest single community organizations in the entire Chicago Keralite ecosystem. The Knanaya Center at 1800 E Oakton St, Des Plaines functions as a multi-use event hall for the broader Keralite community, not just KCS members — the CMA Onam is held here, community health fairs, sporting events, and cultural gatherings. Sub-organizations: Kids Club, KCJL, KCYL (youth leagues), Youvajanavedhi, Women’s Forum, Senior Citizens Forum, KCS Professional Forum (job listings and professional networking for Knanaya community members). Hosts KCCNA (Knanaya Catholic Community of North America) conventions.

Nair Service Society of Chicago (NSS)

nssofchicago.org

Illinois chapter of the Nair Service Society, founded in Kerala. Mission: “reviving ethnic and cultural identity” among Nair expatriates in the Midwest. Programs: Kerala Kalolsavam (annual art and literary festival modeled on Kerala’s state-level youth festivals — approximately 1,000 participants in recent editions), Malayalam language classes for children, music classes under Dr. Pandalam Balan (serving seniors and youth), Bhajan classes, scholarship programs, and charity initiatives. 2025–2026 events: Vishu 2025 at Palatine High School; Taste of Kerala (July 21, Busse Woods); Onam 2025 at Plainfield High School; Shaan Rahman & Harisankar Concert (May, Naperville). One of the most programmatically active organizations in Chicago’s Keralite ecosystem.

More Malayali Organizations

Greater Chicago Malayalee Association (GCMA) — Founded 1985. 5000 St. Charles Rd, Bellwood. greatercma.org. Organizes Onam, Kalamela, cultural events for the western suburbs
Malayalee Association of Greater Chicago (MAGC) — Formerly Chicago North Malayalee Association (CNMA). magconline.com. Serves north Chicagoland — Wheeling, Buffalo Grove, and surrounding suburbs matching the 2nd-highest PUMA concentration zone
Midwest Malayali Association of America — Founded 1998. midwestmalayaliassociation.com. Promotes cultural, charitable, and educational activities across the Midwest and in India
Indian Nurses Association of Illinois (INAI) — Founded 2002. inaiusa.org. For nurses of Indian origin (heavily Keralite). Programs: Nurses’ Week recognition (May), annual picnic (August), minimum 3 community health fairs annually, free BLS/ACLS certification for members, CEU conferences (Pharmacology, Cardiology). National affiliate: NAINAUSA. THE professional organization for Keralite nurses in Illinois
FOKANA (Federation of Kerala Associations in North America) — fokanaonline.org. Founded July 4, 1983 in NYC; represents 100+ member associations and approximately one million NRIs. CMA, GCMA, IMA, and other Chicago-area associations are FOKANA members. Chicago has hosted multiple FOKANA conventions including the 11th International Convention at Sheraton Chicago

Kerala Restaurants & Groceries

Chicago is in the middle of a Kerala food moment. In June 2025, PBS Chicago’s WTTW ran a feature on the “Keralite food boom” — naming four distinct Kerala restaurants as part of a new wave. The restaurants span the city geographically, with the northwest suburban hub (Des Plaines/Niles) served by Mainland India and Kalavara Foods for the daily community.

Kerala Restaurants

Thattu — 2601 W Fletcher St, Chicago, IL 60618 (Avondale). (773) 754-0199. thattu.com. Wed–Sun 5:00 PM – 9:30 PM. Owners: Vinod Kalathil (from Kozhikode, Kerala) and chef Margaret Pak. Named to the New York Times’ “America’s 50 Most Exciting Restaurants” (October 2023); James Beard Award semifinalist; Chicago Tribune called it “pioneering.” Signature dishes: appam with coconut curries, Meen Pollichathu (whitefish in banana leaf), Kerala Fried Chicken Bites, Short Rib & Porottas, seasonal Onam Sadhya. Focus: coastal Kerala comfort food — the coconut-forward, seafood-rich cuisine of northern Kerala (Malabar/Kozhikode). Tip-free pay model (built into pricing). The most nationally celebrated Kerala restaurant in the Midwest
Mainland India Restaurant — 8808 N Milwaukee Ave, Niles, IL 60714. (847) 257-7918. mainlandindia.us. Mon 4:00–9:30 PM; Tue closed; Wed–Sun 12:00–9:30 PM. Opened 2017. Located in Niles, directly adjacent to the Des Plaines/Morton Grove Keralite hub — the closest Kerala restaurant to the community’s residential heart. Signature dishes: Kappa Beef Mix (tapioca with beef — the quintessential Kerala comfort combination), Beef Fry, Tandoor Red Snapper, Telicherry Biryani, Masala Dosa. Dine-in and catering
Mintza South Indian & Kerala Cuisine — 2245 W Devon Ave, Chicago, IL 60659. Owner: Sajadmon “Sai” Nechiyan. Kerala flavors on Devon Avenue — where most restaurants are Pakistani, Gujarati, or Telugu. Signature dishes: Pollichathu (fish/meat in banana leaf), sadya. Featured by WTTW (PBS Chicago) in June 2025 as part of the Kerala food boom coverage
Trilokah Indian and Kerala Restaurant — 2239 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago, IL 60614 (Lincoln Park). (847) 258-3022. trilokahrestaurant.com. Wed–Sun lunch and dinner; Tue closed. Originally based in Mount Prospect (northwest suburbs) before relocating to Lincoln Park. Kerala and South Indian menu: Kappa (tapioca), Kerala-style curries, pollichathu, porottas. Featured in Chicago Magazine (October 2025)

Kerala Groceries & Specialty Stores

Kalavara Foods (Des Plaines — flagship): 647 N Wolf Rd, Des Plaines, IL 60016. (847) 813-9793. kalavarafoods.com. Daily 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM. Dedicated South Indian / Kerala grocery and catering establishment — carries “foods and grocery items known to South Indian people and those specifically from Kerala.” Daily cooked dishes: Puri Bhaji, Dum Biryani, Chicken Curry, Telicherry Biryani, Fish Upma. Catering service available. Located in Des Plaines, in the heart of the Keralite PUMA concentration — the go-to store for northwest suburban Keralites
Kairali Indian Foods (Glenview): 777 Milwaukee Ave, Glenview, IL 60025. (847) 729-2100. Mon–Fri 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM; Sat–Sun 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM. “Kairali” (a term for Keralite identity) signals explicit Kerala orientation. Full South Indian groceries plus catering: Porotta with Beef Fry, Chicken Biriyani, Beef Fry, Chicken Curry
Kerala Foods (Albany Park, Chicago): 3730 W Montrose Ave, Chicago, IL 60618. (773) 267-3307. One of the oldest Kerala-specific grocery stores in Chicago — approximately 38 years in business (established ~1988). Named specifically for Kerala products
Patel Brothers — Niles: 9555 N Milwaukee Ave, Niles, IL 60714. (847) 983-4485. Daily 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM. Closest Patel Brothers to the Des Plaines/Morton Grove hub; carries Kerala rice varieties, coconut products, tamarind, and frozen Kerala fish

Language, Arts & Culture

Malayalam Language Schools

Syro-Malabar Cathedral Malayalam School — 5000 St. Charles Rd, Bellwood, IL 60104. Founded 1992 — over 30 years. Every Sunday, one hour per session. 8 grade levels (Pre-KG through graduating). ~15 teachers, 6 teaching assistants, all volunteers. Curriculum: Malayalam reading/writing, listening/speaking, cultural traditions, Indian history, Malayalam film screenings. The largest and oldest organized Malayalam language school in the Chicago metro. smchicago.org/school
NSS of Chicago — Malayalam Classes: nssofchicago.org. Community-based Malayalam classes; described as having “benefited hundreds of children.” Offered alongside music instruction by Dr. Pandalam Balan
Chicago Kalakshetra — Malayalam Language Classes: chicagokalakshetra.com. Language instruction offered alongside classical dance and music programs
St. Peter’s Jacobite Church — Malayalam School: Church-run program for congregation children, held Sundays concurrent with services (Northlake)

Chicago Kalakshetra — Kerala Temple Percussion Arts

chicagokalakshetra.com

Chicago Kalakshetra is a rare institution even within the Indian diaspora: the only organization in the Chicago metro dedicated specifically to Kerala temple percussion arts. Its Panchavadyam team — led by Shri Ajikumar Bhaskaran — performs the traditional Kerala five-instrument percussion orchestra (timila, maddalam, ilathalam, idakka, kombu) at Vishu and Onam celebrations annually and at venues across multiple US states. Also offers Chenda Melam (Panchari Melam, Chembada Melam, Srinkari Melam), Indian Classical Dance, Indian Classical Music, and Bhajan classes. Signature events: Vishu celebration (spring), Onam (September at the Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago in Lemont), and Kalolsavam 2026 (April 24–25, 2026). Panchavadyam and Chenda are arts forms rarely encountered outside Kerala — Chicago Kalakshetra is a genuine cultural treasure.

Mohiniyattam — Classical Kerala Dance

Mandala South Asian Performing Arts — 410 S Michigan Ave, Suite 528, Chicago, IL 60605. (312) 620-0096. mandalaarts.org. Offers Mohiniyattam — described as “one of the oldest and most graceful classical dance forms of India, hailing from the lush state of Kerala.” Sessions: 60–90 minutes; beginner through advanced; children, teens, and adults; weekly sessions plus one-on-one training. Performance opportunities throughout the year. Mohiniyattam is Kerala’s own classical dance — distinct from Bharatanatyam and rarely taught outside specialized academies.

Key Annual Festivals

Onam (August/September): The defining Keralite celebration — a 10-day harvest festival honoring the mythical King Mahabali. CMA holds its Onam at the Knanaya Center (2026: April 11–12); NSS holds its Onam at Plainfield High School (Bolingbrook corridor); Chicago Kalakshetra holds its Onam at the Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago in Lemont. Multiple organizations, one festival week
Vishu (April): Kerala’s New Year. NSS of Chicago celebrated Vishu 2025 at Palatine High School
Kerala Piravi (November 1): Kerala Formation Day, celebrated by CMA
NSS Kerala Kalolsavam (annual): Approximately 1,000 participants in a youth arts and literary competition modeled on Kerala’s state-level school festivals. Dance, music, literature, and performing arts
Taste of Kerala (July, Busse Woods): NSS cultural-food event celebrating Kerala cuisine in an outdoor setting
Knanaya Sacred Heart Feast (first weekend of June): Annual feast at Sacred Heart Knanaya Catholic Forane Parish with processions and community gathering

Data Sources

U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (2022 5-Year Estimates) • Community organization websites and direct verification • Local school district enrollment data • Zillow and Apartments.com (rent estimates) • Glassdoor and BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (salary data) • Redfin (home price data). Community population estimates reflect available Census language data combined with organization-reported figures. Read our full research methodology →