This restaurant is so special. I’m a firm believer that food is love, and this menu perfectly encapsulates head chef Preeti Waas’ love for family, community, and food. The menu reads like a personal memoir as Preeti shares the history of each dish and personal anecdotes about her experiences creating and sharing her favorite foods. And the food is incredible. Don’t take my word for it - my Indian husband said it’s the best samosa he’s had in the U.S. And he’s a self-proclaimed samosa connoisseur, so truly a ringing endorsement. We started with the samosas and rasam shots - both so, SO good. I’d not tried rasam before and wow - I’ve been missing out! We had the chicken biriynai (special) for our main, and ended with chai. Cheeni makes an excellent glass of chai. We were beyond full at this point, but desperately wanted to try the chicken ishtew…so we ordered it to go. Best decision we’ve made in a long time. Even ordered to-go to be consumed at a later time, this curry was bomb. If you are in Durham, you simply MUST try Cheeni. It will definitely become a staple in your rotation.
UPDATE: we stopped in on NYE for the soft open of the bar: excellent! Inventive cocktails and great service.
jay nair
Dec 22, 2023
5
This was the best Indian dining out experience for me in the last 25 years of living in various cities in US & Canada. Food was delicious, comparable to some of the best restaurants in India. Owner is extremely friendly and was open to sharing the recipe with us.
Nate S
Dec 17, 2023
5
The food was incredibly delicious and flavorful! It was as if we were at some one’s house and they were preparing a meal just for us. A cozy space, but with a reservation they accommodated our Birthday party of 8. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming! Highly recommend the Pork Korma and Naan.
Genesis Lazo
Dec 8, 2023
5
We had a great experience last night and are continuing to have a great experience for lunch with our leftovers. Everything reheated really well! The fish from the grilled meat platter is phenomenal. The samosas are giant and delicious. I loved that the tea and soda were from India. And the service was fantastic.
B Kiellur
Dec 1, 2023
5
Came to their first day of lunch service - food was great! We love Indian food, and Cheeni certainly fills a "new" niche vs. our other favorite local Indian options. The owner and her daughter were handling service, and were incredibly gracious about my exuberant 18 month old (who also loved his Samosa).
Kathleen Young
Nov 30, 2023
5
We had the best time at Cheeni! From the moment we walked in everyone was so friendly and warm. Decor is super inviting and pretty. The menu was so fun to read through with Preeti’s personal stories and cooking journey. The food was warm and comforting and everything tasted really fresh and had a homemade feel. The whole thing felt like an experience more than just a meal, and we can’t recommend it enough! Know this place will thrive in Durham.
Jan Tugwell
Nov 26, 2023
5
I have never been a big fan of Indian food….until I ate at Cheeni! Every single thing we ate was amazing! And the staff was top notch. Preeti was working hard but still found time to come over to our table and make us feel like we were long lost friends. The staff was also great - patiently answering all of our questions. This is one of the best restaurants in the Triangle. I will be going back often.
Alisa Ginyard
Nov 19, 2023
5
Delicious food from beginning to end. Lamb samosas and the grilled fish with a tasty coconut milk sauce were my picks and I was highly impressed. .
Catherine Ryan
Nov 18, 2023
5
Absolutely delicious! The daal was fabulously tasty and not spicy. The lamb vindaloo very spicy and very good. Naan wonderful. Everything was freshly prepared and the staff are terrific. Definitely go No again next time we are in Durham!
Kedar More
Nov 16, 2023
5
With the opening of cheeni dhuram my experience with the Indian food got better the menu is amazing got the best experience here staff are amazing
Charlie Colasurdo
Nov 8, 2023
5
Fantastic addition to Downtown Durham. Preeti brings a wealth of knowledge of regional Indian cuisine in a cozy, centrally-located restaurant that is sure to become a Durham classic.
