If you’re in the Westmont area and craving cuisine other than all-American fare, you have a wealth of options. Here are some of the best ethnic cuisines in Westmont, Illinois.

Khyber Pass Restaurant

For a culinary journey through India, stop by Khyber Pass Restaurant at 1031 Lake St. in Oak Park. You can enjoy a plethora of dishes, including chicken tikka masala, basmati rice, samosas, naan bread, chicken, lamb, or lamb vegetable biryani. They also offer lunch and dinner buffets along with a full a la carte menu. Khyber Pass is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Bohemian Crystal Restaurant

For a delightful array of hearty modern European, Czech, and Hungarian cuisine, visit Bohemian Crystal restaurant at 639 Blackhawk Drive Westmont. Diners rave about their rye bread with real butter, goulash soup, potato pancakes, roast pork, bread dumplings, breaded pork, roast duck, ribs, pork schnitzel, green beans, and sweet and sour cabbage. Indulge in a strudel or kolaches for dessert, such as the poppyseed, apricot, or farmer’s cheese. Bohemian Crystal Restaurant is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Jerusalem Cafe

Make a beeline to Jerusalem Cafe at 300 W. Roosevelt Road in Lombard for delicious Middle Eastern food. They’re open from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m Monday through Thursday, staying open till 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Feast on favorites like their falafel, shish kabob, hummus, tabbouleh, shawarma, and grilled kebab. They have a $7.99 lunch special so that you can sample some of their savory and delightful food at a low price. Portions are generous and prepared with care, and their food is considered halal.

Katy’s Dumplings

For an array of Chinese dishes with an emphasis on dumplings, stop by Katy’s Dumplings at 665 N. Cass Ave in Westmont. Open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily for your dumpling fix, be sure to try the soup dumplings, spicy Chengdu dumplings, Dan Dan noodle soup, Mala dry pot, or shrimp with garlic sauce. You also can’t go wrong with their beef or beef tendon noodle soup and combination fried noodles. For the more adventurous and heat tolerant, Katy’s also offers spicy stir-fry options.

Grand Duke’s Restaurant

To taste homemade Lithuanian, Bohemian, and Bavarian cuisine, head to Grand Duke’s Restaurant at 980 75th St. in Downers Grove. Start with an appetizer of potato pancakes with duck, caviar crepes, or hot Bavarian pretzel bites with beer cheese dipping sauce. Try their wild mushroom and barley soup or the signature borscht (cabbage and meatball soup) either as a starter or for your meal.

For your main course, check out the Lithuanian combo, which includes different sausages and sides, the meat dumplings, stuffed cabbage, or chicken kiev. Grand Duke’s is open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., closing at 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Ed’s Kitchen

For artfully prepared Mediterranean food, stop by the five-star Ed’s Kitchen at 3010 Hobson Road in Woodridge, open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Start with the baba ganoush (roasted eggplant dip), hummus, falafel, or chopped salad. Follow that up with the chicken, beef, pork, lamb or lula kebab, all of which come with sautéed vermicelli, spicy carrot salad, chopped salad, and pita bread. If you have any room left, you’ll want to try the homemade baklava for dessert for the perfect ending to your dining experience at Ed’s.

Pho Noodle Station and Bubble Tea House

For Vietnamese food that’s as aesthetically beautiful as it is delicious, head to Pho Noodle Station & Bubble Tea House at 2950 Finley Road in Downers Grove. Start your meal with appetizers, including spring rolls, egg rolls, pot stickers, and fried shrimp sumai. For a variety sampling of Vietnamese cuisine, opt for the Viet taste starter plate, including shrimp rangoons and chicken on a stick.

For your main course, get the banh mi, a Vietnamese sandwich with many options for fillings, including Korean barbecue beef, lemongrass grilled tofu, grilled pork, or double barbecue pork and pork roll. On to the star of the show, the pho, available in a dizzying array of options, including the Pho Tai served with beef eye round, the seafood pho do bien, curry karrage chicken, and beef brisket. The menu is rounded out by yakisoba noodles and udon noodle dishes. Don’t forget the bubble tea, including milk tea, milk strike, classic, and milk top.

Lao Sze Chuan

Pay a visit to Lao Sze Chuan at 1331 Ogden Ave. in Downers Grove for authentic Szechuan fare. Begin your exploration with appetizers, including the Shanghai spring rolls, pork pot stickers, jiao ma chicken, or the sliced beef and maw Szechuan style. Moving on to main entrees, you can choose from the Szechuan Boiled Series, including pork, beef, fish, and lamb. You can also try the Lalala spicy dry pot series, including chicken with bone, beef tendon, squid, or shrimp.

Try one of the chef’s specialties at Lao Sze Chuan, such as the Szechuan hot and spicy pot, four happiness meatballs, or spicy beef. Visit Lao Sze Chuan from 11:30 a.m to 9:30 p.m. daily.

Emilio’s Tapas

For a taste of Spain, and the Mediterranean, Emilio’s Tapas at 4100 Roosevelt Road in Hillside. Tapas are small plates made to be shared by everyone at the table. Emilio’s Tapas does not disappoint, with an extensive selection of dishes, including canalón frio de atun, champiñones rellenos, Emilio’s patatas bravas, gambas a la plancha, dátiles con ticino, and calamares con ajo y limón. For dessert, try a delectable flan. Enjoy Emilio’s Tapas on Wednesday and Thursday from 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

This list of the best ethnic cuisines is but a small sampling of some of the best spots in and around Westmont, Illinois. Get out there and explore new cuisines. Let the team at Creme de la Creme know if we’ve missed any of your favorites or if you’ve found a new spot we should try.