Spicy Indian food paired with a cool cocktail - Ilu Ilu have a winning combination

Words Cathy O’Brien Images Ben Spinelli

For a luxurious taste of India, Ilu Ilu is a hidden gem, tucked away in the Signature Building in Wollongong’s CBD. Owners Ruchi Chhikara and Jason Chin spent their time during lockdowns planning down to the last detail for Ilu Ilu’s opening, serving up a modern twist on many traditional Indian flavours.

“I have always worked in project management as an engineer,” said Ruchi. “So, when all my work was put on hold during Covid, I started to really investigate my dream of combining my love of cooking and sharing parts of my culture through food and drink,” she said.

Just before Covid, Ruchi’s husband Jason called her from a bar in India excited that he was eating Indian food in the bar. Ruchi explains “I laughed - I am not sure what he expected, he was in India after all!” The inspiration for Ilu Ilu was to share Ruchi’s culture with the local community and create a unique, relaxed cafe vibe in the heart of Wollongong.

The luxurious regal blue and gold finishings transport you to another world, with comfy lounges, indoor and outdoor seating options Ilu Ilu does not disappoint. “I wanted to break the mould of the ‘traditional’ Indian restaurant decor and was determined there would not be an elephant in sight!”

As you sink comfortably into your seats, your most difficult decision is what to start with - cocktail or delicious Indian tapas? With an extensive Indian-inspired cocktail menu, you are sure to find something you’ll love, and if you are unsure the welcoming staff will help you choose.

“Our most popular cocktail is the Hibiscus Sour, closely followed by the Indian Mule,” a delicious twist on the classic cocktail with a hint of turmeric. “And I’m surprised the Chilli Margarita has been so popular,” she says.

It’s easy to work your way through the cocktail menu, not only delicious tasting but looking almost too good to drink, like the Fireball Sour, a spicy twist on a Whiskey Sour. It is refreshing to be in a cocktail bar that caters to non-drinkers too, with the alcohol-free version of the Batida de Coco mocktail an absolute favourite.

There are so many delicious options on the tapas menu to pair with your cocktails. Ruchi has perfectly balanced the menu with a variety of tapas items with traditional Indian options including Chicken Tikka or Lamb Meatballs, alongside Paid Chaat, Aloo Chaat and Dahi Puri, delicate crispy shells filled with potatoes, yoghurt and chutney.

Ilu Ilu has recently celebrated their first birthday, with Ruchi reflecting “while the past year has been the entire range of emotions including exhausting and exciting, the best part has been taking a step back and looking at everything Jason and I created and being able to say, ‘we did that’.”

Ruchi and Jason as still working on the right mix for their perfect work/life balance. For now, they are enjoying being at the bar and sharing Ruchi’s culture through food and drink.

“These are the flavours that I grew up with”

— Ruchi Chhikara, Owner

With the weather warming up and regular jazz on a Thursday evening you simply can’t go wrong with a night out at Ilu Ilu. Ruchi and Jason have created a fabulously unique, warm and inviting cocktail bar right in the heart of the Wollongong CBD.