<Page> Exhibit 23.1 Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm The Board of Directors Inland Western Retail Real Estate Trust, Inc.: We consent to the use of the following reports incorporated by reference herein: <Table> - - our report dated November 10, 2003 related to - our report dated February 25, 2004 related to the historical summary of gross income and the historical summary of gross income and direct operating expenses of Shops at Park Place direct operating expenses of Dorman Centre for for the year ended December 31, 2002, the year ended December 31, 2003, - - our report dated December 4, 2003 related to the - our report dated March 3, 2004 related to the historical summary of gross income and direct historical summary of gross income and direct operating expenses of Darien Towne Center for operating expenses of Heritage Towne Crossing the year ended December 31, 2002, for the year ended December 31, 2003, - - our report dated February 24, 2004 related to - our report dated May 21, 2004 related to the the combined historical summary of gross income historical summary of gross income and direct and direct operating expenses of Properties operating expenses of Paradise Valley Acquired from Thomas Enterprises for the year Marketplace for the year ended December 31, ended December 31, 2003, 2003, - - our report dated March 2, 2004 related to the - our report dated June 14, 2004 related to the historical summary of gross income and direct historical summary of gross income and direct operating expenses of Hickory Ridge for the year operating expenses of Best on the Boulevard ended December 31, 2003, for the year ended December 31, 2003, - - our report dated March 3, 2004 related to the - our report dated June 14, 2004 related to the historical summary of gross income and direct historical summary of gross income and direct operating expenses of CorWest Plaza for the operating expenses of Bluebonnet Parc for the period from May 29, 2003 through December 31, year ended December 31, 2003, 2003, - - our report dated March 3, 2004 related to the - our report dated May 25, 2004 related to the historical summary of gross income and direct historical summary of gross income and direct operating expenses of Metro Square Center operating expenses of North Rivers Town Center (SuperValue) for the year ended December 31, for the period of October 1, 2003 2003, (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2003, - - our report dated February 26, 2004 related to - our report dated June 8, 2004 related to the the historical summary of gross income and historical summary of gross income and direct direct operating expenses of Larkspur operating expenses of Arvada </Table> <Page> <Table> Landing for the year ended December 31, 2003, Marketplace and Connection for the year ended December 31, 2003, - - our report dated February 25, 2004 related to - our report dated June 8, 2004 related to the the historical summary of gross income and historical summary of gross income and direct direct operating expenses of North Ranch operating expenses of Eastwood Town Center for Pavilion for the year ended December 31, 2003, the year ended December 31, 2003, - - our report dated February 26, 2004 related to - our report dated May 28, 2004 related to the the historical summary of gross income and historical summary of gross income and direct direct operating expenses of La Plaza Del Norte operating expenses of Watauga Pavilion for the for the year ended December 31, 2003, period of August 15, 2003 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2003, - - our report dated March 1, 2004 related to the - our report dated June 7, 2004 related to the historical summary of gross income and direct historical summary of gross income and direct operating expenses of MacArthur Crossing for the operating expenses of Northpointe Plaza for year ended December 31, 2003, the year ended December 31, 2003, - - our report dated March 5, 2004 related to the - our report dated May 25, 2004 related to the historical summary of gross income and direct historical summary of gross income and direct operating expenses of Promenade at Red Cliff for operating expenses of Plaza Santa Fe II for the year ended December 31, 2003, the year ended December 31, 2003, - - our report dated February 25, 2004 related to - our report dated June 7, 2004 related to the the historical summary of gross income and historical summary of gross income and direct direct operating expenses of Peoria Crossing for operating expenses of Pine Ridge Plaza for the the year ended December 31, 2003, year ended December 31, 2003, - - our report dated August 13, 2004 related to the - our report dated June 7, 2004 related to the historical summary of gross income and direct historical summary of gross income and direct operating expenses of John's Creek Village for operating expenses of Huebner Oaks Center for the period from September 21, 2003 (commencement the year ended December 31, 2003, of operations) to December 31, 2003, - - our report dated August 3, 2004 related to the - our report dated July 15, 2004 related to the historical summary of gross income and direct historical summary of gross income and direct operating expenses of Fullerton Metrocenter for operating expenses of Lakewood Town Center for the year ended December 31, 2003, the year ended December 31, 2003, - - our report dated August 13, 2004 related to the - our report dated July 30, 2004 related to the historical summary of gross income and direct historical summary of gross income and direct operating expenses of Northgate North for the operating expenses of Davis Towne Crossing for year ended December 31, 2003, the period from July 18, 2003 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2003, - - our report dated August 18, 2004 related to the - our report dated August 1, 2004 related to the historical summary of gross income and direct historical summary of gross income and direct operating expenses of Gateway Plaza Shopping operating expenses of Cranberry Square for the Center for the year ended December 31, 2003, year ended December 31, 2003, - - our report dated August 11, 2004 related to - our report dated August 3, 2004 related to </Table> <Page> <Table> the historical summary of gross income and direct the historical summary of gross income and direct operating expenses of Forks Town Center for the operating expenses of Safeway Plaza at Marysville year ended December 31, 2003, for the year ended December 31, 2003, - - our report dated September 1, 2004 related to - our report dated August 25, 2004 related to the historical summary of gross income and the historical summary of gross income and direct operating expenses of Manchester Meadows direct operating expenses of The Shops at for the year ended December 31, 2003, Boardwalk for the period from May 30, 2003 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2003, - - our report dated September 3, 2004 related to - our report dated August 6, 2004 related to the the historical summary of gross income and combined historical summary of gross income direct operating expenses of Governor's and direct operating expenses of the Marketplace for the year ended December 31, 2003, Properties owned by Capital Centre, LLC, Gateway Village Limited Partnership, Bel Air Square Joint Venture, Towson Circle Joint Venture LLP, and Reisterstown Plaza Holdings, LLC for the year ended December 31, 2003, - - our report dated September 10, 2004 related to - our report dated September 1, 2004 related to the historical summary of gross income and the historical summary of gross income and direct operating expenses of The Columns for the direct operating expenses of Mitchell Ranch period from October 8, 2003 (commencement of Plaza for the period from June 30, 2003 operations) to December 31, 2003, (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2003, - - our report dated September 7, 2004 related to - our report dated September 13, 2004 related to the historical summary of gross income and the historical summary of gross income and direct operating expenses of Saucon Valley direct operating expenses of Lincoln Park for Square for the year ended December 31, 2003, the year ended December 31, 2003, - - our report dated February 13, 2004 related to - our report dated December 8, 2004 related to the consolidated balance sheet of Inland Western the combined historical summary of gross Retail Real Estate Trust, Inc. as of December income and direct operating expenses of The 31, 2003 and the related consolidated statements Properties Acquired from Bayer Properties for of operations, stockholders' equity and cash the year ended December 31, 2003, flows for the period from March 5, 2003 (inception) through December 31, 2003 and related financial statement schedule, - - our report dated December 8, 2004 related to the - our report dated December 9, 2004 related to historical summary of gross income and direct the combined historical summary of gross operating expenses of Azalea Square for the income and direct operating expenses of The period from July 4, 2003 (commencement of Properties Acquired from Donahue Schriber for operations) to December 31, 2003, the year ended December 31, 2003, - - our report dated December 8, 2004 related to the - our report dated November 3, 2004 related to historical summary of gross income and direct the historical summary of gross income and operating expenses of Denton Crossing for the direct operating expenses of Winchester period from August 11, 2003 (commencement of Commons for the year ended December 31, 2003, operations) to December 31, 2003, </Table> <Page> <Table> - - our report dated December 8, 2004 related to the - our report dated December 8, 2004 related to historical summary of gross income and direct the historical summary of gross income and operating expenses of Gurnee Town Center for the direct operating expenses of Fox Creek Village year ended December 31, 2003, for the period from November 12, 2003 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2003, - - our report dated December 8, 2004 related to the - our report dated November 26, 2004 related to historical summary of gross income and direct the historical summary of gross income and operating expenses of Mansfield Towne Crossing direct operating expenses of Northwoods Center for the period from July 23, 2003 (commencement for the year ended December 31, 2003, of operations) to December 31, 2003, - - our report dated December 9, 2004 related to the - our report dated December 3, 2004 related to historical summary of gross income and direct the combined historical summary of gross operating expenses of Gateway Pavilions for the income and direct operating expenses of The period from February 15, 2003 (commencement of Properties Acquired from Eastern Retail operations) to December 31, 2003, Holdings, LP for the year ended December 31, - - our report dated December 7, 2004 related to the 2003, historical summary of gross income and direct - our report dated December 8, 2004 related to operating expenses of Southlake Town Square for the historical summary of gross income and the year ended December 31, 2003, direct operating expenses of Oswego Commons for the year ended December 31, 2003, - - our report dated February 3, 2005 related to the - our report dated January 26, 2005 related to historical summary of gross income and direct the historical summary of gross income and operating expenses of Henry Town Center for the direct operating expenses of Shoppes at Lake year ended December 31, 2003, Andrew for the year ended December 31, 2004, - - our report dated March 2, 2005 related to the - our report dated February 19, 2005 related to combined historical summary of gross income and the historical summary of gross income and direct operating expenses of the Properties direct operating expenses of Midtown Center Acquired from FFI American Market Fund, L.P. for for the year ended December 31, 2004, the year ended December 31, 2004, - - our report dated March 3, 2005 related to the - our report dated February 26, 2005 related to historical summary of gross income and direct the combined historical summary of gross operating expenses of Mesa Fiesta for the year income and direct operating expenses of the ended December 31, 2004, Properties Acquired from Weber & Company for the year ended December 31, 2004, - - our report dated February 1, 2005 related to the - our reports dated March 3, 2005 related to the historical summary of gross income and direct consolidated balance sheets of Inland Western operating expenses of Trenton Crossing for the Retail Real Estate Trust, Inc. as of December year ended December 31, 2004, 31, 2004 and 2003 and the related consolidated - - our report dated January 22, 2005 related to the statements of operations, stockholders' equity combined historical summary of gross income and and cash flows for the year ended December 31, direct operating expenses of the Properties 2004 and the period from March 5, 2003 Acquired from Ceruzzi Holdings the year ended (inception) through December 31, 2003 and December 31, 2004, related financial statement schedule, management's assessment of the </Table> <Page> <Table> effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004 and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, - and our report dated February 25, 2005 related to the historical summary of gross income and direct operating expenses of the Stateline Station for the year ended December 31, 2004. </Table> We consent to the use of the following reports, all included herein: <Table> - - our report dated May 25, 2005 related to the - our report dated June 3, 2005 related to the combined historical summary of gross income and historical summary of gross income and direct direct operating expenses of the Properties operating expenses of Montecito Crossing the Acquired from Ainbinder Company for the year year ended December 31, 2004, ended December 31, 2004, - - our report dated June 8, 2005 related to the - our report dated June 2, 2005 related to the combined historical summary of gross income and historical summary of gross income and direct direct operating expenses of the Properties operating expenses of Gateway for the year Acquired from Starwood Wasserman for the year ended December 31, 2004, ended December 31, 2004, - - our report dated May 20, 2005 related to the - our report dated June 8, 2005 related to the combined historical summary of gross income and historical summary of gross income and direct direct operating expenses of the Properties operating expenses of Four Peaks Plaza for the Acquired from Ceruzzi Holdings for the year year ended December 31, 2004, ended December 31, 2004, - and our report dated June 4, 2005 related to the historical summary of gross income and direct operating expenses Brickyard for the year ended December 31, 2004. </Table> We consent to the reference to our firm under the heading "Experts" herein. Our reports related to the above Historical Summaries of gross income and direct operating expenses refer to the fact that the statements of revenue and certain expenses were prepared for the purpose of complying with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and are not intended to be a complete presentation of revenue and expense. KPMG LLP Chicago, Illinois June 15, 2005