Little India
1604 Washington St E, Charleston, WV, 25311
Little India Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Charleston for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Charleston for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Charleston for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
1604 Washington St E
Charleston, WV, 25311 - Phone (304) 720-3616
- Website https://www.littleindiawv.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 3:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Street, Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
India is the birth place of Chicken Tikka Masala and Curries. Indian foods are prepared with a blend of finely mixed spices quite popular across the region. The spices develop the rich taste in Indian food enough to boggle your mind. The ever-increasing fan base of Indian food around the New York city is steadily increasing because of the large number of Indians who traveled to the land of dreams. The Indians also brought their very own vibrant, colorful, and aromatic authentic dishes for the people in the West. While most of the Indian population is Vegetarian, Indian food is great for people who are looking for vegan or vegetarian food option. If you are a Meat lover, don't get disappointed yet. Indian food also boasts of some popular non-vegetarian dishes too. Few examples are the famous Butter Chicken, Mutton Biryani and Tandoori Chicken are enough to satisfy your taste buds.
Indian food has gained reputation all over the world especially in the United States. You can find many places serving the appetizing Indian food across all major cities in the US. India is a diverse country with different food culture originated from different parts of the country. While the Northern region boasts tandoori dishes and korma offering royal taste, the Western Ghats offers sea foods that is made in naturally sweet tender coconut milk. The South Indian food servers a quality of different dishes made from rice accompanied with spicy chutneys, curries and famous sambhar. Also, the Indian sweets are a delight to relish. If you ever want to have a burst of sugar syrup in mouth, don't forget to try few Bengali Sweets. Be it spicy, tangy, or sweet flavor, you can find everything in the Indian cuisine. Be assured that the melody of spices will surely bring delight to you.
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Elizabeth K.
Lunch buffet is the way to go at Little India! You'll find your belly full and satisfied for just 8.99! The staple Chicken Tikka Masala is offered along with various other hot dishes. Along with eating all the naan you want to your hearts content!
(4)Aditya R.
Disappointed. Looking at the number of reviews and the rating I was expecting good Indian food, the food we had was definitely not fresh. I think this is because there are not many Indian restaurants in the town and most of the reviewers might not have tried authentic Indian food in bigger cities, just guessing, might be wrong.
(2)Douglas W.
Under new ownership, Harry and his team live up to the great food that I was accustom to as before! Great job to all! My wife and I stopped in for lunch today and the food and service were great. The squash curry was excellent, and the tandoori chicken and chicken tikka masala were perfectly spiced and delicious. Thank you for another great taste of India, right here in Charleston!!
(4)Hasan K.
Had lamb and chicken biryani on a labor day weekend. The food was really delicious with just the right amount of spices. Good thing is that the serve size is proportionate to what the restaurant charges. In fact, I couldn't finish the entire meal, had to carry out the left-over. Not impressed by their desert. The chef just mixed canned fruits to mango pulp and served it as mango pudding. Anyone can prepare it. That's why, I am giving it 4 out of 5. By the way, no idea about the buffet though.
(4)Eno O.
This is the only place where I've had Indian food. I usually get the chicken Tikka masala. It's OK. I've had their vegetarian (paneer) Masala and that was excellent. They had catered for my friends party and all the vegetarian food was to die for! However the food that I ordered from the restaurant myself is just OK - not the best Indian food in the world.
(3)LK M.
I really love this place, the food is authentic and delicious. I had the veg samosa chat and chicken tikka masala, both perfectly spiced to my liking and they deliver :)
(4)Vigneshwari V.
Chicken biryani was awesome. Aloo paratha was decent enough. Mango pudding was good. Overall we enjoyed the food. Service was very friendly and the person at reception was thoughtful enough to remind us to take the plate and spoon for our take away that we had actually forgot to ask. Deserves 4 stars. Am not giving 5 because parking was not available near this building and is quite far off.
(4)Rhea P.
I had such high hopes for this place. The reviews were outstanding, and i had had less than outstanding eating experiences in WV and wanted something delicious. But it was not to be. Apparently I came at the wrong time. Shortly before closing for the time in between lunch and dinner service. I chose the buffet because it was quick. However, food had sat out for a while and the rice was crunchy. . .crunchy, when crunchy wasn't cool. The other dishes were forgettable as well. . . I was told to come back at a different time next time, but I doubt there will be a next time.
(2)Anna R.
I have been looking for a good Indian spot since I moved here and after coming here to drink upstairs for the St. Paddy's Day Pub Crawl, I knew this was the place. My suspicions were confirmed today when I went back for the lunch buffet to try the food. I have never been a fan of buffets of any kind but this one wasn't bad and you can't beat the $8.99 price tag. The food was hot and fresh and they had everything stocked at all times. The chicken saag, chicken vindaloo, and naan we all top notch! I can't wait to go back for dinner and have them make it extra spicy for me. In addition to the delicious food, the service was great too. Every time I went back for more, my plate was cleared by the time I got back to the table. My water glass was always full, and the staff were all very friendly. Quite unlike other Indian restaurants in Charleston.
(5)Sunny B.
Yuck! A million times over, yuck! Went for the lunch buffet. The rice, puris, and idliis were old and dried out. The curries were a few days old easily. Nothing fresh. The gulab jamuns were old and dried out too. All around the worst Indian food I have ever eaten. I stuck to the vegetarian menu to avoid food poisoning. Really should have walked out. Never again. Down right disgusting.
(1)Stacy S.
The curry was great but the rice pudding was the wrong texture and I just couldn't eat it.
(4)Bruce K.
Best Indian I have had since returning from London. I was quite surprised that here in Charleston there is such a great place, but here it is. Good wide menu with chicken, lamb and mutton options for all the usual sauces from tikka masala to plain curry and even a vindaloo. As well, riata and mango chutney to go with it! Naan was perfect! The first Kingfisher beer I've had in a while, too! It would be nice if they had their own wifi, but if you sit at one of the front tables you might be able to find a signal from elsewhere.
(5)Christopher I.
This place is pretty good, definitely the best Indian food in the area. They're usually overpriced for what you get, so I only come for the Sunday buffet now when someone else wants to go. Lower price, more food. They usually have the goat curry during the buffet, which is what I would order any way at full price. The owners are super nice & they keep my diet pepsi constantly full (a tall task, I inhale that stuff & few waiters can keep up with my drinking rate). It's better if you come earlier for the buffet, the food can get stale as they don't normally change out a dish at the buffet until it's finished. Chicken tikka masala isn't bad either, and the buffet is a good time to try their other dishes without ordering them. Overall, the ok food, good service, and bad price even this rating out to 3 stars.
(3)Sarah B.
Little India is fantastic. We went with a group and got in right away. Parking was a little tricky, but well worth it! I prefer it to the Sitar restaurant nearby even though parking was easier to find there. Everyone was very friendly and the food was amazing. My whole group left happy.
(5)Taylor S.
Easily the best Indian food in WV. Had Chicken Vindaloo (extra spicy) and Vegatable samosa's that were to die for with their crispy exterior and moist flavorful meat inside. The naan bread was so fresh and crispy with that soft warm center that made it perfect for grabbing those extra morsels of sauce and to top it all off the Gulab Jumun was god like. The sweet rose water was perfectly sweet and the bread fresh and warm making it a true hommage to Indian cooking. If you like indian food and are in charleston you really should make a trip here!
(5)Heather D.
Driving thru, stumbled upon a gem. Family owned and some quality dishes. We had the buffet and enjoyed every bite. Great atmosphere, will be back when we are in Charleston again for sure!
(5)Ganesh Kumar N.
Great place. The surrounding is exciting to watch and the food is very good. Place looks very hygienic and the people treat you well. A great pit stop place for people who love Indian food.
(5)Matthew M.
When we moved here from Boston we were incredibly glad to find a couple Indian food places here. I realize cuisine varies by region, but I felt the food was overly spiced. Not spicy, just heavily spiced; while the food I'm used to is lighter-flavored and rich, my palate felt really beat up after lunch here. The price is good, the people are super nice, so it's quite likely I'll try them again.
(3)Herberth H.
The food here is good, the service not so much and the price is more than you would plan on paying. Overall good food, bad service.
(3)Michael W.
I am a fan of Indian cuisine. I have to say, with absolutely no reservation, that this is the worst Indian restaurant I have ever visited. Most of the food tasted the same and was way over-spiced. I am aware that some Indian food is pretty hot & spicy, but everything on the buffet was this way. The only good part of it is I will probably never be in that area, again (I was travelling to Ohio).
(1)Carolyn L.
On our way through Charleston, we decided to grab a quick lunch here since we went a couple years ago and recalled that it was quite tasty. Well, it seems like times have changed. The naan was unpleasant and had a strange, almost cracker-like consistency. The dal was bland, fried cauliflower was cold and potatoes were dry. There was also a container full of soupy hummus out, which we thought was a tad strange. A few folks mentioned temperature issues, with food being too cold on the bar, which we also experienced. On the plus side, the vegetable pakora was delicious and the staff was friendly. Sad visit because we were so pleased in the past.
(2)Osama B.
I have never had such a bad Indian dining experience in my life. The rice is stale and hard. The chicken tikka is not so great either. Won't be coming back here again..
(1)Fred S.
Stopped in for lunch in the midst of a long drive up the interstate. Much better than the usual hamburger joint. A nice buffet lunch was available. Food was mostly decent, although some of it seemed to have sat for a while. Service was very friendly. It's not clear where to park. If I lived in Charleston, I would probably visit here a few times a year.
(3)Dablackpurl K.
We were here for dinner on a bad weather day. The service is definitely good. Food was good. Not bad, not great. Somewhere in between. Mind you, this is a vegetation perspective. We are new to the area, had hard time finding a parking spot. Apparently the restaurant has its free parking across the street. And the desert carrot halwa was the best than any Indian restaurant
(3)Arden H.
Tried this place again on Easter, and it was very surprising. The food was much better than it was the first time I tried eating there.
(4)Julie P.
GF goodness! Heard of this place from the owner of the International Market in Kanawha City where I get kimchi. His wife runs the restaurant and is very conscientious about gluten and even dairy allergies / sensitivities. How nice to be able to go straight to the buffet and see the items marked GF. Obviously the naan isn't GF but with some notice they can make a GF naan. The food was savory and delicious with a very large variety. The younger ones had a hard time choosing something to eat because most of the food was a tiny bit spicy but I think that my daughter liked the grilled chicken and the fried potato medallions (not sure what they're called). The rice was a bit dry and crunchy but was ok after being smothered with one of their dozens of sauces. I did cheat and taste the korma because it's my favorite - yum! Overall, it was a hit and I'm looking forward to going back when I'm in Charleston for church. Price was $12.95 for adults and half for children.
(4)Harsh L.
Authentic and outstanding indian food!! Its the best indian food I had in the 3 months I have been in US. We tried chicken and goat biryani, it was delicious. It was full of right amount of spices and flavors. Would expect other dishes to also be as good. Would definitely go again and would recommend it if you love indian food.
(5)Narendra P.
Great food Good selection of Indian food with mild to spicy selection Responsive staff Good seating There's a bar upstairs in pm
(5)Joe B.
Hit or miss... I really want this place to be as strong as it was when it first opened and it occasionally is. The inconsistency in food and service probably warrants a 2 stars, cause when it is bad, it is BAD. Definitely give em a try, because lately I have had more good than bad experiences. Owners are really, really nice. Also, the club upstairs does cabaret on Thursday and Saturdays and is a 10 Star Experience!!
(3)Joshua R.
Tried the Sunday lunch buffer on our way through town because places we liked were closed. This turned out to be a mistake. Some thought went into part of the buffet, with pani puri and a puff rice salad station set up, but the hot dishes ranged from meh to the dreadful. Woe to any vegetarian who doesn't care for eggplant - every non-meat dish on offer that day was some variant on eggplant korma. Naan was dry, dal was watery and without flavor, and the only pakora was potatoes, which managed somehow to be inferior to french fries in terms of grease and consistency. Tandoor chicken was way beyond well done into unchewable doorstop territory. I hope for the sake of Charlestonians that this is not the best Indian in town. Regardless, next time I pass through, I am giving it a wide berth. Also, I strongly suspect they are not practicing adequate hygiene in the kitchen; we found multiple hairs that were not ours in our food.
(2)Emily P.
Updated to add 2 stars now that we simply get orders to go. All the deliciousness without as much risk of being forgotten about!!! Previous review: Either go here when you know they won't be busy, or bring your own water, because they NEVER have enough employees and never ever refill water. I adored this place the first year it was open, and I still love the food (it's really quite delicious) but the customer service is so bad that it's enough to make me never want to go again. The last time we considered eating there, we noticed multiple tables eating food without any drinks. As in, their glasses didn't even have ice in them -- no one had EVER gotten them water, even though they were already eating! There were at least 4 tables completely abandoned with not an employee in sight to bus the tables. We waited a few minutes to be seated -- and I would have waited a long time if I knew we'd be taken care of once we got a table, but it just isn't worth it at Little India. I just don't understand why they won't hire 1-2 more employees. The food is great, and I feel bad for the employees that do work there and have to keep up with so much. But I always leave so frustrated and disappointed in how much money I spent - and I am always happy to spend money on a great meal. That's how bad their customer service is.
(4)James A.
Outstanding food!!!! The owners are super nice and will happily explain anything about the food to you. I bring my family here and the owners always come to talk to us and our kids. They don't "glare" at you; they ensure that your drinks are always filled. The lunch buffet is the best deal in Charleston. I highly recommend this restaurant!
(5)Zach R.
I loved Little India. I am originally from Charleston but moved to Columbus about a year ago. I went back and really enjoyed it! Family owned and very great food. I recommend the Lamb Korma :)
(5)Mark D.
THE WORST INDIAN RESTAURANT I HAVE EVER BEEN TO!!!! The food is horrendous. The spices are completely wrong, savory dishes are sweet, some are unbelievably spicy and inedible. The owner walks around glaring at you. The floors haven't been cleaned in years and your feet stick to them. Stay away at all costs. You would be better off eating at McDonalds.
(1)Rahul R.
I see a lot of good reviews and hope that other people had a better Experience than I did. The food was bad, flavor less and downright crappy. Adding tomato purée cream and red chilli powder doesn't make a tikka masala. Every item we ordered tasted very similar and boring. I could at best categorize this as a run of the mill Indian restaurants fleecing people who haven't had authentic Indian food experience.
(1)Jessica T.
Had an early Monday evening dinner here with a friend. It was my first time in Charleston and hence, my first time at Little India. I must admit, I was leery of finding good Indian food in WV, but this place knocked my socks off!! The owners served us personally and were so kind and attentive. I can't have much dairy, but at the wife's suggestion, I was quickly provided with a freshly made glass of mango juice instead of the traditional lassi. Divine! I had the chicken biryani and my friend had the chicken curry. Both were on par with my favorite Indian restaurant in NYC. I told the wife this, and she proudly said, "Oh, this is our backup chef. Our main chef doesn't work on Mondays!" I can't imagine the food getting any better! The husband recommended the variety bread basket as our naan selection. It was fabulous - three kinds - about 4 times more than we could eat - perfectly made. If you are new to Indian, you will be taken care of very well. The husband even explained each chutney and it's flavors, ingredients, and health benefits! The decor is nicely done for what you might expect in this area. This place would get 5 stars if it were in a fancier location/building - but trust me, you are coming here for the food and the service! You will have leftovers, too! The next time I'm in Charleston, I won't even bother looking up another place for my first dinner there!
(4)Ravi I.
I have noticed a positive change within the last few months. The biriyani was excellent.
(4)Sean H.
Best lunch meal I have had in Charleston. I am here for business frequently. For a vegetarian you cannot do better. Service was great. Owners (look like husband and wife) are on site, attentive, and courteous. When I asked about vegetarian dishes on the lunch buffet (amazing deal and amazing food) I received a guided tour of the buffet with explanations on ingredients, etc. Decor will not blow you away, but if you care about quality, well-made food this is a must-try
(5)Shery S.
This place is fantastic in so many ways. Firstly, the wait staff, although some a little more dim-witted than others, seems to be really well managed. We had great service. Secondly, the food is just downright outstanding. A rack of lamb chops and some chicken... I forget what kind. Both were just to die for. I normally don't take home leftovers, but I made sure to bring this all home, and went so far as to actually eat it the next day! The owners of the restaurant were pleasant and genuinely concerned with whether we enjoyed ourselves. Price isn't too terrible either. Basically, I give it 4 stars because I rarely ever give 5 stars to anything. But I really do love this place.
(4)Franklin D.
Really enjoyed eating here.... stopped in Charleston just long enough to have lunch and of course fired up Yelp mobile app which guided us to this place. My only regret is we missed the buffet hours =] Got a basket of naan, which came with potato, plain, garlic (and maybe one other kind?), tasted great. They got my kids to eat garlic, WOW. Lamb vindaloo was delicious... i ordered it "Indian Hot" and yes, it was very nice and hot (oven heat as well as spices). Wifey got the chicken tikka masaala, also delicious and not too spicy at all. Got a nice side of basmati rice with it, more food than we could eat. It's not on the menu, but the very friendly wait staff clued us in to the "nuggets & fries" option for the kids who don;t eat curry yet. Can't quite bring myself to give it five stars tho. The tiny gnats in the dining room and odd mildew smells around the building were off-putting in spite of the great service and excellent food. Lots of unsecured wi-fi AP's in the area for you to hook your phone too ;)
(4)Vasilia S.
When it's good, it's good.. when it's bad, it's bad. I have a background in the service industry, so maybe my standards are high, but I am almost always let down when it comes to the service here. It is slow, which I am okay with as long as the server tends to check in and communicate with us. Crappy service I can get over, especially when the food rules, but the inconsistency in levels of heat has become a total let down, repeatedly. I really want this place to thrive (and it is) so we continue to eat at Little India because we support the fine folks who chose to start this local business on Charlestons East End.
(3)Clay O.
Me and my wife came to eat dinner and we order ch pakora as appetizer it's took as 20 minutes to make pakora . We asked with the waiter he told us 5 minutes then again 5 minutes . I really wanna give negetive star .!!!
(1)Rebecca G.
This is another place to practice patience, which I've noticed is a theme in Charleston. Therefore, I wont take a star off for that. They seem to be rotating wait staff, & the owners(?) who fill in, have trouble breaking through the ambiance with their thick accents. That's what I call authentic. So, shove it, Dixie. If you want to be impressed by a traditional, non- "Americanized" dish, Try the chicken Xiacutti. It's very flavorful & not too spicy for what you're in for! Also, Don't be so harsh on the rice, folks! That's how you'd get it in India.
(4)Alvin J.
Hate to right negative reviews on a place that has great food but they had too many flies buzzing around the restaurant, which evokes bad images of "Kitchen Nightmares," when Ramsey finds a restaurant with poor food storage and maintenance causing a pest problem. Love Indian food though, had the Chicken Mahkni with some garlic naan. Hit the spot, and it would have been a good experience if not for the annoying flies.
(2)Arvind R.
We stepped into this hotel at 840 pm, thought we will just get some left over food. But what we got was amazing.. Amazing food, great tea and food hospitality. We liked the way harish connected with us..i think it is a perfect example of how personalization drives customer experience. Surely will come again here
(5)Roy H.
Having visited the lunch buffet several times, I was impressed with the consistency and tastiness of the dishes. Day-to-day there is some rotation of dishes to keep things fresh. The spice level is generally pretty mild. I would recommend going on a weekday, the weekend buffet is more expensive without adding much.
(5)Jay B.
WOW first try at Indian Food. Went after reading other yelp reviews. Through the door we met a nice lady we later determined was one of the owners she was super. This is a buffet style place. We had explained that it was our first venture into Indian food and after being seated, she came to the bar and gave us a short tour of the types of food and how they were prepared and in what combinati. In short the food was great, service even better. Love it we'll be back.
(4)Mr W.
Def good food, went for the buffet and I can say I was impressed, better than I expected, the décor is a bit dated, but what can you expect it's Charleston. One day we'll catch up with the present. Until then the food here will keep your belly warm and full. A def try...
(4)Weizhi R.
I had lunch buffet a couple of times here. The food is decent. I love Indian bread which goes very well with curries. Mango lassi is a must if you haven't tried it yet.
(4)Hari S.
Best service and really tasty indian food. Do try the idles and chicken tikka masala...
(5)Tru P.
One of my favorite Indian experiences, the staff was very friendly and while the resturant was quite, the decor was nice and the food....OUTSTANDING!!
(4)Rick T.
I went here for lunch and was disappointed to find a buffet because I assumed the food would be of lesser quality. But I have to say that everything was fresh, well prepared and very delicious. I plan to go back for dinner and check out the upstairs space, with belly dancers on certain nights and other musical entertainment.
(4)Khon T.
Food was great and so was the price. I really liked the tandoori chicken and the Tina masala. Atmosphere is alright... A little dark in my opinion. Great Indian lunch buffet overall.
(4)Christina D.
Stopped in for lunch after driving by and spotting this charming little place. The buffet was excellent and the staff was very attentive!
(5)Sneha V.
We went in on a Sunday lunch buffet on our way back home to Louisville from Washington D.C. The food was OK. It wasn't bad but I did not feel great. Most of the dishes were a little sweet even the plain basmati rice.! This is not acceptable for an Indian restaurant.! Food is supposed to be flavourful and spicy here. It is OK if it is of medium spice level but sweet?? However, I loved the veg dishes.! Sambar, beans side dish and greens curry tasted wonderful.! But then again the sweet rice spoilt the taste of it.. :( I will give a 5 star for the veg curries. Rest is just average.. 3.5 stars..
(3)Sasha S.
Food: Everytime I think about going here I start to drool. The food is delicious and freshly made. The best, I think, was the Diwali dinner. It was a buffett, but with even more variety than usual. If you realize an Indian Holiday is coming up, check their website, some awesome food might be forthcoming. Ambience: It gets a little loud when it's busy. Lots of groups, very few couples with kids or by themselves. Everyone-is-having-fun loud, not everyone-is-annoyingly-drunk loud. Decor is minimal, emphasis is obviously on the food. Best time to go: Weeknights (Sunday-Thursday) and lunch time. Less crowded, less waiting. Best item: Honestly, I adore the Mango Lassi. Everything else is good, but it just isn't Little India without a touch of Mango Lassi.
(4)Tina K.
I LOVE Little India. For appetizers, I love to get (and share) vegetable pakora and samosas and for dinner I usually eat Chicken Tikka Masala with naan. The food is always has the right level of "heat" and has a wonderful depth of flavor. The atmosphere is comfortable, lit right for coziness, and, of course, smells wonderful! Just writing this is making me wish I were there with my onion chutney and tamarind, dipping the veggie pakora pieces, drinking my Goose & cranberry. :-)
(5)sabrina s.
The owner kept saying how much better the food was there than at Sitar and I must say that she was completely wrong!!!!!!!!!!! The chicken tikka masala was so bad I couldn't even finish it! The Garlic Naan wasn't good either. We've eaten Indian all over this nation and we are not certain why others are giving this place such rave reviews, Sitar is sooooo much better!!!
(1)Mick J.
wow, damned delicous. some of the best Saag Paneer I've ever had. Super high marks for that, for the Chicken Tikka and the appetizer sampler. We got our food to go, but the place has a definite charm for dine-in. And smells AMAZING.
(4)Ash T.
I want Little India to be as good as it was when it opened. Truly, at this point, two stars is a gift. It should be more like one but the owners are always very nice to me (they're awesome) and I feel guilty. The food has just gone downhill. The heat and flavors are never consistent anymore... in fact, some of the items on the lunch buffet are a little gross. One time I went in there for lunch and they had Thai spicy noodles on the buffet. If I want Thai, I have other places in mind than an Indian restaurant. The service has always been pretty bad but I usually overlook that if the food is good. Maybe they need a new chef? I wish I knew the answer to this one. Again, I want to like it and I want it to be better. I suppose I'll keep subjecting myself to it periodically in hopes that it returns to its former glory.
(2)Nicholas C.
The buffet is pretty decent; tasty, seems pretty fresh, and is pretty consistent. My favorites are the chicken tikka masala, and the saag paneer. The real problem here is service. The waitstaff seems pretty indifferent to the customers, and from what I hear, turnover is pretty high due to the owner's "old world" sense of treating staff. Oh well. Decor is bleh. The food is really the main attraction, here. Also, a note: It is ALWAYS sweltering and humid in here. Dress lightly.
(3)Martha S.
I keep trying to give this place a chance and it continues to disappoint. The food is greasy, the rice is overcooked, and often the buffet items are cold. It's really miserable. If you want Indian in Charleston, you're much better off at Sitar of India.
(1)Tenzin G.
I found myself in Charleston on business and decided to check out this Indian restaurant I had been hearing about. The food was fantastic. Honestly, I wasn't expecting the food to be very good coming from Denver where there are really decent Indian places but found myself happily surprised. Their Tikka Masala is very good, I had both the paneer and the salmon as I spent 3 of my 10 meals here. Meena (sp?) the owner is a doll as well, very sweet and warm. Don't forget to check out the Upstairs Lounge as well, its a very eclectic full size bar with a great manager. All in all we had a great time here and would definitely recommend to anyone passing through or in the area!
(5)Peter P.
We went for the lunch buffet and they had about a dozen items to choose from, but only two with meat - Tandoori Chicken and Chicken Tikka Masala. The Tandoori Chicken was flavorless and cold. The Chicken Tikka Masala was ok but the chicken was perfectly cubed and seemed fake. The other non-meat dishes, like the spinach (Saag?) dish and the vegetable Pakora were really good, to their credit. I will say, straight-up, they had the best Naan bread I've ever eaten. I couldn't stop. They must bake some addictive ingredient into it because it was the highlight of my meal.
(3)Aaron C.
My wife and I were in charleston on business and are huge Indian food fanatics. Having tried Indian food from restaurants all over the country from Boston to NYC to LA, the food at Little India did not disappoint. The food was just as good as any Indian restaurant I've been to. That being said I would give little India 5 stars on food alone. However, we had the worst service in years at this restaurant. We waited 5 minutes for menus after having to ask for them. Then it took another 10 mins to have order taken. 30 Mins later we had to ask where our appetizer was. Ive also never heard a waitress apologize more than ours. FRUSTRATING experience with service. DO TAKEOUT ONLY OR LUNCH BUFFET
(4)Mark W.
Authentic Indian fare from multiple regions prepared Kosher and Halal. An enormous of selections, fantastic daily buffet and "Thumbs Up" cola! Locally owned and operated by two fantastic visionaries. Excellent taste and selection, great prices and wonderful atmosphere makes for a complete dining experience for all ages and tastes. Even though I designed the logo and signage, you can take it from me; this food is a welcome addition to Charleston's East End!
(5)Gina W.
Enjoyed the lunch buffet today. My husband really liked the goat and I particularly liked the dahl and the saag paneer. Fresh and flavorful food and pleasant, polite service.
(4)Katie P.
Went here the other night with some friends and was very pleased! I had the lamb while two other friends had the chicken and we all thought it was really delicious and that the portions they gave us made the meal a great value (I ate on mine for two days!) The service was also great! I don't really have a lot to compare it to (I've only eaten Indian maybe 5-6 times) but was very impressed. Definitely worth a visit!
(5)Grace H.
I like bread basket the best.
(3)Alexis C.
I suppose I have high expectations but this place was not even average in any respect. I was visiting family in WV and decided to give this place a try after the good reviews on Yelp and personal recommendations from people who live in Charleston. The service: NON-existent! We walked in around 7pm for dinner and stood there for close to 5 minutes before anyone even acknowledged us. When the owner (maybe?) finally did tell one of the two waitresses to seat us, she argued that it "wasn't her turn" and was really rude and unprofessional. The owner guy ended up being our waiter if you could even call it that. He handed us menus and disappeared. We had to flag rude waitress down to order drinks which the owner brought out almost at the end of the meal. We ended up getting the buffet because it seemed hopeless to try and order from the menu. I asked for an order of garlic naan which never materialized. The Food: bland and uninspired. I love Indian food because of the spice. The Chicken Tikka was not spicy and was barely lukewarm when I ladled it out of the metal bin. The chicken was dry and tough. Basmati rice was good but that's hard to screw up. Veggie pakora was ok but again, not spicy, just tasted like fried carbs. Condiments were in sad little bowls just sitting out half covered with plastic wrap. Iced tea tasted like really cheap instant tea flavored powder and water. It was also room temperature. Come on people, it is neither expensive nor difficult to make good iced tea. Basically everything looked and tasted like it had been made with little love, pride or effort. Atmosphere: dark and depressing. This place seemed like it used to be a bar or pub or something. It's not at all what I would associate with the colorful, vibrant Indian culture. No music. Everyone that worked there seemed miserable.
(2)Alicia W.
So good. Walked in on a Wednesday night an hour or so before closing, were served courteously and quickly. The one minor negative (and it's probably not a negative so much as a preference) was that each dish seemed to have the same level of spice despite the fact that they were ordered differently.
(5)Jim G.
First time in Charleston, and enjoyed Little India for lunch! Naan was superb - moist, not dried out. The buffet dishes were all great flavors and nice variety. There was also the option of ordering off the menu for lunch (which the owner told me - the waitress said it was buffet only.) Cold Kingfishers await as well. I'll definitely come back when I'm in town and mood for Indian - nice find in Charleston!
(4)William S.
Exceptional food, relaxing atmosphere and the owners are able to provide amazing, fresh culinary items that both the Indian food novice and those with a well defined pallate can both enjoy.
(5)Erin A.
I love when I go into a restaurant and can't settle on what to order because the menu options are so fiercely vying for my epicurean attention. My server was admirably patient. But Little India present this wonderful little dilemma by offering savory tandoori, beef, lamb, chicken, seafood, curry, and biryani dishes, in addition to lots of naan and condiment flavors. The setting is cozy too in a remodeled historic fire station... brick walls wooden panels, and a stained glass mural: horse drawn fire wagon and a cute dalmatian. Unfortunately I was not terribly hungry, so I had the malai chicken appetizer, coconut soup and garlic naan, rather than a full entree. The de-kebab-ed chicken had a nice ginger zing and was garnished with fresh mango puree and cilantro. The garlic naan had the "I'm-light-and-airy-but-soft-and-doughy" juxtaposition that is so sought after in good naan. It was also just garlicky enough to appreciate but not offend. BUT THE COCONUT SOUP... I am currently, as in right now, planning to go there for lunch again tomorrow just to get more of that soup! It is that good... the coconut and cream, warm and subtly sweetened with mango (?) and hints of pistachios (?) and cardamom (?). During the first 5 bites I tried my darnedest to identify each layer of flavor on my palate to see if I could possibly recreate this at home... and then promptly decided that there was no way I could replicate something that tasty and just gave in to enjoying it. If the soup is that good, I can only imagine how yummy the entrees must be... But after all that and even though I told you I was not terribly hungry, I finished it up with the never-fail gulab jaman... which I can never resist anywhere. Fie you Indian dessert makers! For who does not love sweet little dough balls swimming in warm honeyed rosewater? I almost, repeat almost licked the bowl. Touché' Little India. Tomorrow...Lunch... Coconut Soup: Round Two! And PS: Thank you for giving me good food to occupy my thoughts while I am so far away from all of the enchiladas in Austin.
(5)Nikeshbhai P.
Love Indian food and I have had and made a lot of it. This place does a very good job with all the food. However service is lacking a lot.
(4)Shannon K.
Little India is by far the best Indian food in Charleston. The naan bread is a phenomenal, and they have great vegetarian options. It is much nicer than Sitar, mostly because the servers are more polite and the atmosphere is more pleasant.
(5)Kristen H.
I enjoy not only the food here, but also the night life. There's everything from violin accompanied belly dancing to art shows. Their Sunday brunch buffet is amazing.
(5)Scott C.
I was amazed at how good the food was and how quick the food came to my table. The hardest park about this place is finding parking. If you can find some parking you must try this place!
(5)Rebecca R.
I was fortunate enough to visit India last summer, and discovered a few dishes that I loved! Unfortunately, when I came back to the States, I was disappointed in a lot of Indian food. So, when I heard of Little India opening up, I was excited to hopefully get some true Indian cuisine! Little India did not disappoint! In fact, I can't wait to go again and try new dishes! We all got veggie samosas. My daughter and I split an order of malai kofta, and my husband had the chicken tikka masala. We also got the basket of mixed naan, and I'm so glad we did because they really don't give you much rice to go with your dish. Wouldn't want any of that delicious sauce to go to waste! Our whole meal cost about $43, for 2 entrees, the naan and two orders of samosas. Not bad, especially since the service was friendly and prompt, and the food was exceptionally good. I really look forward to going back soon! I really wanted some gulab jamun, but was too full to even think of it.
(5)James F.
Got takeout from them tonight. Food was ready in a timely manner and delicious, as usual.
(4)Krista J.
I live in Washington, DC and there is no better Indian Restaurant in our big city of DC. Charleston has one of the best Indian Restaurants I've ever been to. It's very traditional and the food is always good. I've dined there 6 or more times and every time the level of service and food is exceptional. Congrats to the hard working owners for having one of the best places in Charleston.
(5)Missy M.
Excellent food, and the service ended up being great (though it began a bit squirrely) for opening week. At present, they aren't taking reservations. Had to wait a bit for a table for 5 and the wait for tables was confusing. But the food is totally worth it!!! Our table ordered several apps, lots of different breads and 5 different dishes and everyone went away more than satisfied. Our server was super! The pinot noir is very reasonably priced and delicious. We also had the pinot grigio which is very well priced; I don't like whites as much as reds but this paired ok with my channa masala. Took a while for the food to arrive but it's sooooo worth the wait and was nice to have a chance to talk and not feel rushed. They have a buffet for lunch and several friends have told me it's very good, though is also very busy.
(5)Noel B.
Time isn't important unless you have appointments elsewhere, I had none so I paid no attention to the rapidity of the wait staff. i was there for the best Indian food in Charleston, and I wasn't disappointed. We started with the vegetable pakora which was excellent, and the cilantro raita/chutney was a perfect compliment to the dish. I ordered the lamb vindaloo (which was offered hot or mild at the table) I wisely chose the hot. The hot was subtle, it was a nice heat which crept up slowly to a nice sinus clearing heat. Heat lovers will love the palatability of this dish. My wife had the Chicken Xaccutti (medium) which was excellent. The nan and paratha and mixed pickle were our only additions to the very flavorful meal. I rate Little India on par with most Indian restaurants in the NYC/NJ area.
(5)John S.
All the food was excellent and the service could not be better.
(4)Julie W.
I went for the lunch buffet and was pleasantly surprised with the selection. It wasn't the standard masalas or curries, but an aloo dish, goat curry, turkey curry, chickpea saag, tandoori chicken, and a few other dishes I unfortunately cannot recall the names for. The "salad"/chutney/sauce bar was a little scant, but for $7.99 a person for the lunch buffet, having about 6 entries, 4 sides, a little salad, and a few chutneys to choose from was pretty good. I particularly enjoyed the onion pakoras, turkey curry, and onion chutney (watch out, it's spicy,). The naan was decent but texture was hit or miss-sometimes you picked up a doughy piece, other times you has some thin crispy pieces. The waitress could've been a little more attentive-our party of 3 had 3 plates stacked for a little while before she remembered to come by to check in. I can't say too much about the chai, a normal standard for me in Indian restaurants, because I didn't $1.99 tea cup of chai with no refills. Call me cheap, but I'm spoiled from my favorite indian place in phx, az with unlimited refills of strong, milky, fragrant chai. Atmosphere was a business crowd, there were a good number of filled tables in the front room where we were, and a few tables in the back. Overall, not bad-the FIL said it's good enough to come back, so the next time I'm in Charleston we can stop in and hope for a rotating selection of dishes.
(3)Frank W.
We went for the first time a few weeks ago as a group of four. We all loved the food. The service was good. It took what seemed like a long time for the food to arrive but it was a Saturday night, they were very busy and it takes time to prepare good food. My wife and I orderd a dish that was rated medium hot. I found it perfect, she said she couldn't feel her lips for an hour or so, Be advised.
(5)Brian H.
We have been anxiously awaiting the opening of this restaurant and it certainly did not disappoint. We visited the first night it was opened and while there were bumps in the smoothness of the delivery (nothing out of the ordinary for the first night), the food was superb! We were a party of five so we ordered several menu items and passed them around family style. We had curry, tika masala, makhani and more. Everything we had was fantastic! If you're in Charleston and are looking for something a bit different, head over to Little India..you'll be surprised at how good it is!
(5)Catherine C.
Absolutely fabulous! I've been driving to Morgantown for this family's samosas for years, and now they have a restaurant! We ate there for lunch buffet with chicken tikka masala (excellent sauce, chicken kind of grainy, but I'm used to literal farm fresh - recommended nonetheless), vegetable korma was awesome, very spicy pickles, and overall yumminess. As for the reviewer that wanted his vindaloo "mild" - a. Read the menu, b. Put on your big boy pants before venturing out of your cultural safety zone. Absolute 5 star.
(5)Karen K.
My husband and I are visitors to Charleston. Thanks to Yelp I found Little India. We heartily agree with the positive reviews. Excellent dinner there last night...authentic Indian cuisine in a pleasant atmosphere with great service. We do not want to eat in chains when we travel and Yelp has been fabulous for finding local restaurants owned by people in the vicinity. Thanks to all who review, let's keep it up!
(4)Daniel D.
I have been there a handful of time, the owner is great and the food has a great range. I love hot food, but if you can't take very spicy food do not order it spicy.
(5)Adam T.
Best Indian food in Charleston! I can't wait until the second-floor bar opens.
(5)Andrew F.
Good food of a sort I had not expected to find here in this area. Good portions with just a little more quality than most Indian restaurants. Friendly staff...first time I have been called "hon"...as in honey in this type of restaurant...but that is the vibe in this area. Parking is not obvious and in an oddly depressing part of town given it is a block or so from the Capitol area. Worth the effort...one of the better Indian meals in the last six months.
(3)Sara C.
In a word: YUM! I've recently moved back to WV after a couple years in a city with more access to ethnic foods and was afraid that I would miss this when I returned home. The baigan bhartha was delicious, the server attentive and the cabernet (Educated Guess) I washed it down with was perfect. I can't wait to go back!
(4)Jason C.
I visit this restaurant this evening, and I am very impressed! I have not had Indian style food in such a long time, and this place made me love it again. Very friendly staff, and the prices are reasonable.
(4)Heather M.
Love. Love. Love. It. If you have never had Indian food before, this is a great place to start. Try their buffet and see what you like. It is very reasonably priced and the staff is very helpful.
(5)Nick B.
The owners of this place are the nicest people! Unfortunately, the same cant be said about the food. A couple work friends and i went there for the lunch buffet. We got there a little after 1:00 and it looked like they hadn't changed anything out since they served it at 11:00. The Marsala was good, but it's tough to mess that up. The batter on the pankora was awful, it was soggy and way to thick. They served the naan in the buffet, which i thought was a mistake... I may be a little too critical when it comes to indian food as i have some indian in-laws and they make food that will knock your socks off.
(2)Sparrow D.
What a lovely meal! As all good Indian food that I have had, the ambiance left something to be desired, and you instantly forget all about it when you taste the food!! Everything here is homemade. I asked the owners. When I say everything, I mean it, even the yogurt. YUM!!! I will eat here every time I am in Charleston.
(5)Richard D.
I'm not a vegetarian, but I generally eat vegetarian when I go here . . . and I go here often. The dahl is, for me, the measure of an Indian restaurant. Little India offers several varieties . . . I especially like the garbanzo and red lentil mix. Charlestonians eat early. Get there at 6 and you're 15 minutes late. The place fills on weekends. Also, bring a sweater, the place can be freezing . . . you can take it off when the food arrives. My experieince is that they generally are on the hot side of 'mild', so I'd suggest you go slow if you're a hot side eater. You can always send it back and spice up. Oh, and don't over order, the portions are the largest I have ever seen this side of London (never been to India so its my only reference). I'm usually carrying tomorrow's lunch home in one of those ubiquitous styro boxes. Parking can be bear . . . i usually have to walk 2 - 3 blocks.
(5)Liz G.
The service was great and very attentive. While waiting for our food we were given complimentary breads to try.. The coconut soup was good and mixed grill tandoori is great to try since it has a little bit of everything in the menu so you can choose what you would prefer for future visits. Would def return. Note to the sensitive: order your currys mild. Parking is available in neighboring businesses..
(5)Biga T.
A group from D.C. dined here past Friday . We ordered about 6 different kind of meals from the menu, which we shared, and we all liked everything a lot. The beer tasted great too, and service was quick.
(4)B. G.
I went to Little India's lunch buffet on the suggestion of its Yelp review and was thoroughly impressed. I love Indian food and am not particularly hard to please, but I also confinced my father, who is skeptical of spicy foods, to come with me. He was wary but wound up loving the meal as well. He chatted with the owners, and they told him the history of the old firehouse the restaurant occupies.
(5)Jay U.
Good food, wish I had stopped by at lunch because the buffet sounded awesome. Dinner was very tasty and seemed very authentic, the owner was very welcoming and appreciative. I had the Tadhka Daal and the Coconut Soup with a side of Naan. Tasty...
(4)Dina S.
I almost NEVER give 5 stars for ANYTHING, but I have to hand it to Little India. We went on a Tuesday evening, I was nervous about finding something the kids could eat that wasn't too spicy. Our waitress was one of the nicest, most helpful, and most attentive that I've ever met. She accommodated our requests for mild dishes, and the food was hot, fresh, and tasty. I disagree with the reviewer who said she didn't get enough rice with the entree, for us it was plenty. We ordered lentil soup, salad, chicken kabob, and coconut soup for the appetizers, and chicken tikka masala and chicken tandoori for entrees, also naan bread and yogurt on the side, so even my 8 month old ate from little India. We had mango yogurt drinks to top it off. The menu has a big variety of dishes to choose from, so you're bound to find something you like. I hope all my future trips to little India are as good as this one.
(5)Robin L.
We dined at Little India recently on a Friday night. They appeared to have a good crowd on hand, so I was surprised when we were seated right away. Out of habit I ordered a Kingfisher Beer and was told they only carried typical selection of American made beers. I found that to be somewhat disappointing as I prefer drinking beers that have a cultural tie-in with the type of food I am enjoying. For an appetizer we had the Vegetable Pakora, which was very tasty and reasonably priced. The appetizer and drinks arrived to our table within 5 minutes from the time we placed the order, which was excellent given the crowd on hand. For the main course my wife ordered the Chicken Saag and I ordered the Lamb Vindaloo, we both requested the dishes to be made with "mild" spice. I lost track of the time, but would say main course did not arrive until 45 minutes after we placed our order. It was only then I learned that the Lamb Vindaloo is not available with mild spices, I either was not aware of this on the menu or it just wasn't describe as such. In any case our server never made mention of this, so I was left to uncover this on my own as well as being reminded on each and every serving. Spiciness aside, the flavor of both dishes were wonderful and the size of both chicken and lamb portions were outstanding. Would definitely rate this restaurant as 5 star absent the wait and my willingness to accept partial blame for the spice mix up.
(4)Ruthanne B.
Who knew you could find fresher, better Indian food than you can find in DC in...Charleston? Whaaaa? I had the Sunday buffet, which was all in all, very good. The naan was a tad dry, as was the tandoori chicken. BUT all of the other dishes were complex, rich and very close cousins of the Indian food I've eaten in India, New York and San Fran.
(4)Eno O.
This is the only place where I've had Indian food. I usually get the chicken Tikka masala. It's OK. I've had their vegetarian (paneer) Masala and that was excellent. They had catered for my friends party and all the vegetarian food was to die for! However the food that I ordered from the restaurant myself is just OK - not the best Indian food in the world.
(3)LK M.
I really love this place, the food is authentic and delicious. I had the veg samosa chat and chicken tikka masala, both perfectly spiced to my liking and they deliver :)
(4)Robin L.
We dined at Little India recently on a Friday night. They appeared to have a good crowd on hand, so I was surprised when we were seated right away. Out of habit I ordered a Kingfisher Beer and was told they only carried typical selection of American made beers. I found that to be somewhat disappointing as I prefer drinking beers that have a cultural tie-in with the type of food I am enjoying. For an appetizer we had the Vegetable Pakora, which was very tasty and reasonably priced. The appetizer and drinks arrived to our table within 5 minutes from the time we placed the order, which was excellent given the crowd on hand. For the main course my wife ordered the Chicken Saag and I ordered the Lamb Vindaloo, we both requested the dishes to be made with "mild" spice. I lost track of the time, but would say main course did not arrive until 45 minutes after we placed our order. It was only then I learned that the Lamb Vindaloo is not available with mild spices, I either was not aware of this on the menu or it just wasn't describe as such. In any case our server never made mention of this, so I was left to uncover this on my own as well as being reminded on each and every serving. Spiciness aside, the flavor of both dishes were wonderful and the size of both chicken and lamb portions were outstanding. Would definitely rate this restaurant as 5 star absent the wait and my willingness to accept partial blame for the spice mix up.
(4)Ruthanne B.
Who knew you could find fresher, better Indian food than you can find in DC in...Charleston? Whaaaa? I had the Sunday buffet, which was all in all, very good. The naan was a tad dry, as was the tandoori chicken. BUT all of the other dishes were complex, rich and very close cousins of the Indian food I've eaten in India, New York and San Fran.
(4)Elizabeth K.
Lunch buffet is the way to go at Little India! You'll find your belly full and satisfied for just 8.99! The staple Chicken Tikka Masala is offered along with various other hot dishes. Along with eating all the naan you want to your hearts content!
(4)Aditya R.
Disappointed. Looking at the number of reviews and the rating I was expecting good Indian food, the food we had was definitely not fresh. I think this is because there are not many Indian restaurants in the town and most of the reviewers might not have tried authentic Indian food in bigger cities, just guessing, might be wrong.
(2)Sasha S.
Food: Everytime I think about going here I start to drool. The food is delicious and freshly made. The best, I think, was the Diwali dinner. It was a buffett, but with even more variety than usual. If you realize an Indian Holiday is coming up, check their website, some awesome food might be forthcoming. Ambience: It gets a little loud when it's busy. Lots of groups, very few couples with kids or by themselves. Everyone-is-having-fun loud, not everyone-is-annoyingly-drunk loud. Decor is minimal, emphasis is obviously on the food. Best time to go: Weeknights (Sunday-Thursday) and lunch time. Less crowded, less waiting. Best item: Honestly, I adore the Mango Lassi. Everything else is good, but it just isn't Little India without a touch of Mango Lassi.
(4)Tina K.
I LOVE Little India. For appetizers, I love to get (and share) vegetable pakora and samosas and for dinner I usually eat Chicken Tikka Masala with naan. The food is always has the right level of "heat" and has a wonderful depth of flavor. The atmosphere is comfortable, lit right for coziness, and, of course, smells wonderful! Just writing this is making me wish I were there with my onion chutney and tamarind, dipping the veggie pakora pieces, drinking my Goose & cranberry. :-)
(5)sabrina s.
The owner kept saying how much better the food was there than at Sitar and I must say that she was completely wrong!!!!!!!!!!! The chicken tikka masala was so bad I couldn't even finish it! The Garlic Naan wasn't good either. We've eaten Indian all over this nation and we are not certain why others are giving this place such rave reviews, Sitar is sooooo much better!!!
(1)Mick J.
wow, damned delicous. some of the best Saag Paneer I've ever had. Super high marks for that, for the Chicken Tikka and the appetizer sampler. We got our food to go, but the place has a definite charm for dine-in. And smells AMAZING.
(4)Ash T.
I want Little India to be as good as it was when it opened. Truly, at this point, two stars is a gift. It should be more like one but the owners are always very nice to me (they're awesome) and I feel guilty. The food has just gone downhill. The heat and flavors are never consistent anymore... in fact, some of the items on the lunch buffet are a little gross. One time I went in there for lunch and they had Thai spicy noodles on the buffet. If I want Thai, I have other places in mind than an Indian restaurant. The service has always been pretty bad but I usually overlook that if the food is good. Maybe they need a new chef? I wish I knew the answer to this one. Again, I want to like it and I want it to be better. I suppose I'll keep subjecting myself to it periodically in hopes that it returns to its former glory.
(2)Nicholas C.
The buffet is pretty decent; tasty, seems pretty fresh, and is pretty consistent. My favorites are the chicken tikka masala, and the saag paneer. The real problem here is service. The waitstaff seems pretty indifferent to the customers, and from what I hear, turnover is pretty high due to the owner's "old world" sense of treating staff. Oh well. Decor is bleh. The food is really the main attraction, here. Also, a note: It is ALWAYS sweltering and humid in here. Dress lightly.
(3)Martha S.
I keep trying to give this place a chance and it continues to disappoint. The food is greasy, the rice is overcooked, and often the buffet items are cold. It's really miserable. If you want Indian in Charleston, you're much better off at Sitar of India.
(1)Tenzin G.
I found myself in Charleston on business and decided to check out this Indian restaurant I had been hearing about. The food was fantastic. Honestly, I wasn't expecting the food to be very good coming from Denver where there are really decent Indian places but found myself happily surprised. Their Tikka Masala is very good, I had both the paneer and the salmon as I spent 3 of my 10 meals here. Meena (sp?) the owner is a doll as well, very sweet and warm. Don't forget to check out the Upstairs Lounge as well, its a very eclectic full size bar with a great manager. All in all we had a great time here and would definitely recommend to anyone passing through or in the area!
(5)Peter P.
We went for the lunch buffet and they had about a dozen items to choose from, but only two with meat - Tandoori Chicken and Chicken Tikka Masala. The Tandoori Chicken was flavorless and cold. The Chicken Tikka Masala was ok but the chicken was perfectly cubed and seemed fake. The other non-meat dishes, like the spinach (Saag?) dish and the vegetable Pakora were really good, to their credit. I will say, straight-up, they had the best Naan bread I've ever eaten. I couldn't stop. They must bake some addictive ingredient into it because it was the highlight of my meal.
(3)Aaron C.
My wife and I were in charleston on business and are huge Indian food fanatics. Having tried Indian food from restaurants all over the country from Boston to NYC to LA, the food at Little India did not disappoint. The food was just as good as any Indian restaurant I've been to. That being said I would give little India 5 stars on food alone. However, we had the worst service in years at this restaurant. We waited 5 minutes for menus after having to ask for them. Then it took another 10 mins to have order taken. 30 Mins later we had to ask where our appetizer was. Ive also never heard a waitress apologize more than ours. FRUSTRATING experience with service. DO TAKEOUT ONLY OR LUNCH BUFFET
(4)Mark W.
Authentic Indian fare from multiple regions prepared Kosher and Halal. An enormous of selections, fantastic daily buffet and "Thumbs Up" cola! Locally owned and operated by two fantastic visionaries. Excellent taste and selection, great prices and wonderful atmosphere makes for a complete dining experience for all ages and tastes. Even though I designed the logo and signage, you can take it from me; this food is a welcome addition to Charleston's East End!
(5)Gina W.
Enjoyed the lunch buffet today. My husband really liked the goat and I particularly liked the dahl and the saag paneer. Fresh and flavorful food and pleasant, polite service.
(4)Katie P.
Went here the other night with some friends and was very pleased! I had the lamb while two other friends had the chicken and we all thought it was really delicious and that the portions they gave us made the meal a great value (I ate on mine for two days!) The service was also great! I don't really have a lot to compare it to (I've only eaten Indian maybe 5-6 times) but was very impressed. Definitely worth a visit!
(5)Grace H.
I like bread basket the best.
(3)Alexis C.
I suppose I have high expectations but this place was not even average in any respect. I was visiting family in WV and decided to give this place a try after the good reviews on Yelp and personal recommendations from people who live in Charleston. The service: NON-existent! We walked in around 7pm for dinner and stood there for close to 5 minutes before anyone even acknowledged us. When the owner (maybe?) finally did tell one of the two waitresses to seat us, she argued that it "wasn't her turn" and was really rude and unprofessional. The owner guy ended up being our waiter if you could even call it that. He handed us menus and disappeared. We had to flag rude waitress down to order drinks which the owner brought out almost at the end of the meal. We ended up getting the buffet because it seemed hopeless to try and order from the menu. I asked for an order of garlic naan which never materialized. The Food: bland and uninspired. I love Indian food because of the spice. The Chicken Tikka was not spicy and was barely lukewarm when I ladled it out of the metal bin. The chicken was dry and tough. Basmati rice was good but that's hard to screw up. Veggie pakora was ok but again, not spicy, just tasted like fried carbs. Condiments were in sad little bowls just sitting out half covered with plastic wrap. Iced tea tasted like really cheap instant tea flavored powder and water. It was also room temperature. Come on people, it is neither expensive nor difficult to make good iced tea. Basically everything looked and tasted like it had been made with little love, pride or effort. Atmosphere: dark and depressing. This place seemed like it used to be a bar or pub or something. It's not at all what I would associate with the colorful, vibrant Indian culture. No music. Everyone that worked there seemed miserable.
(2)Rebecca R.
I was fortunate enough to visit India last summer, and discovered a few dishes that I loved! Unfortunately, when I came back to the States, I was disappointed in a lot of Indian food. So, when I heard of Little India opening up, I was excited to hopefully get some true Indian cuisine! Little India did not disappoint! In fact, I can't wait to go again and try new dishes! We all got veggie samosas. My daughter and I split an order of malai kofta, and my husband had the chicken tikka masala. We also got the basket of mixed naan, and I'm so glad we did because they really don't give you much rice to go with your dish. Wouldn't want any of that delicious sauce to go to waste! Our whole meal cost about $43, for 2 entrees, the naan and two orders of samosas. Not bad, especially since the service was friendly and prompt, and the food was exceptionally good. I really look forward to going back soon! I really wanted some gulab jamun, but was too full to even think of it.
(5)James F.
Got takeout from them tonight. Food was ready in a timely manner and delicious, as usual.
(4)Krista J.
I live in Washington, DC and there is no better Indian Restaurant in our big city of DC. Charleston has one of the best Indian Restaurants I've ever been to. It's very traditional and the food is always good. I've dined there 6 or more times and every time the level of service and food is exceptional. Congrats to the hard working owners for having one of the best places in Charleston.
(5)Erin A.
I love when I go into a restaurant and can't settle on what to order because the menu options are so fiercely vying for my epicurean attention. My server was admirably patient. But Little India present this wonderful little dilemma by offering savory tandoori, beef, lamb, chicken, seafood, curry, and biryani dishes, in addition to lots of naan and condiment flavors. The setting is cozy too in a remodeled historic fire station... brick walls wooden panels, and a stained glass mural: horse drawn fire wagon and a cute dalmatian. Unfortunately I was not terribly hungry, so I had the malai chicken appetizer, coconut soup and garlic naan, rather than a full entree. The de-kebab-ed chicken had a nice ginger zing and was garnished with fresh mango puree and cilantro. The garlic naan had the "I'm-light-and-airy-but-soft-and-doughy" juxtaposition that is so sought after in good naan. It was also just garlicky enough to appreciate but not offend. BUT THE COCONUT SOUP... I am currently, as in right now, planning to go there for lunch again tomorrow just to get more of that soup! It is that good... the coconut and cream, warm and subtly sweetened with mango (?) and hints of pistachios (?) and cardamom (?). During the first 5 bites I tried my darnedest to identify each layer of flavor on my palate to see if I could possibly recreate this at home... and then promptly decided that there was no way I could replicate something that tasty and just gave in to enjoying it. If the soup is that good, I can only imagine how yummy the entrees must be... But after all that and even though I told you I was not terribly hungry, I finished it up with the never-fail gulab jaman... which I can never resist anywhere. Fie you Indian dessert makers! For who does not love sweet little dough balls swimming in warm honeyed rosewater? I almost, repeat almost licked the bowl. Touché' Little India. Tomorrow...Lunch... Coconut Soup: Round Two! And PS: Thank you for giving me good food to occupy my thoughts while I am so far away from all of the enchiladas in Austin.
(5)Nikeshbhai P.
Love Indian food and I have had and made a lot of it. This place does a very good job with all the food. However service is lacking a lot.
(4)Shannon K.
Little India is by far the best Indian food in Charleston. The naan bread is a phenomenal, and they have great vegetarian options. It is much nicer than Sitar, mostly because the servers are more polite and the atmosphere is more pleasant.
(5)Kristen H.
I enjoy not only the food here, but also the night life. There's everything from violin accompanied belly dancing to art shows. Their Sunday brunch buffet is amazing.
(5)Frank W.
We went for the first time a few weeks ago as a group of four. We all loved the food. The service was good. It took what seemed like a long time for the food to arrive but it was a Saturday night, they were very busy and it takes time to prepare good food. My wife and I orderd a dish that was rated medium hot. I found it perfect, she said she couldn't feel her lips for an hour or so, Be advised.
(5)Missy M.
Excellent food, and the service ended up being great (though it began a bit squirrely) for opening week. At present, they aren't taking reservations. Had to wait a bit for a table for 5 and the wait for tables was confusing. But the food is totally worth it!!! Our table ordered several apps, lots of different breads and 5 different dishes and everyone went away more than satisfied. Our server was super! The pinot noir is very reasonably priced and delicious. We also had the pinot grigio which is very well priced; I don't like whites as much as reds but this paired ok with my channa masala. Took a while for the food to arrive but it's sooooo worth the wait and was nice to have a chance to talk and not feel rushed. They have a buffet for lunch and several friends have told me it's very good, though is also very busy.
(5)Noel B.
Time isn't important unless you have appointments elsewhere, I had none so I paid no attention to the rapidity of the wait staff. i was there for the best Indian food in Charleston, and I wasn't disappointed. We started with the vegetable pakora which was excellent, and the cilantro raita/chutney was a perfect compliment to the dish. I ordered the lamb vindaloo (which was offered hot or mild at the table) I wisely chose the hot. The hot was subtle, it was a nice heat which crept up slowly to a nice sinus clearing heat. Heat lovers will love the palatability of this dish. My wife had the Chicken Xaccutti (medium) which was excellent. The nan and paratha and mixed pickle were our only additions to the very flavorful meal. I rate Little India on par with most Indian restaurants in the NYC/NJ area.
(5)John S.
All the food was excellent and the service could not be better.
(4)Scott C.
I was amazed at how good the food was and how quick the food came to my table. The hardest park about this place is finding parking. If you can find some parking you must try this place!
(5)Jim G.
First time in Charleston, and enjoyed Little India for lunch! Naan was superb - moist, not dried out. The buffet dishes were all great flavors and nice variety. There was also the option of ordering off the menu for lunch (which the owner told me - the waitress said it was buffet only.) Cold Kingfishers await as well. I'll definitely come back when I'm in town and mood for Indian - nice find in Charleston!
(4)Brian H.
We have been anxiously awaiting the opening of this restaurant and it certainly did not disappoint. We visited the first night it was opened and while there were bumps in the smoothness of the delivery (nothing out of the ordinary for the first night), the food was superb! We were a party of five so we ordered several menu items and passed them around family style. We had curry, tika masala, makhani and more. Everything we had was fantastic! If you're in Charleston and are looking for something a bit different, head over to Little India..you'll be surprised at how good it is!
(5)Julie W.
I went for the lunch buffet and was pleasantly surprised with the selection. It wasn't the standard masalas or curries, but an aloo dish, goat curry, turkey curry, chickpea saag, tandoori chicken, and a few other dishes I unfortunately cannot recall the names for. The "salad"/chutney/sauce bar was a little scant, but for $7.99 a person for the lunch buffet, having about 6 entries, 4 sides, a little salad, and a few chutneys to choose from was pretty good. I particularly enjoyed the onion pakoras, turkey curry, and onion chutney (watch out, it's spicy,). The naan was decent but texture was hit or miss-sometimes you picked up a doughy piece, other times you has some thin crispy pieces. The waitress could've been a little more attentive-our party of 3 had 3 plates stacked for a little while before she remembered to come by to check in. I can't say too much about the chai, a normal standard for me in Indian restaurants, because I didn't $1.99 tea cup of chai with no refills. Call me cheap, but I'm spoiled from my favorite indian place in phx, az with unlimited refills of strong, milky, fragrant chai. Atmosphere was a business crowd, there were a good number of filled tables in the front room where we were, and a few tables in the back. Overall, not bad-the FIL said it's good enough to come back, so the next time I'm in Charleston we can stop in and hope for a rotating selection of dishes.
(3)Catherine C.
Absolutely fabulous! I've been driving to Morgantown for this family's samosas for years, and now they have a restaurant! We ate there for lunch buffet with chicken tikka masala (excellent sauce, chicken kind of grainy, but I'm used to literal farm fresh - recommended nonetheless), vegetable korma was awesome, very spicy pickles, and overall yumminess. As for the reviewer that wanted his vindaloo "mild" - a. Read the menu, b. Put on your big boy pants before venturing out of your cultural safety zone. Absolute 5 star.
(5)Karen K.
My husband and I are visitors to Charleston. Thanks to Yelp I found Little India. We heartily agree with the positive reviews. Excellent dinner there last night...authentic Indian cuisine in a pleasant atmosphere with great service. We do not want to eat in chains when we travel and Yelp has been fabulous for finding local restaurants owned by people in the vicinity. Thanks to all who review, let's keep it up!
(4)Alicia W.
So good. Walked in on a Wednesday night an hour or so before closing, were served courteously and quickly. The one minor negative (and it's probably not a negative so much as a preference) was that each dish seemed to have the same level of spice despite the fact that they were ordered differently.
(5)William S.
Exceptional food, relaxing atmosphere and the owners are able to provide amazing, fresh culinary items that both the Indian food novice and those with a well defined pallate can both enjoy.
(5)Daniel D.
I have been there a handful of time, the owner is great and the food has a great range. I love hot food, but if you can't take very spicy food do not order it spicy.
(5)Adam T.
Best Indian food in Charleston! I can't wait until the second-floor bar opens.
(5)Andrew F.
Good food of a sort I had not expected to find here in this area. Good portions with just a little more quality than most Indian restaurants. Friendly staff...first time I have been called "hon"...as in honey in this type of restaurant...but that is the vibe in this area. Parking is not obvious and in an oddly depressing part of town given it is a block or so from the Capitol area. Worth the effort...one of the better Indian meals in the last six months.
(3)Sara C.
In a word: YUM! I've recently moved back to WV after a couple years in a city with more access to ethnic foods and was afraid that I would miss this when I returned home. The baigan bhartha was delicious, the server attentive and the cabernet (Educated Guess) I washed it down with was perfect. I can't wait to go back!
(4)Jason C.
I visit this restaurant this evening, and I am very impressed! I have not had Indian style food in such a long time, and this place made me love it again. Very friendly staff, and the prices are reasonable.
(4)Heather M.
Love. Love. Love. It. If you have never had Indian food before, this is a great place to start. Try their buffet and see what you like. It is very reasonably priced and the staff is very helpful.
(5)Nick B.
The owners of this place are the nicest people! Unfortunately, the same cant be said about the food. A couple work friends and i went there for the lunch buffet. We got there a little after 1:00 and it looked like they hadn't changed anything out since they served it at 11:00. The Marsala was good, but it's tough to mess that up. The batter on the pankora was awful, it was soggy and way to thick. They served the naan in the buffet, which i thought was a mistake... I may be a little too critical when it comes to indian food as i have some indian in-laws and they make food that will knock your socks off.
(2)Sparrow D.
What a lovely meal! As all good Indian food that I have had, the ambiance left something to be desired, and you instantly forget all about it when you taste the food!! Everything here is homemade. I asked the owners. When I say everything, I mean it, even the yogurt. YUM!!! I will eat here every time I am in Charleston.
(5)Richard D.
I'm not a vegetarian, but I generally eat vegetarian when I go here . . . and I go here often. The dahl is, for me, the measure of an Indian restaurant. Little India offers several varieties . . . I especially like the garbanzo and red lentil mix. Charlestonians eat early. Get there at 6 and you're 15 minutes late. The place fills on weekends. Also, bring a sweater, the place can be freezing . . . you can take it off when the food arrives. My experieince is that they generally are on the hot side of 'mild', so I'd suggest you go slow if you're a hot side eater. You can always send it back and spice up. Oh, and don't over order, the portions are the largest I have ever seen this side of London (never been to India so its my only reference). I'm usually carrying tomorrow's lunch home in one of those ubiquitous styro boxes. Parking can be bear . . . i usually have to walk 2 - 3 blocks.
(5)Liz G.
The service was great and very attentive. While waiting for our food we were given complimentary breads to try.. The coconut soup was good and mixed grill tandoori is great to try since it has a little bit of everything in the menu so you can choose what you would prefer for future visits. Would def return. Note to the sensitive: order your currys mild. Parking is available in neighboring businesses..
(5)Biga T.
A group from D.C. dined here past Friday . We ordered about 6 different kind of meals from the menu, which we shared, and we all liked everything a lot. The beer tasted great too, and service was quick.
(4)B. G.
I went to Little India's lunch buffet on the suggestion of its Yelp review and was thoroughly impressed. I love Indian food and am not particularly hard to please, but I also confinced my father, who is skeptical of spicy foods, to come with me. He was wary but wound up loving the meal as well. He chatted with the owners, and they told him the history of the old firehouse the restaurant occupies.
(5)Jay U.
Good food, wish I had stopped by at lunch because the buffet sounded awesome. Dinner was very tasty and seemed very authentic, the owner was very welcoming and appreciative. I had the Tadhka Daal and the Coconut Soup with a side of Naan. Tasty...
(4)Dina S.
I almost NEVER give 5 stars for ANYTHING, but I have to hand it to Little India. We went on a Tuesday evening, I was nervous about finding something the kids could eat that wasn't too spicy. Our waitress was one of the nicest, most helpful, and most attentive that I've ever met. She accommodated our requests for mild dishes, and the food was hot, fresh, and tasty. I disagree with the reviewer who said she didn't get enough rice with the entree, for us it was plenty. We ordered lentil soup, salad, chicken kabob, and coconut soup for the appetizers, and chicken tikka masala and chicken tandoori for entrees, also naan bread and yogurt on the side, so even my 8 month old ate from little India. We had mango yogurt drinks to top it off. The menu has a big variety of dishes to choose from, so you're bound to find something you like. I hope all my future trips to little India are as good as this one.
(5)Douglas W.
Under new ownership, Harry and his team live up to the great food that I was accustom to as before! Great job to all! My wife and I stopped in for lunch today and the food and service were great. The squash curry was excellent, and the tandoori chicken and chicken tikka masala were perfectly spiced and delicious. Thank you for another great taste of India, right here in Charleston!!
(4)Hasan K.
Had lamb and chicken biryani on a labor day weekend. The food was really delicious with just the right amount of spices. Good thing is that the serve size is proportionate to what the restaurant charges. In fact, I couldn't finish the entire meal, had to carry out the left-over. Not impressed by their desert. The chef just mixed canned fruits to mango pulp and served it as mango pudding. Anyone can prepare it. That's why, I am giving it 4 out of 5. By the way, no idea about the buffet though.
(4)Vigneshwari V.
Chicken biryani was awesome. Aloo paratha was decent enough. Mango pudding was good. Overall we enjoyed the food. Service was very friendly and the person at reception was thoughtful enough to remind us to take the plate and spoon for our take away that we had actually forgot to ask. Deserves 4 stars. Am not giving 5 because parking was not available near this building and is quite far off.
(4)Rhea P.
I had such high hopes for this place. The reviews were outstanding, and i had had less than outstanding eating experiences in WV and wanted something delicious. But it was not to be. Apparently I came at the wrong time. Shortly before closing for the time in between lunch and dinner service. I chose the buffet because it was quick. However, food had sat out for a while and the rice was crunchy. . .crunchy, when crunchy wasn't cool. The other dishes were forgettable as well. . . I was told to come back at a different time next time, but I doubt there will be a next time.
(2)Anna R.
I have been looking for a good Indian spot since I moved here and after coming here to drink upstairs for the St. Paddy's Day Pub Crawl, I knew this was the place. My suspicions were confirmed today when I went back for the lunch buffet to try the food. I have never been a fan of buffets of any kind but this one wasn't bad and you can't beat the $8.99 price tag. The food was hot and fresh and they had everything stocked at all times. The chicken saag, chicken vindaloo, and naan we all top notch! I can't wait to go back for dinner and have them make it extra spicy for me. In addition to the delicious food, the service was great too. Every time I went back for more, my plate was cleared by the time I got back to the table. My water glass was always full, and the staff were all very friendly. Quite unlike other Indian restaurants in Charleston.
(5)Sunny B.
Yuck! A million times over, yuck! Went for the lunch buffet. The rice, puris, and idliis were old and dried out. The curries were a few days old easily. Nothing fresh. The gulab jamuns were old and dried out too. All around the worst Indian food I have ever eaten. I stuck to the vegetarian menu to avoid food poisoning. Really should have walked out. Never again. Down right disgusting.
(1)Stacy S.
The curry was great but the rice pudding was the wrong texture and I just couldn't eat it.
(4)Bruce K.
Best Indian I have had since returning from London. I was quite surprised that here in Charleston there is such a great place, but here it is. Good wide menu with chicken, lamb and mutton options for all the usual sauces from tikka masala to plain curry and even a vindaloo. As well, riata and mango chutney to go with it! Naan was perfect! The first Kingfisher beer I've had in a while, too! It would be nice if they had their own wifi, but if you sit at one of the front tables you might be able to find a signal from elsewhere.
(5)Christopher I.
This place is pretty good, definitely the best Indian food in the area. They're usually overpriced for what you get, so I only come for the Sunday buffet now when someone else wants to go. Lower price, more food. They usually have the goat curry during the buffet, which is what I would order any way at full price. The owners are super nice & they keep my diet pepsi constantly full (a tall task, I inhale that stuff & few waiters can keep up with my drinking rate). It's better if you come earlier for the buffet, the food can get stale as they don't normally change out a dish at the buffet until it's finished. Chicken tikka masala isn't bad either, and the buffet is a good time to try their other dishes without ordering them. Overall, the ok food, good service, and bad price even this rating out to 3 stars.
(3)Sarah B.
Little India is fantastic. We went with a group and got in right away. Parking was a little tricky, but well worth it! I prefer it to the Sitar restaurant nearby even though parking was easier to find there. Everyone was very friendly and the food was amazing. My whole group left happy.
(5)Taylor S.
Easily the best Indian food in WV. Had Chicken Vindaloo (extra spicy) and Vegatable samosa's that were to die for with their crispy exterior and moist flavorful meat inside. The naan bread was so fresh and crispy with that soft warm center that made it perfect for grabbing those extra morsels of sauce and to top it all off the Gulab Jumun was god like. The sweet rose water was perfectly sweet and the bread fresh and warm making it a true hommage to Indian cooking. If you like indian food and are in charleston you really should make a trip here!
(5)Heather D.
Driving thru, stumbled upon a gem. Family owned and some quality dishes. We had the buffet and enjoyed every bite. Great atmosphere, will be back when we are in Charleston again for sure!
(5)Ganesh Kumar N.
Great place. The surrounding is exciting to watch and the food is very good. Place looks very hygienic and the people treat you well. A great pit stop place for people who love Indian food.
(5)Matthew M.
When we moved here from Boston we were incredibly glad to find a couple Indian food places here. I realize cuisine varies by region, but I felt the food was overly spiced. Not spicy, just heavily spiced; while the food I'm used to is lighter-flavored and rich, my palate felt really beat up after lunch here. The price is good, the people are super nice, so it's quite likely I'll try them again.
(3)Herberth H.
The food here is good, the service not so much and the price is more than you would plan on paying. Overall good food, bad service.
(3)Michael W.
I am a fan of Indian cuisine. I have to say, with absolutely no reservation, that this is the worst Indian restaurant I have ever visited. Most of the food tasted the same and was way over-spiced. I am aware that some Indian food is pretty hot & spicy, but everything on the buffet was this way. The only good part of it is I will probably never be in that area, again (I was travelling to Ohio).
(1)Carolyn L.
On our way through Charleston, we decided to grab a quick lunch here since we went a couple years ago and recalled that it was quite tasty. Well, it seems like times have changed. The naan was unpleasant and had a strange, almost cracker-like consistency. The dal was bland, fried cauliflower was cold and potatoes were dry. There was also a container full of soupy hummus out, which we thought was a tad strange. A few folks mentioned temperature issues, with food being too cold on the bar, which we also experienced. On the plus side, the vegetable pakora was delicious and the staff was friendly. Sad visit because we were so pleased in the past.
(2)Osama B.
I have never had such a bad Indian dining experience in my life. The rice is stale and hard. The chicken tikka is not so great either. Won't be coming back here again..
(1)Fred S.
Stopped in for lunch in the midst of a long drive up the interstate. Much better than the usual hamburger joint. A nice buffet lunch was available. Food was mostly decent, although some of it seemed to have sat for a while. Service was very friendly. It's not clear where to park. If I lived in Charleston, I would probably visit here a few times a year.
(3)Dablackpurl K.
We were here for dinner on a bad weather day. The service is definitely good. Food was good. Not bad, not great. Somewhere in between. Mind you, this is a vegetation perspective. We are new to the area, had hard time finding a parking spot. Apparently the restaurant has its free parking across the street. And the desert carrot halwa was the best than any Indian restaurant
(3)Arden H.
Tried this place again on Easter, and it was very surprising. The food was much better than it was the first time I tried eating there.
(4)Julie P.
GF goodness! Heard of this place from the owner of the International Market in Kanawha City where I get kimchi. His wife runs the restaurant and is very conscientious about gluten and even dairy allergies / sensitivities. How nice to be able to go straight to the buffet and see the items marked GF. Obviously the naan isn't GF but with some notice they can make a GF naan. The food was savory and delicious with a very large variety. The younger ones had a hard time choosing something to eat because most of the food was a tiny bit spicy but I think that my daughter liked the grilled chicken and the fried potato medallions (not sure what they're called). The rice was a bit dry and crunchy but was ok after being smothered with one of their dozens of sauces. I did cheat and taste the korma because it's my favorite - yum! Overall, it was a hit and I'm looking forward to going back when I'm in Charleston for church. Price was $12.95 for adults and half for children.
(4)Harsh L.
Authentic and outstanding indian food!! Its the best indian food I had in the 3 months I have been in US. We tried chicken and goat biryani, it was delicious. It was full of right amount of spices and flavors. Would expect other dishes to also be as good. Would definitely go again and would recommend it if you love indian food.
(5)Narendra P.
Great food Good selection of Indian food with mild to spicy selection Responsive staff Good seating There's a bar upstairs in pm
(5)Joe B.
Hit or miss... I really want this place to be as strong as it was when it first opened and it occasionally is. The inconsistency in food and service probably warrants a 2 stars, cause when it is bad, it is BAD. Definitely give em a try, because lately I have had more good than bad experiences. Owners are really, really nice. Also, the club upstairs does cabaret on Thursday and Saturdays and is a 10 Star Experience!!
(3)Joshua R.
Tried the Sunday lunch buffer on our way through town because places we liked were closed. This turned out to be a mistake. Some thought went into part of the buffet, with pani puri and a puff rice salad station set up, but the hot dishes ranged from meh to the dreadful. Woe to any vegetarian who doesn't care for eggplant - every non-meat dish on offer that day was some variant on eggplant korma. Naan was dry, dal was watery and without flavor, and the only pakora was potatoes, which managed somehow to be inferior to french fries in terms of grease and consistency. Tandoor chicken was way beyond well done into unchewable doorstop territory. I hope for the sake of Charlestonians that this is not the best Indian in town. Regardless, next time I pass through, I am giving it a wide berth. Also, I strongly suspect they are not practicing adequate hygiene in the kitchen; we found multiple hairs that were not ours in our food.
(2)Emily P.
Updated to add 2 stars now that we simply get orders to go. All the deliciousness without as much risk of being forgotten about!!! Previous review: Either go here when you know they won't be busy, or bring your own water, because they NEVER have enough employees and never ever refill water. I adored this place the first year it was open, and I still love the food (it's really quite delicious) but the customer service is so bad that it's enough to make me never want to go again. The last time we considered eating there, we noticed multiple tables eating food without any drinks. As in, their glasses didn't even have ice in them -- no one had EVER gotten them water, even though they were already eating! There were at least 4 tables completely abandoned with not an employee in sight to bus the tables. We waited a few minutes to be seated -- and I would have waited a long time if I knew we'd be taken care of once we got a table, but it just isn't worth it at Little India. I just don't understand why they won't hire 1-2 more employees. The food is great, and I feel bad for the employees that do work there and have to keep up with so much. But I always leave so frustrated and disappointed in how much money I spent - and I am always happy to spend money on a great meal. That's how bad their customer service is.
(4)James A.
Outstanding food!!!! The owners are super nice and will happily explain anything about the food to you. I bring my family here and the owners always come to talk to us and our kids. They don't "glare" at you; they ensure that your drinks are always filled. The lunch buffet is the best deal in Charleston. I highly recommend this restaurant!
(5)Zach R.
I loved Little India. I am originally from Charleston but moved to Columbus about a year ago. I went back and really enjoyed it! Family owned and very great food. I recommend the Lamb Korma :)
(5)Mark D.
THE WORST INDIAN RESTAURANT I HAVE EVER BEEN TO!!!! The food is horrendous. The spices are completely wrong, savory dishes are sweet, some are unbelievably spicy and inedible. The owner walks around glaring at you. The floors haven't been cleaned in years and your feet stick to them. Stay away at all costs. You would be better off eating at McDonalds.
(1)Rahul R.
I see a lot of good reviews and hope that other people had a better Experience than I did. The food was bad, flavor less and downright crappy. Adding tomato purée cream and red chilli powder doesn't make a tikka masala. Every item we ordered tasted very similar and boring. I could at best categorize this as a run of the mill Indian restaurants fleecing people who haven't had authentic Indian food experience.
(1)Jessica T.
Had an early Monday evening dinner here with a friend. It was my first time in Charleston and hence, my first time at Little India. I must admit, I was leery of finding good Indian food in WV, but this place knocked my socks off!! The owners served us personally and were so kind and attentive. I can't have much dairy, but at the wife's suggestion, I was quickly provided with a freshly made glass of mango juice instead of the traditional lassi. Divine! I had the chicken biryani and my friend had the chicken curry. Both were on par with my favorite Indian restaurant in NYC. I told the wife this, and she proudly said, "Oh, this is our backup chef. Our main chef doesn't work on Mondays!" I can't imagine the food getting any better! The husband recommended the variety bread basket as our naan selection. It was fabulous - three kinds - about 4 times more than we could eat - perfectly made. If you are new to Indian, you will be taken care of very well. The husband even explained each chutney and it's flavors, ingredients, and health benefits! The decor is nicely done for what you might expect in this area. This place would get 5 stars if it were in a fancier location/building - but trust me, you are coming here for the food and the service! You will have leftovers, too! The next time I'm in Charleston, I won't even bother looking up another place for my first dinner there!
(4)Ravi I.
I have noticed a positive change within the last few months. The biriyani was excellent.
(4)Sean H.
Best lunch meal I have had in Charleston. I am here for business frequently. For a vegetarian you cannot do better. Service was great. Owners (look like husband and wife) are on site, attentive, and courteous. When I asked about vegetarian dishes on the lunch buffet (amazing deal and amazing food) I received a guided tour of the buffet with explanations on ingredients, etc. Decor will not blow you away, but if you care about quality, well-made food this is a must-try
(5)Shery S.
This place is fantastic in so many ways. Firstly, the wait staff, although some a little more dim-witted than others, seems to be really well managed. We had great service. Secondly, the food is just downright outstanding. A rack of lamb chops and some chicken... I forget what kind. Both were just to die for. I normally don't take home leftovers, but I made sure to bring this all home, and went so far as to actually eat it the next day! The owners of the restaurant were pleasant and genuinely concerned with whether we enjoyed ourselves. Price isn't too terrible either. Basically, I give it 4 stars because I rarely ever give 5 stars to anything. But I really do love this place.
(4)Roy H.
Having visited the lunch buffet several times, I was impressed with the consistency and tastiness of the dishes. Day-to-day there is some rotation of dishes to keep things fresh. The spice level is generally pretty mild. I would recommend going on a weekday, the weekend buffet is more expensive without adding much.
(5)Franklin D.
Really enjoyed eating here.... stopped in Charleston just long enough to have lunch and of course fired up Yelp mobile app which guided us to this place. My only regret is we missed the buffet hours =] Got a basket of naan, which came with potato, plain, garlic (and maybe one other kind?), tasted great. They got my kids to eat garlic, WOW. Lamb vindaloo was delicious... i ordered it "Indian Hot" and yes, it was very nice and hot (oven heat as well as spices). Wifey got the chicken tikka masaala, also delicious and not too spicy at all. Got a nice side of basmati rice with it, more food than we could eat. It's not on the menu, but the very friendly wait staff clued us in to the "nuggets & fries" option for the kids who don;t eat curry yet. Can't quite bring myself to give it five stars tho. The tiny gnats in the dining room and odd mildew smells around the building were off-putting in spite of the great service and excellent food. Lots of unsecured wi-fi AP's in the area for you to hook your phone too ;)
(4)Vasilia S.
When it's good, it's good.. when it's bad, it's bad. I have a background in the service industry, so maybe my standards are high, but I am almost always let down when it comes to the service here. It is slow, which I am okay with as long as the server tends to check in and communicate with us. Crappy service I can get over, especially when the food rules, but the inconsistency in levels of heat has become a total let down, repeatedly. I really want this place to thrive (and it is) so we continue to eat at Little India because we support the fine folks who chose to start this local business on Charlestons East End.
(3)Clay O.
Me and my wife came to eat dinner and we order ch pakora as appetizer it's took as 20 minutes to make pakora . We asked with the waiter he told us 5 minutes then again 5 minutes . I really wanna give negetive star .!!!
(1)Rebecca G.
This is another place to practice patience, which I've noticed is a theme in Charleston. Therefore, I wont take a star off for that. They seem to be rotating wait staff, & the owners(?) who fill in, have trouble breaking through the ambiance with their thick accents. That's what I call authentic. So, shove it, Dixie. If you want to be impressed by a traditional, non- "Americanized" dish, Try the chicken Xiacutti. It's very flavorful & not too spicy for what you're in for! Also, Don't be so harsh on the rice, folks! That's how you'd get it in India.
(4)Alvin J.
Hate to right negative reviews on a place that has great food but they had too many flies buzzing around the restaurant, which evokes bad images of "Kitchen Nightmares," when Ramsey finds a restaurant with poor food storage and maintenance causing a pest problem. Love Indian food though, had the Chicken Mahkni with some garlic naan. Hit the spot, and it would have been a good experience if not for the annoying flies.
(2)Arvind R.
We stepped into this hotel at 840 pm, thought we will just get some left over food. But what we got was amazing.. Amazing food, great tea and food hospitality. We liked the way harish connected with us..i think it is a perfect example of how personalization drives customer experience. Surely will come again here
(5)Jay B.
WOW first try at Indian Food. Went after reading other yelp reviews. Through the door we met a nice lady we later determined was one of the owners she was super. This is a buffet style place. We had explained that it was our first venture into Indian food and after being seated, she came to the bar and gave us a short tour of the types of food and how they were prepared and in what combinati. In short the food was great, service even better. Love it we'll be back.
(4)Mr W.
Def good food, went for the buffet and I can say I was impressed, better than I expected, the décor is a bit dated, but what can you expect it's Charleston. One day we'll catch up with the present. Until then the food here will keep your belly warm and full. A def try...
(4)Weizhi R.
I had lunch buffet a couple of times here. The food is decent. I love Indian bread which goes very well with curries. Mango lassi is a must if you haven't tried it yet.
(4)Hari S.
Best service and really tasty indian food. Do try the idles and chicken tikka masala...
(5)Tru P.
One of my favorite Indian experiences, the staff was very friendly and while the resturant was quite, the decor was nice and the food....OUTSTANDING!!
(4)Rick T.
I went here for lunch and was disappointed to find a buffet because I assumed the food would be of lesser quality. But I have to say that everything was fresh, well prepared and very delicious. I plan to go back for dinner and check out the upstairs space, with belly dancers on certain nights and other musical entertainment.
(4)Khon T.
Food was great and so was the price. I really liked the tandoori chicken and the Tina masala. Atmosphere is alright... A little dark in my opinion. Great Indian lunch buffet overall.
(4)Christina D.
Stopped in for lunch after driving by and spotting this charming little place. The buffet was excellent and the staff was very attentive!
(5)Sneha V.
We went in on a Sunday lunch buffet on our way back home to Louisville from Washington D.C. The food was OK. It wasn't bad but I did not feel great. Most of the dishes were a little sweet even the plain basmati rice.! This is not acceptable for an Indian restaurant.! Food is supposed to be flavourful and spicy here. It is OK if it is of medium spice level but sweet?? However, I loved the veg dishes.! Sambar, beans side dish and greens curry tasted wonderful.! But then again the sweet rice spoilt the taste of it.. :( I will give a 5 star for the veg curries. Rest is just average.. 3.5 stars..
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