I am gonna keep it short. Non vegetarians, Try chicken kalamiri (medium spicy*) here. The curry tastes yummm!! A bit on the creamy side. But the flavor is very different from the usual indian chicken curry or kalamiri. Vegetarians - do not order anything spicy. Their spicy food seem to be hot but lacks flavor and taste. *as per your taste
(4)
Sarah V.
My husband and I recently dined at Namaste using a Groupon deal, and I am happy to say it was a great find. The restaurant was clean and cozy, our servers were attentive and helpful, and the food was well worth the price. I had the Shangri-La Mixed Grill, he had Chicken Tikka Masala, and we shared some garlic naan. My favorites from the meal were the tandoori shrimp, the lamb boti kebab, and the dal that came with my entree. The shrimp were large and flavorful, the lamb was cooked perfectly, and the dal was the best I've ever had. My husband enjoyed his meal as well. The portions were very generous, so we had enough for lunch the following day (good leftovers!). The only thing I wasn't super thrilled about was the naan- the garlic was unevenly distributed and it could have used a bit more salt. Other than that, it was a great meal. We are looking forward to returning to explore the menu!
(4)
Katy F.
I've come here a few times (5 or so) and each visit has been a wonderful culinary trip to South Asia. I have enjoyed many dishes but here are a few of my favorites: mixed appetizer, baigan bharta (eggplant in spices), shrimp rangoon (shrimp in tomato sauce) and lasuni salmon (smoked salmon in bell pepper garlic sauce). I also like getting some garlic naan in addition to the basmati rice to mop up the yummy sauces. The dishes can be ordered on a scale of mild to extra spicy. I usually go for medium or spicy. Spicy is definitely spicy! Portions are large and worth every penny. Service is usually decent but sometimes lacking. Ambiance is pleasant. I can't wait for my next visit!
(4)
Pratik G.
Nice restaurant to fill Indian appetite out in the wild Ambiance : Bit smaller, but thankfully tables were not densely put Service : We arrived at 9 pm and was denied the entry even though restaurant is open till 9:30 pm. So much for the professionalism. We did manage to convince them to get us the quick take-out. We returned few days later, and finally could eat with restaurant's silverware :) service was reasonable otherwise Food : Delicious ! Only reason to bump up the stars. Everything we ordered (Paneer lababdar, Daal tadka, Rangoon kofta) was amazing. Note that Entree is served with big bowl of rice. Quantity was huge. We loved it Price : As it goes with any Alaskan restaurant, prices are on higher side. If you are fond of Indian cuisine in Alaska, this is amazing little gem.
(4)
Megan C.
When my pregnant friend said she was craving Indian food for dinner what could I say? I dreaded it but kept my chin up and went for it. Namaste was amazing! The area to wait for tables is tiny, as is the restaurant, and it took about 20 minutes to get a table. No big deal. The staff was friendly although a bit stressed by the rush they were dealing with. While the food took forever (an hour!!) to get to us, the wait really was worth it. My chicken tikka was fantastic, naan was to die for, and a superb rice pudding dessert. I would absolutely recommend Namaste, but warn to be prepared for a wait.
(5)
Jessi B.
Smelled amazing the second I walked in the door. Everything is made to order, service is efficient, absolutely wonderful food. Definitely will be going here again!!!
(5)
Curtis K.
I don't just throw around 5 star ratings on Yelp. Seeing them lined up like that right now gives me anxiety. But I have to do it. And Here's why: Of all of the restaurants in Anchorage I've been to, and I eat out way too much, I've eaten more meals here than anywhere else. That gets a star in itself The food is fantastic. I've tried almost everything and have never been disappointed. Lamb Saag is a go-to of mine, and the Tikka Marsala that should be used as a baramoter to compare across Indian/Nepalese/Related type restaurants is great. Another star The servers and staff are very nice. Go later in the evening when it's slower and you may get a free chai, just to try. And a refill. Star. Lastly,they are extremely generous with the groupon offerings. star and star. Hop on the app, buy a groupon and then take a date. Order some things you might not normally order, the portions are plenty large to share. Definitely get some nan, and have fun with it.
(5)
Dee S.
Taste - The food did not taste fresh. We ordered roti, panner masala and baigan barta, samosa, veg biryani and soup. Time - They took 30 min to serve us dinner. Cost - Expensive. Thali costs $ 20. Our meal costed us $75.
(2)
Andrew H.
Seems most everyone in town prefers this place to the other two Indian establishments (Bombay Deluxe, Yak and Yeti), I am not one of them. Two main reasons: 1) Lack of heat. 2) Prices. I ordered the lamb vindaloo for lunch. I got it because it came with a "HOT" warning. I then requested it to be made at the highest spice level they could. It was mild. It tasted more like tomatoes than anything else. Now, I realized that not everyone has a palate like mine, but when the menu explicitly singles out a dish for being hot...it should be hot. And it set me back $16. That's a mighty expensive lunch. There were lunch specials for much cheaper but it didn't look like they came with much. They did NOT come with naan. Seriously? No naan in a lunch special? The options were also very limited. No vindaloo option. If my extra hot vindaloo was so mild, I can't imagine how bland the lunch specials must be. For lunch, I'd much rather grab a quick bowl at Y&Y for around 10, or just go whole-hog and get the buffet at Bombay for about 13.
(2)
Elle A.
I had a groupon for this place. It was the carry out one. I was disappointed with my experience. We ended up with stuff we did not order and of course got charged for. When the woman gave me my total, I thought that was the total before my groupon and so I gave her my groupon and form of payment... The total was including the groupon! We did call in our order, so maybe there was a misunderstanding but I don't see how there was a misunderstanding on ordering dessert, soup, and an appetizer I didn't want... Undecided if I'll try this place again.
(2)
Priyanshu J.
In 1-word, Excellent food. We had to wait about 20 mins since it was full when we arrived though the lady who takes care of literally everything was very apologetic about it. We ordered Garlic Naan, Chicken Tikka Masala and Chicken Kadhai and weren't disappointed at all. Beware of asking for Spicy stuff since they really mean "Spicy" when you say 5. Food took about 15 mins to arrive but was excellent.
(5)
J I.
This place is amazing plain and simple. Great food, good portions, a little pricey but worth it. If you don't know what to order ask and they'll give you great recommendations based on your taste and willingness to explore new things.
(4)
Venkat V.
I visited Anchorage from Bay area. So I am used to some of the best Indian food. When I was in Anchorage I was looking for some good Indian restaurant and bumped into Namaste Shangri-la via yelp. We were greeted inside by a lady in the restaurant. It is a small well maintained restaurant with some Himalaya bamboo flute music playing in the background. The food was really good and the people working here are very nice. I had the masala chai (unlimited refills), canoe potato and vegetable biriyani. Everything was really awesome. We took the vegetable biriyani as a take out and had it in Severn Glaciers at about 3000 ft altitude :). Great experience and try that as well.
(5)
Joban M.
Wonderful food! We were late and they stayed open for us to pick food from them. The chicken makhanj and paneer lababdaar were excellent. The Lasooni salmon was too spicy (we asked for spicy but it was just too hot to eat ). The naan was below par as well. But the courtesy and good entre dishes make me give them 4 stars!
(4)
Joanna N.
Service is mediocre but not the worst. We ordered the vegetable pakora as an appetizer and it was terrible. It was burned on the outside and mushy on the inside. For our dinner we ordered chicken curry and chicken tikka masala, both were good...not the best but pretty good for Anchorage. The naan was pretty good too, both plain and garlic. I'll come back simply because I love Indian food and this is the only decent place in town.
(3)
Michelle S.
Very helpful waitress and ordered the best vegetarian dish! Will come back again, with our without a groupon!
(5)
Rajesh W.
We, a family of 6, stopped by for lunch on our way to the airport. The food and service was awesome. Chole (chickpeas) is a common dish, generally speaking, but was well-made. Lamb-curry and chicken tikka was good as well. We are not local otherwise this would have become our go-to place.
(5)
Krystal O.
Cozy environment, perfect for a date night or special event. Food is great. Prices are a wee bit high, but thats everywhere in Anchorage. I took my mother and my cousin out to Indian food as they had never been before. At first they were a little hesitant and had no idea what to order...which is not abnormal on your first visit to an Indian restaurant. I ordered two orders of chicken tikki masala, vegetable samosas (Comes with 2), and garlic naan. The vegetable samosas were not as good as others that I have had, they could use a bit more curry powder in my opinion. The chicken tikki masala and garlic naan, on the other hand, were divine! My mom and cousin literally could not stop spooning the delicious sauce onto the rice. They even expressed that they would bring all of their friends to this restaurant. I would also highly recommend it! The dining area is not very large, but it is cozy and offers both small and large tables. They had no problem accommodating the three of us, even during the dinner rush. The wait staff was extremely observant and personable. They even offered to take a photo of us while seeing us struggle with the selfie. Solid Indian food. Will totally go back.
(4)
Shrenik D.
Great tasting food and a very pleasant staff.
(4)
Amanda M.
Echoing other reviews who say the service is slow and inattentive. The server was extremely nice but when we ran out of water before our entree arrived she asked if we would like more. Umm yeah obviously? Then she never brought it and we had to ask again. The food was good. The masala sauce was good and my husband enjoyed the chicken makhani. The garlic naan was a bit flavorless.
(3)
Doe R.
Good food and service. Roties were too thick though- overall simple and comparitively less oily Indian food.
(4)
Ruby C.
Hands down best Indian food in Anchorage. In all honesty, restaurants in alaska pale compared to other major cities but Namaste surprised me and I just keep going back. Incredible food, friendly and warm service and environment, and reasonable pricing. A real gem!
(5)
Akshay P.
Highly recommend this place for anyone looking for Indian food. We had the Malai Kofta, Naans, Tandoori Roti, Tadka Dal, Rice & Kulfi. Everything was yummy. Tip: If you have the Northern Light Coupon book, make sure to use the $10 off (or similar) coupon from the book! :)
(5)
Jenni R.
Food was amazing. Sorry it took so long to check it out! My tandoori chicken was moist and the aroma was enough to make me dive right in! Wasn't disappointed. The only negative was that there weren't enough seats for everyone who planned to eat in. Not recommended if you're on a time schedule, as everything is cooked fresh to order so just relax and enjoy an extended mealtime.
(5)
Nasha W.
I must say we had a deeelightful dinner experience. The food was absolutely delicious. This restaurant is small and quaint and at first ackwardly quiet but I am so glad we ate here. My husband and I were saying how this is probably ly the best meal we have had in Anchorage. The restaurant itself is nothing remarkable, it smells of curry, it's warm and has its little charms such as photographs of various landmarks and landscapes. This is definitely not the place to go if you're in a big hurry or if you are expecting top notch service. Honestly although our waiter was kind they did not once stop by our table to check on us. Instesd they seem quite busy preparing and serving deliciousness! Despite this, the food was so good that we were willing to overlook it. I ordered the Non-vegetarian Thali. I couldn't decide what to order so this was perfect because it had a little bit of everything. I had the Chicken Tikki Masala as my entree meat. It was flavorful and the temperature of our food was just right. We also ordered the bread basket and it was perfect for dipping in the sauces. The Daal (or lentils) I had were so delicious and had a hint of cilantro. The meat Samosa in my meal was nice and crunchy on the outside. Yum! Dinner was just wonderful. The flavors were delightfully delicious and not overpowering. If you're not sure what to order I definitely recommend a Thali. They have options for vegetarians and vegan as well. There was plenty of food and we even had extras to take with us. This place awakened our taste buds and we definitely look forward to trying more things on the menu.
(5)
Kiki S.
The best food, so delicious and large portions. I had the most adorable and gracious waitress, will definitely be coming back!
(5)
Lard Belly E.
I had a really great lunch here today. I love yak and yeti, but this spot is near my house so I will probably start coming here more often. I ordered the baigan bharta off the lunch menu, which is stewed eggplant. My friend ordered the chicken tikka masala, which was so good I went cross-eyed. We got a side of garlic naan to round the meal out. I loved my friend's dish so much that I will return for that specific item. Nice interior with decent service. I will say the prices per meal is ~$5 more than Yak and Yeti, though that tikka is worth it. Probably will come more often if I get a groupon like my friend did.
(4)
Jill L.
Wow! Amazing place for Indian food...way better than yak and yeti! I had the tandoori chicken tikka and it was phenomenal.. My boyfriend had the chicken curry and his friend had the goat curry. All of them were absolutely delicious, and the naan was also fresh made, warm, fluffy and delicious. I cannot say enough how much I loved this place! I will definitely be back.
(5)
Anand S.
Been here twice but was disappointed that I couldn't have a meal here. First day (Monday) we were at the restaurant at 9:00 pm but we were turned down saying the kitchen is closed. The next day we were at the restaurant at 8:30 and the restaurant wasn't open. Please update yelp profile.
(1)
Sean G.
This place is great! The food is amazing great service! I asked for some help and what they recommended was amazing. I will be back and I will post what I got!
(4)
Rachel S.
The food here is really good and tasted like authentic Indian food to me... The place is very simple and a bit run down, but not too bad. Very casual.. The food was delicious and came out hot and in a timely manner. The waitresses were polite. I thought it was over priced... We ordered lamb tika masala, chicken korma, some tiny pickled veggie dish, the bread basket and a salmon appetizer and it was $55. Luckily we had a groupon :) do not order the bread basket bc it's just way too much naan, I think garlic, cheese or plain is your best bet!
(3)
Nikhil B.
Horrible service. 0 stars. They close at 2:30 pm. We reached at 1:50 pm and they refused to even open the front door. They could see that we had 2 toddlers with us but they still refused to let us in.
(1)
Angela D.
Great food! Don't go when you are in a hurry they have to prepare the meal but it is with the wait!
(4)
Jenna C.
So much delicious flavor!!! The only drawback was that it's pretty spendy. $15.95 for a lunch special.
(5)
Maria A.
Oh my friends, you are in for a treat!!! What on earth brought these lovely Nepalese couple to Alaska will forever puzzle me. But I will forever be thankful to the powers from above that they did so!! Everything and I mean everything is homemade daily. Yes they cook up a storm in the kitchen, yes back there, where that amazing smell comes from. Naan, fresh, the lassi ... Home made... The people are super nice. The owner lady is just a gem . This has become one of our to go places, where the food and welcoming faces make you feel like you are in India!!! Btw they can get really busy, they don't take reservations, they turn tables fairly fast, but I assure you any wait is worth it!
(5)
S Z.
Food is tasty, but the service is far from satisfactory. I've have only placed phone orders, but more often than not the service was terrible. The first time I placed a phone order, I was told that my order would be ready in 20 minutes, I waited 35 to show up, once I was there I was told that their card machine hasn't worked all day. After that they told me that I could leave my card number and they would run it once the machine was working again. So I got cash, and then waited another hour for my food. The next time I went, I waited for my order for another hour. Then this last time I placed another phone order, when I went to pick it up they didn't have my order correct, but I had to pay for all of the food that I didn't order.
(2)
Kirsty S.
Have been wanting to try this place for a while and finally got a chance to go for lunch. I had the vegetarian lunch special with a side of garlic naan and chutney. Amazing! Will definitely make this a regular lunch spot.
(5)
Cheng-Wei L.
The service was awful. It took the waiter literally 20 mins to bring over the water and the store seems to be under staffed. I had the lamb curry whose meat was unevenly cooked. I found some pieces that are okay but some are really over cooked. The garlic nan needs more flavor as well.
(2)
Katie K.
This used to be one of my favorite places in town. But it seems that each time I go, the food quality decreases. I always get the Lamb Vindaloo. When I first started going, they never asked how spicy you wanted it. The description says "fiery". It used to be so hot I could barely make it through the meal (that is a good thing). But then suddenly, they started asking about the spice level, and now it's a disappointment every time. Today I got it hot, but it was barely at a medium level. Naan was undercooked. Service was slow. We waited for probably 15 minutes for them to take our order, with only two other tables. I made eye contact with the server a handful of times, and each time she walked the other direction. Very disappointing.
(2)
Chereece W.
I ordered the shrimp rangoon appetizer and fish curry. Both were excellent! They have options for spiciness from mild, medium, and hot. I chose mild, which was very mild, but I'll probably get medium next time. Yup there will definitely be a next time since it was so good. I definitely recommend this place. I ordered take out so I don't know about the service, but the take out was packaged well with large portions. Try this place!
(5)
Justina Y.
I came with my boyfriend a few weeks back, and it was our first time eating Indian cuisine. We didn't know what to expect of the food and how it would or should taste. The wait time from ordering to being served was not long, however, our food was not hot when it was served. The seasoning of our food was hit and miss, my tandoori chicken had no flavor and the meat was rather dry, while his fried rice was rather fragrant and again dry. We ordered a side of naan bread but had it taken away and replaced because we had received another table's dish. The one thing we were glad about was that the restaurant didn't reek of incense.
(2)
Bethany T.
I have NEVER had a bad experience at Namaste. Which is saying a lot coming from me as I have incredibly high standards as far as dining goes. I typically visit Namaste during what one would consider peak time (11:30-1) and am usually with a friend from work. We have never had a problem, no matter the time, in being seated quickly and invariably we end up being able to choose where we want to sit. As far as the food goes, we have pretty much tried everything on the menu and have never had any bad dishes. Our favorite is the ever popular Chicken Tikka Masala and the Alu Govi with a side of either plain or garlic naan. Everything is delicious, cooked to perfection and is brought to our table in a timely manner. The servers are sweet and are hot on refilling our water glasses or our mugs of chai (which if you haven't tried it before, I highly suggest it). Although the prices were raised recently the food and the size of the servings make it worth it. Not to mention quite a few times we were low on rice and chai and the servers asked if we wanted more rice to take home and if we wanted a to go cup (topped off) for our chai. Simply put, if you haven't been to Namaste, you are missing out.
(5)
John K.
A bit pricey, but decent food...customer service is average, nothing spectacular but one reason why I like this place is because when they say spicy...it means SPICY. I was affected by the second hottest choice, and I can eat spicy. I would go back because it's close to my house, but not a regular.
(3)
bubba a.
Unfortunately I didn't have a good first experience here. Perhaps it was the fact that I ordered a to-go lunch too early (11:30am), but the rice was not completely cooked through. I'd say 70% cooked. And the dal Tadka (lentil soup) was a little watery and the flavor wasn't anything extraordinary. On a good note, the service was very prompt and friendly. And the restaurant appeared to be very clean. Until I head back to Hong Kong for some killer Nepalis/Indian food, I'll be eating at Bombay.
(2)
Mary Y.
The staff was courteous and efficient. The vegetarian plate was scrumptious. The combination was excellent. I also ordered garlic naan which was served hot with just the right amount of melted butter, delicious. The Indian music added to an otherwise clean but unremarkably atmosphere. I highly recommend Namaste and plan on returning soon.
(4)
S E.
I really wanted to like this place considering the generally positive reviews but after one dinner here, I definitely will not be back. Dined here on a Wednesday and they were out of chutney and chai tea. Those are pretty basic items for a Himalayan/Nepalese restaurant so to have neither was disappointing. We ordered another kind of tea and my wife and I were never offered a refill. Seriously, they charge $3 for a cup of tea and do not offer a refill. I ordered a mushroom dish from the dinner special and what I got was literally 6 cooked mushrooms and two small dipping sauces. Hardly "meal" worthy for $14. Should have been labeled an appetizer and should have cost closer to $5. The restaurant was not busy but the server stopped by the table only once when we were clearly finished and asked if we wanted more rice. No checkup during the meal and as I said, no offer to refill the tea. The other annoying part of the meal was we were at a small 2-person table and the server never stopped by to remove the empty plates during the meal. Not sure if it's a cultural thing or what but with a bread order, tea, water, some dipping sauces and several other plates for the meals we ordered, there wasn't a lot of room on the table. So to not be kind enough to remove the used dinnerware was inconvenient and inconsiderate. Perhaps others have had a better experience at this restaurant but I will not be back. Yak and Yeti will get my business from now on.
(1)
Ann B.
If this wasn't seemingly the only place in Anchorage to get decent Indian/Nepalese/Himalayan food, I would probably give them a 3. I typically always get the chicken makhani. It seems every time I go in, the recipe changes ever so slightly. It's rich, aromatic and as long as they don't add too much cream, absolutely delicious. The lamb vindaloo is wonderful, as well as the baingan ki chutney (eggplant mash). Be careful when you tell them you want spicy - they typically don't hold back. I have also tried the appetizers paneer shashlik, pakora, dal lentil and they all have wonderfully exotic flavors and hit the spot. I am generally quite happy every time I leave here - the waitstaff is kind and prompt. My only complaint is the portions are rather small and the food expensive. But, when I get an Indian craving this is hands down where I go. Maybe one day they will get a beer and wine license so I can play around with pairing...
(4)
Andy W.
Food make is good eat out and taste like nice food and makes taste good in mouth when I at it.
(5)
John O.
Solid 4 star establishment. My friend raved about this place, saying how great it was, and how much better it was than Yak and Yeti. I had to try. The food here is solid -- comes out hot and tastes good. I ordered Lamb Vindaloo -- Lamb cooked in a fiery hot vinegar sauce with Indian spices -- for $14.95 and my friend ordered a curry dish (Chicken Kalimiri). Both were very good. Rice can be ordered for a few bucks. The service was slightly above average. There is not much in terms of ambiance here -- consistent with most restaurants in Anchorage. Expect to pay about $40 for two w/o drinks. All in all, you will get a solid meal here at a reasonable price (relatively speaking for Anchorage). I would probably return.
(4)
Melanie K.
Talked my very anxious fast foodie roommate into trying a new genre of food (and the fact that it could actually be considered food if it didn't have meat in it). Thank heavens for this place!!! We had a wonderful time, great welcoming helpful service, and every bite was what my roommate now fondly refers to as "food sex"!!
(5)
Steve And Lindsay F.
The restaurant owner was nice and helped me choose from an array of menu items that are gluten/lactose free. The meal was delicious and we got a lot of food to eat. I would recommend this restaurant.
(5)
Christopher I.
Namaste Shangrila was well reviewed on Yelp, and so decided to take my girlfriend out to dinner there. Nice atmosphere, friendly staff, though they barely speak english, which makes ordering difficult - but fun. Meal portions are VERY small for the price. I would rate this $$$, at least! I ordered the Rangoon Shrimp Entree, which consisted of 5 small shrimp in sauce; $15 !!! It was however, delicious. I'd recommend each person get an appetizer and entree, if you are hungry. You'll probably want desert too. Therefore, expect around $25+ per person for a mildly filling meal. Don't miss Saipatri kulfi (Indian Traditional Ice Cream!)
(3)
David R.
Food is good. Tried the Chicken Tika (not Marsala), the curry, and Chicken Kalamari (not seafood). The food was good, worth trying a little of everything, but the portions aren't very big given the price. Don't plan on leftovers. Otherwise, I have no complaints, and would definitely recommend.
(4)
Lisa D.
Love this restaurant! No sure if it's authentic or not because I've never been to Nepal. But it is delicious to me!!
(5)
B W.
Finally got around to using our groupon and we were impressed! Service was extremely friendly. My husband had the (tikka?) sampler and I had the chicken makhani- both were yummy, though I preferred my chicken with its delicious sauce over my rice (and naan, of course). We also tried the fruit punch- meh, it was okay. $3.99 for blended watermelon? The food was the perfect amount, we did take home some leftovers, but only enough for a quick snack. Prices were comparable to Bombay Deluxe.
(4)
Laura B.
Not such a fan. I like both the Yak and the Yeti and Bombay Deluxe over this place. As mentioned in other reviews, the portions were small for what you received. My friend and I order three entrees for lunch to try more options. We managed to finish all three and I had dessert and a lassi. I can barely manage one entree and a couple bites of dessert at other restaurants. And the $26 for lunch was way steep. I wouldn't have minded the small portions if the prices would have reflected it. We had two lamb dishes and a lentil dish. Both lamb dishes were ok, but too bland. I was unimpressed with the lentils. The kheer for dessert was also a disappointment. The service was fine. There were only four tables occupied the whole time we spent there, so that wasn't much of a challenge. I'm glad I went if only to know that going to the other two places from now on is the best choice.
(1)
Aravinth S.
Amazing food. It would be great if they could do delivery. Dal and chicken is my favorite here and I would recommend this place if you are looking for good Indian food.
(5)
Carol G.
When I first arrived in Anchorage for the weekend, I needed some vegan nourishment. I did a quick Yelp search and found Namaste Shangrila and headed over. The restaurant is small but plenty of seating was to be had since I was the first customer of the morning. After explaining I was eating vegan, the waitress directed me to what was or could be made vegan on the menu. I ordered the vegetable pakora as an appetizer and the chana pindi lunch special which came with rice, dal, and a salad. The service was excellent. I am not one to be rushed and they let me enjoy my beverage and meal at my own pace. My water glass was always full which was important having just flown into town. The pakora was burnt on the edges which ruined the flavor just a bit and was a little greasy. However the flavor with the provided sauces was delicious! The dal was a little more watery than I would have expected but it had excellent flavor. The rice was perfectly cooked and the chana pindi was delicious! I had way too much food and got an additional meal and a snack out of the order. I only wish I lived closer!
(4)
Pervez N.
I love this place. Every time I'm in Anchorage I have to go here and carryout or dine-in. I often go back-to-back for days at a time. Just can't get enough. I almost always get the lamb Vindaloo, its very delicious. Reminds me of my mom's homemade goat curry. The lamb is very tender and flavorful. The sauce is hot but sweet at the same time. The potatoes throughout the dish are soft and melt in your mouth. A spicy dish, I've yet to ask for extra hot because it's just right for my taste buds. The white basmati type rice reduces the spiciness of the dish and completes it. I almost always order a garlic naan as a side item. I definitely recommend this place. The people are thoughtful and very nice.
(5)
Margaret N.
I recently discovered this place. Very good food and nice quiet ambiance. The service is prompt. If you are looking for something different, give this place a try.
(4)
Benjamin H.
This is my favorite Indian restaurant in Anchorage. Very nice staff, pleasant and clean atmosphere, and a nice menu. My favorite dish is the Potato Canoe dish on the vegetarian menu. I would like to see more paneer dishes, at least ones that were vegetarian. It would also be nice to have some vegetable samosas but I think there is a regional reason for that. The prices are somewhat high for the amount of food you get. I almost never have left overs. The fruit drinks are amazing but also expensive. The nan is great. We eat out here once a month at least.
(4)
Jerry M.
I was invited to eat here with a friend. He is a vegetarian, I am not. I was pleased he was pleased. I wish they were located closer to my house. This review is going off of memory from a week ago. So things that I liked and would order again are: The hot tea with citrus- very refreshing and calming. The fried okra appetizer as spicy hot as you want it so be careful what you really want. Curry fish - A great white fish (not over cooked) in a wonderful curry served with rice. Fruit Punch - made only with fruit and blended - served cold and helps with the spicy heat. Dessert - tasted three of four offered. Preferred the carrot/apricot almost like a pudding, served hot. Great tasting and good for you. They are open for dinners and lunches. Web-site is coming soon. Also delivery is in the works. So if this can make me drive on Tudor Road via Lake Otis... It really, really must be good. So here is another positive Yelp.
(4)
Molly H.
I was excited to hear of a restaurant in town with a variety of vegetarian dishes, so my friend and I stopped in as soon as we could. Our first impression was good- it was very clean and well lit, and the colors were bright and friendly. We were greeted with an enthusiastic smile, and we were ushered to a sparkling glass top table decorated with fresh carnations. The menu had something for everyone, vegetarian and omnivorous. The prices were not off-putting with most entrees ringing in under ten dollars. We started with the fruit punch to drink, which in itself will keep me coming back again and again. It's a smoothie/punch hybrid which tasted much like liquid watermelon. Very refreshing! In hindsight, we could have easily saved that for desert, but it was good to have during some of the spicier dishes to cool the palette. My friend and I ordered Vegetable Pakora and the Veg Thali plate. We worried at first that it wasn't enough food, but it ended up being just right. We both left extremely full and satisfied but didn't take home any leftovers. The service was attentive and friendly and the food was delicious. I know I'll be frequenting!
(5)
Josh S.
Not impressed with this place. ordered the butter chicken and a lamb dish and it was very bland. Dont think either dish was marinaded at all. Dont think I will be back...
(2)
Gregory R.
Love their korma and the chai is the perfect remedy for the cold winters, I could nearly eat there everyday. When they have it, their mango "ice cream" is the BOMB, and the decor makes you forget you're in a strip mall! Great place to take a date, Namaste is another reason I'm as homesick for Alaska as I am.
(5)
Eileen N.
I've been going to Namaste Shangri-la for years, but when I went this week, I learned there has been a new owner the past month. The food was not nearly so good, and I was stunned to learn that they would not honor a gift certificate I was given a few months ago. I have taken this restaurant off my list of places to eat.
(2)
John Z.
Still all-good. One of my favorite places to go in Anchorage. I cannot refute other's statements that you don't get a ton of food for the price and the odds of having leftovers are slim, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. My only wish remains that they come up with a decadent veggie entree instead of all the veggie stuff being (relatively) healthy.
(5)
Kim D.
This is a cute place, but the food did not quite deliver the flavor punch that I was hoping for. My dish seemed like a watered down version of something that would be really good. Maybe I just got it on an off night, but I think I am really going to have to be craving Indian before I come back.
(3)
Wolf X.
I ordered the saag paneer and an order of naan. It came out quickly and the food was pretty good. Namaste was also a bit on the pricey side for the portions. All in all, it was pretty good. The hours are reliable, which is a definite plus.
(4)
Jacob M.
After living in Fiji which has large offerings of Indian food I am always on the prowl for good India regional cuisine. Namaste didn't disappoint. We went for lunch and the lunch specials were great at around ten bucks. I had the eggplant and green pea chutney and it was awesome, right on par with some of my favorite restauraunts of the past. A good place defiantly worth another visit.
(4)
Kunal C.
Exceelent Indian food, best in Alaska cannot go wrong. THe owners are the servers and cook. Everything is made fresh to order and its not freezer food. you will absolutely love it. If you like your food spicey they do customize it accordingly. My wife is American and she absolutely finds this place the best indian restaurant she has ever eaten at. Do yourself good, go there!
(5)
Trey S.
My favorite part about this is the selection of (Non-alcoholic) drinks. In addition to the Miscellaneous teas,(which were all fantastic) they offer a house made punch made with seasonal fruits. The one i had was heavy on the melon, and contained a fair bit of pulp, which I loved. It also offered a beautiful contrast against the spicier, richer foods. The service is absolutely outstanding, and contrary to what other yelpers have said, they speak English better than most Alaskans I know. Everything I tried was dynamite and I will definitely be returning soon.
(5)
George C.
We liked their seasoning and special teas. However, the mixed grill meal we shared was over cooked and dry. The room was so cold the sauces congealed before we finished our dinner. Over all everything was way overpriced. Don't think we'll go back.
(2)
Jazz S.
Best Himalayan food so far! Service is on top of it, even in a packed room. There are about 2-3 servers that rotate through. My darjeeling tea was kept warm and full, as well as my water glass. I had the Chicken Tika Marsala with naan, it was tasty and the naan was soft. The atmosphere is quaint and casual, there was a business meeting going on when I was there, but they weren't too loud. The menu has a wide vegetarian selection and tandoori cooked meats. Each dish appears to come with rice, soup and salad. Combined it was more food than I could handle. The Darjeeling tea is second only to Yak and Yeti's; but their rice has a light-sweet flavor to it, which is a good compliment to the spice (it's not hot-spicy, but you can order it that way if you like) in the Marsala sauce.
(5)
ME M.
Great place to being vegetarians and omnivores. The staff is really nice and the food is consistently good. It's a small place, too, so you always can get someone's attention.
(5)
Linda S.
e.j. that is SO different from my experience, I think you must have been there on a really off night. I love love love Namaste but admit we mostly do take-out on a Friday night. They are MUCH faster than other Indian/Thai places on Fridays, and the food is so fresh, fragrant and tasty! We think their lamb vindaloo is the best in town by far (extra spicey). Not too vinagery, very tender meat and you can still taste the spices. Love the service - really nice family working very hard. They really deserve a lot more traffic than they seem to get. The only thing about them is the servings are smaller than other places, so we tend to order more dishes so we can have leftovers. Still costs less than most other comps in town, though.
(5)
Kal E.
Friendly staff & warm environment. While the food was tasty and had excellent ethnic sauces which is something hard to find in anchorage I did find the menu choices lacking in variety. Overall a good place to try if your hurting for something aside from pub food in AK.
(4)
Eric L.
I will preface this statement with we are im Alaska, but I have had some great food here. Definetly recommend this place as a tasty food establishment with great owner/workers and solid prices.
(4)
e J.
I had high hopes for this place but it just did not live up to my expectations. The space is nice, small but intimate, clean with good lighting, I could have done w/o the 80's rock. The wait staff consists of one very friendly Nepali man taking all the orders and doing all the serving. After ordering we waited 35 minutes before my spinach chick pea soup came out. Way too long for a appetizer but it was tasty. When our main courses finally came out I was disappointed. Both the palak paneer and egg plant dish were sooooo salty I could feel my blood pressure rising with every bite. If I wasn't starved from waiting 45 minutes for our food to come I would have sent them back. Now maybe this was just an off night but I didn't think I'll be back.
(2)
Zest A.
We were flying back home that day and wanted to have a good meal before the long flight. We decided to try some Himalayan food. The place was busy and clean. We had Lasuni Salmon, Lamb Vindaloo and Shrimp Yangoon. We expected the food to be great, as the reviews mentioned, but the food tasted just OK.
(3)
Patrick B.
Great flavors and great food. I had the lamb kabob (medium spice) which came with basmati rice. We also ordered some garlic naan. The staff was very nice. I definitely recommend if you are looking for this type of food! We will be back!
(4)
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Address :Frontier Park Plaza,2446 Tudor Rd
Anchorage, AK, 99507
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Sandeep N.
I am gonna keep it short. Non vegetarians, Try chicken kalamiri (medium spicy*) here. The curry tastes yummm!! A bit on the creamy side. But the flavor is very different from the usual indian chicken curry or kalamiri. Vegetarians - do not order anything spicy. Their spicy food seem to be hot but lacks flavor and taste. *as per your taste
(4)Sarah V.
My husband and I recently dined at Namaste using a Groupon deal, and I am happy to say it was a great find. The restaurant was clean and cozy, our servers were attentive and helpful, and the food was well worth the price. I had the Shangri-La Mixed Grill, he had Chicken Tikka Masala, and we shared some garlic naan. My favorites from the meal were the tandoori shrimp, the lamb boti kebab, and the dal that came with my entree. The shrimp were large and flavorful, the lamb was cooked perfectly, and the dal was the best I've ever had. My husband enjoyed his meal as well. The portions were very generous, so we had enough for lunch the following day (good leftovers!). The only thing I wasn't super thrilled about was the naan- the garlic was unevenly distributed and it could have used a bit more salt. Other than that, it was a great meal. We are looking forward to returning to explore the menu!
(4)Katy F.
I've come here a few times (5 or so) and each visit has been a wonderful culinary trip to South Asia. I have enjoyed many dishes but here are a few of my favorites: mixed appetizer, baigan bharta (eggplant in spices), shrimp rangoon (shrimp in tomato sauce) and lasuni salmon (smoked salmon in bell pepper garlic sauce). I also like getting some garlic naan in addition to the basmati rice to mop up the yummy sauces. The dishes can be ordered on a scale of mild to extra spicy. I usually go for medium or spicy. Spicy is definitely spicy! Portions are large and worth every penny. Service is usually decent but sometimes lacking. Ambiance is pleasant. I can't wait for my next visit!
(4)Pratik G.
Nice restaurant to fill Indian appetite out in the wild Ambiance : Bit smaller, but thankfully tables were not densely put Service : We arrived at 9 pm and was denied the entry even though restaurant is open till 9:30 pm. So much for the professionalism. We did manage to convince them to get us the quick take-out. We returned few days later, and finally could eat with restaurant's silverware :) service was reasonable otherwise Food : Delicious ! Only reason to bump up the stars. Everything we ordered (Paneer lababdar, Daal tadka, Rangoon kofta) was amazing. Note that Entree is served with big bowl of rice. Quantity was huge. We loved it Price : As it goes with any Alaskan restaurant, prices are on higher side. If you are fond of Indian cuisine in Alaska, this is amazing little gem.
(4)Megan C.
When my pregnant friend said she was craving Indian food for dinner what could I say? I dreaded it but kept my chin up and went for it. Namaste was amazing! The area to wait for tables is tiny, as is the restaurant, and it took about 20 minutes to get a table. No big deal. The staff was friendly although a bit stressed by the rush they were dealing with. While the food took forever (an hour!!) to get to us, the wait really was worth it. My chicken tikka was fantastic, naan was to die for, and a superb rice pudding dessert. I would absolutely recommend Namaste, but warn to be prepared for a wait.
(5)Jessi B.
Smelled amazing the second I walked in the door. Everything is made to order, service is efficient, absolutely wonderful food. Definitely will be going here again!!!
(5)Curtis K.
I don't just throw around 5 star ratings on Yelp. Seeing them lined up like that right now gives me anxiety. But I have to do it. And Here's why: Of all of the restaurants in Anchorage I've been to, and I eat out way too much, I've eaten more meals here than anywhere else. That gets a star in itself The food is fantastic. I've tried almost everything and have never been disappointed. Lamb Saag is a go-to of mine, and the Tikka Marsala that should be used as a baramoter to compare across Indian/Nepalese/Related type restaurants is great. Another star The servers and staff are very nice. Go later in the evening when it's slower and you may get a free chai, just to try. And a refill. Star. Lastly,they are extremely generous with the groupon offerings. star and star. Hop on the app, buy a groupon and then take a date. Order some things you might not normally order, the portions are plenty large to share. Definitely get some nan, and have fun with it.
(5)Dee S.
Taste - The food did not taste fresh. We ordered roti, panner masala and baigan barta, samosa, veg biryani and soup. Time - They took 30 min to serve us dinner. Cost - Expensive. Thali costs $ 20. Our meal costed us $75.
(2)Andrew H.
Seems most everyone in town prefers this place to the other two Indian establishments (Bombay Deluxe, Yak and Yeti), I am not one of them. Two main reasons: 1) Lack of heat. 2) Prices. I ordered the lamb vindaloo for lunch. I got it because it came with a "HOT" warning. I then requested it to be made at the highest spice level they could. It was mild. It tasted more like tomatoes than anything else. Now, I realized that not everyone has a palate like mine, but when the menu explicitly singles out a dish for being hot...it should be hot. And it set me back $16. That's a mighty expensive lunch. There were lunch specials for much cheaper but it didn't look like they came with much. They did NOT come with naan. Seriously? No naan in a lunch special? The options were also very limited. No vindaloo option. If my extra hot vindaloo was so mild, I can't imagine how bland the lunch specials must be. For lunch, I'd much rather grab a quick bowl at Y&Y for around 10, or just go whole-hog and get the buffet at Bombay for about 13.
(2)Elle A.
I had a groupon for this place. It was the carry out one. I was disappointed with my experience. We ended up with stuff we did not order and of course got charged for. When the woman gave me my total, I thought that was the total before my groupon and so I gave her my groupon and form of payment... The total was including the groupon! We did call in our order, so maybe there was a misunderstanding but I don't see how there was a misunderstanding on ordering dessert, soup, and an appetizer I didn't want... Undecided if I'll try this place again.
(2)Priyanshu J.
In 1-word, Excellent food. We had to wait about 20 mins since it was full when we arrived though the lady who takes care of literally everything was very apologetic about it. We ordered Garlic Naan, Chicken Tikka Masala and Chicken Kadhai and weren't disappointed at all. Beware of asking for Spicy stuff since they really mean "Spicy" when you say 5. Food took about 15 mins to arrive but was excellent.
(5)J I.
This place is amazing plain and simple. Great food, good portions, a little pricey but worth it. If you don't know what to order ask and they'll give you great recommendations based on your taste and willingness to explore new things.
(4)Venkat V.
I visited Anchorage from Bay area. So I am used to some of the best Indian food. When I was in Anchorage I was looking for some good Indian restaurant and bumped into Namaste Shangri-la via yelp. We were greeted inside by a lady in the restaurant. It is a small well maintained restaurant with some Himalaya bamboo flute music playing in the background. The food was really good and the people working here are very nice. I had the masala chai (unlimited refills), canoe potato and vegetable biriyani. Everything was really awesome. We took the vegetable biriyani as a take out and had it in Severn Glaciers at about 3000 ft altitude :). Great experience and try that as well.
(5)Joban M.
Wonderful food! We were late and they stayed open for us to pick food from them. The chicken makhanj and paneer lababdaar were excellent. The Lasooni salmon was too spicy (we asked for spicy but it was just too hot to eat ). The naan was below par as well. But the courtesy and good entre dishes make me give them 4 stars!
(4)Joanna N.
Service is mediocre but not the worst. We ordered the vegetable pakora as an appetizer and it was terrible. It was burned on the outside and mushy on the inside. For our dinner we ordered chicken curry and chicken tikka masala, both were good...not the best but pretty good for Anchorage. The naan was pretty good too, both plain and garlic. I'll come back simply because I love Indian food and this is the only decent place in town.
(3)Michelle S.
Very helpful waitress and ordered the best vegetarian dish! Will come back again, with our without a groupon!
(5)Rajesh W.
We, a family of 6, stopped by for lunch on our way to the airport. The food and service was awesome. Chole (chickpeas) is a common dish, generally speaking, but was well-made. Lamb-curry and chicken tikka was good as well. We are not local otherwise this would have become our go-to place.
(5)Krystal O.
Cozy environment, perfect for a date night or special event. Food is great. Prices are a wee bit high, but thats everywhere in Anchorage. I took my mother and my cousin out to Indian food as they had never been before. At first they were a little hesitant and had no idea what to order...which is not abnormal on your first visit to an Indian restaurant. I ordered two orders of chicken tikki masala, vegetable samosas (Comes with 2), and garlic naan. The vegetable samosas were not as good as others that I have had, they could use a bit more curry powder in my opinion. The chicken tikki masala and garlic naan, on the other hand, were divine! My mom and cousin literally could not stop spooning the delicious sauce onto the rice. They even expressed that they would bring all of their friends to this restaurant. I would also highly recommend it! The dining area is not very large, but it is cozy and offers both small and large tables. They had no problem accommodating the three of us, even during the dinner rush. The wait staff was extremely observant and personable. They even offered to take a photo of us while seeing us struggle with the selfie. Solid Indian food. Will totally go back.
(4)Shrenik D.
Great tasting food and a very pleasant staff.
(4)Amanda M.
Echoing other reviews who say the service is slow and inattentive. The server was extremely nice but when we ran out of water before our entree arrived she asked if we would like more. Umm yeah obviously? Then she never brought it and we had to ask again. The food was good. The masala sauce was good and my husband enjoyed the chicken makhani. The garlic naan was a bit flavorless.
(3)Doe R.
Good food and service. Roties were too thick though- overall simple and comparitively less oily Indian food.
(4)Ruby C.
Hands down best Indian food in Anchorage. In all honesty, restaurants in alaska pale compared to other major cities but Namaste surprised me and I just keep going back. Incredible food, friendly and warm service and environment, and reasonable pricing. A real gem!
(5)Akshay P.
Highly recommend this place for anyone looking for Indian food. We had the Malai Kofta, Naans, Tandoori Roti, Tadka Dal, Rice & Kulfi. Everything was yummy. Tip: If you have the Northern Light Coupon book, make sure to use the $10 off (or similar) coupon from the book! :)
(5)Jenni R.
Food was amazing. Sorry it took so long to check it out! My tandoori chicken was moist and the aroma was enough to make me dive right in! Wasn't disappointed. The only negative was that there weren't enough seats for everyone who planned to eat in. Not recommended if you're on a time schedule, as everything is cooked fresh to order so just relax and enjoy an extended mealtime.
(5)Nasha W.
I must say we had a deeelightful dinner experience. The food was absolutely delicious. This restaurant is small and quaint and at first ackwardly quiet but I am so glad we ate here. My husband and I were saying how this is probably ly the best meal we have had in Anchorage. The restaurant itself is nothing remarkable, it smells of curry, it's warm and has its little charms such as photographs of various landmarks and landscapes. This is definitely not the place to go if you're in a big hurry or if you are expecting top notch service. Honestly although our waiter was kind they did not once stop by our table to check on us. Instesd they seem quite busy preparing and serving deliciousness! Despite this, the food was so good that we were willing to overlook it. I ordered the Non-vegetarian Thali. I couldn't decide what to order so this was perfect because it had a little bit of everything. I had the Chicken Tikki Masala as my entree meat. It was flavorful and the temperature of our food was just right. We also ordered the bread basket and it was perfect for dipping in the sauces. The Daal (or lentils) I had were so delicious and had a hint of cilantro. The meat Samosa in my meal was nice and crunchy on the outside. Yum! Dinner was just wonderful. The flavors were delightfully delicious and not overpowering. If you're not sure what to order I definitely recommend a Thali. They have options for vegetarians and vegan as well. There was plenty of food and we even had extras to take with us. This place awakened our taste buds and we definitely look forward to trying more things on the menu.
(5)Kiki S.
The best food, so delicious and large portions. I had the most adorable and gracious waitress, will definitely be coming back!
(5)Lard Belly E.
I had a really great lunch here today. I love yak and yeti, but this spot is near my house so I will probably start coming here more often. I ordered the baigan bharta off the lunch menu, which is stewed eggplant. My friend ordered the chicken tikka masala, which was so good I went cross-eyed. We got a side of garlic naan to round the meal out. I loved my friend's dish so much that I will return for that specific item. Nice interior with decent service. I will say the prices per meal is ~$5 more than Yak and Yeti, though that tikka is worth it. Probably will come more often if I get a groupon like my friend did.
(4)Jill L.
Wow! Amazing place for Indian food...way better than yak and yeti! I had the tandoori chicken tikka and it was phenomenal.. My boyfriend had the chicken curry and his friend had the goat curry. All of them were absolutely delicious, and the naan was also fresh made, warm, fluffy and delicious. I cannot say enough how much I loved this place! I will definitely be back.
(5)Anand S.
Been here twice but was disappointed that I couldn't have a meal here. First day (Monday) we were at the restaurant at 9:00 pm but we were turned down saying the kitchen is closed. The next day we were at the restaurant at 8:30 and the restaurant wasn't open. Please update yelp profile.
(1)Sean G.
This place is great! The food is amazing great service! I asked for some help and what they recommended was amazing. I will be back and I will post what I got!
(4)Rachel S.
The food here is really good and tasted like authentic Indian food to me... The place is very simple and a bit run down, but not too bad. Very casual.. The food was delicious and came out hot and in a timely manner. The waitresses were polite. I thought it was over priced... We ordered lamb tika masala, chicken korma, some tiny pickled veggie dish, the bread basket and a salmon appetizer and it was $55. Luckily we had a groupon :) do not order the bread basket bc it's just way too much naan, I think garlic, cheese or plain is your best bet!
(3)Nikhil B.
Horrible service. 0 stars. They close at 2:30 pm. We reached at 1:50 pm and they refused to even open the front door. They could see that we had 2 toddlers with us but they still refused to let us in.
(1)Angela D.
Great food! Don't go when you are in a hurry they have to prepare the meal but it is with the wait!
(4)Jenna C.
So much delicious flavor!!! The only drawback was that it's pretty spendy. $15.95 for a lunch special.
(5)Maria A.
Oh my friends, you are in for a treat!!! What on earth brought these lovely Nepalese couple to Alaska will forever puzzle me. But I will forever be thankful to the powers from above that they did so!! Everything and I mean everything is homemade daily. Yes they cook up a storm in the kitchen, yes back there, where that amazing smell comes from. Naan, fresh, the lassi ... Home made... The people are super nice. The owner lady is just a gem . This has become one of our to go places, where the food and welcoming faces make you feel like you are in India!!! Btw they can get really busy, they don't take reservations, they turn tables fairly fast, but I assure you any wait is worth it!
(5)S Z.
Food is tasty, but the service is far from satisfactory. I've have only placed phone orders, but more often than not the service was terrible. The first time I placed a phone order, I was told that my order would be ready in 20 minutes, I waited 35 to show up, once I was there I was told that their card machine hasn't worked all day. After that they told me that I could leave my card number and they would run it once the machine was working again. So I got cash, and then waited another hour for my food. The next time I went, I waited for my order for another hour. Then this last time I placed another phone order, when I went to pick it up they didn't have my order correct, but I had to pay for all of the food that I didn't order.
(2)Kirsty S.
Have been wanting to try this place for a while and finally got a chance to go for lunch. I had the vegetarian lunch special with a side of garlic naan and chutney. Amazing! Will definitely make this a regular lunch spot.
(5)Cheng-Wei L.
The service was awful. It took the waiter literally 20 mins to bring over the water and the store seems to be under staffed. I had the lamb curry whose meat was unevenly cooked. I found some pieces that are okay but some are really over cooked. The garlic nan needs more flavor as well.
(2)Katie K.
This used to be one of my favorite places in town. But it seems that each time I go, the food quality decreases. I always get the Lamb Vindaloo. When I first started going, they never asked how spicy you wanted it. The description says "fiery". It used to be so hot I could barely make it through the meal (that is a good thing). But then suddenly, they started asking about the spice level, and now it's a disappointment every time. Today I got it hot, but it was barely at a medium level. Naan was undercooked. Service was slow. We waited for probably 15 minutes for them to take our order, with only two other tables. I made eye contact with the server a handful of times, and each time she walked the other direction. Very disappointing.
(2)Chereece W.
I ordered the shrimp rangoon appetizer and fish curry. Both were excellent! They have options for spiciness from mild, medium, and hot. I chose mild, which was very mild, but I'll probably get medium next time. Yup there will definitely be a next time since it was so good. I definitely recommend this place. I ordered take out so I don't know about the service, but the take out was packaged well with large portions. Try this place!
(5)Justina Y.
I came with my boyfriend a few weeks back, and it was our first time eating Indian cuisine. We didn't know what to expect of the food and how it would or should taste. The wait time from ordering to being served was not long, however, our food was not hot when it was served. The seasoning of our food was hit and miss, my tandoori chicken had no flavor and the meat was rather dry, while his fried rice was rather fragrant and again dry. We ordered a side of naan bread but had it taken away and replaced because we had received another table's dish. The one thing we were glad about was that the restaurant didn't reek of incense.
(2)Bethany T.
I have NEVER had a bad experience at Namaste. Which is saying a lot coming from me as I have incredibly high standards as far as dining goes. I typically visit Namaste during what one would consider peak time (11:30-1) and am usually with a friend from work. We have never had a problem, no matter the time, in being seated quickly and invariably we end up being able to choose where we want to sit. As far as the food goes, we have pretty much tried everything on the menu and have never had any bad dishes. Our favorite is the ever popular Chicken Tikka Masala and the Alu Govi with a side of either plain or garlic naan. Everything is delicious, cooked to perfection and is brought to our table in a timely manner. The servers are sweet and are hot on refilling our water glasses or our mugs of chai (which if you haven't tried it before, I highly suggest it). Although the prices were raised recently the food and the size of the servings make it worth it. Not to mention quite a few times we were low on rice and chai and the servers asked if we wanted more rice to take home and if we wanted a to go cup (topped off) for our chai. Simply put, if you haven't been to Namaste, you are missing out.
(5)John K.
A bit pricey, but decent food...customer service is average, nothing spectacular but one reason why I like this place is because when they say spicy...it means SPICY. I was affected by the second hottest choice, and I can eat spicy. I would go back because it's close to my house, but not a regular.
(3)bubba a.
Unfortunately I didn't have a good first experience here. Perhaps it was the fact that I ordered a to-go lunch too early (11:30am), but the rice was not completely cooked through. I'd say 70% cooked. And the dal Tadka (lentil soup) was a little watery and the flavor wasn't anything extraordinary. On a good note, the service was very prompt and friendly. And the restaurant appeared to be very clean. Until I head back to Hong Kong for some killer Nepalis/Indian food, I'll be eating at Bombay.
(2)Mary Y.
The staff was courteous and efficient. The vegetarian plate was scrumptious. The combination was excellent. I also ordered garlic naan which was served hot with just the right amount of melted butter, delicious. The Indian music added to an otherwise clean but unremarkably atmosphere. I highly recommend Namaste and plan on returning soon.
(4)S E.
I really wanted to like this place considering the generally positive reviews but after one dinner here, I definitely will not be back. Dined here on a Wednesday and they were out of chutney and chai tea. Those are pretty basic items for a Himalayan/Nepalese restaurant so to have neither was disappointing. We ordered another kind of tea and my wife and I were never offered a refill. Seriously, they charge $3 for a cup of tea and do not offer a refill. I ordered a mushroom dish from the dinner special and what I got was literally 6 cooked mushrooms and two small dipping sauces. Hardly "meal" worthy for $14. Should have been labeled an appetizer and should have cost closer to $5. The restaurant was not busy but the server stopped by the table only once when we were clearly finished and asked if we wanted more rice. No checkup during the meal and as I said, no offer to refill the tea. The other annoying part of the meal was we were at a small 2-person table and the server never stopped by to remove the empty plates during the meal. Not sure if it's a cultural thing or what but with a bread order, tea, water, some dipping sauces and several other plates for the meals we ordered, there wasn't a lot of room on the table. So to not be kind enough to remove the used dinnerware was inconvenient and inconsiderate. Perhaps others have had a better experience at this restaurant but I will not be back. Yak and Yeti will get my business from now on.
(1)Ann B.
If this wasn't seemingly the only place in Anchorage to get decent Indian/Nepalese/Himalayan food, I would probably give them a 3. I typically always get the chicken makhani. It seems every time I go in, the recipe changes ever so slightly. It's rich, aromatic and as long as they don't add too much cream, absolutely delicious. The lamb vindaloo is wonderful, as well as the baingan ki chutney (eggplant mash). Be careful when you tell them you want spicy - they typically don't hold back. I have also tried the appetizers paneer shashlik, pakora, dal lentil and they all have wonderfully exotic flavors and hit the spot. I am generally quite happy every time I leave here - the waitstaff is kind and prompt. My only complaint is the portions are rather small and the food expensive. But, when I get an Indian craving this is hands down where I go. Maybe one day they will get a beer and wine license so I can play around with pairing...
(4)Andy W.
Food make is good eat out and taste like nice food and makes taste good in mouth when I at it.
(5)John O.
Solid 4 star establishment. My friend raved about this place, saying how great it was, and how much better it was than Yak and Yeti. I had to try. The food here is solid -- comes out hot and tastes good. I ordered Lamb Vindaloo -- Lamb cooked in a fiery hot vinegar sauce with Indian spices -- for $14.95 and my friend ordered a curry dish (Chicken Kalimiri). Both were very good. Rice can be ordered for a few bucks. The service was slightly above average. There is not much in terms of ambiance here -- consistent with most restaurants in Anchorage. Expect to pay about $40 for two w/o drinks. All in all, you will get a solid meal here at a reasonable price (relatively speaking for Anchorage). I would probably return.
(4)Melanie K.
Talked my very anxious fast foodie roommate into trying a new genre of food (and the fact that it could actually be considered food if it didn't have meat in it). Thank heavens for this place!!! We had a wonderful time, great welcoming helpful service, and every bite was what my roommate now fondly refers to as "food sex"!!
(5)Steve And Lindsay F.
The restaurant owner was nice and helped me choose from an array of menu items that are gluten/lactose free. The meal was delicious and we got a lot of food to eat. I would recommend this restaurant.
(5)Christopher I.
Namaste Shangrila was well reviewed on Yelp, and so decided to take my girlfriend out to dinner there. Nice atmosphere, friendly staff, though they barely speak english, which makes ordering difficult - but fun. Meal portions are VERY small for the price. I would rate this $$$, at least! I ordered the Rangoon Shrimp Entree, which consisted of 5 small shrimp in sauce; $15 !!! It was however, delicious. I'd recommend each person get an appetizer and entree, if you are hungry. You'll probably want desert too. Therefore, expect around $25+ per person for a mildly filling meal. Don't miss Saipatri kulfi (Indian Traditional Ice Cream!)
(3)David R.
Food is good. Tried the Chicken Tika (not Marsala), the curry, and Chicken Kalamari (not seafood). The food was good, worth trying a little of everything, but the portions aren't very big given the price. Don't plan on leftovers. Otherwise, I have no complaints, and would definitely recommend.
(4)Lisa D.
Love this restaurant! No sure if it's authentic or not because I've never been to Nepal. But it is delicious to me!!
(5)B W.
Finally got around to using our groupon and we were impressed! Service was extremely friendly. My husband had the (tikka?) sampler and I had the chicken makhani- both were yummy, though I preferred my chicken with its delicious sauce over my rice (and naan, of course). We also tried the fruit punch- meh, it was okay. $3.99 for blended watermelon? The food was the perfect amount, we did take home some leftovers, but only enough for a quick snack. Prices were comparable to Bombay Deluxe.
(4)Laura B.
Not such a fan. I like both the Yak and the Yeti and Bombay Deluxe over this place. As mentioned in other reviews, the portions were small for what you received. My friend and I order three entrees for lunch to try more options. We managed to finish all three and I had dessert and a lassi. I can barely manage one entree and a couple bites of dessert at other restaurants. And the $26 for lunch was way steep. I wouldn't have minded the small portions if the prices would have reflected it. We had two lamb dishes and a lentil dish. Both lamb dishes were ok, but too bland. I was unimpressed with the lentils. The kheer for dessert was also a disappointment. The service was fine. There were only four tables occupied the whole time we spent there, so that wasn't much of a challenge. I'm glad I went if only to know that going to the other two places from now on is the best choice.
(1)Aravinth S.
Amazing food. It would be great if they could do delivery. Dal and chicken is my favorite here and I would recommend this place if you are looking for good Indian food.
(5)Carol G.
When I first arrived in Anchorage for the weekend, I needed some vegan nourishment. I did a quick Yelp search and found Namaste Shangrila and headed over. The restaurant is small but plenty of seating was to be had since I was the first customer of the morning. After explaining I was eating vegan, the waitress directed me to what was or could be made vegan on the menu. I ordered the vegetable pakora as an appetizer and the chana pindi lunch special which came with rice, dal, and a salad. The service was excellent. I am not one to be rushed and they let me enjoy my beverage and meal at my own pace. My water glass was always full which was important having just flown into town. The pakora was burnt on the edges which ruined the flavor just a bit and was a little greasy. However the flavor with the provided sauces was delicious! The dal was a little more watery than I would have expected but it had excellent flavor. The rice was perfectly cooked and the chana pindi was delicious! I had way too much food and got an additional meal and a snack out of the order. I only wish I lived closer!
(4)Pervez N.
I love this place. Every time I'm in Anchorage I have to go here and carryout or dine-in. I often go back-to-back for days at a time. Just can't get enough. I almost always get the lamb Vindaloo, its very delicious. Reminds me of my mom's homemade goat curry. The lamb is very tender and flavorful. The sauce is hot but sweet at the same time. The potatoes throughout the dish are soft and melt in your mouth. A spicy dish, I've yet to ask for extra hot because it's just right for my taste buds. The white basmati type rice reduces the spiciness of the dish and completes it. I almost always order a garlic naan as a side item. I definitely recommend this place. The people are thoughtful and very nice.
(5)Margaret N.
I recently discovered this place. Very good food and nice quiet ambiance. The service is prompt. If you are looking for something different, give this place a try.
(4)Benjamin H.
This is my favorite Indian restaurant in Anchorage. Very nice staff, pleasant and clean atmosphere, and a nice menu. My favorite dish is the Potato Canoe dish on the vegetarian menu. I would like to see more paneer dishes, at least ones that were vegetarian. It would also be nice to have some vegetable samosas but I think there is a regional reason for that. The prices are somewhat high for the amount of food you get. I almost never have left overs. The fruit drinks are amazing but also expensive. The nan is great. We eat out here once a month at least.
(4)Jerry M.
I was invited to eat here with a friend. He is a vegetarian, I am not. I was pleased he was pleased. I wish they were located closer to my house. This review is going off of memory from a week ago. So things that I liked and would order again are: The hot tea with citrus- very refreshing and calming. The fried okra appetizer as spicy hot as you want it so be careful what you really want. Curry fish - A great white fish (not over cooked) in a wonderful curry served with rice. Fruit Punch - made only with fruit and blended - served cold and helps with the spicy heat. Dessert - tasted three of four offered. Preferred the carrot/apricot almost like a pudding, served hot. Great tasting and good for you. They are open for dinners and lunches. Web-site is coming soon. Also delivery is in the works. So if this can make me drive on Tudor Road via Lake Otis... It really, really must be good. So here is another positive Yelp.
(4)Molly H.
I was excited to hear of a restaurant in town with a variety of vegetarian dishes, so my friend and I stopped in as soon as we could. Our first impression was good- it was very clean and well lit, and the colors were bright and friendly. We were greeted with an enthusiastic smile, and we were ushered to a sparkling glass top table decorated with fresh carnations. The menu had something for everyone, vegetarian and omnivorous. The prices were not off-putting with most entrees ringing in under ten dollars. We started with the fruit punch to drink, which in itself will keep me coming back again and again. It's a smoothie/punch hybrid which tasted much like liquid watermelon. Very refreshing! In hindsight, we could have easily saved that for desert, but it was good to have during some of the spicier dishes to cool the palette. My friend and I ordered Vegetable Pakora and the Veg Thali plate. We worried at first that it wasn't enough food, but it ended up being just right. We both left extremely full and satisfied but didn't take home any leftovers. The service was attentive and friendly and the food was delicious. I know I'll be frequenting!
(5)Josh S.
Not impressed with this place. ordered the butter chicken and a lamb dish and it was very bland. Dont think either dish was marinaded at all. Dont think I will be back...
(2)Gregory R.
Love their korma and the chai is the perfect remedy for the cold winters, I could nearly eat there everyday. When they have it, their mango "ice cream" is the BOMB, and the decor makes you forget you're in a strip mall! Great place to take a date, Namaste is another reason I'm as homesick for Alaska as I am.
(5)Eileen N.
I've been going to Namaste Shangri-la for years, but when I went this week, I learned there has been a new owner the past month. The food was not nearly so good, and I was stunned to learn that they would not honor a gift certificate I was given a few months ago. I have taken this restaurant off my list of places to eat.
(2)John Z.
Still all-good. One of my favorite places to go in Anchorage. I cannot refute other's statements that you don't get a ton of food for the price and the odds of having leftovers are slim, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. My only wish remains that they come up with a decadent veggie entree instead of all the veggie stuff being (relatively) healthy.
(5)Kim D.
This is a cute place, but the food did not quite deliver the flavor punch that I was hoping for. My dish seemed like a watered down version of something that would be really good. Maybe I just got it on an off night, but I think I am really going to have to be craving Indian before I come back.
(3)Wolf X.
I ordered the saag paneer and an order of naan. It came out quickly and the food was pretty good. Namaste was also a bit on the pricey side for the portions. All in all, it was pretty good. The hours are reliable, which is a definite plus.
(4)Jacob M.
After living in Fiji which has large offerings of Indian food I am always on the prowl for good India regional cuisine. Namaste didn't disappoint. We went for lunch and the lunch specials were great at around ten bucks. I had the eggplant and green pea chutney and it was awesome, right on par with some of my favorite restauraunts of the past. A good place defiantly worth another visit.
(4)Kunal C.
Exceelent Indian food, best in Alaska cannot go wrong. THe owners are the servers and cook. Everything is made fresh to order and its not freezer food. you will absolutely love it. If you like your food spicey they do customize it accordingly. My wife is American and she absolutely finds this place the best indian restaurant she has ever eaten at. Do yourself good, go there!
(5)Trey S.
My favorite part about this is the selection of (Non-alcoholic) drinks. In addition to the Miscellaneous teas,(which were all fantastic) they offer a house made punch made with seasonal fruits. The one i had was heavy on the melon, and contained a fair bit of pulp, which I loved. It also offered a beautiful contrast against the spicier, richer foods. The service is absolutely outstanding, and contrary to what other yelpers have said, they speak English better than most Alaskans I know. Everything I tried was dynamite and I will definitely be returning soon.
(5)George C.
We liked their seasoning and special teas. However, the mixed grill meal we shared was over cooked and dry. The room was so cold the sauces congealed before we finished our dinner. Over all everything was way overpriced. Don't think we'll go back.
(2)Jazz S.
Best Himalayan food so far! Service is on top of it, even in a packed room. There are about 2-3 servers that rotate through. My darjeeling tea was kept warm and full, as well as my water glass. I had the Chicken Tika Marsala with naan, it was tasty and the naan was soft. The atmosphere is quaint and casual, there was a business meeting going on when I was there, but they weren't too loud. The menu has a wide vegetarian selection and tandoori cooked meats. Each dish appears to come with rice, soup and salad. Combined it was more food than I could handle. The Darjeeling tea is second only to Yak and Yeti's; but their rice has a light-sweet flavor to it, which is a good compliment to the spice (it's not hot-spicy, but you can order it that way if you like) in the Marsala sauce.
(5)ME M.
Great place to being vegetarians and omnivores. The staff is really nice and the food is consistently good. It's a small place, too, so you always can get someone's attention.
(5)Linda S.
e.j. that is SO different from my experience, I think you must have been there on a really off night. I love love love Namaste but admit we mostly do take-out on a Friday night. They are MUCH faster than other Indian/Thai places on Fridays, and the food is so fresh, fragrant and tasty! We think their lamb vindaloo is the best in town by far (extra spicey). Not too vinagery, very tender meat and you can still taste the spices. Love the service - really nice family working very hard. They really deserve a lot more traffic than they seem to get. The only thing about them is the servings are smaller than other places, so we tend to order more dishes so we can have leftovers. Still costs less than most other comps in town, though.
(5)Kal E.
Friendly staff & warm environment. While the food was tasty and had excellent ethnic sauces which is something hard to find in anchorage I did find the menu choices lacking in variety. Overall a good place to try if your hurting for something aside from pub food in AK.
(4)Eric L.
I will preface this statement with we are im Alaska, but I have had some great food here. Definetly recommend this place as a tasty food establishment with great owner/workers and solid prices.
(4)e J.
I had high hopes for this place but it just did not live up to my expectations. The space is nice, small but intimate, clean with good lighting, I could have done w/o the 80's rock. The wait staff consists of one very friendly Nepali man taking all the orders and doing all the serving. After ordering we waited 35 minutes before my spinach chick pea soup came out. Way too long for a appetizer but it was tasty. When our main courses finally came out I was disappointed. Both the palak paneer and egg plant dish were sooooo salty I could feel my blood pressure rising with every bite. If I wasn't starved from waiting 45 minutes for our food to come I would have sent them back. Now maybe this was just an off night but I didn't think I'll be back.
(2)Zest A.
We were flying back home that day and wanted to have a good meal before the long flight. We decided to try some Himalayan food. The place was busy and clean. We had Lasuni Salmon, Lamb Vindaloo and Shrimp Yangoon. We expected the food to be great, as the reviews mentioned, but the food tasted just OK.
(3)Patrick B.
Great flavors and great food. I had the lamb kabob (medium spice) which came with basmati rice. We also ordered some garlic naan. The staff was very nice. I definitely recommend if you are looking for this type of food! We will be back!
(4)