Tandoori Fresh
1500 Adams Ave,Ste 100A, Costa Mesa, CA, 92626
Tandoori Fresh Menu
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Address :
1500 Adams Ave,Ste 100A
Costa Mesa, CA, 92626 - Phone (714) 444-4407
- Website https://www.tandoorifresh.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : No
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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Mostofa N.
Oomg. I loove their shrimp karahi. I make it myself at times, but I had a craving for a true Indian style curry and have no time to prepare it, so I picked some up earlier & it was absolutely delicious!! It's fantastic with their plain white rice. I will be trying out all their other items now. Oh! I have tried their chicken biriyani in the past and it's great too! :)
(5)Jeanine W.
I stumbled upon Tandoori Fresh after the lunch rush so the place was pretty much empty. I followed the advice of other yelpers and ordered the chicken tikki masala and plain naan. Although the restaurant was empty, our food took a lonngggg time to make it out, but I guess that means its made to order. The curry and naan were both excellent and generous, my only gripe is that the vegetables that came with our meal were pretty greasy. Other than that, the staff was really helpful with explaining our lunch options, and I was feeling the modern decor. Tandoori would win five stars if not for the long wait, but I suppose I would rather have that than stale food. I would definitely make the drive out here again to sample more of their menu!
(4)Miron L.
Tandoori Fresh offers convenient fast indian food. The staff was friendly and the food is good. But it's not great food. Very mediocre as far as Indian curries go.
(3)Emerson R.
This place deserves fives stars for the quality of service alone! The cashier/waiter/server had a warm, friendly personality that made striking up conversations ridiculously easy. He was attentive to us throughout the whole meal by checking back with us to see if we needed anything and asking how we liked the food. The Chicken Tikka Masala tasted vibrant and fresh; the meat was moist and tender. The Saag Paneer had a stronger spinach aroma and less cheesy creaminess than the ones I've had at other places. It was still creamy, just not the same kind of creamy if that makes sense. Oh, their generously-portioned Garlic Naan is AMAZING! It's a little more doughy than your typical naan but is still crunchy. The finely chopped garlic on top gives it a penchant flavor when bitten into. It's better to enjoy this yeasty goodness alone. The combo special may seem small at first, but it fills you up really quick. Mom and I couldn't finish the order, even though we decided to split. Oh, Tandoori Fresh also serves REAL chai tea. They brew the chai and cardamom seeds whole, instead of grinding them down into small specks and adding fillers. If you're used to ordering the Chai Latte from Starbucks, this will taste less diabetes-inducing and less spicy than what you're used to as they do not add cinnamon to the drink. However, Tandoori does offer sugar packets on the side for those who prefer their beverages of the sweeter side of the flavor spectrum.
(5)Sonic M.
Excellent food, friendly employees and ownership, an overall fantastic experience. So most of the time I/we end up ordering take-out here and they package it safely for the trip home by wrapping the styrofoam containers in plastic wrap - no spills is a good thing. So far I've tried the Beef Samosas (perfect with the spicy cucumber cilantro ? sauce), Garlic Naan (good, but not used to it being so crisp), Raitha (appropriately cooling for the spicy dishes), Chicken Tikka Masala (richly flavorful), Haleem (one of my favorites and entirely amazing, although oily), and the Tandoori Fresh Mixed Platter (a great way to sample a each style). Pair it with a good wine or beer and it's a scrumptious meal you'll savor til the next time. I'm going to try every item on their menu... Mmmmm...
(4)Rosa S.
Came here after class one time and got their lunch deal. I chose the chicken tikka marsala and spinach and cheese with an order of garlic naan. I also got the beef samosa to share with my friend. The samosa was good. It came with four small pieces and it basically taste just like an egg roll. The only bad thing about this place is that the sauce that came with it was bland; didn't do much for the samosa. The chicken tikka marsala was not as how I expected. It had the flavors, but it didn't wow me as much as I thought it would from the looks of it; I've had better at Usmania in Westminster. The spinach and cheese was not that great. The garlic naan was more on the soft and thicker side than the thin crispy bread that I'm used to. The service was excellent though. The guy was always checking up on us to make sure we were okay. The food was not that great though. I wouldn't come back here only because I've had better at a place closer to my area.
(3)Sarah B.
Love this place! I love their garlic naan its so warm and crunchy! I love their sheik kabob and their chicken tikka masala. Their value meals are a great deal because you can try different veggies or meat dishes especially if you go with someone else. Plus it comes with a drink. It's clean, casual dining without overwhelming prices.
(5)A G.
It was ok. Chicken tikka is worth getting, but everything else we ordered was average.
(3)Eric B.
Update! This place is awesome. I've been here quite a few times now and have also made my brother and quite a few of my coworkers fans as well. I even strategically dropped a menu in our lunch room at work to get more people to come here. We've pretty much made this another one of our stops for lunch every couple of weeks. I've tried quite a few of their dishes, but I keep coming back to the chicken tikka masala. I really like that dish. The others that I have tried are good, but I love that flavor of that chicken and the sauce. The naan that they serve there is also some of the best I have had. The garlic naan is incredible! Just don't eat this before a date. The restaurant is very clean inside and they have a big LCD hanging on the wall showing Bollywood movies. And the guys that work here have always been really friendly.
(5)Gulsum I.
I didnt know indian food that good. I love how they serv. One of the rear restaurant ı would never forget, ı will go there more offen. I love chicken plate. I love their bred, how they serv. I will just go there just for that bread
(5)Traci D.
Tandoori Fresh has a $8.99 special that includes a veggie dish, meat dish, rice, naan and a soda. You get a considerable amount of food so it isn't a bad deal. The guy working the counter was friendly. Because I am not too familiar with this type of food, he helped me decide what to get. I got the Aloo Gohbi (cauliflower and potatoes) and the Chicken Tikka Masala. Im not the biggest fan of cauliflower but it is delicious when it is mixed with spices and sauce. The Chicken dish was a little spicy (note: I am a wuss when it comes to spicy food) but not too bad. You get a huge piece of naan. It was cripsy and warm. I couldn't eat all of it so I was able to take it home. This place is worth checking out if you are in the area.
(4)Alexis S.
this may be the last time i go to a non-buffet indian restaurant. Haveli in tustin charges only $10 for AYCE lunch buffet, and the food is delicious! the portions here are PUNY. i got the lunch combo, which comes with rice, a soft drink naan bread, and 2 veggie dishes. the veggie dishes were sooo small. they can fill a child. i got the spinach paneer, which was really salty. the aloo ghobi was under-seasoned and really oily. the service was ok. the cashier was a nice fella. all in all, though, i will not be returning.
(2)Lai T.
Light, crisp, thinly wrapped beef samosas! Slightly spicy mint dipping sauce. *yum* And the tika masala is very good also :) I have been wanting to go here forever so I finally called in a lunch order and did a pick-up. I ended up eating my car because it smelled so good. They are generous with their portions!
(4)josh s.
Great fresh Indian food right down the street. Love it! Only thing I could wish for is a larger menu with more selections to choose from.
(4)Lauren H.
I order the same thing for take-out everytime because it always comes out really good :) I ask for medium+ spicy level "Aloo Gobi" (dairy-free and meat-free), Cauliflower & Potato tandoori-spiced stew with white basmati rice. I love it. Since I do not top it with yogurt sauce, I usually add some chopped mint and cilantro at home, even a little lemon juice. DELICIOUS! Totally Recommend! Side Notes: I did order samosas once and did not like them. I can't wait til the vegetable Okra is back in season so I can try their Bhindi Masala
(4)Sherri G.
Chicken tikka masala, chicken tikka and garlic naan were all delicious. The employees were very friendly and helpful.
(4)Macht S.
Food was average, I've had better and I've had worse Indian food. Prices are too expensive for the small portion sizes you get. For better try Dosa Place or Bhukara.
(2)Adam B.
Wow! I have been to over 50 indian restaurants and the chicken tikka masala here is by far one of the best. I couldnt believe it was only $9 too. I just had terrible masala last night for over $20. Amazing flavor and very fresh chicken.
(5)Milee S.
I was in the mood for Indian food a couple weeks back so I hit this place up to satisfy my craving. The menu isn't particularly big (this is not a bad thing) but there were definitely enough choices on it. I decided on the saag paneer, rice, raita, garlic naan and gulab jamun. I was tempted to try the tandoori chicken salad, as I'd never seen that on a menu anywhere, but went with my beloved saag paneer. I also got this as takeout.. First off, all the serving bowls are wrapped in plastic wrap so nothing can spill. I love it! Although, it was hard to peel off the plastic wrap but nothing got my car stained. The rice has peas, FYI. I had to dig those out. I poured the saag on top and saw a lot of oil. It was a thin saag paneer and I wasn't expecting that. Also the paneer was very thick and hard to cut through. I guess I'm used to a softer paneer. The naan was pretty fantastic though. And the raita had a lot of very chunky cucumbers and tomatoes. I didn't hate it but wasn't in love with it either. I'd go back but not on a regular basis. Service, however, was fantastic and it seemed like a nice place to have dinner. Casual , but nice.
(3)Sophie B.
Love this place! Great affordable tasty Indian food. Friendly staff. It's our regular lunch spot. Chicken Tikka Masala is very flavorful. Fish Karahi is delicious.
(4)Lea P.
Food is great and the people that work here are all super nice. We have gotten take-out and have dined in the restaurant and both have been great experiences. Good Indian cuisine that is fresh and quick at a good price. Love the Chicken Tikka Masala, it is creamy and spicy and delicious.
(5)Alex T.
My first time at Tandoori Fresh was on a monday afternoon with my sister and her bf. We were starving and it was columbus day so all the other Indian restaurants were closed. Sis yelped the nearest Indian place and the rest is history. As soon as I walked in,I noticed that the place was new,compact,modern(IKEA furnishing) and had a nice vibe to it. I ordered the 8.99 lunch special that comes with Tandoori chicken,rice,potato curry,warm Nan and a soda. THE WHOLE PLATE WAS DELICIOUS!!! I also took a quick scan of the menu and noticed that there weren't a lot of dishes on the menu.This is a good thing at an Indian place because this usually means the chef only cooks what he's very good at. bravo!
(5)Lisa V.
Casual setting (should have spent a little more on the dining area IMO) but the food is excellent. Get the value meal if you like to sample different things as I do. A Fresh Value Meal includes two small dishes (one meat and one veg or two veg if you prefer), rice, and a drink. Each value meal item comes in a small serving bowl so that it can easily be shared. We order two value meals for two people and split the four dishes between us. So glad we found this place.
(5)Timothy L.
If it wasn't for the service than this I would give this place a 3 1/2 to 4 stars but the service blew me away. I came for lunch and I had heard about this place on the OC registers top 25 restaurants in OC of 2010 and I had made it a goal of mine to eat at every single place by the end of the school year. I love Indian food so i was excited to try this place. I came with my friend and so we wanted to try as much as we could so the man that worked there (who was extremely friendly) suggested that we order the combos so we could try more variety. We got chicken tikka, channa masala, chicken tikka masala, and a spinach and potato dish. Everything was good and flavorful. We also got an order of samosas which were well made. The man who worked there was what made our experience extremely great. He was not only friendly but he took pride in the fact that his place offered great service. He was more than happy to help with suggestions and even came over to our table to check up on us several times. He made small talk with us and was excited to hear that we had heard about his place on the OC registers list. Before we left he gave me some coupons for next time which I should be going back very soon.
(5)Debby L.
This is Pakistani food and everything is HALAL! The $8.99 special consists of everything I always get. Chicken tiki masala, a veggie dish, rice, and naan. Every single item goes perfectly with the other, and it is so delicious. CHICKEN TIKI MASALA Spicy, tender chicken, soaked in yogurt based spicy sauce. This is my favorite chicken dish here. The spiciness and the flavors are insanely good. I always mix the sauce into my rice. ALOO PALAK Veggies blended with chunks of potato. A little spicy, and absolutely delicious with the chicken and rice. NAAN Fluffy, hot, yummy naan. Not dry, or overly starchy. I don't eat a lot of naan, but here, i just dip it into the tiki masala sauce and before i know it, 3 pieces are gone. Stoked that OC has an amazing place for me to go to again! The owner use to own Asian Kitchen in LA and i went there every week. They recently opened this little place in Orange County and i cannot be happier!!!!
(5)Chris D.
I love this place! Their Fresh Value meal is a bargain for what you get. I typically get the same thing every time I get take-out here; chicken tikka masala, aloo palak, rice and naan...all for $8.99! It doesn't look like a lot, but it always fills me up and I can eat! The only reason why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is the wait. I usually order take out over the phone (about a 20 min wait and they tell you over the phone, so no surprises), but I've learned from experience to order ahead of time because I've waited up to 30 mins when I've ordered it to-go at the restaurant. Also, the one time I dined here the wait was pretty long. In all honesty, I can't really complain because the food is cooked to order and FRESH! So fresh that the naan is extremely hot, like "burn-your-mouth-and-spit-it-back-out" hot! Everything I've tried has been good (about the half of the menu), so I have no complaints in regards to the food and the friendly and accommodating staff makes up for the typically slow service. So if you're not in a rush or really hungry, give this place a try!
(4)Harry L.
Food was excellent and the lunch specials are a great deal. Been here a few times and tried some special dishes recommended by the owner. They were good, just a tad expensive so I'm going to stick with the lunch specials. I really love the chicken chicken tikka masala here for lunch. Super tasty and just the right portion. Yum.
(4)Allan S.
Great authentic Indian, Pakistani, and Halal restaurant! Everything is made fresh and is delicious. I love Indian food and this place hits the spot. Very helpful and friendly staff. They do a meal special that's a great deal. If you're in the area and looking for a good meal you won't be disappointed if you chose this place!
(5)Melissa A.
Bread and rice were amazing. Samosa and meals weren't great. Overpriced for sure unless you get a value meal. Food seemed fresh. Good to try once and satisfy our craving for Indian food, but won't be back. I think it's worth driving a few miles further to Little India for better Indian food.
(3)Jane A.
Pretty good for a quick, but not fast food, Indian meal. It's reasonable but not cheap. The servers are usually nice.
(3)Stanton S.
Very nice surprise to have this hidden gem in close proximity to me! Chicken Tikka Masala was perfect! Great flavor and heat! Mixed meat plate was tasty also! Looks unauthentic from the contemporary dining room but was very exotic in flavors! Coming back for more soon!
(4)Scott H.
Decent Indian food - but _way_ too salty! I couldn't really enjoy it as a result. I had the palak paneer, chicken tikka massala and garlic naan; the naan was especially good - thick and fresh. I was disappointed in the palak; I've had better - I couldn't even really taste the spinach over the curry/sodium. Perfectly spicy for my taste - about medium, just enough to give you a slight sweat on your brow.
(3)Nghi L.
This place was good! The spicy chicken tiki masala was SPICY and just the way I like it. Lots of sauce to go over my rice and use the naan to sop it all up. The kids loved their beef wraps and almost ate everything and then some! The hubs liked everything too. The servings were more than enough that I even had enough food for the next day for lunch. I saved the tiki masala sauce even after I ran out of chicken, cooked some rice the next day and poured sauce over my rice to eat again! I also ordered a mango lassi. I've never had a lassi before and this tasted like dessert in a cup. I would have ordered another if I wasn't so full. The guy who took our order was very nice and informative. He explained everything and even came to our table several times to make sure everything tasted okay or if we needed anything. It is 1/2 counter and 1/2 table service. You order at the counter and then seat yourself. When the food is ready, it is brought to your table piping hot and very fresh! Will definitely be going back! I also took a to go menu for lazy days.
(4)T C.
Meat combo was almost a-ok (~$10) - includes tandoori drum and thigh pieces (one of each), tikka chicken breast pieces (a half of one breast half), and skewer grilled ground beef paste (two pieces, about 4 inches total); chicken tikka masala was a-ok (~$10), chicken korma was extremely oily (~$8), white basmati had green peas in it, garlic naan was crispy, tender, and chewy all at the same time (~$3), and the hot chai tea portion was absurdly small and absolutely forgettable (~$2). Other important info: clean, order at counter but pay after you're done eating, menu on wall, some pictures of menu items available, and tricky driveway and parking.
(2)ND U.
The food and the flavor of their food is fanatastic but the portions are very small and too much rice. everything on the menu is worthy of a tasting. one of the better indian restraunts
(3)Deborah T.
First of everyone that works there is so helpful and sweet. The food was delicious we had such a wonderful assortment of the Vegetarian and The Tikka Masala Chicken. Naan Bread was OK not as good as I have had in the past however we had "takeout" and perhaps not fresh out of the oven makes the difference. All in all I will go back because of service and quality and value! So nice to have a really good Indian Food Restaurant in the neighborhood.
(4)Yen T.
Their Tikka Masala is SOOOOOO GOOOOD, oh my gosh. Although the wait can be a bit long, they're making this stuff fresh.
(4)Luke W.
There are not too many places around town I can get my Tandoori. I am a fan...They have worked out their kinks. Still trying to become established. I think it's tough, mostly because I think the location. Ironically, they have bad visibility even though they are directly off Harbor. The bargain meal gets me two choices of meal items, naan, and a drink. SOLD. Food tastes good, I find myself nodding my head, yes...I will be back ....almost weekly
(4)Manolo Z.
The food is amazing,true Indian style and rich in flavor! You should check it out when your in Costa Mesa!!
(5)Randy K.
Great food! Great service! Awesome prices for a good curry! Can't beat the $10 combo meal!!!
(5)Charis L.
My husband and I went here for dinner and we were very pleased! I am a vegan, and there were many choices for me. My husband is practically a carnivore and he really enjoyed the huge plate of various meat that he ordered. The food was piping hot and fresh, well seasoned, and delicious!! I highly recommend this place!
(5)Jonathan A.
I would go out of my way for Tandoori Fresh! I live in the Bay Area, but I venture to the OC often because I am an Annual Pass holder at Disneyland. I discovered this place after a little Yelping because I often stay with family in Costa Mesa. Whether it's lunch or dinner, you can get their value meal which includes a meat and a veggie dish, naan, rice and a fountain drink for only $9.99! If there's a god, he takes many forms, including that of an Indian food value meal. I ordered the Chicken Tikka Masala and Aloo Gobi with my meal. I can't recall, but one of them definitely packs a punch, so beware if you can't handle spicy food. I don't know if they still do this but, instead of a fountain drink, they let me upgrade to a mango lassi for a dollar more - well worth it! I haven't been able to make it here the past couple of trips, but I will most definitely be returning when time allows. Also, the guy who works there seems super down to earth and very friendly, so that's an added bonus!
(5)Adam D.
Tried this yesterday with my partner. We have been looking for some Indian food lately, and decided to try this place out. We had tandoori chicken, chicken tikka, and seekh kebab. We also had an order of garlic naan and basmati rice. They were all pretty good, though I found the tandoori chicken to be mostly bone and not much meat, and seemed a bit dry. My favorite was actually the seekh kebab, which I thought was delicious. All of the dishes had a nice flavor however, with assertive Indian spices. There was something wrong with the naan. There was a sort of crunch to it that wasn't the good kind: reminiscent of egg shells. Due to this, I ended up only eating part of it, though it tasted fresh and delicious. I'm not sure what it was from. The rice was way, way overpriced for plain rice, but without it you'd just have plain meat. I am looking forward to coming back here. There were a couple of small issues, but the services was great, there was plenty of close parking, and the food was delicious. If you are looking for some tasty Indian food in OC, I recommend that you give this place a try!
(4)Chris N.
I LOVE THIS PLACE!!! The chicken tikka masala and beef shanks are my favorite. I love the sauces they use. It's got some kick to it, which I like. Also their garlic nan is so good.
(5)Salar K.
Food was mediocre and overpriced, the chicken tikka was too hot and didn't have much flavor or health benefit. Their salads are using cheap iceberg lettuce. Istanbul Grill just down the street is a billion times better.
(2)Dene' J.
I'm so addicted to this place right now. I went there for the first time with a friend and we couldn't have left more satisfied. My friend has Indian roots from London and he couldn't get over how authentic and delicious it really was. The food is fresh, bursting with flavor and big-sized portions. I don't know all the proper names of the foods I ate (I'm a newbie to Indian food) but the chicken was extremely tender and moist, the bread thick and flavorful, the curry-cream sauce was my absolute favorite. Will be back again & again. Great spot, easy to find (right off of Harbor), very clean, great service, they are open late and very affordable. Definitely a 5 for my palate!
(5)Cupcake V.
This was a completely new experience for me. I'm not super adventurous when it comes to food, but I'm so glad I came here. Our group ordered six different dishes and I loved every one of them. I can't wait to go back! Not only was the food great, the service was even better.
(4)James H.
The food is fairly decent. However, I was disappointed that there were several regular items not available during my visit (such as Lamb Biryani and Aloo Gobhi and it was normal dinner hours). The food also took way too long (nearly 30 minutes) for 3 dishes. I think the best way to go is try the $9.99 meal deal.
(3)Matt M.
This is not your typical indian restaurant! No buffet, no long menu, no bearded, Pagri wearing waiter, and no outdated decorations. This place is clean and fresh! Simple menu and done superbly! The $9.99 lunch menu is great! We had the tandoori chicken and the Chicken Tikka Masala. Both plates were excellent!
(5)Stephanie T.
Great Service? LIKE HELL GREAT SERVICE. Would have LOVED to try the food here, especially considering how well reviewed this place is, but unfortunately I was never even given the chance. Sick on my deathbed today, my fiancee lovingly offered to pick up some food for me and I knew nothing would make me feel better than some extra spicy chana masala. I called to try and place a LARGE order to be picked up here and was asked if I would mind being put on hold. I kindly said I didn't mind and they proceeded to put me on hold for 10 f****ing minutes (which just meant putting the phone down somewhere because I could hear EVERYTHING that was going on on the other side of the line). After about fifteen minutes of being on hold and hearing employees laughing and speaking to each other I tried shouting "Please take my order" in hopes that someone would hear and pick up the phone again. Nothing. I hung up and thought I'll call back. For the next seven minutes I tried calling back AND THE LINE WAS BUSY!? No doubt from the fact that the previous call I'd made was still off the hook. Meaning had I waited, I'd be waiting for TWENTY MINUTES TO PLACE AN ORDER. I've been in the service industry for a long time and have never heard of a twenty minute hold to place an order. Maybe the DMV or your cable company, but NEVER an Indian restaurant or any restaurant at that. Thank you Tandoori Fresh. You successfully ruined my mood, made me feel even crappier, and dare I say killed my day. NEVER GIVING MY BUSINESS TO THESE IDIOTS EVER.
(1)Lisa K.
Love Love Love this place! Fast, speedy and attentive service mixed with delicious food! I always get the samosas, raita, naan, chicken tikka masala & the beef kebob with rice. Consistently yummy.
(5)Mimi L.
Food was good, nice presentation. Very reasonable price, definitely will go back. Tikka Masala good
(4)Joy F.
This place has me coming back for more. My favorite dishes include, but are not limited to: their garlic naan, tandoori chicken, chicken tikka masala, aloo palak, and saag paneer. The staff are kind and offer great customer service. During my first visit, they gave us free dessert: Shai Kulfi, which is their traditional home made ice cream. They offer "Fresh Value Meals" where you can select from a list of signature dishes and for $9.99 it includes rice, naan, soft drink and your choice of a vegetable dish. I have had positive experiences and hope that you will too.
(4)Max M.
I ate here a few times, and the food was ok. Limited choice, and nothing special, but not bad. This time, I drove all the way to eat here, and came in 1 hr 5 min before they close. They turned me away, telling me they like to close early on weekdays, and so if I want, I can have food to go. That's very mean I think, and they definitely don't deserve the 5 star rating they show on yelp. 2 or 3 perhaps - I give 2 because I'm angry.
(2)Nikolas M.
Just tried this place out for the first time. It is EXTREMELY affordable for being good quality Indian Food. It's not the best Indian food I've had, but the service is awesome, food is good, and price range is totally affordable ($9-$10 for a full meal). I'd recommend this place.
(4)Barry B.
I went in here recently and ordered some chicken tikka masala. It took them a long time to make my food and the place was empty. It was at least 30 minutes from the time I ordered to when the food was delivered. It seems to be a common thing, because all the people that came in after me had to a wait a very long time too. I doubt they prep anything here. The place is clean and the service was good. The food was worth the wait. It had a great flavor and lots of spice to it. I also enjoyed the side dish that I got (Aloo Gobhi I think it was) and the naan was really good. I will definitely be going back here. I can't wait to start trying all of the other items on the menu. (I edited my review after the owner contacted me and gave me a few pointers on what black cardamom is. Thank you!)
(4)Andrea B.
The first time I ate here I was not a fan. We showed up kind of late and I was not impressed by the quality. I am glad we went back though. They have pretty good food for moderate prices. Their saag is always tasty and their tandoori always delicious. The gulab jamun is not my favorite (a little too gingery for my taste). They do have an express meal which is enough for two meals and a great deal. It's also right around the corner so really convenient for when I want my Indian food fix. And I love watching the Indian music videos. It's one of my favorite things to do while waiting for a take out order.
(4)Denise M.
Geat food, not a fast food resturant. Spicy & full of flavor dishes. Portions are right,
(4)Karina A.
My husband and i love this place! The food is great and their value meal is a great deal. The Chicken Tikka Masala and Garlic Naan here are amazing. The food can sometimes take a little slow to come out (I woudn't recommend coming here with a large group) however, it doesn't hurt my start rating on this restaurant one bit.
(5)Tyler S.
I didn't get around to trying this place for quite some time despite my close proximity to the restaurant mainly due to the images of some kind of hipster vegan joint that any restaurant with the word "fresh" in the title conjures up in my mind. However, I couldn't have been more wrong. The food at Tandoori Fresh can be best described as traditional spicy Pakistani/Indian cuisine served casually with a twist of classy presentation. That is to say, the atmosphere in the restaurant is very casual, with an ordering counter and soda fountain like a fast food restaurant, but the food presentation and quality of a nice sit down Indian restaurant. There is a special that I've ordered at both lunch and dinner time which includes a chicken dish, vegetable dish, rice, naan, and unlimited soda for $9.99. If you eat Pakistani or Indian food on a regular basis, you know that this is a very competitive price, even for the more takeout style Indian restaurants. I hate to be cliche or predictable, but the chicken tikka masala is the best thing on the menu! If you can handle spiciness, the creamy, rich, orange colored, yogurt based masala sauce that blankets the tender tandoori chicken hits the spot every time! But creamy and rich can only go so far. The perfect pairing with the tikka masala is, in my opinion, an order of spicy, bright, zesty aloo palak (saag aloo). This spinach dish offers clean spicy flavor with chunks of hearty tender potatoes throughout. The dishes are served from small black individually portioned bowls placed neatly in a row on a long rectangular white plate, alongside a neatly potioned scoop of steaming basmati rice. The naan is average, however, and I have had small black, sand-textured pieces of grit, likely from the tandoor, in my naan on two separate occaisions which was a bit of a turn off. Aside from that, the food is very delicious and high quality, especially for the price you pay.
(4)Janice J.
3.5 stars for food, rounded up for friendly staff. It's a little confusing to find - in the shopping center on the corner of Harbor + Adams, facing Harbor. Was really happy and impressed when I first tasted the food (chicken tikka masala and aloo palak) and discovered it was actually spicy. The lunch value meal is a pretty good deal, though the entrees are small portions and it is mostly rice and naan. Was disappointed with the naan, which was doughy and burnt; kind of like the worst pancake you could ever taste. The chicken in the masala looked, felt and tasted like leftover tandoori - rather than being tender and stewed, the meat was bright orange, dry and crusty; letting this pass because the sauce was good but it definitely would be a send-back at a more formal eatery. Would like this place a lot more if they had a chutney bar.
(4)Jessica O.
service was good and food was average. i wouldn't go out of my way to come here again though. pricing was decent. i ordered the beef and my gf orderd a "spicy" chicken dish that wasn't that spicy. the Naan bread wasn't anythin gto write home about.
(3)Master C.
Food is good. Owner's attitude is bad. Advise for owner: change your attitude towards your customer, or you won't have any customers to give bad attitude.
(1)Justin S.
I tried their $8.99 Fresh Value Meal. I got Chicken Tikka Masala and Aloo Ghobi. It came with naan (flat bread), rice and a drink. The food was really good. The only thing I would change is making the portions bigger. They gave me enough naan and rice, but I could have eaten more Chicken Tikka Masala and Aloo Ghobi. This may just be because I'm accustomed to eating Indian food (I know this place is technically Pakistani food) at a buffet though. A word of caution though - be careful ordering the food spicy because they make it really spicy. I love spicy food but this messed with my stomach a bit. It's four hours later and I still feel the effects. The place was empty. They only recently opened so I'm guessing they will have to build up a customer base. Hopefully they don't fail because their food is actually good! Also, if you like Indian food I suggest trying Haveli Indian Cuisine in Tustin. They have a really good buffet that costs $9 at lunch time (11:30 - 2:30). I highly recommend them. Check them out here on Yelp.
(4)Rin N.
Yay! I'm a fan. This place is a great place to take someone who wants to adventure different foods. I've tried a few Indian restaurants and this place is the one that pleased me the most. They don't put too much spice in the food that too overwhelm but not bland. I tried their value meal with rice, chicken tikka masala with a side of lentils soup and a huge piece of fresh out of the oven naan. The best part is to dip the naan into the chicken curry hmmm~ me gusta. The chicken pieces are super tender and the sauce is heavenly. They also got the best lentils soup, really tasty and very light. Other places often make it too thick and put too much spices in it that sometimes makes me feel kinda sick. Service was pretty good and the guy behind the counter sometimes come to my table and check up if we need anything or like the food. The place and restroom are very clean. I have to take off one star because of the price. $9.99 for the value meal is a bit on the pricey side to me. Portion is fulfillable though. I'll be back to try other stuffs on the menu.
(4)Ashley S.
Still coming here, and still the best Indian food in Costa Mesa! Always consistent and the service is amazing!
(5)Kevin R.
The food is pretty darn good. The service is good as well. The price to portion ratio is not my favorite. I just don't feel like you get that much food for what you pay. The chicken Korma is one of my favorite India dishes, but here it is on the bone and its brown meat and I barely got any meat from my 3 pieces. The masala and naan are bomb though! Overall good food, but increase the portions and it will be 5 stars.
(3)Lawrence C.
I thought the food was more like a 3.5 stars, but I didn't really like the structure of the restaurant for some reason. It was kind of fast foody, but also a sit-down type restaurant. It has a nice interior and the guy serving was nice enough. The naan was really good, and so was the chicken tikka masala. Everything else was fairly bland though.
(3)Heina D.
I had heard of this place and decided to take a group of coworkers with me to try it out. I am Indian and so my standards might be a bit higher than others'. The person who took our order was very nice but he did have the weird habit of calling all of the younger females in the store by terms of endearment like "sweetie"/"sweetheart/"dear." I know he wasn't being creepy and maybe it's a cultural thing, but it did strike me as a tad bit odd. The food took a little bit to come out but not too long. I appreciated that all of our five orders came out within 2-3 minutes of each other so that we could eat together. I got the veggie Fresh Value meal with aloo gobi and saag paneer along with the garlic naan. There is no upcharge to add garlic or sesame naan to your Fresh Value meal, so that's a big plus. The saag paneer was alright, as was the aloo gobi; it could have been more far more flavorful, especially as veggies need more in the way of spices than meat, which has a naturally savory taste. Still, it wasn't overly greasy and was tasty. What bumped up this review from 3 to 4 stars is the NAAN. Holy crap, the naan! It's soft, flaky, tender, flavorful, with a slightly crisp outside: it's everything a naan should dream of being. Between that and the very reasonable Fresh Value deal (unlimited refill soda included), I feel good enough to recommend this place. The food isn't bad at all but if you're expecting more flavorful and spicy food, I would go down Bristol and check out one of the two places down that way instead.
(4)Amy W.
This place offers some of the most amazing Indian/Pakistani food. It offers addictive flavors and consistent food. I normally order food to go and they always make sure that the food is ready on time. The staff is very friendly and accommodating. My favorite dishes include: Nihari (for authentic spice lovers), Chicken Tikka Masala, Daal (Lentils), Bihari Kabob, Garlic and Sesame naan. They offer a variety of dessert dishes and all of them are made fresh and very flavorful. Their huge portions separate this place from any other comparable place. Some portions can easily feed two people. This place is slightly unique and DOES NOT offer free mediocre salads, however sells it as a separate item, which helps customers to expect higher quality of paid food. Overall, I give 4 stars for great food and very satisfying customer experience.
(4)Matteo G.
Awesome food! Fresh and tasty. It was just a bit more expensive than expected. I had the shrimps with rice and the naan bread. Amount was enough!
(4)Kristen C.
clean, decent atmosphere, good food! For indian food, this is one of my favorite places to go, just because of the bang for your buck. The 9.99 dinner deal is AMAZING. I love the chicken tikka masala and the naan was delicious. The only thing I would have to complain about was the server was being kind of pushy with us. My friend and I came here to catch up and ever 10 minutes the waiter was asking us if we needed a box... EVEN THOUGH THE PLACE WAS RELATIVELY EMPTY. SIGHH if not for that I would have given this place 5 stars.
(4)Mehmet A.
Tandoori Fresh is amazing! Simply the best Indo-Pakistani Cuisine in Orange County. Their naan's are great, and they can adjust the spiciness of the food if you desire. My favorite is sheekh kebab with garlic naan. If you are in to vegetables, don't pass garbanzo beans! You'll love it with Rice and Yogurt souce.
(5)Meredith W.
Fast Indian food not served buffet style :) Tandoori fresh is in between your typical sit down Indian restaurant and a buffet style place. The decor is sort of Indian restaurant meets yogurt shop. I had their $8.99 special which was definitely a value. You get a choice of two dishes with basmati rice, your choice of naan, and a drink. I had their saag paneer, a chickpea carrot dish and the garlic naan. I love saag paneer and theirs met the mark (It's a creamed spinach with chunks of paneer - an Indian cheese). The chickpea dish was good too - savory and delicious. The naan was served hot and nice and garlicy. The guy working here was super nice too. I like this place and will definitely be back :)/
(4)Elizabeth C.
Get the lamb dish! OMG - and cheap - very clean and I'm glad that I didn't come out of the restaurant before watching a play smelling like curry! Great food presentation as well!
(4)Erich B.
Tandoori Fresh is deservedly highly rated on Yelp. I'm not from the Costa Mesa area, but while I was down here shopping with friends, Tandoori Fresh was one of the highest rated Indian restaurants. As far as the food is concerned everything we ordered was excellent (garlic naan, fish karahi, chicken tikka masala, tandoori fresh mixed platter, rice, tikka sauce); but what really spurred me to write this review and give 5 stars was the service: the gentleman working the counter/tables the evening of 25-January-2013 was incredibly nice and helpful. He was kind enough to guide my friends and me through ordering (we really didn't know what we wanted, and he helped us save money through specials), was very quick with special last minute orders after we sat down, and even split our checks automatically (though, entertainingly enough, we wanted it all on one, which was no problem for him). It was sort of amazing seeing a restaurant full of happy customers that was essentially served by only one person. Specifically about the food: tastes AMAZING, just spicy enough to know its hot, without burning your mouth, and when you order, you're not just getting dinner, you're getting tomorrow's lunch as well
(5)Lowell S.
This is the best Pakistani restraunt in the area. Friendly service and the food is extreamly fresh. You have to have the "Chicken Tikka Masala" this dish is off the charts along with the fresh garlic bread.
(5)David W.
Go for Saturday lunch. Love the sesame naan. Food is excellent though you might want to grab a large cup for water. Very salty. Large portions. My wife and I split a lunch. Best samosas I've had. Taste like spring rolls not real doughy and heavy. Please enjoy.
(4)Rachel M.
Ordering was a great experience. Counter help was exceptional. Knowledgable about dish ingredients & origins. Suggestions: Bus tables more frequently. The smell & appearance is not appealing. There was a dirty 6 top for 35mins. Change your floor soap. Stickyicky. It's just kinda annoying to walk on/listen to. More staff. 1 guy couldn't keep up on Sat at 9pm. However, for a busy night our FOH person did it all, slowly but well. He checked in w our table 3x after it slowed down. Great dinner- will def be back on a slow night :)
(4)Vy P.
What a great local find! My boyfriend and I are a couple of Indian cuisine freaks. We try to visit one of our local Indian spots once a week. I was thrilled to come across this new place, not too far from my home. The name checks out because all of their dishes taste incredibly fresh. And, on top of all that, the service is great. They are friendly and truly care about the quality of the food they serve as well as their customers even though it is the kind of place where you order at the counter first. When we visited today, the server there frequently checked in on us. He even brought us a small plate of biryani on the house because we wanted to order it originally, but they were out at that time. There's a great combo meal that includes two portions of any main item, rice, naan, and a soft drink. I generally go with the chicken tikka masala and the saag paneer. The tikka masala is incredible. It's tangy and perfectly spicy. The sauce is creamy and thick, where other restaurants tend to make it too bland and soupy. And the biryani ... it's perfect! It wasn't overcooked and didn't taste like it was dried and had been out for a while like some other places. My only complaint, the naan is good -- but a bit too thick and doesn't have that traditional flat bread texture. The wait can be a bit long if you arrive around dinner time -- but you can be sure that everything is made fresh to order and comes out hot!
(4)Alexander N.
chicken tikka masala tandoori mixed plate delicious. :)
(5)Rajat J.
I've eaten at Tandoori Fresh twice. The food is pretty good, although the selection is on the small side. I took my mom the second time. She was a little disappointed because everything she really wanted on the menu was made from beef. Also the two times I have gone, even though it clearly states that the biryani can be chicken, lamb or beef, they have informed me that they are only serving chicken on that day. As far as I can tell, there is only one guy who works the counter, and while he is friendly, if you go at the wrong time, it'll take 15 min just to order your food. Yesterday I waited 10-15 min just to pay my check and leave. As I said though, the food is good for the price, and I'll probably eat there again.
(4)Hema K.
THE best briyani in OC hood. Also their fresh value meal is good for those who wanna try veggie and meat item. Texture of the rice is perfect.. not sticky and not dry. Not a big fan of their bread though. Its very rubbery even when its fresh. Other than that service is good, quality of the food is awesome and DO mention yelp's check in offer before you are billed :)
(5)Andrea L.
Very good Tikka Masala!
(4)Jingwen G.
Just an OK Indian restaurant. Nothing special, but little stones are inside the garlic naan, except that dish, others are fine.
(2)Miladie N.
The food was terrible. It looked nothing like the photos! Nothing!! Dry. Hard. Tasteless. Pretty sure it was leftovers that had been nuked in microwave. Two bites and then in the trash. Say goodbye forever to this customer.
(1)Kay D.
For tasty, cheap, and high quality Indian food, this place is hard to beat. They have a rockin' lunch special: for $9 you get to choose two entrees from their special menu and it comes with rice, naan, and a fountain drink. Otherwise, you can order an entree a la carte for about $7-9 and it comes with nothing (but you get more food). I had the chicken tikka masala (my "go-to" dish) and the channa masala at the recommendation of the waiter. Both were delish! Their menu is both carnivore and vegetarian friendly, so everyone is welcome! They also have an assortment of desserts, which I unfortunately did not have enough room to try. But the naan....OH THE NAAN. So fluffy and fresh and amazing. Mmmmmm...... I came here on a Friday for lunch, and what I found to be odd was the strange and awkward silence that seemed to fill the restaurant. There was some Indian music playing in the background, but it still seemed very quiet. I think if they worked on the acoustics in here to make it a little less echo-ey I wouldn't feel like I had to lower my voice in order to chat with my friends. Otherwise, what a lovely place!
(4)Kunney T.
Waiter: (in a British accent) Let me know if you need anything else. Random White Girl (RWG): Do you go to the beach a lot? Waiter: Not really. Why? RWG: You're really brown. Yeah, I can hear your silent groan all the way over from here too. Reminds me of that scene from Swingers - "is he nice, is he brown, is he clean,invite him in Mikey!" Anyway, this IS OC, so let's not act so surprised. Like other places trying to re-create bay area institutions, Tandoori Fresh is to Naan N' Curry as Berkeley Dog is to Top Dog. It's a simple curry joint where you order up front, get your curry and naan/bread delivered to you,and once you're done, off you go. Unless you love one particular item, the most economic choice is to check in, get the combo (two small dishes, naan, rice, and soda) for about $8.20 As much as I miss Naan N' Curry, this place just doesn't do it. The naan is made unevenly, to a point where I question whether it is still considered a flat bread. The samosas, like Anna Kournikova, is all looks and no substance. The chicken tikka masala is solid, but then again, has anyone ever had BAD chicken tikka masala? That dish has enough cream and butter to cloud any person's judgment. I would rather head up to Cerritos or down to Laguna HIlls (to a super secret hole in the wall), hence the three stars. Definitely not a destination spot.
(3)Jeanette Y.
Love Tandoori Fresh, their "Fresh Meals" and their service! My boyfriend and I frequent this spot, I have a hard time deviating from my normal selections of Chicken Tikka Masala and Saag Paneer with garlic naan - even though I'm well aware there are many other tasty options. The guys that work there know my order and I just tell them I'll have the usual. The Chicken Tikka Masala comes with tandoori chicken which has been slow cooked and is super moist, the masala has a complex flavor structure and is always and I mean always to-die-for delicious! The saag paneer comes with friend paneer - I always order my food spicy and indeed it is! :) Everyone that works here is so extremely friendly and fun to talk to, even the owner comes out and greets us every few trips One time they even offered to put on a hindi film for me from start to finish in their restaurant. If you haven't tried this place already, give it a go - I'm pretty sure you'll love it!
(5)Lexi L.
I'm so glad I finally found a great Indian place! Chicken tikka masala -Yummy, creamy and Spicy!!!( Hottest tikka masala I ever had) Garlic naan - Too thick for my taste. Could be a little thinner. Aloo Gobi - Tasty, Spicy. Veggies weren't mushy like many other places. Rice - Too dry. I wish they make them better. Chutney(Green sauce) - Meh, too watery and bland. Oh, 1 more thing - Soda was flat. Great customer service was a plus! I will be back again for sure.
(5)Nirina G.
When you are the minority in the restaurant, because Indian's are the majority in there, you know you're eating good Indian food! Their Samosas are to die for; both the veggie and the meat samosas! Their naan is legit naan! Their chicken (every kind) is amazing! My boyfriend loves their lamb dish! Everything is pretty dang spicy. Even if you ask for no spice, after a while it gets spicy, haha! I love spice, but my boyfriend can't handle it. We have only ever gotten the dessert that looks like donut holes soaked in a rosewater syrup. They are so good! Apparently they also have a rosewater fruit punch type of drink. I only found this out because one night I just had to ask the group of Indian men sitting near us what they were drinking and if Tandoori's food was authentic. They said "it's pretty darn close" (in their Indian accents). =) I go here at least once or twice a month, and I never regret it. Nothing compares!
(5)K T.
A great hole in the wall place! Atmosphere is not bad. The food is OUTSTANDING. They have a great daily special but you gotta try the Karachi....a fantastic Pakastani dish that will take you on a wonderful journey. I'll be coming back to this place all the way from my home in Dallas.
(5)Fariyad F.
the best indian food around. go here and order anything and i'm pretty sure if you don't like it they will give you your money back. but the catch is this....YOU CANT SAY YOU DON'T LIKE IT. i had to ask the guy who is always there and running the place, if his mom was back there cooking. no seriously....this is like mom's home cooking mixed into a trendy style of placement. by far .... THIS PLACE IS FIRST CLASS!!! The service is top notch and the guys there will always be there to take care of you if you need ANYTHING! they know my face because im there once a week atleast! can't help it the food is THAT good
(5)Matthew C.
Clean, modern, very tasty food. $8 for naan, main, vegetable, white rice, soda. Quite a steal. $40 for family of 4.
(4)Frankie G.
I am not sure where the high ratings are coming from but here we go. 1. Veggie Sommosas - Bought from the supermarket with mash potato filling. ARe you kidding me! 2. Saag Paneer - The paneer was old and dried out - Yuck. The saag was actually pretty good. 3. Chicken Tikka Marsala - Please say it was chicken! The curry had a funny taste that was not funny at all. 4. The Naan had crunchy crystals in it. It wasn't salt so what the heck was it?
(1)Brandon L.
Food: 25 - Very Good/Excellent. Decor: 20 - Clean & Casual, Crisp Minimalist Decor. Service: 21 - Casual Dining/Very Nice Friendly Atmosphere. Order at the counter/food is then brought to your table. Cost: Moderate $7-$10 dishes per person. Payment: Accepts Major Credit Cards. Dress: Casual. Hours: Monday thru Saturday: 11am - 10 pm. Closed Sundays. Features: Dine In, Take Out Available, Catering Services. "Nothing would be more tiresome than eating and drinking if god had not made them a pleasure as well as a necessity." ~ Voltaire One thing about living in Orange County and Southern California in general is the abundance of amazing food and fantastic dining. There is just so much to enjoy and experience. From its elegant formal dining to the casual hole-in-the-wall, there is something here for everyone. Tandoori Fresh is somewhere in between and definitely doesn't disappoint, at least not for me and I came in with no expectations. The first thing you notice is the pseudo-modern minimalist decor and casual atmosphere. It's like a very nicely done mom and pop eatery. The staff was very friendly, helpful and happy to be there, which is always a good sign. We ordered at the counter from a simple menu that included appetizers, curries, vegetarian dishes and, of course, their signature tandoori dishes. I've been here about three times since Tandoori Fresh first opened their doors. Don't let the simplicity of the menu fool you, there is nothing simple about the dishes at all. Each is a complex mix of wonderful pakistani-indian fusion cuisine that is as pleasing to the mouth as it is to the eyes. I tried the Tandoori Fresh Mixed Platter, which includes a moderately-sized mixture of tandoori chicken, chicken tikka and thier signature seekh kebab. I also tried a couple other signature dishes, the Fish Karahi and Shrimp Karahi, which are both stir-fried with tomatoes, onions, green chilies, garlic, ginger and topped off with fresh cilantro. Each dish is served with a healthy plate of steamy plain basmati rice or freshly baked to order nan bread. Everything was beautifully plated, looked and smelled as delicious as it tasted. My Fish Karahi was perfect and I am very picky about my seafood. The fish was moist, tender and nicely infused with its tomato, garlic and ginger sauce. Likewise, with my Shrimp Karahi. I was also pleasantly surprised by how light each dish was. By this, I mean that it was filling, but didn't leave me with that bloated heavy feeling. Everything just tasted very fresh and you could tell a lot of TLC was put into each dish. Kudos to the chef, who was a very nice gentleman whom you could tell absolutely loves and enjoys what he does from the first moment you meet him. For the price and casual atmosphere, you wouldn't expect such wonderful fare. This is a rare gem that I hesitantly recommend, only because I want to keep this place all to myself. All in all, I have to say that this is one of my new favourite places to eat when I'm in the mood for a nice casual taste of Indian and Pakistani fusion cuisine...or just hankering for some really good food. It's always a good feeling when you find a nice place to dine. Don't just take my word for it, though. Go try it for yourself. For me, however, this place is a real gem and most definitely an A+ find.
(5)Kitty L.
Best Indian restaurant in town. Enough said!! Just goooo and you will be in Indian Paradise. Sooo good. No need for talking....just eat. LOL it us made fresh yo order and the staff is super friendly. It is family operated and the food is as authentic as it gets. Yummmmm!!!
(5)Jessica H.
I became slightly afraid because the last time I came here, it was dead... if this place goes out of business, I will ball my eyes out! Get your ass to this place! I first came here based on yelp recommendations, but went totally out of range and got the fish something or other. Not terrible, but not great. I was determined to find out what the fuss was about. So, I went with the popular recommendation: Chicken Tikka Masala. OMFG. This is the most flavorful, spicy, delicious, & unusual thing your taste buds will ever get their grip on. I heard from an Indian friend that this isn't a true indian dish, but rather something the Indians created to please the English. Well DAYUMMM, they did a good job! GET IT. I come back here every week or so to get my fix, and the employees here are very friendly & engage in witty conversation with you. Important side note: It'll take around 10-15 minutes for your food. Order ahead by phone. Ask for the chicken tikka masala with rice, no naan (its just extra money & calories for the naan). Its around $13, & is PLENTY for 2 servings.
(4)Gaurav H.
Average indian food. Come here only if you can stand the rudeness of the guy at the counter.
(1)T W.
Ok. Food-2 stars. Service-5 stars. Someone told me this place was amazing (I was craving masala) so I drove here tonight. On the way I called and placed an order. The guy who I talked to was really nice considering how unfamiliar I was with the menu. I so appreciated his patience--usually people kind of sigh or get annoyed when you call and are unsure of your order. He suggested the value meal which we got-Chicken Tikka Masala, rice, and some spinach potato thing. Chicken Tikka Masala-fourish stars. I mean the sauce was REALLY good. I wish it wasn't quite as spicy. But my biggest problem with it was the chicken was very sparse and laden with fatty spots and the portion of the masala was so small in comparison with the rice! Half of the container was filled with rice, then a quarter with spinach and a quarter with chicken tikka masala. Spinach and potatoes-1 star, couldn't eat them. Rice- fine I don't like rice though. Maybe I'll come back and not order the value meal so I can get more chicken and just dip some naan in. Ya, I'm pretty sure I'll come back.. Also, it would be great if they could offer a masala dish with just white meat!!!!!
(4)Nicolette M.
It was ok for the $. Small menu and no Mango Chutney?! How does anyone eat Indian food w/out Mango Chutney?! Other than that, no complaints. Oh yeah no alcohol makes Nico sad face
(3)Elle G.
I did not like this food at all. It does not have traditional flavors. YUCK! Where are they getting their recipes?
(1)Michelle A.
Been reading about this place on yelp, but Indian food is a little exotic for our usual tastes. So friends recommending it was the push to try a little tikka. The portions are pretty big, enough for two to share. We made the mistake of ordering separately, it was a bit much to eat on my own, but that's k. I ordered korma because I watch a lot of Ramsay's shows and he always talks about chicken korma. I guess I don't watch too closely because I thought it would be a creamy soup, but turned out to be a little more on the greasy hot mess side and really not my taste. And taking that home was a mistake because it smelled like garbage. To the positives: chicken tikka masala was the yummy, creamy curry that I desired and could eat all day. Thank goodness for my bf's order. The aloo gobhi is our vegetarian friends favorite. And the garlic naan just do it, not as soft as I thought it would be, but so good with curry. For the people talking about service, it's ok, but I feel like they are set up awkwardly. We stand in line to order, not pay, and then sit down to be served. On a Friday night, there were barely any clean tables available. It shouldn't have any table service in the first place. They should just be an order and take to your table kind of place because there aren't enough workers to accommodate it. Although we appreciate the effort.
(3)Dinko T.
By far the best Tikka Masala I've ever had. This is my favorite Indian place. Vipul and the guys have always been very friendly towards me. I have a hard time believing the review about bad service.
(5)Michelle V.
Tandoori Fresh is a refreshing change from the typical orange county palate. I find myself usually going for asian,mexican, or american food and i'm glad to find somewhere that is so exotic and different. RECOMMENDATIONS: Chicken Tikka Masala: great curry like sauce with just the right amount of spice and a hint of coconut Shrimp Karahi: great mix of spices makes this dish incredibly savory! Garlic Naan Bread: made fresh to order!! the garlic is fragrant and the bread is light and airy. I suggest getting two orders of this and dipping it in the Masala sauce Food takes a minute to come out but definitely worth the wait!
(5)Jeff K.
i have nothing to say about the food it self. the food is effing bomb. i order the chicken tikka masala and the gf got the tandoori fresh mixed platter. we also order a side of garlic naan. the portions were just right and the food was neither too greasy or heavy. the chicken tikka masala was amazing. dipping the naan into the cause was perfect. i swear the naan and the masala sauce was a match made in heaven. the tandoori fresh mixed platter is also a great pick if you are indecisive. it included an assortment of meats, all wonderfully flavored. some of the pieces of chicken were kinda dry, but it was bearable. the service was great. the cashier brought us the food and ask if everything was alright. my only gripe about this place is the cost of our meals. everything added up to 30 bucks with tip included. don't get me wrong, the food is great, but for the price i pay, i expect someone to wipe my ass at the end of the meal. the parking lot in front of the place is usually packed. so you gotta park on the shady and dark looking street = elm ave.
(3)Merrill M.
Wow...this place is surprisingly great. My review is for to-go maybe next time we will dine in but regardless its all about the food. I ordered two FVM, fresh value meals which consists of one choice of an entree, a side and rice with two large pieces of naan bread. I ordered the chicken tikka masala with alogoobi (cauliflower and potatoes) and another one with tandoori chicken with aloopalak ( spinach and potatoes stew). I gave my wife the tandoori chicken which was great a bit on the dry side but the flavor was great. The chicken masala was so good the wonderful curry yogurt flavor was outstanding and the heat was a bit intense. I love how spicy it was but my mouth kept telling me to eat more regardless of the heat. The intensity just makes you want to have more...... ummmm Im still talking about food right. ;) It wasn't too bad after a few sips of coke I was ready for more. I wasn't able to finish it but by 10pm I came back to it and even if it was cold I finished the whole thing. SOOO GUUDD!!! I wish I had more naan bread. The bread was a bit burnt but I just peeled off the burn marks and it still tasted great. The naan was the perfect combination with the curry sauce. I literally wanted to poor the sauce over the whole piece of naan. The rice was a bit bland and could use maybe some salt or a sprinkle of lemon or finely chopped cilantro....something refreshing. But you still cant be $8 for a whole meal drinks and all. I was stuffed and my mouth was on fire but it was a good kind of burn. =P I must agree with my cousins Chris D. The only downside is the wait but like what they say good things come to those who wait.... Check it out this place is pretty damn good.
(4)chi n.
It's dinner time and I had an insane craving for Indian food so my bf checked yelp and off to Tandoori Fresh we went. We arrived and scoped out the menu display on the wall to see what was offered. The person working there that night was extremely helpful with suggesting the combo instead of the individual dishes we were planning to order. He really took the time to suggest what to order and what side dish to pick with it. Alas, I went with the chicken tikka masala and aloo paleak and my bf chose the tandoori chicken with veggies. Both combos came with a drink and a huge plate of naan bread all for $8.99/person. We patiently waited and salivated looking at other customers enjoying their dinners. When our food finally arrived, holy crap.. Lots of naan bread and good portion sizes! They weren't skimpy with the basmati rice so that's a huge plus. Oh and I'm pretty sure their customer service beats all the snazzy fancy restaurants out there. I'm just saying... :)
(4)Jennifer N.
Tandoori Fresh is delicious! I recommend the Lamb Korma and the Tandoori Fresh Mixed Platter. The meats were so tender. I will definitely be back to try some of their vegetarian dishes.
(4)Robert. A.
Finally tried Tandoori Fresh yesterday, we had the chicken tikka marsala, savory, a little spicy and excellent. We also had the Seekh kabob which is ground beef barbecued on a skewer, very good. Side dishes were aloo palak, which is potatoes and spinach in tandoori spices and we also had mixed vegetables. All tasted great with the naan bread. Tons of sauce on everything and very flavorful, it goes well with the naan bread which is warm and thick like pizza. The rice is perfect. This is a good place to get it to-go or a casual lunch. This is going to be on the weekly or bi weekly rotation for sure, I loved it and I'm already craving it again! Try it you'll like it!
(4)Matt R.
Wish I had tried this place when it first opened. I've certainly been missing out. I haven't eaten a lot of Indian food in my life, but this place rocks. $8.99 special is the way to go. You get an entree, rice (a lot), veggie, naan and a drink. I got the chicken tika masala, which was awesome. It had a red curry sauce which was medium spice, very forward spice flavor with little linger. The chicken was well cooked and fork tender. There was a lot of sauce. There wasn't a ton of chicken, but it's more than enough for one serving. The rice is lightly seasoned and delicious. A lot more than I needed. I got the aloo palak, which is spinach and potato. It was awesome. I'm not a huge veggie fan, but it was great. Very creamy and tasty. Will get that again. For the naan I chose the garlic. Probably could have gone with the plain. Not that the garlic was bad, but it was probably unnecessary, since the entree was so flavorful. Next time I would get the plain. Although I could have practically made a meal of the naan itself. Service was great. The guy at the counter could tell it was our first time and helped steer us towards something to our liking. He was very friendly and nice to talk to. The restaurant was impeccably clean. It's a tiny little place, but nice and comfortable. I would definitely return here, and plan to, soon. Highly recommended!
(5)Liza G.
I am so happy we found this place on Yelp! We have had bad luck with a string of Indian restaurants in Santa Ana and Irvine. Some have steam trays with food that has been sitting out for god-knows-how-long and others have food that just does not taste good. Well, Tandoori Fresh is where it's at. First of all, the prices are amazing. That $8.99 deal for a meat dish, a veggie dish, rice, naan, and a drink is fabulous. The service was great - the owner answered my questions on the phone and was very helpful at the counter as well. He chatted with us throughout our meal. Not annoyingly - he didn't hover or anything, but he was very friendly. The food itself was the best Indian I have had in OC. My date and I both got the chicken tikka masala and we loved it - chicken was tender and the gravy had the best flavor with just a little bit of spice. My side was aloo gobhi (potatoes with cauliflower) and the spices in it were tasty. The consistency of the veggies let me know they hadn't been sitting out all day and they were freshly cooked. They still had a bite to them and the spice combo was good. My date got the chickpeas and I think they were int he same sauce as my veggies. Also yummy and not at all mushy. The naan was thicker than I'm used to, but still very good (especially when dipped in the sauce from the chicken!) I got a mango lassi with my meal ($2 extra) and it was also amazing. Yogurty flavor - not overpowered by mango and not too sweet. I am already craving this place again. I know I will be back.
(5)H P.
Had the special with chicken tikka masala and palak paneer. The chicken was tender, flavorful with the perfect amount of spice. The spinach was perfect. The garlic naan was garlicky and perfectly crisp. The restaurant was probably the cleanest casual eatery I have ever seen, and the server (manager?) was attentive, timely, polite and helpful. For such a good deal, I didn't expect any sort of presentation. However, the food was served artfully and creatively presented. Great Casual Indian food, we will definitely return!
(4)Josh K.
This place is bomb. A little pricey if you dont get the lunch special but there is a 10% off check-in coupon for yelp so if you're reading this use the coupon!
(4)Hanif O.
I visited Tandoori Fresh today - it's my second time there though I didn't know that going in. I came here a year ago and totally forgot about it. A co-worker suggested Tandoori Fresh when I mentioned I was looking for another Indian/Pakistani restaurant to try. I came here with a colleague and we both chose the combo special which is the choice of one meat, one veg, rice, naan and a drink all for the rock-bottom price of $10 a plate. We added on a meat samosa app and a chicken tikka as our "dessert". He chose the seekh kabab and chana and I had the chicken tikka masala and saag paneer. All dishes were very flavourful but the chicken tikka masala was particulary good. I has asked for it to be made extra spicy and it had a good amount of kick. The saag had a complex and earthy flavour while the chana was decent (a little more watery than I expected). The naan was fluffy and moist - just the way I like it and the rice was ... um rice - it did the job. La piece de resistance was the chicken tikka that was moist, hot (we ordered it after we were mostly done our food) and extremely tasty. The decor was nice and bright and the service was excellent. I really wanted to give this place five stars but ended up giving them 4 since 4.5 isn't an option.
(4)Arash M.
Good food for the price and amazing service. Guys here are working hard
(4)K G.
I'd come once before and gotten take out, and wasn't *too* impressed, although being Indian and having parents who used to own a restaurant, I am sort of a tough critic of Indian food. But, my husband wanted to check out the restaurant, so we went in. Eating in is definitely the way to go here. The food takes a few extra minutes, but it is scalding hot (temp), which is awesome, and really does taste very freshly made. The guy at the counter is an absolute doll and was very patient with us. He gave us a little discount for being first-time restaurant visitors and also threw in some extra rice on the house when it was clear we were running out. This place also gives 10% off for Yelp checkins so we hooked up some nice discounts. We ordered the chicken tikka (BBQ version), white meat. It was a fun bright red and the chicken was very tender and not dry. The channa masala was EXCELLENT. Also a lot of heat, but the flavor was perfection. The daal was really good, though I'm more a fan of the black daal than yellow. Had fresh tomatoes in it. The garlic naan was nice and chewy and tasty, generous on the garlic but not so generous on the butter. The seekh kababs also had a lot of heat and were juicy and delicious. The flavor, again, was really fantastic. If I'm being picky: Naan is too thick/dense. It tastes good, but it's more like Greek pita. Food is HOT (pepper). I like it spicy, but almost every dish had a *little* too much heat on it for Indian food. Channa masala had some unnecessary extra oil. Definitely will go back again, and take my Prilosec first in prep of the fire-hot goodness. What a cute, friendly little establishment, and they clearly put a lot of Indian love into their cooking.
(5)Hank X.
The food here is ok and service is average (maybe even a bit impersonal) but if you're just looking for a quick casual Indian meal, then you might be satisfied. Overall, nothing that's going to really draw me back when so many other options are available.
(3)Robin W.
Lightning did not strike twice here. Went back and had the same exact meal, but this time, to go. I stressed no cilantro and was assured this was no problem (diffferent guy than first time). When I got home, chopped cilantro was sprinkled liberally throughout. First strike. And it got worse. The tikka masala sauce was very oily -- pools of it -- unlike last time when it was velvety smooth. The chicken was grisly and tough and inedible. Rice was tasty but was marred by cilantro. This was not a good repeat perfromance. People need to start eating here more often. I came one day this week and it was empty, except for my group of two. For a "fast" Indian restaurant, the quality is exceptional as is the presentation. I had their lunch special ($8.99) and ordered the chicken tikka masala (there are other choices), which came with naan, rice, a side and a drink. We also started with dosas. The potato dosas were perfectly fried and not at all greasy. They are served in a cute cone-like thing with a holder for 2 sauces. The tikka masala was plentiful and nicely spicy. A few chewy bites in there. The rice was cooked well and not sticky and the naan was hot and tasty. We tried the spinach and potato side which was delicious and the chick peas which were the same. I look forward to trying more dishes. Please, come here so they can stay in business!
(2)Ralph H.
I've been looking for a descent Indian joint and I found it. Prices and food is amazing. The only criticism ihave is the food comes out way too slow when you dine in. Also, they should decide if they want to a quick order pay at the counter or sit down place. Kinda weird how they have set up now. I have gone back three times... food is worth the wait lol.
(4)Rashid R.
I have been thinking about writing a review for a while about this amazing place. One line says it all "Best Pakistani/Indian food in socal". Chicken Tikka Masala, Nihari and haleem are my favorites. Owner is super friendly and the service is awesome. They also serve good quantity of food for most of the dishes on menu. Price is reasonable. I eat at this place almost once a week and can't wait to go there next time. Thumbs up from a satisfied customer*****
(5)lipitorkid d.
Ton of reviews here so I just want to point out a few things to my friends who follow. My brother, my son, and I went there the other night. I really like the place and here's why: Chicken tikka masala- FANTASTIC! The sauce is so good. I could just dip the Naan in it all night and only do that for the meal. In fact you can order just the Tikka sauce by itself. Garlic naan- I like that it's thick- all the better to soak up the sauce. Aloo Gobi is very good. The spicy oil in the bottom is also great to soak the naan in. I'd get the Special- it's a great deal. The only thing I wish they did differently is that I wish they had a bigger selection of condiments/chutneys etc... when you get the samosas there is only one sauce and it's not spicy enough and too creamy. I want a lime condiment, a mint condiment and a tamarind condiment with my food. Then it will be perfect. Oh did I mention they have Orange Fanta and great Bollywood videos on the big screen. Nice.
(4)Brock B.
These guys are really cool and the tikka masala is spicy and tasty! I should venture into other items but I love the sauce! Thanks, Tandoori Fresh
(5)Cemone K.
Why I love this Place: 1) Chicken tikka masala is bomb. They cook the chicken in the tandoor first, then mix it into the yogurt curry sauce, thats why it has that smoky flavor. One of the best CTM I've ever had. 2) They have random items like Nihari on the menu that I never expect to see at Indo-Paki restaurants, especially fast food! On that note the Nihari is delicious here and toned down enough for non-Indians to enjoy. For those who don't know what it is, its basically a stew of beef and bone marrow with spices, think of it almost as an Indian pho haha. 3) Naan is always fat fluffly and fresh! Aloo Palak is SO GOOD, as well as the chana masala, and aloo gobi. 4) Menu is simple and easy to choose from 5) Service is fantastic, the guys who work here are very friendly and helpful. But it can be a little slow on busy days, there's not many people on staff. 6) Decor is welcoming and plating is sophisticated for a fast food place, but this is definitely a casual place. 7) ITS ALL HALAL yayyee. What I don't like: 1) Price vs. Quantity. Before, I used to think the 8.99 special was a great deal but I went back today an noticed that they decreased the portion size. I guess its good to promote smaller portions, and the combo does come with rice, naan and a drink, but I still feel that shouldn't take away from the main items. If you're not doing family style with a lot of people, then the individual dishes can get pretty pricey. 2) Lassi is always so inconsistent! I get the plain sweet lassi and mango, and every time its either Really good or Really bad. So weird. Today's Lassi tasted like milk. I should have said something. 3) Tables are placed weirdly, like too close to the walls or too close to the next table. It feels so unorganized when you walk in. Someone needs to move things around and be more efficient with the space. Still, overall this is a great place to try, and it has a lot of potential to be a hot spot. Maybe work on the pricing a bit. I'd like to see a more extensive menu, as indecisive as I am, only because I think the chefs in the back have a lot more delicious recipes up their sleeves. Also if they worked on the seating a bit and fancied up the decor, I can see this place being a nice date spot or a place for a nice dinner with friends, despite the fact that its in a strip mall. I only see men working here so maybe it just needs a woman's touch haha.
(4)David C.
SPICY! I was sweating my a$$ off eating this delicious cuisine, but that's how Indian food is supposed to be right? Authentic, unique, and extremely tasteful food. Just be ready for some spicy, because why else would you come here?
(5)Amanda N.
This place is a little tricky to find. It's facing Harbor blvd next to Maru Sushi. My boyfriend and I ordered the fresh value meal. He got the chicken korma and I ordered the chicken tikka masala. The fresh value meal comes with the entree, rice, naan, and vegetables which is actually a lot of food! And all for $8.99, plus a drink! The chicken tikka masala was yummy as ever, and the chicken korma was also good! I got to step out of my safe zone of masalas and curry dishes, and I enjoyed the chicken korma! Also, the guy who was working was incredibly generous! Two men were finished with their meal and went to the cash register to pay. The guy who was working refused their money and said, "You don't have to pay. Just please come back again. As long as you enjoyed the food, that is what matters." WOW! When my boyfriend and I wanted to tip him because we ate our to-go order there, but he refused it as well. He just wanted us to come back again, and we will!
(5)Katy O.
LOVE the fact that you can get a freshly made combo meal from this place! No buffet table is sight! I ordered an appetizer and two value meals to go for my boyfriend and I, with 4 different dishes for us to share. Since I had to wait, I upgraded my soft drink to a mango lassi. It only took a few minutes to bring it out. Mango Lassi- I was a little concerned at first because the lassi is a really bright orange color! Think of the color of boxed mac and cheese. I'm used to lassi being a pale yellow color. It definitely had the taste of fresh mango so I guess they just put some food coloring in it or something. Samosa- They were made with spring roll wrappers instead of dough? Different, but good! The mint chutney had a nice creaminess. Naan - Waaaaay fluffier that I'm used to, but it was yummy and got the job done. Will be trying the garlic next time! Rice- Had peas in it? Strange but didn't bother me Chicken Korma- I had never had this before -- only with vegetables. I didn't like it, it didn't taste anything like the veg korma I remember having. I remember veg korma having a creamy sauce, this was kind of gritty and it had a weird bite to it, I think the flavor was ginger? Aloo gobi- I loved it! Saag Paneer- Tasted like it was made from frozen spinach :-( But not terrible. Chicken Tikka Masala - EXCELLENT! It was some of the best CTM I've ever had. Deliciously creamy, with just the right amount of heat. I will definitely be coming here again but staying away from the chicken korma. Oh, the gent who works at the front is super nice! I pretty much knew all the dishes on the menu, but I overheard him being very helpful to other customers who were a little newer to Indian food.
(4)Jaime R.
Great Indian food in Costa Mesa!! My fav dish is the Chicken Tikka Masala. It's a spicier version than I'm used to, but oh so yummy! They will make it mild upon request. They have a wonderful combo for less than $10 that is more than enough food for 1 person, although, you might keep eating because the food is so good. The service is fantastic. The people working there seem to take pride in their trade. Most of guests in the restaurant were regulars. 2 guests claimed Tandoori Fresh is their new addiction. And, as far as Indian joints go, I must agree. Pros: *Can't beat the quality *Flavor, yum *Service *Large portions *Cute dine in serving dishes *Price *Can call in your order in advance *You wont find a better CM local Indian joint, trust me, I've looked *takeout Cons: *I agree with previous posts, location is an issue but there is plenty of parking in surrounding lots. *Some of the dishes are very spicy. *It is loud in the restaurant when it gets busy.
(4)Paul S.
Amazing food, good prices and nice people. The owner is always in the kitchen keeping an eye on the quality control and it shows. Every time I go the taste is perfect and everything is served hot. I just need one on south county!
(5)Amir A.
Their chicken biryani will time travel you back to Pakistan within minutes. Will definitely become a regular at the joint.
(5)Christopher V.
For the record, this isn't Indian food. It's Pakistani. I had come here with a co-worker. Dinner. Date. Whatever you want to call it. She and I packed down an appetizer and 3 main dishes. along with some mmm chai. It's hard to find good enough Indian food in Orange County. So finding a Pakistani place was a needle in a haystack. The last time I had anything good was in San Francisco. Add the Na'an bread with plain, sesame seed and garlic. pick yoiur poison. Not rubbery like other places. it's fluffy. Bihari Kebab started off the evening. Damn that beef was tender! Then the good stuff. Beef Nihari, although it may look oily, it's mearly good vegetable oil and part of the dish. the aromatic scents fill the palette with every tender bite of the beef. Chicken Kahari. another tender and delicious meal. lastly, every pakistani and indian restaurant has chicken tikka masala. this was the exception. with just enough spice, the curry sauce packs just enough punch with the tender chicken. Remember, it's great. BUT nearly every restaurant has this. explore the menu a bit. It's a very casual place, good for a quick date dinner. Nothing fancy but excellent food.
(4)Jenny A.
We tried this restaurant the other night and it was ok. The server was awesome. We walked in and were the only ones in the restaurant. He recommended we get the combo which is $8.99 and you get to pick one vegetable dish, one meat dish, comes with naan, rice, and a drink. It was a good recommendation. I got the kebabs with the spinich and my husband got Chicken Tikka Masala with the cauliflower side. The kebab was dry but the Chicken was awesome. The sauce it was in was great, had a ton of flavor. The cauliflower was extremely oily. The food was ok. I really liked the rice, it had an good flavor even when eaten on its own. I love ethnic food but this definitely wasnt a 5 star place and didnt necessarily satisfy my craving for some great Naan. Would I eat there again? Just Maybe but I wouldnt crave it that's for sure. It felt too commercial for me.
(3)Kyle C.
Food is average. Prices are higher than average. Service is well below average. The staff is rude over the phone and rude in person. It might be a cultural thing, but then again, I've had wonderful service at other Indian places. These people definitely need to take some courses in customer service. I've gone to this restaurant probably 15 times in two years and the service has always been bad. No improvement whatsoever.
(3)Erich F.
Very few restaurants inspire me to write a review on yelp, but this is one of them. I'm a white boy, but I work IT with several Halal eating Pakistani's and Indian's. That being said, I like to consider myself somewhat knowledgeable on what's good Indian/Paki food. This place serves some of the best Indian/Paki food I've had around here (especially for the price). The Masala was spicy, but not overwhelming and the chicken was tender and fresh. The wife had the Saag Panner and I had the Dal Masala as sides. Both were excellent! But the real shining spot at this place is the Naan. It was quite possibly the best I've ever eaten! Without mentioning names... Tandoori fresh is much better than the "other places" around South Coast Plaza. Don't sleep on this spot Yelpers!
(5)Casey S.
I read about Tandoori Fresh in the OC Register. My husband and I went to check it out. We ordered our usual dishes off the menu, and for the most part we really enjoyed them. I especially liked the Tandoori Chicken and the Samosas (even though they were small). We also had the Chicken Tikka and that was good, the Tikka sauce was lovely. The garlic and plain naan were also nice and came to the table nice and hot. Our two favorites were not what we're used to - the Aloo Ghobi was a little watery. I could tell the sauce had some great flavor, but it didn't come together. The Aloo Palak also seemed to be lacking a little in the flavor department, again it lacked the intensity of flavor we are used to. (Shalimar in SF or Bismillah Halal Tandoori in Buena Park, CA are two of our favorite restaurants) When it's all said and done, I think we would come back to have a couple dishes again. I think the restaurant has great service and the food gets to you quickly. The prices are very reasonable and the menu offers a nice variety.
(3)Jenn S.
This was originally a 4-star review until I started thinking about what to type and I realized the experience was second-to-none. Especially for TAKE OUT! I regularly call for take out when it comes to lunch. I happened to drive past this place yesterday and was simultaneously excited and disappointed in myself for not having noticed it sooner. I called for lunch today and the gentleman on the phone was fantastic. He was so helpful. I didn't know they had lunch specials, I was ready to pay my 20+ bucks for food I couldn't possibly finish, but he steered me the right way. He was so kind and explained the lunch special and all my options without making me feel like a nuisance. He also sped up my order because he knew I'd be there quicker than expected, and was unbelievably friendly and talkative when I arrived in person. In this world, it's REALLY nice when you feel welcome some place ... especially if you're handing over all the dollars to them! I got an entree (chicken tikka masala), a veggie dish (cauliflower/potatoes - forgive my ignorance, I don't know what it's called), rice, naan and a soft drink for a measly 9 smackaroos! Not unlike The Who, I "call that a bargain .... the best I ever had!" For such a reasonable cost, I figured the food would have to come up short in SOME way, but no. It was fantastic. The chicken was tender, and NOT mysterious in any way. The sauce juuust spicy enough and ridiculously tasty. The rice and veggies and naan ... all exactly what I wanted/expected in good Indian food. In fact ... it was so fantastic, combined with stellar service, and a welcoming personality when I arrived that I was actually moved to Yelp about it. I've been a Yelp Slackstress lately. I would highly recommend this place to people, especially if they're in the Costa Mesa area. I have tried a few small Indian places in and around Costa Mesa, and haven't been nearly so pleased. Thank you Tandoori Fresh. You've made a regular out of me. (The Price Range I chose was based on my lunch meal. My assumption is that dinner will be a bit more.) Edit: After enjoying the incredible food a few more times, which hasn't been altered at all, I've noticed the service has left a little something to be desired. A couple of visits now, I've felt like the people working would rather be watching the television they've installed than help me. Regardless, I don't go there for the service. I go there because the food is unbeatable. (8/27/2012)
(4)Dwayne S.
I took my adult kids to Tanoori Fresh 3 weeks after it opened. We ordered one of nearly half of the menu, including appetizers. We were very impressed with the flavors and quality of the food. All of us compared to similar restaurants and found the food as good or better than the best we've eaten. The staff was very friendly and efficient and if you look through the window to the kitchen you will feel good about how fresh and clean your food is prepared. The ambiance is a little to be desired....I don't mind the ordering process or the self serve fountain drinks and utensils...but the acoustics were poorly designed. There's a echo/hollowness to the space which makes quiet conversation difficult. All in all, 6 of us gave it 4 stars...you will be happy with the service and the food.
(4)Noelle S.
Finally swung by here on my way home to pick up din din for the family. I decided to get the 8.99 meals (meat, veggie, rice and bread). I went for the chicken tikka marsala and spinach with potatoes on one plate and the regular chicken tikka with the lentils on another. The Chicken Tikka Marsala was really flavorful, however there was only 4 small pieces of chicken in there and that was a way meager serving when you are sharing with two other family members. Next on the Chicken Tikka, they actually screwed up and gave us the Tandoori chicken leg instead and it was so spicy, we couldn't handle it. I am actually a huge fan of spicy and it was even too much for me. Also on the menu it doesn't even show the spicy symbol next to the Tandoori chicken, so maybe the chef just messed up. I would try this place again but might just get the food a la carte and add the rice and nan to our order. I felt like I was paying for rice and a couple of samples of meat and veggies to go with it.
(3)Walter M.
Food is flavorful, fresh, and great value for the money. Menu is simple, yet satisfying. Yeah, I'm a fan.
(4)Michael Y.
Excellent Indian food. You can tell that it is very fresh. Definitely make a point to stop in whenever I am in the neighborhood!
(5)Reptar P.
I like this place. The staff is friendly and helpful, and you can tell they are working hard to make their food fresh and accessible. The pros: great price point, fresh food, great staff. The cons: long wait time for take-out (I know that is a side-effect of freshness, but I'm impatient when it comes to take-out), and SUPER spicy food. I can handle heat, but this borders on unpleasant sometimes. I still give it a green light for anyone on the fence about going to try, but be aware of what you're getting into.
(3)Kelly H.
Good god this place has the best nan garlic bread! The servers must think I'm a pig for asking for seconds and thirds. I will be back on my next lunch break.
(5)T M.
Went there last night for dinner and came away impressed with the concept of casual dining for this type of food. Our order was served timely and hot and the taste did not let us down. The chicken tikka masala had a fresh taste and was not dry. All the sides we chose were fantastic and we are already planning our next meal in the future
(5)Cathy L.
I loved the food here. OK, I was starving and totally went nuts on the ordering, but I had leftovers for 2 more days after our meal. It was absolute heaven! I love Indian but I loved the real freshness of the food and the amazing staff. The guy who helped me was so nice and polite, makes you really want to go back Ordered: Samosas - Potato (pretty tasty little appetizers) White rice - I just love Garlic Naan - Like other reviewers, I thought it was too doughy, but still delicious w/ good flavor Raitha (yogurt w/ tomatoes, cucumbers and onions) - DELICIOUS over all the rice and other dishes. Mellows out the spiciness w/ it's own flavor. SO GOOD!! Chicken Tikka Masala - I don't eat much chicken, but it was delicious, not a lot of pieces of chicken though, but I was ok w/ that. lol Aloo Gobhi - Cauliflower and potatoes - It was delicious, a great veggie side dish Saag Paneer - This is my favorite Indian dish and I was relieved that I was NOT disappointed. I could actually taste spinach, which I LOVED b/c usually, it's just a bunch of green mush, not really tasting like the vegetable, but more the spice. I loved that I could taste the delicious spinach with the spices. Sorry this is so long, but I just loved this place. So happy I tried it!
(4)HK Y.
I was in the mood for Indian and went to Tandoori Fresh with my a buddy of mine. This was the second time I went there, first time was take out but we decided to sit and eat this time. Usually you order form the counter and they bring it out, but the girl at the counter acted as waitress and served us at our table. The service was pretty awesome. You could tell the waitress doesn't have a lot of experience but made up in effort. I think trying 110% is not good enough for this girl and I appreciate that a lot (went 30% on tip, I never do that). Even the way they wrapped up the left overs was done very well. The food is good but not the best Indian I've had. Bottom line is good food & great service.
(4)Ali C.
I would've given the place one star, but since it had a beautiful setup, it's halal, and the customer service was great, I gave it an extra. But the food was not so great. I come from San Francisco where there are excellent Pakistani/Indian restaurants; this one didn't even come close. I ate the chicken tikka masala and kababs. The chicken tikka masala was a bit too bitter for my taste buds. The kabab was alright but way too expensive for way too little. I guess my expectations are too high because the restaurants in San Francisco have spoiled me. Plus I'm Pakistani so I know when my own type of food tastes well or not. Well this is just my honest Yelp review, I don't mean any disrespect to the owner. Maybe they can use these words to improve their restaurant. Sorry for the "bad" review!
(2)Ali M.
great tasting indian food and great band for your buck. would have got 4 stars if the naan was better. Indian naan should be fluffy and light, theres was a lil too dense for me. If they would change the naan , i would go once a week . chicken tikka masala was great and gulab jamun too!!!
(3)Amanda J.
Very yummy! Came here for lunch with a co worker and food was excellent and the right amount of spice. The naan was delish and lots of garlic indeed. We also ordered the homemade ice cream. It was just as great! The place is great and people know it... It's packed at lunch time! Will be back again.
(5)Cat E.
Found this place because I was looking for lunch spots open as early as 11am. Well, if you're the first in the store, you're going to get the HOTTEST food possible. :) It took a bit for the food to cool to eat, but it was flavorful and enjoyable. The Naan came out a bit late (because we were in so early, the oven was still cold) but it was thick and fresh-baked-yeasty smelling, and perfect for sopping up what was left on my plate. I had Saag Paneer and Mixed Veggies; my lunch partner had Chicken Masala and the Dal (which seemed a little watery than I would have expected). But his chicken was fall-off-the-bone tender, and he still enjoyed both dishes. My Saag (the cheese) was a great texture, nicely toasted, and the Spinach (paneer) very flavorful. The tomato base on the mixed veggies was also nice. Will definitely return again.
(4)Steve S.
This place is awesome! It's clean, quick, friendly and the food is great!! The only thing lacking is my favorite Indian food, the Kati Roll. The menu could be a little more extensive, but everything I have had here has been great! It definitely compares with some of the great Indian restaurants I have been to in NYC. Definitely check this place out!
(5)Jen K.
Was coming from the HB side on Adams so initially had some trouble finding it, but its right next to the Japanese restaurant. Got the Fresh Value Meal of chicken tikka masala, with bhindi masala (a dish my Indian coworker introduced me to, what can I say Southeast and South Asians know how to prepare okra). Their naan is really good. I ate it all. I didn't find the tikka masala especially spicy just enough of a kick. As mentioned it's Halal friendly. Staff was very friendly and helpful. Glad to see more South Asian restaurants in the area and apparently they're opened late for OC standards.
(4)Hotjava B.
The food here is great! Everything on the menu tastes great! The service is good. One of the best Indian restaurants I have been to. 5 stars for the food but 3 stars for the atmosphere when you dine in. The acoustics in the restaurant make it hard to hear.
(4)Jimmy P.
Pretty tasty stuff! We ordered our meat and vegetable items individually, so it was a bit pricey for everything. But the food tasted great, the portion size was decent and the service was very good. Of all the things ordered, we really enjoyed the Seekh Kebab (ground beef barbecued on skewers) and the Aloo Palak (potatoes and spinach). Next time we eat here though, we'll probably go with their $9.99 Value Meal.
(4)Diane B.
We were in the neighborhood and i checked yelp for a recommendation for lunch. Decided on tandoori fresh and we couldn't have been happier! Great service. We shared kebabs and saag paneer and chicken tikka masala-- it was all delicious! Very very fresh and tasty! This will be our new must come to place.
(5)Annie D.
My sister loves this place and we finally went today. We got the meal deal. A meat dish, a veggie dish, rice, naan and a soft drink for $8.99. You order at the counter and then they bring the food to you. The service was very nice. We were the only people in there at 4pm on Wednesday afternoon for a late lunch. The naan is fluffier than I'm used to. And the garlic naan can be substituted at no extra charge but I thought it was a little bitter. We both got the chicken tikka masala. That was good. The saag with all that spinach and onion was bland to me! I actually like Natraj's Tandoori better because you get saffron rice instead of white basamati and they give you a lot of food compared to this place. Pros is they don't make it until you order it (it's not sitting in steaming trays) and they can make it mild or spicy.
(3)Audrey S.
Had dinner here and I guess after years of eating on India row in NYC, and some amazing places in LA too, I realized not all Indian is created equal. Pros- Great friendly service. Food made to order. Good Chicken Tikka Masala, and yummy naan. I like it doughy so no complaints. My cons- Really oily for both the chicken masala and beef korma. Like, way more than Ive ever seen elsewhere. Raita would be better if the chunks werent SO large. It was more like a salad than an accompaniment. Would I come back? Yea probably because its close to home, but not because its the best Indian out there. OC is not my native home, and it never surprises me how little authenticity we have available to us sometimes. Eh.
(3)Chad B.
I rated this wonderful establishment based on the value to quality ratio. I've been there approximately ten times and have introduced a number of friends to this place. The restaurant is clean and well light, adorned with a pleasant atmosphere. Every time I come here, without exception, the food is stellar! I usually get the value meal which includes: an entree, a side, a drink, and naan. It will surely be enough to fill event the hungriest of people. Best of all it's all halal (for the Ummah). The guys that work here couldn't be friendlier and they are always very prompt with service. The food takes some time to come out but keep in mind this isn't McDonalds ;) All in all, you can't go wrong with anything on the menu! So be adventurous, and be hungry!
(5)Robert S.
Great Tandoori food! Everything I got here was super yummy. Prices are descent, considering tandoori food. You will not be disappointed. Small little establishment.
(5)Dani J.
First time eating out at an indian restaurant and i loved it. The Cashier was really nice to suggest all popular food. Ask!ask!
(4)Mitchell R.
Always looking for some good Indian food......I guess I'm still looking. The food actually was fairly good. But the wait, oh my. It was a Thursday night at 7:30 and it didn't seem busy, but clearly the staff could not handle the small number of people who were there. It took over 40 minutes to get our food for two, eating in. It was painful and awkward at times to keep hearing it's coming out soon. Boy were we hungry, it only took us 15 minutes to eat once it came. While I liked the flavor, I just can't see going back based on the poor level of delivery. It's a shame the guy was nice and food flavor good. I'm local and I'm not going back.
(2)Scotty T.
saw this sign go up while I was living nearby, always wanted to give it a try --- VERY glad I did!!!! while Tandoori Fresh looks more like a "to go" place, rest assured it's offerings are worth staying and sitting down for. We had Samosas, some garlic naan, a tikka masala and a Kaleem. WOW. I mean, WOW. the tikka masala was out of this world, far exceeding my expectations. The sauce: Buttery smooth and like velvet on your tongue, while the tandoori chicken let some fantastic grilled flavor through. Absolutley mouth watering. The samosas were good, a little more crunchy than I'd like, but great flavor (we got potato) and I liked the serving with two sauces. The Naan was fresh, crunchy but chewy at the same time, very very good (and great to dip in the masala sauce! :p ) . The Kaleem had a great flavor, and was very fresh. portions were quite good for reasonable prices, and they have some regular specials as well for about $9 - a protein, naan and veg. I will definitely go back again (soon, I hope) to try some of the other dishes, but I highly reccomend you give this place a try!!!!!
(4)Ken S.
Great food. Friendly staff. I enjoy spicy food and i love how i can come here and ask for "extra spicy" and it's always perfect. When i've asked for my food to be prepared this way at other Indian restaurants.... they usually don't make it spicy enough ...or the opposite and go way overboard where its so hot, its inedible. Tandoori Fresh gets it right every time! Also their prices are a lot more reasonable than other Indian restaurants!
(5)Amanda A.
Really cool place. One of the things that keeps me from going for Indian food is the portions in which it is served and how hard it is to just pick up a single meal or stop for lunch without a ton of leftovers spoiling in my car for a pricey single meal. The food here is great... if a little on the mild side for spice. I had to ask for hotter. It is also kind of contemporary Indian food because it is really fresh, not over cooked / over boiled.
(4)Madiya M.
Anyone who's a true Indian or Pakistani will tell u that this establishment has horrible tasting food!! Even their naans taste bad!! Better off going to nooranis down the street in garden grove!
(1)Allan N.
This place def stands up to its Name. This place is FRESHHHH! Everything here is good. The lunch special is perfect. You get one meat and one vegetable dish with a side of rice for 8.00 Thats a FRESH Steal of a Meal. I go here about once a week, always leave with a full smile. If you have never eaten indian/pakistani food, this is the place to try. The place does not smell and the service is top notch.
(5)Jesse G.
Fresh Indian food for great prices and nice dining area!
(4)Ayesha L.
I got off class from OCC and was craving some good old traditional food. I walked in and it was very busy. Bollywood music videos were being played on the flat screen. I always come here and get my food to go because I have a tight schedule with school and work. They have free Wi-fi so I checked in on Facebook. They clerk was very efficient and friendly as I was waiting for my fresh value meal. The service was quick. I ordered the Chicken Tikka Masala, palak paneer, rice, and tandoori naan with a drink. This is what I always order. The tandoori naan was delish! The paneer(cheese) was not so fresh. The chicken in the masala was perfectly cooked, but the masala was a bit salty than normal. Next time I will be sitting down here and eating and probably trying something different like seekh kabab with Rogni naan (sesame) or Halwa poori for breakfast. There were some guys in the restaurant who were speaking in Punjabi with the clerk and I was surprised I understood it. It made me feel like I was in the homeland. lol This place is halal not Kosher (there is a difference) so you don't have to worry about going to a different indian restaurant and always ordering vegetarian. I like my halal. It's a healthier alternative and the animal is slaughtered with no pain in the process unlike other farms where the animals suffer. Before this place existed, I was stuck with going to Noorani(it's improved) or other horrible paki/indian restaurants with bad service and unsanitary kitchens or eating areas. So I'm glad this place came about or else I would have to drive all the way to Ashiana in Diamond Bar for deliciousness. So thank you! :)
(4)Mo L.
Good food, good prices, good service (especially for fast cas!) It's the same guy working everytime I go. The first time I went, I went with my boyfriend who's never had Indian food and the guy was so helpful explaining things to him and recommending dishes he might like. I always get the Chicken Tikka Masala and Saag Paneer combo meal. Delish!
(5)Katherine P.
This place is awesome! The service was amazing, the two guys that were there were really nice and very helpful. The mango lassi was delicious and so was the food. The only downfall I could think of was the place is so small and so sound echos off the walls it can be kinda hard to talk without having to yell if a lot of people are there (nothing can obviously be done about that). I will definitely come back!
(4)wendy p.
I had pretty much given up on the "Very Very Safe" version of Indian food here in the depths of Costa Mesa / Huntington Beach. To even consider the quest for Pakistani would never have entered my mind. As an L.A. girl, it was disappointing not being able to have a curry spicy enough to give me nightmares. Tandoori Fresh has arrived with lovely rice, hot, puffy naan, and nose drippingly spicy curried meats and veg! I am a fan! The front man is super eager to please and has a charming helpfulness when posed with what-do-you-recommend questions!
(4)Delphia W.
Let me start this by saying I have sworn my entire life until last week that I hate Indian food after a bad run in with some curry sauced hot dog-esque desert from a neighbor when I was a child. It was traumatic. And sticky. Until I had Tandoori. We were out and hungry and it was late so we turned to Yelp to help us find someplace open and delicious. We saw the reviews for this place and it sounded pretty good, so I timidly agreed to give Indian cuisine one more shot. We walked in and it was just before closing so it was pretty empty, the employee that greeted us was so nice! They have a great value meal special where you get a main dish a side and a drink for around $9. (I forget the price exactly). Also a Yelp check-in offer! I went for the Chicken Tikka Masala and then...how to choose a side? I can't even pronounce these, let alone know what they are?? I asked the guy at the counter if he would tell me what the sides are, fully expecting him to be a little irritated at making him explain a whole list of sides to me, but he was super nice and explained each dish in detail. I picked the spinach and cheese side. We got our food to go, and only had a short wait until it was ready. The guy at the counter was super nice and explained how each dish is made fresh, so it would take a little longer than some Indian restaurants that have food prepared already. It was worth the wait! I was very skeptical as I took my first bite of the chicken...but I loved it! I'm not into spicy food or curry, but this was delicious! The sauce was amazing and creamy as many have said, the rice was perfect, and the spinach side was SO tasty. Oh, and Garlic Paneer! We will definitely be back here for more!
(5)Sidra T.
My parents, husband and I went here for dinner one night and LOVED it. So my mom is an amazing cook so all of us are so spoiled when it comes to Pakistani food, so we are always weary for trying new Pakistani/Indian places. First , it's halal, so yaay for that! We ordered Chicken Tikka Masala, Chicken Biryani, Chicken Tikka and naan. It was very polite of the guy to communicate with my mom in Urdu, she seemed to have liked that. The food came out pretty quick (first positive!) and we LOVED the naan (2nd positive!!)--seriously best naan I've ever had. We were really happy with their portions, they give you a lot of food for the price they charge. The service was great and the people were friendly. Overall this place gets 5 stars, we will absolutely visit again!!!!
(5)Chris W.
Great little place!! Staff is super friendly & the food is delish!! I ordered the Chicken Tikka Masala with Palak Paneer. Bursting with flavor (a tad on the spicy side) & at $10 a great value. Food presentation was very nice as well. I will definitely be back for more!
(4)Peter P.
Pleasantly suprised. The food was REALLY good !!! Simple place, bad acoustics and very loud but that doesn't stop me from a good meal.
(4)George O.
Three words, Chicken Tikka Masala! Keeps us coming back for more... so good!!!
(5)ross m.
I have eaten here 2 times. The 1st time was great no complaints. big portions good deal, I had the chicken tikka masala and spinach with cheese chunks, it was all together pretty good. I liked it. I liked it so much that the next time i wanted indian food I decided to go back. Which brings me to the second time I ate here, yesterday monday may 2nd 2011... a day that will live in infamy,, for me anyway. It all started out good, the guy at the counter was nice and helpful. I ordered the chicken tikka masala again but went with mixed veggies as my side dish, and I got it to go. When I got home I couldn't wait to eat it so I just started digging in, naan in the sauce, chicken and rice, veggies, etc., etc... everything was going good... until.... uhhh... oooh.. what is that?? is that... is that .. ahh gross, are you kidding me? A SHORT THICK HAIR !!?? NO WAY !!!!.. needless to say I was beyond grossed out. Upon further inspection I found three more hairs of the same variety. I thought about calling them to tell them about it ,, but then I thought what for.. the damage is done. I'm not going there again.. and it'll be a while before I have a craving for Chicken Tikka Masala or Indian food in general. I'm eating at home from now on.
(1)Randy K.
I was visiting the area with my family and was looking for a casual Indian restaurant that was kid-friendly. Found Tandoori Fresh on Yelp! and saw it had 4 star rating.... We were very happy with the choice! I had the Chicken Tikka Masala and my wife had the Tandoori Salad. We shared a side of rice and the garlic naan. All the food was cooked perfectly and very flavorful. Service was quick and friendly! I will definitely eat here again on future visits to the area!
(5)Max H.
Amazing, chicken tikka masala please. Wish it was closer I'd eat here a few days a week.
(5)Christine S.
I am so stoked on this place- inexpensive Indian food that is absolutely delicious!!! I love it- my new favorite restaurant in Costa Mesa. Used to live in the area, but every time I have to come down to OC, this is a must. Fast, cheap, delicious and GREAT service. They will customize your dish for you, too! Paneer tikka masala! :)
(5)William H.
The food was actually very well prepared, it had great presentation and the flavors were fantastic. The portion to price ratio wasn't normal Idian cuisine style but it was definitely enough for one sit down meal. (im used to left overs when I got to indian food!!) Over-all I would go again, great food.
(4)Tien P.
It was good. I had some kind of spinach curry with naan when I went with my bf and his fam. Everyone enjoyed their meals and tha place was so clean! Hard to find a good Indian place with cleanliness. except I saw a lot of fingerprints on plates and utensils, buh me being tha germaphobe I am, I noticed. I wasn't hungry so I'll probably have to hit this place up again soon and do another review--I'm cravin Indian anyways! ^_^
(3)Ann B.
This was our second Visit. The Aloo-Gobi is the best. Portions are just right. We love everything we ate here. What we like about the this restaurant is that the owners are so genuine about everything - food and service.
(5)Jenn C.
Honestly, this is one of the best Indian restaurants that I've gone to with great food and great service. Usually, whenever I go to an Indian restaurant, either the food is great and the service is bad, or the service is great and the food is bad. This place is amazing! My friend and I were the first people to arrive on a Saturday for lunch and the person working knew right away that we've never been there before. He was super friendly and nice and asked us what we felt like eating and what the best deal was. We decided to get the $8.99 lunch special since we could get the rice, naan, drink, and two entrée choices. I got the Chicken Tikka Masala and aloo palak (spinach and potatoes) and my friend got the channa masala and tandoori chicken. The chicken Tikka Masala was sooooooooo good! It was sort of spicy but not so much that you couldn't handle it, and flavorful at the same time. I wasn't so sure about the aloo palak, but I was glad I got it because it was delicious as well. As first I didn't want to try the channa masala (garbanzo beans) since I'm not a fan of garbanzo beans unless it's in a hummus form, but it was so good and cooked in a way that it's didn't taste too beany or crunchy. I could tell the Tandoori chicken was marinated for a while because I could still taste the marinade in the chicken with each bite I took. The naan was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside which make me want to eat the whole basket! I even like the rice since it had little green peas in them. While we were eating, the person working that day came over to our table at least 5 times to chat with us and asked if we needed anything. He was so friendly that he not only gave us the 10% discount for checking in, but also a little extra since my friend found this place through the OC registers top 25 restaurants in the OC of 2010. Another thing that makes this place a MUST go to place to eat, is that even though I mistakenly added the wrong tip and lunch amount together on the bill, the person working billed me the correct amount on my credit card statement. Not only does this place have great service and great food, the people working are so honest. I am definitely bringing more of my friends to try this place out!
(5)Shariq H.
Everything here is good. I go out of my way to eat here sometimes two times a week. If you love indian / pakistani food or if youve never tried it this is the place to be. Everything is made fresh to order. I have never left here upset.
(5)Carolyn C.
Love this little place. The lunch special with hot bread and drink is a great deal. I am not in OC often, but when it works out and I can stop by Tandoori Fresh for lunch, I feel blessed. It is not the typical buffet. They have a "lunch special" instead. I love their hot naan all warm and crunchy from the kitchen.
(5)Jason J.
This place is still new - only 4 months old. If they get better, I will be thrilled because they are already really, really good. I admit it, because it was my first visit, I went with the safe bet - Chicken Tikka Masala. It was very good, and the Naan was nice and tasty and great to get the leftover sauce. The special that they have; where you get a drink and a veggie dish with your entree, is a very nice combination (I had the Garbanzo Beans). This place is not for the gluttonous. The dishes are not huge, but the naan that is provided along with the meal satisfies a healthy hunger level. They do offer take-out, which I look forward to using over and over again. I reserve my fifth star for when I step out of my own comfort zone.
(4)fianna r.
We came here last night because we were craving Indian food and didn't feel like going all the way to HB to get Taste of India. I'd describe this as more Pakistani food than Indian. Although it had Indian naming conventions, the taste is very different from your average Indian restaurant. We had the Chicken Masala and the pride of their menu Nihari. My bf loved his Chicken but said it was spicy, which usually the dish is not. The Nihari reminded me of Pho with its cilantro, sprouts, fall apart beef and lime juice. It too was very spicy for my taste, I ended up abandoning it for the Aloo Palak...which was creamy and delicious. The naan was great, but then garlic naan is always good in my book. Very friendly staff that take real pride in their establishment, heritage and food. I'd recommend it to someone who wanted to try something new, nothing plain and likes spicey (hot) food. We'll certainly be back to try the other dishes!
(4)Brian B.
Great service! Great food! The Tikka Masala has some great kick!
(5)Jennifer M.
The chicken tikka masala is masala is out of this world. order it extra spicy.
(5)pati T.
The chicken tiki masala was excellent and plentiful, the service great. If you're looking for fabulous Indian food, this is the place. if you're looking for a romantic evening out, this is not the place. Bright lights, extremely casual, video going on in the background....BUT if the quality of the food is your priority, definitely come to Tandoori's.
(5)Artimus X.
After reading other yelpster's reviews, I was really excited to try this place. Unfortunately they informed us that if we ordered a chicken dish it would take at least 35 minutes because there was no chicken currently available. Ridiculous. So my favorite dish of chicken tikka masala was out of the questions. I ended up getting lamb karahi. I should have taken a picture, but the tomato-based sauce separated into two components: An orange grease (the source is a mystery), and the red tomato paste. The reason why the grease source is a mystery is because another person at another table had gotten the chicken karahi (before the chicken ran out, I presume) and it had the exact same sauce, separating into the orange grease and tomato pulp components. So what was the source of the grease? What animal, that is? Curious. The flavor was good overall and had a decent amount of spice, but there were a lot of random cardamoms that kept getting bitten into to, not a good surprise. Rice was good. I usually LOVE Naan but this was really doughy and thick, and I am used to a more light verson with a little crispness to the top layer. I think this was just a random super-thick couple of pieces because it didn't look like the photos posted here, they must have been in a hurry. So I will have to try this place again because it seems to be really good but I was not impressed with my particular meal/naan. And If anyone knows where the orange grease comes from I'd be interested to know. The guys working there seemed genuine and kind, so I really hope they can get the consistency down.
(3)S L.
I hate doing this because whenever I rave about a restaurant to people, it starts getting crowded and I have to wait, bit I can't help but share this find. I LOVE Indian food and am so lucky that this one opened in my neighborhood! I probably go a few times a month but would go more often if possible. It is the freshest, friendliest, most homemade, unique Indian food I have found in OC! I think the chef blends his own curry from scratch. You know you have found a great ethnic restaurant when it is filled with customers of its own ethnicity, which this restaurant is. If you love "spicy" you won't be disappointed. My favorites are the biryani, saga paneer, chicken tikka masala, dal (lentils) and their exceptionally fresh and hot garlic, sesame or plain naan. Now I've managed to make myself hungry. Guess where I'm going???
(5)Hiroshi S.
Cook modern atmosphere with good customer service and nice Pakistan and Indian food. Very affordable and lunch special is must to eat!
(4)George C.
Some of the best Indian food in Orange County. The only thing better than the food was the service. The gentleman at the counter, Vipul, I believe his name was, was soo helpful and gave us some awesome suggestions and catered to our every need. The Chicken Tikka Masala was great, the sauce was some of the best, and the Garlic Naan was piping hot and fresh. And the price was really reasonable. Good Samosas as well. Ill definitely be coming back!
(5)Bill S.
Wow, don't understand the high marks from other reviewers, guess it just shows the lack of good Indian food in OC. Food was ok, not great, everything is ala carte. Naan looked more like Bobali and tasted worse. Nice waiters, free wifi, good concept but too expensive for what you get and food just ok, barely ok.
(2)Megan W.
Came here last Saturday night with my hubby for some Indian. Although we live in the area, we found the restaurant on Yelp (thanks for the tip Yelp). Anywhoo, we got there and at first were hesitant to go in because it looked more casual than we were used to for Indian Food (usually would go to Mayur in CdM). But the restaurant was pretty full and the patrons looked happy (and stuffed)...always a good sign. The restaurant is more minimal "order at the front and seat your self" type of place. That being said, we were pleasantly surprised that the restaurant still provided excellent and friendly service. The man at the front who took our orders, was friendly and happily gave us some tasty suggestions. He continued to be attentive to us when he delivered our food, offered to refill our drinks (we just got water - FYI I don't think there is a liquor license here), and asked if we'd like more naan. The food was great!!! Seriously, very yummy and fresh! I got the chicken tikki masala which was rich and flavor and the chicken was juicy (P.S. the tikki masala has a good kick of spice), and my hubs ordered something similar to a delish spicy pot roast and we also got some sesame naan and rice too. The bill came out to $25. My husband already went back today for lunch with his brother and a buddy and said that his experience was again great! I can't wait to go back again. Although I might find myself torn between ordering the tikki masala which was so yummy, or trying something new!!! We are glad we found this spot!
(4)Zubair N.
Caution! the place is extremely addictive. They lure you in with their super value combinations of spicy and savory dishes and to make sure you keep coming back they throw in fresh naan and a beverage. I was foolish and took the bait and now i am hooked. Even worse i took a colleague there and now he has the same problem. We drive like zombies every week to the place to get our fix. Must say that some people are more lucky than me as they get confused on where to park to get this place and never get hooked. Even their name is devious, how can you not go to a place which has fresh in the name and means it. Any way, this is just to warn the innocent, stay away. Good luck resisting the urge.
(5)Mukkta A.
Went for dinner yesterday,excellent food,very neat & clean,good service.....loved every bite of it...we ordered chicken tandoori mixed platter & chicken tikka masala, simply delicious!!!! Naan were too good ...strongly recommend
(5)Factoryrecords D.
I thought I was at an Indian place, but I guess it's Pakistani, so I got a little education tonight, as well as a great meal. I went straight home and posted the following on my Facebook: "...new Indian food joint...Harbor and Adams, Costa Mesa. Tandoori Express or Tandoori Fresh or something. Fucking awesome. (I'm not even pissed at them for forgetting my yogurt in my to-go bag. It's that good.)" Yeah, they forgot my yogurt I paid for (but I forgot their name, as you can see above), and didn't offer me a drink with the $8.99 meal, and looking online now, I think I was supposed to get one, but I'll split the blame 50/50 'cause I didn't double check before I left with my to-go order. My veggie meal of Aloo Palak and another veggie item with beans (sorry, forgot the name) came with a ton of fluffy rice, and warm, soft naan. That filled me up, so the yogurt woulda gone to the dog, so big thumbs up. My fat ass doesn't need a sugary drink, either, so four stars, and I will return for sure. I'll save the pretentious review for some highbrow jerk, and just say "yummy". And "filling". And "my burps taste good tonight". And my biggest bonus is that it's only about a half mile from my house!
(5)Sandy V.
Ok im a slacker. Apparently this place has been open for 2 years now! I remember when they were first opening and promising myself to try it out. Well finally 2 years later I walk through the door to Tandoori to yummmy yummy smells and great service. When I arrived the place was empty but im a senior that likes to eat at 5 so that probably explains it. The guy that took my order was very helpful in helping me pick something. I got the meal combo that came with a small soda, rice, nan, one main entree, and a side for $10.24 after taxes. I went for the Chicken Tikka marsala for my main entree and the spinach with potatos for my side. I took everything togo and the portions are about the same as a 2 item combo from a chinese take out place. It was YUMMY! I had to restrain myself from eatting it all but everything was very good. The chicken had GREAT flavor and was very tender. Granted the dish was a little too spicy for my pallet I still enjoyed every bite of it. Speaking of which I will be having some for lunch today :). Gotta try the other things on the menu.
(4)J O.
I was ready to love this place, after the great reviews, the affordable prices and the fact that this place is 5 minutes from my house. Utterly disappointing . To be fair, it seemed like someone must have called out sick on the insanely busy Friday that we went. When we ordered, they were out of a couple of things I wanted to try- bummer. The manager was really helpful and friendly but could not keep up with serving the entire dining room. We ordered the potato samoosas which were bite sized, which I haven't seen before- but inside it was just straight potato- no onion, carrot and pea or flavor for that matter, as I've had in the past. They were fairly tasteless. I got the combo plate with palak paneer and the aloo palak- but it looked like the aloo palak was just some potatoes tossed in palak paneer, like maybe they ran out of it and decided to try to cover it up by putting some potatoes in a dish they already had. Very disappointing. We ordered garlic naan- but for some reason only 2 of the 4 pieces had the garlic on it and the naan was so thick and doughy it didn't even seem like naan. And the place was so crowded that we could barely hear ourselves talk over all the commotion. It was very unpleasant. In any case, the manager was very apologetic and gave us our mango lassis free because of the poor service, but frankly I don't think I'll go back.
(2)jamila G.
I love love love Tandoori Fresh! The people are friendly, the food is amazing and authentic and it is quite affordable. I will certainly be a returning customer, the Chicken Tikka Masala is excellent!
(5)Amy N.
The guy at the counter has got to be the nicest and helpful person I've met! He takes the time to make suggestions and give you the best deal on the menu. And who can beat 8.99 for an entree plus veggies plus rice plus naan plus a drink! Check into here and you also get an additional 10% off your meal! The tikka sauce is the best I've had so far (i recently ate at the India restaurant in Artesia and I like the sauce here better).
(4)Luis G.
Been meaning to try this place out for awhile. I learned they've been open for about 18 months now and I was kind of embarrassed that last night was my first stop in. The wife and I split two of their combo meals. Altogether we enjoyed and order of ground beef samosas, the Chick Tikka Masala, Chicken Korma, Saag Paneer, Aloo Gobhi, and both garlic and plain naan bread. Everything was very good and very fresh! There was plenty of food for both of us. I will definitely put this place on my short list of Costa Mesa favorites.
(4)Anthony R.
Great place for indian food if you live in the Huntington Beach/Costa Mesa area. Chicken tikka Masala was delicious. Garlic naan was great too. Highly recommend.
(4)Michele B.
My friend highly recommended this place as a quick, to-go type place from some decent Indian food. As it turns out, I should have stuck to her instructions: TO GO. The location is great for me and the place; very clean. The service was really outstanding as you can tell the host is dedicated to the establishment and to the owner/chef. The negatives (in order) were almost overwhelming for this visit. The place is cold and hard. By that I mean the ambiance is lacking; cold hard windows, cold hard ceiling and cold hard floors with cold hard tables. With nothing soft in there except for the people, it was so loud I couldn't hear my date or the host when he came to check on us. Every person who speaks (or child who cries and screams and there were several last night) sounded like screechy feedback from a mic. Then they ran out of chicken (??) so we had to wait quite a while for our food. The host was quick to apologize and said the food would be coming quickly and it did in fact come within 10 minutes of this notification. But still...running out of chicken...hmmm. The host did offer a complimentary appetizer to tide us over and that was accommodating so "thanks". Lastly, the positives were the food. The tandoori chicken was outstanding. Really. My date had the chicken tikka masala and it was good but finished with a little "twang" I'm not used to. The saag paneer was delish with just enough heat and the mango lassi was refreshing to cool everything down without too much sweetness. Over-all the food was a good value but the naan was quite thick and tasted more like pizza... Over-all I would come again, for TO GO only.
(3)Genre X.
Okay, lets get this sorted out first: 1. Indian/Pakistani food is NOT healthy. 2. Indian/Pakistani food is oily. 3. Indian/Pakistani food is spicy and will give you heartburn. 4. Indian and Pakistani food are very different. North Indian food does resemble Pakistani food but overall these are 2 different cuisines. This is true Pakistani food joint. The best I have had in SoCal. This is nothing like the toned downed fancy hippie Indian food places where they serve up every concoction and know nothing nuts devour it as a great "healthy" cuisine! Sorry to say, these Indian food joints do not know how to cook a good chicken or lamb. Please lets not complain about food being too spicy or oily. This is authentic Pakistani food and this is how it is supposed to be. Actually to be honest, the oil and spices are a bit on the mild side than what you will get in the streets of Lahore! Bottom line is, if you are looking for authentic spicy Pakistani food with authentically cooked meats, you will love it. If you are more into so-called "Healthy" vegan food, go to any hole in the wall Indian restaurant and i can guarantee you, they all taste the same and are really good with vegetable stuff. This comes from a guy from Lahore, the Mecca of Desi food!
(5)Terry I.
I had the same experience as an earlier reviewer. I ordered Chicken Korma, the Mixed Platter and the Bhindi Masala. The chicken was in a flavorless sauce and mostly bone as the other reviewer said. Even worse they took no care in cutting up the chicken, so the dish had fragments of bone in it. Nice, try eating your meal while picking bone out of each bite you take..... :( The bhindi masala was swimming in grease (as was the korma) and I had to pour it off before I could serve it. The mixed platter was tasty but the portions were extremely small for the price ($11). I was hoping this restaurant was going to be the answer to my cheap and fast Indian food prayers, I really, really wanted to like it but it was really disappointing.
(1)Juliette M.
We were looking for something different from our usual list of restaurants so I went to Yelp to find awesome Indian food. Yelpers directed me to Tandoori Fresh and I was not disappointed. Actually, I'm now obsessed. The server at the front was great and helped us pick our menu, since we are newbies to Indian cuisine. Like other yelpers mentioned, the Tikka Chicken Masala is AMAZING! Curry yogurt with bbq chicken...I'm addicted. Garlic naan was super fresh and hot and was great for dipping in the chicken dish. Mixed veggies were awesome. The rice pudding was out of this world - not very 'ricey' at all, and had some great aromatic flavors including saffron. On top of all of this, it is so cheap! $20 for two that definitely would have cost much more elsewhere. I highly recommend this place to anyone.
(5)Jonathan G.
Nothing bad about this place, it deserves 5 stars for the great service, the excellent food and the best deal for an Indian restaurant in OC. 9$ combo (one main dish, vegetables, rice, a nan and a fountain drink)
(5)M M.
Wow, okay so I ate here last night and must say it's definitely pretty good! Some things I recommend are the Nehari (beef curry type dish), Naan, Chicken Tikka Masala, and the Daal (lentil curry). From their appetizers I had their potato stuffed Samosas (yummy) If you're in the area definitely stop by and check them out. I'll be back for your lunch specials during my lunch hour Tandoori Fresh!
(5)Audra S.
Tasty! The food's made to order, which is great. Call ahead if you're picking up.....25 mins ought to do the trick! The prices are great, portions are sizable. Yes, the naan's on the thicker side, but that doesn't mean it's not tasty. Chicken is tender, sauces are saucy, veggies are tasty. A hit!
(4)Amy C.
I wasn't going to waste my energies writing a review for this place. But I realized that I should in order to save others from wasting their time, money and taste buds. Take a look at the five star reviews for this place. Mostly new accounts. Which means their friends probably posted those glowing reviews. Here are the issues I have with this place: 1. There were 5 tables with customers waiting for their food. And waiting... and waiting... and waiting. 2. Their naan seemed to be store bought and heated. 3. Pricey! 4. Indifferent service. 5. The biggest offense: the food was dry.
(1)A B.
Just OK food. Mostly made out of frozen stuff.
(2)Jenny Q.
Healthy indian? ..I don't know but definitely lighter than most indian restaurants I've tried. Good food, friendly and FRESH.
(4)Jonathan L.
Never thought much of Indian cuisine until I came here, the food is fantastic and you can't beat the lunch special for the price, my wife and I come here regularly now and we always get the chicken tikka masala and aloo gobi. If you're in a hurry though, keep in mind that fresh food takes a little time to make, but when it comes the wait is always worth it. Oh and remember that they're closed on Sunday's, we figured that out the hard way more than once, lol.
(5)AJ G.
Had a craving for Indian and yelp tells me this is the best place around. A good find. Cheap, and pretty good. First time, I went with a few friends, we each tried different stuff, but the Chicken Tika Masala and Samosas stuck out as being the best. I think there were 3 samosas, I wish I could have gotten just one more. Also, they were pretty hard; I prefer samosas to be a little softer on the outside, closer to puff pastry I guess. But the filling makes up for that. Second time, got chicken tika masala again, and garlic naan which was pretty solid. However, we phoned the order in on a Friday night after watching a lakers game on tv. Said it would be ready in 20 min. So we head over, and it's not ready. We waited more than a half hour there before finally getting our food; almost just walking out. I can't say that at this time it was particularly busy, so I really wasn't sure why our food took basically an hour. I haven't read any of the other reviews to see if this was common, but the first time we went, our food came out pretty fast. I really hope it was an isolated incident.
(4)James P.
Came here with absolutely no expectations and ended up pretty pleased. I had the special that was being offered. It included entree, rice, naan, and drink for like $8.00..pretty cheap. I had the Chicken Tikka Masala (not very adventurous, I know) It was very good and the portions were plenty. The naan seemed soft and fresh and the "mixed veggies" were Indian style and delicious. And all for under 10 bucks! Can't beat that. The ambiance inside is kinda strip mall-ish but they were playing Bollywood movies, which are hilarious. Also, the service was great. I would definitely suggest this place to anyone in the mood for a quick Indian food lunch.
(4)T C.
This place is fantastic! My new favorite indian in OC. The price is right. The dishes are delicious. The portions are great. The naan is not great, but it's good and you get a lot of it. The samosas are ok- similar to the naan. and the raita is good, although they have more chunks of cucumber and tomato in the raita which is just a style preference. The flavor is still good and portion size is great. 3 of us dined and we each ordered a special combo plate. The chix tikka masala is fantastic, as is the saag paneer and aloo gobi. The meat quality is good and flovors are rich. We ordered 3 different combinations and all walked away with full bellies and satisfied palates. it's a fast food indian restaurant that is more like a sit down dining experience in terms of quality. The owner was friendly and engaged with each of the tables. My boyfriend and I do Indian food once a week. It's our favorite. We always end up spending about $40-45 because we order 2 dishes, samosas, naan, and raita and indian food adds up. 3 of us walked out of this place for a total of $35. Give this place a shot. I hope you will be as pleasantly surprised as I was.
(4)Farhan A.
This is an excellent option for those seeking a good Pakistani meal in the South County area. I think they cater to the non-ethnic clientel, very well - you can actually taste the food, and the dishes are not pugnant, as they are at most Indian restaurants. The presentation of the dishes is by far the best from amongst all the Pakistani and Indian restaurants in LA/OC.
(5)Laura S.
After reading about Tandoori Fresh in the OC Register, my boyfriend and I decided to give it and try. Simply put, it was delicious! We both ordered their $8.99 special with chicken tikka masala. In addition to the chicken, it also came with rice, naan, a vegetable dish and soda. The tikka masala was perfectly flavored and the chicken was nicely cooked. I ordered lentils as my vegetable and while it was good, it was a little too much lentil for me, although my boyfriend totally loved it. I have to point out that the naan was absolutely amazing and I would go back just for that. Tandoori Fresh is really good, and we will definitely be coming back soon. You get so much delicious food for the money. Truly a great dinner for a great price.
(4)Charles C.
I love the chicken tikka masala! The taste is so great and the servers are nice. Don't expect a luxurious dinner. the price is great to!
(4)Randy S.
This place is incredible. The service is always great, the workers are helpful and will always give great advice. Their chicken tikka masala is the best i've ever had, rich and creamy with a huge kick. I've been here many times and have never had a bad experience. I highly recommend this place!
(5)Kamyar S.
Fresh and delicious tandoori chicken.
(4)K K.
The food here is excellent. You get real aroma of pakistani food flavors.. - Sheekh Kabob is the best. - Service is excellent - Value for money definitely pays..
(5)John B.
Excellent place to stop by if you want indian food at its best. Chicken tiki masala need a say more?
(5)Jon K.
The flavors here are great, for far less than any other Indian restaurant in the area not including buffet. But seriously, the quality is higher than Indian buffet. Just thinking about it is causing me to salivate. Fish Karahi, Saag Paneer, chicken tikka masala with garlic naan and papadum - you can't go wrong with these.
(4)Nicolle W.
I would consider the food more Pakistani style than Indian, but they are pretty similar either way. The location, right next to Maru Sushi on Harbor and Adams, is great but the restaurant looks cheap and they are always empty! The Naan bread is doughy, but good nonetheless. They have a good lunch deal for $8.99 but I would still have rather gone somewhere else. The Chicken Tikka Masala was both oily and thick (I know it seems like a contradiction). Overall, the food wasn't horrible but just okay.
(3)Joe D.
I've eaten here 4 times over the past 2 weeks. If that doesn't say enough, keep reading. This is top notch, freshly made, gourmet Indian/Pakistani food(they have a huge variety of dishes from vegetarian to fish to chicken and beef as well). The service is phenomenal and you feel like you're eating at a fancy sit down restaurant where you'd spend $25 a person, but you can get away with spending $10 here and be totally satisfied. They have a $8.99 special that comes with 1 main dish, rice, 1 side dish, a drink and a Naan bread. That's a great deal considering the quality of this food and the naan is to die for. I've tried the tikki masala, tandoori chicken, seekh kabob and fish karahi and have been blown away each time I order. I don't even like fish but the fish karahi was my favorite of the four as it had a blend of onion/tomatoe/cilantro and other spices that were amazingly suited to the dish. I wouldn't be surprised if this place moves to a slightly bigger location as there's probably only 10 tables or so inside, but the food comes out in around 8-10 minutes so you can get by eating here on a 45 minute or 1 hr lunch break as well. The main entrees that come "a la carte" are $11 bucks for most of them but are enough for TWO people. So you get one entree, a side of rice and a naan, that adds up to about $15 or 16 bucks and you can split it with a friend, GREAT DEAL. I'll probably update this review in a few more weeks after I try everything else on the menu LOL. Yes, the food is that good!
(5)Mark A.
I was really torn whether to give this place 4 or 5 stars. I'd like to give it 5 stars because the food is really good. I'll tell you right up front that the owners have changed up the tradional recipes just a bit and in my opinion for the better. The food is presented in a more stylish, bistro way that may put some off. I enjoyed it. One of the reviewers complained that the riata was too chunky. I loved the fact that it was chunky. By far the best riata I've ever had. So why 4 stars? Here's the deal, this is a wierd set up, it appears to be a fast food place when you walk in (menus on the wall, order at the counter). As others have stated, the guy at the counter is really helpful. He ended up suggesting a dish that wasn't on the menu ( i can't remember the name) that was similar in texture to fried chicken (it wasn't fried) with some wonderful spices rubbed on, REALLY good. After ordering McDonalds style the rest of the experience is 5 star all the way. Nice presentation and finish. The owner and the chef came out to ask about the food. We were happy campers. I believe some people are going to be put off by this non traditional set up. I think the owners are trying to minimize their overhead and focus on the food which for a restaurant like this is probably a great idea. I hope they make it because the quality is there. I highly recommend it to those of you who enjoy an adventure.
(4)A M.
Love the chicken tikka masala and nihari... Yummy!
(5)Danny V.
Overall the food was very flavorful and I received it fast. Very affordable $ 9 for a full meal with naan and a drink. Hard to beat that. Would come here again. Only tried the chicken tikka masala, loved it.
(4)Aadila M.
PRICE-- 10/10 ($9 for very good sized meal! yay!) SETTING-- 9/10 if you want a stylish pseudo-fastoody place. (0/10 if you want formal). LOCATION-- 10/10 (by major mall + major college.) AVERAGE-- 7/10. Would go there again just because it's halal. DETAILS-- A bit hard to miss because it's at a busy intersection, but not too hard. Nice trendy light hangings make the environment 'hip' but pretty close to the Denny's environment nonetheless. And yes, their value meal looks GREAT on paper and when it's in front of you (gorgeous plate design and food layout). Yet it was somewhat blah tasting. I must add though that I know two others who tried it and were amazed out of their minds. Of course, when I showed up to the store I didn't know what those friends were talking about. You may end up loving it on your first trip too, like they did, who knows. Mostly because of their outstanding location (swing by after you shop!), good looking plates and very high potential, I will be showing up again! Maybe even this weekend :) By the way, I LOVE that they had the word halal on their menu! YAAYY! Very nice and stylishly of course. I want to support people who do that, twice as much. They're actually being supportive of their community. It's just sooo wonderful.
(5)Kent M.
Good food, I spent a year in the middle east & they really satisfied my cravings for middle east spice.
(4)Michelle S.
I'd yet to find a great Indian place in the OC, until I tried Tandoori Fresh. I was surprised at both the interior decor as well as the quality of food. The restaurant was really clean and the food was delicious and served attractively in small bowls on a rectangular plate. Since I've discovered Tandoori Fresh I've been back several times and I've never been disappointed. Now go try it!
(5)Frank R.
Where to start? Excellent food, cooked fresh while you wait, very reasonable prices, nice decor patient/informative staff. Seriously have not had better Indian/Paki food. Always get the Chicken Tikka Masala with the Lentil soup and Garlic Naan brean. Only minor complaint is the place gets very noisy when full; they need to have better acoustic damping. Wish there was one closer to home!
(5)Ashley S.
What a great place to go to lunch and for a great place! Great portions and great service! I ordered the Chicken Tikka Marsala, it was good but just a little to oily. The lentils were awesome and so was the Garlic Naan!
(4)Jamil J.
Tandoori Fresh is excellent! I have eaten there now a handful of times, and each time I have been more than happy with the quality and quantity of the food.. My favorite dishes there are the Nehari and the Chicken Tikka Masala.. I also love the Tandoori Mix plate... The Haleem is also second to none!! I highly recommend Tandoori Fresh and cant wait for my next trip to the OC!!!
(5)Peter P.
Great indian cuisine for a bomb price :]
(4)Sarah L.
I would love to give this place a better review...but the food itself wasn't great. It want even close! The flavor wasn't there and it seemed everything that I ate was too spicy for my tasting. The food is truly a 1 but I gave an extra one for the exceptional service!
(2)Theladyinred K.
I came back more recently to have dinner, because I told myself that if I was ever to go back to that restaurant again, it wouldn't be for take out and not during a busy time (lunch time!), and I would bring my own glass containers. The food was as usual quite good. The server came to me and told me that he had read my yelp review and wanted to apologize for not attending to me or for the misunderstanding. I was very surprised that he even remembered me especially since I didn't even remember him! And I was even more surprised that he remember my face after so many months and read my review and was able to link my face to the review! woah. talk about good memory :) But he did come and said that there was a misunderstanding and that after I had left the store, the food came and I was gone. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. The food is good, but it is on the higher price point. So my recommendation? Don't come here during busy hours, and you will most likely get better service.
(3)San N.
I agree with another Yelper. Pakistani/Indian food IS oily and heavy. I'm not sure what you guys are complaining about? Location - Next to Maru Sushi. The restaurant is actually on Harbor, right before Adams if you're going south towards the beach. Before the Vons shopping center. Misc. - 1. Place does accept credit cards. Order at the counter, eat first, pay later type place. 2. Clean and bright. More modern than most Pakistani places. 3. One guy serves, takes your order, and cleans. Fast service though. 4. Do not wear your Sunday's best. Just like all the places, your clothes and hair really smell after. Food - I've been to several places including Noorani and Shahnawaz so I was excited to try another place that is conveniently located. This filled up four people at a total of $55. 1. Plain Naan - It is more doughy than the naan you are thinking of. However, pakistani naan is generally thicker. Great crust and piping hot inside. 2. Raitha - Small rice bowl size. Big chunks of tomatoes and cucumbers. Great for those of you that can't stand spicy food. 3. Chicken Biryani - Super expensive for such small portions. I liked that there were pieces of crispy rice mixed in. My friend didn't care for it. Well flavored. 4. Chicken Karahi - Always been my favorite and this place didn't disappoint! On the spicy side for those of you that can't handle it. Very well flavored and salted. One of my favorite dishes here. 5. Haleem - Poor. The mustard color and the mushy texture generally throws people off. Shanawaz adds more beef so there's more texture. The one here was was mainly pureed lentils with very little spices. 6. Tandori Fresh Mixed Platter - The chicken tandori and tikka were moist and very well flavored. The seekh kebab was average.
(3)Dhawal N.
Good Pakistani/Indian Food in an Ikea-esque place. Freshly prepared.
(5)Stale b.
My boyfriend and I will never go back. 1. We placed an order to go, it took 35 min and for 2 dishes, plus naan it was 21 bucks. The portions were horribly small. I got the chicken korma which I had never been to a place that serves chicken korma with full bones in the chicken. I wanted to vomit. I honestly feel like they got my order wrong since my bfs beef dish was the exact same sauce. The worst part the to go containers were so cheap when we went to put the lid back on the container crumbled sending oil all over us. Honestly I feel like I wasted my money and wish I got a 2 dollar subway sub next door
(1)ali e.
Only been once and already love it. I know the owner from his restaurant in Culver City a few years ago and trust the consistency and quality of his food.
(5)Gregory D.
Location: It's in the same strip mall as Paul Mitchell School and Maru Sushi. It is tucked behind Maru Sushi. This is a hard to find location, especially trying to find it while using your cell phone for GPS while driving (isn't this illegal?).
(3)Sanah M.
If you're looking for really good Indian/Pakistani food, Tandoori Fresh hits the spot. The Nihari, Haleem, Kabab Khari, Chicken Tikka Masala, and Kababs with Naan are amazing! The ambiance is very nice for casual dining and the staff is friendly. This place will leave you craving for more!
(5)Elle K.
my new favorite indian/pakistani place in socal! we stumbled upon it while in costa mesa and we'll def be coming back. i love that is it is new (only open 4 months) and therefore very clean, food is made fresh to order. its definitely a notch above a lot of the fast food/buffet restaurants out there. had the chicken tikka masala & saag paneer and loved it. it's a little hard to find, but its around the corner next to a sushi place in the plaza. :)
(5)Gudia A.
( I always get the special 8.99 chicken tikka masala, one veggie side, naan, rice, soft drink) it's a great deal.. must say the gentleman in the front tries very hard to make sure you love your food. great service.. Me and my husband usually get one meal, and we order an extra naan, and we both leave very full.. their lassi is not that great- it tastes very artitificial. their chicken tikka masala rocks.. naan is so so. I wish they were a bit easy on the oil..
(4)B V.
This place rocks. I seriously wonder why it's not packed every time I eat here. I took my girlfriend here for the first time and she loved it. The food was served hot and fresh. It tasted like it was just made and hadn't been sitting on a stove top for hours. A fantastic hidden gem in the corner of a strip mall.
(5)Abbas K.
I've been to a lot of Indian restaurants in LA and the OC and this one is the best. Everything is fresh and tasty. Very clean restaurant (I've even seen the kitchen) and excellent service. Highly encourage anyone looking for good Indian food to visit.
(5)Kendra L.
I have been searching for some good, reasonably priced indian food ever since the closing of Nikki's on Bristol, I caught sight of Tandoori Fresh last week when I was driving up Harbor Blvd. My family and I went last Saturday night and we were not disappointed. We had the Tandoori Fresh Mixed Platter, Naan, Raitha, Dal Masala, Aloo Palak and Chicken Tikka Masala. Everything was great! Warning though, we like SPICY. The only shortcoming, if you want to call it one, is that the restaurant is kosher and doesn't serve beer or wine, so if you like a beer with your indian food, get it to go!
(5)h d.
incredibly disappointed. am usually a huge fan of indian but found the korma and aloo gobi tasteless and really REALLY oily. also, the naan tasted more like pillbsury dough (oven baked) than like actual naan.
(1)Andy N.
Great service just makes a meal that much more enjoyable. I came here to eat dinner with my friends from the Dogzilla truck. We all ordered the Chicken Tikki Masala , Aloo Paleak, naan and rice. I am a big fan of the thin rice. It's a lot more lighter than the rice I usually eat. The chicken was pretty tender and the gravy over it was tasty. The spinach and potato was okay. The flavor wasn't the easiest to digest but it's healthy. My favorite was the naan bread. That thing was so good , fluffy , and warm. I couldn't stop eating that thing. Good food with great service. We got complimentary dessert and he made sure we ate everything before we left. Try this place out! Recommendation: Naan bread and Chicken Tikki Masala
(4)Brittany P.
My first Indian food experience went well at Tandoori Fresh. I went with my lover Jesse D and we were both excited to try it! He, as always, was searching for something spicy. Me... not so much. I was overwhelmed by the menu and had no idea what I was doing. The dude at the front desk was extremely helpful and after asking me a few questions about my spicy level preference, he ordered something for me. I had the combo deal with chicken tikka masala, aloo gobhi, rice, naan, and a soft drink... all for 8.99! Sweet deal! Lover Jesse D had a lamb dish and asked for it as spicy as they can make it. The dude at the front who was just so polite to me turned into a mouthy douche and said "we'll see how that works out for you" under his breath... after asking a million times if Jesse was sure he could handle it. Luckily Jesse D didn't hear the dickish comment... I waited to tell him later. After we received our food, Mr. Mouthy from the front desk came over and with a smirk on his face asked if Jesse's food was too hot. It wasn't. Jesse is a freak when it comes to spicy food... he's never encountered something that was TOO spicy. Mr. Mouthy was SUPER surprised, so... if you're normal, don't ask for it as spicy as they make it... it must be pretty bad. Jesse enjoyed his food and I LOVED mine. It was absolutely delicious. I didn't care too much for the aloo gobhi, but I loved the rest of it. Jesse liked mine better than his too... chicken tikka masala for the win, people. We loved it so much, we decided to make it at home. I'm so thankful my boyfriend is a chef... his chicken tikka masala was even better than TF's! I don't know if we'll go back, but I'm thankful for the experience because chicken tikka masala is now one of my favorite dishes! Delish!
(4)AbuAbbas K.
I was visiting costa Mesa for wedding event July 13 main goal was to find the best Pakistani food in the area. Ended up here ...all I gotta say .....goaallllll . Amazing Pakistani authentic, delicious , perfect malai chicken , A+++++ nehari . This place really knows what great authentic food is all about. I can not wait to visit this place again I hope you will consider opening one in bay area preferably San jose where I live . :) I was a party of 12 people no lack of service they new the most important aspect Of SERVICE : "quick food and fresh ". Ive had dreams about this place when I came back . lol total 20 people (from the wedding group as the word spread like fire ) went here everyday if not twice a day until we were visiting. Only once for dinner I cheated on them as I was In another area visiting family ...until today I hit myself for it (not literally ) .
(5)