Royal Khyber
1621 W Sunflower Ave,Ste D53, Santa Ana, CA, 92704
Royal Khyber Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Santa Ana for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Santa Ana for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Santa Ana for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
1621 W Sunflower Ave,Ste D53
Santa Ana, CA, 92704 - Phone (657) 900-8041
- Website https://royalkhyber.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Accepts Bitcoin : No
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Valet, Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Classy
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
India is the birth place of Chicken Tikka Masala and Curries. Indian foods are prepared with a blend of finely mixed spices quite popular across the region. The spices develop the rich taste in Indian food enough to boggle your mind. The ever-increasing fan base of Indian food around the New York city is steadily increasing because of the large number of Indians who traveled to the land of dreams. The Indians also brought their very own vibrant, colorful, and aromatic authentic dishes for the people in the West. While most of the Indian population is Vegetarian, Indian food is great for people who are looking for vegan or vegetarian food option. If you are a Meat lover, don't get disappointed yet. Indian food also boasts of some popular non-vegetarian dishes too. Few examples are the famous Butter Chicken, Mutton Biryani and Tandoori Chicken are enough to satisfy your taste buds.
Indian food has gained reputation all over the world especially in the United States. You can find many places serving the appetizing Indian food across all major cities in the US. India is a diverse country with different food culture originated from different parts of the country. While the Northern region boasts tandoori dishes and korma offering royal taste, the Western Ghats offers sea foods that is made in naturally sweet tender coconut milk. The South Indian food servers a quality of different dishes made from rice accompanied with spicy chutneys, curries and famous sambhar. Also, the Indian sweets are a delight to relish. If you ever want to have a burst of sugar syrup in mouth, don't forget to try few Bengali Sweets. Be it spicy, tangy, or sweet flavor, you can find everything in the Indian cuisine. Be assured that the melody of spices will surely bring delight to you.
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M M.
I'm a big fan of Indian food and was excited to try this place out. The restaurant is clean and looks nice, however I was fairly disappointed when I got my food. The sauce in my chicken tikka masala had no resemblance tikka masala sauce. In all honesty, it was nothing more than a marinara sauce. My girlfriend got the prawn masala and her sauce was essentially the same marinara sauce, but with a heap of diced garlic added to it. It's also definitely over priced. If you do not know Indian food, perhaps you might not be as disappointed as we were, but as for my girlfriend and I, I know we will not be going back.
(2)Shannon W.
My favorite Indian Restaurant in OC. I've eaten at all the Indian Restaurants around and this is my favorite. The environment is very nice and clean. And most importantly, the good is seriously delicious! I especially love the Channa Masala and the Palak Paneer. It's pricey, but I think it's worth it. We always have a great time at Royal Khyber!
(5)Kamlesh B.
This is probably my favorite restaurant in OC. The dishes are definitely authentic, but vary from what one would find at home. The decor and the service are excellent.
(5)Tom I.
Came to this Indian restaurant for the 1st time from a deal I found on Groupon. I am usually skeptical in trying out Indian Cuisine because if you go to a wrong one, it can be pretty bad. When I say bad, it's usually the service, not the food. When I walk in to an Indian restaurant, I don't usually feel the warmth and welcoming atmosphere like Royal Khyber provides. I am so glad that I decided to try Royal Kyber. Their food was exceptional and the service was outstanding. Our server Asha was super helpful and provided us some outstanding recommendations. She was patience and provided positive morale and vibes throughout our entire dinner. We will definitely come back. Atmosphere: 5/5 Quality/Quantity: 5/5 Price: 5/5 fair, considering the area and location. Cleanliness: 5/5
(5)Ahmad J.
I went back for the Friday lunch buffet a couple of days ago with a bunch of colleagues from work. My previous visit was pretty terrible but I always approach things with an open mind. This time the experience was much better. Notwithstanding what was said by the owner, the opinions expressed in my earlier review stand. I'll focus on the differences that I saw this time around. The biggest change was that the food in the buffet was regularly refreshed. There was someone from the kitchen constantly keeping an eye on trays and constantly refilling them. More importantly the quality of dishes being replenished was being maintained. There was definitely a positive change on the kitchen front. As far as taste is concerned the aloo tikki (potato fritter) was very good. The lamb kabab was also very good. Nice and soft without a hint of raw meat smell (last time the mincemeat curry was inedible due to the strong smell of raw meat but this time things were better). The tandoori chicken was terrible. It seemed to be boiled chicken with some coloring that was sent out, completely avoidable. The chicken biryani was good but the chicken pieces inside were bone dry and felt rubbery when chewed. From the vegetarian dishes the punjabi kadi was very good whereas the dal and leafy curry were just passable. Overall this was not a bad meal for a buffet, but still it was not in the good range. The 3.5 star Yelp rating aptly represents Royal Khyber. When considering the overall package of service, quality, spread and value for money it seems to have found its sweet spot in between A-OK and I'm a Fan, something that the owner seems to be comfortable with looking at his comments on my earlier review. If I'm in the area I may return but I don't think that I will come back specifically looking to eat here again.
(3)Tiffany D.
They had good curry entrees. Mix it up with yogurt, especially. I loved their wine that we ordered up! It was French, of course. Setting is of glowing ambiance. Skip their desserts. It was lacking sweet flavor. Opposite of what the tasty curries were. A promising spot for curry.
(3)Jesica J.
So disappointed in this place, both for food and service. I rarely leave one star reviews, but it is justified after last night's experience. My husband and I recently moved to Irvine. We are still learning our way around, and trying new things around town. We came across a Groupon to Royal Khyber, so we decided to give it a try. Coincidently, a dear friend had also recommended it and raved about the awesome food and ambience. It seemed like a win to us. After we sat down, I did my usual Yelp check in and was offered the complimentary Glass of Wine. I didn't think, and asked the waiter for the Chardonnay. We glanced at the menu, and decided on the Butter Chicken and Shrimp Tikka Masala. We waited for around 20 minutes for the food chatting about our long day that we completely forgot to mention about the Groupon (even though we had when we made the reservation). When the food arrived, we told the waiter that we also had the Groupon. He told us that we could only pick one of the offers, either the wine or the voucher. When we replied we didn't know and that we would still like to use the voucher, he added very condescendingly "well, we are aware human beings." I looked at my husband stunned by his response. Are you saying we were trying to cheat you out of a $6 glass of wine? I laughed in disbelief. I've never seen my husband so angry. We asked him to repeat what he had said, and he didn't even apologize until after we spoke to the manager. I don't mind having to pay $6 for my glass of wine. It's just that there are better ways to portray your policies to a customer, and treating them like they're trying to cheat you out of something is not the way to do it. SHOCKING that someone would say something like that to a customer. Even after that whole ordeal, we still stayed to try the food. The portions were very small, and I wasn't really blown away by the taste. The shrimp tikka masala was 4 large shrimps in the sauce, which my husband claimed to be "very sweet." The butter chicken was also nothing special. I've had much better Indian food in much cheaper places. The food is definitely not worth the price. The best thing about this place is the ambience. The dim lights and soft music is very comforting for dinner. However, some of the chairs are stained and need some Shout. Indeed, I'm thankful to the manager for sending a complimentary dessert our way after what happened, and to the waiter for apologizing. However, I wouldn't return to Royal Khyber. What was supposed to be a relaxing, quiet dinner ended up being the complete opposite. I left the place with a bitter taste in my mouth. For the food and service, it's not worth coming all the way from Irvine. --- In response to the manager: First of all, how rude to try to blame your server's attitude on me. I did not demand that both of the offers were honored. As soon as I remembered I had to mention the Groupon, I did. I told him very politely I understood and I would pay for $6 glass of wine to which he responded so condescendingly. Funny you mention our use of the F word since we didn't insult the manager in any way. It was referring to the $6 glass of wine and the mere fact that you treated your customers so poorly over this.
(1)Veronica C.
I found a Restaurant.com coupon for this place when the food looked delicious when there aren't many good Indian restaurants around Orange County. I came here on my lunch break when I wanted to enjoy some fine dinning with wine and a coconut lassi drink. I had the tilapia fish masala and chicken curry that came with basmati rice, salad and naan bread recommended by the waiter. Service may be a bit slow so get your check early if you are limited on time. They got some good lunch specials you could take advantage of like the all day Monday discounts or the lunch express during the week for $10 or $15 gets you a soup and a entree. Just for $5 you can have champagne or house wine during the week for lunch only. I like how they give you the option of the level of spiciness for your food when Indian food can be really spicy sometimes. All the food was very delicious. This is a place you got to try especially if you like curry with naan bread.
(5)Cat N.
I had been wanting to try this place for the longest time A few weeks ago I finally had the chance to take my sister for dinner. When we arrived there was probably only one other group inside eating and filled up a little more as it got darker. Once we got seated, we ordered the following and its description: Tilapia Masala- This was probably our least favorite dish. It was served with a salad, rice and mash. The tilapia tasted and smelt too fishy for our liking. The masala sauce was good but definitely a no go and we do not recommend this. The mash was like a coquette with stuff inside. We disliked it. The salad and rice were good. Chicken Tandoori- This was our favorite. It was very tender and buttery. This is perfect for anyone who loves chicken. It came out on a hot skillet like most places. My sister and I loved it. Saag Paneer- I normally love saag paneer but this place made it too bland. It needed more spice and salt. Not bad but just not perfect. Garlic Naan- Although there were plenty of garlic pieces on it, it didn't taste that garlicky to us. Still good and recommend. Our total was $50 without drinks. The service was excellent. They kept refilling our waters and made sure everything was good. Overall, our experience was okay. Not sure if it's worth the $50 since there so many other Indian restaurants around. The inside is nice but looks a little dark. I would come back, but not sure if it would be my go-to place for Indian food.
(3)Mike P.
Quality of the food is great but the quantity not so much. I used to come here frequently with my wife. I would order two chicken dish, naan and there would still be extra to take home. My last 4 visit not the same. I honestly do not mind paying extra for quality at all but when I order $20+ a plate I expect to get more than 4 small chicken pieces. Again food quality is superb and if you ever do visit ask for Ali. He is one of my favorite staff member and it's always a pleasure seeing him. Hope the quantity part changes and you will see me here weekly.
(3)Christina K.
I came here on a Monday because it's 50% off the menu! The food was amazing! I definitely recommend trying the butter chicken and rack of lamb. The service was nice and my group had a great time.
(5)Mandy L.
High marks for ambiance and service. Relatively speaking, however, the food here isn't that distinguishable: there are a handful of alternate Indian restaurants in Orange Country that is comparable, or even better. The one dish that does stand out is the lentil soup, which, impressive as it is, shouldn't be a dish that overshadows the entrees, but it does. They do have pretty decent home made paneer. For those of you who don't know what paneer is, it is a type of cheese made from milk. It is NOT deer. (Someone once told me paneer was deer...which, as gullible as I am, I did have some sense to hold some skepticism...Bambi in India? Methinks not.) If you do have any questions on any of the menu items, however, the staff would be more than happy to assist. They are very friendly! In all, Royal Khyber is a pleasant experience, but I would like to explore other options.
(3)D C.
We love this place!!! Very nice ambiance and our server, Ali, Was very professional and kind. The food is delicious and the portions are generous. I had the butter chicken and my husband had spicy chicken madras. The naan is perfect. Thank you for a great night!
(5)Maggie G.
The gang took a friend here for his birthday dinner since he loves Indian food. It was the first time all 4 of us had been here. And it's probably going to be the last. If you want really Americanized Indian food, this is your place. If you want dried out overcooked meat, get here as soon as possible! Needless to say, it was disappointing. We started with the Assorted Vegetable Snacks. The sauces were good, but the portions were incredibly skimpy. Definitely not a sharable appetizer. The Royal Tandoori Kebab platter sounded great: shrimp, chicken, fish, rice. Huge portion, but way overcooked. I really don't like trying to saw through hardened chicken. The shrimp were pretty good, though. The Curried Seafood platter was also a big portion and way overcooked. Rubbery lobster is never a good thing. And both of these dishes were pretty dang pricey. The birthday boy got the Khyber's Nectar lamb shanks, and he thought it was pretty decent--which was good since it was his birthday. When you check in on Yelp, you get a free glass of wine. But it's only their crap house wine, so you probably won't even use the freebie--we didn't. All the other wine is super expensive. If any of that sounds good to you, go to Royal Khyber. If not, check out Himalayan Grill on PCH in Seal Beach. It's awesome!
(2)S S.
Great Food... Brunch on Sundays --- 50% Off on Monday nights. Must haves - Gulab Jamun -- Paneer Tikka -- Lychee Panacotta -- Chicken Kababs
(5)W C.
Left disappointed. Groupon $15 for $30 brought my husband and I here but we ended up paying waaaay more. Sunday buffet is $18 each, add a couple drinks and tip, we spent over $51 for Indian buffet when we could have tried the Indian buffet in the next center over for under $10 each. For fine dining we expected an outstanding spread for the buffet but I thought variety was few but the quality of ingredients were there. Management, service and ambience were excellent but we found the place way too pricey.
(3)Vitri C.
Great food. Try the pani puri. Something different from everyday food. It doesn't have meat inside but it is still good without it. The food is made fresh in front of you. Wtf yelp, why u move my review to another restaurant? I never ate at royal khyber
(3)Sourabh G.
one word .. woww One of the best Indian restaurant in Orange County/SoCal. Brunch is amazing. Highly recommended!!!!
(5)P S.
This place used to be one of my favorite haunts. Especially an older Indian gentlemen who was excellent at customer service. Last night was bad and I'm forced to write this review so that they sit up and focus on customer experience and service. Firstly the food took a long time. The restaurant was about 50% occupied. There where others furious about the delay. In fact I did not complain - 20 mins after finishing our starters when we enquires about the food , the bought plates out , no apologies or word about when the food would actually arrive. Worse when the food did arrive the waiter looked more irritated and curt with us! Finally when the bill did arrive the had the nerve of including a 18% tip! This for a party of 4 and 2 kids! I told them the service was horrible and I would be the one to decide the tip. Finally there was an apology and a promise to fix things in the future. Oh btw on the food on this particular night wasn't great either.
(1)charity c.
I saw the other reviews and was a little hesitant about coming here, but their restaurant week menu was too good to pass up. And I am so glad I came!! The service alright but the food was super tasty! The paneer was so creamy and cheesy and the spinach palek so good! Don't let the Cheapos on here deter you!
(5)Charles G.
Romantic spot for fine Indian. The owner is a passionate man who will come around and shake hands with patrons on occasion, and the maitre de, Alijan (sp?) has manned their floor with grace and approachability for decades. Their lunch buffet is the spot for a special occasion or a cozy, overdue meetup.
(5)Malabika M.
Very good. We started off with papri chat on the recommendation of the hostess. So delicious and very fresh. Little fried pieces of dough covered in potato cubes, chick peas, tamarind chutney, a bit of yogurt, etc. We loved it. Next we had the mixed tandoori. Chicken was just okay, a bit dry. The lamb kebab more than made up for that. Next time, we will get just the lamb. Tender, spicy, just perfect lamb. We also got our standard saag paneer and it was pretty good but not the best ever. A little watery. Naan was good. We will come back for sure.
(4)Werner R.
22 Dollar dish, no rice?! Way overprized for below average food. We had Lamb Rogan and Korma. Both were delivered by door dash. I would not recommend this food or delivery from door dash.
(2)Andrew P.
Came here at night with a groupon There was not much of a fuss because of the groupon like some places and the staff was mostly friendly. In short, it is a indian restaurant trying desperately to be upscale to justify their high prices but lack in backing it up with their cuisine which is lacking in both quality and quantity. The low stars are due to food and value. The spices and curry tasted good however the meats both lamb and chicken were barely edible. It tasted like they skewered the meats (we ordered separate lamb and chicken dishes) then we're sitting in the freezer. Then they must cook them without thawing straight into the tandoor. The end result being poor quality meat dish. I couldn't even eat through one of my five chicken pieces (5 chunks for $20 dish) it had some weird texture and wasn't chewable (if you've ever cooked freezer burned food at home you may know what I mean lol but this is at a restaurant) The naan were burnt. The samosa was good and different. The chutney was good. The prices are insane for small portion and low quality meat. I'd recommend the Indian place one block away on Bristol does a great job and reasonable prices. If it wasn't a groupon I would have been extremely pissed but then again maybe they gave the bad food/old freezer meat because I had a groupon but that would defeat the purpose as if it was a great experience I would return.
(2)Katherine A.
Free wine with yelp check-in.. I do appreciate it that he gave a good quality wine since this is the only good experience here.. The place is rather hidden, kinda hard to find but I found it. The greeting person was young boy who looked Lost or couldn't compute that its 21st century and people do dine alone today. I had to tell him yes just me and Casper the friendly ghost. Ok, so got the vegetarian thali dish.. That came with naan, rice, side of eggplant, yogurt, spinach dip, and spicy lentil First I wished they'd have out more rice.. And more spices to the sides.. It just tastes plain. I might return to try other dished but this dish is plain..not worth the 21$ . The 3 stars is for wine.
(3)Carla Lee H.
Fantastic food - fantastic service. I always get the Vegetarian Thali which is all these little plates / servings on one big platter. It's like a tasting plate!! I love being able to have so many options and try so many things at once. At $15 it's slightly pricey for lunch, but it does work out to being two filling lunches because I have so much leftover still when I leave. Totally worth it. I believe that this place is family owned and they pride themselves on wholesome ingredients. I don't know why it's usually not more crowded here when I come for lunch but maybe it's just that they have so much space that it never looks crowded?!?! Seating is ample and the tables are never jammed up against each other so you can actually have some privacy if you need it. Service is great - - drinks always get refilled promptly and someone always checks to make sure the food is good and you are happy and don't need anything else... something I totally appreciate. They also have specials during lunch time, dinner, special weekend deals, and (I believe) a happy hour. You can also score an awesome lunch during the OC Restaurant Week if you want. I know that there are cheaper places to eat nearby, but this place will knock your socks off!!! Great dining experience, great food - - a sure bet for Indian food!!
(4)Wini S.
We have been coming to Royal Kyber for many years now so this review is long overdue. Hubs usually orders mixed tandoori, naan and mango chutney. All very tastey! I like the shrimp karahi, okra and eggplant bharta. My son, age 3, who is a picky eater, finally tried rice with masala sauce and he actually ate it! Yum! We have also been to the brunch on Sundays and all I can say is Wow! They have a good array of salads, meats, fish, seafood and the best Indian desserts. My favorite is the pistachio kulfi and the rice pudding. A++ all the way. Also, the service is excellent. All the waiters and bus boys know us and are always super polite and accommodating. Would not hesitate to recommend Royal Kyber to all!
(5)Kristina M.
This is our favorite spot! Love the garlic nan, dal soup, chicken tika on the grill... Very delicious and fresh eggplant (barta) and love the hot chai! The atmosphere is very nice and everyone is attentive and friendly. I love indian cuisine and this place is on top of my list!
(5)Ahmed A.
So I tried again to give it another shot and there was no improvement on the last visit. This time not only was the food mediocre but the service was as well. Your pricing really does warrant a higher level of service and food quality.
(2)dinesh g.
one of the most expensive restaurant with bad service. The fish on grill was smelling, chicken was chewy. there were fruit flies on the table. the plates were not very clean. the water was served warm. Not even a sorry when we complained. Last time i am going there. I felt ripped off.
(1)Jon T.
disappointing... I'm lucky I came here with a living social deal. Came here for the sunday brunch buffet, we were sat quickly and hit the buffet tables! selection is extremely limited and because they shove everything on 2-3 tables the line moves very slow. the majority of the items were very plain as in flavor-less/bland. I resorted to the chicken tikki masala which I thought you really couldn't mess up but once again very bland.. disappointing.. service lacked as well, no refills on waters and honestly for the regular price of I think $18 a person?! no way!!
(2)Vaibhav S.
Really good indian food. Especially good for chicken and lamb lovers. Their veg thali is great too.
(5)Ashley S.
4.5 stars for the food, 2 stars for the price. Way overpriced. I would certainly never choose this place over other Indian food in the area when I can get just as delicious food elsewhere for half the price. I can see coming here to impress a date, assuming they would be impressed by a more fancy restaurant. I personally would prefer/feel more at ease going to a hole-in-the-wall. Only strange thing about the food was the chutney served with the samosas. Literally tasted like the marinara sauce that you get at Sonic to dip your mozzarella sticks. Ask for the tamarind/mint chutneys instead...
(3)Paul N.
The food was good but the place was not honest about the price. We used Groupon voucher for dinner, the first time 2 months ago, there was no incident. But we went again last week, they jacked up each dish by $3.00 compared with the online menu and paper menu at the restaurant. We had 5 dishes for our party. You do the math how much more it was jacked up and %18 percent tip on top. The extra rice was $4.99? Oh well, something to let people know...
(3)Akiko I.
- Locale Destination - It's on W Sunflower Ave and S Bristol St in Santa Ana. It's across street from Nordstrom, right next to good Persian restaurant "Darya". It's a fancy setting like "Darya", though you can go casually. They had a bar right next to THE
(3)Lena B.
food is good (actually great) but price is not for the portion size. my favorite dish was goan prawn masala. i've never seen a prawn that huge, and the garlicky, mildly spicy (yet extremely oily) sauce was the perfect accompaniment to their chewy naan. warning - my butt was glued to the toilet next morning.
(4)Vinh L.
It's an ultimate Indian cuisine and the best in OC. It's a beautiful restaurant and a wonderful place for us to celebrate a special birthday. We love the healthful dishes, full of traditional Indian flavors yet they're all made with only a light touch of dairy and oil, etc. An absolutely MUST is Khyber's Nectar, the most delicious lamb shanks simmered so that we could eat with a spoon while soaking the great naan bread in the wonderful sauce. Beside having the best Indian foods and beautiful restaurant Royal Khyber is very attentive and provides absolutely wonderful services. The prices are very, very reasonable for such an awesome experience.
(5)Shashi S.
Royal Khyber has the BEST Korma I have ever had! The Korma is very flavorful. The cashew, pine nut, pumpkin and cantaloupe seed paste makes the Korma taste rich and hearty. I had to ask what was in it because their korma has put such a spell on me! The staff are very friendly and always willing to answering my questions. The restaurant is clean and beautifully decorated. I always plan my trips to this area to include lunch or dinner at Royal Khyber just to get my favorite dish! It's not easy to find but its worth the effort. It's across from South Coast Plaza on Plaza Drive and Sunflower behind Mortons. Definitely worth the effort!!!
(4)Suzanne H.
My husband and I have dined here for over 20 years (back when they were at their original location on Bristol in Newport Beach), and have always loved it. The service and ambiance makes you feel so special when you are there, and the Chicken Tikka Masala and Lamb Vindoloo are out of this world. We never leave even one drop of sauce when we are finished, as it has all been mopped up and devourer by the soft and warm naan. If you love Indian food (or are even willing to give it a try), GO HERE!
(5)Casey M.
I wanted to like this place much more, but it simply fell short. My husband bought a Groupon for the Royal Khyber, not realizing how expensive this place really is. It's fairly upscale inside, with warm low lighting and white table cloths so one would expect the caliber of food to match. We each ordered a glass of wine; I had the Chateau Bonnet Cabernet and my husband had the Temperanillo.....both were very good. Unfortunately, the goodness stopped there. This is the breakdown of our order: Reshami Chicken Tikka: My husband was hesitant to order this because boneless chicken breast can often be dried out, especially when cooked at such high temperatures. I agreed but said that I don't mind when it has a good flavor (and most chicken tikkas do). The dish came out with onions and peppers and kind of resembled a chicken fajita plate simply because it didn't have the spiced color that most chicken tikkas I've had in the past. It was definitely juicier than expected, which was a nice surprise, but I have a hard time believing it was marinated or cooked in "flavorful spices" as their menu says. Mixed Vegetable Karahi: This dish was very tasty and had a nice kick to it. It was basically mixed vegetables in a tomato-based sauces with spices. The only downside was that the vegetables inside of it didn't really seem to be fresh from the market...I would not be the least bit shocked if I discovered that they were canned or frozen. For $11, I would expect fresh veggies. And the location screams for high-quality food Garlic naan: We ordered garlic naan, our server repeated "garlic naan" but the naan we received had no garlic on it or anywhere near it. That's a disappointment Rice; we also ordered a side of rice and it was actually pretty good. It had a good flavor and was a nice accompaniment to the sauce from the vegetable dish Lychee Panna Cotta: I was really hoping this would be refreshing and delicious, but it honestly tasted like I was eating lotion. That being said, I took one small bite and decided I would finish my glass of wine for dessert. Our bill came to $65 before the Groupon, which I suppose isn't horrible considering we both had a glass of wine, but we weren't all that full considering the chicken dish was not very big. Overall, it was a disappointing experience. We were hoping for a quality dining experience considering the restaurant's location and the clientele in the surrounding area. I can go to India restaurants much closer to my house for better prices and significantly better food. Needless to say, we will not be returning. If you bought the Groupon, you may as well use it since you've already spent money on the place. But buyer beware....you won't be getting a fantastic deal and may not leave satisfied.
(2)A H.
Nope. I'm Indian and this is not good Indian food. It's the type of fusion crap that Indians try to push on non-Indians. The food was mediocre at best and service was only "ok." Biryani is basically rice mixed with curry. Family's from Hyderabad in India so I have high standards for biryani and this is not even close. Naam was ok and other paneer curries were ok. Ugh, just stay away.
(1)Roy B.
Came to Royal Khyber with a bunch of Yelper bros and broettes. I had never been to the RK before and it seemed to be a standout Indian resteraunt. Nestled in the woods with some other great restos, I thought I'd found Indian gold. I met my homeboy Dan H outside and we meandered into the bar where he got some vino and I was treated to an Indian beer. Not bad, a very light rice bodied brew. I had two. yelp.com/biz_photos/roya… but wouldn't look for them at Bev Mo to fill my (OK beer) stock. They have a fullish bar and carry some primo boozes too. But I stuck with the Indian beer. When in New Deli....... We were there for resto week and there was a number of dishes to be had at a nice price of $10-$15. You were first served a nice green salad, kinda fru fru for me. yelp.com/biz_photos/roya… or a tomato based curry soup. Thats where things strayed. I ordered the butter chicken yelp.com/biz_photos/roya… and lucily for me Dave ordered a pile of naan. That bread was so yummy, I wanted to put some in my pocket to take home. My butter chicken (murgh makhani) was very tender and Kind of flavorful. I only wish I had 3 x as much to fill me up. They were skimpy with the side dishes too, a pat of B-rice and and a bite or two of saag so the bread helped fill my belly. Others had vegetarian dishes, spicy currry, and various dishes but none sang home with a note of champion. The food here was kind of bland and not so great. I could easillly have found several places on Pioneer Blvd that could have outclassed RK in the food department. But I must say RK was a step beyond in it's apperance and the way the treated customers. Pioneer Blvd could learn a thing or two on that end. Probably not be back, unless for buffet.
(2)Laurice D.
Great service and great food, every time! Causal but elegant, wonderful place for dinner.
(5)Holly L.
We love everything on the menu, the service and ambience are amazing and have been regulars for years. Best indian in the OC!
(5)Michael F.
My wife and I came here for lunch one day and we absolutely enjoyed our experience. The food was pretty good and the service was outstanding. We opted for one of their lunch specials, which were priced right, and enjoyed our time here... I'd definitely come back..
(4)Kara M.
From the ambience, to the service, to the food, Royal Khyber was an excellent dining experience. We had the 3 course $20 meal which was a fantastic deal. Portions were just the right size. Excellent flavors, textures, and aromas. The owner is very nice and enjoys speaking with the guests. We'll definitely be going back.
(5)Luke K.
We've been to Indian restaurants all over the world (including a number in India) and this is by far the best. It is a family run establishment and you can tell - they put the extra effort in to create delicious and unique dishes that you won't find anywhere else. The owner's are in the restaurant almost everyday backed by a staff that has been there a long time, which gives the service that "personal touch" that you don't find many places anymore. Unfortunately we live abroad now, but everytime we're in Southern California a stop at Royal Kyhber is at the top of our must due list (even though it usually requires us to drive all the way from LA). Stop in for the delicious food but stay for the great martinis (don't miss out on the "grand martini" or the fresh mango martini) and that personal service.
(5)Forrest W.
Yes, 5 stars. Alfred, our waiter was excellent from the start. Used a Groupon. Ordered a la carte - bharta (eggplant), ghobi (cauliflower - no aloo), chicken Tikka Masala and butter chicken. Garlic naan and raita. Absolutely superb. Same as our previous visit. This is one cuisine that you just can't duplicate at home. My wife made an Indian dinner one time -(took her two days and it was awesome). To have a restaurant with this quality in the area is a real treasure. We used to live in the bay area and there were many Indian restaurants, but none as fine as this.
(5)Annie D.
Best deal is their Express $10 lunch or the Sunday Brunch. We came here for Brunch and they were verrryyy busy and had only 3 servers working for the entire restaurant - greeting guests, busing dirty dishes, getting beverages, refilling the buffet, closing tabs and turning over tables- so service was not the best that day. The buffet did not include an entree to order like it described on the menu, but it had enough diverse dishes that it did not disappoint. They offered everything on the brunch menu plus Chicken Tika masala, Fish malabar, Basmati rice pilaf, Dal soup, a Lentil and potato dish and Aloo Baingan (Potato and Eggplant), Tandoori Chicken and Spicy Tandoori Lamb Kabobs. My favorite dish was the Aloo Baingan and I would come back just for that dish. The Fish Malabar was also good but the Chicken Tika Masala was dry and the sauce thin. Tandoori chicken was cold but very tender, they used a hot plate instead of a chafeur to keep it warm. Also the rice pudding was a particular highlight. Do not order the OJ here and the Chai tea was also lacking flavor. All in all, we would probably come back but not very often because it's pretty pricey as far as Indian buffets go.
(3)Patrick M.
Royal Khyber was delish. We went late on a Monday night. Prompt service. Food was good, for a white guy. It was definitely better than the other Indian cuisine restaurants I've been to. It is on the pricier side, especially for Indian food. But you get what you pay for, so it's solid.
(4)j r.
I've been to Royal Khyber twice in the last month and not only has the food been really delicious - but the service has been consistently above par. It's not very often I go to restaurants where the waitstaff treats you like a guest, which is nice, considering the restaurant is Indian, and Indians are known for their hospitality. I'm bringing my family here for my birthday!
(4)Abhi S.
One of the best Indian resturants in SoCal. Khybers nectar and goan prawn masala a must have!!
(4)Bonnie Y.
i was told by an native Indian that this is the best Indian food in town... so i chose this place to have my bday dinner one year... it is not bad... just it's... a little too dark... or i should say romantic? we tried the samosa as the waiter suggested... it's a little weird to our taste... other than that, the naan, curry, tandoori, rack of lamb... are all very good.. i also tried the indian beer - a little light to my surprise. the reason why i gave it a 3 stars is... there are actually lots indian buffet places serve the same quality of stuff at a much cheaper price... BUT.. gotta try it! i see that now they have the value pre-fix menu - this could be a great chance to try do so if you haven't!
(3)Allan P.
Great salmon. Overpriced. Rude management. Never will return.
(1)Casey D.
Good friendly service. Food was okay, but far from the best Indian food I've had, especially considering their high prices. Pass...
(2)p h.
We have been a fan of your restaurant and have been coming all the way 30 miles one way to have dinner. We were introduced to this website - please see the link below. icoupononline.com/los-an… We had got the coupon from the website on 3rd Oct 11 and it says valid until 06-13-13. The host at your restaurant said that it's not a valid coupon - the question is when the link still shows the offer and we have a printout with the details how can it be denied ? It's just very disappointing that a place like Royal Khyber cannot accommodate their customers and are not willing to listen or know the details. If you know there are companies selling fake coupons some action needs to be taken so that your impression is not at stake. Hope we won't have to go through such a disappointment.
(3)Kris W.
My Indian boyfriend introduced me to Indian Food here and I can't say it was love at first bite, but I have really grown to love it! There are some reviews that are less than glowing here...I think its safe to say that every restaurant has an off night or a few meals that don't turn out every now and then. Every restaurant deserves a second chance. If you love Indian Food, you owe it to yourself to check it out. My favorite is the Coconut Chicken Curry and the Tandoori Mixed Grill. If you are a fan of Martini's and you like Mango, the Mango-tini is out of this world, made with fresh mango puree.
(4)Nicole J.
Love Love Love there food. If you like good indian food then you will love this place. The decor is small but quaint. Be prepared to have your stomach hurt from eating so much!
(5)John K.
The service was very good, very attentive, ambiance was nice, but the food was sub-par. Very bland. I ordered chicken tikka masala and my grown daughter had the lamb tikka masala. It had virtually no flavor, either of them, not to mention the meat was over-cooked. The lamb was very tough. Tikka masala is one of my favorites, and I 've had it many places - this was by far the worst - virtually no flavor. If you've never had Indian food before, and don't know any better, you might think it's OK. If you've had Indian food before - don't bother with this over-priced crap. Oh, we had the garlic naan too - again, sub par. Try the Punjab on Brookhurst, the food is sooo much better.
(2)Justin L.
Got such a sweet deal for coming here during OC Restaurant Week.... $25 for Daal Soup (spicy lentil based soup, sooo good), Saag Paneer (spinach dish w/ cheese), Chicken Tiki Masala, and Pistachio Kulfi (Ice cream) and a glass chardonnay. They provided plenty of warm naan with our food as well. The food was delicious and the portions were generous. The service was great....our waiter was very responsive and kept our drinks filled. Would like to come back here for more Indian food in the future. 4 - 4.5 stars in my book. PS: The place is a little hard to find - it's tucked back behind Mortons, across the street from south coast plaza. Definitely wouldn't have known about it if it weren't for me looking for it specifically.
(4)sid c.
Hello...want to spend a great deal of money ...eat a mediocre meal, then go to the nearest fast food joint because you are still hungry..then you have come to the right place....the good things first...its centrally located in a high rent district, the place is nicely decorated and you get your food within a reasonable amount of time...other than that, there is nothing to brag about..the portions are small...if you are looking for true indian food...this is not it..the owners have changed many of the dishes to suit their tastes..does not taste like indian food..i guess they have americanized it...the prices are very high, the service is so-so, unless you get an appetizer, salad, dessert, you will still be hungry...would urge you to go to other indian restaurants if you want authentic indian food
(2)Laura Y.
Food is great but it is definitely on the pricey side. I've been a couple of times and have found the Butter Chicken, Lamb Rogan Josh and the Saagwalla curries to be great. The chicken samosas were also pretty darn good last night. The service is good but I'm not sure exactly why it's so much more expensive - proximity to South Coast Plaza maybe?
(4)Katy N.
If you love Authentic & spicy Indian food, this is the place to go! Been to this restaurant more than 5 times and have never been let down! Is fine dining but they will still seat you in the center of the restaurant if you walk in with sweats like I did for the first time. You definitely won't find that kind of service anywhere else for fine dining.
(5)Yelppy M.
Let me start of by saying that food was good, not much to complain about there, but as someone who is pretty patient - I would NEVER go back do to the poor service time and overall service! The service was horrific!!! Not so much that the staff wasn't polite once we were seated but the wait time my party of 3 experienced was crazy. The story: We walked in without reservations on a Saturday night, but the restaurant was only about half full, and my party of three and waited for at least 10-15 minutes before ANYONE even acknowledged our presence. And the staff wasn't even really busy, they were walking around setting tables that had no-one there! Anyways another patron came in around the same time as us, and all of us were joking about how long it was taking. Finally they acknowledge us, and it took another about 15 minutes to get seated. Once seated, the waiter did apologize for the wait, but after that things did not get much better. Our food took a total of 40 minutes from the time we ordered (I looked at my watch to time it) to the time it hit the table. I couldn't believe how poorly run this place was. The food I will say was very good, very flavorful and full of wonderful herbs, but the experience was overall tainted by the lack of customer attention, wait time, and service. Once we were seated and our food order had been taken, it seemed as if for the next 40 minutes of our very long wait we were invisible. And the most frustrating thing about the lack of their ability to move quickly or even acknowledge us, was not due to them being busy, but more just poor service skills! Oh and the part I found most hilarious about our visit, was at the time we payed our bill, in the bill folder they had this full page copied magazine like article about Royal Khyber and how great it was, including part of a zagat survey. What was funny about this page was more that I found it like a justification or like trying to convince you how great the restaurant and food was based on this elaborate two page colored article on fancy magazine like paper - "see how great we are, everyone says we are!". Anyways, here is the bottom line, come here for the food if you don't mind waiting a really long time, and being ignored by most of the staff. The food is good, service was horrible, and the prices not cheap -- I liked the food, but for what I had to go through to get it - soo not worth it. I've had just as good Indian food at less fancy places where the staff was much more friendly and eager to serve.
(2)Oscar p.
The food was way overpriced and small portioned. The taste was decent. The Flambe was mediocre and super market rice pudding would have tasted better than their rice pudding. Their service was horrid. Not only were they understaffed, but they were very rude. My party had the impression that the staff did not wish we remained in their restaurant for long. The customers were not very diverse. Only my table and another were non-Indian. I definitely do not recommend this place especially if you've had Indian before.
(1)Alex C.
After being informed by my wonderful cousin that I was a "food snob" at this very establishment, I feel comforted to know that my opinions are not in the majority here. Here are the details... My wife and I took the MLK weekend and came down to visit my cousins in Orange County. We all love food and on every visit we go out to eat some place special. I do not mean special in terms of ambiance or decor, I mean special in terms of exceptional food. One of our previous spots was a completely nondescript, strip mall Chinese restaurant that was absolutely fantastic (the management has changed or we probably would have eaten there). For our last meal with them, we went to lunch at Royal Khyber. Now Royal Khyber is not a hole-in-the-wall. It is quite a lovely room. The service was very attentive. My cousin "warned" us that the cuisine is traditional, but the kitchen uses much less fat (ghee) for the American palate. This sounded good as I typically find that Indian food can be too greasy for me. We ordered three entrees and a vegetable combo. Everything was very good, but my Khyber's Nectar stole the show; this dish is a 14-hour braised lamb shank with a rich sauce and it was outstanding. We also had Goan prawns and the Tandoori mixed grill, which were very good. The vegetables were great, especially the Okra, which was mind-blowing. The okra was mildly spicy and dry, not the usual slippery, slimy overcooked stuff covered in sauce that you usually get. The naan is good, but was the one place their shift to the lean side was a bit extreme. All in all, this was one of the finest Indian meals I have had. While the food (and the prices) are much better in London, they do not really cater to the American palate there (in other words, they load on the ghee), which can leave me feeling overloaded after a meal there, if not in outright indigestion. It is not the cheapest restaurant around, but if you are so concerned about the prices, you should check out the menu before you come in. Overall, I would give the place 4.25 stars, but as dining with my cousins is such a joy, this place easily gets 5+ stars in my book.
(5)Bill S.
We had a wonderful dinner the other night. We went to celebrate a special occasion and the staff at the restaurant did a wonderful job. One member of our party was not that familiar with Indian food and the waiter told her that the chef could make any special dish that she wanted, even if it wasn't on the menu. I agree with several other reviews that the cost is a bit on the high side for Indian, but I think it is worth it for several reasons. First, the atmosphere and service are much better than the average Indian restaurant. Second, I found the quality of the meat to be better than other places. In most Indian restaurants you aren't sure what type of chicken you are getting and usually it is the cheap parts, but this place served very high quality chicken and it made a difference in the taste of the meal.
(4)Kathryn G.
Delicious Indian food in an upscale restaurant. The meat is tender, the sauce is spicy and the naan is so so so so good - especially the garlic naan.
(4)Jenny A.
The food was good and the ambiance was nice, but I will never return to the place due to the horrible service I received. I went to Royal Khyber for OC Restaurant Week and the lunch took 2 hours! My boyfriend and I were eating our soup when the waiter brought out the entrées. He was about to put them on the table but then decided that we weren't ready for them and took them back to the kitchen. We didn't see the entrees for about another 45 minutes while we watched everyone around us get served. Other people who had arrived after us had paid their bills and left before we'd gotten the rest of our meal. Finally, we asked politely if they could check on our food because we'd been waiting for awhile, and they brought it out about 5-10 minutes later - not exactly what I'd call quickly. Since we'd gone there for Restaurant Week, we were unfortunately locked into getting dessert. We asked if it was possible to take it to go since I was already a half hour over my typical 1 hour lunch break from work. Well, the dessert was ice cream, which doesn't lend itself well to take out and we were forced to eat there. At this point, they knew we were anxious to get going, but still did not pick up the pace! From reading the rest of the reviews, this doesn't seem to be a regula, and I can't imagine everyone around us had anything to complain about either, but then it seems like they should have offered us something for having to wait so long
(1)Jo M.
Definitely very good Indian food. Went there for a family-style lunch and ordered a bunch of items I am unable to repeat. I know we had various lamb, chicken and salmon dishes. All were excellent and the garlic naan was fresh. Service was 5 star and the owner was very nice. It's a little too pricey to be on my regular lunch rotation but would go back once awhile.
(4)Just M.
i bought a groupon deal for this place. the deal was not a deal. dinner for $45 included one appetizer, two entrees and two glasses of wine. we had the chicken salad, which lacked dressing and was not worth $16, but had tender chicken. the groan shrimp masala dish was good, but 4 shrimps for $25 was overpriced! and what really threw me off was this... if you spent over the value of the entree ($27.95), there was a charge IN ADDITION to the difference in price. the charge would be a charge between $5 to $10 for EACH dish, depending on which dish we picked. so if we picked the lamb dish, which was $1 more, we would have to pay $7 instead because there was a $6 fee. then the price on their menu stated the lamb dish was $27.95 but the waitress said it has been changed to $28.95! she would not honor the LISTED price, even after we showed her their menu! then groupon deal was valued at $93; we spent $60 and had to pay tax. the food was good but we left there feeling like all they wanted to do was rip us off. there was always an extra charge, or hidden taxes or a fee somewhere. the waitress said there was a sign "in the back" regarding the extra charges and she could show it to me. i didn't want to waste my time, knowing i was already turned off and leaving for dessert somewhere else, and never coming back.
(2)David C.
i love this place. the food is excellent, rich in flavor and herbs. definitely pricey, but they do have the friday lunch buffet thats really awesome.
(4)Jui R.
For really good Indian food, try this place. The saag paneer is excellent, but I there hasn't been anything that I have ordered there that I haven't liked! A bit on the pricey side, but worth it for a nice night out.
(4)shoba d.
Reasonably priced yummy Indian food in an upscale setting. The malai kofta was the best I've ever had. Also tasty: the onion/basil naan.
(4)John S.
The food was tasty. I have no complaints at all in this area of evaluation. What brough me here was a Groupon I purchased for two entrees up to $28 each, an appetizer and wine. What really bothered me was management's focus on making as much money as possible from these Groupons, and doing so in a unethical, unprofessional manner. One example of my experience: the entrees. I ordered an entree priced at $28.95 thinking I'd be charged the extra .95 cents. My wife ordered an entree for about $32 thinking we'd be charged an extra $4 for that entree. Wrong. We were told that if we ordered these entrees, I would have to pay the .95 cents difference plus a $5 extra fee. My wife would have to pay the $4 differnce plus an extra $10 fee. Furthermore several printed prices on the menu had been increased using a ballpoint pen. The result was no possilbe way of getting an entre for around $28. I could afford the extra cost but it "bugged me" and I won;t come back. Service was well below average in terms of attentiveness, despite there being few diners that Wednesday night.
(2)Nik M.
Being Indian, I hate visiting Indian places to eat, as the food they make is just not up to par. I was surprised when I tried Royal Khyber. The chicken Tikka's and Kababs were cooked with the right amount of spices and the main dishes were great. The service and decor is ideal when you need to impressive a client or introduce somebody to Indian food. I would recommend Royal Khyber for Sunday brunch. Try the staple Chicken Tikka dish or if you prefer spicy, the Madras Chicken dish.
(4)Jessica S.
we ended up going here sunday after making reservations somewhere else only to find the restaurant closed:( we got the tandori mixed grill it was amazing and i usually dont care that much about tandori but the fish melted in your mouth and the other meats were very flavorful. we also got the lamb korma it was not as creamy as i am used to but we also enjoyed it very much. i really liked how it was a little sweet a lot of indian places dont have the sweet flavor to their kormas any more. the other dish we tried was the tikka masala i liked the sause the chicken was a little dry but all in all the curries we very good. my husband who like indian but is not a huge fan of it really enjoyed this place as well.
(5)Ashley B.
I love OC restaurant week. They need one every month. I tried this place because of that glorious yearly event, and I was thrilled to finally have some great Indian food, as I haven't had any in some time. Royal Khyber was excellent. Delicious well-spiced food, of appropriate quantity, and perfect service.This is clearly a very fine restaurant. It's beautiful and calming inside, very romantic with soft lighting and candles, and attentive but unobtrusive waiters. The food was so outstanding I couldn't help but keep eating long after I was painfully full. And at the end, the dessert (mango ice cream), while very simple was so delicious and eye-catching with edible gold leaf as to make the perfect end to a fabulous evening. I will absolutely come back here again, and although it will cost more, it will still be worth it.
(5)Justin G.
Like spending way too much for food? Then you have found the spot!!! I had some tasteless lamb samosa, which cost about $8 for two little pieces on a giant oversized plate. Yeah, that really made it look worht the money. The main course came and it tasted EXCELLENT, BUT there was a chunk of aluminum foil floating around in it, about half the size of my fist along with a bunch of little pieces of foil buried in it. I mean, c'mon. What the hell is that? And it took a damn long time to make the stupid thing. Was it because they had to take extra time crunching up foil and burying it? Was this like an expedition where I was supposed to go digging into my food for foil like a sea exploration for buried treasure? I paid $40 for that, and I really don't know how the price got that high. Meanwhile a waiter dropped a bottle of wine and later almost slipped and fell. For a review of the service, see "Yelppy M." My experience with the service was similar. Overall, the O.C. must not have much in the way of good Indian food with all the five star reviews. While the food is good here, it doesn't justify the price with all the other crap you have to deal with.
(2)Don C.
Like B.G. of Seal Beach, I was surprised at some of the reviews and how they varied one to the next. If there's a better Indian restaurant around, someone please say so! I do not know a better one than Royal Kyber! Indian is my favorite food choice of all! More than Italian, more than Morroccan, more than Thai! I love curry and the aromatic spell that lures my appetite toward culinary wonder. And wonder I do! I marvel at Indian cooking as II marvel at India! I love the great variety of taste sensations! Every bite of it! It's the most overall satisfying of all foods, to me! Royal Khyber may be a bit expensive, but I don't go to good restaurants and complain about pricing! I do evaluation upon entry, and for my money Royal Khyber is there for those who really appreciate good Indian food ... like me! The staff has always been professional, friendly, and attentive, They always remember me! I have been many times, and will be going again next Saturday, and always look forward to every visit! I am a korma and muglai fan, chicken or vegetable, and Indian food is at the tip top of my food chain! I love the complexity and combinations of texture, sweet, spicy, creamy, etc. I always suggest that no two bites of Indian are ever alike! The combinations are too various, and always fascinating! The naan, garlic preferred, is light, chewy, and crisp, and everything from tandoori to samosas and vegetable dishes blend back and forth in harmonious combinations! The sweet touch of mango chutney add sweet sensations the likes of which might only have been known by Indian royalty! Oh! Hmm! Royal Khyber! So crazy! How does it all makes sense? Just like India, it just does! Indian food makes great holiday fare, too, with its aromatic spices, crispy samosas, naans, and the rest! Its rich spice traditions are always festive! A good beer such as Taj Mahal is perfect, too! Hmmmm! Next Saturday seems too far away!
(5)Aristotle D.
I am a very picky person when it comes to fine cuisine and I've looked high and low for an Indian restaurant that will give me food equivalent to Indian food served in an Indian Restaurant in India. This place comes close though not there yet. I have really enjoyed the few dishes that I have tried here. Unlike most Indian Restaurants here in the US. they don't have an excess of any particular ingredient in their food which results in a perfect combination of flavors. But again one should expect perfect food for the price they charge (Phew!). The customer service here isn't at par with most Fine Dining places.I would eat here more often if I were filthy rich :).
(4)Arvind M.
This past Saturday night made up for the mediocraty over the past 4 years of going to Royal Kyhber. Service was great and the food was on target. Oh so yummy, and yes I'm of Indian descent, so I know my Indian food! I always go veg when I eat Indian food, because I feel thats how it was meant to be eaten. I'd recommend you do the same unless you're ordereing the Khyber's Nectar which is a remarkable lamb dish that my best friend always orders. The bhagen bartha (egg plant) and Malai Kofta are my perrenial favorites. Both go well with a bottle of either Himalayan Blue or Golden Eagle.
(5)D T.
The food is great and very authentic (at least from my point of view and the other patrons). This is fine indian cuisine (as the name suggested) and you are paying for it. Anyways, here is the review. * Great service * Khyber's nectar (lamb shank) is very flavorful. * Chicken Tikka Marsala is very good. I like Taste of india's version better. * Basil Coconut Chicken is OK. All the sides are OK... mixed feeling... I guess everyone has their own taste. I will definitely come back here when in the mood for nice Indian meal.
(4)Mike K.
I went here for a pre-Christmas lunch today with some co-workers, and overall must say I am disappointed. I went with the Tikka Masala, and it was average, nothing more and nothing less. The service was the real standout, but beyond that I probably won't ever remember anything else really positive about this dining experience. It is near South Coast Plaza, and is very nicely decorated. I suppose that is what drove the price of my lunch to $17 with tip. Glad I didn't have a brew, or I would have broken the $20 mark. Bottom line, pretty bland for Indian food and overpriced.
(2)Linda N.
They don't serve Vietnamese people here. I got water and that was it. Never explained their brunch so we sat at our tables for a while unsure what to do until we got upset and served ourselves. Had a Living Social deal and the staff had no idea what it was. Staff came to clear our table but never asked how we were doing. Asked for coffee and the staff member was irritated. No one smiles here. Even worse, the food is horrible for a fine dining restaurant. They do not replenish their buffet. It was empty at 12:30 pm on a Sunday. Never again.
(1)Aryn F.
I stopped in Royal Khyber out of desperation - Indian food is one of my major food groups and, having just moved here from NYC, I take it very seriously. Before Royal Khyber, I'd visited just about every Indian restaurant in the Irvine area and I was starting to think my routine Indian dinners were going to be a thing of the past. Hurrah for Royal Khyber! My husband and I bypassed all of the modern/fusion dishes and went straight to the little list of traditional dishes at the bottom. Our Chicken Saag and Lamb Vindaloo were served in what looked to me to be small'ish portions, but the chunks of meat were so big that we were happily full at the end of our meal. The Naan is awesome and the waiter threw in a free garlic naan just because. mmm! Oh, and I almost forgot - we started our meal with some awesome samosas!
(4)Aleks M.
This is the first review I have ever written on anything and for me to be so upset that I would spend my precious time to write a scathing review about a restaurant says a lot. First. I am an experienced diner with great familiarity in middle east and far east dishes. This food was just your everyday run of the mill curry house. Second, who charges $7 for a mango lassi drink??? And to top it off, the mango lassi was made with sugar, a big no-no. Last, there was a clearly printed lunch special that offered butter chicken for $15 but when we received our check it was $22 and they added a lemonade to our bill that we never ordered. Our naan (2 pieces of bread, $5) was brought out to us once and never refilled. I asked for a small taste/sample of their special curry sauce and was charged for that too. I think these people think that their average clientele are rich dummies who don't care what the bill is or what the food tastes like but I would be hard pressed to ever return to this awful place.
(1)Bharath C.
This place has so much potential. the staff is attentive, the decor well placed, the lighting is perfect. BUT, why all the salt??? every dish is created in an inordinate amount of salt. Are the owners also taking kick backs from the High-blood pressure pharmaceutical companies. If the chef could reduce the amount of salt and injected the dishes with flavor this place could be the best indian place in so.cal . right now that designation goes to Chakra.
(2)Earl S.
I had lunch here for the first time and was surprised at the high quality of each dish in the buffet. It's not inexpensive, but the I believe the price is appropriate for the quality. I would prefer if there was a little more variety to the buffet, but that's nitpicking. I might give it five stars but wish to reserve judgment for a more serious meal.
(4)Gar T.
A wonderful restaurant with the fresh smells of traditional Indian cuisine. I have had the pleasure on several occasions to entertain friends and family in this quaint setting, which is nestled in a row of restaurants near South Coast Plaza. Seating is nearly immediate with reservations - which I often do through Open Table. As the restaurant has limited seating, I would highly recommend reservations. The seats however are not as comfortable as one would hope - those around tables, as they are more befitting to casual relaxation then to be seated erectly at a dining table. Those who do not mind booth seating have that option as well, but I personally do not like booth seating. The wait staff is very attentive and well versed on menu selections and particularly helpful to those who are unsure of the finely prepared Indian fare. I have tried several of their selections and am fond of those which include lamb. They have been both succulent and appetizing to he point of desert being moot. All in all a fine restaurant worth consideration of those seeking well prepared Indian cuisine.
(4)Ari M.
This place is kind of hidden and next to Darya (Persian cusine)Everything was incredibly tasty. Flavors are a bit more mild than in India but still wonderful. Dinning area has soft lighting and relaxing atmosphere. Service was spot on. I'm taking one star only because prices can be a bit steep ( about $20) per dish not including the naan and rice. This place is a must though!
(4)Brian G.
OC Restaurant Week! Went for the $10 lunch menu. $10? Yes, what a steal. We walked in and there were two people in the whole restaurant. So much for economic stimulus! (It filled up a bit more by the time we left) They have a nice sampling of courses for the $10 fixed menu. I picked the lentil soup for my starter, it was nicely flavored. Followed up with the classic chicken tikka masala. Mmm, savory satisfaction. I actually ordered the curry coconut chicken, but since this came out instead I was still happy. They served the main dishes with some very delicious naan - warm and soft and nummy num. Finished up with the pistachio ice cream. I was admittedly a bit confounded by the silver on top of the ice cream. Not sure what it added, except healthy minerals. The ice cream was very refreshing. Their regular menu is a bit more pricey. $12-18 for most lunch items. Their beverages are a bit expensive as well - $3.50 for a lemonade. Nice place for lunch. Very friendly and attentive service and quality dishes. And for $10 was a steal!
(4)Albert W.
This place is a high class indian food place. If I was introducing Indian food to someone, I'd go here before I take them to little india.
(4)Vinay P.
This is undoubtedly one of the best Indian restaurants I have eaten at! I have fond and sentimental memories of this restaurant not just because of the great food and service, but also because they hosted my wedding dinner. The food at this restaurant is great and authentic. I consulted with the owner of the restaurant to plan the menu for my wedding dinner, and not only did he give me excellent advice on making my choices, but he also cautioned me when he thought I was ordering too much. The service I have experienced at this restaurant is top-notch. I will definitely be back the next time I visit Southern CA.
(4)William C.
We ordered the spicy calamari, the lobster masala, and saag paneer. We also got a plain naan with the lobster masala and ordered a garlic naan. The lobster masala was marvelously delicious, although it cost $28~ or something. The spicy calamari, saag paneer, and plain naan were good, but not memorable. The garlic naan was superb as well, fresh out of the oven with tons of garlic (mmmmmm, garlic...). This place is pricey and definitely had plenty of yuppies sitting around. I was clearly out of place in my t-shirt, shorts, and flip flops, but I didn't really care. It had a good atmosphere. I generally prefer cheaper eats where I can get equal or better quality food, since I don't usually care to pay for this type of ambiance, but others may want to.
(3)Ocean P.
The food is good but way to expensive. The lobster dish and the seafood curry are good, but for over $30 each is a rip off.
(2)OMAR A.
I gave this place two stars only because the naan was tasty. Everything else was mediocre. For an upper class restaurant to charge the prices they do and serve not only super small portions but unauthentic dishes was very disappointing. They don't even claim the off base dishes as fusion Indian food either. We went there to celebrate a friend's birthday and right off the bat made it clear that another medium sized party was scheduled for an hour after our reservation and that we would have to hurry things up. I know my friends should have never agreed to going to the place but the birthday boy was hell bent on going there. When we arrived there it was clear that there was no other party after us, and that they only wanted to move the tables to make way for a DJ and small dance floor. Needless to say, they rushed us out and charged us an arm and a leg for a meal that even (my small appetite) wife found not filling. She made a trip to a fast food joint after wards to finish her meal. Over priced and under delivered!!!!!
(2)charles f.
Great food, staff and location. A beautiful and clean restaurant filled with objects d'art. I recommend.
(4)Rachel D.
The food was fantastic we had the vindaloo, garlic naan and tika masala- it was more than enough for two people with a couple extra pieces to share. The dining situation was a little less than stellar. My guy and I were seated promptly, however there were three rowdy and rambunctious children throwing tantrums, jumping off chairs and being generally disruptive, so if you have kids and they are not well behaved, I would probably choose a more casual or kid-friendly place as the dining area is really open.
(4)Jane K.
I've never been a huge fan of indian food...until...i came here. Needless to say i came here every week for a month thereafter. Royal Khyber will turn any non-indian foodies ...to die hard fans. The prices are significantly higher ($15-30 but the brunch menu is a great deal at $20!) than most other indian establishments but its worth it. The mango lassis are to die for. The naan (in all flavors) are soft and crispy. The madras is hearty and rich. The vindaloo is spicy. The lambcakes with tamarind sauce is delish...everything is fabulous. A piece of advice though,.. The portions aren't huge here but I get unusually full fast here (as with my dining companions) so order slightly less than what you normally would (i,.e for 5 ppl order 4 plates)...since you can always order more.
(4)A A.
This place has lame hours. They are open for a little in the morning, closed in the afternoon, and then open again for dinner again. The meals are overpriced, and their dishes are super hot. If you eat and accidentally touch the plate of food, you will BURN yourself! The food in the restaurant next door is way better. Also, DON'T ORDER LAMB! Their lamb is FROZEN!!! The owner's wife is heck of annoying as well. I want to eat my food, but she kept jumping in and try to small talk with our group of table. I understand she wants good customer service, but please we want our privacy!!! After visiting this place, I told a friend about my experience and then learned that the owner's wife is a cheap. I heard she cheated one of her past worker's hourly pay because she can't do math. When the worker confronted her, the owner still refused to admit she was wrong because she knew the worker needed a job desperately so she took advantage of the worker. That is sad....
(1)Jon O.
I would say that the food here seems to be a notch higher than most indian buffets I have tried here in the OC, then again the price tag is considerably higher as well...but there is more variety here and better quality....I would definitely consider returning and trying some of my favorite indian dishes on the regular menu.
(4)Wadher S.
I thought it was impossible to make Indian food bland. But if thats what you are looking for, youve got a winner! If you are looking for good food, avoid this place!
(1)J A.
Expensive. Food is ok nothing extraordinary. Service is standard. Ambiance is excellent.
(3)Bree P.
I went here during OC restaurant week and came out of the dinner with a mixed bag of emotions. Restaurant week is great because we love trying new restaurants with extravagant food for a temporarily cheaper price (especially places totally off the map), but this is the only time I would go to some of the restaurants on the list. Royal Khyber had great decor, but the ambiance was killed by the awkward silence and timid waiter...we felt like we had to whisper the entire time and something about the place just didn't feel as friendly and welcoming as it should have. The food, on the other hand, hit the spot. I started with a honey vinaigrette spring salad, while my mom had the plate of vegetables (samosas and such). They were both absolutely delicious! For my main course, I chose the spicy vindaloo with a side of spicy spinach and naan. The meal also came with a pistachio indian ice cream to finish. Everything tasted great...I definitely wouldn't turn down this food if someone offered to take me to another free meal at Royal Khyber. Our main complaint (which is not even the biggest deal, really) is that they took practically 15 minutes after we had finished our main courses to bring the check and desserts...and we also had to wait quite some time AFTER we finally got up and asked for the check. We weren't frustrated by the wait nearly as much as we were frustrated by the other waiters noticing our wait and not taking action. If you don't mind risking strange service and ambiance (which is why I gave it 3 stars instead of 4), try this place out...maybe we just caught them on a bad night. The food definitely isn't a risk though!
(3)Kevin S.
I came here while I was in the area visiting my folks. My mom mentioned that she wanted to try this place, so we went here. I wasn't expecting much from the mixed reviews, but I have to say that I was surprised by the experience. Perhaps I was so surprised that it got 4 stars instead of 3. The service and the food was good. My dad had the rack of lamb tandoori, while my mom and I had the 3 course prix-fixe dinner. We had the assorted vegetable snacks (samosa, aloo tikki, and onion bhajia), spicy tandoori kebabs, tandoori chicken, khyber's nectar (lamb shank), mango creme brulee, and pistachio kulfi. Unlike what some reviewers have said, the food was tasty and appetizing; no complaints. While I have been to India, and have eating at more authentic places, I thought they were successful for their target audience (translation: someone that is more in my folk's age and wealth group). That said, I didn't think it was overly lacking in flavor or quantity. All 3 of us were stuffed at the end (fair disclosure: my mom eats like a bird). While I like this place, I probably would not be going back unless my folks want to go here. Just not the ambiance for me (kind of dark and quiet). I wanted to mention something about being able to get better Indian food at, say, some hole-in-the-wall place, but I'm not so sure you should compare the two. I mean, what hole-in-the-wall place has the option of valet parking and seeing a Rolls Royce Phantom AND a Ferrari California parked out front? (Might I add, neither of which are ours).
(4)Maryanne C.
I made reservations for dinner and I still had to wait 15 minutes to be seated. Then I had to wait another 10 minutes to order. Despite the waiting around, once the food came out I was appeased. The spicy calamari was pretty good. I liked the warm naan that came with the butter chicken. The tandoori fish was also pretty tasty. Overall the food was alright. The service was mediocre. If it wasn't for the great company I was with, I probably wouldn't have been able to handle the uber slow service. The place is a little more pricey compared to other Indian places I've been to, but its a nice place to introduce Indian food to newbies. Unfortunately it wasn't too memorable and I don't think I will be going back.
(3)Harold F.
This is a fine Indian restaurant in a very expensive mall. I've been to the best in NYC including Dawat in the 1990s, and I would not hesitate taking a guest who knows good Indian food here. It's not one of those lunch buffet places, so trying the Sunday brunch first might be worthwhile.
(3)Chris N.
It's been a while since I've been to this restaurant, but I do remember it fondly. This place really turned me on to vindaloo. They make it really spicy and you get this slight fruity flavor to it. I liked both the chicken and the lamb vindaloos. I remember coming here for the lunch buffet on Fridays many a times and leaving full and happy. I would also go a few times for dinner. Yes, the place is pricey, but I think its worth it for fine Indian food. I also think the ambiance is great for a romantic date.
(4)Matt K.
I have been to Royal Khyber about 10-11 times, and I have enjoyed my meal and experience there every time. I would call it more of Indian-inspired cuisine versus true Indian cuisine, but it is fantastic regardless. Royal Khyber is very nicely decorated in with an upscale Indian decor theme with warm mood lighting, and is usually very quiet (never noisy, even if full). The ambiance is quite nice-if you're interested in having a nice conversation with someone over a nice dinner, its a great place to do so. I have had several dishes with chicken and fish, and they have all been spectacular (the Butter Chicken is my favorite). The spinach, vegetables and rice have all been delicious too. Plus, they will always improvise slightly on your dish if you ask (ie. make it spicier, change an ingredient, etc). The buffet on Fridays is a nice place for lunch (good for entertaining clients). Price for a dinner entreé is no bargain, I grant you (entreés range abput $18-25), but feel I get what I pay for in flavor and food quality. Lastly, I always see the same manager there who is always very courteous. Service has been good, though employees there are rather serious in demeanor. In my personal experience, Indian restaurants can always be a wild card with service and/or food quality and sometimes appear very cheaply maintained. Royal Khyber consistently delivers high-quality Indian-inspired cuisine in an appealing, upscale dining environment. I hope you have as great an experience there as I always do.
(4)Payal K.
My husband and I love coming here and have hooked a few friends on this place as well. It is definitely a splurge for us, but the prix fixe menu options make it reasonable. We're foodie types, and think the quality of the food simply can't be beat. The lamb is by far the best I've ever had. In fact I'm unable to eat lamb elsewhere now, as it seems so gamey in comparison to RK's. The olive naan is to die for... if you like spice, ask them to add a bit of green chilli - outstanding! Decor is beautiful, staff is great. Ali is our favorite server, and we look forward to seeing him when we come by. I can't recommend this place enough. I am of Indian decent and am picky about my Indian food. Worth the price IMO. You get what you pay for.
(5)Danny D.
I loved the Lobster sauce ohhhhhh I can't pronounce let alone spell one thing I ate the appetizers were really good especially the cheese one. Food coma I write more later I have to come here again.
(5)Arnold E.
Yeah, yeah, yeah...good food at higher than average prices...yada-yada-yada. Hey, if the food's good, I'm there. Royal Khyber was a lot better than I gave it credit for. I had a bad lunch experience down the way at Darya (or, as I like to call it, Diarrhea ;P). Well, the fine Indian food here much more than made up for that whole debacle. Anyway, my meal was great. Not the best I've ever had (that goes to my friend Rani's mom who makes the BEST Indian food I've ever had...nothing like homemade!), but it sure was close. Excellent flavor, good presentation, and a pleasant atmosphere made for a very enjoyable meal. The service, however, is what actually surprised me the most. Our server was well-mannered, well-dressed, and well-educated on the entire menu (Well!). But, he really blew me away after clearing our dishes when he pulled out a metal scraping tool and clear away my crumbs. My CRUMBS for goodness sake! Who goes to such lengths, I ask?!?! That man saved me from the ever-embarrassing "crumb-elbow" that afflicts so many fine dining customers throughout the world. I have but one word for this fine gentleman: hero. Thank you Royal Khyber and your superior wait staff with their magical, metal, crumb-collecting devices that will continue to astonish me whenever I think back to that wondrous meal!! Huzzah!!
(4)Maome S.
The prices are more than normal, but high rent = high menu prices. Through a former coworker, I found out this place is owned and run by a young girl from an established restaurant family in Irvine. I can't really complain about the food; it's really not that bad. Try their cheese naan.
(2)Benjamin C.
Great service. The server recommended dishes for us and really took care of us. I am a bit biased and will be completely honest, Indian food is not a fan of me. Food was ok, but fairly expensive. I felt the spices were very overwhelming. Overall I would not go back because I didn't find anything particularly special about the food at this place.
(3)Oliver J.
Very disappointing, after it has been our go to restaurant for upscale Indian food before a play. First, illegal bait and switch. Sign outside advertised a $30 anniversary meal. The waiter did not offer it, when we asked he brought the menus for the special meal, only to explain that since it was no longer their actual anniversary the glass of wine listed on the sign and on the menu was not included. Food was spotty-my lamb was good, my wife's chicken tikka masala was cold and tough, might have been left over from the day before. Service was polite but largely indifferent. It's now off our list of places to visit before a play.
(2)Nathan R.
Great atmosphere and elegant setting. Service was good and server was very informative with the menu. I had the coconut basil chicken curry and the spicy chicken curry. Ordered a side of garlic naan & tandoori chicken naan. No drinks and the bill came out to $60! The portions are very small and I could have eaten the whole 2 "side main entrees" myself. The flavor was pretty good. But due to the small portions and the price I give this place an average rating. That's only because the tables, chairs, & table settings are very nice. If I want Indian food I won't come here again. Plus, it's across from South Coast Plaza. For this price I would rather go to other restaurants in the mall or outside of it.
(3)Cheryl W.
Best Indian Food in Orange County! I can not say one negative thing about Royal Kyhber......the food is perfect, the staff are very polite and informative, and the owners (Mr. & Mrs. Puri) always stop over my table for a quick welcome and hug! I love this place. The atmosphere makes my lunch so enjoyable, the music is perfect. For that small hour (my lunchtime) there is no other place I would rather be than at RK! They have a wonderful lunch menu (either $10 or $15) and I guarantee you will be full when you leave and very pleased!
(5)Bob M.
We have been coming here for years for upscale Indian cuisine. The curries are excellent but keep it mild to medium. Try the Hogue Merlot with the lamb curry.
(4)Sid S.
Delicious. But they messed up our order this time around. We went for Father's day and my wife ordered shahi paneer. Instead she got matar paneer without the matar. My dish was excellent. But not quite happy when the wife isn't happy :)
(3)R.M. S.
I have been here twice, and both times were for my birthday! I was there last Friday and really enjoyed my dish called "Khyber's Nectar," which is the very slowly roasted lamb dish. DELICIOUS and literally melts off the bone. My friend had the "Royal Tandoori Kebabs" which were HUGE pieces and looked insanely good. I also had the Chai and Carrot Pudding to finish it all off. I enjoyed everything very much, and the staff and atmosphere were wonderful, cheerful and memorable. I will return soon! :) Thank you!!
(5)Karen C.
Have been to several Indian restaurants all over OC and was very happy when I found this place. Chicken tikka masala was excellent and garlic naan was everything I hoped for : )
(5)Gaurika E.
Best place for Indian food! Wonderful service accompanied by delicious food. I come for the Sunday brunch and there's no better deal around!
(5)Mandy L.
My Dean told me this was the best Indian Food in Orange County....and our table of 7 agree! You Cannot go wrong with anything on the menu or anything from the bar. They are very attentive to their guest and the presentation of their cuisine is on point. If I want Indian Food, I want Royal Khyber. Don't bother doing anything other, trust me.
(5)Moi N.
Very disappointing! Their lamb vindaloo was so tough and chewy, we couldn't eat it. I regret that I didn't complain. Our young handsome server was very sweet and attentive. The older gentleman at the door was really snarly :( Bottom line, we won't be back, even with a Groupon coupon.
(1)Van L.
Great food. Fantastic Service. It's hard to find good, authentic indian food. I use to drive up from San Diego with my best friend, just to have lunch here and then drive home, that is over 3.5 hours round trip. I love their chicken Tikki Masala, tandoori chicken, lentils, naan, Their Lamb Korma Their rice pudding for dessert. Everything is so delicious.
(5)Mitz K.
I did go through the reviews and expected much more. Unfortunately I found the flavour was nowhere close to authentic Indian Cuisine. Biryani is supposed to be one of the basic dishes and a good indicator for a good and bad restaurants. I found it pretty bland and flavorless. I had ordered kababs they were too hard instead of being soft if well marinated and prepared. Also all of these dishes were way too pricey and more over wasnt worth the menu price. I guess you guys have to really lower the price and work better on the flavour of the dishes . It's better to be authentic or close to authentic than totally Americanising the food as the whole Indian Food concept loses its charm otherwise for some people who know how Indian food really tastes.
(2)Javaid A.
Have been coming to Royal Khyber for years. Always appreciate the kind service and flavorful food. Being a vegan, as with most Indian restaurants they accommodate the vegetarian dishes to be dairy free. The Saag Dal is a classic and the rotis are fresh and delish.
(4)Nika I.
It was my first time at this restaurant. The interior of the restaurant has traditional look to it. I tried the lunch buffet. Everything is very flavorful and tasty.
(4)R H.
I have to give Royal Kyber this rating due to the poor quality of food customer Service and prices. I purchased a groupon based on the fact I had been before and thought it was great. I didn't tell them Until the end incase we were given poor Service for using a coupon. The food was extremely bland, chicken tikka had no flavoring or spices, masala sauce was more like tomato soup. Everything is an extra charge for here. They give you the smallest portions so if you ask for a little more sauce or rice it's immediately and extra charge. The chicken was very tough and chewy also. This place is very overpriced and the service isn't great. There are a few nicer Indian food choices in OC. I don't recommend here.
(1)Harsh M.
Excellent Food and Service.. Would recommend this place to anyone.. Ordered vegeterian dishes and were perfect. Naan was crispy and well made.
(5)Kasey Y.
We had a good experience. The service is wonderful and the food is really good. If it wasn't for the outstanding Indian I've had in my day I might think this was better. The samosas were amazing! We also ordered Chicken Tikka Masala, which was fine. The sauce was very thin, not nearly creamy enough. The vegetable Khorma was good, but again thin sauce. The Kheer (rice pudding) was about the best I've ever had. All in all, a great meal. A little pricey. A little thin on the sauces.
(3)Sharon S.
Reading reviews of how good this place is, thought Id give it a try.. We had the butter chicken & curried mussels. both good .. i would give it a 7.. but ive had better for way cheaper.price was def not for portion given.,Service was EXCELLENT..
(3)Frank L.
If you're looking for a nice Indian restaurant this is a great place to visit. The service was excellent. They greeted our party at the door and with the place closing at 2pm they let us stay well past that because our guest arrived late. The food was fresh and really good. I got the salmon Marsala with rice. I recommend this place Cheers!
(4)Paz P.
I have long searched for a good Indian restaurant. This place was heaven. Excellent atmosphere, the decor of the place is excellent. The service was remarkable and the food......Wow!! The food was fresh, chicken that easily cuts with your fork and so tender. I ordered the chicken madras, my dad ordered the Jumbo Shrimp Goen and ordered biryani. The dessert was luscious. Coming from the U.K. This place is my Balti House to go to. They got my business.
(5)Josie M.
The food at the Royal Khyber is the best this side of England. I am never disappointed. Their Chicken tikka masala and the chicken methi is the best. Always consistent. Naan bread always hot and fresh. Love their garlic naan. The place is clean and not tacky like so many other restaurants. Just check the bathroom for a start. Very nice atmosphere and will go there for any occasion. I really like the place and the staff is very professional.
(5)Orla C.
Our experience at Royal Khyber was great. The food was flavorful and high quality. We even got desert which I rarely do when I eat Indian food! The service was fantastic. We went here on a Saturday night around 7pm the place was almost to capacity. I like a more full restaurant for ambiance. It is a little pricey but the quality and service makes up for this. I would definitely recommend this place for date night, groups and business meetings.
(4)Sandya N.
Quality, not quantity. This mantra best describes what to expect at Royal Khyber. I came here with a fun group of Yelpers for restaurant week. I was the only Indian in the group (no shocker there). I was also the only Indian in the restaurant, minus the workers, obviously. hmm, that usually doesn't bode well. I ordered the vegetarian thali, and it came out beautifully presented on a leaf-shaped metal plate with separate cups containing each of the veggie selections. (FYI, this is what thali is: several items presented in their own dishes but together on one platter, with rice and usually some sort of bread (naan, chapati, roti, etc.). It's fun because you get to taste several different dishes.) My thali included a saag aloo, a dal (I believe it was dal makhani), and bhartha (eggplant). On the side was a ridiculously small pile of rice and some raita. The restaurant week menu included naan for the table, so at least I could use that to sop of some of the saucy veggies since there was so little rice given. FYI, the naan was pretty standard if not a bit too chewy and dry. Each of the veggie dishes were well-seasoned and very tasty. Spice-wise everything was mild to medium -- which is fine by me. I just wish there was more food! I'm not a big eater ,but even I noticed how meager the portions were. And when you consider how spendy this place is, it just doesn't seem to add up. Gee, I'm going to guess this is why I don't see any other Indians dining here. I don't care about your location or generally about your decor. As long as the place is clean, you're served on real dishes (no paper plates, please), and the food is good, count me in. But at this price? You're going to need to be a little more generous with the portions. And more vegetarian options would be nice. This place is way too meat-heavy to be appealing to vegetarians, Indians, and, well... me.
(3)Ron P.
I did hear good things about this place a little time ago and finally I decided to go and check it out for myself. The place is nice and cosy and the food is good as well. I agree it is a bit costly but I do like it given that I am not a vegetarian. Not a lot of vegetarian options but definitely for other who are not. I love appetizers and the variety of stuff they have. Overall a good experience for a date. I went in for the sunday brunch which is $18 per person. Not sure what is the case on regular days/nights. I visited this place in April 2013
(4)Mitchell C.
Food is great; although I've had frustration with management in the past regarding a groupon.
(4)Bati P.
Food was excellent. I don't know why I don't come here more often. I ordered the vegetarian thali and found the quantities sufficient and the food delicious. The daal and sabjis were great. The naan was by far the best I have had in an Indian restaurant...soft and flaky and thin. Service was wonderful, and so was the ambience. It doesn't feel dark and dingy and creepy like other Indian restaurants. Definitely recommend !
(4)Rohlin A.
The first time we went here the better half and I actually left before ordering because there was very little on the dinner menu my wife could order and the item she wanted to order came a la carte, which meant she was going to have to pay additional money to get a full meal. The only reason we returned was because she had purchased a Groupon and it was going to expire in a few days. Rohlinism: Always trust your initial instinct, more times than not it is correct. The restaurant was strangely packed for a Monday night and after we were sat I heard the people behind us discussing how their Groupon was expiring on Wednesday (ours was as well), which made me wonder how many other people were in here with expiring Groupons. The server came over and brought some Pappadum ( yelp.com/biz_photos/roya… ) which is like a thin crispy cracker and it was served with a Red Chili (sweet) and Green Chili (spicy) Chutney. The Pappadum was very good and both the Chutneys were very refreshing. The server came back with my wife's bottled Iced Tea and took our order. She also scanned our Groupon at this time, an important note for later in the review. My lovely wife ordered the Chicken Tandoori, an order of the Garlic Naan Bread and a side of the Yogurt Raita. I ordered the Malai Lamb Seekh Kebab and a side of Basmati Rice Pilaf. For those not familiar with Tandoori, it refers to the way the meat is prepared and cooked. It is marinated for up to 6 hours in a homemade yogurt, with a blend of flavorful spices and cooked in a traditional clay oven (Tandoor) at over 450 degrees F. The Garlic Naan Bread came to the table and was basically cold. Considering this is supposed to be fine dining, this was a huge let down. The Garlic Naan had no flavor, I could have saved myself some money and ordered the regular Naan. The portion was also small for $4.25 ( yelp.com/user_local_phot… ) half the order is sitting on my plate and my wife had the other half of the order. Very disappointing! The Yogurt Raita is a dip which consists of Cucumber, Red Onion, Cilantro and Spices. This dip was very good and was needed with to give the Garlic Naan Bread some flavor. My wife's Chicken Tandoori was sadly dry and even though you could taste it had been cooked in the Tandoor oven, it lacked the seasoning associated with Tandoori cooking. There was virtually no seasoning at all and the color of the chicken should be an orange, this chicken was the color ( yelp.com/biz_photos/roya… ) of normal chicken breast. If we weren't obligated to use the Groupon, we would have called it an evening at this point, there is no excuse for these kinds of mistakes when you eating at a fine dining establishment. Fortunately, there was plenty of the Yogurt Raita to add some flavor to the bland chicken. My order of Malai Lamb Seekh Kebab was okay. I have had better Lamb dishes at other restaraunts. My wife thought much less of the dish, she hated the texture of the entree and didn't like the spices used to flavor the Lamb. The Basmati Rice Pilaf was nothing to write home about either ... it was basically rice. Making matters worse is the service was spotty at best and it took 20 plus minutes from the time we had stopped eating (my wife had left the table and the restaurant) to the time I actually had a server show up to reconcile the bill and clear the table. There is nothing worse than waiting around after you have had a lousy meal and the server forgot to include the Groupon discount on the bill the first time, had to go back and add our discount to the bill. Royal Khyber has fine in the restaurant name ( s3-media3.ak.yelpcdn.com… ), but there was nothing fine about this dining experience. I have had better Indian food at cheaper prices in restaurants that don't claim to be fine dining. I really can't take much from this experience other than I won't be returning!
(1)Dan H.
Met up here with some fellow Yelpers yesterday for the first day of OC Restaurant Week. A fun time, even if the ambiance is a bit too serene for 7 chatty Yelpers. I had already pre-perused the special menu and knew their "world famous butter chicken" would be my entrée of choice. A fine choice it was, as it was the most tender chicken one could ever hope for. The sauce was an excellent Tikka Masala with ghee (clarified butter), although I wished I would have requested it spicier. Still a wonderful complex flavor festival with each bite. The sauce was so good I ended up wiping the remnants from the bowl with my naan. Speaking of which, not my favorite naan as it was very thin and crunchy. Hmmm? Sitting around too long? Perhaps as we arrived an hour before closing. I would hope they keep making it fresh throughout the day, but perhaps not..?? The OC Restaurant Week menu came with a choice of soup or salad, and the option to order their drinkable house wines for $5 per glass. Service was mostly good, with a stutter step or two. They have a full bar with some premium alcohol such as Macallan 18 year old. For $15 for OC RW, it would be a better deal to just opt for the $18 buffet, where you will have several choices and be able to eat to your hearts (stomachs?) content. For a big eater the OC RW entrees and sides were kinda small. All in all a great time with some awesome Yelpers, and in some fancy digs to boot.
(4)Anita L.
It's been years since I was last here. A bunch of OG Yelpers decided to kick start OC Restaurant Week with lunch here today and I was happy to tag along. The restaurant was packed when we got there for a late lunch. The food was good, everything was flavorful. Service was okay as well. However, at the end of the meal, someone at our table asked for an extra side of basmati rice and they saw the staff take it off the buffet trays and then charged him $4.95 for it. I thought that wasn't very kosher. He also ordered some saag and the server didn't tell him that a small portion of it came with his meal. A small bowl of saag was $10.95! Seriously? It's the little things that make all the difference -- whether it's positive or negative.
(3)Laura A.
Outstanding in every way. Finally I have found my kind of a restaurant, for me elegance, class and A-class food and service are a must and I am so glad that this place ticks all the boxes. Cute, cozy classic decor sets the scene well and then top notch service follows, this server knew her cocktails well, took the time to learn about my palate preferences and dietary needs and followed through with great attention to detail setting me up to enjoy the most delicious Indian food I have had outside of India...... Move over London.
(5)E K.
Came here for dinner on a trip to the area with our kids. The restaurant is very nice and has a lovely atmosphere. The staff are very friendly and went out of their way to welcome us and especially our kids. Our family loves indian food and they really enjoyed all the dishes we ordered. The manager even made a dish for my son that wasn't on the menu. The service is very quick and attentive. We would definitely come back if we visit the area again
(5)Khushi K.
By far one of the top Indian restaurant I've been to in the US. I really mean this since I'm Indian, I love Indian food and cook Indian food at home all the time and am picky about how I rate and recommend Indian restaurants. Firstly, it's a bit higher end and thus the price is higher but you can tell by the quality of food you get (they do their best to make healthier versions of dishes). Each food item (I've been here now at least 10 times with diverse people who love/hate Indian food) has it's own distinct flavor. The spices that make the 'sauce' of each dish are individual to each dish and I sometimes wonder if they grind the spices daily. So, you won't be getting the same sauce for your chicken tikka masala as you would for your fish or paneer dishes (like at most other places). The fish malabar dish is hands down my favorite. The fish is prepared delicately and the spices are just perfect blend of flavors. The prawn/shrimp is second favorite (made in lots of free garlic, coconut and finished in a white wine sauce). The lamb is competing for first and second place as well. It's always tender and flavorful and I can tell that the spices are freshly grounded for this dish. The restaurant itself is quiet and cozy. I've been here when it's really busy and when it's slow and I have had the same food experience. The staff have always been friendly - the older man Ali who works there knows his stuff and his recommendations are excellent if you ever are wondering what to order. The younger staff are not as experienced but I don't let that bother me as I've never had a bad experience here. I've also ordered food off the happy hour menu - the spicy martini is awesome. The food is the same quality, a bit smaller portion for the smaller price. The only thing I caution you is that if you are using the happy hour menu, coupons or any other discounts, you should tell them ahead of time. Sometimes you cannot mix up the happy hour menu with the regular menu but that makes sense from a business point of view. I can't understand why people rate it so low - the price is more than what you would usually pay but it's fine dining, quality food and good service. If you want cheap food then this isn't the place. There are plenty of $10 buffets you can go to with descent quality but the experience of good Indian with good quality is what this place stands for in my opinion.
(5)Elise T.
so this restaurant is just OK. I have definitely tried much better food. The service here though is actually pretty good. This is a pretty fancy restaurant. I'm not sure if I will come back though.
(3)Maria T.
First word that comes to mind is "Yum." Sure, the service was just a bit slow at the very beginning, but once we had our order in it was smooth sailing. Everything we ordered was absolutely yum! A rundown of what we ordered: The eggplant was as my friend says "lights out good" The okra was heavenly The lentils were delish The chicken tikka masala had good flavors but was a bite dry and could have used just a bit more of a kick The garlic naan...i mean really, how could you go wrong Of course, what makes any great dining experience (besides the food) is the company you are with. Needless to say, three girls, wine and great food made for a fun laugh-filled evening. I will definitely be coming back to this restaurant!
(4)Mike A.
The best Indian food I've had! Great service and environment too. Highly recommended!
(5)Jatan S.
Embarrassing experience! Subpar service and untrained staff. Took someone to eat Indian food for the first time. I am Indian but the person isn't. Ordered wine and while the waiter was opening up the cork screw it was clear he didn't have much experience serving wine. I was just keeping my fingers crossed that he would not mess it up. And unfortunately he spilled quarter of a bottle on my guest making clothes soaking wet. There was hardly much apology from the waiter or the owner. Then the food comes and while we ordered vegetarian food, they served meat. When I pointed out to the waiter he said I ordered meat and didnt really want to acknowledge his mistake. At the end the owner came said I will give a free dessert with a couple of coupons so I would come back! Are you kidding me? Honestly I was embarrassed so much that I can't ever take anyone there! Actually the food taste isn't bad. Food is overpriced but for the location near south coast plaza I can understand that. I am just appalled with the mentality of running a restaurant in this way!
(1)Patrick S.
We really enjoyed the food here, and it is a very nice restaurant with good service. The salads we had were very flavorful, as was the soup. I would recommend this venue to others interested in authentic Indian fare.
(4)Jose C.
wait you telling me all I get is chicken and sauce $16.95 no rice included $5 extra for rice WTF kind of place charge for rice oh I didn't know I was ordering soup....
(1)Quang D.
I'm not sure what other reviewers are referring to with the bad reviews. For my experience, the food was pretty damn good along with the friendly service. I came here to redeem the groupon and it was well worth it. My family will be back soon!
(4)Ming H.
Came here for OC Restaurant week. The initial impression is great. We were greeted at the counter and did not have to wait for seating, given that it was a Thursday evening around 6:30pm. We were greeted and provided a nice table by the window. We were handed the standard menus, but since he noticed we saw the OC Restaurant Week flier, he went back to bring out the OC Restaurant Week menus. We did the $25/person three course meal. For the Starters, we ordered the Assorted Vegetable Snacks and Spicy Tandoori Kebabs. Both were delicious. I especially liked the Spicy Tandoori Kebabs and dipping sauce. It is a sauce similar to salsa--lots of tomato, minced jalapeno, onion, garlic, etc except it also had ginger. There was too much ginger in there for my taste. The chicken cubes were dry and difficult to cut through. The Assorted Vegetable Snacks were good and the dipping sauce was great. The entrees came out with perfect timing. We got the Khyber's Nectar (Lamb Shank) and Chicken Tikka Masala. The sauces were both delicious, but rather on the salty end. We were brought Naan to accompany the salty sauces. The Chicken Tikka Masala was very soft and juicy. Each bite was flavorful. The spinach that accompanied the dishes tasted like dirt. Not sure why, but they were bland and flavorless. Hidden in the lump of spinach were some red potato cubes well cooked. The Lamb shank was great and had a nice presentation. I like how they bring the entrée on a separate dish, so you can decide how you want to mix your portions with the sauce before eating. We both had Mango Crème Brulee for dessert and it was worth it. It was a nice filling dinner, except on the salty end. The kicker was when the guy brought out the bill. While eating here, several couples came and left and we noticed the check had to be re-done. Apparently the restaurant, or the manager, was instructed to overcharge customers and rely on them complaining of why there was a discrepancy between their order and what they were charged. I noticed that my bill was overcharged as well and had to be taken back to be redone. The guy apologized that he got the price wrong and brought back the correct priced bill. This stuff happening to the tables nearby (~3-4 different parties) makes it hard to believe that it was an accident--unless the accident was to bring out the correct price. Also, when he brought back my card with the signing slip, he didn't include the original receipt that shows the breakdown of the order. This guy is not very transparent in his business dealings, so watch out. Double, triple check your bill because he might pull a fast one on you. I don't know if this is just how they do business, but I went to another restaurant (same ethnicity) before and the same thing happened, overcharging (adding an extra 0 at the end of the bill, you can imagine how that can turn a $50 bill into a $500 one) and then you had to refute their bill. Definitely not a mistake, definitely intentional.
(1)Michelle H.
Personal Note: 200th review... EVER! WEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! And back to Yelp... I came here with the hubby to feast on some sweet Indian cuisine for cheap thanks to my local Groupon. Royal Khyber is in a small center that houses a few other restaurants as well as furniture stores and a few other vendors here and there. At first entrance, the doorway in is very foreboding and dark. As you keep walking in though, the dining area is a clean, dimly lit, and space-y restaurant that seems perfect for a date night. The seats are plush and comfy and the window seating is excellent because you get a cute view of their courtyard. I had the lamb vindaloo and my hubby had what else... Khyber's Nectar. The lamb vindaloo was really hearty and the lamb was really tasty. I liked that the vindaloo sauce didn't over power the lamb. The potatoes were also a nice touch and i was definitely trying to get every last bit out of the serving bowl with some Naan. My hubby's dish was TO DIE FOR. The lamb was practically falling off the bone and was the right amount of spicy (i.e you can taste it but you're not sweating either). We also had a side of garlic naan, which was nothing special but always a welcome compliment to any Indian meal. Pros: -Bomb Food -Cool Ambiance -Great service -Reservations are easy to get -Parking is so easy Cons: -Pricey without a deal Tips: -Google maps will lead you around the back way to Royal Khyber.... Enter parking lot that houses corner bakery, etc.
(4)Pranab M.
We were staying in orange count area for the night.. Wanted to have a good Indian dinner after a long day of travel. The restaurant opens up into a nicely decorated seating. Fine with interiors with adequate seating. Service was quick and efficient. But that is where the good news ends. As we are vegetarians the review is based on the same. Looking through the menu seemed about ok in terms of the price. We ordered for paneer matar masala and navratan korma along with a combination of butter and plain naan. The portion size of the paneer was just too small. For a group of 12 folks with 4 kids included we had to order 8 portions of curries. That gives a measure of the size. Next comes taste. Hardly anything to talk about. Very basic taste of both the dishes. Had much better fare in Bay Area in a comparable restaurant. Naan was cold by the time it reached our tables. So you can imagine the texture by then. Overall very disappointed by the food. Ambience can only take you that far, hence just 1 star.
(1)Tara H.
For what we paid we left a little disappointed. The Chicken Tikka Masala was poor and the service was less than what we expected. The waiter dropped sauce on our table and left it for us to clean up! On a more positive note, the Chicken Korma was great, the Mussel soup was really good as was the rice and garlic naan. As for dessert, the lychee dessert was AMAZING! Good food, but not worth the service is not worth the price...
(3)Michael W.
Khyber nectar rocks! Lamb shank at its best melt in your mouth, falls of the bone, savory meat in deliciously addicting curry Other dishes are just OK - many other Indian restaurants in the area have better food at a much more reasonable price - this place will easily set you back $30 / person Unfortunately, other than the lamb dish I rave about, most other dishes are mediocre at best. The worst is the fish kebab thingy --- so fishy it's not even edible But the Khyber nectar lamb is worth coming back! This dish alone is worthy of a 5-star rating...
(3)Jeff H.
I'll keep it short and sweet... Good food, decent atmosphere (neither is great), but it's overpriced for what it is. I've had much better of both at a fraction of the cost. Yeah, I get the location and the fact that the clientele here won't consider it a good meal if it's not over-priced, but c'mon IT'S INDIAN!
(3)Kriti J.
The Ambience is good. Coming to the food. it was just BLAND. I kind of felt like I was eating Indian food for Indian senior citizens. very limited vegetarin entries. everting OVERPRICED. We ordered malai kofta and paneer tikka masala they said both the gravy will be different but to my dismay it ws same.. it ws not at all flavoury, with NO TASTE, when we complained abt it they offered us chana masala . the chana 's were not throughly boiled , they were hard wid no flavours it ws served jus lyk chana sauted in tomato gravy.. they were not at all simmered for a while. My overall experience ws very BAD .
(1)Melissa S.
YUMMMMY~~best Indian food I have ever had. Very authentic, very nice restaurant setting, great service! We had the Sunday Buffet and want to come back and try the dinner next.
(5)Mahesh S.
I knew Royal Khyber's food is really good for a while now, but somehow I got into the impression that this place is way too expensive for an Indian food, especially considering the fact that there are tons of Indian restaurants in OC, where you can experience a really good indian food, for half the price. - but that is until OC Restaurant week. Prior to OC Restaurant week, I had only dined during their dinner hours, and OC Restaurant week gave me an excuse to try this place during lunch hour. I opted for the $10 lunch special menu (without dessert). Which included Lentil SOup, and a choice of an Entree. I opted for the Spicy Kabob, which is Kabob, but not the dry kind, but in a nice pungent spicy curry sauce. Both lentil Soup and the Spicy Kabob were really good. But I have never eaten a bad food at this place, regardless of what I ordered, the seafood curry, or the other tandoor items. So why write a review now and rave about it - What I found out during OCRW, is that their Restaurant week menu is no different than their weekday - lunch - express menu. THey pretty much have this going all the time during weekdays, for lunch. Now that is not really bad! I am a fan! :) Service - Excellent service, the wait staff is well trained, very professional. makes you feel welcome right the minute you enter the place. Restaurant Ambiance - Very classy/inviting ambiance. Nicely decorated. One of the thing i noticed is that it doesnt have that weird odd smell at a typical indian restaurants. Its not a bad thing to have that weird odd smell, but for an Indian restaurant to smell good and clean, its very refreshing! go figure. Food. I like the lentil soup. its really goood. the Kabob, and the tandoor items are good as well. They focus more on the flavor profile of the indian dish, than following the line by line indian receipes. So Dont go all crazy on 'authenticity of the food', but the food really pack the authentic indian spices and flavors. The added yellow cheese clothed lemon makes the food/plate look really cute when you take photos (like I do!). The food is very photogenic. What about dinner? - should you go during dinner you ask? - well go with a group of people, and order fewer items and share, and it will work out fine, if you are concious of your spending. The place is really close to freeway, and atleast from what I remember I didnt have to wait for my food too long, which is good. Royal Khyber - really cool/good looking/nice tasting indian food place in OC... i will give that award without any question!
(4)Ryan K.
Always a great meal here along with excellent service I've been coming here for years and wouldn't eat at any other Indian restaurant.!
(5)April N.
My favorite Indian restaurant...hands down, no debate! I was introduced to Royal Khyber back in the early 90s and I've been hooked ever since, Location is convenient, the atmosphere intimate and inviting and the staff very attentive. My favorite dish is their Chicken Tikka Masala - savory and sweet, you won't find it's equal.
(5)M B.
Came here because of Groupon. Really expensive for what it was. Watch out for bones in the Chicken Makhani, very greasy, I am used to it having a rich and creamy sauce. Very weird taste in the lamb shanks, is it cinnamon) although very tender.) Customer service really slow, had to ask twice for water, and few other concerns. Nice people.
(3)Dave G.
How to justify charging more for cultural dishes that aren't usually very expensive. Serve them in "fancy" shaped bowls. You know the soup bowls that are cut at an angle and serving dishes that are square. However in Royal Khyber's defense, their restaurant isn't located on Pioneer Blvd in Artesia. They are right across from South Coast Plaza, and I'm sure rent is quite a bit higher in that area. You can't really expect a $10 buffet at a location such as this. I'm a quality of food guy first. Serve me something I like, and I generally won't complain about price too much. I enjoyed my meal here. Met up with fellow some yelp friends (Dan.H, Roy B., Anita & Sebastian L., Sandya N., and Joe L.) for lunch to kick off OC Restaurant Week. Royal Khyber had a special menu set up with soup or salad plus entrée. I'm spoiled by the selection of the usual Indian buffet, so it was hard to choose one thing. I went with a Chicken curry that was listed as mild. Upon my request, they were more than happy to spice it up for me, which was perfect. The serving size wasn't huge, but good enough for lunch. It was served with a silly small amount of basmati rice. For me, I need the rice to balance out the heat from the spicy curry, so I asked for some extra. I smiled as I watched the server just take it off the buffet. I'm not picky, I don't care about such things. I do care however that they charged me an extra $5 for it. Not cool. And not too wise when dealing with a table full of yelpers. But the most important thing - the chicken curry was very good. yelp.com/biz_photos/roya… I really enjoy Saag Paneer so I ordered a side dish of it. I didn't ask the cost, which was my fault. That was $11. But I was surprised when my meal already came with a small side of it. It would have been nice if they told me before I ordered it. Again, the saag paneer was very good, so no complaints about the food. Of course it was served in a square bowl to justify the price. yelp.com/biz_photos/roya… I also enjoyed the Daal soup that was brought before the main course and got to sample my wife's Chicken Tikka Masala, which was very tasty. yelp.com/biz_photos/roya… Hind sight, I think we could have all just forgot the special OC Restaurant Week menu and just hit their lunch buffet for $17.95 I'm guessing that almost everything we ordered was available on the buffet. I know the delicious Chicken Tikka Masala was. And I for sure know my rice was :)
(4)Bani M.
#NAME?
(3)Imran K.
Came here for lunch, this is a beautiful restaurant . The tastes are according to North Indian area of Punjab and that is why its named Khyber. The employees were friendly. Had the lunch buffet the food was fresh and there was a lot of choice. There were many different salads with dressings and then there were four vegetarian and four non vegetarian dishes, there were two types of rice. For dessert there was the carrot pudding called Gagrella. Ofcourse they had chicken tikka masala. The Garlic nans were cooked fresh and were awesome. Had a great time and superb food. Loved this resturant.
(4)Minerva T.
Just a year ago, I wrote a review for this place, complete with poor looking pictures due to my lack of skill with food photography in dim lighting. We were more obnoxious this time around by bringing our LED light but seeing as we were one of the first in the restaurant that day, it didn't seem so intrusive. I know that the last time I wrote, I said that I wouldn't come back to this place but we decided to grab another deal (Groupon this time, was it?) and a buddy to come along just to give the place another try. After all, the last experience wasn't terrible - just pricey. Well they hadn't brought down their prices from last year really but I think having dined out a lot more in 2012, my price tolerance has gone up. Has it gone up enough to accept "fancy" Indian food? Perhaps not. The food was fairly alright but I think I'll divert my Indian cravings toward hole-in-the-walls for the future. Our garlic naan was crispy and good but hardly garlicky enough. For an appetizer, we shared the Paneer Pakora (paneer pasande stuffed with tangy masala and coated in besan batter), a delightful treat of paneer with an extra zip from the masala beneath the coating. Duke D. opted for the Reshami Chicken Tikka from the tandoor, apparently a menu item consisting of boneless chicken breast that had been marinated for 4-6 hours in a yogurt and spices before being cooked in the tandoor. He did like the onions quite a bit that was included on the hot skillet served before us but I think the meat itself was lackluster. It was neither excellent nor bad, so I wouldn't be advising against it but take a good look at the picture to know what you'd be ordering for yourself. I didn't even realize when I placed my order that I ended up choosing one of the same that we had had before. The Methi Chicken Punjabi (chicken breast sauteed in a gravy of fenugreek, green chili, and yogurt served with rice pilaf and naan) caught my eye again this time and was once again my favorite for the evening. It was spicy in all the right ways, letting me know that it had some spunk but not too much to stop me from drenching my rice with it. The sauce was greatly flavorful and perfect for some naan dipping. Our friend ordered the Tulsi Coconut Curry Chicken (chicken breast in a coconut curry with fresh basil and served with rice pilaf and naan), a dish presented in a similar fashion to my own but widely different in taste. This one was sweeter and though still full of good spices, not as flavorful as the prior dish. Out of curiosity, we decided to opt for the mango creme brulee that evening, and it was received with mixed reviews from the table. For some odd reason, the two guys were unable to taste the mango in this dessert while it was just about the only thing I tasted. Its fragrance seemed nearly overbearing to me too! Is there a study somewhere of the potency that a mango has on males versus females? Strange indeed. Despite there being a disagreement on just how apparent the mango essence was to the dessert, there was definite agreement that this was not creme brulee at all. It tasted more like a mousse underneath the overbearingly sweet crust. Think about how shocking that was! The presentation was executed well but the actual filling beneath the crust left us unsatisfied. Thus concludes my second and most likely last visit to the establishment (unless I have to go for a function). Sorry, Royal Khyber, you're fairly good but there are better for less dollar signs!
(3)David S.
The food is great the seasoning and the mixed tandoori are succulent I highly recommend this restaurant for any Indian lovers
(5)Pavel J.
I'm sorry for those people that give more stars than "1" as they have NOT tasted good Indian food yet. Please stay away. It is lovely Valentine's day so we thought lets try new Indian restaurant. All excited picked up for TO-GO Vegetable Korma and Egg-plant Bharta and Garlic Naan and Paneer Pakoras as a appetizer. (we are vegetarians) 1st - it didn't came with rice. 2nd - they didn't ask on how spice we would want it. 3rd- food is just TERRIBLE! Naan tasted like it was done hours ago,chewy. Both dishes just NOT what Indian should taste like! And I thought Mother India (Costa Mesa) was bad! Try this one. Thank You "Royal" Khyber for screwed Valentine's dinner,good job. Luckily we won't get sad about it :-) Good Organic Dark Chocolate Truffles fixed it .) Owners looks like VERY nice people thou. Check out my other Indian reviews to find BETTER Indian restaurant. I wish food was as fancy as decor ;)
(1)Zayd S.
The service was absolutely horrid and the food was even worse. We ordered shrimp and it came rubbery, like it just came out of the microwave. The insides were still cold and it was just disgusting. Not a family friendly place to be either.
(1)Lena L.
My husband and I received some coupons from AMEX for restaurant.com . We decided to pick this place to see how good it is. We ordered Lassi mango, a coke, samosa chicken, chicken Tikka-masala, sagg daal, ajwani paratha, basmati rice and chli-garlic sauce. Lassi mango - my fave part of the meal. Samosa chicken -2 samosa ground chicken with red sauce. 2nd best part of the meal. Chicken Tikka-masala - The chicken was a little on the dry side compared to other places like Mother of Inida, which is not at dry and feels more marinated. Sagg daal - not as great at I thought it would be and I love to eat spinach and yellow lentals! Ajwani paratha - Kind of like naan expect thinner. Basmati rice - Rice we chinck like old rice and was not hot. Chli-garlic sauce - requested for some chili to make the chicken takka-masala a little spicier and the sever gave us a full order! Same size bowl as Sagg daal! REALLY for 2 people! Over all, I would not come back to this place. The food is not worth the price. This restaurant received a 2 star for service.
(2)Katie T.
I would not pay this much for Indian food. Especially if it is mediocre Indian food. The restaurant is a fine dining and service was good. Food tasted whatever like it got too Americanized and lost its traditional flavor. I did not like any dish I tried and portion was small.
(1)Chase A.
Delicious, but expensive
(4)Sunjay K.
Overpriced - had better Indian food in Norwalk's Little India.
(1)Carl E.
Went to the RK on a Groupon Special ($20 for $40 worth of Food/Drink). I had been to the restaurant once before but it was an expense account dinner. Now that I was paying for it, I wanted to check out the digs a bit closer. PARKING: Ample parking- no charge. You can choose to Valet but why? DECOR: I do enjoy the restaurant's ambience- it is different and unique HOSPITALITY: the servers/hostesses are all very pleasant and accomodating. SERVICE: When it got busy, things started to get forgotten (drinks, additional order of yogurt) check... PRICE/VALUE: It is pricey. I ordered the kebobs ($29) and wifey ordered Lamb Shank ($23). TOTAL meal came to $104 without Groupon discount ($40). Wife's drink (Plum Martini was $12 or $15 EACH) OVERALL: Unless I had a deal, prob wouldn't be in my top five choices for a meal but if you want to try something different, it works
(3)Miss L.
Came in for Sunday brunch with champagne for 2 on 10/23/11 because we got a Groupon. Some items were better than other Indian buffets I had been to, others were average. The bill would have been around $50 without the Groupon and I thought it was a bit pricey for what was offered since the spread was as small as other $10 buffets I've been to. When I got home I checked back on their site royalkhyber.com/Menu_Bru… and noticed that it was supposed to come with 2 entrees. We NEVER received any entrees, were never offered any entrees, or even told how the brunch worked. I would have liked to try your lamb vindaloo, oh well. If your site is wrong, that is still deceptive, but I see by other reviews that they did receive entrees. We were done for a while, but couldn't get our waitress' attention to drop off the check. We waited around, the busser removed our plates, waited some more, busser came by with water refills, and we had to tell him to tell our server we needed our check. I gave her an $8 tip anyway and she seemed unpleasant towards us as we left. Awesome way to top things off. Groupon and other sites like this are supposed to encourage people to get out and try new restaurants and hopefully bring back repeat business to these establishments. Unfortunately, we were cheated on our experience. Needless to say what I'll tell friends about this place. Kudos!
(1)Deepak S.
First the good stuff...the Khyber Nectar Lamb Shank which has always been my favorite was very nice. The Rashmi Chicken Kabab was bland and was undercooked...most Indian restaurants serve much better kebabs. The Butter Chicken was the worst we have had in a long time...the sauce lacked flavor...moreover, we had specifically asked for white meat (breast meat) and it was served with dark meat (thighs)...they agreed to redo the dish with breast meat and packed it for us to get home. We ordered Bombay Aloo...found it way too sour/tart for our taste...the potatoes lacked any flavor and seemed to have been boiled and thrown into the sauce. Regarding the service....the server told us that she was getting was pappadums and condiments....they never arrived. All in all, very mediocre food and service...have had much better food at this place in the past!
(2)B L.
The service and qauality of food was very poor. Everything tasted quite bland. We had to wait fifteen minutes for a glass of water and our naan was delivered at the end of our meal. We will not return.
(1)Mary M.
My husband and I came here early on a Friday night. The restaurant is lovely and we were placed by the window overlooking the courtyard. Service was very good. Our waiter answered our questions and when he didn't know the answer, he went to ask. Very much appreciated that he didn't just try to fake an answer. He checked on us regularly, removed dirty dishes as they were used, and really took care of us. Food came hot to the table, very tasty and nicely spiced for both of us. My husband likes his burning spicy, while I'm more moderate. Both of us were happy. We had enough left over to make another meal of it another day. Highly recommend for a lovely, romantic evening.
(5)Sheetal P.
I come here at least once when I am down in the OC for lunch. The food is ok, and a little over priced. It's a good work lunch place, but not sure if this is the place I would come to outside of work.
(3)Adam B.
Expensive but definitely high quality Indian food. Had the chicken tikka masala and the prawn masala . Both were tasty but had a preference for the prawns. Sauces were very different.
(4)Nupur J.
Fine dining ? More like fine disaster ! Bad food , small portions and very slow service . And as if that wasn't enough, our neighboring table chanced upon a large plastic piece in their entree .. Never going back !! Pls avoid
(1)Sukhraj B.
We came for dinner due to OC Restaurant Week, because we both love Indian food, and I had been here before and enjoyed their champagne Sunday brunch. Royal Khyber is located behind South Coast Plaza and it's near the Corner Bakery. It's one of the better Indian restaurants in SoCal with a dark, romantic setting and plush seating. It definitely sets the bar. We arrived early for dinner and sat near the mini bar. We got things started off with a Lemon Drop for him and a Mango Lassi for me. The Mango Lassi is basically a mango smoothie. It came dressed up with a umbrella which I thought was cool. We ordered off the prix fixe menu and got the assorted veggie snacks and the Tandoori Kebabs. The assorted veggie snacks were an assortment of onion bhaji (an onion patty), aloo tikki (potato patty), and samosa (pastry stuffed with potatoes, peas, and spices). The appetizers were excellent and flavorful. We ordered the same main dish of the Spicy Chicken Vindaloo and Saag Paneer which came with hot garlic and plain naan and a serving of basmati rice. The vindaloo is extremely spicy and had me in tears and sniffling by the end of my meal. Be cautious with that one if you're not big on spices. The saag paneer was just wonderful. It's a creamed spinach dish with homemade cheese. We ended the night with kheer (rice pudding) and mango ice cream for me. I didn't care for the foil dressing but the desserts were wonderful and in a great small portion. Throughout the evening, our drinks were constantly refilled and plates were immediately cleared away. The owner came out a few times to inquire about our meal which was also nice. Overall, I've never been disappointed and was happy to visit once again for OC Restaurant Week.
(5)Amanda A.
Ok so I have been here before and tonight was AMAZING... Someone got reinspired. We had the eggplant salad which redefined eggplant for me... Charred, smokey and crispy on the outside, melty in the center. Yum. Then we had the bindi masala, malai kofta, and yellow lentils... My friend loved the malai sauce with almonds and cashews and tripped out about the silver leaf. I loved all the ginger in the lentils! We finished with chai and a lychee dessert that was tart and creamy. The waitress was so nice and welcoming. The head waiter was deeply knowledgeable about the spices and the food. I can't believe what a positive change there was there!!! This is my birthday pick now.
(5)Ebaad B.
Food was not as expected, it a long for the food to arrive though. The owner and staff was helpful. They made up there mistakes which they a bit of trouble with the naan, it a while and some were burnt and some were not cool well.
(2)Jim C.
My daughter and I golfed with two fellows from India today and they told us there are two restaurants that serve good Indian food in the area. One of them is Royal Khyber. It has an elegant but not exciting atmosphere. Our waitress was an utter delight. The food was very good but not as special as some of the exceptional Indian cuisine that we have had in London, Dublin and other locations. We had the chicken tikka masala which was good but maybe a tad bit too creamy. The Channa Masala was excellent a light. The biryani was good but not enough chicken. Finally the naan bread was certainly good but again not special. Again, this is a go-to place. You can't go wrong but I would place it a notch below some of the truly innovate and special Indian restaurants that we have visited.
(3)Aaron L.
4.5 Stars. Why can't every week be OC Restaurant Week? The regular prices are probably worth it for the quality, service, and atmosphere, but the OCRW prices make it a steal. For a measly 20 bucks, I got: An appetizer: "Assorted Vegetable Snacks" (Samosa, Aloo Tikki, Onion Bhajia): They are like crispy little vegetarian treats (a samosa is kind of like an empanada, the others are similar to a little fried potato cake) and come with two sauces to dip them in. An entree: "Spicy Chicken Vindaloo" (Boneless cubes of chicken, cooked in spicy vinegar curry, potatoes, tomatoes): This wasn't as spicy as anticipated, but was delicious and filling. It came with rice pilaf, cooked spinach with paneer, and plenty of naan bread. The naan was so hot (temperature hot) and fresh that it burned my fingers (in a good way). A dessert: Pistachio Kulfi (Indian ice cream): Just the right quantity and sweetness. So tasty! The secure-in-his-masculinity side of me was intrigued by the foo-foo drinks they had on the menu, but the frugal side didn't want to spend $13 on one in case it wasn't that great. I recommend ordering a bottle of Taj Mahal (Indian beer). Keep in mind, it's a large bottle that fills 3 glasses. Don't order 1 each as my friends and I almost did. Share it with your group. It's only about 9 bucks! One last note: The service was fantastic. The waiter pulled out our chairs for us when we arrived, arranged our plates when they came out, and was extremely attentive and knowledgeable when we had questions about the cuisine.
(4)Joanna L.
Came here last Sunday for my sister's birthday.. The food was pretty good..we ordered the Khorma Chicken, Vindaloo Chicken and Kashmiri Lamb Rogan Josh and garlic and plain naan to share. The Khorma was flavorful and not spicy, actually it was the only dish that wasn't spicy....the Vindaloo was like eating fire.....one bite and it starts burning! I couldn't even taste anything else after that...i just kept drinking water and eating rice and naan...pretty freakin spicy! the Rogan Josh Lamb Leg cubed was good....spicy too but not as bad as the Vindaloo...the meat wasn't super tender though..needed to chew on it a bit. The rice was really good and the naan was crispy! Overall the food was pretty good, the service was okay, it was a little expensive for the portions...but still I wouldn't mind coming back for some milder dishes =)
(3)Anthony A.
I came here for lunch yesterday with a friend to take advantage of OC Restaurant Week. I saw online that they had a good looking $10 lunch special and, being a fan of Indian food, it seemed like the best pick of the participating restaurants. Of course, finding the place was a bit of a bitch because my iPhone loves to send me in the opposite direction of where I need to go half the time. So, for those of you looking for it, it's next to the Corner Bakery across the street from the movie theater off Sunflower. We had no problems getting a table, and we were presented with the prixe fixe menu immediately. Our hostess noted that the "printer made an error", so the $15 lunch special were actually $20. Something tells me the printer didn't type "15" when putting the menu together, but no bother; I was more interested in the $10 offerings. I went with the Khyber gourmet salad and the Chicken Curry. My friend got the Daal soup and Butter Chicken. She reminded me that part of trying a new place should be getting something you've never tried - basically insinuating that my salad choice was a poor one. She was right. I enjoyed the ingredients - greens, walnuts, ginger, raisins... and a disgusting, mealy tomato that was lukewarm - but it was such a minuscule portion that I was able to scarf it down with 3 forkfuls. Even worse, it looked like the chef used an eyedropper to dress it because there was hardly enough to cover what little I did have. But it was flavorful and light, just way too small. The Chicken Curry was a bit of a letdown. For starters, the chicken used was chewy and fatty. They should have used some higher quality white meat. Some pieces were more acceptable than others, but I don't like eating a meal with the focus being on whether or not my next bite will be good or bad. The rice was perfectly cooked, and the inclusion of peas brought it up a notch. Some seasoned potatoes were also on the dish - not bad. Naan bread was also given to us. It was good, but Trader Joe's garlic naan smokes it. I had a meeting to get to, and since it took us so long to find the place I ended up having to cut out early without finishing my dish. I noticed that our hostess gave me a bit o' the old evil eye as I exited. My friend told me later that they seemed very displeased that I had left without finishing, and she was also the recipient of a demonic glare. I can't say anything about the food here stood out more than any other Indian joint, but I'd probably eat here again if I was in the area and wanted to nosh on some naan and curry.
(3)Kumi K.
I was craving Indian curry but did not have the will to make curry from the scratch nor the ingredients to make it. Luckily, I had Groupon. Groupon is seriously screwing my budget. Every morning, I check my inbox religiously for new deals nearby my place. One morning, I saw the $20 for $45 deal to Royal Khyber and remembered bookmarking it after reading Sukhraj B.'s review. I bought the deal immediately and made a reservation for the following night. My date and I were not familiar with the location so we drove past the restaurant the first time and since we were early, we just kind of drove around till we found the restaurant. On the outside, Royal Khyber seemed ordinary, very low key for a restaurant with $$$ price range. However, once inside, I was quite taken with the interior, elegant yet comfortable seating, dim lighting and hushed environment. After carefully studying the menu, my date, who has a weakness for anything coconut, decided on Tulsi Coconut Curried Chicken and I decided on Butter Chicken. We also ordered Saag Paneer to share. It took good 25 minutes for our food to arrive and each time a server would pass by us carrying dishes that smelled like curry heaven, my date and I would look at each other with pained expression on our faces. It was torture. Our food came steaming hot and the smell was just heavenly. My Butter Chicken was so rich and flavorful and the meat was so tender and moist. My date who usually doesn't like dark meat chicken kept on stealing bites whenever he can. Can't blame him, my food tasted so much better than his. I'm not a fan of anything coconut milk so I didn't like the Tulsi Coconut Curried Chicken. It was flavorful and had a nice heat but I thought the creaminess from coconut milk was just overbearing. The Saag Paneer was really lovely. Don't think I ever had a better Saag Paneer elsewhere. Although the food was really good, the portion was pretty generous so we only finished half and took half home. We had the leftover the following day and it was just as good. Two thumbs up!
(4)Susan W.
My friend had a Groupon for this place so we decided to meet here for lunch. I didn't realize how far back it was from Sunflower. Glad I didn't get lost! We saw that they offered a prix fixe lunch for $10 or $15 depending on what you ordered. We asked our waitress for that menu and then told her that we had a Groupon. She took our orders and left. A minute later, an older male waiter came back and said that the Groupon does not work on that menu and that we would have to order from the regular menu. The regular menu did not have Chicken Tikka Masala. :( I settled for the Vegetarian Thali and my friend ordered the Tandoori Mixed Platter. Food was okay. Not much spice. The naan was lukewarm and kinda chewy. And it was odd to not have anything to dip the naan into since we had no sauces or curries. The same male waiter was arguing with another female customer earlier about the chicken she had ordered. She said that it was not a breast piece and he said it was. Awkward. So overall maybe a 2.5 and I would not come back here.
(3)Dahlia a.
I've eaten here a couple of times now and have never been disappointed. The customer service is great, but my favorite part is the eclectic menu with so many fun options and fusion dishes. Royal Khyber unlike other local Indian restaurants takes the time to be creative and offer a variety of options that taste incredible and have the finest ingredients. For fresh, fun, creative and good quality this is your go to Indian Restaurant!!!
(5)Terri D.
my husband and i tried this place out because we had a groupon and it was close to our house. Everything about the place was average: the taste, the plate portions, the special sauce...all average. we ate: -chicken tika masala: chicken was dry, although the sauce was good. -garlic naan: not very flavorful. -kyhber's nectar: the descriptions sounded yummy, but the secret sauce left much to be desired. they also touted that this dish was an aphrodisiac, but i didn't get any action, so i'm thinking it didn't work on my husband or me. :P if we hadn't gotten that discount, i may have been more disappointed.
(3)Paul E.
Went here with a half price groupon and frankly felt ripped off. The food was very poor quality, the tandoori fish was so tough as to be barely edible. Saag Dal and the salad were flavorless and uninspired. When the waitress asked if we wanted rice I said sure, and she asked Vegetable, chicken or Shrimp. I said vegetable. The rice was standard, although very clumpy biryani, with a handful of peas and squash. Very pedestrian. When we got the bill we thought they had made a mistake because the total was so high. They charged us $17 for biryani with a tiny smattering of vegetables. Outrageous. A clear attempt to make up the difference for the groupon discount. I would rate no stars, but the wait staff was very friendly and helpful. Very poor choice for dinner...
(1)Yoko O.
We go to Royal Khyber almost every week for lunch. Their soup is excellent. They are friendly and the service is great. I also like Friday and Sunday buffet.
(5)Maybe Milan B.
There are not a ton of Indian choices around, but the ones that exist are better, more reasonable, and have better service. I guess the ambiance is nice...
(2)Bob D.
My wife is sitting to me saying that I should give a 1 star, however, I am a two star mostly because they are still in business and can find a way to charge huge prices for low grade Indian food. The atmosphere and location are fine. There were no dishes that we had that were exceptional, however, there were 2-3 dishes that were virtually unacceptable. Typically, I would have returned some dishes, yet, we were out with another couple and didn't want to make a scene. 4 people - $200 - way too much - if it was spectacular then that would fine, however, it was poor.... The fried calamari was like shoe leather - seriously, it could have been anything in there, since it tasted like fried cardboard with a little spice - for sure, should have returned that one.. There was a shrimp dish where the shrimp were undercooked. Samosa was good - Chicken Tikka was good (yet not for $20-25) -- The Garlic Nahn was good - Overall, will not repeat - would rather go to Natraj's (fast food for $10/pp) or Wholesome Choice Market in Irvine (fast food for about $8/pp).
(2)Ally H.
Restaurant week brought our party here for lunch. The place was very nice and the waiters/waitresses were super friendly, even conversing with us while we were seated. I settled for their dinner salad with a tamarind, honey vinegrette with walnuts for the appetizer. For the entree, I ordered the tandori chicken with vegetables. And for dessert, their mango ice cream. You can definitely taste the tamarind in the salad, barely any honey, but it was a great flavor for the salad in my opnion. Love tamarind. The entree was delicious, two pieces of tandori chicken with a side of rice pilaf and some grilled onions/green peppers with a sweet sauce. Drizzle this plate with the half of a lemon they provide and it is deeelicious. The mango ice cream was super delicious and rich. Tasted like home made ice cream bursting with mango. The ice cream was topped with this disolving paper like sheet that reminded me of the Asian candy "white rabbit" (if you're Asian, you know what I'm referring to! haha). Basically it was for viewing pleasure only as it was tastess. Nontheless, it made the ice cream pretty. Oh and I can't forget the bread that the meal comes with. Delicious!! Soft, warm and yummy. I have not been to much Indian restaurants, but I am definitely going to try some other spots after this run in with deliciousness. My total bill? $13 (incl tax/tip) for OC Restaurant week.
(5)Milee S.
I came here for the Sunday brunch with a couple of friends who have visited before. I do think it's a bit pricey for what you get, but seeing what the prices are for meals at dinnertime, it was a bargain. The restaurant was practically empty when we came, which was brunch time. The buffett was not really that big--salad, chutneys, raita, dosas (made in the kitchen), lamb and chicken tandoori, some fried items, a chaat bar and chana, and sambar. While there was variety, there wasn't much in terms of entrees. The buffett also comes with your choice of an entree and they will make an entree that isn't listed for you (In our case, someone wanted and eggplant dish). The rest of us chose saag paneer. Meals came with rice too. Service was really good, considering it's an Indian restaurant (I've had bad experiences in the past). Everything was tasty, but it's really pricey which would keep me away from coming back regularly.
(4)Patrick R.
I don't know if it's because I was doing takeout via GrubHub or what, but our meal was overpriced and underwhelming. All of the dishes were watered-down and oily, with absolutely no richness (I ordered Chicken Tikka Masala, Saag Paneer, Bharta.) All of these dishes should be somewhat creamy, and that wasn't the case. Everything was thin and tasteless, with zero heat (all dishes were ordered as medium-spicy). And, I paid $5 for a basic bowl of basmati rice when I found out none of the dishes actually came with rice. I'm giving 2 stars instead of one because they offered me a small single portion of rice for free; I had to buy some rice anyway since it was a dinner for two. I would guess it's their proximity to Morton's that lets them justify high prices for mediocre food and small portions, but it's really not worth it, particularly for takeout.
(2)Rachel M.
Sharmeeli is an outstanding waitress & restaurant ambassador. She knows everything about everything on the menu, and gives great suggestions.. most of the time I have her pick out my dish. Dinner is always excellent and the service is exceptional ALWAYS.
(5)Natalie S.
I'll give it 3.5 stars, came here for a groupon brunch deal. For brunch they offer 4 different salads, 2 types of soup, Lamb, chicken, fish, rice and bread. For dessert they had fresh fruit, rice pudding and those warm sweet bread balls (completely forgot the name). Overall the variety of choices for brunch makes it awesome, but it would be even more awesome if the taste was authentic. Don't get me wrong it didn't taste bad but I've had my share of Indian food and this isn't it. What grossed me out (reason I took a star off ) is that my champagne glass had lipstick stains, the waitress apologized and brought me another glass, but it makes me think of how clean the other Dinnerware is. Well in the end I'm glad I tried a new place, not so sure if I would come back.
(3)Dominique T.
Took my staff and law externs here for lunch a few months ago because one of them is vegetarian. I used my restaurant.com certificate and loved it. The place is fancy decorated but not pretentious. The food was great. It seemed to be a slow day for them because I think there were only 2-3 other tables. The waiter made recommendations and really knew the menu... which is a plus because some of us were not familiar with Indian food. We will definitely come back.
(4)Natalia L.
Great service, but the food was only okay. I've had better Indian cuisine at much better prices (with much more variety) at other restaurants in Orange County.
(2)Sean S.
I was in the mood for Indian food and wanted to give this place a try. It's located next to Morton's steak house by South Coast Plaza and there is plenty of parking. I started with some samosas and they were very flavorful and served with a couple of different sauces. I liked the red sauce much more than the green, which I did not care for. I then moved on to the lamb Korma curry. The curry itself was very nice and had a creamy, mild yogurt infused flavor. The lamb was not as tender as I would have liked, but this can be the case with these types of dishes. I followed that with the tandoori chicken and it was amazing. The chicken was moist and full of flavor and came sizzling on a bed of onions and peppers. Most definitely a stand out dish. Bear in mind that everything on the menu is served a-la-carte, so if you want naan and rice, you will have to order that separately. Only the specials come with sides. This can make for an expensive meal, so you just need to account for that.
(4)ajay and anita s.
Food is great, especially for the value if you purchased their Groupon.....BUT......BEWARE...they have a new policy which I only learned about upon paying my bill. So, I came here for brunch with my husband and 2 kids. My kids prefer to eat next door at Corner Bakery. So, I had called ahead and was told that I could wait upon arrival. So, we did get seated within minutes of arrival. We enjoyed our food while our kids colored. Upon paying, I noticed a charge for brunch buffet for 2 adults and 1 child, even though my kids did not eat. I questioned the waitress who then took a long time to return as she was then involved in a lengthy discussion with the owner. Finally upon rectifying my bill, I was told personally by the owner that because we were a party of 4, they automatically charge for the children because they were taking up space sitting at the table. I explained to her that they do not like to eat the food and prefer to eat elsewhere. She continued to tell me that we were seated at a large table (for five) and that she had to turn away 5 people. How was that MY fault?! I was quite shocked that a restaurant of this caliber could be so insensitive to those of us with small children!! Where was I supposed to place my children while we ate? I wonder if it's because I was using a Groupon that I received such news about their "new" policy?? Well, I won't be coming back here again, to this kid unfriendly place.
(2)Christine R.
I was truly blown away by the service at Royal Khyber. They accommodated our every possible need, including making changes to an entree on their 3 course meal and allowing us to taste different wines before we ordered a bottle. Great service! The food was delicious and plentiful. I was concerned that the 3 course meal was going to be sparse based on other reviews, but we had too much! We ordered 2 lamb dishes and were really pleased by the sauces and the meat falling off of the bones. The spicy meat appetizer was also fabulous! The meal was completed with their pistachio ice cream. I need more. I really do. It was amazing! We went to RK before seeing a show at Segerstrom. It worked out perfectly. You should definitely give it a try. I was very impressed:-)
(5)Karina A.
My husband is half Indian so we love to try Indian restaurants when we get the chance. So happens Royal Khyber is down the street from us. We've been here twice already - once was on a whim and the second time for restaurant week. The food is good but not worth the value . It is a bit expensive and everything is ala carte. We vowed to only go back when a deal comes up. Hence, OC Restaurant Week. The second experience was better. Their Chicken Tikka Masala is good. But I would much rather go to Tandoori Fresh down on Harbor for delicious Chicken Tikka Masala at a good price. Just my two cents.
(3)Abida S.
Went there because of groupon, food was good, but ridiculously expensive! They charged my kids for adult buffet price & the service was so terrible that I didn't want to stick around pointing it out to them! This one server literally stopped me as I was trying to ask him something & WALKED AWAY!!! We had to wait a ridiculous amount of time till someone came by to check on us, only exception was one girl server who in the middle of our meal asked we never got bread & ordered some for our table! Even if it wasn't too pricey, I would never go back!
(2)flo c.
2.5 stars. I had a groupon coupon for this place and I finally remembered to redeem it. I had high hopes for this place as some of our good friends love this place and raved about the food. I guess maybe the issue is that we're no longer omnivorous and our friends are meat lovers. We probably ordered completely different things. Anyway, the food is not bad, but compared to some local places around here, I've definitely had better. I went with a mixed vegetable in a tomato-based sauce as that's vegan and it was literally frozen mixed vegetables (the one with corn, cubed carrots, lima beans, etc.) in tomato sauce. The serving is probably around 2-3 cups and it does not come with rice or naan, which has to be ordered separately. I wouldn't necessarily be opposed to frozen vegetables except for the fact that the regular price for this is $10.95 and for just a $1.29 bag of frozen vegetables in sauce, that seems ridiculous. Further, considering it's trying to be an upscale place, frozen vegetables seem completely out of place. The rice that came was about 2 cups worth. Our garlic naan was burnt. I like it slightly burnt but this literally had charred bits crumbling off of it. My fiance went with the vegetable combination plate which included a trio (about 1 cup serving) of vegetarian curries/selections, salad and rice. There was the spinach/paneer dish and two other things I can't remember. We also ordered the roti, as that's actually vegan, and it was okay. To start, we ordered the appetizer sampler, which included pakoras, a samosa and a potato patty. I've definitely had better pakoras but they were bad. The samosa was also okay. I really liked the potato patty and would eat more of that. Unfortunately, this sampler came with six pakoras and only one patty and one samosa. That's really bizarre as I would've expected at least two of each item. Oh, we also asked for a side of hot sauce and that was really good but really spicy. If they sold that by the jar, I would buy it. Overall, I'm so glad we went with a groupon because our final tab would've been well into the $60 range and that's definitely not worth what we ordered. I'd rather take that money and go to Annapoorna in Irvine, which is significantly better and fresher. The service was also okay but not as attentive as other upscale establishments in the area. However, I will commend our server for noting that the naan is not vegan as it contains dairy.
(3)Doreen B.
Kudos to this place because even though we were there 15 minutes before they opened, the owner came out and sat us right away. While we were waiting to order he brought out the hottest, tastiest naan (sorry if I spelled that wrong!). And a nice little chutney dipping sauce. We ordered off the lunch menu - I had the tandoori chicken, my friend had the chicken curry, although we did end up splitting it halfway through our meal because it just all smelled so good! the Tandoori chicken was still sizzling hot, and the Chicken Curry broth was still piping hot - with all the steam and aroma when he brought our meals out. This review is really 4.5 stars. Minus .5 stars because I need a little more rice with meal :)
(4)Matthias O.
Food was ok. Service was not. Better Indian food down the road without the high prices in my opinion.
(2)Vinayak N.
great food.
(3)Peter C.
Had the opportunity to go on a night out without the kids with another couple, and as a group we decided to try Royal Khyber, which we had heard of from their Groupon promotion. At first glance, it seemed pretty pricey compared to other Indian eateries and even upscale ones that we've been to (but the Groupon definitely limited the hit on the wallet). Our table ordered the following: - Saag Paneer - Chicken Koorma - Vegetable Biryani - Chicken Tikka Masala The serving sizes were on par if not slightly more generous than what we were expecting. But, it was really the quality of the 3 curry dishes that I would say helped to justify the premium prices. I'm not sure if it's true, but they just seemed to be fresher in terms of probably being made to order vs. taken from a large cooking pot that was made for multiple tables. Very good consistencies in the curries and great flavor in the chicken pieces. The Biryani, on the other hand, was a no-no. Surprisingly, it was bland, and that seems so strange to say about any Indian dish! But, unfortunately, yes, there was a definite lack in flavor. There seemed to also be clumps of rice that did not get any seasoning. Parking is plentiful, at least in the evenings. The decor was very nice...equivalent to other high-end restaurants in the area. Bottom line: 4 stars! The quality of the food is unmatched.
(4)Nikki M.
I'm torn between a 4 and a 5...so I'm gonna go with 4.5. So I know the name of the restaurant has "fine dining" in the title, but I honestly was not expecting this place to be as fancy as it was. They sure have a short wine list for a place with "fine" in it's name. This is probably my only complaint though. Royal Khyber has white table clothes and attentive waiters. My friend and I started off with some glasses of white wine and curried mussels. I totally recommend these - they're so delicious! Those who like mussels know that they can live up to their name when looked improperly, but these bad boys were succulent and not chewy. I loved the curry broth they were cooked in. Since we both ended up zeroing in on the exact same two items on the menu (this happens a lot with my girl Christina), we decided to just two entrees - butter chicken and spicy chicken madras. Both of these were really good and we were clean platers, big time. I had a chai tea latte after dinner because I couldn't resist. The meal was great - a little pricey - but I'm not eating there everyday. So I can manage.
(4)Tiffany K.
Restaurant week is the sweetest deal I've encountered in quite awhile. It's like going to your favorite store and picking up a pair of shoes you fall in love with only to find out later that the purchase is more worthwhile once you eye the discounted price. A ha! I found a nice find! Ok so restaurant week isn't as great as finding a pair of cute shoes on sale, but it's the best analogy I can think of at this time. I've had a long day at work, but before I can sleep soundly, I'd like to recapture my savory moments at tonight's restaurant. Royal Khyber.. Kiber.. kiiibur. Since I couldn't pronounce the latter half of the name, I was speculating as to how good this place really was. $20 for a 3 course meal.. or a $30 course meal with a different choice of entrees AND mango brulee to finish off the night. How could I not pass up this deal. I've only been to a few Indian restaurants, as I just discovered it a few years ago, but tonight's dinner was ever so tantalizing and memorable. The starters! I had the chicken samosa while my friend had the spicy tandoori kebabs. My samosa was nice and was accompanied with some jam/salsa sauce that was sweet, yet had enough spices to complement the almost overbearing sweetness. It was good.. but not good enough to stop me from eyeing my dining partner's kebabs. O dear. Her kebabs were out of the world. The lamb meatballs were divine. Luscious, flavorful packed spheres of lamb all in one bite. Mind you, there's a little kick with the spices in it so for those who are cautious, I would be weary of this- otherwise, dig in! The chicken kebabs were another surprise. Tender, smooth chicken that almost tasted as if they were stuffed with ricotta cheese. Deliciousness! The entree--Let me tell you.. If you haven't tried Tikka Masala, you haven't lived the fine Indian cuisine life yet. The red sauce was sweet, yet had a neutralizing taste of some yogurt base to balance out the overall sauce. The secret to eating this is to carefully tear a piece of naan (large enough to pick up some chicken) dip, dunk, wrap a piece of chicken around it and ta da! You're ready to eat. This is how I eat it, but of course, there's other methods too. I was dancing in my seat after the first bite to my last one. My saag paneer (spinach w/ cheese) was not too appetizing though. The cheese tasted like tofu and the spinach was super bland. Once again, my friend ordered the better of the two vegetarian options-- the basil mushroom Matar korma. What was I thinking?! Regardless, the dinner was quite delightful, pleasant and lovely. To finish off the night- we enjoyed rice pudding and the pistachio kulfi. This time, I ordered the right thing (with the help of the waiter's suggestion). The kulfi (ice cream) hit the spot! Unlike the typical ice cream, this is no ordinary one. The cubes of white cheesecake like block resemble anything, but ice cream. My first bite was anything, but disappointing. Drizzled with condense milk and flakes of gold garnishing, I felt like princess.. in Santa Ana. Who eats gold on food!? I sure don't, but this was such a memorable dessert both in taste, quality and appearance. The rice pudding was no disappointment either. With hidden dispersed almonds and raisins throughout the bowl, every bite was a surprise. I was satisfied. Very satisfied. A must try if you're in the area or have a special occasion to go to. The prices are a bit hefty for most dinners, but it's definitely worth to try at least once. I can sleep and dream of those kebabs and pistachio kulti now. Good night.
(5)Art M.
I just came home from RK on a groupon deal. It was extremely disappointing. I am in the culinary profession and know restaurants. I got a good curry dish but all of them come with rice and naan which I don't eat. I asked them if they could please substitute the rice and bread with some vegetables. They said they could only give me some salad or bread. Bread made a lot of sense huh. I asked for the manager and he confirmed this stupid policy. Imagine losing a potential customer(s) and his or her friends for $.15 worth of vegetables? How does this place stay in business with such bad customer service. In this day and age restaurants will and should jump over hoops to please the customer. Customers are hard to get.
(1)Eric M.
If you want cheap, buffet style Indian food you do not come here. Here you get quality samosas that don't taste of deep fried lard pockets. However, you also don't get ANY cell phone or data reception. When I need to get my Groupon code, I had to take the phone outside. That said, the waiter walked my phone up to the front to get the code confirmed. The food was mostly good but it is very expensive.
(4)Jack R.
Went here with the wife on 'date night'. Atmosphere was nice. Service was great - attentive and friendly without being overbearing. The food was very good, we had mixed tandoori and a shrimp curry dish. We used a Restaurant.com certificate and they processed it without an issue. Overall a great experience and we'll come back.
(4)Kay A.
Let me start off by saying I have NO idea why Indian restaurants are always so freaking expensive. Doesn't matter if you go to a hole in the wall or a nicer place like this one, to me it's always over priced. :) That being said, I still like this place and at least it's nicer so you don't feel as ripped off! We started off with the chicken samosas (2 pieces) which were very tasty especially with the tomato dip. I had the coconut curry chicken and the hubs had that lamb nectar dish that everyone raves about. These entrees come with a small mixed salad, a little bit of basmati and naan. We had to order extra basmati because, hello, I am Asian and I need a lot of freaking rice to be happy! We also accompanied our meal with raita. Raita is okay, a little runny for my taste but the rest of the food was delicious. We did not have any room for dessert but settled for a nice cup of chai.
(4)Jacob M.
Ambiance: The inside of the restaurant was an interesting combination of Indian style designs and christmas lights. The seating was interesting as well as the restaurant chairs were very plush and the type you sat into. Additionally, the lighting was not the best. Rating: 6.5/10 Food: The Food was pretty decent. I ordered the Spicy Chicken Madras and it was quite intense. Suffice to say it satisfied my crave for the heat, however the flavor wasn't fully there. We also a ordered the Khyber Nectar Lamb Shank which was "alright." and we ordered the Chicken Tiki Masaala which was pretty good to along with an assorted veggie platter . Rating: 6.5/10 Service: This area was probably the worst. We ended up being there for almost two hours despite being sat right away. It took about 25 m to place our order, 40 m to get the food, and 30 m to pay and leave. Service: 3/10 Overall, it was okay I'd definitely check out some other places before coming here.
(3)Robin W.
Eating the mediocre leftovers reminded me what a mediocre experience this was. Decided to try it as part of Costa Mesa restaurant week. $20pp for dinner. Choice of appetizer, one vegetarian and one regular entree and dessert. Included naan and rice. When we ordered as the menu stated, the waiter claimed we had to order the same vegetarian dish which made no sense but who are we to argue? We had the salad- lettuce, walnuts, some other unmemorable tidbits. The vegetable trio was tasty-samosa, pakora, basically 3 addictive fried potato vegetable items with a tomato based dipping sauce. The chicken vindaloo wasn't spicy but what it lacked in spice it made up for in...oil. Small portion, very greasy. The tandoori chicken was dry and meh. The palace paneer was decent but should have been spicier. Portion was tiny too. Rice portion tiny but naan generous but nothing to dip it in given the Small portions and lack of sauce. I also requested no cilantro but you can guess the vile weed still made an appearance. So, $40 for food, &12 for two glasses of wine. Oh, pistachio kulfi and rice pudding. Nicely done. I should point out the waiter was extremely accommodating when I mentioned the cilantro debacle and had the food remade. Most places will. It do that. I heard him telling the kitchen and emphasizing no cilantro. Bottom line- restaurant week was not a great bargain. At other Indian restaurants, you can get full portions for $40. So, I tried. New place but will stick with my Indian faves.
(3)Harini S.
I wish I could give this place 3.5 stars. We chose to have the prix fixe menu for a Saturday night dinner. We tried the following: Vegetable snacks- good kebabs- good khyber nectar- good chicken- good kheer- good kulfi- the taste was ok but it was extremely hard to cut or anything. Though the food tasted good, there was nothing extra ordinary about this place. We liked the service and the ambiance.
(4)Cindy B.
Came here for dinner with my family to celebrate Bday. Though the restaurant is in a beautiful seeting, the food was overpriced and the worse Indian food I have ever eaten. The service we received was poor, the food was cold and honestly tasted like precooked microwaved food. Had to ask waitress 3 times to bring water without ice and still she brought in water with ice. Asked the waitress about the food being cold and she said it was freshly cooked but didnt give me the reason why the food was cold. We hardly ate and ended up getting Chinese take out on the way home. Major disappointment!!! Please do not eat here if you want good food and good service!!! No wonder they always have promotion on either on Groupon or Restaurant.com !!!
(1)Rashad M.
kind of blah & over priced - stuffy & quite inside, felt like a library Shshshsh! This review is for take out! The quality of the food was good, the flavors were ok, I would say nothing special. Overall I prefer some of the other smaller Indian Joints. The food at Saggar or Bukhara in Huntington for example is better, but this place was also way over priced for what you get. Their Chicken Tika for example tasted like very simple lightly marinated grilled chicken, with very little flavor, which you would typically expect in Indian food. The coconut chicken Curry was good. While this was for takeout, we waited inside and the interior was very stuffy, it looked like it was decorated with a lot of opulence in the 80s and was kept the same since then. It was so quite we caught ourselves whispering!
(3)Pavel V.
This was our second time. Food was great, service was good and place is nice and clean. I will come back again.
(5)Jay P.
Groupon. The food was alright. Extremely overpriced. And drowned in grease. Thats all i have to say. The service was very good, but thats where the compliments stop.
(2)Ryan A.
The best Indian in Orange County. Great service. Great food.
(5)Ipek K.
Food and service was fine but their attitude was a total disaster. They offered us 4 naans themselves ( which, of course we thought complimentary) and then charged $4 each ! $4 just for 1 piece of dough! Plus $5 for the rice which is pretty annoying, as well.... And instead of our $30 something bill we had to pay $50 because of this disroyal attitude. We were so dissapointed and would never go back again. They try to deceive you this way but they should know that they could only do this once and then lose the customers right away... So interesting... Moreover when we discussed all these with the manager, he said that he hadn't known we had a 'limited' budget which was so insulting over all...Never ever go back...
(1)Peter Y.
LUNCH REVIEW ONLY I'm having a hard time liking this place, I wanted to love it but.... Reason #1 - pricy even for lunch Reason #2 - for me, I've had better Indian food elsewhere Reason #3 - I felt I didn't get the "bang for the buck" at this place Let me explain - thanks to Groupon, I was able to secure a coupon worth $45 for only $20. I have never been to this place but thanks to Groupon, I thought I would have a great Indian meal. Upon reviewing the menu, we decided on Khybar's Nectar /lamb shank ($21.75) and Goan Prawn Masala ($21.75). I have to say for me, that's little pricy for a lunch. There are other less priced items on the menu but thanks to Groupon, we decided to order some of the more expensive dishes on the menu. The service was friendly and prompt, atmosphere is nice and inviting. The place was not very busy for lunch and the food did take little bit to arrive. Khybar's Nectar was good - little bit spicy with slowed cooked meat that just fell of the bone. Goan Prawn Masala was nice - just nice. It was not spicy but little bit garlicky and the sauce was nice. Also, the prawns were large and perfectly cooked. I really need to come back for the dinner. I was told by the waitress that they have a different menu for dinner. Maybe their dinner menu will be more to my liking. I wished they had a Groupon for the dinner..... Cheers,
(3)Sadhna C.
Went here for their Sunday brunch and it definitely din't meet my expectation. The food was all fresh but it lacked the indian flavor i was looking forward to based on reviews from co-workers. I had bought a groupon deal so din't think much about the price but i'd never want to pay close to $20 for a brunch that had only 2 vegetarian entrees. Go to Traditions in Tustin instead!
(3)Jen K.
Went here for OC restaurant week and since I wanted to try the mango crème brulee I went for the more expensive $30 menu. Choose the assorted vegetable snacks, which were okay, could have been served warmer, felt like they were sitting around for a bit. The naan was good, even though it was the regular one, though I want to try their other ones especially garlic but they also have olive, cheese, and onion basil naan (oooh carb city here I come....) I was curious in trying the Basil Mushroom Matar Korma, since most South Asian places I've been to, I haven't seen basil on the menu and I'm a fan of both basil and mushroom. It was decent. The butter chicken was good, this makhani chicken dish just makes me so happy just like chicken tikka masala. I ate only half since I was already starting to get full by then and I wanted to eat more butter chicken for the next day. The mango crème brulee was a bit of disappointed, I felt it should have been in a ramenkin and not a mini aluminum bowl. I found it to be too sweet, I was happier with my friend's Kheer-e-Khas (rice pudding), which had assortment of nuts in there, which he couldn't eat since he's allergic so I ate it. I liked how it wasn't too sweet just right. Service was good and they were helpful, when I had questions about other dishes, they took the time to explain. Decent bargain for restaurant week but a bit pricey for me but the food is decent and they've been there in South Coast Village for awhile, as long as I've was a kid in Costa Mesa.
(3)Rick L.
I have always enjoyed going here. The food while not fantastic was tasty. The buffet was kept stocked and if something ran low they were quick to replace it. A little disappointed that Naan is included but Pappadam is not. Other than that it was a fine Sunday morning brunch with friends.
(4)Monique L.
I came the other night with a few girlfriends and just found the food to be ok. It was one girl's first experience ever with Indian food. Amazing, I know, but this was a mild way to be eased into it, I suppose that's a good thing. The 4 of us shared the rack of lamb tandoori, the tikki masala chicken, the bhartha and the bombay aloo. The food wasn't bad, it just wasn't great, and the prices are not low so we expected more. The only thing that was a little spicy was the tikki masala and the flavours were not as rich as other indian restaurants. The lamb was tender and good but not spectacular. The service was okay especially since we sat there for almost an hour after paying the bill just talking. I probably won't be back.
(3)Min T.
Another great place for dinner or lunch. Now, when you think of Indian, most people tend to think of buffet. Royal Khyber does have a lunch buffet but only on Fridays. I would suggest though thinking of this place as a place to go for a celebration. It is after all, fine dining. So no, you're not going to get enormous cheap portions of rice and bread. You will get however food that's been carefully prepared and cooked. My picks are the lamb shank that has been braised for 14 hours, dal soup, the olive naan and the mustard oil fish. Are you diabetic or watching your sugar intake? Well, after your healthy lunch, consider trying Royal Khyber's great rice pudding with real slivered pistachios or their reduced sugar gulab jamun. I didn't even miss the sweetness. That's because the syrup they used which is mostly a fruit sugar so it's natural. It took the owner over three years to develop this syrup. Although Royal Khyber is not hidden, it's somewhat easy to miss. Just look for their gorgeous hand-carved wooden door they had imported from India.
(4)K C.
We had a date night here which was perfect because it is not a great place for our kids. It is very nice and quiet dining here. On a Tuesday evening there were maybe 2 or 3 other couples there during our meal. The food was very tasty and the setvice was great. We had coconut curry chicken, saag paneer and shrimp tikka masala as well as 2 mango lassis. The bill was like $72 but thankfully we had a Groupon. Still with tip on the original bill it's pretty pricey for what it was.
(3)Sid A.
Good Indian food is hard to find! I am of Indian background and I'll be the first to admit that it should NEVER be so expensive! That said, this place is good and the food overall is decent. The ambiance is very nice, perhaps the best I've seen for an Indian restaurant. Unfortunately, the food does not live up to the surroundings. The quality here is good and the Sunday buffet is very nicely laid out. This is a nice place to try out, but I look to other Indian restaurants for not such an expensive experience and similar quality as well.
(3)Katie D.
I met the owner of this restaurant and she was so hospitable. It's clear she takes great pride in her business and went above and beyond to make sure we were well taken care of. The food was really great, especially the sea bass. I can honestly say it was the best I've ever eaten. You must stop in and try this place. It's fantastic!!
(5)Sharika S.
Royal Khyber is one of the 2 indian restaurant I would go to for a nice meal in ORANGE COUNTY besides Clay Oven. It's just so wonderful. True to what Indian food is about: mélange of vegetable with little meat to supplement the protein requirement! We ordered the paneer pakora and assorted vegetable appetizer which were good! Then we got the goan prawn curry, lamb nectar and methi chicken. I loved the lamb and chicken, very flavorful and different. The mango lassi could have been better, with a little less sugar. The other reviews say the food I'd either bland or too spicy, which I find puzzling. Yu want to request spicy or mild based on yur palette sensitivity Also like the very attentive service.
(4)PJ R.
Great food and romantic atmosphere. Great service. The Prawn Masala is my fave, my husband loves the Chicken Madras. their Garlic naan is to die for!
(5)Brad D.
Great, quiet atmosphere. Extremely friendly service. Fantastic Indian food. A great place for a romantic date or a night out for a married couple, but would be great for a large group, too.
(5)Chuck D.
We're about to take some friends to the Royal Khyber (for our fourth visit), because we like everything about it: the amazing range of flavors and textures in the sauces and appetizers, the entrees, and the deserts, the friendly elegance of the ambiance, and the unhurried, attentive, and thoughtful service. Our favorite server always reminds of Janet Jackson, if Janet Jackson was from India and was prettier. We ask about the different dishes, and try something new every time. They're all delicious, and it pays to take the term "spicy" seriously. Makes my mouth water to think about another dinner at Royal Khyber, and it's time for me to quit typing and change clothes for the evening of great food and excellent company!
(5)Frank R.
I really wanted to like this place more, but the service was slow, they didn't keep our waters full, and my dish which I asked to make spicy was not spicy at all. And since when is the olive naan bread, which was delicious, a spicy bread? I mentioned this and they brought more bread without the peppers but then charged us for them. That was not OK. The portions are the size we should be eating but not the best value for the price. The ambiance is nice but you are better off saving your money and going elsewhere, like Annapoorna in Irvine.
(2)Susan Inong J.
Fantastic dishes! Took my husband here for lunch and we shared the lamb and chicken tandoori and tikka. Good nan and delicious sauces (the green and sweeter ones, forgot the names). I liked their Chai tea too, wasn't too sweet like most Chai's but was a tad bit on the milky side. This place uses high quality ingredients but didn't quite knock our socks off the charts, so A-OK for us.
(3)Karen H.
I had been to this restaurant a couple years ago and it left a bad impression.. the blandest Indian food ever! And Indian food has never been bland to me. I thought I'd give it a chance since I got a groupon offering a special $20 for $45. groupon.com/r/uu4949871 It was pretty slow on a Monday night. Most people were heading over to Antonello's another establishment that serves the most unimpressive Itallian food. They do have some nice banquet rooms though with beautiful mural paintings. But I can make better Italian food at home. I specifically told the waiter that I had been here before and in the past my food was way too mild and I prefer if the Chef would make it the way he would serve a traditional Indian family.. don't hold back on the spices! I kinda got irked because I did not see him go in and tell the chef anything but just went over to the bar to clean glasses. We'll see. Between the 2 of us we shared: Appetizer plate - consisted of 1 Vegetable samosa which had a nice crispy crust and a flavorful filling. 4 mini onion fritters, enjoyed the naturally sweet onions and the crispy outside. 1 mini potato cake. Everything tasted freshly fried, unlike at the typical Indian buffets where they taste like they had been fried in old oil and sitting there for hours. Accompanying it were 2 dippng sauces. A green herby mint sauce and a chunky tomato chutney.I enjoyed the tomato chutney more because it was tangy. Chicken Tikka Marsala - 3.5 stars A lot better than the first time I had it here. But did not have the depth in flavor as the ChickenTikka Marsala at Clay Oven in Irvine or Dosa Place in Tustin. Decent sized portion bigger than I remembered. Chicken Vindaloo- the color was a little redder than usual. The other times I've had Chicken Vindaloo it has been more of a brown/greener color. This Vindaloo was more sour and more tomato - y than what I am used to. The other Vindaloos I've had tyically have more of a curry flavor which this one did not have much of.. just heat. Plain Naan and Garlic Naan- They charge for naan.. yup.. we paid a total of near $10 for Naan.. My dining partner made a comment about how small the Naan was. They had also asked if I wanted rice.. for another 4 bucks? I figured Naan would be enough which was. I was stuffed at the end of the meal. Taj Mahal beer - light, crisp, and refreshing. Would order that again. Service was decent. Cleaned the crumbs from the Naan before giving us the check. We still ended up paying $40 to cover any overages, tax and tip, even after the $45 certificate. You can't blame them. They are in a plaza across from South Coast Plaza sharing the same expensive rent as Darya and Morton's Steakhouse. It is a nice restaurant but a tad pricey for Indian food. Owner was very nice. Probably would not come back unless there were specials. Overall, decent dining experience but would have been pissed if I had to pay full price. I will stick with the more authentic Indian restaurants for a fraction of the price.
(3)Joy T.
I always have the Khyber Nectar whenever I'm in the area...this is one dish that you should not miss. This was the first place where I had tried lamb and got hooked since then.
(4)Christopher R.
This restaurant is one of the worst I have been too. The food is not good, it was not hot, it lacked proper seasonings and the meat lamb and chicken were terrible. Having said that it is very expensive. Don't go!
(1)Joanna F.
Royal Khyber's food was excellent. The major thing that killed it was the atmosphere. The first thing we heard when we walked in was a guy and his wife loudly complaining that there were only like 4 pieces of chicken in his curry (true). Then when we were seated, they placed us in this corner table, which DIRECTLY faces the entire room. Felt like it was a wedding or something. Horrible seating area, especially when the restaurant wasn't even 20% full. What's weird is that although waiters are very polite, their whole demeanor seemed fake and forced. Apparently if you come in with your own wine, all the attention is on your table. They keep coming back and forth to chat about mundane things (and ignoring other tables). Please let these people eat! They don't want to talk to you! All in all, if I were rich, I wouldn't mind spending my dough on "a couple pieces of chicken" lol. But to tell you the truth, I wouldn't be coming back anytime soon. There are so many "Fine" Indian restaurants around the area.
(3)BJ L.
Oh. My. Mediocre. This place tries way to hard to be the only upscale Indian option in the area. Unfortunately, it just isn't very good. An Indian restaurant without a lunch buffet? C'mon...get over yourself. If you want a quality meal in the same vein, go next door to Darya. If you need it to be Indian, go to Mother India down bristol, or India Cuisine one block over. What a disappointment.
(2)Dave M.
The Khybers Nectar is one of the best tasting lamb's I have had in restaurants in LA. A party of 10 people had lunch and everyone was satisfied with the taste. Food takes a long time to serve , so calling in ahead can help if you know what you want to get. Pricey and only for occasional visits.
(4)Ananya P.
Food is not worth the price. Everything is overpriced. They charge for ambience. Surprisingly, there was no taste of garlic in garlic chili naan ($6 each).
(1)Bonnie G.
I was intrigued by the range of stars given to this place by the reviewers. What made me want to try it out for myself was the fact that despite what some people said about service ("lousy") and the price ("overpriced"), most said the food was pretty good. So, let me say that we had a true five star experience tonight. We were immediately attended to (had a reservation but arrived 20 min. early) and seated near the window. They promptly uncorked our wine, which brought from home, and placed a nice pappadan sampler on our table. We ordered (chicken tikka and tikka masala) and the food was on our table in less than 15 minutes. Folks, all I can say was I agree with the majority: the food was really, really good. And yes it's pricey but totally worth it. The chicken was juicy (tikka) and the tikka masala was perfectly seasoned. My partner enjoyed the protein-enriched naan bread (.75 extra). Heck, so did I! Honestly...we cleaned our plates! It was almost embarrassing! As for the reportedly "infamous" service, I am not sure what was going on because ours was impeccable! The wait staff was courteous and attentive during the entire two hours we were there. Overall,I would say if you want a nice Indian dinner (the atmosphere is inviting and romantic) try this place out! Expect to spend a bit more that usual but also expect to have a truly exceptional dining experience!
(5)Adaeze N.
If you have never had Indian food in your life.... or If you don't even like Indian food. Royal Khyber is the place for you. If you have any notion of what indian food is like or what it is supposed to taste like you will be SORELY DISSAPOINTED in the "cuisine" here. -The portions are small -The small portions are overpriced -The small, overpriced portions taste like crap but with less craptastic flavour. bland crap. -The garlic naan was dry and chewy -The palaak paneer was disgusting, bland and it made me a little sick. -My boyfriend had the mixed tandoori plate which he said was the blandest meat he had ever eaten ( we asked for it to be made spicy and the waiter actually said 'we don't do that here". don't do spicy!? what the hell kind of Indian place IS this?) - The only extra spice they could offer us to liven up the mud-and-cardboard tasting food here was some kind of an Indian chili. Now I'm Indian, so i know they are lying because they gave us what looked and tasted like salsa. So all in all this is pretty much the worst and most disappointing Indian food i have ever eaten in my life. The classy decor and quiet atmosphere of this place doesn't even make up for the crap food. I have had microwave Indian dinners that taste infinitely better than the garbage they fed me here. Come here if you like to eat garbage. But me? no way, THEY CAN'T FEED ME GARBAGE!
(1)Bum Soo K.
I went here with fellow co-workers. The party was six, and I was the only guy. (oh boy~ lol). We squeezed our lunch time at work and had our lunch there. As we entered the restaurant, the waiter service was really great and some indian music playing. They also had a bar, but I believe it was only open dinner hours. I think lunch entrees are cheaper than dinner, so if you are looking in to saving $$ when coming here, come at lunch time. I ordered 'Dal Soup & Chicken Tikka Wrap'. I personally enjoyed the Dal Soup, with a flavor of bean and veggies. Chicken Tikka Wrap was basically a sliced up chick tandoori with veggies with naan(indian style tortilla). This dish was $14.40....so maybe after taxes + tips...uh.....$18?? I'm not sure if they split checks because we had one of our co-workers swipe the whole thing. Service was great. Really luxurious, good for cheesy romantic nights with wifey or girl friends...or maybe girls' nights. Friends to hang out for some casual fun? BAD IDEA. YMMV depending on your purpose. The food was decent, and I had a good time.
(4)