If Yelp would let me I'd give Great India 3.5 stars, but since I can't I'll be kind and round up to 4 stars. We ate here for lunch yesterday. When we arrived we used the valet service (no problems). We were seated promptly and ordered iced tea, lamb samosas, chicken tikka masala, matar paneer, garlic naan and rice. Service: A+ The service was excellent, the waiter checked on us periodically and the food came out of the kitchen at lightening speed. Iced Tea: A Spicy, cold and delicious. It comes with a small thing of cream (or condensed milk?), so you add the cream and a little honey or sugar. Very good and the waiter was very prompt about refills. Lamb Samosas: C+ The samosas tasted all right, but were a bit dry and fell apart entirely when I attempted to break it apart with my fork. Ground meat inside was flavorful, but lacked interest. Chicken Tikka Masala: A- The best dish we ordered here. The sauce was creamy and just the perfect level of spicy heat. Great over our garlic naan or rice. Matar Paneer: C The matar paneer was a bit too watery and lacked any stand-out flavor. It was passable, but I would order something else when I eat here again. Garlic Naan: A- Great flavor and texture, a little burnt on the edges. Rice: B No problems with the rice, just plain ol' rice. Some of the Indian restaurants I frequent add rice or herbs to the rice to make it more interesting. Overall: I'd recommend the place for decent Indian food.
(4)
Mark W.
I've ordered takeout 3 times and I really appreciate their 10 mile delivery radius as i live in Van Nuys. The food is generally good with, for me, one exception. I've ordered the Malai Kofta each time and two of the three times, it was obvious that the koftas had been pre-made and frozen or refrigerated poorly. This resulted in a stale taste which ruined an otherwise well prepared dish. The one time the koftas were fresh, they were really quite good. The saag lamb and saag paneer were very good as was the baigan bharta and the bhel puri and basmati rice. Based on the kofta experience, I would be reluctant to order from them again. Indian food is is not an in expensive takeout option and not being able to return a dish that is "off" leaves you at the mercy of the restaurant and their quality control standards. That being said, I did email the restaurant with my concerns and never received a reply.
(2)
Bryan R.
Been ordering takeout from Great India Cafe for 4 years now for myself, family, clients... and absolutely love this place. I must say, I deduct 1 star for the in restaurant experience - its a bit bland and overly quiet inside. The service is good but takeout is the way to go with this place. As someone else noted, best Chicken Tikka Masala Ive ever had. Also, chicken Korma is really, really great. Pair these with some garlic naan and white rice, heaven.
(4)
Meg M.
YAY! Another place that delivers to my area! I just moved back to LA and I am on a hunt to find all the hidden gems in my new neighborhood. From grocery stores, to coffee shops... and most importantly delivery!! Ironically, I was CRAVING Indian food the other day when I came home from running some errands - there was a menu for Great India Cafe on my door. CHA-CHING! After a very long day of unpacking - I finally realized I was hungry about 8pm...and remembered the golden orange menu I had found earlier in the day. Since my mom was in town helping me move, we decided to give it a shot... so we ordered waited for the food to arrive. The Chicken Madras was amazing! The menu boasts it's (one of the best coconut curry) and at 14.95 - it was a little pricy for a chicken entree but well worth it with boneless pieces of chicken curry prepared with onion, ginger, mustard seeds and coconut milk... mmmm mmm The Chicken Tikka Masala was good, but I feel like I've had better... I would order it again - it just wasn't memorable for me... the Chicken Madras was much better. The Naan bread and Raita were perfect - and super delicious... I think I could live off the stuff... and I was totally in awe of the Saffron rice. Fragrant and delicious it complemented the dinner perfectly... Awesome. The only thing that could make this food even better - was that they deliver! I can't wait to have it again....
(5)
icharry P.
This might have been pretty good many years ago, but the last time I went it had REALLY gone down hill... Tikka was dry, Dal was tasteless, Chana Masala - undercooked ie hard chana.... basically there is better and cheaper indian around here - Bollywood seems to be hit or miss, Gungadin is always fair at worst, La Mirch (sp?) was good - but I've only been there once... India's Oven in Sherman Oaks - next to a 7-11 in a strip mall is still me favorite in the valley.
(2)
A G.
Great place to go for an inexpensive lunch. Lunch special comes with soup, chutneys, salads and the main dish with rice. I always get their Malai Kofta, a vegetarian dish in tomato cream sauce. While I am not a vegetarian it IS the best dish on the menu. The proprietors are very hospitable and even offered to deliver their food to me in West Hollywood, which is almost 20 minutes away. No delivery charge, no minimum. Parking can be tricky so we always park behind the restaurant in the street that runs along the "L.A. River"... plus you avoid the Valet drama and pay. Otherwise, great place.
(4)
Jerl L.
Pretty good standard Indian cafe. Reasonable prices and a pretty nice place, too.
(4)
K J.
Excellent food! Great service & super fast delivery. We've taken in from Great India for years & they've never made one mistake with an order. Highly recommended.
(5)
Skylar L.
So I was thinking to myself today, "What should be my next yelp review?" I thought a little and I decided -- Great India Cafe. I love it, I crave it, I should share the love and create a crave. I skimmed most of the reviews, Meg M's stuck out with how the menu turned up on her door after she was craving it. Then I thought to myself, "I should get a take-out menu the next time I'm there so I know the proper spelling and descriptions of my favorite dishes." With that I decided to leave the reviewing for another day. When I was walking up to my door I saw I had a menu stuck into the frame. I didn't think much of it until I looked at it. IT WAS FRICK'N GREAT INDIA CAFE. I just about had a full-on freak out. I live 5.56 miles (according to Yahoo maps) away from the place, much further than most restaurant are willing to deliver. And yet, there it is just as Meg described it: a golden orange menu. Whoa. So as I write, they are making my food and my mom's picking it up on her way home from work. How could I deny the fates? Or my stomach for that matter. I ordered: Bhel Puri -- "India's most popular railway snack. Made with puffed rice, potatoes, onions, wafers, sev (chickpea noodles), mixed with chutney lime and garnished with cilantro." If I could only eat one thing for the rest of my life it would be this. It's sweet, sour and tangy. A good mix of crunch and soft. You must try this. Vegetarian Soup -- "Soup prepared with mix vegetables, lentils, ginger, chili, tomatoes, and cilantro." This is just a good Indian soup. Sweet, sour and tangy (where have I written that before?). It fills your heart and tummy. Vegetarian Thali (dinner special) -- "Two vegetables of your choice. Comes with dal, rice, raita, kakumber and naan." A great deal for only $14.95. I decided on the following as my veggies: Aloo Gobi -- "Cauliflower and potatoes sauteed with onion, ginger and, chili." One of the best Saag Paneer -- "Pureed spinach leaves, cubes of paneer cooked with onion, ginger green chili." Again, a common dish but they do it superbly. Other great things are the Malai Kafta, Began Bharta and the Samosas. I have also heard on good authority that the Chicken Tikka and the Chicken Tandoori are great too. Most of their business is take-out and delivery so eating at the restaurant itself is comfortable and usually quiet. The service varies from good to great. Empty water glasses never go long without being refilled, food comes out promptly, plates are cleared as soon as you're done. Another perk of eating in the dining room is the Indian beer. The Pilsner is fab. As far as Valley Indian restaurants go, I love this place the most. I know people who drive from Glendale it. Try it and you'll understand why!
(5)
Cortes A.
I had a dinner party for 10 people, & my guests raved. It was prepared on time, & the staff explained menu items clearly. The food was packed to generous proportions, & as a transplanted New Yorker, I am happy to have found my Indian restaurant of choice.
(5)
Navid S.
I had the mulai kufta and chicken tikka masala there. Both dishes are pretty standard at indian joints but this place just isnt very good. The sauces were way too salty and the masala sauce was overwhelmingly tomatoe-ish in addition to being salty. This was a delivery experience. A couple of months later went to actual restaurant and it was the same thing. Cost is a bit above average but not bad. I would def say it was on the verge of being unedible if you have already developed a palate for both dishes. Bollywood #2 cafe is my go to delivery place and both dishes are consistent and good.
(2)
Katelin H.
I came here on Saturday July 30 2011. We were also a groupon user. Based upon previous reviews I was actually quite nervous to go in and say we had a groupon. I thought about springing it on them at the end of the meal as a surprise, but that wasn't necessary. Despite being a groupon user we received prompt and attentive service. We never had to try and flag down our waiter, glasses were always filled, and food delivery was prompt. We (and a couple of other tables) received a free appetizer that was delicious! The waiter even took the time to explain the differences between two chicken curries and convinced my boyfriend to try something new. I'm not sure if we just had a different wait staff than other people or if they realized that treating people rudel resulted in bad publicity. My 5 star review is based off of the service. I've never tried Indian food before so I have nothing to compare it with. However, my boyfriend loves Indian food and said this is his favorite Indian restaurant. He asked them to make his curry as spicy as they could and he said it turned out perfect! He rated the food as 5 star.
(5)
Comfy B.
Terrible place. Tried it to see how it compared to Gangadin in Studio City or Taj Mahal in Encino. The place wreaked and the food was awful. Try Gangadin or Taj Mahal. Taste of India in Woodland Hills was really good too!
(1)
Emily R.
The food was pretty good- the service was not! I went with a group of 5 people and every time we would order something, the owner would tell us that wasn't enough and would be like "I'll give you two" or "I'll give you enough for the whole table" which we didn't need OR order, but would kind of reluctantly agree to. We weren't accustomed to this. We ordered two orders of naan and the waiter brought us THREE orders of GARLIC naan (more expensive) - things like that, really rude and unprofessional business practices. The menu is a la carte which also seemed strange. Food was fine, but probably wouldn't go back based on the service alone.
(1)
Lily T.
I love this restaurant ! Their food is delicious. I always order lam boti masala, and the mango lassi (a mango smoothie) is so yummy. The lamb somosa and Dahi Puri (puffed crispy puris) appetizers were both good. I really like the pashawar naan, which is naan bread filled with cheese, cashews and raisins. I enjoyed the food everytime I was there. The lunch special is a great deal and I can't have enough of the cucumber yogurt. My favorite stop when I am in the area.
(5)
steven f.
This is my new jawn! I am pretty picky and particular about what I enjoy. That said, their lunch special leaves me very satisfied. The garlic naan and chicken tikka masala is unlike anywhere else I have ever tasted. This is coming from someone who has tasted a lot. I hear that it is a family recipe that you will not find elsewhere. Whatever it is, I am hooked. As a bonus, the lunch special portions fills me up to the point where I do not need to eat again until the next day. This is one of my favorite restaurants in LA and definitely my favorite Indian restaurant for sure!
(5)
Irene K.
Food: This restaurant has the most bland and least authentic Indian food I've ever come across (and this says a lot!). We ordered Chicken Tikka Masala and Tandoori Chichen, some vegi dish, and two orders of naan, all of which was just subpar and blah. There are so many other restaurants who serve much more decent Indian food. My guess is that they cater to an American clientele who simply cannot handle all the strong spices and flavors of Indian cuisine. The restaurant seems to be popular among this crowd. Interestingly enough, at the table next to ours there were two couples, one of which just happened to be Jayma Mays and Adam Campbell (Epic Movie, 2007). Service: Yak! These waiters have no personality. Give the menu, take order, bring food, take the empty plates away. That's it. There was no "How are you enjoying your evening?" or "How do you like the food? " or "Would you like to hear about our specials or most popular dishes?" I guess the service was just as bland as the food. Conclusion: go here only if you have a "baby's pallet" or a stomach ulcer that would prevent from experiencing the real Indian food.
(1)
tina l.
chicken tikka masala was good, naan was good, server was wayyyyy too attentive. but they were nice to me even though i ended up waiting at the table by myself before my friend showed up and we finally ordered near closing time.
(3)
Mitch S.
This restaurant was delicious. Best Indian food in the valley. Ambience was nice as well. We eat Indian food often and have had a lot of bad experiences in LA. Staff was very friendly and helpful. looking forward to going back!
(5)
Kathy B.
A friend recommended this place highly and I love indian food, so another friend and I decided to give it a try tonight. I would have given it a much higher rating based on the food, beer selection, complimentary valet parking and atmosphere if the service weren't so terrible. I was seated, asked about ordering a drink and even served water promptly while I waited for my friend. Once he arrived we chatted and looked over the menu while waiting for our waiter to return and take our order. There were 3 people working on this particular night and only about 4 tables occupied, so the delay was not at all due to it being a busy night. We waited quite a long time and my friend finally asked one of the staff if we could order a drink. We had Flying Horse Royal Lager which was outstanding. Then after another very long absence of waiter, I got up and went to find someone to take our dinner order. We shared the vegetarian pakora with tomato chutney for an appetizer which was tasty and more than enough to share. We then shared the aloo gobi which we enjoyed very much and the Tuffu Tikka Masala which was delicious. The rice was also very fluffy and enjoyable. The only negative about the food was the naan bread, which was chewy and overcooked. We both left a little too full and I still took home enough for lunch the next day. Our food came out hot and fairly quickly, but we were still there almost 2 hours due to the extended waits for service, which was not very friendly once they did finally get around to us. I would definitely recommend the food, but as delivery or take out. I am tempted to give it another try since the food was so good, but probably won't because of the service.
(3)
Nikki M.
I totally agree with the first review, BEST INDIAN FOOD IN THE VALLEY! Heck, after all the places I've eaten Indian, I'd say BEST INDIAN FOOD IN SO CAL!!! Geez, thank goodness for this place, otherwise I'd lose hope in Indian food. Great India Cafe is the only reason I'm depressed for moving out of the Valley! Their food is amazing: -the rice crackers they serve if you order in are awesome and the tomato chutney is perfect! -BEST veggie samosas and chutney! -I always ordered the mirchi chicken tikka, the spicy one. Their cilantro lime chutney that goes with that is absolutely the best! -raita and naan is good, although the naan is kinda too charred sometimes. Service: Their service is great, always have a full water glass. They're just a little slow on getting the check. Their takeout is the same quality as their dine-in, which is rare for a lot of places. Atmosphere: AWESOME! Nice at night when all of the candles are lit. Great music, too. LOVE me some great india cafe! I'm seriously thinking of an excuse to drive up to LA to eat there again, the Indian food down in SD sucks (or I haven't found a place that rivals this place...if anyone can, I challenge you!). I can spend $40 just on food for myself there, but it is so worth it!!! Always happy when I leave this place. :) **Update: I actually just drove up to the Valley last month to eat here. :) We ordered the usual dishes, and as always, Great India Cafe did not disappoint. Shout out to our waiter, Judas who gave us some tips on where not to eat Indian food in SD.
(5)
Kim C.
I came home tonight to find the menu of the Great India Cafe on my door knob. Now, I have had a few experiences that usually keep me from soliciting my dinner from menu's on my door knob. Tonight I took the chance...WOW is all I can say. First the man who took my order called me brother when I was getting ready to hang up, this is something I usually call my friends! Nice touch. Then, I was greeted by a well groomed delivery person, well spoken and well mannered. Then, the food...it was very hot and incredibly flavorful. The risk paid off, and my experience with the Great India Cafe was a hit. I can't wait to order again!
(5)
Ethan M.
This is only the second Indian restaurant I've been to (the other being House of Curries in Berkeley) and this is definitely the better of the two. Chicken Tikka Masala was indeed "An Excellent Choice" (as the menu says). Tender chicken, sauce was nice and creamy. The naan was also great. Agree with another poster that the rice could be a little more daring.. Minced lamb was very good as well, and came out on a sizzling dish. Nice touch. Service was a tad bit slow which was unusual because the restaurant was not very full (this on a Thursday evening at about 8). The cracker-esque basket with the salsa is not really my thing. But I am also someone who will probably never order anything but chicken tikka masala at an Indian restaurant.
(4)
Amanda H.
wow. so i read megan's review about this place and we decided to order delivery...they have a vegan lamb curry on the menu! i know most chinese places do the fake-meat thing but i've never had an indian place do this...i give them serious credit. It was really good! their aloo gobi was better than most places...not dry. really yummy and good delivery.
(4)
Larry L.
One of the better Indian places in the valley! Excellence Chicken Tika Marsala!
(4)
David V.
The best Indian food we've found on the boulevard. Agree with the other reviewer: these guys have no idea how to cook (or perhaps buy?) chicken. Whenever there's a choice for chicken, just substitute the tofu...trust me on that one. HOWEVER: everything else we've had there has been very good to great! Definitely worth trying.
(3)
Amber L.
This is the BEST Indian food I've had in a long time. I get the chana and lamb masalas, and they are TO DIE FOR. And the prices are really reasonable. Way better than Clay Oven down the street.
(5)
Meli y.
agreed on the chicken tikka marsala and garlic bread being extremely tasty. tandoori chicken: definitely had better. overall, yummy.
(4)
Candi T.
I agree with the first posting. This place it reeaally good! A few friends and I went driving down ventura in search of Indian cuisine and the first place we saw was Great India Cafe. I'm glad we stopped because the food was great. The dipping sauces for the different dishes were very flavorful and were a perfect complement. I forget the name of one of the appetizers we had but basically it was fried vegetables, spinach, potatoes, and cauliflower I believe, recommended by the server, Sonny. My friends all loved what they had also. I will definitely be going back.
(5)
Jennifer L.
This place has my favorite chicken tikka masala. It's a must. It's a bit more on the pricey end and the parking is lacking but well worth it. If you get their lunch plate it's cheaper and still as good.
(5)
Rednikki G.
How is it no one has yet rated the best Indian restaurant in the Valley? Great India Cafe is to Clay Oven as Il Grano is to Sbarro...except Great India Cafe and Clay Oven are at the very same price point. I have been searching long and hard for an excellent Indian restaurant in Los Angeles, and have come up short over and over again, until now. The flavors of the food at Great India Cafe are exquisite and multi-layered. Even a frequently bland appetizer like vegetable samosas is nuanced with flavor. (Also, HUGE! My goodness!) The dipping sauce that came along with it had three distinct notes to its flavor, almost like a wine. The garlic naan was good, but the peshwari naan was literally the best I have had not just in the US, but also in Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. The chicken tikka masala did not have a simple tomato-cream sauce, but was intricately spiced in a way that made me sit up and pay attention. There was also a coconut chicken curry (I can't remember the name, but it began with an M) that was similarly complex. The saag paneer had a flavorful, dense warmth that was head and shoulders above any other I've had. We also enjoyed the affirmations on the menu - for example, there were notes that the chicken tikka masala was "a very good choice". (They're not wrong!) If you're there, take a look at their wine list. It's so well-written that I even wanted to get the chardonnay. My only complaint was the basmati rice - it could have had a little saffron or other spice in it. If I have to reach so hard to find something to criticize that I'm trying to find ways to improve white rice, you know that this place has got to be good.
(5)
Maquis M.
Their Malai Kofta is so delicious. Chicken Tika is so good too. When I had Malai kofta for the first time here, I totally fell in love with it, and whenever I go there, I just order Malai Kofta. The employees are all very nice too.
(5)
Jalop N.
Eww for the lamb. Or should I say 'ewe'. Anyways, what I was served here was not funny. I never though lamb could taste like chicken and has the texture of a 10-day old dead rat. This is too authentic. Hands down, it was the worst-tasting food I had this year. Three stars because I never had such great tasting food this year. I gave up on nibbling the rat and forcing it down, and just asked my friend to split the pannerjee. Pannerjee is like Indian fondue, and it was delicious. I soaked my basmati rice on it, and it mmmm good. Hey, extreme bad and good, this is like India!
(3)
Adell O.
I love, love, love this place. My girl Flo & I went in for just a quick bite with my Groupon and no expectations. First of all, I am never more pleased when the service lives up to or exceeds the food, in this case the latter applies.Bill & Danny made my visit all the more enjoyable. The Chicken Soup soothed our souls and the Chicken Chat was so comforting that we couldn't get enough of it. The Sev Puri was a very interesting dish, and the flavors were exotic and tasty. Just when we thought we were all done eating for the night, Bill brought to our table, 2 amazing cups of Masala Chai Tea... on the house! Need I say more? Danny was really kind for talking and sharing laughs with us. I loved the food, but for me, the service is what will make me come back again and again. Bon Appetit!
(5)
Laura S.
Great India is hands down one of my favorite restaurants. My people will tell you that I'm just a slightly fussy diner, and this place nails it on all the key points: wonderful food, colorful/lively atmosphere, great staff, reasonable prices. I've been coming here for years and have taken most of my friends and family. It's been well received all around. I like it so much that I've had my birthday party here on several occasions. Perhaps my favorite thing about the food is that the flavors really shine -- unlike some Indian restaurants -- they don't slather the food in oil, so the delicate tastes can come forward. Plus, Bill has been expertly serving us for many years and provides terrific customer service. Though dinner can be a slightly more elegant (though not too pricey) event, the lunch specials really rock. Check out this great restaurant!
(5)
R.E. L.
This place used to be my favorite but that has changed. When you go to restaurant they're not friendly. And for some reason the last few times I ordered from them my chicken was like greenish. I just don't like this place anymore. Maybe business is slow, but that should give you even more reason to provide good friendly service and fresher better food to bring in/keep cutomers.
(2)
Lisa D.
When I want familiar good Indian food I call Great India Cafe in Studio City for delivery. The food is delivered hot. I am a fan of the Saag Paneer too, but once I tried the Malai Kafta - I found my new favorite food item on their menu. My favorite bread is the Peshawari Naan. The Onion Bhaji is our favorite appetizer. I love the Dal. I have ordered the lunch special which offers a lot of food for your buck. The weekday Thali dinner special is a good deal for me. I get a whole delicious meal. My husband pays more for the non vegetarian specials. His favorite is the Chicken Tikka Masala. My husband requests his main meal spicy. On one occasion the food didn't arrive spicy but this was an the exception rather than the rule. I have tried their Gulab Jamin. I haven't found on their online menu, but I did try it when we went in the restaurant to eat. It was ok, but since it isn't on their online menu it may not be ordered often. There was only one delivery where the Naan bread was probably from the previous day and appeared to be microwaved. It could have also been over cooked. I like their quick online process and delivery and this is why I have the food delivered rather than go to the location.
(4)
Rebecca S.
We got a menu from this pace and ordered in one night and we loved the food ,so we decided to visit the place easy to find the place was just like Bollywood beautiful inside . I got the Shrimp which was about $16.00 the menu described it as Large Tiger shrimp which it wasn't the shrimp were the size of quarters and I got about 6 pieces and they were way over cooked very dry I got two pieces of very small potatoes with the shrimp .My daughter got the Bombay chicken she said it was okay .So all in all we got a dish of shrimp,chicken,rice and naan it was almost $ 45.00 +.
(2)
Patty L.
A warning to you if you decide to try this place: do NOT order the tandoori chicken. It was dry and flavorless -- the worst I've ever tasted. It came out a strange shade of brown, and though the waiter assured me all that was missing was the red coloring, it was totally BLAND. The chicken tikki masala here is pretty good, although the rich sauce can get to be cloying after a while. The samosas and naan are decent. But any Indian restaurant that screws up a staple like tandoori chicken really doesn't deserve a second chance.
(2)
Dyuti S.
Ordered: 'vegetarian' lamb (nutrela/soy) saag chicken (spinach chicken) mixed sabzi (vegetables) rice The food was really wholesome, hearty and fresh. Not too oily but not too soul-less. OMG, the gulab jamon was the best i've ever had!! Service was good.
(4)
Amanda B.
Best Indian in Los Angeles. We only get takeout or delivery, so I can't respond to the crappy service claims, but they've always gotten the order right. Yes, we love the saag paneer and the garlic naan is amazing, but we are addicted to the Frankies, especially the chicken frankie. It's a delicious magical perfect curry burrito. It's also great the next day. Without getting too graphic, I have never eaten this and felt like I may as well have just dropped a twenty dollar bill in the toilet. Which is a definite bonus.
(4)
S E.
I have eaten at several Indian food restaurants. The service was a little slow here, even though there was only one other couple besides us. The waiters were extremely nice but just not on their game. It was strange that, when we asked about the spiciness of the dishes, the waiter told us everything came mild and it couldn't be altered. I really like spicy Indian food; however, this food was bland and without any spiciness. I always order the chana masala at other places and love that dish. However, here it seemed almost like they added sugar (it had a sweet taste to it). I felt there was something not right about the way the ingredients of their food came together. It is very possible they were having a bad night. It was our first time here, but I think we will definitely look elsewhere for Indian cuisine next time. BTW, the inside of the restaurant was very nicely decorated (one of the nicest I have seen).
(2)
Carrie M.
We recently celebrated a birthday dinner with the family on a Friday evening. I have only wonderful things to say about our experience, including the excellent food and service! We were greeted at the door by our waiter, who had a table for 6 ready for our 7:30 reservation. I brought a small birthday cake with us. They graciously put it in the refrigerator and after the meal, brought it out on a plate with the candles lit. (They even dimmed the lights for us to sing "Happy Birthday"! The appetizers (samosas) came to the table without much of a wait, 10-15 minutes. Hot and ready to enjoy with our spiced ice tea, that was refilled without even having to ask throughout the meal. The dinner entrees, Tandoori Chicken, Chicken Tikka Masala, Yogurt Saffron Chicken Curry, and several other curry dishes, were amazing. I was pleasantly surprised when the bill came, at how reasonable the prices are. We even were able to use a 15% off coupon that we presented to the waiter. Overall, we had a wonderful experience and would recommend Great India Cafe on Ventura Blvd. to anyone looking for a great Indian meal in a welcoming atmosphere. Thank you to the great staff and chefs.
(4)
Chris S.
My coworkers go here once in awhile even though it's a bit of a drive for us, it's well worth it. I love the Chicken Makhani, it's my favorite. The naan dipped with the sauce is heavenly. Great food and great service...will keep coming back for sure!
(5)
Amy T.
We just moved to the area and are pretty excited about all the places that deliver! So Great India was the first Indian delivery we tried. I'd say the food is mixed. RULE #1: DO NOT ORDER CHICKEN. Everyone said the tikka masala is so good, but if you care about the quality of the meat, you will not like it. It's on par with most of the bad Chinese delivery in San Francisco: mystery dark meat, the texture of which you do not want to exactly savor in your mouth. The tikka masala sauce is pretty good. The chicken, not so much. And for the price, I want some quality white meat. Now I'm a little afraid to ever order lamb--or fish. Rule #2: Order vegetarian. The vegetable korma was DELICIOUS, full of complex flavors and a good mix of veggies. A lot of cauliflower, which I like. The garlic naan was good, the regular naan was undercooked and doughy. The raita was good, nice and tangy, runnier than usual. Plain rice was a snooze.
(3)
Chris S.
This place is 'good enough'. If you're going to order take-out from here, I don't think you'll be disappointed, but I don't think you'll jump on Yelp and start recommending. The service is a bit odd as it almost can feel like you've offended them by ordering. But, the food is pretty good, albeit a bit expensive for what you get in quality. We will go back, but ultimately we are looking for a better Indian restaurant in Studio City.
(3)
Java M.
Avoid this place...not worth it. I can do better at home with a jar of tikka masla from trader joes and some chicken.
(2)
M J.
WORST INDIAN FOOD RESTAURANT IN LOS ANGELES!!! If you like a TV blaring (and changing channels constantly), the smell of Windex choking you after they spray it on the table next to yours, receiving your drink orders in the middle of the main course, a rude waiter whose shirt looks like it's never been washed, and food that I am waiting to give me food poisoning then THIS is the place for you. If you expect good food, polite and efficient service, accompanied by relaxing and inviting decor then do yourselves a favor and stay away from this place. I would write more, but I think I'm going to be sick!!!!!
(1)
Albert H.
Ordered delivery last night (first time). An hour later, I called to check on my order. After quickly asking for an update on my order, the manager left me, not on hold, but just put the phone down, for over 4 minutes. While waiting, the doorbell finally rang and the food arrived. The food was cold. The chicken in the Tikka and Tikka Masala was full of tough tendons. GAG. The naan was good (who cares??) and the sag paneer was fine.
(1)
Chelsea V.
I ate here a while ago...and it was pretty delicious. I've never been to a indian food restaraunt before and the decor was pretty nice the waiters were attentive (refilling water, noticing when plates were empty..etc...) The chicken was a little dry, but the flavor of the sauces were amazing. I'd probably eat here again.
(4)
Jared R.
Some of the better Indian food in the LA Area. A nice family owned restaurant (you often see the younger ones filling the water glasses or bussing). The food is very fresh and a happy medium between authentic and modern cuisine. If you go for the chicken, stick with the white meat.
(4)
Arita T.
I read the reviews about Groupon customers being treated rudely. I was ready to charm the socks off my server. What a jerk! It takes a concentrated effort to me unkind to me - I'm just too eager to be pleased. It was our first time there - and the food was good and unique. However, I would never return to a place that hires this kind of server no matter how yummy. And, YES, the attitude was revealed with the presentation of the Groupon.
(2)
Amanda C.
Delicious. Friendly and attentive staff and the best Indian I've had in LA. I always get the Chicken Tiki Masala and the chutney sampler, but I'm sure you can't go wrong with the full extent of their menu. The setting is dim and cozy, but the food is vibrant. I highly recommend you venture here for lunch or dinner.
(5)
Aubrey L.
I couldn't agree more, not only is this my favorite Indian restaurant in the Valley but my favorite Indian food period. The food is reasonably priced and delicious and there is always plenty of free parking. Don't let all those valet companies along Ventura fool you, just head to the small street behind the restaurants. I highly recommend the Saag Paneer, the Chicken Tikka Masala (my fiance's favorite) and the Garlic Naan. Amazing!! And depending on your taste, you have the option of making them really spicy.
(5)
Michele R.
Wow! We had been disappointed by our favorite Indian place so we were on the hunt for some samosa yumminess. We found a coupon to try their food but when we arrived, we were so excited by the menu that we saved it for another visit and went for the Tandoori mixed grilled plate. The lamb was especially delicious and the chicken tikka masala knocked my socks off. We stopped in just after the lunch rush so there was only one other person in the restaurant during our visit. As we expected, the service was impeccable and we appreciated the extra effort on the part of our waiter. We have found a new favorite Indian place.
(5)
C V.
I have yet to find great Indian food in LA - but this place isn't too bad. The food is a little too 'nice' for me - meaning that it's too predictable and whitewashed - it's like they took out the most interesting spices so as to not offend anyone's pallet. I say if you're making food, swing for the culinary fences man, especially Indian food - for God's sake, don't play it safe!!! They have a beer there that I absolutely love called 1000 Monk's or something like that - it is the perfect compliment with butter chicken. Their chai is horrible, do not under any circumstances order the chai - it is disgusting and not indicative of the real thing at all. The ambiance is again nice, the outdoor area is great if you don't have too many people and the weather is nice. The staff is courteous and make good recommendations. All in all, this place is a great restaurant to take your non-Indian friends for their first Indian food experience - then move on to bigger and better things - where I don't know, if you do, please tell me!
(3)
Holly C.
Great India Cafe scores less than Bollywood in my book--but not by much (I'd rate Bollywood at 3.5 stars). My review for Bollywood (down the street, towards Universal) kind of sums up my tastes in Indian/Pakistani food (and how I rate it). The dishes I've had at Great Indian Cafe tend to be on the greasier side of things (Chicken Tikka Masala and Saag Paneer). I always order both of them very spicy and neither ever turns up very spicy at Great India Cafe. The price is quite a few dollars over Bollywood, and the Uncle Ben's plain white rice was $2.95 on top of it. The Garlic Naan was both cheaper and slightly better at Bollywood. Both the Naan and Masala curry were pretty good, don't get me wrong, but not worth the price I paid for them. Also, the Chicken in the Chicken Tikka Masala wasn't the best chicken for the job, which, considering the price for that dish, is a little disappointing. However, the take-out Chicken Tikka Masala was a good amount---definitely enough for leftovers. But the Saag Paneer was in a smaller container and didn't last the night.
(3)
Amanda P.
Beware of credit card scamming here! As we live around the block, we've been to this place several times. Despite it being a bit pricey, the food has always been decent. On this visit, the server took our credit card for payment and kept it for a long enough time for my husband to enquire as to its whereabouts. Having worked in the food service industry, he suspected a copy of our card was being made due to the delay. Sure enough-when reviewing our credit card charges, 12 days after our visit, we noticed not one, but three charges for our visit (different amounts charged during two hour intervals). My husband went in person to talk to the Manager, who deducted the charges nevertheless, this is a scam common to restaurants and has happened to us on several occasions. Buyer beware! Also, the Manager needs to get a real office versus using one of the dining tables as his accounting/babysitting/staff review/tv viewing area.
(1)
Valley F.
Based on the reviews of this place I decided to give India Cafe a try. A few of us wanted something new in the area. The restaurant has a nice casual/elegant decor with many ethnic paintings and indian music playing in the background. The servers were very attentive as well. We ordered the samosa's for appetizers and they were great! When it came down to our main dish though I was dissapointed in the shrimp being over cooked and the tikka chicken over cooked and dry. The sauces made up for some of the dryness but nonetheless, the reason for the 3 stars instead of the raving 5 that most gave.
(3)
Ryan Y.
Chicken Tikka Masala was okay...a little too rich and chicken was dry. I also had the Lamb Samosa, nothing too special. The Garlic Naan was decent. A bit pricey for all the food. Can't compare to the Indian food in Berkeley.
(2)
Corrin B.
Honestly I would not give them one star if I could leave that blank. We have ordered from this place before, it is a little pricy but the food is good. We ordered tonight, same as always, chicken tikka masala. When the food arrived it was just chicken tikka, no masala. So we called and they told us we ordered wrong but agreed to send us out masala sauce. Not really the same thing but better than dry chicken and naan bread. After waiting 90 minutes I called to ask where our sauce was and was told it would be another 15 minutes. I explained we had been waiting for 90 min and was told "it's not my problem, you ordered wrong. I don't care if you have to wait another 15 minutes". It was more than rude and we will never order from here again.
(1)
Elizabeth B.
I've been on a Chicken Tikka Masala kick for many months now. I've tried this dish at almost every Indian restaurant in the valley and many places on the westside. It was only with the Great India Cafe that I stopped my search. Now I have them on speed-dial... and they deliver! Seriously, their food is amazing. I have tried their other dishes, which are great, but I always end up going back to the CTM. I highly recommend it. The atmosphere is relaxing and the service is always superb. The dinning room leaves a little to be desired for privacy, but the patio is usually empty.
(5)
Kevin D.
Loved the eggplant, it was the best I have had in a long time. Definately worth a try.
(5)
April B.
This is my favorite Indian restaurant. The food is excellent, the service is great, servers friendly, and it's usually crowded, but not so much that you have to wait. Chicken Tikka Masala is an absolute favorite. The chicken is very tender and the sauce so tasty. Also, their Peshwari Naan is so so so good! it's almost like a desert. A friend took us here a couple years ago and it has become one of our favorite restaurants. And now we've taken a number of friends and relatives and everyone we take loves it. If you live in the area - or even if you don't - and are looking for a good Indian restaurant, this is definitely where you want to be headed.
(5)
Cynthia Q.
Delicious indian food and very nice ambiance! I also really love the fact that they have a nice outdoor patio looking out onto Ventura. I've been here a few times, I always order the chicken tikka masala, and love the food at this spot.
(4)
Eric M.
What a fantastic experience. My wife and I randomly dropped in for our first meal at Great India Cafe today. The Chicken Tikka Masala was fresh and delicious. Unlike most Indian restaurants, they served whole grain brown rice as an option, which was great and healthy. But what compelled me to write a review was the truly extraordinary service. Our waiter, Bill, who is also the manager, could not possibly have been more friendly or make us more comfortable. When he brought the food he actually said something to the effect of "enjoy, like you're family", which is exactly how he treated us. We stayed for quite a while, sitting on the open air front patio, and we will definitely be back.
(4)
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Address :12321 Ventura Blvd
Studio City, CA, 91604
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.
Bex ..
If Yelp would let me I'd give Great India 3.5 stars, but since I can't I'll be kind and round up to 4 stars. We ate here for lunch yesterday. When we arrived we used the valet service (no problems). We were seated promptly and ordered iced tea, lamb samosas, chicken tikka masala, matar paneer, garlic naan and rice. Service: A+ The service was excellent, the waiter checked on us periodically and the food came out of the kitchen at lightening speed. Iced Tea: A Spicy, cold and delicious. It comes with a small thing of cream (or condensed milk?), so you add the cream and a little honey or sugar. Very good and the waiter was very prompt about refills. Lamb Samosas: C+ The samosas tasted all right, but were a bit dry and fell apart entirely when I attempted to break it apart with my fork. Ground meat inside was flavorful, but lacked interest. Chicken Tikka Masala: A- The best dish we ordered here. The sauce was creamy and just the perfect level of spicy heat. Great over our garlic naan or rice. Matar Paneer: C The matar paneer was a bit too watery and lacked any stand-out flavor. It was passable, but I would order something else when I eat here again. Garlic Naan: A- Great flavor and texture, a little burnt on the edges. Rice: B No problems with the rice, just plain ol' rice. Some of the Indian restaurants I frequent add rice or herbs to the rice to make it more interesting. Overall: I'd recommend the place for decent Indian food.
(4)Mark W.
I've ordered takeout 3 times and I really appreciate their 10 mile delivery radius as i live in Van Nuys. The food is generally good with, for me, one exception. I've ordered the Malai Kofta each time and two of the three times, it was obvious that the koftas had been pre-made and frozen or refrigerated poorly. This resulted in a stale taste which ruined an otherwise well prepared dish. The one time the koftas were fresh, they were really quite good. The saag lamb and saag paneer were very good as was the baigan bharta and the bhel puri and basmati rice. Based on the kofta experience, I would be reluctant to order from them again. Indian food is is not an in expensive takeout option and not being able to return a dish that is "off" leaves you at the mercy of the restaurant and their quality control standards. That being said, I did email the restaurant with my concerns and never received a reply.
(2)Bryan R.
Been ordering takeout from Great India Cafe for 4 years now for myself, family, clients... and absolutely love this place. I must say, I deduct 1 star for the in restaurant experience - its a bit bland and overly quiet inside. The service is good but takeout is the way to go with this place. As someone else noted, best Chicken Tikka Masala Ive ever had. Also, chicken Korma is really, really great. Pair these with some garlic naan and white rice, heaven.
(4)Meg M.
YAY! Another place that delivers to my area! I just moved back to LA and I am on a hunt to find all the hidden gems in my new neighborhood. From grocery stores, to coffee shops... and most importantly delivery!! Ironically, I was CRAVING Indian food the other day when I came home from running some errands - there was a menu for Great India Cafe on my door. CHA-CHING! After a very long day of unpacking - I finally realized I was hungry about 8pm...and remembered the golden orange menu I had found earlier in the day. Since my mom was in town helping me move, we decided to give it a shot... so we ordered waited for the food to arrive. The Chicken Madras was amazing! The menu boasts it's (one of the best coconut curry) and at 14.95 - it was a little pricy for a chicken entree but well worth it with boneless pieces of chicken curry prepared with onion, ginger, mustard seeds and coconut milk... mmmm mmm The Chicken Tikka Masala was good, but I feel like I've had better... I would order it again - it just wasn't memorable for me... the Chicken Madras was much better. The Naan bread and Raita were perfect - and super delicious... I think I could live off the stuff... and I was totally in awe of the Saffron rice. Fragrant and delicious it complemented the dinner perfectly... Awesome. The only thing that could make this food even better - was that they deliver! I can't wait to have it again....
(5)icharry P.
This might have been pretty good many years ago, but the last time I went it had REALLY gone down hill... Tikka was dry, Dal was tasteless, Chana Masala - undercooked ie hard chana.... basically there is better and cheaper indian around here - Bollywood seems to be hit or miss, Gungadin is always fair at worst, La Mirch (sp?) was good - but I've only been there once... India's Oven in Sherman Oaks - next to a 7-11 in a strip mall is still me favorite in the valley.
(2)A G.
Great place to go for an inexpensive lunch. Lunch special comes with soup, chutneys, salads and the main dish with rice. I always get their Malai Kofta, a vegetarian dish in tomato cream sauce. While I am not a vegetarian it IS the best dish on the menu. The proprietors are very hospitable and even offered to deliver their food to me in West Hollywood, which is almost 20 minutes away. No delivery charge, no minimum. Parking can be tricky so we always park behind the restaurant in the street that runs along the "L.A. River"... plus you avoid the Valet drama and pay. Otherwise, great place.
(4)Jerl L.
Pretty good standard Indian cafe. Reasonable prices and a pretty nice place, too.
(4)K J.
Excellent food! Great service & super fast delivery. We've taken in from Great India for years & they've never made one mistake with an order. Highly recommended.
(5)Skylar L.
So I was thinking to myself today, "What should be my next yelp review?" I thought a little and I decided -- Great India Cafe. I love it, I crave it, I should share the love and create a crave. I skimmed most of the reviews, Meg M's stuck out with how the menu turned up on her door after she was craving it. Then I thought to myself, "I should get a take-out menu the next time I'm there so I know the proper spelling and descriptions of my favorite dishes." With that I decided to leave the reviewing for another day. When I was walking up to my door I saw I had a menu stuck into the frame. I didn't think much of it until I looked at it. IT WAS FRICK'N GREAT INDIA CAFE. I just about had a full-on freak out. I live 5.56 miles (according to Yahoo maps) away from the place, much further than most restaurant are willing to deliver. And yet, there it is just as Meg described it: a golden orange menu. Whoa. So as I write, they are making my food and my mom's picking it up on her way home from work. How could I deny the fates? Or my stomach for that matter. I ordered: Bhel Puri -- "India's most popular railway snack. Made with puffed rice, potatoes, onions, wafers, sev (chickpea noodles), mixed with chutney lime and garnished with cilantro." If I could only eat one thing for the rest of my life it would be this. It's sweet, sour and tangy. A good mix of crunch and soft. You must try this. Vegetarian Soup -- "Soup prepared with mix vegetables, lentils, ginger, chili, tomatoes, and cilantro." This is just a good Indian soup. Sweet, sour and tangy (where have I written that before?). It fills your heart and tummy. Vegetarian Thali (dinner special) -- "Two vegetables of your choice. Comes with dal, rice, raita, kakumber and naan." A great deal for only $14.95. I decided on the following as my veggies: Aloo Gobi -- "Cauliflower and potatoes sauteed with onion, ginger and, chili." One of the best Saag Paneer -- "Pureed spinach leaves, cubes of paneer cooked with onion, ginger green chili." Again, a common dish but they do it superbly. Other great things are the Malai Kafta, Began Bharta and the Samosas. I have also heard on good authority that the Chicken Tikka and the Chicken Tandoori are great too. Most of their business is take-out and delivery so eating at the restaurant itself is comfortable and usually quiet. The service varies from good to great. Empty water glasses never go long without being refilled, food comes out promptly, plates are cleared as soon as you're done. Another perk of eating in the dining room is the Indian beer. The Pilsner is fab. As far as Valley Indian restaurants go, I love this place the most. I know people who drive from Glendale it. Try it and you'll understand why!
(5)Cortes A.
I had a dinner party for 10 people, & my guests raved. It was prepared on time, & the staff explained menu items clearly. The food was packed to generous proportions, & as a transplanted New Yorker, I am happy to have found my Indian restaurant of choice.
(5)Navid S.
I had the mulai kufta and chicken tikka masala there. Both dishes are pretty standard at indian joints but this place just isnt very good. The sauces were way too salty and the masala sauce was overwhelmingly tomatoe-ish in addition to being salty. This was a delivery experience. A couple of months later went to actual restaurant and it was the same thing. Cost is a bit above average but not bad. I would def say it was on the verge of being unedible if you have already developed a palate for both dishes. Bollywood #2 cafe is my go to delivery place and both dishes are consistent and good.
(2)Katelin H.
I came here on Saturday July 30 2011. We were also a groupon user. Based upon previous reviews I was actually quite nervous to go in and say we had a groupon. I thought about springing it on them at the end of the meal as a surprise, but that wasn't necessary. Despite being a groupon user we received prompt and attentive service. We never had to try and flag down our waiter, glasses were always filled, and food delivery was prompt. We (and a couple of other tables) received a free appetizer that was delicious! The waiter even took the time to explain the differences between two chicken curries and convinced my boyfriend to try something new. I'm not sure if we just had a different wait staff than other people or if they realized that treating people rudel resulted in bad publicity. My 5 star review is based off of the service. I've never tried Indian food before so I have nothing to compare it with. However, my boyfriend loves Indian food and said this is his favorite Indian restaurant. He asked them to make his curry as spicy as they could and he said it turned out perfect! He rated the food as 5 star.
(5)Comfy B.
Terrible place. Tried it to see how it compared to Gangadin in Studio City or Taj Mahal in Encino. The place wreaked and the food was awful. Try Gangadin or Taj Mahal. Taste of India in Woodland Hills was really good too!
(1)Emily R.
The food was pretty good- the service was not! I went with a group of 5 people and every time we would order something, the owner would tell us that wasn't enough and would be like "I'll give you two" or "I'll give you enough for the whole table" which we didn't need OR order, but would kind of reluctantly agree to. We weren't accustomed to this. We ordered two orders of naan and the waiter brought us THREE orders of GARLIC naan (more expensive) - things like that, really rude and unprofessional business practices. The menu is a la carte which also seemed strange. Food was fine, but probably wouldn't go back based on the service alone.
(1)Lily T.
I love this restaurant ! Their food is delicious. I always order lam boti masala, and the mango lassi (a mango smoothie) is so yummy. The lamb somosa and Dahi Puri (puffed crispy puris) appetizers were both good. I really like the pashawar naan, which is naan bread filled with cheese, cashews and raisins. I enjoyed the food everytime I was there. The lunch special is a great deal and I can't have enough of the cucumber yogurt. My favorite stop when I am in the area.
(5)steven f.
This is my new jawn! I am pretty picky and particular about what I enjoy. That said, their lunch special leaves me very satisfied. The garlic naan and chicken tikka masala is unlike anywhere else I have ever tasted. This is coming from someone who has tasted a lot. I hear that it is a family recipe that you will not find elsewhere. Whatever it is, I am hooked. As a bonus, the lunch special portions fills me up to the point where I do not need to eat again until the next day. This is one of my favorite restaurants in LA and definitely my favorite Indian restaurant for sure!
(5)Irene K.
Food: This restaurant has the most bland and least authentic Indian food I've ever come across (and this says a lot!). We ordered Chicken Tikka Masala and Tandoori Chichen, some vegi dish, and two orders of naan, all of which was just subpar and blah. There are so many other restaurants who serve much more decent Indian food. My guess is that they cater to an American clientele who simply cannot handle all the strong spices and flavors of Indian cuisine. The restaurant seems to be popular among this crowd. Interestingly enough, at the table next to ours there were two couples, one of which just happened to be Jayma Mays and Adam Campbell (Epic Movie, 2007). Service: Yak! These waiters have no personality. Give the menu, take order, bring food, take the empty plates away. That's it. There was no "How are you enjoying your evening?" or "How do you like the food? " or "Would you like to hear about our specials or most popular dishes?" I guess the service was just as bland as the food. Conclusion: go here only if you have a "baby's pallet" or a stomach ulcer that would prevent from experiencing the real Indian food.
(1)tina l.
chicken tikka masala was good, naan was good, server was wayyyyy too attentive. but they were nice to me even though i ended up waiting at the table by myself before my friend showed up and we finally ordered near closing time.
(3)Mitch S.
This restaurant was delicious. Best Indian food in the valley. Ambience was nice as well. We eat Indian food often and have had a lot of bad experiences in LA. Staff was very friendly and helpful. looking forward to going back!
(5)Kathy B.
A friend recommended this place highly and I love indian food, so another friend and I decided to give it a try tonight. I would have given it a much higher rating based on the food, beer selection, complimentary valet parking and atmosphere if the service weren't so terrible. I was seated, asked about ordering a drink and even served water promptly while I waited for my friend. Once he arrived we chatted and looked over the menu while waiting for our waiter to return and take our order. There were 3 people working on this particular night and only about 4 tables occupied, so the delay was not at all due to it being a busy night. We waited quite a long time and my friend finally asked one of the staff if we could order a drink. We had Flying Horse Royal Lager which was outstanding. Then after another very long absence of waiter, I got up and went to find someone to take our dinner order. We shared the vegetarian pakora with tomato chutney for an appetizer which was tasty and more than enough to share. We then shared the aloo gobi which we enjoyed very much and the Tuffu Tikka Masala which was delicious. The rice was also very fluffy and enjoyable. The only negative about the food was the naan bread, which was chewy and overcooked. We both left a little too full and I still took home enough for lunch the next day. Our food came out hot and fairly quickly, but we were still there almost 2 hours due to the extended waits for service, which was not very friendly once they did finally get around to us. I would definitely recommend the food, but as delivery or take out. I am tempted to give it another try since the food was so good, but probably won't because of the service.
(3)Nikki M.
I totally agree with the first review, BEST INDIAN FOOD IN THE VALLEY! Heck, after all the places I've eaten Indian, I'd say BEST INDIAN FOOD IN SO CAL!!! Geez, thank goodness for this place, otherwise I'd lose hope in Indian food. Great India Cafe is the only reason I'm depressed for moving out of the Valley! Their food is amazing: -the rice crackers they serve if you order in are awesome and the tomato chutney is perfect! -BEST veggie samosas and chutney! -I always ordered the mirchi chicken tikka, the spicy one. Their cilantro lime chutney that goes with that is absolutely the best! -raita and naan is good, although the naan is kinda too charred sometimes. Service: Their service is great, always have a full water glass. They're just a little slow on getting the check. Their takeout is the same quality as their dine-in, which is rare for a lot of places. Atmosphere: AWESOME! Nice at night when all of the candles are lit. Great music, too. LOVE me some great india cafe! I'm seriously thinking of an excuse to drive up to LA to eat there again, the Indian food down in SD sucks (or I haven't found a place that rivals this place...if anyone can, I challenge you!). I can spend $40 just on food for myself there, but it is so worth it!!! Always happy when I leave this place. :) **Update: I actually just drove up to the Valley last month to eat here. :) We ordered the usual dishes, and as always, Great India Cafe did not disappoint. Shout out to our waiter, Judas who gave us some tips on where not to eat Indian food in SD.
(5)Kim C.
I came home tonight to find the menu of the Great India Cafe on my door knob. Now, I have had a few experiences that usually keep me from soliciting my dinner from menu's on my door knob. Tonight I took the chance...WOW is all I can say. First the man who took my order called me brother when I was getting ready to hang up, this is something I usually call my friends! Nice touch. Then, I was greeted by a well groomed delivery person, well spoken and well mannered. Then, the food...it was very hot and incredibly flavorful. The risk paid off, and my experience with the Great India Cafe was a hit. I can't wait to order again!
(5)Ethan M.
This is only the second Indian restaurant I've been to (the other being House of Curries in Berkeley) and this is definitely the better of the two. Chicken Tikka Masala was indeed "An Excellent Choice" (as the menu says). Tender chicken, sauce was nice and creamy. The naan was also great. Agree with another poster that the rice could be a little more daring.. Minced lamb was very good as well, and came out on a sizzling dish. Nice touch. Service was a tad bit slow which was unusual because the restaurant was not very full (this on a Thursday evening at about 8). The cracker-esque basket with the salsa is not really my thing. But I am also someone who will probably never order anything but chicken tikka masala at an Indian restaurant.
(4)Amanda H.
wow. so i read megan's review about this place and we decided to order delivery...they have a vegan lamb curry on the menu! i know most chinese places do the fake-meat thing but i've never had an indian place do this...i give them serious credit. It was really good! their aloo gobi was better than most places...not dry. really yummy and good delivery.
(4)Larry L.
One of the better Indian places in the valley! Excellence Chicken Tika Marsala!
(4)David V.
The best Indian food we've found on the boulevard. Agree with the other reviewer: these guys have no idea how to cook (or perhaps buy?) chicken. Whenever there's a choice for chicken, just substitute the tofu...trust me on that one. HOWEVER: everything else we've had there has been very good to great! Definitely worth trying.
(3)Amber L.
This is the BEST Indian food I've had in a long time. I get the chana and lamb masalas, and they are TO DIE FOR. And the prices are really reasonable. Way better than Clay Oven down the street.
(5)Meli y.
agreed on the chicken tikka marsala and garlic bread being extremely tasty. tandoori chicken: definitely had better. overall, yummy.
(4)Candi T.
I agree with the first posting. This place it reeaally good! A few friends and I went driving down ventura in search of Indian cuisine and the first place we saw was Great India Cafe. I'm glad we stopped because the food was great. The dipping sauces for the different dishes were very flavorful and were a perfect complement. I forget the name of one of the appetizers we had but basically it was fried vegetables, spinach, potatoes, and cauliflower I believe, recommended by the server, Sonny. My friends all loved what they had also. I will definitely be going back.
(5)Jennifer L.
This place has my favorite chicken tikka masala. It's a must. It's a bit more on the pricey end and the parking is lacking but well worth it. If you get their lunch plate it's cheaper and still as good.
(5)Rednikki G.
How is it no one has yet rated the best Indian restaurant in the Valley? Great India Cafe is to Clay Oven as Il Grano is to Sbarro...except Great India Cafe and Clay Oven are at the very same price point. I have been searching long and hard for an excellent Indian restaurant in Los Angeles, and have come up short over and over again, until now. The flavors of the food at Great India Cafe are exquisite and multi-layered. Even a frequently bland appetizer like vegetable samosas is nuanced with flavor. (Also, HUGE! My goodness!) The dipping sauce that came along with it had three distinct notes to its flavor, almost like a wine. The garlic naan was good, but the peshwari naan was literally the best I have had not just in the US, but also in Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. The chicken tikka masala did not have a simple tomato-cream sauce, but was intricately spiced in a way that made me sit up and pay attention. There was also a coconut chicken curry (I can't remember the name, but it began with an M) that was similarly complex. The saag paneer had a flavorful, dense warmth that was head and shoulders above any other I've had. We also enjoyed the affirmations on the menu - for example, there were notes that the chicken tikka masala was "a very good choice". (They're not wrong!) If you're there, take a look at their wine list. It's so well-written that I even wanted to get the chardonnay. My only complaint was the basmati rice - it could have had a little saffron or other spice in it. If I have to reach so hard to find something to criticize that I'm trying to find ways to improve white rice, you know that this place has got to be good.
(5)Maquis M.
Their Malai Kofta is so delicious. Chicken Tika is so good too. When I had Malai kofta for the first time here, I totally fell in love with it, and whenever I go there, I just order Malai Kofta. The employees are all very nice too.
(5)Jalop N.
Eww for the lamb. Or should I say 'ewe'. Anyways, what I was served here was not funny. I never though lamb could taste like chicken and has the texture of a 10-day old dead rat. This is too authentic. Hands down, it was the worst-tasting food I had this year. Three stars because I never had such great tasting food this year. I gave up on nibbling the rat and forcing it down, and just asked my friend to split the pannerjee. Pannerjee is like Indian fondue, and it was delicious. I soaked my basmati rice on it, and it mmmm good. Hey, extreme bad and good, this is like India!
(3)Adell O.
I love, love, love this place. My girl Flo & I went in for just a quick bite with my Groupon and no expectations. First of all, I am never more pleased when the service lives up to or exceeds the food, in this case the latter applies.Bill & Danny made my visit all the more enjoyable. The Chicken Soup soothed our souls and the Chicken Chat was so comforting that we couldn't get enough of it. The Sev Puri was a very interesting dish, and the flavors were exotic and tasty. Just when we thought we were all done eating for the night, Bill brought to our table, 2 amazing cups of Masala Chai Tea... on the house! Need I say more? Danny was really kind for talking and sharing laughs with us. I loved the food, but for me, the service is what will make me come back again and again. Bon Appetit!
(5)Laura S.
Great India is hands down one of my favorite restaurants. My people will tell you that I'm just a slightly fussy diner, and this place nails it on all the key points: wonderful food, colorful/lively atmosphere, great staff, reasonable prices. I've been coming here for years and have taken most of my friends and family. It's been well received all around. I like it so much that I've had my birthday party here on several occasions. Perhaps my favorite thing about the food is that the flavors really shine -- unlike some Indian restaurants -- they don't slather the food in oil, so the delicate tastes can come forward. Plus, Bill has been expertly serving us for many years and provides terrific customer service. Though dinner can be a slightly more elegant (though not too pricey) event, the lunch specials really rock. Check out this great restaurant!
(5)R.E. L.
This place used to be my favorite but that has changed. When you go to restaurant they're not friendly. And for some reason the last few times I ordered from them my chicken was like greenish. I just don't like this place anymore. Maybe business is slow, but that should give you even more reason to provide good friendly service and fresher better food to bring in/keep cutomers.
(2)Lisa D.
When I want familiar good Indian food I call Great India Cafe in Studio City for delivery. The food is delivered hot. I am a fan of the Saag Paneer too, but once I tried the Malai Kafta - I found my new favorite food item on their menu. My favorite bread is the Peshawari Naan. The Onion Bhaji is our favorite appetizer. I love the Dal. I have ordered the lunch special which offers a lot of food for your buck. The weekday Thali dinner special is a good deal for me. I get a whole delicious meal. My husband pays more for the non vegetarian specials. His favorite is the Chicken Tikka Masala. My husband requests his main meal spicy. On one occasion the food didn't arrive spicy but this was an the exception rather than the rule. I have tried their Gulab Jamin. I haven't found on their online menu, but I did try it when we went in the restaurant to eat. It was ok, but since it isn't on their online menu it may not be ordered often. There was only one delivery where the Naan bread was probably from the previous day and appeared to be microwaved. It could have also been over cooked. I like their quick online process and delivery and this is why I have the food delivered rather than go to the location.
(4)Rebecca S.
We got a menu from this pace and ordered in one night and we loved the food ,so we decided to visit the place easy to find the place was just like Bollywood beautiful inside . I got the Shrimp which was about $16.00 the menu described it as Large Tiger shrimp which it wasn't the shrimp were the size of quarters and I got about 6 pieces and they were way over cooked very dry I got two pieces of very small potatoes with the shrimp .My daughter got the Bombay chicken she said it was okay .So all in all we got a dish of shrimp,chicken,rice and naan it was almost $ 45.00 +.
(2)Patty L.
A warning to you if you decide to try this place: do NOT order the tandoori chicken. It was dry and flavorless -- the worst I've ever tasted. It came out a strange shade of brown, and though the waiter assured me all that was missing was the red coloring, it was totally BLAND. The chicken tikki masala here is pretty good, although the rich sauce can get to be cloying after a while. The samosas and naan are decent. But any Indian restaurant that screws up a staple like tandoori chicken really doesn't deserve a second chance.
(2)Dyuti S.
Ordered: 'vegetarian' lamb (nutrela/soy) saag chicken (spinach chicken) mixed sabzi (vegetables) rice The food was really wholesome, hearty and fresh. Not too oily but not too soul-less. OMG, the gulab jamon was the best i've ever had!! Service was good.
(4)Amanda B.
Best Indian in Los Angeles. We only get takeout or delivery, so I can't respond to the crappy service claims, but they've always gotten the order right. Yes, we love the saag paneer and the garlic naan is amazing, but we are addicted to the Frankies, especially the chicken frankie. It's a delicious magical perfect curry burrito. It's also great the next day. Without getting too graphic, I have never eaten this and felt like I may as well have just dropped a twenty dollar bill in the toilet. Which is a definite bonus.
(4)S E.
I have eaten at several Indian food restaurants. The service was a little slow here, even though there was only one other couple besides us. The waiters were extremely nice but just not on their game. It was strange that, when we asked about the spiciness of the dishes, the waiter told us everything came mild and it couldn't be altered. I really like spicy Indian food; however, this food was bland and without any spiciness. I always order the chana masala at other places and love that dish. However, here it seemed almost like they added sugar (it had a sweet taste to it). I felt there was something not right about the way the ingredients of their food came together. It is very possible they were having a bad night. It was our first time here, but I think we will definitely look elsewhere for Indian cuisine next time. BTW, the inside of the restaurant was very nicely decorated (one of the nicest I have seen).
(2)Carrie M.
We recently celebrated a birthday dinner with the family on a Friday evening. I have only wonderful things to say about our experience, including the excellent food and service! We were greeted at the door by our waiter, who had a table for 6 ready for our 7:30 reservation. I brought a small birthday cake with us. They graciously put it in the refrigerator and after the meal, brought it out on a plate with the candles lit. (They even dimmed the lights for us to sing "Happy Birthday"! The appetizers (samosas) came to the table without much of a wait, 10-15 minutes. Hot and ready to enjoy with our spiced ice tea, that was refilled without even having to ask throughout the meal. The dinner entrees, Tandoori Chicken, Chicken Tikka Masala, Yogurt Saffron Chicken Curry, and several other curry dishes, were amazing. I was pleasantly surprised when the bill came, at how reasonable the prices are. We even were able to use a 15% off coupon that we presented to the waiter. Overall, we had a wonderful experience and would recommend Great India Cafe on Ventura Blvd. to anyone looking for a great Indian meal in a welcoming atmosphere. Thank you to the great staff and chefs.
(4)Chris S.
My coworkers go here once in awhile even though it's a bit of a drive for us, it's well worth it. I love the Chicken Makhani, it's my favorite. The naan dipped with the sauce is heavenly. Great food and great service...will keep coming back for sure!
(5)Amy T.
We just moved to the area and are pretty excited about all the places that deliver! So Great India was the first Indian delivery we tried. I'd say the food is mixed. RULE #1: DO NOT ORDER CHICKEN. Everyone said the tikka masala is so good, but if you care about the quality of the meat, you will not like it. It's on par with most of the bad Chinese delivery in San Francisco: mystery dark meat, the texture of which you do not want to exactly savor in your mouth. The tikka masala sauce is pretty good. The chicken, not so much. And for the price, I want some quality white meat. Now I'm a little afraid to ever order lamb--or fish. Rule #2: Order vegetarian. The vegetable korma was DELICIOUS, full of complex flavors and a good mix of veggies. A lot of cauliflower, which I like. The garlic naan was good, the regular naan was undercooked and doughy. The raita was good, nice and tangy, runnier than usual. Plain rice was a snooze.
(3)Chris S.
This place is 'good enough'. If you're going to order take-out from here, I don't think you'll be disappointed, but I don't think you'll jump on Yelp and start recommending. The service is a bit odd as it almost can feel like you've offended them by ordering. But, the food is pretty good, albeit a bit expensive for what you get in quality. We will go back, but ultimately we are looking for a better Indian restaurant in Studio City.
(3)Java M.
Avoid this place...not worth it. I can do better at home with a jar of tikka masla from trader joes and some chicken.
(2)M J.
WORST INDIAN FOOD RESTAURANT IN LOS ANGELES!!! If you like a TV blaring (and changing channels constantly), the smell of Windex choking you after they spray it on the table next to yours, receiving your drink orders in the middle of the main course, a rude waiter whose shirt looks like it's never been washed, and food that I am waiting to give me food poisoning then THIS is the place for you. If you expect good food, polite and efficient service, accompanied by relaxing and inviting decor then do yourselves a favor and stay away from this place. I would write more, but I think I'm going to be sick!!!!!
(1)Albert H.
Ordered delivery last night (first time). An hour later, I called to check on my order. After quickly asking for an update on my order, the manager left me, not on hold, but just put the phone down, for over 4 minutes. While waiting, the doorbell finally rang and the food arrived. The food was cold. The chicken in the Tikka and Tikka Masala was full of tough tendons. GAG. The naan was good (who cares??) and the sag paneer was fine.
(1)Chelsea V.
I ate here a while ago...and it was pretty delicious. I've never been to a indian food restaraunt before and the decor was pretty nice the waiters were attentive (refilling water, noticing when plates were empty..etc...) The chicken was a little dry, but the flavor of the sauces were amazing. I'd probably eat here again.
(4)Jared R.
Some of the better Indian food in the LA Area. A nice family owned restaurant (you often see the younger ones filling the water glasses or bussing). The food is very fresh and a happy medium between authentic and modern cuisine. If you go for the chicken, stick with the white meat.
(4)Arita T.
I read the reviews about Groupon customers being treated rudely. I was ready to charm the socks off my server. What a jerk! It takes a concentrated effort to me unkind to me - I'm just too eager to be pleased. It was our first time there - and the food was good and unique. However, I would never return to a place that hires this kind of server no matter how yummy. And, YES, the attitude was revealed with the presentation of the Groupon.
(2)Amanda C.
Delicious. Friendly and attentive staff and the best Indian I've had in LA. I always get the Chicken Tiki Masala and the chutney sampler, but I'm sure you can't go wrong with the full extent of their menu. The setting is dim and cozy, but the food is vibrant. I highly recommend you venture here for lunch or dinner.
(5)Aubrey L.
I couldn't agree more, not only is this my favorite Indian restaurant in the Valley but my favorite Indian food period. The food is reasonably priced and delicious and there is always plenty of free parking. Don't let all those valet companies along Ventura fool you, just head to the small street behind the restaurants. I highly recommend the Saag Paneer, the Chicken Tikka Masala (my fiance's favorite) and the Garlic Naan. Amazing!! And depending on your taste, you have the option of making them really spicy.
(5)Michele R.
Wow! We had been disappointed by our favorite Indian place so we were on the hunt for some samosa yumminess. We found a coupon to try their food but when we arrived, we were so excited by the menu that we saved it for another visit and went for the Tandoori mixed grilled plate. The lamb was especially delicious and the chicken tikka masala knocked my socks off. We stopped in just after the lunch rush so there was only one other person in the restaurant during our visit. As we expected, the service was impeccable and we appreciated the extra effort on the part of our waiter. We have found a new favorite Indian place.
(5)C V.
I have yet to find great Indian food in LA - but this place isn't too bad. The food is a little too 'nice' for me - meaning that it's too predictable and whitewashed - it's like they took out the most interesting spices so as to not offend anyone's pallet. I say if you're making food, swing for the culinary fences man, especially Indian food - for God's sake, don't play it safe!!! They have a beer there that I absolutely love called 1000 Monk's or something like that - it is the perfect compliment with butter chicken. Their chai is horrible, do not under any circumstances order the chai - it is disgusting and not indicative of the real thing at all. The ambiance is again nice, the outdoor area is great if you don't have too many people and the weather is nice. The staff is courteous and make good recommendations. All in all, this place is a great restaurant to take your non-Indian friends for their first Indian food experience - then move on to bigger and better things - where I don't know, if you do, please tell me!
(3)Holly C.
Great India Cafe scores less than Bollywood in my book--but not by much (I'd rate Bollywood at 3.5 stars). My review for Bollywood (down the street, towards Universal) kind of sums up my tastes in Indian/Pakistani food (and how I rate it). The dishes I've had at Great Indian Cafe tend to be on the greasier side of things (Chicken Tikka Masala and Saag Paneer). I always order both of them very spicy and neither ever turns up very spicy at Great India Cafe. The price is quite a few dollars over Bollywood, and the Uncle Ben's plain white rice was $2.95 on top of it. The Garlic Naan was both cheaper and slightly better at Bollywood. Both the Naan and Masala curry were pretty good, don't get me wrong, but not worth the price I paid for them. Also, the Chicken in the Chicken Tikka Masala wasn't the best chicken for the job, which, considering the price for that dish, is a little disappointing. However, the take-out Chicken Tikka Masala was a good amount---definitely enough for leftovers. But the Saag Paneer was in a smaller container and didn't last the night.
(3)Amanda P.
Beware of credit card scamming here! As we live around the block, we've been to this place several times. Despite it being a bit pricey, the food has always been decent. On this visit, the server took our credit card for payment and kept it for a long enough time for my husband to enquire as to its whereabouts. Having worked in the food service industry, he suspected a copy of our card was being made due to the delay. Sure enough-when reviewing our credit card charges, 12 days after our visit, we noticed not one, but three charges for our visit (different amounts charged during two hour intervals). My husband went in person to talk to the Manager, who deducted the charges nevertheless, this is a scam common to restaurants and has happened to us on several occasions. Buyer beware! Also, the Manager needs to get a real office versus using one of the dining tables as his accounting/babysitting/staff review/tv viewing area.
(1)Valley F.
Based on the reviews of this place I decided to give India Cafe a try. A few of us wanted something new in the area. The restaurant has a nice casual/elegant decor with many ethnic paintings and indian music playing in the background. The servers were very attentive as well. We ordered the samosa's for appetizers and they were great! When it came down to our main dish though I was dissapointed in the shrimp being over cooked and the tikka chicken over cooked and dry. The sauces made up for some of the dryness but nonetheless, the reason for the 3 stars instead of the raving 5 that most gave.
(3)Ryan Y.
Chicken Tikka Masala was okay...a little too rich and chicken was dry. I also had the Lamb Samosa, nothing too special. The Garlic Naan was decent. A bit pricey for all the food. Can't compare to the Indian food in Berkeley.
(2)Corrin B.
Honestly I would not give them one star if I could leave that blank. We have ordered from this place before, it is a little pricy but the food is good. We ordered tonight, same as always, chicken tikka masala. When the food arrived it was just chicken tikka, no masala. So we called and they told us we ordered wrong but agreed to send us out masala sauce. Not really the same thing but better than dry chicken and naan bread. After waiting 90 minutes I called to ask where our sauce was and was told it would be another 15 minutes. I explained we had been waiting for 90 min and was told "it's not my problem, you ordered wrong. I don't care if you have to wait another 15 minutes". It was more than rude and we will never order from here again.
(1)Elizabeth B.
I've been on a Chicken Tikka Masala kick for many months now. I've tried this dish at almost every Indian restaurant in the valley and many places on the westside. It was only with the Great India Cafe that I stopped my search. Now I have them on speed-dial... and they deliver! Seriously, their food is amazing. I have tried their other dishes, which are great, but I always end up going back to the CTM. I highly recommend it. The atmosphere is relaxing and the service is always superb. The dinning room leaves a little to be desired for privacy, but the patio is usually empty.
(5)Kevin D.
Loved the eggplant, it was the best I have had in a long time. Definately worth a try.
(5)April B.
This is my favorite Indian restaurant. The food is excellent, the service is great, servers friendly, and it's usually crowded, but not so much that you have to wait. Chicken Tikka Masala is an absolute favorite. The chicken is very tender and the sauce so tasty. Also, their Peshwari Naan is so so so good! it's almost like a desert. A friend took us here a couple years ago and it has become one of our favorite restaurants. And now we've taken a number of friends and relatives and everyone we take loves it. If you live in the area - or even if you don't - and are looking for a good Indian restaurant, this is definitely where you want to be headed.
(5)Cynthia Q.
Delicious indian food and very nice ambiance! I also really love the fact that they have a nice outdoor patio looking out onto Ventura. I've been here a few times, I always order the chicken tikka masala, and love the food at this spot.
(4)Eric M.
What a fantastic experience. My wife and I randomly dropped in for our first meal at Great India Cafe today. The Chicken Tikka Masala was fresh and delicious. Unlike most Indian restaurants, they served whole grain brown rice as an option, which was great and healthy. But what compelled me to write a review was the truly extraordinary service. Our waiter, Bill, who is also the manager, could not possibly have been more friendly or make us more comfortable. When he brought the food he actually said something to the effect of "enjoy, like you're family", which is exactly how he treated us. We stayed for quite a while, sitting on the open air front patio, and we will definitely be back.
(4)