The food is good and unbelievably cheap. So, the value is high. Authentic South East Asian cuisine. Free water (possibly because of Ramadan). Food is Halal. Only complaint is some other patrons and I had to request they refill the chicken tandoori in the buffet. In conclusion, if you're in the mood for quick, cheap, and authentic Indo-Pakistani cuisine, this is the place to go.
(5)
Jason H.
2.5 Stars. What the hell is up with Indian joints not heating their establishments? (Went here a couple months ago.) I was sitting here in the heatwave thinking of cold places and remembered Food Factory -TWO-. The buffet seemed mediocre and not of much value. I think I would have been better offer trying the kebab for around the same price. The naan was quite tasty and fresh before it froze in the cold air.
(3)
steve t.
Great lunch buffet...$8 all you can eat. Nothing fancy to look at but lots of choices, meat and vegetarian alike and the naan is super. If I have to choose between Food Factory and the Bobby Flay burger joint across the street, it's no contest. Go eat here!
(4)
L C.
Some of the best food in college park, especially if you're a fan of Middle Eastern or Western Asian/Southern Asian food. The nann bread when you get them fresh are absolutely delicious. Some of the best lamb kabobs you can ever get. The mashed chickpeas-beef dish was also great - this was a dish one of the employees recommended me. He said the wonderful explosion of beef comes out of nowhere, and he was right! Prices are about $8 for a meal, which isn't too bad considering if you're a student and live on campus, the meals comes out to $10! (the North and South campus diner charges you $1 for an apple! and $5 for 2 scoops of icecream!)
(5)
Kevin T.
Decent place to grab lunch, ~$10 buffet
(3)
Maria P.
One of the best deals around. Kebabs cooked to order, generous mango lassis, South Asian desserts by the pound (did someone say gulab jamun?), and the best part: the freshly-made tandoori naan. The vegetarian dishes are good, too. When I was a vegetarian I regularly helped myself to large amounts of Food Factory's tadka dal. A fancy restaurant this ain't--order at the counter and your number will be shouted at you in about ten minutes, at which point you carry your tray over to your table. No, the atmosphere's not memorable. But I never cared and neither should you! Tip: do not stuff your face at Food Factory before a yoga class or any other physical activity. You'll need a little while to digest. Ask me how I know this.
(4)
Satvik B.
Had a *fantastic* dinner experience here. My wife and I came originally thinking this was a falafel place, only to be surprised with delicious lamb kabobs. Every part of the food-the bread, meat, cucumber sauce, and side dishes were all great. The service was great as well. I asked for side dishes without onions, because I don't like onions. The manager checked with the chef and warned me that the main dishes used onion powder-just to make sure I wouldn't suffer from allergies! Absolutely recommended.
(5)
smitha k.
I stopped by for lunch today and got an uncooked chicken kabob and bread. Really nasty food and i would not go there again.
(1)
Adam P.
Service was friendly. I only waited 10 minutes for the kabobs to be cooked fresh. They were tasty and well worth the wait. The rice was somewhat bland but the fresh bread made to order made up for it.
(3)
Sae K.
To complain about lunch buffet that you pay 7.99 for, is just ludicrous. There are some people here that are complaining that this place isn't up to par. YOU PAY 7.99 for lunch buffet. All you can eat. If you want Top quality along with all you can eat, you SHOULD go somewhere else. Yesterday i had some time to kill in CP. I went to Food Factory because I really like their bone in Chicken. I found out recently that they don't serve it for dinner buffet, but only for lunch. And since i work in Georgetown, it was a real committment to go there for lunch. Anyway, I see the sign that says, 'Under New Management' and i am hoping, PLEASE still have the bone in chicken... I walk in, and it's exactly the same as before. Rice, chick peas, spinach, lentil, ground beef curry, peas and potato. and curry chicken and bone in chicken kabab and bread. and their bread is REALLY excellent and now cut in half and allow you to take as many as you like. i have about 10 piece of chicken with half bread. and 1 1/2 plates of rice and everything mentioned above. It was hard tryin to fight off the grease on my serving spoon as i was helping myself to the curry dishes and veggies. but afterwards i thought, u know, i should have just had the chicken and bread and rice.... Bottom line is, i walked out full and very satisfied and thought to myself, i wish they had one o these in GTOWN for $7.99... i would be ALLLL over that... will i come back here again if i was starved? Yes. is the chicken still very good? Yes... is the bread good? Yes... quit complaining about paying $7.99 for a buffet. go some place and spend real money u cheap skates but leave food factory alone!!!
(4)
Alexandra M.
I'm sorry to pooh-pooh this place, after all, plenty of people rave about it to me. But the buffet is so mediocre and it's not especially cheap, either. I get kabobs here usually, which are okay but not the divine experience I crave from Afghani kabobs. Compared with the downward spiral of the train-wreck Prince Cafe next door however, this is definitely the better option.
(3)
Tony L.
My wife and I come here just for the naan. This Afgani/Pakistani/Indian restaurant also makes some of the best kabobs around, and their rich, heavily-spiced curries are delicious, too. These guys know their way around a tandoor, especially when it comes to making perfectly fluffy, soft, crispy flatbread. If you come late in the lunch or dinner hours, order fresh, as the buffet items may have been around a while. A spicy, fresh-grilled chapli kabob wrapped in warm naan won't disappoint you. The only thing holding this place back from a 5-star rating is the order format and dining room. As mentioned before, you order at the counter and pick up your tray when it's ready. The dining area is always cold (some may like that), with sterile overhead flourescents and entirely utilitarian decor. But if you just want good naan, kabobs, and curries, and don't care about the setting, you can't go wrong here.
(4)
Mark M.
Great kabobs! The lunch special (all you can eat buffet) is a good deal if you're starving, but I was filled after one plate of food with naan.
(4)
Timir D.
Fairly authentic pakistani food. The kebabs are quite decent, but the other dishes have an excess amount of oil. But they still taste good. The bread leaves something to be desired, but is a pretty good attempt at naan/tandoori roti. All things considered this place has good food compared to most other places in CP. The $8 buffet is a pretty good deal considering how much sandwiches cost on campus.
(3)
Che-Kuan L.
The chicken curry is very good!
(4)
Theo P.
Looks like a hoe in ground because it is. Food not the greatest, the pita was stil dough-y. Buffet a little pricey for the quality you get. With so many other great restaurants in the area i got stuck with this one... try elsewhere.
(1)
Puja L.
Stopped by to visit a friend in college park and I couldn't think of a place I reeeaaally would love to go to. So we were driving by here and I remembered liking some of their food in college, so I thought we'd check it out. The under new management sign worried me a little because I wasn't sure how it would be. The first person who helped us seemed to be in quite a hurry and kept trying to run away while we decided on our order. We ended up sharing a combo kabob platter. The food took quite a while, so we sat at the table in front of the display case and waited. We were given our food to go (even though we had never asked for this) and I'm not a big fan of wasting disposables. Anyway, on to the food! Every other chicken kabob was good. Haha, yup - about 50% tasty. The rest of them were dry. The beef kabob was pretty tasty, but again dry. The chickpeas were oddly sweet, and just not generally the flavor I have come to expect. And the chutney was really watery. The food was fine, but not cheap, and not really what I was expecting. The owner was very sweet and gave us an extra gulab jamun for free (I'm pretty sure it's because my friend is beautiful). He seemed to also be handing out extra naans to other customers for free, and they weren't as pretty.
(2)
Hannah R.
This place is by far the best Pakistani restaurant I've been to. It is a bit of a hole in the wall, but the service and food was great! And get this- they have a REAL TANDOOR! So they cook their meats over charcoal and make their naan in a tandoor oven. Seriously, I haven't had such authentic food since I went to Pakistan.
(4)
Dan S.
Not a great atmosphere at all, however the food is delicious. I would never go here for a sit down meal, but carry out is the way too go. Fair pricing. Delicious chicken kabob and chickpeas
(3)
Richard I.
Great South and Central Asian food made fresh daily at a good price. Their freshly made soft, warm naan melts in your mouth like butter.
(4)
Maggie F.
Definitely not an eye-catching place, but the huge '5.99 gyro' sign caught my attention and well, being the poor college student that I am, the price was reasonable. i was pleasantly surprised by the gryo--cheap and superb! wrapped in fresh bread... the meat is tender and well flavored. There's a little bit of goat cheese, lettuce and tomatoes. Simple but delicious!!! I've eaten there many times already, introducing new guests to the place, and they've all been very satisfied!! There's also a buffet, which I've also tried (8.99 I believe). The curry (?) chicken and potatoes aren't bad... but the rest of the dishes are mediocre. Not that great. Go with the gyro. Do it!
(4)
Feyi B.
Def do the buffet! Its worth it. Theres not a huge selection of food, but just about everything on the platter is GOOD! The only thing I couldn't get with was the yellow sweet rice. It was literally like rice n sugar... The two just dont add up on my pallet. Ambiance is your typical table n chair/ cafeteria setup. Nothing spectacular. But the food will take your mind off the ambiance. Even if you dont do the buffet, you can get a kabob dish to go and you'll still enjoy the food.
(4)
Michelle T.
The food is great! I will be back. Not sure about the buffet though... The buffet food looked good and the people who ate at the buffet said it was amazing (I got take out_... but it is kinda weird walking up to the front where the cashier is watching you take your seconds.... I mean its a buffet! Let them eat!
(4)
Jack W.
Good lord, this place was atrocious. I came in at three and ordered a lunch buffet, the food at the buffet bar were all about cold, bland, and just all around terrible. The restaurant itself is poorly presented, and very unclean. The people were nice, but that's not enough to make this place a worthwhile place to eat.
(1)
Anonymous X.
Where does one start: the awesome food or the nicest, politest owner? For someone of South Asian ethnicity, this joint offers absolutely succulent cuisine, reminiscent of the fare back home and at affordable rates for students. The buffet is awesome, with a variety of veg and non-veg dishes and the biriyani is absolutely amazing as well. Top it off with the owner who goes out of his way to make conversation, seems genuinely interested in what's happening in your neck of the woods, and throws in the occasional freebie such as juices to go for kids. I've gone there 15-20 times in the last three years and I will continue to frequent this place as long as I'm in the College Park region!
(5)
Harvey L.
I really wanted to enjoy this meal, even scouting out this place while in the area on a business trip. I ordered the lamb kebob, which came with rice, salad, and naan. The good: the naan was terrific: warm,soft and chewy. The bad: the lamb was of poor quality and cooked unevenly. I should have known the kebob was bad when I had to saw for around 20 seconds with my plastic utensils to cut the meat. When I popped the piece in my mouth, it was tough and grisly and I popped it back out. I haven't done that in public since I was a kid. Four other pieces were also tough. One was just about raw. The one good piece, which was cooked well done, was at least free of cartilage and fat. The rice was bland and flavorless. Even the juices from the meat couldn't give it any taste. The saving grace was the naan and the grape soda (which seems to be a DC area thing). The Greenbelt/College Park area seems loaded with small ethnic restaurants. This one was a miss.
(1)
Kumar S.
The management has changed here in the past few years but luckily most recipies have remained the same. What i love about this place is that the food is flavorful, spicy and just damn good. They use a tandoor for the naan so its amazing and the rice is so light and fluffy. Chapli Kabob is my favorite and my mouth is watering just thinking about it!
(5)
Ken L.
This place is hands down the best kabob place in college park. I don't personally to dine in here because its not the cleanest or best looking place but I always order out and I am always satisfied. The lamb kabob is magnificent and so is the chicken kabob. Make sure you get the two of the sauce because its awesome with the meat. A+ for food C for dining in.
(4)
Shieva R.
Oh food factory how I loved coming here. On my latest trip here with my family (my dad is slightly obsessed with this place) we found that they're now under new management. The man who seems to be the new owner was very friendly, but I loved the old crew. I wouldn't have minded the change in ownership so much if it hadn't so negatively affected the food. The buffet was awful, everything was more greasy than before (if you knew how greasy it was to begin with you'd think it was impossible), old and some dishes were burnt but still served in the buffet. For my sake I hope they're just working the kinks out. I don't think my father is willing to give up on this place as quickly as I am, so I guess that means I'll be back.
(2)
Fina A.
was planning to check out what college park downtown has to offer for food to UMD student like me, so here it is, homey-look from the outside as my dictionary says: homey-look restaurants are always geewwddddd. But oh well, I should've wrote the review like wayyy earlier cos the last time I went there was like a year ago? And I forgot what it tasted like but I know that I didn't get out of the restaurant pissed about the food, so yea, it's a decent I guess. Will I go back there? probably, I should check their menu that has nothing to do with meat because I give up on them already, so yea. It's an OK food, so three stars is perfect. Oh, I don't like how they serve the food, on a styrofoam, so not me.
(3)
Grant M.
Food Factory 2 is one of the few kabob places in the area and is most accurately described as okay. It is clearly authentic and most things were prepared where you could see it. On to the food: I ordered the chicken kabob combo for just over $9. The chicken kabob was very dry. This is often the case with chicken kabobs, but this one was particularly rough. However, that being said, the seasoning on the chicken was very good. The chickpeas were good and spicy, one of the highlights of the meal. The naan (bread) was great for me because I got a fresh piece from the oven. My friend had a piece that had been sitting out and his was not nearly as good. My friend ordered the vegetable combination and thought the spanzi was delicious and the eggplant was generally good, but salty. He also agreed that the chickpeas were delicious. His only major complaint was that he found a pepper stem in his food, which is not edible. As for the cleanliness, it did seem fairly sketchy. Unfortunately, I had the opportunity to see into the backroom and witnessed something very disconcerting. One of the workers had a bucket of some seasoning or marinade, stuck his finger into it and licked it off his finger, paused, stuck the same finger back in and tried it again. This was, understandably, pretty hard to watch. I will probably go there again but only because it is different from most of the places in College Park. The prices were fairly good for the amount of food they give you. It certainly isn't my favorite kabob place and is not the cleanest, most pleasant place around.
(3)
Farida A.
Food Factory has seen better days. Like 10 years ago. On my first trip back to FF in about 5 years (or more?), I called ahead to put in my orders to do carry-out. They were out of chicken jalfrezi (their best dish from what I remember) and the bihari kabab, so as I was ordering the rest of my entrees the owner said he'd throw in some chickpeas for free. How nice! Unfortunately, when I got home and opened the boxes, there was no naan as I had ordered. The chickpeas were included as sides for each meal, so now I'm wondering if they were really freebies? The chapli kabab was tough, the boneless tandoori chicken was dry, the chickpeas were more sauce than chickpea. The chicken curry was decent. The owner is so nice and has been there for years so I want to give a good review. Unfortunately the taste and quality are lacking, and Food Factory may be past it's prime.
(2)
Christina H.
Good food, cheap! The lamb chops are phenomenal! The buffet has great selections, both meat and vegetarian options. And the naan is cooked TO ORDER. Get the super cheap buffet and they will bring you fresh-baked naan. The people are friendly and helpful, too. The only reason I'm not giving it 5stars is because the dining room is sometimes cold and I feel like every time I go, they've just mopped the floor with bleach and the smell lingers for a bit. But at least you know it's clean!
(4)
J S.
Meh. I'm hoping DC has better. But for cheap food, it is really not bad. Buffet had good stews and the boned chicken was tender. And yes, the bread is awesome;) But they didn't have enough meat dishes on buffet and no kabuli pulau:(
(3)
R S.
WARNING. DO NOT EAT FROM THAT BUFFET. What a nasty place. At $8.95, you get greasy food that will make you gag later. Im surprised the health dept hasnt made a visit. There was nothing edible imo.
(1)
Luis C.
This place has gone down service is not the same. I use to come here all the time. I drove here from Columbia because the food is good. But will never come again. I come order 3 plates I ask for one plate just rice and chicken because is for my kids Nd that all they like. He got upset made look like my fault that he put some sauce on top of it. And I ask for another plate. No need to be so rude. We're are the other two guys that use to run the place.
(1)
Syed A.
Chicken Biryani. Period! The best Chicken Biryani in town..hands down (or maybe I haven't eaten in many places or worse still, I don't know what I'm talking about.) Still, please go ahead and give it a shot, if you know what biryani tastes like or should taste like. I am from Hyderabad, India and I think I know what I'm talking about! Its a small and simple place in a strip mall. Good natured and courteous staff. It is close to the University of Maryland and attracts a lot of students, maybe explains why the prices here are so affordable! I was so happy and satisfied after my meal, I hunted down the chef back in the kitchen, shook hands, and complimented him on his amazing creation!
(5)
Ryan B.
Can't get food and politics mixed up. Very discriminating business its a shame college park would license a business that discriminates against ethnic groups. I would never eat at this establishment and will let all my friends know. It's sad to see Afghans of all people discriminating against Armenians. Shame on you shame on you and shame on you. Armenians are proud Christian people It's so sad to see afghans, a Muslim ethnic group working against us. Proud American Armenian. God bless our country
(1)
Anna Y.
My friends and I decided try out this restaurant yesterday since we had a coupon for it. When we first arrived, we asked the cashier some questions about the coupon. It took him a while to understand us and he didn't seem very welcoming either. When we were ready to order, he looked at the coupon for a long time before finally allowing us to use it. I ordered a beef kabob and the food was decent. The beef was a little tough but it was very flavorful still. I ended up getting a knife and just cutting the beef into smaller pieces. The naan was delicious though and the chickpeas were good enough that even I ate them. I would still definitely go again but maybe try the chicken kabob instead.
(3)
Mike L.
After living outside College Park for a while, I have realized how amazing the Food Factory is. I wish they had a location near me, and they will definitely be a priority re-visit whenever I'm back in the area.
(5)
Vincent R.
Great Buffet for a good price. Even includes Naan. Tandori chicken was very good.
(4)
Paul D.
I Love this Buffet!! It's an all you can eat, Pakistani buffet for $8 Lunch, $9 dinner, & $10 weekends... I'm sold!! I really miss Ravi Kabob & Delhi Dhaba in Arlington. Thankfully, this place fills that void very well. Their bread is perfectly plain & crusty, but soft & warm inside. It contrasts the spicy food nicely. Their bread & rice are good by themselves too. On the Buffet: The Bone-in Chicken Curry is fantastic, so is the Chicken Tikka, Chick Peas, Lentils, Kabuli Pilau (sweet rice), Lamb Curry, etc. It's all good! In addition to the basics, on different days there are different items added to the buffet, like Keema, and eggplant curry. Besides the Buffet, they have Samosas, Karahi, Kabobs, Salads & wraps, and on the weekends they have Haleem and Nihari. Who needs Kabobs, when you can sample the variety of the buffet. But their meats are Halal of course. This place needs a better name. Something else with "Kabob House" in the title. Their full name is actually "Food Factory Kabob House." Nevertheless, the sign out front just says "Food Factory," which turned me off from eating here sooner... What a mistake on my part, because this place is great! The location is tucked away in a secluded shopping center hidden behind Town hall Liquors and a BP Gas Station, D.P. Dough is also located next door, here in the "Campus Village Shopping Center." You wouldn't know it's there if you were just driving up Route 1 though. So, while it's not the best Middle Eastern Kabob House I've ever eaten at, for the prices, you can't beat it! Especially if you're a poor starving College Student who needs more exposure to ethnic foods. The Chicken Curry & Chick Peas, alone, are worth the price of admission.
(4)
Pear Y.
Went to Food Factory for the first time today. Their Chicken Biryani was soo good! For $5.99 you get so much more food than you can get anywhere else. The chicken was super tender. I'll definitely come back!
(5)
Nil G.
I need to update my review and be fair to these guys. I've tried chickpeas and chicken curry and liked them
(3)
Princess T.
My husband and I loves this place! Because of the delicious chicken biryani and beef kebab, today we ordered for a pick up order the guy on the cashier is so very nice and easy to talk to but the guy who prepared for our order is a little to slow to understand what I ordered And Im really in a hurry because we have something to do and we are really hungry. Unfortunately the guy who prepared our order didn't put all our food on the bag and I didn't get the chance to check that because Im really in a hurry, so we end up going back to work without knowing that our food in the bag is not complete, but when I call them and ask if its possible to just delivered it to us because its not really our fault they manage to deliver the food even though there not doing deliveries, and apologized with their mistake,we are very happy and satisfied to that! Thank you and we r still going back to your store :)
(5)
Stanley L.
Still one of my favorite places to go to in College Park. You can get relatively cheap and good tasting Indian/Middle Eastern food here. I usually come here for the lunch buffet which is a decent deal. They have a decent selection with sweet and regular rice, different curries and vegetables, tandoori and curry chicken, and salad. A pretty good lunch spot close to campus and if you want to change up your palate.
(3)
Chick P.
This place has sadly gone way downhill. Years ago this was THE place for kabobs. The biryani is oily with no biryani flavor. It's just yellow oily rice with a few pieces of meat. The chicken and lamb kabobs are so burnt. Meh.
I come here at least once a month. $8.00 for the lunch buffet, which i get. Curries, veggies, rice and salad. Decent food at a decent price.
(3)
A.j. R.
Vey cheap Indian food but lacking in flavor. So therefore the flavor reflects the price which is cheap tasting like their spices came from the dollar store. I love Indian food and this place is like the McDonald's of Indian.
(2)
Andra N.
Best kabobs hands down. Especially for the price. I love the owner, he is always super nice anf friendly and I can tell he has pride in is store. Their naan is by far the best, freshly baked every order. I like their chickpeas and chicken kabobs but their Buffet is a solid option too.
(5)
Blcksocks D.
This review is only for the buffet. The kabobs (Tandoori chicken) were not cooked properly. Naan was freshly made but wasn't very soft. I did like the greenish yellow yogurt Kadi on the buffet though. The chicken and beef curries/stew were so bland and watered down, you won't want go for a second bite. Three stars is being generous for this place.
(3)
Jay R.
Excellent Indian food! I had the buffet and it was delicious. Some of the best naan I've ever had, and the tandoori chicken was really good as well. My favorite was the carrots.
(5)
Umer K.
My kids and I have been going to this place over the last few years more constantly than probably some of its staff! It's amazing how they have maintained the great taste of the food. Their kabob is the best in the area, the zarda (yellow rice) is the awesome and of course their mint sauce is my daughters favorite.
(5)
Emily M.
I've never dined in , just carried out. I've never had an extremely long wait time, staff is friendly, location is clean and the food is great. Would not go anywhere else.
(5)
Chase K.
Great food for an amazing price. I really love the naan, samosa chaat and meat curry. Highly recommended.
(5)
Benjamin C.
This place is great!! I usually get the vegetable biryani and a side of naan. The naan is fantastic, it's freshly made and tasty. The biryani comes with a large portion of rice and veggies in some curry type sauce and a small side of salad with a really good side sauce (I have no idea what it's called). They have some other good vegetarian options other than the veggie biryani. The staff are always very friendly and helpful. I definitely recommend this place to anyone who wants a fairly inexpensive and delicious quick meal in College Park.
(5)
Mohammed H.
Not worth any penny. There are many halal restaurants much better than this place. The chicken is burned not tasty. The rice is reheated.
(1)
Shawn M.
Awesome food - an all you can eat Indian/Pakistani/Afghan buffet for $8 Lunch, $9 dinner, $10 weekends I need to remember to eat here more often when I'm in college park - yum!
(4)
Kumar P.
Really good indian food. The tandoor and chicken curry were epic. Naan and veggie dishes also great.
(5)
Jacquisha C.
I went late on a Monday night for a quick kabob meal. One of the first things I noticed was the kabobs marinating in a glass display in the front; I thought that was neat. I also noticed the dinner buffet, which did not look appetizing but it didn't matter because we were ordering to go. I got the boneless chicken kabob and my boyfriend got the Gyro. One big no-no for me was the fact that the man at the register was also handling food; that could prevent me from going back. Luckily for my boyfriend, there was another man there who prepared his gyro who did not handle the money. On to the food. My kabob was fine. The rice was fine and so was the chicken; I liked it, but I wasn't in love with the flavors. The naan was great; I loved it. But, the showstopper was the gyro. It was, in every way, delicious. My boyfriend indicated that it was the best one he's tasted. I wouldn't mind going back for a kabob, but I would definitely go back for a gyro...as long as the person handling the money doesn't make it without throwing on a pair of gloves.
(3)
Evert L.
There are definitely sanitary issues here the guy handling the cash is also handling the food. Not to mention they don't use gloves at all! Hello!!! Food was alright
(3)
Tiwari A.
Simply amazing this place have outstanding customer service. There's a lot to choose from the buffet and I've been going here for several years that alone should say something about this place. If you're ever in the area you definitely have to check this out the price is reasonable as well.
(5)
Jim L.
So many good things about Food Factory based on my 1st visit. 1. Great lunch buffet at low price. Lots of choices and very tasty. 2. Free wifi! 3. Friendly staff. 4. Complaints on yelp responded to personally by manager. (Reviewers please update your reviews! Also I don't know about food back then but today's food was really excellent. Give them another try.) Highly recommended little place. Not fancy but after all it's called Food Factory!
(5)
Kathleen H.
I have been going to Food Factory for at least 10 years and I LOVE it! My husband and I go at least once a month. We have a need for this food- it's just that great! I can not get enough of the naan. I've even stopped in to get just naan, and some chai as a snack. The naan is made right there in this totally legit fire-pit thing. And I have to stress that although they have meat dishes, this is a great place for vegetarians! We are, and so it is so nice to have Food Factory around as an option that is close by. They have a lot of dishes on their buffet that are meat-less. We always get the buffet. It's a great deal and I love the variety. They have certain dishes consistently but they add new things too. I love the spinach and potatoes and peas and potatoes and the lentils, and the sweet rice for dessert. Lately they have been having this dish with carrots in it. YUM! That is one of my new faves. The price is very reasonable. The people who work there are super sweet. I am not sure about this supposed change in management that occurred around 2009? I feel like the same main guy has been there the whole time. The guy who used to make the naan is gone. And I remember another guy being there for a couple of weeks, but I think that was a relative helping out. Either way, the people are very nice. So, if you are wondering, just go check it out! It's awesome!
(5)
B W.
Went for lunch on Friday last. And man, I can't stop thinking about the food I had. Took awhile to finally decide on the buffet, but when I did... heaven. I was so satisfied (tastebuds and stomach) once I left. The naan was good, and so was everything (veggie curry, chicken tandoori, curry chicken, lentils - OMG!) else. Only drawback was the "salad bar". That left a lot to be desired.
(4)
Shane C.
I ate there today for lunch with some coworkers, we each got the buffet. The Buffet was on the small side but had some tasty looking items on it. Lamb Curry and Chick peas were pretty good but not delicious. Beware each piece of Naan is ala carte, and this is not advertised anywhere. We all were rudely surprised when we went for seconds. Also you must purchase drinks from a cooler, as Indian Food is spicy they get you by you getting a second bottle of water. Also a dripping air conditioner leaking on the table pretty much solidified a two star rating.
(2)
Udayan K.
Cuisine: North Indian/ Pakistani/ Afgani I have eaten here a million times as I work at a 5 mins walk! The buffet is simple but more than gratifying! It's cheap - $8 and generally contains - tandoori chicken*, chicken curry, beef curry or haleem, chickpeas*, yellow daal, okra or other veg, rice, coconut sweet rice(dessert), Naan* and side salad. * Personal favorite / highly recommended The only concern that I have is that some of the items contain more oil than I would like (chicken curry, beef curry and sometimes the veggie as well). However, there are so many things to choose from, that it doesn't remain an issue. The guys are nice and polite!
(5)
Nicole H.
I thought this place was okay. I've had two experiences with the Food Factory. I love Pakistani and afghan food. I also find it hard to find a decent place for it in PG County. So I normally go pretty far to get the food I like. I use to frequent Prince's Cafe a lot in HS, and it had been years and years since I visited that little strip mall. I happen to do a search on my phone to find a place to eat one night and it came up. I recognized the strip mall and thought of just going over to Prince's Cafe, even though i know it's changed. I ordered the chicken kabob to go and really liked it. The chicken wasn't as flavorful and spiced as my other favs around the city, but good none the less. A couple weeks ago, I was craving for a kabob and didn't feel like going to my staple places, so I talked my mom into coming over to the food factory with me. It had been about a year since the first time i went. I planned to just order the Kabob, but she wanted the buffet. She like a lot of her food and since I don't eat beef and they didn't have lamb on the buffet. I just enjoyed the sides and chicken. The food is good if you need a fix and for a place close by. I will probably continue to go to my favorite places in DC, Crystal City, NVA. Though I'm going to try and eat food factory a little more. If you live around the college park area and you looking for a nice place and friendly staff stop by the food factory.
(4)
Sam W.
Awesome food!! I didn't go for buffett but rather ordered kabobs. Complimented it with sweet rice for desert. If you like dodh patti, then ask for milk tea. You are going to love the place. Cheap and delicious!!
(5)
E L.
We've have been here a few times for the lunch/dinner buffet. Overall, for the price its pretty good. The naan is really good! It is intimidating coming here. We are never greeted when coming in or leaving, and we always feel like we are being watched when we are getting food. Also, for the buffet, they only have the bone in chicken kabob for both lunch and dinner. The dinner buffet does not have any more food, and is pretty much the same as lunch.
(3)
Derrick P.
5 stars for being the best place for Afghan buffet (last time I checked, it was around $8). An extra plus in that you can fill up styrofoam cups with the water from the large bottle nearby. They cook amazing naan with it (though be careful you don't eat too much because it can fill you up for the buffet). The rice is just ordinary, you'll find better at other Afghan shops, but the actual dishes are solid. The best part of the buffet is the bone-in chicken kabob. These are probably the most tender, juicy, and flavorful pieces of chicken chunks you will ever experience - you must get them hot off the stove. A few chicken kabobs, with the fresh naan, and the green yogurt sauce, and you will definitely be in heaven. Every time I'm in the area, I make it a point to stop by here for a meal.
(5)
Andromeda L.
I almost walked out the door as I just went in. Not a good atmosphere for a seat down meal, take out is the way to go. Good food. Love the chicken tandoori/kabob, lamb, and naan. Curry is too sweet for my taste. Chickpeas and rice are just fine (just don't see how bad people can do wrong on those). Salad bar is miserable. Selection is limited though, thank god the food pays off. The host creeps me out a bit. He never talked to us but kept staring and smiling at me while we were eating. I'm not sure if I'll go back.
(3)
Soni Y.
Best combination of cheap & great food. This is one of those rare places where my daughter loves the food, especially the soft naan
(5)
Lena W.
I can't believe I've only discovered this place recently. Actually, I take that back. This place is located in a strip mall and is called "Food Factory." I always figured it was a wholesale restaurant supply store, not an oasis of Indian food nestled within College Park's mess of pizza, Chinese, and sandwich spots. Once you step inside, however, you're treated to a mom-and-pop place that's super casual (almost to a fault) and some pretty tasty eats. You can order from the menu or opt for the buffet. We opted for the buffet to get a feel for the foods. I will say the buffet setup is a bit different. It's right by the cashier and is reminiscent of a Subway ordering line. But once you pay, you can dig right in before going to your table. I didn't think there was a wide range of food on the buffet, but all the usual suspects were there: two kinds of rice, curry chicken and goat, chickpeas, spinach, tandoori chicken, a salad bar and naan. I didn't like how the utensils are all plastic. There are Styrofoam plates, plastic silverware, and disposable napkins. They do offer free water in an orange cooler. I didn't try it because it's hard to know how long it's been there. Also, drinks are not fountain; they do offer a good array of canned sodas, Arizona teas, and a few other drinks. Just buy a few up front or pace yourself. There isn't table service, so you'll have to bus your own table when you're done. As far as the food .... it was pretty good. Not the best I've had, but for its area and customer base, it met my expectations. I really enjoyed the naan, chickpeas, and tandoori chicken. I would go back just for those 3. The salad bar was sparse, but I don't come to buffets for salad. Overall, it wasn't bad. It's definitely super casual and no-frills. As long as you go into it with realistic expectations, I think you'll enjoy.
(3)
Raheem A.
Come here all the time and I love it!!! Although the Biryani could be a little better. Other then that it's a great place with fair prices and good food . With amazing tandoori chicken and Naan
(5)
Alexandra M.
I'm sorry to pooh-pooh this place, after all, plenty of people rave about it to me. But the buffet is so mediocre and it's not especially cheap, either. I get kabobs here usually, which are okay but not the divine experience I crave from Afghani kabobs. Compared with the downward spiral of the train-wreck Prince Cafe next door however, this is definitely the better option.
(3)
Maggie F.
Definitely not an eye-catching place, but the huge '5.99 gyro' sign caught my attention and well, being the poor college student that I am, the price was reasonable. i was pleasantly surprised by the gryo--cheap and superb! wrapped in fresh bread... the meat is tender and well flavored. There's a little bit of goat cheese, lettuce and tomatoes. Simple but delicious!!! I've eaten there many times already, introducing new guests to the place, and they've all been very satisfied!! There's also a buffet, which I've also tried (8.99 I believe). The curry (?) chicken and potatoes aren't bad... but the rest of the dishes are mediocre. Not that great. Go with the gyro. Do it!
(4)
Anonymous X.
Where does one start: the awesome food or the nicest, politest owner? For someone of South Asian ethnicity, this joint offers absolutely succulent cuisine, reminiscent of the fare back home and at affordable rates for students. The buffet is awesome, with a variety of veg and non-veg dishes and the biriyani is absolutely amazing as well. Top it off with the owner who goes out of his way to make conversation, seems genuinely interested in what's happening in your neck of the woods, and throws in the occasional freebie such as juices to go for kids. I've gone there 15-20 times in the last three years and I will continue to frequent this place as long as I'm in the College Park region!
(5)
Gabriel O.
The food is good and unbelievably cheap. So, the value is high. Authentic South East Asian cuisine. Free water (possibly because of Ramadan). Food is Halal. Only complaint is some other patrons and I had to request they refill the chicken tandoori in the buffet. In conclusion, if you're in the mood for quick, cheap, and authentic Indo-Pakistani cuisine, this is the place to go.
(5)
Harvey L.
I really wanted to enjoy this meal, even scouting out this place while in the area on a business trip. I ordered the lamb kebob, which came with rice, salad, and naan. The good: the naan was terrific: warm,soft and chewy. The bad: the lamb was of poor quality and cooked unevenly. I should have known the kebob was bad when I had to saw for around 20 seconds with my plastic utensils to cut the meat. When I popped the piece in my mouth, it was tough and grisly and I popped it back out. I haven't done that in public since I was a kid. Four other pieces were also tough. One was just about raw. The one good piece, which was cooked well done, was at least free of cartilage and fat. The rice was bland and flavorless. Even the juices from the meat couldn't give it any taste. The saving grace was the naan and the grape soda (which seems to be a DC area thing). The Greenbelt/College Park area seems loaded with small ethnic restaurants. This one was a miss.
(1)
Kumar S.
The management has changed here in the past few years but luckily most recipies have remained the same. What i love about this place is that the food is flavorful, spicy and just damn good. They use a tandoor for the naan so its amazing and the rice is so light and fluffy. Chapli Kabob is my favorite and my mouth is watering just thinking about it!
(5)
Ken L.
This place is hands down the best kabob place in college park. I don't personally to dine in here because its not the cleanest or best looking place but I always order out and I am always satisfied. The lamb kabob is magnificent and so is the chicken kabob. Make sure you get the two of the sauce because its awesome with the meat. A+ for food C for dining in.
(4)
Shieva R.
Oh food factory how I loved coming here. On my latest trip here with my family (my dad is slightly obsessed with this place) we found that they're now under new management. The man who seems to be the new owner was very friendly, but I loved the old crew. I wouldn't have minded the change in ownership so much if it hadn't so negatively affected the food. The buffet was awful, everything was more greasy than before (if you knew how greasy it was to begin with you'd think it was impossible), old and some dishes were burnt but still served in the buffet. For my sake I hope they're just working the kinks out. I don't think my father is willing to give up on this place as quickly as I am, so I guess that means I'll be back.
(2)
Fina A.
was planning to check out what college park downtown has to offer for food to UMD student like me, so here it is, homey-look from the outside as my dictionary says: homey-look restaurants are always geewwddddd. But oh well, I should've wrote the review like wayyy earlier cos the last time I went there was like a year ago? And I forgot what it tasted like but I know that I didn't get out of the restaurant pissed about the food, so yea, it's a decent I guess. Will I go back there? probably, I should check their menu that has nothing to do with meat because I give up on them already, so yea. It's an OK food, so three stars is perfect. Oh, I don't like how they serve the food, on a styrofoam, so not me.
(3)
Grant M.
Food Factory 2 is one of the few kabob places in the area and is most accurately described as okay. It is clearly authentic and most things were prepared where you could see it. On to the food: I ordered the chicken kabob combo for just over $9. The chicken kabob was very dry. This is often the case with chicken kabobs, but this one was particularly rough. However, that being said, the seasoning on the chicken was very good. The chickpeas were good and spicy, one of the highlights of the meal. The naan (bread) was great for me because I got a fresh piece from the oven. My friend had a piece that had been sitting out and his was not nearly as good. My friend ordered the vegetable combination and thought the spanzi was delicious and the eggplant was generally good, but salty. He also agreed that the chickpeas were delicious. His only major complaint was that he found a pepper stem in his food, which is not edible. As for the cleanliness, it did seem fairly sketchy. Unfortunately, I had the opportunity to see into the backroom and witnessed something very disconcerting. One of the workers had a bucket of some seasoning or marinade, stuck his finger into it and licked it off his finger, paused, stuck the same finger back in and tried it again. This was, understandably, pretty hard to watch. I will probably go there again but only because it is different from most of the places in College Park. The prices were fairly good for the amount of food they give you. It certainly isn't my favorite kabob place and is not the cleanest, most pleasant place around.
(3)
Farida A.
Food Factory has seen better days. Like 10 years ago. On my first trip back to FF in about 5 years (or more?), I called ahead to put in my orders to do carry-out. They were out of chicken jalfrezi (their best dish from what I remember) and the bihari kabab, so as I was ordering the rest of my entrees the owner said he'd throw in some chickpeas for free. How nice! Unfortunately, when I got home and opened the boxes, there was no naan as I had ordered. The chickpeas were included as sides for each meal, so now I'm wondering if they were really freebies? The chapli kabab was tough, the boneless tandoori chicken was dry, the chickpeas were more sauce than chickpea. The chicken curry was decent. The owner is so nice and has been there for years so I want to give a good review. Unfortunately the taste and quality are lacking, and Food Factory may be past it's prime.
(2)
Christina H.
Good food, cheap! The lamb chops are phenomenal! The buffet has great selections, both meat and vegetarian options. And the naan is cooked TO ORDER. Get the super cheap buffet and they will bring you fresh-baked naan. The people are friendly and helpful, too. The only reason I'm not giving it 5stars is because the dining room is sometimes cold and I feel like every time I go, they've just mopped the floor with bleach and the smell lingers for a bit. But at least you know it's clean!
(4)
J S.
Meh. I'm hoping DC has better. But for cheap food, it is really not bad. Buffet had good stews and the boned chicken was tender. And yes, the bread is awesome;) But they didn't have enough meat dishes on buffet and no kabuli pulau:(
(3)
R S.
WARNING. DO NOT EAT FROM THAT BUFFET. What a nasty place. At $8.95, you get greasy food that will make you gag later. Im surprised the health dept hasnt made a visit. There was nothing edible imo.
(1)
Jason H.
2.5 Stars. What the hell is up with Indian joints not heating their establishments? (Went here a couple months ago.) I was sitting here in the heatwave thinking of cold places and remembered Food Factory -TWO-. The buffet seemed mediocre and not of much value. I think I would have been better offer trying the kebab for around the same price. The naan was quite tasty and fresh before it froze in the cold air.
(3)
steve t.
Great lunch buffet...$8 all you can eat. Nothing fancy to look at but lots of choices, meat and vegetarian alike and the naan is super. If I have to choose between Food Factory and the Bobby Flay burger joint across the street, it's no contest. Go eat here!
(4)
L C.
Some of the best food in college park, especially if you're a fan of Middle Eastern or Western Asian/Southern Asian food. The nann bread when you get them fresh are absolutely delicious. Some of the best lamb kabobs you can ever get. The mashed chickpeas-beef dish was also great - this was a dish one of the employees recommended me. He said the wonderful explosion of beef comes out of nowhere, and he was right! Prices are about $8 for a meal, which isn't too bad considering if you're a student and live on campus, the meals comes out to $10! (the North and South campus diner charges you $1 for an apple! and $5 for 2 scoops of icecream!)
(5)
Maria P.
One of the best deals around. Kebabs cooked to order, generous mango lassis, South Asian desserts by the pound (did someone say gulab jamun?), and the best part: the freshly-made tandoori naan. The vegetarian dishes are good, too. When I was a vegetarian I regularly helped myself to large amounts of Food Factory's tadka dal. A fancy restaurant this ain't--order at the counter and your number will be shouted at you in about ten minutes, at which point you carry your tray over to your table. No, the atmosphere's not memorable. But I never cared and neither should you! Tip: do not stuff your face at Food Factory before a yoga class or any other physical activity. You'll need a little while to digest. Ask me how I know this.
(4)
Satvik B.
Had a *fantastic* dinner experience here. My wife and I came originally thinking this was a falafel place, only to be surprised with delicious lamb kabobs. Every part of the food-the bread, meat, cucumber sauce, and side dishes were all great. The service was great as well. I asked for side dishes without onions, because I don't like onions. The manager checked with the chef and warned me that the main dishes used onion powder-just to make sure I wouldn't suffer from allergies! Absolutely recommended.
(5)
smitha k.
I stopped by for lunch today and got an uncooked chicken kabob and bread. Really nasty food and i would not go there again.
(1)
Adam P.
Service was friendly. I only waited 10 minutes for the kabobs to be cooked fresh. They were tasty and well worth the wait. The rice was somewhat bland but the fresh bread made to order made up for it.
(3)
Sae K.
To complain about lunch buffet that you pay 7.99 for, is just ludicrous. There are some people here that are complaining that this place isn't up to par. YOU PAY 7.99 for lunch buffet. All you can eat. If you want Top quality along with all you can eat, you SHOULD go somewhere else. Yesterday i had some time to kill in CP. I went to Food Factory because I really like their bone in Chicken. I found out recently that they don't serve it for dinner buffet, but only for lunch. And since i work in Georgetown, it was a real committment to go there for lunch. Anyway, I see the sign that says, 'Under New Management' and i am hoping, PLEASE still have the bone in chicken... I walk in, and it's exactly the same as before. Rice, chick peas, spinach, lentil, ground beef curry, peas and potato. and curry chicken and bone in chicken kabab and bread. and their bread is REALLY excellent and now cut in half and allow you to take as many as you like. i have about 10 piece of chicken with half bread. and 1 1/2 plates of rice and everything mentioned above. It was hard tryin to fight off the grease on my serving spoon as i was helping myself to the curry dishes and veggies. but afterwards i thought, u know, i should have just had the chicken and bread and rice.... Bottom line is, i walked out full and very satisfied and thought to myself, i wish they had one o these in GTOWN for $7.99... i would be ALLLL over that... will i come back here again if i was starved? Yes. is the chicken still very good? Yes... is the bread good? Yes... quit complaining about paying $7.99 for a buffet. go some place and spend real money u cheap skates but leave food factory alone!!!
(4)
Tony L.
My wife and I come here just for the naan. This Afgani/Pakistani/Indian restaurant also makes some of the best kabobs around, and their rich, heavily-spiced curries are delicious, too. These guys know their way around a tandoor, especially when it comes to making perfectly fluffy, soft, crispy flatbread. If you come late in the lunch or dinner hours, order fresh, as the buffet items may have been around a while. A spicy, fresh-grilled chapli kabob wrapped in warm naan won't disappoint you. The only thing holding this place back from a 5-star rating is the order format and dining room. As mentioned before, you order at the counter and pick up your tray when it's ready. The dining area is always cold (some may like that), with sterile overhead flourescents and entirely utilitarian decor. But if you just want good naan, kabobs, and curries, and don't care about the setting, you can't go wrong here.
(4)
Mark M.
Great kabobs! The lunch special (all you can eat buffet) is a good deal if you're starving, but I was filled after one plate of food with naan.
(4)
Princess T.
My husband and I loves this place! Because of the delicious chicken biryani and beef kebab, today we ordered for a pick up order the guy on the cashier is so very nice and easy to talk to but the guy who prepared for our order is a little to slow to understand what I ordered And Im really in a hurry because we have something to do and we are really hungry. Unfortunately the guy who prepared our order didn't put all our food on the bag and I didn't get the chance to check that because Im really in a hurry, so we end up going back to work without knowing that our food in the bag is not complete, but when I call them and ask if its possible to just delivered it to us because its not really our fault they manage to deliver the food even though there not doing deliveries, and apologized with their mistake,we are very happy and satisfied to that! Thank you and we r still going back to your store :)
(5)
Stanley L.
Still one of my favorite places to go to in College Park. You can get relatively cheap and good tasting Indian/Middle Eastern food here. I usually come here for the lunch buffet which is a decent deal. They have a decent selection with sweet and regular rice, different curries and vegetables, tandoori and curry chicken, and salad. A pretty good lunch spot close to campus and if you want to change up your palate.
(3)
Chick P.
This place has sadly gone way downhill. Years ago this was THE place for kabobs. The biryani is oily with no biryani flavor. It's just yellow oily rice with a few pieces of meat. The chicken and lamb kabobs are so burnt. Meh.
(2)
Kathleen H.
I have been going to Food Factory for at least 10 years and I LOVE it! My husband and I go at least once a month. We have a need for this food- it's just that great! I can not get enough of the naan. I've even stopped in to get just naan, and some chai as a snack. The naan is made right there in this totally legit fire-pit thing. And I have to stress that although they have meat dishes, this is a great place for vegetarians! We are, and so it is so nice to have Food Factory around as an option that is close by. They have a lot of dishes on their buffet that are meat-less. We always get the buffet. It's a great deal and I love the variety. They have certain dishes consistently but they add new things too. I love the spinach and potatoes and peas and potatoes and the lentils, and the sweet rice for dessert. Lately they have been having this dish with carrots in it. YUM! That is one of my new faves. The price is very reasonable. The people who work there are super sweet. I am not sure about this supposed change in management that occurred around 2009? I feel like the same main guy has been there the whole time. The guy who used to make the naan is gone. And I remember another guy being there for a couple of weeks, but I think that was a relative helping out. Either way, the people are very nice. So, if you are wondering, just go check it out! It's awesome!
(5)
B W.
Went for lunch on Friday last. And man, I can't stop thinking about the food I had. Took awhile to finally decide on the buffet, but when I did... heaven. I was so satisfied (tastebuds and stomach) once I left. The naan was good, and so was everything (veggie curry, chicken tandoori, curry chicken, lentils - OMG!) else. Only drawback was the "salad bar". That left a lot to be desired.
(4)
Shane C.
I ate there today for lunch with some coworkers, we each got the buffet. The Buffet was on the small side but had some tasty looking items on it. Lamb Curry and Chick peas were pretty good but not delicious. Beware each piece of Naan is ala carte, and this is not advertised anywhere. We all were rudely surprised when we went for seconds. Also you must purchase drinks from a cooler, as Indian Food is spicy they get you by you getting a second bottle of water. Also a dripping air conditioner leaking on the table pretty much solidified a two star rating.
(2)
Udayan K.
Cuisine: North Indian/ Pakistani/ Afgani I have eaten here a million times as I work at a 5 mins walk! The buffet is simple but more than gratifying! It's cheap - $8 and generally contains - tandoori chicken*, chicken curry, beef curry or haleem, chickpeas*, yellow daal, okra or other veg, rice, coconut sweet rice(dessert), Naan* and side salad. * Personal favorite / highly recommended The only concern that I have is that some of the items contain more oil than I would like (chicken curry, beef curry and sometimes the veggie as well). However, there are so many things to choose from, that it doesn't remain an issue. The guys are nice and polite!
(5)
Jim L.
So many good things about Food Factory based on my 1st visit. 1. Great lunch buffet at low price. Lots of choices and very tasty. 2. Free wifi! 3. Friendly staff. 4. Complaints on yelp responded to personally by manager. (Reviewers please update your reviews! Also I don't know about food back then but today's food was really excellent. Give them another try.) Highly recommended little place. Not fancy but after all it's called Food Factory!
(5)
Nicole H.
I thought this place was okay. I've had two experiences with the Food Factory. I love Pakistani and afghan food. I also find it hard to find a decent place for it in PG County. So I normally go pretty far to get the food I like. I use to frequent Prince's Cafe a lot in HS, and it had been years and years since I visited that little strip mall. I happen to do a search on my phone to find a place to eat one night and it came up. I recognized the strip mall and thought of just going over to Prince's Cafe, even though i know it's changed. I ordered the chicken kabob to go and really liked it. The chicken wasn't as flavorful and spiced as my other favs around the city, but good none the less. A couple weeks ago, I was craving for a kabob and didn't feel like going to my staple places, so I talked my mom into coming over to the food factory with me. It had been about a year since the first time i went. I planned to just order the Kabob, but she wanted the buffet. She like a lot of her food and since I don't eat beef and they didn't have lamb on the buffet. I just enjoyed the sides and chicken. The food is good if you need a fix and for a place close by. I will probably continue to go to my favorite places in DC, Crystal City, NVA. Though I'm going to try and eat food factory a little more. If you live around the college park area and you looking for a nice place and friendly staff stop by the food factory.
(4)
Sam W.
Awesome food!! I didn't go for buffett but rather ordered kabobs. Complimented it with sweet rice for desert. If you like dodh patti, then ask for milk tea. You are going to love the place. Cheap and delicious!!
(5)
E L.
We've have been here a few times for the lunch/dinner buffet. Overall, for the price its pretty good. The naan is really good! It is intimidating coming here. We are never greeted when coming in or leaving, and we always feel like we are being watched when we are getting food. Also, for the buffet, they only have the bone in chicken kabob for both lunch and dinner. The dinner buffet does not have any more food, and is pretty much the same as lunch.
(3)
Derrick P.
5 stars for being the best place for Afghan buffet (last time I checked, it was around $8). An extra plus in that you can fill up styrofoam cups with the water from the large bottle nearby. They cook amazing naan with it (though be careful you don't eat too much because it can fill you up for the buffet). The rice is just ordinary, you'll find better at other Afghan shops, but the actual dishes are solid. The best part of the buffet is the bone-in chicken kabob. These are probably the most tender, juicy, and flavorful pieces of chicken chunks you will ever experience - you must get them hot off the stove. A few chicken kabobs, with the fresh naan, and the green yogurt sauce, and you will definitely be in heaven. Every time I'm in the area, I make it a point to stop by here for a meal.
(5)
Kevin T.
Decent place to grab lunch, ~$10 buffet
(3)
Timir D.
Fairly authentic pakistani food. The kebabs are quite decent, but the other dishes have an excess amount of oil. But they still taste good. The bread leaves something to be desired, but is a pretty good attempt at naan/tandoori roti. All things considered this place has good food compared to most other places in CP. The $8 buffet is a pretty good deal considering how much sandwiches cost on campus.
(3)
Che-Kuan L.
The chicken curry is very good!
(4)
Theo P.
Looks like a hoe in ground because it is. Food not the greatest, the pita was stil dough-y. Buffet a little pricey for the quality you get. With so many other great restaurants in the area i got stuck with this one... try elsewhere.
(1)
Puja L.
Stopped by to visit a friend in college park and I couldn't think of a place I reeeaaally would love to go to. So we were driving by here and I remembered liking some of their food in college, so I thought we'd check it out. The under new management sign worried me a little because I wasn't sure how it would be. The first person who helped us seemed to be in quite a hurry and kept trying to run away while we decided on our order. We ended up sharing a combo kabob platter. The food took quite a while, so we sat at the table in front of the display case and waited. We were given our food to go (even though we had never asked for this) and I'm not a big fan of wasting disposables. Anyway, on to the food! Every other chicken kabob was good. Haha, yup - about 50% tasty. The rest of them were dry. The beef kabob was pretty tasty, but again dry. The chickpeas were oddly sweet, and just not generally the flavor I have come to expect. And the chutney was really watery. The food was fine, but not cheap, and not really what I was expecting. The owner was very sweet and gave us an extra gulab jamun for free (I'm pretty sure it's because my friend is beautiful). He seemed to also be handing out extra naans to other customers for free, and they weren't as pretty.
(2)
Hannah R.
This place is by far the best Pakistani restaurant I've been to. It is a bit of a hole in the wall, but the service and food was great! And get this- they have a REAL TANDOOR! So they cook their meats over charcoal and make their naan in a tandoor oven. Seriously, I haven't had such authentic food since I went to Pakistan.
(4)
Dan S.
Not a great atmosphere at all, however the food is delicious. I would never go here for a sit down meal, but carry out is the way too go. Fair pricing. Delicious chicken kabob and chickpeas
(3)
Richard I.
Great South and Central Asian food made fresh daily at a good price. Their freshly made soft, warm naan melts in your mouth like butter.
(4)
Feyi B.
Def do the buffet! Its worth it. Theres not a huge selection of food, but just about everything on the platter is GOOD! The only thing I couldn't get with was the yellow sweet rice. It was literally like rice n sugar... The two just dont add up on my pallet. Ambiance is your typical table n chair/ cafeteria setup. Nothing spectacular. But the food will take your mind off the ambiance. Even if you dont do the buffet, you can get a kabob dish to go and you'll still enjoy the food.
(4)
Michelle T.
The food is great! I will be back. Not sure about the buffet though... The buffet food looked good and the people who ate at the buffet said it was amazing (I got take out_... but it is kinda weird walking up to the front where the cashier is watching you take your seconds.... I mean its a buffet! Let them eat!
(4)
Jack W.
Good lord, this place was atrocious. I came in at three and ordered a lunch buffet, the food at the buffet bar were all about cold, bland, and just all around terrible. The restaurant itself is poorly presented, and very unclean. The people were nice, but that's not enough to make this place a worthwhile place to eat.
(1)
Soni Y.
Best combination of cheap & great food. This is one of those rare places where my daughter loves the food, especially the soft naan
(5)
Umer K.
My kids and I have been going to this place over the last few years more constantly than probably some of its staff! It's amazing how they have maintained the great taste of the food. Their kabob is the best in the area, the zarda (yellow rice) is the awesome and of course their mint sauce is my daughters favorite.
(5)
Emily M.
I've never dined in , just carried out. I've never had an extremely long wait time, staff is friendly, location is clean and the food is great. Would not go anywhere else.
(5)
Chase K.
Great food for an amazing price. I really love the naan, samosa chaat and meat curry. Highly recommended.
I come here at least once a month. $8.00 for the lunch buffet, which i get. Curries, veggies, rice and salad. Decent food at a decent price.
(3)
A.j. R.
Vey cheap Indian food but lacking in flavor. So therefore the flavor reflects the price which is cheap tasting like their spices came from the dollar store. I love Indian food and this place is like the McDonald's of Indian.
(2)
Andra N.
Best kabobs hands down. Especially for the price. I love the owner, he is always super nice anf friendly and I can tell he has pride in is store. Their naan is by far the best, freshly baked every order. I like their chickpeas and chicken kabobs but their Buffet is a solid option too.
(5)
Blcksocks D.
This review is only for the buffet. The kabobs (Tandoori chicken) were not cooked properly. Naan was freshly made but wasn't very soft. I did like the greenish yellow yogurt Kadi on the buffet though. The chicken and beef curries/stew were so bland and watered down, you won't want go for a second bite. Three stars is being generous for this place.
(3)
Jay R.
Excellent Indian food! I had the buffet and it was delicious. Some of the best naan I've ever had, and the tandoori chicken was really good as well. My favorite was the carrots.
(5)
Ryan B.
Can't get food and politics mixed up. Very discriminating business its a shame college park would license a business that discriminates against ethnic groups. I would never eat at this establishment and will let all my friends know. It's sad to see Afghans of all people discriminating against Armenians. Shame on you shame on you and shame on you. Armenians are proud Christian people It's so sad to see afghans, a Muslim ethnic group working against us. Proud American Armenian. God bless our country
(1)
Andromeda L.
I almost walked out the door as I just went in. Not a good atmosphere for a seat down meal, take out is the way to go. Good food. Love the chicken tandoori/kabob, lamb, and naan. Curry is too sweet for my taste. Chickpeas and rice are just fine (just don't see how bad people can do wrong on those). Salad bar is miserable. Selection is limited though, thank god the food pays off. The host creeps me out a bit. He never talked to us but kept staring and smiling at me while we were eating. I'm not sure if I'll go back.
(3)
Lena W.
I can't believe I've only discovered this place recently. Actually, I take that back. This place is located in a strip mall and is called "Food Factory." I always figured it was a wholesale restaurant supply store, not an oasis of Indian food nestled within College Park's mess of pizza, Chinese, and sandwich spots. Once you step inside, however, you're treated to a mom-and-pop place that's super casual (almost to a fault) and some pretty tasty eats. You can order from the menu or opt for the buffet. We opted for the buffet to get a feel for the foods. I will say the buffet setup is a bit different. It's right by the cashier and is reminiscent of a Subway ordering line. But once you pay, you can dig right in before going to your table. I didn't think there was a wide range of food on the buffet, but all the usual suspects were there: two kinds of rice, curry chicken and goat, chickpeas, spinach, tandoori chicken, a salad bar and naan. I didn't like how the utensils are all plastic. There are Styrofoam plates, plastic silverware, and disposable napkins. They do offer free water in an orange cooler. I didn't try it because it's hard to know how long it's been there. Also, drinks are not fountain; they do offer a good array of canned sodas, Arizona teas, and a few other drinks. Just buy a few up front or pace yourself. There isn't table service, so you'll have to bus your own table when you're done. As far as the food .... it was pretty good. Not the best I've had, but for its area and customer base, it met my expectations. I really enjoyed the naan, chickpeas, and tandoori chicken. I would go back just for those 3. The salad bar was sparse, but I don't come to buffets for salad. Overall, it wasn't bad. It's definitely super casual and no-frills. As long as you go into it with realistic expectations, I think you'll enjoy.
(3)
Raheem A.
Come here all the time and I love it!!! Although the Biryani could be a little better. Other then that it's a great place with fair prices and good food . With amazing tandoori chicken and Naan
(5)
Luis C.
This place has gone down service is not the same. I use to come here all the time. I drove here from Columbia because the food is good. But will never come again. I come order 3 plates I ask for one plate just rice and chicken because is for my kids Nd that all they like. He got upset made look like my fault that he put some sauce on top of it. And I ask for another plate. No need to be so rude. We're are the other two guys that use to run the place.
(1)
Syed A.
Chicken Biryani. Period! The best Chicken Biryani in town..hands down (or maybe I haven't eaten in many places or worse still, I don't know what I'm talking about.) Still, please go ahead and give it a shot, if you know what biryani tastes like or should taste like. I am from Hyderabad, India and I think I know what I'm talking about! Its a small and simple place in a strip mall. Good natured and courteous staff. It is close to the University of Maryland and attracts a lot of students, maybe explains why the prices here are so affordable! I was so happy and satisfied after my meal, I hunted down the chef back in the kitchen, shook hands, and complimented him on his amazing creation!
(5)
Mike L.
After living outside College Park for a while, I have realized how amazing the Food Factory is. I wish they had a location near me, and they will definitely be a priority re-visit whenever I'm back in the area.
(5)
Vincent R.
Great Buffet for a good price. Even includes Naan. Tandori chicken was very good.
(4)
Paul D.
I Love this Buffet!! It's an all you can eat, Pakistani buffet for $8 Lunch, $9 dinner, & $10 weekends... I'm sold!! I really miss Ravi Kabob & Delhi Dhaba in Arlington. Thankfully, this place fills that void very well. Their bread is perfectly plain & crusty, but soft & warm inside. It contrasts the spicy food nicely. Their bread & rice are good by themselves too. On the Buffet: The Bone-in Chicken Curry is fantastic, so is the Chicken Tikka, Chick Peas, Lentils, Kabuli Pilau (sweet rice), Lamb Curry, etc. It's all good! In addition to the basics, on different days there are different items added to the buffet, like Keema, and eggplant curry. Besides the Buffet, they have Samosas, Karahi, Kabobs, Salads & wraps, and on the weekends they have Haleem and Nihari. Who needs Kabobs, when you can sample the variety of the buffet. But their meats are Halal of course. This place needs a better name. Something else with "Kabob House" in the title. Their full name is actually "Food Factory Kabob House." Nevertheless, the sign out front just says "Food Factory," which turned me off from eating here sooner... What a mistake on my part, because this place is great! The location is tucked away in a secluded shopping center hidden behind Town hall Liquors and a BP Gas Station, D.P. Dough is also located next door, here in the "Campus Village Shopping Center." You wouldn't know it's there if you were just driving up Route 1 though. So, while it's not the best Middle Eastern Kabob House I've ever eaten at, for the prices, you can't beat it! Especially if you're a poor starving College Student who needs more exposure to ethnic foods. The Chicken Curry & Chick Peas, alone, are worth the price of admission.
(4)
Pear Y.
Went to Food Factory for the first time today. Their Chicken Biryani was soo good! For $5.99 you get so much more food than you can get anywhere else. The chicken was super tender. I'll definitely come back!
(5)
Shawn M.
Awesome food - an all you can eat Indian/Pakistani/Afghan buffet for $8 Lunch, $9 dinner, $10 weekends I need to remember to eat here more often when I'm in college park - yum!
(4)
Kumar P.
Really good indian food. The tandoor and chicken curry were epic. Naan and veggie dishes also great.
(5)
Jacquisha C.
I went late on a Monday night for a quick kabob meal. One of the first things I noticed was the kabobs marinating in a glass display in the front; I thought that was neat. I also noticed the dinner buffet, which did not look appetizing but it didn't matter because we were ordering to go. I got the boneless chicken kabob and my boyfriend got the Gyro. One big no-no for me was the fact that the man at the register was also handling food; that could prevent me from going back. Luckily for my boyfriend, there was another man there who prepared his gyro who did not handle the money. On to the food. My kabob was fine. The rice was fine and so was the chicken; I liked it, but I wasn't in love with the flavors. The naan was great; I loved it. But, the showstopper was the gyro. It was, in every way, delicious. My boyfriend indicated that it was the best one he's tasted. I wouldn't mind going back for a kabob, but I would definitely go back for a gyro...as long as the person handling the money doesn't make it without throwing on a pair of gloves.
(3)
Evert L.
There are definitely sanitary issues here the guy handling the cash is also handling the food. Not to mention they don't use gloves at all! Hello!!! Food was alright
(3)
Tiwari A.
Simply amazing this place have outstanding customer service. There's a lot to choose from the buffet and I've been going here for several years that alone should say something about this place. If you're ever in the area you definitely have to check this out the price is reasonable as well.
(5)
Nil G.
I need to update my review and be fair to these guys. I've tried chickpeas and chicken curry and liked them
(3)
Anna Y.
My friends and I decided try out this restaurant yesterday since we had a coupon for it. When we first arrived, we asked the cashier some questions about the coupon. It took him a while to understand us and he didn't seem very welcoming either. When we were ready to order, he looked at the coupon for a long time before finally allowing us to use it. I ordered a beef kabob and the food was decent. The beef was a little tough but it was very flavorful still. I ended up getting a knife and just cutting the beef into smaller pieces. The naan was delicious though and the chickpeas were good enough that even I ate them. I would still definitely go again but maybe try the chicken kabob instead.
(3)
Benjamin C.
This place is great!! I usually get the vegetable biryani and a side of naan. The naan is fantastic, it's freshly made and tasty. The biryani comes with a large portion of rice and veggies in some curry type sauce and a small side of salad with a really good side sauce (I have no idea what it's called). They have some other good vegetarian options other than the veggie biryani. The staff are always very friendly and helpful. I definitely recommend this place to anyone who wants a fairly inexpensive and delicious quick meal in College Park.
(5)
Mohammed H.
Not worth any penny. There are many halal restaurants much better than this place. The chicken is burned not tasty. The rice is reheated.
(1)
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Address :8145 Baltimore Ave,Unit G & H
College Park, MD, 20740
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
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.
Gabriel O.
The food is good and unbelievably cheap. So, the value is high. Authentic South East Asian cuisine. Free water (possibly because of Ramadan). Food is Halal. Only complaint is some other patrons and I had to request they refill the chicken tandoori in the buffet. In conclusion, if you're in the mood for quick, cheap, and authentic Indo-Pakistani cuisine, this is the place to go.
(5)Jason H.
2.5 Stars. What the hell is up with Indian joints not heating their establishments? (Went here a couple months ago.) I was sitting here in the heatwave thinking of cold places and remembered Food Factory -TWO-. The buffet seemed mediocre and not of much value. I think I would have been better offer trying the kebab for around the same price. The naan was quite tasty and fresh before it froze in the cold air.
(3)steve t.
Great lunch buffet...$8 all you can eat. Nothing fancy to look at but lots of choices, meat and vegetarian alike and the naan is super. If I have to choose between Food Factory and the Bobby Flay burger joint across the street, it's no contest. Go eat here!
(4)L C.
Some of the best food in college park, especially if you're a fan of Middle Eastern or Western Asian/Southern Asian food. The nann bread when you get them fresh are absolutely delicious. Some of the best lamb kabobs you can ever get. The mashed chickpeas-beef dish was also great - this was a dish one of the employees recommended me. He said the wonderful explosion of beef comes out of nowhere, and he was right! Prices are about $8 for a meal, which isn't too bad considering if you're a student and live on campus, the meals comes out to $10! (the North and South campus diner charges you $1 for an apple! and $5 for 2 scoops of icecream!)
(5)Kevin T.
Decent place to grab lunch, ~$10 buffet
(3)Maria P.
One of the best deals around. Kebabs cooked to order, generous mango lassis, South Asian desserts by the pound (did someone say gulab jamun?), and the best part: the freshly-made tandoori naan. The vegetarian dishes are good, too. When I was a vegetarian I regularly helped myself to large amounts of Food Factory's tadka dal. A fancy restaurant this ain't--order at the counter and your number will be shouted at you in about ten minutes, at which point you carry your tray over to your table. No, the atmosphere's not memorable. But I never cared and neither should you! Tip: do not stuff your face at Food Factory before a yoga class or any other physical activity. You'll need a little while to digest. Ask me how I know this.
(4)Satvik B.
Had a *fantastic* dinner experience here. My wife and I came originally thinking this was a falafel place, only to be surprised with delicious lamb kabobs. Every part of the food-the bread, meat, cucumber sauce, and side dishes were all great. The service was great as well. I asked for side dishes without onions, because I don't like onions. The manager checked with the chef and warned me that the main dishes used onion powder-just to make sure I wouldn't suffer from allergies! Absolutely recommended.
(5)smitha k.
I stopped by for lunch today and got an uncooked chicken kabob and bread. Really nasty food and i would not go there again.
(1)Adam P.
Service was friendly. I only waited 10 minutes for the kabobs to be cooked fresh. They were tasty and well worth the wait. The rice was somewhat bland but the fresh bread made to order made up for it.
(3)Sae K.
To complain about lunch buffet that you pay 7.99 for, is just ludicrous. There are some people here that are complaining that this place isn't up to par. YOU PAY 7.99 for lunch buffet. All you can eat. If you want Top quality along with all you can eat, you SHOULD go somewhere else. Yesterday i had some time to kill in CP. I went to Food Factory because I really like their bone in Chicken. I found out recently that they don't serve it for dinner buffet, but only for lunch. And since i work in Georgetown, it was a real committment to go there for lunch. Anyway, I see the sign that says, 'Under New Management' and i am hoping, PLEASE still have the bone in chicken... I walk in, and it's exactly the same as before. Rice, chick peas, spinach, lentil, ground beef curry, peas and potato. and curry chicken and bone in chicken kabab and bread. and their bread is REALLY excellent and now cut in half and allow you to take as many as you like. i have about 10 piece of chicken with half bread. and 1 1/2 plates of rice and everything mentioned above. It was hard tryin to fight off the grease on my serving spoon as i was helping myself to the curry dishes and veggies. but afterwards i thought, u know, i should have just had the chicken and bread and rice.... Bottom line is, i walked out full and very satisfied and thought to myself, i wish they had one o these in GTOWN for $7.99... i would be ALLLL over that... will i come back here again if i was starved? Yes. is the chicken still very good? Yes... is the bread good? Yes... quit complaining about paying $7.99 for a buffet. go some place and spend real money u cheap skates but leave food factory alone!!!
(4)Alexandra M.
I'm sorry to pooh-pooh this place, after all, plenty of people rave about it to me. But the buffet is so mediocre and it's not especially cheap, either. I get kabobs here usually, which are okay but not the divine experience I crave from Afghani kabobs. Compared with the downward spiral of the train-wreck Prince Cafe next door however, this is definitely the better option.
(3)Tony L.
My wife and I come here just for the naan. This Afgani/Pakistani/Indian restaurant also makes some of the best kabobs around, and their rich, heavily-spiced curries are delicious, too. These guys know their way around a tandoor, especially when it comes to making perfectly fluffy, soft, crispy flatbread. If you come late in the lunch or dinner hours, order fresh, as the buffet items may have been around a while. A spicy, fresh-grilled chapli kabob wrapped in warm naan won't disappoint you. The only thing holding this place back from a 5-star rating is the order format and dining room. As mentioned before, you order at the counter and pick up your tray when it's ready. The dining area is always cold (some may like that), with sterile overhead flourescents and entirely utilitarian decor. But if you just want good naan, kabobs, and curries, and don't care about the setting, you can't go wrong here.
(4)Mark M.
Great kabobs! The lunch special (all you can eat buffet) is a good deal if you're starving, but I was filled after one plate of food with naan.
(4)Timir D.
Fairly authentic pakistani food. The kebabs are quite decent, but the other dishes have an excess amount of oil. But they still taste good. The bread leaves something to be desired, but is a pretty good attempt at naan/tandoori roti. All things considered this place has good food compared to most other places in CP. The $8 buffet is a pretty good deal considering how much sandwiches cost on campus.
(3)Che-Kuan L.
The chicken curry is very good!
(4)Theo P.
Looks like a hoe in ground because it is. Food not the greatest, the pita was stil dough-y. Buffet a little pricey for the quality you get. With so many other great restaurants in the area i got stuck with this one... try elsewhere.
(1)Puja L.
Stopped by to visit a friend in college park and I couldn't think of a place I reeeaaally would love to go to. So we were driving by here and I remembered liking some of their food in college, so I thought we'd check it out. The under new management sign worried me a little because I wasn't sure how it would be. The first person who helped us seemed to be in quite a hurry and kept trying to run away while we decided on our order. We ended up sharing a combo kabob platter. The food took quite a while, so we sat at the table in front of the display case and waited. We were given our food to go (even though we had never asked for this) and I'm not a big fan of wasting disposables. Anyway, on to the food! Every other chicken kabob was good. Haha, yup - about 50% tasty. The rest of them were dry. The beef kabob was pretty tasty, but again dry. The chickpeas were oddly sweet, and just not generally the flavor I have come to expect. And the chutney was really watery. The food was fine, but not cheap, and not really what I was expecting. The owner was very sweet and gave us an extra gulab jamun for free (I'm pretty sure it's because my friend is beautiful). He seemed to also be handing out extra naans to other customers for free, and they weren't as pretty.
(2)Hannah R.
This place is by far the best Pakistani restaurant I've been to. It is a bit of a hole in the wall, but the service and food was great! And get this- they have a REAL TANDOOR! So they cook their meats over charcoal and make their naan in a tandoor oven. Seriously, I haven't had such authentic food since I went to Pakistan.
(4)Dan S.
Not a great atmosphere at all, however the food is delicious. I would never go here for a sit down meal, but carry out is the way too go. Fair pricing. Delicious chicken kabob and chickpeas
(3)Richard I.
Great South and Central Asian food made fresh daily at a good price. Their freshly made soft, warm naan melts in your mouth like butter.
(4)Maggie F.
Definitely not an eye-catching place, but the huge '5.99 gyro' sign caught my attention and well, being the poor college student that I am, the price was reasonable. i was pleasantly surprised by the gryo--cheap and superb! wrapped in fresh bread... the meat is tender and well flavored. There's a little bit of goat cheese, lettuce and tomatoes. Simple but delicious!!! I've eaten there many times already, introducing new guests to the place, and they've all been very satisfied!! There's also a buffet, which I've also tried (8.99 I believe). The curry (?) chicken and potatoes aren't bad... but the rest of the dishes are mediocre. Not that great. Go with the gyro. Do it!
(4)Feyi B.
Def do the buffet! Its worth it. Theres not a huge selection of food, but just about everything on the platter is GOOD! The only thing I couldn't get with was the yellow sweet rice. It was literally like rice n sugar... The two just dont add up on my pallet. Ambiance is your typical table n chair/ cafeteria setup. Nothing spectacular. But the food will take your mind off the ambiance. Even if you dont do the buffet, you can get a kabob dish to go and you'll still enjoy the food.
(4)Michelle T.
The food is great! I will be back. Not sure about the buffet though... The buffet food looked good and the people who ate at the buffet said it was amazing (I got take out_... but it is kinda weird walking up to the front where the cashier is watching you take your seconds.... I mean its a buffet! Let them eat!
(4)Jack W.
Good lord, this place was atrocious. I came in at three and ordered a lunch buffet, the food at the buffet bar were all about cold, bland, and just all around terrible. The restaurant itself is poorly presented, and very unclean. The people were nice, but that's not enough to make this place a worthwhile place to eat.
(1)Anonymous X.
Where does one start: the awesome food or the nicest, politest owner? For someone of South Asian ethnicity, this joint offers absolutely succulent cuisine, reminiscent of the fare back home and at affordable rates for students. The buffet is awesome, with a variety of veg and non-veg dishes and the biriyani is absolutely amazing as well. Top it off with the owner who goes out of his way to make conversation, seems genuinely interested in what's happening in your neck of the woods, and throws in the occasional freebie such as juices to go for kids. I've gone there 15-20 times in the last three years and I will continue to frequent this place as long as I'm in the College Park region!
(5)Harvey L.
I really wanted to enjoy this meal, even scouting out this place while in the area on a business trip. I ordered the lamb kebob, which came with rice, salad, and naan. The good: the naan was terrific: warm,soft and chewy. The bad: the lamb was of poor quality and cooked unevenly. I should have known the kebob was bad when I had to saw for around 20 seconds with my plastic utensils to cut the meat. When I popped the piece in my mouth, it was tough and grisly and I popped it back out. I haven't done that in public since I was a kid. Four other pieces were also tough. One was just about raw. The one good piece, which was cooked well done, was at least free of cartilage and fat. The rice was bland and flavorless. Even the juices from the meat couldn't give it any taste. The saving grace was the naan and the grape soda (which seems to be a DC area thing). The Greenbelt/College Park area seems loaded with small ethnic restaurants. This one was a miss.
(1)Kumar S.
The management has changed here in the past few years but luckily most recipies have remained the same. What i love about this place is that the food is flavorful, spicy and just damn good. They use a tandoor for the naan so its amazing and the rice is so light and fluffy. Chapli Kabob is my favorite and my mouth is watering just thinking about it!
(5)Ken L.
This place is hands down the best kabob place in college park. I don't personally to dine in here because its not the cleanest or best looking place but I always order out and I am always satisfied. The lamb kabob is magnificent and so is the chicken kabob. Make sure you get the two of the sauce because its awesome with the meat. A+ for food C for dining in.
(4)Shieva R.
Oh food factory how I loved coming here. On my latest trip here with my family (my dad is slightly obsessed with this place) we found that they're now under new management. The man who seems to be the new owner was very friendly, but I loved the old crew. I wouldn't have minded the change in ownership so much if it hadn't so negatively affected the food. The buffet was awful, everything was more greasy than before (if you knew how greasy it was to begin with you'd think it was impossible), old and some dishes were burnt but still served in the buffet. For my sake I hope they're just working the kinks out. I don't think my father is willing to give up on this place as quickly as I am, so I guess that means I'll be back.
(2)Fina A.
was planning to check out what college park downtown has to offer for food to UMD student like me, so here it is, homey-look from the outside as my dictionary says: homey-look restaurants are always geewwddddd. But oh well, I should've wrote the review like wayyy earlier cos the last time I went there was like a year ago? And I forgot what it tasted like but I know that I didn't get out of the restaurant pissed about the food, so yea, it's a decent I guess. Will I go back there? probably, I should check their menu that has nothing to do with meat because I give up on them already, so yea. It's an OK food, so three stars is perfect. Oh, I don't like how they serve the food, on a styrofoam, so not me.
(3)Grant M.
Food Factory 2 is one of the few kabob places in the area and is most accurately described as okay. It is clearly authentic and most things were prepared where you could see it. On to the food: I ordered the chicken kabob combo for just over $9. The chicken kabob was very dry. This is often the case with chicken kabobs, but this one was particularly rough. However, that being said, the seasoning on the chicken was very good. The chickpeas were good and spicy, one of the highlights of the meal. The naan (bread) was great for me because I got a fresh piece from the oven. My friend had a piece that had been sitting out and his was not nearly as good. My friend ordered the vegetable combination and thought the spanzi was delicious and the eggplant was generally good, but salty. He also agreed that the chickpeas were delicious. His only major complaint was that he found a pepper stem in his food, which is not edible. As for the cleanliness, it did seem fairly sketchy. Unfortunately, I had the opportunity to see into the backroom and witnessed something very disconcerting. One of the workers had a bucket of some seasoning or marinade, stuck his finger into it and licked it off his finger, paused, stuck the same finger back in and tried it again. This was, understandably, pretty hard to watch. I will probably go there again but only because it is different from most of the places in College Park. The prices were fairly good for the amount of food they give you. It certainly isn't my favorite kabob place and is not the cleanest, most pleasant place around.
(3)Farida A.
Food Factory has seen better days. Like 10 years ago. On my first trip back to FF in about 5 years (or more?), I called ahead to put in my orders to do carry-out. They were out of chicken jalfrezi (their best dish from what I remember) and the bihari kabab, so as I was ordering the rest of my entrees the owner said he'd throw in some chickpeas for free. How nice! Unfortunately, when I got home and opened the boxes, there was no naan as I had ordered. The chickpeas were included as sides for each meal, so now I'm wondering if they were really freebies? The chapli kabab was tough, the boneless tandoori chicken was dry, the chickpeas were more sauce than chickpea. The chicken curry was decent. The owner is so nice and has been there for years so I want to give a good review. Unfortunately the taste and quality are lacking, and Food Factory may be past it's prime.
(2)Christina H.
Good food, cheap! The lamb chops are phenomenal! The buffet has great selections, both meat and vegetarian options. And the naan is cooked TO ORDER. Get the super cheap buffet and they will bring you fresh-baked naan. The people are friendly and helpful, too. The only reason I'm not giving it 5stars is because the dining room is sometimes cold and I feel like every time I go, they've just mopped the floor with bleach and the smell lingers for a bit. But at least you know it's clean!
(4)J S.
Meh. I'm hoping DC has better. But for cheap food, it is really not bad. Buffet had good stews and the boned chicken was tender. And yes, the bread is awesome;) But they didn't have enough meat dishes on buffet and no kabuli pulau:(
(3)R S.
WARNING. DO NOT EAT FROM THAT BUFFET. What a nasty place. At $8.95, you get greasy food that will make you gag later. Im surprised the health dept hasnt made a visit. There was nothing edible imo.
(1)Luis C.
This place has gone down service is not the same. I use to come here all the time. I drove here from Columbia because the food is good. But will never come again. I come order 3 plates I ask for one plate just rice and chicken because is for my kids Nd that all they like. He got upset made look like my fault that he put some sauce on top of it. And I ask for another plate. No need to be so rude. We're are the other two guys that use to run the place.
(1)Syed A.
Chicken Biryani. Period! The best Chicken Biryani in town..hands down (or maybe I haven't eaten in many places or worse still, I don't know what I'm talking about.) Still, please go ahead and give it a shot, if you know what biryani tastes like or should taste like. I am from Hyderabad, India and I think I know what I'm talking about! Its a small and simple place in a strip mall. Good natured and courteous staff. It is close to the University of Maryland and attracts a lot of students, maybe explains why the prices here are so affordable! I was so happy and satisfied after my meal, I hunted down the chef back in the kitchen, shook hands, and complimented him on his amazing creation!
(5)Ryan B.
Can't get food and politics mixed up. Very discriminating business its a shame college park would license a business that discriminates against ethnic groups. I would never eat at this establishment and will let all my friends know. It's sad to see Afghans of all people discriminating against Armenians. Shame on you shame on you and shame on you. Armenians are proud Christian people It's so sad to see afghans, a Muslim ethnic group working against us. Proud American Armenian. God bless our country
(1)Anna Y.
My friends and I decided try out this restaurant yesterday since we had a coupon for it. When we first arrived, we asked the cashier some questions about the coupon. It took him a while to understand us and he didn't seem very welcoming either. When we were ready to order, he looked at the coupon for a long time before finally allowing us to use it. I ordered a beef kabob and the food was decent. The beef was a little tough but it was very flavorful still. I ended up getting a knife and just cutting the beef into smaller pieces. The naan was delicious though and the chickpeas were good enough that even I ate them. I would still definitely go again but maybe try the chicken kabob instead.
(3)Mike L.
After living outside College Park for a while, I have realized how amazing the Food Factory is. I wish they had a location near me, and they will definitely be a priority re-visit whenever I'm back in the area.
(5)Vincent R.
Great Buffet for a good price. Even includes Naan. Tandori chicken was very good.
(4)Paul D.
I Love this Buffet!! It's an all you can eat, Pakistani buffet for $8 Lunch, $9 dinner, & $10 weekends... I'm sold!! I really miss Ravi Kabob & Delhi Dhaba in Arlington. Thankfully, this place fills that void very well. Their bread is perfectly plain & crusty, but soft & warm inside. It contrasts the spicy food nicely. Their bread & rice are good by themselves too. On the Buffet: The Bone-in Chicken Curry is fantastic, so is the Chicken Tikka, Chick Peas, Lentils, Kabuli Pilau (sweet rice), Lamb Curry, etc. It's all good! In addition to the basics, on different days there are different items added to the buffet, like Keema, and eggplant curry. Besides the Buffet, they have Samosas, Karahi, Kabobs, Salads & wraps, and on the weekends they have Haleem and Nihari. Who needs Kabobs, when you can sample the variety of the buffet. But their meats are Halal of course. This place needs a better name. Something else with "Kabob House" in the title. Their full name is actually "Food Factory Kabob House." Nevertheless, the sign out front just says "Food Factory," which turned me off from eating here sooner... What a mistake on my part, because this place is great! The location is tucked away in a secluded shopping center hidden behind Town hall Liquors and a BP Gas Station, D.P. Dough is also located next door, here in the "Campus Village Shopping Center." You wouldn't know it's there if you were just driving up Route 1 though. So, while it's not the best Middle Eastern Kabob House I've ever eaten at, for the prices, you can't beat it! Especially if you're a poor starving College Student who needs more exposure to ethnic foods. The Chicken Curry & Chick Peas, alone, are worth the price of admission.
(4)Pear Y.
Went to Food Factory for the first time today. Their Chicken Biryani was soo good! For $5.99 you get so much more food than you can get anywhere else. The chicken was super tender. I'll definitely come back!
(5)Nil G.
I need to update my review and be fair to these guys. I've tried chickpeas and chicken curry and liked them
(3)Princess T.
My husband and I loves this place! Because of the delicious chicken biryani and beef kebab, today we ordered for a pick up order the guy on the cashier is so very nice and easy to talk to but the guy who prepared for our order is a little to slow to understand what I ordered And Im really in a hurry because we have something to do and we are really hungry. Unfortunately the guy who prepared our order didn't put all our food on the bag and I didn't get the chance to check that because Im really in a hurry, so we end up going back to work without knowing that our food in the bag is not complete, but when I call them and ask if its possible to just delivered it to us because its not really our fault they manage to deliver the food even though there not doing deliveries, and apologized with their mistake,we are very happy and satisfied to that! Thank you and we r still going back to your store :)
(5)Stanley L.
Still one of my favorite places to go to in College Park. You can get relatively cheap and good tasting Indian/Middle Eastern food here. I usually come here for the lunch buffet which is a decent deal. They have a decent selection with sweet and regular rice, different curries and vegetables, tandoori and curry chicken, and salad. A pretty good lunch spot close to campus and if you want to change up your palate.
(3)Chick P.
This place has sadly gone way downhill. Years ago this was THE place for kabobs. The biryani is oily with no biryani flavor. It's just yellow oily rice with a few pieces of meat. The chicken and lamb kabobs are so burnt. Meh.
(2)André M.
I come here at least once a month. $8.00 for the lunch buffet, which i get. Curries, veggies, rice and salad. Decent food at a decent price.
(3)A.j. R.
Vey cheap Indian food but lacking in flavor. So therefore the flavor reflects the price which is cheap tasting like their spices came from the dollar store. I love Indian food and this place is like the McDonald's of Indian.
(2)Andra N.
Best kabobs hands down. Especially for the price. I love the owner, he is always super nice anf friendly and I can tell he has pride in is store. Their naan is by far the best, freshly baked every order. I like their chickpeas and chicken kabobs but their Buffet is a solid option too.
(5)Blcksocks D.
This review is only for the buffet. The kabobs (Tandoori chicken) were not cooked properly. Naan was freshly made but wasn't very soft. I did like the greenish yellow yogurt Kadi on the buffet though. The chicken and beef curries/stew were so bland and watered down, you won't want go for a second bite. Three stars is being generous for this place.
(3)Jay R.
Excellent Indian food! I had the buffet and it was delicious. Some of the best naan I've ever had, and the tandoori chicken was really good as well. My favorite was the carrots.
(5)Umer K.
My kids and I have been going to this place over the last few years more constantly than probably some of its staff! It's amazing how they have maintained the great taste of the food. Their kabob is the best in the area, the zarda (yellow rice) is the awesome and of course their mint sauce is my daughters favorite.
(5)Emily M.
I've never dined in , just carried out. I've never had an extremely long wait time, staff is friendly, location is clean and the food is great. Would not go anywhere else.
(5)Chase K.
Great food for an amazing price. I really love the naan, samosa chaat and meat curry. Highly recommended.
(5)Benjamin C.
This place is great!! I usually get the vegetable biryani and a side of naan. The naan is fantastic, it's freshly made and tasty. The biryani comes with a large portion of rice and veggies in some curry type sauce and a small side of salad with a really good side sauce (I have no idea what it's called). They have some other good vegetarian options other than the veggie biryani. The staff are always very friendly and helpful. I definitely recommend this place to anyone who wants a fairly inexpensive and delicious quick meal in College Park.
(5)Mohammed H.
Not worth any penny. There are many halal restaurants much better than this place. The chicken is burned not tasty. The rice is reheated.
(1)Shawn M.
Awesome food - an all you can eat Indian/Pakistani/Afghan buffet for $8 Lunch, $9 dinner, $10 weekends I need to remember to eat here more often when I'm in college park - yum!
(4)Kumar P.
Really good indian food. The tandoor and chicken curry were epic. Naan and veggie dishes also great.
(5)Jacquisha C.
I went late on a Monday night for a quick kabob meal. One of the first things I noticed was the kabobs marinating in a glass display in the front; I thought that was neat. I also noticed the dinner buffet, which did not look appetizing but it didn't matter because we were ordering to go. I got the boneless chicken kabob and my boyfriend got the Gyro. One big no-no for me was the fact that the man at the register was also handling food; that could prevent me from going back. Luckily for my boyfriend, there was another man there who prepared his gyro who did not handle the money. On to the food. My kabob was fine. The rice was fine and so was the chicken; I liked it, but I wasn't in love with the flavors. The naan was great; I loved it. But, the showstopper was the gyro. It was, in every way, delicious. My boyfriend indicated that it was the best one he's tasted. I wouldn't mind going back for a kabob, but I would definitely go back for a gyro...as long as the person handling the money doesn't make it without throwing on a pair of gloves.
(3)Evert L.
There are definitely sanitary issues here the guy handling the cash is also handling the food. Not to mention they don't use gloves at all! Hello!!! Food was alright
(3)Tiwari A.
Simply amazing this place have outstanding customer service. There's a lot to choose from the buffet and I've been going here for several years that alone should say something about this place. If you're ever in the area you definitely have to check this out the price is reasonable as well.
(5)Jim L.
So many good things about Food Factory based on my 1st visit. 1. Great lunch buffet at low price. Lots of choices and very tasty. 2. Free wifi! 3. Friendly staff. 4. Complaints on yelp responded to personally by manager. (Reviewers please update your reviews! Also I don't know about food back then but today's food was really excellent. Give them another try.) Highly recommended little place. Not fancy but after all it's called Food Factory!
(5)Kathleen H.
I have been going to Food Factory for at least 10 years and I LOVE it! My husband and I go at least once a month. We have a need for this food- it's just that great! I can not get enough of the naan. I've even stopped in to get just naan, and some chai as a snack. The naan is made right there in this totally legit fire-pit thing. And I have to stress that although they have meat dishes, this is a great place for vegetarians! We are, and so it is so nice to have Food Factory around as an option that is close by. They have a lot of dishes on their buffet that are meat-less. We always get the buffet. It's a great deal and I love the variety. They have certain dishes consistently but they add new things too. I love the spinach and potatoes and peas and potatoes and the lentils, and the sweet rice for dessert. Lately they have been having this dish with carrots in it. YUM! That is one of my new faves. The price is very reasonable. The people who work there are super sweet. I am not sure about this supposed change in management that occurred around 2009? I feel like the same main guy has been there the whole time. The guy who used to make the naan is gone. And I remember another guy being there for a couple of weeks, but I think that was a relative helping out. Either way, the people are very nice. So, if you are wondering, just go check it out! It's awesome!
(5)B W.
Went for lunch on Friday last. And man, I can't stop thinking about the food I had. Took awhile to finally decide on the buffet, but when I did... heaven. I was so satisfied (tastebuds and stomach) once I left. The naan was good, and so was everything (veggie curry, chicken tandoori, curry chicken, lentils - OMG!) else. Only drawback was the "salad bar". That left a lot to be desired.
(4)Shane C.
I ate there today for lunch with some coworkers, we each got the buffet. The Buffet was on the small side but had some tasty looking items on it. Lamb Curry and Chick peas were pretty good but not delicious. Beware each piece of Naan is ala carte, and this is not advertised anywhere. We all were rudely surprised when we went for seconds. Also you must purchase drinks from a cooler, as Indian Food is spicy they get you by you getting a second bottle of water. Also a dripping air conditioner leaking on the table pretty much solidified a two star rating.
(2)Udayan K.
Cuisine: North Indian/ Pakistani/ Afgani I have eaten here a million times as I work at a 5 mins walk! The buffet is simple but more than gratifying! It's cheap - $8 and generally contains - tandoori chicken*, chicken curry, beef curry or haleem, chickpeas*, yellow daal, okra or other veg, rice, coconut sweet rice(dessert), Naan* and side salad. * Personal favorite / highly recommended The only concern that I have is that some of the items contain more oil than I would like (chicken curry, beef curry and sometimes the veggie as well). However, there are so many things to choose from, that it doesn't remain an issue. The guys are nice and polite!
(5)Nicole H.
I thought this place was okay. I've had two experiences with the Food Factory. I love Pakistani and afghan food. I also find it hard to find a decent place for it in PG County. So I normally go pretty far to get the food I like. I use to frequent Prince's Cafe a lot in HS, and it had been years and years since I visited that little strip mall. I happen to do a search on my phone to find a place to eat one night and it came up. I recognized the strip mall and thought of just going over to Prince's Cafe, even though i know it's changed. I ordered the chicken kabob to go and really liked it. The chicken wasn't as flavorful and spiced as my other favs around the city, but good none the less. A couple weeks ago, I was craving for a kabob and didn't feel like going to my staple places, so I talked my mom into coming over to the food factory with me. It had been about a year since the first time i went. I planned to just order the Kabob, but she wanted the buffet. She like a lot of her food and since I don't eat beef and they didn't have lamb on the buffet. I just enjoyed the sides and chicken. The food is good if you need a fix and for a place close by. I will probably continue to go to my favorite places in DC, Crystal City, NVA. Though I'm going to try and eat food factory a little more. If you live around the college park area and you looking for a nice place and friendly staff stop by the food factory.
(4)Sam W.
Awesome food!! I didn't go for buffett but rather ordered kabobs. Complimented it with sweet rice for desert. If you like dodh patti, then ask for milk tea. You are going to love the place. Cheap and delicious!!
(5)E L.
We've have been here a few times for the lunch/dinner buffet. Overall, for the price its pretty good. The naan is really good! It is intimidating coming here. We are never greeted when coming in or leaving, and we always feel like we are being watched when we are getting food. Also, for the buffet, they only have the bone in chicken kabob for both lunch and dinner. The dinner buffet does not have any more food, and is pretty much the same as lunch.
(3)Derrick P.
5 stars for being the best place for Afghan buffet (last time I checked, it was around $8). An extra plus in that you can fill up styrofoam cups with the water from the large bottle nearby. They cook amazing naan with it (though be careful you don't eat too much because it can fill you up for the buffet). The rice is just ordinary, you'll find better at other Afghan shops, but the actual dishes are solid. The best part of the buffet is the bone-in chicken kabob. These are probably the most tender, juicy, and flavorful pieces of chicken chunks you will ever experience - you must get them hot off the stove. A few chicken kabobs, with the fresh naan, and the green yogurt sauce, and you will definitely be in heaven. Every time I'm in the area, I make it a point to stop by here for a meal.
(5)Andromeda L.
I almost walked out the door as I just went in. Not a good atmosphere for a seat down meal, take out is the way to go. Good food. Love the chicken tandoori/kabob, lamb, and naan. Curry is too sweet for my taste. Chickpeas and rice are just fine (just don't see how bad people can do wrong on those). Salad bar is miserable. Selection is limited though, thank god the food pays off. The host creeps me out a bit. He never talked to us but kept staring and smiling at me while we were eating. I'm not sure if I'll go back.
(3)Soni Y.
Best combination of cheap & great food. This is one of those rare places where my daughter loves the food, especially the soft naan
(5)Lena W.
I can't believe I've only discovered this place recently. Actually, I take that back. This place is located in a strip mall and is called "Food Factory." I always figured it was a wholesale restaurant supply store, not an oasis of Indian food nestled within College Park's mess of pizza, Chinese, and sandwich spots. Once you step inside, however, you're treated to a mom-and-pop place that's super casual (almost to a fault) and some pretty tasty eats. You can order from the menu or opt for the buffet. We opted for the buffet to get a feel for the foods. I will say the buffet setup is a bit different. It's right by the cashier and is reminiscent of a Subway ordering line. But once you pay, you can dig right in before going to your table. I didn't think there was a wide range of food on the buffet, but all the usual suspects were there: two kinds of rice, curry chicken and goat, chickpeas, spinach, tandoori chicken, a salad bar and naan. I didn't like how the utensils are all plastic. There are Styrofoam plates, plastic silverware, and disposable napkins. They do offer free water in an orange cooler. I didn't try it because it's hard to know how long it's been there. Also, drinks are not fountain; they do offer a good array of canned sodas, Arizona teas, and a few other drinks. Just buy a few up front or pace yourself. There isn't table service, so you'll have to bus your own table when you're done. As far as the food .... it was pretty good. Not the best I've had, but for its area and customer base, it met my expectations. I really enjoyed the naan, chickpeas, and tandoori chicken. I would go back just for those 3. The salad bar was sparse, but I don't come to buffets for salad. Overall, it wasn't bad. It's definitely super casual and no-frills. As long as you go into it with realistic expectations, I think you'll enjoy.
(3)Raheem A.
Come here all the time and I love it!!! Although the Biryani could be a little better. Other then that it's a great place with fair prices and good food . With amazing tandoori chicken and Naan
(5)Alexandra M.
I'm sorry to pooh-pooh this place, after all, plenty of people rave about it to me. But the buffet is so mediocre and it's not especially cheap, either. I get kabobs here usually, which are okay but not the divine experience I crave from Afghani kabobs. Compared with the downward spiral of the train-wreck Prince Cafe next door however, this is definitely the better option.
(3)Maggie F.
Definitely not an eye-catching place, but the huge '5.99 gyro' sign caught my attention and well, being the poor college student that I am, the price was reasonable. i was pleasantly surprised by the gryo--cheap and superb! wrapped in fresh bread... the meat is tender and well flavored. There's a little bit of goat cheese, lettuce and tomatoes. Simple but delicious!!! I've eaten there many times already, introducing new guests to the place, and they've all been very satisfied!! There's also a buffet, which I've also tried (8.99 I believe). The curry (?) chicken and potatoes aren't bad... but the rest of the dishes are mediocre. Not that great. Go with the gyro. Do it!
(4)Anonymous X.
Where does one start: the awesome food or the nicest, politest owner? For someone of South Asian ethnicity, this joint offers absolutely succulent cuisine, reminiscent of the fare back home and at affordable rates for students. The buffet is awesome, with a variety of veg and non-veg dishes and the biriyani is absolutely amazing as well. Top it off with the owner who goes out of his way to make conversation, seems genuinely interested in what's happening in your neck of the woods, and throws in the occasional freebie such as juices to go for kids. I've gone there 15-20 times in the last three years and I will continue to frequent this place as long as I'm in the College Park region!
(5)Gabriel O.
The food is good and unbelievably cheap. So, the value is high. Authentic South East Asian cuisine. Free water (possibly because of Ramadan). Food is Halal. Only complaint is some other patrons and I had to request they refill the chicken tandoori in the buffet. In conclusion, if you're in the mood for quick, cheap, and authentic Indo-Pakistani cuisine, this is the place to go.
(5)Harvey L.
I really wanted to enjoy this meal, even scouting out this place while in the area on a business trip. I ordered the lamb kebob, which came with rice, salad, and naan. The good: the naan was terrific: warm,soft and chewy. The bad: the lamb was of poor quality and cooked unevenly. I should have known the kebob was bad when I had to saw for around 20 seconds with my plastic utensils to cut the meat. When I popped the piece in my mouth, it was tough and grisly and I popped it back out. I haven't done that in public since I was a kid. Four other pieces were also tough. One was just about raw. The one good piece, which was cooked well done, was at least free of cartilage and fat. The rice was bland and flavorless. Even the juices from the meat couldn't give it any taste. The saving grace was the naan and the grape soda (which seems to be a DC area thing). The Greenbelt/College Park area seems loaded with small ethnic restaurants. This one was a miss.
(1)Kumar S.
The management has changed here in the past few years but luckily most recipies have remained the same. What i love about this place is that the food is flavorful, spicy and just damn good. They use a tandoor for the naan so its amazing and the rice is so light and fluffy. Chapli Kabob is my favorite and my mouth is watering just thinking about it!
(5)Ken L.
This place is hands down the best kabob place in college park. I don't personally to dine in here because its not the cleanest or best looking place but I always order out and I am always satisfied. The lamb kabob is magnificent and so is the chicken kabob. Make sure you get the two of the sauce because its awesome with the meat. A+ for food C for dining in.
(4)Shieva R.
Oh food factory how I loved coming here. On my latest trip here with my family (my dad is slightly obsessed with this place) we found that they're now under new management. The man who seems to be the new owner was very friendly, but I loved the old crew. I wouldn't have minded the change in ownership so much if it hadn't so negatively affected the food. The buffet was awful, everything was more greasy than before (if you knew how greasy it was to begin with you'd think it was impossible), old and some dishes were burnt but still served in the buffet. For my sake I hope they're just working the kinks out. I don't think my father is willing to give up on this place as quickly as I am, so I guess that means I'll be back.
(2)Fina A.
was planning to check out what college park downtown has to offer for food to UMD student like me, so here it is, homey-look from the outside as my dictionary says: homey-look restaurants are always geewwddddd. But oh well, I should've wrote the review like wayyy earlier cos the last time I went there was like a year ago? And I forgot what it tasted like but I know that I didn't get out of the restaurant pissed about the food, so yea, it's a decent I guess. Will I go back there? probably, I should check their menu that has nothing to do with meat because I give up on them already, so yea. It's an OK food, so three stars is perfect. Oh, I don't like how they serve the food, on a styrofoam, so not me.
(3)Grant M.
Food Factory 2 is one of the few kabob places in the area and is most accurately described as okay. It is clearly authentic and most things were prepared where you could see it. On to the food: I ordered the chicken kabob combo for just over $9. The chicken kabob was very dry. This is often the case with chicken kabobs, but this one was particularly rough. However, that being said, the seasoning on the chicken was very good. The chickpeas were good and spicy, one of the highlights of the meal. The naan (bread) was great for me because I got a fresh piece from the oven. My friend had a piece that had been sitting out and his was not nearly as good. My friend ordered the vegetable combination and thought the spanzi was delicious and the eggplant was generally good, but salty. He also agreed that the chickpeas were delicious. His only major complaint was that he found a pepper stem in his food, which is not edible. As for the cleanliness, it did seem fairly sketchy. Unfortunately, I had the opportunity to see into the backroom and witnessed something very disconcerting. One of the workers had a bucket of some seasoning or marinade, stuck his finger into it and licked it off his finger, paused, stuck the same finger back in and tried it again. This was, understandably, pretty hard to watch. I will probably go there again but only because it is different from most of the places in College Park. The prices were fairly good for the amount of food they give you. It certainly isn't my favorite kabob place and is not the cleanest, most pleasant place around.
(3)Farida A.
Food Factory has seen better days. Like 10 years ago. On my first trip back to FF in about 5 years (or more?), I called ahead to put in my orders to do carry-out. They were out of chicken jalfrezi (their best dish from what I remember) and the bihari kabab, so as I was ordering the rest of my entrees the owner said he'd throw in some chickpeas for free. How nice! Unfortunately, when I got home and opened the boxes, there was no naan as I had ordered. The chickpeas were included as sides for each meal, so now I'm wondering if they were really freebies? The chapli kabab was tough, the boneless tandoori chicken was dry, the chickpeas were more sauce than chickpea. The chicken curry was decent. The owner is so nice and has been there for years so I want to give a good review. Unfortunately the taste and quality are lacking, and Food Factory may be past it's prime.
(2)Christina H.
Good food, cheap! The lamb chops are phenomenal! The buffet has great selections, both meat and vegetarian options. And the naan is cooked TO ORDER. Get the super cheap buffet and they will bring you fresh-baked naan. The people are friendly and helpful, too. The only reason I'm not giving it 5stars is because the dining room is sometimes cold and I feel like every time I go, they've just mopped the floor with bleach and the smell lingers for a bit. But at least you know it's clean!
(4)J S.
Meh. I'm hoping DC has better. But for cheap food, it is really not bad. Buffet had good stews and the boned chicken was tender. And yes, the bread is awesome;) But they didn't have enough meat dishes on buffet and no kabuli pulau:(
(3)R S.
WARNING. DO NOT EAT FROM THAT BUFFET. What a nasty place. At $8.95, you get greasy food that will make you gag later. Im surprised the health dept hasnt made a visit. There was nothing edible imo.
(1)Jason H.
2.5 Stars. What the hell is up with Indian joints not heating their establishments? (Went here a couple months ago.) I was sitting here in the heatwave thinking of cold places and remembered Food Factory -TWO-. The buffet seemed mediocre and not of much value. I think I would have been better offer trying the kebab for around the same price. The naan was quite tasty and fresh before it froze in the cold air.
(3)steve t.
Great lunch buffet...$8 all you can eat. Nothing fancy to look at but lots of choices, meat and vegetarian alike and the naan is super. If I have to choose between Food Factory and the Bobby Flay burger joint across the street, it's no contest. Go eat here!
(4)L C.
Some of the best food in college park, especially if you're a fan of Middle Eastern or Western Asian/Southern Asian food. The nann bread when you get them fresh are absolutely delicious. Some of the best lamb kabobs you can ever get. The mashed chickpeas-beef dish was also great - this was a dish one of the employees recommended me. He said the wonderful explosion of beef comes out of nowhere, and he was right! Prices are about $8 for a meal, which isn't too bad considering if you're a student and live on campus, the meals comes out to $10! (the North and South campus diner charges you $1 for an apple! and $5 for 2 scoops of icecream!)
(5)Maria P.
One of the best deals around. Kebabs cooked to order, generous mango lassis, South Asian desserts by the pound (did someone say gulab jamun?), and the best part: the freshly-made tandoori naan. The vegetarian dishes are good, too. When I was a vegetarian I regularly helped myself to large amounts of Food Factory's tadka dal. A fancy restaurant this ain't--order at the counter and your number will be shouted at you in about ten minutes, at which point you carry your tray over to your table. No, the atmosphere's not memorable. But I never cared and neither should you! Tip: do not stuff your face at Food Factory before a yoga class or any other physical activity. You'll need a little while to digest. Ask me how I know this.
(4)Satvik B.
Had a *fantastic* dinner experience here. My wife and I came originally thinking this was a falafel place, only to be surprised with delicious lamb kabobs. Every part of the food-the bread, meat, cucumber sauce, and side dishes were all great. The service was great as well. I asked for side dishes without onions, because I don't like onions. The manager checked with the chef and warned me that the main dishes used onion powder-just to make sure I wouldn't suffer from allergies! Absolutely recommended.
(5)smitha k.
I stopped by for lunch today and got an uncooked chicken kabob and bread. Really nasty food and i would not go there again.
(1)Adam P.
Service was friendly. I only waited 10 minutes for the kabobs to be cooked fresh. They were tasty and well worth the wait. The rice was somewhat bland but the fresh bread made to order made up for it.
(3)Sae K.
To complain about lunch buffet that you pay 7.99 for, is just ludicrous. There are some people here that are complaining that this place isn't up to par. YOU PAY 7.99 for lunch buffet. All you can eat. If you want Top quality along with all you can eat, you SHOULD go somewhere else. Yesterday i had some time to kill in CP. I went to Food Factory because I really like their bone in Chicken. I found out recently that they don't serve it for dinner buffet, but only for lunch. And since i work in Georgetown, it was a real committment to go there for lunch. Anyway, I see the sign that says, 'Under New Management' and i am hoping, PLEASE still have the bone in chicken... I walk in, and it's exactly the same as before. Rice, chick peas, spinach, lentil, ground beef curry, peas and potato. and curry chicken and bone in chicken kabab and bread. and their bread is REALLY excellent and now cut in half and allow you to take as many as you like. i have about 10 piece of chicken with half bread. and 1 1/2 plates of rice and everything mentioned above. It was hard tryin to fight off the grease on my serving spoon as i was helping myself to the curry dishes and veggies. but afterwards i thought, u know, i should have just had the chicken and bread and rice.... Bottom line is, i walked out full and very satisfied and thought to myself, i wish they had one o these in GTOWN for $7.99... i would be ALLLL over that... will i come back here again if i was starved? Yes. is the chicken still very good? Yes... is the bread good? Yes... quit complaining about paying $7.99 for a buffet. go some place and spend real money u cheap skates but leave food factory alone!!!
(4)Tony L.
My wife and I come here just for the naan. This Afgani/Pakistani/Indian restaurant also makes some of the best kabobs around, and their rich, heavily-spiced curries are delicious, too. These guys know their way around a tandoor, especially when it comes to making perfectly fluffy, soft, crispy flatbread. If you come late in the lunch or dinner hours, order fresh, as the buffet items may have been around a while. A spicy, fresh-grilled chapli kabob wrapped in warm naan won't disappoint you. The only thing holding this place back from a 5-star rating is the order format and dining room. As mentioned before, you order at the counter and pick up your tray when it's ready. The dining area is always cold (some may like that), with sterile overhead flourescents and entirely utilitarian decor. But if you just want good naan, kabobs, and curries, and don't care about the setting, you can't go wrong here.
(4)Mark M.
Great kabobs! The lunch special (all you can eat buffet) is a good deal if you're starving, but I was filled after one plate of food with naan.
(4)Princess T.
My husband and I loves this place! Because of the delicious chicken biryani and beef kebab, today we ordered for a pick up order the guy on the cashier is so very nice and easy to talk to but the guy who prepared for our order is a little to slow to understand what I ordered And Im really in a hurry because we have something to do and we are really hungry. Unfortunately the guy who prepared our order didn't put all our food on the bag and I didn't get the chance to check that because Im really in a hurry, so we end up going back to work without knowing that our food in the bag is not complete, but when I call them and ask if its possible to just delivered it to us because its not really our fault they manage to deliver the food even though there not doing deliveries, and apologized with their mistake,we are very happy and satisfied to that! Thank you and we r still going back to your store :)
(5)Stanley L.
Still one of my favorite places to go to in College Park. You can get relatively cheap and good tasting Indian/Middle Eastern food here. I usually come here for the lunch buffet which is a decent deal. They have a decent selection with sweet and regular rice, different curries and vegetables, tandoori and curry chicken, and salad. A pretty good lunch spot close to campus and if you want to change up your palate.
(3)Chick P.
This place has sadly gone way downhill. Years ago this was THE place for kabobs. The biryani is oily with no biryani flavor. It's just yellow oily rice with a few pieces of meat. The chicken and lamb kabobs are so burnt. Meh.
(2)Kathleen H.
I have been going to Food Factory for at least 10 years and I LOVE it! My husband and I go at least once a month. We have a need for this food- it's just that great! I can not get enough of the naan. I've even stopped in to get just naan, and some chai as a snack. The naan is made right there in this totally legit fire-pit thing. And I have to stress that although they have meat dishes, this is a great place for vegetarians! We are, and so it is so nice to have Food Factory around as an option that is close by. They have a lot of dishes on their buffet that are meat-less. We always get the buffet. It's a great deal and I love the variety. They have certain dishes consistently but they add new things too. I love the spinach and potatoes and peas and potatoes and the lentils, and the sweet rice for dessert. Lately they have been having this dish with carrots in it. YUM! That is one of my new faves. The price is very reasonable. The people who work there are super sweet. I am not sure about this supposed change in management that occurred around 2009? I feel like the same main guy has been there the whole time. The guy who used to make the naan is gone. And I remember another guy being there for a couple of weeks, but I think that was a relative helping out. Either way, the people are very nice. So, if you are wondering, just go check it out! It's awesome!
(5)B W.
Went for lunch on Friday last. And man, I can't stop thinking about the food I had. Took awhile to finally decide on the buffet, but when I did... heaven. I was so satisfied (tastebuds and stomach) once I left. The naan was good, and so was everything (veggie curry, chicken tandoori, curry chicken, lentils - OMG!) else. Only drawback was the "salad bar". That left a lot to be desired.
(4)Shane C.
I ate there today for lunch with some coworkers, we each got the buffet. The Buffet was on the small side but had some tasty looking items on it. Lamb Curry and Chick peas were pretty good but not delicious. Beware each piece of Naan is ala carte, and this is not advertised anywhere. We all were rudely surprised when we went for seconds. Also you must purchase drinks from a cooler, as Indian Food is spicy they get you by you getting a second bottle of water. Also a dripping air conditioner leaking on the table pretty much solidified a two star rating.
(2)Udayan K.
Cuisine: North Indian/ Pakistani/ Afgani I have eaten here a million times as I work at a 5 mins walk! The buffet is simple but more than gratifying! It's cheap - $8 and generally contains - tandoori chicken*, chicken curry, beef curry or haleem, chickpeas*, yellow daal, okra or other veg, rice, coconut sweet rice(dessert), Naan* and side salad. * Personal favorite / highly recommended The only concern that I have is that some of the items contain more oil than I would like (chicken curry, beef curry and sometimes the veggie as well). However, there are so many things to choose from, that it doesn't remain an issue. The guys are nice and polite!
(5)Jim L.
So many good things about Food Factory based on my 1st visit. 1. Great lunch buffet at low price. Lots of choices and very tasty. 2. Free wifi! 3. Friendly staff. 4. Complaints on yelp responded to personally by manager. (Reviewers please update your reviews! Also I don't know about food back then but today's food was really excellent. Give them another try.) Highly recommended little place. Not fancy but after all it's called Food Factory!
(5)Nicole H.
I thought this place was okay. I've had two experiences with the Food Factory. I love Pakistani and afghan food. I also find it hard to find a decent place for it in PG County. So I normally go pretty far to get the food I like. I use to frequent Prince's Cafe a lot in HS, and it had been years and years since I visited that little strip mall. I happen to do a search on my phone to find a place to eat one night and it came up. I recognized the strip mall and thought of just going over to Prince's Cafe, even though i know it's changed. I ordered the chicken kabob to go and really liked it. The chicken wasn't as flavorful and spiced as my other favs around the city, but good none the less. A couple weeks ago, I was craving for a kabob and didn't feel like going to my staple places, so I talked my mom into coming over to the food factory with me. It had been about a year since the first time i went. I planned to just order the Kabob, but she wanted the buffet. She like a lot of her food and since I don't eat beef and they didn't have lamb on the buffet. I just enjoyed the sides and chicken. The food is good if you need a fix and for a place close by. I will probably continue to go to my favorite places in DC, Crystal City, NVA. Though I'm going to try and eat food factory a little more. If you live around the college park area and you looking for a nice place and friendly staff stop by the food factory.
(4)Sam W.
Awesome food!! I didn't go for buffett but rather ordered kabobs. Complimented it with sweet rice for desert. If you like dodh patti, then ask for milk tea. You are going to love the place. Cheap and delicious!!
(5)E L.
We've have been here a few times for the lunch/dinner buffet. Overall, for the price its pretty good. The naan is really good! It is intimidating coming here. We are never greeted when coming in or leaving, and we always feel like we are being watched when we are getting food. Also, for the buffet, they only have the bone in chicken kabob for both lunch and dinner. The dinner buffet does not have any more food, and is pretty much the same as lunch.
(3)Derrick P.
5 stars for being the best place for Afghan buffet (last time I checked, it was around $8). An extra plus in that you can fill up styrofoam cups with the water from the large bottle nearby. They cook amazing naan with it (though be careful you don't eat too much because it can fill you up for the buffet). The rice is just ordinary, you'll find better at other Afghan shops, but the actual dishes are solid. The best part of the buffet is the bone-in chicken kabob. These are probably the most tender, juicy, and flavorful pieces of chicken chunks you will ever experience - you must get them hot off the stove. A few chicken kabobs, with the fresh naan, and the green yogurt sauce, and you will definitely be in heaven. Every time I'm in the area, I make it a point to stop by here for a meal.
(5)Kevin T.
Decent place to grab lunch, ~$10 buffet
(3)Timir D.
Fairly authentic pakistani food. The kebabs are quite decent, but the other dishes have an excess amount of oil. But they still taste good. The bread leaves something to be desired, but is a pretty good attempt at naan/tandoori roti. All things considered this place has good food compared to most other places in CP. The $8 buffet is a pretty good deal considering how much sandwiches cost on campus.
(3)Che-Kuan L.
The chicken curry is very good!
(4)Theo P.
Looks like a hoe in ground because it is. Food not the greatest, the pita was stil dough-y. Buffet a little pricey for the quality you get. With so many other great restaurants in the area i got stuck with this one... try elsewhere.
(1)Puja L.
Stopped by to visit a friend in college park and I couldn't think of a place I reeeaaally would love to go to. So we were driving by here and I remembered liking some of their food in college, so I thought we'd check it out. The under new management sign worried me a little because I wasn't sure how it would be. The first person who helped us seemed to be in quite a hurry and kept trying to run away while we decided on our order. We ended up sharing a combo kabob platter. The food took quite a while, so we sat at the table in front of the display case and waited. We were given our food to go (even though we had never asked for this) and I'm not a big fan of wasting disposables. Anyway, on to the food! Every other chicken kabob was good. Haha, yup - about 50% tasty. The rest of them were dry. The beef kabob was pretty tasty, but again dry. The chickpeas were oddly sweet, and just not generally the flavor I have come to expect. And the chutney was really watery. The food was fine, but not cheap, and not really what I was expecting. The owner was very sweet and gave us an extra gulab jamun for free (I'm pretty sure it's because my friend is beautiful). He seemed to also be handing out extra naans to other customers for free, and they weren't as pretty.
(2)Hannah R.
This place is by far the best Pakistani restaurant I've been to. It is a bit of a hole in the wall, but the service and food was great! And get this- they have a REAL TANDOOR! So they cook their meats over charcoal and make their naan in a tandoor oven. Seriously, I haven't had such authentic food since I went to Pakistan.
(4)Dan S.
Not a great atmosphere at all, however the food is delicious. I would never go here for a sit down meal, but carry out is the way too go. Fair pricing. Delicious chicken kabob and chickpeas
(3)Richard I.
Great South and Central Asian food made fresh daily at a good price. Their freshly made soft, warm naan melts in your mouth like butter.
(4)Feyi B.
Def do the buffet! Its worth it. Theres not a huge selection of food, but just about everything on the platter is GOOD! The only thing I couldn't get with was the yellow sweet rice. It was literally like rice n sugar... The two just dont add up on my pallet. Ambiance is your typical table n chair/ cafeteria setup. Nothing spectacular. But the food will take your mind off the ambiance. Even if you dont do the buffet, you can get a kabob dish to go and you'll still enjoy the food.
(4)Michelle T.
The food is great! I will be back. Not sure about the buffet though... The buffet food looked good and the people who ate at the buffet said it was amazing (I got take out_... but it is kinda weird walking up to the front where the cashier is watching you take your seconds.... I mean its a buffet! Let them eat!
(4)Jack W.
Good lord, this place was atrocious. I came in at three and ordered a lunch buffet, the food at the buffet bar were all about cold, bland, and just all around terrible. The restaurant itself is poorly presented, and very unclean. The people were nice, but that's not enough to make this place a worthwhile place to eat.
(1)Soni Y.
Best combination of cheap & great food. This is one of those rare places where my daughter loves the food, especially the soft naan
(5)Umer K.
My kids and I have been going to this place over the last few years more constantly than probably some of its staff! It's amazing how they have maintained the great taste of the food. Their kabob is the best in the area, the zarda (yellow rice) is the awesome and of course their mint sauce is my daughters favorite.
(5)Emily M.
I've never dined in , just carried out. I've never had an extremely long wait time, staff is friendly, location is clean and the food is great. Would not go anywhere else.
(5)Chase K.
Great food for an amazing price. I really love the naan, samosa chaat and meat curry. Highly recommended.
(5)André M.
I come here at least once a month. $8.00 for the lunch buffet, which i get. Curries, veggies, rice and salad. Decent food at a decent price.
(3)A.j. R.
Vey cheap Indian food but lacking in flavor. So therefore the flavor reflects the price which is cheap tasting like their spices came from the dollar store. I love Indian food and this place is like the McDonald's of Indian.
(2)Andra N.
Best kabobs hands down. Especially for the price. I love the owner, he is always super nice anf friendly and I can tell he has pride in is store. Their naan is by far the best, freshly baked every order. I like their chickpeas and chicken kabobs but their Buffet is a solid option too.
(5)Blcksocks D.
This review is only for the buffet. The kabobs (Tandoori chicken) were not cooked properly. Naan was freshly made but wasn't very soft. I did like the greenish yellow yogurt Kadi on the buffet though. The chicken and beef curries/stew were so bland and watered down, you won't want go for a second bite. Three stars is being generous for this place.
(3)Jay R.
Excellent Indian food! I had the buffet and it was delicious. Some of the best naan I've ever had, and the tandoori chicken was really good as well. My favorite was the carrots.
(5)Ryan B.
Can't get food and politics mixed up. Very discriminating business its a shame college park would license a business that discriminates against ethnic groups. I would never eat at this establishment and will let all my friends know. It's sad to see Afghans of all people discriminating against Armenians. Shame on you shame on you and shame on you. Armenians are proud Christian people It's so sad to see afghans, a Muslim ethnic group working against us. Proud American Armenian. God bless our country
(1)Andromeda L.
I almost walked out the door as I just went in. Not a good atmosphere for a seat down meal, take out is the way to go. Good food. Love the chicken tandoori/kabob, lamb, and naan. Curry is too sweet for my taste. Chickpeas and rice are just fine (just don't see how bad people can do wrong on those). Salad bar is miserable. Selection is limited though, thank god the food pays off. The host creeps me out a bit. He never talked to us but kept staring and smiling at me while we were eating. I'm not sure if I'll go back.
(3)Lena W.
I can't believe I've only discovered this place recently. Actually, I take that back. This place is located in a strip mall and is called "Food Factory." I always figured it was a wholesale restaurant supply store, not an oasis of Indian food nestled within College Park's mess of pizza, Chinese, and sandwich spots. Once you step inside, however, you're treated to a mom-and-pop place that's super casual (almost to a fault) and some pretty tasty eats. You can order from the menu or opt for the buffet. We opted for the buffet to get a feel for the foods. I will say the buffet setup is a bit different. It's right by the cashier and is reminiscent of a Subway ordering line. But once you pay, you can dig right in before going to your table. I didn't think there was a wide range of food on the buffet, but all the usual suspects were there: two kinds of rice, curry chicken and goat, chickpeas, spinach, tandoori chicken, a salad bar and naan. I didn't like how the utensils are all plastic. There are Styrofoam plates, plastic silverware, and disposable napkins. They do offer free water in an orange cooler. I didn't try it because it's hard to know how long it's been there. Also, drinks are not fountain; they do offer a good array of canned sodas, Arizona teas, and a few other drinks. Just buy a few up front or pace yourself. There isn't table service, so you'll have to bus your own table when you're done. As far as the food .... it was pretty good. Not the best I've had, but for its area and customer base, it met my expectations. I really enjoyed the naan, chickpeas, and tandoori chicken. I would go back just for those 3. The salad bar was sparse, but I don't come to buffets for salad. Overall, it wasn't bad. It's definitely super casual and no-frills. As long as you go into it with realistic expectations, I think you'll enjoy.
(3)Raheem A.
Come here all the time and I love it!!! Although the Biryani could be a little better. Other then that it's a great place with fair prices and good food . With amazing tandoori chicken and Naan
(5)Luis C.
This place has gone down service is not the same. I use to come here all the time. I drove here from Columbia because the food is good. But will never come again. I come order 3 plates I ask for one plate just rice and chicken because is for my kids Nd that all they like. He got upset made look like my fault that he put some sauce on top of it. And I ask for another plate. No need to be so rude. We're are the other two guys that use to run the place.
(1)Syed A.
Chicken Biryani. Period! The best Chicken Biryani in town..hands down (or maybe I haven't eaten in many places or worse still, I don't know what I'm talking about.) Still, please go ahead and give it a shot, if you know what biryani tastes like or should taste like. I am from Hyderabad, India and I think I know what I'm talking about! Its a small and simple place in a strip mall. Good natured and courteous staff. It is close to the University of Maryland and attracts a lot of students, maybe explains why the prices here are so affordable! I was so happy and satisfied after my meal, I hunted down the chef back in the kitchen, shook hands, and complimented him on his amazing creation!
(5)Mike L.
After living outside College Park for a while, I have realized how amazing the Food Factory is. I wish they had a location near me, and they will definitely be a priority re-visit whenever I'm back in the area.
(5)Vincent R.
Great Buffet for a good price. Even includes Naan. Tandori chicken was very good.
(4)Paul D.
I Love this Buffet!! It's an all you can eat, Pakistani buffet for $8 Lunch, $9 dinner, & $10 weekends... I'm sold!! I really miss Ravi Kabob & Delhi Dhaba in Arlington. Thankfully, this place fills that void very well. Their bread is perfectly plain & crusty, but soft & warm inside. It contrasts the spicy food nicely. Their bread & rice are good by themselves too. On the Buffet: The Bone-in Chicken Curry is fantastic, so is the Chicken Tikka, Chick Peas, Lentils, Kabuli Pilau (sweet rice), Lamb Curry, etc. It's all good! In addition to the basics, on different days there are different items added to the buffet, like Keema, and eggplant curry. Besides the Buffet, they have Samosas, Karahi, Kabobs, Salads & wraps, and on the weekends they have Haleem and Nihari. Who needs Kabobs, when you can sample the variety of the buffet. But their meats are Halal of course. This place needs a better name. Something else with "Kabob House" in the title. Their full name is actually "Food Factory Kabob House." Nevertheless, the sign out front just says "Food Factory," which turned me off from eating here sooner... What a mistake on my part, because this place is great! The location is tucked away in a secluded shopping center hidden behind Town hall Liquors and a BP Gas Station, D.P. Dough is also located next door, here in the "Campus Village Shopping Center." You wouldn't know it's there if you were just driving up Route 1 though. So, while it's not the best Middle Eastern Kabob House I've ever eaten at, for the prices, you can't beat it! Especially if you're a poor starving College Student who needs more exposure to ethnic foods. The Chicken Curry & Chick Peas, alone, are worth the price of admission.
(4)Pear Y.
Went to Food Factory for the first time today. Their Chicken Biryani was soo good! For $5.99 you get so much more food than you can get anywhere else. The chicken was super tender. I'll definitely come back!
(5)Shawn M.
Awesome food - an all you can eat Indian/Pakistani/Afghan buffet for $8 Lunch, $9 dinner, $10 weekends I need to remember to eat here more often when I'm in college park - yum!
(4)Kumar P.
Really good indian food. The tandoor and chicken curry were epic. Naan and veggie dishes also great.
(5)Jacquisha C.
I went late on a Monday night for a quick kabob meal. One of the first things I noticed was the kabobs marinating in a glass display in the front; I thought that was neat. I also noticed the dinner buffet, which did not look appetizing but it didn't matter because we were ordering to go. I got the boneless chicken kabob and my boyfriend got the Gyro. One big no-no for me was the fact that the man at the register was also handling food; that could prevent me from going back. Luckily for my boyfriend, there was another man there who prepared his gyro who did not handle the money. On to the food. My kabob was fine. The rice was fine and so was the chicken; I liked it, but I wasn't in love with the flavors. The naan was great; I loved it. But, the showstopper was the gyro. It was, in every way, delicious. My boyfriend indicated that it was the best one he's tasted. I wouldn't mind going back for a kabob, but I would definitely go back for a gyro...as long as the person handling the money doesn't make it without throwing on a pair of gloves.
(3)Evert L.
There are definitely sanitary issues here the guy handling the cash is also handling the food. Not to mention they don't use gloves at all! Hello!!! Food was alright
(3)Tiwari A.
Simply amazing this place have outstanding customer service. There's a lot to choose from the buffet and I've been going here for several years that alone should say something about this place. If you're ever in the area you definitely have to check this out the price is reasonable as well.
(5)Nil G.
I need to update my review and be fair to these guys. I've tried chickpeas and chicken curry and liked them
(3)Anna Y.
My friends and I decided try out this restaurant yesterday since we had a coupon for it. When we first arrived, we asked the cashier some questions about the coupon. It took him a while to understand us and he didn't seem very welcoming either. When we were ready to order, he looked at the coupon for a long time before finally allowing us to use it. I ordered a beef kabob and the food was decent. The beef was a little tough but it was very flavorful still. I ended up getting a knife and just cutting the beef into smaller pieces. The naan was delicious though and the chickpeas were good enough that even I ate them. I would still definitely go again but maybe try the chicken kabob instead.
(3)Benjamin C.
This place is great!! I usually get the vegetable biryani and a side of naan. The naan is fantastic, it's freshly made and tasty. The biryani comes with a large portion of rice and veggies in some curry type sauce and a small side of salad with a really good side sauce (I have no idea what it's called). They have some other good vegetarian options other than the veggie biryani. The staff are always very friendly and helpful. I definitely recommend this place to anyone who wants a fairly inexpensive and delicious quick meal in College Park.
(5)Mohammed H.
Not worth any penny. There are many halal restaurants much better than this place. The chicken is burned not tasty. The rice is reheated.
(1)