This place has the best rice. I can't even explain it. It's just got the perfect texture. Great flavor. Just worth it. Great veggie options. Just all around good food. Good variety and great price for such quality.
(5)
Jenny B.
For those of you who are familiar with real Indian food-- go somewhere else. The store bought pita from a bag served as "naan" is an indication of their authenticity. If you want tons of cheap food and aren't particularly picky, go for it!!
(1)
Yaz R.
A decent indian fast food restaurant. I tried the middle spicy chicken and chickpeas with mint chutney. It was very savory and I thought I'd feel upset but my stomach handled it pretty well. I will come back to try the vindaloo.
(4)
Anne K.
I just ate here a few days ago for the first time, and the Makhani was delicious. Like, the kind of delicious that has been haunting my taste buds, begging for more...
(5)
Dan H.
Food overload. Food overload. This places serves a ton of food and asks for very little money in return. I feel like I'm going to have an Indian food baby in a few moments. Probably information you weren't looking for in this review. I'm sure I've walked by this place many times, but it is very unassuming from the outside that I never walked in. My friend swears by it, so we met up for lunch and she took me here. I had the Spicy Chicken Vindaloo which is tender boneless chicken cooked in an exotic blend of spices, fresh tomatoes and vinegar and comes over rice with a choice of one vegetable dish. I went with the zucchini. I love when the word exotic is used to describe my food. It makes me feel like I'm somewhere else. Ok, no it doesn't but I digress. The plate was $6. Are you f'ing kidding me? All this food for $6? I haven't taken a bite and I already love this place. So, the food was plated up and we went to find a seat. Time to dig in. Chicken ass nice and tender (as advertised) and the exotic spices are definitely exotic. Nice heat was building on my tongue which is never a bad thing. The veggies tasted fresh and the cilantro on top was a nice bonus. A mango juice and two glasses of water later (yes, I know milk would be better) and the heat was still pouring from my mouth. Maybe not quite pouring, but you get the image. So, another good meal in Stumptown for under $10.
(4)
Ross M.
After walking by this place hundreds of times on my way to work, I decided to give it a try today. Man... I'm I glad I did. Good food, good price and fast, friendly service.
(4)
Holy-foo' X.
The spice-infused curry and vindalhoo delivers SUCH an endorphin kick. How am I supposed to let anything worry me, now that I've been shot plum way over the moon? Make sure to ask for the shrimp or the lamb specials, extra spicy! You might not stop floating for the rest o' the day.... I now understand how it was that Gandhi was able to ever remain such a peaceful soul...
(5)
Tim E.
I would give this place three stars if the rice was basmati, or even if this plain white rice was given just a touch of flavor. I'd give it four if the naan was more than a tiny slice and if the spinach wasn't a runny puddle. The flavor of the chicken makhani is nice and the spice is right at my level. The chicken vindaloo is also quite tasty. The mixed veg is pretty decent and the cauliflower is kinda bland. The rice just kills it for me, though. Ugh, just had a bite of this naan. I guess I'm okay with there being so little of it, because who would want more? It's just a shame to have such flavorful dishes served with such thoughtless bases. Indian food is a special occasion for me, so next time I'll probably just spend an extra couple of dollars and go to Tandoor.
(2)
Tim M.
If I could give six stars for value, this would be it. Gandhi's occupies a small corner of a funky food mall with revolving vendors across the street from Yamhill Marketplace and catty corner from the PGE building. For about six bucks I get an ample serving of the best chicken Vindaloo in town, a serious helping of rice, choice of veggie side dish (Creamed spinach for me), choice of condiments (I'll take the cilantro, hot stuff, yogurt stuff...ah..just make it a little bit of everything), and a piece of naan. The water behind you is free. Don't let the prices fool you, this is seriously good Indian food, I've had almost everything here and it has all been delicious. I could go on about the menu, but I saw it posted here so you can check it out yourself. Man, I'm making my mouth water, I think I'll go here for lunch today!
(5)
Nick M.
This Indian cafe is housed in the shell of a disused Burger King, and no effort has really been spent on disguising this fact. It lends the place the feel of that kind of mall in South Asia that has a clinically modern architecture with little food-cart style vendors. The result is the impression of a kind of post-capitalist colonization of corporate spaces by small businesses. In any event, the food is very authentically asian, although not particularly spicy. In a town that really lacks much great Indian food, this is a welcome find.
(5)
Jessica M.
I had never had Indian food before, so that is probably part of it, but this place is great! I got the Chicken Vindhaloo with medium spice, but they let me try the spicy. Next time, I think I will go with the spicy for the extra flavor. Good cheap lunch option.
(4)
James B.
Mahatma Gandhi once said, "Be the change you want to see in the world." This little lunch Nirvana changes everything. If you like Indian food, this place is Americanized in it's default heat settings. You can always add some chutney or suitable sauce to find your chi. However, like Indian food or not, this stuff is the next best thing to enlightenment. The chicken, always tender. The vegetables, always fresh. And that goes for the food in general. I could sit and eat their mint chutney with a spoon. I don't get bowled over with a restaurant very often. This place tureened me upside the head. The owner and his staff are beyond friendly and show immense respect for their patrons. They personify the Portland spirit by being extremely eco-conscious, engaging in regular fund raising initiatives (they have copies of checks to various charities raised with patrons posted on the wall), and providing carnivore friendly, vegetarian friendly, and even vegan friendly options on their menu daily. The portions are big, and the prices are just right. It is unfortunate for people that don't work downtown that Gandhi's is only open during the work week for lunch... But I highly recommend if you ever play hooky make a pilgrimage to Gandhi's and have a culinarily-religious experience.
(5)
Christopher F.
Appearances can be deceiving but two things that don't lie are the bills safe in your pocket and tasty food in your gullet. This place has a variety to the items it carries considering how tiny the lil cart is.. Imagine a hot dog cart with hot trays full of the most delicious Indian food but inside a mini food court with the addition of perfectly cooked rice and decent Naan. The owner and cashier were also both very nice which doesn't always happen with Portland food proprietors for some reason. It was actually funny because the owner spoke to me as if I'd been there forever, and I value that more personable approach and made it seem more like I was grabbing food from my uncle than that scary old lunch lady. To be fair it's not as fluffy as a lot of Naan, but the spicy chicken vindaloo, rice, and whatever the spinach thing is taste delicious! Portions are generous, can eat there or take it to go (there's a swell lil park a block away) and in my opinion one of the best values to be had in South West round lunch time. Try it, Gandhi approves!
(5)
Wayne G.
Ok at best. Finding great Indian is a challenge but price was very good, atmosphere is terrible, clearly a lunch destination for someone in a hurry. Wayne Gorsek
(3)
Aleck L.
Great value, quick and quite tasty. 4 veggie options and 2-3 meat all served on a plate of white rice. Good if you're in the mood for fast Indian.
(3)
Erika S.
First order of business when working downtown: Find good Indian food for cheap. Check. The Chicken Vindaloo was satisfying, spicy, and heart-warming, with more than enough on the plate to fill the yawning void of my insides. Seriously, though, I know I should be cuttin down my carbs, but I'm not sure tiny pieces of naan is the wy to do it. I was irritated by the skimpiness right up until I tasted it. Now I may ask to go naan-less in the future.
(3)
Mariko B.
A real hole in the wall, but with decent cheap food. It's like a food cart but inside. So don't expect anything grand from the seating area.
(3)
Cait S.
Great place for lunch, my favorite besides the VQ in the area. The service is fantastic, if you go more than a few times, he'll always remember your order--even if you haven't been in over a month. I always go for the Veggie Plate which is two veggie dishes for 5.25, and then I get an extra pita. (You get one with the dish). It's a huge portion, but if you are really hungry you can go with the Veggie Delight and have 4 veggie dishes. My favorites are the garbanzo and the spinach. Never been a fan of the potatoes but they aren't bad. Also, on Mondays (at least most Mondays) they have shrimp, which is delicious. They apparently don't have shrimp on Tuesdays and Weds. As for the 'atmosphere' complaints, it's just like another described it, food carts in a pavilion style. There's nothing impressive about the atmosphere, but I never stay to eat. Get the food to go and take it to your office or take it three blocks down to the waterfront. It's inexpensive because they aren't worried about style. If you really want to be environmentally conscious, you can bring your own tupperware and they will serve your food to go in it. I have yet to remember mine, but there are several regulars who always bring their own container.
(4)
Trevor M.
Wow, I can't even believe that I haven't written a review about this place yet. I was there yesterday and it occurred to me that I needed to Yelp this spot. I've worked in downtown PDX for almost 11 years. I don't remember the first time I ended up at Gandhi's but it had to be at least 5 maybe 6 years ago. Ever since that first bite of tantalizing Vindaloo curry I've been hooked. The menu is somewhat small but the portions are big. There are several vegetarian options (for those non animal consumers) and I've never been disappointed about the taste or quality. There have been weeks where I have literally eaten here 2 or 3 times. My recommendation? The spicy (Vindaloo chicken) with either the creamy spinach or the mixed veggies (not sure what's all in it but it's yummy). For the price you'll be stuffed all day. Seriously. I tend to eat an early lunch (about 11am) and my wife gets pissed at me after eating here because I'm often still not hungry at 6pm when it's dinner time for the family. Keep in mind that if you check this place out during the lunch rush, the line will be LONG. I recommend getting here before noon, unless you like standing. The good part is, the line tends to move pretty quick so you won't spend too long waiting but, seating is limited at this time of day so you may get stuck back at the office eating it. What more can I say? One of my most visited lunch spots of the past several years...and as a bonus, the owner is nice and tends to remember what regulars get. He'll be serving it up before you can say 'spicy'.
(5)
Don B.
Pretty darn good, but not awesome quality/flavor, nice size helpings, friendly service. I enjoy my Ghandi's lunches, but I yearn for the return of New Taste of India food cart up near the old Galleria. That cart spoiled me. Still, for $5.50, you get quite a bit of hearty, filling, Indian food. Yum.
(4)
Jessica C.
I just started working across the street from Ghandi's at the World Trade Center, and I came here for lunch on my first day. This is some of the most delicious Indian food I've ever had! Their prices are a steal, and you get a lot of food. I will definitely be visiting once or twice a week while I'm working in Portland.
(5)
Trin F.
All the food on my plate was good, but the tomato/zucchini thing alone is worth going for. Spicy. sweet. and savory, all at once. Very casual, cheap, wheelchair accessible, little food court (2 restaurants).
(4)
Evan L.
Solid place with a small selection of authentic, good East Indian food. The Naan is a little small, but, hey, it's only 25 cents. Was dissapointed that they isn't have Chai, but was pleased at little I had to pay for everything. Will definitely keep this place in mind when I'm downtown during lunch.
(4)
Preston A.
Whenever I work downtown near Ghandi's, I always look forward to lunch. The spicy chicken vindaloo is the best I have ever had, and the price is great for the portions. Go get some!!
(5)
Nader A.
Gandhi's was my once a week (ok, ok, sometimes as much as thrice a week) lunch spot when I used to work downtown everyday - I could always survive a rough week by looking forward to lunch here, or reward myself for a job well done. Now that I no longer find myself downtown during the lunch hour on a regular basis I don't get back here that often, but every now and then I get a chance to come back and Gandhi's never disappoints! It's some of the most consistent, delicious, and affordable Indian food anywhere in the city. Their Chicken Vindaloo is surprisingly quite fiery (as it should be), the Korma (never one of my favorite Indian dishes) is appropriately medium-spiced but the sauce is a little thin for my tastes. Strangely, my favorite dish is the mild and rather creamy Makhani - it's much richer and has a more complex flavor than many other iterations of the dish, and has a unique and very distinctive aroma and flavor...is that corriander? I don't know, maybe if I was a true foodie with a well-trained palette I could accurately ID that ingredient; all I can say is that I can immediately smell and taste it when I enjoy Gandhi's Murgh Makhani, and I haven't detected it in any other Indian restaurant's version of the dish...so delicious! The Makhani is my go-to dish, and for $6.25 it comes with deliciously fluffy, never sticky basmati rice, a veggie dish of your choice (my 1st choice is always the Chana Masala), a wedge of pita bread (surprisingly not too poor of a substitute for actual tandoori naan), and condiments of your choice (raita, cilantro, a spicy tomato-based chutney, etc). This is my idea of comfort food. The insider (or total glutton's) tip: go on Friday when they offer a ridiculously priced, massively portioned combo: 1 lamb or shrimp entree, 1 chicken entree, 2 veggie entrees, the standard rice/pita/condiments, AND a free soda, for under $8!!! This is a true gut-buster of a meal, and if I somehow manage to consume the entire thing I won't be hungry again until Saturday afternoon! Another tip: Unless you order just one item and/or eat REALLY fast you might want to order your meal To-Go even if you plan on dining there (they've got a few seats downstairs, and many more upstairs). I know it's not as environmentally responsible (sorry Travis, you do make a good point), but the paper plate they serve your food on is just not up to the task of supporting the very liquidy curry dishes. Maybe if they used a coated paper plate, or had re-usable dishes (come on, you can train even downtown office-dwellers to bus their tables, right?), but until that happens I think I'd recommend going with the plastic To-Go boxes to prevent messy plate disintegration. Alright, so where does Gandhi's stack up in comparison to the other Indian food options here in Portland? Quite well actually. It's cheaper and better than almost all the downtown brick and mortar Indian lunch spots (I've got to try and hit up some of those carts), and is of good enough quality that if the very friendly owner ever decided to open up a sit-down, full-service dinner restaurant I would already lay odds that it would rival the very best in pdx. If you eat lunch downtown on weekdays, and enjoy Indian cuisine, I enthusiastically recommend you try Gandhi's! And as a bonus, they're good citizens too, frequently giving money to local/national/international charitable efforts. Good people, good prices, great food!
(4)
R S.
There is no shortage of quality lunch spots in Portland's downtown core. There are good bargains and good variety everywhere you look. So I think the fact that Gandhi's - a simple cafeteria-style operation of approximately 4 feet by 2 feet - has 15+ person lines at any given time, well, it speaks for itself. Gandhi's shares a storefront with two or three other specialty ethnic outfits, but it's impossible to miss its neighbors since the snaking line of people is there for one reason: delicious and affordable Indian cuisine. At any given time, Gandhi's has approximately 3 chicken dishes, 2 alternate meat/seafood offerings, and 5 or 6 vegetables, along with plain rice, small bits of naan, and traditional Indian "condiments" (think raita). You then order your meal - dine in or take out - based on how many and what kinds of meats or vegetables you want over your rice. The servings are hearty, to say the least. My go-to order is the Combination Plate, which comes with two kinds of chicken (which most people order by saying how spicy they want their meat between spicy, medium, and mild) and two vegetables, all for $7.25. Between the rice and heaping spoonfuls of each chicken and vegetable, my to-go box is heavy and I'm stuffed full for hours. My only minor complaint is that the naan is measly and not terribly interesting. They give each order a small wedge, with extra coming at a minor charge. I've had better - but there's so much other good food in my to-go box, the truth is I really don't need bread to complete the meal. I'm not sure I would've ever stopped in at Gandhi's had coworkers not recommended it. It's easy to walk past and not notice, especially with some construction going on next door. But it's truly not to be missed if you're in the downtown area and enjoy Indian flavors - great flavors, great variety, and great value.
(5)
Evelyn T.
Not only does Dhillon remember your name AND order after going there only once, his service is fast, food excellent and TONS of food for cheap price. I always get the spicy chicken with creamed spinach though when he has his potatoes and broccoli, he knows already to give me that side dish. The spicy chicken is so very tender and he piles it on your plate. The potato dish is a bit spicy also so have your cup of water handy. The line can be 2 miles long, I'm exaggerating, but he's such a pro and are his cashiers that you're in and out within minutes. I use to eat here once a week, sometimes several times a week, until my waistline started to expand some and I cut back. I still have my cravings and this week is a two visit one...I'll be running an extra 5 miles but it is so so worth it.
(5)
Kody L.
At the entrance of a mini food mall sits Gandhi with a small menu to offer a quick on-the-go meal. I got the combo meal, which resulted in me carrying a paper plate (yes, a paper plate) loaded with rice, two chicken dishes and two veggie dishes sprinkled with cilantro, yogurt sauces and two other sauces that I agreed to try out. It was all very good, but the longer I sat there, the more uniform the different sauces became as they settled into the plate. I couldn't possibly finish the portion they gave me. You get your monies worth, for sure, but this place is not as good as New Taste of India. It's good for grabbing a quick meal, but it's not the answer to my quest to find the best Indian food in Portland.
(3)
Akila F.
not going to win any style points but the food is cheap, plentiful and delicious. six bucks for a (seemingly) two pound plate of curry. The cashier asked if I wanted a sprinkling of cilantro...I almost cried. happy tears.
(4)
Sookie L.
Yummy quick indian food served up by a friendly staff! They welcomed any questions and offered samples of any dish to help me make up my mind about what to order. The makhani was as good as the makhani you would find in most sit-down indian restaurants. There are lots of veggie side options too and the portions are generous.
(4)
Julie M.
Like the French, i love ze Sauce. As others attest, -Oh, Yum! Ghandi's Does ze Sauce. No naked white rice here. The Chef de Cuisine doles out meaty scoops dripping with ample flavor. I made FIVE meals from one lunch. I Cherry Picked the Shrimp, and sampled eaach side - that was enuf - and just right for a hang-over lunch. Take care to put the steamy leftovers in a reuseable plastic bag to catch the drippage! Next AM as I lounged in bed, I instructed my oh-so-cooperative date to pull some chicken and veggies out of that dish to Stuff my Omelette. Ooh-LA! Shwarma-in-Bed. Next day I stir-fried a couple of handfuls of other stuff from my fridge (salsa, bok choy, added some more rice, then piled in all the remaining oozy left -overs) for a totally yummy lunch. There's enough of THAT left for two to share. Don't try to do it all at once. A happy Thanks to all you Yelpers who wrote. There are cheaper options on the simple Menu, and still generous. I was very happy to drop $7.25 for the Chef's Super Special, with heapin scoops of saucy Chicken Vindaloo, shrimp in a creamy tumeric Sauce, and 2 divine veggie dishes, including a wonderful Eggplant in Sauce, and a hot & spicy Zuchinni/Tomato dish, all Served over rice. Worth a wait in line, this will be great for summer Take Out for Concert Events at Pioneer Square - and anytime on the Waterfront. Double bag it for take home on MAX, a Streetcar or Bus after a nice Waterfront walk. Transit Lines all converge conveniently near this great grub, and all are free downtown and north east to the Rose Garden, Convention Center and Lloyd Center stations, so maybe you won't even need to buy a Ticket. Unsure if this is accessible for people on wheels, as it is a very old building modified for multiple small businesses. Another Take-out cafe shares the space. A few can get seating in the entry area, and there is additional seating upstairs.
(4)
Chris S.
Simply the most consistent lunch spot in central downtown. For cheap, you are getting a heck of a meal here. The owner makes each dish daily and the flavors are all good here. The chicken vindaloo is my personal favorite. It's spicy but very good. Also, try the curried spinach! p.s. don't be scared off by the lines during the lunch rush. He moves the line very quickly!
(5)
Michael M.
Seems like I'm here for spicy chicken at least once a week. Lines die down a little bit after the noon rush - I rarely have more than one or two people ahead of me when I go between 1 and 2.
(5)
Susan c.
always a delight, cheap and delicious. Great consistency and a wonderful owner. I love the shrimp every Friday and just discovered the creamy and delightful mixed veggies.
(5)
Richard G.
Usually 4 or 5 excellent vegan options. Spicy tomato chutney is my fave.
(5)
Dave B.
Great place to grab lunch to go. Very flavorful Indian food. Be prepared to stand in line, but they keep it moving quickly. Mild, medium, and spicy options.
(5)
Olivia T.
$6.50 for a big plate of food, white rice, one meat entree, and one veggie entree. YUM. It was so good, I almost finished my whole plate. The spinach curry was too die for. Spinach lovers need to indulge the yummyness of the curry. I couldn't quite give five stars because the upstairs seating was so hot. They need more air in that food court. Still, Gandhi's East Indian Cafe is "the place" for cheap, quick, affordable Indian lunch meal.
(4)
Lorri E.
How did I miss the place the whole time I have been working downtown? Weird. My co-worker friend took me in here for lunch yesterday. Pluses - BIG CHEAP TASTY PLATE OF INDIAN FOOD served by friendly smiling people (always a plus), and REALLY FAST Minuses - Only that it is in a weird building kind of like a cafeteria, and it was kind of hot in there. But who cares? It's worth it. I had a "combo plate" of mixed chicken curries and mixed veggie dishes. Yum. Pow--loads of flavor and honestly way, way, way better than I would have expected from a "fast food" Indian restaurant. In fact, the vegetarian dishes surprised me with all the flavor and I could easily just eat a whole plate of that, next time. Note that I was also famished, having been trapped in meetings all morning long, so I ate the whole steaming hot plate of food in less than five minutes (so I didn't really linger on the flavors), and also guzzled down a bottle of water cause some of it was pretty spicy. All told, the total price for my massively filling tasty lunch, under $7. If you're downtown for lunch and looking for more than the average bland sammie, definitely stop in.
(4)
Marki V.
Decent Indian fast food from the Mahatma himself. . - " " " - . #. == \ { " Hey Ram " } # # # _ _# O { " I don't eat meat " } ( _"" (o) = (o) o { " I only cook them " } \ _ \ | o ' . == / __/ ` - - - ;_ /` \___| `\ Four non-violent stars to the Mahatma.
(4)
Candice T.
Delicious, quick vegetarian food with large portions! Perfect place to go for a quick pickup lunch.
(4)
Jen C.
Yummy Indian Food in unpretentious location. Staff are friendly and food is ALWAYS delicious. Ask for samples. They'll gladly help you out if you are new to the Indian flavors. The portions are huge! My review is simple....eat here for fast, good, Indian. In fact the lunch specials are so big you can easily split with a friend. Cheapest thrill for $6 that will leave you feeling like going on this blind date was worth it. You'll want to keep seeing Gandhi....again and again.
(4)
Blaine F.
I went into work on my day off and found Ghandi's when I went out for a late lunch. The food was amazing! The spicy chicken vindaloo was, in fact, more like the vindaloo inferno. For once, something touted as spicy delivered as promised. Considering the location, I will happily eat here again.
(5)
Michelle H.
Warning, warning! Cheap, cheap, CHEAP Indian food in large, gut exploding quantities. Can you handle it? I know I can. It's insanely delicious despite the bland decor. You walk inside the building touting Gandhi's sign, and you're met with a cafeteria style experience. Gandhi's occupies the right side in the front of the building. Empty serving facilities line the rest of the walls leading to what looked like a Mexican food place in the back. I was introduced to a tasty bite of trivia while standing in line. The building used to house an old Burger King (thanks Kyle F. :p). But back to the food: You're given any multitude of combinations to choose from, be it vegetarian or meat or both. I was slightly disappointed at the measly piece of nan, but the curry made up for it. No meal was over $7. For meals including lamb or shrimp, that is a steal! If you opt to eat in house, you're treated to dining both downstairs and upstairs. It's very fast food restaurant-esque. We got there at noon and there was no trouble finding a spot to eat. This place is definitely a lunchtime gem.
(4)
John S.
Had the chicken curry with rice on Friday. Very tasty - and only six bucks. Definitely will be back.
(4)
John T.
This is the lunch time hotspot around the downtown First & Second Ave / Main &. Adler area. If you are up for several kinds of curry and spicy meat & vegetable dishes then this place is for you. The line is long during peak lunch hours, but it moves FAST. For $5.50 you get a selection of meat (consisting of either curry chicken or spicy chicken) and a section of vegetable (most notably spinach curry, mixed veggi curry, spicy zucchini, and more) over a hefty serving of rice. Do to the abundant selection of veggi sides, the options for vegetarians are numerous and flavorful. Two veggi selection over rice all for only $4.75. Their three special consist of either 4 selection (2 meat and 2 veggi) over rice, the lamb curry over rice, or shrimp curry over rice for under $7. One must also get the four condiments to add further flavor: cilantro, yogurt dressing, hot sauce, and a yogurt/hot sauce mix. This place is quick, convenient for a lunch time meal, however the choice selections are high in carbs due to the large portion of rice--nevertheless Gandhi's is a good place to spice up your lunch.
(4)
An B.
This place is ok, but nothing too special. I got the veggie dish and everything was just a bit too spicy. Brown rice isn't an option... I realize it isn't typical for this cuisine anyway, but it would have been nice to have. The portion was big, plenty for lunch and leftovers. I got 1/4 slice of naan, which was a bit disappointing.
(3)
J. A.
The quality of the grub at Portland's 'diamonds in the rough' never ceases to amaze me. I would never think to walk into this place if it weren't for a co-worker's insistence that I check out Pho PDX...which I love. But after 3 visits in 3 weeks the husband and I decided we needed to expand our horizons. The line at Gandhi's is always long which to me is a sign of great things. It look about 5 minutes to work our way to the front and neither of us were disappointed. Awesome Indian food...I had the Korma and the other half had the Vindaloo. Both were super flavorful and satisfying...we tried 4 of their probably 6 veggie sides, all of which left me wanting more! So much food I had half left over for dinner. Damn you Gandhi's...now I have an internal argument every time I meet my husband for lunch...Pho? Indian? Pho? Indian? It's a rough life.
(4)
Rex S.
I've been back 4-5 times now. Every time it is good. I think this is my favorite restaurant.
(5)
Mike L.
Perhaps I could give a better rating of this place if I could ever find it open. I've attempted to eat here three times now, and three times it was closed. Each time was during a week day.
(1)
Gillian H.
I am not often downtown during the day but last week I had jury duty. A friend recommended Gandhi's and it was delicious. This is definitely my favorite weekday lunch spot.
(5)
Alex P.
mmmm...quick, cheap, yummy. And four veggie dishes, can't go wrong. Just don't try to eat the whole thing.
(4)
Byron K.
I have eaten here 500 times (no kidding, maybe more) and still crave it on a regular basis. Simply excellent.
(5)
Emily B.
Hard to beat the downtown convenience and speedy service of Gandhi's. The food is quite decent and two dishes over rice for $5.50 is a pretty large quantity.
(4)
Michelle U.
Ghandhi's is pretty good, especially for a work-lunch meal. Actually, I would go as far as to call it a treat if you're having it for your work time lunch. The portions are very generous and the price is comparable to the area. I usually order some type of chicken and veggie curries that usually comes out to about $7.50. There are several other variations of meats and veggies you can order, and everything I've had there has been pretty good. I personally like the spinach and dal. The man who works there is extremely friendly and has forced (I use the term loosely) fed copious samples to me. I really liked the lamb and shrimp curry samples, but both are a couple dollars extra, and since I'm usually there for a weekday lunch, I like to keep it pretty simple and stick to chicken/veggies. I don't know if they serve anything besides curry and rice here, since that's all I've ever had of theirs. I would recommend Ghandhi's to anyone craving an Indian curry lunch. It'll be satisfying, but I wouldn't go as far as to call it mind blowing.
(4)
Nick Z.
This is not good Indian food. I sympathize with the reviewer who says she has no idea what the other reviews are talking about. In a city with so few Indian options, maybe there's just a lack of awareness about the possibilities of this cuisine? I got channa and the aloo broccoli thing. Maybe they were just out of cauliflower, or broccoli is cheaper, or something. Broccoli has a strong flavor, so this tasted pretty much like broccoli. I like broccoli. The channa reminded me of the microwave-in-pouch Tasty Bite stuff. The "naan" is store-bought pita bread. Still searching for good Indian food here. I chanced upon a place called India Oven on SE Belmont that was solid. Not really an option for a downtown lunch spot, but it's odd that Yelp is so much more enthusiastic about Gandhi's.
(1)
Jacob M.
Gandhi's is an all-star in the crowded league of $8 lunches from the Asian subcontinent. The combination plate is a great way to try four different dishes for $8. It permits two chicken dishes and two vegetarian dishes. I elected for the spicy and medium chicken curries. Rounding out the foursome were the chickpeas and the saag paneer (creamed spinach). For the amount of square footage, there's a large amount of dishes to choose from. Also, they have some of the best portion sizes in the crowded realm of cheap lunchtime fare. The flavors at Gandhis are not radical. The chicken is tender and juicy. They're smooth, subtle, and delicious. A beginner's guide to Indian food. Heck, you don't even have to like Indian food or know anything about it to have a wonderful lunch. Definitely say yes to all the extra fixins'. Just when you think you can't possibly heap any more generous mounds of goodness on your plate he will ask you if you want cilantro, yogurt, and a crimson spicy sauce. Say yes to all the above. The more sauces you add to your plate, the more delicious the flavors will become as they meld together. By two o'clock a few of their dishes were scraped dry and they were naan-less. Go early for more options. But go too early and you'll do battle with the lines. I think there's a sweet spot around 1:30 ish. Gandhi's earns five stars for it's reasonable prices, eye-popping portions, larger-than-expected selection, quirky food court atmosphere, and overall deliciousness. P.S. Be warned. There's always a ton of flies guarding the water cooler.
(5)
Rebecca N.
If I were a meat-eater, this would be a 5-star review. Very few situations make me feel sad about not eating meat, but this is one of them. There's something about makhani sauce that just gets to me. The creamy, tomatoey, savory goodness pierces to the very core of my soul. The dead fowl found swimming in it today, however, left me feeling dejected. I've been working downtown lately with some kids with very good taste. My final day at 4th & Taylor, I decided that it was time to try this oft-recommended mecca of spice and delight. So over I trudged through cold drizzle, and in snaking line I stood for like 12-14 minutes, give or take. They advertise at least 7 vegan/vegetarian entrees per day, but don't really specify anywhere what they are until you'e breathing heavily at the plexiglass that is protecting those vats of deliciousness from your germs. So I picked up my coworker's combo platter ($8 for a massive pile of rice and chickens and two veggies - excellent value), and then had to choose for myself between the unlabeled buckets of vegetarian options. There were potatoes, soupy spinach, drippy looking lentil soup (dal?) or a tomatoey stew as the choices of the day. Nothing really hearty like a paneer makhani that I was so craving. I got the veggie options and trudged back through the rain to have our little festive picnicky last-day-of-schooly lunch. The food was hot, the rice was very nice and fluffy and moist, but something was really missing. It was probably the pure heavy cream that I'm used to with paneer masala or paneer korma at home. It was authentic. It was a lot of food for cheap. But my coworker's dead animal platter made me sad and a little jealous. 3.666 stars.
(3)
Alyssa S.
If you're a vegan working downtown - you know the dearth of decent, quick, cheap, non-chain food options. This is one. Decent Indian food. Very quick on the day I went. $6 and change for 2 vegan dishes poured over rice (I had the chole and dal). And not a chain! I'll definitely be coming back here.
(3)
Solo S.
Iam surprised to see so many positive reviews for this place. To make sure i ate here twice in two weeks. Now iam sad for all the people who line up here for their indian fix. The food here is far from what you call real indian cusine. I agree that this had been customized for the american palate, still ido not agree. Adding a little bit of turmeric,garam masala and cream does not make indian food.There is absolutely no indian flavour to the food. for this restaurant spicy means adding red chilli powder.. you will understand once you taste the "spicy tomato curry" the man standing there tells... Not again!
(1)
David G.
Best Indian food I've had in a long time. The flavors are delicious, the portions generous. This guy is a genius.
(5)
Aaron C.
The Chicken Vindaloo here is awesome. Spicy and full of flavor. Also, the vegetable sides are delicious - served with one side but I request two smaller vege sides and it's not a problem. The speed of service is wonderful. The environment leaves little to be desired - it being a shared space with another vender probably keeps the food costs lower for the customers which I'm fine with. The portion size is pretty large for an $8 lunch. I've been here twice and order it to go with the intention to eat half and take the other half back to work but I've finished both time (uncomfortably full).
(4)
Robert R.
I go four times a week sometimes. They know my name. I love them, and the food is terrific. The place is an old Burger King and a total dump, but the food is good and clean and served and made with love. Thanks Dillon!
(5)
Megan S.
I was intrigued and a little intimidated by the line for lunch here, but it moved very quickly and in about 6 minutes I had a huge plate of delicious chicken vindaloo and mixed veggies. The service was fast and friendly and the food tasty and very affordable. One tiiiiiny improvement could be made on the naan, which was a bit small and dry, but it really didn't matter too much. The rest of the meal was excellent!
(5)
Nicholas H.
Really good spicy chicken vindaloo lunch special. Great serving size for the price, this one goes in my favorites list. Just spicy enough not to kill your taste buds,
(4)
Phillip W.
If you're into a big pile of bland white rice, with very thin saucy main dishes, and a sixth of a piece of pita bread labeled as naan, all served in a really dirty place with flies swarming around, and at pretty steep prices ... Well, this here is your new Indian food home!
(2)
CJ J.
Piling on is not the most attractive of group behaviors, but alas, in this instance I can't help myself. Yes, the portions are generous, and the flavor of the food is not unpleasant. The man behind the counter seems to be an affable fellow. The problem is that the flavors (and textures) are not the flavors and textures of real Indian food, unless by "real Indian food" you mean the kinds of things you buy in the freezer case at Trader Joe's. If your experience of Indian food is limited to the freezer case at Trader Joe's, then Gandhi's should prove a most satisfying experience. Otherwise, you are bound for at least some mild disappointment.
(2)
Monica B.
This place has consistently AMAZING Indian food. You can choose your spicyness level and side dishes. The food is definitely spicy but in a yummy, I can't believe how good this is kind of way. The prices are reasonable and the owner is super nice and friendly. It's super casual and easy to get your meal to go. I'd highly recommend this place and eat there every chance I get.
(5)
Angie R.
Delicious! Very friendly. Even with a hearty line, I was offered 6 samples. Which is genius, because the experience is strikingly familiar to picking out ice cream flavors. Hopefully they will extend their hours.
(5)
Momo B.
CHEAP EATS DOWNTOWN There might be one or two places that may serve better Indian cuisine, but when time and money is a factor, you can not go wrong with this indoor Indian food cart. I tried their Chef's Special for $8.25 which includes a choice of lamb or shrimp, chicken entree, two vegetables plus a can of soda. If you can not decide, complimentary samples of each of the meats are provided. Ended up going with lamb, chicken, mix vegetables and chick peas. There's plenty of tables and chairs The entrees were mildly spicy and very authentic. It's not eating at the Taj, but it sure beats standing and eating on the streets.
(4)
Caroline B.
Best deal you can get for lunch in Portland. Try the saag and chicken korma. Also, make sure to ask to top with all the yogurt sauces, each are great! Enough food for two meals for under $8.
(5)
Adam B.
I just joined Yelp to hurl stones at the walls of some corporate castle. Thought I'd better review a place or two I like: Ghandi's! This place is great! And cheap! When I make it over I usually get the veggie plate.
(5)
Kristin T.
This place rocks! Come for the amazing food and incredibly personal service. Just accept that the food court atmosphere will serve just fine. Small price to pay for getting such incredible food at a fantastic price. One warning: These spice combinations are addictive!
(5)
Chris W.
Amazing. This place is my new favorite lunch-time spot. I've had all of the chicken dishes. I'm not normally into really spicy food--the vindhaloo is REALLY spicy--but I couldn't stop eating it. There's also a choice of mild and medium spicy chicken dishes, and several vegetable sides. For the price ($8 or so) and the wait (basically in and out in 3 minutes at noon), it's an excellent option.
(5)
Johanna L.
I came way out of my way to eat lunch here based on yelp reviews, which rarely steer me wrong. It was decent, but it wasn't freshly prepared, the naan portions were scant (and cracker-like in texture?), and it didn't taste hot or fresh. It tasted like what it was - just okay Indian food that was prepared buffet-style and spooned onto my paper plate. When I asked for some of the side sauces, I basically got a single spoonful of each onto my plate which just wasn't enough for the whole dish I had just been given. I wanted to dip my naan in them! If you want a quick lunch, this is a good spot... and it's cheap. It's just nothing spectacular.
(2)
Shelisa W.
I haven't been to Gandhi's for 7 years. Well I went back today and it still tastes fantastic, the owner even remembered me which was nice! I don't know how I let so many years slip by. I love this place! He keeps the prices low and the choices simple! Great Indian food!
(5)
Erin O.
I can't believe what I just got from here cost only $6! I can't believe I don't go here more often! Also, because it counts, genuinely nice folks work here. The owner (Karjit?) has a smile and a heartfelt thank you for everyone who comes by. Even just walking into the place and enjoying the aroma is worth a stop if you are in the area. Delightful.
(5)
Hyun J.
Quick in/out, simple menu and taste better than expected. Good value.
(4)
Rebecca C.
I have been hesitant to try this place for a few reasons: first, my co-workers constantly talk it up and that gets expectations up (see Luc Lac), and second, the idea of passing out in the middle of an afternoon meeting when I already struggle to stay awake was not something my boss would appreciate. Then today, well, it was cold and a few of us were going to grab some regular fare, but decided to have this instead. I agreed since I had no afternoon meetings for once. 2 of them have been before and 2 of us were newbies. My coworker who has been usually gets the mild, but I was more interested in the curry medium. I also am addicted to palak/sag paneer so the spinach sauce looked delicious. You start off with a mound of rice, 97% of which I left on the plate. Then I got some spinach and medium and since we were all gabbing and asking questions the super nice guy behind the counter gave me a little bit of both, along with the spinach sauce. They threw on a piece of naan, some cilantro and raita to taste (all optional) and away I went. Verdict? Good. Not excellent, but good. Best part is the medium curry chicken. The sauce is a little thin for what I'm used to, but totally delicious and the meat is incredibly well-cooked. The mild meat (apparently made with cows milk) lacked some depth as well, but was a bit sweeter so not bad. The spinach sauce was the big disappointment, really mild and lacked any depth and true flavor that I'm used to from my paneer. Maybe this is something different, I can't say I'm well-versed in Indian cooking, but I was sad. Next time I'm going to try the lentils with my medium chicken curry.
(4)
Bree C.
After 2 visits, I've decided I love this quick lunch spot. Huge flavor explosion for a small price. Chicken Vindaloo is delicious, and I like that on the menu they say (Spicy) or (Mild) for those of us that don't know what vindaloo is. The sides I've tried have been tasty. The portions are great, service is prompt but friendly. The choices of sauces leaves room for extra flavor variety. I do wish they'd have a list of what the veggies are up somewhere, if not marking each one. Or give a bigger naan slice. Either way, it's great portions, good and tasty options and I'm able to casually walk the 7 blocks, order and walk 7 blocks back, within a 30 minute lunch.
(4)
Madhan S.
My most preferred destination for indian food in downtown. Food is awesome, you have both vegetarian and non-veg options. Price is reasonable. Those who needs a quick lunch should try it, not a place for hang out. Ask for Dal that they have separately (for veg)
(4)
John M.
I guess I'm a bit puzzled by the (granted, not all that many) negative reviews. I've been a fan of Gandhi's for years, and I remember with fondness the days I could walk there from my office, 2 or 3 times a week. The positive things about Ganhi are obvious, and it's why the place has such a loyal following. The food here is cheap, the portions sizeable, and waits for service brief (usually). It's a great place for local office workers to come and get a quick bite before heading back to work. Quality is pretty good; I wouldn't call it great. However, I've always walked away feeling comfortably full, after a pleasant and generally delicious meal. That being said, it's important to keep in mind what's going on here. The food is prepared well in advance, then kept in heated containers, which the owner will ladle onto your plate (either over your rice, or on the side). This is very much a no frills cafe, and if you're expecting a gourmet, white linen table cloth affair, definitely go elsewhere (or expect to be disappointed). The owner (and usually one helpmate) are crammed into a very small corner of the building, and service consists of you telling the owner what you want (or pointing to what you want), and having him ladle the "entrees" over a big scoop of white rice. Food is served on a paper plate, or you can get it in a plastic container to go. They also give you some naan and "condiments" (if you want them) that consists of several different sauces (I have no idea what they're called,but they all taste pretty good and go well with the spicy tomato and spinach dish I always order) and some chopped cilatro. Don't go here for the bread. This place is great for what it is. I would also caution folks coming here that when the owner says something is spicy, he means it. I love the spicy tomato dish, but there's no denying that I definitely need a full cup of water whenever I eat it.
(4)
Claudia G.
Best deal for a downtown lunch, in my opinion. The veggie plate is my favorite (I always choose zucchini, chick peas and spicy potatoes, whatever they may be called). The service is swift and the owner is very involved with charitable causes. I recommend this place without reservations.
(5)
Klaas V.
Tasty fresh indian food, big portions and nice people. Simple review for a simply great place, would have had 5 stars if the nan bread was better.
(4)
David Z.
Is it the best Indian food I've ever had? I can't say that it is. Is it pretty tasty Indian food I can get in generous portions for a great price less than two minutes from my place of work? Well, my bank statement will attest to that. Pretty sure I end up here a few times a month. When in need of a quick, tasty, and affordable lunch, you can't go wrong with Ghandi's. I only wish they had *real* naan, and not pitas from Costco...
(4)
Derek A.
This is not a fancy place. It is a simple little restaurant squeezed into about 10 square feet consisting of some steam tables loaded with very delicious Indian food. They aren't messing around with the spice levels here, nor are they kidding with the size of the portions for the money. Just about the best deal you could get for $6.
(5)
Puddin' T.
I was having this immense craving for Indian food as I do from time to time (FOR WHICH THERE IS A LACK IN NE PORTLAND). I want to cap that so maybe a prospective Indian restauranteur will see and perhaps consider opening an Indian restaurant over here (please?), and not SW or SE. In any case, when I walked in I was completely confused. There's a Greek restaurant on one half and in the left corner I see a long line leading up to an area where there's a small space that happens to be Gandhi's. I don't get why the space is so limited since the place is huge. Maybe think of reorganizing your space 2 restaurants. There's got to be a better way than the way it is presently. In any case, the food: I got the Vegetarian Delight which means you pick 4 of the dishes. I had the spinach cream sumpin (anyway it was damn tasty, and no it was not Saag or Palak Paneer.. Malai Saag perhaps?), some curried cauliflower dish, some curried potato dish, and the vegetable korma, then 2 condiments and I chose mint chutney and raita. I have to say cudos to the chef because everything was very (IMHO) quite tasty and I search long and hard for good Indian food whereever I go and once I find the one I like it's my go-to Indian restaurant. For what they have they do well with. I do hope the day may come when they can actually expand to have their own place. Well, as long as they keep their prices good and low in this often overpriced but under value town, I'm sure they can do it. I was sad I couldn't get chai with my plate, but that's the breaks I guess due to their limited space. To the owners, if you do decide to expand please consider NE Portland, eh? None, not one Indian restaurant around here except a "fusion" Indian restaurant, which is fine, but I prefer Indian comfort food myself. AND put that Malai Saag, that cauliflower dish I had today , and Baingan Bhartha on yer menu ....I promise to be your loyal servant.
(5)
Sharan D.
What are these reviews even talking about? I was disgusted with the food here.. Avoid!
(1)
Michelle C.
Whoa-man. I found myself searching around for a new cart to try and wandered my way through Gandhi's door. Seven dollars of a flavor party that will easily feed you for two meals? And a cover over your head in the rain? I find myself coming here altogether too often now. No regrets. Mr. Gandhi, for lack of a better name, is exceedingly friendly and patient as you stand at his counter try to decide which saucy endeavor you will take on for the next couple days.(You can try samples of anything you want to try to help make you decision too). My favorite is the spicy chicken vindaloo with chickpeas on the side. I find myself daydreaming about those chickpeas. and then I traipse down the street to go get some. The space is really just a counter, and the line keeps rolling consistently, so there isn't much by way of a wait. There's seating in the shared space, but I've never eaten there so I can't comment on the accommodations. TL;DR- Great flavors, cheap, friendly, take-out or stay in. Do it.
(4)
Ben R.
All I have to say is wow! The chicken curry with potatoes and white rice was delicious, tasty with a slight curry spice, and very filling. It was a reasonable price and so this is on my list of favorite quick/casual lunch spots in downtown. The owner is there everyday dishing up the food for you. They offer vegan and vegetarian options. It is inside the 'Global Food Court' so look for the purple awnings and double-wooden doors ('Gandhi's is painted on the windows') next to Luc Lac and Salad World. There is plenty of seating upstairs. There is typically a line, but it goes very fast since they are dishing it up. The food is fresh and everything is prepared from scratch (with the exception of the small slice of naan bread you get). There are a couple Indian carts in Portland that you can get fresh baked naan bread, so this is not the place to get your naan fix. There is three chicken dishes, mild medium and spicy. Mild is with cow milk, medium is with curry & coconut, and spicy is red spice and coconut. You have the option of the curry potatoes, cauliflower curry, or garbanzo. All served on a bed of fresh white rice. Try it for lunch today (but get there before 2pm because he is usually cleaning up by 2:30pm).
(5)
JW R.
I'm not quite used to this whole morning thing yet. Getting there on time with my building key card is so far the limit of my ability. So I'm at work and lunch is at home. Crap. I've hit up most of the spots nearby I know so I poll the coworkers. Ghandi's they say. Oh, hell yes. It's Indian food. You know it, you love it. They're stingy with the naan, slivers beyond the first are a quarter extra but I vacuumed my food down so fast I just ate both pieces I got after the fact. I'd recommend leaving it as seagull bait in front of a place you hate.
(4)
Mike F.
Great prices for a filling lunch. Not a fan of the chicken. It has a funky metallic after taste, but the vegetarian options are pretty good. The chutneys are excellent, especially the spicy one.
(2)
Sherry S.
What is up with the lack of Indian food places around town? We've got thai coming out of our... ears.. as a for instance.. mexican too.. not so much Indian. This spot is right downtown so awesome for lunch. The ambiance also more for lunch. It's in the same building as 4 other places. It's almost like a food cart pavillion type of affair. Anyway there was a line, and by the way, it's a small space so it feels pretty crowded/tight. I got up to the front and just came out and said what is vegetarian and he pointed to almost all of his dishes.. Score! You get your food and then you head upstairs where a bunch of tables are and grab yourself one. I took one bite of my food which consisted of 4 vegetarian sides (for 6.50!) and devoured it within maybe 10 minutes? Seriously good food. They do have the spices down. I could get fat doing that a few times a week.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street 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 : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : No Caters : No
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.
T B.
This place has the best rice. I can't even explain it. It's just got the perfect texture. Great flavor. Just worth it. Great veggie options. Just all around good food. Good variety and great price for such quality.
(5)Jenny B.
For those of you who are familiar with real Indian food-- go somewhere else. The store bought pita from a bag served as "naan" is an indication of their authenticity. If you want tons of cheap food and aren't particularly picky, go for it!!
(1)Yaz R.
A decent indian fast food restaurant. I tried the middle spicy chicken and chickpeas with mint chutney. It was very savory and I thought I'd feel upset but my stomach handled it pretty well. I will come back to try the vindaloo.
(4)Anne K.
I just ate here a few days ago for the first time, and the Makhani was delicious. Like, the kind of delicious that has been haunting my taste buds, begging for more...
(5)Dan H.
Food overload. Food overload. This places serves a ton of food and asks for very little money in return. I feel like I'm going to have an Indian food baby in a few moments. Probably information you weren't looking for in this review. I'm sure I've walked by this place many times, but it is very unassuming from the outside that I never walked in. My friend swears by it, so we met up for lunch and she took me here. I had the Spicy Chicken Vindaloo which is tender boneless chicken cooked in an exotic blend of spices, fresh tomatoes and vinegar and comes over rice with a choice of one vegetable dish. I went with the zucchini. I love when the word exotic is used to describe my food. It makes me feel like I'm somewhere else. Ok, no it doesn't but I digress. The plate was $6. Are you f'ing kidding me? All this food for $6? I haven't taken a bite and I already love this place. So, the food was plated up and we went to find a seat. Time to dig in. Chicken ass nice and tender (as advertised) and the exotic spices are definitely exotic. Nice heat was building on my tongue which is never a bad thing. The veggies tasted fresh and the cilantro on top was a nice bonus. A mango juice and two glasses of water later (yes, I know milk would be better) and the heat was still pouring from my mouth. Maybe not quite pouring, but you get the image. So, another good meal in Stumptown for under $10.
(4)Ross M.
After walking by this place hundreds of times on my way to work, I decided to give it a try today. Man... I'm I glad I did. Good food, good price and fast, friendly service.
(4)Holy-foo' X.
The spice-infused curry and vindalhoo delivers SUCH an endorphin kick. How am I supposed to let anything worry me, now that I've been shot plum way over the moon? Make sure to ask for the shrimp or the lamb specials, extra spicy! You might not stop floating for the rest o' the day.... I now understand how it was that Gandhi was able to ever remain such a peaceful soul...
(5)Tim E.
I would give this place three stars if the rice was basmati, or even if this plain white rice was given just a touch of flavor. I'd give it four if the naan was more than a tiny slice and if the spinach wasn't a runny puddle. The flavor of the chicken makhani is nice and the spice is right at my level. The chicken vindaloo is also quite tasty. The mixed veg is pretty decent and the cauliflower is kinda bland. The rice just kills it for me, though. Ugh, just had a bite of this naan. I guess I'm okay with there being so little of it, because who would want more? It's just a shame to have such flavorful dishes served with such thoughtless bases. Indian food is a special occasion for me, so next time I'll probably just spend an extra couple of dollars and go to Tandoor.
(2)Tim M.
If I could give six stars for value, this would be it. Gandhi's occupies a small corner of a funky food mall with revolving vendors across the street from Yamhill Marketplace and catty corner from the PGE building. For about six bucks I get an ample serving of the best chicken Vindaloo in town, a serious helping of rice, choice of veggie side dish (Creamed spinach for me), choice of condiments (I'll take the cilantro, hot stuff, yogurt stuff...ah..just make it a little bit of everything), and a piece of naan. The water behind you is free. Don't let the prices fool you, this is seriously good Indian food, I've had almost everything here and it has all been delicious. I could go on about the menu, but I saw it posted here so you can check it out yourself. Man, I'm making my mouth water, I think I'll go here for lunch today!
(5)Nick M.
This Indian cafe is housed in the shell of a disused Burger King, and no effort has really been spent on disguising this fact. It lends the place the feel of that kind of mall in South Asia that has a clinically modern architecture with little food-cart style vendors. The result is the impression of a kind of post-capitalist colonization of corporate spaces by small businesses. In any event, the food is very authentically asian, although not particularly spicy. In a town that really lacks much great Indian food, this is a welcome find.
(5)Jessica M.
I had never had Indian food before, so that is probably part of it, but this place is great! I got the Chicken Vindhaloo with medium spice, but they let me try the spicy. Next time, I think I will go with the spicy for the extra flavor. Good cheap lunch option.
(4)James B.
Mahatma Gandhi once said, "Be the change you want to see in the world." This little lunch Nirvana changes everything. If you like Indian food, this place is Americanized in it's default heat settings. You can always add some chutney or suitable sauce to find your chi. However, like Indian food or not, this stuff is the next best thing to enlightenment. The chicken, always tender. The vegetables, always fresh. And that goes for the food in general. I could sit and eat their mint chutney with a spoon. I don't get bowled over with a restaurant very often. This place tureened me upside the head. The owner and his staff are beyond friendly and show immense respect for their patrons. They personify the Portland spirit by being extremely eco-conscious, engaging in regular fund raising initiatives (they have copies of checks to various charities raised with patrons posted on the wall), and providing carnivore friendly, vegetarian friendly, and even vegan friendly options on their menu daily. The portions are big, and the prices are just right. It is unfortunate for people that don't work downtown that Gandhi's is only open during the work week for lunch... But I highly recommend if you ever play hooky make a pilgrimage to Gandhi's and have a culinarily-religious experience.
(5)Christopher F.
Appearances can be deceiving but two things that don't lie are the bills safe in your pocket and tasty food in your gullet. This place has a variety to the items it carries considering how tiny the lil cart is.. Imagine a hot dog cart with hot trays full of the most delicious Indian food but inside a mini food court with the addition of perfectly cooked rice and decent Naan. The owner and cashier were also both very nice which doesn't always happen with Portland food proprietors for some reason. It was actually funny because the owner spoke to me as if I'd been there forever, and I value that more personable approach and made it seem more like I was grabbing food from my uncle than that scary old lunch lady. To be fair it's not as fluffy as a lot of Naan, but the spicy chicken vindaloo, rice, and whatever the spinach thing is taste delicious! Portions are generous, can eat there or take it to go (there's a swell lil park a block away) and in my opinion one of the best values to be had in South West round lunch time. Try it, Gandhi approves!
(5)Wayne G.
Ok at best. Finding great Indian is a challenge but price was very good, atmosphere is terrible, clearly a lunch destination for someone in a hurry. Wayne Gorsek
(3)Aleck L.
Great value, quick and quite tasty. 4 veggie options and 2-3 meat all served on a plate of white rice. Good if you're in the mood for fast Indian.
(3)Erika S.
First order of business when working downtown: Find good Indian food for cheap. Check. The Chicken Vindaloo was satisfying, spicy, and heart-warming, with more than enough on the plate to fill the yawning void of my insides. Seriously, though, I know I should be cuttin down my carbs, but I'm not sure tiny pieces of naan is the wy to do it. I was irritated by the skimpiness right up until I tasted it. Now I may ask to go naan-less in the future.
(3)Mariko B.
A real hole in the wall, but with decent cheap food. It's like a food cart but inside. So don't expect anything grand from the seating area.
(3)Cait S.
Great place for lunch, my favorite besides the VQ in the area. The service is fantastic, if you go more than a few times, he'll always remember your order--even if you haven't been in over a month. I always go for the Veggie Plate which is two veggie dishes for 5.25, and then I get an extra pita. (You get one with the dish). It's a huge portion, but if you are really hungry you can go with the Veggie Delight and have 4 veggie dishes. My favorites are the garbanzo and the spinach. Never been a fan of the potatoes but they aren't bad. Also, on Mondays (at least most Mondays) they have shrimp, which is delicious. They apparently don't have shrimp on Tuesdays and Weds. As for the 'atmosphere' complaints, it's just like another described it, food carts in a pavilion style. There's nothing impressive about the atmosphere, but I never stay to eat. Get the food to go and take it to your office or take it three blocks down to the waterfront. It's inexpensive because they aren't worried about style. If you really want to be environmentally conscious, you can bring your own tupperware and they will serve your food to go in it. I have yet to remember mine, but there are several regulars who always bring their own container.
(4)Trevor M.
Wow, I can't even believe that I haven't written a review about this place yet. I was there yesterday and it occurred to me that I needed to Yelp this spot. I've worked in downtown PDX for almost 11 years. I don't remember the first time I ended up at Gandhi's but it had to be at least 5 maybe 6 years ago. Ever since that first bite of tantalizing Vindaloo curry I've been hooked. The menu is somewhat small but the portions are big. There are several vegetarian options (for those non animal consumers) and I've never been disappointed about the taste or quality. There have been weeks where I have literally eaten here 2 or 3 times. My recommendation? The spicy (Vindaloo chicken) with either the creamy spinach or the mixed veggies (not sure what's all in it but it's yummy). For the price you'll be stuffed all day. Seriously. I tend to eat an early lunch (about 11am) and my wife gets pissed at me after eating here because I'm often still not hungry at 6pm when it's dinner time for the family. Keep in mind that if you check this place out during the lunch rush, the line will be LONG. I recommend getting here before noon, unless you like standing. The good part is, the line tends to move pretty quick so you won't spend too long waiting but, seating is limited at this time of day so you may get stuck back at the office eating it. What more can I say? One of my most visited lunch spots of the past several years...and as a bonus, the owner is nice and tends to remember what regulars get. He'll be serving it up before you can say 'spicy'.
(5)Don B.
Pretty darn good, but not awesome quality/flavor, nice size helpings, friendly service. I enjoy my Ghandi's lunches, but I yearn for the return of New Taste of India food cart up near the old Galleria. That cart spoiled me. Still, for $5.50, you get quite a bit of hearty, filling, Indian food. Yum.
(4)Jessica C.
I just started working across the street from Ghandi's at the World Trade Center, and I came here for lunch on my first day. This is some of the most delicious Indian food I've ever had! Their prices are a steal, and you get a lot of food. I will definitely be visiting once or twice a week while I'm working in Portland.
(5)Trin F.
All the food on my plate was good, but the tomato/zucchini thing alone is worth going for. Spicy. sweet. and savory, all at once. Very casual, cheap, wheelchair accessible, little food court (2 restaurants).
(4)Evan L.
Solid place with a small selection of authentic, good East Indian food. The Naan is a little small, but, hey, it's only 25 cents. Was dissapointed that they isn't have Chai, but was pleased at little I had to pay for everything. Will definitely keep this place in mind when I'm downtown during lunch.
(4)Preston A.
Whenever I work downtown near Ghandi's, I always look forward to lunch. The spicy chicken vindaloo is the best I have ever had, and the price is great for the portions. Go get some!!
(5)Nader A.
Gandhi's was my once a week (ok, ok, sometimes as much as thrice a week) lunch spot when I used to work downtown everyday - I could always survive a rough week by looking forward to lunch here, or reward myself for a job well done. Now that I no longer find myself downtown during the lunch hour on a regular basis I don't get back here that often, but every now and then I get a chance to come back and Gandhi's never disappoints! It's some of the most consistent, delicious, and affordable Indian food anywhere in the city. Their Chicken Vindaloo is surprisingly quite fiery (as it should be), the Korma (never one of my favorite Indian dishes) is appropriately medium-spiced but the sauce is a little thin for my tastes. Strangely, my favorite dish is the mild and rather creamy Makhani - it's much richer and has a more complex flavor than many other iterations of the dish, and has a unique and very distinctive aroma and flavor...is that corriander? I don't know, maybe if I was a true foodie with a well-trained palette I could accurately ID that ingredient; all I can say is that I can immediately smell and taste it when I enjoy Gandhi's Murgh Makhani, and I haven't detected it in any other Indian restaurant's version of the dish...so delicious! The Makhani is my go-to dish, and for $6.25 it comes with deliciously fluffy, never sticky basmati rice, a veggie dish of your choice (my 1st choice is always the Chana Masala), a wedge of pita bread (surprisingly not too poor of a substitute for actual tandoori naan), and condiments of your choice (raita, cilantro, a spicy tomato-based chutney, etc). This is my idea of comfort food. The insider (or total glutton's) tip: go on Friday when they offer a ridiculously priced, massively portioned combo: 1 lamb or shrimp entree, 1 chicken entree, 2 veggie entrees, the standard rice/pita/condiments, AND a free soda, for under $8!!! This is a true gut-buster of a meal, and if I somehow manage to consume the entire thing I won't be hungry again until Saturday afternoon! Another tip: Unless you order just one item and/or eat REALLY fast you might want to order your meal To-Go even if you plan on dining there (they've got a few seats downstairs, and many more upstairs). I know it's not as environmentally responsible (sorry Travis, you do make a good point), but the paper plate they serve your food on is just not up to the task of supporting the very liquidy curry dishes. Maybe if they used a coated paper plate, or had re-usable dishes (come on, you can train even downtown office-dwellers to bus their tables, right?), but until that happens I think I'd recommend going with the plastic To-Go boxes to prevent messy plate disintegration. Alright, so where does Gandhi's stack up in comparison to the other Indian food options here in Portland? Quite well actually. It's cheaper and better than almost all the downtown brick and mortar Indian lunch spots (I've got to try and hit up some of those carts), and is of good enough quality that if the very friendly owner ever decided to open up a sit-down, full-service dinner restaurant I would already lay odds that it would rival the very best in pdx. If you eat lunch downtown on weekdays, and enjoy Indian cuisine, I enthusiastically recommend you try Gandhi's! And as a bonus, they're good citizens too, frequently giving money to local/national/international charitable efforts. Good people, good prices, great food!
(4)R S.
There is no shortage of quality lunch spots in Portland's downtown core. There are good bargains and good variety everywhere you look. So I think the fact that Gandhi's - a simple cafeteria-style operation of approximately 4 feet by 2 feet - has 15+ person lines at any given time, well, it speaks for itself. Gandhi's shares a storefront with two or three other specialty ethnic outfits, but it's impossible to miss its neighbors since the snaking line of people is there for one reason: delicious and affordable Indian cuisine. At any given time, Gandhi's has approximately 3 chicken dishes, 2 alternate meat/seafood offerings, and 5 or 6 vegetables, along with plain rice, small bits of naan, and traditional Indian "condiments" (think raita). You then order your meal - dine in or take out - based on how many and what kinds of meats or vegetables you want over your rice. The servings are hearty, to say the least. My go-to order is the Combination Plate, which comes with two kinds of chicken (which most people order by saying how spicy they want their meat between spicy, medium, and mild) and two vegetables, all for $7.25. Between the rice and heaping spoonfuls of each chicken and vegetable, my to-go box is heavy and I'm stuffed full for hours. My only minor complaint is that the naan is measly and not terribly interesting. They give each order a small wedge, with extra coming at a minor charge. I've had better - but there's so much other good food in my to-go box, the truth is I really don't need bread to complete the meal. I'm not sure I would've ever stopped in at Gandhi's had coworkers not recommended it. It's easy to walk past and not notice, especially with some construction going on next door. But it's truly not to be missed if you're in the downtown area and enjoy Indian flavors - great flavors, great variety, and great value.
(5)Evelyn T.
Not only does Dhillon remember your name AND order after going there only once, his service is fast, food excellent and TONS of food for cheap price. I always get the spicy chicken with creamed spinach though when he has his potatoes and broccoli, he knows already to give me that side dish. The spicy chicken is so very tender and he piles it on your plate. The potato dish is a bit spicy also so have your cup of water handy. The line can be 2 miles long, I'm exaggerating, but he's such a pro and are his cashiers that you're in and out within minutes. I use to eat here once a week, sometimes several times a week, until my waistline started to expand some and I cut back. I still have my cravings and this week is a two visit one...I'll be running an extra 5 miles but it is so so worth it.
(5)Kody L.
At the entrance of a mini food mall sits Gandhi with a small menu to offer a quick on-the-go meal. I got the combo meal, which resulted in me carrying a paper plate (yes, a paper plate) loaded with rice, two chicken dishes and two veggie dishes sprinkled with cilantro, yogurt sauces and two other sauces that I agreed to try out. It was all very good, but the longer I sat there, the more uniform the different sauces became as they settled into the plate. I couldn't possibly finish the portion they gave me. You get your monies worth, for sure, but this place is not as good as New Taste of India. It's good for grabbing a quick meal, but it's not the answer to my quest to find the best Indian food in Portland.
(3)Akila F.
not going to win any style points but the food is cheap, plentiful and delicious. six bucks for a (seemingly) two pound plate of curry. The cashier asked if I wanted a sprinkling of cilantro...I almost cried. happy tears.
(4)Sookie L.
Yummy quick indian food served up by a friendly staff! They welcomed any questions and offered samples of any dish to help me make up my mind about what to order. The makhani was as good as the makhani you would find in most sit-down indian restaurants. There are lots of veggie side options too and the portions are generous.
(4)Julie M.
Like the French, i love ze Sauce. As others attest, -Oh, Yum! Ghandi's Does ze Sauce. No naked white rice here. The Chef de Cuisine doles out meaty scoops dripping with ample flavor. I made FIVE meals from one lunch. I Cherry Picked the Shrimp, and sampled eaach side - that was enuf - and just right for a hang-over lunch. Take care to put the steamy leftovers in a reuseable plastic bag to catch the drippage! Next AM as I lounged in bed, I instructed my oh-so-cooperative date to pull some chicken and veggies out of that dish to Stuff my Omelette. Ooh-LA! Shwarma-in-Bed. Next day I stir-fried a couple of handfuls of other stuff from my fridge (salsa, bok choy, added some more rice, then piled in all the remaining oozy left -overs) for a totally yummy lunch. There's enough of THAT left for two to share. Don't try to do it all at once. A happy Thanks to all you Yelpers who wrote. There are cheaper options on the simple Menu, and still generous. I was very happy to drop $7.25 for the Chef's Super Special, with heapin scoops of saucy Chicken Vindaloo, shrimp in a creamy tumeric Sauce, and 2 divine veggie dishes, including a wonderful Eggplant in Sauce, and a hot & spicy Zuchinni/Tomato dish, all Served over rice. Worth a wait in line, this will be great for summer Take Out for Concert Events at Pioneer Square - and anytime on the Waterfront. Double bag it for take home on MAX, a Streetcar or Bus after a nice Waterfront walk. Transit Lines all converge conveniently near this great grub, and all are free downtown and north east to the Rose Garden, Convention Center and Lloyd Center stations, so maybe you won't even need to buy a Ticket. Unsure if this is accessible for people on wheels, as it is a very old building modified for multiple small businesses. Another Take-out cafe shares the space. A few can get seating in the entry area, and there is additional seating upstairs.
(4)Chris S.
Simply the most consistent lunch spot in central downtown. For cheap, you are getting a heck of a meal here. The owner makes each dish daily and the flavors are all good here. The chicken vindaloo is my personal favorite. It's spicy but very good. Also, try the curried spinach! p.s. don't be scared off by the lines during the lunch rush. He moves the line very quickly!
(5)Michael M.
Seems like I'm here for spicy chicken at least once a week. Lines die down a little bit after the noon rush - I rarely have more than one or two people ahead of me when I go between 1 and 2.
(5)Susan c.
always a delight, cheap and delicious. Great consistency and a wonderful owner. I love the shrimp every Friday and just discovered the creamy and delightful mixed veggies.
(5)Richard G.
Usually 4 or 5 excellent vegan options. Spicy tomato chutney is my fave.
(5)Dave B.
Great place to grab lunch to go. Very flavorful Indian food. Be prepared to stand in line, but they keep it moving quickly. Mild, medium, and spicy options.
(5)Olivia T.
$6.50 for a big plate of food, white rice, one meat entree, and one veggie entree. YUM. It was so good, I almost finished my whole plate. The spinach curry was too die for. Spinach lovers need to indulge the yummyness of the curry. I couldn't quite give five stars because the upstairs seating was so hot. They need more air in that food court. Still, Gandhi's East Indian Cafe is "the place" for cheap, quick, affordable Indian lunch meal.
(4)Lorri E.
How did I miss the place the whole time I have been working downtown? Weird. My co-worker friend took me in here for lunch yesterday. Pluses - BIG CHEAP TASTY PLATE OF INDIAN FOOD served by friendly smiling people (always a plus), and REALLY FAST Minuses - Only that it is in a weird building kind of like a cafeteria, and it was kind of hot in there. But who cares? It's worth it. I had a "combo plate" of mixed chicken curries and mixed veggie dishes. Yum. Pow--loads of flavor and honestly way, way, way better than I would have expected from a "fast food" Indian restaurant. In fact, the vegetarian dishes surprised me with all the flavor and I could easily just eat a whole plate of that, next time. Note that I was also famished, having been trapped in meetings all morning long, so I ate the whole steaming hot plate of food in less than five minutes (so I didn't really linger on the flavors), and also guzzled down a bottle of water cause some of it was pretty spicy. All told, the total price for my massively filling tasty lunch, under $7. If you're downtown for lunch and looking for more than the average bland sammie, definitely stop in.
(4)Marki V.
Decent Indian fast food from the Mahatma himself. . - " " " - . #. == \ { " Hey Ram " } # # # _ _# O { " I don't eat meat " } ( _"" (o) = (o) o { " I only cook them " } \ _ \ | o ' . == / __/ ` - - - ;_ /` \___| `\ Four non-violent stars to the Mahatma.
(4)Candice T.
Delicious, quick vegetarian food with large portions! Perfect place to go for a quick pickup lunch.
(4)Jen C.
Yummy Indian Food in unpretentious location. Staff are friendly and food is ALWAYS delicious. Ask for samples. They'll gladly help you out if you are new to the Indian flavors. The portions are huge! My review is simple....eat here for fast, good, Indian. In fact the lunch specials are so big you can easily split with a friend. Cheapest thrill for $6 that will leave you feeling like going on this blind date was worth it. You'll want to keep seeing Gandhi....again and again.
(4)Blaine F.
I went into work on my day off and found Ghandi's when I went out for a late lunch. The food was amazing! The spicy chicken vindaloo was, in fact, more like the vindaloo inferno. For once, something touted as spicy delivered as promised. Considering the location, I will happily eat here again.
(5)Michelle H.
Warning, warning! Cheap, cheap, CHEAP Indian food in large, gut exploding quantities. Can you handle it? I know I can. It's insanely delicious despite the bland decor. You walk inside the building touting Gandhi's sign, and you're met with a cafeteria style experience. Gandhi's occupies the right side in the front of the building. Empty serving facilities line the rest of the walls leading to what looked like a Mexican food place in the back. I was introduced to a tasty bite of trivia while standing in line. The building used to house an old Burger King (thanks Kyle F. :p). But back to the food: You're given any multitude of combinations to choose from, be it vegetarian or meat or both. I was slightly disappointed at the measly piece of nan, but the curry made up for it. No meal was over $7. For meals including lamb or shrimp, that is a steal! If you opt to eat in house, you're treated to dining both downstairs and upstairs. It's very fast food restaurant-esque. We got there at noon and there was no trouble finding a spot to eat. This place is definitely a lunchtime gem.
(4)John S.
Had the chicken curry with rice on Friday. Very tasty - and only six bucks. Definitely will be back.
(4)John T.
This is the lunch time hotspot around the downtown First & Second Ave / Main &. Adler area. If you are up for several kinds of curry and spicy meat & vegetable dishes then this place is for you. The line is long during peak lunch hours, but it moves FAST. For $5.50 you get a selection of meat (consisting of either curry chicken or spicy chicken) and a section of vegetable (most notably spinach curry, mixed veggi curry, spicy zucchini, and more) over a hefty serving of rice. Do to the abundant selection of veggi sides, the options for vegetarians are numerous and flavorful. Two veggi selection over rice all for only $4.75. Their three special consist of either 4 selection (2 meat and 2 veggi) over rice, the lamb curry over rice, or shrimp curry over rice for under $7. One must also get the four condiments to add further flavor: cilantro, yogurt dressing, hot sauce, and a yogurt/hot sauce mix. This place is quick, convenient for a lunch time meal, however the choice selections are high in carbs due to the large portion of rice--nevertheless Gandhi's is a good place to spice up your lunch.
(4)An B.
This place is ok, but nothing too special. I got the veggie dish and everything was just a bit too spicy. Brown rice isn't an option... I realize it isn't typical for this cuisine anyway, but it would have been nice to have. The portion was big, plenty for lunch and leftovers. I got 1/4 slice of naan, which was a bit disappointing.
(3)J. A.
The quality of the grub at Portland's 'diamonds in the rough' never ceases to amaze me. I would never think to walk into this place if it weren't for a co-worker's insistence that I check out Pho PDX...which I love. But after 3 visits in 3 weeks the husband and I decided we needed to expand our horizons. The line at Gandhi's is always long which to me is a sign of great things. It look about 5 minutes to work our way to the front and neither of us were disappointed. Awesome Indian food...I had the Korma and the other half had the Vindaloo. Both were super flavorful and satisfying...we tried 4 of their probably 6 veggie sides, all of which left me wanting more! So much food I had half left over for dinner. Damn you Gandhi's...now I have an internal argument every time I meet my husband for lunch...Pho? Indian? Pho? Indian? It's a rough life.
(4)Rex S.
I've been back 4-5 times now. Every time it is good. I think this is my favorite restaurant.
(5)Mike L.
Perhaps I could give a better rating of this place if I could ever find it open. I've attempted to eat here three times now, and three times it was closed. Each time was during a week day.
(1)Gillian H.
I am not often downtown during the day but last week I had jury duty. A friend recommended Gandhi's and it was delicious. This is definitely my favorite weekday lunch spot.
(5)Alex P.
mmmm...quick, cheap, yummy. And four veggie dishes, can't go wrong. Just don't try to eat the whole thing.
(4)Byron K.
I have eaten here 500 times (no kidding, maybe more) and still crave it on a regular basis. Simply excellent.
(5)Emily B.
Hard to beat the downtown convenience and speedy service of Gandhi's. The food is quite decent and two dishes over rice for $5.50 is a pretty large quantity.
(4)Michelle U.
Ghandhi's is pretty good, especially for a work-lunch meal. Actually, I would go as far as to call it a treat if you're having it for your work time lunch. The portions are very generous and the price is comparable to the area. I usually order some type of chicken and veggie curries that usually comes out to about $7.50. There are several other variations of meats and veggies you can order, and everything I've had there has been pretty good. I personally like the spinach and dal. The man who works there is extremely friendly and has forced (I use the term loosely) fed copious samples to me. I really liked the lamb and shrimp curry samples, but both are a couple dollars extra, and since I'm usually there for a weekday lunch, I like to keep it pretty simple and stick to chicken/veggies. I don't know if they serve anything besides curry and rice here, since that's all I've ever had of theirs. I would recommend Ghandhi's to anyone craving an Indian curry lunch. It'll be satisfying, but I wouldn't go as far as to call it mind blowing.
(4)Nick Z.
This is not good Indian food. I sympathize with the reviewer who says she has no idea what the other reviews are talking about. In a city with so few Indian options, maybe there's just a lack of awareness about the possibilities of this cuisine? I got channa and the aloo broccoli thing. Maybe they were just out of cauliflower, or broccoli is cheaper, or something. Broccoli has a strong flavor, so this tasted pretty much like broccoli. I like broccoli. The channa reminded me of the microwave-in-pouch Tasty Bite stuff. The "naan" is store-bought pita bread. Still searching for good Indian food here. I chanced upon a place called India Oven on SE Belmont that was solid. Not really an option for a downtown lunch spot, but it's odd that Yelp is so much more enthusiastic about Gandhi's.
(1)Jacob M.
Gandhi's is an all-star in the crowded league of $8 lunches from the Asian subcontinent. The combination plate is a great way to try four different dishes for $8. It permits two chicken dishes and two vegetarian dishes. I elected for the spicy and medium chicken curries. Rounding out the foursome were the chickpeas and the saag paneer (creamed spinach). For the amount of square footage, there's a large amount of dishes to choose from. Also, they have some of the best portion sizes in the crowded realm of cheap lunchtime fare. The flavors at Gandhis are not radical. The chicken is tender and juicy. They're smooth, subtle, and delicious. A beginner's guide to Indian food. Heck, you don't even have to like Indian food or know anything about it to have a wonderful lunch. Definitely say yes to all the extra fixins'. Just when you think you can't possibly heap any more generous mounds of goodness on your plate he will ask you if you want cilantro, yogurt, and a crimson spicy sauce. Say yes to all the above. The more sauces you add to your plate, the more delicious the flavors will become as they meld together. By two o'clock a few of their dishes were scraped dry and they were naan-less. Go early for more options. But go too early and you'll do battle with the lines. I think there's a sweet spot around 1:30 ish. Gandhi's earns five stars for it's reasonable prices, eye-popping portions, larger-than-expected selection, quirky food court atmosphere, and overall deliciousness. P.S. Be warned. There's always a ton of flies guarding the water cooler.
(5)Rebecca N.
If I were a meat-eater, this would be a 5-star review. Very few situations make me feel sad about not eating meat, but this is one of them. There's something about makhani sauce that just gets to me. The creamy, tomatoey, savory goodness pierces to the very core of my soul. The dead fowl found swimming in it today, however, left me feeling dejected. I've been working downtown lately with some kids with very good taste. My final day at 4th & Taylor, I decided that it was time to try this oft-recommended mecca of spice and delight. So over I trudged through cold drizzle, and in snaking line I stood for like 12-14 minutes, give or take. They advertise at least 7 vegan/vegetarian entrees per day, but don't really specify anywhere what they are until you'e breathing heavily at the plexiglass that is protecting those vats of deliciousness from your germs. So I picked up my coworker's combo platter ($8 for a massive pile of rice and chickens and two veggies - excellent value), and then had to choose for myself between the unlabeled buckets of vegetarian options. There were potatoes, soupy spinach, drippy looking lentil soup (dal?) or a tomatoey stew as the choices of the day. Nothing really hearty like a paneer makhani that I was so craving. I got the veggie options and trudged back through the rain to have our little festive picnicky last-day-of-schooly lunch. The food was hot, the rice was very nice and fluffy and moist, but something was really missing. It was probably the pure heavy cream that I'm used to with paneer masala or paneer korma at home. It was authentic. It was a lot of food for cheap. But my coworker's dead animal platter made me sad and a little jealous. 3.666 stars.
(3)Alyssa S.
If you're a vegan working downtown - you know the dearth of decent, quick, cheap, non-chain food options. This is one. Decent Indian food. Very quick on the day I went. $6 and change for 2 vegan dishes poured over rice (I had the chole and dal). And not a chain! I'll definitely be coming back here.
(3)Solo S.
Iam surprised to see so many positive reviews for this place. To make sure i ate here twice in two weeks. Now iam sad for all the people who line up here for their indian fix. The food here is far from what you call real indian cusine. I agree that this had been customized for the american palate, still ido not agree. Adding a little bit of turmeric,garam masala and cream does not make indian food.There is absolutely no indian flavour to the food. for this restaurant spicy means adding red chilli powder.. you will understand once you taste the "spicy tomato curry" the man standing there tells... Not again!
(1)David G.
Best Indian food I've had in a long time. The flavors are delicious, the portions generous. This guy is a genius.
(5)Aaron C.
The Chicken Vindaloo here is awesome. Spicy and full of flavor. Also, the vegetable sides are delicious - served with one side but I request two smaller vege sides and it's not a problem. The speed of service is wonderful. The environment leaves little to be desired - it being a shared space with another vender probably keeps the food costs lower for the customers which I'm fine with. The portion size is pretty large for an $8 lunch. I've been here twice and order it to go with the intention to eat half and take the other half back to work but I've finished both time (uncomfortably full).
(4)Robert R.
I go four times a week sometimes. They know my name. I love them, and the food is terrific. The place is an old Burger King and a total dump, but the food is good and clean and served and made with love. Thanks Dillon!
(5)Megan S.
I was intrigued and a little intimidated by the line for lunch here, but it moved very quickly and in about 6 minutes I had a huge plate of delicious chicken vindaloo and mixed veggies. The service was fast and friendly and the food tasty and very affordable. One tiiiiiny improvement could be made on the naan, which was a bit small and dry, but it really didn't matter too much. The rest of the meal was excellent!
(5)Nicholas H.
Really good spicy chicken vindaloo lunch special. Great serving size for the price, this one goes in my favorites list. Just spicy enough not to kill your taste buds,
(4)Phillip W.
If you're into a big pile of bland white rice, with very thin saucy main dishes, and a sixth of a piece of pita bread labeled as naan, all served in a really dirty place with flies swarming around, and at pretty steep prices ... Well, this here is your new Indian food home!
(2)CJ J.
Piling on is not the most attractive of group behaviors, but alas, in this instance I can't help myself. Yes, the portions are generous, and the flavor of the food is not unpleasant. The man behind the counter seems to be an affable fellow. The problem is that the flavors (and textures) are not the flavors and textures of real Indian food, unless by "real Indian food" you mean the kinds of things you buy in the freezer case at Trader Joe's. If your experience of Indian food is limited to the freezer case at Trader Joe's, then Gandhi's should prove a most satisfying experience. Otherwise, you are bound for at least some mild disappointment.
(2)Monica B.
This place has consistently AMAZING Indian food. You can choose your spicyness level and side dishes. The food is definitely spicy but in a yummy, I can't believe how good this is kind of way. The prices are reasonable and the owner is super nice and friendly. It's super casual and easy to get your meal to go. I'd highly recommend this place and eat there every chance I get.
(5)Angie R.
Delicious! Very friendly. Even with a hearty line, I was offered 6 samples. Which is genius, because the experience is strikingly familiar to picking out ice cream flavors. Hopefully they will extend their hours.
(5)Momo B.
CHEAP EATS DOWNTOWN There might be one or two places that may serve better Indian cuisine, but when time and money is a factor, you can not go wrong with this indoor Indian food cart. I tried their Chef's Special for $8.25 which includes a choice of lamb or shrimp, chicken entree, two vegetables plus a can of soda. If you can not decide, complimentary samples of each of the meats are provided. Ended up going with lamb, chicken, mix vegetables and chick peas. There's plenty of tables and chairs The entrees were mildly spicy and very authentic. It's not eating at the Taj, but it sure beats standing and eating on the streets.
(4)Caroline B.
Best deal you can get for lunch in Portland. Try the saag and chicken korma. Also, make sure to ask to top with all the yogurt sauces, each are great! Enough food for two meals for under $8.
(5)Adam B.
I just joined Yelp to hurl stones at the walls of some corporate castle. Thought I'd better review a place or two I like: Ghandi's! This place is great! And cheap! When I make it over I usually get the veggie plate.
(5)Kristin T.
This place rocks! Come for the amazing food and incredibly personal service. Just accept that the food court atmosphere will serve just fine. Small price to pay for getting such incredible food at a fantastic price. One warning: These spice combinations are addictive!
(5)Chris W.
Amazing. This place is my new favorite lunch-time spot. I've had all of the chicken dishes. I'm not normally into really spicy food--the vindhaloo is REALLY spicy--but I couldn't stop eating it. There's also a choice of mild and medium spicy chicken dishes, and several vegetable sides. For the price ($8 or so) and the wait (basically in and out in 3 minutes at noon), it's an excellent option.
(5)Johanna L.
I came way out of my way to eat lunch here based on yelp reviews, which rarely steer me wrong. It was decent, but it wasn't freshly prepared, the naan portions were scant (and cracker-like in texture?), and it didn't taste hot or fresh. It tasted like what it was - just okay Indian food that was prepared buffet-style and spooned onto my paper plate. When I asked for some of the side sauces, I basically got a single spoonful of each onto my plate which just wasn't enough for the whole dish I had just been given. I wanted to dip my naan in them! If you want a quick lunch, this is a good spot... and it's cheap. It's just nothing spectacular.
(2)Shelisa W.
I haven't been to Gandhi's for 7 years. Well I went back today and it still tastes fantastic, the owner even remembered me which was nice! I don't know how I let so many years slip by. I love this place! He keeps the prices low and the choices simple! Great Indian food!
(5)Erin O.
I can't believe what I just got from here cost only $6! I can't believe I don't go here more often! Also, because it counts, genuinely nice folks work here. The owner (Karjit?) has a smile and a heartfelt thank you for everyone who comes by. Even just walking into the place and enjoying the aroma is worth a stop if you are in the area. Delightful.
(5)Hyun J.
Quick in/out, simple menu and taste better than expected. Good value.
(4)Rebecca C.
I have been hesitant to try this place for a few reasons: first, my co-workers constantly talk it up and that gets expectations up (see Luc Lac), and second, the idea of passing out in the middle of an afternoon meeting when I already struggle to stay awake was not something my boss would appreciate. Then today, well, it was cold and a few of us were going to grab some regular fare, but decided to have this instead. I agreed since I had no afternoon meetings for once. 2 of them have been before and 2 of us were newbies. My coworker who has been usually gets the mild, but I was more interested in the curry medium. I also am addicted to palak/sag paneer so the spinach sauce looked delicious. You start off with a mound of rice, 97% of which I left on the plate. Then I got some spinach and medium and since we were all gabbing and asking questions the super nice guy behind the counter gave me a little bit of both, along with the spinach sauce. They threw on a piece of naan, some cilantro and raita to taste (all optional) and away I went. Verdict? Good. Not excellent, but good. Best part is the medium curry chicken. The sauce is a little thin for what I'm used to, but totally delicious and the meat is incredibly well-cooked. The mild meat (apparently made with cows milk) lacked some depth as well, but was a bit sweeter so not bad. The spinach sauce was the big disappointment, really mild and lacked any depth and true flavor that I'm used to from my paneer. Maybe this is something different, I can't say I'm well-versed in Indian cooking, but I was sad. Next time I'm going to try the lentils with my medium chicken curry.
(4)Bree C.
After 2 visits, I've decided I love this quick lunch spot. Huge flavor explosion for a small price. Chicken Vindaloo is delicious, and I like that on the menu they say (Spicy) or (Mild) for those of us that don't know what vindaloo is. The sides I've tried have been tasty. The portions are great, service is prompt but friendly. The choices of sauces leaves room for extra flavor variety. I do wish they'd have a list of what the veggies are up somewhere, if not marking each one. Or give a bigger naan slice. Either way, it's great portions, good and tasty options and I'm able to casually walk the 7 blocks, order and walk 7 blocks back, within a 30 minute lunch.
(4)Madhan S.
My most preferred destination for indian food in downtown. Food is awesome, you have both vegetarian and non-veg options. Price is reasonable. Those who needs a quick lunch should try it, not a place for hang out. Ask for Dal that they have separately (for veg)
(4)John M.
I guess I'm a bit puzzled by the (granted, not all that many) negative reviews. I've been a fan of Gandhi's for years, and I remember with fondness the days I could walk there from my office, 2 or 3 times a week. The positive things about Ganhi are obvious, and it's why the place has such a loyal following. The food here is cheap, the portions sizeable, and waits for service brief (usually). It's a great place for local office workers to come and get a quick bite before heading back to work. Quality is pretty good; I wouldn't call it great. However, I've always walked away feeling comfortably full, after a pleasant and generally delicious meal. That being said, it's important to keep in mind what's going on here. The food is prepared well in advance, then kept in heated containers, which the owner will ladle onto your plate (either over your rice, or on the side). This is very much a no frills cafe, and if you're expecting a gourmet, white linen table cloth affair, definitely go elsewhere (or expect to be disappointed). The owner (and usually one helpmate) are crammed into a very small corner of the building, and service consists of you telling the owner what you want (or pointing to what you want), and having him ladle the "entrees" over a big scoop of white rice. Food is served on a paper plate, or you can get it in a plastic container to go. They also give you some naan and "condiments" (if you want them) that consists of several different sauces (I have no idea what they're called,but they all taste pretty good and go well with the spicy tomato and spinach dish I always order) and some chopped cilatro. Don't go here for the bread. This place is great for what it is. I would also caution folks coming here that when the owner says something is spicy, he means it. I love the spicy tomato dish, but there's no denying that I definitely need a full cup of water whenever I eat it.
(4)Claudia G.
Best deal for a downtown lunch, in my opinion. The veggie plate is my favorite (I always choose zucchini, chick peas and spicy potatoes, whatever they may be called). The service is swift and the owner is very involved with charitable causes. I recommend this place without reservations.
(5)Klaas V.
Tasty fresh indian food, big portions and nice people. Simple review for a simply great place, would have had 5 stars if the nan bread was better.
(4)David Z.
Is it the best Indian food I've ever had? I can't say that it is. Is it pretty tasty Indian food I can get in generous portions for a great price less than two minutes from my place of work? Well, my bank statement will attest to that. Pretty sure I end up here a few times a month. When in need of a quick, tasty, and affordable lunch, you can't go wrong with Ghandi's. I only wish they had *real* naan, and not pitas from Costco...
(4)Derek A.
This is not a fancy place. It is a simple little restaurant squeezed into about 10 square feet consisting of some steam tables loaded with very delicious Indian food. They aren't messing around with the spice levels here, nor are they kidding with the size of the portions for the money. Just about the best deal you could get for $6.
(5)Puddin' T.
I was having this immense craving for Indian food as I do from time to time (FOR WHICH THERE IS A LACK IN NE PORTLAND). I want to cap that so maybe a prospective Indian restauranteur will see and perhaps consider opening an Indian restaurant over here (please?), and not SW or SE. In any case, when I walked in I was completely confused. There's a Greek restaurant on one half and in the left corner I see a long line leading up to an area where there's a small space that happens to be Gandhi's. I don't get why the space is so limited since the place is huge. Maybe think of reorganizing your space 2 restaurants. There's got to be a better way than the way it is presently. In any case, the food: I got the Vegetarian Delight which means you pick 4 of the dishes. I had the spinach cream sumpin (anyway it was damn tasty, and no it was not Saag or Palak Paneer.. Malai Saag perhaps?), some curried cauliflower dish, some curried potato dish, and the vegetable korma, then 2 condiments and I chose mint chutney and raita. I have to say cudos to the chef because everything was very (IMHO) quite tasty and I search long and hard for good Indian food whereever I go and once I find the one I like it's my go-to Indian restaurant. For what they have they do well with. I do hope the day may come when they can actually expand to have their own place. Well, as long as they keep their prices good and low in this often overpriced but under value town, I'm sure they can do it. I was sad I couldn't get chai with my plate, but that's the breaks I guess due to their limited space. To the owners, if you do decide to expand please consider NE Portland, eh? None, not one Indian restaurant around here except a "fusion" Indian restaurant, which is fine, but I prefer Indian comfort food myself. AND put that Malai Saag, that cauliflower dish I had today , and Baingan Bhartha on yer menu ....I promise to be your loyal servant.
(5)Sharan D.
What are these reviews even talking about? I was disgusted with the food here.. Avoid!
(1)Michelle C.
Whoa-man. I found myself searching around for a new cart to try and wandered my way through Gandhi's door. Seven dollars of a flavor party that will easily feed you for two meals? And a cover over your head in the rain? I find myself coming here altogether too often now. No regrets. Mr. Gandhi, for lack of a better name, is exceedingly friendly and patient as you stand at his counter try to decide which saucy endeavor you will take on for the next couple days.(You can try samples of anything you want to try to help make you decision too). My favorite is the spicy chicken vindaloo with chickpeas on the side. I find myself daydreaming about those chickpeas. and then I traipse down the street to go get some. The space is really just a counter, and the line keeps rolling consistently, so there isn't much by way of a wait. There's seating in the shared space, but I've never eaten there so I can't comment on the accommodations. TL;DR- Great flavors, cheap, friendly, take-out or stay in. Do it.
(4)Ben R.
All I have to say is wow! The chicken curry with potatoes and white rice was delicious, tasty with a slight curry spice, and very filling. It was a reasonable price and so this is on my list of favorite quick/casual lunch spots in downtown. The owner is there everyday dishing up the food for you. They offer vegan and vegetarian options. It is inside the 'Global Food Court' so look for the purple awnings and double-wooden doors ('Gandhi's is painted on the windows') next to Luc Lac and Salad World. There is plenty of seating upstairs. There is typically a line, but it goes very fast since they are dishing it up. The food is fresh and everything is prepared from scratch (with the exception of the small slice of naan bread you get). There are a couple Indian carts in Portland that you can get fresh baked naan bread, so this is not the place to get your naan fix. There is three chicken dishes, mild medium and spicy. Mild is with cow milk, medium is with curry & coconut, and spicy is red spice and coconut. You have the option of the curry potatoes, cauliflower curry, or garbanzo. All served on a bed of fresh white rice. Try it for lunch today (but get there before 2pm because he is usually cleaning up by 2:30pm).
(5)JW R.
I'm not quite used to this whole morning thing yet. Getting there on time with my building key card is so far the limit of my ability. So I'm at work and lunch is at home. Crap. I've hit up most of the spots nearby I know so I poll the coworkers. Ghandi's they say. Oh, hell yes. It's Indian food. You know it, you love it. They're stingy with the naan, slivers beyond the first are a quarter extra but I vacuumed my food down so fast I just ate both pieces I got after the fact. I'd recommend leaving it as seagull bait in front of a place you hate.
(4)Mike F.
Great prices for a filling lunch. Not a fan of the chicken. It has a funky metallic after taste, but the vegetarian options are pretty good. The chutneys are excellent, especially the spicy one.
(2)Sherry S.
What is up with the lack of Indian food places around town? We've got thai coming out of our... ears.. as a for instance.. mexican too.. not so much Indian. This spot is right downtown so awesome for lunch. The ambiance also more for lunch. It's in the same building as 4 other places. It's almost like a food cart pavillion type of affair. Anyway there was a line, and by the way, it's a small space so it feels pretty crowded/tight. I got up to the front and just came out and said what is vegetarian and he pointed to almost all of his dishes.. Score! You get your food and then you head upstairs where a bunch of tables are and grab yourself one. I took one bite of my food which consisted of 4 vegetarian sides (for 6.50!) and devoured it within maybe 10 minutes? Seriously good food. They do have the spices down. I could get fat doing that a few times a week.
(4)