I have been going to royal India for many years now and can assure everyone that there is not a racist bone in their body. The staff if primarily run by Indian and Pakistani workers and the owners are Pakistani! They give more then fair prices for catering orders and include dessert, extra food, and salads just because the owner is a nice guy! If you cannot afford the food, maybe you shouldn't get a catering order from here, but it is more then fair prices for what quality and quantity of food you are given. They have hosted many parties with children (and Indian children!) so there is no policy against that as I have been there when such parties were happening. However, they have gotten many complaints about noise level of these parties as kids often get restless and therefore try to make the party between or after business hours if possible. It shocks me that such a personal attack has been made on this family as they have been in business for almost 20 years and put their heart and soul into this restaurant. Please read all the positive reviews first as these recent one stars seem to be obviously made by the same bitter person as they all have the same lines. This establishment has 3.5 stars for a reason, it's delicious!
(5)
Peter R.
They've remodeled inside recently and their service was good. Live music was going on Friday night. I am happy to see the restaurant has improved quite a bit since pre-remodeled time. Only a drawback was that it was really slow for them to bring food. It took them about 40 minutes before we got seated.
(3)
Jerry M.
The food was good. Taste of india is the best in Seattle. It is in a good location but lacked the spice and flavor I'm use to.
(3)
Happy M.
I think this is one of the better Indian restaurants in Kirkland... I'm talking about the lunch buffet: it has decent selection of food and the freshly-made naan bread is yummy, but I wish it was less expensive! You do need to get there early enough that the buffet bar still looks pretty clean! It feels like this place is under-staffed so the service could be slow and it takes them a while to clean up the buffet bar when food got dropped around the cart. But if you get there early then all is good. I think if they could monitor the buffet bar better and have wider selections of curry, I'll probably go there all the time for lunch. Slower service bother me much less than the quality of food.
(3)
Jameson G.
food is good, service is weird, decor is lovely
(3)
Benni M.
Such an epic waste. We came here because the Chinese place we already went to had been to long of a wait and we were very hungry. We ordered chicken curry and chicken tikka masala. Half of the tiny portion of chicken was gristle and fat. I could only eat the naan and rice. I complained to the waiter (which is pretty rare for me I can be a bit shy). He just acted scared of me and took nothing of the bill which ran up to 40$ the worst part it I had to eat at a taco bell because I was still hungry and paid less and got more edible food.
(1)
Scott H.
We eat there a few times a year. The food is ok, particularly the Shahi Paneer and the rice is fantastic. That said there is always bad service, I have had several times that we have had to request clean plates or forks. I have also on multiple occasions had them deny coupons that were valid. They charge for rice, but only sometimes. Honestly I can't figure out how they do their pricing. I order virtually the same thing every time and the bill comes out wildly different each time. We are actively searching for an alternative in the area, but unfortunately haven't found one.
(2)
Kristina C.
I like it! I almost didn't go here based on some of the reviews. I'm glad I went. I've never dined in, I always get my food to go, but the lady who always is at the front desk is very nice, the place is clean, food is excellent. Atmosphere is good. Chicken tikki masala has white meat chicken, with good texture and flavor. Lamb saag is a little light on the meat, but lamb is spendy and times are tough, so I get it. They always take special care to package the food carefully, even going so far as to put pieces of cardboard in between the containers so they stay flat. They give you a free rice pudding with your order (which I never eat, but it's the thought that counts, right?). I don't like that they charge for rice, but it is better than your standard basmati rice, it's got some kind of stuff in it. A little on the high side for Indian food, but I've found that with this type of cuisine in particular, you really do get what you pay for. Good food, nice people, good atmosphere.
(4)
Brock F.
Two colleagues and I tried out the buffet lunch. First thing set on our table was the naan, the traditional Indian flat bread, which was really good. The buffet choices were decent, and the food good tasting without being oily or too heavy. Bonus is they take the Compliments Card for 20% off the entire bill.
(3)
Alison L.
I don't go to this restaurant too often (once every few months), because their prices are a little high, but every time I have been I've been happy with the food and the service. The few times we've eaten at the restaurant, the service has been fast and always polite and attentive. But usually my husband and I order take-out, and almost every time we do, I'm given a free serving of rice pudding (which is delicious, by the way). And last time I went to place an order, and had to wait for it to be made, I was brought a free cup of chai! I didn't order it, I was just given it on the house while I waited (and again, it was delicious). I always get the chicken tikka masala, and I'm always satisfied with it. And my husband usally gets a vindaloo, and his only complaint is that it's not spicy enough for him (but nothing ever is). If the prices were just a few dollars lower, I'd be giving this restaurant 5 stars and we'd be eating here at least twice as often as we do now!
(4)
Bob G.
We have been dining occasionally here for years. We usually come for the lunch buffet. They offer a good selection of food and the complimentary naan. We have come here several times for dinner during the week. I can't comment on anything when they have been packed. The wait staff has always been helpful and patient when we are trying to figure out what to select from the menu. The servings have been enough to fill us, even when our son was one of those teenagers that had a hollow leg. The food has been good, but not excellent. I will always compare any Indian restaurant in the US to the Brilliant in Southall, UK so 5 stars is hard to come by.
(3)
Ben C.
These guys always try and rip me off. The coupon says buy one get one free (up to $12) and they take off 10. They charge for rice! Are you kidding me? Overpriced. This place sucks.
(1)
Mitsu K.
Always really like the food here
(4)
Jessica N.
We've been here 5 or 6 times now and the food is consistently delicious. The lunch buffet is the best price (2 for $20). We've tried Tikka Masala, Mango Curry and everything in between. It's all been great. We were given a complimentary mango ice cream recently with our dinner purchases and it was delicious. A perfect ending to our meal!
(5)
Helen K.
OMG the first time I went there the service sucked, but my food was good. Our food took FOREVER-granted I was slightly hungover. When we were finished we had to actually go to the front because they didn't bring our check, and they weren't even busy. Even after this frightening experience we were daring enough to return a few weeks later, and what a fuckin mistake that was. I figured the lamb chilli masala I ordered in my hungover state was good, so I decided to get it again. The dish I ordered tasted and looked completely different from what I previously ordered, the lamb first of all is in smaller chunks and taste like it was cooked wrong, and the dish was just nasty and runny- like they forgot to put in flour or cornstarch to help thicken the sauce. Also I like my food spicy , my other half can't even handle black pepper, and what did they do? The spice is on his chicken mango curry, and my lamb chilli masala has no heat whatsoever. I tell the server that I wanted my dish spicy and I thought that they switched the spice to the wrong dish, she then takes my dish to the back and when she brings back my lamb chilli masala it's a soup with floating slices of jalapenos in it. And the messed up thing is that it didn' t even make it any spicer, it made my masala watery, the consistency of tomato juice is thicker than the masala they brought back. After fishing out all the lamb I could ( I was hungry and not one to waste food), we once again get up to pay our bill- the server is too busy talking. As we are leaving she remembers that I ordered a chai, she brings the chai to me when we are leaving and the owner, realizing how dumb she was just gave it to us on the house. I'm sorry no chai on the house can salvage what they destroyed that evening.
(1)
E E.
My wife and I love this place. We have been going here since we were dating and now with our kids. Everything I have had has been very good. We found this place in a coupon book and they were happy to take our coupon and the next time we came the owner remembered us and gave the coupon again.
(5)
Erica S.
exceptional service and really delicious food!!! the naan is so fresh and the homemade chai tea is the perfect balance of sweet and spicy.
(5)
Liz J.
A little overpriced, service isn't great, but it's ok to good Indian food.
(3)
Sarah K.
Apparently I lived a sheltered life because before tonight I had never before experienced Indian Cuisine. I blame it all this black pit called Eastern WA where nothing exists other then incredible Mexican food and truck stop quality American food and big slabs of beef. This cute place is situated across the street from my house so my roommate and I ordered take out tonight to celebrate overcoming a huge hurdle of mine. The take out is in great plastic containers that were a step above glad ware which was a welcome change from the typical Styrofoam. The gentlemen helping us was incredibly courteous. Now for the important part, THE FOOD! It was incredible yummy, it was rich and I am sure not calorie conscious but not overly rich. We ordered and split between the two of us the Chile Massala Beef, Chana Saag, and Jasmine Rice. I would not order beef again from the restaurant as it was a bit tough and grissily but the sauce was yummy. I will probably try something else next time. However the Chana Saag was absolutely to die for and would order again and again. This last bit advice is probably a well known fact for those not raised in small town Eastern WA but you must order a side of rice (one side was more then enough for both of us) because Indian Food is a sauce based food and you will want to pour it over rice and not just eat it plain! I also loved the interior of the restaurant and was to embarrassed to ask if the table in the front of the restaurant that is barely raised off the floor and has large floor pillows to sit on was just for show or if you could actually dine there?!? I would love to dine on a table raised off the floor while sitting on big pillows because that would make me just tickled pink! But I am easily amused with things such as this!
(4)
Robyn H.
The night I visited, the place was packed to the ceiling with customers and the service was slow to the max. They were obviously not prepared for the number of people present and it seemed as if the cooks just gave up trying to get meals out in any kind of efficient manner. The food itself was fine when it finally arrived but it was in no way worth the wait. I would recommend going during a period of time when there is no one else in the restaurant. I won't ever go back to try again.
(2)
Karen S.
Mango Curry, Garlic Naan, Basmati Rice, and the best Mango Lassi I have ever had. What more can you ask for? The mango curry is the best thing I have ever put in my mouth! I truly miss this place. I can't find anywhere in California that makes Mango Curry.
(5)
c g.
Ordered veg curries for a party on a Sunday morning. Timely delivery, good quality food, and super tasty . Got a lot of jeera rice along with my curries which was a pleasant surprise.
(5)
Jeff C.
Went here for dinner on a hot Summer eve. Inside was empty and ice cold. Outside seating area was spacious and comfortable albeit right on the road. Food was good but portions of protein were a bit stingy but prices under $15 so not really a rip-off. Service was pleasant although she cleared our plates before we were done eating. With the prices fair (for Juanita) for what you get and decent food, if I lived in or was visiting the area and wanted Indian food, this is a decent choice. If it was in a more desireable location in Juanita away from the road noise, and portions were a little more generous, I'd almost give it 5 stars.
(4)
Jo L.
There is a lot of tasty Indian food to be had at this place. We came by in a Friday night and got seated right away; it was reasonably busy but crazy full at the time. Service was hit or miss; we were seated promptly but it was another 20 minutes before anyone took our order. There were plenty of waitstaff around but they were all hovering by the front of the restaurant and not really doing the rounds to check on their customers. Also, there were a lot of misplaced orders--before we even had someone take our order, a random appetizer was dropped on our table and we had to tell the staff we didn't order it. We also saw a bunch of curries and rice go from table to table without anyone claiming them, and then go back into the kitchen. Part of the issue I think was the obnoxiously loud live music that was happening; we literally had to yell our order to the waitress for her to hear us, and we were lucky that she offered to read our order back to us because two things were wrong on it! We were grateful that she took the extra step of double checking with us. The meal was reasonably priced and very tasty. We got two curries, rice and a naan and that was plenty for two people without feeling stuffed or having too many leftovers. The malai kofta was nice but had a weirdly tomato-based sauce (similar to butter chicken) instead of the creamy, cashew based sauce I was familiar with, but it was still good, although it could have done with more kofta balls and less sauce. The bread was good but nothing spectacular. The seeing size for the rice was enough for the curry sauces. Overall it's pretty good local Indian food; if it were further away I might not go to the effort of going specifically there but since it's nearby and convenient I will probably visit again. If you check in on yelp you get a discount on your meal over $40.
(3)
Mary Lou T.
I have some absolute favorites here and I've never been let down. The samosas and every one of the varieties of naan are always fresh and very tasty! I'm usually just an appetizer/dessert eater so I haven't had a wide variety of their food but I have had the chicken tandoori and it was wonderful! The piece de resistance is the mango moose...heavenly! The owners are virtually always on site and actively involved. They have always been very attentive and kind. I just can't say enough!!!
(5)
Giena L.
Went for their lunch buffet. Lots of choices- a variety of rice, chicken, fish and veggie options. Tons of sauces - the yogurt sauce was my favorite. Definitely try the chicken curry and butter chicken; flavorful and tender. They had some dessert options as well. I didn't try any, because I was uber full at that point. The chain was a little too sweet for my choice, but lots of people sing its praises, so try and decide for yourself. Comes with naan, which is delicious all by itself but comes in handy to soak of the sauces. A great value for lunch and what you get- it's a little less than $12.
(5)
Bob Z.
I've never been here for the lunch buffet, but I'm guessing that's when you want to arrive. Why? The food on the dinner menu tastes great but the dinner portion sizes are on the small side for the price you pay, so the lunch buffet format ought to fix that problem. I really don't get the dinner portion paucity. Maybe they need to make enough on dinner to fund lunch? Dunno. Anyway, as I said, the food tastes great. We had garlic naan, along with the fish mango curry and the lamb chilli masala. When you order you can ask for one to five stars on the heat. We went with two on the fish and three on the lamb but the fish seemed slightly spicer to me. Service was quick and attentive even though the place was pretty full. We got a Groupon deal for $30 towards dinner for two at a cost of $15. The processed it without a hitch. That's the way to go. I had a Kingfisher beer with dinner, and the additional charges with tax were about $15, so with the Groupon money and tip we were just under $40. I probably won't be back for dinner without a Groupon deal, but I could definitely go for lunch.
(3)
Vici K.
Yummy, yummy, yummy. This place has been here for years. I've tried it probably more than 10 yrs ago. Don't know why I haven't been here more often; close to home, in the neighborhood for years & tasty food! Lunch buffet tasty with a good variety of hot & cold dishes. Butter chicken & beef vidalo delish! Attentive staff. Cool inside even with doors open. Pleasant music fit the overall ambiance. Lovely decor. Perfectly ripe & sweet honeydew melon. Sweet & tasty dessert. I'm stuffed but keep on eating. We will return!
(5)
Mister W.
Not perfect, but darn close. I've been holding off on reviewing the Pakistani/Indian Royal India because it almost feels unethical to rave so much about a place I go once a week. While I've eaten dinner here twice in the past few years, I almost exclusively come here for the lunch buffet. First, come here for lunch not dinner. The food is the same and considerably less expensive. There are a limited number of buffet options at lunch, but the food that is available is well made and delicious. If you want something else, you can always order from the full menu. As to the food itself, minor quibbles over the amount of cardamom or curry in any particular dish could be argued - but ultimately there's nothing bad here. They've been incredibly consistent in quality and taste since changing chefs about two years ago. I like the decor: simple, roomy, and comfortable. The music is subdued and on a long loop, theme appropriate, and unobtrusive. The cleanliness level inside is impressive, too. That said, the bathroom doesn't belong to the restaurant and the building manager's lack of care shows if you're forced across the hall to use the facilities. Service is less important to me because I'm almost always here for the lunch buffet, but every member of the staff is incredibly friendly. If you have a problem or request, just ask nicely and they'll probably bend over backward to help. I think the greatest compliment I can give this place is my continued patronage on a weekly basis. They're close, delicious, clean, and consistent.
(5)
James B.
I went there for lunch today, they have an all you can eat buffet for $12 for lunch time, they have OK selection and decent environment. As far as the most important thing goes "the food" ,it was pretty disappointing, I found an ant in my white rice, two very long grey hair in the chicken korma and a long black hair "looked like girls hair " in their salad bar area. I strongly recommend to the ownership to improve their hygiene and hair dress code for their employees. As of now, you have lost one customer, and I'm sure you'd lose more if people paid attention to their environment as much as I did..
This review is long overdue considering I've been here every week for lunch since I found out about it about a month ago. I'm a real stickler when it comes to Indian buffet and this place has really done justice to its name. I want to start with the ambiance and decor because I think it really validates the dining out experience. They have beautiful chandeliers and an open floor plan perfect for large or small groups. Also a small nook which I'm sure they don't use very often, but would be great if you're entertaining clients and need privacy. There's also a stage so I'm sure if you tip them enough you can get jiggy with it. Joking (But really if you do take a picture because I always need a good laugh). They also have outdoor seating which I didn't get to take advantage of this summer but maybe next year. The naan is also delicious and buttery. Now onto the food. It's delicious. The staple butter chicken is great, no frills which I appreciate. That should be kept a standard dish and nothing more. The chicken curry is good and also the fish is very tender and tasty. My favorite has to be the desserts. Kheer is awesome and not too sweet. Mango mousse has to be my absolute favorite. It reminds me of the mango pudding you get at dim sum, except in mousse form. Their chai is also just sweet enough to the point where you don't have to add anymore sugar to it. Overall, I enjoy the ambiance and character of the place. I also love the location since it's right across the street from Juanita Beach Park. A good reason to get some cardio in after all those carbs.
(5)
Susan C.
Seated right away to an almost empty large room. Needs a little more cozy factor but I was there to catch up with and old friend so appreciated the quite setting. Let my friend order. We had a potatoes appetizer and two dishes with curry, chick and fish along with garlic nan. Very good. Drinks and dessert all added up to around $50. Good place and great conversation.
(4)
Mike T.
not my favorite indian food experience, the naan and royal india delight plate were delicious but the lamb tikkj masala was a bit disappointing. I went here because of a groupon. I would give this place another try in the future if i have an indian food craving but probably not anytime soon. Their lunnch buffet looked promising.
(3)
Jean S.
I have been here a few times for their lunch buffet, since I live in the neighborhood. Overall, it's a nice little spot with a pleasant staff and clean accommodations. The variety of the lunch buffet is good, especially with all the different side salads. They serve fresh naan to each table during lunch. Along with a few different desserts, they offer free chai. As for the food, it's just ok. Overall, it's all very salty. My husband and I comment on the saltiness of the food every time we eat here. The quality of the food also varies. Some days, the butter chicken is creamy and thick like a gravy, other days, it is thin and watery. We have also had stale pappadum from the buffet. The matter paneer has potatoes instead of paneer in it. I do like that they serve fish on the buffet, though.
(3)
Kim H.
This was just OK Indian food. The aloo gobi I got seemed heavy on the oil and twice I bit into large chunks of cardamom pod which I promptly spit out (fortunately I was outside where I could do this without being rude). I'm giving three stars instead of two because the ambiance seemed nice, the service was good, and I had my to-go order in less than ten minutes.
(3)
Jessica S.
I am not going to tell you how many times I drove by this place without going inside: the outside is just that unassuming. Walk through the strip-mall-chic doors, though, and you are welcomed into a restaurant with an elegantly understated, comfortable vibe. The staff are friendly and very attentive, with plenty of time to answer questions. On my most recent visit, we started with a flavorful baba ganoush, which came with lots of fluffy warm bread for dipping, and an aloo paratha, a warm, spiced potato-filled bread. For our main dishes, I had the butter chicken, which was perfectly, gently spiced, and my companion had the lamb korma. Both were delicious, especially served over the rice, which is so good I could eat it plain. It's odd that this place has never been crowded when I've gone there, which I chalk up to the exterior of the building. Don't be deceived! Go, and enjoy.
(5)
Monica L.
Went here the other day for the first time..took my husband here for his birthday dinner. We have a favorite Indian restaurant in Seattle that we've been going to for years but thought we'd give this a try after finding a good groupon deal. First of all, the dining room was spotless! The decor was beautiful as well. Very attentive wait staff and the food was very delicious! Had the chicken Tikka Masala and a special lamb dish along with some garlic Naan and sesame seed naan. Was all very filling. .brought leftovers home. At the end of the evening we agreed Royal India gained a new customer and our Seattle fav may have lost one. Parking here is great and Juanita park is directly across the street for a nice walk on their boardwalk. Highly recommend this place!
(5)
Lavanya S.
The moment you step inside, first thing you would notice is Fishy smell. Been here a couple of times and our experience was bad both the times. And the things that you really can't miss are dirty hardwood floors and greasy glasses. And the service is so bad that they don't care about refilling the dishes on the buffet. Last but not the LEAST food is tasteless. You will be left with a feeling as to -- "why am I punishing my stomach !!"
(1)
Kathy O.
This review is for our experience on the evening of December 2, 2014. We have been coming to this restaurant for about 15 years. In the earlier years we enjoyed delicious dishes and very good service. About 4-5 years ago the owners appeared to be growing tired of the business. The food was fine, but even though the restaurant was mostly empty, we received very poor service. One evening a few years ago we left after sitting at our table for quite some time. Then something happened. The younger generation took over and Royal India seemed to show a great deal of improvement--good food and fantastic service. The "new blood" seemed to revive the restaurant! On December 2 we noticed when we walked into the restaurant that the staff appeared to change again. We sat awhile while some of the staff did other tasks. When we ordered our beverages they were out of the two beers we ordered. I then asked for either Perrier or San Pelligrino and they were out of that as well. Not a good sign. We always order Chicken Tikka Masala and Eggplant Bharta regardless of additional dishes. Both dishes were terrible! The eggplant was unappetizing and lacked the usual flavor. The Chicken Tikka tasted as though some important ingredients were left out. Our third dish was Lamb Vindaloo. It was neither appetizing looking nor did it taste like it did on previous visits. We will not return to Royal India unless we read somewhere of a vast improvement!
(1)
Ann G.
One of my favorite Indian restaurants on the Eastside. When I introduced Indian food to my boyfriend, we went here and came back every Friday for 4 weeks! Needless to say, I've made a fan out of him, too. They have a take-out option with Eat24. It comes in handy when you want to just sit at home with this food.
(4)
Radhika S.
The group on voucher $18 for $30 worth of food is worth it. When it comes to food some items in their menu is really good. Pakoras, channa masala and naan tastes nice. Other veggies gravy mostly tastes and smells the same.
(3)
Byron R.
My first time here and let's say it did not disappoint. My friend and I were offered the option to sit inside or dine on the outdoor patio; we elected outside. Service was, for the most part, spot on except the gal that brought our samosas did not know what the dipping sauces were. Also, it seemed to take a little bit longer to get our boxes and the check. Still, the food was "amaze-balls" per my friend's own words. Along with the samosas (perfect!) we had garlic naan to go with our lamb tikka masala and lamb vindaloo. Oh, wow, delicious! Take your appetite and head here the next time you want Indian food.
(4)
Grigoria B.
Didn't feel like coming or leaving the house so searched online for restaurants that deliver. And wow do they deliver! ! :) I've lived in Kirkland foe 5 years, just a few minutes from this place and have never eaten there. Well, laziness caused me to discover this gem. Gulab Jamun is my favorite Indian dessert. It's delicious. Garlic naan was great! Saag paneer was wonderful but even 1 star was too spicy for us. But that's just us, not their fault. I have never tried fish at an Indian restaurant before and I'm so glad I did. Tikka masala fish was amazing! !! So tender and flavorful. I'm definitely going to eat there again. And highly recommend it.
(5)
Khianna H.
I've ordered takeout from Royal India maybe 5 or 6 times now, so I feel their takeout experience is worth a review. They've messed up on my orders twice. They've left out things I've paid for, but I've never gotten someone else's order. The vegetable pakoras are pretty bland, but the sauce they come with is sweet and tart. Chai tastes really off most times. Artificial and not spicy, nor sweet. I've ordered various paneer dishes. You have to do 3 or 4 stars to get much heat. 1 or 2 stars, and it's like they leave out anything resembling a spice. The online menu shows a mango shake and mango lassi option. When I ordered both, I got two of the same thing. The chai ice cream is more enjoyable than their actual chai, but don't get it with brownies. They're crusty and honestly detract from the flavor. I ordered dal this time. It's mildly spicy, and I did enjoy it. However, the Styrofoam container it came in was falling apart and sitting in a puddle of some non-dal liquid. Eep. They have had sloppy packing jobs on more than one...or two..or three.. occasions. I recently moved to the suburbs (it's temporary!! Fingers crossed!) and would not have given this place so many tries if it wasn't for that fact. There's much better Indian food in Seattle, for comparable cost.
(2)
Paige B.
I haven't been here since 2011 and tonight's visit was a huge disappointment. We stopped in at 730p on a Sunday night. A couple tables were seated but it was mostly empty. It took 30 minutes for our samosas to arrive. They were fantastic and the best part of the meal. It took another few minutes for our food to arrive. The waitstaff apologized for the long wait. I don't know if was a bad night but the curries we got were way over the top salty as well as the chicken. My coconut curry was barely creamy. My boyfriend's chicken curry was inedible. The server came to see if we liked our food and we felt really bad telling him we were not happy with how salty they were. Without pause he took our food and returned with new curry. But it tasted exactly the same. It was a very expensive meal to have been so grossed out by. They also brought us out the wrong nan and didn't bring out complimentary dessert like I saw other people mentioned. Oh well.
(2)
Scottie L.
Don't judge this place on the outside. It's a transformation once you step inside. The chic decor to the wonderful aromas is a inviting, first impression. We were impressed by the extensive nann selection, especially the stuffed nann. The curry and meat dishes are exquisite with the Indian rice pulling it all in. There's a complimentary chocolate mouse that leaves a sweet taste to end your meal with. I'm definitely looking fwd to future meals here.
(4)
Julie F.
Scrumptious! And lovely presentation. The decor reminded me of Encore in Vegas. Cool chandeliers. Also, the owner stayed open for our party which was very kind. Really great experience and service was awesome.
(5)
sri v.
Excellent !! Stopped by on our way to Vancouver from Seattle . Checked on yelp and car for buffet - lovely food, great naan, great curries, excellent desserts Nice ambience too
(5)
Yana M.
This review could definitely have been completely different had the black cardamom pod in our rice turned out to be a bug like we erroneously thought for a few seconds. OOPS! Good thing it was just a freakishly insecty looking seed. We came here for dinner as a group of four and enjoyed it so much we came back again two days later for lunch. And again in a couple more days... You get the idea. The parking is ample, the decor simple but classy. I loved the peacock painting on the wall and the dimmed chandeliers. FOOD: Royal India Delight - the veggie pakoras were yummy - boyfriend that is not big into vegetables said they were really good. The chicken tikka was delicious, and the potato samosas were okay but not particularly special. The best thing was the cilantro/mint/tamarind chutneys - super refreshing and light. We asked for more of the chutney. Mango Chicken Curry - SO GOOD. I got mine a wimpy 1 star because I do not do spice, and it was perfectly mild. The chicken was perfectly cooked, and a good mix of light and dark meat. Wonderful on top of the basmati rice as well as for dipping naan in. Butter chicken - BF said he loves dipping naan into it. He gets his a 3-4, and likes the spice level. Boneless tandoori chicken - comes out sizzling hot on top of veggies. BF said chicken prepared Indian-food style is the best chicken he's ever had. Plain naan - yummy, hot, fluffy. Brushed with oil. Perfect. Mango lassi - fruity and sweet, as it should be. Mango mousse - we got this complements of the restaurant, and it is every ounce as delicate and mangoey as the menu describes it. Other people in our party had the mango prawn curry, the lamb vindaloo, salty lassi, and spinach stuffed naan, and liked everything. The very eloquent other half, when asked for his thoughts on Royal India, said "good food, 5 stars". Let's leave it at that.
(5)
Dave M.
I'm definitely a fan of their lunch buffet. The ambience is a little weird, It's adjacent to a bar and the owner seems to have a thing for gaudy peacock decor. That being said, the butter chicken is delicious, the naan is fresh and it's close to Juanita beach.
(4)
Harpreet P.
I must say that my first experience with the restaurant was good. I had ordered a takeaway of tandoori chicken and was impressed with the quality and quantity. However subsequent orders saw both deteriorating. This time we came to eat in the restaurant. We ordered a royal indian delight which said it was kabab and chicken tikka. However they brought in a plate of pakora etc. When asked waiter said that they were trying to change the menu. I said we will eat only what we ordered. At this point he went and asked the owner and repeated the same thing. We were about to leave when another person came and said they will add the tikkas. What an aweful experience. Not coming again
(1)
David B.
We really enjoyed the buffet at this restaurant. The place was clean and spacious. Food was very tasty at a very reasonable price.
(5)
Camille C.
Order take out and delivery all the time, sit occasionally. Delicious food, nice atmosphere, outdoor patio in the summer, family run.
(4)
N M.
I rarely come here but this place was HORRIBLE!!! My wife found basically a FISH HOOK like piece of metal in her food!!!!! :( We simply told a male waiter and all he said was "I will tell the cooks" Then.....nothing happened....no apology....no discount......no second order of Naan where the "fish hook" was found. Plus.....the waiter and waitresses barely spoke to us or checked on us after. Even when we left no apology!!! So...I told the woman the front if they could at least take off the Naan from our check and she responded rudely "We already gave you a discount" which was no true. I told her that was our groupon...and she said "oh"....and that was it!!! No apology again for the metal hook, no discount, no come back again and we will make it right...nothing!!! This was probably the WORST SERVICE EVER!! Even with the groupons....WE WILL NEVER GO BACK!! HORRIBLE DANGEROUS FOOD, RUDE SERVERS AND EMPLOYESS, NO SMILES ON ANYONES FACES, AND A FISH HOOK PIECE OF METAL IN THE NAAN!!! :( :(
(1)
Jennifer T.
Friendly staff, yummy and consistent food.
(5)
Adrianne P.
I love this place! I usually order the garlic naan and butter chicken curry and I've never been disappointed. From the outside you think ummm where did i just come? But step inside...beautiful :) service can sometimes be a little slow but it's nothing major they're very courteous!
(4)
Glenn P.
I stumbled across this place one afternoon and what a find! I go here for the lunch buffet ($9.95) and I really appreciate the selection, and that Chai Tea and Desserts is included. Minus one star because the entrees don't match the descriptions all the time. If it's not Saag Paneer, then don't say it is! They use chickpeas instead of paneer quite frequently. Note - get here early, especially on Friday, the place gets busy!
(4)
Mariko L.
While some of my favorite Indian restaurants are in Seattle, this is a good option close to my apartment so I do frequent it often. I love some of the vegan dishes (I forget what the spinach and chickpea option is called) and haven't had too many misses (But do skip the tandoori chicken wings.) Also, they can omit cream in some of the dishes and sub coconut milk to make them dairy free, which is great! What really stands out to me is their service. They have always been incredibly kind and friendly to me. They're so nice here! :)
(4)
Freckle N.
Lovely decor, service was police & we enjoy the food. It was very flavorful and portions were perfect.
(4)
Jason S.
I have been here at least 50 times since we moved to Juanita. That is no exaggeration. Dinner and Lunch Buffet, regularly. Royal India is the reason I've even explored indian food rather than just mounding a plate full of butter chicken and calling it good (which is delicious btw, I'm not knocking you if you're that guy/girl). The staff there is outstanding, the new atmosphere is great (if a bit echoey... is that a word). Saag paneer, butter chicken, vegi korma, lentils, tikka masala, various flavors of naan... the mango mousse stuff that they toss in free with dinner sometimes. All of it. just delicious. The food makes my tummy smile..... and let me tell you, that means it's a really BIG smile. HAHAHA..... get it? I have a big tummy?... it'd be funny if you knew me. In closing, go to Royal India and eat food.
(5)
Galina L.
I never been there for dinner but I had lunch there. Great selection in the buffet. I came in once at the same time as a group of about 30 people and the staff did a great job of restocking the food (i was kind of thinking that they were going to run out of food because there were so many people there at once). People are really friendly and the food is great. I loved everything I had there!
(5)
D N.
Thoroughly disappointed with their food and their communication skills. This was my families go to lunch buffet as well as take out restaurant and now when they messed up, they don't bother following up. Their butter chicken and lamb was poorly cooked, i asked for spicy and the food was sweet. I was asked to drive back and bring the food so they can "SEE" what was wrong with it vs. believing their regular customer. they promised a refund and Its been 1.5 months and no sign of the refund. NEVER going back.
(1)
Lauren K.
The service was great. The food was really, really great. Some of the best I've ever had. The bartha was excellent. The tikka masala was so tasty, without being super heavy and creamy. Very impressed.
(4)
Ieva K.
Finally made my way back in for dinner after the remodel. Looks great!! Much more open with a nice modern touch. They have a great outdoor patio! Once again the food was a hit; we ordered our usual butter masala with paneer and one with chicken and veggie samosas. The girls that were working were so sweet and helpful. Again we were the loudest and stayed the longest. They were attentive, friendly and didn't seem to mind.
(4)
Daniel T.
Great parking, great atmosphere. Good portion sizes. Coconut curry and Mango curry were good but the butter chicken was "the bomb" (my guests words.) Garlic naan was good but not great! Used Groupon for extra value.
(4)
Tina C.
Indian food was good, but I have had better. I had the lamb for the first time and it was soooooo interesting. It certainly has that distinct taste. Their Nan was ok though -- I have had better. Tika-masala tasted as expected too. The only pro was that this was right off Juanita beach and it was a gorgeoussss day! The staff was very nice and the environment was very clean too! I heard they do belly dancing for entertainment if booked in advanced and I also noticed a stage so I guess they do shows sometimes?
(3)
Tokusan S.
My wife and I went there with a Groupon. Very good experience due to the following by priority for us: 1) Food was excellent...very flavorful. We were expecting less authentic cuisine due to high number of non-Indian reviewers/diners, but we were very pleasantly surprised. Chicken Tikka Masala and Tandoori Prawns were delicious. Garlic Nan was fluffy and just right. 2) Service was great...very attentive and friendly. Checked in enough, but not too much. Only change I would advise is that we noticed they asked if we and some other guests were ready to order a bit too fast after we sat down and began looking over menu. 3) Interior style is very nice...good mix of Indian and western decor. We will definitely go back again!
(4)
Dan P.
I live near this restaurant and I have been meaning to stop by but didn't get around to it until today. They recently renovated so the interior looks modern and nice. The staff is very friendly and the service is good. The food was also good. Our table ordered the veggie appetizers (samosas and pakora), chicken tikka masala, prawn vindaloo, eggplant bartha, grilled chicken tikka, plain naan, and garlic naan. The dinner entrees came with rice. Overall, it was good. It is made for the American palate. Each dish has a spice rating so you can get it 1 (no spice) to 5 (very spicy). We ordered 3 for everything and the dishes were not very spicy. The naan was fresh and good. However, we got 2 orders of each and they brought all of it out at the same time. It would have been better if they brought it out in waves so that we always had hot naan. Instead we had tasty hot naan at the beginning and cold hard naan towards the end of the meal. The rice was good. The chicken tikka masala was very good and creamy. The prawn vindaloo was odd. It wasn't spicy and vindaloo really should have a good kick. The sauce was also a bit watery. This dish was a miss. The baingan bharta (eggplant bartha on their menu) was good. The appetizers were good as well. Both the samosa and pakoras were recently fried so they were good. I wish the small sauce dish was a little bigger. I also wish they had given separate sauce dishes of mint chutney and tamarind instead of combining them into one small sauce container. They have a decent beer menu with the typical US beers and Indian beers (taj mahal and kingfisher). They also serve wine. Overall, this is a nice Indian place. The parking lot is big and the food is good. I knocked off one star for the miss with the vindaloo and some minor things but still a good place that I may visit again.
(4)
Chelsea J.
They completely redid the entire interior here! It looks very nice. The women working here were very friendly and were different people than the man and woman I used to see here during lunch. They have a pretty good variety at their lunch buffet. I still haven't been for dinner. I like that they have mango mousse and rice pudding and other sweets all at the lunch buffet as well as all you can drink chai. They bring naan to your table which is a nice touch. However, I still think their food is just alright. The chicken in the butter chicken was tough and not tender. I imagine the food is better when you order it from the menu and it's not sitting under the warmer. The rice pudding tasted different than I remembered. A bit too sweet for my taste. I still have to give them the a-okay although the inside of the restaurant looks very nice! Too bad the exterior is still such an eyesore.
(3)
R R.
I've been to Royal India in the past and loved going to their buffet. This time I ordered lunch for pickup on a new app I found. The experience was fantastic and the food just as good. I was given a complimentary mousse which was pretty good and everything tasted great. I think it's a good amount of food for the money. The Pakora were a little over salted and a little soggy, but still tasted wonderful. I will be eating here more often!
(5)
David W.
Stopped in for dinner with my wife to start checking out the local restaurants in the neighborhood where we're moving to. It looks a bit like a dive on the outside, but inside the dining room is elegant. The service was perfect and the food was delicious. We'll definitely be going back and bringing friends.
(5)
Carolyn H.
Not a huge fan of Indian food, but I somewhat enjoyed it. My boyfriend ordered a little bit of everything... Chicken plates, veggies, rolls with stuff in them... I really enjoyed one of the chicken plates and tolerated the other things.
(3)
Sonia A.
Just coming from this restaurant eating buffet.In my opinion this is the worst restaurant in Seattle.Bad service and empty food dishes in the buffet.The worst part was , I order Indian Beer and while drinking i found a dead fly in my beer glass.I was told by the server that we cant replace or refund or apply discount on beer because i had already drunk half glass .On top of this she has another excuse that when she got the glass, it was clean. I was under the assumption that its restaurants responsibility to keep their environment clean.They had flies sticking to the window and also flying on the food. I do not recommend this restaurant to anyone and would have given zero stars if had option. Do not go by the location.This is a cheap restaurant both in quality and service.
(1)
Geoff F.
By God, I believe the annoying sound from the kitchen has been fixed. Upgrading to four stars.
(4)
Steve Y.
Lunch buffet is very nice and fresh, great selections, service is also very friendly and attentive
(4)
Camilla K.
This was my first experience with an Indian restaurant and I was very very happy! I can't speak to authenticity, but flavors were wonderful! We went for the $9.95 lunch buffet! My favorite was the Jal Frazi fish (I ate it with the coleslaw looking salad and that was probably SUPER American, but tasted great!) and basmati rice, which was just a little sweet. Everything I tried was good, honestly, but the standouts were the fish, Aloo saag, And both of the vegetable curries that were orangy colored but I can't remember what they're called. And the naan was fresh, warm, soft, amazing. Perfect for all the saucy goodness on my plate. Save room for mango mousse because it's so creamy and just the right amount of sweet and tart. Like heaven in a ramekin. The staff was polite, but not super friendly or warm. That's the only thing that made me a little uncomfortable and therefore I can't give them 5 stars. I hate feeling bad or menacing when I ask a server for something. I had to ask for naan several times. I also asked for butter twice and they said ok but never brought any. But the food.... Yum. Seriously, go here.
(4)
N. J.
Solid Indian restaurant. Not amazing, but probably still our go-to Indian restaurant on the Eastside. We've only been there for dinner (not the buffet at lunch), but have been happy with our experience. Reasonable prices, reasonable service, reasonable food!
(4)
Alexander L.
Probably the most misleading exterior I've ever seen - as others have mentioned it looks like it's in a (mostly shut down) strip mall which doesn't even face the road. The interior is clean and classy and all of the usual Indian standards are both available and excellently done. One of the best food options nearby. They're usually near to empty - I would love to see them move to a new location - there are lots of significantly inferior places nearby with much better frontage.
(5)
Andrea Z.
This is the worst run restaurant I have ever been to. The food is sub par and the service is horrible. I watched three tables come and go before I got my food, literally an hour and a half. If a dish is going to take over an hour to make, you should tell the person before they order it, unless maybe it didn't make it to the kitchen because I saw a number of them come out while I was there. I ended up having everything boxed because I didn't have time for an hour and a half meal! They ended up running the wrong card at the end just to add he cherry on to the top of my ordeal.
(1)
David C.
Great food, service and location. Well-hidden gem. Have been here twice and impressed on both occasions.
(5)
Garrett W.
I literally go here at least once a week. I am not very adventurous because I found what I like and I always get it. Why fill up on other food when I can just fill up on the best butter chicken ever and some rice! I have tried Indian all over Washington and this place is by far my favorite. Their lunch buffet is amazing these guys are the real deal. Every once in a while things won't quite taste as good but that's what happens when you make your own spices and sauces. The people are very nice as well and it just got remodeled not to long ago, my favorite lunch spot in Kirkland by far.
We moved to the Juanita neighborhood about 3 months ago and we have consistently eaten at Royal India about once every week or two since then. We LOVE this place! The food is excellent, and you can't beat the price for their daily lunch buffet. We love the tikka masala with lamb, and the saag with any choice of meat or paneer. The naan is always hot and delicious. The patio is so cute and perfect for a summer afternoon or evening. And, the service here is excellent! Hands down our favorite place to eat and always a go-to when we don't feel like cooking.
(5)
Judy F.
A hidden gem. One of those restaurants that you might not visit unless someone told you about it. The outside of the building does not reflect the quality of the food or service. The food and service are outstanding. I am a fan of both the buffet and the dinner menu. Delicious curry and butter chicken as well as many vegetarian options. Try the cauliflower and the fritters. The nann is fresh and warm. Good desserts too. The staff and owners are attentive with out being annoying. I have been eating here for years, have never been disappointed and will keep going back.
(5)
Kaarin S.
This is quickly becoming my favorite Indian restaurant. There are some mixed emotions when you walk in--there is a pub next door, so you smell the wonderful curry, and then a rotten cigarette smell. Once you're in, though, it's nice! The decor has changed from some crazy oranges to beautiful blues, teals, and silvers. I LOVE it. As a rule, I don't like buffets--not because of the food, but because I ALWAYS, ALWAYS see someone sneeze on the food. Not on the little glass sneeze-guard, on the actual food. So for that reason, I avoid them. However, they let you order off of the menu all day! The food here is excellent. Sometimes the naan is a little burnt, but every dish I have had is so flavorful! The ambiance of the restaurant is great, and the wait staff have always been nice. I usually get butter chicken, chicken tikka, tikka masala, or some sort of paneer--all are excellent. Their rice is very flavorful, and don't be afraid to ask for more--they don't give you a ton if you're sharing with others, but they will be glad to bring you some more. Make sure and tell them how spicy you want it, but play it safe. Some dishes are spicy regardless, and other dishes could definitely use spice, but I suppose that is the nature of Indian food. Indian food leftovers are probably my favorite! They're good at giving you to-go boxes, and I have to force myself to leave some so that I can enjoy more later! Prices are reasonable. My friend got horrendously overchanged by some sort of error, but that is not the norm, it just seems to have been a fluke. (Everything has since been righted.) If you're looking for good, traditional/authentic Indian food in a gorgeous atmosphere (right next to the lake, too!), then Royal India is the place! Great, now I'm hungry...
(5)
Alexandra M.
I frequent this restaurant like no other. Best Indian food in all of Seattle. Nothing else to it. Lamb masala, tandoori chicken (on the bone), Kashmiri nan, chai tea with a side of raita are my regular must haves. I highly recommend this gem.. You won't leave disappointed!!!
(5)
Jenny J.
Excellent dinner and service. Samosas were delicious! Butter chicken was all white meat and the rice was awesome!! Naan is huge and perfect texture! They also brought us complimentary dessert...cherry on top of a perfect dinner! We'll be back for sure:)
(5)
Sheila B.
I've never been to the lunch buffet, but we've gone here for dinner several times. It's so good, we find ourselves craving it every week! We never expected to become Indian food junkies! The food is fantastic, and the service is great. Everyone there is very friendly and helpful with suggestions if you need them. It does take awhile to get our food after ordering, but it's totally worth it. If you just go there expecting to take your time enjoying a leisurely dinner in a nicely decorated restaurant, you won't be disappointed. Unlike some of the older negative reviews, we've never had any problems here. They don't charge extra for rice - and it's very good rice, by the way - and they always bring us more if we run out, or to take extra home with the leftovers. The prices are very reasonable. Chicken tikka masala is our favorite, and the chicken is always perfectly moist. The mango curry, saag, and butter chicken are also delicious. The lamb is very tender as well. They will continue to be part of our regular rotation.
(5)
Philippe D.
Looks like new owner or at least new staff Lunch buffet is still good however around 13h00, food is getting rare in the buffet
(3)
Tori H.
Probably my favorite Indian place in the area. I really enjoyed their appetizer sample plate (don't recall the exact name). It had perfectly crispy pakoras and samosas that were also flavorful and not too dry. Everything tasted freshly cooked and not like it came from a mix - which is not easy to say with lots of local Indian restaurants. I'll be going back soon because I just got a groupon for half off!
(4)
Elaine C.
I have been going to Royal India whenever I have a hankering for Indian food. A wonderful family business with recipes that are tasty and have been executed consistently over the years. The spinach naan is fresh with a nice crisp grill The eggplant bartha and their paneers are seasoned nicely and my favorites. The coconut ice cream tastes homemade and was the perfect end to my last meal there. The interior was updated last year and is absolutely gorgeous. It sets the right mood for a casual, comfortable night out where you can have a conversation with your table mates, and feel like you had a special experience. All right in my neighborhood. The chic walls treatments, innovative mood lighting, floors and table set up are all on point. The serving pieces are chic and add to the "metro" feeling. My only wish is that they had samosa with meat.
(4)
Jessica M.
After my third visit, I can say that their food is consistently tasty, the service wonderful, and the decor charming. They recently remodeled and they have a sleek new modern look. My go-to dish at any Indian restaurant is tandoori Chicken Tikka (not to be confused with chicken tikka masala). Since it isn't covered in sauce, it's hard to find a place that doesn't make it dry or bland. This place manages to keep the chicken moist and full of flavor. Plus, they add more veggies than most places do. Prices are typical but not bad. The man who served us the first two times is very sweet (i think he is the owner). In our first visit he brought me a complimentary dessert for no special reason and this time he accommodated my request to get naan instead of the rice that came with my meal (the onion cilantro naan is delicious). I had left over chicken to take home (because the portions are well sized) and since i had eaten all my yummy naan, he offered to throw in some extra to go with my left overs. I certainly don't expect that kind of treatment but it was a very nice treat. Even without him going the extra mile, i would give then 5 stars because the food really is great!
(5)
Jonathan S.
Dinner was delicious! We got Mango chicken, Pomegranate chicken, and traditional vegetables. And NAAN can't forget the Naan. We loved it all.We could just get the Naan and the rice they are both sooo good. We got it to go and they gave us extra rice. We have been there a few times and have always had delicious dinners.
(5)
Leigh V.
Wow! The naan bread is outstanding. When I asked for a to go box, the owner was kind enough to add more rice and sauce. Excellent spot!
(5)
Holly M.
VERY good food!! There customer service is great and they even deliver!! I have to say I've gained a couple extra since I found this place lol
(5)
Leon C.
I've eaten here several times as I work in the Redmond/Kirkland area. This is a family run establishment, and they treat their clients like extended family. Everything is seasoned extremely well, even the buffet items. They have since remodeled, and the place looks great. The photos on yelp are no longer current. I took my son there for his first taste of Indian food. I told him that I'd choose the butter chicken if I was him. He ordered it, and he was extremely happy. Now he's hooked. Another time I was there I forgot my wallet (super embarrassing). They told me not to worry about it and just to pay whenever I was back in the area (I did go directly home to get my wallet and came back to pay them of course). Since remodeling they have also added more halal meats also, the buffet is served 7 days a week instead of just M - F like most places. You can't go wrong ordering anything on the menu. The naan bread is as fresh as can be and the service is top notch.
(3)
Miles G.
I've eaten here many times over the years and I always walk away in my own little heaven. The food is great. The selection for the lunch Buffet is wonderful. I love to eat here with friends.
(5)
Alma D.
This is my favorite restaurant because the food is outstanding and the Mango Lassi is perfect. The end.
(5)
Kristen Z.
Go for the lunch buffet, offered 7 days a week. It's clean, has a variety of dishes (some vegetarian friendly) including about four dessert options, and is reasonably priced. I've never had a bad dish. Compared to other Indian buffets in the area, this one tops the list.
(4)
Kat L.
I too have passed this restaurant many times but didn't think much of it from its exterior. Finally went there for the first time today at the suggestion of a friend, and I love this place. Once you step inside, the decor is so nice right away it is a pleasant feeling being there. You can tell a lot by a place that is tastefully decorated. And then you try the food, and it is good too! There was nothing I did not like there, it was such a pleasant surprise, I don't know why I didn't come sooner. I had the lunch buffet, there was a good selection, even fish! My favorite was the vegetable korma! Sweet as it should be, and not too spicy hot. Then, their chai! I thought Starbucks had the best chai tea latte, if this was a cafe I would come here just for their chai, so flavorful and a little sweet...perfect! Loved the mango mouse! I have had mango pudding at other Indian restaurants, but never mousse, so it too was a pleasant surprise! I definitely will be coming back and bringing my friends here!
(5)
Lucas P.
I just moved to the kirkland area from Bellevue. Happened to be driving by Royal India one day and decided to stop in for lunch. Their buffet selection was huge! From the vegetable Korma to the Butter chicken.. Everything had lots of flavor! The buffet area was super clean and fresh unlike many of the other Indian places I've been to in Seattle. The bottomless chai has me addicted and I must say I am very impressed by the variety of dishes and their consistency regardless of the time of day. The dishes are always full! Huge plus! The ambiance is just beautiful and the service is great! We are now regulars royal India!!!
(5)
Citizen D.
Food was good. It's an Indian restaurant run by friendly Pakistani peoole, so the food is a blend of both. The outside patio was good, as it had a pretty good view but the waitress had a bad attitude. Otherwise I would've given 4 stars.
(3)
Bruce O.
The food is actually fairly good BUT, We have been there twice, both times on a Saturday night. Both times they had a large birthday party for children. The set up dividers. The party took over 70% of the space. It was very loud with a children magician. The second time we had a resturants.com coupon for $25 off. when we got the bill it was higher than expected. They were over charged for the soups, bread and chai. Worst of all we were charged for the rice which most other places include. When i got the credit card charge slip it seemed high also after taking the $25 coupon off. I went to the front desk and they had added an 18% gratuity in which actually Was part of the Restaurants.com conditions. The sneaky part was there was no mention of it on the charge slip and they conveniently left the tip line blank hoping we would add on the tip. Never going back again.
(1)
Kim M.
Only mango, coconut curry and NAN is acceptable a (a bit too sweet in my opinion). Other food on the menu are horrible. This restaurant is clearly overpriced! ordered 3 curry and cost me $60. How can they charge rice separately. Do they expect people to order curry and drink it like a soup? We got 2 refill on rice, and they charged me $10 only for 2 refill. Another time I went there, waiter gave me the wrong order, and I ask them to give me the correct one. It turn out he charge me both of them. This place has no moral. Food and service does not match their price range. Their curry only worth half of their price. PLACE WITH NO MORAL. Don't go, they charge you every single thing except waters.
(1)
Mathias M.
Good food, terrible service. After being seated, we waited over 20 minutes for someone to take our order, and that was only after we waved them over. Our server didn't apologize, but just explained they were understaffed. Afterwards food came quickly, although portions were small and expensive. Food was good though and staff was friendly, although not attentive. We also did not get our water refilled during the entire meal.
(3)
Kevin V.
Soooo delicious. Went for dinner in the late evening and the place was dark and semi-romanic. Wasn't very crowded. Service was awesome and the food was amazing. Only loses a star because the portions seemed smaller than most other Indian places, and most of the entrees were in the $13-$16 range. We will definitely be back though.
(4)
S M.
My husband and I swung by for a quick lunch and would definitely return. We had the $10 buffet brunch - great food, great service, and beautiful interior design - looks a lot nicer on the inside than outside. The waitress was so friendly and even sent us away with an extra naan wrapped up for the road when we paid.
(4)
Supi G.
We recently moved to Kirkland and ordered take-out from this establishment. The first time we ordered the food was fine. No complaints. The travesty occurred the second time around. We ordered a chicken curry and the vegetable delight which includes samosas. The samosas were really OFF and OLD. They tasted bitter and were discolored (dark green). I ate a few bites before concluding that the potatoes were completely rotten. They not only tasted awful but were slimy in texture as well.. We went back to the restaurant within minutes since we live in the neighborhood and explained the problem and returned our order. The owner/manager (lady)seemed apologetic and offered to refund my money in the morning because they were getting ready to close and she was in a hurry to leave. She noted down my phone number and so I left. The following morning came and went but my refund never showed up. I contacted them via email and warned them that if they did not issue my refund, I would be forced to write this lengthy honest review. However it has been 2 weeks now. NO REFUND AND NO REPLY. About the samosas. After that grotesque tasting I decided to do a little research fearing food poisoning. It turns out potato poisoning can be pretty bad IF the potatoes have turned green and bitter. This occurs due Solanine which is a glycoalkaloid poison found in species of the nightshade family (Solanaceae), such as the potato. Solanine poisoning is primarily displayed by gastrointestinal and neurological disorders. Symptoms include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps, burning of the throat, cardiac dysrhythmia, nightmare, headache and dizziness. In more severe cases, hallucinations, loss of sensation, paralysis, fever, jaundice, dilated pupils, hypothermia and death have been reported. I myself had not consumed enough to fall seriously ill. I only suffered mild stomach cramps the following day. However lets hope this review helps others stay away from a more serious event. Be cautious of this place since rotten ingredients are easy to camouflage with powerful spices. Food poisoning is lurking in this place. Check out the many one-star reviews this place has collected. Some unlucky people actually suffered from food poisoning after eating here and complained but the owners didn't seem to care. I am also appalled that despite my returning the food the same night and pointing out to the manager how rotten the samosas were, I have not received even an apology. Instead I was given a false promise of a refund and hurried out the store. I am not in the habit of writing reviews and the only one I have ever written was extremely positive. This is my first negative review. Congratulations Royal India on wasting my time and money!
(1)
Jeremy H.
Our chana chaat salad, garlic naan, chicken tikka masala and lamb vindaloo tasted great. Not sure what happened to the heat we ordered though. Ordered online for pick up and requested 4/5 stars on the entrees. The salad was the spiciest thing, and it was just a hint. Other than that, there was a lot of food for the price and the flava flaves were great. Really hit the spot when craving Indian food on the east side.
(4)
Phoenix mi m.
I was hesitant in going to this place because of the low yelp rating but it was highly recommended by one of my friends so we all agreed to go. To my surprise, everything was delicious. I am so glad I went. I love the inside decor!! The service was wonderful! The food was fabulous! I do not understand why this place only has an average yelp rating of 2.5 stars? I know my experience yesterday deserved a minimum 4.5 stars! If you like mango curry, then you've gotta go check out the pomegranate curry and tell me all about your experience. It was my first time seeing pomegranate curry on a menu and my curiosity piqued and I am so glad we ordered it... it was super delicious!!! If you like the hearty curry like my friend, the vindaloo curry would be a good choice and he loved his meal. Tikka Masala chicken is an ok choice for those butter-lovers out there.
(4)
Kozby E.
This is an established Indian place. Their location is very much representing the culture. The owner is a very kind gentleman who always smiles and comes talk to you. Their Naan breads are great. Definitely should try coconut curry with chicken.
(5)
Lori H.
Great Indian food, the owner and wait staff is always very nice. Great service! They no longer deliver!!!
(5)
Erin C.
This is really great Indian food!! It's always so fresh and consistently good. The restaurant is really nice inside. Be sure to try the aloo naan, Delicious!
(5)
John C.
We like the renovations and the lunch buffet is excellent. Next week we plan to try their luncheon specials. A bonus is the friendly people who own and work there.
(5)
L C.
This restaurant has been recently renovated and they did a great job. It is clean, calm, and modern. They also updated the back patio, which is lovely. It seems to be a family-run business, and everyone is super nice and eager to please. Most importantly, the food is delicious! They have a lunch buffet that is a great value. We have been here so many times and will continue to return.
(5)
Sean B.
Best Indian Food in Washington. I've been eating here regularly for about 10 years now and you can't beat the food. Favorites of mine are the Saag Paneer and Butter Chicken, but I've tasted most of the combinations available. The Chai is to die for so do yourself a favor and order that no matter what you eat. I also suggest the Royal India Delight Appetizer plate if you have two people, it offers a variety of items to try. The Buffet is great, but do yourself a favor and go early, they open it at 11:30 and I usually try to get in before noon. Fair warning, the Chai goes quickly and while they try and keep the carafe filled you may have to wait. The staff is friendly and the place is clean. Rashid knows the regulars by name and will often stop by tables to chat. If you're in the mood for something sweet afterwards, try the Rice Pudding or Mango Mousse, they are both delicious. Note: Frugal P has it right, the Chai can't be beat anywhere!
(5)
Samara S.
This place was a total ripoff, and the food sucked! The food was way overcooked, they gave us a dinner menu at 1:30 in the afternoon, there was no spice in the food that we requested to be "medium spice," they charged $3 for rice that was supposed to come with the meals!, their entree prices were HIGH ($16 for one), then they also overcharged for other things on the menu!! The extra rice charge, a dollar more for an entree, a dollar more for the naan. VERY DISHONEST PEOPLE AND THE FOOD IS BAD. I would never go there again and recommend that no one waste their time or money at that place. Oh, and they also would not honor the Entertainment Book coupon!! Bottom of the barrel as far as restaurants go. Bad service, too. Never asked how the meal was, offered anything else. I think they took old food that had been sitting around all day and gave that to us. Dry, tasteless.
(1)
Marguerite F.
ok, I told the server that I was going to tell about my experience. Here it goes... We had an appointment on a Tuesday night and needed food asap. We stumbled across this because we went years ago and it was ok, nothing great. They have redone the interior and it's very pretty and a calm atmosphere. We were seated immediately and the server always had a smile on her face. She was also very attentive and made suggestions. We ordered and it came out promptly and with a smile. I ordered some things that I had never had and we loved everything that we got. Really want to go to the buffet and see what they have to offer. I am gluten free and have some challenges but found that grilled and tandoori anything is always good. I strongly recommend it if you have never been or were there in the past and didn't have a memorable time. Only drawback, a bit pricey for the amount of food you get. We will be back again, over and over! The food was Indian but with different touches other than the run of the mill Indian cuisine restaurants. You can tell the chef prepares his dishes with love.
(4)
Stuart G.
I tried their lunch buffet which is always my litmus test for an Indian restaurant. Pass that and usually the dinner fare is good as well. True to form, I had a most delicious dinner there with my parents. The butter chicken is to die for and the soft, warm naan bread kept coming. My mom had a chicken in mango sauce (forgot the name) that was wonderful and dad had chana saag. My tummy was happy for the rest of the evening :)
(5)
Nicola G.
I have experienced very good service and delicious food the four times I've been here. Yelper Lauren H said it perfectly, the interior is beautiful and the food is great. The first time my boyfriend and I went there, it was a snowy day. They kept us filled up on tea and even gave us to-go cups. The first time I ordered take out, I had a slight wait and the owner gave me tea and even gave me some dessert to take home. The wait staff is also very attentive when you eat in and you will not be disappointed. All-in-all, very good food and very good service. Heed everyone's caution though and check you bill.
(4)
Tom Y.
Some places just make you go 'meh', and this was definitely one of them. I can here with the parents one day when visiting them recently after they moved nearby, and we spotted the Royal India sign driving by on Juanita. The outside didn't look too appealing, but we thought, what the heck. It was slightly earlier in the day for dinner, about 5:00 PM on a Saturday, so it wasn't completely surprising to see only one other table occupied. Perhaps for not being so busy, the service was great. We were seated immediately, attentively serviced with water and drinks, and browsed the menu. As far as selection goes, it is fairly standard in terms of the gamut of food. I'd just come from the U District, and so was obviously used to great food at great prices. Royal India was a bit higher, by about 25%, but it WAS Kirkland. After ordering a mixture of the tandoori and some jalfrazies and masalas, we nibbled on some tempura appetizers, which weren't bad. When the main course came, however, I was definitely a little disappointed. Granted, not many people eat as much as I do, but even my mom, who is tiny, wondered at the small portion sizes. At a place like Taste of India on Roosevelt, you'd get one plate of just rice, and one plate of just entree, all included in the price; that entree would last the normal person two meals. At Royal India, however, everything was lumped on one plate. I got the jalfrazie, and while the entree side wasn't skimpy, the meat was; most of it was veggies and sauce. My sister, who got the tandoori chicken, did seem to like it. The taste of the food is great, as was the service we got, but for the price, it definitely wasn't worth it, and not even filling. If you have to have indian food RIGHT NOW, it's not a bad place to go, but from now on I'm definitely sticking to Taste of India.
(2)
M. K.
Love Indian food... wanted to like this place, since we just moved to Market and it's close by. Ordered take-out, went to pick it up, and they had "given our order to someone else." Then waited, for our food to be remade. Once we got home, we dug in... the naan was soggy, butter chicken was flavorless, and the samosa was just okay - very dry - no meat option. The best thing about the entire meal was the free pudding they added for messing up our order. Definitely will not be back. Surprised by all of positive reviews, I can name at least 3 other Indian restaurants that are exponentially better than Royal India.
(1)
Chris K.
This was our first time here. The waitress was very friendly and helpful. The chicken Pankoras were very good. The Nan was very fluffy in the center and burnt just the right amount. The butter chicken was good, but not something outstanding. I felt the same way about the Tandori chicken. The portions were very small, by wife was ready to ask where the rest was. Our waiter was very inexperienced, trying to take away our food while we were eating and then offering a take home coz when we had no food to take home. We used a living social coupon and he wanted the phone rather than just writing down the number. I may try one more time for the buffet to see what happens
(3)
Ram G.
Not sure why it doesn't have a good rating - but we ordered recently from here for my kids Bday Party, and loved the food. Great prices and very very friendly service from the owner . The Food was on time, and was freshly prepared on a long weekend. The food we ordered: Malai Kofta - Yummy Sauce, and soft veggie balls Palak Paneer - Creamy and rich (slightly bitter maybe coz of spinach) Pokoda - Good and crisp Naan - Good Gulab Jamun - Excellent! my kid loved it. Veggie Briyani - Not too oily, and quite tasty. (and they all came with generous side dishes, like chutney etc) Great Food - great service...A+ Overall I would give it a 5 star over comparative restaurants in bellevue (where prices have skyrocketed!)
(5)
Sue M.
I love this place. I'll admit I haven't been there for dinner, only the lunch buffet (which I go to a few times a month). Their tikka masala is freakin' AWESOME. Even my husband (who was born and raised in the U.K. where curry is the most popular food) who is a curry connoisseur, loves this place as much as I do. A few months back we complimented the owner/manager on the sauces, and he said they make them from scratch, hot and fresh every day. That's gotta be true because all of their sauces are amazing. My advice is to not fill up on the basmati rice with your meat.. fill up on the curried cauliflower and warm delicious naan instead. mmmmmm.
(4)
Lindsey L.
I've been a few times, and it's not worth the high price. The butter chicken has an oddly burnt flavor to it, and has every time, so it seems to be something they do on purpose.
(2)
Stella R.
As a lover of the Indian cuisine this place wasn't very impressive. There wasn't much of a variety and most of it wasn't that good. The service is good and the area itself was pretty comfortable. What makes this place earn 3 stars is the gorgeous Indian decor. It's probably the only Indian restaurant with a whole lot of Indian decorations. They were absolutely beautiful. This is a good place to go if you want Indian food but don't care if it's really good or not.
(3)
Anna M.
It was fathers day and we went out for dinner, the hostes and waiter were nice but the food was terrible. Rice was cold and a day old and the stews were microwaved. My hubby saw a cockroch under the table too. GROSS! We won't be back in that resturant and we won't recommand that to any one. Save your money for somewhere that you can get a delicious dinner for your money.
(1)
William B.
I have been here 3 times only for dinner, but each time I have been surprised by the quality of food and have only received great service, granted it has never been busy when I have been, typically 7 to 8 pm in the evening. I would recommend their lamb with whatever dish you end up getting. It has never disappointed. I have also gone there for a work party and we reserved the special tent they have erected in back just for groups. You sit on pillows and everything; truly an unique experience. A little on the pricey side but worth it for a nice evening dinner where you'd like to take your time and converse with your significant other. But then again, I am a frugal college student.
(4)
Lauren H.
Service has been hit or miss the last few times I came here for the lunch buffet. Slow to check in and I feel like I'm inconveniencing them by being there. I've finally admitted to myself that the food is very salty, too. I guzzle water when I get home because I feel dehydrated. There also needs to be more paneer in the spinach paneer dish: a spoonful of it produces a lot of spinach and two little cubes of cheese. Also, lunchtime prices have increased $1. The interior is pleasant and, despite my gripes, there's good variety. And hey, it's still tasty. (Though I prefer less salt.)
(3)
Sherry B.
The best Indian restaurant in Kirkland and Bellevue area. This food is very fresh and the prices are fair. My favorite is chicken kabob salad and spinach filled Naan!!
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.
Makinzie L.
I have been going to royal India for many years now and can assure everyone that there is not a racist bone in their body. The staff if primarily run by Indian and Pakistani workers and the owners are Pakistani! They give more then fair prices for catering orders and include dessert, extra food, and salads just because the owner is a nice guy! If you cannot afford the food, maybe you shouldn't get a catering order from here, but it is more then fair prices for what quality and quantity of food you are given. They have hosted many parties with children (and Indian children!) so there is no policy against that as I have been there when such parties were happening. However, they have gotten many complaints about noise level of these parties as kids often get restless and therefore try to make the party between or after business hours if possible. It shocks me that such a personal attack has been made on this family as they have been in business for almost 20 years and put their heart and soul into this restaurant. Please read all the positive reviews first as these recent one stars seem to be obviously made by the same bitter person as they all have the same lines. This establishment has 3.5 stars for a reason, it's delicious!
(5)Peter R.
They've remodeled inside recently and their service was good. Live music was going on Friday night. I am happy to see the restaurant has improved quite a bit since pre-remodeled time. Only a drawback was that it was really slow for them to bring food. It took them about 40 minutes before we got seated.
(3)Jerry M.
The food was good. Taste of india is the best in Seattle. It is in a good location but lacked the spice and flavor I'm use to.
(3)Happy M.
I think this is one of the better Indian restaurants in Kirkland... I'm talking about the lunch buffet: it has decent selection of food and the freshly-made naan bread is yummy, but I wish it was less expensive! You do need to get there early enough that the buffet bar still looks pretty clean! It feels like this place is under-staffed so the service could be slow and it takes them a while to clean up the buffet bar when food got dropped around the cart. But if you get there early then all is good. I think if they could monitor the buffet bar better and have wider selections of curry, I'll probably go there all the time for lunch. Slower service bother me much less than the quality of food.
(3)Jameson G.
food is good, service is weird, decor is lovely
(3)Benni M.
Such an epic waste. We came here because the Chinese place we already went to had been to long of a wait and we were very hungry. We ordered chicken curry and chicken tikka masala. Half of the tiny portion of chicken was gristle and fat. I could only eat the naan and rice. I complained to the waiter (which is pretty rare for me I can be a bit shy). He just acted scared of me and took nothing of the bill which ran up to 40$ the worst part it I had to eat at a taco bell because I was still hungry and paid less and got more edible food.
(1)Scott H.
We eat there a few times a year. The food is ok, particularly the Shahi Paneer and the rice is fantastic. That said there is always bad service, I have had several times that we have had to request clean plates or forks. I have also on multiple occasions had them deny coupons that were valid. They charge for rice, but only sometimes. Honestly I can't figure out how they do their pricing. I order virtually the same thing every time and the bill comes out wildly different each time. We are actively searching for an alternative in the area, but unfortunately haven't found one.
(2)Kristina C.
I like it! I almost didn't go here based on some of the reviews. I'm glad I went. I've never dined in, I always get my food to go, but the lady who always is at the front desk is very nice, the place is clean, food is excellent. Atmosphere is good. Chicken tikki masala has white meat chicken, with good texture and flavor. Lamb saag is a little light on the meat, but lamb is spendy and times are tough, so I get it. They always take special care to package the food carefully, even going so far as to put pieces of cardboard in between the containers so they stay flat. They give you a free rice pudding with your order (which I never eat, but it's the thought that counts, right?). I don't like that they charge for rice, but it is better than your standard basmati rice, it's got some kind of stuff in it. A little on the high side for Indian food, but I've found that with this type of cuisine in particular, you really do get what you pay for. Good food, nice people, good atmosphere.
(4)Brock F.
Two colleagues and I tried out the buffet lunch. First thing set on our table was the naan, the traditional Indian flat bread, which was really good. The buffet choices were decent, and the food good tasting without being oily or too heavy. Bonus is they take the Compliments Card for 20% off the entire bill.
(3)Alison L.
I don't go to this restaurant too often (once every few months), because their prices are a little high, but every time I have been I've been happy with the food and the service. The few times we've eaten at the restaurant, the service has been fast and always polite and attentive. But usually my husband and I order take-out, and almost every time we do, I'm given a free serving of rice pudding (which is delicious, by the way). And last time I went to place an order, and had to wait for it to be made, I was brought a free cup of chai! I didn't order it, I was just given it on the house while I waited (and again, it was delicious). I always get the chicken tikka masala, and I'm always satisfied with it. And my husband usally gets a vindaloo, and his only complaint is that it's not spicy enough for him (but nothing ever is). If the prices were just a few dollars lower, I'd be giving this restaurant 5 stars and we'd be eating here at least twice as often as we do now!
(4)Bob G.
We have been dining occasionally here for years. We usually come for the lunch buffet. They offer a good selection of food and the complimentary naan. We have come here several times for dinner during the week. I can't comment on anything when they have been packed. The wait staff has always been helpful and patient when we are trying to figure out what to select from the menu. The servings have been enough to fill us, even when our son was one of those teenagers that had a hollow leg. The food has been good, but not excellent. I will always compare any Indian restaurant in the US to the Brilliant in Southall, UK so 5 stars is hard to come by.
(3)Ben C.
These guys always try and rip me off. The coupon says buy one get one free (up to $12) and they take off 10. They charge for rice! Are you kidding me? Overpriced. This place sucks.
(1)Mitsu K.
Always really like the food here
(4)Jessica N.
We've been here 5 or 6 times now and the food is consistently delicious. The lunch buffet is the best price (2 for $20). We've tried Tikka Masala, Mango Curry and everything in between. It's all been great. We were given a complimentary mango ice cream recently with our dinner purchases and it was delicious. A perfect ending to our meal!
(5)Helen K.
OMG the first time I went there the service sucked, but my food was good. Our food took FOREVER-granted I was slightly hungover. When we were finished we had to actually go to the front because they didn't bring our check, and they weren't even busy. Even after this frightening experience we were daring enough to return a few weeks later, and what a fuckin mistake that was. I figured the lamb chilli masala I ordered in my hungover state was good, so I decided to get it again. The dish I ordered tasted and looked completely different from what I previously ordered, the lamb first of all is in smaller chunks and taste like it was cooked wrong, and the dish was just nasty and runny- like they forgot to put in flour or cornstarch to help thicken the sauce. Also I like my food spicy , my other half can't even handle black pepper, and what did they do? The spice is on his chicken mango curry, and my lamb chilli masala has no heat whatsoever. I tell the server that I wanted my dish spicy and I thought that they switched the spice to the wrong dish, she then takes my dish to the back and when she brings back my lamb chilli masala it's a soup with floating slices of jalapenos in it. And the messed up thing is that it didn' t even make it any spicer, it made my masala watery, the consistency of tomato juice is thicker than the masala they brought back. After fishing out all the lamb I could ( I was hungry and not one to waste food), we once again get up to pay our bill- the server is too busy talking. As we are leaving she remembers that I ordered a chai, she brings the chai to me when we are leaving and the owner, realizing how dumb she was just gave it to us on the house. I'm sorry no chai on the house can salvage what they destroyed that evening.
(1)E E.
My wife and I love this place. We have been going here since we were dating and now with our kids. Everything I have had has been very good. We found this place in a coupon book and they were happy to take our coupon and the next time we came the owner remembered us and gave the coupon again.
(5)Erica S.
exceptional service and really delicious food!!! the naan is so fresh and the homemade chai tea is the perfect balance of sweet and spicy.
(5)Liz J.
A little overpriced, service isn't great, but it's ok to good Indian food.
(3)Sarah K.
Apparently I lived a sheltered life because before tonight I had never before experienced Indian Cuisine. I blame it all this black pit called Eastern WA where nothing exists other then incredible Mexican food and truck stop quality American food and big slabs of beef. This cute place is situated across the street from my house so my roommate and I ordered take out tonight to celebrate overcoming a huge hurdle of mine. The take out is in great plastic containers that were a step above glad ware which was a welcome change from the typical Styrofoam. The gentlemen helping us was incredibly courteous. Now for the important part, THE FOOD! It was incredible yummy, it was rich and I am sure not calorie conscious but not overly rich. We ordered and split between the two of us the Chile Massala Beef, Chana Saag, and Jasmine Rice. I would not order beef again from the restaurant as it was a bit tough and grissily but the sauce was yummy. I will probably try something else next time. However the Chana Saag was absolutely to die for and would order again and again. This last bit advice is probably a well known fact for those not raised in small town Eastern WA but you must order a side of rice (one side was more then enough for both of us) because Indian Food is a sauce based food and you will want to pour it over rice and not just eat it plain! I also loved the interior of the restaurant and was to embarrassed to ask if the table in the front of the restaurant that is barely raised off the floor and has large floor pillows to sit on was just for show or if you could actually dine there?!? I would love to dine on a table raised off the floor while sitting on big pillows because that would make me just tickled pink! But I am easily amused with things such as this!
(4)Robyn H.
The night I visited, the place was packed to the ceiling with customers and the service was slow to the max. They were obviously not prepared for the number of people present and it seemed as if the cooks just gave up trying to get meals out in any kind of efficient manner. The food itself was fine when it finally arrived but it was in no way worth the wait. I would recommend going during a period of time when there is no one else in the restaurant. I won't ever go back to try again.
(2)Karen S.
Mango Curry, Garlic Naan, Basmati Rice, and the best Mango Lassi I have ever had. What more can you ask for? The mango curry is the best thing I have ever put in my mouth! I truly miss this place. I can't find anywhere in California that makes Mango Curry.
(5)c g.
Ordered veg curries for a party on a Sunday morning. Timely delivery, good quality food, and super tasty . Got a lot of jeera rice along with my curries which was a pleasant surprise.
(5)Jeff C.
Went here for dinner on a hot Summer eve. Inside was empty and ice cold. Outside seating area was spacious and comfortable albeit right on the road. Food was good but portions of protein were a bit stingy but prices under $15 so not really a rip-off. Service was pleasant although she cleared our plates before we were done eating. With the prices fair (for Juanita) for what you get and decent food, if I lived in or was visiting the area and wanted Indian food, this is a decent choice. If it was in a more desireable location in Juanita away from the road noise, and portions were a little more generous, I'd almost give it 5 stars.
(4)Jo L.
There is a lot of tasty Indian food to be had at this place. We came by in a Friday night and got seated right away; it was reasonably busy but crazy full at the time. Service was hit or miss; we were seated promptly but it was another 20 minutes before anyone took our order. There were plenty of waitstaff around but they were all hovering by the front of the restaurant and not really doing the rounds to check on their customers. Also, there were a lot of misplaced orders--before we even had someone take our order, a random appetizer was dropped on our table and we had to tell the staff we didn't order it. We also saw a bunch of curries and rice go from table to table without anyone claiming them, and then go back into the kitchen. Part of the issue I think was the obnoxiously loud live music that was happening; we literally had to yell our order to the waitress for her to hear us, and we were lucky that she offered to read our order back to us because two things were wrong on it! We were grateful that she took the extra step of double checking with us. The meal was reasonably priced and very tasty. We got two curries, rice and a naan and that was plenty for two people without feeling stuffed or having too many leftovers. The malai kofta was nice but had a weirdly tomato-based sauce (similar to butter chicken) instead of the creamy, cashew based sauce I was familiar with, but it was still good, although it could have done with more kofta balls and less sauce. The bread was good but nothing spectacular. The seeing size for the rice was enough for the curry sauces. Overall it's pretty good local Indian food; if it were further away I might not go to the effort of going specifically there but since it's nearby and convenient I will probably visit again. If you check in on yelp you get a discount on your meal over $40.
(3)Mary Lou T.
I have some absolute favorites here and I've never been let down. The samosas and every one of the varieties of naan are always fresh and very tasty! I'm usually just an appetizer/dessert eater so I haven't had a wide variety of their food but I have had the chicken tandoori and it was wonderful! The piece de resistance is the mango moose...heavenly! The owners are virtually always on site and actively involved. They have always been very attentive and kind. I just can't say enough!!!
(5)Giena L.
Went for their lunch buffet. Lots of choices- a variety of rice, chicken, fish and veggie options. Tons of sauces - the yogurt sauce was my favorite. Definitely try the chicken curry and butter chicken; flavorful and tender. They had some dessert options as well. I didn't try any, because I was uber full at that point. The chain was a little too sweet for my choice, but lots of people sing its praises, so try and decide for yourself. Comes with naan, which is delicious all by itself but comes in handy to soak of the sauces. A great value for lunch and what you get- it's a little less than $12.
(5)Bob Z.
I've never been here for the lunch buffet, but I'm guessing that's when you want to arrive. Why? The food on the dinner menu tastes great but the dinner portion sizes are on the small side for the price you pay, so the lunch buffet format ought to fix that problem. I really don't get the dinner portion paucity. Maybe they need to make enough on dinner to fund lunch? Dunno. Anyway, as I said, the food tastes great. We had garlic naan, along with the fish mango curry and the lamb chilli masala. When you order you can ask for one to five stars on the heat. We went with two on the fish and three on the lamb but the fish seemed slightly spicer to me. Service was quick and attentive even though the place was pretty full. We got a Groupon deal for $30 towards dinner for two at a cost of $15. The processed it without a hitch. That's the way to go. I had a Kingfisher beer with dinner, and the additional charges with tax were about $15, so with the Groupon money and tip we were just under $40. I probably won't be back for dinner without a Groupon deal, but I could definitely go for lunch.
(3)Vici K.
Yummy, yummy, yummy. This place has been here for years. I've tried it probably more than 10 yrs ago. Don't know why I haven't been here more often; close to home, in the neighborhood for years & tasty food! Lunch buffet tasty with a good variety of hot & cold dishes. Butter chicken & beef vidalo delish! Attentive staff. Cool inside even with doors open. Pleasant music fit the overall ambiance. Lovely decor. Perfectly ripe & sweet honeydew melon. Sweet & tasty dessert. I'm stuffed but keep on eating. We will return!
(5)Mister W.
Not perfect, but darn close. I've been holding off on reviewing the Pakistani/Indian Royal India because it almost feels unethical to rave so much about a place I go once a week. While I've eaten dinner here twice in the past few years, I almost exclusively come here for the lunch buffet. First, come here for lunch not dinner. The food is the same and considerably less expensive. There are a limited number of buffet options at lunch, but the food that is available is well made and delicious. If you want something else, you can always order from the full menu. As to the food itself, minor quibbles over the amount of cardamom or curry in any particular dish could be argued - but ultimately there's nothing bad here. They've been incredibly consistent in quality and taste since changing chefs about two years ago. I like the decor: simple, roomy, and comfortable. The music is subdued and on a long loop, theme appropriate, and unobtrusive. The cleanliness level inside is impressive, too. That said, the bathroom doesn't belong to the restaurant and the building manager's lack of care shows if you're forced across the hall to use the facilities. Service is less important to me because I'm almost always here for the lunch buffet, but every member of the staff is incredibly friendly. If you have a problem or request, just ask nicely and they'll probably bend over backward to help. I think the greatest compliment I can give this place is my continued patronage on a weekly basis. They're close, delicious, clean, and consistent.
(5)James B.
I went there for lunch today, they have an all you can eat buffet for $12 for lunch time, they have OK selection and decent environment. As far as the most important thing goes "the food" ,it was pretty disappointing, I found an ant in my white rice, two very long grey hair in the chicken korma and a long black hair "looked like girls hair " in their salad bar area. I strongly recommend to the ownership to improve their hygiene and hair dress code for their employees. As of now, you have lost one customer, and I'm sure you'd lose more if people paid attention to their environment as much as I did..
(1)Anna M.
I was pretty skeptical about this place when we drove up. But I am so glad we went in because it's really, really beautiful inside. The ambiance is literally *perfect* - congrats to whoever did the décor. The staff was super friendly, warm and welcoming. The food was also very good! My boyfriend's first time having Indian with me, and he loved it. The garlic naan was delish as were our main dishes. The music could have been changed...a little repetitive. But, not disruptive, or loud. I'm so glad we found this place - will definitely be back!!
(5)Tiffany S.
This review is long overdue considering I've been here every week for lunch since I found out about it about a month ago. I'm a real stickler when it comes to Indian buffet and this place has really done justice to its name. I want to start with the ambiance and decor because I think it really validates the dining out experience. They have beautiful chandeliers and an open floor plan perfect for large or small groups. Also a small nook which I'm sure they don't use very often, but would be great if you're entertaining clients and need privacy. There's also a stage so I'm sure if you tip them enough you can get jiggy with it. Joking (But really if you do take a picture because I always need a good laugh). They also have outdoor seating which I didn't get to take advantage of this summer but maybe next year. The naan is also delicious and buttery. Now onto the food. It's delicious. The staple butter chicken is great, no frills which I appreciate. That should be kept a standard dish and nothing more. The chicken curry is good and also the fish is very tender and tasty. My favorite has to be the desserts. Kheer is awesome and not too sweet. Mango mousse has to be my absolute favorite. It reminds me of the mango pudding you get at dim sum, except in mousse form. Their chai is also just sweet enough to the point where you don't have to add anymore sugar to it. Overall, I enjoy the ambiance and character of the place. I also love the location since it's right across the street from Juanita Beach Park. A good reason to get some cardio in after all those carbs.
(5)Susan C.
Seated right away to an almost empty large room. Needs a little more cozy factor but I was there to catch up with and old friend so appreciated the quite setting. Let my friend order. We had a potatoes appetizer and two dishes with curry, chick and fish along with garlic nan. Very good. Drinks and dessert all added up to around $50. Good place and great conversation.
(4)Mike T.
not my favorite indian food experience, the naan and royal india delight plate were delicious but the lamb tikkj masala was a bit disappointing. I went here because of a groupon. I would give this place another try in the future if i have an indian food craving but probably not anytime soon. Their lunnch buffet looked promising.
(3)Jean S.
I have been here a few times for their lunch buffet, since I live in the neighborhood. Overall, it's a nice little spot with a pleasant staff and clean accommodations. The variety of the lunch buffet is good, especially with all the different side salads. They serve fresh naan to each table during lunch. Along with a few different desserts, they offer free chai. As for the food, it's just ok. Overall, it's all very salty. My husband and I comment on the saltiness of the food every time we eat here. The quality of the food also varies. Some days, the butter chicken is creamy and thick like a gravy, other days, it is thin and watery. We have also had stale pappadum from the buffet. The matter paneer has potatoes instead of paneer in it. I do like that they serve fish on the buffet, though.
(3)Kim H.
This was just OK Indian food. The aloo gobi I got seemed heavy on the oil and twice I bit into large chunks of cardamom pod which I promptly spit out (fortunately I was outside where I could do this without being rude). I'm giving three stars instead of two because the ambiance seemed nice, the service was good, and I had my to-go order in less than ten minutes.
(3)Jessica S.
I am not going to tell you how many times I drove by this place without going inside: the outside is just that unassuming. Walk through the strip-mall-chic doors, though, and you are welcomed into a restaurant with an elegantly understated, comfortable vibe. The staff are friendly and very attentive, with plenty of time to answer questions. On my most recent visit, we started with a flavorful baba ganoush, which came with lots of fluffy warm bread for dipping, and an aloo paratha, a warm, spiced potato-filled bread. For our main dishes, I had the butter chicken, which was perfectly, gently spiced, and my companion had the lamb korma. Both were delicious, especially served over the rice, which is so good I could eat it plain. It's odd that this place has never been crowded when I've gone there, which I chalk up to the exterior of the building. Don't be deceived! Go, and enjoy.
(5)Monica L.
Went here the other day for the first time..took my husband here for his birthday dinner. We have a favorite Indian restaurant in Seattle that we've been going to for years but thought we'd give this a try after finding a good groupon deal. First of all, the dining room was spotless! The decor was beautiful as well. Very attentive wait staff and the food was very delicious! Had the chicken Tikka Masala and a special lamb dish along with some garlic Naan and sesame seed naan. Was all very filling. .brought leftovers home. At the end of the evening we agreed Royal India gained a new customer and our Seattle fav may have lost one. Parking here is great and Juanita park is directly across the street for a nice walk on their boardwalk. Highly recommend this place!
(5)Lavanya S.
The moment you step inside, first thing you would notice is Fishy smell. Been here a couple of times and our experience was bad both the times. And the things that you really can't miss are dirty hardwood floors and greasy glasses. And the service is so bad that they don't care about refilling the dishes on the buffet. Last but not the LEAST food is tasteless. You will be left with a feeling as to -- "why am I punishing my stomach !!"
(1)Kathy O.
This review is for our experience on the evening of December 2, 2014. We have been coming to this restaurant for about 15 years. In the earlier years we enjoyed delicious dishes and very good service. About 4-5 years ago the owners appeared to be growing tired of the business. The food was fine, but even though the restaurant was mostly empty, we received very poor service. One evening a few years ago we left after sitting at our table for quite some time. Then something happened. The younger generation took over and Royal India seemed to show a great deal of improvement--good food and fantastic service. The "new blood" seemed to revive the restaurant! On December 2 we noticed when we walked into the restaurant that the staff appeared to change again. We sat awhile while some of the staff did other tasks. When we ordered our beverages they were out of the two beers we ordered. I then asked for either Perrier or San Pelligrino and they were out of that as well. Not a good sign. We always order Chicken Tikka Masala and Eggplant Bharta regardless of additional dishes. Both dishes were terrible! The eggplant was unappetizing and lacked the usual flavor. The Chicken Tikka tasted as though some important ingredients were left out. Our third dish was Lamb Vindaloo. It was neither appetizing looking nor did it taste like it did on previous visits. We will not return to Royal India unless we read somewhere of a vast improvement!
(1)Ann G.
One of my favorite Indian restaurants on the Eastside. When I introduced Indian food to my boyfriend, we went here and came back every Friday for 4 weeks! Needless to say, I've made a fan out of him, too. They have a take-out option with Eat24. It comes in handy when you want to just sit at home with this food.
(4)Radhika S.
The group on voucher $18 for $30 worth of food is worth it. When it comes to food some items in their menu is really good. Pakoras, channa masala and naan tastes nice. Other veggies gravy mostly tastes and smells the same.
(3)Byron R.
My first time here and let's say it did not disappoint. My friend and I were offered the option to sit inside or dine on the outdoor patio; we elected outside. Service was, for the most part, spot on except the gal that brought our samosas did not know what the dipping sauces were. Also, it seemed to take a little bit longer to get our boxes and the check. Still, the food was "amaze-balls" per my friend's own words. Along with the samosas (perfect!) we had garlic naan to go with our lamb tikka masala and lamb vindaloo. Oh, wow, delicious! Take your appetite and head here the next time you want Indian food.
(4)Grigoria B.
Didn't feel like coming or leaving the house so searched online for restaurants that deliver. And wow do they deliver! ! :) I've lived in Kirkland foe 5 years, just a few minutes from this place and have never eaten there. Well, laziness caused me to discover this gem. Gulab Jamun is my favorite Indian dessert. It's delicious. Garlic naan was great! Saag paneer was wonderful but even 1 star was too spicy for us. But that's just us, not their fault. I have never tried fish at an Indian restaurant before and I'm so glad I did. Tikka masala fish was amazing! !! So tender and flavorful. I'm definitely going to eat there again. And highly recommend it.
(5)Khianna H.
I've ordered takeout from Royal India maybe 5 or 6 times now, so I feel their takeout experience is worth a review. They've messed up on my orders twice. They've left out things I've paid for, but I've never gotten someone else's order. The vegetable pakoras are pretty bland, but the sauce they come with is sweet and tart. Chai tastes really off most times. Artificial and not spicy, nor sweet. I've ordered various paneer dishes. You have to do 3 or 4 stars to get much heat. 1 or 2 stars, and it's like they leave out anything resembling a spice. The online menu shows a mango shake and mango lassi option. When I ordered both, I got two of the same thing. The chai ice cream is more enjoyable than their actual chai, but don't get it with brownies. They're crusty and honestly detract from the flavor. I ordered dal this time. It's mildly spicy, and I did enjoy it. However, the Styrofoam container it came in was falling apart and sitting in a puddle of some non-dal liquid. Eep. They have had sloppy packing jobs on more than one...or two..or three.. occasions. I recently moved to the suburbs (it's temporary!! Fingers crossed!) and would not have given this place so many tries if it wasn't for that fact. There's much better Indian food in Seattle, for comparable cost.
(2)Paige B.
I haven't been here since 2011 and tonight's visit was a huge disappointment. We stopped in at 730p on a Sunday night. A couple tables were seated but it was mostly empty. It took 30 minutes for our samosas to arrive. They were fantastic and the best part of the meal. It took another few minutes for our food to arrive. The waitstaff apologized for the long wait. I don't know if was a bad night but the curries we got were way over the top salty as well as the chicken. My coconut curry was barely creamy. My boyfriend's chicken curry was inedible. The server came to see if we liked our food and we felt really bad telling him we were not happy with how salty they were. Without pause he took our food and returned with new curry. But it tasted exactly the same. It was a very expensive meal to have been so grossed out by. They also brought us out the wrong nan and didn't bring out complimentary dessert like I saw other people mentioned. Oh well.
(2)Scottie L.
Don't judge this place on the outside. It's a transformation once you step inside. The chic decor to the wonderful aromas is a inviting, first impression. We were impressed by the extensive nann selection, especially the stuffed nann. The curry and meat dishes are exquisite with the Indian rice pulling it all in. There's a complimentary chocolate mouse that leaves a sweet taste to end your meal with. I'm definitely looking fwd to future meals here.
(4)Julie F.
Scrumptious! And lovely presentation. The decor reminded me of Encore in Vegas. Cool chandeliers. Also, the owner stayed open for our party which was very kind. Really great experience and service was awesome.
(5)sri v.
Excellent !! Stopped by on our way to Vancouver from Seattle . Checked on yelp and car for buffet - lovely food, great naan, great curries, excellent desserts Nice ambience too
(5)Yana M.
This review could definitely have been completely different had the black cardamom pod in our rice turned out to be a bug like we erroneously thought for a few seconds. OOPS! Good thing it was just a freakishly insecty looking seed. We came here for dinner as a group of four and enjoyed it so much we came back again two days later for lunch. And again in a couple more days... You get the idea. The parking is ample, the decor simple but classy. I loved the peacock painting on the wall and the dimmed chandeliers. FOOD: Royal India Delight - the veggie pakoras were yummy - boyfriend that is not big into vegetables said they were really good. The chicken tikka was delicious, and the potato samosas were okay but not particularly special. The best thing was the cilantro/mint/tamarind chutneys - super refreshing and light. We asked for more of the chutney. Mango Chicken Curry - SO GOOD. I got mine a wimpy 1 star because I do not do spice, and it was perfectly mild. The chicken was perfectly cooked, and a good mix of light and dark meat. Wonderful on top of the basmati rice as well as for dipping naan in. Butter chicken - BF said he loves dipping naan into it. He gets his a 3-4, and likes the spice level. Boneless tandoori chicken - comes out sizzling hot on top of veggies. BF said chicken prepared Indian-food style is the best chicken he's ever had. Plain naan - yummy, hot, fluffy. Brushed with oil. Perfect. Mango lassi - fruity and sweet, as it should be. Mango mousse - we got this complements of the restaurant, and it is every ounce as delicate and mangoey as the menu describes it. Other people in our party had the mango prawn curry, the lamb vindaloo, salty lassi, and spinach stuffed naan, and liked everything. The very eloquent other half, when asked for his thoughts on Royal India, said "good food, 5 stars". Let's leave it at that.
(5)Dave M.
I'm definitely a fan of their lunch buffet. The ambience is a little weird, It's adjacent to a bar and the owner seems to have a thing for gaudy peacock decor. That being said, the butter chicken is delicious, the naan is fresh and it's close to Juanita beach.
(4)Harpreet P.
I must say that my first experience with the restaurant was good. I had ordered a takeaway of tandoori chicken and was impressed with the quality and quantity. However subsequent orders saw both deteriorating. This time we came to eat in the restaurant. We ordered a royal indian delight which said it was kabab and chicken tikka. However they brought in a plate of pakora etc. When asked waiter said that they were trying to change the menu. I said we will eat only what we ordered. At this point he went and asked the owner and repeated the same thing. We were about to leave when another person came and said they will add the tikkas. What an aweful experience. Not coming again
(1)David B.
We really enjoyed the buffet at this restaurant. The place was clean and spacious. Food was very tasty at a very reasonable price.
(5)Camille C.
Order take out and delivery all the time, sit occasionally. Delicious food, nice atmosphere, outdoor patio in the summer, family run.
(4)N M.
I rarely come here but this place was HORRIBLE!!! My wife found basically a FISH HOOK like piece of metal in her food!!!!! :( We simply told a male waiter and all he said was "I will tell the cooks" Then.....nothing happened....no apology....no discount......no second order of Naan where the "fish hook" was found. Plus.....the waiter and waitresses barely spoke to us or checked on us after. Even when we left no apology!!! So...I told the woman the front if they could at least take off the Naan from our check and she responded rudely "We already gave you a discount" which was no true. I told her that was our groupon...and she said "oh"....and that was it!!! No apology again for the metal hook, no discount, no come back again and we will make it right...nothing!!! This was probably the WORST SERVICE EVER!! Even with the groupons....WE WILL NEVER GO BACK!! HORRIBLE DANGEROUS FOOD, RUDE SERVERS AND EMPLOYESS, NO SMILES ON ANYONES FACES, AND A FISH HOOK PIECE OF METAL IN THE NAAN!!! :( :(
(1)Jennifer T.
Friendly staff, yummy and consistent food.
(5)Adrianne P.
I love this place! I usually order the garlic naan and butter chicken curry and I've never been disappointed. From the outside you think ummm where did i just come? But step inside...beautiful :) service can sometimes be a little slow but it's nothing major they're very courteous!
(4)Glenn P.
I stumbled across this place one afternoon and what a find! I go here for the lunch buffet ($9.95) and I really appreciate the selection, and that Chai Tea and Desserts is included. Minus one star because the entrees don't match the descriptions all the time. If it's not Saag Paneer, then don't say it is! They use chickpeas instead of paneer quite frequently. Note - get here early, especially on Friday, the place gets busy!
(4)Mariko L.
While some of my favorite Indian restaurants are in Seattle, this is a good option close to my apartment so I do frequent it often. I love some of the vegan dishes (I forget what the spinach and chickpea option is called) and haven't had too many misses (But do skip the tandoori chicken wings.) Also, they can omit cream in some of the dishes and sub coconut milk to make them dairy free, which is great! What really stands out to me is their service. They have always been incredibly kind and friendly to me. They're so nice here! :)
(4)Freckle N.
Lovely decor, service was police & we enjoy the food. It was very flavorful and portions were perfect.
(4)Jason S.
I have been here at least 50 times since we moved to Juanita. That is no exaggeration. Dinner and Lunch Buffet, regularly. Royal India is the reason I've even explored indian food rather than just mounding a plate full of butter chicken and calling it good (which is delicious btw, I'm not knocking you if you're that guy/girl). The staff there is outstanding, the new atmosphere is great (if a bit echoey... is that a word). Saag paneer, butter chicken, vegi korma, lentils, tikka masala, various flavors of naan... the mango mousse stuff that they toss in free with dinner sometimes. All of it. just delicious. The food makes my tummy smile..... and let me tell you, that means it's a really BIG smile. HAHAHA..... get it? I have a big tummy?... it'd be funny if you knew me. In closing, go to Royal India and eat food.
(5)Galina L.
I never been there for dinner but I had lunch there. Great selection in the buffet. I came in once at the same time as a group of about 30 people and the staff did a great job of restocking the food (i was kind of thinking that they were going to run out of food because there were so many people there at once). People are really friendly and the food is great. I loved everything I had there!
(5)D N.
Thoroughly disappointed with their food and their communication skills. This was my families go to lunch buffet as well as take out restaurant and now when they messed up, they don't bother following up. Their butter chicken and lamb was poorly cooked, i asked for spicy and the food was sweet. I was asked to drive back and bring the food so they can "SEE" what was wrong with it vs. believing their regular customer. they promised a refund and Its been 1.5 months and no sign of the refund. NEVER going back.
(1)Lauren K.
The service was great. The food was really, really great. Some of the best I've ever had. The bartha was excellent. The tikka masala was so tasty, without being super heavy and creamy. Very impressed.
(4)Ieva K.
Finally made my way back in for dinner after the remodel. Looks great!! Much more open with a nice modern touch. They have a great outdoor patio! Once again the food was a hit; we ordered our usual butter masala with paneer and one with chicken and veggie samosas. The girls that were working were so sweet and helpful. Again we were the loudest and stayed the longest. They were attentive, friendly and didn't seem to mind.
(4)Daniel T.
Great parking, great atmosphere. Good portion sizes. Coconut curry and Mango curry were good but the butter chicken was "the bomb" (my guests words.) Garlic naan was good but not great! Used Groupon for extra value.
(4)Tina C.
Indian food was good, but I have had better. I had the lamb for the first time and it was soooooo interesting. It certainly has that distinct taste. Their Nan was ok though -- I have had better. Tika-masala tasted as expected too. The only pro was that this was right off Juanita beach and it was a gorgeoussss day! The staff was very nice and the environment was very clean too! I heard they do belly dancing for entertainment if booked in advanced and I also noticed a stage so I guess they do shows sometimes?
(3)Tokusan S.
My wife and I went there with a Groupon. Very good experience due to the following by priority for us: 1) Food was excellent...very flavorful. We were expecting less authentic cuisine due to high number of non-Indian reviewers/diners, but we were very pleasantly surprised. Chicken Tikka Masala and Tandoori Prawns were delicious. Garlic Nan was fluffy and just right. 2) Service was great...very attentive and friendly. Checked in enough, but not too much. Only change I would advise is that we noticed they asked if we and some other guests were ready to order a bit too fast after we sat down and began looking over menu. 3) Interior style is very nice...good mix of Indian and western decor. We will definitely go back again!
(4)Dan P.
I live near this restaurant and I have been meaning to stop by but didn't get around to it until today. They recently renovated so the interior looks modern and nice. The staff is very friendly and the service is good. The food was also good. Our table ordered the veggie appetizers (samosas and pakora), chicken tikka masala, prawn vindaloo, eggplant bartha, grilled chicken tikka, plain naan, and garlic naan. The dinner entrees came with rice. Overall, it was good. It is made for the American palate. Each dish has a spice rating so you can get it 1 (no spice) to 5 (very spicy). We ordered 3 for everything and the dishes were not very spicy. The naan was fresh and good. However, we got 2 orders of each and they brought all of it out at the same time. It would have been better if they brought it out in waves so that we always had hot naan. Instead we had tasty hot naan at the beginning and cold hard naan towards the end of the meal. The rice was good. The chicken tikka masala was very good and creamy. The prawn vindaloo was odd. It wasn't spicy and vindaloo really should have a good kick. The sauce was also a bit watery. This dish was a miss. The baingan bharta (eggplant bartha on their menu) was good. The appetizers were good as well. Both the samosa and pakoras were recently fried so they were good. I wish the small sauce dish was a little bigger. I also wish they had given separate sauce dishes of mint chutney and tamarind instead of combining them into one small sauce container. They have a decent beer menu with the typical US beers and Indian beers (taj mahal and kingfisher). They also serve wine. Overall, this is a nice Indian place. The parking lot is big and the food is good. I knocked off one star for the miss with the vindaloo and some minor things but still a good place that I may visit again.
(4)Chelsea J.
They completely redid the entire interior here! It looks very nice. The women working here were very friendly and were different people than the man and woman I used to see here during lunch. They have a pretty good variety at their lunch buffet. I still haven't been for dinner. I like that they have mango mousse and rice pudding and other sweets all at the lunch buffet as well as all you can drink chai. They bring naan to your table which is a nice touch. However, I still think their food is just alright. The chicken in the butter chicken was tough and not tender. I imagine the food is better when you order it from the menu and it's not sitting under the warmer. The rice pudding tasted different than I remembered. A bit too sweet for my taste. I still have to give them the a-okay although the inside of the restaurant looks very nice! Too bad the exterior is still such an eyesore.
(3)R R.
I've been to Royal India in the past and loved going to their buffet. This time I ordered lunch for pickup on a new app I found. The experience was fantastic and the food just as good. I was given a complimentary mousse which was pretty good and everything tasted great. I think it's a good amount of food for the money. The Pakora were a little over salted and a little soggy, but still tasted wonderful. I will be eating here more often!
(5)David W.
Stopped in for dinner with my wife to start checking out the local restaurants in the neighborhood where we're moving to. It looks a bit like a dive on the outside, but inside the dining room is elegant. The service was perfect and the food was delicious. We'll definitely be going back and bringing friends.
(5)Carolyn H.
Not a huge fan of Indian food, but I somewhat enjoyed it. My boyfriend ordered a little bit of everything... Chicken plates, veggies, rolls with stuff in them... I really enjoyed one of the chicken plates and tolerated the other things.
(3)Sonia A.
Just coming from this restaurant eating buffet.In my opinion this is the worst restaurant in Seattle.Bad service and empty food dishes in the buffet.The worst part was , I order Indian Beer and while drinking i found a dead fly in my beer glass.I was told by the server that we cant replace or refund or apply discount on beer because i had already drunk half glass .On top of this she has another excuse that when she got the glass, it was clean. I was under the assumption that its restaurants responsibility to keep their environment clean.They had flies sticking to the window and also flying on the food. I do not recommend this restaurant to anyone and would have given zero stars if had option. Do not go by the location.This is a cheap restaurant both in quality and service.
(1)Geoff F.
By God, I believe the annoying sound from the kitchen has been fixed. Upgrading to four stars.
(4)Steve Y.
Lunch buffet is very nice and fresh, great selections, service is also very friendly and attentive
(4)Camilla K.
This was my first experience with an Indian restaurant and I was very very happy! I can't speak to authenticity, but flavors were wonderful! We went for the $9.95 lunch buffet! My favorite was the Jal Frazi fish (I ate it with the coleslaw looking salad and that was probably SUPER American, but tasted great!) and basmati rice, which was just a little sweet. Everything I tried was good, honestly, but the standouts were the fish, Aloo saag, And both of the vegetable curries that were orangy colored but I can't remember what they're called. And the naan was fresh, warm, soft, amazing. Perfect for all the saucy goodness on my plate. Save room for mango mousse because it's so creamy and just the right amount of sweet and tart. Like heaven in a ramekin. The staff was polite, but not super friendly or warm. That's the only thing that made me a little uncomfortable and therefore I can't give them 5 stars. I hate feeling bad or menacing when I ask a server for something. I had to ask for naan several times. I also asked for butter twice and they said ok but never brought any. But the food.... Yum. Seriously, go here.
(4)N. J.
Solid Indian restaurant. Not amazing, but probably still our go-to Indian restaurant on the Eastside. We've only been there for dinner (not the buffet at lunch), but have been happy with our experience. Reasonable prices, reasonable service, reasonable food!
(4)Alexander L.
Probably the most misleading exterior I've ever seen - as others have mentioned it looks like it's in a (mostly shut down) strip mall which doesn't even face the road. The interior is clean and classy and all of the usual Indian standards are both available and excellently done. One of the best food options nearby. They're usually near to empty - I would love to see them move to a new location - there are lots of significantly inferior places nearby with much better frontage.
(5)Andrea Z.
This is the worst run restaurant I have ever been to. The food is sub par and the service is horrible. I watched three tables come and go before I got my food, literally an hour and a half. If a dish is going to take over an hour to make, you should tell the person before they order it, unless maybe it didn't make it to the kitchen because I saw a number of them come out while I was there. I ended up having everything boxed because I didn't have time for an hour and a half meal! They ended up running the wrong card at the end just to add he cherry on to the top of my ordeal.
(1)David C.
Great food, service and location. Well-hidden gem. Have been here twice and impressed on both occasions.
(5)Garrett W.
I literally go here at least once a week. I am not very adventurous because I found what I like and I always get it. Why fill up on other food when I can just fill up on the best butter chicken ever and some rice! I have tried Indian all over Washington and this place is by far my favorite. Their lunch buffet is amazing these guys are the real deal. Every once in a while things won't quite taste as good but that's what happens when you make your own spices and sauces. The people are very nice as well and it just got remodeled not to long ago, my favorite lunch spot in Kirkland by far.
(5)Taylor S.
Super yummy! I had paneer shahi and my fiancé had chicken tikka masala--both were perfect. They also brought us a tasty mango mousse on the house. That said, the best part was the garlic naan. Best. Naan. Ever. Come here for a warm bread fix, if for nothing else.
(4)Liz K.
We moved to the Juanita neighborhood about 3 months ago and we have consistently eaten at Royal India about once every week or two since then. We LOVE this place! The food is excellent, and you can't beat the price for their daily lunch buffet. We love the tikka masala with lamb, and the saag with any choice of meat or paneer. The naan is always hot and delicious. The patio is so cute and perfect for a summer afternoon or evening. And, the service here is excellent! Hands down our favorite place to eat and always a go-to when we don't feel like cooking.
(5)Judy F.
A hidden gem. One of those restaurants that you might not visit unless someone told you about it. The outside of the building does not reflect the quality of the food or service. The food and service are outstanding. I am a fan of both the buffet and the dinner menu. Delicious curry and butter chicken as well as many vegetarian options. Try the cauliflower and the fritters. The nann is fresh and warm. Good desserts too. The staff and owners are attentive with out being annoying. I have been eating here for years, have never been disappointed and will keep going back.
(5)Kaarin S.
This is quickly becoming my favorite Indian restaurant. There are some mixed emotions when you walk in--there is a pub next door, so you smell the wonderful curry, and then a rotten cigarette smell. Once you're in, though, it's nice! The decor has changed from some crazy oranges to beautiful blues, teals, and silvers. I LOVE it. As a rule, I don't like buffets--not because of the food, but because I ALWAYS, ALWAYS see someone sneeze on the food. Not on the little glass sneeze-guard, on the actual food. So for that reason, I avoid them. However, they let you order off of the menu all day! The food here is excellent. Sometimes the naan is a little burnt, but every dish I have had is so flavorful! The ambiance of the restaurant is great, and the wait staff have always been nice. I usually get butter chicken, chicken tikka, tikka masala, or some sort of paneer--all are excellent. Their rice is very flavorful, and don't be afraid to ask for more--they don't give you a ton if you're sharing with others, but they will be glad to bring you some more. Make sure and tell them how spicy you want it, but play it safe. Some dishes are spicy regardless, and other dishes could definitely use spice, but I suppose that is the nature of Indian food. Indian food leftovers are probably my favorite! They're good at giving you to-go boxes, and I have to force myself to leave some so that I can enjoy more later! Prices are reasonable. My friend got horrendously overchanged by some sort of error, but that is not the norm, it just seems to have been a fluke. (Everything has since been righted.) If you're looking for good, traditional/authentic Indian food in a gorgeous atmosphere (right next to the lake, too!), then Royal India is the place! Great, now I'm hungry...
(5)Alexandra M.
I frequent this restaurant like no other. Best Indian food in all of Seattle. Nothing else to it. Lamb masala, tandoori chicken (on the bone), Kashmiri nan, chai tea with a side of raita are my regular must haves. I highly recommend this gem.. You won't leave disappointed!!!
(5)Jenny J.
Excellent dinner and service. Samosas were delicious! Butter chicken was all white meat and the rice was awesome!! Naan is huge and perfect texture! They also brought us complimentary dessert...cherry on top of a perfect dinner! We'll be back for sure:)
(5)Sheila B.
I've never been to the lunch buffet, but we've gone here for dinner several times. It's so good, we find ourselves craving it every week! We never expected to become Indian food junkies! The food is fantastic, and the service is great. Everyone there is very friendly and helpful with suggestions if you need them. It does take awhile to get our food after ordering, but it's totally worth it. If you just go there expecting to take your time enjoying a leisurely dinner in a nicely decorated restaurant, you won't be disappointed. Unlike some of the older negative reviews, we've never had any problems here. They don't charge extra for rice - and it's very good rice, by the way - and they always bring us more if we run out, or to take extra home with the leftovers. The prices are very reasonable. Chicken tikka masala is our favorite, and the chicken is always perfectly moist. The mango curry, saag, and butter chicken are also delicious. The lamb is very tender as well. They will continue to be part of our regular rotation.
(5)Philippe D.
Looks like new owner or at least new staff Lunch buffet is still good however around 13h00, food is getting rare in the buffet
(3)Tori H.
Probably my favorite Indian place in the area. I really enjoyed their appetizer sample plate (don't recall the exact name). It had perfectly crispy pakoras and samosas that were also flavorful and not too dry. Everything tasted freshly cooked and not like it came from a mix - which is not easy to say with lots of local Indian restaurants. I'll be going back soon because I just got a groupon for half off!
(4)Elaine C.
I have been going to Royal India whenever I have a hankering for Indian food. A wonderful family business with recipes that are tasty and have been executed consistently over the years. The spinach naan is fresh with a nice crisp grill The eggplant bartha and their paneers are seasoned nicely and my favorites. The coconut ice cream tastes homemade and was the perfect end to my last meal there. The interior was updated last year and is absolutely gorgeous. It sets the right mood for a casual, comfortable night out where you can have a conversation with your table mates, and feel like you had a special experience. All right in my neighborhood. The chic walls treatments, innovative mood lighting, floors and table set up are all on point. The serving pieces are chic and add to the "metro" feeling. My only wish is that they had samosa with meat.
(4)Jessica M.
After my third visit, I can say that their food is consistently tasty, the service wonderful, and the decor charming. They recently remodeled and they have a sleek new modern look. My go-to dish at any Indian restaurant is tandoori Chicken Tikka (not to be confused with chicken tikka masala). Since it isn't covered in sauce, it's hard to find a place that doesn't make it dry or bland. This place manages to keep the chicken moist and full of flavor. Plus, they add more veggies than most places do. Prices are typical but not bad. The man who served us the first two times is very sweet (i think he is the owner). In our first visit he brought me a complimentary dessert for no special reason and this time he accommodated my request to get naan instead of the rice that came with my meal (the onion cilantro naan is delicious). I had left over chicken to take home (because the portions are well sized) and since i had eaten all my yummy naan, he offered to throw in some extra to go with my left overs. I certainly don't expect that kind of treatment but it was a very nice treat. Even without him going the extra mile, i would give then 5 stars because the food really is great!
(5)Jonathan S.
Dinner was delicious! We got Mango chicken, Pomegranate chicken, and traditional vegetables. And NAAN can't forget the Naan. We loved it all.We could just get the Naan and the rice they are both sooo good. We got it to go and they gave us extra rice. We have been there a few times and have always had delicious dinners.
(5)Leigh V.
Wow! The naan bread is outstanding. When I asked for a to go box, the owner was kind enough to add more rice and sauce. Excellent spot!
(5)Holly M.
VERY good food!! There customer service is great and they even deliver!! I have to say I've gained a couple extra since I found this place lol
(5)Leon C.
I've eaten here several times as I work in the Redmond/Kirkland area. This is a family run establishment, and they treat their clients like extended family. Everything is seasoned extremely well, even the buffet items. They have since remodeled, and the place looks great. The photos on yelp are no longer current. I took my son there for his first taste of Indian food. I told him that I'd choose the butter chicken if I was him. He ordered it, and he was extremely happy. Now he's hooked. Another time I was there I forgot my wallet (super embarrassing). They told me not to worry about it and just to pay whenever I was back in the area (I did go directly home to get my wallet and came back to pay them of course). Since remodeling they have also added more halal meats also, the buffet is served 7 days a week instead of just M - F like most places. You can't go wrong ordering anything on the menu. The naan bread is as fresh as can be and the service is top notch.
(3)Miles G.
I've eaten here many times over the years and I always walk away in my own little heaven. The food is great. The selection for the lunch Buffet is wonderful. I love to eat here with friends.
(5)Alma D.
This is my favorite restaurant because the food is outstanding and the Mango Lassi is perfect. The end.
(5)Kristen Z.
Go for the lunch buffet, offered 7 days a week. It's clean, has a variety of dishes (some vegetarian friendly) including about four dessert options, and is reasonably priced. I've never had a bad dish. Compared to other Indian buffets in the area, this one tops the list.
(4)Kat L.
I too have passed this restaurant many times but didn't think much of it from its exterior. Finally went there for the first time today at the suggestion of a friend, and I love this place. Once you step inside, the decor is so nice right away it is a pleasant feeling being there. You can tell a lot by a place that is tastefully decorated. And then you try the food, and it is good too! There was nothing I did not like there, it was such a pleasant surprise, I don't know why I didn't come sooner. I had the lunch buffet, there was a good selection, even fish! My favorite was the vegetable korma! Sweet as it should be, and not too spicy hot. Then, their chai! I thought Starbucks had the best chai tea latte, if this was a cafe I would come here just for their chai, so flavorful and a little sweet...perfect! Loved the mango mouse! I have had mango pudding at other Indian restaurants, but never mousse, so it too was a pleasant surprise! I definitely will be coming back and bringing my friends here!
(5)Lucas P.
I just moved to the kirkland area from Bellevue. Happened to be driving by Royal India one day and decided to stop in for lunch. Their buffet selection was huge! From the vegetable Korma to the Butter chicken.. Everything had lots of flavor! The buffet area was super clean and fresh unlike many of the other Indian places I've been to in Seattle. The bottomless chai has me addicted and I must say I am very impressed by the variety of dishes and their consistency regardless of the time of day. The dishes are always full! Huge plus! The ambiance is just beautiful and the service is great! We are now regulars royal India!!!
(5)Citizen D.
Food was good. It's an Indian restaurant run by friendly Pakistani peoole, so the food is a blend of both. The outside patio was good, as it had a pretty good view but the waitress had a bad attitude. Otherwise I would've given 4 stars.
(3)Bruce O.
The food is actually fairly good BUT, We have been there twice, both times on a Saturday night. Both times they had a large birthday party for children. The set up dividers. The party took over 70% of the space. It was very loud with a children magician. The second time we had a resturants.com coupon for $25 off. when we got the bill it was higher than expected. They were over charged for the soups, bread and chai. Worst of all we were charged for the rice which most other places include. When i got the credit card charge slip it seemed high also after taking the $25 coupon off. I went to the front desk and they had added an 18% gratuity in which actually Was part of the Restaurants.com conditions. The sneaky part was there was no mention of it on the charge slip and they conveniently left the tip line blank hoping we would add on the tip. Never going back again.
(1)Kim M.
Only mango, coconut curry and NAN is acceptable a (a bit too sweet in my opinion). Other food on the menu are horrible. This restaurant is clearly overpriced! ordered 3 curry and cost me $60. How can they charge rice separately. Do they expect people to order curry and drink it like a soup? We got 2 refill on rice, and they charged me $10 only for 2 refill. Another time I went there, waiter gave me the wrong order, and I ask them to give me the correct one. It turn out he charge me both of them. This place has no moral. Food and service does not match their price range. Their curry only worth half of their price. PLACE WITH NO MORAL. Don't go, they charge you every single thing except waters.
(1)Mathias M.
Good food, terrible service. After being seated, we waited over 20 minutes for someone to take our order, and that was only after we waved them over. Our server didn't apologize, but just explained they were understaffed. Afterwards food came quickly, although portions were small and expensive. Food was good though and staff was friendly, although not attentive. We also did not get our water refilled during the entire meal.
(3)Kevin V.
Soooo delicious. Went for dinner in the late evening and the place was dark and semi-romanic. Wasn't very crowded. Service was awesome and the food was amazing. Only loses a star because the portions seemed smaller than most other Indian places, and most of the entrees were in the $13-$16 range. We will definitely be back though.
(4)S M.
My husband and I swung by for a quick lunch and would definitely return. We had the $10 buffet brunch - great food, great service, and beautiful interior design - looks a lot nicer on the inside than outside. The waitress was so friendly and even sent us away with an extra naan wrapped up for the road when we paid.
(4)Supi G.
We recently moved to Kirkland and ordered take-out from this establishment. The first time we ordered the food was fine. No complaints. The travesty occurred the second time around. We ordered a chicken curry and the vegetable delight which includes samosas. The samosas were really OFF and OLD. They tasted bitter and were discolored (dark green). I ate a few bites before concluding that the potatoes were completely rotten. They not only tasted awful but were slimy in texture as well.. We went back to the restaurant within minutes since we live in the neighborhood and explained the problem and returned our order. The owner/manager (lady)seemed apologetic and offered to refund my money in the morning because they were getting ready to close and she was in a hurry to leave. She noted down my phone number and so I left. The following morning came and went but my refund never showed up. I contacted them via email and warned them that if they did not issue my refund, I would be forced to write this lengthy honest review. However it has been 2 weeks now. NO REFUND AND NO REPLY. About the samosas. After that grotesque tasting I decided to do a little research fearing food poisoning. It turns out potato poisoning can be pretty bad IF the potatoes have turned green and bitter. This occurs due Solanine which is a glycoalkaloid poison found in species of the nightshade family (Solanaceae), such as the potato. Solanine poisoning is primarily displayed by gastrointestinal and neurological disorders. Symptoms include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps, burning of the throat, cardiac dysrhythmia, nightmare, headache and dizziness. In more severe cases, hallucinations, loss of sensation, paralysis, fever, jaundice, dilated pupils, hypothermia and death have been reported. I myself had not consumed enough to fall seriously ill. I only suffered mild stomach cramps the following day. However lets hope this review helps others stay away from a more serious event. Be cautious of this place since rotten ingredients are easy to camouflage with powerful spices. Food poisoning is lurking in this place. Check out the many one-star reviews this place has collected. Some unlucky people actually suffered from food poisoning after eating here and complained but the owners didn't seem to care. I am also appalled that despite my returning the food the same night and pointing out to the manager how rotten the samosas were, I have not received even an apology. Instead I was given a false promise of a refund and hurried out the store. I am not in the habit of writing reviews and the only one I have ever written was extremely positive. This is my first negative review. Congratulations Royal India on wasting my time and money!
(1)Jeremy H.
Our chana chaat salad, garlic naan, chicken tikka masala and lamb vindaloo tasted great. Not sure what happened to the heat we ordered though. Ordered online for pick up and requested 4/5 stars on the entrees. The salad was the spiciest thing, and it was just a hint. Other than that, there was a lot of food for the price and the flava flaves were great. Really hit the spot when craving Indian food on the east side.
(4)Phoenix mi m.
I was hesitant in going to this place because of the low yelp rating but it was highly recommended by one of my friends so we all agreed to go. To my surprise, everything was delicious. I am so glad I went. I love the inside decor!! The service was wonderful! The food was fabulous! I do not understand why this place only has an average yelp rating of 2.5 stars? I know my experience yesterday deserved a minimum 4.5 stars! If you like mango curry, then you've gotta go check out the pomegranate curry and tell me all about your experience. It was my first time seeing pomegranate curry on a menu and my curiosity piqued and I am so glad we ordered it... it was super delicious!!! If you like the hearty curry like my friend, the vindaloo curry would be a good choice and he loved his meal. Tikka Masala chicken is an ok choice for those butter-lovers out there.
(4)Kozby E.
This is an established Indian place. Their location is very much representing the culture. The owner is a very kind gentleman who always smiles and comes talk to you. Their Naan breads are great. Definitely should try coconut curry with chicken.
(5)Lori H.
Great Indian food, the owner and wait staff is always very nice. Great service! They no longer deliver!!!
(5)Erin C.
This is really great Indian food!! It's always so fresh and consistently good. The restaurant is really nice inside. Be sure to try the aloo naan, Delicious!
(5)John C.
We like the renovations and the lunch buffet is excellent. Next week we plan to try their luncheon specials. A bonus is the friendly people who own and work there.
(5)L C.
This restaurant has been recently renovated and they did a great job. It is clean, calm, and modern. They also updated the back patio, which is lovely. It seems to be a family-run business, and everyone is super nice and eager to please. Most importantly, the food is delicious! They have a lunch buffet that is a great value. We have been here so many times and will continue to return.
(5)Sean B.
Best Indian Food in Washington. I've been eating here regularly for about 10 years now and you can't beat the food. Favorites of mine are the Saag Paneer and Butter Chicken, but I've tasted most of the combinations available. The Chai is to die for so do yourself a favor and order that no matter what you eat. I also suggest the Royal India Delight Appetizer plate if you have two people, it offers a variety of items to try. The Buffet is great, but do yourself a favor and go early, they open it at 11:30 and I usually try to get in before noon. Fair warning, the Chai goes quickly and while they try and keep the carafe filled you may have to wait. The staff is friendly and the place is clean. Rashid knows the regulars by name and will often stop by tables to chat. If you're in the mood for something sweet afterwards, try the Rice Pudding or Mango Mousse, they are both delicious. Note: Frugal P has it right, the Chai can't be beat anywhere!
(5)Samara S.
This place was a total ripoff, and the food sucked! The food was way overcooked, they gave us a dinner menu at 1:30 in the afternoon, there was no spice in the food that we requested to be "medium spice," they charged $3 for rice that was supposed to come with the meals!, their entree prices were HIGH ($16 for one), then they also overcharged for other things on the menu!! The extra rice charge, a dollar more for an entree, a dollar more for the naan. VERY DISHONEST PEOPLE AND THE FOOD IS BAD. I would never go there again and recommend that no one waste their time or money at that place. Oh, and they also would not honor the Entertainment Book coupon!! Bottom of the barrel as far as restaurants go. Bad service, too. Never asked how the meal was, offered anything else. I think they took old food that had been sitting around all day and gave that to us. Dry, tasteless.
(1)Marguerite F.
ok, I told the server that I was going to tell about my experience. Here it goes... We had an appointment on a Tuesday night and needed food asap. We stumbled across this because we went years ago and it was ok, nothing great. They have redone the interior and it's very pretty and a calm atmosphere. We were seated immediately and the server always had a smile on her face. She was also very attentive and made suggestions. We ordered and it came out promptly and with a smile. I ordered some things that I had never had and we loved everything that we got. Really want to go to the buffet and see what they have to offer. I am gluten free and have some challenges but found that grilled and tandoori anything is always good. I strongly recommend it if you have never been or were there in the past and didn't have a memorable time. Only drawback, a bit pricey for the amount of food you get. We will be back again, over and over! The food was Indian but with different touches other than the run of the mill Indian cuisine restaurants. You can tell the chef prepares his dishes with love.
(4)Stuart G.
I tried their lunch buffet which is always my litmus test for an Indian restaurant. Pass that and usually the dinner fare is good as well. True to form, I had a most delicious dinner there with my parents. The butter chicken is to die for and the soft, warm naan bread kept coming. My mom had a chicken in mango sauce (forgot the name) that was wonderful and dad had chana saag. My tummy was happy for the rest of the evening :)
(5)Nicola G.
I have experienced very good service and delicious food the four times I've been here. Yelper Lauren H said it perfectly, the interior is beautiful and the food is great. The first time my boyfriend and I went there, it was a snowy day. They kept us filled up on tea and even gave us to-go cups. The first time I ordered take out, I had a slight wait and the owner gave me tea and even gave me some dessert to take home. The wait staff is also very attentive when you eat in and you will not be disappointed. All-in-all, very good food and very good service. Heed everyone's caution though and check you bill.
(4)Tom Y.
Some places just make you go 'meh', and this was definitely one of them. I can here with the parents one day when visiting them recently after they moved nearby, and we spotted the Royal India sign driving by on Juanita. The outside didn't look too appealing, but we thought, what the heck. It was slightly earlier in the day for dinner, about 5:00 PM on a Saturday, so it wasn't completely surprising to see only one other table occupied. Perhaps for not being so busy, the service was great. We were seated immediately, attentively serviced with water and drinks, and browsed the menu. As far as selection goes, it is fairly standard in terms of the gamut of food. I'd just come from the U District, and so was obviously used to great food at great prices. Royal India was a bit higher, by about 25%, but it WAS Kirkland. After ordering a mixture of the tandoori and some jalfrazies and masalas, we nibbled on some tempura appetizers, which weren't bad. When the main course came, however, I was definitely a little disappointed. Granted, not many people eat as much as I do, but even my mom, who is tiny, wondered at the small portion sizes. At a place like Taste of India on Roosevelt, you'd get one plate of just rice, and one plate of just entree, all included in the price; that entree would last the normal person two meals. At Royal India, however, everything was lumped on one plate. I got the jalfrazie, and while the entree side wasn't skimpy, the meat was; most of it was veggies and sauce. My sister, who got the tandoori chicken, did seem to like it. The taste of the food is great, as was the service we got, but for the price, it definitely wasn't worth it, and not even filling. If you have to have indian food RIGHT NOW, it's not a bad place to go, but from now on I'm definitely sticking to Taste of India.
(2)M. K.
Love Indian food... wanted to like this place, since we just moved to Market and it's close by. Ordered take-out, went to pick it up, and they had "given our order to someone else." Then waited, for our food to be remade. Once we got home, we dug in... the naan was soggy, butter chicken was flavorless, and the samosa was just okay - very dry - no meat option. The best thing about the entire meal was the free pudding they added for messing up our order. Definitely will not be back. Surprised by all of positive reviews, I can name at least 3 other Indian restaurants that are exponentially better than Royal India.
(1)Chris K.
This was our first time here. The waitress was very friendly and helpful. The chicken Pankoras were very good. The Nan was very fluffy in the center and burnt just the right amount. The butter chicken was good, but not something outstanding. I felt the same way about the Tandori chicken. The portions were very small, by wife was ready to ask where the rest was. Our waiter was very inexperienced, trying to take away our food while we were eating and then offering a take home coz when we had no food to take home. We used a living social coupon and he wanted the phone rather than just writing down the number. I may try one more time for the buffet to see what happens
(3)Ram G.
Not sure why it doesn't have a good rating - but we ordered recently from here for my kids Bday Party, and loved the food. Great prices and very very friendly service from the owner . The Food was on time, and was freshly prepared on a long weekend. The food we ordered: Malai Kofta - Yummy Sauce, and soft veggie balls Palak Paneer - Creamy and rich (slightly bitter maybe coz of spinach) Pokoda - Good and crisp Naan - Good Gulab Jamun - Excellent! my kid loved it. Veggie Briyani - Not too oily, and quite tasty. (and they all came with generous side dishes, like chutney etc) Great Food - great service...A+ Overall I would give it a 5 star over comparative restaurants in bellevue (where prices have skyrocketed!)
(5)Sue M.
I love this place. I'll admit I haven't been there for dinner, only the lunch buffet (which I go to a few times a month). Their tikka masala is freakin' AWESOME. Even my husband (who was born and raised in the U.K. where curry is the most popular food) who is a curry connoisseur, loves this place as much as I do. A few months back we complimented the owner/manager on the sauces, and he said they make them from scratch, hot and fresh every day. That's gotta be true because all of their sauces are amazing. My advice is to not fill up on the basmati rice with your meat.. fill up on the curried cauliflower and warm delicious naan instead. mmmmmm.
(4)Lindsey L.
I've been a few times, and it's not worth the high price. The butter chicken has an oddly burnt flavor to it, and has every time, so it seems to be something they do on purpose.
(2)Stella R.
As a lover of the Indian cuisine this place wasn't very impressive. There wasn't much of a variety and most of it wasn't that good. The service is good and the area itself was pretty comfortable. What makes this place earn 3 stars is the gorgeous Indian decor. It's probably the only Indian restaurant with a whole lot of Indian decorations. They were absolutely beautiful. This is a good place to go if you want Indian food but don't care if it's really good or not.
(3)Anna M.
It was fathers day and we went out for dinner, the hostes and waiter were nice but the food was terrible. Rice was cold and a day old and the stews were microwaved. My hubby saw a cockroch under the table too. GROSS! We won't be back in that resturant and we won't recommand that to any one. Save your money for somewhere that you can get a delicious dinner for your money.
(1)William B.
I have been here 3 times only for dinner, but each time I have been surprised by the quality of food and have only received great service, granted it has never been busy when I have been, typically 7 to 8 pm in the evening. I would recommend their lamb with whatever dish you end up getting. It has never disappointed. I have also gone there for a work party and we reserved the special tent they have erected in back just for groups. You sit on pillows and everything; truly an unique experience. A little on the pricey side but worth it for a nice evening dinner where you'd like to take your time and converse with your significant other. But then again, I am a frugal college student.
(4)Lauren H.
Service has been hit or miss the last few times I came here for the lunch buffet. Slow to check in and I feel like I'm inconveniencing them by being there. I've finally admitted to myself that the food is very salty, too. I guzzle water when I get home because I feel dehydrated. There also needs to be more paneer in the spinach paneer dish: a spoonful of it produces a lot of spinach and two little cubes of cheese. Also, lunchtime prices have increased $1. The interior is pleasant and, despite my gripes, there's good variety. And hey, it's still tasty. (Though I prefer less salt.)
(3)Sherry B.
The best Indian restaurant in Kirkland and Bellevue area. This food is very fresh and the prices are fair. My favorite is chicken kabob salad and spinach filled Naan!!
(5)