Great Cuisine of India
9518 Gravelly Lake Dr SW, Lakewood, WA, 98499
Great Cuisine of India Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Lakewood for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Lakewood for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Lakewood for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
9518 Gravelly Lake Dr SW
Lakewood, WA, 98499 - Phone (253) 581-1333
- Website https://www.greatcuisineofindia.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 2:00pm
- Mon : 11:00 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
India is the birth place of Chicken Tikka Masala and Curries. Indian foods are prepared with a blend of finely mixed spices quite popular across the region. The spices develop the rich taste in Indian food enough to boggle your mind. The ever-increasing fan base of Indian food around the New York city is steadily increasing because of the large number of Indians who traveled to the land of dreams. The Indians also brought their very own vibrant, colorful, and aromatic authentic dishes for the people in the West. While most of the Indian population is Vegetarian, Indian food is great for people who are looking for vegan or vegetarian food option. If you are a Meat lover, don't get disappointed yet. Indian food also boasts of some popular non-vegetarian dishes too. Few examples are the famous Butter Chicken, Mutton Biryani and Tandoori Chicken are enough to satisfy your taste buds.
Indian food has gained reputation all over the world especially in the United States. You can find many places serving the appetizing Indian food across all major cities in the US. India is a diverse country with different food culture originated from different parts of the country. While the Northern region boasts tandoori dishes and korma offering royal taste, the Western Ghats offers sea foods that is made in naturally sweet tender coconut milk. The South Indian food servers a quality of different dishes made from rice accompanied with spicy chutneys, curries and famous sambhar. Also, the Indian sweets are a delight to relish. If you ever want to have a burst of sugar syrup in mouth, don't forget to try few Bengali Sweets. Be it spicy, tangy, or sweet flavor, you can find everything in the Indian cuisine. Be assured that the melody of spices will surely bring delight to you.
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keith e.
Well I walked in was promptly greeted by the nice young man and headed right over to the food. It was all very tasty and fresh. Of special note the Tandori Chicken was as good as I have had it and the Butter Chicken was the same. Garlic Naan was good but was not as hot as I like but it tasted great. Overall I would have to say I highly recommend this place.
(5)Jason J.
I have been getting carry out lunch a few years. The flavor is great, some of the best indian food taste in the puget sound area. The rating comes from the decreasing amount of meat in the carry out dishes (though it's always been sparse). Today, there was so little meat in my chicken tikka masala, 5 small cubes about a half inch each, that I had to write a review. I split the meal with a friend, she had 3 pieces of chicken and I had two, and my guess would be that we each had less than an ounce of meat. There was probably less than $1 of chicken in my meal. I realize cost of their ingredients, rent, and utilities is going up, but $13 for the CTM I received today was a rip-off. Triple the meat and charge $2 more and it'd be a reasonable exchange of money for food... It saddens me because I really liked the flavors, but I will probably now never go back.
(2)Steve L.
Absolutely delicious! I know my Indian food and theirs is outstanding! I am in town for two nights and found them via yelp last night, wow, what a pleasant surprise. I intend to eat there again tonight if I can help it!
(5)Tabi B.
This place was empty when we arrived and now i know why. Earlier this week we had gone to the saffron restaurant in north gate and it was amazing. This place however needs to go there and take notes. I ordered the butter chicken, it was glorified tomato soup. We had one plate of rice to share between us and when we reordered instead of taking the rice away and bringing new rice he left it on the table to get cold and our dinners still tasted like sweet tomato soup even after we reordered. DO NOT COME HERE!!!!
(1)Ronni G.
Lovely place. The family is very wonderful. Always great service. Silver bowl servings. Purely traditional. Love them. Never a problem with the food. Either to go or sit down its great. Never had their Buffett but I know they couldn't go wrong.
(5)Pam P.
Uh oh the health inspectors walked in and it had me worried. This was our first time here and was reluctant. We came in 1:30 pm for the lunch buffet. Sad to say it felt like we were eating left overs. The food was cold and dishes didn't look appetizing. My chai tea came in a dirty cup. It had tea stains on the lip. I got a new one with free refill and wasn't charged. Vegetable Samosa (one and only piece) was nowhere near fresh. It may have been from two days ago. Now I know why the health inspector was there. I heard them telling the owner the buffet temperatures weren't hot enough for the hot dishes. They did replenish the chicken curry and that was great! They also put out more biryani and potato pakoras. They were hot and that earned them a star. I enjoyed the mango pudding and the rice dessert. Another star. I thought it was too expensive ($9.99 for lunch buffet) especially with limited dishes left. I'd suggest going right when they open or find another place.
(2)Laura B.
This place is delicious! I didn't know I liked Indian food until I ate here! The Pakori as an appetizer is great! I always get some form of Paneer when I go. It's never let me down! I also recommend the chicken kabobs!
(5)Taylor P.
I wish they knew what dishes were gluten free or not. I miss living right next to The lotus grill where they had it all labeled. I love Indian food but I have Celiacs and have to play it safe. I hope they soon get educated..
(1)Shawn E.
Really good Lamb Curry and Lamb Vindaloo. Can't speak for the rest of the menu, but assume the other dishes are good as well. Also, their Garlic Naan is to die for. Highly recommend to any looking for good food from India.
(5)MandM S.
Good food on the buffet. The only complaint I have is that we're not willing to refinish the sweet rice. They ran out as we ordered and told us they would be refilling it. I was turned off by that but the other food was good
(3)Linaya P.
Great food. Amazing flavor. Took a long time to prepare and run our payment after we made it clear we had to go. Nevertheless we will be back.
(4)Tornadoroo K.
Good, if limited buffet for lunch. We like the food, very tasty. If you arrive early before the crowd you'll have to wait for the naan, they make it fresh for you. Haven't tried the deserts, but the fritters and tiki chicken masala are worth a visit. Try both salad dressings, they are both good.
(4)Justine J.
this place is amazing! I called in a to-go order and when I arrived ten minutes later my order was bagged and ready to go! I recently moved to this area from Oregon and thought I'd never find a place like the Indian restaurant I loved back home, but this place is my new favorite! great service and great food! I recommend ordering the butter chicken with a side of naan, you will not regret it!
(5)Rany S.
The few times I've been here for dinner, I've quite enjoyed. I normally order my staple, the tikka masala and mix it up with a vegetable dish and my boyfriend normally gets a lamb or beef dish in addition. The last time we were there, we ordered the chicken tikka masala, coconut lamb and a potato dish that for the life of me, I cannot recall what it was. Oh, almost forgot - garlic naan as well! I don't eat lamb but the best sauce out of all the dishes was the coconut lamb one. It had hints of being a curry but not quite. Everything was so flavorful and both my boyfriend and I stuffed ourselves. We also ordered chai tea and as it was a fresh batch, I didn't think it was as flavorful as it could be so maybe the spices didn't have much time to sit and mix well together. Minor issue though. Our server was very attentive and granted, it was not that busy, but being attentive is key in customer service in my opinion. I've never been here for lunch so I cannot speak to the buffet but dinner dishes were excellent. With so few Indian restaurants around the area, I'm glad we have this one close to us for those times that we crave Indian food.
(4)JP D.
I can't get past the chicken tikka masala to try anything else. On second thought, I did try the buttered chicken, but the ctm is so great and my visits so infrequent that I can't bring myself to try something else and be disappointed.
(5)Matt C.
I have a new yelp account. I have not been here in a while but the food is absolutely amazing! I have had everything on the menu over the years. I need to make a visit here again soon.
(4)Tani I.
Ordered a meal to go portions were small and the food had little to no flavor. Ordered 3 dishes and 3 naan (Indian flat bread) total was $47.13 per the receipt but the guy checking me out said oh you total is 55.00 even. How could I have a even amount on a bill when we pay sales tax in WA. I think the guy tried to increase my bill to make himself a bigger tip. I got home and the rice was hard as a rock like it was a couple days old and had been microwaved and the naan was hard and tasted like cardboard. I have eaten at many Indian restaurants and this by far was the worst food I've ever had. Not worth the money and portions were tiny.
(1)Erica J.
came for Sat lunch buffet and it was OK. there were chicken tandoori, butterchicken, two vege dishes. All in all, the selection is limited but served fresh. For 11$, im pretty happy about what I had.
(3)V C.
Everything we (3 of us sharing) had was delicious! We started with the onion rings -- not the heavily pankoed kind you get at burger joints. These were lightly breaded and had a delicate flavor. I intend to stop by and get some for takeout. We shared naan, a lamb dish, vegetable bryani and butter chicken. All was wonderful with enough to take home for a warmed-up snack. The only improvement I would like would be a pot of tea instead of individual tea bags.
(4)Jennifer H.
Loved there food. They are really nice and fast to help. And the price was not bad. Seeing we brought home a lot of food :)
(5)J L.
Food was good. Chicken Tiki was a little salty for my taste, but overall it was very good. Lentil soup & coconut walnut ice cream were delicious. Service was good, though felt a bit distant or disconnected. This was my first visit, so perhaps just an off day. My star rating is low because I didn't feel welcome and the disconnect. The woman was warmer and had a nice smile, but our primary server was the man. We may have got off to a bad start when I asked to sit at the window rather than a wall. I'll be back when it's convenient and give them another chance.
(3)Collin C.
I have ordered takeout multiple times from this establishment and have been well pleased each time. I especially liked the Lamb Korma. I have to include the disclaimer that the buffet is not as good as the regular menu service though.
(4)Kristina M.
My husband is English and loves Indian food, so if he thinks Great Cuisine of India is good enough at replicating his "national dish", I suppose that is recommendation enough. My son loves the butter chicken. The naan bread is usually very good. We get the appetizers and they are always nice and fresh (samosas and onion bhaji (sp?)). My husband is vegetarian and gets the biryani. I love the creamy lentil soup -- but not the entree, which the server once pressured me to get, probably because it is more expensive than the nice soup I usually get instead of an entree. The lentil soup has adorable tiny black beans and similarly minute lentils in it. We live within walking distance and so it is always a special pleasure to be able to take a short walk for supper on a special occasion, like birthdays. Or, exceptionally, when my husband can no longer suppress the urge for some Indian food. Or to cheer up our friend who longs to return to India. Perhaps worth noting is that we once had the lunch buffet and of course it wasn't quite as nice as usual, in my opinion. (But also much cheaper.)
(4)Paul H.
Just fine for a lunch buffet. They keep it hot and fresh. I don't know what most things are so I just try them all. Kind of makes the experience fun. I went with a friend that was a vegetarian and unfortunately the selection of items available for her were pretty limited. For a $11 lunch. It is a great stop.
(3)Liliane E.
I came here for their lunch buffet. While I can recognize what most of the food was on the buffet, I wished that the name tags for the food indicated to me which one belonged to which dish. The food was ok. The offerings on the buffet were somewhat limited, and the staff isn't friendly at all. Nothing stood out as memorable, service food or otherwise. When their lunch buffet hours were over, they took all the food away and turned off the overhead lights and the waiter /owner/host? proceeded to make a loud phone call in the doorway to the kitchen where we could see and hear him. By that point, we took the hint to leave. The location itself can also be a bit of a challenge not only to find it, but maneuvering how to get into the parking lot.
(1)Brian S.
I lived in Olympia for three years and viewed Lakewood as the wasteland to the north. I now have lived in Tacoma for three years, and I've viewed Lakewood as the wasteland to the south. Lakewood, I apologize. You've got one of the more ethnically diverse restaurant scenes in all of Washington. If you don't live nearby, traveling to Great Cuisine of India is a pain. The traffic lights take forever to change, and looking for "downtown" Lakewood is like seeking downtown Orange County, Calif. The sprawl has no natural center, despite the city's efforts, and likely never will. But, like Orange County, Lakewood is a surprising and not-always-beautiful melting pot of great restaurants, likely owing in no small part to the lower rents. And Great Cuisine of India was worth the longer drive from downtown Tacoma. The restaurant is difficult to spot, as it's in a strip-mall location just southwest of the intersection of Gravelly Lake Drive and Bridgeport Way. It was 70 percent empty when my dining partner and I entered at 6 p.m., but it became much busier throughout our hourlong meal. My dining partner went with shrimp vindaloo and a naan basket, which includes regular, garlic and potato naan. I ordered tandoori fish after asking which was better, that dish or tandoori shrimp. That proved to be a good recommendation, as the fish broke apart easily under my fork despite its non-oily preparation. If you want to eat healthfully at an Indian restaurant in the United States, tandoori is the way to go. This didn't disappoint, and although I asked for the highest spice level, I didn't sweat much. That's likely the result of the preparation more than anything. My friend's shrimp vindaloo was fantastic, the highlight of the meal. I was full by the end of the meal, but in a good way, not an I-can't-believe-I-ate-that-much-butter sort of way. If I weren't moving soon, I'd return here numerous times. I'd already known that the near-Interstate 5 part of Lakewood had fantastic Korean restaurants, but I saw tons of intriguing places during my exploration of the city today. I urge food lovers not to ignore Lakewood, the way I ignorantly did for too long.
(4)Vanessa N.
Great Indian Cuisine. This place deserves minimum a four star. Ordered chicken tikka masala and it was tasty and delicious.
(5)Kevin C.
Food was excellent. I personally enjoyed the butter chicken. Wifey got the curry lamb. Both were great!
(4)Kristin B.
These guys are by far, the best indian food in the south sound. Very flavorful and authentic. We love their lunch buffet too! The family is very friendly and we always feel welcomed. Recommended dishes: Vegetable korma, butter chicken and chicken tikka masala. The best thing about these guys is that you can order your food NOT SPICY and they make it not spicy and full of FLAVOR. Yum!! Way better than I can say for India Mahal. Give Great Cuisine of India a try and you won't be disappointed!
(5)N H.
Love this place. Have been coming here for years. Friendly people and delicious, flavorful food. Try the butter chicken!
(5)Gabrielle P.
My family and I went to the lunch buffet for Mothers Day. I can say the food is very good but one thing that disappointed me was that I was charged full price for all 3 of my children. My daughter didnt eat much at all and I definitely dont think I should have paid full price for her or my sons. Overall I really enjoy this place and would recommend it to anyone, just dont take kids to the buffet unless you are ready for a large bill.
(3)Danita K.
I was a little scared to try this place because I have never eaten Indian food before. However the food was sooooo good!!! Their coconut lemonade was wonderful. The coconut flavor dance on my tongue. The staff there was very nice and the place was very clean. I will totally be back!
(4)Marie J.
I really liked their food until....UNTIL...I found a fracken black 'GNAT' in my Mango Lassi! Jeeest so happen I took the lid off to get to the leftover ice...and yeah...yeeeuckkk--there was also a nice size leftover GNAT clinging for dear life on one of my ice cubes! Ughhh no. Mango Lassi is orange. You had to see his 'jet black butt' skinny dippin' in my drink before you lidded it. Maybe I should have said, "oh, and hold the GNATS...please". I realize things happen. However, after reading the second review of a person finding either a finger or a toenail in their food--- Imma....(yeah...imma) hafta' pass on "The Contaiminated-Petrie Dish Cuisine of India...with GNATS" an...an....TOENAILS. Now, had I chewed on something like that----they would've had to call the Lakewood Police. Because it WOULD NOT have been pretty. The other thing I can vouch for is: I have dined in before and it's true--they aren't the most friendly. I wouldn't go as far as to say they are rude--but they are DEFINITELY lacking a customer-service friendly, happy to have you here--attitude. Rather 'drab and indifferent' is their disposition.
(1)Jerome K.
Idk if this man was the owner but he kept looking at me like he hasn't seen a man of color before..let people eat their food in peace..food was okay nothing special..he got up and left after we paid smh
(2)Trista W.
This is my first bad review on Yelp here in Washington. I'm sorry to say but this is the worst Indian food I've ever tried. The lamb was over cooked in my lamb masala, their idea of spicy was on the lines of fire sauce at Taco Bell, and the naan was dry and tasteless. I honestly think the food may have been leftovers... Instead of this place, take a drive to Puyallup (about 15-20min) and go to Karma on Meridian. I have reviews on their place, along with pictures. Had I not been with coworkers at Great Cuisine, I would have taken pictures. Oh, and do yourself a favor and pee before you get there. The bathrooms are old and gross and if you're a woman--hope the water closet across from your bathroom has the door closed. That sight will make you want to leave... I went during lunch, but ordered off the menu (this time--as I did the buffet last time and wasn't impressed then either). For my lamb masala and one order of naan... $18. And, I left the remaining food rather than taking it to go... that's just how bad it was.
(1)Adam M.
The first time we attempted to eat at Great Cuisine of India the doors were closed and the lights were off just five minutes before opening. We were about to pull away thinking that there was some reasonable explanation (sometimes small businesses incur problems over which they have no control- no biggy), when we saw a car pull up. Several people got out, the trunk opened, and on display was what we assumed was going to be lunch. There were a series of chafing dishes that they were unloading into the restaurant. My conclusion could only be speculation; we left. Several months passed and we got curious again. My family and I met a friend of ours and we had the lunch buffet. The food was mediocre at best. Much of it seemed reheated from the previous day: the fried food was warm but missed the appropriate crispness for its temperature, the chicken was a bit tangy- a tanginess that indicated age not innovative spice, and some of the veggies had a refrigerator flavor that comes with stored and reheated prepared food. Still kind of forgivable, I know that small businesses need to not waste to turn a profit- it happens. The two people running the restaurant that day (the owners?) stared at us our entire meal- awkward. We had beat the lunch crowd so we figured they just had nothing else distracting them. There attention, however, did not translate into good service. We had the lunch buffet so our expectations for service wasn't high, still, full lipstick-free glasses are not too much to expect. My wife payed at the register as we finished up. A minute or so later the man who had been staring came up to the table and started in with some lengthy explanation that took a moment to decode. Finally it occurred to me that he was asking for more money. We had our, at the time, one year old daughter with us who ate rice- seriously- rice off of my wife's plate. He came back wanting us to pay full price for her. Though I think that the food price of a buffet should have some proportionality to the amount of food consumed especially when it comes to kids who aren't really eating, that's not what bothered me. I would not have really had a problem being charged for her if the cost was upfront. When my wife payed, we did nothing to get out of paying for food, we didn't haggle; we payed the bill in full as it was presented to us. But, he came after full, unchallenged payment was made and asked full price for "the child." I took the tip off of the table and handed it to him as payment, we walked out and will never return. I would not recommend this place to anyone. The food did not make up for the service and the service did not make up for the lifeless food.
(1)Harrison B.
This place is a home run everytime we go! What to get you ask? Well chicken pakora ( I think is how you spell it.) for an appetizer. For the entrée get the butter chicken and garlic naan. A knock out everytime, and I've eaten it numerous times.
(5)Amanda M.
Finally got in for a lunch buffet - yum!! Just as tasty as a dinner. The buffet offered a nice variety - a couple of meat dishes, including some very fresh butter chicken, as well as two or three vegetarian options, my favorite of which was the flavorful aloo gobi (curried cauliflower and potato dish). The unlimited buffet cost around $9/person, and included na'an bread. You can also order off the menu, if nothing on the buffet strikes your fancy. Quick, delicious, and filling - great meal for the price!
(5)Jew C.
Yeaahhh....I came back here for lunch with my boyfriend, and about four bites in, my boyfriend spit out a huge yellow fingernail that he had been chewing on, thinking it was an odd spice in the lamb masala. Not only was that absolutely freakin disgusting, the attitude of the old cranky owner was even more disgusting. He didn't offer, but demanded that my boyfriend take another order of lamb masala to go and pay for the entirety of our meal. After agreeing, a few minutes later we decide that it was just far too disgusting to even think about eating that same meal later, so we asked to leave. And SHOCKER! the stingy owner still made us pay for my order of chicken tikka masala and 2 orders of garlic naan. We paid $22 for four bites and a fingernail. Never coming back. Such a shame, too....
(1)Fernando F.
Granted their buffet isn't the greatest. I believe it is that way to apieze the general public. The secret is in the actual menu. Believe me when I say the food is awesome and authentic. I lived in Korea for three years where I found a small restaurant owned and ran by an Indian couple. It didn't get more authentic than that. Though I am not saying this place is like that, it is pretty darn close. You won't be disappointed.
(4)JoAnne B.
Americanized. Portions are small. Not worth it.
(1)Evergreen J.
SO GOOD. Best of south Sound area and I have tried them all! Amazing service. Beautiful chi, wonderful desserts but the korma is king here! The soups are addictive and nan of course homemade. Will be back back soon for more!!!
(5)Amy K.
I love Indian food and wanted to take my parents to a buffet so they could try a bunch of dishes at once. I was trying to decide between this place and Gateway to India but we needed to go on a sunday and this place was open. (Buffet on weekends opens at noon instead of at 11am on weekdays) btw, price is okay, $8.99. 5 of us went and there was no one at first, I was really impressed by the spread. Two kinds of rice, chicken tikka masala, lamb curry, a vindaloo, chicken tandoori, and at least 3 more dishes however, the salad was really pitiful, and the naan scarce and too doughy, and no samosas or dessert. The only big complaint was the service, the man was timely enough with the waters, but he was obviously trying to drop a hint to stop eating? when he stopped taking the dishes away. We were a group of 5 and had one empty seat where we put the dishes that we were done with and he took them away the first dish, and after that he let them pile up in front of my face which I thought was extremely rude and unpleasant. Anywho, overall satisfactory experience, the food was good, service not so much, but I would still come back.
(3)William C.
Lunch buffet, all you can eat for $9. Now that is out of the way, the buffet is super small, little selection, however what is there is very good. The staff is nice enough as well.
(3)J B.
I've had better however, it satisfied my cravings. There is a lunch buffet on Saturday as well.
(3)Sean G.
We've been coming to the Great Cuisine of India for several years now, usually with family or guests for dinner. The flavor and quality of the food has always been amazing. I always order the butter chicken and my wife tries something different each time. From the variety of naan to specialty teas, we have never been disappointed. We usually order our entrees medium to spicy, but they also prepare them mild. The dining area has been remodeled recently and is much improved. The restaurant is owned and operated by an Indian family. While some reviewers have criticized the service, keep in mind that these people are very polite and subtle. They are very respectful of your time and your privacy. If you ask them questions, they are more than happy to explain the menu, tell you about the ingredients, etc., but they do not impose themselves on you. Meals are served family style, so it's easy to enjoy a variety of choices. This is a great place for a quiet dinner for two or for the whole family.
(5)Destiny W.
Wow...this is THE BEST Indian food I've come upon yet! I have only positive things to say about Great Cuisine of India. When my husband and I walked into this restaurant to order take-out, I knew we were in the right spot for Indian food because there were actually Indian families eating there. If that doesn't say that this place is authentic, I don't know what does. It was another Chicken Tikka Masala night for me, Butter Chicken for the husband. We also had paneer pakooras and plain naan. While waiting(which took about 15 minutes), my husband ordered a mango lemonade(tasted like Pez but surpringly delicious) and I had a mango Lassi. Both were great. I think all this totaled to be about $40? Anyhow, when we served ourselves back at home, the BC and CTM were in separate containers but mislabeled but I figured, "Who cares! They both taste awesome!". The naan was very tasty, but I should've ordered 2 orders because it only came with a small portion. The pakooras also came with a fruity type of dipping sauce that I've never had before. Maybe pomegranate or something? Whatever it was, it was quite delectable. I was completely satisfied with our entire order. No complaints here ensures that I'll be returning as soon as I can!
(5)Chantelle E.
This place is amazing!!! Family owned and operated. Food is the best Indian we have ever had. My husband frequents the lunch buffet, and we go occasionally for dinner. Every time we have been in the food has been fresh and good variety with the buffet. The place is small, so you can expect the buffet is a little on the smaller side as well.
(5)Allen H.
Best Indian in the area. I find the more expensive you go with Indian food the less authentic and dumber it gets. Good prices, Good food.
(4)Kathryn D.
I do not eat Indian food too often. We were waited on buy a younger worker, who was very friendly, but the owner gentleman can come off abrupt at times. The food can be good on some days, but today I wanted a mild spicy and it came out medium and hard to eat. The worker, knowing it was too hot, took the price off the ticket. They are fast at bringing out the food and nice presentation.
(4)Peggy R.
I've had dinner take out from here twice in the last three days. I love Indian food. First night, my husband and I had Butter Chicken, Lamb Vindaloo, Chicken Tikka Masala, Garlic Naan, Samosas and Raita. I actually ordered Tandoori Chicken, but ended up with with Chicken Tikka Masala. That was fine, since it was something I liked anyway. And it gave me an excuse to have Indian food again. When I feel like having a certain type of food, I can eat the same thing for a month straight. Then not have it again for a while. So many reviews said that the Butter Chicken is wonderful. I thought that it was good, but I don't think it's as good as the reviews make it out to be. Still, both my husband and I enjoyed it. As for everything else, I've had those dishes at many Indian restaurants (in CA though, in Los Angeles and the Bay Area). I personally think that it's comparable to the places I've gone to in CA (with an Indian friend who showed me the "ropes"). So the first dinner, my husband ate so much that after dinner he had to unbutton his jeans LOL - and he's very new to Indian food, so I'm proud of him trying things that he normally doesn't like (like Lamb - though in Vindaloo, it tastes like beef). He liked the butter chicken too. Maybe it's just because my expectations were so high since I read so much about it before ordering it. Everything that we got was really good and we ate the leftovers the next day. So the 2nd dinner (basically, we had Indian food three days in a row, since we had the leftovers in-between the two orders): Tandoori Chicken, Aloo Gobi, Lamb Vindaloo, Meatball Korma, Garlic Naan and Raita. I told my husband not to eat so much this time, but he couldn't help it (he said). Normally, he hates cauliflower, but since Indian food has such great spices and flavor, he actually enjoyed the Aloo Gobi (which is one of my all time favorites). The meatball Korma was something that both my husband and I liked from the lunch buffet, though he liked it more than I did. And we both loved the Tandoori Chicken, Lamb Vindaloo and Raita. I just need to remember to order two Raita next time... I'm still eating leftovers and I couldn't be more happy about it. I'm really happy that I found a good Indian restaurant that is close by. Good Indian restaurants are hard to find. And this one is perfect because it's so convenient for me.
(5)Roger I.
IF you enjoy an explosion of flavor with every bite... IF you delight in REAL chi tea... IF you appreciate the owners son as server who doesn't try to be your new best friend but simply takes an interest in your comfort... IF you like multiple breads, each with its distinct texture and taste... Then Great Cuisine of India is for you. I had the coconut lamb and my son had chicken curry. Both combined subtle flavors of fresh herbs with bold spices and succulent meets. Both had been seething in the kitchen long enough to unveil their rich cast of flavors. Both were better than my corny writing skills ! Two entrees, teas and their basket of pan: $45.
(4)Joe B.
Went for lunch buffet yesterday. They offer ranch dressing for salad. Mm,k. Well this container had crusted crap around it that left me wondering about the freshness of the other offerings. Buffet is small. Two rice offerings. One is yellow, one is white. Yellow has what appears to be frozen vegetables added to it. Lima beans, carrots, etc. I guess the white is supposed to be basmati. No flavors added and super clumpy. Again, is this old rice I'm eating. Hot dishes weren't great. Korma meatballs; What are they made of? No clue. Curry chicken was offered. Obviously left over tandoori chicken cut up. Sauce was greasy, meat was stringy. Some kind of potato veggies were okay. I didn't eat the tandoori chicken. Garbanzo beans were very bland. Overall, nothing was very good. Gateway to India, which I'm not a huge fan of, is better. Skip this one for buffet. Oh yeah, the naan was limp and doughy. I'm sure it was reheated.
(1)Douglas K.
So this was my first experience with an Indian food buffet. I love Indian food and was a little apprehensive of a buffet at first, but the lady at the table next to me said she thought it was really good and suggested I try it. As it turns out, their buffet is quite good for the $8.99 price. Now I will admit it was not the best Indian food I have every tried, but it was not bad at all. Their buffet hit all the basics: Naan, Butter Chicken, Tandorri Chicken, Curry Chicken, Curry Vegetables, Basmati Rice and a few other choices, plus a small salad bar. This is a great lunch buffet if you want to satisfy you Indian craving.
(4)Willis S.
By far my favorite Indian joint in the South Puget Sound area! Honestly haven't ordered much here other than the Butter Chicken & Garlic Naan which is deep in flavor and has a perfect texture. The lunch buffet is a great affordable way for newbies to try Indian food. Please do yourself a favor by skipping the other Tacoma Indian joints and coming here.
(4)Diogenes X.
This place isn't setting the world on fire for atmosphere and I've never tried their buffet but we get food to go from here all the time...in my opinion by leaps and bounds the best Indian food in the greater Tacoma area. The Mughltawny soup is a must-have and this place does Tandoori right. Unfortunately I haven't made it through much of the menu because every time we go I'm craving the same thing.
(4)Johnnie D.
Nice restaurant good food just needs a little work on ambiance.
(3)A Joe S.
I had the lunch buffet. Some of the beloved flavors of Indian food seemed to be missing. The staff is hospitable enough, though I'm not likely to return. I wouldn't turn it down if someone said they were buying. There is enough good there to go again if I was invited.
(2)Senthil M.
I tried the buffet and went for dinner and would go back. I asked for really spicy and got genuine authentic spicy food. This sets this place apart from most Indian restaurants I've been to in Tacoma or Lakewood. The flavors were okay, however, the rating is because I have had much better curry variety flavors and vindaloo flavors elsewhere in Tacoma. The biryani was only just okay - much better can be found in Tacoma.
(3)Mog V.
This is restaurant is a real gem. I had the curry chicken (Mild) with rice and their flat garlic bread. The chicken was tender cuts of white meat in a savory rich curry tomato based sauce. There were five in our party and all expressed equal enjoyment (lamb and prawns). It is very quiet which allowed conversation without screaming at each other. The owner as very gracious. The waiter was very attentive with our glasses of ice water never empty. Glass covered white linen tables with cloth napkins. We are going back. Our british friend who considers herself an expert on Indian food stated that this is as good as it gets in the US. This is the only restaurant that I lick the plate when I'm done, the heck with manners
(5)Ha T.
The five-star ratings for this place confused me. Lunch buffet fell way below expectations. The selection was limited to maybe 6 entrées or so. The naan was dry and papery. The tandoori chicken was not tender or flavorful. Most of the vegetables were overcooked and the rest were just ok. I realize they're not actually bad, they just don't try to be good. Maybe it's not worth the effort in an all-you-can-eat buffet. They'll lose money if people actually like and eat a lot more food.
(2)Mikal W.
As a disclaimer I only give 5 stars for places that I absolutely love, my 4 stars are a close second. Their food is great, their buffet is good but pretty typical. If you are just trying out Indian food than the buffet may be your best bet, so you can get a variety. Their prices are kinda high but you will leave full. Nan bread should be a free staple item at any Indian restaurant, (and yes I have been to plenty where it was) However, their specialty nan's are great. I strongly recommend this place, and I will continue to go here for future Indian cravings!!
(4)Dennis B.
This is the only place I buy Indian food, and it's a long drive too. I know that doesn't mean much to a stranger, but I strongly recommend trying it out. -Cost- Easily affordable. -Food- Great sized portions on most entrées. Most items are comparable in taste to Indian Cuisine close to ACTUAL India. Which is needlessly good considering all other Indian food options around are more expensive and serve watery curry. -Service- The young ones of the family restaurant do a very good job of brightening the mood. Service seemed a little edgy before they where put in charge of it. Look forward to it now. -Summery- Go here. Try the dinner menu out, and then consider the lunch, "All you can eat" brunch. The brunch doesn't have their more tasty meals involved.
(5)Ralph J.
The Tandoori Mixed Grill is awesome. I've had it twice in a row there and it is the best! I haven't gone during their buffet...I try to avoid buffets in general, one reason being the quality usually drops a lot compared to from the menu. I'm curious about this place so I might try it. But I most definitely recommend dinner.
(5)jerritt c.
Let's quickly decode this restaurant's name: India is great, the cuisine here is not. I am judging only by the lunch buffet on this beautiful Saturday, a day which probably shouldn't have given any of its precious hours up for the sake of driving to Lakewood. Menu. I know "Indian" that we get here is a lot of things--things that come from a lot of places, so I'm done being surprised at any dish. The kofta (meatballs) in a curry were of a chicken and beef blend--I think I'd only had kofta of dal previously. There was butter chicken and tandoori chicken. Here, then, is the essential feature of this buffet: it did not offer any non-meat protein, though there were plenty of bean or cheese dishes on the menu. But, the veggie dishes were the good news. The baighan bhartha (eggplant) was perfect and spicy, and the texture of the potato and bell pepper dish was outstanding. I'd never before had gajar ka halwa (sweet carrot pudding; "halwa" is of the same Arabic root meaning sweet as the "halva" family of confections), but I think it had dried out quite a bit. It wasn't impressive, but it was interesting. Quality. I know a buffet has a strike against it from 11:00AM or whenever open time is. But, trying to peel the few remaining naan slices from the paper protecting the bottom of a steam tray is an experience no diner should be subjected to. (It was replenished after our initial struggle.) The tandoori chicken was either old or wasn't of a high quality meat to start with... something was funky. It's hard to run a buffet. In short, there is a ton of potential here but it's hindered by lack of attention to detail in food quality (at least the buffet) and overall, in the experience starting with walking through the door. And I've never understood why "Indian" places don't capitalize on the diversity of the subcontinent and let on a bit of their story, like: welcome to our place, we're going to share our ____ (North Indian, Mughlai, Punjabi, maybe Pakistani--whatever) tradition of foods; you'll note there are no dals, etc. etc. etc. But maybe I'm just a nerd. Maybe foodways are always complicated and random. But, Tacomans, stick to Gateway.
(3)Van C.
This place is ok. Flavor is very good but not very authentic. I think they are trying to build business by introducing folks to Indian food with "watered" down flavors. Indian Mahal in downtown Tacoma is where it's at.
(3)Khristian V.
Husband and I stopped in for a late dinner last night. Some things I just can't make myself, Indian cuisine being one of them. Nice and very clean place, no one was dining when we arrived. Waiter was in a suit and very nice. They offer a selection of summertime non-alcoholic drinks that sound very tasty [mango lemonade!] as well as hot teas. My husband had a lemon ginger tea and I had regular iced tea. For dinner, we ordered vegetable pakora, garlic and basil naan, channa masala, and he also ordered chicken curry. The waiter was really attentive and came by often to tell us the status of our order. The pakora arrived, a very big portion that even split could make a small meal. Very delicious, and my picky husband loved them as well with the chutney. The rest of our dinner arrived in traditional serving dishes piping hot alongside a heaping bowl of basmati rice. Everything was wonderful and very filling. The dishes run about $13 each but are such large filling portions you'll get three meals out of one. Sometime soon we will return for the buffet.
(4)Jenn C.
By far, the best Indian food in the area. This family-owned restraurant has both an amazing lunch buffet and a great dinner menu. Among the standouts are the butter chicken, tandori chicken (get the full-sized platter), palak chicken, paneer tikka masala, vegetable korma and the pakora appetizers. I have never had a dish I didn't like, and the buffet is a great way to try new things. It's a well-rounded offering, too, including salad, desserts and a good balance of meat and veggie options. The owners are very friendly and make great suggestions, and the buffet offerings rotate on a daily basis. I used to go to another Indian place in the area, but once I tried Great Cuisine, I never looked back.
(5)Patty W.
Just finished leftoevers from last nights dinner and I must say this is my favorite Indian place between Olympia and Seattle. I have tried many other places including puyallup and federal way to name a couple. Always consistently good. I have since tried the lunch buffet and it was decent. I like my food spicey so I cant really judge too much. But everything I have ever ordered off the menu has been amazingly good.
(5)Traci N.
I love this place. Their buffet is tasty with a good selection to choose from. I prefer to order naan rather than take from the buffet though because the buffet ones tend to cool too fast and stick together. But, if you like spicy - it is best to order from the menu. Their saag naan - to die for. Their butter chicken - yuuuuuuummmm! I am a frequenter here and have never been disappointed. Come hungry if you are going to do the buffet!
(4)Ted P.
Finally. We've found good Indian food that's not too far to drive on the spur of the moment for a quick dinner... Thank you Yelp! I really can't add anything too insightful given the existing reviews, so stop reading here. Everything we that had was good, though I was a little underwhelmed by the samosa. The service was really good -- even though there were a number of other people there, we never felt even remotely forgotten about -- everything came out quick and our waiter seemed like a genuinely nice guy. Yes, I've had better Indian food, but not in the Tacoma area, so this gets a big five-stars from me for service and for finally making us happy with good food!
(5)Lulu F.
Lunch Buffet We decided to try this place on a Sunday afternoon and I was very disappointed. I always thought naan was a sure thing, but I was wrong! I wasn't even done! all doughy-yuck. The rest of the food on the buffet was just as disappointing aside from one dish, but that was no saving grace since it was just edible, not good. The mint chutney and plum sauce were bad too. Service? what service? Cleanliness? questionable on a positive note! I did order veggie samosas and they were ok. but there is stiff competition there since my friend's mom used to make them for us in college. Homemade vs restaurant? You know my favorite little Indian woman is gonna win! ;) Summary: Might go back and try the menu, but I doubt it. What's the point when I can make the drive to Puyallup and have a sure thing with Sumay??
(1)Jennifer M.
This awesome, family run restaurant is the best in Tacoma/Lakewood. It is a little pricier than some places, but the food will make you forget about the cost. The staff are also amazingly nice and sweet! Their butter chicken is unbelievable and the garlic na'an is wonderful! I recommend this place to anyone who thinks they have had good Indian cuisine.
(5)Heidi E.
I have eaten here for years and the food is good. Reliable. it does not change...everyone I know adores this place for the butter chicken...well you can buy it in a can or jar ...because that is what it tastes like to me...not at all like the home made butter chicken I learned to make but very much like the one I have made from a jar...not judging the corner cutting ..just saying...I know good Thai places that use purchased curry...however for me this distinguishes good from great food and 3 stars vs 4-5 stars....curry is a process one if you have had or made yourself well you know how it should be...this is a good consistant place to eat..do I think all the food is purchased pre made here ...just some of the sauces ..but a good cook is a good cook courner cutting or not and she is a good cook! I have never tried the buffet but always wonder why people trash service and quality at all you can eat's...what do you expect? here for sure from what i have read you are better off ordering from the menu a few things and tasting them that way
(3)Jeremy W.
Love the food here, excellent India food. The prices where good for a while, they have raised them a little.
(3)Alex B.
Butter chicken.= bomb.com
(5)Erin C.
Yummy! Quiet, casual atmosphere. Great for families. Definitely check out the lunch buffet Monday through Friday! Military discount for in-store dining.
(5)Kyle K.
I love their lunch buffet! It's around $8 for an all you can eat and their selections are always great. The interior isn't extravagent but it is homey and quaint. Their lunch buffet selections are better than the Mahals in Tacoma. Dinner prices are much more expensive. Try their lunch buffet, you won't be dissapointed. And it's a great family owned restaurant!
(5)James W.
Good Indian food in Tacoma / Lakewood area - try the bread basket and the Samosas. The owners are friendly and polite the interior is a little shabby but the food is good and filling. They have an all you can eat lunch buffet that is not as good as their menu items but it's all you can eat and you can't argue with that.
(4)Abigail J.
I have to confess I didn't like indian food until I came to this place. My husband convinced me to go since they have a pretty good lunch buffet, and it was great. I love coming back here and they guy who works there usually is friendly and quiet, a great server. My favorite is the butter chicken.
(4)D O.
best tasting indian food I've had in the area. cheap prices, good flavor, fast service.
(5)Gregory C.
Have eaten there about four times now on special occasions. Great food, great service and just a dizzying array of wonderful smells inside. Yes, I have got to go there again soon.
(5)A M.
Have been here a few times and used them for catering for a Greek and Indian wedding last weekend in Tacoma. Food was amazing. The owners are very cooperative and helpful. Although we live in Seattle, we try to get there every time we head south. Highly recommend the Garlic Naan and the Chicken Korma.
(5)Mobi M.
Great Indian place to go here in the south sound, just as good, if not better that some of the ones I've tried up in the Seattle area. We go there a couple times a month and the food is always consistently good. It's a great family run business, the main lady who is always there happily welcomes us, and she always knows what drink I am having every time without asking. For the first couple of years we went there, it was always for dinner, but we decided to try the lunch buffet one day and we never looked back! There is a pretty decent rotation of great main and side dishes that I probably wouldn't have otherwise tried on my own. It's always good, always fresh, very flavorful, and seems like there is always something new. I would give this place a solid 4.5 stars, but since that is not an option, in this case I'm gonna go ahead and round up to 5.
(5)Kristy G.
I have been to every Indian restaurant in the surrounding Tacoma area, and this one is by far the best! My roommate and I will walk in the door, and the manager will literally look at us and say "Chicken Tikka Masala with vegetable samosas?" every time.... The staff are excellent, the prices are affordable, the food is delicious. What more do you need?
(5)Cathy G.
Very good indian food. The lunch buffet is very good and rotates selections daily. I have been several times and have never been disappointed with the food. The naan bread is very good. This is a family run business and the staff are very friendly.
(5)Ellis H.
If the older family members (parents) are there, make sure you double check the charges because they WILL over change. Since I cannot stand dishonest businesses, I will not be returning. And the food is overpriced and mediocre at best.
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