Despite having ordered from here a few times (and the food being) we just dined in on a Saturday afternoon and had an amazing experience. The menu is a mix of southern and northern Indian staples and the usual CTM for a British influence. The food uses very high quality ingredients and is properly spiced for anyone who likes Indian food. The servers are very knowledgeable and friendly and they were all able to pinpoint vegan dishes without having to explain what you are looking for. The inside of the restaurant was a great surprise as it's a white table cloth setting - highly unusual for Indian restaurants in Southern California and much more typical to the North East of the country. Definitely a top spot for Orange County if you want high-quality food and an upscale experience. read more

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First time dining at Annapoorna, and we really enjoyed the dinner. The gentleman who sat us wasn't very friendly, but our server was really nice. For what we ordered: Samosas 4/5 the breading was too thick but they had great flavor; Chicken Tikka 5/5 the chicken was very flavorful and tender; Chicken Tikka Masala and korma 4/5 really good but missing a kick. We definitely will be back to try different things. read more

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my fellow pregnant mama and I were craving Indian food and were delighted to find Annapoorna super close by. and they have an amazing lunch special, all you can eat buffet for $17/pp! you rarely find deals like this these days! their buffet was STOCKED too, with salad and fresh fruit (watermelon), fresh crispy pakora and samosa, plain rice, biryani, tandoori chicken, all your sauces and raita, and at least 10 different curries including chicken tikka masala, goat curry, veggie korma, saag paneer, and so many more that I wish I could remember. they also have mango pudding and a delicious rice pudding and gulab jamun. they bring over baskets of fresh, hot garlicky naan that's perfect crispy on the corners and soft and pillowing throughout, perfect for dragging through their delectable sauces. their curries were not too spicy (good for a pregnant palate!) but rich in flavor and full of delicious veggies and high quality meat. this was such a winner!! definitely adding this one to the regular roster. read more

Annapoorna Indian Cuisine - Garlic Naan - Indian Near Me - Irvine, California

Annapoorna offers a lunch buffet for about $20 pp, which can't be beat. There's quite a bit to choose from but definitely has the delicious usuals: tikka masala, curry, tandoori chicken and others. The price and quality will have me coming back. The restaurant is on the small size so the lunch rush may have you waiting, but it moves pretty quickly. Service is friendly and the interior is clean and welcoming. If you're in need for a quick and delicious lunch, add this to your list. read more

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First time to Annapoorna and it won't be my last! Came for their $17.99 lunch buffet. They had a good variety of meat and veg dishes, and you get a basket of fresh garlic naan. My faves were the aloo gobhi, navratha korma, and tandoori chicken. To my surprise, I even liked the desserts gajar ka halwa (carrot & milk pudding) and the mango puree with fruit. They did a good job clearing our plates and refilling our water. The buffet items kept getting replenished. Very efficient! Food is probably closer to four stars, but the garlic naan and value bumps it up to five! I'll be back! read more

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I ordered a to go meal from this restaurant recently. Food: I ordered two dishes and naan. Both dishes tasted great but did not have enough chicken or paneer in the dish. It was mostly sauce. For the price, I was hoping for more meat and paneer. However I was happy with the amount of rice that came with the meal. read more

This was my second dinner here with a group of 12. Second time was as good as the first. GREAT Indian food at a reasonable price. Kitchen gets the food out relatively quickly. Choose your spice level. We ordered so many dishes and shared them all. Nothing left at the end of the meal!! Best Indian food outside of Great Britain, that I have had. Will return again and again. read more

Best Indian Buffet in OC! I love buffets, so many flavorful curries, tandoori chicken, and rice! I ate 3 plates, I'm so full! The service was fantastic, water was flowing, naan was fresh out of the oven! The place is a cozy, try to get there early on weekends! read more

Annapoorna Indian Cuisine - Lunch Buffet - Indian Near Me - Irvine, California

Service was amazing! We came for dinner but definitely would come back to try their lunch special. Their masala dosa was the main character of our meal! read more

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The chicken tiki masala is amazing! I love coming here with my family, and the staff is always so kind and welcoming. I can't wait to come back. read more

I love coming to this place with friends and family! The servers are always quick to give you a table (I've rarely had to wait) and they give you waters as soon as you sit down. The curries are very good and creamy, and the naan is always on point. The portions are on the bigger side, but you can easily share them or keep them as leftovers. The mango lassi is 10/10 and they don't skimp! The restaurant itself is a bit small, but there is good parking on the side by Paris Baguette and behind the restaurant. read more

Delicious food and good service! Highly recommend the lunch buffet Good vegetarian options as well

Quality, food, friendly atmosphere, attentive, staff... I have eaten there many times. I'll be going back.

The lunch buffet at Annapurna is still delicious and a great value at $17.95. I love the mustard seed cauliflower, tandoori chicken and butter chicken. Staff came by often to refill the water. Ambiance is cozy and comfortable for a small Indian restaurant. read more

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Service is prompt and Indian dishes here are great. Buffet is amazing with variety and prompt seating and service - always busy and buzzing with energy during lunch on weekends. read more

Cute little restaurant Clean and welcoming, right when you walk in you smell the spices. I went for the lunch buffet and enjoyed it very much. Nothing beats a hot lunch that's not a drive thru. Service was great, the servers were very attentive asking if we needed anything and filling up our waters. I would totally go again! The restaurant had nice white linens and glass glasses it has nice attention to detail and makes a casual dining spot feel more elevated. Additionally, the desert is a must I loved the carrot dessert sooo good! Perfect to sweeten the palette after a hot snd spicy lunch. read more

Annapoorna Indian Cuisine - Indian Near Me - Irvine, California

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Great restaurant to come get a decent variety of Indian dishes! The ayce lunch buffet is the way to go at $18/pp with complimentary fresh naan. There is a good mix of vegetarian and non vegetarian options. I met up with an ex-colleague and we enjoyed our lunch very much. Food tastes fresh and the . I maxed out at round 2 and I even tried to cut out the carbs as much as I could but it's hard to say no to the naan and chicken biryani. The Chicken Tikka Masala and the Navaratan Korma is always an all time fav. The establishment is a bit small but still comfortable enough to dine in just along it isn't fully packed. read more

Yummy masala dosa, chicken biryani, and aloo gobi. The rice was so fluffy. Also vibes good and nice servers. I would come again read more

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My husband and I chose Annapoorna Indian Cuisine in Irvine for our Valentine's Day dinner, and it turned out to be such a beautiful, intimate experience. The restaurant itself is on the smaller side, which honestly made it even better for a date night. It felt cozy, clean, and incredibly comforting almost like being welcomed into someone's home. The atmosphere was calm and intimate, perfect for actually enjoying conversation without feeling rushed. Now let's talk about the food. Absolutely delicious. The butter chicken was the star of the night rich, flavorful, and incredibly satisfying. I genuinely haven't stopped thinking about it. We also ordered chicken masala (and possibly biryani we were too busy enjoying everything to keep track!), along with both garlic naan and regular naan. The naan was warm, soft, and perfect for soaking up that amazing butter chicken sauce. We also had the veggie samosas, which come with two pieces and two dipping sauces. They were so good that I honestly wish they gave more that's how addictive they were. Crispy on the outside, flavorful on the inside, and paired perfectly with the sauces. Portion sizes overall were generous. If I had one small note, it would be that the butter chicken had more sauce than chicken I would've loved a bit more protein in the dish. But flavor-wise? Incredible. I also noticed they offer an all you can eat option, which I definitely plan on coming back to try. Service was excellent. Our waiter was attentive, friendly, and on top of everything without being intrusive. The entire experience felt relaxed and special, which made our Valentine's dinner even more memorable. Highly recommend if you're looking for a cozy, intimate Indian spot in Irvine with delicious food and great service. We will absolutely be back. read more

Annapoorna Indian Cuisine - Indian Near Me - Irvine, California

I was try mo mo and launch both of them pretty good, service is great , I love it , dinning also net and clean

We came for lunch and were surprised Annapoorna was not busy at all today. There is usually a long line to get in. Food always fresh and delicious here. Especially the naan bread. Soft and chewy. I mix the tikka masala sauce with their tamarind sauce and some fresh chilies, and dip the bread in it. So good! Goat curry is good. But it would acquire taste. If you're not used to it, it could be gamy. I also like the chicken tikka masala as they use the white meat. But since it is chicken breast, meat is a bit dry but I don't mind. The other chicken curry is made with dark meat, so it not too dry,, if you would rather have the dark meat. Love the cauliflower dish. So yummy. Since they were not busy today, we had excellent service. Now, ventilation is not so great inside the restaurant and your clothes will have this lingering smell of Indian foods and spices for the rest of the day! ;) read more

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We went for the all you can eat buffet. The food was fabulous. Great price the high quality, delicious Indian dishes. The restaurant is clean and service was excellent. I highly recommend Annapoorna. read more

I've been coming here for many years, and the food is consistently delicious every single time. This is hands down the best Indian restaurant in Irvine! The service is always polite, attentive, and professional. My favorite dishes are the goat korma, lamb biryani, and garlic naan--each one is outstanding. Highly recommend this place if you're craving authentic Indian cuisine! read more

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I went here with my friends a couple weeks back and I loved it!! We ordered 2 orders of samosas, 2 pieces garlic naan, goat curry, and chicken tikka masala for 4 people. The amount of food for the price is insane! The garlic naan was perfect and the chicken tikka masala was my favorite dish of the night. The flavors were bold! The goat curry was also good but not as good as the chicken. Most of the goat pieces were also bone so that didn't help with its rating. The curries don't come with a lot of meat though, just something to keep in mind. I thought the samosas were good too, pretty average compared to other places. Service was good too and the ambiance was nice, it was pretty quiet. read more

The food and service here is really good. My personal favorite is chicken tikka masala and paneer makhani. Do try this place out if you are looking for delicious Indian food. read more

I'm embarrassed to say that I've never eaten Indian food aside from the microwaveable tikka masala from Trader Joe's. My mom and brother highly recommended this place so we ordered the chicken tikka masala, tandoori chicken, and garlic naan. I was blown away at how delicious the food was. Everything was so flavorful, and the tikka masala sauce was the perfect dipping sauce for the garlic naan. The portions are great for the price. I can't wait to come back and try their buffet! read more

Really yummy food the service is spectacular and the atmosphere is also very nice. The curry is so delicious

Good buffet. Tasty dishes. Their vegetarian selections are super duper good - even better than some of their meat curries. For the carnivores, the lamb/goat(? forget which one) is top-notch. A good selection of sweets also to finish off the meal. Small place so wait times can be a turn off if you take too long getting here. read more

Food quality is not good at all. we have Ordered platter noodles soup . not any item is test good. Only chicken Momo was good .

Such a lucky surprise! Best local indian food spot. Nice interior. Their Punjabi offerings are surprisingly on point with flavor and spice. Highly recommend the buffet, excellent quality, and the staff keeps it fresh. read more

Food was always decent enough North Indian food for when I craved it. Have only ever had take out but it was a pretty consistent spot for us since it was in Irvine and close enough to the freeway so easy access. The issue is the manager, who essentially told my brother that he was lying, when we picked up several dishes to go and the paneer tikka masala had TWO small squares of paneer swimming in the bowl when we opened it at home. Two. We always order this dish so knew it was a mistake. When my brother called, the manager said that they measure out the paneer and that this isn't possible and to "check again". I overheard him speaking in a rude manner to my baby (not so baby but still, I'm an older sister) brother on the speaker phone, and I asked my brother to give me the phone- I asked him, sir... we routinely get take out from you guys. Like once a month. And the order is usually around $80-100 just like today. Is this really worth calling a customer a liar over? I don't get it. He said our order will be ready in 10 mins and I told him great, we'll bring the dish we have at home even though I know you have to throw it. My brother went to go pick up the dish and when he got back home, he said that when he went to pick up the remake, the same Manager tried to make him pay a few dollars because they had to remake the dish. Apparently, my brother said to him really bro? And then the manager just gave him a bunch of attitude. We never went back. This actually happened several months ago, I just remembered bcos I came onto Yelp to find Indian spots to pick up take out from and remembered this place read more

We got the combo meal for two for $31 or $32 for dinner last night on a Thursday. Restaurant only had another table of customers, so food came out quick. Food was good. Can't believe they allow us to get any dosa apart from Rava variety in it, so we got the Spinach aloo one. Howver, their mix vege uttapam though lacked flavor and spice, since it was just raw vegetables added into the batter, but we enjoyed the Idli, Vade, and Dosa. read more

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My wife and I frequent Annapoorna for their lunch buffet and I would give that a 4-5 star review. Great selection of dishes and all you can eat. Highly recommended. This review is instead for their takeout service. Tonight, we ordered takeout and we paid about $60 for two plates of paneer and some rice/naan after tip (which you pay in advance). We were extremely disappointed by the quantity of cheese/paneer in the bowls--they were almost entirely the sauce/curry with maybe 3 pieces per container. For almost $20 per entree, this felt like a huge ripoff and we would not expect to have been served this low quantity of entree if we were dining-in, but felt taken advantage of for ordering takeout. I am fine with paying this price per entree, but the portion of actual cheese needs to be higher to justify the exorbitant cost. read more

There are Indian restaurants and then there are restaurants that serve Indian food. Annapoorna is an Indian restaurant. We usually opt for takeout but this time we decided to dine in. The service side needs work but the food is really, really good. The restaurant is located around the corner of the Heritage shopping center. Not a large space so arrive early or reserve a table. Lots of guests dining in. This is not a casual drop in spot. People dining here know about it and that says it all. More things to try. That said, we'll be back soon. read more

Would not recommend channa/chole bhatura/bhature -- maybe if the channa was more spicy and savory

Great food. Helpful service . I mostly do take outs , been there once . Ambiance seem pleasant . They deserve a solid 5

Went to the lunch buffet and it gets the job done. Being vegetarian means that I don't go out too often, but luckily Annapoorna has plenty of stuff for us. It was a modest sized crowd of older folks and the servers guided me and my friend to an empty table, then we just got up and went to the buffet area. I think that's the procedure as we weren't stopped ha. My friend went to the meat section which consisted of your typical Tikka masala, goat curry, chicken biryani rice, etc. So for each, I rate it like this: Samosas: Good and rich. They disappear the fastest from the buffet 9/10 Aloo Gobhi (cauliflower and potatoes): Solid base for other foods 8/10 Began bhatha (eggplant stuff): 7/10 Decent. I think the vegetarian korma is the same rating. Palak Paneer (spinach with cottage cheese): 5/10 IMO flavorless for paneer. Paneer Makhani (tomato soup): I like it. Creamy with a hint of spiciness, but this is catered to less spicy tastes so 7/10 Veggie pakoras (deep fried chickpea bits): I like it even though it's not the crispiest. 8/10 Gajar ka Halwa (carrots and milk pudding): Like kheer but creamier. Probably should use it in a stand alone bowl instead of a dip LOL 8/10 Naan: it's alright, warm but not freshly hot. 6/10 Idly: The KFC biscuits of Indian food. Dry. 2/10 Gulab Jamon: What is this? It's too sweet for my taste and the sauce is akin to maple syrup. Bleh 3/10 I've heard from my friend that the Tikka masala here is too dry. They liked everything else is fine though. Service always took your plate away when you went for another. Fast and to the point. Didn't have any issues and a decent meal for an Indian buffet. read more

Annapoorna Indian Cuisine - Lunch buffet $18 for 2023 - Indian Near Me - Irvine, California

Usually come here for dinner. Haven't been here in a while, came back for dinner this time. We got the lamb curry, chicken korma, masala dosa and chicken biryani. Great portions, ended taking the lamb curry home. Some of the best Indian food i have had, and i have had a lot of it, including some of the best Indian spots in the UK. Great food here and at a reasonable price, u like a lot of the other restaurants in Irvine. Service was very friendly and on the ball as well. Definitely need to remember to come back here. read more

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Love this restaurant.. lunch always bz. Service excellent. I recommend to my friends all the time. Sometimes salad is not that fresh is my only complaint read more

This place was so good, so yummy, so adorably dainty with the cloth napkins and tablecloths! We came for the lunch buffet, and I was just a little bit nervous because of some bad reviews on Yelp, but I'm not sure why some people rated this place so low. The whole experience was really nice for a Friday lunchtime buffet. Everything was warm. They had all the favorite staples; the chicken tikka masala and cauliflower were very good. The tandoori chicken was a bit dry, but not to the point where I can't eat it. I ate it fine. They had plenty to choose from. The samosa was very good too. The mango pudding was good and so was the coconut milk rice dessert. I got two heaping portions of their salad that is dressed with a refreshingly light dressing of oil and apple cider or red wine vinegar (?) not sure, but it was tasty. I want to try the soup next time. The naan comes out to the table warm in a basket. The servers were very attentive. It's quiet. I would love to come back with close friends because you could catch up with them there because it's not that loud at all. Next door, there is Paris Baguette, Ralph's, CVS, Daiso, Mitsuwa, and several other eateries and restaurants. Lunch buffet was $17.99. I highly recommend! read more

Annapoorna Indian Cuisine - Lunch buffet - Indian Near Me - Irvine, California

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