First off, my husband and I are usually the type to order the same food and go to the same restaurants over and over again. But while shopping on Colorado Blvd, we decided we wanted to try something different. We both love Indian food, but I have a sensitive stomach, so sometimes Indian restaurants can be hit or miss for me. We decided to give Chak De California a try, and WOW! What a hidden gem. We've lived in Pasadena this whole time and somehow never knew this place existed. The moment we walked in, we noticed how beautiful the restaurant was. The decor is modern, stylish, and has such a warm vibe. The staff and who I believe was the owner were incredibly welcoming and kind. We ordered the chicken tikka masala and the meat platter, and honestly, the food was incredible. The chicken tikka masala was hands-down the best I've ever had. The sauce is absolutely amazing, the meat was super tender, and even ordering it a little spicy didn't upset my stomach at all -- which tells me they're using really quality ingredients. Another thing we loved was the atmosphere. There was a DJ the Saturday night we went, and the music was such a cool mix of Bollywood, French house, and eclectic lounge vibes. It was chill, classy, and not overly loud or crazy. Super cute date night vibe. Overall, genuinely a 10/10 experience. I'm literally at home right now waiting for my chicken tikka masala on Postmates and felt the need to write this review immediately. Don't sleep on this restaurant, seriously go try it ASAP. Yes, the prices are a little on the higher side, but honestly, it feels justified because the quality is there. read more

Chak De California - Tiki masala - Indian Near Me - Pasadena, California

Visited this place with family and was quite disappointed. For the prices they asked for the food, I expect, at the very least: - naan bread to be prtoperly baked, not contain literal raw dough in the middle - rice to be of correct type and cooked properly, not be a mushy mess - waiters to be knowledgeable about the menu, not just reading it back to me when asked a question - waiters to be dressed appropriately, in uniform, not with jeans hanging from their a** like the guy who was serving us - have some tasteful music on the background, not being blasted with some questionable indian hip-hop ...or charge less. Will return out of sheer curiosity sometime this summer and try ordering the same dishes I had last time. If the Chak De gets their stuff together and makes improvements, I will update my review accordingly. read more

I live outside Pasadena a few miles but have not done things there for years other than the Rose Parade, and even that has gotten old..just too many people and no parking. That said I have "rediscovered" it lately and have gone to a few restaurants and visited the Ice House. I wanted indian food to celebrate my kids birthday as she loves it. We went there on a Thursday nite. Not a very busy place. And I saw no indians there, so i was a bit worried. Even the menu was not 100% indian good. So yes..i was a bit concerned. But there were a few of our favorites on the menu so we ordered. As I recall chicken Masala and another tandori chicken dish, as well as some curry chickpeas and Lamb Biryiani. And of course plenty of Naan. All the food was great. And the waiters/bartenders...super nice guys and very helpful. So turned out to be a great experience. So if you have an itch for some indian cuisine, but are possibly thinking that this place may not be 100% authentic..well..I can say the food and service was excellent for what I had. read more

Delicious food, interesting decor, good value (we had leftovers ;), service was pretty slow considering there were only 2 other tables seated. read more

Chak De California - Dinner 2026 - Indian Near Me - Pasadena, California

A friend recommended this place and I like indian food so why not? The space was giving low profile club vibes, even got a live DJ spinnin. Their menu had a lot of interesting items, but one thing that stood out to me that I had to try was the crab dip. The crab dip came with small slices of garlicky naan and it tasted sooo good. I ordered the chicken naan wrap for my entree and it was delicious too. Our waitress (whom started a few days ago) was the nicest person ever! read more

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An amazing restaurant. Went on a weekday afternoon and it was very relaxed, they had the World Cup on one screen; you can tell that otherwise it was a chatting sit down vibe. The service was great. The food was better! Enjoyed some fries and Samosas with mango mojito (beer and wine only, no spirits). The chutney was so fresh! The Chicken Korma was probably the best I've had so far, and I've had a few. Very rich flavor accompanied by some naan and rice that really rounded everything out. We got spicy and it does have a kick. Please check this place out! read more

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Came here for a friend's birthday party. Only had the vegetarian options. They're pretty good, I'd definitely come back here next time I'm in Pasadena read more

Chak De California - Indian Near Me - Pasadena, California

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My friend and I went over the holidays so it wasn't too busy at all. We loved the chicken tikka masala, the cheese naan, and the chai. Between us, we shared those and an appetizer and were absolutely stuffed until past dinner time. I highly recommend going here! read more

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Chak de California is open in a new spot (just a few doors down) in Pasadena but I had been to the previous tenant and loved how they decorated that space, so I was really happy to see a restaurant take over and not have the beautiful aesthetic go to waste! What we ordered: + Gol Gappa Shots: their take on pani puri. The puff balls were crunchy which was great, the mint flavored water could be more flavorful and the filling was good but I also think from form of freshness (herbs or onions) could be good here! -- BUT looking at the menu, maybe the Dahi Puri Chaat is more up my alley! + Murg Makhani - their version of butter chicken. Lots "tomato gravy" as on the menu was delicious and very creamy. I would 100% come back for this dish. There was plenty of dark meat but my personal preference is to make the pieces smaller. + Palak Paneer with Lamb - very aromatic and the lamb was tender! Have never had paneer with meat before and it was solid! I would definitely come back and try one of their more fusion varieties next time. read more

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Found this spot while I was visiting Pasadena for the day. Nice and relax atmosphere. The service was friendly and informative. My friend and I shared the chicken tikka wings, paneer tacos, and garlic naan bread. Everything was unique and flavorful. My favorite were the tacos. Yummy! Found this place very enjoyable. I would love to try a few of their main dishes next time I visit the area. No photos of the food because I was hungry! read more

The space is gorgeous. Food is great! The owners are very hospitable and kind. I'm excited to come back and try more things. read more

Chak De California - Dahi puri to go. Really generous portions! - Indian Near Me - Pasadena, California

Not too sure how this place got this high of reviews. Online it said it was open at noon but they didn't open till 1pm. Ok no problem.. we went somewhere else and come back at 1. Once seated we order the food...They told us the sizzling plate will take about 35 mins which we said sure. Little did we know.. the whole meal took over 40 mins to come out. I'm not sure how they could've been this slow for the stuff we ordered. It wasn't like the place was full. Almost through the meal the server brought out the sauces. It just seemed like the flow of what came out wasn't carefully thought out. The taste of the food was just ok. I wouldn't rave about this or think it was worth coming back for. It didn't mention goat cheese was going to be on the pizza which did catch us by surprise. There was a fork on the floor that I found at my table when I sat down and since I was the first to sit at that table it was a bit odd.. like was the floor not cleaned? Only reason I came was to use my Amex Resy credit.. but nothing really stood out. read more

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Authentic new Indian Restaurant! Came here on a dinner date spontaneously last night with my other half last night and so glad we did!! There aren't many indian spots in Pasadena that are formal sit-down so Chak-de takes care of that in good ol' Old Town Pasadena right on colorado ave. It's across directly from Prince Pizza and all the other local eateries. It looks like it *just* opened and here is my experience: FOOD ORDERED 1) GOL GAPPA (appetizer) -11$ very authentic and if you've never tried it, you should! thin little crispy appetizier with potato and chickpea in it (you pour the sauce in it before eating) 2) CHAK DE SIZzING SAMPLER - 36$ - you should definitely GET THIS especially if you have a group of people. it 's under the "tandoor" section and comes with tandorri wings, seekh kebab, paneer, and tandoori chickn masala! - skip the other appetizers if you don't have room - definitely easy to share with 4 people; we happily took leftovers home 3) CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA - 20$ - typical staple and nothing spectacular compared to other restaurants; yummy taste as usual. get this if you are with people who don't like to try new things and want to play it safe. my man always wants this and i have no objection - comes with rice so don't order extra 4) GARLIC NAAN - must - get this to eat with your main curry b ased items. 4 pieces was great - usually naan is naan but we both think this one gets a special shout out as they were 4 large crispy thin pieces that were freshly wood fired and good quality pieces for an indian restaurant!! 5) MANGO LASSI DESERT DRINK - don't skip! :) always great everywhere. chak de's doesn't dissapoint - they ran out of lamb and samosa the day of our dinner so they nicely offered a MANGO LASSI which we didn't expect OVERALL *You can make a reservation on RESY * Food was SO GOOD despite not all items available * Service was attentive with one waiter on a monday night. *Parking is street or nearby structure *Large restaurant for family seating - for both casual and celebration dining Will be back when craving indian food! Hope this place makes it! It took over Lounge 54. btw lol so funny to dine where you used to party. xx OCT 2025 review read more

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Such a nice ambience and delicious food! For appetizers my boyfriend and I had the samosas and miked pakoras. To drink we had the mango lassi and a chai. Both so delicious. Atticus, our server, was super helpful and attentive, often checking on us. Gave the great recommendation of the chicken korma with jeera rice at a 3 spice level and it was delicious. Right amount of spice to make my nose runny just how I like it. Will be coming back! read more

This place is our new go to restaurant! Chak De California made my birthday so special, and I'm so grateful for the experience. Jesse Singh, the owner, took the time to welcome us personally and share the story behind the restaurant. You can immediately feel the passion and heart he has put into creating this place. As we simply touched base on simple indian ingredients, Jesse shared how everything in the restaurant is fresh, made daily, without microwaves, from home. It felt less like dining at a restaurant and more like being welcomed in as a guest. The food was incredible. The paneer tacos were easily my favorite and are an absolute must-try. The chicken tikka pasta was also amazing and such a perfect fusion of flavors. Every dish was unique, flavorful, and thoughtfully made, as we tasted in the brilliant Saag (took us back to our roots in Punjab). What stood out just as much as the food was the hospitality and ambiance! The staff was genuinely kind, attentive, and welcoming throughout our visit. It's so refreshing to be treated with such warmth and care. Thank you to Jesse and the entire team for making my birthday celebration, with the AMAZING house mango Kulfi, one to remember. We'll definitely be back! read more

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Had lunch here today! The restaurant is beautiful and the food has a nice presentation. Price is reasonable! read more

Chak De California - Indian Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Indian food always seems to hit the spot whenever I want delicious, flavor-packed cuisine. I've tried a few places around Old Town Pasadena, but I haven't tried the relatively newer Chak-De. It's spacious and modern, and right off Colorado, so I came here for lunch with my friend. We got the classic Chicken Tikka Masala, Lamb Vindaloo, Garlic Naan, and Basmati rice, as well as Mango Laasi. The Mango Laasi was very delicious and it's a must have here! Of the two entrees, the Chicken Tikka Masala is definitely the better of the two, featuring that classic Masala flavor. It is what I always gravitate to when I go to a new Indian spot. The only blemish here is that there's just not enough proteins and the Masala is a bit watery. The Lamb Vindaloo is a bit more of a mixed bag because while it is good, it's a bit strong in its vinegar taste. I think a more layered, complete flavor would help. It's also missing some of the heat that I come to expect from Vindaloo. Thankfully the garlic Naan delivers in its strong flavor to balance everything. Overall, the food is good enough for us to come back and explore more. read more

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Great service! The samosas were so good! I also got the curry. They give fairly large portions, which I really appreciate (esp in this economy ) I'm curious to see what their brunch menu is like! read more

Passing by the restaurant, the first things that grab your attention are the shockingly colorful sign and the thumping DJ/bar right next door. Honestly, the eccentric, non-traditional vibe made me seriously doubt the food would be any good. I was completely and pleasantly surprised. The flavors didn't just 'pop'--they were vibrant and unforgettable, truly hitting the spot. I savored every bite. I'll definitely be back, especially now that I hear they've moved down the street into a nicer, updated venue. I'm already looking forward to my next visit! read more

Chak De California - Indian Near Me - Pasadena, California

We wanted to try this place because they have pani puri (called gol gappa shots here). The Frankies is like a pita wrap. It came with fries and the fries were so good! That was really unexpected. The fries also went really well with the Palak and Murg makhani we ordered. Those 2 curries came with rice. We preferred the makhani sauce over the palak but both were good. The garlic naan came out hot and fresh. There was not a bad dish, would definitely come again. The restaurant is surprisingly big inside and very nicely decorated. It felt upscale. The service was quick, but the waiter kept forgetting our orders. I wish they would just write it down. There are several parking structures nearby. 1st 2 hrs is $1. read more

Good Indian food with lots of flavor and a nice ambiance. Inside has great aesthetics. The Gol Gappa shots, Murg Makhani, and garlic naan were my favorites. Gol Gappa with the red sauce dip was a sweet refreshing appetizer and reminded me of the street vendors in India. The Makhani was flavorful and I was impressed how soft and tender the dark meat chicken was. That was the same for each chicken dish. I've been to other Indian spots where the chicken is dry, even in Artesia which is supposed to be little India. It is pricey, but you can get a $25 coupon off $75 at InKind app. The palak with its strong spinach taste wasn't for me. The Frankie was okay, I was pleasantly surprised how crisp and good the fries were so maybe a side order of the Masala fries is an option. Parked at the Park & Walk - Schoolhouse Garage which is a $1 for the first 2 hours. read more

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Really yummy Indian food, I tried the chicken tikka tacos and they were delicious! Service is very friendly and they have Indian California twist. Service is great too. read more

Chak De California - Chicken tikka tacos - Indian Near Me - Pasadena, California

We ordered the Dahi Puri Chaat, chicken 65, and lamb masala bowl to share. Even though serving size for Dahi Puri Chaat was not too big, it was well seasoned and flavorful. I would definitely order this again! Server was very attentive although it also wasn't busy. Chicken 65 was a miss. It has the texture and consistency of orange chicken, but it was an odd blend of savory, spicy, and salty...kinda bland yet strongly flavored at the same time. It didn't read very Indian to me. I would not get this again. The lamb masala bowl was also only ok. It was lacking salt, and I'm used to masala being more red or orange in color. I understand they are trying to do fusion but not very successfully in my opinion. While the Dahi Puri Chat was good, I'm not sure that alone is enough to entice me back. There are other Indian restaurants I prefer in the area. read more

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We had such a wonderful experience at Chak De California in Pasadena. Every dish we tried had its own unique flavor and just the right level of spice. The golgappa shots were so creative, the paneer tacos were absolutely delicious, the Dubai platter was beautifully done, and the gobhi Manchurian and biryani were both outstanding. What made the experience even more special was the hospitality. The owner lady personally kept checking in on us, talking to us, and making us feel so welcomed. The entire staff was attentive and warm throughout the evening. A very thoughtful touch was the complimentary kulfi at the end in three flavors: malai, mango, and rose. Such a sweet gesture and the perfect ending to the meal. Great food, warm people, and a welcoming atmosphere. Definitely looking forward to going back to their breakfast menu too. read more

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Love them! Friendly, helpful staff and delicious food. What more could you ask for? Check them out :)

Here's a polished version with the same vibe: Absolutely loved this Indian gem tucked right in the heart of downtown! I went with a couple of girlfriends to celebrate my birthday on a spontaneous Saturday afternoon, and it couldn't have been more perfect. Food -- absolutely scrumptious Service -- excellent Ambiance -- chic and inviting A perfect little celebration spot! read more

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Chak De California has an impressive menu selection for Indian Food! My experience here was a fun one as I was celebrating my birthday with friends. The service was friendly, although they took a while to get the check; aside from that, the music / DJ was doing his best and we were living for it, so if you want a quieter spot to eat, this may not be the exact place for you at night time. The Palak Chicken was amazing and the butter chicken spicy was to die for. I am craving it again right now actually. Overall, a fun find in Pasadena that provides wonderful Indian flavor. read more

The ambiance and the service were on point! The fusion dishes here are reallly well made. We ordered the chicken tikka and paneer tacos, chicken tikka sliders and the chicken tikka pizza, all were SO YUM! but when it came down to the more traditional dishes like chicken tikka masala or palak paneer, they were not well liked. Definitely not authentic flavors. So overall I would come back here for the delish fusion dishes but not so much the traditional dish's! read more

Went there for an early dinner--great location and a lovely ambience. The service was a bit slow, which is understandable as they were likely preparing for the dinner rush. The samosas were good, and the paneer tacos were excellent. We also tried the veg Hakka noodles, which were just okay. They offer a happy hour from 3 to 7 PM with reasonably priced small bites and drink options. read more

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Beautiful ambience.. very cool and chic. We found this on the way to NorCal, and it didn't disappoint. Food quality was great. Service is prompt and best part is ambience & a full bar with awesome drinks read more

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We were on our way to a restaurant we usually go to and love just by this place. The gorgeous design of this restaurant grabbed our attention and boy we were so happy we took a chance on this place. The food was incredible the owners clearly cares about the experience this place is providing. We had the lamb sliders 10/10, the chilli chicken 9.5/10, and the naan lamb wraps 9/10, we also had the chai which was authentic and delicious 10/10. We cannot wait to come back and cannot recommend this place enough! read more

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[TL;DR: Eat here, it's good, cheap, and quick food. Nice ambiance.] Let me first say that I do recommend eating here. If you're in Pasadena and want good hot (temperature) Indian food, this is not a bad place to pick. I am a snob when it comes to Indian food so that is why I give it 3 out of 5 stars. I think many people are too quick to give one or five star reviews, for me I give points where they succeed and do not give any points if they do not meet those expectations. Three out of five for me means that they met expectations but I was not "wowed". I want this restaurant to do better because Pasadena and the SGV are in dire need of really good Punjabi places and I think they can do it. The main thing they need to turn around is improving the taste. It's not bad, it's not bland, and I feel like I am eating a paneer breakfast burrito as opposed to a real Bombay Frankie. So what did they do that succeeded? * Ambiance: Absolutely nailed it, it is the first thing one notices when entering, and it cannot be overstated that the owners really know how to decorate a restaurant and make a restaurant that will look amazing in person as well as in photos and videos. Many Indian restaurants have a "hole in the wall" vibe that while I do find endearing, it is nice to see something different. Indian food deserves deep respect and creating a restaurant atmosphere that shows the necessary respect towards the food in a way that is different than what I have typically seen I think is wonderful. Indian food can be a prestigious meal to eat for celebrations and having fun with friends in addition to something that is more intimate and reminds one of home. The place reminds one of the more upscale restaurants one sees in Delhi or Mumbai. So if anything, it is quite authentic to contemporary India. * Service: Our server, Roberto, fantastic man. He was quick, attentive, deeply cares and respects Indian cuisine and is willing to ensure the customer satisfaction that any restaurant endeavors to achieve. He is doing an excellent job there. We got our meal quick enough, not too fast and not too slow. He's passionate about the restaurant, the customer experience, and the food which is great to see. * Food Temperature: The food came out HOT, and I mean that in a good way. Too often in the US (and even in Indian restaurants in the LA region) the food comes out way too cold. Indians know that their food always should be served at a hot temperature to guests, to do otherwise is extremely disappointing and can be seen as a slight. The flavors and texture work best at hot temperatures that slowly cool down. Chak De achieves this basic but overlooked Indian culinary tradition, so it has to be said. Well done, bravo. * Price: The cost for everything ordered was to be expected in Pasadena, at time of writing this, it cost (prior to tip) around $53 for chicken korma/jeera rice, vegetable pakoras, and paneer frankies with fries. As one can see in the photos one receives a lot of food, and I think $53 for a nice place on Colorado Blvd in Pasadena is a fair deal. * Fresh Ingredients: The chicken, veggies, etc. were all fresh. Not too common to experience these days so to have such excellent sources of meat and veggies is genuinely great and is commendable. What could they have done better? * Lack of People: Anyone with eyes can see currently Chak De is suffering from a lack of customers. This makes other guests unwilling to go inside and eat as they will suspect that the food is not that good. Additionally American restaurant guests will be concerned it will take more time for the chefs to get your food out to you as they will need to come from a cold start. Everything is easier to do when you're in a flow of things. This can create a vicious circle that is difficult for even good restaurants to escape from. Restaurant goers generally care more about food taste compared to ambiance (and many will hesitate to admit this, people will prefer taste even over to quality, taste should always come first.). * Food Taste Compared to Tradition: While one does relish the meal's temperature heat and fresh ingredients the flavor is leaving more to be desired. Something with the spice mixture to salt ratio or something is just missing. It needs that soul in it, that only family run places like Baba's Sweets or even langar at a gurdwara know how to bring that soul into the food. Chana masala is one of the most boring foods imaginable yet it was the most amazing thing I had in my life at a gurdwara. The only way to achieve that is with good spices and soul. Chak De's food is almost there, but not quite. Getting to 80% good takes 20% effort, but getting to that final 20% excellence is going to take 80% effort, and Chak De needs to be focused on how to bring that soul into their food. Seeing them serve continental European breakfast to me seems like they are unfocused, double down on what you are good at and focus on your strengths. read more

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Excellent new Indian spot in Pasadena! We saw this place a couple weeks ago and decided to check it out tonight. We had mango lassi, mixed pakoras, samosas, chicken tikka, chicken tikka masala, palak paneer, chole, garlic naan and our favorite--the gulab jamun cheesecake. Everything was so fresh & flavorful! Taran, our server, was fast & attentive. The owners, Amar and Jesse, came by to talk to us and were so easygoing and kind. You can tell they want to give their community the absolute best! In about a month or so, they'll be opening up a lounge with a Punjabi DJ in the connecting space. We can't wait to check that out as there's nothing like it around here. It's gonna be a party! They've certainly got the space to do a lot of big things here. In all, we're blessed to have a new Indian spot to try and from the looks of things, this place is going to be epic! We'll be back soon! read more

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The chai was unique, and in an amazing way! If you non sweetened teas I WOULD recommend . We also got one of the paneer do pyaza and it was very flavorful. Loved it! They also gave us a wonderful rose ice cream for desert. Very good service. read more

Chak De California - Masala Chai - Indian Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Congrats to these people!!! From the kind service, to meeting the owner - who greeted everyone at the door, and stopped by to make everyone feel comfortable. We came on a Saturday night and they had music playing and people dancing in the second section next door. Lively night with wonderful company. The FOOD was just incredible. We ordered the samosas, gol gappa shots for apps (delicious), but the real winner was their Chicken Tikka Masala. My husband and I kept saying "wow" all night, even hours after we got back home. We WILL be back. Colorado blvd has such a hard time keeping restaurants open, but if there's one I need to do my best to spread the word, it's THIS ONE. The people, the food... just a great night. read more

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delicious food and very welcoming staff! great for vegetarians. very beautiful place too.

Came to this place seeking Indian food and received the best experience. The service was quick and Shubh K is the best. Super friendly and super helpful and helped me navigate the menu despite my dairy allergies which I truly appreciated. Also on Saturdays they have a DJ that plays EDM music and there's lights and it's just a super fun environment. read more

Chak De California - DJ - Indian Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Come here if you want great Indian food with a vibey club like atmosphere. The decor and live DJ are fun and fancy. The service was great - our waitress was very knowledgeable of the menu items catering to both a vegetarian and dairy free friend. I especially enjoyed the garlic naan - it was super buttery. The appetizers were also delicious - loved the pakora and samosas especially. The sauces are essentially the same for a lot of the apps but had such great flavor ranging from sweet to fresh to spicy. read more

Friendly service, but definitely worth seeking out! Must-order: Daal makhani, any of the curries, keema pav. Can skip the Frankie. read more

First time I've been here. It's relatively new. Good happy hour and tasty food. I'll come back to try more. Friendly service.