I'm honestly shocked after seeing all the positive reviews. The $17 butter chicken plates my kids and I ordered left me baffled. I brought a party of nine, and most of us ordered similar dishes. The place was nearly empty -- that should've been my first warning. It felt like the food was pre-prepared. Each plate had maybe half a chicken breast swimming in sauce, and not a single grain of rice. I've never been to an Indian restaurant where rice is an extra charge. We actually had to go somewhere else afterward because no one was full. The flavor was just as disappointing. I asked for medium spice, but it tasted like watered‑down cream with zero seasoning. I've never had Indian food with no flavor before. I voiced my concerns, but no one seemed to care. As a local, it's wild that I now have to check whether a place is a tourist trap serving subpar food just to understand how they're still operating. read more

The first thing u notice is the ambience. Beautiful. Great service. Yummy food. Lots of parking despite being in a busy strip. Yuvi is doing a great job managing the place Come hungry, leave happy. Charcoal is def on the list of repeat visit. read more

Yelpers definitely got it right with this one! We needed a highly rated Indian restaurant in the HB that has an outdoor seating area, and Charcol fit the bill. We came in for early dinner on a Saturday and they were not able to provide full service for outdoors at that time, but they were willing to accommodate us by allowing us to sit outside and serve ourselves from to-go containers. We thought we would be getting paper plates and plastic utensils, but we were given formal plates, silverware, and cloth napkins, plus water and cups. We were fine serving ourselves and were pleasantly surprised when the server did come to check on us a couple times. The outdoor seating area is so cute and charming. They have an outdoor fire pit and a couple of crocheted daybeds. I'm sure it is very cute at night time. It is surrounded by planter boxes filled with flowering succulents, and is right on Beach Boulevard. Parking is ample at this busy shopping center. The food was very tasty. Everyone loved the selections. We ordered the staples like chicken tikka masala, Samosas, sag paneer, garlic naan, as well as lamb curry and the spicy cauliflower appetizer. We had a couple of vegans in our dining party and they were satisfied with the vegan/vegetarian options. My sister is super excited to be introduced to an excellent Indian restaurant in her neighborhood, and we look forward to eating here again when we visit her! read more

Charcol Indian Kitchen - Outside seating area - Indian Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

I had dinner here a couple days ago and it was a great experience. The restaurant was clean and had plenty of seating. I was greeted promptly and I felt welcomed. I had garlic naan, an order if samosas, and the goat sukha. The food was hot and delicious with just the right amount of heat. My only issue with the food was the bones, I know don't mind bone in meat at all but there were way too many small bone fragments that should have been taken care of before it was served. I really liked that they had regional dishes on the menu and a good variety of them; I'm looking forward to returning to try them all. read more

Charcol Indian Kitchen - Goat Sukha and Garlic Naan - Indian Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

My wife wanted to eat Indian food for dinner after our Huntington Beach visit, and so we went here. I highly recommend it. Here are my takes: Food/Drinks: Everything that I tried here was good. Curries are very delicious and close to authentic flavors. Service: Good staff here, and they do good in the overall experience. Not even a single order did we see a delay or any issues there. Hygiene: Overall, very clean, but their restroom can be done better. Price: Very reasonably priced, not sure if this is soft launch prices or will stay like this forever, but some of the dish prices will surprise you. For the value factor, this is a great restaurant. read more

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Purchased a groupon a few months ago and received the reminder that it was going to expire on 8/30/25 so I needed to use it quickly. Trekked on over this past Wednesday evening around 7:30pm and we were the only customers dining in. This seems to be a fairly new establishment. The groupon was for 50.00 and the prices were reasonable but I did not want to order too much food just to meet the voucher amount. This is an order at the counter type of restaurant where you seat yourself and they deliver your food to your table. The menu is fairly extensive with many options to choose from; however, they have wine and beer listed but they had not received their alcohol license yet. Their soda fountain machine wasn't working yet, so all they had to choose from was canned drinks as well as bottled water. As for the food, we started off with the veggie samosas (2 pc). Those were served piping hot with chutney and (what appeared to be) garlic sauce, which was delicious. My friend and I both ordered the butter chicken and shared an order of saffron rice. The butter chicken was rich and delicious & in all actuality, was enough for two people (if you aren't famished) as the portions appear to be on the smaller size but very filling. As for value, we went a couple of bucks over the 50.00 voucher amount which appears to be quite pricey, but again, the food was very tasty. The service was excellent as server/cashier was very friendly and efficient. What stopped me from rating this five stars is alcoholic beverages appeared on the menu but were not available, and the fountain drink machine was not operable. I also felt it was a bit pricey for not being a full service sit down restaurant with a server. The restaurant is located in a cute higher end strip mall and the parking lot was small but not too congested at the time we were there. read more

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I haven't been this excited to try a new restaurant in such a long while. The aroma seems really inviting and delicious! Extremely friendly and welcoming. The manager at the counter was patient and so helpful to explain the menu for me. I stuck to my classic go-to favorite Indian recipes: butter chicken, naan, samosa. Really looking forward to trying their chicken tikka masala, butter chicken, garlic naan, and samosa. We did have to order the rice separately so keep that in mind for your visit. I may have to venture out of my comfort zone and try their biriyani one of these times. I noticed it being served to a diner and it looked amazing. Also, we went with their pistachio baklavas on this visit, but we want to try the chocolate baklavas next time. Photos show an outdoor patio for seating/dining in. Open kitchen to watch the cooking and preparations is another benefit and a cool element to see their preparation/process. - So now it's after we've eaten and just sitting back to watch a movie- I had to return to share that this is by far, one of our favorite Indian restaurants we've visited in ages! My household has an extremely picky palette and even they couldn't stop commenting how delicious everything was. Their plates were practically "licked clean" that's how well they cleared their plates. Their flavors are perfect!! The perfect amount of spice too. Definitely will be a family favorite for takeout and dining in. If their takeout was this delicious, I can only imagine how much better everything tastes when served freshly prepared from the chefs and their kitchen. read more

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Stopped by after a massage for pani puri. It is a little puffed ball filled with chopped red onions and herbs. Then there is the tamarind spiced liquid to pour in too. Tangy and tasty. Then ordered some garlic naan. Nice and buttery. The green sauce (was spicy and so good) and the tamarind sauce was nice and thick! This is definitely worth a revisit to try other things. read more

This review is long overdue -- we visited Charcoal Indian Kitchen back in January with a large group of about 12 people, and the experience was absolutely phenomenal from start to finish. First off, the service was incredible. Despite our large group, with some dietary restrictions and lots of different orders (including multiple dosas), the staff handled everything with such care and professionalism. The ambiance was warm and welcoming, with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. We visited on a weekend and they had a dosa special -- personal-sized masala dosas (I believe the cap was 3 per person). They were so good -- crispy, flavorful, and perfectly spiced. I ordered the chicken tikka, the masala dosa, and one other dish I sadly can't remember -- but every single item was delicious. Even when some dishes took a bit longer (which is understandable with a group our size), the staff went above and beyond. The owner even came by to introduce himself and apologized for the wait, which we really appreciated. The food was so good that even my family -- who are notoriously tough critics when it comes to Indian cuisine -- were genuinely impressed. I had leftovers and warmed them up the next day, and they still tasted amazing! Oh they have the cutest little kulfi containers too. Don't skip out on the kulfi. It's so good. I also love that they offer weekday specials and happy hour deals -- a great touch. Highly recommend this spot for anyone looking for authentic, flavorful Indian food with top-notch hospitality. We'll definitely be back! read more

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Purchased a Groupon and Visited Charcoal Indian Kitchen for the first time, the place's very quaint and very well maintained. It's in a busy plaza but there's plenty of parking. The manager and staff were super friendly and nice. We ordered the Lamb Biryani and it came with an appetizer, and we got chicken 65. The chicken was very delicious but the biryani was very disappointing. There's bone fragments mixed with the rice, which made me gag while trying to chew. I told the manager when he checked on us and he just said that it's normal and offered a small bowl of sweet yogurt.Also, the biryani was very dry and the spices were really overpowering to taste the actual dish. I took two bites at the restaurant and the rest to go, which I ended up tossing in the trash. I'd probably visit there again to try other dishes, also, their prices were pretty reasonable. read more

I was really disappointed with this order, especially for the price. I spent over $50 and was still hungry afterward because I could barely eat the food. The chicken biryani was very odd. The rice was mostly flavorless, and the chicken had a very soggy, unpleasant texture. It didn't taste fresh at all. On top of that, the dish was extremely salty, to the point where it was hard to eat. The chicken tikka masala was just okay, nothing special, but it didn't come with rice (which I knew ahead of time). Unfortunately, the naan was also a big letdown -- very soggy, like it had been sitting out for hours. I understand naan can soften during delivery, but I've ordered naan many times through DoorDash and it's never been this bad. Overall, the quality didn't match the price at all. For what I paid, I expected much better flavor and freshness. I wouldn't order again. read more

Charcol Indian Kitchen - Chicken 65 Biryani Chicken Tikka Masala Plain Naan Raita - Indian Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

Casual famiy-owed Indian restaurant in Huntington Beach in the Beach Blvd/Atlantic Ave shopping area. You order and pay at the counter. Staff are friendly. They have booths and tables that accommodate groups of 4 and bar height tables for 2. Area is clean, bright, and open. Lots of menu options for all, including vegetarians. They offer "bowls" where you can choose your protein (Veg Korma, Paneer Tikka, Chicken Tikka, Chicken Keema), type of rice (Brown/White/Saffron) and toppings (Onion-Cucumber-Tomatoes-Corn-Lettuce). They also have South Indian items like dosas. I ordered the Apollo Fish appetizer and the Bhuna Ghost (lamb), garlic naan, and masala chai. All were tasty and flavorful. Good amount of food for reasonable prices. I've also had the chicken tikka masala in the past and liked it. read more

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Husband and I came by here for lunch earlier this week. We ordered too much for 2 people: 1) chicken tiki masala lunch special at $17 - soda, rice, garlic naan, samosa, and a half plate of chicken tikki masala. it was disappointing that there were only 3 pieces of chicken! :( 2) chicken korma - this was tasty and different than other curries i've had $16.99 3) lamb birvani - decent, but probably would not get next time $18.99 4) pistachio ice cream = comes in a little pot $3.99 5) mango lassi - this was good; wish it came in a larger cup haha $5.99 Service from the guy at the cash register was very friendly. You order at the register and then get seated on your own. You can also opt to order at the table for the full service experience if they are not busy. read more

10-10-2025 I stopped by this establishment for lunch after my Kaiser apps. I had one of their weekday lunch specials. One samosa, 2 garlic naan, rice and chicken tikka masala with a sprite. I ordered a pistachio ice cream for dessert and coffee. Simple decor and clean establishment. Friendly customer service and delicious food. I love that this place is also doesn't waste food. They're on the Too Good To Go app , too. If you love Indian food like I do. Definitely a must try. So close to me and the beach. read more

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Probably the best naan I've ever had, and I've had a LOT of naan in my days. I got two garlic cheese naan and one butter garlic. I placed the order by phone on the way so I had a few minutes to sit while my order was being prepared. Nice little restaurant, the smells were amazing. Will definitely be back to dine in! read more

We had take out earlier this week and went back to dinner in. The food was tasty, we had very attentive staff/service and a nice location! We enjoyed sitting outside and the staff took care of us despite being farther away from the front of the house. Definitely recommend! read more

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Just placed my order and waiting for my food. I didn't know that rice did not come with the chicken curry and went back to place an order since it was my mistake. Person behind the counter gave me rice without charging me. I'm appreciative of the service and the gesture. The restaurant is clean and welcoming. read more

Charcol Indian Kitchen - Indian Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

Pros: - good location - lots of parking - server was very nice - interior is cute and sunny - there's a pineapple cream soda that's refreshing and surprising - pistachio kulfi was good - there's a Groupon you can grab to dine in or take out - the aloo paratha was nice! It's strange that they served it with a lump of butter on top though--usually it's glazed with ghee instead Cons: - oh lord, the paneer butter masala and dal makhni were SO SALTY that they were absolutely inedible; I had to bring it home and doctor it to make it palatable. It's a shame, because the flavors and textures were actually excellent - the chutneys were very strange--a watery creamy cilantro + sweet watery yogurt + very thick and way-too-salty pickles (more of a paste) - ordering dine-in was a little strange (you're told to take a seat and you can order from the QR code, but if it's a groupon, you place your order with the waiter) ^he forgot what we ordered and asked if we wanted "dessert" at the end of our meal, and we had already ordered two pistachio kulfis - the bathroom was a mess--one toilet was very broken and there was still...evidence of someone's distressed bowels, and the other stall was out of toilet seat liners. The door to the bathroom was propped open as if someone was in the middle of cleaning/fixing something, but then forgot and left read more

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We live locally but I'm currently post-op and couldn't drive right now, so I Doordashed. First time and probably last time trying this place. 1. Our Chicken Tikka Masala came with broken sauce. See photo. 2. The Pani Puri came with shell and sauce but NO filling. How do you forget the mashed potato filling part? Basically got nothing. 3. Paneer was so dry and tasteless. 4. Basmati Rice and Butter Naan were only items that made properly. Very very disappointed!!!! read more

Charcol Indian Kitchen - Paneer - Indian Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

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I like to try and support all the new Indian restaurants in town The menu can be confusing and the menu on the screen doesn't match the paper menu The people there were friendly but the lady at the front didn't looks so happy The chef was really friendly too and suggested I get the Kadai paneer. It was off the menu and a special today along with Channa masala Check them out. Support new businesses especially if you like Indian food. This is the only place in town that has dosa I got that with one plain naan I also tried the schezuan dosa The paneer was pretty flavorful and the naan was great. I was impressed at how much food I got for the price When I got home the dosa was soft and not crispy but the filling was really good. It was acidic spicy and flavorful. Really well balanced with a lot of fresh cabbage and carrot The chutneys were ok. The tomato chutney was good but not that spicy. The green one was a mint chutney and the white one was not very good The dosa also came with sambhar. It was good - not the best I've had but pretty decent read more

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Saw this restaurant on TikTok & decided to give it a try. Glad we did. Lamb Biryani was awesome. Best I've eaten in a long time. I recommend them 100% If I got to choose my last meal in life it would be the Lamb Biryani from Charcol. read more

Charcol Indian Kitchen - Lamb Biryani - Indian Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

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I feel like im in India! Authentic music (current indian pop) and vibe. Its in the same shopping center as mamas on 39 by the Hyatt Regency on beach. Staff is friendly and accomodating :) So are the visitors! Paneer tikka is similar to Paradise Biryani but less spicy (still spicy thought) The dosa is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The tomato chutney is a bit stringy, fiber is good:) the coconut chutney has a nutnutty flavor. Please keep the following in mind: 1. Parking in the front is 20 mins only, i suggest parking in the middle of the shopping center. 2. There's a small fee if you use a credit card. 3. The bowl concept goes like this: 1. Pick a protein 2. Pick a sauce 3. Add toppings ( lettuce oniion garbanzo) read more

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I came here to satisfy my Indian food craving and it was absolutely delicious! The chicken tikka masala was so flavorful! The staff were so friendly and even offered me complimentary appetizer. I will definitely be returning here! read more

Charcol Indian Kitchen - Indian Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

Horrible Horrible Horribly tasteless , unflavored nasty Dal Tadka. This trash was in a small tray that splattered when I got the thing open. I was sO anxious to try this place. And I ordered the Dal Tadka because I love them from this Indian food place called Karma Lounge where the food is delicious and seasoned so so well. Their Dal Tadka are the absolute best that I've ever had so far. As horrible as these things taste they should just take them off the menu. read more

A new unique Indian spot in HB? Sign me up! Charcol just recently opened and is serving up bowls and wraps with delicious Indian flavors and ingredients along with dosas, salads, and tasty sides like samosas. I went with a bowl and got their tandoori chicken with vindaloo sauce with brown rice and a variety of toppings. It was filling, a great portion size and worth the price I paid for it. The samosa I got was delicious with a good amount of chickpea filling and the sauces I got were great to dip it with. The staff helping me with my order were quite friendly and helpful with any questions I had. The interior is bright, clean, and spacious with lots of seating towards the back after the ordering counter. Looking forward to coming back soon for more delicious bowls and hoping to try out some dosas too! read more

Charcol Indian Kitchen - Samosa - Indian Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

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TLDR; very good prices, good service, authentic spices but not overwhelming This is a mom and pop shop (well, fiancé and chef shop) that serves fusion Indian food. You can see many classical pan-Indian dishes such as papri chaat (I also ordered this but housed it down before taking a pic), chicken vindaloo and masala dosa. The papri chaat was very fresh and had a good combo of crunchy, freshness and acidity, while the chicken vindaloo was thick and rich without being very spicy. The dosa was made fresh, and the dal/pappu that came with it wasn't super strong (I.e. not a lot of mustard seeds), making it easily approachable. Prices are extremely good (everything is under 11), and the seating was clean and nice. Highly recommended! read more

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I have been super excited to try this place but we came away pretty disappointed. 2 main issues: protein portion size was very weak. They need to put more chicken in their tikka masala if they want to stay in business; and second issue was that while it was spicy it was also bland, which is unusual. Both main dishes we ordered required adding salt, something I have never done in the hundred or so times I've had Indian food. Not that big of a deal but the really weak ratio of chicken to sauce in the tikka is what bummed us out most and will likely keep us from returning. Bummer. read more

I grew up in England going to the pub and then having an Indian curry afterwards. Since moving to Southern California 43 years ago I have sampled many Indian restaurants but none compare to Charcol in Huntington Beach. The Chicken Tikka Masala is amazing, perfect blend of spices and hot enough for a lightweight like me. Thank you Charcol read more

Charcol Indian Kitchen - Chicken Tikka Masala, Saffron Rice & Garlic Naan - Indian Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

I went here with my family on a Sunday evening. It was relatively slow, as most people came in only to pick up their deliveries. The inside was nice and clean and they had a wonderful playlist of Bollywood music playing. The food itself was good and definitely worth trying again. They gave us complimentary ice cream at the end which was very generous of them. read more

Charcol Indian Kitchen - Indian Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

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Charcol in HB on the corner of Beach and Atlanta is one of the best Indian restaurants around! The garlic naan and chicken tikka masala were absolutely to die for -- full of flavor and perfectly cooked. The portions were generous, and the lunch specials make it super affordable. Great food, friendly service, and unbeatable value -- can't wait to go back! read more

Charcol Indian Kitchen - Indian Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

The new kid on the restaurant block in Huntington Beach. I might have gone a bit overboard with my recent meal at Charcol - the dangers of ordering takeout while hungry. My order included the mango lassi, samosas, garlic naan, the Chicken Tikka Dosa roll, and Chicken Tikka Masala. When I arrived, the gentleman at the counter offered me a pistachio ice cream to hold me over while they prepped my meal. This dessert is a no-brainer for future visits! It's possibly the best ice cream I've ever tasted. The meal was also incredibly delicious. This was my first time trying a dosa roll, and I loved the crepe consistency with the Chicken Tikka. I also thought the mango lassi was the perfect pairing for this spice filled entree. For fellow sensitive-stacies, the Chicken Tikka Masala was a little spicy for my infant-like palate. It can be tough to find a meal under $15-$20 these days, but Charcol has got you covered. Their meals range between $12 - $15, so you can dine like a king. I absolutely love that they have the option to build your own bowl. This is something I'll be exploring on my next visit. read more

This place exceeded my expectations. The food was exceptional. Had an issue with door dash and the manager went out of his way to resolve the issue immediately. This place clearly values their customers. Leaving positive feedback is the least i can do. I highly recommend. Will be back! Thanks again read more

BEST INDIAN RESTAURANT IN OC!! First time dining in tonight and won't be our last! Everything is price reasonable, I think you get for what you pay. Usually most Indian places we go to is around $80-100 for two, our bill was $50 for 6 items! We definitely had a bunch leftovers as well. Our favorite had to be the dosa - omg soooo fluffy yet CRISPY, BUT my favorite had to be the masala corn and chicken wings! We ate the curry but got too full! But SUPER good as well. Place is super cute and clean. The young lady who was working there - getting items to all the tables and cleaning tables was very hardworking, she is really sweet too. Definitely will come back! read more

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Took the family here after being curious about Indian food. We order dahi puri, samosas, chicken tikka masala, and spicy chicken biryani. Little bit of everything. Our 6 year old loved grabbing the naan bread and trying bits of everything. We loved the food. The level of flavors and spices is mind blasting! The staff is genuinely awesome! They went above and beyond to explain the menu since it was all new to us. Even giving us small taste of some of the sauces before ordering to make sure we enjoyed the dishes. The restaurant is spacious and very clean. Overall 5/5 totally going back and recommend you give them a try! read more

Charcol Indian Kitchen - Vijayawada Chicken Biryani - Indian Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

Wow. I came all the way here just to try the pan poori, it's the only place near me that has this Indian street food and it did not disappoint. Even though I've never tried it before, it's a very refreshing and unique experience, the sauce had a perfect lime-y and spice wise dip for the crunchiness counterpart. We ordered our go to Indian food: chicken tikka masala , basmati rice, garlic naan, and samosas. All 10/10. The garlic naan was something I haven't tried before in terms of texture. It's more thin, soft but crispy, and perfect glossiness! We ordered 2 basmati rice thinking it would be small portions but THEY ARE HUGE! If you are two in your party, just order one rice. It was only $0.99 so we thought it was only a little bit. Speaking of prices it is very affordable, they even have these lunch specials. They offer pepsi products and are self serve, with complimentary water. Anyways, food was great! Another thing was the service, they were so attentive when I asked for additional items such as raw onions (I love to eat with Indian food) and they gave me more than enough. They also told me other items to try next time which I will. And they constantly checked up on us on how we are liking our food. Super affordable food AND great hospitality....what more can you ask for? read more

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Cafeteria-like appearance but don't judge it by that. The food is fantastic!. We tried several dishes and breads (nann, rotti). The pineapple cream soda was a great pairing soda. The mango shake was delicious too. The deserts also wonderful as the baklava is not overtly sweet, balanced taste, flaky crust great flavor. Uvi (spelling ?) was our order taker and went out of his way to keep us happy. read more

Came here on a whim and I was really surprised at how great everything tasted. Service was good, they offered the lunch special well beyond lunch time via the app which is a great deal. $14.99 for a samosa, naan, rice, an entree, and a dessert. Everything was quality and tasted great. Low key obsessed. read more

Wow!! I was recommended this Indian place and it was amazing! The food was excellent and the service was great. We order some nan, samosas, and curry and I have to say it was one of the best I've had and I'll definitely be back here. The restaurant itself was welcoming and felt western and modern but the food was amazing. I'm not an expert of Indian food to call it "authentic" but my friend who recommended it to us said it was great too. I had a couple bites leftover and I took that home because I wanted to finish it. Give this place a try! read more

went here for mother's day dinner and the food and service were spot on. The chicken marsala, saffron rice and garlic butter naan is amazing. Try their pineapple cream soda and i know it sounds weird to pair it with indian food but wow it's great! read more

Great food. I love Indian and this spot is cozy, great prices and friendly staff. Recommended.