My friend and I were looking for a girl's night out place to eat and we both wanted Indian since our husbands are not big fans. I wanted to try Cilantro since I've had it bookmarked for awhile. I am a huge fan now. On the outside it's unassuming like all strip mall locations. Walk in and you are greeted by a light and airy modern look with pretty decor. It's clean as a whistle and there is a man constantly cleaning which I loved. He was also very sweet and spoke to you without being "in your face". It looks like a full service sit down restaurant but it's not. You walk in, you order, then you sit down with a number placard and they bring you the food. I like that concept just fine. It means I don't have to wait for a waiter to eventually meander to my table. The menu is on a tastefully printed paper menu and there are a LOT of great choices. I was in the mood for lamb so I ordered Lamb Korma. I have to say that it is the BEST Lamb Korma I have ever had in the Triangle. It was so tender but not overcooked. The sauce was perfect. It has initial heat and great tasting spices but it did not linger or burn. Someone knows how to uses spices in the kitchen! =) I never like Indian rice. It's always either too dry or too wet. It's my least favorite rice. Today, I believe I had rice that was cooked perfectly. The cilantro dip was light but had a great citrus flavor to me. My friend thought it was spicy - but cilantro is one of those distinctive things that everyone tastes it differently. But I liked how fresh it was. Their naan is not tandoori naan (which is my favorite). it's Roghani Naan which is often considered tastier. It is definitely not pita bread but to me it's all similar. It was fresh and worked well with my meal so I'm fine with it. I did not love the Moroccan hummus which I was not expecting with my meal since it was not listed. My friend called it an "Indian pico" - it was like a "salad" and served chilled and it was very fresh. I ate some and did not hate it but it's not something I would order for myself. My friend loves butter chicken and wondered out loud if she could have butter shrimp instead of butter chicken and the cashier said they would be happy to do that for her. She said it was the best sauce she's ever had. The shrimp were huge and tender and sweet. I had one and only wished they had removed the tails. Other than that, oh yes I would order that dish again. They have nice seafood section to their menu. We were planning dessert at Cinebistro before our movie but I was salivating at Cilantro's dessert choices. I look forward to returning soon. Service was great- clean, handsome men who knew what customer service means. Food came at a reasonable time. The only think I did not like was that my food came out and we had to wait for hers. I know we ordered at the same time but were on different tickets. But since they KNEW we were dining together it would have been nice to bring them both out at the same time. Food was expertly crafted and delicious. Ambiance - quiet and modern. I LOVED all he positive quotes on the walls. NO alcohol however. Definitely recommend this place for dates and dining out with friends. I also saw a TON of carry outs go out the door. read more

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I went here with a few friends for my birthday dinner, and it was fantastic. I ordered the chicken tikka masala and it was delicious. In fact, everyone's meal turned out great. The only slight bummer is that they don't offer any kind of leafy green salad, so one of our girls kind of made due on her own by ordering tomatoes, cucumbers, and the chickpea salad. Overall though, I would absolutely recommend this place to anyone who's craving Indian food. The price is right and the people working were really kind. Oh! And I almost forgot to mention, I got a free slice of cake since it was my birthday! read more

The people at Cilantro recently opened this new location in Cary, and the food and service is as good as ever! The food is fresh, spicy, and delicious, and everyone who works there (including the sons) is highly professional and courteous. The food is reasonably priced as well - I paid ~$10 for my meal, and I was stuffed at the end. I had paneer makhani made to order with rice and naan, as well as a side of cilantro chutney. Spicy and delicious, and possibly even better than it was at 1010 in Apex! If you live or work in the area, you definitely should check them out. EDIT: I've been back here for lunch several times, and the food has continued to be excellent. I think they have a clay tandoor now... August 2015: The food continues to be delicious, but prices have slightly increased and hours have decreased. No longer open on Mondays (bummer!). read more

My favorite Indian restaurant in the Cary/Apex area. I absolutely love their Chicken Biryani. My wife and kids love the Chicken Tikka Masala. We were so sad when they closed their gas station location and pined away impatiently until they reopened in the new location in MacGregor Village. We were there opening night. Same great food. Same friendly family. Beautiful, open, spacious new location. Before we moved to RTP our family ritual was Indian for lunch followed by grocery shopping on Sunday. Now we can do that again. read more

Not sure how much cilantro is used in Indian cooking (I associate it more with Mexican) but the food is exceptional! My husband and I went there Friday night and were very pleased with our dishes. I had the saag paneer and the flavors were delicious. I came with a very tasty salad, bread and rice. My husband had a lamb dish and it was very nice too. Service was great and you can tell that they make the food fresh to order. I just wish they had Malai Kofta on the menu, which is my favorite Indian dish. read more

One of the hidden Indian food gems in Cary area. Family owned and run restaurant with an interesting menu selection. Entrées come with chickpea salad, rice, naan bread (not regular naan you might be used to) and of course Cilantro chutney. The spice level is authentic and unlike Americanized Indian restaurants. The best item on the menu is Samosa chaat, would highly recommend it, its a killer. I hope they continue to do well and maybe open new outlets around the city. read more

This was our first visit, but we are in love! First, as parents of a toddler, the fact that Cilantro is casual dining is a huge plus--when we are done eating, we can just leave (instead of waiting for a waiter to bring the bill while our kid dissolves into a tired mess). Second, the food was fantastic! I had mattar paneer and it was flavorful with the softest pillows of paneer. The presentation on the plate is so pretty too, with the rice formed into a neat mound and the entree and side salad in separate dishes. (That side salad, which I didn't even know was included, was cool and refreshing.) Portions were generous and, again, so delicious! read more

Truly the best tandori chicken my wife has ever had. Great spice, cooked perfectly, not remotely dried out from over cooking. I liked the bite I had as well. With the lack of a vindaloo option on the menu, my standard, I opted to try the Chicken Tikka Masala. It was very good. I pretty much finished it, stopping because full. What was very nice was the balance of a cool chickpea salad that came with it. It was a nice counter balance to the warm sauce and chicken. Well though out. This is my favorite Indian food I've had since moving to NC from Texas. We had our favorite spot in Dallas that we got food from at a couple times a week. I can't wait to return and explore more of the menu. We didn't order any apps, and I immediately regretted it when I saw an order of samosa head past our table. That craving was irrational considering I left full, but they looked good. Oh the prices are much more in line with what I have come to expect rather that $$$affron in Morrisville. read more

My first ever yelp review!!! This place was awesome. Food was perfect. Still have a few kinks to work out with timing and no liquor license yet but it was worth the wait and uh ice tea! Wish we lived here we would go every week. We had no idea what we were ordering but it was perfect. Beautiful decor. Can't say enough. I hope they are still around next time we are in Cary for swimming. read more

I was undergoing withdrawal symptoms waiting for Cilantro to reopen at their new location in MacGregor Village. I had eaten takeout from their former gas station location many times and the food was always terrific. Finally had a chance to eat takeout there a few days ago. I ordered the salmon tandoori. It was very flavorful and spicy. I like how their dishes are very spicy but not over the edge. The moroccan hummus side tasted great as well. I'm very glad they've reopened and look forward to going back again soon. Fantastic Indian food! read more

Just went last night for the first time. WOW. This place is great. Food was extremely tasty. I'm from San Fran where we have many Indian restaurants to choose from....this is one of the best I have been to. The lamb was especially good. My advice, go, you wont be disappointed. read more

This place is absolutely fantastic! Everything from the décor to the staff, food, and prices were spot on. The décor is very open and tasteful and I love how airy the whole room feels. When we went on a Friday night, the whole lower level was full so we sat on the second floor. If I had to be nitpicky, the only complaint I had for the whole evening was with the drink machines. There was a drink machine on the second floor but it was turned off so the only thing you could get was water. It was a little inconvenient to have to walk down to the lower floor to get a refill but it wasn't a big deal at all. All the staff was so friendly, always asking us if everything was alright. Our poor waiter had to carry the food to the second floor, one plate at a time. I felt bad for the guy but he never had anything other than a smile on his face the whole time we were there. The menu prices ranges about $8-12 which is pretty good for the amount of food they give you. I, being the inexperienced foreigner that I am, ordered the butter chicken which was AMAZING!! They definitely do not skimp on the amount of chicken they give you but the star of the dish was definitely the butter sauce on the chicken. If you give me a giant bowl of that sauce and some naan bread to dip in it, I'd be one happy camper. This place is a jewel and I am so thankful that it's close to my apartment. I will definitely come again! read more

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Awesome Indian food! All four dishes for the family were winners. Even the tea was fresh and flavorful. The service was friendly and caring too! read more

We've been back several times and the food is still great. My new favorites are both the lamb biryani and the shahi biryani, which has kind of a creamy chicken layer in it. read more

I've eaten here 6 times in the last month. Delicious, fresh, and reasonably priced. I believe they cook the food to order so it does take extra time. Don't expect your food lighting fast. They are also super friendly. read more

I didn't know this place when it was located in the gas station but I'm thrilled it has expanded! Food is very good, each dinner came with rice and a generous serving of naan, also received a side of pickled cucumber, onion, chickpeas, etc - very refreshing. Asked for mild, but it was still a bit spicy. The decor is very nice, lots of cozy chair groupings in addition to dining tables. Price very reasonable. read more

Love love love love it. Great idea offering the faster menu for folks tested for time. Love it.

We have eaten from here three times and absolutely LOVE THE FOOD, SERVICE, AND ATMOSPHERE!!! Even our toddler loves it here! We have eaten the best butter chicken we have ever had, Moroccan hummus which we had never had is now one of our favorites, and our toddler devours tandoori chicken every time we go. The owner is a very humble and friendly person and always comes out to greet us and thank us for coming back. It is a family run business which is apparent from the teenage boy at the counter who is also humble and provides great customer service. The atmosphere is clean and modern, but also inviting and warm. We plan on continuing to frequent this restaurant and hope it is around for many many years. read more

Huh...not sure why all the rave reviews. I tried Cilantro's today, based on the excellent reviews, and was underwhelmed. The prices were reasonable. The service super slow and the food was, unremarkable at best. I ordered Chicken Tikka Masala (it was on the 'if you're in a rush' menu) and, when it finally came it was not delicious. The chicken was hard, dry, tough little cubes. The sauce was just okay & a little too salty. The chickpea salad was yum. The bread was absolutely NOT NAAN but Pita bread. The place was clean and nice but the food wasn't as amazing as yelp reviews indicated. Bummer read more

Delicious butter chicken, didn't care for texture of naan, otherwise would have given it 5 stars. Prices are reasonable and I like that I got a side of chickpea salad. read more

This is a gem when it comes to Indian restaurants in the triangle area. Not many Indians know about this place. This used to be in gas station in holly springs earlier and have now moved into a nice, spacious and comfortable location in Apex/Cary. The food is fantastic. Period. The portions are pretty big, the service is quick and being a family owned business, these guys are very nice and polite. Pretty much anything you order is going to be good. They are probably not going to serve you fusion or experimental Indian cuisine, this is going to be a regular Indian menu. But the quality is what sets it apart. read more

Always delicious!! Just sometimes it's crowded at dinner time a little bit slow but the quality is always good!

The atmosphere is very nice, and so is the service. The prices are standard for Indian Food. I got Butter Salmon, and it was ok. The actual curry, naan, chickpea salad where great, but the fish was not fresh. Should have gotten chicken, but still was worth it. read more

Decent and tasty food, but I prefer table service. Everyone at the meetup loved their food and a few people ordered a meal to go after our dinner. I got Matter Paneer which was delightfully spicy. Service was ok but not great (They bring you your dishes). read more

My husband and I would get takeout when they were in the gas station and loved it. It was always dead on and delicious! We were super excited to hear they were moving into a real restaurant space and ate there last week. Luckily the food stayed the same and was as good, spicy and creamy as always. They have a larger menu now and luckily the prices are still good. The restaurant is clean and fresh looking and I like how they have a self serve drink machine on both floors. The only issue I had was it was not fast and that makes a difference when you are trying to get in and out of there on a lunch break. Someone from Cilantro came to our table to ask how everything was and he mentioned he is aware that they need to work on speed and it is hard with Indian food because it takes a while. Maybe we will call our order in so it is ready when we get there next time. Oh and there will be a next time! I can't wait! read more

Wow...This place is fantastic. The food is great quality, the service is extremely polite. This has to be some of the best Indian food in the area, or even state. I highly recommend anyone wanting good food, or great quality representation of the genre, this is the place to go. Job well done to the owner and chefs. A true gem. read more

We ate at Cilantro for dinner last night. My husband and I shared an order of samosas, and we both had the lamb biryani. Everything was perfectly cooked and spiced. Our kids loved the chicken tandoori. The restaurant was clean, and all the employees were polite and helpful. We will definitely be back! read more

Awesome food .. There are some things which you need to taste instead of expressing .... Must visit hotel of Cary ..

Returned again recently and the food is still terrific but the highlight for me is how friendly the staff is. They are always smiling, always polite and genuinely glad to see you. I always leave smiling. read more

Very casual, order at counter. Food is excellant and very fresh tasting. Place is modern looking and exceptionally clean. This is the best Indian food we have had in this area and will defin be going back. No alcohol served read more

Hands down, the best Indian food I have ever had! Service was fast and friendly! My wife and I had the butter chicken and it was appropriately spiced, tender and cooked. We had several types of teas as well that were delicious. The location is a bit inconvenient but well worth the trip. I will definitely return! read more

We just recently discovered this place. It's located in an older shopping center in Cary tucked away. We tried asking around to see if anyone had eaten there before, but our friends had never been because they didn't serve alcohol, so we decided to try it out ourselves for date night. It was amazing! Our friends are missing out!!! While the name and atmosphere don't necessarily scream Indian restaurant, the food is the best Indian we've ever eaten. Recommendations...You must try the Vegetable Samosa for an appetizer. The cilantro sauce it comes with is quite spicy so make sure you have an extra glass of water handy. For our main entrees we ordered the Chicken Tikka Masala and Salmon Tikka Kabobs. The chicken dish was definitely our favorite of the two. Salmon was good, but not as unique in flavor, but the Moroccan salad that accompanied it was great. read more

Absolutely fantastic staff, very welcoming and caring! Everytime I have been here I've been impressed with the food and ambiance. Very great service and food worth waiting for during those rush hours! read more

Excellent food and a nice atmosphere! Samosa chat was excellent as well as the other dishes we had (Paneer Makhani, Vegetable Korma). It was also nice to have a place that give you both Naan and rice without charging extra. I have been waiting for an indian place this good to come to the triangle!!! read more

As good as it gets for casual dining. I've had the butter chicken, chicken tikka masala and the samosas and they are all delicious. I love the chickpea salad that comes with the dishes as well. Reasonable prices, sweet service. It is a bit far from Durham but I love this place! read more

My girlfriend and I went here for the first time last week and were very impressed! The staff is friendly and the Chicken Tikka Masala was delicious!! I would recommend the Ginger Tea as well. We will be going back. read more

We discovered this gem about 6 months ago. Since then we've stopped by for lunch every two weeks when we have time. The dishes are beautifully spiced and incredibly rich. The lunch plates come with a little pickled, palate-cleansing, chickpea salad that even my 3yo thinks is tasty. The portions are also filling despite us showing up post-workout and unusually hungry. The ginger tea comes out super hot, so we let it sit then enjoy it as a dessert. Spicy, sweet, creamy.. it's half the reason we come so often. Orders are made at the counter coming in the door, but the manager still comes around to ask how things are and if they can get us anything else after we've received our food. Just great service. Highly recommended overall. read more

We checked this out because the Himalayan Nepalese place we order from normally is terrible under its new ownership. I'll start with the good things: The food we ordered was pretty tasty. The portions are however quite small. If I'm spending $40+ on takeout for two, I fully expect to have leftovers, even if its just leftover rice for crying out loud. We had no leftovers. Now I'll get to why I gave this place two stars: Naan. It is my understanding that in many cases those of indian decent forego utensils altogether and use their delicious, scrumptious Naan bread to grab food and sop up sauces to enjoy. Its one thing that sets this cuisine apart from others, and that I look forward to and fully expect to experience when dining on indian cuisine. It is a very central part of the meal. So why, why, why, WHY would you go through all the trouble of making all of these delicious sauces and slow cooked meats, only to serve this store-bought packaged pita thing and try to pass it off as naan? Not only that, but to not even season it or do anything to elevate or transform it, besides folding it in half and wrapping it in foil to sit under the heat lamps is such an egregious error it calls into question how much effort went into making the rest of the meal. If that's the effort that they put into the naan, then it wouldn't surprise me to find out that all of their meals are in fact store bought, and their kitchen is a glorified reheating/microwave factory. I don't get it. Its lazy and shows a lack of understanding of the cuisine if you're going to serve this: https://www.instacart.com/kroger/products/150058-toufayan-bakeries-white-pita-bread-12-oz and try to pass it off as something worth including in a $40 meal for two and expect people to be okay with that. As some of the lower reviews on here have stated, I too am perplexed by the high ratings. Then again, the people giving the high ratings are the same people that are happy to eat butter chicken made with chicken breasts. We will continue to hunt for something to replace Himalayan Nepalese. So far Dawat has been the most promising. read more

Best Indian food I've ever tasted! Recommend everyone try it. The staff was extremely polite and the sitting area was very modern. Deliciousness! read more

My first visit did not disappoint. The host was very friendly and answered tons of questions that led to great recommendations. I tried the Bihari Coconut Curry Tilapia. I did the mild just to be safe. It had good heat, the Tilapia was tender and well paired with the curry. Presentation is very good along with a good portion of food for the $$. I will be back for sure! read more