I'm far from a vegetarian but I would eat here everyday if I could. Family run restaurant with excellent food. Definitely come here!

Price was good, food was okay. Considering the fact that Earthen Jar serves vegan food, the flavoring was very adequate. The only setback was that the entrees seemed overwhelmingly dry to me. read more

After hearing rave reviews about earthen jar, I finally checked it out last week. It was as good as they say! They had both a hot and cold food bar, but I decided to go more for the hot bar. My favorite dish was the yellow lentil one, but they were all delicious. The levels of spice were clearly marked, which was a nice touch. I definitely recommend earthen jar for a relaxed dinner vibe! Go for the mango lasse because you know you can't not! read more

Awesome vegetarian food! I am a carnivore and I even loved this place. This is by far the most flavorful Indian food that I've had, and get the fresh Nan if you stop by! read more

I'm surprised this place has such good reviews. I found everything to be either very bland (the yellow dal was completely bland) or so spicy it had no depth of flavor. The tofu had no texture and was poorly cooked. I also found the food to be overpriced, especially when you consider that it's mostly lentils and potatoes--the cheapest ingredients ever. I can make better Indian food at home, I won't be coming back. read more

The food is amazing. I get some kind of spicey kidney bean thing, and it rules. I don't know what is in it, probably some kind of amazing magic. Go here and eat up. read more

Out of town visitor here. Everything was average about this place and add to that the high pricing, it was not worth it. The naan was something microwaved. They definitely cater to people with many dietary constraints and that's a plus. There are other better Indian places in this area. read more

Spicy, delicious, and so worthwhile I'll be going back soon and often. The mushroom paneer, daal, and non-vegan saag were amazing! read more

Very delicious vegetarian Indian food! I really like the informal atmosphere where you can pick out what you want and just take a little bit of something if you're not sure about it. Just be careful if you're going on a tight budget! It can be very easy to load up your plate. It's definitely not over-priced though - even on a student's budget. read more

Good lord this place is awesome. There's not much better than trekking through the cold and snow, climbing the steps of the little Earthen Jar house, and entering to steamy windows and the wondrous smell of delicious Indian food. My favorite item was the mung dahl - I'd kill for the recipe. A real Ann Arbor gem. I graduated 4 years ago and still dream about this place. read more

Awesome food and cool owner. All vegetarian and you pay by the pound. There is a wide variety and some are better than others depending on what you like so I suggest trying a little of everything and then coming back for seconds if it is your first time there. read more

I have lived in Ann Arbor all my life and I remember visiting this fine place while I was in high school downtown. The food has always been very healthy, satisfying and priced at a steal compared to other similar foods. The interior is welcoming and you can easily come by and have lunch in less time than it takes to go to any comparable sit down restaurant, all while having higher quality than fast food. I would recommend giving it a try if you were looking for lunch. read more

This is an Indian buffet place but it's one of the best tasting Indian places in Metro Detroit and probably one of the best in michigan. A huge choice of food & great low prices, no compromise on quality or taste. Much better option than going to Shalimar. A tiny place but you will love it nevertheless. read more

I can't speak for every dish on the menu, but the samosas (with the spicy sauce) and the tofu masala are very flavorful and delicious!

I want to start by saying that I'm definitely NOT a vegetarian...I eat beef, chicken, pork, etc; but if I lived closer to Ann Arbor, I would go broke eating at Earthen Jar every day! The food there is delicious, and you can get a little bit of everything (since the food is served buffet-style). Even though the food is served buffet-style, it's not a "one price, all you can eat" place. You fill up a plate (or take-out box), then the cashier charges you by the weight. The price is extremely reasonable, and it's perfect for someone who's skeptical of this type of food. You can get as little (or as much) of whatever you want, and you'll get to try anything they have to offer. Their Samosas are INCREDIBLE, and I've never had anything from Earthen Jar that I didn't absolutely love. read more

I am a vegan who cannot tolerate wheat. I usually have very few choices even in vegetarian restaurants. And few are those who make GOOD vegan food when they do make it. Luckily the Earthen Jar is among those really good ones ! The vast majority of the buffet (there is only a buffet by the way) is vegan and gluten free. Yeah ! And each little dish has a very different distinct flavor, lovely flavors. I had a mix of spicy cold plates such as the spicy chick peas (which had a surprise of mint with the heat) and warming dals (one with spinach) and a yummy cauliflower dish. I personally would like to see more spice dishes offered but I also happen to know that most Michigan palates would not tolerate that so understand :-) I loved seeing Indian style black eyed peas and also okra on offer (both very good according to my family who tried them). Clear labels above the food for vegan (or not) and spice level made the choices easier -- but there were so many dishes I could eat, which I am not used to, that I had a hard time choosing which dishes to finally settle on ! I loved that brown rice was available in addition to basmati. And my old Indian favorite of a mango lassi was available as vegan-ized and did not dissapoint (it has been awhile since I switched from vegetarian to vegan and I have missed these) !! Then for dessert, there were a wide variety of vegan gluten free goodies. A pumpkin spice chocolate chip "brownie-style" slice was delicious. Unfortunately on the night I was there only the non-vegan banana pudding was on offer but apparently on some nights the vegan coconut cream version of the banana pudding is prepared ... I need to go back again on a night when that is around as the vegetarian version definitely looked "to die for". I would definitely find it difficult to spend more than $15 without absolutely gorging myself. With the mango lassi (which is over $3) I paid only $12 for my meal and I was stuffed ! ... I think the "by weight" price style is very reasonable and correct and will help to stop people from eating more than is healthy for them ! In Ayurvedic medicine you should never eat until you are so full you cannot put in another bite ... so it fits the philosophy of the owners (who are Indian). I loved the homey hippy ish well-used decor on the inside, and it was great to peruse the selection of Ayurvedic herbal remedies on offer as well. I will definitely be back when I visit my parents in Ann Arbor again. The small dining room would mean that in winter or bad weather you could be out of luck with a table ... luckily they offer take out on the buffet too !! read more

Not what I expected at all . Food was cold and not fresh. It was store bought nan and just warmed up. I didn't enjoy. I'll not go back.

Ah, The Earthen Jar! It's easy to get carried away and accidentally put 4 lbs of food on your plate. What are you supposed to do then? Its not like you can scoop it back into the buffet. There is a pretty cool old man who is always there. He has like, one dead eye or something, and he probably scares a lot of children. But he's friendly and loves Bob Marley and children are close-minded a-holes. Actually, the place is almost a damn Bob Marley shrine or something. I think someone put Legend on repeat on the stereo and locked it up and threw away the key. I once saw a fat construction worker go in there, head straight for the vegan mac and cheese and proceed to snarf that grindage exclusively like there was some sort of marble hidden in the vat of mac and cheese that upon discovery would win you a trip to space camp. Another time the cool old guy in there weighed my Diet Coke can on the scale and charged me an extra 6 bucks for my plate. I doubt he did it on purpose, he was probably high as shit off that Bob Marley everyday all day for the last 30 years. Although, that would be a pretty incredible racket to have going. Word to the wise- you can really score here by purchasing the catering trays. You can on;y select one item, but its a much better deal than by the pound. You just pick which size tray and there's a flat rate, so you can choose the heaviest most dense item and feel like you just got one over on them. I had kidney beans and chickpeas in my fridge for an entire week, it was excellent. I elected to walk a couple miles that day to pick it up, and man did I fuck that decision up. I had oily indian food dripping all over my shirt and even in my shoes by the time I made it home. I probably lost enough food in dribbles on my way back to feed a family of four. One time I put some salt on my vegan Earthen Jar and the woman working there that day told me she had never seen anyone use the salt shaker there in the entire time she had worked there (I'm guessing years). SO, I thought that was pretty cool. It's real easy to break new ground when you're a huge jackass. If I had to pick my most memorable experience at the Earthen Jar, that would probably be the time I eavesdropped on some poor schlup telling his clearly uncomfortable and possibly freaked-out date all about why Battlestar Gallactica was superior to Star Trek The Next Generation. I'm sure it was the first and last date. The first time I ever ate Earthen Jar, I got about 2 lbs of the banana pudding. Later that day, my girlfriend's dad came up to me and said, "I know what you've been up to. You can't hide that from me", in this really creepy secret-dad-power mindfuck style, eyebrows dancing suggestively. I thought he was referring to me having just sullied the reputation of his daughter in his own home with my penis, but no. He was talking about her and I having just smoked a joint on his balcony moments earlier. Was he angry? Nope. He was just trying to score some weed like a baby booming goober, and going about it all wrong. No cool pass for you gramps, you blew it. Anyway, eat at this place and hilarious life adventures will find you. I guarantee it. read more

Went with high expectations after reading reviews on Yelp. The food actually tasted good. It's by the weight, $6.99 for a pound. While the chholey/ chick peas tasted good, but after taste was not good. The throat was itching and I just couldn't figure out after taste, but it was bad. Sadly, I took away some chholey, and had the same experience. May be other dishes are better. read more

If Earthen Jar were to go "all-you-can-eat" for just a single day, I would fly back to Ann Arbor from New York for that day, no matter what the cost. read more

Ok. I will admit, the first time i tried this place, i HATED it! I thought it was just watered down "Americanized" Indian food and was so annoyed. I decided today to give it a second shot as I was in the mood for cheap Indian food that isn't swimming in oil with plenty of vegan options. This was EXACTLY that. It was SO good I wish I could eat there all the time. Definitely the ONLY Indian restaurant I've ever been to that offers brown rice. I was STUFFED from the tofu palak (I'm assuming that's what it's called- spinach and tofu, similar to a palak paneer... but vegan), potato bhaji, and the spicier version of that, forgot what it was called. I put dal and a mixture of spinach and dal on my rice and just went to town. It was amazing. I was full but not "I'm going to die" full like I would have been at any other Indian restaurant (I tend to over indulge when it comes to Indian food). I could not speak highly enough of this place. And the staff is SO nice. Plus the reggae? I mean could it be any more perfect?! I only gave it 4 stars because the one dish i'm weary to try (again) is the chana masala. Normally one of my favorites, theirs seemed to be chick peas in spicy ketchup. Perhaps I'll give that a second shot too. They've definitely earned my trust and I would take anyone there... A million brownie points for being a healthy, flavorful, Indian restaurant. That seriously is SO rare. read more

This place is my favorite Indian restaurant in the downtown area. It's convenient (right next to the library and just down the street from the Neutral Zone), cheap ($6.45 average for enough food to last for a long downtown jaunt), and, above all, delicious! I prefer spicy foods, and the chickpea masala always hits the spot, although, due to the spicing, I find myself making frequent trips to the water dispenser. I would highly recommend this if you're looking for a good, cheap bite to eat in Ann Arbor. read more

This place is awesome! It's perfect for an inexpensive lunch with friends. This buffet-style Indian restaurant allows you to try a lot of different foods and charges by the pound, which goes a long way. In addition to all of the buffet foods, I'd recommend trying the samosas. Earthen Jar extremely relaxed and if you need any help the staff are very friendly. For those of you who enjoy Indian food and don't have a lot of cash to drop on a meal, I'd highly recommend Earthen Jar. read more

pay by the pound, yes, that was $4/lb in my day, i'd imagine it's still close. it's like eating in someone's kitchen. cool family environment. grab a mango lassi and some naan and forget about the war. it's that easy. read more

After seeing most recent reviews, I as a vegan visited there for a try. But, simply disappointed. Even if most foods were vegan-friendly, food quality and diversity (as a buffet restaurant) were not even near my expectation (BTW, I am not a picky eater). I am fine with food priced per pound. But, cooked rice per pound, too? Personally, it was really weird and strange. Since rice is a basic grain in a vegetable-based diet, I think it is to be priced per a bowl or something like that (if charged). One good thing is that you do not need to tip since serving & disposing food is like a fast-food restaurant style. The place was good for a one-time try only. read more

I've been to A LOT of Indian restaurants all over the country. This is one of the best. And the owner is a sweet heart. Great food!

Not only a vegetarian paradise - vegan paradise too. I love this place. The food is delicious, I love being able to sample so many different things, and the owners have such a nice kindly vibe. I do agree with those who say the "hot" isn't quite hot enough. They label some dishes as "spicy" that are really not that hot. I wish they would add a "really spicy" category for a few things and kick it up a little. But overall, I love it. read more

Good prices for a vegan restaurant--the buffet was $5.99/lb. Most of the food was tasty though not very spicy, but I think the chana masala tasted like spaghetti-o's. The owner (?) was kind and helpful to me. The restaurant was very quiet when I came in around noon on a Sunday, which I was glad to see. If I am in the Ann Arbor area again I'll keep this place in mind. read more

My favorite restaurant in Ann Arbor- I wish that this place would open up another restaurant in California. 100% Vegetarian but also a must try restaurant for anyone interested in Indian or just great food. I love everything on the buffet table, but especially the daal, and cauliflower with ginger. For dessert try a ladoo or the banana pudding. read more

This is my go-to during a long day of class on north campus. I've only ever had their catered food, so I can't say it's exactly the same, but the portion size is more than enough. The rice is always perfectly cooked, the sauces and options are always in abundance. The only critique I have is that the spinach & tofu can get quite salty -- nothing you can't offset with the rice, curry potatoes, or just having a cup of water nearby! read more

Everything is veggie. Much is vegan. This is some of the best Indian food I've ever had, and I've had a lot..

This is the worst indian restaurants i have ever gone too. The food is extremely stale, so much that it tastes sour. And if you ask for a naan or roti, the owner heats a frozen one in the microwave and charges you an extra dollar. I would never recommend this place to anyone. Being an indian, i can tell you that it is certainly not the right representation of the indian food. read more

Great for a quick lunch (got my food and was on my way back to class in 10mins), but not everything on the buffet is always super fresh. Prices are reasonable for a good variety of food. read more

Good Indian food. Buffet style but pay by weight. My wife's and my lunch meal came out to about $21 total. We would have gotten a little more food, but we did not think it was a great value at $7 per pound. I am giving 3-stars. A fair price would be about $8 for lunch all-you-can-eat, which is what I have experienced in much more expensive southern California for comparable Indian buffets. Seemed like nice people. Small place. Banana pudding was awesome, but again a little expensive. read more

This place is SO good! I don't get tired of eating here. I've gotten used to the spicy dishes and they've become my favourites. I leave feeling healthy and happy. read more

I am a vegetarian living in Ann Arbor- but I have only been here once and won't be going back. This place is very dirty- greasy grime covers all surfaces including the buffet sneeze guard and the tables. The lazy hippie sits at the register doing nothing, waiting for people to come up and pay... clearly nobody is interested in cleaning anything around here. They even had signs telling you to wash your own plates if you want to use real dishes! The food was not very tempting and looked like it had been sitting around all day... I didn't get much because I was honestly grossed out. What little I tasted did not impress. read more

I can honestly say I am not a very picky eater. So, being adventurous, I thought I'd try this place out with my girlfriend. For the first time ever, in all my restaurant eating career, I left my plate almost completely uneaten and walked out of the restaurant. It just tasted horrible. Plain and simple. Horrible. Maybe it's just that vegan food is horrible, but I had to go to Kerrytown and pick up a whole other meal because it was so awful. Yuck. Plus the guy at the desk was creepy. read more

I love Earthen Jar. I must say that I am not a fan of every item they have, but they have so many choices that it doesn't matter. Since I have been there a lot, I know what I like best. The food is priced depending on weight, and this fits perfectly for me since I always feel that I am losing out on buffets (I don't eat a whole lot). The owner is really nice. This is not a fancy restaurant. It is a paper plates and cups, and leave-your-glass-in-the-sink kinda place. I love it. read more

I've been eating here for ten years. It has always been excellent, friendly, clean and well priced. My favorite place to eat in Ann Arbor.

I cannot get enough of this place. The food is always hot, meat free, and I love that this place is in a house! The owner is very welcoming. They weigh your plate and you pay base on the weight. Prices are cheap! read more