flavor is great! the butter chicken is so delicious. our first thin time was delivery but it was so good!! 10/10

My favorite Indian has literally stepped up their game and is top tier! They have servers walking around with meat like a Brazilian steakhouse. The meat is seasoned to perfection and too spicy for our toddler. The restaurant has literally up levleled their service. They are so popular. Not that we were gateleeping this place but I wish we did. It is soooo popular now. And they remodeled so there is more space. You definitely gotta try this place. If you don't come anything but the mango ice cream you will be satisfied. read more

Stopped by over the weekend with a couple friends and ended up staying longer than we planned. As soon as you walk in, you can see the live kebab grill going -- that alone pulls you in. Everything coming off there was fresh and had that smoky flavor you don't usually get at buffets. We went for the Saturday all you can eat option and it was actually a solid deal. Plenty of choices, and they kept everything stocked so nothing felt picked over. I liked that the food tasted fresh, not like it had been sitting. I've also tried their lamb chops buffet Friday before, and that's honestly the reason I came back. The lamb chops were juicy, well-seasoned, and didn't have that dry texture you sometimes get. Service was chill and friendly, nothing over the top but they made sure we were good. Overall, good food, good portions, and worth it if you're hungry and want variety. read more

Favorite Indian Restaurant, Hayward My family and I used to come here so often before the Covid-19 pandemic, we always get the lunch buffet during the weekdays. They served all different types of delicious Indian entrees with yummy desserts. It was unlimited frozen mango ice cream, Gulab Jamun which are soft, fried donut holes soaked in a warm, fragrant sugar syrup, and Kheer which is rice pudding. Everything was so delicious! One of my favorite Indian restaurants, literally! They currently have lunch specials during the weekdays which are also a great option and so worth coming in for! What we ordered: *Chicken Vindaloo Lunch Special- chicken was tender and the vindaloo sauce has a spicy kick which I loved! It came with a side salad, some sides and basmati rice. *Butter Chicken- chicken was also tender and butter sauce was perfect, great pairing with naan and basmati rice. *Tandoori Chicken- I love the Charred favor on this and the seasoning was lightly favored. Great presentation too! I usually get any of their signature Tikka Masala dishes because they're very delicious! If you like spicy then I recommend their Vindaloo dishes. Highly recommend the garlic or onion naan that are paired with their signature tamarind and mint/ coriander chutney. Service is great, would come back again!! read more

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I have ordered from this place for years. I noticed that the quality of the food has significantly declined. The butter chicken and chicken tiki masala was spicy- which was NEVER spicy before when we ordered. The bhindi masala was bland and soggy. Did not taste like the food we are used to ordering. Very disappointed. We will be looking for another Indian restaurant. This definitely is not my favorite Indian restaurant anymore. read more

This is the best the best the best Indian restuarant i ve ever been too. The all you can eat is amazing in value and in quality. The selections are plentiful, the quality of food is best. Their lamb skewer theybserved table side is fantastic, best ive ever had. Just go eat here, you will be wow by this place. read more

Favorite Indian Restaurant - The amazing amazing lamb skewers. BeSt LamB i ever have. - Indian Near Me - Hayward, California

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This is a classic place to eat at for their buffets and lunch specials. I hadn't eaten here in years until my partner wanted to go after a friend suggested it to us We came on a Friday for lunch and it was quite peaceful. They have a very comfortable and upscale interior with good food options. We got the butter chicken and chicken tikka masala and everything was so creamy and went well with the garlic naan and curries. The kheer helped bring the heat down from the curries. Everything was made so well and we need to come back here stat! read more

Favorite Indian Restaurant - Butter Chicken Chicken Tikka Masala - Indian Near Me - Hayward, California

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BYOR - bring your own rice. I've been ordering food from this place for 15+ years and the main dishes always come with rice. My last two orders have not. It's really a shame to see my favorite place mess up like this. I guess they're started to nickel and dime for rice? But what Indian restaurant serves tikka masala without rice?? Won't be ordering again and that sucks. read more

Just highlighting the amazing customer service. I did an uber eats order, but one get one! Orde the chicken rolls masala, naan, and vegetable samosa. They gave me 2 extra samosas! They also gave complimentary rice to go with my chicken tikka. And of course gotta have a mango lassi, mine is currently in the freezer getting extra cold!! read more

Favorite Indian Restaurant - Butter Chicken Naan Mango Lassi - Indian Near Me - Hayward, California

Came closer to closing time so no other customers were around Opted for buffet styled dinner Selection was not bad for price but average quality overall Loved the endless chai refills Loved the mango soft serve Thank you! read more

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Food was amazing. My family and I love it here. Service was very attentive. Also they refill the food very quickly. Clean up dishes, attend to our drinks very quickly. Very good price for dinner buffet on the weekend for $22.95/person. Parking is plentiful just next to the restaurant. A safe area too. read more

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An absolutely favorite for my family and I to eat authentic and delicious Indian food. We have been going to Favorite Indian buffet since they opened in San Ramon. Now they moved to Hayward we still come once in a while. My favorite is their Butter Chicken. The best!! read more

Favorite Indian Restaurant - Favorite Indian buffet - Indian Near Me - Hayward, California

I've been coming to Favorite Indian Restaurant for around 15 years now, and it's still one of my go-to spots for Indian food. The food is always good, and it's one of those places I always come back to. I'm really happy their lunch buffet is coming back on May 2, and I'm excited to try the new Live Kababs too. I've missed having a good Indian lunch buffet with fresh food and all the classics in one place. If you're looking for good Indian food, a solid lunch buffet, or a reliable Indian restaurant, this place is definitely worth trying. read more

Favorite Indian Restaurant - Indian Near Me - Hayward, California

First review in 2026 goes to... the aptly named Favorite Indian! So freakin' good! I haven't eaten this much in a longggg time (and this is coming right after the holidays). It was a dark and rainy Saturday night ... and something about Indian buffet for dinner sounded right. So we made the 30 minute drive up and over 580, and were happy to find we didn't have to wait-y. We were even happier to find a parking lot for the restaurant (I'm always anxious about the parking situation at places). The food was fantastic, with a good variety of chicken, fish, and vegetarian dishes. I don't recall there being any lamb dishes. Butter chicken was on point, fish pakora was tasty and not overly greasy. Biryani was delicious and didn't have those little chips of bone or spices that so often ruin biryani for me. Tandoori chicken was well cooked, not dry. There were also dishes I hadn't seen at other buffets, including a hard boiled egg of sorts, chili shrimp (which felt more Indo-Chinese but still tasty), chicken curry (chicken fell off the bone), and a yogurt curry which was amazing. I do wish there were more sweets available for dessert. The kheer was delicious, but I love gulab jamun. However... there's a mango soft serve machine! And the ice cream cones were surprisingly fresh. Also, unlimited chai is always a bonus! Drinks are self-serve, although we did have our waters refilled throughout the meal. There were also sodas and three varieties of lemonades available. This place isn't huge, but it's got a good number of booths and enough TVs where you have a clear view of one no matter where you're sitting. Football was on when we were there, so you don't need to sacrifice sports for food (although it would be worth it!) I felt pricing was very reasonable at $55 for dinner for two people. We'll be back, and we'll be bringing our friends! read more

Had dinner at our favorite Indian spot tonight and it was SO good. We've been coming here for years, and they recently changed the place around with servers bringing meats around table-side almost like a Brazilian steakhouse experience. The lamb and chicken were absolutely out of this world. Part of me wants to keep this place a hidden gem, but they truly deserve recognition for the amazing food and service. One of the best parts is seeing the same familiar faces even after all these years it really feels like family every time we come here. read more

Timing is everything. Sometimes things just fall into place because they are meant to be. On 11/09/2024, at around 4:45pm, my family and I were traveling on NB 880 when we started talking about having Indian food for dinner and how much we missed the old Favorite Indian Restaurant in San Ramon. Well, someone must have been listening because when I did an on-board computer search, the first option that came up was - you guess it - Favorite Indian Restaurant in Hayward! Done deal, off we went. We arrived right at 5pm and were the first customers of the dinner rush. The owner told us to sit anywhere we wanted, and we chose a booth near the buffet station. The interior was dark, and cleanliness was satisfactory. The space must have been an American restaurant in the past because many aspects reminded me of one. The buffet ($22.95) featured 20 meat and vegetarian items plus salad, soft drinks, and desserts. I noticed some higher cost ingredients such as okra, cauliflower, etc. were missing. The overall quality was decent. The standout items were the fish pakora and tandoori chicken. Both were made in small batches to ensure freshness. I was disappointed with the chicken tikka masala. The chicken breast pieces were tough and dry. Service was alright. The owner came by several times to refill water and clear the table of plates. All in all, I thought this place was decent but not as good as their old San Ramon location (better selection and quality). 3.5 stars rounding up to 4. Will return when I crave Indian buffet. BONUS MATERIAL: - Private parking lot on site. - Major credit cards accepted. read more

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I ordered the Lamb Biryani, Lamb Tikka Masala and naan, omgosh, everything was so flavorful! My tummy is quite happy as it has been a while since I had good Indian food! This food is absolutely delightful and wonderfully delish! I highly recommend this restaurant! read more

13 years later and we are still loyal regulars! So happy to see the weekend buffet back on Friday and Saturday nights. They've leveled up the menu with new items like lamb chops, lamb cubes, and chicken kabobs, plus a few other delicious new dishes. As always, the service is top-notch. Highly recommended! read more

great place! super friendly staff. the kabab sever was extra nice and courteous. Keeping our table clean. For the food. The lamb kabab and chop was so flavorful. The red and yellow grill chicken kabab was super juicy and good. The naan was thin and crispy. Everything was fresh and yummy. The mango lemonade was the best of their lemonade. and mango ice cream very good and creamy. only complain is their mill tea is a bit weak but I'm used to much stronger stuff. read more

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easily best Indian food I've had in a while. Very flavorful, not too heavy. Thank you for the meal

Best Indian food in Bay Area Part -3 25$ only for UNLIMITED INDIAN DINNER BUFFET Follow @priyaincalifornia on Instagram to get 15% discount coupon Their weekend buffet is a celebration of authentic Indian cuisine. Whether you're a long-time fan or new to Indian food, our buffet offers something for every palate. Dinner Only Buffet: Available Friday & Saturday, 5 PM - 9 PM. Fresh & Authentic: Every dish is made the same day, using hand-selected spices and quality ingredients. Wide Variety: Enjoy meat, vegetarian, and vegan-friendly options. All You Can Eat: Indulge in unlimited portions of your favorite Indian flavors. Buffet Menu Highlights Butter Chicken - Smooth and flavorful with Zabiha Halal chicken. Tandoori Chicken - Marinated overnight and grilled with Zabiha Halal meats. Vegetable Biryani - Fragrant rice with fresh vegetables and bold spices. Paneer Tikka Masala - Creamy vegetarian classic. Fresh Naan & Garlic Naan - Baked fresh daily. Dessert Bar - Sweet endings to your Indian meal. Enjoy our buffet in Hayward, Fremont, Union City, Castro Valley & San Leandro! (California telugu ammayi, Sunnyvale blogger, Santa clara blogger, san jose blogger, Fremont blogger,hayward blogger, el camino real, newark blogger) #california #hayward #fypppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp #explorepage #bayareaeats cooking reelítfeelit reelsinstagram siliconvalleyfoodies sffoodie sffood sffoodies sffoodblogger sffoodguide southbayeats coffee sanfranciscofoodie bayareafoodie sanjosefood southbay bayareafoodies bayareafoodguide mountainview bayareafoodiecrew sanjosefood siliconvalley croissant bayareafoodiesquad sanfranciscocoffee bestfoodfeed sanjosefoodie bayareafood bayrestaurants sanjoseeats coffeeshop sanfrancisco read more

We stumbled upon this buffet last Friday on a whim and desire for some Indian food. We were unaware that Friday nights and Saturdays were buffet days. It was one of this best experiences I've had in a while. The food from the buffet was good and flavorful. The presentation was clean and organized. The show stopper however was the grilled meats that they brought around each table. It was Brazilian steakhouse style and it was non-stop. I overate because it was so tasty. The lamb chops were on another level and they had 3 differently seasoned chicken cuts. For you meat purists, I will say these were "overcooked" to the standards of most on the first rotation, but right up my alley! No shiny meat for me. They did get it perfect on the 3rd offering, but I'm a well done guy, and I was FULL. Overall, I loved it. The staff were amazing and made the experience enjoyable. While it won't be the fanciest place you'll dine at, It's a must try. read more

Favorite Indian is indeed my favorite Indian restaurant. It's consistently good and for a great price, too, with generous portions! The lunch buffet is worth (so is the lunch special) if you have time to sit down, but I also love just taking out. Great comfort food! I'd give food recs but basically everything is good on the menu. A Hayward classic :) read more

This is for Friday night buffet. Foods and service are good. Only thing that holding me from going back is the price. Used to be way cheaper. read more

Solid North Indian food. Great options and variety. Really nostalgic going here and neighborhood restaurant.

So delicious that it is memorable! I come here every time I'm in Hayward. Typically I order the tandoori chicken, so juicy and flavorful. Plus the cauliflower and potato dish has a good amount of heat. Meat (lamb) samosa very tasty. Generous portions and reasonably priced. Look at the size of the rice that comes with the bowl of chicken tokka masala! read more

Favorite Indian Restaurant - Aloo Gobi - Indian Near Me - Hayward, California

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Considering food, service and ambiance for Sunday dinner I would rate this 2.5 - 3. No dinner buffet so ordered a variety of items... First issue is you walk in and the place is dark....not dim but dark like a nightclub...still light out at 6pm but blinds closed and lights off except for blue rope lighting along the ceiling which was annoying. Service is pedestrian and lacking other than to place your order. Not much follow up and when you ask for items it's a 50-50 you'll receive. Items that were good: :: Mixed tandoori chicken - :: Lamb curry - tender pieces of lamb with carrot and potato :: Meat samosa - best item we had, nice pastry with a flavorful filling MEH items: :: Lamb biryani- rice seemed overcooked to me :: Vegetable pakoras - over battered :: Chicken tikka masala - flavor a bit flat :: Chai seemed off...I love chai but their version was different, not a fan Possibly new owners as I haven't been in awhile (since pre-pandemic) and not sure I'm rushing to return. Even by 730 the lights in some booths were on but dim...this wasn't ambient lighting and brighter outside. Ridiculous...no longer my "favorite" Indian spot read more

Favorite Indian Restaurant - Yup it's that dark inside! - Indian Near Me - Hayward, California

Deeeeelicious food , good parking , good ambience . So glad they stayed open through COVID ( they did take out and outdoor seating ). It's a regular lunch spot for my friend and I . Try the butter chicken and paneer pakora , you won't be disappointed ! read more

Tried this spot for the second time! Lots of different options which I really liked! They have three different types of curries, (Butter Chicken, Paneer Tikka Masala, Chicken Tikka Masala)... I mean seriously... Find me a different buffet restaurant who offers this in their buffets! The food was great, the ambience in the restaurant is top notch. You could really tell they invested a lot of money in the store ambience! Customer service was good too. Would definitely come here again! read more

Favorite Indian Restaurant - Indian Near Me - Hayward, California

I was in town and I love me some Indian Food. I went and they weren't quite ready exactly at 5 when they were suppose to be open. The ambience was nice and clean inside. The food was more towards cold then hot and steamy. That was one downfall. I believe they may make the food in advance and heat it up with the buffet setting. As for the taste. I didn't care for much of it or I would say any of it. The goat was okay but could use more spices to make it TASTY. And overall I think the buffet for one person itself was high in price for the lack of quality and taste. I had to pay 27.63 for one person and I would say I left filling ripped off. Because the food was not all that tasty nor good to me. Hate to write this and not do a good review. But all that was good was the restaurant setting. Not the taste of food nor quality. Sorry to say. read more

Ordered takeout, when I arrived to pick it up the guy made a comment about me not giving tip. Seems like it's happened to others based on the reviews here too. Food was honestly not great either, fairly bland. if you're looking for something in the area, go to Pakwan, or Aama's kitchen instead. Food and service is better, at literally any other Indian place in Hayward. read more

Always on point with flavor, my favorite dishes are tikka masala, fruit filled naan, rice pudding type dessert, chicken biryani, samosa. Their rice is extremely flavorful and I've never included rice in a food review before. I'd skip the Raita, unfortunately much like a few other places I've order it from over the past year, they've watered it down so it like dipping your food in water. read more

went their again today loved their butter chicken and chilli chicken always the best best part their food is not oil at all like others read more

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Really enjoyed our meal here! Everything tasted incredible - I definitely want to come back and try the buffet. No complaints about service, as they were very attentive. I got lots of free refills of my chai :) Authentic flavors and delicious - lives up to the name of being the favorite! My personal favorite was the palek paneer and the butter chicken. No matter what base you eat it over (rice, naan, etc) everything goes well with each other, and you can mix and match sauces and proteins with your bases as well. Please note that the buffet is only on Fridays and Saturdays for dinner (5-9pm). read more

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Don't judge a book by its cover, the food here is absolutely amazing, the Indian species on point and food were fresh. We enjoyed everything here, the server was very polite and attentive. We were craving Indian food and they didn't not disappoint. read more

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Go to for quick delivery Indian. Super quick and tasty. Just wish portions of entrees were a bit larger. Don't get me wrong, their sauces are fantastic, just a little short on proteins like chicken or paneer. I always get takeout, and never have seen anyone actually eat inside. read more

We came on a Friday night for the buffet. We drove all the way from Fremont to Hayward. A long drive for something that wasn't worth it. The buffet was just okay, and expensive :(. Service is great. But, the Food wasn't. At the hot bar, there's different curries with small amounts of meat. We didn't see samosas or Naan. These are staples and something I expected in Indian restaurants. The best part of this buffet is the self serve mango ice cream. That's it. read more

Favorite Indian Restaurant - Indian Near Me - Hayward, California

This review is specifically regarding the weekend dinner buffet. For a buffet, the items are filled at a decent rate, and they drop off waters when you're seared. The food is all pretty tasty. One thing I miss is the fresh naan brought to your table, now it's on the buffet. Some standouts for me are the fish pakoras, saag, eggplant, chicken tikka and tandoori chicken. They offer chai that's pre sweetened, but not overly sweet (honestly I take mine without sugar when I have the chance, but theirs is manageable). They also offer kheer and mango soft serve. They're great handling larger groups too! So, whether you're here for a family dinner, or you want to introduce a friend to Indian food for the first time, they have something for everyone. read more

My husband and I have come here a few times for dinner on weeknights and it has easily become one of our favorite places! For my Indian readers please forgive me as I proceed to describe Indian food in a very inaccurate non-Indian way: Typical order for us usually includes the butter chicken meal set (comes with a bunch of side curries, some yogurt, a few pieces of naan, etc); and one of the biryani dishes (usually lamb). The samosas are also delicious. Our total order for 2 people is usually around $60 with a lot of extra takeout. Pros: - Easy and large parking lot - Pretty decent speed service - First date or casual hangout vibes - I always love the semi dim lighting of Indian restaurants LOL - DELICIOUS FOOD. Exactly what you would expect. - HUGE QUANTITIES. We always joke that paying for 1 meal here is like paying for 3 meals total - I end up bringing leftovers for lunch for the next 2 days. - The servers are nice but not overfriendly (I'm a big fan of servers who mostly grunt lol) - Super clean restaurant - I like that there's always a few parties seated but it's never overcrowded/super long wait. - Huge menu with so many options Cons: - Because the ambiance is kind of quiet, if you happen to be seated next to someone who talks really loud, you can literally hear their conversation so clearly and loudly. We 10/10 will be returning at least once a month! read more

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We were so disappointed in our most recent trip here but we are still hoping that it was just an off day. Instead of bringing naan refills to the table now, they have the naan in the buffet table. Totally understand this from an efficiency standpoint, but it leads to long queues. Sometimes you have to wait a cycle before you get your hands on those fluffy pillows of naan. The tikka masala and the butter chicken tasted bland. Honestly, couldn't tell much difference between the two. Our favorite dish here used to be the fish pakora. We were very disappointed when we saw the fish was replaced with a fried shrimp. You can imagine our excitement when they brought out the fish pakora in the middle of our meal. I got myself a bowl and the first bite was full of DISAPPOINTMENT. It tasted like reheated leftovers, the lukewarm batter was simultaneously gummy and hard. The fish inside was dried out. Why would they serve this? It was so offensive I would have been less upset if they had just not brought it out at all. We came at 6pm at a Saturday and the kheer was empty. They never refilled it during our entire meal. Some positive things -- they have a few offerings that I don't usually see at Indian buffets. I really liked their baingan bartha (eggplant) and their chili chicken. They still have unlimited chai and a healthy selection of different proteins (chicken, goat, paneer) in their curries. Honestly, at $23 per person, we left feeling like it wasn't worth it. I would give them one more chance for nostalgia's sake, but this last trip left a bitter taste in my mouth. read more