I have this totally selfish desire for this place to thrive. I've only been twice because I don't live anywhere nearby, so it's not like I have a RIGHT for them to stay open. But dammit, they don't have enough people eating there, and it makes me jittery. I want the comfort of knowing they'll be there the next time I happen to be completely out of my way and jonesing for maestro Indian fare. India Bistro stands out. Yeah, yeah, we all have our favorite Indian joints. Decent Indian fare is all over the place in the Seattle metropolis. Nothing wrong with decent, right? Sure, it's not what folks in India eat except maybe at wedding banquets, but precious few of us really want daily-fare "authenticity" because it's not that interesting in most cuisines anyway, and sometimes it's downright terrifying. So we stuff ourselves at our decadent creamy-curry Taste Of or Taj-this or Chutney-that, and go home happy. Happy, that is, until the Naan Big Bang sets off an hour later inside our stomachs, but that's another story. Well. Time to start over, kiddies. You know those yummy but homogeneous curries you love so much? If big globs of uniform taste is your thing, STOP READING NOW. Just keep going where you usually go for Indian. You'll be fine. Oh? Still with me? Okay. Now imagine those curries you already love, but with spices fresher and flavors differentiated: cooked and blended into a coherent whole, but each still very much alive, distinct and piquant. Oh. My. God. This isn't somebody's Just Like Mom Used to Make! cuisine. I mean, come on. Nobody's mother's got time for this sort of wizardry. There's some canny chef behind all this, someone steeped in the science and art of fine cooking, with a hefty dose of talent to boot. You get to watch your food being prepared if you like; the kitchen is open to the dining area. You get a quiet, chic atmosphere. You get welcomed and treated with the sort of deference that unmistakably signals You're Not In Seattle Anymore, Dorothy. You get a bill on par with your heretofore favorite Indian restaurant. Most of all you get glorious, gourmet Indian(-style?) heaven. Just... force yourself to leave room for the Naan Big Bang. I know you always forget to, no matter where you go for Indian, so logically I shouldn't be held liable. But that isn't the way the legal system works anymore, so... yeah. Eat responsibly. That's my disclaimer. read more

This is the best Indian restaurant in the Roosevelt district. Their buffet is great and their dinners are delicious and varied. The owners and staff are very pleasant and attentive. I eat here at least 2-3 times a month. If I'd suggest any improvements, it would be to their naan bread. It's tasty and sufficient, but the naans at Cedars and Taste of India are a bit more varied and impressive. But India Bistro scores the highest marks on everything else. read more

Do not overeat at any buffet, no matter how good they are, trust me! I ate a big Nann they gave me right after i sat down, a whole plate of butter chicken (which I'm so dying for), half plate mango curry, half plate veggies&fruit, 1/3 plate of appetizers, 2/3 plate of potatoes, 2 medium-size dishes of mango mousse and rice pudding. Btw, isn't it illegal to make desserts so awesome that get their customers addicted to?! After eating all those up, i could not stand up. Seriously, I could not! I'm really not a person born for buffet, coz they will make me die! I still feel quite full right now, 12 hours after lunch! Anyway, they have really awesome food, but get yourself controlled! read more

India Bistro - Cannot believe a $10 (plus tax) Indian buffet can make food as good as a normal Indian restaurant! Definitely recommend! - Indian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Tried this place just the other day for dinner. We had Naan (plain and garlic) which was amazingly good. Better than 90% of the Naan I've had elsewhere. They serve it to you whole, which is about a 14" piece. It's warm and chewy and delicious. We also had Veggie Samosas, which were great, but so identical to the other Indian restaurant I like that I'm beginning to suspect they're both buying them pre-made. For an entree, I had Lamb Biryani. It was excellent. Wonderfully aromatic rice cooked just the right amount, mixed with great, vibrant spices and surprisingly tender lamp chunks. The quantity is also pretty amazing. I had enough leftovers for 2 lunches! My wife had Chicken Saag. I'd never tried this anywhere else, but it was so, so delicious here. Also cool is that they serve it to you on a kind of warming pan that uses a candle, so it stays hot while you're eating! Service was very fast and attentive, but to be fair, the place was more or less empty on a Friday night. I'm guessing most of their customers come for lunch. Definitely worth a try! read more

Simple, tasty place with friendly and hardworking staff! Nice local place! Support businesses like this

Absolutely fabulous! Authentic and amazing flavors from the Punjab. Great selection for vegan, vegetarian and carnivore. My friend was in bliss, and he doesn't normally care much for Indian food. He tried the Seafood Trio and just rolled his eyes with glee the whole time, exclaiming that the flavors were incredible. I tried Aloo Chole and Mixed Veggies, both of which were the best I've had anywhere. The Garlic Naan is to die for. We will definitely be back when in Seattle!!! read more

India Bistro - Mixed Vegetables...really good! - Indian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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This place gets 5 stars for the following. Great customer service, polite staff, a good balance of what they have for food, delicious food, and parking spots! What I loved from the buffet was the Indian rice, butter chicken, vegetable samosas, mango mousse and rice pudding. At the beginning of your meal they also give you naan bread. Before you leave I suggest you take some of the seeds they have next to the counter it is yummy~~ for 2 people with tax it was only about $19 super cheap for a lunch buffet! :) will be coming back again. read more

This is a solidly acceptable place - the food is good, seems fresh and all that, staff is obviously concerned with your happiness - but it's nothing remarkable and when there are loads of Indian places, there's no reason to settle here (unless you live super close and/or haven't yet had your heart and stomach stolen by a single Indian restaurant - both of which are true for me). I adore naan - it's one of those things that I will stuff every last bit of in my face and look for more, like dog, and that doesn't happen here. It doesn't have that addictive, chewy quality like everywhere else I've ever had it. Alas. read more

When Alebrije Cuban-Mexican restaurant closed, no one was surprised. I think they had a total of 9 people eat there during their short run. I was surprised, however, at how fast India Bistro turned the place over, making it seem much more inviting to pop in for dinner or a drink at their full bar. I stopped in for the spinach naan, a safe bet when trying out a new Indian restaurant (I haven't been to the India Bistro in Ballard) and was greeted by a bevy of professional and friendly staff. It doesn't have the family feel that Taste of India (my favorite) has, but their naan is chock full o' spinach and onion and other goodness - so good. Just based on the naan and looking at their menu, SO and I will definitely be heading over there for dinner soon. Fish marsala?? Oh hell yeah! read more

One word: YUM! After a miserable experience down the street, we ditched the place and wandered into India Bistro instead. This might be the best decision I've made in 2010. We ordered the butter chicken and lamb korma, both medium-hot, and, of course, an order of naan. Oh. My. God. Heaven in my mouth! The butter chicken was creamy, tomato-y, and ridiculously tender. The lamb korma - ditto! Their basmati rice was fragrant and tasty without overpowering the main dishes- the perfect complement. PROS: **Fantastic, warm & friendly service. We had full water glasses, three different people stopping by our table, and genuine concern about how we were enjoying our meal. **Fantastic presentation of food - the main dishes came in mini chafing-style dishes! I've been to many Indian restaurants and the food always comes out piping hot in big bowls... but this is the first time I've experienced a restaurant that ensures it *stays* piping hot. **Generous portions and reasonable pricing. For $60 (including tip), we got two dishes, naan, and a bottle of tasty chardonnay. That's a damn fine deal. **kheer for dessert - delectable, cooling, and the perfect finish to our spicy, flavorful meal. Who doesn't love pistachio chips?! CONS: Can't think of any. Seriously. If I had to pick something... like if a gun was held to my head or something... I'd say... um... parking? But there are plenty of side streets nearby to accommodate you. I can't wait to come back and try the rest of the menu! read more

We're recent transplants to Seattle and my fiancé is Indian, so very particular about Indian food. We've tried a bunch of places in the area and this has been the only one so far that we have been excited about! Service was fantastic for carry out pickup. Portions were a very good size, and the spice level on the extra hot was perfect. The lamb saag was next-level, and the chicken korma was also excellent. Naan was huge and well-cooked. Will definitely be back!! read more

The garlic naan was the highlight of our delivery meal. The Saag Aloo was ok but a little to creamy and sweet for my tastes. The Chana Aloo wasn't bad either but not the best I have had. The okra dish however should never have been served to a customer. Every single piece of okra in the dish was super stringy and fibrous and left a wad of cud in your mouth that then had to be spit out. Inedible. read more

I'm not one who usually handles Indian lunch buffets well, but the boyfriend really likes them so I suck it up. We've been here twice, and I'm happy to say that nothing horrible happened after eating here! Seriously, that's an accomplishment for me! I mean, I'm not trying to gross you out or anything, but that's really a feat as I usually end up with an upset stomach and throwing up after Indian lunch buffets. This place was pretty tasty though...and well worth the $6.95 buffet or $5 take out box. The tandori chicken was a bit dry, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE the butter chicken so much that I don't even care about anything else. It has great flavor and the chicken's moist. I also love the veggies they have on the grill and the little potato cakes they have as well. The garbanzo bean salad was quite tasty too. My only real complaint about this is that they don't give enough naan. I love me some naan and I hate that they only give you a small helping of it and then they take the plate away. Minus one for that. read more

This place is still by far the best indian food place I've ever been too, and I'm excited that they are going to be starting a dinner buffet as well. If you haven't tried there buffet yet, you have to! You'll never want to go to another second-rate one again =D read more

My boyfriend and I recently moved to the Sandpoint area. This was the first Indian restaurant we tried and we loved it. We've tried other restaurants closer to our house and none have compared to the consistant quaility and great prices of India Bistro. Their food is complex, delicious, fresh, and authentic. My personal favorite time to come is for the lunch or dinner buffet so I can have a bit of everything. The lamb tikka masala, tandori and butter chicken are amazing. The service is good and they are all very friendly. They have a great happy hour with $2 beers! The two of us can fill our bellies with an appetizer, naan, and a shared entre for $20. No complaints at all! read more

Great lunch buffet (9.99 on weekends), amazing service and parking! Two desserts, a few appetizers and ~6 entrees! Will definitely come again! Highly recommend it! read more

I was also not surprised either when Alebrije closed, although I'd seen a fair number of visitors from the outside -- mostly during karaoke. I tried them once, was pretty disappointed despite my love for Cuban and Mexican, and decided to move on. There are too many other great places to try in Seattle. I was really surprised to see an Indian restaurant opening, in its place. I've been to the other India Bistro in Ballard, once for lunch and once for dinner. While it was good, I didn't think it was great. This new India Bistro is a step up and is probably the best Indian restaurant I've visited on the Seattle side of the water. On a recent trip to the Bay Area, I remember describing the difference in Indian cuisine from Seattle -- the flavors there seemed more vibrant, clear, and fresh. India Bistro nailed this. Yes! We tried the vegetable samosas, garlic and basil naan, Chicken Korma, and the Tandoori combination with tandoori chicken, lamb, seekh kebab, tikka, fish and prawns. I sampled some of each, saving a fair portion for leftovers, and enjoyed every last bite. The samosa were not too heavy, the naan was flavorful, and the korma had depth I hadn't noticed in korma at other local restaurants. We were there fairly early for a Friday evening, but the place soon started filling up. I'd also give the service 5 stars -- attentive, but not intrusive. At the end of our meal, we were given complimentary Kheer (indian rice pudding). Normally, I wouldn't order dessert after a large meal, but this was a perfect ending. read more

Buffets can be scary. Especially when it comes to ethnic foods with lots of spices. Let me tell ya this place has great lunch specials. Under $7 per person. The selection of food gives you a good variety of vegetarian selection and meat lovers. It even has cold and hot served vegetables and really light desserts. The dining-in option is great because most working folks have 1 hr lunch and there is no waiting needed. So even if you need to drive there it's not a big problem on time. They do have a small underground parking lot behind the building but there isn't always space available. Also, inside is really nicely decorated. They have white table linen with flute water glasses and comfy seating. Great for a business meeting or a lunch date. read more

India Bistro has the best selections of Indian food for the lunch buffet in the entire neighborhood. Their foods are always fresh and delicious. The main attraction of the lunch buffet is their goat curry, which is very hard to find in an average Indian buffet. They also have ample selections for vegetarians. Overall their lunch buffet is fresh, good and delicious. Price department is also very reasonable, well under $ 8.00. Customer service in India Bistro is also very good. Their greetings are always friendly and welcoming. Ambiance here is neat and clean with lots of seatings. India Bistro is also good for organizing party. They are nicely set up for the party with good looking bar. read more

They are the best Indian Restaurant in Seattle!! Our family lived in Pune, India for many years and have tried all the North end Indian restaurants; India Bistro has #1 best tomato soup and main dishes. The bartender made me a fabulous Whiskey Sour, the perfect accompaniment to my Bindi Masala. I love their spinach naan. I'm glad I live close enough to be a semi regular at their place. read more

I didn't try too much but the simosas here are so good. I got the food to go and I was very impressed with their chicken simosas. The pastry on the outside was flaky and the filling wasn't all sauce but had chunks of meat. I was incredibly happy with the food and can't wait to come back for some lunch. read more

Went for a lunch at India Bistro. The food was great. Great value for money. Cleanliness is the only grudge that I have for this place. The place and cutlery was not clean. Especially the cutlery had left over food from previous use. read more

Fairly reliable Indian. Incredibly quick service. It's not life-changing, but it will do in a fix. The garlic naan is exceptionally fluffy. I tried the butter chicken and although the sauce was good, the chicken was not the highest quality, so the texture was not always ideal. The lunch buffet seems like a steal! read more

It's a little pricey but the food is good and they give generous portions. I recommended that you also get the garlic naan- it's awesome!

For many years, my wife and I have regularly eaten at Cedar's and its sister restaurant, Taste of India. Last year, after standing in the hallway and looking into the Cedar's kitchen, I thought I might look up both these places on the King County Department of Health site. The results weren't encouraging -- inspectors have found neither place to be, exactly, clean. So when the Roosevelt India Bistro opened, we were excited because, at least at the beginning, the kitchen wouldn't be covered in grime. Now, having eaten there on a number of occasions, we're excited because the food is so darn good. The service is excellent. And we don't have to put up with drunken undergraduates bumping against our chairs. Things we enjoy: the baba ganouj, the Mulligatawany soup, tandoori chicken and tandoori salmon. And occasionally I wander over to the kitchen and -- it's clean. Obviously the owner cares. And the owner, "Mike," is frequently on hand. Always a good sign in a restaurant. He's a personable man who clearly cares about your satisfaction. read more

Speaking from experience only with the lunch buffet, India Bistro definitely earns all 5 stars from me. Where else for $6.95 can you enjoy lunch in a great atmosphere, choosing from a buffet brimming with freshly prepared foods? They even offer takeout, where for $5 you can fill a generously sized container from the buffet and get a foil-wrapped packet of steaming naan to boot. The buffet begins with a large hot tray of freshly stir-fried veggies and deep-fried potato fritters (pakoras? sorry, my Indian food vocabulary is limited). Don't pass these up! The veggies are fresh and yummy, excellent mixed with any of the sauces and curries to come down the line. And the potato pattties, pure deep-fried bliss. Next you'll see mango mousse and rice pudding, as if to remind you that you'll want dessert later, so save room. The cold section includes about a half-dozen cold salads, marinated cucumbers, slaws, and sauces, each fresh and tasty. Rice, yes, lots of rice, along with typically 3 or 4 chicken dishes, 3 or 4 vegetarian entrees, dal, and curries. I suggest trying a little of whatever interests you on your first lap, then going back for refills of whatever you enjoyed the most (always a good strategy at a buffet). And don't forget the naan. Did I mention the naan? Sigh. Blackened just right on the bottom, puffed to perfection on top, and buttered just a little. Basket after basket will appear on your table, as if replenished by the gods. read more

Mmmmmm...I've been here several times and the food has never disappointed. We got lamb curry, chicken curry, and cauliflower with potatoes. All the dishes have adjustable spicy levels, which is a major bonus for me. Now I can actually have spicy Indian food. The flavors of the dishes are good, the service is there without being in my face, and food comes out quick and hot. The Na'an is amazing, too. Hot, soft, and perfect for dipping into the curry. Another great thing is that the meat in the curries are never overcooked. They're still moist and edible. A great local restaurant. read more

I'll go back for the food. The food is a solid 5. Absolutely fantastic; exceeded all my expectations. The service...well let's just say it left quite a bit to be desired. If the food wasn't SO good, I would drop the rating another star. Still, I'd go again. Update 3/15/2013: Went again with totally the same review as before: fabulous food and decent service. Next stop - the lunch buffet! read more

Very Limited selection in their lunch buffet, but each dish was made with quality. Very tasty...especially their daal and saag chicken. I like the fact that they had bindhi as well...I love okra! In total I counted around 12 entrees and 2 desserts...but if go back. Service was very attentive...definitely a major plus. I'm more used to the places in California that have 20-30 items in the buffet...so in deducted a star for that...wish I could give them 3.5 stars read more

Best Indian food in Seattle, hands down. Possibly the best Indian I've had on the West Coast. I've been to India four times, and the food here is as good as the best food I've had there. The butter chicken is incredible, the lunch buffet is fantastic, the service is great, the prices are reasonable. Other Indian restaurants leave me feeling bloated - India Bistro doesn't. That's because they don't use as much butter/ghee/lard as other Indian restaurants. Their sauces are lighter, more yogurt based, more flavorful. Highly recommend this place. read more

India Bistro is very delicious restaurant. I have been there for lunch and dinner and was pleased both times! I I did enjoy the lunch buffet more, because it was a great way to try different flavors and of course the curries! I love chicken tikka masala, so every time I eat out at an Indian Restaurant I have to try it to test it out! India bistro's was amazing! Truly recommend!!! Naan was good and I enjoyed my meal! But I must say go at lunch! read more

India Bistro was a recent, though excellent discovery. They've got a fantastic buffet, a really awesome selection of delicious dishes on their menu, and truly amazing prices. I had the lamb tikka masala, which arrived bubbling hot, and came really close to achieving my spice expectations (which very few places are able to accomplish). The naan left a little bit to be desired, but other than that a great all-around meal. read more

I've only been here for the lunch buffet, but considering that I've visited a dozen times for that lunch buffet it's totally worth the five stars just for lunch. There are tons of delicious options and they have variety, so next time you go you have more things to consider! Their salads are delicious and I could probably fill up with them alone. The butter chicken is to die for. Visit, you know you want to! read more

Great shop. Mango mouse led us here and it will bring us back! Not too many choices on the buffet, but all were great. Potato dishes are gonna make me think more about potato options in Indian food from now on. Great find at a great price. read more

Indian food? All-you-can-eat? It sounded too good to be true. Heaven has come to earth as a restaurant called India Bistro. It's everything I dreamed of and more. Come here for lunch. Their buffet is both cheap and tasty-- the goat curry is incredible and I couldn't get enough of their mango pudding. The selection is good-- they have both butter and tandoori chicken as well as a few other dishes. I'm not a vegetarian but Indian food tends to be friendly to veggies, so you shouldn't have trouble finding something you like. My issue with other Indian places is the portion sizes. India Bistro solves this problem. $8.95 for unlimited Indian food during lunch hours. If you are like me and love eating a lot of Indian food I highly recommend coming here for lunch. read more

The food at this Indian restaurant is amazing!!! I'm Indian, so I've tasted a lot of Indian food, and I don't remember ever going to a buffet, and liking everything offered. With this restaurant, I commented to those with me, on every single dish, as if it were the best I've tasted. It was Yummy - with a capital Y. The service is nice, but they kind of assume you are ok, unless you ask them for something. Of course I went to a buffet, so I'm not expecting someone to be waiting on me hand and foot. read more

The best buffet!!! Can't wait to come back for dinner. You won't be disappointed. read more

I've tried a few of the other highly recommended Indian restaurants (eg, Taste of India) on Yelp! and can whole heartedly state that India Bistro is the real deal. We ordered the Chicken Tandoori which came out on a hot sizzling iron plate and tasted succulent and moist with a hint of char on the outside to give it that finished touch. It was great. We also ordered the Lamb Vindaloo which was served in a stainless steel platter with its own candle to keep it warm. The tomato base was thick and had enough substance to make it like a curry base but not too watery. The naan was good too. I gave it 4 and not 5 stars because our waiter was clueless. He stated, "I just started here" but knew nothing about the menu, for instance, when I asked him about the eggplant appetizer he told me it didn't come with naan when it clearly stated it on the menu, he also didn't know what kind of beer they had on tap he just said, "ummm we have mack and jacks a dark port I think and some other stuff..." Also when I asked him about the Vindaloo he didn't even know what it was and had to track down another waiter to explain the dish to us. Not a great representative if you ask me. He's the only caucasian waiter in the restaurant with thinning hair and has an odd demeanor (eg, he kept staring at my wife and I from a distance as we were looking at our menus, possibly anticipating, but odd). If the service were better it would have gotten 5. Either way, it was good solid Indian food and I'd definitely go back. read more

My husband and I just moved here and we are exploring Indian cuisine in the area (my favorite food). We ordered two biryanis and an order of naan for take out. When my husband brought it home we were so excited because the portion was HUGE - great right? No. I have had some incredible biryanis - so I know going in that it might not be the best but at least should have some good flavors. However, this was one of the most bland dishes I have ever eaten. There was zero depth of flavor - to the point of no salt whatsoever. My husband felt the same way. Then I tried the naan. I knew it smelled off but then when I tasted it I decided we need to take this food back. It tasted and smelled like chemicals. Needless to say - we did take the food back. Luckily they gave us a refund. read more

This place has the best Indian buffet. Mutter mushroom and paneer bhurji was top notch. Limited but excellent choices of desserts.