Definitely a place to go for Indian cuisine. They've been in business for over 20 years so that should tell you something. Lunch buffet is great and the owner is always around incase you need something. I'm not familiar with the names of the food but everything has always been delicious! read more

I got horrible food poisoning from this place. The food and service was good, just not worth getting potential salmonella poisoning.

Recently went back to this lovely establishment and finally had something that wasn't one of the sampler meals and wasn't the buffet. Chicken Kashmira, I think it was called.. If I got it wrong, it's close enough that you will find it It was so very good. I'm actually quite a good cook, so I don't put up with much by way of expense that is not warranted by such things as great service, atmosphere and taste. Which to me, the majority of the atmosphere revolves around if the seating is at all comfortable and if the customer service borders on the tolerable or better. But, still, other things do help, like decor, whether other customers are happy, if the cook is or is not throwing bowls out of the kitchen, etc. India Oven is the best place I've been to in Tucson for customer service. Their chairs are comfortable. The decor is beautiful. The elder lady who often ends up coming to our table to take our order is a wonderful, charming person who, like any of the best mothers, is so skilled at directing the less knowledgeable as to how they should do things. And, she asks us how spicy we want the dish, instead of just assuming - like many other places do- that since we have pale skin, we must want things to be so mild that anyone else would just fall asleep trying to eat it. I said "Oh, I'd like it pretty spicy." and that's what I got. It was spicy enough to feel it real good, but, not so spicy as to be an experience about how macho one is. It would have been way too spicy for my mom, for instance, and, that is another reason I like that this lady asks. If I did get a chance to b ring Mom to India Oven, I know we could order some of the same dishes and she could get hers mild and I could get mine blistering, if that's what we wanted to do. My sister asked if the dish (we ordered the same one) came with anything. She was told "No." Then she was told usually one rice and one naan was good for two. She nodded. That's what we got. This and the tablecloth was the only less than bright spot to our visit. The tablecloth is, however, a personal problem of mine. The reason the rice and naan were not a bright spot was only that we were both quite sure another naan was needed. Until we got done eating and realized there would have been no room for it. So, next time we need to bring two more people and everyone can have their own naan and less rice. The tablecloth: This is a problem only I have ever had, in my experience. It just so happens that the tablecloth and the way it hangs down, along with the contours of my body and how it bends as I am sitting down, tend to come together in some really silly manner that always ends up with it (the tablecloth) getting yanked out of position and sometimes being in danger of being yanked off the table altogether. I can live with that. There has been no trouble with it, outside of my own awkwardness. They are very polite and do not mention it. I love these people. And, they make good food. read more

Will never EVER go back. The only Indian Restaurant to ever get me to say that, and sadly for them, it has very little to do with their food. I have been here 3 times, and on ALL THREE occasions, I saw the waitstaff get into an argument with a customer--thankfully, I was never one of them. The incident I remember most clearly was one where a party of 6 came in the door and wanted to sit down, but all the tables were set up for parties of 4. The busser, who was wiping down some other table, was very politely asked to put a table together for them, to which he stood up, got right in the main male party member's face, and told him to "go fuck yourself! Can't you see Im busy?!" The man was pretty stunned, but there was a brief back and forth banter at which point he said something to the effect of "fuck this, we're leaving". A second or two after they had walked out, the owner lady comes running out from the back, scolds the busser, and then runs out the front door begging the people to stay and somehow manages to convince them to. Lord knows, I certainly would not have. When they came back in, she was able to get the busser to do his job and put the tables together. Like I said, All three times Ive been, there has been an altercation of some sort. All three seemed to be for no reason whatsoever, and the owner while always having been nice to me, has gotten out of hand herself a few times. These experiences in themselves make it not worth it for me to ever return.... But then there is also the food... Their lunch buffet is tiny in comparison to others around town. The food seems watered down, but also still greasy. The flavors arent bad at all, just not anywhere near the best available in town. The whole thing is just not worth it. Save yourself the trouble, and probably some verbal abuse, and go JUST AROUND THE CORNER to sher-e-punjab. read more

A regular stop when in Tucson for the gem show, India Oven on North Campbell has always provided me with enough fresh, authentic cuisine of the sub continent to keep me happy and coming back for more. The curry sauces are creamy and well spiced, with fresh chicken and veggies. It is the place my then young son first tasted and began to appreciate Indian food. He loved the Mango Lassis and Naans, and slowly tasted his way into a broader enjoyment of all the flavors, textures, and colors created in the kitchen. Sometimes it is a bit hectic during the dinner rush, and the service while always friendly, can be spotty bordering on uncomfortable, but never having had a bad meal here over the many years of visiting, it has become a favorite while in town. Many other gem show vendors come here after closing shop for the day. On one occasion I sat next to a diamond merchant and his wife from India. We started a conversation about business, and we ended up showing each other some of the stones we had with us right there on the tables, and finished a transaction the next day that resulted in some very happy gem folk buying/selling/trading stones that may never have transpired but for a common love of Indian food. Now, these good people are friends, and we plan to catch a meal together when in town. Glad the resto didn't ask for a commission or finder's fee! India Oven gives a whole new meaning to the concept of, "hidden gem." read more

Yes, the place was better in the past. My experiences with the food has been decent. Nothing bad. but nothing exceptional either. One major annoyance on my final trip to India Oven was finding $2 on my bill for rice, which is an expected part of an Indian meal. We did not request additional servings, and were not informed of the charge when ordered. The negligible cost of the rice should be included in the menu's price for the dish... which is meant to be eaten with rice. No huge blow to the wallet, but the principle is wrong. Kind of seems like they're.. cheating the customer? So we deducted the two dollars from what we deemed a fair tip, informed them why the tip was short, and left it at that. I won't be going back. read more

My husband and I love Indian food, so we tried almost all the Indian restaurants in the area and decided this was our favorite and affordable. The food tasted fresh and the servers were very attentive. Some of our favorite dishes are Chicken tikka masala, chicken curry, lamb vindaloo, garlic nan. They also have great selection of vegetarian food. I love their Saag Paneer and cauliflower dish. read more

This is fantastic and authentic Indian cuisine! The Chicken tikka vindaloo is so delish! The naan is fresh and has that crispy outside with hot steamy yum on the inside. The lamb dish my husband had was excellent too! Will be coming back for more! Treat yourself to Tucson's best Indian food! The owner is really sweet and personal! read more

I really enjoy India Oven. The owner is a confident woman who is always willing to help you decide what to order. I particularly enjoy the buffet for lunch. There are always 6 or 7 selections and as much naan as you could want for scooping up sauce. The ambience of India Oven is nice, but not overdone. The decorations are typically Indian and the dining room is always spic an span clean. For Indian food in Tucson I recommend India Oven. read more

If you are searching for The Best Indian Restaurant in Tucson Arizona, look no further! My family has eaten at India Oven since they opened their doors in the 1980's. The food has remained high quality, especially at dinner time, which is their forte. Our favorite dishes are the Beef Vindaloo, Chicken Tikka Masala, Chicken Curry, and Saag Paneer, to name but a few. Also, do yourself a favor and order the Chai. It is the best Chai we have ever had! Their Mango Lassi is also extremely tasty! On a final note, although I was born and raised in Tucson (26 years) I have eaten Indian Food at over 30 Indian Restaurants in California, over the last 13 years, including some very expensive restaurants! India Oven has them all beat. For those Tucsonans who have provided a poor review for India Oven on this website - Shame on you, for you know not what you are talking about! Stop being so Provincial and spoiled in your views! read more

Excellent lamb tikki masala and garlic naan bread, with chai tea! They accommodated our ever growing large party with good spirit and made sure everyone had everything they ordered. Would definitely recommend to others. Very reasonably priced and served family style so dishes were easy to share. read more

This place was pretty disappointing as a whole. It was dead inside (warning sign #1). The menu had the binding of a children's book. Not that that is a major flaw, just a quirk! I ordered vegetable biryani and the hubs got chicken tandori. The biryani looked like fried rice from a highschool cafeteria and I think C ended up with chicken marsala. The garlic Naan was Naan with garlic salt sprinkled on it. We ordered coffee and it tasted like watered down, instant coffee. Definitely would not want to subject anyone else. read more

Beautiful spot where I found delicious vegetarian food. I really love palak and samosas! Friendly stuff and fast service. Highly recommended

I had the opportunity to try a couple entrees swooping in on a break and found this to be the most authentic Indian cuisine on this side of Tucson. The vibe of the restaurant and people working there sets the mood. A very hospitable environment and again the food is spectacular. Thank you for the great food and I will definitely be a regular. read more

To be clear. We came for dinner, not the buffet. Each of the dishes was delightfully spiced with a different combination of flavor. I have spent time in India and live in the Bay Area near San Fransisco where we have a multitude of Indian restaurants and I found the food here as good as almost any that I have had (the best that I have had was in London) and better then most. The prices were very good and the staff friendly. The room was pleasant. The 3 of us had a very good experience. read more

We moved to Tucson 2 years ago. My wife is a world traveler and a foodie. We tried (I think) all of the Indian restaurants in the area and hit the jack pot when we ate at India Oven. When we first walked in, as someone else stated, no one seated us. But the regulars said in unison " sit where you like". And now we are part of the regulars who tell new patrons to sit where ever. The experience is different each day, (buffet) as there are the main staples but the side dishes to choose from change. Nothing is labeled but my taste buds don't need to see what I'm experiencing. We have never been disappointed. The owners are down to earth friendly. The food is out of this world wonderful. The prices are affordable. You can't go wrong eating here. Thank you. read more

The food was okay and affordable but unlike other Indian restaurants, they don't provide you with rice on the side when you order any gravy! Moreover we need to pay around $2.50 for raitha (yogurt with cucumber, onion etc) when ordering biriyani. Almost every Indian restaurant I'd been to at many cities in the US provide raitha complimentary with any biriyani!!! I would try some other Indian restaurant next time. read more

India Oven - Chicken Chicken Tikka - Indian Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

I can understand the mixed reviews. I've been going here for years and it does take some getting used to. I've always thought that the owner is a very nice lady who will help you with the menu. And yes, the wait staff do appear to be inexperienced, but they try. Last night I had the paneer pakora (home-made cheese), vegetable samosas, and beef vindaloo. My girl friend had the lamb tika masala. And we split two orders of the garlic naan. Rice had to be ordered. Personally, this isnt a deal breaker. The entrees themselves are big enough, but if you want rice, you will need to order it separately. It was basmati and it was cooked perfectly. The pakora was "ok". However, after adding a little chutney, it was pretty good. The samosas were also ok; the filling was awesome, but the pastry was also pretty bland. The garlic naan was simply naan with garlic powder. Disappointing. However, the vindaloo was amazing. You can tailor the spiciness of it by talking to the owner (who took our order last night). The beef was savory and the vegetables were crisp. I had a small taste of the lamb and also thought it was very good. I've been to a few Indian restaurants in Tucson. Indian Oven, in my mind, is somewhere in the middle. read more

Since my last review, I've visited India Oven several times and the cleanliness has improved quite a bit. The restaurant is conveniently located near where I work and Indian food is one of my favorite cuisines. The buffet has been fresh and replenished diligently when I've eaten in the restaurant. If I'm not able to eat-in, I've asked for the buffet to go and boy do they hook you up. The sweet lady who runs the cash register fills a box so full its difficult to close and sends me on my way. Long story short, the food is decent, the place has been cleaned up quite a bit, and the family run business is friendly and welcoming. It is a bit dimly lit but it has an interesting ambiance. At this point I would recommend giving India Oven a try if you're looking for something different for lunch. I will continue to visit it. read more

Only Indian place I've been to in Tucson and it's pretty good. They don't seem to have much clientele on your average holiday night, so they have good, attentive service. Love their chicken masala, channa masala, and overall, they do veggie dishes great. read more

I went in for the lunch buffet on a Tuesday. The place was basically empty at 1pm, so we got seated and attended to quickly. Service: Water glasses were refilled promptly and the waiters were available, but then again, the place was very empty. Food: I've learned not to expect much from Indian restaurants in Tucson, but the limited options of the buffet compounded the low quality of the meal. The chicken curry was greasy, with a pool of oil collected over the top of the dish. The naan was thin and flat, which I realize happens sometimes, but I prefer mine with some more substance. The salad was standard - iceberg lettuce and tomato. I got pretty excited about the desserts (gulab jamun and rice pudding), but only because I really like desserts in general. I'm no expert on gulab jamun, but the rice pudding seemed subpar - I don't think it had any spices, just rice, milk and sugar. I've been here for dinner before, and the experience was slightly better due to the wider variety of choices. Overall, the place is ok and I haven't found it to be MUCH worse than other local Indian restaurants. read more

I come here all the time excellent service and the best chicken tikka masala you could ever dream of 10/10 would recommend

Is it possible to serve food this bland and still pass it off as "Indian"? My experience is confined to the lunch buffet, and it will stay confined there, because there is no reason to give India Oven a second chance. If you need specifics: their mixed vegetable dish was so overcooked and underseasoned that it was reduced to little more than a wet, entropic mess of gooey fiber. Their cauliflower potato dish was equally overcooked, though passably recognizable as vegetable matter. Despite its vibrant red color and truly staggering percentage of oil, the cauliflower tasted like the kind of pale imitation of food you might find in a bankrupt hospital cafeteria. The spinach puree, which is usually an idiot-proof dish, was a pale, creamy pool of limpid nothingness. There was also a ruddy pond with kidney beans floating in it which seemed to originate in a can. There was some iceberg lettuce with cucumber and carrot pieces. Even the viscous brown liquid with meat chunks left no impression beyond the pleasant surprise that it wasn't as damp as the vegetables. As for starches, the rice was present and the naan was flaccid. You could do better at any of the other Indian restaurants in Tucson. read more

Been coming here since before my 27 year olf was born. The food is delicious! And they are just great. We used to do the Sunday lunch buffet at least once a month till covid hit. Glad to see they have survived! We also have been known to eat there for regular dinner. Hoping the Sunday lunch comes back so we can keep wowing our out of town friends and family. Great good. Great people. Great local tucson icon and the best Indian food In town hands down. Eat eat and eat here often. We do and have been for over 20 years! Thanks for being so amazing India Oven! read more

I really like the lamb dishes here, especially the Lamb Vindaloo! The naan is also really good. This is my favorite Indian restaurant in Tucson so far, based on the flavor and spices. I'll definitely be coming back. read more

Go to Indian Twist or Sher-e-punjab instead. Both have lunch buffets and both have higher quality food. I hate to write a bad review for what seems to be a cute hole-in-the-wall type of place, but the food was terrible the last two times I went. The sauces seem watery and lacking flavor. The samosas have decent crispness but the internal flavor falls flat. Also, the last time I went my fork was dirty and the napkin that was folded in my glass had already been used. read more

Stop #2 on our tour of crappy Indian restaurants in Tucson (see my review of Sher-E-Punjab) was India Oven. While briefly a UA Wildcat many eons ago, I occasionally ate here. But not often. Which is a bad sign considering my Indian heritage and the fact that I lived about 5 minutes away. Having never in my life ever walked into a restaurant, glanced at the buffet, and then walked out as my friend and I did at Sher-E-Punjab, I never imagined that such an event would happen twice in a row. It did. As soon as I walked in the memories of untrustworthy chicken preparation came flooding back in. Then we walked straight up to the buffet to check it out, and were again dismayed by what we saw. So we walked out, to finally settle for our bland experience at Gandhi. Tucson cries out for a great Indian place. Hell, the entire state of Arizona does, but at least we in Phoenix have a couple of solid 3-4 star alternatives to get us by until the day our 5-star savior arrives. read more

Some of the Food is great, they serve halal chicken and lamb, but the decor, presentation and service were not so great. I won't be back next time. The tandoori chicken was such a disappointment! It seriously lacked flavor and it was dry. The chana masala and lamb do piaza were great- I loved it. The fish pakora is a joke- Im sure it was just packaged fish sticks in a bag that they deep fried. Presention- the plates they use look as if it came from a thrift shop. The curries that they brought out were overflowing. You may be thinking there is nothing wrong with this, however, it was overflowing so much that the curry gravy was touching the server's fingers. That disgusted me. Also, the food presentation was very effortless, as if something that anyone can prepare and serve. If the chef had any culinary school experience, then he/she wouldn't overflow the dishes and instead add some garnish, and try to implement better plateware. Instead, it was very effortless. Decor- ok, they definitely need better air flow in this place. The lighting too was very dark in my opinion. There was nothing appealing to look at in the restsurant and I feel like they should have music playing to help the ambience. Service- after entering and being told where to be seated, we were approached by a younger waittress. She didnt say a single word to greet us. She smiled and just handed our menus. Also, I like seeing employees wear uniforms in a restaurant, or at least wear uniform colors as one another. The young waitresses were wearing shirt and jeans while the older lady was wearing a kameez. Not pleasing at all. I will avoid this place next time I'm in the area. I wish I can nominate this place to the "restaurant impossible" show on food network! read more

When an owner remembers your face, it always stays with you as a customer. Only a handful of times have I been in, but always welcomed with a friendly smile and a "welcome back, where have you been?" Lunch buffet is awesome, but the service is what really stands out. Support local businesses. read more

I absolutely lived the buffet! Everything was wonderful but I was surprises about the desert. The rice pudding was better than my auntie's.

I really love the woman who owns and works in the restaurant. She's very kind and helpful. The smell of the restaurant and the decor are really off-putting though. The smell is overbearing, rancid. I cannot eat here anymore because of the smell. I took a break and went back but that smell is in the dirty old carpets. Wish they'd clean it up and air it out! 2 stars only because the woman is reallyyyy nice! I forgot to mention the food was not as good as other food I've had. I do really like the samosa but they definitely need to work on the chicken tikka masala!! And they water down everything they possibly can -_- I hate that. We pay a decent amount, so please allow us a decent amount of food in return. read more

I have ordered from this place a few times. Never been disappointed. Average size portions, but with Indian food that's all you need. The servers help you choose your heat profile and taste. The tikka masala is always a go to for me. The Naan is cook perfect too. Not too crusty or burnt. read more

Great food at a great price! The korma and tikka Marsala are delicious, pair it with some samosas for a feast. I will be back!

Tonight had the chicken bhuna, so yummy! If you haven't been here yet you've got to try it!! read more

India Oven - Having my favorite, chicken biryani and aloo naan! - Indian Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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Still amazing! As other places I've been lately have disappointed India Oven is still amazing!! Service is first rate and the food is always consistently first rate. I had Keema Samosa to start, perfect! Not over cooked and nicely spiced. Chicken Biriany was fantastic and a very large portion (lunch tomorrow!) I'm a sucker for Chicken Tikka Masala and was pleased, as usual!! With other places changing chefs and/or owners India Oven is still consistently on top of their game!! read more

2 stars for "meh." Went to the lunch buffet. 4 veggie options + samosas was typical. Food not bad, not great, but potatoes instead of cheese in the saag was a bit off-putting. Service non-existent, plates not cleared, water not ref-filled. No dishes or spoons available for rice pudding. read more

Delicious food!!! Authentic and cheap for a buffet price!! Very nice service and cute atmosphere I highly recommend this place

Great lunch buffet. The super-friendly owner made sure our visit was going to be perfect. The food was delicious. Would go back in a heartbeat. Try this place. Awesome family business and wonderful food. read more

Easily the best samosas I've ever eaten, and the home made sauces are incredible. Plus kind service and a large menu! Highly recommend

This place is just a Tucson classic. Sometimes the buffet food at Indian restaurants can be a little stale and taste cheaply made, but I have never had that problem here. Their prices are very fair- for both the lunch buffet and dinner. All around, they are my favorite Indian place here in town. read more