A friend and I had showed up here at 4pm, only to find out they opened for dinner at 5. We decided to wait, drove around for an hour, came back very hungry and excited for some good Indian food. It took a while for them to come to us once we were ready for dinner. We ordered, got some cheese curd pakoras as appetizers, which aren't very traditional for a pakora, but they were DELICIOUS with their tamarind and cilantro/jalapeno sauces. It took them more than 40 minutes to get our food out, and for two hungry travelers... that was so close to being unacceptable. In the meantime, our water was full, but the actual servers clearly avoided our table and were not very friendly to us. For a simple dish, 40 minutes seemed a little extreme. We finally got the waiter to respond to us, and he said the was on its way, which it really was... within one minute, the food showed up at our table. The food was great... rice perfectly cooked, lamb vindaloo so good that I was sad that it was gone, even though I was full, when I reached the bottom of the metal dish. But the service was such a deterrent that we've decided we wouldn't be going there again, unless we took the food to go. BOTTOM LINE: Don't come hungry, and don't expect big smiles or good service. Take the food to go, or try a different place. read more

Very poor quality food. The yellow curry I ordered was brown and had the consistency of lard and on top of that the chicken was undercooked. Probably one of the sketchiest places I've ever ordered from. DO NOT RECOMMEND read more

Very casual fine dining, very friendly staff and always willing to help. I definitely recommend the eating. Great food, affordable and fun atmosphere. read more

India Star - Indian Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

It was ok. Ordered everything extra spicy nothing was spicy. Food tastes ok tho. First indian restaurant to serve take out in chinese take out containers. read more

The food at this place is a 5 for sure, but I have to give it a 4 overall because the space sucks. I suppose it's better than the old beaverdale space, but it is still lame. Last time I was there they had no heat and all the diners were wearing their winter coats. lameo. Also, it just looks dirty and dated. Their food is magical and stupendous. I wish the chef would open up a new place (in the western burbs). He would concentrate on the back of the house and someone super cool would run the front of the house. That would be cool. the chicken makany and paneer is super good. Go there and order those things. Don't forget the naan and raita!!! read more

This is my favorite Indian restaurant in DSM. It's fast, fresh, and tasty. I personally am not really a fan of Indian buffet style so I typically go in the evening or order for take out. I really enjoy the fact that they make it so clear on their menu what is vegan just in case there was any questions. Their roti (if ordered without butter) is vegan also. The okra might be my favorite thing on the menu here and they do a really nice job of when you order spicy vs mild. My husband is a big fan of their lamb and orders it probably every visit. The location is a pretty decent size and they have a large parking lot. Also, to note - they do serve roti during their buffet and will bring it out to you if you have dairy allergies or prefer roti. Very great service. Oh! and AMAZING samosas! So tasty! great sauces too! read more

Considering there are not many Indian restaurants in Des Moines, India Star is my fave. I love to go for lunch - you can get in and out really fast and it is always tasty! Grab the naan while you can as that goes the fastest at the lunch buffet. Love the Pakora and the Navratan Korma but are rarely served at lunch so we are forced to go for dinner some ;-) I do wish the atmosphere was a bit cozier - makes me feel like I am in a fast food joint. read more

So sick and tired of coming here and waiting for 1 hour and 30 minutes to pick my food up when they said it would only take 40 minutes. Whoever the gentleman that works the cash register is the worst with customer service and makes no attempt to be polite or apologetic towards the fact that they are slow and rude. I'm really tired of this B.S.! read more

I love all Indian food but India Star has some room for improvement. Why, you ask? It started with the mint chutney which was more like spicy salsa verde - we could barely taste the mint. I always look forward to pairing my chutney with the naan, papadam and in this visit's case, the veggie samosas (note: they have a great appetizer sampler for only $3.99 - perfect for two to share). In an effort to sample as much of the menu as we could, we ordered the palak paneer (homemade cheese in spinach paired with basmati rice), Chicken Tika Masala (red, masala-based, creamy sauce - think of it as the spaghetti of Indian food - great for those who are new to the cuisine), followed by Lamb in a lentil and potato sauce. All were fairly delicious, but I couldn't take my eyes off the masala sauce which was an odd orange-ish color rather than the typical creamy bright red - something tasted slightly off - wish I could put my finger on it. Mango fans: go for the mango shake - it's only $2.99 here! In the end, I would return to India Star but wouldn't run home singing its praises. read more

India Star - Great for sharing family style - Indian Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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This is absolutely amazing. It doesn't look fancy, but I almost cried when I tasted the food. I got the lamb Tikka Masala and it definitely makes my top 5-ever food experiences. Yes, that includes every day of eating 2-3 times a day. It's amazing. My roommate got an eggplant dish and was astounded at the variety and quality of vegetarian dishes. 10/10, will definitely go again, possibly in the next 24 hours. read more

This is probably my favorite Indian restaurant in town. It was certainly the busiest I've ever seen an Indian restaurant in Des Moines, which could be good or bad depending on how you look at it. The service was professional, although slow. The food was great! I like the sauces for my Indian food more creamy than oily. If you're the same way, then this is the place for you. The prices were comparable to similar restaurants: $10 gets you an entre. read more

Cannot say enough good things about this place. We love this place for dinner. The food is so great, the people are so nice and I love the ambiance. Wouldn't change a thing and can't wait to come back. read more

Having come from Cedar Rapids with its surprisingly awesome Indian population and restaurants, I've got expectations like a spoiled girl. I like that the menu was separated for those with specific dietary restrictions (vegetarian/vegan), but service was slow and I was left to stare awkwardly at the extremely well-endowed goddess statue while I waited for my food. I love Indian food for its bold mesh of spices, and while the food came out with big chunks of vegetables and potatoes, unfortunately it was rather bland and didn't quite hit my fix. read more

We got a wonderful takeaway from India Star. We have been fans for years and we're thrilled that they were still open. We ordered vindaloo, makhany, biryani, naan and soup. As always it was great. read more

The food is pretty bland and not what I expected. Their buffet is small and not much variety. There dinner entrees are better.

I was travelling and came across India Star. I was in the mood for Indian food and gave them a shot. I'm glad I did. I'm addicted to Chicken Tikka Masala and theirs was good. It's a slightly different recipe than I'm used to, but that's a good thing. I even recommended it some of the hotel staff who knew about it, but had never been. If I'm traveling through again at lunch or dinnertime, I'll stop again. I was only there for dinner and would like to try the buffet since it's a great way to sample many dishes! Staff were very helpful. read more

Super OK food. We had medium spicy, had no kick what so ever. If you like any heat get hot. Portion sizes on the small side, no leftovers to worry about! Of course it takes more than an hour to get your food so by the time it gets there you are so hungry any size portion would look small. If ordering a drink of any kind do make sure you order two right away, you won't see a waiter again any time soon to order another. So all in all, food is OK, waiter's are nice, but not around often. Maybe they double as cooks? If you live in that part of town and don't drive it's the place to go. If you have a vehicle, go anywhere else. Food is just as good and you'll still eat sooner even with drive times. read more

We are from NYC and we were looking for a great Indian restaurant. We ordered the Tandoori Chicken, Chicken Tikka Masala and some different Naan. We loved the service and the food was delish!! We definitely found a new place. Thanks! read more

Casual and quiet. Best for dinner time & take out. I have been here a couple times recently and every time, I just want to lick my plate because the food is so good! I've tried the lamb curry, methi malai chicken (my favorite), and the creamy sauce chicken. Naan bread is of course delicious. It is a pretty small restaurant, even the booths are small but they do have an option for carry out read more

Good food, good service. Hot and fresh buffet. Bone-in chicken curry was good, although a bit dumbed down for the buffet. Tandoori chicken was fabulous....had that slight crispness to it. Definitely going to be back for dinner sometime to see if it deserves five stars. read more

I'd give it 5 stars but I'm not as big of fan of the very popular lunch buffet as my husband is. We enjoy takeout from India Star most Saturday nights. We love the mix pakora (well done), veg samosas are wonderful, an entree & one order of naan. The rice pudding is a favorite of mine. Allow at least 30 mins for takeout orders. The staff are knowledgeable of the entrees and give great advice. Overall love that it is in our neighborhood and reliable for tasty Saturday night dinner at home to go with a movie. read more

Very good ! best Indian food in town !!!Food might take a while but always worth the wait ...i've had all the others in town non have compaired read more

I the best India food I have ever had eat that couple of times.i have great food nice atmosphere. read more

India Star - Indian Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Yikes, how does this place have four stars? Look, Des Moines suffers for its lack of decent Indian food, but that's no reason to go soft on reviewing a place like this. The food is simply passable, edible. It's not terrible, but it's not good. (And the icing on the proverbial cake is the atrocious so-annoyed-by-customers service.) So if you're in Des Moines and in the mood for Indian, I would recommend traveling to another town (Iowa City? Omaha?) or--if you're crunched for time--maybe hit up Namaste on University. But unless you're in some sort of Indian food emergency situation, avoid India Star. read more

I am a punjabi guy. Visited this restaurant to see the price, Quality and service of food. I eat vegetarian food. We ordered Dal Makhni and Kadahi paneer, tandoori Roti. The restaurant is beautiful. Parking is good. The order took around 35 minutes. Service was good. Food was worth and tasty. Portions were comparable. I will definitely recommend this place to anybody and will visit again. read more

The food is wonderful, but expect a long wait for initial order placement and for your food. We waited for 30 minutes to place our order, despite telling them twice that we were ready to order. Our food took an additional 50 minutes to arrive after placing our order. This was an unfortunate situation with a hungry 16-month old. read more

Just ate at indian star. I went to nameste but it was closed. This indian star place was by far the worst indian place ive ever been to. I went to the buffet and the selection was three dishes... Hardly any selection. The food was just so moderate I would have been better off not going. Very disappointing. Find another indian place to go to. Ive had indian all over the country.. This was the worst. :( read more

I love this place and it is one of my favorite restaurants in Des Moines. The food is wonderful. I want to say to Andre that the food does take awhile, but that is because everything is made fresh and Indian food is quite a process to cook...it takes awhile. This isnt Chili's. Also, they ask you how spicy you want your dishes to be. So that is your choice. Yes the location isn't the best or the nicest but a lot of good ethnic places this is the case. Definitely go there! read more

This is my favorite restaurant. They are not quick, don't expect to be in and out if you're dining in. The staff is always kind and the food is delicious. After sticking with my normal order of samosas and saag paneer I eventually became more adventurous to try more things, and I'm never disappointed. The stuffed naan is incredible. Tons of vegetarian and began options but meat eaters have lots to choose from also. My brother enjoys the lamb and my mom likes the chicken. Come here! It's tasty! read more

Start the music, I'm ready to do my best Bollywood dance after this meal! The food here is just delightful! Yesterday I ate a samosa for pre dinner, I had Alu Gobbi for dinner (not as saucy as I have had other places, but beautiful big pieces of fresh cauliflower and potatoes). I also ordered a side of ROTTI bread with no butter which makes it vegan! I love how the menu it says what items are vegan so it was easy for me to order! The restaurant is pretty spacious and our group of 4 with a baby, got in right away on a Friday night at 6pm. The service was good, not over the moon as they never asked us if we wanted anything to drink but water, but that's ok.. It saved me a few bucks on brews! This was my first stop here in a few years and It's only because of location, it's a little far from down town! But I must say it's worth the trip! I'm going to have to come back and check out the lunch buffet at some point! read more

I wish I could give them more stars, I really wanted the food to be great based off of others reviews. Sadly, the food was kind of disappointing, as was the service. It took about 10 minutes for them to come and take our order. Fine, we're in no hurry. We ordered the maharaja family dinner. The soup was brought out promptly. It was tasty, hot, with a bit of spice. We then waited over 30 minutes for the rest of our dinner. We almost decided to leave. Educate your guests if you know the food is running long instead of neglecting the table. The chicken Tikka masala, ordered medium spice, was tasty, yet not at all spicy. The vegetable Kofta was okay, kind of bland. There were only two veggie balls in the veggie kofta, kind of dismal. The bhoti was tough and not good. The seekh was tasty and finally had some spicyness. The chicken Tikka was also bland and not very flavorful. We ordered all of our food with medium heat. There was little to no spice to anything. I'm so used to full flavored Indian food with many layers of herbs and spices. I'm not sure if I would recommend this place. Pretty positive I won't be back. $32.99 for the dinner special, and the portions were, in my opinion, small. Slow service, and mostly bland food. It's a shame, I wanted to like this place more. read more

This review is long overdue. India Star is by far my favorite restaurant in Des Moines. My husband and I come here at least once every two weeks and we have never been disappointed. The food is always fresh and the staff are friendly and quick to refill your drinks and rice! My husband gets something new every visit and has not found something he dislikes yet. I always order the Navratan Korma and it is to die for! Start with some mixed pakora and garlic naan, you won't regret it. read more

The best of Des Moines. Very delicious. My best tip I can give is go for lunch! They offer a buffet at lunch that has everything you need. It is very reasonably priced and it's all you can eat. I have gone for dinner before and the service is very slow and you end up paying probably triple the price of the lunch buffet bc you pay for everything individually instead of a flat cost up front. Oh, and ask for rice pudding (even at lunch during the buffet). So. Good. read more

After reading the highly rated reviews for this place I was looking forward to going there during a recent trip to Des Moines. We decided to go there for lunch so we had the buffet. Maybe they were just having an off day but I wasn't that impressed. I'm originally from a place with a lot of Indian restaurants so I know good quality stuff, and India Star just wasn't up to par I'm not saying the food was bad, just not great. The service was typical buffet- bare minimum, but that was expected. The buffet itself was very small, and a teeny bit on the bland side. There were one or 2 really good dishes and the rest were lacking in both flavour and 'kick' That said, the prices are very reasonable and the restaurant itself isn't bad at all decor-wise. I suspect that if we had tried out India Star in the evening and gone for something from the extensive menu I would have been much more satisfied, so my recommendation is to do that rather than to go for the buffet. read more

One of the best Indian restaurant in Des Moines. Typical North Indian menu and more cream than oil. Will recommend around this locality!!!

I like this place for dinner. Food tastes great and service is good. Tried Shahi Paneer, Saag and Baingan bharta. All are equally good. Won't recommend this place for lunch buffet since, they don't have much options in food. read more

I love this place, it's so yummy and the service is great too! Don't let the exterior fool you, you will get a really great meal here and will be excited to come back for another visit! read more

Stopped here on our way out of DM. SO WONDERFUL! Love the potatoes and green beans. Will make sure to stop again the next time I'm in town!

Best Indian in Des Moines. Buffet lunch for $7.99 is consistently good, service is friendly and helpful, and the place is always clean. We've tried all the others and always come back to India Star. Updated for March 2013: Still the best. read more

Indian Star. .My favor spot for lunch. Great service & curry chicken.