Love this place. Keep coming again and again. People are super friendly. Sonny does an awesome job making sure your experience is good. Everything I have had on the menu is spectacular. Def a place to come with friends. read more

We are visiting from CT and wanted a local restaurant. Thanks to our luck we made it here. We we're greeted by an incredible guy, Sonny! We couldn't make up our minds to what we wanted and asked him to pick by simply telling him that we liked chicken and lamb and bread, with samosas for starters. Being a huge foodie I have to say this is the BEST Indian food I ever had in the U.S. sonny made the experience unforgettable. The samosas we're Soo fresh and I never had crab samosas before... Epic. The lamb dish was also out of this worlf, the lamb cooked to perfection with a perfect hint of spice. The chicken was mind blowing!!! The breads we're also out of this world. You would be a fool not to try this place! Tell Sonny that Matt and Sonny sent you and when you can't decide just tell him to feed you. You will not be disappointed with the quality and freshness along with the friendly service. Once again get over here and see what everyone is talking about! read more

Indian Kitchen & Grill - Indian Near Me - Madison, New Jersey

Very impressed ! Let's be honest we had a very good time and the food was delish ! The prawns vandaloo were very tasty and the tikka masala definitely worth it ! Definitely a place that we will go a lot ! Cannot advise more that you should definitely try ! You won't be disappointed ! read more

I love this place! I order delivery from here almost once a week. It is always so good and quick! The chicken tikka and the Dahl makhani are my favorite! read more

This is an update to my below review and truly a five star review. Sunni contacted me personally about my review NOT to ask me to change it or update it in any way but to make absolutely sure I'd be a return customer as well as happy with my next meal. His concern was clearly that my experience would be excellent. He also clearly took responsibility for whatever had changed on my second order. The food here really is exceptional, cooked to perfection and with incredibly hometown- like dedication to customers. I will return again and again. Thank you Sunni! We need more restaurants and business owners with this kind of dedication. (Original) I will actually say this is more 3.5 stars. My first delivery was outstanding. It takes a long time because the food is (was) obviously prepared with care. However, my second delivery was not prepared with care. It was cold, rice was dried out, samosas way over cooked. Very disappointed my second time around but I will probably give it one more chance since I originally really liked this place. read more

We ordered for delivery chicken tikka and tandoori chicken. The only difference between the two was that tandoori has drumsticks and tikk has chicken breast. Flavor was exactly the same. It was dry, bland and covered in barely cooked onions. Definitely not worth $15/dish. No veggies, sauce or anything to make it a real entree but dry jasmine rice. Roti and garlic naan tasteless too. It took 1hr20min to deliver these two small dishes! I would not order again from this place. Very disappointing. read more

Begum Palace has changed hands since my previous review, and I can say without a doubt it has done a 180 since the time I visited. Th manager/owners are so welcoming and kind. We sadly moved away and can only get out there every once in a while, and they always remember us. They have no lunch buffet now, but an incredibly reasonably priced lunch menu. All the dishes are delicious. My husband likes to say that if we lived nearby he'd probably eat there twice a week. I wholeheartedly believe him, I'd be there right by his side. I cant wait for our next visit! read more

This is a favorite local Indian place that we go to often. It's also popular with out south Asian friends, which assured me of its quality. Service is good and the buffet is always tasty. read more

I'm so thrilled that Begum Palace is now our local neighborhood restaurant. Aside from having excellent Indian food (the spinach kofta is to die for), Sunil is such a welcoming and accommodating owner. He was gracious enough to cater our event (when their restaurant is usually closed) and went above and beyond to make sure everything was just right. We will certainly be visiting Begum Palace on a regular basis. read more

Amazing experience! My cousins decided to meet up after a gap of 7 to 8 years and we randomly chose this place (none of us were aware of this place), what a fortuitous decision. Sunil, the owner was as wonderful host as you can get. When I asked Sunil to bring us the best dishes the restaurant has to offer, he took it as a complement and told us that he will take care of the ordering and that we will not be disappointed. Just one word, Wow, every dish was exquisite! As the evening progressed, after all the other guests were gone, he came and joined our table and kept the restaurant open late after closing time. He treated us like family. An experience worth remembering. I will definitely be back when I'm in NJ again. Kudos to Sunil and his partner for such a fine establishment!! read more

This was my 1st time ordering from Begum Palace and will also be my last. I had checked out the menu online before I placed my order and didn't see my favorite dish (chicken jalfrezi) on the menu. The lady who answered the phone said that it's not on the menu but they could easily make it. Great, I thought! I got home unpacked the chicken jalfrezi and garlic naan and got to work. The first thing I noticed was that the garlic naan was very bland tasting. Not a good sign! The second thing I noticed was that the chicken was very slimy and was mostly dark meat. I ordered the chicken at the "medium" spice level. Not only was there no spiciness but there was no taste whatsoever! This was the blandest Indian food that I have ever had. The worst part of the meal was the quality of the chicken. As I said, it was very slimy and some of the pieces had hard chunks in them (I'm not sure if they were bones or not). I ate about half of the meal and threw the rest away and won't be returning there read more

My wife and I visited Begum Palace on a recent Saturday night. The restaurant is pleasantly decorated and the atmosphere was quiet and relaxed. When we were there, the restaurant was busy but not crowded. We ordered mulligatawny soup (very good), chicken tikka masala (very good), kaju paneer (very good), chicken-stuffed naan (good), basmati rice (very good), yogurt (good) and mango chutney (too salty). We skipped dessert, as we had a tickets for a concert and were running a bit late. Overall, we thought the food a bit above average for Indian restaurants in northern NJ. Note that the main courses were not very hot (spicy), even though we asked that they be prepared hot. When I commented about this to our waitress as we were leaving, she said we should ask for hot sauce next time, so I take it that they just don't prepare their food very spicy. Service was very good and prices were average (with tip, we spent about $60). We would recommend Begum Palace to those who enjoy Indian food and plan to go back and try some of their other dishes. read more

We've been here three times now and the food is nothing short of fantastic. The owners are friendly and attentive. The food is obviously prepared to order and has exquisite complexity. We've ordered different appetizers and entrees each time and the menu is so diverse it invites being adventurous. read more

Great Indian restaurant in the Burbs. We went on a saturday evening and the place was almost full - which is always a good sign. The decor was nice and inviting and the hosts were even more so. The food was fantastic. We ordered the Chicken Kali Mirch, Bagare Baigan and Lamb chops. The spices in all the dishes were well balanced and the end result was delicious. The naan was fresh from the oven and went really well with the main course. On the advice of the host we got some raita - which helped balance out the meal. So happy that we don't have to drive down to Edison to get good Indian food. read more

We have eaten at a lot of Indian restaurants over the years and this is in my top two. From the moment we walked in the door the customer service was not just impeccable it was warm friendly and engaging. We were happy for the suggestions of items to complement our choices, Chai with pakora for example. At other Indian restaurants i have never preferred the chicken tikka masala. This is the first time I thoroughly enjoyed the dish. Though the lamb passanda is a favorite of mine and it didn't disappoint. We are very jealous of those who live in Madison because we are from out of town. If we lived here we would definitely be regulars. read more

We (myself and co-workers) went for a team luncheon and the food we had was delicious and fresh, the staff and owners were very friendly and hospitable. The atmosphere was pleasant and relaxing. All in all we had a wonderful experience. For sure we'll be back again and again :) read more

Best Indian food in northern NJ... Try the vegetable korma. Everything is great, and the service matches the food.

The is the real deal. Amazing, authentic Indian flavors. A feast of the palette. Don't be fooled by its unassuming exterior. This is a hidden gem. Also, very cozy and hospitable- a good old family run restaurant that's hard to find these days. read more

We found this restaurant through google search "best Indian restaurants near me" while on vacation in NJ. We decided to drive longer compared to other Indian restaurants that were closer to us based on the reviews. After a short drive through a beautiful city of Madison we arrived here and were relieved to find ample parking. The restaurant itself is not very big but tastefully decorated. The service was top class. We ordered "Ajwain Roti", Black pepper chicken, butter chicken and biryani. Every dish was delicious with a perfect balance of fresh (not packaged) spices. To top it all, we were lucky to see a famous Indian tennis star and movie producer eating there! Have added this place to "must eat at" list for future visits. read more

Fantastic. Every dish was perfect. The staff is awesome. What else to share but eat at Begum Palace.

I have finally found my favorite Indian restaurant! Since moving to new jersey I have had a very hard time finding good Indian (and I adore Indian food, have eaten it for ever, cook it, been there, I'm obsessed). But I will look no further, this place is it. I was fortunate enough to order takeout with a crowd, so here are our thoughts on the menu: The veg samosas were perfect - flavorful without being too hot, and still soft and not dry on the inside and a perfectly cooked outside. Everyone liked the meat and paneer samosas too, again, well cooked and not overly spicy yet full of flavor. The mango lassi were spot on, pleasantly sweet and thick without being too sugary. The naan was also great, the traditional teardrop shape and soft fluffy consistency. The peshwari and garlic naan were particular favorites. The hands down favorite main dish of everyone was the Kaju Paneer, tiny cheese cubes in a creamy sauce. I wish I had a vat of it. The Malai Kofta and Matar Paneer were also big hits too. We had small, picky kids eating with us and asked for the dishes to be mild, and they actually were (many restaurants don't actually make it mild or maybe they don't realize it) BUT they still had a ton of delicious flavor. Everyone was so happy. There were a few dishes I just didn't get to because I was so full, but we also ordered the Chicken Biryani, chana Masala, and lamb Korma and everyone was happy with those. To top it all off we had the gulab jamun and mango ice cream for dessert, both were delicious. And as if that weren't enough, the owner and his sister were just super nice. We will be back again and again. Yay! read more

Awesome Indian spot in Madison, NJ. Incredibly friendly staff and owner and nice atmosphere inside. My wife and I have eaten in and had take out and our food was fantastic each time. We have been to Tamarind Tribeca a couple times, a Michelin-starred restaurant in Manhattan, and you're of course not going to get that quality at Begum Palace, but for the unbelievable price break, it sure did not make us miss it very much. Excellent value and highly recommended. read more

The food is good, but The Prices on the menu are different from the prices that she charged me. Best for takeaway. Portions are small.

Consistently outstanding Indian food. I always take out but the place has a nice vibe and is always busy with sit down customers. Have ordered there several times and will continue to do so. read more

A little pricey, but the food is always excellent. I wish they still offered a lunch buffet.

I had heard about this restaurant and the reviews were good so I gave it a try. We had the lunch buffet. Superb service, great food, nice variety and fresh naan served at the table. I cannot wait to go back and try the dinner buffet and then to order off the menu. The place filled up after we arrived but we never felt crowded or rushed. Super experience. read more

You can't beat Begum Palace for quality and value. They do a great job on the standard dishes and always have a few dishes you likely never seen that are fantastic. Sunni the owner makes everyone feel welcome and special. read more

Extremely friendly and hard-working staff, combined with fantastic and flavorful food, makes Begum a can't-miss spot for Indian food. The buffet is awesome for $12 -- great array of veggies, salad, samosa, soup, meats, rice, etc -- and fills you up for the entire day. Highly recommended! read more

Great place with wonderful food and really nice owners. There's something for everyone - vegan, vegetarian, lamb lover, carb craver etc. hooray for delicious authentic Indian cuisine! read more

I don't understand the number of good reviews that customers are posting here for this restaurant. I guess when you only have 1 Indian restaurant in the entire Madison area then there is no comparison that customers can make. As a brown desi person, I can only say that the quality of food is average at best and the portion sizes are small. The worst part is the Indian aunty who seems to be owner/part time cashier of the restaurant does not know how to treat customers with respect. When I got my food, the aunty gave zero indication that my bag was ready as it was sitting there wide open. When I waited to get confirmation, she told me in a very snarky way that unless I was buying something else I shouldn't be standing there. Due to her rude behavior (zero customer service skills) and stinginess in portion sizes, I'm taking my business somewhere else. No paying customer expects any amount of disrespect from a restaurant especially during these difficult times. read more

My husband and I went to Begum Palace for dinner on a Wednesday night. We were surprised how many people were eating there on a weeknight, and after we ate, we figured out why! We love Indian food, (and eat it fairly frequently) but Begum Place was easily one of the best Indian restaurants we've been. The staff were warm and attentive, the specials were innovative and delicious. We let the server recommend dishes and we were very glad we did! We traveled from Maplewood, NJ which was slightly ambitious of us for a Wednesday night but it was well worth the drive. Best of all, we found out that they deliver to Maplewood on the weekend for $50 and up. I am already thinking about next meal at Begum Palace. read more

Have recently discovered their $8.95 lunch buffet. Excellent. Very fresh and a wide selection, including excellent vegetarian options (one dish with chickpeas, another with kidney beans, another with spinach, another with eggplant). They also bring out warm, toasty naan at no extra charge. The ambiance is also nice and quiet, with cozy, comfortable booths. read more

Good food.. superb Indian taste.. really amazing mirchi pakodas... it's a must try. Surely coming again

This is our office's absolute favorite place to order take out for lunch. The food is excellent. My mouth is watering as I write this review! The chicken tikka masala and chicken curry were delicious. The saag paneer and paneer tikka masala were great as well. I like a little kick to my food so I ordered medium spicy. It is just the right amount for taste but I wasn't running for water or it overpowered the food. We typcially order for 9 of us and everyone is always very pleased. read more

4.5 stars, *BYOB* Stumbled upon Begum via Restaurant.com. My pregnant wife came home from work today craving and demanding Indian, and the reviews were good for this spot, so we decided to give it a shot. +Ambiance Authentic Indian vibes all the way through. Can't beat it. +Customer Service This was what made Begum stand out and what made me go up to the 4 star rating. The owner is the waitress who sits you down, and is very pleasant. She asks how you heard about them (since they've been rebranded 6 months ago). Sonny (co-manager?) was also extremely pleasant. We had some good chatter about how they've rebuilt the ways which Begum cooks food. He used to be a bus boy there and hated how unoriginal and unauthentic the food was. His goal was to transform this place into what is now Begum Palace. +Water They leave you the carafe. HUGE PLUS. Hate asking for refills every 2 minutes at many places. +Garlic Naan Fantastic. Light, airy, and flavored beautifully. A nice, big portion as well. +Chicken Curry Vindaloo As I always state, anytime I go Indian, Vindaloo is my go-to. I usually get lamb, but decided to go chicken this time around. Couldn't be more thankful. The chicken and potatoes were done medium spice, and were delicious. Paired with the soft, white, classic Indian rice, this meal was well done. Good spice and awesome flavors. The texture of the chicken was also very good. $39 for two people (normally priced - we had a gift certificate, so it was much less, but that's what you can expect). They also deliver. We will 100% be coming back here, and without a doubt, be using Begum for delivery whenever we crave Indian. read more

This oasis of Northern Indian cuisine in Madison withstood tragedy, but has come back, stronger than ever, under a new, but also old owner! Sunil worked as host with the original owner, Jessie, way back in the early aughts, but left about 8 years ago. The days when Sunil was the host were Begum Palace's glory days; he's sunny, friendly, and I think he really cares about creating something special. After he left, the food was still fine, but Jessie died tragically of a heart attack. His wife carried on, but not too longer after Jessie's death, we noticed that food became bland, unexceptional. We went less often, and then stopped altogether, driving to Parsippany or Edison for our regular Indian food fix. When I heard Begum had new ownership I was skeptical, and we didn't go until this last Wednesday, because my daughter insisted we give it a try. So, we went to the Wednesday dinner buffet, and the flavor is back! Yes! Sunil recognized us from way back, which was a pleasant surprise in itself, and we talked about the food. He's made changes to the kitchen; they had come to rely on prefabricated spice mixes. But now, the kitchen grinds whole spices and uses whole spices. Whole spices give a richness to the food that you only really recognize when it's no longer there. And freshly ground spices also make a big difference. read more

I ordered take out today and I gotta say that it was delicious, my only problem was that our chicken tikka masala was like a few pieces of chicken swimming in sauce. read more

My entire family absolutely loves this place. The food is consistently excellent. It's the best Indian food in the area by a long shot and compares well to the finest Indian restaurants in NYC. The host, Sonny, is incredibly warm, friendly and charming and makes the entire experience truly wonderful. He always takes time to joke around with the kids and make them feel welcome. read more

I visited during lunch time. Manager/owner was super friendly, gave us his card and even gave my friend another plate if naan himself. Sauces are extremely mild, but full of taste and spices. We all had food coma that afternoon. read more

Ok Indian restaurant, but nowhere near the level of places in Iselin/Edison or Mehndhi in Morristown. Nothing was bad, but nothing was very good, either. Standard menu and nothing is outstanding--or bad. read more