Our third visit to Kanak while visiting family in town and certainly will not be our last! Hands down the best in the Charlottesville area. The Chili Milli Gobhi and Vindalho both were excellent with the perfect amount of spiciness. Can't wait to return! read more

My husband and I came here during its soft opening phase prior to COVID and were so happy to discover that Kanak was still doing curbside pickup during this time! The food is so flavorful, and I think they really show their strength in their vegetarian dishes. The service can be a little slow (understandable for pandemic times) but has improved and is so nice - we waited for 45 minutes past our pickup time and ended up with a free dessert to make up for it! Now back to the food: - Favorites are Chili Milli Gohbi (an appetizer of cauliflower flash fried in a tangy spicy soy glaze with scallions) and the saag paneer (so creamy and tenderly cooked). Definitely shareable for 2 people. - The chicken tikka masala is flavorful but is standard and comparable to other places in the area - definitely order a side of garlic naan to soak up all that sauce! Overall, delicious experience! read more

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Ordered paneer biryani. What I got was paneer fried rice. Portions are not enough. Sides are ok. But increase the portions of what people actually order. This Indian restaurant is not for Indians. read more

This isn't the best, but it can be good enough. For Butter Chicken, it's not bad. The garlic Naan is good albeit dense. The Chaat, Paratha, and the Dal are "I want to throw this away immediately" bad. Anything lamb is a wash. Bits of Papadum with the chutneys are actually good. Plus, they've got Indian beer, so all in, four stars given how few choices for Indian restaurants there are in Charlottesville. read more

The food is always amazing, the service is fast and the staff is always friendly. The atmosphere is lively, modern and clean! We love everything that we have here. Tikka masala is outstanding!!!! read more

Kanak Indian Kitchen - Left to right: chicken tikka masala, garlic naan, rice, crab baghara. So good! The crab baghara was spicy but full of crab flavor. - Indian Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Finally tried Akamai for take out and we were pleasantly surprised. We got the chicken curry, lamb saag, samosa, and garlic naan. The samosa was well seasoned and very fully stuffed and was not overly breaded. The garlic naan was delicious and was just as good retoasted the next day. The chicken curry was well seasoned, the chicken was a touch dry but otherwise the dish was well done. Lamb saag had good flavor, some pieces of lamb were super tender, and some were extremely dry, so the meat itself was hit and miss. The rice serving was large, albeit a tad under seasoned. We will definitely be back for take out and to try other dishes in the menu. Online ordering was easy enough. read more

Have been here 6-7 times. I can't remember what I got this time. I always try something new to me. I think it was Sabjiwala. Came with salad or soup. I always get the soup. Anyway, so good. Enough for lunch and dinner. I asked for just above medium hot and it was actually HOT! It came with a pea/carrot side surprise like always. The naan and raita could be a delicious meal all on its own. Raita is extra $. Wait team is super attentive. Will go back for sure. Only annoyed that I've been there twice between lunch and dinner and they were closed. I get it! But was still irritating. read more

Kanak Indian Kitchen - Indian Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

I was surprisingly disappointed after reading several outstanding reviews. We were already off to a bad start when we arrived and there was a wait, yet as soon as someone the host personally knew walked in, they had priority for the next open table. Once seated, our waiter was friendly, but not very knowledgeable about the menu or wine, luckily the host did and gave us great recommendations. The stuffed aloo tiki was very flavorful and spicy! This was a great starter. However, our entrees did not live up to expectation. Both the chicken in the tikka masala and lamb in kesar malai were dry, tough, and chewy. The sauces were tasty, though. Lastly, the naan was unlike usual, these slices were thick! We actually loved the fluff. read more

Kanak Indian Kitchen - Indian Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Couldn't ask for a better lunch pit stop recommended by you Yelpers! There's a lovely outdoor patio with about six tables of up to four each outside. For $14 a person, there are many different options that each come with a side vegetable (ours was peas and carrots, nicely spiced), super buttery crispy naan which was downright decadent, basmati rice, and a soup or salad. The soup was a nice spiced corn soup which I really enjoyed, and the salad was a peppery blackberry vinaigrette with fresh cabbage, lettuce, tomato, and cucumber. We shared the lamb korma which had a nice creamy cashew (no dairy) sauce, and the flavorful black daal. Each was probably medium. Really delicious lovely meal. Definitely hit the spot! read more

Kanak Indian Kitchen - Lamb korma lunch - Indian Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Cute place with fast service! The portion sizes were huge for the price, we were so happy with the options we got, and the spice level 3 is perfect flavor. I don't like super chilly-spicey but could see people who do liking 4/5. Also got a side of soup, mix vegetable, which was delicious! Highly recommend! read more

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They are busy, but it's worth the wait. Service was excellent, and the food was very good as well. We ordered an aloo appetizer- I forgot the name. It has a nice spicy kick, the kind that enhances the flavors. We ordered chicken Tikka and chicken Saag. Large portions, excellent flavor. Highly recommend!! read more

Sorry no photos, we devoured the food to quickly. Second takeaway meal from here, there will be more. Notable-- tandoori chicken tikka. A properly made moist tandoori boneless chicken breast with tikka sauce separate, rather than the typical floating pieces in creamy orange sauce that permeates every western indian restaurant. Suddenly the chicken has a character. Get this. An excellent chili paneer appetizer, small dish. A patia dish, mango, vinegary and gingerish. An interesting variant I hadn't seen, despite endless Indian meals in the US (and India) The per dish prices are a jot above the other local choices in town, but I'd say the shift to K is worth it. Will be dipping further into the menu... read more

Great meal and service! We were all very impressed and quite satisfied! Highly recommended!

Kanak is one of my favorite stops at 5th Street Station. They have an outdoor dining area on the far side of the building and are still doing curbside to go. Not everywhere does take out well, but this place does. The dining experience is great too, even outside as the server was very attentive and made good recommendations. We shared a dinner entree (chicken patia), an appetizer (khati paneer roll), and an order of garlic naan. The chicken patia was a tangy curry with mango, ginger, and scallions. The khati roll was sauteed paneer, onions, bell peppers, cilantro, and tomatoes served in a warm wrap. Both dishes had plenty of flavor and the chicken was cooked perfectly. I'm looking forward to our next visit. I'd love to make it there for lunch one day as their lunch classics are served with a choice of soup or salad, and come with basmati rice and naan bread. read more

Kanak Indian Kitchen - Chicken Patia and Garlic Naan - Indian Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Delicious lunch here today. If you are looking for GREAT Indian food, this is it!! Friendly, prompt service along with reasonable prices and generous portions make this restaurant a win - win. Today we had Chicken Tikka Masala and the Chicken Tikka Platter. Each lunch is served with soup or salad and naan. We had the lentil soup. Everything was really good! read more

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I had bad experiences with Indian Restaurants in the past, so for probably 10 years, I steered clear. I knew my husband loved this type of food so much, that I actually suggested it to him when we were out on a shopping trip one day. He gladly jumped on my suggestion to have Indian. I found Kanak by doing a google search on best Indian restaurants in Charlottesville. After we arrived, I was nervous and didn't know what to order. I really wanted to have a good experience, so I settled on the Chicken Korma since that looked to contain all the ingredients of something I would enjoy. OH, MY GOODNESS! Not only was everything so beautifully presented, but it's delicious! I couldn't believe how much I loved the food. It was perfectly seasoned and scrumptious! We've been back there 3 times since, and I've tried the Chicken Tikka Masala, as well as the Saag. Everything was good. They know what they are doing here. The restaurant is lovely, nice atmosphere and the staff is very kind and helpful. We'll be back I'm sure. read more

Upscale Indian restaurant. Great food at higher prices than other places in town, but it was worth it. Service was attentive but not hovering, offered suggestions for the most popular dishes when asked. read more

Returned for a differential lunch: Great lentil soup - Yummy shrimp appetizer And their Patia with lamb was sweet and spicy, and the lamb was tender and tasty. Add their complementary Nan, and it's a Winner. We shall return. read more

The staff here are super friendly. The chicken tikka masala was a bit disappointing. First, the chicken is very dry. Consistently. They would benefit from switching to chicken thighs. Second, the spice blend could use some tweaking. Maybe less fenugreek and more cumin and ginger. read more

Kanak Indian Kitchen - Indian Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Absolutely exceptional! I had had the hardest time finding a great place to get Indian food once I moved to town from San Francisco years ago! I am thankful to say the search is over. Kanak is not just the best in cville- it is hands down some of the best Indian food I have ever had!!! We went for lunch and the portion sizes were perfect, there was more than enough food and every single thing we ate was to die for! The restaurant itself is super chic- it's got a fabulous modern Indian vibe. They use super fun flatware and plates- I just love the modern take! The food is packed full of the most delicious flavors- the chicken literally melts in your mouth! The resturant also has a really nice bar, if you are looking for a great place to grab dinner and drinks before a movie. Kanak is a must try for anybody who enjoys Indian food. You will not regret it! read more

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Unbelievably good food. Blown away by the beet kofta- a menu item so unique I almost didn't order. Glad I did! Everything was fresh. Service was excellent even tho it was busy. Great place for a date night!! We will be back. Again and again read more

thank you for catering our staff lunch. Lots of good food to share. caspca loved it.

Go to place for Indian food in Charlottesville. Food and service are consistently good. We've been several times and have always had a nice meal, generally walking away pretty full/satisfied. read more

Great food, great service! Had the Kesar Malai Lamb and it was fantastic. What more can I say? read more

Kanak Indian Kitchen - Menu - Indian Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

This place was so good, I ate here two days in a row! Came for lunch with business associates while working in the area and I was pretty impressed with the menu, the ambiance and the quality of the ingredients and preparation of the food! Being Pakistani, I'm not partial to Indian food, but eat it in a pinch to get my "curry fix." This place definitely exceeded my expectations! Service was mixed. The first day I went, service was great. The second day, there was a new girl (white girl) being trained by another girl... the new girl was pretty bad at paying attention to the table and even getting items being requested (I requested something 3 times from her and each time she said she'd get it, but never did. When I saw the other girl and asked her, she got it immediately). Food on both visits was consistently excellent! Management seems pretty decent too, as they ask how things are going and seem interested. Overall - Definitely worth a try! In my case, I'll be back! read more

Best Indian cuisine in Charlottesville that I've had and the service was great. It's a bit on the pricier side but you get what you pay for! Will be back. read more

Superb!!! Service was great! Don't let shopping mall location fool you. Resturant is super clean and very well decorated. Staff was spot on!!! Tikka massala lunch came with soup or salad I chose coconut soup, rice, naan and potato dish. It was so good I had to stop eating so I didn't need a nap. Samosas we're flavorful and green stuff that came with it was a great condiment to I enhance flavor. I libed read more

Kanak Indian Kitchen - Samosa - Indian Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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I had wanted to try this spot on Uber eats for so long, but always felt like I couldn't justify the price (~$18 for butter chicken or chicken Tikka masala). I had a bunch of Uber eats credits about to expire and so used them to try this place and it did not disappoint! First off, the portions are huge. My husband and I ordered two dishes but it ended up that one dish split into two bowls with garlic naan was PLENTY for a dinner portion. That definitely makes this a more affordable meal, and the flavors were just WOW. The butter chicken was a little spicy for him, although I thought it was perfect. The tikka masala was also excellent from the spoonful I tried before putting it in the fridge for lunch tomorrow. Can't wait to order again, yum! read more

Another excellent Indian addition to the city! Their naan is super soft and flaky -- probably one of the best I've had! Interesting collection of cocktails and mocktails. One important question: why doesn't Charlottesville have any South Indian? The closest Dosa is available at Richmond! read more

Kanak Indian Kitchen - Vegetable Samosa - Indian Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

One of my favorite places in Charlottesville to get Indian food. I came on a Tuesday evening and was seated quickly. The ambiance inside is so nice and the wait staff is very helpful! They were very attentive. They started off with a complimentary dish of poppers. I ordered the butter chicken and samosas. Loved the crunchy samosa dough and the sauces. The butter chicken was amazing and flavored just right. The silverware and plates they provide are extremely high quality. Prices are the only thing holding them back. An entree is upwards of $18+ which is expensive to me compared to other Indian places. read more

Kanak Indian Kitchen - New Delhi Butter Chicken - Indian Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Look, the food is amazing and we keep coming back for it despite the service which is often severely lacking. The wait times are often much longer than what is promised when you walk in, and there's an 80% chance you'll be served the wrong meal/the server completely leaves off a dish that was supposed to be served to you. Even if you sit down with no wait, you are likely to be sitting down for a solid hour and a half before you leave because the service is just so slow. That being said, we will keep coming back because the food really is that good, but I know at some point we and others will become fed up with the lack of attention by the staff and just give up on eating here. This place has the potential to be PERFECT and the only thing holding them back is the staff. I'm not sure if it's lack of training or what, but it's a widespread issue and it really needs to be fixed. *edit to add: this is not just an issue with one particular server, but rather every server we have ever been served by which is probably 4-5 different people. Each experience is as bad as the previous one. read more

Kanak is a treat, when we host out of town visitors we always make a point to show off Kanak! Warm hospitality, professional service and a unique cosmopolitan atmosphere. Each dish from appetizer special to innovative dessert was delicious, well presented, with fresh aromatic ingredients and savory aromas. The cocktail bar is worth a visit alone! So many interesting offerings, check the specials for an adventure in fine dining. The waiter described any specials and personal favorites, making our mouths water and really enhancing the experience, suggesting pairings and sides to compliment and complete the meal. Overall, it was an wonderful culinary experience for my family, and collogues, and I heartily recommend it to everyone who is craving delicious Indian food. read more

So good! Best garlic naan I've had! Always fresh and ready to go. Have not dined in yet but I enjoy the take out and everyone is very nice.

One of our favorite Indian places in Charlottesville. We have tried so many and narrowed it down. Clean and delicious! They are always busy!

You can smell Kanak from anywhere in 5th Street Station. I;ve been over there so many times and wanted to stop by. Finally that time came. We headed out for a Friday evening dinner. It wasn't bad outside so we sat on the patio with our two dogs. The service was very good. Even outside we felt like we were taken care of. We started with a Khati (Paneer) Roll. It was a decent size to share for a bite. We didn't want to fill up on the app. Great flavor and the paneer was wonderful. I ordered Patia for dinner. It was a little out of my comfort zone, but it had great flavors. It was just the right serving size so I left full, but not stuffed. I have now found my new go-to Indian spot. I'm interested to try lunch there one day. read more

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I've ordered takeout from Kanak before but decided to stop by in person to try their lunch menu. I was shocked by the quantity of food when it came out to our table. A soup or salad, basmati rice, naan bread, curry, and a side of the day. The lunch special is very much worth it. We both left the restaurant feeling satisfied, full, and happy. The fig dressing on my salad was refreshing and vibrant. I got medium spice for my Patia curry and loved how well the spice infused together with the sweet mango nuances in the curry. I think I could have enjoyed the medium-hot level as well. The naan was hot and crispy, pairing perfectly with the main dish. Our server was helpful and made sure to check on our experience. We appreciated how understanding she was when we mentioned how the soup of the day didn't fit our tastebuds and even reassured us that it's often a hit or miss with people. Kanak has managed to impressed me once again with the flavor and service. I'm looking forward to the next time I visit Kanak again for lunch, hopefully soon please! read more

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This place was very tasty and worth the price. We went for lunch and the portions were large and the dish was great. The naan was very fluffy. We preferred the chicken over the lamb but both were good. They also made iced coffee for me even though they don't specifically offer it (they have hot coffee). Highly recommend. read more

Kanak Indian Kitchen - Lunch Vin d'Alho Lunch Tikka Masala - Indian Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

The food is fresh and full of flavor! Their kofta is unique, made with rosy beets and a delicious spinach sauce, it is our favorite dish! Every dish we have tried we have enjoyed! I highly recommend Kanak Indian Kitchen! read more

Brand new center, new and contemporary, clean, outdoor seating. Lamb curry excellent. Medium is not hot, go hotter if yr culturally tempered. Bring patience and wait for good meal to arrive. read more

Kanak Indian Kitchen - Indian Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

They truly never disappoint. I have been here several times, and I fall in love with the restaurant every single time. The aesthetic is modern, pristine, and luxurious. The staff are always kind and attentive. The menu options are vast. And as for the food...it always HITS every single time with every single dish I have tried. There are truly no bad options on the menu, and I keep coming back to try all their dishes. The flavors are explosive and warm your body from the inside out. Kanak is without a doubt, one of my top favorite restaurants in Charlottesville. read more

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