Located in a solidly residential neighborhood, Nirvana appeals mostly to the take out trade but offers 4 tables for those so inclined. Street parking is available but it is probably better to walk or ride the bus. The rather humble decor contrasts with the clean tablecloths and cloth napkins suggesting a grander venue. The menu is quite extensive, including Balti, Hakka noodles, many goat dishes, and other relatively uncommon items. Vegetarian items are prominently featured. Since we were the only diners, service was excellent. All items, including the Chicken tikka masala, lamb roganjosh and chicken Balti were excellent. The mild spice level was barely noticeable, letting the complex spicy flavors and umami tastes shine through. The naan was also soft, chewy, and flavorful without the characteristic charring often encountered. We found the prices moderate although others might differ. All in all, a satisfactory experience worthy of a high rating. read more

I live right around the corner from this little place. There are three uncomfortable tables to sit at and it's always a thousand degrees inside so I wouldn't plan on eating inside. I've had a few of the dishes here and I'm never impressed but I sure do keep going back for these Haka noodles. The serving seems to weigh about a pound so I'll get a couple of big meals out of it. They offer a number of spice levels and it gets hot fast. The dish is very old-school Chinese style. Not at all Indian. read more

Nirvana - Haka Noodles with Chicken - Indian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Very tiny portions for the price. I got the chicken tandoori for $17.50, and that got me 4 drumsticks and a wing. I thought my local Indian takeout in Bella Vista was overpriced, so I came down here, and it was worse for the amount I got. Very friendly staff, however. read more

Probably the best Indian food in Philly. Yes, I am being generous since it isn't Edison. This place has every spice level possible from mild to Indian spicy. And let me tell you Indian spicy is no joke since I thought hot burnt my tongue. We started with a samosa. The samosa had the perfect amount of peas in it. I also liked the tamarind dipping sauce. We had some palak paneer that had big chunks of ginger in it. Then we had a matar paneer. I really liked how thick the curry was in this dish. The gobi Manchurian was also good quality. I really liked the breading on the cauliflower (it made it so crispy). The sauce on the cauliflower was very tasty as well. read more

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So so good! I got takeout and tried the veggie Hakka noodles and a paneer dish with aloo paratha. Way too much food for me, but I was sampling. :-) The spice levels were amazing, tons of veggies, flavor, it was all so good and can't wait to try other things. I'm lucky to live so close by! The space inside is teensy (I counted 4 tables) and hot, so not sure when I'd want to sit inside to eat. I also want to go with a bottle of wine as it's BYOB. read more

Finally dined here recently after doing take out for several months. The chicken tikka masala and lamb vindaloo were both excellent! I ordered medium spicy and the spice level was more tamed than usual and it was perfect. The vegetable samosas were good but could have used more time in the fryer. One thing that I've noticed about this place is that the entrees are always on point but the breads are always not. I've tried the naan, roti and paratha - none of them ever good. They're all either very thick, dense, and/or taste a bit undercooked. Stick with their entrees and you should be good. Wished their Indian breads were better! read more

Nirvana - Chicken tikka masala and lamb vindaloo - Indian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

My first Indian food experience was in Philadelphia almost 25 years ago, so coming back to Philly to try an Indian restaurant was such a delight. A friend brought us to Nirvana for a taste experience and I'm certainly glad she did. The restaurant is small and quaint, with a classy but simple ambiance. The menu is vast with just about all the traditional options. There were items available on the online menu that I missed on the restaurant menu (not sure if they were different or if I just overlooked them in the restaurant). We ordered three entrees, with spice levels 4, 0, and 6. When I ordered level 6, she looked at me with a quick double take, then headed to put in our order. To make a long story short, I think she either did not believe me, thought I made a mistake, or simply forgot. My malai kofta was definitely a zero, but I later requested a side of chili sauce, which was helpful. We also ordered the basket of bread and veggie samosa. The food was excellent and portions were perfect. My only critique is that the entrees were surprisingly salty, which is something I've never experienced at an Indian restaurant before. Great food. Good service. Pleasant ambiance. Decent price. Overall the experience at Nirvana was certainly worth it. 3.85 out of 5. read more

After a one year search for good Indian food in Philly, I've found it with Nirvana. I got the Chicken Dhansak, chana saag, and chicken tikka masala. All were delicious and not overly creamy. No layer of oil at the top of the containers either. Note: I'm Indian and can eat pretty spicy. Indian spicy is very spicy! read more

Only outdoor seating if more than 2 people so only come when nice weather. Samosa Chaat $10.95 was probably the best I've ever had. Veg Pakora $7.95 was okay. Wouldn't get again. Spice options: mild, medium, spicy. Spicy was a good option. Not too spicy. Veg Tikka Masala $16.95 got spicy. Liked this. Liked the soft veggies and paneer. Garlic Naan $4.50 was garlicky and crispy. Enjoyed this. Not a huge fan of the mango lassi $4.95 read more

Consistently great takeout experiences. Terrific food and friendly, generous service.

We ordered take out tonight and the food was very sub par. The yellow dal had no Indian flavor and the medium was way too spicy. The Bindi Masala had lots of pieces of okra that were impossible to chew. The Gobi Mutar was swimming in gravy that had little flavor. Tandoori chicken was very dry. The best dish was the Goat Chetinad. This used to be our favorite Indian food near Center City Philadelphia. We have eaten at many of the Nirvana restaurants when we lived in the Philadelphia suburbs and they were always fantastic. My husband called the owner to complain about tonight's food (we have gotten to know him through our years of eating Nirvana's delicious food), and he told him that the Center City location WAS SOLD!! No wonder the food was bad. The new owner needs to get his act together. We will NEVER order from there again. read more

Food is delicious and it is a great take out option in the neighborhood. Don't skip the mango lassi yum! The only problem is that it is pricey, hence the 4 star rating. read more

Ordered takeout from Nirvana thru FoodHub. Order was handed to wrong driver, and we never received it. This isn't the end of the world, we support local businesses on purpose, just refund us or let us try again a different day. The lady on the phone kept saying "it will be fine" and "it's not our fault". Of course, no refund and no food 4 days later. So here I am writing a food review about food we paid for and didn't get to eat :( read more

Just came back from a wonderful dinner there. My fiancee and I have ordered takeout from there before, and so we knew the food was good, but this is the first time we were able to sit outside the restaurant and enjoy it. Needless to say, the food was still fantastic, and the service to match! Our server was quick, attentive and pleasant to talk to. The prices are fair, and we certainly walked away with enough food for breakfast tomorrow morning! I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for good Indian cuisine in Philadelphia. read more

I have been trying to get my husband to try Indian food forever. Today was the day and Nirvana did not disappoint. The food was amazing. It was not spicy. We got chicken tika masala and naan. Figured it would be best to play it safe for the first time. Sooooo good. The place itself is very small. 4 tables and the atmosphere was nonexistent which is why I am guessing their take out is busy. I will definitely go back but I think next time it will be take out. read more

Tried Nirvana Indian Kitchen for lunch today. I ordered the Navaratna Korma and a Chicken Biryani for my wife and I to split. They said 15 minutes and that was exactly right. Easy tap n go payment and I was eating some seriously delicious lunch that must have come right off the stove. The chicken biryani was just how they describe it on the menu - juicy, flavored, delicate spices. Bravo. I tried both but gravitated toward the Navaratna Korma. Something I'd never tried or heard of - loved it. A couple can order a single dish for lunch, split it, and still be quite full. This place will definitely make it into my work at home lunch rotation. Welcome to Queen Village. read more

Nirvana - Beautiful Indian tapestry. - Indian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

We love this place, although the portions tend to be on the smaller side, my husband get the butter chicken, I like the Kerala Pepper chicken, and we both like the Biryani! (Just wish there was more meat included) read more

Delicious takeout. No ambience to speak of (no tables either). A boon to the neighborhood.

This is your typical Indian takeout place, nothing fancy or different, but with extremely good execution, presentation, and fresh-tasting ingredients. We live about a 5-minute walk from a similar place that I would give maybe 4 stars but wanted to try Nirvana to see if it would best it. It did. We had the lamb saag and the chicken dhansak entrees, with some accompaniments. Everything was within what we'd expect: classic flavors, not too greasy, proper seasoning level. What pushed things over the edge for us, though was the consistently good execution throughout, and the quality of the appetizers. I know another reviewer didn't like them, but the vegetable pakoras have to be the single best appetizer item I've ever had at an Indian restaurant. Tasty vegetables, a bunch of little bites (8), sauces that tasted like an Indian version of salsa verde and honey something, not too greasy. The raita had plenty of vegetable crunchiness and yogurt tang without being overdone. The bread basket of peshwari naan, paneer kulcha, and garlic naan was all really tasty--except that the kulcha didn't seem to be a true kulcha bread base, and was just a naan with paneer and the appropriate seasonings. That didn't stop us from finishing most of it, though, and it was fun to have a sweet naan bread with the peshwari option for a change. Service was quick and courteous. I placed an order over the phone (cheaper than their website) direct from the restaurant as opposed to using Yelp delivery, and would recommend looking over the options before settling on a delivery provider. TL;DR if you're going to order Indian delivery and you live within their delivery area, this is the place to go. It is absolutely better than any other "typical" Indian place in Philly that I have tried, and I have tried most of them. I'm not sure I'd be motivated every time to pay for delivery from a 5-star place when I can walk to a 4-star one, but the quality is absolutely better, and I know where to go the next time I need a fix. read more

Nirvana - lamb saag chicken dhansak raita vegetable pakora peshwari naan paneer kulcha garlic naan - Indian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I saw all the great reviews and ordered delivery. I tried butter chicken/saag paneer/ samosas, all vey basic items. All of them were flat and lacked flavor. The samosas needed more cumin and fried a bit longer. The butter chicken needs more balance. read more

New favorite spot, and I rarely say that. Prices are higher than the average weeknight takeout but more reasonable than the fancy places... but it's worth it. Samosas are nice & the Naan is lovely! Gobi Manchurian is currently my favorite in the city (spicy but not too painful, not overpowering amount of soy, perfectly fried)- you can't not get it. I'd usually get a saag paneer or navratan korma or malai kofta (which is lovely here) but I tried the Shahi paneer for the first time ever and now I'm obsessed. I can't try anything else or go anywhere else. It's got a lovely creamy tomato base with a little spice and delicate flakes of paneer. Perfection. Also, the staff are so sweet :) read more

Fantastic food. Everything was delicious! Great taste and portion size. We'll definitely be back.

Excellent meal! Two nights! I had the Shrimp Vindaloo and the Tiger Shrimp. Perfectly spiced! Friendly staff! Fast service! I shall return! read more

Excellent paneer tikka masala. I will definitely be ordering it again. The gobi Manchurian is way too spicy for me though.

Very good Indian food in QV. The dishes are well flavored and prepared and would satisfy even the pickiest south Asian people. I love the tandoori chicken and biryani here. Butter chicken and garlic naan are also a great combo! read more

The Chicken biriyani was yummy! They gave us a serving size for two and we ate it throughout a couple meals

I've tried to recreate their biryani and tikka masala after getting their recipes and it's no where close to how amazing their meals are. Best Indian restaurant in philly easily. The service and the food are above and beyond! read more

This place is so incredible that it makes me actually want to try new dishes because I can trust that they will always be flavorful and delicious. I get takeout because I live nearby and hope they stick around for a very long time. Tonight I got the Samosa Chat and Peshwari Naan, both of which I'd never had before, and will definitely be ordering again. Also, the portions are generous & super reasonably priced. You won't regret ordering from here. read more

The food here is phenomenal! Everyone is super nice and everything we ordered was so delicious. What is pictured in the photo is the following: Bread Basket, Methi Malai Matar, Baigan Bharta, and Masala Chai. We also got samosa chat that was incredible! Highly recommend this place to everyone. read more

Nirvana - Bread Basket Methi Malai Matar Baigan Bharta Masala Chai - Indian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Tried take out from this place last night. When I called in to ask a question on the menu, the gentleman on the phone was very courteous and ended up taking my order over the phone. He even suggested some items not on the menu and modified based on my request. He also offered to deliver even though I was out of his delivery area. The food here is legit North Indian (Punjabi food). The spices and flavors are similar to food I would have in India. The aloo saag and paneer tikka masala are among the top 3 I've had in Philly. A word of caution though, while I have the capacity to eat spicy food, their spice level "Indian spicy" is very very spicy. Would definitely order from this place again. read more

We just ordered take out from here and it was absolutely fantastic. We ordered lamb korma, chicken vindaloo, onion naan, veggie samosas and a cauliflower dish that I forget the name of. Everything was fantastic! It was great to be able to pick the spice levels on the entrees and order extra chutneys and sauces (I highly recommend the onion chutney!). We definitely found our new go to Indian restaurant. read more

So this is for the rox location bc Yelp sucks and doesn't have it listed. My husband and I have gotten food here multiple times, the yoush (chicken saag, korma), and it's been slammin. Naan is on point. No complaints. read more

The food here is so delicious! The servings are very generous and everything I ate was extremely tasty. I would highly recommend eating here

I am very grateful to have this restaurant just a block away from my apartment! I moved here from Seattle and was used to ample Indian food options and have had a hard time finding good places in Philly. Not only is the search over, but this place is steps away from me! The gobi Manchurian appetizer is a must (it doesn't even matter if cauliflower is not your thing - the texture is meaty and delicious). I got the okra dish and it was so delicious - perfectly cooked, and the portion was huge. As with most Indian restaurants, there were many vegetarian options, though I think Nirvana had even more than usual (okra can be hard to find so I was super happy to be able to order it). Also, there are many vegan options, and they are clearly marked. My fiancée got his usual butter chicken and was a big fan. Garlic naan was very tasty as well. The service is great. The food came out very quickly, with no gap between when we finished our appetizer and when the entrees came out. We enjoyed eating outside and people watching. It is a byo. We loved supporting this new business and will be back! read more

When got delicious take out from Nirvana. The food was hot ant and ready on time. I've had Indian food all over Philly and this was delicious. I plan to come back read more

Great local Indian food! Spice levels were exactly what we asked for and service was great. Will definitely return.

the food was incredible. I ate the leftovers for two days in a row! unbelievable flavor. The best Indian food I've maybe ever had

So so good!! My only criticism would be that they need a lot more garlic on their garlic naan

Wow! The best Indian food I've had in Philadelphia, and the best samosas I've had anywhere (including India). The Saag Paneer was also outstanding. Service was great too. Everything was fresh, ready on time for pickup, and piping hot. read more

Amazing & flavorful Indian food! Get the paneer chili & garlic naan! This is coming from an Indian lol