Ordered takeout, you're basically paying for two servings of food. The sauces and spices are incredible. The menu is huge but I'd bet everything is really good, which is rare for big menus. Strongly recommend! read more

Rajni Indian Cuisine - Hyderabadi Chicken Dum Biryani - Indian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Lot of hype around Rajni but I just don't get it. Let's start with the good. Southern Indian menu which is unique for Madison. I was impressed with how different the dishes were. I also liked the drinks and the service was efficient if a little cold. Now with the bad. The food just isn't good. Biryani weekend special was like warm and had obviously been sitting in some vat for a while. Rice was mush, goat was REALLY tough and almost no flavor overall. Honestly it was incredibly mediocre. Like what a cafeteria would serve as Indian food. Curry was a little better but not even close to as flavorful as another place in town. Ambiance was fine. I don't really care about amirbiance as long as it's acceptable and the food slaps. We won't be back. I understand the excitement around a south India menu but execution was a fail. read more

Did carry out a couple times. They are efficient both times. Consistent! Food was great! Everything was packaged well for transport. All food was warm when we ate. Just right flavors. Seemed like cooks took care with no shortcuts! Similar dishes with various hotness were was labelled, which was helpful. Will return in the future! read more

Very good quality food. We went on the graduation night. Naturally it was very crowded. But they managed it well and very rapidly. Will come back here for sure when in town. Strongly recommend read more

My family and I have become regulars at Rajni! Which is hard to do, considering it is packed at all days and times. If you're lucky enough to stop in when there isn't too big of a crowd, everything is splendid. When it is busy it can be a bit of a wait and hit or miss on food. My favorite things to order in terms of appetizers are the Chicken 555, Gobi Lasuni, and Chili Baby Corn. For entrees I have really liked the Mutton Sukka, Vendakkai, Kofta, Goat Biryani. Hakka Noodles are also pretty good! Filter coffee and chai and lassi's are all a great pick to accompany your meal. If you're lucky to stop in on a weekend, the veg and non veg thali are a must try in my opinion. The variety of dishes you get to try for a reasonable price is so worth it! Their dosas have also been great (never have taken a picture oops but have tried Mysore Masala, Pondicherry Cheese Masala, Karan Podi, etc) and I love all three of the chutneys - peanut, tomato, coconut. read more

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Generous portions and fast service. I got the goat fry biryani based on other reviews and agree that it was flavorful but I probably would have been better off with chicken tikka masala lol. read more

Rajni Indian Cuisine - Goat Fry Biryani - Indian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Not a big fan for going there first time and the staff was not in any help to pick something good to try

Finally, I was able to get here and try the infamous Rajni! I am starting with three stars because the pace of our meal was frustrating but I will be going back so hope to update with more experiences. I started with the masala tea. I felt it was lacking richness and would go with a lassi next time. I ordered the veg samosa for an appetizer. They were good, and fairly comparable to other restaurants in the area. My friend tried the chicken 555 - I could have made a meal out of that easily. Absolutely delicious - I am a sucker for anything curry and this was a hit with me. I had arrived wanting to try the biryani so that is ultimately what I ordered. A nice warmth at "mild" so it wasn't completely devoid of heat and the chicken was moist and flavorful. My friend had wanted a menu item but was told it was only available for lunch (not noted on the menu) so she had to take a few extra minutes to find a second choice. As a result, my dinner order came out before I had finished my samosa and about 10 min before hers did. That left me feeling rushed and awkward for the remainder of the meal. I noted too that the rice that came out to accompany her lamb dish didn't appear to be basmati but didn't ask her about it and will double check this before I order next visit. The restaurant is bright and clean on the inside and quite inviting, but there are cleaning supplies and boxes and whatnot visible by the staff door from parking and that kind of clutter always bugs me about what a kitchen might look like. I'll come back to try another meal and bring the rest of the family and will update accordingly. read more

Rajni Indian Cuisine - Veg samosa and masala chai - Indian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

When we got there, there was only 2-3 tables taken and we got seated and reviewed the huge menu. Everyone was very nice and answered our questions. Inside is very nice and I would never have thought it could change (in a good way) from its previous occupant. I would give this a 5 star, but before we got our food, there was a rush and it was packed to the brim. There were people even standing on top of us right as we were eating which was uncomfortable. The food was good, it had a nice spice level and I would recommend on giving this a try, but if it's packed I wouldn't wait. read more

Rajni Indian Cuisine - Channa Masala and Onion Pakora - Indian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

waited 20 minutes for a doordash delivery. Customer ordered two items. took very long. owner said wait 2 minuted and 10 minutes went by. poor service do better. read more

My husband and I first visited Rajni Indian Cuisine during Valentine's Day when they recently opened as a business. We had the best Valentine's date at Rajni because they decorated the restaurant very nicely with Valentine's Day decor, had amazing Valentine's dinner specials, and even had the cutest dessert for a special occasion! They had great service and hospitality! They have such an affordable diverse large menu of different regional influences of Indian cuisine such as South Indian, Indo-Chinese, and even offer seafood specials that showcase the diverseness of Indian cuisine. Rajni also has some really great appetizers, soups, masala dosas (Indian crepes), and some of the best express lunch deal specials at an unbeatable price! My husband and I tried the delicious chicken 555 and chicken 65 appetizers which were a great portion size! I highly recommend their chicken 555 appetizer which is fried chicken strips tossed with herbs, spices and garlic. We also tried the chicken tikka masala with garlic naan! The chicken tikka masala was pretty good but not the best chicken tikka masala we have had. I hope to be able to try more menu items from Rajni so I can have more to review and update on Rajni. Definitely, try Rajni you are looking for South Indian cuisine and looking to explore many different types of regional dishes that you may not be able to find at other typical Indian restaurants. read more

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Rajni is one of the most interesting and impressive restaurants to hit the Madison scene in quite a long time. Specializing in southern Indian and Indo-Chinese dishes, the food is spectacular. Being exposed to different flavors and unfamiliar dishes was a blast. The chicken 555 is a must get. Flavored with spices and a little heat, these pieces of chicken were absolutely addicting. The Manchurian gravy with cauliflower was an interesting blend of indian and Chinese flavors-warm, comforting. Service was efficient and super friendly. It may be tough to tell but really enjoyed my visit. :) A must try. read more

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Ordered delivery through their website. Waited for an hour and a half. Received the wrong order, and they were very unhelpful when I was unable to get through to the driver. read more

I dined in here on a weekday for lunch. There were very few people dining in at that time. Goat fry biryani was really good. It was very spicy. Goat was cooked tender and fried before adding to biryani. Quantity was good as well. Vegetarian thali was a good option as well. It had a lot of curries plus rice and a porotta. The masala chai was flavorful and well made. read more

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Stopped in for dinner while on the west side. I tried the ghee masala dosa which was amazing. Very crispy and flavorful. Their mango lassi was also so good. Staff were very nice. I will definitely be back to try more dishes! read more

I kept hearing this place was amazing and authentic. I do not doubt that this place has authentic dishes but for me it was too much for me to handle. We tried 2 different main courses and I emphasized I wanted extremely low spicy level. He said both were "mild" but after 2 bites I was on fire. My husband who enjoys spicy food was literally sweating as he continued to eat. They brought out the Biryani without a mix of spice but the rice alone was still so spicy. I couldn't eat it. If you do not enjoy spicy food and just want to taste the flavors of dishes, do NOT go here. Their "mild" is pure and way too spicy. The food tasted good until the fire took over and I became numb. If you enjoy very spicy food then you may love this place and they have a plethora of options for you. I just couldn't handle it. read more

Delicious, fresh food and great service. Very clean with a nice ambiance. Rajni is my favorite South Indian restaurant in the Madison area!

The food was pretty good. But the service was very unfriendly and the restaurant was insanely hot. We had to leave very soon after we ate, as it was way to uncomfortable. Wont return. read more

Finally an authentic South Indian restaurant in Madison. I haven't had a sambar and coconut chutney this good in a while. The restaurant was nicely decorated and the Service was excellent. Our food came pretty quickly. We tried idli, onion uttapam, dosa and mysore coffee. Everything we had was on par with what I expect an excellent South Indian restaurant would serve. We were constantly asked if we were doing ok. Raj came to our table to ask in the end how the meal was. This kind of personal touch of going above and beyond is what sets them apart from other Indian restaurants around. This is a must visit for anyone who appreciates authentic South Indian cuisine. I assure you- the place won't disappoint. read more

Rajni Indian Cuisine - Filter Madras Coffee - Indian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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$20 didn't come with any rice or naan, just 8(?) pieces of chicken which was tough and difficult to chew through. The texture felt like it had just been reheated in an air fryer, some pieces were so hard it felt like chewing through wood. Will not be returning. read more

holy cow so delicious, we took some extra rice and garlic naan home, this stuff was soooooooo good, delishhhh. i got madras chicken curry (they said goat when handing it to me but idc it was so good) i think it was chicken tho but it was actually so amazing it was 10/10 perhaps a little low on the water but that's alr read more

Rajni Indian Cuisine - Garlic Naan, Madras Chicken Curry - Indian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

First time dining in last Saturday. I love the ambiance and the wall arts of the place. Food is amazing. I love Indian foods, and I gotta say I found my go-to spot. For appetizer, I had the sliced plantains. It was savory which was surprising, but in a good way. Mango lassi was light and refreshing! For main course, I had a heaping bowl of goat fry biryani. Great flavor profile! Sauce was bomb! I ordered mild spice which I drizzled all over the rice. It also came with a light yogurt sauce which was refreshing. It balanced out the heat. Staff were friendly, courteous and attentive. My only criticism is that I'm not a fan of the small bones I found in my biryani. You could swallow it if you're not careful. Other than that, I can't wait to go back and try the thali dish and desserts! read more

Rajni Indian Cuisine - Mango lassi - Indian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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I love this place! As a South Indian, I was delighted by a new place for food that tastes like back home. I've ordered multiple times and also enjoyed my in-dining experience. When I went with friends, we got the Neer moru, Vazhakkai bhajji (plantain fritters), Masala dosa, Onion chilli utthapam, Idiyappam with chicken curry, and Chicken biryani. Every single food item was delicious. We also loved the quick and attentive service, as well as the bright and airy ambiance. The only thing that was a little bothersome was the tight spaces in the booth seating and that the booths moved when we get up. I will definitely keep ordering from this place and plan to go back. read more

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Quite a varied selection of food including Indian appetizers which I find hard to find in the area. We tried their fish Apollo, Pondicherry Cheese masala dosa & Lamb Uppu curry & they all tasted fantastic! We specially enjoyed their dosa... it was huge and quite filling & the presentation was awesome. The servers were very courteous & helped with our food selection process by giving insightful information. Would definitely come back. read more

Rajni Indian Cuisine - Pondicherry Cheese Masala Dosa - Indian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Excited about the new restaurant focused on South Indian cuisine Nice place with good decor and good parking. Seated ourselves and server took our orders The food was just Ok, they got some of our orders mixed up Hopefully they will improve soon read more

Great Indian food. Never seen it overly busy, staff is always kind. Everything on the menu tastes great. I especially like the goat fry biryani, chicken tikka masala, and the garlic naan. Always a treat! read more

Marvelous food of good variety. Large selection of dosa, my favorites. Very friendly staff with great service. Generous servings with fresh made sauces. read more

Everything was delicious. Great spices, perfectly prepared. Will be happily eating these leftovers.

First off happy to finally have a new Indian spot on Mineral Point within 10min drive! Decided to give this a try for a Friday night lazy takeout. Picked up and for my first time stepping into the dining room, ambiance was bustling with happy hungry customers and yummy aromas. Ordered a classic butter chicken masala, ennai kathirikai kuzhambu (was craving eggplant!), with some garlic naan and a mango lassi. Naan was nice and pull-y. Definitely tastes homemade, more chewy than crisp. Lassi is thinner, but more yogurty flavor than most-- not too sweet artificial mango. Eggplant was cut so meaty and juicy which I loved! South Indian mustard seed flavor was yummy and strong, though gravy was on the watery side. Butter chicken cuts of thigh are moist, sauce is a lil orangey not red-- again on the thinner side, though tastes homemade (which is good!) and not too powdery. If you are craving THE classic commercialized butter chicken flavor and creaminess, this one is not it. Portions were smaller compared to other spots in town (no leftovers). Would still reorder for convenience, location and easy fix. read more

The best Indian food! Great service too! Ordered the sampler. Definitely coming back!

Service: very friendly. Decor: pretty Indian murals. Food: absolutely wonderful and authentic southern Indian. A big step up for Madison. My sole critique: their parking lot is quite awfu read more

Rajni Indian Cuisine - Indian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

The food is really amazing, I loved their Chicken 555, it was amazing. Their service was also very amazing, the food came in a flash, their Ambiance is wonderful too. I would recommend this Indian restauran. read more

Rajni Indian Cuisine - Indian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Food and service great. Friendly staff. Lots of Indian customers which speaks well for the authenticity of the food. Very generous portions. Recommended. read more

First visit to Rajni was very impressive! The menu is huge and expansive, there are various special deals and combos, and many house specialties seem to favor Southern Indian cuisine, which is fine by me. This is an overlooked gem located in West Madison, opposite Menards. The spice level in my curry was just as it should be, flavorful and hot. My fish appetizer was amazing, marinated mackerel fried in spices. Plenty of naan to select from. The servings are very generous (easily two meals from any entree) and prices more than fair, in fact, a bargain considering the portions and the quality of ingredients. Definitely coming back more often to dine in or take-away! The only downside is there is no beer or wine available to accompany a dine-in meal. I hope they get a liquor license so these great meals can be enhanced with a complementary adult beverage. Oh, and I'd love to see a lunch buffet someday, if their space allows, just to sample a wider variety of items than a dinner allows. That would be a winner! I'm not able to post new reviews on Google for some reason, the "Post" tab is greyed out and non-functional (altho' I can edit or update an existing review) but there's still Yelp! read more

first I need to talk about the service here, there is this guy named " Hari ", he is such an awesome and excellent personality. I felt like I'm in India, he is just like the guys in India who makes you comfortable and close. Hari really made my day, I say the Best thing that this cuisine has is Hari, and his service. read more

Good food and friendly people, spacious and welcoming place! The menu is a lot but every entree and appetizer we ordered was delicious.

Me and my parents ordered here for dinner since we were craving Indian and hadn't tried this place yet. We ordered online for pick up. My dad arrived at the restaurant at the pick up time and had to wait about 10 minutes for the food, but I got it again later that week and only had to wait 5 so wait time varies. The place is decorated with bright oranges and decorations I would associate with India so it really adds to the feel of the place. The food itself was amazing. We ordered the palak paneer, butter chicken, tandoori chicken, plus some naan and samosas and they were excellent. Everything was still hot after we brought it home and it was all so flavorful and had a pleasant spice. It should attest to the food we came back later that week and ordered almost the same thing (except tikki masala instead of tandoori) and it was once again delicious. I will rave about this place to anyone who wants to try indian food in the area. Overall, 8/10, amazing food, they just seem to have a bit of trouble keeping up with demand right now. read more

Went for lunch in a Wed and there were only 2 other tables there. very attentive and friendly staff. The food was excellent and the service was impeccable. We lingered quite a while after paying the bill and felt no pressure to move on (of course there were plenty of tables!). I ordered the Veg Thali (platter of pickle, yogurt, ample rice, and about 8? curries). Only o e was on the very spicy side but still easy for me to tolerate, especially with the (best!) delicious mango lassi. I can't wait to return to try other dishes from the huge menu! read more

Rajni recently opened and quickly has become a family favorite for delicious take out. Their service is good, although sometimes the wait is a little longer than expected (still very much worth it!) Ambiance is nice and there is plenty of seating. I enjoy their moong bean dish and tandoori chicken. read more

Best Indian food in Madison. Biriani is excellent. We visited them during a trip to Wisconsin Dells and tasted Thalappakkatti Biriyani and chicken Chettinad. Authentic Indian cousine and customer friendly. read more