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    Royal India Bistro

    4.3 (547 reviews)
    ModerateIndian
    Open 11:30 am - 9:00 pm

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    ROYAL INDIA BISTRO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Classy
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed

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    Naan
    Kelly C.

    Visited Salem for the weekend and was looking for Indian food on the way home and saw that this place was highly rated in Lexington. We have some family friends in Lexington and always had dinner at their homes, so this was a first! We ordered some tasty classics: GARLIC NAAN Unleavened white bread with garlic. Oh my gosh if you love garlic and bread then this is for you! Naan is typically teardrop-shaped, bread made from ghee and buttermilk kneaded into dough which is then baked in a tandoor (traditional Indian clay oven). It has that slight char and lightly baked texture to it. It's quite light and very easy to stuff your face with. A better version of pita bread, if you will. Got a great, buttery bite to it. ONIONS NAAN Unleavened white bread stuffed with onions. If you're an onion fan THIS is for you! Finely minced onions were kneaded into this dough and it was delicious. I was worried the onion flavor would be too overwhelming to enjoy, but nope this was light and super flavorful. Loved spooning some biryani and chutney on this. Made every bite so freaking phenomenal. POORI Crispy, deep fried puffy bread. This was so interesting because of its appearance, but the taste was interestingly doughy and almost nutty. The first bite was crispy and it gets a little chewier as you chew, but I spooned some biryani and masala on my pieces and it was delicious! Definitely a vehicle for chutneys, sauces, curry, and rice. Really light and tasty. PLAIN DOSA Enormous thin crepe made with rice and lentils, served with coconut chutney and sambhar. The dosa was crispy and crepe-like, very thin so it was pretty thin and easy to break into shareable sizes for everyone at the table. This is a very popular street food in India, famous for its simple ingredients and savory flavor. I can see why! You can have it with anything, we were served coconut chutney which was so creamy and flavorful to spoon onto and enjoy with. Sambhar also came with it which was really, really tasty; a South Indian stew made with lentils, mixed veggies, tamarind, gerbs, spices and the special spice powder of Sambar. So freaking tasty for just a couple of sides! SHRIMP BIRYANI Basmati rice cooked with shrimp, seasoned with fresh ground spices, toasted cashews and raisins. The basmati rice was cooked to al dente perfection and had the perfect bite. The shrimp was nice and tender, but a little salty for my taste. The fresh ground spices made every bite in your mouth sooo wonderful. Loved the addition of toasted cashews and raisins, gave every bite a little added nuttiness and sweetness. What a tasty dish, wish it wasn't too salty. CHICKEN CHILI MASALA (HOT) Boneless tandoori chicken cooked with green chili, onions, peppers and spices. When they said hot spice level, they were not kidding. It was so yummy. The spice level had us sweating a little and that's saying something. It was divine, the chicken was moist and juicy, but the SPICES just made it amazing. Loved this dish so much! CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA (HOT) Boneless diced chicken tandoori cooked in a creamy tomato sauce. The chicken was cooked to perfection, nice and moist, but again this dish was just a little too salty for my taste. Other than that, the spices, the flavors, everything was so on point. The service here was so friendly and fast. They answered all our questions about the various different items on the menu to choose from and what they recommended. I might come back here if I'm in the Lexington area, but I definitely would probably say something about the saltiness for my own peace of mind. Again, they were so nice and the vibes were so chill in here.

    Anshita S.

    The food, presentation and service is always on point here. The ambiance is nice and cozy. The owners are super friendly and always go out of their way to accommodate dietary restrictions. Even the staff is very friendly and helpful. We love everything on their menu, it is so hard to pick favorites. Their Dal makhani and malai kofta are great and so is the Poori Chole. Their lamb chops are delicious and so are the paneer tikka. We have also had food catered on multiple occasions and it has always been a great experience. This past summer they catered a big event for us and it went seamlessly. They went out of their way to make sure everything was well set up and all our guests are still talking about the food. Cannot recommend enough!!!!!!!

    2 Piece Meat Samosas
    Lily B.

    Food and service here is very good. It's a small restaurant but clean. We ordered meat samosas, lamb biriyani, and lamb vindaloo with a side of garlic Naan, mango Lassi and Rupee beer. Everything was delicious. They can adjust the spice level to your liking. Parking is street metered and also paid lots for a quick walk less than 5 mins.

    Biryani with a basket of different bread. Lamb vindaloo and chicken curry
    Gabby B.

    Spicy! Spicy! Indian restaurant! Finally! My bf and I decided to dine in on Sunday night since we were in town for the day. The restaurant is cozy with a few tables for small groups. They have a huge menu to choose from and some dishes already come hot and others you can request spicy. We decided on the shared bread basket because it came with onion naan, regular naan and a different puffy bread. All of which were super yummy! We finally decided on getting a biryani dish because we never do and picked lamb. We also got the lamb vindaloo and a chick pea dish. The service was amazing! It was a hot day and it was nice having our cups of water refilled constantly! The food came out nice and hot and they even had mini cute heat trays to keep our food nice and warm throughout our entire meal. The food was delicious! And we ordered most dishes spicy and they really were! We will definitely come back again!

    How would you like to bite into your curry and there's pieces of plastic/scotch tape in it?
    Miss C.

    You need to not put plastic in food. Super irresponsible. This was disgusting and ruined my appetite. Get it together.

    Chicken Chili Masala!!!!!
    Robo T.

    Amazing food, friendly efficient staff, cozy atmosphere. Great takeout as takeout as well. Literally the best garlic naan ive ever had. The most flavorful and delicious chicken chili masala. I had never eaten here before and then I ended up here twice in one week!!

    Exterior
    Adina S.

    Royal India Bistro has some of the best Indian food in the area. I was with a big group and we ordered a bunch of various appetizers and entrees for takeout. We ordered online and came to pick up the order, which was ready within a reasonable timespan. While we didn't dine in, I was impressed by the interior when we came to pick up the food. In terms of the food, absolutely everything was delicious! I personally ordered the Lamb Vindaloo, which had the perfect level of heat. I also tried the naan and some of the appetizers, which were all very tasty! My only recommendation would be for the restaurant staff to label the takeaway containers, to make it easier to for customers to know which dishes are which. I hope to dine here in person sometime soon.

    a mural of india
    Joe S.

    While biking on the minutemen trail and crossing through Lexington , an amazing Indian food smell was blasting. We were hungry and decided to stop. The place is small, cozy and well decorated. Service was fast. We started with vegetable pakoras and aloo tikki, both fresh and delicious ! We then had the lunch special, a choice of 3 dishes (chicken tikka masala, Dal Makhani and Aloo Ghobi) , naan and rice! It was perfect to have little taste of 3 different dishes! Definitely will come back!

    Virginia says "Eat This"..:)
    Avram L.

    You got a nice white dress and a party on your confirmation! You've got a brand new soul. Mmm, and a cross of gold. But Virginia they didn't give you quite enough information!... It's casual dining on royal food... On a journey Paul Revere would be proud of...Royal India/Bharat Bistro delighted us w. "Butter Chicken", moist in a velvet unctuous sauce, "Lamb Saag" the Irish would say "Sláinte" and all... finished with "Kashmiri Naan" w. cherries and pistachios....Yes, wicked mon..:) Come out, come out, come out! Virginia don't let me wait! You Catholic girls start much too late! Sooner or later it comes down to fate. I might as well will be the one... You know that only the good die young! Best, Avram Sam Adams Jr.

    Shrimp goa curry
    Samuel A.

    Lunch crowd builds quickly at this popular Lexington town restaurant. Tables filled with queue by noon. Special Thali lunch $13 comes with choice of 3 of 4 dishes: chicken tikkila, lentils, cheese cubes and vegetables. Ok. Other lunch special $9-$10 comes with small side of choice of meat (lamb, chicken).

    Bread Basket, channa, dall makhani, baigan bhartha

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    7 months ago

    Best local Indian. Appetizers are excellent. All meals taste authentic. Level of spice requested is spot on.

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    Best Indian food in the area! Really love the ambiance - super cute and cozy when you dine in with great service

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    Page 1 of 14

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    Haveli Indian Cuisine

    Haveli Indian Cuisine

    4.8(37 reviews)
    4.6 miArlington Center
    Family-owned & operated
    Kid friendly

    The food was great and the service very attentive. The ambiance was very nice, plenty of room…read morebetween tables. Every table seemed to be enjoying themselves but no noise issues as far as we could tell. The pakoras were fresh and the mango fish very tasty. Both chicken dishes were nicely done too. We limited the spice levels because of our group but would probably go up a notch next time :-)

    This Indian restaurant on the main drag in the lovely town center of Arlington was a nice find. My…read morecolleague and I were on business and when we're traveling, we like to find good places to eat of varying styles. Indian is one of my favorites and this was a fairly short drive from our hotel in Waltham. We made a reservation but that did not seem to be at all necessary. It was a Monday night and it was not particularly busy. We were seated right away. They featured a very pleasant dining room and we were able to secure a table by the front window. This was a great spot and added to our experience. The service was very good. We were attended to quickly and well cared for throughout our time there. The food came out in a timely manner well presented at the appropriate temperature. My colleague opted for the Creamy Coconut Chicken. I tried a bite of this and was favorably impressed. In addition, he had a Mango Lassi to which he also gave a thumbs-up. I had the Fish Curry, which I ordered at a medium level in terms of spice. It was very tasty as it had just the right amount of kick. He ordered the Garlic Naan to accompany his meal while I had my favorite type of Indian bread (my favorite type of bread period, really) Peshwari Naan. We were both happy with these choices. I also had a glass of cabernet which turned out to be a decent choice. Our final bill that included food, drinks, tax and tip was $86. At $43 per person in this inflationary time, I was happy enough with the value given the quality of the fare and the overall experience. I would be happy to make a return visit.

    Photos
    Haveli Indian Cuisine
    Haveli Indian Cuisine - Dining Area at Haveli Indian Cuisine

    Dining Area at Haveli Indian Cuisine

    Haveli Indian Cuisine - Teenagers attaching tasty indian food

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    Teenagers attaching tasty indian food

    Tashan - PANEER TIKKA MASALA - delicious.

    Tashan

    4.3(142 reviews)
    3.7 mi

    If you're looking for a standout, modern Indian restaurant experience, Tashan is absolutely worth a…read morevisit. The ambiance sets the tone as soon as you walk in, vibrant decor with a stylish bar. The service is consistently excellent. The menu is where Tashan really shines. They take familiar Indian flavors and elevate them with a creative twist. The Punjabi staples like chole, chicken tikka, and daal makhni are done exceptionally well, striking that perfect balance between authenticity and refinement. The cocktail menu deserves a special mention. The aam mojito was refreshing and vibrant with mango and mint; the sharabi samundar was tropical and fun. For dessert, the Rajasthani Ghevar was a highlight; it was honeycomb-textured, and perfectly paired with a rich rabdi and pistachios. Tashan delivers a polished, yet approachable, take on modern Indian cuisine. Highly recommend!

    I came here for the lunch buffet, so I can't speak for their dinners, but I won't be returning. The…read morebuffet options were quite limited, and surprisingly bland for an Indian restaurant. There wasn't a hint of spice in anything. There wasn't any chai ($5 for a glass) and for dessert all they had was "strawberry mouse" which tasted basically like flavored cool-whip, instead of any actual Indian desserts, like gulab jamun, which most India buffets have. On top of this, it was more expensive than many Indian buffets. If you want a good Indian buffet, go a couple exits up 128 to Godavari in Woburn instead. It'll be worth the detour.

    Photos
    Tashan
    Tashan - Rajasthani Ghevar

    Rajasthani Ghevar

    Tashan - KURKURE AAM PALAK CHAAT - delicious.

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    KURKURE AAM PALAK CHAAT - delicious.

    Zomsa

    Zomsa

    4.7(57 reviews)
    4.6 miArlington Center
    Fine dining
    Outdoor seating

    Didn't have a ton to eat here, but everything I had was delicious. Service was attentive, warm, and…read morefriendly, which added to the great experience. The restaurant was comfy; there was an electric fireplace on the wall which made the room feel homey. We got fried pork momos, which were delicious and juicy. I was interested in trying the C-style, but we had a non-spice eater at the table. I got the pork chili from the appetizer menu and garlic naan for my meal, and my companions got the chow mein and sekuwa. The chow mein looked standard and sekewa was grilled chicken served with puffed rice (looked like rice krispies). Everyone was happy with their meals, but I especially loved mine. There were slices of pork belly in a flavorful sauce with tomatoes, onions, and bell peppers. Note that the pork belly still has the skin on it (which I personally love). My only complaint was at medium, the food seemed mild, but I'll be clearer of my spice preferences next time. I would definitely come back specifically for the pork chili!

    Decent South Asian and Nepalese place with surprisingly a karaoke night!…read more The bara is a fried pancake of sorts, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The dipping sauce was good as well, possibly a mint-like flavor. The pork momos were really good too, with nice crimping on the skin and decent fillings inside. The chicken vindaloo was decent, though I might have liked more specificity to the flavoring of the vindaloo. The potatoes were nicely textured. The chicken bites were a bit large, they could have been chopped up a bit. The gorkhali khasi (a goat curry) was fairly decent with tender nice pieces. The flavoring was oversalted and again could have used a tad more definition. The bone-in aspect was appreciated as it held the flavor of the meat. The bhindi masala (okra) was fairly successful with a solid infusion of flavor into the okra. The dish was overall too oily though and some steps need to be taken to minimize the oil. All in all quite enjoyable!

    Photos
    Zomsa - Chatpate:
A zesty and tangy Nepalese street food favorite, made with puffed rice.

    Chatpate: A zesty and tangy Nepalese street food favorite, made with puffed rice.

    Zomsa - MO:MO (Jhol)
Homemade Nepalese dumplings served with cold soupy sauce with choice of proteins

    MO:MO (Jhol) Homemade Nepalese dumplings served with cold soupy sauce with choice of proteins

    Zomsa - Aloo Bodi Taama:
Spiced potato, black-eyed peas, and bamboo shoots in a tangy Nepali-style curry.

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    Aloo Bodi Taama: Spiced potato, black-eyed peas, and bamboo shoots in a tangy Nepali-style curry.

    Royal India Bistro - indpak - Updated June 2026

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