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    Royal India

    3.6 (277 reviews)
    ModerateIndian
    Closed 11:30 am - 2:30 pm, 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM

    Order Royal India Takeout or Delivery

    Royal India Indian Restaurant Photos

    ROYAL INDIA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Quiet
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Royal India

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    Very disappointing visit here. Like many other reviews noted, I also was upcharged without explanation. I was the only patron in the restaurant between 11:30 AM and 12:30 on a weekday. There was one DoorDash order picked up. I can see why this place is doing poorly. I will not return. I ordered a lunch special which was $18 on the Internet and $19 on the menu inside. OK, no big deal, some places don't keep their Internet updated. The menu and drink menu were dirty and the corners worn off, had holes in them, and had writing all over them. They clearly don't want to spend the money to reprint their menus. The food was decent, but nothing special. The chicken curry was served on the bone and you had to chew off little pieces of chicken. I ordered extra spicy, but the curry was bland. The butter chicken was better, extra spicy as I ordered. The Samosa was tiny, but good. The naan was greasy but tasty. When I went to pay, the bill i was charged $19.67. I asked why approximately 4% was added. (there was also an up charge to the soda). The waitress, who was Hispanic and did not speak good English, did not know. I asked her to go get the manager or owner. She went to the back, came out and said there was no one there, but the cook and the cook didn't know either. I had no choice but to pay the up charge. She acted like no one had ever brought it to her attention. Very sharp business practices. I wonder if this is a new owner, the old guy used to come out and meet people and I cannot imagine him ripping people off like this. At least I know why there was only one person (me) in that restaurant in one hour. Unfortunately, any Goodwill this owner had left is gone with me and apparently most of his other former patrons. With so many new Indian restaurants open in the triangle since the pandemic ended, I can't see this guy staying in business. His demise will be well deserved.

    Danni D.

    Amazing service and incredible food- it's one of the city's highest rated Indian restaurants for a reason. I don't get too crazy with Indian cuisine, but this was by far the best Indian I've had in the Triangle. Chicken Biryani and garlic kulcha is all I'll ever need. 10/10.

    Grilled chicken
    Paul E.

    This restoCame in for lunch and ordered #3 it has 3 different viants Chicken curry, Palek Paneer and another chicken. Basmati rice, samosa, salad , bread and a dessert. For all that food it's a little more than a regular lunch budget but you'll still have some for take home. Gulab Jamun is the dessert it's like a round donut with syrup. Ambience is nice and server is nice. I order medium heat when they ask but I recommend mild. They also have other lunch sets. I've been to other Indian restaurants but for a lunch with this offer it gives you a taste of everything without needing to order for everything separately. A must try if your in the area.

    Flying horse lager, I will recommend as a great light beer.  Chicken Xacuti, Royal Naan made with lamb and rice.
    TJ H.

    I entered to eat after my flight arrived in Raleigh, this was close to my planned route and I am so glad I stopped in. Service was very friendly, fast, recommendations were amazing, the perfect amount of spice. Music was easy to listen to, the volume was not overwhelming, it would have been easy to have a conversation. I had the Chicken Xacuti, with Royal naan made with lamb. Food was prepared to perfection. Dessert was the Glaub Jamun, it was delectable, talk about slowing down to enjoy your senses. I can't wait to come back to Raleigh for dinner

    Goat Masala
    Daphne R.

    My friend saw a tik toc about this place and we decided to give it a try. It is the definition of classic. They are one of the oldest Indian joints in NC. Their food is on the pricey side but worth it. The service is here is very hospitable. Our server was very patient and understanding. We had little knowledge about Indian cuisine and he was more than willing to give us some history lessons. The place has a very classy, boujee look to it. It is adorned with timeless pictures of royalty. Before the bathrooms, you see pictures of the owner with celebrities and political figures. The owner is well-known in the community and it shows that the place has an ingrown network. Very impressed and would recommend anyone wanting to try traditional Indian food. Sidenote: I've never had Indian beer before. Let me say. This is the best beer I've ever had. Honest

    Lunch special #3 (medium spiced, the perfect amount of heat)   -Butter Chicken -Samosa Chaat -Bhuna Goat -Palak Paneer -Naan
    Jessica B.

    My first time @royal.india.nc was a very memorable one. Royal India has served the Raleigh area for over 30 years and offers an array of unique dishes. The food was incredible and I was so excited to try their lunch special #3, which included: Butter Chicken: Aromatic juicy tandoori chicken prepared in a buttery tomato based cream sauce full of flavor and a silky smooth rich texture. Samosas: These are pyramid shaped flaky puffed pastries. Inside is hiding a delicious blend of potatoes, peas & spices. My first bite into it was a surprise of flavor that I could not get enough of. This is the perfect appetizer for this meal. Bhuna Goat: tender fall off the bone savory meat, tossed in a rich flavorful brown sauce. You are greeted with garlic, cumin, and a bit of bitter that rounds everything out nicely. This goes especially well with the yellow rice. Palak Paneer: fresh homemade cheese cooked in a creamy spinach sauce with delicious earthy flavors. It's perfect for eating by itself, but I liked it best with their fresh baked naan. After finishing my wonderful meal, I was given a tour of the restaurant and shown the process of how Royal India makes their naan from scratch. I learned that they bake the naan in a tradional clay oven known as a Tandoor and it was super cool watching as the naan rose and bubble as it baked. I can't wait to return to @royal.india.nc for more delicious dishes.

    Butter chicken is the star here!
    Dalenna D.

    The fiance and I decided to stop in even though we were originally in pursuit of an Indian buffet and we were not disappointed! There was an abundance of selections on the lunch special list but we went for the #1- Butter chicken, tandoori chicken, curry chicken, samosa, naan bread,, and rice. I opted for double of butter chicken on my plate because curry is sometimes too spicy for me and they were happy to accommodate. :) Everything came out on one large plate minus the Naan bread that was in a side basket and dessert came at the end of the meal. The portion size was perfect that we left full and happy even without a buffet spread. We will definitely be back when we next crave some authentic Indian cuisine!!

    Order of vegetable samosas, chicken curry w/basmati, palak paneer w/basmati, and garlic naan. All VERY subpar, nothing tasted fresh.
    Krystal J.

    Please go elsewhere. Do not buy into social media. Called my order in which included vegetable samosas, palak paneer, chicken curry, and garlic naan. Upon arrival, there was no one attending the front desk. I waited a few minutes and then decided to peek into the restaurant area. A man, I'm assuming the owner, was serving. When he saw me he nodded his head, I thought I would at least be greeted. 5+ minutes pass and still no one has the decency to at least greet me. By this time, it had been about 50 minutes since I placed my order and was told it would be 30 minutes. And the restaurant was not even half full, so they weren't that busy. ...Still no one bothers to greet me. I contemplated leaving but decided to give them 5 more minutes. I decide to go and stand by the entrance to the dining area so they could clearly see me waiting. A few minutes later...the owner finally comes with my order. I'd read reviews about bill discrepancies, so I wanted to check each item. They had added a service fee for using a card, which he ends up removing. Now about the food...hands down the worst Indian food I've had. The samosas were greasy and lacked flavor. I've had much better frozen samosas. The chicken curry only tasted like onions, nothing else. Palak paneer seriously lacked flavor. It was cream and spinach, nothing else. And the garlic naan, worst everrrr. My first amateur attempt at home was much better. Nothing tasted fresh. Never ever again would I return here. ****AND their sanitation score was in the low 90s..I definitely should've just left when I saw that.****

    Stuffed Baby Eggplant, Royal Dal Tadka, Tofu Paneer, Aloo Gobi Masala

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    5 months ago

    amazing food great service quiet eating area nice employees must try here best indian quisenee

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    Wonderful food & service! We came in late but didn't feel rushed, rather we were encouraged to take our time.

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    2 years ago

    The food is tasty. Good selection. One of my favorite restaurants. Good service. Go here every chance I get.

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    Great food and great service! Some of the best Indian food I've had in the triangle area!!

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    Page 1 of 7

    Ask the Community - Royal India

    Tamasha - Murg Pasanda -  could have licked my whole plate so good!

    Tamasha

    4.4(143 reviews)
    3.0 mi

    One year ago, I took my now wife here for our first date. Today, we came back to celebrate our…read moreone-year anniversary, and the experience was just as special as we remembered. The staff could not have been more accommodating. Our waitress, Katie, was incredibly friendly and attentive, and the manager, Sammy, went out of her way to make us feel welcome. The chef even came over to introduce himself, which was a really nice touch. We also learned during our visit that the restaurant has recently been recognized by Michelin, very well deserved. Won't be surprised if they get their first star in the coming months. Definitely save room for the desserts, I've never tasted anything like it. A perfect place for a special night, and it'll always mean a lot to us since it's where our story started. We'll be back soon.

    Imagine a spot that's equal parts Mumbai majesty and Southern comfort. You walk in, and the vibe is…read moreinstantly lively--like a Sunday supper where everyone actually likes each other, just with way better spices and a whole lot less drama. They've got these plush, deep green velvet booths that hug you sweeter than a Southern grandma, paired with large, dramatic blue dining chairs that practically scream, "Sit and Stay a While". Everywhere you look, there is gleaming copper decor catching the light, reflecting off soft, warm wood tones that keep the whole place from feeling stuffy. It's upscale, sure, but it breathes. It is bustling, animated, and humming with gossip and laughter. It's high-end, but not overly formal. Now for the bar - The Old Fashioned is absolutely gorgeous, the star of the show being the unique craft ice. That giant block of ice is taking up about 90% of real estate so they are giving you a very short pour on the liquid. It's about three sips of actual cocktail swimming around a diamond-grade ice cube. It is high-end and it tastes wonderful--just don't expect a heavy pour. A must try - The Ultimate Four-Cheese Truffle Kulcha, they threw out the rulebook for this blend. Pillowy, tandoor-baked dough with sharp, bitey white cheddar, a wonderfully funky and oozing brie, a sharp and nutty asiago, and just enough mozzarella to give you a cheese pull that stretches all the way to next week. It's laced with finely minced fresh chili and topped with blistered, smoky shishito peppers, complete with a truffle flex. Now hold onto your pearls, darlin', because their butter chicken is not that neon-orange, overly sweet butter chicken you get from the mall food court. This is the sophisticated, high-society glow-up that your tastebuds have been praying for. They start with chicken thighs that are so perfectly moist it ought to be a crime. Then the Gravy (The Showstopper): This is a velvety, luxurious makhani sauce made from deeply smoked tomatoes and red peppers. It has a sultry, back-of-the-throat woodsmoke depth that plays beautifully with the sweet acidity of the peppers. It's finished with a generous dusting of fragrant, herbaceous fenugreek leaves. Just when you think it can't get any richer, it's crowned with dehydrated butter that melts right back into the sauce as it hits your table, creating an impossibly glossy, silk-sheet texture. The food is pure luxury, but the rice portion is giving 'recession.' Don't let them starve your sauce--order extra rice right out of the gate and eat like the king or queen you are. Before you get completely drunk on truffle butter and smoky makhani sauce, you need to look at the bottom of that menu, they are slipping in a warning and I am here to make sure you don't get caught off guard when the check drops. They are feeding you like royalty, but they are also making sure their staff gets paid like royalty--automatically. Check your math before you add an extra tip, because that 20% is already locked, loaded, and heading straight for your credit card.

    Photos
    Tamasha - Inside. Dining room view from entrance. Beautiful booths, decor, and interior design.

    Inside. Dining room view from entrance. Beautiful booths, decor, and interior design.

    Tamasha - Butter chicken

    Butter chicken

    Tamasha - Chicken Biryani with Burani Raita

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    Chicken Biryani with Burani Raita

    Mustang House

    Mustang House

    4.8(111 reviews)
    5.1 mi
    $$

    Really solid Indian fare. Very accommodating of allergy requests, even ordered via Door Dash…read more Portions were right-sized, had a few leftovers. All in all, highly recommended

    "Nepalese and Indian food in downtown Raleigh, near Marriott"…read more With a great location, this is VERY close to the Raleigh Convention Center. We arrived on a Thursday night at 6pm with a group of 5. The dining area didn't really accommodate a group that size, but they made it work by moving tables around, which was nice. The place was not very large, but there was maybe only one other family eating inside. The bathroom was clean. I split two dishes with my son-- salmon tikka masala and shrimp (prawn) saag, both coming with rice. We were given some papadum, I think, as a snack as we waited on the food, along with some spicy dips. Food came in maybe 10 minutes or so, which was great timing. However, I have to say, both dishes we tried were underwhelming. The shrimp was oddly translucent and not very flavorful in its dish, and the spinach in the saag wasn't especially tasty (though it did have a nice spiciness). The tikka masala sauce was great, but the salmon also was pretty underwhelming. We both said we'd probably just get chicken next time and not splurge the extra for the salmon. No dish was "bad", but just we expected them to be delicious and they were just OK. I'm just really surprised given how many people said this was the "best Indian" they'd had. The staff were friendly-- refilled drinks well and were good at answering questions. And the price was reasonable. Altogether, I'll give it 4 stars given the great location, good service, good price, but not 5 given the food was "just OK". Realistically, I probably wouldn't go back-- we have lots of great Indian in Durham and Chapel Hill, so I'd rather wait and get that.

    Photos
    Mustang House
    Mustang House - Chicken C momo

    Chicken C momo

    Mustang House - Mustang Cauliflower

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    Mustang Cauliflower

    Kadhai The Indian Wok - Vegetable Samosa

    Kadhai The Indian Wok

    3.9(294 reviews)
    6.9 mi
    $$

    It was super good! Been going here for ages and I must say haven't found anywhere that taste as…read moregood as this place. Truly a delicious flavor with the right amount of spice. The vibes inside are a little dated but I feel it give it more of a homey feel. But yeah great place great food recommend it to anyone looking for some good food!

    I came with my parents for Kadhai's lunch buffet and it was perfect. The service was great and I…read moreenjoyed their artwork and ambiance. I really loved their buffet as it had so many options! I got to try all the things I was curious about but wouldn't order a full serving of. Also, having bottomless Naan is such a bonus. I prefer Naan over rice with Indian food, so I was in heaven! The Chicken Vindaloo was perfectly seasoned and very flavorful. The spice level of the Vindaloo curry was just to my liking. I didn't think the Dal Makhani was spicy enough, but that is expected at a buffet. The Baba Ghanoush was fresh and worked as a palate cleanser. I tried Saag Paneer (cheese cooked in creamy spinach sauce) for the first time and I really liked it! I then filled up on my favorites: Chicken Vindaloo and Naan. I tried one bite of 3 different deserts after that, and they were all unique and pretty sweet. I think the Rice Pudding was my favorite flavor but the Vanilla Rice Pudding was my favorite texture. We came hungry and left satisfied (or stuffed). I can't wait to come back and try more new things!

    Photos
    Kadhai The Indian Wok - Dining area - March 2026

    Dining area - March 2026

    Kadhai The Indian Wok - Naan, veggie samosa, basmati rice & chicken madras/ aloo gobi

    Naan, veggie samosa, basmati rice & chicken madras/ aloo gobi

    Kadhai The Indian Wok - Soup and plates/bowls - Lunch Buffet March 2026

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    Soup and plates/bowls - Lunch Buffet March 2026

    Royal India - indpak - Updated June 2026

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