This is one of the worst restaurants I've ever been to. I've been here three times and my experience just kept getting worse each time. The first time I came here was for dinner with my family and we all got food poisoning the next day and this was the only meal we had together that day. The second time was even worse, it's probably the worst service I've ever received. We sat down at a table by ourselves because there was no host or any staff. A server came out and saw us and gave us menus and water but then, he just disappeared. Half an hour later, another staff member came out and sat at the front desk. We waved at her to get our server and she said he'll be right back. I don't know what could have been keeping him busy since we were the only people there. Then when he finally came out, five mins later, he proceeded to talk with the other staff member instead of checking on us. We just left the restaurant and neither of them said anything. The third time (because I never learn) I came here was for the lunch buffet. It was again, completely empty except for my family and me. The host did seat us this time and was very polite. We went to try the buffet, a few of the food items were missing (like it wasn't ready to serve) and the kitchen staff was bringing them out as we went up to get our food. The food was mediocre at best but thankfully none of us got seriously sick this time. Although, we did have some stomach problems later that day. It was probably the best experience I've had here but that's because I set the bar so low for this place that it made me surprised to have a mostly normal dining experience. After three times of being disappointed at this restaurant, I will never go back here again. read more

It's a very affordable place for lunch since it's only $6.99 for lunch. The people here are quite welcoming. It's a more quiet place for a lunch. The buffet contains various curries, rice, chicken biryani, salads, tandoori chicken legs, etc. The buffet doesn't include any kabobs though. Everything is kept on a buffet table (similar to a cafeteria-style one) with plastic lids keeping everything warm. The food is definitely done in a very homestyle-like manner. I didn't think the foods offered through the buffet were quite spicy or anything. If anything very homestyle (tasty with a chicken curry that had meat on the bone) and mild on the spice flavorings. I really enjoyed eating the yellow daal. read more

Shaheen Restaurant - Plate from their weekday lunch buffet. Rice pilaf, potatoes palak, chicken samosas, okra curry, yellow lentils, etc. - Indian Near Me - Catonsville, Maryland

See all

I am not an expert when it comes to Indian food so I went into this experience with an open mind and belly! Upon arrival they showed us the buffet which looked less than appetizing so we decided to order off the menu. Once I sat down to order I was able to take in the decor.. the place looks like someones grandmothers living room at best. The decor isnt anything to write home about but I was still willing to give the place a shot as long as the food made up for it. Since we were a group and were waiting on people we all decided to order appetizers to hold us over until everyone else arrived. Well that was a bad idea! Not because they were bad but because they were huge! Most at the table were full before we could even order or main course.. I ended up taking my actual meal home for later. Overall everything i ordered (and tasted) was good and I would recommend the place to others! overall: The staff were great and accommodating, the food was good and the bathrooms were clean which are all great things when choosing a place to eat! read more

I guess I'm used to some really good Indian food in the New Jersey area, and Shaheen doesn't exactly live up to those standards... Is the food reasonably good? Yes. Could it be better? Yes I might come back again sometime if I'm in the area and craving it, but I wouldn't go too far out of my way 'Social Sara' that works there was very friendly and helpful read more

Never again. I gave this place one more shot and I was disappointed yet again. The food is not good. Not that flavorful Indian spice that I love. The saag paneer and chicken biryani is ok,but that's about it. The naan taste really doughy. They have changed alot since the last time I've been there. No buffet style anymore. I arrive a 11am when they are supposed to open. The sign on the door was turned to closed so I thought they hadn't opened yet. I called the restaurant at 11:10 am and the young lady said that they were open so I came inside. I had to wait a while because the food wasnt ready. At 11:30am all of the options still wasn't ready so I just ordered what they had available. After the lady fixed my container of food she asked me did I want her to warm it up. ( this put the icing on the cake) the food wasnt even hot and I waited all of this time! The lady was nice and polite and I'm sure it wasnt her fault so I didnt show her any frustration. I just told her that I'll warm it up when I go home. I'm sure they thought that their new rentivations would improve their business but its actually worse. I'll never go back there again. read more

See all

Remodeled Shaheen is great !!! I like the fast casual aspect and the new menu makes it so much easier for someone not completely comfortable with Pakistani dishes. Had some amazing Haleem and nihari (tendered stewed beef) it was AMAZEBALLS!!! Ended with some delicious homemade sweets . read more

See all

Indian/Pakistani food has become so common these days that finding a decent spot is harder. Living in NY, i am surrounded by decent choices that once can visit over and over without compromising the charm. However, on my recent visit to Maryland, I had the pleasure of visit Shaheen Restaurant in MD. I heard from sources that its owned and run by the same people that ran the classic shaheen, a landmark of jackson heights in 1980's, a time when good desi food was hard to come by... Anyhow on to my experience at this location.... From the moment one walks in, he/she is surrounded by the enticing aroma of fresh indian food. The place is large with ample room for a party of 5 to 200 (i'm guessing). The place is clean, appealing, and the food is above average. The buffet is appealing and is inviting for return trips. The food has choices from the traditional indian curries and tandoori specialities to a desi touch on some chinese classics. Overall, the food was delicious and the service was quick and attentive to our needs.. The chaat paapri for an appetizer is for one thing that should not be missed...! hope to visit again soon...! read more

One of the best places I've gone to for Indian cuisine. Everything I had was yummy (except for the chicken kabobs...which was the reason I visited the place b/c of a referral after seeing a coworker bring some to the office for lunch). The reason that I gave this place only 4 stars is b/c when ordering the from the dinner menu to go, the princing is a bit expensive for the amount of food you get. They do have a buffet in the evening (or at least on the Friday that I visited), and I did see a sign about a Lunchtime Buffet. For the cost, that might be your best option. However, as far as the taste of the food....AWESOME...and persons that waited on me were really nice as well. Despite my griping over price, I would still definitely go back...just maybe for a sit down meal of the lunchtime or dinner buffet. read more

This was not a pleasant experience for us. One person got violently ill from the food. All others didn't feel so hot soon afterwards. There are some serious hygiene issues here. I'm all about the dives and don't mind some grit but this place wasn't cool. It went beyond dive and ventured into health code violations. All items on the buffet were cold. I don't know if they forgot to turn on the burners or what? The silverware and dishes had to be examined carefully cause apparently most had dried and caked on food bits. They were out of coke. The exterminator was there @ the same time we were & he wasn't enjoying the buffet! Lol he had his kit and was going to town in the kitchen. Food wasn't delicious or fresh in any way so that didn't justify any of the concerns above. It was actually so bad, it was comical. How did we have such a terrible experience when most Yelpers like this place? No clue but I'll never venture back here. read more

I am not much of a fan when it comes to anything remotely spicy but despite my burning tongue this was one of the most fun meals I have ever had the chance to experience. The owner, Nomi, treated us like royalty right from the beginning and didn't even allow us near the buffet. Instead, he had the kitchen bring out a variety of dishes full of flavor and spice. This is clearly a local favorite and got very busy later in the evening with large groups of families coming in. Cantonsville, despite all appearances of being a typical strip mall suburb, has delivered another winner. read more

This place is mediocre. The only thing really good about it is that the people are nice. Everything else is just....meh. The food is alright. Decent Indian food. Chicken Tikka Masala was good. Everything else was just ok. Naan was uninspired. But it's naan. If you cover it in sauce and rice it could be delicious made out of cardboard. Atmosphere is terrible. Reminds me of a zombie apocalypse. Half the room is unlit, and the half that is lit probably shouldn't be. There is basically zero attention to detail in anything. The counter I signed the check on was unwiped and dirty. I actually found myself glancing around for a more clean place to sign the check. This is fine for my house's kitchen counter on a Friday night after a long work week. But for an (almost deserted with employees sitting around) commercial good service establishment it's pretty much unacceptable. I got that "abandoned shopping mall from the 1980's feel from this place". Not a good vibe at all. Sunday afternoon buffet was $10.99 per person. Something online got my hopes up for $8 buffet and that wasn't the case at all. I won't be surprised if this place goes out of business. Would I come back. No. read more

Reminiscent of an actual diner in the region of the world the cuisine represents, Shaheen is a simple, no-frills, friendly Pakistani/Indian restaurant, catering almost entirely to the buffet crowd. The lunch serving has all of the staples of an Indian buffet, with no real standout dishes or surprises. The service is friendly and spartan, and at $8something, the prices are reasonable. Although you have to order it separate from the buffet the grilled halal meats here are awesome. Bonus: they give each table a pitcher of ice-cold water, which is actually kinda nice when one is wolfing down buffet-size helping of nosh. read more

I wanted to LOVE Shaheen. The other Indian restaurant in town seems to have slipped a little on recent visits, and this one is closer to home. But I was extremely . . . underwhelmed by my lunch there. As a very white, sheltered, middle-class girl, I do not know a lot about Indian food. However, I have loved it since childhood and have come to expect a certain kind of flavor profile, as well as a standard handful of items, on the menu. My experience is that restaurants that claim "Indian and ___" cuisine are usually owned by people of the ___ persuasion, whether that be Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Tibetan or another Far Eastern country -- and that in reality the food is mostly of that region, with some classic Indian dishes thrown in to appeal to the masses. This is certainly true of Shaheen. Although there were quite a few classic dishes (and, thanks to the lunch buffet, I got to sample many of them) there was something not-quite-right about the flavors, and I'm guessing it's because the owners are not from India. Most dishes seemed sweeter and blander than what I'm used to, and others were just assembled differently -- the biryani, for instance, consisted of layers of saffron rice topped with very finely chopped meat and large chunks of vegetables, instead of all mixed together. You'd think that would taste the same in the end, but it didn't. Also, much to my chagrin, they didn't have the bright green coriander chutney that is at least half the reason I go to an Indian restaurant; I asked and they pointed me to a white yogurt sauce with tiny flecks of green, and when I pressed them they brought out a little cup of chopped cilantro and jalapeno, which was spicy and flavorful but, again, not what I'm used to. The atmosphere was a little weird. Plastic tablecloths felt like Pizza Hut, and several TVs were playing nonstop Indian music videos, which sound like American pop and look like American soap operas -- except with Indian languages and actors. Very odd. Bottom line: good food, fresh, clearly labeled and inexpensive (at least for the buffet.) Just not what I was looking for. read more

Best Indian food in Baltimore, hands down! My husband and I go for the buffet all the time and stick mostly to the vegetarian options, which are delicious. I appreciate that they don't make everything mild for the buffet and keep everything spicy! The owner is incredibly accommodating and kind. The bhindi masala, chana masala, and their dal dishes have been my favorites. And their Eid greeting spread is incredible! The only caveat is that the decor is not the best and if you're looking for a particular ambience, you may not find it here. But if you're just looking for a delicious meal, this is the place. read more

Only three tables seated at 1pm, ghosttown. One waitress who was overwhelmed refilling the buffet. No signs requiring clean plates. Guys next to me, used same plate 3 or 4 times. Had to grab waitress from kitchen to pay. Then noticed the dessert display fridge facing the entrance had been open the entire time I was there. Weekday buffet is under $10, and there were some tasty meat dishes that you don't see at other buffets. Tho, the "goat feet" was a just bones and fat. Maybe the meat had been taken by other already? Would not go back unless it was the only Indi-Paki place around. read more

Shaheen Restaurant tries to be jack of all trades(Indian-Pakistani-Halal-Chinese-BBQ-Sweets) but master of none. What are they really trying to serve? Have gone there a few times for buffet and always ended up getting diarrhea. I believe they use previous night's leftover food and mix it with fresh batch so its always a gamble to eat here. read more

This hidden gem is the only reason I would ever venture within miles of Security Square Mall. Their food is so good that I am willing to risk my life to get it - well, only in the day time at least. Shaheen's lunch buffet is quite extensive - the number of offerings certainly out do other Indian buffets, which results in the slightly higher pricing, but you will certainly leave satisfied. Their naan really is phenomenal. It's the perfect thickness to properly pick up their delicious butter chicken or chana masala. They also make great kheer; in fact, this is the only Indian buffet where I will partake in it. The service is always consistently good - they're great at greeting you, refilling water glasses and thanking you for visiting. It is also quite humorous to watch the old Bollywood movies on the large flat screen tv as you're eating. If you enjoy really good Indian good - and don't mind travelling into a somewhat dicey part of town to get it - this is the place to go. read more

Ordered from the catering menu chicken biryani with extra chicken & haleem for 10 people. Chicken pieces were mostly bone with very little meat - as if a whole chicken was cut into 20 pieces after the breasts where removed - it was awful as nearly each bite included small bones in your mouth. Also, no bread provided with the haleem - excuse being we only provide bread for single orders ?????? Finally, since the catering menu doesn't include prices (for orders less than for 50 people) what was quoted at the time of order and what they charged at pick differed - with more money charged. They claim the person taking the order made a mistake???? Very, very disappointed with food quality & price change l read more

Shaheen Restaurant - Indian Near Me - Catonsville, Maryland

SERVED NON VEG instead of VEG.. This is the first time i ordered from this Restaurant. First of all they served us nonveg instead of veg, when told about it the receptionist was not at all sorry about it but listened to us with a straight face. I had ordered 3 bhindi ki sabzi and 3 mutter paneer. All three of the bhindi sabzi had burnt bhindis which i am sure was burnt bymistake by the cook but he didnt care to make another one but served us that itself. After we got our vegeterian stuff, i checked the mutter paneer sabzi and trust me The paneer was so hard and the gravy was so thin and tasteless and i could still smell the non vegeterian food smell from my food. Its just pathetic. PLEASE DO NOT MAKE A MISTAKE WHAT WE DID AND AVOID THIS RESTAURANT WHICH SERVES GARBAGE and dont even care about it. PLEASE STOP WRITING THAT YOU SERVE INDIAN FOOD CAUSE YOU DONT, ITS NOT EVEN CLOSE TO INDIAN FOOD. read more

The food was very spicy (more than I'm used to) and for the dinner buffet the price was right where it ought to be. The crowd was nonexistent (which I didn't mind) and the fresh naan was a nice treat. The tandoori chicken was a highlight as well as the palek paneer.....lot's of flavor. If you're willing to make the trip, and your not picky about ambiance, it's worth it. read more

They have indian buffet all day including dinner which I like. Lunch buffet is $10 but dinner is $13. The dinner buffet option is not bad and there is a couple different meats like butter chicken and chicken curry and vegetable dishes. I decided to go with ordering from the menu and I got the chicken tikka marsala, lamb kabob and naan. The chicken tikka marsala was ok but the lamb kabob was really good. I also ordered rice pudding for dessert and it was ok. Overall, the food was ok. The service is great and the prices are cheaper than other indian restaurants I've been to. read more

You can eat very fast since it's a buffet and you seat yourself. Decent variety of food, but every time I have been there, none of the items were labeled. The staff members knew and could explain the items, but if they were in the back you could either guess or wait before you tried something. Not really an issue for me since I've eaten Indian food pretty much all my life.. but for my non-Indian friends, its more of an adventure (everyone I've taken there has enjoyed the food there so far). Usually when I go around lunch there are only a few other people there. They also have a tv in the back playing Bollywood music videos constantly (not loudly though, so you can tune into it if that's your thing, or easily tune it out with conversation if its not). They host classical and lighter music programs (ghazals, qwaali) from time to time as well. I've been to a sitar and tabla concert there once, and it was fantastic. read more

We went there twice for the lunch buffet, the first time food was great and had few good options. We loved it so much that we decided to give them another try after few days, store wasn't busy and the owner and someone else was arguing over something and we could hear them clearly. That day they only had very few options so it wasn't great. On the bright side they have good dessert menu so if I ever in the area I'll come for the dessert but not for the buffet. read more

Shaheen Restaurant - Indian Near Me - Catonsville, Maryland

I am an avid Indian Food eater, so I have high standards. For basic Indian this isn't bad, and the buffet has a great selection. Price isn't bad either. For people like me who love Indian food this does not quite quench that thirst for flavor and size. I ordered take out and the buffet was actually better. Not to mention the portions they gave were less then most places. Not horrible, definitely not great, but sometimes it can get the job done. read more

They advertised the chicken biryani lunch special but it isn't boneless chicken. Kabob Hut has great chicken biryani and they use boneless chicken. There is no lunch buffet to speak of, only one or two specials of the day. I was charged extra for rice and naan. I would not recommend the "new improved" Shaheen for lunch. Go for dinner and order everything separate from the menu. I have no idea why Shaheen did a complete turnaround from a buffet with many choices to one of few choices. read more

Amazing food! Wonderful people! I've been here numerous times and always been greeted with a smile and treated like family. The menu is varied and I've been eating my way through it, quite happily, for years! I sincerely recommend you come and enjoy all they have to offer. Yum! read more

I have gone to this restaurant a few times this past year. First experience was "okay" but it has gone down since then. Each time they messed up my order. Especially when I order rotti, they bring me naan and try to convince me to just eat it instead. So by the time I get my rotti, which I originally ordered, my food is cold. I don't recommend it, especially the buffet. read more

I honestly wasn't impressed. I came here because I was really in the mood for Indian food, and they had a dinner buffet. I doubt I'll return. The biggest issue here is the atmosphere. The bright fluorescent lights make it feel like Walmart. Then there's the TV... right in the center of the restaurant, blasting a celebrity gossip show. Having a conversation was nearly impossible! If they dimmed the lights, turned off the television (maybe play soft music in the background?), and put on some nicer table cloths, this would actually be a very nice restaurant. The food was decent. The selection wasn't as large as some other buffets I've experienced. With smaller variety I would expect higher quality food, which unfortunately was not the case. The dessert selection for the buffet was especially lacking. With so many other great food options in the area, I don't have any desire to come back here. read more

It serves Indian food. But their main menu is comprised of Pakistani foods. Although it might be a bit tough to get in and out of the place, this place is worth it! Dinner is around 12-14 dollars per person which isnt bad at all. 50/50 when it comes to meats and veggies. The meats? My gosh... Goat curry? People overlook this and/or dont care much for this, but bone marrow is so delicious! Various meat dishes similar to other Indian restaurants. But they also have a few that I never seen, and thought they may not always have the labels, its not hard to tell which kinds are meats and which ones arent. And if you eat alot of food, you should know which kind of meat is which! Alot of their foods are strong when it comes to spices and seasonings which is great. The only small problem to that is the bread is usually served at the buffet line and depending on when you get there, busy or not, it may or may not be as fresh. But when you drench the sauces and veggie platters onto the breads and rice? Its concentration time! The food here is so good that the only thing you will be thinking about is the next bite! They also have a side chinese buffet line! A few dishes of chinese food that tastes, well, great! Not the best but definitely worth looking into. The only very minor cons about this place was the bread not being as fresh and tasty and their sauces not being as flavorful as their dishes. Service is pretty good and they do events on certain holidays. This place isnt about the ambiance or up scale settings. This place is about pumping out delicious Indian/Pakistani foods that the majority of us can enjoy. 9.5/10. read more

I'm not going back until they clean the place. I've had good experiences before with Shaheen. But I walked in tonight to a nearly empty dining room and every table had some sort of grunge or food stuck to it. Yuk. Sorry, Shaheen, you're off the list. read more

Their Biryani was nothing to rave about. We asked for a spicy level and they had upped it but it was still tasteless.

It's changed quite a bit from the last time I was here. I won't be going back. Poor selection. Ps. They don't honor their coupon either. read more

I wouldn't go there again for sure. The restaurant was empty when we went in. A woman greeted and seated us. To start off the tables were all dirty, the water jug was dirty, the plates were dirty. After taking in the order, a teenager who was working there gave us green salad. We didn't dare eating that. The whole place looked shabby. The people working there are nice, but the owner and chef seems to be the problem. Food was disappointing also !! Cheap and dirty place. read more

The chicken makanhi was delicious and the spiced lentils and beef (haleem) was so good. Great meal, the only thing that kept it from 5 stars is the temperature of the food--warm, but not hot, read more

We had a dinner here recently on a weekday and the entire experience was fabulous. The food was very delicious. We have started with the kabobs and went to chicken Karahi and then Paya. ,The preparation of the dishes were of authentic taste and upto the mark. The breads were super freshly made , soft, hot and delicious. The hot bread with chicken Karahi tasted well. The entire staff was very friendly, cooperative , warm and welcoming . Although they have closed the kitchen but yet prepared hot tea for us at the end upon request . I would love to visit and try other stuff next time. read more

Food is amazing, service is too good. Seekh kabob, chicken kadhai , beef paya , naan and chai are the things we ordered and all items were delcious and 5 star. read more

If I can give this place no stars, I surely will. I visited this place to pick up food from the buffet station. I grabbed the food and paid close to $11 bucks since its per pound. When I got back home, I started eating and realized the bug in my food. At first, I thought it's brown onion, but nope it was a damn roach. I took pics and called the restaurant when a lady answered and I clearly told her the situation. She said "I'm sorry, I will tell the manager". What kind of service is this?!? This place should be considering to clean up and then cook. I can only imagine what is running around in kitchen. I'm sad because I really liked this place but this experience will never bring me or my family/friends back to this restaurant. read more

Shaheen Restaurant - Fresh, cockroach in my food from the buffet station! - Indian Near Me - Catonsville, Maryland

I have only been here one time and on a Monday (not a great day for most restaurants). My first impression of the restaurant based on it's physical appearance wasn't great (which is why I did not give it 5 stars) but I proceeded to try the food. I tried the Samosa Chat, Nehari w/naan, Chai/Chaee, Sweet Lassi, and Gulab Jamon (fried donuts, dipped in sugary syrup). To say the least every item was great and made like it would be in Pakistan/India. I was very pleased with the food and left sad because I wanted to try more items. To top off the good food the service was also above average for Desi (Pakistani, Indian) restaurants. I will definitely be back! read more

I'm not going to pretend to be an Indian foodie because that couldn't be farther from the truth but I know what I like and when I visited Shaheen I knew it was the best Indian/Pakistani food I've had yet. I can't tell you the names of the dishes but they were all very standard in their place on an Indian menu. The big standout, however, was the freshness of every dish and the care that the staff took in looking after our large group. I can't really speak on "authenticity" either but I can tell you that when our group arrived at 7pm there were not many people in the restaurant but by 9pm it was pretty full and we were the only people there not in traditional dress. I'm quite happy to have found this place and have also found a good standard with which to judge other meals by. read more

My scale: Best, Good, Decent, Ok, bad, really bad. On my scale, this place has an average score of "Ok" This place is confused. Is it a sabzi mandi, a buffet or dine in restaurant? Food is good, buffet selection is good and service is ok. The decor is ok. However, the layout and upkeep is really bad. When we walked in, we noticed that there was a register with sweets out in the open ontop of the display rack. The sweets were not covered as you would expect from a sabzi mandi or bazaar in India, but more on that later. As we go to sit down we noticed a light above us blinking like we are in a disco. The blinking light gave me a headache. The light costs $2 to replace, so why not replace it? If you are not capable of fixing minor things, then I'm sure you are not doing the small things required to properly store food. (more on that later) We get get up to get food from the buffet, which is RIGHT in front of the entrance. I do not believe any thought was put into organizing or laying out the restaurant. I understand some restaurants also offer prepped food for takeout but the presentation is very poorly done. As we go back to sit down, we notice two old ladies who are blocking the way to our table. This occurred several times as people who are paying block area to tables. Although people move when asked, people who are not dine in guests, should not be in the buffet area. The buffet area should be in the area where the TV is. What really ruined the dining experience was an individual who entered to get something from the register turned out to be sick. He started coughing all over the buffet food and all over the sweets that were on display. We immediately stopped eating, paid our tab, walked away and never looked back. Please do not put sweets on display uncovered, this is a health violation! Go to a local super market, view the types of shielded racks they have and invest in one of them. Fix the blinking lights, you are not a club. Relocate the buffet area away from the entrance! The food is good, but I can't even get to the food, as this place could be confused for a disco or a bazaar. read more