I hadn't had Indian food before going here, and I found out about this place from my brother-in-law's wife who went to the University of Arizona. I'll admit I was a little apprehensive going in the first time, but it was really good every time we went back and we make sure to stop in whenever we're in Tucson. Tonight, we were craving Indian food and wanted to get out of the Phoenix area for a while. This was the obvious choice. My wife had her usual chicken tikka masala and mango lasse. I had the shrimp masala. We also shared the keema samosas appetizer, made better by the tamarind sauce, some kashmiri rice with some naan. The masala wasn't as spicy as I was expecting when I ordered it at a medium spice, but I'd rather have it be not hot enough than too hot. The masala mixed with the kashmiri rice piled on the naan is like an explosion of flavor that I can't get enough of. The atmosphere isn't too Americanized, nor is it cheesy over-the-top Indian - it's just right. The music that they pipe in isn't too loud, and it's really enjoyable. The service is always quick and friendly. The restaurant itself is smaller, but instead of feeling like a sardine in a tin can, it feels cozy. This is one of the few places my wife and I are willing to drive 2 hours just to have dinner at. If you've never had Indian food and haven't wanted to try it because you've heard it's really spicy, give this place a try (they'll make it as spicy as you like it, even if it's not spicy at all like my wife likes it). You'll be in for a nice surprise. read more

If I was only rating the food I might give this place five stars. We has the tikki masala, the lamb samosas, half a tandoori chicken, and some garlic naan and everything was fantastic. If you like flavorful Indian-Paki food, this place is a hit. The wait staff wasn't all that great however. The young girl that was serving us was very disinterested and disengaged. Don't go in expecting classy service or anything. They have some liquor but don't expect them to know how to prepare your mixed drink of choice unless its as simple as adding ice. They also have a small wine list; nothing to write home about. I also wouldn't really take advice on any of these wines from the wait staff as I'm not sure they'd be able to help. To sun up, remember that the food is great. Just go in with the mindset that your service will be poor. read more

I have been going to this fantastic restaurant for about 5 yrs. My wife and I are from Birmingham, UK and Manhattan , NY. respectively. We have had some world class Indian meals. This place tops them all! We usually order the Vegetable Biryani, Matar Paneer, Mango Chutney (a must!) and Garlic Nan-at least 4 pieces. To round off a perfect meal, the esquisite Gulab Jaman. This is the kind of meal you anticipate all week. It NEVER. disappoints! Service is as good as it gets in Tucson. Oh, and did I mention that the portions are so large ,there is always enough for tomorrow's lunch? I guess I just did. Do yourself a favor and make this your next dinner destination. You will not be disappointed. read more

Had the biryani, tandoori chicken, and the chana masala + naan while visiting a friend down here. All was standard and fine. The food wasn't remarkable, but it wasn't inedible either. I'd probably go back again if I was down there and someone asked me to (after I try Cafe Poca Cosa first, though). In any case, Sher Punjab seems like a good, safe bet for Indian in Tucson (I'll have to visit Tucson more often before I can compare it to other Indian joints). read more

Best Indian food in Tucson! The Chicken Tikka Masala is to die for :)

Best Indian buffet in Tucson so far. Came in after hot yoga, on a hot day for some hot Indian food. Oh yeah! We were not disappointed after reading the reviews. The buffet station consists of: 2 meat curries (chicken and lamb I think), saag paneer, cauliflower and potato curry (to die for), tandoori chicken, basmati rice, samosas, naan, chickpea curry, 2 salads and freshly made side dips of green chiles and tamarind sauce. Didn't manage to try the dessert...was too stuffed. Will definitely be back once the craving for Indian food comes....which is pretty often :) read more

When a friend suggested celebrating her birthday at this restaurant, we all jumped on board. First off, I must say, this is a case of a fine restaurant being located in a rather tired-looking strip mall. Don't let the outside turn you away. It's a lovely little restaurant with a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere with friendly service. If I may, I'd like to quote some of my friends on their first meal here for we ordered a nice variety of dishes. I might add the menu was very extensive and offered good vegetarian choices as well. "The food was delicious and I found the service to be efficient and very friendly. I also liked the tasteful decor and ambiance. We tasted many items and I found them all to be very good." "The restaurant was clean and pleasant, not crowded but well frequented. The food was plentiful and interesting. My dish was more spicy than expected but had large pieces of chicken and rice that was aromatic and flavorful, although spicy." Chefs Special Combination Mixed Grill: "The service was excellent and very attentive. Though the dish had great flavor it was overcooked. The lamb was way over done and dry. I loved that they had real ice tea, and lots of lemon! The naan flat breads: we had onion, garlic and plain. They were tender, flavorful, and melt-in-the-mouth delicious. All the appetizers we tried were fantastic." I had the Vegetable Biryani with flavored basmati rice with veggies, nuts, and cashews. It was pretty bland as I ordered it. Should have spiced it up a bit more. Here's a link to their website with all the food they serve: http://sher-e-punjabtucson.com Several of us remarked upon leaving that it would wonderful to return for their famous lunch buffet. I look forward to that. read more

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Service = pleasant, but not outstanding by any means. Ambiance = slightly gaudy (unattractive decor and faux flowers), a bit dark without feeling cozy. Food = disappointingly lacking in flavor and quality. We ate at the lunch buffet on a Saturday, if it were priced $4.99 instead of $8 I might be less inclined to complain, but it was entirely unexceptional. I have eaten at many different Indian restaraunts in 5+ countries and multiple cities (most recently Monterey, California where Ambrosia is by far some of the best Indian food I've ever had) and Shere Punjab is one of the worst Indian food restaurants to which I have been. The naan bread is thin and flavorless, vegetable dishes are significantly lacking in the expected robust flavors and spices, the texture of things (for instance the Saag (spinach dish) seemed as though it came from a can. Blended like baby food. Not a lot of selection. There were no labels on the food at the buffet. To say the least, this place did not satisfy my craving (nor my fiance's) for good Indian food and we will not be back. I can only assume that the people who rave about this place have not had the fortune to eat TRULY mind-blowing, mouth-watering high quality Indian food. read more

Friends in Phoenix told us in San Diego that this place in Tucson was worth the drive. We were in Tucson for New Years so we made it a point to stop in. It did not disappoint. The lunch buffet had deliciously seasoned choices that were better than many meals we had in India. Many classic dishes. A continuous supply of fresh nan. This will be a regular stop any time we get near Tucson. read more

Sher-e-Punjab - Lunch buffet at Sher.E Punjab - Indian Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

I've been to two Indian restaurants in town and this one I would not return to... nothing was horrible except the salty lassi which tasted like some sort rotten diary. The service was not special or nice in anyway - they forgot two things we ordered, then later remembered one of them. I think it was pretty timely though. The atmosphere - same. The plain na'an was good. - no complaints there. The tikka masala was the only dish I somewhat enjoyed. I didn't thoroughly enjoy it because I've had better. We did the 4 people meal option with meat to try several different things. This may be purely personal preference, but the lamb in this meal was pretty difficult to get through the taste. The yogurt chutney didn't have much taste, the green chile /mint chutney was nice! It had a southwestern twist to it. I got addicted to Indian food for their immense and different seasonings and tastes. I wasn't excited about that here. I went to New Delhi restaurant 3 times in one week after having it. I want that type of pleasure/excitement when I eat Indian. read more

The old patriarch who sits in the corner, shoes off, and stares at me is the best part of the decor. Also, when "Mr. Bean's" doppleganger is working I feel happy. He is nice. I love this place. It has never let me down. Their lunch buffet is really good, too. Tucson is lucky to have this restaurant. It is my favorite Indian restaurant in Tucson. It is one of my favorites ANYWHERE! As a side note: Shere Punjab gets extra bonus points for having Guinness Extra Stout. I hardly ever drink, but having this specific option is great. read more

Cross posted: I couldn't love a place more. The food is consistently delicious, comes out quickly, and they support our local National Forest! If I could give more stars, I would. Thank you so much for the delicious food. read more

This place had good Indian food. I tried the lunch buffet and thought it was well made but the Naan was undercooked. The dessert was good though. read more

Fantastic little place, decent sized space, upper scale atmosphere, and an awesome $10 lunch buffet, amazing chicken bryani and rice pudding and the veggi samosa was the best I've ever had. Will absolutely be visiting again in the future. Only negative for me was the prevalence of cilantro in the basmati rice (I loathe cilantro), but even that didn't kill my enjoyment. read more

The restaurant is small yet quaint with some Indian decor scattered around. It is one of my favorite Indian restaurants to go to. Their chicken tikka masala is a classic. If this is your first time eating Indian food, I would definitely recommend getting this here. You can never go wrong with chicken. My personal favorite is the Palak lamb. The base is spinach with herbs, onions, tomatoes, ginger, and garlic. Their curry is just so savory with all of the fresh spices and ingredients they use. Im a little surprised that rice doesn't come with the curry and costs extra. Other than that, their naan is also very good especially since it always comes out hot and fresh. read more

I am really picky with Indian food, so bear with me here. The prices here were reasonable, and the service was pretty good. The problem is, I like my Indian food when it's a blend of savory, spicy, and sweet. Sadly, Shere Punjab just doesn't have that sweetness I'm looking for. I got the same thing I get at any Indian restaurant -- chicken tikka masala -- and usually the dish has some sweetness to it. This dish was more savory and salty than I have come to expect, and I've eaten a lot of chicken tikka masala! My wife, the vegetarian, had the shahi paneer, and had a similar complaint -- although the cheese was plentiful and had the right consistency, it just didn't taste sweet. They also didn't have Peshwari/Kashmeeri naan, a sweet naan with nuts and dried fruit. Maybe the owners don't like sweet things? Not everyone is going to want that sweetness in their Indian, and if you don't want that then this place is probably going to do more for you than it did me. But it's just not my cup of tea. read more

We used to joke about only eating at this restaurant if we were in an exceptionally mellow mood and had nothing better to do that night; the food was always quite good and the service was always hideous. On one memorable occasion, I asked the waiters three times, after the rest of our food had arrived, when my naan was coming, and they kept saying it was on the way. On the fourth time I asked, the server actually started a fight with me, claiming that I hadn't ordered any naan. Anyway, the last time we went there was a new waitstaff and teh service was EXCELLENT! No complaints. Fast, friendly. I love the new menu, and my boyfriend and I like that we can get the right amount of spiciness. This is where we went on our first date, two and half years ago. Nice, casual dining. read more

They get to keep their tips now! Please tip!! I went back to this place for their buffet about two weeks ago, everything looked updated and "new," so I asked the waitress if they now were allowed to keep their tips, obviously since they've upped their game and it's obvious they're bringing in more money, and to my surprise, they do! I am so happy to hear of the change! Food is great as always, and it's even better now that they've stopped lying to their customers who've always believed their tips were ACTUALLY going to their waiters/waitresses. So tip on my friends! Tip well! read more

Oh how I love this place. I don't know why I don't go more. That's a lie. I don't go more because every time I go I eat waaaayyyyyy to much. It's so good, I can't help myself. Bear in mind, one does not go here for the ambiance. It's in a strip mall next to a CVS and the decor is.....minimalist at best. It's my favorite kind of place: a little hole in the wall restaurant that you would drive by a hundred times without ever knowing it was there. One of those places that you only find out about because someone takes you there. The food is AMAZING. The menu offers a wide variety of items so there is something for everyone. You are able to pick the level of spice in your dishes, so you can customize the dishes to suit your taste. The naan is wonderful. And the palak pakor....oh, it's just delicious. I get it every time I go. Go for the food (not the atmosphere)...you won't be sorry. read more

This place is always packed. We come here every weekend, since it's my daughter's favorite restaurant. The food is fresh and delicious, the service is great and now they expanded the restaurant. read more

Their buffet during the weekend is unbeatable. Small selection of dishes but each one is excellent!

Stopped in today for lunch buffet - the best $8 I have spent in a long time! Everything was delicious and bursting with flavor. The samosas are to die for and the mint chutney was super zingy. Much better than any of the other Indian lunch buffets that I have been to in town - they usually are full of bland food that looks as if it has been sitting there for too long. I will be back!!! read more

I just love this place! All the good things about it: + for people who cannot handle spicy but still enjoy Indian food, they offer all their dishes in a mild version and unlike in some other restaurants, it really IS mild + The Chicken Tikka Masala and the Keema Naan are my favorites, so yummy + for lunch, they have an all you can eat buffet. It's not the greatest variety but it usually has naan, rice, salad, samosas, and about four or so entrees + you can get take out + the main waitress is not the most cheerful but is pretty quick, always notices when glasses are empty, etc. + service is pretty quick. doesn't take long for the food to come out + very affordable and generous portions (I can never finish my dish, always have some leftovers) + very pretty interior, you would not expect that from the outside read more

I've become a fan of Sher-e Punjab over the last couple years despite agreeing with some of the same criticisms that have been voiced here by others. The overpriced naan and charging for rice are a turn-off. Especially the rice. You may as well charge for ice in my water. I almost did a spit-take when I read Brooke's comment on the decor - so ridiculously true. The place is gaudy, but no more so than so many of your typical Asian-immigrant businesses. Just goes with the territory, like the golden Maneki Neko (beckoning cat), hookahs, fez's, etc. But the main thing is the food, and the food is good - really good - really, really good. Their Vindaloo is spicy deliciousness, the okra dish (Bhindi Masala) is amazing, and the Biryani is so rich. I've found my favorite way to experience Sher-e Punjab is either to get it takeout or have Delicious Deliveries bring it to me. Throw a pot of rice on when you order and you'll be ready to go by the time it gets there. read more

While I am not usually a huge fan of buffets, they do quite a good job here. It is not the most extensive buffet but it is consistently great tasting. They have also recently spruced the place up. They closed for 10 days and re-did everything including the kitchen.If you're looking for good food in a very casual atmosphere, this is the place to come for lunch. Also they are very popular and you never know to whom you will run into here. I have often shown up to find friends I haven't seen in a while enjoying a meal. read more

Sher-e-Punjab - Buffet is a good sampling of different things - Indian Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Love the food here but since last year the orders are being taken incorrectly or the kitchen is not reading the orders carefully. I order the benghan bertha without peas and keep getting the dish with peas. When I dine in, I catch the errors and they remake the food. My carryout orders are also being messed up. For carryout, I will need to open containers going forward to inspect. Another issue is that I order the food spicy and it is coming out with zero spice. It's not a matter of medium versus spicy but literally no spice. Other people at my table had the same issue. Without tasting the food before we leave carry out, I don't have any other way to find out. I'm rating based on the quality of the food and not these issues. read more

Most important trait of an indian place to me is that it appears clean when you go there, check the box on that one. Though service was kind of slow (I think they were unprepared for a Sunday evening surge) the wait staff was kind and attentive. I had spicy lamb rogan josh and the level of spice certainly cleared my sinuses. Honestly not the best Rogan Josh I've ever had but not bad. My date had Chicken Tikka Marsala and it was "the bomb.com" fantastic. The Naan was just out of the oven or wherever it comes, yum! We had Mango Lassis for dessert and they did not disappoint! I will come back, I think I've found my little indian joint. read more

Excellent $9 all you can eat buffet. I've been here 4 times for their buffet. Naan and samosas are always fresh. Chicken and spinach curry tastes good, and the cool Indian guy at the reception is always nice. Tandoori chicken can be more fresh, they are typically a little dry. read more

I've been here many times and loved every experience. I've been to the buffet twice and have dined in on several occasions.My favorite is the shahi paneer and my boyfriend loves the lamb biryani. I wish this place would expand more because it is always crowded for lunch and dinner. Its understandable- great Indian food! read more

Great food and the restaurant is clean. The staff kept replenishing the buffet with fresh, hot food. Other yelpers mentioned the plaza being located in a rough spot BUT we did not feel uncomfortable at all. Worth it!! read more

The food was flavorful and scrumptious down to the Naan. I had the Sunday buffet and everything up there was delicious (and we did try EVERYTHING). A perfect place for any occasion. My 18 month old ate everything with no hesitation and my husband who is an extremely picky eater had an extraordinary meal. The people were Definitely will be coming back with more family! read more

Chicken Carma is bomb! You have to pay for extra rice though. Tiki masala was delicious and had a smoked flavor. Overall great service and food. Order a mango lassi! read more

My husband and me have yet to make it to the lunch buffet. I have read some reviews that said the service was not good for supper. That has not bee the case twice now. We love the service, prices, authentic food, and clean restaurant. What a treat to eat here. read more

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This is easily the best Indian food in Tucson. I moved to Tucson last year and I was anxious that I wouldn't be able to find a good Indian place. I tried a variety of restaurants but finally decided on Sher E Punjab. Unlike a lot of Indian places, the interior of Sher E Punjab is clean and child/noise free. In addition, the chicken tikka masala is probably the best I've ever eaten (maybe rivaled by India House Restaurant in Chicago). If you like things spicy, then their spicy and medium options offer more zing than anywhere in Tucson. Their naan is a bit above average and their rice is perfectly made. I advise ordering off their menu as opposed to their lunch buffet. In addition, the service is not in your face and the prices are very affordable, especially for how much you get. If you are good with your money, you can easily eat a meal under $10. Other great choices are their keema (meat) samosas, lamb vindaloo, tandoori chicken, and keema naan. I come here at least once a week I'd recommend this place to anyone! read more

Nice Indian place ! Went for their lunch buffet and the food was good! Staff were friendly . It is more of a Pakistan style Indian curry vs the think taste type Indian curry. read more

I am glad to see they remodeled, it would have been nice if they would have improved the buffet as well, but last time I went it was still the same rinky-dink buffet, but now it cost $12 instead of $10. If they are going to increase the price by 20%, how about increasing the size of the buffet by 20%? read more

Very moderate food. Pretty much exactly what I expect, but the prices are ridiculous... $2 for each naan? $8 for the sabzi? Additional for the rice? And they give you a can (so no refills) for soda?! For the money, I'd rather go to an upscale place. The service and staff are nice though. read more

0.5 stars. On a truly sad day, an Indian friend and I (both of whom are from Tucson) decided we had an Indian restaurant craving (which would thus not be satisfied by our Tucson Indian moms' cooking). We literally walked into Sher-E-Punjab, were given a table, walked up to the buffet, looked at each other with agreeing shakes of the head, and walked straight out. The buffet presentation we looked at was simply not up to snuff. And this is despite our expectations being low to begin with, since I have eaten at Sher before and already know that it's a pretty underwhelming experience. read more

Best lunch buffet in Tucson, hands down!! I was first introduced to this restaurant by my roommate (of Pakistani heritage) in grad school. The buffet is reasonably priced, and it's easy to stuff yourself full of spicy goodness if you've been living on ramen for a few days. The buffet has a nice variety of dishes, including several without meat, at any given time. There's plenty of warm naan to soak up your leftover sauce, and when something runs out, the staff is quick to bring in more food. You may be a bit disappointed if you like things spicy, since they tend to prepare the buffet food on the milder side, but everything is still very good. There's nothing fancy about the decor, but the food is more than enough to make it; there's a good reason the place is usually packed in the afternoons! Give it a chance, even if you've never had Indian food before; you'll come away full and happy! read more

Recently visited with some colleagues from work for the lunch buffet. The food was tasty, hot and fresh. Judging by the line of folks waiting for second and third helpings this buffet is pretty popular. I would definitely go to the lunch buffet again and will definitely try Shere for dinner. As a friend said, 'good food without emptying your wallet.' I agree. read more