Looking back at the reviews from many years ago, I see this used to be a hookah bar and it still shows. With the seating layout they have there's no way to earn enough per square foot. At least not that I can see. The owner says he splits his time between New York and Tulum. I'm guessing he's not in the restaurant business in New York, but maybe he is. The evening's mishaps began with the drink orders. I asked if he had rye whiskey. He didn't know what that was. I ordered a Manhattan with makers mark and I was brought straight makers mark on the rocks. If the man could not hear me, he should've had the courtesy to come around the enormous table to where I was sitting. That's fine. I don't mind drinking neat whiskey. The second time was a little more successful. This time I was presented a Manhattan, but no orange peel twist or candied cherry. As far as the food goes, the tandoori dishes were unavailable the night we were there. The aloo tikki was ok if insubstantial. The pakoras were seemingly sans onions. I'm actually not going to continue. This place is on the skids and I hope they're able to turn it around. If you come by with a party of two and they still have the enormous couch seating and some few tables in the back in the "more mosquito area" then I would go to a different place if I were you. for the owner, I would suggest he consider redoing the seating in the front, if this place is to be more of a restaurant and not the ghost of a sheesha joint. He should also eat at some of the Indian restaurants in the New York area at his price point. He should then at least set his standards by those. Some decent flavors some times, but much more needs to be done. read more

The BEST Indian food I've ever had!! The flavors in everyone's dish was so flavorful!! We're coming back tomorrow. The chef came out and greeted us. So nice and friendly. I got the Saag Paneer and my husband got Aloo Gobi. It too was amazing. Even the butter chicken was the best I've ever tasted and it's a pretty common Indian dish. YUMMMMMM!!!!! The atmosphere was fun too! We sat on cushions and great music. My son was dancing to it. read more

After a long tiring day at beach and downtown we were strolling around the strip and the smell of Indian spices suddenly hit us. The desi in us couldn't resist and we walked right in. Unlike other loud and busy places at Tulum beach, Shiva was calm and welcoming, something we were looking for to relax after a long day. We were not disappointed a bit!! We were nicely greeted at the entrance, everyone spoke English to help us out. My wife was amazed to see all Indian dishes in the menu. I was fixated on the sheesha. We ordered a passion fruit sheesha, as recommended by our server, totally worth it not disappointed a bit! We wanted to chill so ordered masala chai and pakoras to have a little snack and just lay down on the couches. The pakoras reminded me on India and chai of my home, what more can I say about it! Vijay, the owner comes to each customer greets them, sees everything is in order and makes you feel comfortable. Shiva is a gem of a place on the strip which can be too much at times and helps you relax with amazing food, liquor and sheesha. read more

Shiva - Indian Near Me - Tulum, ROO

We were craving Indian food esp daal chawal after a week of eating Mexican food and this place is amazing the owner gave us a warm welcome made us comfortable and made sure we get what we ordered he even recommended a drink the Pondicherry mix which was amaaazing love the pickle on the side of daal tadka FYI we are desi visiting from States and the food was indeed very comforting and will recommend read more

Shiva is the spot for Indian food in Tulum. I say that because it is the only spot for Indian food and is incredibly good. The owner and staff are very friendly and make it feel like a family spot. When you are there don't be shy and make sure to meet the owner. He is the nicest restaurant owner I have ever met. His food is on point and proximity to the beech is great too! It's easy to get a res. But reach out a day or 2 in advance. The ambiance was always awesome with pillow floor couches and more! read more

Our expectations were high and definitely exceeded. The owner was attentive and chef was top notch. Can't wait to come back. read more

Shiva - Amazingly delicious and loved the ambiance! - Indian Near Me - Tulum, ROO

Even though Tulum, Mexico, is full of with yoga-centric spiritual hotels and resorts, this is the only Indian restaurant in Tulum, and, apparently, the only one in the Riviera Maya outside Cancun, which is 2 hours north. The food was very good. Less rich than what we usually find in Indian restaurants in the US. The daal makhni tasted more like what we'd probably find being made at home. The chicken korma was tasty as well, but different from the usual in that there were peanuts used - which made it interesting, but in a good way. Also had the mango koolfi (very good, not too sweet), and the carrot halwa, which was awesome. The chef chatted with us for a while, and informed us that he uses less oil than typically used in Indian cooking. That is a good thing - made the meal more wholesome. Would definitely recommend this place. read more

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This is the best kept secret in Tulum. While we were visiting in a low season, from reading other reviews, the place is never "packed". The owner freely admits that when people come to a Tulum vacation, they probably don't think Inadian food! But dang y'all; it is bombs-a-nom-nom. Great entrees, appetizers and mixed drinks! The atmosphere is magically nestled into the jungle, and the service is absolutely doting. Like many businesses in tourist towns, they can be closed seasonally so don't pay attention to the reviews that say it's gone. Well worth checking. Try the Gajrela, a carrot-based sweet dessert, it's buttery deliciousness incarnate. read more

Great atmosphere - wow! Came here during vacation after reading several enticing reviews. Craving Indian during vacation in Mexico is admittedly odd, and this probably accounted for the (sadly) low volume of other patrons during our dinner. That aside, we loved lounging on the huge couches in an outdoor jungle like setting with candles and good music. As soon as we sat down out came fried naan/crunch bits with three refreshing chutneys. We ordered the non vegetarian thali platter with chicken tikka masala, chicken korma and saag paneer. The korma was delicious, hands down great - light, flavorful and with sliced almonds that surprised. The tikka masala was slightly oily but tasty, and husband still raving about the saag paneer, despite having too much cheese. The rice was sadly disappointing, too think of a grain, not Basmati. Garlic naan was nice, could use more garlic. Raita like sauce was good but sweeter than we are used to. Overall, this place is worth it for the atmosphere and chicken korma. Staff was very friendly and presentation was nice. The prices are good and we left happy. read more

Shiva - Samosas and chutneys. - Indian Near Me - Tulum, ROO

Loved the food, loved the ambiance, loved the service. Great gluten free options. I have celiac disease and ate appetizers, curries, lassies, and dessert here with no problem. And it was all delicious! If you're visiting Tulum for a yoga retreat, it is only fitting to dine at Shiva! Would definitely recommend to anyone. read more

Great ambience, but food was not that great. Paneer tikka masala was decent but naan and dal tadka could be better. Owner is very friendly and personally strikes up conversations at each table. read more

Surprisingly one of the best Indian food experiences I have had in a very long time. The food was delicious and very well prepared. I had the mixed Thalia with chicken Tikka masala and pepper chicken which was really delicious. The service was impeccable and I strongly recommend you a visit if you are in Tulum and craving Indian food the day after a long beach party. Thank me later! read more

Best Indian food I've had outside of London. Like the Mexican food in Tulum is good, but this food is NEXT LEVEL. Genius chef. Amazing vibe. Love the lounge seating and red lighting. If you don't eat here, you're fucking up. I said it. read more

Let me start by saying it is hard to find good Indian food just anywhere, with that being said Customer Service is just as important and I will say I went to Shiva twice while in Tulum the first night I went alone to enjoy a dinner meal and the food was perfect. The second night I took my sister out to dinner and my experience was not as great the owner proceeded to stop my sister in the middle of our meal and tell her she wasn't eating it properly how it's eaten in India, normally you would think that they would happily suggest the "proper way" to eat Indian food his issue is that she put hot spicy sauce on her Butter Chicken he said that is the Mexican Style not Indian which we found highly offensive then he was very belittling to his staff as if Mexicans where not understanding how the Indian way is. I will never come back there is a way to share your culture in a exciting and informative way not making people seem ignorant to the ways of India this is not our first time eating Indian food. We also were disgusted by the way he treated his employees there is nothing more sad than seeing one race try to belittle another in a country that is not their own we noticed the restaurant was so empty both days there and I really don't think it has nothing to do with the food which is amazing but it has everything with the way it is run. You can believe in Karma or not but what you do to others will always come back to you :( we hope this restaurant owner will change his ways because there is enough racism in the world to spread this in a place where people go to vacation and relax going to foreign countries to belittle people to feel better about yourself is so sad it shows how much people need to grow up and do some inner work. read more

This is just a review to state that they appear to be closed. We have walked by the last two days and the doors are closed.

Shiva is an absolutely must try during your visit to Tulum. It is not a super hyped up place like the other night club restaurants on the strip but more low key with a very authentic vibe. The food was amazing and the owner was very helpful on what to order. All the flavors were authentic, we will definitely be visiting again. Thank you Vinay for a great night! read more

Love that they have clearly marked vegan options on the menu! The rajma was so delicious! Friendly service too

This place is a true gem. The food was excellent and the atmosphere was so relaxing and inviting. The owner Vinay is the ultimate host. He makes you feel so welcome and catered to, it felt like a mini-vacation within our vacation dining here. The food is very fresh and has a slight twist on true Indian cuisine due to what ingredients are locally available. The result is truly wonderful. Don't forget to give Max a big hug too (Vinay's chill pup)! read more

This review is not based on the food at Shiva which was actually quite good. As a person of Indian heritage I would highly recommend that no person of colour should eat here as the owner is not only arrogant and ignorant, but feels they have a given right to judge their customers according to their appearance and origins. I came here on my birthday with my family for a nice meal. The owner then decided to lecture me on my Covid weight and the fact that I smoke. Never have I ever experienced such unsolicited, ignorant advice from a man who clearly believes judgement is the best dish served in his restaurant. The hypocrisy to all this "weight advice" came along with him pushing cocktails, desserts and more food! In summary, good food, great dog, avoid the owner! read more

Wow - food is on point. If you enjoy Indian food, this place is it. Butter chicken and daal makhani were delicious. The naans were so well cooked and fluffy. Every dish comes with rice, which is a added bonus. The service was great, friendly and so nice. Highly highly recommend this spot. read more

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I was visiting Tulum as a part of Yoga Retreat and this restaurant was right next to my hotel I thought to check it out one night and loved the setup and ambience as I walked in. I ordered a samosa, daal makhani, and a naan. All three items were fantastic! The food really tastes like authentic homemade indian food and not what you generally get in restaurants with a lot of cream in it. They also serve you a savory dish complimentary with 3 chutneys. The pineapple chutney is to die for! Amazing food and great service! read more

Holy Shiva! This place is great. We had seen the bright gold doors as we were headed to our hotel the day before so decided we had to check it out. We were instantly welcomed and led into this great living room. Over-sized sectional sofas with equally giant "coffee tables" were on all 4 corners. We decided to sit at a couch versus a regular table. It was a super comfy, intimate experience. We never felt rushed to order or decide on drinks nor rush through eating once we did. A few minutes after sitting down our server noticed the thousands of mosquitoes buzzing at our legs which I had not yet seen and walked over with repellent lotion. How thoughtful! You can't have enough OFF in Tulum from dusk 'til dawn. They brought out popcorn with a sample tray of pineapple, tamarind & mint chutney that had a nice kick to it. And for apps we had samosas and a Caribbean curry fish that was delish. I was surprised by the cabbage tossed into the mix - added a welcome texture. The samosas were also great w/ the different chutneys. Our main course was the Chicken Korma which to our delight had peanuts in the sauce. I've never had it prepared this way and loved it. At the end of our meal the chef came over to say hello and inquire about our experience. It's not often you get to speak to the chef and thank him for such an excellent meal. He was very nice and appreciative. He asked if we'd had dessert and even though it was decided we were too full he sent out a sample bowl of mango ice cream anyway. It was awesome as well! Overall, if you're looking for traditional Indian cuisine don't come here. They've clearly taken tradition and tossed it out the window (that no restaurant in Tulum has ) and made their menu unique. I'm mean, you're in the Caribbean for crying out loud. You won't regret coming here. read more

At the end of our trip in Tulum, we dined at Shiva and wish we had tried it sooner! After eating a week of great (and sometimes not so great) Mexican food, this was a welcomed change. The place is gorgeous, covered (in case of rain), and quite large for a Tulum restaurant. There is also a shisha lounge on the rooftop. The food was great, and somewhat lighter than typical Indian food I've had in America. They have a sampler platter (one vegetarian and one meat). We had the vegetarian (paneer - unbelievable, and daal makhani and aloo gobi, both fantastic) and garlic naan. My fiancé had a strawberry margarita (she said one of the best she had there) and I had a beer. We loved the meal, and after, Vinay, the owner, greeted us and chatted with us for a while. He was very pleasant, and we appreciated that he took the time to come to our table and ask about our experience. He even gave one of our party a large tub of his yogurt sauce (which she loved) on our way out! Great service, great food, highly recommended. read more

Hands down, our favorite meal of the trip! We first noticed Shiva during the day, because the gold door is too beautiful to miss. We were a bit burnt out on Mexican food (I know, I know) and wanted to try something different. When we walked in, a man (who I believe was the owner) immediately sat us down on plush beanbag-like sofas. He read the menu to us in great detail, took our drink orders, and told us that he would bring us some popcorn and dipping sauce while we decided what we wanted to eat. We both ordered a passionfruit vodka cocktail that was actually the best drink I've ever had. So fresh and delish. Writing this is making me want one... Smh. The popcorn came with three dipping sauces. All were good, but the green sauce was AMAZING! Save some for whatever you end up eating. My vegan friend ordered the lentil dish, while I chose the chicken tikka masala. Both were absolutely incredible. The man also gave us a buy one get one free offer on the naan, so we tried the garlic and the cheese. I've had lots of naan before, but this was insanely good. This place deserves so much recognition. It's not only one of the best in Tulum, it's also one of the best Indian restaurants I've ever been to! Go go go! read more

We are our first meal in Tulum here. Incredibly flavorful food and meal. Plenty of gluten free options and the owner even offered me a free app since I couldn't eat the complimentary crackers and dip. The only thing better than their food is the service. read more

Went to this restaurant around 630 and it appeared closed. We love Indian food so we decided to try it in tulum. We walked in and there were two workers who sat us and said they were open. The food and drinks took awhile to come and the beer arrived warm. The food was pretty terrible. And the garlic naan was in fact a pita break that wasn't even cooked with a splash of garlic. I highly do not recommend going to this. On top of this the service was also not great. Workers were smoking hookah and sitting at the bar instead of worrying about their customers read more

Ambiance was nice however service was inadequate, food was inadequate and they are not adequately set up to receive payment in any other means than with cash and/or......... Paypal. Although our host was very nice..... If you visit Shiva bring cash and have them explain the price of everything and have them let you know of the availability of items on the menu before ordering. They did not have rice when I visited (I was unaware until my orders had already gone through) and gave me a horrible, over-priced 'house wine'. The masala was subpar, the vindaloo was ok, and the naan was burnt. I will say the quality of goat was actually good though..... read more

For background, I am an Indian American vacationing in Tulum and I have been to a lot of Indian restaurants. This is by far some of the best Indian food I've ever had. The owner imports the spices himself from India and you can taste it. I never expected to find amazing Indian food in Mexico. If you love Indian food you have to stop by here. read more

This place is delicious and the atmosphere is great. My husband and I shared samosas, naan and the chicken korma dish. We were beyond stuffed- I can't imagine what would happen if you got your own entrees! The samosas were amazing, which seems like a weird thing to comment on. They're fried, when is fried anything ever not delicious? But they just tasted so fresh- you could taste every ingredient and spice- and their sauces were incredibly fresh and flavorful. Chicken korma was good and didn't feel too heavy. The chicken was well cooked and had a nice wood-fired flavor to it. There wasn't a ton of meat in the dish which is how I personally prefer it (lots of sauce for the naan and rice!), but if you are two very hungry people, this may not be enough for you to share. All in all, a great meal in a Tulum with an exquisite atmosphere. Go for it! read more

Venee, the owner of this establishment, was simply the most pleasant man i have ever encountered. He is very social with the guests and will do anything to make you feel comfortable, Venee also speaks flawless english! The atmosphere is also incredible--very clean, positive, and beautiful--you feel relaxed and in awe the second you walk in. Even though it's not local food, going to Shiva is a must for everyone traveling to Tulum! read more

WOW! Came in a few weeks ago on a Thursday night and were greeted as if we had just come home. Extremely welcoming and inviting. Very beautiful and well thought out interior. The owner was kind and extremely passionate about his restaurant. The passion came right out in the food. SO DELICIOUS. We love Indian food and I'm a flight attendant, so we eat Indian in all different cities. This was my absolute favorite Indian food I have EVER had. Truly can't wait for our next visit to Tulum. Thank you! Love, Nicole and Dyllan read more

Absolutely fantastic! Food was amazing and the service was great. A+++ Highly recommend the lamb vindaloo! read more

Walking by this beautiful restaurant, a couple things stood out: the atmosphere is so enticing yet there was hardly anybody eating there. After dining at Shiva, it was shocking it's not packed! The food was absolutely delicious and the staff couldn't have been friendlier. You eat dinner lounging on comfortable white couches lit by candlelight. Samosas were incredible! Skip all the lines and crowds and give his place a shot. Very memorable experience! read more

Really good Indian food right in the heart of Tulum. The owner is super nice and accommodating and they have lots of gluten free options. The restaurant has a great ambience and is a nice place to hang out after a day at the beach. read more

Fantastic spot. We met the owner who moved to Tulum from NYC. Seemed very well run and the cocktails were excellent. The atmosphere was really unique - next time we go back to Tulum, we'll need to stay for dinner. read more

Took the suggestions from the owner and he catered a perfect meal for my wife & I. Ditto everyone else; nice to have wonderful unique dinner after having so much of the same elsewhere. Little pricey but well worth it! The naan bread, chicken tikka masala,the fish, garbanzo bean side. Ask Alex about the magic cities of Mexico. read more

We came here for dinner based on all of the stellar reviews and were not disappointed. The veg pakora (w/chickpea batter) was so good, and perfect for my wheat-free diet. Main course of chicken tikka masala was delicious--not as creamy as we are used to because the owner's recipe uses less cream and fat than usual. I did miss the creaminess a bit. The complimentary "munchie" at the start of the meal was wheat based so I couldn't eat it but when I mentioned that to the owner, he thought he might put together a corn alternative. I appreciated his thoughtfulness. We love papadam, which is commonly served as an appetizer in Indian restaurants, but he explained that he couldn't get the ingredients for that here. His waitstaff speak minimal English, but his is perfect. Would love to eat here again! read more

Amazing! We had the tasting platter to try a mixture of vegetarian and non-vegetarian entrees, and they were all excellent. Garlic naan was freshly made and came warm with minced garlic. The owner came over to tell us about the menu, and was very helpful and welcoming. A great atmosphere, and a welcome break from all the Mexican food! So good we went twice on our trip. read more

Firstly, the hospitality and warmth of the owner Vinay and his staff were the best I've experienced in Tulum. Vinay was incredibly welcoming and made us feel right at home! The chicken korma and Goan fish curry were delicious and very flavorful. The ambiance of the restaurant is intimate and relaxing and to top it off, Max, the restaurant pup makes it even better! I highly recommend dinner here! read more

My fiancé and I visited Tulum in December for a few days and absolutely loved the majority of our dining experiences. Shiva was included on that list. The chef, Many Flores, and staff were super friendly and accommodating. The food was high quality and delicious. I would have licked the plate if I wasn't surrounded by other patrons. Plus, the chef provided desert tastings for free at the end of the meal. Overall, it was a pleasant and memorable experience. When we return to Tulum, we will be sure to dine here again, assuming Many is still the chef. read more