Such a hidden gem. Extremely friendly service. Came in on a Thursday night and there was only one other table but the takeout/delivery orders were flowing in. There was a always a line of people waiting which is a great sign but due to that service was a little slow. We started with the chicken momos which where delicious, super flavorful. Also the paneer pakoras were great, both sauces added a nice flavor while letting the paneer shine. For dinner I had the Chicken tandoori, came out piping hot with lots of veggies. 5/5 will be back very soon. read more

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This was surprisingly so awesome selection. Before checking in to hotel we decided to grab dinner and wife decided to try indian on the first day of our trip LOL...you know her taste buds are crazy these days for indian food. Looks small from outside but large enough inside. Many seating tables and couches. Service super fast. Order was taken within minutes. Plates were placed quickly and within no time food was with us. Customers were less to dine in but many take away orders. We saw some 5-6 during during our stay here. Coming to food- well presented and great taste. Super duper economical. Fish thali was just for $13. Samosa was good too but chicken soup was more spicy and tasted more of peppers. Overall very good food. Naan was one of the best too. Open kitchen so you can see everything happening inside. 3 guys running complete restaurant. 1 chef , another assistant and 3rd being server along with cashier and pickup assistant. read more

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I am very sad to report a huge change in quality at this once amazing Indian food resturant. I got chicken curry and the Nan garlic bread I ate one point was crazy about. Tonight was different. Chicken curry was almost tasteless and the Nan bread had no garlic flavor and was like rubber. I am heartbroken to write this. But maybe just an off night. read more

Go to spot and a hole in the wall basically but the garlic naan is great and I love the saag paneer

Thank you to Manager Manesh! You made our take away night the best. Love the chicken tikka and extra green sauce read more

The India Cafe - Chicken tikka masala, cheese naan, and Veggie Samosa - Indian Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

My go to Indian restaurant. It's more of a mom and pop place, but their food is flavorful and reasonably priced.

One of the things I really miss about California is excellent Indian food and my god, the India Cafe exceeds expectations. This is actually a Nepali-owned restaurant that has a menu that is about 80% North Indian dishes and 20% Nepali and Tibetan food. The food is amazingly delicious (ekdam mito chha - Nepali). It was a joy and a delight for my friends and I to share a Ramadan iftar of Gobi Manchurian, vegetable momos, chana masala, shahi paneer, and two naans - garlic, and Kashmiri (stuffed with sweet things). Everything on the menu looked tasty and I highly recommend this small, strip-mall restaurant! read more

The India Cafe - Indian Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Maybe I didn't order the right things or maybe all the dishes were lacking authentic flavor? Not sure. Super friendly folks working here though and the food I ordered were ready pretty much on time. The momos were eh and the chutneys were meh. Just lacking that punch in flavor I feel. The butter chicken and the saag paneer were ok. read more

this is my go to indian spot here in costa mesa the tikka is amazing i get it with chicken and you can tell they use quality chicken and they dice it up perfectly they are heavy handed on the spice so make sure you get like a 5 if you like spicy the flavor profile is that spicy yet tangy creamy deliciousness you would want the garlic naan bread is a must every time too their employees are super cool and always quick with the service and it's always ready in 15 minutes no matter what i highly recommend coming here if you enjoy indian food read more

I really like the India Cafe!!! This place is consistent and solid. The food never dissapoints. I love their Chicken Tikka Masala. I always get it extra spicy. I feel like their recipe has a little bit too much sweetness that is why I order it extra spicy and it comes out great. Their naan and rice are delicious as well. I generally do a phone order or order through a food service app, and it is always ready on time. I love a place with good food that stays consistent no matter what. read more

Food here is quality Indian food. It was my first time here with my Dad and daughter and we were not disappointed at all. The flavor and seasoning is very very good. I don't live in the area but the next time I come here I'll bring them and friends too. read more

The India Cafe - Paneer Tikka Masala - Indian Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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This place is unassuming but what it lacks in style it makes up for amazing food. Service is fine but you don't come here for the service. You come for the food. Great prices and the food is delicious. read more

Decent Nepali-indian food for the region. We got momo, chicken tandoori with mixed veggies and paneer masala. Came with a lot of white rice. Also tried vegetarian biryani which was super spicy. Would recommend if you are in the area. Not Artesia level Indian but good. Service is quick for takeout. read more

This place is tucked in between businesses in a bit of a strip mall. We were on the area and quite hungry, and hadn't found a great Indian food place in the area so we were quick to try this- especially with good ratings. While the server was quite nice, it was all very slow. We did come at a slightly off hour (2pm)- so that could have been a part of it. The food was a bit on the bland side, the chicken slightly chewy and overall lacking in flavor. They do have a good lunch special that seems like you could get a taste of a few items, but overall I wouldn't be in a rush to get back. read more

The India Cafe - Indian Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Food is excellent It is a small place and after eating there... it is better take out. Service is prompt and easy going with check out. read more

Stopped by around 1:30 for lunch. Ordered a mango lassi and the chicken vindaloo lunch combo. Everything was delicious, and the prices are great! Service was fast and friendly. Highly recommend you try this hidden gem! read more

The India Cafe - 103. Mango Lassi (delicious!) - Indian Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Best Indian food ever. I love the butter chicken and naan . Biryani' is decadent! Love this place! Try it ! You will always want to come back for more! read more

The India Cafe - Kiros Favorite place!!! - Indian Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Fantastic hole-in-the-wall with a range of Indian/Himalayan dishes at a good price. They're generous with the naan, the dishes are flavorful and delicious, and the staff is attentive and respectful. We ordered the momos, saag paneer, and lamb nepali thali special. All were excellent. Will be coming back again! read more

The India Cafe - 56. Saag Paneer - Indian Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Overall, the food was good and on time: 3.5. However, the main thing we were craving was the garlic naan with some Masala sauce on the side to dip it in. I've never had a garlic naan I didn't like, but this was flat and chewy, much like pizza crust that's been nuked for too long in the microwave or something. Ie, it didn't taste fresh; it was too chewy and flat like it sat in the freezer for a couple weeks prior. They also forgot to add the side of extra Masala sauce. It could've been a fluke, so we'll consider trying it again since the Chicken Tikka Masala was very good. However, the chicken was cut like 4 big blocks of cheese (a bit odd to eat with a stew, but still good). The Vegan Samosas were perfect! read more

The India Cafe - Garlic Naan: meh.... - Indian Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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I ordered the Butter chicken, Saag Paneer, and two Garlic Naans for take out. They did not disappoint. My only regret is that I did not eat this at the restaurant. Everything tasted delicious. The delivery was quick and the food remained hot. I will be ordering from The India Cafe again. Next time, I will go to the restaurant. read more

Great hole in the wall. I wouldn't recommend dining here, but it's perfect for takeout. Just anticipate that it will take a lot of time for takeout, as they are swamped with ordered right now. Service is excellent. Prices are very fair, but portions are not the biggest, so take that into account when ordering. I enjoy their chicken tikka and veggie korma. I have yet to try their butter chicken, but I've heard great things about it. read more

The best Indian/Nepalese food. My last meal was takeout, and what a joy. The rice was light and not dry. We shared two orders of Samosa. These are fairly large and seemed steamed, like a Nepalese Momo. Very tasty. The lamb with sauce was as satisfying as any good can be. The lentils are made as they are in Nepal as well. Yum. Garlic Nan? Of course. Bring home a savory feast. read more

The India Cafe - The variety spices used in this food is a marvel. - Indian Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Been meaning to come here for a while. Lots have told me this is the spot. Today came through and got a chicken tikka masala lunch special with garlic naan. Asked for it to be as hot as they could make it. It was mild but still very good. Big chunks of chicken breast. Good flavors. Good servings. Nice people. Will be coming back again for sure. Hope they can bring a little more heat. Highly recommend. read more

The India Cafe - 21. Chicken Tikka Masala big chunks of chicken - Indian Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Not great - lacks luster and ambiance. The food is average but tasty.. however, it was $20 bucks for a combo-drink included

The last few reviews are pretty sus since they have close to zero followers but I for sure do not understand the rating since this was probably top of the 2022 worst restaurants. I ordered butter chicken, tikka masala, 2 orders of paneer appetizers, samosas and garlic naan. Total $70. The paneer cheese was rubbery and fried in old oil, skimpy portions and dry basmati rice. Naan was flavorless and the chicken dishes lacked that Indian spice profile - both tasted like tomato sauce. Dissatisfied and will never go back. read more

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We ordered the Tomato and Spinach soup, Aloo Paratha and Veg Thali. All items were very authentic and tested very good. There was a wholesome taste to the items and the quantity was sumptuous. Enjoyed it very much. I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone wanting good North Indian cuisine. Since we are vegetarians, can't comment on the non-veg food served here. I liked the ambience as well inside the restaurant. read more

Woah that was rough. Food was so bland and obviously was heated up in the microwave. I order the thali and didn't receive raita or pickles as advertised but just a cup of lettuce. Palak paneer was flavorless. They did give a good portion of naan and it was inexpensive. Would not return. read more

When one orders a certain item, and if the restaurant doesn't have it, this restaurant believes it is okay to give you something else and charge you for it. They are magnanimous enough to give you the original order, but, for that, they will inform you, over phone, courteously, that they will need to charge you extra for it. And they will even deliver it. No apology provided. Two of the three items were goofed up and cold. Both the food and the service left a bad taste in the mouth. Im seriously amazed at existing 4 stars. Just stay away. Highly NOT recommended. read more

Did not expect it to be THIS good. I came here on a friend's recommendation, but without it I probably wouldn't have even stopped by. Coming in around 7 on a Friday night, the restaurant was almost empty. My expectations were frankly pretty low, but I'm glad we stuck around. The momo (Nepalese dumplings) were the drawing factor for my friend and I, and I would absolutely recommend getting some. They were warm, delightfully spiced, juicy chicken pillows that paired so well with the accompanying achar (sauce). If you frequent Indian places, you've probably had butter chicken; we all know what it's like - delicious. But this place used a different spice blend I think heavier on the cinnamon at first but it mellowed out to be probably some of the best butter chicken I've had. The WOW factor: the chicken was wonderfully tender and bouncy. I'm talking Marie Callender's chicken pot pie tender. The garlic naan was super crispy but light and soft at the same time. Didn't get as much of the garlic flavor. What's holding me back from a 5-star review is that the portions, while decent, didn't hold up to my standard of "value" for the dollar - not bad though! Also, they were installing a TV in the restaurant while we were eating dinner. Generally the ambiance was lacking, but I was pretty distracted by the food anyway. read more

The India Cafe - Momo (Nepalese dumplings) GET SOME - Indian Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Their food was tasty and I appreciated how they wrapped everything in aluminum before putting it in the to-go box for warmth. Very clever. It wasn't as flavorful as other Indian restaurants I've tried-- especially their chicken tikka masala which tasted too sweet to me, but it was overall decent and a good hot meal. read more

I really recommend this place. The food is really really good. I love Indian food and they are so fast.

First time ordering from here tonight 9 17 21... Ordered 3 items and the main one missing was garlic naan. I also had the Saag Paneer (8/10) and the Chicken Korma (6/10). I called the restaurant to get a refund and the was reluctance and no apology. Instead was questioned as if I made a mistake somehow. Then they said that I should remind them on my next order. First off, I wont be back and second the food was just ok. I'm sure it would've felt like more of a complete meal if it had just had the 1 thing you should always have with Indian food. The naan. Maybe next time they offer more than just what is expected via a refund and not use a tactic that ensures I order again. UPDATE: They called me and told me they would bring me the Naan. I told them its ok since I just finished eating. They came through on the delivery and brought me an additional item. Garlic Naan (9/10)!!! read more

Food taste , service friendly ambience nice music and clean. Food is fresh maybe is a little wait but now that for so long great prices too. read more

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We came in on a Sunday night and the place was empty. Food was really great, reasonably priced. Waiters were attentive and kind. I would come back. read more

We ordered the chicken tikka masala and coconut chicken. Both were horrible and portions were very small. Zero flavor and our stomachs were very upset after eating. The garlic naan was dry and tasted old. The cheese naan also had zero flavor. Will never order here again. read more

I just picked up the tandoori chicken and chicken biryani and both were sooo good! Super flavorful and delicious with generous portions! Great dishes!! read more

Ok so, I have this thing where I take people to try new foods. This place did not disappoint. We had the chicken biryani, butter chicken, garlic naan (of course) and samosas. This is, possibly, one of the best Indian restaurants I have ever eaten at. If you see my elite badge, then you know, I eat at a lot of restaurants. The biryani was so good and the portion so large, that I ate it two days in a row and I wasn't mad about it. The spice level to the dishes ordered was accurate (we ordered mild spice) and it was minimally spicy. The wait staff was great and explained everything in detail to my guest and even suggested that they try a mango lassi, which my guest loved. Overall, this was an amazing experience and I plan to be back over and over again. The restaurant is clean and the entertainment (Bollywood tunes) is absolutely appropriate. I found my seating cool and comfortable and the atmosphere quite and calm enough to have a conversation. We went for lunch and I really appreciated the lunch specials as well, but opted for the larger portions of things because, well, it was good and the smell radiating from the kitchen alone told me that I absolutely should order a larger portion. read more

Food is delicious and authentic! I am glad I was able to take mu 6.5 yr old son here. He enjoyed it! read more

The India Cafe - Indian Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Haven't had many Indian cuisine places but I have had plenty yummy food and I can say with out a doubt this place is yummy! Anything on the menu is amazing. I am not a spicy good fanatic so when I come here I always order the lowest spicy level possible and it's amazing. The place is kind of hidden and a little dark inside but it's well worth coming here! read more

Do not judge by the exterior fascade of the place. My wife and myself were craving for some good roti and curry and after an extensive search ended up walking into this place. We were taken care by really nice and friendly Mahesh. We ordered saag paneer, shahi paneer and chicken tikka masala with onion kulcha, aloo paratha and garlic naan. The curries and the rotis were so tasty (all of them) but saag paneer deserves a special mention. First legit saag paneer I have had ( not palak paneer sold as saag paneer). Will definitely come back to try other stuff. read more