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    The Taj Cafe

    4.6 (2k reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 11:00 pm

    Order The Taj Cafe Takeout or Delivery

    The Taj Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    THE TAJ CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - The Taj Cafe

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    Genezaret C.

    Every time I eat here, I am impressed. So many delicious entrees, appetizers and desserts! If this restaurant was closer I would come here more often. The staff is super friendly and comes to check on your group. Vibes are relaxing (especially with the music playing) and chill.

    Small rice portion
    Reta B.

    So I had been here before and I enjoyed the food. My husband and I decided to come New Year's Day and gather with friends. So I called at least 1.5 hours before getting there and made a reservation! When we got there which was on time, they Didn't have a table for us! The hostess was RUDE! When it's their fault for not honoring our reservation! So he's like you have to wait, at least 20-30 mins! Excuse me! Whats the point of having a reservation then! Anyways they moved a couple to seat us! We had 7 adults and 1 kid! Food took over 45 mins! I had the samosa chat which I recommend and the chicken korma medium spice and also good! They took forever to bring the food, and someone else had the Korma and so they mixed it up though one was chicken And the other Lamb! Other people in the table had the combo, they were 2 sitting next to each other. So they get Garlic Naan part of the combo. Only of them got the garlic naan, so toward the end. We asked, hey we're missing the garlic naan for this meal. Their response was, it was mixed with the other person who has the combo. Anyways it wasn't much garlic naan so they brought one and made it sound like they brought one to replace that. Instead after I got home I realized they charged for their garlic bread they brought. Also the food portions are small for what they charge! They charge $3.99 for soda and $1.99 for refill for soda! What? Who does that? It's just SODA! Secret for that many reviews! They bribe people! After dinner, they bring you " free rice putting" and right after before brining the bill, they bring you QR code to rate them!! So check comes and they have 6% charge! RSC! So we ask what is this? Restaurant service charge! That's usually done in big cities such as LA which I have not seen! " to cover their employees" and! Hows that my problem! They had already charged 20% for service! Which was HORRIBLE! I should have made them take that out! Since I was not happy w their service for seating us late and for taking forever to get food ready and on top of it charging for unnecessary items! Before you dine here. Check everything and the 6% add on plus 20% Service charge! Plus over priced food! Won't return here

    Complimentary dessert- rice milk dessert
    Charlotte C.

    This food was delicious. It was very empty when we got there but it was a weeknight so I wasn't too surprised. While we were there there were a few orders that came in for pick ups or DoorDash, and another couple that came in to eat. So we weren't the only ones that ate there on a random Thursday night which is a good sign. We ordered samosas appetizer, garlic chicken plate and mirchi (spicy) chicken plate. All food was good with a nice spice level! And not just spicy to be hot- it had actual flavor! And the portion sizes were great! The total for the above plus a soda and a masala chai drink was about $114. That includes an 18% tip (not automatic), and the 6% restaurant surcharge. I hate the surcharge but would go back.

    Tanner C.

    Grabbed a quick lunch here and thought the vegan options were great! Nice decor and friendly service, will be back next time I'm in the area.

    Aloo Tikki
    Jenna H.

    We got a lot of complimentary items and at the end they requested we write a review.. I would have regardless. All items were delicious. Partner and I split the chicken tikka masala. Perfect for two. A little on the sweeter side that I'm used to but would order again. The garlic naan had a lot of garlic and we loved it. Complimentary chutney sampler. That was alright. Complimentary aloo tiki chaat. That was pretty good. Complimentary Kheer. It's my favorite desert and it was great! We left with a little coupon. The service was good. They checked on us a good amount. I sat on the patio since it was a beautiful day. We did not go inside. We will back!

    Garlic naan

    Excellent food and service! The best lamb tiki masala and garlic naan! Always good service!

    free rice pudding
    Sarah C.

    great family-owned restaurant! loved the service and how they pampered us with free appetizers and dessert. the chicken tikka masala and saag paneer included a good amount of protein which was nice. the saag paneer was a bit bland but it feels healthier which is a bonus? :) the chicken naan was a bit dry but it was a huge portion. overall would recommend for indian food in the area!

    Sara W.

    Loveeee taj! A great option for a sit down in downtown Ventura. The food is great.. naan is top tier and love their green chutney sauce so much. Never had a bad dish. They always throw in freebies and complimentary items while dining in which is so sweet. Family owned and very local. The veggie combo is my go to. *note this isn't a fast dining experience so just an fyi

    Jade H.

    Amazing amazing amazing!!!! The service here is exceptional the food is so flavorful. Only reason I came here was because my usual Indian restaurant was closed and I was really craving it. I'm definitely glad I came here. They provided me with complementary items to get a little taste of what they offer and let's just say this. I will most definitely be coming back here. Give this place a chance I promise you you will not be disappointed.

    JohnAndrew R.

    A Comforting Go-To at Taj Cafe - A Ventura Favorite My family and I made another visit to Taj Cafe in Ventura, a place we go to so often the servers know us by now. With our third son on the way, we were looking for something comforting, familiar, and stress-free--and as always, Taj Cafe delivered. Food: I ordered the tikka masala lamb combo meal, and my wife went with our usual favorite, the butter chicken--our go-to dishes every time. Both were excellent. The lamb was tender and flavorful, coated in a rich tikka masala sauce that's perfectly spiced without being overwhelming. The butter chicken was creamy, comforting, and consistently delicious, which is why we keep coming back. The combo meal was filling and a great value. Experience: What makes Taj Cafe special for us is the consistency. The food is always fresh, hot, and satisfying, and the relaxed pace makes it an easy, enjoyable stop--especially on busy days. It feels familiar and comfortable every time we visit. Service: The staff is always friendly, welcoming, and attentive. Being regulars, it's nice walking into a place where you're recognized and treated like family. They make sure everything is just right and genuinely care about their customers. Overall: Taj Cafe in Ventura isn't just a restaurant for us--it's a trusted favorite. If you're looking for reliable, comforting Indian food with great service and a welcoming atmosphere, this place is hard to beat. Highly recommended.

    Might be the best Indian food I have ever had. Add to that that you get to sit outside on Main Street on a cute patio.. it doesn't get much better! Definitely recommend trying it out!

    Ryan M.

    Phenomenal Indian food. My friend from India recommended this to me as this is his favorite authentic Indian restaurant in the area. We ordered a whole bunch of different dishes, and everything we got was exceptional. I would highly recommend the butter chicken, chicken vindaloo, saffron rice, and samosas. If you're in Ventura and looking for some good Indian food, The Taj Cafe is the way to go. We ordered takeout, but the location on Main Street and ambiance is ideal.

    What an awesome feast for 2!

    This was my first time trying this restaurant and it was absolutely amazing! The food is so delicious. The service was on point and the ambiance is stunning. Beautiful artwork and the most comfortable cushioned chairs. We will most definitely be returning.

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    2 months ago

    The food here is fantastic. A treat for the senses! Complimentary rice pudding also!

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    We tried and thoroughly enjoyed a couple of new dishes: mixed veggie pakoras and saffron chicken . The service was excellent as usual.

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    Page 1 of 51

    The Taj Cafe Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - The Taj Cafe

    Has the buffet come back?

    We have started Lunch Specials now. Please ask for them when you come for lunch,

    Will you resume/restart your lunch buffet now the COVID restrictions have been lifted since June 15th and many people have been immunized/vaccinated?

    No more buffet

    Does rice come with the food items or do u have to order separately?

    The dinner specials come with rice, naan, vegetable curry and cucumber salad

    Is there food halal?

    I'm sorry, I looked up the term and I can't say yes or no. But I can say it was fresh not processed foods. Everything was made to order like a good Indian restaurant does. I did notice they only offered beef, lamb or chicken for their meats. I hope… 

    Taj have beautiful patio?

    It's a big open space and yes it's nice. They don't have the buffet right now because of COVID but the food is still amazing!

    Is Taj Café open?

    We will be opening very soon, most probably within a week. Thanks a lot for your love and support.

    Are you open for take out and/or dine in? If so, what are your hours?

    We are doing some repairs in kitchen. We will be opening in a couple of weeks or so. Thanks a lot for your business and support.

    Have you opened back, yet?

    I don't think so. And with all the restaurant closures now it may be a while. Call and check but last I looked they were still closed.

    Went there twice, but the place was closed. There's a sign on the door says, temporary closed because of plumbing problems. Are they opening back soon?

    Hello Dear Patrons, Unfortunately we had a fire in restaurant and about a month ago both the owners met an accident requiring hospitalization. We are working our level best to… 

    Is the buffet also available on the weekends and how much is it per person?

    Yes, the buffet is available I believe the buffet is around $14, but I'm not certain.

    Is there a discounted price for children for buffet?

    Hi, May be you can call and check out before going in.… 

    Hi, can you please label your vegan options? Only one is labeled, but you're listed as having vegan options so I hope that's not the only one. Thanks!

    VEGAN options on the lunch buffet were clearly indicated on cards below each selection as of 3/10/19. Identifying descriptions offered in ( ).… 

    Do they have lamb bhuna?

    Yes

    View All 15 Questions

    La Jenelle Natural Cafe

    La Jenelle Natural Cafe

    4.9
    (128 reviews)
    9.4 mi

    Such a lovely find in Oxnard. La Jenelle Natural Cafe sits right by the channel near Silver Strand…read moreBeach, and it's got that laid back port city feel, salty air, boats nearby, nothing pretentious about it. Great spot to grab food and just sit outside for a bit. It's fully vegan, and everything tastes like it was made with real care, not like generic "vegan substitute" food. The menu is small, but that's clearly because they're making things in house rather than pulling from a distributor, and you can taste the difference. The person running the place was genuinely warm and accommodating, happy to answer questions and make suggestions. It's the kind of small business energy that's rare to find these days. Highly recommend if you're in Oxnard and want honest, thoughtfully made plant-based food. I'll be back.

    Excited to do another review in Oxnard on my birthday! I ventured to Oxnard to see how clean the…read morebeach house needed to be, and among other things whether it was in good shape. Outside of this I looked up places to eat and the pictures of the food service etc. I found this place nearby. From the outside, parking was tough to find, difficult to find the place since it is small in a clustered area with homes and a few other shops. The place itself is quite nice inside and right to the side of it. They had outside decorative seats which were nice to look at. Service was great! The woman told us the bold truth about what is good in a pleasant way. She told us the ingredients and how each was a highlight. One of the dishes I wanted to order was the gyro sandwich but it didn't have a key ingredient available at the time. It was the tzatziki sauce. It was a vegan kind that really increases the flavor of the gyro sandwich. Outside of this, she didn't recommend it without that sauce. I ordered the shoreline burrito which the person at front claimed was popular and it looked good from the pictures. The only flaw was the price to value. The ingredients were good quality but did not have that large amount I expected. It was $21 for the burrito with some tortilla chips on the side. I was still hungry after and although it tasted fine, so so or slightly above average, it wasn't really a great value. But everything else was decent. Just that one flaw was disappointing. I found it to be okay to try it out if you want to eat healthy at least, the ingredients are decent quality.

    Photos
    Counter
    Counter
    The Jesse's Gyro Pita Pockets
    The Jesse's Gyro Pita Pockets
    Hours of operation

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    Hours of operation
    Hip Vegan

    Hip Vegan

    4.5
    (701 reviews)
    12.0 mi
    $$

    We came across this location while researching vegetarian-friendly spots in Ojai and I am so glad…read morewe decided to try it. Everything tasted fresh, flavorful, and honestly exceeded expectations. We ordered the gunpowder fries, tacos, and the tiger bowl - and the bowl was so good that I literally tried recreating it at home afterwards because I couldn't stop thinking about it. The flavors were unique, balanced, and super satisfying. It's a self serve style of place, where you order at the counter and then grab your own food. The person helping us was super friendly and provided her recommenations. The overall vibe of the place is pretty relaxed and welcoming. It has indoor as well as outdoor seating and parking was manageable. Definitely a spot I would go back to if I am back in the area.

    This is my second visit. I love the idea of a vegan restaurant and want to support so we have them…read moreas options. My take away: 1-loved the fries. Expertly fried. Not greasy and so crispy. Great mouth feel and the dipping sauces, chefs kiss. 2-Tempeh sandwich was not so tasty. Would not repurchase. Sorry no photo. 3-Tofu sandwich (photo included) had thee hardest bread ever. Just awful. Too hard. Was it stale? Not sure, but I cannot recommend this sandwich. The word slop comes to mind. Too much slaw sauce made it a slippery mess. See photos. See what was left behind and so many napkins used. Very poor construction. 4-An honorable mention was that the fries came out so long before the sandwiches, that they were all gone before the sandwiches for there. So much for timing. Unfortunately, I don't think the cashier/server was having a good day. I hope today is better for her! This visit was surprising bad.

    Photos
    Get your eating tools and water station.
    Get your eating tools and water station.
    Deliciously cooked fries.  Crispy greatness. 4/19/26
    Deliciously cooked fries. Crispy greatness. 4/19/26
    I love the entrance!

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    I love the entrance!
    Hummus Republic

    Hummus Republic

    4.1
    (129 reviews)
    4.0 mi
    $$

    I was looking for somewhere new to eat in the Ventura area and I came across Hummus Republic. I've…read morebeen to this plaza many times I've been to all the stores next to it and used to come here when it used to to be another business. To be totally honest, I was a little bit intimidated by how the process works. But I assume caught on that. It was almost like a chipotle kind of style place. I decided to go with a bowl. I was able to choose between three types of different bases, and I went with the basmati rice and the couscous was able to choose a couple of salad options as well. Luckily, we were able to mix and match since I can never make a decision on getting All three types of greens that they have. Then moved over to the hummus section and I was able to get the three most popular hummus flavors, which I actually don't remember what I got. I know one of them was an olive flavored one and another one was a little more spicy. Then over to the protein side of things, you can mix up to two different choices, and some of the other options there is an upgrade fee. Then removed over to the toppings and these are all unlimited and so I was able to get feta cheese, tomatoes, olives, purple cabbage, everything was so endless and amazing At the very end, you're able to choose two different kind of sauces and at the very end, my bowl was actually pretty heavy in weight but most importantly it was very delicious Thank you to the team member here that was very helpful and walked me through the process. I think I might've been too overwhelmed. Otherwise I might've just opted for the burger which I may still have to try next time. The sweet potato fries also look very good and I will have to try those next time for sure. There's a ton of parking spots right outside. I can't get a little bit busy here so she'll be so many different food options but generally, I haven't really had an issue with finding a spot.

    Food is great for the first couple of bites, but the gets extremely salty. Is anyone's else's food…read morelike this too? We had the ultimate shawarma bowl

    Photos
    Hummus Republic
    Hummus Republic
    Hummus Republic

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    Back Bench Pizza

    Back Bench Pizza

    4.5
    (120 reviews)
    0.0 mi

    The pizza was perfect. Well balanced between sauce and cheese. Crust has a wonderful crunch…read more The owner was very pleasant! Do fortunate to have a great local pizza play.

    Walking into this place feels like stepping into a tiny boutique that accidentally got taken over…read moreby a 90s rock playlist and a dentist's waiting room aesthetic. White walls, music, and the smell of genuinely great pizza in the air. Sadly, ordering that pizza feels like you're interrupting a very important staff meeting about not wanting to sell pizza. The vibe leans heavily toward uninviting. No fountain drinks, no water cups, just bottled beverages like you're at an airport kiosk. After you finally place your order, settle in. You're looking at a solid 45 minutes to an hour before your pizza makes its grand entrance. While we waited, a staff member walked up and slapped a "sold out" sign on the door. It was 5:45. They close at 9. We then watched the live theater of confused customers being turned away mid-evening. Bold strategy. Now, the pizza. Credit where it's due. The dough is legit. Sourdough crust that actually tastes like something, nicely baked, good sauce, and a thin, almost cracker-like profile. This is not your thick, floppy slice situation. It's crisp, light, and honestly pretty enjoyable. Is it perfect? No. Is it better than your average chain pizza? Absolutely. Just be prepared to feel slightly unwanted while acquiring it.

    Photos
    Inside is nice and clean
    Inside is nice and clean
    Back Bench Pizza
    Back Bench Pizza

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    The Saloon Ventura

    The Saloon Ventura

    3.6
    (593 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    Thoroughly enjoyed this place! Stopped in for a snack and some drinks. Our bartender was Danika and…read moreshe was lovely. Recommended some drinks. Nice place to sit. Plush seats and a cool photo booth! All the drinks were good. The food was fresh and delicious. Will def be back.

    It's been so many years since I've left a review here but happy I could come back and update my…read moreexperience. I stumbled in here for lunch today, as I love the bartender Rebecca who works here! She's a great cocktail mixologist and is always super friendly and bubbly. The staff here are really great though... Today both Rebecca and Brenda helped me and the service was a 10 out of 10! Everyone is so friendly and attentive. Also, I was super impressed with the back kitchen as they were cranking out dishes, which is what you want when you're having a "quick on the go lunch". I really love how they've decorated this bar/restaurant. It's fun but cozy, definitely they have great creativity with making the space as it's unique and done just right. I love the neon signs, the comfortable lounge chairs/sofas and the rugs. Makes for a great spot to stay a while. Cocktails were solid and they have an impressive selection of Whiskey is here. I'm keeping that in mind the next time I come for cocktails downtown. The food though was a home run and far exceeded my expectation. I started with the onion rings that were perfectly fried and super fresh/crispy. I love that the onion rings were paired with both a ranch and a chipotle sauce. I'm a sauce girl so if you give me multiple sauces, I'm happy. No joke, but I also just had the best Caesar salad I found in the county yet here! Kudos to the bartender Rebecca for suggesting it when I was debating between different dishes... I trusted her judgment when she told me it's one of her favorites and it turned out to be my favorite dishes too! The Caesar salad was perfectly dressed and had a great amount of cheese and croutons. Honestly, this is my dream salad lol. I'd highly recommend you order this when you come here because I can't stop thinking about it... I know it's just a salad and it's a relatively simple salad when you think about it, but it's done so incredibly well here. Overall, I had a really great experience here and will be back soon!

    Photos
    The Saloon Ventura
    The Saloon Ventura
    Old fashioned

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    Old fashioned

    The Taj Cafe - indpak - Updated July 2026

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