Cute outdoor space with decent Indian food! The mango lassi was solid and the appam and curry were fine... just felt like it was kind of a measly portion for the price. You do order from a QR code and service was prompt with bringing out meals. Overall, would give it a 3.5/5 (rounding up to a 4). read more

Vimala's Curryblossom Cafe - Appam with chana - Indian Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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Hidden away in a courtyard, this place offers a fascinating South Indian menu. I came seeking Kerala specials, and while an appam sounded interesting, I went for a special dosa with black chickpea curry. It was a delicious warming spice mix (in the chickpeas) and was served on a banana leaf. A salad wasn't as inspiring; it looked nice but the tomatoes were a little soft like they'd been out too long. A chai was properly served with little cookies ("biscuits" in the British lexicon), and was available with oat milk at no extra charge. And it was good. Service wasn't the greatest; I was left alone for a while unsure of whether to take the option to scan a code and order food using my phone, after which I ultimately did only to have someone come to take my order. The food, however, was worth returning for. read more

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Maybe this place has more potential and people seem to love it. However, we didn't love the food we got. The chicken curry was decent but nothing special. They give lots of sauces with everything, some of which weren't that flavorful such as the coconut one. We ordered a few pancakes and a crepe and they were fine at best. Definitely would not order again. With the abundance of Indian places in chapel hill and on Franklin street, we probably won't be back, read more

I love that this place buys such a large portion of their produce, meat, dairy and eggs from local farmers. The food is healthy and delightful to eat. I don't feel stuffed and heavy when I leave, like I often do with the oily gravies of Indian restaurants. This food is fresh, light, and seasonal. read more

Met up with a coworker at Vimala's on a weeknight and the vibes were immaculate. The courtyard had live music and we snagged a table outside. I liked the QR code ordering system bc it was so easy for us to order separately and pay straight from our phone. We got the goat biryani and the appam. Both were soooo good and delicious! We chatted away until late and the staff brought us chai and Parle G on the house!! read more

Good south Indian food. Good atmosphere and service too. That's all i have to say at this time.

Fabulous food and friendly service. Everything we ordered was delicious! The plantains were some of the best we've ever had, but I recommend getting them as dessert. read more

Absolutely fantastic Indian food. Get the chicken dosa and strap yourself in for a culinary experience. I'm not sure what to call it but there's this nutty puree that comes with the dosa and it's outstanding. It's a small cafe tucked into a courtyard. The owner is so generous as well. Give this place a try! read more

Nestled in a somewhat hidden spot, Vimala's offers a mixed dining experience that is intriguing as it is perplexing. Finding the entrance can be a bit of a challenge, but fortunately, there are numerous signs placed around the area that makes it easier to locate the correct building. Inside, it's unclear whether guests should seat themselves or wait for assistance, so this left us disoriented. Once we found a table, we ordered our food through a QR code placed on the table. While all of the servers we interacted with were friendly, there was minimal interaction unless we asked for assistance, which could be a plus of minus depending on your preference. FYI--A tip is requested when you order your food, so it was difficult to gauge how much interaction we would have throughout the dinner service. As for the food, the flavors are authentic and the dishes are well-prepared, though the prices are a tad higher than expected. We enjoyed our entrees (lamb biryani and chicken curry), though we probably wouldn't order the garlic naan again. read more

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AAAHHHHMMAAAZINNNGGG!!! This food is next level fresh, and is made with attention to detail and Vimala's passion for creating delectable Indian dishes with local farm sources! In addition to the delicious flavors, Vimala, her husband, and staff welcome you as family. We've been driving here from Greensboro for years! Vimala's Curryblossom Cafe is a mindbodyheart experience. Your tastebuds and your spirit will thank you. read more

Vimala's Curryblossom Cafe - Indian Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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The food was absolutely wonderful and flavorful! I have NEVER had such wonderful high class service before! It was such a wonderful hole-in-the-wall find for dinner. My friends and I had a great time and we even got to meet the chef/owner. She was so sweet and educated us in the food she prepared for us to have this evening. read more

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Fantastic food. Ambiance ... depends on whether it's super busy or not. Service is friendly.

Difficult to find but worth the search. The wait staff was very helpful since I need guidance in ordering (first Indian Cuisine) We really enjoyed the meals, however less vegetables than I was expecting. I'm sure that was the choice of the entree I ordered. The dining room is small and the bar area small but a large court yard area also available for eating, just no drinks out of bar area. They could have played more authentic music to round out the experience. I would definitely go back for more. read more

Delicious meal and super cute outdoor space! But a little pricey compared to other Indian restaurants that serve the same dishes. The waiters were all very kind, and the fairy lights outside made it nice and cozy. It's all online ordering: you just scan the QR code on the table and pay on your phone. I ordered the lamb roganjosh as an entree and it came with rice, pickled cabbage, daal, and a yogurt sauce. I also ordered a garlic naan for the table, but they only gave us one piece with barely any garlic flavor inside. It just tasted like regular naan to me. The lamb roganjosh was tangy, flavorful, and had a perfect amount of spice. However, the lamb was not as tender as I would've liked, and there were some unchewable parts. Overall, it's a nice Indian restaurant to try out! read more

Vimala's Curryblossom Cafe - Indian Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

A foreign palate does not understand what an indigenous palate does (period!), with that being said, I enjoyed my leisurely lunch at Vimala's Curryblossom Cafe. On a perfect Thursday, I tried the curry chicken and my lunch fellow the eggplant. This is not your typical India fare. A good mix of southern and northern options. My curry had a savory focus (which I loved). The curry was mildly spiced with (what appeared to be) a tomato (and perhaps fenugreek) forward base w/ a subtle lemony essence. Chicken (boneless) was tender and fell part (which I absolutely loved). We ate in the courtyard, which on this day, provided an excellent opportunity to enjoy our meal and exchange a lively conversation, or listen intently to conversation within earshot (either way you can't lose). You have the opportunity to view your menu via a QR Code and place online, or directly with a member of the waitstaff. Wishlist: I love my food pipping hot. I also enjoy the ability to decide how spicy. While I don't generally like my food to touch, not an absolute fan of the plating. Flatbread not included. I look forward to trying other items and so should you. Indian Restaurant: 4.1 read more

Vimala's Curryblossom Cafe - Curry Chicken Curry Meal - Indian Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

We've dined at Vimala's several times and always love trying EVERYTHING. You can't go wrong with the outdoor ambiance. We also catered an event for our Reception and we couldn't have asked for a better experience from customizing our menu over months to the delivery. Each one of our guests said they absolutely loved the food! We are big fans! read more

The ambience was a welcome change as it was executed with style and precision. Not typical for an Indian restaurant, Good food and huge portions. The servers were very attentive and kind. I tried a dish based on the servers recommendation and thought it was delicious even though it was too large a portion for my appetite. I will definitely return for another dining experience. read more

We had not been here in several years but wanted a quick bite after a social event nearby. We sat near the bar and ordered and paid using the QR code at the table. The food was delivered quickly and we enjoyed our masala chai, kofta curry and chicken curry utapan. Portions were relatively generous and we boxed up the rest of our meals to take home. My one minor complaint was that our garlic naan did not taste very garlicky to me. Otherwise, another fine meal served quickly from a friendly staff. read more

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hands down the tastiest indian food in chapel hill, but the vibes are way weirder than i remember from when i was in college. i went with my family and we sat outside. so far so good. i then went inside to see if there was any hand sanitizer, and received a kind of weird polemic from vimala herself about how hand washing was more effective, which, ok, could've just said we don't have any but the sink is around the corner. i guess she felt bad for that though because she sent over a complimentary spring dosa and two types of dessert, and came over to talk to my family, which was nice of her. overall the whole encounter just made me feel really uncomfortable and i can't remember ever having an experience like that when i dined here during college with my friends. all the food was superb, though, miles better than any other indian food in chapel hill and possibly the triangle area, and i really don't think there's a single thing on this menu that isn't delicious. so it's really a food/vibes tradeoff here - up to y'all! read more

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****This place did not live up to the hype at all. I am wondering if reviews that I read in local magazine were paid to write, what did you serve to those people (and people who gave 4 stars here) clearly was it not served to me. I wasted my Birthday Lunch **** Staff is friendly and polite and the courtyard feels like home back in India... but let's come to the food .. seriously there are better places in Cary, Raleigh and Morrisville to expose you to ethnic Indian food that is closer to the authentic taste ... do your research before you come here Not sure who cooked my food because seems like owner Ms. Vimala was outside sitting and someone else was in the kitchen... Chicken curry was overcooked and shredded chicken in it made it unappealing to eat.. no cilantro garnish ...not acceptable in my books Chole was overpowered with green chatni and thin bhujiya spread all over...why put processed bhujiya on food that you claim to be organic and no one puts bhujiya on chole that comes with bhatura ...Bhatura were not close to Bhatura and it was more like a crispy flat dinner roll that is deep fried Dosa chatnis were too less in quantity .. ginger in masala dosa filling was a good add though Indian masala chai was overcooked beyond 208 degree hence it was bitter to the taste buds...no smell of ginger or cardamom in my chai Mango Lassi was good but made out of canned purée it seems ... I am disappointed and it seems being in the college town the cafe is benefiting from the hyped feedback from hungry college kids who crave for any food that feels closer to home and do not pay much attention to the authenticity of cuisine or taste ... I am not sure if I will be back... read more

Always stellar service and the best Indian food on Franklin Street. What more is there to say?

What a great spot for a big group to have dinner together! My only complaint is that everyone's entrees came out at different times. My chickpea curry was delicious and the very large pancake with chicken curry was on point. We loved the crispy okra and the folks that were checking on us were so kind and attentive. It was a great experience and I can't wait for an excuse to go back. We went before a Carolina gymnastics meet and were in and out in about an hour with easy parking read more

Vimla's Curryblossom Cafe was a fabulous choice to cater for a Celebration of Life event. Rush was really kind, patient and thoughtful in helping me pick out items and amounts for the event which was comforting as we didn't know how many guests would attend. He and the chef were very accommodating in helping to alter some of the items/ingredients on the menu to our liking. Rush and his colleagues promptly set up items for the event and then came back to clean up and pack up the serving vessels. We created a wonderful chaat party with additional items to please different tastes and food restrictions. Everything was well labeled for the guests. The samosas, sandwiches, tandoori bites, chai tea the desserts were amongst the favorites Would highly recommend! Look forward to visiting the restaurant when next time I visit Chapel Hill. read more

Today I tried their in-house chai brew latte. It's hands down the best in the area.... thousand times better than the sugary concentrate stuff being served in most places. read more

Vimala's Curryblossom Cafe - Indian Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

One of the best places I've eaten in the area! Amazing food, timely service and great staff. The mango lassi was sooo good, and I also recommend the vegan kofta. Everything was delicious! They also have a really cute outdoor courtyard area for when it's warmer. read more

Onam Sadhya was very disappointing. Food was bland. Each person only got 1 small papadum. Papadum was very oily, and oil tasted off. Meal was mostly rice. We were ignored by servers after meal was dropped off. Finally got tired of waiting and had to walk indoors to ask for the desserts we ordered. You have to pay and tip when ordering from the QR code, so we definitely over tipped based on the service we received. There were only 3 tables outside with diners, and the owner came out to visit with the other 2 tables but ignored our table. No one ever asked how the food was or asked if we needed anything. read more

Vimala's has been an institution since is humble beginnings many years ago for good reason: amazingly flavorful food. So why the four stars instead o five? Fee report: When you order off of the QR code it automatically bumps you in for a minimum of 18% tip, which is fine for an actual sit-down meal, but when you place your own order, bus your own table, and only see a staff member once, it feels like Vimala is using what is essentially a fee to subsidize not paying her employees well (despite what the "fair wages" sign may say) read more

The food was very good. I had saag paneer, which came with dal, rice and some sauces. Spouse had tandoori chicken, with dal and rice. But I didn't like having to order on my phone, with a QR code. The prices were too high for no service. Next time we'll find a restaurant with table service. read more

Just go this place has the most amazing food. Service is awesome. Literally the best Indian food in the US. I would post a picture but we ate it all! read more

Beware...looks like real Indian food, but is not at all. If you are Indian and you eat here, you will quickly realize that while the photos look good, the chef was clearly taught recipes by an actual Indian (as their ingredients are quite authentic to real South Indian cuisine) but they don't know how to actually cook the food. Be prepared for very whack tasting but familiar looking food (that tastes completely unfamiliar in not a good way). The staff is incredibly kind though, I just recommend them to find an actual Indian to cook their Indian food. Edit: after reading the reviews of some other Indian people and hearing someone actually encountered Vimala herself, I am wondering if we just went on an off day when their chef was not there? read more

Delicious food. Lots of outdoor spaces to eat, some of them covered! The plantains and chicken curry were amazing. I ordered a lavender lemonade and that was delicious too. read more

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Sadly we didn't have the good experience others had. I've been to Indian restaurants in several states and the UK (which has a thriving Indian food scene), and this wasn't it. My friend had Chicken Tandoori which was brown rather than the usual red, and looked like it had been stewed in a sauce rather than marinated and grilled like the menu says. I had chicken biryani which I admit I've not tried before so I don't know how authentic it was, but it was pretty bland. Service.. I'd have given 3 stars but they had at least 3 servers for 7 groups of people, yet we had to flag down random servers because we were only checked on once during our meal. It was great until we ordered, but afterwards it was like we vanished. Other tables had attentive service so maybe ours was having an off day, who knows. One can only hope so since many others had a great experience but sadly we won't be returning. read more

Delicious, healthy, consistent food with the most incredible smells/flavors of fresh herbs, spices, etc.

I came here for the first time for lunch today upon my friends suggestion. I got the tandoori chicken and the chicken was tender and the perfect portion! I got to try my friends curry chicken too and it was awesome as well. There was a slight hiccup in ordering (outside seating only and you order through their website) where it somehow didn't go through and we had to call them and was told they turned off ordering abilities and just turned it back up. I wasn't sure why as it was 12pm. There were also a lot of little birds that would fly to our table staring at us hoping to get fed which was kinda cute but did alarm me a couple of times until my friend and I got used to it after the third time lol Overall nice place for Indian food with nice portions but some overly friendly birds and the hiccup with ordering did affect our dining experience but the hindrances were negligible for us. read more

Some food is really good but a lot just tastes the same. Same spices used over and over read more

If i could give 10 stars out of 5 I would. Vimala herself has come to the table-side to visit and strike up conversation multiple times, and the food is incredible. I've lived in Chapel Hill for years and this is my favorite restaurant here by far. read more

Be careful or you'll love this place Vimala is a bit tucked away so its best you park at the public lot near by and walk here, should be a short breeze. The chief chef is super nice and every time you get the endearing feeling she just want to feed you, (like an aunt, your best one.) talk to her about what you are interested in having and she will whip you up something magical. Ive came here twice in two weeks and tried both the goat curry and also the fish curry, and expanded both into Thalis, which for newcomers, are variety samplers. Super delicious Come, come hungry- you well be welcomed with what's still good and pure in this world. read more

In addition to their terrific food for carry-out, Vimala's is now offering monthly meals to make at home; recipes and a video, plus all the makings ready to go. We've now cooked three months of tasty dishes, 10~12, almost all of them wonderful, all of them fun. Can't wait to see what February brings! We're very impressed with how creatively and resourcefully this wonderful restaurant has rolled with the covid punches. Thank you, Vimala and crew! read more

Always delicious, always authentic (validated by those who grew up with this style food) and always prepared with love. Nothing has ever been less than wonderful over several visits with many different people...and a great courtyard when weather accommodates. read more

We love the ambiance. Sitting outside in a courtyard just steps from Franklin st but somehow it feels secluded from the craziness. There's often live music as well. The food is delicious but certainly not standard - don't go if you're not open to trying something new. My favorite is the daal. Service is through a QR code which is easy and efficient but not with real servers usually taking your order read more