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Aashiana Restaurant
Categories: Restaurants Indian Restaurants Middle Eastern Indian, Middle Eastern [Edit]
31 Central AveAlbany, NY 12210
(518) 463-4161
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Has TV:
- No
Ian W. said: "This review was based on lunch only. I was in Clifton Park and really wanted some Indian food, so I had lunch at Zaika Indian Restaurant, which specializes in Northern cuisine and also serves Southern cuisine. Lunch is served…" read more »
15 reviews for Aashiana Restaurant
15 reviews in English
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Review from Alicia S.
Houston, TX
7/31/2011
I think this was my best Indian food yet.
My boyfriend and I were on a road trip and passed through Albany. Tired of eating the horrid (it's the only thing on the road:( !!) McDonalds, we started a-yelpin'. We ran across this Indian-Paki restaurant and decided it was a go.
We arrived at 9pm to eat and it was deserted inside. We were awkwardly led to our table by the owner. I ordered the Bhinda Masala which is delicious okra, tomatoes, and onions. The okra was chopped and amazingly slimy (the way okra should be). My boyfriend ordered the Lamb Vindaloo which had huge chunks of lamb and potatoes. We ordered them spicy, and they were both served alongside a bed of rice. Both dishes were perfectly spicy and the perfect portion.
Because we were the only souls in the restaurant, the owner started to have a conversation with us while we were eating (?). He was friendly and had prepared the food himself, so we thanked him, shook hands, and were on our way with satisfied tummies.
I do believe they have a lunch buffet that's probably very good, and this is actually when the place is crowded. -
Review from Tamu J.
Watervliet, NY
12/12/2011
Food was good, i think there may be a slight language barrier because they wouldn't deliver to me... The gentleman thought that I was further than I actually was. Pleased with meal and amount of food for money.
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Review from Liv F.
Albany, NY
6/14/2011
Aashiana is tiny. Lets just get that out of the way first. If you arrive for dinner buffet with a large/medium group, don't be surprised if you share a table with a couple or someone dining alone. Its ok, we're all friends.
Everything is always very good and owner is very friendly and strives to provide the best customer service.
We've never had the issue with the flies that a previous reviewer mentioned or required a bottle opener (because seriously?).
I got the shawarma wrap once and it was very good and we tend to go the buffet often which allows me the chance to try different things. I've always enjoyed it (well except for the eggplant and okra dishes, I've never been a big fan of those). -
Review from Tim D.
Saratoga Springs, NY
3/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
How have I lived in the Capital District for nearly 31 years and never experienced Aashiana? Seriously people of Albany, you have failed me. I expect better of you. Or perhaps I don't have my ear to the ground of Capital Region cuisine as closely as I thought. Whatever the reason is that I have missed out for so long, I will certainly be remedying it.
My wife and I decided to get out of Saratoga and have dinner in Albany because sometimes it's just a little too ho-hum up here. We love Indian food, and we've been wanting to branch out to some new places lately. This was the perfect storm for discovering Aashiana, a true gem on Central Ave. Yeah, we have Indian restaurants in Saratoga, but I love adding a new one to my eating out repertoire. I especially enjoyed the option of having a dinner buffet that was varied and delicious. The Indian places I have been to often offer a lunch buffet but dinner is ordered from the menu. This offering at Aashiana on Friday nights is the perfect way to expose those people in your life who have sworn off all things Indian without ever having tried it. It gives you a little bit of everything, and I especially enjoyed the big platter of fried goodies (pakora, samosas, etc.). The other thing we noticed about this place was the friendliness of the owner. It is pretty clear that this restaurant is home to a number of regulars, and the owner was very attentive throughout our meal. Yet another reason to return.
I will definitely be going back to experience the other offerings on Aashiana's menu. I have focused on the Indian aspect because that's what we ate. However, there are also some exciting Middle Eastern options on the menu, and I will most certainly be eating some Shawarma and some falafel the next time we venture down the Northway for some eats. -
Review from Jess K.
8/11/2010
I went here on a Friday evening for the dinner buffet. The food wasn't so spectacular that I was *impressed* but I did enjoy it thoroughly. Also, the naan was delicious. The owner is really nice and knows my brother by now so he was super chatty. We brought a Pakistani friend with us and they spoke in Urdu (I assume). My baby niece made a huge mess and the owner didn't seem to mind. Also, they accidentally took her baby spoon/fork and they cleaned them before returning them to us.
There is a lot of variety at the buffet even though the place is small. I liked the tandoori chicken and chicken shawarma. I don't know the price on the buffet because my brother scooped up the bill. That might factor into my evaluation but I think it deserves the four stars. -
Review from mimi x.
Winston-Salem, NC
4/24/2009
I've walked by Aashiana lots of times on my way to Shalimar. And now, as I get ready to leave Albany, I'm hitting myself for it. Aashiana is cheaper, and the quality of the food is the same, if not better, than that of Shalimar (who habitually dries out some of the chicken cubes in the tikka masala).
The dining room is small, unpretentious and set at a comfortable temperature. The buffet is from 11:30-3 on weekdays, but the staff is just as welcoming to the people who come in first thing as it is to the people who walk in at 2:30 (*cough, cough, Curry House!*). Service is great-- I'm talking the kind that, in the background, refills your water and naan while you're conversing with your friends (if I had any).
The food makes me feel like I'm 9 again, eating my mom's home cooking for lunch on a weekend in Punjab -- only I'm not Indian or Pakistani, neither is my mother, and I've never even been to that region; I just feel nostalgic for memories I've never had.
Oh, and they actually refrigerate their drinking water, instead of giving you lukewarm water with melting ice cubes in it. Believe it or not, this is harder to come by than you think!!
My only complaint is how desserts are served on styrofoam plates and cups. ... and oh, I also hate parallel parking... and oh, it's closed on Sundays.
$6.95 + tax for a buffet with fresh naan, 4 vegetarian dishes, 2 meat dishes, tandoori chicken, rice pudding, fresh salad, tabouleh salad, hummus and hot spiced tea! How the hell can you beat that??
Go!!! Save the Aashiana!!! -
Review from Josh K.
Albany, NY
1/8/2011
"My Curry"
by Josh K.
I know I have been giving a lot of 5 star reviews lately, but why stop when you are going to places like Aashiana Restaurant.
To start off, Aashiana has a lot of things at first glance would make one dismissive.
First off, the restaurant is located in a very modest if unspectacular setting on the corner of Central Ave and Henry Johnson Blvd.
Inside is even less likely to impress. Its small (8-10 tables), cramped (you may have to share a table with strangers), and hardly decorative.
There are also 3 unspectacular Indian/Pakistani/Bangladeshi restaraurants in the one block vicinity all competing.
But I go out to eat for the food. If my meal is fresh, tasty, and filling all other blunders can be forgiven instantly. And the outstanding quality is where Aashiana delivers and wins above the rest!
Every Friday night ($9.99) and daily during lunch hours ($6.99), Aashiana offers a scrumptious, always fresh, all-you-can-eat Indian Buffet.
All the staples are there and some:
Tandoori Chicken- check
Tika Masala- check
Lamb Briyani-check
Cheesy Saag-check
Stewed Okra in curry-check
Chutney, chili sauce, Raita - check
Fresh baked and warm buttery Naan to soak up all the delicious sauces delivered right to your table-check
Buffets usually fail because they don't restock and the food consequently suffers. Not true at Aashiana, the servers will keep the freshness a priority.
This is hands-down the best Indian food I have had in the Capital District. The price is great, the staff is courteous and friendly, and the food is absolute bliss.
The only downfall is that I always eat too much.
It is also BYOB.
So buy a bottle of wine from the nearby liquor store on Central Ave, share it with some fellow patrons (hey, you will probably be sharing the table with them anyways), make some new friends and a good time will be had. -
Review from Lai-Yee B.
Albany, NY
3/10/2009
A friendly, motivated owner makes me smile! Aashiana is run by some truly nice people.
And the food? Absolutely awesome! I like the buffet, but their wraps and ok, everything is just so tasty! I really like how very fresh everything tastes, and how sparingly they use oil (or at least the food isn't drenched/coated in oil). For a really good deal, their buffet can't be beat.
I've also seen people bring their kids in, with no problems at all. In fact, I've seen more parents bring their kids in here to grab lunch than in other places, fwiw.
They also do catering, but can only deliver past 7 pm (not enough staff before then), the last time I checked. -
Review from Ari R.
Albany, NY
6/12/2010
Have been to some really good indian places (not in Albany unfortunately) I can say that this place is decent. Went there for the Friday night buffet- was pleasantly surprised that food was hot and delicious. I'm not around downtown for the lunch buffet, but I can assume it's also pretty good (and a good deal for $6.95). Price for dinner depends on what you get- the Friday night buffet is about 10 bucks; entrees range from about $5-15.
A little small for big groups. I was there with a group of 8 and we took up almost half the dining room. I think they also do take-out. -
Review from Jess P.
Santa Cruz, CA
11/26/2007
This little middle eastern place, located right near Shalimar, is completely unassuming but it's good and cheap.
I've gotten takeout once and eaten in and both times were very good (and did I mention cheap?)
My chicken shish tawook had just the right amount of spice and moisture. The yogurty-sauce was delicious too, and there was a huge portion of rice. The salad it came with was a little odd but not bad, just basic. For $7.95, it was a generous portion.
My boyfriend said his beef dish was also really good and the friend I ate there with the another night liked her grilled chicken tawook a lot. Their chai is quite good. It's not the grossly sweet and whipped cream-topped concoction you get in coffe places but rather just a nice spicy tea with milk.
Both times I've been here, there was no one else there. And that's a shame, because it's a really good value. However, the ambiance is lacking and the decor is well, austere. Both could be vastly improved and I think it would make it a more inviting place. It's location near the corner of Central and Henry Johnson is also kind of drag, although it is certainly convenient for the Center Square residents.
They advertise a lunch buffet for $5.95 that apparently features "4 - 5 vegetarian dishes, 2-3 meat dishes, rice, salad, bread, sauces, and dessert ." I haven't tried it yet thanks to my work schedule but my mother claims it's really good. -
Review from Lena L.
6/30/2010
Was really excited to try this place as it had the best Indian food reviews (in Albany) on Yelp. Sadly yelpers, you've let me down.
1. The place is BYOB, but they didn't have a bottle opener. Note - bring bottle opener with you. The waiter asked if we wanted pliers and also brought out a foot long chef's knife and asked if that would help. E for Effort maybe? We went to a sketch bar across the street, they opened the bottle but scared my coworker in the process.
2. There were way to many fruit flies. First we tried moving tables. Then I killed one and hoped that solved the issue. Sadly, there were more.
3. When I went to wash my hands after killing flies, there was an odd pot next to the toilet. Not sure how to interpret that one, just stating the facts.
4. The food - lets get to the food.
- Greek Salad was good, yogurt dressing was also good.
- Raita was refreshing
- Chicken Vindaloo was in a red sauce, I've always had this come out in a green sauce. Tasty but definitely not prepared authentically according to my Indian coworker who had come with us.
- Aloo Ghobi - again tasty, but spicier than the Chicken Vindaloo which his supposed to come spicy.
- Chicken Karachi - according to my coworker this isn't supposed to come in a rich sauce, but more diced tomatoes and peppers. This one appeared to contain more oil than the gulf spill so I stayed away.
- Naan - the naan was naan. The rice was rice.
Overall I appreciated the BYOB, the reasonable prices and the company. However, I didn't appreciate the bugs. I've definitely had better. I would not return. -
Review from Viken P.
Framingham, MA
5/15/2010
Discovered this place on our way from upstate NY to NJ after looking at yelp reviews. All of us loved it, amazing food, great service! Their Nan's were the best i've had in US so far, jalapeno Naan - have this for sure..Ambience is decent, being a small place, but if you would like to have some great food, I would strongly recommend you go here.
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Review from Nichole K.
Albany, NY
6/6/2009
This is one of my favorite places to eat! The service is excellent, and the food is fantastic. Everything there just tastes so fresh, authentic, and flavorful. I've been there many times, often with friends and family, and no one has ever been anything other than pleased. The portions are generous too, and it's definitely affordable. It also doesn't hurt that the owner seems like a super nice guy.
I especially like the hummus and the domas! -
Review from far f.
Chicago, IL
1/5/2010
Coming from Chicago, the hometown of one of the best Pakistani/Indian restaurants in the US, I was quite impressed! Very good food. The right spicies, reminiscent of home cooking! The Beef Shawarma, perfectly spiced, was gone in no time with no fuss with the kids! We had the Tandoori Chicken, Karahi Chicken, Biryani and of course naan. We enjoyed it and plan on coming again. The food is priced just right and the hosts are very friendly. If you are looking for flavorful Pakistani/Middle Eastern food, step right into Aashiana!
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Review from E P.
Albany, NY
3/9/2009
I eat at Aashiana regularly because I'm scared it will go away - I love this place! What its lacking in ambiance, it more than makes up with service and delicious, affordable food. I'm a big fan of the schwarma but I've tried many other dishes, both middle eastern and the newer Indian menu, and have never eaten anything that wasn't just awesome. The lunch buffet is incredible - one of my favorite places to go. Lots of vegetarian dishes, too. Not everything is under $10 but if that's what you're aiming for, there are lots of options. If you look past the lack of decor and sketchy neighborhood, the owner Salim will go out of his way to make sure you have everything you need for a great meal - and probably remember you when you return.
