Akbar Restaurant

4.0 star rating
49 reviews Rating Details

Category: Indian  [Edit]

823 N Charles St
Baltimore, MD 21201
Neighborhood: Mount Vernon
(410) 539-0944
Hours:

Mon-Thu, Sun 11:30 am - 11 pm

Fri-Sat 11:30 am - 11:30 pm

Good for Kids:
No
Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Parking:
Street
Attire:
Casual
Good for Groups:
Yes
Price Range:
$$
Takes Reservations:
Yes
Delivery:
No
Take-out:
Yes
Waiter Service:
Yes
Outdoor Seating:
No
Wi-Fi:
No
Good For:
Lunch, Dinner
Alcohol:
Full Bar
Noise Level:
Quiet
Has TV:
No
Caters:
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible:
No

danielle L. said: "As my first time venturing in to Indian Food! I was terrified, seriously. I had a flash forward or Ben Stiller and Jenifer Aniston in Along came polly.   But I had Indian food pro... that walked me through the menu.  So that being…"   read more »

Review Highlights   

  • user photo
    "Please go for dinner and the lunch buffet is great too." In 14 reviews
  • user photo
    "The best Indian food in Baltimore in my book." In 6 reviews
  • user photo
    "We also had the naan (of course) and some King Fisher beer." In 8 reviews
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49 reviews in English

  • Review from Chad O.

    • 25 friends
    • 10 reviews

    Apex, NC

    4.0 star rating
    2/15/2012

    I was very happy with the food with the exception of the overcooked lamb (very well done and not very edible).  With that said, the curry that I got on the lamb was well worth it, not to mention the outstanding papadum and mint chutney.  I noticed that they didn't have one of my favorite Indian dish (actually Indo-Chinese), Gobi Manchurian, so I asked the manager if it was possible to get it made.  He spoke with the chef and said he could.  It was VERY good and told them they needed to get that added to their menu!  Can't wait to get back there...had a great time and the food was delicious (with the exception of the lamb)!

  • Review from Michelle H.

    Baltimore, MD

    4.0 star rating
    11/19/2011

    There is something incredibly cozy about your entire dining experience at this Akbar location.

    Granted you descend below street level to enter the restaurant and tables are a bit close together due to its limited space, but it goes far beyond that. The service is impeccable - they know how to be welcoming and attentive but not overbearing. The atmosphere is very soothing - soft lighting, crisp what tablecloths, soft springy seats and very subtle background noise. But the food, oh the food!, is wonderful. I think Indian cuisine is the ultimate comfort food - it's hearty in flavor and texture and you just feel so satisfied after eating it.

    I've pretty much made my way through their entire menu, but highlights for me are the Chicken Sagwala, Channa Masala and Dal Special. All dishes are paired perfectly with their aromatic rice and soft, chewy garlic nan. Oh, and I personally can't resist Samosas, so if you're like me, start with an order of vegetable ones. You don't be sorry.

  • Review from meatdowntown c.

    • 0 friends
    • 51 reviews

    Boston, MA

    1.0 star rating
    3/6/2012

    Maybe I need to give it another try. I tried the sag paneer and it was like buying it from a package in the store. The somosas were fine but I think it will be hard to screw up fried food anyway. The service was just okay since there were basically two people (and one of them was either the manager of the partner/owner).  There is nothing special about this place. Spend more money and go to LUMBINI.

  • Review from Marshall L.

    • 4 friends
    • 27 reviews

    Baltimore, MD

    4.0 star rating
    9/2/2011

    There are around a half dozen Indian/South Asian places within a few blocks of where Akbar is, so each of these places have to stay on their toes to stay open amidst all the competition.

    I've only ever gotten takeout from Akbar, but it's always been great and worth the price.  The sauces are always flavorful and the samosas are some of the best I've ever had.  They are also very reliable at making the food spicy, so you'll be best starting off mild and not being a hero unless you know you can really handle the heat.

    The staff are pretty friendly and attentive for the most part, and it being on sort of a sub-street level part of the building, it's got this great cozy dark atmosphere to it.

    This is the type of place that if I lived across town, I'd still drive to get takeout on a regular basis!

  • Review from Cheryl K.

    • 0 friends
    • 11 reviews

    Baltimore, MD

    5.0 star rating
    7/26/2011

    I love Akbar. I really do. Let's see, there's the ambiance, the attentive waitstaff, and of course, the food.

    I've been coming to Akbar regularly since the summer of 2007 and the food has been consistently great. The weekday lunch buffet, while not as expansive as say, Mughal Gardens, has always been chock-full of fresh and perfectly seasoned dishes. Really, it's quality over quantity.

    Dinner at Akbar is always a treat. It's a fantastic spot for a date, what with the low lighting and soft music and the peppery papadum and the accompanying chutneys are a perfect start. I can't vouch for every item on their menu, but I can say that at the very least, their chicken korma, chicken makhani, channa masala, palak paneer, chapati, mango lassi, and chai tea are excellent.

    I love Indian food and I never turn down an opportunity to try out other places but I always find that nothing compares to Akbar.

  • Review from Ambereen A.

    • 1 friend
    • 8 reviews

    Baltimore, MD

    1.0 star rating
    2/12/2012

    This place was ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE.  I'm Pakistani and I just moved to Baltimore 6 days ago and I was so excited to try this place since it was called the "best indian food in all of baltimore."  That review could not be more wrong.  

    The naan was ok.  Kind of flavorless.  The aloo paratha was the worst I've ever had.  it was crispy and black and over fried and had no potatoes in it.  The vegetable samosas are supposed to have chunks of potatoes in them.  Instead, these had some nasty pureed potato paste in them.  The boti kebab was dried out and flavorless.  The chicken tikka masala was exactly the same.  They both came out the same way: 4 chunks of meat on a plate of raw sliced onions.  That's it.

    I will never come back here again.

    Oh and the worst part is that when we came home, our clothes and hair REEKED.  Everything we were wearing had to be washed.  Immediately.

  • Review from Jan T.

    Lutherville-Timonium, MD

    5.0 star rating
    3/25/2011

    The best Indian food in Baltimore in my book. A small and intimate place (you will get to know your neighbors on a busy night or during the excellent weekend lunch), this place offers traditional Indian fare at its best. The dishes are flavorful, the sauces creamy, and the drinks a perfect accompaniment.

    The saturday lunch buffet offers the traditional Indian favorites like chicken korma, but also offers a fresh-made dosa (South Indian style stuffed pancake) station that is excellent and a nice deviation from your traditional a la carte of cafeteria style Indian.

    A definite recommendation for anyone liking good Indian food, and a wonderful way to start off an afternoon at the Walther's or evening at the theatre.

  • Review from Victoria R.

    Baltimore, MD

    5.0 star rating
    12/6/2010

    I am an Indian food snob.

    Well, actually, I really just love Indian food and will eat it for every meal if possible.

    See: PUT IT IN MY MOUTH.

    So a friend and I checked out Akbar and I am amazed I didn't wind up ordering everything on the menu.

    Chicken Tikka Masala, which is my go-to test dish for any new-to-me Indian place, was AMAZING. They don't skimp on the rice or naan, and they have a very awesome wine list. Vegetable Samosas? Amazing.

    PLUS, the service was super attentive without being overbearing.

    I am so glad this place is right around the corner from my apartment. However, when I am 400 lbs from eating nothing but garlic naan and samosas, I hope they'll install a wider door for me.

  • Review from carl a.

    • 5 friends
    • 31 reviews

    Baltimore, MD

    3.0 star rating
    12/5/2010

    A cautionary tale:
    After the monument lighting, my friends and I went in to get a table.  It was crowded, of course, but we had no problem securing seats.  We ordered; big beers, naan, and main courses.  The server was very attentive, and detailed.

    Unfortunately, they brought the wrong dish out for me.  I ordered Chicken Vindaloo, cheekily mentioning that I wanted a "4.5" spiciness.  They brought out a Lamb Vindaloo.  I had also been eyeing that, so I figured, what the hell, leave it, it's fine.

    It wasn't fine.
    It was made of lava.

    Obviously, I should have corrected the error.  Lesson learned: Don't mix and match your dishes, because some people like tear-jerkingly-spicy food.  And make sure your waiter brings out the right dish.

  • Review from James P.

    • 9 friends
    • 5 reviews

    Baltimore, MD

    5.0 star rating
    5/18/2011

    Love this Place!!!
    If you love East Indian food, or you are looking for something new, try this place.  The food is great, the service is awesome, and the ambiance is wonderful.  I brought a friend from DC to the place and it blew away any other places we have been to down there.  The attention to detail, the cleanliness and courteous staff have us both wanting to return.  We particulary enjolyed the seasonings and sauces that went with the meals.  We both ordered chicken dishes that were excellent.  We ate great meals and even had enough to take home, so the portions were certainly adequate.  Please go for dinner and the lunch buffet is great too.
    Definitely a thumbs up!

  • Review from Janey R.

    • 4 friends
    • 26 reviews

    Baltimore, MD

    5.0 star rating
    5/12/2011

    Ever since my friend took me here I HAVE BEEN SINGING FOR AKBAR!

    I never had such great Indian food and I come during their lunch buffet.  It's all well priced and it's a hidden treasure.  

    I have never came and never had a place to seat.  THough it's small andlooks like nothing. it is indeed award winning and notable!

    I LOVE IT. the staff is amazing and it really feels like your eating at home...

    I always have a good time and the food makes me happy and full all day.  I love it so much!   I always suggest this place because its fast, the food is good, and its warm.  Everything about it just makes a person smile.

  • Review from Jennifer T.

    • 8 friends
    • 13 reviews

    Washington D.C., DC

    4.0 star rating
    1/31/2011

    We came on a weekday for a late dinner and it was virtually empty. We ordered the lamb samosas for an appetizer and chicken tikka masala and chicken korma for our main dishes.

    We took our time chatting while eating the samosas, but after 20 minutes, we started to wonder where our main dishes were. When we finally decided to ask the waiter on the whereabouts of our dinner, he told us that our food had been keeping warm in the kitchen and they were waiting for us to finish our appetizers.

    Oops. Please excuse our lack of dining etiquette. We're heathens.

    The waiter brought out our (re-heated) food five minutes later. Despite the misunderstanding, the food was delicious: the chicken was tender, the sauce was creamy and tangy and perfect for dipping with naan.

    Overall, a good experience. It makes a great go-to place for dinner.

  • Review from George M.

    Hialeah, FL

    2.0 star rating
    7/16/2009

    All you can eat lunch buffet that only has 7 or 8 different dishes is a little boo for me

    Matthew said it best -  "Not bad, just not good"

    The chicken tikka masala was good but nothing special,  nan was tasteless and the rice was mediocre at best

    The salad had chunky pieces of cucumber which ='s not good

    Again, this was the all-you-can-eat lunch and not their regular menu so perhaps it can be as good as my friend told me but they are what I thought they was

  • Review from Lisa H.

    • 6 friends
    • 33 reviews

    Baltimore, MD

    5.0 star rating
    11/10/2010

    This is a place we like to go regularly.  We first went to Akbar in 2004, when we first moved to Baltimore and it was the same food, same service as it was a few days ago when we ate there again.  Consistency is key in running a successful restaurant.

    I order the Lamb Xacutti "shaKuuTee"- it is a delicious lamb dish in hot spices that comes over rice.  My husband gets the the chicken that comes out on a skillet, served table-side~  Chicken Malai Kebab.Both are excellent.  They have a bread menu that is nice.

    The service is a professional waitstaff that have been there for many years.  You feel like you are being waited on properly, and that you dont have to worry about the staff messing up your order or whatever, so you can easily relax and enjoy a nice glass of wine and some delicious indian food.

  • Review from Richard C.

    • 55 friends
    • 76 reviews

    Chicago, IL

    5.0 star rating
    1/31/2008

    We were in the mood for Indian food last week, and despite my absence from Yelp reviews for a few months, I still check out the thoughts of fellow Yelpers.  I had already seen Theresa's review last year, so I decided that Akbar was going to be the restaurant to hit on this particular Thursday evening.

    I'm a bit of a snob when it comes to Indian food, having been spoiled so much living in England which has some outstanding Indian restaurants.  Akbar didn't just deliver, but it is by far the best Indian food we have had in this country, and certainly on a par with some of our favourite restaurants from back home.

    The service is unassuming - nothing special, nothing annoying, just efficient, which is all I'm really looking for.  The food, however, is something quite special.  We ordered the Aloo Tikki and Seekh Kebab from the appetizers, and the Chicken Methiwala and Boti Kebab from the entrees.

    The Aloo Tikki (curry-leaf flavored potato pancakes) and Seekh Kebab (ground lamb with spices) were the perfect way to start the meal, and almost made me regret that I couldn't just eat the Seekh Kebab all night - succulent, tender, flavorful cuts of ground lamb 'sausage' - absolutely delectable.

    Once the entrees arrived, we were very happy that we weren't eating the appetizers all night.  The Chicken Methiwala (boneless chicken cooked with fenugreek, herbs and spices) was one of the most delicious Indian dishes I have eaten - an Indian spice explosion!  The Boti Kebab (marinated cubes of lamb charcoal broiled tandoori style) came to the table sizzling away, and were then transferred to the plate by the waiter.  OK, so it stated 'cubes of lamb', and I guess they were cubes - 4 enormous 'cubes', each one almost the size of Simona's fist, and each one so tender and flavorful that they need to be tasted to be believed.

    And the size of the 'cubes' was consistent with all of the food we had - very large portions, easily accommodating taking leftovers home for a complete second meal in the next day or two.  Our food came to around $35, and their wine and beer selection was also fairly inexpensive.  There website also has $5 discount vouchers if you order 2 entrees (found this out after our meal!), making it an even cheaper date.

    I can't recommend Akbar highly enough - it's a gem tucked away in the basement level of Charles Street, and it's even managed to persuade me to start Yelping again.

  • Review from Theresa F.

    • 59 friends
    • 140 reviews

    Arlington, VA

    5.0 star rating
    10/5/2007

    This is the restaurant I weigh all other Indian restaurants against.  I love Indian food and have eaten at quite a few around the US and abroad, and I ALWAYS go back to Akbar's!
    Akbar's gets 5 stars for its food.  Tucked away in a little basement on Charles St, Akbar's is cozy, quiet, full of subdued wait staff and usually nearly full.  Though you always feel like you are talking a bit too loud and enjoying yourself a bit too much, they really don't mind.  At least, they've never said anything to us! I always wish Indian restaurants were a bit more lively in atmosphere, but the food is worth it!
    I've been here many times and tried many dishes, and literally, all their dishes are spectacular.  Definitely a must hit when visiting Baltimore, or a staple if you live there.  Yum!

  • Review from Sarah Lynn T.

    • 20 friends
    • 12 reviews

    Baltimore, MD

    5.0 star rating
    8/30/2011

    This is my favorite Indian restaurant.

    I've been here to eat in for dinner, lunch buffet, and carry out and the food is just lovely. I've been eating here for about two years now, and it's so high on my list of favorites that we went here for my birthday this year. The quality is consistently stellar. They have lots of choices on the lunch buffet, which is a great way to try a lot of different things you might not ordinarily try without paying a lot for it. Their samosas are crispy and savory; sometimes I get hit with a craving for one and that is a craving that cannot be ignored. I also love their Chicken Tikka Masala, and they give you so much of it that you always have leftovers for lunch the next day.  If the cream based sauce of the CTM is too heavy for your taste they have lots of other great items on the menu. Their Lamb Bhuna is incredibly flavorful and some of the most tender meat I've ever had the pleasure of enjoying. Make the most of your meal with some of the homemade breads; I particularly enjoy their chapati (roti). My better half says I would be remiss to write a review of Akbar without including high praise for their mango lassies - they're a special treat for him.

    We eat a lot of Indian food in our house, and if I want to eat Indian when I eat out (other than my in-law's house) this is where I go to get it.

  • Review from David P.

    • 7 friends
    • 39 reviews

    Philadelphia, PA

    1.0 star rating
    6/20/2008

    Akbar was good many years ago, but now it's simply disappointing.  N.B.: I've only ever been for their weekend lunch buffet.  Despite being at the peak of lunch hours, food had been in the warming trays too long - scorched, dried-out, and so forth.  Flavor was not up to par - perhaps it's been Americanized, which would be very sad.

    The most recent visit was the worst by a long shot.  We'd go out to Catonsville, Cockeysville, or Columbia for similar food without issue - and even with current fuel prices, mileage would be no object.

  • Review from Mimi C.

    Vienna, VA

    2.0 star rating
    3/17/2009

    On a Wednesday night, Akbar Restaurant was packed. There were maybe two empty tables when we walked in. We ordered the chicken tikka masala, chicken vindaloo, and palak paneer. I requested that the chicken vindaloo be spicy, but not Indian spicy. The waiter asked, "On a scale of 1-10, how spicy?" and I said 7 but between our table and the kitchen, that request must have gotten lost because everyone agreed that the chicken vindaloo was the mildest. My friend requested extra sauce to accompany his palak paneer but the waiter gestured to the full restaurant and hedged saying that maybe when it got less busy, the cook could accommodate the request so my friend gave up.

    We waited over 30 minutes before our food arrived and maybe 1/3 of the restaurant had emptied by then. Although, while we were waiting, our water was attentively refilled by the female waitstaff. The chicken tikka masala was good but I really would have liked the chicken vindaloo to be a little bit spicy. As delicious and satisfying lunch buffets are, one doesn't expect them to be at all spicy to accommodate a range of spicy food tolerance so I was sad that the chicken vindaloo was so mild when I specifically asked that it be spicy. After serving our food, our waiter did not return to check up on us until we were almost finished. Since it was already 8:30 when they brought out our food, I was too hungry to bother and customer service didn't seem like a priority.

  • Review from Judy C.

    • 49 friends
    • 475 reviews

    New York, NY

    3.0 star rating
    2/2/2009

    I think they serve the best lunch buffet in the area (and I've been to all the restaurants in that area).  I love the selection of food they have (saag, pakoras, chicken tikka masala), and it is tasty enough.  Service is fast, and the food definitely fills you up for the day!

    But I really can't stand the price for either the buffet or the dinner.  The prices for dinner are just outrageous (compared to Indian Row restaurants in NYC), and the food isn't that great to pay that much.  I'd rather go to the Helmand for dinner instead.

  • Review from Christy L.

    • 30 friends
    • 104 reviews

    San Francisco, CA

    4.0 star rating
    11/15/2009

    Located down in the basement of a little building on Charles Street, Akbar doesn't look like much from the outside.  Once you open the door, though, you're in for a pleasant surprise.  The little dining room is full of ambiance, clad with exposed brick walls, red leather booths, and subtle Indian decor.  Our waiter came over immediately and recommended some Indian drinks (get the Kingfisher beer!!!) and appetizers.  My friends and I ended up splitting some mango chutney naan bread-- perfectly soft and chewy with a thin spread of sweet mango sauce in the middle.  We loved it so much that we got a second (and maybe even a third) order of it!

    All of the entrees come served in personal-sized bowls that sit over tea light candles to keep them warm while you eat.  I ordered the Channa Masala (chickpeas, tomatoes, and onions in a dry sauce) and it was excellent.  One of my friends loves her food ridiculously spicy and was a bit disappointed that her entree came out somewhat bland, but our waiter was really nice about it and had it fixed in less than a minute.  At the end of the meal, the owner came over to get feedback on our experience.  He was super nice and really seemed to take pride in his restaurant.  

    The only drawbacks about this place are that it's a bit pricey and the acoustics aren't good for such a small dining area.  When it's crowded in there, it gets LOUD, and you have to really raise your voice to talk to someone across the table.  Otherwise, it's a fun, unusual place to eat.  If you're in the Mt. Vernon area, go try it!!

  • Review from S S.

    • 2 friends
    • 26 reviews

    San Jose, CA

    4.0 star rating
    1/24/2008

    Strange as it may sound, in my 2 years in this region I have never been to Akbar b4. Went there last nite. It's a small place, but it was quite packed.

    So here is my review:
    Wait staff - very nice and polite. Were at our table immediately after our beers got over. Frequent rounds asking us if we need anything else and in the end, were quite polite enuf to ask us about how our experience was.

    Service - The appetizers came out pretty quickly. Although the main course took a little longer. Still not that bad.

    Food - Quite good. I liked it. Although I did from my friends that the lunch buffet was ordinary. Dinner a'la carte was def. gooooood!!!

    Cons - well, the place is too cramped up. Our table was too small for a party of 4.

    I must say, that overall I was impressed by this place and will def. be going there a lot!!!

  • Review from Samantha S.

    • 18 friends
    • 4 reviews

    Baltimore, MD

    5.0 star rating
    2/13/2011

    FANTASTIC!! I have been to a few other Indian places in Mt. Vernon...but this was my first time to Akbar.  I must say that the it exceeded my expectations and was better then the other places i used to go to frequently.  I went with a friend and we shared Chicken Tika Masala and Lamb Saag and both were excellent! servied over a flame to keep it hot too! the Naan, rice, chip things with the three sauces (that they bring out for free before you order) were also great!! when we we ready for to - go -boxes they brought them out with rice inside so that we would have some with the leftover food...very thoughtful.  I will be for sure returning :)

  • Review from dalzire h.

    • 25 friends
    • 3 reviews

    Baltimore, MD

    5.0 star rating
    6/11/2011 1 Check-in Here

    An amazing restaurant. The people are nice and the food is divine!

  • Review from Vivian Z.

    • 5 friends
    • 3 reviews

    Baltimore, MD

    5.0 star rating
    7/6/2011

    best Indian place ever!!!!!

    This restaurant is a hidden treasure, tucked in the basement on Charles Street

    I've tried several Indian places in Baltimore and this is by far the best Indian food I've had. The flavors and spices are just right. Unlike other places where the curry can be watered down and the taste are bland

    We live on the East side of Baltimore but would drive to downtown for take out.  We also enjoy going on Saturdays or Sundays for their lunch buffet - which there are a number of varieties at a very reasonable price. Our favorite dishes are - Chicken Tikka Masla and Matar Paneer.

    we LOVE it!!!

  • Review from Pradeep H.

    • 5 friends
    • 38 reviews

    Baltimore, MD

    4.0 star rating
    8/17/2008

    If you want to really find the true taste of Indian food, don't go here for lunch buffet..Dinner has always been good ...Definitely better than Mughal Garden and Kumari...in the Mount Vernon area...for north indian food.

    Very less space to sit..So becomes kinda cramped especially on weekends and during lunch time. I will give it a 3.5.

  • Review from Brian N.

    • 4 friends
    • 5 reviews

    Frederick, MD

    4.0 star rating
    2/17/2010

    My friend Laura has always given me a really hard time about having never had Indian food. We decided to meet up when she was in town with some other friends and finally give me my first Indian food experience.

    Akbar came highly recommended from one member of our group, and it didn't disappoint. The fruit and nut naan was INCREDIBLE and so was pretty much everything else (I can't remember what anything was called except for Tandoori Chicken and Vindaloo Chicken).

    Now, I don't really have any other restaurants to compare this place to since this was my first time eating Indian, but this place was great in my humble opinion. It's small, but was completely packed and the service was great still, so that makes me think that this is a great restaurant overall.

    The bathroom was gross though, which stopped me from giving it 5 stars.

  • Review from Ayon J. R.

    • 11 friends
    • 154 reviews

    Baltimore, MD

    3.0 star rating
    11/26/2010 4 Check-ins Here

    One of the few decent Indian places in Baltimore city. The food is slightly above average, and service is good. But the sitting area is very cramped and suffocating.

  • Review from Jenny A.

    • 17 friends
    • 23 reviews

    Towson, MD

    5.0 star rating
    2/25/2011

    This is one of the best Indian food restaurants in Baltimore. I always get carry-out, and I've never been disappointed. The only thing is that if you get two entrees for delivery, you need to ask for separate rice sides for each. Still though - amazing food. One of the best Tikka Masala sauces ever!!!

  • Review from Rachel K.

    • 50 friends
    • 109 reviews

    Baltimore, MD

    4.0 star rating
    3/10/2008

    I LOVE me some Indian food and this was GOOOOD.  I had the Bhindi Masala and the boy had Channa Masala.  It came with a big plate of yellow rice and two servings of papadam.  We also had the naan (of course) and some King Fisher beer.  Total check=$30.  Not quite as cheap as Mumbai, but totally worth it for the US.  There was one really strange thing.  I asked the waiter about dosa and he said they didn't serve it because it was southern Indian (which I knew) so I asked him about a place that he would recommend to get some.  He got really snotty and blew the question off by huffing and saying something like, "it's only for breakfast anyway."

  • Review from Stephanie L.

    • 1 friend
    • 40 reviews

    Los Angeles, CA

    5.0 star rating
    1/4/2011

    Best Indian food I've ever had.  I always leave feeling like my stomach will burst.

  • Review from Pascal P.

    Baltimore, MD

    5.0 star rating
    9/1/2006

    The food I've had here for dinner has always been delicious. The lunch buffet is nothing spectacular, but it's great for what it costs.  Dinner is also a great value. There's really nothing to dislike about this place, and choosing between Akbar and the equally excellent Mughal Garden which is nearby can be tough.

  • Review from n K.

    • 0 friends
    • 48 reviews

    Baltimore, MD

    5.0 star rating
    1/23/2011

    I love their lunch buffet and the gulab jamuns are to die for. The price is very affordable. I am an Indian food snob and this as good as it gets in restaurants located in India itself.

    Now home-cooking is completely different and in my opinion, home-cooked Indian food is almost a different cuisine than what you get in restaurants. So no this does not compare to home-cooked food.

  • Review from Matthew L.

    Baltimore, MD

    3.0 star rating
    1/25/2009

    One of the many Indian restaurants in Mt Vernon, it does little to seperate itself from the competition.  The naan is so so and the tandori chicken was a little dry.  The flavors are nice.  The basement location makes it seem kind of dark cavernous.  The wait staff is attentive and professional.  Not bad, just not good.

  • Review from Kathryn E.

    • 132 friends
    • 246 reviews

    Dallas, TX

    4.0 star rating
    1/19/2008

    Very good Indian fare, and they have a tasty lunch buffet as well.  Not as good as Ambassador, but close.

  • Review from jen t.

    • 33 friends
    • 103 reviews

    Chicago, IL

    3.0 star rating
    10/7/2008

    Akbar is okay. I think it's too expensive for the quality and amount of food you get, but the food is decent enough. The staff have always been friendly and helpful; in fact, once, on a very slow night when the only other table was a kid and his mom celebrating a birthday, the owner brought out free ice cream for them, and gave us some too. It's the little things. Still, when I want Indian and want to spend as much as you have to spend at Akbar, I'd rather go elsewhere.

  • Review from Eric P.

    • 46 friends
    • 213 reviews

    Baltimore, MD

    3.0 star rating
    12/22/2005

    Akbar is usually a pleasurable experience, but the service can be spotty.

  • Review from Bert C.

    • 0 friends
    • 4 reviews

    Baltimore, MD

    4.0 star rating
    11/29/2010

    I ordered to pick up. The restaurant looked nice and cozy when I walked through it. I got the chicken tikka masala and it was fantastic. Their rice was delicious by itself, but with the yogurty richness of the sauce it was a real treat.

    I hope to soon dine in, and perhaps order a wider range of food in the future to better critique this restaurant.

  • Review from Richard B.

    • 5 friends
    • 34 reviews

    Redondo Beach, CA

    2.0 star rating
    9/18/2010

    Poor 'cheap' tasting bristly grey meat and imbalanced seasoning in the dishes. No complaints on the service though the food felt like the cheapest of ingredients which is unacceptable so close to the Mughal Gardens which is head and shoulders above this place.

  • Review from Lee D.

    • 28 friends
    • 26 reviews

    Atlanta, GA

    3.0 star rating
    5/9/2005

    Not posh but moderate prices and good food. The space is a bit dilapidated, but they're great for take out. I love it for comfort food, but have heard it's not the most authentic North Indian.

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