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Chandni Vegetarian Restaurant
Category: Restaurants Vegetarian Vegetarian [Edit]
1909 Wilshire BlvdSanta Monica, CA 90403
Neighborhood: Santa Monica
(310) 828-7060
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 10 pm
Sat-Sun 12 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Mikhaila B. said: "Okay so I recently tried the Cool Mint shake and gosh it's good ... Coconut water blended with the Coconut meat and mint leaves topped with agave. I opted out on the agave but it's your choice. I now make it at home but will stop…" read more »
72 reviews for Chandni Vegetarian Restaurant
Review Highlights
"some of the best veggie indian food ever."
(in 17 reviews)
"The garlic naan was really good too."
(in 6 reviews)
"Palak Paneer - Creamed Spinach in Indian styled cheese."
(in 6 reviews)
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72 reviews in English
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Review from Mat K.
Santa Monica, CA
11/24/2011 4 Check-ins Here
100% vegetarian menu. Polite, friendly staff. Fast, fabulous, fair priced. Chana masala with extra heat/spices for me every time (ask for heat on any dish). Dine in is calm. Take out is fast. No delivery.
cheap rotating menu daily lunch buffet
*no baby changing station* -
Review from Nina M.
Santa Monica, CA
10/28/2011
I really wanted to love this place.. but maybe nawab down the street just has a dear place in my heart. I went here last night, its only a few blocks away so my sis and I got it to go.
It is definitely decently priced at anout 7 bucks a dish. We got the dal and the saag paneer (they will put paneer in it on request if you prefer saag to palak). We asked for it medium and it didnt even taste mildly spicy. The dishes weren't that flavorful and were kinda watery. I had never had dal before but the texture of the mashed up lentils and sauce was like babyfood. Can't really go too wrong w saag. I really enjoyed my meal with a jar of Bay Cities Deli hot mixed relish and the peppers I requested from this restaurant (although he mostly gave me onions), gave it some flavor.
The garlic naan was good. But how can you go wrong with garlic naan? We got the appetizer combo (2 fried paneer, 1 samosa, a bunch of fried veggie mixes). The fried paneer was eh the rest were good. They have $5 lunch buffet for the rest of this month! Not bad! -
Review from Rishi T.
Pasadena, CA
10/17/2011
Review for a Lunch on a Sunday.
Nice cozy place serving Indian Vegetarian Food. For the Buffet, they cook in small quantities and fill up the bowls. I like it cooked this way since the flavor is retained and the food is not wasted. Family ordered Buffet while I ordered the Gobi Paratha. Paratha was OK and dd not feel authentic but i did taste the Buffet and the food was flavorful. Paneer dish and Aloo Dish were on the Menu that day.
Kheer was the Dessert for the day and that was good too.
Sure, if you are in the area, go ahead and pay a visit. -
Review from Jane D.
Santa Monica, CA
2/6/2012
Meh. Had the lunch buffet, was nothin special, and down right bland. Move along folks, nothing here to see.
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Review from Derryl C.
Pacific Palisades, CA
1/30/2012
This place rocks! Their food is healthy, flavorful, and extremely easy on the stomach - as far as Indian food goes (owing to the way they prepare their dishes, mostly oil-free). The staff is very gracious and friendly, and they make you feel right at home. Oh, and the prices are awesome - dinner for two is ~$30, and lunch is even cheaper (especially if you come for the buffet).
We usually get the Saag, some butter Nan, and one of the following: Chana Masala, Char Dal, or Chana Dal.
Their "medium spicy" might be too mild for some people, so ask for "heat" if you're really looking to spice it up.
Haven't stopped by for their Tuesday lunch buffet yet, but I'll have to soon! -
Review from Melissa S.
Venice, CA
1/8/2012
Great Indian at a great price. Lunch Buffet is a wonderful deal. The food is always flavorful& the service is fantastic. It is completely vegetarian and many dishes are vegan as well. This is a great place to go with my Vegan/Vegetarian friends as we can all have wonderful food.
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Review from Brooke B.
Santa Monica, CA
11/24/2011
Don't expect to see celebrities, overly lavish decor, or cheesy music videos on the walls of Chandni's. But DO expect the best vegetarian Indian food in Los Angeles, superb service, and a local family-run restaurant that you'll dream of returning to over and over again. *my running record is 3 times in one week =D
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Review from Mayank D.
Long Beach, CA
10/10/2011
This restaurant was a surprise
find.
We went there as Akbar was closed.
The lunch buffet had just 4-5 items.
But to our surprise each of the item was awesome.
The interiors may not look good but it's a great place to have Indian vegetarian food -
Review from Partha K.
Los Angeles, CA
11/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
The worst Indian lunch buffet on the westside. Which self-respecting Indian place substitutes tofu for panneer? Being vegetarian, I thought I'll try out this place. Big mistake. Of course, I can speak only for the Buffett.
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Review from Aaron B.
Ann Arbor, MI
7/22/2011
This place was pretty good. Nothing special for Indian food, but a decent representation or the genre. They had some things on the menu that you don't see lots of places, so I was happy to try some new things. I'm not vegetarian, but it's not an issue for me and the items we ordered were good, even if nothing special.
The environment is a bit oldish and cheapish feeling/looking, but the prices are VERY reasonable (especially for L.A.) and that's a tradeoff I'm certainly willing to make for more occasions...but maybe not a good date place. I wouldn't go out of my way to go here again, or recommend it, but I would certainly eat here again if it were brought up as an option. -
Review from Kimberly D.
Los Angeles, CA
4/23/2011 6 photos
It was a great dining experience. Nice lighting, good ambiance for a nice, quiet dinner with friends, and a helpful waiter. They have cushy booths along all the walls, which makes for a comfortable group dinner. The garlic naan comes out piping hot and everything we ordered had a good amount of spiciness, some things more than others. The samosas were great and there's tamarind and coriander chutney jars on every table for dipping.
We had tikka masala, okra, yogurt, cauliflower, and chickpeas. I was surprised that each portion is actually a small bowl, but it was just enough for everyone to have a few scoops of each thing. Everything was very flavorful and went well with the garlic naan. We shared everything and split the bill, $11 each. Not bad for a moderately filling, yet delicious Indian dinner.
Although it's a bit overpriced for a college student's budget, I would not hesitate to come back here again. It's a short ride on the Big Blue Bus from UCLA and it's easy to find. They also have a $7.39 lunch buffet, which I will be trying very very soon. Highly recommend this for your Indian food fix around Santa Monica. -
Review from Rebecca C.
Los Angeles, CA
11/16/2011
My first trip here was new years 2005, it's been my favorite Indian restaurant since. It has a welcoming, peaceful atmosphere, I love the staff, we just adore Mahesh. The food is simple, vegetarian food, very healthy, very tasty. We eat here every chance we get. I prefer the menu over the buffet but buffet is great for a buffet.
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Review from Damon H.
Santa Monica, CA
11/8/2011
We've been coming to Chandni for years. We love the lunch buffet, especially when they serve their delicious saag paneer. For dinner, I highly recommend the bhara mirch, a stuffed pepper covered in a savory sauce, and the bengan bhartha (eggplant). And, to boot, the waiters are just plain nice folks.
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Review from Lori K.
Santa Monica, CA
11/2/2011 4 Check-ins Here
FANTASTIC vegetarian indian food. Cheap buffet and friendly staff couldnt as for better
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Review from Maybe Milan B.
Mission Viejo, CA
8/15/2011
Let me start out by saying that I have been a customer since 1995, so take it for what it's worth. The bad: don't go there for the lunch buffet.
Is it still worth 5 stars? To me, yeah. I have eaten Indian food in London, the rest of Europe and in the U.S. (NY, Boston, Chicago, Texas, etc.), so maybe my viewpoint needs to be tempered a little...
I love Chandni. They make really good food (for dinner, go for dinner). I would like to make a dish recommendation, but I can't, cause it's all pretty much good. They will give you spiciness options as well, which is helpful.
The decor is a little run down, but so what!? I am enchanted by this place. My sis even pointed out that the service was really good there. I never really noticed before my recent visit, but it is. -
Review from Jake L.
Santa Monica, CA
9/18/2011
Fair. Nothing terrible about the food, but certainly nothing great. Prices were reasonable, although our delivery was served cold. Would be willing to try again.
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Review from Tishawn F.
Los Angeles, CA
11/29/2010
No long drawn out review for this place.Ill just say that it works if you're in the area like i was today.The buffet is cheap and doesn't offer that much, but it's vegetarian and doesn't skimp on flavor.I consider that a good thing considering most people come into an Indian restaurant expecting to view different flavors that are foreign to their taste buds
.I give the the buffet 3.5 stars
(i didn't like the kheer too much..Gills in downtown Los angeles has the best*)
The cleanliness a 5 star, and the customer service a 5 star!
If i may explain, i guess i thought I'd have more of a selection to choose from when i walked in there today.Yeah everything taste good..no complaints there.
My problem with giving someone a 5 star is that if prepackaged Indian food at the grocery store taste twice as good then i might as well save my money and hit up Trader Joe or something nearby.Afterall i was first introduced to Indian food through Prepacked meals at the grocery store.
My experience is kind of like going to a 5 star restaurant in Italy and rejecting the food because my "Cheap ass taste buds" have been eating Chef boyardee for way too many years.
I will not get upset if others don't view my opinion as anything more than haterish.My plans are to continue to search for the best Indian restaurant that serves the best Indian food in all of the United States.I haven't given up just yet.I'll find you guys a 5 star one,I promise! -
Review from Shelley L.
Los Angeles, CA
8/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
Oh the delcicousness that is your food. This is my go to spot after a nice Sunday afternoon on the beach. The service is fast, everyone is very nice, the portion sizes are huge and the price is very reasonable. Great vegetarian Indian food, and apparently they have weekend lunch buffetts. If I can drag myself away from the siren song of the ocean long enough to make it down here for lunch I will bask in the glory of their delicious food.
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Review from anna k.
Los Angeles, CA
1/17/2011
This is a long time favorite of mine.
I am a vegetarian, but feel comfortable taking my omnivorous friends here. Here's why:
1) the food is reliably fresh, and full of flavor.
2) It's inexpensive, and high quality.
3) The staff are extraordinarily friendly ("kind' to use the previous reviewers word) and knowledgeable about the menu, like a good family business.
Here are some other good things about Chandni:
4) It has great hours, and in a great location. After dinner head down to the pier to walk off your meal.
5) There is a private lot in the back, so parking is easy-peasy.
go for lunch (there's a great buffet option) or for dinner (no buffet, just menu). -
Review from Elizabeth M.
Great Neck, NY
4/18/2011
I've been going here or taking out from here for ages. I am so grateful it is here! The food is always fresh, delicious, tasty and presented with love. The prices cannot be beat.
Secret: they have a little bit of parking behind the building. -
Review from Shuriu L.
Long Beach, CA
3/2/2011
I used to go to this restaurant about once or twice a month. The menu recurs by days of the week (Thursdays: palak paneer, eggplant, daal, rice, naan, kheer, and one extra floating dish, raita, and iceberg lettuce; etc.). The service, price, and food are consistent, good, and fair.
Recently I went back after a 2-year absence (simply not in the area long enough to merit having lunch for the last 2 years; you know how it is to drive on the 405 any direction near the LAX).
This is a nice place to lose yourself in a book, eat, meet a friend, and have a simple meal. It's moderately quiet; there're frequently Westside people that talk as if they're in a reality tv show here, but most people just come in all their lunch breaks and keep to themselves. If you order take-out, you can load up one container and curb how much you eat at this all-you-can-eat buffet lunch.
I don't think it's vegan, btw, b/c paneer, with the spinach, is a very gentle, mild homemade cheese. Also, they serve lassis, which are yogurt-based drinks. -
Review from Ching T.
Whittier, CA
I found this place by accident while driving down Wilshire Blvd running errands during my lunch hour. All I saw were the words "Indian" and "vegetarian" on the sign and yep, I u-turned it to check it out.
Since then, I've been coming again and again and again.....
PROS:
- They have a small FREE lot in the back which is a GOLD MINE on the Westside! Enter from 19th Street, across the way from Frommin and Rite Aid.
- Buffet AYCE lunch is $7.39 (lol, as opposed to $7.99?)
- All items are vegetarian and the options change on a daily basis, soooooo, if I were to come here everyday {kicks rocks}, I'd be eating something different every day!
- Low key ambiance with plenty of vinyl booth seats.
- Excellent, polite and attentive service.
CONS:
- You really only have 4 entrees to choose from even though the menu says 8 selections (the other 4 that I really don't count are 1) basmanti rice, 2) naan, 3) lettuce/cucumber salad and 4) raita and kheer (indian rice pudding)
- Presentation of the food isn't all that attractive, but it's functional. I have to usually ask for the names and ingredients of the dishes I'm eating.
THE FOOD: (listing the ones I can remember)
- Alu Began - Potatoes and Eggplants
- Matar Paneer - Green peas & Indian styled cheese in tomato sauce
- Shahi Paneer - Indian styled cheese in tomato sauce (at first I thought these were tofu cubes)
- Palak Paneer - Creamed Spinach in Indian styled cheese
- Bhartha - mashed eggplant
- Nauratan Korma - fresh mixed veggies in spicy sauce
- Petha - Pumpkin in flavored sauce
- Malai Kofta - veggies and Indian Styled cheese balls in rich sauce
- Moong Dal - Split moong beans
- Char Dal - 4 different lentils
THE YUMMY:
I can't really pick a favorite, but if I had to, anything with lentils, garbanzo beans (which I haven't come across yet here at Chadni), moong beans and definitely eggplants and pumpkin are really wonderful. I do enjoy paneer but not all kinds. Their versions are quite tasty here; I like that it's NOT too cheesy here. The naan here is unlimited which is very dangerous for a carb lover. They're crispy here rather than too doughy or fluffy. It just depends on which piece you grab as they're precut for you already into square / rectangular shapes.
THE OVERALL:
Great spot for a nice quiet and non stressful lunch getaway from the office that, for me, is close to the office. The gentlemen that work here have such a kind and patient demure I really appreciate. I never feel rushed because they're more interested in turning tables. Perhaps I'm taking too much Kirtan Yoga, lol, but I'm beginning to recognize the sanskrit lyrics in the background Indian traditional music now. o_O!
Really, 7.39 plus tax and tip is a really nice lunch for just $10. I may have reverted back to the bad ways of carnivorism but I still crave the healthy and lighter fare of vegetarian food for most of the week. Chadni hits the spot -price, happy tummy, parking and low key ambiance.Listed in: West Side, for AK, A New Pescatarian /…, My Bollywood Adventures
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Review from matt p.
Los Angeles, CA
10/10/2010
All the employees are genuinely very kind.
This is my favorite restaurant in Los Angeles. I started going for the lunch buffet when I worked nearby. The price and variety make it an easy place to good many times each week. It is family run and Indian holidays are celebrated with free meals. But, what really made me fall in love with Chandni is the decor and excellent service. The restaurant discourages mobile phone use. I always feel relaxed upon entering. The music and soft-spoken servers reinforce this wonderfully. -
Review from Leonard A.
West Hollywood, CA
7/13/2010
NAME: Chandni Vegetarian Restaurant
TYPE OF CUISINE: North Indian vegetarian cuisine
ADDRESS: 1909 Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90403
PHONE: 310-826-7060
WEBSITE: http://www.chandnivegr...
RESERVATIONS: Not nececelery
GENERAL LOCATION: Northeast corner Wilshire and 19th
HOURS: M-F 11:30 pm-10 pm; Sn noon-10 pm
WHEELCHAIR ACCESS: Yes
DELIVERY SERVICE: Call for info
BANQUET FACILITIES: No
CATERING: Call for info
TAKEOUT: Call for info
NOISE FACTOR: Excellent: Thick carpeting, upholstered booths, low acoustic ceiling
VEGGIE FACTOR: Absolutely, 100%!
KID FACTOR: Bring 'em in tranquilized
OUTDOOR SEATING: No
AMBIANCE/ATMOSPHERE: Very nice and comfortable. See the pix in the Yelp photo array or on their website
FOOD: Very tasty and satisfying: We did the lunch buffet: eat all you want (I had big 2nds all around) for just $7.39 + t & t. Can't do better than that! The buffet entree rotates daily.
FOOD PRESENTATION: We did the buffet: slopped and slathered the food all over the plates! (Actually, we utilized the little cup-sized stainless steel bowls)
DRINKS: soft drinks, chai, tea, lassi, milk
SERVICE: Attentive and polite
PRICE RANGE: Absolutely reasonable!
PAYMENT: Cash, CC
PARKING SITUATION: Small lot in the back; metered street parking
BOTTOM LINE: Good Indian eats for cheap!
PS: "Chandni" means "moonlight!" ("Chandra" means "moon") -
Review from Cyrus G.
Los Angeles, CA
11/1/2010
We ordered 4 stews and we did not like 2 of them and the price of $8 for what seemed like 8 oz of just stew was too high I think. The shahi paneer was not touched, all minced tasteless cheese and no tasty sauce. Really bad. Barely touched it, took it home and it ended up in my dog's kong. Aloo Gobi was also some boringly cooked (boiled?) cauliflower and potato and no sauce. The rices were too simple unless you pay almost $7 to get tandoori rice. but is it good??
In you're in Culver try Samosa House at Bharat Bazar, half the price and more chances of hitting something tasty. Though they may have gone down by now too since they let go of the chef? where to go then?? -
Review from marilyn b.
Laguna Hills, CA
11/8/2010
I'm neither vegan nor vegetarian but I admit it's healthy so we decided to give Chandni a try for lunch especially based on all the rave reviews on yelp.
Unfortunately,I was disappointed as soon as I saw the buffet as it is VERY small and not at all like the typical Indian buffets I am used to.
Tasting it was disappointing as well.Watery dal and some mixed vegetable concoctions were so so but the bharta was fine as was the rice pudding.
The price is very reasonable but I would not return. -
Review from C T.
Los Angeles, CA
10/31/2011
I really did want to love this veggie indian spot. unfortunately it was not good. went for dinner and it was very bland and every dish had the same baby food consistency and tasted the same. such a let down.
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Review from Dave C.
Los Angeles, CA
9/30/2008
With tip, the lunch buffet runs you $10 for a satisfying Indian vegetarian meal that will fill your stomach with veggies and your heart with joy. Chandi happens to be right next to my office and it's one of my favorite lunch spots!
If you are a beautiful maiden in distress looking for a munchkin Asian with disposable income, chances are you will find me there once a week for lunch. If you are a smelly dude with a pessimistic attitude on life, I am at home, where you will never find me.
I've only had the lunch buffet, but I've had it numerous times and I've loved it every time! Yes, the buffet isn't that long and doesn't come close to resembling a long Chinese food buffet where tons of Asian strangers are digging through the lobster bucket trying to find some tails amongst the mangled claws, but with about 5 different choices, it does the job and does it well. Another nice part about the buffet is that the choices change, so you're not always eating the same thing if you're a regular like me.
It's always a nice mix of curry dishes with some matar/saag paneer mixed in with some naan and rice. Chandi has never done me wrong and I think it's a wonderful get 'er done lunch place to grab a quick and delicious bite to eat. Not really a date place, but more of a comfortable place to go with your homeys.
And you don't smell like you went to the gym after you leave.
**Park in the mini-parking lot that is accessible via the alley behind the restaurant.Listed in: Places girls don't hate, A Fast Food Eater Turns…
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Review from Aubrey T.
Playa Del Rey, CA
4/22/2010
Bad apple bad apple! Chandni is exactly the type of vegetarian restaurant which makes people misunderstand vegetarian = not tasty. You can get better chickpea masala made by Trader Khan from Trader Joe's for $3.5 than theirs for $10 (a buffet lunch). I thought Indian food is hard to screw up. How did they manage to make so bad food?
The waiter is attentive so I still tipped 20%. -
Review from H R.
Los Angeles, CA
7/9/2010
I love Chandni Vegetarian.
I am absolutely wild about Saag or Palak Paneer and ever so happy when it shows up on their luncheon buffet. Talk about savory delicate and delicious Indian yum. I really like the friendly, kind and not overly attentive service. They are closed in the afternoon, after lunch, so make sure that they are open when you go!
The naan is always nice and I especially like the fresh and fluff basmati rice. The spices and condiments are truly wonderful. Don't know why some people don't like the food/find it not tasty or bland. It's always been lovely when I go but then I only order my favorite dishes.
It can be a great place to write/journal while you eat or after a meal. It is generally quiet and low key even when the intimate place is entirely full. D and I like to go for dinner as well. They have wonderful tea. Chandni is only sad-making in that it is so, so far from Silver Lake. -
Review from Colleen L.
West Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 8/19/2008 12 photos
Last night I had dinner here with my Indian friend, who by the way is a high school P.E. teacher = very fit & health conscious. Thus we stuck to food chock full of vitamins for the most part. She is a fine example of sticking to nutritious cuisine & using portion control.
Usually the atmosphere is calm, tranquil & the Indian music hypnotic. In retrospect, I could have asked them to turn up the volume. We felt jolted out of our seats the first half of our dinner due to a toddler that screamed & threw food. Thankfully, the family departed.
We tried out whole wheat roti. It came out like naan. Next time, we would try another item, maybe paranthas. They only gave us 1, split in half.
The food came out in fast succession, a big plus. The garbanzo bean dish, mighty spicy, just what we were craving. The mustard greens saag, an old standby, although I like my friend's homemade version better. The pumpkin dish very fresh. My friend raved about it so much, afterwards she asked the cook to show us, not the money, but the pumpkin! He went to the back, a darkened room, then lifted out a human baby sized gigantic banana squash! It looked like it weighed at least 10#.
What we both noticed was that the portions were medium sized, bill was $30.00 for 2, = with tip $18 each. We were accustomed to the all you can eat lunch buffet, which is still available. Go for the lunch buffet, a bargain @ less than $8.00 per person. We thought the service was more attentive @ the lunch buffet too. If you have a hungry companion, pass by this place for dinner, unless you're loaded with $.
What we both agreed upon is their fabulous GHEER dessert. My friend said she never orders dessert, aha, she found this irresistible. The cool, not too sweet, milky, cardamon, rice concoction, is beyond worldly. Perhaps they are using a different brand of milk. It sat better in my tummy this time. This is what I would request to go out of this world on my dying day!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/18/2007
A gust of wind blew my ivory suit lapel right into my red lipsticked lips. Thus a trip to the… Read more »
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Review from Jason W.
West Los Angeles, CA
4/22/2010
Came here two nights ago. The waiter was really friendly and attentive to us; gave us good recommendations.
I ordered the "Bhara Began", which was a stuffed eggplant with various mashed vegetables, and then covered in a dark-orange-colored spicy sauce. I thought that the sauce was good, but the mashed vegetable inside the eggplant tasted bland. But then again, I'm a meat eater, and nothing could replace the delicious taste of meat.
*drooooolllll* meeeaaatttt...
But I digress. (wiping drool off from chin)
I thought that it was an OK dish. Not spectacular, not awful; just OK. Like Yasmin mentioned below, they charge $3.95 for a plate of rice. That rather peeved me off, because if I hadn't already known Yasmin's comment, I would have simply assumed that either rice would be included, or that you could have a refillable plate of rice. But no, the waiter said that every plate of rice would cost $3.95. Grrr...
Service = 4 stars
Food = 3.5 stars
Price = 2.5 stars (given the quality/quantity of food) & $3.95 for rice -
Review from Sri P.
Silver Lake, Los Angeles, CA
10/5/2008
The fare at Chandni is just okay. My friend and I had the paneer pakora (cubed milk-cheese fried in seasoned chickpea batter), malai kofta (paneer and vegetable dumpling in a cream curry sauce), bhara began (eggplant stuffed with seasoned potatoes and peas topped with a cream curry sauce), garlic naan, basmati rice, and raita (seasoned yogurt).
Good news for Chandni, both the cream curry sauces in each of the vegetable dishes were of different spices, even though they were nearly the same color and texture. And the paneer pakora was pretty decent, but isn't anything deep-fried and doused in chutney?
Bad news for Chandni, both the sauces were pretty bland. The kofta (paneer and vegetable dumplings) in the malai kofta were a bit undercooked and had just too much potato and too little paneer in the mixture. And malai kofta is one of my favorite Punjabi/Mughlai dishes of all time. It was terribly disappointing. The bhara began was a tad better, but still not absolutely delicious, and parts of the eggplant were a bit overcooked. We also asked for the dishes to be spicy, and they were far from.
The service though was really wonderful and friendly. And they play really good instrumental versions of old-timey Bollywood tracks. But the portions are fairly small, and the prices are standard Indian restaurant prices (7-9 dollars per dish). Not great odds. I may go back after I forget the blandness because it's in my neighborhood, the people are nice and it's completely vegetarian. But I'm definitely never doing the malai kofta again.Listed in: Indian Restaurants, Vegetarian/Vegan Joints
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Review from Marisa F.
Victorville, CA
5/1/2008
This was my first stop on my few days of eating out as I visited LA for a conference. I never thought I'd say 'visiting' LA...now I sound like a tourist!! oh well, could be worse.
Now back to this restaurant. This was night one, with a good friend of mine who used to be a vegetarian and as the story goes, used to frequent this place with an ex-beau.
I was not impressed by the food. We ordered a pumpkin dish, saag paneer (typically my absolute fave), potatoes and cauliflower and veggie balls in a creamy sauce. Rice and naan accompanied it all. I found it to be not as tasty and flavorful as typical Indian food. The place was a bit on the not-so-clean side, though I don't want to say it was dirty. Service was great. -
Review from Kate M.
Jersey City, NJ
12/16/2006
Actually, I thought this place was excellent. It's small, but has a full bar with a seating area. The food was quick, delicious and seasoned well. The waitstaff was attentive and their menu was well executed. We STILL wound up each getting a thali... best way to sample the wares. I ate half off the portions and wound up with a great meal of leftovers the next day. I recommend it unflinchingly.
That said, we had the BEST Santa Monica-relic sighting. I should have taken a picture. Big Sasquatch of a man, with wildman hair, a huge tunic over tie-dyed pants, a ...medallion (I'm pretty sure) and totally ridiculous colored-lens glasses perched on the end of his nose. I guess he saw himself as a "character" or something. It was hard not to stare. -
Review from T a.
Los Angeles, CA
7/11/2007
I go here for lunch, on occasion. They have a $5.95 buffet, but it's not one of my weeklies. I go mostly when I don't feel like flashin' my million dollar smile at the paparazzi. When I've been on back to back conference calls and I just want to eat in silence. When I feel like reading last week's Journal. Mostly I go solo...because it's vegetarian...and I don't have vegetarian friends.
I love their cauliflower dish and I hate cauliflower. -
Review from Amit S.
Santa Monica, CA
5/19/2011 3 Check-ins Here
These guys are great. I pickup dinner here every couple weeks and it's always good. As far as this area of Santa Monica goes, this is the only fairly priced Indian food. I'm always overly critical of Indian restaurants but I have to say they have good food. It is 100% vegetarian so keep that in mind. I recommend ordering the food spicy to give it a little bit of a kick!
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Review from rednikki Q.
Monterey, CA
6/27/2008
I'm sorry, people think this is EXPENSIVE? Obviously, you are coming from some world I don't live in, or from 1988. My friend and I each got multi-course meals, and we got out for $30-ish.
They have a fabulous multi-dish sampler that I can't recommend enough. Amazingly tasty! -
Review from Tara G.
Tujunga, CA
5/1/2011
I've been coming here for over 10 years. I do eat chicken & fish, but I leave satisfied every time I go to Chandni. So save a life! Why not, it's easy when the food is this good!
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Review from ZumaJay ..
Santa Monica, CA
5/7/2008
An Indian restaurant that doesn't over charge... WOW!!! Plus, it's vegetarian, light, and still very tasty.
I guess they probably don't over charge since it is vegetarian. Anyhow, the ambiance is a bit lacking... in fact, the place is a little bit ghetto for a restaurant on Wilshire Blvd in SM. Regardless of that, it serves up a decent meal.
The Papadi Chat (an appetizer) is just fantastic!
We tend to order to go since we don't live far... it's nice to have a joint you can walk to, pick up, and have a nice meal at home.
So if you're in the mood for something light and tasty, it's worth a visit.
