"Chicken Tikka Masala, very tasty, pretty mild cream sauce."
(in 28 reviews)
"Malai Kofta Curry was the right mix of sweet and spice."
(in 10 reviews)
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Flavors of India
Rating Details »
Neighborhood: Rockridge
3211 College Avenue
(at Alcatraz Ave)
Berkeley, CA 94705
(510) 658-3461
3211 College Avenue
(at Alcatraz Ave)
Berkeley, CA 94705
(510) 658-3461
- Hours:
Mon-Sun. 11:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good for:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
162 reviews for Flavors of India
Review Highlights
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The hubby and I went for lunch this afternoon after walking passed for over a year. It was really very tasty. We ordered the Chaat aloo to share and 2 lunch specials. The Chaat was super yummy. The fried potato thing covered with chick pea curry. I had a chicken dish which was lovely, lots of fresh vegetables. The coconut lamb curry was out of this world. I would agree with what a few reviewers said about the naan. It was probably the one thing we had that wasn't excellent.
We also brought our year old daughter. They were very nice about having her there. They brought her, her own water and plate of rice and salad. The waitress even gave her a little stuffed hedgehog when we left.
Can't wait to go back
I ordered one of the Kofta Curries, and was pleasantly surprised that it was mild yet flavorful. The service was great, and they made sure that I had everything that I needed.
The naan was pretty good, but not as soft as I would have hoped. They have a good lunch menu - but it was still a little pricier than I had hoped. Two people could definitely share one of the platters.
I just had a great dinner last night, i felt great that we made the right decided to try this place. everything was yummy.
Don't miss Chicken Tikka Masala
Garlic Naan
I like this place, usu take the food to go. Good lunch deals. Oakland is lacking in good Indian restaurants but I'll vouch for this place (as if that means anything to you).
We ended up here after being turned away from Wood Tavern (they were booked they said - yet had 80% empty tables) Thank goodness they turned us away or we never would have discovered this gem!
We bopped on over to Flavors of India and had ourselves a feast! OMG - not only was it amazingly tasty - they were extremely friendly and efficient in their service. Definitely a great lunch spot when you are in the mood for a fun yet satisfying meal.
The menu is extensive which gives rise to way over-ordering and over-eating. I recommend you go with a few friends so you can each order something and share.
I ate at Flavors of India for the first time while having a dinner meeting with a professor. The wait staff did not rush us, nor did they act impatient when it took us 30 minutes just to order our meal. Everything I had was delicious. Try any one of the naans-- you won't regret it! The Kashmiri naan is stuffed with yummy sweets like raisins, coconut, cherries, and cashews. Both the veggie and Malai kofta curries are amazingly rich, tasty dishes, plus, the portions are large so I had leftovers the next day that I shared with a friend. The atmosphere was totally casual and all dishes come in beautiful metal dishware.
It would also be a great place to take a date, as it has nice decor, and you can order three courses plus drinks and not break the bank. Flavors of India is my new favorite spot in Rockridge-- you just can't beat amazingly good food at a very good price!
the most important things to me about an indian restaurant are flavor and spice. this place does both well. when you ask for "spicy" it is pretty warm. when you ask for "very spicy", it is satisfyingly sweaty.
this is a solid choice for indian food. many curry-style dishes. a good assortment of meats and vegetarian dishes. the beer's overpriced (flying horse $7 vs. $3 at the store) but that's standard for an (indian) restaurant. the one on lakeshore is just as good - apparently there's one in alameda i'll have to check out.
Quite possibly the best samosas I've ever had. A lot of Indian restaurants half-ass their samosas, but not Flavors of India. The texture, fluff, flavor, SHAPE...all perfection! Their garlic naan was really friggin good too.
Unfortunately, I can't say the same for their Chicken Tikka Masala curry. I pretty much order this curry dish at every restaurant I go to, and Flavors of India's was disappointing. It tasted really watered down. The color was off, there weren't any pretty flecks of green spices in the curry...no bueno.
The service and ambiance were both great. It can get a little crowded around 7, 8 pm, so try to get here "earlier" (6ish) to avoid the crowds. As you'll see, it's quite a popular restaurant!
Lawdy, just take me now.
Spices that pop in your mouth with depth and surprise, rich and creamy tikka masala, gorgeously blistered naan littered with sweet chunks of garlic and fresh and uniquely textured buri chaat. Could you tempt me to gluttony any more?!
And then, as you're basking in the soft glow of the fireplace and candles, the meal comes in copper pots, cheerfully delivered by a doe-eyed gal with masterful culinary and cultural knowledge, and rocks your palate to nirvana. Consider me a devotee.
So glad we decided to try this place!
disclaimer: I'm not an expert on indian food, so I don't know if this place is authentic or anything. I just know I enjoyed it!
Big menu--so many choices!
Guava juice & lychee shake = yum!
Kashmiri Naan had nuts and cherries in it - so delicious and great contrast with creamy/spicy Chicken Tikka Masala
Place is a bit small and cramped, but we got a table in back near the fireplace, so we were able to chat for a long time.
So this place is totally a Yelp success story. We decided to go here because it was mentioned in comparison to our other favorite Indian place (that just happened to be closed when we were hungry) by a friend of a friend.
Let me start by saying OMG OM NOM NOM NOM. Everyone loves Chicken Tikka Masala, but I'm pretty sure this place just puts crack in theirs. It doesn't even make sense how much I enjoyed it. Other than that we mostly ordered from the specials menu, all of which were also delicious.
Other factors, the restaurant is kinda cute, and the staff were very friendly. I need to stop writing now, because just thinking about this place again is making me unbearably hungry....
I LOVE this place! The curries came in TINY pots... so adorable! And they have so much flavors. We ordered quite a lot of things (8 things maybe) but i can't remember what they were called. Tandoori platter was good but not great. Curries were beyond great. Biryani rice was really good. The restaurant was clean and didn't smell of indian curries, so i didn't have to worry about smelling like spices afterward.
Spectacular.
This is the finest Indian Restaurant I know of. This beats Indian Oven. This beats Aslam's Rasoi. This beats my dearly departed Chutney's in San Ramon. This comes close to beating the outstanding high-end Indian Restaurant I once visited in Islington (an area of London). This is my new favorite restaurant. I am excited to move back to the bay area next year if only for the succulent Lamb Rogan.
And it's so CHEAP! This is the best dinner deal I know of. Four of us feasted on spicy goodness and had dessert, and it came to $50. This is a $30 date for my lovely vegetarian girlfriend to enjoy as much as I do.
Dear God, I wish that there was an Indian Restaurant of this quality in Portland. Alas, I can only wait until Thanksgiving-time until I can revisit my beloved Flavors of India
I'm normally not crazy about Indian food, but this place is probably the best Indian food I've tasted, so far! Very spacious dinning area and nicely decorated.
-Vegetable Korma: Curry w/mixed vegetables and cashew nuts in a creamy sauce. Not spicy, a little on the sweet side.
- Aloo Saag: Potatoes, spinach & greens purée in a light creamy sauce. If I didn't know any better, it looks like mushed up spinach, but tasted pretty good.
- Chicken Tikka Masala: Boneless pieces of chicken tikka in a moderately spiced cream sauce (served on the side). Order a side of mango chutney with this and you are set! Comes in a sizzling hot plate with onions and bell pepper. *Favorite*
- Kashimiri Naan: Soft bread stuffed with cashews, raisins, coconut, cherries. The coconut inside was pink, I don't remember cherries and vaguely remember seeing any cashews or raisins. Tasted like a dessert bread. Doesn't go too well with curries and tasted better plain. *skip and get regular naan instead*
Everything wasn't too spicy and they ask you the level of spiciness you would like it. Mild was good enough for me. Service was efficient and quick.
P.S. There is a good doughnut shop a few doors down for dessert, they even serve whole wheat doughnuts (sounds healthier, but not sure if it would taste as good)!
I have to say, I was a little disappointed after the rave reviews on yelp. The food was good, but not phenomenal. The mango lassi was ok, but luke warm (is this how it's supposed to be served? I've always experienced them cold in the past.) And, the tables are pretty jam-packed in there, leaving little room to be comfortable. I had to squeeze into my chair just to sit down, and I'm thin by anyone's standards. (perhaps the little boy who kept pushing his chair to the back of mine and repeatedly kicking his chair has skewed my viewpoint.)
It was my first time there, so I wouldn't object to going back and trying their other dishes. As my wife remarked, the food didn't seem quite as greasy as other places, so that's good. The atmosphere was pretty nice as well, good mood lighting for dinner.
As a side-note: I like spicy food, but not blow your head off spicy. We asked for medium spice level, and it was slightly more than we were used to, but not so much that we couldn't eat our dinner. So, if you want a more moderate amount of spice, I'd ask for mild, or mild-medium. (however, we'll have to confirm their spice tendencies through more samplings).
My search will continue for the best Indian restaurant.
I get takeout from them all the time. Food is ready really fast, and consistently delicious! Their korma is my favorite that I've had, and they make their chicken tikka masala nice and hot, if you ask for it :) Fantastic naan, too!
I stumbled upon FOI one day while getting my vehicle smogged at Claremont 76. After a peek in the window, I went back to try it.
Nice find... food was above average although a bit on the oily side. The tandoori chicken was presented on a searing plate surrounded by red onions and lemon. Nice presentation and drama as on lookers peered my way to see what was the snizzle. Tasty, but not as much depth of flavor as Shalimar's. The onion kulcha was tasty, as well and the baigan bharta. Small dining area but intimate. Service was attentive and not over powering. Votive candles on the table set the mood for a date.
I'm looking forward to a return visit to try some other deliciousness.
Excellent Indian food! The chicken korma was simply fantastic, and they had excellent naan. I loved the intimate feel inside, and the service was excellent. I can't wait to come back!
Garlic naan? YES PLEASE.
Molai Kofta curry? A MUST ORDER. This is my favorite thing on the menu (I love paneer more than just about anything else...ever).
Vegetable samosa? MMMMMMM.
I only wish they'd bring the spinach naan they were doing as a special for awhile last year back...I've been having dreams about it.
Christ, I'm going to start drooling on my keyboard.
The one over in Grand Lake has a slightly better atmosphere, but this place has way, WAY better service, and is much cozier. Food comes out fast, hot, & delicious.
This place gets an A+ in my book. I always come here, pig out, find myself shocked at how low the bill is (esp. considering how I have just gained 10 lbs due to the amount of scrumptious I just consumed), and roll myself out the door, completely satisfied (leftovers in hand!).
We came in with a huge group (with a reservation). The servers were still friendly and attentive and didn't rush us. Since there were so many of us we ordered a million different dishes and they were all tasty. My favorite was the okra.
The food was great. The server was very good, answered all our questions. My water glass never went dry. My Chai was awesome!
I will be going back and bringing friends.
This is my favorite Indian place, but it went up a notch when I recently tried the coconut curry lamb. Amazing. I'm glad I live down the street from this place. Great service, good low-key spot.
Also, I was in the Castro recently and we asked somebody on the street if they knew a good Indian restaurant. He recommended a nearby spot that was "ok" in his words, but he offered up that his favorite place was Flavors of India in Oakland.
Surprised to see this place is rated so highly...Meh, it's ok. In such an area with so many good Indian restruants, why would one bother?
The chicken tikka masala was average..the pieces of chicken tasted notably bland. At least the sauce was nice and rich, as expected. Just right amount of spice if you order it mild, could use more (depending on your taste).
I also got the lamb vindaloo, which I thought was good.
Also got some kashmiri naan, which was wonderful.
Very, Very tasty! I've been here a few times, both solo and in groups and am impressed with the consistency of service and deliciousness of food.
I highly enjoyed the Veggie Samosa *Chaat* off the appetizer menu and the Chili Paneer and Malai Kofta Curry. Lots of Vegan-friendly choices as well.
I'm reserving a star because I have found that when I order off the "special/featured" menu, I am always dissappointed in what I get..it's not quite as good as their regular menu.
Chicken Tikka Masala is great. They give you a lot of food. I had some to take home.
This place was recommended to us last week from some "foodies" we met at another restaurant as we commiserated over our terrible service that night. We got on the subject of Indian food and they said this was the place to go. So a few nights ago we ordered to-go from the menu.
So my first disclaimer is that we haven't actually sat in the restaurant for a meal, which is obviously a different experience than take out.
All I can comment on is the food itself - which was really delicious. I'm pretty picky about Indian food, having lived in England for several years, which is the gold standard for India cuisine. The Flavors of India menu is really comprehensive. My wife and I ordered the Aloo Tikka w/Raita appetizer, the Chicken Tikka Masala and the Lamb Vindaloo, rice pilaf, and garlic naan. We ordered medium spicy, which was perfect. The flavors of the two entrees were really nice. The pilau rice was somewhat non-traditional but tasted very good anyway. The meals seemed less oily than your typical Indian restaurant - we appreciated the healthier slant. I cant wait to go back and try some of the less standard fare on the menu.
Amazing dinner with two of my German friends who were visiting. They're vegan, so I thought that would limit my selections, but I was amazed at how great the food tasted at this restaurant. We got amazing naan (including paneer naan), some yummy Vegetable Kofta Curry, perfectly flavored and thick Mango Lassi, some crunchy and flavorful veggie samosa, delish Bhindi Masala (Ocra), and delectable Baingan Bhartha (Eggplant). The flavors really were nuanced, and spices were perfectly blended. It's a bit on the pricey sided, but oh so worth it!
Two words: chicken makhani!!! Ultra tender pieces of tandoori chicken in a spicy, sweet, creamy, slightly tangy sauce!!! The exclamation marks are very necessary!!!
That, order of rice, and order of crisp, buttery naan is enough to satisfy any craving. Or maybe not, because I sometimes find myself back there the next day..
I agree the Veggie korma leaves a lot to be desired, but surprisingly, the chicken korma (done spicy of course) is wayyy better. They apparently know how to do chicken right. My roomie had the lamb vindaloo and that was tasty too. I would recommend an eggplant dish for the vegetarians out there or bhatura chole.
Service can be attentive or slow, depending on how busy the place is that night. Attitudes always great though, and the restaurant has such a cool ambience. And they have delicious water! It's clean tasting and lemony.
If your taste in Indian usually consists of NNC or HOC, then you definitely need to scooch on over to FOI for a totally different experience.
Due to all of the reviews on this place I guess I went in with high expectations...especially for the naan. I love a good naan.
Ordered:
Chicken Biriyani-it was ok, lacked flavor.
Chicken masala-it was creamy and delicious.
Chicken curry-not too great..big chunks of chicken and not enough curry.
Veggie Samosas-2, they were pretty good.
Eggplant dish (forgot the name)-this was good.
Garlic Naan-very garlicky and hard.
Sweet Naan (forgot the name)-it was the best of the 2...but it was also hard.
Well...this place satisfied my craving for indian food, but I don't think I'll be going back...if I do it will just be for the chicken masala.
Very friendly folks!
The aloo tikki chaat is amazing, just as good, if not better, than Vik's. The chicken tandoori is very tasty, with exquisitely seasoned onions and peppers. The veggie pakoras and lamb vindaloo were less impressive, but still very good.
This place is great for when you want a classy meal without putting a dent in your wallet.
Outstanding food! Very good portion, very good flavor, and very good service. Malai Kofta Curry was the right mix of sweet and spice. I was very happy with our purchase, and as everyone else has stated, the naan is amazing, take some home with you with your leftovers. I need to come back to experince more of the good food. The music was very chill too, I wish I could have stayed longer to hear more. The Chai Tea was also very good to start out with as well. I can hardly wait for my next visit.
They close at 3:00PM for lunch, so keep that in mind.
Ok, my friend recommended we go here. Expecting the BEST Indian food, I was a little disappointed. I mean the food was GOOD, but the prices seemed a little too high for me. I dunno...well I ordered the Chicken Tikka Masala (Boneless pieces of tender chicken tikka cooked in a moderately spiced cream sauce) with whole wheat naan + rice on the side. All together my meal was ~$15.00. That's not too bad, but the quality of the Chicken Tikka Masala is just the same as Naan N Curry in my opinion.
I didn't really like the seating area. It was dark and uninviting. Plus, wait staff was just ok. She spilled rice on the floor and just left it there?...I don't need something fancy to keep me happy, but I dunno..I just wasn't feeling it.
It could due to the fact that I've heard such great things about this place and how wonderful the food tastes. With all that said, I probably just went in with HIGH expectations. I don't like when that happens. :(
Anyways, this place was just okay for me. I'll save a few bucks and head to Naan N Curry next time.
Went here last night for my girlfriends Birthday, Thanks to the reviews on Yelp.I thought some of The food is more unique than normal Indian. One dish we had a hint of lemongrass and ginger certainly making for a Thai influence....then again the Veggie Pakora, Prawn Masal and Poori was pure Indian goodness.
The staff was very friendly. A little too dark for my taste in the dining room, very nice for couples and anybody who wants to be a little intimate. Price is reasonable. Nice place
Wanted to find one of the best Indian places around while I was in town. I love Indian food and Ive been to a lot of really good places, so I hit this up based on the Yelp reviews.
Atmosphere: nice place, clean, cozy
Service: friendly, attentive, not overbearing
Mango Lassi: Excellent - strong mango flavor, not overly sweet
Vegetable Samosa: Very good, nice sized potato chunks and peas, nice flavor. The cilantro chutney was excellent
Garlic Naan: very good, soft yet crispy on the bottom, good garlic flavor
Chicken Tikka Masala: Bland. Even ordered it spicy. I give it a C.
I noticed the entrees come out in small looking metal dishes. At first I thought no way will this be enough but they hold a lot more than it looks like. Ultimately I am pleased I went there and thought it was certainly a good value for the money; however, I will probably not return due to it not standing out enough and there being so many other offerings in the bay area.
Friends were in town last weekend and I had a craving for Indian food so I made reservations here, and I was very pleased. The curries were tasty and chicken vindaloo was spicy, but not to the point of overwhelming the taste. My two girls loved it too (and I like how the menu has the kid-friendly symbol next to some dishes). We had several different dishes, all excellent, and we didn't even try the samosas which apparently are awesome (based on other reviews). We soaked up every last bit of sauce with naan and garlic naan. Service was very good too, service with a smile. We bumped into some other friends there that night, and later headed over to the organic ice cream place a block away, a great way to cool our tongues and palates. Great evening.
It's been awhile since we have been here, but the food was as good as it ever was. My folks are a bit leery of spicy these days and the waiter was patient as she explained what we could get that would not melt their tongues. Each dish came promptly, was appropriately hot and very tasty, even without the pre-requisite heat. I've been to the restaurant over on Lakeshore as well; the kitchen here is very consistent.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/2/2007
Went yesterday to hang out around Jack London's Farmer's Market. We went late, not so crowded and… Read more »
Worth the trip over the bridge!
I was skeptical to travel to Berkeley for dinner. This was well worth it.
Starting with Samosa & Aloo Tikki Chaat, Perfecto! Not greasy just the right amount of crisp. For the group of us we decided to share several dishes. Savery or Spicy the herbs were blended to perfection. Curry was amazing. Bar none the best I've ever had.
Now that you know I loved the food, let me rave about the staff. We showed up late for our reservation. They were very accommodating. Seated us timely, all with a smile and the service was spot on. Down to the check. This place is a taste of India without the passport. Don't miss out.
This place has become my quintessential indian food experience.
it's a little place, a bit out of the way for those of you who drive, and if you want a quick dinner this might not be your place. some nights it is dead and others it's like everyone and their mom wanted a curry. we have had to sadly turn away and go for plan b on many occasions.
the servers seem to be a bit run ragged and tired, but theyre always helpful and pretty attentive. the best seats are along the wall for 2 (i havent really tried the place with a larger group). the overall space is seriously mood lit. dark corners with golds and reds. it feels like it should have a makeout couch in the back, and all the tables or candlelit. i havent tried it during daylight hours but i assume it just wouldnt be the same.
the menu is big enough to be intimidating! i usually go for chicken tikka masala, channa masala, aloo globi, or even just chill out with a chai. the veggie samosas are the best ive had anywhere, and the mango lassi passes the thick-n-delicious test.
overall the place offers great environment and great indian feed for a decent price. all you have to do is get there in time.
*thumbs up*
Nice decor, although a bit dark for my taste.
The food was good, although not great. Much of the food, including most of the entrees and the naan were not hot. Naan was nothing special. I'd have to say in my opinion the best entree I had there was the Chicken Karahi, which was chicken with onions, peppers, garlic, ginger, tomatoes in a thick gravy. The dish was substantial and seasoned nicely. Again though, it was slightly cold, which was my main complaint with most dishes.
Price was ok.
Tried this place for the first time this past weekend. I love Indian food and really needed a fix. First thing we noticed was that the place was a little short on atmosphere. Kinda like a dining hall. But hey, the prices are so reasonable, who can complain about the decor? I ordered the lamb vindaloo and my dining companion had the lamb curry. I ordered rice with my entree and a potato naan, just to try it. My friend had garlic naan. I must say that both of our lamb dishes were excellent. The saucy chunks of lamb and potatoes in my dish were very tender and oh so flavorful. My rice was perfectly cooked, perfectly seasoned and hauntingly fragrant. My friend's curry was equally impressive. Really superb. Now for the bad news. What's with the naan? Mine was supposed to be filled with potato, but I cannot vouch for that. First off, it was the size of my coffee table, only burnt. It oozed some unidentifiable brown slime that bore no resemblance whatsoever to a potato or anything else I've ever encountered on earth. A mysterious, flavorless substance that I could not bring myself to swallow. I pushed it to the edge of the table, hoping it would fall off. My friends's garlic naan was way over-dosed with raw garlic. It obviously hadn't been cooked long enough to mellow and take the edge off. These were major disappointments for us because according to Yelpers, the naan here was" to die for." Not on this night. We both agreed this was the worst naan we've ever had. That's going to cost them a star. But, like I said, the price was right and there's some really good cookin' going on in that kitchen. I wish they offered more condiments, though. Those squeeze bottles on the tables filled with some kinda chutney and riata are pedestrian, at best. But I guess that's how they keep the costs down. The complimentary chai was a very nice touch. Nice people. I might go back. I just won't go near the naan.
