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India Palace Restaurant
Category: Restaurants Indian Indian [Edit]
2160 University Ave(between Oxford St & Shattuck Ave)
Berkeley, CA 94704
Neighborhoods: UC Campus Area, Downtown Berkeley
(510) 848-7252
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11:30 am - 3 pm
Mon-Sun 5 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
About This Business:
As you entered, you are greeted by the aroma of hand-ground spices, and welcomed with the warmth of Eastern hospitality. Because we care about your… read more »
111 reviews for India Palace Restaurant
Review Highlights
"They have yummy chicken tikka masala and good palek paneer."
(in 15 reviews)
"Beautiful artwork and delicious naan."
(in 52 reviews)
"The lunch buffet here is my favorite in Berkeley."
(in 25 reviews)
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111 reviews in English
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Review from Matt C.
San Francisco, CA
8/22/2011
India Palace makes my life better. They are one of the better indian delivery places in the east bay, and they deliver deep into Oakland which is always nice.
They clearly care about the food they make and how it tastes. Their lamb dishes stand out the most and their vindaloo is always good. They have great samosas too. -
Review from Daniel S.
1/10/2012
India Palace doesn't even seem to be trying. I tried two dinner dishes -- the chicken tikka (you know, chicken on a hot iron plate) and the chicken tikka masala.
The chicken tikka masala was just cut up pieces of breast meat in a sweet, bright orange cream soup, with no visible spices of any kind. The plain chicken tikka was (again) large hunks of breast meat with a little seasoning. It was toughish and overcooked by the time it got to our table. The rice they provide is pale yellow, but has no distinguishing feature other than its color and maybe a bit of salt.
There are indeed better places nearby. -
Review from Kathleen W.
San Jose, CA
7/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
Here's one of my favorite lunch spot finds. If you're ever on the west side of campus or close to downtown, do me a favor and go to India Palace because I would like to go more often. Why?
They have a BOMB lunch buffet. I typically dislike buffets because the food is always of low quality and then you wind up feeling bloated afterwards. The second reason is unavoidable, but India Palace definitely puts together an enjoyable buffet.
They typically have: fall-off-the-bone tandoori chicken, fish pakora, daal, chai tea, and an assortment of vegetarian and meat curries (including lamb)! With at least 10 items on the hot trays, you are sure to find a favorite. Sometimes you wind up trying something new because the selection changes from time to time.
Can't forget the warm naan that is served right to your table.
If you're a student, you can get a discount when you pay at the cashier. For less than $9, you will get an Indian food experience that stomps Naan and Curry's buffet. -
Review from Elaine L.
Berkeley, CA
8/7/2011
I hadn't gotten my Indian fix in a while and was looking forward to this lunch buffet. Unfortunately, I was not pleased! First, when you walk in, there is a weird smoke aroma that was off putting. There were only two other people in the restaurant at 12:30pm, which is probably an indication of its mediocre food, but I still gave it a shot.
They don't have a huge variety, but have some chicken curry, lamb curry, tandoori chicken and vegetable dishes. They also serve naan at each table. First, I did not like the chicken curry (perhaps butter chicken?). Although the chicken was tender, there was a weird flavor in the curry that was not enjoyable. It was also too watery and dark/dull in appearance. The tandoori chicken was moist, but seemed a little undercooked and was lacking in the smoky, charred flavor. The vegetable dishes were okay, but seemed a bit overcooked as the crisp textures were lost. The naan was also disappointing. It was way too thin and lacked any chewy/doughy quality.
There are so many Indian restaurants in the close proximity, I'll be sure to choose a different one next time I'm in the area. -
Review from Matthias J.
Bethesda, MD
10/22/2011
This place is absurd. We ordered two lamb entrees which both cost over 12 bucks for delivery. India Palace then didn't deliver the food for over an hour and once we got it, it turns out if you want naan or rice, you have to pay extra.
If I'm going to order Lamb Vindalloo, I think it's pretty reasonable to expect rice to come with the curry! I'm never ordering from this place again. -
Review from Alice L.
Berkeley, CA
6/14/2011
This is one of the few cheap buffets that still come with table cloths and intricate decor/chairs. It was a really pleasant dining experience for only $7.95. I actually came here by myself to eat my heart out since everyone I knew wasn't in town. The servers replenished the naan at my table as soon as I finished and let me tell you, I finished the naan more than a few times! They also kept offering me more butter chicken, perhaps because I was the only customer in the restaurant at the time. HAHA
They had a lot of well-made vegetarian options: Aloo Gobi, cheese cubes, and Aloo Vindaloo. They were serving lamb vindaloo as well and I thought the lamb cubes were a little dry. But overall, a decadent spread of Indian dishes and attentive service! -
Review from aaron h.
Oakland, CA
6/20/2011
India Palace is where I grab lunch when in downtown Berkeley and bloody starving. Not just because it's Indian cuisine, but because they have a great selection of buffet items that also happen to be made well. The fact that they almost always have veggie korma as an option doesn't hurt either.
Lunch aside, their dinner is actually higher quality for whatever reason. Plus, I often see a specials sign on the sidewalk in the evenings that ought to give anyone one more excuse to stop in.
The staff is almost eerily quiet, but in a very pleasant manner that makes you notice just how lacking most American cuisine restaurants' service is by comparison. Typically, the only word I hear from staff when visiting is a single number when I first walk in, so they can direct me to the most appropriate table.
I can't complain about the student discount either, which when stacked on their already reasonable prices, is a plump gulab jamun on an already sweet dish of kheer.
Bottom line: conveniently located, decently priced, great selection, and wonderful service. It's my default location for Indian lunch buffets in the East Bay. -
Review from budi u.
Hayward, CA
7/16/2011
I will be very concise
1. If you fan of Pakora, don't eat here. Their Veggie and Fish Pakora has been sitting in the hot table for hours. Definitely not crispy. It's like fried tempura than has been steamed
2. Fruits. The watermelon looks like they have been refrigerated since last week. You know what Im talking about
3. Naan Bread. It looks like Naan bread that you buy in 99 ranch. I thought "An Indian Palace" suppose to have delicious Naan.
4. Service. Of 15 years , I live in Bay Area. This is the first time I encounter a fat server that is so rude. It's even a disgrace to the title "India Palace"
Anyone who have the same experience as me, please write review after me. -
Review from L. C.
Oakland, CA
5/20/2011
The food is excellent, but the service, at least in my past couple of visits, has been nonchalant at best and rude at worst.
We were the only people in the place for dinner a few times, so I can't explain the poor service. The malai kofta is very tasty. -
Review from kimberly v.
Berkeley, CA
5/20/2010
Looking over the other reviews, I wondered if I should re-think. I re-thought, and my answer is no. There are just too many great Indian restaurants within a stone's throw *cough*biryani house*cough* or *cough*udupi palace* cough*. India Palace used to be pretty good, and one of the best buffets in the area, but something happened.
I went there recently with a friend who had traveled extensively in India, unfortunately. I had the buffet, and he had a vegetable dish. In my buffet choices, I had hard, chewy paneer cubes, nasty stringy chicken that tasted like this was its 3rd day of warming trays, goopy chutney, flavorless raita, tough naan and thoroughly undistinguished sauces. His vegetable dish was soggy and unappetizing.
One extra star for a nicer room than most of the places nearby - I had chosen it for that, and for the fact that my friend is hard of hearing and I thought it wouldn't be too crowded. Turns out there's a reason for that. -
Review from Becky W.
Oakland, CA
8/22/2010
We went here today for the lunch buffet (from 11-3 on Sundays) and for $8.95 all-you-can-eat, it was a pretty good deal and pretty tasty too.
They were pretty out of the lamb curry, which was a little disappointing and didn't refill it while we were there (assuming when they run out, they just don't refill some items during their short buffet hours, I guess).
We had our toddler with us and were pleased that they didn't try to charge us $8.95 for her (or anything, actually), since she doesn't eat more than a couple of bites of anything these days.
A basket of fresh cooked naan comes with it, which was delicious, but sodas or other drinks are extra.
Overall, a very good lunch. Nothing to die for or super amazing, but good, reliable Indian lunch buffet with most of the "favorites".
Oh, and we parked for free in the back of the restaurant, which was a bonus on a busy, busy day near campus when all the students seem to be moving back in. :) -
Review from Dana W.
Albany, CA
4/17/2011
I LOVE this place! The service here is excellent and the food is always amazing! They tend to make their meals more spicy than other Indian Restaurants in the area. I personally like that, but if you're unsure, you might want to ask for them to tone it down a bit. They are very accomadating. Their restaurant is clean and pleasant to be in, AND...THEY DELIVER! Whoo hooo! They give you free nann if you order over a certain amount and they'll give you free garlic nann too! I always enjoy India Palace!
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Review from Jenny P.
Walnut Creek, CA
10/27/2010
Come in here every so often to have Indian food for dinner or for the lunch buffet. The lunch buffet is actually really good for a lunch buffet (in Berkeley).
When I come here I usually get the malai kofta, which are cheese dumplings in a rich cashew gravy. The lamb tikka masala is good, but not as good as the chicken tikka masala. Try the kashmiri naan (naan with cherries and pistachios). The mango lassi I've had here is fantastic, and service has always been very attentive.
Will definitely come here for Indian food when I am in the area! -
Review from kris s.
San Anselmo, CA
Updated - 11/14/2010
UPDATE
Went back looking forward to some excellent Indian food on a crisp fall day. Unfortunately, it is no longer up to the standards as before. The excellent seasoning that used to dance on one's tongue is gone, the chai is still nothing to write home about, and the chicken dishes use a cheaper dark meat rather than the tastier white. Also the service is uninspired to put it mildly.
Though not bad by any means, and still offering a great variety of selections, we won't be back.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/3/2009
Wow - best Indian food buffet I've ever had, and I've tried more than a few. For fellow (pesco-)… Read more »
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Review from Jason R.
San Francisco, CA
12/4/2007
I want to throw the guys at India Palace some love. Although I've never been to their restaurant I had their food last night...Where? At the mutha-f-ing Warriors game!
I don't know about you guys, but one of the things I left behind with my 20s was Stadium food. I'm finished with eating things that may or may not pass the FDA's definition of food.
So it was an incredible surprise last night when, starved at halftime, I stumbled on India Palace's stand.
For 7 bucks, it was also a helluva deal.
Have I had better Indian? Indubitably.
But have I ever had fresher, real food at a ballgame?
No way Sanjay! -
Review from Jen S.
Berkeley, CA
9/12/2007
I came for the lunch buffet at about 12:20. The butter chicken had NO chicken left-- it was a vat of sauce. The naan was slow in arriving to our table. The food looked pretty old and didn't taste that great. The raita was very watery and the kheer? Oh man. The flavor was okay but where are the raisins and almonds? The chai was bland and not very hot. For an Indian lunch buffet, it wasn't worth the $9 in my opinion. Not when superb Thai food on the same block costs $6 and feeds 2.
Just not that great, I don't think I'll be going back. -
Review from Jessica P.
Emeryville, CA
6/12/2008
I was a little hesitant to get delivery since most places do not deliver to my neck of the woods. Hell, we're lucky if Mr. Pizza man drops by.
Due to the fact it was 80 degrees in my kitchen around 7pm, I refused to cook. I've been craving Indian and felt it was time to explore my options.
I have to say that the food was good. No watery spinach here! No rubbery naan, decent amount of spice and the food came within an hour...and it was HOT. Decent sizes, good chana masala and palak paneer. Tried the samosas too, nothing to knock your socks off, but if its spiced potatoes you want, then its spiced potatoes you get.
I didn't get ill, and I'm eating the leftovers for lunch. mm mm good. Can't wait to stink up the office microwave.
All in all, I'd order from there again when feeling lazy. -
Review from Ying W.
Dublin, CA
8/31/2010
Disclaimer:
This review is for the lunch buffet
End Disclaimer
India palace: nice interior, good service, good food, good deal.
Their fish pakora is tasty and makes for a good appetizer, their naan and rice are great with most of their vegi curries and chicken curries. The lamb curry is more boney than meat, but the meat part is good enough. The best item on their menu? It's the yellow lentils. I really love that stuff. For my money, it's definitely the best Indian buffet in Berkeley. -
Review from Jack C.
Berkeley, CA
Updated - 4/2/2009
Lunch buffet for students here is a great deal, everything from vegetable korma to tandoori chicken, lamb curry and freshly made naan.
I like this Punjaby family-ran restaurant near UC Berkeley. A low-key place to come to come and talk with your colleques.
$10 for buffet. Good food. Yummy naan.Listed in: Top Restaurants
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/14/2008
Authentic, adventurous, spicy, homey.
I would want to go back and try everything on their menu.
Also… Read more »
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Review from Gail N.
Updated - 11/24/2009
Came back yesterday for lunch. They were serving BOTH gulab and the rice pudding!
AND papadum's!!!
Same really tender tandori chicken.
Same unlimted amounts of indian food for less than $9.
Same sweet chai tea.
Same friendly, elderly server with a huge smile =).
Love it!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/28/2009
I love the Indian Lunch Buffet mainly because of the service. You would think service isn't very… Read more »
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Review from Stephanie P.
Berkeley, CA
11/29/2006
My boyfriend and I have eating criteria that India Palace fulfills impeccably: cheap food, lots of it, decent to the palate, nice ambiance and service. India Palace excels these last two: a gorgeous coloful mural covers one two-story wall; cloth tablecloths and napkins are offered even for the buffet lunch; flowers (fake) stud every table; skylights and a wall of windows let in vast amounts of sunlight. Service is smiling, friendly, extremely attentive. Once the hostess noticed that I hadn't eaten my raita (it tasted overpoweringly of rose water) and she took it off the bill!
As for the food --- well, as I say, we only have medium expectations. The all-you-can-eat lunch (now $8.95) is very much worth the money (rockin' navratan korma, my fave, and great chicken tikka masala). It did hit a pretty bland note one time I was there, but overall is very tasty but not spicy. Dinner is about the same quality, although you can specify spicier food. Overall yummy, but for quality food (and grumpy service and awful, crowded dining room), check out Ajanta on Solano. -
Review from Raisa M.
Oakland, CA
11/11/2007
Let me start out by saying I have never physically been to this restaurant- we found out about India Palace when a menu was left on our porch. We like to try different Indian places and compare them to one another, so it seemed natural that we would take advantage of the free delivery and get some food.
PROS: Free delivery; large portions.
CONS: Food was too spicy- which wouldn't have been so bad, if it had had any flavor other than the spiciness; the rice was chunky and hard; the naan was rubbery; took an hour or more to be delivered.
All in all, the free delivery and large portions were not worth it because in the time it took for the food to get here I could have walked to one of my neighborhood Indian places, gotten takeout, brought it home, and finished eating- AND it would have tasted better.
After reading the other reviews for India Palace, however, I can only infer that the food is of a higher quality at the actual venue. -
Review from Kenny L.
4/23/2008
Three and a half stars, if I could.
Free delivery is a big plus while the naan was not as good as it could be. The vindaloo and masala was excellent. -
Review from Nerd G.
Berkeley, CA
6/9/2010
Frickin' yum.
We were looking for decent Indian takeout in the area and after sadly noting that Rice & Spice had closed before we ever got to try it, I found India Palace on Yelp and decided to give it a shot. Plain naan, fresh papadum, veggie samosa very yummy. Navratan korma & chicken tikka masala over some good perfumed basmati....really excellent, and a ton of food for the price. Will definitely keep them on my list, especially as they also deliver, which as an ex New Yorker I really miss!
Not pricey for the quality ... and it was an accurate, speedy delivery order.
Frickin' yum. -
Review from Ron L.
Oakland, CA
9/28/2005
My wife recently found the web site for this restaurant, and this place actually delivers to the Laurel in Oakland. Since we live somewhat far away, we had to order a minimum of $30 worth of food, so I added an order of samosas. Delivery came in one hour as promised.
Pros: The bhindi (okra) was tasty, but the samosa and the classic chutney trio (tamarind, mint, onion) was the best part.
Cons: We asked for spicy, and nothing was spicy. The saag paneer (greens cheese) was creamy, but not very flavorful. The naan and chapati were both ultra-chewy. My guess is that they were pulled from the buffet and reheated in a *microwave* before delivery. I have no other explanation. That is just shameful!
After looking up the location with a map, I realize that I tried their buffet before and wasn't too impressed. I won't make that mistake again. There are way too many good indian places. Hopefully, I can find one that delivers. -
Review from christina a.
Oakland, CA
11/5/2006
Their ad showed up on my doorstep (serendipitously!) on a night when we were feeling lazy and yet craving Indian food. And they delivered? (I didn't know anyone in Berkeley delivered, outside of pizza places!) Normally I equate delivery with really shitty food, but we decided to just go for it.
The food arrived, nice and hot, about 40 minutes after we placed the order. AND IT WAS SPECTACULAR. Seriously - really, really good. The samosas were light and airy, the Tikka Masala spicy but not TOO spicy, the naan smothered in garlic. Mmmmm. And did I mention the naan was free? FREE. When you order $20 worth of food (which you need to do for delivery, anyway), you get two orders of naan (any kind!) for free. And if you order three entrees, you get a fourth for free.
I am so thankful to find an Indian restaurant that delivers! No more pizza, yay!!!
edit: so, we've been having some issues with India Palace. And I don't even like saying it, because I love this place and I'm hooked on their...well, their everything...but the past two times we've ordered for delivery, it took OVER TWO HOURS to come. Actually, we ended up cancelling both orders after the two hour point and just eating easy mac, because we were so damn hungry and so sick of waiting. Something about having electrical problems in the kitchen? But why wouldn't they call and let us know the food wouldn't be coming? When I called to cancel, they said that they hadn't started preparing the food yet...and so why didn't they call? I don't get it. And I wonder how many orders were just on pause for 2 hours+ in their kitchens. -
Review from Nuri K.
Berkeley, CA
10/18/2007
Ghee is a wonderful, dangerous thing. India Palace's naans are brushed with this buttery liquid, and my reaction to a basket of freshly-baked naan arriving at my table always sounds like a cross between an orgasm and a "D'oh!" From the sheen, the smell, and the oil slick it leaves on your fingers, you can tell that India Palace is not encountering a ghee shortage crisis anytime soon.
The lunch buffet here is my favorite in Berkeley. I'm sure Indian dinner fare is great and everything, but I'm the kind of person who's willing to sacrifice a little quality and immediacy for ten times the choices (under controlled circumstances, that is). Not only is the food prepared better and the spices more agreeable to my palate than the scores of other Indian buffets nearby, but India Palace also offers more in the way of variety. Where else can you get turnip masala, which after an hour of sitting under the fluorescent lamp has turned into a sweet, aromatic mash along with some great potatoes? The aloo gobi here is better than any other place, if even the other places offer it. Actually, it's pointless for me to go on about how one thing at India Palace is better than the same thing at another place. Because I'd be going on and on about common item that they carry.
I think my favorite item there is the veggie korma. Their version is a yellowish green, as opposed to the pinkish-orange that I am used to. It has overtaken tikka masala as my favorite thing with which to dip my buttery, fluffy naan.
I usually don't bother with the meat items at Indian buffets, but the chicken tikka masala and the lamb are tender and flavorful at India Palace. Whereas most other buffets have few vegetarian items and a bunch of similar, mediocre meat offerings, IP carries scores of vegetarian options and a few solid meat dishes.
Come at around noon and try to steer clear about an hour before closing. They are reluctant to bring you seconds of that hypnotic, buttery naan at around that time, and if the restaurant's not crowded, you'll meet the gaze of the restless cashier. Vaguely uncomfortable. -
Review from J A M.
Berkeley, CA
12/10/2009
I'm not from such a cold place as Berkeley, so tonight with no food on hand and no desire to wander out in to the cold (not to mention having to deal with the difficulty of finding parking) I decided to get delivery.
The person on the phone was not bad but not super nice but thats cool cause I just wanna get right to business, I don't need to chat.
I ordered:
channa masala
alloo paratha
veggie samosas
palace salad
and chai!
Not bad to get all of that for $20 and free delivery.
I had no idea you get 2 free breads, I only ordered one. I was pleasantly surprised to see it was free. Had I known I would've got some garlic naan as well! At least I know for next time.
They were here in almost exactly 30 mins and the food was SO HOT, both spicy and warm. This was good since most delivery places I've tried since moving here bring the food cold or at room temperature. Sadly, this means my salad was warm. Normally, that would really make me angry but its ok this time.
The samosas were huge, I think maybe there should've been 3 for that price though, but they were tasty!
The alloo paratha was very good and the right amount for the price.
The chai wasn't the best chai I've ever had but it is very fragrant.
The channa masala is 8/10, there is sooo much of it, it only the flavor were just a little better, it'd be excellent.
The palace salad was alright but there was only a tiny piece of tomato in it and for $4 it was too skimpy. It should've been no more than $1.99...
I'm so glad to find a place that delivers that fast and has so many vegetarian items!
Pretty good overall!
However this is my only real problem...
the internet site delivery menu needs to be updated...
its not a huge deal as I now have a paper delivery menu, but the prices are totally different on the online delivery menu. -
Review from Pucktart T.
Portland, OR
11/13/2006
Last night, based largely on Yelp reviews I ordered some chow from Indian Palace. Despite the fact that I have had bad experiences with Indian delivery in the past. I was exhausted from a long day of cycling and the thought of going out was impossible. Heres the deal:
The cost of the food is a little above average, meat entrees about 12.00, vegi's $8.95.
When eating at a new Indian restaurant I always order my barometer dishes: Chicken Tikka Masala, Saag Paneer, Raita, Nan. They delivered the food well before the 45 minutes they said it would be, and I live about an 8 minute drive from the restaurant.
The Chicken Tikka : was very good although the chicken was a little over cooked. The sauce was very good.
The Saag : What the hell? This was by far the worst WORST saag panneer I have ever had, Tasty Bites makes better Saag. It was very loose and waterey with weird overcooked chunks of red bell pepper?? It did not seem to have been made with spinach, as it tasted nothing like spinach. The over all flavor was bland and unappealing, the color was off too being a brighter green than it should have been. It is possible that they had switched to some other leafy green durring the California e-coli scare, and had not yet switched back. I am just guessing.
The Raita : very thin, hardly creamy but the flavor was okay, not the best I have had but not the worst either.
The Nan : WHY WHY do Indian restaurants not understand how to pack Naan for delivery? If the hot Naan is wrapped in foil for packaging, it steams inside the foil, the end result is soggey, rubbery Naan. Indian Palace went one worse, they actually had a thermal bag that they put the foil wrapped Naan into, had they simply put the Naan directly into the thermal bag and left it open so that the steam could escape the Naan would have been better, not great but better.
I also ordered the Dal Special it was decent, pretty average and not spicey at all.
If Indian Palace can't even figure out Saag Paneer or how to pack Naan, I just can't recommend this restaurant. The total for the bill was around $32.00 and that was a lot of money to pay for piss poor food.
Lastly, a general comment about buffets, and Indian Buffets specifically. If the buffet is open for 3 hours ONLY go if you can get there within the first hour to hour and a half. Otherwise it's steam table hell, but that's just me, I am a bit of a food snob. -
Review from Rodel B.
San Francisco, CA
11/4/2009
Get in the ride, park, then walk in, and order the following:
Vegetable Samosa
Bengan Bharta
Tandoori Prawns (yellow rice included)
Naan
you'll also be a fan - now go! -
Review from Kathleen M.
San Jose, CA
8/17/2005
I tried another Indian lunch buffet over the weekend - India Palace in Berkeley. It's in the downtown area in the old Raja location on University between Oxford and Shattuck. Well, after eating at India Palace I lament the loss of Raja - one of my favorite Indian haunts.
For $6.95 (on the weekends at least) you get:
-Chicken makhanwala
-Tandoori chicken
-Lamb curry
-Aloo gobi (potatoes & cauliflower)'
-Aloo gajar (potatoes, green beans & peas)
-Aloo bengan (potatoes & eggplant)
-Dal
-Saag paneer
-Lentil balls (kofta?)
-Spinach pakora (cold)
-Rice (with whole cloves still in it)
-Naan (brought fresh to the table)
-"Fancy" lettuce mix
-Apples, canteloupe
-Kheer/gulab jamun desserts
Their chicken makhanwala (which along with chicken tikka masala is my make or break dish for buffets) was just OK with some weird pieces of chicken to pick around.
The most disappointing part of the meal was the vegetable/raita course since there were no vegetables like cucumbers or tomatoes. Even though there was "fancy" lettuce, raita didn't taste right with it. Additionally, the canteloupe was overripe and we had to cut parts of it off.
Potatoes figured prominently in the vegetarian dishes, and they were all fairly good.
Overall, however, I was pretty disappointed. Normally with Indian buffets I eat too much and have to convince myself to stop eating. This time I was easily convinced.
No offense to the proponents of India Palace out there, but I'd rank it in my bottom 3 buffets thus far:
3) Swarna (on Locust in Walnut Creek)
2) India Palace
1) (worst) Raj (on Piedmont in Oakland) -
Review from albion r.
Oakland, CA
1/25/2008
good and fast and cheap. AND they deliver! it's such a pleasure. we can watch a Lost marathon and only have to get up to get waters and let the dog out.
it's not the best but not the worst and it's got a little heat to it (which I'm a big fan of)
we tend to get the same things, the tried and true:
vegetable pakora (mostly cauliflower and potato), chicken pakora, meat samosas (better flavor than the vegetable version), garlic nan (I prefer this to the onion kulcha), dal soup, and then some meat (lamb probably) or vegetable dish.
don't forget to order rice as everything is soupy.
I've never actually eaten in the restaurant. all I know comes from delivery....
that may be a different experience entirely and one that I'm more than willing to take on. -
Review from David P.
Berkeley, CA
5/4/2006
OK. This place rocks the house. My ex and I went to this place probably once a week for 2 years. Why? Because we had this super-awesome "entertainment card" that let us get this gigantic meal for $24 including tip. Even without a special discount this place is a good value. Here is what we got, damn near every time:
1 mint pratha
1 shahi paneer
1 tandori chicken
1 paneer pakora (to start)
(rice comes with entrees)
You will leave FULL. We came here so much that we learned that one of the waitresses was from Mongolia. She once asked us if we were married... I suppose the implication being that who ELSE but a married couple would be so boring as to get the SAME THING EVERY TIME. But I digress... -
Review from Kathy Q.
Cerritos, CA
4/24/2010
WARNING, portions are HUGE!!!
Too bad we didn't know this until all of our food came out.
I was with a group of 4 other girls, and as hungry and starving as we were, we still had to leave with four boxes of food.
We ordered 2 naan, 5 raita, 4 tandoori chicken, 1 chicken tikka masala, and 1 lamb sag. In addition to 3 cokes and 1 beer, the bill came out to be about $70. (Btw, I'm not sure if this is during dinner only, but it's buy 2 entrees and get 1 free, which is why we had 6 x])
At first we all ordered a naan for ourselves, but the waiter told us we'd only need about 1-2 to serve all 5 of us. Thanks for the warning! Too bad he didn't say the same for the raita! We got a giant cupful of raita each and I ended up taking home a whole to-go styrofoam cup home. Also, we found out we only needed 2 tandoori chickens to feed all of us. It didn't say on the menu that we'd be getting a whole chicken each! In the end I boxed up an entire chicken and all the grilled vegetables left.
Quiet, pretty decor, lots of food, and a group of 5 hungry girls combined left us quite satisfied with our meal. Next time we're definitely ordering less! -
Review from Rebecca H.
San Francisco, CA
5/20/2008
Alas, I will probably never eat at this place again although I actually really like the food here. Why you ask? Because my ex and I used to eat here once a week and anything even remotely associated with him leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Hence the thought of going here is not that appealing.
They have yummy chicken tikka masala and good palek paneer. The portions our quite generous as well. Now if only I could get over my annoyance with my ex, maybe I could go and enjoy this place again. -
Review from Jamie L.
7/6/2008
I was craving Indian food tonight, so the boyfriend and I decided to go to Berkeley, based on their diverse taste of restaurants. There were three Indian/Pakistan restaurants to choose from (on the same street), we chose the one that was lesser in price from the three.
Since we were watching our wallets and not really our weights, we ordered the Palace Hors D'oeuvre, because it was good for two people. The platter consist of samosas (a must have), papadum, chicken tikka, and seikh kabab. We also shared their cucumber salad and chilli cheese naan. I'm not familiar with Indian specialty drinks, but my boyfriend ordered their Chai tea, which is really smooth and relaxing to drink.
The astmosphere was quite quiet, there were only two other groups there when we walked in. What caught my attention was the beautiful painted mural on the main wall. The service is o-kay, not a whole of attention is lavished on you. What do you expect, there was like 12 people altogether is this two story restaurant?
I can't give a five-star based on the fact that we ate only appetizers. Thus, I would give this place a try, if I ever find myself in the area again. -
Review from Kamni G.
9/23/2009
My fiance and I had gone shopping near here for our wedding and it started to rain so we headed into this place to grab a bite. We ordered some pakoras and some chai.
The service was slow but we were in no hurry. I have been here multiple times when shopping in Berkeley and the food has never been a let down.
They definately need to improve their customer service though. -
Review from david g.
Berkeley, CA
1/27/2011
The tikka masala was really heavy handed with a cream element...so much so that it was just way too thick. The tandori chicken was mild and the meat was dry. Strangely enough, I almost wished I had gone to Naan n Curry instead...and that place ain't exactly the French Laundry...hell, it ain't even Chevy's.
-
Review from Kris R.
Oakland, CA
12/8/2008
Ugh, this place bears the dubious distinction of almost ruining Thanksgiving with a digestive disaster...
::activage woozy flashback sequence::
It all started innocently enough when I came home from work and found a pink flier attached to the front door with 3 magic words: "India Palace", "Free" and "Delivery" ( i know technically, that's 4 words, but i'm counting the name as 1, ok?) When I saw the name on the Menu, my heart began to race as I thought this may have been an off-shoot / sister store of the much beloved India Palace in Alameda (review coming soon). Boy was I wrong...
From the very nice lady who answerd the phone, I ordered:
veggie pakora-- fried, breaded mix veggies
aloo gobi-- veggies in a red sauce
lamb saag-- lamb cubes in a creamed spinach
veggie biryani-- rice with veggies
tandoori chicken-- chicken marinated in yogurt and spices
mango lassi-- mango yogurt drink
gulab jamun-- fried balls soaked in rose-honey
kheer-- creamy rice pudding .
There was a 'coupon' on the menu offering 2 free breads with any order of $20.00 or more, so i chose the kabuli and the onion naans. All in all, my order totaled to about $50 before tax & tip and was enough to feed the 3 people generously coming over to help me prep the Thanksgiving feast we were to have the next day.
The order came about 45 min. later and was delivered by a very sweet asian girl. At first i was confused, and thought perhaps someone else in my building must have also ordered take out, so I asked the girl if this was from India Palace, and she smiled and said that it was. (I'm guessing perhaps she may be she's used to reactions like mine...)
First things first: despite all the food I ordered, every thing fit into ONE PLASTIC BAG. Second, it was all lukewarm/ soggy by the time it arrived. Third, the level of spice-heat drowned out the actual flavor. Finally, it gave everyone who ate it the runs. Yeah, that's right, the R-U-N-S. I could go into more depth, but i think its safe to say that the following breakdown justifies my very disappointed review:
+1 star-- nice people over the phone and in person by way of delivery girl.
-1 star-- Presentation: take out containers are very small. the plastic packaging is about 12oz. or the size of a small cream cheese tub. Its kind of makes you feel ripped off considering that a majority of their entrees start at about $10.00 a pop.
-2 stars-- Quality: I was extremely disappointed that my "mixed veggies" had nothing but cauliflower in my order. The paoka had really cold, thick and soggy breading. I ended up pulling all the breading off and just ate my pile of cauliflower.
The lamb saag and the aloo gobi were so spicy, you could not taste any flavor other than seared tounge. I am by no means a wuss when it comes to spicy (i carry around a small bottle of saratcha sauce just in case...) but you could not TASTE anything other than heat.
The free naan with order was worth a star, but i had to take it away because the naan was BURNT on one side! If you are going to burn your incentive, then don't bother offering it at all.
Finally, the gulab jamun was dry, hard and stale.
-1 star: Aftermath. Um, yeah....Let's just say, Thanksgiving Dinner was enjoyed visa vis 'left overs'. If it wasn't for ginger-mint tea and bo-chai herbal pills, me and my friends would have spent Turkey Day up a certain creek sans paddle... -
Review from Meera G.
Berkeley, CA
10/2/2009
Best Indian Lunch Buffet I have ever had in America. And cheap, especially with student discount. The variety is good, great veggie options. Once I started eating meat, the meat dishes are also great.
Beautiful artwork and delicious naan.
Dinner prices are expensive, so try out the dishes on the buffet, then head back for more of the best stuff during dinner on special occasions. Full bar makes the evenings fun.
Parking is hard, but it's very close to the Downtown Berkeley BART stop.
