- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Royal Taj
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11 am - 2:30 pm
Mon-Sun 5 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
69 reviews for Royal Taj
Review Highlights
"We then had chicken tikka masala, my favorite."
(in 20 reviews)
"...things get too spicy, cool off with a delicious Mango Lassi."
(in 4 reviews)
"Possibly the best Indian food I've ever had."
(in 5 reviews)
Loading...
69 reviews in English
-
Review from Yousef H.
Tempe, AZ
11/17/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I have always loved Indian food and having tried in several different countries, dozens of different restaurants, and nearly every meat and vegetarian dish this cuisine can offer, I can wholeheartedly say that this restaurant was beyond my greatest experiences with Indian food outside of India.
You have to go into the restaurant expecting a family run restaurant atmosphere. This is by no means a 5 star restaurant, it's a 5 star experience. It's like visiting your grandmother's house for a home cooked meal.
The chicken Tikka, masalas, and paneer are all to die for. I asked for my dishes extra spicy and, after a brief "oh no, not Indian spicy" argument from the owner I received my dish just as hot as they would serve it to a native. Delicious!
The Garlic Naan and other breads (parantha etc.) are great and all deliciously homemade.
This restaurant has been around for a LONG time and if you haven't tried it yet it's a must. -
Review from Renata K.
11/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
Stopped in for lunch today based on the raving reviews of the place. Can't say I was disappointed necessarily, but I wasn't blown away either.
They brought out Naan which was pretty good, and I ordered a "Diet Coke" after asking if they had it (and they said yes) but come to find out it was actually Diet Pepsi... this is a real pet peeve of mine. They are absolutely not the same and when someone specifically asks if you have Diet Coke, the answer should only be yes if in fact you have it. Would Diet RC Cola or Diet Shasta have been ok? Why then is Diet Pepsi ok to substitute?
Alright, I'm done with that...
Had the lunch buffet which honestly didn't have a whole lot of selections. The typical fare... sag paneer, dal lentils (?), some delicious potato thing, and my fave, chicken tikka masala. There was another chicken dish (which I don't remember the name) but I did NOT like the flavor at all... something was just off with it. I'm hoping it was just some spice that I hadn't had before (although I've had my fair share of Indian cuisine).
Anyway, overall not bad, but I wasn't too thrilled to get the bill and see that the lunch buffet is $10 (considering it was kinda limited, and after all, it's LUNCH, how much can one person eat). I think there should be a blanket rule that lunch buffets do not cost more than 8 bucks max (and $7 would make me happy). Maybe that's just me. My fave Indian place in Mesa is $10 for dinner and you get WAY more selection.
So, bottom line, the food was good but not spectacular. If I happen to be in the area and really craving Indian, I won't say no, but I'm not driving out of my way to go here. -
Review from Brett B.
Goodyear, AZ
10/18/2011
Oh my GOD.
I consider myself an Indian food freak, and this is by FAR, in all my travels, the BEST Chicken Tikka Masala and Garlic Naan that I have EVER had. PERIOD. The basmati was also cooked perfectly. I am super picky, for sure. Ask my dinner companions. I wouldn't shut up about it, and then they tried it and agreed.
The service was spot on, even though it was late at night. The server even steered a friend away from a dish that they had, but admitted wasn't exactly fresh, and offered a great alternative.
This is going to be my new go-to for Indian food! -
Review from Spence J.
Las Vegas, NV
1/23/2012
Was visiting Tempe and this place was recommended by a friend. I'm a big fan of Indian food and this place was great. I had Chicken Tikka Massala, it was awesome! I will definitely be back
-
Review from Chris S.
They are only getting three stars from me because while the food was delicious, the service was abhorrent. We were seated and the waiter explained the menu a little to my partner who has never eaten Indian food before. When we were ready to order, we had to flag him down to come take our order and he seemed like he was really pained to take our order and did not say thank you or anything. It took forever for us to get our drinks and we had to remind him to bring them to us.
The food finally came and things are a little expensive here, rice is not included and the portions are small. The flavor of everything is spot on and genuinely authentic though. I ordered the matter paneer which is green peas and homemade cheese cooked with spices (8.95). My partner ordered the lamb fraizee which is lamb cooked in special gravy with onions, tomatoes, bell peppers, tossed in an Indian skillet (14.95). The naan and garlic naan was to die for and is only 2.00 and 2.50 respectively. The atmosphere is intimate and quiet so this makes for a good date spot but the service was inexcusable.
No one came while we were eating to see how anything was and we had to flag down the waiter to fill our glasses with soda. We ordered a lot of food and enjoyed that portion of it but when it came time to leave we also had to flag the waiter down to get us our check. We left with no thank you or any acknowledgment. I think the waiter was one of the cooks so maybe he needs more work on customer service. I will try Royal Taj again however and then post my updated review it was that good.Listed in: Places to avoid in the Valley
-
Review from Stephanie T.
Gilbert, AZ
5/21/2011
This is, hands-down, our favorite Indian restaurant, and really, it's our favorite restaurant in the Valley. They won us over long ago with their consistently excellent food and service, but they really won our undying allegiance by being open on Christmas Day.
We almost always order a korma dish. It is lush and creamy with a bit of sweetness. Being a vegetarian, I love all their paneer dishes especially the saag paneer and paneer tikka. In my meat-eating days, I was head over heals with any shrimp dish. They always use big, plump suckers not sad little dried out bay shrimp like some other places. Their basmati is way better than the other Indian places in town. They actually flavor it properly. Garlic naan is, of course, heavenly.
Service is quick and friendly. Over the six years dining at Royal Taj, we have never had a bad moment or slip up. This place really is a gem, and I hope more people give it a shot. It's never crowded which is nice, but we're constantly worried it will go out of business. -
Review from Ana C.
6/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
I went here the other night after a nearly 18 month absence (not because of anything wrong with this place but because I had graduated from law school and wasn't in the area as often) and am glad I did!
I remembered why I love this place: the service is friendly, the food is good, the prices are fair. It wasn't very busy on a Thursday evening so I had the pick of any table I wanted. One of the owners bustled over with water right away and took my drink order. I wanted a Blue Himalayan beer but she told me that they were out but she made a suggestion of a similar beer, the Flying Horse, and it was prefect with the food. I ordered garlic naan, basmati rice and chicken vindaloo. The flavors are all great but here's what I love about this place: when I say "Indian hot, please" they bring it to me Indian hot. She only raised one eyebrow and repeated back "Indian hot?" And when I nodded, she smiled and away she went.
I loved the spice on my vindaloo and the beer that she suggested worked well to cool me down as I was eating. I love that the heat doesn't hide the amazing flavors in their dishes. The portions are generous and I had a good dinner and a large lunch out of my meal. The lamb saag is also excellent and I have had their biryanis in the past as well. This is a solid place to go and I am glad to have rediscovered it after a long time away. -
Review from Carrie B.
Scottsdale, AZ
4/14/2011
I love this place! Indian is my absolute favorite and I've been going to Royal Taj for 3 years now.
I always order the same - vegetable pakoras, an order of naan and Aloo Dumm. It's consistently perfect.
I'm kind of a wimp and get mine mild but no one I've eaten there with who likes a lot of heat has had any complaints.
The service is also very friendly and we're always made to feel at home. -
Review from Jake G.
Phoenix, AZ
10/20/2011
The food here is absolutely heavenly. I love their garlic naan bread and chicken tikka, they are to die for. The food has convinced me that there is a god and that she is Indian. The korma and tandoori dinner are wonderful as well.
However, the service is a little hellish. It's a long time between refills, they take forever to bring the check, and I've even had them give me different entrées than the ones I've ordered. (As if I can't tell the difference between chicken tikka and chicken saag.) It's also a tad expensive.
If the service were better this would be my favorite restaurant and would certainly receive 5 stars. -
Review from Kristopher R.
Tempe, AZ
9/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
Came here for lunch, normally I order al a carte although today I went ahead and had the lunch buffet as it was super fresh since they had just opened. Really good value and quality. Buffets usually scare me. This one was great! Really thorough selection, offering a wide array of dishes. The Chicken Tika Masala being the star of the show. Everything was perfectly spiced, hot but still not overpowering the actual flavor of the dish. Service was curt, straight and to the point. Not overly friendly but I was here to eat, not to make friends. I have been to many Indian places across the world and food wise this place is right up there with the best of them.
-
Review from Cori N.
Tempe, AZ
3/31/2011
So for dinner tonight I decided that I was craving Indian food. I have tried several places here in Tempe and while I enjoyed one of them, the rest were fairly mediocre. So I decided to go to the Indian restaurant with the highest ratings. So Royal Taj became my destination.
I was definitely looking forward to my meal, and trust me it did not disappoint. The service was excellent and just the right amount of attentive and time spent away from the table.
No one ever just refilled my water, they asked and then polity reached to get the glass. I was even offered more ice!
As for the food I bought Chicken Tikka Masala (medium spice) and garlic Nan. The rice that came with the curry was perfectly cooked. So was the Nan, which was simply delicious.
The curry was amazing. The sauce was rich, and flavorful. The spice level was perfect. The chicken was nicely cooked and tender. It was not dry.
This was hands down the best Indian food I've had since I moved to Arizona. -
Review from Anna M.
11/7/2010 1 Check-in Here
We walked in at 9:45pm and they close at 10pm. The owners were so kind and accommodating.
We had an order of the garlic naan. It was the perfect mix of chewy and crunchy.
We decided to split an order of the chicken tikka masala with a side of rice. It was wonderful! The spice was just right and the flavor was perfect. I have been thinking about it ever since.
When we were finished we had a great chat with the owners and they brought us some honey balls. They were served cold and finished the meal perfectly.
Who wants to meet me there now? I'm hungry. -
Review from Nader A.
10/24/2010
There once was a Nader that craved delicious food one Saturday morning. On this particular Saturday morning, Nader was living in Tempe, close to Broadway and McClintock, and after much thought (and inquiry with his hungry girlfriend) he decided to go to Royal Taj for Indian buffet.
Nader's tummy rumbled with fierce fierceness the second he stepped in! He went in for a little bit of this and a little bit of that, filling his plate with a plethora of rich flavors! But then, right as he thought he chose all that he would choose on his visit to the buffet line, he noticed chicken curry. Nader knew right then that this Saturday was a special day! He had never tried Royal Taj's chicken curry before because it had never been out during previous visits.
Excited, he rushed back to the table and filled his cheeks with all the wonderful dishes, making sure to save some of the curry for the naan. After his first bite of the curry, he smiled cheek to cheek! The curry was wonderful and actually a little bit spicy, with bone-in pieces of chicken for enormous amounts of flavor! "Oh, how this food is amazing today!" he said after a couple of plates! Nader was very pleased! Nader was also very full, and he vowed to eat that curry again!
On that particular Saturday, Nader left Royal Taj a better man. A better man because he now had a mission to not let Royal Taj go unnoticed when it came to East Valley Indian cuisine. But it is up to you, Yelp user, to go give it a try yourself. So go! Go and feast upon the glory that is Royal Taj!Listed in: Indian Food
-
Review from Eric A.
Denver, CO
3/18/2011
I dropped in here while visiting to watch some spring training games. And I'm glad I did. My home town of Denver has some great Indian places and Royal Taj is right up there with any I be been to. Obviously a family run establishment, on a Monday night it was lightly patronized, mostly by folks who looked to be Indian themselves. Always a good sign.
I had the chicken Tika something something on recommendation of the woman who was serving. It was a nice blend of spices and the bismati rice was perfectly done. The medium spicy had a nice amount of heat without being overpowering (I've never learned to appreciate the full-on heat of most Indian and South-Asian cuisine).
Definitely worth a visit. Now, if someone could just explain why nearly every Indian restaurant has maroon table cloths, I'd be very grateful. -
Review from Joe N.
Tucson, AZ
10/15/2010
oh lord what a good place to get some yummy, authentic indian food. I went there with a friend. Upon entering, I was instantly transported back to some of my indian friends parent's restaurants from my chidlhood. The ambiance is from another time which can be good or bad depending on your perspective. The owners serve the food and are very kind and attentive.
We ordered some samosas which were delicious. We then had chicken tikka masala, my favorite. It was so creamy with tender chicken pieces just melting in my mouth. We had rice with it and both garlic and plain naan. So tasty. Very good quality food. An older woman who reminded me of mom came out and asked if we wanted rice. It was very sweet.
At the end of the meal, we were blessed with "sweet balls" ( :) i can't remember what they are called). these were on the house and were absolutely wonderful as well. I have to say that I really don't have any complaints. I also didn't find the neighbor hood to be all that bad. We went there around 6p.
If you are in the area and looking for some great indian food, this is definately the place. Actually i would probably drive a good distance to go here. -
Review from Barry D.
Pompano Beach, FL
3/1/2011
I went here based on Yelp reccos. I ordered Chicken Saag, a favorite because I like to think it is healthier to eat spinach then to not eat spinach.
I cut open the first piece of chicken and it was uncooked. Now, we all like tuna, sushi style. Some people like their steak with a purpleinterior, but no one likes to eat raw chicken.
I asked for my check, paid it and left. I did write a note on the check but my best advice is stay away. -
Review from Rachel S.
Phoenix, AZ
6/7/2011
YUMMY!! I loved this place!! The food was out of this world AND they have a HUGE menu with tons of veg options. I would recommend this for anyone that loves Indian -- especially good for first timers. You can get the sauces in mild if you don't like it too spicy. The staff was soooo sweet and polite. We went last night for the first time and even though I had an allergic reaction to one of the spices.....(I think it was cardamom) and had to get wasted on benadryl when I got home I am still DYING to go back ASAP!! We will definitely keep going back again and again. :0)
-
Review from John F.
Phoenix, AZ
9/19/2010
Our first venture into Indian cuisine in the valley was mostly a success. Royal Taj appears to be an authentic Indian restaurant, which is exactly what we were looking for. They also serve alcohol (almost always a plus), and interestingly, they serve meat too (which is a first at an Indian restaurant for us). Here is what we ordered, impressions, and the like.
Vegetable Samosa (2) served with tamarind dipping sauce: very tasty with nice filling and pastry-like shell.
Tandoori Chicken (whole) served sizzling with vegetables on top: the chicken was drenched in oil, which unfortunately took away from the flavor and added on to the heart burn. The hostess recommended the chicken tikki masala, and perhaps we should have listened to her.
Aloo Matter (potatoes cooked with green peas and spice): this was also served in a very creamy yellow sauce (almost like a rich corn chowder). The vegetables were good, although the sauce was a bit heavy for our taste.
Rice: I have no idea why, but I really digged the rice. It was moist without being buttery.
Naan (plain): plain good, and it also helped balance the very saucy main dishes
Chicken vindaloo: ordered but not served. The waitress takes orders by memory, and I think this one slipped her mind. No matter, we ordered too much food anyway!
Service & ambiance: nice size restaurant, pleasant atmosphere with the Indian music in the background. It was a slow Saturday night (at least when we were there), which made for a very homey experience. The owners are in no hurry to kick you out, so you can eat, drink, and be merry at your own pace.
Overall, it was a pleasant experience. Next time, I hope they bring the Vindaloo and forget the Tandoori. -
Review from Carina M.
8/11/2008
When hubby and I first landed in Mesa, we were had a fierce craving for Indian food. We pulled up google and did a search which led us to Royal Taj.
We had literally been in Mesa for a few days and were used to Indian food in Britain. We found this place ok, but not as flavorful as we would have liked.
...Two Years Later...
After lacklustre Indian food and mindbendingly tasteless curries from different places, I decided to give this place one more try. It's also ten minutes away from my house.
I will have to change my mind about this place - the curry is wonderful and their tandoori chicken is just barely made on this side of heaven.
I will recommend Royal Taj to anyone who wants good Indian food.
This is my favorite Indian place - until I find a new one. :DListed in: Does it feel like a Fat Day?…
-
Review from Rahul R.
3/7/2010
In a sea of mediocre Indian restaurants in the Valley, Royal Taj is one of the few that truly stand out. If you hail from a city that is recognized for fine Indian cuisine, I think you will find that Royal Taj will satisfy your craving for Indian food. All of their curries are prepared with quality pieces of meat that are cut into bite size portions that are easy to eat. The curries also have a perfect balance of creaminess and texture as opposed to curry that is a bit watery or carries too much tomato paste. This is the best Indian restaurant in the entire Valley.
The restaurant is not located in a particularly nice strip mall but it is safe. It's located in a section of Tempe that is not far from many of the popular areas so the location has not been an issue with me. The restaurant is not large but it does have enough space to accomodate couples and large groups. There are usually only 3 or 4 couples in the restaurant so you are seated immediately. The service can be slow because there is usually only one server in the entire restaurant but it's not so slow to characterize it as "slow service"
I would not recommend Royal Taj for those who are insistent upon a nice ambience. The restaurant setting is not the most flattering but the food is most certainly worth a visit. If you are someone who enjoys Indian food and will travel anywhere to find great Indian food, I would recommend this place. My final recommendation is to get to the restaurant fairly early around 6 PM. The food is best when it is freshly prepared in the early part of the evening. I do want to give special praise to the owners of the restaurant as they do make you feel warm and like you are a member of their family. -
Review from Aileen B.
9/6/2008
Good-quality food and very consistent. My group enjoyed the chicken tikka masala, lamb karahi, mutter paneer (peas and homemade cheese in a coconut curry sauce), with basmati rice and aloo paratha (naan with potatoes and peas). Their vegetable samosas are pretty tasty, too!
Service could be much better. We had to wait awhile to order the food, dessert, and then again for the ticket. BTW, portions are pretty slim, but the flavors all but make up for the small portions.Listed in: "If you are what you eat, in…
-
Review from J G.
Tempe, AZ
9/27/2010
Love this place, when I need my Indian fix, this Royal Taj is the cats meow! If you like/love Indian food like me, you have to try it! Their garlic Naan is amazing, The chicken Korma is possibly the best I have ever had (among the many other delicious morsels). The service is great, and the staff, which I think are the owners and immediate family are welcoming and genuine without fail! Royal Taj is a gem, and its good for big groups too! Did I mention the food is even better a day later as left overs!!! Oh Yea!
As a side note, last time we were in there, about a week ago, they were doing some renovations, and updating some decor, which already looked great! -
Review from Stephanie S.
Scottsdale, AZ
7/6/2008
I love this place. The manager and people who work there are very hospitable and the food is consistently delicious. I don't know how it stays in business because it's always pretty dead whenever I go there (lunch buffet and take-out orders maybe?), but I'm glad it's still around. One time I had to organize a group dinner and we went to Royal Taj. Some of the people had never had Indian food before and everyone loved it.
Once, I came here with an ex-boyfriend who is Indian, and the manager woman was exceptionally nice to us. We were debating between two dishes and apparently she told him in Hindi to go with the Tikka Masala because "these people [white people] prefer it." He said she was trying to help him impress me. She also gave us a free dessert at the end.
On another occasion, for some reason I ordered a vanilla lemon drop martini, and it didn't exactly come out as I'd hoped. So I asked if they had vanilla vodka or what they had put in it (nicely of course- I just was trying to figure out how to maybe salvage it somehow), and the guy seriously told me go on up to the bar and make it however I wanted. I told him no thank you and just kept it as it was, but how many places are THAT accommodating? -
Review from Jessica C.
Long Beach, CA
3/18/2009
I will be in Az hopefully next month-ish and this is one of my must have's for the trip. I miss the Taj *snif* This is one of maybe 2 things I miss about Arizona. The owners are truly the most hospitable people I have ever met. They are so proud of what they have worked to achieve, and it shows big time!
The food.. I don't even know where to start. Mouth watering, just the right kinda spicy.. mmm mmmmm good stuff! The naan is always fresh and hot. My personal favorite (which wasn't on the menu but they made it for me anyway!!) is the lamb dahiwalla (sp?). Can you say heaven on a plate?
Not sure if they still have the buffet, as it's been a few years since I moved back, but it's the best damn 9 bucks you'll ever spend on lunch if they do. Know how normally all these places have buffet's full of dishes that taste like watered down versions of the same thing.. with slight variations? Eh.. meat with potatos and a sauce.. another meat with potatos but a different sauce.. stuff like that. Not the Taj!! Everything looked and tasted like it's own thing, and it was always fresh. No nasty burnt on, sitting for hours, looks like roadkill stuff here!
Possibly the best Indian food I've ever had. Possibly the best Indian food you'll ever have too heh :) -
Review from Regan W.
Phoenix, AZ
8/31/2008
I was totally jonesing for Indian food, and since none of my friends like Indian food, I decided to go solo. That's always an awkward thing, but I was undeterred in my quest!
I've been to Royal Taj many times, and it is consistently good. The naan is fabulous, the chicken tikka masala is always tender and delicious, and the palak paneer is incredible.
It's not one of those places to go if you're looking for outstanding service or ambience, but the food is always great! -
Review from Nastassja K.
Scottsdale, AZ
9/1/2008
I love it.. I only did take out and not sure I would eat in the restaurant. It kind of feels like you're intruding into somebody else's home when you are in the restaurant, but that aside, I really only care for take outs in this case because I'm the only one in my household who cares for indian anyway.
The food is great. I just moved to Tempe from Ahwatukee, where I had my Indian Star to comfort me.. and this has turned out to be the perfect replacement. -
Review from Albert H.
Scottsdale, AZ
4/12/2009 1 Check-in Here
Some of the better Indian cuisine in the valley here at the Royal Taj. Consistently good entrees, bread is rather good, and service is always friendly. Cute little bar in the center at the back when you walk in, and I think it's under utilized.
Only complaint is the restrooms can be a little frightening. Note to self: come here just to eat. -
Review from Alli c.
Tempe, AZ
10/7/2011
Out of all of the local Indian restaurants I have tried, Royal Taj is by far the best! The curries are amazing and the meat (and paneer) is always tasty! While the people who own the restaurant may seem a bit distant, they are just shy and open up when you talk to them! Be sure to come here when you crave good Indian!
-
Review from Emily H.
Santa Fe, NM
11/8/2007
By far my favorite restaurant in valley. Deliciously spicey. A bit pricey if you're picking and choosing items but they're complete meals are a pretty good bang for the buck.
Not actually sure about the service as I've only gotten takeout but if its any where close to the quality of food, then it must be awesome. -
Review from W L.
Phoenix, AZ
5/30/2008
I've driven past this restaurant a number of times w/o even noticing it but am now a big fan. Whenever I've come here there's only ever a few other groups of people there at most and yet the food is fantastic. The chicken korma is particularly tasty!
With regards to the service, there is definitely a language barrier with the server (which I thought might be difficult to deal with). However, the food is great so I think it's worth it. -
Review from Asaad M.
Lake Forest, CA
1/18/2010
Went for the lunch buffet. The Garlic naan was pretty much the best I had in Phoenix. They had basmati rice, Daal, Palak Paneer (Saag Paneer), Potatoes and Mushrooms, Paneer, Chicken Makhani, Another type of chicken( which was the best dish) and tandoori chicken(not really great).
Over all a really good indian buffet in the Phoenix area.
Will probably go back again. -
Review from Earl C.
1/7/2009
I've never had Indian cuisine before and a friend of mine has been craving it since he left the UK. So, we opted for Royal Taj. Since I am an Indian cuisine virgin, it wasn't a bad place to eat.
My friend and I had the Tandoori Chicken dish. I thought it was really good!! I ordered the "half" serving and it was quite filling. I even had to get a to-go box. The Naan bread was really good!
My friend told me something was missing with the dish. He said "the Tandoori Chicken dish usually comes with curry sauce..." (from his past experience). For him it wasn't that good compared to the Indian cuisine is Britain.
But for a "virgin" like me it was GREAT!! -
Review from Nirmal D.
Des Plaines, IL
9/30/2011
I don't know why this place has such rave reviews! One of the worst places I visited recently! Samosa sucks!!! Tikka masala was blend! Lamb Korma and Lamb Boti masala was worst! Biriyani tasted like tomato rice with chicken!! What the HELL!!!
-
Review from Daniel R.
Chandler, AZ
1/25/2008
I wish I still worked close to this place so I could eat here every day.
I love the buffet, the atmosphere and the food.
I cant believe I drove right by it for years and never stopped in. I was missing out. -
Review from Rico P.
Tempe, AZ
9/15/2009
Amazing food. Top two in AZ for Indian [other being Star of India in Ahwatukee]. I love that they have paneer tikka masala on the buffet every day. Butter/Tomato sauce and you get to enjoy it if you're a vegetarian! Sooo good. They also usually have delicious renditions oif Saag Paneer, Daal Mahrani[sp] Chicken Vindaloo and Chicken Tikka Masala. I try not to eat commodity meat so I tend to avoid the chicken. Sometimes I cannot help myself and I go for the Vindaloo sauce which has sad-chicken juices in it... So tasty :\
The biggest drawback to the place is the service. Don't get me wrong, it's very friendly and well intentioned. But it totally lacks in that fluid, excellent service that can elevate a restaurant experience. The owners handle the service [as well as seemingly everything else] and this can lead to occasional long waits to get your check, or have your card run. There's also a language gap, which would make it difficult for somebody who doesn't know Indian cuisine to get informed answers to questions about the menu.
It's also, as other have mentioned, a bit of a bummer to me that they have a FULL bar, and yet I cannot imagine that if I ordered a drink other than a rum and coke they'd possibly get it right. I know most people don't go to Indian food to get sauced but it's always nice to have the option, particularly if they're going to have the full bar.
Despite all these negatives, I still rate the place tops, second only to Star of India [where the food is at least as good, if not slightly better, and everybody speaks English fluently]
I recently moved very close to this place, which has been a real trial of temptation. So far I've limited myself to no more than twice a month but I'm not sure how long I can keep up that level of restraint :] -
Review from Sara B.
Tempe, AZ
5/28/2008
I just had a crap-tastic day at the office. I'm tired as all get-out. And, to top it off, it's my birthday (a quarter century, if you're curious) and I'm too exhausted to celebrate with anything more than a smooch from my sweetie.
But I have a belly full of Royal Taj takeout and a glass of pinot noir. Things could be a lot worse.
While it's not the best Indian I've ever tasted, Royal Taj is consistently good -- plus, it's got a large enough menu to keep me trying new things for awhile. I'm a big fan of any of their saag dishes -- that creamy, spinachy, spicy concoction filled with lamb, chicken, seafood, or paneer -- served up spicy.
Vindaloo, korma and daal are all other safe bets here, as are the tandoor dishes. Hell, I'll eat anything on the menu, really.
So, why three stars? Well, the lamb's sometimes a little dry, and tonight, they forgot my rice, and overall, their prices are a little high compared to other local Indian joints. Plus, there's still a soft spot in my heart for Udupi and their swoon-worth veggie dishes.
But if Royal Taj can make my piss-poor day feel OK, chances are it can cure what ails you, too.Listed in: Won't you be my neighbor?
-
Review from Dolores G.
Phoenix, AZ
11/22/2010 1 Check-in Here
[3 Stars by PHX comparison and 2 overall]
My quest for Indian food in the valley continues. Call me spoiled but I have had some GREAT Indian food (on and off a buffet) and everything after that is relative. I also learned to make a few of my favorite dishes for those times I lived in the boonies and couldn't easily get my Indian fix.
Craving Indian food for Sunday brunch, I recall a restaurant that many of my friends have tried and enjoyed, Royal Taj.
Popped in just after noon, its not busy. The ambiance is warm and cozy. I request a booth and decide on the buffet. It is small but contains the standard fare, basmati rice, saag paneer, a lentil (dal) dish, a chickpea dish, veggie pakora, masala paneer, chicken tikka masala, chicken vindaloo and tandori chicken. A sign above the buffet says that Garlic Naan will be served at the table.
Picking up my large plate and put rice at the center and put a little of just about everything around the outside to try. As I served the saag paneer I noticed I didn't see the chunks of paneer I often do with this dish (maybe they blend it in). Plate full and serving myself up a cup of warm chai (included at the buffet) I sat back at my booth. Shortly there after my naan arrives HOT and fresh. I pull apart a piece, crispy on the outside and soft interior. The garlic not as prominent as I would have liked, but as I would find out soon the naan was the main redeeming quality about Royal Taj. Five stars for the naan!!
The rest of the food was lack luster, not bad just not that good even by Phx standards, the pakora were stale and the masalas thin. My relative favorites from this buffet were the chicken vindaloo, the saag paneer and the chickpea dish. These were seasoned well, although I missed the chunks of paneer in the saag.
They had 2 of my most favorite desserts on the buffet, kheer (sweet rice) and the gulab jamun (pastry balls in a cardamon honey syrup). The kheer appeared strangely thick, but I didn't think much when serving it. When I finally got to the table and had a bite....did they use yogurt or buttermilk? There was a strange cultured milk flavor that was not typical of most kheer, needless to say this was the first time I didn't finish my kheer (when often I go for seconds). The gulab jamun on the other hand were great, homemade, soft and melted in your mouth. 5 stars for the galub jamun.
The buffet was @ $11 with tax, which is about average but high considering the quality was just barely ok.
My search continues...which several other places in the Valley yet to try, I doubt I will be back.... -
Review from jane l.
Phoenix, AZ
1/18/2010
The best indian food i have found in the phx/tempe area.
Royal Taj is awesome. tandoori anything...GET IT! delicious naan try the special naan...soooo good! So much saffron!
The owners(I'm assuming) are sooo nice and always remember my friend when we come in. They also bring us on the house sticky balls for dessert usually (I think these are called galub jamen err...something)
One funny thing we always look for though is a poop stain on the wall in the womens restroom...it is ALWAYS there! makes me wonder about other things...but eh....BEST INDIAN FOOD IN TOWNZ! -
Review from Jasmine C.
Phoenix, AZ
6/28/2009
Not overly impressed.
What is the crispy flat bread they bring with dipping sauce before your meal called? It was really good but they only brought 2 pieces for our table of 4.
Mango Lassi- Delicous
Yogurt Salad- just okay
Garlic Naan- really good
Bangan Bharta- could be spelled wrong? The eggplant- Worst I have ever had in any Indian Restaurant.
Also, I ordered my entree mild to medium. Others at our table ordered very hot temperature. I believe mine was the spicest of all. Hate when they mess that up!!! -
Review from Jake S.
Ann Arbor, MI
12/8/2007
Nothing would make me happier than finding good Indian food in the Phoenix area. Unfortunately, that hasn't happened yet.
We started off our meal with two kinds of naan - one stuffed with lamb and one stuffed with chicken. The lamb naan was very mediocre - the meat inside was completely dry and not very flavorful. The chicken naan didn't seem to have any chicken in it, so I'm not sure what happened there.
We ordered our entrees and were asked if we wanted rice with them. We said yes, but when our check came out we discovered that they charged us $2 per person for rice. Seriously, two bucks each for a little thing of rice with our entrees. $2 could've bought each of us a 5-pound bag of rice at the grocery store. Also, it would have been nice if they had mentioned to us that we would be charged for the rice. But I can't stop wondering why they charged at all for rice - every Indian place I've ever been to just brings rice out with the entree. So this pissed me off, and I would've given Royal Taj 3 stars if they hadn't charged us for rice.
The entrees themselves were alright, I'd say very average as far as Indian food goes. They were flavorful and the spice level was about where I expected it to be, but I've definitely had better Indian food before (not anywhere in the Phoenix area though).
When we were done with our entrees, we ordered some Indian coffee. About 10-15 minutes passed with no sign of our coffee. Then, they brought us our check which had the Indian coffee on it. We waited for our server to walk by so we could mention we never got the coffee, and after another 5-10 minutes, our server finally came by and brought us the coffee. This was kind of upsetting.
Also, not that this has any effect on my rating of Royal Taj, but we had a lot of difficulty communicating with our server and the rest of the restaurant staff. It didn't seem like anyone spoke English very well - when we asked for something, we received a confused look and then the person walked away. This made our experience more difficult.
Overall, I'd say Royal Taj is overpriced and the food is just very average (at best). Time to continue the never-ending search for good Indian food.
