Best Indian Lunch Buffet?

[rentboy8]

Any suggestions?

[georgine]

Hello everyone, I am looking for an authentic Indian restaurant in LA! The whole nine yards... where you sit on the ground and eat with your hands! Any ideas? I would love to hear from you! Thanks, Georgine

[Jet]

I've been to many in the SFV. I disliked Copper Chimney tremendously. The best on Ventura Blvd. are Shalimar in Woodland Hills & the upstairs one in Encino, Clay Oven?, with the tastiest being 818 Masala by far. The greatest of all for value, selection, taste & tremendous abbience is Bombay Palace on Wilshire Blvd. in L.A. JET

[Bob Brooks]

The upstairs one in Encino is Taj Mahal. Just had their lunch buffet yesterday. It was excellent and a steal at $8.99.

[ceekskat]

Most Indian restaurants are probably authentic. Perhaps you may want to inquire as to ones that have more home style cooking.* Also, I suppose one can eat with hands at ANY Indian restaurant as it is a traditional custom but perhaps not in trendy, upscale ones?. When I took my aunt & uncle visiting from India to an upscalish Indian buffet, they asked me if it were okay to eat with hands as they were not used to flatware ...I said "sure, feel free". BTW, I don't know of any cafes/restaurants in India where the patrons sit on the ground :)

*Just chiming in while perusing the L.A. board in anticipation of my upcoming visit, so don't know any in the L.A. area. Generally speaking, South Indian restaurants tend to be more home style.

[Vince S]

What about Tandoor-A-India in Playa Del Rey? Is it decent?

Thanks!

[westsidegal]

no, tandoor-a-india is not decentt.

imho, the best indian food that is near playa del rey is SAMOSA HOUSE; they only serve vegetarian food, and they do not serve an ayce buffet.

other folks on this board seem to like akbar in marina del rey and agra in venice, but i don't think either serves a buffet (i may be wrong on this).

[Vince S]

thank you for the review! :)

[Foodandwine]

Today Im going to Bombay Grocery. You cannot believe this place. $5 buffet in a Indian Market, allot of food and very good all vegertarian with perhaps 1 chicken dish that will be offered at your table. Kinda a bit spicy just love the place..

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Bombay Grocery
2040 Pacific Coast Hwy, Lomita, CA

[FED]

for me, it's woodlands in Artesia. something like $8, including a freshly made paper dosa.

[BearCity]

Clay Oven in Sherman Oaks.

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Clay Oven Indian Cuisine
14611 1/2 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403

[MaryT]

Punjab Palace in Northridge.
Little India in Artesia and Kamal Palace in Long Beach (same owner).
I think the Woodlands in the valley is so so but the dosas are great there.

[OCAnn]

Not necessarily the best, but Fullerton/Brea have so few. With such limited options, House of Tandoor on Brea Blvd meets my fix.

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House of Tandoor
600 S Brea Blvd, Brea, CA 92821

[Vaya Con Carne]

When I was in grad school at CSU Fullerton, I loved the lunch buffet at Taal Indian across from the university. Generally I find Indian buffet to be underspiced and bland, but this one was always tasty. And, hey, $1 off if you're a student!

[OCAnn]

I used to go to Taal until it burned down. Now, we go to HoT which is a touch better than Taal.

BTW, the adjacent Off Campus Pub is no more; it's been replaced by Cantina Lounge which has much better food & service....

[Vaya Con Carne]

Oh! Had no idea it burned down. If it hadn't been for them, I would have starved during those couple years because the on-campus offerings were so grim :(

[Das Ubergeek]

Haveli.

[SIMIHOUND]

Das, The last time I was at Indian Hawelli in Simi the lunch buffet was only so so. It had limited items and they were kind of greasy from sitting around. I do like the normal menu though and it is doing very well especially for Simi.

[Das Ubergeek]

Oh, I meant Haveli in Tustin. My bad. I've never been to Simi Valley.

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Haveli Fine Indian Cuisine
13882 Newport Ave, Tustin, CA 92780

[rednyellow]

Star of Indian on Melrose.

[SIMIHOUND]

How about in the West SFV? Thanks.,

[westsidegal]

in chatsworth
Woodlands Indian Vegetarian Restaurant
www.woodlandsinla.com
[phone]

i've been there on the weekends. not sure about what they offer during the week

[justagthing]

Would this be the same owners as the one in Artesia?

[sel]

Yes.

[dreamprfct]

I hope it is not the same owners as in artesia--avoid the artesia location at all costs--it is filthy on most nights, and the service is horrible

[sel]

I haven't had any problems there!

[barham turner]

I have really enjoyed the buffet at Copper Chimney in Woodland Hills. The chef came from a long stint at Nawab of India at Santa Monica and they have been open less than a year. He is really doing a great job. There is a good selection of dishes; every table receives a basket of fresh-baked naan, and I believe the lunch buffet on weekdays is only $8.95.

The chef was originally from Uttar Pradesh and there are some UP specialties on the menu including a really tasty goat curry. Last time I went they had it on the buffet but it was on a weekend when they serve more dishes.

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Copper Chimney
Woodland Hills, CA, Woodland Hills, CA

[Bob Brooks]

I think Taj Mahal, on Ventura Blvd. in Encino does a very nice buffet lunch.

[westsidegal]

shershah in marina del rey
jaipur in west LA
india restaurant in artesia

[Dogbite Williams]

I second India Restaurant in Artesia. I've only been once, but it stands out as one of the best I've ever had.

[soto i am]

Third rec for India restaurant. Great tasting and wide selection of items with the added bonus of a very reasonable price

[mdpilam]

4th. I've been to ALOT of Indian Buffets, and this is clearly the best.