Taj India
2226 Highland Ave S, Birmingham, AL, 35205
Taj India Menu
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Appetizers
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Seafood Delicacies
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Delightful Vegetarian Dishes
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Hot & Spicy
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Breads / Roti
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Desserts - Indian Sweets
Healthy Meal suggestions for Taj India
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Appetizers
-
Seafood Delicacies
-
Delightful Vegetarian Dishes
-
Hot & Spicy
-
Breads / Roti
-
Desserts - Indian Sweets
Visit below restaurant in Birmingham for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Birmingham for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
2226 Highland Ave S
Birmingham, AL, 35205 - Phone (205) 939-3805
- Website https://www.tajindia.net/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
India is the birth place of Chicken Tikka Masala and Curries. Indian foods are prepared with a blend of finely mixed spices quite popular across the region. The spices develop the rich taste in Indian food enough to boggle your mind. The ever-increasing fan base of Indian food around the New York city is steadily increasing because of the large number of Indians who traveled to the land of dreams. The Indians also brought their very own vibrant, colorful, and aromatic authentic dishes for the people in the West. While most of the Indian population is Vegetarian, Indian food is great for people who are looking for vegan or vegetarian food option. If you are a Meat lover, don't get disappointed yet. Indian food also boasts of some popular non-vegetarian dishes too. Few examples are the famous Butter Chicken, Mutton Biryani and Tandoori Chicken are enough to satisfy your taste buds.
Indian food has gained reputation all over the world especially in the United States. You can find many places serving the appetizing Indian food across all major cities in the US. India is a diverse country with different food culture originated from different parts of the country. While the Northern region boasts tandoori dishes and korma offering royal taste, the Western Ghats offers sea foods that is made in naturally sweet tender coconut milk. The South Indian food servers a quality of different dishes made from rice accompanied with spicy chutneys, curries and famous sambhar. Also, the Indian sweets are a delight to relish. If you ever want to have a burst of sugar syrup in mouth, don't forget to try few Bengali Sweets. Be it spicy, tangy, or sweet flavor, you can find everything in the Indian cuisine. Be assured that the melody of spices will surely bring delight to you.
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Peter L.
On New Year's day, the lunch buffet variety was quite limited and it was the typical chicken curry you normally would associate with Indian food. The vegetarian selections in the buffet were quite thin in terms of their sauce base. The tandoori chicken was overcooked and dry. The naan was nice and fluffy. The decor is pretty cool, with the copper water and sauce goblets and the authenticity is validated by the presence of the cumin by the door. Bottom line: I would go back because the lunch buffet is only $6.99.
(3)Ayon J. R.
The chicken tasted more like rat-meat. Don't ask how I know what rat meat tastes like! The service is staff is very attentive though and I do like some of their apps.
(2)Dennis C.
Absolutely my favorite place to eat in Birmingham. Being on a plant based nutrition plan, this restaurant has loads of delicious menu options that fill me completely. The food is to die for and very affordable. Make a point to check out their daily lunch buffet too.
(5)Zack F.
This is one of my top two all time favorite Indian restaurants. The food here fits my personal tastes in Indian food perfectly. The curries are rich, and spicy. They have plenty of flavor and are generous on the fat. This makes them taste and feel bigger and more satisfying. I had the vegetarian thali and it was quite a spread for just one person. I liked every single dish which was surprising to me. The staff was very friendly, very attentive leading to overall perfect service without being intrusive or bothersome. I had a Golden Eagle beer which used to be my favorite Indian beer (not that I am a connessuir or anything). Unfortunately, they no longer import this into America. :( If I was ever in the area I would gladly go back here. I was traveling on business and it was worth every bit of the hour and a half drive from work. Luckily though it was only about 20 minutes away from my hotel. What can I say, my company booked a cheep hotel far away from the jobsite so they had to pay me extra to drive both ways every day. It's all these little joys in life that make it so rewarding.
(5)Brian C.
Our family has been dining at Taj for years and we really love the place. The staff is always friendly, the food is always great. I love the samosa chat appetizer. If you are a pepper head, absolutely try their spicy dishes and ask for them extra hot. The kori gassi shrimp is pretty darn righteous.
(5)Lee C.
I returned to Taj India for their lunch buffet. It is an excellent deal at about $7.50. The quality of the food is good, and there is plenty of variety for a vegetarian. Each of the dishes had a unique taste--all excellent. The spinach dish was especially good. The black-eyed-peas were also noteworthy. The buffet also has some salad-like items and two types of desserts. I continue to be impressed by the food, atmosphere, and service at Taj India. Highly recommended.
(5)Kristin F.
BEST INDIAN PLACE IN B-HAM! For sure the best Indian place in Birmingham. Everything is fresh, home made and amazing every time!
(5)Massimo F.
Really nice lunch buffet! All you can eat style of a good and pretty legit Indian restaurant. I'll go back there soon
(4)Earl B.
They could have vacuumed the floor. All of the dairy was sour. I had to ask for the check 3 times.
(1)Jason H.
I can't think of a single bad thing to say! The food is always my favorite Indian cuisine, the staff is ridiculously friendly (after only a couple of visits remembered exactly what I order), and the price is completely reasonable. The atmosphere is wonderful, and the best naan I have ever had. Make sure you try Taj India the next time you are craving Indian food, you will not be disappointed. Oh and also order a King Fischer ale to help cool you down.
(5)Zee M.
I enjoy visiting here from time to time, but I don't care for some of the staff. I've noticed them, during town time, speaking low to one another, indicating customers and laughing. Even at people at my table. And everyone does that sort of thing, now and then, but they must assume people are stupid to be so blatant about it. Now to the food...a little overpriced, but I actually do like it. I just don't care for the attitude...only once did they seem really friendly (though they recognized us), but that's when we were arranging for them to cater a wedding reception. When I'm back in Birmingham, I'm off to Sitar. It's a family chain and, based on Nashville and Huntsville, I expect good things...and more personable management. Or maybe they just had several bad days. In a row. Spread out over years.
(3)Patrick M.
Lunch buffet is a great value and features an array of Punjabi cuisine. Naan bread served with everything from Tandoori chicken to a stunningly delicious mushroom coconut curry concoction. Had a great honey dough ball dessert. Quick and clean with pleasant staff and some really cool water glasses. Interior is warm and the walls are covered in some cool Subcontinental art. Sometimes hard to find parking but it's worth the walk from wherever!
(5)Bryan M.
Stopped in for the lunch buffet. Good menu and selection.
(4)Fiona D.
This place is exceptional. The lunch buffet, dinner and take out are well priced and delicious. The nan is always fresh and the soup at lunch is so delicious. It also has a great atmosphere.
(5)Ryan B.
Taj India is the hidden gem amongst the Birmingham restaurant giants. Surrounded by the Big 3 (Bottega, Veranda, and Hot & Hot), Taj India has just as much to offer. A great dining atmosphere combined with authentic Indian cuisine is bound to leave you satisfied. The lunch buffet is hard to beat, featuring all of the favorites from their classic menu for a very reasonable price. For dinner, you can't go wrong getting the chicken tikka masala. This is a great spot to try if you are new to Indian food or a seasoned veteran.
(4)Justin W.
I love Taj India!! I have not eaten at a ton of Indian restaurants in my life, but this has to be one of the best out there. This place is an easy choice for the win at any time. I've never had anything here I did not like thoroughly. Happy plates all around. Their staff is super friendly. Their super cold metal cups are an experience in and of themselves. The seating area is a bit small, but often times there are not a ton of customers in there to warrant more space. TIP: Their $7.00 lunch buffet is unfathomable. You get so many amazing options, and can keep going back for more until you are overstuffed.
(5)Kyle K.
The food is excellent and the staff are friendly. The lunch buffet is also very good. The chicken tikka and vegetable korma were equally flavorful and in pretty decent portions.
(4)Fletcher D.
I really want to like Taj, but each time I go, it just seems to fall short of expectations. In my experience, it has been a bland and boring representation of Indian food, and on whole, the place and the food generally feel like a caricature of an Indian restaurant. Food lacks the delicious depth and range of flavors that make Indian food so great. If you are in the mood for Indian food in Birmingham (and particularly if you are relatively new to the cuisine), Taj wouldn't be my first suggestion.
(2)Chad L.
The best Indian and vegetarian option around these parts. It is still worthy of 5 stars, but has slipped a bit lately. Great variety if you are new to the cuisine. I'll still go for the lunch buffet occasionally.
(5)Michael P.
Not exactly a lot of choices for Indian food in Birmingham. This is probably your best bet. I didn't grow up with food from the Indian subcontinent, but I had several good friend from Pakistan and India on college that provided me with a crude education on the finer points of the cuisine. I recently dined here with a friend who claimed she was in the mood for seriously spicy food. After making a big show of asking what was too hot for caucasians (i.e. me) she ordered the Chicken Madras. It was too hot for her Asian pallet [LOL, but not in front of her :) ] I ordered the Lamb Vindaloo with some Naan (as I was taught by my great friend from Pakistan). I found both dishes to be excellent when eaten with naan. They were quite spicy without the aid of bread, but still not too hot for my Hungarian/German taste buds. I should note, that both dishes were ordered off the the spicy menu, so we got what we ordered :) We also sampled the Palak Ki Tikkiya (spinach and potato with bread), which was quite good. The restaurant was clean, staff were friendly and attentive. Food was well prepared and presented. Food was fresh and well prepared. I would definitely order naan or other bread with the spicy menu foods, as they are spicy as advertised.
(4)FoodE Y.
STAY AWAY!!!! This is the first time Yelp review has disappointed me! This place is SO awful, I would stay away from it as much as possible. To start off with, the chairs are DIRTY. I almost didn't want to touch the back of the chair to move it because I was afraid I was going to get something stuck to my hand which didn't belong there. Then you go stand in line at the buffet. The plates are DIRTY - not washed well. You can still see food stuck on it from before dishwasher. You go through 3 or so plates to find a decent plate - not clean, decent. Then you get in line for the food. Most of the food is COLD. The items that are good have either gone and they don't replace it fast enough (as a strategy so that people would eat other things that are cold and not good to begin with). The ONLY good thing about this place is the Customer service from the non-Indian wait staff. Oh ya, and the wine glass was the only piece of setting that was actually clean! anyway. STAY AWAY FROM THIS PLACE. I have NO IDEA why this place gets any business. Upgrade the chairs, change the upholstery, CLEAN your plates!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(1)Crystal R.
First negative. Walked in in front of two other parties and had to wait ten minutes to be sat while they got tables almost immediately. Nobody explained to me why they were able to get tables when we had the same number of people in our party. The place is small upon entering, capacity about 40ish in the front, maybe 40ish in the back. Second negative. They sat 3 of us at a table for 2. We aren't big people, so it wasn't uncomfortable, but when our food came, we were struggling to adjust our plates and glasses for the waiter. Also, when we sat down, nobody came over to greet us or take our drink order for ten minutes. I'm a former server, so this is just unacceptable. We had to grab somebody who wasn't our server just to get service. And he didn't seem very happy about doing it. I only saw about four people working in the entire front of the house (I'm thinking only one server, one busboy, two hostesses...on a Saturday night!) Third negative. Garlic naan and food are not as impressive as Sitar down the street. We had the Chicken Badami, Ghost Krana, and Chicken Tandoori--there were 3 of us, and they brought us one small dish of rice...I love my Indian food, and I just wasn't impressed. Conclusion. I will pass on Taj India in the future and go to Sitar on University Blvd. because the prices are comparable, the service at Sitar is so much better (being sat and waited on almost immediately), and the food at Sitar is better.
(2)Gary W.
Always great
(5)Jeff J.
Fantastic meal! Had the "Goan Shrimp Curry" from the seafood section. Came with 12 medium size shrimp in a great curry sauce served over rice. Portion size was just generous. I had them make the dish on the hot spicy side so my nose was running by the time I was done :-) Nice authentic feeling atmosphere with other Indian diners there as well. Will eat there again and do recommend!
(5)VENUGOPAL Y.
I was in Birmingham recently on a business trip. I found this place on yelp and ordered some food to go. The Aloo Gobi (Potato and Cauliflower in a spicy curry sauce) was not made from fresh ingredients. You can smell the undercooked tomato puree. All I could find for cauliflower was the stem. Very few cauliflower florets. Same goes for potatoes. Hard to find The samosas were good though. And the Naan was fluffy . So I did not have to starve. Will not go back here.
(2)barbi d.
I have been eating here for many years. I am 32 yrs old and first experienced Indian food when I was about 10 years old. My brother-in-law is from India, so I grew up trying Indian food from many different places... Boston, New York, Toronto, Florida, Connecticut... This is definitely one of the best. I have always had great service, great food, and a pleasant atmosphere. I love the special occasions such as Festival of Lights where you can reserve your spot and have dinner with eclectic music, delicious buffet, and a glass of tasty wine. Some of my favorite dishes are, Chicken Tikka Masala, Spinach and potatoes(aloo saag), Dahl Makhani, and this fried vegetable dumpling in a yogurt sauce. I always get Raita (cold yogurt and cucumber sauce) to pour over the dishes. Indian food is an acquired taste, so don't start off too daring with too many different spices for a first time go. The Chicken Tikka Masala is a good first time dish. Enjoy!
(5)Paul S.
Best Indian food in central Alabama. The Tandoori chicken is a favorite, the Chicken Tikka Masala is not to be missed. The service is excellent. I have eaten here many times of the years and have never had a bad dish. I have eaten everything on the brunches and it's all good. If your lamb sagwala is too spicy, then try the Mango Lassi it's a perfect complement.
(5)Sheri P.
YUM!!!!!!! It could have more flavor but it is still delicious Indian cuisine. I love their lunch Buffet because I can load up on yumminess! Finding a parking spot can be annoying because the lot is very small and awkward. I love the aloo palak and really everything I have every had I have loved!
(5)Charlie S.
Some of my favorite indian food. Tikka Masala is my jam.
(4)Sri S.
worst buffet.
(1)HooverGal Y.
Lousy. My husband is Indian, and we eat Indian food regularly. This restaurant leaves much to be desired. The service is fine, but the food quality is lacking. Much of what is served has the same base, and all the staff does is toss in different meats. There is also way too much sugar in most dishes. If you're looking for a better Indian meal, try Silver Coin in Hoover.
(1)Jacob W.
Great Indian food. A bit pricy at dinner, but the rice, naan, and chicken masala are amazing. There are too many types of bread to mention, but I want to try them all. Also, they have a drink made with rose water. I highly recommend it.
(4)Leslie F.
This is a review from a tourist on a single visit to this location. I wanted to really love this place after reading the reviews. I really did. I am in Birmingham yearly on business. I did a yelp search looking for a casual place to dine. Once I saw Indian my taste buds kicked in so off I went. The place was empty when I showed up but was doing brisk take out. Appearance wise its a pleasant and clean local restaurant. I ordered the Lamb Tiki Marsala and some Garlic Naan. The positives: The sauce for the lamb was very nice. Good amount of spice. The Naan was more fluffy than I am used to seeing. It reminded me more of a pizza crust than Naan. Even with this said it was good. Not great, but good. The bummer: The lamb was very very tough. Some pieces I could not get get my fork through. Very chewy. If I was more hungry I would have returned the dish. But, I figured I could find a few pieces to eat and work on the rice, bread and sauce. The manager / owner stopped by to ask how my food was and I commented on the lamb. We had a very nice conversation. She mentioned the Tiki is cooked different than the other lamb dishes and that might have caused the problem. She apologized and offered to cook another order or make sure I mentioned the situation if I returned. Everyone there was very nice. Good service overall. I look at this experience and even if the lamb was cooked correctly, I still feel I have better opportunities for Indian food at home. It was very borderline 2 - 3 stars for me. But, Yelp defines 2 as Meh, I've experienced better and 3 as A OK. With that in mind, I am learning closer to two stars. However, if you are craving Indian food and you are in Birmingham, go here, grab some friends and order a variety of food. I am almost certain you will have a better experience than I did.
(2)Jay B.
I do not know where everyone is coming from with all these positive reviews. We need Yelp reformation to be more truthful about what we are buying and eating. Taj Indian is not short of horrible. Trust me. I've tasted mediocre, McDonald's-quality Indian food in the heart of Barcelona that tastes better than this. For example, the naan has the texture and taste of pancakes... I could end there, but there's so much more to criticize. The saag tasted like salty turnip greens with a little spice added to them. My first and only visit to Taj was both unreal and infuriating. I would say that this food is the ABSOLUTE worst I've ever tasted: I have been to about 30-40 Indian restaurants in the US and Europe combined. The manager had the nerve to ask me how the food tasted after sharing a recipe with some random customer. I simply told her that it was just "OK, and I've had better, but that's just my opinion." I don't value wasting my money on food that is clearly desirable to people who have not had better-tasting Indian food in Alabama because this is the only place they know. I know that all chefs do not cook the same way, but this one simply cannot cook. I hope you all find this helpful when choosing Indian restaurants in Birmingham, AL! Go to Bay Leaf. The food is better, but I'm still not bragging too much about them. The best in Alabama is by far Bombay Grille in Auburn, AL- I'd give them a 4/5. Treat yourselves.
(1)Chelsea G.
My favorite place for Indian food in the city! Taj India was my first Indian food experience and is where I take anyone to introduce them to this wonderful cuisine. Taj has the best food the best service, and the best atmosphere!
(5)Rick S.
VERY good Indian food! If you want spicy-hot food try the Chicken Madras. I ordered this and asked for it slightly calmed down and it was still quite hot. I forget what everyone else at the table had but it was all good. Large portions make it easy to share with your friends. Plan on spending some time for your dinner here. It takes awhile to prepare the order, but it's worth it. The do have a lunch buffet and you can order take-out.
(5)Ee Vonn Y.
The sign to Taj India can easily be overlooked from its small words. Enter this restaurant and your five senses are instantly transported to India condensed into a cozy restaurant filled with the aroma of herbs and spices. I ordered the tandoori fish tikka which looks like salmon filet on top of a citrus-flavored bed of lettuce and cabbage. It was kind of dry which is what I would expect with tikka. The vegetables had much more flavor. The down side was that you paid $16 for a dish and that doesn't even include a side of rice. That made me sad. However, they made me thrilled about my experience here as I got to have some paint on my face in celebration of Holi!
(4)Chris P.
Lunch buffet here is as good as great gets. I eat a lot of Indian food and this is one of my favorites. Friendly service too.
(5)Jameson H.
Great lunch buffet. Navratan korma and garlic naan takeout is a weekly occurrence at our house. ||| ||| |||
(5)Caleigh R.
We enjoy eating at Taj, but we also love it for pick up. Our go to is the Sag Paneer. Tonight we tried the aloo bengan, vegetable dhansak, and samosa chat. Sag paneer is still our fav---next we liked the aloo bengan, and least the dhansak. The samosa chat appetizers were delish!! Can't forget the garlic naan!
(5)Miranda R.
Taj is a fave for sure. So so good and great prices! I'm a big chicken fan. I highly recommend the butter chicken, chicken tikka masala, chicken vindaloo, or the tandoori chicken (on bone or off). The chicken tikka masala is my favorite. I recently tried the mushroom korma which was delightful over the tandoori boneless chicken. get some naan. have a lassi if that's your thing. food can get spicy!
(4)Arjun C.
I wish I could give a negative rating for this restaurant. Let me start off with what we've ordered. We started with samosa chat, bhel puri and chicken 65 for appetizers. Bhel puri was all drowned in some weird gravy and was the worst I've ever had. I never knew someone could be so bad at making bhel puri which is the easiest home made Indian appetizer. Chicken 65 is designed to a whole new level. It's so messed up and tastes like uncooked butter chicken. Samosa chat is fine. And then we decided to try one of the most authentic Indian dishes.. Biryani. We ordered chicken Biryani, lamb Biryani and taj Biryani which is a mix of chichen lamb and shrimp. I can't even explain how bad the food was. It's an Insult to have a place like this serving Indian food. The only thing you could get which is okay is PAPAD which you could get at any Indian store and just microwave. I'm absolutely never coming back here again and please save some time and taste buds.. There is great Indian food out there and please look out for it.. This isn't Indian food. Trust me! God bless America and Indian food!
(1)Amber G.
LOVE Taj India! This is our standby restaurant. Seriously, we eat here more than any other joint in Birmingham. The people are simply lovely and the food is excellent. I've had Indian in the UK - Taj is every bit as delicious! A couple weeks ago, we celebrated Diwali at Taj India. If you love festivals, I recommend making reservations for next year. The dahl is par-excellence! And the coconut rice could be addictive. Saag Paneer is one of my very faves; it's up there with korma.
(5)Uncle F.
I've been dining at Taj since well before I lived in Birmingham. It is, quite simply, one of my favourite restaurants in our fair city. The staff here calls me by name, and seems genuinely interested in making me feel at home. The Navratan Korma is a long-running favourite of mine, and I order it perhaps more than any other dish. Saag Paneer is my second-most-often ordered item. There are also wonderful lamb and chicken dishes I enjoy very much. The tables along the left wall are a little close together for my tastes, and the place is sometimes not spotless. (Granted, it;s also not squalor. I've eaten in much worse in my travels all over this little blue-green ball of rock and water.) Those are really my only complaints. I feel like family here, partly because of incidents like the one that happened some years ago, when the owner asked me a question about his misbehaving computer. He didn't expect me to plop myself down in his office and work on it for about an hour and a half. He kept bringing me chai, and asking me to stop and eat- but I was determined to gt his machine working well. I eventually set up a scan on his system, and wrote down some things he needed to do to get it working right. He comped my meal, and even brought me a couple of items the kitchen was experimenting with, that were not on the menu. It was a good night. :)
(4)Carson L.
Best Indian in Birmingham. Not canned, watered down like Sitar or Silver Coin. Try the lunch buffet.
(5)Colby K.
Amazing food. Not to high priced. Fantastic buffet. Only bad part is finding a place to park.
(5)Trevvor C.
Two words: lunch buffet. My wife and I dropped in to try the place - sight unseen - one Sunday after church, and at first blush it was a bit sketch. However, after picking our way through the littered parking lot and traipsing past the garish signage of the Highland Package Store, we were greeted with the tranquil and authentic decor of a classy Indian restaurant. Our options were the buffet...and the buffet, so we headed down the line and scooped a little of this and a little of that onto our plates. A little complimentary basket of naan was brought to accompany the meal. Everything off the buffet was good, and at the end of the day, for $6.95 a pop, this is a lunch deal hard to top.
(4)Jacklyn H.
The go to Indian restaurant in town! Owners are so wonderfully sweet and food is always consistantly delicious! I love dining in, but they do offer take out. Quiet intimate atmosphere. Try the lacha parantha with your dinner. I always get butter chicken which is rather spicy and a tomato curry sauce, but the chicken tikka masala is perfect as well! Oh, and dessert is so good! Gulab Jamun is a little fried dough ball in a rose honey. Ugh, so delicious!
(5)B. H.
Overall just not great. I've given it many chances, but the food just disappoints in many ways every time. The spices are very bland, all you really taste is chili powder regardless of which curry dish you eat--Indian food should be so vibrant and flavorful in their spices--they just tend to be all the same, and not really special at all, and I think each curry dish should have its own personality not a uniform bland flavor that is similar to all of them. Many of the appetizers are just terrible fast food versions using substitutions for traditional ingredients that just don't work. They have two types of puri appetizers, but instead of actually using the puri's you would find in India stuffed with goodies, they use puff rice receral and wonton crackers on a plate that you eat with a spoon. The filling was also cold in one of them, clearly old. I just wouldn't offer these dishes if you aren't going to make the puris. Then the biryani is terrible. They make the fatal flaw of using a sauce added to rice to make a terrible pulao, not biryani. A biryani should be rice cooked with lots of fragrant spices to have a nice warm, relatively dry dish. Instead its a greasy gravy slopped on precooked rice. Further, you can tell it was cooked separate because there was clumped up rice in which the sauce didn't fully soak in to. But most importantly, if you don't get anything else from this review: The chicken was terrible. It appeared to be the left overs of the previous day's buffet. It was greasy, fatty, with cartilage, overcooked, and very dark and chewy. It was not appetizing, but worst of all, and perhaps frighteningly so, it just tasted flat out funny. And funny tasting chicken can never be a good thing. Skip this place.
(1)Sally B.
I went there last night and every year for the Happy Holi Holiday. During this time they extend their buffet beyond it's normal lunch means. You can start with the fried fish that was salted perfectly and super crunchy. The fried lentil croquette is always delicious and bursting with flavors. The rice is rice. It's there to soak up the curry with goat or fish or chicken balls. All which were tasty. The goat was tasty but there was a bunch of bones to pick through. They has vegetables also, a mix of onions and okra that was pan fried and crunchy with a little heat. The eggplant and potatoes were not my favorite but it could just be me. They also had the naan which was the regular not garlic or cauliflower and it did a great job absorbing the mint yogurt dressing for the salad. And last but not least my favorite, the sag paneer. I love everything about the sag paneer; it was spicier than usual but just as good. It was also lacking the cheese but that could because it was a buffet instead of entree. I highly recommend going to Taj India.
(4)Scott N.
I've been here a couple times in recent weeks and I'm a fan. I'm a sucker for hot & spicy food and the items on their hot & spicy menu do not disappoint. I've had the ghost krara and kori gasi shrimp and they are both excellent and they are hot! I haven't had any of the naan due to my diet so I can't comment on it. I will be back when I'm in the neighborhood.
(4)Eric M.
The food here is excellent. They make authentic Indian food. My wife and I wanted mahakani instead of tikki masala and they made it for us even though it wasn't on the menu. My friend had the ghost pepper dish and his mouth was burning! Great spicing, great flavors - we will be back!
(5)Whitney B.
And another Indian buffet bites the dust. The man and I came here during lunch break to see if they had made any changes. Both of us had been here before and neither of us were particularly thrilled, so we decided to take a chance and hope for the best. Nope. Same crap, different day. The samosas tasted like they were old and had been refried. The aloo baingan was almost cold and almost no flavor. The rice was kind of mushy. The chicken curry was just strange. Did not taste like any curry I've ever had before. The chili chicken should have been called ginger chicken. The sambar looked like thick dal. The tandoori chicken was boring. The aloo chaat tasted like vinegar. I mean come on, what is up with this place? Even my worst Indian dish tastes better than this stuff. The best thing this place has going for it is the decoration. And because it is next to Western, the parking of course sucks. If you are in this part of town, pay the extra couple of dollars and go to Sitar. Unless of course, you like to torture yourself with craptastic food.
(1)Chad G.
Best Indian food in Birmingham!!! Very friendly staff, DELICIOUS food, great atmosphere and affordable prices.
(5)Monika S.
We come here very often and have worked our way through the menu. The food is wonderfully varied, tasty and delicious. Really a great asset for the Bham foodie scene. Staff is wonderfully friendly, they recognize me on the phone by now (!) and always greet me. We love it for eat in or take out.
(4)Shawna P.
My husband nd two teenagers and I were visiting Birmingham and decided Indian food might be fun. The kids had never had Indian before. When we found Taj India the outside strip mall was not impressive, but we were sp glad we didn't let that deter us. From the Indian paintings to the unique silverware and copper cups, everything decoration wise was charming. The food and the service were equally enjoyable. We truly enjoyed every bite! The portions were generous and the prices quite affordable. We'll certainly be going back when in Birmingham again.
(5)Marc F.
I've been coming here for years, have had dozens and dozens of meals here and probably have only ever been disappointed once. The menu is so large that you can either find something for everyone or never run out of stuff to order! If you're unfamiliar with Indian cuisine, like most people, you'd best start with some Naan (Indian flatbread) and Raita, an addictive yogurt sauce that can go on about anything. Other than that, it's pretty much up to you to order what you want. My recent favorite is ordering Lamb (Shish Kebab style) from the Tandoori and pairing it with a lentil dal. The lamb is ground and then put on skewers, being exceptionally succulent and flavorful. The dal is similar to a bean dish you might get at a Mexican restaurant and works well as a starch for the dish. As others have said, the ambiance is great. Indian ethnic music is playing in the background, and there's plenty of items on the walls and in the main dining areas to make the experience memorable. Taj India on occasion (and I can't give you dates) has festivals commemorating Indian holidays such as the Festival of Lights and some event involving colors being painted all over your face. Also, If you're a vegetarian, this restaurant will great for you! Many people think that all Indian food is spicy, which has a hint of truth. Not all dishes are spicy as in hot, but many are spicy in that they contain very potent and very enriching spices that give off unique flavors and scents.
(4)Merry Michael S.
i honestly do not feel qualified to write a review about indian food since taj is the only place i have ever eaten it but i must say i really love this place! the Chef Special Thali is the way to go. it is a great way to sample a lot of items and find out what makes your taste buds sing if you are like me and are a newbie to indian flavors. the assorted basket of naan is also a must. i especially like the sweet one made with cherries and coconut flakes - yum!
(4)Paul C.
This place rocks! The last time my wife and I dined here we ordered the Chef Special Thali for two. This feast is a sampling of a variety of dishes. It included: Tandoori Chicken, Shish Kabab, Chicken Tikka, Shrimp Makhni, Chicken Tikka Masala, Sag Paneer Basmati Rice, Tandoori Naan Bread, Raita and Gulab Jamun. Too much food, but it was excellent. As for individual dishes, we really like the Shrimp Korma (a creamy saffron and coconut cream sauce), and the Chicken Sagwala (chicken simmered in Spinach). If you like spicy food, the Chicken Vindaloo (chicken with potatoes, onions and hot spices) is good. The naan is always warm and excellent. We especially like the naan that has maraschino cherries in it.
(5)