Nirvana Indian Cuisine
314 E Huntington Dr, Arcadia, CA, 91006
Nirvana Indian Cuisine Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Arcadia for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Arcadia for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Arcadia for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
314 E Huntington Dr
Arcadia, CA, 91006 - Phone (626) 574-1400
- Website https://nirvanadining.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 3:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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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Joanna W.
Cheap and quality Indian food! :D I came here for lunch as a party of 4. They have lunch buffet available for $8.95 (which we should've picked but they don't have lamb so that's a bummer) but instead we just ordered from the menu. We ordered: Lunch Special - Rhogan Josh Lamb Lunch Special - Vindaloo Lamb Lunch Special - Tendoori Chicken w/ eggplant curry Each of the lunch special came with salad or yogurt, bean stew-like curry, the curry you ordered, rice, and naan. Their naan is REALLY good and not oily. Yogurt is chilled and sour so I didn't truly enjoy, but it wasn't bad. I loved the bean stew thing and all of the curry I ordered. Lamb is tender and tendoori chicken is flavorful and well smoked. Garlic Naan: you can barely taste the garlic but like I said I like their naan. Mango Lassi: yum! The dessert with soft cheese (forgot what its called): the first taste was weird but I love it after more tries. Sweet milk and soft cheese create the perfect balance and I love how the cheese kind of melts in your mouth like ice cream does. Really yummy. One of the servers wasn't really nice and had a b*tch face on the whole time. The other one was really sweet and helpful.
(4)Baby D.
I am honestly shocked that they have such high reviews. I went here once for the lunch buffet with my boyfriend. I was so excited to show him how DELICIOUS Indian food was, since he's never tried it, and I figured- a buffet would be the best way to introduce him to India's amazing cuisine. We both left disappointed. The service was just fine, they were very polite to us, but the food was where they fell short. The buffet literally had one small row of things to choose from. I don't think I need to explain why me and my boyfriend were disappointed at this buffet. I would not really call it a buffet- it's so minimal. As far as the actual dishes- this place serves meat heavy indian dishes. There was pretty much meat or cheese in everything. They did not have vegetable korma, which really disappointed me. They had very little vegetarian options, which most of the Indian buffet's i've gone to, had many. I've been to multiple Indian buffets- and this was the least impressive. I'm really sorry but this is about as honest a review as it can get. My poor boyfriend feasted on mostly na'an bread that day- he found most the dishes unpalatable. I was heartbroken a little, because I was so excited to share with him my love for Indian food. I would not recommend Nirvana for vegetarians and especially not for vegans.
(3)Todd N.
Came here while in Arcadia and saw the rave reviews! It's a small joint with a traditional Indian restaurant flavor to it. Ordered the Tikka Masala and lamb curry with some naan bread. I do wish they provided naan bread with your meal at least one order per dish. I did appreciate the wide selection of naan bread on the menu and the curry options were great as well. The flavors in the curries were good but I've had better, so maybe it's not fair to judge. I will say where this place lacks is the service. There were only 2 people working the floor and you can tell that there was slow service and a huge delay on the food.
(3)Calvin L.
If you buy Entertainment Books like I do, there's a BOGO entree in there for you. That is what brought me here. The food is great and the service is better. So you might be wondering why only 3 stars. Well, PRICE. Super over-priced. I was in super-shock. Chicken Tikka Masala ($11.95) I had no clue what to order, and Yelp pretty much chose it for me. So many people raved about this that I just had to try it. It was good. I got it mild and the sauce was AWESOME. The chicken was dry even though it was drenched in the sauce. One bite into it and you can taste that dryness. Bleh. AAAAAAND it's $12!?!?! What!? It's 5 pieces of chicken in curry.... How can that be $12? I'm so tore. So good, but such a rip. Good thing I had a BOGO. Garlic Naan ($1.95) This is a must. So soft and fluffy. Amazed. I have nothing negative to say about the naan. So good!! I probably won't come back simply because the price is outrageous. If you're ballin' out of control and want some good Indian food, this is may be the place for you. For everyone else, better get on that overtime to compensate.
(3)Danielle H.
Soooooo delicious! The food was top notch. Happy to say my daughter's first experience with Indian cuisine was highly commended! She absolutely loved the entire Vegetarian Dinner, complete with Saag Paneer. Mmmm. Wish I lived closer. The service and atmosphere was outstanding too. A little chilly inside, but comfortable two seater tables available for outdoor dining. Super great night out.
(5)Becky A.
This is the worst place To order take out from!! THE WORST customer service ever! These people have no idea what customer service is like. They do not want to admit fault, even when it's their own fault that containers burst and brake because plastic breaks In very high heat! I have only dinned at this place once and got attitude and ugly stares from what I assume are the owners. On a second occasion I ordered takeout and it was ok, but this last time was terrible and will definitely never go back again and will be telling everyone on IG an FB about this terrible experience. So to the owners and "manager" you can post your comments all you want but your service sucks!! Now go take a class and learn a little about customer service before you take comments personal! You only got one star because without it I couldn't post!
(1)Vardan P.
I was very surprised at how much I liked this restaurant. Walking in it's pretty small, small enough where you feel like a bit closterphobic but it easily wears off. The food however was delicious fresh and not heavy what so ever compared to most Indian cuisine which is. The garlic naan was yummmm the chicken titkki massala was divine and we both ordered the dinner special which was a perfect mix. I will be back thanks
(5)Brant W.
NEW MANAGEMENT OVERCHARGES CUSTOMER (6/19/15 & 10/31/14) ON ADVERTISED DEAL BY OVERTAXING, REQUIRING AND MISCALCULATING TIP ON TOTAL WITH TAX FOR TO-GO ORDER - TO COMPENSATE FOR COUPON DISCOUNT WITH IMPUNITY! This management's dishonesty and disrespect has finally overtaken the appeal of their good food. 1. "Two meals for the price of one If you accept two-for-one coupons or other discount coupons or cards that allow customers to purchase food or beverages at a reduced price, your tax liability is based on the amount received for the sale. Examples You serve two $12 meals for the price of one under a dine-out plan and charge your customer a total of $12 for both meals. Tax applies to the $12 total, before the optional tip." - Dining and Beverage Industry, Publication 22, California State Board of Equalization, page 15. Nirvana has repeatedly wrote me a check charging sales tax on a free meal BOGO "Entertainment book" coupon & "The Quarterly" coupon magazine. - See photo where $2.80 tax is on subtotal $30.90 before $12.00 free meal coupon value applied. 2. 15% tip is required, even miscalculated as $5.05 (15% of Total including tax $33.70) 3. BILL SHOULD BE $20.61 INSTEAD OF $26.75, including $5.05 take-out tip and $1.09 tax overpayment.
(1)Josephine T.
This place is near me, has great yelp deals if you check in, great food and service, so yeah, I came here twice within one week! Atmosphere/Ambience: Small cozy family styled restaurant located on a strip mall near Starbucks and BJs Brewery. Service: Excellent. Service is quick and the servers are very friendly. The female server, I believe her name is Puju, is very knowledgeable of all the menu items and deals, ask her if you have any questions on anything! Food: Fantastic, I've had quite a bit of Indian food throughout my life and this place is definitely a favorite! We ordered: -Shrimp Korma If you a prefer a sweeter curry, try a korma instead of masala! Loved it! -Chicken Tikka Masala One of their most popular dishes and my favorite. Full of flavor and very generous with the amount of chicken they give you. The sauce is so friggin good, I'd be happy with just naan bread and the sauce alone. -Rack of Lamb Sizzler Juicy, tender lamb. Probably some of the best lamb I've had. -Several types of Naan Bread The naan bread here is delicious and is just the right consistency. They have a wide variety but my personal favorite is the garlic naan! -Mango Lassi drink If you haven't had Mango Lassi, think of it as a thick, mango yogurt drink. If that sounds appealing to you, try it! I personally enjoyed it. Overall: A must try if you're in the area! I don't give 5 star reviews to just any restaurant!!! Make sure you ask about their deals all over Groupon, Yelp, and more. Ask about their app too, if you come a certain amount of times and they stamp you on their app, you get freebies! Yay!
(5)Art H.
delivery took one hour to get food when delivery.com said it would take 30 min, 3 miles away, paid 40$ total including a required tip, (30$ min) 7$ for plain steamed basmati rice, a container with about 2 cups worth, serious? You guys need to work on your food cost, restaurant depot is around 22$ for like a 20 pound bag of basmati last i checked, get your stuff together mr new owner. Only thing i tasted from the okra was spicy. No other spices or even salt, mushroom mater half the container was filled with oil.
(1)David C.
Weekday lunch buffet costs $8.99. I had a great meal but I felt let down by the food. Their rice pudding was a bit disappointing in that, it didn't have any cinnamon and walnuts. I'm used to rice pudding with cinnamon and walnuts. They offer a variety of curries but all seemed watered down compared to other Indian food restaurants. I prefer thick sauces that stick to the rice and naan imparting full flavor. The curries here soak in and have little strength. Still, the quintessential flavors are represented and they have the two Indian cuisine essentials: Garlic naan and Chicken tikki masala. I especially loved the fish curry. It had big fish fillets and a spicy kick. Alternatives for Indian lunch buffet: Mahan in Alhambra and Ashoka the Great in Artesia.
(4)Adam A.
The reason for the 2-star review (I had their lunch buffet) is as follows: -They didn't tell me that if you choose the garlic nan (instead of the regular nan), they charge you $1 extra. -They also didn't tell me that if you ask for a 2nd serving of garlic nan, they charge you another $1 extra for the "refill." I'm glad I didn't ask for a 3rd serving. In theory I could've asked if these 2 things (garlic nan, another serving of nan) are included in the buffet, but I didn't because I couldn't imagine it being an extra cost. I did ask if drinks were included (only water is free) because it's extremely common for drinks to not be part of buffets. But garlic added to nan incurs an extra cost? Too stingy if you ask me. I'm better off going to New Flavor of India ( yelp.com/biz/new-flavor-… ) as their garlic nan is part of their buffet (no extra cost), and furthermore they don't charge you extra if you ask for multiple servings of it.
(2)Tom D.
It has been quite a while since our last meal at this fine establishment. As of this evening's dinner, this IS my new "favorite" Indian restaurant in the south land. I had the most amazing tandoori chicken this evening as part of a combination dinner. Each item was wonderfully seasoned and incredibly flavorful. My chicken was smoky and moist--the perfect tandoori preparation. The atmosphere was quiet and relaxing. The service was friendly and professional. As part of my combination meal, they served a great mixed vegetable curry with a kick...! Of course I asked for a spicy dish. Try this place for the buffet too. It's great!
(5)Jay R.
Came here for lunch. Food wasn't all that great and they overcharged. Splitting cards was more of an annoyance here than usual. They wouldn't let us do individual orders. We could not get the receipt back to check but the bill was split with a few cards and some cash, when we added up our totals it did not make sense. CHECK RECEIPT AND TOTALS! Thought it was just us but i saw another review saying they overcharged them too.
(1)Linda N.
One of my favorite Indian restaurants in the area. I highly recommend giving this place a try, especially if you're looking for a place that can make their curry spicy. I recommend trying their Bengan Bhartha (eggplant) or their Paneer Jalfrazi (Veggies on sizzling plate). I'm a fan of chicken curry and haven't tried one that I didn't like. Plus, they have specials on Yelp, so make sure you check-in or see if they're offering any other deals. Their staff are really nice, but service can be slow at times. Overall, I recommend this place.
(4)Joseph M.
Nirvana Indian does not respect their customers, I will never go back and this is why neither should you.... I got a take out order from here this past Sunday through eat24. After waiting 10 minutes plus over the 10-30 minute estimate a woman came out with my order, and I was happily on my way. Unfortunately when I got home I saw they hadn't put much thought into the way they pack their to go orders as 3 of the 4 hot liquid container had broken into one another making the entire bag a colossal mess of 2 mixed tandoori chicken lunch. They had chosen to stack 4 liquid containers on top of one another with the hottest items on the bottom, so basically the heat from the food caused the plastic tops to crack with the help of the cooler and heavier chicken and rice on top. Things happen what can you do right. I called them up naturally and was given nothing but attitude. First they insisted that if anything broke it had to be my fault even though I explained how the plastic tops had melted and I could see several plastic pieces floating around through the now cracked and open tops. They would not budge and insisted there was no way it could be their fault as this has never happened before. After insisting I speak to the manager I was told to bring it back and they would assess the damage on the spot and only then decide if I am worthy of them remaking my lunch. I asked if they could start remaking my food now so it can cook while I am on my way back there again and they flat out refused stating company policy which is odd considering its a family business and they make the policy. I drove back with my damaged food for them to inspect (I guess to make sure I am not pulling some kind of scam), which I think made them madder as they became very agitated when I showed them all 3 broken containers and the mess it created in the bag, which was why I needed the lunch remade. I lined everything in a row to take a pic but before I could a pissed off busboy bumps into me and very quickly snag everything up and run into the back, I guess to not show the other customers eating lunch my fantastic looking food. The Manager then also precedes to walk away from me to towards the kitchen and midway down the hall with her back to scream for me to have a seat. After another long wait she comes out with my food but reuses to apologize for my wasted time or money and insists they had no fault in this. In her words, "this wasn't our fault or your." I pressed her again to explain how that was possible and once again she just walks away from me mid-sentence. I know there are cultural differences here but that is no excuse for this customer service experience. When I got home I discovered they had literally just taken the food I had returned to them and repacked it in new containers. They were so cheap they never bothered to add anymore liquid to the containers that had lost some, as some were 1/3-1/2 filled with the same pieces of plastic still floating in them. The chicken was cold, tough and was obviously not the new pieces promised. I called back and was given more attitude. After 2 tips back they again would only offer to remake my food which obviously would just be the same old crappy food, repacked again. They flat out lied when I called them out about the original plastic still in my food saying they, "didn't know how they could have possibly gotten there." At this point I was done with these losers and demanded my money back which they very reluctantly agreed. Even eat24 called to apologize as Nirvana's story made zero sense to them too. I used to like this place but will never go back after being so disrespected. If you want Indian food go elsewhere in the SGV.
(1)Nora G.
Excellent HOT Indian food. Please order Lamb Tikka Masala and coconut curry with pollo these two dishes are to die for.
(5)Leonard S.
This is yet another lovely evening for my Wife and I at the Nirvana. I especially love the fresh herbs and spices here. i haven't had enough of the Mushroom Matar (I always ask for it extra spicy). We tried the Dahl tonight and loved it. It seems every time we come in and try a new dish were not disappointed.
(5)DeEtte A.
(This is a past due review.) My husband and I have come here a few times and we both like it. They don't seam to remember us though which is weird because it's family owned and operated and we've come often enough to be remembered. Luckily the food is really good so them not remembering us doesn't really matter (but it would be nice if they remembered who comes back to stuff more money in their pockets, right?) Oh, and the buffet is worth going to! I avoid buffets because they tend to be unhealthy by means of the overeating you do when you're at one but this one is worth breaking the rules for. Pros: friendly staff, clean, good food. Cons: Spiciness of food is unpredictable. We alway order medium but the last time we did we couldn't eat it because it was too spicey. The owner's daughter took it away and replaced it but asked if we ordered from them before. Considering it had been about our 7th time there, uhhhh, yes, we have! Not the best way to handle the situation but they did resolve it, the question just made us feel uncomfortable. Totally going back, especially for their lunch buffet! It's a small place and although I would say it's ok to take kids, it's not a play ground!
(5)Traveling W.
Absolutely delicious!!! I had the all-encompassing buffet today which included tasty Chardonnay and a whole array of different dishes... Everything was perfectly seasoned, spiced to perfection and the goat and chicken curries were extremely tender. The rice pudding and gulab jamun sweet balls were to die for while sipping on my champagne at the end of this feast. I highly recommend this place!!! The prices are very reasonable and the service and ambiance is great here! I will be back for more... If I could rate this place 7 stars I would!!!
(5)Carolyn N.
Food was great. The portions are a bit small, and a little pricy. But the service and quality made up for it. Would probably go back.
(4)Karthikeyan A.
Worth for money. Don't expect lot. Small restaurant.Good for lunch..people works in SCE prefer going there for team lunchs..
(4)Vencci H.
Came here for the weekend lunch buffet!!! Thought it was up to par. Had other Indian lunch buffets before and thought this one had a good amount of variety in terms of curries and also thought that the taste of each curry was delicious. I must say though that I have had better chicken masala else where...and that the consistency of the masala here was a little thinner than usual. One thing that impressed me was the fact that they had a fish curry. It was delicious!!!!!! I have yet to go to an indian lunch buffet where they served fish curry! Super impressed! Other than that the service was excellent. For $11.95 they give you a free drink (anything that is listed in the menu as 1.95) and garlic naam. Thought the naam here was delicious--was not too crispy nor too soft--Very good. They also carry the traditional rice pudding and the milk cheese ball! Very happy with my experience here and will definitely be back!
(5)Bruce L.
This is a cozy little spot in a shopping strip with friendly service, a comprehensible menu (I need pictures) and excellent food. We had the chicken tikka masala dinner combo (comes with rice, 3 sides and naan) and channa masala. Split between two people it was just right. Medium spicy had a kick but not overly spicy. We discovered this place from Yelp and the reviewer steered us to a Groupon for it, AND it's on Mileage Plus dining so it extended my United miles an additional 18 months, so call it a "three-fer" and a five star. Will come again. I'd like to try the lunch buffet sometime (sadly excluded from the Groupon).
(5)Emily C.
Service here is excellent-- our waitress was so friendly and she mingled with some of the customers and gave everyone what they needed. Between two girls, we had samosas, garlic naan, shrimp masala, and the bengan bhartha (roasted eggplant cooked curry style with tomatoes). Feeling not quite full, we had another order of regular naan which really pushed us over the limit. Samosas-- Not the best, but pretty good. Their chutney had quite a kick and I was addicted to it. Garlic Naan-- Better than regular naan but a bit oily. Not as garlicky for those who like to breathe on other people. Shrimp Masala-- Loved the flavor and there were a few medium shrimps in there but it was an ok dish overall. Bengan Bhartha-- The eggplant was good and you really couldn't tell what it was until you tasted it. This was very nice but got very repetitive by the end of the meal. Overall, medium spice was pretty mild to me but my friend felt it was a bit hot since she doesn't normally eat spicy foods. For dinner, it would have been pricey had it not been for our Living Social deal. Food itself was ok and not spectacular, but I did feel pretty comfy here and the staff was nice.
(3)Karla r.
We have gone 3 times since my first review because the food was so good. Tried the lunch buffet, good choices and quick! My 10 year old loves it. Friendly and quick service.
(5)Cindy L.
My brother and I were craving some Indian buffet. After a little bit of Yelping, we decided to go here. The service was good and the restaurant atmosphere was nice. Unfortunately, the food was a little bland. My brother and I both agreed that the sauces tasted a bit watery, so it didn't have the punch of spices we were craving. I guess we will have to continue our search for a good nearby Indian buffet.
(3)Kunal B.
We came here not expecting much from the food but were pleasantly surprised. After reading the previous reviews that said how the curries tasted like they had been "watered down", I was a little hesitant to try this place out. But I am glad we did. We got the lunch buffet. The food was delicious and we thoroughly enjoyed it. The tandoori chicken was dry, probably from being out for some time, but the curries were tasty. The spices in them were just about right and there was enough flavor in all of it. It was mother's day, so they had Gajar Halwa (Carrot pudding) on the menu. I am still drooling thinking of it. We loved the lamb curry. Most restaurants undercook the lamb which makes it tough and chewy and gives it a meaty aftertaste. This is not how Indians like their meat (lamb/goat is "meat" for us) and is a big turnoff for most of us. The lamb here was cooked to perfection and the curry had subtle spices, enough to make you want more. Butter chicken was good too. No two curries served in the buffer had the same base, which is good to see. It was easy to tell the curries apart by the colors of the sauces. If you are used to eating curries that are overloaded with spice, this is probably not the place to eat a buffet. May be an à la carte order which is custom made, might be more suitable for you. We have no complaints about the food or the service. Will go back most likely
(5)John N.
Wait staff was really busy. Didn't explain orders to us. Had to ask for the drink. Food was good but I've had better for a lower price.
(2)Andrew M.
Very good dinner combination options. My wife and I came here tonight for chicken and a veggie combination, and although their business was a bit slow, we were impressed how fresh the food was. Highly recommended with the chicken coconut curry. Also a pretty good value. Tip: they're a rewards network member.
(5)Srihari G.
Authentic Indian food and taste. The Samosas are very good. I went there twice and the first time we had Okra curry. Thay was simply the best...made with fresh okra and homely taste. The second time we had Potato curry and Mix veg curry with Peshawari Naan. Just very memorable. I will come here again when I am in the area next time.
(5)Jose G.
Ok, so I came in tonight thinking...I am going to have some great Indian! Little did I know that tonight would blow my mind, the chicken Tikka skewer extra spicy (they know me now) was so damn good, it had me in an uproar. Coupled with the extra spiced green peppers in house curry and the coffee the meal comes together like a beautifully mastered and implemented symphony of flavor! This restaurant is 2nd to none and they will always have a place in my heart and stomach! Let me not forget the service is impeccable, gracious, familial, courteous, sweet and just all around great.
(5)Tim S.
Tried the menu this time and can definitely say that the food and quality of service was much better. I tried the Mango Lassi which for the sake of a better analogy tasted like mango yogurt shake, the chicken korma (medium) which was very good and had just the right amount of sauce thickness and spice, and the cheese naan. The naan was interesting however in that the cheese filling was sparse, crumbled, and didn't melt at all. Unsure what type of cheese it was but don't think of it as you would the normal American way of thinking "cheese bread"...it's nothing like that. Doesn't mean it's bad, just different. This confirmed that the buffet food is considerably watered down compared to menu items (the sauce for the korma was what I usually expect and receive at other Indian buffets), however after having tried a new Indian buffet in San Dimas that completely failed expectations, I have to give them credit and say that they still have a couple things that are pretty good (as I've previously said the cauliflower is really good, as are the fried onion balls). I'd really like to see them improve the sauces on the buffet before I can give that 5th *. Even if people pick out all the meat, if the sauce is thick enough it still goes well by itself on rice...something that watered down sauce does poorly. Regardless, I definitely have a new found appreciation for the food that they are capable of making when you consider non-buffet items.
(4)Joanna S.
If you like bland Indian food then this is the place to go. They have deals on Groupon and if you sign up for their rewards card they will send you coupons and deals through email. I don't hate their food (their naan is amazing) but they have to try thickening their sauces a bit more. Too watered down and doesn't "stick" to my naan which makes it hard to eat. I understand that it is a small/cozy/family restaurant but it can get really awkward to have people staring at you while you get the food.
(3)Catherine S.
Not only is this food inexpensive, its also really good. Would definitely come here again
(4)Charlene C.
Been here twice. (2011 and 2013 with the new management) Didn't like our meal at all back in 2011 and never came back. My friend who went with me back then said she'd never come back! 2 years later, decided to give it another shot. (minus one friend) We had their Lunch Buffet which is $8.95 (Mon-Fri). During the weekend it's $11.95. There were 3 of us who ate the buffet (one of whom is of Indian decent). Among the 3 of, we concluded that the food wasn't the greatest and wasn't worth a return trip. I thought the variety and flavor wasn't there and the chicken was tough. The buffet set up was a little awkward as well since there were two rows of trays and you had to take the lid off and weren't able to set it anywhere. Service was just okay.
(2)Steven M.
My brother and our girlfriends came here for, technically, the first time since I believe ownership had changed since my brother and I came last. The decor was new and fresh, the ambiance was pleasant they were staffed properly. We ordered Chicken Tikka Masala as well as a Shrimp dish which I can't quite remember the name. Along with the Garlic Naan and rice everything tasted fresh, delicious and had the right mix of spices and seasonings. We thoroughly enjoyed everything and would definitely be back. My girlfriend had never had Indian food and she loved it! We also learned they had a $8.95 buffet on weekdays which is a great price. I was actually lured in by the Yelp 10 for 20 deal! Thanks Nirvana!
(5)Travis P.
Outstanding Indian food. Service was friendly and food was quick, hot, and delicious. Meat samosas were great and chicken tikka masala was some of the best I've ever had.
(5)sora k.
I did somersaults to find Indian Food (my favorite) in my neighborhood. On top of that, they deliver. I am not the expert but everything I ordered was delicious! I got my usual, Saag Paneer and Chicken Tikka with naan. I asked for super spicy. They did not disappoint. It felt like my all the hairs on body were standing straight. Just the way I like it.
(5)Nate S.
Good food with a good amount of spiciness. Usually take it to go. Lunch buffet is a little lean.
(4)Kervin W.
I rarely have Indian food but a friend and I wanted to try something different in our area and this place was where we landed. We came for their lunch buffet and everything tasted legit. The bread and drinks were great and the food tastes good as well. The only thing I didn't like is the servers had a tendency to hover. It's a small place so they're very attentive but it's just awkward whenever I stand up to get food to have three people just watching me
(4)Dan L.
To be completely honest, I had absolutely zero experience with Indian food before dining at this restaurant. I tried their Lamb Curry lunch special combo (ordered mild) and mango juice. The food is alright ... neither remarkably good nor bad. The service was also not particularly impressive. I would be open to giving this place a second try sometime in the future (ordering something different on the menu).
(3)Deedee C.
Really really really love that Lamb Tikki Masala. Order at medium spicy.
(4)Mehdi R.
This past Saturday I decided to order in with my wife for my birthday celebration. I called Nirvana and placed my order. After the expected wait of an hour, we received one of the worst meals ever. The assorted appetizer was overcooked, the rack of lamb was extremely salty, a shrimp dish with barely any shrimp in it and the Lamb with potatoes has a sauce that tasted like canned tomato sauce. I was exited to find an Indian place that delivers, but I guess my hunt is not over yet. NEVER AGAIN.
(1)Tim Z.
Don't recommend coming here for dinner. I'm not saying don't come here, just don't come here for overpriced dinner. Neither should you order the lunch special. Because honestly, you don't look very prudent paying more money for a limited amount of the same food that I paid only $9 (LUNCH BUFFET) for. As for the 5 stars? I am in love with the lunch buffet. All the Indian food you can eat at a price of a lowly $9 which includes your choice of naan or chappati. Oh right, they also offer those fried condensed milk ball things with rice pudding as dessert in the buffet. Sometimes I dream of coriander chutney in my sleep.
(5)Jenny L.
1. Excellent service 2. Delicious food My dad found this place which was a shocker because the dude is very sensitive to very pungent spices. We decided to give it a try and I'm so glad we did. Garlic naan - ace. One order is a large piece cut in half. If you order more, they of course will charge you. This is not Olive Garden. HA! Saag paneer - looks a mess but tastes so good. I love spreading the paneer on my naan. Really tasty and not overpowering. Chicken tikka masala - this is perfect over their basmati rice ($4.95 for a bowl that was more than enough for the 3 of us) and the chicken, despite it being white meat was tender and flavorful Tandoori chicken - REALLY GOOD. Flavored well and not dry at all. Samosas - all I have to say is eat these with their mint sauce. I could literally douse anything with that sauce and eat it. EVEN PEAS (which are my enemy). I am already planning my next visit back because it's awesome to have found a good Indian spot close to home!
(4)Andromeda L.
Indian food is my favorite and this place did not disappoint! Everything we tried tasted amazing! Everything is bursting with flavor. I would highly recommend this place.
(5)Kanani J.
Horrible! The girl that works there is rude and the service was horrible. To top it off my stomach hurt for two days straight after rating here. I wouldn't recommend this place. They serve the meals on dirty , jail looking trays.
(1)Anthony H.
This place was great! Their food was spicy! Just how I like it! The server was also very friendly and made the customers feel comfortable. I will definitely be back!
(5)Romi B.
Love this place! The food is delicious and they have good sized portions. The service is great, always friendly and fast.
(5)Maritza A.
Very authentic, fresh and flavorful Indian food. Great flavor, good color and taste. Very friendly, sincere and helpful staff. Great atmosphere. Definitely coming back!
(5)Mike G.
In town for business. I wanted something besides a burger or a fancy dinner. Nirvana hit the spot. Had the lamb curry combination dinner with garlic naan. Medium spice. It was exactly what the doctor ordered. Great, friendly service. Prices were very reasonable. Plenty of food. I couldn't finish everything. Definitely coming back soon.
(5)Vee C.
We came to this place because it had a four star rating on yelp. The food is middling. Two things were good though: the potato and pea samosa, and the garlic naan. The thing I feel that I should report is that a strong odor of cigarette smoke seemed to be emanating from the kitchen area. About 10 minutes later an older gentleman who apparently works there walked by to go outside and he reeked of the cigarette smell as he passed! I has high hopes for this place when we walked in, and enjoyed the restaurant's decor and colors, and the charming busboy (our waitress was never to be seen again after taking our order!).
(3)M. G.
Expensive, but damn good Indian food and super friendly service. If you order the medium level of spice, be prepared for a HOT/spicy dish. God help you if you order the hot level. The third time I visited, we ordered mild-to-medium and it was still spicy. You have been warned.
(4)Nennette F.
We're regulars here. Love this place. Buffet is awesome! Comes with lots of naan bread and a drink, unlike other buffets that charge extra for drinks! Yeah!
(5)Gabriel G.
Food is excellent and service is amazing! True Nirvana, lol. Great for quick, delish lunch!
(5)Sally V.
I love this small, hole in the wall, family owned restaurant! They have good service and great food. They have coupons (and yelp coupon) deals so their prices are pretty reasonable. My favorite is their lunch buffet (which is from 11am-2pm). For $8.99 you can eat all you want from their buffet...i usually take it to gmmo and eat at work. U can fill up your Container as much as you want (usually equates to 2 meals!) Plus they give you Naan and a small Container (per request ) to fill up~I get either dessert, salad, or raita. I will definitely continue to stop by here to get my Indian food fix!
(5)Ronney F.
I think this place is cool. Many vegetarian options are available, and the food taste great! The set up is also nice. The people who work here are also sincere. I am glad I visited.
(4)Greg N.
Great service great food. If you dont want to eat meat get the tiki masala but with panneer. So good. The eack of lamb is great, the garlic naan is great the raita (yogurt) is also very good. The dinner special is the beat deal. You get a good portion and a little.bit of everything.
(5)Diana H.
We came here for dinner and used a Livingsocial voucher. Food: Tandorri Chicken = grade A; very good! Mutton Curry = grade C; the sauce was good but the meat had to much fat and bones! Pilaf Rice = grade B; good! Service was good. The restaurant was packed. We'll definitely be coming back to try more items on the menu! I love indian food!
(4)Dave N Katie F.
The food and service was great. We went on the weekend during the lunch buffet. There was a nice selection of food items to pick from that were all fresh and you could tell were just made :). We got an Indian tea also it was yummy. Lunch buffet on weekend is 11.95 a person. Good deal:) and lunch buffwt during week is 8.50 or so per person. Great place! And awesome food.
(5)Brianna M.
I came here with a party of four on a Saturday night. We were greeted warmly and seated immediately. We started our meal with the veggie samosas-delicious. As they were delivered our server explained the two different sauces that they came with. We were in need of some menu suggestions and our server was able to assist. We ordered lamb tikka masala, chicken biryani, paneer saag, and an eggplant dish recommended by our server. Food arrived quickly and was served hot and fresh. The four dishes along with our two orders of naan provided the perfect amount of food. (I recommend ordering family style and sharing). Every dish was spiced perfectly and full of flavor! We ended our meal with an order of rice pudding. It was light and just sweet enough. We left full and satisfied and the bill for the four of us came out to under $70. We will definitely be back to try new dishes and enjoy the good, friendly service.
(5)Jianne L.
In summary, this place had a GREAT first impression on me! I came in for lunch this afternoon with a friend who recommended this place since it was nearby her old house. I had not eaten Indian food in years, so why not? The restaurant is quite small, but it seemed very clean and organized inside. They have a lunch special buffet, as well as a lunch special you can order from the menu. I ordered the Chicken Tikka Masala, medium spice, which was the perfect amount of spiciness for me! I might be courageous to try spicy next time! It came with the chicken, lentils, basmati rice, yogurt, and of course naan bread. The naan was warm, slightly crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. Everything was delicious and I was surprised to have nothing to take home! It was a lot of food for $8.95! For dinner, I believe it would be around $13, which still isn't too bad. The woman that was serving us, I completely forgot her name, was extremely friendly and made conversation with the few of us that were eating there. I do live far, but I will be returning when I get the chance!
(5)Patrizia R.
Good ambiance, tasty and aromatic food (especially their chicken tikka masala and chicken biryani and have it done extra spicy). Only thing is, I find this a little bit more expensive than other Indian restos. But the place is worth a try if you want to have Indian food in a not too "fancy, fancy" setting as it's hard to find places that have good Indian food with an appealing ambiance.
(4)Gina S.
First visit, lunch special take-out review. I was craving lamb curry and was excited to try out a new Indian spot. I called in my order and was helped by a very friendly person on the other end. I had my choice between naan or chapati, salad or raita, and my choice of lamb curry. When I arrived, I paid ($10.95 for the lunch special), and was handed a large, brown bag that was stapled at the top. It was heavy and quite large and I thought I just scored the best deal in town. When I arrived to my destination, a few minutes later, I pried open the package and started taking out containers.... and that's where my confusion began. The contents of the bag were as follows: -1 large foil packet containing two half pieces of naan -1 container of salad -1 tiny container of spiced mint chutney? -1 container of lamb curry -THREE containers of daal makhani There was NO rice and I have no idea why I got 3 containers of daal. Now, let's talk about the food. LAMB CURRY - The container had 4-5 chunks of lamb. The lamb was fairly tender and only a couple pieces were ranged from tender, to dry, to chewy. I was starving and gobbled them all out. The curry flavor was very good and I ended up sopping it up with the naan. DAAL MAKHANI - This was the greasiest, oiliest daal I had ever had in my life. There were barely any lentils in each container, even though each container was 3/4's full - and each had a dark, thick layer of oil floating on top. Even when I stirred it up, finding lentils vs. sauce was a challenge. I took one or two bites and was grossed out by the flavor and consistency. Maybe it was the bottom of the pot, and they were trying to be generous by giving me so much? I don't know, but I was certainly sad to throw it out. What a waste. SALAD - a simple green salad with some cut up cucumbers. This would have been enjoyable if it had a little dressing to go with it (and I don't even typically use a lot of dressing with my salad). I ate a few leaves and ended up throwing it out. MINT - I'm not sure if this was for the salad or the lamb. It had to be for the lamb... I tried a little bite on it's own - hoping it was for the salad, but it was very spicy and clearly for the lamb. Yet another container thrown out. NAAN - the pieces of naan were quite large. One of the pieces was good, but the other was chewy and I threw that one out. So, really - what I had for lunch was a handful of lamb chunks, a piece of naan, and the curry that came with the lamb. SUCH a rip-off for my $10.95!!! And, what's worse is all that other food gone to waste. I would have been better off if I ordered some rice + lamb curry and they could have kept the other things. One huge positive is the gentleman running the register/front of the house. He is extremely pleasant and kind and I'm assuming he's also the one that took my order over the phone. 5-stars for him, for sure! I was hoping this would be a new rotation for lunch, but after the dismal experience, I won't be back. Note: there is a lunch buffet - plenty of food options and I definitely think this is the way to experience lunch at Nirvana - maybe that's why my take-out lunch order was missing rice and seemed 'off' (because no one does a la carte lunch orders)?? Who knows!
(2)Martin V.
We visit Nirvana about once a month...excellent food here. The curries and dal are flavorful, and you get good portions (we get the dinner combos). Try the mutton curry...it's moist, tender and not at all gamey. One warning, their "mild" is very mild indeed (too mild in my opinion), but the "medium" sets my face on fire. I have not dared try "spicy"...my face is sweating just thinking about it. Lastly, I liked the layout of the place better before they remodeled...it had a warm, cozy feeling...how it just feels crowded. They might have even changed owners. The food is still great though, if not even better.
(4)Josephine D.
This is our go to place for good indian food! Moved a year ago to Pasadena and finally found a place we like...nirvana! We love the tandoori chicken , chicken tikka Marsala and lamb curry. Service is decent. Will be coming back!
(4)Susan X.
Chicken korma, lamb curry and spinach are my favorites! Fish curry is ok, fresh fish but the curry is a bit salty. The naang breads are great. I love their kitchen as well, very Indian traditional.
(4)Nelson I.
This is a quaint little spot on the border of Arcadia and Monrovia, located very conveniently to the freeway. Its a terrific place for great value and casual dining. The ambiance is fit more as a family restaurant. The decor is simple and clean, nothing too extravagant. I have dined here several times for their lunch buffet. It is a terrific value for all you can eat indian food for under $10. They will rotate the selections on the buffet menu daily, so you can get a good variety of food. I have also ordered take out from here as well for dinner. I usually get the typical chicken tikka masala and it is quite delicious. The tomato based sauce for the tikka masala is quite rich and flavorful, yet has a smooth and creamy texture to it. In addition the portions for the take out were quite generous. I have ordered from various indian restaurants and they offer half the portion for more cost. Definitely think this place is worth a try, especially if you can make it out to their lunch buffet.
(4)Alice S.
I love this place! After the change of ownership, the food is soooo good and they are all so nice! It's family owned and they have excellent customer service. Their lunch buffet is great too!
(5)Partha J.
We dined in for dinner 2 times in the last 1 month. Very small cozy place with just 10 four-seaters. We had ordered items like half tandoori chicken, shahi paneer , naan, paratha etc. All of these were excellent !! just as you would typically expect from a Punjabi north indian restaurant. Ask for raitha (can't recollect if it was free) which is very good. Regarding service, on couple of waiters - I don't really care about their limited English , just felt they need little more professional restaurant service training. Nothing bad otherwise. Wish it was 50% more spacious. Tandoori chicken is out of the world !!
(5)Charlene L.
I have lived in this area for a while but never had the chance to check this restaurant out before until I saw a LivingSocial deal for it ($15 for $30 of food). I was a little hesitant when reading the reviews but when we got there, we found out that they recently changed ownership the last two years. This small family owned restaurant was nicely decorated inside and only had about 10 tables. My mom and I went on a Thursday night and was surprised by how empty it was but business later picked up around 7:30pm when the restaurant was almost packed! I tried the Chicken Dinner Special and my mom had their Chef's Dinner Special. We ordered the following items: Chicken Tikka Masala: I really enjoyed this dish. The curry was really flavorful and had large pieces of tender chicken. Previous reviews said that it was a little dry but they went during their lunch buffet. I have not had the chance to try their lunch buffet yet but it was really good when I ordered it during dinnertime. Rack of Lamb: As part of the Chef's Dinner Special, you can pick an item from their Tandoori menu. It came with two pieces so my mom and I split this dish. We were amazed by how tender and juicy the lamb was. The spices worked really well with the lamb as well. I am normally not a big fan of lamb but I actually really enjoyed this dish. The flavor of the lamb was not overpowering which was great. If you like lamb or want to try something different, I would suggest trying this dish because it really is that good! Mutton Curry: It was the first time my mom tried mutton before but she really enjoyed this curry as well. I didn't try this dish but it seemed really good. Garlic Naan: You can request for Garlic Naan in their dinner specials which was great. It comes with two halves in each order and was plenty for our dishes. What I loved about their garlic naan was that you can really taste the garlic flavor but it was not too garlic-y. It was delicious with our curries! PS Check-in on Yelp for a free soda! I love love love Bhatura and was a little bummed when I didn't see it on the menu. I asked their staff towards the end of my meal and found out you can request for it! I'm definitely going to try it the next time I go. The service at this restaurant was great as well. The two waitresses were really friendly and kept checking on us to see if we enjoyed the dishes. Prices may seem a little steep but they're typical of Indian Restaurants in this area. The LivingSocial deal is a great deal if you want to try this place out. They do add a 15% gratuity as part of the deal but the meal and service was pretty worth it. Also, a few groups at the restaurant seemed to be regulars so it's definitely good enough to come back! TL;DR: Recently changed ownership 2 years ago Garlic Naan Rack of Lamb. yumm! Great service Check-In on Yelp!
(5)Yong L.
On Sunday lunch time, I went this place with my wife and two kids. We planned to order couple of curry dishes and chicken or lamb bbq. But when we entered the restaurant, a server let us know that they provide buffet options on lunch time. The selections were salad with yogurt dressing, 4 or 5 different kinds of curry, white rice, chicken bbq, goat bbq, and some other things. The $11.95 per person buffet includes naan (plain or garlic) and drink up to $2.95 or $1.95, I do not remember exactly. The food was good, and the server was very kindly and attentive. I recommend this place to try Indian food.
(5)Markus F.
Service staff was unorganized but friendly. All the meat on the appetizer sampler and main course was dry. We think that they precook the meats and just heat them up when needed. Currys were rather bland but the mushroom dish we had was delicious. Ok place if you don't have any other options and crave Indian.
(2)Melissa L.
Nirvana is the best indian restaurant in town/ the area hands down! I've been coming here since I was a kid, the food has always been exceptional & it has some of the best chicken tikka masala I've ever had. Very cute interior, not too big just right. Love the music they play here and the dimmed lighting is perfect for a nice dinner date. Service is always great & you get the food out reasonably fast. Food: 5 stars worthy, keeps me always coming back for more. Try the *chicken tikka masala *lentils *tandoori shrimp *garlic naan
(5)J. D.
My new favorite Indian restaurant! Love the vegetarian dinner and choices you get. Well worth the price. The portions are so large we have enough leftovers for the next day. You can often find good coupons as well. Very friendly staff.
(5)Fonda B.
Great lunch buffet selections and its pretty inexpensive $9.95. They change it daily but keep a couple of the most popular dishes. I had a little bit of everything; chicken vindaloo, tikka masala, Dahl, biyrani, mushroom mater and of course garlic naan. (Which is $1 extra) Don't forget to try some of the bread pudding dessert! It is hidden near the salad. By the way, if you sign up for their loyalty card, they email and text discounts pretty frequently.
(4)Joan S.
This place is so good. Don't let the groupon deal fool you into thinking this is subpar Indian food. And I've tried a lot of Indian places throughout so cal. Food is fresh and spicy. We ordered the vegetable samosa, chicken tiki masala, tandoori chicken, garlic naan, and rice. The flavoring on the tandoori chicken was great, and cooked perfectly. The tiki masala was spicy, but not overbearing. Mind you we ordered medium spicy. The garlic naan was perfectly fluffy. We also like how they redid the restaurant seating. Great place for a date! And prices are reasonable.
(5)Kelly N.
So I have always said I don't like Indian food... My husband lovessss Indian food and is so bummed I never want to go. Well I saw the 20% off on yelp and agreed to go try Nirvana. I'm so happy I did. The girls who waited on us were so helpful and friendly and the food was soooo good. I honestly will be back. I had the coconut curry chicken and it was very tasty. I ordered it medium heat and it was perfect. My husband had the tandoori chicken - we both ordered the dinner special and it comes w rice and other side dishes. Kind of like a bento box lol. Anyway - so good. Great service - pretty atmosphere ! Def try it!!!
(5)Margret S.
Very good food, clean restaurant Homemade food taste If you like they will make it Mild or spicy. What else could You want? I will be coming back And plan to bring friends.
(5)Nic Y.
THE ABSOLUTE WORST INDIAN FOOD I'VE EVER HAD. how this place currently has 4 stars is unbelievable. i informed our server i was vegan and asked about the mushroom biryani. he said they would make it vegan for me. how nice. what he failed to mention was that it would be instead made with no flavor or spices whatsoever. i also asked for spicy SPICY and it came tasting like porridge. seriously it was just YELLOW. and rice. the most flavorful thing in there were the raisins. another server asked about it and i said it was bland and not spicy at all. she offered to add spice and 5 minutes later the color changed from yellow to orange with NO OTHER DIFFERENCE. still the same bland rice but now with cayenne! my bf (not vegan) ordered a combo with chicken tikka and also had issues with flavor. mainly because the vegetables tasted like a freezer, the two lentils were bland, and the sauce on the chicken tasted canned. chicken was also rubbery. THEY EVEN FUCKED UP THE NAAN. THE NAAN! it tasted like something microwaved from a plastic package. the second server that came by acquired about the meal after she added 'spice' to my biryani and i told her it was still really bland and flavorless. she said probably because i ordered it VEGAN and they have to omit the yogurt and chicken flavor. yea that has nothing to do with the spices going into the sauce. i hate places that think vegans don't have tastebuds. like im just eating broccoli all day. she was however VERY ACCOMMODATING and offered to comp my biryani which i politely declined and told her i would still take the rice to-go so i could go home and add my own spices to it. but she still insisted on comping it, probably because she knew how shitty it was. i appreciated the gesture. i give her 5 stars for her service. but it in no way redeems the horrible meal we had here. we still talk about it. like "hey remember when we ate there and it was so terrible we had to go somewhere else to eat again?" or "how bad is it? like BAD bad or NIRVANA bad?" sorry guys, fire your chef.
(1)Staci S.
The best Indian restaurant nearby...by far! We just found this gem and we are so thankful we did. We've been craving it and coming back very consistently. :) Never a bad plate. Always friendly and attentive service. Family owned and operated. It can get very busy if you go on a weekend evening for dinner since it is obviously everyone else's favorite Indian restaurant as well! It is small so you may have a little wait but it is worth it. We have also tried showing up in the later evening hours during the week for a much quieter experience. It's amazing either way. PS: You can also order take-out by phone or online!
(5)Stephanie L.
We were on an 8hr drive back to Northern California and were craving for Indian food. Thanks to trusty Yelp, we found this restaurant. We ordered Chicken Tikka Masala and Garlic Naan, both very good! We also ordered the Chicken Murg (I think that's what it's called), we've never had it before but it was surprisingly delicious! I also recommend the samosas, I don't typically order those coz they can be soggy and doughy but the ones here are crispy, very yummy with the chutney! Service was great too, deserving of 5 stars. Could be a little pricey but we got the Yelp $10 for $20 deal. So all in all, a great experience!
(5)Mu Y.
Nice Indian food + great service..
(5)Christina A.
Came here to use a Living social deal that I had purchased. I've always wanted to give them a try. Overall my experience was fantastic! Service was great, food was outstanding and the price was fair. I accidentally ordered the okra instead of lentils and they were super cool about it. They didn't make me feel stupid or give me stink eye lol. The young man (son) who helped us had a lovely personality and charm about him. Also, be warned....when you ask for spicy, you're gonna get spicy! I loved it! We look forward to returning!!
(5)Valeria G.
Took my grandmother and parents to taste Indian food for the first time. Staff was welcoming and our server had great recommendations for my family to try. My go to dishes are Chicken Tikka Masala and the Lamb curry. Then our server suggested Samosa and Sizzler Tandori Fish Tikka. We accompanied our dishes with Plain Rice and Naan. Grandmother and parents loved their first time!! The food was excellent as well as the service. This place has a great ambiance inside! Used a Yelp $20 voucher, paid only $10, towards our bill which was great! Recommend the yelp vouchers.
(4)Natalie K.
I got food to go from Nirvana after reading some great reviews on Yelp. I called and the guy that picked up the phone was super polite. I arrived about 20 minutes later and my order was just about ready. The server was nice and apologized that it wasn't already ready and asked me to have a seat. My food came out just a few minutes after that. The food was pretty good. My favorite part was their garlic naan. You get a really large portion for the order. The naan itself is soft and fluffy. The flavor was great. The curries I ordered were Chicken Tikka Marsala and Banghan Bharta (eggplant curry). The Chicken Tikka Marsala was creamy and delicious. I ordered very spicy but it was fairly mild to me. The Banghan Bharta was also good but a little bit too sweet. The portions are pretty good. They give you a lot of curry for $10 each. You could easily make 2 meals for 2 people with what they give you.
(4)elly k.
Between the food and the exceptional service, I must give Nirvana five stars. We had a large group of ten, including a table of kids, and the staff took care of us like we were family. The food was great, especially the lamb korma and chicken tikka masala. will definitely come back again.
(5)Nick G.
Superb! Delicious, affordable, friendly staff, great ambience. Vegan friendly of course :)
(5)Bana J.
I'm very sad that this food did not live up to my standards. My friend and I ordered some individual entrees rather than the buffet. The chicken tikka masala was bland, never in my life have I tasted BLAND Indian food. I'm still not sure how they accomplished this... Was that orange food coloring added to the meat? The naan was quite fresh and tasty, the veggie biryani rice was underwhelming. Nice wait staff, friendly and attentive and the place was clean. Overall , I prefer SR Indian cuisine.
(2)Michelle A.
Menu is amazing, combos are a great deal and wonderful opportunity to get all your faves!!! I had Chef's dinner special with tandoor fish tikka and lamb vindaloo, also substituted matter paneer with bengan bartha (so so amazing), and naan. Finished with a masala tea. Highly recommend Nirvana lemonade!
(5)Chinda S.
Their lamb chops were amazing. Love this place.
(4)Steve E.
Another great meal. Love the lamb dishes. Tx for being a great host Kamal and Pawan. Missed you Happy, next time.
(5)Luis B.
Great place. 1st time I try Indian Food was 2 weeks ago in London. Let me tell you it was good. I had very high expectation base on previews experience. Well Nirvana had a Very good selection of food and an incredible customer service. People is so nice and the manager even give me $20 off my bill. Love the food and will advice you to go an have a great time at Nirvana.
(5)Layna W.
I have been coming here for a couple of years now and it has never disappointed me or any of my guests that I brought here. I love the new decor. The food just keeps getting better! Oh and the garlic naan, I can eat that all day long. The service is always friendly and on point. A nice gem here in Arcadia.
(5)M R.
It's inexplicable how this place received good reviews. Yelpers please do not be fooled. We decided to try this place and went there for lunch recently. Instantly disappointing was the temperature of the food on the buffet and we were there at lunch time 12:00 pm yet it seemed like the food was on the buffet for hours. After biting into a leg of tandoori chicken it was cold, but I was going to power through and not complain. As I dug in the the chicken further, the middle of the chicken was completely raw, not pink, but raw. I pointed it out to the staff and we didn't get much of reaction other than they pulled the chicken off the buffet and told me that I probably had the only piece that was like that....very comforting to know as I just consumed raw chicken. No apologies, just a defensive response. Besides the delicious raw chicken, the rest of the food was not very good. Try Noor Indian Bistro instead, unless raw chicken is a guilty pleasure of yours
(1)Food Critic S.
Great curry. Chitney is amazing too. Lot of flavors. A quality indian restaurant in arcadia. But service is little slow. Will come back.
(5)Aakash A.
Food was great - chicken tikka masala, mutton curry and merichi sala - all great. The saag was ok - but 3/4 not bad - onion kulcha was awesome as well as the garlic naan. Service is wonderful. The owners and their family seem like some of the sweetest people - special thanks to happy and puja for great service. Definitely Visit :)
(5)Kevin L.
Came here a while back cuz I had a groupon/living social coupon. Came for Sunday brunch buffet. We didn't order any champagne even though it was included. The selection was very small. I am not Indian cuisine expert by no means so everything to me tasted decent. Ive been to others where the buffet options were twice the size so I was a bit disappointed. The server was nice and attentive. I would probably only go back for the lunch buffet. Maybe on a weekday because it is cheaper. I don't think it is worth the full weekend brunch price.
(3)Dub L.
Food was pretty good - went with mild vege combo which happened to not have enough flavor for me - but textures were good & garluc naan was tasty. Service was ok, but the math got a little wonky when I used the $10 for $20 deal... just make sure to check the addition & subtraction on your check. :P
(3)Andy K.
I came here for lunch buffet, and was disappointed that the curry is kinda watery.
(2)Debby W.
Delicious food ! Family owned & run. Very efficient yet friendly & warm atmosphere. My new favorite place for Indian cuisine !
(5)Jake L.
Went for lunch buffet. Every dish was amazing. I tried all and all were amazing. Its probably owned by a punjabi family thats why my lassi came out as it should be. Great service and amazing nans. I would come back if i lived in CA.
(5)Veronica H.
It was a Saturday night and I was craving Chicken Korma. I checked Yelp to see what places where close by that had Chicken Korma and I found Nirvana Indian Cuisine. I purchased the Yelp deal of $10 for $20. When we arrived, we were greeted by Pooja, our waitress, who was absolutely pleasant. We ordered mango lassi, veggi samosas, chicken korma, garlic naan, chicken jalfrazi. For dessert, we had gulab jamun, homemade pistachio ice cream and hot indian tea. We really enjoyed this place and will be back.
(5)Biljana G.
I have been going to Nirvana for over a year now. The food is amazing, coupled with great service. My favorite dish is the chicken tikka masala dish, delicious! I definitely recommend you try the indian cuisine Nirvana has to offer, you won't be disappointed. Five stars for this amazing restaurant!
(5)Bing Z.
Good traditional India food!!! I went to twice , it s worthy to have a try. And the price is valuable! The lunch buffet is good.
(4)G N.
While the food (lunch buffet) was decent & well priced ($8.95) and the place is clean and nicely decorated, the overall experience was marred at the end when they tried to shortchange me my change by $10!! When I pointed that out the waiter quickly brought me the right change but looked sheepish doing it! The place wasn't all that crowded either so I have to wonder if it was a true mixup or was intentional...either way left a bad taste in my mouth!!!
(2)Violeta P.
Delicious food! Shrimp saag was the best. If you can't take heat, choose mild.. Medium is a spicy hot! Pistachio ice cream is the best!!
(5)Chantal M.
The lunch special was really tasty and the sauces and spices married very well with the chicken as well as the fish. The sauces are very creamy yet light, I'd definitely come back. Plus the chai tea was very smooth and delicious. (:
(5)Jerry M.
The food and service are super!! Quaint, super clean. Great date night dinner location. Some of the best Indian cuisine I have had in the U.S. The staff was very attentive, too. Yum, yum!!
(5)Linda L.
The basmati rice as a side has been elevated to perfection at Nirvana. I inquired whether the chef would make a mushroom korma for me as it was not on the menu. Not only was it made but it was done excellently. I ordered it medium and the contrast between the spice and the sweet was executed flawlessly. This is one of the few restaurants that serves an onion kulcha that I have been to. What a treat. I also had a sweet lassi. I could have had 5, it was that delicious. My husband had meat samosas appetizer which were crispy on the exterior and tasty on the interior. He had a garlic Naan and lamb biriyani which he really enjoyed. We were too full for dessert but I will be back for the rice pudding. The portions are good sized. I had leftovers which I ate for lunch today. Service is great and ambiance is comfortable. The restaurant is small but don't let it's size or location in a strip mall deceive you.
(5)Anna B.
My family and I love going to Nirvana in Arcadia. The food is amazing and the service is even better!!! My favorite dish by far is the Saag Panner but there hasn't been anything that I've tried that I didn't LOVE! This restaurant is family owned and you really feel like a part of the family when you walk in.
(5)Elmo S.
I'm a strong supporter of this family owned restaurant. Unlike many other Indian restaurants that I've been to, the food here is not as greasy and they make you feel welcomed each and every time you visit them. They now have lunch buffets, although we always order from the menu since there are certain dishes we enjoy that is not offered in their buffets. Their business appears to be picking up lately but come give them a try. If you like Indian food, I really don't think you'll be disappointed. Not a fancy restaurant but it's got great food and great service. This is our go-to Indian restaurant.
(5)Arun R.
GOT A LOT BETTER This happens to be my first 4 star reveiw! I have tried this place before, wasnt impressed at all; Now, its an example of how owership change would make a huge difference in quality and service. We went our team of diversified ethnicity to this place this afternoon. Everyone liked something in the lunch buffet...and I liked everything! This gets a four start just becuase they did no have many choices in the lunch buffet like other indian places & my obivous baggage of previous experience. Give it a try, wont regret it!
(4)Siao J.
Rapidly becoming one of my favorite lunch spots in the monrovia area! very good selection of curries, especially with the lamb and mutton which is always a bonus for me. particularly, i'm a fan of the creamed curries with onions and nuts.. bonus points for having a clean and modern ambiance.. this might actually be a good place to take a client or something you know? also, you'll have to somewhat disregard the older reviews as it has been under new ownership as of a few months ago... and also as a result, the menu is more northern indian now than southern indian.. one thing i do note is that i kind of wish they had something in between a lunch special and the a la carte.. but that's probably the meathead side of me talking.. just a bit more entree in the lunch special, but not as much as the full on meal!
(4)Bruce B.
I haven't been here in awhile and see it has been nicely renovated. I tried the lunch buffet and was really disappointed. It was watery bland slop. It was not like real Indian food at all and I am someone who seriously loves Indian food. What amazed me more was how crowded the restaurant was. I guess the diners care more about the "all you can eat" quantity over quality. Not so far away is Noor Indian restaurant that doesn't have a lunch buffet but has seriously great food and lunch specials. Quality over quantity! Imagine foodies going for that!
(1)Teddy M.
This is my favorite Indian restaurant. It's family owned and they are very friendly. The restaurant is clean and the food is delicious. I used to have a few different Indian restaurants that I would frequent but now I just come here (I'm a little far but it's worth the drive). Only thing is that the restaurant isn't huge so if you come during peak times there may be a short wait.
(5)Arun V.
We just ordered a lamb biryani and chicken biryani(dinner to go).First of all they should be called lamb curried rice and chicken curried rice. Rice is half cooked and we just couldn't eat more than couple of spoons. This is a disgrace on INDIAN FOOD. I would avoid this place at all cost!
(1)Swetha R.
Amazing service, such friendly waiters! We used the Yelp deal and once we mentioned that, she even asked us to check in on Yelp so we can get a free drink as well! Ordered the Shrimp korma, vegetable biryani, malai kofta, paneer butter masala, and garlic naan. Vegetable biryani was amazing! Well cooked and spiced. I could not get enough off the paneer butter masala and that cashew gravy in malai kofta - the sauce was so delicious I scooped up the gravy and brought it home for dipping leftove I went home and tried to recreate it the next day, getting nowhere close to it. Shrimp korma and malai kofta had the same cashew based gravy, and bf loved the korma. Naans cooked well, that rice though... Vegetable biryani heaven!!!
(5)Dan W.
The lamb Vindaloo was excellent, as was the Appetizer (combination platter) that I tried. The waitresses were very nice as well. My beer wasn't very cold, but the meal itself was excellent.
(4)Abby C.
Food/Cost: (4/5) Decent, homey food for a slight price. The Mango Lassi (~$4) was of the thicker, tangier variety, but I liked it. Between two of us, we got a Gobhi Paratha (~$5) -- a whole wheat Indian flatbread filled with a thin layer of diced cauliflower -- and a Tandoori Chicken Dinner Special (~$15) -- think a side of naan served with a huge, white tv dinner tray with 1 compartment of raita, 3 compartments of vegetable sauces/stews, and 1 main compartment of tandoori chicken over rice. I had originally ordered a additional side of Raita (~$5), but they forgot it and we were in a slight rush, I just told them to take it off the bill. Ultimately the food was solid and flavorful and I particularly liked the naan and raita (especially together), but I thought the prices could be a bit more competitive. Ambiance: (3/5) Came here last Saturday night for dinner around 7pm and though we had no problem getting our seats, the restaurant was completely full by 8pm due to 2 large parties. If you're in any way attached to the idea of dining here on a particular night, I may recommend calling ahead to see if you can make a reservation or ask how packed the restaurant is that night. The restaurant is very small (think about 10 four people table arrangements), so if you happen to come on a night with larger parties, you'll encounter a wait. Service: (2/5) The service was very problematic the entire night. The waitress did tell us that they were short staffed that night, but that was the case, then perhaps they should have better delegated tasks or hired temporary help. It took our waitress a long time to take our orders, then it took forever for the food to come out, then they forgot our lassis until we reminded them, and they forgot our order of raita (and we know they wrote it down because we had to tell them to take it off our bill). Not a good time. The one redeeming quality was how courteous and sincere the staff was; despite all the problems, I just couldn't get mad because I knew they were doing the best they could. Location: (4/5) Convenient location right on the bustling Huntington Drive with all the restaurants, shops, stores, and entrance to the 210Fwy nearby. Parking in this plaza has never been a problem even during busy times. Overall: (3.5/5) Food was decent, great location, ambiance was nothing special, and service was terrible (though I didn't let it effect my overall rating very much as I think the severity of the problem was a slight aberration) -- if you happen to be in the area are want Indian, you can go ahead and give this place a try, otherwise there's no need to make a special trip.
(3)Rachelle C.
Awesome food and excellent service! We ordered the chicken tikka masala, lamb curry, mushroom and pea stew, and eggplants with tomatoes. Highly suggest the tandoori chicken which comes on a hot flat iron plate! Super tender and delicious! Only downside about this place is that it doesn't have free refill but you would be too busy to eat the food to drink lol! Kamal is an awesome server; she have us a lot of good suggestions!
(5)Hilary M.
this is my new all time favorite restaurant!! Close to a month ago my boyfriend and i were home deciding what to order, and he had suggested Indian food. i was a bit nervous but i we have very similar taste so i decided to give it a try. I AM SO GLAD I DID. the food is so fresh and healthy!! Our waitress Kamal is the sweetest girl! always wants to satisfy her customers and gives genuine advise. she knew exactly what i would like and what i wouldn't. my favorites are the chicken massala, chicken trandouri, naan.. and tons more. (i just have to learn all of the names)! I CANT WAIT FOR MY NEXT VISIT!
(5)Marcella K.
I have been roaming around trying Indian restaurant, and this is one of the best. The place is nice and clean, also the service is excellent. I recommend the chicken tika masala, garlic naan, and the samosa. For the dessert, their very own gulab jamun tastes good and unique. Highly recommended
(5)Alex R.
This small place could be easlily mistaken for a typical hole in the wall; but as soon as you walk into their doors, you are greeted by the sweet aroma of those marvelous spices used in Indian cooking that perfume the air. They offer a great buffet which is apart of their weeknd brunch deal. Which includes *champagne* free of charge! Their variety at their buffet is equally as great as their selections from their menu, and of course what is any indian dish complete with then none other than garlic naan (made to order)
(5)Kathy B.
Been going here for years. Love the remodel and service. Food is always fresh and staff is very attentive. Usually start out meal with Samosa and Pakora and Alu Paratha all very tasty and spiced per request. Since we often go with friends unfamiliar with Indian food it is great they are able to tone down the spices and still maintain the flavor. Their Alu Ghobhi is right on as is Bengan Bhartha with any choice of meats. Our favorites are the Rack of Lamb which literally melts in your mouth and Chiciken Tikka. Servers are very attentive and personable. Great place to dine.
(5)Leslie W.
Super friendly service, authentic family owned indian restuarant. Try the chicken shawarma.
(4)Ale Cin F.
Craving Indian food badly and we live too far from Cerritos where I usually go for Indian food. Hubby recommended this restaurant and decided to go there for dinner. Ordered the appetizer sampler platter..it was OK except the chicken was a bit dry and the samosa was somewhat cold. However, the dinner made up for it. I was very pleased with the chicken tikka masala and the matar paneer. The naan and rice was cooked perfectly and soaked up all the sauce. Ordered food medium spicy... Just the perfect amount of heat. Service was great, can't wait to try their lunch buffet.
(4)Andrew Y.
This review is for the lunch buffet. If you're looking for value, it doesn't get much better than this. Taste is just as good as any good Indian restaurant. The nan is effing delicious. Most importantly, super friendly staff with great service.
(5)Patty L.
I give this place a 3.5 star. Small Indian food restaurant, rather fancy dining table and setup. I went with one friend on a weekday for lunch. Weekday lunch they have the buffet for a flat rate. Indian food is supposed to be very vegetarian friendly, so as a vegetarian I was pretty excited to eat here. The service was good, the lady came over to make sure we had enough water & garlic naan. She offered to bring more garlic naan, which was nice that we didn't have to ask. The downfall was the buffet. There were about 4 dishes that were vegetarian. 3 of the dish were curry. My problem was that the curry did not contain very much content. I'm used to seeing potato blocks,broccoli and cauliflowers inside the curry, but not in these. It didn't have any substance. I wanted a nutritious lunch with different veggies, so the curry really failed my expectation. When the bill came it was about ten bucks after tax, which isn't exactly a good deal for the food. I don't think will be returning here for the weekday lunch buffet anymore, maybe for dinner or weekends where I actually order each of the dish.
(3)Zhongyuan C.
After making some research and comparison, we decided to try here for the lunch buffet and it was my first time to eat at Indian restaurant. Everything was good and I love the palak paneer very much, which is a perfect combination with their rice. Curry cauliflower is also one of my favorite. Curry goat is ok to me. Overall, it was a very nice try here.
(4)Rachael P.
The buffet at Nirvana is really good. This review is for that. They have a wide variety of offerings and each are well prepared and tasty. It is a bit mild and caters toward the more sensitive palettes, so I would recommend going here for dinner and avoid the buffet. The service is first class and the servers were personable and joked around with our group. Based on service alone I have no problems coming back!
(3)Corrine W.
I was ready to love Nirvana, especially with all the positive reviews. I was disappointed after we chose the lunch buffet. The aroma of all the spices was very enticing and promised a delicious lunch. The protein in many of the entrees were missing and we were fishing out the last bits of chicken, fish, and lamb, however, there was plenty of sauce. They refilled the proteins but in small amounts. Additionally, all the food had covers and it made for a messy self service. The chicken tandoori was dry, it was primarily drumsticks. The naan was very good, we had the regular and the wheat. There was plenty of rice and the various sauces. Chicken tikka masala was dry, but the sauce was tasty. The food was okay but I have had better Indian food.
(2)Jesus R.
Ordered the mild spicy Malai Kofta, Chicken Tikka and lentil chicken soup. All dishes were full of flavor! The service is great and super friendly.
(4)STEPHANY L.
Delicious all you can eat indian buffet. Family owned. Love this place.
(4)Daisy T.
Seeing that Nirvana Indian Cuisine got many stars and with the recommendation of an Indian acquaintance, I decided to go there. Disappointing. The female waitress was unfriendly while the male waiter was fine. The place is small and the help-yourself-food area was even smaller. The fish curry was terrible. Fish didn't taste like fish but more like rubber. All their curries tasted bland. They made the worst sweet lassi I have ever had. However, the garlic naan was fresh, thick, and buttery moist, which my husband liked, but I didn't because it was bland also. Not many choices of desserts; kheer (rice pudding) was the only dessert served. Tandoori chicken was the only good dish, which saved the day for me. So overall, I give the restaurant an okay.
(3)Carol T.
Lunch buffet for two was yumm! Garlic naan, lamb curry, and chicken masala were my favorites!! Service was attentive and super friendly. For the buffet, you also get a free drink included including soda and champagne or whatever else that's $1.95. If you want another drink you just have to pay the difference. Will definitely come back!
(5)JRei A.
People giving this place 5 stars? Really? Had the buffet today. All the sauces were bland and watery. The naan bread they served was plain unless you pay an extra dollar then they'll serve the garlic buttered ones. Very disappointing. I'm giving 3 stars because the restaurant and people were very nice. I will not return..
(3)Sulastri C.
Super impressed! I walked in just as they may have opened for the dinner service since I had a very long day and was looking for a meal before heading to bed. I ordered their lamb dinner and a mango lassi to go. My mango lassi came out before the rest of my meal was ready, which was fine by me. I took one sip and melted at how good it was. I thought, if this is as good as their meals, they'll have a returning customer on my next business trip to the area. I ended up having to treat myself to another mango lassi before leaving the establishment. For now, that second mango lassi is in the fridge but I'm sure that won't be in it for long. As far as the lamb dinner, oh so good! So tender and could just take one bite for it to melt in my mouth. I'm not going to give it the full 5 stars yet, because I want to see if my mango lassi will be just as good as the first one.
(4)Kim N.
I am hooked. This was my first time eating Indian food at a restaurant. Usually I just buy jarred tikka masala and cook my own chicken at home, but that's not the same as what I had at Nirvana. The entire experience was great. The restaurant is clean, small, but you don't feel cramped in there. The waitresses are extremely friendly and service is good. They are attentive and love children. I had my 2-year old son there and they were both very accommodating and would play and talk to him. This is a kid-friendly establishment and my son enjoyed everything. He was scooping up the rice and chicken and he loved the mutton too! The naan was so soft that he was able to hold it and bite off chunks at a time as he dipped it in the bowls :) The food - we ordered Mutton Korma, Mixed Tandoori, Garlic Naan, Basmati rice and Chicken Tikka Masala. Everything was so delicious. The naan is so soft and has just the right amount of garlic. The gravy/sauce in the mutton and tikka were so flavorful with spices that I could eat two whole portions by myself! The waitress gave us a heads up that the chicken breast may be a bit harder/dry and that we could get it with dark meat. But I just left it as is and I think next time I will go with dark meat! I like my meat softer and juicier. This is definitely a place I will return to and recommend to friends.
(4)Christina T.
Lots of flavor and spicy! My boyfriend and I tried it for the first time together and we loved it! Our stomachs didn't agree with us the next day but it was an experience lol the homemade pistachio ice cream at the end helped with my burning mouth..Overall good service and decent price. Everything tastes homemade and made with love! I'm craving a meal writing this review:p
(5)Debbie B.
Love the food here!!! Chicken Tikka Masala, rack of lamb are mouth watering! The service is great! The restaurant is family owned and operated...everyone has always been friendly and helpful every time that I've been there. Some reviews have been critical of the decor...honestly the restaurant is small and tastefully decorated, besides I come here for the quality food and service not to talk about how the place is decorated! Definitely worth trying...you'll become a repeat customer just as I have. Only wish I could give them 10 stars instead of just 5!!!
(5)Danny L.
We used the Groupon for Nirvana. And with the coupon, it seemed like a decent deal. I'm not sure if I'd come back for another visit without the coupon though as the food seems a little pricey for what you get. I got the mixed grill and my wife got the chicken. The food was pretty good, but nothing really stood out for me.
(3)Edwin W.
First time here and won't be my last. For me, easy to get to which is a big plus! Food was excellent and so was the service. Prices were reasonable and was tasty. If you like Indian food and are in the area this place is worth trying!
(5)K C.
I became a fan after the first bite. Garlic Naan - yummmmm!! I was indifferent towards Indian food until I tried this place. Just about everything is delicious and you can't go wrong by dining here. This is a family owned restaurant and that is exactly the vibe you get from their service, they are super friendly!
(5)Portida T.
Me and the sister were finishing up some house insurance purchasing at the nearby AAA when I saw the sign for the buffet up. Going in, it's super dim. I really wish they would make the room brighter. The buffet table is quite modest, but don't let it fool you. The tandoori chicken was perfectly spiced and some okra curry thing was to die for ! My only sadface is that in the Chicken Masala which was cubed and tough to eat. The masala part itself was yummy and perfectly seasoned. They offer normal naan bread to eat and are super attentive at refilling your water. Don't bring bills over 100 though, we had to use a debit card because it was early and they barely opened. I would totally come here again when the craving for some affordable Indian food was on my mind. Good service for good food, I'm totes game ! But another hiccup I discovered was that they might have had a heavy hand with the MSG or something of that sort because when I eat too much MSG I feel this congestion-like pressure on my face and I felt it after eating here. The rice pudding did help with that a little though.
(4)Amy Y.
I came here for the lunch buffet on a Sunday afternoon. It costs a few dollars more than on the weekdays because they serve champagne or soda of your choice. The spread was tiny. They had a really good coconut curry chicken, probably made that day, but the tandoori chicken and chicken tikka masala were dry, as is common among most Indian buffets that I've tried. They also had vegetable fritters, spinach with cheese, a lentil dish, salad made of iceberg lettuce and sliced cucumbers, yogurt, various chutneys, rice, and rice pudding for dessert. The food was decent. They bring naan to your table, but that's the extent of the buffet. What, no samosas? Disappointing. The service is good. Friendly servers. My friend asked about the gulab jamun since it was listed on the chalkboard outside. Our waitress said they must have forgotten to change the sign and brought some for us even though it wasn't part of that day's buffet. Not a bad experience, but I probably won't return. For the same price, I'd rather go to a place with more choices.
(3)Kim M.
Had a restaurant.com coupon to spend $20 and get $10 off... that is the catalyst for trying this place. Before that, I didn't even know it existed. I will definitely be coming back. My dinner was very very good. The service was prompt and courteous (with the gentlemen being friendlier than the woman, not that she wasn't friendly per se, just more reserved.) Down to business. The food ordered: samosas - delightful! stuffed full of yummy mashed potato, seasoned perfectly, served piping hot and not greasy at all. Dinner combo with lamb vindaloo, medium. Served with vegetable biriyani, mattar paneer, daal, raita and naan. The lamb was tender, moist and delicious. The sauce was flavorful and perfectly medium spiced. The rice had a nice mixture of various vegetables, the daal was excellent, as was the mattar paneer. The raita was cool, fresh and refreshing. Naan was fluffy and warm with the right amount of chew. Dinner combo with chana masala, spicy. Served with all sides mentioned above except with salad, not raita. It was spicy! Like, make you sweat a little spicy - and that's a good thing! The salad was just iceberg with cucumber slices, dressed with what tasted like vinegar and a dusting of salt and cumin.... super simple, but even that was fresh, crunchy and tasty. Indian food always surprises me with how expensive it can be, but the dinner combos mentioned above are a great value. It's a ton of food, a good variety of items and all for a decent price. As I said, I will be coming back the next time an Indian craving strikes. I'm really happy to finally know about this place!
(4)Leslie Ann M.
Great food and great service. The servers are REALLY nice and very attentive! Ordered the aloo gobi (forgive the spelling) mild but it tasted like a medium! Good thing I was able to handle it! Also had the chana masala mild. Both dishes were vegan which is a plus in my book! BF had the half chicken tandoori that he really enjoyed. If you're in Arcadia and looking for a place to eat vegan and or Indian, come to Nirvana!
(4)Jon A.
Best Indian in the SGV, So far having tried a lamb curry and a chicken curry I'm very impressed with the food. Only problem I walk out of there is $10 for a pot of rice!!! Take out I'll be cooking my own rice from now on :)
(4)Elizabeth P.
This was my first Indian food experience and I really enjoyed their food. The staff was very knowledgeable and made recommendations on what to order and helped explain the different food options. I loved their bread and how the meat was served hot in front of you. My friend ended up getting sick later that night, but only because he mixed a lot of the foods and ate big portions. I ate the same food and smaller portions and felt fine. It's a small place, but was also kind of dead, so felt a little awkward being the only people and having the staff just watch you, but I'd come again if I wanted Indian food.
(4)George I.
This place had great yelp deals and amazing service. One of the best Indian places I've been to. It's a small restaurant and is kind of hidden in a shopping center. I always usually went to get sushi next door and never noticed it, but I'm glad I did. Everything was on point. I really look forward to coming back to try the rest of their menu.
(5)Uday K.
I ordered a mix vegetable and they cooked it using frozen veggies..awful...the dal was ok but I am sure it wasnt fresh cooked either.... avoid at all cost. also the place stinks...(literally in smell)
(1)Leena B.
Beware of the Yelp Deal! It is only for DINING-IN. So if you are big on To-Go food, Don't buy this deal because you will be slightly disappointed. On that note, I have been here before under previous management but the owners were not the friendliest. The chicken vindaloo is quite standard. We ordered today for our Dad's birthday and she did give us a 15% discount on our bill.
(3)Vinnie C.
We really enjoyed the food, especially the Tandoori sampler platter. If visiting Arcadia and craving Indian food, like I was, I would highly recommend Nirvana
(5)Mary R.
We visited Nirvana for dinner Friday night. Needless to say the food was excellent!!! We started with the vegetarian samosas- they were excellent!! We all opted for the Dinner Combination, I had the chicken coconut curry....it was soooooooo good!! The food arrived quickly and was served hot. The service was excellent as well. We will definitely be back soon!!!
(5)Albert G.
Both food and the service is really good at this place. Hostess and the waiters are both Friendly and courteous.
(5)Kaylin O.
I came here the other day and the service was excellent. Everyone was so nice and refilled my water without being asked. There is a new chef and he owns the place. Very cozy and clean. This is right on Huntington Dr next to BJs. I love everything I had there. I had one of the Chicken Dinner Combination Special. It came with a choice chicken curry, matter paneer, daal makhni, vegetable rice, garlic naan, and raita or salad. The Chicken Tikka Masala was nicely flavored and balance. I really liked it because it was light. Both the matter paneer and daal makhni were nice flavored too. The garlic naan was very good and it goes so well with the Tikka Masala sauce. I also had a chance to try their Mango Lassi. This was very good too. I recommend this restaurant and planning on coming back.
(4)Eric D.
This was our first time here after reading the reviews. Glad we went! Small, family-owned business, which is nice. Service and food were excellent. Only giving it 4 stars for now, as I still have to try some other dishes, too. Service was great, as I appreciated the recommendations from the server, the owner's daughter. She recommended the lamb curry, but a different version (forget the name), but it was more on the spicier side as the hotter the better with me. She also recommended the chicken korma as opposed to the chicken curry for my son, as it has yogurt to help cool off any spiciness for him. Wife and daughter both had the chicken tikka masala and loved it as well. I was able to try all of their dishes as well and appreciated the fact that they all tasted strikingly different, which is great. Prices are pretty good and definitely will be back for more! Definitely recommend for anyone looking for casual local Indian dining in around Arcadia. Can't wait to go back!
(4)Sarah F.
Food and service were both great! An indian place that knows how to do spicy and full of flavor too. Very authentic.
(4)D G.
I have seen this place so many times but never tried it. Then someone told us about so we tried it...so glad we did... it is Indian food at its best.. so fresh so light and so so so tasty. The video states exactly what they are all about...beai=beautifully friendly with great service and big smiles... its a well run family restaurant... they deserve to be busy and I have a funny feeling they will eventually open a bigger place.. because as soon as people try this restaurant they will come back for more... I wish I knew the girls names that served us.. they were sisters and obviously family members... but not only were they friendly they also educated us(at our request) about the different foods they have. Well done and hope you get busier and busier .P.S. try their breads... unreal
(5)Conchita M.
We got the buffet right before it ended but they kindly kept it for an extra 15 minutes for us. Very good customer service! The chicken tikka masala was delicious! I enjoyed the tandoori chicken along with the naan. As far as the atmosphere, it was casual but very clean and classy.Definitely worth it!
(5)Doug C.
This is a classic case where Yelpers who aren't experts don't notice the unusual gem beneath their noses. In my casual but extensive sampling of the area's Indian restaurants, this is by far the best. (I heard negative comments several years ago, but the restaurant has been under new ownership.) It's a super friendly family-owned business; the servers are the son and daughter of the chef, a man who has trained other chefs who cook at other restaurants. His attention to detail and the freshness of the ingredients were spectacular, and I appreciated the rare northern emphasis of some of the dishes. We went simple last night and ordered the multi-layered buttered paratha, chicken tikka, bhindi (okra) masala, and an outstanding shahi paneer dish that was wonderfully creamy and nutty. All of it was truly excellent. Can't wait to return.
(5)Mo Z.
Outstanding food. Great service. The biryani was out of this world. I would give this place 6 stars if possible, for the extra friendliness of the staff.
(5)Daren M.
You ever have that feeling when you're full that you wish you weren't full so you could eat more just because the food is that tasty? I had the experience at Nirvana last night. I met a friend for dinner because she loves the place. She knew exaclty what to order. We first had a salad (I forgot the name) that had cucumbers, tomatoes, and chicken. All the ingredients were fresh and it was a great way to start. Next we had the Chicken Tikka Masala and the Chicken Tandoori, with both plain and garlic nan. Now, like many of you, I've had both dishes at many restaurants and in my experience, it's hard to make these dishes "stand out" since they are both staples. We ordered the medium spice Tikka Masala and it was wonderful. The Chicken Tandoori, however, was incredible. My first reaction after my first bite was "wow, the chef really knows how to prepare chicken!" The meat was juicy and tender and extremely tasty! After eating, I wished I was hungrier because I just wanted to taste the chicken again! The staff were extremely helpful, friendly and charming. Even though they knew my friend, they seemed to be very friendly and eager to serve. I would absolutely come back to this small, intimate restaurant!
(4)Kris P.
I am overally picky with regard to Indian food and I love this place. The lamb samosas are the best (they also have vegetarian) as is the mushroom matar, bhindi bhaji, chicken tikka masala... I could go on and on. Family owned, excellent service. Highly recommend!
(5)Liz V.
Great service! Yummy food! Definitely coming back :) had the chicken curry, cheese naan (double serving since it was so good), lamb tandoori and saag paneer with plain rice. Everything was great! We are so excited that we found a good indian restaurant close to home!
(5)Jeff B.
Great place family run and family made. The staff is really friendly and the food is outstanding my new favorite indian food in the San Gabriel valley!
(5)Bree L.
The servers were very lovely and super friendly. (The bill was a bit higher than we expected). But the food was excellent! I really loved the malai kofta. Delicious:)
(4)David M.
this place is the bomb diggity! very friendly staff and the food is great. the lamb is good, but pricey..the shrimp massala and the musroom rice is very good. the parking lot is the same lot as bjs, or right next to it, easy parking. good authentic indian food. i go every thursday!
(5)Lem K.
This place is amazing for lunch togo customers because it was the food was fast and the service was great. 4 stars- Chicken Tiki Masala with rice and Garlic Nann. The rice was a little dry and the garlic nann was not seared enough for my tastes.
(4)Manuel R.
was an Amazing dinner. Very good service, and just an all around wonderful experience. Highly recommend nirvana.
(5)Joshua M.
My family decided to eat at Nirvana out of curiousness and the advertised Yelp deal at the end of June. Overall, we were incredibly pleased with the taste and presentation of our orders but a little disappointed that their attention to service couldn't match their quality of food. We ordered the Chicken Tikka Masala, Lamb Vindaloo, Mixed Vegetable Curry, Garlic Naan, and my favorite Tandoori Chicken. The portion and seasoning of the Tandoori Chicken was one of the best I've seen in my Indian restaurant dining experiences. Plenty of grilled onion if you're into that as well as as much tamarind and green mint sauce as you desire. My second favorite dish was the Chicken Tikka Masala. The spices were not overdone, and it went so well over rice and the garlic naan. However, I felt that the amount of actual meat and the overall bowl was small for the ~$9.00 price per dish. I wouldn't recommend the mixed vegetable curry because it just seemed like frozen vegetables that had been boiled and thrown in a very average curry. Unfortunately, we might have come on a busy night for them. Despite having three waiters, it still seemed like they were understaffed, but the restaurant is small with about a max of 8 tables. They were incredibly prompt to bring us water, but slow in all other respects. I gave them the benefit of the doubt though because there was a large party right after us. The brother and sister that run the restaurant are incredibly kind though. They apologized for their busyness and didn't charge us for the rice AND gave us a 20% discount. I will most likely come back some time in the future to give Nirvana another chance!
(3)Cora G.
it is 3.5 stars because of the small portion and ugly looking large plastic rectangular plate for the lunch and dinner specials. I wish they give larger portions and get rid of those plastic plates. It looks cheap and horrible, no class. The service is friendly and wholesome and the food tastes delicious. I would have given 5 stars.
(4)Brenda P.
LOOOOOOOVE their Chicken Tikka Masala! And they are so friendly to my family every time we order (which is a lot!)
(5)N W.
This is my new favorite restaurant. I have never understood people saying they go to the same restaurant once or multiple times a week until now... I was smiling through the whole meal, it was wonderful. Dishes may be ordered mild, medium, or spicy. As someone who LOVES, absolutely adores hot, spicy foods this place does not disappoint. Service & location: our waitress was very sweet. She helped with recommendations for my mom who's not familiar w/Indian cuisine & patiently described the flavors & portion sizes to another large group seated behind us. The place was very clean & the décor simple, but nice. It's relatively small, but doesn't feel cramped at all. We ordered: -The shrimp dinner special: the Shrimp Bhuna (ordered spicy) & Matar Paneer were my favorite parts of plate. The Bhuna had bold, full-bodied flavor with lingering heat. I dislike peas, but I kept going back for more Matar Paneer. The Raita (yogurt) & Daal Makhni (lentils) are exactly as they describe them: refreshing & mildly seasoned, respectively. Though mild, they provide a lovely contrast to the spiciness of the Bhuna & Paneer. Great with Tandoori bread. -Chana Masala (ordered spicy): though this filled me up very quickly, it had good heat & was expertly seasoned. -Alu Paratha & Garlic Naan: both were piping hot from the oven & delicious. This may be a personal preference, but I wish the garlic naan had a hint more garlic flavor. It still had the perfect balance of dense & fluffy, though. -Mango Lassi: perfect blend of mango, milk & yogurt. Not too sweet, not overly-tangy. -Chai Tea (listed as Indian Tea): this is not your cloyingly sweet Americanized chai. I thought it smelled of almond cake, my mom said it smelled a bit like licorice. I actually didn't find it sweet at all, but still flavorful. The spiciness: that awesome level of heat that lingers, might make you tear up/sniffle just a little bit, but it doesn't make you want to stop eating because you're in searing pain - you just want to keep building the heat bite by bite. Yum! Will re-review with pictures.
(5)Elaine S.
This is an family owned Indian restaurant that will never disappoint you and your friends. Its freshly baked naan bread melts in the month, and their tandoori chicken, or chicken tikka marsala is very flavorful! The only setback is its size so you need to go early on the weekends, otherwise the line gets long for the wait! It's definitely a treat to go there. $ well spent!
(5)Molly A.
I am seriously addicted to this place. I've ordered their Chicken Tikka Masala many times, their coconut curries and lamb dishes are also wonderful. When I dine in this little restaurant there is a vibe of being in a family member's dining room, not so much a restaurant. I couldn't love it any more. Service is always wonderful, wether you're dining in, getting it to go or for delivery, the service and quality of this restaurant is consistently fantastic.
(5)Huy B.
Ordered vegetarian dinner with saag paneer and chicken tikka masala. Saag paneer was fantastic and our waitress was very sweet and attentive. Small little joint that's family owned. Restroom was clean, which tells you that their kitchen is as well.
(4)Jen W.
The best indian food place in the area. Or al least, that I'm aware of. I always get the chicken tikka masala, mild, medium is significantly hotter than the mild. I have it with basmati rice, which is cooked to perfection, and garlic naan. The naan is out of this world! I could survive off of it if I had to! It's so good! The portins here are pretty large, I came with my best friend, and we both waddled out stuffed! We even had some food left over! The only thing I didn't like was that there was an older Indian woman (I think she was one of the owners) who just stood and stared at us the entire time we ate, mind you, we were one of two tables that were occupied. Other than that and the random music videos playing without sound, if you want some good reasonably priced Indian food, this is the place to come to!
(4)Lisa C.
Great food and excellent service. We had garlic naan , chicken tikka masala and lamb biryani . My husband enjoyed the Indian television shows on the tv. The atmosphere is very pleasant. Our waitress was very attentive.
(5)Jennifer D.
I went here on a Friday night with my boyfriend - we were craving Indian food. Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised! Being vegetarian, I ordered paneer tikka masala even though it wasn't on their menu (5/5 delicious!!) and the bf ordered chicken korma; we also ordered naan, paratha (is that how you spell it?) and samosas. Five stars for the best Indian food in this area! If you order drinks you get 20% off your check - awesome! The staff was super friendly and accommodating!! Love it - will definitely come back here! :)
(5)Bharathwaj N.
The food was pretty bland. Wished it had more flavour. The service and the ambiencr was good.
(3)Rebecca S.
If I could give this restaurant no stars I would because after a night of vomiting and diarrhea I am that pissed off! Just two weeks prior I had a wonderful but rather pricey dinner with two friends..by pricey I mean the amount of food you get for your money..NOT MUCH. However I was craving aloo gobi and I was close to Nirvana so I thought why not. When I walked in the door I was informed it was Sunday buffet and that for 15 dollars I could eat all I wanted. When I first saw the buffet I was disappointed. First, there were 10 different dishes on the buffet but there was precious little of any of it..apparently the family that owns the restraunt had been busy eating as the restraunt was empty except for myself and one other customer at 12 noon. However I was tired and hadn't eaten so I decided to make the best of it. Most of the dishes were just sauce with no substance but I managed a few chunks of chicken in tika masala sauce, watery dal, palak paneer, rice, and a watery portion of kheer. It was accompanied by a single piece of naan and ice tea that tasted like dish water. After eating the above repast and paying our bill my friend and I left the restraunt feeling none to well. Needless to say it's Monday and we are both still recovering after being sick all night! I will not return.
(1)Raian K.
Well first of all if your an Indian food fan and a person on a budget, the lunch buffet at this restaurant is fantastic and very well worth the price. The food is very good and served fresh and hot. I was particularly fond of the Dopiaja Chicken and the Paratha, as they both were tasty and very well made. The menu is expensive with many options for vegans and meat-lovers. The drinks category could use a bit more diversity as only the Mango Lache serves as the authentic Indian drink many would desire from such a restaurant. Overall this place is very good for its food, my biggest complain would be the size of the store as, everything is smashed together and on days where its busy, good luck finding seats. Head on down to this restaurant if your in the mood or pick up or a quick dinner!
(4)Melanie Z.
Just got my first order with this place today - only because they passed out 15% off coupons to the place I work at. So I finally decided to try this place out today. I made a pick-up order for the lamb curry lunch special. It was all right. Not as good as Akbar in Old Town Pasadena though. The portions at Nirvana are small... at least it seems so for the lunch special. You mostly get a bunch of carbs (rice & naan) & sauces for you meal. The lentil soup (that I actually didn't ask for) was distasteful. The curry itself... Ehh... It was okay. I would have liked more pieces of lamb though. They only gave 4-5 little chunks. The curry sauce tastes mostly like a tomato paste mixed in with some curry. It's ok, but not something I would really crave in the future. It's just okay food - edible, but not a restaurant that would go on my favorites list. The staff - cordial but not people who look like they want you to come back. The waiter whom I picked up my food from didn't smile er' anything. No conversation-making. Then when I took my food back to work, I thought I didn't see my salad. So I brought the food back to the restaurant, & stated how I didn't see my salad in my order. He opened my bag of food up to show me the little container of salad. Woah! Okay, so I didn't realize that the salad would be that measily! Okay. So then my meal did come with the salad, but that salad was so measily! I was hoping for a bigger salad - at least a handful of lettuce! And the green dressing for the salad was way more than enough. Oh well. Then just before I left, I asked him what the sauces were that they packaged in the bag with my food. I wanted to know the name of the sauces, but he just said, "They're the condiments." Hmm... That doesn't tell me much. So yeah, that was my experience with the restaurant & it's food. Would I go back? Nah... Only if they give me a 30% off coupon. I'd rather much walk over to Quiznos to use my "Free Lunch" coupon & only spend about $3 on my meal! :P
(2)Jay D.
Great food, friendly service!!! I always get the chicken tikka masala (spicy) and garlic naan combo.
(4)Alicia B.
Delicious & great service. A fantastic family owned place!
(5)L G.
MMMMMMMMmmm! This place is tasty! Went here with some coworkers for dinner on a Sunday night and got seated right away. I don't know how it was like before the change of owners/staff but reading some of the new reviews had to give this place a try. Everything that our group ordered was delicious. For an appetizer we had their samosas along with their combo appetizer dish which was excellent! We tried their lamb combo dinner, eggplant bharta, a lentil dish, and a chicken dish. All were very good. We had most of the dishes with plain & garlic naan... yum yum yum! The waitress was also very attentive, refilling our drinks if we were low, and came by twice to check up on us. Our experience here was great! The food was good and the staff were very friendly. I know I'll be back! Too bad it's not that close to where I live... oh well, gives me an excuse to visit friends around that area. :)
(5)Phoebe W.
I love the food and service! Bigger portion compare to other Indian restaurants and it's delicious. I ordered a chef's combo.... yummy! The waitress is super nice...no joke! :)
(5)Sheryl H.
The food here is great! Tried different Indian curries and dishes that aren't offered at most Indian restaurant (instead of just chicken tikka masala and the most common dishes) so that made it even better. But the best thing of all was that the service was so great! We had a friend's birthday party there and even though we stayed (unknowingly) neraly 2 hours after their closing time all the staff were still very happy, attentive, friendly and made us feel like we were hanging out at home with buddies so the time just went by. The food was great!
(5)Stepha G.
At Nirvana for the first time, just past 5 pm. Located in a strip mall on Huntington Drive, not far from the 210, the parking lot is visually oppressive with the density of businesses, and the varied signage competing for the public's attention is a sight not uncommon to LA County. Flowing curtains at the front windows of the restaurant provide a soft wall, and once inside a kind of sanctuary exists within. Mirrors help to augment the limited space. Already another couple was dining. On the 2 televisions was an Indian movie from the 1960s, a cold war spy movie---unfamiliar to our eyes, sort of kooky and fun. A reflection of the TV screen was visible to me on the glass of the tabletop. It took a few moments to familiarize ourselves with the menu, agreeing to lamb biryani, a yellow dal, and garlic naan. The lamb biryani was devoid of grease so I thought that it was great; on the other hand, my husband would say that it was too dry. So, sometimes, I wonder whether it really matters what diners says about certain aspects of individual dishes. I would have been very happy with the dal and the naan. In the end, I'll try Nirvana for lunch, and I anticipate that I'll be comfortable there. Note to self: park on one of Arcadia's streets, then walk over to Nirvana.
(3)diana l.
Service was great. Their lamb was good. A bit over priced.
(4)Juhee J.
I had went to Nirvana previously with the old management and it was completely unsatisfactory. This new management is wonderful. The food is great! I loved all the naan, it tasted like naan from India. The variety of dishes including my favorite matar paneer (homemade cheese with peas, covered in creamy gravy) tasted like heaven. The service was slow, be prepared to wait 20 minutes in between dishes. The servers are what I feel Dopey was in the 7 dwarfs. They mean well but cannot do their jobs correctly. Price wise it is a little expensive. Overall I say check it out you will love the food!
(3)Bryan D.
PLEASE NOTE that Nirvana Indian Cuisine has NEW OWNERS who re-opened the restaurant on July 6th, 2011. Any negative reviews posted prior to that date must have been because of previous ownership. A wonderful family now runs Nirvana with brother, sister and uncle running the front of house and mom & dad cooking in the kitchen. In addition to a freshly updated decor and new menu design, my wife and I noticed the change in service right away, it was prompt, friendly and attentive. Oh and the food was delicious. We ordered Aloo Matter (off the menu, extra spicy), basmati rice, two garlic naan and a side of mango chutney. Dinner was fantastic. For dessert I had the rice pudding and my wife a hot chai tea. We are going to go back to Nirvana for dinner Friday night! We're so excited to see new life within our local indian restaurant (we live in Monrovia). Nice job Nirvana.
(5)Michael G.
A quiet Saturday lunch proved to be a very enjoyable dining experience. No buffet, yet, a la carte had some specials with everything necessary for a good lunch. When asked how spicy I wanted my meal, i ordered the chicken vindaloo with 6, not knowing how hot it might be. I was pleased that my idea of 6 Matched the chef's. I recommend this Indian restaurant for lunch. I will have to return for dinner. They are changing ownership soon.
(4)arun m.
A breath of fresh air from the last owners! The place is now run by a very polite and gentle family and the place has a nice quiet, cozy ambiance. The menu is very appetizing and the food is quite authentic north indian/punjabi! They are very straightforward in telling you what to expect from what you are ordering -in terms of how spicy or whether it is too rich etc. etc. And they are very flexible in adjusting the food to your needs. (Old Nirvana regulars - remember what that was like with the previous owner!) Only it's priced 10-15% higher than competition, but they are running a 15% discount till the end of the year - so now is definitely a good time to check them out ! My favorites - eggplant bharta, palak paneer and dal.
(4)Tyler D.
I had an early lunch 11:00. Its 4pm and i'm ready to go and have an early dinner. Let's cut to the chase on this one. This place sucks! Period! Its just too bad that I'm not allowed to put 0 stars. Usually I have a very detailed / cigar conversation version, but this is as detailed as it gets: SERVICE: LOL!!! LOL!!! The service here is like caveman style. "you hungry, me bring food with no Fu$#!* smile or comprehension of what-so-ever" "you thirsty, me bring water with finger in cup to add flavor...and again me no expression of what-so-ever" "you not Indian, you get nan bread last...after all Indian friends eat first...even though they came in 15 min after you." FOOD: I'm too upset to even list them. Let's put it this way...salty and over cooked meats were the motto for the evening. DECOR / AMBIANCE LOL!!! What ambiance? This is ridiculous. I felt like I was in a tent or something. What happened to the lighting?!! I understand that we're not in a medical lab, but let me see my food for crying out loud. Maybe it was just a bad evening, and some of the lighting wasn't working correctly. Look. I don't give a rat's a$$ if this is the last Indian restaurant on earth. It's not the price that I care about. That's the last thing that I worry about...and it's also not about the portions. Forget about the taste, let's just say it's a bad day and you ran out of spices and all you have left is paprika and salt and more salt. Hell, I'd give ya a couple of stars if your attitude was in the right fox hole.
(1)Raj E.
Ordinary food, small portions, meager service and HIGHEST PRICES for Indian food I have seen anywhere. Avoid this place.
(2)Eric H.
We haven't found very many Indian restaurant options in Arcadia/Monrovia, but we love the cuisine style, so we have faithfully returned to Nirvana over the years. The restaurant has a run-down feel and I think the menus have not been changed since the first time we visited years ago, but the food is always delicious and the service is kind and gentle (an odd description to be sure, but visit and you'll agree). I am not sure how they have managed to stay in business as there are generally only a couple other parties eating there even on a Friday night when all the other restaurants in the area are overflowing. You'll find dishes from all the different distinct cuisine areas of India. Our kids stick to the Chicken Tika Masala, and my wife rarely strays from the Lamb Vindaloo, but I like to experiment with new dishes and am particularly fond of the various ways they prepare fish. I would feel more comfortable spending $80-100 for a family of four if they dressed up the restaurant a bit, but without competition we are sure to return on occasion.
(3)steve c.
The place is kind of a dump. The owner can be aloof. His wife is a trip. But the food is actually pretty good...pretty, pretty good...and if you take the time to talk to the proprietor you'll be alright. - he's is a little bit like an uncle of mine, so it's like paying to go to a family event where the food is decent but you can leave when you're done eating and not stick around for an obligatory look at the photos from their last trip to London...
(4)Joel H.
Fantastic food hindered by poor service. For me the food was well worth the semi-rude woman that waited on me. Excellent samosas and perfectly spicy lamb vindaloo. Enjoyed it very much.
(4)Rachel C.
I've written a review before already, and am still raving about this place! We haven't been here in about a month and a half, and we missed the food so much, we had to go back tonight to celebrate our birthdays. As always, the food was fantastic, the rice pillau was superb tonight, and I tried the aloo gobhi with medium spice tonight. The extra kick was fantastic! I can't believe we haven't eaten there for this long! We're fairly regular, and since we've not been around, even the mom came by to say hi and asked why we've not been around! They are super friendly here, and we've never had a single dish we didn't like. Tonight we tried out their homemade pistachio ice-cream, and we absolutely loved it - it wasn't too sweet, had a nice smooth texture, and rich and creamy, almost like a very cold cheese cake! If I could give them more than 5 stars, I WOULD! Highly recommend this place, especially since there aren't too many good Indian restaurants around in Arcadia...And get to know the family, they are a blast!
(5)Jeff K.
I really love this place. The food and atmosphere are great. Truthfully I think the owners are very nice.
(5)Piggy C.
I went for dinner, and got some chicken something and a fish masala dish. Both were good, though I like the fish better. I have to say I don't know what these people were talking about the bad service. Just because someone isn't grinning like the stereotypical fast food workers doesn't mean they have bad attitude. The owner was very attentive, and polite, I had no problem at all.
(4)Annie G.
we set out for old town arcadia tonight because we both felt a little system cleansing was in order and wanted souplantation. but of course, the arcadia souplantation is someplace you want to stay away from on most occasions, because it is almost always guaranteed to be crowded. tonight was worse than usual. the line extended past the entryway, and it wasn't moving. so because my bf and i were starving, we decided to venture across the street to try out the indian restaurant i so often saw and was always curious about. boy do i wish i had had more patience for souplantation! because let me tell you, the food at nirvana was awful! and expensive at that! first of all, if you get your dish as a dinner (rather than a la carte - it costs $2 more for the dinner) you get your food in this odd metal round tray with various soups and sauces in little metal containers. i thought i was in prison or something. and when i tasted the food, well, i would expect prison food to be bland, but it turned out to be overly salty. i've never had bad indian food until now. it's not a good experience. why do people insist on ruining dishes with an overabundance of salt?! my bf and i went through about 10 glasses of water each because it was just so darn salty. i'm never coming back here again.
(1)F D.
My boyfriend and I went here for the first time not that long ago. We ordered the vegetable samosa appetizer, chicken vindaloo (my all time favorite), and the chicken tikki masala. It's defiantely not an all time favorite Indian experience, but they were pretty good. And they have a cute little Indian atmosphere. Make sure you order an appetizer though, because there is a bit of a wait for food.
(3)Avani P.
OK FOOD, TERRIBLE PLACE. LIKE HELL HOLE. We used to go here often. We are Indians and we know exactly what we want to eat. But, still... I have to agree with the other posts that the owner and his ill mannered wife are NAZIS. They are always in a bad mood. It's like they have a bad hair day everyday. So, here is our experiences... We always used to go there and order Dosas (indian crepes) and between the 2 of us we would run up a decent amount bill. Once we had been eating and the owner practically threw one of the other patrons out, because he could not make up his mind what he wanted to eat. The owner was very mean to him. That was 1 incident. We thought, strike 1. Then, another instance, we asked for extra "sambhar", which is the lentil soup that they give in small bowls and the owners wife starts yelling at us. She had a rage fit. I was shocked. I couldn't swallow any more food. We paid and walked out and decided we would never go back there and to top it, we vouced to let every soul know that it is a terrible place with terrible people running the show. I have eaten those Indian crepes all my life. And let me tell you this, the food is not good. It is strictly ok and not atall worth putting up with tantrums from the owners. Bottom line. DON'T GO HERE IF YOU HAVE ANY SELF RESPECT AND IF YOU DON'T LIKE TO LISTEN TO PEOPLE YELL AT YOU.
(1)Dev N.
I will not recommend this place. The service was below average. At the bare minimum level, cups were placed on the table 10 minutes after we were seated but the water was not served until later requested. Be aware that the serving amount will be low, much like the sample platter. Food was not freshly made. Dosa was cold at the moment of serving. Naan was on the salty side. Amy's frozen Indian food which is available in Whole food tastes so much better than the food served at Nirvana.
(1)Jody G.
I went to dinner with 2 friends on Saturday and the host was the owner or seemed like it. He sat us down and threw the menus on the table and took 30 minutes to come back and take drink/food orders. Food came out and my boyfriend ordered the Lamb, which was SUPER salty, and so I flagged the owner down and told him he and he said that is impossible because there is NO way that the food is salty I am a chef too, and we use 20% less salt. He didn't want to replace the lamb which was absurd.The food was horrific and so was the service. Do not recommend this place to anyone.
(1)Cindy A.
I feel like I have to defend this little neighborhood restaurant. My family and I have been coming here for about seven years and we really like it. The food is unbelievably fresh, you can see the cook preparing the food, which is way better then some of these other places where the food comes out lukewarm--this often contributes to why food can take a while to be served. The portions are small and not at all equate for what you pay, but, I never feel deprived of food, I just think we are used to massive portions. But overall, it's pretty solid Indian food. The chicken tikka masala is very creamy and fresh tasting. If anything I would like it to be a tad spicier. I am in love with their lamb saag, which has recently become a favorite for my sister's and I. The naan is good although sometimes it comes out way to crunchy for my taste, but i send it back if it's really bad. Try the garlic naan, it kicks some ass. As for the "friendliness" of the owner, I don't know. yeah, he's not the warmest person in the world, but his intentions are nice. And he really is quite sweet once he recognizes you. Not everyone is going to be like a manager or server at Macaroni Grill, it's just not always gonna be the case. It's a small family owned restaurant. It's not always bustling, NO they aren't hot waitresses to take your curry order and the atmosphere isn't like a karma sutra movie. Fine, I get that. But, the food is authentic, dependable and fresh. Overall, I'm a fan.
(4)James L.
more to come.
(3)Jenny L.
Came here because my fatass friend couldn't resist buffets. I personally love Indian food, but if this place was my first impression on Indian food I don't think I'd be loving it. It was 9 dollars for lunch buffet so it's definitely affordable. However, I rather have Quality. The chicken tikka masala (my favorite) was a bit too watered down. I like it when the sauce is thick and packed with flavor. The coconut fish curry was good. I wish they had biriyani instead of regular rice but oh well haha. The mint chutney and cucumber sauce was so delicious together! Made rice very flavorful with a hint of spicyness. I also loved how they had fresh garlic naan. Overall, the restaurant is pretty decent but I would rather go to another restaurant to satisfy my craving!
(3)KIller B.
What can i say about this place other than it is one of the best indian restaurants i have been too,outside of india ,they have the best lamb chops/rack of lamb the second best place i have had these lamb chops are in vegas ,my friends and i were standing outside of BJ'S and thought that what are we going to eat there ,the same old fish and chips and other bland food ,so i gave them a suggestion and told them to try Nirvana, and we being indian thought that it would be the same old americanised indian food that they serve here ,we said why not but if the food sucks i would be the one they were gonna blame,well we went in and told the servers that we are here to get authentic indian food ,so we ordered rack of lamb ,tandoori chicken,and cheese naan our food arrived all sizzling and one bite and it was OMG .....this tandoori chicken was almost better than india,so the chef/owner comes out and asks us how it was,and told us he had made it authentic for us and he was right on the spot...........i have been there many times after that andthe food is delicious all the time ,,the shahi paneer,mirchi ka salan,tandoori chicken,and lamb chops amazing....i also would like to give a little tip to the non indian people going here you see any cuisine that is served out of its respective country will have to adapt to the country they are in ,like chinese people would never eat panda express ,and japanese people would never eat yoshinoya ,,,,so most indian restaurants adapt to american tastes with very little spices ,but if you want good indian food you should ask the server to make it authentic with a decent amount of spice ,then the indian food experience will be great
(5)Girl W.
We bought an Amazon voucher and we were not disappointed. Friendly service and great tasting food. The mutton curry was delicious, my boys literally cleaned the bowl with the garlic naan. Prices are not cheap but the food was worth coming back!
(4)Jen Y.
I'm bothered that the owners of this place won't let their wait staff: 1. Talk to customers who have questions regarding the menu or dining experience. 2. Take tip$ from customers because they've earned it; Owners pocket it themselves. 3. Only let their wait staff clear your table. I'm a big proponent of supporting mom 'n pop shops but the way I see it, the owners treat the wait staff as second class. The wait staff couldn't answer our questions and only shrugged her shoulder at us because she's being watched by the owners. That's NOT right. To run a successful thriving business, you build relationships with customers and personalize the experience for them. Ugh, annoyed by the pop of this establishment. Secondly, he is hard of hearing and not at all friendly. So, I don't think I'm missing out on much if I were never to return again. I'll vote with my hard earned dollar$ elsewhere. Now moving onto the food. SMALL portions. Quality is eh, ok. Nothing special. Moving on...
(1)Susan P.
food sooo good, mint sauce, yum! and the people...so very friendly and welcoming we went with daugher son-in-law and 4 yr old granddaughter...all were welcome and had a great time. we will be back!
(4)Ameena A.
My family came here for a special occasion dinner (we almost never get to see other, since they are in So Cal and my mom and I are in Portland), and we had an amazing time. My mom and aunt both grew up in India, and they loved the food. All of us enjoyed our dishes and our wonderful waitress, Kamal.
(5)Shehan W.
I am from the OC and there a many good Indian restaurants here. I went there with a business partner for the first time I love food and I must say that this place is on my TOP list for Indian food! Everything was delicious, well organized, and perfect! Our garlic naan breads, the mushrooms which is one of their signature items is a must try...and water were always refilled when they were empty and they cleared the dirty plates from the table when you were done. . The service was on point and was very friendly and accommodating. One of the new owners served us everything about this place is so authentic. I love the atmosphere and the restaurant is very clean. I am for sure coming back again I would ask everyone to try Nirvana you will not regret the choice.
(5)Andrea L.
Amazing saag paneer and the freshest naan. I love this place!
(5)Circe L.
Ok so I am a bit of an Indian food nut. And I got schooled by the owner here with a smile and a wink. He advised me on what I should and should not slather in Indian Pickle and how to eat properly with my hands. The Dosa is amazing, the Sak Paneer made my co-eater cry. I look forward to going here every time I'm out in that neck of the woods.
(3)Tony M.
Small dining room with around 12 tables, in a strip mall with plenty of parking. On Monrovia/Arcadia's restaurant row. Last time we were here it was still run by the older Indian couple. We used to eat here maybe twice a year and tolerate the man who practically stood next to your table and watched you eat, and the average food that may or may not have been microwaved. It was the only place to get Indian food in our immediate neighborhood. Well after reading about the management change and facelift this restaurant has had recently and after reading many good reviews we ventured back in. Ambience? Excellent. I enjoyed the Indian music videos during my meal and the faint smell of incense in the air. Service? Excellent. New, younger staff. Very attentive and fast. Food? Excellent. We had meat samosa appetizer, chicken vindaloo, lamb tika masala, saag paneer, rice, and plain naan. Everything was fresh, hot, and full of flavor. My favorite of the bunch was the paneer, my wife loved the tika masala. The food, service, and ambience is way better than before and I can't wait to come back. Glad it's in my neighborhood.
(5)Brian S.
ATTN: NIRVANA IS UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT. The grumpy old man that used to own the place has been replaced by a super cool Indian family. Sometimes my big mouth gets me in trouble, but sometimes my big mouth makes for a great night. We had a coupon so we decided to stop by Nirvana. Since they were playing some Bollywood movie, I started asking questions and began a conversation with what turned out to be two sisters working the tables. (Mom and Dad worked the back). Apparently, 1) No one in the United States can accurately cook Palaak Paneer (sp). There is some type of special clay stove that would, lets just say, violate a health code or two. Nevertheless, their palaak paneer tasted pretty good to me. Of course, how would I know - not having been to India I've never had the real thing! 2) Some Indian movie star will only eat at their establishment when he comes to town. No one else is good enough. (Disclaimer: I did not see said movie star.) 3) In Sikh families, depending on how strict you are, sometimes its ok to eat meat, such as chicken. I always had wondered how Indians could have things like Lamb on their menus if they were mostly vegitarian. In at least some cases, that explained if for me. 4) "Flying Horse" is their most popular beer, but isn't on the menu and that's why it is so popular! Don't ask me to explain that logic... 5) Speaking of said beer, I love their label: "Ideally, Flying Horse should be chilled to temperature of 8 - 10 C. And, when you're sure the occasion deserves it, serve Flying Horse Royal Lager Beer. Then, sit back and drink deeply." Wow. That is one special beer! 6) If you decide to add water to Mango Lassi to dilute it a bit, don't worry - they do it to! 7) Every Indian movie involves a great deal of choreographed music and dancing. I had no idea what was going on but was mesmerized. Luckily, a cousin came in to the restaurant to let me know what's going on! 8) Be very careful when taking Indian food to go in your car. It is not an easy thing to get out! Overall a good experience. We'll be back with new questions to get answered. :-)
(5)Sandy H.
Awesome place for Indian food under new management for 7 mos. Was hesitate to try this place when a fd told me the food was horrible back in the yrs. Decided to try it since other reviews stated the place is under new management. Price is reasonable and got tons of variety to choose from. I actually luv this place more than another Indian restaurant on Rosemead. It's a small cozy place runs by a warm and friendly family. Anyone who loves Indian food should TRY IT!!
(5)Priya R.
Excellent food, very nice service - hope it lasts!!
(4)Rena B.
Very delicious, spicy and aromatic. I like very hot food, but opted for the medium this time. Wow! I had the Bengan Bhartha off the vegetarian menu: Fresh eggplant roasted in tandoor oven then cooked curry style with fresh tomatoes. The flavor was indeed bold and spicy. I loved it. When they say hot, they are serious. I will definitely go back.
(5)Man M.
Family owned. Sincere and earnest service. Very good food.
(4)Crystal W.
Wow-I'm a little shocked by the low reviews for this place! Nirvana is very much a mom and pop place since it's a husband and wife team. Usually the husband takes orders and helps serves food and the wife works the kitchen. Although today, the wife took our orders before disappearing into the kitchen. They have several people on their staff who just seem to refill water glasses and clear plates. Things would probably be more efficient if they took orders too. The owners were nice enough-they checked in on us a few times to make sure everything was all right and the husband was very polite when my mom had questions about the menu. Nonetheless, I really like the food here. My favorite is the lamb pataak with some naan. I've also had the okra and eggplant dishes and am a fan of those too. The only dish I remember not enjoying was the chicken tandoori-it smelled great but turned out being rather bland. It's a small establishment and things can get slow service wise when it's busy since the staff is small. I personally can't vouch for the authenticity of this place but every time I have eaten here there have been Indian patrons enjoying their meals. It's the only Indian restaurant in the area and I enjoy the food so I plan on coming back here!
(4)Cai D.
Just went there last night. Wouldn't say it was great but it is worth trying. They have the potato pancake that can't be found in Americanized Indian restaurants (my husband said so - he has been to India). My friends are Indians and I think just me craving Chinese food so often, they crave Indian food and that's why we went there. They seemed ok with it but weren't all that excited about it.
(3)Harry M.
Under new management and all I can say is WOW! WHAT a difference the food, atmosphere, great staff made it an enjoyable experience and can't wait to go back again soon! The flavors are great!
(4)George B.
So far it's my favorite Indian place in this area. I go here when I'm hungry for good Indian food.
(5)Melissa H.
I was looking on Yelp and saw that Nirvana was now under new management. My family and I had been coming here for years but since I moved away to school we had not been going very often. With the $30 for $40 Yelp deal and the new management I made sure I went back last time I was in town. The service was wonderful, much better than the previous owners the staff was very friendly and on top of everything. The decor was very well put together and not quite as silly as it used to be. The food was delicious! We ordered the Lamb Curry, Chicken Tikka Masala, and Tandoori mixed grill with some rice and Naan. The Chicken Tikka was fantastic :) and the Naan was delicious. The only downside is that it is a bit pricey, purchase the Yelp deal because every bit helps! Overall I definitely recommend this place! Go check it out :)
(4)Dee Y.
Husband and I came here to have dinner with my Indian friend from school. He works in the area now, and we've been talking about grabbing dinner forever and finally did it. He suggested this place, and I immediately checked Yelp for reviews. The whole Nazi things scares me a bit because I hate bad customer service especially because I feel that I'm a courteous customer and I expect to be treated the same way. But my friend is a regular here, and he's Indian, and he said this place is authentic, and I'm all for authenticity, so I trust his judgment. Boy, were we in for a treat. He started with chicken 65 and samosas appetizers. I'm not big on samosas because I dont like deep fried stuff, but they were fresh and pretty good. The chicken 65 was so good and flavorful. Then, we had the masala dosa (my super favorite), and my friend ordered a couple more items that I didn't have because he said they'd be too spicy for me. My masala dosa was also prepared fresh and flavorful. The sauces on the side were a bit spicy, but soo yummy. The older man serving us was rather quiet. I am my usual self when I'm at a restaurant. I'm always courteous and says thank you and please when someone's waiting for me. I didn't experience any rudeness that everyone was talking about. But then again, we came with a regular, and he knew right away what to order. Monx m. was right, eating here is a lesson in humility, you gotta be polite, which is no problem for me because my parents taught me some manners. When we left, the older man said thank you and good bye to us. I don't see him being rude at all. I would definitely come here again for some great authentic Indian food. Especially with my friend because he always knows what to order... =)
(4)Alexandra B.
I wanted to like Nirvana because the staff was so attentive and friendly, but unfortunately the food just didn't do it for me. I found the dishes to be lacking in flavor and, while not bad, just overall unimpressive. Service was great, though, and the restaurant is tiny but manages to give off a cozy ambiance.
(2)A C.
The service is excellent, food taste good, but the price seems very expensive given the portion. The restaurant does not ventilate well, so there is a smell in the restaurant, but you get used to it after a while. The restaurant plays Indian movies that may not be appropriate for young children. I would not mind trying this place again, but I have been to better Indian restaurants.
(3)Karen E.
I say this place was only "ok" because I still felt hungry when I left...and that's hard to do with me since I'm a light eater. I ordered the tandoori chicken meal and my husband ordered the curry chicken meal. Both tasted pretty good but just wished I had more chicken to go with abundance of rice. Also, I was thinking about getting the tandoori chicken a la carte but a side of rice was $4! I felt it was a little overpriced for what I got. Not to mention, the curry veggies that came with my plate was extremely hot! I burned my tongue while eating the veggies. On a positive note...the naan and yogurt was very good!
(3)kT V.
Yummy! Under new management and will be going here again. Service, food and atmosphere are great.
(5)Bing L.
This new owner/operator is way better. Food is much more to my liking. I ate here last year under the previous owner. His service was fine, but the food was bleeh...(IMHO). Now, the food is much tastier without over powering heat. The service is excellent and friendly. Deserves 4.5 stars overall. I only knocked off 1/2 star because I know other comparable places with better pricing. I would go again anytime. Anybody who may have dined here before under the old management should try this place again (if you haven't already). I was happily surprised.
(4)Hito S.
I lived in new york for 2 years and had a lot of authentic Indian food. And I am here to tell you this place will receive 1 star from me! (I would like to give ZERO STAR if the system allows me) The food was really bad and Expensive! I believe these two weaknesses are enough... Unless you want to spoil ur money.
(1)Nathan D.
I had the masala dosa for lunch. Very good food, very traditional (as far as I can tell from that one dish xP). Water glass was always full. A little more than I might have expected (price-wise), but the portion was pretty large and tasty.
(4)Grrlstylenow X.
Nirvana, indeed! Best chicken vindaloo and vegetable curry I have ever had! The service is wonderful as well. Every single member of the staff is friendly and attentive. You can sense the love this family has put into their restaurant.
(5)Daniela B.
Im only not giving it 5 stars because of the service. The food was EXCELLENT, it was nice to see a a real Indian family cooking instead of the usual crew of latinos (I'm latina, but as well as they are trained in many wonderful restaurants that we eat, growing up with the flavors certainly is a plus at the time of cooking) There was a girl that seamed very nice, but we got stuck with a waiter that never smiled or made us feel welcome. I even think he got tired of our questions and requests (lemon-bread before the meal-can we get another rice instead of the one that comes with the lunch menu and pay extra (no)) that he sent another younger guy, and we where happy because he was very nice and attentive at well. I guess it comes to luck when you pick your table! But that detail appart, the food was really really good. It was the best RIATA we have ever had (cold yogurt) , the filled bread was very testy, the eggplant curry was delicious: it has a very soft rosted eggplant flavor, somehow smoky...and we dont like eggplants to much, but we loved this. Nicely seasoned, fresh vegetables (I think the peas were fresh) and evidently they prepared everything on the spot since we where the only ones and we could hear them working on our orden. I ordered the cheese balls for desert, since once I had it and I loved them. But since then I have try to find some ones that I like as well and I havent been successful, as I was not today. Next time will try the homemade pistachio ice cream. It was reasonable priced, the deco is nice, (not a strong indian style, except for the indian soap opra on the TV! (I could have done it without it). We hope they will get more customers, so they stay in business, because next time we drive by there (We live 2 hours away!) we want to stop and eat again. Ps: My husband wants to add that he is a gringo, our dog is a bichon, and our parrot is a blue front amazon :-)
(4)Andrea L.
Have eaten dinner here many times over the past couple of years and have never experienced any rudeness in this restaurant. From what I've observed, most of the clientele at dinner are regulars that are familiar with the owners and with the food. The Mr. and I love the butter chicken, full-on spicy. When we have wanted to explore other items on the menu, the owners were very patient and made suggestions since they know we like spicy food. Service and food quality have been consistent over the time we have been eating here. We have taken guests here without issue and will continue to do so. The garlic naan is fantastic! Have never been there for lunch - might be a bit more hectic because people are in a hurry to get back to work, and this isn't exactly meant to be fast food.
(4)Ben N.
Great local indian restaurant to eat at! I tried the chicken tikka masala, and it was delicious! the prices are decent for what you get.
(5)Melissa L.
This is My favorite Indian Food Restaurant! The food is really good but to be fair I always order the same thing, Chicken Tikka Marsala, Rice, and Naan. I have never been able to recreate this dish, so this is the only place to get my fix =) It is owned by an older couple but you can tell they are super hard ass old school Indians. They never smile or talk to us even though we have been coming here since I was little, plus every time we try to tip the waiters they wont take our money because they are fearful of the owners getting mad and taking it for themselves its so sad. =/ Negatives: Its so expensive for a really small portion. Thats how they get you. The food is very good but for the amount they serve it is such a rip off. Totally sucks, if I could find another place with food this good that was less $ I would totally go there instead.
(4)Brian H.
I only went here because it was within walking distance of my hotel and I figured I could always scald my tastebuds with a cofe from the Starbucks down the way afterwards. Service leaves a lot to be desired... Decor ????? eh The menu was sparse and would be very confusing to a newcomer to Indian cuisine. The food was mediocre bordering on bleah.
(2)Terren J.
I'll only come here with my Indian co-workers because I trust them in ordering for me. Plus, I don't want to deal with the owner. He instantly reminded me of the soup Nazi. My co-workers say this is the most authentic Indian restaurant in the area. I do feel like I'm in India sometimes, depending on the customers that are dining there. For lunch, it's best to get the lunch special. It's the best deal. Plus it's an interesting experience to eat out of a round, silver platter with various small sides. We opted for a la carte one day and found the portions to be extremely small and expensive. But then again the lunch specials are quite pricey too for Indian food. The lamb dishes are really good. As are the meat samosas. The Chicken 65 reminded me of Tapioca Express's popcorn chicken (which is way cheaper). The food in general is on the salty side so I always find myself drinking cups of water afterwards. I'll come back if somebody else pays.
(3)Bianca L.
We had an Indian-from-India friend in town, and he wanted to treat us to proper South Indian food, but it was difficult to find a place since most places around here seem to serve primarily North Indian food. It was quickly getting close to dinner time and we couldn't find a good place. Over IM, we asked an American-born Indian friend for a recommendation and he volunteered Nirvana immediately. He did warn us about the service, as did the Yelp reviews. We let our friend order, and he stuck to the South Indian vegetarian portion of the menu. He chose the masala dosa, the mysore masala dosa, the andhra vada, and the idli. He wanted to order the uttapam but they were out of it. I mention this because he said that he had to rearrange the order because of the lack of the uttapam, which threw the whole thing off balance. So if you go, try ordering the uttapam, I'd like to know how it is. Anyway, we all thought the food was really good. So good, in fact, that we ordered a second mysore masala dosa. We did, however, also order a Tandoori mixed grill and we cannot recommend it. On that one dish alone, I'd agree that it's best to stay away from the North Indian dishes. It was charred and the meats were somewhat unrecognizable and bland. I also didn't like my mango lassi - too much like mango juice - very liquidy like there wasn't enough yogurt. The service wasn't too bad. Honestly, I don't know what people are complaining about. The owner was brusque and abrupt at first but by the end of the meal was quite friendly. But yeah, like Venkatesh said, keep your expectations low and it will be fine. In my mind, it's not too high of a price to pay for getting some darn good South Indian food in this area.
(4)Mark K.
I finally figured it out. So much documentation about the rudeness of the owners... 1-2 stars being flung left and right. Yet, when my Indian friends took me to this place for reasonable South Indian food (as opposed to North Indian food which most places serve) I was very torn and confused. We went and stuck to the south Indian menu (sorry, can't comment on the north Indian cuisine). And you know what... it was decent! We got the combination platters that had dossas as the center piece (think savory crepe Indian style) with small bowls of soup, chutney, etc... Decent price at $9 with a pretty good taste. Washed it down with a nice cold Indian beer (Kingfisher). Then I figured it out. REVALATION!!!! He IS a DOSSA NAZI (akin to the soup Nazi on Seinfeld). He is very abrupt. Expects you to know exactly what you want. No dilly dally. Don't ask too many questions. And please, for the love of God (or whatever you revere) NO SUBSTITUTIONS. Alter from the course... and you will be met with the I've-lived-long-enough-old-person-I-don't-need-to-Âtake-crap-from-you mentality. Knowing this things actually went smoothly. Given that we did exactly the right thing, we experienced no rudeness. Just prompt service. Bottom line... I'd go again if I were in the area and craving south Indian food... would I make a trip just to go out there.... hmm... yeah, I think I would.
(3)Jen M.
Nirvana has new owners so disregard any reviews before July 6, 2011! Absolutely yummy! My husband and I went here for dinner. He got one of their 'sizzling' platters with all white meat chicken. It was delicious! The spices were great. I got the saag paneer, which was very good. We also tried their samosas and garlic naan.....they were very worthwhile additions to our meal! The service was attentive and thoughtful. We can't wait to go back!
(4)Nancy P.
We were out searching for a place to eat n found this place in a big plaza. We decided to go in and try it out. We did have an Indian restaurant we liked to go to in Pasadena but we had to find one closer. The prices are ok. I ordered the tandoori sampler dinner, which was like $16 n chicken tikki masala (spelling not sure) which was like $13 or $14, around there. The sauce for the chicken masala was yummy n they gave us all the naan we needed n kept asking us if we needed anything else. The service was great n they were really nice about answering all our questions.
(4)Jack L.
Review based on 1-5 visits. So I came here with a few co-workers and we ordered off the lunch menu. So we were seated and given the menu, and then ignored for the next 20-30 minutes. We flagged down the younger looking woman to order, but she insisted that the older man come take our order. Problem was, we have not seen him in a while, or he only came out of the kitchen to bring food to other tables. The younger woman just went around the 3 tables that were there, refilling water. OVER AND OVER AGAIN. Problem 1) Why doesn't she HELP the man with bringing out dishes? Problem 2) How hard can it be to take lunch special orders? So after her 4-5 rounds of refilling water, the older man finally came out to take our orders. We ordered quickly, most of us mild and a few spicy. One sub of garlic naan. Two sweet lassi. He disappears into the back. We must've waited over 25 minutes for our food. The man only came out to bring other tables their food and the younger woman only came around refilling water. So our food FINALLY arrives, and he couldn't get the orders right. He brought us SPICY versions of some of the MILDS we ordered, and MILDS of the few SPICY we had. Annoying? Yep. Took about 5 minutes between the first plate to be served until the last plate. Then another 5 minutes pass before he brings us the naan. So I begin to eat, and I find the rice absolutely disgusting. Tasted like cleaning products/bleach.. Like how some restaurants clean their utensils but don't wash them off correctly.. Yeah.. Then when I'm halfway through my meal, my sweet lassi came. Wow. I was then thinking.. Why didn't you bring this MUCH earlier? Before my food? When my food came? Come on. The younger girl could have done this. Oh, and that sub of garlic naan never came. The food is decent food, but not something I would ever go back for. I've had much better Indian food with larger portions for the same price. Why ever come back? The lassi was also extremely tasteless and watered down. My co-workers said probably the worst Indian curry they've ever had. The bill was fine, but I found it odd it came out to be exactly 100 for 9 people. It is hard to read the bill because it only shows numbers. Overview: Parking is easy. Near BJ's and Olive Garden. Inside is a bit dingy. Nothing amazing. Tables are clean though. Poor service and inefficient workers. Like only-refills-water girl. Long waits for ordering and for food. Food is not that great, but will go down. Naan is decent. Curry, no. Portions are small compared to many other places of the same price. Sweet lassi was very late. Not only that, but horrible quality and taste. Definitely not a place I'd ever come back to.
(1)Christina M.
So disappointed by the change in ownership! It used to have south Indian dishes (ex. masala dosa) but now it's just the same as any other Indian place. Actually, I can't say that for sure because hubby and I left after we saw the new menu. But the menu was the same as any other Indian place.
(1)Christine C.
Been here twice now - for a lunch plate before they started a lunch buffet and once for dinner. So far it's the best Indian food I've had in Arcadia, and almost the best Indian food I've had in Los Angeles so far. My biggest hang up - pureed Saag Paneer. I *hate* pureed Saag and I prefer finely minced because of the texture. I don't know why restaurants puree. Flavors and sauces were through and through, and they were able to adjust the spice level well. We needed mild so the kids could eat, but my husband and I like medium to spicy food. Service was attentive. Smaller place, so not the best for a party larger than 4. Could accomodate 6 - but you would be one of two parties there. Quiet enough that you can talk easily, but not so still as "fine dining." Good decor and atmosphere - it isn't stark or budget feeling at all. Would definitely go again and try some new dishes. Referred a friend here and they were happy with it as a good setting for a business lunch as well.
(4)venkatesh t.
The food is a tad above average. But prices on some of the dishes are exorbant. They are an old couple who spent most of their life in India, and not really savvy about customer service in US. Not saying that justifies anything, but just a mere suggestion to keep your expectations on the service low. If you can do that and stick to what the indians order when they go there, you will come out reasonably happy. Being a south indian restaurant, the hyderabadi chicken biryani, chicken lollipops, and chicken masala are decent. Dosas are good. And I almost never order anything else from this place. I see comments about Indians getting better treatment than others, but dare I say its the opposite? The owner goes out of his way for some of his white american regulars and heed their requests, but reply with a blunt no with some of his indian customers. I keep going back there because i cant find a better south indian restaurant anywhere near pasadena. And my pride takes a hit everytime i order something and get a blunt "NO we are out".
(3)Verena S.
My business partner and I just had an outstanding lunch at Nirvana. My favorite was the fish masalla (SP??). Get some Naan bread to soup up the sauce. Fantastic!
(4)