Indus Village Restaurant
1920 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley, CA, 94702
Indus Village Restaurant Menu
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Address :
1920 San Pablo Ave
Berkeley, CA, 94702 - Phone (510) 549-5999
- Website https://indusvillage.net/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
India is the birth place of Chicken Tikka Masala and Curries. Indian foods are prepared with a blend of finely mixed spices quite popular across the region. The spices develop the rich taste in Indian food enough to boggle your mind. The ever-increasing fan base of Indian food around the New York city is steadily increasing because of the large number of Indians who traveled to the land of dreams. The Indians also brought their very own vibrant, colorful, and aromatic authentic dishes for the people in the West. While most of the Indian population is Vegetarian, Indian food is great for people who are looking for vegan or vegetarian food option. If you are a Meat lover, don't get disappointed yet. Indian food also boasts of some popular non-vegetarian dishes too. Few examples are the famous Butter Chicken, Mutton Biryani and Tandoori Chicken are enough to satisfy your taste buds.
Indian food has gained reputation all over the world especially in the United States. You can find many places serving the appetizing Indian food across all major cities in the US. India is a diverse country with different food culture originated from different parts of the country. While the Northern region boasts tandoori dishes and korma offering royal taste, the Western Ghats offers sea foods that is made in naturally sweet tender coconut milk. The South Indian food servers a quality of different dishes made from rice accompanied with spicy chutneys, curries and famous sambhar. Also, the Indian sweets are a delight to relish. If you ever want to have a burst of sugar syrup in mouth, don't forget to try few Bengali Sweets. Be it spicy, tangy, or sweet flavor, you can find everything in the Indian cuisine. Be assured that the melody of spices will surely bring delight to you.
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Martina H.
I loved it! I have eaten at MANY Indian, Pakistani, Himalayan, Nepalese, etc. restaurants, in Berkeley and elsewhere and I think the food here is ambrosial, plus it's cheap! The Paneer Tikka Masal was perfectly, spiced, lots of fresh herbs in it (not just as a garnish). My boyfriend's curry had whole cardamon pods in it. Not that we ate them, but it gives such a nice smell and flavor to the curry and makes it feel more authentic, more real and fresh. The naan was great. The Palak Aloo (Spinach and potato) was delicious and mild, for you sensitive palates. I don't even like cooked spinach, but it was so creamy and well seasoned and tender, not mushy, almost like pesto sauce sans cheese. The free chai was great. No complaints about the prompt and kind service. Only two minor, overall complaints: 1)no wine or beer or anything (sigh). I respect the absence (perhaps it's not Halal?I'm ignorant), I just pined a little for my Flying Horse. 2) the lighting was much, much too bright. It really cut into the relaxing restaurant atmosphere and made me feel like I was in a supermarket or McDonald's or something. But that's it! In every other way in way perfect. Plus there was this little hose with a nozzle by the toilets that sprayed water...I'm not entirely sure what this was for, but I liked pondering the possibilities. Go here for excellence in cheap yet delicious Indian/Pakistani food. You won't be sorry, and if you are, then I fell sorry for YOU :-) Update: What was I thinking when I wrote this review? The food is very good--not quite excellent. But the service is bad enough to override this. My boyfriend and I think 2 of the waiters hate us---they seem so irritated. I tried to order a dish with one pretty basic add on--not even substitution---and a long consultation was necessary. Finally, we worked out a compromise, but when we went back, they refused to do it again. This was weird. It was so ridiculously simple. They don't really check on us at all---we really wanted to update our order, no luck. But mostly it's just a vibe, I don't know how to explain it. I feel so bad about myself when I go in there---they just seem so irritated at me. Maybe it's me, but this doesn't happen anywhere else. I also think it's important to say that I am certainly not someone who harps on service standards. I've worked in food service and I think people have really weird expectations of waiters who are probably very tired. But this was a bit much. Proximity to our apartment may lead us to go there again, I don't know.
(3)V C.
Two out of three good times at the plate, but the last one I dragged my poor dad who doesn't like a long restaurant wait. "No," said I, not knowing what I said was a lie. "This place will be good and quick. Trust me, this restaurant is quite the pick. "There will be lamb shank, though my husband likes the chops. The biryani's tasty and beef jalfrezi just pops." We get there, sixish on a Friday night, surely early enough to get service done right. Chops, goat fried rice, how's about some okra? Also some lassi garlic naan, and chicken tikka masala. And we wait. And wait. And wait at this place. We watch the cooks move at a casual pace. The waiter comes and says it's the chops that take time. Yeah, and so does a crappy rhyme. The chops arrived dry, not like before. The other dishes compared to other visits were relatively poor. I'd go back to the Village, but not Friday night. And not with my dad, who's left on his flight. For him we'll stick to House of Curries. And now it's time for this rhyme to be buried.
(3)Justin M.
A nice little Pakistani restaurant, although it can be a bit cramped if you decide to dine in. I would not recommend this place for groups larger than four. This place is geared to be a "take out", so be prepared to make your order with the cashier before you sit down. They have a very diverse menu. The few times I've been here, a friend would do all the ordering, so I can't really give you title of dishes. I've been really satisfied with everything. The food is a bit on the oily side, but the taste is truely authentic. The prices for the dishes are reasonable and won't burn a hole in the wallet. The staff is really friendly...especially the cashier. You might want to consider giving this little place a try. Parking is easy to find on the street as well.
(4)Kate H.
The food can be spicy but I'm generally a fan of the place. Funky chairs, nice staff and really not that expensive. Also the Albatross is right next door
(3)coco c.
great place. it's a no-frills hole in the wall, and it certainly doesn't look like much from the outside. but the menu keeps it simple, and the prices are great. the veggie combo includes naan, is only $6.50, and i always walk away full. only bummer is it gets really crowded at night sometimes... but further proof that it's delicious & a great deal. it's not the BEST indian/pakistani food i've ever had, but it's really good, and it's suuuuper good when you consider the price.
(4)Ian G.
Go, Indus Village, Go! When I first saw this place, I wondered what could compel a person to open up Indian/Pakistani restaurant number 100 (or so) in a ten-block radius. Did we really need just one more? And the answer is yes we did, because I love Indus Village. Even if they didn't serve food, there is no place else with chairs like this, chairs that boggle the senses. Indus Village has been open for about a year, so their "Grand Opening" window treatment has been modified to simply read "Grand" and I have to agree. This is super-cheap, very good food. Apparently some items are better than others, but with most everything costing between $4 and $7, just take a chance! I hear their eggplant is so good they sell out of it early, and I really want to try their Indus Nihaari. You can get less common dishes here, too, which I appreciate.
(4)Tim M.
I have been to this place a dozen or so times in the past year. The food is always prepared almost perfectly. The naan is as good as it gets. I have had the goat two different ways and both are excellent. The Tandoori Fish is remarkable and you get a very large portion. I am not a huge fan of catfish but the way they prepare it makes it amazingly good. The service is fair to good. The decor is okay but the seating is not the best but for the price and it's location this Restaurant is definitely worth the effort. The market next door is a bonus too so stop in after dinner and check out all the interesting and inexpensive foodstuffs.
(4)Marianne S.
We were next door picking up some taramosalata and snacks, and my housemate bought one of the freshly-made samosas they had at the counter. We'd already smelled this divine scent coming from Indus Village and had decided to stop in for some dinner afterward - and after collectively snorfing down this unbelievably good samosa (so crunchy! such fresh spices! such a beautiful flowering of coriander in my mouth!) we knew we were in for a real treat. My housemate got the Indus Combo (all veggie, very nice little spread for about $7.00) and my boyfriend and I shared the tandoori lamb chops on the encouragement of our waitress ( we were going to get the catfish but it was out of season), saag paneer, some daal, garlic naan, raita, and rice. We all kept commenting on the freshness and quality of the food - it really makes a difference the freshness of the spices used. I can't recommend more highly the tandoori lamb chops - I'm not exactly sure what they used in the marinade but they were tender, flavorful and succulent, slightly tangy, slightly spicy. This was the standout dish - everything else was really good too - I can't emphasize enough how fresh and tasty everything was. The service was really good. I will admit that our waitress didn't crack a smile once, which made her seem a little less approachable, but she was very responsive and I have to say - I'd rather have an efficient, responsive, slightly intense looking server than a friendly, incompetent one. The food showed up quickly; we got our water refilled as soon as we asked - regardless of the fact that the restaurant filled up very quickly after we were seated! We're very excited to go back and try some more things - the menu is filled with enticing options! Something for everyone. This place is a real gem. :)
(4)Sana k.
The nihari is horrible! I have no idea what spices they use but this stuff is below shaan masala...and that's pretty low for a restaurant. The only thing worth ordering here is probably the chicken biryani and the chicken kabobs are alright but stay away from the nihari, you want good nihari go some where else for sure.
(2)Brian C.
Quality = UNPARALLELED Amount = EXCELLENT PRICE = GOOD This place is the bomb. I shouldn't be telling the world about this well-kept secret, but I'm moving, so here goes... Imagine the best chicken tikka masala you have ever eaten, a pitcher of water waiting at every table even before you arrive, and the most colorful and elaborate (and uncomfortable) chairs you have ever seen! The murals on the walls are subtle, but pretty cool depictions of life in the 'stan. I've had a meal there once where the chicken was so moist and tender and the lamb fell off the bone (this is the "Village combo"). It hasn't been that good since, but still better than any other place in town! This can be hit or miss sometimes, but definitely more hits than misses!
(4)Katy N.
Had their lamb & chicken curry combo with Naan - $9 - not spicy and the lamb was not tender.
(1)jabba v.
Good combos that are reasonably priced. The chicken tikka masala is really good as is the rice and naan. And the chai makes me happy (I clearly haven't recovered from the bad chai at Khana Peena). Unfortunately, nothing here can rival Kabana's karachi lamb (sigh).
(4)A P.
I would rate this place a 10 starer! I am an Indian and have been in pursuit of good food from the sub continent! I must say - this is one of the best places I have eaten at in the recent time. It surpasses the quality that we get in some of the best restaurants that we get back home! I had chicken tikka, sheekh kabab, palak paneer and kadai mutton. The food was gone from the table in no time! The ingredients were really fresh and the meat phenomenal! I would strongly recommend this place for anyone looking for awesome pakistani/indian food! The food was not greasy and very well done. I have never tasted such fresh tasting palak paneer! They had good ras malai too. I loved the art work on the walls! Go ahead Indus - whats stopping you - please go ahead and expand your facilities!
(5)Layla L.
their food is really good and its really afforable! love it
(4)Jennifer H.
great mango smoothie. chicken marsala is not bad too. naan was ok.. i felt everything is not bad, but not impressive enough. would i go back? maybe, not that likely though... p.s. they give u complimentary milk tea regardless of what dish u get *on the menu, it said free milk tea only comes with certain dish.. milk tea again was only ok...
(3)Jack B.
I like that you can get a combo. I got the chicken tikka masala with chicken curry. That with rice and the huge piece of delecious nan was really tasty. I read a review that said the place was dirty. I didn't think that at all. I had driven by the place many times and I'm glad I finally decided to try it! I notice they had a specia curry oxtail if that is something you would be interested in. I'm not that adventurous.
(4)Ekin O.
Dirty, but cheap. Dinner for two: $20 with taxes. My advice: order to go so you don't have to spend half your time there trying not to touch anything.
(2)dim l.
In the early days this place was my favorite till I discovered Kabana, the food over here is too mild for me, but other than that this is a good place to take a date to.
(3)charlotte s.
what's open on december 25th? indus village restaurant is! :D came to lunch after Jummah with an awesome group of sisters we were 5 total so got to sit at the long table in the center of the restaurant. we were busy chatting away instead of looking at the menu, but the staff didn't mind and let us take our sweet time. then again it wasn't too busy, though a steady flow of guests came and went while we were there... eventually everyone got to glance over the menu and decide on what to get. i couldn't decide on whether to get the eggplant dish or lamb biriyani, so i got both and thought i'd just take the leftovers home for later... which is exactly what i did... to drink i got a cup of chai. the other girls all went for the 'make your own combo'... so you get to choose between two curry items on the menu and it comes with some rice... the combo portions were actually perfect... the flavors were pretty good... especially for the affordable price of the menu... the service was good and they kept us quenched with plenty of carafes of water the restaurant seemed clean and appropriately decorated with wall murals of rural life in a Pakistani village :) the chairs are pretty to look at but not the most comfortable as the back is pretty high and straight up... maybe it's on purpose so guests don't stay too long :)
(4)esther h.
We normally go to House of Curries, but this was the first place we saw when we moved to the area that we still hadn't gone to yet. We got the goat which tasted good, however it had a LOT of bones!! Safe to say, half of it was bone!! Not exactly thrilled about paying $8 for a bunch of bone. The taste was excellent, don't get me wrong, i just wanted meat, not bone. We also got the usual chicken tikka masala, raita, naan and rice. All of which were delicious. The main difference I noticed between House of Curries and Indus Village, was you don't get as much for your money at Indus Village, but the quality was good.
(4)sara p.
I wanted to give these guys five stars, but me and my lunch companion got sick the last time we came here. I think it was the chicken tikka masala. And it was the one time we sat down inside at one of the wee tables w/ huge chairs, which kind of sours me on going back. I've been getting takeout from here off and on since it opened, and always been pleased. The spicing is fab, the ingredients are fab, and you'll do well to walk here if you live any kind of distance from this place, because the walk home will help stave off a bit of the inevitable digestive coma that'll ensue from consuming such rich fare.
(4)Michael K.
Been coming here for years. Great food for good prices! Wonder if ownership changed. New team is great, food slightly different touch but seems better than last visit. We'll try it again
(4)Rachel C.
I keep their number in my cell phone so just as I'm crossing the bridge, I call in my order for Palak Paneer, rice, naan and a mango lassi. If I want lunch the next day, I'll go ahead and order a veggie mix as well. Its ready by the time I get there. I may grab a cup of chai to go if I'm not concerned about being wired all night. The guys that work there are great. The food is always good and you can't beat the price.
(4)Daniel B.
This is one of my go-to Indian/Pakistani restaurants in the East Bay. It's an authentic ethnic restaurant in West Berkeley, and not a yuppie version of ethnic cuisine. I can't vouch for the cleanliness of the restaurant, but I decided long ago that if obsessed over cleanliness at restaurants, I would miss out on a number of great meals. That being said, I personally have never had a negative cleanliness experience here. If I'm reviewing on food alone, I would give 5 stars. Most "Indian" restaurants in the West specialize in Punjabi cuisine. Half of Punjab is in Pakistan, so Pakistani food is essentially "Indian" food, so expect some unique dishes, but also standards you can find in restaurants called "Indian." The food here is cheap and very very good. I love the jalfrezi, which is a dryish beef dish, and the vindaloo, a curry standard. They also have good goat dishes. The best deal allows you to pick one or two items (including curries), and includes basmati rice and naan. If you're hungry and/or especially adventurous, order two entrees and bring some home. It's cheap! The 1 star deduction is for service. The service here is not rude by any means. I would describe it as more "amateurish." The young waitresses sometimes seem to forget about you, and the food can take a while to come out. You might want to find your waitress to ask for extra items or the check. It's a friendly place though. I wish I could give an extra star for decor. The restaurant has murals of Pakistani village life, and the chairs are tall, seemingly hand crafted and colorfully painted. My favorite aspect of the interior is the huge curry pot in the back, stirred with a huge spoon by the chef. *** I like my Indian food spicy. Very spicy. If you are the same way be sure to ask for spicy. They don't usually ask, and make the food mild if you don't remember to tell them otherwise (this might not apply to South Asians). So far, saying "spicy" has not resulted in food that is too spicy. It's usually just right.
(4)Lin C.
very good food... not greasy at all and very tasty, I like this place a lot.. My honey likes it even more..
(4)Ken Y.
Ate the Village Combo, Chicken Tikka Masala, basmati rice, Naan. The Naan was puffy and crispy. The Chicken, rich, savory, the Lamb tasty, rice nicely done. All excellent. Multi-cultural crowd, locals, Americans, Pakistanis. Server was a little quiet, maybe limited English, so it might seem a little unfriendly at first, but definitely a gem of a restaurant.
(4)sammy z.
I have never been a fan of indian food at all. I've always told my friends that, yeah, indian food once every year is good enough for me... That is UNTIL my friends brought me to this place. The garlic nhan was awesome! The masala combo was really good. All the combos were under $10. Food was tasty and not overpowered by spiciness. I saw a bunch of people order things on sizzling plates too. I can't wait to go back.
(5)Erica B.
So I just happened upon this little joint when I had a business meeting out in Berkeley and needed to get a bite to eat. I hear Berkeley is an Indian food mecca and I love Indian food (living in the city Pakwan and Chutney are my favs). I walked by and saw that there were a good amount of people inside and their combo plates looked like a great deal! This place has good, cheap Indian fare with fast service and interesting menu items. I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by the value and complex flavors of their cuisine. Their mango lassi was a bit sweet and the naan was a bit on the doughy/ bready side of things but their chicken tikka masala was complex, spicy and delicious and their saag was perfect (not too creamy the way I like it!). So if you are in Berkeley and wanting some yummy, cheap Indian fare I highly recommend Indus Village. Also, the market next door carries the yummy jarred Indian curry bases! These are great to add to soups and make your own curries at home.
(4)Rebecca H.
I wish I'd had the dinner so many other Yelpers seem to have had here. Maybe it was an off night. The prices are reasonable and I think the food may have been decent, but we so were overwhelmed by the scent of pine-sol coming off the table that we couldn't taste our food properly. The waitress was surly. Perhaps we should have ordered takeout.
(1)Nadia C.
Last week the Indus weekend special was "magaz masalah', which translates roughly to "spiced brain." When I asked the waiter if it really was "brain" he nodded vigorously . Affirmative! Wah! Kya baath hai! For the last 12 years I have been looking for authentic Pakistani cuisine in the US and Indus has it. Magaz masalah isn't something that I'd order but my Pakistani dad would love it. Food wise, If you can break away from the byrani, try the chicken tikka (spicy BBQ chicken), the seekh kebab (ground, skewered beef or lamb), the achar murgh (chicken stew with pickled mango), and the haleem shahi (slow cooked spicy beef). Yumilicious! The food is good and cheap, the staff is friendly, & the imported hand-painted wooden chairs from Sindh, a province in southern Pakistan, give Indus a touch of home.
(5)S. G.
excellent. prices are right and food served sizzling hot and fresh. i do not give 5 stars, because i have had better indian food, but this is sure darn good.
(4)Ashley A.
The chicken tikka massala and beef jalfarezi are to die for! They've never disappointed me yet. Also their mango lassi is superb (although a bit on the small size).
(5)C.S. K.
Indus Village is delicious. We had chicken tikka masala and spinach-potato curry. Both were excellent. The naan was fresh, hot, and buttery. It was well worth the drive.
(4)bob w.
I love this place. It is very reasonably priced - try the cucumber/tomato/onion salad for 99 cents!
(4)Rachel C.
This review is SO long overdue, it should be a crime. I indulge in this food as often as I can. The scent of dozens of spices mingling together in luscious, exotic harmony wafts around this place; it is intoxicating. I've always gotten takeout, and to me, the portions are perfect. You may get a little more if you eat in, but I tend to lose my etiquette when I come face to face with this fare, so I opt to enjoy it in the comfort of my own home (luckily, within a few blocks). I am happy with the service, ordering by phone or in-house, and my orders have always been executed correctly (as far as I can remember). The price is reasonable, especially if you order at least one "make-your-own" combo. But the food... oh my, the food. I mean, this place could be a total dump, and I'd still be back for the food-- it's just icing on the cake that the atmosphere is welcoming and geared toward the enjoyment of food. Their Pakistani offerings ( which include some regional Indian dishes) are so fresh, and exploding with flavor. Food with this much flavor!?! It's a revelation. How a few handfuls of spices and farmer's cheese can turn spinach into a mouth-watering delicacy is beyond me, I'm just glad it does. Naan that will end a low-carb diet, or make a gluten-free a gluten-glutton. Pickled mango, loads of coriander, yogurt, lemon, perfect curries, spices I can't even name. . . come together in such delicious ways. Chicken, lamb, fish, cooked to succulent, tender perfection. (I need to branch out: last time I almost ordered the Brain Masala special and the Goat Korma, but went with my favorites instead). When I eat this food, I feel really good. And I smell of spice. I love the light sweat and rosy cheeks I get when I bite into a particularly hot dish. I have never been disappointed. I never need salt or hot sauce, or butter. . . And this stuff is filling not greasy. No heartburn, no upset tummy. (BTW: Oil separation is a sign that they are doing things right!) Favs: Palaak Paneer, Murgh Choley, Achaar Murgh, Lamb curry, anything karahi, garlic naan, raita. Whenever I need to be reminded that food has the ability to tap into and please all your senses, this is where I go.
(5)margarita y.
Sometimes, I'm just not down to go all the way to Hayward or the Mission to get my Pakwan on... It was on my last visit to Indus Village that I swore, though, to nevereverever again stoop so low as Breads of India... All my usual comfort foods (bengan bhartha mopped up w/ garlic naan, etc) have never failed to disappoint, service is fast and friendly (at least when I come for dinner), and I always walk away happy.
(4)Judy L.
Best Chicken Tikka Masala. Best everything. This place is just so damn good and the price is even better. U don't need to delete bad reviews to get this place's rating up.
(5)Jennifer M.
I love Indus Village and go there all the time. My favorite thing is that you can create your own combo! I always get the Chicken Tikki Masala (CTM) and the Daal Chana, or sometimes the Baingan Bharta. I'm never in the mood for just one curry, so this is perfect!
(4)Rabi'a M.
There are two reasons I like Indus. The food is consistantly good. The meat is halal, which to some mean nothing but for religious muslims its important. Also quite frequently you will see families there and mom in Hijab. So muslims are quite comfortable there. The chairs I love them, I consider them high fashion but so uncomfortable as to be useless. You have to learn to perch just right to last throughout the meal. I've eaten there many times and I've never seen a cockroach, ever. The wait staff is kind, and they mean well, but they are the garden variety sort of student or relative who isn't doing this for a career, its a job. No one should tolerate their food being touched, but I've seen gaffs at the best five star restaurants that would make you retch. I love the mural, I especially the one of the village life. The one of the horse confuses me so I think someone needs to write a little blurb and place it on the menu, "what this scene represents so I can eat my food in peace, I think its a fair or something or a horse beauty pagent, who knows? Oh yes, the Chai is too watery, don't even serve Chai. Also they should serve regular black tea, excellent after a meal, and doesn't contain unasked for milk.
(4)NAEL K.
after trying almost every single indian pakistani place in the berkley area i have to stay this one is the best and its also very cheap , lamb chops were 9.99 foor 4 nice tender perfect pieces , where else can you get that for that great flavor , best garlic naan ive had, spinach was great as well as the goat with lentil , and chicken tikka masala off the hook , what an awesome place, very fast too if youre hungry and can't wait like most people are :)
(5)Libby and David M.
(By Libby) Before I moved to Seattle, my work friends and I would eat lunch here every Thursday. It's my favorite restaurant in Berkeley. I don't eat meat, so I can't say from personal experience how most of the food is. However, one of my friends has tried probably every meat dish they offer and he swears they don't make one bad thing. My favorite dish is the Paneer Tikka Masala. The waitress there is super-friendly and she always remembered my order: Paneer Tikka Masala with plain naan and a cup of tea. After the 3rd time I ordered it, she stopped giving me a menu and would just bring me my tea when I sat down. I have yet to find any place in Seattle that compares to Indus. Sigh, I miss it.
(5)Alyssa S.
If you want an Indian/Pakistani meal for one and you like some variety in your little sole feast, this is the place. The combo plates allow you to get two portions of main dishes, rice, and naan, for $7-$9 depending on what main dishes you order. I usually go with the Indus special, which includes chicken tikka masala, potato/spinach, rice, and the hugest naan I've ever seen. The naan is extremely fresh and has just the right amount of butter. I would have given 5 stars, but the combos are very carb heavy. I only got 4 bites of chicken in my tikka masala and way too much rice.
(4)Tal K.
I love Rachel C. dearly but I hate crossing the Bay Bridge, so she wisely softens the blow by taking me to Indus Village and stuffing my face with Paneer Tika Masala. Then when I am filled to the brim she locks me in her house and forces me to browse through wedding magazines. Apparently this fall's color is persimmon.
(4)Notmy R.
My experience at Indus Village has been mixed. Several of the dishes are pretty good. The bengan barta is very good, and beef jaalfrezi is worth having. The indus nihaari is a favorite, but only rarely available. The lamb curry and achar murgh are decent. Most of the other dishes are unexciting. The naan is pretty good, when eating there, if you eat it straight out of the oven; but to go, it immediately gets soggy, losing all its crispness and appeal. However I feel that the quality of the food has been going downhill since its initial days. It's inconsistent, but frequently I get a curry dish with a ton of oil floating on the top -- it's unnecessary, unappetizing, and unhealthy. Service has been mixed. I've had several disappointing customer service experiences. Prices are quite reasonable. The ambiance is nothing special. The chairs are a bit uncomfortable, but for a place to go out with a group, it's a reasonable destination. Overall, I've been a regular at Indus Village in the past, but I find myself less tempted by Indus Village these days. There are many good Indian restaurants in Berkeley; there's no reason to put up with anything less than greatness. Right around the corner from Indus Village is Kabana: their lamb karahi is amazing (albeit oily), their naan is the best I've had, and their tandoori chicken is very good (but be warned that many other dishes at Kabana are poorly done and ridiculously oily). Only slightly further away is Vik's Chaat Corner, an outstanding place for lunch (but not open late). A little further away is Breads of India, which is always reliable, and has excellent daal, good naan, and subtle competent cooking (though their menu is limited). Also near Indus Village is De Afghanan Kabob House, which is ok (the borani kadoo is outstanding and a must-have, though the rest of the menu is so-so). And if you must have mediocre Americanized Indian food, there's always Priya, which is a block south of Indus Village and has decent Sunday brunch. Bottom line: Indus Village is OK if you are in the neighborhood and jonesing for taxi-cab Indian/Pakistani, but probably not worth a special trip.
(2)Ashar K.
The best Indian food in town. there isn't a dish I haven't liked on the menu.
(5)Alisina O.
Good food, I just love their chicken. I usually have garbanzo beans and spinach with the chicken. The best thing about this place is their naan, it's delicious. The service is good and the servers are very friendly. The3 seats do bother me, wish they had more comfortable seats. Not sure about the clean place, wish they had a more clean kitchen. Overall, it's a good restaurant, highly recommend it.
(4)Dan L.
One of my favorite Pakistani restaurants in my neck of the woods...If I'm in a crunch, I rush in and grab the village combo (chicken AND lamb, well...what is not to love?). Otherwise, I suggest one look over the menu carefully (including whatever is on special for the day) in lieu of picking a 'hey, Naan & Curry has this' entree.
(4)Will L.
I really really like the way the food here tastes. But ... The last time I was there my meal was mistakenly delivered to another table. After the mistake was discovered it went back into the kitchen for a moment and then was delivered to my table. I'm not terribly squeamish about food safety but was a bit skeeved out: despite the fact that I'd witnessed the entire exchange from 6 feet away, everyone acted as if nothing of the sort had occurred. I haven't returned since that incident. Was considering given it another try yesterday but the reviews here mentioning rats threw me off. Please please someone post a review saying the place has cleaned up a bit. I need my jalferezi fix.
(2)Mark P.
Decent Indian joint, primarily used for take-out. Convenient combo meals for a single diner. I've tended to enjoy their chicken dishes better; I'm not as happy with the quality of their meats. Also, I tend to chose rice; their naan is only okay: a little too rubbery/bready for my tastes.
(3)Derrick C.
This small restaurant on San Pablo has great food and an engaging atmosphere - most noticeable are the unusual colorful chairs and the large murals, and I enjoy the visibility into the kitchen and street. When I entered there was a large family of Pakistani people seated at the center table. I ordered the Indus Combo, which was a filling meal with two curries, naan, and rice at only $7, much less than I'm used to paying at Indian/Pakistani places, and all parts of it were good, nothing bitter or dry. Service was a bit slow sometimes, but I was occupied and didn't mind. I was not as impressed with the mango lassi, which was fine but not great and not worth its $2 price.
(5)carol r.
their tandoori fish is the best. i get it to go a lot and use it as a potluck item...feed so many for so cheap!
(5)Lauren H.
i don't know much about indian/pakistani food, but this place was good eats. a la carte, sit-down or take away with a pretty good variety of foods. i had the number 8, chicken masala sumthin er other. and the garlic naan was super yummy. i'm getting hungry just thinking about it...
(4)Erica B.
Great food, great prices. Lamb chops were amazing!! Waaaaay too brightly lit, though.
(4)S R.
World's most uncomfortable chairs, but the food is awesome. In particular, the chicken tikka masala is heavenly. I know I know, anyone can make it and it's always average. But this place has THE BEST I have ever had. They also have really good naan here. This place is rather small, so it's best to go with 4 people or less. There is one giant table in the center, but if a big group comes, you're screwed.
(4)Candice L.
This newish small restaurant is serving up some tasty Pakistani dishes. It's a few doors down from the Indus Foods halal meat and grocery market that's run by the same owner. I didn't have a chance to check out the market, but will follow up later. Background-I'm quite fond of Pakwan. I don't mind seating myself in a boisterous dining room and getting my own silverware. I like my food spicy and to have some dimension in the flavors. Indus Village's dishes seem to have more depth than the run of the mill budget Indian and Pakistani places in the City. The CTM (Chicken Tikka Masala), my benchmark for rating such places, is tasty here. There's a smokiness and some complexity to the sauce and chicken is not too dry (thank god). The naan comes out lightly blistered and glistening with an appropriate brushing of ghee, just the way I like it. The chai is complementary. I'm intrigued by the lamb chops which come on a sizzling platter, will try next time. If I lived in the East Bay, I would hit up I.V. for the specials, $5-7 for a big plate of food, maybe enough enough for 2 smallish meals. 4 stars is admittedly high for a budget type of place, but the extra care put into the brightly painted furniture and the complex spicing of the dishes merits at least a 3.75, so I'll round up on this one.
(4)Aanand K.
This is a vastly improved restaurant and the food is very cheap. I really like their mild chicken curries and the "Indus Village" combo which comes with spinach, chicken tikka masala, rice and 1 naan. Costs $7! Hard to beat when you're hungry for indian food. Its far away from the Berkeley campus so driving there can be a pain. Much better value than naan n curry though.
(3)Tony ..
Small but excellent Pakistani restaurant. Aside from some combos, everything is a-la-carte, including the naan and rice, which is of great value if you don't want to stuff yourself with filler. The spinach chicken is super excellent and comes with a lots of nicely spiced creamed spinach. The clay oven chicken, kababs, and chicken tikka massala were also good. Recently had the tasty lamb chops which were succulent and brought to you on a sizzling skillet. Tables are set up with silverware, plates, glasses, and a pitcher of ice water. Just order at the counter and find yourselves a table. But the chairs are very square and make you sit really awkward. Free chai!!!
(4)Lindsay S.
I will never go to this restaurant again, it used to be one of my favorite spots to get lunch at work but that is no longer the case. The servings seem to get smaller and the taste seems to go down hill each time I visit. I always order the masala combo with instead of spinach I get 2 sides of chicken masala, the last time I went (2 weeks ago) all I received were 4 measly pieces of chicken (for 9 dollars!!!) and the flavor was not even good. Truly disappointing Indus Village. The naan, however, remains to taste good.
(1)Choco M.
awesome food they got there. u gotta check it out. i luv the curry. be sure to order their special, good price, and the portion is generous. definitely will go again.
(5)Cheng S.
Going to keep this short and sweet. Mango Lassi is the bomb. And the chicken tendoori is awesome too. Love the fresh nan. Came here after a hike in SF. Services was good and prompt. Would come back if in town. Indus is getting four out of five star. Two stars for mango lassi, one for chicken tendoori, and one for the nan. It adds up to four stars.
(4)Bernie L.
Just want to add that the mango lassi is the best I've ever had (to my taste), more of a smoothie/milkshake with plenty of mango goodness. Also, the servers from my 2009 review are long gone. The current group is more attentive.
(4)Donavan T.
I have been coming here for several years. However, it appears there is new ownership or cooks. The menu and prices are pretty much the same, however, the tiki marsala sauce had a whole different taste, it lost its zest and has become more tomato saucy. The biggest disappointment was the na'an as it was pre cooked, cold and no longer fresh and hot. New management needs to read some these new posts so they can bring back what was so special about this restaurant before they took over. Previous post before new management below: A great "Hole in the Wall". 4.5 Stars for taste, portion size and cost! The combination plates (available throughout the day) are a deal at $6.99 and up. As in all great hole in the wall restaurants, the bright and colorful decor of this place along with their unique high back wood chairs more than makes up for the size of the restaurant. Furthermore, what makes this place special is that the food is cooked to order. Unlike many other Indian/Pakastani restaurants the Tiki Marsala isn't mass produced within a 55-gallon drum. Instead, the chef behind the counter prepares everyone's order in a small skillet ensuring everything is fresh and hot. In addition, the na'an is also cooked within a skillet. It comes out so hot you can't touch it. So if you are ever near University Avenue & San Pablo Avenue (East Indian District) give this Pakistani restaurant a try!
(2)Tino R.
Best price and food in town! Love the Tikka Masala and the naan! Looking to try the garlic naan with a meal next. Dont sleep on this place!
(5)Tessa S.
Yum! Indian/Pakistani cuisine ranks among my favorites and Indus Village is no exception. Their saag paneer (or do they call it palaak paneer here?)--the dish I test every new Indian restaurant with--is delicious with just the right texture, not blended too smooth like some make it. The chicken tikka masala is so good you'll be sopping up every last bit of sauce with your naan. Their seating area is rather compact, it can get noisy in there, and the service is a bit inconsistent, but if these things bother you, just go for take-out! The tasty dishes and great prices keep me coming back for more.
(4)Samuel M.
My fav indian / pakistani food. Get chicken tiki breast, mango lassi, samosa, and naan.
(5)Khurram M.
Bland food that didn't taste well at all. Service was ok but the Plates and utensils were dirty. Stay way, there are much better places to have Indian/Pakistani food in the Bay Area. We ordered Chicken Korma, Mix Vegie, Chicken Tika Breast piece and Chicken Seekh Kabob. Everything tastes below average
(2)Sharyl G.
This is one of our families most favorite places for dinner or lunch. the cooks have been spot on for flavor. Vegetables are always fresh. Okra Masala is a favorite of ours. People from all walks of life come here. Nice mural too.
(5)Grace C.
Total hole in the wall restaurant, but boy am I glad I tried this place! I'm not a fan of Indian food, probably because I haven't had authentic Indian/Pakastan food (Tandoori Oven isn't considered good food, per my boyfriend). Plus Indus is one of my boyfriend's favorite eats, so I had to give it a try. Favorite items hangs down is the Paalak paneer and the Mango Lassi!!! I also greatly enjoyed the Naan and Chicken Tikka Masala. We also got the Okra Masala and Chicken Curry Korma, but it was okay. The wait staff could us some improvement on their customer service skills. The young lady that took our order, looked like she was having a bad day. A smile or "how are you doing" goes a long way. When we placed our order we wanted to subsitute goat for chicken and she rudely said no subsitution. Since my boyfriend's mom wanted the dish, but was in the bathroom we were scrambling to find another dish. She seems really annoyed, and said she will wait to put in the order and will come back. Minus 1 star. :( The meal itself was delicious! 4 dishes, 4 naan bread, 2 servings of rice and 4 mango lassis left my party of 4 very happy and in a terrible food coma. I will return soon for more Paalak paneer :D
(4)Princess D.
A very well over due review. First let me start by saying the five stars are strictly for the food and prices. This is a little whole in the wall restaurant. It's ambienance is neglected to say the least. But the food is what keeps me coming back. I must say the best Indian cuisine I have ever had. It's always hot and delicious. The cups could be a little more clean and they could keep track of the dirt on the floor. But you pay for what you get. The prices are a steal. If your like me and don't mind eating with your eyes closed you must come. LOL !!
(5)Ric M.
This restaurant appears to have changed hands. One of my favorite dishes there, the Lamb Chops, are no longer what they were. I am not really a fan of lamb, in general, but I loved theirs. They used to be larger, juicier, and deliciously seasoned, and the smoke flavor was clearly present. We noticed a few things that indicated that there may be new owners and cooks, and when the lamb chops arrived, it was confirmed. Last night, they were smaller, and drier on the inside. In addition, the seasoning was no longer there. Instead, they were covered in a sort of tandoori sauce. So not a change in a good way. My friend also noticed a few differences in other dishes, and the changes also were not for the better. Although the service here had always been hit-and-miss-and-miss, the food was also darn good. No longer appears to be the same.
(1)Cindy C.
You cant beat this spot for lunch! Their prices are great & the food is bomb! Try their village combo or the Indus combo, mmmm
(5)ray m.
i used to really love this place (gave it four stars before), but it's been going downhill for a while. tonight was the kicker, though. i lifted up the liner for the naan tray and it's full of black mold. yes, mold. like god knows how long it's been since these wet plastic trays were sterilized. unfortunately, have to cross this place off the list.
(1)MeMe M.
Really good, really cheap- our new default weekly delight! Paneer tikka masaala - far more flavors than the usual. Palaak Aloo- (always my favorite dish, aka saag aloo) you can actually taste the potatoes, so savory. Mixed veggies & Chana masala (terrible or boring at most Indian restaurants)- nuanced, fresh - unbelievable descriptions for $6 entrees? You may find yourself surprised- we were. Garlic naan & Piyaaz naan (compare to onion kulcha)- smelled & tasted fresh. Both were crispy without burn, soft without doughiness, and full of flavor. I have to imagine poor reviews derive from ordering combo plates? I haven't tried those. I probably won't because the entrees are so cheap and great. I can't wait to try the mango lassi. We found this place because east bay express canvassed fancy chefs for favorite cheap, great eats. There are so many similar places, and Indus Village stands above the rest, for flavor & price. Yes, it's a hole in the wall & the young workers aren't dancing because you came in or to attend to your needs. But I'm not looking for a relationship, just mighty fine food.
(5)Eric C.
Came here with my boyfriend and his family. I was skeptical at first because of the yelp reviews regarding the change in management, but I quickly disregarded them as we family-styled a number of dishes. We had a variety of meats that I couldnt do justice to describing here, but all of them were unique and intricate in flavor. They were tender, smoky when it counted, and all around delicious.
(4)Zeena P.
It was a worst customer service restaurants. Food wasn't tasting good. Chicken sheek kabab had lot of coriander seeds. Lab was so elastic.. chicken tasted horrible. Will never go here again
(1)AnneMarie W.
I want to keep this restaurant my little secret because it is sooo good!!!! And it is reasonable. I told an employee to thank the owner for keeping the prices down and he said they haven't changed in 7 years. That's really cool. Their chicken tikka is super yummy. So is their rice, raita and seekh kabob. I haven't tried other things on the menu because of my chicken tikka addiction :)
(5)Peter P.
Read this review since I am Indian and know what the hell I am talking about. Sucks so bad. Vegetables were frozen, the lamb was gamey, and portions were a joke. I think a lot of these restaurants cater to, and make a killing, off of non-Indian people.. When I walked into the establishment, it's as if the staff had seen a damn ghost. I'll stick to eating back at my moms house.. Hell, I'll invite you all over and you can pay my mom for feeding you real Indian food.
(1)Ely Y.
Came in for dinner. I've come here many times, seems to be under new management or something. I ordered mango lassi and chicken tikka masala and my friend ordered the beef jalfarezi. After ordering, the food came within 5 minutes. When we started to eat the food, it was all cold. We asked to have it warm they told us it was just made. How cam something just made be cold? Not the best. Disappointed.
(1)Bryce D.
Came here this past Saturday trying to fill our craving for indian food. The food was great! Tender chicken tikka masala, great naan! The fiance loved all that she ordered, but as recent posts have said the service wasn't the greatest. With one lady working the entire floor and helping take out guests, we and other guests got lost in the shuffle. I didn't get my drink until I was half way through the meal and had to go up and ask her for my soda, we got our naan halfway through the meal as well. The fiance didn't get her tandoori chicken until we were finished with everything else. We will come back here but probably only for take out.
(3)Saleena G.
I absolutely love their food i've been there many many times and I love each and every time I go there The staff members are very friendly and very kind even though we go with little children and their kind of noisy but they don't mind their food is off the hook I love their rice and their chicken and there are samboosa absolutely delicious!
(5)Janette R.
This place is always fairly busy. I have only taken food to go, it's been a long time since we actually sat down and ate in the restaurant. My experience with the take out is that it's inconsistent. We always get the Veggie Fiesta plate: Rice, Channa masala, Saag Paneer, and Nan bread. It's OK when I don't feel like cooking. I mostly have an issue with their Nan. It's stale. Sometimes, I pay an extra dollar and order the garlic nan, just so they make it fresh(er). While I am waiting to pick up my take out, I look at what the diners have at the table... the meat dishes do look pretty good. I have also taken the Saag Paneer entree, and sometimes it is really good, and other times not so great.
(3)Alfonso L.
Instant classic. Small cozy restaurant with easy menu to deal with, kind and fast service from what looks like a family operation. Friend and I had the chicken tikka masala combo which came with beef dish, rice and naan. Tikka was buttery good and not too tangy. Could have used a bit more heat but was good overall. The beef was fine but honestly not unlike a chile Colorado dish at a Mexicab restaurant. Small world. The mango lassi was divine. Next time serve in a frosty parfait glass-- will make it tastier. Can't beat the price -- bargain meal perfect amounts and you'll feel great afterwards. Can't wait to go back.
(5)Tiff W.
Great mango lassi! Paneer dish was a little different then i was use to. The nan was absolutely delicious
(3)Emily S.
Amazing find! almost always packed, which shows in the fresh ingredients and high quality fare. This isn't a place where the foods been sitting around. Everything I've had has been some of the best Pakistani food I have tried. Super affordable. No booze is a bummer and service is hit or miss.
(4)Andrew C.
Indus is a Halal Indian restaurant with a Halal grocery of the same name / owners next door. They have some cheap eats. $8 lunch combos that come with 2 curries plus naan & rice. Some combos are pre-selected with both meat and vegetarian options or you can do a custom 2-curry combo for $9. I had the Village Combo: Chicken Tikka Masala (CTM), Lamb Curry, basmati rice, Naan. $7.99. The g/f got Paneer Tikka Masala ala carte + Garlic Naan. We asked for no cilantro in everything (she's a cilantro = soap person too), repeated it a few times until the waitress nodded and repeated it to us. Was that so hard? Seemed like there was a portion size issue. My combo had a decent amount of food with 4 good-sized chicken chunks and 3 large lamb pieces ( yelp.com/biz_photos/PTiH… ), but the paneer tikka masala had 7 small pieces of cheese so significantly less protein in the ala carte selection vs. my combo and no naan or rice included either! I was surprised at the differences in flavor between the two Tikka Masala dishes with the CTM's curry having a richer, smokier flavor and the paneer dish tasting more like creamy tomato soup. It may have been chicken flavors blending with the CTM? Neither naan was particularly fluffy or tender and they also failed at the "no cilantro" instruction with a generous amount topping the garlic naan ( yelp.com/biz_photos/PTiH… ). I picked a lot off and the rest wasn't too powerfully flavored, but the g/f still avoided it. There was one girl serving the whole place and she seemed pretty over-whelmed. After repeated attempts to get her attention, we had to go to the server station to get the pitcher to refill our own water and get some additional napkins. CTM & Lamb Curries: 4 stars Paneer Tikka Masala: 2.5 stars Naan: 2 stars Service: 1 star
(2)Darth M.
the service was good , and they have a nice spicy lamb shank , soak up the sauce with naan
(3)Sasitorn O.
I am really wanted to give this place as a 4 stars but I couldn't. The food itself was really delicious especially the Chicken Tikka masala. But the service wasn't good at all. When we showed up there were two servers who took care the entire dining room. One of them, told us to take one spot which was opened. When we sat down and I felt like something under my shoes. So I looked down under the table and I saw lots of naan underneath. It must be from last customer left behind. My husband and I couldn't move to sit on the other side of the table due to there were two big women sat down next to us. So I had to call the server, when she came to our table, I asked her kindly if she would please clean up all the left over food under the table. She was question me back like, "Do you want me to clean this?" Then I said yes, please. Then she asked me how do you like me to clean it? I was replied back to her that just do quick sweep the floor, if she could. But she said she won't do it. So I told her it was gross to sit down to a dirty table. At this point she didn't seem happy and yes she walked away. The other server came by and moved us to the new table ever since we never got the service from our first server. At the end, even though I liked the food here but the server wasn't do the job so I didn't feel want to come back here.
(3)Sjoerd-Jan B.
Decent place, biryani is great, service not so. Could be bad luck though.
(3)Valerie H.
I love this place I've been coming for 7 years. There is new management but same owner. I think its for the best. The service has always been poor but the food great. Since we are frequent customers I've gotten to know him and he listens to what we have to say and has made improvements. The food is still great but I do notice a difference in taste in some of the dishes but that may be because the regular cook needs a day off and the manager is always egger to please his customers so if there is something wrong with the food tell him and he will willingly make corrections.
(5)Carissa P.
I got a to-go order of the Indus Combo. Total for naan, rice, chicken tikka masala and saag aloo was under $10. Nice portion and good for the price. Overall it was ok but Kabana around the corner has so much more flavor. Probably going to stick to the other hole in the wall. Sorrelssssss...
(3)Leslie W.
My family and I have been going to Indus Village since it opened. We average at least once a month. The food is absolutely delicious which always keeps us coming back for more. The past few months we have noticed a big decline in the service. There is a lack on servers and the one or two servers who are there are working the entire room. Our food has been coming out little here and there, cold and in no particular order. The stress that comes with getting our food in a timely manner is not worth it. So sad that they will lose good customers since I honestly think this was my last visit.
(3)Fiji K.
Great Food and an amazing service. Worth the 30 miles drive for dinner. We had vegi pakora, lamb chops, chicken tikka masala, and fish briyani. Everything was amazing. Lamb chops was the best- a must try!
(5)Edina B.
Different. Yes folks they got a new cook and I CAN TASTE IT! I cried the day I found out what was going on. Normally I come to Indus once or twice a week. This is my desperate cry to try and get them to bring the old cook back or teach the new cook the perfection that WAS their CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA. I'm addicted and have to have it once a week. Did I mention I cried? PLEASEEEEE bring back the old cook, or get the recipe back to what it was. Thanks. Update: CTM is back to its former deliciousness and I'm SO HAPPY!
(5)Henry P.
Lamb bayani was awesome! No frills Indian restaurant, just really good food. Yogurt sauce was great as well. They've got a market next door so you can take some ingredients home with you
(4)Mona C.
LOVE this place! Great prices, yummy food, it's that simple! The little store next door is fun to look at, too!
(4)bah h.
This place gets a 4.5 for its food and a 2.5 for its service. It a somewhat small, apparently family run place, with only one and rarely two female servers, who I imagine are the daughters, and seem to work all week long. If the restaurant is even halfway full the service tends to suffer, and if full, with tons of people coming in for take out orders, the service can be downright bad. Today I went and the waitress seemed very overwhelmed, which is understandable, but there was obvious attitude in how she was dealing with me and the other customers I observed. Getting a box at the end of the meal took literally about 20 minutes, since she was busy and she was eager to ignore people who needed more help. Me and another random diner caught eyes as we were trying repeatedly to get her attention and shared a little laugh. Come when it's dead, and you'd probably give this place 5 stars. Hey, Indus Village, Hint: hire some more waitstaff. Food is good to excellent, and very inexpensive. Their naan is at least 9/10 stars as far as flavor and they're huge. Chana masala is delicious as is the palak aloo and chicken tikka massala. Their tandoori chicken breast is, again, like 9/10. Super, super good - really smoky and flavorful, and trust me, I eat alot of tandoori chicken. Some dishes can randomly show up really greasy, while others days the same dish will have barely any grease. A order of chana masala I took home a week ago had a half inch of grease to pour off when I got it home and opened the container. I'm a lot more inclined to just pick up and go after tonight's meal - but really great food, and open late. But those groovy chairs in the photos which other reviewers mention? Long gone.
(3)Toneman's S.
Indus Village, a small busy whole in the wall reasonably priced; however, it's definitely no where near the caliber of Shalimar in the tenderloin... Garlic Naan was cold, with almost a freezer burn finish. The Lamb Saag was fresh but needed a little more heat. Okra masala was on the salty side. There are an array of Indian/Pakistani restaurants in this area to check; I'd shop it to see what else is in the area.... Bottom line: naaaaah...
(2)Rachel M.
Probably the best chicken tikka masala that I've ever had. The mango lassi was also fabulous. The rice was good and so was the naan. However, I gave Indus 4 starts instead of 5 because some of the other dishes needed a bit more flavoring. I ordered a lunch special and while the chicken tikka masala was delish, the spinach veggie dish needed salt and seasoning. My friend ordered the another lunch special (veggie) and I saw her putting salt on her dishes. I would definitely go back.
(4)Sujata S.
Reliably good take out. Just make sure to stick to curries and biryanis, the veg food is not all that.
(4)Chris R.
Good place to go for cheap, tasty pakistani food. I particularly liked the vegetable biryani, the chicken boti, and the naan bread.
(3)Nicholas A.
I had the village combo, chicken tikka masala and lamb curry separated by an isthmus of rice for just $7.99. The quality was very good, and the place was humming with business. Well done.
(5)Luis C.
The beautiful, colorful ornate wooden chairs are NO MORE!! It's as if the color in a vibrant Van Gogh had suddenly been leached. They have new but pedestrian chairs. Black finish wood with black cushioning. They definitely do not pair well with their current tables :) Is this a sign of an impending redecoration, mid-decor crisis, or an attempt to get this diner to admire the faux frescoes some more?? Let's just hope new half-baked ideas don't take hold in the kitchen as well...
(3)Tristan T.
They updated their chairs!!! much better and less boxy.
(4)J B.
This place is fantastic! Superlative and authentic Pakistani food. No buffet available btw. They have daily specials including some ingredients infrequently used in American cuisine like goat. Highlights include the Naan, which is freshly made in the tandoori to order. I order the eggplant (Baigan Bharta), Saag Lamb, and Tandoori Lamb Chops every time I go, all are fantastic. Anything they make with tikka-masala (I had lamb last time) is great. Really I've never had a disappointing dish here, everything is freshly prepared and super tasty.
(5)Emma S.
Ok, I know chicken tikka masala was invented for the British and is not a real East Asian dish...but I've never had it so good. I normally opt for places that calls this dish "murgh makhani" (butter chicken) b/c I was under the false impression that having an "authentic" name automatically means that the food is cooked "authentically." But Pakistani and Indian people eat here! How much more authentic is that? The staff are really nice and the menu is well priced. It's pretty hard to go wrong with anything on their menu. The seekh kabobs are perfectly seasoned, the baingan bharta is creamy and delicious, the okra masala has the perfect combination of spices, the lamb shank is fall of the bone tender...I mean, you get the point, right?
(4)Linda S.
I've been coming to this place for years. They keep changing the chef so sometimes it's amazing and other times it's just good. They use high quality ingredients and the meat is fresh. I always get the chicken boti, the eggplant dish and the palak aloo.
(4)Aurangzeb A.
Indus Village used to be decent, but it's now utter crap. If you don't care about authenticity, then it'll be fine. The place used to be *authentic* Indian/Pakistani, but under the new management, not only is it not, the food is bad. My father ordered fish salan (curry) off the menu for take-out. Not only was it bad, it made him sick and we threw the left-overs away. The new owners are also not the nicest people in the world. The friendliness that was there has been replaced by a curt and cold persona that's unwelcoming and unkind. Not the best way to run a restaurant. It's sad that with already limited options in the East Bay, Indus Village, a once gem, is just another hole in the wall--but one without the good food it used to be celebrated for.
(1)Jabar B.
This is my favorite place in Berkeley, I eat here several times a week and can't get enough of the lamb biryani. The staff sometimes a little slow, but always friendly, and the quality of the food more than makes up for it.
(5)Vishakha G.
Pro Decent serving size Decent biryani- Pakistani style ie. With an egg in it . The dal I ordered wasn't restraunt style, it was like my mom made it. Which isn't all that bad Con Filthy hole in the wall Just sitting in there was very unpleasant Bottom line - This is basically indian cuisine , they have all the indian dishes ( baingan bharta ) just the biryani is different . Take out , don't eat here .
(3)Jesse A.
I have eaten here almost a hundred times in the past few years. Its perfect for what it is. That said... they're are crucial elements to the navigation of this restaurant to ensure a five star experience. 1. Since the new ownership a while back, the chicken started trending towards the undercooked. The only meat I order here now are the lamb chops. 2. There are limited options worth ordering but those options are repeatable into infinity. They don't even take my order anymore, just bring the paneer Tika masala, rice, naan, and chai I almost always go with. The okra used to be slamming. Now its still good but only as an occasional change of pace. Same with saag paneer. 3. Keep the chai coming. Usually free with free refills. No hassle. Though it depends on if you get the nicer twin. 4. The bill is almost always cheaper than you can get fast food. I average $13 for a bomb filling meal for two including over a 25% tip. 5. Try not to use the restroom if possible as the hallway between the restaurant and store often smells of foul sources I've yet to want to fully identify and prefer to avoid so as not to sully my experience.
(5)Liza S.
This is a nice place to grab a bite any weekday night or weekend. They're usually never too busy and the food comes out pretty quick so you don't have to wait too long. There's usually only one waitress though so don't expect to get served something extra or have your water refilled unless you start waiving and flag or something from your seat. Also if you're not into spicy food this is not the place for you! The food is SPICY. Consistently so and sometimes bordering on the danger zone of that flames might actually erupt out of your mouth.
(3)Iris G.
love this place very time
(5)Eddie C.
Why does Indus have to be sooo far away? This is the best Pakistani restaurant I've tried so far but it is in Berkeley and I'm in LA! Indus Village is a quaint little casual eatery in Berkeley perfect for lunch of a last minute decision for dinner. We decided for lunch. What didn't we have? Heck we ordered so much! We had Naan, Chicken and Beef Kabobs, Baingan Bharta, Chicken Tikka Masala and their special of the day - Goat Biryani. I was a bit disappointed with the Biryani, it was somewhat dry and the goat a little over cooked. However, all in all, everything was delish. The spices were blended just perfect. The proportions decent and the service was chill. Next time? Gonna get adventurous and go for the Goat Brain Masala
(4)Priti P.
Really good affordable Indian food. We've been here several time and always get the lamb chops. Tried lamb biryani and goat karachi and those were delicious too.
(5)Attossa C.
Excellent food, very good price. The workers are all friendly, haven't had anywhere near a bad experience. My favorite is the lamb biryani.
(5)Pia O.
If you want to eat good Pakistani food,,, this is the best place to go. One of the top 10 hole in the wall to go too. We love the chicken tandoori, biryani and tika masala. I also love the mango lassi here.
(3)Christina L.
Order: Chicken Biryani, Chicken Chole, Okra, Aloo Naan, Garlic Naan, Chai My friend brought me here because it's one of his favorite Indian places in Berkeley. Turns out this place gives him gas. Haha I liked it and it didn't give me gas. My favorite was the okra and chole. The biryani wasn't as good as it looked. Wasn't that flavorful and there were a lot of bay leaf chips mixed in the rice. When you bite in the rice, you get crunchy, dry leaves. The chai could have been more spiced up, but I make my own chai and am biased. I'd only come back if my gassy friend takes me again. Haha
(3)Angelika T.
My first time visiting this restaurant and the service was great until we started asking about a dish that would be best suited for my daughter because she is picky. The waitress started arguing with me about her menu and became defensive. I was scratching my head like never in my life have I argued with anyone in the service industry. I give them the benefit of the doubt but this time I was truly feeling upset because I just wanted to feed my daughter. Eventually I asked for the 1st waitress that took our order and she was able to better explain the menu. I thanked her and took her recommendations. When the food arrived we didn't know the Kabobs and didn't realize they didn't come on a stick and the meat was breaded. Of course my daughter didn't like it. She quickly offered another dish. All of our food we ordered didn't arrive and we weren't billed the other dishes. I wasn't a fan of the food and I love ethnic food. We were never checked on nor asked how our food was. I won't be back but if someone can recommend a Pakistani restaurant please do share, I want to give it a shot again with better service
(1)Aisha S.
Food is always delicious. Reasonable pricing too.
(5)Belle S.
I love Indus. I go here all the time. I have only ever gotten the Indus combo (Chicken Tikka Masala, Aloo Palak -spinach and potatoes-, basmati rice, and naan. All for $7.99 +tax). It doesn't look like that much food when place in front of you, but I always struggle to finish the last 20% of my meal :). It can be cheap if you go the combo route, but it can add up too. Like most restaurants. It is nice and flavorful without being too spicy. Fun atmosphere with big paintings on the wall depicting life in Indus. Summary: Fun place, good food, and good price. Great place for groups or singles.
(5)Olamide N.
The food is good, I like the fact that they have eggs in the biryani, and the food is spiced well, I cant stand when I go to a indian or Pakistani restaurant spot and the food is mild. It is small, and some might call it dirty, but I have worked in food industry and I will say its mediocre, not bad enough to send me running, but not the cleanest, overall I would recommend going here for some ok well priced indian food, I've had worse.
(3)Zahid A.
American born Pakistani/Indian here. I was watching Slumdog Millionaire and decided I should have Indian or Pakistani food tonight! Sweet! Just like auntie makes right?.... Wrong. Wow. I am embarrassed to suggest people try Pakistani food after being here. My father is from Pakistan and my mother is from India-- first one in my family born in America. I love the Bay Area because there is Pakistani food in addition to Indian.. Usually that just means they don't serve alcohol. This is, literally, the worst "Pakistani"/Indian food I've ever had. I read the 4 star review and I really tried to give them a chance. I called and I asked them many questions and asked them to suggest to me a few items that were their best. I got their curry vegtable, garlic naan, and chicken tikka masala. The curry vegetable was canned mixed vegtables in curry/cream sauce. The naan didn't have any garlic taste or butter. The chicken tikka masala (which I don't usually order as it's not really authentic Indian/Pakistani food) that people recommended here on yelp was more than 50% cream sauce and very little chicken. I really love Pakistani restaurants in the bay area and I wanted to like this place. But the canned pre-cut veggies on curry sauce and tinny amount of chicken in the Tikka masala was embarassing to me as a self-identified Pakistani America-- I was raised Pakistani, not Indian. I don't expect Indian or Pakistani food in America to be authentic, but that this place cares only about profit to the point of using canned, pre-cut veggies and such a tiny amount of chicken in their tikka masala is the ultimate embarrassment as a Pakistani. If you are Indian, Pakistani, or have been to either country... skip this place and eat some place else. This is like what Dominos pizza must be like to an Italian-American. PS I spent $16 and change including tax for he above food-- 1 chicken tikka masala, 1 veg curry, and 1 garlic naan. I weigh 125 lbs and I didn't go to the gym or running or anything else extra today and I am still hungry as their was so little chicken in the tikka masala. Wow, the girl I was paying wouldn't even look me in the eye as she must have realized when I arrived to pick up that I look Indian/Pakistani and have an Indian name and was going to be saddened by the lack of quality. Not her fault, but wow. If some man/woman can run this place and make profit I am going to literally quit my job and open a restaurant. Literally. Only plus was they said it would be ready in 10 minutes on the phone-- which kind of scared me-- but when you're using veggies from a can I understand how you can cook that quickly.. So I guess thank you for inspiring me to open a restaurant! PEACE!
(1)Sahar H.
So far my favorite Indian spot in all of Bay Area. I come here every time I'm craving the chicken tikka masala and their naan bread is so soft and fluffy, I really love it. I think the prices are just right for my favorite dishes and I really recommend coming here.
(4)Jennifer H.
TOO DAMN GOOD! My homie and I were in the area thrifting and were on the prowl for Indian food. Somehow Yelped suggested this place and I am GRATEFUL for this. We spent $22 and left FULL. We got 3 dishes (palaak chicken, mixed vegi, and an eggplant dish) and 2 orders of naan (which were large as hell). We decided to share the dishes along with a personal carafe of ice water. Overall, the entire meal was delicious. I'm not a huge fan of spicy dishes and I was completely satisfied. There are murals of the Pakistani culture all on the walls. When we were there the place was packed with families, making the atmosphere lively. DEFINITELY ONE OF MY BERKELEY SPOTS.
(5)Alwin L.
Good aloo naan and chicken tikki masala. Cheap pricing.
(3)Usman S.
Is very bad service and chicken was in cooked when send it back to kitchen and here from guy who lose talk with the server about his quality about food they to pickey which was very disappointed I was lift without eating
(1)Jasmin R.
Worst service. I ordered chai and the servant did not bring it till we were ready to leave. They also brought the wrong food and would not admit that they made the mistake. The servant brought the water jar but with no glasses until I asked for it twice. They are out of glasses so only brought 2 and we were a party of 4!
(1)Lia W.
As I write this I am stuffing my face with the best eggplant of my life. I got takeout. This hole-in-the-wall restaurant is a true diamond in the rough. I would rather go here than any stupid pretentious bistro with tiny food sculpture. I go here about once a month or so. The food is always good. Always. Baingan Bharta - creamy eggplant. Deliciously smoky with complex spices. Best in Bay. Lamb Vindaloo is fantastic Fried okra is fantastic The tikka masala sauce is great on everything. Saag paneer is great. Naan is great. It's all great. I've never had desert because I never had enough room by the end of the meal. Get there early in the evening because it can get busy around 7 or 8.
(5)Jana C.
So busy yesterday, it was surprising. To go order of Kardi pakora and chicken tikka masala. Some naans too. Sauces are quite rich, and I found myself just dipping for flavor. Pakoras were like wet dumplings swimming in a yogurty spiced sauce. Very small portion plastic containers. Range about $7-8/ item.
(3)Andrew H.
Had the combo chicken tikka masala with spinach and potato. Only three small chicken chunks in CTM. Only two potato chunks in the spinach. They add a lot of the sauce to make it look like more. The flavors are there, just need more of what you are paying for. Mango lasso and naan are par for the course. Also, it's an Afghani restaurant, not Indian.
(3)Jim W H.
I have been wanting to stop at this restaurant for years. Last evening was that time and wow, I'm still thinking of my meal after 24 hours and this location and food will bring me back. I did the Indus Como $6.99 & Mango Lassi for $1.99. What a treat.
(5)Alicia A.
So I had been to the Indus Market next door but I haven't ever been to Indus Village Restaurant. My friend Rachel and I decided that after Jummah prayer we would go out to each lunch here. We came in sat down and the first thing I noticed were the colorful chairs. Next I noticed the wonderful murals on the wall. I asked my friend if she had any dishes she would recommend. She said everything she had tried was good.. so we decided to try a bunch of different things off the menu.. Beef Kabob, Eggplant, Chicken Curry,Rice, Yogurt with cilantro and veggies. The Kabob was very flavorful, the curry wasn't as spicy as I would like, the rice was done perfectly, Eggplant was awesome- and the yogurt was the perfect foil for kabob and eggplant. I also ordered Naan.. yum yum carbs. I would go here again.. it was a great experiance and place to chat the afternoon away.
(4)Siddharth B.
I went to this restaurant this Friday and its food was ucck...there are pretty good indian restaurants in Berkeley like Vics and Kabana. I had Murgh Achari, Chicken Boti and Dal Makhani....On Saturday, I had food poisoning and the whole weekend was spend vomiting and stomach sick..Please stay away from this place...the restaurant is unhygienic and the food should be inspected...sorry guys...
(1)Mike B.
Yes, it's cheap, but there's no mystery why. Overall, mediocre food in a blah setting. I tried the okra, veggie combo, and palak paneer, plus two kinds of naan. The okra had a good flavor but my first bite was stringy and inedible--maybe I got a chili or something, but it was bland and looked like okra. The other two dishes were fine but bland. The atmosphere is a little dingy and very crowded. The service was distracted and lazy--both when we arrived and it was crowded, and when we left and it was mostly empty. The bright spots: the low prices, the unsweetened chai (I don't like it too sweet), and the truly good garlic and onion versions of the naan.
(2)Jonathan P.
Although I like quite a few Indian food places, I think Indus Villiage is the best. Their dishes are never too sweet and are never lacking on the spice. Their prices are great and they have every dish that I like. Some places taste too much like fast food and others try to carry too many different dishes to make them all well but Indus Villiage just does it right. Bonus: There is an Indian market right next door so you can make your own food at home
(5)Lisa T.
Last weekend, the waiter brought one of the dishes we'd ordered, a small salad -- which is sliced tomatoes, cucumbers, onion and iceberg lettuce with a wedge of lime. Good enough. But I couldn't see the lime so I asked him, "where's the lime?" He stuck his index finger right into the pile of lettuce leaves, lifted a couple of them, and pointed it out. "There's your lime, ma'am."
(2)Momoko S.
In terms of price I five a 5 star. Food tastes good and well presented. It may not be the best I have had, but with this price and well attended service this place is the place when you are not so wealthy. I would say, 4.5 star. For those who with limited budget but extremely hungry for Indian/Pakistani, I recommend the combos that are on the last page of the menu. It comes with lots of food and inexpensive!
(4)Aaron F.
ive discovered this place thru Yelp a year ago and fell in love with the place.Service is ok but FOOD is fantastic..... not to mention the friendly price they have. Their COMBO meal at the back of their menu is worth it.
(5)Ranjit M.
I'm assuming this is what people who have never been to India or Pakistan believe "authentic" south Asian food is. A greasy, salty mess served by apathetic waiters who couldn't care less about your experience. The naan had clearly been sitting on the kitchen waiting for our other dishes to finish and was served lukewarm and slightly dry. Palak didn't have the smooth butteriness required for this dish. The meat curries taste like they are simply made by following the directions on the premixed Shaan masala that they sell next door...the ones that are way over salted and leave you feeling tired, nauseas and jittery. If you like the curry served here just buy the shaan mix and follow the directions, but please use better cuts of meat!
(2)Greg D.
This place by far is the best Indian food cafe I have been to so far in the bay. When it comes to food I'm usually a pretty tough customer. Its got some funky chairs and murals on the walls, but the food has the perfect amount of spiciness and seasoning. Its also cheap! Check out the lunch specials usually around 6 or 7 bucks for a giant, steaming plate of goodness. The naan is dayom good, baked perfectly. Go here for the food and not the ambiance and you wont be disappointed.
(4)Madhuri K.
I now live 30 minutes away - but when we are driving through Berkeley - my husband and I try to pick up take out. The last time we did this ( a week ago) we got it home - only to realize there was ONE piece of chicken in the container of chicken tikka masala. When I called them to complain - they apologized and offered to replace it. Well- that did little to appease me since we now didn't have dinner - and I wasn't willing or able to drive back. They comp'd us the entire meal- so I have to say their customer service is stlil good - but the whole meal was off. The masala was super sweet (after I'd asked for it to be extra spicy) and I think the lack of consistency will keep from going again.
(1)anita M.
The first time I went to Indus was 4 years ago while visiting a friend who lives in Berkeley and ever since then if I'm ever in Berkeley I make sure I stop by. the Food is fresh and just so sooo yummy..the sauces are rich with flavor and the naan is piping hot off the tava and I'm picky when it comes to Pakistani or N.Indian food and this place has me hooked. The staff are always friendly and not bugging you every 5 mins...but discreetly top up your glass and take care of you. as you can see I don't like to be bothered while I'm eating I want to enjoy every mouthful. I figured out why people are quiet in there....its cos they are all too busy savoring each bite. just writing about it is making my mouth water...I am glad though that they changed the chairs...pretty and colourful though they may have been but they were very uncomfortable and it was a great move for them to get the new ones. and you know the lil family owned restaurants are always the best. Cant wait to go to Berkeley again...just for this reason. xo
(5)Chaz N.
it was good, but it wasn't the same as shalimar ... sigh. the naans were definitely awesome though. i'd give it 3.5
(3)Wella L.
I went here for the first time yesterday with some friends. They do little things that I like. There's a pitcher of ice water on your table. Love this! Funky chairs and cool murals. (See my photos.) Good tasting food and sauces. Not too spicy either. I'd definitely come back for another meal. The wait staff is friendly and let me take photos. I promised to give them copies of my pictures so they could use it on their website if they want, but don't think that I am in any way connected with this restaurant.
(3)Aaron B.
I got some very delicious tandoori fish from this little hole-in-the wall! The prices are reasonable and the counter ladies are nice.Check it out if you can find parking!!!
(4)Kay S.
It's so cheap and fast, but the food is just mediocre. Among many dishes I've tried, I like their Chicken Tika Masala the best. Kunna Matka Gosht gave me diarrhea.
(3)Dan C.
Chicken Tikka Masala - tasty! Nice casual place. Reasonable prices. Naan Bread super-fresh and delicious.
(5)Faraaz M.
Pretty good Pakistani food. My third time going back. The Okra Masala is a win, and the naan is very good. I cannot however recommend the Nihari.
(4)Jasmine D.
Don't let the location throw you off. Yes, it's kinda sketchy, with the lil market next door and the feel of a restaurant that was converted too quickly. But, the murals on the walls warm the place up a bit. And the unique chairs and tables give the place a different feel. Don't be afraid to try this place out. I love me some Chicken Tikka Masala. 99% of the time, if I'm trying a restaurant for the first time and Chicken Tikka Masala is on the menu, I'm gonna order it. I was excited to see that Indus Village has a few combo plates with it included. I ordered the Indus Combo (#40) and asked them to make it spicy. Spinach and potatoes, basmati rice, naan, and chicken tikka masala. Everything was really good. Naan was so fresh it was too hot to hold. There were only 4 small chunks of meat, I wish it came with a little more chicken. But, the flavor was great, one of the best tikka masalas I've tried. Next time I'm going to ask for them to make it VERY spicy. Combos come with free chai tea. All that for under $10 (tax&tip incl.) is a deal.
(4)Deep M.
This is the ULTIMATE taste of India/Pakistan you can find in Bay Area....! If you are know what you are putting in your mouth you will agree with me! I am a good cook and I am amazed by the heavenly taste in my mouth every time I eat . The combination of "naan" bread and chicken Tika massala is to Die for! The Lamb dishes are superb and the Tandoori comes in a sizzling hot plate.. ! This is the kind of food that takes you to a different world. I've been coming to this place every Sunday religiously for two years and it Never disappoint me. The food is generous and super delicious and it is very affordable!! You can make it mild or spicy , just ask in advance. I've never been to India or Pakistan but you can tell how authentic it is by looking at who really goes there to eat. I am moving to LA next week and I'm going to miss this place so badly. I know there's tons of good resto down there but this place has a special place in my heart.
(5)Monica B.
Love the food if you can ignore the tight space. We ordered the veg plate and the non veg plate combo and it was fabulous. you could actually taste the distinct spices and textures of meats and veg. Service was so so. the place looks and runs like a mom and pop restaurant with no "real" service talents, but its all good as long as the food is good. highly suggest trying the Bhuna gosht. :) slurp, yumm
(4)Julie C.
My roomie and I have wandered about Berkeley in search for good indian food. We tend to stick with our favorite dishes: chx tikki masala & bhagan bartha, accompanied with a side order of rice and garlic naan...topped off by a glass of milk tea. Yep, we order that combination wherever we go. Naan' and curry, house of curries, and a bunch of other curry places that I don't even remember. The chx tiki masala and bhagan bartha was definetely of finer quality than other indian places. The garlic naan was very fresh, but a tad bit on the oily side (maybe thats what makes it so good? the garlic oil drizzling as it was served...) Yes, the chairs were uncomfortable but I find them kinda cool looking. The price was decent and we left the restraunt happy and content. I live closeby and would come back for sure :)
(4)Connie L.
Absolutely delicious! My favorite indian place in the area. It is cheap and the chicken marsala is AMAZING! And the Naan id heavenly, light and fluffy yet crispy. Fantastic!
(5)Ted. G L.
Great food @ reasonable price, yet, parking can be tricky.
(4)Christian A.
Perhaps one of the best Indian food restaurants I've been to (and I've been to quite a few). The prices are very good and the curry and meats they use are very tasty and tender. There's no meshing flavors - everthing is hot out of the oven and distinct in its own right. The shop is very small - I think it can rightly be called a "hole in the wall", but it's clean and very colorful. The chairs are a little uncomfortable, but the food makes up for that. Whenever I visit Berkeley, that's a restaurant I make a point of visiting.
(5)Joy S.
More a whole in the wall than a fancy place but fantastic, fresh quality food :) Go for it.
(5)Josh L.
Went here last night with some friends. The store and the restaurant are connected. Had the Masala combo, it was pretty good. The chicken tiki masala was excellent, the beef strips were okay, a little tough and the rice was good The Naan was average, I have had better. We also tried the cucumber salad and the chicken and beef kababs. If I went back, probably would just get the chicken tiki masala and beef kababs.
(3)Zed Z.
Yum! Food quality is good to very good. Service not so bad - I found it a bit challenging to have them make my food desi spicy rather than gora spicy (home style spicy vs white people spicy). Not seen any vermin as I am usually on the look out for them in small places like this where it's easier to be. Overall, good quality, good prices and decent service/support. I doubt you'll be disappointed! Ok, the chairs, while decorative are not the most comfortable but don't totally suck either.
(3)M G.
We have been going to this restaurant for almost a year now and have enjoyed it a lot until the last month. There is a new server there (about 30, 5' tall, a bit plump with long black hair). This new server has ruined our dining experience the last 3 or 4 times we have been there, she is surly and short with us. She also does not give us an itemized bill just a total amount to pay. We always enjoyed the ChickenTikka Masala very much. It always came with a wonderful sauce and 5 medium to large pieces of chicken (about 2" by 2" pieces). The last 3 or 4 times that dish looked more like soup with 5 extremely SMALL (1/2" by 1/2") pieces of chicken. When we requested more chicken she told us we needed to pay more. When the pieces arrived they were the same tiny size (1/2" by 1/2"). There are 2 other servers in this restaurant, a young man around 25 who is very polite and courteous and a young lady about 20, thin and also very courteous (we did not have the chicken size problems with the other servers, and yes we know the server does not cook the dish but may put it on the plates). We did not see anyone else in the restaurant who may have been the owner or manager that we could voice our complaints to.
(1)Mori Y.
You know, whoever thought to put a pakistani restaurant in a halal market deserves a hug. In spite of the sketchy looking taqueria-converted-into-a-pakistani-restaurant interior and furniture, the food here is really tasty, and certainly a good deal. The combos, which come in at under $10, are large enough to feed two (with a side, or another naan. mmm, garlic naan!) The lamb curry is savory, and the chicken tikka masala was one of the best interpretations of that indo-british culinary invention I've yet to try. Bonus star for being within stumbling distance from the Albatross Pub, which makes it a prime stop to carb up after some early evening beer darts.
(4)Alissa P.
Indus Village has been a take-out lunch favorite of my office for over a year. My colleagues and I have sustained a cult-like devotion to both the Indus Combo and the Chicken Tikka Masala because of the big flavor and the great prices. It is with much sadness that I report that on my last pilgrimage to Indus to pick up lunch for the office I saw a live cockroach on the counter. I did not say anything at the time because they were super-busy but planned to call the owner later to politely let him know. And hey, what restaurant doesn't have cockroaches? That call was accelerated by a co-worker's discovery of two dead cockroaches in her food - one in the rice and one in the chicken tikka. My co-worker is not a squeamish woman. She has traveled all over the developing world. Many of us continued eating after the first cockroach, but everyone called it quits after the second. I called the owner. He was upset but did not offer to refund the purchase. I called the health department. We really, really want to believe that this was a one-time occurence and that things are back to normal at this tasty joint. I don't, however, think that we'll be ordering pick-up again any time soon.
(1)Jamie B.
I've eaten here twice, and both times, very good food - and a huge bang for the buck. The second time, I brought eight other people with me. They managed to get the food out quite quickly considering the size of our party. The waitress is nice. The atmosphere is decorative. I would recommend Indus to anyone looking for an inexpensive, tasty meal. Most of the food is medium-spicy, so if you are someone who is very sensitive to spicy food, this is not your place. All in all, excellent experience, and the group I took was very pleased with my recommendation.
(5)Jasu C.
I went there last Thursday with my family and we had chicken tikka masala, lamb biryani, kabab, and mango lassi. The food was delicious like always and the service was really good because there were only too guys working at the time and it was very busy, but still they managed to satisfy every customers needs including mine. I would recommend this restaurant to everyone who reads my review.
(5)Charlotte b.
Love Love Love this place! My favorite is the goat karahi and BBQ chicken!
(5)Brad L.
Reading the menu from the discomfort of my ornate but impractical chair, I realised I'd never had beef in a South Asian restaurant. So I got the combo with the beef curry (forget the name) and chicken tikka masala. The meats were fine, but the sauces were excellent: like hearing a chord when I'm used to one-note Punjabi food. The individual notes aren't entirely clear, but for all I know that's how they prefer it. As an accompaniment, their rice was better than their naan. Better than my regular House of Curries, though not so much better as to be worth busing across town for. But I'll probably eat here every time I go to the adjoining butcher.
(4)Josepha B.
We went here to catch a cheap eastern dinner before a concert. Something you can NEVER do in Napa, which is pathetically lacking in Indian/Pakistani/Middle Eastern foods! So whenever we go to Berkley you can guess what cuisine we choose. I'll admit it, I'm a sucker for hole in the wall joints. Its unpretentious, home-made, and its all about food. We felt like total embarrassments to ourselves for pretty much all ordering chicken tikka masala, but can you blame us??? We can never get this stuff, and seeing that I go out for Indian/Pakistani once a year if I'm really lucky, I felt justified in looking like a total white girl! Ambience: Hole in the wall, small, fluorescent lights, bead curtains that partially hide the kitchen, right next door to a halal market. Beautiful, but uncomfortable chairs straddle uncovered wood veneer tables. Service: Although kind and sweet, out waitress forgot a few things, we had to ask. Also, a little bit slow, which to be honest was nice, because I didn't feel like I was being rushed. This is a family joint you shouldn't be treated like royalty Food: The food was really yummy, it didn't feel heavy, which can sometimes happen. It was quite rich, the garlic naan was phenomenal. The lassis were yummy but a little too sweet, but whatever they tasted great. Palak Paneer was delicious. I can't wait to go back and try some of the stuffed naan, the goat, and the lamb The price here is phenomenal. For 6 entrees, rice, naan, salads and drink: 53 bucks??? That never happens! You gotta come here! If the Pakistanis eat here, it has to be good!
(4)Laura M.
Was told that this had the best lamb chops in the Bay Area. I've only been once, but they were just OK. It didn't match up to the Naan and Curry in SF by UCSF. Just not as flavorful. I thought the chicken tikka masala was better than Naan and Curry, but not nearly as good as Shalimar. Chai was so-so. Probably won't go back...
(3)Gina c.
Now this place is worth going to! When I first looked at the menu, I was impressed by the prices. Then I turned the page and realized that they have combos for around $7-8 dollars that lets me get everything I want in a meal. The place is small but super cozy with these psychedelic chairs that are from Pakistan. Mental note: Pick up chairs next time in Pakistan. Anyways, the service was good, food excellent, and big naan even for the combos. Better deal than any lunch buffet!!
(4)Ken T.
This place has good Indian food. I guess they also call it Pakistani since they do serve beef dishes as well. The naan is excellent there. You can pretty much pick any of them! My favorite is the garic naan! For the dishes, I would highly recommend the briyani (lamb or chicken). Chicken murgh is a nice one. My favorite is the Tandoori Fish: its basically cat fish cooked in the tandoor. Its a great dish and it is very moist. However, there is some bones in there, so you must be careful.
(5)Mr. T.
Wow, excellent food at a very good price. We were bit confused about which restaurant to go, as there are so many Indian/Pakisthani restaurant around that area. We finally decided to check this one as we had some meat purchase from here. We ordered goat briyani, village combo and tandoori chicken breast (starter). We were quite amazed with the size of tandoori chicken for $3.50, it was huge and very tasty. Goat briyani is not properly a briyani, as with the case of most Pakisthani restaurants. Goat fried pieces were mixed with pilau rice, but was quite tasty. Village combo had Naan, goat masala, chicken tikka, rice - was good. As two of us, we had half of chicken breast and village combo. We had others to go. Quite filling with rich Pakisthani flavour.
(5)Dana B.
I've never had a bad meal here in the past year and a half, and I've never seen cockroaches or any other vermin, as some of the past reviews mentioned. I went again today and had great service (rare in places of this sort) and a great meal with a friend. We had Lamb Curry, Palak Paneer (spinach/greens with cubes of fresh/homemade cheese), Baingan Bharta (eggplant), Raita (yogurt), Plain Naan (bread cooked in the tandoor oven), Garlic Naan, and two orders of Ras Malai (adessert--fresh cheese in a lightly sweet milk sauce with pistachios). This food is not oily (except for the lamb a bit, because of the lamb fat), which is rare in Pakistani restaurants -- just fresh and delicious! The lamb was super tender. The palak and baingan were perfect. The naan is soft and yummy. The Ras Malai was great. All for $30 with leftovers. And, yes, the chairs are interesting and colorful, but not as comfy as one might like.
(4)Martha G.
Love it, love it. Indus has wonderful Sheik-kebaps. Think they may be the best of the bay. All of the food here is very good. There is only one dish which is too spicy, but all others I would order again. Indus Village also owns and operates the grocery store and butchery next door. They get their food from there. The selection is very nice. My sister and her husband live in Berkeley. Sometimes they get take-out and come over to SF with Indus. What a treat!?! The place could use some new paint and some cleaning (restrooms). It is a family run business.
(4)Chris J.
Call it 2.5. Don't really know enough about Indian or Pakistani cuisine to judge, but I've had their lunch specials and they are acceptable. Nothing remarkable, but good. Ambience is minimal if eating in. Like I said, neither here nor there.
(2)Lani B.
A favorite shared with my fiance. Our favorite is the chicken tikka masala, and I love, love, love their naan. The price per plate is quite affordable and the service is friendly.
(4)Caz V.
LAMB SHANK! sauce was to die for, tender fall off shank lamby-kins $6.99 best Pakistani food since Lahore! Good music, nice store next door. The thing I like about Pakistani spices is they use more cinnamon than Indian. Mango lassi is not sickeningly sweet like most places. Naan was just ok, samosas delish, my friend got chicken poka, yum.
(4)Trish A.
Stopped here on a whim while hungry and stuck in San Pablo Ave. traffic, and I'm glad I did! Their lunch combos are supreme: rice AND naan, both fresh & delicious, and two curry types at $8. Small portions on the curry though, but it's a nice option if you want to sample multiple kinds, and there's a good variety of choices. Both the chicken tikka masala and palak curry were superb, but SPICY. Hot damn, add on a mango lassi next time, future-self! P.S. Smallish/crowded dining room, but there's an outside patio to the right (towards Wells Fargo) past the small grocery!
(4)Yishian Y.
Before I lived up in the Bay Area, I used to look forward to visits specifically for Indus Village, since there really isn't much in the way of good Pakistani/northern Indian food in Santa Barbara. My go to when I come here with my boyfriend is Goat Karahi, Baingan Bharta (eggplant dish), Aloo Naan (naan bread stuffed with spiced potatoes), and Piyaaz Naan (naan bread stuffed with onions and herbs). The Goat Karahi is tender, spicy, and packed with flavor. The Baingan Bharta is smooth and the subtle sweetness goes really well with the spicy Karahi. The Naans are fluffy on the inside and toasty-crisp on the outside and perfect for dipping in the sauces. The only negative for me is that the service is iffy, sometimes its great, sometimes you really get the feeling they don't want to be there or wish you weren't so they could chat amongst themselves. All in all though, a definite 5 stars from me for awesome food and extremely amazing prices! Definitely go!
(5)Harriet P.
We were regulars for several years. Last few times we went it was clear that ownership or cooks had changed...not the same experience or food quality. Was so disappointed as it was a place we used to go several times a month and it was our go-to Indian takeout spot as well. Hoping they can rekindle some of the old magic--but not holding my breath. After the 4th or 5th disappointing meal, we turned our attention elsewhere.
(2)Sam G.
Ordered carry out around 830pm: Chicken boti was tough and seemed reheated but did have a good flavor, naan/rice was ok, chicken tikka masala was below average for my taste buds, too sweet and not enough heat. If you like bland/mild indian food you might like this place, I don't think I'll be ordering from this place again.
(2)Joey B.
Chicken was bloody and messed up my order the staff are very rude when u tell them they messed up the order they dont want to fix it!!! What kind of restaurant wont fix the order u ordered!! I just got up and said give me my bill and still got charged for what i did not get!!! Never go here!!!!!
(1)carrie v.
I'd give this place 3 stars. The value for food was decent when you consider that a curry rice and naan comes to only about $8. However the 3 star rating is for the cleanliness... There was actually a dirty diaper left under my chair tonight as we were seated, and rice everywhere on the floor, and also service - we were not given silverware or napkins or cups for water. Also did not enjoy watching the kitchen as I ate as they did not look very friendly back there.
(3)Frazana S.
Make it here a couple time a month Mostly for dinner or to-go. Everything is cooked well and the spice level is perfect. Usually order the basic, Chicken Tikka masala and Naan. But the kababs and tandoori items are super yummy. I love their Tandoori Lamb chops, so tender. The restaurant is a bit cozy , but once you get your food you forget about how close your neighbors are.
(4)Lisa M.
I had the paneer tikka masala and chicken korma, and my husband had a lamb curry and channa masala. His food was better than mine, but all of it was really underwhelming. I've never had tikka masala sauce that was so sweet, it tasted a lot like butternut squash soup and had hardly any spice in it. The korma was better but still not spicy. The naan wasn't anything special either, it tasted like the kind you buy frozen at Trader Joe's (although I'll assume and hope they make theirs in-house). The waitresses weren't rude but they weren't friendly either. I don't remember them saying more than three words to us. Best thing was that we didn't waste too much money on the meal, combos are $8.99 We're new to the area so this was our first try at Indian/Pakistani food in East Bay. This place had good reviews so I'm hoping that that isn't indicative of the quality of Indian food you can get around here...
(2)Michael L.
This is one of those hole-in-the-wall hidden gems. Ugly place in a so-so neighborhood but great food at extremely low prices. I had the tandoori chicken and it was excellent.
(4)Charles B.
I think this is one of the best Pakistani restaurants in Berkeley. It is clean, the food is always good, and the Chai is free (as it should be). I would strongly suggest the Kofta Curry, which is amazing. I also really enjoy the Tandori Chicken and Mix Vegi dishes. Other good Indian places in Berkeley include Viks if you are looking for Chaat or Udupi Palace for Dosa's.
(5)Chris O.
Ate here for dinner on a Sunday night. They close at 9:30. We arrived at 8:45. I didn't expect the greatest food being so close to closing.. But when the three of us received our orders two of the plates were cold in the center. Might give it another try sometime earlier in the day.
(2)En K.
Best indian/pakistani food around! The combos are a very good deal! After we found out about this place about a month ago, we've been back at least half a dozen times!
(5)Earl G.
We have been coming here for a few years, and mostly loved it. The best we had found. Then a few months ago we had 3-4 bad experiences with the food. It was so bad. We went again recently hoping they would fix it, and the last two times have been real good. Not sure what happened, but I hope they learned a lesson and keep serving great food.
(4)Sarmad G.
Excellent, authentic Pakistani food! Prices are generally good too. Decor is very simple, but who needs that--you're here for the food. It seems a lot of people go here to pickup orders, but there is plentiful room to sit and eat as well. The Mango Lassi is good here--just right without being too sweet. Street parking isn't too hard to find whenever I have gone. A lot of Pakistani restaurants seem to not have beef dishes, big props to Indus Village for having a good variety!
(5)Hugh L.
there was no option for a negative star or else i would use that one. i only ate over here once cuz i accidentally went to their kitchen since its connected to the hallway towards the restroom. i saw the chicken they were using for their dishes they smelled awful. i could smell it from a distance and they were still cooking it without a care... i think that pretty much sums it up. if they dnt care about their customers we shouldn't really give a damn abt them. by the way the people working over there aren't friendly at all. The manager is hella cheap and arrogant too i have had several conversations with him. when i gave a 10 dollar tip to the customer and he put it in a jar on the counter. i asked him why and he said the boss told us to put all the tips in the jar. he said they dont even get tips. Now that is messed up they should at least care about their employees.
(1)Sid M.
As one of my favorite Indian/Pakastani restaurants in the Bay Area. I was sorely disappointed by the food my last two visits. The portions are shrinking; the chicken and the lamb both dry; the rice has been clumpy and cold both times and the Naan hasn't been fresh. I want to keep loving this place. I hope this isn't a trend.
(3)Pooja S.
In all fairness, the two star rating is primarily because of the service. We started our meal at 6:45 and didn't leave until 9:30. It was just really, really slow. We had ordered our dishes to eat and a few dishes to go for people back at home. We literally had to ask for our to go order 5 times. The wait was almost an hour for just those dishes. The chicken tikka masala was good, not too heavy good seasoning but not the best I've had. The garlic naan was delicious. I was looking for some appetizer options, but they only had one house special option that wasn't interesting. Dessert was similar as well. The good - parking was easy, didn't feel like I overate. The bad - service, a dog walked in and sat underneath my table, and we waited an obscene amount of time for our to go order While I am always looking for really good indian food, this is a place I won't return primarily due to the service.
(2)Andrew G.
Very affordable neighborhood Indian restaurant. Family atmosphere, and the usual offering of Indian cuisine. We had the chicken tikka, tikka masala, and okra with tomatos, served with rice and naan. Everything was tastey and servings were generous. Definitely would come back!
(4)Chat H.
Near the Indian epicenter of San Pablo and University lies Indus Village Restaurant (IVR), a clean, North Indian/Pakistani establishment abutting a Pakistani grocery store one door over. The market appeared to be the main source of the restaurant's patrons, who comprised a good number of ethnicities, which we hoped signified high food quality (although, we have been known to assume that food quality correlates positively with the presence of an Indian majority, so this new type of racial profiling may be inconsistent with our past reviews). While the restaurant did indeed appear to be antiseptic, its interior's infinite marble and tile catalyzed cacophony, which was only worsened by the presence of several families with poorly behaved children. In addition, the small alcove where we were seated was effectively a standing-wave chamber, which amplified discrete frequencies of our mellifluous conversation, making for quite the raucous eating experience. Nevertheless, we managed to transmit a signal above the noise to our snarky waitress, who traipsed back to the kitchen across the uneven flooring, which we presumed allowed the winter muck to be swept out the door, assisted by gravity. The food, all of which we ordered "extra spicy" (as usual), was not (as usual). It was largely acceptable, however, and was impressively cheap: goat for only $8! Unheard of. We began with the veggie pakora ($4), which was firm and crunchy. The aloo naan ($3), while plasmotically hot, was quite oily; the regular naan ($2) was doughy. The mango lassi ($2) was acceptable, but not quite tangy enough. Our mains were reasonable, though the "Mix Vegi" combo ($5.5), which we correctly assumed would contain vegetables, was overcooked, and the "Beef Jalferezi" ($7), while nicely flavored, was little better than tri-tip and had veggies cooked so thoroughly that they might be mistaken for baby food. At the bottom of IVR's menu are the words, "We set the Standard, and Exceeds [sic] it." That's about as comforting as a self-regulating hydrofracking industry. Nevertheless, the food was edible and the service was quick, resulting in a reasonable rating of three samosas, which, when combined with their one-rupee prices, should set IVR in the sights of West-Berkeley bargain hunters. Just make sure that when you enter, you adopt the standard that they have set for themselves, however low it may be.
(3)Sarmad N.
The best chicken thika masala in the bay area. They have authentic Pakistani food with a diverse menu. I have tired almost everything they have and generally liked every dish. The naan is very well made. fluffy and never burned or blacked like other Pakistani or Indian restaurants. Also unlike most Indian resultants they have a huge selection of meat on the menu. Beef, Lamb, Chicken but no Pork. Street parking is easy to get and its very inexpensive. My only knock is that there is just not enough seating. I can usually get a table pretty quick with less than four but it would be hard to bring a big party there. Still the best Pakistani restaurant i have ever been to outside of Pakistan.
(5)Krista H.
The food is affordable, and tasty. With good size portions. We got the Paneer Tikka Masala and Baingan Bharta and garlic naan with Chai. No refills for the tea were offered but under $20 was a great deal! We'll come back.
(3)Matty K.
Mmm, I wanted Indian and Bf caved. We stopped here for an early dinner on way back home from SF and decided to give it a shot. Atmosphere: None, a fairly dingy restaurant with a foul smelling back hallway to get to the bathroom. It is so dirty in this restaurant I had to keep reminding myself I've been to dirtier restaurants in China. Service: Fairly non-existant to start off with. Our table was half-wiped with a filthy looking rag, leaving it wet and greasy. Jugs of water leftover from the previous table were still here. Crumbs and greasy fingerprints were on my chair. Menus were never brought, we got up and got our own. Food: Pretty much makes up for everything. Baignan Bartha: A creamy, spicy eggplant dish that was so rich I almost had to force myself to take another bite. But it was so good I finished off the plate. Palak Paneer: Not very flavorful, but still good, with a nice fresh spinach flavor and large chewy chunks of soft paneer. Garlic Naan: Mmmm...I've never had naan this good! Soft, chewy, garlicky, oily, with just a hint of crispiness. We ordered a second one. Rice: It was okay. Goat: Bf thought the goat was great. Overall: I'm an adventurous eater, and I usually try to overlook certain things such as non-existant service and a dirty restaurant to get good food. This is one of those places I will probably come back to just because the food is great!
(4)Andrea P.
CHEAP and tasty. Not the most phenomenal Pakistani meal I've had in my lifetime, but most definitely one of the better ones! Most dishes are around $7. I had the chicken tikka masala and the palak paneer on my last visit. Both were flavourful, the chicken was tender, but i felt a bit skimped on the cheese. Unfortunately it loses points for ambiance, as it is like sitting in a cafeteria (albeit a clean one!). Not the kind of place you'd take to impress a date, but a great spot for take out!
(3)Sahiwal S.
I would say this is the best Pakistani restaurant in Bay area after the Curry Corner in Santa Clara. Food is always fresh and delicious and I love their Rus Malai and portion size is pretty good. Last weekend we specially drove out here from Sacramento to eat at this place. Their samosa was very big in size and good in taste. They're authentic halal place. Last but not least their customer service is very nice.
(5)Andrew P.
FanTAStic food. The tandoori chicken is amazing and the naan is just as fluffy as it should be. Can get snug, but if you don't mind being in a corner up against a wall, it's great.
(4)Jacob v.
Come here all the time. Prices are very affordable, service is decent, and food is great! Prepare to get cozy because it's small in there. Favorite things to order: Village Special Garlic Naan Mixed Vegi Mango Lassi Samosas Cucumber and onion plaet (Only $1) Chai Tea (Free) When i'm craving some indian food, i come here!
(4)Matt G.
Don't let this restaurant's unassuming appearance fool you: this place has delicious food. The kids loved the nan, the Goat Karahi was excellent, and the Chicken Tikka was amazing -- moist and flavorful. Not everything was as good (we found the Chicken Tikka Masala a little dry and bland) but stick with the Tikka and you won't be disappointed.
(4)Gene W.
HOW I MISS THIS PLACE!!! And it's only been 3 months since I've moved... But yes, this was THE place for us when we wanted comfort food and were starving after a long grueling work day. Seriously, I think about the Kofta Curry and Lamb Chops every other week. I am on a MISSION to find a suitable replacement in NYC, but so far, everything has fallen below par. Indus Village can almost be called a hole in the wall - I have never had to wait during dinner and am always seated promptly. We almost always get the kofta and the lamb, then once in a while, we pig out by getting a third dish (yeah, I know...). It's usually one of the Saag dishes, or the daal, or the chicken tikka masala. Note: their chicken tikka masala is delicious, but, don't expect the buttery, more westernized version your taste buds may be expecting. It's saucy, but more of a tomato base. Major plus: FREE chai. Ohhhhhh yess! :D Really, guys, this place can't be beat. Hands down our favorite Indian/Pakistani place in the entire bay area - no joke. Man, maybe we should move back... :P
(5)Brian W.
Definitely the best for the money, probably the best overall! About $20 gets three vegetarian entrees, a plate of rice (they say it's for one, but it's enough for two for sure) and garlic naan. Everything is bright, colorful, fragrant, and delicious!!! The saag paneer is creamy and rich. The mix vegi is much more of a treat than it sounds. The chana masala is a delight. Two of us went in, stuffed up, and walked home with leftovers because the helpings were so generous. The staff was pleasant and attentive. And they have a parking lot, which is a rarity for bay area establishments! I've lived here for a year, tried many indian restaurants, and all pale in comparison. Come try Indus Village. You really will not be disappointed.
(5)Calbear A.
Some of the best indian food in Berkeley area! Little far away from campus, but definitely worth the bus ride/drive. They had very good prices and really good food and service. They are even a Michelin Guide recommended restaurant. A definite should try!
(5)Tito Y.
What a treat to come to Indus Village... nothing compares to it as its truly the spicy kingdom of San Pablo Avenue. First of all.. look at the servers and hostesses eyes... also ...look back into the kitchen where all the cooks are.. I can just tell..these people simply need some more credit for what they are doing. All the prep to create you a wonderful $8 - $12.00 dish... hmm...doing the math its practically cheaper to eat here than at home. Any hows..you can't be sure where they are sourcing ingredients, but hey.. maybe there are some great bartering going on. The Chicken Tikka Masala and the Lamb are the two main dishes I would bother with... I do see a curios fish dish...but I get a bit skeptical because one needs to be super careful with fish... The naan is superbly made as with the gooshy green spinach stuff. yummy...order the mango lassy and go ahead and order a second on. Avoid laying down to fall asleep because if that stuff comes back to haunt you, you are going to wish you were dead.
(4)Kathleen W.
Our souls be damned, we celebrated Rapture here before we learned of the error in calculations (there's hope for us yet!) We ordered a variety of dishes - chicken tikka masala, chicken korma, paalak paneer and Indus Nihaari. We also ordered chai 3x and it was finally brought to us 4 minutes before the bill was delivered. The flavors were memorable - and we enjoyed the 2 chicken dishes. The Indus Nihaari had stewed beef which was very tender and flavorful - but wasn't a good combo with the chicken. Food wise, I wouldn't mind visiting again .. Service wise, I don't think they are really interested in my business.
(3)Dale E.
I had some chicken curry that they made spicy for me, along with basmati rice and naan and channa masala. It was inexpensive and very tasty. I will certainly return. The place seemed quite busy-----take out and a steady stream of customers. They must be doing something right.
(5)Meg L.
Went here for dinner with my friend, had the Chicken Tikka Masala, it came out way too fast to be fresh (almost instantly) and was mostly sauce with a few pieces of tough chicken. The flavor was a little too smoky for my taste and rice and naan were extra and the meal really would have been uneatable without them. The decor was nice and the service was okay but to be honest there are better choices.
(2)Amadeo B.
Came here after a terrible experience and walking out of Kabana down the street. Really delicious food and amazing prices ($40 for table of four including all the typical extras you might order like Naan, Pakoras, Raita, Rices, etc.) Flavor wise this was some of the best we've had in the area. Paneer Tikka Masala was excellent. Small and divey but not in an off-putting way. Only negative was having to reject a filthy water glass.
(4)Abu Mus'ab A.
I visited Cal for a day and friends recommended that we go here for lunch/dinner. I had Nahharri and it has to be one of the best I've had. The meat they use is fresh (meat market next door and same owner). Also it is halal
(5)L L.
definitely deserves four stars. every bite was a wonderful flavor...and then layers of other flavors...a very unexpected experience in an unassuming place. my seat was a little cramped but I'm a large person but cant complain... the curry lamb was a little chewy but the food was so wonderful...the chicken kebab came with a sauce I will never forget...verdict is: yummykins.
(4)Allen Y.
I come here way to often because the food is really tasty and filling. The combos are a great deal and all too good. My buddy usually gets an extra Naan, which is great if you have a really massive appetite. I will never get the Mango shake again, wasn't good, but all the food I have gotten here the many times I have been has always been delicious.
(4)Bobby N.
I can't believe it's so damn cheap!! I had lunch here w/ my best friend and we were both surprised that our bill came out to $17. We both ordered the lunch combo with Curry. The taste was above par. I wouldn't say it was the best Indian food I had but for the price, you won't get better elsewhere. Moreover, you get free naan. Though I wish it was garlic naan, but free naan is free naan. We even got free chai tea. oijewafljsfyay!!!! We ended up staying for a while and we had no problems. Indus Village is nicely decorated w/ large, comfortable black chairs. There are personally done paintings on both opposing walls which adds an element of authenticity. There is plenty of room and the service was quick. If only the staff were more professional, they could make Indus Village fine restaurant. Broke? No problem, make your way here.
(5)Christian C.
this is my go to indian/pakistani restaurant. Everything here is delicious and cheap. You cant find a better value in the east bay. tikka masala: some of the best i have ever had. not to creamy (i hate that) and it has an underlying smokiness to it that i love and cant seem to find anywhere else. aloo saag: perfect. full of flavor and the potatoes and nice and buttery garlic naan: perfect. beef jafrezzi: good but not my favorite chicken korma: delicious and tender. what i really like about this place is the overall consistency in the way the proteins are prepared and the average spice level of everything. everything here has a little heat to it, but it doesnt obscure the flavor of any of the dishes. love it!
(5)Dj L.
First time having Indian food and it was AMAZING. Everything had lots of flavor!
(5)David O.
Solid Pakistani and Indian food. It didn't strike me as the kind of place one would benefit from being adventurous, so we stuck with the staples. Before I get to the food, I'd like to note they got rid of the crazy ass, St. Basil chairs that really MADE this place. What the hell? The new ones are completely banal: black faux-leather of a form only seen in the last episodes of the TV sitcom Roseanne's dining room, after they won the lottery. Which is when the show went to shit, by the way. The food is solid, considering the price. If you're intent on above-par Indian food and more prodigal with your money, you can and should find tastier places.
(3)Daniel C.
I have to say that the food here was quite good. Ate here with a group and tried about everything on the menu. Place is very simple but food is good and cheap. It's a must try if you're craving Pakistani/Indian food.
(4)Eric J.
Best Chana Masala I've ever had. Also the cheapest place I've found in a while for Pakastani food.
(5)Justin N.
I had some serious drinking to do up the block at Albatross but found myself a tad early. I spotted Indus and moved to the menu for a quick glance. A curry special including naan for $7.95, hot damn! But how long would it take to whip this up? "15 minutes" says the lovely lady at the counter, lucky for me it turned out to be only 10. Best Indian/Pakistani curry I've ever had. Perfect level of spiciness and a huge portion for such a fair price. The bomb. The space is small but it doesn't feel it. Someone with a steady hand painted some pretty slick murals on both side walls, so at a glance the room seems larger than it is. Surely if you stare at it you know it's a wall, but walking in through the front door just off to the left and right in the peripheral it looks like a village with children and goats wandering around. Pretty well done too, even though you know it's a painting it still gives the illusion of a larger space. Much better than blank walls, and give me enough drinks I may just try and pet the goats. If you like the food enough to inspire some home cooking, they have a grocery store attached which was very well stocked. In my opinion with food that good for so cheap though, I'd probably just come back here versus screwing it up at home. Mmmmmmm super cheap amazing curry.... Great, now I'm hungry again.
(5)Yama S.
Came here and hand the tandoori leg and breast though it was way to my mild for my taste buds it was still really good fast service.
(5)Flix N.
still hate berkeley, still love the lamb chops.
(4)Kripa D.
This place is quite good and is a great value. They are focused on food and not service oriented, even so the service isn't terrible. If you expect cafeteria style dinning (order and pay at the counter) than you won't be disappointed. They might even exceed your expectations. They lose the star for making me ask to bring out the chai and because they are inconsistent with the veggies. I think they use frozen when they run out of fresh. Meal comes with chai, but if you don't ask for it they won't bring it out. Definitely good value, if you know how to order. Try ordering from the special board. specials come with nan or rice.
(4)Eat W.
I've been to most of the Indian restaurants in Berkeley/Albany. We used to go to this place a lot back when they had the stiff wooden high back chairs with the elaborate woodwork. But then, Mt Everest opened on Telegraph and we liked it so we haven't gone back to Indus Village. A couple of days ago, we drove by and decided to stop by for a bite. BEST food decision in a while! First of all, the prices at Indus Village are much lower than many other Indian restaurant prices, especially considering the quality and quantity of the food. We ordered the goat dish and the chicken biryani and both were delicious, but especially the goat dish. The goat was extremely tender and the sauce was divine, perfect for naan dunking. Folks at the table adjacent to ours were also raving about their food...seemed like they got a number of vegetarian dishes. [the waiter said his two favorites were the lamb biryani and the goat dish] I will definitely be going back here for some high quality inexpensive Indian food. It was even Michelin Recommended back in 2010.
(5)Lindsey J.
Oh Indus, I live on the same block as you and your combo deals cannot be beat. I loved you for years and you were my go to when I didn't feel like cooking. You were the rare proof that fast, cheap, and delicious were not an impossible combination to find; you were my unicorn. But no more. A year ago you changed your euphorically delicious chicken tikka recipe so that it was so bland and sweet it tasted like what Chef Boyardee would come up with if he wanted to start selling in Pakistan. When I asked why you changed the recipe you said because people started complaining it was too spicy. Funny how this new complaint was coming in as the neighborhood was gentrifying (sigh). But like an old flame I just couldn't quit because you were still cheap and easy, I'd still come by in moments of desperation after months away. Maybe you'd changed back to the way you used to be? Oh, but no. And the last straw was a week ago when you served what appeared to be watery frozen vegetables. So bad, so tasteless, so depressing. Why is your restaurant still packed? I don't get it. But I will not be swayed again. It's over over now, Indus. This time I really mean it. You broke my heart. I don't believe in unicorns anymore.
(2)Lorissa W.
The first thing I noticed here was the excellent customer service. The guy behind the counter was patient, polite, and humble. We ordered the Seekh kabob chicken (minced chicken marinated in fresh herbs and spices in cooked on a skewer) for 3.99. You get two long rolls of minced meat and two kinds of sauces. One is like a yogurt sauce and the other a spicy green sauce. I rolled the meat in both sauces and it was very tasty. We also ordered their house special, Kuna Matka Gosht, which is a whole lamb shank cooked in a clay pot and simmered at low heat with spices and herbs. It was the most tender piece of meat I have ever had and it was favorable and tasted like fresh lamb should. For 6.99, it was a real steal. It came with a good amount of sauce that went really well with rice. Also, they packaged everything very professionally. No spills. This was my first time experiencing Indus Village and I am already in love with it. I'm looking forward to a long relationship with Indus Village and I recommend that you give them a chance if you haven't already.
(5)Chris N.
After seeing all the great reviews I decided to give this place a try, however I was very disappointed. :( To me the food lacked flavor and was very greasy.
(2)Christian S.
Love Indus! They price a great value which consists of quality, portion, and service. They are have a great variety selection. The Nan is delicious and the chicken tikka masala is to die for. Everything on the menu is great. If you have not tried Indus, I heavily suggest you should.
(5)Jason A.
Excellent, tasty food. Attentive and pleasant service. Floors could be kept cleaner. Will definitely return.
(4)Minnie C.
Fluffiest naan ever! Very, very good deals - especially Indus Combo - best indian food combo I've seen in Berkeley! But customer service could be a little more attentive.
(4)Miguel V.
I really liked this place. I am far from an authority on Pakistani or Indian food, but I know what tastes good to me. I came here with the fam over the holidays and was pleasantly surprised at the price, quality, and flavor of the food. There were quite a few of us and I do not remember what everyone ordered. I know that I tried the Beef Jalferezi, baby bro got the Lamb Karahi, and my uncle got the Kofta Curry. All of these dishes were about $8-10 and the naan and rice were separate. We had the Piyaaz, garlic, and Kema naans. The Beef Jalferezi was really good. It was very flavorful, not overly rich, and actually had some spiciness to it, which was perfect for me. It probably would have been my favorite if I hadn't tried the Lamb Karahi. So much flavor! This was a perfect dish, in my opinion. The portion was pretty good too and it was not too boney. The Kofta Curry was pretty good also. Not my favorite dish, and probably not what I would order if I went back, but it was definitely tasty. The naan was really good, although I probably would not order the Kema naan again as I did not see it as much of an improvement over the other types. Really nice little relaxed environment with a small grocery attached to it. I would giver them another shot.
(4)Rob L.
Indian nor Pakistani food isn't my first choice when it comes to a meal. My friend wanted to eat at this place one night, so I reluctantly took a trip here to see what the fuss was about. Sure enough, this place comes as a very pleasant surprise. The masala themed dishes were affordable & very tasty. It has the right amount of curry, spice, and taste with the meat and rice as compliments of the entire meal. The Tandoori chicken was decent as well. We also got 2 large pieces of naan bread to go along with the meals, which made us very full. Overall, the experience was great as we didn't spend much money yet got full of tasty Indian/Pakistani food. We're definitely coming back next time!
(4)Barikzai Z.
Came here for dinner. Must try lamb chops! Not a big fan of their chicken tikka masala, but overall good food with great service. Naan and chai is my favorite also. Recommend trying this place out. They also have a market next door which sells really good turkey (halal for those who are only halal eaters). Almost half the price at other markets and they slice it up and make it the way you want. Came here again for the second time and I am sorry but I need to take back my stars. Everything was soo spicy even after telling them to wash our chicken (since its already been marinated). Chai was nasty and cold. We ordered the Mixed Grill and it was okay. Absolutely not what we expected from last visit. Sorry guys.
(2)M S.
I loved the food here, but recently found out that there are doubts about it's Halalness. Does anyone know if they are Zabihah Halal? It would be great if somebody could confirm that. I miss the Nihari :'(
(4)Roger B.
Excellent. This was my first time here and I ordered the Indus Combo, which is Chicken curry, spinach with potatoes, rice, and naan bread. It tasted excellent ! I will definitely be coming back here when I am in the area. If you order what I ordered, the food is great! It was fresh, home-made, high quality, and excellent. This is real Pakistani cuisine, and I'm not Pakistani, and I loved it. 5/5 stars.
(5)Jose C.
Great little spot right on San Pablo. Pretty good Pakistani food. My coworkers and I often go for lunch. Their specials are great, huge portions, and very reasonably priced. The chicken tikka masala is awesome. I also like their beef and lamb. We really love their fresh naan. The mango lassi is delicious and refreshing. The lunch specials are well put together with basmati rice and naan. You will definitely get more than you expect with your meal. The service is quick, friendly, and not intrusive. They can accommodate groups, but up to maybe 6 or 8 people max due to the size of the restaurant and general comfort. Get there early or make reservations, because it gets crowded!
(4)Aditya K.
** I am a native of India who has eaten at every single Indian restaurant in Berkeley at least 3 times each, read the bottom of the review for my complete ranking list or look in my Yelp Lists ** ** Begin Snobbery ** For higher rated restaurants, my reviews are very thorough with lots of explanation. For inferior Indian offerings such as this place, I don't bother with elaboration. ** End Snobbery ** What are people smoking? This place is disgusting. I didn't know Indian food could actually taste revoltingly stale still this place. -- Entree Taste: 1/5 Literally caught them using frozen, store-bought entrees/vegetables, reheating them. -- Naan: 4/5 -- Price/Value: 4/5 -- Service: 1/5 *CRITICSMS*: Frozen vegetables reheated? WTF. *********** RANKING LIST ****************************** ************** -- I will keep updating this ranking list as I get time -- 1) Flavors of India / Kabab and Karahi (tie) 2) Himalaya 3) Punjabi By Nature 4) Chaat Cafe 5) Priya 6) Viks (yeah, I know I'm going to get a lot of flak for this one, but it's true folks, severely overrated due to bandwagoning) 7) Breads of India (OK, but overpriced) 8) Biryani House 8) Khana Peena (the one on Solano, a little better than the other one) 9) Pasand (OK, but severely overpriced) 10) House of Curries (College) 11) Kabana (Great food loses massive points for racially based treatment of customers) 12) Tandoor Kitchen 13) Khana Peena (the one on Shattuck, absolute trash, avoid) 14) Indus Valley Restaurant (literally serves frozen vegetable curries) **Now if I called Khana Peena Shattuck trash, then you can imagine how the following are...yeah...these don't deserve to even be ranked** House of Curries (Durant) Naan N Curry
(1)Sydney L.
YUM!!!! A bit of a dive, and very small, but food is AWESOME....just the right amount of spices, bit of heat and CHEAP!!! Combo plates (look on the back of the menu) are around $7.00 and include rice and naan, and will fill you up. Again, really NO atmosphere and booths with plastic seats, but come for the food, you won't be sorry...
(4)Paul M.
As someone who eats Indian food on a constant basis, my standards are pretty high. Prior to going to Indus, I hadn't been "wowed" by an Indian restaurant in a while...When I stepped in, I just knew it was going to be amazing. Almost all of the people eating there were Indian. It smelled wonderful inside. The prices are cheap, very cheap, about as cheap as biryani house (which is also amazing, btw). The flavors are perfect, the consistency is right, smoky as hell. Delicious. Definitely one of the best I've ever been to. I give Indus the highest recommendation! Oh, and I saw a thing on the wall noting that they are Michelin recommended..
(5)Toni M.
That's 3.49. Good, but not good enough to carry it up to 4. Indian food just doesn't travel that well, particularly when going from San Pablo Avenue near University back to our house in El Cerrito. In today's hot weather we decided rather than turning on the oven to try takeout to eat on the deck, along w/ homemade strawberry margaritas. We considered a couple of options and I remembered Heather's review of Indus Village Restaurant from last week. We decided to try it. We went through her review and a few others and made a list of dishes that interested us. Unfortunately the lamb curry wasn't available so we ended up w/ the chicken boti, chicken tika masala, mixed vegetables, rice, raita and garlic naan. The naan was terrific at the beginning, but lost allure as it cooled. The food was good, it was just not as good as it would have been served in-house or if it had been varied w/ the lamb. The rice was tasty, the raita was excellent and the chicken was perfectly seasoned. Because the chairs looked to Alan as uncomfortable as others describe in their reviews, we're unlikely to eat here. It's a good place but not a fit for us and won't displace Ajanta as our favorite Indian restaurant.
(3)Abu Ayah A.
When i get hungry at night i always got to this place. Its my favorite Indian Resturant in the east bay!!!!!
(5)Roy G.
Indus Village offers a good selection of Pakistani foods. They are almost always overwhelmed and rushed to the point where customer attention is mediocre, even poor at times. They used to serve free tea with some menu entrees, but took that off the menu. I've also noticed the portions are now smaller. I would give the food 3/5.
(3)Ana M.
Indus, we miss you! This was our weekly place to visit for delicious food! Since leaving the Bay Area, nothing matches Indus! ...and we've been looking. Paalak Paneer, Vegetable Korma, Okra Masala and pretty much any lamb dish are our favorites! We talk about making a special "food" trip to the Bay Area, so we can see you again!
(5)milo a.
Hey they changed the chairs. Not as pretty as the ones replaced but you can sit comfortably now. I have no excuses not to go there, so I have. Been twice in the past month. Indus still has a great touch on food that is easy to mess up, over-cook and/or make heavy.
(5)Omar K.
The Kuna Matka Gosht is the only reason I ever come to this restaurant, but it's so inconsistent. Most of the time I order it, it doesn't taste fresh (not a popular dish I guess). When it does though, oh dear. That rich and tender lamb shank easily makes my top 5 all-time favorite foods list. ...If only :( Oh, and if you're dining in, order and split some Lamb Chops. No exceptions.
(3)Allucaneat G.
Only started tolerating Indian food in the past few years. The smell of it used to give me dry heaves. True story. yes, I know this is Pakistani food, but to my palate it's much the same as Indian food. My friend loves Indian and Pakistani food and eats it all the time. Anyway, one of the few dishes I've tried and like is lamb vindaloo. I've had it a few time from a few places. We went to Indus Village tonight where lamb vindaloo was a special. Apparently it's not normally on the menu, which we both found surprising. We got the vindaloo, sag paneer, lentils (don't know what those are called), garlic naan and basmati rice. i asked for the vindaloo not too spicy, which they did. It was tasty but SO greasy. The sauce was essentially red oil. The serving was not very generous and the potatoes were undercooked. As in crunchy. The largest chunk of potato was so undercooked we could not cut it and did not eat it (potatoes are not good raw). The lamb, of which there was not much, had several sharp bones (truly shards that, had I not seen them first, could have caused serious damage) and lots of stringy fat. Half the lamb I had was bone or fat. Not great. The lentils and rice I didn't eat, as I can't stand cumin seeds. The sag paneer was good. Very heavy, lots of cream. The one garlic naan we received was okay. VERY garlicky. I ate it despite my wheat problem. But I am still tasting that garlic. It was essentially raw garlic on top. I give 3 stars - 2 for the food and 1 for the service, which unlike many reviewers, I found very pleasant. My friend the Indian food enthusiast gave it a 5/10 and said he'd not return.
(3)Deborah Jo D.
Shockingly good takeout for reasonable prices in a casual environment
(5)Shala S.
This use to be my husband and I favorite place to eat. Recently we went to Singapore,Malaysia and Thailand of course the food were much better. But over the past 3 years before we traveled we loved Indus Village. Recently we were their and the quality of food has changed. The okra was over cooked, the naan bread was lousy chicken curry was watered down and the lamb bryani rice was alright We feel bad because we are having family come from Asia and we have raved about this place. Also a n hour after we ate, we felt the symptoms of eating MSG. We discussed it and we will not return to this place, due to the quality has gone down:( I really feel bad because we've tried other places and they couldn't add up to Indus. I hope they take in consideration what people are saying and try to correct the issues.
(2)E.J. H.
I went here late last night for dinner with a friend. We both ordered the chicken tikka dinner platter. It came with another side of a beef dish (I forget the name) but it had an onion and tomato base. It was uber spicy too! Overall the food was delicious. The aloo naan was so tasty and the the tikki sauce was the perfect compliment when added. Great hole-in-the wall restaurant. Cheap prices, mural decor was creative, very warm. I will definitely be back.
(4)Tak N.
TL;DR: veg fare = insipid, bland, tiny portions. Inconsistent food--great one day, meh another; quality deteriorates when busy. CTM, tasted like Campbells tomato soup. STICK to non-veg specials! Service? For some reason, a problem with many Bay Area North Indian/Pakistani places is inconsistency. One week you go and the food is spot on perfect, the next week it tastes as if the kitchen was commandeered by the chef's lazy, indifferent, taste-challenged evil twin. Generally, when it comes to Mughlai/Punjabi fare, I recommend that people order the non-veg specialty dishes; especially those that require long stewing/dum times. The reason being, that probably, whoever manages the kitchen will take the time to make these dishes right earlier in the day. (I've yet to find an Indo/Pak place with Mexican kitchen staff that can turn out superlative food, good maybe, but not great. Maybe I'm biased, but if you haven't grown up or lived with something, chances are you miss the finer nuances.) Unfortunately, IVR seems to follow this multiple personality/ inconsistency/ random chaotic pattern model of food quality. Last night was my second time. On my first visit we ordered khuna matka gosht and bhaigan bhartha. Both dishes were decent. Good portion sizes, and the gosht was tender and cooked very well. The flavors were adequate, the naan was good, perhaps a hair better than the bread at Kabana. The second time, with some dietary challenged friends, (no red meat) we ordered the achari murgh, mix-veg and dal makhani. And oh yes... also on their insistence, *GASP* the most unholy of unholies, the damn CTM. VERDICT: vegetarians... if it wasn't for the fact that you don't know wtf the food is supposed to taste like, you'd probably be rioting in the streets around University and San Pablo. Outside of a gurdwara langar or private home, I've yet to come across any decent veg Punjabi fare in the Bay Area. Sad. The dal makhani... had no makhan. It was insipid, flavorless. I've had better from a $1.99 "tasty bite" pack. A little advice: if you can't improve on a tasty-bite, either leave it off your menu, or take the time to do it right. The mix veg dish was, as I expected it to be, a disappointment. The vegetables (carrots, peas, cauliflower, corn, green beans) were chopped up into little cubes the width of a pinky. The dish was similarly bland and tasted, suspiciously, like pre-cut frozen vegetables--basically, hospital food. Now the CTM: *facepalm* WTF are you guys thinking? Is this the nadir of the cuisine of the sub-continent? We all thought that the dish tasted like Campbell's tomato soup with no complex spicing. The only decent dish last night was the achari murgh, but even there I felt that portion sizes overall were small in relation to comparable places. Choosing between Kabana and Indus Village, I'll probably stick with the former for its portions and better service. Because of the inconsistent and disappointing food I won't be back here.
(2)Maggie L.
Amazing. Soooo much better than Chaat cafe a few blocks away ! I've always been committed to Chaat cafe but last time I went the flavors were different and not in a good way. I got two curry combo with chicken tikka masala and palak chicken. The chicken is delicious white meat and flavors are PERFECT. Love. My new favorite Indian food in Berkeley for sure.
(5)C T.
So, yesterday, Oct 29, 2013 my wife (She's from Karachi, Pakistan) and I were in Berkley (CA) looking for an outfit for her tv appearance in Santa Barbara. She was hungry and she said she wanted to try Indus. She placed a phone order and the girl said about 15 minutes. So I'm inside waiting for the total and I'm talking to the 2 girls behind the counter, they seemed nice enough (and pretty cute too). Im sitting waiting for my order and this guy comes in and sits in the back corner. Waitress gives him water and a menu. The guy looks at the menu, gives the girl his order. The Order is put in. A few minutes later the owner comes in and goes directly to the back of the restaurant kitchen. A few minutes later she comes out with her lunch started to go to the corner booth, and shes sees the guy sitting in her spot. A few minutes later where the guy was sitting and the girl comes back and asks him to move to another seat. He goes to his new table then to use the WR. while he's gone the owner of the place comes right out and sits in the same corner the guy was in and started eating her lunch. I was totally flabbergasted!! So I said to the girl you actually moved the customer so the owner could sit there? Yes was the answer. I couldnt believe it!! The owner heard me and didnt even say a word. That's terrible!! By this time my wifes food was ready and I walked to the car told my wife what happened she couldnt believe it either. So at that moment we both said no matter if the food is good or not we are not going there again. So my wife is starting to eat on the way home. This restaurant is supposed to be well known for the hot, fluffy and crispy naans. The ones I received were more rubbery than any thing. The food was'nt all that great either. The cook wasnt wearing a hat nor was the other guy in the kichen. The cook was also chewing pon, with his mouth open so everyone could see, while cooking.......SO GROSS! The only thing I would recommend would be to NOT to go there! Yet, everyone has their own experiences.
(1)Heather W.
For some reason, we only recently revisited Indus Village -- and again were extremely impressed by the flavors in each dish. We ordered chicken tikka masala goat Kolkari (or something like that), and again the saag paneer. All were uniquely spiced and delicious, so much so that I was wiping the remnants out of the containers later that evening with the crust of naan left over. Seriously, the flavors pop in your mouth. Another visit, two weeks later, we ordered a lamb curry and again the chicken tikka masala... amazing flavors and hugely enjoyable. The only suggestion I'd make to them is to give a little bit more of the protein in each dish... at $7.99 per dish, there's not a lot of meat to divvy up, though a lot of sauce (which in and of itself are miraculous melanges of spices and flavors). Definitely worth the buck for the bang... highly, highly recommended.
(4)Marco A.
Ordered chicken tikka to go...on the drive home the smell of the garlic naan was something amazing! The tikka sauce is unique--way beyond what I've had elsewhere. Their lamb chops are also excellent--the best I've had in a restaurant. Can't say enough good things about these folks. Bonus: I've been buying my chicken and lamb from the halal butcher (Indus Market) next door for many years--the quality is the best I've found in the Bay.
(5)J.A. K.
Not only have we had better, we had better food HERE, a couple of years ago. At that time Indus had a gutsy, aggressive spicing that we loved. We didn't love the occasional oversalting, though, nor the sometimes bony meat dishes. So we went around Alameda Cty trying other Indian/Pakistani/Afghani places. Realizing we hadn't been back in a long time, we came for lunch. When the food arrived we wondered if they had changed hands, it all looked so different. New serving dishes, better quality ingredients. The meat wasn't overcooked! This was so promising....until we realized that along with the improvements, had come a dumbing-down of the spiciness and robust flavors we loved. Now it's generic, mild-enough-for-middle-America curries - tasty, but not what we are looking for. The price point is dirt-cheap and the portions are reasonably generous. So Indus is still popular with a lot of people. But for us....we'll look elsewhere. Indus is okay, but a little too bland for us now.
(2)Noelle B.
Yum, yum and yum. I love this restaurant! I could eat here several times a week. Never had a bad meal here, and the prices are soooo reasonable. I always get different things, but try the specials, especially the aloo gobi (cauliflower if I didn't spell that correctly). Also delicious: Lamb chops Curry fish Curry vegetables Chicken Tikka, Korma Eggplant (real name escapes me right now) Naan Everything!
(5)Shafinaaz K.
THIS PLACE IS TOTALLY AWESOME!!! My mom cooks bomb Bengali and Indian food, so getting me to like a place serving similar food is really hard. We got tired of going to House of Curries (even though it's yum!) so my boyfriend yelped indian food one day and we ended up at Indus. It has been a regular place to dine at for us ever since! The Cons: You will feel absolutely unwelcome here. I don't know what their server's problem is (they literally have one) but she does not seem to like us.... or anyone... EVER. She makes a veryyy sad face and acts like her life could not get worse/ we are taking up her time. Don't know why.... guess I never will. My boyfriend works at a restaurant too so we're always very understanding, cordial and tip well so I have no clue why such bad behavior. The Pros: The food is AMAZING! I wanted to try every single thing they had and more. I always get the chicken tikka masala and my boyfriend gets their lamb. I hate lamb but the way they make it here smells and tastes REALLY GOOD!!! The prices are VERY REASONABLE. I think we never paid more than $9 for a dish and servings are so big we can never finish so we always bring it back to take it to work the next day for lunch! Also, this was the first place we had been to where we did not like a certain sauce so they gave us a bunch of free curry sauce to have our naan with(thanks to the great manager, he seems to be the only nice person on board here). GREAT food... mediocre staff.
(5)Jim F.
6.99 to 8.99 combos w rice and naan. The amount of chicken provided in the combo was too little, but everything was good, well prepared and fresh tasting. No complaints, really.
(4)Linda L.
I came here on the tail end of weeks of being sick and congested. What a way to welcome my sense of smell back from the dead! As soon as we walked in the delicious smells got me all hot and bothered. Then my mind switched immediately into strategy mode. I immediately began calculating how many of us there were, how hungry we were and determined the maximum number of dishes we could order. Everything was good, but not amazing. This place is kind of out of my way and I wouldn't make trek just to eat here again. But it was cheap and tasty. Not even in the same league as a Pakwan or Shalimar though.
(3)Jessica h.
Everything is pretty good here including their fresh spinach palak, the mango lassi, the chicken korma....but the real star of this villiage? Sizzling Lamb Chops. $10 for 5 pieces of juiccccy, boldly seasoned, perfectly charred lamb chops on top of some oil slathered onions all on a sizzling iron plate..mmmM! get it gurl!! tip: Their lunch deals are awesome! $8 for your choice of two curries + rice&naan
(5)Linda E.
Not knowing much about Pakistani food, I agreed with my friend that the streetside menu looked compelling. I was not disappointed! I order a lamb & eggplant combination plate that was served with Basmati rice and naan for about $7. It wasn't a huge serving of meat but the entire plate was just perfect for my appetite. We ordered a garlic naan before dinner and it was a bit too crispy for my taste. The soft complimentary naan that comes with the combination plate was more of what I had in mind. We both ordered mango lassis and were craving another the following day. We'll definitely go back!
(5)Ellen O.
Having lived in the area for three years, I have driven past Indus and always wanted to go in for a meal. The opportunity presented itself on Saturday when my son and I were absolutely starving and happened to be on University at San Pablo. I stopped dead in my tracks and realized where we stood. Indus is small and intimate, much like the restaurants I have experienced in South Asia. The kitchen is abroil with activity and people were streaming in and out to pick up their take-out food. Service was quick! My son had the Kana Matka Gosht, which is lamb on the leg. The sauce was very tasty as was the meat. We both enjoyed the rice with saffron. Light and fluffy. Portions were very nice. Chicken Achaar Murgh was delightful. The spices in the sauce were not as hot as the menu indicates. We ordered two large pieces of Naan, one regular and one garlic. Both were excellent. Mmmm Naan. I usually go in thinking "We are going to need lots of Naan... and my focus is on not running out before the sauces. Mango lassi had the perfect tartness and color. Delicious. I can highly recommend this sweetly decorated and very good cafe. Call me: I can always find a reason to go and have fun!!!
(4)Emma M.
Great food, generous portions, & very reasonable prices! I always order the chicken tikka masala with rice and naan bread. The chicken masala is absolutely delicious; I have to say that it's probably the best and most flavorful interpretation of the dish that I've had anywhere (and I'm from Berkeley; I've been to my fair share of Indian and Pakistani restaurants!). The rice and naan are great as well; they go perfectly with the masala & really make the meal complete. Their mango lassi is also one of the best- very delicious and refreshing. The food is so filling on it's own though, that it's usually too much on top of a whole meal, but they're so good that I often can't resist ordering one anyway!
(5)Adrian K.
This review is based on an aggregate of the 25ish times I have have been there. When i moved into this neighborhood I was figured I would be a regular at Albatross, but it turns out that I am more loyal to curry than whiskey-waters and connect four. I am now questioning that last sentence. Ambiance: amazing. orangeish booths! chairs! super bright lighting. and the murals are the wall are astonishing. Places gets slammed some nights too. (even if you are on a raw food diet- you should go just to be seen) Service: "hold these menus and water pitchers while i clean off this table." they usually rock it with one waitress/busser, so it can get a little weird; but everyone is friendly. Awesome exchange: "Do you have any sauce?" Waiter/buser/cook/clerk: "Oh... We HAVE sauce." Food: I have been here enough to establish some go-to dishes. Chicken Tikka Malala, Lamb Curry, Palak Paneer (a spinach and cheese deal), Rice. Then i usually pick a couple random numbers of the menu. Fun: Take all the above dishes and wrap them in a naan. Pakistan-Burrito! Naan Naan Naan. (garlic)
(5)Guinnivere B.
Fresh Fresh Fresh Did I mention FRESH? Really enjoyed lunch here the other day. The place was comfortably busy, the service was good, but the FOOD was REALLY good. The spice was perfect, flavors distinct for every dish. Really good and I'm looking forward to going back. I really was surprised.
(5)Benjina D.
I like this place. It's cheap and tasty. I especially like their lunch specials, which are generous portions of whatever curries you like, plus fresh naan and rice. All for well under $10. I usually get a lunch combo with chicken tikka masala and daal. The flavors are awesome and the food always tastes fresh. Plus, they always have new specials of the day that aren't always on the menu. Mmmmm....yum!
(4)Ryan C.
I think this is one of my more favored Indian places now. The food is not too oily, and everything is quite delicious, and it's inexpensive. They are a little slow with the service and I had a hard time attracting them, which is why I still kind of like the "serve yourself" places like Biryani house, etc.
(4)Jessica X.
100% fan. so yummy. so affordable. Sometimes it gets reallly busy, but somehow it always works out. If I am having a rough day, IVR makes it better. If I'm having a great day, IVR caps it off. I wish there was a way I could go more often without becoming too recognizable. One of the few places that has stayed consistant.
(4)Leigh R.
It was a cold and rainy night, and I'd been craving some chicken tikka masala for a looong time. My boyfriend was in town, so I thought I'd drag him with me to check out Indus. He has no good Indian/Pakistani food where he lives, poor guy. The naan was AMAZING. We couldn't decide between the aloo and the garlic, so we ordered both. They were huge! When they arrived, I thought we'd wind up taking most of it home. Needless to say, we finished them both. We also ordered chicken tikka masala (of course,) and lamb curry. They were both pretty average. There wasn't much meat in either of the dishes, which bothered me. However, we did get quite full mopping up the sauces with the naan! The mango lassi that we ordered was pretty good too. The service was pretty bad. We were the only people in the restaurant, yet it took forever for them to bring us more water and our check. I think I'm still on my quest to find the best Indian/Pakistani food in the Berkeley area.
(3)Selina Z.
Great price, great food. I live in Marin and there aren't many good resturants here. My boyfriend I would drive all the way to berkeley just to have Indus. Their chicken tikka is fantastic. It's smokey and bursting with flavor. And they have the best chicken sagg I have ever had. Every single one of my friend who had Indus with me feel in love with this place. There a beautiful murals on the wall and they just changed their seats to really comfortable seats. But it isn't without it's cons. Their service were not the best but overall they still have great food and cheap price. Which makes it a great place to hang out with friends and family!
(5)Suliman S.
After a long day and driving down from Sacramento, on reading other yelpers reviews we decided to give this place a try. We arrived at 9 and were turned away even though they close at 9:30. There were plenty of other people eating. The man at the counter said they were closing up because they turned the kitchen off. If your going to say open till 9:30, why tell customers off at 9? Just today, my wife was down in Berkeley for work and we decided to give them another try, it was a mistake. She ordered takeout to bring back home and when we opened the containers, there was hardly anything there. Small portion is understatement. We phoned them and Told them about the size of the portions and the girl on the phone didn't even seem to care about a customer being dissatisfied or try and at least offer some sort of explanation. The food btw, chicken tikka masala and lamb curry. The lamb curry was ok and the chicken tikka was overly sweet. Anyways, we are never going back there. There's plenty of other Indian restaurants in Berkeley that will treat you better.
(1)Tammy M.
Changed ownership. Just not the same :(
(3)Niah N.
Love this place!! Best chicken tikka Masala and that beef stuff is delicious.
(5)Samantha D.
I LOVE Indus Village! My BF and I always get the Chicken Tikka Masala, Naan, and the Spinach w/ Chicken. Yummy in my tummy! If you are really hungry, then order the biryani..it's delicious too! BTW, I miss the colorful chairs..it added a lot of character.
(5)J J.
I order Indus Village takeout about once a week. The food is great. Indus village is about 10 minutes from my house - the food is always ready by the time I get there. The prices are low, and the quality is high. I find that the food is pretty spicy (I love hot food). The people working at the restaurant are always polite. I've tried a few other Indian places in this part of Berkeley, but ended up programming Indus Village into my phone. It's the best all around.
(5)