Kathmandu Kitchen
234 G St, Davis, CA, 95616
Kathmandu Kitchen Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Davis for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
234 G St
Davis, CA, 95616 - Phone (530) 756-3507
- Website https://www.kathmandukitchendavis.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, 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 : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
India is the birth place of Chicken Tikka Masala and Curries. Indian foods are prepared with a blend of finely mixed spices quite popular across the region. The spices develop the rich taste in Indian food enough to boggle your mind. The ever-increasing fan base of Indian food around the New York city is steadily increasing because of the large number of Indians who traveled to the land of dreams. The Indians also brought their very own vibrant, colorful, and aromatic authentic dishes for the people in the West. While most of the Indian population is Vegetarian, Indian food is great for people who are looking for vegan or vegetarian food option. If you are a Meat lover, don't get disappointed yet. Indian food also boasts of some popular non-vegetarian dishes too. Few examples are the famous Butter Chicken, Mutton Biryani and Tandoori Chicken are enough to satisfy your taste buds.
Indian food has gained reputation all over the world especially in the United States. You can find many places serving the appetizing Indian food across all major cities in the US. India is a diverse country with different food culture originated from different parts of the country. While the Northern region boasts tandoori dishes and korma offering royal taste, the Western Ghats offers sea foods that is made in naturally sweet tender coconut milk. The South Indian food servers a quality of different dishes made from rice accompanied with spicy chutneys, curries and famous sambhar. Also, the Indian sweets are a delight to relish. If you ever want to have a burst of sugar syrup in mouth, don't forget to try few Bengali Sweets. Be it spicy, tangy, or sweet flavor, you can find everything in the Indian cuisine. Be assured that the melody of spices will surely bring delight to you.
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Ani R.
No. Overrated. Overpriced. Bland. The only reason they're getting 2 stars instead of 1 is because the first time I came here with my family, they were alright, and the waiters were attentive enough, and left us alone. The food was still lacking in flavor. The second time, I came here with my friend, and one of the waiters was creepily staring at us from behind the bar and it made us feel extremely uncomfortable. The bar was directly across from our booth, and he stared at us for the whole hour without blinking. (Straight up like a fish.) Trust me, it was OBVIOUS. Beware of the creeps, ladies. :/
(2)Ashley N.
First dining experience in Davis and MAN, was I impressed! I'm a huge Indian food fan and Kathmandu Kitchen did not disappoint. We started off with some samosas and dumplings, both of which were very generously portioned. The three of us couldn't even finish both plates! OK, maybe we could've but we needed to save room for the rest of our feast! We each ordered an entree (chicken tikka masala, lamb curry and tandoori chicken- all of which were ahhhhmazing!) and shared. For around $3 extra you can get your entree "thali style", which includes rice, naan, raita and two different curry side dishes. This is THE way to go! You get a little bit of everything and you'll probably have leftovers for later! Friendly service and great, central location. Perfect spot for dinner before a night out on the town! I'll definitely be back! REMEMBER: THALI STYLE!!!
(5)Nickhil M.
I went there to eat for the first time and they did not leave a good impression. The naan was raw. The other food was off in taste. The chicken was okay The bathroom were dirty, wet floor with no caution sign. If you want better service check another restaurant. I wouldn't recommend going there unless your okay with mediocre!!
(3)Eric S.
Buffet food was sorta warm, never offered me anything to drink, when it came to pay the waiter asked my for my name and walked away, I told him twice that I'd like to pay and he asked what my name was and walked away. He returned 10 minutes later and asked my name again. Once again I told him and he brought my bill with just the amount wrote on it. I paid and left
(2)Takeshi C.
If you're gonna go here for the lunch buffet, you must absolutely go near the time it starts! The quality of the food is significantly different. Everything tasted a lot more fresh and the meats didn't taste dry. If you go towards the end of the buffet, everything will have already been sitting there for far too long and tastes very sub par. I had a much more Aladeen experience this time.
(4)Chelsea J.
When someone says curry I shudder and have flashbacks of my senses being assaulted by this spice mixture. What brings me to Kathmandu Kitchen you ask? Well my boyfriend bought a groupon, $10 for $20 worth of food, and has been subtly nagging me to try Indian cuisine with him for the last two years, so feeling too hungover to argue (or think of a better food alternative) I succumbed. First, we started with vegetable pakoras which are little vegetables fritters that come with two sauces on the side, one spicy one mild. We also got the chicken momos (think potstickers but fresh not frozen and more doughy) which also came with an unidentifiable but GOOD sauce. I was pleased by both of the appetizers and started to settle in to Kathmandu and feel less apprehensive. We shared the lamb boti kebab as our entree and it was divine! It was a very large portion so I recommend sharing. The boti kebab came out on a sizzling platter.. chevy's fajita style but much better.. and had fresh vegetables, delectable slices of lamb, and the perfect spice mixture. By the time we were finished someone could have poked me with a needle and I would have exploded Indian deliciousness all over. The portions were all huge and we ended up taking appetizers and most of our entree home which made in to two more lunches. The prices here seemed kind of high but after seeing how much food we got it was definitely worthwhile. There was a tv playing Bali-esque music videos which provide much entertainment especially if your convo runs dry! Otherwise they are fun to watch and make what is a nicer restaurant in Davis have a relaxed feel. I'm ashamed I strayed away from this flavorful variety of food for so long and Kathmandu opened my sheltered eyes! I would love to go back here and try more items on the menu.. but still plan to avoid the curry.
(4)Ophelia F.
One of the best places for Indian food in Davis. Pricey, yes, but the food is delicious and portion sizes are generous. The lunch buffet is a great deal, too. Tons of vegetarian options, my favorite being Paneer Tikka Masala. I could eat that stuff for days.
(4)Catherine Y.
Great lunch buffet but it is best for the quality to stay constant. The first time at this lunch buffet, the food tasted absolutely delicious! And the waiter was also quite helpful. I love their deserts as well as the naan, chicken dishes, and the vegetable curry. I came here the following week for my friend to try it. I grabbed the same things as last time. First bite was SALTY. But the saltiness quickly went away. Not only that, the food was not hot enough. The deserts also tasted way too sweet this time. But overall, it is a good place to grab all-you-can-eat lunch for less than $10!
(4)Harvey C.
I went here for both their lunch buffet and their dinner service. Word of advice: Just go to the lunch buffet. In my opinion, the two have the same food but you get to eat as much as you want during lunch. It's also under 10 dollars which is fantastic. I don't even know some of the stuff I eat but it's all delicious. I have to try at least some of everything when I go. Of course they have the staple Chicken Tikka Masala along with so many other curries. There are also multiple fried items that are delicious as well as four different dipping sauces. Put all that on top of unlimited rice and naan bread, and for under 10 dollars, you have a great meal. The dinner service is real nice too. I heard there are certain events on certain nights but I never had a chance to see it. The price is a little steep at night which is why I recommend going for the lunch. Highly recommend you try this place at least once.
(4)Christine H.
Delicious variety of Foods (tandoori chicken, butter chicken, fried eggplants, these thick noodles stir-fried with vegetables that remind me of chow mein, some kind of seasoned lamb thing, etc.), a variety of curries (I especially like the spinach one), and warm basmati rice and freshly baked naan on the side. My mouth waters just thinking about the food! They also have desserts like these donut ball-like things that are in a syrupy liquid(they taste better than they sound), rice pudding, and pre-sliced fruits. This particular joint is more expensive than the other Indian restaurants in town (aka Namaste Nepal and Raja's Tandoor). BUT the lunch buffet is worth it (plus they give you a dollar discount if you show them your student id). In terms of the atmosphere: it's dim, there's classy seating (these ethnic looking booths, and more westernized, glass-protected tables towards the back), and there's usually really exciting and dramatic Bollywood music videos on all the time!
(5)Beth U.
So I've been here for dinner a few times to take advantage of the 50% off groupons that sometimes run. The food is solid and the ambiance is probably nicer than you would expect from looking at it outside. This makes it a surprisingly good date spot. They also have a full bar and bollywood music playing in the background so it might be a decent happy hour spot too although I've never been. I am a fan of the lamb dishes here, and the kitchen special one with rack of lamb and a creamy spinach curry is one of my go-tos. Like most of the "indian" in Davis, it's actually Nepali, but all of the usual indian food is there, I order the chicken tikka masala pretty regularly as well. On the downside, some of the other indian stuff I really like isn't very good here, like paratha. It's a bit pricey - about $15-20 per person, but you get a lot of food.
(4)Kevin C.
Got the butter chicken, chicken tiki masla, garlic naan, samosas, and rice. All was pretty good except the samosas.
(4)Bhavini M.
I was a regular here enjoyed the food. My son and I decided to go for a nice Sunday lunch. Everything was great until I got my food, almost done with my meal I look in the serving dish and saw something black so with my fork picked it out thinking it might of been a spice they use. Some spice a dead fly mixed into my food. Have to think about going back. How many flies, roaches or other insects have I eaten there without noticing. To top it off when I told the waiter he just laughed, and then went into the back and laughed some more with his co-workers, like it was normal and what was I complaining about!
(1)Trudy L.
I don't know what else to say but I LOVE INDIAN FOOD NOMNOMNOM and this place always satisfies me. Their lunch buffet is the best in Davis and their dinner items are all wonderful as well.
(5)Felicia G.
Got delivery from here last week after coming home from a long trip. They said 45 min to one hour, but it got to my house in West Davis in 30 min. Got the green tofu curry with brown rice and a mango salad. So. Much. Food. I had enough for dinner that night and lunch the next day. Could have had some more veggies and tofu in the curry (container was mostly sauce), but was still delicious. Mango salad was refreshing and light. Definitely a new favorite!
(5)Sonia L.
I have a friend who has recently acquired a love for all thangs indian grub. So obviously, when she came to visit me one fine Friday night... we were set on two things: some savory paneer tikka masala & some hot naans. Yup, we're crazy like that. It was a bit past 9 pm, so Kathmandu was our only choice, which I didn't mind at all because thanks to my friend Yelp... the place seemed hopeful and promising. When we came in there was literally only one other "party" and they had finished their food & were just talking over drinks. We were greeted and seated immediately, we knew what we wanted so the ordering bizz did not take all that long. HOWEVER, when we were asked how spicy our paneer tikka masala thalis should be made... I didn't hesitate to say "spicy" with great enthusiasm... just because at most Indian places I have been, spicy usually doesn't even get this girl slightly bothered. Boy, was I wrong... literally ALL I could taste was heat heat heat, I couldn't even taste anything beside the heavy handed spice in my dish. On a positive note, I'm sure it would have been great if I said "mild" or even "veeeerry little spice" & I accept that maybe I should have gone so balls to the wall with my level of heat. So just keep that in mind, when they say spicy they mean SPICY. Another positive, the thali provides you with a great portion of food... enough for leftovers. I wish they provided more naan and less rice just because the rice wasn't cutting it for me. All in all, it was okay. Nothing I'd come running back for. Next time I'll probably ask for some more yogurt to calm down that spice factor though.
(3)Kristin D.
Reliably tasty, with excellent service from staff who are knowledgeable about the food. I also love that they deliver. A family favorite is a simple order of dal soup with rice and naan. My personal favorite, Palak Paneer lasts me a couple days when we order to go. We have young kids (2, 5, 7) and know the meal is a hit when the entire table is quiet :-) My husband loves the lamb buryani (me too), when you order extra spicy it is indeed EXTRA spicey! This is a good thing in our opinion.
(5)Joey D.
I am a bit torn on writing this review. I love their food, everything I have ever tried has been delicious but I have also experienced pretty poor service while there too. I once went and they sat us next to an open door on a very cold evening. Mind you, almost the entire restaurant was empty at the time but they somehow felt the need to sit us there. I asked if we could move and/or if they would shut the door but they told me no and that I shouldn't worry the door would be closed soon. It was, 30 minutes later. Super uncool. One bad experience, right? No, I have had the wait staff be rude, inattentive, and down right mean to me. I will have to think long and hard about whether I want to come back. Perhaps take-out is the solution? Note: Depending on who is working they may or may not accept your Groupon. I have had it both ways.
(3)Lee E.
This is absolutely the best Indian food in Davis. A little on the pricey side for a college student's budget but it makes for a nice treat. When friends are in town, this is definitely a place I take them too. Recommended dishes are the Prawn Biryani, the Chicken Makhani (more commonly known as Butter Chicken - the sauce is EXCELLENT), and the Goat Cheese Naan. But honestly, everything I've had here is wonderful.
(4)Jane W.
Took my friend to lunch. Her first time at the restaurant. Arrived 11:30. First one to hit the buffet. Everything absolutely delicious. Great waiter. If you like Indian food, give it a try. You can sample a lot of items in the buffet!
(5)Rebecca F.
This place is AWESOME!! The lunch buffet is reasonably priced and the food is really tasty. On my most recent trip I tried their makhani chicken and it was so good that I had to make it myself at home later because we were craving it so much! Yes, it can get kind of busy during lunch, but if you go at a slightly off time you can have full run I'd the buffet almost! I've been here for dinner and had their take out as well. Both are fine, but the real deal has to be the buffet!! This is another one of those great places to go if you're in a budget and really hungry for some good food. Great for students in town! Probably more like 4.5 stars, but sometimes the service can be a bit slow when eating there not at buffet time...usually everything is great though!!
(4)Mack K.
I like going here for their lunch buffet. They have delicious Tikka Masala! I also really enjoy their paneer and of course their naan. They have a great selection for vegetarians. They give a dollar off discount for students.
(3)L M.
We had an excellent dinner here, with their saag and tofu, vegetable korma, and okra. Can't wait to go back!
(5)The Bottomless Pi T.
I had the tandoori salmon thali dinner. I only order tandoori fish if I know the fish is salmon, because I'm not a fan of white fish if I have to pay for it. The tandoori salmon was outstanding! I also loved picking on the burnt onions that had fused to the sizzling plate. The basmati rice was good, as was the vegetarian curry. The only thing which prevents a 5-star review was the naan. I love naan,and no Indian meal is complete for me without it. The naan I was served didn't even look appetizing. When I bit into it, it was doughy, chewy, and not even piping hot. I didn't even bother eating the other half.
(4)Ashley N.
Love the Indian food here. We will drive from Sacramento just to eat here. The service is friendly, and the food is good. The naan they have is super good as well.
(4)Crystal B.
ohman... indian food get in mah belly LEMME TELL YOU ABOUT THIS PLACE. Warm soft naan. Dip it in that creamy chicken masala. Devour. Annnnd cry because this is what dreams are made of. Lunch buffet. Good price. Student discount. Yay About the same amount of variety as the other Indian buffets i've been to in Davis. Waiters are polite and constantly make sure there's enough food at the buffet. It's pretty clean inside. Sit in a booth because it's more comfortable, and more lit. There's a bar inside with a television that plays some indian music television channel? They play super upbeat... indian music? I don't know..but the music videos are super colorful, everyone is smiling, dancing, singing. I don't know how you may feel about this but I love it~ I dance and sing along in my seat with naan in my hands. My friends hate me. The only downsides are I feel like it's too dark inside &Sometimes the naan is burnt... so you should check both sides before you put it on your plate! I come here to eat my heart out. You should too.
(4)Bethany W.
Definitely my favorite Indian food spot in Davis! I love a good chicken coconut. YUM. After sampling literally every other Indian place in Davis, this quickly rose above the rest. Their portions are standard, and mild/medium/spicy are standard to other restaurants, as well. The flavor of the food here is superior to anywhere else in town; I stand by this statement with all their dishes! And whatever dish I get, whether dine in, take out, delivery, lunch buffet (yes I come here a lot) it is always consistent and delicious! This place is a but pricier than other places in town, but I pay with minimal annoyance because I really do think they are the tastiest. I gave four stars because they have recently started charging for rice, which used to be included. Boo-hiss. But still the best place in Davis.
(4)Belinda F.
This place is off the chain great. I love coming here on rainy days, the interior is dark and cozy, the food spicy and rich. The service is good. The price keeps most of the younger college crowd moving down the road. On Saturdays you can find them at a stall at the Davis Farmer's Market as well. The Tikka masala is my hands down favorite thing on the planet. No really. Don't cut in front of me. I will hurt you.
(5)David B.
Serious A+! I got the vegetable sampler & the eggplant claypot entree and both were phenomenal. Highly recommend.
(5)Aneesh R.
I just couldnt find anything above average about their tikka masala or butter chicken. I've just had better and I'm a spoiled fremont man I guess. Decent.
(3)Eddie H.
Wow, my experience here at Happy Hour on a Saturday was excellent! My friend and I came in looking for a quick bite, but upon hearing those two words, "Happy Hour", our attention went straight to the cocktail menu. The server, who was also the bartender, finely crafted two cocktails that we enjoyed throughout our visit. I ordered the Bombay Mary, which, as it sounds, is their version of a Bloody Mary, and my friend got the spicy cilantro margarita (I think). Both were delicious! I wanted to save some room for dinner a little later on, so my friend and I split the vegetarian appetizer sampler, which included some pakoras, samosas, dumplings, and naan. I especially liked the dumplings, which I had never had from an Indian restaurant. I really have to come back to try an entire dinner here, and have another cocktail. And make friends with the lady at the bar, my friend and I decided she was our favorite person that day.
(5)Victoria C.
Had the lamb plate at Davis Farmer's market. Really good. The plate was priced accordingly for the event.
(4)Christina K.
Amazing Indian food. I wish I could say we change it up and try different thing on the menu, but I can't because the Tikka Masala is that good that I keep going back. I always get it Thali style which leaves me stuffed and regretting it every time... But not really.
(5)Kory C.
Won't be going back. I've eaten at Kathmandu many times over the years, and usually it's easy to ignore the sub-par service during lunch buffet hours. However, after eating there today, I've had enough. The dining room was freezing-cold due to the back door being propped open all through lunch. And it turns out the reason the back door was open was to allow a constant stream of kitchen staff to bring in deliveries through the dining room. So, unless your idea of fine dining is to shiver while watching boxes get hand-trucked right past your table, then you might be better off eating elsewhere.
(1)John H.
Nice selection of dishes and a great deal for a meal (lunch buffet)! I want to try the other Indian place across the street ... mebbe next time. I like the booths - they're just an arm's reach from the buffet. The meats were better quality than most of the other Indian buffets I've tried.
(3)Nathan T.
OH MY GOODNESS. THE DIZZY DANKNESS. Holy shit. Maybe because I haven't had Indian food in a long time, but their stuff is dank. We went in for the lunch buffet around 1PM and stayed full till 9PM!!!! They have fantastic options and great naan and curries. Definitely a must try!!!!
(5)Abe M.
Kathmandu (often mistaken as Ketmoree) has probably the highest quality Indian food in Davis... But not by much. All their dishes are really good, and use really high quality ingredients, but when it comes to taste it is not THAT much different that Namaste Nepal. All their dinner dishes come with the option of ordering it "traditional style" for 3 dollars extra, which means it comes with 4 pieces of naan, rice, an inedibly spicy curry potato thing, lentill soup, and that cucumber yogurt sauce. Not a bad deal, as most people take this option. I was kinda disappointed at the Chau Chau. They have this big sticker on the entry way that says it was voted "best dish of the restaurant" I ordered it, and it honestly tasted like chow mein with paprika. Kathmandu is a fine restaurant and you will have a good time if you come here. But, IMO, the taste does not warrant being twice as expensive as other Indian restaurants.
(4)Tiffany D.
This Indian restaurant stands out from the other Indian restaurants in Davis because I went here on a Saturday night with a group of friends and they had a belly dancer performing. The performance was entertaining and added to the ambiance of the place. The taste of the food was average. The pricing for the portion and quality runs a bit higher than the other Indian restaurants I have dined in. Service was good, not exceptional. Decor was alright - lighting was a bit dim to see the menu. Final say: Just go on Saturday nights to be entertained while eating Indian food!
(3)Jay R.
Brown guy here. I went here for a lunch buffet and it was just decent. The items were ok, service was ok, and the prices were ok. Nothing really stood out to me here. I ordered a mango lassi and it never arrived :( I'd rather engorge myself with Indian/Nepalese food from Namaste Nepal.
(3)David T.
They have recently remodeled (in the past 6 months) and the new place does look a bit neater and nicer but the inside of the restaurant still retains some sort of funky, psychedelic and dark demeanor. The seating is arranged weirdly and I have been sat on the higher benches which were not comfortable and seem out of place at a restaurant. I have been here exactly 4 times and that last time will be my last. This review pertains to my last time here with a friend on Thanksgiving day... we came here since it was literally the only restaurant we could find that was open. The food is great; the portions are not very enticing for the price range (which seems to have gone even higher since the remodel). The service is unique in that the host and the waiters as well as the chef's were all glued to watching the television playing some music video of a scantily clad Indian lady. We ordered the usual Chicken Tikka Masala (hard to go wrong with it at any Indian establishment) and some Naan. The food came out quickly and tasted pretty average but once we received the bill, we were surprised and agreed it was our punishment and fault for not having cooked at home on Thanksgiving. Overall; I would not want to come back here. Although, I swear I can smell this place from down the street at KetMoRee to the other side where the Beer Shoppe resides.. the Indian spices are strong and I feel badly for the establishments adjacent.
(2)Mar M.
I'm not an Indian food expert, but I thought this place was delicious! The vegetarian dishes were my favorite. The service was pretty good, just a little awkward when you first walk in if the place is empty. They have great deals for happy hour - $3 beers and $4 margaritas!!! wuuut! Aside from the food and happy hour I like the environment. They have big private booths, low lights, and bollywood music videos playing!
(4)Kevin T.
Entering this place you're greeted with a chill darkish environment. A kind of lighting that just relaxes you after a long day. The service was great with the staff being knowledgable about the food on the menu. Food arrived promptly and tasted good. Really no complaints except for the chai tea. It wasn't bad though, just not for my taste buds. Maybe it's an acquired taste...but the important thing is there's good food here.
(4)Michael G.
Yesterday my sweet heart and I stopped by Kathmandu kitchen on the way back to Sonoma from a camping trip above Nevada City on the Yuba River. We were looking for a simple vegetarian thali dish, and we wanted something traditional as we both just got back from over 6 months abroad in India. After calling a bunch of places in Sacramento that seemed far too expensive (keep in mind a thali is between 70 cents and $1.50) we settled on Kathmandu as we figured we could share a Thali and an appetizer and get out for under $20. Our server was very friendly, and the food was pretty good. We ordered the Chana Masala thali, and when we told her we wanted it "India Spicy", she apparently thought we meant it as the kitchen nailed it. The yellow dal and white rice were good and as expected, and the naan was pretty delicious also. The "indian pickles" were interesting, but far from traditional... can't even really call them pickles... but then again most American's might not enjoy indian pickles... however I was a tad disappointed. I know that the tap water in Davis is horrific and terrible to drink, but this restaurant does need to do something about their water. It is almost un-drinkable. I hope they invest in a high end reverse osmosis filter and find a way to serve that to customers instead of what they gave us yesterday,
(4)Khathy H.
Indian slash Himalayan food? Sure, why not! Who knew Davis was so multi-cultural? Let's start off and be straightforward. I am going to tell you that I think it it is best if you skip the restaurant and go to Kathmandu's booth at the farmer's market. I did not do this. I paid the price, literally. The market is on Saturday or Wednesday. If you do want to do the whole sit-down experience, which is more than welcome, you should get the buffet option for $9. All the menu items are laid out for your choosing and you can sample much more than one dish. I would recommend this alternative route. Me? I chose neither paths. I ordered the safe Chicken Tikka Masala, which was moderately portioned, a side of white rice, and added on a side of buttery, fluffy, naan. The food was very delicious and if I could eat more, I should have gone for the buffet. Regardless, I was pleased. The atmosphere is good and nice, as it should be, with quiet and unobtrusive servers. If you don't know what to talk about, there are quite amusing music videos on the televisions for your comments. Whether you attend their formal location on G Street, or hit up their Farmer's Market food booth, be sure to give Kathmandu a try one day you feel like having something different to eat!
(3)Wim L.
I went here last night for dinner based on the excellent reviews it had gotten and was thoroughly disappointed. Two good things: mango lassi -good mango flavor- and the waiter's service - friendly and eager to help/serve. But (1) the chicken in the tikka masala had a strange texture so much so that none of us wanted to take more after the first piece, (2) the naans were not fresh but clearly reheated and (3) this was pretty much the case with everything else. Even the samosas: reheated, yikes. It was clearly the leftover buffet dishes from lunch that had been reheated (and become flavorless and mushy). Yes, we are spoiled coming from the Bay Area with lots of great Indian places to go to and enjoy this wonderful food, but what was served last night is too many notches below what good Indian cuisine stands for! The two stars are for the mango and the service and because I feel generous. In addition, the prices are high for the quality that was served.
(2)Lane B.
This is probably the best Indian restaurant in downtown Davis (and there are a lot). Minus one star because, honestly, the place could use a little TLC in the repair and maintenance department. For example, the stone and wood decor is badly chipped/ scraped, and the ladies' restroom floor is perpetually sticky. But about the food... Try the chicken tikka masala and the saag with goat cheese. Both tasted fresh and flavorful, with no unsightly pools of oil. The chicken tikka masala is on the tomato-ier side, which is a plus for me. And unlike other Indian restaurants, Kathmandu Kitchen's saag is really, really green...which means it's probably really, really spinach. Yay! I always get the garlic cilantro naan, although it never has enough garlic or cilantro. This is a bit of a pet peeve for me, because specialty naans are at least $1.50 more than plan naan. All in all, however, I'd say GO HERE...I know I certainly do.
(4)Laura D.
In a town filled with ethnic food (Thai, Indian, Japanese, Chinese, etc.), it's hard to stand out when your entrance is not that prominent. Kathmandu Kitchen sure blends in, you could walk by the restaurant 20 times and not notice it, the entrance is that inconspicuous. They definitely could use a larger sign out front! After battling the crowds at Mikuni and deciding we were far too hungry to wait 30 minutes to eat at an insanely crowded place that Yelpers only thought was okay, my sister, a UC Davis vet student, asked us if we felt like Indian/Nepalese food. What struck me the most about this place is how FAST they get the food out to you. I swear, we ordered our 3 dishes and BAM! there they were in under 15 minutes. Sure they weren't crowded at all but nevertheless impressive. The naan here is to die for, hot, fresh and oh so soft! Hands down the best naan I've ever had. We ordered Paneer Tikka Masala, Vegetable Korma, and Chicken Coconut, each dish came with it's own large side of rice (brilliant idea in my opinion since rice is so cheap!). I would not order the Chicken Coconut again, it wasn't anything special but the other two dishes were great and I would get them any time. One great thing about this place is that you can earn Groupon rewards if you register the card in advance. You'll get $5 off your next visit!
(5)Tania D.
We have been longtime patrons of Kathmandu. The food is delicious, though expensive. We recently came in with our 10 year old and were seated in a booth behind another couple. The other couple were loudly cussing and kicking at the booth. The wait staff did nothing. My husband finally went over and politely asked them to please keep the cussing down as we were with our child. The male told him to fuck off and preceded to get bilgerent and threaten to hit both my husband and myself. Both the man and woman were cussing and threatening at our booth with our child sitting there. The 6 male wait staff hid behind the bar nervously and did absolutely nothing. My husband called the police. The couple finally left harassing us the entire time and still the wait staff did nothing. The police came and took a report. Then one of the staff came to apologize, acknowledging our long time patronage. We asked for our food to go since we were so upset. They gave it to us and the check - for the full price! The cowards could have at least given us a discount for our horrible experience. We will NEVER eat there again. We now call it Kathman-don't!
(1)Ziyan C.
The lunch buffet is pretty nasty.. And mind, you this was on a Saturday, not some random weekday. The place was pretty empty and that should've been the first warning sign. We were going to order off the menu to keep from stuffing ourselves but the lunch buffet made much more sense as it was cheaper than most entrees. Our server seemed more than happy to not have to serve us. Everything that was soupy/ in a sauce was covered in dried layer. So when you moved the serving spoon, it breaks up the layer and you can see where it cracked open. Ugh. Dishes that stood out: * Cauliflower & Potatoes - Surprisingly, as simple as this dish sounds, I liked it. The potatoes had a good crispy layer on the outside and was very satisfying to bite into. * Saag - Big example of the dried top layer. See photo. And this was way too watery. * Reshami Kabab - This was really oily & tasteless. * Chicken Tandoori - The meat was fairly tender. It probably tasted good right after it was cooked, but had been clearly sitting out for a while and just didn't taste fresh. * Everything else: fairly flavorless, watery. The lamb was decent but was chock full of tiny bones.
(2)Bethany S.
The food here is delicious! There is a great vegetarian menu as well! Definitely my favorite Indian food in Davis. The service is outstanding, the food is made fresh, and the prices are great. I ordered the Vegetable korma, it was very tasty. My boyfriend recommends the "chicken chilli". Our favorite appetizer is the Nepali Samosas. Prepare to leave satisfied!
(5)Xinyue W.
There are so many different kinds of curries. I like to try different things. I like them!
(5)Dana S.
The food is americanized, and not authentic. If you know Indian food, you will probably be pretty disappointed. I found the food to be bland. There are several better indian lunch buffets in Davis.
(1)HJ B.
Fun lunch or dinner spot; one of our favorites in town. Partial to the lamb dishes, especially lamb tikka masala. Creamy sauce & spices remind me of Nepal & Thailand tikka masala dishes. Lots of good appetizers, just had the chicken momos recently which were wonderful. Garlic basil naan bread is a winner, can't go wrong with any of the naan flavors. The menu has a wide selection for vegan & non-vegan tastes...so many choices. Decent wine/beer menu with reasonable prices. Great service, fabulous food - if you like Indian or Himalayan dishes, this is our favorite spot in Davis. Check it out. Also, if you've traveled to Nepal, you can strike up some fun conversation with staff who have been there or still have family there.
(4)George W.
ADDICTED! Congratulations to all of the Kathmandu staff for making it such an awesome place to visit. Along with its awesome decor, belly dancers, and staff comes absolutely amazing food. I am very picky when it comes to this type of food however I find myself craving it! It is VERY CLEAN and very very tasteful. They have a lunch buffet but my favorite is off of the menu. It's the chicken tikka masala. Chicken tikka masala along with a side of garlic naan and a diet coke to wash it down.. Equals a perfect meal:-)
(5)Shaiz D.
Honestly, I forget to chew.
(5)Nathalie N.
Chicken Tikka Masala: Delicious tender chicken, yummy sauce, and just the right amount of spicy if ordered medium. Chicken Tandoori: Generous portion, nicely spiced and grilled on a skillet, served over veggies, and various cuts of chicken - thigh, breast, etc. Grilled Salmon and Shrimp: Decent, but not a must. You can definitely pass on this. The portion is generous though. Enough for two people to share. Garlic Basil Naan Bread: A must order. Every entree comes with rice and naan. All of this and its plenty for two people with leftovers. I can't even begin about the service. It's awesome. Greeted at the front immediately, taken to a seat, drinks came up fast, offered refills, the food was also quick, and all smiles from the staff. I also enjoyed the Bollywood videos on tv. Definitely a must come back. Great for large groups and it was not overly packed in the restaurant on a friday night.
(5)Nick P.
Mmmm, naan bread. Other stuff too. Names I can't remember or pronounce. But naan bread! Ok, ok...I had some meat...and some sauce? And some vegetables of some kind... Service was great, environment and price were ok. But NAAN!!!!
(3)Jeff K.
The food is quite tasty. They have popular dishes and a wide selection. The traffic is also good, meaning most of everything laid out has been recently created. Not much sits and degrades, which is great. The service isn't great, but then again you can't really expect much during their buffet. Regardless, it doesn't stand out either. I also cannot stand dim lighting, especially in a restaurant, but that's just personal preference. At the end of the day, the food is tasty and I'll probably revisit it again.
(4)Robert H.
We tried this Kathmandu because we had a discount coupon and read some good reviews. We love Indian food and could recommend some good restaurants in the Sacramento area, but this is not one of them. Dingy atmosphere, small portions, food less than average and poor service/attitude by the staff (appeared to be family owned and run). To try and be positive, some of the food had an authentic Indian flavor, but that's the best I can do. Coupon deals are meant to create returning customers......that won't happen with us. Many good alternatives out there.
(2)Bill A.
Inconsistent service, sometimes awful. Sometimes ***** (5 Stars), Sometimes * or ** (1 or 2 Stars). When it's * (1 Stars, I don't go back for months). The food is pretty good, and sometimes totally delicious.
(2)Abby G.
This is my favorite Indian Restaurant!! And I am from the Bay, so I know good Indian Food. They have a lunch buffet and then regular dinner, both are fantastic and very affordable. The staff are all very nice, and the food is always of consistently high quality. Five stars just doesn't quite cover it. :-)
(5)Julianne S.
Not really a fan of the lunch buffet, but that just may be because I'm not a fan of buffets in general. The food is really good. The dinner is a nice experience if a bit overpriced. They have bellydancers, which I assume is entertaining for some people but I found to be awkward and distracting.
(4)Mary C.
I've been to Kathmandu Kitchen many times and I feel like the place is hit or miss. I have loved their palak paneer, baigan bartha, and sometimes their paneer tikka masala, but other times the dishes have ranged from simply bland to having a curious flavor as if their ingredients were really not fresh or perhaps even gone bad. I must recently had the chicken jalfrezy and found it lacking in the authentic bright and spicy flavor-- tasted sadly Americanized and not very fresh, as did my friends' usually plate licking paneer tikka masala. Also, service was pretty good, but for the price of eating here I would have expected some pappadums with chutneys at the beginning of the meal at least. Not BAD food, but disappointing. I will be revisiting other options for Indian in Davis from now on.
(3)Kristen W.
I always bring my friends to this restaurant, whether theyre new to Indian food or not, and it's always a hit! I absolutely love the chicken tikka masala, it's amazingly good. Very tender and flavorful! If you get it to go, it usually feeds me for 2 meals and I can make my own fresh rice at home when I want to reheat. I prefer medium spiciness but try the mild if you're new to Indian food.
(5)Cindy K.
I came here to celebrate an anniversary with my boyfriend. I had been craving Indian food for a while so we decided to try this place out. It always smells so good when you're walking by this place. If you order an entree I recommend getting it "Thali" because it comes with more sides and naan. I also like the service here. The waiters are friendly and the food comes promptly. If you're new to Indian food I recommend getting chicken tikka marsala. It's not spicy (or maybe it's mildly so, but I don't feel it) and really delicious. Also, you must try naan and a mango lassi which is bread and drink respectively.
(5)Sue A.
My husband and I love Kathmandu Kitchen. We lived in Davis for only 3 months this summer, and ate there like 5 times. As a vegan, they had a lot of really great options. The Vegan thali & saag and tofu were really unique (I don't often see things like that at restaurants). They also have really great drink specials during happy hour - and really unique cocktails. Their lunch buffet is also pretty good. We arrived at the tail end of it once, and since some things weren't available in abundance, they brought us some extra bread and a channa masala at no extra cost. Yum & yum. Definitely something I'll miss about living in Davis!
(5)Bai H.
Ordered spice nan, mango lassi, and a mix of dishes. The taste is great, but some dishes are mediocre. I went to the place multiple times, and it was enjoyable every time.
(5)Tianna W.
I really enjoyed the food here and the server was great! We had the chicken chili which I loved, tika malasa, veggie sampler, mahani, and the fabulous nann. Only thing I didnt like and was surprised that after purchasing a $40 groupon for four or more people we had to order four dishes with inly 2 people at the table. I was told that nothing else would be valid toward the groupon meaning no appetizers and sides. Overall food was tasty and I was caught off guard with the owners rule for the groupon.
(4)Annie T.
If it was possible I would take a bath in the Tikka Masala. The best I have ever eaten. Combine that with Garlic Naan and I am in heaven. The waitstaff is always very friendly and we always enjoy eating here.
(4)Kesha J.
Every time I visit Davis I always stop here for lunch. The buffet is reasonably priced and the food is delicious. Because everything is so good you have to pace yourself with servings otherwise you will end up in a food coma like one of the posters said. If you enjoy meat they have a great selection of meat dishes to choose from and if you prefer vegetarian/vegan they have outstanding dishes that are To. Die. For! It's a popular place to eat at in town so depending on when you drop in there is a bit of a wait to be seated but if you can take your order to go call ahead of time and they will have it ready for you when you arrive. This place is the gem of Davis! K.J.
(5)Janette F.
While getting stuff done at Hair Plaza in Sacramento (see separate review), I asked Vijya where one can get good Indian food around the area. She mentioned a few but said that Katmandu in Davis was the best place. She said there is one on Broadway, but it was not as good and the original chef is in Davis. So, my daughter and I headed to Davis for a late lunch in search for Katmandu. Parking is free on the street (what a deal!) and we headed toward the restaurant. We walked in and it is kind of dark and there was a buffet laid out. We sat down and the waiter asked whether we wanted to buffet so we asked how much it was and he said $8.95 plus tax. We also asked to see the regular menu. Since it was our first time there, we opted for the buffet so we can try a bit of everything. I am vegetarian so I also luck out at Indian restaurants because there is so much from which to choose. Here they had an array of vegetarian options: lentil soup, mixed vegetables, vegetable pakora, salad (of course), mint chutney (yum), and some others that I just cannot remember. Non vegetarian included tandori chicken (which my daughter said was spectacular), chicken mughal, other meat dishes. They were out of naan and when they brought it out they had brought out 1 cut into 4 pieces, then when that was gone, another 1. I think because it was late (3p), they didn't want to bring too much out, but more people came in after us so I think they could have been a bit more generous on the naan. Nevertheless, all the food we ate was really good and we were not disappointed. Buffet for 2 and 1 beer was was $22 + tax, so not bad at all. If we ate like pigs, it is a great deal, but we eat like birds so a buffet is not to our liking, but I am glad we did it since we were able to try all the different dishes and decide what really tickled our fancy. A must try and worth the little drive to Davis. (There is a great consignment store down the street as well!)
(4)Steph B.
Not big on Indian food, but this place will have u moaning for more. The variety of the buffet will fill your eyes with enthusiasm to eat. If you're having a bad day [I feel bad for u, son] Kathmandu got infinite plates u can eat at once. Bollywood music... Expensive taste--jp its really cheap but it doesn't taste cheap geeeeetiiiit?--- and thats all u need. Close ya eyes and let the taste paint a thousand pictures. Late.
(5)Diane K.
Vegans, rejoice! Not only do they have a vegan thali ON THE MENU (when this happens, I assume the proprietors actually know what "vegan" means and I won't have to explain that no, milk isn't vegan, etc.--you know the drill), but the lovely waitperson told me that many of the non-vegan dishes can be made vegan. I had navratan korma, which I love but haven't been able to eat since going vegan years ago. It's not normally vegan there, but she said they could modify their recipe and use only coconut milk, and she even said they could make a thali out of it by substituting puri for naan and chutney for raita. It was delicious! So I suggest if there are non-vegan things that look appealing to you, ask if they can veganize them. I'll definitely be back!
(5)Valerie L.
A friend of mine swears that Kathmandu is her favorite place, but after trying it out, I can't say I'm convinced. The atmosphere is strange and what really knocked off stars for this review: it was darkly lit, and during the night that I went in for dinner there was a belly dancer performing intermittently throughout the meal. Nothing against her, but it was uncomfortable to have her sashaying around to extremely loud music as we were trying to eat and have conversation at dinner. She also had dollar bills poking out of her skirt that just pushed it to next level tacky. The food was not bad, but also was not so outstanding. Tikki Masala was satisfying, but didn't have that punchy flavor that I really enjoy from Indian food. We also tried a few other dishes that all had a similar ring to it.
(2)Jessica G.
Originally, my friend and I were going to come here for dinner using a Groupon, but we found ourselves in the Davis area around 2:30 pm, hungry after shopping at the Vacaville Outlets. The dinner menu doesn't start until 3 pm, so we went with the lunch buffet option. There were many food items to choose from, but things were pretty sparse and dry by the time we got to them, unfortunately. All the staples are there, though: veggie pakoras, naan, rice, chicken makhni, vegetables, saag, chicken tikka, etc. Service was great and attentive. The interior is very dark. I get the impression this location used to be a nautical-themed bar. I'd like to go back and try ordering off the menu next time.
(3)Sheri S.
This restaurant had the most yelp reviews and hence I decided that we should try it. We wanted a family style experience so we ordered dishes al a carte so we could get larger portions to share. For our entrees, we ordered the Chicken tikka Masala, The Lamb Vindaloo, The Chicken Vindaloo all spicy. Like many other reviewers have said, the Chicken Tikka masala was super tasty and the Lamb vindaloo had a nice slow burn. The chicken vindaloo was a disappointment for me since the flavor was lacking compared to the lamb. Overall, I think we got more gravy than meat pieces so I think they need to work on their serving portions. Side dishes included Naan and Basmati Rice. Naan is always something we look forward to. We had the Garlic Naan, the Chili Cheese Naan, The Goat Cheese Naan and the regular Naan. The Cheese Naan so equally good, so good I could not tell them a part! Service was good and acceptable no complaints there! I also ordered the Chai tea, but would not do that again, something was off with the flavor. That is minor but in my Indian food experiences, I felt this place fell short of my expectations when it comes to the richness of flavor and portions I am accustomed to.
(2)Donna D.
I am obsessed with their Chicken Tikka Masala! I come from a very Indian-populated city with really good Indian food so I was skeptical when the waitress said they had a unique recipe. It was extremely buttery and savory. The chicken was tender and delicious. Their naan is decent but the curry makes it so much better. Honestly this is probably the best Chicken Tikka Masala I've ever had. In my opinion, the option to make it a meal (with side dishes) isn't worth it. Just order it ala carte. The other food, I'm not too sure about. It probably isn't the most authentic place and I feel kinda guilty for liking it so much but it's I can't help a tasty curry.
(4)Priya C.
This is among the worst Indian food I have ever had - I wouldn't even call it Indian food. I tried everything in the buffet and nothing resembled any of the original dishes, in flavor, texture, or smell! Not to mention the naan was dry, so there wasn't even a fall back to eat. The inside was really poorly lit, and the decor reminds me of an old British dive bar. No thank you.
(1)Darina H.
My husband and I had a groupon to Kathmandu Kitchen and we wanted to try this place out. We heard it was a hot spot in Davis for good Indian Food. There are private booths and a central bar area (I think the bar was mostly for college students) and TVs throughout the place. I had a primarily vegetarian meal and it was OK. I dont think I would come back for the food. The service was OK as well, I remember my water was not refilled a few times. I have definitely had better Indian food in Sacramento/Folsom. On another note, I wish they also had a changing table in the restroom. Multiple tables with families and not one changing table in the restroom.
(3)David B.
Buffet still on the small side, but never out of any particular dish. Bonus: free wi-fi. Bummer: could not use the GroupOn purchased on the car ride to the restaurant for the buffet. See posted photo. Will use the gosh darn GroupOn on the lamb curry (I think?...pink-ish hue to the sauce) another day because I couldn't use it today.
(3)Alice A.
Amazing food! The curries will blow your taste buds away! We came on an busy Sunday afternoon and everyone was enjoying the buffet. Having tried the buffet in their downtown Sacramento location, I wanted to try some items on their menu instead. We opted for the Vegan thali as I have been wanting to try those momos (dumplings) for the longest time! We also ordered the vegetable korma thali style as well however the server let us know that it did not come with vegan side dishes but will adjust :) When the large platters came out, we dug in right away- mind you we were starving! Everything was delicious and flavorful! Who said vegan food was boring rabbit food never tasted something like this! While everything on the plate tasted like a wonderful dance party in your mouth, we agreed that the veggie korma was the best. It was made with coconut milk and cashew- match made in heaven as it was so rich and creamy- perfect for the rice and bread! I purchased a groupon deal for this restaurant and the staff had no problem adjusting the bill. Overall completely stuffed and satisfied with the meal and service. Will definitely come dine here again!
(5)Kennedy M.
This is by far the best indian food I have ever had!!! The food is incredibly delicious and our server was extremely sweet and very attentive! We had the best experience here. The sauces are heavenly and both of our dishes rocked. I had the Kitchen Masala (lamb and chicken in a thick curry sauce) and added the option of also having basmati rice, lentils, naan bread, yogurt sauce, and a soup (for just $3.50 more)!!! My friend had the Chili Chicken and had it medium-hot (and was very spicy)! Amazing!!
(5)Denise C.
Not impressed. Came here for dinner after farmer's market because I remembered how good their food at farmer's market was. However, our experience dining in was vastly underwhelming. We spent about 2-3 hours here, most of it waiting for service or for food. Wait staff was friendly, but mostly inattentive. They didn't refill our waters even once during the meal, nor were they present for us to request such a thing (we actually needed refills on the water). In addition, they forgot to bring my friend's order for rice and a person from our table had to get up to find a waiter to bring it to their attention. And on top of that, they charged us a second time for that rice. Food took way too long to come out. The restaurant was fairly empty, so I'm not sure why food took forever. It was at least a 30 minute wait for food alone. The food itself was good enough. The naan was fairly thin, but I prefer mine thick so it can hold the sauces and curry. At the end of the meal (at which point all we wanted to do was get out of there), I'm pretty sure it took like 20 minutes to flag down a waiter and get the card charged. We saw the receipt and noticed they charged us twice for the rice. Because everything was taking so long, my friend just requested a second serving of rice to go instead of changing the bill to reflect only the one serving of rice. And one more unpleasant after-effect of eating at Kathmandu. After trying to reconcile the amounts my friends Venmo'ed me and the amount for each person's meal on the receipt, I discovered that there's some shady tax+tip handling going on here. First off: they stated they charged us 18% gratuity. I'm fine with gratuity in most cases because a large group (we had 7) takes a lot of work for a waiter. HOWEVER, if I chose an amount to tip, it would be less than 15% as service was subpar. IN ADDITION: after comparing the subtotal and amount charged for gratuity, it came out closer to 20%. Kathmandu did not deserve 20%. How they charged for gratuity seemed to be charging 18% on top of the tax. Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought tax and tip were supposed to be calculated on subtotal. And what's even more shady is that they charged the 8.5% tax based on subtotal PLUS gratuity. So it was like we paid double on tax. Totally shady. This whole experience was just really frustrating for me and my friends. All we wanted was some Indian food, not a headache and a waste of time. I would not recommend coming here for dinner service at all.
(1)Jeffrey T.
This is my worst experience ever in Davis, seriously. I ordered delivery through the Yelp coordinated with Eat24, the Menu in Yelp shows that Chicken Dishes are all included "Dishes served with basmati rice, dal, naan, riata, achar, and vegetable curry of the day. Traditional Indian thali add $3.50 extra." People with better understanding in English would simply distinguish those dishes are all included and served with those small dishes mentioned above. I called to Kathmandu Kitchen and checked, the receptionist was utterly taking to me in an extremely bad manner at all. I do not really understand how can you talk to customer like this, no matter if that's on phone or face-to-face, and they even tried to charge us again for ordering a rice and naan. That's ridiculous. I am not going back to this restaurant again, for sure.
(1)Geraldine S.
I'm a HUGE fan of Indian food and I've tried most of the places in Davis - Kathmandu definitely ranks the highest. I recommend coming for dinner - and check groupon they have a $10 coupon worth $20 for two people, and a $20 worth $40 for parties greater than two. Either way it's a great deal for delicious food! I ordered the chicken tikka masala thali style (comes with rice, naan, and a small portion of dal, veggie curry, and yogurt dip) ~$15.99. Although I like the idea of the thali style because it gives you samples of other popular dishes, I recommend just ordering the dish and adding naan and rice on the side. The portions were smaller on the thali and we had extra stuff we didn't really want. My second dish was the Vegetable Korma! The cashew cream base was divine!!! Definitely a new favorite! Overall great restaurant delicious food! And they deliver, you can even order online! Enjoy!! :)
(4)Mandy L.
! I LOVE their Kadai Prawn with Garlic Basil Naan. Warning: it has a bunch of onions and bell peppers and a curry-like dipping sauce. It's also tasty over rice! I'd recommend one order per person. It's a small-looking dish but fills you up :-) They also have an affordable lunch buffet if you want to try more items! Their dinner menu is pricier, but higher in quality. So don't forget to use the GROUPON- valid for dinner only! I probably wouldn't go without the deal unless I'm having a #treayoself kinda day.
(4)Angel R.
Pretty great food overall and so grateful for their delivery service. I had the chicken makhani and it was fantastic - perfectly spiced. The rice was wonderful as well. The chicken momos were good but the dumpling was a little thick for my taste. Naan was good also. I would certainly return!
(4)Samantha K.
A nice alternative to the lunch buffet deal after Namaste Nepal closed down. Although a bit pricier than Namaste, it's still affordable at $9.75, tax included w/ student ID. Selection is limited to 12 or 14 main entree dishes like most Indian buffets. The lighting was a bit too dark for my liking. I could barely see my friends across the table and we had a good joke about it. The signs for each dish is placed on a clear placard on top of the steam table. The dish listed on top is the one in the front, and the the dish listed on the bottom was the one in the back. Not sure if they do that on purpose or accidentally for that particular day, but I found it very confusing! IMO, they should reverse it so the dish corresponds with the location on the placard. Now onto the food... The lamb curry was cooked and seasoned to perfection. This is my go-to dish at any Indian restaurant. Definitely got my money's worth on this dish alone. The palak paneer (spinach dip) was creamy and paired deliciously with naan, although slightly burnt. Wished they also served garlic naan! Not a huge selection of fruits to end my meal with, only oranges and cantaloupe when I was there, but no biggie. Overall, a satisfying meal and a nice place to grab lunch.
(5)Aria D.
This place is an Indian's dream come true when they have the buffet! They have pretty good food, its tasty and has just the right amount of spices. And it's also not that expensive.
(5)Cherise B.
I'm not an expert on Indian food, not by a long shot, but even I know when I'm being overcharged for "above average" cuisine. I've been to several other Indian restaurants, most in the SF Bay Area, and never had to pay more than $10 for curry. JUST the chicken tikka masala was $14. It wasn't very flavorful or as spicy as I expect "medium" to be. Even the naan was overpriced ($2.25 garlic) and a little disappointing. I expected giant fluffy naan, not a thin, slightly burnt pizza crust lookalike. Mango lassi was sour too! Despite the food and drink, the restaurant itself is very nice. Good for a couple or dozen friends. We ordered from the regular menu and would like to return to try their lunch buffet...and hopefully update this review.
(2)Shriya C.
Highly recommend their chicken tikka masala. It is just consistently cooked to perfection. The place is pretty nice and although it is a bit pricey, you do get great food so it is totally worth it. Also, getting the thali plates are also worth it because you get to sample all sorts of different curries and vegetables. I do not, however, recommend the lunch buffet. Usually the items end up being cold or even don't taste as well. Also, I usually like eating spicy food so I ask for my chicken tikka masala to be spicy! Great Indian food!
(4)Jatin M.
Below average food. Above average prices. Mandatory service charge of 18%. Not going back.
(1)Fred B.
Great food and service! Took one star off though as I messaged the establishment here on yelp over a month ago and still no response.... would recommend!
(4)Alec O.
This is the best Indian restaurant in Davis hands down. The lunch buffet is reasonable, and the dinner dishes are good. If you are coming from a large city this restaurant might not meet your ecxpectations, but it's the best Davis has to offer.
(5)John F.
Its a pretty good Indian place for Davis. My friend and I ordered takeout and the food came when promised. I ordered the Chicken Korma (butter chicken) which was amazing, he ordered the prawns with mushrooms (didn't try it). The complementary naan and vegetables were very good as well. For Indian cuisine, Kathmandu is a very solid, if not totally exceptional, choice.
(4)Shanda O.
The food was great! It was my first Indian food experience and it was really delicious. Our waitress was real great about explaining everything and giving recommendations. The lamb is fantastic!!!! We will defiantly be back.
(5)Tiffany Y.
My friends and I came here for dinner and I had high hopes since I've had their food at the farmers market and it was pretty good. Upon being seated they pretty quickly asked if we were ready to order. After we told the first guy we needed a few more minutes, not too long after another waitress came over and asked us the exact same thing. Guess just bad communication on their part. After we did order our food, it took them about 45 minutes to bring out the food. Everything came out but my basmati rice which I assumed they forgot about when bringing out everyone's food. It was a difficult having to get their attention so my boyfriend ended up just walking up to them and asking about my rice. Taste wise, the food was decent, nothing spectacular about it which was a disappointment from all the reviews I've read I wanted to like this place. I got their Lal Maas while my boyfriend got their Chicken Tikki Masala. The Chicken Tikki Masala was okay, flavor was in my opinion a bit lacking, and to me, it was too creamy for my liking. Lal Maas was interesting. The lamb were very tender which I was decently surprised at. The one thing I didn't like was I bit into a black cardamom a few times which is not pleasant at all. Wish there was a way for them to extract the flavors and also remove it from the dish. Their naan was very standard, it cost $1.95 and wasn't that great either. I could've gone elsewhere and gotten it for $1 with a larger portion of naan that is better than here. When we finished the meal and we paid without really double checking the receipt, we noticed that they charged us twice for the basmati rice with one that said "dont make" next to it but with the $1.50 still charged next to it. I didn't want them cancel the transaction and redo it since it was my friend who paid for the meal with her card. Afterwards when we were calculating how much we owed her we also noticed that they overcharged us on gratuity and also on tip. Overall, really disappointed with this place since I was excited to try this place based off reviews and the little food I've had at their farmers market.
(2)Johana M.
Tried this place after our friends called it the "best Indian food in Davis". We ordered coconut chicken, Lal Maas, and Chicken Tikaal. I'm not sure if it was because it was my first time trying Indian food, but I didn't think it was as great as everyone said. All of the dishes we ordered were more sauce than actual chicken/lamb. Each bowl had a bout 4 small pieces. Although their sauces were savory, I didn't think the food was worth what I paid.
(3)Shelby D.
I don't usually order take out mid-week, but I was so so hungry and tired when I got home from work that I couldn't resist. I had heard really awesome things about Kathmandu, but I was still blown away by the speed of delivery and quality of food! I got the chicken tikka masala, garlic cilantro naan, basmati rice, and veggie samosas. Holy crap. Life changed - this place is worth every penny (though a bit more costly than other good, but not necessarily great Indian food establishments in the area). Worth. It. Seriously, you won't be disappointed.
(5)Kevin L.
Yes. Really aromatic and flavorful place too eat. Don't stop until you're full. A good deal of you are looking to fill up. A nice quiet place to eat as well. Or maybe just dark booths.
(4)Ben H L.
Of all the years that I stayed in Davis, I never once went to Kathmandu Kitchen. Perhaps I was Indian food ignorant and didn't have enough exposure or something like that. So when I came here recently, it felt like it was long overdue because I have definitely grown my palate considerably since then. The interior seems to be the similar as previous decades as the interior seems a bit worn and aging. The menu is pretty big and although it was a tough decision, I decided to get the jumbo appetizer along with the mixed tandoori grill. I enjoyed the deep fried meat selections of the appetizer plate, a perfect beginning that came with naan bread as well as many different dipping sauces. The tandoori meat combo was actually good but as the meat continued to cook on the sizzing platter, it got a bit overcooked and dried out a lot of meat. The belly dancing entertainment was actually a bonus that we were unaware that it was going to be happening when we were there. The young lady that was doing it was ultra cool and very comfortable doing her "thang" during the dinner hours. My friend, the brithday boy, was pulled for some good natured dance instruction in belly dancing, which he unsuccessfully attempted to learn. Entertainment factor...priceless! I had to tip our entertainer but was unsure on how to do it respectfully because we weren't in one of "those" clubs right? Long story short, I found a way to tip her without looking pimpish. Overall, the food was good and appreciated by all but I saw that a lot of them had those plates made from a steel/metal material that makes it look like that they were eating from a prison. I guess I'm used to seeing more refined dinnerware where I dine but if the food tastes good, then that really is the most important thing.
(4)Brianna N.
Obsessed with this place! Their lamb saagwala and goat cheese naan are perfection! Prices are fair and service is always excellent. Their chicken tikka masala is also very good. Yum! 5 stars all the way.
(5)Vivian L.
I reaaaaally like their chicken tikka masala!! 4 stars definitely goes to that. The sauce tasted delicious with naan and drenched in rice. The chicken wasn't dry either *drooools*. We also got the kadai prawns, garlic basil naan, vegetable pakoras, and a side of rice. The naan was a bit too floury and the pakoras wasn't crisp enough for my preference, but everything else was good. This place is a bit pricey, but worth giving a try. The ambiance is cozy and they also had a belly dancer performing too! Quiet little place to enjoy with good company.
(4)Shaun G.
Went to the place on a Sunday. It was empty and the service provider as pretty good along with the food. Ended up waiting for the server to pick up the check for 15-20min. Not cool.
(3)john b.
I love Indian food. This place is good. I tried the chicken vindaloo. No complaints. I will return to try more dishes. Staff is friendly and cheerful. They also have a full bar with exotic drinks. Try the cilantro margarita.
(4)J M.
I've only eaten delivery from here and it was delicious! The best I've had in a very long time. I just found a new staple.
(5)Luke C.
Kathmandu Kitchen is a good, albeit pricey, option for dinner if you're in the mood for Indian food. My friends and I visited Kathmandu, and with the help of a Groupon, got a decent deal. The food at Kathmandu is solid and tasty and will satisfy your Indian food cravings! I was outside of Kathmandu Kitchen waiting for my friends to show up when I heard someone say that it was the best place for Indian food in Davis. Hmm... good sign! My friends showed up and we went inside. The interior of the restaurant was pretty dark, but the server was nice and the booths were comfortable. We started with some garlic naan and some vegetarian samosas. Both appetizers came with a green mint sauce and another darker, thinner sauce. The naan was delicious. It wasn't too thick, and was prepared so that it was both a bit crispy and soft. The samosas were smaller sized and very crispy. Each appetizer was definitely a step above average. For our main courses, we had coconut chicken, lamb, and a vegetarian dish. The dishes come in silver bowls and do not come with rice or naan. You have to order them separately. I thought that was a bit unusual as most places give you a starchy side with the meal. So it added some cost to the meal. Taste-wise, the dishes were on-point... especially the coconut chicken. That dish was smooth and mild, just the way it should be. The lamb was good, but a bit dry. The sauce it came in helped it along. The vegetable dish was good, but not my favorite compared with the other two. Overall the meal was good and the service excellent for us. My one issue with Kathmandu is the higher price and the need to order things like naan and rice to round out the meal. I'd definitely suggest giving Kathmandu Kitchen a try if you're in the mood for Indian food, but I also suggest looking for a Groupon to help keep the price of your meal lower!
(4)Gino L.
I have tried every Indian buffet in Davis and Kathmandu Kitchen is a college student's dream. As many people will tell you, if you bring in your student ID, you will get $1 off the lunch buffet. With tax, it's nearly $11 you will spend, but it's worth it. You have various chicken ranging from stews, fried, and tandoori dishes, a lamb curry, vegetarian options, naan, dessert, and rice. I stayed there for an hour, was able to try all of the food, and since they offer free Wi-Fi, I could study for my quiz too! I have come for dinner as well and their chicken tikka masala is a must try. It may seem like the serving size is small in comparison to the price you're paying, I have always left with a to-go box. Wrapping this up, if you're a UC Davis student and are looking for the best bang for your buck, come here.
(4)Toni J.
Dinner was amazing! A friend took me here for my birthday and this place probably has the best Indian food in Davis! The food is a bit pricey, but given the delishness of the noms, it was worth it. The dinner dishes don't come with rice, naan, etc. Those items need to be ordered in addition to the main dish.. so the main dishes are approx $13, if you order the extras (which I think should come standard with Indian food) it gets to $17.. a bit pricey.
(3)Beth W.
I've been here before and it was really good. It was very flavorful and spicy. This time I had the Chicken saag which had no flavor what so ever. There was no cream in the Dish, no real butter in the dish just some artificial yellow stuff, and no spice when I ordered medium. Maybe they got a new chef. He needs to go. Not good.
(2)Kat D.
Sadly I'm only giving them 1 star due to the excellent service we received from our server. She did the best she could. Pros *servers are friendly Cons *food took a lloooonnnggg time to get out. We came in at 5pm on a Saturday and didn't get our food til 535-540. The place had 2 other couples. It was not busy. *food was not tasty the tiki marsala (?) Chicken basically tasted like tomato soup. Not the creamy blend of goodness I'm used too. Chicken was also very dry. The garlic naan was a joke and way overpriced. *I honestly don't know why but this should have been a red flag to leave. One of the cooks in the kitchen was having a massive fit and was yelling so loud! We heard this as soon as we ordered our drinks. Not very professional. *drink tasted like it was not fully cleaned. I could taste the dish soap. Overall, I was not satisfied with my meal and will not be returning. I will try the other Indian restaurants in the area.
(1)May W.
We're in Davis for training and came to Kathmandu based on coworker's recommendation. After a long day of training and thinking we decided to reward ourselves with good Nepalese/Indian food. It wasn't quite what we expected..... We ordered the vegetarian appetizer sampler, (spicy) mixed vegetables, seafood plater and garlic/cilantro naan. The menu seems more Northern Indian than Himalayan/Nepalese. And they use more food coloring than other Indian restaurants. The pudina chutney looks nuclear green, due to food coloring. The momos are hard and the samosa over fried. The mixed vegetables curry packed good heat but had no flavor. The seafood plater (shrimp/salmon) is prepared tandoori style, but again, excessive food coloring making the dish very firey orangey in color. And the salmon is fishy and the shrimp overdone. The saving grace is the garlic cilantro naan and the inviting fireplace on a chilly night. I am curious why the excessive food coloring especially when mostly focus on natural these days.
(2)Mar B.
I have never been to an indian restaurant so cheap they don't even provide rice to go with al a cart items I eat indian all the time and this place has reached a new low for taking your money. Never again! P.S. the saag panner is horrible.
(1)Eva B.
I am just shocked that this restaurant has so many overall good reviews. This is an absolutely horrific excuse for Indian food. The food was mediocre at best-- tough meat and flavorless curry. I feel sad giving them only one star, the staff and service were not bad at all, but the overall quality (with respect to the price) was poor. I will also add that after eating the mushroom chicken masala, my boyfriend experienced what seems to be food poisoning... Dining here has been an overall terrible experience, and I would not recommend this restaurant to anybody.
(1)Jennifer C.
Too bad there are quite a few negative reviews. I've been here several times over the last few years and always enjoy myself. I like the atmosphere, and sitting in one of the few wooden high-backed booths you feel like you have lots of privacy. They usually offer a Groupon and the food is consistently good, though not as good as some other Indian food I've tried. I don't think it's the place I'd take a newbie to Indian food. I like to get the thali so that I can try the dal and curry, and their dal is very tasty. I'm picky about my curry, and it wasn't something I'd order again but one of my friends loved it and would get a whole dish next time. The fried appetizers are always good (mmm, deep fried) and of course lassi is delicious. I really like the medium spicy cherry chicken. Ask about how they gauge 'spicy,' they're pretty good at helping you figure out which version you'll want.
(3)Dee I.
I've been eating here for years...and I make any excuse to come here anytime I'm driving up or down the 80 but I don't think I'll be back after tonight. Why? First, while eating a piece of jalapeño naan, I chomped down on what upon further examination I discovered were hard little pebbles. Then, to my utter horror, while eating my Baingan bharta I found a fingernail! At first I thought it was something with a weird texture in the eggplant mix...so I pulled it out of my mouth and set it on the table. I took a closer look at it, and that's when it set in what it was. We wanted to give the restaurant the benefit of the doubt--I've found other weird items in my food at restaurants over the course of my life. So we discretely told a server--not our original server who was inattentive and bad--this server apologized and said she'd check with the chef to see what the items could be. She came back with our check and said that the pebbles had been spices since they grind their spices in the restaurant. It was not spice, I'm sorry. I know when I chomp down on rocks vs. unground spices. She also denied that what I'd found in my Baingan bharta was a fingernail. My problem with all of this, other than that there were things in my food that CLEARLY should not be in food, is how this was handled. I understand that places might have to deny when you find things in your food that don't belong there for legal reasons to cover their butts. But any restaurant with decent customer service will be apologetic enough, or at the very least embarrassed by your experience, to not charge you for that item. In this case it was two items in two different dishes we were eating and one of them so beyond unacceptable to find in food! But the server felt that denying anything was wrong was the best way to handle this, which is just the poorest form when providing customer service in my opinion. I'll be contacting the local dept. of public health and asking them to pay the restaurant a visit.
(1)Brian N.
Had dinner here on Saturday with friend. The place was almost full. That didn't keep the servers from being attentive and taking care of us. I had the Lal Maas (red spicy lamb curry) Thali and my friend had a chicken makhani Thali. The Thali comes with rice, 2 pieces of Naan, mixed vegetable, Dal, Raita & achar (pickled vegetable). The food arrived piping hot, was delicious and had the right amount of kick, with good portions. This was my first time here and will definitely be returning. There are locations nearer to me and may try them out too.
(4)Bridget B.
I've been a vegan living in Davis for 6 years now and this is by far my favorite vegan-friendly dinner place in Davis! The outside looks like a little hole in the wall, but the inside is beautifully decorated and feels upscale. The service can be a hit or miss during a busy dinner rush, but most of the time they are very friendly and always have good recommendations of what to order. Come during Happy Hour (3-6pm everyday) for a less crowded dinner and to save some money on drinks. $3 tap beers (they have Berryessa IPA!) I almost always get the Saag and Tofu (made Vegan, with no Paneer) and a side of Alu Paratha (flat bread filled with potatoes, made Vegan when you ask for no butter on top). The Okra (Bhindi Masala) is also really really tasty too! I would suggest getting the entrees a la carte and ordering a side of rice or naan to go with it. That usually ends up being cheaper than doing the $3.50 extra to make it a meal, where they give you less of your entree for some non-rememberable sides. The veggie pakoras and momos are also really tasty. I'm not a big fan of their samosas, but I'm not really a samosa person. The saag and tofu and $3 Berryessa beers definitely keeps me coming back at least once a month!
(5)Elaine F.
I came here multiple times since I love Indian food. This place always hit the spot. I love getting their garlic naan and chicken tikka masala. I have gone to many Indian resturants around the Sacramento and Bay Area, but this place is still my favorite. They give you such a huge portion of curry that it is enough to share with two people. The staff are all friendly and we are always seated immediately. I would recommend coming in during lunch hours if its your first time here since you are able to sample many of their different curries and will know what to order the next time you come back. I know this place can be a bit pricey sometimes for college students, but check out groupon before coming here, since they have groupon deals here. The downside is that you can't use your groupon during the lunch buffet hours, but if you are a student bring your ID to get $1 off. I highly recommend this place. You seriously will not be disappointed.
(5)Edgar C.
The food and service was outstanding! My Girlfriend bought a Groupon voucher worth $20 for ten bucks. Highly recommend to look for this deal. We ordered the chicken tikka masala (can't go wrong), but the highlight of the night was definitely the Vegetable Korma. You MUST try it. I eat Indian food ALL the time and this is by far one of my favorite veggie dish. Finally, the Naan and rice portions are okay but you will definitely need to order more. If I'm not mistaken is $1 more per additional side of rice and Naan. Enjoy!
(4)Andriana M.
Reminded me of my childhood in India. The food was excellent, the service was amazing, the restaurant is beautiful and warm and the price is right :)
(5)Nick G.
Excellent food at a reasonable price. The lunch buffet is a good value but come with a big appetite, but save room for the rice pudding. My favorites are the chicken tikka masala, vegetable korma, and as an appetizer (or even as a dessert) the kabuli naan. If you get your entrees 'thali' they come with several excellent sides... for the money its worth it.
(5)Vivian C.
Yelp why would you lie to me like this :( I would give this place two stars but I feel the need to combat the high score Yelp has given this place. The one extra star I would award is for the extremely kind waitress who was so patient with my Groupon at the end. Long story short: THE SERVICE SUCKS AND IT IS OVERPRICED. Came in on a Sunday around 7pm with a friend. The place was about 1/3 full, nothing most restaurants couldn't handle. Since it was my first time here I didn't know what to do and even though there were a few waiters around, no one even acknowledged us or gave us a "we'll be one second." Eventually a waiter came and seated us. I wouldn't call him rude but he wasn't pleasant either. He gave us a deadpan look, brought us to our seats and left without saying anything. Not the first impression a person would want. My friend and I were starving because we were waiting to have a nice meal here. We were seated in a booth/chair right by the bathroom entrance. We waited 40 minutes since deciding our orders, for a waiter, and that was after we spent countless attempts trying to flag someone down. I started taking out my phone and writing my yelp review but we finally got someone to notice us. (Also note, we weren't the only people in this seating area). The same guy who seated us took our order. This time I noted he was dressed a lot less formally than all the other waiters. He did not offer any apology for our wait. He didn't smile or really say anything at all. He asked what we wanted, took our order and left. The food came in around 10-15 minutes and all I can say is meh. The food is fine but nothing special. It's a SLIGHTLY better version of what you would receive from most of the other Nepalese places around Davis. I personally still prefer Yeti. At this point it was around 9pm and the place was almost cleared out so we were finally getting some attention. We got our waters refilled once or twice and the rest of the meal went just fine. Although the food was ok it was not worth the price or the frustration. Especially since the food is not very noteworthy in comparison to most other places, I don't understand how this place can justify charging what it does. Even with my groupon I was paying an absurd amount of money for what I received. The Groupon was $10 for $20 for 2 people by the way. But overall, I would not have wanted to pay more than 10 dollars for the meal I had. Between the service and cost I would not come here again.
(1)Nichole V.
Wow! I mean wow! This place is amazing! The parking can be a little challenging. The restaurant is dark, but light enough to be able to read the menu just fine. I loved the light up bar. It changes color. I ordered the vegan sampler. I know it's a little pricey ($13), but I will honestly say it is worth the price! Plus it is a ton of food. I actually ended up taking half home for another full meal. The sampler gives you a taste of everything. The sauces are fantastic! Make sure you have a full drink because the potato dish and the garbanzo bean dish are spicy. The other dishes and sauces are very mild. The environment is very mellow and relaxing. The booths are nice and tall. This would be a perfect date night spot.
(5)Ruth A.
I have eaten many times at Kathmandu kitchen.. Initially, 7 years ago, I was not impressed. After living out-of-state with 3 local family owned Indian Restaurant's where the food was amazing it's hard to settle for mediocre. yet, I tried it a few more times then became a "regular". I believe they'd hired a new cook because the quality had improved..but lately, the quality has deteriorated to the point where after today's ghastly lunch (unless hell freezes over or they get a new chef) I will not be patronizing Kathmandu ever again. The last time I ate at Kathmandu ( 2 weeks ago)the yogurt was so bitter I thought it was bad. The Dal was burnt! But the two dishes that I absolutely love the Chana Masala and the Mughlai saag were still edible, though less tasty than I remembered... The Papadam (crispy seasoned bread) and Tandoori chicken were the saving grace. Today, I was headed for sushi at Sushi Fuji" but was too late for lunch.. the next choice was to give Kathmandu another try... Today's meal was altogether Awful! Various dishes were flavorless and what flavor they had... I wish I hadn't tasted. The Mughlia aka {creamed spinach} was bland. I'm not sure what the other dish I love is called but it is usually delicious! It's Chickpeas in a rich, flavorful sauce..but at today's meal it was so bland as to resemble cardboard. I then tried the chicken curry.. It tasted like what I imagined dog food would taste like. yecch! I did try..I really did..after trying the chicken curry, in desperation I tried another curry called masala curry {It's bright orange} It tasted quite odd {as though the cook had dumped sugar in it}.. I sampled a number of things avoiding the yogurt out of fear of a recurrence of bitterness. I even tried the rice pudding..It was runny and flavorless as well. I finally sampled the Vegetable Pakoras. Thank goodness something was edible! The Pakoras (though cold) had a great flavor to the batter and the veggies were moist. The tandoori chicken was also good though only warm.. It is a shame.. The setting is dark but inviting. I've always loved the fireplace on a rainy day..People love to eat and this restaurant could be very successful. The food they serve at the farmers market is usually high quality and delicious. I don't know what's going on here with the chefs and quality control but it needs to be addressed promptly..It's a shame to see people working so hard to produce a so many dishes that are such poor quality and essentially inedible. I also noticed very few people there.. I do think the owners should take notice and address the issues before this restaurant goes out of business.
(1)Hardeep S.
Been coming to this place for years and it is hands down my fav restaurant in northern California. There chow noodles are amazing as is the butter chicken and garlic naan. I would usually come for the buffet and ask for fresh garlic naan which are good!
(5)Wade P.
Called on the phone to inquire about food and the worst service EVER! I was passed around to other people within the establishment and got nowhere. Never again!.
(2)Alex L.
I chose this as a dinner meeting spot in Davis, and unfortunately it's one of the few places I've picked based solely on Yelp reviews that doesn't live up to the hype. The vibe is a cross between classic Indian restaurant and Davis pub, with big private booths and a central bar area. We were unfortunately seated across from the bar, so the entire meal I was distracted by a running loop of incredibly odd and sometimes annoying Indian-themed music videos and commercials on the TV directly opposite from us. The food was decent, although a little too heavy on the sauces for my taste and served with a naan that didn't match the flavor or heartiness of that at Monsoon or Bombay in Sacramento. The service was far from spectacular as well. It took us close to half an hour before we were asked for drinks, then about the same amount of time to get our food after we ordered it. Besides the couple times he ordered our food and drinks, out server was otherwise M.I.A. and there was no one else to flag down for napkins or refills. The biggest cut in my star rating is reserved for the price. This isn't three dollar sign fine dining here. Yet for three people, with three drinks and three basic dishes we shared, it cost close to $120! That's not money I'd want to be spending for a casual dinner out mid-week, especially if I were a broke college kid.
(2)Allan G.
The food was good but the add ins were incredibly expense. We did take out with two small pint size entrees (half full) and an order of nan. $27. We are light eaters and we were starved at the end of our meal. Come on guys, we know what vegetables cost and you had about $5 of cost In your dishes. I believe in everyone should make a profit but this is excessive.
(2)Grace O.
Ambiance is average, feels not super clean. I've been for the lunch buffet, take out and dine in for dinner. The food is pretty decent-good but nothing amazing. I would recommend the non buffet items as they are fresher and tastier.
(3)redtulip s.
Quaint, nice people but the food was nothing to write home about. Bland. Will not come back.
(2)Sandeep P.
Always authentic delicious food with the service match. Olivia has to be the best waitress on the planet and the owner is always very friendly! We love this place and the people who run it.
(5)Duane K.
lol order delievered but different from the photo.they refuse to fix it. S place. Who tries this place who is dumb. Food is also not as good as yeti.
(1)Mister N.
Definitely a great place. The meals are on par. Be sure to order things spicy, because they really aren't that hot. Good place... I liked how the korma came with broccoli. Yummy!!!
(5)Erik N.
This was my first, true experience with Indian food (I had a nibble here and there before, but never a full meal). I'm going to straight up admit that I feel like a complete fool for avoiding Indian food for so long. See, I know I absolutely hate curry. I mean, I really can't stand it. I would only eat it if I was literally starving and it was all that was available. It simply does not agree with me. Now here's where my total foolishness comes into play. Umm, Erik, not all Indian food is made with curry. I'm actually surprised I ever thought that. I actually *read* the menu item descriptions and realized, at least at Kathmandu, curry was not a prevalent ingredient at all. I also don't like lamb much, but I'm definitely going to try some Indian Lamb dishes since I've only had lamb in American steakhouses. Now, I ordered a chicken tikka kebab (I'm quite unfamiliar with Indian foods, as I mentioned, so please forgive if I'm not writing a name correctly) that was served on a sizzling iron platter. It. Was. So. Good. With peppers, onions, cabbage, and spiced with cumin and other things I could not identify. Served with four pieces of naan (Kathmandu naan: I could probably just eat that and be totally satisfied) and a bowl of basmati rice. My friends all ordered various vegetable-based dishes (paneer tikka masala, dal, some sort of spinach dish) and they are served on huge platters with sides, rice, naan, and other things. I mean, HUGE platters! For around 10-12 bucks each! Most of us had abundant leftovers. Everything had peppers, and spices, and you could even select from one of FOUR spicy levels! Like custom-tailored plates. Service-wise, I loved our waiter. She was so gracious and friendly. Being very attentive and making sure all our needs were met. My party actually indicated that they had been served by her before and said she is always super nice. I really need to start remembering their names so I can mention them in reviews. The busing staff was a little...awkward, but that's excusable, it's not like they were terrible or anything. The restaurant itself is nice. Indian decor, Indian music videos playing over the bar (I do love Indian music both traditional and pop...again, where the @&#! have I been without the food?!). I'm definitely going to try Kathmandu again, since their prices were good and their portions generous. It's a good thing they were my first then, because they might stay my favorite. But I will have to try the competition now too! Oh yeah, Spicy Cilantro Margarita. Wow. Thumbs up.
(4)Robert S.
As someone who has spent considerable amounts of time in India and Nepal, I can wholeheartedly recommend Kathmandu Kitchen over other Indian restaurants in Davis. The food is outstanding and on par with restaurants in South Asia. Whatever you order will be delicious, although I'm especially fond of their take on chicken tikka masala. They also serve Indian beers and their kulfi (ice cream) tastes just like my favorite brand found in India. Happy hour is a great deal if you enjoy classic Indian appetizers like samosa, pakora, et al. It's hard to find good Indian restaurants outside of larger metropolitan areas, so I'm beholden to this place.
(5)Dave U.
Solid lunch place to get a buffet! 4 stars. A friendly staff greeted me upon entering and the interior looks very nice with a cool and soft lit atmosphere. The salad was just iceberg and cucumbers but it was crisp and fresh. All* of the dishes available in the self serve buffet were good and had their own distinct flavor. Often in buffets I find all of the food tastes are mixed and things taste like each other. It's as if there are no dedicated cookware to specific recipes. Any way, that is not the case here. This is a good choice for a lunch if you want to sample everything. * I only tried the vegetarian dishes. I can't speak for the meat.
(4)Kristy O.
Really yummy AYCE buffet with options you don't see other places (like shish kabob and noodles) and they aren't afraid of making it spicy! Also very affordable at $9.95. Came here with a friend that swears this is his favorite restaurant and now I understand why! The only downside was that I asked for chai without sugar, was assured that it came without but that was not the case. The waiter continued to insist it was sugar-free but I know better. But other than that the service was great and they let us linger for a very long time without any hassles.
(5)Tony U.
In the competitive Downtown Davis of places to eat, this offers excellent prices for curry based buffet style Indian food. The interior is very dark and cool providing an excellent shelter on a hot Davis Summer day. The decor's not all that interesting but the environments comfortably social and this is an excellent place to eat if you in a large group. The buffet offers some basic rice pudding dessert with chopped canteloupes, a soaked sweetened donut hole of some sort (sweet but tasty) a basic salad, cucumbers, white and brown rice, various types of chicken (tandoori, curry, and a few others), curry lamb, lentil soup and a bunch of other items. All in all, everything's edible and tastes pretty good. Nothing super memorable, but I enjoyed myself. For $9.95, the price is very good. Would eat here again. Service is self-served and very informal. Had no issues with the staff. Restroom convenient and clean.
(3)Mindy Y.
Came here for diner with my girl friends for dinner and drinks. Told the servers - surprise us with some crazy drinks... Oh yeah.. they were good! I had some SPICY mixed drink and Oh man... it was HELLA GOOD. Would someone tell me what it was? SERVICE: Fantastic service! Our server gave us some awesome recommendations and, yes, will come back and get it again. FOOD: Chicken Tikka Masala - 4 stars OVERALL: coming back for more drinks! woots!
(4)Samantha N.
Dim lighting with plenty of seating. We were seated right away with our server coming right away. Me and my boyfriend had a groupon ($8 for $20-- 20% off groupon original $10). We ordered tandoori chicken with thali extra, one chicken tikka masala and a side of garlic basil naan. The thali extra was a good one to share since it just has little sides plus rice and two pieces of naan. The chicken tikka masala was soo good and by far our favorite dish there. It came in a separate bowl. The sauce and naan or rice is the best combination. The tandoori chicken was pretty cool. It was on a hot plate on top of some veggies. It had a hint of lime that was tasty. The thali extra came on a different plate so the portion of the chicken was not reduced by the thali extra. The only think on the thali I like was the vegetable curry. The garlic basil naan was good. It came with three pieces. It wasn't as fluffy as the naan I usually eat but it was definitely delicious. The bill came out to be $36-$8(spent on groupon) making our grand total $28. Still pretty expensive with the groupon, but the food and service was good. Nice place to try. Next time I might skip the groupon and check our their lunch buffet.
(4)Addison M.
This place was so delicious! The lighting was little dark but the buffet was very delicious and I kept on going back for more even though I was already full!
(5)Arrow B.
First time for me to eat here. The food tasty but cold. Hope they have the food warm and fresh.
(3)Sunny H.
Let me start off by saying I do not know much about Indian food. Some of my best friends are Indian but I didn't develop a taste for Indian food until now. I will say that I love spicy foods and would elope with them in the pop-up wedding chapel at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas if I could, so my review may be a little biased. Went with my roommates for our first dinner as roommates. I was happy to find that they sold Groupon vouchers. A lot of the Yelp reviews I read said things can get pricey and I'm ballin' on a budget fosho'. I got the chicken tikka masala thali style. The chicken tikka masala was great, the perfect amount of heat and flavor in my opinion. The naan was good but there wasn't enough of it especially since you have to pay extra for it. Everything else on the plate was meh to me. I think next time I'll stick with the chicken tikka masala a la carte and add a side of naan. I believe they deliver so that is a plus. I've often sat in my apartment contemplating whether or not I should have spicy chunks of chicken goodness delivered to my door (or mouth rather). But then I think about the prices and the delivery charge and decide it is not worth it. That's when $3.95 Trader Joe's frozen chicken tikka masala comes in handy. Overall, I had a positive experience. A more true rating would be 3.5 stars. Waitress could have been a little more attentive but we weren't in a rush so it was fine. Would not go back for dinner again unless I had a Groupon. I look forward to trying out their lunch buffet someday. Hopefully the lunch stuff is of the same quality as dinner so I can try a wider variety of dishes.
(3)Michael K.
I like Indian food. I eat a lot of it. And, to be fair the food at Katmandu Kitchen is good. But I only give them two-stars because . . . 1. EVEN if you tell them you want your food "mild" . . . like, literally tell them three or four times in ONE SITTING, you will not get mild food. You will got spicy food. Every. Time. Seriously. I've ordered food from them about half a dozen times and this is always an issue. So if you're spice-sensative this is not the restaurant for you. 2. Their specialty naans aren't that special. The garlic one is good - but not the rest. Especially their paneer naan; that ones pretty unspectacular. 3. There's a language barrier. This isn't a deal breaker for me since, hello, most of the guys that work there speak English as a second language. But it does make ordering by phone a bit of an ordeal. 4. Take this with a grain of salt, since everyone has a different constitution, but their food rarely sits right. I don't know if its over-rich, or over-spicy, over-raw, or I'm just over it, but when I eat here, about an hour later my stomach complains. As in, complains like I've eaten steel wool sopped in Ebola. It is an understatement to say it is unpleasant; Tums doesn't begin to address the situation and whoever your sleeping partner is, they're likely to flee to to the couch for the night (for reasons I need not get into here, but that I trust are self-evident). All that said, Katmanda serves good food and they're very nice - its just spicy and in some respects so-so, a bit of a pain to order, and "challenging" to digest. That's my to cents.
(2)Rhiannon K.
I love this place, everything we ordered was great..and the drinks were perfect! I had a mojito, and my boyfriend had a spicy margarita. The service was ok, and it was a bit pricey. Overall, a good experience.
(3)Joel W.
Beware of Davis! The delightful Kathmandu Kitchen on Broadway has offered Groupons in the past. A year ago when searching Sacramento restaurants, I saw the name pop again (Downtown Core) and quickly purchased another. Unfortunately, downtown this time meant 30 miles away in Davis. The promotional value quickly expired, but we were assured by Groupon the "paid" amount could be applied to any future services received from the Davis location. Over two years later we happened to be in Davis and decided to apply our paid $10 voucher value towards two lunch buffets. Kathmandu Kitchen in Davis refused, pointing out that Groupons could not be combined with other offers. We had no choice but to order off the menu if we wanted to at least utilize our already paid $10. We then observed our waiter utilizing the same buffet tables for our food. So we got to eat the same food as everyone else in the restaurant, but at twice the cost. Real nice folks there in Davis. The staff on Broadway in Sacramento are much nicer.
(1)Jessica H.
I have been a patron of Katmandu since 2006. I have never been disappointed by the quality of the food. The service is good and the food does not take too long. I love the lamb lal maas and the stuffed naan is delicious. I always love going to katmandu!!
(5)Kelly T.
I came back here with another groupon deal. This time, we ordered the butter chicken and the chicken curry, both medium spice. The chicken curry was pretty terrible, way too much ginger and not enough creaminess. On the other hand, the butter chicken was amazing! I'd order this over the chicken tikka masala any day. For that dish and that dish alone, I upped their star rating. All the reviews talk about the chicken tikka masala, but trust me, the butter chicken is where it's really at. The pricing is still too high for what it is, but it'll have to do when in craving for it and I'm in Davis.
(4)Alex K.
Kathmandizee is definitely one of the best spots for lunch or dinner in Davis. This place consistently throws down good food, be it from their lunch buffet or their incredible dinner selection. The lunch buffet is always on point with a good variety. The service is usually good, but it can get spotty sometimes. I had one of the most impressive meals in Davis here, and that's why I'm going with a solid 5 stars here. The Kitchen Special is a rack of lamb in spinach curry. It is one of the best Indian dishes I've ever had. I really didn't think all of that would have gone together, but of course it was the best thing I've had at Kathmandu. And I have been here more than a few times.. maybe 20 or so. If you can throw down for this meal during dinner, it will not disappoint. The bar area has changed since I went to school at UCD, and I think it's really trying to be trendier. It still wouldn't be my first choice to hang out and drink, but hey at least they're giving it a shot. The bar area looks nice now!
(5)Robyn B.
This place was awesome! Most of the people I was with hadn't had Indian food before and our waitress suggested all good dishes that everyone truly enjoyed! The service was great, the restaurant was nice, and the food was great. Definitely will go back!!
(5)Forata M.
=== RATING/REVIEW BASED ON FOOD & SERVICE - AT DINNER === 5 STARS - FOOD, 4 STAR - SERVICE Food and service are great! Their Navrattan Korma is like the 1st time I had it (which was the first Indian dish I had ever had and that which made me fall in love
(5)Katie E.
Stopped in for the lunch buffet today. Almost picked another spot due to a local business owner telling my friend and I that this place was expensive and that we could find better food elsewhere. I'm sure glad we didn't listen!! While the regular menu items looked to be priced about average for indian food and the Thali plates looked reasonably priced for the amount of food, we both opted for the buffet. For $8.95 it was a steal! My favorite buffet items were the lamb curry and the vegetable Korma. The korma was something I had never tried and it was out of this world! The veggies were simple (carrots and peas), but the sauce was so complex and flavorful. At first bite it was sweet (I think from the cashews), but it had just enough spice at the finish to satisfy a heat lovers pallet. The lamb was tender and the curry sauce was excellent. The naan and veggie pakora could have been a little warmer/crisper, but it's a buffet so understandable. I really enjoyed the accompanying raita and mint/cilantro chutney. The service could have been a little more attentive, as we had to track them down to get the bill, but at the end of our meal one of the waiters took the time to point out our favorite buffet items on the menu for us so we could order them next time. I will be back for dinner!
(4)Kay M.
My husband and I stepped in to this restaurant by accident. We were so glad we did though. Service was great, up scale decor, and food was fantastic. It is a little more expensive than your average Indian restaurant, but they do serve great food so I did not care. They have a lot of vegetarian/vegan menu as well which it helps me a lot. Side note: Don't be brave when you order. If you say spicy, it comes really SPICY. I ordered mine with mild and it was just right spicy level for me. (Trust me, I can eat spicy food) My husband, however, he was sweating after eating his spicy curry. I can't wait for the next visit!
(5)Cindy C.
The food tastes good here but is also significantly more expensive than other Indian restaurants in Davis. The restaurant also portrays a more up-scale/formal environment to go with the escalated prices. I did like the rich flavor of the curry and the naan was decent. Would probably be willing to come here more often if it weren't so expensive.
(4)Kelley O.
We LOVE Katmandu Kitchen. They have the best drinks in Davis. Try the Spicy Cilantro Margarita.. its seriously our favorite drink. We go there regularly after work because you simply can not get this drink anywhere else. And I haven't even mentioned the food yet. I have only eaten the vegetarian meals, but everything is great. The samosas are stand out for sure. If I had a friend visiting town this would be the place I'd take them for dinner. From Chris and Kelley, your number one fans!
(5)Mia C.
I have mixed opinions about this place. Food was good, but I didn't like their service. And the strangest part was that the menu looked exactly like Bombay grill in Sacramento.
(3)Daniel H.
For our 2nd year anniversary, my then girlfriend took me to this place to celebrate. I'd never tried Indian food before, but I'm always up to try new things. The aroma was just seething from this place and making my taste buds water. Why would my buds water for food they've never had before? Interesting. As usual, trying to find parking in downtown Davis sucks. We're much better off biking here, but I'm a classy guy so I drive my lovely lady around. Service is hit or miss. Our first time here the service was friendly and our food arrived promptly. Another time, it took a while before they brought out our food and they barely said a few words to us. However, the food speaks for itself. It was delicious. If you order an entree I recommend getting it "Thali" because it comes with more sides and naan. If you're a poor college student, which you most likely are, go hit up the Indian buffet to get your money's worth.
(3)Gabriella M.
OVERALL: Service THUMBS DOWN Flavor THUMBS DOWN Value THUMBS DOWN The food was simply not flavorful. The chicken curry was watery and flavorless. Simply not worth the money. If you had delicious flavorful food you wouldn't need a belly dancer. I've been to Mediterranean restaurants that had belly dancers and it was great, it just felt really awkward and out of place here. The service wasn't good. The food and service weren't worth it. I'd rather drive a few extra minutes and go to Dixon for actual delicious food. Curry, naan, saag, appetizer sampler, none of them were worth the money. Just not well done. Perhaps, if you are not familiar with Indian food and how it's supposed to taste this will work for you. otherwise, drive to Dixon there's a delicious place there. I haven't tried the other places in town. I think most of these reviews must be from college students who don't know better, but INCONSISTENCY seems to be a pretty strong theme. Bar drink was also weak, tiny, and expensive.
(2)Anoop G.
I used to eat here a lot on my way to the Bay Area, but those trips are much less frequent now. The two issues I have with this place are the cleanliness and the inconsistency of information from the servers when asking for food without onions and garlic. And despite being very clear about that requirement, this last time, the food showed up with green onions. Otherwise, the service is reasonably friendly, and the food taste and freshness are about average of what you'd find at any other Indian restaurant, which IMO, is barely passable.
(3)Conner S.
Awesome food! Usually a masala guy, so I ordered that. It was amazing! Other people I was with got lentil daal and it was probably the best thing I've ever tried. Naan was amazing: got the geoupon so basically got 50% off, even without that I would still reccomend this place! All 4 of us loved it!
(5)steve c.
Well, I'll start off with a slightly different take than Eva B's- I'm surprised to see any bad reviews on here (not saying they are false, I can't vouch for anyone else's experience but my own), I was most definitely pleased with my visit). Came here on a Saturday night- guys night out, me and 3 buddies doing dinner and then seeing the movie Fury (which was bomber by the way, excellent flick). It's not often we have the opportunity to get together for a night out, as we're all in our 40's with families. Saw a Groupon for this place, figured why not. Met up with the guys at 5:45. So, keeping in mind that all four of us can put away quite a bit of food and beer (bill came to about 120.00), we ordered the following and did family style: Chicken Tikka Masala Lamb Vindaloo Lamb / Chicken Kabob Mutter Paneer Nepali Samosa Vegetable Momo Here's the cons: #1. The Nepali Samosa was ok. Not fabulous, not bad... decent. Maybe a little more crust than inside filling, but I really dont have a complaint about this one. #2. That's it The pros: Vegetable Momo- An enjoyable appetizer. Not too much dumpling and too little insides, which often happens with dumplings, potstickers, etc. I liked this very much. Chicken Tikka Masala- Seems that the most popular dish on the Yelp reviews is the Chicken Tikka Masala- for good reason. It was good, really good. Good like, I'm thinking about it Sunday morning at 10:31 while having my toast and coffee. I'd mainline that sauce if I had a needle and bag. I wish I'd thought of ordering some more to take home. Meat was perfectly cooked. And did I mention the sauce? Lamb Vindaloo- Again, very good. The sauce was not as ethereal as the Chicken Masala, but honestly, sex in a bowl would be hard to compete with the Chicken M. Lamb was cooked perfectly and the sauce totally popped out at you. Excellent spice spectrum. Lamb / Chicken kabob- Came in chunks on a sizzling hot plate with peppers, onions and other odds and ends. This is what a Fajita plate wishes it could be. Both meats were cooked P.E.R.F.E.C.T.L.Y. The chunks were succulent and spices were phenomenal. Mutter Paneer- My buddy wanted to try this; I had reservations because it's a veggie dish, and we're four "guys" guys. Really dude? BUT- quite good. The sauce was very tasty and the vegetables where cooked just right and popped with taste. Kulfi- We all tried a little Kulfi ice cream. It was super tasty, there was a unique taste to it, which I'm guessing was the saffron. I'm not positive only because I've never had saffron- but regardless, it was very very good. Dense, sweet and an excellent finish to the meal. They had a great selection of beers, from local and somewhat local breweries, along with the regular domestics and imports. Last, the final important piece to making the picture complete- the service. It was excellent. Our server was named Olivia, and she was great. Attentive with an excellent demeanor and sense of humor- we were bantering back and forth the whole night, we made her laugh she made us laugh. Really enjoyed her customer service. As I said, some of the reviews here surprise me, based on my experience. I'll have to do an N of 3 to see if it remains consistent.
(5)Elieke D.
My favorite Indian restaurant in Davis! And believe me I have tried almost every single one! Kathmandu's service is excellent: the staff is always very attentive, they are quick to seat you, give you enough time to figure out what to order (although is you are like us you already know what you want when you walk in the door and could order immediately). Our water glasses were never empty, and they checked in on us just enough to feel valued but not too often. The food is oh-so-delicious! We ordered Veggie Momo's as an appetizer which was the perfect amount for the 2 of us to get our mouths watering for the entree. These little steamed dumplings filled with flavorful vegetables were accompanied with 2 perfectly spiced dipping sauces. For the entree I ordered the Saag & Tofu with Paratha (the whole wheat naan substitue) and a side of rice was included. My boyfriend ordered his go-to Indian entree - Chicken Tikka Masala with a side of Basil Naan. When you place your order you will be asked how spicy you want your meal on a scale of mild-medium-spicy-very spicy. I went for "spicy" which was perfect!! Oh my mouth is watering as I am typing up this review. I can not wait to go back soon and use the Group-on I purchased this morning! --GO TO GROUP-ON NOW! TIP: happy hour ends at 6pm so take advantage of not only their drink deals but also the appetizer discount!
(5)G H.
meh, like between 3.5 and 4. this place has grown on me i guess. The online ordering is super convenient and they're open late which is great for students. Ifyou order to go they ALWAYS give you a $5 off coupon, so it makes it worth it to come back. I don't eat here every time i want indian-ish type food, but it's in my steady rotation. We like the Himalayan appetizer platter and vegetable biryani in particular, but have gotten other stuff before and it was fine. Con: can be hit or miss with the spicy-ness level sometimes.
(4)Alan H.
I think they switched owners, and their food seems to have changed along with it for the better. Back when my family and I first came here in '10, the food was extremely overpriced and mediocre, but now, though still overpriced, the food is now quite good. We went on a Saturday, and I knew that we couldn't have lunch buffet as a buffet is no way to eat food and looked quite old because i don't think Davisites flock to a hot indian buffet on an even hotter Saturday. So, we ordered a tikka masala, for my parents who don't enjoy spicy food as much as I, and I got a chicken vindaloo. Whoo! The vindaloo was extremely spicy, but still maintained an incredible flavor profile that wasn't just overwhelmingly just pepper and curry as most Indian places seem to be resorting to. The tikka masala was quite good as well as the yoghurt wasn't too overwhelming. Their naan was quite fluffy and buttery. The only downside to our meal was the price. Each dish was around $12-$13, and though it did include rice, they were still asking for a lot. Oh service, was pretty good also. Decor reminds me of a round table 'restaurant' that caught on fire a few months back.
(4)Sarwenaj A.
Great food and wonderful service. It was a great experience. Great vegetable korma and lamb kebab.
(4)Katie S.
Like most Indian buffets, Kathmandu offers: chicken tikka masala chicken curry lamb curry chicken makhani (butter chicken in creamy sauce) chicken tandoori reshami kabab (skewered minced chicken) vegetable korma vegetable samosas chicken pakoras dal (Lentil Soup) saag paneer (spinach cooked with Indian cheese) aloo gobi (cauliflower and potatoes) chana masala (garbanzo beans curry) naan papadum Dessert: kheer (rice pudding) oranges and melons jello and more... Their food wasn't bad. Everything had good flavor and was spiced right. But service wasn't exactly up to par.. they weren't very tentative to picking up dirty plates. And everything was just really greasy. Namaste Nepal's buffet is much less greasy: yelp.com/biz/namaste-nep… Sad to say, but I probably won't return to Kathmandu in Davis again. Maybe the one in Sacramento.
(3)Andrew H.
Buffet review: Disappointing buffet. The rice was not cooked in the condensed-milk-rice dessert. Golab-jamon desserts were stale and rubbery, worst my wife and I ever had. Tandor chicken tray was full but all cold. Multiple customers around me all noticed and waited patiently for a new try to come back from the kitchen. Lamb was all gone, but waiting there, unnoticed by staff, until customers asked for a refill. The veg-dishes were very good. Chicken-korma was very good and hot. The spinach was good and chana masala was great. The pakora's were good. Table setting skimps on basics like no-knife without asking, just one napkin. Water never refilled. Server never came to ask if we wanted any other drinks after we were seated. Later at the nearby theatre I asked some locals if they ever eat there. They said yes, but said they ALWAYS order from the menu, never from the buffet. They said the buffet there was not good and cited several similar examples, particularly cold and stale food. Atmosphere is that of a dark pub hastily converted to a restaurant.
(2)Troy M.
NAAN mmm good naan. Get the ASSORTED BREAD BASKET and you get three: Naan, Garlic Naan & Onion Kulcha.
(4)Alex H.
The food at Kathmandu Kitchen is decent. Not exceptional, not bad. I love Indian cuisine, especially fiery hot vindaloo (which was what I ordered here). I think some places take it easy on us white guys unless we insist on extra spicy, but I was not disappointed in the level of heat. Still, the vindaloo just didn't have as much flavor behind the spice as the better ones do. The side dishes were also ok, but nothing I will remember one way or another. My greeting upon entering the restaurant was a bit lackluster, and the ambiance (or lack thereof) didn't do much to enhance the experience. My server, however, was very friendly and attentive--probably the bright spot of the meal. Overall, this place will do in a pinch (e.g. craving Indian food while passing through Davis, CA), but I wouldn't go out of my way to go back.
(2)Robert A.
Highly recommend ordering appetizers that include the Special Jumbo Platter and the Assorted Tandoori Mix Appetizers. Both plates are about 10 dollars but they have a special that is 50 % off and totally worth it. If you like Indian food this is the place. By the way...the spicy cilantro margarita is awesome
(5)Janet H.
Ahhh!!! deeeelish!! I'm gonna come back foshizzle! Definitely gonna try the lunch buffet option next week! Before coming here, I wasn't really hungry... but when I walked in, I was greeted with the pungent smell of curry, which instantly made me hungry and ready to eat all the savory food. The menu had a huge list of different types of food. Of course, it's also veggie-friendly, over a page of lists of different assorted veggies juxtaposed with different curry and spices. It was so hard to pick what to eat! After narrowing down our choices, my friend and I decided to split two different dishes, one with the Thali option, which came with rice, curry of the day, a veggie dish, and naan. I definitely recommend getting the Thali option, which comes with a lot more food and variety for your money. I got the chicken tiki masala. Can I say spine-tinging??? So GOOD! The chicken was a little dry, but the sauce was dangerously delicious. My friend and I chose the "medium" spiciness level (out of mild, medium, and spicy), which wasn't enough for me. Next time I'm going to level it up! But we finished every drop of sauce, dipping our naan in its flavorful goodness. We also split the vegetable sampler... it was pretty good! We kinda made a mistake of ordering it because most of the stuff from the sampler was the same as the chicken tiki masala Thali... alas, I still liked everything there, except for the dumplings? It tasted a little odd to me. Or maybe it's because I prefer Asian dumplings, haha. The potato dish was tasty, and AHH the samosas.. Mmm... stuffed with more potatoes. You can dip it with the curry and it explodes with tanginess in your mouth. My friend ordered the mango drink, which he LOVED. I, unfortunately, didn't really enjoy it.. it tasted weird to me. Eh, I got the Himalayan iced tea (aka the iced chai tea) which was not bad. More on the plain, healthy side, so it had a hint of chai. It wasn't filled with additive sugar like most drinks you order from restaurants. Nonetheless, refreshing. Service was pretty good. Our waitress was pleasant to talk to, and gladly elaborated on the dishes/drinks we ordered. We were neglected, otherwise. There was this other lady who wasn't that accommodating, though. She didn't seem happy to be working. Maybe it's because she's jealous of our freaking chicken tiki masala?! Mwaha. My only disappointment are the portions... Honestly, I felt just full, and we pretty much finished everything. I'd expect lots of leftovers like other Indian restaurants. Oh well. But quality is better than quantity, right?
(4)Amy F.
I was not a regular consumer of Indian cuisine, but when my friend took me to Kathmandu I quickly became a fan. I went to school at UC Davis and I can't figure out why I never discovered the culinary delights of Indian food. My foods of choice are the Veggie Korma and the Chicken Tikki Masala. All dishes come with rice, but make sure you order some naan too. You can't go wrong with plain naan, but the garlic naan is delish too! You can order the food thali (it comes with naan, more rice, and a few other extras), but just having it with rice and naan is more than enough. I've always had great service here as well. Staff are very polite and more than willing to go through the menu with you especially if your new to Indian food. The last stop I made in Davis, the waitress was super excited for my sister's boyfriend to try all the food and spent several minutes explaining different dishes he might like. Now go stuff yourself with food, it's what I'd be doing now if I didn't live 45 minutes away.
(4)Madhu M.
Really great food! Spice level was perfect for this South Indian girl. Portions were large. Great service. Reasonable prices. Definitely worth a try.
(5)Jenny O.
LOVE the vibe here...friendly servers, dark wooden booths, good smelling food, and the fireplace. Bf and I chickened out of ordering a la carte and ended up with the lunch buffet. It's your typical and even slightly expanded Indian buffet with salad, yogurt, rice, chicken tikka masala, a goat curry, pakoras, etc. It's $9 per person at lunch and the food was pretty good, albeit standard. This place offers a pretty good value. Did I mention the fireplace? I can't wait to visit this place again on a cold blustery day to enjoy the fireplace.
(4)Chef M.
We ended up at this place on the way back form Tahoe, and based on yelp reviews. Very good food, very good prices and friendly staff. We will go again.
(4)Jenny M.
I also was wavering between a 3 and a 4, but went with a 4 since this is my Indian restaurant of choice in Davis and therefore felt it deserved a little boost. Sometimes the food here is just okay, and sometimes it's great. My favorite dish is the baigan bharta, which is a kind of mashed eggplant (it's amazing, I promise!), and it's usually delicious but once or twice has been bland and too oily. This seems to be the general theme - maybe they just have an off night every once in awhile. They also tend to under-spice, so I always ask for things extra spicy, but their spicing can be annoyingly inconsistent so it occasionally comes way too spicy. Grrr. The chicken dishes seem to be pretty consistently good, though. The naan is always good, too. Garlic naan is my crack. I can't ever get enough. I've always gotten everything to go, too, so can't really speak to the service and atmosphere, or to the buffet. The service at the to-go counter is usually rushed and impersonal, but who really cares? Pricing is pretty standard for decent Indian fare, and you can also usually find coupons online for discounts on take-out and eat-in, which makes things even better.
(4)Allie F.
Love this place. Great Food and lovely IPA on tap. Service is always awesome. I come here often with my 3 year old and they're always warm and welcoming. When I have family in town I always make sure to take them here as well.
(5)Vanessa S.
Horrible customer service. Every time I bring my vegan friend here for lunch buffet they stare at me like an idiot when I try to figure out which entrees are vegan. NO HELP AT ALL. Every single time. I'm so over this place. I keep coming back because they have the vegetable korma on the buffet and it is literally life changing good. Other than that I hate everything about this place.
(1)Allison H.
Next time, tell me there are freakin' jalapenos in the curry side salad potato dish thing! The service was GREAT! Friendly people, prompt food delivery, and fun.. all three or four of the servers that came to our table (a little bizarre, but it made me feel like it was a family affair more than a tag-team effort). Booth seating made it super romantic for my friend and I, we felt like we were in our own, private Indian food smorgasbord (which was probably why we ate like it, too). Next time I'll have to ask for a completely open table so I am inclined to dine more lady-like. We got the fried cheese fritter things. Yum! The cheese tasted like soy, though, not gooey like I'd imagined. The naan is so yum. We tried the cilantro one and it wasn't a real herby overload so you could take it or leave it (if you don't mind paying the price for something that is just as good without). If you get the meals, they come with naan as well as rice and several other sides so I would caution against getting another order of it, unless you eat a ton of naan or plan on sharing with someone who didn't order the meal. I got the chicken masala. The masala was good, the chicken sucked. I don't even know what to say beyond that. It was dry and .. just sucked. I'll get masala something else next time. Other than that, definitely Indiawesome! I'll go back.
(4)Kevin N.
The lunch buffet is a great way to try a wide variety of foods. I have almost zero experience with Indian food, so I don't have much to compare to, but everything I tried tasted pretty good. The chicken in the yellow sauce was one of my favorite dishes. The booth at the Farmer's Market on Wednesday nights is a good value. You get a big plate of the same type of food they have available during the lunch buffet for under $10.
(4)CrapulentMoose ..
I have to say that this is just another disappointing Indian restaurant in the Sacramento area. I was hoping for much better after looking at the Yelp reviews, but wound up with one mouthful of mediocrity after another as I battled my way through the goop buffet in search of something I actually liked. On the plus side, the staff was really attentive and friendly, but my girlfriend had to wait outside while I paid with her credit card because she was going to barf.
(2)Jennifer W.
Kathmandu was a great Indian place to get dinner! The staff was really nice and attentive. I ordered the vegetarian sampler and the garlic cilantro naan which was delicious. My boyfriend also got a smoothie and we spent about $30 on dinner. My only complaint is that their chai tea wasn't chai tea...it tasted like regular tea with a bunch of milk mixed in it. Gross!
(4)Jason A.
Rated it a 4 because I've only been here once and the food was amazing and service was great as well. I suggest it to all. I'll be heading there again next week and I'll order something different and see if it changes;-)
(4)Nora I.
The service was excellent! I forgot the waitress's name but she is the best at getting your order right. She was wearing the nicest earrings too, I think I asked her the last time I was here (a year ago) and she said she makes earrings. I had the best saffron pistachio kulfi, it's to die for. Great Palak paneer and chicken tikka. Order the garlic naan and side of rice. Love the portions, we were 3 people and had plenty of left overs, was definitely enough for 4.
(5)Melinda F.
Would have been four stars if the lunch buffet hadn't had so many luke warm items. Flavor good but not spicy enough. Good value, about eight bucks for the lunch buffet with a student id (a dollar off). Would go again.
(3)Tien N.
Nothing compares to kathmandu! The tikka marsala, mango lassi (regular or alcoholic), naan, and samosa are bomb.com . The tikka and rice is so flavorful with tons of chicken. Just the right amount of spice and hotness. I drool just thinking about it. The naan is fresh and piping hot when served. The lassi OMG!!! It is addicting. Great service, food, and atmosphere.
(5)Kyle J.
One of the best restaurants of all time. Feels great to be a regular. The food is delicious. The prices are very reasonable. The beer on tap is local. Lots of booth space. The service is perfect.
(5)Sharon O.
My first experience at Kathmandu Kitchen in the summer of 2010 was not the greatest. The food was fine, the ambiance was lacking and the service was mediocre. Since then, November/December 2011, we dined at multiple points and were seated right in front of the fireplace and were attended to well but without smothering us. We were in no rush one of the times we were there and told the waitress so and she let us spend 3 hours slowly making our way through dinner in front of the fireplace. Food is good, not the absolute best Indian/Nepali food I've ever had, but definitely a solid choice. I'd recommend going here, though I cannot recommend the buffet as I have yet to go -- definitely something I plan to do in the future!
(4)Maggie W.
I've never had Indian food before, and my cousin recommended coming here for dinner to get my first taste of the infamous chicken tikka masala. Although parking is always a terror (to be fair, when isn't it a nightmare in downtown Davis at night?) we managed to find a spot at the ACE hardware store nearby. Upon first entering the restaurant, we caught our first whiff of spices and I really did like the restaurant's classy decor. Thumbs up to the shiny, wooden booths and scenic paintings of Nepal! The naan came out piping hot and fluffy (I nearly burned my mouth in my eagerness to taste it) and it went well with the masala sauce, although it didn't seem to be mixed well since some of the chicken was decidedly much more spicier than the other pieces. I really liked the vegetable curry that came with the thali, and I'm told that it's what samosas are stuffed with. So the next time I visit, I will definitely try out the samosas and the mango lassi. An excellent restaurant, but a bit too pricey for my college budget!
(4)Jenn C.
I walk in, the server asks me how many are in my party, we are seated, she gives us our glasses of water, and we never see or hear from her again. Confused and a little rejected, we scan the room looking for guidance, the punch line, something, anything. Nothing. "Well, I guess we're eating at the buffet!" They ran out of naan quickly and often, and were slow to replenish. It also got a little tricky when all of the bowls near the bottom of the stack were dirty. These shortcomings are are forgiven because Kathmandu Kitchen is good cheap eats and cheap good eats. I'd say this place is more of a 3.5-star restaurant.
(3)Patrick L.
Favorite restaurant in Davis. The service is always exceptionally good. One waitress seems to always be there when we are, and has always done a fantastic job making sure we are happy and satisfied with out food. Also, they are wise to realize that they are serving Indian food, and thus promptly come by to refill our water glasses whenever it gets close to being empty. The food is delicious, we 'shopped' around other Indian restaurants in Davis, but found that no one's food stacks up to Kathmandu Kitchen. Crispy samosa, delicious naan, and great curry dishes. Everyone will find a favorite dish eventually, and we can't help but order the same thing time and time again even though we know there are probably other great, undiscovered options to choose from. As an added bonus, full bar and a happy hour until 6. Never had a wait for a table, and atmosphere has always felt private and comfortable enough to go on dates there.
(5)Liliana P.
I love Indian food, and when I was in Davis, I craved it all the time. So I searched up all the Indian places and Kathmandu was one of them. I definitely enjoyed my experience. The service was friendly always checking up on us and smiling. They made sure nothing was wrong. It wasn't really crowded when I went and I enjoyed the wall decor. The food wasn't similar to what I have had elsewhere, but it had its own uniqueness. It was good for Davis. I wouldn't mind going again, because it is delicious.
(4)Dan O.
This place was nasty. My Alou Gobi was watery and super bland. I hope it is a better bar than it is a restaurant. I will never eat here again, total waste of money. On the upside, the server was nice and attentive.
(2)Nicole C.
Food, service, and staff are phenomenal. They have renovated and updated the restaurant, it provides a warm and inviting ambience.
(5)Vibhu B.
Momos aren't that good Chowmein shouldn't be tried Dal chawal wasreally good Bhindi v good Aloo parantha was missing aloo stuffing Over all not satisfied
(2)Jenn W.
Go to their $8.99 lunch buffet and be prepared to be in a food coma. Practically half of everything out in their lunch buffet is vegetarian (with lots of vegan options too) and damn tasty. Of course, there are meat options for carnivores too so it's the best of both worlds. Service seemed to be decent but I went in the middle of the day on a Monday so the place was pretty empty. It's a nice environment and I loved how many options there were for me. The quality of food was great In fact, for the price, it was pretty unbeatable. Only thing I would change is extended their buffet hours to dinner! I would love some all-you-can-eat dinner here! DROOLz
(5)Payal P.
So I came here once before and ordered the chicken tikka masala. Usually I am not a fan of curries that taste sweet but I loved the tikka masala but I was not a fan of the dry chicken. So I came back last week and ordered the SHRIMP tikka masala.... Omgod it was like party in my mouth it was is good!!!! I still loved the masala but the shrimp was so tender and moist, it tasted wonderful with the sauce. I would highly recommend it!!!! Gonna be my go to dish when I come here again :)
(4)SG G.
Hands down best Indian food in Davis!!! There curry is amazing. Tikka Masala is delicious, so is the vindaloo. They will ask you how spicy to make the vindaloo which is nice, since they usually make it mild for customers...they will make it hot, if you ask (after a friendly warning) also, the nann bread is fresh. Went here for buffet on Sunday and I thought i read on their ad in the little green machine coupon book, they do buffets everyday...they do not do buffets on Sundays. Kathmandu Kitchen often does groupon deals and has Ads in the local coupon book, which makes going here often possible. Without the discounts, they are a little pricey.
(5)Fontane L.
My husband and I came here for dinner to use a Groupon I bought, and was rather disappointed. The rating here is for food, but they do have other pluses. Ambiance: 4 stars - very cozy, cute decor...romantic-like Service: 4 stars Food: 2 stars Value for the money: 2 stars What we ordered: - Palak paneer thali (tho I think it went by another name here) -- Oddly creamy...so much so that I didn't want to finish the dish. There was an unappealing mix of frozen and fresh spinach...probably would have been better if they stuck to one? - Chicken tikka masala thali -- The sauce was good, but the chicken was dry. - Naan - thickness seemed inconsistent, leaving parts of it crispy and parts of it doughy Sorry folks, don't mean to hate, but really not worth the money.
(2)k h.
One of my favorite Indian food places, and certainly my favorite in davis. The makhani is great, as are the vegetarian samosas.
(5)Preethika E.
I came here with my family on the way back from SF because we were starving and most places in SF that Sunday night were full with wait time of 45min-1 hour. My brother, who goes to UCD undergrad suggested it. The food was not that great. We ordered chicken byriani, lamb byriani, naan stuffed with lamb, and this cheese contained veggie curry thing. The only thing I liked was the naan. I've had lots of byriani and my mom makes an amazing byriani. So I have high standards and this place didn't really meet my expectations. The byriani had too much tomatoes and not enough flavor. But, according to my little brother, if you are away from the authentic food at home and are starving college students, this place is like heaven. I thought they had good service though. But, it was too expensive even though we only got 3 courses for 4 people.
(2)Brady N.
Had a fun time at the bar here. It was a very nice environment and the food was great.
(4)Keith R.
Have again: Mango lassi is delicious. The lamb tikka masala was very good, but the chicken tikka masala was even better and I'd have this next time instead of the lamb. I had an expired Groupon and they took this at face value plus a discount coupon as well - very nice of them.
(4)Max W.
I haven't tried many other Indian restaurants in the area but this was phenomenal - and they deliver! I would order from here everyday if I could afford it!
(5)Sylvia H.
Yummy chicken tikka masala and a super server took the time to explain what was in all the dishes! Ambiance is not fantastic but the food was! Would recommend for a casual and tasty meal!
(4)Steph W.
I love everything about this place. Vegan/ gluten free food is easy. Great music and ambiance. There are belly dancers on Fridays, buffet Sundays, and they deliver every day. I...love...this...place
(5)Rebecca M.
Naan, samosas, everything I've had here has tasted amazing. The fact that they deliver makes it even better. The prices are not too great (for dinner delivery at least...I think the lunch buffet would be a better deal).
(4)Danielle K.
Kathmandu kitchen is my favorite indian food restaurant in Davis. The Bhaigan Bharta and naan are to die for. I love the staff. they are always friendly and delivery made them an easy lunch and dinner option.
(4)Rachel L.
Many booths with dim lighting and a television playing really cheesy music videos. I wouldn't mind the atmosphere so much if the food wasn't so underwhelming and over priced. Dishes were served at odd temperatures and textures. The samosas had an extremely thick and soggy skin, and the mango lassi was watery. I asked for extra spicy and I was pretty disappointed. I will not be going back.
(2)Yen N.
The lunch all-you-can-eat for ~$13 is wonderful!! Like many others have testified, the lamb vindaloo is pretty awesome. In addition to that, they have many other delicious options to choose from -- more so than they should for an all-you-can-eat selection. I have never tried their dinner menu, but I would guess it to be a bit more expensive. I would always recommend their lunch buffet though. Plus, during the warmer months, on Wednesday farmer's market, Kathmandu has a stand at the downtown Davis park. They sell an entire selection of goodies for about $10. A great bargain, and you get to try a sizable amount of their food. So either try Kathmandu for lunch or during the Davis farmer's market. You won't be disappointed.
(5)Chris R.
I came here with a groupon not knowing what to expect, I'd moved to Woodland a week earlier from Los Angeles and didn't know if Davis had any good Indian food. Well to my delight, Katmandu delivered. Their Paneer was delightfully firm and full of flavor, and the masala sauce it came in was one of my all time favorite versions of the sauce. The food was fresh, reasonably priced, and the portions were generous. The food was also very aromatic as Indian food should be. I didn't try the buffet, but it was open when I got there and the dishes looked well put together and fresh. Our server was friendly and the whole experience was great.
(5)Evonne M.
Went here once with a group of friends for lunch buffet. It seems a popular attraction because we would not have seats if we didn't arrive at the restaurant before the lunch rush. The buffet has limited selection but abundant supply. I thoroughly enjoyed the curry and naan; my boyfriend will agree with no hesitation because he kept refilling on naan, soaking them with curry like a salesman for Bounty paper towels. I'm not much of a hard-core carnivore but the chicken I had didn't taste too dry and was flavorfully seasoned. Keep an eye out for coupons that will save you a buck on buffet. I'm hoping to come back for dinner sometime before I graduate and leave Davis. Until then, my impression of this quaint restaurant is nothing less than positive.
(3)Nicole C.
It doesn't matter what Indian restaurant I go to, it always ends up falling short to Kathmandu Kitchen. Their Chicken Tikka Masala is consistently good, and their naan is always cooked to perfection.
(5)Abram R.
Fantastic Indian food! We ordered the chicken tikka masala and it was superb. The pieces of chicken were choice and the sauce was very good. We also got the cauliflower potatoe dish, this was good but not great. Naan is a must, will definitely be back.
(5)Elliot M.
I ordered the Vegan Thali. The individual items tasted delicious, but a few things held it back from a higher rating. First, the chickpea dish came out so hot that even after blowing and stirring it for a few minutes I burned my tongue on the first bite. The second is I would a greater quantity of bean based food. Beans provide the heartiness to vegan dishes, so more of the chickpea dish or even another bean dish would be great.
(3)Kristin k.
Love the spicy cilantro margarita! Food ok.
(3)Nick F.
The service is occasionally shoddy, and the interior of the restaurant isn't the nicest. But none of that really matters once the food arrives. The food is consistently fresh and delicious, and comes in fairly large portions. Order thali style and it is served on a large metal platter with an array of side dishes. Prices are good considering portion size and quality of food. Although I must say I am suspicious that when I tell them I want my food spicy, they give me "lame white guy spicy" and not spicy spicy. But that's just niggling I suppose. All in all a good eat..
(5)Anela F.
The food was great. My mom and I had the lunch buffet and loved the food. We are usually not buffet eaters but this buffet was great. It had a mix of meat and veggie dishes. Also, the price was reasonable. I tried a bit of everything and everything I took was good. The naan bread was great and went well with the Chicken dishes. The mixed veggie dish was great and I went back for seconds. My mom and I are definitely going back!
(4)Marlon T.
There is good Indian food here but the service isn't that good. Last time I was there they mixed up a drink I ordered. I wanted a sweet version of a drink but they gave me a sour version, gross. This is probably the best Indian food place in Davis so I highly recommend going here if you like naan and curry and Tandoori Chicken or something. The place looks bigger inside than outside.
(3)Veronica S.
I would give this place only 3 starts if it were in a more concentrated location, but since there are not very many good Indian food locations, I will give this place 4 stars since it is probably the top Indian restaurant in Davis. I've been twice here, once for dinner and once for the weekday buffet lunch special. The lunch buffet is well worth it for $8.95, however dinner can be more pricy because you are limited to ordering by the entrees, and most of them are easily $12, so if you want variety, its going to cost you a bit (although if you have a group, you can order a couple and share family style.) I think the lunch buffet is worth it though. It's not the best Indian buffet I've been too (I'm from the Bay where all my neighbors are pretty much Indian...) but it will do. They have all the chicken you need (tandoori...and chicken curry) as well as lamb curry. Of course they have nahn...they also have salad but it looks kind of dry everything else is decent. I would come here again..yay
(4)Carolann K.
This place was all right. This place would be good for someone who is new to Indian food and wants to experience something new. I came here on a Friday night and was surprised that it was empty but was happy that I could be seated fast and get good service. The waitress guided us through the menu and told us that it could be eaten family style and that we could share which was awesome because that was when I realized I was going to spend half as much as I had originally expected. I had ordered the chicken tikka masala thali plate. The only difference from getting it a la carte is that it comes with soup, potato mixture, naan, raita, and some green vegetable spicy thing. I received the food and was surprised at how big the plate was. It definitely was a good value. I went with another person and we shared this thing and came out comfortably full. I was slightly disappointed in the chicken though. It was very dry and chewy. It could have been better. Overall, if I did have a craving I will more than likely come back unless I had the option of going back to my hometown where the Indian Food is much better. But I guess for how small Davis is, this food is not bad.
(3)Noah L.
Santa Clara is home to many Indian cuisine, with neighboring Sunnyvale being host to a considerable Indian population, so let me tell you, I've had my fair share of good Indian eats. Kathmandu's exterior aesthetics make it seem janky, but don't let it fool you because once you head in, you'll feel like you're in the heart of the Himalaya. Ok, I'm exaggerating but the contrast from the inside and out are pretty stark. The mood was intimate due to the lack of lighting but there were a considerable number of families dining. Aside from the baby crying near the end of the meal, the word mellow comes to mind. I had the privilege of having an Indian friend accompany me who offered suggestions and ordered the majority of the meal. We started by having the mango lassi (mango yogurt drink) because I was ordering a very spicy coconut curry chicken plate and the lassi was supposed to deal with the spiciness by cooling your palette. It was followed by our appetizer, some vegetarian samosas, which had lots of chick peas and huge potatoes. It wasn't noticeably greasy but had a tender pastry shell that broke like those Korean sticky breads which were absolutely amazing. My main dish, the coconut chicken curry thali (thali which gives you the whole works of more veggies in different forms instead of just rice) was so big that I had about half the meal in a take home box. The spiciness level was just right to which I must give credit to the chef and the garlic parsley na'an we ordered suited the plate perfectly. There was way too much food but for the price, you get a pretty good bang for your buck. In terms of authenticity, it was on par with the stuff back home if not better, but that statement is partially due to the fact that I haven't had Indian recently near home. All in all, this place suits my fill for some Indian food and I will be back to try the "Himalayan Tea" that captivated me from the beginning of my meal.
(4)Someone S.
Food is AMAZING! We came for the Belly Dancing on Saturday night, what an experience. The staff was extremely helpful with the menu and their cocktail menu is really unique. Will go back again.
(5)Persimmon Eater d.
The food is generally pretty good, but there have been a few times in the past where is was just ok. That hasn't happened in a long time, so they must have gotten rid of a bad chef. The buffet is good, not great. It often has dishes that are less popular, so don't expect to see Chicken Tikka Masala. But the food on it is fresh. The best naan and the Mango Lassi I have had come from here! Delicious! These are what keep me coming back. For dinner get the Thali plate, its huge and comes with a variety. It's a big dinner with enough left over for lunch the next day. Service can be hit or miss, more often hit than miss. The older white waitress is the best, she usually works the booths in front.
(4)Brenda L.
Came here with my roomie and my cousin and we had a good meal. Good meal indeed. Portions are good and prices are cool too. I had some unidentifiable vegetable mush but it was pretty good.
(3)John H.
I had paneer tikka masala and saag paneer delivered on a Friday night. Average food, I've had better and I've had worse. The naan was pretty soggy, but it's hard to complain about that when it's delivered. A satisfying experience overall. Then I started to feel a bit funny, and ended up throwing up all over the place. Needless to say, I won't be going back there.
(1)Farrah F.
WOW, holy effing crap, I love this place. It took a really, really long time for them to get us the menus, but in their defense, we told them we were waiting for people, so I guess they weren't sure when everyone would be there. In any case, we ended up getting our own menus. For $40.05, we got two mango lassis, the Himalayan appetizer, chicken tikka masala (thali style), saag chana masala, and the garlic basil naan. Ohhh man, my stomach just about died of happiness. So much flavor. :] :]
(5)Sarah B.
Just Delicious! I always get the chicken tikki masala and mango lassi.
(4)T L.
**** this review is strictly for their lunch buffet. i have been to a few different Indian lunch buffets. so i know what to expect. This one was one of the BETTER than average ones. a lot of different variety of stuff. a few vegetarian dishes to meat dishes. Since i don't get down on meat, i really can't tell how they were. most of the dishes tasted pretty good. i really didn't like how naans were sitting out though. most places i have gone, they usually make fresh naans when you order. The service was ok. nothing fancy. just good simple indian food for a decent price. i really can't complain here.
(3)Heather K.
Briefly: Great Indian food, wonderful service, good prices for great portions. Street parking can be tricky. Has a lunch buffet and delivery: kathmandukitchendavis.com At length: I snagged this Groupon after eating at the Kathmandu Kitchen in Sacramento, where Hubs & I had ah-mazingly yummy saffron chicken. First off, the parking was a little difficult, but not bad... for a Monday night. You might have to walk a block or three depending on the time and day. But the walk was lovely and the storefronts were fun to look at, so the blocks flew by. We walked in and I thought I was in a cozy English pub redecorated with an Indian theme. I liked it, but it wasn't what I was expecting. I found it more intimate, but some might find it a bit dark. Solution: They have a delivery menu if it bothers you that much, so you can enjoy the food without the ambiance. So after sliding into our high-backed wooden booth, Hubs & I perused the menu and noticed the menu expanded beyond the typical Indian fare found on most menus. Hubs ordered a mango lassi (cuz it isn't a meal without that) and the Chicken Tikka Kebab (Boneless chicken breasts marinated in mustard sauce with yogurt & spices. Cooked in tandoor.). Hubs has issues with mustard, but the waiter assured us that it wasn't noticeable, if it was used at all. I ordered the Chicken Momo (10 steamed dumplings stuffed with ground chicken and spices) and a chai. [A word of advice: Indian restaurant chai is not like Americanized coffeehouse chai. If you're looking for your Starbucks standby, then you'll be a little surprised.] And we ordered a basket of garlic basil naan, cuz we're naan addicts. When the food came, we were super happy. Hubs' Kebab was an easy access version of the tandoori chicken. It came with a little bowl of masala sauce, which was delicious. We both devoured Hub's kebabs. My Momo dumplings came with two sauces: one was hot and tabasco-ish and the other was a yummy tomato-based sauce that kinda tasted like peanut. Although they were fun, I liked Hub's masala sauce and the standard Indian restaurant table sauces- spicy mint and plumy yum. (One day I'll get the real names. Maybe.) The Momo were like flavorful dim sum. Hubs thought it would be better as an appetizer or in a soup. They weren't my favorite, but I'm glad I tried them. I'd grab one or two if someone else ordered it. And the naan was fluffy and tasty, while the mango lassi delicious as always. Overall, thumbs up for the food and the service, which I didn't mention, but was super. He was attentive, made great suggestions and was really nice. If we are in Davis again, we'll be stopping by.
(4)Donna T.
I must say, I haven't had much Indian food, but this place has all kinds of delicious dishes. It's a bit on the pricier side but definitely worth a try. They make a mean Chicken Vindaloo (hot cherry sauce chicken) and I'm absolutely in love with their garlic basil naan. It's just soooo good. Plus, I like the decor. It has this 'rustic feel in a fancy restaurant thing' going on. I took my boyfriend there for Valentine's Day and we got our quiet dinner for two in one of their booths with high walls (so people can't watch us eating). It was a wonderful dinner and now he's a fan too.
(4)NewtoIthaca N.
Service is different every time. Chicken Tikka Masala :D
(4)Richard P.
Richard Pro here with another review. Ah...kathmandu. I've been waiting a long time to come here. I found some very familiar indian dishes here that all the other buffets serve. Unfortunately, though I'm familiar to their looks and taste, I never bothered to remember the name. Pardon me. Upon walking in, I immediately noticed the variety that other buffets lack. Kathmandu seems to combine the best of both worlds, having every item I like at Namaste, Raja's, and Yeti. I helped myself to fried chicken, chicken in red curry, and some sort of chicken sausage. The naan was cut in fairly small pieces, and I'm disappointed to say, was burnt. Namaste has perfect naan...and I believe raja's does too. Yeti does not. I don't like eating burnt food, and you shouldn't either--it's quite bad for you. Service and interior--service was okay. Everyone is dressed in black and the restaurant is ridiculously dim, so overall the tone is just very...moody and unpleasant. I was not comfortable eating here, I like restaurants nice and bright, or pleasantly cool and dim, like an italian restaurant. This was too much. I have to say that given the similarity of the other three buffets at davis, the darkness of this restaurant is an enormous turn off if they want to get repeat customers. Regrettably, I didn't order my usual mango lassi. I look forward to ordering that next time. 3.5 stars. I am planning to return at least once.
(3)Rachel K.
Just ate the all-you-can-eat lunch buffet here for lunch with a friend. I love the layout of the restaurant, the booths, and the food! At first, I was sort of turned off because I thought the buffet looked not that good but as soon as I started eating the food, I was a goner. Their Indian food is seriously so good. I loved the naan. I definitely ate my money's worth ($9) and more. Sadly, the salad bar had some cucumbers that tasted like nail polish but other than that everything was pretty good!
(4)lindsay y.
I came here for the lunch buffet one day, and while I'm not the most experienced with Indian food, I walked away a happy camper. I definitely will be coming back here. The naan was really great, and their curry sauces were also good. You must try their potatoes. Must. While this probably wasn't the best choice for my first meal after a night of heavy drinking, I didn't walk away unsatisfied. Only one thing: more selection would have been nice, and if the server or hostess had let us know it was a buffet, it would have been nice.
(4)Wendy G.
I really enjoyed the ayce lunch buffet. If you look in one of the coupon books that come in the mail, there's always a coupon for dollar off. :D There were plenty of options, vegetarian and meat. My favorite is the lentil soup, simple but so full of flavor. All the different dishes were flavorful and great to dip naan in. The desserts are lacking, but who cares...the entrees were satisfying. Service is really nice too, they are attentive and always makes sure you are enjoying.
(4)Andrew K.
After a 3 day conference in Sacramento, was SICK of sandwiches, salads, and slabs of meat. Needed some curry. Had a super solid CTM thali. It was really yummy, though the mild was medium - which was fine for me. The aloo gobi was one of the best i've had - very cumminy. The chicken was so tender. Refills on the Diet Coke. A young Indian dude walking out struck up a conversation with me - telling me that this was "the best" - which was cool.
(4)Christine V.
I've been to this place several times, and I've been satisfied with the service every time. I can't say I'm an indian food aficionado, as I've only been to a few indian restaurants in my life, but the food here is tasty! I like the salmon tandoori a lot. The naan is great, but I'd say it's pretty hard to mess up naan. If you're not into foods that are spicy or rich with seasoning, I wouldn't come here. I would recommend not ordering "medium hot" if you want minimal spiciness. I ventured into getting my dish at the medium level and I was breaking into a not-so-attractive sweat after a few bites. I found their service to be pretty decent. Our waitress was attentive and kind. I read over some other reviews and it looks like others aren't experiencing the same kind of service, so I'm not sure how consistent my experience was. All in all, I'd still recommend the place!
(4)Leslie S.
My favorite restaurant in Davis and by far my favorite Indian food! I go crazy for their curries, specifically chicken tikka masala and vegetable korma. I also like the Nepali somosas, garlic basil naan and chicken momos. I have moved to the East Bay and I'm still looking for curry this good! I'll continue to frequent this place anytime I pass through Davis.
(5)Peter T.
This place isn't too bad. This was my first buffet style lunch at an Indian restaurant. Nothing out of the ordinary like Chinese food in the selection so I felt that everything was pretty authentic. There were a lot of strong flavors, so choose accordingly and match it up with some bland food and have a cup of water ready to dilute the taste. The interior design of this restaurant is fancy looking minus the buffet location in the front of the restaurant. I would definitely come back to this place and try this place again.
(4)Evelyn J.
First time trying Kathmandu and just loved it! Their lunch buffet was sooo good. Price was right ($8.95). Started with basmati rice (saffron style), chana masala (garbanzo beans), vegetable pakoras, naan, chicken pakoras, chicken tandoori, lamb curry and many more you get the picture (since I was too stuffed to think and take pictures) . I had salad which is recommended I guess cuz it's healthy for you (right?). Now dessert is not a whole lot but they have Kheer and those donut hole shaped pastries soaking in sugar nectar. Aaahhh heaven for my taste buds. Put away three big plates (moderation is the key) and if you want to get out of the table area without the jaws of life being used. Well just try Kathmandu and you will be pleasantly surprised. Also purchased a groupon $20 for $10 but for dine in or take out only though. I guess I know what I'm having dinner!
(5)Lily W.
I've eaten here a few times when I got it really bad for Indian. I've tried the lunch buffet once and it was not what I expected. It seemed like the buffet was full of "fillers" and not really the good stuff like tandori, curry, etc. I usually order the chicken or lamb tikka masala w/ rice or naan. Good, not great..more like "this will do for now." I would considered this place expensive since you are not getting the most "bang out of your buck." I'm a HUGE fan of Chutney's in SF and for the price of a few dishes here at Kathmandu's, I can order a whole meal (appetizer, drinks, main dish) for an entire party of 3 at Chutney's. Service is nice here, though. And the vibe is fantastic.
(4)Ling W.
If you like them at the Farmer's Market, you will fall in love with them at the restaurant. Despite the unassuming exterior of the restaurant, the inside is quite cozy and posh-looking. The best part of the setting are several booths with high walls you can sit at, so you can have an intimate date with your favorite people. The prices are also very reasonable, with an entree costing only $9-10. All the dishes I've had here are delicious, and it is one of my favorite places to go out for dinner in Davis.
(5)Jennifer E.
SERIOUSLY my only gripe is that they're way expensive for a college budget. and that they wash their water glasses with a cloth that leaves the lint inside and so your water has floating lint particles. Wait did I just turn you off? I hope not because dude, their food, their servers, and their buffet is amazing. $9 for all you can eat, served with fresh salad, fresh dips, fresh naan that always gets refilled, goooooooood curries. One time my friends and I were craving their garlic-cilantro naan, but all they had out was the plain naan at the buffet. We asked if they could pretty-please make the garlic-cilantro naan for their next batch. They understandingly nodded their heads (because they probably know how effin good their garlic-cilantro naan is), and to our great surprise/pleasure, they brought out our own basket of fresh garlic-cilantro naan to our table, free of charge! That is customer service right there. I love these people. I love this business. I have no problem giving these people my money. My absolute favorite menu item is not on the buffet menu. It's called "chicken coconut" and it is to DIE FOR. Even if you don't like coconut, you need to try this chicken. Many of my friends hate coconut, but they order this time and time again. The chicken tikki masala is good, but the coconut chicken always steals the show. But again, the price! During dinner time, if you order the coconut chicken a-la carte, along with some garlic-cilantro naan you will pay around $18 including tip. Yikes! BUT I LOVE THIS PLACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(4)Omeed M.
I like this place, good food, fresh bread! great lunch special. Lunch special all you can eat for only $8.99
(4)Echosaisis C.
The best Indian food experience you will ever have without traveling up to Seattle, WA. Speed of service, price/value, quality of food is in perfect succinct. The personality in the food is superbly evident and eager to please. The best I have ever had in California. Highly recommended. 5 stars every single time I have been here.
(5)Ruben A.
Decent prices and good food.
(4)Loren F.
The lunch buffet here CANNOT be beat! Many imitators in Davis but Kat Kitchen has them beat. The curries and the chicken tikka masala are phenomenal as is the service. Nepalese nirvana for under 9 bucks!
(4)Laura Y.
I keep wavering between a three and a four, so I rounded up. Let's be honest- there are not a lot of Indian options in Davis. So for Davis I give Kathmandu a solid 4. But I have had better in other, bigger cities. But I love Indian food and will remain loyal to Kathmandu when I'm in town and have a craving for some decent Indian food. I generally get the Palak Paneer and I like my food spicy. I generally have to ask for extra spicy, and they always graciously comply. But when things get spicier they sometimes need an extra dash of salt to open up the dish and luckily they have salt shakers on the table (that sometimes work) because I always have to add in a little extra. Thats fine though. The nan is good, the samosas are good. Overall things are good. But I was spoiled by living near an amazing Indian place in a big city, so when I crave Indian food I want *that* Indian food. Again, Kathmandu is good. I just can't get excited about it though. (The restaurant itself and the people though are really nice.)
(4)rebecca p.
As far as places to eat in Davis, this place is pretty good. I've been here many times and there are some things to keep in mind. Never get seafood here. It never tastes fresh. I've tried shrimp korma and spiced fish and both times I ended up regretting it. They do have some great dishes though. The appetizer sampler is great and big. I would suggest sharing this with a couple friends. The korma is really good and the naan is chewy and delicious. Those are my staples but sometimes I'll venture out and try something new. The service is a bit aloof but the food speaks for itself. I also like that they have a stand at the farmer's market. The chai is delicious on a cold Saturday morning.
(3)Stephanie S.
So far the best Indian/Nepalese food I have tried. I usually come here for the lunch buffet, though I've tried dinner service as well. The food at Kathmandu is fresh and hot, even the buffet. The saucy dishes are hot all the way through and the fried dishes are crispy and never soggy. The buffet has a nice selection of dishes both vegetarian and meat. I would recommend the Vegetable Korma, which they serve in the buffet as well. The environment of the restaurant is open, good for groups or one-on-ones. The service is efficient and hassle-free.
(5)Barbara L.
My husband and I go here for their buffet lunch. It's great for us since I don't eat meat and they have a ton of vegetarian/vegan options for me, along with meat options for him. Their selection varies sometimes, but overall their menu stays essentially the same. They always have basmati rice and naan, and a selection of veggie/meat dishes. My husband goes for the Chicken Makhani -- and it's even better after it's been sitting for a while (something about the spices settling and the sauce thickening). I love the Chana Masala (chickpeas) and the Mixed Vegetables.
(4)Christopher L.
TLDR: - Nice ambiance. - Incense not that great sometimes. - Food's typical Americanized Indian food.
(1)Siobhan F.
I'd give this place a 3.5 if they let me give half stars. They had a great variety but I sort of felt like it was over priced. Their basmati rice was kind of sad looking. No saffron? It reminded me of "Uncle Bens" minute rice which was disappointing. (There are about a million Indian restaurants in San Jose so my comparison comes from the standard set by those..) the Naan & Raita were exactly as they should be, and the curries were flavorful although I would have liked more heat.. I'll probably come here again for a lunch buffet when I'm craving Indian, but I'll cry for Indian from SJ just a little bit.
(3)Greg R.
Very good food, so-so service
(4)Elizabeth R.
Kathmandu has excellent Naan and delicious sauces; the chicken Makhani is delicious. I always love the Mango Lassi. When dining in I love to sit in the booths except this last time when they had a welcoming fire in the back! This made the whole place comfy and cozy! Delivery is slow.
(4)Erin T.
Went here with my friend. Just asked the waitress to pick something for me that was vegetarian & surprise me. It was probably the best Indian dish I've ever had... ever. It was a spinach dish... can't remember now- I think it was the Mughlia Saag. But I'm sure any of their spinach dishes would be just as good. Yum Yum Yum!
(5)Nathan P.
Who needs to eat sushi at the 3 sushi places that are located within meters from one another when you have another perfectly good ethnic restaurant sitting right there...err me (*raises hand*) Well, I was tired of sushi for this one time... KATHMANDU to the rescue! I love this place. I don't know what brought me to Kathmandu, I guess it's my curiosity and love for Naan that drew me in. What was once an accidental find became a place to flock to when wanting to go out. The place doesn't look like it can accommodate a good amount of people, but when you step in you'll see booths and tables in the back, plenty of room. The food and service are fantastic. The food comes out in good time and always delicious. I love the Tika Chicken Masala. They come in soup dishes so it's easy to share, although I'm not a fan of sharing food. A great dessert is their cream soda. Sprite with strawberry syrup topped with whipped cream. Mmmm.. I can't stop drinking those. Definitely a mainstay in my book. Ucd students, try it out! It's a great place to eat out at on those nites to go out.
(4)Gabi T.
don't know why, but we went to this place twice, and in both times the experience wasn't great. Nothing bad, but just not exciting. the food was oily, the taste was O.K... well... I will not go there again.
(2)Ash P.
Momo's have you ever had them?? even better, have you had momo's on a rainy day ..ahhhh its delicious just like an aphrodisiac (lol totally in the food sense only)well,unfortunately this place didn't do that to me.... I have had better vegetarian momo experience. So would i drive an hour again and go to eat Momo's there ,NO....but maybe this place is not great for a tree-hugger like myself..... My non-vegetarian friend loved his chicken momo... bottom line:The ambiance was ok, service was ok, overall the experience was only OK.
(3)Caroline D.
I LOVE this restaurant. Their chicken tikka masala is the best I've ever had! I recommended this restaurant to all my friends. It would be like, "16 chicken tikka masalas and nann, please"! :) We used to eat here as often as we could. After a while it began hurting our wallets so we had to cut back. Luckily coupon are available so keep your eyes open for those!
(5)Mr Bolo B.
I tried the lunch buffet and everything was fresh and well prepared, with a nice selection of Nepal / Indian dishes they even had a Nepal style chow mein noodle dish that I thought was pretty good, I really liked the lentil soup it went well with my meal , the flat bread was pretty good , the tandoori chicken was made of very small pieces smaller than usual but was satisfactory, I also like the Pakoras they were excellent, they are a batter fried vegetable snack food, not bad for $8.95 I would definitely come back to this restaurant again!
(4)Constance C.
I love Indian food but I don't know too many people who will eat it with me. Luckily one of my friends came up to Davis and I was able to get my fix at Kathmandu. Garlic & Basil Naan. Pillowy soft yet chewy and tasty. Love garlic and basil together. Traditional Lamb Curry. Yummy. I loved how the curry didn't mask the gamey taste of the lamb since I eat lamb to enjoy the gamey taste. Chicken Tikka Masala. My favorite, even though it's super American of me. But I love the color and the taste of it. Makes my day. A mixture of sweet, tangy, savory spiciness. Rice. Came with our entrees, I love Basmati rice! We had a buy one get one 1/2 off coupon so we were able to get the entrees for cheaper and we still had leftovers to bring home. YUM! Overall, I do think it was better than Raja's but I've definitely had better in Hong Kong.
(4)Charles L.
the service was the best I've had since I've been here. Everything was quick and the waitress came back multiple times to check up on us. Hopefully they got rid of some of their not so friendly waitresses. The food was better than I remembered and the a la carte came in a newer metallic bowl instead of a ceramic plate. The experience was very positive. Only if they can get their naan like Bombay Dream, it would be hands down the BEST INdian restaurant in DAVIS. I account for how consistant a restaurant delivers on its food. Will be back many more times before I leave Davis next year.
(4)Tiffany H.
Inexpensive lunch buffet. Place is not too bad. Loads of vegetarian food. It was kind of empty. The vegetarian curry could of been more flavorful. Somewhat slow service. No food poisoning. 4 stars for the cheap price!
(4)Matt B.
Tasty food and a good buffet for lunch too.
(3)Ryan F.
I thought this would be something more than average Indian food, considering that it's himalayan or something, I dunno. It was not. It's OK, nothing to write home about. The price is reasonable for what you get. One note: this review is based on having gone here a few years back - the food might be better currently. Certainly the decor looks to have improved based on the pictures here on Yelp. Might be worth a second try.
(3)Ms. P S.
Delectably delightful! This place has been around for a while -- but it was my first time just a few days ago and I'll certainly be back for more. A perfect place for vegetarians, KK offers a lovely ambiance and friendly service. My dinner companions and I were seated at a booth and almost immediately were approached by a very friendly server who gave us water and offered some refreshing iced chai. One of the things I noticed and really liked about my first visit was that the presentation of the menu was impeccable--it was hard-bound, colorful, and well organized. This may sound insignificant, but menu presentation is really important. If they are full of stains, greasy or have hand written over prices with pens then it's just plain ugly and unappetizing. SO, I was really pleased from the start. We started out with the veggie samosas appetizer which arrives with two kinds of sweet and spicy sauces in a bed of (yes iceberg lettuce, but that's ok). Filled with potatoes and green peas seasoned with curry and coriander powder, they were scrumptious! We then chose the la Carte Paneer Tika Masala which is served with Basmati rice, Traditional Nepalese Thali, dal, nan, chutney, and vegetable curry. We also ordered the Vegetable Korma (non la Carte). The velvety smooth red-orange sauce of the Paneer Tika Masala arrives with chunks of paneer (made with vegetable rennet) and is deliciously aromatic from the herbs, spices, and fenugreek.The yellow dal and the basmati rice as well as the small helping of yogurt soothes the palate in case you ordered this dish extra hot (which we did). Everything fits together nicely on this dish. The Vegetable Korma was also a very good dish. It has a more chunky stew like consistency and it comes with a slew of delicious vegetables like small mushrooms, carrots, green peas, cauliflowers, potatoes, and peppers stewed in a cashew nut curry. There are hints of nutmeg and cinnamon as well although I am not sure if they list this on their menu. After the meal was over we hung out until about 1045pm which was very much past the 10pm closing time but we had had such a wonderful meal that we chatted without paying attention to the time! This place gets my 5/5 MissP seal of approval.
(5)Ivana Y.
I wish I was more hungry when I tagged along with my friends to go to this place on my last night at Davis, because the food really was very good. I ordered a Chicken Mushroom Masala Thali to share, and the portion was sufficient to feed us both. The naan was fresh 'n' hot, perfect for dipping into sauce and oh so tasty. The chicken in the masala was a little dry, but the mushrooms were good. I sampled a vegetable dumpling with a steamed wrapper...eh, wasn't so great. The fried fritter things and the samosas in the appetizer combo was good though. Service was attentive and wonderful throughout--when I mentioned that I wanted to split the mango lassi, the server came back with the lassi in two glasses. Cool. And I was suffering from a mild heat-stroke induced headache from the weather outside, and they kindly made a bag of ice for me. Now that's love.
(5)Ali H.
I love this place! My husband and I have come here at least once a month since moving to Davis, and we always make sure to take our visitors. The waitstaff is sweet and attentive. We've sampled a number of their dishes and love the chicken tikka masala, lamb or chicken saagwala, sauteed okra, and eggplant bartha. They've got great beer on tap and a terrific spicy cilantro margarita. We usually have to find reasons not to come here when we want to dine out.
(5)Larry H.
I was well overdue for my fix of Indian/Nepalese food. We're talking maybe 4-5 months here. Yeah, I know. So I came to Kathmandu during the buffet hour. The interior is elegantly decorated with dark red varnished tables and chairs. You'll probably notice how the wood and stone stand out here. It adds to the level of authenticity. There are also booths to be seated at towards the entrance of the restaurant. Diving into the food, I started myself out with saag (Spinach), chickpeas, and some naan. The saag was good, but I felt it lacked some of the spiciness that I'm used to. That can be remedied by eating it with some chili peppers over at the salad bar. Chickpeas were good, but I think forgettable. Totally favored saag over it. The Naan is exactly what you'd expect from it. Although, I do wish they offered different types of naan like garlic naan. But hey it is a buffet, so no one is really complaining. Next up were the curry chicken and chai tea. The curry chicken was good and tasted as though it had been slow cooked for hours, but the cuts of chicken will often have bones. You may have to be nit-picky when scooping it. Chai-tea will set you back about 2 dollars, but comes with free refills. And hey, guess what? It's pretty good; I take mine with two sugars. Watch out it comes out piping hot. No joke. I almost burned my tongue. Refills are a strange matter though it seemed with every successive refill, the chai tea got thinner and less flavorful? Am I crazy, or was the server conspiring against me ? It is whatever. Two cups is fine for anyone. I Oh, and on the way out. Try yourself a small spoon of the seeds. Explosion of strange in your mouth. It's not bad! Just don't go taking a huge spoonful. Overall, Kathmandu Kitchen offers a pretty elegant dining experience and a very affordable lunch buffet priced at 8-9 dollars. Variety is not really a strong point, but what dishes that offered are pretty excellent. Dinner may be a completely different experience, but is also very good from what I've heard. 4.0/5.0
(4)Aaron D.
I ate here before ownership changed. The Naan alone was worth coming for. It was magnificent. They make a garlic basil Naan that's also wonderful. That being said - you get some great Indian style bread with whatever entrees you order. The Alu Tikki and the vegetable mimosa's are a great way to start your meal. They are two different types of potato patty stuffed and with cumin and/or curry powder. Chana Masala and vegetable Momo's are both a great way to go if your sticking vegetarian. If you like the Lamb the Sheesh Kabob was delicious. As for fish they make a nice Red Snapper curry. I have enjoyed many fine meals here - but I have heard that under new management or ownership they have struggled a bit. There are occasionally coupons for this place online as well.
(4)Jackson P.
So far this is probably one of the better restaurants that I have been to in davis. But that is definitely not saying too much. I came in for the lunch buffet and left full and pretty satisfied. Not sure if its totally worth the 12-15 bucks i paid but hey its pretty decent 3 Stars =P
(3)I h.
Whoa, totally delicious. Malai (sp?) Kofta was delectable. Really delicious. Nan ridiculously tasty, light yet rich. Does that even make sense??? It was that good. Rice was actually perfect, cooked to perfection, hint of buttery taste. Mango lassi nothing to write home about, but who cares when the food is wonderful. Partner thought his food was good as well. Chicken was tender and not overcooked. Anyway, go there, and feast your eyes on the platonic form of nan. bty, i'm not South Asian, so what the hell do I know. but it's tasty, and did I mention reasonably priced?????.
(5)Aaron S.
This place is fantastic. The food has vibrant colors and rich flavors. Great service and cool atmosphere. Looking forward to my next visit when I come to town on business.
(5)Jen T.
i got the chicken tikka masala the other day... major Dislike. garlic naan with cilantro WAS NOT GOOD. very, very bland. although service was good. RAJAS is so much better & service is excellent!!!
(2)Wen T.
Sometimes, service doesn't count against the restaurant if the place is cheap. For example, you can abuse me all you want, and I'll still love you if your bowl of pho is delicious and rockin' it at $5. However, if you're giving me curry for $10+, then at least give me a smile. Or a blank face. Just don't scowl. I know, some people have bad days, but this lady... No, I won't go there. I'll just say that she is selectively nice. The owner/manager (or at least, the man who I think is the owner) is pretty nice, and they have yummy garlic naan. I would walk across burning coals for that garlic naan, so no mean lady is going to stop me.
(2)Ice Cream S.
The Chicken tikka masala is really good. Whenever I crave for it, this place comes to mind.
(4)Greg K.
Stopped by for the lunch buffet because of the reviews but was not impressed. The food was so so but not great. The staff was friendly and the decor was nice.
(2)Chantal C.
I love this place. I have gone for dinner, but I almost always go to the Lunch Buffet because I can get a little bit of everything. The chicken tikka masala (called something else though, makhani i believe?) is stellar. The spinach, and cauliflower/potato dishes are my other favorites. I have recently had to limit myself to going to this place only once a week because I just can't afford to eat out everyday for lunch, but if I could, this would certainly be the place I would eat at everyday. Seriously.
(5)Meg I.
Just because I'm so white I'm practically transparent doesn't mean I don't mean it when I say "SPICY". When I request some heat, I expect results. That said, thankfully their portions are made for people who aren't anorexic and the chai tea is delicious. Minus 2 stars because service could definitely be better (granted, however, there's only ONE overworked waitress for the whole joint). I've been twice now, and both times they have forgotten the appetizer we've ordered. They don't even apologize or mention it... it just doesn't appear on the bill and becomes a fart in the wind....
(3)Kelly T.
Great food! We had the samosas, the chicken tikka masala, the lamb vindaloo and the garlic naan. The chicken tikka masala was our favorite, really yummy. And the lamb in the vindaloo was super tender. We went for dinner on a Friday night and the place was pretty crowded, but we only had to wait a few minutes for a table (there were only 2 of us). Our waitress was really friendly and the food came quickly, which was great because we were hungry and had a movie to get to. My only complaint is that it felt kind of hectic and loud in the restaurant, so it was a little hard to have a nice conversation with my husband on our date night. Other than that, great place and great food! We will definitely go back again!
(4)Ann L.
I fell in love with the Chicken Tikka Masala and have it every single time I go here. The mango lassi is also a great compliment to any spicy dish you eat. The most recent time I went here with a friend and we ordered naan, chicken tikka masala, lamb korma (I think?) and a mango lassi. The waiter who served us was really nice and gave us a mango lassi on the house, as well as cracked a few jokes with us. The chicken dish is so creamy and delicious with the naan, and even though I was ravenously hungry and the food was really good, I ended up with half of it in a leftover box for lunch the next day! :D We walked away full and satisfied. I will say though, that upon walking in on a rainy night, the floor was SO SLIPPERY that I thought I was going to fall flat on my face or on my bum before I got to our table (so be careful!)
(5)Kamni G.
I worked right by here and went there twice for lunch. The buffet was clean and well set up. I loved the food and the service as well. It is located in the heart of downtown davis so during the lunch hour finding parking can be a chore but it is well worth it.
(4)H J.
Eating at Kathmandu Kitchen 3 years ago was my first experience with Indian food. At the time, I thought it was the best Indian buffet ever. Man, was I totally wrong!! I've been to this place about 3 times now since then and I must say it has been disappointing every time! The only reason I kept going back was the convenient location in downtown. But my most recent visit last week will seriously be the last time I'll be going back. The service has always been very slow and unwelcoming. Would it kill the servers to smile once in a while? Or fix the wobbling tables? Or organize the clean utensils quietly? I don't want to hear the constant clatter of utensils being thrown around while I'm eating! All dishes seriously lack flavor because the sauces are watered down. The naan is never fresh and too doughy. Their dinner plates are only slightly better. Why won't they use more spices?! I love supporting local businesses but not when the food tastes this horrible. There are many other Indian restaurants near the area (definitely not in Davis) that will blow you away. I'd recommend trying the place in Dixon, which is only a short drive away from Davis.
(1)Lindsay B.
I have to give it 5 stars for the kabuuli naan alone- so sweet and tasty, this kind of naan is similar to dessrt, with little bits of pistachios between the puffy dough layers. My other favorite here is the tikka masala. I usually get mine with chicken because the sauce is actually so tasty and flavorful it overwhelms more delicate meats like shrimp. I ate here last night, and the only thing that was a little "off" was the diet coke, which tasted like Diet Jolt, with a slight root beer undertone. maybe they didn't change the soda syrup tube? who knows? The service isn't overtly friendly, but not rude either. . totally adequate, and the cozy booths near the front of the door are semi-private and give a warm, homey vibe to the place.
(5)Chuck N.
BEST CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA! I'm a mixed bag on Indian food, I hate yellow curry, but love everything else Indian (except Indian rice, it's too dry and lacks sugar). I went here about 4 times as it was my best friend's favorite place to eat in Davis. It combined Indian with Nepalese to make it a very interesting fusion-mix. I've tried a bunch of others items here, but the only true standouts are the roti prada bread (delicious as always) and the chicken tikka masala (best around), 5 stars for itself, 3 stars for everything else). The chicken is so tender and the red sauce is engulfing. I honestly could eat that red sauce with rice or noodles by itself and be content. If you here, for the love of the sherpas, please get the tikka masala!
(4)Yun W.
Friend took us here for the weekday lunch buffet for $10. The place is cozy, with a nice fireplace and murals. The buffet had an ok selection, with the normal buffet items such as tikka masala and tandoori chicken. The chicken dishes (tandoori chicken, etc) were tender and had some good flavor. I was hoping to get that strong kick in spices, but felt like it was tailored towards an Americanized crowd so the flavor was toned down. I was bummed out that they didn't serve lamb curry that day either, they had lamb meatballs which wasn't too good. The naan was not served fresh at your table like many other indian buffets that I have been to. Instead they were drying out among the high heated buffet trays. Big minus The service was slow, we were right by the cashier, but the waitress did not take our plates until our table was full of them. My friend asked the staff if they had lamb curry that day and they pointed him towards the lamb meatball assuming that is what he wants, how hard is it to tell him that the restaurant just did not make it that day? I don't think I will be making a trip all the way out to Davis for this place since I have a couple of better Indian buffets to choose from in my neighborhood.
(2)Heather s.
I used to live off this when I was living in Davis....now every time I visit or drive through I have to stop. The Chicken Makhani is the BEST the staff is really friends and the buffet at lunch offers many different choices
(5)Mike L.
I don't understand how this place is averaging a 4 star review. This place was horrible! Maybe I have high expectations when it comes to indian/pakistani food, but this was horrible. We ordered the lamb marsala, lamb tandoori, and some sort of chicken in a red "spicy" sauce that tasted horrible (I believe it was the vindaloo). The lamb tandoori was the only thing that was somewhat acceptable. Everything else which relied on the sauces was absoutely disgusting. It tasted like the sauces came from a generic box of powdered instant mix where you "Just Add Water" and throw in some meat. Neither sauces tasted like it was from scratch. The naan which came with the meal tasted like it was packaged and store-bought, not freshly made. It almost tasted like there was some sort of preservatives to help keep it fresh. The mango lassi was just ok, nothing special. Bottom line, I would never come back here even if they paid me. We stopped here on the way home from Tahoe in hopes of finding some decent Indian food, boy was I wrong.
(1)Natalie S.
All of the years I went to Davis and I never knew this place. Of course back then I did not eat Indian food and there was no yelp. We were heading back to SF from tubing in the American River and of course stopping in Davis was the obvious choice. Our friends recommended Kathmandu Kitchen and we agreed. We had the chicken tikka masala, chicken vinadoo, mushroom and peas and paneer something. The tikka masala sauce was delicious. Of course it was also due to the fact that we were starving. The service was decent and it was relatively crowded for a Saturday night. Prices seemed reasonable. When you order ala carte, they give you either rice or naan.
(4)Alex C.
As far as food goes, I think this is one of the best places to dine out in Davis. Personal favorites: Tikka Masala (chicken or lamb) Love the creamy brandy sauce, I swear I could bring a pot of the sauce home and just eat that over rice for months and I'd be happy. Saag and tofu chicken Makhani vegetable korma - has a great cashew sauce, and an almost creamy taste. luke warm on the chicken vindaloo. The naan is always great. And the papadaam is pretty good too, has a chip-like texture but has a zip to the taste b/c it's made from garbanzo beans. Try Thali style if you like the extra sides, personally I enjoy a la carte.
(5)Clinton L.
I first came here when I was 16 living in Davis. Good god, the Nan was heaven. Also the owner was nice and let us had garlic nan for free. That made me a fan for life. The lamb dishes and the chicken vindaloo are exceptional. I still have yet to find a great restaurant like this in San Francisco. And the Nan. Oh man, still the best I've ever had.
(5)Peter P.
Delicious Indian food, probably my favorite of the spots I have tried in Davis. Nothing amazing or ground breaking here, but all their "traditional" dishes are very well executed (the chicken tikka masala is really good). I actually tried the Vegetarian Thali with an eggplant and garlic/onion curry main dish for dinner one evening, and it was DELICIOUS! Who knew vegetarian food could be so good? Servers are very nice and helpful, and the interior of the restaurant is nicely decorated. Overall, a very pleasant experience. My new go-to Indian spot in Davis.
(4)T P.
If I can rate without a star. I would. I ordered food through their website, got a confirmation call back at 6:36pm, talked for 2 minutes and 29 seconds, and was told that I should expect to receive my food in about 45 minutes to an hour. 90 minutes later, I called and the lady on the phone said the driver has a lot of delivery and should be at my doorsteps within 5 minutes. Another 10 minutes later, my food showed up, but my card information is missing. I called the third time to confirm with Kathmandu that it got my card information but the total amount was different because s/he didn't include the coupon. After all this, I unwrapped my food and found out my order is just barely warm. It's spring break in Davis. I don't understand how the heck it took almost TWO hours to get my food from downtown to South Davis. I am assuming they waited until they gather a few delivery orders then send the driver out. I've been a regular delivery customer of Kathmandu for the past two years. This is the WORST customer service I've ever experienced here in Davis. I am not sure if I ever revisit this restaurant or try delivery out again. Good food, but customer service is equally important to retain their customers. They certainly will lose me and my boyfriend's business for a very long time.
(1)Gary E.
Use to love this place. Last night, the service was down right lousy. Waited a long time for anyone to pay attention to us. Two out of three meals arrived at our table and waited 10 more minutes for the third meal to arrive. Not good. The Naan usually very tasty was doughy and plain. Took forever to get a water refill. All the table candles were lit, except the one at our table. Unfortunately, we will have to call this restaurant, "Can'tmandu Kitchen" and think a long hard time before we ever go back.
(1)Albert W.
I was thinking that the food wouldn't be that great but I was pleasantly surprised. I found the food to be very tasty, curry to be thick and not watery and portion to be quite generous (meat). The little dishes around the main course wasn't that great (veggies, etc etc) but that's why I'm giving them only 4 stars. I'd definitely come back here again if I was in the mood for Indian/Nepali food.
(4)Joanna K.
I was bitching to an acquaintance of mine that there are no good restaurants in Davis. He replied yes there are lots of places. To which I groaned "WHERE?!" Tersely he said "Kathmandu Kitchen" and then stopped. That says it all. It is truly true that this could indeed be one of the best places to eat in lowly Davis, that is if you like Indian food. I have yet to come for the lunch buffet, but I can say the dinner is pretty damn satisfying. A couple days ago I ordered the saag tikka masala thali. You can get it at differing levels of spiciness. As usual the portions were excellent and I had yummy leftovers. If there are no leftovers on your plate you just may have a stomach problem in the near future. This makes it well worth the $18 I dropped after tax and tip. Maybe I should come for the lunch buffet and line my bag with plastic... Anyways service is good; it passes my refilling on the water promptly test. Plus they are so damn nice. So if you ever find yourself in Davis, want to not be disappointed with your meal, and want leftovers to savor, and are not on a tight budget stop at Kathmandu.
(4)Juliane N.
**updated 423** I just realized they charged me the Himalayan appetizer that we didn't order!! -1 star! I wanted to come here and try their lunch buffets first but last night, we didn't know what to eat and I was craving some nann bread with masala sauce so we came here to try it out. Place wasn't too packed and didn't have the strong smell on Indian spices like Nann and Curry once we walked in. Go seated and looked through the menu. The have a lot of items to choose from. But knowing myself, I knew I was just gonna order my usual chicken tikka masala, lamb vindaloo, garlic nann and onion nann. I guess you can say prices were fairly reasonable if you were in SF. It was a little expensive for Davis. *Chicken Tikka Masala ($11.95) had like pieces of cubed chickens in it but I really like creamy sauce.. I order an extra side of creamy sauce and thought it was just another little side cup but they gave us a whole dish of sauce!! *Lamb vindaloo ($11.95) was what I had ordered BUT we received a chicken vindaloo instead which made me kinda upset since I didn't want two chicken dishes. The sauce was a cherry sauce with potatoes in. I think I would of liked it more if it was my original order of LAMB vindaloo. Both entrees came with a side of biryani rice.. We mixed the masala sauce with it since they rice tasted bland and it was yummy mixed with the sauce. And again, they messed up. My nann bread order and gave me a plain nann ($1.95) instead of my onion nann but we got out garlic naan ($2.25) right, which if they didn't, I would be even more pissed of since that's my favorite! Naan breads were amazingly good. I like it when it is fluffy and has a crispiness on the bottom. Really good. Made me happy after all the mistakes... Service was fine, not the best. I'll probably want to come back to try out the buffet since it's only $10.
(2)Dean W.
I love coming here for their lunch buffet. It's under $10 and offers more variety and a more upscale environment than any other Indian buffet. The customer service isn't as great as Raja's but the food alone is enough entice you to come back over and over again. They have the usual chicken tikka masala and vegetable korma that I love and rice pudding!
(4)Ben K.
I'm surprised to read reviews slamming Kathmandu for inability to handle large groups. We came here with ~8 people, no reservation, got seated immediately, and were well attended to throughout the meal. The only stumbling point was when they brought out the food, and hadn't a clue who ordered what. Meat drenched in spicy sauce all looks more or less the same, so we had some difficulty doling out who got what. But, the food itself was good -- neither the vaunted heights of some reviews nor the disappointing lows of others. My lamb dish was solid, with lamb as tender as I've had it, and spice-kick pitch perfect for my taste buds (ie, you could still taste what else was going on in the dish), and the appetizer sampler we got hit all the right bases. While there was nothing really wrong with anything in my experience, I feel like I'm rarely wowed by Indian food, and this was no exception, but on the spectrum, it definitely fell towards the better end. I bet the buffet would be better -- picking across flavors would have surely improved things, and nobody's complaining about cheaper prices -- but I would come back for dinner too.
(4)Miss N.
Let me just say that this establishment ONLY has 1 star because I could not submit this review without putting any. If I could give it negative stars I totally would!! This place used to be my favourite place to go and eat. Note the words "used to." I went here after a long absence in Korea and was like totally ready to just... mmmmmm!! i can't even come up with a word for how i was feeling. Anyhow, I drive from Antelope to Davis with a friend. She has never had Indian food and I was like "Sweet!" We arrive, the place is crowded but not overly so. There are seats available in the glassed in area and as she is leading us that way, she suddenly veers off to a little area closest to the bathroom and gestures that my friend and I sit there. Let me explain to you, my dear yelpers, that the "seat" was maybe a foot and a half of bench. For both myself and my friend to sit with another couple less than 6 inches away. I looked at the hostess as if she were crazy, and asked to be seated in the glassed in area as I could easily see at least 4 tables available. She went to speak to someone else and left my friend and I standing in the middle of the restaurant to be gawked at and then returns and says, "I'm sorry but that seating is reserved, but I will get you a chair to put on the other side of the table." I'm like, Ok, Whatever chick. So, we sit. And sit. And sit. 15 minutes after just sitting there, practically eating off the plates of our now dinner guests next to us, she brings us menus. I already knew what I wanted, but as this was my friends' first experience, I let her look at the menu and choose her meal. it took her all of 5 minutes. It took the waitress 36 minutes to even come pour water or glance in our direction. By this time I am livid! And being of a non melanin challenged persuasion, I was about to start acting a fool. But then I remembered that it was a stereotype and I probably shouldn't. When she finally came around, we'd been there for over an hour and I asked her calmly and politely to please move us into the glassed in area as it was close to closing and no one had come to claim their reserved seats and it was really uncomfortable being all hugged up to the older couple next to us. She bluntly says no and walks away. I assume she is going to get the order taking pad, but she disappears into the glassed in area to take someone else's order and refill the cups of another group. I say "Fuck this!" to my friend, packed up my belongings and left. I couldn't believe that the manager/owner was there the whole time and did nothing to stop us from leaving. No questions asked, NOTHING! Beyond angry at this point. Disappointed. Disrespected and hungry. I apologise profusely to my friend, who can't understand why this spot is my favourite if they treated me like crap. So, what did we do? We ended up driving back to Sacramento, to go to my now favourite spot, Nishiki's. Where they never disappoint and the service is ALWAYS pleasant. I will NOT be returning to Kathmandu any time in the future and I know everyone experiences things a little differently, but I don't suggest you frequent this place either.
(1)D H.
Okay even my picky cousin who refuse to eat any kind of meats cuz she is "too lazy to chew" had 3 pieces of chicken [in the curry] LOL my favorite is their lamb curry. The lamb is very tender, well cooked & doesn't have the stinky smell of lamb; & the spiciness of the curry blended with the rice, so Hot so Yum! i also like the naan here but prefer Raja's naan at the Farmer Market. The price is a bit pricey but i love it still, will come back for more!!!! =)
(4)L Y.
The naan here is the best I've ever had. The regular and the garlic blow my mind away. The lamb dishes are superb, and the name escapes me, but there's one that I think is a cherry curry sauce and it's out of this world! The food was just all around good, flavorful, and authentic. Great place to try out Himalayan food in a city that's out in the middle of nowhere.
(5)Christina T.
Although delicious, it really depends on what you are looking for. If all you want is some yummy Indian food, then this is the place. However, the service here was atrocious. I agree wholeheartedly with Wen T. that you do get what you pay for. However, I was picking up a to go order, and had 5 people walk right past me without even acknowledging that I was standing there! It was like they had blinders on, and I could even see the containers that I KNEW were my food. It's yummy and definitely does the trick for an Indian food fix. However, expect to spend some time waiting if you choose to dine in or even take it to go.
(2)Daniel H.
This is a pretty good place for some Indian fare in Davis. There's not a huge selection, after all. This place does the trick though. If you're curious about a few different tastes, try the thali style plates. Decent price for a college student, or someone visiting!
(3)Jen L.
This was my first visit to Kathmandu Kitchen. It was a rainy day and my buddy and I wanted to eat something warm and spicy - INDIAN FOOD! Yum! This place is decent for Davis. I've had some fantastic Indian Dishes in London, Berkeley, and San Francisco, which is why I give this place THREE stars. I have tasted better in those cities. However, Kathmandu will definitely satisfy the cravings for anyone looking for Indian food in Davis. My friend and I did not get the Thalil Combo with out meal. We ordered two ala cartes and garlic naan since we didn't want any leftovers. 1.) Chicken Vindaloo - We told the server we wanted spicy and it wasn't spicy enough. The sauce could have been thicker and it was more broth based. It was OK, but I've had better vindaloo and will not be ordering this dish again. The dish had potatoes and the chicken was cubed into chunks. It didn't taste bad . . . but I know it could be better. 2.) Baigan Bharta - roasted eggplant dish. Oh this was delicious and spicier then the chicken vindaloo. I will order AGAIN in the future. Kathmandu's version is creamier then other versions I've had, but it was still tasty. 3.) Garlic naan - delicious. tasted fresh and not oily/greasy. Price and Service was decent. Service has room for improvement, but it's not a reason to knock Kathmandu a Yelp-Star. I'd like to try other dishes.
(3)Steve M.
Meh... I tried their vegetable curry at the Farmer's Market and it was so bland! Where is the spice, the heat?? Do they compromise the quality of their dishes for American tastes? The samosas are alright, but I've lived in a Punjabi neighborhood in Queens, NY, so Kathmandu really has to step up their game if they want to impress me.
(2)lauren s.
Pleasant wait staff and great food!
(4)Al U.
When I first started coming here, I was wary because of all the bad press it had. However, I have now come to find that some people on Davis Wiki are solely there to rant. This place has great food! I love the buffet and ordering any entree! Their garlic herb naan is fantastic and goes well with the chana saag. My only recommendation is that try to get to the buffet when it opens b/c sometimes the turnover is slow. Unfortunate, I know. Kathmandu's main vice, for me, is that is still uses Styrofoam. But that can easily be fixed with a tupperware from home. Oh, one more thing, be cautious of the fennel seeds if you've never had them before. While they may cleanse the pallet, they taste like a strong licorice. I recommend that you at least try one and see how it is, but do not take the recommended "handful."
(4)Gina c.
Ahhhhhh sooo good. I went here with friends and we tried a number of dishes. By far top favorites included: benghan bartha and the palak paneer. The palak was more of a cream sauce that I am used to but still flavorful. I also appreciated that the spinach was still in identification stage, meaning it wasn't blended to resemble baby food. I will recommend if you are not sure whether to say spicy or mild, go mild, because medium spicy was still pretty intense. Also the owners have been doing this for a long time so they know what they are doing. I have been eating at their place of business for over 10 years, following them from SF. Still yummy!
(4)Angela W.
Regarding taste, this is my favorite Indian Restaurant in Davis. Regarding price, Raja's is the place to go in Davis. Regarding more authentic food- go to Dixon, CA for TASTE OF INDIA (Punjabi Dhaba). Food- Is amazing here! I absolutely love their garlic naan and their Sizzling Salmon. The Sizzling Salmon is so delicious. I've ordered this several times so it has tasted very moist and cooked to perfection this one time, and has tasted a bit dry in another time. Nonetheless, I recommend this dish. Also, their Chicken Masala is soo delicious. I'm a huge fan of Chicken Masala and this place cooks it to perfection. MMMMM MMM. I've come here for buffets, and they do have a wide selection of items. However, their naan isn't as fresh and soft during buffets. If you come her for buffets, I recommend going earlier for a fresher selection. They have bathrooms here. Parking- Downtown Davis parking can be difficult. Good luck!
(4)D E.
I throughly enjoy the food. It is tasty and very satisfying. The staff is friendly and attentive. I have been here with both small and large groups, in fact we celebrated my sister's birthday here last year and had a wonderful time with a very large group of friends. We had a great time. I highly recommend happy hour where prices are a bit lower but the food is just as delightful.
(4)