Akbar Cuisine of India Menu

  • Starters
  • Specials
  • Accompaniments
  • Tandoori Grill
  • Vegetables
  • Lamb $13.95
  • Chicken
  • Seafood
  • Tandoori Baked Breads
  • Basmati Rice
  • Desserts $5

Healthy Meal suggestions for Akbar Cuisine of India

  • Starters
  • Specials
  • Accompaniments
  • Tandoori Grill
  • Vegetables
  • Lamb $13.95
  • Chicken
  • Seafood
  • Tandoori Baked Breads
  • Basmati Rice
  • Desserts $5

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  • DJ S.

    By far one of my favorite restaurants in Marina del Rey / Venice (I'll throw in Santa Monica as well)! The Chilean sea bass, tandoori, curries and tikka masala are all INCREDIBLE!! I have yet to try a so-so item. Every single thing I've tried here is SO flavorful!! From the naan (garlic or cheese my fav), sag paneer or any other small dish they never disappoint. There's a chicken turnover appetizer (can't remember the exact name) that's unreal! And the selections of wine and beer - top notch. Wished I could give more stars.

    (5)
  • Benjamin S.

    This was my second time at Akbar. The last time was several years ago, so for all intents and purposes this was like a new visit. Came around 5:45 on a weekday. Place was empty save for the owner, cook, and one lone server. We were given our pick of tables (obviously) and sat down. We ordered Tandoori Chicken, Chicken Akbari, and Samosas (to start). We "upgraded" from the entree portion to the dinner portion for $5 which gets you Naan bread, rice, and vegetable pilaf. Samosas came presently. They were delivered by our surly waiter who also deposited some sauces on the table without explaining what they were. The sauces and the spoons that were in the sauce jars were also cold...as in cold from the fridge. They don't remove the spoons to clean them! Samosas were fine though. When we asked for a slightly less spicy sauce, the owner said they charged extra for other sauces and had been doing things this was "since 1976". OK, then! Dinner arrived. Tandoori chicken was nice, Chicken Akbari less so (but still edible). Naan bread was good too, but the rice and veggies were not. Veggies were canned (as in peas and corn from Birds Eye canned). Overall? This place is about a 3 or 3.5. Working on their side dishes would make me feel less "cheated" by the $5 uncharge for the rice and veggies, and perhaps an attitude adjustment from their lone waiter that night.

    (3)
  • Cecilia D.

    Nice host but the service is slow as molasses; like I'm gonna start eating my napkin slow. But if you want spicy, this place is where you want to be. It was encouraging to see Indian patrons and staff. That's probably why this place was crazy packed on a Friday night. Otherwise, I've got places I like closer to home so I probably wouldn't make the schlep over here again; especially since it's on the corner of traffic-laden Washington Blvd.

    (3)
  • Jovana V.

    Amazing food and great great service. 10 stars ! I can't get over the complicated and intricate flavor a that are incorporated in the meals......this is one of those places that will end up on Great Eats and do very well ! Yummy!

    (5)
  • Nadia Y.

    We ordered delivery. The driver was friendly and prompt. The food was amazing! Will order again!

    (5)
  • Carlos H.

    The lamb chops. Omg the lamb chops. They're tiny. You get 4 or 5 little bites out of each chop. But, they're 4 or 5 exquisite little bites. Best I've ever had. You can get chicken tikka anywhere. They just happen to do chicken tikka really really well. Order it. Everything was good. Lentils, all the stews we ordered, tandoori, all of it. Get an herb naan and a garlic naan. I'm not a huge dessert person but the mango cheesecake is house made and it's out of this world. It's dense and to be shared. Go with family style instead of ordering one entree so you can try a little bit of a couple different things.

    (5)
  • Martin E.

    We had a great dinner and the service was amazing. The tandoori lamb and the tandoori jumbo shrimps are amazing. We had a side of basmati rice and naan bread. JC the host was super kind and gave great recommendations. We'll definitely be back.

    (4)
  • Deepa T.

    Not a good meal. If you want Indian food , authentic Indian food, I recommend, Anarbagh in the valley, india sweets and spices (only the one on topanga and sherman way) and Bombay to Bejing. The spices were wrong, I was so disappointed that there was no shahi paneer or malai kofta. The shrimp pakora wasn't even PAKORA.. I came all the way from the valley to have Indian food in marina del rey and I was very disappointed. For all the vegetarians, there are some veggie dishes, and the staff did offer to make whatever I wanted, which was very nice. But the food was not good, and this included the chai. Masala chai is a staple in Indian restaurants, if you get this wrong you are definitely doing something wrong. VERY DISAPPOINTING :(

    (2)
  • Pralav D.

    Interesting take on Indian food. Food service and presentation was nice. The curries were interesting as they were not standard recipes. The mango cheesecake dessert was very good.

    (3)
  • Zohar L.

    The food is still pretty good here. Not always consistent but still good and I was a customer here for the last three months. In fact I think I may have roughly spent 1000-1500 on food here just ordering for myself. The owner always took the time out to ask me on the phone if I was being taken care of. Then why the bad review. It's come down to customisation and catering to your client vs asking them to take it or leave it and Ofcourse meaning what you say when you say you want to make sure your clients are being taken care of. First request was to break an egg on their roti for the kathi roll. That's how authentic kathi rolls are made. The filling of their rolls is pretty good. The sad little roti they roll it in is not. When I requested for an egg to be broken on the roti, I was told it was not possible as they did not have staff that could handle such a request. (I write this as I am eating the amazing Frittata my 8year old niece just made) Second request to spice up an aloo tiki. Was told that was not possible since the patties had already been shaped (not coated just shaped). So I requested that just for those two patties add some spice to it and reshape it before frying them. Was told it was not possible. Now I don't go into a fast food joint and ever ask for customisation. A veg patty at a fast food would be a dollar or two at most. But you guys are not a fast food establishment, you're projecting yourself as a sit down fine dining experience and charging likewise. Perhaps it's not worth your time reshaping a patty for a customer who gives you business thrice a week or hiring staff who can successfully coat a roti with an egg. But then don't call yourselves a fine dining experience. Because that experience goes beyond just the food you want dole out and nice curtains and white linen. It comes down to the heart of the experience. The service aspect. There you guys fall short really badly, and for what? Not because you can't. It's because you don't want to cater to your clients wishes. That being said this client now choses to take business to another place where they do value such good business and don't mind customising a bit to see their customers satisfied.

    (1)
  • Heather S.

    Favorite Indian food delivery of all time!!! Chicken tikka masala is my favorite Indian dish (but I like it extra spicy) and these guys are the kings of it. I've tried a bunch of delivery Indian spots from NY to LA and I can honestly say these guys are my fave. Every time I call, someone friendly answers and makes the call-in for delivery process quick & easy - and on many occasions they've made great recommendations on the menu if you're interested in trying anything new! When you're craving just damn good Indian food at a great price - I highly recommend this spot! The food always tastes consistent and I usually have plenty of leftovers with their portions so I have it for several meals making this place an epic bang for your buck. I'll be a loyal customer for as long as they're around!

    (5)
  • Ocean F.

    GREAT meal - How does Akbar not have 5 stars from every reviewer? The food here is great. The owners and staff are so friendly. The restaurant inside is small and cozy - just how I like it. This is the best Indian food I have had in the area. If you are near Venice beach or the Marina, and feel like Indian - just go here and have a great meal!

    (5)
  • Chloe C.

    Kind of a small place but very cozy and intimate. Eva is an awesome waitress! The owner is also nice; very helpful and friendly. The food was very good I must say compared to other "authentic" Indian restaurants I've been to in the area. Everything tasted fresh and had great flavor. Definitely get the Tikki Masala or the lamb Vindaloo. The garlic Naan was also delicious. Overall pretty great, I'll definitely be back.

    (5)
  • J. R.

    I have never asked who is the owner of this place because I never needed to, in the past JC was qualified and able to carry a nice experience. But I can tell you now that after 13 years of supporting you at about $100 a week- I am definitely done. It has been declining for years, which I have tried to ignore, but it has become too painfully obvious. I can tell you - no guest of this establishment is feeling appreciated any longer.

    (1)
  • Lori M.

    Terrible! And terrible service. A bug actually flew into my sons mango lassi. They didn't even say sorry. I was disgusted as bugs consistently flew over our table. The servers knew it and didn't say or do anything. The food was terrible. Worst Indian food I have ever had. Will never go there again.

    (1)
  • Belinda S.

    Yummy! order at least 10 different dishes and share it with a large group! Pace your self and enjoy!

    (5)
  • Julia C.

    Possibly the worst Indian food I have ever had in my life!!!! If you can get past the attitude of the person you are ordering from...... The food will be worse!!! Chicken Korma like rubber, not creamy just really bad!! Paratha hard as a frisby!!! And mushy rice....YUK!!! Trust me don't bother!!!!

    (1)
  • zebi a.

    Excellent food and excellent service! They should have five stars across the board!!! Keep up the good work guys!!!

    (5)
  • Hernan C.

    My favorite dish in this place is chicken tika masala. It is very delicious. Restaurant looks old but clean. Price is effordable

    (4)
  • Chris H.

    OK.... I like this place a lot. But I LOVE Indian food and I do think there are a few better options when wanting the tandoor. This is a good go-to place when you want an easy take out/pick up in Venice. But in all honesty the service is a bit slow when dining there and imho it's a bit over priced. Every time I order and pick up I'm always surprised at the total. Maybe that's just me... It's all good and I will continue to go there because at the end of the day it's good food and it's close.

    (3)
  • Scott M.

    The food here is really great. You must try the okra and the tandoori sea bass. Two of the best dishes they and both are excellent. Other favorites are tandoori lamb, chicken tikka masala and the naan is spot on as well. Mango lassi in delicious. Try one. The service is excellent. Friendly, helpful and attentive.

    (4)
  • V C.

    The management team here needs a huge wake up call! Last night a group of friends ordered delivery for close to $100 bill. When placing our order we specifically asked which what temperature we should order based on the chef's hand as we did not want it spicy hot. The woman informed us to order level 3 across the board. We did. The food arrives and it is so hot none of us can eat it! Even those who like spicy! We call back and to make a long story short they would not refund our money and said they tasted our food 1st and it was fine!!! Are you kidding me! Where is customer service here? Then they called us and told us to drive it back to them ourselves if we wanted our money back!!! Which of course much to their surprise we did! Thank God because upon entering we noticed how unkept the manager and the restaurant which confirms we will never order from here again and make sure everyone knows we find their customer service horrible, food uneatable and establishment and those who work their unkept and unclean! Thank Akbar for insisting we come to you to return our food. Now we have even more of a reason not to recommend or ever be a patron again!

    (1)
  • Umar M.

    We ordered take out the other night and I thought the food might have been okay, if we could have eaten it. We ordered the food spicy number 3 out of 5 point scale, and wow it was super spicy. My wife and I are both of indian decent and it was too spicy for her, i could endure it barely, but wow it was super spicy-which i felt took away from the flavor. Now to the meal it is kinda hard to rate due to its spice factor but I know the Bharta that we ordered was overly full of cream and I couldn't really tell if there was much eggplant in the dish. I would mind trying the food again maybe dining in, but becareful when choosing your spice number, or at least have a gallon of water ready.

    (2)
  • Shauna N.

    The food was delicious! Be aware that if an item has a number 3 or higher it is very spicy. We ordered the chefs choice Naan which was good. The waiter was helpful with choosing amazing tasting foods and sauces. The only problem I had was that even though we were waiting on others to come we wanted to order appetizers and for 15 minutes no one came by to take our order. The waiter never wrote down our order and forgot to put in two more dishes. We ended up canceling one because we had been there so long.

    (4)
  • John And Kate B.

    AMBIENCE: N/A We got it to go. SERVICE: C- We had it delivered. But I got a call letting us know they received the order late and they'd throw in some free papadum. They didn't. It took way too long. Then when we finally got the food, there was no rice! So it's just chicken and sauce?!! Throw in some rice! And they didn't tell us it didn't come with rice so we had to do without. FOOD: B We got the Chicken Tikka and the Chicken Akbari. The sauce and chicken were okay. The tikka was better. John really liked their cheese naan. "It was like a cheesy pillow," he says. FINAL GRADE: 3 Stars Decent indian food. Overpriced for having no rice. A little unorganized based on the delivery experience.

    (3)
  • Rohin A.

    Been eating here for 4 years and the food has mostly been good, with a screw-up here and there. HOWEVER, my wife is a celiac and we ALWAYS confirm that the food we have ordered is gluten free. Their staff have consistently told us that the Akbhari Kofta is gluten free only to find out from the manager that it has never been gluten free. That's APPALLING to me. It's unacceptable to have staff at a restaurant stating that things are gluten free when they're not. Luckily my wife's symptoms are not that bad but what if they had been? Get your act together - it's not good enough to say that you made a mistake when you can make people sick.

    (2)
  • Mitesh S.

    We were here for dinner yesterday as the menu was famcy but the food was a real disappointment.

    (2)
  • Christina H.

    Total idiots on the phone - placed an online order and called to verify - one hour later I called back and she never received the order and said: "it's not my fault that the online did not work!" Brilliant!

    (1)
  • Kelly M.

    I went to Akbar again last night. One word: FANTASTIC!! Our waitress Eva is super knowledgeable and makes you feel comfortable and welcome. Take her suggestions on ordering and you will not be disappointed. The cuisine is outstanding. Clean, awesome traditional Indian. The owner stopped by our table to check in and be certain everything was perfect. Which it was!! I highly recommend this restaurant!! It is beyond expectation!! Good Job Akbar!! Thanks!!!

    (5)
  • K M.

    I used to love this place for delivery but it seems to be slipping. Two times ago when I ordered the Chicken Tikka Masala (which I usually LOVE), it was not up to par. This last time I placed an order, they hit a new level of not good. The bharta, another favorite of mine here, had many large chunks of something fibrous (might have been ginger but it tasted like lemongrass) in it. It's very off putting to chomp down on a fibrous mass when you're expecting soft eggplant and then have to spit it out. The tandoori BBQ chicken wasn't cooked enough. It was nearly raw in the center. Lastly, the naan was raw. The dough looked charred, but it wasn't cooked. It was completely raw. It's such a shame. I really like the flavors of their food, but I'm really concerned about the preparation now. I honestly don't know if I'll risk ordering from them again it was so bad this time.

    (1)
  • David B.

    Awesome flavors. Had butter chicken and I would seriously recommend it. Rice was good, I prefer the paratha to the naan so give it a try. I'm English so I know my indian food and this place is hard to beat. Parking is easy right by the restaurant on side street. And no valet!!! A real treat in LA.

    (5)
  • Matthew G.

    Very good, very authentic Indian food. Dishes are the real deal so be prepared for the heat. Service and selection are also good. The menu is limited, but nothing is Americanized and it's just as well. Moderately priced and definitely value for money. Seating is limited, but have never had a problem without a reservation. Highly recommended if Indian cuisine is your thing!

    (4)
  • Colleen Y.

    We just had lunch for 30 catered by Akbar and everything was wonderful. I worked with JC getting the menu worked out. He was very helpful and accommodating. He called me 45 minutes before I was supposed to pick it up to let me know it would be ready early, which worked out perfectly. We had Pakistani guests in our lunch party and they all thought the food was great. We also order lunch for our office from Akbar every few weeks and everyone is always satisfied. They are good about splitting up our checks even though it is sometimes a large group!

    (5)
  • Colleen L.

    To all those who proclaim this is a 5 star restaurant, I beg to differ. My Indian friend made a Friday dinner reservation. She called and said we were looking for parking and would be there in 5 minutes. The lady who answered informed her that there was a private lot. Don't do what I did. I entered from Washington Blvd. and apparently their private lot goes one way only. Word to the wise, enter from behind the restaurant. Also go slowly. It is very narrow. Once I got parked going the right way in the parking lot we both had a good laugh. My Indian friend remarked "you know, it's just like the parking lots in India!" We reminisced about our time spent as passengers in Indian traffic. We alternated between covering our eyes with our hands, screaming, then praying for our safety, our lives. The next moment we applauded as her uncle and other drivers maneuvered around goats, cattle, bicycles, pedestrians, cars and overloaded trucks. Back to the restaurant. The manager carried a bright red Swiss Army knife type corkscrew tucked in the waist of his pants. That caught our attention and amused us. My friend ordered a Chardonnay which she liked. We started out by ordering papri chat. The manager tried to get us to order Samosa chat but we declined. We liked the way it was presented, with the seemingly snow capped aka yogurt, spicy potato salad mountains. Never seen it quite so picturesque, "4" stars. The green herb naan was fairly good "3.5" stars. The spices were somewhat unevenly distributed throughout the dinner "2" stars. The chana masala was way too salty "1 star". We each took one bite and my friend asked the manager if something could be done. He willingly accepted back the dish and asked us what we would like instead. We decided on brown lentils, the dal of the day. It came out fairly fast and well done, "3" stars. It had lacked 3 dimensional flavor. None that we could ascertain. My friend asked for some spice. They brought out a bowl of cayenne pepper and cilantro. Much more palatable. She also asked for extra lemon wedges, which perked it up. The saag paneer, "2" stars. I am partial to my friend's mother who makes the best saag. A close second would be Chandni in Santa Monica. My friend enjoyed the ambience and the authentic music. For Indian on the Westside I still prefer Chandni in Santa Monica or Taj Palace in Pacific Palisades. Both also have ambience with authentic music. I find that the staff there for the most part are more humble.

    (3)
  • Stelio C.

    If the prices were lower, the portions and flavors might be acceptable. Some yoga mom was raving about this place, but my sense is that's the demographic that loves this place. Wasn't impressed at all.

    (3)
  • A S.

    Some dishes are good. Some are a miss. We ordered a bunch of dishes. Food came slightly cold even though there weren't many people in the restaurant. Spice level was inconsistent. Black lentil wasn't the typical 'black' lentils served in typical Indian restaurants. Breads were good. But cold by the time it came. So a note to management: Fix your service level and timing.

    (3)
  • Lauren M.

    I love Indian food!!!! It's officially my new favorite food and Akbar is amazing. We had a late Saturday night dinner here around 9 so it wasn't too busy, and the Washington location is really quaint and cozy. I ordered a mango lassi which was so creamy and refreshing, and we started with the Kaskebadamjan which is a sauteed eggplant covered in what they call a Chef's special sauce. It was a hot eggplant dish covered in a cold yogurt and cucumber raita type dip. The contrast between the temperatures was so refreshing and tasty, I scooped up the rest of the sauce with their yummy garlic naan. For my entree I had the Chicken Tikka Masala and for an extra $5 you can upgrade to the "dinner" platter which includes sauteed veggies, dal, rice, and naan, which I did. The masala was great, not spicy at all (it was on a 2 on their scale of 1-5, 5 being the spiciest) and the chicken was moist and flavorful. T had the Tandoori Mint Chicken Kabob which was a 4, I thought it was hot but he put extra chili sauce on it. Everything was sooo delicious, I'm already craving it and I can't wait to go back this week.

    (5)
  • Ravi J.

    I am stuck somewhere in middle of 3 or 4 to give rating so rather I give 3.5 here but overall I will give 3 stars .. Starting with the good points for this place .. Loved the Tandoori grilled wings [Spicy chicken wings] & Mango Lassi .. I already went twice just to eat them at this place .. Overall a good experience .. Will recommend to anyone looking for more american-ISH India food .. Service is good, servers are nice and friendly .. Authentic Indian food lovers are surely up for disappointment here .. Making reservation is a BIG yes yes .. sitting area is small & congested .. you might bang into the person sitting on table next to you while passing by if you are not cautious ..

    (3)
  • Ken D.

    Nice intimate location. Great rice

    (4)
  • Chris H.

    Great food - they could tone back on the heat a little bit. I'm a hot sauce fam taco and find myself having trouble even getting through a meal here. The chutneys are super hot

    (4)
  • Cara C.

    Bit more expensive than some Indian food. My lamb vindaloo was $14 plus another $3 for rice. They do have wine by the glass that was $9 for a simple syrah. My boyfriend got the chicken tikka masala and it was very flavorful. My vindaloo was truly spicy. Most places don't pour on the spice, but this place makes it fire. If you are not a fan of spice, go for something that is in the 1 maybe 2 range (they rank it all from 1-5) 5 must be inferno since Vind was at 4 and it knocked my socks off. As we were leaving a plate of tandori lamb chops went by and I almost found myself hungry again is smelled so good. Next time when I go back...

    (4)
  • Liliana E.

    Food was great. Not the best naan I've had but the appetizers and entrees were very delicious. Nice staff and restaurant.

    (4)
  • Ali W.

    Absolutely phenomenal Indian food, amazing flavors and well put together. They had samosas chaat on special which I ordered in addition to papadum and the bhartha at the servers recommendation. It was all so good. I was there for quite some time eating and enjoyed every bite of it. It wasn't overly-Americanized and had really rich flavors. The staff was really friendly as well.

    (5)
  • Joel L.

    Akbar is awesome. Definitely my fave Indian restaurant on the westside. They have some really unique and creative menu items along with one of the best tikka masalas I've had anywhere. Rich, smooth and complex flavors really make it stand out from other versions. Also, this place does serious spice if that's your cup of tea. Be warned when they ask for spice level a 4 out of 5 is seriously intense and I love spicy food. That said the spice dosen't overwhelm the flavors. Basically everything we've had here has been great. Definitely give this place a shot if you're craving some legit Indian cuisine.

    (5)
  • Jay J.

    I have ate at this place a number of times for dinner. The food has always been good and tasty. The wait staff is also very nice. I will be coming back again, its a cool date spot too.

    (4)
  • Tanzeem A.

    Its not at all so authentic Indian food. They just took the names of Indian dishes but forgot the recipe. Biryani tasted like fried rice. And the main attraction- Akbari chicken: so called best in city- is totally disgusting. And what joke they created with papri chaat. Ambience is also just ok. Just one thing i like- the people working here. I highly recommend try other resturant for Indian dishes.

    (2)
  • Yvonne M.

    When we originally opened our take out we thought the portions were small, but when we tasted the food we were thankful as it went right into the garbage disposal. Both the lamb and chicken were tired and dried out. Everything was over salted over seasoned and looked like last weeks leftovers. Would not recommend or go back for any reason. Two meat entrees, one veg entree, rice, one piece of Naan and raita was close to $60. ;-(

    (1)
  • Joshua D.

    I'm noticing some rough reviews for the dine-in experience, but I just picked up an order here. It was close to closing time for them, and they were slammed, but I still got in and out in no time. My food, though a little pricey, was FREAKIN' EXCEPTIONAL. I'm definitely dining here again. Excellent.

    (4)
  • Simon M.

    Had dinner with 9 colleagues. They really took care of us. The best Indian food I've had in quite a while! Totally recommend this place!

    (5)
  • Mebot B.

    AMAZING food, service and atmosphere. Highly recommend this Indian restaurant. It's quite authentic and worth the price.

    (5)
  • Evan C.

    I enjoy this spot every time I go. Went again last night w my gf -2 entrees, a side of rice and 1 naan = seriously full!. Gobi aloo is on the top of my list. If your trying to park in the side lot enter from the alley, it's a one way. I'd recommend parking on one of the side streets, plenty of space and 1 min walk.

    (4)
  • Paniz M.

    Hands down best Indian food I have ever had! I have had all different types of Indian food all over the world. This place takes it to another level. I have a very sensitive stomach and I left feeling incredible after stuffing myself with their amazing food!!

    (5)
  • Vaishnavi K.

    Had food delivered was so spicy could not eat. Food has become really bad. I use to eat there all the time but just dont feel like wasting my money there.

    (1)
  • Mary B.

    The service is terrible. The big guy at the counter was playing video games while the server had trouble keeping up with 3 tables.

    (1)
  • Sandra C.

    First off...the online menu clearly says that all dinner entrees come with mixed veggies, naan, and rice. When I ordered, they said it did not come with the order. OK. Well...that's misleading, and also...what kind of Indian place just gives out the dish without rice?! What kind of entree is that? That annoyed me a bit. In addition... Akbar didn't deliver to my house, and I had to drive in mind-numbing traffic for about 40 minutes there and back home. It was a huge inconvenience to me because I had people coming over too! It also didn't help that the restaurant backed me into a corner when they called to tell me they didn't deliver AFTER my food was already being made. Ugh. The fact that I'm still giving this restaurant 5 stars says a lot about the food itself. After eating the Chicken Tikka Masala at home, it's hands down the best I've tried in Los Angeles since I've moved here from Boston. The Pepper Lamb is dangerously freak spicy, so unless you want to die, go in prepared. I will definitely be back to eat at Akbar Cuisine of India....however, I don't think I'll order delivery/pick up again unless I'm in the area. I'm just going to go to the restaurant itself to eat. When I stopped by to pick up my food, it looked pretty romantic in there. I'll bring my imaginary boyfriend there for dinner sometime.

    (5)
  • Beth C.

    I am always on the lookout for a tasty Indian restaurant on the Westside otherwise I have to go over the hill. Just had my first taste of Akbar this week and I must say it was delicious. They even made me my favorite - which was off menu. Our waitress was equally as great as the food. I'll definitely be going back...SOON!

    (4)
  • Steve K.

    Hands down, the best Indian restaurant around! We have been coming to Akbar for ages. We used to frequent their original location when it was at Via Marina and Washington (in the '80s!) and they have raised the bar so high that the majority of Indian restaurants we've been to since pale in comparison. We went last night for the first time in a few months and it reconfirmed this knowledge again. We started off with samosas and theirs are the best around. The crust was light and flaky and the filling was perfection. They serve it with a variety of condiments, but the best was the tamarind sauce and a mango chutney that is incredible. Next, we had the ginger lamb chops. This is the first time I've tried them, but they were exceptional! The meat slipped off the bone and was so tender it literally melted in your mouth. We also had the chicken kati rolls, which my wife loves. They were sweet yet spicy with a perfect blend of spices. All of this only got our appetites ready for more. We ordered three entrees and a side of rice with garlic naan. The bengan aloo was again, exceptional. The potatoes and egg plant were fresh and sauteed perfectly. The chicken tikka masala was as always, perfect. We also ordered the chicken aamras which was also incredible (on on the sweeter, less spicier side for those that can't handle the "heat" of many Indian dishes). The rice, as always, was perfectly seasoned with saffron. The garlic naan was the perfect thing to swipe up extra sauce on our plates. It may sound like this is too good to be true, but go yourself and try it out. The thing that stands out about Akbar above all other Indian restaurants is the quality of the food. All of the meat in both dishes was solid, fresh, white meat chicken. The overall quality of everything they serve is exceptional. The naan is cooked fresh in their tandoori oven and and you can see the kitchen and cooks working behind the counter cooking everything up to order. This is a good sign in a restaurant and shows they have nothing to hide. (It reminds me of a time my wife saw our server in a sushi restaurant go to the freezer and pull out a box of Trader Joe's mochi balls for our dessert!) To confirm our feeling that Akbar is the best Indian food hands down, as we were leaving, we met another customer from New York. He was raving to the host about the food at Akbar. He was saying that Akbar blows the doors off of any of the Indian restaurants he's been to in NY and he claimed to have been to dozens. We smiled to each other knowingly as we headed home satisfied with another incredible meal. Is Akbar pricier than a corner mini-mall fast food Indian place? Yes. But as the old saying goes, you get what you pay for!

    (5)
  • St B.

    Take out. Food was authentic and tasted great. Sadly, that was over shadowed by two things- 1/ the unfriendly staff and 2/ they short changed us. I don't want to be greeted that that rude service again so I won't return.

    (2)
  • Jaypon R.

    The food is amazing but the delivery service is horrible for this location. We ordered our food was never told an amount total or expected time of delivery. When I phoned after an hour of waiting I was told that the delivery driver had left 10 minutes ago. After 30 more minutes had passed, I phoned again and was told that the driver had left a few minutes ago and was told that she was going to check on his whereabouts. After I was put on hold for another 5 minutes I was told that the delivery driver had come, supposedly called, and couldn't reach us. We have a Callbox and had been waiting on the order so the driver never called. Also the fact that the food had been prepaid, it seems that Akbar should have phoned us to update us on the status rather than just not bring the food. In the end they sent the driver back out and we got our food after about 2 hours with no apology.

    (2)
  • RJ M.

    Good spot. We always feel like it's slight more "real"/healthier Indian than some of the other spots nearby. You can also eat in and not feel like you're in some cinderblock walled roadside shack.

    (4)
  • Brenda J.

    I love the Akbar in Hermosa, but I was disappointed by this one. I placed an order online and was sent a receipt and alert that it would arrive at 5:30. I called at 5:45 and they hadn't even noticed my order. The customer service in response was lacking.

    (2)
  • Maika P.

    I came here with some coworkers for some lunch. I ordered the Chicken Tikka Masala lunch. It was a HUGE portion. I was so hungry that I ended up finishing it all though. The masala wasn't anything to be impressed about. It was just right. Their naan is really good and fluffy. They gave us alot of it for the table to share. The service was pretty good! By the time we came for lunch around 12:30pm, it was emptying out. The service was very prompt. I would come back since they are close to my office. Otherwise, their Indian food is just alright. I wasn't supremely impressed but I also didn't get food poisoning. They also have some sauces on the table. Two of them were REALLY spicy. The parking here is kind of crazy! There are like 5 spots you can park at or there is street parking.

    (3)
  • Tas D.

    Best indian food in the area

    (5)
  • Amir H.

    The food here is actually decent, but don't EVER order delivery from them. Just ordered online at 8pm, from 8:45pm until 9:15 I literally called 13 times and kept getting voicemail. When someone finally answered, they put me on hold for 10 minutes and then hung up on me. By the time I spoke with someone at 9:15pm, they told me that for "some reason" the order never went through to the kitchen. And now it was too late for them to fill it. Terrible service. A real shame, because the food is actually pretty good.

    (1)
  • Mia N.

    I like chandeliers here.

    (3)
  • Saurabh R.

    Ordered Chicken Biryani. The worst choice ever made. Dont order. This is not place to eat authentic indian dishes

    (1)
  • Jenny J.

    I yelped this place when I was in Venice with my sister and we were craving Indian food. The service was great, really nice employees. The food is superb! The flavor is so amazing. I ordered the Chicken Tikka Masala and it was amazing. My sister got some shrimp curry that was also delicious. We kept picking off each others plates. The prices I'd say are reasonable for the portion and quality. Amazing place, must try! P.S. The parking is the only thing that sucks :( they have a small lot but other than that, it's street parking.

    (5)
  • Alexander N.

    It was the first time i tried indian food mind you so I might be off at my evaluation, however the place was really nice. Onion Baji and Samosa tasty and very BIG portions for 5$ starters. Lamb saag was tender and delicious Chicken tika masala very flavourful and tasted really nice with the rice Two people left minus 50$ and plus a very happy full stomach. Will visit again.

    (4)
  • Marcie M.

    excellent indian food and a lovely wait staff! I am a giant fan of this restaurant ... always warm and friendly and the food is full of flavor! The waitress always has a great recommendation for wine and dishes. This is the best indian food around !

    (5)
  • bennys b.

    I own a restaurant myself in Venice, and I have tried many Indian Restaurants, but hands down this is the best place . Fresh food, great prices . We love it, and we will come back soon. Thanks. Benny

    (5)
  • Sonia G.

    Amazing food overall, especially the Chicken Tikka. I definitely recommend it with the side of rice if you are a first timer. You will love it. They also have an amazing hostess/waitress by the name of Rita. Super sweet young lady !

    (4)
  • Liane Y.

    Had a really great dinner experience here. We ordered the Bhartha and Akbar Chicken dinners and both were amazing dishes. We are so full from all of the food! The service was prompt and our waiter was helpful with suggestions on what to order. We will definitely be coming back.

    (4)
  • David M.

    Definitely unusual Indian dishes in addition to perennial favorites like chicken tikka masala. I had a Prawn Vindaloo that I was expecting to be spicier but glad it wasn't as our papadums were so spicy I needed a respite from the heat. They have some interesting wine selections and our server made some great recommendations. Their garlic naan is extraordinary.

    (4)
  • Forrest S.

    I'm torn with this review. While at the restaurant, we had a great experience. Ambiance: great. Service: amazing. Food: delicious (spinach, eggplant, tikka masala, sea bass) Unfortunately, two of the three of our group got nauseous and had horrible stomach aches about 15 minutes after we left the restaurant. We would love to go back, but given the fact that we spent our evenings sick to our stomachs, we won't be taking that chance.

    (3)
  • Nicole M.

    I'm not one to write a bad review, ever... but this review is absolutely necessary for 'Indian food lovers' and anyone considering this restaurant!! Without question, this is possibly the the worst restaurant I have ever eaten at in a very long time! I have lived in the Middle East for many years and eat 'real' Indian food several days a week, as it's my favorite!! The food here, at Akbar, was beyond unacceptable!!!! From the horrid oil and grease smell upon arrival, i already knew something was off... After the first dish I was immediately aware that this was NOT 'real' Indian food. On top of everything, the waiter was beyond rude and Insisted, I order the dishes he wanted me to order, not what I wanted.... And he insisted I order terrible wine that he wanted and was rude when I said, no thank you!!!! He was very annoyed that I did Not want his recommendations! The lamb came out Raw!! Every dish tasted Exactly the same, all containing the same exact ingredients; terrible potatoes and peas!!! With extremely uninviting colors and flavors, awful! I'm not going to ramble! Long story short, from the time I got home from the restaurant, till early the next morning, I was extremely ill and spent hours sick, because of the food! Crazy... The final bill for 2 people with wine, was $200.00. Insanity!!!!!!!!!! We paid the bill and left all the food on the table!

    (1)
  • C S.

    Oh My God! This is hands down my favorite Indian restaurant and possibly my favorite place to eat period. I have been going there for years, having worked in the area, and have never had a bad meal. Although I no longer work anywhere near this restaurant, I will make the drive. The service can be a bit slow, but everything is freshly made (The kitchen opens up to the dining area). Highly recommended: Chicken Kati roll Samosa Chicken Wings (be careful, they're quite hot) Onion Baji Lamb Akbari Chicken Tikka Masala Prawns Madras Spinach Paneer Even the Dal is tasty. Go there, eat a lot, and find somewhere to sleep it off, 'cause this food brings 'the itis'.

    (5)
  • Laurenne S.

    I've only had take-out here twice. But I would marry the cheese naan. SO GOOD.

    (4)
  • Brian P.

    Came for lunch with a few coworkers. The food was pretty good especially the 3 different nan sauces. Chicken Tiki Masala was great. Service was friendly and efficient. I will be back.

    (4)
  • Lorenzo S.

    This is a wonderful restaurant. The service is great. The manager JC is so helpful. The food is authentic and is prepared, before your eyes and is wonderful. No need to visit India, you can taste it all here.

    (5)
  • Kira B.

    I really dislike writing less than positive reviews but it'd be dishonest to give this place more than 1 star after my experience here last night. Everything started out fine. We were greeted and seated immediately and our drink order was taken. The waiter brought us bottled water even though I said I wanted regular. Oh well, since my bf had a beer I decided the "fancy" water would be ok and didn't say anything. Little did we know it cost $6! After the drinks came, our order wasn't taken for another 15 minutes and there were only 5 other tables occupied. Our food took over 45 minutes to arrive, no exaggeration. I'm not one to get upset about wait times, but this was absolutely ridiculous. Especially because the owner and his daughter came in, were seated right next to us, and proceeded to eat an entire meal AND finish in the time we sat and waited for our food to come. We were completely ignored while they were taken care of. Apparently it's okay for customers to get crappy service while the owner sits there and is treated like royalty. You'd think they'd bring over something like some pappadum but nothing came. Our naan arrived 10 minutes before our food (isn't it supposed to come WITH the meal?) and we almost ate all of it because we were so hungry. Finally our food showed up. Instead of being served in individual dishes, everything was heaped onto one plate each. Rice, entree, vegetables. Never been to an Indian restaurant that serves food that way. The food itself was awesome. I had saag paneer and my bf had the chicken tiki masala. The naan was out of this world. We were checked on once by the waiter who asked if my bf wanted some water. Instead of bringing him a glass of water, he simply brought him a glass and then poured what tiny amount was left of the expensive bottled water into his glass. It would have been nice to bring him a big glass of tap water. At the end he apologized for the slowness, saying his boss was in and that was why. We were both seriously annoyed by how crappy and slow the service was. We won't be returning here. There are plenty of other Indian restaurants in the area who provide better service and food in a timely manner. It's a shame, because the food was really good.

    (1)
  • mister A.

    I really want to like Akbar more than I do. My wife and I went here using a Yelp deal. The food was okay but nothing extraordinary. The maitre-de was super helpful helping us choose dishes and working with my wife's food allergies, but the end result was just run-of-the-mill Indian food. Probably won't be back because there's better Indian food for less money.

    (3)
  • David A.

    Chicken Tikka Masala is very, very good. It's a nice place to go for dinner at around $20 per person. The sleeper suggestion? Order their lunch special @ $8.60 - chicken tikka masala - Dal -cucumber salad -rice -naan Keep up the good work! This is my go to lunch treat in MDR.

    (5)
  • Luis V.

    Exceeded our expectations, great ambiance, knowledgable staff, and awesome food!!! If your in the mood for Indian, this is it!!

    (4)
  • Charlie H.

    I am used to eating good Indian food. The first time we came here we had some really nice food, Good, spicey and enough of us to go "Hang on have we just found our new spot". A week later we went again, planning to make it a regular, only to find it completely different. We ordered the same thing as before but this time it was terrible and near the end we found the golden whammy of restaurant stuff ups - a roach in the curry. We wife took about 4 chews before realising what it was and there certainly was nothing like it in there on the previous visit. Not really being able to prove the small mass of black gunk in front of us was a roach we asked for the check and left immediately with the rest of our food left untouched. Sadly it went from hero to zero and we wont ever go there again.

    (1)
  • Terry W.

    Had a birthday dinner for my daughter here on 6/5. Average food, poor service. First restaurant I've ever been in where they charged, on the bill, an 18% gratuity for a table of five. Service was 10% at best. Would have raised the question but didn't want to be a spoiler. I won't be back. Seems more geared for take-out and delivery.

    (2)
  • Cortney K.

    Horrible service, excellent food though. Order the Chilean seabass, some of the best I've evee had. Honestly tho the service is so bad, i walked out of the there the 2nd time I went and have not been back. Expect to wait at LEAST an hour to eat.

    (2)
  • Annie L.

    Price is good, food is authentic, service is good, was recommended by a local friend. The sauces are actually amazing, but I think they use frozen peas and carrots in their veggie dishes.

    (4)
  • Demetri E.

    For Indian on the west side this place is one of our best bets. They have the most amazing tandoori chilean sea bass! It's my favorite cooked fish I have ever had! It's so tender, juicy, and flavorful. Every thing I have had here is good but I always order the fish cause it totally rocks my world.

    (4)
  • George C.

    Best Indian food! Order the chicken tikka masala, bhartha, lamb chops, samosas, Kashke badamjan sp? And the wine selection is amazing.

    (5)
  • Nicole S.

    I am not a big Indian food fan but this place has proved me wrong. Delicious food.

    (5)
  • Kimberly K.

    Love Akbar! This restaurant has such great food. I don't know if this location is connected with the Santa Monica location, but the food here is way better. We've been coming here for years! We love the chicken tikka, and chicken tikka masala, the saag paneer, and the bartha. The different naans are amazing. I love to have a delicious indian meal and share a bottle of wine and I'm happy. This is the best indian I've tried, super fresh, and perfectly seasoned. We always enjoy every bite here.

    (5)
  • Michael S.

    Akbar Cuisine of India in Marina del Rey is known for its Chili Meter for ranking spicy dishes from 1 to 5 (5=spiciest) so we decided to check it out. The Verdict? Not bad. Not bad at all. After a stern lecture from the host about the spice levels, we tried a couple dishes. First up was the Lamb Vindaloo at 4 on the Chili Meter. It was indeed spicy. My wife could barely eat it because her lips went numb a couple tastes in. I finished it by myself and from someone who loves spicy food, I can tell you this delivered a punch. The problem with eating the lamb, tomato, and potato Vindaloo is the inevitable visits afterwards to the "Loo" to clear the flame out of your system. I don't speak Hindi, but do think Vindaloo translates to "It burns in da loo." If you aren't prepared for that then move onto something lower on the chili meter and do it quickly. We didn't and headed straight into the 4-chili-rated Prawn Madras. This didn't seem as spicy as the lamb because the coconut cut the curry-ness, but my taste buds were already singed at that point so who knows for sure. The Naan, Rice, Dal, and Vegetables served with both entrees didn't really add much to the meal other than absorbing some of the heat. Next time, I'm going to upgrade to one of the flavored Naan if possible. Service was decent although our server seemed unsure if we should be ordering such spicy dishes. At first it was polite, but he got to be a little unsettling as the meal progressed. The restaurant is dark with decor that attempts to raise it above the feeling of a chain restaurant. Overall 3.5 stars. Sometimes Akbar sends $10 off coupons in the mail or possibly in the Argonaut newspaper. Find one and come to Akbar Cuisine of India ready for a mouth-stunning experience.

    (3)
  • Iris T.

    It's taken me about 5 days to write this review.. mostly because I can't decide between 3 or 4 stars. Akbar is the reason why I wish Yelp would let me give half-stars! Why? Because, all things considered, I think the overall experience was better than A-OK but I wouldn't say I'm a fan either. I ordered my usual, chicken tikka masala, while my friend ordered her usual, saag paneer. The entrees came with neither rice nor naan, which was kind of weird since most Indian restaurants at least give you rice, but anyway.. we decided to get both to share. The food was all right. The chicken tikka masala was a little bit more tomato-based than what I'm used to -- but not in a bad way. Just different. The naan was fresh and buttery -- just how I like my naan! I usually try to portion control but prob because I had just gotten off the plane + I haven't had Indian food in a while, I finished my huge bowl of chicken tikka masala -- and I want to say it was more because of the naan than anything else. We paid about $15 each.. not too bad considering I was full to the max. Good service, my glass was always refilled before it even got halfway empty, and there's a side parking lot, albeit small, but it is LA.. any sort of free parking is a gift from the gods! I'd suggest this place to satiate any Indian food cravings but if you're looking for somewhere to really blow your mind, Akbar probably isn't the way to go.

    (3)
  • Trieu T.

    Not worth the price.

    (1)
  • Tiare F.

    Argh! I do not like to slam places, when occasionally the food is good -so for this reason, I give two stars. Unfortunately, it is not always good, therein lies the rub. Last night after watching a movie about the life within an Indian restaurant, I really was jonsing for some and pulled up yelp. Now I had gotten food here before, but as it is not consistent, prefer not to. But Sunday night at 9:30pm at least they were open, well sort of. I called, and got a very nice women (not Indian though) on the phone and asked how things were tonight. She hesitated (and my fertile imagination ran with it) I felt it would be out right rude to ask if the food was good or not so much, but that was what I wanted to know. She finally did say that things were fine and asked why I asked. So I told her that my experience was that sometimes it was very good and sometimes not. She did not seem to know what to say, because at this point a gruff male voice (also not indian) asked what I wanted. I went through it all again. Curtly he said, that their food is consistent, I said it was not just me, other yelpers had the same experience. He just cut me off and said that they were closing and so I needed to order. I said that the posted schedule was closing at 10pm, he said that they were just going to close early. Needless to say I did not order. Go at your own risk.

    (2)
  • oi y.

    take your business elsewhere. Owner is conceited and rude. If you want to wait for a table and then have it given to someone else. Then go waste your money at Akbar. Also our waitress was most likely drunk.

    (1)
  • Joel G.

    Food has way too much spice but that still doesn't cover up a lack of flavor.

    (2)
  • Colin S.

    Freakin love this place! It's easily one of the best Indian Restaurants on the Westside. I usually get the Bhartha or the Okra both of which are amazing.

    (5)
  • Thy L.

    The bf and I were craving Indian food, and noted this place was close by and had good reviews. We showed up at around 6pm on a Friday night, and there was no wait. We were quickly seated with no issues. Our waitress was nice and helpful. Service was great, no complaints here. The food, however, was a bit lackluster. We ordered the special Samosa, Chicken Tikka Masala, Coco Lamb, Garlic Naan, and Aloo Pratha. I really liked the naan here, but the entrees were just meh. The special Samosa had way too much going on. I recommend getting the regular Samosa. The Chicken Tikka Masala could've been creamier, I didn't like the consistency. The waitress mentioned that we would not be able to taste the coconut in the Coco Lamb, but I definitely did. Overall, the place was A-OK.

    (3)
  • Ayan B.

    The service is amazing but the food not so much from what we had. We had chicken kabab which was very spicy and i am indian so trust me when i say it was spicy. The aloo gobi curry and Lamb curry was also not great...... the food in general was bland

    (2)
  • Heeseon E.

    The best! You have to try this place. JC the head manager is the best... They have the best selection of wine...

    (5)
  • Carina L.

    Has anyone reviewed that their cheese naan are like, out of this world? It's just sooo good you can't help but have seconds! I'm not a big fan of naans but the generous amount of cream cheese it has was simply satisfying. I think it's like me with the cheese pratas. :) And how can anyone forget about the Chicken Tika Masala? The chicken was absolutely tender, spicy and flavorful, I wish they could give a little more gravy. I love the chicken from here (I believe it's fresh) but flavor wise, I thought the masala was a little tastier in Salomi's. We also ordered their sea bass which was one of their specials of the day. The fish, served on a sizzling hot plate, was very fresh, boneless, absolutely tasty with a little spice but not over empowering. I thought this was one the best fish I had in my life! I'm not kidding! If you're hoping to save on some calories, all I can say is, skip the samosas. But seriously, don't start counting your calories when you are dining here. Just enjoy and savor every bite!

    (5)
  • Nicolas V.

    I took a friend here and she wasn't too fond of the food. I however enjoyed it quite a bit. Tho I have no frame of reference to base my ranking off of. Having said that, I'll give it 3 stars for food quality and 4 stars overall because the staff was excellent. They were very helpful in guiding us through the menu and helping us decided what to order for dinner.

    (4)
  • Julie S.

    I'm a big fan of this cozy little Indian spot. Their food is so flavorful, and the ambiance is good enough for a date. I haven't found anything on the menu that I didn't absolutely love, but here are the dishes that really stood out to me: - The chicken kati roll... Comes with a fruit sauce, which helps to balance the spice. - Chilean Sea Bass from the tandori grill... MMM! so rich and delicious. - Saag Paneer - Chicken Tikka Masala I can't wait to come back again next time.

    (5)
  • Alicia M.

    This place is the best Indian food on the Westside, hands down. The food is great and the service is always very friendly. They let you choose your "spice level" and I DARE you to try a five. It is so hot you may lose sight, hearing, or other bodily functions! I tried to coco-lamb which was amazing and I have tried a few other things here as well. Make sure to get extra naan, it's really good here! They have a really small parking lot but if it's full just park in the near by neighborhoods.

    (5)
  • Mark A.

    Great lunch prices good and parking in back

    (4)
  • Haj A.

    Excellent balance of spices in every dish. Loved the okra dish and chicken tikka masala. The only less than stellar dish was the nan which was thick and chewier than other places. But still, highly recommended.

    (4)
  • Peter Z.

    I hate the included, italicized statement that Yelp affixes to two-star reviews... because it uses the epithet "meh". I loathe this made-up word. It's lazy. It's an expression, an onomatopoeia, not a literary device; and it's meant to be heard, not read. Extra cajun-seared slow death for people who actually use "meh" as an adjective. It's as asinine as frazzle-fried hipsters using the verb "fail" as a noun (i.e. the nauseating "epic fail"), because they see it used that way online and can't be bothered to fabricate their own vernacular. Additionally, if in the deepest trenches of your psyche the best you can forage for describing your dining experience is "meh", perhaps you shouldn't be a food critic. Stick to categorizing your mediocre attempts at procreation. Screw "meh", screw "fail" and screw everyone. Except for you. Here, I buy you flowers. Now onto the review. Akbar has a nice interior; it's clean and streamlined and relaxed and kind of modern; decked out with dark burgundies and wood. The kitchen is within view and that's always a plus. It often (though not always) points to a layer of confidence in the management; we know we make good food and we're fine with you watching us make it. I sat down and the silent waitstaff brought me a menu and water. Really silent. I think a grand total of eight words were spoken to me the entire visit. This is a subjective thing; many diners don't want an overly talkative or omnipresent waiter. But on the other hand, a guest is supposed to be made to feel welcome, and such feelings come from interaction. Finding the right balance of communication and interaction to make a guest feel very welcome but not intruded upon is tough, which is why I applaud restaurants that do it well. Akbar doesn't. I ordered raita and garlic naan and lamb vindaloo. Raita and garlic naan came and gave me the one positive point for this review, outside the decorum. The naan was very fresh, just out of the tandoor, charred perfectly and lavished with fresh garlic and herbs. The raiti was nothing special but served as a nice dip for the excellent naan. I'm always perplexed how the seedy, unsuspecting hole-in-the-wall indian/pakistani joints can make the most premiere meat dishes and fancy, elegant spots like this can screw it up so thoroughly. When I got the vindaloo, I scooped some onto my rice and tasted. The sauce was searing hot. I don't mean spicy, though the level of spiciness was just right. I mean burn-your-tongue, cry-for-your-mother-and-all-that-is-holy hot. It was not very flavorful either, but honestly, many sauces begin to truly show their flavor when they've cooled slightly, and it may have been that 800 degrees Kelvin was not the ideal temperature for full development of this sauce's piquance. Then I used my fork to (attempt to) cut a piece of lamb in half, the test of any decent tender lamb. The lamb was tough, overcooked. And surprisingly... it was rather lukewarm in the middle. Almost cold. Hades' underworld hot sauce, and room-temperature meat? What gives? Clearly this meat had not been cooked fresh. It had been cooked earlier and added to the ass-rapingly fiery surface-of-the-sun sauce. Now remember how I said the kitchen was in full view? I look over and I see one of the cooks threading freshly marinated raw meat onto a tandoor skewer in preparation for cooking. So clearly they are roasting fresh meats, and have every capacity to serve it. So why didn't they? Because they don't respect their customers, or their food. (note: during my meal, I coughed once and my hand holding my fork jerked slightly from my body's movement; this sent a tiny particle of sauce on an unfortunate trajectory into my right eye. The medium-spicy level I commanded on my dish was thus verified by a near instant conjunctivitis and a trip to the men's room to rinse my eye out. This unpleasant experience, resulting from my own doing and not at all the restaurant's fault, in fact a direct result to my specifically ordering my dish spicy and electing to dine out with my mild bronchitis still intact, has no negative bearing on my star rating. The two stars are for the decor and the naan.)

    (2)
  • Molly R.

    Their bhartha is the BEST I have EVER had. It is absolutely perfect. I went here with two friends a few days ago and we had amazing service. We were asked to switch tables after we had been seated, and to make up for it, we were given a potato cake appetizer, large piece of cheese nan, and a piece of mango cheesecake. We would have gladly moved without the incentives, but I won't complain about free food!!! The lunch specials were great and very filling. I had enough for a 2nd meal the next day. Even without the free food, I was very satisfied with the meal. I wish I wasn't moving soon because I would come here for the bhartha lunch special all the time!

    (5)
  • S S.

    Gross. The food tasted like it was reheated. And, the guy charges 5$ for a soda.

    (1)
  • C S.

    Just got a takeout order of 1/2 tandoori chicken, lamb vindaloo, aloo gobi and 2 mango lassis. Food arrived hot and very fresh. The chicken and the lamb were both outstanding - spicy in all the right ways, flavorsome and generous portions. The aloo gobi I've had better elsewhere (check Nawab on Wilshire for much better version). Tasted a little reheated or something. BUT - the mango lassis stand on their own. An alarming bright orange, I remember the first time I ordered it I called the restaurant and said I didn't want a lassi with bright orange food coloring. But they are real fruit, the pulp imported from India, so rich and delicious. These are a must with any order from this place. Food came fairly fast too, considering they make it from scratch. So skip the tight parking and enjoy this place from home.

    (4)
  • Karen B.

    The food was absolutely fantastic, some of the best Indian food I've ever had, but the service was horrible. It took them a good 20 minutes to take our order, and they weren't attentive after that. The food was delicious. Cheese naan, garlic naan, crab cakes with mango chutney, samosas, jalapenos stuffed with cheese (just ok), prawns, potato balls (an interesting pumpkin aroma), raita (delightfully chunky) and saffron rice Going through my leftovers just now, I found that they had not in fact included my crab cake. That's half the order! I paid for it, and they didn't give it to me! Otherwise, they would have gotten three stars.

    (1)
  • Robert K.

    A little worried about this place. One of my favorites in the city for Indian food. Lately an unchanging "B" in the window, seemingly permanent graffiti on the front windows and torn upholstery they don't seem to want to fix. I have always loved the food here and I really enjoy the staff and service but I get the feeling the ownership no longer has a vested interest. Hope I am wrong because I don't want to have to find a new Indian mainstay.

    (2)
  • Margie S.

    BEST FOOD EVER!!!!! Can not even compare any other Indian places. This is NOT for people who like "CHEAP and American-ized" version of Indian. If that's you don't bother. Why would you go for chinese if you don't like chinese..same here. This is for the kind of people who like REAL curry and spicy. YES of course they make mild dishes and are very quick to warn you but still if you want the buffet style this is not your place. Come one and all if you like quality and truly yummy curry!

    (5)
  • Esther S.

    This place has some good food! Super flavorful! I went for their lunch special, $7.95 for rice, salad, the featured side dish and your choice of main entree. I usually pick the chicken tikka masala as my barometer across Indian restaurants. Seriously probably some of the most delicious I've had, their not greedy with their chicken either. They give you generous chunks of chicken breast. And of course the naan, it's A LOT! My friends ordered the lamb vindaloo, and the mango chicken, all excellent, watch out, the vindaloo is spicy! We were super happy and super full, be prepared for the food coma to follow. The service was excellent, our waitress was super nice and our tab couldn't have been prettier. Seriously some good Indian food on the West side.

    (4)
  • Bryan H.

    Its a good place some times. Its pretty hit or miss. I've been 5 or 6 times. The first time I went I thought I found my new Indian Food spot. The second time was totally different and I ordered the exact same thing. This first time the food was cooked evenly and the spice was even too...second time, the dish was burnt and over spiced in some spots..it was like they poured half a bottle of oil on the dish, covered it with spices, burnt it in the pan, threw sugar in it, and served it. The third time I went it was back to being good again...ordered something new and something I tried the last time I was there. Delicious. The last two times I went the food was back to being poorly prepared and over spiced with bottles of oil. That was about 5 weeks ago and I'm scared to go back because I never know if its going to be good or not! The servers are super friendly and helpful so ask them for help.

    (2)
  • Ani P.

    This is an updated review. My last review gave them 4 stars but after many in-person visits to the restaurant, I have decided that this is the best indian food in town! The service is superb and the food is absolutely incredible and check this out; once I expressed to them that how much I miss all the curry dishes since turning vegan, they offered to make them for me with coconut milk!!!!!! How sweet is that??? Try their Bangan Aloo & Ghobi Aloo. You won't be disappointed! I promise! :)

    (5)
  • Vinnie M.

    Authentic, and of course that isn't cheap... It's also ridiculously delicious. Out of this world and lip smacking good also come to mind. The fish is probably one of the better dishes, but honestly you can't go wrong with a single thing on the menu - make sure to get some naan.

    (4)
  • Z P.

    Pretty good food in a semi gnarly neighborhood. The dinner dish and the service was fine, but the salted lassi was atrocious. Hard to mess up some mixing yogurt with water and salt. They have managed it though. Will come back, but pass on the lassi.

    (3)
  • Mark Z.

    I've had them several times. Best Indian food I've found on the Westside. Quite good either in-restaurant or for takeaway. Tasty fresh dishes. They have a 1-to-5 star rating system if you like heat in your Vindaloo, so you can reliably order once you've been there once to calibrate. I'm currently wandering around London trying to find better, and haven't so far, so there you go.

    (5)
  • ali r.

    As a indian/paki guy, I was not at all impressed by the food here. $23 for a piece of seabass was not worth it. Too much spices covered up the flavor of the sea bass. The food was more catered to american taste. If you want good authentic cuisine, this is not the place. I feel like it is my civic duty to tell non indians/pakis about good indian/paki food. If you don't give a crap about interior and don't mind eating a literal hole in the wall. Zam Zam market. yelp.com/biz/zam-zam-mar… order the 'seekh kabab' biryani of the day That is all they have. I would strongly suggest calling first to see if they have it as it runs out fast. Its a little hard to get hold of them on the phone. If you're in the neighborhood, definitely swing by. Bilal Tandoori yelp.com/biz/bilal-halal… order a lot :) tandoor stuff if good (seetk kabab, tandoori chicken, etc) chicken tikka masala nihari - a very traditional paki dish. kind of a like a beef stew. haleem - a very traditional southern paki dish. a yummy mixture of various beans, lentils, and beef cooked for many hours. (make sure to garnish with cilantro, fried onions, chopped chilies, and lemon juice) Chutneys yelp.com/biz/chutneys-lo… a very good fast foodish pakistani place try the yogurt chicken and nihari

    (3)
  • Stacey C.

    Excellent service and cozy atmosphere make this an easy place to settle into for the evening. Every dish we ordered was really tasty and spicy - none of this salty wimpy crap, this is hot! The prawns in our curry were perfectly cooked - they hadn't been stewing away for hours getting rubbery. The life changing eggplant bharta is also worth it if eggplant is your thing. Personally I could just eat eggplant for dinner and never complain. The portions are quite enormous. We had an appy and two dinner portions of the curries (which come with dahl, naan, rice and veggies) and took most of it home with us. One dinner to share with an appy is probably enough for a couple.

    (4)
  • Mot Y.

    I'm not sure I agree with some of the negative reviews about this location. In my opinion, the menu is top notch compared to the SM location. More options... and the folks who work here are solid. We have never had a bad meal and it is extremely consistent. This is real Indian food IMO.

    (4)
  • John A.

    Service was extremely bad. we ordered a dish with 4 stars of heat. our waiter (who also is part of management) told us it would be too hot for us. he even said if we thought it was too hot, the cook would not take it back to fix it. how insulting is it to not cook what we wanted in terms of spiciness? he finally after trying three times not to make it that spicy, put in the order. when we were served, the cook and him placed a bet that we could not eat the dish. we did and he came back and since he was punked, he said if we wanted to let the cook add more spice to it. we mentioned that he said that the cooks there could not take food back to remake it. he was even more punked then. we will not be going back to this place b/c of the waiter's/management's attitude.

    (1)
  • Nick K.

    By far my favorite Indian food!! Everything is awesome. Try the "Samosa Chat", only available at the Venice location. The spicy chicken wings are a must too if you're into wings. I usually get the Chicken Tikka Masala #5 (super spicy), but I've had almost everything on the lunch menu and haven't been disappointed yet. Try the hidden menu item "Butter Chicken", or my new favorite Lamb Akbari (on the dinner menu but they'll make it whenever). It's not spicy but OMFG it is ridiculously delicious!! I usually come here for lunch w/peeps from work on Friday's and everyone is always happy. They have a different chef on Fri, Sat & Sun and he makes everything extra spicy so beware!! No buffet available, but I don't really like buffets cuz they're never really spicy and I like my Indian food spicy! Sometimes their service can be a little slow, but if you just tell them you're in a hurry when they seat you they do a good job of not lagging. Tell JC (the big guy) I sent you! :)

    (5)
  • Evan S.

    The best Indian food on the West side of LA. For the best in the Valley, see Anarbagh. These two restaurants (they both have multiple locations) are the best Indian food available in the southland. I eat a lot of Indian food in a year, and have tried many places. Most are pretty mediocre. This one (especially this location of their various locations) is one of the best you're likely to ever find. I know the owner because I've eaten here so much. The restaurant is a family chain, and I originally met the parents of the guy who now runs this location. He recognizes me when I come in, and usually gives personal service to my table if he's not busy with other things. I love it when I find a place like this. So, despite what other reviewers have said, I've always received GREAT service here, which I admit may have something to do with being personal with the owner. Regardless, I have not witnessed bad service here, as suggested by others. The tandoori items are the best things on the menu here. Spicy food lovers: CHICKEN WINGS! Be careful. They are not joking about the spice level in the menu. These are spicy at the "radioactive" level, and the half-life is about 30 minutes. You'll feel like you're bleeding from the mouth. Not for the faint of heart. I brought an Hispanic friend here after she claimed that Mexican food was the spiciest in the world. I told her, "if you can eat half this plate, I'll agree with you." She couldn't finish one wing. HAHA I ate the whole plate while the others at my table looked on in astonishment. YUM! The seasonings are so rich, and the HOT is just the part that bites back. They have a very nice "date night" atmosphere here: dimly lit, elegant decor, great wine list. So if you're looking for a good place to take your date out for the evening, this is a good option. Lunch specials have excellent pricing, almost as good as those cheap Indian buffets in the neighborhood, but much higher quality food.

    (5)
  • Blind R.

    Wow this was salty! All the dishes tasted the same... basically they all tasted of salt. I remember the Akbar in Pasadena was better - the same owners?

    (1)
  • Dan K.

    Great meals are to be had at Akbar in Marina Del Rey. Papadam, Samosas, Chicken Tikka Masala, Okra, Basmati Rice all excellent. So much so that I order the same thing every time I go although sometimes I order the potato pancakes with mango sauce. Sorry, don't remember the official name. Great too. Very happy with this place. Good eats. Also wanted to add that lunch is a particularly good deal at Akbar. For around $9.00 you can get a full meal with the same food they serve at dinner time. Can't go wrong with this one.

    (5)
  • Ann Marie M.

    I'm not very generous with my 5 stars. I reserve the 5 star rating for only the best. Akbar is some of the very best Indian food you will find in Los Angeles. Not only is it my favorite Indian restaurant in LA, it's one of my top ten restaurants in all of LA. The sea bass is incredible -- probably the best thing on the menu, although everything is delicious. I have not had one bad thing -- or even one just okay thing. Everything is truly amazing. Even the raita is impeccably prepared. The cheese naan is outstanding -- don't miss it. I also recommend the Coco Lamb -- New Zealand grass-fed lamb in a coconut sauce. I would go to Akbar just for the food. But it doesn't hurt that they actually have ambiance. It's not just some crappy strip mall like most places in LA. The lighting is dimmed, a colorful decor, and they have soft Indian music playing. Oh and did I mention the wine list? Seriously great. If you enjoy wine, be prepared to savor an excellent glass. These guys know and love wine.

    (5)
  • Manny S.

    I would start by saying, by no means this is authentic Indian food. If you are looking for traditional Indian food, this is not your place. We went there yesterday ordered several dishes (Lamb Masala, Tamerind chicken, Paneer with spinach) and a bottle of wine. In terms of taste, The lamb was great but the other ones below average. They do have a decent collection of wines on their list. The Malbec that we had was good. The nan and the rice is definitely good. In term of price, a lot of these dishes are overpriced for the quanity and quality. Another positive note, the service was better than other Indian restaurants.

    (3)
  • Dantheman F.

    I'm a recent discoverer of Indian food and the more I eat the more I love it. This place was no exception; the food was fresh and made to order and delicious! The one reason I'm not giving this place a 5 star rating is the slow service and relative apathy of the one person tasked with making my dinning experience somewhat pleasant. When I came in and took a seat I wasn't even greeted by the server or asked what I would like to drink, I wasn't even asked what I would like to eat which was the whole reason I came in! To eat! What a novel concept; that my server tonight could not be bothered with! When I could get his attention he seemed annoyed and disinterested as though I was a terrible bother or something! Although he did seem quite enamored with the adjacent table of women and spent an inordinate amount of time fawning over them and ignoring my guest and I for the duration of the meal. Great place with great food but crumby service gets them a 3 star rating. Sorry server/manager who will remain nameless the bus boy did a better job of checking on us. You cost your place a 5 star rating...

    (3)
  • Sharon G.

    We had a very nice dinner here a few months ago with my husband's father, who loves spicy Indian food. They have a 1-5 numbering system for the spiciness of their dishes. He got a five lamb dish and was in some pain, even with yogurt, but really liked the food and even ate some the next day (when it was even hotter). The waiter had lost his voice and sounded a little menacing when trying to dissuade him from the five. And for those, like me, who like a good, flavorful amount of spiciness, but not pain, they had really good food. I got the Chicken Tikka Masala and it came on an attractive oblong plate with rice and a daal and was served with hot naan. And you can exchange the daal for the roasted eggplant dish if you like. The plating was really attractive (and I don't mean in an overly thought-out, minimalist way). There was a steaming pile of rice and the two delicious curries hemming it in. It reminded me of scene in Syriana where George Clooney and his son have an awkward conversation over plates of rice and beans with some delicious-looking chicken in a green sauce topping it. I couldn't understand how they could not hold off on the conversation until they had finished those plates. Don't worry - I was able to concentrate on the rest of the movie

    (4)
  • Amber R.

    This is the first place where I have gotten a meal close to the spices that I got in India. Every other place close by is usually "americanized". Excellent samosas, and madras. Enjoy the spice!

    (5)
  • Nik M.

    Love this place - best garlic nan I've ever tasted - great chicken dishes.....I'll go back..

    (4)
  • Amy H.

    My favorite dishes here are the Lamb Vindaloo and Bharta. The Bharta is rather addictive. Once you start eating it, you can't stop. This restaurant is rather quaint, quiet and the regular server there is quite awesome. Because my husband and I go there almost every Friday for lunch, we've become quite acquainted with the server. The only qualm I have with this restaurant is that the taste and quality is very irregular. Because they have different chefs and spices can also come in differently, the food can range from really yummy to okay. So far, although still a little irregular, the best day of the week for the yummiest food is Fridays. Somehow the quality in taste is the best on Fridays. Also, I hear that they have a really great wine selection and they also have a wine pairing menu.. i believe. So if you are in for good wine, go try this restaurant out. Warning... one time I had the Mango Lassi and my stomach wasn't happy for the rest of the day. I tasted it and I knew something was wrong. I'm pretty sure it went bad or maybe it didn't and my stomach can't take the type of yogurt they use. The good thing is, I returned it and they took it off our check. :) They've treated us rather well when things go wrong. So at least you'll know you'll be taken care of. Another word of advice, go for lunch NOT DINNER. The dishes are about the same size for dinner - maybe a little larger - but the price is around $5+ difference. It's more worth it to eat the lunch. Also, if you have a tight lunch schedule you can call into order and they'll have the food ready for you when you arrive. Sometimes, on a Friday, I've seen a table of 16 so if you are planning to go around 12-1, you might hit a crowd.

    (4)
  • Ryan K.

    Very nice wait staff. They're attentive, but not overbearing. We tried the Chicken Tikki Masala, which was pretty good, but we also had the Chicken Akbari, which is chicken in a sauce with cashews and saffron. That dish stole the show. Very nice, balanced flavor with the right amount of spice. The Nan is awesome as well--we tried the Onion Nan. Music was loud, making it difficult to hear what the waitstaff was saying.

    (4)
  • Anonymous P.

    Akbar has become my favorite Indian restaurant around, at least outside of Artesia. Akbar's menu is not the standard North Indian menu that has been more or less copied by Indian restaurants across the United States. Though Akbar does have favorites like saag paneer and chicken tikka masala, it also has a wide variety of less common dishes and a few I've never experienced elsewhere. Akbar's preparations of all these dishes are more refined than the average Indian restaurant in LA. Spicing is more elegant and less pungent than typical, though still very flavorful. Edit: Oh I don't know. There are some good dishes and some not so good. I don't like what they do with the paneer in the saag paneer, for instance.

    (3)
  • Tuyet N.

    From their garlic naan to their fresh mango ice cream, everything was so delicious! We ordered chicken tikki masala and their tandoori mix for our entrees. I was very happy with our dinner. The chicken was very moist and was full of flavor. I wanted to take home the extra tikki sauce just to use it as a dip with bread! The garlic naan had the perfect amount of garlic and was cooked to perfection with a crispy texture. I would eat it every day if i could. Service was great. Our waiter was attentive and helpful in choosing which dishes to order. Although we used a restaurant.com coupon, the meal was not cheap, but it was worth every dollar. =)

    (4)
  • Kem K.

    Saag Paneer was overpowered by the flavor of cinnamon and the mint chicken kabab was tasty but slightly over cooked. Also, the food had lots of oil. Personally, I would not come back here but it was not terrible.

    (2)
  • Amia T.

    I LOVE garlic. The garlic naan at Akbar, however, was garlicky in the wrong way. It tasted like they used the bottled minced garlic that you buy at the store...it was almost sour. The chicken tikka masala was...not good. It was overly spiced, but I added some creme and that helped balance the flavor out a little. Parking was a pain as well.

    (2)
  • Alberto C.

    Fantastic restaurant. I recently came here for dinner while on a date, and everything was excellent. I'm not from Indian descent, so I can't really speak about the flavors and quality of the food, but everything seemed really good for me. Especially their chicken tikka masala, and their naan. Service was extremely excellent. Our food was brought out promptly, and they continued to check on us throughout the night. Friendly waiter too, and made some great suggestions. Nice cozy dining room environment too, with the kitchen being basically inside the dining room. Definitely will be back again.

    (5)
  • Josh F.

    I have not had a lot of Indian food, but I have to say this place is pretty amazing. The food may be lighter than other places from what I hear, but there is still plenty of spice and a ton of amazing flavor. We had the Chicken Tikka Masala which was cooked perfectly even coming in near closing time. Their cheese nan is also amazing. It may not be an authentic flavor combination but it is delicious. I definitely over ate.

    (5)
  • Jefferson K.

    The chicken tikka masala seemed to be on the saltier side and it didn't have as much cream as I'm used to. It could be that it's more on the Pakistani recipe, but I'm not sure. The Garlic Naan had some very fresh, and pungent garlic. Yum. Very good service. I probably would try out the other places.

    (3)
  • Kaitlyn M.

    This place left me with a serious food coma. In a good way. Some of the best indian food I've had in a while and the service was great. Started with the cheese naan which was basically a meal in and of itself. SO GOOD. Then it was onto the Chicken Tikka Masala and one of their shrimp dishes with some garlic naan. Equally tasty. The one downside? After so much good food we were so stuffed we canceled our plans to go out afterward... Oops!

    (5)
  • Sima T.

    This is a review for lunch. They have a great menu selection at an affordable price for lunch. I ordered the Chicken Tikka Masala which was good and I loved their Naan. This place is catered more to the non Indians so it is not as authentic as other places but the food was still good.

    (4)
  • Noah B.

    Best Indian food I've had so far. The chicken tikka masala raises the bar for other restaurants. Amazing samosas.

    (5)
  • Julia I.

    Overpriced americanized Indian food with snooty management. There really isn't much more to say. Oh, other than to mention the cockroach that crawled on our table mid meal. Gag.

    (1)
  • Sabrina C.

    I've been pleasantly surprised by Akbar for delivery. I just wish they'd figure out their spicy scale. Some days a 2 is mild and some days it's burning fucking hot. Oh well, can't win 'em all. The one time I did go here, however, I got lunch after a long meeting at Fox. The server was nice. A little too nice, but I suppose that is better than being treated like shit. The one thing I totally remember was listening to these stupid bimbos talk about the Middle Ages and saying stuff like "Religion caused a lot of the great wars, like you know, I bet they wish they hadn't." Thanks for that brain buster you fucking retard.

    (5)
  • Dake V.

    Excellent Indian food. The spices were to die for. The bread was amazing. The dishes were wonderful.

    (5)
  • Sil S.

    My second time trying Akbar. Ambience is dim, red walls with paintings; can be romantic. I'm a newbie on Indian food so this will be purely my likings and dislikings. I don't quite remember what I had the first time but I'll tell you what I had this time. :) -lamb chop for the appetizer: this was awesome; excellent recommendation from the waiter. I think I did have this the first time; 4 little lamb chops laid on grilled onions and bell peppers, served sizzling hot on a cast iron plate; lamb was tender and moist, charred on the edges, not gamy at all, seasoned just slightly enough; this is not listed in the appetizer section but it's a good portion for appetizer for two; I think you can also get it with sides to make it a full dinner -saag paneer: I love this spinach dish; it's basically mushed spinach with spices; this one was not bad but I prefer when it's more finely chopped, this one was too coarse for me, BF thought it was too rich, this one was mixed with homemade cheese which looked liked cubed tofu; overall taste was good but didn't give me the "mmmmm"; I like saag paneer at the Himalayan/Nepalese place on Venice (Tara's) -chicken masala: the sauce was tasty but I remind you I don't know authentic Indian food; chicken chunks I thought were kinda dry -chilean sea bass: I had this last time but don't remember the taste too much; I don't remember not liking it so it must've been okay; BF thinks sea bass is kinda weird as Indian food (he's more experienced with Indian food) -sides are okay; had naan, rice, beans (lentils?), and veggies as part of full dinner with the entrees; preferred the naan and rice, don't like beans so can't appreciate; mixed veggies seemed like out of can or something so good thing there were just a tiny bit of them Service is good, not remarkable, personally I think our waiter was too tall, my neck hurt to look at him sitting down; but he was nice; lamb chop takes a bit while to come out so be patient but very much worth it I would go back for the lamb chops. If you're looking for authentic Indian food you'd probably want to go elsewhere.

    (4)
  • Mary I.

    My boyfriend and I are always happy with this place. The service is excellent, the food is great, and the wine list is extensive. Isn't that the trifecta? Definitely ask for wine recommendations. Also, go for the papri chat over the samosas. They are cold, so you won't burn your tongue or get the calories from the fried parts. Yeah, cause that's what you're thinking of when eating Indian food... calorie counting...

    (4)
  • Joslyn O.

    My fiancé and I had a great dinner here last night. I see others have complained about the service, but we had an excellent experience. Our server, who seemed to be the manager, was very helpful. He suggested a wine and even knocked a good chunk of change off the price. Not sure why, but I'm not complaining! They have a great wine list and the prices are barely higher than retail. He also helped us order the right amount of food and made great recommendations. I loved the mint chicken and am glad he suggested it.

    (5)
  • Gerry C.

    Akbar is a very good Indian restaurant. The manager oversaw our order. He was helpful and made some very good suggestions. Try the Chana Samosa, Mint Chicken Kabob, Bhartha, and Saag Paneer. All the dishes were top rated. The service was very good. The wine list looked pretty spectacular for an Indian restaurant. I recommend if you are in Venice area and like Indian food.

    (4)
  • Cesar A.

    Delicious meal with the family. For those with fussy eating kids, check out the cheese naan, it's like an Indian quesadilla. I had the tandoori seabass, based on the recommendation of our server. Hubs had lamb w a cashew sauce, crazy good. Older daughter had chicken tikka from the oven, which was good, but not off the charts like our other stuff. Everybody also loved the also appetizer. Mango lassos also pleased even our young picky eater.

    (4)
  • Stephanie M.

    I just ordered dinner for delivery for the "umpteenth" time and had the nicest person take my order over the phone. I never realized that the $5 delivery charge that I was paying was going directly to the driver and without me prompting him, let me know that the driver gets the entire delivery fee. I had asked the drivers in the past and they always said that they didn't so I trusted that. Additionally, the person on the phone let me know that I was ordering too much for 2 people which I really appreciated. My family has always been a big fan of this establishment but it just went way up in my book. GREAT food and GREAT service.

    (5)
  • Jake L.

    The food at both locations is always delicious. The manager did warn us that the chef is more aggressive with the spices and authentic here than the Santa Monica location. This is true. All in all, a very enjoyable experience with everything prepared very well. We will return.

    (4)
  • Charlotte T.

    Being from the northern part of the UK, I'm well acquainted with Inadian food - particularly Bangladesh/Pakistan type curries - they're practically our national dish! Having had Indian food in the US (east coast) before, and having been severely disappointed, I went to Akbar's with an open mind. The server was very knowledgeable, friendly and even asked us if we wanted the spice level of the dishes we were having taking up a notch, as we were Brits and ate curry regularly. We had chat for starter, it was odd, cold mashed potato does not a good Indian starter make. The mains were just OK. It was not the best curry I've ever had, but it wasn't at all bad! Compared the UK, it was pricey, but that's to be expected as it's more of a speciality over here. The portions were large, and the restaurant itself had a nice ambience. All in all, I think I've been spoilt by the abundance of fantastic Indian food I've eaten in the UK. so this was an average meal. Based on my US experience of Indian food, it was again a bit disappointing!

    (2)
  • Rose A.

    I love their ckn massala...spicy! :) Romantic place!!! Great food.

    (5)
  • SriHarsha A.

    really bad food. they changed the chef I think. iTs really over priced also, they charged us for a fraking tamarind chutney, I just cannot believe it.

    (1)
  • Alex C.

    I've been to this place twice now and I still can't decide if I love it or hate it. It's definitely not typical Indian food in my opinion. When I came here last weekend I was with a group of five and we waited about 25 minutes to be seated. It's definitely not a good place to come if you have more than four ppl in your party. When we finally got seated we decided to order the chicken tikka masala, sag paneer (spinach), coco lamb and the okra. The chicken tikka masala was tomato based when usually it is yogurt based. I'm not a huge fan of how they made it as it seemed more Americanized. Also, there wasn't enough spice so next time if I order this I will tell them to make it spicy. The spinach was decent as was the lamb. Nothing exceptional though. I really like the okra which was one of their specials so maybe next time I should order all of the special items. Now I really have to take points off for the crappy service I experienced the second time around which is really inexcusable. It seemed like once we ordered our food the waitress disappeared. Also, there seemed to be 2 other waiters/waitresses running around but they were hardly doing anything...it was just the one waitress and she practically ignored us after we ordered our food. We had to ask them continually for more naan and water...basically had to shout the waitress down. I'm still undecided if I would come back to this place...I'm pretty sure there are much better alternatives in the area.

    (3)
  • Rebecca T.

    The food was delicious... but we almost started eating the tablecloth because we waited literally AN HOUR after ordering to get it! (otherwise I would've given 4 stars.) It seemed like there was only 1 waiter in the whole place, and it was busy - esp for a Thursday night. This was my first Indian food in the LA area since moving from Chicago, and it certainly didn't disappoint. No frills, but tasty. I was going to order the Chicken Abakti, but the waiter said it was one of the worst dishes on the menu - definitely appreciated the honesty, though! Got the Chicken Tikka dinner, with rice and lentils/veggies. Very yummy! The nan, which was a generous portion for the table, was slightly burned... no likely burned naan. I might give this place another shot, but will maybe try a different night when the service isn't so slow.

    (3)
  • Greg G.

    Let me preface this by saying I was not a big fan of Indian food prior to my visit to Akbar. I found the food tasteless, if not, than over seasoned. The world of Indian food was cheating me! This was the best meal I've had in -- well, just a week (I had Chart House last weekend). I ordered the Pepper Lamb (a 5 out of 5 on the spicy scale) against the advice of our waiter (side note: waiter was great, dead on with wine suggestions -- listen to the man!). I proceeded anwyay as I have yet to order anything in Los Angeles that has been too hot for me. This was the meal. WOW. Soooo hot! I was sweating (that's a gross tidbit, but true). I could only eat half of it, but I can't wait to eat the other half tonight! My beautiful company had the okra (which isn't on the menu-- our awesome waiter suggested it when we asked what veggie dish he suggested) and chicken marsala. Perfectly seasoned, high quality meats that melted in your mouth. I'd never had okra before, but it was outstanding. Crisp on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside. Delicious. Prices are fair. Ambiance is good. Service is awesome. Food is better. You should go.

    (5)
  • Pippi L.

    Don't get me wrong, I like spicy. I love cuisine from Southern India especially, and I love veggie curries. I like the fact that Akbar lets you choose your level of spicy. We were told it's kid friendly, and we were not the only people with kids there, however, they only have 2 high chairs and honestly, the mildest dish we got was too hot for the tots. And like I said, I can handle the spice. My favorite meat dish is vindaloo. However, when your friend gets the chicken kabob (level 4 spiciness per the menu) and you get the Chana dal (level 2 per the menu, so you amp it up to 3) the chana dal should NOT burn your face off. And the chicken should cause a sweat on your forehead that nothing can stanch. But that was not the case. In our case, my medium spicy Chana Dal was palate rippingly hot. I couldn't finish. I ate my friend's super spicy level 4 chicken kabobs because they took the pain away. Also, we ordered the mango chicken for the babies, level ZERO, and it was still hot. Those poor kids were gulping lassis like nobody's business. So much for the leveling. 120 for 4 dinners, one entree, two appetizers, 2 iced teas (cardamom, yum!) and 5 mango lassis. So the price ain't too bad. Our menfolk had the chicken tikka masala (this boring dish fried his brain at level 2) and the madras prawns (also a level 2, very hot for the eater, I thought it was slightly fishy smelling and did not try for myself.) If I ever go again, I'm getting the chicken kabob, the samosas, the iced tea. I'd also avoid the dinner combos that come with lentils and veggies and just stick with entrees and rice. It is not very romantic unless you like shoeboxes, but the food is pretty decent and you get a lot of it. However, it may be too hot to want to take home when you are staring at your leftovers and feeling your shredded tender palate with your swollen tongue.

    (3)
  • Liezl E.

    I wasnt too enthused about eating here as I'm not a big fan of curry, but decided to suck it up and give it a try and I was pleasantly surprised. I ordered their Chicken with mango curry, which came with fresh pita bread, rice, a cucumber salad and lentils for about $7.50, one of their lunch specials. Very filling and a couple hours later my stomach hasnt rejected the food. Great success! Parking isnt so great though, so you'll have to search for parking on the adjacent street.. and make sure you read the street signs thoroughly too. There are parking enforcement aholes drooling at the chance to place that ticket on your windshield. EDIT 02/26/08: Awarded another star for Mango Lassi! It's a Yogurt Mango drink.... so amazingly good, the drink tastes like thinned down mango pudding. EDIT: upon my 2nd visit, I found the staff to be genuinely friendly and happy to serve you and the food was just as good.. thus awarding them another star. mmm.. fresh pita bread bigger than my head and mango curry.

    (5)
  • Tamara M.

    I love this place. I highly recommend the CoCo Lamb and the Chilean Sea Bass. They have a great wine selection and are very helpful in recommending complimentary wines. Service is great, atmosphere is cozy - by far and away best Indian food around - I'm going again this week!

    (5)
  • Shane B.

    we came here on a wed. night so we go the local experience. service was excellent. i gave my lady a present at the meal and the attentive waiter noticed. at the end of our meal he brought out a free mango cheesecake which we both enjoyed. we order the samosas and a potato app. they were both good, but nothing amazing. at the table they have 3 or 4 spices and relishes to add to your dishes. i had roasted eggplant, she had shrimp. both served etnrees served with dahl, vegetables and naan. the veggies honestly looked like they were from a Birds Eye frozen pack. the dahl was good, the naan was good. 3 stars for food, 5 stars for service. probably would check another spot before throwing this place back in the rotation. prices seem a little above average for what you get..

    (4)
  • Freddy P.

    The best part about the Akbar menu is the Spicy meter which ranges from 1 - 5. I ordered the Mint Chicken Kabob, a level 4 dish. It was a warm spicy that you'd expect from Indian food and quite delicious. *** SIDE NOTE: I've learned not to be sensitive when it comes to spiciness level because it is so subjective. For some reason, servers always think I can't take the heat BUT I have never ate a meal that was too spicy. I get it they are probably just protecting themselves and the restaurant. Akbar is a great place for family style eating. We also shared Saag Paneer, Chicken Tikka Masala and garlic Naan. The meal was very good. A little pricey for Indian food. The eating environment is wonderful. It's quiet, dark, soothing and relaxing with great music from India. The service was incredible. Someone stopped by often to check in on us. The server was exceptional. She knew a lot about the wines on the wine list and the food, i.e. the ingredients and taste of the dishes.

    (3)
  • J. B.

    The food was fine, but not particularly good and not worth the price. Ordered: Chicken Tikka Masala, Saag Paneer, Prawns Madras, Naan, Paratha, Raita, and Rice. Not one thing stood out as yummy and the portions were quite small for the price. For the same $11 at a Chinese delivery place you get about 5X the quantity of food. I wasn't expecting huge portions, but these containers were far from full. Delivery took 1.5 hours - long, but we were forewarned.

    (3)
  • Traci Y.

    This is one of my favorite restaurants ever. Everything I get is to die for. I always get an order of papadum to go with the coco lamb or vindaloo. Yes it can be spicy so I always order a level 3. Any higher and I'm entering dangerous territory so if you don't have an unusually high tolerance for spicy, I'd do the same. If you like your food to cause some discomfort (which I sometimes do) order a level 4. The wine selection is great. There are bottles you can buy for almost grocery store cost. The owner has connections with some wineries and can offer a better deal than other restaurants. The chicken Kati rolls are terrific. Tastes Like a tikka Marsala burrito. Cheese naan is a must. I always get a good workout if I know I'm going here but it's worth it. The food is not light but if you want to splurge I definently recommend Akbar.

    (5)
  • Ranger R.

    Bad customer service. Bland food. Over priced. I'll be going to Agra Indian....right down the street.

    (1)
  • Kevin C.

    I love Indian food. I finally diverged myself from the AYCE Indian buffets. Those days were gone. They were good while it lasted. My coworkers and I have been here for three times now. This place was probably the closest and the best Indian restaurant near our work. What I love about this place is the different spices they use for each of their dishes (at least for the ones I've tried). So far, I've only been here for lunch and I've had Prawn Madra and Lamb Vindaloo. They both very spicy and packed with heat. While the spiciness don't linger in your mouth, they make you sweat like no other. They were delicious with their naan. I'll be looking forward to go there for dinner one of these days.

    (4)
  • Muhammad S.

    Well i gave it one star because i think i can not give it a negative rating, otherwise i will surely do. Not a place to eat at all. The food is way more expensive and less in quantity than you can even think of. It was not even cooked well. The owner isn't attentive to customers' feedback and doesn't care about customer satisfaction. If you still want to waste your money, keep in mind there is a terrible Chilli Meter on the menu....try to keep it as low as possible...Instead i will suggest "Indian Tandoori" in Los angeles near the art museum....it is the best restaurant with the best environment

    (1)
  • ryan D.

    I've been a big fan of Indian food for quite some time and my girlfriend suggested we give it a try since she never really eats Indian and she felt like trying something out of the norm. This restaurant had a good rating here on Yelp so we decided to head over and give it a shot. The ambiance at Akbar is very comfortable. Pretty nice spot for a date actually.The restaurant is not very big but the decor is attractive and the kitchen is in the dining area so it offers a view of the cooks hard at work. The service was good. Our waitress was attentive and she even gave us some recommendations on the menu. We started with the plain Nan which was perfect. It came to us piping hot with the usual assortment of chutneys on the side which were excellent. One of them made my mouth tingle for several minutes. We then ordered the lamb chops and the chicken tikka masala. The lamb chops where delicious. They might have been the best I've ever had. Seriously! They had an excellent seasoning on them and they were cooked in the tandoori oven. They were tender, juicy and full of flavor.Yum! The chicken tikka masala was out of this world. The sauce had such a complex flavor. It had that great creamy tikka masala texture with a very delicate smokey Indian spice to it. It was so good. The rice that was served with it was also perfect. My girlfriend loved the food. She was so happy with the meal the first thing she said when she was done eating is we'll have to come back here again soon! Prices were very reasonable. For the flavor and quality of the food its a bargain. If you love indian and you are in the Marina Del Rey area then you will have to stop by this place. You wont be disappointed.

    (5)
  • Chanda D.

    It was hard to wait til I got home to write this review. I considered writing it from the table while my crew sorted out our astronomical bill. Two of my buds had never had Indian food before (really!) so they decided to get a gang together for their devirginizing. I love me some Indian food so was pOmped to go. My dear friend and Elite Yelper, Ani P, cooked at her family's Indian restaurant and also I lived in London for a few years, so I have had more than my share. Caveat: as usual, I am writing from a vegetarian's perspective, but also from a sticker shock perspective, so you carnis can take this with a grain of salt (or a whole shaker, as is the case at Akbar). The veggie samosas were very large, which usually would be a good thing. I love samosas, you see. I could make a (rather unhealthy) meal of them. At this place, however, the largeness was a detriment, because they were the saltiest, least tasty samosas I have ever had in the thirteen years I have been eating them. The frozen ones at TJ's are better. It made me sad that my friends' first samosas were these - I hate to think that they will go forward in their lives thinking that's what a samosa should taste like. I asked our waiter, JC, what the best veggie dish was and he said, unequivocally, the okra. I don't like the sliminess that usually is associated with okra, but he said that the sliminess comes from being overcooked, which theirs is not, so I decided to give it a try. Upon its arrival, I was surprised to see it was not a dish with okra in it, but rather a whole dang pile of nothing but okra. I put one in my mouth and immediately the slime of 800,000 man seeds burst into my mouth like I was a bukkake star. Beyond the impregnation of my face was a charred flavor that I just couldn't shake. JC quickly replaced that with one of my faves, saag paneer, but everything was cold by the time I got it back, so I had to send it to the kitchen for a reheat. For $14.95, I'd expect a stellar saag pan, but once again it was way too salty and had only a few cubes of paneer, which were cold on the inside. All the dinners came with a side of dal, which was completely flavorless, and a side of mixed veg, which was uninspired, incongruous, and completely unnecessary. The meat, apparently, was pretty good. The table had lamb appetizers, which they loved. Two thirds of the people that had chicken tikka masala said it was delicious, with one third reporting that it was bland. One person loved the sea bass (I think it was sea bass), while another said his coco lamb was amazing. Not so amazing was the mango lassi; I make a much better mango lassi, and I'm not even Indian. And for $5? Buh. At this point, I'm thinking two stars for the good service but crap food. Then we got the bill. $352 for 8 people, two of whom shared a meal, several of whom had no alcohol. We explore the charges and see a 23 PERCENT pre-tax service fee. I've commonly seen 18, and could accept a 20, but a 23? FU. Now, I can see this next bit perhaps at a really cheap place where everything is a la carte, but at a place that charges this much it is just unacceptable: they charged for the chutney and the raita. Stuff that comes for freebiez at most places. They're freaking condiments, for eff's sake! I know this is a little weighted toward certain peeps, so let me spell it out for you: don't go if you are a vegetarian or if you are in a group large enough to trigger the exorbitant service charge. Go if: you're eating only meat. You think salt = flavor. You have excessive discretionary income and don't care how you spend it. As for myself, you can find me at Paru's. Now that's good eatin'.

    (1)
  • Valerie S.

    Akbar is never short of surprises. Just the other month we started coming to this location after being so used to the Akbar in Hermosa Beach. I have to say that they're very good at staying consistent and I'm not just talking about the quality of their food, but their service as well. I guess it helps that they recognize us from previous visits. The 2 times we've visited Akbar MDR we've ordered family-style, which is the way to go when dining here as a group. All you need is a bottle of your favorite wine (we like the '06 Syrah Owen Roe's Ex-Umbris = klwines.com/images/skus/… ), an order of the Samosa or the Chicken Kati Roll for appetizers and the Papadum side to nibble with the vegetables garnishing that comes in the containers they leave on the tables while sipping on your glass of wine. Then for the main course, order entree size of the Shrimp Goa, the Chilean Sea Bass, the Gucchi Dania, the Akbari and the Chicken Tikka Masala. Don't forget your side of rice and nan. Believe it or not, all that comes out to only about $25/person when you go in a group of 5-6 people. Last but not least, if you're not a 'spicy-food' fan, then puhhhlease ask for a 1 or a 2 when they ask about level of spiciness. Otherwise you better order their lassi or their milk tea to help kill that burning and painful feeling on your tongue and in your mouth. But if you feel adventurous you must go for at least the 3. I personally think the 4 really gets you all sweaty and on edge so if you're not a big hot and spicy food fan then stay away from the 4+..

    (4)
  • Karl M.

    I've eaten a lot of Indian food in India. Akbar is right up there. In fact, it's my 3rd favorite Indian anywhere, after Zaika (London) and Vij (Vancouver). Good selection of wines. Try the okra, seabass and whatever special they offer. Cozy and romantic decor.

    (5)
  • Neel j.

    Been going here for 10 years, first review on this place. Place gets better with time, food is very consistant , the owners always find time to say " Hello ",. Had not been here in 2 years because I had moved, was glad to be back and wish had a place closer like this near me.

    (4)
  • Michelle E.

    The service really made a great evening memorable. Juan Carlos got us in just as the kitchen was closing and was a pleasure to talk to. The coconut lamb with fennel was wonderful and a step out of the ordinary. The atmosphere was good and it is a great place to bring your hunny!

    (5)
  • Jenny K.

    I've been hard pressed to find good Indian food outside of San Francisco. Akbar is my new fav spot to go to. Good decor, great lunch specials and friendly staff. The curries are spot on in taste and remind me much of my former lunch spot in SOMA. If you're in the area, check it out. Also heard they have locations in other cities.

    (4)
  • Cherie H.

    My favorite place for Indian food. I always seem to order the chicken tikka masala because it's always delicious. My husband loves the Chilean seabass. They have a good wine list and are very knowledgeable about wines. The cheese naan is the best thing on the menu. Whatever you're getting, make sure you order cheese naan as a side!

    (5)
  • Tony G.

    Heavenly. 4 miles to bliss. Dammit. Cozy nest exists in Santa Monica and most weeks I just have no choice but to make the travel. Readers, I just don't know how they do it. Each dish is a little miracle. From the savory sea bass, always crisp on the edges, to the coconut sauce over prawns, eclectic eggplant with G-d only knows spices to everything basically is quite perfect. A great surprise is a concise well thought out and ridiculously low priced wine list. I would simply pay double to eat here. This isn't a one hit wonder as I have been dozens on times over the last 5 years. Samba-perfect, Cilantro Chutney-perfect, Herb bread- perfect. Don't go there its horrible. Yeah right. I selfishly write few reviews, but they deserve it. Enjoy

    (5)
  • Java D.

    All I can say is sooo not worth the calories.

    (1)
  • M S.

    I don't recommend this place to Indians. I been there 2 times. Not much attention the way Americans do. It took 30min to take order. People next table got their food faster than us. Even though our order was earlier then theirs. No enquires after serving the food. It took another 20min to get our bill. Food was not so great for vegetarians. Naan is the only one I can recommend.

    (2)
  • Scott T.

    I came here w/ my folks about a week ago cause my bro flew into town. My Mom is a notoriously difficult customer, yet she loved it here. The menu had a "chili meter," so you can see how hot a dish is. It's not the most authentic touch for an ethnic restaurant, but it was done kind of classy on the menu, not in a cheap, gimmicky way. The food was great. Indian is my favorite food, so my standards are pretty high. We had the tandoori chilean sea bass (again, possibly not high on the authenticity scale, but done very well), chicken tikka masala, bartha, lamb saag, biryani and two kinds of naan. Everything was fantastic. The tables are kind of close together, but the restaurant as a whole is pretty upscale and the servers and extremely friendly. Big plus: parking in the nearby residential neighborhood was a piece of cake.

    (4)
  • Will L.

    We were attended by one of the rudest waiters I've ever encountered. He was also extremely slow. Two other tables were seated, took orders, and served well before us. I won't be going back. The food was okay, but unnecessarily expensive.

    (1)
  • Oscar B.

    Awesome flavors everything on the menu is great!, JC always take care of us. I think its safe to say that we can be considered regulars.

    (5)
  • Faraz T.

    Chicken Tikka Masalla is very good here. The lunch special is totally worth the try.

    (3)
  • Rahul P.

    Good Indian food. Nice location. Staff were friendly. I was served the wrong dish though (lamb dish given to a vegetarian?!) but the staff quickly whisked away the wrong item and gave us extra rice and naan. Parking can be a bit treacherous in a narrow alley next to the restaurant.

    (4)
  • Laura A.

    My go-to choice for Indian take-out / delivery. I have never eaten in the restaurant. The food is great & very consistent. The delivery service is quick & professional.

    (5)
  • melina l.

    Went here for the first time this weekend and it was really excellent. Great date spot. More romantic atmosphere than your average Indian restaurant. I had the ginger lamb chops and they were perfect. They have quite a large wine list too, which is unusual in an Indian restaurant. I didn't try any, as all I really wanted was a mango lassi, but it was quite uplifting to be presented with so many choices. I'm docking them one star for confused service. We ordered two mango lassis and got one of them right away. When they came back after bringing our food to see how everything was, I asked for our second one and they brought it right out -- quickly followed by a third. Oops. There were a couple other odd service things but they made everything right and it did not mar my overall experience.

    (4)
  • Nick D.

    Seated promptly for dinner one evening, and the staff was friendly and attentive in this small cozy place. Kitchen is open for you to peer in and see whats happening. Started with a colorful samosa channa appetizer that was actually quite creative and surprisingly tasty compared to most other places that serve the same. At this point I had high hopes on dinner. However, it was not to be as the "standard bearer" chicken tikka masala was not my style (don't care for raisins and cashews in the curry) and was a bit too tangy rather than spicy. Daal that came with the entree seemed like it had been sitting a bit too long. Also had a dish of bindi (okra) that was ok, nothing memorable though. Naan and garlic naan were nicely done. But with plenty of Indian spots in the area, I would probably try something else...

    (2)
  • V. D.

    This place is mediocre at best. We had it delivered so I can't say anything about service but JUST judging the food...it is ALRIGHT but will not be eating there again.

    (2)
  • Terry K.

    I eat the food from a place like this, see the number of stars that the restaurant has, and come to the conclusion that either the reviews are fake and yelp has lost its luster, or people are truly out of their minds. Really? Have you ever had good Indian food? Have you ever HAD Indian food? I ordered $50 worth of food and just threw every dish in the garbage. The cheese naan that everyone is raving about taste like Velveta melted into Wonderbread. The chicken was drier then a 90-year-old hooker. The Pilao rice tasted like (I swear I am not exaggerating) dirt. The shrimp tasted like a 1950's TV dinner --made in 1950 and reheated in 2012. I rarely waste my time on bad reviews, but I need to help protect the eating public from this dreck. I think the places that advertise their "positive internet review" services has one loyal customer here. Gotta go -- I think I just threw up a little bit in my mouth...

    (1)
  • Sandip C.

    I have been to this restaurant twice, and was disappointed on both occasions -- for different reasons, though. The food is standard, and the ambiance is depressing to start with. I understand that Indian restaurants try to improvise with the spices and key ingredients to serve (and attract) the diverse customers here in LA, and I appreciate it. But all experiments are not successful, and this restaurant is sending a very wrong message about Indian cuisine. In short, this is terrible Indian food. An additional topping on the food that comes free is their impolite behavior and little knowledge about their own menu. C'mon, take care of your attitude at least inside the restaurant -- whoever the manager of that tiny place is. And learn to patiently explain your menu (and what the crazy names of Indian items actually mean) to your customers -- your customers have other (and better) talents. And finally, if a request for changing the color of the gravy (sauce) means an extra 4 bucks, tell that to your customers -- we may not know whether orange to green is the same as adding extra cheese, or a couple of avocados. Okay, that's it... I can't waste any more time on this review. I am not going to this restaurant again. Period.

    (2)
  • Nicholas T.

    The owner/manager seems very helpful, he takes an interest in your table and provides great suggestions. The food was tasty for a moderate price. Seating can be a bit of a problem; and if you go with an odd sized party it make take them a while to figure out how to seat you! If you're in the mood for Indian food in this area, this would be a good decision.

    (4)
  • Derek S.

    This continues to be my favorite Indian Restaurant. Huge fan of the Tikka Masala because it has flavor and spice. So many are just creamy tomato paste. The Saag Paneer is another favorite and is a nice counterpoint to any spicy dishes you might order. Don't be afraid to trust the recommendations for wine. The Manager there is very wine savy and could lead you into to trying something new yo might like. I've seen a lot of reviews that feel like there is a a aloofness to the service. I can see where that might come from, the manager does have a reserved personality, I think part of it comes from trying to make sure people get what they want, not what they ask for. But don't be afraid to ask for what you want, he is very accommodating and I think you'll enjoy his suggestions.

    (5)
  • Andrea N.

    By far my favorite Indian restaurant. I never really got into eating Indian food until I was introduced to Akbar. I absolutely love the food and have a great selection of wine.. some favorites.. cheesy naan (a must), chicken tikka masala, sea bass, and okra.

    (5)
  • Allen S.

    This is my go-to Indian spot in LA. I get the saag paneer every time, & I mix in other dishes to try new ones. I've seriously never been disappointed. I'd say the service is solid, atmosphere is adequate, and the food is excellent, especially considering the reasonable price.

    (4)
  • Vanessa W.

    Just got back from London so am going crazy for awesome Indian food. Tried this place and it's good but not exceptional. I will say, the prices are very expensive. I was shocked that a chicken tikka masala dinner was $18 and some change. For one person that's a bit much. I didn't read very many Yelp reviews before going, maybe others have commented same thiing? Good food but not sure it's worth it.

    (3)
  • Mike R.

    I studied abroad in London while in college for six months. Anyone that's lived there for an extended period of time knows that the only really bearable food in England is the Indian food (and the occasional delicious meat pie). I used to go to a place on Brick Lane in East London called Bengla Cafe that was some of the best Indian food I've had. Akbar ranks pretty high on my list. It's pretty close to my house so my roommate and I decided to give it a try last week. I ordered the tandoori chicken, which I use as a litmus test for Indian food, the onion bhaji, and a stuffed paratha. Of everything I ordered, I wouldn't order the stuffed paratha again, but I would try the standard one. The chicken was incredible, perfectly marinated and grilled and was a solid portion. Crisp on the outside, but still juicy and flavorful on the inside. The naan was very good. The side of vegetables that came with the dish looked like it could have been frozen which is why I docked a point for lack of freshness. Oh, and the iced tea was very good also which is always appreciated. I'll definitely go back to Akbar and wouldn't be afraid to try anything else there. My roommate ordered a vegetarian dish and finished it in a matter of minutes. We were both pretty impressed with the food, and the atmosphere was nice also. Soft lighting and colorful blown glass covering the bulbs gave off a nice glow.

    (4)
  • Monique D.

    I LOVE Indian food (and Thai food and Italian food and Mexican food,,,you get the point) but like I said, I LOVE Indian food. I'm not Indian so I don't know how good your momma's food might taste if you were Indian, but I think this place is really good if your American and don't know any better. Hell, it's usually so crowded that even if you are Indian it might be pretty good. Anyways....getting back to the review. They have a really tight little driveway/parking lot next to the entrance and I almost killed 5 kids as they darted out the door. Wow, not a great way to start dinner. The hostess was really very friendly and sat us down right away. Good service and super good food. Ahhhhhh, I was a happy girl when we left. I was going to give them 5 stars, one for each of little ones I almost ran over, but instead I took a star away for their horrible lack of child supervision.heheheheheheheh

    (4)
  • Kip H.

    My fav restaurant in LA hands down. I've been going here for lunch over the last 7+ years and it never disappoints! I usually go for the Chicken Tika Marsala or Pudina Lamb. It may not be the most "authentic" Indian food you've ever had, but it's really, really tasty. They stew the Marsala sauce all night, which contributes to the rich, roasted flavor. Where else can you go on the west side and get a gourmet fresh lunch with a salad and fresh naan served on linen for $7-8?

    (5)
  • Brian D.

    It seems like some of the reviewers had bad experiences with some of their food choices. Or perhaps they came on a bad day or had bad luck. But in general, over many years of going there, I consider Akbar to be one of the best Indian food places in LA. Keep in mind that this place is very small. Tough parking, and limited seating.

    (4)
  • Brian Y.

    Excellent chicken tikka masala and chicken vindaloo. Dare your friends to eat their extremely spicy chicken appetizer. Better bring gallon of milk. Fresh baked nan is fantastic. Overall price is little higher than competitors. Food portion is some what small or seems like it. This is small place and always packed. They have same restaurant in different location, including Pasadena but taste is not equal.

    (5)
  • Jason K.

    Our other dishes were good, but easily overshadowed by the crazy good chicken tikka masala. A little pricey, but a good joint. --- Take Big Blue Bus #3, Rapid 3 or Culver CityBus 1.

    (3)
  • mr w.

    Good stuff, moderate prices. Try the spicy chicken wings - they will burn your mouth, but are so tasty. I had the tikka masala and samosas. Both very good. Also try Agra around the corner on Lincoln Blvd.

    (4)
  • Melissa K.

    Went here for our anniversary. The chicken masala was too spicy for me. I ate most of my husband's food. He ordered something with saffron and it was amazing. The restaraunt is nice and the service was great.

    (4)
  • Alison A.

    We love Indian food, and this place is right in our 'hood. But the one time we went, the service was awful (so bad/indifferent as to be a joke), the food was bland, and the dining room had a tired look (much in need of some renovation). And it was expensive. Never again.

    (1)
  • Shelley H.

    I only have 4 words for this place TANDOORI CHILEAN SEA BASS. When I put that thing in my mouth, I couldn't stop giggling from the sheer joy of its flavor and texture. Everything here was super yummy - tandoori chicken, even the rice is seasoned with something... cant quite put my finger on it. Naan is super light and fluffy. It feels kinda nice inside with its cloth tablecloth and napkins, but the vibe is so comfortable and the servers were all really friendly. I cant wait to come back and try more things!!

    (5)
  • Prashant B.

    The food is decent but the head waiter is a jerk and a cheat. He charged us 15% service tax even though we were just a party of 4 and the reason he gave us is because we called in to place our order. What bullshit!

    (1)
  • renee m.

    Psyched to find good Indian food in my new neighborhood. The chicken tikka masala was full of flavor - tried the "dinner" which came with daal, rice, and veggies - all delicious. The garlic naan was good - but there is room for improvement here - a little rubbery. Will try this place again - hopefully it is consistent!

    (4)
  • tiffany s.

    By far one of the best Indian spots!!! I love anywhere that serves garlic nan!! Its honestly so good and enough to share with a group for your dinner! Their spices are potent and you can tell them on what level you want for spiciness. Its seriously just one of those comfort food spots but well worth it....be prepared for your eyes to water and your nose to run...YUM!!! Atmospwhere is clean, crisp and quaint.

    (4)
  • Paul Z.

    I was really disappointed with this experience. 1.) The food was horrific (fake Indian taste) 2.) The service was very bad and slow. 3.) The place was pretty dirty with food all over the floor 4.) Double the price of other Indian restaurants in the area. I highly recommend Agra Indian Kitchen around the corner for the best place to eat.

    (1)
  • Karla Z.

    This is the best Indian food I've had at a restaurant in LA. I just realized I seriously dissed 2 other Indian-food-for-white-people spots so I should at least recommend somewhere good. Anyhow, the appetizers are terrific and any of them are good-- cuz you get the incredible "cafeteria vegetable" chutney (not sure what you call it, but it's spicy and magical!) along with it. My fave is the Prawns Madras and the chicken dishes are all great too. Just make sure you pay attention to the "chili meter" when you order, cuz these folks are for real. The Pasadena restaurant is also good but the MDR one is toe O.G. and worth any parking hassle.

    (5)
  • Rabia K.

    So I decided to take a group of 7 girls to this place for a recent meetup. Everyone wanted to try Indian food and I figured we'll check out the lunch special here as I have been here before. First off, we were refused separate checks, which was OK considering we all somehow had enough cash. Then as soon as we finished eating, the lights and air conditioning was turned off. With still customers in the restaurant, the host starting pulling his shirt out of his pants and hovering over the tables to ensure he made people aware that it was time to go home. And this was only an hour and a half into when we stepped into the restaurant. And to top it off, he charged us mandatory tip which only starts with a group of 8 or more people in every single restaurant. Honestly I have never experienced a more rude customer service than this before. And the worst part is that if JC (who apparently runs the place and the Host) is behaving like this, one can only expect worse from others! I was embarrassed and appalled as I had suggested this place. Needless to say, he lost 6 potential customers and 2 regulars.

    (2)
  • K S.

    After greeted by the affable J.C. everything was great. This is a very good, very efficient, and very reasonably priced Indian restaurant. The service and food are very good. Hard to be disappointed here, on any level. Highly recommended.

    (4)
  • Marc K.

    delicious. actually, i have yet to find better indian food in LA. i would maybe argue that this place is kind of indian-fusion. but it is much tastier than the many other places i have tried at other's suggestions (bombay cafe, etc.) i have eaten here many times as well as had their take out, and the portions are totally generous, and tasty! they have a better beer and wine selection than most indian spots. and they have a nice ambiance as well. friendly service, and great food, what more do you need? oh yeah, very close to home too...bonus for me!

    (4)
  • Ryan O.

    Reliable Indian food that always leaves me satisfied. Always. If you have never tried Indian food before then this is the perfect place to let loose and try an authentic cuisine. The food is always prepared and served at high standards and every dish I've tried is very tasty. This location is not in the most noticeable spot of town but it serves as a great place to try if you live on the West side. They say its a nice restaurant, I go in sweats and a sweatshirt. I definitely stand out, but I do not mind. My point is that they will not turn you away just because you are not wearing some hipster junk or you're not dressed like you jumped straight off of a Ralph Lauren catalog. Jeans, a shirt and flip flops (normal clothing) is perfectly acceptable. My favorite part about this restaurant is very weird. I realllly like the water cups. They are made out of polished stainless steal and are ice cold!! I have never seen this at a restaurant and think it's raddd. Check it out and let me know what you think. Maybe I am just weird, but I am pretty sure all of you will agree. Now to the food, a solid 8, testing the waters of a low 9. I have never been to this place and not left completely stuffed and completely satisfied. I have had better Indian food, but only at a very select few places. If it is your first experience, I recommend you order these items that are liked by all Indian food lovers. Sag Paneer which is a spinach and mustard leaves based curry with Paneer cheese; Chicken Tiki Masala which is a curry dish in which roasted chicken chunks (tikka) are served in a rich orange, creamy, lightly spiced, tomato-based sauce; and Lamb Vindaloo which is a spicy curry with chili spices, chunks of Lamb and potatoes. The addition of potatoes is a western culture addition. WOW FACTOR: The Water Cups.... No Joke All of this should be eaten with Naan which is an Indian style flatbread. If you end up ordering the Lamb Vindaloo and you get it spicy be prepared to order Raita which helps with the heat from the spicy food because it is a yogurt and cucumber based chutney. Scoop it up with some fresh baked Naan bread and ooooo yum, Its like being naked in the rain.... what??? Anyways, Im tired. Just go try some Indian food, preferably this spot and LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK!!! ragingtastebuds.com/2010…

    (4)
  • Aaron A.

    I ordered delivery, so I may adjust my rating upon dining in. So delicious! My wife and I ordered the staples to better tell the quality of the restaurant. Chicken Tikka Masala, Saag Paneer, saffron rice, and Mango Lassi. It took forever for delivery, but the menu clearly states that all dishes are made to order. Very fresh and clean tasting. The herbs still had life in them, if that is understandable. Though it's not as spicy and aromatic as some of the Indian food I've had in London, it did taste "brighter".

    (4)
  • Allison G.

    Cute little stylish place with very good quality food! Love the garlic nahn (sp?) so much!! I could just pile away tons of it all night long. I always get the chicken tikka(sp?) dinner with a good cold beer. My idea of a perfect night out! The parking lot is very narrow. Best to find parking on the street. I've always had a perfect meal. Such a nice spot for a romantic dinner or dinner with friends. Hey, load up on food here and then cruise to a bar( Beechwood). Makes for the ideal Friday night out. Great service, too!

    (4)
  • Andrew H.

    This is my first review on yelp and it was the first place I thought of reviewing. I eat at this place every Friday for lunch. Their lunch specials are reasonably priced and taste great. For those who love spicy foods, check this place out. I get the level 5 lamb vindaloo. Its just enough heat to make me sweat yet not it does not kill the awesome taste. They cook every meal to order with whole spices. Also get the garlic naan.

    (5)
  • Kitty B.

    I LOVE this place. Best Indian food I've had in LA. The waitstaff knows the menu and probably actually tried all of the items so that they can help you make an informed decision about what to pick! Ask about items that may not be on the menu. The okara dish is amazing!

    (5)
  • Katrina M.

    If you are looking for really good Indian food, you have found it. It is the best Indian restaurant I have been to in LA. There is usually a wait though. The waiter was very friendly.

    (4)
  • Stel D.

    Yummy Wine -- one star Service (fast b/c we had to catch a flight right after) -- second star Food: ordered the Chilean Sea Bass but they were out, ordered the chicken tikka masala -- ok sag paneer -- ok Overall experience OK Parking pretty small - best to find street parking

    (3)
  • Jess A.

    Delicious! They have a good selection of vegetarian options, and the saag paneer was some of the best I've ever had. There is a pretty complete wine list too, and the Zinfandel we choose was excellent. The place is small and intimate, and there was quite a crowd for a Wednesday night. Service was pleasant. They have a small parking lot, which is VERY narrow. Park on the street, there is plenty available.

    (4)
  • Kevin K.

    The ambiance is pretty nice, the waiters are friendly, and the hostess was hot too. With that aside, the food was great. I went with a group of 5 people and we all got different dishes which were all equally lovely. The only complaint anyone had was that Akbars spiciness meter wasn't calibrated correctly. The 4 out of 5 pepper rating wasn't as spicy as was hoped. One huge plus came in the form of delicious indian kingfisher beer which they served in frosty chilled glasses. Overall, if you're an indian food fan and in the santa monica neighborhood, you should probably check out Akbar.

    (4)
  • dodo d.

    Almost all the dishes here are pretty good and authentic, and I like them all. My all-time favorite is the chai tea latte. I am a big fan of milk tea and the chai tea latte is pretty well-done - just enough of everything good. They have buy-1-get-1 free coupons from time to time, which makes it really worthwhile.

    (4)
  • Carina F.

    Went to this place on a recommendation of a friend. I did read what other Yelpers had to say first, just to get an idea of what I was getting into. Akbar is sort of hard to find but on a pretty busy street, across from a Ramada - look for red awning. It's small but cute inside - tables are tightly squeezed in and it drew a crowd. I love Indian food, and have had it in many different states and countries. NOT in India, but my closest second would be London where the Indian food is superb. So Akbar...Good service, friendly server. Ordered samosas to start and they were tasty. Nothing spectacularly different, but good. Had to get 2 orders since there are only 2 per order. I got the Lamb Vindaloo, and chose 4 out of 5 on the "Chili Meter." The Chili Meter actually frightened me. Indian good and chili? I was hoping they weren't going to throw green chilies in my food like I've seen before at other gross places. She said 4 was pretty spicy. Don't listen to the server; it was pretty weak. It had a good punch, but my eyes weren't even remotely watering and I wasn't dying for agua. But I must say my lamb was very good. The lamb was extremely tender; very good quality meat. Some of the best quality lamb I've had at a dining establishment. Raita was OK but had potatoes in it (never seen that). The naan was disappointing. Naan is always a highlight for me, but this naan was incredibly salty. We joked that maybe the chef accidentally dropped the salt shaker in the batter. It was soooo salty I couldn't eat it. We should have asked for a new batch, but we didn't. Oh well. I'm hoping that was a fluke! If I were in the area, I MIGHT go back here. I wouldn't drive up from San Diego for it, but if I lived near here I would probably give it another try.

    (4)
  • Seichan G.

    My favorite Indian restaurants in the westside. I like this place more than Bombay Cafe on Pico. The menu is small but they do the basics right. The naan (the grilled pita bread) that comes with the meal is done just right. The toppings that come with it are really good: spicy vegetables, this orange sauce that is full of spices, and a green sauce. You can also get a flavored naan (cheese or garlic). The Mango lassi is thick and yummy. But my favorites in the menu is the chicken tika masala or the chicken akbari. The dinner portion comes with rice, vegetables, and daal. Between the side dishes and the naan, there should be some left over. I have to say though $16.95 is quite expensive compared to chinese, japanese, or korean meals.

    (4)
  • Themetro M.

    As it good as it gets, especially for the price! I never give five stars because nothing is perfect. I am of Indian descent and this gets a two thumbs up from me. Tasty food that is even a favorite of FOB Indians I have spoken to in the area. I thought I was just inexperienced with my palette, but I'm not alone on this one. Keep up the great work!

    (4)
  • Emily D.

    Superb chicken tikka masala and chicken kati rolls. Great with to-go orders. The only reason I didn't make this a 5-star review is because I'm more so a fan of this particular place less so an Indian food aficionado. If I knew more about the cuisine, I'm sure it would be a 5. This place is tucked away on a little nondescript corner of Washington, right across the street from 26 Beach Cafe, just east of all the Venice pier bars and nightlife. The owner/manager appreciates good wine and keeps a small but quality selection. My husband and I order the same thing every time we go, and as a result, the staff knows our order by heart. An order of the Chicken Kati Rolls (I guarantee you will never order anything better) to start, and then the Chicken Tikka Masala with an order of rice and naan. It's a tiny little place rarely crowded and great for bringing a few close friends when you want to catch up and not be rushed. (We've also been comped dessert before.) All of the staff are very friendly. One particular server is a tad slower and less observant than the others, which can occasionally mean not getting your order in as quickly or getting your water refilled, but otherwise, the service is solid and consistent. And this particular server is still friendly and eager to please, so it's hard to care when the food is so good and the environment so comfortable. The chilean seas bass and the aloo aam tikka appetizer are also outstanding.

    (4)
  • Jeff G.

    This is serious cooking and not an Indian food joint. All the dishes are filled with wonderful spice and combinations of flavors. We have never been disappointed here. Akbar has a very contemporary style. Also interesting is that they like to match up their food with good wine and take their wine service seriously.

    (4)
  • Michele S.

    Deee-licious! Chicken Tikka Masala is a house favorite for reason. The onion bhaji were delicious as well. The food really is spicy - do NOT ask for extra hot. 2-3 is fine - I swear.

    (4)
  • Lisa D.

    Please don't go here and order the okra. It is heavenly, and sometimes they run out. I want it all to myself!

    (5)
  • T M.

    The chilean sea bass is incredible here, I go here just for this - and the okra as a side dish is really yummy (and pretty!) It gets really crowded so be sure to make reservations since it's a tiny place and the service is a little lacking.

    (4)
  • Puno I.

    I live on the west side. Granted, I can drive 10 more minutes to Culver City and get some authentic South Indian (like Annapurna). but sometimes I'm tired, I want meat and can't wait. So if you're in Venice or MDR, then YES! Try Akbar's to check it off the list of "places you know in your neighborhood". If you want authentic Indian I hear that Artesia is the place to be. When I come here I order the chicken tikka masala and saag paneer. Before I wrote that both were OK but I've visited a handful more restaurants around and I always go back to Akbar. Also the one waiter there is bad ass. Forgot his name but if you become a regular you'll know who I'm talking about.

    (4)
  • Martin D.

    The food was quite good. However, a very sharp piece of metal was found in our food... in the most horrible way: I nearly swallowed it, and it lacerated the back of my throat. I thought this was simply an unfortunate accident, but my repeated attempts to get the restaurant to follow up on this serious issue failed completely. First the local host at the Marina del Rey location failed to inform her manager of the problem, then the manager failed to inform company headquarters and to call be back as promised. Then, after repeat promises from company headquarters they too failed to follow up or even refund what I paid for the dinner (which was not even my main issue, I was concerned this could seriously injure someone who eats there). Sadly, I cannot recommend this restaurant as a result. I want to give more than one star because the food was actually good (until nearly swallowing that fish hook of a metal wire), but as an "eat at your own risk" situation I would strongly recommend anyone you care about to chew very carefully and check your food if you choose to eat here. I regret having to write this review as a last resort, as the restaurant itself was totally unresponsive to my complaint.

    (1)
  • Abigail S.

    This review is not about the food as much as the attitude of the servers and managers. My BF and I had a long trip and we decided to go to Akbar and we arrived 10 minutes before it opened at 5pm. We did not see signs of when it opened but saw staff so we knocked to ask what time they open. They all ignored us. When we came back at 5pm (apparently it was 1 minute early). The manager gave us a stern look and signaled to his watch 5pm. He was rude, angry and not someone we wanted to give our business to. Too many great restaurants out there to take our money and we went to Agra around the corner on Lincoln and it was the best ever! NEVER give our business to rude and entitled people.

    (1)
  • Angela L.

    Their naan is really good! I got the Chicken Akbari and it was delicious. Cute place, great service. Our server was friendly and he was even nice enough to bring my sweater outside and help me put it on like a gentleman when I forgot it at the table.

    (4)
  • Sabrina S.

    I've heard so many great things about this place, I REALLY wanted it to be as good as everyone says it is! It was just okay. Not bad, but nothing to shout about. My saag paneer had maybe three chunks of paneer in the whole dish. Chicken tikka masala had good flavor, but the sauce texture wasn't my favorite. Naan and raita both left a lot to be desired. Perhaps if we ate in the restaurant versus delivery it would have been better. My hunt for great Indian food on the westside continues!

    (3)
  • K. Narcisse N.

    The second best Indian Food on the planet was in Ginza Japan. Akbar is #1, with it's with it's warm decor. The personal touch from the staff is amazing as they always cater to our needs remembering the details. It's amazingly scrumptious Cal-indian cuisine. We pride ourselves on taking out of town guests to Akbar in Marina del Rey! Mmmmmm!

    (5)
  • Jonny G.

    Found this place out of convenience, as I was killing time between meetings. Food was horrible. Absolutely horrible. Their 'daal' is a dried up attempt at proper indian curry. It would better served as an appetizer. Their 'Bhaingan Bharta' (eggplant curry) was filled with 'garam masala'. While 'garam masala' is common in Indian cooking, its overuse is abundant in bad Indian restaurants. I will admit, however, that the service was great. The owner seems to know how to be attentive with his customers. Although I do wonder what he would've done had I told him his eggplant dish was appalling. I don't think they have a tandoor in the kitchen. Their 'naan' seems to be store-bought, reheated, and served, rather than freshly made (like most other Indian restaurants). Also, no buffet for lunch? Yikes...

    (1)
  • Macelle A.

    The food here is high quality. The place is fancy so you kinda get fancier Indian food. Try: Bengan ka Salan - Sauted eggplant prepared in coconut-tamarind. And the Seabass. They do have a decently priced corkage fee, so it might be worth bringing a bottle in. I only gave the place two stars, because when it comes to Indian food, I personally prefer something closer to home cooked cooking. And this place is just too fancy for Indian food. But you've got have one of those.

    (2)
  • Singh A.

    Growing up in an Indian household I know what Indian food should taste like. Yes, it can be spicey, but that doesn't mean that the flavor gets compromised. This happened to be the case with my lunch here. First, the mango lassi was not a real mango lassi - it looked like there was some artifical color to it; I had the lamb vindaloo (don't order the no. 5 for when they ask you how spicy you want your food - go for the no. 2 or 3 - at least then you can taste it); the only bright side of my lunch was the mango cheesecake and the naan and three types of chutney that came with it. The restaurant is rich in typical Indian colors of red & orange, but lacking in the representation of India in its decor. Sorry I won't be back here again.

    (2)
  • Sara W.

    Overall I'd say Akbar ranges from okay to great, depending on what is ordered. The dinner specials are pretty bad because they clearly use frozen mixed vegetables for their curry, which is just wrong, but when you order a la carte the food is pretty darn good. Plus the service is nice and if there are any mistakes they are quick to turn them around.

    (4)
  • Amy S.

    I love this place. After recently moving to Marina Del Rey, we tried many Indian restaurants to our disappointment. I've lived in India so I might be a little picky. Especially for lunch (cheaper than a sandwich and salad at a cafe), this place is really reasonably priced! Staff has always been great too.

    (5)
  • mark b.

    Akbar kicks ass! We almost always get the okra (that isn't on the menu) and the Akbari Kofta. Both are amazing. The cheese naan is also heavenly. The only problems we've encountered was around the takeout. There have been a couple of instances where the food was not nearly as good as when we went in to eat.

    (5)
  • M P.

    The food is excellent, but be prepared to wait. And it wasn't so wonderful that it was worth the wait. We called in around 6:50pm on a Sunday night and ordered two dishes and a few sides for delivery. They said it would be about an hour. At 8:15, when the food still hadn't arrived, we called again. They apologized and said it would be another 15-20 minutes and they were just a bit backed up. We weren't thrilled, but it was too late to order from somewhere else at that point. So we waited. At 9:00p.m., I called back and asked to speak to a manager. It had been over two hours. She apologized, offered to comp our food, and promised it would be delivered within 10 - 15 minutes. It was FINALLY delivered at 9:20, semi-cold. I would have rather just paid for the food and had it hot and fresh served at dinner, not half an hour before going to bed.

    (3)
  • Habit Y.

    this is based on on food, not service, as my friend got our stuff to go. is mediocre shooting to high? i was not surprised, nor impressed. it was just aw'ight, emphasis on the 'aw' *insert disappointed face here* i give it 2 stars cause i didn't get sick

    (2)
  • Jen M.

    My family orders from here all the time and the food is very good. The only problem is the phone service is pretty lousy. It's always too loud for the person answering to hear so you have to repeat yourself many times and sometimes their line is busy. Also, they should update their system so you don't have to give them your address, directions and credit card details every time you call. But clearly we keep ordering so until there's another local Indian restaurant with better service we'll keep coming back.

    (4)
  • Dottie A.

    Akbar is my favorite Indian restaurant. I love that when I go there the staff remembers my husband and I. I love the location and the size of the place. Its romantic and of course the food is delicious. Try the Chilean sea bass. I highly recommend Akbar for intimate dates or just hanging with your girlfriends trying out all the different kind of wines they have. Cheers!

    (4)
  • FoodSleuth M.

    I've been to many Indian restaurants in LA because it's my favorite food in the world and I can't get enough of it. Tonight my husband and I tried Akbar. Wow! The food was fantastic! We were told by the manager that all their meat is organic and freshly prepared. You could definitely taste it! I am a little surprised that other yelpers have commented about poor service because we didn't have an empty plate or a dirty fork left on our table for even a second! I would definitely recommend this restaurant...

    (5)
  • Stephanie D.

    I went for lunch. The only reason it doesn't get 5 stars is because of how small the lunch menu is. Everything was perfect for lunch. Even my boyfriend who doesn't love Indian food the way that I do enjoyed it. I can't wait to go back for dinner and the full menu.

    (4)
  • Cera S.

    Oh okay, I will review on another 5 star fave before I unveil my pockets-full of less than satisfying places that I will never grace my presence with again. "Oh Akbar, Akbar...How do I love thee??" Since moving to California, particularly the Santa Monica/Venice neighborhood, I have tried about 5 Indian fares here, and Akbar is the only one I've frequented more than once. (6 to be exact, but who's conting??) Oh my my....first off, we tell the waiter that we are vegan, (and even if my man is not technically vegan, he is sweet enough to 'play house', and make sure that his is animal free so I can try), our waiter complies and grants us with our requests. Everytime we go there, we have our feeding ritual of ordering one of the many fantastic wines they supply, and the naan. They serve dairy-free naan, for customers such as yours truly, can indulge in the Indian goodness that we are meant to. As for the meals, we each get something that we can share, and we usually just leave it up to the waiter, (who is amazing, but kinda weird that HE is our waiter EVERY time we go! I'm not complaining at all, it's just kinda amusing), to bring us 2 vegan dishes that will leave our taste buds wanting more. The Okra dish is not on the menu, but we get that everytime we go, so feel free to ask for it. It is so freaking good that I have to be careful of my obvious drool while I'm on my date. There is another veggie plate that has cauliflower, and peas I think? But that's really good, and also the Eggplant dish, and the Saag that they will substitute the cheese with tofu. The parking lot super-tiny, and is not ideal unless you drive a Vespa, or perhaps the little vehicle that Austin Powers drove in the warehouse where he got stuck in between 2 walls while trying to turn round. But! there is plenty of neighborhood parking nearby around the corner, and it will be ideal to take a little stroll afterwards with a belly full- o- buddha.

    (5)
  • Charles H.

    Been a couple times and food is always great but big guy server takes your order and that's the last you see of him. Service is friendly but very spotty unless you know the crew.

    (2)
  • Andrew G.

    Looove this place! Great traditional indian food with great prices. Can't go wrong!

    (5)
  • Lindley K.

    Akbar's near the beach is tiny but mighty. Groups larger than 4 require major rearrangements of the internal real estate. The parking lot is pretty much the same - not for those with poor depth perception. That said, the food is decent, the service is friendly and accomodating, and the kitchen is consistently on top of their game. It's a great dinner place for couples with a cozy ambiance, but you might want to call ahead for dinner to make sure you can get a table before your hypoglycemia kicks in. I love Indian food and can forgive a lot, but at Akbar's there's little to forgive and a lot to enjoy. Excellent if you belong to a "mixed" couple (vegetarian / carnivore)

    (4)
  • lina s.

    The decor was intimate and quaint and I appreciated the unique selection of artwork. My friend from Paris is a picky eater and she thought the food here was great. I liked that their menus rate the level of spicyness in each dish because I can't handle it when its so hot that your tongue burns and your sinuses gets runny. I dont think you should feel like you just got beat up from a meal. So there was a mixture of mild and super hot (which my friends ordered) at the table and I felt that they were accurately labeled. I thought that there were distinctive flavors in each dish and I was thoroughly pleased. Service was good too...my friend ordered a coffee after we had paid for the check and they gave it to him on the house:)

    (5)
  • Munchie S.

    Love their food, naan options, and attentive servers. They really take the time to explain each dish, answer all questions, and make wonderful suggestions based on your palette. This is the only place I go for indian food in LA. Oh, btw: great date place. Small, intimate, great lighting! Would be better if you didn't have to search for parking, but I've only had a problem with that one time... so not a huge issue.

    (5)
  • Beth S.

    I come to this restaurant every time I visit LA. It is hands down the BEST Indian food I have ever had. The seabass is nothing short of perfection. My friend I was with said that it was a spiritual culinary experience. They know their stuff about wine too, and have never steered me wrong with a fabulous pairing.

    (5)
  • David G.

    Best Indian food I have had, period. Love the chicken tiki masala and okra. Wine selection is good too. Parking is a pain, but they do deliver.

    (5)
  • Sal R.

    The first real time I've tried Indian food and it was great. The server made some good recommendations. He was very wine savvy and brought a great bottle of Argentinean Cab at a great value. I highly recommend it.

    (4)
  • Suzanne W.

    A bit overpriced, though very tasty. They know how to do spicy. My nose was running, but I couldn't stop eating. However, the last time I was there, the waiter (maybe the same one about whom others have also had complaints?) was being really bossy and pushy, not in a charming way. More like in a borderline offensive misogynist way.

    (3)
  • Hyun C.

    Another place I go every week. It is likely that you'll see me and my crew on Friday during lunch time. I never been there for dinner, but during lunch time, the food is about 7-8 dollars a plate and it's great. I usually get Akbari Kofta, Chicken Aamras, or Chicken Tikka Marsala. As far as I know, there are two different chefs during weekdays. One works on Monday-Wed, and he doesn't make things too spicy. The better one works on Thursday-Friday, and he puts the inferno on his dishes. The host, J.C., warned me yesterday that the new peppers they got are pretty damn hot and he had it on level 3. I tried it on level 3, and I'm really paying for it today. J.C.'s pretty cool and honest guy. When he says, something is spicy, you better trust him. Do not go against his words!

    (5)
  • Mimi D.

    I loved this place the first time and thought it was decent the second time so I am not sure if my taste buds have changed recently, if the place changed cooks, or if I was just really hungry when I went the first time. It's hard to find a great Indian place and this one is always packed so it's pretty popular. We tried the Tandoori Chilean Sea Bass, the chicken tikka masala, the lamb vindaloo, cheesy naan, garlic naan and some sort of mango smoothie drink that came out kind of warm and thick. The cheesy naan tastes like a multi cheese quesadille - it was soo good. The garlic naan had plenty of garlic. The lamb vindaloo was good but it was a little too spicy for the white fok that we went with. If you are hispanic or asian it's a normal spicy like the way your grandma cooks, but if you are white it's too spicy, although the servers do warn you of this when you order this dish. The chicken tikka masala was so excellent that we ordered another one even though we were pretty full. The chilean sea bass was also a great choice. It wasnt too oily since this fish is sometimes really fatty tasting and it was prepared with a good selection of spices. The service was also pretty good. They serve the water in these little metal cups which is different but it almost killed one of our girlfriends since she has no enamel on her teeth so if you have this problem you may want to order your water bottled or in a glass cup.

    (4)
  • Amy H.

    My husband and I are big fans of this jewel in the beach community. Our favorite dishes include their Lamb Akbari, Chicken Tikka and Seabass. The garlic naan is a nice way to start your meal. For you vegetarians out there, their samosas are delicious and make sure you try their Saag Paneer and their fabulous Bhartha. To round out your meal, order some basmatti rice and the dahl of the day!

    (4)
  • Kara W.

    We are addicted, and we have friends who live downtown who specifically come to Venice to eat Akbar with us. Chicken tikka masala? sea bass? the wine list? and oh, the cheese naan...we love it all...

    (5)
  • Susan O.

    This place makes me very happy. The food and service has always been good, and they have stuffed naan that's to kill for. I think I've had the same waiter every time I've been, and he always offers suggestions, and they are always good.

    (4)
  • veena n.

    mmm! akbar is really good and probably my favorite indian restaurant in LA. their food is really fresh and the tastiness is consistent. their naan is really soft and fluffy, the paneer they use is really moist and fresh, and their bindi masala is the BEST (and not on the menu)! ooh also, the atmosphere is kind of romantic and relaxed.

    (5)
  • Paul F.

    Can you give it no stars?...'cause that was horrible and I know food. The food was covered in salt and the ingredients were not fresh. There is no point calling to ask 'what happened' as you will get nothing but attitude and confusion. Does anyone know a good Indian restaurant in Venice? The chicken tikka was pretty good, but the Gobi Aloo tasted like they just fished it out of the ocean. And as far as I know, cauliflower doesn't grow in the sea. How can you destroy a Samosa?.........Salt. Is anybody in the kitchen tasting the food? It's especially disappointing as we used to come here or order takeout at least once a week when they first opened and the food, wine and service were fantastic. It seems the owners are no longer on site so perhaps they're running one of the other Akbars now and I'm sure the food there is great, but it's unfortunate they've left the Venice location and allowed it to fall on its knees. We're sad and disappointed and won't be going back. I need to go now as I need to drink a load of water.

    (1)
  • Jessie I.

    Maybe I've had some really good Indian food in the past, but Akbar was mediocore. We wanted to grab some indian food before seeing 30 days of night. So I went on our trusty yelp website to find somewhere in the hood. We decided on Akbar because of the reviews it got. We ordered sag paneer, which was watery and unflavorful, chicken tikka masala, I've had better but was ok, and chana masala (chick peas) which was good, but whats with all the raw onions? We also ordered garlic nann which was burnt in some places on the bottom. We split a Karma beer, eventhough they had a huge wine selection. We parked on the street like 2 blocks away since there was no space in the parking lot which was tiny. To begin we had those crackers and chutney that are usually free, I think they were $3. The coconut chutney rocked! They offer entree's (around $11) which you have to order rice and nann seperate, or dinneres (aorund $15) which comes with veggies ,nann and rice. They have like 8 vegetarian dishes ranging from $7-$10. I won't be going back, to expensive for medicore food.

    (2)
  • Marina C.

    friendly service and great food... dined here for many years... unfortunately, my friend and i got sick after eating here -- likely a 1 time event but i haven't been brave enough to come back....

    (3)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :11:30 am - 2:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : Yes
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner
    Parking : Street, Private Lot
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : Yes

Categories

India is the birth place of Chicken Tikka Masala and Curries. Indian foods are prepared with a blend of finely mixed spices quite popular across the region. The spices develop the rich taste in Indian food enough to boggle your mind. The ever-increasing fan base of Indian food around the New York city is steadily increasing because of the large number of Indians who traveled to the land of dreams. The Indians also brought their very own vibrant, colorful, and aromatic authentic dishes for the people in the West. While most of the Indian population is Vegetarian, Indian food is great for people who are looking for vegan or vegetarian food option. If you are a Meat lover, don't get disappointed yet. Indian food also boasts of some popular non-vegetarian dishes too. Few examples are the famous Butter Chicken, Mutton Biryani and Tandoori Chicken are enough to satisfy your taste buds.

Indian food has gained reputation all over the world especially in the United States. You can find many places serving the appetizing Indian food across all major cities in the US. India is a diverse country with different food culture originated from different parts of the country. While the Northern region boasts tandoori dishes and korma offering royal taste, the Western Ghats offers sea foods that is made in naturally sweet tender coconut milk. The South Indian food servers a quality of different dishes made from rice accompanied with spicy chutneys, curries and famous sambhar. Also, the Indian sweets are a delight to relish. If you ever want to have a burst of sugar syrup in mouth, don't forget to try few Bengali Sweets. Be it spicy, tangy, or sweet flavor, you can find everything in the Indian cuisine. Be assured that the melody of spices will surely bring delight to you.

Akbar Cuisine of India

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