Cafe Maharani
2509 S King St, Honolulu, HI, 96826
Cafe Maharani Menu
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Address :
2509 S King St
Honolulu, HI, 96826 - Phone (808) 951-7447
- Website https://cafemaharanihawaii.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :5:00 pm - 10:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
India is the birth place of Chicken Tikka Masala and Curries. Indian foods are prepared with a blend of finely mixed spices quite popular across the region. The spices develop the rich taste in Indian food enough to boggle your mind. The ever-increasing fan base of Indian food around the New York city is steadily increasing because of the large number of Indians who traveled to the land of dreams. The Indians also brought their very own vibrant, colorful, and aromatic authentic dishes for the people in the West. While most of the Indian population is Vegetarian, Indian food is great for people who are looking for vegan or vegetarian food option. If you are a Meat lover, don't get disappointed yet. Indian food also boasts of some popular non-vegetarian dishes too. Few examples are the famous Butter Chicken, Mutton Biryani and Tandoori Chicken are enough to satisfy your taste buds.
Indian food has gained reputation all over the world especially in the United States. You can find many places serving the appetizing Indian food across all major cities in the US. India is a diverse country with different food culture originated from different parts of the country. While the Northern region boasts tandoori dishes and korma offering royal taste, the Western Ghats offers sea foods that is made in naturally sweet tender coconut milk. The South Indian food servers a quality of different dishes made from rice accompanied with spicy chutneys, curries and famous sambhar. Also, the Indian sweets are a delight to relish. If you ever want to have a burst of sugar syrup in mouth, don't forget to try few Bengali Sweets. Be it spicy, tangy, or sweet flavor, you can find everything in the Indian cuisine. Be assured that the melody of spices will surely bring delight to you.
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Paul K.
Amazing value with delicious and authentic cuisine!!!
(5)Kara K.
As difficult it is for me to wait for dinner, Cafe Maharani is pretty much worth the wait. The parking lot is pretty small, so you may need to park a couple of blocks away near HK's. As a disclaimer, I am no expert at Indian food so I am just judging their food solely on flavor and overall pleasantness. I've sampled the vegetable masala, palak paneer, lamb masala, varieties of naan and rice, and the chicken tikka masala. All were really good, but as a meat/lamb person, I enjoyed the lamb masala the most. I would come here just to eat the naan, though...and I would definitely buy the rice sampler again. All of the food is so delicious, though, and it takes me a long long time to finish dinner at this restaurant. It's an experience that shouldn't be rushed. It's a great restaurant to go with a small group of friends (4 total), otherwise you may have to wait forever in a day for a table. It's a bit awkward when you're just about finishing your meal because the customers on the wait list are beginning to closely monitor your table for signs of departure. The employees are great, and they seem so calm despite the crazy hell going on around them. They have super long lines of starving people outside and inside, and I haven't noticed them rushing any of their customers out. Either they've received complaints or they understand that their cooking takes awhile to eat and digest.
(4)Sean T.
Probably the number one Indian spot to hit off Waikiki strip. Service was excellent, waiters/waitresses constantly filling water and taking requests. The lamb was super moist in both red curry dishes my group had. The set up and atmosphere were excellent, and the TV played Indian music videos non stop ( which feature the same man and women dancing and falling in love over and over again ). Only problem I found throughout the night was that the meat platter/tray, the beef was lacking, pretty dry. Naan was a great filler for the sauces. I'll definitely go again if I ever return to Honolulu.
(5)Maika Y.
super delicious x__x I used to live in india, trust me. this is as close to indian food as it can get.
(4)Chantel C.
(3.75 stars) Be ready for a long wait for a table. This place is good, and everyone knows it. Thank goodness for BYOB..., and you had better bring some beer or a bottle of wine for the wait. One hour wait on a weekday evening!!? Glad that I wasn't in a rush, but was kind of disappointed with the inefficient system and lack of service. The service was okay, it just suffered from the system I suppose (You are supposed to write your name on the list in the back of the restaurant, but they weren't calling any names, and I saw people come in after us and get seated before us). I really am a big fan of the food at Maharani. The food is excellent. Garlic Naan, chicken tikka masala, Muttor Paneer are my faves!! Samosas, saffron rice... EVERYTHING on the menu is delicious!! It's no wonder that this place is always packed. Speaking of being packed, I was NOT a fan of the seating arrangement. It's very tight, and you don't get any space. Next time I will be ordering takeout!! Maharani, please open another location!!! PLEASE?! :)
(3)Colleen C.
After hearing from other reviews that there can be quite a wait, we decided to order takeout. Called ahead and our order was ready when we got there. Chicken tika masala and chicken vindaloo were both great. My hubby said the vindaloo has quite a strong cilantro taste. He loves cilantro so this wasn't a problem, but for those who don't, you may want to choose something else. Also ordered the jalapeño naan which was delicious (love that they have so many naan options). Veggies samosas were yummy too and HUGE! Will definitely go back.
(4)Shashank S.
Food here is actually pretty good and I would give it 5 stars if I was just reviewing the food. But the service here is beyond horrible! Had to wait 1hr for a table even after putting our name on the waiting list 30min before arriving. Just plain inexcusable!
(2)Melissa A.
In my quest to find good Indian food in the islands, I went to my favorite place: Yelp! The reviews were convincing enough for me to drive all the way to town on a Sunday to try it out. I've eaten a lot of Indian food in my life, besides the fact that there was Indian all over the city I lived in, my uncle is Indian (yes, Indian from India) who makes Indian dinners on Sunday nights. With that being said, this place is pretty damn good. The Good Stuff: 1. Food is yuuummmyy. Great naan! 2. You can request your entrees spicy or mild. I did spicy, and whoooo, it was spicy, just like I like it. The bf did mild, which was still spicy (come one, it's Indian food). Our friends did one spicy, one mild and it was the same 3. Great service, our waiter was very nice and patient and helped to explain items on the menu 4. Not very expensive, all things said. They have a 2 person deal where you get rice, naan and two entrees for $41 5. BYOB!!! We found out after we got there, but don't worry, there's a liquor store next door and Longs across the street, so you're covered if you forget your booze. The Not So Good Stuff: 1. Parking is hard to find (we decided to be risk takers and parked in the Longs lot and our car was still there when we got out) 2. It's a very small space and apparently very popular. We were lucky enough to get there before they opened and there was already people waiting outside. Luckily we got seated right away, but it took two minutes for the tables to fill up and there was people waiting in the front, in the back, in the hallways...(so get there early) I highly recommend this place, it was exactly what I was looking for.
(4)Sherylynn S.
The food is fabulous and I am still craving for more! High fives to this restaurant! As much I miss Persian food, but this restaurant satify me enough :) This restaurant also goes with BYOB, awesome deal! :) Much Mahalo!
(4)VILLAMOR A.
Food was awsome... service was good... wait was long (about 1/2 hour) but well worth it. We had a group of 5... my wife and I got the dinner for two, comes with 1 appetizer, 2 entrees, regular naan, and rice. We got a vegetable fritter for the appetizer (I don't remember the indian name... it was ok. Entrees: Chicken Masala, Lamb Saag, safron rice, and reguar naan. The other couple got garlic naan and pesto naan, and seafood masala. The other person just picked off of our foods. Portions were good sized, we still had quite a bit to take home. Price is not cheap... reasonable i guess. I would go again... but won't look forward to the wait.
(4)Jane A.
Recently ate here with my boyfriend and a friend....DEFINITELY ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLACES ON THE ISLAND! They were extremely busy, and we had to wait about 20 min. However, we walked to Down to Earth and got some drinks, which is awesome because Maharani's is BYOB. When we sat down, the interior is small but cozy with interesting decor. We ordered a TON of food, I think even the waiter was a bit surprised. It took a while for our food, and they forgot my chai. However, they were very apologetic when I nicely asked for it, and to be honest, I was not bothered at all. The AMAZING food, as well as the atmosphere and friendly service, was enough for all to be completely forgiven. As I said, we ordered between the three of us nearly $120 in food, and everything we received was GREAT! Made great leftovers as well, seeing as the portions are nice and healthy. Definitely try this place out if you like Indian food, or if you are down for something new. Also, there are a lot of vegetarian meals, which is nice if you don't eat meat like myself.
(5)Arthur S.
this is my second time there and when i first walked through the doors i was still amazed! the atmosphere is most excellent! i felt like i was at an Indian dance party. low lighting, everyone tipsy off their BYOB, and of coarse the sexy indian dance videos on big screen that take the experiences to a whole new level! even the bathroom has an artsy sense to it with paintings of Indian cultural things :D so there's no escaping ghandi's wrath! now cutting to the chase. and digging into the korma. we ordered the shrimp coconut korma, coconut raisin nutty naan (forgot what its really called) and the coconut rice. shrimp coconut korma- i have to say this was pretty dang good! it was comprised of vegetables and shrimp bathing in a deliciously perfect blend of spices in curry sauce, they say "its good for kids" but also good for moms as my mom seemed to love it as well! i thought it was a bit spicy, but it's curry so it was to be expected, plus i have a sweet tongue so its sensitive to spices :P the coconut raisin nutty naan- had to be the MOST BEST dish of them all, i was expecting a few cuts of bread, but they came out with a pizza sized plate! it was like ordering a large pizza accept indian style! this soft delicious pan shaped chewiness was like biting a warm soft fruit and nut tree! (they only exist at maharani) the coconut rice- also excellent, coconut flakes added extra texture and taste to the dish! although i think i might have under looked its true tastiness since i smothered and blanketed it with spoonfuls of coconut korma wildness. definitely will be visiting this place more often now that i'm back home! i'd totally recommend it for dates, and for the wonderful mom who has already slaved away in the kitchen during caveman days. and on a side note peer pressure to bring wine or beverages will surround you from all sides while in maharani. have no fear theres a liquor store literally down the block with a small, but decent wine collection!
(5)Kat H.
Food: 4 stars. Pretty good Indian food. Service: 1 star. The waiters were absolutely horrid & successfully ruined our dining experience.
(2)Jenn W.
This place is outstanding! Yes, you will wait awhile to get a seat. Sometimes a long while. Yes, sometimes the wait staff will be distracted, but they have never been rude. Yes, you will spend a decent amount of money. But it will all be worth it when you take that first bite! Seriously, I promise. Lamb vindaloo, chicken korma, chicken tikka masala, naan bread (garlic, plain or buttered), palak paneer- all must-haves! The saag is very good as well, and the mango laasi is delicious! Try it. Now.
(4)Andrew M.
-Get take out (it's usually super busy). -Try the chicken masala. -Take a copy of the Menu so you know what to order for take-out next time. -Get some naan! -Don't order 1 dish per person. It's lots of food and you can share. Last time we got 2 dishes and
(5)Stacy R.
Great food but an extremely long wait due to the size of the restaurant (tiny).
(4)sky i.
I guess I'm hopping on the Tandoori Bandwagon too, with Maharani at the helm. Over the past year, I've tried to broaden my culinary horizon and expose my palate to new flavors from all walks of life, especially food from Southeast Asia. But none has been more difficult to assimilate than the exotic flavors of Indian cooking. I've tried a few Indian restaurants in the past, but none were to my liking...until now. I started off with the crispy Samosa pastry ($5.99) filled with veggies, potatoes, and a bit of mild green curry. I found the Samosas a bit bland until I dipped them into the mint/yogurt sauce and the Tamarind sauce, the tartness of which gave the pastry just enough kick it needed. For my entree, I picked the safe route and chose the Prawn Saag ($15.99) which had large, plump shrimp swimming in a thick, green paste which I had to admit did not appear appetizing. Fortunately, the scrumptious, creamy spinach puree tasted much better than it looked. My wife had the Doti Lamb Dal ($15.99) which boasted perfectly cooked, tender lamb simmered in a sauce of onions, corn, tomatoes and various spices. This was one dish my tastebuds could really grab a hold onto. The Naan bread that came with both meals was terrifically fluffy, warm and soft. It was perfect for lapping up the various tasty sauces from our plate. At last, Maharani has enabled me to finally appreciate Northern Indian cuisine. 3.5 Stars, final answer.
(3)Ali B.
ok... FOOD: SO AMAZING! honestly guys. I have not eaten at the place itself but I eat their takeout A LOT! LAMB SAAG: this is amazing so creamy and a decent amount of lamb chunks in it . The medium has perfect heat to it and the smell...its mouth watering. The mount is really good too it is enough for one person to have leftovers and a decnt amount if two share. RICE PULAU: the portion is huge. The rice is perfectly cooked and has a almost buttery taste along with floral..smel and taste it perfect with the sagg or vindaloo KHEER: the rice pudding is heavenly it can be a lil bit watery but the taste is unusual and great. im used to mexican rice puddings but this is much different . With cashews raisens and sometimes sprinkled green cashews on top. try it... Please try this place anybody who reads my review and try saag..vege or meaty its delicious!!
(4)D K.
Terrible service! We waited almost an hour for our take out order, only to find out THEY NEVER PUT IN OUR ORDER!!
(1)Catt G.
One of the best restaurants on Oahu, no doubt. In a desert of bad food choices, Cafe Maharani is an oasis of decentness, delivering the yummy, authentic food you would expect from any city with an Indian population. Only here, the curry dish is $15, not $5. Why? Because they can! There's no one else in the Pacific doing it as well as these guys. Be prepared to spend $40-$50, for two. Take-out is an option you may want to consider at this popular joint, but the restaurant is very pleasant and comfortable, too.
(5)Ritsuko K.
My friend and I hit this place last weekend .......OMG! The food here is awesome! My friend is from Malaysia so she knows what is good or bad about Indian food. She says, "this place serves authentic Indian food". We ordered Chicken Curry, Beef w/ Saffron Rice and Chapati. Sorry i don't remember the name of these 2 dishes. They use authentic spices and can adjust how spicy you like. We went to this place for dinner on Sunday. At first there were only a couple of groups inside but after 6:00pm the restaurant was getting busy. In 30min, it was totally packed and we saw lots of ppl waiting in line. You should come in early otherwise you gotta wait for a while. And the service is getting slow.
(4)Guy H.
When we first tried Maharani the food was excellent. Over the years it changed, it was still good, but the dishes we enjoyed changed. We later found out that the owners had split and the couple that left were the original cooks so they took the food with them. We always do take out but the restaurant The food is ok but for the good stuff we now go to Cafe TajMahal where the couple opened up a new place.
(3)Noe K.
tender, tasty and yummy! The naan was perfect with everything and it was one of those I'm so full but I want to eat more moments!
(5)Carne A.
Just ate there tonight an fabulous as usual. Chicken vindaloo had me sweating ( per my request) and was so tasty. Wife had the Chicken Coconut Korma which was incredible. We left w enough leftovers for 2-3 more meals. Getting there early is the key. Service very good and no complaints.
(5)Duke R.
Except for the one bad experienec the food is excellent. Have done carry out a couple of times a month and never been disapointed.
(4)Faraaz S.
To start out - I am Indian...and have had many opportunities to have Indian food in US and India - so I have a good reference. Minus: The place is small and we had to wait a loonnnng time just to be seated...about an hour (this was Christmas Season 2008 - the wait might be shorter in regular season!) I did not take away stars for this because I was visiting (from California) and was on vacation...so I wasnt in a hurry AND the staff was trying their best to accomodate us! After ordering food...there was a good half an hour wait (again...remember this is holiday season) Plus: Once the food arrived.....it was awesome! I don't remember the exact names but I will try to put down as much as I remember... Lamb Maharani - excellent tender lamb and the curry was awesome There was also another Chicken Dish made in Green Pepper that I tried...It was SUPERHOT....I coundt taste anything else....so beaware. I also tried another Lamb Dish which was excellent. Chicken/Lamb Vindaloo is awesome too. We also tried a mix of all the different Chicken Tandooris (Oven Roasted) in a platter...which was kinda Ok. The portion size is huge...we went there thrice and each time there was enough left over for each person to have a good, complete, satisfying another meal the next day!!! The food was well worth the log wait!! You should definitely try it !!
(5)Ku'ulei R.
I came here Friday night and once again I fell in love with this place. I got here around 520pm. There wasn't a wait so we were immediately seated. The first time me, my fiance, and my friend came here we decided to have the dinner for three, we loved it so much the first time that we decided to have it again. The dinner for three is basically choosing an appetizer (either the vegetarian platter or the tandoori platter) and choosing three dishes that you want. First we decided on the tandoori platter since we tried the vegetarian platter the first time we came here. The tandoori platter was okay, I prefer the vegetarian platter though. For the main course we decided on the chicken masala, an eggplant dish (forgot the name) but it was basically eggplant lightly battered and fried with a coconut curry sauce, and a salmon dish. The dinner for three also comes with rice and naan so it was A LOT of food! Let me just say that I LOVED the eggplant dish. It was so good!! I really loved the coconut taste and the crunch the eggplant had. The salmon dish was great as well. Of course we couldn't eat everything because they give so much, so keep that in mind if you plan on having the dinner for 3. Also get the mango lassi because it is AWESOME!! If you are craving some really good Indian food come to Cafe Maharani! It is worth it! But get here early because it gets crowded fast.
(5)Grateful R.
Possibly the best Indian food ive ever had. Ordered the dinner for two which included samosas, rice, two entrees, and naan, for $40. The portions are large, you will leave with enough for lunch the next day. Had the lamb vindaloo and chicken saag. Both were excellent and the vindaloo was the hottest I have everhad. It is BYOB, so bring some beers and ask for a bucket of ice to keep 'em cold. It can get crowded, so expect to wait a little bit.
(5)Eric T.
I can't say I am experienced with indian cuisine but I love the good there. this review is for last night. The place is crowded normally but I think its worth the wait. Last night a friend and I order there dinner for two which comes with two entrees of your choice, samosas, and naan. The samosas are excellent and its served with two sauces: one yogurty and currylike. Both taste great with it. The currys we ate were excellent. The lamb in the curry was tasty and not dry at all. Anyways my favorite thing to order is the stuffed garlic and cheese naan which we also ordered! it is a must order! Anyways our bill came out to roughly $50 which could easily serve 3ppl, since we had tons of left overs! Go there with friends! Also try the halva.. Me likey although I couldn't order it last night because I was so full!
(4)Brad F.
Don't know what I ordered, but whatever it was it was fall off the bone tender and very flavorful. I got 6 out of 10 spiciness and my mouth was still on fire. Great food and good service. I would go back and take my dad cause he would love the heat! The restaurant is decorated authenticly and the dishes are really nice. The portions are huge! I will have lunch for the next three days. It was definitely worth the wait.
(4)Adrian T.
Ah,! Tried to eat there last night for a party of 7 started out great cause I had called to see if they take RSVP but they didn't but the gentle on the phone was nice enough to put me on the wait list for 6 pm so cool so all 7 of us are now there a little after 6 I go in let him know were all here and yes there was no table at the time but then I see, well long story short 3 groups of like 2's and 3's go in and are seated before us after coming way after us and I'm just thinking this foolio really just do that this guy trying turn tables fast to make a profit!!! I get it I'm in the food biz. But I wouldn't do that!just saying anyway as I write this I'm getting a little mad but what they didnt know was my family and I are "HUGE" eaters .so we went back in after we saw the other people go in and get seated and they actually told us it would be another 30mins .WTF!!! What don't know how to but 2 tables together anyway after my sister told me they said that I was like F...it .....let's go else where so we went to Himalayan kitchen which was our second choice and guess what the bill came up to $130 something so we ate if you know what I mean anyway the point is he turned 3 tables of 2 80% women so you know they not going eat like all out cause they on a date so you can come to a conclusion that they F up on that calculation .all in all if not to just vent now you yelppers can read a funny story ..FYI I was really hopping to try there food cause my sister said it was good ....oh and so was the food at Himalayan kitchen it was good!!! I guess we missed out !!!shoots then.
(1)Mark F.
I would like to rate higher, but the Chicken Tikka has been TOUGH the last few times. My wife and I have also experience stomach / intestinal upset after eating here...more than once...and NOT because of the spices. We love the flavors, and the friendly services and used to think this place was fantastic. The portions are always generous, but I would appreciate at least tender chicken tikka -- last time we couldn't even eat it it was so tough. This is where I would appreciate quality over quantity! Their nann is excellent. The lamb rogan josh is good, but too fatty...they should use leaner meat, or at least trim off the fat better. The lighting is low, and I hate biting into a chunk of fat! They could greatly improve their service by at least serving filtered water! The water tastes awful and may be because of the metal cups they use...I would prefer to drink water out of clear glass. (The water taste super at the Himalayan Restaurant in Kaimuki in comparison.) We will definitely eat there again, but we would frequent it much more often if the things I mentioned were improved.
(3)Cheryl K.
AMAZING! Okay so this time we had a half an hour wait but it was worth it (plus I got to pick up a cheap bottle of wine at a not so gourmet liquor store right down the street). I dig this place since its BYOB and I did not realize that till the last time I came here. Anyways we ordered a ton of stuff. The food was amazing! We had the chicken tandoori, chicken tikka masala, eggplant masala, and a lamb dish with their great naan bread and spicy rice. OMG! Heavenly. We all did not speak for a solid 15 minutes as we inhaled the food. Its a family style place so we got to share all of the dishes with eachother. The wait for the actual food was a tad bit long but it was quite a busy night. But like I said earlier, the wait is totally worth it! The service is great and the prices are reasonable. I unfortunately have not tried any other Indian places on the island so I am going off of my experiences and tastes at this particular place which is equivalent to greatness in my book.
(5)susan r.
Your review helps others learn about great local businesses. Please don't review this business if you received a freebie for writing this review, or if you're connected in any way to the owner or employees. HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT!!! This used to be a restaurant that we would take buses from Waikiki to visit, and wait 1/2 hour for a table. It was worth it....before they changed the cook and the staff. The food is the WORST Indian food I have had at any restaurant (and my husband is Indian, so we go often & everywhere). The waitress had no knowledge of Indian food, and asked us whether we wanted our raitha spicy or mild - and when we said "mild" just gave us plain yogurt. There was a bug in my water glass - which they nonchalantly replaced when I gave back to them. The paneer (cheese) was frozen and hard. There was red food coloring on the rice in the biryani we ordered. The palak paneer (spinach) was like baby food spinach, pureed. The molai kofta was made of lumpy potatoes. The only thing that was the same was the Naan. It was super. Too bad that the restaurant was sold, and it looks like it went to the low bidder and the cook was the low bidder, as well. If you like this place, I'd have to believe that you never had good india food before. If I could give one star, it would still be a stretch.
(1)Catherine L.
Café Maharani does not serve beef anymore !!! I was heart broken when they told me that, since one of my favorite dish is the beef kashmiri. Luckely, they are able to do it with lamb now. On special request. Whewf You keep your four stars Maharani. You're the best :)
(4)Ozgur D.
Very kind staff, delicious food.
(5)Frank A.
My wife and I went in late August. We lived in the SF Bay Area for ten years, and ate out regularly. This place could survive in that market. The food is so delicious and the portion sizes so large that the long wait, parking hassles and marginally attentive service didn't keep this place from being a 5 star experience (I gave it a 4 last time!). Yeah, it's that good.
(5)Ryan B.
Best Indian food I've had outside of India, you know your in the rigt place when an Indian couple comes to a hole in the wall restaurant. The food was amazing, the lamb and chicken were so tender they melt in your mouth, no knives necessary. The naan selection was unending. Massive Samosa's with plenty of taste. the atmosphere was pleasant and enjoyable, the style was traditional. The owner of this establishment has worked very hard to create an outstanding restaurant. And the price was amazing, the dinner for 2 was enough for several meals for me and my girl. The only issue is the parking, as there is very little room close by but the walk is not far for other. The service was great but we went on a Monday and it was busy then, I can foresee problems on a Friday or Saturday night. Excellent restaurant will definitely return. BYOB wine or beer to add to your ding experience.
(5)Levy O.
Bollywood here I come! Finally, I made my way over to this seemingly popular Indian restaurant. In case you haven't notice...the line could go pretty crazy here. I was craving spicy foods, and unfortunately it was Saturday night. We got there around a little bit before 6 PM thinking the line wouldn't be that bad...wroong! The wait could be discouraging and it almost made me to give 4 stars instead of 5...but hey that wouldn't be fair, would it? Anyhoo....after almost 1.5 hour of waiting (im)patiently while watching some Bollywood music video on a huge flat screen, our foods came. The vegetarian samosas were really good; crispy puffy shell with creamy potatoes inside...tasty! We had the chicken curry masala and the kebab platter enjoyed with some naan bread...man, smoking heaven! Maharani cafe definitely has temporarily cured my "homesickness" for spicy Indonesian foods and Indian foods for that matter.. The food is surely delicious...but maybe next time I will try to go during less jammed hour/day. Hey, who said waiting is fun?!... Oh..it's BYOB...bring your own bottle...and if you're up to it, bring your cooler too...the wait time could warm up your chilled beers...and you can use your cooler as a mini chair while you wait outside...hehehehe!
(5)Janelle M.
I'm from NJ where Indian food is good and plentiful and this place can compete with some of the best. If you look at the "bad" reviews on here, people are mad because they had to wait long. Um, that's because the food is good and a lot of people want to eat here - so why would you give them a bad review? Anyway, I recently returned to Waikiki after three years and decided to have dinner here again. Like everyone else, we waited probably 30-40 minutes, but our meal was well worth the wait. The food is fresh, very tasty, and thoughtfully prepared. If you appreciate good food, you'll certainly appreciate Cafe Maharani.
(5)Sarita V.
My husband and I are from the Big Island and we visit Oahu quite often and when we do we never forget to stop and eat here for dinner. OMG! your Naan bread dipped into your curry is like candy we couldn't get enough of it. We love everything about this restaurant. The atmosphere, food and your staff is so friendly to everyone. Love the fact that its BYOB. How do you do it? Serve good Indian food at a very reasonable price. We can't wait to come back for more!
(5)julia c.
this is the best indian food on oahu. their spice is very powerful and great. after going there, i had 3 meals that tasted like nothing. :) i just wish that parking is a lot easier than what they could offer. but, it's normal around the UH area. i strongly rcommend it if you're up to some adventure and want to pamper your tummy. go to maharani for indian food.
(5)Angelica A.
Fish vindahloo...not on the menu but they'll make it special! Extremely spicy so if you like spice and fish then this is the dish for you!
(5)Kimberly S.
I have no idea where I've been all this time, but I've finally eaten at Cafe Maharani in Moiliili. And I must say it was worth the ignorant wait. The food was amazing. The waiters were attentive and friendly. It was extremely busy, so it's a good thing we called ahead. We ordered vegetarian samosa, lamb curry, the tomato rice, and chicken tikka masala, and let me tell you, EVERY little morsel of food that I shoved in my mouth was delicious. Their servings are humongous, and I was eating with one other person so expect a lot of mouth-watering food to arrive. We also ordered the mango lassi, which is a cold yogurt drink.... It was to die for! The iced chai was pretty refreshing too, but the lassi is a must-order! For that one guy that rated this place one star and didn't even try the food, you missed out!! This place gets really really busy and for good reason---the orgasmic, soul-satisfying food! We drove all the way from Waipahu to feast here, and it definitely won't be our last time. If you do decide to eat here, I HIGHLY recommend calling a half hour before arrival to be placed on a waitlist cuz people were waiting outside when we got there, and those same people were only seated as we finished our food! We had called a half hour before as some yelpers recommended (thank you!). But yes, this has got to be THE BEST Indian food on this island.
(5)Caroline F.
We a a few other friends came here a few weekends ago to celebrate Christmas (better late than never!) We had heard about this place and were super excited to try it! When we got there the place was pretty full, and we have to wait outside about 20 minutes for a table. Overall I really enjoyed this place!.. The food was excellent! I cannot remember what we ordered, but me and my date did the dinner for two special, and it was the perfect amount of food for two people! The service however SUCKED! It took at least 10 minutes for our server to get to our table after we were seated, and then we had to flag him down to place our order. We MAY have been check on twice at the max during dinner, which was annoying because one of our dishes was really spicy and I kept running out of water! But despite the bad service, we really enjoyed our visit to Cafe Maharani, the food and ambiance was enough to make us want to come back again!
(4)Chetan P.
Their food is really great. The place has limited seating, but it is worth it. When you walk in here, you can smell India. I really felt like I was visiting my grandparents house in India. Very nice feeling, but it also leaves a scent on your clothes (which is not necessarily a bad thing!) Our waitress was the wife of the Owner/ Chef. She was charming, sweet, and on top of the ball. Even with tough customers like my dad. My dad constantly complains about restaurants not making food spicy enough. So she warned him that they use habeneros. He didn't care. This is the first time I saw him not finish a meal because it was too spicy. It was also the first time he was smiling on the trip. He took it home and finished it over time. I accidentally tried some of my dad's fish curry and was sweating the entire time. I couldn't taste most of my meal because of the spices. The naans saved me. We ordered several naans which were all very delicious. They come in standard formats and gourmet style where you can get a multitude of ingredients in them. My mouth is still watering. Would I go back? Most definitely, it was one of the better dining experiences.
(5)Kristen C.
Came here for dinner with the family. Walked in and the place is pretty small and a bit cramped. We came a like 650 and all the tables were filled up, and luckily there was only a couple before us. However, the wait was SUPER long. There seemed to be only 2 waiters so it was really slow, it took them a long while to get our table cleared up, because the party who was on the long table (for 8) was already gone by the time we walked in. The one waiter was able to clean it up bit by bit between taking orders, taking checks, serving, and cleaning up more tables. I mean, you understand why everything is so S L O W; because there is only 2 workers to do the "front of the house" work. When we finally got seated it took another long time to get our waters and to finally place our orders and we were all starving already. Some of the things that we ordered was the chicken vindaloo, chicken masala, chicken tikka masala that came with naan, some chicken coconut curry, the tandori chicken, the mixed rice (4 diff types), and another curry thing, and samosas for apps. The wait for the food came out really long and when it finally came we all dug in and it was really good. It was accompanied with a yogurt sauce and another more sweeter sauce. Another more long mins later our food finally comes and it all smelt really good. I first dug into my chicken vindaloo as its supposed to be super spicy and when i ordered it the waiter was like are you sure, its really spicy, but nope, nothing i couldnt handle lol. The different rices were also very good. Well, everything was just REALLY good. So many flavors and spices going on that its just awesome. Overall I would have given this place 5 stars but the wait was just wayyyy too long, especially when you're really hungry like we were; and when im hungry i just dig in and dont get to really enjoy the flavors of my food because im eating so fast x_x. Sooo, I really suggest you dont go in starving because there WILL be a LONG wait or you should just come in early, either way, once you get the food its sooo good. We NEED more ethnic and diverse places like this on this little rock, seriously!
(4)Nori M.
The best Indian food I've had in Hawaii. If you don't know what to get, then get the tandoori chicken sampler. Lots of meat and roasted vegetables. They say one of the flavors is really spicy, but I barely felt any heat, so don't be afraid to try it. The naan is warm and soft. Good curries as well.
(5)Noa H.
Ok so your in the mood for Indian, this place is very very good. However before we go on, my 5 star Indian restaurant is Himalayan Kitchen on Waialae (Easier parking, more seating, better service and equivalent food). So our first time here I was very glad I read the reviews and called ahead to put my name on the waiting list, make sure you do that. We went at 6pm and were seated almost immediately even though people were already there in line. A couple that parked next to us did not get seated till we were almost finished eating. Food was great, we got the meat Samosas, Lamb Vindaloo, Chicken Briyani, and mixed Tandoori grill with Naan. Everything was excellent except the mixed Tandori grill was a bit dry. Ambiance is nice, dark and well decorated in Indian theme, service was slow but food was very good, 4 solid stars.
(4)Sam B.
Me and my friend went here on a Wednesday night, around 6pm. We came here together once before and loved everything except the Chicken Masala (13.99) because it was a little too bland. Nevertheless, we were craving Indian food again, so we decided to hit it up one more time. The parking is terrible, which is a definite downfall. There was not enough spaces to cater to all the businesses in that area, 6 spots to say the most. Ridiculous. Anyway, we were able to find a parking stall behind the building after waiting for about 10 minutes. We got in the restaurant to find there was already a considerable amount of people being that it was just one hour after they opened since they open at 5pm. We were seated fairly quickly, and were brought our waters and utensils and plates a little later. It seemed as if they only had two workers servicing about 11 tables, not including all the people standing around for their take-out orders, so they did seem short-handed. It's not a good place to come with a group larger than four people, because it takes longer for you to be seated. Since there was only two of us we were seated quite quickly. After about 15/20 mins, they took our order. We ordered the Maharani meal for two (42.92 inc tax) which included rice, four slices of naan bread, a choice of a starter (only between three choices), and two choices from the chicken, lamb, and vegetarian entrée section (you can't pick two dishes from the same category, i.e. one entrée of lamb, one entrée of chicken, but not two entrées from the same category). We decided to choose the samosa as a starter, the lamb rogan josh, and I can't remember what the last entrée was called, but it was the last chicken item on the menu that they gave us. With the samosas coming first, we were delighted to have the two contrasting sauces that came with it. I don't know what each sauce was called, but one was yogurt based and was more on the tart side, and the other was more tomato based and sweeter. It was very delicious! Alternating from both sauces we felt refreshed as if each time we switched we were hit with a new wave of flavor and beautifulness. After that our naan bread and our rice came. It was as good as ever. Fresh and hot. Very delicious. Then the main courses came. We were already starting to feel stuffed! The lamb rogan josh was very tasty. The lamb was tender, just perfect. Then our chicken came second. THE BEST THING I'VE EVER ATE THERE! Sweet and spicy, very, very, very tasty. Overall, I gave this restaurant five stars because the food was spot-on delicious. The service was also good. She recommended our chicken dish, and that was amazing! They even gave us a pitcher of water on our table at our request. It was exactly what we were looking to fill our Indian food fix. It was Indiamazing. Definitely coming back here again.
(5)Will S.
Some of the best Indian food I have had! My friends brought me here and despite the long wait (over an hour when we were told 45 minutes), I thoroughly enjoyed the food. Prices were average, quantity of food was good.
(4)Darrell S.
I really haven't eaten at too many Indian restaurants. Love naan bread, and if there is a tandoori oven I will want to venture there. This place, to me is wonderful. Can't say every dish is fantastic but overall the experience has left me wanting to go back again and again. It's a great place to share wonderful food with friends, more like tearing into the bread, the garlic cheese with spinach stuffed naan with that charred tandoori flavor is such a hit. A party of four is perfect for sharing a nber of dishes because the portions are extra large. The restaurant always seems to be super busy so weekdays or getting their early would avoid waiting for a table. It's not a place for a leisurely dinner, although you can Byob. Anybody want to go tonight; I am always up for Maharani's. :)
(5)B. D.
Craving Indian food while on vacation in Hawaii?... I've found the place!!! This is the first indian restaurant that I went to in Honolulu and it's great. I've read the yelp reviews and to me the service was good. I mean our water was refilled every time it was getting low, the waiter helped us pick out our entrees showing he knows the menu very well and we were greeted bye. We ordered the Chicken Korma - good Beef palak (beef with spinach puree sauce - i thought the sauce was very tasty and delicious although the meat was very tough.. I'd order it with lamb next time. Lamb w/rice - lamb was so tender and delicious... i mixed the lamb with the palak sauce.. yum!!! 1 garlic naan - super fresh and delicious 1 buttered naan - yummy!!! for 2 people I think we ordered too much.. we had to take everything home.. which isn't a bad thing... but if you're staying in a hotel.. reheating might be difficult... luckily i'm staying at my friends house! for 2 i would've ordered 1 less meat dish (we ordered 2 and 1 with rice) and one naan. ( we ordered 2) But then again.. my husband wasn't feeling too well so he didn't really get to eat his normal portion... that's just my thought. Overall I was very pleased with the place with the exception of the chewy beef. Parking is in the back of the restaurant.
(4)Mark M.
While waiting for a table (it gets really crowded at dinner time so call in ahead of time with your name and get on the waiting list), I decided to look over both the Tandoori menu and the regular menu. The crowd was mixed but there were definitely a lot of people of Indian/Pakistani heritage, so I knew I'd be in for a treat. They use a real Tandoori brick oven to prepare the Tandoori dishes. If you are a fan of Tandoori, then you won't want to miss this. We ordered the mixed Chicken Tandoori plate, garlic naan, some type of shrimp coconut curry dish baked inside naan bread that looked like a souffle when they brought it to the table. The last time I had Tandoori this good was at a small restaurant in Macau that my dad took me to when I was a kid. I've never forgotten that meal and this definitely brought back the taste sensations. Since there were just the two of us, we had more than enough food to feed 3-4 people. I can't wait to come back and try some of the other, more traditional Indian dishes. By the way, if you order cold drinks, they come in metal goblets (pewter maybe) which adds a nice touch and helps keep the drinks cold. This is a BYOB place, so we shared a bottle of red wine which complemented the food perfectly. It can get really warm in here, so dressed comfortably (no a/c). Also, you may find the two monitors showing the latest music videos from Bollywood amusing...the female lead singers are all hot and the male lead singers have no dancing skills whatsoever.
(5)Laurie C.
This is my favorite restaurant on the island! My boyfriend and I go here every couple weeks, and have never been disappointed. Our favorite dish is the chicken tikka masala, but a couple of our other favorites are the lamb vindaloo and lamb madras (some of the vegetarian dishes are also quite good and I tend to be pretty picky with non-meat dishes). The sauces have a perfect flavor and spice, the vindaloo is more spicy than the others but nothing too extreme. The people that work there are always very friendly and attentive, until you get your food. Sometimes you have to flag them down if you want more water but it's a small place so it's not too difficult. As others have said, the wait is pretty bad especially on weekends but it is worth the wait definitely! Also you can get take-out which I think they tend to give a bit more in their take-out portions so that might be an option if you don't want to sit there for over an hour. It's a fun atmosphere, there are tvs with bollywood clips and the decorations are nice. I only wish this restaurant was bigger so that they could fit more people and make the wait not as long. This will always be the place I go for comfort food, just thinking about it now makes my mouth water!
(5)Jackie B.
(my side note for this one is that this is my ABSOLUTE first time eating indian food) SOOOOOO....if you wanna know what we ate there, check out tammy's page. we ate a crap load of food. i enjoyed the decor. the waiter. the big pitcher of water that was left on our table. the cups you drink out of(OMG, if anything, just go for that). i felt like i was indiana jones drinking water. i guess b/c i've never eaten indian before, i had to acquire a taste for it. i don't like the rice. but the bread is awesome. the curry's are pretty good. YOU HAVE DEFINITLY NEED TO TRY THE MANGO LASSI. i DESPISE fruit. i seriously don't eat fruit at all, but b/c i was eating the insanely hot lamb, i had to drink the lassi to get rid of the fire in my mouth. tht drink is actually delish. it's a creamy/thick smoothy-ish concoction that i think would be a good dessert. i'm gonna go back to steal a cup.
(3)Alicia S.
Excellent food. The lamb saag is to die for. It's a small place so be sure to go early or late or take it to go. The plates are big so you'll definitely be taking left overs home. It's a little bit pricey but so worth it.
(5)Dee D.
Okay, I was having a HUGEEE Indian curry craving. I live near by Maharani and I know their food are good. I want to eat beef vindaloo and they use to have that but not anymore, so I decided to get lamb vindaloo and ask for "super spicy" but this time not spicy enough for me (but I am a HARDCORE!), maybe because I ordered by phone and couldn't show them my spicy expression. Usually when I eat there and ask for "super spicy", I have to give them this look that I am not local and that I am seriously can take something more than their "number 10". Back to my order today, I also order the spicy chicken curry and garlic cheese stuffed naan ( I know..I know...It's a lot but I told you from the very beginning that I got a HUGE craving), they are so good, not as spicy as I want it to but it is still the best Indian curry in town. Naan is HUGE, it was good but a little too burnt on the bottom, but I ate it all anyway he..he..he... I paid a little over $40 but I have enough left over to feed me for the next 3 days, so I am happy and my belly is happy too!!!... Highly recommended! I meant to take pictures of the curry, but the naan is already inside my belly, so maybe next time :-))
(5)Danielle Y.
Important note: right now they are taking CASH ONLY (they usually take an array of cards). Be prepared! I felt like kissing all the staff just for having decent Indian food. There are fun water glasses for water, and since it is BYOW (I think there's a tiny corkage fee...we had two bottles and they charged us $5 total. I'm not sure if it's per bottle or just per table though...) they also provide wine glasses for folks who were savvy enough to walk across the street to the Star Market to buy some (in case you were wondering, I am that savvy). We didn't have to wait (but we certainly made other folks wait), but if I'd had to wait I'd suggest walking to the Star Market as a Good Plan. Kinda expensive (my favorite dish- aloo palak aka spinach and potatoes was approx 9), but I always find non-buffet Indian food eating to be more expensive than I thought it was going to be. Highlights include garlic naan, aloo palak (if this had been bad nothing could have upped the star rating), and the tikka masala (spicy!). The rice sides are big (but expensive! Almost $5!), and there's certainly plenty of food to go around. Mmmmm. Lunch.
(5)Miki H.
This place is the Indian food standby for my friends and me. The wait for a table can take forever and once seated, it can take nearly as long for them to take your order and bring the food out. Despite this, the food is delicious. My go to list is the lamb biryani, chicken vindaloo, paratha, mango chutney and iced chai. The portions are decently sized and the biryanis are quite large. The tab adds up quickly when you order a variety of dishes but one curry and a couple of naan/paratha should be enough to feed two average eaters. There's a small parking lot in the back of the building but other than that you have to battle it out for street parking. It's too bad that they don't take reservations!
(4)Linda K.
Great Indian Food! As good as I remember or better from the Bay Area! Black Rimmed glasses guy not as bad as other people yelped. Actually he was pretty nice. Curries were great, house special superb as were the lamb vindaloo and the eggplant curry. Come early (before 6pm) if you don't want to wait... Still drunk from the BYOB! Why would you want to play chess here when it's super busy anyway a$$ clown?
(5)Cecilia D.
My husband and I eat at Maharani at least once a month and love it! We usually order the samosas, lamb vindaloo, chicken masala and the kabli naan (LOVE this bread!). While we do the byob thing, we think the mango lassis is yumm-E :) As far as leftovers, I RARELY eat stuff I bring home in a doggy bag, but we never let Maharani's go to waste. Just ate there with friends recently and they thought the meal was delicious too. The downsides are the wait (but that could be looked at as a good thing) and parking (but we seem to be lucky with that on most occasions).
(5)William C.
Okay, lets start with the bad. 1.) Parking....really limited in back unless you decide to park illegally at Star Market Moiliili. (they seem to tolerate it) 2.) teeny-weeny place gets crowded very quickly. That's all I got! The rest is great! Though I don't consider myself an Indian cuisine connoisseur, I'll just say that I really enjoy eating there. Heck, I drive from Waikele! I usually stay on the safe side and just get Korma, but all the other curries I've sampled are wonderful. Decent portions and prices. I always end up with leftovers for later! So you have to pass out the plates and utensils yourself...no biggie. I love the water "goblets" . =) Best for couples, not so good for big groups, though I have eaten there in a group of 14 (squeeeezeeee) and a group of 8 (get friendly).
(5)Eileen V.
The secret is OUT! Best Indian/Middle Eastern food by FAR on O'ahu... Heads up; service is great, food is the best, but you will more than likely have to wait a long time for a table (totally worth it IMHO)... My vote: GET A RESTAURANT 3 TIMES LARGER, because we are all hungry for more. You will definitely fill to capacity no matter how big ya go; just don't ever compromise that LOVELY TANDOORI FLAVOR :)
(5)Ashneel S.
Awesome place. A highlight of our trip to Oahu. Place is tiny (10 tables) and wait times can be long (we went on a Sunday and waited 20 minutes and the waitress told us it was really slow). Lots of locals there also which is always a great sign. Get there early... Or really late.
(5)Mylene M.
A quest to broaden my pallet has led me to Cafe Maharani. After reading great reviews about it, we went last night after work despite the rain and traffic. We got there maybe 5 minutes before they open. The waiter was kind enough to let us see the menu while we waited. While waiting a line was starting to form and we were able to get a little insight from someone in the line. We finally get inside and people weren't kidding when they said the place was tiny. Dining are can only seat maybe a good 30 people at a time. Considering people's advice, we opted for take out. We were the first one to put in our order so the wait wasn't that long, 20-25 minutes tops. We got the Maharani dinner for two. It comes with two entrees, rice, naan and appetizer. For our entrees we got the chicken tikka marsala and lamb saag (first ever eating lamb), the rice it comes with is the saffron or yellow rice (we sub for the coconut rice for $1), sub the naan for garlic naan (again $1), two samosas and a mango lassi. All together it came to about $50. Not bad considering it fed four people with plenty of leftovers. The food was amazing. I loved the chicken tikka marsala. It has a nice balance of sweet and spicy. My husband favored the lamb saag over the chicken. I liked it too, but not as much as the chicken. I ate the naan by itself and with the dips it came with (tamarind and oops can't remember the other one) also with the sauces of the chicken and lamb. Amazing! The samosas were also divine. This is the first and will certainly not the last I visit Cafe Maharani. I will recommend this place in a heartbeat. Oh and one more thing, the parking is tight so go early if you want to sit in or do take out. All in all, love the food!
(4)Ollie B.
I'm hoping to bring some perspective because I hate when I lookup a place and see "6 stars OMGOMGOMG" on one review. Then literally the next review. "meh one star if that tastes like dog crap when I was studying in India blah blah blah"... OK it seems to me that there are two groups of people reviewing this place. Those who have been lucky enough to live in a town with a ton of good Indian restaurants and those who lived near few, or maybe bad Indian restaurants. That is my only explanation for the rift in reviews I hate to break it to you but if you have had great, Indian food in NY, London etc and read the reviews then expect this place to compare then prepare to be typing a disgruntled one star review before they even drop your check(after hours of waiting). Conversely if your Indian food experiences are limited to the hot bar at whole foods, and the Madras lentils from Costco then prepare to have your head blown clean off. The food here is passable. The service is hilariously terrible. I'm a strict vegetarian, the last time I went here, after mixing up my order the waiter tried convincing me that whatever brown curry with chicken poking out of it that he had brought was Palak Paneer (spinach and cheese). The wait is horrific and unorganized. Someone may come 5-10 minutes after you and get seated 5-15 minutes earlier. It's all a crapshoot. However the food is OK you are around a bunch of likeminded people. its BYOB and they have a tandori oven. So this place is grudgingly recommended by me Never for a date Never for a party but for 2-4 people on a whim with nothing to lose but a six pack and some time. Go for it. Just temper your expectations and realize that most of these five star reviews were microwaving their naan bread before trying this place
(3)Mindy K.
I'm so glad I tried this restaurant because it was delicious! From the warm and chewy naan bread (with your choice of optional toppings) to the main entrees, I was pleased with all of our choices. The lamb curry was meltingly tender had just the right amount of spices, and the palak paneer was creamy and delectable. Who knew spinach could taste so good! The $40.99 special for two is a good deal, with choice of appetizer and two entrees, plus rice and naan bread. We couldn't finish, so we have a meal for tomorrow. Having been forewarned about the parking situation, we parked down Hausten in a pay lot, but it was well worth the $4. Yes, we did have to wait for a seat for about 20 minutes, even at 5:30 on a Saturday, but the restaurant smelled so good and has such a cheerful vibe that we didn't mind. The Bollywood music videos kept us entertained. The service was friendly and efficient. I'm looking forward to a return visit.
(5)Josh S.
I love this place so much that I now live literally around the corner from it! You pretty much can't go wrong with anything here. I love the pepper chicken, chicken saag, and the rice sampler is bomb! Plus you can get the naan with anything on it and pretty much make a meal out of just that. And the chai iced tea is really good, although I usually bring my own bottle(s) of wine, love BYOB! I always leave here with tons of leftovers. Get here early, or make a reservation, or just get it to go, the place is tiny and seating is limited. I love the interior though, they have tvs with Bollywood videos playing. Oh and parking sucks too, but for this place it's all worth it!
(5)Erika A.
Holy, this place is the shit, Batman!
(4)Stephanie L.
FOOD here is GREAT! 4 stars SERVICE here is mediocre at best - 2 stars I love indian food and crave it often so I was happy to be recommended this place by multiple friends. They all told me the same thing, that the food is great but the place is small so there will be a wait. A wait for good indian food? no problem. i got to the restaurant at about 7pm on a sunday evening and was told that the wait was about 30 minutes, which i didnt think was that bad. I grabbed a bar stool and hung out with my friends waiting on our table. 15 minutes later, we were seated which was a nice surprise. off to a good start. so we looked over the menu, picked out way too many choices for a party of 3 and waited for someone to take our order. the guy with the black rimmed glasses took the order of the table behind us, the one next to us, the one in front of us and the one to the side of us. expecting him to come to us next, we made eye contact but then he just walked off. a bit strange but we waved down the waitress and had her take our order. i was looking for some good aloo gobi and didnt see it on the menu so i asked. she had no idea what i was talking about. i asked if she could recommend something similar with potatos and she had no idea and just said that alot of people order the vegetable masala. we also ordered the lamb vindaloo, chicken tikka masala, palak paneer, garlic nan, and mixed rice. So excited for the food to come! so we waited, and waited and waited and waited.....SIXTY minutes later, still no food. so i wave down the bus boy and ask him if he can check on our food since it's been an hour. he and the guy in the black glasses come back almost immediately with 3 of our dishes. one is piping hot and the other 2 are only luke warm - most likely from just sitting there. since we were starving, we ate anyways and the food was delicious! our fourth dish, rice and nan come out 5 minutes later and we were enjoying our food despite the long wait. half way into the meal the bus boy brings us a special pizza nan that isnt on the menu on the house for our wait. It was so good and an appreciated gesture. overall - food quality is excellent here. if you want indian food then this is your place. precautions - you may be either waiting a long time for your table or a long time for your food. they seem to fill the take out orders before the in house diners. recommendation - it may be be faster if you just take the food to go and enjoy it at home.
(3)papaya s.
The food is spectacular, but don't expect to linger over it. The place is pretty small and people are often waiting for tables, so the service is a bit rushed. My girlfriends and I were once asked to leave, even though we were enjoying our post-dinner chai, because we'd been there too long. Now I always think twice before suggesting Maharani for a dinner with friends. The naan is delicious, served warm, puffy and the perfect balance between soft and crisp. I loved the vegetarian biryani, but thought the chicken biryani was dry and overdone. The saag paneer (spinach and cheese) and chicken makhani (butter chicken) are also faves. For drinks, the sweet lassi and hot chai are wonderful. Portions are fairly generous, so serve it up family style. Even when sharing, I typically spend around $25, so this is one of those "once in a while" spots for me.
(4)Jonas K.
BYOB. There is a liquor store down the street. The food is overwhelmingly flavorful and brings joy to my tastebuds. Come hungry becasue they give you big servings.
(4)Allie J.
So last week on date night I was craving Indian food so I suggested that The Boy and I try Maharani. I'd seen the Yelp reviews and felt confident that we'd get excellent food even if we had to spend a little more than usual. The waitress who greeted us was super nice and cheerful and gave us some menus to look at while we waited, which wasn't too long. She sat us and took our order and was just so nice! Our salad came out first but was delivered by a different waitress. The Boy wanted some chai so we asked if we could get an order and she said they were just starting to make a new batch so it would be about 15-20 minutes. We said that was fine, we'd wait for a cup when it was ready. The salad was simple but very yummy; lettuce, tomato and cucumber with a light but flavorful raita (I think) dressing. The rest of our food came out not too long after and was also really good. We had lamb vindaloo and chicken tikka masala. I preferred the lamb which tasted amazing with the chapati. The tikka masala was good, but not nearly as flavorful. It's preparation was different than what we'd both had before and it made me wonder if we received the right dish. I'm not an expert in Indian food, but it just seemed different... Anyway, we finished our meal (actually only about half of it, the portions are deceptively large) and sat happily digesting. And we sat. And sat. And sat some more. In which time we realized we never got our chai or even a status report. In fact no one had said anything to us since our food was delivered. No "How is everything?" or even a water refill. And then we sat some more. And more. When some one finally came to clear our table, I praised the food and politely asked if we had indeed received the tikka masala. Waitress Number Two answered affirmatively but also a little defensively to which I said (again, politely), "Oh, ok! It's just that it was a little different than what we've had in the past." Oh man. She wasted no time making me regret my words...What came next was a not-very-quiet and very defensive editorial about how not all restaurants are the same and just because one place serves it one way, doesn't mean another will serve it exactly the same. I think she closed her censure with something like, "If you've had it here before and it was different, that's one thing but if it wasn't the same somewhere else that's totally different." When she walked away the people sitting near us kind of got quiet and looked around awkwardly. It was all very irritating and slightly embarrassing. I work with people all day. Some are nice, some are rude, some are just stressed out and end up treating me poorly. No matter what, it is my job to ignore their attitude and treat them well. I was nothing but nice to Waitress Number Two and I neither asked for nor wanted her opinion. I just wanted a simple yes or no. Anyway, the food was between good and great. The ambiance was nice (the Bollywood movies are a cute touch). The prices are above average. The service is...well, I think I've made my point about the service. All in all, I would eat there again but I would get take out.
(3)Kate M.
Thank you Yelp.... I have gotten a response from Prince of Cafe Maharani he gave me an explanation as to what had happened and offered me the 18% tip overage back to me with a complimentary dish. Thank you Yelp does its job.
(3)Kent I.
This place is just down the street from me and I had always walked by and not noticed it. Then I went there for dinner..........then again........and again. This place is by FAR the best indian food place on the islands, it rivals some of the better places I've been to on the mainland. Naan is addictive. During my many chances to dine here, the food has always been delicious. The lamb saag is a favorite of mine. Its BYOBooze, which is always a plus for me. The price is reasonable considering the quality of the food. The inside of the restaurant is cool and stylish, its a great restaurant to go and have some wine with great indian food. I have many friend here who had never had indian food before and now are addicted. The only downside is that this place is almost always PACKED. No reservations are taken, so sometimes the wait can be forever. Highly recommend.
(5)Aisha B.
My absolute favorite Indian restaurant. After I ate here, no other Indian restaurant could compare. Super tasty, reasonably priced, and a great atmosphere. I always ask for "mild" since I can't handle the heat of the regular version. Get there early and be prepared to wait a little- it's worth it :)
(5)Monica W.
BEST INDIAN FOOD ON THE ISLAND!!.. this is a little hole in the wall type restaurant.. so delicious and authentic..food was amazing and full of flavor!..definitely recommend..park at Burger King across the street and walk over.. You will not be disapointed..Everything on the menu is great..awesome naan bread, curry, even chai tea and mango yogurt drink..and the ambiance is very fun and authentic ...my new favorite restaurant!.. If you haven't gone yet your missing out!...
(5)Renee M.
We live nearby so we order out often from here. I highly suggest ordering out!! They are completely packed every single time we go in to pick up our food, and even take out takes an hour. But it is worth it, and I suggest the chicken tikki masala and the samosas are amazing.
(4)Andy D.
Recently, I've been eating Indian (or at least Indian-ish) food quite often, especially since there's always bound to be vegetarian dishes for my roommate. I've been to Cafe Maharani a few times already and think that the food is pretty good. Their naan and samosas are great. I got a stuffed naan with mixed vegetables. It was huge and served like a pizza. The samosa were nice a crisp and had a tasty filling. The entrees I've gotten there were okay, but it was definitely lacking seasoning. Also considering it was already pretty warm in there, the spiciness of the food left me sweating. The atmosphere is cool, but a little too warm. The Bollywood music videos get old quickly. The service is hit or miss and is often slow. The wait time can be really long.
(3)Boki C.
well, i haven't had indian food since i left nyc. and was afraid to try it here, seeing there isn't a lil india town... so i figure the quality of the food would be, sub-par, perhaps? but i heard great things about this place. went there on a thurs night with a party of 8. no wait. food came @ a timely manner. food was HOT, which is very important to me. naan was MASSIVE. food was delicious...and plentiful. we didn't finish our food..and i think we paid $20-25 each =) also, BYOB coming back fo sho! service for us was good =) i have heard the wait can be long
(5)bucca d.
This review is solely based on the FOOD because we did a last minute takeout. I must say that this is the best indian place that we've had thus far on this island. We had the dinner for two with samosas, and chefs special vegetarian and chicken dishes with some kind of nutty sauce. Vegetable curry dish was nice and sweet and the chicken curry dish was full of flavor. The naan bread was heaven when dipped in these curries. The rice was colorful and tasty. Lots of food for 2 peeps. We'll have leftovers enough for another dinner or two. On a side note the place is a bit small and cramped, but the do have stained glass chandeliers for some ambiance. Not necessarily a place for kids as they had a tv/mtv indian video of two lovers making out.
(5)Kathy Y.
My BF and I came here on a Friday afternoon, right at 5pm. My BF was like, "why are we coming here so early??" I was like, "because the yelpers said so!". We got the last stall in the parking lot! I think there are only like, 8 stalls, and they are positioned weird, so we got lucky with an end stall. The restaurant was still empty when we walked in, so we got a table right away. The place was full within about 15-20 minutes. We ordered the Dinner for Two ($40). We chose the Chicken Korma and the Chicken Masala. It came with samosa's, rice, and naan bread. I enjoyed everything!! The samosa's were tasty, think: beef curry in a pastry pocket. The Chicken Korma was perfect for me, since I cannot handle spicy food. The Korma had no spice at all! It was actually a little sweet. The Chicken Masala was sooo good! It had some spice, maybe a 3 out of 10. The curry flavor was yummy! And the chicken was so tender and soft! Okay, seriously, the naan was awesome! And huge! It was fresh out of the oven (or whatever they cook it in), so it was soft and warm. We had the plain naan, next time we go, I want to try the garlic one. We couldn't finish the meal, so we took home the leftovers, which were just right for lunch the next day. The service was not bad, but I can see how it could get real slow once the place gets super busy, as there are only 2 waitresses. This is definitely a place you should try at least once!
(4)Stephanie M.
I am very picky about my Indian food and the food here was great, especially for what I think is a farely limited selection of Indian restaurants in Honolulu....BUT... The one very large draw back is, similar to one of the previous reviews, we had an extremely lengthy wait. We were told our wait would be about 30 minutes and ended up waiting over an hour before we were seated. We weren't surprised after estimating what our wait would be based on how long it was taking parties prior to us, but they were completely unapologetic once we were seated and it would behoove them to have a better estimate on how long people's wait should be. It took us about another 15 minutes before our order was taken and another 30 for our food to arrive which totaled almost a whole 2 hours since arriving at the restaurant. A definite factor in the reason why we haven't returned since this visit a couple months ago. However, the food was very satisfying and the next time I have 2+ hours for dinner and crave Indian I would definitely consider it. (We arrived at about 6:30 on a Friday, peak dining-out time, which was probably a big factor as well)
(3)Haole B.
Excellent Indian cuisine. Found it on Yelp, checked it out and had some of the best Indian food of my life! Packed little place, you may need to wait, but it's worth it. Parking sucks, but it sucks equally throughout Honolulu. The naan & rice are the bomb!
(5)Balaji A.
Based on all the reviews, I decided to give this restaurant a try during my one week stay in Waikiki. We reached the restaurant at 5:55PM on a Thursday evening. The owner said it would be a 40 minute wait. We decided to wait because being vegetarians we were finding it hard to find some good vegetarian food in Hawaii. Luckily we were seated in 15 minutes (around 6:10PM). My wife ordered the tandoori wrap and I ordered the papri chat for the appetizer. For the main course we ordered the vegetable kofta, kashmiri pulao, raitha and chappatis. My wife also ordered a sweet lassi. The Tandoori wrap comes in around 6:50PM (which I thought was still okay considering how busy they were) and the tandoori wrap was excellent (the 1 star that I give here is for the excellent tandoori wrap and the quick seating we get). Now on to the papri chat which does not arrive until 7:45PM (I had to remind the waiter 2 times in the meanwhile about it and I bet he forgot to place the order as he said that the kitchen folks were just making the bread for it). During this time 2-3 tables who came after us got their appetizers and main course. Furthermore, my wife was getting sick of the smoke in there because there was no proper ventilation and the smoke from the kitchen was hurting her eyes. It was close to 2 hours since we came and all we got is just the appetizers. When the papri chat arrived, I actually asked the waiter to get the main course also and not wait for us to complete our appetizer (which apparently is their policy-letting the customers complete their appetizer and making them starve before they can get their main course). 2 hours passed by and no sign of the main course and my wife eyes also begin to hurt a lot because of the smoke and we walked about the billing counter and let the owner know and he apologized about the delay and mentioned that we do not get the main course until you complete the appetizer. At this time I got pissed and told him that it took 2 hours totally to get both our appetizers. We asked him to box our food so that we could take it and eat it comfortably at our hotel. He then told us that they are cooking it right now and will take 10-15 minutes and this further irked me (that they were cooking it right now??) and asked him to cancel the order. He then enters into the kitchen and suddenly comes with our dishes boxed up (when he mentioned 10-15 minutes for the dishes to get cooked, how does he get it in 2 minutes-I have no clue). So we pay for it and leave without even checking what is boxed. We go to the hotel and find that we were missing a raitha which we were charged for. Nevertheless we begin to gorge on the food (hoping it would be great as per the reviews) and NO (A VERY BIG NO TO THE FOOD). It was pathetic. I grew up eating Indian food all my life and I know which food is good and which is bad. This food was plain ridiculous. I would have given it a better rating if either the service or the food was good but sadly both of them were bad. Would I recommend it? NO. It is definitely not worth the wait.
(1)Cynthia A.
We had a great time eating dinner at Maharani. The service was great. I think the waiter came by to check in or give us more water every few minutes! If it was more frequent he would have been annoyingly attentive. He was really helpful when we had questions about further describing the entrees and how to eat them. We ordered a dinner for one for about $16 (which said "no sharing", but the waiter said it was OK to share as long as we ordered something else) and a lamb curry for about $13. I can't remember the names of the 2 selections we got with the dinner for one, but they were both wet and very yummy. One was with chicken and the other with beef. The dinner for one also came with raita sauce (yogurt with cucumber) and what I think was saffron rice or rice with orange zest (either way the rice was really good). I really liked the paratha bread last time I came here, so we ordered that even though naan bread came with the dinner for one. We also ordered this great flat bread that was folded like a burrito, filled with a mixture of potato and veggies for only about $3. If you're really hungry, order the dinner for one. We decided that we ordered way too much food. Regardless, our bill only came to $37! Our plan for next time is to save money and not be so "fat" and order the burrito-type filled bread, one entree, and naan or paratha bread. That will be plenty for the two of us! Maybe we might be able to try dessert with this game plan. The dessert options looked interesting, especially one that had cheese in it!
(5)Yena W.
Ugh, okay, this place definitely has some off days. I usually get the Meal For Two deal, and they limit one lamb dish for it, so I let my husband get a lamb dish and I got a chicken one, but when the dishes came out, they were both chicken. My chicken was also not all moist and tender like usual but dry and flaky as if it had been sitting out on a warming plate, and the rice was overcooked too. When we wrapped up the leftovers, we couldn't even distinguish which dish was whose. But since it's just my husband and I it doesn't matter, and either way it was still good food, just not AS good as it usually is and definitely not worth its price, but I'm still glad this place exists for when it's on its good days. Service is not too attendant, so I'd suggest getting take out, but then again every time I've used their takeout boxes the curry ALWAYS spills out and makes a mess in the bag. Service in general isn't the greatest either. Long waiting periods between water refills, check pick ups, etc. and a few times they've even asked me to move tables mid meal to make room for a bigger party. Why do I take so many negatives for the one positive of good Indian dining on the island? It's just worth it. Hopefully you'll be there on a good day.
(4)Cherise B.
This place really is the best Indian food on the island. Hands down. My husband loves the Chicken Tikka Masala and Basmati Rice with Buttered Naan bread. And he is a true lover of Indian Food. The crowd and lack of parking is a hassle. It really is the only thing wrong with this place. However, as with anything, when the food is good, you can put up with a lot. Certainly I've many times wanted to cease going here because of the long wait and the parking, but my husband loves the food too much. I usually order take-out and try to pick it up before 5, when the crowds start.
(4)Ashish P.
Good food and service. If you are craving an Indian food in Waikiki, you must go here.
(4)Ryan C.
Bad, bad service. We weren't even able to get to the food. The man at the counter wouldn't seat us, so we asked for take out. He said ok, then walked away and started doing other things. We waited for another 20 minutes and finally said that we were ready to order, he took out a pen and a pad, then walked away again! I really don't think we're that ugly...or stink... And they had food out around the kitchen area that was to be served that had bugs crawling in it. Boo dat.
(1)Craig H.
Blood red walls... I know red is the color for a restaurant- but not every single wall. I was getting queasy. Man I was hoping for it to be good. I've been to India twice for a total of 5 months and have had some good Indian food experiences in my days there. This Maharani place pretty much was a HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT. I guess they were busy (maybe 4 or 5 other tables) and forgot about service and watching the chicken. Here is the night- waiting 15 minutes to order dry overcooked chicken (chicken tikka masala), and the fish thing we ordered was horrendous... slimy and fishy sea bass. Then after waiting for 20 minutes with dirty dishes on the table (the server didn't even come by to ask how it was) I had to walk up and ask for the check and a takeout box (the butter naan and the masala sauce were ok... two bites out of the fish were enough to know it was crap). It was just a long wait for sub-par food. Maybe I went on a bad night... but there are too many good restaurants in Honolulu to waste time at lame places like this.
(2)Hannah L.
Food was amazing!
(5)Stacey K.
This place rocks. The best Indian food in Hawaii. I had the vegetarian platter, it was the bomb-diggiiitttyyyy! The hot sauce is good too. The Cheese Nan was whatever though, didn't see what the big deal was. Also BYOB with corkage fee. No matter how hungry you are you will have left overs for DAYS. I love this place! Get off yo' azz and go!
(4)Michael M.
The food here is So tasty! Incredibly full of flavor! Service is mediocre at best; but as good as the food is, I still go back. Went with 3 vegetarians who also loved it. We had the Vegetarian Veda appetizer, Lamb Masala Korma, Vegetarian Navoroton Korma, and Panner Tikki Masala and they were all good. Not spacious- more of an Intimate atmosphere. Go. Eat.
(4)Marina E.
Went there for the first time last night and thought that it was tasty as hell. I am a huge fan of naan bread, so all was good! The masala chai tea was excellent and although I let my friends (who were regulars at Maharani's) order for me, it was wonderful. Most of their dishes are spicy, so be fore warned...but they will try to tone it down for you. They don't serve alcohol but right next door is a liquor store and you are allowed to BYOB. I'd definitely try it again.
(4)meagan b.
This was a great find. The portions were really large and could probably feed two. The samosas came in two huge pieces, almost a meal in themselves. We had the chicken tikka and butter chicken. The butter chicken sauce was wonderful, but the chicken was a little spicy. The chicken was tandori style and I've always had the chicken boiled in butter chicken so that could have been the difference. I had a lassi and it wasn't as good as other places but it was still refreshing. The waitress was very nice and explained some of the dishes we had never heard of. It was really busy and the place is very small so come early. They don't serve lunch from what I could see which was kind of a bummer. I will defiantly be back!
(4)Wil T.
Six of us went for dinner. EVERYTHING was good. Molai Kofta is superb. No problems. Good place to spend your money. They don't accept American Express.
(4)William E.
There aren't a whole lot of Indian restaurants around, but luckily they are mostly dispersed around the Honolulu area. I've tried every one of them and this one always lands at the top. You cannot beat the variety, the atmosphere, and the price. When we go, we usually order plenty of extra food for taking home, and add more vegetables or meats to the leftovers and make it last 4-6 days! Don't be a wimp; ask for it hot. Just about every dish here is a favorite. There's a cork fee for BYOB but it's a good idea to enjoy with the food (there's a grocery store just across the street). Indian dishes might have unfamiliar names, but they give descriptions on the menu. Be sure to check out the Tandoori menu.
(5)Jocelyn L.
"Best indian in Honolulu. The masala fish is surprisingly good...esp since i don't like fish!"
(4)W. T.
Consistently Amazing food. Consistently mediocre service (at best... oh well- one star off). BUT... being the greenie that I am, I brought my own re-usable food containers to take home the left overs (the two of us order enough to feed an army... but its sooooooo good we can't choose). I was very pleased that they didn't make an issue (in fact were pleased!) that I brought my own take-out containers. Makes me feel good that I'm not using all that styrofoam :-) We always try to stop at the Wine Stop (about 4 blocks-ish Ewa on King Street. GREAT selection!!) because Star market is now all pau :-((((
(4)Jesse M.
I REALLY want to give this place 5 stars for their food. It is so delicious! But unless you enjoy waiting outside for a table for an hour, cram elbow to elbow with strangers, wait even longer for your food, get incomplete or wrong orders, and end up being haphazardly served by every employee in the restaurant, I highly recommend calling for take-out. You get to enjoy amazing curry, and smugly walk past all those hungry fools waiting for a table.
(3)Sonia S.
Dingy decor, crappy service and moderate food. The head waiter was abrupt and condescending. Told us we were ordering too much food- we ordered 3 dishes! They were out of lemons and green chillies! And when we asked for tandoori roti he said they were out of dough- it takes 5 min to make dough. The serving dishes were good though. Never go again
(2)Suresh S.
It was a mistake on my part, to indulge the site's whimsy, as she talked about an Indian evening in Waikiki. So we showed up at 6.30pm on Sunday 23 March 2014 at Maharani's. A not very pretentious outpost, was my first impression, and the immediate observation next was that the place HAD TO BE GOOD, given the crowd milling about the entrance. Mistake number 1 - not readily realising that the crowd does not know any better Mistake number 2 - not noticing the complete absence of Indian clients Mistake number 3 - not noticing the anger emanating from patrons The manager did not care about the crowd, and a waiter confided to me that they are backed up on the existing customers so would not be seating people for some time. Some time, read 90 minutes! The food, terrible, the service, apathetic, and the attitude, bordering on arrogance. Just because you are the only indian place in town, it does not mean that you take your customers for granted. Our waiter showed up 45 minutes after we sat down, and mixed up our orders which showed up another 60 minutes later. Furthermore, we were moved twice, in oder to accommodate the greed of the manager who wanted to seat more unsuspecting customers. The pakoras were soggy, the butter chicken bland, the dal spinach tasteless, and the roti cold. I cannot give a lower rating if I tried. They did not screw up the water so small mercies, then. I can stop coming to this place for ever now, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE WIFE? WHERE DO I DUMP HER?
(1)Chanel S.
Seven years ago my rating would've been a 5-star but age truly has taken its toll on this establishment. While still the best Indian on island and possibly the best Indian food I've had in the world-outside of India, that is (San Francisco, Amsterdam, New York, Paris, even London ain't got nothing on Maharani) I've recently been less impressed by their service and presentation. How bout a floor wax or simply a dusting? The same pseudo-interested manager still runs the joint with his latest pick of young college boys in tow. Seems they've shoved a few more tables in, which somehow works (true to authentic Indian crowd fashion?) and doesn't (if it's a first date occasion). I've also grown increasingly concerned towards the cleanliness of the tamarind and creamy mint sauce offerings. Recycled between tables? How many of those do they actually have to go around? Alas, I must be a glutton for Maharani, the garlic cheese naan at the very least, as it keeps me coming back for more. Here's the deal... everything is tasty and comes out hot, it's BYO and the corkage is $1.50 per head, there's ALWAYS leftovers that taste just as good the next day and the screens loop beautiful Bollywood dance videos throughout the night. If you love "Indian" cuisine and got yourself an appetite, do the right thing and treat yourself to this essential eating experience.
(4)Stephanie C.
Terrible experience! The wait was horrendous. The food was bland and the service was subpar. I don't know why people rant and rave about this place. I certainly would not go back. Also, I had stomach issues after coming home from dinner. Needless to say, we ended up throwing out our leftovers. Try somewhere else!
(1)Christina K.
I spent about $200 here in one month. That's how good it is. PRICE: It's pretty pricey, but you'll always have leftovers so it's not so bad when you think of it that way. For the 2 of us it usually comes to $60. But BYOB baby! FOOD: The owner says he's from Bangladesh and it's a family owned and operated business that serves Bangladesh food, family style. The eggplant korma is the best. I'm a omnivore to boot, but we always have to get this vegetarian delight! It is sooo flavorful, ironically more than the chicken variation they have on the menu. The basmati rice is so fragrant, I've never had rice that flavorful before. AMBIANCE: It's like India, hot and crowded. PARKING: They have a teeny tiny lot in the back, so it's mostly street. Don't chance parking at Longs across the street. Wasn't a fan of Indian food until I came here. Thank you Maharani for converting me!
(5)Alexandra S.
This is exactly the type of homey restaurant the foodie in my loves. No, it's not the quickest service or the fanciest setting, but the staff is very friendly, the ambiance is unique and eclectic, the prices are very reasonable and the food is AMAZING!
(5)Melissa K.
The flavor balance in the food has changed. The curries and mixed rice look the same but lacks the range of flavors it used to have. Portions are huge and leftovers are guaranteed but this was the first time I didn't want to eat the leftovers. I tried but ended up trying to give it away.
(3)Ruth S.
I went here a few months ago with a couple freinds. We had good timing, we got there around 6 and only had to wait 20ish minets. It seemed like some people were waiting for hours! But the food is well worth the wait! We got the vegetarian appetizer platter. It was delishous, especially the samosas. I got a coconut curry dish (sry I forgot the name). It may have been the best curry I've ever had. I was so glad we went there. I would recommend getting there close to when they open, for a late lunch/early dinner, so you don't have to wait for-ev-er! Also, parking is hard to find in that area and there is no specific lot for this restaurant.
(5)Zach D.
Got the Palak Paneer & Chicken Shahi Korma to go tonight as part of the combination dinner for 2. Both were fantastic and it was probably enough food for 4. They lost a star because I called in my order but when I arrived they hadn't given the order to the kitchen. Took 1 hour from phone call to me walking out with food. With that being said you can imagine how good the food had to be for me to still give them 4 stars.
(4)Sarah M.
The food is great and actually quite quick considering how busy it gets. It's a small restaurant so it has close-seating space, but it has never hindered the atmosphere for me. We usually get samosas to start then the two-person meal to share. It never disappoints! Remember to bring a bottle of wine, too, as it's BYOB. It's also great for vegetarians. If you want to beat the line, you can call and put your name on the list an hour or two beforehand.
(5)Tim E.
Really good food pricy but worth it super busy place gotta wait and super shady service but the food makes for it
(4)Nicole M.
I stopped in with my mom to satisfy an intense Indian food craving that socal used to satisfy so well. parking is tough, but we lucked out and got one out front. We were seated right away but the place was packed half an hour later around 6pm. It did take some waving down of our waiter but he was very nice and attentive. They didn't have my favorite Baingan Bharta (eggplant) so I was very sad. But the tikka masala was pretty good: eggplant chunks in a marinara type sauce. reminded me of Italian food. The Palak Paneer is a favorite of mine and they did it very well! the cheese cubes were yummy and the spinach was very savory. it was even better the next day as leftovers, along with garlic naan (must try!) and some saffron rice. Tiny restaurant was hard for my disabled mothered to scoot around with her cane but she made it out alright. There were amazing Indian music videos playing up top too that made it fun! I'd definitely call in a take out order next time I'm at Down to Earth or Longs across the street :) Prices were better than other Indian places on the island at under $15 a curry.
(4)Mc C.
I love it here. Food is sooo good. I'm happy there is good Indian food in Hawaii. Service is great and food is delicious. I'm pregnant and I can't wait to eat here again tonight!
(5)Kathryn H.
"Good things come in small packages." The restaurant is tiny & it can be hard to get a table and take-out is ALWAYS a 45 min wait (regardless of when you call)... but, OH MY GOSH is it ever worth it! I just LOVE this place. Dining inside is always a special treat, very BollyWood! I have eaten here 25+ times and have NEVER ordered something that didn't taste amazing (Okay, Maybe my taste buds were burnt off from the spice/ How can I order it if I cannot pronounce it!?. guilty). But, my all time favorite is their chicken coconut korma (paired with garlic cheese nan!). I could probably eat here every day. You will be doing yourself a favor when you EAT HERE (just be aware that many others will probably attempting this as well!). Happy Eating!
(5)Steffen G.
The best Indian food on Oahu. Get there very early or wait for a long time. They do their best but it's a small place. The food is delicious, the price is reasonable and the service is fairly decent. The dinner for two or three is reasonable and tons of food. Vindaloo is my favorite dish.
(5)Dan T.
Second time here and the food was awsome again!
(5)Paola R.
Best Indian food I've found on the island! I recommend their Chicken Masala and their Chicken Tikka Masala. Also, I noticed it's BYOB here. A family brought a 6 pack of Samuel Adams to go with their Indian food lol. Anyway, I'll be sure to bring a bottle of wine the next time I come!
(5)Pillowsblanket S.
Delicious! Dinner for 2 for $40.99 includes rice & naan, it's plenty of food, and is great if one of you is a vegetarian and one of you is not. The wait staff is helpful & attentive. The decor is pretty. If we lived here, we would certainly come back often.
(4)Pooja S.
Service - pathetic Hygiene --- very very unhygienic Price --- overly priced for the kind of food We were served rice by mistake and we assumed that rice were complimentary with the food. After taking a serving from rice plate, and few minutes later waiter arrived to out table - Waiter - did you order rice ? Me - No Waited - oh okay. Let me come back. Waiter - (returned and said) If you want rice, I can charge you for it. If you don't want to eat, I can take it back....( this was when we already took some serving out in our plate and he could see that) I was shocked that he actually took it back and they may have added additional rice on the same rice plate and served to someone else. This is so unhygienic. Esp in USA- we did not expect it where care for life and hygiene more than anything else. Also --- the flour for breads were very sour. This usually happens when the dough is old or left for longer time to ferment. I am not sure about the taste here but surely this is not how we make breads in India. Definitely, this place was not authentic indian as they were using some color in their saag paneer. I could see color on paneer. overly priced, unhygienic and pathetic service.
(1)Jennifer C.
I was super excited to find a 4+ star Indian place on yelp. I love Indian food, and there really aren't many places that serve it on the island. The food delivered, but the service was definitely lacking. There were many tempting dishes to try on the menu, and we were seriously going to rack up a hefty bill ordering everything we wanted. However, the waiter was kind enough to point out to us the combo option for two ($40), which saved us a couple bucks and gave us the variety we wanted. It came with naan, rice, two samosas, and two entrees. An additional fee may be added depending on what entree you get (e.g. fish or lamb). The veggie samosas were huge, and could be half a meal in itself. The husband loved it so much that he actually wants me to make him a bunch. I had the fish masala, and the husband had the lamb rogan josh. Both were tasty, and were even better with the saffron rice. I had a taste of my friend's fish korma, and I actually preferred the korma more. I also ordered an iced chai tea. Skip this. There were no spices that I could taste, and there was some gritty powder at the bottom of the cup. The drink got worse as I got closer to the bottom. The service was meh. We showed up on the street side of the restaurant, and were waiting around for people to greet us. No one did so. Apparently, you have to go to the back of the restaurant to write down your name, and wait in that area. We were seated relatively fast (the place was packed and had a couple people waiting already), but it was probably about ten minutes before the waiter came around to take our orders. After we got our food, the waiters didn't pay attention to us at all. Most of them were hanging around the back bar, avidly pouring water and prepping drinks. Funny thing, because they actually forgot about our drinks, and I had to try pretty hard to get their attention. When we were ready to go, I actually walked to the back to get to go boxes, because they weren't coming around to the dining area. If service was better, this place would have easily received 5 stars. However, the food was just that good, that I would feel bad giving it less than 4.
(4)Tom S.
Authentic indian food in a nice ambience. Wait can be long but food is very good. BYOB means savings on drinks.
(4)Haresh P.
Worst service ever...we got there in time and the owner didn't even want to seat us. Then he said we could do take out...so I started ordering and then he says that he only can make one vegi dish...I finally realized that he didn't want to serve us...so I said no thanks. I've never met a restauranteur who didn't want to make money or serve...this guy was lazy beyond belief.
(1)Christine S.
I had been wanting to try this restaurant for months when I finally decided to make the drive into town. I went on a Friday night and listened to the advice of others and called ahead to get our name on the list. We walked in and there was another group ahead of us, but they sat us immediately. I was going to order the Baigan Bharta, but my waiter informed me they no longer serve it. I went with the Vegetable Jalfrezi Masala, and my husband ordered the Chicken Kofta Masala. We also ordered Garlic Naan and Saffron Rice to share. It took around 25 minutes for our food to be reach the table. I thought both dishes had very good flavor and the portions were the perfect size. The thing that I was not impressed with was the customer service. After our food was delivered, our waiter came by one time to refill our water and then disappeared. After we had been finished with our food for 15 minutes, we finally had to ask another waiter for our bill. I understand it was a busy night at the restaurant, but that is not a reason to forget about your customers. I will eat here again since the food was very good, and hopefully the customer service will be better.
(4)Maire R.
We called ahead and asked about Gluten Free selections ( my husband is celiac), and were assured there were several. We got there, were seated immediately, and as it's small and not many tables, considered ourselves lucky. Wait staff were more than helpful with our gluten free needs, willingly asking the cooking staff for ingredients in items. I know we're a pain due to that, but if he eats gluten he gets really ill. It's hard to find such accommodating places to eat. The food was delicious, plentiful, and price was reasonable for it. We'd go there again!
(5)Becky F.
Absolutely the best Indianan food on the islands. All food is prepared fresh every day. Service was great and the atmosphere fun and lively. Wide variety of options from vegan to carnivore. Try the Prawns and Spinach!
(5)Mariska W.
The food is good but the service is really bad. It seems that because they are so popular they don't really care. We called for take out, it would be ready by 6 pm. I get there at 6:10 pm and they asked me to pay, it would be another 10 min. It is now 7:05 and I'm still waiting... next time (if there is a next time) I will not pay, wait 10 min and leave, with our without food.
(1)Ed L.
Best. Indian. Cuisine. Ever! First time here, after passing by this place every day on the way home from Kalihi. Been meaning to try this place for the longest time till recently. Yelp Elite Russ M. held a UYE event here and I had to jump at the chance to finally see what the hype was about. I had heard that this place was good and quite popular. I didn't believe it till I stepped through the doors and sat down. It was an interesting experience, no doubt, but it capped off a good weekend. I didn't believe that this place was super popular, until I saw the people filed in and filled up all the available space. After getting our orders straight, there were people lining outside the restaurant. Almost like Sweet Home Cafe nearby, Cafe Maharani serves up delicacies and deliciousness that could not be defined, but only by smell and taste. We Yelp people arrived here about 5pm, but I didn't see anyone at the front entrance until I walked to the back entrance to discover a hoard of people wanting Cafe Maharani. The decor of this place was nice and inviting. The ambiance was kind of loud, since there was just too much chatter within these walls, but I guess thats how it is anywhere. We all decided to do it family style and it worked out pretty well. Although there was not much conversation going on at my table, it was nice to just be out and about on a Sunday evening, meeting new friends, chatting with current Yelp friends, CM Emi, and eating awesome food. I didn't know what we were really getting, as one person on our table ordered for us. From what I remember, we had this meat sampler tray, 3 orders of chicken or lamb curries, stuffed nan, which tasted almost like a cheese pizza, and a fried rice dish that resembled the Chinese version, but so much better. I would have to say that I miss eating Indian food. I love how the spicy uniqueness of the cuisine brings out the flavor to the meats and curries. I must admit that I did enjoy the stuffed cheese type of nann. The spicy curries was nice and a change of pace from all the jalapeño spicy I do in Vietnamese pho, so that was great. The fried rice was just amazing and it didn't taste like Chinese typical fried rice at all. Truly a masterpiece! Needless to say that this place was amazing. The only thing that was off was that we were here for 2 1/2 hours from seating to finish, only eating for 1 hour and had to endure a 1 1/2 hour wait. It was worth the wait though! Thanks Russ M for emphasizing the amazingness of this place and hope to be back here, take out or dining in. Support local! A++
(5)Diana C.
This is my go-to place for delicious Indian food. There is a parking garage nearby as well as street parking if you are lucky enough to snag a spot. I would suggest getting here as soon as they open in the evenings as the restaurant is small and fills up fast, resulting in a really long wait time. The food is so delicious and there is usually plenty to take home afterwards.
(5)Yuko A.
If you like Indian food or spicy dishes you gotta check out Cafe Maharani. But before you go, some words of advice.. - GO EARLY! If you aren't there for first seating, you are going to wait. (And no, they don't take reservations) - Order family style, the portions are huge and unless you want to be eating curry for the next 3 days you'll want to share. - BYOB I've eaten a number of curry dishes there from korma, masala, saag, bhati, a cheese curry (their house special) and the pepper chicken and a few my dad ordered randomly and ALL were good. If you like it spicy, I would recommend the pepper chicken, my dad and my sister love spicy foods and they were wiping their faces every few minutes from the sweat. You can choose the level of spiceness from 1-10, we ordered the pepper chicken at a level 7. Now of course you can't just eat curry by itself, they are completely lonely without the rice and the naan. We split one order of rice between the 5 of us and it was enough since we also got an order of the naan which comes with two pieces. The naan is out of this world, I actually think it got better since last year. Its doughy and pillowy soft and even tastes good cold the next day..Plain is the way to go in my opinion.. We tried the kalbi naan which is a monster size piece of afghan naan. We actually had to fold it in half to fit it on our table. Its thin and crispy and great in its on way but I prefer the regular naan to dip my curry in. They are a little short staff (2 waiters, 1 busboy) but do a pretty good job of getting your food out in a timely manner and filling your water when you ask them. YELP 365:067/365
(5)A R.
A very small establishment. They are open only for dinner. It fills up quickly. If you want to dine here, call them in advance and place your name on the wait list. They will not accept reservations. Service is kind of slow but they inform you in advance about it. Staff was polite. Food was just okay. Definitely better than Monsoon India and Cafe Taj Mahal restaurants. However, another restaurant, 'Chutney' offers better and more authentic food.
(3)Carrie C.
Food was fabulous. It did take a bit longer than I expected, but the food was absolutely worth it. I had the butter chicken with saffron rice and naan bread. It was the perfect blend of spices. I would eat there every day.
(5)Snicks G.
Patience is key when eating here...if you have time and want to try indian food..this is the place! Food is unreal...I was worried to try indian food but dang it was awesome...spiced perfectly food not bland at all. Garlic naan is great chicken curry is awesome..I can't remember the names of the other dishes we had but it was all delish! Bottom line its highly recommended if you have time to eat good food
(4)Tiffany L.
The food itself was pretty great, but it took way to long to get it (around 45 minutes or more) and the servers were pretty nice as well. The environment was beautiful, with great Indian culture and they have a television with shows on as well throughout the night. The scent was overwhelmingly great and the price wasn't that bad either for the quality of the food. We got the chicken tikka masala, the yellow rice, and one of the vegetable masalas!
(4)Jayne S.
There's an impression made when you witness, time and time again, a seemingly perpetual line of people willing to wait to eat at an establishment. Since my fiancee and I live in the area, we drive by Cafe Maharani daily. We were excited to finally find time within our typically opposite schedules to enjoy a dinner here. I would love to get my biggest take-away from my experience out of the way: the food does live up to the reviews. Generous portions, full of flavor. Being unfamiliar with Indian cuisine, we looked at the tables around us and decided what to eat based on what we saw the most. We settled on three things to get us started expecting to order more along the way: the Vegetarian Samosa, Chicken Masala Curry, and the Saffron Rice. For the record, I could have eaten buckets of the chicken masala curry. What left me frowning was the overall experience. We were greeted as soon as we entered. We were instructed to sit at one of the last available tables - they were packed, as always. We were given menus immediately. There is a lot of selection... these types of menus tend to intimidate me (hence our early strategy to ordering), so we closed our menus and waited to be approached. Twenty minutes had gone by of servers flying around the restaurant, dropping off food, checks, drinks, etc. I'm a part-time server, I get it. It was hectic; hectic would be an understatement, actually. The fiancee was getting impatient so he said we would leave if no one came by in the next five minutes to even drop a couple glasses of water. I'm not sure if it ever would have happened if one of the servers didn't bump my chair when dropping off food (it was pretty cramped in there) and as he turned to apologize, he immediately followed with: "Someone will be right with you." Okay, fine. A couple minutes later, another server approached us and asked if we were ready. "Yes..." my fiancee replied, "We think we know what we want to try, but we've never been here. What do you recommend?" The server's response: "Well, what do you like?" I was a little confused... If I replied, "Ice cream," what would he have said? I just interjected and said we want to try the three dishes I mentioned before and also, "A couple of waters would be great! Thanks." Ten minutes later, no waters came. I finally approached the cashier area and asked for a couple glasses of water. A young man came to our table and dropped off waters and dining utensils. We were finally settling in, longer than we anticipated, but the aromas in that room were pretty entertaining while we anxiously waited for our food. About ten minutes into just observing the nature of the restaurant, we were approached by a server who asked, "Can you guys move? We need to use your table to put a party of five here." Okay.... There are really more polite ways to go about doing this. How about, "I'm so sorry, but could I ask a huge favor?" The delivery was a bit a harsh and definitely rubbed us the wrong way. The least I expected was that they would help us move the cups, plates, and silver... but that did not happen. We moved ourselves. Our food came out in a reasonable amount of time. No one checked back with us at any point, but that was minor. I just want to take this moment to highlight the food, again. The next time we choose to eat here, it will probably be take-out.
(3)Noelani N.
I give them 4 stars for their food, but the service takes way too long...i phoned in my takeout order and was told it'll be ready in 45 mins get there in that time and still had 2 wait another 30 mins for my food...for that reason alone I don't think i'll b back anytime soon...:(
(4)Celia B.
Cafe Maharani definitely has the best Indian food on island, but may also have the worst service on island. We came here on Valentine's Day. We only eat Indian once or twice a year and usually for special occasions. We knew how popular this place was, so we made a plan to arrive about 45 minutes before opening so that we could wait in line to be seated. Of course Valentine's would be more chaotic than any other Friday, but we figured that if we came early enough, it wouldn't be that crazy, and we could at least get our order in first to reduce the wait time. We arrived around 4:20pm. They open at 5:00pm. We were the second group in line. By 4:45pm, there were at least 15 parties waiting in line. We were so excited to be by the front of the line, because this not only meant that we wouldn't have to be wait to be seated, but we would most likely receive our food quickly (and first), right? WRONG! The doors opened at 5:00pm and they didn't seat us in any sort of planned fashion, they just put us all in random spots. I felt like they should have had some sort of structure to it, so that the people that had been waiting in line for 40 minutes could order prior to those who had waited in line for 5 minutes. I figured that since they were so popular and busy all the time, they must have a system down that I was just overlooking. They start passing menus out to all of the tables, except for ours, and the people who were first in line, because I guess they had run out of menus. We waited 5 minutes, still no menu. Waited another 10 minutes, still no menu, even though they had already taken about 6 people's orders. The people that were ordering had all gotten to the restaurant around 5pm, whereas the 2 parties that were first in line and waiting for 40 minutes, didn't even have a menu yet. By the 20 minute mark, I said something to a waiter passing by. "Excuse me, we haven't received our menu yet?" He gave us one. But that did not solve our problem, at all! We now had to wait about 30 minutes before he came back to take our order. By that time, the groups, again, that had arrived right at 5pm, had already RECEIVED their food, and every single person in the restaurant had already ordered except for us and the couple that were the very first in line. When he came to take our order, I asked that he take theirs first, since they were in front of us. I thought maybe that this would bring to his attention the idea of those that arrive first should get priority, but of course he thought I was just being a brat. Then it took another 10 minutes for him to get back to us, and finally take our order. We were waiting almost 1 HOUR to even place our order! And by this time, other parties had come and gone. When we arrived at 4:20 we were ready to eat, and since it was now 6:00pm, we were losing our appetites and just getting grumpy. Once we placed our order, it took about 40 minutes for the food to arrive. Also, he brought the appetizer about 15 minutes after we received our meals. By that time, we didn't even want it anymore. Appetizers should come first, before you're filled up on curry and rice. I think they forgot it, and just remembered way too late. Now I understand that they are a busy restaurant, but if anyone were to wait in line for food for 40 minutes, until opening, and then have every customer that arrived within the 1hr30min window after them, be served and paid for, before the first customers even ordered, you'd be pissed! They had no sort of plan, to ensure that they were providing good customer service, and acted as if they were a new restaurant and had NO idea what they were doing. Even if we had not arrived early, waiting nearly an hour to order is UNACCEPTABLE. Especially since we (and one other couple) were the only ones experiencing this. We didn't even get an apology, and we were clearly upset! They didn't even acknowledge that they had messed up. We will never return, as this is literally the worst customer service we've ever received (or should I say, service we NEVER received). When we needed something, a menu, to order, etc., we had to hunt them down. They never came to check on us, therefore putting us in a very uncomfortable situation. We left really angry and unsatisfied, and to say the least, had a pretty crappy Valentine's Day. We didn't want to pay them anything because we were so offended by the way they would treat us. This was our first time and it was such a bad impression. Too bad, because the food was really good. Don't plan on arriving early to beat the crowds, or order first, because it doesn't work like that. They don't understand the concept of a line, or a wait list, or the importance of serving customers in an organized manner. 5 stars for the food, -4 for having the worst service on Oahu.
(1)Norm G.
Golly, what happened? We came here for the first time a few months ago, and absolutely loved it. Even my kids loved it. The fragrance whetted our appetites, and our taste buds were very happy. However, something was amiss when we went again a few weeks ago. First of all, we didn't notice much of a fragrance when we entered the place. That should have clued us in that maybe this experience wouldn't be so epic after all. Second, the older guy with the thick frame glasses (the owner I think) was not friendly at all. Third, the young waiter with the light color hair taking our order was not friendly either. The younger waiter with the dark hair was friendly, however. Fourth, the corkage fee was $4.50 ($1.50 for each adult). Fifth, all the dishes were small on meat and large on sauce, and not very tasty at that, which was a change from our previous visit. Sixth, and the coup de grace I would say, is that a 15% gratuity was charged for five (5) guests! I am accustomed to a gratuity being automatically added to a party of six or more, but an automatic gratuity for a party of five?! Come now, that's tacky. Perhaps this is their standard operating procedure when the service is less than stellar. Our total bill including the 15% tip for three adults and two kids was $110. My wife also noticed a friendly-looking family of three who were seated BEFORE us didn't receive their first dish until we were done with our dinner. I wondered why they kept looking at us with sadness. We were so disappointed and will be patronizing another Indian food restaurant in the future; one with much friendlier owners and staff. However, I am not going to reveal which one it is, because I would prefer that others keep going to Maharani, and not overrun the nice one we will be going to from this point on. It's sad that so often places that become too popular eventually fade away. I'm thinking of the two Sam Choy restaurants that are no longer around, both of which started out pretty darn good, but slowly degraded in quality and service. You know folks, not all of us were born rich. When we spend our hard-earned money at a restaurant, it is reasonable to expect friendly service. Such is life, I guess. It forces us to not get too complacent and to be willing to change. See? I'm finding the silver lining within my disappointment!
(2)rachel m.
damn you maharani for being so damn good, I deal with a ridiculously long wait and terrible service, just to have your amazing lamb vindaloo, chicken tikka masala, saffron rice and naan. when i call in advance for a take out order, you tell me: ready in 45 minutes, and it's still not done when I get there... an hour and 20 minutes later?! ugh. I love you and hate you at the same time. why is the front of the house ran so inefficiently? tables full of dishes that need to be bussed while people are patiently and not so patiently waiting for someone to clear it off so they can sit down. turn your tables faster! geezlouise. overall, its the best damn indian food you'll get on island, just mentally prepare for the wait.
(3)Yuzen Y.
Good Indian food. However, my experience tonight has made me rethink supporting this restaurant. I put my name on the list for a seat 45 min prior to an Indian couple who walked in and placed their name on the list, yet they were seated before me. I approached the staff and questioned what was going on and they had no answer. Pointed out that my name was clearly before theirs and the party size was the same! They offered a free lasi, but that wasn't the point. Despite that incident and the slower than usual service, the food was delicious as usual.
(4)Sivakami S.
My hubby and i were at Oahu on the last few days of our honeymoon(23 Dec 13) and decided to try this place since it had raving reviews. And i must say, those reviewers knew what they were talking about! Thankfully we decided to go in earlier than usual for dinner (~6.30pm) because soon after, the place was teeming with pple waiting in line for a table. The food was AMaZinG! We're vegetarians and ordered Malai Kofta, Kashmiri Pilaf, Paneer Makhani and Plain Naan. The whole meal came up to about $45 including taxes. There was a combo set (about $40 w/o taxes) that would have included an appetizer but we decided to choose our own combination instead. Having tasted Malai kofta in several places (its a standard order wherever we go), i have to say the dish here was near perfection. The kofta was very nicely done, not too hard, having soaked in sufficient flavour from the sauce. Portions were large and we packed rest of the 2 entrees and half of the rice back. It was dinner the next night, and was still tasting fantastic even though cold! Would have given it 5 stars if not for the less than satisfactory service. Had to repeatedly ask for silverware and until my hubby went up to the front to get it himself. So if service doesnt really matter and you want great food, i'd def recommend this place!
(4)Alice C.
I am so happy to see that they have FINALLY rearranged the restaurant where they added more seats. Although some seats are really too close to each other where your party doesn't really have much privacy, but I'm not here on a private date, I'm here to eat their delicious curry they serve! On a serious note though, the wait time to seat is so much shorter and I'm so glad! Their curry is like a drug to me. I'm so addicted that after I leave I'm still feigning for more. I went this past Thursday and my friend and I ordered some kind of eggplant vegetable coconut curry. It was so delicious! If anyone knew me personally, they would know that I am not a huge fan of eggplant or many vegetables for that matter, BUT with this curry, I was in love. The eggplant was deep fried and it paired so well with the slightly spicy coconut curry. The thought of it is making me salivate. I couldn't give the final star because it still took a really long time for the food to arrive. Honestly, their food itself deserves 5 stars though. If its your first time trying Indian food, I would recommend Cafe Maharani hands down.
(4)Anil R.
I don't think it's worth waiting here for long time. Also they should start taking reservations over phone.
(1)Tania C.
Expect to wait in line a very long time. It is a small restaurant and probably serves the only really good Indian food in Hawaii, therefore super popular. Kind of a dive of a place, but the water/wine goblets are beautiful. It is BYOB and that is just fine. Went with my girlfriends and we each brought a bottle.
(4)Robert H.
Truly outstanding ! Honolulus best kept secret !
(2)JT P.
Really expected to give this place a 5 star review going into it but it kind of had a few shortfalls in my opinion. When I eat Indian food, I want spicy. I asked for an 8 out of 10 and it was probably more like a 3 out of 10. The dish was good, but point blank it wasn't what I ordered. Apparently, you have to specifically ask for rice, it doesn't come with dishes that are served with rice. Of course, at that point you pay extra. Same with naan, you have to order it and it costs extra. Bad stuff out of the way, very nice place. Beautiful furniture. Byob which is nice. I said a lot of bad things but it really was a great meal. I just wish somebody would have told me those things before I went. Enjoy!
(4)John F.
Large portions of spicy food. I'm a pretty big eater but I could have easily shared my meal. Beware of the surprise $1.50 corkage fee if you BYOB. I brought my own glasses & ice but still got charged. They do not accept American Express. There is also a mandatory 15% gratuity for groups.
(3)Sharon H.
I love love love Indian food, and Cafe Maharani doesn't disappoint! However, beyond the excellent food, be prepared for the long wait and inattentive wait staff. My dinner companion dropped me off while he went to look for parking, leaving me to enter the restaurant from the back lot. If you've never been there before, just go past the line of hungry patrons straight to the counter and write your name on the waiting list. Then, back to the end of the line or, if you're lucky, you can sit on the chairs by the kitchen entrance. (A caution about that at the end of this review, ok?)! While in line for about an hour, my friend made me grab the menus so once seated, we could fire off our selections: Vegetarian appetizer platter (two papadums, four vadda -- a chickpea fritter not unlike a Greek falafel -- and two samosas), saffron rice, chicken masala curry and plain naan. The papadums were light and crunchy, the vadda a bit too greasy and tasteless for my friend, and the samosas were golden triangles filled with curried potatoes and peas. But the winner was the chicken masala curry, truly a taste of India with the first bite. The chicken was succulent and oh-so-tender, literally melting as my fork broke off a piece. The combination of fragrant spices and delicate heat was heady, and we basically stopped talking to stuff ourselves full. It's nice to have dinner with someone you're so comfortable with that you can break off pieces of the naan with your fingers and dip into the curry, then go back for a second dip without having to apologize. Somewhere in our curry stupor, we began talking again and realized just how full we'd gotten. So, though the waiter did forget the condiments to accompany the appetizers, and our plates, cutlery and napkins which we had to ask for, we were still happy to add a tip because the food was just soooo good. However, when we left the restaurant and went home, I could smell the restaurant in my hair and on my clothes which took two washings for it to come out. My tip -- wait out front of the restaurant and ask to be seated as far away from the kitchen as possible. Or, use Room Service in Paradise and do take out! The food is worth the extra delivery charge!
(3)Mike C.
Indian food is one of those types of cuisines that when you have it the first time, you'll never know how you did without it before. I first experienced Indian food back on the mainland years ago and the explosion of flavors really blew me away! That's not to say that Indian food is the same everywhere or that everyone's interpretation of it is good. Enter Cafe Maharani. I had been seeking out an Indian restaurant with a good rep some years ago, but the idea of having Indian food in Hawai'i didn't necessarily appeal to my better instincts. I stumbled upon Maharani through Yelp and upon further inquiry, my curiosity was validated from a few friends whose opinion I value. I finally decided to check it out and I'm glad I did. The hours are consistent with more of a dining restaurant, as they open at 5 and close at 10, but they don't do reservations, so make sure you get there at a reasonable time to get on the waiting list, as they tend to fill up fast. One of the first things I noticed is that it's BYOB. Instant good karma! The many arms of Vishnu could not contain my excitement! The decor makes for a very pleasant atmosphere, from the detailed tapestries on the wall, to the heavy, and heavily inlaid chairs and tables, to all the dinnerware (heavy!). There's always cheesy Bollywood music videos playing on the t.v. to add to that genuine Indian vibe....well, as far as this haole can tell. The service is generally short, albeit still pleasant (I attribute it to their ratio of staff to demand). More notable items include the lamb roghan josh, the chicken tikka masala (naturally), any of their assortments of naans, chana masala, malai kofta, samosas (with teh yogurt sauce for the winz!), and most definitely their mango lassi. It just helps, umm, solidify things... My only regret is that their isn't a location closer to me (Kapolei), but it's definitely worth the drive. Well, that and the parking situation kinda stinks. You can risk parking at the Longs across the street or the upstairs Down to Earth lot (but you didn't hear that from me).
(5)Luis R.
Everytime I come to this place the service just gets worse. I don't know why. The place is as big as my livingroom. The waiters seem as if they are in a rush...all the time.....for like nine tables. Anyway tried something new today, butter chicken. Taste like Chicken Tikki and all they did was add a spoonful of butter to it. That is it. I knocked off two stars from my previous review due to the service. (waiting forever)
(2)Christina M.
We were desperate for Indian food and tried to get into this place once again based on the Yelp ratings. Last time they stopped taking customers earlier than their stated closing time (despite driving across the island to eat here). So here we are excited to get in and try authentic Indian dishes. Then after waiting awhile...The food was extremely disappointing. Cooks are from Bangladesh but no where the quality I've eaten in India or Maryland and Virginia for that matter. :-( I really had high hopes to find good Indian food in Hawaii...my search continues. Aside the quality of the food, the place is small and cramped. They kept the door open I presume to let air in but it was extremely humid and hot inside. Maybe the AC was broken? There are two TVs, which aired an Indian award show so that made my time there slightly bearable but I was so ready to leave. There were 3 of us and we were disappointed in all of our dishes. They all tasted sweet. The chicken tikka kabobs were dry on the inside with not much seasoning spices. Usually those are soaked in a special yogurt sauce overnight to make it tender and flavorful inside. The butter chicken and chicken korma both were sweet...not what I expected. The saffron rice was ok. About $60 for three entrees, rice, and naan. The butter naan met our expectations. Despite all this the place was packed with mostly Asian customers. The parking is somewhere in the back but we didn't find it when we initially arrived so we parked in Long's Drugs parking lot across from the Indian cafe. Sadly...We won't be back again.
(1)Trish A.
Like any other great food establishments in Oahu, this place is always packed!! But damn the food is too good not to eat! There is no other Indian food options, MAHARANI is the BEST! If you don't want to wait, order for pick up! You will never have to wait! Thank you for cooking GREAT FOOD Maharani!
(5)Kitt T.
Awesome! Best Indian on the island. Always get the dinner for two. Great portions and choices.
(4)Jayn' W.
For Hawaii this is about the best around in taste & value. If you don't want to wait go when it opens or before closing. Biggest con: new tables & seats are bulky & tight, lack of waiting area, parking. Wait staff leaves much to be desired, I'm sure they could care less with a full house nearly every night. But remember we're here for the food-right?
(4)Lizzy R.
We have been going to Cafe Maharani for years. However recently we went there and the food did not have the same flavor as it did before. The flavors seem to have gone flat and I didn't walk out of the restaurant feeling like I had a great meal as I once did before. I am not sure what has changed in there but something has CHANGED. We MAY give it another chance because everyone can have an off night but if it doesn't step up it's game I am afraid another great find may have bitten the bullet of mediocrity.
(3)David S.
This place is awesome! Me and my wife come here now about once a week.. Ive been wanting to leave a review for a while, but never got around to it. It can be frustrating if your planning on walking in and eating, but as long as you realize they are ALWAYS packed, you can plan for it. Take advantage of the offer to call 45 minutes in advance and put your name it. That is not fair to the people that go there planning on the first come first serve, BUT after you go there for a while you realize thats part of the system and if you dont want to wait, then you have no choice. The food takes a while, so bring some wine or beer, but prepare to enjoy. I would say this is not for people that want to be waited on hand and foot. It's just not that kind of place. They are always running around and always doing their best. It may take time to get your bill and even sometimes water..LOL But, they have allot of love for their customers and they know their food.. Absolutely in love with this food.. It is a must try and I think with their menu, you must try it 3 or 4 times to give it a honest try.
(5)Amy T.
I'm not an expert at Indian food but this place is really tasty! The lamb was cooked perfectly and each sauce I tried was delicious to the taste! My group ordered a bunch of dishes that were all super good but if I had to choose one dish as my favorite it would have to be the Lamb Malai Korma. This was my second time here and would definitely come back again!
(4)Sharon H.
This place is a hit or miss so it must depend on the cook. Sometimes the dishes are spicy and sometimes it isn't at all. I eat there a lot. Usually take out because the wait is sometimes long. But this place turned so many of my friends to liking Indian food. People usually don't like it but this place is different, I mean look at all the great reviews! You have to try it. There's a reason why they're not open for Lunch- they're so busy during dinner that they don't need it - it's that good.
(4)Quyen N.
A quick update to my review: The food is amazingly delicious and beautifully presented. Lots of veggie options - maybe not so much vegan. Probably my favorite Indian restaurant on island so far. The TV showcases some entertaining and riveting Bollywood numbers. BUT the new-to-me furniture (tables and chairs) are large and unwieldy, and the tables and chairs are so close together in such a tight space. Whenever a server or customer would walk behind my chair, s/he would seem to brush up against the back of my head. Though Maharani can fit many more people in such a tight space, service that evening seemed a little challenged with more diners but understaffed servers. Never noticed before, but the place gets so hot with so many people and not so great air circulation or ventilation. Might've been nice to prop the front door open. Even with all the downsides, I'd go back, but better prepared and with better-managed expectations! [Review #4 for 31 Yelps Review Challenge]
(4)Ananya K.
Excellent food!! I had only heard praises about this place! But the food is a peace of heaven. You should especially try the Butter chicken with Naan. I am an Indian and I have a foodie that makes me criticize evry place I go to. I ordered food here and it took me 15 minutes to reach here. Within 5 minutes of waiting, food was ready for my to take away. Extremely friendly owners. Loved the Food!
(5)Jonathan V.
EXPECT TO WAIT, WAIT, AND WAIT! COME EARLY. Call an hour before you show up to cut the wait TIME IN HALF! Synopsis: B-E-S-T EVAAA! If you don't come here early, anticipate a wait...a long wait. The later you come, the longer the wait. Trust me. you HAVE HAVE HAVE to come before 6 if you want instant-seating. FOOD IS MOUTH-WATERING GOODNESS that will make you have A BIG FOOD BABY! Fit for leftovers. Environment: I haven't been here for two years and it's still an amazing place. The walls are red, Indian attire and television! Just beautiful. It definitely takes you to another world. Oh and before, their plates were GHETTOO! Now they have metal plates and the food presentation is so much better. UGH! Awesssommmee! People: Staff is short! They had 2 people running the food, giving checks. They definitely need to hire more. However, if that means increasing the prices, then I rather them be under-staffed. Just make sure you are in good company Food: TWO-PEOPLE DINNER CAN BE FOR THREE! Vegetable samosa, Naan w/ garlic and basil, Achar, Karahi Lamb, and Eggplant Tikki Marsala. OMG! EVERYTHING WAS HEAVEN-SENT! HEAVEN, I tell you. And wash it down with BYOB, in chalices...we were EATING LIKE QUEENNS! Queens!!! Price: For what you get, damn right it's worth it. you can find me here! I spent 30 bucks and had left-overs for two more meals.
(5)Julia S.
Why oh whyyyy must you guys be so understaffed! And if that's not the issue, then still... why! I've been here a couple times, and I absolutely LOVE the food! Never eaten in, but I don't really want to. The wait here is so absurd. I've heard people around me in the restaurant saying they've waited for an hour for their food. And I can't imagine it's any better when you're dining in. It upsets me so much that I crave Maharani more often than i'm actually willing to go and wait for... They're making big bucks now, but if they just made their restaurant a little more efficient with maybe another cook or something, they could be making a lot more! Such a huge following they have, but i'm sure there are the people like me who just don't have the time/patience/or motivation to wait 40+ minutes for my food :( Anyways, other than that, there food really is amazing. The portions are ridiculously big (I don't know how Indian people are so skinny!) and spiced perfectly! The naan has been burnt a few times, but the taste of cancer has never been yummier. The curries are a burst of spices in my mouth, and the samosas are filling on their own! Lots of options for vegetarians as well. Oh and just to let you know how big portions are, you know those white plastic take out containers? A order of rice fills that entire thing up (for take out anyways) !! The naans I can probably wear as a headwrap because they're so big. Peak hours seem to be 6pm- closing.... so if you want to go, I suggest going when they open at 5. But who the eff gets hungry at 5... 5+ stars for food alone! but sadly 3 with a combination of the wait and sometimes sour attitudes i've gotten from workers. (though I kind of don't blame them since they're swamped and dealing with angry/hungry people).
(3)Daniel H.
I like this Place a Lot! Great food, nice atmosphere. Plenty of food at a reasonable price! Most of the time there is a line so expect to wait at least 20 minutes until you get a table. Try the naan. Garlic is good but I enjoy the spinach one even more. Everything out of the tandoor is great. I personally like it spicy and a mix of meat. I I highly recommend this place!
(5)Florence K.
I could honestly eat garlic cheese naan EVERY DAY from Cafe Maharani. It is so good! I came here with a few friends for dinner a couple nights ago, and everyone loved it. We got the garlic cheese naan, the tandoori mix grill, eggplant tikka curry, chicken masala curry, and the rice platter. May I say again, the garlic cheese naan is delicious! Dipping the plain naan bread in the curry sauce is so good too! The curries were good as well, and matched well with the different rices. I thought the tandoori could've been better, as I thought the chicken was a bit dry. The service was perfect, attentive..but not overdoing it. The server came by and refilled our waters whenever it was low, and was very nice. I guess the worst thing is parking, as the parking lot is pretty small. But we parked in the Down to Earth parking lot, because there's no parking attendant after 5 PM! ;)
(5)Asia N.
Me n my bf always came here for the chicken masala, the yellow rice n the cheese naan. This is the only Indian restaurant that we go too. Always busy here. Takes no reservations, my bf had to put his name down went home shower and by the time we came back we only had to wait around 5 minutes
(4)Michelle M.
I really have come to love this place. Cafe Maharani is definitely the only member on my short list to great Indian food here in Hawaii. I mean have you ever had better Vindaloo anywhere??? Ummm...no!!! But have I ever had better service??? Hell muh-f**kin yeah!!! Service last night TOTALLY SUCKED..sucked about as much as the horrible Bollywood videos that they had playing on loop last night. The wait was almost deceiving...there was no wait. We sat right away! Thought that this was a sign from the Tikka gods that we were in for a treat...nope, not the case! The rest goes downhill from there. We waited... and waited... and waited... (the restaurant was NOT full btw) Then we made eye contact with one of the waiters.... and we waited and waited... Finally, someone came to take our order. Usually we do the meal for 3. It offers plenty of food and we normally still add on a few of our favorites ( samosa & cheese garlic naan)...but for some reason, they decided not to allow us to order how we normally do. :( Every other time, we have been able to order 3 entrees, one chicken & 2 seafood but we pay just a little bit more for the second seafood dish. This time, however, there was no way! The same guys that let me do it 7 + times before is now the guy that wont let me do it last night...clamining that he NEVER EVER does that. BS!!! We ended up ordering ala cart which is TONS more expensive than going with the meal. No water refills. No checking in on us. The smaller and smaller their tip became. I think that having had this experience, I will exercise my right to dine elsewhere. There are plenty of places to eat here in Town and most of them will offer a far better service experience. Makes me sad when businesses fail to see the value in caring for their customers. Even if they are the best on the island...F- em!
(2)Mary K.
I LOVE THEIR FOOD. Cafe Maharani was my first taste of Indian food, and not other Indian food has even reached their level. I'll give the breakdown: Food: 5 stars for sure. The flavor is rich without being overwelming, and the portions are usually average to large, and curry is their specialty. They encourage family style dining (sharing), and usually 2 main dishes with rice and pupus are fullfilling. Coolio: I love places that have their own little personalised flair, and Maharani doesnt disapoint. They serve your drinks in cool brass medal cups and the curry is kept warm by a candle at the bottom of the bowl. Plus, if you are in a rush, you can call and get take out, which can be much faster if it gets crowded. Service: Pretty good both times. They answered the phone promptly and are pleasant when ordering. Cons: Its almost always crowded, especially at prime dinner times. If you want to eat dinner especially, it is good to call for take out, or call to see if they are busy before you arrive. Parking SUCKS. Its so bad that I almost docked a star. There is 4-5 stalls, but since its always crowded, you can almost never find parking, and you have to find street parking. Of course, if there is a party going on at one of the houses nearby, then park across the street. Delicious Indian Food. Eat here!
(5)Prashant S.
Had to wait for over 50 mins to get 2 dishes to go.. But worth the wait.. The butter chicken was great and the palak paneer was great too.. Food is pricey but in Hawaii for quality food you should expect to pay a premium..
(4)John N.
If I can eat naan bread every day from Maharani, I totally would. Maharani is the premiere Indian restaurant on this island. Nothing else is close to it. There are many along the Indian district of Moilili, but Maharani is the gem in this community. This is also the only Indian spot my Indian friends go to. Garlic naan, mango Lassi, Chicken Biryani, and any of their curry is my go to meal every time I visit here. I'm lactose intolerant and I still love the yoghurt based lassi. That's just how good it is period. I would pay the sacrifices to the toilet god just for a taste of good Indian heaven. Go early and park along the Park by Old Stadium Park. Be careful and not park along CVS. 100 Reviews, 1 Day 26/100 January 12, 2013
(5)Jim W.
Cafe Maharani is easily one of my favorite restaurants on the island. Although I had sketchy feelings about Indian food prior to discovering this place (based on some poor experiences in other cities on the mainland), I can now honestly say that Indian food is one of my favorite ethnic cuisines. I love spicy food, the spicier the better, and Cafe Maharani definitely gives me my fix. Both the chicken and lamb vindaloos are pure fire and pair excellently with the wide varieties of naan and rice. That said, the eggplant tikka korma is simply phenomenal and is my favorite dish here. I could easily eat it every day of the weekend for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The menu has a huge variety of both meat and vegetarian selections so it's definitely a good idea to go with a large group and order family style. Like others have written in their reviews, expect a long wait. You can always call in a takeout order which is pretty common for most regulars here. Cafe Maharani doesn't have a liquor license but it is BYOB; there is a Long's across the street if you need to make a beer or wine run. Definitely a must! Go now, you definitely won't regret it!
(5)Dan M.
Last time I checked for a roundtrip ticket to India, it was gonna cost about $2000. I know I don't have that kind of cash on me, but its nice knowing that I'm not going to have to blow that much in order to get some real Indian food around here. Cafe Maharani is like taking a mini-trip to India. As soon as you walk in, you can smell the spices, hear the clang of the finger cymbals from the music they're playing, touch the iron goblets containing Chai. In other words, this place is legit. We got the dinner for two, which includes 2 different curries, nan, and an appetizer all for $40, which wasn't bad as ordering everything a-la-carte would seem more expensive. I got the Butter Chicken Curry and my friend got another chicken-type one (forgot the name!). The actual chicken pieces in each were so tender and juicy. And they didn't skimp on it neither. Plenty to go around!! I'm also a fan of their nan. Thicker than usual nan and the perfect dipping companion to your curry. I noticed they also had garlic nan, which sounds like a must-order for next time. And the two side sauces (one of them a mint sauce, and the other a tangy, spicy one) are AMAZING. We ended up putting it on everything. Even the silverware and plates scream India. Not that I've ever been to India before, but this place really makes an effort to make it seem like you're dining real Indian food, outside of Honolulu of all places. Way to go. The only gripe I had about this place was their service. For the most part, they were pretty attentive, but we usually has to ask twice for things. Asked for a chai, never came, but gave me enough time to cancel it and get a mango lassi instead. Also had to ask if they could take our order...twice. And again for the bill...twice. For a weekday night, it was pretty busy. They really try to cram in as many people as possible as their chairs and table are really close to each other. Hope you don't mind getting buddy-buddy with the people next to you, because you'll hear every word they say. Maybe that's part of the Indian experience too? I don't know...but it still doesn't distract from the fact that they offer great food. My cravings for Indian food come about once a month. Safe to say I know where I'll be going from now on! 31 Yelps Review Challenge - October 2012 #25/31 (Not giving up!)
(4)Mel C.
Generous & delicious! I always hear it's super crowded and almost a guaranteed wait, but maybe I just lucked out 'cause when I went (around 530) there was parking and I got seated right away. I ordered two different naan breads which I immediately regretted when they came out and were each the length of two full plates! (Plenty leftoverz fo me) saffron rice, masala chai, and two curries followed and all were delicious. I tried both a chicken and lamb curry and the meats were so tender and delicious I was lovin life. Overall, even if I had had to wait, it would've been worth it.
(5)Danny B.
Not having much of a selection for Indian food I was almost forced to eat here. After waiting 45+ minutes for a table and getting bumped in line by a group of people that I can only describe as being local to the food choice, I was seated. It took almost another 5 minutes to even get a glass of water and some menus. Luckily I knew what I wanted, since the restaurant had a menu posted outside on the window. I was then able to order rather quickly to a very amicable server. The food came out rapidly and very delicious. Being with my wife and daughter we ordered the dinner for two. We had the lamb masala and the palak paneer. Both excellent choices. Trying to wash down these dishes was difficult as I was unable to get a refill on water, despite having stopped both the servers and what I can only imagine being the manager/owner for a refill on water. All in all the food was great and being seated in authentic looking furniture, with Indian style table ware only added to the experience. Cafe maharani seems to be very busy most of the time, and only having two servers seemed to hinder service a lot for me. I loved the food but the service was subpar and therefore I am forced to only give the rating that I feel is fair.
(3)Marcia L.
This is pretty much the best indian food I've had in hawaii. Parking: limited in the back and on the street. Wait time: Came around 6:00, so the tables just filled up. expect to wait a while service: friendly, but could be more attentive and check up on us more food: excellent! i would come back again for the eggplant tiki masala price: you pay for what you get. not too far from average hawaii prices
(4)Kenny C.
This is my second edit of my earlier review. I received some very nasty messages from a person accusing me of writing several bad reviews for this restaurant. The messages heavily implied the person was the owner. The actual owner contacted me today and was very concerned about both the harassing messages I was getting and the content of my review. The owner really went the extra mile to let me know they were not happy to hear of my two poor experiences at their establishment. I've increased my rating from 1 star to 4 stars. The food is not my cup of tea, but I really appreciate a restauranteur asking for feedback on how to improve the experience. Cafe Maharani, you guys are ok in my book.
(4)Alex W.
We stayed in Waikiki for a week and had our fill of Japanese food along with grilled this and grilled that. We went out for a search of good Indian food that would help remind us of our culinary Seattle taste buds. We had to try their highly recommended samosa. They were fantastic and are 2-3 times the size of a regular samosa so if you only have 2 people. Maybe order a entree and some garlic naan and you'll be fat and happy. I had the sea bass and also a lentil dish. We had enough food for 4 people. I would definitely recommend the short cab ride to tickle your taste buds. I can only eat loco moco and spam so many times in one week.
(4)Patrick O.
Cafe Maharani is our favorite Indian in Hawaii. We have tried them all and this is the best and it is GOOD! We don't attempt dining at the restaurant anymore as the wait times can be frustrating and allow for at least 45 mins for any take out order. But the food is frickin AWESOME! The Chika Tika Masala and Lamb Vindaloo rock!!
(5)Jenny F.
It's a teeny tiny restaurant! My party of 8 waited I think about 2.5 hours before we could get a table. Albeit this is definitely the place where you can talk story and eat in leisure, but ho, 2.5 hours for a table is a leeetle too long. Fortunately, the company was good and made the time pass fast, and luckily, the food is tasty as all get out, so no worries. I would definitely come back, just maybe go on rotation with one or two friends at most! Or just opt for takeout. I think we tried half the menu, but everything was seriously amazing, from the vegetarian dishes to the meat, from the mild to the spicayy. paneer tikka masala, lamb vindaloo, vegetable korma, chicken saag, etc. mm. Even with the 2.5 hour wait, I'm STILL giving them 4 stars. unheard of. that is some tasty heaven in a dish. mmm.
(4)Caprice L.
I have been going to Cafe Maharani for almost 10 years now so that goes to show you why I gave it a 5 star review. This place has the BEST Indian food I have ever had (and I now live on the mainland). Their food is authentic. It's a little hole in the wall place and the service is off and on because of how busy they get. But all of that is forgotten when you get your food. We usually order the combination meal for 2-3 people. All do the dishes I have tried have been good but I am especially favorable to the lamb dishes. If you love exotic flavors and a great experience you have to try this place!
(5)Shervin F.
We went there on a Friday night 45 minutes before close and they said they are not seating anyone but only doing take out because they were closing soon. We told them we are from out of town and walked over there. They made no exceptions so we had to get the take out option. Best part is that by the time our food came out so did another couple's food that were seated, so we basically the "we are closing and not seating anyone" option would not have been an issue. Basically, lazy staff that wants to go home home early and doesn't care about the customer. The food was great and we ended up sitting at the outdoor restaurant of our hotel which was a much better ambiance. Thank you lazy staff for your poor customer service, it really made our night. Word of advice when you put your restaurant business hours closes at 10 that means kitchen closes at ten not I get to lock the doors and go home to my Xbox at 10:00 pm
(2)Nicole M.
Absolutely delicious! We got the dinner for 2 which came with your choice appetizer, we got the eggplant pakora, 2 curries (your choice), rice and naan. All for around $45 and we had a huge plate of leftovers for the next day. It's also BYOB, which is great and there is a store across the street if you forgot to bring beer. I gave them 4 stars because it took nearly 30 minutes and 4 times of asking to get our change back after bill paid.
(4)Hope B.
I haven't had Indian food in a very long time, so finding one here on island and for it to be great was amazing. Their Naan was everything I could think of and they make sure you get your money's worth. I will be going back and will bring a few extra people with you.
(4)Wendy C.
First time trying cafe Maharani. Waited outside a little bit past their opening of time of 5 (they unlocked the front door close to 5:15). I ordered the shrimp masala curry with a side of garlic naan to-go and was told to wait for 30-40 minutes... :( I took a little adventure over to waiola shaved ice.. and then I came back and got my curry. When I brought it back home and started to eat.. I felt the curry was definitely a little watered down. The portion size wasn't too bad with 8 big pieces of shrimp in it.. but the flavors were weak. As I continued to eat, I found a short piece of body hair in the curry. It was definitely body hair as it was short and thick. I decided to just grit my teeth and ignore it.. because stuff like that can happen.. so as disgusting as this might sound.. I continued to eat. That is until I found hair number 2. At this point I felt sick to the stomach and couldn't eat it anymore. There goes my $16.99 curry... :/ The food didnt taste all that bad and I'd be willing to buy something from there again.. but I don't know if I'm brave enough to risk the chance of finding another piece of hair in my food again.
(1)RB19971 R.
This place could do with air conditioning, or even just a fan. I was sweating profusely before dinner arrived, and was soaking wet after a hot curry. I have given them a few goes, won't be going back, it is just too uncomfortable!
(2)Little D.
One of our favorite dinner take out restaurant. We usually call + take out. It is nice not to be rushed when you dine in, but advise to go early, otherwise it might take an hour to be seated and get food. Our favorites: This will serve 10 people. Vegetable Samosa (big 2 pieces) Fish Masala Curry Vege Navrotton (sweet and addictive) Spinach Curry Kabli Naan Saffron Rice YELP 365 - 338/365
(5)Lorilynn L.
Wow, excitement on the palette, very tasty. I dont eat this type of food regularly, it's a nice switch up, the service is excellent, little snug, but nice for a date!!
(4)Destiny S.
The best Indian food ever but be prepared for a long wait! The stuffed naan is so incredible!!
(4)Cindi G.
Best Indian food on the island! Dine in wait service can vary, but food has always been tasty. Crowded interior, but the restaurant clearly has it's followers. Take out is always an option.
(4)Randy L.
Visited twice while we were in Honolulu. Quality and flavor are still outstanding. The long wait, and inefficiency of the wait staff, are still monumental. The servers are nice guys, just not very professional. We waited for an hour and a half, one evening. Still, it's worth the wait. We had the tandoori salmon korma twice. It's that good. Just about everything is. I'd still go back, just early, or not at all. Found out that you can call in and have your name put on the waiting list. That should help.
(4)Anthony N.
God I love this place! but there's always a wait when I'm here! even when I'm not here and I'm driving by I see a bunch of people waiting outside. Don't be fooled by the line outside their restaurant because they have about 6 waiting chairs inside. Moving on to what you should order. I personally love the Dinner set menus. Dinner for Two will feed YOU +2 UNCOMFORTABLY... I specify this because you will be so full outta your mind. but really, this dinner set can feed 4 people.. It comes with your choice of an appetizer, Samosa, or Eggplant/Onion Pakora. Any Two Entrees of Chicken or Vegetable, (lamb +$2). Served with rice and naan bread. This Dinner for Two will cost you $40.99. The Dinner for Three. The difference is you get assorted mix tandoori platter, a sizzling plate of bell peppers, onions and Chicken Wings as the appetizer and 3 choices for entree (but you can only choose 1 lamb dish, even if you request to pay the extra $2 per entree they won't allow it). This is my favorite because I get a mix of everything! and I get to take home all the extra food! :) Because trust me, there will be extra! :) Some curry dishes I recommend: -Lamb Madras (Must have) -Chicken Vindallo -Chicken coconut Korma -Chicken Makhni -Chicken Do Piazza This place is BYOB and with Longs Drugs right across the street makes it super convenient to get some alcohol ;) There's a corkage fee for wine so if want to avoid the fee then bring your own cork and wine glasses :) There's no other place that compares for Indian food in Hawaii. Cafe Maharani is hands down the best! I will definitely be back to explore other items on their extensive menu!
(5)Tin D.
Well, there was a 45 min wait on a Tuesday night in the middle of downtown so that only means one thing...it must be worth the wait!! I'll be honest that parking is definitely a pain and you can take your chances parking at the Walgreens across the street or the $3 valet down the street but the food is probably the best Indian I've ever had! We had the EGGPLANT PAKORA which tasted like sweet potatoes and was the most amazing appetizer dish I've ever had. The eggplant coconut curry was so delicious and with the fluffy and airy garlic naan it was just a perfect Indian combo! It was my boyfriend's first time trying Indian food and he said that it's the most delicious kind of food he's ever had. Give it a try!
(5)Jess Y.
The food is generally great here, however while I was waiting for a table there was a massive cockroach by the back entrance. I proceeded to tell the owner that there was one, he apologized, picked it up and threw it in the bin without washing his hands. He then continued serving food. Was not impressed..ewwwwwwwww.
(3)Dev C.
I've been here twice and it's always a fun and unforgettable time. The "insane-fire-hot" version of the lamb vindaloo is something everyone has to try at least once - or twice for the Spartan warriors out there. Make sure you get an order of their yogurt drink - Lassi - to cool the flames.
(5)Nicole M.
Food was excellent and spicy. It had a lot of flavor and I liked the ambiance of the resturant, could use some candles on the tables!
(4)Leslie A.
This food is very flavorful. The stuffed naan is like a pizza. It was vey good, but I will stick with plain next time. Servings are very big. We had enough vindloo for 3 meals. I loved the byob. We will go back.
(5)Schon H.
I adore Indian food, at one time I considered this tiny restaurant worth the 1 hour wait to be seated a worthwhile endeavor. But it all changed last night, for the third visit in a row we came to the 5:30 seating to avoid the coveted 6-7 rush hour. Sure we were seated but as always they were understaffed and we waited 90 minutes for our appetizers, our party of 5 were served this and that at disjointed intervals, some of us with food, some with nothing for another 20 minutes. Then to absolutely ruin a night that could have been saved by the arrival of Spicy Chicken Tiki Masala, but I was given what resembled Campbells tomato soup with Chicken floating in it. We tried to return it, although WE NEVER RETURN FOOD but, it was just the worst, they only gave us more of the same offered to add hot peppers, that didn't help. We will NOT RETURN. $125 for torture is not my idea of fun. Bring back the cook who dosent doesn't use Campbells soup for what is normally a fantastic sauce.
(1)Jenn G.
The food is incredibly authentic, delicious, and I have never ordered anything from this place that wasn't extraordinarily tasty. Fine prices, perfect portions. My favorite thing about this place is the atmosphere. I love that they're playing Bollywood Indian movies all the time. I love that the room is dimly lit, and I love that the plates, bowls, and cups are hand-hammer crafted. My biggest problem with this place is that they open at 5PM, so late, and they hardly have tables available. You'll always be waiting a long ass time to get in. Parking is extremely limited too.
(5)Wyland L.
Okay, so here's the deal. This place probably has the best Indian food on the island, hands down. Their portions are quite large, and the food is delicious. If you're seeking authentic, then this is the place. The chicken masala curry is spot on amazing. Each bite is filled with flavor and the chicken in it cooked to perfection. The naan is FRESH and SO GOOD. The rice is delicious and I could eat it by itself, except it compliments the curry too well for me to do that. Prices are very reasonable. Because you can probably share an order of curry, rice and naan between 2. The wait is usually 30+ minutes, which is not bad. It's a small restaurant and we can't be rushing around all of our lives. It's worth the wait. But. The star killer. Service. I wanted to take off 2 stars but that would've unjust to the chef. The service is good if you happen to have one of the waiters. But the cash man and other dude is pretty unhelpful and short. This could be a cultural thing, but... I don't think so. I'm pretty sure is a rude thing. But hey, sometime you just gotta suck it up and deal with it, because the good in this restaurant is enough to turn a blind eye to the bad. Also, hopefully the fix their credit card machine soon. It's cash only until they do. I'm definitely coming back. Take out might be a good idea. But it's always nice to eat in.
(4)Roy J.
Whenever I leave a city, I think about how much I will miss so and so restaurant, or I wish that all my favorite restaurants were in the same city. Well, I have left Hawaii and really miss Maharani. Excellent Indian food in Hawaii? Who would have thought that. Even if Indian food doesn't sound appealing to you, Maharani will make you like Indian food. But who doesn't like chicken with butter, or bread that has a hint of garlic, or mountains of rice so delicious you could eat it all by itself. Ahhhhhh, everything is so delicious and the portions are really generous. They also have some vegetarian options if that's what you like. I always try and order a Mango Lassi after dinner. Keyword being try, as I am usually so full after dinner, but it's that good. It's also served in a neat, bronze, ancient artifact looking cup that makes you feel like a king. The ambiance and the decor are great as well. Now on to the not so good. Wait times, as people say, can be long. I always went on weekdays and never had to wait, but I hear if you go on the weekend, expect to be in line for an hour. I noticed it also depends on the time as well, before 7PM seems to be low wait times, but after that it could be at least 30 minutes. As far as the service goes, it's not the best, but for me, as long as the service is not bad, I am happy. I also think the tables are too close for comfort, but the food makes up for that. It is also hard to accommodate more than 6 people at a time, and they don't let you hold tables, but the food makes up for that. I look forward to eating at Maharani on my next trip to Honolulu.
(5)Kristen S.
Literally my favorite restaurant on the island !!! Awesome food and great ambiance. Just get there early (5:30-6:00) because this place gets packed really fast and the wait can be long. They have BYOB which is always a plus.
(5)Lauren G.
Ohhhh how I loveee Indian food!!! But it can't be your typical India Cafe, fast food nonsense.. its gotta be the good stuff. And its gotta be SPICY! Thank God for Cafe Maharani! My husband and I love to go here for the incredible naan bread (the stuffed naan is out of this world, but even the regular naan is awesome), amazing curries (these people actually know what "i want it spiccyyyy!" means) and the fact that its BYOB is just the icing on the cake. I loveee the chicken vindaloo, pepper chicken curry, spicy tandoori chicken curry, palak paneer, samoas, and the list goes on.... I highly recommend doing the Dinner for Two Combo.. comes with an appetizer, two chicken or vegetable entrees, rice and naan bread. It's a tonnnn of food.. you could easily serve 3 people with it, or at least have a fair amount of left overs to take home with you. Plus you get to try a little bit of everything for right around $40! The onlyyy bummer about Maharani is that they don't take reservations and if you don't get there right at 5 they fill up quicckkkk! But, you cannnn call ahead when you're on your way and have your name put on the list. I highly recommend that if you're going during the weekend, otherwise you're definitely going to wait awhile. Bring a bottle of wine, watch some Bollywood movies, prepare your tastebuds for some incredible flavor, and be ready to leave stuffed and hooked for life!
(5)Santhosh R.
So far the best indian food in honolulu area!
(4)Talor M.
Table service gets a 3 1/2 stars and take out gets a 5. Lets start out with the good. The food is so delicious here. With how busy this place is and with the amount of menu items they have, it's quite impressive. Had the chicken korma with saffron rice and they got it perfect. The portions are huge too! This place is great for family style or getting individual portions works too. Now eating in is a completely different story. The wait can be a while, especially since large groups like to dine in and the place is small. Even before 5 there's a pretty decent sized line outside the door. Once inside you're hastily shown to a table then a menu is plopped in front of you just as you sit down. Then the servers usually scurry off to tend to something in the kitchen. Tables are so close together that it's hard to move. Since so many people are packed into such a small space it can get noisy and hot inside. Truthfully there is nothing wrong with the servers. You're given everything you need and they come by regularly to fill water glasses. You just don't get personalized attention like in other restaurants so that may add to the feel that the service is lacking. Because I know they're busy and can't help the service situation, I just order take out because I still love this place. Same awesome food faster with less hassle. Just call it in and 20 min later just walk in and grab the food. I even think that Indian curry tastes just as good or even better as leftovers.
(4)Albert L.
Okay truth be told, I've had better Indian food off-island. I grew up with tons of Indian friends. But this is probably the best it gets in Oahu for sure! The excessive wait times everyone talks about can be avoided by going late around 9 pm most days (maybe not weekends, I'm not sure), you usually don't have to wait at all for a seat. Possibly you can do take out here? I'm not sure about that. I haven't had anything really bad here, the flavors are scrumptious, the service is excellent, and their $40.99 deal for two people (including Indian rice, 2 appetizers, naan, and 2 dishes in the chicken/lamb/veggie section I think) is a freaking FEAST. My friend and I stuffed ourselves, and granted we are tiny Asians with svelte waists, killer abs, and small stomachs but still I think EVERYONE will have lots of leftovers. I got the Chicken Tikka Masala (again it was good, but I've had better, even at chain restaurants like Naan & Curry in San Francisco) and my friend got the Lamb Vindaloo. It's just SO. MUCH. FOOD. It's hard to put it all in your mouth....TWSS! Seriously, solid winner for Indian food on Oahu, but I would keep in the mind the horrendous (no reservation) wait times and come off-peak times, and also the kinda crazy parking times. Again, the $40.99 for 2 person feast deal is a great thing to get, and most likely you will be able to get a full dinner AND a big leftover for you and your friends. $21 for 2 meals essentially is great... Oh word to wise, don't wear stuff/clothes that you mind stinking like Indian food after. It's gonna happen...Just deal!
(5)Christine H.
The portion sizes are very good. Probably the best Indian restaurant on the island. We had the cheese and jalapeño naan, yellow rice, chicken coconut korma, chicken vindallo and a side of spicy sauce. All of which were delicious!
(4)Anita C.
I went the other night because I was salivating at the thought of their curry lamb in my mouth with a piece of naan... drool... So I went and brought a newbie whose never been there before and he was sold! We had the dinner for two which comes with veggie samosas (one for the each of us, no sharing!), two entrees (additional charge for seafood), rice and naan (additional charge for garlic). We ordered the lamb madras and a shrimp coconut curry dish that the server suggested and I loved the coconut curry! It had a hint of sweetness to it which I loved but had the curry kick to it, excellent marriage of flavors! I got the iced chai and I prefer the hot chai bcs the flavors are more intense. Yes, there's always a wait so arrive early but prepare to feast when you get your food because it is A LOT! There's always a full plate of leftovers for each person to take home. Just love this place!
(5)theresa s.
Update on my auto tipping experience at Cafe Maharani. I got an email from the owner saying that it is not their practice to automatically add tip, and offered that I bring in the receipt and he would refund my money and give me a free dish! I was really impressed by the responsiveness of the restaurant and that the owner personally emailed me. We went back last week, and we didn't let him know who we were (we did not ask for the refund or the free dish). Service seemed better and the food was delicious as usual. We still love their food and think it was just an honest mistake. I am fan again!
(4)Ryan T.
I've been driving by for 5 years and never stopped, don't know why. Last night was the first time and I wish I never went, because now I know how great the food is and I will have to go back. Should you go? without a doubt! Are you a meat eater? they have meat, it's good. Get the green lamb curry thing. Are you a vegetarian? well then you are in luck, my friend. They have a whole section just for you. You like Naan? never had it? - get it! it's great, especially with their yogurt sauce. Good luck trying to quit stuffing your face with it. I think I'm still full from last night. Maybe they put nicotine in it? Can't stop eating, give me more, I want more naan! I'm not leaving until you give me more naan and yogurt sauce! Fine, call the cops, but I'll be back later this week with a fake mustache and you won't even know. Do you like BYOB? yeah, it's BYOB. Enjoy, CHEERS! So I give it 4.5 stars, because it's hard to be perfect. Tips & FYI section: 1. Parking is limited, but there is Long's across the street. Just don't stay too long and risk your car being MIA on return. 2. Kinda of a semi-small place, so you are probably gonna wait, especially if you have more than 4 people. Go early or go late if you don't like to wait or BYOB and relax while you wait. 3. Ask questions, got some good recommendations from the waiter.
(4)Ann P.
It's my first time here trying Indian food. I order chickens masala, curry rice, cheese naan. What I don't like about my experience is the waitress poor recommendation. Two times she recommended bad , bad choices. Their service took long. Not a happy customer.
(2)Daisy R.
Just left Cafe Maharani and fell on love with the food! My husband and I were greeted and seated right away by a waiter. We decided to get the combination dinner for 2 (more like dinner for 3-4); spicy tandoori chicken kabab, vegetables (forgot the name but its #41 on the menu), rice and naan. BYOB people! There is no corkage fee for bringing your own drinks. It's rather nice actually! Our plate ware was pretty authentic silver wear as well as the fishes in which out food was served to us. Nice presentation and the flavors if the food was absolutely delicious!!! That veggie fish was amazing!!! Dates, pineapple were amazing, I've eaten lots of Indian food but never a fish such as this one. The naan is fresh buttery and fluffy, rice is great but watch out for the big pieces of condiments , the spicy chicken tandoori is flavorful. If your in town come chow down here!
(4)LeaDan Y.
This place is always busy and the wait staff always appear stressed and overwhelmed. I do LOVE the food, but you can get even better Chicken Korma and comparable Palak Paneer at Cafe Taj Mahal. Otherwise, if you're not in a hurry, it's worth the wait, mostly.
(3)Darby C.
This place seems to be the place to be if you are a fan of Indian food. I've been here more than a few times, and it's always packed. It's a small restaurant with tightly packed tables, and the service is usually fairly slow. But the food is always served right when it's ready, pipping hot. There's really no parking for this place, and street parking is at a premium, so be prepared for a long drive around, or walk to the restaurant, and a long wait when you arrive, a long wait to be seated, and a fairly long wait for service. It's an all evening affair, but the food is well worth it.
(4)Melissa M.
Delicious Indian food in a cute, cozy atmosphere. I really enjoyed my meal here. There are so many things to choose from on the menu! A friend and I shared the Dinner Combination for Two. It was a great way to sample various items from the menu. The dinner combo came with a choice of appetizer (we chose the vegetable vada--similar to a falafel), a choice of two entrees, rice, and naan (we requested the garlic naan). For our entree selections we chose the Chicken Masala Curry (noted as the "Chef's Specialty" on the menu) and the Lamb Roghan Josh. Both were good, but my friend and I both preferred the chicken masala curry. The curry was flavorful without being overpowering and the chicken was juicy and tender. Yum! The portion sizes are pretty large too. We had LOTS of leftovers. I thought the price was reasonable for the quantity of food served. Oh, and it's BYOB! Bonus points! I can't wait to come back to try more dishes!
(4)Harshit K.
I don't understand the high rating.. its probably because there is hardly any Indian restaurant in Hawaii .. * parking is very tight ... although they have a private lot , its small * seating is congested .. its almost like sitting on the same table with other guests .... * service is warm but slow ... * food is very average.... navratan korma tasted like fruit salad !
(2)Mahina C.
Best indian restaurant by far in Hawaii! i've been to a few other spots and nothing compared to indian curry in new york, but this place is the real deal! First time i went was with a large group, the wait was super long, but totally worth it! the second time i went, we went when they opened so i would recommend going early when they open at 5pm. It's a small restaurant right across from the new Longs on king st. Parking is available on the street, or there is a lot located in the back on the same street as willows. I've had the yellow rice which is great with curry. Tika marsala curry is kinda sweet, since it's a yogurt base curry. I really liked the lamb madras and the vindaloo. You can choose your level of spice 1-10, & for 7/8 it wasn't that spicy at all, but then again i like eating things that make me cry and look like i just came from the gym. Naan bread is amazing!!! a MUST try is the garlic stuffed cheese naan. One order is HUGE, i think it said about 15 inches like a pizza. The mix tandoori was great! had some kick to it with the saffron. Mix of chicken & lamb with onions & bell peppers. To wash it all down, make sure to get the mango lassi. Yogurt based drink full of deliciousness in every sip! This place is very family style, everything comes in big portions so like mama said, sharing is caring!
(5)Clarissa M.
The food is very excellent and full of flavor that you would expect from an Indian restaurant. We had one of the basmati rice on their menu made with exotic spices and scrambled eggs. It was not spicy and not sweet - just right. We had the stuffed naan with garlic and cheese - looks like a pizza but taste like hot crisp naan goodness with a hint of garlic and very melted cheese. We also tried the Original Afghanistan Naan which is absolutely humongous. Had to try it and it was worth it. No fireworks about this naan but it tasted wonderful especially with the Chicken Tikka Masala. The masala was just the right amount of spice and its one of my favorite dishes! This was super enjoyable with our naan. We tried the lamb kebab which was made with tasty spices, red bell peppers, white onions, and lime. The meat was not gamy - it was tasty and tender. Our meal experience made our wait for our table worthwhile. Our dining time including wait was about 1 hour 45 minutes. This place does not accept reservations. We were in no rush but if you are come early when they open at 5pm. We got to rest at 8:20 and left at 10:00 ish. Also service is not consistently attentive from what we observed but we got everything we ordered in due time. Definitely worth the wait. Also we got enough leftovers for dinner!
(5)Ling W.
I haven't had any better (or worse) Indian food on Oahu (best has been on Kauai--Shivalik), but from all the great reviews, I guess were were expecting too much (meaning Indian food similar to what we've had on the mainland). It's not. Dishes are so hot (spicy) that the lovely subtlety of the spices (one of the best things about Indian food) gets lost. Naan is just okay, nothing great, lacked flavor. Chutneys were meh, I've had better. Chai tea was so strong it nearly knocked our socks off. Service was polite but really slow. The restaurant is pretty small so you are packed in tight. You can basically hear the conversation next to you, as they are about 1' away. We won't be going back...decisions made independently by both me and my husband. This review is based on one carry-out experience and one dine-in experience, both within the past 6 months.
(2)Kelly H.
This is probably the best indian food on the island. The only reason why I gave it four stars and not five is because of the service and lOOOOONNNG wait to be seated, ewwww! I would recommend doing a take-out order so you save yourself from a 45 minute wait...and trust me, when I say 45 minutes I mean it! I have never waited less than 30 minutes to get seated. But if you're smart you will have dessert first, my friends and I walked to Bubbies and grabbed some ice cream then made it back just in time for our name to be called, whoot for efficiency! I usually get the lamb saag and sometimes the chicken tikamasala. The dishes from their vegetarian menu are pretty nom nom too! Paired with GARLIC naan and some yellow rice, the curry dishes will make ur stomach a happy camper. Aside from the food/wait, the Bollywood music vids, lighting, and indian looking plates/cups makes the ambiance!
(4)Kyle H.
Just thought i'd add my 2 cents to the 207 other reviews raving about the food here - I FINALLY got to try them and my impression of what Indian food should taste like has forever changed! (DISCLAIMER: Ok, I'm just full and happy talking, the only other Indian i've ever eaten was Himalayan Kitchen). Hooray that i'm walking-distance from this amazing place (a major plus not having to find impossible parking on King St) and that we came away with enough food with leftovers to feed me lunch for a solid 3-4 days! The chicken tikka malsala, naan with cilantro, sag aloo (spinach with potatoes), yellow rice and vegetable samosas were all delicious. I'm only going to show you the naan and the size of the take-out order of rice and sag aloo because it's the only one I don't see on the plethora of other pics people have already uploaded: yelp.com/biz_photos/uvkf… Sorry for the clusterf*** of photos, perhaps the ugliest i've ever taken but when you walk a few blocks, wait 45 minutes while watching foreign music videos and reading your Indian astrology all while drooling over the enticing smells from the smoky kitchen and drinking vodka from your red solo cup then walking those few blocks back, the last thing you're thinking of is taking nice pics of the wondrous food you're about to shove down your throat at lightning speed. Whew! THANK YOU Emi for your advice on the take-out, it's definitely the way to go, unfortunately I couldn't call the order in ahead of time because their menu isn't posted but I know what my go-to items will be next time. Chicken Tikka Malsala, yellow rice and NAAN ("Hey hey hey naan naan!")!
(4)Janine D.
Was visiting the island and the hubby got a taste for indian. The food here was DELICIOUS! Highly suggest you call ahead or be prepared to wait for a table. Ordered the butter chicken and lamb vindaloo. Amazing! The vindaloo was spicy and SO good! My only disappointment was the garlic naan. It was not as tasty as noted on previous reviews. The stuffed naan looked very tempting but it would have been too much food so we did not order. Maybe next time!!
(4)Emi H.
Naan naan naan naan Naan naan naan naan Hey hey hey naan naan! Naan naan naan naan Naan naan naan naan Hey hey hey naan naan! That's what I'll be chanting for the next week because I adore the butter naan from Cafe Maharani! It was a long road to get food into my belly from this Honolulu Indian food mecca but I must say it was worth the wait and heartache. Yes, my heart was broken by Cafe Maharani but take-out saved me! In honor of the great Paul Harvey...here's the rest of the story: I have been meaning to eat at Cafe Maharani for a good year now. I had discovered it awhile back on Yelp but although I spend much of my time eating out, fate had never brought us together. My BF & I were heading back from Hawaii Kai one afternoon and were trying to decide what to eat for dinner. I was dead set on eating at Cafe Maharani, mostly because I wanted to eat naan bread, and at the recommendation of reviewers I called to put our names on the waiting list. The man who answered the phone put me on the list and said it would be a thirty minute wait. Yay! I could do thirty minutes because we still had to drive there and we could pick up some beer on the way. Parking is non-existent at Cafe Maharani so we parked two blocks away. Those of you who are reading this who are from the Mainland should understand that to a local person, two blocks may as well be ten because we just don't walk in this city. I am also nine months pregnant so two blocks really feels like twenty as my feet are sore and swollen. It's okay though, I can suck it up because soon I will be able to eat wonderful Indian cuisine! NOT!!! We head into Cafe Maharani and it is jam packed with people. I tell the hostess we're on the list and she looks for my name which is near the very bottom. She tells me that it'll be at least 45 minutes. Mother... We leave because there's no where for me to sit and I feel like I've been lied to. I then realize that the Indian man on the phone does not understand that the number one rule when dealing with women is to under promise and over deliver. Oh wait, I'm not his girlfriend, I'm a customer but it's really the same thing and I'm just pissed. My baby belly is equally upset and we go home crying. Okay so we didn't cry but my poor BF really paid for it because I was not happy that evening. Sorry honey! Fast forward a few weeks and I again attempt to eat food from Cafe Maharani. This time I decide to do take-out because I'm not going to let the lying Indian man who can't tell time ruin my dinner plans again! I order my food, he tells me twenty minutes. I tack on an extra fifteen minutes for good measure and we successfully pick it up. We go home and I am in love, love, love. The rice with lamb is ridiculous and the chicken korma is divine. I ordered two types of naan bread (garlic & butter) for good measure although my BF thinks I'm crazy but this may be my last supper before having the baby and I waited a long time to eat this food! I even enjoyed the rice pudding which everyone says is less than stellar but I finished it in three minutes flat. Do take-out. Trust me...
(4)Trista T.
Probably one of the worst customer service I have ever had. Awsome food! Defiantly would recommend this place for TAKE OUT ONLY!!!!!!!!
(1)Jenn H.
Garlic naan! Vegetarian curry dish with apples - SO ONO!! So delish. So yum.....so forgot the name! But I love it. And incidentally, I order it every time I go. I was taken here by a friend (who is friends with the owner) a few years ago and I have been hooked since. I recommend this place to all who ask .... or don't. Pretty much everyone I meet who I know love to explore different experiences and varieties of food and flavor. Fair warning: the food will take a while. It may be a LONG while. Be prepared. Eat a snack beforehand....jus sayin.... I have never had bad service here. I have never had anything unacceptable here. Always consistently delicious food. Always a great experience, especially when in the company of great friends. Can't ask for more.
(5)Melissa O.
CROWDED! It's representative of their tasty food! I dropped by on a whim (usually, I get it delivered by an outside service). I had to wait about 40 minutes for my dinner take out. The portions are fairly hefty. I order the two entrée special for about $40, it includes an appetizer. It's perfect for two people and for at least two additional meals, if you like leftovers. Med to Hot is my usual heat index when I order, however, I am tempted to order "Hot - Spicy" just once. The manager did suggest that I call ahead for food next time. If you stop by, it is BYOB, but expect to wait a bit, but you won't be disappointed. Traditional plating is used in the dining room, so the atmosphere feels nicely authentic.
(5)Sonia S.
Q: What can you expect at dining at Cafe Maharani? A: Simply incredible Indian cuisine. It's been at least 2 years or so since I had dinner at Cafe Maharani, but instead of trying out a new burger joint, we decided on paying a visit to our old friend, Cafe Maharani to enjoy some Indian fare. Parking is kinda tough in this area, but we parked in the Down To Earth parking lot next door. Restaurant is open daily from 5 pm - 10 pm. Bring something to read and don't be starving when you get there, because you can expect to wait, unless you get there right when they open. Beautiful Indian decor adorns the restaurant and cozy as cozy can be. We got there at 7 pm and didn't get seated until 8 pm. While patiently waiting, you'll have lots of time to figure out what you'd like to order. The food is worth the wait. If you're lucky and get a seat inside, while you're waiting, you can watch Bollywood movies and music videos. Love their water cups. Stainless steel will keep your water nice and cold! Oh yes and it's BYOB! Hooray! The menu: *Coconut Rice ~ rice flavored ever so delicately with coconut flakes, peas, cashews, herbs and spices. This was yums! *Palak Paneer ~ love this stuff! Creamed spinach with homemade cheese. A perfect complement to any Indian meal. *Lamb Roghan Josh ~ first time orderering this...it was superb! Tender, tender lamb chunks in a slightly creamy, flavorful tomato based sauce with cilantro and pistachios. It's supposed to be mild sauce, but we asked if we could have it a little spicy. Hoooweee...spicy it was! Our throats and tummys were feeling nice and warm throughout the meal. Maybe they spiced it up a little too much for us. Definitely will order this again without the extra chiles. For 2, we still were able to pack 2 take-outs containers full of rice, paneer and lamb. Lots and lots of food! Perfect for lunch or dinner the next day.
(4)Elle T.
I've returned 3 times since my first visit here, and am now sure that the food really is amazing and that I'm not just enjoying it because I'm starving after waiting about an hour for a table (it's been about an hour wait at each visit)... I have now tried the majority of the items on the menu and have yet to experience a bad dish. To be honest, though, I did find the kebob platter thing (not sure what it's called but it comes with 4 different types of meat, plus shrimp) kind of boring in comparison to the other dishes. Also, the garlic cheese stuffed naan is awesome but I almost find it too filling and will probably stick to regular naan in the future. There are few places I will wait in line an hour for, but Maharani is one of them. Oh, and I enjoy drinking my wine out of their heavy goblets. TIP: If you're waiting outside, you should check in with the servers periodically, they aren't that great about keeping track of the list and they skipped me once (I've also seen this happen to other guests). Still worth it though!!
(5)y G.
First of all, this place is really small and very busy. I was hoping this place is good, but it turned out not so good. I like their food. Cafe Maharani has very authentic Indian food. I really like their lamb masala and na'an bread. However, this place is so busy, I had to ask for water and checks several times. The old guy looks like he is the one running the restaurant, but his service was just so horrible. How he talks to customers is just wrong. We kindly asked him for take out boxes and he said yes and never even bothered coming back to our table. Instead, he walked to one couple that he recognizes and just talking. So if you are not regular is that how you treat a customer? He is so rude. Our waiter (white guy) forgot our drink so we had to ask him. All he cared about was if we still want that drink. Obviously we wanted, that's why we stopped you to bring our drink! He never came back for refill water. Only the one young guy was working so hard and very polite. Will I want to come back?---Maybe take out, but not dine in.
(2)Anthony A.
One of my favorite dining experiences on the island (not just including Indian food). This place doesn't miss a beat, everything is authentic, fresh, and incredibly flavorful. The wait can be long, but do yourself a favor, wait, as long as they ask, you will not be disappointed by any aspect of your meal. Prices are great... I plan on coming here as often as possible. GREAT TIP: Order about 2-3 times more than you're able eat so you have plenty of left overs for the week. ANOTHER GREAT TIP: Camouflage your to go boxes so roommates, kids, husbands, wives, etc. don't eat them while your not looking.
(5)Tani S.
Best Indian food on the Island hands down!!! If you are willing to wait.... this place is popular, so don't count on just dropping in, you will have the best Indian culinary experience possible. They cook their food with the best ingredients and with love and care. The only problem - I tend to eat too much because the food is sooo yummy! My faves are the Vegetable Navrotten Korma, coconut rice and their heavenly chai tea.
(5)Sheena C.
"Meh. I've experienced better." AGREED. Our biggest mistake was probably attempting a Saturday night date there. I called while looking for parking (the lot literally fits like, 5 cars and street parking is a pain! We ended up parking at the First Hawaiian Bank a couple of streets away for $2.00 at a pay box.) and when I asked for an estimated wait time, the man told me, "oh, there's just four...." I guess I assumed four parties prior, but I think he meant, "just four... people working." Or "just four... ty people ahead of you." We got there at 7:30pm, weren't seated until about 9:20pm, got our food at 10:00pm, and scarfed it all down by 10:15pm. YIKES. Yes, it's my fault for waiting, but I was determined to try this place out to see what the hype was all about. On to the food: Mango Lassi: YES! Best mango lassi I've had so far. YUM!!! Veggie Samosa: YES!!! Delish! I could probably live off of those for a week straight! Garlic Nann: Yum! But then again I LOVEEEE nann (get your mind out of the gutter). The bottom was kind of burnt and black and I personally don't like the taste of... burn (?), so I just peeled it off and gobbled the soft bread up. Rice: It was good. I mean, c'mon, it's rice. Butter Chicken: Mehhhhhhh.... Not mind-blowing. The chicken was tender, but kind of dry...? Lamb Sagg: Mush. Yes, mush. It reminded me of dark green mush. Taste? Mehhhhhhh. We ordered the "dinner for two" for $40.99 and all of these things were included in the price, minus the lassi. I did like the BYOB and how they provided a bucket of ice and glasses for our wine, but the waitress offered it to us and then forgot to bring it until I reminded her. Yes, the samosas and lassi was GREAT. The nann was good (just good, not great because of the burnt bottom). BUT the reason for the 3 stars is because the entrees totally lacked the "BAM!" I was expecting. I was disappointed that my favorite part was the drink and app. :( I probably won't go back and if I do it'll be for the lassi and on a Monday/Tuesday night at like 6pm when (I hope) there won't be a wait. I feel that I could have gotten comparable Indian food at the other Indian restaurants I frequent minus the ridiculous wait.
(3)Jennifer A.
Let me preface this review by stating that this place has some of the best Indian food I've ever had. I've been twice so far, and both times the food has been stellar, like, out-of-this-freakin'-world good. Fantasy-type-dream-inducing good. Threaten-to-kill-your-husband-for-hogging-the-Âlast-of-the-leftovers good (sorry babe). We will be back. Repeatedly. I crave the food that this place dishes out. I wake up in the middle of the night thinking, "Damn, I wish Maharani delivered." However. Be forewarned. All of this comes at a bit of a price. Let's begin, shall we? The restaurant itself is small. They don't take reservations, so if you think you're going to waltz right in and get seated immediately, keep dreaming. There is a wait. We're talking, line-out-the-door wait, so if you're starving, or in a hurry, don't bother. Case in point: they open at 5pm for dinner, and the last time my husband and I went, we got there at 4:30 and there was already a line. The restaurant is also crammed, in what I'm guessing, was a (nearly failed, highly uncomfortable) effort to maximize the limited space by squeezing in as many tables would fit. When we finally made our way in, we were seated at a table so close to the next couple, it was kinda like when you go on a cruise and you're forced to sit at a communal table with total strangers. We were close enough for forced eye contact. How romantic. Since the restaurant is so small, the staff is equally small. There were only two, count them, ONE, TWO servers for the entire dinner rush and I felt really badly for them because it's like they were set up to fail from jump street. Suffice it to say, it took them nearly twenty minutes, along with several friendly reminders, to bring me a wine glass (oh, it's a BYOB place, by the way). That, my friends, is not an exaggeration on the time. The poor, constantly apologetic waiter even forgot one of our dinner items, the lamb curry, and I was pretty pissed because I really, really, REALLY wanted that lamb curry. We had already finished the rest of our food by then, so we decided not to wait for them to put a brand new order in for it. **Insert loud sigh here.** Did I mention that there's no air conditioning, the constant sound of metal-on-metal plate scraping is reminiscent of nails on a chalkboard, and the restroom is located somewhere down the hall, not in the actual restaurant (I thought that was illegal)? 'Cause yeah. That. So you must be wondering, "What kind of masochistic idiot would suffer through this when they could simply eat somewhere else?" To this, I say, please refer to the opening statement. The food here is so ridiculously, amazingly good, you won't care about any of that stuff. Despite this restaurant's faults, there is a reason for the insane wait and the line out the door. THE FOOD WILL BLOW YOUR MIND. Items not to be missed include the enormous samosas (I prefer them with chicken, but all variations are absolutely divine), garlic naan, shrimp tikka masala, lamb masala curry (amazingly delicious enough for me to still be upset that our waiter forgot about it), palak paneer, saffron rice pulau, and of course the masala chai tea (get it iced). Truth be told, I would probably crawl on hands and knees over a desert of broken glass if I knew that a plate of Maharani's food was on the other side. I want you to go patronize this place. I wrote this review with brutal honesty because I don't want anyone coming here with false or inflated expectations. As someone who is normally a stickler for ambiance and service, I know all too well what it's like to be vastly disappointed in both areas. But I'm telling you, this place is worth it, without a doubt. Do yourself a favor: get there early, bring a snack so you're not ravenous in line, stop by a local liquor store for your libations, wear something light to combat the heat, get friendly with the people at the table next to you, and enjoy the best Indian food Oahu has to offer.
(5)Clay C.
Jai Ho! Walked up to the restaurant 5 minutes before 5:00pm and there was already a line! Crazy...Tip: You know a restaurant is good in hawaii when you have to beat the crowd and start eating dinner popo time! I'll probably still have time to go back and watch wheel of fortune! You know thats early! Ordered the Veggie Samosa...one of my favorites. The sauce accompanying it were so delicious. You get a white minty sauce as well as a brown sauce with a little kick. Both are good especially if you have leftover naan. Samosa was really crispy on the outside reminded me of a wonton but insides was soft and scrumptious. We had the Chicken Tiki/Tika Masala (idk what its called) and the Veggie Korma. The Chicken Masala was really good. The Korma was better in my opinion. It had a coconut milk flavor that was really tasty and mixed well with the saffron rice. There were huge chunks of potato and lots of other good veggies inside. It was also a match made in heaven when mixing either the masala or the korma with naan. What was also great was the customer service. The restaurant was busy with all the tables filled around 5:30pm yet our waters were always filled and gave attentive service. I did have to knock one star off due to parking. There are 6 stalls behind the restaurant on Hausten but they are small....very small, but will suffice if you're lucky. Other than that, I think street parking is best, Longs may be okay but don't blame me if your car gets towed. Carpool it! Other than that, the atmosphere was interesting with the TV showing MTV India? playing music videos and going all Bollywood. The food was 5 stars though and is probably one of the better authentic indian restaurants in Hawaii.
(4)Kellie K.
This place deserves ZERO STARs for service! This is a timeline of what happened last night. 6:00 PM: called in to put our name down on waitlist. 6:30 PM Arrived at Maharani and started waiting... Couple parties are ahead of us. 6:30-7:45: kept checking to see how far along we were...@ 745 host/server says a party just left and that they just needed to clear the table for us.\ 8:15 table was finally cleared...takes them half hour to clear the table but its okay they're busy. THEN THEY GIVE SOMEONE ELSE THE TABLE BY ACCIDENT. WTF WTF WTF!! so we walked in and asked them nicely and told them that we thought that we were next to be seated...turns out one of the waiters gave someone else the table by accident and said that they would take care of it by giving us back the other table but the other waiter said no, just give them the next open table and that they would take our orders now. Only couple of us had ate there before and we really didn't know what to order and what suggestions by the waiters and really did not want to wait for another hour or half hour for a table to open up. So we waited for almost 2 hours without eating any food. we left and ate at Kit N Kitchen which is right across the street without even having to wait to be seated. Never tasted Maharani's food but Kit N Kitchen's food and service is probably better than Maharani's food anyways
(1)Belinda M.
The only way this place could be perfect is if they served south Indian food also... because their north indian is perfect! so so good. i suggest bringing a bottle of wine, a couple of friends, getting the dinner for 2 that you can mix up as you like it and order it hot!!! Its my favorite place to eat in town. They have recently remodled and it looks great.. the service is just like india-dont go in there expecting a lot of personal space for a hot date- wait, i take that back... ITS HOT IN THERE, and ordering spicey will definitely fire you up even more... and I love it like that. Get to know your neighbors, see what they are ordering that smells so good, and wait to be amazed. If you dont like this place, you must be a republican
(5)Chad Y.
My fellow Yelpers came through on this one and Cafe Maharani is worthy of the praise (and some criticism) that they hail! If you happen to be in the mood for some Indian food, it is definitely a great place to check out. That being said, be prepared to wait, and wait, and have a hard time finding parking! Let's start off with the food. It is definitely full of flavor and you are bound to get large portions at a reasonable price. The meal for two which included two entrees, naan, and rice could have easily fed four. The chicken tikka is fantastic and and the lamb vindaloo stewed to a perfection. Be prepared, the food is a bit on the spicier side so if you are used to indian food, might want to notch your spice level down a notch. The restaurant is conveniently located in Moilili for the UH crowds or for a simple night out on the town. It is wonderfully appointed, although the large flat screen playing Bollywood movies and music videos sort of throws things off. Also, plan a few extra minutes for parking cause it is very difficult to come by. There are about 5-10 stalls in the back of the restaurant but it will definitely fill up and the streets can be filled with the neighborhood crowds. Service is slow. I swear they have one waiter and two bussers. So be prepared to wait for a table and then be prepared to wait a bit for your food and water. The plus side is that it is BYOB so you might want to bring a bottle of wine for the wait. Despite the wait and lack of parking, Cafe Maharani is worth whatever wait you may have and it is definitely a great place to grab a meal!
(4)Tamra P.
This would have been a 5 star review had it not been for the looooooong wait but I must say that it was completely worthwhile. Sorry, but I'm impatient. If you are patient, read this review as 5 stars. BYOB so come prepared. Heck bring twice as much as you might finish a bottle while waiting. Fun ambiance.... Bollywood on the TV, cool Indian decor, and I love the little goblets you drink out of. Service was friendly and pretty good considering how busy they were. I ordered the sampler.... wish I could remember the specifics.... Saffron rice, spinach and cheese, some amazing lamb and a heavenly chicken (masala?) with lots of yummy sauce to dip your naan in, and a vegetable mix. My hubby ate some too-there is no way I would have been able to come close to finishing it. Had I a sari and some bells I would have been dancing around too, it was so ridiculously delicious. The spices were amazing. Not too hot, but completely flavorful. A steal for $20. We could have been satisfied with sharing the sampler, but because it specifies that you can't share that (well unless your other person orders a dish too, I guess) we also ordered another dish, Boti lamb? Something like that. It came on a sizzling platter with veggies (onions, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, etc.) and a yogurt sauce on the side, as well as the fluffy, buttered naan. I could eat myself into a food coma with their naan alone. Our doggie bag felt like lunch for at least one of us tomorrow, and we both left stuffed. Date night for under $50, leftovers, and a slight buzz mixed with kanak attack? Thank you, coming again!
(4)Andrey Y.
So when to this place with a buddy of mine. Convenient parking in the back of the place although spots are limited. I got the sampler which comes with 2 meat and 2 vegetarian entrees all smaller sizes with rice for $20. Not a bad serving portion for the price. I think it lacked in overall flavor compared to Indian food I and used to in DC or NYC, but my friend said that was a weak dish at that place overall, so I suppose I will try something else again next time. 365 Challenge: #86/365
(3)Kenyan K.
The best Indian food I've had although I only tried two other places on the island. I ate here three times for dinner, most recently last Wednesday. I recommend eating here on a weekday as it gets super packed on the weekends. You can call to make reservations. One time I came on Saturday night with a party of 8 and we had to wait about 90 minutes to get seated. The restaurant has a nice atmosphere but is fairly small. I like the metal utensils including the cups and plates. The service is good but the food can take time to be served depending how busy they are. The wait is well worth it though as the food is very tasty. The naan bread is awesome - hot, fresh, and buttery. They have plain bread as well as seasoned with toppings like jalapenos. The flavored rice is average. I've only really tried the curry entrees but they are good. I got the lamb marsala and the chicken vindaloo last week. Beware, the vindaloo is pretty damn hot!! The portions are big too. I shared the curries, bread, and rice with my girlfriend and we had leftovers. There is a very small parking lot behind the restaurant but it only has maybe ten stalls, which are shared by neighboring businesses. Every time I ate here the lot was full and I had to find street parking.
(4)Donna A.
Best Indian food on Oahu. Very tasty and flavorful! Roti is excellent! Lassi is the bomb but wish was in bigger size! Staff needs to smile more though but food makes up for it! Good portion sizes and love the decor!
(4)Daniel H.
Love this place. Food is awesome. Our favorites include: Shrimp coconut korma, shrimp tikka masala, chicken saag, biryani with chicken, biryani with coconut shrimp and butter vegetable masala. We actually have a xeroxed copy of their menu, and have been trying something different everytime we visit. Our goal is to at least try everything once. We dined in only twice because the parking is very limited, service is slow, the dining area is a little cramped and it's too smokey. Something that's novel when dining in here, is their television, with sort of an Indian MTV being played on screen. They open at 5, and there's a line forming at around 4:50. They don't accept reservations, so if you want to dine in I suggest you get there about 4:30 to secure a parking stall either behind the restaurant, or metered parking along the street, or free parking in the residential area. I now take-out all my food from here. I call in at about a minute after 5. They won't accept orders before then. I live in Salt Lake, so I drive there after I make the call. With slight afternoon and weekend traffic, I get there a little before my food is ready. I double park in the back and my wife goes in and picks up the food. The drive home is a killer - the warm aroma from the prepared meal, plus the mystery and excitement of new dishes makes us crazy in anticipation. The amount of food is fairly generous. There's enough for the both of us to eat it twice in the evening. And still have leftovers for the both of us the following day. Oh, and don't forget to order extra naan bread. We like the plain one. There's always a surplus of gravy and sauce, and they're perfect for dipping with the bread, especially when the sauce is all that's left.
(5)Food C.
First of all it is not an Indian restaurant, it is a Bangladeshi restaurant disguised as an Indian restaurant. Secondly, the portions are small and the seating even smaller. Thirdly there is no parking. Fourth, the service is slow. Finally the prices are exorbitant and certainly not value for one's money. But, for those who will eat anything in the name of genuine Indian food, this place is for those ignorant customers.
(1)Elizabeth N.
I'm giving them a good review because my entire family loved them. I was having serious issues breathing and let me tell you... if you like spicy things this place is definitely for you. I mean, by the end of this visit not only could I breathe again but my sinus' were clear! I wasn't the biggest fan of the tables because I have a toddler and the top piece isn't connected to the table so he kept trying to push it but the decor was nice and I really liked the cups. Also, the mango lassi was my favorite!! It's a yogurt drink - I would go there just for that! :) So, now, I need to take my husband there since he couldn't come with the rest of us last time and he loves spicy food :)
(4)Dana B.
Everything here is delicious! The service tends to be pretty bad, but the food makes it worth it!
(4)Doris D.
I don't know what happened to this place but my last experience was extremely disappointing. I've been here several times and gave it five stars before, it's really good. So last night I expected a really long wait per the usual custom but this time was different - the long wait was because of disorganization, not because it was packed! So we waited about 1 - 1.5 hours outside, and we go in when it seemed like our names were going to be called soon. We go in and there were at least 3-4 tables empty! The first dinner rush was over and their turn over was a mess, tables weren't bused and waiters were nowhere to be seen. One guy waiting was super pissed and was arguing with the manager and a waiter because they gave a table to a party whose name was called but they left - then they came back and the management honored their table, not cool - if your name is called and you're not there, SOL, next! Several waiting parties were just standing there looking pretty pissed because of the empty tables, including us. We were finally seated after 15 minutes (tables empty, mind you), and we had to wait another 15-20 minutes to get our orders taken (we told the manager we were ready to order the second we sat down and he said "just a minute". Waiters nowhere to be seen (I had seen at least 2 waiters working while I was waiting), only the manager rushing around doing everything like a chicken with his head cut off. Ok, then we waited for our food, around 10-15 minutes (fine). I ordered the chicken saag, served lukewarm. I always love the saag but the temperature was unusual and disappointing. My husband ordered the lamb vindaloo, 7/10 spicy, and it was NOT spicy at all and lacked the depth of flavor we were used to at Maharani. We ordered the garlic naan and butter naan, which were excellent and came out hot. Oh, and there was a gnat in my water. We told the waiter and he was like, oh I'll get you another one! No water subsequently came. What happened to this place!! New management? We did not recognize the manager or the waiters and we have been here numerous times. The atmosphere was soo lacking too, the bustle and warmth is gone, and all we felt was the panicked stricken vibe of a really stressed out manager.
(3)Rick H.
Stopped in last Tuesday night for dinner. We usually go on the weekend, but happened to be in town during the dinner hour. As usual the food was outstanding! Hot Naan bread with excellent raita! The Chicken Masala Curry was great as was the Dal and rice. Overall the food is consistently five star when we eat here. I gave Maharani just four stars because of service can be less than "as good as it get." It just always seems they're one or two people under-staffed for the level of slam-busy they usually are. The team is always friendly and accommodating, but could use some help. I enjoyed my meal and will certainly go back. I encourage anyone looking for a great Indian meal to try Maharani- just be ready for a little wait.
(4)Richard K.
This place was a find. Being a tourist, it was great to find a great Indian restaurant. The vibe in this place was cool, hip, and colorful. It was very small, so I could imagine at peak hours there could be a wait. The waitress was a delight. She was very personable and her mom even went to the same law school as me in San Francisco. For food, she turned us on to this sweet curry that had apples in it. I am blanking on the name. We took a bite and it was incredible. I have a thing for those sweet curries. Their butter chicken was also excellent. Next time I come to Hawaii, I will definitely be making a return stop to this place.
(4)Utkarsh P.
Having tasted Indian food in India and then in London, followed by New York and Los Angeles, I have to say Cafe Maharani ranks among the best that I have ever had. The Naan is so fresh it reminds me of roadside restaurants in India called Dhabas. The Chicken Tikka Masala is so elegant it reminds me of the homestyle restaurants in London. The Gulab Jamun are not too sweet, and not too soft, they are just right. We have the Mango Lassi every time and it goes perfectly with the spiciness of the food. The shells of the Samosas are crunchy and the insides are hot and spicy. Try the Lamb Samosa! Yes, you have to wait a while to get seated if the party is bigger than 4. But I think the wait is worth it every single time. The only bad thing I can say about this restaurant is that sometimes when you get the bill they have already added a 15% tip to the total. It was just my wife and I dining and I thought they did that to groups of 5 or more. I'm not saying I wouldn't pay 15% tip, but what if I didn't have good service? I certainly wouldn't like to pay 15% tip for bad service. Other than that, it is a great restaurant with great food and a great atmosphere. It was a great find!
(5)A. L.
Best indian food I have had so far... Service here can be a hit or miss alot of times if u r not already pissed about waiting forever to get seated. your clothes will need a good wash after dining here. But besides that the food is fantastic!!!! ever so creamy masalas and delicious aromatic rice and samosas and naan are great!!! (sometimes u get the old naan and its not so great) but when its fresh its naantastic!
(4)Joseph M.
Maharani has amazing indian curry and naan! I love going to place to order take-out because waiting for a seat could take 30-60 minutes as they are only open for dinner. The food is authentic and amazingly delicious. It is close to UH Manoa and right by Longs Drugs on King Street. I had the Chicken Coconut Korma, which I have ordered like 4 times in a year and it's amazing! I love the sun-dried naan to go with it and it's sooo good for eating it now or as left-overs too. I like to go to this place multiple times a year!
(5)Wayne S.
Had another great experience last night only this time after scouting the place we brought along my mom. Our wait time was about 35 mins. I think the one big area they need to improve in is the effiency of cleaning and filling the tables. There were times when empty tables were just sitting unused when there were alot of people waiting. Had the lamb curry, a vegitarian dish and the chili chicken dish. YUM! Oh the yogurt drink was awesome its great to balance off the spicy chicken dish, we had the lemon drink. All in all we left really full and really happy.
(5)Scotty S.
Best Indian food ever. This is probably my favorite restaurant in Honolulu. The food is phenomenal, and the staff knowledgeable and personable. Just expect to wait an hour when you go... the food is so good, it's worth the wait.
(5)Sandy N.
I've always passed by this place and see a bunch of people waiting to be seated. I kept on telling myself I gotta try it one day, so this past weekend we did! We were pretty lucky since I put my name on the list, ran some errands, came back and we were the next people to be seated. Negatives: I don't like how the place smells, not a typical Indian restaurant smell. I don't know how to explain it. I also don't like drinking out of metal cups, the water has a metallic taste so I requested for a glass cup and they happily accomodated. Positives: Ok so the negatives were minor. We ordered the saffron rice, naan, chicken tikka masala and prawn saag. I didn't enjoy the prawn saag too much. I think it would've tasted better with lamb, but I'm not a fan of lamb. The prawns were boiled which seemed to ruin the dish. But oh boy, the chicken tikka masala was amazing! So flavorful and perfectly spiced. The rice was very tasty as well with all sorts of spices and lots of garlic. The naan was hot, soft and chewy. We barely could finish everything so that means leftovers for lunch. Perfect. Service was great, our waitress was friendly and helpful. I went to Taj Mahal about a month ago and though the chicken curry dish was cheapy tasting if that makes sense. I did not enjoy it one bit, lacked flavor and they used chicken thighs rather than breast. But our fish dish was quite delicious. I miss my favorite Indian place in LA called Addi's Tandoor but Maharani comes pretty close to it.
(4)Kevin C.
This place is so full of it.. full of deliciousness! Now there are several drawbacks to this place. Parking is very very very sparse. There is a parking lot right behind the restaurant. A parking lot of all 5 spots to fight over. So the next best solution is to find street parking, which we all know can be.. O_O. Also, the LONG wait this place never fails to have can be a big turn off. Came here on a Wednesday night with a party of 4 at 7:30PM. We were told the wait would be around 45-55 minutes. Ok that's that. We were seated and the waitress we ordered our food with said it would take 20 minutes for our food to arrive. We definitely waited longer... BUT ONTO THE FOOOOOD! Me and a friend split the chicken tikka masala and lamb saag. Tikka masala is a mixture of spices and various ingredients while saag is a spinach-based curry. The meat in both curries were cooked perfectly and tender. It was amazeballzzzz! We also ordered the 2 garlic naan and yellow rice to share amongst the four of us. Perfect amount, imo. My friend also ordered a mango lassi, but it never made it to our table somehow... mehhh. Needless to say, the four of us had to rolled out of the restaurant and then proceeded to die from the food babies we were about to give birth to. PS. I also enjoy watching the Bollywood numbers that play on the TV screens in the restaurant. :D
(4)Nathan N.
Excellent, excellent, excellent. There's a reason why this place is always packed. Parking is a challenge, so be prepared to walk a bit. There is a small parking lot in the back, but it only has 6 stalls. Start off with samosa and nan bread. You'll love the dill yogurt and tamarand sauces. The chicken korma is to die for. Other notable dishes are beef or lamb masala, the vindaloos, and the saffron rice is great. You'll fall in love with Maharani on the first trip. And don't forget to bring your own adult beverages!
(5)David J.
I came here not too long after my actual India trip. I have to be honest and say that my stomach turned a little bit after smelling the typical Indian spices! It brought back of all my great memories of travelling in India with Immodium AD in hand. Of course the food in India was good, but my stomach did not agree with it at all for multiple days at a time. Anyways, this has nothing to do with the review so moving on! This is a nice little restaurant on King street which the nice smell grabs your attention as soon as you walk nearby. You go inside and it's nicely decorated with Indian theme and give you a very nice ambiance. The food and the presentation is very nice as well. They were also playing Bollywood type music videos which was exciting in it of itself. They have a variety of Indian cuisines on the menu including Vegetarian and Non-Vegetarian dishes. You find your typical dishes here like Pakora, Indian Curry, Masala, Tikka, Tandoori baked items, Paneers, and of course Lassi. Had the vegetarian dinner for two and I had to say it was pretty good for not having any meat at all! The Dinner for two was combination of an appetizer, choice of two entrees, and dessert. I believe I had a Tofu Masala w/ Nan which was excellent, and a vegetarian Biryani which was packed full of very robust spices. The food was excellent, but again my stomach is a little weak when it comes to Indian food and I wasn't able to finish. Actually the dinner for two might've been fit for 4! Made for good leftovers! I thought the Dinner for two special was very reasonable at $45. The service was pretty good and the owner seemed to care about his customers. Overall great place to go for Indian Cuisine in Hawaii. I highly recommend this place. Except I'm good for another few month I think! My stomach can only take so much super spices at a time....
(4)Lisa N.
This place seemed pretty authentic. The decor was nice, although the place was just a tad too small, or 'cozy' an optimist might say. (the candles behind the 'waiting area' were really nice.) They had a pretty good variety of food, but the taste of all of it was pretty standard. We had the chicken masala, lamb curry, some kabobs, and the naan. Maybe we're lucky being from San Francisco, but honestly, this place was nothing special.
(3)Jennifer D.
They don't take reservations & they don't accept Amex, but we don't care because the food here is super delish! My husband insists that the nan bread here is the biggest and best in Honolulu.
(4)Stephanie L.
Hidden gem alert! As a native Californian, I'm used to having all types of cultural food at my disposal. So when I started craving Indian food, my friend recommended I try this place and I jumped at the next chance I got to make a visit. So glad I did! Some tips before coming here: 1) Call ahead to put yourself on the waitlist. The restaurant is small and the usual wait time is about 40 minutes. 2) BYOB but with a corkage fee of $1.50/person 3) There is only one unisex bathroom that is not the cleanest so maybe make a pit stop to Longs across the street beforehand if needed 4) If you end up having to wait, give your wine/beer to the staff to keep cool for you We ordered the Dinner for Two. The vegetables samosas came out hot and delicious with two sauces for dipping. Very delicious. We ordered the chicken tikka masala spicy. Perfect amount of heat and a generous portion to boot! Also very generous in the amount of rice that was given to the both of us. We upgraded to the cheese and garlic stuffed naan. Best decision ever!!! It was like an amazing cheesy bread stick to dip in the curry. Overall, a highly recommended Indian restaurant! I subtracted one star because service was EXTREMELY slow and inattentive. But the food was good enough to pardon them so that's saying something I guess :)
(4)Anisa Z.
Great food and they let you bring your own booze but the service is slow! We phoned ahead and still had to wait about 45 mins for a seat. We sat in the waiting area at the back and they gave three walk ins a table before us. The bathroom was gross too. We had the pizza samosa, garlic naan, cheese naan, coconut rice, saffron rice, butter chicken, chicken tikka masala and chicken korma. We all had mango lassis. All the food apart from the coconut rice was great. The coconut rice didn't taste anything like coconut.
(4)Scott R. D.
Cafe Maharani is the best Indian restaurant on Oahu. By far. It can be expensive if you order only ala carte. However, if you do like Cynthia A and order a complete meal and another dish it's enough for two and reasonable. The only downside I find is that it's always crowded and service can be a little slow. Even so, we've made it in and out before going to the movies at the now demolished Varsity around the corner. The wait staff is always nice. The naan is wonderful and huge!
(5)Meg M.
It's not too often that the food outweighs all other aspects of a restaurant but it happened at Cafe Maharani. Both times I have been here, the Indian cuisine has been absolute BLISS! The service was awesome the first time I went but the second time it wasn't so hot. It didn't even matter though, the food was so great that I left smiling. I love Thai food and Indian is a close second but I haven't had any good Indian food since coming to Hawaii. This place was excellent AND they even had a bigger veg selection then my favorite Boston Indian spot. A couple of tips for eating here: - Get there right at 5pm and make sure all members of your party are present- they won't usually seat partial parties - GET GARLIC NAAN! It's amazing and compliments the food better than the plain butter naan. - They give choke rice as one order- enough for 2-4 people - The orders are BIG! The perfect amount of food for 4 people was the veggie appetizer platter, one order of rice and two main dishes... unless you want leftovers! - BYOB! (beers and red wine both pair really well with most of the food options!) - Pay attention to the Chef Specialties/ starred items on the menu... they really are the best! - I've heard complaints about parking but I just parked at Longs across the street.... legal? hope so! This is a great date place or hangout with friends.... the tables are cozy and the decor is authentic. Oh and the Indian music videoes on in the background? PRICELESS, just another unique touch that gives Cafe Maharani character. My only complaint is that when I went shopping afterward my pants size definitely increased...
(5)C D.
Food is amazing, but discovered tonight that even though we arrived and listed our names on the list, when people came in who were friends withy the host and spoke same language as he did, he skipped us and seated them before us. Wouldn't be such a hiccup if the wait wasn't already an hour. So 1.5 hours later, we were finally seated. This would have gotten a higher rating because the good is good, but don't appreciate being "skipped". Why have a list if it's. It being honored
(3)C V.
Best indian food i ever had!!! Great service and food i highly recommend this place.
(5)Lani T.
Just to update... After writing about my horrendous review of the place, validated by other fellow Yelpers, I was contacted by the owner via Yelp Messaging. It really came as a surprise, mainly for 2 reasons: 1) Most owners don't care to respond to bad reviews. Especially for a business this successful despite whatever negative experiences people have had. 2) I was contacted by someone other than the yelling angry man that not only I but most everyone else who has visited the restaurant assume is the owner. He apologized, said that the other guys should not have acted like that and offered to make my beloved Eggplant Tikka for me! Now... I've only met this guy once in person and for a very brief moment, but I gathered the following evidence: 1) He genuinely cares about how his customers are being treated. 2) You can tell he takes pride in his business and his food. 3) He's quite young for being a successful business owner! 4) He's SUPER DUPER NICE! While it doesn't change the past and I will probably always remember how I was treated that night by the guy who runs the front, I am forced to rethink my 1 star review. It's not because of the free dish (although it was a BONUS!) but because: 1) Their food is amazing! 2) All restaurants/businesses have their flaws but as foodies and people in general we have to be understanding of the fact that sometimes a bad night is just a bad night! 3) Also, sometimes the people who run the place don't always know everything that's going on. But to be fair I think that goes for most any business in any sector and industry. I'm not saying that service is going to be super fast or that you'll always get a table when you want it, but one bad experience shouldn't deter you from putting awesome food into your belly! Hopefully service gets better but the cooks in the back are doing their job so darn well! I will be back but probably only for take out! :D On a side note, along with the Eggplant Tikka, try the Fish Masala and Garlic Naan! SOOOO GOOD! :D
(4)Jonathan L.
Indian food!!! My friends were raving about this place and I never really had Indian food other than India Cafe which was not that good. Decided to try this place and the food was pretty bomb. The only bad thing was that the place was so damn hot. The spicy food didn't help either. The wait was pretty long about 30 minutes. The restaurant is pretty small so don't expect to have a huge dining area. We got the dinner for two and the afghan naan. We barely ate anything and we still had a lot of food left. After we were done we still could make two full boxes. The naan was giant. It was about the size of a costco pizza and then some. It was pretty good dipped in the medras lamb sauce or the chicken sauce. Delish! The chicken/lamb to sauce portion was just right. The service was okay they kept refilling our water. The only problem was I had to ask for napkins twice and had to go up to the counter to ask for a box. I would def come back here again! too bad there is so little parking though.
(4)Lindbergh B.
If u are looking for the best Indian food in Hawaii, then this is the place! However, the service is terrible. It was my friend's bday and she called 25 minutes beforehand to be on the waiting list since they don't take reservations. When we all arrived, we checked in and waited outside to be called, which is normal. But after seeing others get seated before us and waiting close to an hour, they forgot about us! When we finally got seated, 30 minutes till closing, the manager didn't even apologize but made it seem that we were just an inconvenience to his night. They rushed our orders and expected us to finish quick. We enjoyed the delicious food but it was overshadowed by awful experience and service.
(3)Bj U.
My mouth just about fell off when i ate here... Here we have an Indian food restaurant.... ladies and gentleman... My ex girlfriend would be so proud of me for finding such a great restaurant =) however if she wasn't such a .......good person....... maybe she would have been here to enjoy this with me today :) MOVING ON ---------- The food, the spices, the way all of the meat were cooked deliciously, moist, tender, every dish i threw in my mouth was absolutely incredible i didnt want it to stop! SHAHI CHICKEN KORMA and LAMB MASALA CURRY -- GET IN ME!!! my passion for food has brought me to an all time high here with a raging party in and around my mouth... add some yellow rice, and everything in the universe seemed to be in its rightful place.. i closed my eyes while eating and got lost in a mystical food world.... then i just about died a little when my waiter came and woke me asking if i would like more water -_- .... waiters... they are never there when u need them but always there when you dont. oh well all good things must come to an end eventually.. as i push my final plate i realize that life is rather short.... and my breaks for work are even shorter... 36 minutes late for work and not single excuse came to mind.. well played Maharani..... well played...
(5)Sasha Y.
just had dinner here tonight, we ordered combination dinner for 2: karahi lamb & spicy tandoori chicken kebab masala & 2 vegetable samosas& 2 naan & rice, the food was awesome! service was good, BTW, we did NOT get charged for takeout boxes. Like what everyone else says, expect to be sitting right next to other people; no privacy at all. 1 star off for that. Ideally, they could expand to a double sized space. omg! I'm so stuffed now!
(4)Corina J.
The food is great. I love Indian food and this is the best I've had on the island. Coconut chicken Korma is my favorite, even though I usually prefer spicier food. The first time my boyfriend and I went we had to wait about an hour. Expecting that, we went again last night, and yet we were extremely disappointed. I didn't get my drink until the meal was almost over, and it was almost impossible to call one of the waiters' attention to ask about my drink. I think they're under staffed, but that doesn't excuse the fact that we had to wait 20 minutes for our bill, and even then it wasn't a split transaction like we requested. I appreciate that they didn't charge me for my drink, but the service was truly lacking. From now on it's take out for me; the service isn't worth the wait.
(3)Clarissa S.
Dammmmmmmnnnnn, son. I hail from the South Bay Area, the Silicon Valley, the land of Indian techies, and mad ethnic food. Btw, why can't I get any African food on Island? Shit is bomb. Whatever. Cafe Maharani is pretty bomb, too. Anyways, we came here for my husband's birthday. Fool loves him some curry. Like, his nickname is Curry Kris. When we lived in the land of computers and curry, we'd eat Indian food at least 2x a week. So, of course for his birthday we had to come to Cafe Maharani. Special occasion and all, we even got a babysitter. So we got here around 6 and it was packed beyond hell. They said a 20 minute wait, which was obviously going to be closer to an hour so we bummed around Down to Earth. Eventually we were sat, and ordered a crapload of food immediately. We had paneer paratha, chicken kebabs, hella spicy chicken vindaloo, palak paneer, veda, and they were even nice enough to specially make us some onion pakoras. Everything, along with a chai tea cost about $75ish w/o tip. Hella stuff, I know. But it was his birthday. I can't tell him to reel it in. I gotta say, we absolutely enjoyed everything we ordered. We didn't eat a lot of it, because it was enough food for 6, but we're still enjoying it a few days later. Seriously, can't wait to go back and try some other yum yums.
(5)Matt M.
I've been here for two hours and haven't even received my food. Lost my appetite already.
(1)Christine E.
Every so often you come across places that makes you do the happy stomach dance and gives you dreams of all the future visits you plan to have :) This is one such place. After hearing such good things from friends and coworkers I figured I give this place a try. I knew about the long waits, so I planned ahead. I got there early on a Friday, at around 5:45 and was seated right away. We got the meal for two. $40 for vegetable samosas, rice, 2 entrees, and naan? Yes please! And did I mention the entree sizes were enough to stuff your face AND have lunch for two the next day?...niiice. We had the lamb saag (its lamb in creamy spinach so it looks like spit up from a llama, but its sooooo good!). We also had the chicken sathi korma...yum! Not real spicy, just yummy and creamy curry goodness. I also tried the indian rose lassi (like and indian milkshake! Im assuming it tastes similar to drinking kaffir). We upgraded our naan to garlic naan. Its garlic, on naan....there really is no going wrong here. The food is delicious, prices are reasonable, the food came out quickly, anddd the cups and dishes and ambiance in general is ridiculously cute. Im a huuuge fan! Cant wait to go back! :)
(4)Neha A.
My family and I chose this restaurant based on the Yelp reviews. We were extremely disappointed with the food and service. We are of Indian descent so we were craving some Indian food while on vacation. We found the food to be too sweet. I guess they cook to accommodate the taste buds of the locals here, but true Indians will be disappointed with the flavors of the curries.
(1)Will B.
This is some seriously good Indian food. It's the nice-restaurant kind, too -- curries that are heavy on the sauce, enormous samosas and naan, and many meat options. You won't find comfort-food daal here. It's also BYOB. We had lamb vindaloo and biryani, chicken tikka masala, tandoori fish, and some delicious eggplant curry (and this from someone who generally doesn't like eggplant). I heartily recommend all of it. We were too stuffed at the end to even imagine dessert. As you'll read in other reviews, the food arrives slowly. The (very blunt) waiter warned us that the kitchen was slow, and even then we were surprised at how long it took (on a Monday evening). The waiters did their best to keep up with things, but they were a bit overwhelmed, and I had to ask three times for a water cup. So be prepared to spend an hour and a half at least, but for food that's worth the wait! There was also a long line of people waiting to be seated. I saw several couples come in, ask how long the wait was, and leave. I recommend calling ahead to get your name on the waiting-to-be-seated list. Or wait until your friends are already seated, and then show up. :-)
(4)Savannah P.
I was excited to take my mom here for dinner when visiting and we just so happened to be missing our own Indian food and needed a fix! Our tummies made us drive over to Cafe Maharani. I really wish I could say I've experienced better to be in line with the 3-5 star reviewers. After my 2 time visit (once with friends and the most recent time with mom) I will say I've given this establishment one too many chances and another one is simply not warranted primarily for both food and service. Here's why (based on most recent visit with mom): We had gotten there at nearly 6pm; by then the wait line was already pretty long. Being it awkward & impolite to stare at hungry patrons chowing down on hot naan and curry and stand near the front door, we decided to wait outside to be called to come in. Finally after being called we found ourselves a table and then later being told to bring our tables back (closer towards the window) in order to make space for a larger party of 6 who came in after and sat directly in front of us. After adjusting, and shuffling ourselves into place, we finally got down to business and ordered a side of saffron basmati rice, tandoori chicken tikka which was accompanied with a side order of plain naan and an order of chana masala for our vegetarian option. As I began to get my grub on, here's when everything went haywire: -The saffron rice was placed on our neighbors table (we figured they had ordered it too). Unknowingly, they had touched it and dug in, since it looked pretty darn good and delicious of course! Touched and tampered with, our unknown neighbors asked us if we ordered rice and we said yes. I told them not to worry about it and they could have it and we could order another one. They mentioned it to the waiter and the waiter took that rice and placed it on our table. That's a big NO NO for me or any restauranteur. The food should always be served fresh and untouched to patrons upon every order. Next... *drum roll please* -I spotted a human hair, it either appeared to be an eye lash, nostril hair or you know *ahem* that type of hair just chillin', yea in my plate! Either way whatever type of hair might it have been, might I say... G R O S S ! I immediately told the waiter and asked for a clean plate. Because he was so "busy" he simply just nodded and carried on. After waiting for about what felt like 7 & 1/2 minutes, I got up and asked the gentleman (who appeared to be the owner/manager) at the front that I had requested for a clean plate and the gentleman said he would attend our table. He came to our table and asked what was wrong. We told him the 2 incidences and then brought back a bowl of fresh rice, and a new plate. By this time, the poor tandoori sizzling chicken had gotten cold. *Insert sad face here* To add, the tandoori chicken wasn't very well seasoned. The marinade appeared outside the chicken so it was just marinade on the outside with bland white meat. To add injury to further disappointment it seemed as though they were perhaps trying to finish off old butter chicken sauce. Why I say that? Well it's because our channa masala had butter chicken gravy in it *smdh* Channa masala is supposed to be wayyyyy different than butter chicken. The manager mentioned that he would take an item off the bill, which was nice touch to make up for it and removed the $4.99 saffron rice dish from our bill but it still didn't make up for the disappointing experience. Overall, it was a poor experience from the get go & a dislike for the taste of food was just another contributing factor. I'm Indian and an Indian knows what GOOD Indian food is supposed to taste like and how it should be prepared. If you don't know, please don't make other patrons fools just to make a quick buck. It's such an embarrassment to Indian cuisine. Portions are pathetic for dinner, prices are a-wall & the food doesn't cut it to be REAL indian food; it's anything but real. Maybe the *only* good factor about this place is that you can byob.
(1)Jamie R.
This was a convenient option as I am vegetarian and vacationing with a group that is not. We chose this place because of their good reviews on yelp and we were quite satisfied with the food. We all split the vegetable somosas and I got the 48, vegetable korma. The two critiques I have is that they answered the phone unprofessionally, not identifying themselves as virtually all other restaurants would. Also, they did not label the dishes which made it difficult to identify the dishes that had meat and distinguish them from those that did not. Thus, they get 4 stars. Very good food and average service.
(4)Traveler V.
the staff is very rude, I had to wait for Naan for 30 mins, they should hire more people to work , food is blunt and not healthy at all, I woudnt suggest to go there, I would rather go to Taco bell or subway instead of going there, Supper Expensive
(1)Allison D.
Holy cow. I'd been looking for a good Indian place and I found it! My boyfriend and I went here on a coworker's recommendation. We hadn't eaten much that day so we showed up around 5, right when they open. There were already people waiting outside! I was impressed. They play Bollywood which is fun to watch while waiting for your food. Everything is served family style so we got one of the "dinner for 2" combo's. Their naan is SO good! I could've eaten just that. The samosas were nice and crisp. A little spendy - it was about $50 for 2, this place is definitely some of the best Indian food I've ever had.
(4)Nicki D.
This place is definitely overrated! It caters to non-Indian people way more than Indians. The waiter in the dark glasses has no sense of customer service. It took him a good 2 mins to acknowledge us when we entered the restaurant. After that, he continued to be rude to us. Unfortunately, we had a party of 5, which means gratuity is automatically added. Therefore, he had no reason to be a good server. Definitely would not come back! The food was good, but not great.
(2)Marc K.
After passing this place for many years my partner and I tried it out for our anniversary dinner. I have eaten Indian food in San Francisco, London, Johannesburg, and many other places (alas I have not yet been to India itself) and I can say Maharani is not bad, I can only imagine some of the other places in Hawaii. It takes foot traffic and volume to assure the food is fresh and Maharani has almost enough traffic to guarantee that. We went on a Saturday evening at 5:35 and found the place almost full already -- generally a good sign -- and by the end of our meal the place was booming with long waiting crowds for take-out as well as awaiting seating. Needless to say the time taken to get a menu, get a glass of water, have our order taken, have the food appear was quite long, but then again one would expect this in a small place where it must be quite easy to overwhelm the kitchen. Parking is not a problem, as I live quite nearby and enjoyed a nice stroll to get there. So what about the food? Well the first troubling sign is there were almost no smells from the kitchen -- a tandoori chicken arrived at a nearby table and emitted no smell at all. I often judge a restaurant by what smells it produces and this restaurant has almost none. This is very odd for an Indian restaurant. And comparing it with nearby Da Spot restaurant, the contrast is pretty amazing! 1. BREAD - Naan bread was excellent. Frankly this was the star of the meal. Fresh, piping hot and succulent only as bread fresh from a hot tandoori can be! Terrific Definitely 5-stars. 2. CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA - Not bad, but lacking in much complexity. The chicken was clearly not simmered in the curry but added later. For Hawaii it was good, for serious Indian food it was 3-stars. 3. LAMB SAAG - This is one of my favorite dishes. I can say the lamb was tender and high quality but again the meat did not taste as it had been simmered in its spices or sauces before being added to the dish. The spinach had been pureed half to death as it was almost a liquid. (Love those magic bullets!) But hey it looked more like baby food than a serious Indian dish. 3-stars again. 4. VEG BIRYANI - Biryani is one of my favorite dishes. This dish was downright disappointing. Yes I know making biryani takes a long time and many steps to make properly. The last is to bake it in an oven to solidify the flavors with its "toppings". This version was just rice with some vegetables thrown into it. Very disappointing. 2-stars.(I am being generous here.) 5. RAITA - Ohmagosh, this was amazingly bad. I can open a cup of Safeway yogurt and call it raita as well! Zero-stars. For $3.50 I expect RAITA when I order it. 6. MANGO LASSI drink - Not bad but certainly not memorable. A bit thin for my taste. A bit weak for my taste. A bit too sweet for my taste. And hugely overpriced! Conclusion - Good food so far as South Asian food in Hawaii goes, portions are generous, but overpriced even for Hawaii (our dinner bill with tip was around $74 for 2) and, with the exception of the Naan bread, nothing sticks in my mind as particularly noteworthy or memorable. Frankly we could have had far better food, at one-third the price, next door at Da Spot, which serves a strange fusion of Arabic, South Asian and Southeast Asian dishes. I must say overall I am glad I tried out this place, but it'll probably be another 5 years until I return once again.
(3)Sarah B.
Delicious. Ate here with my family on a visit to Honolulu after reading all the Yelp reviews. It's true what they say - get here at 4:30 if you want to get in when they open at 5, otherwise its a crap shoot. I had the chicken tikka masala, which is my favorite dish, and it was delicious. I asked for "extra spicy" but the waiter said the way they serve it is as it should be, and I could have some hotter sauce on the side that I could add myself if I chose. That made me laugh, but he was right - it was delicious the way they served it. Rice was extra - I always find that ridiculous. The rice was fancy and not plain, however, so that made up for it a little bit. Garlic naan was delicious and fresh - really good. Portions were large - unfortunately my hotel did not have a microwave for re-heating the food, so I had to leave my lovely tikka masala behind :( Will definitely return next time I am in Honolulu.
(4)Ashwini b.
Good lord, this place is expensive + tasteless + crowded + bad service. We ordered the tandoori grilled plate with a big mix of chicken, lamb and shrimp, and it was the first time I've seen so much food look and smell so good, but taste so bland. All the meat was just white on the inside with no flavor, it's like they just grilled a bunch of meat then brushed on some sauces on top. Completely bland and flavorless tasting meat, of all kinds, Chicken Shish Kebab, Tandoori Chicken, Chicken Maslsa/Malai, even the shrimp! I really can't stress enough how bad this stuff was, and ALL the non-veg, not one style was done right. The paneer tikka masala had the same problem, the paneer was bland, but the sauce was good. The service is super slow, and the wait for a table is at least 45 mins on a busy night. They also charge ridiculous prices. They even charged me for a side plate of onions/chillies, which most places just give you (it's like a condiment). The naan was good though, that's why the two stars. This was the first Indian restaurant I've been to in Hawaii so I'm not sure if this is par for the course, if it is then I can understand all the positive reviews. If not then avoid!! -An Indian food fan from the Bay Area
(2)Arjun D.
If you know good Indian food this is not the place for you!!! All the dishes tasted the same. In addition the white meat is not white at all. Requested spicy and there wasn't any spice. The rice was ok, as was the garlic naan. The wait to get the food was ridiculous. Waited for over an hour for the food and the prices were too high for the quality of the food. Avoid this place at all costs!
(1)Al D.
Maharani is the best Indian restaurant on Oahu. All hail the king!
(4)Naomi L.
Om nom nom - what delicious Indian food! Again, like the kinda food snob attitude towards Thai food, after spending 6 weeks in India - my standards are raised for the right combination of spices and flavors. For the limited amount of what I ate, it was wonderful! I'd always seen this place while driving down King, and often have seen a nice line forming and wanted to stop by. Kudos to my friend for suggesting we meet up for dinner here! For $27 we got veggie samosas, garlic and butter naan, and veggie korma. Not too shabby for Indian food at a restaurant and there was so much that both of us had leftovers for a 2nd meal. The parking lot behind the place on Hausten St. has like 7 spots and is shared with Subway customers. I got a spot, but this was at 5:50pm on a weekday. Honestly, it's not even really worth it to try to find a spot back there. Next time, I'll just wait until 6:30 and park on the street! The service is slow, which is really nice if you want to have a long/romantic evening or are enjoying the company of your friend(s). However, this is not so nice if you're waiting cuz you'll be waiting for quite a while! It might help them to have some more 2 person tables as there were plently of 2 seaters taking up a 4 spot table. Then again, I don't think all the food would fit on a smaller table... hmmm decisions... Everything came out fresh and tasty. I did not like, however, that the server accidentally brought us another table's salad thing. We weren't sure, so we ate it. Then he came by again and asked us if we wanted to pay for it. Friend and I didn't want to make a fuss, so we said "sure." Then he came by later and said they'd take care of it. I don't think either of us would mind paying for it, but that's a bit odd since the rule usually goes that the restaurant usually pays for it when they make a mistake... Whatever, we still left a nice tip. I will be back Cafe Maharani and I will sure to be back on a random weekday close to when you open up! The food is worth waiting for, but I'd rather come a bit earlier than stand around and wait for other people to finally get up and leave their table :p
(4)Mike Y.
I love me some Indian food so I was excited to try this place. Only did take out and this place was packed!!! We got here 15 min after it opened (opens at 5pm), apparently there was a line outside the door waiting for it to open. What we ordered: Samosas - the filling was excellent, perfectly fried, Lamb masala curry - tasty Butter chicken - This tastes different than any other butter chicken I've had before. It was spicier than other places and the sauce wasn't as creamy as I would have expected Paneer tikka masala - Yum Garlic and regular naan - I wasn't too crazy about the naan here. It seemed a little too thick. I've had much better. I'm a little sad that they don't serve one of my favorite dishes, ALOO GOBI. How disappointing. Come on guys, that's dish is ridiculously good! Parking is typical for Hawaii... The waiting area to be seated or to wait for take-out orders is standing room only (2 chairs don't really count) Oh yeah, good luck finding the nondescript bathroom door in the back hallway... Overall, I'd give this place 4 stars for the food and 2 stars for the wait. I just lost about an hour of my life standing against a wall for takeout.
(3)Thomas E.
Always a good dinner choice. I'll often get the tawa chicken and the chicken masala. I'll also get the regular naan with yellow rice. This place has turned me on to great Indian food. Love it.
(5)Hayden N.
Long wait!!! It took an hour and a half to be seated. Lacking staff, seems that two people take the order, wait and bus tables. I was so hungry by the time that we received our food that I can't judge the quality because I just wanted to satiated. We had order the two entrees dinner: Samosas, Chicken Tikki Masala, Lamb Vindaloo, and asked for garlic naan. I would have to give them prop for the samosas, one of the best I have tried. We were extremely disappointed to get plain naan. On top of that, we asked for the Lamb Vindaloo to be hot, as spicy as they could make it and it didn't even have a kick at all. We had leftover, I decided to judge it the next day when I wasn't as starving, but I still rate it as decent. I would eat there again, but not if the wait to be seated continues to be that long.
(3)Melissa M.
Arrived early so that we could get a table. About 5 tables were seated right when they opened and service was a little slow....however, the waiter was extremely friendly and helpful. We ordered a aloo chaat for an appetizer- amazing! For entrees we ordered the butter chicken and chicken biryani. The chicken biryani ca,e out with shrimp instead of chicken but it was tour benefit because it was great and complemented the butter chicken nicely. We also had 1 order of garlic naan. Needless to say, we left very full and extremely happy. I am excited to go back and try some other dishes.
(4)Andrew H.
Naan!!!!! MY favorite Indian place to eat.
(4)Yav A.
This place is very good for an Indian restaurant in Hawaii. A lot of their entrees include naan.Their naan is incredible. We ordered the rogan josh, shrimp tikka masala, lamb seekh kabobs, choley and boneless tandoori chicken boti. Rogan Josh gets 4.5 out of 5 Shrimp tikka masala gets 4.5 out of 5 Lamb seekh kabobs get 3.5 out of 5 Choley gets a 3.5 out of 5 Garlic naan - 5 out of 5 Onion Kulcha gets 5 out of 5 Boneless Tandoori chicken boti - 4.5 out of 5. The wait to enter can range from 40 minutes to two hours. I would recommend carrying out food. Service was excellent once you are seated in the restaurant. Parking is extremely limited!
(4)Dali H.
Love love love this place! their AC doesn't work very well, and you're assured a wait ....but the wait is worth it! Vindaloo (mMMMMMmmmmmmMMMM) and there is nothing at this place that I have not liked so far. $$ is very very good serving staff is okay...(that's kind of hit or miss) but the food makes me go back again and again (oh, and if you're a young, cute, good looking gal, you'll be assured front of line seating and a very attentive waitstaff!) Just make sure you don't park in the long's parking lot....you will get a ticket! :( not the highpoint of my evening out!
(5)Dani M.
Still loving the place, got my boyfriend addicted, too - it was his first try at Indian food. However, I hate the fact that they put an extra row of tables in the place. The place is tiny as is and now it feels like the whole row of tables is one big party. I did not really imagine my birthday dinner to be spent 3 inches from a stranger...
(4)Ashiyan R.
Best Indian food in Honolulu.
(5)Stacie P.
This may be more shortest review yet since there's not much more to say about this place other than, "hot damn, this sh*t is good!" A couple of friends and I went to dinner at Cafe Maharani the other night. The idea came to us after one of us had tried to make chicken tikka masala at home only for it to turn out tasting like any other curry. So rather than waste any more time slaving over an oven trying to recreate Indian cuisine, we headed down to Cafe Maharani where they serve the best Indian food in town, hands down! We got there early, or so we thought, but when we arrived a few minutes before 5pm several others had the same idea as us and were waiting outside for them to open (5pm). As the saying goes, the early bird gets the worm, so when they opened a few minutes after 5, we were able to get a table and didn't have to wait; I suggest, as other reviewers have, to get there early. The last time I ate at Cafe Maharani was several years ago so I can't remember, for the life of me, what I ordered other than it was "damn good" and their naan bread was as big as my head. Their menu is extensive and for someone like me who is indecisive, it was overwhelming. Fortunately, though, my friend spotted a "dinner for 3 special" for $69.99 that made ordering easy. The special included a choice between 2 appetizers and 3 entrees. Unfortunately I have a short term memory and can't remember the names of the appetizers but for entrees we got the chicken tikka masala, the shrimp korma and a vegetable dish; everything was delicious but the korma was, by far, our favorite. Honestly, I would've been content with a never ending basket of naan that I could have used to soak up the delicious sauces from each dish. In addition to our "dinner for 3 special", we also ordered lassis. Initially we were going to order 3 mango lassis but I didn't think it made sense for us to all order the same flavor and thought, instead, we should sample different flavors but who was going to be the adventurous one? Thankfully someone other than myself conceded and was daring enough to order the rose flower lassi. If I have to say anything negative about this place is that I wouldn't order the rose lassi, again. We ordered so much food that we each walked out of the restaurant with a doggie bag and plans to eat our leftovers for lunch the following day but none of us were complaining of having to eat more Indian food. I guess my review didn't end up being short but when something is good, you gotta give credit where credit is due; Cafe Maharani was as good as I remember. For anyone thinking about going, I suggest keeping the following in mind: 1) BYOB , 2) parking is limited; there's a small lot behind the restaurant for a handful of cars, otherwise it's street parking 3) get there early otherwise be prepared to wait, otherwise, ENJOY!
(5)Santhosh L.
Worst service. Waited by the door for 5 minutes, even though 3 waiters walked past us, they did not even care to say a word. We waited for 10 min after penning my name in the sign sheet. Even though about 2 or 3 tables cleared out, the waiters did not even bother to clean them or offer the waiting customers a table. Poor crowd management. We did not like it one bit and walked out.
(1)Maulin R.
So far best in Honolulu... I just wish the guy at counter had little less attitude. WE tried it twice and it was great both time... food was little oily but hey its Indian food.
(5)Ira J.
I really enjoyed Cafe Maharani this evening. Five of us met for dinner at 6pm. We decided to go early so we wouldn't have to wait. Well apparently, 6pm is not early enough to beat the crowd. But the food was well worth the 45 minute delay! We pretty much just ordered 7 random dishes. Every single one of them was delicious! I don't remember the names of the dishes we ordered, and it probably doesn't matter. Just pick stuff that has stuff in it that you like. That plan worked well for us. The decor and atmosphere felt quite authentic. The dining room is pretty small and they crowd in the patrons, but that does not detract from the experience. It actually seems to add to the authenticity. I mean, don't you think a good café in Mumbi might be small and crowded as well? We enjoyed every bite, but we didn't finish every bite. There were enough leftovers to make two or three more meals. I'm already looking forward to lunch tomorrow! So go early and go hungry, but go to Cafe Maharani! You will enjoy.
(5)Niki F.
Delicious. I see why people put up with the wait. I've driven past this place for years and never gave any serious thought into making the effort to wait and find parking. We finally decided to go when my boyfriend's friend, who works there, told us about the tedious care that goes into the dishes by the family that runs the restaurant. According to him, in order to keep their family recipes authentic, just a few family members do majority of the cooking. After trying the food, let me tell you, you sure can taste the lovin' comin out of that tandoori oven! Yum! Well worth the effort. What we ordered: veggie samosa chicken tikka masala lamb masala saffron rice cheese stuffed naan Really liked every thing but my faves were definitely the chicken tikka masala and the cheese stuffed naan. Mmmm, the chicken tikka masala was creamy, tomato-ee, and had a nice depth of spices that came off a little floral. The naan was warm and soft with a hot, gooey layer of delicious cheese in the middle! On a side note, I love the heavy, clunky metal plates and cups they use! They really added to the experience. Just by looking around the restaurant and seeing servers scurrying and people standing around, I could definitely see how the complaints of other yelpers could be justified. We went in on a Monday night and it was busy! Maybe we just lucked out because fortunately our service experience was pretty good. Bottom line, if you are patient and can put up with the semi-chaotic atmosphere, please do, your tastebuds will be happy you did!
(5)Teigh L.
luck was on our side on NYE. we got street parking right in front of the restaurant the instant we got there. wait time for a table was just 5 minutes, even though they told us 20. food was very good... the portion sizes were huge! ordered the dinner for two and have enough leftovers for another night's dinner. the naan can feed four, maybe more! and when they say spicy, the mean it! would have given 5 stars if the service was just a bit better.... it wasn't bad, just a little slow.
(4)Anjali V.
The inside of the restaurant is dim and there are two televisions that play loud Bollywood music. The decor could be a little better but I guess that just adds to the uniqueness of this restaurant. The vegetable korma was absolutely delicious! It was spicy, but not too spicy, which is perfect for a picky eater like me. It tasted good with the paneer stuffed naan, but you can eat it plain without any curry. The paneer tikka masala was also pretty good with saffron rice. The food here was really good but you should probably go with some friends because the portions are big. Also, Cafe Maharani is very small so it's best to call and check in with the restaurant if there's any seating area left.
(5)Stephanie C.
I'd wanted to go to this place for such a long time because of all the good reviews I've read about it, not to mention the line of people I see waiting outside everytime I drive by. Now I realize that there is always a line outside because this is the slowest service I have ever gotten at any restaurant..ever. I kept thinking that they would probably rush us out being that there were so many people waiting but it was the opposite. It was almost as if they didn't want us to leave so that more and more people would wait. Don't get me wrong, the service was not bad in fact the staff were quite friendly but everything from the ordering to the check took forever. With that said, the food was good. Nothing in particular stood out but overall a really tasty meal and prices aren't bad.
(3)Sayo K.
Sigh.... believe or not, there is NO good Indian restaurant in my area OC, like NONE. Or I should say NO any Indian restaurant is outstanding... like everywhere is almost the same. So I kinda stopped looking for Indian food any more. I was taken to this restaurant by my local friends when I was visiting Hawaii. It sure was packed but hey! that means it's popular, right? I am not sure how long we had to wait because while waiting we were able to drink the wine that we brought and I was feeling good.. :) The food? No need to explain... everything we ordered was sooo delicious. I so hope they will open another one in SoCal!!
(5)Puka P.
Their combination dinner special for three could feed 6 girls! We even had some leftovers and were super full. Amazingly delicious.
(5)Alicia L.
There is a special place in my heart for indian food...so as part of our hawaiian vacation, my hubs and I had to make indian food a part of it. And we are glad we did! We visited this place once during our stay, and the food was excellent. We had the chicken tikka masala, garlic naan, chicken biriyani, and fish curry. All the dishes we had were great, except the tikka masala. I thought that was so-so. Nonetheless, they still deserve 5 stars for all their other excellent items. Chicken in the biriyani was exceptionally tender and flavorful, fish in the curry was juicy and fresh! I'd definitely come here again and would not hesitate to recommend this place to others.
(5)Rachel A.
This place is a real gem! I've been several times and was not disappointed once, the food is flavorful and makes my mouth water just thinking about it. Great food, reasonable prices, I think they should consider expanding cause waiting to be seated when you're starving makes the dining experience less pleasant, but overall, the best I've had.
(5)Kimberly L.
An unrelentingly brilliant 5 stars. How have I not reviewed Maharani yet? As their menu says, "Maharani" is an Indian word for Queen, in honor and perpetuation of their mother, they cook the dishes with the care and love the passed on. WIN! Everything on the menu is excellent (that I've tried so far). Everything tastes just as good if not better the next day for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. They use REAL spices here--none of that powdered stuff you buy in the grocery. When you eat the rice, you WILL bite down on whole cardamom pods and entire cloves of star anise. It IS that kind of place that doesn't skimp on ingredients. Order meat from the tandoor and you'll get a SIZZLING giant tray of meat with vegetables and spices. Everything comes super hot, and when you say "i want the spice 7/10," be prepared for something that IS actually 7/10 (unlike many many many other places whose "10 out of 10 spicy" is supposed to make your eyes water and skin boil but actually doesn't do squat!!! Guy and I waited here for a solid hour before being seated, and by the time we'd seen all the delicious foods waft by us from the kitchen we ended up ordering so much they had to move us to a 4-person table LOL! It was $70 with the tip but it was enough to feed us for breakfast, lunch, and dinner the next day! (So it was enough food for 8 people?) ... Chicken Tikka, some kind of slow-cooked eggplant tomatoey creamy stew, garlic naan, butter naan, a really really yummy rice, and a mixed tandoori meat grill platter. wow wow wow I'm sad I was so starving that I ate it so fast I didn't savor the tastes enough! Mango lassi was absolutely fabulously creamy, rich, thick, and tasted of real live juicey mango, even with ice in the cup. The portions are big! Plus the atmosphere really goes out of its way to make the place feel "Indian." I like the metal flatware and cups too. They don't skimp on the spices, use REAL spices, make everything like a caring grandmother cooking from scratch, and I'll be damned if they have enough customers waiting in line every night for them to open 3 more restaurants, but they don't. Guy was saying he wanted to open more branches FOR them, and I was like oh yeah? how are you going to cook this delicious food? They must stay small for a reason! They service their few tables with really really really yummy quality food. And yes it is totally worth the wait! I am salivating now as I write this review and I am sure I would be a much more frequent patron if the wait weren't so long for a table! Maharani, I am SO HAPPY you are in Hawaii!
(5)Tiffany E.
The food at Cafe Maharani is absolutely delicious! I've eaten there twice this week already. Then when I was sitting in there, I realized that I haven't yelped about it yet. So... my favorite curry that I've tried so far is the Eggplant Tikka Korma. It's a vegetarian dish, eggplant with a coconut curry. I'm not usually a vegetarian dish eater, and neither is my boyfriend or family, but we all enjoy this specific dish. The cheese stuffed garlic naan is also delicious. And the samosas are a great way to start the meal. I've tried the chicken and lamb samosas and they were both really good. Everything there is good, but for the sake of simplicity, I'm just naming my favorites. The restaurant itself is actually a pretty small place. The tables are really close, so if you have a problem with sitting next to people, you may get uncomfortable. They do allow you to BYOB though, so that can help a lot. I usually bring beer, but I often see people with a bottle of wine. Also, the wait for the food is pretty long usually, so just be ready for that. Some alcohol goes a long way in making the wait feel shorter and the place seem more spacious. The flavor of the food is well worth the wait though. Recommended for sure!
(5)Catherine L.
I have been craving Indian food for a while and am so glad that this place is so close to where I live! I have had better Indian food on the East Coast and in Africa, but this is pretty good for Hawaii. I took my friend here to introduce her to Indian cuisine, so we ordered some pretty basic dishes. The garlic naan and saffron rice were delicious as usual and went perfectly with the chicken tikka masala and saag paneer. Both dishes, although usually mild, had a very tiny kick to them, which I loved. The best part though was that there was enough for me to take home and eat for the next 2 days! What a great deal. The only complaint I have is that the employees seemed a little overwhelmed because it was so busy when we arrived and as a result, it took our waiter a while to get to our table to take our order. Regardless, I will definitely be back!
(4)Rachel F.
Been here 3 times now and I swear they haven't disappointed yet. They have a wide selection of dishes and explain each of them. If you are going with someone I reccomend getting the Maharani dinner for 2.. They start you out with somosas or pakora (go for the somosas!!!!) and dill and chutney dipping sauces. For the dishes you can pick any 2 out (excluding the seafood) I'm a big fan of their Palak Paneer and their Chiken Tikka Masala. This is also served with naan, I usually upgrade to garlic naan ($.50) but thats just a preference. The Good: Great food, huge portions (dinner for 2 is more like dinner for 4) BYOB (though they have wine glasses if you brought wine) The bad: A bit pricy if you want more than one dish and an appetizer, TERRIBLE parking As a note you can't make reservations here but you can be added to the list over the phone if you're coming in that night to get faster seating.
(4)Kana T.
Their Tandoori Shrimp Malai Curry (#46 on the menu) is the best!! I can't get enough of their garlic naan, and their fish masala curry (#41) is delicious too (for those who like spicy) There was a chicken curry dish that the server recommended that I really liked, unfortunately I can't remember the name... I wish they had more parking, but their curry is definitely worth the hassle of looking for street parking. Make sure you go there early. Last time I was there, there were other people waiting even though the restaurant wasn't even open yet. By 5:30 or so the place was full, and by 6PM there was a line out the door! ****Update**** Went there again on a Sat. My friend and I got there around 4:45PM to secure parking, which we were able to do. There was seven different groups of people waiting by 5PM, yet the workers didn't open the doors until 5:06PM (minus 1 star) The two servers we had this time didn't seem too eager to help us figure out which dish we had before that were really good. Understandable, since they were busy, but maybe they would've had that extra minute to spend w us if they had set up and opened their doors on time? (minus 1/2 star) Lastly, we were asked to move to a smaller table since it was the two of us, and a family of four walked in. Now, I only sat at that four top because the waiter had told the customer in front of me to sit on the right side of the restaurant, and there were only four tops on the right side. We moved, but I started thinking (after no one in this family of four adults had the decency to thank us for moving) why we had to move, when we made a point to get here early so that we won't have to wait?? Once again, I can understand from the restaurant's stand point, but an additional -1/2 star for the experience. We tried the bread basket for the first time, and ordered 6 different types of naan: garlic, sun dried tomato, pesto, chili, mint, and parmesan cheese. My friend and I both liked the garlic and parmesan cheese, but agreed we probably wouldn't order the others again. I forgot this place is BYOB-remember to bring some nice drinks and a designated driver on your next visit!
(3)Nikki A.
I'm extremely familiar with Indian food. I've been making it regularly at home for years. Maharani's northern style Indian food use to be better. A year ago or so I would have given Maharani's a 4 star review. Lately, their food quality has gone down the tubes. It seems like they might even have a different set of cooks. The food is spiced differently than before. Seems like they've reduced the amount of spices in their food. The spices use to be intense and delicious now it seems bland. Also, the food has been sugary the last couple of times we ate there. This is the first Indian restaurant I've dined at where the savory items were sweet. I didn't enjoy it. The wait is long. Get your food to go, the portions seem larger and you'll eat sooner. I have a soft spot in my heart for Maharani's because we've had many good meals there in the past. Hopefully, things will change. I haven't given up on them yet. Although... I said that the last 2 times.
(3)Jaime K.
Always such a long wait, but always totally worth it. I enjoy eating here even more when there's a group of 4 or more since you can order a great selection. Only drawback is this place is always so busy it might be a bit of a wait. Last night I ordered the vegetable samosa, fried eggplant, tandori chicken and naan. ALL were SO delicious. Our bill came out to about $28 for 2 people and we had plenty to take home. I've tried other restaurants and Cafe Maharani is the BEST. I also love the Bollywood movies playing in the background and the cozy atmosphere. I'm definitely going back again and again and again.
(4)Puddytat C.
We love this place. It's too small and has a long waitlist. Our favorites sauces are the Korma and the creamy curries. Can't remember all the names, they are so good. The Naan bread is to die for. We go here often. I don't care too much for the Vindaloo, but it's not theirs, I just don't love the taste of it wherever I've had it, worldwide. You just keep trying. All their dishes are wonderful, they just need to move to a larger space. Service has improved with more waiters. Before, it was just one lady and the wait was long. Parking is atrocious. You can bring your own beer or wine. That's a plus.
(4)Finn L.
I believe that restaurant experiences, like traveling should facilitate a type of emotional or physical response, a great restaurant should invoke the question, 'where am I, and what has happened to my guide Stanley?' Maharani does just that. What a delight to have this place in Honolulu. The mini throne chairs in the back, the tiny iron goblets for your wine, the HD bollywood movies flashing brightly like ambulance lights, the happy Indian men canoodling about delivering tasty and spicy morsels '(I'll have some more of that Tandoori Sanjay!') Yes, expect to wait but make it part of the experience. Bring an extra few beers, daydream about honeymoon trips to Northern India, wonder what your college friend Screw is up to these days. Whatever, but certainly don't get caught up on the wait or the crowded restaurant--in this city of endless Ramen and Pho shops, Honolulu thank your saag paneer cubes you have this place.
(5)melanie j.
Went here for dinner because I was craving some delicious Indian food and it was recommended to me. We got there as the store opened, but didn't make the early rush. We ended up waiting about an hour to be seated, and about another hour to be served our food. Once we were finally able to eat, the food was delish. Not the best Indian food I've had, but great none the less. Their naan is large and yummy, the sauces are tasty, samosa's magnificent, just generally yummy food. The service was fine, right in the middle. It was busy so we couldn't be too upset, but they tried to keep up and pay attention to everyone. Parking was a beast, but eventually ended up parking at Longs (right in front of a tow sign... eek!), and luckily didn't get towed. I would eat here again, once I find out what the off hours are :)
(3)Ronnie U.
BYOB , go with a group of 4. Cost - $24/ person Food - chicken masala curry, coconut rice, garlic nan, lamb curry (enough to feed 4 or have lots of leftovers) Wait time - at least 30 minutes, so call in order and take it to go. Or order there and hang out in "Good Earth" store next door. Not good for big groups of over 5, you'll be waiting a while.
(4)Mindy N.
So yummy! Probably the best vegetarian option on the island. I knocked off one star because it is very slow (plan on at least 1.5 hours to eat, even if you get there at 5 and don't wait for a table). But, thanks to other reviews, I was expecting it to be slow, so it was OK. I'll probably bring some booze next time to make the wait a little more interesting. The prices are very reasonable and you will definitely have left-overs.
(4)Phil P.
I've been to MUMBAI and had INDIAN food and with that said... Cafe Maharani is pretty authentic... minus the insane heat, poverty and outrageously dense population! The different naan is great... soft, fluffy, and tasty... even without a filling or topping! I don't mind skipping the 16 hour flight to get good Indian cuisine!
(5)Aldora K.
amazing food at a reasonable price. Go early or late if you do not like waiting in line for the best india food on oahu. ^^
(4)Matthew H.
The food was great. Good portion sizes and great flavors. The waiters are very polite. The only service issue I had is the timing in which the food is brought out. We had the entrees very fast but the naan didn't come for another 20 minutes and my paratha came even later. Other than that major issue the food all tasted great and I would go back. Oh and call ahead to get on the waiting list because this place is tiny and packed. It might help you get a table faster.
(4)Kristi W.
Cafe Maharani I just want to say I miss you!!!! I lived in Honolulu for five years and fell in love with your restaurant... now that I am back on the East Coast I cant find anything that compares to your delicious food and funky/quant atmosphere! Aloha!
(5)James K.
Ooooh yeah! Cafe Maharani....I've been here a couple times now now but tonight....there was something special tonight. Maybe it was the "super moon" hanging huge in the clear night sky. Maybe it was the special out of town transplants sharing my company. Or maybe it was that fantastic chicken vindallo. Whatever it was, it made for a great dinner! Our night started off with the usuals of any popular eatery - signing in on a waitlist with our count of diners. We were 8th on the list. Bummers. We caught up with each other, discussed that awesome moon, and studied the menu posted outside the door while waiting our turn. Soon thirty minutes had passed and we were now 4th on a growing list of hungry customers. As more time passed, the scents escaping the front door began to call to us, drawing our noses to the window glass. The diners inside were oblivious. A total of almost sixty minutes had expired when we were finally called. By this time, we were already waiting inside, for we had spotted an empty table. We were seated and were ready to order right away. The urgency did not escape the waiter's notice. We proceeded to order: mixed tandoori grill, chicken vindallo, fish tikka masala, coconut rice, and garlic and cheese naan. Lucky for us, the food started to come pretty quick. The guys ran over to Long's, which is across the street, for a liquor run. This restaurant is BYOB. They had returned in time to see our first dish arrive, the tandoori mixed grill. Served with raita (a traditional yogurt based sauce) and some sort of spicy brown sauce on the side, the tandoori mix was a awesome selection of specialty kabobs. Chicken shish, tandoori chicken, prawns, lamb...all served with tomatoes and onions. Everything was tender and flavorful and went well with either sauce. The second dish to arrive was my usual, chicken vindallo. I've enjoyed it in the past, but this time it was even better. My Australian friend ordered it South Indian style and extra spicy. I found the heat perfect, but some members of our party found it too spicy. Regardless, nothing beats the flavorful mix of spices. This dish screams for you to dip your naan in it! Speaking of naan, some had come with the tandoori mix grill, but the stuffed garlic and cheese naan that came next drew the most attention from the rest of the small dining room. The menu said it was "family size", 15 inches. Don't know exactly how big it was, but it was way bigger than that! Think gigantic quesadilla. Like the first two dishes, this was very flavorful as well. In fact, one of the girls almost ate a whole order. Good thing we ordered two! Then came the last two dishes. I've had tikka masala many times and loved it every time. Even though I do not like fish, I loved this one too. To me, tikka masala is a great starting point for anyone trying Indian food for the first time. By the way, this dish was naan worthy too. It went especially well with the coconut rice - fluffy basmati rice, cooked with saffron, cashews, spices, and coconut flakes. Fantastic! We proceeded to enjoy our enormous meal and ended up being the last party to leave. The food was great, the company better, and the service awesome. I could have done without the hour wait (my reason for 4 out of 5 stars) but it almost played into our favor. By the time we were seated, our anticipation and hunger were at its peak. Future customers should come early, not just to beat the crowd but also to look for parking. The tiny lot in the back fills up fast. Overall, this dinner solidified Cafe Maharani as the best Indian food on the island and I can't wait to go back!
(4)Tiffany A.
Indian cherry has been popped! First time having Indian food and I have to admit it was delicious :) So the friends and I planned to get there at 5pm when they first opened but the parking situation was chaotic (small lot in back and that was full) seeing as how there was a water main break along University causing all kinds of back ups. Found some street parking on Coolidge and walked. Got to the place, located next door sort to Down to Earth, and packed! Well there was a couple of open tables but the joint was bumpin' with two big parties and a few little ones. Sat down and when we got our waters, it was served in this metal cup (kind of like a goblet). And the plates were metal too! But one of the workers was kind enough to replace my friends cup with a regular glass one when she asked so if you can't stand the metal taste it's ok to ask :) First up were drinks and I decided to get the Mango Lassi per Traci M.'s review. I thoroughly enjoyed it and it complemented the spicy dishes so well! It's thicker than a normal juice/milk blend drink but more liquid than a smoothie. Very yummy! Then for dinner we ordered: - Lamb Biryani - Chicken Tikka Masala - Garlic Naan - and one more thing that I can't for the life of me remember, but it had a really nice flaky outside and some delicious vegetables and potatoes on the inside with this curry taste - Sweet Rice Pudding Everything was delicious!!! Especially those flaky things haha. Almost like a pot pie! The Naan was delicious and went great with all the other dishes especially to scoop up the Chicken Tikka Masala which kind of reminded me of Beef Stew but with chicken. Nevertheless, super 'ono! The rice portion was huge!!!! We had like a whole lunch plate size serving left after but it was definitely delectably spicy... thank you Mango Lassi!!! The rice pudding was a little questionable at first. I didn't really know how to place it because it didn't taste like anything else that i've had. But the more that I ate it, I would equate it to eating cereal with loads more sugar. Nothing to rave about but worth trying once. Overall, I very much enjoyed my first time... it was marvelous!!! More Mango Lassi please :)
(4)Mizuho M.
i've been here twice. The first time was better than the second... The first time, i had the garlic cheese naan (this was really yummy), some kind of masala and some kind of saag (spinach based curry). They were all really good. The second time, I had garlic naan (not as good as garlic cheese, but we weren't allowed to 'upgrade' to garlic-cheese because we got the 'dinner for two' set), butter chicken (this was pretty good), and some kind of lamb curry. Plus: Huge portions (you'll go home with leftovers; our dinner for two could actually probably feed 3 to 4); Relatively good indian food (there's a dearth of indian restaurants in hawaii in general, and among the few, maharani has better food; but keep in mind that i've never been to India to taste REAL indian food). Minus: The place is small, so if it's busy you'll be waiting a long time for a table. We waited at least 20 min; Parking sucks: there's a tiny lot in the back, but it's usually filled. So you'll have to either find street parking or take a chance and park in the Star Market lot; the second time i went, there was a strand of hair in our dip....ugh....; oh and after i ate the leftovers the next day, i had heartburn..... anyway, i've uploaded photos of the food from this place....
(3)Becky T.
The portions are huge! However, like the other Indian places around, rice and naan is additional. My chicken vindaloo was good and there were a lot of chunks of chicken in it and very spicy. The garlic naan was really big and so were the samosas. It's definitely worth the cost. However, my dining experience was ruined by the spotty service. We were waiting for a bit when a table opened up. We sat around for another ten minutes wondering who they were going to sit at that table when we were the only party left waiting. Finally we asked how much longer the wait was. Then they were like, "oh you could sit there if you want." Hmmm, what's the point of putting down our name on the list if they weren't going to seat us? It happened several times throughout the meal that we were ignored by our servers. We brought our own beer and asked for a bottle opener, and one of the servers said that he would bring it over. We watch as he goes back to the counter and then watched him as he proceeded to go serve other people, go back to the counter and loiter about. When we finally made eye contact with him motioning for the bottle opener, he seemed to realize that when we requested something, we were actually expecting to get it. Later at the end of the meal, I asked for a bag for my leftovers and he said that he was going to bring it over. Even after paying for the meal, he still didn't bring it. I had to go up to the counter and ask another guy for it. The bathroom there was also atrocious. I'd rather use a bathroom gas station any day. It was just so so dirty. If this place that is public is this bad, I don't even want to imagine what the kitchen may look like. Sucks, cuz I really want to like this place. The food was good and the price wasn't too much of a gouge, but the whole package was missing.
(2)Maka I.
I love the food at Maharani! :) ... the garlic cheese naan and veggie samosas are delicious! and chicken tandoori/tika masala is always good. This is my favorite Indian Food Restaurant on O'ahu ... I wish they would move to a bigger location but I believe this is a family owned restaurant so then they would have to hire other people. The place is always overwhelmingly packed and the wait is usually long and service not always friendly. Even when I order take out, sometimes it takes forever. I still love eating the food here ... really delicious! :)
(4)pirateninja a.
maharani, i can't seem to give up on your awesome bollywood movies, your servers and your awesome gold cups. YEP if you come here, try the cashemere chicken, the stuffed nan and my friends personally LOVE the chicken marsala. I guess one star removal for the occasionally error or order and on and off quality but you are still full of awesomness man
(4)Beverly P.
This place is GREAT! The restaurant itself is pretty small, but it is beautifully decorated. The food had such wonderful flavor and I couldn't stop eating everything! I haven't had this good of Indian food since Seattle. Here's what we ordered, and it was all amazing: Chai Tea - great flavors of cardamom, cloves, and ginger Mixed Tandoori - grilled right on the skillet it's served on and brimming with spices Naan Bread - soooo soft and it really melts in your mouth Lamb Masala - lamb was a little too tough, but maybe I'm not used to eating lamb Chicken Korma - bf loved it! Overall, it's a great Indian place in Honolulu. The only thing stopping me from giving it 5 stars is that I got sick after eating...not food poisoning but because my stomach just wasn't used to all those spices at once. Next time, I'll go for little bites until I get used to Indian food again.
(3)Tyra K.
Best Indian food in Hawaii :) Service could be better but since the food is so good I can't complain too much... They have a big variety of different foods all their nun breads are amazing I've eaten at Indian homes and its very similar to what a real home cooked indian meal would be.. I wish the place had more air flow thru, because when they cook all the smells of bbq-ing go right towards the guests and if the frond door isn't open your eyes get a bit irritated ( well to be honest I actually kinda grew up in an area where places are small like that and they bbq and cook so all the smells mix up and your eyes start to water, well they can't really open the doors in my countries since its -30 Celsius in the winter time, but as for Maharani's I feel like they can have the door opened eventho I understand it might be uncomfortable since its facing Kind st and it can get noisy ) Well No matter what they have GREAT food and I really hope they have a chance to open at a better location I feel like they would probably get more business as well.. Also for people who are not a fan of sitting in a room full of bbq smells you can always do take out :) Of course whenever I crave Indian Maharani is the spot, I will definitely be back soon...
(4)Lani B.
I've been craving to try Cafe Maharani for a week after I read all the rave reviews this place gets. So, I decided to try it for dinner tonight right when they open at 5 PM. There was four of us and we were greeted/seated right away. I happily went to the bathroom and was immediately turned off by the dirty blue hallway as well as the trash in the bathroom floor. The bathroom itself needs a paint makeover; the dark red paint made it feel dirty. I was bummed when I reached for the soap and it was empty. Makes me wonder about a place that does not have a well maintained bathroom. Especially when food handlers are supposed to wash their hands after using it. I would not normally pick at this but the bathroom should have been maintained before the doors opened for business (which was 5 minutes ago). Now about the other half of my experience....I miss my favorite go-to place in Los Angeles was Hurry Curry on Venice. So, the benchmark for my review is based on them. We ordered Samosas (vegetable), Chicken Tikka Masala, Lamb Gorham Josh, Palaak Paneer, Chicken Coconut Curry, Yellow Rice x 2, Garlic Naan x 2, Mango Lassi x 2 (total was $92 + tip). When the dishes arrived they looked and smelled great as well as good in size. Actually, the serving containers hold more than you think! Although there were 2 samosas in one order (the biggest I've ever seen), that was plenty for 4 people to share. I have to say each item was very good. The four main dishes were spicier than I am used to...thought it was just me but the others agreed. By the time we had enough, it did not look like we made a dent. We took home 6 containers of food. Probably should have ordered less but wanted to try several items since it was the first time. Service was fast, friendly and frequent. Got home with the doggy-bag...three more people ate and I still have leftovers! Next time, I will definitely order 1 main dish for 2 people. Mango lassi was delicious but was small for the price...boo. Overall, I would go back to Cafe Maharani as the food is very good. However, I will order less and ask for less spicy. At first, the prices seemed high (in comparison to my LA spot) but the amount of food you get warrants it...except for the mango lassi. Based on this experience, I give them 3.75 stars (if there is such a thing!).
(4)Spencer T.
This is my favorite Indian place on the island. The line may be long, and I've waited as long as two hours to get a seat, but it was worth it. The names for most of the curries escape me, except for the vindaloo which is demon hot, but in a good way. My favorite dish is probably the naan, with a crisp exterior, and a chewy interior. It's hard to get good naan in Hawaii, and this is probably the best. The only criticism I might add is that the food is never the same. I've ordered the same dish on multiple occasions and it has come out different almost every time. I should add that it was never a bad thing. The food was always drool-worthy delicious, so I'm not sure if that's much of a criticism.
(5)Cristin C.
the food is great, but the service leaves something to be desired to say the least. I don't mind at all waiting for ice or water if they are busy. what bothers me is when i arrive an hour before closing, and while there are five or so tables there they start to put up the chairs before I've even gotten my meal. we shared an entree. I would by no means call the fashion in which we were eating slow. yet I was offered to go boxes twice by the same person when it was very clear we were still eating. all this when it wasn't even the posted closing time yet.
(4)Chuck A.
Wow! The word is out. The customers start lining up about 15 minutes before opening. Exceptional flavor in all the dishes. Fantastic naan!
(5)Jennifer H.
I REALLY WANTED TO LIKE THIS PLACE BUT the food just was sub-par. I loved the decor and the red walls and Bollywood Music Videos. The copper water cups were a nice touch but why am I not satisfied with the curries here? I am very disappointed in the Indian food here in Hawaii. Indian Food is my favorite food too... I had the Saag Paneer and the Butter Chicken/Chicken Maharaj and it tasted and looked like it was made by a 17 yr old who didnt care. The meat was really dry overcooked chicken breast meat ( yuck) and there was actually butter floating on the top which I've never seen on a Chicken Maharaj... Like Yellow and white butter just sitting on top! I guess every place makes it a different style but once you've had the best, others just cant seem to measure up. I have dined at a lot of Indian restaurnts and this place sucked THE BIG ONE! Maybe it was the dishes I ordered, maybe my taste buds are too spoiled because I lived in The Bay Area/Sunnyvale/Fremont and SF ( Little India) a good part of my life and so I've really had some fabulous and mind-blowing curries .. ..I've had WAYYY WAYYY BETTER. I'll give it another shot since the last time I visited was 2 years ago and update this review later.. I wonder why so many people say its so awesome???? I guess I should give it another shot and order something different the next time???
(2)Alison N.
so, it has been a while since ive eaten here, but i can say this: it was my first indian food experience, and i wish it was my only. they have excellent service, the food is out of this world, and even to two years later my mouth waters at the thought of their food. IF ONLY THEY WERE ON THE MAIN LAND!!
(5)Kiran P.
This restaurant was one of the worst restaurants I've ever been too! Horrible service and awful pre-frozen food. I ordered an aloo paratha, usually these are served with yogurt. I had to order it extra on the side. They served me the same frozen parathas that can be found at a grocery store. It was awful and it had no flavor. My boyfriend ordered the chiken tikka masala. This didn't even come with rice, we had to pay an extra $5 for rice. We asked for it be mild, but since it was pre made they couldn't give it mild. It was so spicy barely any of it got eaten. I ordered a mango lassi that never came, and we never got refills on the water until we were about to leave. Awful service, and I'm sure they know it since they charge an automatic 15% gratuity on your check. Horrible restaurant, I wish I could give 0 stars.
(1)Jensen B.
After our visit to Himalayan Kitchen we had this constant craving for Indian food but didn't want to go through the fiasco of ordering there again so we decided to come here. Again, we came before the dinner rush and were seated right away. This place is small but the decor is just right; everything is gold. From the tables to the walls and to the cups of water we were drinking reminded me of the holy grail Indiana Jones drank from (LOL). We had ordered the Tawa chicken manchurian, which is served in a special dish, and the chicken masala curry. Both were very good. In addition we ordered the yellow rice and the garlic cheese naan. Our rice and two chicken dishes came out first and we were surprised at the portion of the food, it was bigge than we had anticipated. Then the naan came... Holy shit! The naan was amazing! It was as big as a pizza and ours was stuffed with cheese and garlic with butter baked on top. So good! We had a lot of leftovers that fed us the next night but its not as good as when its fresh. All in all I gave it four stars because the service was so-so. Nowhere near as bad as Himalayan Kitchen but because of the small space and how busy it gets I can understand why it can be slow. At least all of our food came out, we didn't have to wait 45 minutes, and the staff was pleasant.
(4)Elizabeth K.
They are Super-busy, but not too concerned about the customer's experience. You may wait outside on the sidewalk for 90 minutes. Food is good, but that wait can be ridiculous! People have figured that out and order takeout, but that adds to the logjam.
(3)Kale O.
Badass as usual, I've came here numerous times and I've never been disappointed yet, i said "fuck it" skipped the appetizers and went straight to the main course, i ordered a feast for both of us, I'm not telling you what i ordered, i forgot cause i was drunk an lit, but shit it was a damn good meal, bwaah haaaah(chicken curry, sea bass in curry, shrimp in spinach, lamb with onions, bell peppers, green sauce sizzling on a platter, garlic naan, yellow rice). just go there, BYOB in other words get drunk while you wait for a hour, sitting, people watching and instagraming random acts of stupidity........I did!!
(4)Azalea W.
Food was good, what little we got. When you order, it is ala carte, nothing comes with it. Rice is extra, Naan is extra, and it's expensive for the portion size. Got hot chai tea and it tasted like sweet Lipton tea with milk in it. I ordered Tandoori chicken botti kabob and they brought out lamb. The waiter came over with the menu to make sure he understood me and I pointed to the item on the menu, he left, then came back and apologized for the kitchen making a mistake. There was the guy and a girl sharing all of the tables in the restaurant. By the time the chicken dish was ready we were tired and asked for them to package the meal to go, instead they brought the food to the table and had us package it ourselves. Considering this place is only open for dinner you would think they would have their crap together, but they don't. We had to ask for water, after downing our tiny tea cup of $2.50 chai. Considering this was my first Indian food experience I was disappointed!!! Other HUGE BITCH with them is that they do not take AMEX even though they have an award on the wall from AMEX and their bill booklets have AMEX on them, but they don't accept it. Do not advertise AMEX in your restaurant if you do not accept it!!!!
(3)Nagesh C.
the best Indian food on this island, good quantity and taste. Cons: Always crowded and long waiting time - food makes it worth waiting :).
(5)Dominica R.
Best indian food on island!! Garlic cheese naan, eggplant tiki korma and chicken tiki masala are some of my faves.
(5)D B.
In a nut shell: Service is TERRIBLE, Food is mediocre to bland, and it's very overpriced. Definitely NOT worth the wait in line. Tried this place several times and the one thing that stands out in my memory is the service is TERRIBLE. There is no consistency on how the food will taste. The food tasted good the first time we came, prices felt very high especially for the rice but bearable, the service sucked, and the wait, in hindsight, was not worth it. The second time we came, the food quality noticeably went downhill, but somehow the line was longer. The service was still terrible and the owner was very rude but he also doesn't seem like the friendliest of people. Tonight we tried take-out since we haven't had luck with the service or the waiting time. We phone ordered 2 curries to go. The person taking the order told me it would take 40 minutes. We figured that was fine since that's about how long it takes for our food to get to the table anyway. After arriving at the checkout counter and being ignored for 5 minutes, the owner got my order and told me to hang on for the check. To make a long story short it took me 25 minutes to get my bill and get out of there because the owner would start my bill, then a dine in guest would interrupt him and he would put my bill down and process theirs. That repeated EIGHT TIMES with several guests giving him a split-check fiasco. I was really patient but after an hour since ordering I just wanted to get my food and go. Finally he throws my bill at me and I pay and leave. We get home to find that the chicken tikka masala tastes like spicy Campbell's tomato soup with the driest, most chewy chicken I've ever had in a curry. Sadly, it's the one time I wished we HAD dined in so I could send it back. Definitely going elsewhere.
(1)Lisa J.
Thank you Cafe Maharani and your yummy chicken samosas, chicken masala curry, chicken korma curry, and garlic naan for a wonderful birthday dinner! (Yes, we like chicken, we like it a lot!) Since we live nearby, we walked over at around 6:30 pm, which turned out to be the perfect time. We scored an empty table and noticed that a few other diners were finishing up their meals between the time we got there and a bit before 7pm. If you want to go as a group, go early. There was a group of 8 finishing up their meal as we arrived. After they left, the tables were separated and someone who walked in to try to get seating for 6 people was told that it would be a while... The big samosas were just fried and filled with lots of chicken & veggies. 1 order consists of 2, so it was the perfect appetizer to split with my husband. My husband got the masala and I ordered the korma. After tasting the masala, I could really taste the sweet creaminess of the coconut milk in the korma. The masala was a little spicier but was really really good. My husband said he preferred the korma because it was a little sweeter and more flavorful. Both had lots of chicken in it! Saffron rice & the just baked garlic naan were perfect with our curries. The curry portions were larger than we expected and we went home with about a scoop of rice and enough curry for the both of us to enjoy again tomorrow. The accept credit cards but VISA and Mastercard only! =)
(5)Naomi U.
I have heard a great deal of goodness about this restaurant and was very excited to have my very first experience of Indian cuisine here. The food was great! My friends and I had the seafood tandori platter for starter--so yummy! It included some tasty grilled shrimp, salmon and ground shrimp (in a patty form) with lots of flavor and it was fun to figure out what spices they included in it. The garlic & basil Naan sooooooo good & has a little crispiness to it that i love about bread. We ordered the mix rice set which included 4 different types of rice. it was fun to have a sample of each kind of rice the lamb tikka masala was awesome. The lamb was soft and the sauce had a nice hint of sweetness to it. BYOB---always a good thing :) The service was a bit slow. Between serving our food and getting our leftovers packed up, our server did not check on us or see how we were doing. But it seemed to be a full house that night, so i can understand the lack of awareness. Overall, the food was great. The ambience is nice and cozy. I'll definately come back here again.
(4)Gabriel F.
This is by far the BEST Indian restaurant in Honolulu!! The food is fantastic and ono (delicious). The atmosphere is great, while small, but if you do have to wait it is worth the wait. The prices are reasonable for Hawaii standards. I just found this place recently, and I wish that I had found this place sooner!! From Waikiki, it's easy to get there by TheBus. Take the #4 towards UH, get off at University and King Street, head towards the Down to Earth supermarket and you're there!! If you love Indian or foods that make you feel warm inside, then this is THE place for you!
(5)Irene C.
Seriously, bathe me in your fish masala, Cafe Maharani. Then when you're done, hook it up to an IV AND feeding tube because I am all about iiiiiit. The fish is super flaky and delicioso, and it's a little spicy but not runny-burny-butthole spicy. Also, the palak paneer is . . . how should I describe it. I would live in it. Perfectly spiced, the paneer is out of this dimension. Samosas are good, wished they had a mint chutney. It's okay though, I keep that in my other IV. The potato and cheese (not together, although that would be an ingenius idea) naan are good, but super filling. One drawback! The service can suck balls. Like giant camel ones because . . well, it just does. Usually, the food will be good enough that you won't even remember how crappy the service was, but sometimes it can be really, really bad. And it can get super crowded, like you damn near have to stab somebody to get your place in line for a seat. People get pretty serious about their Indian cuisine, let me tell you. Maharani also doesn't take reservations past 6:30, I believe. . .because people are THAT unreliable and they get THAT busy. It's worth the wait though, and sometimes you'll have to wait. Sometimes you gotta wait for what's good people!! If you don't like to wait, suck it. Go to Subway and eat a little snack if you're hungry. It will be worth it. Namaste.
(5)Becky L.
The BEST Indian cuisine in ALL of Hawaii ! Show up early....or you will be waiting for awhile! We have tried so many things on the menu and I can tell you that it is ALL good. The portions are massive and the service is attentive and friendly. Try your meal with a buttered Naan bread and some hot mango pickle. An iced chai will help cool you down if you get a spicy dish too! Be patient and enjoy the experience....it is completely worth it . :D
(5)jesse g.
out of all the indian food places i've tried in hawaii, this is my favorite one. first off, the food. the menu is of a good size with plenty of delicious indian foods to choose from in different styles. for example, there's not just one kind of naan or on kind of rice or curry, theres several. so you can mix and match to your taste bugs. you can even choose the spicy level of your curry. just how you like it. i enjoy the fact that you can order ala carte style so you can share and try different things with your table. the portions are fairly generous and soo tasty. the service was friendly and fast. my first time there they were cool enough to answer my questions about the dishes i was interested in trying and described in detail from taste to texture. i appreciate the patience on their end for making sure a newbie like me got exactly what i wanted. on point service, my glass stayed full. the atmosphere, is very cozy and dim lit. really mellow place to have dinner and lounge out. the place is pretty small too, but because of this, every now and then you get stuck in a waiting line to be seated. i think i waited as long as 45mins. one night. the parking isn't all that great either being that it's one of those good hole in the wall type of businesses. good luck finding street parking or take your chances in the parking upstairs above down to earth. the price, a little on the pricey side but to me it's actually quite fair considering what you get for your buck. overall and what gets points from me in all of my reviews from a food business is what's most important = the food. the food here is excellent and pretty much set the standard for me when it comes to indian food. i've tried almost all of them in hawaii and this place tops the charts for indian food on my list.
(4)Brandy S.
I've been going to Cafe Maharani for years now. This review has been a long time coming. My first time eating there was back in 2003 with my sisters and brother-in-law. Admittedly, that was an interesting first-time experience. My sister had asked for her chicken masala "extra spicy," which I think offended our server. I had ordered the same thing sans the "extra spicy" request. When our order arrived, mine was a benign brown (I had ordered it at a medium spice level) and her's was a decidedly angry red. She managed to get through half of it before she was hit stomach cramps, forcing us all to leave, embarrassed to say the least. It was a memorable first experience that ultimately brought me back because of the server's well-played joke and the apparent quality of the ingredients they use in their dishes. I'm sure my sister doesn't feel the same way, but she doesn't live in Hawaii so the point is moot. I'll admit, the service is not always stellar. Granted, though, this restaurant is outrageously busy on certain nights (with good reason), so it's understandable that the water or naan should take a while. But the food is good enough to keep me coming back. The lassi and chai are delicious as well. I would say that this is easily the best Indian restaurant on the island. I'm not sure if that's a reflection on lack of competition or if it's based on the restaurant's merit, but the conclusion is what it is. Be sure to try the balti beef, vegetable masala, chicken jalfrezi, and the fish masala.
(4)Consuela P.
Cafe Maharani is along King Street (across from Star Market) and this was the place to be for Indian food. The atmosphere in restaurant was was very Indian-like with one tv screen playing Indian music videos and the air was full with Indian spices. We ordered the chicken vindaloo (very spicy!), beef with biryani rice and 2 slices of warm chapati. The portions were big and the taste was amazing, however the service was a little slow.
(3)Rj S.
Awesome food, but takes forever for the waiter to take an order, and then forever to get the food. I had to ask two servers three times to get a take out box and the check. There was a 15 minute wait before my wife went up to the counter and stood there waiting on the take out box and check. Totally unacceptable service. But the food is really good, I recommend ordering take out, then eating somewhere else. All of the lamb and chicken dishes are really good. My wife loves the stuffed naan bread.
(1)Salmah R.
Delicious South Asian food which incorporates dishes from Bangladesh, Indian and Pakistan. Unfortunately, it is over priced and they charge for what are considered complementary condiments in other Indian restaurants. But the portions are quite large. So if you don't want to end up with an outrageous bill, just share a dish.
(3)Claudia M.
Food here is delicious. Its a little pricey but it doesnt matter bc the food here is worth it. The only problem with this place is that its really tiny and they need more tables and chairs. Their iced chai is sooooooo delicious as well. Sucks they dont have free refills bc i would probably have like 5 cups of it lol. (:
(4)Darcy M.
Holy tikka masala! Maharani is soooo good!! After tonight's meal, it's confirmed that I'll never go to the other Indian restaurants in town. This place is the best, hands down. When my husband and I are craving Indian but too lazy to get in the car and drive to Maharani we walk down to our neighborhood Indian restaurant, Zaffron. Thank god Zaffron was closed tonight (even though their restaurant hours indicate they're supposed to be open on Wednesdays) because it forced us to drive over to Maharani. As always, we ended our delicious and satisfying meal asking ourselves why the hell we even bother going to Zaffron when everything about Maharani is so much better - the ambiance, smells and especially the quality of the food (they don't used canned veggies like the other place). And the best part...we have leftovers! We end up spending almost exactly the same ($40ish sans tip) at both restaurants but the difference between the two is that I am so damn happy after eating Maharani and I just don't get that with Z. Tonight we had the vegetarian appetizer sampler, eggplant tikka masala, and vegetable korma. Oh, and we do the paratha instead of naan. Jesus H, I think I might be hungry again. Get there early (before 6:30pm) and byob. I know you'll love it here!
(5)Devon S.
Impressive. Impressive indeed. Before eating here, the extent of my Indian food experience amounted to lentils and curry. Now that I have had a taste of what Indian food is all about, I am hooked. The menu was extensive. I highly recommend the place to any vegetarian. In fact, if all vegetarian food tasted like this, id do just fine without meat. For an appetizer, i had the spicy prawns...and they are not for the squeamish. Those bad boys were HOT! but very tasty. I ordered the Chicken Mali Kafka (chicken meatballs in a DELICIOUS yogart sauce, with dates and cashews), the Eggplant Kafka (fried eggplant with yellow curry...just spicy enough), and the naan bread for an entree. Man, it was great. Topped the night off with the the bread balls soaked in a sweet sauce with ice cream. The perfect ending indeed. The service was very good as well. I spent alot of time asking the waitress what different things were and she was most helpful and informative. In fact, she put me on to the mali kafta. Also, the ambiance is quite pleasant. Romantic in a "quaintly crowded" kinda way. The only two things I didn't like very much is that 1) the place was very small. Even though i went alone, i felt like i was eating with the couple next to me. 2) The parking is nonexistent. You have to park on the street or at the star market across from the place. Despite those two things, though, i gotta give this place a solid 4...maybe even a 4.5 if i could. The food and service are definitely tops. If the place were bigger and had a better parking plan, id give it 5 stars easy.
(4)Jenn K.
Great flavors, and they give you a ridiculous amount of food. Their carrot halva is amazing as well... I want to learn how to make it as well as they do. So many options for vegetarians. I recommend going there early (close to as soon as they open for dinner) and toward the beginning of the week. The BYOB factor is always a winner in my book, as is the coziness and delicious smells wafting down the block. I hear from many people this is the best Indian food on the island, next to your grandmother's or father's home-cooking, of course.
(4)Gina C.
We checked this place out on a Thursday evening and we managed to get there right before a huge line started forming in the awkward and small back of the restaurant. We were seated at a table in the middle of the restaurant sandwiched tightly between many other tables, so the seating isn't the most comfortable and it is very loud inside with so many people eating/talking right next to one another. We didn't get water or even get greeted by a waiter for about 7-8 minutes. It took over half an hour til our appetizer arrived and then the entrees came out like a minute later. The food was pretty yummy, but the service continued to be slow throughout the meal - we had to ask several times for a water refill and no one came to check on how we were doing before we finally asked for the check. I wish I could give a better review because the food was good, but the shoddy service and loudness/uncomfortableness of the restaurant was too much for me. If they hired a couple more waiters they would be able to serve many more people and I'm sure it would be a much more pleasant dining experience.
(2)Melodi K.
Get ready for your taste buds to fall in love! The food here is seriously delicious! For a party of 3 adults, we ordered the chicken korma, chicken masala, coconut rice, vegetable samosas, and garlic naan. Each dish was so tasty...we couldn't stop commenting on how good everything was! Generous portions, affordable prices with tons of leftovers! We did take out to avoid the hour long wait!
(5)Mahogani R. J.
The only other place I've tasted Indian food as succulent and savory as Cafe Maharani was at a New York traditional Indian Restaurant in 2000. If you've been to NY, you know that's a BIG kudos! There's always been a wait at Cafe Maharani when I've gone, but its worth it and with the addition of the new woman "maitre de", things have been running a little bit smoother and faster. The saag (seafood or meat choice) is mouth watering and a must try for anyone wanting to introduce themselves to true Indian food cuisine. After tasting other Indian restaurants in Hawaii, this one is definitely as close to tasty and authentic as you're going to get. I think I'll be making a visit again real soon!
(5)Beth D.
i don't care what anyone else says -- cafe maharani by FAR has the best, and most authentic-tasting indian on oahu. perfect naan. perfect lassis, ,made the authentic way (grainy ice, not smooth smoothy consistency). lamb was very tender. tikka masala sauce tomatoey and not overly creamy like some other indian spots. you will not get better indian food on oahu. cafe maharani is the pinnacle.
(5)shazia b.
The wait is LONGGGG. Too long in my opinion. We waited 1 1/2 to get a table and another hour to get our food. We weren't given water or utensils for a long time and once our samosas finally came we were so tired that we weren't very hungry anymore. The food is ok, I am from the bay area and I am Pakistani so I know good Indian food. This was ok Indian food at best. The samosa was not your typical samosa, the crust was not flaky enough and it was more like pepperidge farm crust than actual samosa crust. The best things were the rice and naan. The prices were a bit ridiculous to me as well. In the bay area naan is a dollar and chai is free, not so at Maharani. I would recommend ordering it as take out if you want to eat here, it's not worth waiting.
(3)Marisa O.
I suppose I should start off by saying that I have never had the food IN the actual restaurant. I did takeout on my first round here, and it was absolutely beautiful. Eggplant Tikka Masala... Chicken curry... two entrees was WAY enough for two of us--we had leftovers for both of us for the next day. We also got yellow rice, which was SO tasty! I'll update my review when I do a sit in (which I definitely will be doing soon!) SO Good!
(5)Lauren C.
So yummy! We really love this place. It's very rich, but that's Indian food! All of the curries I've had are great, especially the royal one.
(5)Keith w.
Went on a Wednesday. They don't take reservations, open at 5 and had a waiting list by 6:30. The portions are large, the food is excellent and prices are reasonable. The service is friendly but a bit frazzled. The appetizer was delivered without plates, utensils or serving implement. One persons dish was finally delivered 3/4 through the meal. Don't be shy - speak up and you will have a great meal.
(4)greg b.
its simple... if u have the time and patience ur going to have great food so relax and enjoy Ur company... or call it in and get it to go. a couple huge tips from me...since this is one of my favorite spots on oahu. 1st) breathe deeply while looking for parking (a few spots in the back) 2nd) expect a long wait since its a small cool spot with great food... so take the time after u put ur name in to head to the liquor store (byob) a block away or do some health food shopping at down to earth next door. the staff is laid back and very friendly so enjoy a long relaxing great meal and dont rock the boat. 3rd) go with a group of 4... they serve big portions and its better to order family style for more variety. i like to order these items with a group ($20 well spent!) try the mixed grill platter (tons of grilled meats and comes w/naan) mixed rice Kashmir lamb (not on the menu) chicken saag or chicken korma (should be the 1st chicken dish???) fish masala enjoy!
(5)Michelle W.
food is pretty good there, i am no expert in Indian food but I do think this is the best Indian restaurant in Hawaii. I also love the atmosphere there. My only complaint is the long wait and slow service.
(4)James S.
The wait can get pretty long, I suggest calling ahead and picking up your food for take out. If you do decide to eat there it is BYOB so you can head across the street to longs and pick up a 6 pack. This is the best Indian food on the island. Everything I've tried was really good. Order extra Naan, one order never seems to be enough.
(4)Traveling Gir L.
Excellent Indian food! BYOB. Of course you gotta love the naan bread yum! Too bad the place wasn't bigger. I hate when you have to wait long for a table.
(4)Antoinette T.
I love Indian food but didn't think there was a place on Oahu that had decent stuff. I actually ate at this establishment about 3-4 years ago and it was not great. The naan bread they served my sister and I was actually store-bought pita bread that they warmed on a grill. The rest was not memorable and so I never went back. I decided to start looking around yelp to see what people were saying about Indian restaurants and was really surprised to see how highly everyone was praising it. Surely it can't be the same place, right? So after looking at the pics that were posted of real naan bread I decided to give it another try. My mom and I checked this place out last night and the food was really good. I took off a star for the service and limited parking. It was very crowded when we walked in and there were no parking spaces in the back of the restaurant. I illegally parked until some patrons left and then stalked them to their parking space. The wait was about 45min. which was kinda crappy. They seemed to be a bit flustered as they were rushing around and bumping into each other every time someone was coming out of the kitchen. The decor was alright, the table was wobbly, and the service sucked. It took forever for them to take our order and our waitress was not very friendly. Our food came out slowly but we enjoyed every bite. Our waters were never filled, I was never asked if I wanted another tea, they didn't clear our salad plate from earlier even though it was clear that our table was overflowing from all the food they were bringing out, and I had to ask a few times for to-go boxes and the check. But I'm forgiving them for all of that and would definitely come back because it IS the best Indian food on the island.... :) Hours are from 5pm-10pm BYOB
(4)Roniza T.
the shrimp malai curry ("good for kids") is amazing!!! It's my new fav indian dish... and the fried eggplant under the appetizers is great too. the meat samosas are delish, and i still like the chef's specialty chicken curry the best. :-) even w/ 4 of us, the meal for 4 ($90- 1 appetizer, 4 entrees, rice, and naan) was more than enough and we took home lots of leftovers..... i'm still eating leftovers for 2 days now and i'm still not tired of this stuff--it's good even as as a leftover meal :-) cafe maharani is awesome! and mohammed & cheyne were really friendly and accomodating as well. :-) the wait is worth it, but if you want to lessen your wait---call ahead of time and ask to put your name on the list. the wait is usually 45 minutes...except when it's super busy, 1-2 hours seems normal.
(5)Matt R.
Best Indian Food on O'ahu.
(5)Tiff I.
This restaurant is GREAT! Large servings! Very friendly service. Food is also very tasteful and well spiced. Small cozy restaurant with a long line but it's a worth the wait! Dinner for two! Enough for the evening and a small lunch tomorrow.
(5)Daisy S.
It's like the BEST Indian food on Oahu! PROMISE! After 10 years living on Oahu, I decided that I didn't find any other Indian food on Oahu as good as Maharani. I love their garlic cheese naan with lamb saag. The vegetable vindaloo with the rose lassi are really good too. They are just awesome! Everything is just so fresh and good quality. The place is fairly small, so come early and get your seat. If you come to late, especially on the weekend, you would expect to wait for about 30 mins, but it's worth it!!!.
(5)Jon L.
This is the only legit Indian join on this rock. Being from the mainland, I've been to a plethora of Indian restaurants on both coasts, and even Canada, across all price ranges. The atmosphere, decor, and taste ring true to any solid mainland Indian restaurant. I had Chicken Tika Masala, no complaints. A friend ordered the Spicy Lamb Maharani, which is indeed, quite spicy. The lamb was actually very tender, which is a mark of a good restaurant, in my opinion. Lamb is one of those things that easily ends up as a knot of meat if not done correctly. Another friend had Chicken Korma, which was awesome. We ordered some Naan as well, in particular, the "Official Naan of Afghanistan," or something like that. The awesome part of the naan was that it was about 1 x 1.5 ft in size. WORD! It gets better! The place is BYOB, and no weaksauce corkage fee. We found this out while standing outside, and my buddy ran across the street to grab two bottles of cab. This leads us into the couple negatives. 1. The wait to be seated. It's a while... The place is pretty popular, and also pretty small. 2. The service, specifically, the wait for food, for water, napkins, etc. The staff was nice, but understaffed. That's all I got. I definitely will be going back here. Now if only I could get a res...
(4)Lynne T.
Really good indian food! The restaurant is small and feels a little cramped but their chicken tikka and other dishes make it worth it. The naan and other breads are fluffy and have just the right amount of spices. This place isn't good for someone who doesn't like smoke or spicy foods. The mango lassi is perfect to take away the spiciness and help soothe your taste buds. The foods seems expensive but we took the leftovers home and got at least 4 meals for 3 people out of it.
(5)Mari A.
My roommate introduced me to Indian and I'm hooked. We dine here at least twice a month. My friend from India was surprised how good and authentic this place is. It's a must try and try the cheese naan:-)
(4)Mark M.
Went here based on the Yelp reviews. This place is deserving of the 5 star ratings that it gets and then some. Unbelievable food with fantastic service. A must try while in Hawaii!
(5)Ninja N.
My absolute favorite Indian restaurant! I love their fish & shrimp dishes! The naans (garlic) are to die for! Don't forget they're BYOB!
(5)J R.
Best Indian food on Oahu. Generous portions. If you watch yourself you can keep the price reasonable. Especially with take out. Its BYOB so BYOB
(5)Sabrina G.
Good place for Indian since there isn't much to choose from here in Hawaii. We had the dinner for two choice on the menu and even then it turned out to be too much food. Not complaining, because it was really good food. Naan was really good (we had the Afghan) and you could tell wasn't microwaved like some restaurants do.
(4)Keoki K.
Best Indian food I found in Hawaii yet. The garlic naan is da bomb! Prices are a bit high but if you need your fix this is the place. Expect to wait awhile because it's small and crowded.
(5)Jesse W.
12/16/07: Great indian food! We went for dinner on a Saturday night 6pm, crowded with university students (UH Manoa nearby) - we waited about 10 minutes for a table. Meal started off with somosa (veggie), tasted very fresh, outside was crisp and inside was steaming hot. It was served with two sauces (one tangy/zesty and the other had a cucumber base, both mildly spicy). For entrees, we ordered the chicken tikka masala (tandoori chicken in tikka sauce (yogurt with tomatoes, onion and spices)) - the sauce was excellent, not as spicy as one would have expected. The other entree was the assorted mixed grilled platter (lamb and chicken shish kaboobs, grilled shrimps and other veggies) - also tasty and hit the spot. Our meal came with naan, made fresh. We took home plenty of leftovers and left very satisfied. Generally, the food wasn't as spicy as I would have expected - nonetheless, we really enjoyed it! Website (with menu): maharani.150m.com
(5)Micah P.
Gf and I both wanted to give Indian another try on Oahu and although we'd been to Maharani I had only had an app and she was not happy with her vegetable korma as of late. However we decided to give it another try and we were very happy we did. We changed up our orders and were pleasantly surprised. We started with eggplant pakora and it was solid, eggplant pieces deep fried and served with two sauces. Good but nothing amazing. I had the house special of chicken shahi korma and gf had (recommended by the waiter) a veggie dish called malai ..... I can't remember the name but it was cheese potato fritters covered in a cashew sauce with raisins and yogurt. My chicken was basically the same sauce as gf's but slightly less sweet. Portions are HUGE. Naan was good and give you plenty. Basically you pay the same as Bombay but get twice as much food and it comes hot and tastes better. Also had a delicious iced chai tea and gf had a wicked mango laasi. Stick to the specials and the advice of the staff and you will not be disappointed.
(4)Bethany N.
Cafe Maharani, I love your food, it just doesn't love me back. First problem is I look at the menu and want everything on it. Samosas, pakora, kabli naan, roghan josh, yes, please. What compacts the problem of trying to digest 9,000 calories of goodness is the spicy factor. I am a glutton but also a glutton for punishment, requesting my lamb roghan josh be spicy. They don't play when it comes to this either. I think I almost gave myself a panic attack trying to get some naan with raita to cool my mouth off after destroying a serious plate of biryani with aforementioned lamb. I do believe I could have breathed fire before stuffing the naan and raita into my mouth. Now onto service. Sometimes it's a little screwy; the waiters don't talk to each others and I ended up with my check... twice. No big deal, it's a tiny little hole in the wall, you can't expect 5 star service. It's certainly not a reason to not come back, the waitstaff is never rude, just a bit busy. The bathrooms are sketchy as all get out and after going in once now I hold it until our next usual stop, the mall. Other than that I love it.
(4)Kawika C.
I've changed my mind. The food is still good, but not good enough to put up with bad service. Ordered take out on the phone, was told 45 minutes, took well over an hour to get our order, and several items weren't in the bag. If you can't fill the order, don't take it. Break down and hire some help.
(2)Queen o.
Let's start positively, the food is amazing!! Complex flavors, richness, incredible. I ordered the eggplant Tikkimasala ,which the eggplant was actually breaded. It was a dream come true as far as eggplant goes. As for the negatives, they were actually out of all naan and jasmine rice which I thought was weird for an indian restaurant. From walking in the door with only 1 table waiting before us it took 2 hours until we were served food. It was actually my birthday and I was so looking forward to the amazing food I heard so much about. To my disappointment for a place that does Not reservations, 2 couples that were Indian came in after us and were seated before us. When I went to the register to see why we were not being seated I was given "a quick your next" without eye contact. Service sucked, no refills on water ,the naan replacement bread which was good but thinner came out 5 minutes after our food was delivered. There was no basket of anything while we sat at our table waiting about for our food to come out. My advice, order take out!! There's no denying the chef here is talented, but the service why bother, when you can eat in the comfort of your own home without the hassle. I will still give it 4 stars because the food was incredible!
(4)Hannah L.
Let's start from the beginning. We saw from the busy dining room there might be a wait so, we put our name their list waiter said about 30 mins. Sure 30mins not bad. We ate there few months ago their food wasn't bad. So after strolling around for 20mins we check to see how much longer. Waiter just said they have 5 more tables ahead of us. Hmm...seeing that it would take perhaps an hour, we decided to place a to-go order. So after waiting 10 mins for the waiter to acknowledge my presence at the counter I finally ordered. 30 mins later he ask about the level of spicyness for the vindaloo. We were hoping that maybe he just forgot the level and the chefs asked what it was while the chefs were cooking it. Nope. 1 hr later we finally got our food. The couple that complained after we placed our order got their to-go order 45mins before us. Also it was blazing hot there and no one offered water or even gave a crap about anyone that wasn't already seated. Oh! But they did offer my son some crackers. Thank goodness we took him to pizza hut 4 hours before this fiasco. So we got the food home hoping maybe the quality and taste would trump the nearly 1.5 hr wait and 63 dollars for a to-go order. The food tasted good. No problems. Until an hour later. I was puking for hours. Husband was too. Great fun for a Saturday night. Sunday morning we are recovering, feeling that we just had a long night of binge drinking and partying all night. Oh, wait, no just all the nasty side effects of it. Thanks Cafe Maharani! I use to think your food was awesome.
(1)Kelly W.
Maharani has delicious food!...but....it comes at a price (in more ways than one). I've only been here a handful of times, but there is always a wait and the service has never been that great. The servers have always been nice but very inattentive and it takes quite some time to get their attention, or your food, order etc. I love the chicken coconut Korma but only get to eat it every once in a while since they seem to run out when I'm there. The other price? Oh yeah, the price... $15/entree without rice, naan, drinks etc seem to be the norm. I'm willing to spend every once in a while when I want some good Indian food but it's not a place I'd go often. Maybe take out is the best option here!
(3)Janice O.
First time and I always wanted to try this place. Small place so best to get there early. Tandori mix platter was good but meats were a little dry. The lamb karahi was very good! tried the mixed assorted rice. I liked the coconut rice which went well with the spicy lamb. Service was slow. I think they needed more waiters or a bigger kitchen. Tried to order take out when we ordered our food but she never came back. Tried again to order and was told it would take 40 minutes which we were willing to wait. When we finally got our take out the waiter told us we should have ordered earlier so that it would be ready when we left. Well....we did try but no one came back. Parking is an issue too. need to find street parking or sneak across and park in the longs drugs parking. I would definitely come back but would come at 5 when they open. I gave them 4 stars because service was slow and not that friendly. But food was very tasty.
(4)C O.
Easily the best Indian food in Hawaii. The family and brothers that work/own the restraunt are usally overworked and can be a bit crabby from time to time. However, the food more than makes up for the cramped quarters and long waits. Affordable for what you get and true to Indian flavors and spice---this place is a gem! Parking is rough--we usually snag one accross the street. BYOB and come hungry!
(5)Nicole D.
After living abroad and returning home, I grew a new found interest in Indian cuisine. Cafe Maharani is pretty much the only Indian restaurant worth visiting in Oahu. Yes, I've had better Indian food in Singapore and NYC, but with all things relative, Maharani doesn't disappoint. Unfortunately, no one in my family, or any of my close friends for that matter, enjoy Indian food. So, I reserve ordering take-out from here for the moments that I am either celebrating a personal triumph or going through depression. I always park in the star market parking lot since i'm in and out in 5 min. My usuals consist of: Naan, basmati rice, samosas, chicken tandoori, and palak paneer (my absolute favorite). I definitely want to try the biryani dishes as I've noticed most tables in the restaurant order this and it looks phenomenal.
(4)Desi Vegetarian I.
The restaurant is nice. Being a pure Vegetarian having no eggs as well, we had the biryani and one subji. Both were really good. Good place to visit in the city for indian food.
(4)Del A.
Every time I've eaten Cafe Maharani, its been take out that my husband would pick up after work. So, I'm basing this review on my take out / pick up experience. I haven't tried everything on the menu, but would say from what I did try, it is one of the best Indian food I've ever had; authentic and always consistently delicious! My favorites: chicken tikka masala, vegetable korma, palak paneer, and naan. Great flavors. Highly recommended!
(5)Nicole j.
Fabulously awesome! My friend and I went after reading the reviews - and they were spot-on. We arrived just before they opened and there was already 5 people waiting to get in. We ordered the tandoori prawns for appetizer - perfect blend of spices, add the yogurt and it is a slice of heaven! Wish they had it for an entree...but have no problem ordering 2 of them for my next dinner (10 pcs of shrimp per appetizer)! I had the Chicken Tikka Masala...I know, typical Indian - but it was YUMMY! I'm a sucker for good sauces...and dipping the garlic naan in it....delish! My friend had the tandoori mix...wow....sooooooooo much food and again - YUMMY! I don't eat lamb, but tried it from this huge sizzling plate...and it was tender, juicy, almost like pot roast. Pleasantly surprised! Yellow rice, spinach and cheese (forgot the indian name) and Dal (spicy - but perfect)...AND more naan....we have enough leftovers for four days each! $85 for both of our meals, but again - it's at least 5 meals each. Wait staff was excellent at describing and asking and attentive for everything. The decor was cozy, loved the atmosphere. It is BYOB, and I recommend bringing an ice cold beer...it goes great with the spices. By the time we left at 6:15, the place was packed and a line had formed. Parking is rough, but we got there early enough we had no problems. Definitely recommend...can't wait to go back...actually can't wait to eat my leftovers...Bollywood on the tv and all - it was excellent!
(5)reid i.
Been here once. and that is good enough. The food was good, but what killed the experience is.. customer service and one dish would come out every 20 minutes. LITERALLY. So we're all hungry (5 of us) and we devour the first course, super hungry.. then 20 minutes the next dish comes out.. but we're like.. we want to eat it all together? why can't we do that? The wait was long, but just giving an order took an hour. We eventually cut our dinner short because we realized that we had been there for 2 hours already and only 2 dishes came out of the 7 that we ordered. It was SO bad and SAD (yes SAD), that we had to get the other orders to go because at that rate we would be closing this place down. Of course the servers are like "you're not gonna believe this, but the moment you guys wanted to go, your orders are ALL ready!" uhh yeah phuc dat bich. Now the really shitty part was when I got home. I looked through my order and it was all wrong. Things that I wanted chicken with, had lamb. Things that werne't suppoesd to have meat in it, had lamb. Everything had lamb. It's like, they had all this extra lamb and decided to just chop up some vegetables add curry powder and throw in some lamb. I like lamb but not in EVERYTHING. If you got 3+ hours to kill and love lamb. Go here. Otherwise just remember this story if your food is taking a little longer than usual. PS- we didn't get any sort of discount or anything, just an apology.. not for the sub par service, but because their credit card machine was taking a lot longer to process the bill.
(1)Sasha L.
Maharani is hands down the best Indian food in Hawaii. This place is so popular that there's always a huge wait for a table, so I usually get takeout. This time I ordered chicken masala, lamb vindaloo, eggplant korma, garlic naan, vegetable samosas, saffron rice and two mango lassi. I forgot my mango lassi when I was picking up my takeout though :( What was really nice was that when I called in and placed my order, the man on the phone told me that it would save me money if he put my order in as a "meal for two". I was hesitant because I was afraid I would get less portions of my curry, rice and naan..but he assured me that they were the same portions AND the meal for two came with an extra set of naan! Sure enough, got home and the portions were just as big as I remembered them! And the food was just as delicious! Only wish I remembered the mango lassi but that's okay, I'll be back again. Really nice customer service, it shows that they really care about their customers and will do what it takes to make them come back!
(5)Kelly L.
Cafe Maharani reminds me of a Sienfeld episode. There are so many downsides, but it will pull you in because the food is simply amazing. I've never been unsatisfied with the food, and I don't think there's better Indian on the Island. The service and location are borderline terrible. There is very little parking (anywhere nearby), no reservations, and limited seating. The staff are often yelling and cussing at each other. If you order for takeout, they may say it will take 20 mins, but count on 45 mins-one hour. All aside, I recommend eating here if you want great Indian food. I think take out is the best option. Order and arrive to pick it up 45 minutes later. Take it home or to a park for a picnic.
(4)Chelsey N.
I have to have to come back! Preferably right when they open because the wait was not the business. BUT OMG. We only scratched the surface of this gold mine of Indian food. We came as a party of three, and left completely defeated with three boxes of leftovers. FYI we got the dinner for two, which comes with naan, rice, a choice of appetizer, and two curries. We stuck to the typical chicken masala and also tried something called "korma". My mom can't handle too spicy, so we have to come back without her to try the intense stuff. Also we have to give ourselves a weekend buffer just in case our stomachs can't handle the awesome. I cannot wait to come back and somehow find parking again, so so worth it!
(4)Breanna M.
Worth the wait! Definitely make reservations if you can! The food is some of the best Indian food I've eaten. The cheesy naan bread is amazeballs. The Byob rule is fantastic. All in all this place is just great. I just wish it was a bit bigger!
(5)Shay F.
Indian Food! Ever since I visited India, I have a new found love and appreciation towards Indian food. My friend swore this was a good place for Indian food, so I landed upon this place. I ordered some veggie marsala dish, which was a bit spicy for me, but still good. I thought the nan could have been better, but what can I expect, this isn't India. Oh, but you know what was GOOD? The veggie samosa! Oh my, I'd go back just to have a whole plate of that! LoL
(4)Misty P.
Just came here again last night after a long hiatus from here. Same great food that makes my taste buds explode with delight! This time we opted to try different things on the menu that I've never explored before. I got the mango lassi to start. A great creamy rich drink that's like a mango smoothie. Delish! We got the tandoori garlic chicken wings for our appetizer and it was amazing! It came on a sizzling platter, adorned with slices of onions, mildly hot peppers, chopped garlic and a sprinkle of cilantro. The amount given could have been a meal in itself! I got the spicy tandoori chicken masala. A perfect saucy chicken dish with numerous spices. Not quite a curry but the consistency of it, which is perfect for dipping your naan bread in. It was damn spicy and set my mouth on fire but so tasty! Of course, a side of buttered naan bread. It comes in a basket with a generous portion. At Cafe Maharani it is made here fresh - so no prepackaged naan crap here! It's so soft and good and the bottom is crisp. You can taste the smokiness of the tandoori that they use out back. You get served on huge round metal plates, and metal cups that remind you of medieval times or the Game of Thrones or something. We came early at about 4:50pm and there was already a line. Be sure to come early to grab a seat. They open at 5pm. The place is tiny and does not take reservations. BYOB or wine. Parking is in the back but small. There's metered stalls all around and a short walk to the restaurant. Don't park at Longs because the security guard watches you.
(5)Angela R.
Cafe Maharani has hella good Indian food. Every time I dine here I know my taste buds will be going on an orgasmic journey. The depth in the dishes are undeniable. As the hubby and I eat, we start describing the food and the conversation becomes a little perverted. Then under the table footsie ensues... Indian food = aphrodisiac. My favorite menu items: Chicken tikka masala- creamy, robust and a good amount of heat! Lamb vindaloo- yes, it's gamey. It's lamb for crying out loud. But oh that vindaloo is amaze!! Mixed tandoori platter- a sizzling bbq platter. The meat is seasoned perfectly. Assorted mixed rice- of the assortment the saffron rice is my fave. The saffron flavor is infused throughout. Not too flavorful but just enough. The coconut and tomato rice are savory. And the yellow rice is a simple choice if your spiced out. Bread basket- with this option our indecisive selves were able to try 6 flavor of naan! The garlic was the favorite! Tip- arrive right at opening to guarantee a seat.
(5)Kyla K.
2 stars for excellent food. 0 stars for service. If they tell you to call 45 minutes ahead to put your name down so that you won't have to wait when you get there, just go straight there to put your name down yourself. Otherwise, you'll end up getting there, they'll tell you your name isn't on the list, and you'll have to wait another 45 minutes after you just spent 45 minutes at home waiting.
(2)Amiya W.
Probably the best Indian food in town! Went there for so many times. I am satisfied with their food every single time.
(5)Lisa S.
The most important suggestion is to TAKE-OUT! The restaurant has little floor space, yet it is covered with tables. The owners are trying to fill up the restaurant with many patrons as possible. Because of this, the waiters are not addressing everyone's needs in a timely manner. For some people, the wait time is even longer because the tables are located in areas that could easily be abandoned. My dinner experience tonight was horrible: My friends and I waited before the restaurant opened. We were seated against the wall on the right. I realized that we were in the "abandoned" zone when the waiters forgot to check on us for the first half hour. Surprisingly -- or maybe unsurprisingly because the place is so busy and chaotic -- they served several parties who came in after us. My friend became impatient and asked the waiter to take our orders. The food finally came, and it was unbelievably delicious. At the end of our meal, we realized it was two hours since we have been seated! And I'm usually the kind of person who prefers to eat and leave immediately. The waiter did not check-up on us since he gave us our meal. Thus, my sister went up to the counter and asked for take-out-boxes. Still impatiently waiting for the bill...and nobody came. We then calculated our bill, left the cash on the table, and walked out. I don't even think the staff noticed. Sorry for the rant, but if you don't mind eating a 2+ hour dinner, then this is the place for you! RECOMMENDATIONS: Order the Spicy lamb curry, spinach chicken curry, and chicken tikka masala! Do not pay extra for the nan bread toppings. We ordered the garlic nan and the basil nan, and both of them tasted exactly like the plain, buttered nan. Order the meal combination. In the back of the menu, there are various meal combinations available. The meal combinations are listed as a "meal for two", "meal for three," or a "meal for four." Do not take the titles seriously! The meal for two is really a meal for three people. The portions are huge, so you'll definitely be asking for a take-out box. Even when my friends and I ordered for a "meal for three" for a party of four, we still had a lot of leftovers at the end of the dinner. Bottom Line: Food is excellent, service is horrible. Take-out is available, so do it!
(3)Lori L.
I'm always happy with the food at Maharani Cafe. Yes, there is limited parking. Yes, if you go during the dinner rush you might have to wait 40+ minutes for a table and then wait more for your food. Yes, it's crowded and warm and there are Bollywood videos playing, but the food's good and meant to be eaten family-style. If you're not familiar with the dishes the Servers are happy to describe them to you and give suggestions. A great way to get variety is to try the Combination Menus, for 1, 2, 3, or 4 diners. The Combo Menus let you choose from a selection of dishes and the smaller servings mean the price is lower than if you got the full sized servings of each dish. The Samosa are a nice way to start. Served with chutney and yogurt sauce, they are shareable, one order will feed 4 if you cut them in half. We like to get a chicken curry such as the Chicken Tikka Masala, a lamb curry, like the Lamb Saag or Madras, and a vegetable curry, the Navrotton, Dal Sambar or Vegetable Korma. You also need at least 1 Naan for each person with maybe a couple more for the table. Leftovers will be just as good for lunch the next day, and it's BYOB! You can call ahead to put your name on the wait list, to save some wait time. Go with good company and enjoy!
(3)Christa B.
"Asatoma sat gamaya" is Sanskrit that translates to "Lead us from ignorance to truth." This is truthfully some amazing Indian cuisine so much so that I felt the need to start this review with a chant. It was food euphoria for me. Do I say that because I'm a yogi I and I love all things Indian? No! I love it because it's so fragrant and flavorful. The sauces in the Navrotton korma (which is the chefs recommendation) and the chicken Tikka Masala are thick, creamy and exhibit depth of spices. The chicken is tender and juicy. The garlic naan is soft and chewy, but not overly chewy and is good to utilize as a spoon to scoop up that tasty sauce. I could hear myself humming with each bite. The portions are large and prices are reasonable. They give you A LOT of naan, practically the size of a small to medium pizza. Wow, the cheese stuffed naan is gooey and warm. I recommend sharing because I'm almost certain you'll be leaving with a to go box. The masala tea mimics the taste of the sauces as it is fragrant and flavorful as well. It is sweetened, so acts well as almost a dessert like drink. The place is so small and loud. I felt like I was crammed in like a sardine and kept bumping my knees every time I turned to the side to reach for something. (The picture of the cafe on the website is misleading. There's not that much space and the tables and chairs are different than in the picture.) They are only opened for dinner and I recommend going after 9pm to avoid waiting for awhile for a table. I was a part of a party of four and waited about 30 minutes to be seated and probably another 10-15 for a server to come over. There's no waiting area and most people crowd the hallway between the cafe and Subway. There's a TV in there but all it plays is a bearded no shirt Bolly wood singer over and over. So while you're waiting on your server, the TV won't pass the time. There were three guys there that night that were serving. They were busting their butts trying to get people in and out , so the service wasn't really above average. The menu is diverse and appeals to both carnivores and vegetarians. (There were chunks of tofu in the Navrotton Korma.) Parking is limited. There is a small lot of about 7-8 spaces that are shared with customers of the neighboring Subway. There is also street parking. It's BYoB. You might not softly hum or chant like me when the tastiness of Cafe Maharani's food hits your taste buds (again, I'm so kidding about the chanting), but you could possibly leave thinking that was some of the best Indian food you'd ever had.
(4)Victoria L.
This quaint place fills up fast so get there before opening. Early service was fast, our waiter was excellent! We ordered the "Dinner for two $43." Our two friends ordered a few separate dishes & apps. We ended up w/leftovers, enough for four more big meals. All of our dishes had deep, balanced, authentic flavors. Highly recommend! byob!
(5)Kalani S.
Are you kidding me... What happen to the air conditioner? This place is busy and with 2 cheap a/c units this place has become very uncomfortable to eat. During my meal my shirt was sticking to me, and my friends was complaining as well. With all this business they should invest in customer satisfaction. During my dinner tonight I notice a high end cctv system. I guess they care more about watching us than satisfying the customer. I have no complaints on the food. If the ambience was comfortable I would have given 4 stars if the service was superb I would have given them 5 stars. #maharani needs a fix up.
(3)Jon H.
"Ok...Maharani is the BEST Indian restaurant on the island." - Jon H. (November 10, 2014) That right there is my confession. And as much as it pains me to admit it, my coworker is 100% right to proudly boast her love for Maharani. To be fair, their food is amazing and I've never had a bad meal there. However, Chutney was my favorite Indian spot for as long as they were around. But now that they're closed (*crying intensifies*), Maharani reigns supreme as the undisputed champion of Indian cuisine. Long live the king. Anyway, now that the bragging rights have been established--it might've been due to a technicality, but still go ahead and enjoy your victory--let's get to what Yelp really cares for...the food! And in my opinion, every review for Maharani needs to start with their naan. Even back when Maharani was (only) my 2nd favorite place, I wasn't reluctant or hesitant to proclaim that they had hands down the best naan I've ever eaten. The taste and texture are absolutely perfect each and every time. Seriously though the naan at Maharani is basically beautiful, delicious art. For the most part I tend to order the plain naan since I use it as a tasty vessel for my curry/main dish. However, if flavor and "nom nom nom"-ness is your objective, you owe it to yourself to get a cheese stuffed naan. No joke it's that good. I swear the first time I tried it the cheese naan made me stop and question what I had been doing with my life before then. Total game-changer. And I'd be a fool not to mention the size of the naan. OMG. If you've never seen the naan at Maharani, I want you to imagine the hubcap for your car. Now replace the metal with wonderful naan bread and you now have a pretty good idea of what you're dealing with. You're bound to have some naan as leftover takeout, and it's still just as delicious the next day...oh who am I kidding I always end up eating it later that night. And although I think I'd be perfectly happy just eating naan, Maharani says not so fast and slaps your taste buds in the face by offering even more amazing flavors and dishes. Having said that, out of the many times I've been here, I think I've only ever order three different dishes: palak paneer, malai kofta, and chana masala. For those of you unfamiliar with these names, palak paneer is a creamy spinach and paneer cheese dish, malai kofta is a dish of vegetable and paneer cheese balls in sauce, and chana masala (my personal favorite Indian dish) is chick peas in a masala sauce. And although the menu is quite extensive and each and every dish is prepared with great care and detail, I don't know if I'll ever deviate from my comfortable, familiar trio. Prices are more than reasonable for the quality and quantity you get at Maharani. And this is even truer when you do the set dinner options. And unless your party is full of sumo wrestlers, there is no way you're eating all the food. I love taking my leftovers for lunch the next day. The only knock on Maharani is the waiting time to be seated. They don't do reservations and the dining area is relatively small, so there is a pretty good probability that you're going to wait a bit to be seated. But bring some good company along with you and the wait won't seem nearly as long. Or if you're really impatient or on the go, Maharni does takeout orders, too. But whether it's dine in or take out, just make sure to treat yourself to some Maharani asap!
(5)Cat P.
I've been really reluctant to try Indian food here on the island because I didn't think any would really match up to the Indian food I used to have in the bay area in Cali. However, this restaurant is pretty much there! My boyfriend was craving Indian food and I was trying to be a good Catholic and not eat meat this past Friday of lent, so I thought it'd be a good idea to check this place out. We read reviews on how crazy the lines can be so it's a good thing we arrived later at around 8:30pm, b/c by that time we only had to wait about 5-10 min. We even called in advance to have the server put our name down on the list, so that probably helped too. When we arrived at the restaurant, we were informed that their credit card machine had broken down that day so they were only accepting cash that night. My bf and I don't usually carry a lot of cash with us and combined only had $40. We figured that should be enough to order two dishes and maybe a small pupu, and have just enough for tip. I ordered the fish masala curry with sea bass (chef's specialty), and my bf ordered the saag chicken. I LOVED the curry sea bass, as the fish was super tender and the curry was flavored with so many different spices, and it wasn't overwhelmingly heavy on the sauce. My bf said the chicken saag was good too (I was only able to try the saag though, not the chicken) and it was pretty good. I did notice that my bf kept reaching for my fish rather than the chicken saag, so I think he liked my fish better. =P We also ordered plain naan to go with our meal--it was so fluffy and soft on the inside and crispy on the outside. It was perfect to have with our dishes! We were thoroughly enjoying our food but we soon realized that our two entrees were very saucy and we didn't have enough carbs to soak up our food. So we explained to the server our situation about only having $40 cash on us, and asked if he could help us out by hooking it up with some rice, haha. It was kind of embarrassing but we truly didn't have enough money! He went to the back to go check, and soon after he was out with a huge bowl of rice for us! Score! The food here was exceptional but I have to admit that if it wasn't for the server and restaurant hooking it up with the rice, I'd say that the service was mediocre. I felt like the restaurant was understaffed and the server(s) were running around super busy and the service was really slow. However, what helped keep me entertained while we waited was being able to watch the Indian music videos on the TV- i LOVE Bollywood dancing and I love the moves that they bust out to their upbeat music! Plus, the women are absolutely beautiful and their outfits are so exquisite-- I can't keep my eyes off them! Overall, I had a fantastic experience and I will definitely be back here! Hopefully next time their credit card machine will be working so I can actually pay for everything I order! =) Oh yeah, and one more thing...this place is BYOB! Can't beat that! =P
(4)Lina L.
The Restsurant is quite dirty, i wonder if they ever wash the chairs. I saw roaches and a rat hole I was scared. The owner was rude to customers, definitely don't care about what we feel, just straight money! food used to be better, it seems like they changed chef or something. The spinach sauce was too thick and tastes funky and bitter I wonder if they blended several roaches in there or not.
(1)Brandon D.
What a wonderful place! The food and service is really amazing! We had chicken masala, vegetable korma, kabli, and a tandoori grilled mix plate, all of which was awesome! Descent size plates of food for 3 people. We will be back!
(5)Alexander G.
I love food. Indian is my favorite. That's no small statement, but it can also make it hard to find anything good on an island not known for its culinary diversity. This is hands-down the best Indian restaurant I've tried in Hawaii. I'm a regular and always look forward to going. The restaurant is tiny and the seats are jammed in to maximize the amount of people served. You have to understand some things coming here: unless you arrive early in preparation, you will be waiting a long time. Tables of 2 rarely have this problem, but sometimes do. The waiting never gets better because of problem two: service is ghastly slow and inattentive. Do you want something? You can't have it, because we'll forget 3 or 4 times (best idea, go ask for whatever you need at the window). Despite these things that could be issues for some people, that's not why I removed one star: I had to subtract one as the bathroom is always filthy, which disturbs me about what the employees do (I just don't think about it). The ambiance is slightly Indian, but more just plain. The furniture is nice, but very large and hard to squeeze through. You will spend as much time waiting for your check and take-out bags as you did to sit down. The food is the reason you need to come. Is it the best Indian food I've had? Far from it. Is it the best you can get for literally thousands of miles? Yes! All the curries are thick and flavorful. Naan is fresh and homemade. The mango lasses are lacking, but still delicious. Your best bet is going with one of the fixed meals- there are enough choices there to find a few things everyone can agree on. This is especially helpful for people who don't know what to order. This is also a great location, right near University. Great place!
(4)Arlene A.
Yes, I am a believer that taste buds change over time. Back in college, I had my first taste of Indian food during a trip to LA and was immediately turned off by the strong spices, aromatic curries, and green lamb meat! Yuck, never again I told myself! Then my classmate from Singapore invited a group of people to dinner at her place where she would prepare us a nice home-cooked Indian meal. I hesitated but was eventually convinced to go. Hmm, Indian food didn't taste as bad as I remembered. Then India Express opened on campus and I had to see what all the hype was about. Did my taste buds turn a new leaf? Wow, such delicious curries and flavors I was missing out on! So that brings me to my first ever visit to Maharani. I've seen the long lines passing through on S. King Street. After watching 1,000 foot journey, I was seriously jonsing for some Indian food. So my sister and I came here the other night after work when surprisingly there was no line or wait! Parking was easy to find behind the building where there are a few stalls shared between Cafe Maharani and Subway. We got the dinner for two which was a little over $40 for the samosa, two entrees, saffron rice and naan bread. The portions were so huge you could have easily fed 4 people! The chicken tikka masala and the eggplant masala dishes were delicious! And just the right amount of spice. We also opted for the stuffed naan bread with garlic and cheese for an additional $3. YUM! It is pricey for just two people but considering that we'll be getting a few meals out of this, I think it was worth it! It's too bad not too many of my friends like Indian food - maybe they just need a little coercing to open up their taste buds! Hey, everything changes over time right?
(4)Jess I.
One of the worst restaurant experiences I've had. A real bummer it had to be while I was on a romantic date- the service nearly made my head explode (read the other reviews as well). Let me take you on my journey... We came here at 8pm, waited an hour for a table (which is expected here) and we got the 'maharani for two' combination. A very popular menu item. By the time we ordered, they ran out of samosas and many of the entree items. But that's OK. There were other items to choose from. But 10 minutes after we ordered they told us they ran out of rice (seriously?), so they would bring us extra naan (normally the combo comes with two naan + saffron rice), again, a bummer but that's OK. 15 minutes later they tell us they ran out of naan too!!! So all we got for $50 was two bowls of indian curry and nothing to eat it with. Expensive soupy curry with a spoon, that's it! We couldn't eat just curry alone, so we had to get it to-go to make rice at my house. When the check came I asked if they could take some $$ off because we didn't receive the entire meal we ordered (no saffron rice + 2 naan), and they said no because 'the management wouldn't like that' (exact words)!!! I felt like screaming 'WHAAAAT, you're literally charging us for food we never got!!!!! And we can't even eat here because you ran out of rice!!!' And the worst part is they didn't seem to care at all. I was dumbfounded. No sympathy, we got KO'd by cafe maharani. Seriously guys, you NEED to respect your customers more. And who runs out of rice? It's cheap just make extra, right? Apparently not. Needless to say I will not recommend this place to anybody.
(1)David C.
This restaurant has an unreasonable about how you can't share dishes with each other even though the portions are so enormous that a single person would not be able to finish it by himself.
(1)Neil P.
Being an indian, I am an avid fan of these types of dishes. With that said, our entire experience was horrible from the service down to the quality of food. The server would literally leave our plate on the edge and leave. We were responsible for separating the dishes. The guy never smiled or asked if there was anything else we needed. Service aside, we came for the food. The owner refused to customize our dishes (such as make it spicier or more meat). The food was so bland. This was worse than indian buffets (which are normally made for the stomachs of casual restaurant goers). There was very little flavor aside from the tomato paste. We came to the conclusion they make large batches in the back rather individually cook peoples' meals. We came during closing time and they refused to make us certain dishes because they ran out. One customer was refused rice because the owner didn't want to cook more. Indian food does not seem like a big thing in Hawaii but this place does not make good food at all.
(1)Samantha K.
The food is absolutely delicious... It really is. But the service? It's pretty bad. Given there's only two servers... I'll deal. But really, you can't beat the BYOB.
(4)Angela D.
I'm inclined to go easy on this place because it is the only Indian restaurant we've tried on the island that is worth returning to. Yes, the service is horribly slow. Yes, the place is horrifically overcrowded and you WILL wait a lot longer for your table than you should. But the food is good. I only eat the vegetarian dishes, so can only speak about those but they are flavorful and the portions are bigger than they appear. They only look tiny because you waited an hour to sit down, 30 minutes before the waiter could take your order, and another 45 before the food was delivered. You are STARving! But once you start eating you realize the food portion is adequate. I was warned about all of the pitfalls of this place so I was not angry or disappointed when all I had been warned about actually happened. I think that is key. Don't go hungry, wear comfortable clothes for the long wait outside, and bring your smartphone (obviously) so you have something to do while waiting to place your order. Do all this and you will love this place!
(4)Navjot S.
First off, the restaurant closes at 9 PM but they apparently stop sitting at 8:30 PM. This was not advertised on the website. Yelp users said you can call and ask to reserve a table but when we tried that, they said we don't allow reservations. We arrived at the restaurant around 8:28 PM and were refused a table. After we were refused seating, we mentioned what Yelp users said about getting a table over the phone, the person said: oh, we don't allow reservations but you can ask to be put on a waitlist. Huh? How's that any different?!? We're off to a great start, right? My wife really wanted indian food and we were both too tired to scout Yelp for 30 minutes to find a new place, so we rolled the dice and ordered take-out. We ordered the Papri Chaat, which was amazing. The Palak Paneer is the Chef's Specialty, but it was mediocre at best. We're indian and know our Palak Paneer ;o) My wife really liked the Kabli Naan and I thought it was okay. The Mango lassi was thirst quenching. Overall, I would say the food wasn't the best Indian food as the website advertises. I would probably give the place a 4 out of 5, but thanks to their service it deserves nothing more than a 3.
(3)Ro M.
Tip 1: it's BYOB so do it... Bring your own beverage. We were served water at room temperature , no ice..blah. TG I brought a water bottle. Take my advice please. You won't regret it. Tip 2: come early. Possibly before 5:45. If not, don't come here hypoglycemic because you will end up passing out before your party gets a table. Tip 3: don't come here for the service cuz it's AWFUL!!! From the moment we walked in, service sucked. Tip 4: tables are real close together. Be ready to get cozy with a stranger lol. Overall, food is good. Our dinner for 2 was a huge portion of food so it made tasty leftovers the next day. I probably won't be back for awhile. I think I prefer the old Chutney restaurant on Keeaumoku. Smaller restaurant but service is waaay better.
(3)Amy L.
I've read couple reviews about waiting a lot for this place, but I just come here at five when they open, and you only wait about 5 minutes. I've been here couple times, tried new things everytime I was here and everything, seriously everything here that I have tried is really good. I've never had an experience of eating indian food before this place, and I don't think I will be able to go to other places since this place is soooo good!! My personal favorite is the shrimp saag (shrimp in a spinach curry?). I don't know how they spice their shrimp but once you take a bite, it's like heaven in your mouth. Personally i think this curry goes well with naan rather than rice and they are delicious whether they are hot or cold (in case you had left-overs) However, their chicken masala (i think that's what they are called), tandoori chicken, samosas, coconut curry are ALL SO GOOD The only problem I have with this place is their cups, it kind of just smells like a little metal to me. without that problem, this place WELL DESERVES FIVE STARS!!
(4)Teresa L.
So good! OMG. I can't believe I didn't try this place sooner! PARKING - There are about 8 stalls in the the back and one handicap stall. Otherwise, you can find street parking at the park down the road. FOOD - The three of us shared a Maharani Dinner for Two. (I'm a tiny eater, so this was perfect for us....we even had lots of leftovers to take home)! We started off with the Samosa, two pieces of crispy pastry cones filled with spiced veggies. For our entrees we got the chicken tikka masala and lamb masala curry. Great choices! I recommend trying the lamb, it's so tender and delicious. Of course, the meal isn't complete without Naan! The cheese garlic stuffed naan is bomb dot com! Definitely a must try. Ours came out a little burnt on some parts, but still equally delicious. DRINKS - The mango lassi was refreshing. My friend had the plain lassi and it was great too. RANDOM - It was really hot in the restaurant. Not sure why....they even opened the door to let the wind in. Not sure if this is a normal thing? They were also nice enough to let us try to Kheer (sweet rice pudding). It has a unique flavor that we could not figure out. It was refreshing and I enjoyed it!
(5)Sean C.
parking: street parking. It is fairly easy to find parking around this neighborhood and walk cost: $20 per person the food: - Maharani Dinner for Two: veggie samosa, palak paneer, chicken tikka masala, 2 regular naan, Hot masala chai tea The decor of this place is great. They have thick heavy ornate chairs, heavy metal goblets and plates, and bollywood playing on the TV's. It really adds to the experience. There were two of us so we ordered the Maharani Dinner for two and let me just say that this was enough to feed 4 people. The samosa was gigantic and there were just large portions of all the food. Regardless, this makes for a great meal for the day after. I would say that the food is pretty comparable to most Indian restaurants that I've been to. I usually judge the chicken tikka masala by the quality of the chicken and it is made with fresh chicken breast which was a plus. Top off your meal with a hot cup of masala chai. It tastes like thai iced tea without the ice but is great drink to just sip on after your meal. Overall, a great place to come for indian food if you're craving it.
(3)Timothy B.
I would have to rank this establishment pretty high within the list of Indian options on oahu. The portions are massive, prices are moderate, and the food is not too shabby. They have all the classic Indian restaurant options you can think of. I ordered the lamb biryani and almost couldn't finish my meal due to the sheer size of the entree. No complaints at all about the taste of the food, the lamb was tender and the rice was perfectly cooked. The only downside to this place is that they don't exactly have many "spicy" dishes. When going for Indian I usually gravitate towards the hottest things on the menue - and here there aren't really too many hot options to worth with. I have noticed this same phenomenon occurring at other restaurants as well, and have come to conclude that the restaurants on oahu are probably just catering to a population that cannot take, or does not prefer spicey food. Good luck finding any truly "hot foods" on this island. So if you are craving non-spicey Indian food then I would highly suggest giving this place a try.
(4)Arun S.
Arrogant snob is how I'd best describe the person who managed it all yesterday. My wife and me were super excited about having dinner here, having received raving reviews from the hotel concierge and of course, Yelp. What ensued was a nightmare. After getting our name down, we were warned that it would take close to an hour and a half to get us a seat, and we were okay with that. We decided to stand outside , patiently, just to see people who had their names after us being seated just because they had a larger group. I'm down with that. What's not cool is that you talk back to a lady (my wife) about not having your name on the list, and snipe back when I go in to double check. It's your frekking job, guy. When we were the only ones outside, after seeing everyone but us get a table, we were called in and left seated on a table with not even a glass of water and the dude saying "lucky you" as he let us in. We waited for about 20 mins, as the people went about their business practically ignoring us, and we got up and left. So much for the great food. It was a non starter. I hope he learns his lesson soon, or he suffers the consequences of his arrogance in the worst manner possible. ZERO STARS!!!
(1)Karen P.
I'm a huge fan of indian food and Cafe Maharani is the best! I've tried indian food in many different places on my travels, but there's no place like home! Try the Shrimp Biryani, Samosas, and Lamb Vindaloo...the sauces are savory, spicy, with that hint of sweet you're looking for in indian. And the ambiance is colorful and aromatic! Just expect to wait awhile for that table, cause Cafe Maharani is busy. Don't forget to bring a bottle of wine to enjoy with your meal :-)
(5)Izumi K.
Definitely the best Indian restaurant in Hawaii! It'll be crowded until 8:30 and they don't take reservations so you might have to wait awhile. But the wait is worth it! Since I don't care for spicy foods, I ordered the butter chicken curry. It was great and not too heavy. I will definitely be stopping by again:)
(5)J Z.
Visited on a Sunday - and yes, they are crowded and busy as heck, and parking can be a real challenge. If you don't like sitting next to strangers - like close enough to be at your table close, then don't go. :-) ------- FOOD ------- Our meal was vegetarian fare, all of it. Naan - light & fluffy, but I really don't like it to be black on the bottom. Rice - they only have saffron rice and the serving was huge so we didn't get it; ordered more naan instead. Palak paneer - LOVE LOVE LOVE their paneer! You get nice big pieces that aren't tough. The palak is a little one-dimensional, though. It has a nice taste, but gets boring really fast on its own. Needs more heat/spice imho. Paneer Tiki Masala - Yum! Vegetable samosas - Awesome! Would've liked a bit of mint in the yoghurt sauce, but was still nice. Pakoras... eggplant and onion only for vegetarians.... boooo :-( No dessert except kheer and halavah - booooo :-( Can't wait to try some of the other dishes, though! ---------- SERVICE ---------- Challenging :-) The cashier/order desk (for takeout)/maitre d is at the rear of the restaurant and they keep a running list of who's who and how many in the party. I don't have a comment on the fast/slowness of the service, because we had a party of 5 in front of us who had ordered takeout and decided to eat in. So we had to wait on them to be seated first, regardless of what seating opened up. Yes, it seemed a little unfair, but they just follow the list: first come, first served. Still a 30-min wait, and we were 2nd on the list. No drama because we had seating; others outside were not so fortunate. We had a great server that kept me informed on our seating so we weren't left in the dark about it. But we were seated up against the wall, and the people seated at the table next to us wouldn't budge one inch for the server, so I literally had to leave my seat and squeeze behind them just to place an order - not joking. I don't think it's possible to find a more crowded place to eat. The food came pretty fast, appetizers first (Masalas, are you listening?). piping hot; entrees soon after. So other than getting seating, there was no big lag on service otherwise. We'll be back. :-)
(4)Saxon S.
Came here tonight for 2 of my friends birthday celebrations. The restaurant was packed with people but, the staff did their best to accomodate all 8 of us. The Highlights of our meal was the Chicken Masala Curry, Eggplant Tikka Korma, Lamb Malai Korma, and the Malai Kofta. Without going into too much detail, try each of them. Their all great choices! Of course you have to get the Naan! I usually just go with a butter garlic naan. My all time favorites tonight were the Lamb Malai Korma and Eggplant Tikka Korma! We also tried the Chicken Tikka Masala and Biryani Rice which were ok. I've heard good things about the coconut rice so thats what i'll be getting next time i come here.
(4)Kishen R.
Food was good but service sucked!! They brought the wrong order and it took them forever with to bring a mango lassi!!
(2)Hazel F.
Long wait if you don't come when they open! Worth the wait, as they are, so far, the best Indian restaurant I've tried in Hawaii. Not to dog the others I've tried, but very good, hence the long wait! I had the vegetable samosas. It's 2 huge pieces in one order! It's like 5x bigger than another place I had it! It's an appetizer and at the other place I could pick it up with my hands and eat it in 2 bites. The ones they had, I needed my plate and fork and knife! I could get full off of just one alone! But we ordered more so I didn't stop there lol. We also had the saffron rice! So light and fluffy and delicious! I don't usually eat rice if I can help it, but, we ordered the lamb vindaloo and I wanted to pour all that vindaloo over that awesome rice! So since I mentioned the lamb vindaloo...yeah it's delicious, yes it's spicy, and yes it's worth it! Soft and yummy, with all that sauce, no gamey taste at all, I believe it also comes with naan, so be careful if you order a side of naan or it will be too much. Yes naan goes good as well, to mop up all that sauce if you don't order the rice! Then we also had the chicken tandoori mixed grill. Unfortunately I don't remember what different types they were, but all had different colors and flavors and yes tasty!!! Ugh I love almost all foods I can't help if they all taste good! It does seem like they use chicken breasts so you know that's a little drier, but nonetheless good and they give you some sauces on the side too so that's awesome (less dry) lol. Of course I'm coming back, duh!
(5)Mathew L.
Pretty good Indian food. However service is mediocre and seating is too cramped and the atmosphere is too loud. It's maybe ok for takeout or an off time.
(3)Ding D.
Did they get a new chef? New owner? Or new idea of what Indian food is? Usually this is my favorite place on the island to get Indian. Very satisfied in all the years going there. Until now... To skip the wait and hassle of going out I ordered take out through Room Service in Paradise. The convenience of it is well worth the fee! Got the same thing I always get. Some Chana masala, vegetable kofta, lamb masala, nan, and rice. This time it was different though. Instead of all the exciting spices you normally get with Indian food, it was bland and boring. Nothing like it should be. It was like the sad food court version of Indian food. I probably won't be eating there ever again. Time to try some of the other Indian places the island has to offer.
(1)Maddie C.
Hands down my favorite Indian restaurant on the island! The wait is a killer any day/time of the week. Call them before you go and they will put your name on the waiting list and tell you the wait time. Yes you are welcome :) Items I usually order: Lamb Vindaloo - delicious mix of Indian spicy, plus you really can't go wrong with ordering the lamb! Fish Masala Curry - the fish is amazing! Perfectly cooked every time! The sauce goes extremely well with the naan. Naan - they have a huge selection. I have had most of them and they are all equally delicious!
(4)Ariana M.
Maharani is well known for long waits. We arrived at 7pm and was not seated till after 9pm. After waiting for over 2 hours, I have to admit I was starting to get a little cranky. As I mentioned in my previous review that it seems like this restaurant is under staffed. Coming back a second time, I don't think its too much of being under staffed, but more of they are not good at managing themselves. Many times we noticed people leaving, but it would take the workers awhile before cleaning up the table and turning it over to another party. If they could learn how to quickly clean up and seat the next group, the waiting wouldn't be so ridiculous here. If you didn't already know, Maharani is BYOB: yelp.com/biz_photos/cafe… I love the wine glasses they provide! Makes me feel like I'm in Game of Thrones or something lol. The Grub. [[ DINNER FOR TWO $40.99 ]] yelp.com/biz_photos/cafe… Wow what a deal! The dinner for two comes with an appetizer (samosa or onion pakora), your choice of any two entrees of vegetable or chicken. It is also served with rice and naan bread. Talk about a lot of food~!!! - SAMOSA - yelp.com/biz_photos/cafe… This is super yummy! I recommend getting this if it is your first time here :) - CHICKEN MASALA CURRY - Boneless chicken cooked with tomato, cream, ginger, garlic, and other exotic Indian spices. This dish was a little too spicy for me. Don't get me wrong, it tasted really good! It was just hard to eat haha. - VEGETABLE KORMA - Mixed vegetables cooked with onions, ginger, garlic, and herbs in a creamy coconut milk sauce. I personally liked this dish more because it was less spicy. TIP = If you want to skip the wait, just order take out. Or if you plan to wait for dine in, bring a snack :) So why did I rate them 3 stars instead of 4 like last year? To be perfectly honest, the wait. The food was as good as I remembered, however the wait was just too long and seemed slightly unnecessary. Its hard to be standing around waiting to be seated when you see 3 different tables open.
(3)Anna T.
Absolutely love this place, by far my favourite restaurant in Hawaii. Everything on the menu is delicious. And it's BYO.
(5)Mirina K.
Cafe Maharani is consistently delicious. Highly recommend ordering the Lassi drink. Lassi is a yogurt beverage that tastes like a tart ice cream shake.
(5)Donna L.
Good experience on a Thursday evening. We were seated right away and drank the wine we brought until they were ready to take our order. Then the food arrived pretty quickly. Tasty food, generous portions, reasonably priced. I ate my leftovers the next day and they tasted even better.
(4)Marielle T.
What I love: - The cheese stuffed garlic naan is ah-mazing! If you order it, I wouldn't order much else. - They play Indian music videos on the TV. - The metal dishes make it more fun to eat. - The place is decorated with Aladdin's magic carpets. Consider sharing an entree. I'd recommend ordering quickly because food can take a while if the restaurant is packed. I'm not too fond of the supercloseproximity of neighbors. It gets kinda hard to have a conversation at times. Otherwise, order everything - then eat it. You can't go wrong.
(4)Jen T.
This yelp review and star rating is based on my overall experience. My wife and I decided to try this place our last night in Hawaii. We saw really good ratings about this place and decided to go check it out. We got there and there were people waiting in the back and front of the restaurant. Which was reassuring because that meant this place must be good. We were 2nd to last in line to get seated because they decided to cut off the waitlist due to closing time and people waiting. I really did not appreciate that there was a party that came after us and the guy was just being really persistent and kissing the waiter's ass so of course he got seated at the same time as us. Fine dude no problem. But then the waiter decided to take their order first before us and it really bothered me. We got there first, we put our name down first you should seat us first and take our order first. Besides we had been waiting to be seated for 45 minutes and already knew what we wanted to order. And... their food came our before ours. I should be accustomed to the rude masculine unfair energy of the indian waiters... I do live in Cerritos after all and I go eat in this area all the time. Ok enough of the politics... the food I have to admit was very good. I got the Thali and I ordered the chicken tikka masala and the lamb masala, palak paneer (spinach) and the vegetable jafrezi? Anyways it was all god the portions were on point as well as the naan bread was fluffy and fresh. Gotta give it to them on that. Maybe order to go if you don't want to deal with the rude waiters and the wait time.
(4)Lori A.
Last night was a nightmare for service here. We arrived and stood in line until the doors opened at five. After placing our order, it took an hour to get our entrees. Then another hour to get the food we ordered to take home. Make no mistake about it, the food here is super but service is severely lacking.
(1)Audrey C.
Prior to coming to Maharani, I was really skeptical! I really don't like bad service, but I had heard that this place was one of the better Indian selections in Hawaii, so I had to try it! Surprisingly, we didn't have any service issues. Maybe because we arrived promptly at 5pm at opening and there was essentially nobody else in the restaurant. I had never been here before and the times I have tried Indian in the past, I was always accompanied by an Indian friend who would order what they thought I would like best. Instead, I was with my boyfriend and a friend who had also never been. Thankfully, my boyfriend loves this place! We ordered the garlic naan, yellow rice, lamb curry, chicken kabob, and I forget the vegetable dish name but it was noted as the special on the menu! ALL VERY DELICIOUS. I love Indian food!!! It had such an amazing blend of spices and flavors that it is essentially a huge flavor orgasm for your tongue! Maharani has captured my heart! The only downside is that many of these are hot dishes, as in temperature and some in flavor, and when we went the AC was broken? Or they don't have one at all? I'm not sure. But the combined Hawaiian heat and humidity with the food made it extra hot! But still, was so worth it.
(4)Sungeun P.
Pro: Portions, flavor/taste, variety of items offered on the menu, speed of food coming to the table, BYOB ($1.50 corkage fee per person) Con: SUPER crowded so waiting time can be little long (usually anywhere from 20 to 45 min), loud and chaotic inside because it is a small place and ppl moving in and out, parking is a bit tight. Summary: Get there as early as you can and you won't have any issues :) Items I ordered: *Chicken tikka Masala- had great flavor, very good portion, chicken was tender. *Chicken Vindalo-Delicious. Make sure you stir because the spices sometimes settle on the bottom :) *Yellow Saffron rice: Get them! period. *Kabli Naan-Fluffy, fresh, packed with great flavors. *Tandoori mix Special-it was great. Generous portion 3 ppl shared and it was perfect. Mix of chicken, lamb, sausage and few prawns. Great flavors. Make sure to order extra Naan if you want more because it comes with just one family size naan. *Lassie/yogurt drink: great thick texture, you can really taste the yogurt. Overall, I'll definitely go back but I'll try to make sure I get there before 6-6:30.
(4)Nard B.
Yum!!! Best indian food spot..ive honestly never been to any other, because ive never been disapointed! Got dinner for 2, 1 app (eggplant deliciousness), rice (always bomb), cheese and garlic stuffed naan (2 bucks more for stuffed but worth it), and 2 entrees (chicken tiki masala and fish house special thing)....so good...AND its BYOB...and servers are fast and friendly....oh and got choke lwftovers..so dinner for 2 has given us 2 meals!
(5)Gaby O.
The food is great. The service is ok. The wait is terrible. The restaurant opens at 5 pm and there is usually a line 30 minutes before opening time. The wait for a seat can be as long as 2 hours. The wait for food is usually 30 minutes to 1 hour. The best thing to do in my opinion is to order to go and eat at home. You can call in your order and pick it up when it is ready. The other tip is that if you really want to eat there, you should call ahead and place your name on the waiting list. The restaurant allows you to call them and place your name on the waiting list without being present. This beats waiting a longer time in the restaurant which is tiny and crowded for a seat. I also found out that there is a delivery service. That's even more convenient since parking is hard to find.
(4)Vera W.
The food is so good. The best Indian food in Hawaii. This review used to be 2 stars but since then they've really stepped up their service and wait time. I come here at least 2-3 times a month now. Love it. So the food is 5 stars. Waiting times is 3 stars. Service is 4 stars. The average = the total which is 4 stars.
(4)Shruti S.
Warning! I am Indian and i can cook some good food so I have very high bar for Indian food. Overall my take is - something lacking so I am giving this place 3 star aka average. We had chicken curry, plain daal, naan and their saffron rice. All the curries were mild and lacking in flavors. Chicken was very well cooked but no bang. Daal was the biggest disappointment with lack of 'tadka' aka tomato, onion and ginger and basic Indian spices. Also the portions are huge so order 1 main course for 2. Naan was good, rice - again bummed - had to order saffron rice ( they should have white rice option.). In summary of you are craving for real Desi food then skip it. But for almost good Indian food give it a shot.
(3)Helen M.
Café Maharani was the first Indian restaurant I had ever tried, and boy, do those other restaurants have a lot to live up to. For the most part, I echo majority of the comments and tips: Waiting for a table is a norm; if you don't want to wait, do takeout (about 30 to 50 minutes, I guess depending on the demand that night); and the food is very good. I've gone many times for both takeout and dine in, and at some point, I've decided that the vegetable Malai Kofta and cheese naan are my two usual orders. The malai kofta is so creamy and delicious. I've had at least 2 people sitting in other parties ask me what I order (so flattering, hehe :D). The cheese naan is super filling so I never finish it but I wish I could. But my only advice that I think may be different from everyone else's is that you should sometimes take the time to treat yourself to dine in at Café Maharani. Yes, you're going to wait, and yes, they're still good as takeout and even left over for the next day but the naans are so much better fresh from their oven. The people there are generally pretty friendly, and seem to try their best in appeasing the crowd, so I guess I don't expect them to dote on me. Tables are very close together as this is not a very big restaurant. In fact, they renovated less than a or two year ago, so imagine how cramped it was before in comparison.
(5)Y K.
I came to Cafe Maharani the other night. I should have paid attention to the warning signs. This place was a sweatbox and overcrowded without any air circulation. In addition, the table was not properly wiped down! I ordered Chicken Masala and Pizza Naan. The Masala was not anything special. The Chicken Vindaloo a friend ordered was a better option. Nonetheless, less than 12 hours later I was suffering from food poisoning (stomach cramps and pain in my abdomen) and had to run out of a workshop I was attending to the restroom. If you are stopped up but don't want to take a laxative, order something from this place and you will find yourself spending most of the next 24+ hours in the bathroom and out of commission!
(1)Martha N.
My fiance loves this place. I'm constantly disappointed (except for the veggie samosas, which earn an extra star). If you dine in, expect to be forgotten. We've tried to eat there 3 times, and every single time we've been forgotten by the staff. I will excuse the time we tried there for Valentine's Day, because of course they're slammed. But when we get there at 6:00 on Tuesday and only a quarter of the tables are full, there's no excuse. Takeout is hardly better. We call every time we order takeout because they inevitably forget some portion of our order. When we show up without calling ahead we end up waiting another 10-30 minutes beyond when they said the food would be ready. I'm a fairly lenient person, and I understand you get busy, but there's no excuse for that nonsense. The food is okay. No where worth the hassle, though.
(2)Roan P.
I had vegetarian #48! Soooooooo onolicious! One of the best Indian restaurants I have ever been to. We had to wait almost an hour to be seated though because the place was packed, but it was so worth it!
(5)Mohit K.
I was told that this was the best Indian food in Honolulu, and I realize now that options are probably limited on the island. The food is decent, but nothing to write home about. The ambience is a bit stuffy, and the restroom is a bit gross. BYOB so you wanna plan ahead.
(4)Sheryl N.
When I first entered Cafe Maharani, The exquisite aroma of spices filled the air. This was the first time I had a taste of wonderful Indian food! First off parking is pretty sparse, in fax they actually just have street parking. But you can chance it and park across the street in the longs drugs parking lot at the edges ;) The restaurant is quite small, seating about 20 people total. So I don't recommend large groups to swing by this joint, but it's great for a date or small group of 4 or so. When my boyfriend and I arrived at the restaurant we were greeted by a friendly hostess who immediately sat us with our friends. (We arrived a bit late but they said their wait was about 15 minutes) They have a great variety of dishes to choose from, of which my friends chose due to my lack of knowledge of what to order. The naan was stupendous, like where have you been all my life kinda deal. The portions were quite large, enough to feed six people. A few of the dishes we had was the delicious chicken masala, the savory coconut kourma and eggplant barta (sp?) all which was damn scrumptious! They don't take reservations, but you can call in advance and they'll put you on the waiting list. The wait take could take up to an hour, but it's definitely worth the wait. Overall, pleasant experience with great food and company ;) By the way it's BYOB so break out those glasses of wine! ;)
(4)Mary F.
This place is great with customer service, atmosphere, and the FOOOOD. Try the chicken coconut korma with garlic and cheese stuffed naan. Can't go wrong!!
(5)Hannah Q.
Love this place! First of all, decor is beautiful. They have colorful traditional fabrics hanging from the walls. Their table ware is authentic and looks like a scene from Aladdin. Beautiful. We don't come here often since it usually is best to come with larger groups--family style. When we do come with bigger groups we usually have one entree per person and order sides of naan so we can try everything! Today, my husband and I were craving Indian so it's just the two of us. Doesn't matter, we want Indian food. :) Eggplant tiki masala: comes in tomato sauce and some kind of spice and it is delicious! So much flavor...can't believe it's a veggie dish Lamb masa curry: a tad spicy but very good. Meat is tender...very very flavorful. The serving is huge so expect to take leftovers home. Oh and BYOB
(5)Mel S.
Bottom Line Up Front: Eat this, and no other Indian food on Oahu. I am hesitant to share my excitement for this little gem, because it-is-very small for the amount of loyal customers that wait to get in here when it is open. What it lacks in space, service, and speed, it makes up for in taste. One of my must do monthly pilgrimages! Go for: Everything! But if you must choose... -Garlic and Cheese Stuffed Nan -Chicken Vindaloo -Shrimp and Coconut Korma -Saffron Rice About $65
(5)NEHA G.
Ordered chicken saag, tandoori fish chicken korma, and the Maharani special thali. Overall the food was excellent. If you want your food spicy, ask for it. It is mildly spicy but very flavorful and fresh tasting. It is not ladened with dry spices as I have found with most Indian restaurants in California. Downside is the long ass wait! Almost an hour wait for us. But it is BYOB so spend your wait time visiting Long Drugs across the street and pick yourself up a beer or two.
(4)Laurabeth M.
I'm torn on the 5-star rating because I know the wait here can be painful and unjust for some people. Luckily for me, I've never had that problem. Seating: Call ahead! Apparently you can call about 30-45 minutes before you get there to get on the waiting list (the equivalent of getting there and putting your name down). Of course my girlfriend and I were running late as always and missed our seating by probably 10 minutes. The host came out and called for a party that wasn't there, and we swooped in to ask if we'd been called. My girlfriend of course said "oh we didn't hear you!" which was an utter lie, and he gave us a knowing look, but ushered us inside and sat us down right away. Trust me, he knew she was lying. We glided in past a few disgruntled parties that'd been waiting outside for who-knows-how-long. Food: Oh naan naan, what's my name? *sung in the voice of rihanna* The food here is just 5-stars, all around, all the time. My friend and I split one order of chicken tikka masala with a basket of naan and that was enough for the two of us. Dinner for 2 for under $20--amazing! We even had leftovers, which I took home with an order of garlic rice (~$5) to go. I ate the rest for days! BYOB!!!! I'd totally forgotten about this. Please, learn from my mistakes. Extreme value I've been coming to this place for years and the only downside is they're not handicap/parking friendly. Sorry, mom. Truly I don't think anywhere else on this island can compare in the world of Indian Cuisine. This might be my favorite place in 5 states for Indian food, and it won't break the bank either. Oh naan naan~
(5)Alexandra T.
So first off, just want to say the food was actually delicious. Went with a group of people and they ordered maybe 5 or 6 different dishes, all of them amazing. The thing that ruined it for me and couldn't really get past was 5 minutes into sitting down a cockroach crawled across the table in front of me and almost on me. Not to mention we had just gotten appetizers and were eating.... I've heard wonderful things about this place and was excited to try it but was so disappointed and grossed out by the roaches that I lost my appetite. Normally I would've walked out at that point but it was a friends birthday and I didn't want to be rude. Honestly, I understand that there are a lot of bugs on this island and it is in the city so they're bound to be everywhere...but I've also been to a lot of other restaurants in town and never once had a roach crawl across my table as I'm eating. There are health codes for a reason and if there are pests like this on the dining floor, I can't imagine what must go on in the kitchen.. I feel kinda bad writing this review but it really bothered me and I feel like that shouldn't really happen at a restaurant. Definitely will never come back and am kind of turned off from all Indian food now..
(1)Lulu C.
Pros: Taste & Portion Size Cons: 1) Bring a box of tissue to blow your nose and wipe the tears and sweat from your face because everything is SPICY from the sauces to the entrees! 2) No ventilation for a small dining room even though the AC was on. 3) PARKING Sucks! No dedicated parking stalls so good luck finding street parking. 4) The quality of SERVICE diminishes exponentially when it gets busy. 5) No PRIVACY. Your romantic dinner for 2 may suddenly become a family dinner for 10! 6) Don't be afraid to tell your waiter or multiple different waiters your same request because they all suffer from SHORT TERM MEMORIES! 1+6=7) Because everything is spicy and the waiters short term memories prevents them from refilling your water, bring your own WATER! 8) Quick Meal? Not here...
(2)Kristine C.
A friend and I went here for the first time on a Sunday night. We waited for about an hour. The place was packed. The managers do their very best to accommodate everyone to be seated as soon as possible. With the wait, there is a reward. After an hour of waiting (which was worth it) we were able to order right away. For the appetizer, we decided on the Naan. Their Naan was huge! Good enough for a party of 4 depending on your hunger. For the main dishes... a must have Chicken Masala, Curry and Prawn Saag and Vegetable Korma. First, their dishes are served in a traditional cultural style plate, drink cups and utensils. The atmosphere gives you the feeling of as if you were actually in India. Their decorations are fairly close to the traditional style and feeling. The Chicken Masala was cooked softly and the chicken just melted in your mouth filled with great flavors. Their Prawn Saag is served in a green sauce which was the spinach. It had a little bit of a mint taste to it and they were pretty generous with the prawns. HUGE prawns, again mixed with all sorts of flavors. The Vegetable Korma was just as good, very authentic taste and cooked to perfection. Each dish were made on it's own flavoring and not one is the same as the others. I would highly recommend trying this place and the wait is surely worth it. Parking can be challenging but there are ample parking across the street as well. They are located next to Down to Earth and I would recommend either arriving super hungry or if the wait is super long to snack on something little to hold you until you are seated. Don't forget! This is BYOB kinda place. So don't forget to bring your most favorite beverage!
(5)Dabushman D.
This is for their menu item : vegetable masala that's # 49 on their menu . The key to this dish is not how it smells, but how it tastes. Yes, there is heat. Eventually my diaphragm will indeed go into spasm and my scalp will become damp . But before that there is an overt, fishy savouriness; layer upon layer of umami which makes it irresistible. It is a deep well of flavour into which I cannot resist falling. I know it will repeat on me for days, that it will be inescapable. And even though, after a few spoonfuls, I move on to try something else, it is a dish I cannot help returning to. It cannot be denied. I need another hit. I'm glad I came. As I eat I find myself thinking about the pan in which it was cooked, and the thick, crunchy rubble that must have been left on the bottom. I dream about scraping away at that crust with a wooden spoon. It's that good
(5)Brennah L.
The food was really good, but the problem we had was that our food came out staggered. After waiting about an hour we got our yellow rice. Then about 5 minutes later we received our chicken.... Then another 5 or so minutes we finally got our naan. They should have waited until they were all done and bring them out together. I like to eat my food together not just one at a time.
(3)Jill H.
Eclectic restaurant with very good Indian food. Their specialty seems to be their unique assortment of stuffed naan and wide selection of Tandori. Super popular with the locals. Expect to wait a bit for a table. If you are looking to get away from the Waikiki beach chains and want something unique, this is the place.
(4)Kit W.
I have been dreaming of trying Cafe Maharani with a group (so I can try more dishes!) for a long time and finally got to do recently. Knowing this place fills up quickly, we arrived around 5 minutes before opening time and were the first in line. Good thing we did too because the restaurant was packed within 15 minutes of opening time! Everything was so delicious...here's a quick recap of what we had! For appetizer, we got two orders of their original samosa because someone in the group had them before and could not stop raving about them. The samosas came out piping hot and went nicely with the accompanying sauces. We also ordered an order of their garlic naan and garlic roti but those never came out. We thought they would come out with our entrees but that didn't happen. Since we had enough food, we just let it pass and informed our waiter at the end of our meal so he could take it off our bill. For our entrees, we ordered the Chicken Korma (their house specialty), Chicken Tikka Masala, and Shrimp Paneer. I really enjoyed the two chicken curries because they were so creamy and full of flavor. The masala was actually quite spicy but in a good way and was my favorite of the three. Mmhmm I want some now... To go with our entrees, we ordered the Yellow Rice and Tomato Rice. Man, was that Tomato Rice tasty!!! Everyone at the table agreed that we could have just eaten that alone without any curry...now, that's saying something!
(4)Jesse C.
Great tasting Indian food in Hawaii? well here it is! Never imagined myself on vacation in Hawaii hitting up an Indian resteraunt but I did and have no regrets about it! Compared to my favorite place on the mainland, this place comes really close in terms of flavor and taste. We got the Chicken Tikka Masala, a seafood curry, and some other kind of curry and eveything was delicious. The rice and naan was awesome.
(4)Paige S.
Tips: from their website: "Maharani is a first come first serve restaurant, however during our business hours you can call us 45 min before your arrival time to the restaurant to put your name on the waiting list to cut your wait time short if there is a wait." -- And it works, because we went an hour after we called in and we were seated first --within 20 minutes of our arrival-- while other parties sat around for over an hour + Location: When on king street, you will see longs on your left -- CM is located RIGHT AFTER subway on the right. Parking: Parking is difficult and behind the restaurant, but you can park along the street and if you're feeling daring -- at longs. Ambiance: The restaurant has low lighting, and is intimate for a group of friends but not quiet enough for a romantic date. The energy is moderate and the staff is constantly moving. My husband says that the layouts of the tables is overwhelming and that he didn't like how many tables were near the front door, but I can understand that they are just making use of the small space. Service: Oddly enough, the first thing we noticed was that all the employees were male......I went straight to the counter and asked about our wait time since I had called in a while earlier and the nice man said our party would be seated next. Since there are only a couple tables, it didn't move as fast as a larger restaurant but we made great use of the time browsing the menu. The staff never sat down, the restaurant was always busy and yes, as many have said the service could be better, but I would go through it all over again to eat their wonderful food! What we ordered: Buttered Naan Cheese-Garlic Stuffed Naan about 15 inches -- we recommended ordering several :) All light, fluffy and delicious! Appetizer: Papri Chaat (Finger food made of spiced house made chips, served with a tasty mixture of potatoes, onions and chick peas. Served with spiced yogurt and house chutneys) We looked around and wanted to order what looked like indian nachos, when this arrived at our table...we were confused since thats not what we saw...BUT we were surprised at how much we all LOVE LOVE LOVED this dish! It was a magical blend of flavors and we devoured it in minutes! We will be adding this to our regular round of stuff to order when we come back! Chicken Tikka Masala (Succulent Tandoori baked cubed chicken pieces sautéed with traditional spices and finished with a classical tomato and cream sauce)d with a classical tomato and cream sauce) -- The group agreed that this was some of the best, if not the best tikka masala we've ever tried! Tawa Chicken Manchurian (Served on a Special Tawa Dish) (Cubed chicken pieces lightly marinated in flour batter of Indian spices and deep fried, later stir fried with onion, bell pepper, sun dried chilies, and nuts, in a sweet tomato chili sauce)--I don't do heat very well, and I ordered this dish because it sounded appetizing and was suggested by our very sweet server...I was NOT disappointed. It was hot but it was flavor and did not linger. It was beautifully spiced and perfectly sweet! As soon as I got home I immediately looked up recipes to re create it! Lamb Vindaloo (For Those Who Like It Hot) (Highly spiced lamb cubes cooked in a tangy hot sauce) Husband ordered this and LOVED it, it was spicy and not over cooked. Lamb can taste a bit gamy but this lamb did not! It was great! Butter Chicken (Chicken Makhni) (Boneless cubed Tandoori chicken cooked with a fenugreek seasoned decadent tomato butter sauce) -- Delicious and succulent! We were all pleasantly surprised at how juicy the chicken was! Assorted Mixed Rice: An assortment of Saffron Rice Pulau, Yellow Rice, Coconut, & Tomato Rice) None of us could pick a rice that we loved most, all were fabulous and highly recommended since you get a large variety. 4 bowls of rice was more than enough coupled with naan! Mango Lassi: Refreshing sweet yogurt drink with flavors What you should order: EVERYTHING. Our group HIGHLY recommends the cheese-garlic naan, papri chat, Tawa Chicken Manchurian and mixed rice. Everything we had was TRULY wonderful and the mango lassi really helped with all the heat that the food packed! We ordered one entree each and went home with full meals for the next day! As a party of four (with 2 large well fed husbands) we could get away with ordering an appetizer, 2 entrees, rice and naan next time instead of 4 entrees. It was A LOT OF FOOD. The portions are big and can be shared. As far as price goes, between 4 people and ALLLL the food we ordered we didn't even pay $100 with tip! Love that! WE LOVE LOVE LOVED this restaurant and even with the issues with "slow" service, we would go back again because of the amazing quality of the food and the awesome portions!
(5)Rita L.
i love indian food and i love this place. come on a weekday and come early. by 630 this place is crazy. I love the palak paneer, butter chicken, any lamb dish, and the buttered paratha. have great company because they really do take their time with the food. The ambience is great and the service is pretty good. i love the metal dishes. make sure you order the Raita to cool off your tongue, some dishes have some heat on it.
(4)Shanna G.
Disappointed. Expected some nice spices but very little. Asked the waitress if we could request medium or high spice next time but she said that wasn't possible. I don't know if they cook such large quantities at a time, individualized orders are not possible. Saag Paneer was fine but lentils and vegetables were almost pureed and very bland. Jasmine rice was good, garlic naan burned on one side. Trying some place else next time. Tamarind sauce was good.
(2)Jennifer L.
This place was amazing. The food was wonderful and served quickly and the atmosphere is perfect. The only issue is the wait time to get a table which can be up to 2 hours!
(5)Ella G.
I've been hearing about this place from family ever since I came back to Oahu from living on the big island. I have always been a fan of Indian food and I love spicy cuisine. Since my sister is a vegetarian, this place seemed to be the perfect place to go with family. All of the food was amazing. Of course, I can't stop myself from eating before taking a picture, so the only pictures are of half eaten food. I also don't really remember what we ordered. There was something called yellow rice which was awesome. We also had the palak paneer and some lamb dish. There was also some naan, and a small dish of spicy veggies. There were two things which really made my experience crappy. First was the fact that all of the dishes were made of metal - including the water cups. This was interesting and rustic looking and it was fine for the food. The water cups, however, made the water taste coppery and icky to me. I am rather picky about water. The second reason these guys only get four stars is because none of the food was spicy. There was a bit of a kick to the veggie dish, but nothing of a challenge. When I eat Indian food, I expect to need some yogurt dish nearby to quell the fire in my mouth! This was not bland food, but it didn't live up to my expectations. I would go here again, but not if I'm looking for water or spice!
(4)Naren S.
As an Indian I'm very critical of Indian food. So having said that, the food is very good. However the tandoori mixed grill was flavorless, the lamb and chicken curry was very good. A few issues: they need a better A/C system, need more TLC on the walls ie. Paint, cleaning, etc. there will be a wait, but I think it's worth it. The naan came out perfect. The BYOB thing is awesome! Wish more restaurants did that, but they won't. Parking is a little crazy, try the store parking lot across the street.
(4)Ariana L.
The food is absolutely amazing. I've been several times with my family and always leave happy and full. The prices and portions are spot on. The only downside is that the food isn't particularly fast to come out, so expect a bit of a wait on that.
(5)Sheryl M.
Hands down, the best Indian food we have ever eaten. It is our favorite restaurant. We travel extensively and this little restaurant is tops. The food is extremely flavorful and consistently good. You even can bring your own alcohol. The food is fresh and the service is fast. It is amazing what their little kitchen produces. The wait can be long but the food is definitely worth the wait!
(5)Yvette J.
Always amazing food to be had here. The chicken masala curry is so good. The buttered naan is uh-mazing. Tandoori chicken = yumm-o. The lamb vindaloo is spicy good. I mean honestly, the food is just all around the BEST Indian I've ever had! Vegetarians also have plenty of yummy options to choose from as well. The only drawback is the wait to be seated. It's first come first served, no reservations taken. I always come right when they open to avoid dealing with the line. You can also order take out. Either way, do yourself a favor and check this place out.
(5)Rni M.
My husband and I love Indian food but find it quite expensive and wait for a groupon or some other offer to take advantage of. We've always seen a line outside of Maharani on weekends and when we peeked in from the window, it's packed. I wondered why: Was the food that good or was the restaurant too small to handle demand? Like another reviewer, I convinced my husband to try Maharani. I've since eaten once inside and another time for take-out. The time we dined in, we ordered the Meal for Two. Our waitress recommended the vegetable samosas, fish curry, and the vegetable korma. Delicious and tasty, we took home leftovers and had two more meals the next day. In fact, the fish curry was so delicious, I want to research to find a good fish curry recipe. However, it lists the fish curry as fresh sea bass. I didn't know Hawaii waters had sea bass. After having a wonderful, event-free dinner here with husband, I decided to order takeout for me and my son the following week. Too bad I didn't "yelp" them before placing a take-out order. I waited 55 minutes for my take out after placing my order a little after 5pm on a WEEKDAY! The waiter said this wait time was typical and that I could have called in at 4:30 - 4:45pm to get the order started. The older man working the register may have been the owner, but when my finally order arrived, he didn't apologize or even acknowledge my business. Too bad the person taking my order didn't advise me of the estimated time of arrival, I would have opted to go elsewhere since I had a hungry teen waiting at home. With this kind of wait time, one can use their skills of observations quite keenly. I wondered what order does the kitchen process the orders. Do in-house diners' orders come before the takeout orders? I swear I saw people coming in after I placed my order and get served before my order came out or were my hunger pains getting the best of me? I'll never know, it might be awhile before I try this restaurant again. The wait-time this time negated some of the positive from my first experience! So, with this in mind, I normally give 5 stars for good food, fast & attentive service, and atmosphere but I'll have to take off two stars for the long wait on my second visit. Parking is free in the back and is shared by other establishments.
(3)Ivy Lou H.
There's a reason Maharani has over 500 reviews and they are all 4 and 5 stars. The food is super delicious, comes in huge portions, and as the owner Muhammad says "Is made with love" by his family. This place satisfies any lover of Indian food, even the local Indian community loves Maharani. Get here early, at 5:00PM if you don't want to wait for a table. Or do like we do, and a lot of others, and simply call in your order for take-out and 30 minutes later it'll be ready. Maharani is a masterpiece! Tip: Don't park in the Longs across the street as they'll give you a ticket. Try parking in the Down to Earth garage and then do some shopping there to get your parking validated.
(5)StaciLei T.
Stumbled upon this place by chance and i'm so glad i found it!!! The atmosphere is great and the service is top notch. They brought us the wrong dish, and we didn't notice and started eating it and they gave us the one we ordered and let us keep the mistaken dish. I ordered the dinner for 2 and got soooo much food. Definitely got my moneys worth and more. The naan is the best i've ever had and all the flavours are so rich and wonderful.
(5)Micki K.
My first time trying Indian food, and I must say, it's pretty good! I was bit overwhelmed by the taste/smell but gotten used to it. Once you step inside, it's like India packed into a tiny restaurant. Location is alright, right across Long's and right next to Subway. Parking is right behind the building which is pretty limited. If you're lucky, you might be able to street park it right in front of the restaurant. I should warn you, don't park at Long's. You're just asking for a ticket. It can get pretty crowded so I suggest you make a reservation first unless you wanna risk it and wait in line which can take a hour. Trust me, it gets pretty packed when there ain't enough seating inside. Food was great, especially for a first timer like myself, overwhelming at first but you'll get used to it eventually. The samosas were bomb, tastes so good! You must order it and try it out. The lamb kahari was alright, very flavorful but pretty strong in taste. I liked how the lamb was soft and chewy. We ate saffron rice with it to enhance the flavors, and it was just a explosion of different spices in my mouth. Portions are pretty big, one order of curry and rice can be shared between two people. It's so cool how it gets served in those Indian bowls, even the water cups! The prices aren't that steep, it's worth for what you get. I'll be coming here time to time whenever I crave Indian food, this place makes it best!
(4)Rissa K.
This place is the bomb! Small restaurant and parking is a small lot in the back or street parking but worth coming! Def best to come early for dinner because there might be a wait if you come later on. This is the first Indian restaurant that I have been to that I have seen so many different types of Naan bread! Me and a gf decided to come check it out here and we got the "Dinner for 2" that came with rice, naan bread, 2 entrees and an appetizer. For starters we had the Onion Pakora which was like a deep fried onion...it was pretty good! For rice selection we chose the coconut basmati rice...so yummy! I had the Chicken Tikka Masala and she had the Shrimp Masala...both very good! The Chai tea masala is also very yummy and not too sweet! Service wasn't so bad here either but definitely suggest to arrive early to avoid a wait. Portions are very generous here as well!
(5)Silvia M.
Having craved indian food for a long time, I convinced my husband to go try it out. I knew that we had to wait for a long time, but we weren't in a rush. We ordered the dinner for two wich included the appetizer(we got the vegetable samosa), rice, two choices of curry and naan bread. Let me break it down. Vegetable samosas: delicious!! I could tell they were from scratch, the pastry from the samosa was like a little fried empanada. It was delectable and great way to start with our indian feast. Don't forget to add the sauce that comes with it!! Palak paneer: this was one of our curry choices. Being a comolete sucker for this particular dish, I enjoyed every mouthfull of it. It might not look too good, but it tasted amazing. FYI: vegetarian friendly. Lamb masala: second choice of curry. I was expecting this dish to be more spicy. Maybe I should have specify my preference. Either way it was perfectly balanced in flavor, the lamb was tender and it was plenty too. It tasted amazing with the naan bread. Pros: wonderfull food. Cons: long wait and suffocating heat.
(4)Claire F.
5 stars for some of the most DELICIOUS bomb-diggity food I've ever had!!! Keep in mind: 1. The only other Indian food I can really compare this experience to is what they served in our college cafeteria (albeit still not bad, which is why I was so excited to try real Indian food)... 2. I love curries and I especially love carbs. So naturally, with naan, flavored rice, and a whole assortment of variations of curries, I am VERY partial to Indian food. 3. On my most recent visit, we came in at 6:45PM on a Sunday night and the restaurant was more than half empty...so of course, we got seated right away. I know most people say it can be anywhere from half an hour to two hours wait if you don't line up at the restaurant prior to it opening. The food here was sooo foodgasmic and filling for our dollar that it is well worth its 5 star rating! I don't eat Indian food often, so everything we ordered here had such unique flavor to things I normally eat. And of course, it's all so delicious! Papri Chaat - $7.99 - yelp.com/biz_photos/cafe… --Finger food made of spiced house made chips, served with a tasty mixture of potatoes, onions and chick peas. Served with spiced yogurt and house chutneys.-- We were trying to order Aloo Papad Chaat but got this delivered to our table instead. The chips were reallyyy crispy, and the yogurts/chutneys (came with 4) were all so unique and delicious. It was also nice that we got to use them as supplementary sauces with our main courses. The potato mixture was a little too starchy for me, but I'm usually impartial to potatoes as is. Chicken Coconut Korma - $13.99 - yelp.com/biz_photos/cafe… --Tender cubed chicken pieces cooked in a medium spicy creamy coconut sauce with mixed vegetables-- My favorite dish of the night, the curry was so rich and creamy with a pleasantly mild sweet taste. The vegetables did get a little soggy when I heated up leftovers, but the flavor of this thick, rich curry cannot be beat! Chicken Tikka Masala - $14.99 - yelp.com/biz_photos/cafe… --Succulent Tandoori baked cubed chicken pieces sautéed with traditional spices and finished with a classical tomato and cream sauce-- Comes with a lot of pieces of cubed chicken, but I wish there were some vegetables to mix up the taste and texture. This curry was so good--rich, tomatoey, yet creamy, almost like pasta sauce but with the Indian spice/flare. Yellow Rice - $4.99 - yelp.com/biz_photos/cafe… --Turmeric flavored basmati rice cooked with mustard seeds, curry leaves & dry chilis-- This was a perfect complement to our curries. Flaky, but not dry. Flavorful, but not oily. So good! Cheesy garlic stuffed naan - $8.99 - yelp.com/biz_photos/cafe… This was EXCELLENT, however, not worth the extra $6 for some garlic and cheese in my opinion. The butter naan is only incrementally not as tasty for $3! Even the garlic naan or cheesy naan for $4 is a much better deal. Haha, but if I was splurging, I'd order these over and over! I do wish there was a little bit more spice (heat) to the dishes; maybe next time I'll ask them to kick it up a notch! While the wait is normally pretty long, there's a small waiting area inside with some chairs, and it's BYOB so you can drink/entertain yourselves while you wait! Long's is also right across the street in case you forgot to bring your own! Such amazing food that I mostly avoid eating Indian food anywhere else!
(5)Sayaka A.
On top of running out of several menu items on Valentine's Day, they are too busy to even bring a cup of water. It was probably the worst service I have ever experienced in Honolulu. I will never go back to this place again. I would have given zero star, if I had that option.
(1)Ashley T.
Indian Craving satisfied just the food. Bomb dot com food horrible service. The night was off to a good start & we (party of 4 -- double date laddat) checked & we were seated within 10 min. Not to bad I thought being that it was a Friday night. And the spiral roller coaster begins.... After being seated we received the menu, water & our utensils; still good. Then it wasn't till 30 min later we finally was able to place our order. And it took another hour for our food to come. No bueno! In that one hour we waited for our food, we discovered that this restaurant is a BYOB. Yes you guessed it, we got us some BYOB! But once the food came to our table...let me tell you, it was AMAZE-BALLS!! The food came out family style & in hefty portions. Each dish (we ordered a variety of items from the menu) was seasoned well & hot & fresh! It gets better, the nahn (sp?) is by far the best I ever had. The nahn bread is so soft, buttery, with some type of seasoning. It is a MUST to try if you ever come here. Overall well worth the wait for the food. Unfortunately due to the bad service, it is reason for me to drop the star rating to a 3/5. But best believe I will be back & give them a second chance.
(3)Dan F.
My last review of this place was in memory of a food coma bliss. I had the chance to eat at Cafe Maharani on two separate occasions and here's some advice I can offered to make your experience enjoyable. There is parking at the back of the restaurant which is located on the immediate left on Hausten St. Spaces are very limited so I would park someplace where a security guard does not watch a parking lot such as Longs or Down to Earth. I could be wrong so park at your own risk, I am not responsible for your car getting towed or broken into. To guarantee your seating, please show up at the restaurant at exactly 5:00pm. Showing up 5-10 minutes earlier is recommended. This restaurant does not take reservations and every member of your party must be available to be seated. You are not allowed to sit at the dinning area first then wait 5 minutes for your friends to show up. I have not tried all the dishes yet since the selection is enormous. An order of curry with saffron rice or naan bread is enough to feed a party of 3. You can choose the level of your spiciness for your dishes. Don't let the small size fool you, it's the richness of the curries that will fill you up. My favorite dishes so far have been the Pepper Chicken Curry, Lamb Madras, and Saffron Coconut Rice. It's difficult for me write exactly how it tasted since the flavors of the spices are just too complex. Don't expect world class service from the waiters, this restaurant is usually busy everyday so someone is bound to forget something. Just remember if you had to wait, just be patient. When your stomach is empty, your mind will get irritable. Try to refrain from complaining to your friends or loved ones for being late. Once you take first bite of Cafe Maharani's curry, you will forget all your troubles.
(5)Bea M.
Worth the wait. We had roasted garlic naan, coconut rice, lamb masala, chicken vindaloo and we brought red wine. Everything is so delicious. Chicken vindaloo isn't as spicy as I thought it would be. But it was still really good. Service was great. The place was packed but the waiters were still attentive. It was slightly understaffed but they still did a great job.
(4)Amy B.
I'm torn on how to rate this restaurant so I'll stick to 3 stars. Food was fantastic, probably some of the best Indian food I've had and where I come from, there's no shortage of Indian restaurants. There was no wait at 6pm on a Monday night. However, I didn't like feeling like I was dining with strangers because they were literally right next to me. I think they are understaffed, but there's really not a lot of room. I'm glad we didn't need anything else because no one came back to check on us and it took a long time to flag someone down to get to-go boxes and our check. I have to hand it to the girl that works there though, she has a lot of patience for the dude running the place. I especially don't like how I feel today. My boyfriend and I had to leave work early and I am now sitting in bed writing this review, hoping that the worst is over. I did a search in the reviews and there have been others with similar issues in the past...
(3)Jack M.
I love Indian food, and after much searching, we found cafe maharani. This place is the best Indian on the island. Hands down! I would go far enough to say in all of Hawaii. The place is a little bit quirky, but the food is absolutely amazing. We order the lamb malai corma, eggplant Tikka masala(the bomb), and coconut rice. Even the plates and cups are all authentic metal from india. If you are looking for an authentic, amazing Indian meal, look no further!
(5)Christine L.
Its all about the mango lassi here. Mmmmmm.... I sit at my desk at work all week craving this delicious yogurt drink. Yum yum. Garlic and butter naan is delish! I love that you get a lot of it. I always end up ordering more though lol. My fave dish here is the Lamb Masala curry. I get it with saffron rice. The rice here is insanely expensive and I have no idea why. You can't get regular basmati, so you have to pick a flavor. Go with a group so you can do family style. It keeps the cost down since this place is quite pricey. And whatever you do do not park in the Longs parking lot across the street. The mark your tires with chalk and will tow after one hour!
(4)Yuko I.
Good food but I've been many countries and have tried Indian food every where in the world. It's good but I've tried better... The portion is huge maybe that's one of the reasons why many people like it... Naan bread was not good at all, maybe just a night I went. Too burnt and crispy, it's supposed to be more fluffy and moist... Curry is good but I've tried better butter chicken. Over all good, but very busy.
(3)Elsie F.
My bf & I decided to come here since he hasn't tried Indian food before. We ordered the dinner for two, which consisted of an appetizer, two entrees, rice, & naan bread. We also ordered the stuffed garlic cheese naan as well because I wanted to try it. It was more than enough food for the both of us. We ended up taking out most of the food. Overall, the food was tasty but the service was nonexistent. I understand they're busy but our waters weren't filled even once throughout the dinner. It was difficult trying to flag down the servers. Maybe it would be better if we came at a slower time.
(3)Miriam W.
Terrible parking, terrible service, terrible seating, BEST INDIAN FOOD IN TOWN. I strongly suggest take out.
(4)Mike And Leslie B.
I've come here probably five or six times in the last few years and it's simply amazing. The place is super tiny and seating is limited. They only open for dinner to the best of my knowledge and open at 5pm...meaning there is often a line forming to be seated if you arrive too late. The place is dark and sort of intimate. We always grab a bottle or two of wine from the Longs Drugs accross the streat, which is too easy because they provide metal wine glasses to us. The service is excellent and the gentlemen working here are super friendly...they always have been. I am a personal fan of any dish with lamb, and I haven't been disapointed yet. We have not eaten at a better place on Island offering Indian Cuisine!!!!
(4)Leilani A.
It's a great experience to eat here, but because they don't take reservations, they won't seat you until everyone is there, and there is a long wait - we usually order take out. And it's goooood. Granted, I'm No expert when it comes to Indian food, but I've tried a few other places on Oahu and this is hands down the best. Parking is very limited. Our usual is either chicken masala or chicken tikka masala, saffron rice and cheese naan. For 2 people this is a feast plus enough leftovers for lunch and dinner the next day. And I think it's even better the next bday.
(4)Katie S.
Some of the best Indian food I have had. Three of us shared a TON of food and it was totally affordable. I was there a year and half ago - so I cant give the run down of everything I ate - but goodness do I remember leaving stuffed and so happy. Oh, and it's BYOB. Alohaaaaaa Cafe Maharani!
(4)Mrs. S.
I truly love this place, but the wait can be ridiculous, so get there early or call to put your name in to avoid the LOOOOOOONNNGGGG wait! I hope they expand their restaurant in the near future!
(5)Matt T.
Yes there was a wait, but it wasn't too long, and the food is worth it. Numerous vegetarian options. You should give this place a try, even if you're unfamiliar with Indian cuisine. Try anything, you can't go wrong here. Yum!
(5)Kristen M.
Excellent food and very generous portions. However, they don't include rice with a take out order, and their menu doesn't give you any warning. Ridiculous!
(4)Mark C.
place is a tight fit.. naan is very good, order the tandori mix platter to get started.. meals are big enough for two..some of the dishes dont come with rice or naan.. so make sure to take that into account..
(4)Jorge Phillip L.
It was my first time eating Indian food and this restaurant exceeded my expectations. Four of us shared the "dinner for three" and it was well enough. It includes an appetizer, three choice of either chicken, lamb, or seafood, and rice and naan bread. As far as meat choice, I highly recommend the coconut shrimp, and the chicken masala curry. The butter naan bread is really good, especially after dipping them with the different sauces. Or even eating them on it's own. I am definitely gonna go back and try different entrees. This place is great!
(5)Chris C.
This is the best Indian food on this island, of the places I have tried thus far. They have a small storefront right on King Street, which is easy to miss. The seating area is small and crowded, and the place is packed, with a wait during peak hours. The service is a little slow but consistently so - meaning that you can expect about the same thing every time, based on the many years I have been going there. Just don't be in a rush and prepare to wait a few extra minutes. Everything will be just fine! We again visited last night a bit after peak dining hours and there were a couple of tables open. After we were seated, they asked us to move to a different table about two feet away from the front door, so that they could accommodate a party of seven. They then seated another couple right next to us at the same table. Everyone was polite, so there were no problems in spite of the lack of space. We ordered the lamb saag (their specialty), the coconut rice, garlic naan, and papadum (fried). We also had the mango and lemon lassi, respectively. They also served us two sauces; one was kind of a spicy chutney and the other was creamy, spicy green sauce. Unfortunately they did give our food away to the couple who was sharing our table, but they were really nice about it. Realizing that it was our order, they handed over the precious goods. Finally! Once we started eating, everything tasted amazing. There was just the right amount of spice and heat in every dish. The saag was good sized, and the coconut rice was an enormous portion - enough for four to six people. The lassi was quite tasty, although not completely blended and contained chunks of ice and lemon (with the skin and peel). The bill came to almost $50, although we only ordered one main dish. This seemed a bit high, but I have had such a hankering for good Indian food, which was only exacerbated by the traumatic experience I had at the India Cafe booth last week. Cafe Maharani on the other hand, was worth it...so worth it. This place is better for an unhurried dinner on a semi-special occasion than for a quick weeknight bite to eat at the end of a long day. I noticed too late that it was BYOB, so next time we will bring a bottle of wine. My rating for the food is about ten stars, but I chose four stars for this review due to the crowded conditions, slow service and slightly high prices. As long as you know what to expect in advance, you will be very happy with your experience here.
(4)Riley L.
Hands down the best Indian food on the island. I have tried many things on the menu and I have not been disappointed with one dish. The curry here tastes really authentic; with all the herbs and spices that are incorporated just makes your taste buds go wild. If you're going with a big group make sure to get the assorted rice dish and instead of getting your own curry... everyone should share! The dish that they serve it in looks small, but it's more than you think it is. Their nan bread is super fresh and they have varieties of toppings to choose from: pesto, stuffed cheese, sun dried tomatoes, and more! It is BYOB just to throw it out there :) parking is limited and this place gets crowded. There is a list where you have to write your name down. Once you get there just go inside and ask for the list.
(5)Terrance Y.
Heard about the great Indian food here what I was not prepared for is the strange and somewhat maddening reservation system here we checked in about 7PM put our names on the list and waited ok we were a bit down the list but not that far down after seeing countless others get seated we were beginning to wonder what the deal was. Ok our names were to basically be next yet more and more people were showing up and getting seated when a table opened up so we checked what was going on seems like their reservation system is not a good one as you can call up a reservation and show up at any time and you get seated first we waited for over an hour and forty five minutes and people who called after we had our name on the list got seated first. We talked to the people taking the reservations and it seems they can just show up if their name is on the list and get seated first. Sorry we just gave up after waiting so long, Wish I could give them no stars on service. With that kind of service I can do without their food. Those that know me know how rare it is for me to ever give a single star but I'm sorry this was the worse experience I've had.
(1)Rain Greg J.
We were told by locals this was THEE best place to get Indian food. So we had to give it a try. Having been told they usually have a waiting list we ordered a dinner for 3 to go. Butter chicken, chicken tikki masala, vegetable navrattan Korma, with the mixed tandoori as our appetizer. The food was prepared on time, the order was perfect but the chicken dishes just seemed lacking spice, the vegetables dish had better flavor. To us it seemed like Americanized Indian food and we were a bit disappointed. Maybe that's why the locals like it so much, it's "mild" Indian food. It's a great value and we will be able to get another meal from our leftovers. If you are new to Indian food it's a good place to start. Considering how busy they are, they must be doing something right. But, we prefer our Indian food with KICK!
(3)Greg D.
One of few Indian restaurants in Hawaii but one of the best I ever been too! Only places in New York rivals this place for me. The varieties of food and naan make it enjoyable for anyone. Come early as waits can be long
(5)Connie M.
Seriously authentic and delectable Indian cuisine! My friend and I shared the Maharani dinner for two ($40.99) and my, what a deal! We were stuffed beyond belief. The set comes with samosas, two entrees, rice as well as naan! The samosas had a light, yet mild flavor. While it is fried, it did not taste oily nor greasy. Chicken masala curry & Tawa chicken manchurian were both flavorful and had the right amount of spices. There were bits of peanuts mixed in the Tawa chicken, which added a nice crunch and texture. Of course, you can't skip the naan and mango lassi! I really enjoyed the decor of this restaurant. The gold chairs looked so regal! It was also nice to see silver plate settings! Throughout the meal, I noticed many people ordering food to go, so that may be something I'll do next time!
(5)GG R.
I won't go too much into detail about our dinning experience at cafe maharani, but will make two points: one, If you know Indian food, you will be very disappointed. Two, You get fast-food service. Definitely not worth the wait!
(1)James C.
Great delicious Indian food! But the place gets very busy for dinner.
(4)Angie K.
I did TONS of research on yelp and other sites to help me plan the best honeymoon in Oahu. Since my favorite food is Indian, I was thrilled when I found the most popular and highest-rated Indian (also BYOB!) was just 3 blocks from where I was staying. I took another yelper's advise and called ahead on a Friday night. The staff member that answered the phone was insanely rude. I figured he was busy but he was practically yelling on the phone and rushing me when I simply wanted to be put on the waiting list. He asked when I planned on arriving (30 min) and said he'd put my name on the list within 30 min. Fair enough. I really showed up about 45 minutes later and saw only 2 names ahead of me. I thought, "Hurray, Angie! You're such a smart cookie." My hubby even gave me a kiss on the cheek for being so awesome. I quickly realized that this meant nothing as I waited almost another hour (8:15-9:05pm) on top of the 45 minutes before when I called. I then thought to myself, this better be mind-blowing Indian... It wasn't. The wait staff was really nice and I overheard engaging conversations between other patrons and a waiter. Unfortunately, the set up was 2 waiters for about 20 parties and 1 person cooking in the back. Also, the A/C consisted of 2 wall units on the top of the windows at full blast but mixed into the heat coming from the kitchen, you couldn't feel a thing. I was literally sticking to the chair from the sweat. We ordered roti which was burnt, massive in size and just ok. We also ordered the paneer tikka masala and saag paneer. The masala was really watery, like a soup and the paneer was really, really firm. I almost thought I was eating fried tofu. I feel bad for Hawaiians if this is the best Indian they can get. I urge you all to eat at any of the Indian places in Chicago to get a taste of something MUCH better and more affordable.
(2)Courtney K.
Food deserves 5 stars, service 0. The food is fantastic, the service is ALWAYS terrible. They offer "call ahead" to put your name on the list, but they always "forget" to add you. I went for my birthday one year, we tried to call ahead, but still waited 30minutes. When we finally sat and finally took our order they told us they had turned off the oven to make the tandoori. I ordered the meal that I always order and it was missing HALF the ingredients and it was HALF the size. When we nicely inquired as to why so many ingredients were missing, they became very rude, took the food back and came out 5 minutes later with nothing changed & became very defensive. That was the worst incident, but every time we go they seem understaffed, we're always looking around for a server. Take out is just as bad. If the food wasn't so delicious I would never dine here.
(3)Kiawe T.
Best Indian cuisine on Oahu. Only drawbacks are a long wait, a small crowded dining area, and noise. Other than that this is the best Indian cuisine I've had outside of India.
(4)Mike N.
Good food. Bad service. The waitress must have gotten our order in late to the kitchen because people who came after us were getting served our meals while we still only had our water. There were supposed to be appetizers with the meal and we weren't even served them. So we waited for an hour before I had to tell the waitress that we were going to leave, she didn't even apologize, just looked at me. But my complaint did work and the food started to fly out of the kitchen. The samosas were ok, flaming hot on the outside and kind of cold on the inside, but at least we didn't get burned. The food itself was very good. The service, well, it wasn't worth a tip.
(3)Loren B.
Love, love this place! I love Indian food, and so far, Cafe Maharani is the best place in town that I have tried so far. We typically bring our friends from out of town and order the maharani dinner for two and split between three of us. Side order some naan and its a perfect meal. The fun part is deciding which two main dishes to try. We save the left overs and do a breakfast scramble the next morning by just throwing an egg or two with the curry and rice. Its BYOB, so you can bring in wine or beer to have with your dinner. There is a corkage fee. Cons - you will likely have a bit of a wait. You can call ahead and be added to the waiting list. The waiting area is pretty much nil, so you will likely be standing outside while waiting for a table, though they are a few seats outback. Parking is limited but we live in the area and just walk there. Do NOT park in the long's parking lot across the street, you will get a ticket (we have before).
(5)Keith F.
Small cafe that seats quite a bit, but I always see people waiting outside the door, especially on weekends. They are open late, and I find that you can get a table on the later side at times, if you don't mind eating late. Otherwise, I've had no problems at lunch time. Another appeal, I think, is that the menu is extensive and the food is on the mild side in terms of spice (for Indian food) and somewhat "lighter" and not too rich, even the creamy coconutty Korma dishes are not too rich compared to other places. I prefer my Indian food typically spicier, but the food here has good flavor. The spinach-based Saag is good. The naan is good here..always a plus for me. Good portions and appropriately priced. It can get warm inside, even though there's air conditioning. Relatively small, but tables and chairs are packed so it's a little difficult maneuvering in the restaurant. Service is reasonable. Parking can be a challenge, but if you go late, you might find a nice spot on the street for free.
(3)Haz B.
Great food but it is too hard to get a seat if you don't make a reservation. Pick-up takes forever when it is busy. It is next to down to earth and few blocks from University of Hawaii Manoa
(4)Maka K.
I've been to Cafe Maharani 3 or 4 times now. First time was a 50-50 good-bad experience, but the last couple times have been pretty great. The secret to the difference: timing. TIming is everything with this place....as in, show up when they open or just before they open. Why? Because the first time I went with my cousin around 6:30/7pm on a weeknight for dinner, and we waited nearly 2 hrs for a table for just the two of us=CRAZY!!! O_O (And it took us 10 minutes before that waiting to find out that they had a sign-in sheet/waiting list at the counter; they start it up when the restaurant gets really busy). Lesson learned: show up EARLY, or call and take your food to go, or be prepared to wait. It's a small restaurant with a front door along King St. and back door connecting to their rear parking. People coming through the front door sometimes get confused, like I did the first time, about where to wait and where "the line" starts. BUT, if you show up 10-15 min. before they open, you can just wait outside their front door and they seat you first when they turn the lights on and open the door. Parking is kinda sucky; their back lot is small, street parking is sparse. Period. Good luck. I would say that all Indian food I've had in Hawaii so far have been pretty pricy, but I think you get a better deal here than Little India (at the edge of Waikiki), and the food is definitely filling! They have a 6pg main menu (apps, chicken, lamb, seafood, vegetarian, biryani/rice, dinner specials, dessert, drinks) and a 4pg side menu (naan, paratha, kebabs, and naan pizza), so there's an extensive list to choose from. So, no, I haven't tried everything, but I'd love to get around to it lol. Food I've tried & would order again: 1)Naan - Can't go there and not order this!! I don't do butter (too unhealthy), but the plain and basil topped ones really good 2) Vegetarian samosas - Awesomely fist-sized and the filling is, well, filling 3) Onion and Eggplant Pakora - Not at all oily, and the veggies inside taste great 3) Lamb Madras - Not too spicy, and the lamb was so tender!! 4) Baigan (Eggplant) Bharta - I happen to love eggplant and this one totally does it for me. it's a bit spicy though, so beware 5) Lassi - ALL of them are good, yum yum yum, and counteracts the spices well. Less successful menu items (all good, but...): 1) Chicken Tandoori Mix Grill - Love the variety of 5 different kinds of chicken kebab and there's tons of it, but a lot of them were a bit dry when I tried it 2) Papedum - I'd rather order something more filling and with flavor with my $$ 3) Saffron Rice Pulau - Tastes good, but I don't really do rice....so I pass. PS - Their website has the menu and prices on a PDF, but I thought Yelp might want it...so I uploaded pix of the whole menu.
(4)T B.
It's ok. The portions are good. Flavored decent. The butter chicken was good. The lassi was more frappé than lassi. Lots of ice chunks. Never had ice in a lassi like that before. Would give it a 'meh'. Service is slow but friendly. Prices are reasonable given the portions.
(3)Orville L.
The food here is top notch. Well cooked and expertly seasoned. Some of the best Indian food I've ever had. We ordered chicken tikka (about $15) which comes with naan, yellow rice ($5) and a side of raita ($5). The chicken was juicy and flavorful, served sizzling hot to the table. The naan was amazing. The yellow rice was good. The raita was not the best, a slightly different take on it but it was not bad. The wait time during peak hours can be horrible. We came for dinner on what was unfortunately a holiday so it was extra busy. We didn't make a reservation and so we waited 30 minutes to be seated. Then after ordering our food it was another hour before our order started coming out. Our order came out very disjointedly and the server apologized. The staff is very friendly however. Part of the problem was that their kitchen is very small and pretty much everything is made to order it seems (which is mostly plays in favor of what's great about this place unless you are coming during peak hours on a holiday like we did.
(3)Jordan W.
This place is great! I love going there just to get the chicken tikka masala and naan. It's so good!
(5)Jayson N.
QUEENDOM OF INDIAN FOOD I was extremely craving naan and indian food so i called up fellow yelp elite Roy Y. and we decided to get it on fatty status style at Maharani on a Saturday Night. We were pleasantly surprised that when we arrived a little after 8 that there were only a party or two in front of us and that the wait was a mere 5-10 minutes.. For those of you who aren't familiar, this place gets craaaaaaazy busy which is why we were surprised that it was a short wait. While I waited for the table, Roy ran across the street to grab a bottle of wine. Because it isn't "date night" without one especially at a place that's byob. Not to mention they give you these little chalice like glasses to sip your wine out of.. yelp.com/biz_photos/uvkf… So when looking at the menu, Roy (he had a few drinks before hand) decided that since we were doing it up family style we needed at least 3 things.. Thankfully I convinced him that we didn't need the maharani meal for FOUR and we just ordered the lamb saag, butter chicken, and vegetarian lentil something. Of course indian food isn't complete with out the naan, rice, and extra carbs so we had that as well. Good: (+) lamb saag is divine here. The masalas are also very excellent (+) tandoori bread and naan were AMAZEBALLS (+) Wait time was shorter than we thought it was gonna be (+) BYOB (+) service- always on spot even though they seem undermanned at times Mediocre: (/) Hot sauce - we asked them to make a hot sauce cause we like it hot and it seemed mild. But even their hot sauce could have used a little extra oomph. (/) Parking - its hit or miss with parking in the back (/) wait time - if it isn't an unusual night like we had you may be waiting for a while (/) ambiance and decor - i love the intimate seating and the screens with bollywood but the chairs while functional could use a little cleaning and sprucing up. Bad: (-) the food baby you'll have after maharani (-) the gas you will pass, it is indian food with a ton of spices people! Overall - I am in love with Maharani and will not hesitate to come back in the future. If you are in need of indian food or just want to try, definitely hit this spot up. YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED
(5)Yvonne M.
My husband and I love SPICY FOOD! Hey, why not Indian?? So, we decided we were going to try the most popular Indian restaurant, with the most reviews on YELP. I just love our YELP FOOD adventures! ORDERED 1) CHICKEN TIKI MASALA $13.99 This had a tomato, creamy, coconut goodness, that just makes you want more! Why doesn't it come in a larger bowl? The best so far!! You can dip your naan bread or pour it over your rice. Oohh! yelp.com/biz_photos/uvkf… 2) ASSORTED TANDOORI MIXED MEAT PLATTER $12.99 -Chicken kebabs, chicken tikka, beef kebab, chicken shish kebab sauteed with tomatos, onions, bell peppers, and various spices. 2 dipping sauces available. A yogurt sauce & a spicy/sweet sauce. The chicken was good and well spiced , but the beef was tough. So, I just poured the amazing chicken tiki masala sauce over it and it was fixed! Wow, this sauce does wonders! yelp.com/biz_photos/uvkf… 3) NAAN BREAD STUFFED WITH CHEESE!! $7.99 -This is my favorite type of bread! This was the size of a medium pizza. The bread was so pillowy soft and warm. My son even ate 3 pieces! yelp.com/biz_photos/uvkf… 4) YELLOW RICE $4.99 - Fluffy goodness that went well with the Chicken Masala & Kebabs. yelp.com/biz_photos/uvkf… ENVIRONMENT Located on South King Street right before Down to Earth and across from Longs Drugs. Smells of tumeric, coriander, and other exotic spices fill the air as you enter this establishment. Red walls with Indian textiles and decor. Metal dishware and cups adorn the tables. Dang is the Taj Mahal around the corner? Private lot available in the back with only 7 stalls. Another option is street parking on Hausten street near Willows or chance Longs or Down to Earth parking ;) SERVICE Well, we were first at the door at 4:50pm (yes I will eat earlier than the old folks to get food! I ain't ashamed!) ahead of 4 tables of people, but apparently got served last! This is why I'm giving them 4 stars instead of 5. I believe in fairness and awareness. Anyways, other than that, our waters were always filled and one of the waiters were very knowledgeable and patient when answering my questions. Food was all served hot! TIP BYOB! Always a plus! All dishes were Large! Great for leftovers! I ate it for lunch and dinner the next day! So delicious! CONCLUSION I'm gonna add the Vindaloo to our next visit and I'm dreaming about it now.... ;)
(5)Kayla S.
It was my first time trying Indian food with my friend and im glad I chose to come and eat here. The enviroment is amazing and it feels like youre in India. The butter chicken curry with yellow rice and naan is my favorite:)
(5)Bakasura N.
Good food, prices look $$ but worth for it. Prices are better than San Francisco Bay Area.
(5)Alexandria P.
This is my favorite Indian restaurant on the island. The atmosphere is nice and I don't even mind being so close to others while dining. Usually a wait for a table so call in ahead and reserve a spot.
(5)sukhpreit s.
Really though this place would be good after seeing the reviews on yelp. Didn't really like it at all. Being Indian it's gotta be pretty authentic to have me like it. This really wasn't. The curries were runny not flavorful. It wasn't well prepared. Nan's weren't good either . I would recommend monsoon india if you are craving indian.
(2)Josiah L.
The selection of Indian restaurants in Honolulu doesn't really compare to that of Japanese or Chinese. Fortunately, there's still some great places around and Cafe Maharani is one of them. First, a bit of advice. Being on King, there isn't a lot of parking so, if you're in the area, you may just want to walk. Also, Maharani is very popular but not especially large. So, unless you get there right around opening time, expect a long wait. Although small, the place is nicely decorated (if a bit old) and the food is top notch. There's a wide selection of dishes, especially chicken and lamb. The majority are standard Indian fare, but they have some more unusual curries as well. Both are delicious and the portions are huge. Though, as with so many places around here, rice isn't included. The naan (a vital part of any Indian meal) is just as good as the curries and there's a pretty large variety to choose from. I'd also recommend the lassis. They're a little on the mild side and have some little chunks of ice inside (something I don't usually see), but still a great addition if you want a cold drink. It's too bad Maharani doesn't do the usual Indian restaurant thing and have a lunch buffet (or even a lunch) but, if you can get there early enough to avoid the lines, or just have some time to kill, it's certainly one of the best Indian places around.
(5)Wayne T.
Great food, but long line!!!!! I highly recommend going early or reserving if you can! Great curry!
(4)Jim M.
Maharani has some of the best Indian food in Honolulu. Being a "chicken is a vegetable vegetarian", most of my favorite dishes are chicken dishes. The Chicken Masala Curry, the Chicken Vindaloo, and Spicy Tandoori Chicken Kebab Masala are my favorite dishes. The Lamb Masala Curry is good and does not taste too gamey. On the vegetable dish, the Vegetable Korma is quite good. On the bread side of things, the cheese garlic Naan and the Tandoori Roti are my favorites. Most of my experiences there have been fairly good there. So, why 3 stars? First, parking in that neighborhood can be tough. You can chance it and park at Longs, but they do have a person patrolling the parking lot. I recommend getting take out. During most of the dinner hours, the restaurant is packed, people waiting up to 90 minutes for a table, and it is noisy. When they get busy, the restaurant gets warm and service gets slow. The other reason for 3 stars is the last few times I have eaten there, the food has been a bit greasier than usual. I hope that is not a permanent change.
(3)J C.
Do take out! Its faster! When I want indian food I come here. The food is awesome especially the stuffed naan! I gave it 2 stars because the service is always slow. Making reservations is pointless because you'll still have a long wait. And when we finally sit, we had to wait over an hour for our food. We watched over 15 people walk out with take out orders. They definitely have management issues!
(2)Bianca I.
Zero stars. We knew there would be a wait, but over 2 hours? When I told staff we had been there over two hours and had planned to leave soon, they took out the food; removed it from our forks; and put them in take out containers and insisted that we pay for it and leave. We paid and left. It was my mom's early mother's day present. She was embarrassed and angry. Never going there again.
(1)Danny N.
Great food here generally. However, very poor customer service. I called at 8pm to put my name on the list for 8:30pm. However, when we got there, they said there was no table available and we'd have to wait around 15 minutes. 30 minutes passed with no sight of anyone finishing their meal and there was a backlog of people waiting for their meals still. After reading the Yelp reviews and discovering they're infamous for making people wait, we decided that was enough and left for another restaurant. Oh did I mention there was a cockroach on the floor too? I wish I had taken a photo of it. It was dead but the legs were still twitching. My recommendation is to perhaps get take out rather than dine in.
(2)Chris G.
This place is awesome. My first experience with Indian food and everything we ordered was amazing! So full!! Oh and BYOB!
(5)Beverly N.
Ive been here a few times and never have I ever been so upset until today. . I arrived around 8, got seated promptly, and ordered right away. A table next to us got seated 15 minutes after us, and I guess they preordered their food, but we still didn't get our food yet. I asked my aunt if maybe indian food takes awhile to cook? So I didnt ask the waiters. But its been awhile.. 45 minutes later, tables that got seated after us are already getting their food. But wheres ours? 5 minutes later, the waiter comes and tells us our ticket had been dropped and he noticed we didnt get our food, so he asked the chef to cook ours first. Which was great of him. Im just really upset about the wait. My aunty is gna be late for work now! And not too be rude or anything but I hope we get something out of this mix up. Very very very upsetting!!!!!
(2)O O.
OK, this review is only for the butter chicken and the chicken biriyani. And the reason is that someone brought the two dishes to work to share. I am pleased to say that I had been tutored for a mere 5 years or so from a woman whom I can only describe as the best Indian culinary chef, ever. I finally (according to her) not only perfected her dishes but surpassed her. Before she went to Nirvana, not only did she give me her recipes but also her nod of approval. That means more to me than anything having come from such an esteemed friend. I can safely say that I can cook at least 50 dishes to her satisfaction and that was week upon week, month upon month, year after year of perfecting her dishes to her pretty uppity standards. Annapurna, Indian goddess of the kitchen, how I miss my friend! I have only about 2 cups more of fine black Assam tea left and I drink one cup a year in her honor. If I had known my time spent learning from her would have been so short I would have said, "Please sir, I want more!" when her son, a tea broker in India asked if I wanted more. This tea only improves with age. Amazingly much like my memories spent under Mrs. Philip's tutelage. She walked me through a variety of dishes although her specialty was hot and spicy, she being from Goa, and raised in Kerala, at the southern most tip of India. Her curries and vindaloos, the raitas and idlis, spicy hot, laced with mustard seeds and lentils, to this day when I make them, I ask her to guide me before I start and then taste the first bite after thanking her again for her gift of time and knowledge. I can say with certainty that the only time she ever got pissed was when her husband asked how it was that I could cook true Indian when I had never been to India before. She stiffly replied to him that it was because SHE was a great teacher to which her husband laughed, "But now the student has surpassed the teacher!" I like to think she feigned being riled but the whites of her eyes turned red, so mebe not. Difficult and persnickety, her uproarious laughter was a mere turned up corner of her mouth and a glimpse of her teeth and an almost whisper, "Hehehe." She felt hearty laughter was so undignified. She was upper crust and to demonstrate how old school she was, she had once explained that as a child she hit her "maids and servants" which shook me. But then she explained that they now were to be called, "domestic helpers" because even the words, "maids and servants" were demeaning and offensive. Uh, well yes?! I'd agree with that! It was pretty much generally an accepted fact between her family members however, that it was she that taught her family helpers how to cook in her family's style. Anyway, the chicken biriyani and the butter chicken are both, and I mean to the core, authentic in every way. Prepared with the freshest of ingredients (anyone, and I mean anyone can tell) those 2 dishes were redolent with fragrant spices, yogurt sauce and flavor beyond belief! If I didn't know any better, I would have thought they had hired this woman and kept her "domesticated" in their back kitchen. But I know that can't be true, you see, she went back to India to die. Not kidding. That she "needed to go home to die" is how traditional her mindset was. Maharani does these two dishes exactly, with precision, perfectly, wonderfully, expertly and since having tasted them more than once, I can safely say, very consistently. The rice in the biriyani chicken, eh. Putzy as cold rice can get but I am a rice snob. Day old rice for me is a, never do. So I can't be passing judgement on that. But day old or days old, that butter chicken and biriyani chicken, BOTH, as excellent as it EVER gets. It's exactly true as you'll read in historically famous literature that the smell or taste of foods can set off far reaching memories. And, thoughts of my friend immediately flashed my mind when Maharani's biriyani chicken passed my lips. HONESTLY, I SWEAR TO IT. How in this wondrous world (and it's happened every time) is it ever possible for a perfectly prepared and deliciously executed dish, make me beyond thrilled and yet at the same time, so woefully and desperately sad!
(5)Colleen T.
Really good Indian food. Had the vegetable Korma and Chicken Marsala with saffron rice and cheese stuffed naan. Flavor, ingredients, quality, quantity: exceptional. I am not a fan of spicy curry, but the kick was perfect! Luckily, my fiancé and I didn't have to wait to be seated (although the place was packed!), food was served in a timely manner, had to ask for water a few times but overall experience was awesome! Will definitely go back to try the other dishes. Street parking was easy to find. Maybe because it was a Tuesday night.
(5)J G.
Ate at this place at least once a week when I lived in Honolulu. This is my favorite restaurant. The owner, Mohammad, is really friendly and his food is excellent. It was only one floor when I lived in Hawaii but I know he wanted to expand to make it two floors, as a result it was always crowded and a long wait to be seated but it was worth it. There were many times my husband and I waited an hour to be seated. One of my favorite dishes was the Chicken Shahi Korma but anything you try will be delicious. It was great to to go with friends. They do not serve alcohol but you can bring your own. One more thing, you can call ahead and be put on a list to be seated sooner.
(5)Mariesol W.
Let me preface this with, I honestly really wanted to love this place but it fell supremely short. After reading the reviews my boyfriend and I decided it was best to come early to avoid a long wait time on a Saturday evening. We were able to be seated right away upon our arrival about 20min after they opened. As previously mentioned in other reviews here, the space is very limited and crowded. That didn't bother us at all but what was irritating was our seats. If you lean back, there are jagged plastic edges on the chair back design that poked through our shirts. Even then, we tried not to be bothered with it and just sat forward all dinner. Our waitress was quick and friendly so no complaints there, but our food was not very delicious. Actually, the food didn't taste bad either. What's worse was that the food was completely bland. It needed a bit of spice or some salt or anything really but there was no flavor. They overcooked the lamb to the point that I thought it was beef and the chicken masala curry had absolutely no taste except for a hint of tomato. We should have known when we received our food because there wasn't an aroma coming from any of our dishes or our neighboring tables' dishes. Even the mango lassi I had was bland and fairly gritty. I am so disappointed. In addition to our chicken masala curry and vindaloo curry, we ordered the garlic topped naan and the cheese stuffed naan. Either the kitchen or a runner forgot our order so had it not been for us asking the status on the naan after 40min since taking our order, we would have never received it. Actually, we never received the garlic naan but we didn't want to ask our waitress again because we just wanted the check already. The cheese naan was good, we'll give them that, but that's pretty hard to mess up cheese with naan. When we got our check they charged us for our entrees, drinks, and the two naan. Since we only received one of the two naan, we just added that to the tip we left in addition to the cash amount to round the tip off at 20%. Like I said, our waitress was nice but the others seemed a bit aloof. Oh well we got lucky with ours. Long story short, we were very let down with our experience. We would always drive past and see the long lines so we were very eager to love this place. Sadly, we will not be back.
(1)Raina M.
Horrible food and experience! 1. Everything was extremely oily (dripping) 2. Portion sizes are huge (than normal) something the server should inform so that the right portion sizes can be ordered 3. Waiting time- 1.5 hours 4. Hygiene issues?- noticed cockroaches near the exit door. To be fair- some of the servers were friendly. Overall- a No-Go!
(1)Victoria J.
It's hard for me to understand why Cafe Maharani is so popular. Is it the proximity to the university? The interior is cute with unique tables/chairs. Although, it is really crammed in there and gets hot/stuffy especially once you start eating. We tried the chicken coconut korma, eggplant tikka masala, rice, and naan. The chicken coconut korma was a bit bland for my taste (I needed more heat and spices), the tikka masala sauce was unlike any other I've seen--much more red and tomatoey--but it wasn't better than other tikka masala sauces I've had. The rice was standard and my favorite thing was the naan because who doesn't like fresh bread? I think having spent a lot of time in the Bay Area spoils me because there are so many Indian immigrants there. There are different restaurants that each specialize in dosas, curries, seafood, etc. and can make the very best of those dishes. Cafe Maharani may be good for Oahu, but in the scope of things, this was just really soso. In addition to the food being just okay, it was so hot and cramped inside, that it made for a mediocre dining experience.
(3)Dawn L.
My Hungrier Half spent the day at a pool party...you know how swimming can work up an appetite? Well he sure had one. He suggested Indian at Maharani, walking distance from our place and I was down. It's been a long time since we've been because I had to put a slight garlic naan addiction down. In remission, I thought it would be safe to try again...besides they have great vegetarian selections. Lucky for us, no wait for a table! We seated and tried to navigate the menu. Usually we share the combination meal for two but since I've gone meatless, we decided to try the thali sampler platter where you get to choose four selections, served with rice and naan for $19.99. For meat eaters, this gives you one chicken and lamb option each plus two veggie choices; for me, I had four veggie options: vegetable jalfrezi masala, palak paneer, plain dal, and vegetable korma. Everything was tasty but my favorite was the creamy spinach one. By the time we were finished eating, we were pretty sure they were served in replenishing dishes because our food looked like we barely touched it and we ended up taking home most of it. So while $20 per person MIGHT seem on the high end (no sharing allowed on the thali), a normal eater will get AT LEAST two full meals out of it. I expect to get three, making it worth the price. The thali sampler was so great to have in that our dietary choices aren't restricted by the other persons. I could have a bunch of veggie options rather than just one, and he had all his own selections. Between our eight choices, only one was a repeat selection. The restaurant is SUPER busy--there was always 5-10 people waiting. This made our service slow overall and a little less than attentive throughout. I would have loved to try the mango lassi drink but I forgot to order it the first time around and they never came back to check on us and they were so busy that I decided against it, so it'll have to wait till next visit I suppose. And there will definitely be a next visit, sooner than later.
(4)Amanda Z.
Omg, Cafe Maharani, where have you been all my life?! The reason why I hadn't patronized this establishment earlier is because I always saw the gobs of people waiting for a table outside the door. I really dislike waiting more than 30 minutes to eat at a restaurant, so I never ventured to eat at Cafe Maharani even though my friends always raved about it. But last Wednesday at about 7:30pm, I happened to drive by (and was trying to find a restaurant to eat at for dinner) and the restaurant appeared to be only half full! Plus, there was an empty street parking space directly in front of the restaurant -- it was meant to be! :) We shared the 2-person set and ate the samosas (oh wow, so good -- fried, but not oily; tasty filling and sauces), palaak paneer (super flavorful!), chicken masala (yum!), naan and rice. Seriously enough food for at least 4 if not more people. Yes, the service is kind of slow, but the food will make you forget that minor detail. Go at a non-peak hour to avoid a crazy wait, and enjoy all of the delicious offerings at Cafe Maharani, you won't regret it!
(5)Firenze R.
Went there today to try it out. Reached there 445pm there was already 2 people in line and 3 people behind us waiting. Parked along King St. Then someone from Down to Earth told us it might be a good idea to move bc there is no parking on King st. After 330pm on weekdays. Anyway the service could be a tad bit better. The food on the other had was pretty good. The highlight was the naan of course! Other than that the chicken tikki marsala did lack complexity of flavors as said in a previous review, but I only know this bc I used to eat awesome Indian food in college thanks to a decent population of Indian-Americans at my school. Great for those venturing out and trying Indian food for the first time, but the intensity of authentic flavors that Indian food is known for could be improved.
(3)Keanu M.
Saffron Rice is Awesome! Best in flavor, but the place is a little to small to eat inside and parking is bad. Take out would be your best bet Definitely can't wait to go back
(5)Liliana U.
THE WORST SERVICE I HAVE EVER HAD ! After almost a month I have decided to finally write a review. This truly was terrible service. My boyfriend & I waited for a little over an hour to be seated, which was fine, we were expecting that. What was a little upsetting was that we were seated at a table that had been empty for at least 45 mins. Okay, fine. At that point we were still excited. We were given a menu and we were super excited to finally try food. 15 mins go by. No one checks on us & we get no water. Now we understand this place is busy but there were at least 3 servers standing behind the desk laughing & talking. We looked at them the whole time hoping they would check on us. Another 20 mins go by. Nothing. Eventually after being seated for 45 mins a server comes by and asks us If we'd been help yet? Uhhhh no. I also mention that we've had no water either. She doesn't even apologize she simply says "what would you like" FINALY !!! We order & ask if we could have water please. She says she'll be right back with our waters. Another 15 mins go by & no water. We weren't upset of not having water. We were upset at the timing & the fact the we were watching her talk to a coworker at the register. We give her another 5 mins. Nothing. At this point we are just upset & hungry. We decide to leave. I think she saw me getting my bag off my chair back because she hurries over with water. We meet her half way & you can tell she's flustered. She looks at us confused & I just tell her "We are leaving". She mumbles a sorry & that she hopes we'll come back. Uhhhh no. Never. If you get fired than maybe. We understand that they are busy. Especially considering my boyfriend works at a very busy restaurant in Waikiki. We get it. What I don't get is how they can just stand around & completely ignore us for that long. I wouldn't waited happily that whole time, still excited for food, if we had just received good service. WE WILL NEVRT COME BACK
(1)Debbie R.
Winner of the coveted Yelp 5 star review, this is one of the few places that I'm willing to wait in line for over an hour to get into. You had me at warm buttery Naan Bread, . . . . so good! They also have several different varieties of naan - roasted garlic! cheesy! olive! the list goes on and on . . . bread!!! more bread!!! As for the other food, now that my bread needs have been met, this place is a vegetarian's dream. So many vegetarian choices, so little time (try the Palak Paneer). . . and for you meat eaters like me . . . well, there are countless options. My favorite is the Boti Beef Kebab. The lowdown on this place: Small lot with parking at the rear - street parking also available BYOB!!!! Corkage fee of $1.50 pp applies. Dinner only (5-10 p.m.) Takeout available No reservations - limited seating - nice and cozy There is only one complaint I have. The establishment has only one highchair. Maybe because the seating is cramped? It would be nice if they could invest in a couple of those kind that perch/clamp on the end of a table. Our friends struggled to eat their food while juggling their toddler. And the tables are tight, so made it a little difficult for them.
(5)Steven U.
I was fortunate to dine here with friends. I have wanted to try it for a long time...everyone said it was very good...but I wanted to see for myself. I really enjoy Indian food...one of the only cuisines where I don't miss the meat. For me the variety of flavors (and heat) of Indian cuisine always keep me interested. The amount of spice, dairy, and type of vegetables really keeps my palate intrigued. I was the official 'stand in line' person for our group, so I went early to not only find a space to park (small parking lot in back and minimal street parking) but also to get a table. Supposedly, people line up before the restaurant even opens! As I walk up to the restaurant...who is the person in front of me in line? Maka K! Because she is an expert foodie, I pick her brain a little as to what to get and what is best about the restaurant...and she is quick to give me her take on the joint....what a bonus! My group showed up later than I did, and the waiter was kind enough to start our beverages, and appetizers. When my group arrived we were able to nosh while we perused the menu. Our waiter continued to be helpful throughout the meal, no matter how busy the restaurant got....I appreciated that. On a side note, the metal serving plates and bowls definitely add to the ambiance of the meal. Heavy and interestingly designed, they were really fun to look at! Here's what we ordered: Samosas These were just ok. I was hoping for better. The outside was crispy, but the inside had a weird flavor and didn't seem like quality ingredients....probably wont order again. Jalapeno naan This was good....a little bit of a twist. It wasn't as spicy as I thought it was going to be....but still spicy. Garlic naan Pretty tasty. It had a nice garlic flavor and went well with the food. Chicken tikka masala This had a nice taste to it. Intense masala flavor and the chicken was tender. Palak paneer I enjoyed the dish and the cheese. The spice was great, and I will probably get this again. Navratan korma Not as sweet as I would have liked it, but rarely do I find this dish sweet enough...good though. The nuttiness of the sauce added extra depth of flavor. Butter chicken This was a flavorful dish, and not spicy at all. This was probably my wife's favorite of the evening. Rice The rice had nice flavor, but it paled in comparison to the other dishes. Overall I would go again. The flavors were nice and intense and the portions were good size, even though the prices were not inexpensive. I definitely would go early and not go during peak hours.
(4)Sungjin S.
One of the best Indian restaurants on Oahu hands down! I've been a regular here but just never wrote a review until now. Atmosphere: Right near the university next to Down to Earth. The place is very cozy with tables close to each other, not uncommon for neighbors to join in your table conversation. Service: Most of the time there's a waitlist. The place is busy but waiters are always available and attentive. Food: I haven't been disappointed anytime I've been here. The food is always prepared well. We ordered the dinner for two with vegetable samosas, chicken masala and lamb vindaloo with naan and rice. Best Indian on the island I've tried thus far. Intangibles: consistently great indian food is hard to find on Oahu. Come to Cafe Maharani if you're craving good Indian!
(4)Robert S.
This is some of the best Indian food that I've had. The chicken manchurian is amazing. Lamb madras and rogan josh also very good. I love that it is byob. 5 stars for food. However, their service gives it negative 3 stars. It is impossible to get them on the phone for take out. If you do finally get them on the phone to order take out, you get ignored frequently when at the desk waiting for your food. It can take forever to pay even when you see your food right there. If you eat in, the waiters tend to be pretty good, but the wait times are very unpredictable and there isn't really a place to wait. There are nice people that work there but there are also some very rude people that shouldn't be in the service industry. The food keeps people coming, but this place has so much unrealized potential. The poor logistics of this place is well documented throughout these reviews. If only Maharani were run professionally, it'd be one of my favorite spots on the island. I'm not the first of my friends to give up on this place.
(2)Shahzad A.
This place is a 5 star for taste and food. Zero stars for service. The owner doesn't understand the simple concept of taking or not taking reservations. The owner said that he does not take reservation on the phone but when we arrived we noticed that he was seating people that came after We did. When I asked he said they asked to put their name on the wait list. If you put name on lists ahead of time then tell people that when they call for a reservation or tell the people to all ahead to be put on the list! We stood in the line for an hour and a half while he kept taking people that came after We did. So I recommend the food but call ahead and put your name on the list!
(3)Raelyn B.
I happen to absolutely LOVE spicy food and there's just something about Indian food that brings me back to my more adventurous moments. Being on Brick Lane all the way in East London is something else. It's not everyday where you get an Indian man standing in front of his family's restaurant asking you to marry him... Not Cafe Maharani is NOTHING like that. lol Let me break it down: Parking: Not really. It's a small lot but difficult to navigate. Best bet is to park on the street. Exterior: Unless you're really looking you'll find it, I'm sure. If not, you could miss it 100% It's a really small restaurant. Interior: I have a weakness and it's Bollywood movies. Not only do they have one small tv setup near the register and the kitchen playing nonstop Bollywood movies of attractive god like indian men body rolling but you can make yourself feel like you're in one. Sure it gets hot, but it's probably from all the spices you're eating (or how you feel about watching bollywood movies that just get your temperature up) but it's really hot in there. LOL It's also VERY tight. Although it's definitely doable, don't expect to have much movement when you're with a big party. Service: Like everywhere else, make friends, I've friended a few of the waiters because hey, I've seen them around the UHM campus and I'm just an outgoing person. What's the golden rule? ... exactly! Food: Don't worry if you don't like things spicy, they have something for everyone, even the uber vegetarians. Indian food became the best choice for our family because it had a bit of everything - vegetables, naan, spicy, lamb and "feel it on the toilet spicy" as Sarah M would say. You can't get naan of this anywhere else. Enough said. There aren't very many Indian restaurants on Oahu but Cafe Maharani makes my top no. 01 spot.
(5)Evan M.
I am basically an Indian food virgin, and I have to say I was very impressed with the food here! Walking in at opening time on a Wednesday, there was already a small line out the door. I would guess that on a weekend, getting a table might be dicey. The interior is nice and has an Indian vibe with nice decor and a TV playing belly dancers??? This might be a good place to also go on a first date- so if they are a bore you can always watch the exotic dancers instead. My favorite was the warm Cheese-filled Naan. It tastes like a thin and fluffy pizza bread that melts in your mouth!!! We also got the plain Naan and Garlic Naan, which were also great. I though the Chicken Masala and Butter Chicken was also quite good, having some sweet and spicy flavors to the tender chicken. From my only other Indian food experience being the food truck of India Cafe at UH Manoa (bland or 5 alarm Fire level spicy), this was a great change. I am sure to come back in the future!
(5)Kory K.
Very new to Indian cuisine but this place was very delicious i don't remember what we had because my lovely date ordered the food all i know is I enjoyed everything, would've gave 5 stars but service wasn't the best.
(4)Kris B.
So many reviews obsessed with the naan here... Well, let me give you some loving advice: don't get naan, get the BUTTERED PARATHA. Just trust me - get one per person, okay? Well ...maybe get one naan for the table. Message me if you think I'm wrong. I ALWAYS come here and eat until I feel like I'm gonna die and/or I need to be rolled out of the place after paying. And I get almost the exact same thing every time I come here - no regrets! 1) Start off with the Eggplant Pakora - fried but comes with great dipping sauce! 2) Tandoori Fish - comes out sizzling hot, fish is tender, sauce is amazing, and yum crunchy bell peppers. 3) Lamb Madras (new addition for me) - this sauce is definitely the tastiest, so why not add big juicy tender pieces of wonderfully cooked lamb? 4) Buttered Paratha forever! (Or garlic naan I guess.) And add some Saffron Rice to top it off. Used to come here several times a month, might have to pick it up again .... Only negatives: not much parking (I park by Bubbie's and walk) and the service is usually really quite terribly slow. But the food somehow makes it worth it...
(5)Y C.
I must confess that I'm not a pro when it comes to Indian food and this is basically the first Indian restaurant that I've ever been to. However, when my boyfriend took me here, it changed my life. He ordered karahi lamb (sorry if I spell it wrong.first timer), and some garlic cheese naan. We also went with friends who ordered chicken tikka masala, saffron rice, and chicken samosas. So good!!
(5)Jin M.
This is one of the best Indian restaurants I've been to in my life. That includes 5 different States, including New York & DC--- and one of those restaurants won a James Beard Award last year! So I ain't lyin' when I say this place be gewd. Let's break this down-- FOOD: Fish Masala Curry is deeeelicious. Soft sea bass in flavorful sauce, the fish just melts in your mouth. Eggplant Tikka Masala is my favorite dish here. SO amazing, full of flavor, this is most definitely a must-get, even if you're strictly a meat eater. Doesn't matter, this will probably still be your favorite dish. Trust me. Everything is ala carte, so you have to order a rice dish or naan separately. I always get both. What can I say? I come here prepared. ;) Saffron rice, plain (or buttered) naan, garlic naan-- get 'em all. It really brings all the dishes together. DRINKS: BYOB! Any restaurant that has BYOB deserves 5 stars. Also, the cups they give you is this cool looking gold goblet that makes you feel like royalty while drinking cheap beer from it. hahaha AMBIANCE: It's rather a small restaurant but with beautiful decor. It's a good place for a small group (3-5) because of the size. Or else you'll probably have to wait awhile for a larger table. Good place to bring a date! SERVICE: Well, they won't entertain you, but they fill your cup with water constantly & bring your food out quickly! Perfectly fine by me! I suck at small talk anyways. PARKING: Small lot behind the restaurant, usually full. There's a Long's across the street so you can park there for free. They don't take reservations and the weekends are busy as heck, so try to avoid the busy hours. I came here on a Wednesday dinner time and we only waited 5 minutes 'til we were seated. Another time I came here on a weekend, and ended up waiting 45 minutes. And that's lucky! But the food, oh the food, is worth it.
(5)Kimo K.
BYOF ... Bring your own food ... To eat while you wait in line because as described by everyone else who has written a review they do not take Rez and the wait is over an hour on Weekdays with 2-3 empty tables and WtF attitude service. It's almost like they don't want to be backed up in the kitchen so they leave tables open? Good things come to those who wait. Maybe drink out back while you wait? no no there's no excuse for this repeated style it Is just hindi food and its not cheap... clean the tables and seat people ... They must think that it's cool to have people waiting over an hour like some New York club. Well if you no like wait take to go and piss off people waiting for table while you get your order to save 20%
(2)Mel B.
I didn't want to wait in line, they open at 5:00 pm. We parked the car in the back at about 4:40pm. There was a couple ahead of us. Mission accomplished. We'll be seated right away when they open. First time here but no rookie to doing a recon before deploying, we decided to order the following. Raita - Carefully seasoned yogurt with chopped cucumbers carrots, tomatoes, herbs, and fresh mint Tandoori Mix Grill - An assortment of Chicken Kebab, Boti Chicken Kebab, Chicken Shish Kebab, Tandoori Prawns, Boti Beef Kebab & Chicken Tikka served over grilled onions, bell peppers & tomatoes Although the tandoori comes with naan, from past experience I believe you never get enough so I order a stuffed naan with cheese as well Lassi - Refreshing sweet yogurt drink with flavors We order the Mango Lassi for me and my gf orders the Indian Rose and these were brought out fairly quick. I taste it and I know the mango they use is not hayden, my favorite type. That's all right because it was still refreshingly delicious. Tasting my gf's indian rose was a treat. Just as refreshing, just a little sweeter and very good, better than mine for sure. As i've done in the past, I ask her if she wants to trade in case if she likes mine better. She decides to keep what she's got. Fine. We're waiting over 30 minutes for our food to come. I knew the tandoori would take a bit. There are 3 other tables occupied and they have received their food. I wait patiently talking with my gf and watching the tables fill up with more guest arriving with their bottles of wine. I was thinking of doing that too but decided to try their drinks this time around to have a better experience. When our fooddoes arrive I know it was well worth the wait. The hot plate is smoking going fully into my face. I can't move. I just sit there taking in the entire fumes like an addicted junky reaching for that high. When I come out of it, I don't know where to start. I just stick my fork in and pull out. I get a tender, moist chicken. I don't know which one but I enjoy it. Most of the meats are tender except maybe the beef but it still was good. I loved the prawns the best. My smile is carried out through out the whole meal as we attempt to eat everything. Not possible. The raita's cool yogurt helps to bring the heat down so the meats are bearable to eat while adding another depth of texture and flavor. The naan with cheese was brought out a little later as planned to give us time to eat the regular naan. This we could eat alone by itself it was so good. The exotic decor with the dim lights transported us believably to another land. A land we hope to travel to some day. MTV India was playing on the big screen showcasing a world of beauty and delights remembering stories and movies of Sinbad and Aladdin. And, as this exotic adventure was coming to an end, we were already planning what we would like to try next on our next trip.
(5)Francis C.
Worst service ever. Waited over a hour even though I didn't think it was worth it. On top of it we had a reservation, so why did we wait for over a hour. And after all that wait nobody came to ask for water or give menus. After everything was done we almost wasted 3 hours at this restaurant. If I could give it 0 stars I would. I would not recommend this place to anyone. The food wasn't enough worth the wait.
(1)Reba L.
This was my second time here and overall experience was good. They have a small lot behind for parking and there is street parking, which is challenging. Food is very good here. In an order of naan you get two fairly good sized pieces. The korma curry sauce and masala sauce are excellent. Rice comes well seasoned. The chicken coconut korma was not as good as we've had at other places...too many onions and peppers for my dining buddy's tastes. The place is always packed, probably because their food is good. Even on a Monday night we had to wait for a table at 6:30 in the evening. Wait staff was timely but not overly attentive. The tables are super close together so it feels like you are dining with other folks. There is not good waiting space either. These folks need a bigger space. Only problems I would note are they charge a corkage fee--yes, really, here in Honolulu, it is $1.50 per person, which is cheap, but a bit odd. I've not run into this on island before and it must be new here because I wasn't charged it before. I didn't see a note on the menu, but to be honest I wasn't looking for it because I hadn't been charged there before and most restaurants don't charge it. And per person? Typically when I've run into a corkage fee, it is per cork. Second problem was they gave us the check for the table next to us that had a more expensive dinner and had already left. It felt like they already recognized they had undercharged the other table and were trying to pass it off on us. They did change it out fairly quickly, but then we had the corkage fee, which felt like they were padding the bill at that point to make up for the difference in the bills. Based on the issues with the bill and the really cramped feel of the place I'd rather go to Himalayan Kitchen or Masala for my Indian food nights. I think their food is equally good and the space has a better feel.
(3)Laura C.
There is a long wait and they don't take reservations but the food is so good. I have been here a number of times and each time food never disappoints. The service is great. If you can handle the long wait then the food is going to make us for it.
(5)Nikki O.
The food here was pretty good. However It wasn't the best Indian food I have ever eaten. It was my first time eating here and I had even told the waiter that. He speaks really good English and was telling me what to get so I had listen and order. I ask him if it comes with rice & he said it didn't so I had to order that too. When the food came, I was really really shock. One reason being that I was eating by myself and the food came in a really large size that could feed three people. I ended up eating 50$ worth of food that I couldn't finish. Now I know to never eat here by myself. Eating for one person that cost 50$ wasn't worth the money.
(3)Monica B.
Our go-to spot for Indian. My favorite dish is the eggplant tikka masala. So good! The portions are large - definitely worth the price for the veggie dishes. So happy I finally have a decent Indian restaurant in town!
(4)Byron M.
Best Indian on the island. Always super crowded for good reason. Go early. Or take-out. Or bring a bottle of red to consume while you wait. Order a lot, because you can take home the leftovers and they taste just as awesome the next day. Some people have commented about the staff being rude. Those guys are super busy making amazing food. They have no time for your feelings, so get over it and enjoy some great food.
(5)Victoria A.
Nickel version for those who want the cliff notes for this place: - Minimal Parking at the rear - street parking available but be prepared to walk. - BYOB (bring your poison...one of the many good things about being in the 808) - Dinner only (5-10 p.m.) - Call 30 minutes out before getting there to get on wait list, then wait some more - Take out available - Line starts at the rear (by register) - HUGE portions - OMGoodness NAAN Bread - Superduper-califriggindelicious EATS! So if you're still reading this you're probably still not sold about coming here nor have a clue what Superduper-califriggindelicious EATS means. Well Cafe Maharani boasts 810 (i make the 810th one) reviews all raving about the food and experience. While my eating budding was chanting about Nirvana away in her head I broke out with, "girl you know it's true....true-ooh-oooh-oooh it's TRUE!" I hadn't read all those 809 reviews but word is out - EATS here is good!! Well worth the anxiety of finding parking, waiting, then waiting some more and more waiting for....wait for it - WAIT service. Amazing Vegetarian selections - literally a whole section so it's pretty painless trying to decipher which dishes don't have meat in it. Also, if you're an Atkins eater - too bad so sad, you're going to have to break the rules this one night - NAAN (plain or stuffed) is really divine - flavorful, soft, gooey (if you choose the cheese stuffed one), garlicky bread! Warning though...you will reek of garlic thereafter. I took the chef's recommendation of Vegetable Navrotton Korma, chock full of veggies and the sauce was dimensional, rich and hearty. I enjoyed the tidbits of sweet fruit and nuts in every few bites. Again, portions are HUGE here. Take out boxes are a must and the leftovers made for the perfect meal the day after (it fed three grown adults the following day). So to echo what everyone is saying - WELL WORTH THE WAIT to come and eat here. No pain no gain. If you don't know - now you know. All in all a very enjoyable meal that well overcompensated the understaffed and tightly weaved dining space.
(4)Anissa M.
This a must! If you love Indian food!!! I haven't had Indian good since moving to Hawaii 3 years so I was desperate to satisfy my need for naan! The garlic cheese naan is the best! A friend of my recommended this restaurant and I feel like I owe so much for this tip. I ended up getting the spicy tandoori kebab it was so tasty and just the right amount of spice. My friends butter chicken was delicious and so is the chicken tikka masala. I don't think you can go wrong with anything you order here. Arrive early the lines do get long and BYOB if you so choose. I can't wait to go back.
(5)Caroline A.
Best place for Indian food! Love the lamb and chicken masala. I usually order take out and enjoy it at home. Often very crowded!
(4)David T.
Tip: If you call the restaurant before you arrive and ask how busy they are and how long the wait would be, you can ask them to put your name on the waiting list. This will help to save some waiting time. I've done this every time I go and most of the time when I get there my name is called in 5-10 minutes. The waiting area can be packed with other patrons waiting for a table so this helps with that too. Great dishes to try are the chicken coconut korma and lamb saag. Usually get the dinner for two so it comes with the saffron rice, naan, and an appetizer (I get the vegetable samosa).
(5)Jon C.
Not that Maharani needs another review, but as my favorite Indian food place since moving home from Washington D.C. in 2006, Maharani has been my "staple" when I get those Indian food cravings. Located on S. King Street, just before Down to Earth on the makai side, it is opposite Long's Drug (formerly Star Market). Parking is limited to the street, and a small parking lot located on Hausten Street. It only has about 15 stalls and gets very crowded during peak dinner hours. I recommend going early when they open at 5 p.m. or later (after 9 p.m.) if you are going on a Friday or Saturday night as it gets very busy. Many of the seats are communal so be prepared if you are a party of two to share a table with another couple or party. Bathrooms are located outside the restaurant and shared with Subway. Finally, the a/c is not very strong in here so I recommend dressing in comfortable clothes (especially if you are eating anything spicy). My fiance and I have been ordering the same thing for years, so I can say much but our friends who are regulars have said most of the food is very good. I normally order the dinner for two, which is a great deal considering the price ($40.99). It includes two veggie samosas (HUGE!) or onion/eggplant pakora, two entrees ($2 extra for one lamb dish), rice, and naan bread. We normally order the lamb vindaloo, which is delicious, not gamey but very tender and spicy, and the eggplant tikka masala, which is eggplant cooked in a flavorful tomato curry sauce & topped with fresh tomato and cucumber. The portions are VERY generous and it usually ends up being lunch the next day for both of us. Final comment, its BYOB! Highly recommend a wheat or IPA or some german riesling or cava to compliment the food.
(5)Nayda H.
Food is excellent! The service could have been a tad bit better. Very busy place, arrive early. Garlic Naan Bread, the best!
(5)Renee M.
Seriously the best Indian food you'll find in Hawaii. It's a small restaurant so you'll most likely have to wait a little while for a table. But definitely worth the wait. The food is hands down delicious! And I love that you can BYOB
(5)Johanna M.
I have been here several times and have had a good meal each time. I will say that I prefer Himalayan Kitchen over Maharani's, but Maharani's is a close second. I like the flavors of the food here, though some of their dishes have been inconsistent from visit to visit. My favorite dishes at Maharani's are the chicken tika masala, the eggplant tikka korma, and the lamb vindaloo. I try pickle do not like lamb because it is so gamey, but they do it right here. It's really soft and yummy. Their chicken tikka masala is really tasty as well, it can be sweeter from time to time (which I love), and other times, it's been more savory. In terms of the eggplant, this one is a surprisingly good one. I didn't think I would like it as much as I do. It's sweet, crispy, and the sauce is so good. The naan at Maharani's is also really good. We always order the garlic naan and rice to accompany out dishes. It's always crispy around the edges and soft enough in the middle to scoop up your food. The staff here is sweet, the decor is colorful and bright, just as if imagine India to be. I also love their dishes. They have really nice dishes, which are a detail often overlooked by some places. I'm serious. They have chalices! I love drinking water out of chalices. I feel like Little John in India. Good stuff.
(5)Tracy K.
How is it that I have lived across the street from CM for five years and have NEVER eaten here until now?? Blasphemy. Good job Denby R. and Iris K. for our GDO (Girls Dinner Out, not Girls Night Out because I'm an old lady)! Whenever we get together, there's always deliberation on where we'd like to munch. And thankfully, my hubby Ikaika O. is not too fond of ethnic dishes like Vietnamese, Thai, Indian, Ethiopian, etc., so it makes a great dinner date excuse with the ladies. It was Monday, and we were walking to a Peruvian restaurant that so happened to be closed on...you guessed it, Mondays. Heads turned left, then right. After a few mutters and restaurant names being thrown out, we started looking toward eateries by Down to Earth. As I regurgitated all the foodies in that area, I quipped, "You know, I've never eaten at Maharani." It was as if I said the Earth is SQUARE. "WHAAATT???" replied Denby. "You've NEVER eaten at CM??" As I fumbled for reasons why I could be so negligent like "well, you know, the wait is always so long, and the parking, gosh..." ...Iris added, "I've never tried that place either!" Oh, it was on. We beelined it there and Denby had the higher intelligence to make a mad-dash call (using our beloved Yelp app, of course) to see what the wait time was. It was easily close to 6pm at prime dinner hour. BUT! As luck shined in our favor, the owner said that there was ONE table open and NO waitlist if we could get there soon. SHYAAA!! Empty tummies barreling to CM could be seen from space at the rate we were going. And there it was...a big four-top table--empty and waiting to support our derrieres. I was in awe at the decoration. From the outside, everything looks so modest and unassuming. Inside, the chairs look like they would seat a Maharaja. The mirrors are bejeweled with rubies. And the cups added to its authenticity! I felt like I was at a Disneyland attraction in an antiquated version of the Mumbai Tower of Terror. I have heard how good the food is. I have seen the leftovers my coworker would bring home. And NOTHING could prepare me for how delicious everything actually was! We ordered three 4-combination plates and a side of Raita (fresh yogurt) to temper the heat. You are only allowed to order certain meats and veggies with the combination plate. So we strategized on which veggie and meat dishes we each wanted to try, and did a switcheroo when the plates arrived. We decided on: 1. Chicken Masala Curry- Like Yellow curry is to Thai, this was a staple dish. Popular and savory with huge chunks of chicken, moderately spiced. 2. Chicken Makhni (Butter Chicken)-Don't let the name fool you. The flavors are more of a tomato base and rounds out a smoother, milder acidity with the butter. Easy to eat and minimal spice. 3. Lamb Saag- Creamy spinach and cubed lamb makes this a House Specialty. 4. Vegetable Jalfrezi Masala- Another House Specialty, and a delightful combination of all different veggies with moderate spice. 5. Dal Sambar- Lentil and veggies cooked in cream had remarkable taste (careful with the chilis!) 6. Vegetable Korma- Hearty chunks of stewed veggies...let's not forget the cardamom! 7. Palak Paneer- CHEF'S SPECIALTY of homemade cheese and creamy spinach. Tasty, however not on the top of my priority list. Everything, and I mean every last morsel was well rounded with exceptional flavor, including the buttery soft naan bread (ohhhh...). You will not be disappointed with whatever your heart chooses. And I had leftovers for lunch the next day! It was a win-win evening! Yummy Indian food and no wait. "Dhanyavaad" (Thank You), Cafe Maharani!
(5)Pkca M.
Parking is alright since it IS on a busy street, but street parking is not a problem for me. Service was great, they brought pitchers of water for party of 10 (sorry for taking up 5 tables! :/). The servers were really patient with us, as many of us were totally unfamiliar with Indian cuisine. Food was very good. Naan was good, my eggplant tikka korma was good. But the AC (or lack thereof)..... They have two little AC units (like the ones you would use for a studio apartment) at the front of the restaurant. The temp reading on both of them said 60. Not sure why but it was unbelievably hot in there. Yes the curry is hot, sometimes spicy, but it felt like there was absolutely no AC in that entire restaurant. I'm definitely not dining in again but I would occasionally get some curry to go.
(3)Mark O.
There aren't many Indian restaurants in Honolulu which is to be expected. Of those, Cafe Maharani is probably the best option if that is what you are looking for. Located on King st near University, Maharani is a small restaurant with somewhat limited seating. I'm a fan of Indian food and once in a while I definitely crave a good lamb dish with some garlic paratha. Tonight we got some takeout (which I recommend considering how crowded this place gets) consisting of Chicken Malai Korma, Lamb Vindalo, Eggplant Tikka Masala, Garlic Naan and Garlic Paratha. The eggplant dish is one of our regular favorites and was enjoyed by everyone. We ordered the lamb to be 8/10 spicy and it turned out fairly well. The chicken dish was average and not that well received. We all wished that instead of one naan and one paratha we had instead ordered two (or three) parathas. It was just that good. Overall, Maharani is probably the best Indian food on the island, although that's not really saying much since it doesn't have much decent competition. I generally like eating here and "I'm a fan."
(4)Denby R.
I saw my BFF Tracy K. write out her wonderful review and I realized....wait, I haven't revved CM? how is that possible? I had heard for a while that CM was the place to get good Indian food. I have gone to most of the other ones on the island and had left feeling "meh" or sometimes with a greasy belly (or shirt...I'm not the neatest eater). But when I finally got through the line at CM my tastebuds did the happy dance and so did I. First time I went was with my husband (Henni R.)...and we thought it would be perfect for my family to try. Only problem is the wait...Henni and I were lucky enough to get a table within 15 minutes, but when I took my family there we were waiting one day outside for over 45 min and watching other people eat. Family lost their patience and we went down the road instead. So next time....I listened to Emi H. and did take out...called from work and picked up without much problem. My family LOVED it! I even heard whispers of "it would have been worth the wait" yesssss! Fortunately there have been people around me who are willing to wait it out with me when take-out isn't an option...so I have gotten to eat at CM relatively often. But as Tracy K. mentioned....when we had our tastebud adventure GDO, she and our BFF Iris K. admitted to being CM virgins I was shocked! Then totally happy that there was a table ready for us when we got there. we ordered the combo plates...passed around the Naan and small dishes of the sampler plates. The company was happiness for my soul, the food was happiness for my stomach. The servings are deceivingly LARGE. I have not walked away hungry from here! Wish the wait wasn't so long and the table got turned over faster so us CM fan-atics can get seated quicker....but patience is a virtue and I can be good at waiting. Learn from the wise Emi H....DO TAKE-OUT....trust her. And they are BYOB
(4)Ravi R.
WE just returned from the restaurant. Food is OK. Portions are very large. But both ambiance and neatness are horrible. A/C was not working properly. They should really work on neatness.
(3)Alan L.
Café Maharani is Honolulu's Indian institution. Judging from all the reviews it looks like everyone in town has been here - this place is certainly no secret. The decor's a bit tired and dark, it's often crowded, sometimes you have to wait for a table, and sometimes it's warm and noisy inside. Sometimes the service may not be stellar and sometimes it might take a while to get your food, and it is BYOB, if that's a drawback. Aside from the fact that CM is one of only a handful of Indian restaurants here, there's a reason people flock here - the food is consistently (always!) delicious! Over the years, we've sampled most of the menu items and I can't remember a single disappointment. And more often than not, the servers are friendly and attentive, which is remarkable given the crowds that they get. So if you have a craving for chicken tika masala or vegetable korma or palak paneer and you have a little time and patience, Café Maharani is a super choice.
(4)Addie L.
This is the best Indian food that we tasted in Honolulu, there is a long wait and no kidding! It took two hours till we finally got our food and we think it's worth it for now. BTW, wanted to air out a big pet peeve... if you are finished eating your food and there is a long wait, please don't stay at your table and chat away for 30 minutes! Take your chit chat over to Starbucks or somewhere else for goodness sakes! Your selfishness makes people wait longer and the restaurant not make as much money when tables are not turning fast enough. The owner was nice enough not to say anything, if this was New York or a Chinese restaurant, they would have been kicked out right away. Anyways, the best deal you can get here is the dinner for two for $40.99 where you have a choice of appetizer, two main dishes in vegetable, chicken, and lamb and naan. BTW, didn't know that there was a extra 50 cent charge per person for the garlic, wish they would have told us that. Anyways, the chicken masala curry was flavorful and the lamb with creamy tomato sauce (can't remember) was awesome... they are many layers of spices and flavors in both dishes. Recommended for take out only, waiting for a table will test your patience!
(4)Kaiser M.
Best Indian food on the island! Hands down. Amazing selection of food. Pretty pricey but overall really tasty and mostly worth it. Its a very small place with very small tables. Your best bet is to call in an order and pick it up when they tell you. Their roti and naan breads pair perfectly with their food. They also have a tasty cinnamon milk drink....kinda pricey so its up to you if you'd wanna get it.
(4)Gina H.
Had a moral dilemma about whether to give it four stars, but since it's (in my opinion) by far the best food on Oahu...I had to give it five. If I move back to the mainland, THIS is the restaurant I will think about on lonely evenings. That said, two things you should know: 1. The service is really slow. They are chronically understaffed, which may be because the space is so small and people are running into each other as it is. And to top it off, they don't take reservations, so prepare to either be at the door when they open or to wait for an hour plus. I've waited almost two hours to be seated a number of times. 2. It's worth the wait. Because you get really, really good indian food that's reasonably priced. Portions are big enough for two, but I always opt to bring home leftovers. I've really never had anything I didn't love here, but my favorites are: -the veggie samosas -the veg navrotten korma -the palak paneer -the naan. Any variety. All varieties. Just put it in my mouth. Listen friends, patience isn't my thing - so if I'm willing to wait two hours for a meal, that should be all you need to know. They also have an extensive vegetarian menu, which I always appreciate. Fingers crossed that they eventually move into a bigger space where they can accommodate more guests and hire more servers.
(5)Randall S.
Food is a 5-star. However the wait and the not-always-friendly staff has to play a part in my review. That said I have eaten here several times and plan on continuing as with me the reason I visit a restaurant is for the food, not the wait staff. Don't get me wrong, no one was mean, unhelpful, or rude. It's just not the place that if you have a question they seem eager to help.
(4)Bhavita M.
This probably is the first time I will be writing a negative comment about any food place but I am completely driven to do it for this place . It seems like no one in Oahu has a good sense of taste of Indian food. This is definitely NOT the real flavor of Indian food . We went there looking at the awesome reviews and comments , did not eat in ( per comments from folks on the place being too cramped up and therefore did the take out ) We ordered assorted biryani which was under average , tasteless without any flavor or spice - was just a total disappointment . Also ordered vegetable jalfrezi which was a mix of veggies in tomato sauce. The dish was extremely oily and salty and I had to force myself to eat through half of it as I do not like to waste food- the rest went in the garbage :( To top all this up I had ordered garlic naan but instead got plain uncooked naan !! which was just not acceptable and it made my day worst . It does seem to be doing well locally but I can assure you this is definitely not authentic Indian food .
(1)Janet K.
I must admit that I never bother to dine here anymore. I ALWAYS just order take-out because I know this place is ALWAYS busy. People are lining up at 4-4:30 and waiting until 5pm for the doors to open. While they're waiting in line, I'm waiting by my phone until the 5pm strike so I can place my order. Even though I get my order in right when they open, it still takes about 45 minutes. *Tip* You can order the "dinner for two" for take-out $40.99. I got it with samosas, lamb vindaloo and chicken coconut korma. I tried to upgrade the naan to my favorite garlic and cheese naan but they wouldn't let me even though I offered to pay extra. Oh well, regular naan is good too. The samosas are fricken ginormous! They're bigger than my fists! Maharani is still the BEST Indian food in Hawaii! The flavors can't be beat!
(5)Jacie T.
I love this place! I first found out about it from my religion professor. In her Rel 202 (Indian Religions) class, we had a potluck and she brought naan from here. After trying their naan, I went for dinner with my boyfriend and a couple friends. It's pretty small so there may be a wait...it's worth it! We got the naan, yellow rice, lamb vindaloo, chicken saag, malai kofta, and fish korma. All were tasty. My favorite is the chicken saag. The spinach is very soft and buttery, the chicken is tender. It's a pretty good portion, too. My boyfriend and I have pretty small appetites so it would last us a good two or three servings. The last time we went we got the chicken saag and lamb vindaloo again but this time, we got it as its spiciest level and it was...spicy. It tasted good with the naan, though. The enrees are all around $13 - $15, more for the lamb, but it's worth it. They give pretty generous potions of everything. I haven't tried the lassi yet, but it's definitely on my list. The only downside is that the parking is pretty tight. The lot is small so once that fills up you have to get street parking.
(5)Curtis Z.
Thursday, 5pm. 40 minute wait for take-out, which wasn't so much of a problem. The problem -- after driving the food home and digging it out of the takeout bag -- was that we had been given rice and naan intended for Marcus. I knew this because the container had "MARCUS" written on it. But my name's not Marcus. So we got the wrong rice and one plain naan instead of three buttered naan like I ordered and paid for. But I guess that's my fault for not digging it out of the bag to check there at the restaurant and assuming the host was capable of doing their job. My bad. Also, I asked for medium spicy Pepper Chicken, explicitly asking for "not too hot" over the phone, because I'm not a dumbass and I don't order "extra hot" at Indian or Thai restaurants. I know from years of experience that you must ask for "MEDIUM HOT" if you want to be able to eat your food. So, like I always do, I asked explicitly for "medium hot". Also, I should tell you that I love me some spicy food. I put hot sauce on everything. I love me the spiciest sauces I can get. I've even got my name on the wall down there at Buffalo Wild Wings (no kidding -- check for yourself). I'm not a pussy, nor am I stupid. But this was stupid. It was so spicy that I couldn't eat it. What's the point, man? You gave me the wrong food and then also just for good measure decided I should get "fusion reactor hot" chicken instead of "medium, not too hot" like I ordered? We totally got TROLLED by this Indian restaurant tonight. :(
(1)Toan D.
Good Food -Terrible Terrible Service. We waited 45 minutes for a table which gave us ample time to read the menu. Upon being seated I told the waiter we were ready to order. He put down our waters said o'k then promptly left. After 15 minutes, I got out of my seat and hunted him down and implored him to take our order, Food came out in a timely manner but we had no plates, utensils or napkins. After returning with settings, the waiter never returned to our table to check on us or fill water. HELLO it's spicy Indian food !! Finally after starring at our empty plates, I walked to the back and handed my credit card and asked for my check. Having been in the restaurant business for 17 years I recognized that this placce is so mismanaged at the front of the house. That's ashame because with better organization and better systems in place they could turn tables over so much more effeciently, and provide a much higher level of customer service.This would increase customer satisfaction, increase their income and decrease customer waiting time. Next time I will order take outs.
(3)Holly B.
Great food, but the SERVICE IS VERY INCONSISTENT. On one visit, we waited at our table for 45 minutes without being waited on, no water, no menus, no service! That is the definite drawback of this restaurant! Once you get your food, you're fine, but it's trying to get waited on that is the problem. Plus this is a small restaurant, so the wait can be long if you don't make reservations in advance. The owner needs to get better waitstaff that are cheerful, friendly, and helpful. And for goodness sake, wait on the customers that are seated!!!
(3)Phil C.
4.5 stars Another long hiatus from writing reviews, but this one (review) is long overdue. When I'm craving for Indian food, I come here. Plain and simple. This IS the best Indian cuisine on island. I recently returned from a trip to London, where I experienced some of the best Indian food outside of the motherland (India). This place is very similar in comparison, and there is NO other restaurant that compares on island. Outside of this glowing review, Cafe Maharani is notoriously B.I.G. on two things: 1. The wait for an available table in the restaurant 2. The wait for your food after ordering Since space is at a premium on Oahu, it's difficult to not spend a large fraction of your time waiting around. I will give Cafe Maharani credit for packing in as many customers as they do into this tiny restaurant. As far as any typical visit here, expect to wait for at least an hour on weekdays and upwards of an hour and a half on weekends. Despite the wait, I enjoy being able to chat up other groups and ogle over the food on their tables (I stare only long enough as to not make it awkward). Like other good restaurants, it's difficult to rush good food so I'll just simply tolerate the wait. An average trip here eats up about 2 to 3 hours, so make sure that you don't plan any other engagements. I've sampled only a fraction of the menu, but I can attest to the following: - Stuffed garlic cheese naan: I'm a non-traditionalist when it comes to eating carbs - Lamb Masala: The masala complements the lamb in what I believe to be the best variation of masala - Chicken Korma: Tender pieces of chicken are coated in yogurt-nutty goodness - Veggie Samosas: A nice way to get a little fiber. Not the healthiest of choices, but I could be eating worse While all the other food I've tried was very good, these items were the most memorable. Here's what I recommend doing to make your experience here a better one: - Eat early / go late: Prime dining hours here are from around 6-8:45ish; since you can't make reservations, either get there as soon as it opens or contemplate eating late. Just remember to sign in on the clipboard or make sure that you get your name taken down by the staff. You can also get your food to go, but this breaks one of my cardinal rules... I'm just saying. - Be patient: This restaurant is busy. Really busy. But it is busy for a reason. If you can stomach the wait, I assure you that you will be delighted by the cuisine. However, let it be known that you have been warned of a substantial wait... - Be careful: The portions here are quite large. I tend to gorge until I am nearly "Thanksgiving" full. When that happens, well... I collect myself and try to find my second wind. Most times here, the "second wind" never happens. #toomuchofagoodthing The rundown: Best Indian food on island, Notorious B.I.G (on waiting), the food is all good, go early / eat late, long wait (but worthwhile), Thanksgiving full, and #toomuchofagoodthing.
(4)Kimmy C.
service can be spotty and slow or it can be quick and fast. it all depends on what time you go and how many servers there are. but the one consistent thing is the wonderful food. the food is always flavorful, tasty, and rich. parking can be difficult if the lot in the back is full. this place is also byob, awesome!!! best tip is to order take out.
(4)Kelsey M.
simply amazing....dont think u can find better indian food on the island.
(5)Pratap S.
Top indian restaurant on islands .their food is always fresh and awesome super rich in flavor .my favorite is malaikofta and chilli kulcha .
(5)Amy L.
Lucky you live Hawaii...because I would move home in a heartbeat for Maharani. I've had bad Indian food, good Indian food, and even some great but this place is really in another category of it's own...AAAAAMAAAZING!!!! Maharani, can I pack you up and put you in my suitcase? I could already smell the delicious aromas wafting out and tempting me as we parked in the tiny lot behind the restaurant. Please let us get seated soon! Vibrant blood red walls with Indian art work hanging on the walls greet you as you walk in. There's even a flat screen playing Bollywood music videos. I loved the decor and the tablecloths. Rich blue fabric with etching in gold thread made you feel like you just went fabric shopping in a market in India. Oh, did I mention the coolest tableware? Heavy plates and utensils, I think they were stainless steel. And the cups that the water came in aren't your typical water cups. They were heavy copper cups shaped like a bell. It's also BYOB so we brought wine and they brought out goblets! How many restaurants use goblets? Only this one that I know of. The food was great...we ordered up a feast (see pics): 2 orders of naan, 2 orders of rice, 4 curry dishes, 1 vegetable appetizer platter, and 1 tandoori appetizer meat platter. Everything was delicious and exotic. My tastebuds approved. The naan was huge, fluffy, and soft. One of the currys we ordered was the Lamb Vindaloo and we got to choose from a scale of 1-10 on how hot we wanted it. We chose 8 and it was a hot tamale train. But yum nonetheless. Just drink lots of water! That was one of my favorite dishes but the lamb meat could have been softer. The eggplant bharta was also one of my favs. The eggplant was cooked to the point where it was blended into the curry so every spoonful you got had some eggplant in it. Creamy with just a little heat, it was a great side veggie dish. If you don't know what to order, ask your server. They have no problem recommending what's good to you. The service was great. We were there to celebrate a friend's birthday and they kept our cakes in the fridge until we were ready for our check. They had no problem in putting a candle in each cake (little cakes and cupcakes) for us and brought it to our table lit. We sang happy birthday and so did the whole restaurant. Great crowd and great atmosphere. Come and enjoy a great Indian feast with great service! I will definitely come back again, again and again. And again! TIP: Family style so best to come with at least a group of 4. No reservations so come early. It's a small cozy place and gets really packed. Oh, and don't forget to BYOB!!!
(5)Jack B.
This was my go to spot for Indian food. Their flavors was and is still amazing. Perhaps it was where they're located, but having dinner one night, we were greeted by two huge roaches running around. It sucks because the food is from heaven... it's just hard to go back after that.... :(
(3)Rupert L.
I've just noticed I visited this place only on Sundays. The first time I came here I ordered the Naan and the Chicken Masala. The second time, I ended up ordering Chicken Coconut Korma, Naan, and the Mango Lassi. A friend of mine told me this was the closest authentic Indian restaurant on the island when I brought him here. I hope to come back again on a Sunday. Can't forget about the bollywood and awesome cups!!
(4)Lauren S.
First review on Yelp! Woohoo :) I was looking for something different to eat that wasn't Japanese food (or Zippy's haha). After all of the awesome reviews on Yelp, I decided to go with my boyfriend and check this place out for myself. PARKING: First off, the location is not the best. It's a small place next to Down to Earth, across from Longs. We weren't sure where to park, so we used the Longs Parking Lot, went in to make like we were customers, then walked across the street to Cafe Maharani. Unfortunately, we didn't realize that we could park in their small customer parking in the back. But by the time we saw the sign on their front door, we were too lazy to walk back and re-park the car. WAIT TIME: we got seated really quickly. We walked up to the counter to put our name down, but since we walked in from the street side door, they saw us first and seated us. Other people were waiting, but it was because they had larger parties to seat and had to wait. We went at about 5:30pm, but by that time it was already packed! FOOD: We ordered the "Dinner for Two" set. Super affordable and comes with a lot of food! We got the onion pakora (appetizer), garlic naan ($1 extra), saffron rice, and two entree dishes. We chose the Chicken Coconut Karma and the Chicken Tikka Masala. Everything was delish! SERVICE: our server was very helpful and came by often. Even though it was a busy place, he made sure to come by to refill our water and answer any of our questions. Overall, Cafe Maharani is a super small place with really yummy food. It's also BYOB. However, my bf and I decided to just stick to drinking water since we weren't used to eating Indian food and wouldn't know it would react to our stomachs. Because the place is small, and the food is hot, BEWARE that it gets really warm inside the restaurant! Other than that, super good experience and I would come back! Definitely wanna try the lamb curries next time!
(4)Naina G.
I am clueless as to how this place gets good reviews. I do not mind the wait (almost an hr) if the food is worth it. The food was bland, full of cream and tasteless, just dumping a bunch of spices does'nt make the food either Indian or good tasting. I will commend them on their breads, they were very good, except for that there is nothing good I can comment about. I left 90 percent of food uneaten and told the waiter that food is not good. I felt very bad as an Indian suggesting this restaurant to non-Indians accompanying me that day. As a punishment to myself, I decide not to pay for cab and walk instead to my hotel.
(2)Carisa W.
Maharan is where I first tried Indian food and thank goodness for that because it delicious!!! Honestly if it wasn't for my friends I would've never tried this place! It's a hole in the wall..literally. This place is really small so the wait can be really long. Go there on weekdays when it's not too busy. As far as parking I recommend parking on the street because the lot is extremely small behind the restaurant. We always get the chicken Marsala, naan bread, lamb curry (the lamb is delicious I usually don't eat lamb due to grainy taste but Maharan makes it super soft) and soft flavorful saffron rice indian. Portions are also pretty good so it's more fun to go with friends so you can order more things to try. Definitely a great place to go try setting unique!
(5)Kasey B.
I should begin this review with a warning: DO NOT wear Spanx to this restaurant. Even if you are on a date and need to look hot. Even if your dress looks a little lumpy without them. Even if you're not hungry and don't plan to eat much. Just don't wear Spanx. You will regret it. Don't even wear tight jeans. In fact, I suggest wearing yoga pants or a muumuu. So my friend and I went here for dinner the other night. I've been here quite a few times, and the food is always good. On our most recent visit, I made the mistake of wearing Spanx under my super cute dress. This severely inhibited my ability to stuff myself full of pakora, samosa, briyani, korma, chutney, and naan. It was a shame. But it meant leftovers for breakfast, so it worked out. The service is usually pretty good, but when they are busy, the service is less awesome. This place is cute, delicious, and awesome. Probably the best Indian restaurant on the island!
(4)Jordan S.
Service was good, we were seated pretty quickly (under 5 minutes), and the server was attentive enough. The food was good and came out quickly. 4/5 would eat a gain.
(4)Isaac N.
I decided to try this place based on its rating on Yelp. I did a phone order due to reading about how crowded this place gets. It's a good thing because when I went to pick up my order the place was packed and there was a line of people waiting outside. However I do not see why this place is so packed, I thought the food was just okay. In the phone order I made, there was a little mix up. I ordered Chicken Tikka Masala, Dal Plain and Plain Naan. What I got was Chicken Tikka Masala, Plain Naan, Palak Paneer, Papri Chaat. I paid for the first 3 but they comp'ed the Papri Chaat. Everything was mediocre in taste, I have had better Indian food at other places in Hawaii.
(3)Justine C.
Last night was my first experience at this restaurant, and with Indian food in general. Looking over the menu, I couldn't decide on what I wanted, partly because I'd never had Indian food before, and partly because there were so many things that sounded good on the menu. I ended up having the tikka masala shrimp and split the saffron rice with my husband. My husband ordered the tawa chicken. Our friends ordered the coconut rice, a lamb dish and butter chicken. And we all ordered some naan topped with garlic and another order topped with spinach and parmesan cheese. We all tasted a little of each others' food, and I have to say I was extremely impressed! The portion sizes were extremely generous, so there was plenty to share. Both the coconut rice and the saffron rice were delicious, although the coconut rice was a little more flavorful than the saffron rice. My tika masala was on point with tender shrimp and a delicious, ever so slightly spicy sauce that I sopped up with my naan. The lamb that my friend ordered was also extremely good, very tender. I don't normally enjoy lamb, but the combination of spices in the dish were so good, I'd probably order it for myself. The butter chicken was delicious, covered in a very savory, rich tomato based sauce. But the star of the night was definitely the tawa chicken. The crunch breading was something none of our other dishes had, and the sauce was SO good. Nice and spicy, very flavorful. Overall, the four of us agreed, it was our favorite. The dining room is small, so we had to wait for an hour before we were seated. However, I will say that it was worth the wait! I will definitely be making this place one of our regular go-to restaurants.
(5)Jennifer D.
This is some seriously good Indian food. Literally everything we ordered was delicious. Easily the best Indian food on the island, and quite possibly some of the best Indian I have ever had. No wonder everyone I went with swears by Cafe Mahirani. When you first find the restaurant it is quite tiny. You could easily miss this restaurant if you are driving too fast. It is located across the Longs and next to the Down To Earth market. You could park on the street, behind the restaurant, or in the parking lot right next to the restaurant after the market. Parking shouldn't be too big of an issue. The main problem is the wait time. We did have a group of 7 but even the groups of 2s and 4s had to wait at least 45 minutes. The wait was killer. Since this restaurant is BYOB, we were able to pass around a wine bottle to kill the time after the first 30 minutes passed. Good thing the food was worth it. We ordered a ton of food and shared everything family style. I feel that is the only way to do it. You gotta try everything. We had the chicken masala curry, lamb saag (green sauce, my friend called it "wizard soup"), lamb vindaloo (spicy), tandoori fish (seabass cus they ran out of salmon), samosas, shrimp tikka, and another lamb dish. I liked the lamb saag and the chicken masala curry the best. I also really liked the tandoori fish. Moist fish and great flavor. The lamb vindaloo is definitely hot but I didn't die like I thought I would... I am pretty weak when it comes to spicy foods. There are times where the sauces all blend together on your plate but that's okay. Just use your garlic naan to wipe everything up like a sponge and eat it up! Garlic naan hot out of the oven. omgah. Paradise. We also got two orders of the tomato rice to eat with all of our entrees. The tomato rice is super most and goes well with everything. The BYOB part of this restaurant was great. We had some red wine that we picked up across the street from Longs to go along with our dinner. Sweet. We didn't get any napkins until mid-way through the meal, and only about 4 of them for the 7 of us. We also only got our waters refilled once. I was dying and chewing on ice towards the end of the meal. The spices start building up and my mouth was getting pretty hot without any water. We were able to feast like kings for about $28 a person plus some leftovers for lunch tomorrow. I would love to come back but maybe take-out instead. The wait time here is killer!
(4)Paula H.
i read some of the yelp reviews and i totally understand where they're coming from...sevice? what service?! they gave us water and didnt come back to refill. they didnt check on us. didnt bring the check. okay, service is crap. but they're busy. SUPER busy. we went on a week day at 8. crazy busy. not a chair in site. im just happy that we eventually got seated . actually im moreso happy that they even saw me among the hoard of hungry people. hygiene? okay, questionable. the place is super hot. indian food has alot of milk and yogurt based foods. i was sweating which is not flattering when ur trying to look attractive on date night. on top of that the diners are seated so close to one another. i felt like a sardine! well, a nicely dressed, sweaty sardine with make-up. but a sardine none the less. food....AMAZING! i would go there again for dinner in a heartbeat. we brought home left overs. the next day it was delicious too. in conclusion...i wish service and atmosphere matched the food. but im coming back definitely.
(3)Cris G.
I really love me some Indian food. I heard great things about Maharani so I decided to try it with my boyfriend last night. My boyfriend has never had Indian food ever. So this was going to be interesting. So we decided to go on a Friday night at around 7:30 ish. I know what you're thinking, "but this is the busiest time and day of the week!" And you are correct! We waited for about an HOUR and a HALF for a table. But other people were waiting too and looked equally starved and tired. There's nowhere to sit and nothing to do. We stood outside on the sidewalk by the front door and just waited and waited while we looked through the windows at everyone else eating... When we finally go seated we were excited to order. This is what we got... 1 vegetarian samosas- curry spiced veggies in a pastry shell, served with 2 kinds of sauces. The sauces were spicy but good. The samosas were also very good. My boyfriend hates veggies and he loved this. He said you couldn't tell they were veggies because they tasted so good. LOL. 2. Laacha Paratha bread and Naan bread- the first is a buttery flaky type of bread, sorta like an Indian croissant, but a big flat round disk. The Naan was just a basic flat bread that was soft and kind of crispy on the outside. Both are great for dipping in your curry sauces. 3. Vegetable Korma Curry- Basically a curry with veggies in it. Not spicy, but rather sweet and mild with a nice creamy coconut flavor. This was my favorite. 4. Lamb Rohgan- I'm not sure if that was the correct name, but it was a mild non-spicy dish (as the waiter told us). It's lamb in a creamy red curry sauce and it was very good. This was my boyfriend's favorite. 5. Chicken Korma- Curry cooked in a coconut milk base with chunks of chicken in it. Very tasty, but spicy. The menu said it was "medium spicy" but if you're sensitive to heat like me and bf are, it's pretty hot, but yet tolerable.... 6. Rice Pulau- Not sure if I spelled that right? But their basic yellow rice dish. My boyfriend thought the food was amazing and loved it. I also lovedi it. We'd like to come back on a NON-Friday. LOL. We spent about $65 for all our food. Not too bad.... We had plenty of left overs. Definitely like this place!
(4)Michiko H.
BEWARE LONG LINES (dinner crowd come early,wait can be from 30 mins to 1hr 1/2) This place by far is my favorite Indian restaurant on the island. With its exotic settings, bollywood music videos to entertain me, and aromatic smells its like being transported to little India. My hubby and me have been here several times already for dinner and already know that there is always a line. This little place is so popular that they even do phone/take out orders and serve a nearby hotel. There takeouts by the way are huge! There are so many tables in available so if several families decide to take their time your in for a good long wait, but trust me its worth it! (at least to me.lol) So far we have ordered -Chicken Masala ( excellent, chicken was juicy not dry) -Tandoori platter ( nice selection of meats, unique spices used) -pepper Chicken (nice kick with the pepper and chicken was good) -lamb masala (sauce was amazing, the lamb was tender) -Tomato rice (yum, my favorite. goes well is coconut flavored curries) -yellow rice (good spices in the rice) -halva ( like grits but sweet so delicious, I recommend it!) -Lassi Indian rose/plain (Great drink to sooth your tongue if its on fire) Service: Is okay. They don't refill your water enough which is a must when eating spicy curry price; It can get pricey, but all worth it to experience good Indian food. Parking: There is parking in the back but we also like to park in the Longs Drugs parking lot since its 24 hours.
(4)Sheetal R.
When I had first come to Hawaii in 2009 with friends on a visit, this place was a must see place to go. Thinking back, I can't even remember what the food tasted like, but I def remember the ambiance. Now that I live in Hawaii, my husby and I tried to eat here once since it was praised by my husband. I didn't even remember that I had been here already. Parking: the parking is street based and they have no parking lot. I suggest getting here before they open to get a good spot and there does seem to be a huge line. Ambiance: the place is really small and you're seated extremely close to one another. I could barely talk to my husband. They also have a small tv that plays bollywood music/movie and as an Indian I just enjoy watching that and eating Indian food. Food: We had samosas (vegetarian), malai kofta, and paneer tikka masala. I have to say the food was not as great as I expected. Maybe I hold Indian food on a different standard since I am Indian, but I don't remember it being the best Indian food. I've had Little India Restaurant and Bar and it is seriously the best Indian food on the island (I plan on reviewing them). Overall: it's decent, but its not worth the hustle and bustle. I don't think I'll be coming here anytime soon.
(3)Tahnee K.
The only reason there are bad reviews on here is because people love to be babied! by waiter. Basically what the waiters do here simply take you order, refill your water when it needs to be, bring your food and check. That's all that matters, it seems like some people who wrote reviews what to be checked up on every 5 minutes. This place is very busy and that probably will never happen. But the waiters there are very nice so I don't see why there are some people complaining. I'd say the best way to order is get what you want and share. If you don't know how to order the waiter will gladly help you. I'd say the best way to do it is to get an appetizer, curry, Saffron rice and naan bread. The first time i came here, it was a group of four we had garlic shrimp as an appetizer, we ordered the Chicken Masala Curry and the Chicken Tikka Masala Curry, three orders of Garlic naan, and One order of Saffron rice. Which was more than enough for us and we had some left overs. It takes a little while for the food to come out but it is worth the wait because it tastes so amazing. If you want to eat here make sure you come right at 5 when it opens because it will become packed very fast.
(5)Marielle H.
Best Indian food on the island. Although the wait is usually over an hour, the atmosphere and the staff makes it worth the wait. Take out is usually 30-60 min wait also
(4)Jeana S.
I've eaten at several Indian restaurants and Cafe Maharani is by far my favorite! I eat here at least once a month. It's a hole in the wall. Space is limited, waiting for a table can be long at times. Service can be slow but overall, the wait is so worth it!!! Eggplant Tikka Masala and Vegetable Kofta Masala area couple of my favorties. I have not had anything that I did not like. Awesome variety on the menu. Don't forget, BYOB.
(4)Angela B.
We came here only knowing about the delicious food & nothing else. Yes...the food was definitely delicious...orgasmic even. (the SF Bay Area has slamming Indian food and this place blows it away). Yes...the service was horrid and we've waited many accumulative hours for a table, even when calling in to get on the list. Yes...the place is ALWAYS packed. Must eat food list: Naaaan...buttered. Don't bother with the stuffed stuff...just plain o'le Buttered Naan Assorted Rice (4 different delicious kinds!) Any Masala dish (chicken, lamb, veggie) We will definitely continue to come back...kinda like an abusive relationship. Just writing this review makes me want to go there now! Tips: BYOB. Parking on street or small lot in back. Wait by the counter - DO NOT go outside or leave the area...no matter how long they say the wait is!
(3)Fawn L.
Everything here is good. My favorites are their sea bass & veggie curries! Their roasted garlic naan is amazing. Big portions so good to go with others or have leftovers. Get there early or late because it can be a 45 min wait. Also, parking can be a pain. I usually park at Longs and walk over, but I did get a parking ticket there once. just be cautious!
(5)Adam C.
Best Indian food on the island, but get there early because there's not many tables and you could be waiting for a while. At 5:30pm, on a Friday date night, we got the last table in the house...felt bad for the others who had to wait at the bar or outside. We ordered the dinner for two and it was more than enough for us, could've easily fed three or four even. Ever since my 2001 summer spent in Northern India, I've longed for good Indian food... fresh samosa, buttery garlic Naan, and most of all a cold Mango Lassi sweet. My first impression of this place, when I first came back from India, didn't really do it for me. And I think my digestive tract was still recovering from something in the water. But over 10 years later, i decided to give it another chance and now I'm definitely a fan! Not only do they have great food, but they have flat screen TVs playing Bollywood music and videos, so it really brings back fond memories my favorite summer abroad. So this combo dinner for two is really worth it, $40 and definitely gives you a complete experience of excellent Indian cuisine. After a couple delicious, hot, fresh samosas, with zesty dipping sauces and a cold Mango Lassi, I decided to try something new, a Lamb Malai Korma, a creamy curried lamb, preseted like a french onion soup with the puff pastry on top; I really loved it. My wife ordered her usual chicken saag and it was great as always...plus a little spice in this one. The naan and the saffron rice were also excellent additions. Some other Indian restaurants come close but coming back to this one has definitely become my favorite.
(5)Annie W.
I felt like a queen sitting in a gold throne like chair and eating from gold/ bronze plates and drinking from bronze cups!! The furnishings were just awesome on it's own! Very unique! FOOD: 4.5/5 Delicious food!! If this is your first time eating Indian food then you must try their butter chicken, naan, and lassi. These items are the staples of westernized Indian food goers! If I had to tell you which item that you may not want to order is their samosa (appetizer) because it wasn't as good as the other dishes and it wasn't necessary in the big picture. For the lassi, I highly recommend trying their Mango Lassi!! Oh my goodness I would go there just for that drink alone! It was so delicious! SERVICE: 5/5 They were quick! I think it is because they know how busy it can get so things come out fast, but at the same time I got the feeling we were suppose to dine moderately quick too. The servers were moderately tentative and by that I mean our bronze glasses were never empty but it doesn't meant they are watching you every second. They are quick but not super man quick! They were also quite honest; I asked our server for his honest opinion about how much to order since I wasn't sure how big the portions were and he was right on the dot about how much we should order. He wasn't out to make us order more. AMBIANCE: The place is decorated in nice Indian fabrics/ tapestries. The lighting is somewhat dim as I think they are trying to go with a more intimate type of setting. There is Indian music videos playing on the TV as well. PARKING: 3/5 There is paid street parking in the front and free parking in the back. Their private parking lot is shared with Subway and the salon next to them so there isn't much parking if you go at the wrong time. Plus their parking lot is very small and with saying that much, I don't recommend driving a large vehicle because it is a one way. If both the street parking in front and their parking lot in the back is full, then the only other way is to find street parking around the area. There is quite a bit of street parking around the area, but I recommend going early anyways because parking can become frustrating as it nears dinner time. OTHER NOTES: The first time my friends and I tried to dine here, we arrived at 5pm (when they open) but they were already packed! I recommend going at 4:30pm because the second time we went there at 4:30pm and there was already a party waiting outside. Once my friends and I arrived more people arrived after us. By 5pm, they were 90% full. OVERALL: 5/5 I am definitely going back! The Mango Lassi it self is a good enough reason to go back! If you've never had Indian food then this is the perfect place to start your Indian cuisine experience!
(5)Donald S.
The food is just okay. Indian food is suppose to make my palate pop. It didn't. The service was not spectacular. We had to flag our server down several times.
(2)Misha R.
If I could give Cafe Maharani 6 stars, I would! My husband and I ordered a double-entree meal. It was around $40 - we got two entree plates, rice and naan. When the food came out, I was overwhelmed by how much there was! We both basically stuffed ourselves and still had plenty left over for a FULL second meal the next day. We got the garlic pesto naan and it was amazing. All of the food was amazing. Good prices and friendly staff. One thing to note - this place is a BYOB, so definitely bring some and sit and enjoy!
(5)Lee K.
I wish we had more (better) choices for Inidan food on Oahu. I probably would not come here if we did. I've tried a few other Indian restaurants but I'm addicted to Malai Kofta and this place has the best I've tasted so far...but again, if we had more choices I would never come here. Every time I've been here, the restaurant has NEVER opened on time. Never...this last visit included. People start standing in line 30 minutes before the "opening hours." Staff, you see us out there...waiting. If you know you have to open at 5:00, why not get things prepared earlier so you can OPEN AT 5?? Otherwise, change your hours. Seriously. When the doors finally opened (at 5:14) we were seated quickly. I have no complaints with the first waiter we had. He was courteous and quick. Our appetizers came in a decent amount of time. Our main courses, well, that's another story. My two dinner mates got their food a full 9 minutes before I did. Now, that may not seem like a long time but when they've been tucking into their food 9 minutes before you, it's practically gone by the time yours arrives. I was a little upset. Their food came and I waited...and waited...and waited. In addition, we were pretty much ignored from the time our plates landed on our tables until we paid the bill. No, "Do you need anything?" No, "Can I get you something else to drink?" The second waiter we had came and asked if we wanted to refill our water...once...after our food was put in doggy bags and we had already paid. Really?? Meanwhile, several tables around us with a different waiter were getting refills. "Waaaterr...pleeeeaseeee! My mouth is burning from the food!" I know it gets busy but seriously? This place is overrated. Granted, the food is good but would we come here if we had better options? I think not. Won't be going again for a very long while, if at all. Taj Mahal is a close second to this and I think we'll be frequenting them more often. Food is good and staff is attentive. Cafe Maharani needs an overhaul.
(3)Jon A.
I DON'T EAT INDIAN FOOD. But the day I ate at this restaurant.. I fell in love... Get the CHEEZE NAN - it's like a pizza that has cheese in it but Indian style. GET the CHICKEN OR FISH MASALA... it's a tomato based stew with indian spices... GET the spinach / cheese dip... Wow... no words can describe the taste :) shall I go on.... IT"S BYOB...The cups they serve are metal crucibles... I feel like I'm in church... Anyways, get there early cuz it's packed... Monday's are usually less packed.. there's parking in the back and metered parking.. Enjoy the journey to INDIA :)
(4)Goss L.
Took us over 1 hour to get a party of 4 seated. Then it took us another 10 minutes just to get a waiter to take our orders. We ordered 4 entrees, it took them another half an hour to serve only half our order while the other half never came. We were so sick of waiting that we simply gave up. While the food was passable it was definitely not worth the hassle.
(1)Lynnette S.
I am literally addicted to this place! Attn: SPICY food lovers. They have this yogurt drink that kills the spicy heat on your tongue on contact!!
(4)Michael G.
I've eaten Indian in the UK and Europe also southwest Asia and this is one of the best... Whether it chicken, lamb, or fish you can't go wrong. The cheese naan is deadly... Haha
(4)Traci H.
Let me start with I love Indian food and my search for good indian food in Hawaii is really coming up short. So this is the closest thing to good Indian food in Hawaii. In fact, it's the best I've had on Oahu, but I'm hoping there has to be more good indian food here. Had the chicken tikka masala and the butter chicken and they were both good and had huge portions. All the portions I saw walking by were HUGE. The biriyani portion looked almost unappealing it was so big! and one even came out in a container with a flame under it to keep it hot. So that was pretty cool. The flavors were pretty good, but still seemed a little off to me. But at least it was close. I guess it's unfair for me to compare because I just had an amazing Indian meal in Melbourne that was just out of this world. It's also not cheap and they charge you for rice. That just gets me when they charge you so much just for rice. Ah I guess that's how it is. They are not friendly at all, nor is customer service anywhere in their vocabulary. But I guess if you're the best Indian restaurant on the island, you can do whatever you want. It was crowded so don't get me wrong, people know it's pretty good. One guy put my name on a list, and then the girl just sat us down. So no one seems to know what's going on there. So go early so you don't have to deal with the chaos that walked in the door after us. There aren't a lot of big tables so it may not be great for big groups but you can always try. Now I know why I never really liked Indian food growing up; there just isn't a lot of good Indian food on this island. I'm still in search of an out of this world Indian restaurant here, but I'm afraid the nearest one will be a plane ride away. Sigh.
(3)Randal F.
Service is crazy slow. And they play favorites for seating. Service closes at 10 despite what time you arrive. Their management of the call aheads is non-existant and no one acknowledges your existence until you get angry or threaten to leave.
(1)Jeff B.
Besides the long wait wait... the food was great!
(4)Omar M.
this may be the best indian food on the island but it has room for improvement. chicken tikka masala is kinda tomato-ey. the afghan naan is SO good
(3)Darcie P.
Love the food & the naan! However, the wait can be gruesome. Get there early like when they open at 5pm. If not, there will be times where the wait can be very, very long. I'd buy a co-pack and drink in the hallway or parking lot (its BYOB). The restaurant space is super tight, the servers can seem very busy and rushful. Its worth it if you love Indian food.
(4)Rob B.
Waiting for an hour for a table (even after calling in our name on the "list") is not a big deal if while you wait you are treated with the most basic customer service fundamentals. The manager/host unapologetically kept seating parties of 2 in front of me (party of 3). I let it slide for the first 4 times he seated out of turn a smaller party, however when he seated TWO sets of TWO in neighboring tables I finally realized the host was unable to factor common logic (2+2 =4), after confronting him about it he simply replied "that's just how I do it". If you value your time (or if you value our friendship) you will NEVER expose yourself to being treated this way! #BOYCOTT
(1)Carmie A.
This was my first time here. Although I usually ate Indian food at India Cafe but they closed the Kapahulu location, now they are only in Kailua so I thought that it might be time to try a new place. Cafe Maharani is in a good location, although their small parking lot had no space. Spent about 10 minutes looking for a parking space on the street, with no luck. We ended up parking at Down to Earth, upstairs, and just bought something in the store, so it was FREE! :) haha. We went to Cafe Maharani, beautiful decor, nice setting, good music too! It was really cozy inside, as it is a small restaurant, yet I loved it all! We had to wait for about 30-45 minutes, no reservations, for five of us, so pretty decent wait time which was okay because we were able to check out the menu and decorations. When we were seated, we had cute "handcrafted" cups full of water. So cool! We ordered Garlic Naan Bread, Chicken Masala, Lamb Korma, Shrimp Coconut Korma, Tomato Basmati Rice, Coconut Basmati Rice, and Vegetarian Samosas. The food was AWESOME*said in a sing-songy voice*!!! to say the least... I was obviously happy to have such delicious food and of course, great company to dine with! Although, our server had forgot my Coconut Rice and our Lassi Drinks, but we still got it in time for our meal. and since the food was so good, I forgive you server girl!! Let me just say, if you have eaten at India Cafe and LOVED the samosas, im sorry, these samosas are more, "authentic"? idk I think maybe they are from different regions because the food was different from India Cafe. Although they werent the same, India Cafe's samosas sauce is sweet chili sauce, whereas Cafe Maharani's sauce is a yogurt-y sauce, still good, yet not as sweet. ALSO, you should definitely order a LASSI drink when you go. Especially if you do not fare well with spicy food or if you just like a nice cool beverage with your spicy meal! The mango one or the plain ones are my favorite! Obviously we were soooooo STUFFED, like turkeys, so we didnt stay for dessert. But we stumbled across the street and stuffed some Bubbies Ice Cream down our throats! yumm! Im sure I will be back for more of your delicious food, Cafe Maharani!
(4)Yukako K.
Sometimes I feel like eating India curry and always visit here. Taste is very nice, really love Coconut shrimp curry and butter nan!
(4)Hawaii Girl Y.
Waited for 2 1/2 hours and then we got fed 3 hours later! Never again will I ever come here!!!!! Poor customer service, mediocre food, and slow service. When we got our curry, they didn't even bring out the naan. This place is horrible!!!! I would put zero stars if that was an option! Also, when we asked for take out containers, they wanted to charge us $1 for each container. Ridiculous!!!! By the time we left, no one thanked us for coming either. Have never seen such a poorly run place!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Side note-a group of 6 people were suppose to be seated ahead of this Indian family, but instead, they sat the Indian family down first for whatever reason. As the group of 6 walked away upset after waiting for an hour and 45 minutes, the owner called them "STUPID"! WOW!
(1)Maral P.
We decided to dine here while vacationing in Ko Olina. My family was hungry so here's what we ordered: appetizers -Vegetarian appetizer platter: good mix of veggie bites -Plain naan: they stacked the naan on top of each other and the bottom was kind of burnt, wish they hadn't done that -Eggplant pakora = DELICIOUS!!! -papadum = kind of like a crispy taco thin bread, this is my mom's favorite main food -2 orders of chicken tikka kabob = the chicken was tender, juicy, and not dry at all. it was cooked, but I like my meat pretty well done. I wish they were cooked for like 5 more minutes -eggplant masala = A+ the cinnamon flavors infused with the eggplant were to die for -saffron rice overall really good food; looks can be deceiving....the interior of the restaurant may seem janky but really good food.
(4)jesus c.
We are regulars here. We even came five days In a row. BYOB Always order the dinner for two. $40! Shrimp coconut korma Onion pakora Lamb vindaloo - order it fire hot Garlic and jalapeño naan Saffron rice Win.
(4)Quinn S.
Horrible service and mediocre Indian food. The family that owns this restaurant also owns monsoon India in Waikiki and they're both just so uninspiring. Cheap ingredients that really show in their dishes. I guess you just can't get good Indian food on oahu. I
(1)David E.
Have been to Café Maharani many times. It is always crowded though for good reason, their food is always consistently fantastic. This time, we went on a Thursday around 6:30 and there was absolutely no wait. I was shocked that least 4 table tops were still available. We usually need to wait about an hour. They brought us water, BYOB glasses, and took our orders pretty quick. They were even very quick to refill our water before our appetizer showed up. As usual, the food was amazing. Still the best Indian food I've had in Hawaii (and anywhere else). My wife and I had vegetable samosas, Chicken saag, eggplant tikka masala, yellow rice, and garlic naan. All AMAZING. We brought some guests of ours from Oregon and they said their entrees beat any Indian food that they have ever had in Oregon (sorry, I don't know what they ordered). Food-wise, Maharani is definitely a 5 star choice. But once the food arrived, the service started to slack. The restaurant did get a little busier but I felt ignored. Water refills didn't come again until I flagged someone down (after the spices kicked in and it sat their empty for at least a half hour), the check took a while to arrive, and took even longer (at least 20 more mins to be picked up though we were trying to place it on the table in the most obvious "I'm ready to be transacted" spot and position we could think of). To summarize: food EXCELLENT & service started off really good but ended disappointing. But DEFINITELY come here for the food.
(4)Chris N.
I have eaten at Cafe Maharani about 7 or 8 times now. Time for a Yelp review: Overall, the restaurant boasts amazing Indian cuisine that stands apart from other places with similar menus. The food taste and quality has been consistent over my visits. The service, like many other reviewers have mentioned, is inconsistent and may lead to long wait times before being seated and while being served. The food: The food is amazing and unique. Flavors are robust but are not overly spicy or salty or doused with traditional spices. Some notable dishes include the Chicken Tikka Masala, Chicken Vindallo, Tawa Chicken Manchurian, Lamb Saag, Lamb Roghan Josh, and appetizers Eggplant Pakora, Samosa. The naan is delicious, fluffy and comes with a plethora of toppings. I have not tried the seafood dishes yet. This is mainly because my girlfriend and I eat here together and almost always order the Dinner for Two special which includes two chicken or vegetable entrees (no seafood). The special also comes with select appetizer, jasmine rice and naan. The value is great because it typically leaves two full meals leftover for home. We typically drink water or wine (BYOB; also, watch the corking fee) but have tried the Lassi once. It was tasteful. The Biryani is also delicious if you want something more than the jasmine rice. The curries and sauces that accompany the entrees are great for dipping your naan and mixing with the rice. Prices are fair for the caliber of food quality. The service: Service is a hit or miss. The wait time is very long if you come during the peak hours between 5:30 and 8:00. Typically an hour for a party of two. But because my girlfriend and I are well-versed in their seating times, we call ahead and arrive a half an hour before the estimated time frame. Then we only wait 20 - 30 minutes, which is fine. We also make sure our name is on their guest list upon arriving and notify them if we are waiting outside. When seated, dishes can take a while to come out. Some nights, we have waited 35+ minutes for our meals. It doesn't bother me too much because I feel the food is worth the wait. Also, the Bollywood on the TV is mesmerizing. One night, I had to ask 3 different servers for water before someone gave me a refill. Another night, the owner or maître d' asked us to move tables twice to make room for a larger group after we were seated. He offered us a complimentary Lassi. The dining area is small and can get smokey. I cry because the food is delicious and because I can't see. The other nights were fine and service was receptive and relatively quick. Call ahead. Arrive halfway between wait time. Bring wine. Eat naan.
(4)Mike G.
This is the place that caused me to fall in love with Indian food. I don't know if all other Indian food places sucked by comparison, but I was really pleasantly surprised. Everything I tried here so far has been a homerun. And the portions are huge, so be prepared to bring home leftovers. And the Naan bread... you'll find yourself getting an extra order. I would give this place 5 stars, but the parking situation was so bad I had to park across the street at the Star Market and worry my entire meal whether I'd get towed. Oh, and the place is so small that it's not uncommon to have to wait a half hour for a table...
(4)RosemaryAnn T.
Mostly: what everyone else said. Good, but tiny place. But I've got a few additions. 1) The staff were--in addition to being quite friendly--all very good looking. I wasn't prepared for that. I'm sure that helps keep people calm during their long waits. I found it appetizing. 2) The mango lassi had other stuff in it--bits of nuts and other fruit, maybe--and crushed ice. The flavor was superb, but the texture was a little off-putting. Especially the ice bits. 3) The kitchen smoked us out. Not kidding. Normally, I'd be crying from how spicy everything was [my friend actually choked, her dish was so spicy some bites], but I was literally tearing up because of the smoke. Good thing I wasn't wearing contacts last night!!! 4) Lots of people seemed to have called in for take-out orders. I'd probably try that next time since I HATED the plates and silverware and CUPS!!! Though the tiny serving spoons for the sampler were really incredibly cute. I think my friend may have nicked one of two of them. But, seriously, I used some of my left-overs for a dish this morning, basically to dilute the spice, and the flavor was incredible, once the spicy was more evenly distributed. I would have like to have been offered some yogurt or something when I complained about the mild not being mild enough for my wimpy self. ***Note: they charge for the plastic take-out containers but not for millions of Styrofoam boxes or copious amounts of foil. Really???*** 5) Complimentary rice. They don't give you complimentary rice. Except that they do. But they don't. But they do. Seriously, it's rice. I'm from Hawaii. I don't want two pages of bread. I just want rice. (Though, actually, the naan was some of the best I've had, in terms of taste, but it fell apart in my hands!!!) 6) Ambiance--dark but well-themed and colorful. My friend was distracted by the TV, but I like the dancing. Overall: I really like all of their base flavors, but all the food was so complicated in addition to the flavor. Falls apart, too un-evenly spiced, icky textures, smokes out the entire restaurant . . . get it together back there in the kitchen. Since you never left that hole, even if you're also good looking, it won't redeem the food!
(4)Ha N.
I can't believe I have not reviewed this place. As far as I can remember, their naan is incredibly delicious. The naan is a meal in and of itself with curry. The only thing I had a problem was, was that the chicken was dry to the extremist point. Seriously, that ruined everything because dry chicken has no flavor. If there were skin, I'd probably eat every morsel, but alas, it sucked as if it had not been marinated and had stewed for ages. Only bad thing.. If anything, I think I shall return to takeout their naan and curry. PS. Garlic naan and butter naan. Thinking about it makes me want some desperately.
(3)Dheeraj S.
If you are tired of Island seafood and craving for Indian food...this is it! Ordered Chicken Vindaloo, butter Naan and lasso and all three are very good. A must visit place.
(5)Jane S.
Very delicious but pretty pricey. ($20-25 per dish).
(5)Sheila G.
Wait time is really long for a group bigger than five. We came there at 5:30 and didn't get seated until 630ish. I thought it was hilarious that we waited longer than we ate. I love my friends but next time, I would avoid eating with them because wait time was ridiculous. As for the food; I don't normally eat Indian cuisine but what we ordered were pretty darn good. We all decided to have separate bills so my bf and I decided to order the dinner for two ($40.99) which consisted of rice, naan, two entrees and an appetizer. The two entrees we chose were house specials (chicken and lamb) but unfortunately, I can't recall the names of the food. We both enjoyed the lamb dish though. As for the chicken dish, it was alright. It actually tasted way better when it sat overnight in the fridge. The naan was also delicious. Although it is BYOB, we decided to buy beverages as well. We ordered the mango lassi and the chai tea. The former was a bit heavy for my taste because it's apparently made with yogurt. The chai tea was okay too. Overall, It was a lot of food which could've easily fed at least four people. We had two plates worth of left overs to take home so I would say that it was worth the price. Like I said, I would return.
(4)Richie M.
Dining experiences are usually determined not only by the quality of the food, but by the service, pricing, parking, etc. That said, Cafe Maharani is not one of those places, in my mind, which should get docked stars for parking or long lines. They are an (un?)fortunate victim of their success. I don't want them to change a thing if it means consistently delivering their wonderful Indian dishes for years to come. Like others reviews say, yes you will wait for a table and getting a large party seated is a nightmare. My helpful hints: 1) don't get there hungry, 2) eat early/late (5:30pm or after 8:00pm), 3) keep your party to 4 or fewer. I have another helpful hint, but I'm keeping it in my back pocket and am completely unwilling to share it with the legions on Yelp. Because I usually go with my wife, we can't order very many dishes as the servings are abundant and filling. We usually go with the lamb rogan josh, a rich stew-like dish with cubed chunks of lamb. This is not a "hot" dish in that it is spiced but will not give you a chili burn (for those of you who are afraid of spicy Indian). I also like the spicy tikka masala, but rarely get it because my wife can barely tolerate the burn. You have to ask for it, because it's not on the menu, but the chanan dal is excellent if they have it. Because this is a seasonal or availability only dish, it sometimes tastes different each time you order it depending on the ingredients available. However, it is always delicious. It is slightly spiced, not too hot. And, of course, the naan. Eat this in as if you take it out, it won't have the right texture. When you get this flatbread hot, it is crispy and flakey on the outside and soft and chewy inside. I recommend just getting the buttered naan so you get the flavor of the bread. Since you'll want to eat it with your rogan josh or curry or dal, you don't want all of the other flavorings they offer to mar your experience. Be prepared to smell smoky like a tandoori oven when you leave, enjoy the metal plates and cups and BYOB (be careful if you're using it to chase down the spices if you still have to drive)!
(5)Shaun G.
The food gets 5+ stars, and I really hate to be negative about this place, but the service is really terrible and has prevented me from going more often. The last time I was here, (even after making a reservation) they had us share a table with a couple... A very small table. Not a big deal, but it took them 15 min before they took the other couples order first, then another 5 min to get ours... then the food took about 40 min...and they messed up our orders, and charged us the couples order at the end. Now I'm a pretty easy going, look on the bright side kind of guy... but it was probably the worst dining experience I've ever had-- and for the price, definitely not worth it. ...but damn, whoever is cooking back there, props.
(3)Tai M.
We ordered a few dishes that lasted at least 3 more meals after dinner at Maharani, and only cost $80. Quality and value. Ordered a chicken dish, lamb dish, veggie dish, tomato rice, raita and garlic naan. The lamb curry was my favorite. I was looking for something similar to the bhuna at Himalayan Kitchen and this was close for my first attempt at matching it. Raita and naan were excellent.
(4)Jonathan P.
I'm so glad I finally got to try Cafe Maharani! I LOVE Indian food! So, I got here on a Saturday and made sure to come at 5:00pm sharp. After parking in the almost non-existent lot I was surprised to see that there were so much people waiting to for Cafe Maharani to open! The food came out REALLY SLOW, it was ridiculous! But since it was such an early dinner I was okay. I was rather transfixed watching the Indian MTV music videos and admiring the restaurant decor. Our party of 3 ordered: Assorted mixed tandoori platter $12.99: yelp.com/user_local_phot… Lamb malai korma $16.99: yelp.com/user_local_phot… Chicken masala curry $13.99: yelp.com/user_local_phot… Stuffed garlic cheese naan $4something?: yelp.com/user_local_phot… Out of all the dishes my two top favorites was the mixed tandoori platter and the stuffed garlic cheese naan. The mixed tandoori platter was perfect! It had a little bit of everything, chicken kebab, chicken tikka, beef kebab, and chicken shish over sauteed bell peppers and onions. As for the stuffed garlic cheese naan, it did come out a little burnt on the bottom but it still tasted amazing! It was like eating a cheese quesadilla/pizza, but better! However, I did notice that our dishes would come out one at a time, is it supposed to come out one at a time? I think I would honestly give them a 5, considering it was one of the best Indian restaurants I've ever eaten (food wise). But due to the slow service and horrible parking I had to take away a star. After leaving around 7 I saw a HUGE line of people waiting to be seated. Personally, I don't ever want to have to wait in that ridiculous line at night, so if you want Indian food I strongly recommend coming early (at 5) or call in and do take out! Oh and its BYOB!!
(4)Bryan L.
Last night I took my family to Maharani it was a joke. Seating so tight and restricted you could not spare an inch with sharp edges on chairs and tables that poked you when you move in the seat. Broken air conditioning on a sweltering evening and so cheap they did not even have a floor fan blowing air just a open door. Over and hour to be served, Food was some good some bad. Naan was blackened on one side, from the new menu Lamb Kabob served on a paper plate wrapped in tin foil right out of a micro wave previously partly blackened and burned straight gristle on a plate with burned veggies $19.99. I sent it back and they tried to charge me on my bill anyway. I go out for food and ambiance not just food Maharani in your case never again!
(2)Ka'ili H.
Based on the 323 reviews, this place is: 1) pretty darn popular--- so that's gotta mean something right? 2) almost everyone has something to say... so here's my take on this authentic Indian food place. It truly rocks! 2011 has been a great year of foodie love. Year of trying Indian food for the first time as well as other ethnic foods I haven't tried before. My boyfriend was visiting for a week and one of the things I wanted to "show" him was the awesome diversity of food here. He's been here bunches of times before, but this time, it was with a true blue local =) Luckily, this tiny little restaurant made the list for "must eat" with the bf. Reading through the reviews, I've wanted to try this place for awhile, knowing my bf likes indian food and pretty much eats anything, I knew he'd be down for it, but I decided to be smart about it and call in our order ---45 mins later--- My roomie, bf, and I go to pick up our orders and head down for a little picnic at the hilton lagoon to watch the fireworks. We ordered two chicken tikka malsala and an order of garlic naan. The big mistake I made was making my bf's chicken tikka malsala more spicy--- and it was HOT, no can handle. So we just shared the mild chicken tikka malsala with the garlic naan, and it was OH SO DELICIOUS!! The naan was a generous portion and it went deliciously with the malsala. I highly recommend this place for anyone who is open to trying new food and/or to anyone who absolutely loves indian food. The restaurant is tiny but if you get there early I'm sure it's a cozy and fun place to eat, for now I'll probably just go with take out =) Yelp 365 challenge: 54/ 365
(4)Dhanya S.
If you are kitchen is closing at 9pm.Please mention so in your website. We drove all the way from north shore and made it at 9:15 just to be told 'restaurant is closed' whereas the website mentions as 10pm.Totally disappointing experience.Will never return or recommend to anyone.Not worth of any star.
(1)Alex M.
They don't do Vegan! I was told by the waiter they did, & after eating there a few times I was told that they ALL have milk, butter, cheese or cream. SOME of us are lactose intolerant!!!!!! Thought I should let those of you who are know, since they won't tell you until you eat there a few times.
(1)Esteban W.
I like Maharani, and when I say I like a place (without trying any other place like it) that means something. It really means something. On the other hand, this place is pretty damn good. The variety of dishes is pretty impressive, and more impressive is the large number of naans they make. Traditionally, I think naan breads are supposed to be simple, doughy, delicious flat breads used to scoop up the globs of flavor Indian foods resemble. Maharani on the other hand tends to break the boring mold of tradition and flavor BLASTS their naan much like Doritos does their tortilla chips. Who wants boring ass fried tortillas? Mexicans, that's who. Naan at maharani are like flavor injected with sensual favorites like garlic and cheese. Fu*k yeah! Their menu is also as impressive as Noah's freaking ark. Seafood, Lamb, beef, chicken, shrimp (which i know is seafood... but really, I meant fish for the first 'seafood') cheese, veggies... blah, blah, blah... what don't they cover with spices, yogurt and lemon here? My new favorite - Lamb Saag. Awesome chunks of lamb, fornicating with potato chunks and having an orgy with spinach. The best part is having this place be BYOB and two shops down from a liquor store. Who the Fu*k thought of that?!? Genious. Go here. Eat here. Love this place, because really, its one of the best places Honolulu has to offer and PLEASE come here before the owner does something stupid like sell the place, or fire the cook. #October31Challenge 1/31
(5)John L.
Pathetic! I absolutely LOVE Indian food, but abhor being treated as poorly as we were this evening. I phoned for a reservation and was instructed to call back once they were open. No sweat, I called back 45 minutes later and made a reservation. Despite our reservation, upon arrival we waited over 90 minutes. The douche bag host was not only rude but totally unapologetic while seating several parties before us claiming "This is how this works" or something comparable. What a dick! We saw the list! I'm extremely chill, but this was total bullshit. Just say you're sorry and earn our business! Maharani, if you care to make good on your asshole host's behavior, find me at johnleblanc.com . I had a terrific birthday, despite you!
(1)Neville A.
Good food, great service, if you need your Indian fix in the Islands this is your place.
(4)Jessica M.
So the reason I found myself at Cafe Maharani is a bit....different. My friend was 37 weeks pregnant and she was SO ready to evacuate that baby. She read that eating really spicy foods often do the trick and send ladies into labor, so we pulled up to the cafe around 5:30 p.m. (Only about a 10 minute wait. And it was on a Friday!) She ordered the HOTTEST item on their menu. Literally, this dish had chili peppers sticking out of the curry. She was sweating her booty off, but she was in a state of bliss. I ordered vegetable korma and the coconut rice. Just saying...the coconut rice alone was enough to keep me coming back day after day. It was the most amazing rice I have put in my mouth in my life. The curry was amazing, but I can honestly say I have had better. (The reason for the 5 stars is seriously because of the rice. It's THAT good.) The atmosphere is nice and cozy and authentic. I really loved watching the Bollywood videos and drinking out of strange metal goblets. They give you enough food for about 3 meals, so all in all, the price is a great deal if you package some to take home for lunch and dinner the next day. Trust me, you'll want it again. The best news??? My friend went into labor at 2 a.m. that morning and had her baby the next day!! Thanks for a happy, healthy birth Cafe Maharani!! :D
(5)Jade S.
Not that this place needs yet ANOTHER great review, but I just can't help myself. Cafe Maharani is probably the best Indian food I've ever had, right up there with my other favorite Indian restaurant in NYC. Everything that came out from the kitchen was beyond anything I expected, so now every time I'm craving Indian, I can't go anywhere other than Cafe Maharani. Like my fellow yelpers have mentioned, this place gets busy and fills up really fast. I always go right when they open, at 5 p.m., and usually by the time I leave there is already a wait. But even if you do have a long wait, you will not be disappointed by the food, so it's definitely worth it. But if waitings not really your thing, then come early. I highly, HIGHLY recommend getting the coconut rice. It is just so good if you haven't tried it yet. But literally all of their curries and rice dishes are phenomenal, I mean I haven't tried them all but I've never talked to anyone who told me there was a not-so-outstanding dish on the menu. So for anyone who hasn't tried this place, GO. You will not be disappointed. Oh and always get more then you can eat so you have lots of leftovers :)
(5)Estelle T.
This is the best Indian place on the island, I swear. I tried Indian at other places and this place beats all of them by a mile! I can't even describe how great the food is, you gotta come find out for yourself. I could also tell they make their own naan bread, it has an aroma your nose will fall in love with. Pros: FANTASTIC FOOD, huge portion sizes. Cons: Long wait (come here half an hour in advance) That's all I have to say, just try it, it's more than worth it, it's great.
(5)Pritika C.
I just want to first start off saying the wait is atrocious. I called ahead to see if we can do reservations and the person responded w/no...I then asked if we can do call ahead on the wait list and the person said yes and that it would be roughly a 30min wait. 30mins wasn't a big deal, because we were planning on catching a bus from the hotel and heading over and it was supposed to be roughly 30mins. My party and I arrive at the restaurant and was told it was another 30 mins...30mins later I was told it would be another 30mins. I think it goes without saying, but we were all really hungry and a little upset (our anger was tied into us being hungry). I could careless for how long the wait is...what upset me was they didn't know how to manage the wait time. If I was told it was going to be an hour and a half wait, I wouldn't have gone...I would have found another restaurant. Onto the rest of my review... The food was OK. It wasn't anything spectacular, but it wasn't bad either. I ordered the paneer tikka masala and it was actually pretty good. It was a little more spicy than what I'm used to...but was it very yummy! The service was OK. The waiter was very nice, but I felt he could have checked in on us better. Our food was taking forever to come out and the waiter didn't really check in on us to give us the status of our food. Customer service is key. Will I go back? Not very likely. The review could have been worthy of 3 stars...but the bad service killed it for me.
(2)Gina B.
My date and I vetoed our budget plan of eating $7 Thai food served on styrafoam and 'splurged' on the Cafe Maharani Dinner for Two. It was the best idea of the day. For $39.99, you get two samosas, your choice of two entrees, rice and naan bread. We ordered the Chicken Tikka Masala and the Lamb Saag. Everything was PERFECT. I was happily surprised at the portions and the big chunks of chicken and lamb in each dish. The dinner for two is a great deal. We had enough food for dinner and ate our leftovers for lunch. We also opted for takeout and as other reviewers mentioned, pad the pick-up time. We were told our food would be ready for pick up in 25 minutes but it was more like 45 minutes. Not complaining because it was worth the wait.
(5)sideshow b.
Food is closer to a five-star but just barely misses that perfect score. The four is mostly because of the service--not rude or sloppy, just...not good. But if you can get past the inconsistent service, you are rewarded with delicious Indian (she had saag, I had the chicken tandori and we shared garlic naan and raita). The place is small and non-descript from the street, but as soon as we walked in the door, we fell in love with the cozy, intimate decor and warm smells. Pluses: Food Decor Food B.Y.O.B. Food Minuses: Service (but again, not rude, just likely overburdened) Parking Dinner only We will go again in a heart-beat!
(4)Oly C.
Food was good, and Lassi was amazing! Problem is the service is REALLY bad but that is because the only have one waiter, two at most and are very busy. Inside seating only, not a lot of seats to begin with. I recommend take-out. Taste just as good the next day, great leftover potential. Parking is also an issue, they have a small parking lot in the back and two-three stalls in the front of restaurant. I Park in next building (Natural Health food store) parking.
(3)Valerie L.
O'ahu has few Indian restaurants, that is why Cafe Maharani continues to attract so many customers. It's definitely not the service which varies between slow and rude. Nor is it the attention to detail as our first phone order was incorrect (we were given a meat dish after specifically ordering a vegetarian dish and confirming it was vegetarian when we arrived to pick it up) and the second dish wasn't even made by the time we arrived at the restaurant (over 25 minutes after we ordered). Several months ago we arrived at Maharani about 30 minutes before closing and had to sit and wait for about ten minutes only to be told that they were out of everything vegetarian except for one dish (though they had chicken left). Food: This place has great food. The spices are wonderful and the portions are large. The may look small at first but the food is wonderful and filling and you won't leave hungry. Location: Right on South King Street across from Star Market. Every restaurant in Moiliili is in a strip-mall type area, looks closed, or is small and crowded, that's just how they roll. No worries though, the place is nice and cozy inside, with sweet decorations and low lighting. Price: Expensive for Indian food except that the food is so good it's worth it. Additionally, Indian food is hard to find on O'ahu so you gotta pay if you want to eat it. Service: One time I ate here and it was good. The last two times it was very poor. I am only going back if I experience a severe craving for Indian food before I go back to San Francisco.
(3)Myong C.
Went there last weekend with the intent of having dinner there but had a really bad experience. I've been there one time prior and really enjoyed the food so I was looking forward to another good meal but this time it was just ridiculous. I got there around 7:30pm and checked in with the host. It was a young looking dude with black framed glasses. He told me that it would be about a 20-30 minute wait, maybe sooner. Okay, no prob. So we go to Down to Earth to kill some time and get back to the restaurant around 8:00pm. I noticed that another party of 2 who had arrived before us was still waiting outside so I didn't bother to go in to check how much time was remaining, figuring that it should be any minute now. Another 30 minutes passes by and now I'm getting angry. It's been an hour when I was told 20-30 minutes. I walk in to the restaurant and confront the person behind the register, who wasn't the guy who wrote my name down. I explained that I had been waiting for an hour when I was told 20-30 minutes and he checked the wait list and stated that there were still 2 parties ahead of us. When I asked hiim how much longer, he said maybe another 30 minutes. He then asked me who took my name down and I said it was the black glasses guy, and he said "Oh, he should know how long the wait should be". Then I see the black glasses guy walk toward the register so I confront him and explained to him why I was upset. I told him that if I had been told when I first showed up that the wait would be an hour and a half, I wouldn't have stayed and would have made other plans and that he should have been honest about the wait time and not try to make patrons stay and wait with misleading information. At first, he denied that he said it was 20-30 minutes but this was BS. I know for a fact that's what he said and my friend confirmed it. When I called him on his BS he shrugged his shoulders and said "What do you want me to do about it? I can't control how long people stay to eat." Hey, how long have you been working there now? Shouldn't you have an idea of how long waits are on a busy night? Are you that freakin' clueless? I started to raise my voice 1) because I was pissed and 2) I wanted others around me to hear the BS this guy was trying to pass off. I told him that he had just lost my business and that they shouldn't give customers false information. Everyone's time is precious and he needs to give people accurate information so that they can make a decision whether or not to stay and wait for a table, not give them lies to make them wait. I ended up totally frustrated at his lack of concern and walked out. I won't be going back there again. But the restaurant probably doesn't care, seeing how they're so busy and that's probably the reason for their indifference to delays and customers waiting.
(1)Kelly T.
Wow! I have been searching for great Indian food on Oahu, and last night we found it! This place had great cuisine and really pleasant dining room. I would've given it five stars, had it not been for the unfortunate service... or should I say lack of service? The good news is that it's "lack of service" stems from a dining room jam packed with tables, all filled with hungry patrons. Apparently I missed the memo: this place serves authentic Indian cuisine, and an impressive menu of choices. Entrees are meant to be split and portion sizes are huge for the price. We split an order of Lamb Samosas, definitely hand-made, with flaky pastry and tender lamb meat seasoned just right with potatoes and serious flavor. For an entree, we split Vindaloo Chicken curry with Saffron Rice. The smells were amazing! Everything was piping hot and timed well (two signs of a competent kitchen), displayed beautifully in gorgeous dishes that matched the tables and decor. Getting a refill on water and condiments was a trick (overly busy wait staff-and only two of them for the whole dining room), as was getting the check at the end. This was a Tuesday night and we still had to wait 15min for a table at the dinner hour... so if you're gonna go, go early and be prepared for the wait at the end! I didn't try the garlic naan, but next time I'm going to for sure. I just don't think I could've eaten anymore... but it smelled SO. GOOD. Hours say it's open until 10pm every night. I know where I'm gonna be when all you suckers are at the bar!
(4)Dyan H.
Be prepared to wait long if in a group of three or more even on a Tuesday. BYOB. Flavorful food, and the naan is super delicious. Small parking lot in back. Lamb Vindaloo :) - medium is on the spicy side. Open everyday from 5pm - 10pm. Cannot sit down (maybe because we were a group of three) till all your party is there, less one star because of that.
(4)Stephanie T.
The food here is delicious. The Service is okay. Ive been here a million times, but tonight i was the most frustrated. If you have a wait List and someones name is called multiple times but they arent there you should go to the next person. someone came in after their name had been called multiple times. Mind you My Friend and i had been waiting For over an hour and we were the next to be seated. They gave these people the table and we had to wait For another half hour. I was quite upset, then they sat us without giving us menus. The food is worth the wait but this seating system needs some fixing.
(3)Cintamani A.
I usually love this place but the last time I went there (1-8-12) was a nightmare for various reasons - An hour and twenty minute wait just to be seated. It was torture seeing other people who came in much later than us seated while we uncomfortably stand in such a claustrophobic "waiting area". They were seated because they were "larger groups" which I honestly feel is not a good enough reason. I ordered a chicken kofta which was akin to a Swedish meatball except the fact that Swedes would never leave bones and human hair in their food. Yes, HUMAN HAIR. I only found out the next night when I had my leftovers. They really need to expand which is just ridiculous at this point and unfair to the customers and wait staff. It's just far too small of a dining area to thoroughly enjoy such delicious meals. Don't get me started about the constant smoky haze due to the constant burning of spices. I'll definitely stick to take out from now on since that's a breeze. I also don't like the main guy who works the desk (I'm assuming the manager or owner) since he's a bit hostile and curt. The food is really satisfying and can make anyone compulsively overeat. They make the most moist and tender lamb I have had. Actually, it converted me to lamb. You can bring your own alcohol too which always adds more to dimensions to such meals. I always love the fact that I have lots of leftovers for another meal or two. I just can't give it a higher rating at this time especially after the bone and hair in the chicken.
(2)M. J.
This place is hugely over rated. I've been waiting here for a table for 90 minutes despite calling ahead to put my name on the list. That's a joke, don't even bother. I've been here many times and it is consistently slow and the staff is rude. Once you finally get your table, you have to ask for everything, a menu, utensils, a refill, napkins, YOUR FOOD, your check, and when you want to pay, you've gotta chase them down. I don't care how good the food is, there is no excuse for the extremely poor service and attitude. Ridiculous.
(1)Denise K.
Best indian food on the island! If you like your food spicy, I dare you to order the maximum spiciness! Get ready to sweat and cry! They have all different kinds of naan and culchas; all of them are delicious. Every time I've eaten here, we've tried new things and literally EVERYTHING was awesome. BYOB. Parking kinda sucks (only street parking). Without a doubt, you will have to wait for a table. And you will also go home smelling like indian food. So worth it!
(5)Kaileen Y.
This is a usual for me & my friends. My roomie & I absolutely LOVE indian food. So, any opportunity we get to eat it, we have to take it! On Friday, we planned a get-together with some of our friends & decided to go here. It was great. We even ended up spotting Micah from Iration having dinner with some of his friends! And, surprisingly we were the only ones in the restaurant to recognize him. LOL! Although seating is limited & the wait is sometimes unbearable, the food is worth the wait in my opinion. I always seem to leave this place very satisfied with my meal & with leftovers to take home!! :D
(4)G C.
We decided on eating here based on Yelp reviews. I am glad to say the yelpers got it right this time. Maharani is one of the best places to get authentic, delicious, and traditional Indian cuisine. We ordered lamb masala curry, vegetarian korma curry, tandoori chicken kabobs, this giant naan, another type of naan but made with wheat flour, combination rice(4 types), and we took home the traditional and carrot halva. The food was awesome!! and its all reasonably priced. We had 4 people in our group and the bill came out to $92 w/ tip. that's not bad at all with it being $23 a person. The only criticism and the reason they lost a star would be the **long wait**. We arrived at 6:30 and didn't get our food till 8. They actually don't take reservations so plan to arrive earlier then expected. I would suggest ordering take-out. Saves you time.
(4)Nicole R.
Absolutely delicious Indian cuisine and friendly service. Maharani's is a big winner in my book. The restaurant itself is tiny, so there is often a very long wait - which my group avoided by showing up at 5:30 - but even if you do have to wait, trust me, the food is worth every minute. I went with a large group so we ordered several different dishes, and had a family-style meal. Everything we tried was wonderful - the lamb biryani is heavenly and the naan bread is nothing short of addictive. I honestly don't think you can go wrong with food choices here. I love that Maharani's is BYOB - the servers happily supply you with all the glasses you'll need. We brought several bottles of wine, beer and even champagne, which made for a very fun evening. I'll definitely return!
(4)Neka S.
The only reason I'm giving this place a three star is because the service is AWFUL! I've been there twice, and each time we waited at least 40 minutes before an unhappy waiter came to our table to take our order. The food is great though. I'll never dine there again. Takeout from there, maybe! Food 5 star, service gets half of a star.
(3)Ellison A.
My friends and I decided that we should go to Indian food tonight so we went to Café Maharani. THE WAIT: We arrived at Café Maharani, and there was already a big line when it opened up at 5pm. WTH, right? Unfortunately, we didn't get a seat in the beginning because there were 2 big parties. However, our party of 3 was first on the list so that meant we would be seated next (so we thought). We didn't get a table until 2 hours after because they gave away our table to another party of 3 down the list. FML! HOW DO YOU MISS THE FIRST PARTY ON A LIST!? (I'm shaking my head in disgust.) SERVICE: Friendly, but pretty bad. I had to flag someone down for water and napkins a couple of times. It didn't seem there was assigned waiters to tables. FOOD: Food was amazing! We ordered the Tandoori Grill, Butter Chicken, Lamb Masala Curry, Garlic Naan, and the Yellow Rice. I can't complain about their food because it was superb. Mango Lassi was good. Try it. The prices were pretty decent. THE EXPERIENCE: Their parking sucks. I ended up parking across the street near Longs even though they said we can't park there. Also, I didn't expect to get a free sauna session. Where was the AC? Everyone was sweating. If I made dishes that were full of hot spices, I'd make damn sure that it would be freezing in my restaurant. RECOMMENDATION: Just order from there, don't eat in. If you are eating in, come early. I can't stress this enough.
(2)Shandis C.
Let me preface this review by saying that is based on a TAKE OUT order. I read on yelp that the wait for this place can get pretty long, especially with a large group, so since we had a group of 6 adults and one toddler, we decided to do take out. It's a good thing we did, since by 6:00 it was already packed and even for our take out order, we still had to wait 45 minutes. In addition to that, we were informed that they might not even be able to fulfill our order since the kitchen was "backed up" (This is the only reason for the 4 stars and not 5). I was a little turned off by that, but in the end, they got our orders (for 6 people) perfect, and even labeled it for the different couples that ordered. So they redeemed themselves there! So the food...mmm....the food! My husband and I ordered the combo special for two people for $39.99, which includes 2 veggie samosas, a choice of saffron or yellow rice, any two entrees (veggie, chicken or lamb) and 2 orders of naan. We choose the chicken saag, lamb biriani and saffron rice. For and additional $.50 we also had the garlic naan, along with the regular butter naan that comes with the combo. The samosas were a good size, FULL of nice chunky veggies potatoes, peas, carrots seasoned just right - none of that mushy stuff. The outside was also still nice and crispy, even though we had it to go. The saffron rice was very flavorful and you could see the spices too. My chicken saag was to die for! The chicken was tender and moist and the spinach was just the right thickness. I don't like lamb, so I can't speak for my hubby's lamb dish, but I'm sure he didn't mind since that meant more for him. Some of our friends tried it and they mentioned it was really good. I'll take their word. The naan - you MUST order the naan to eat with your meal. I personally liked the garlic naan better than the butter, definitely worth an additional $.50 that you could probably dig up in from between your couch cushions. I will say that the food was pretty S-P-I-C-Y, to me at least. There was this green yogurt sauce that came with the meal that seemed to take the "edge" off the spice, but it also really added to the flavor of everything. I mostly used it for the samosa, but I also added a little to my saag and I didn't have to take a sip of water after every bite. The sauce itself was really good! TIP: if you are not big eaters, I really think the combo for two people could feed 4 people. Both my husband and I ate till we were FULL, and we had tons of left overs (enough for another full meal for the 2 of us). Needless to say we'll be eating leftovers tonight, but I'm not complaining one bit about it!
(4)Patrick G.
After reading all the positive reviews, I had to experience Cafe Maharani for myself to see what all the buzz was about. The hype this place receives is well deserved. The small personal atmosphere was awesome. Luckily, I got there early (around 5:40) so I was after the initial opening rush but only had to wait a few minutes to be seated. There was a long line by the time I was leaving as well. The service was average like other reviewers have mentioned but the food was definitely as good as it gets. I had the garlic naan, yellow rice, and coconut chicken curry. Everything was prepared and presented perfectly. I would definitely recommend checking this place out for an affordable, yet delicious, dinner experience.
(5)Desiree Anne A.
I'm so glad I came to Cafe Maharani with two of my best friends or else I would have gone crazy waiting for an hour and half for our table. We had a lot to talk about so time flew by fairly quick, but boy were we obvious hungry. I was in a good mood too, it was my birthday dinner, and I wasn't going to be a brat about it, plus my friends effort to take me out was most important. We parked in the back of the restaurant and entered through the back hallway connecting both Cafe Maharani and Subway. The waiting area was already full when we got there at 7:15pm so we decided to wait in front outside. Oh will you look at that, Down to Earth right next door! Perfect to kill some time and do some shopping. Came back and well the same faces remain waiting. So, we decided to wait inside through the back hallway. There are a lot of people coming in and out that hallway looking for the bathroom, FYI it's down the hall to your left into the blue door. Anyways, it was obvious by now that the list wasn't going down anytime soon. In fact, getting take out seem to be moving more quickly. We finally got seated at 8:50pm and got out first appetizer at 9:05pm. I was only keeping time because I was updating a friend on our current plans. I can't really mention anything too detailed about the food since at that time we were ready to eat just about anything. We ended up ordering the dinner for 2, which feed 2 average dudes and myself quite nicely. For the amount of time we waited, we should have ordered more, but I don't think we could think straight at that point. The food was good. I recommended the dish with eggplant, it was nice and crispy still amongst the curry. While waiting for the food, I notice my eyes watering and so was my friend's. Might be due to all the spices and compressed heat flowing in the small area. It smelt nice though. If you ever dine in here, I recommend coming with someone AWESOME, who you know will keep your spirit high and the mood positive, because the wait is INTENSE! I so glad I did or else I probably wouldn't be writing this review.
(3)Dave J.
Cafe Maharani is the best Indian food on the island. As with any great restaurant there will be a wait, but don't be discouraged. I recommend grabbing a drink at Longs across the street while you wait. Service is simple, but I do recommend asking your server for what they would suggest. A few favorites are the Garlic cheese stuffed naan, coconut rice, and lamb rogan josh. You can't go wrong with any of the curries. The owner is a good guy, talk to him if you have the chance, he will give you the lowdown on some great dishes and what their history is. Ultimately- worth the wait, incredible food!
(5)Kevin W.
Surprised to get such outstanding Indian food in the island. Almost a 5 star. Favorite was the Lamb vindaloo (spicy, but also a touch sweet, lamb was juicy). Samosas decent. Another vegetarian protein in a butter-chicken-like sauce also pretty good. We got a biryani rice which was really good. Awesome nan (portion not very generous tho). Got it to go. When picking up, I noticed a lot of couples seemed to be there on dates. Word up.
(4)Crystal J.
Probably the most amazing Indian food I've had in my entire life!! The naan is wonderful, rice delicious, and entrees always satisfying!! Ahhhhh, I wanna eat here everyday :-)
(5)Ai C.
At times there's a line but definitely worth the wait! Service is satisfactory and the food, delicious!
(4)Alice H.
I have been here twice, the first time was a few years ago was really nice, food was good, and service was faster. This trip we waited over an hour or a table, which was expected since it was a Saturday, however we put our name and phone number down on a list, and when we went to check on it the waiter snapped at us and asked if the phone number next to our name was a name, because he couldn't read it? Not sure if he could read at all. Then when we did get seated they were out of anything from the tandoori oven and so my waiter suggested a dish that he thought would be similar to what I wanted, but turned out to be absolutely not even close to the same dish other than the fact that it contained chicken. When our papdum arrived there was a dirty dish cloth INSIDE the basket underneath them. Kind of the last straw for me. They didnt even comp our papadum which was a measly 1.99. Won't be going back for a third try.
(1)Mel G.
Came back, yet again as I can't get enough, and finally tried the vegetable jalfreezi dish. So delicious! It was a tad spicy, but between the naan bread and saffron rice I was able to keep cool. Had huge chunks of veggies in it and the sauce was just the right thickness for sopping with your bread or rice. I have also have tried the Shrimp saag, and its one of those dishes that you don't look at just eat! Spinach sauce was delicious and the shrimp was cooked just right. There was way too much sauce for the shrimp though. I would have preferred an equal shrimp to sauce ratio as I felt like I was eating more sauce than shrimp. The wait this time was ridiculous. WE didn't get our food for over an hour. There were even several people and groups who came in after us who got their food first. They didn't say anything about it being a longer wait or why, they just kept our water filled and never said a word. Finally when we all crossed our arms and stared every time someone walked by, the older lady mumbled something about checking on our food. Very disappointed, but I guess they know their food is good and don't care. It really is hit or miss on the service, depending on how busy they are. Besides the service, this place is great. Excellent food, fun decor and atmosphere, and just sit back and enjoy those crazy Bollywood videos they have playing while you wait/dine!
(4)eshwar k.
first of all, last i checked, the owners are NOT from india (i think they're from Bangladesh). the ratings for this restaurant are so inflated that i start to wonder about yelpers. either people that eat here do not know much about indian food or they are just happy to be on the island...or the great aloha spirit precludes bad reviews. watery curries and tasty meat... a shadow of the rich tastes you would get at a real indian restaurant. try at your own risk.
(1)Kay S.
I agree with few reviews that the waiter with the glasses is very rude. He does not care to give a warm welcome to his customers. The service is also very disappointing, we got our rice that we had ordered when we were more than halfway done with our meal. Above all, the three stars I gave was only for food. Their malai kofta and paratha tasted very good. I would recommend this place if you have enough time to wait around for service and attitude.
(3)Adrienne K.
Good lord this food is delicious! I am visiting from San Francisco, where we have lots of fantastic Indian restaurants, but nothing that compares to this. We ordered our food to go, and had cocktails at a Chinese restaurant across the street while we waited, since mobs of people were waiting for tables and there was an hour wait. It was a Friday night. It looks like a romantic place to eat-in but I would recommend going on a weeknight. The dinner for two special included enormous healthier than norm samosas (read: less potato, more peas and carrots), an amazing saffron rice, and two entrees, with nan. We got tikka masala and spicy coconut chicken (korma?) in generous portions. I just had leftovers for the third time and am blown away by the intense sweet and spicy flavors all over again. I can't put my finger on what I'm smelling but its calling me back to the microwave for more! These people know their stuff. Can I take this place home with me?
(5)Jason J.
We used to live off university and would frequently walk to maharani's. Now we live in palolo and there is no other restaurant I would rather go to. The only negative is having to wait outside but what you do is go to longs by some beers or wine have them bring glasses out for you and just socialize and drink while you wait. Believe me it is worth the wait there is no better indian food and if any magazine or book that says where to eat in Honolulu doesn't have this place near the top.. just stop reading and put it down because it is not worth the paper it's printed on.
(5)Chris A.
Totally lame. Waited and waited. They said they called us when we were standing in front of them the whole time. Finally just gave up
(1)Juliet M.
Love this amazing restaurant - in my opinion it is worth the 30-45 minute wait. I have never been to Cafe M and not had to wait a ridiculous amount of time - yes a time long enough to polish off a bottle of wine to the dome. The servers are very sweet and get right to the chase - no talk just deliver the food (you might get a smile if you are lucky). The curries are fantastic - taste-o-India indeed. There is an amazing veggie dish that has little pieces of fruit, potato, other goodnesses and is topped with paneer. HOLLER!. The chicken tikka masala is amazing, not similar to places you would find in the main continent. Enjoy and embrace the too legit to quitness!
(5)Christina Y.
I've never given out a one star, but unfortunately, my hand has been forced after my husband and I got food poisoning from this place! I LOVE Indian Food and was super excited to try this place after hearing rave reviews from other people. We didn't order the food, rather, my friend ordered out and we ate it at his place. We had Naan, Rice and some type of sweet curry with chicken. The flavor and textures were excellent. In fact, they were so good we couldn't stop eating it! I almost wish it did taste bad, because I might have avoided my bed-ridden morning and frequent visits to the bathroom the following morning. I hope that one day I will be able to go to this place again.
(1)John J.
I like Maharani on occasion and the food is generally good. We just got saffron rice and korma curry and samosas. The food is worth a 4 star review, but the mayhem you need to go through to get there takes it down a notch or two. I wouldn't eat in. I did once and it was horribly slow because it is so popular and crowded. So be prepared for a long wait to get seated and then a long wait to get your food. We call in and take home. Even that is a gamble. Last time I was fourth in line waiting for takeout and it still took a while to get what I had ordered a half hour earlier. The place is filled to capacity with tables and chairs that are full and people are often waiting in front. It's great to be popular, but it's a disservice to your customers if you prioritize packing the place versus providing good service.
(3)Anna G.
A MUST TRY!!! My goodness! This place is off the hook! I've tried Indian food before but not like this. Maharani sets the bar for Indian food. This place is heaven on earth! BYOB: We sipped on some Regaleali Le Rose Wine- match was perfect with Indian spices. The following portions were huge and stuffed 3 men and myself. Okay so we ordered : Chicken Masala Lamb Masala Salmon Masala Vegetable Korma Rice Sampler Cheese Bread All for $85. Somewhat romantic, cute small place, wall paint is a deep red, Bollywood videos played on the small plasma, strong spicy smells, sizzling dishes... heaven.
(5)Teresa L.
Best Indian food in Honolulu. It gets busy so make reservations if you can, especially for large groups. The portions are large enough to share, and the spices really dig in your taste buds. There's a liquor store a few down if you want to BYOB. Service is average (no smiley faces to greet you), but the food definitely makes up for the long faces.
(4)James L.
The food was awesome. The outside of our Naan was a little overcooked, but the center was uber delicious, I also appreciated the numerous choices of Naan. The Tikki Masala was yummers and as was the our other chicken dish(can't remember name but #20). Daal was ok. Ok, now the bad news. We were told 45 min wait and it turned into us waiting 2 hours and then ordering take-out because we still had "30 mins" left to wait. If you can be seated right away, or only 2 names from the top on the waiting list wait...otherwise I recommend ordering take-out instead of playing Russian roulette waiting for a table.
(4)Darick M.
I haven't gone to many Indian places but I really like the food at Maharani.. This place seems to always be full. I usually do take-out.. And the portion size is good. Everything I've had from this place was delicious. Parking is so-so, there's a tiny parking lot in the back.. but you can probably get away with parking at Longs across the street.
(4)Kaiulani K.
Maharani is my standard for Indian food in Hawaii. The lamb vindaloo is as hot and creamy as Gerard Butler's thighs in 300. You can get it spicy, ranging from level 1-10. Order 10 if you want the full, spicy Gerard Butler's thighs experience, but be warned: not everyone can handle it. The other main dishes are good too. I'm not a fan of chicken, but I've had 3 or 4 different chicken dishes here, and they are all good. My FAVORITE rice is the coconut rice. It has great flavor and some little surprises in there. If the spicy vindaloo is Gerard Butler's thighs, then the coconut rice must be his hard, smooth .... abs. Anyway, the naan is amazing. In fact they are so amazing, we should change the pronunciation of the word "amazing" to "naan". The portions are really good for the prices, so even though this place can easily run you upward of $15 per person, you get a good amount of leftovers. Also, the wait time to be seated can get crazy, which brings me to my compound tip about Maharani: Call in for take out, then take over to your house to share with a large group of people who have decided on just a few dishes. This will reduce your wait time and save you from being stuffed into that little restaurant that is as cramped and hot as the tandoori ovens they cook the naan in, AND it will bring the cost of the meal per person down.
(4)James S.
By far the best Indian restaurant on the island. Sure the wait can be long at times but well worth it. If it's too busy you can always order carry out, best to call that in before you venture out. The food is amazing, the service is always top notch. It's BYOB!! The corkage fee is minimal if they even add it to your bill. Perfectly priced, will not break your wallet if you went on a date here. Best to eat and go so others waiting can enjoy an excellent dinner and dining experience. I try not to "camp". Happy eating!!
(5)Russel M.
Add the Lamb Rice Biryani to the list of favorites. We order everything Spicy approx #8 which is awesome!
(5)Peter H.
This place freakin rocks. Its super cheap for a good restaurant especially for a fully belly after. Idk what to suggest because i only got leftovers from this amazing place. But i will meet this place in person soon.
(5)Warren K.
During my college days, I went to school in the San Francisco area, and I had a part-time job parking cars for an Indian restaurant. During those two years, I had a taste of good Indian food. When I came back to Hawaii I looked hard for something comparable to my San Francisco experience. This place is one of the very few places that can measure up to the San Francisco quality. The food is gourmet Indian quality, the portions generous, and the price something a university student can appreciate. Every once in a while there may be a slip up, but overall you cannot beat the quality and quantity. Try the spinach lamb, butter chicken, and tandoori chicken.
(5)Will L.
OK, I've been here a few times but first time reviewing it. It's definitely my wife and I's favorite Indian place. We got there last Sunday at around 5:30 p.m. to beat the crowd and actually have a spot in their small parking lot out back. You enter the parking lot as you go on King and make a right turn onto a street before the restaurant, then a left turn into the parking lot behind Cafe Maharani, Subway and a couple of other places. Even at 5:30pm you had about 4 groups of patrons. By about 6pm, the place was filling up. The place is tiny, btw, with about 10 tables. After 7pm, the place had people waiting and so as a courtesy we wrapped up and allowed people to take our table. Besides the excellent vegetable samosas, zaffron rice and the out of the laundry dryer warm and toasty, as well as fluffly, garlic naan, we tried a couple of different things. We tried the lamb saag, which is lamb doused in a spinach sauce, which was very tasty with the rice and naan. We also ordered what the waitress recommended for a vegetarian plate, which was the navrotton (sp.). The portion for the navrotton was huge. It was red/orangish in color with peas, a few leaves, cashews, potatoes and a few blocks of cheese. The thing that slightly threw me off was that it had a sweet taste. Neither the lamb saag nor the navrotton was spicy, so it was easy on my wife, who has a hard time with overly spicey. Still what I like about Indian are the spices and saltiness of the entrees and so the sweet entree did not quite fit in for me. Plus I usually douse the salty/spicy entriees with the sweet tamarind sauce anyway, as well as the cucumber raita sauce. Those sauces go so well with the entrees, zaffron rice and naan. The waitress was very pleasant and patient in recommending our orders. The staff came by to refill our waters constantly. I haven't tried the Himalayan place yet in Kaimuki but right now I haven't found a better Indian place than Cafe Maharani on the island. Note, they don't open for lunch are a dinner only place starting at 5pm daily.
(5)Flynn M.
We love Indian food. Maharani is our favorite place to get Indian food in Hawai'i. We should explore more but when we crave Indian food we seem to find ourselves here. It's not great but we like it. Maharani does a lot well but nothing great. Their chicken is always dry, so we stopped getting it. I'm a huge fan of tandoors. Their tandoori dishes don't have the tang or slightly burnt zing I enjoy at other Indian places. There's a lamb dish that comes on a sizzling plate, that's probably my favorite. My wife says you can't go wrong with their lamb. My friends have said Maharani is probably the best Indian food in all the states. We beg to differ. There's a place by my in-laws in Colorado that has a better masala. My wife loves masala it's her favorite. We get a masala at every Indian place we go to and every time we get Indian food. That place in Colorado is still her favorite masala, but they don't excel at everything. The papadam is gluten free and you can ask about other gluten free options. They are accommodating. Meals are about $15 for chicken $18 for lamb. It's a lot of food, usually get lunch out of the leftovers. We order two meals, papadam, naan, and rice. I took off a store because they're not as amazing as their reputation. They're good but nothing to drive out of your way for. I took off another star because you have to pay extra for rice; nothing comes with rice. Some notes: they have limited seating so come early, make reservations, or expect to stand outside for an hour. They're very, very popular and don't really have slow nights. Even if you get there early, don't wait too long to put your order in. It's BYOB and there's a liquor store nearby and a Long's across the street.
(3)Krissy K.
The food gets 5 stars, but the service and overall experience knock one off. To be fair, I went with a huge group (7) for such a small restaurant. I had pre-Yelped the place and knew we were in for a wait, but an hour and a half is still a bit too long for me. I don't fault the restaurant for being so popular, but it did put a slight damper on the evening. Once inside, it took a really long time to get simple things like cutlery and glasses. We ended up getting them ourselves and eventually bussing our own table as nothing was ever removed. The waitstaff is very nice but unable to handle the crowds. As for the food, it was excellent. In addition to 2 orders of naan (one regular, one garlic cheese), our group had the saffron rice, paneer, chicken curry, chicken vindaloo, and a tandoori seafood platter. The vindaloo and naan were my favorites. I had nothing to do with the ordering, but I would love to go back and try some other things. Take-out is apparently the way to go, as I saw tons of people waiting for their orders. This provided some interesting sights in an already cutely decorated restaurant. I got quite an eyeful of a girl in a too-tight, too-short, one-shoulder sequined dress - the bottom of her cheeks, to be exact. Yowzas. Because it's BYOB, it's a very inexpensive dining experience. If you can't find street parking, there is always Longs across the street, not that I am promoting that in any way.
(4)Masato I.
I'll keep it to bullets since there are a lot of good reviews: -Slow but friendly wait staff -Slow but delicious food from the kitchen -Curries could be a little bit spicier, but the flavors are not lacking -Biriyani weighed in at about 3 pounds -Price is a tad steep, but the quantities are huge -Recommend calling in to-go to avoid the wait -Recommend the Chicken Makhni and Tikka Masala with garlic naan -BYO fifth of Jager
(4)Sharif B.
There is a reason why the best restaurants have a long waiting list. For 2012 Valentine's Day, it was a few hours, but the trade off for by far the tastiest Indian Food in Hawaii...is worth the wait. I like to get 10 spicy which made me sweat. That is when you know the food is good. The dinner for two is like a meal for 6. Well worth the money and great service. BYOB and no corkage fee.
(5)Ambika C.
The food here is delicious and you get a ton of it for your money. But I've been seated here at Maharani's for over an hour and still haven't received any food. Do not come here if you value restaurant service. The food is worth taking out, though. It's definitely the best Indian food on the island. If you eat in, don't forget your booze.
(2)Puanani K.
I've been going to this place since 2006 and I love it so much ! Totally vegetarian friendly!! Customer service : mission and Shohan are the bombbbbbbbbb diggity ! The wait for a table is usually long but now I think you can call in a head of time to put your name on the waitlist. Also you can always take your food to go (; Food: divine!!!! So tasty and rich in flavor! Veggie korma with cheesy garlic naan and rice pulao are my guilty pleasures !! These are a Must try !!!! Overall: the long wait for a table sucks but it's well worth it!!! This place has the best Indian food I've ever had in my life and I've tried many places in Hawaii and the Eastern Seaboard of the continental US!
(5)Maria Theresa R.
I simply read the reviews previous to mines and compilate them into my reviews where i'll forwarn you about the little & OBVIOUS actions to take to make your experience as good if not even BETTER with the help of us! Your fellow yelpernians.... YOU WILL NOT BE KICKING YOURSELF FOR WASTING YOUR TIME! HOPES! AND MOOLAH! To prep yourself for a good experience (keep in mind ...you can control only so much...as for the rest, we shall leave it to the food & service gods, karma, and your power of yelping to have justice be served)... so ahem Number... 1) for BIBLE'S! sake just call them up to see if they are busy and set your reservation if they are ...OR you can & will just die from looking at others eat and drink their BYOBs 2) once you've reserved your spot, before worrying about their ample parking, theres a fake Longs thats actually CVS right across da street) npw i am not promoting anything....if you are grown enouh to gracefully fetch a bubbly while the waiters run in circles....more power and happiness to you 3) once you and your bubbly unite (since parking is found infront, behind and surprise! surprise! right where you've already park ( at the fake Long's parking lot) 4) effortlessley, glide into your spot of that infamous line and enjoy some bubbly while you plan your order from Both 2 of their at least 4 paged dictionaries they call their menus ( theres 1 menu for appeteazers, sides and etc. AND the second one for the main jackpot golden dishes their known for) 5) once seated and your order is being taken...HAVE THEM ..if they haven't already...REPEAT YOUR ORDER BACK TO YOU since the tv and everyone else does not know what "indoor voice" is...its a simple proactive ( supposedly required) procedure bcuz i have and had my order BIBLED! up! 3! times already out of my 5 journeys. Even a monkey can and will have nothing against repeating your order. 6) once your heavenly unidentified foriegn dishes arrive... nothing else can destroy the rest of your journey...even thoughs forgetfull but very friendly waiters ;D ( ps: arrive alive folks...so you'll have future successful journeys back) 1st star for parking...and the hypnotic bollywood-ish music videos you play to hypnotize my 6 month old Karmella as we WAIT 2nd star for your BYOBs and effort in ambience ( music...bollywood music videos...silverware...chair... table.... aroma...limited small amount of wiggle room...HENCE! transporting me from Hawaii and into your Queen's ; Maharani means Queen) your mom's kitchen. 3rd star for your so far consistently legendary food 4th star for having my 6 month old Karmella comfortably enjoy her 1st experience here without the awkward energy You guys didn't forget anything! ( INCLUDING THE NAPKINS & REFILLING MY GOBLET LIKE YOU USE TO ALWAYS DO!!) this time yaayyyyy !!!!! But BOOOOOOO! :( for getting one of my orders wrong and too late that i couldn' t enjoy it with my feast within your walls...that you had to doggy bag it instead (soooo kicking 1 star outta this galaxy!) PS: i loooooved the dim lighting you had before.... back in April 2011 why did you guys take the dim lighting away? That dim lighting sets the whole vibe of the music video, your deco, the smoky aroma the sight of your heavenly unidentified dishes as i walk into your portal. BRING THE DIM LIGHTING BACK!!!!!!!!!! PLEEEEEAASSEE!! I'll give you guys a star for iiiiiit.
(4)Racy P.
Good food, horrible service. Skipped our name and waited more than half an hour for our food.
(1)Megan B.
Mmmmm.... Everything here is to die for. You must try the stuffed naan bread
(5)Tracie F.
The whole dining experience was awesome! From the atmosphere to the service everything was wonderful. Oh and the food...the FOOD was out of this world!! The only reason I am not giving it 5 stars is because of the lack of parking and the wait. They don't take reservations and the area to wait in is pretty cramped. I really appreciated the waiter's honesty and suggestions. He told us which stuffed naan he thought we would like and he was right!!! The garlic and cheese naan was wonderful. The entrees were piping hot and the portions were overly generous. We took home enough for two more meals. Prices are average. When you look at what you get for the price it is quite a deal. The dessert lacked a little. They did not have all of the items on the menu. We got the rice pudding. It was good but really nothing special. The meal however was. We will DEFINITELY be back!!! SOON!
(4)Christine S.
Mediocre, not very clean, slow. There was actually food on the walls, like old food... Not sure what else is out there for Indian in Honolulu, but maybe better to wait until you get back to the mainland...
(2)Jolene M.
When my friend suggested Indian food in Hawaii, I was skeptical. You would be too, right? Little did I know that I was in store for the best Indian meal I've ever had. I know. I'm shocked too. I think that if you stick with the Chef's Specials, you will be very satisfied. We got the Chef's special curry (I don't remember what it was called exactly, but it was the best Indian curry I have every had! It was the first thing listed under "main entrees") This cashew based curry was just perfect--sweet, spicy, earthy and nutty. We also got a spicy Tikka masala curry, a vegetable coconut based curry, and a coconut rice. All were excellent. I liked how the coconut rice had some almond slivers inside of it to give it a nice texture. We rounded the meal off with some naan. Again, perfect. This was definitely enough food for the three of us, and we took home some leftovers. I crave this place and am sad I only got to try it once on my trip to Hawaii! I'll be back... *See pics*
(5)Kate C.
By no means am I well versed in Indian Food. In fact, my first endeavor into Indian food was at Cafe Maharani. Over 10 visits later, I am hooked! As you've probably read on Yelp - the place is small! You have to be here early if you don't want to wait the entire evening. We usually call on our way and they'll put us on the list. But, we've waited longer than an hour+ here before. Luckily, they have some fabulous Indian TV channel on to trance me into waiting. My husband and I usually order the dinner for two, which comes with an appetizer (samosas), two entrees, and an order of naan. It's a great deal for us and we always go home with leftovers. We've eaten at another Indian restaurant on Oahu and the portions weren't nearly as large as they were here at Maharani. Also, is anyone else obsessed with those copper cups that they serve water in? Those things are amazing.
(5)Ka'imi L.
Awesome awesome awesome place to go for casual indian food! I used to dine here often when I was living at the dorms on UH campus. The Pros: Great cuisine; I usually order some naan (bread) with the sea bass or lamb dish. I love dipping the naan in the curries they serve as well. The Cons: A little tight; Hardly any seating, so expect to wait for a table. I'm not sure if they take reservations...?
(5)Mark Y.
Oh My! Why has it taken me so long to eat at this place?! (slaps self) This place is great! From the first waff of spices that hits you in the face when you walk through the door, to the last piece of naan that you dip into your curry and greedily gulp down, the dining experience here is superb. This place gets crowded so keep in mind, unless you come early, you may need to wait. We were the first ones here when they opened at 5 but by the time we left at about 6:30, the place was packed and there were 15+ people waiting for a table. If you do find yourself having to wait, hang in there, it's definitely worth it. This was the first visit for my friend and me and the staff here was terrific in helping us decide what to get. We ordered: Chicken mixed grill which came with 4 different types of chicken and a piece of plain naan (about a 12" round that's cut in half). The chicken comes sizzling on a cast iron platter along with slices of onions and bell peppers, similar to how you'd get fajitas at a mexican restaurant. Excellent choice, amazing how tender the chicken was. Lamb Rogan Josh which was Lamb stewed in tomato puree, yogurt and spices. This one comes fairly mild, heat-wise, about a 2 on a scale of 1-10. The flavors in this were incredible. Garlic naan. This was good but we both liked the plain naan better which had a chewier texture and better flavor. The flavors in the dishes we had were great. This is one of those places that once you eat here, you just can't stop thinking about. *For now, i guess you can park across the street in the Star Market parking lot since that market is no longer in business. Otherwise, there are a few stalls in back of the restaurant, or, it's street parking.
(5)Julia F.
Amazing Yumminess. Serious Indian food heaven. :) The five stars is for the food; I would give them a 3 for service. First time we came here, it was 5:30 on a Fri night, and was a 45 min wait. We left because we had a movie to catch. Second attempt, I called 6pm on Sat night, to leave my name on the wait list. Got told it would be an hour wait. I believed that the long line meant it must be good food. Arrived almost an hour later on the dot, and got seated within minutes. We got our drinks really fast, but man, it the food service was slow, though I could forgive them because it was so crowded. We ordered the lentil wafers to start, which came with 4 sauces and a hot potato and peas side. Wow. So delicious! I loved taking time to explore the flavors of all the different sauces, and just combining it all by the end. I ordered the salmon korma per someone's rave reviews on Yelp. It did not disappoint! I don't know if salmon is common in Indian curries, but the curry sauce was flavorful, and the delicate flavor of the fish did not get lost in all the spices. We also ordered the Lamb malai korma, which looked like an Indian pot pie! wow, this was amazing. The meat was tender and the curry spices were just so amazing when eated with rice. The garlic naan was amazing too; doughy, chewy, with the perfect amount of seasoning. Though service was slow, and apparently this place is always crowded, I can't wait to be back to try more food! mmmmmmmm
(5)Nima M.
Delicious Indian food if you don't mind the wait. Went there and had a vegetarian feast with my wife. Portions are big and prices are good. Just make sure you get there early or you will have trouble finding a table.
(5)Christy K.
I have to fully credit Yelp for my discovery of this gem of a restaurant. I was just driving around with my friend one evening and we had no idea what to eat. I pulled up my Yelp app and looked for something close by with a high rating. Maharani came up, we decided to try it, and it might have been on of the best decisions of my life. Seriously. First of all, there is almost always a line. So go early, order for take out, or expect to wait. They don't take reservations. Second, I think that the "dinner for two" is the best bang for your buck, if there are two or three of you eating. It includes an appetizer, two entrees, two naan, and their biryani rice. It costs $40.99. Totally worth it... especially since you are likely to have leftovers. Now, if I may make a couple recommendations for the entrees. I ALWAYS get the lamb masala curry. The lamb is OH-SO-tender, the curry is ultra flavorful, and the portioning is big! I also really reallllly like the pepper chicken curry. It's green, which is unusual, but it is bursting with flavor and the chicken really just falls apart. It is amazing. I've tried other Indian restaurants on the island (Bombay, Himalayan Kitchen, India Cafe, etc) but all of those other places simply pale in comparison to Maharani. Maharani's has my everlasting love and devotion. Oh, and I cannot forget to say that their naan is f***ing HEAVENLY!!! The garlic naan is pretty winners... but their OG naan is nothing short of great either. Mmm, yum.
(5)Jake M.
This place is fantastic. The food is reasonably priced and is absolutely delicious. The atmosphere is good and the plates and cutlery are heavy and are a novel coppery color. My only complaint is the wait. They don't take reservations and even if you put your name on the list, you're in for a long wait. That said, the food is totally worth it!
(5)sri v.
Very nice place, and a pleasant discovery. the place is crammed, service is bit delayed. Nevertheless, fantastic quality though !! We ordered coconut rice, and aloo parathas, and others. Parathas are fabulous, and coconut rice is amazing - it even had curry leaves, making it probably the most authentic food I have eaten outside my home. The non-veg items, and the curries we ordered were sumptuous, and filling - enough to take out for the next day The next day we ordered delivery to home, through "room service in paradise" - they charge extra for delivery though.
(4)Kelly M.
Huge portions, but some items a little pricey ($5 for a bowl of plain rice?) Butter chicken was very good. Sauce was complex and delicious. Naan was pillowing and chewy - perfect. Eggplant dish (#60) still had the skin on, which separated from the flesh and was stringy, making it hard to eat.
(4)Kimmy T.
OMG. The best indian restaurant in Hawaii. I love love love this place. Only thing is we have to wait. Sometimes too long. But it's worth it. Eggplant coconut curry, tomato rice, Lamb and tandori shrimp... everything is good. Generous amount. I highly recommend!!! :))
(5)Jane S.
Having grown up in India my opinion of Indian restaurants outside of India is pretty harsh. Most are ridiculously overpriced for small portions. Having said that I will give them credit for trying. Their breads are delicious and their tandoori dishes are pretty good as well. Do you have to wait a stupid long time for a table most of the time? Yes. Do you have to wait on the street because there is practically no room to breathe inside? Yes. Is it hotter than hell inside? Yes. Is it slightly bigger than my bathroom? Yes. Do you have to insist on MILD if you can't take too much spice? Yes, otherwise you will taste absolutely nothing other than in the inside of your stomach lining peeling away. Are the owner/manager folks a little unfriendly/stuck up? Yes. Are the servers knowledgeable? Absolutely not. If you've got a question, as the Indian guy at the register, don't ask the waitperson. Are there only 2 waitpeople for the whole place? Yes. Can you wait a ridiculously long time for your food? Yes. I'd say 30 to 40 minutes at least, especially if you order anything tandoor. Best buy here is the tandoori sampler - you can try a little of everything tandoor rather than buying each dish individually (crazy pricey). Considering that there aren't that many Indian food choices here in Honolulu then this place does the trick. If the Maharani folks are reading this I have 2 pieces of advice for you: bigger place and better air conditioning. Nothing worse than eating spicey food in a hot house with an unnecessary giant screen TV blaring in the background. *Later edit - I've gotten a few messages from highly zealous, crass, rude and semi-illiterate Yelpers who seem preoccupied with the size of the aforementioned bathroom. I sincerely apologize for the overly complicated use of a comparative phrase. I suppose I could have said that the restaurant is teeny weeny but that just wouldn't be any fun and how else could I make your blood boil?
(3)Mr B.
The success of Cafe Maharani shows that Honolulu needs more good Indian restaurants. The food is good - given the lack of local competition you probably have to go international to get better. Serve sizes are much larger than normal in London or Asia so good to go with a group or be prepared to have curry for breakfast. The service is great but so busy - also reflected in the long wait for table and occasional frustrations that this results in - this is a success story! In our last two visits the wait was not more than an hour either time. They should take mobile numbers and then could call you while you waited at the Varsity Bar across the road. Beer and curry - one of life's great combinations!
(4)Ash B.
We waited 1.5 hours just to get a table (they don't take reservations) and about half hour for our food. The wait was crazy, but the food was absolutely wonderful. We had 1 onion kulcha and 1 navaratan kurma and it filled us both up to the brim. Really huge bread - 1 is enough to fill 2 people. As great as the food was, we don't think we'd go back there. Wait kills both hubby and me. :)
(4)Nimai W.
Yes, yes, amazing food. The best? I couldn't say, I still have so much to learn about Indian food. But of the Indian I've had, it's at the top. They have an extensive menu that is pretty intimidating for someone like me. My advice? Dive in! Judging by the hypnotizing aromas coming from the kitchen, I doubt one can go wrong. Let's not bother with the question of whether a smell can hypnotize. It's in cartoons. The portions are very generous. The naan is huuuge and so delicious (that's what she said). The last time I went, my girlfriend and I got the "dinner for two" for $40. Two samosas, two entrees, naan, and rice. It fed both of us for three meals each! Pretty impressive. Everything I've tried I've been really happy with. Several different curries, all the rices, the veggie samosa, a few different styles of naan, and a few vegetarian entrees. If only the wait weren't so ridiculous. Heads up, busy nights are BUSY. Last time I was here, I heard several people check up on their takeout orders. They had been waiting for 45 minutes and were told 15 minutes more!! I had to stand at the counter and wait for over 10 minutes before even having a chance to place my takeout order. It's borderline absurd. Can they really not afford to hire one more person? Or should I ask, can they afford not to? If they could improve their efficiency--no, if they could get just a little efficiency going here, they'd be on their way to 5 stars.
(4)C B.
4 out of 5 stars. Best tasting Indian food i have ever had. And i have had a lot. Service is slow, and it's always busy. Plan on spending 1.5 hrs, min. Bring a bottle of wine for the wait. Nothing comes close in Hawaii, so i keep coming back. Deduct 1 star for the amount of time it takes to have dinner here, but then again, it makes Maharani even more memorable. *I rate all restaurants on the same scale. Some establishments, such as fast food chains have no hope of earning more than 2 stars. Others can earn up to 5, but a 5 would indicate the finest dining experiences I've ever had.
(4)Jacob L.
Based on the fact that the tandoori was "broken". The food was good and the Naan too. It was my first taste of Indian food, and definitely going to give another try when I can get the full dining experience.
(3)JoAnne B.
Good food. Just don't come while its busy they won't give you good service. I waited 2 hours even though I had a reservation!
(3)Xtina M.
The food is wonderful. Probably one of the best Indian in Honolulu, but their service is horrible. I got in line at 430pm to assure I would get a seat when they opened at 5. The restaurant was packed. I already knew what I wanted so I asked the waiter if I could order. He said, ok, "can u wait?". I watched as he and the other waiters took the order of everyone in the restaurant. I kept raising my hand to no avail. At 520, he finally came back to take my order. 555 my table received our food. 605 we received our cold water. Considering that some of the foods were spicy and the restaurant is hot and humid, that water would have been nice from the beginning. Great food. Awful service.
(2)Alex T.
i'm a big fan of Indian food. my go to dish - lamb vindaloo (beware - it can get pretty spicy). if a restaurant doesn't have it on the menu, i sometimes don't even bother sticking around. i LOVE that dish. and Cafe Maharani does a beautiful job with it! Pair that with the tomato rice, cheese and garlic-stuffed naan, samosas, and a mango lassi? HEAVEN!! (My bf, who doesn't like spicy as much as i do, recommends the chicken coconut korma with coconut rice) There's always a long line of hungry folks wanting a yummy Indian meal, and the food is slow to come out of the kitchen, so make sure you set aside a good chunk of time for your meal. If you just don't have that kind of time to spare, but still want your naan and curry fix, just call in your order pick it up, and enjoy it in the comfort of your own home!
(5)mf l.
Best Indian food on the Island. Period. Honestly, if you've never had Indian food, Hawaii is not the place to try for the first time. BUT if you do decide to expand (more like explode) your taste horizons, I would definitely recommend this place. All the dishes are made with authentic Indian spices and not watered down or over/under-cooked like the other Indian "restaurants" I've been. Every dish I've tried was delicious (except I'm not a big fan of paneer, but that's just me) and when in doubt, the servers are pretty helpful in helping you decide what to get. Also, when they tell you it's spicy: BELIEVE THEM. What I typically order: Garlic Naan, Lamb/Chicken Tikka Masala or Vindaloo Parking: either park on the street or in the Down to Earth structure. There's a tiny parking lot in the back of the restaurant, but it's usually full. Reservations: yes! (otherwise expect to wait) Service: All the times I've eaten here were in big groups and service was pretty good considering our lack of decisiveness
(4)Dugy Y.
They do not accept reservations but u can call to put yourself on the wait list. Always a line out the door and hungry patrons looking in. The reason is the food is good and priced fairly for the taste and quantity of food. Of course I had to have lamb curry, also Sea bass curry, with garlic naan and saffron rice. I am not an expert with indian food but I am an expert on what taste good and this is a winner.
(4)Susan R.
:) Food was super yummy (especially the naan!), portions are large, BYOB :( Parking (when Long's opens probably park there and walk across), inside is small - Best to go with a group of 4, so you can try a little bit of everything.
(4)A B.
Food is good, portions are good too . There is no reservations since the place is very small .But if you ever call the owner/ manager always tells you there is no wait and tells you that there is at leat a 45 mins wait *after* you arrive inside the restuarant - !
(2)Sagarmatha N.
A mediocre place that needs to revamp its service, decor and items. We went for dinner to this place on a Sunday ( the info on yelp should be updated, the restaurant opens on Sundays too!). Parking was limited and had to find street parking in one of the side lanes. We opened the door and went in and as usual the place was packed. The place is small and crowded with tables and chairs. The counter area was located at the back and wait staff were too busy/non-chalant to greet us. It appeared as if we were intruding in some peoples' place and did not feel welcome. But we were determined to try the food. We were told that we would have to wait about 20 minutes. There were already a couple seated at two chairs which were set aside as if it were waiting area. We asked if they could take our cell numbers and call us, as we wanted to wait outside or take a walk for 20 minutes. They said no they do not take numbers. So we walked out and around came back after 20 minutes. My wife went in and talked to the guy at the counter if we were about to be seated. We were told no, so we waited outside the door for another 10 minutes and peered in the door and saw that one of the tables was empty, but they had not set it up. We were happy that our turn was coming so requested them to take a part of our order so that we did not have to wait for it after we were seated. They said they can not take any orders before we were seated!!! It took them another 20 minutes to clean and set up the table to call us in. By the time we were seated and ready to order we had spent almost an hour and we were almost kicking ourselves for coming to this restaurant. We ordered 1) Chicken mixed grill platter 3) Chicken Masala curry, 4) Afghan Naan (Kabulai Naan), 5) Baigan (Eggplant) bharta and 6) Lamb Biriyani. They brought us knives and spoons and water in metallic glasses. We had brought a bottle of red wine (it is BYOB) and they brought us the wine opener and metallic goblets (almost like egg holders) to drink the wine. When sipped water, it did not taste good, got that metallic taste, and similarly our wine also tasted weird! They did not have any glass wares. The chicken grill mixed platter was hot and sizzling, but it was OK, lacking the flavor one would have thought of coming from the tandoor and the masala that was should have been used to marinate the chicken cubes. The sliced sausage-like-chicken tasted too much of pepper and it was a let down. Chicken Masala curry was better but nothing to fave about. The best part of the naan was it was huge, but it lacked the bite that is so typical of a well made naan, slightly hard surface with a softer chewy dough in the middle layer. Baigan (eggplant) bharta was not at all like expected. The taste of tomato puree and crunchy bell pepper overpowered the taste of grilled and mashed egg plant. Why should they have bell pepper in a dish that should have been mashed and smooth I do not know. The Lamb Biriyani was an average dish, the lamb being over cooked, the pieces were falling apart when you wanted to fork it up into your mouth. Nonetheless, it was the best dish we had there. The Biriyani was served on a flat dish plate which meant that some food was bound to fall off onto the table when we tried to spoon it off onto our plates. The food was way too much for the three of us, and would have appreciated if the amounts were lesser and presented more nicely, cooked better and they had invested in real glasses, instead of metalic tumblers and goblets. The total bill came to about $78, including $3 for wine corkage. They did not accept American Express (The yelp info says major cards accepted!). The waiters did not even ask us if we wanted to try any desserts, even though there were no more patron waiting to be seated!!! I hope that the restaurant decor is more tastefully done, the work attitude of the staff is made more welcoming, adding in a staff or two to take care of the customers coming in, helping in taking orders and using pagers for waiting customers or taking cell phone numbers to inform them would be better. After all one goes to such a restaurant not only to eat but also to relax in a cozy atmosphere and a nice ambiance. This would not stand out as a good restaurant if it were in the Bay Area (San Fran) or other US cities.
(2)Maria B.
Chicken Tikka was yummy! I also had the Chicken Vindaloo which was also another good choice. My only other experience with Indian food was from Bombay & I thought they were horrible. The food didnt have the depth in flavor as Cafe Maharani. Now after I've tried Indian food from here, I really like it. I ordered the yellow rice to go along with my curries and it was a great compliment. I want to go again and try some new things. Also, they deliver through Room Service In Paradise. Oh and the portions are huge!!!
(3)jeannine s.
The dishes that come out of this place are consistently amazing! It's by far the best place for Indian food in Honolulu. One should be aware they do present you with two menus when you're seated, a tandoori ("clay oven") style and traditional Indian style dishes. Servers don't really tell you this, they just plop the menus before you. So, order from both without abandon. My favorites easily are all the breads that come out of the tandoor oven: Parathas, Naans and Rotis. I don't know anywhere else in the state where you can get so many varieties of Indian flat breads. Each one I've tasted has been of superior quality. You can order these stuffed with cheese, potatoes, onions, garlic, or some "western-inspired" preparation, but I do enjoy the plain ones. They are the perfect accompaniment to any of curries, dahls or kababs on the menu. I also love the Lamb Vindaloo, which is a spicier tangy curry slow cooked in a tomato sauce, and the Chicken Coconut Curry, which is a very rich curry with coconut cream and vegetables. Palak Paneer, a dish of homemade cheese in a stew of spicy creamed spinach, is also a favorite. But I easily like anything with Paneer in it. I've tried to make it myself before and it's not easy. So, anything with Paneer is really special. On my last visit here, my party of four feasted on the Tandoori Mix Grill -- featuring chicken and beef kabobs and chicken tikka over mixed grilled peppers and onions. We also ordered one each from all of the aforementioned dishes plus a chickpea dahl. It was just too much goodness in one sitting! We happily ate leftovers for days, not usually an easy feat for ones adverse to repeat meals. Downsides: they don't take reservations; it's a long wait if you're not there right when then open; servers appear to no be so well-trained or knowledgeable about the food; service can be slow at times. Upsides: I haven't had anything that I did not consider excellent - hence the full star rating comes in spite of the mediocre service. Plus it's BYOB and affordable!
(5)Sadie R.
After reading all the reviews for this place I decided to go check it out. We called ahead and the guy put us on the "wait list" because they do not take reservations. We lucked out and as soon as we got there they called my name. Otherwise we would have waited 35-45 minutes. The service was great but the food could have been better. We got the Tandoori chicken/beef platter, lamb masala, garlic naan and yellow rice. The platter was good flavor but the meat was dry and tough. The masala was ok but needed salt and spice. The yellow rice had way too much cardamom in to taste anything else and the naan was excellent. The price was decent but would prefer other indian restaurants.
(3)Haemar M.
On a Saturday night we had to wait about an hour to be seated but it was worth it. We ordered tandoori mixed grill, coconut rice, nan, chicken masala and paratha. The food was so delicious! Big portions too. This is possibly my favorite restaurant on the island
(5)Joey C.
Pleased with the food....lot's of lamb in the vindaloo and the veg dal was full of flavor, samosas were large and baked to perfection.. Although nominal, surprised at the corkage fee for bringing my own when they have no alcohol on the menu. The waiter did bring a cork screw for my usage after I had already opened the bottle. The wine glasses were all water spotted but appreciated. Place fills up quick, get there before 6.
(4)Mimi T.
If this is as good as Indian food gets on Oahu, then I guess I'm a fan. I come from the Silicon Valley where Indian food is on every other corner and it is dirt cheap. My friend and I were in search of an Indian restaurant and Cafe Maharani was recommended by someone I had met. He said it was the best on the island. Him being Indian, I took his word. Tomato rice was yum! Palak paneer was good, butter chicken was also very good, the naan was actually better than stuff I've had back home! The only item that i was not impressed with was the chicken tikka masala. One of the girls couldn't eat spicy so we told the guy to make it mild... when it came out, to my surprise, it was bland! how do you make indian food bland? i mean, i said not spicy, as in, no heat! The food was good, more expensive than I was used to, but what else is new, I'm on an island now. Service was SLOW and I felt as though some of the servers had no idea what they were talking about.
(4)Mark B.
Forgot my ordered food and was uncomfortably warm. Not sure how the food was, had to fill up on the bread because my meal didnt come.
(1)Kate V.
Shahrukh Khan is the King of Bollywood. If I hadn't known that before, I definitely would have after dining here last night--they had some kind of Shahrukh Khan tribute playing on their two TV screens and it took me a few music videos to figure out it wasn't just one movie they were playing. I swear I got to see every single song in every single film he's ever been in. Here's one with Rani Mukherjee 'cause she's smokin' hot: youtube.com/watch?v=etrU… This place makes me rethink my previous misconception that there is no good Indian food in Hawaii. About 10x better than India Cafe off Kapahulu Ave, Maharani seems to be the Indian restaurant of choice in the UH area. For this reason, arrive early unless you're prepared to wait; we got there around 6:40 on a Friday night and the place was packed. But never fear--it's BYOB and Star Market is near! We picked up a 6 pack of Mehana beer to crack open while we waited. Immediately I noticed that the prices were a few dollars more than what I'm used to seeing, but once our food arrived this seemed validated by virtue of the larger-than-life portion sizes. We had ordered four main dishes plus aloo naan, paratha and rice, and this was more than enough for our party of five. Also, when the bill came out, the total was less than what their set dinner for 4 would have been. Definitely go for the individual dishes. Notably, the palak paneer had a thin cream-like topping that I've never seen before on the dish, but it was damn good. Also, when they specified SPICY on the tandoori chicken kebab, they weren't kidding... our noses were running all throughout dinner! All in all, flavor definitely did not lack at Maharani; the restaurant itself is small, but charmingly decorated; the service was just ok. If I lived here, I'm sure I'd be a regular BYOBer :). They deliver, too.
(4)Ryan B.
Impossibly good indian food. Also impossibly busy. Come early, come late, or expect a wait that will be worth it when you sit down to eat. The coconut rice is awesome, as are all of the lamb dishes (esp #39!). Big portions too. A few parking spots in back of the building, otherwise grab those closest spot on the street. They don't serve alcohol, but are happy to provide glasses for wine or beer that you bring in with you. Other than that, come prepared for an oppressively hot climate. Someday there will be a homicide committed here and it will have something to do with trying to get a water refill.
(5)Caitlin T.
We first went here oh about 3 years ago when I lived on the street right next to it. I lived so close we could just walk there, very convenient. Now that I don't live there, not so convenient. We decided to do take out this time. We called in at 5:00 sharp to put in our order: Dinner for 2 with garlic naan, lamb saag, chicken coconut korma and veggie samosas. $40.99 for all this plus rice! Good deal considering the lamb saag alone is about $16. Anyway, we called and they said about 30 minutes. Kind of a long time for takeout, but okay we knew it was good food. We get there pay and tell them we will go next door since it still need 15 minutes. We come back and see them wrapping up all kinds of food including a few naan. After waiting for 30 minutes we ask about our food and they tell us they are waiting for the naan. Really? You just sent other people away with the same naan. We were there over 45 minutes before we got our food. People are not very nice, very disorganized, but their food is the best. They give you enough food to last you for days. I have had mine for 3 seperate meals so far and still have more for tomorrow. Oh and it's BYOB.
(3)Mark C.
Definitely great food. Went with two other friends and we ended up picking up a bartender to join us who was also waiting to be seated. Long wait here so don't be in a rush. They allowed us to bring our own wine and a bottle of Patron and even provided the salt and limes. The Spicy Chicken Korma was delicious and so was the lamb which was green (?). I ordered coconut rice and we all shared an order of cheese stuffed naan which was very tasty and a nice change from the plain or garlic ones I usually eat. We had a couple other combo dishes and everything was as good as can be expected if you enjoy indian food.
(4)Arlene A.
WOW,WOW,WOW,WOW,WOW!! I had never had the desire to try Indian food in the past because of the images of hot, spicy gravy covered food with strong smells and inevitable intestinal breakdown (u know what I mean..) But after a trip to Seattle my brother and sis convinced me to try Indian food for the firs time and loved it. I've also tried the Indian offerings at Whole Foods take out..still a fan. However, after eating at this place last night, Hallelujah! I have converted to a follower! This place has HUGE portions. We ordered 2 entrees, 2 kinds of naan, rice, and a grilled combination plate. There were five of us yet we still had so much left overs (which we fought over) and trust me we stuffed our selves to the gills! What I love about this place is that it had a good mixture of diners from what looked like all different ethnicities,it doesn't have the distracting and somewhat annoying belly dancers (i love belly dancing like the next gal but now while I'm trying to eat), and OMG the waiters are HHHHOOOTTT!! Even my 67 yr old mom was giving dreamy eyes to our waiter who she had to mention 3x how cute he was. ewww lady! Anyhoo...just be prepared for the long wait. That only intensifies the satisfaction of eating the most delicious Indian food in Hawaii. We went on a Friday night at 7:30ish and had 5 people with us so you can only imagine. When my Fiance and I woke up today, he mentioned how much he loved the food there (he's pretty critical since he worked in the food industry for 10 yrs) and we actually are looking forward to heating up our leftovers and eating it for lunch. Oh yah, I brought some Laksi (yogurt drink) and already drank the whole thing after we got home from dinner. I would give 5 stars, but the wait killed me...
(4)Paul M.
I have to add my praises of this restaurant to the growing list of raving reviews. It really is the best Indian restaurant that I've found on Oahu. Service: I've been here three. The first time I showed up at 730 thinking I could get a table, but there was an hour wait. So I didn't eat that night. The next two times I was a little smarter and came at 500 on the dot. We were seated immediately both times. The staffing seems a little short for the amount of people there, with 2 waiters splitting all the tables, so it was a little slow going at some times. But it was plenty fast for me! The staff wasn't super friendly but they weren't mean or rude either. Atmosphere: The decor is nicely Indian with the royal colors and tempered metal furnishings. The goblets they give for wine are great, and the silverware looks very rustic. There's Bollywood videos playing on a big screen, which is good because it drowns out some of the noise from the kitchen (the blender for the lassi can be pretty loud). Food: I've been getting the samosas for an appetizer each time I've come, but I think I'm going to switch to something else. They're cooked very well, they're huge, and they're nice, but they're a little dry for me. I probably just don't know a good samosa when I see one. The sauces the samosas come with are pretty good though, and they always come piping hot and quick. I also usually get a Lassi at an Indian restaurant, but I don't much like the ones here. So I stick with the water and usually bring my own bottle of wine. Once the main course comes, its always amazing. Their naan and saffron rice are to die for every time. The chicken marsala curry didn't sound that amazing, but holy crap is it great. All the curries I've tried were great and the tandoori chicken is the best I've ever tasted. I can't sing enough praises for the main courses here. The only course I was disappointed in was the Lamb Rogan Josh. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't remarkable either. Lamb Rogan Josh is my all time favorite. Value: The portions are huge, and there's no way I could ever finish a whole meal. We usually bring it home and have the left overs for 2 more meals afterwards. So if $40 for a dinner for 2 sounds too expensive for a hole in the wall, don't worry about it. That's really 6 meals. You can, of course, just order the dishes without the rice and naan and samosas, but you'd be missing out. Pros: Location, great entrees, huge portions, good atmosphere, take out available. Cons: Not enough tables, mediocre lassi, mediocre Lamb Rogan Josh, blenders are in the dining area.
(4)Brooke M.
Still the best. Gotta try the Butter Vegetable Masala. It's like an Indian pot pie. See photo.
(5)Jesse M.
My first experience at an Indian restaurant, Cafe Maharani, has set the bar unfairly high for future visits to other Indian restaurants. The food is amazing, and the atmosphere is cozy and laid back (it's BYOB!)... if it weren't for lack of parking and long wait time, Cafe Maharani would be a 5 star establishment for sure. The battle of high restaurant popularity vs. limited restaurant space forces you to make a reservation, and even then, the wait is on for earlier patrons to finish their meals. But once you get in, you will enjoy yourself.
(4)Noeru N.
I've passed by this tiny eatery for years but have been intimidated by the foreign menu and consistent long lines. Although I've known how great this place must be by the rave reviews on yelp and other culinary blog sites, having never experienced Indian Food allowed me to easily pass it up. This was until a lunch outting with a group of friends who were dying to try Cafe Maharani ----- for lunch. Which we found out at 11:30 AM standing in front of their restaurant peeking in to find someone to just give a us a sampling of their life changing curry secrets -- DINNER ONLY! With our handy dandy YELP Smartphone Apps, we found another "moderately rated" Indian Restaurant on Waialae Avenue and decided to venture there. After trying a medley of different types of curry and signature offerings, I came to find that Indian Food was quite enjoyable. But I knew that Maharani "Mecca for Indian in Hawaii" was a completely different caliber of culinary joys I could enjoy -- I just needed to get my hands on those damn naans people keep singing about as they happily wait 1 hour for a table. I've quickly learned after a few attempts for a table for 2, to just get there early before they open with a bottle wine and a hungry appetite. I always ask the friendly servers for their signature offerings as I don't want to be like those silly white people at a true Japanese sushi counter ordering california rolls all night. I can never remember the names of the dishes I've had, but all the dishes have been unique and memorable. Naan in particular was life changing as I've never had fresh naan bread like that before. They must lace everything with crack because even after over ordering and bagging to go bags, a week later I'm still craving Cafe Maharani. This was a 5 star experience, but docked a star for the limited parking and because if I want Cafe Maharani at 7:00 PM on a Friday Night, my options are to just order take away.
(4)Lauren W.
Finally brought the parents here and they loved it! We did the Dinner for Three ($65 TOTAL for 3 people!!!) since we don't really know heads from tails in on the India menu: Mixed Tandoori Chicken Appetizer platter **** Tons of food, better than the vegetarian mixed appetizer...unless you're a vegetarian Palak Paneer ****** again, I heart cheese Lamb Masala *** A little rich for me, but mom LOVED it Prawn Curry **** Coconut-y, good to cool down the spice Naan ***** The set menu comes with 6 halves of Naan - that's a lot! Yellow Rice *** Mild, but tasty DON'T FORGET: BYOB! If you have to wait for a table, maybe bring two bottles so you can drink one while you're passing the time.
(4)Tessa t.
4 stars are for the food... knock a star off for service... dinner for two set is fabulous! you get two samosas to start with. super yum with its soft, yet flakey dough.... then you get to chose any two entrees...the bf gets some kinda butter chicken curry which they serve over a flame so that the butter doesn't harden... i always get the spicy tandoori chicken kebab masala...so delish! the chicken is so juicy and tender! the entrees are served with both rice and naan bread! whenever i leave this place i am satisfied! it's byob... i advise being there right when it opens so as to save yourself waiting an hour for a table..
(4)Gea C.
I've been wanting to try Cafe Maharani forever and thanks to what must have been God's work, I ran into one of my best friends on island who had plans to go that evening. Food as promised by my fellow yelpers was delicious!!! My visiting friend and I did the vegetarian dinner (you can get meat if you'd like) for two which is an awesome deal! You get two samosas, two veggie entrees, rice, and scrumptious naan for $40. The naan is amazing. Get some. Now. The food was really great. Portions are large. I am still full and it's 530am. You'll have lots to take home for lunch and dinner for at least a day or so. Added bonus, it's BYOB and there's no corkage fee. Go early, right when it opens and eat a snack first because you will wait. There were a large group of us so we chatted the hour wait away without really noticing. It is worth the wait I promise. Staff is very nice and attentive. Only reason I am giving 4 stars instead of 5 is because of the wait. Personally, no matter how good the food is, waiting for it is one of my least favorite things to do. Especially in a place without a bar or a game playing on TV. Park in the Down to Earth parking up the ramp behind the building.
(4)Ra G.
As other reviewers have mentioned, the food here is tasty. Unfortunately, the service and the dining experience are absolutely horrible. If you are okay with waiting 20 minutes for a glass of water, waiting an additional 15 minutes for a rude/indifferent member of the waitstaff to take your order, and being completely ignored for the remainder of your dinner, all while sitting at tables shoved so close together it's like being on a forced blind date with 2-4 strangers, then by all means, this is the restaurant for you. The wretched service and the unpleasant dining experience simply do not make up for the food. Maybe get it to go? (Be prepared to wait a very long time for your to-go order.)
(1)Elizabeth K.
I love Cafe Maharani!!! The food is awesome (the eggplant tikka masala and lamb saag are my faves) I love that they have a variety of vegetarian-friendly options too since my mom is vegetarian and sometimes it's hard finding places that she'll enjoy as much as the rest of the family. The only drawbacks are the lack of parking and the long wait. Some other reviews have commented on poor service but in my experience the servers have always been friendly and attentive though sometimes a little rushed.
(4)Birendra Y.
This small hole in the wall restaurant carries a long waiting list, we had to wait 10 minutes despite having reservations. The service seemed a little slow with our order being taken 15 minutes after we were finally seated...but eventually we got our order in...Lamb Biryani, Keema Naan, Chicken Tikka Masala and Lamb Madras. The spices and the tastes were pretty good, but I was shocked...there was no rice to accompany the dishes...wth? Me being of partial Nepalese decent this was depressing...but they made up for it with very tasty Lassi Drinks and a cute server so it's whatever...still can't beat Himalayan Kitchen...
(3)Margaret W.
The food here is divine. Every single thing I sampled was wonderfully spiced to perfection but the staff is as rude as they come and the wait for it crazy. I was seated right away but proceeded to wait at least 45 mins for food. Again, the food is fabulous, but the service needs an upgrade.
(4)Adam P.
I try to go to a place two times before reviewing it, just to make sure that the service and food was the norm and not just an off night. Two visits (well, one dine-in and one take-out) down, time for a review: My suggestion is to do take-out. The wait here is insane (got there at 6:00, waited 45 to be seated, waited another 45 for the food after ordering), and I can't imagine how bad it is if you get there a bit later in the evening. The food here is fantastic. We got the rice sampler (basmati, coconut, tomato and yellow rice), lamb samosas (so so so SO tasty), stuffed naan, chapati (whole wheat naan) chicken vindaloo and a shrimp curry. The stuffed naan was okay; really big, but not as tasty as I expected. Chapati was good (and hey, whole wheat is always a good choice), but the curries were AMAZING! You can order your vindaloo however spicy you want it. I went with 7, because I had to share with some other people, but the flavor is great. Service here, not so fantastic. They don't refill your water often (the cups are really small). This is a pet peeve of mine at a normal restaurant, but at a restaurant where they serve really spicy foods, it was just that much worse. After that first trip, it was take-out only for us. Pretty convenient, though: call ahead, place your order, and by the time we drove to pick it up, it was ready. After getting the rice sampler, we knew that the Coconut Rice was the way to go. Also ordered a garlic naan (better than the stuffed naan, for those keeping score), lamb vindaloo with a spice level 10 (now that we were eating at home, I had the home court advantage and could refill my water as often as I wanted), and eggplant tikka masala. I think a normal person can get 2 - 3 meals out of one curry order, and the amount of rice they give is downright obscene. We will be eating coconut rice for a week as a result of this order. But it's so delicious, I don't mind at all.
(4)Brad N.
I have a new favorite dish. It's the last entree in the meat section. It's called Chicken Tawa Manchurian (?) and it is the best thing I've ever had here. The chicken is floured, deep-fried, and then sauteed in a tomatoey, spicy, tikka-masala-like sauce minus the cream. It's much better than Chicken Tikka Masala. More flavor, better texture, and I think more meat. Try the Chicken Tawa Manchurian now and then click on "useful" later.
(4)Caitlin C.
At first I was pretty upset about this place - I was in a group of five, and we ended up waiting for 2 hours on a weeknight to be served. I get the idea this is the norm, so dont expect to be in and out quickly!! The pro's and con's are pretty straightforward: Pros: - Incredible food. The curries are at least up to the standards of the British. Having lived in England for several years I grew used to curries and missed them when I moved to Honolulu. There's no doubt that the food is great, and you won't be disappointed. - The atmosphere and decor are also nice... Cons: - Painfully long wait (for seemingly no reason too! the servers let couples sit at tables which would sit four people! ... and what's more is they can even split the tables up into single segments, or sit strangers next to each other, but they don't! So stupid!) - The staff is quite rude. When we went, the man behind the counter refused to give us some water during our 2 hour wait (only a nice girl server finally did) and he also would refuse to tell us where we sat in the queue, continuously insisting that we just not bother him. It's almost as if he wanted us to leave.
(3)Melissa C.
My husband and I are big fans of indian food and have eaten it all over the country often enjoying places with much worse reviews than here so we both had high hopes for Maharani. Unfortunately the experience was a let-down and we won't be going back. First let me say that in most of our usual haunts, we are fought over by our regular wait-staff for being friendly and laid-back. We are not in a rush to be served, require little, and will leave when our table would be better used by someone else. That being said, the service in this restaurant was essentially non-existent. After a day around Hawaii, our first glasses of water were mostly empty before our food came. They weren't refilled until about 3/4 of the way through our meal because we flagged down a waiter after several attempts and asked for them to be. Our first thought as the last few sips of our water were being rationed was that the cups were opaque, so we moved them to the edge of the table to draw attention to them. Unfortunately for our plan to work our table would have to be at least glanced at, which it never was. It must have taken some effort on the wait-staff's part since there's likely no more than a dozen tables in the place, but they managed to ignore us entirely. The food was sort of a mixed thing. The Vegetable Navrotton Korma that I ordered was pretty good, though the large pieces of ginger in it always took me by surprise, and not in a good way. Generally it is one of my favorite dishes and although this wasn't my favorite rendition it was unique and mostly tasty. It is a dish with many variations so something like a sudden mouthful of ginger was forgivable. Slightly less forgivable was the terribly bland Chicken Tikka Masala my husband received. We both had the same thing to say about it. It was "missing something". He says it was salt, I think it was some citrus in the tomatoes and salt but either way, he mostly ended up eating my food with me. There was nothing wrong with it exactly but when I'm shrugging my shoulders over a food I'm usually pretty excited for, there is a problem. The Plain Na'an was light and nice and probably the best part of the meal. The rice had something mixed into it very unevenly and was therefore inconsistent in flavor and clumped together in places. I'm not sure which type of rice it was because we weren't asked which type we wanted just if we "wanted rice with our food". Don't take that to mean that the rice comes complimentary because it does not, we were just not told that or what types of rice were available. Our one contact with our waiter was apparently enough for him to understand us enough to make that call on his own? After our check was placed in front of us my husband put down his credit card and asked if the chai tea he ordered came with refills (at our favorite place it does) and both the check, his card, and the teacup were whisked away. The tea arrived along with the swiped card and receipt and we find the tea did NOT come with refills and we've been charged for a second cup. Personally I thought the chai was pretty bad but my husband thought it was ok. $5.00 for two small tea-cups worth of ok? Not even close to worth it. Really we should have complained but by the time we noticed they had come over to collect our signed credit card slip (who collects those while the people are still sitting there? Isn't that considered rude?) we were too annoyed to argue it. So they got a tip that made me feel like a cheapskate and an honest review on Yelp. Food is merely ok. Service is awful. If I were you I wouldn't waste my time on this place.
(2)Aimee F.
Service is horrible. First you have to wait in line for about a good 30-40 minutes at least. Try your hardest not to go on a weekend around 6-8pm. The waiters took forever to take our order, I mean after waiting 30-40 minutes I think we know what we want. They only checked on us once, and that was to ask us if we were ready for the check. Anyway, the food ws AMAZING! We ordered the chicken tikka masala, the lamb curry, naan and yellow rice (best I ever had!).. They're the only reasons I left happy. The portions are also huge!! My bf and I did their special "dinner for 2", and I swear it could feed 4 people. I haven't eaten in any other Indian restaurants in Hawaii, so I have little to compare to. it's also BYOB so that was good..ask for extra glasses while you're waiting to be seated to help hold your hunger and forget about the fact that they only have 3 or 4 seats in their "waiting area".
(3)Jennifer C.
I can't believe I'm going to say this but I think this IS the best Indian resto I've been to. Yes, that means it tops Amber from SF/Mountain View/San Jose. If you plan to eat here, call five minutes before you leave the house and put your name on the list- because there is most definitely, a list. They don't take reservations and if you don't call ahead, you can expect at least a half hour wait. The atmosphere is casual and intimate. Great date place or to go with friends. Eat the Paneer Tika Masala and Biriyani. We also got this chicken in basil sauce that was out of this world (I tried just the sauce of course). This is on my MUST try list if you're visiting Hawaii- who knew Indian food can be sooo good on the islands?
(5)Matthew G.
The mere fact that we came here once, and another time ordered take-away, in the span of two weeks, suggests that we enjoy CM. We're gearing up for our London trip which will no doubt be jam-packed with several Indian repasts. So we decided to check out Cafe Maharani. We enjoyed the chicken tikka; rich, creamy and spicy tomato with somewhat dry pieces of chicken. Because they cook the chicken in the tandoor first (before putting it in the tikka sauce) the resulting pieces lack the desired juiciness. I would suggest they cook their meats a little less so prior to serving. The korma was a tad sweet, not a lot going on here (spice-wise), but the texture is comforting. Garbanzos were very undercooked, but the dal (lentils) were extraordinary. Breads, especially the buttered paratha, were steaming hot and yummy, allowing us to dunk, stuff and devour. I'd like to give them 3.5 stars because overall the service was good, the staffers are friendly, and the food outshines the local competition.
(3)Mickey C.
Best Indian food west of the Atlantic Ocean. Properly spiced too! Buttered Chicken, Chicken Vindaloo (hot), Chicken Tiki Masala, Palak Paneer, and best of all, the Afghan Naan! At there last two nights in Waikiki! Should open at 5.....line starts at about 4:45....doesn't open on time, usually about 5:15. Small dining room that seems to seat no more than 40 or so. Does a BIG take out business.
(5)Kali B.
If nothing else...if absolutely nothing else, if you're lucky enough to be in Oahu, and even luckier to have transportation, then please, please, PLEASE come here for the Afghani naan. In all my years of being a snobby Indian food connoisseur, I have never, ever, tasted a naan like this, and am tempted to brave the eight hour flight from Chicago just for this. The S.O. and I, having planned our Hawaiian trip, were having cold feet. We're both vegetarian, we declaimed! Hawaiian food doesn't seem to accommodate much, what if we can only eat fries for 7 days?! So where did we, in our grass digesting stomach frustration, turn to? Yelp, of course ;). Scrolling through Yelp for "Indian, Oahu", (which provoked a "you come to Hawaii and you want Indian food???" from the S.O.), I chanced upon Cafe Maharani. Which saved our vegetable and dairy eating appetites...in spectacular fashion. Never mind the kitschy red paint, the flat screen tuned to Sony Entertainment Television, and the general bistro-y feeling it evokes...look at the menu first. Read. It says, by way of explanation of "maharani", that their mothers' are the queens of their hearts. Which, really, begs the question...was Mom the one that taught them how to cook? If so, then, man, their mama is the queen of my STOMACH. The paneer! The biryani! The raita! The NAAN! HEAVEN! We ate four of our seven dinners here. We even took some on the plane to GO back to Chicago. We stuffed ourselves silly, like the silly Indian-food-deprived piggies we truly were! And if you don't come back having been a silly overstuffed piggy too? I'll eat your share of the food. And thank you profusely for it.
(5)Martin C.
This is the best Indian restaurant I had been to. There are a lot of great dishes, like the lamb or chicken, but my favorite one is the chicken wings. It makes me thinking about it all the time when I am hungry.
(5)Levi T.
Three of us split the meal for two and it was plenty. Prices are good and the seasoning was very well done. Nothing was too hot or too bland, and they bring additional spice by request. Advisory: call ahead and go on an off night. They do not take reservations and the wait can be rough.
(4)Hillary M.
Our favorite restaurant in Honolulu! Get there early (5pm). Our favorite is the dinner for two, which is enough food for dinner and two lunches for two people. You get lots of naan, samosas, saffron rice, and two main courses. The lamb rogan josh is to die for!
(5)Michael C.
This place is gooooood! I don't know if it's considered to be authentic Indian food or not, but that doesn't matter. This place is GOOD! My friends and I shared about 5 different dishes and all were great. Plus, the food portions are fairly large, so expect to take some home with you.
(5)Rocky C.
Great Indian gem in the middle of king street. The only gripe I have is about the lack of seating at this place. It's small so during a dinner rush you might wait up to an hour for a table. Also service isn't as great during rushes. this understandable because only 1-2 waiters work here at a time. I never left Maharani unsatisfied nor hungry. Beside a few misses on the vegetarian curry dishes I would say almost everything on the menu is delicious. My favorite is basmati rice, plain naan, the gigantic samosas and matter paneer. Oh yea and it's BYOB which is awesome!!!!
(4)Robo-belly A.
I have, for years, resisted writing a review about this place, just because I'm a tad biased. I think I've been going here since they opened, and my loyalty to them is not at all due to the fact that I have family friends there (another reason that I never wrote a review). It is simply due to the fact that their food is fantastic! There is practically nothing I've tried there that disappoints...ever. Their portions are plentiful and delicious. Their lamb biriyani, for example, easily feeds two people and leaves you with enough to munch on the day after. My perfect meal there starts with some veggie samosas, and then moves on to a main course of lamb biriyani (they don't even ask me anymore - this has just become a staple), kashmiri naan and one of the following chicken dishes - tandoori chicken, chicken coconut korma, chicken vindaloo, or chicken mahkni. I'm also a huge fan of lamb masala curry, lamb vindaloo, lamb roghan josh, and boti beef kebab. Ask for it a little extra spicy (if your palate is trained) and you'll get a proper experience. Finish up with one of their desserts, all of which are great - my fave are the gulab jamuns.... and now my mouth is watering just thinking of all this delightful food! I can almost taste the lamb at the tip of my tongue.... drool! I really love what they've done with the cozy space in there, too. It's not overly designed, but the little details do add some authenticity (minus the part where you get to eat with your hands - they should suggest that option to people). Add the gloriously over-acted bollywood movies that play in the background, and you will have your date dancing behind trees with a samosa in her/his hands in no time. ... Speaking of which, this place is probably better suited for a date than for a larger group as the seating in there is a tad limited. ... even though eating curry and making out afterwards...uh, yeah. Not so much... Um, back to the bollywood movies. I hate them with a passion, but somehow my utter abhorrence for them really adds to the experience of eating there once in a blue moon (usually I take out) ... not sure how, but somehow it makes the food tastier. Trust me on this ... I really have to say, having been lucky enough to travel to that entire south asian region, Cafe Maharani is the closest you will get to experiencing true Indian food in Hawaii. The other spots in Honolulu are wonderful as well, but my favorite, hands down, is Maharani. Keep up the great work guys!
(5)Dwight L.
Favorite restaurant on island. Everyone I have brought here loves it. Cannot recommend enough. Expect a wait if you come during dinner. If you show up at 8 you wont have much of a wait.
(5)Joe L.
I love Indian food now. This was the first place that I went to, to have Indian food, and I must say that I am extremely impressed! The presentation and service was great, and the atmosphere there was wonderful. The Butter Chicken, Lemon Rice, and Naan were what I had (all suggested by my Indian friend) and I was completely sold after that. The entire meal came out to about $25 and it fed three people. I think that we won out on that meal. I'm going there again on Thursday!
(5)Stefanie M.
Went there last night to safisfy an indian craving I couldn't seem to shake and to be honest, it was probably one of the worse dining experiences Ive had in a long time. We got there at 715, and was seated almost instantly. I thought things were off to a good start. Although it took a while to be brought water and menus, it wasn't nearly as bad as what was about to happen. We finally settled on getting the dinner for two complete meal. It seemed like a good deal, appetizer, 2 entrees, naan, and rice for fourty dollars. Not a bad price for the portions. We ordered from our waiter (the only person on the floor) and waited anxiously for our food. We ordered the lamb curry marsala and chicken meatballs in a red sauce. Like I mentioned earlier, I was looking forward to indian so I was very hungry. About ten minutes later the samosas came out. They were good, like a pot pie with indian spices. Then the waiting commenced. It wasn't until another forty minutes until our food came. And it wasn't everything, it was just the first dish we ordered. Despite being irritated about the wait, we tried to give the food a chance at least. Even tables that were sat after us had gotten their food and left, and others who ordered the same time as us were getting ready to leave. So when we finally got the second dish, the chicken meatballs, I was relieved. Until i realized that the center of the meatball was completely RAW. Yes, they served us raw chicken. Since the sauce was strong, and lighting was dim I consumed about half before I realized that it was completely raw and cold. I have pictures to prove it. After that we completely lost our appetite and decided to just leave. We didn't want to make a scene but they even tried to charge us for raw chicken. I'm sorry, but that is a BIG NO NO for any restaurant. I would not recommend that anyone eat there. That just goes to show they don't cook their food properly and do not check the internal temperature. Although I have had a pleasant experience many years ago, this dining incident has left a horrible taste in my mouth and will never go back to Maharani Cafe.
(1)Rachel K.
5 stars because the food is AMAZING and that's all the matters. It's a little small, so make sure you get there early cause it will get crowded. Servers are nice and are constantly busy (there's usually only one or two). This place just gets better every time I eat there. I usually get garlic naan, yellow rice, and shahi paneer. Awesome combination.
(5)Frederick M.
The naan is outstanding! Had the regular butter naan and also the garlic naan, it was very crisp and light. Also ate the Chicken Masala curry and the Lamb Vindaloo. I'm not too much of a spicy fan, got a 7 on the spicyness for the vindaloo and the waiter informed us we we wanted it spicier they could add more later. Overall the food was excellent. The place is a pretty small, very quaint hole in the wall. So while it's got a good atmosphere, you might want to call in ahead of time or get it take out.
(4)Lauren S.
This is for take out only: My friend and I ordered an order of biryani rice which lasted for several days because it filled up a whole styrofoam box! We ordered the chicken tikka masala and the pretty spicy chicken vindaloo- which burned my throat hardcore- I couldn't talk for a second. That stuff was too spicy for me- but dang! The masala was sooo good! They both came in pretty large plastic containers that lasted at least 3 meals. It was all relatively cheap and the wait time for ordering wasn't so bad!
(4)Dave T.
This was probably one of the best indian food experiences i've had in a long time. Although my brother and I had to wait about an hour on a tuesday evening(!), it was totally worth it! The food was spectacular. since we waited so long, our eyes were way bigger than our stomach, and we ordered garlic naan, samosas, lamb vindaloo (extremely spicy and great), and the name eludes me right now, but it was a lamb dish in a pot with a breaded crust at the top that we dug in to. totally phenomenal! service was good and it was a byob, but we didn't realize at the time. definitely THE indian place to go to in hawaii!
(5)Shelley K.
I've heard about Cafe Maharani for awhile and I've always wanted to go since I live so close by, but I never got myself to go. Guess I was afraid that I wouldn't like it. I finally went last night and I'm so glad I went. It was a Monday night and we got there around 7PM and it wasn't busy so we got seated right away which was nice. It took me and my bf a long time to decide what to order cause we wanted to try everything! It all sounded so good. Food: So we ended up ordering the tandoori prawns for an appetizer, the lamb masala curry, this chicken curry with apples cooked with coconut milk, cinammon & cardomon (I can't remember what the dish was called), naan with olives, the assorted rice platter (came with 4 different kinds of rice) and a mango lassi. The food was amazing!! Definitely will order their tandoori prawns everytime. It was so good!! Just wish it was pre-shelled. The naan is great! The whole reason I wanted to try this place was cause I heard they had the best naan and I totally agree. Their lamb was AWESOME!! Definitely a winner on the menu! Their chicken dish was very interesting and yet good, though it was definitely different for my tastes. Their rice dishes are amazing!! I love their coconut rice! it was sweet, but had a kick of spicy. Service: Only reason why I couldn't give this place 5 stars was the service. It was good at first, when they weren't busy, but as soon as it got busy, the service was definitely lacking. We didn't even get our mango lassi, and they still charged us for it. They were nice about taking it off the bill, but to get our bill, it took forever. But the servers were very nice though. I think because its such a small place and they get so many customers, the service just gets very slow. All in all, I would definitely go back to this place, even with their horrible parking. Just gotta go fo an early dinner most definitely! I'm so going back to try their stuffed naan breads and some more curries!!
(4)Jimmy O.
The food is good, but the service is not. I switched to Himalayan Kitchen, but thought I'd try Maharani one more time. Not worth the absurd wait and rude waiter.
(2)Roly G.
Overall, most of the food is pretty good. Walking in, you smell all the aromas of the food and it's AMAZING. When we went here, we had the Chicken Tikka Masala. It wasn't bad, but it's not as creamy than what we're use on the mainland. It's a nice place but parking can be hard to find.
(4)Hugh B.
Watch out! If you're planning to dine in at this spot, make sure you bring a tent or a board game (preferably something long like Monopoly). Because you will be waiting for a long time. This place is absolutely magnificent when it comes to satisfying your Indian food cravings. The food is excellent, the service is friendly and professional. The menu is extensive with varieties of curries, tandoori dishes, and naan breads of all variations. I personally like the Briyani dishes, Indian fried rice with an almost overwhelming explosion of flavors from cinnamon to saffron. Their stuffed naan breads are interestingly good and their tandoori dishes are simply delicious. I hate it when other Indian restaurants end up over cooking my meats in the tandoori over. Theirs come out BBQ'd perfectly but still moist, sheer perfection. What's also new and interesting is their Coconut Rice Pulau priced at a reasonable $7 the last time I checked and packs a portion of a Briyani dish. The only complaint I have of this place besides the ridiculous wait time is probably the size of their dining area. It feels really cramped when sitting at their tables. Their dining table spacing is a little too close for my comfort when dining next to strangers. Plus I always have the overwhelming smell of curry latched onto my clothes after being in there for a few minutes. If you're on a date and planning to do something after, bring a bottle of Febreeze cause you'll need it. Overall I definitely recommend this spot for your Indian food fix. It would be advisable to avoid dining in during prime dinner hours, however I've seen it packed 10 minutes before closing so there are no guarantees. Ordering takeout and calling it in at least an hour before pickup is your best bet for a pleasurable experience.
(4)Lisa C.
Thanks YELPers! While on vacation in HI we were craving Indian food and found Cafe Maharani! So glad that we did! This was some of the best Indian food we've had! Can't go wrong with the Chicken Tikka Masala, the naan was cooked to perfection. We had delicious Samosas. The spice had a kick to it (which I appreciate) but wasn't so strong that you couldn't taste the food. The service was fast and the ambiance and location were great. We took the Bus to get there and it was no problem at all. We look forward to stopping by Cafe Maharani next time we visit Waikiki!
(5)Kat P.
Excellent Indian food, ordered medium spice lamb tikka and shrimp masala curry. OOOO weee! Spicy hot but i LOVE it! My face was sweating after eating the curries. The naan is good and so are the veggie somosas, they look like little hats. The cool cucumber raita sauce went well with it. Everything taste good on the yellow tumeric rice. Papadams are my favorite, mmm. No menu found on the web site. The place is VERY VERY busy from 5pm onwards-- we went on a weekday for dinner, maybe we should try a later time instead of 6pm. Parking sucks but we walked a block from the place- the baseball field area across the street is always good. I can eat here everyday!!! We've loved this place since it opened a couple of years back--- was it 10 years ago?!
(4)August A.
Maharani is always great. If there's a line...WAIT! The food here is worth it. The vindaloo is tasty, spicy, and with customizable heat levels (personally, 9 is a balance of high heat and taste). The other big draw here for me is the cheese naan, like a fluffy and crispy quesadilla. The service here is always great, not talkative, but definitely accurate, quick...but you know what...it doesnt matter, the food speaks volumes over anything i could ever try and post as a surrealist event horizon. I recommend this place to any discerning palette! GO and TASTE IT!!
(5)Conrad G.
What did we order? 1 Chicken Saag 1 Butter Chicken 1 Lamb Korma 1 Tomato Rice 2 Buttered Naan How was the taste on a scale from 1 through 5? 5 How was the service on a scale from 1 through 5? 4 Did we feel it was worth the price? Yes Will we visit Cafe Maharani in the future? Yes
(5)Jackie O.
This is without a doubt my favorite restaurant on the island. I don't have much knowledge (ok, none at all) about Indian food, but from what I've read on yelp, this place is the best in Hawaii anyway. For two, you can easily get the meal down to about $30 - and it's worth every penny! At some restaurants, it's hard for me to try new things because I'm absolutely obsessed with my regular order. Here, I ALWAYS get the Lamb Rogan Josh, Buttered Naan, Yellow Rice, and the Indian Rose Lassi (I used to get the chai, which is also amazing) and split it with my bf. Last summer when I came back from a five-week long trip, this was one of the first meals I ate, and I'm not even joking - I couldn't stop thinking about the food later that night AND the next day. I even twittered about it, and I NEVER twitter. Maybe it's because of the fact that the ingredients are so exotic and mysterious to me...or maybe it's because I have a thing for Indian guys (and one there in particular), but I'm in love with Cafe Maharani! On a side note, the wait is long and can be painful (especially if spices/onions in the air make you tear), but it really is worth it! Once, I was with a big group of my coworkers, and we ended up waiting TWO HOURS for our table (which is understandable cause there were ten of us and the restaurant is tiny), but we enjoyed ourselves and didn't regret it one bit!
(5)kamran s.
This restaurant is AMAZING! I have seriously never had Indian food as good as this. I used to live right across the street from it and my roomates and I went a few times a month. Now I live in New York city. I have tried probably 20 indian restaurants around NY but none of them even come close to Maharani. Seriously. Recommended dishes: Chicken Coconut Korma is soooo amazing. Equally good is the Malai Kofta, which is vegetarian. Get it with a side of Kabli Naan which is a unique version of Naan which is about 2 feet long and amazingggg!!!
(5)Beth B.
This place rocks! We had to wait quite a while even though it was a Wednesday night, but the wait was understandable once we got to try the food. Everything was amazing. And it's BYOB!
(4)Austen I.
Disclaimer: This was my first foray into Indian food so keep that in mind as you read. For those you skimming through reviews, I can confirm what everyone on yelp is saying: - Crazy small parking lot. 10 stalls maybe? - Long wait times. We came at 6:15 on a Sunday and had to wait 40 minutes. - Large portions. - Reasonably priced. - Tasty, spicy eats - Yes the naan is good. - Yes the naan is large. - Yes it's worth the wait. For those of you want more details, here you go. After 40 minutes, we get seated, take a look at the menu and start to order: Waitress: How spicy do you want your vindaloo to be? Pick a number from 5-10 where 10 is the hottest Us: We'll go with 8. Our spiciness selection foreshadowed my yelp review. If yelp had a 10 star scale, I would have marked an 8. The meal: Iced Chai Tea Chicken Vindaloo, Spiciness 8 Lamb Masala Tandoori Chicken Kebabs (I forgot the exact name) Yellow Rice Garlic Naan Stuffed Vegetable Naan The Great: Chicken Vindaloo - Extremely tasty and extremely spicy. Me and my dinner party were having hot flashes and sweating up a storm because it was so spicy. It was only an 8 on the spiciness scale! My tounge was burning, but I couldn't stop. I would have a couple bites, take a break, sip some chai tea, then dive right back in. The spicy pain was worth the deliciousness. Even with the dish being so spicy, none of the flavor was stolen by the heat. Lamb Masala - Lots of recommendations for this one. Tasty as well. Not spicy, but very flavorful. It was interesting because it felt like I wasn't eating lamb at all. The Naan. The Naan! The vegetable naan was especially good. A lot of recommendations for the garlic naan but the stuffed vegetable naan kicked it's bready face! The Meh: The tandoori chicken kebabs were bland and boring. The yogurt didn't save it. The yellow rice was definitely overshadowed by the naan. Something else I noticed was the metal cups are actually a turn off. You can taste the metal when you put your lips to the cup. Yuck. Cafe Maharani makes me want to try more Indian places. From what I've read, it seems that this place is the best. There's nothing wrong with that. This place is worth the wait!
(4)Beth S.
Delicious! Vast assortment of food, spiced to perfection at reasonable prices! It's just like being in India!
(5)MamaRed P.
This place make the most amazing Indian food I ever tasted. They don't fuck around with their spiciness either. We order most of our dishes very hot 10 out of 10 star. and oh boy the heat almost blow my fucking head off! I love it. The food that we order tonight are: Chicken vindaloo, butter chicken, sea bass with the red hot sauce, lamb Briyani, stuffed spinach nan, roti and a few other things I can't remember, but they all were great. The portions are very generous, so don't over order. the service is fast and attentive. and free parking in the back.
(5)Catherine R.
If the gods eat Lamb Vindaloo, they get it from this restaurant. I ate it 5 days ago, order it extra spicy if you like hot food, when I first arrived in Honolulu and I have been fantasizing about it ever since. You must try this restaurant if you want to eat the best Indian food you have ever eaten.
(5)Timothy P.
I don't know much about Indian food. There I said it. Don't judge me. I came here on a Monday night at 8. I must have been lucky, because according to the other reviews, it's supposedly very busy to the point that there's no parking and a long wait. We got parking in the lot and we waited no more than 5 minutes for a table. Shortly after our arrival though, there were at least 5 groups waiting for a table. This place is decorated in the same way I've seen every Indian business or restaurant. Deep saturated color, lots of metal work, draped tapestries. Though what surprised me were Tiffany-style chandeliers hanging above us. Hmm, I didn't catch that in the Decorating Indian-style For Dummies book. Regardless, I liked them. So, being a newbie to Indian food, we decided to order one lamb dish, one chicken dish, and one fish (sea bass) dish. My company demanded we have rice, while I wanted roti bread- so we ordered both as a starch. As we waited for a food, we watched some Bollywood and were served water in tin/brass cups. Our food came out. Everything was divine. Each dish had it's own unique rich flavors. We devoured all the fish masala curry almost immediately, along with the roti bread that I ordered. We are definitely ordering those two things again. Guess what was leftover! The Rice. So IN-YOUR-FACE demanders of rice. Not like the rice was bad or anything, but I like it when people's taste buds agree with me more than their words. Sooooo eating here again. Perhaps tonight!
(5)Justin P.
I swear, everytime I go there the same thing happens. We get the craving, We sign in. We wait for what feels like forever, only to be welcomed by shitty service. Then, another long wait for someone to take our order. By that time I'm sick of it, and want to leave and wonder why the heck I came back. Then the food comes, and it's AWESOME!!!! You totally overlook all the rough edges. Their curries are wonderful, absolutely delicious! Their nan is a knock out! And I totally love the Yogurt Drink, perfect for when you go crazy and order the heat at level 8! Somehow always recommended..... if you have the patience!
(4)Bo-Bae K.
I have nothing but praises for this place. I came here last week for dinner with a friend at about five, where there were already people lined up to get in. It wasn't too busy, though, and we were seated immediately. It took a little while for our order to.be taken, but it was understandable as there were a few large parties that had come in with us, also. The food was fantastic, but expect a wait. We had a "Dinner for two" ($40.99) which comes with rice, jasmine, your choice of two entrees (vegetable, lamb, or chicken; we got the vegetable korma and the lamb masala curry), and one of three appetizers (we ordered the samosa, and I can't remember what else there was). We also ordered an Indian Rose Lassi, which wasn't my cup of tea, but my friend thoroughly enjoyed it. When the food came, the servings looked deceptively small. We thought we could handle it if we ate slowly, but we barely had a third of the food before we waved the white flag and asked for a box and our cheque. The naan was soft and warm, the masala and korma were piping hot, and the lamb just melted in your mouth without any of the distinctive gamey taste. The rice was fluffy and delicious, and the samosas were fantastic with and without their sauces (also delicious). All in all, Cafe Maharani is amazing. Their food is amazing, their service that night was great, and I wouldn't hesitate to give up an arm and a leg to eat it again tonight.
(5)Liz T.
I brought my dad here for Father's Day. Although my dad is a huge fan of Indian cuisine, I'm not--but even I enjoyed myself at this quaint restaurant. Parking can be problematic and seating even more so, but we lucked out since there was a single open table at 6PM. We began with hot Masala Chai ($1.99/cup)--it was lukewarm and very mild. I like the all-you-can-drink tea at Zaffron Restaurant much more. The Indian Salad ($3.99) with onions, cucumbers, and tomatoes in vinegar with raita was 50% onion and 100% unappetizing. I have no idea why our waitress recommended this. The main dishes were much tastier. We had the Lamb Masala Curry ($14.99) and the Shahi Chicken Korma ($11.50). The tender lamb was spiced perfectly and the yogurt-marinated chicken was yummy. We also got an order of Yellow Rice ($4.99), expensive for how bland it was but I guess you're paying for the smell. I can't get over the Garlic Naan ($3.15)--so crisp, doughy, light, and huge! The next time I visit it's for takeout and all I'm going to get is naan: Cheese-Garlic, Kashmiri (stuffed with dried mixed fruits, raisins, and cashews), and Onion Kulcha (stuffed with grilled onion). Talk about tandoor heaven! Overall it's a good, cheap restaurant with flavors rare in Pacific-Rim cuisine--dinner for 3 was just $54. Definitely come here to try Indian food if it's your first time. If you don't leave satisfied, at least your tummy will be satiated--portions are monolithic.
(4)Kate Y.
I cannot remember most dish s name, but is it matters? All of them are super good! Good thing about Indian food, even you had left over, it still taste great the next day!
(5)Mabel W.
Delicious food...worth the wait!!
(5)Trina T.
The food and ambience is awesome! I take my relatives here every someone comes for vacay!!!! I must try once place!
(5)Kyle M.
Except for the one time that I walked out before ordering because the waitress forgot about us, I've always left this restaurant with a smile on my face. Oh wait, there was that other time that the waitress, you all know the one, plopped our food and bill on the table at the same time and gave us a hurry-up look. I hope she liked her $0.02 tip. That said, all the food is great. All of it. ALL OF IT.
(4)Howard C.
I'm give it a one-star for the inconsistent & some times very bad attitude service at Maharani; the food are very good, but you'll have to put up with the robot like (zombies to be more exact) waiters; your dining experience will be determined by what kind of mood they are in. So go there for the food and you won't be disappointed, but first open the door and look around, if you see the waiter smiling then you'll have a nice dining experiences there, otherwise, eat at your own risk. By the way, can some one tell me if they have a dish washer there?! how come the cups are always greasy? ;-)
(1)Ben S.
Weird atmosphere kind of has "home dining room" feel. But seriously, who cares? The food is so effing awesome. Great for going in a group. Maybe I'm just a sucker for naan bread but this is the best Indian Food around.
(5)Shannon H.
Every time we go here we are never dissapointed. We originally found this place from my fellow yelpers back in November of 2010. Yes I might be a little behind everyone else in terms of frequenting this fine establishment but that is what a three year stint in Japan will do to you. It will also give you a greater appreciation of Indian food, yes Indian food in Japan! Back to the review at hand; eating at Cafe Maharahi must be something really special to me as well as my husband. We first had it after my first ultrasound, then again while I was recovering from delivery in the hospital, and most recently for my birthday. We ALWAYS get: 1) Tandoori Malai Prawns - large shrimp in a yogurt cream sauce with cheese, lime, peppers, and onions. It is served with two sauces, but we eat them plain. The second time we ordered them the shell was on them, making it a bit annoying to eat and savor all the yummy juices. 2) Eggplant Tikka Korma - eggplant fried and marinated in a coconut curry sauce with peas, carrots, and cauliflower. This has to be the best thing EVER! We both rant and rave how we could bathe in the sauce it is really that good! 3) Naan - butter or garlic or most of the time both. We have also had the: Chicken Makhni (Butter Chicken), not the best Ive ever eaten, that was either in Japan or in Singapore. Karahi Lamb - which is marinated lamb with veggies in a green sauce; also amazing. Coconut rice - good but we are not big rice fans. We attribute it to living in Japan for three years. Tips: Parking sucks. Park across the street at longs, or above down to earth. Menu can be found in the room service in paradise flyer/magazine...whatever that thing is called. It is also located online at the roomservice in paradise website: 941-DINE.com . Hope this helps, and Cafe, Maharani, I love you!
(5)Alicia R.
Best food on this island. It was extremely flavorful and the best bang for your buck. For $40.99, we were served two vegetable samosas, chicken tikka masala, lamb curry, a plate piled high with fluffy, straight from the oven naan, and paid an extra $1.00 for the coconut rice. We also ordered the iced chai tea and were pleased to find that it was comped from our bill. We had enough leftovers for lunch and dinner the next day. The only bad part was the wait. Thank goodness we waited even though we were irritated to the bone and contemplated on leaving. Service was quick once we were seated. We will definitely be back soon.
(4)Norman C.
This is one of the better place for Indian food in Hawaii. Price are very reasonable and most of the food on the menu are very delicious. Beware any night at this restaurant always have long wait. I would suggest you should come early for dinner. This restaurant is BYOB enjoy some beer or wine while waiting for table.
(4)Rachel K.
Everything here is so good. I hesitate to recommend anything in particular because I wouldn't want to encourage you missing out on anything. Portions are loarge so go with a friend or four and order a couple dishes. Get there early though because they fill up fast!
(5)Mike P.
Amazingly great place to eat! To all the whiners complaining about the wait: it's small. It's great. It's physics, OK? Hence: 1- show up at the door at 4:50. That means get parking by 4:30. This is Hawaii, remember? Theres about 6 or so spots around back, and street parking all around. Good luck with that. 2-BYOB. Enough said, except the ice-water they bring in those heavy metal glasses is excellent. 3-the food. Excellent, pretty much no matter what you order. We tend to get the curried rice as a base, & branch out from there. Haven't found anything we don't love yet. The poppadoms make a great appetizer BTW. 4-the service. Extremely friendly and quite attentive, even when they're very busy, which is about all the time. This is like a little excellent-service oasis in the typically encountered desert of the hawaii-style lackluster-service approach. Makes you feel like you're in Nostrums territory. 5-the Bollywood on the TVs. I'm pretty WASP-y and pretty much live in a haole world. Also i haven't owned a TV in over 25 years, so with those disclaimers out of the way I'll admit I find all the campy prancing around on the screen fairly entertaining to glance at, if you just can't think of anything to say, or you're losing interest in your dinner partner. So if you just can't tear your eyes off the TV screens - and Bollywood bugs you - I suggest a different partner, or maybe practice at being a better conversationalist yourself. 6- the restroom! Kind of funky nouvoux-3rd world way-cool decor, worth a visit, well, for a variety of reasons! I'll definitely be back!
(5)Anna A.
Good food. Good service. The staff was friendly. And the waiting time was not too long. I'm not pleased by the smell of food on my clothes, however. We ordered lamb masala curry, a house speciality. The curry was delicious. The lamb was tender. The portion was quite generous. We had plain and garlic naan with the curry. The naan was fresh from the oven and itwas still hot when it was served. Their chai masala hot tea tasted like an authentic chai masala hot tea. :)
(4)Charlie C.
I don't know where to start. I can't review my favorite dish because everything on the menu is exceptionally delicious! There's a wide range of items on the menu to please both the vegetarians and the meat-eaters. The wait is long, especially on the weekends. To reiterate some of the Yelpers' tip: you can alleviate the wait by calling in advance and have your name placed on the waiting list. One hour should be good enough. By the time you get there, you don't have to wait as long. In all honesty, after a long wait, you'll find out that it was all worthwhile. PS. After a night full of a gorging, top it off with a cup of hot chai tea.
(5)Chloe T.
Fantastic Indian food! This is some of the best I've ever eaten. Their dishes are authentic and reasonably priced. The staff is always accommodating and friendly. The only thing I will warn you, is to be prepared to wait a while for a table. This place is so popular that you will likely wait an hour and a half on a Friday night... but it's so worth it! Plus it's BYOB, which is great.
(5)Tracy M.
We just ate here this past Memorial Day weekend while vacationing in Waikiki. Had we eaten here sooner than our last night in Waikiki, we definitely would have gone more than once. Even after going to several places around the SF Bay Area over the years, this is hands down the best Indian food we've had! It puts all other Indian food we've had to shame. Here's what we ordered (for two): Chicken Tikka Masala- delicious and not too spicy. Lamb Biryani- the lamb was perfectly cooked (tender and falling apart), and it was served on an 11" plate stacked high. It would have been plenty for four to six people to share (depending on how many other things you order). Saag Paneer- Normally I don't really care for this dish, but my boyfriend likes it, so I usually just eat a small serving to help him out. I only wish all those other saag paneers that we've had tasted like Cafe Maharani's saag paneer. The flavor was intricate and indescribable, but incredibly delicious especially when scooped up and eaten with the garlic naan that we ordered. I think I ate three servings of saag paneer that night. Garlic Naan- Huge portion, and it was softer and lighter than the naan we typically get served at other Indian restaurants. It was perfect for eating the saag paneer and chicken tikka masala Ethiopian-style. Mango Lassi- Typically this is a neon orange drink that has the consistency of runny yogurt (not knocking it, because I do love it regardless). Here, it is white and very liquid, like coconut milk, and much less sweet than normal. It is so refreshing and so much less filling than the regular kind. Total bill was around $57, and there was plenty left over food for a few more meals. Yes, it is BYOB (as are a lot of restaurants in Oahu). Yes, the wait was long. Yes, the waitstaff can seemed rushed. If you're adverse to any of the above, you should consider getting take out from here instead of eating in. The food is really just that good. Too good to miss.
(5)Paul K.
This place has great food. You usually have to wait a while to get in, but it's worth it. Carry out is a good option, or calling ahead. The servers are good, but the service itself is so-so, in part because it's always so busy. Call ahead to get put on the list, bring wine or beer if you want it - certainly a place you should go if you like Indian food and are on Oahu.
(4)bryan d.
Dark warm cozy bollywood movies on the flat screen very relaxing setting. Almost always a short wait and parking can be a challenge but always worth the trip. Their nan is incredible they have garlic, buttered, and plain... comes to the table steaming hot and the taste could change your life haah. Lamb curry melts in your mouth, all the dishes I have had here are full of flavor and never boring. So far this is my favorite Indian food restaurant on the island... Why not 5 stars? Its byob The water taste like tap water out of the faucet.. eww ( get ice tea ) Service is very average Parking can be a huge pain The great food and relaxing environment make up for its downfalls. Give it a try if you dont like it ill eat it for you ahha.
(4)Reney O.
Ooooooh my goal is to keep coming back here to try everything on the menu! Lamb saag has always been my favorite Indian dish, so it's difficult for me to not order it immediately at an Indian restaurant. But Cafe Maharani just has such a huge menu of deliciousness that has got me wanting more. Anyhow! Specifics... Lamb saag (chunks of slow cooked lamb in a spinach curry) is their house specialty and they didn't disappoint as far as the lamb. I was happy to find large chunks of tender goodness rather than have difficulty looking for them like I've experienced at some other restaurants. However, the lamb was the star of this dish and not the curry. The curry actually didn't have too much of a taste to it, at least not the strong flavor and spice that I'm used to with this dish. But their naan made me forget about that disappointment soon enough. Maharani probably makes some of the best naan I've ever had, cooked just right, hot, and tasty. Oh and they have a variety of naan? That's something new to me! Of course I went for the garlic naan and alone that tasted perfect. But when ripped up to pick up my lamb saag and mop my plate? Yeeeeah that's GREAT stuff right there. Major like! Maharani is a great cafe. Small, friendly, and a good place to go with a few friends to enjoy a damn good meal. Random, but I really love their cups...really, my mango lassi came in this cool, old-looking, metal gold cup with some neat Indian designs on it. Little touches like that are memorable and somewhat thoughtful to me. Anyhow, I'd recommend Maharani to anyone for the food and setting. My only complaint is that parking's a pain and this place gets SUUUUPER busy so you might have to wait outside for a table to free up. Service-wise they were good, very attentive and on-top of everyone's needs. Four stars well deserved.
(4)Erika R.
Our first time to Cafe Maharani and we were instantly in love!! We arrived without reservations at 8:00 pm and were told it would be a 30 minute wait so we had time to mill around outside and read through their menu which is prominently displayed outside the front door. After about 45 minutes we were seated. Not bad because the decor is so pretty and fun and the bollywood movie playing on the two wall mounted flat screen tvs was great! First thing I noticed was the hand hammered metal plates and metal water goblets..so very cool! We ordered the Vegetarian Samosas, Chicken Coconut Korma, Chicken Masala, Lamb Korma, Tomato Basmati Rice, and roasted garlic naan. Chicken Masala was scrumptious! Lamb was tender and really good. We all liked the creaminess of the Chicken Coconut Korma - and sopped up the sauces with our onolicious garlic naan. For our first experience at this restaurant, I have no reason to give anything less than five stars. Delicious and fun, all in one night!
(5)Jas A.
Whenever i'm hungry for indian food, this is my favorite place. I love watching peoples faces as they are watching the bollywood movies. the servers are nice and the ambiences is fun. we always order: khalbi naan- so delicious and enormous. people stare at its size! tandoori platter- love the mix. flavorful and piping hot chicken biryani- a little spicy but that's what i like lamb vindaloo- so yummy and great to eat with the naan or biryani lamb rogan josh- mMm...my favorite with fresh naan rice pudding- delicious and refreshing taste of cardamom gulab- little deep fried balls of happiness in a spiced syrup always a tasty experience!
(5)Sarah G.
It's slim pickins' when it comes to Indian food on Oahu...but this place is great and it gets me through the summers here when I'm craving Indian food. The best thing about Cafe Maharani is the portion sizes! They are much bigger than what you would get on the mainland at an Indian restaurant and I appreciate that since Indian food is always so expensive. Their naan is excellent as well ...I've never tried any of the other flavors because I'm a naan purist that likes the original too much to deviate, but I'm sure they are as great as everyone says. I will concur with a lot of people that reviewed this place already though--it's best not to come with a big group. We had 6 people and although they accommodated us quickly, it's a lot easier to get a table faster when the group is smaller. That goes for a lot of places though. That being said--this place is probably the best in Oahu and every year when I come back I make sure to stop by at least one time.
(4)nanu b.
If anyone is looking for authentic indian cuisine flavor maharani is the place to go......i vouch for the quality and spices used here since i am an indian:))...... would have given it a 5 but the high prices force me to give it a 4......we took 2 plain naans (which are humungous, 1 can feed a normal stomach sized person w/o any rice), chicken biryani (crazy good, its rice favored with saffron, nuts, choice of meat, fried onions need i say more) and lamb masala curry (the tenderest piece of lamb you will ever taste)......no appetizer and no drinks and the bill came to almost $50.......might sound reasonable but this is no cheap eat........naan is a whopping $4!!........ aside from the high price the food is tasty and is as close to india as it can get........but keep in mind its no cheap eat to get your indian fix .
(4)Tara C.
I'm not really known for my patience, so usually, an hour+ wait at a restaurant it out of the question. One of two things usually happens: I get antsy or loaded. Neither are good situations for my dining companions. Yet, there I am, drinking my BYOB Stella, watching awesome Bollywood movies and reading Indian "US" magazine and pretty happy. One Stella down. Two Stellas into it...and I am chatt'n it up with the people next to me...they've only been here 45 minutes. I pity them and point them in the direction of the liquor store down the street. Three Stellas into the wait. Its a crowded, and a constant jockeying for position, "where can I stand that I am NOT in the way?" And yet...I want to be near the brilliant kitchen putting out that Indian food. I can smell the spices. I can see that the naan is light and airy. My future holds a dinner worthy of Ganesha. FINALLY. Just in time for my Stella number 4. My time has arrived. I asked the waitress for just a few more minutes to decide. KIDDING. Of course, I already know what I will have: Sizzling Tandori Fish. Extra, Extra spicy. Of course, when it comes they give it to me "haole spicy" so I have to ask for extra peppers, but they bring them and I am once again, happy. My friends have chicken curry and lamb maharani. All it FANTASTIC. The depth of flavor was some of best I have ever had. The naan is super light and airy. I wish we would have gotten another basket. A-MA-ZING. Here are my suggestions. If you don't have 2 hours to kill on a Friday night: do take out. Bring your own beer or wine, because they don't serve and you WILL want some (especially if you are waiting)... Skip it if you have a big party (unless waiting in a cramped area near the kitchen is OK with you)..... and be prepared...for the best Indian food dinner. EVER.
(5)Jenny K.
The best Indian food I have ever had, hands down. Really neat vibe inside with all the bright colors, Bollywood videos, and open kitchen where you can see the staff working away creating masterpieces. I happened to have had the owner, Mohammed, as a customer before, so he hooked it up... like OG style. I think we were so enthusiastic about how awesome everything was that he got carried away and decided to stuff us with as much delicious delicacies as he could until we almost had to get a cab to our car around the corner because we could barely move. He brought us a special dessert, I think it was a tapioca with crumbled pistachio on top (it was a few months ago), which was amazing. And we still had TONS of leftovers. To top it all off, it was very affordable, especially for the quality and amount of food that you get. Delish Veggie Samosas. Really fun atmosphere. Great for a date night or for a group of friends. The BYOB sitch adds a fun element. I cant wait to go back, hopefully soon!
(5)Tammy T.
Sorry this is not a bad rating, just that I am not a yay-fan of Indian food, but I did try it and it wasn't bad at all. We got (pictures): #21 Chicken Masala Curry - 12.99 #62 Eggplant Tikka Korma - 11.99 #41 Fish Masala Curry (fish that day was Bass)- 15.99 #36 Lamb Vindaloo (insane hot; which was requested by Dev) #64 Coconut Rice - 5.99 #65 Yellow Rice - 4.99 #66 ? = 5.99 #78 Mango Lassi - 3.99 We went as a group of 6. The waiter guy was very nice, informing us what went well with what, which taste like what we already got, what things are good, etc. The Lassi helped a lot when I accidentally ate a baby pepper. *tears* My favorite was the eggplant; not spicy. I enjoyed all the different styles of rice. If you wanna see guys sweat (or cry) uncontrollably get the Lamb Vindaloo (insane hot)
(3)Ikaika T.
I told the waiter, who's nick name is Shohan (but prefers to go by Gohan), to refuse service if I return again today. I've eaten there for the past two days and the spice has completely cleansed my insides. So far I've had: Samosas; curry - spinach, lamb, egg plant; garlic spinach naan bread; garlic, spinach and cheese naan bread; rice pudding. Curries (in general) - I'm happy to finally eat an Indian curry that doesn't taste like a dairy product. A lot of restaurants tend to cater to Western tastes by adding too much sweet into their dishes. I'm glad they're "keeping it real" at this restaurant. Naan Breads - it's just amazing how much bread they give you. You can ask them where you want the additional ingredients in the bread. I asked them to put the garlic/cheese/spinach inside of the bread - they said "we don't usually do that, it's challenging, but we'll try". When the bread arrived it was cooked exactly to our specifications. So awesome! Rice Pudding - The rice pudding contains cinnamon, sugar, rice, milk, condensed milk and some other spice I couldn't figure out. It tasted like it was made within the hour - not like some places that serve really old bread pudding from the frig. It was topped with crushed pistashios for an extra CRUNCH. After we were done with our meal, there was enough left overs for two people/lunches. My only complaint is the weird Bollywood movies they play while dining. I don't know why everything has to have dancing... or why all Indian dudes dance much better than their female counter-parts. =\
(5)Jennifer H.
Love this place. In all honesty, there's an adjustment curve coming from the mainland where the Indian cuisine is just untouchable. Have to say this place grew on me. You cannot come here and not get samosas. Even compared to mainland, the samosas are absolutely the best. One order of two costs I believe $6 but they are so puffy and stuffed. Totally worth it. Love it with the chutney. My favorite go to dish for Indian cuisine is the chicken vindaloo- as spicy as they can make it. Saffron rice & nan of course too. Maharani makes a mean curry. If you're going for a vegetarian route, my friend introduced me to malai kofta, breaded veggie balls in a sweet curry sauce. Very good. Chicken masala is also a great choice. This place is also BYOB which is always a plus & guarantee you can drank whatever you wanna drank. Parking can be tough, they have a very small lot in the back. Sometimes you can catch street parking. Also, there's almost always an hour wait for dinner service, which works out because you can put your name on the list and mosey on over to Long's across the street for your liquor selections.
(4)Vivy K.
Living in Los Angeles for 7 years, I never frequented an Indian restaurant because there were none I truly liked. I've now lived in Hawaii for 1 year and I've already been to Maharani more than 10 times!! Whether it be for dining inside or ordering takeout, the food, wow, the food alone is to die for. My boyfriend loves the naan and always orders the lamb korma. We recently ordered the pizza naan but we like also getting the lamb korma to dip the pizza naan in because the sauce is dee-lish!! We are going to go for my boyfriends' mom's 60th birthday but note: Call ahead and they will put your name on the wait list a half an hour before you arrive. If not expect to wait awhile, it is a small restaurant and every single time we've gone, it is PACKED!! It's worth the wait though!
(4)S W.
I found a new favorite Indian restaurant. So I went here with a couple of friends on the recommendation of a third-party while visiting Honolulu. You know it's a good Indian place when there are a bunch of Indian families waiting around for a table. We ordered way too much food. Naan was really tasty. Korma was probably the best I've had. Variety of chicken dishes were all great. The food was a little slow coming out, but nothing to complain about.
(4)Shirley L.
We've been here several times now and I always leave happy. First, they're BYOB (corkage fee of $4.50). Second, they have magnificant naans out of the tandori. Third, they have paneer! How could you go wrong? I always order the Kalbi Naan (huge naan feeding up to three people), and a paneer dish and some chicken curry. Last time, we also ordered the eggplant curry which was also delicious. They're always packed, so be prepared to wait. Another option is that you are permitted to call 30 minutes before arriving at the restaurant and they will put your name on the list so you don't have to be there physically to wait for you table. This is a little trick that we used last time, and our table was ready right as we got there, even though we were eating there at 6:30pm on a Friday night - one of the busiest times!
(4)Dan W.
The Good: -By far best Indian Food in Honolulu -Large Portions -Friendly and Efficient Wait Staff -Nice Decor/Very Cozy -BYOB The Bad -The wait. We were told it would take 40 minutes to get a table and it actually took 90 minutes. Food was great but 90 minutes is way too long -They don't take reservations I spoke to one of the staff and asked about this and was told it was very difficult to manage reservations. My guess is they like the "buzz" of a long wait. But 90 minutes is beyond acceptable. My Recco to the Owners: Take reservations for say 70% of your tables and if necessary put a time limit on tables (90 minutes?). This would allow people who don't have the time to waste waiting for a table, to make rez well in advance, while still allowing walk-ins. Until then I may not come back. Also should consider buying new tables so that the 4 seater table can be split into 2 seaters. There were a number of couples sitting at 4 seat tables, while other couples waited.
(4)Desire'e D.
This was my first experience with Indian food. First impression as the door opens is a small, dimly lit, quaint, yet homey dining area. As you step in, you're welcomed by the the low chitter chatter of the diners as they enjoy their meals, along with Bollywood music videos playing on the flat screen TV up on the wall. I would say it's nice environment to take a date. The room was full, but our wait time was very minimal. We had the garlic naan, chicken malasa, saffron rice, and other chicken dish made with spinach. Delivery time was fast, service excellent, and the food was great. Free parking! Well worth the short wait.
(4)Kevin N.
I probably have much higher expectations of Indian restaurants than most. This was terrible: poor customer service, long waits, the mattar paneer was too spicy, and some of our naan was UNcooked to the point where we could still see the dough! Overall, I was unsatisfied with the level of service I received and the quality of the food.
(2)Zeke A.
Naan is Baam
(4)Julie H.
Came here as a party of four around 630 and had to wait about 20 minutes for a table. I love the decor and the Indian music videos are insane! We decided to order the Dinner for 3 even though there were 4 of us (i came with 3 guys = big eaters)... And there was STILL lots of left overs to take home. It came with an appetizer, 3 entrees of your choice, naan, and saffron rice (I think, not sure but it was yellowish). For our entrees we got chicken masala (awesome), lamb saag (awesome), and tandoori fish (awesome)!!! We could probably come again and order the Dinner for 2 and have it fill all four of us. But we wanted to try several things. The Dinner for 1 was about $20 and I could probably split it with someone now that I've tried several dishes. Yum yum! Just make sure you have your whole party otherwise they can't seat you! Great service, amazing food and byob!
(4)Kanoe K.
This was the first time I've had Indian food in Hawai`i ... oddly enough my first taste of Indian food EVER was in Northern Ireland?!? Anyways back to the restaurant ... The restaurant is easy to see, but parking is not that easy to find. There is a small parking lot in back of the building, but I think it only holds 7 cars at the most. We were able to find street parking a couple of streets over, so it was fine. My friends and I ordered vegetarian Samosas to start, along with Chicken Tikka Marsala, Lamb Biryani, and Garlic Naan Bread. For dessert we ordered a rice pudding dish (don't know the exact name). The Samosas were beyond delicious ... which is something coming from me because I don't like vegetables! The Chicken Tikka Marsala and Lamb Biryani were both amazing as well. The Biryani had some spiciness to it which went into overload when I accidentally ate a small pepper that was mixed in with the rice ... my mouth was on FIRE and water could not come fast enough!! I love Naan bread and this bread did not let me down ... although I would have liked it to be a little more garlicky!! The rice pudding was rather unoriginal in my opinion, and the rice was "chewy" which didn't seem right. My friends seemed to like it more as they ate it, but I was too full from the rest of the food to give it a second chance. The reason for the 4 stars is that we had rather slow service that night (only two people were working the tables). We had to ask for plates so that we could eat our Samosas, but it took a while before anyone came around to our table ... so we sat staring at these delicious looking Samosas while our stomachs grumbled hungrily. Also, it took a while to get water refills, which is my main gauge of good service. I would still return to this restaurant though ... nothing truly horrible happened to dissuade me! FINAL VERDICT: Be patient because the food is worth it and make sure to mix your foods together ... eating the chicken tikka marsala & lamb biryani with the naan was heavenly!
(4)Jesse C.
We tried to squeeze in SHC but botched our table count. Three of us walk around the corner to ... here. There's three rules to my food: I'll eat anything that doesn't move. Always eat with company when possible. If company is unavailable, beer is a close second. If the food gives you the 12 hour heartburn, having it for leftovers starts the countdown clock back over.
(3)Paul L.
Wow, wow, wow!!! I never thought that I would ever say that the best Indian food that I have ever eaten would be found on the island of Oahu. My 4 friends and I ventured to this place after reading a couple reviews from my fellow yelpers....they couldn't have been more right! First off, there's a convenience store down the street where you can purchase your beer or wine. Its B.Y.O.B. No corking fee either. Awesome. The wait was a tad bit long, it was a Sunday night at around 7:30 PM (Prime din din time) but definitely worth the wait. We order the vegetable samosas, tandoori chicken (roasted chicken), butter chicken (tender chicken in a mouthwatering sauce), chicken tikka, paneer palak (cheese and spinach dip), 2 orders of piping hot garlic naan and 2 orders of plain buttered naan. The naan itself was soooo bomb.com . Soooo soft, chewy and hot...dip them into any sauce and its like a fireworks show for your tastebuds. I basically ate myself stupid and couldn't stop eating because it was so damn good. The joint is small, yet cozy and the staff is very friendly. Do your tastebuds a favor and let them experience the fireworks show too, they won't be disappointed.
(5)Gary C.
Excellent Indian food with huge portions, and at very reasonable prices. The two of us got to the restaurant about 5:20 on a Sunday ( they open at 5:00), and the place was already half- full. We were seated right away and decided to order one vegetable samosa appetizer, one order of the 4 assorted mixed rice, one chicken tandoori mixed grill for me and one tandoori mixed grill ( prawns, lamb and 3 kinds of chicken) for my friend. Hers came out first, and I knew we were in BIG, BIG trouble. It came on a huge, metal, sizzling platter and was enough to feed three or four people, easily. Then mine came out on a platter and it was enough to feed three or four people. Then the rice came out in four big bowls, then the free naan came out. We were sitting at a table for four, and even so I had to put the bread on one of the empty chairs, since the table was full of food. In the end this turned out to be no problem, since they give you a number of to- go containers when you're through eating, and you put the leftovers in them yourself. We ended up taking home enough food for about four big meals. The food was excellent- the best Indian food either of us had ever eaten. Our total tab was about $60. Next time we'll probably share one appetizer and one entree and get one rice dish, and get out for around $35. There's a small parking lot in the back, off of Hausten Street, with about 8 parking spots. Or park along Hausten or King Street. This place is very popular so go early or wait a while. If you like Indian food, you have to try this place.
(5)Sony B.
Nice, small ,intimate setting, I agree with who ever said to go there in small groups, 4 or less. We had 4 in our group and waited about 10 minutes. Once seated, I noticed every other table was full! ( On a Sunday about 5PM). The food was delicious and they give generous portions so be sure to share some plates unless you want to take some home. We ordered the Aloo Papadum Chaat to start. The dish was enough for four starving adults with some left over & everyone enjoyed it. For dinner we ordered the whole Tandoori chicken plate, seafood platter thing, and Chicken Masala curry. All were very tasty, I especially liked the Tandoori chicken. I brought home enough food for two more meals. Do try the garlic naan. It's also BYOB as they do not serve alcohol. Enjoy!
(5)Jeremy D.
Ate at Cafe Maharani again last week with some friends and decided to give them another star for the food, service, and overall experience. Something about this place makes dining with friends even more enjoyable. All the different flavors, Bollywood on the flat screens, good wine (BYOB), and good friends (BYOF) are a hard combination to beat. Hope you enjoy this spot as much as I do. Aloha!
(4)Nick Y.
Cafe Maharani really deserves that Hale Aina award hanging up on their bright red wall. The Samosas were amazing, and the Lamb Vindaloo was incredible. Our server asked how spicy I'd like it on a scale of 5-10, and seven had me sweating in my seat. It started burning my mouth after a few bites, but it was so good I couldn't stop. Also, the smallware was quite exquisite, and the whole place was very well-appointed. We came at about 6:00pm, and luckily arrived just before the crowds overpopulated the place Mumbai stylee, so we were seated and served very promptly. We tried to come here a few years ago, but it was packed so we left. Now I wish we had waited back then. I mean, think of all the times we could have been back between then and now. Oh well, such is life. Now we know.
(5)Tanvi D.
Went here couple times when I was visiting honolulu for work.. Loved the food.. The place certainly seems to be quite popular.. We had a long wait (close to an hour) both the times that we went there. First time around was with a bunch of my colleagues. We all ordered different things and shared them.. Their spicy stuff was really really spicy. I got their malai kofta both times.. Loved it.. Also loved the fact that they serve things in steel plates. Feels nice to eat in those.. The quantities are large. Had more than enough for lunch the next day both times. I wish they would serve their curries with rice or naan. Their charges for a naan are a little high.. But, they are very very tasty. I would recommend getting their kashmiri naan. nice and sweet and soft. Will definitely go there again if I am in HI
(4)Teresa H.
This place was great! Prices are reasonable and the waiter was very helpful. BYOB policy is great too. My friend and I got the "dinner for two" and it was only $40! Cons: parking is tricky. Street parking isn't available Monday - Friday between like 4:00PM and 6:30PM. Parking lot in the back is super small. They also don't take reservations so if you have to wait just stay! The food is sooooo worth it! Garlic Naan is yummy! Pros: Menu is pretty extensive. Prices are reasonable and food is YUMMY!!
(4)Dawn O.
After reading the other reviews, I wasn't expecting the best of service. This place ain't about, "Good evening sir/ma'am. Shall I take your coat? Can I offer you a beverage?" This place is about getting in, getting your food, and getting out. So, know that before getting in. But everything we ordered - from naan to lamb daag was just too good. I took out of town friends - and their in love with this place too! Just Yelping now makes me want to go there again...like now.
(5)jeffrey w.
Ordered for carry out yesterday. The wait looked pretty crazy so i'm glad we ordered for carry out. Got the vegetarian sampler with included samosas, padapdum(sp?), and these vegetarian fritters the lamb vindaloo was awesome. this place tends to make stuff very spicy so use caution. I can usually handle the spice factor but this place kicks it up a notch. garlic naan excellent. Overall excellent indian food. would love to try their other stuff. menu is extensive. portions are pretty good and the food heats up well for leftovers the next day.
(4)Ramya K.
Long wait, smoky-cramped dining area, mediocre food. I would not recommend this place if you are very hungry.
(1)George R.
Best Indian on Oahu.. Great atmosphere. great indian food, great service. Can't go wrong here.
(5)Elbert K.
You don't slang 5 stars for just anything, and this place delivers a type of flavor that makes you want to keep coming back for more. This place suprisingly might have been a little piece of the Taj Mahal brought to Honolulu. Our order consisted of Vegetable samosas (picture large crusty dumplings that is stuffed with a great veggie filling), Garlic naan (type of bread), butter naan, butter chicken (spicy, never had it like that before), chicken tika masala, chicken tandoori (they use a real tandoor), saag paneer (creamed spinach with cheese cubes), basmati rice (plain rice), and raita (yogurt to extinguish the flames). This was enough food to heartily feed 5 people with about 5 boxes of leftovers. The food was insanely good. I love the flavors of Indian food and I'd have to say this is the best I've had. The dishes I ordered were simple dishes for new comers (1 guy never had it before). The BYOB was great because there is a little bodega 2 blocks from the restauraunt. Only problems - a little bit of space that gets filled real quick. Wait it's worth it. We waited 40 minutes. During that time we went and got the beer and just took in the aromas.
(5)Rise D.
The last time I came here before last night was at least two years ago. But it's still just as good as I remember it being. The two-person combination includes naan, samosas, two entrees, and rice. So delicious! Big portions too. The two-person combo is enough for four people. My friend and I each paid $20 before tip. We got there by 5:00 and by 5:30, the restaurant was full, so get there early. My favorite items are the samosas and garlic naan and the sauce that they serve with the samosas. I could just eat those items and be full.
(5)Murray B.
This place serves up some really tasty grub! If you're thinking spicy, I like the lamb vindaloo. If you're thinking about an entree with some sweetness, try the chicken malai (chicken in a great sauce w/cinnamon, cardarmon and apples). The portions of rice are huge (they filled up one of those flat, square styrofoam takeout boxes). An entree and an order of rice was easily enough food for two moderately hungry people. If you get there and the wait time is ridiculously long, consider takeout. While it depends on the dish, you can order at the restaurant and be leaving with food 10-15 minutes later. Just check on the estimated cook time w/the person behind the counter before placing your order.
(5)Austin T.
FIVE star family run cafe. super tasty. we hold back a star for spotty service. get there early and don't b about waiting. waiting is the patrons choice.
(4)David G.
3 & 1/2 stars for Cafe Maharani. I ordered way too much food, but that's OK there were lots of left overs. Overall, I thought the food was well presented and the portions were beyond generous!!! I would like to go again and try some of the other good looking dishes I saw coming from the kitchen. What I ended up ordering was good, but not out of this world. Many of the dishes I ordered were flat tasting and lacking any heat. Maybe, next time I can ask for them to make it hotter, but it was more than that. Considering their prices and portions I will go back to give it another try.
(3)Jhoren C.
Note: I am a very picky eater! why I even took a chance to eat here (I'm still asking myself this til this very day) came here with the bf and one of his friends for a birthday dinner friend was muslim of course so he doesn't eat meat (he swears this place was good) weeelllll, we had him order since we never did eat indian food before and this wouldn't be my choice of all things, but I sucked it up and gave it a shot. man was I in for a surprise I really couldn't stand the smell first off and every plate I saw people ordering looked like blobs of crap! no offense to you indian food lovers this is just my opinion...if it smells foreign and awful looking I'll be quick to judge and not even try it...call me ignorant or whatever but that's just how I base my decisions on whether it's worth trying or not, and my instincts are usually on point when I do let my taste buds free and give it a try and it gets shot down with disgust! so yes it's obvious my experience here wasn't pleasant in fact I couldn't stand the sight or smell of the food that was placed in front of me, silverware wasn't even washed cleanly and the water they served was warm! I even ordered a salad they managed to screw that up lettuce was not fresh and dressing was watered down and plain gross! (but yeah who orders a salad at a indian restaurant anyways right?) NEVER AGAIN!
(1)Javier O.
I was vacationing in Waikiki a few weeks ago and we ate at Cafe Maharani. Overall, we tried several items off the menu... I wish I could remember them, but both of the entrees were spicy lamb dishes, and we also had garlic naan and yellow rice to accompany our meal. Amazing delicious... Additionally, we were asked to pick a spice-level 5 through 10 - We picked 9 and our mouths burned oh-so-nicely! The restaurant itself had a very cozy feeling, the staff was great, and pricing was decent too.
(4)manchy m.
I've been to Maharani 3 times, never disappointed if i forget about the waiting time for my first time. However, it's all worth it in the end! The prices might seem pretty high at the first glance, but i found it fair since the plates come very big! You have to be very hungry (starving?) in order to finish up your meal. When you go to Maharani don't be in a hurry cause you will wait for your dishes quite some time! But that goes for freshly made food, which you can taste. And if it says SPICY they mean it! I've tried Tandoori Chicken and Lamb, and it was absolutely delicious! Naan is awesome, order it with garlic and cheese! I would recommend you to come as early as the restaurant opens (5pm?) if you wanna avoid the waiting line!
(5)Maryam R.
Very delicious! you should try it if you are in honolulu!;) even if you are from california!
(5)Maribell P.
Don't get me wrong I absolutely love this place. Their chicken masala and lamb biryani are to die for. My beef with this place is that it is always crowded and after weeks of waiting to finally beat the crowd, me and my friends ended up waiting for an hour to get our food. This is because the waitress forgot our order. When I finally complained, the manager handled the situation very well. We were comp'd lasi drinks and discounted in our bill. But alas the damage was done, one of my friends actually walked out and ate at another place. So final verdict, food is delicious, expensive but worth it. What's not worth it is the wait, overcrowdedness and the waitress forgetting an order.
(2)Olivia D.
Five stars because it is the best Indian restaurant out of the limited choices we have in Hawaii. Expect slow, sometimes interesting service. At least while you wait, you can watch Bollywood musicals on TV! After a while you can pick up the 80s-style choreography and boogie along in your head. I really do try not to watch that stuff, but I swear it is like an evil magnet. A lot of people opt for takeout since the restaurant is small and wait times are long. I love the stuffed naan here, especially the one stuffed with caramelized onions and diced cilantro. I don't even like cilantro, but it totally works here. Any of the shrimp dishes are great. The shrimp is fresh, sweet, and quite large. I usually order the shrimp biryani, so that I don't have to order a plate of basmati rice to go with the curries. I love the lamb vindaloo, but I rarely order it, since vindaloo is too spicy for my friends' tastes and they really do make their curries spicy here. I'm not kidding. For veggie dishes, everything is good, especially the crisp fried slices of eggplant. End your meal with a warm cup of chai tea. They make it well here.
(5)Aleena Anne O.
Love this place! I haven't actually eaten there-I normally just get my order to go-so I cannot really comment on the service. However, the host is always helpful and polite when I pick my order up. Favorite dishes: Chicken Madras Tandori Wings Saffron Rice Yum! I just wish they had an actual menu online-that way ordering new things would be easier for those of us on the go! Other than that-they are just wonderful!
(4)Jazzy S.
Well finally got to experience this place after hearing so much about it. Final verdict - They have a great menu, food is tasty, huge portions but man it's super duper heavy! I think everything is soaked in butter, then cooked w/additional butter & spices. After eating there & after eating some leftovers the next day, I felt like there was a huge brick in my stomach & needless to say, didn't sit well w/me. And thanks for the tip to someone who mentioned that you can just phone ahead & put your name on the list since they don't "take reservations" although calling ahead is essentially the same thing.
(4)Claire C.
The drinking goblets and serving dishes are really rustic/old world here. I love the ambiance of the restaurant. It's nice to step outside of your norm and dine somewhere so freshly different. The vegetable samosas are a must try! They are a light, flaky, buttery pasty, with almost a pot-pie-esque center. The spice is really subtle, it almost makes the appetizer taste slightly sweet. Another highly recommended is the chicken saag, although it varies each time I've had it on spiciness. You will definitely end up waiting a long while for a table here, but if you can wait the food is delicious. Expect it, the restaurant is very small. Like most BYOB places, there is a small liquor store around the corner for those of you that forget.
(4)Michael Y.
I usually don't enjoy indian food but I would make an exception, if were asked to buy indian food I would suggest this place. The staff was friendly and nice. The food took slightly long but I was in a party of eight so that might have something to do with it. The lamb and chicken curry's were cooked nicely, they both were quite tender, As I usually have a low tolerance for dry food this food was cooked well. The one thing I will note which is neutral is that when I ate the lamb and chicken they did have different flavors that contrasted to the other so once you ate the other the other dish seemed to pale in comparison. The lamb was sweet with a hint of spice and the chicken was spicy with a tinge of sour so once I had one dis until I got used to the other the other tasted differently. Also the Naan bread that we had ordered was enormous, which is a Naan that had a butter coat and some spices in it.
(4)Hawthorne A.
4 stars for the food. 2 stars for service. I'm sorry, I was debating on this review for awhile but after going a few more times the service never gets any better, and I think service can make or break a good dinner. First I'd like to comment on the food. The food is great, the naan is delicious. We've had the chicken vindaloo, aloo palak and pepper chicken. You can get your curry from medium to a delicious hot(if u enjoy a nice sweat to go along with your dinner)which I love. Oh boy, now the service.... I was more than willing when the waiter/host told us that it would be a 45 min wait but after waiting for almost an hour only to find that they forgot to put us on the list. I almost lost it after he told us that it would be another 20-30 min. After causing a small scene he figured out who we were infront of and sat us. We thought we would give it another chance and returned only to find ourselves waiting with two other groups of people while half the restuarant sat empty while the servers just fiddled with cups behind the counter. Finally, only after the couple infront of us asked how much longer did they seat everyone. I do think about going back, but I just don't know if it's worth it.
(3)Tom C.
This is the best indian food that I have ever had! It is also one of the few places that have outspiced me. You pretty much have to beg the waiter to give you a "10" out of 10 - but trust me, you dont want that. I found an 8 to give an intense burn throughout the meal. BUT, beyond the spiciness, the food is amazing. They have the most tender lamb I have ever had and the multiple types of naan are amazing. Try the (I think its the afghani one) one that practically takes up the whole table. The BYOB is awesome and adds immensely to the meal. The only drawback is that the quote that the host tells you for the wait is most likely 45 mins off - just plan to wait a while! TOTALLY WORTH IT.
(5)Robert M.
Sooooo close to 5 starts...like 4.49 stars. Only problem was the Chicken Saag could have used a little more flavor. Other than that...perfect. The lamb was some of the best we have ever had, and I loved the rice. The menu is Hawaii expensive, unless you get the meal for 2. Two entrees, 2 samosas, naan, and rice for $40. It is pretty much enough for two meals. Like any small family restaurant the atmosphere is great, but the service can be slow and the waits long. But you know, that is the price of a little mom and pop place. Well worth it if you ask me.
(4)Curtis T.
ATMOSPHERE The restaurant itself had a very authentic look, I loved it! Even the water cups were more like Goblets. They even had Indian Music Videos playing. No issues with the Atmosphere at all. WARNING: The bathrooms are RIGHT next to the kitchen. There's a makeshift wall separating the entrances to the two, it's just weird. ( +1 ) SERVICE The wait for a table is long, so be prepared to wait. While you wait decide on everything you want to eat, and I'm talking from Appetizer to Dessert because your server leaves your table you won't see he/her for a VERY long time. The servers also pay very little attention to those around them so it's also very hard to flag one down to come to your table. Sometimes it feels like they're ignoring you so they can do their own thing. It even took about 10 minutes to pay for my meal. She takes my card and walks away, I look to check the status 5min later and shes still at the register being assisted by TWO other workers on how to use the f***king register. The service frustrated me as my girlfriend and I got deeper and deeper into the meal. Horrible service, barely even worth the 5% tip I gave them. ( -1 ) FOOD Originally the meal was alright. Food took a while to come out, but was good and fresh and the presentation was authentic as well. I ordered the Vegetarian Samosa's and they were good. I also ordered the Naan and it was my first time having it. It mostly tasted like a crispy pancake. For my entree I got this Rice type of plate (sized for 2-3 people, I can't recall the name) with Coconut Shrimp. I cooked the shrimp nicely, but the rest of it was utter and complete garbage. It was like they took a handful of trash and threw it onto a plate of Mexican rice! They left the leaves, limes and lemons that give the rice flavor inside so that while you're eating and one hits your mouth, you suddenly lose your appetite and have the urge to vomit everything you just ate. I honestly had to stop eating 3 times because I had to spit food out, chug some water and put myself back together. Not only that, they also left some f**king wood or bark in there or something (I came across about 5+ pieces in my serving alone). I don't know if they're stirring with a wooden spoon or just throwing the whole spoon in the pot. I almost broke a tooth when I bit down on one of those. The entire meal essentially started off plain and progressed into horrible. ( -1 ) PRICE One of the main reasons this place has any customers in the first place, it's CHEAP! The samosa's I ordered were filling. If I didn't share it with my girlfriend then that would've almost filled me up. Those were only $4! Altogether, after ordering some of the higher priced items on the menu I ended up only spending about $30~ for the entire meal. Kudos for low prices, but you get what you pay for... ( +1 ) POST-MEAL After looking back on it, I had high hopes for this place before I entered, but everything apparently went downhill from there. You also leave the restaurant smelling strongly of the Indian Food and the only way to get it off is to wash your clothes. I forced myself to eat the leftovers as days went by because I'm not one to waste that much food (and I couldn't bring myself to ask my roommate if he'd like to try some of my garbage food). Also, I ended up having bad stomach pains the day following my visit to the restaurant. I can't be sure if it was from this food, but it's very likely. I probably swallowed a piece of frickin' bark or something. I honestly would not recommend this place to anyone and doubt I'll ever return. ( -1 )
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