Excellent food with a friendly staff. The food is delicious. The buffet is great for trying different things if you are new to Indian food. I have only eaten in there a couple times as I tend to get carry out more. I have tried numerous dishes here and have never been disappointed. I'm not a big fan of the raita that comes when you order thali with your entree, but I think that may be more of a personal taste than anything due to the restaurant. The naan is a bit greasy but still delicious. Every time I have eaten in, which has been about four or five times, the place has been clean and service has been courteous.
(5)
Billy J.
This is a nice place to go to try a lot of different Indian foods. You can get the buffet for only $10 during lunch. This is great because for $10 you can try all of the Indian food. Now you can't go by my taste on this, mainly because I dislike Indian good. However they did have a good dessert section. Now when I say good, I don't really mean good, I mean you can deal with it.
(3)
Trent B.
Not much to write here sorry. We arrived just after opening and were greeted and ushered to our table and given a glass of water each. That's the best our experience got. We waited for over 15 mins to have anyone come back to our table to either give us some wafers and chutney and take our order with no luck Prior to leaving. I even got out from my seat and searched for a waiter, made eye contact to encourage him to come to our table about 5 mins prior walking out. The table cloth was stained and music was loud. Poor, poor, poor service.
(1)
Zahraa H.
Amazing food, best Indian in Michigan so far Not up to date on decor and set up inside but not too bad. Very friendly staff.
(4)
Hark B.
I travel a lot and have had many different Indian restaurants. Tonight I ordered carry out tandoori chicken, I had recovered about 8 pieces which cost 20$, which for you mathematicians it came to 2.50$ a Piece. Don't get me wrong i paid it but I was hoping to get a nice piece of tandoori chicken which should not be hard to cook for indian restaurants. The chicken had a pink color to it which I have never heard of tandoori being floral pink. It should be red. Nevertheless it was very dry and too expensive for the small amount of meat on them as well. Still have four pieces left... Any takers?
(2)
Evie B.
Found my 2nd favorite place for Indian cuisine. Service was very nice and fast. Tables and buffet area were clean. I can't remember all of the dishes but there were many choices and a balance of meats and veggies. I felt like the options were well prepared and kept hot. Unlike some other Indian buffets that serve you watered down, skimpy versions of entrees, this was the real deal. The meat dishes didn't just have a piece here or there and then lots of cream curry...they had a great balance. Our water glasses were kept full and we were given a basket of naan. I like the buffet option because it allows me to try a bunch of different items and if I don't care for something, I don't have to be bummed that I spent too much $$ on it. Plus because of the richness of some of the entrees it's not like you can heap your plate over and over...
(5)
Megan M.
I got the vegetable koorma thali. The sauces were excellent as was the naan, but man. Canned veggies and canned fruit in my main dish? A meijer donut soaked in juice for the dessert? Just some major turnoffs. Restaurant was also very dirty. Would not return.
(2)
Allison K.
The food was great but it is honestly the dirtiest restaurant I have ever been to. There were flies and garbage everywhere, rotten smells, and a carpenter ant ran across my table while I was eating.
(3)
Chet G.
Excellent place to eat some real good Indian food. I and my wife love to frequent this place, birthdays, anniversary etc. Service till this day is excellent, prices are decent. Decor is nice, lots of parking attached to their land, so it is free for customers.
(5)
Susan A.
Our favorite Indian restaurant by far. This location seems to have a better chef than the Troy restaurant. Tonight we enjoyed Chicken Koorma (a creamy sauce) and Kadai Paneer, the Indian cheese in a tomatoey sauce, both medium heat. Fantastic. This has become our go-to place near Metro airport.
(4)
Pam M.
The staff was very friendly and the buffet had many delicious choices whether a carnivore or a vegetarian. Although I generally don't like buffets this one was well taken care of and clean. Very affordable for lunch. We' ll be back on our next trip to Ikea.
(4)
L S.
The food was good, except for the naan. I see other reviews here rave about it, but I think the naan here was the worst I've had. In one piece of it, parts of it would range from doughy to crispy like a cracker. The cooking was very uneven. The whole thing was covered with oil, too. Much more so than I've ever had at any other Indian restaurant. Besides the naan, the other problem I had there was the bill. Paying by debit card, I decided to put the tip on the card, too. They ended up charging my account twice, once with the tip and once without. Their bank finally took the amount that included the tip, but they didn't release the amount without the tip, so my bank still shows that amount as "pending". I've never had a problem with putting a tip on the debit card, but I think this is an example of why it should be avoided. Apparently, some of the staff at Ashoka don't know how to process payments correctly. I've learned from this experience. Use only cash for tips.
(4)
N P.
I posted a lot of information about the food at Ashoka on my review of their Troy branch. I felt that one was close to a 5 star rating. I've been to the Canton one less, maybe five times total. We went three times for the lunch buffet but the first and last visits were for dinner. At the first visit, the dinner staff was pleasant but confused a lot. It took us awhile to get food late in the evening but thankfully the food was impressive in presentation and flavor. The last dinner visit, years after the first one, was somewhat similar. The staff was fantastic and kind but it felt like they needed to be reminded to check on you. The lunch visits were fine. Initially I loved the buffet. There was such a mix of food and it was so filling. The food here is very rich and I loved that! As I noted in my longer review of the Troy restaurant, I love the vegetarian paneer dishes and the koorma dishes. They are creamy with a hint of sweetness. I also love the desserts, which are just plain sweet but not too sweet. I also really enjoy the hot and sour, vegetarian soup. All the Indo Chinese dishes are tasty (and as noted in my other review, Ashoka was one of the first places I remember to introduce these type of dishes). Other favorites are the South Indian selections, such as the dosas. They are all delicious with flavorful fillings. What I didn't like at the buffet is that the meat dishes and the vegetarian dishes were not very well separated and the buffet was kind of a mess. Please don't get wrong. The staff is wonderful and very kind. It just felt a little less organized. I don't know how things work in the kitchen and probably it is silly but even if they had separated the vegetarian stuff a little better outside for the public, I would have felt better. The place also seemed too big for me, especially since it was never busy on the five times I went there. I greatly prefer the Troy location. I'll probably be back at both but probably more regularly to the Troy location.
(4)
Richard F.
Indian Buffets can be pretty mediocre. This one was really good. The food was highly seasoned and not toned down for the American palate, There was such a wide variety of dishes that after three trips back to the buffet line, I hadn't tried them all. The palak paneer was creamy and spicy. The various chicken dishes were diverse and tasty. The Tandoori Chicken was very tasty. And I detected the indicator that the food was going to be good. There were chili peppers in several of the dishes and whole roasted indian spices in others. In fact, one of the dishes was sections of a hot green pepper served in a spicy sauce. I had not seen this one before, but it was really good. The cross-section of the pepper contained the always spicy seeds and internal flesh. There were soups and salad, side dished and a host of vegetairian items. The weekend lunch buffet was just under $ 10 per head and well worth it. The next time we are in Canton or stopping at Ikea, I know where we are going for Indian food.
(4)
Three Dog Night T.
My first visit to Ashoka during the summer of 2013 left me with so-so feelings. At the time, the lunch buffet offerings ran the gamut of average to sub-par. Actually, it was after visiting the Swedish marvel of consumer engineering across the street, IKEA, that I found myself drawn to the place. Well, I returned yesterday after more than a year and found the parking lot packed! Good sign, I thought, and yes, so it turned out to be! The buffet offerings all exceeded my expectations. Vegetarians will find themselves well if not equally represented on the hot tables. The two animal proteins, chicken curry and tandoori chicken, were moist dark meet, rather than the white breast meat which tightens up into hard nuggets if not prepared and presented carefully. OMG, the flavors of each of the offerings remained distinct on the plate, and even more pleasing on the tongue. Two lunches for seventeen bucks? Ann Arbor (Raja Rani, Madras Masala and Suvai buffets) better wake up a bit. Ashoka seems to be the new neighbor ready to expand westward, as it has expanded northward into Novi. PS. The naan, brought to the table, could not have been thinner and crisper. Forget the cheap Swedish reindeer meatballs in IKEA, and head over to Ashoka.
(5)
Matthew L.
This place was actually my first experience with Indian food and after a Saturday buffet, I was sold! I've come here several times since then but have so far only gotten the buffet, so I can only give my review of the restaurant and the buffet food. The place seems like it is kept up pretty well and the service is always great. The buffet counter food always seems freshly made and good quality.
(4)
Anne Y.
The food here was pretty good. I stayed in India for one month on a medical mission trip so I tend to compare to that. Most places in the states tend to over spice their food. Here.. the spice is just right.. based on the few things I've tried. I tend to not like going to Indian restaurants unless it's for the buffet because you get more for your money. Plus you get a bunch of veggies and meats to complete your meal. However you don't find a dinner buffet very often ( i think i've only seen on in INdiana and California). What I like about here is that some dishes have a Thali option and a A LA CARTe option. The Thali option is a south Indian traditional meal which includes your entree along with vegetable curry,dal,sambar, raita, rice, Naan and a dessert. SUPER filling. I ended up taking more than half of it home for lunch the next day. It's just $3 more. I tried the aloo gobi and the chicken vindiloo. Like i mentioned before, the spice is just right .. not too heavy or strong but just right. The Naan which is probably the BEST bread ever.. was fantastic.. they bring it out fresh. The garlic naan is even better. I like this place alot... will be back to try the lunch buffet. Parking is easy. Service is super friendly and attentive. The place is spacious and clean. I gave minus one star because like the other yelpers... I wasn't fond of the flies trying to take my food. My friend and I kept waving our hands to shoo off the flies.
(4)
Crystal W.
I was in here for a private event. Very dirty and bugs everywhere. Gross. Will not eat here again.
(1)
Ali M.
Pretty good lunch buffet. This place is my favorite lunch spot. The restaurant has a present old house seating arrangement and is very conveniently located. Good vegetarian choices.
(4)
Sean R.
I have had a hit or miss with this restaurant. Whenever I am in the Canton MI area then I try and either eat dinner at the restaurant or order a carry-out and take it to my hotel and eat it. I like the way the restaurant is setup. It stands on its own with its own parking lot and that is rather rare when it comes to Indian restaurants. I usually order the dishes from the Tandoor which are: 1. Tandoori Chicken 2. Seekh Kababs 3. Chicken Makhni (Butter Chicken) 4. Naan and Rice The Seekh Kababs are generally consistent in taste and texture over time however the tandoori chicken and the butter chicken is a hit or miss. The tandoor chicken during most times can be soft and juicy and sometimes it can be tough and dry. The chicken makhni most times is tasty and melts in your mouth and at times it can also be dry and may dominate with a spice that is not designed to be dominant. The restaurant bar is functional and provides good service to the patrons most of the time. I can remember that on occasion the staff did not know how to make a margarita however that was because the bartender was missing during the early evening. I think if some of these nuances are taken care of and a little attention is paid to details then this restaurant can be a good restaurant in the area. The pricing is competitive.
(3)
Sarah R.
We tried Ashoka for the first time and loved it. We were served the indian version of chips and dip in the beginning. Although not a huge fan of tamarind sauce, theirs was very yummy. That was my 18 month old favourite part of the meal. My hubby and I tried vegetable samosas, butter chicken and lamb koorma. We had mango lassi for drinks. Everything was delicious and well made! Meals came with naan and rice, which I appreciated. Plus we ordered one of the meals thali style, so it came with different sauces and a small desert, we liked most and enjoyed the variety! Portions were big, we have plenty of leftovers for later. Service was great! Well those were too many greats in one review, needless to say we're definitely coming back!
(4)
Alex R.
You have to know what to order. For example, order the tandoori chicken, but not the "Chefs Special Chicken tikki masala"
(4)
Guru Kaustubh T.
A regular stop for us when we lived in canton.. Had our engagement party here.. No complaints about the food.. Food is really good.. Would be my first pick for Indian food around Detroit area..
(4)
Bharat S.
Very good indian restaurant :) Good ambience, prompt service and good taste Good for any kind of get togethers. My Favs and Recommendations: chi biriyani, chi chilli masala and butter naan. They also do takeaways, very prompt.!!
(4)
Daniel F.
Went here during lunch last week for the buffet. Really enjoyed everything. Had a good selection of entrees and they really kept the naan coming. Would recommend and will definitely return when I'm in the area.
(4)
Meera S.
I used to go there in the past 5 years ago and I moved from detroit. Yesterday I visited Detroit again but the same customer service is not there. The 2 ladies up there does not even give a smile on their face. They dont even ask how is the food. The Biryani is served too much in a small plate and some of it spilled as we take it with the spoon. When the Biryani is left over the lady gives us a small container to fit all the Biryani in that small container. Then we had to ask her to bring the big one. If the restaurant is busy then we can think since its busy may be they neglected us but the restaurant is not busy and still not a good customer service at all. 5 years back food is good, customer service is very good. Not everything fell off. Not good one.
(3)
Terri B.
We walk in and didn't know if it was open appear dark when we got inside many people were there and getting the food was excellent service was excellent and you cannot beat the price. I highly recommend this to anyone even beginners
(5)
Nikhil T.
Me and my buddy went to this restaurant looking at the rating in yelp. The food was definitely worth the money, but the service wasn't up to the mark. The servers were not paying attention to refilling the glass of water.
(3)
Jenna N.
Great food! After our honeymoon we got hooked on Indian food. We decided to try this place after moving to Canton a few weeks ago. So the ambiance isn't the best (reason for the 4 stars) seems like a huge restaurant for not a huge crowd? Anyways, the food was delicious. I got the butter chicken and my husband got another really spicy dish. Both were amazing as was the naan. The naan was the best naan we have ever had! You could tell it was fresh and homemade. The restaurant was pretty dead for a Friday night with large un-occupied rooms (assuming they may be banquet rooms) and the music was not on for awhile, a little awkward. But besides that the food was great! We will be coming back soon.
(4)
Mike D.
Stopped in today for my favorites. My plate had tandoori chicken, vegetable 65, chick peas, rice, spinach paneer, peppers,and some great naan dipped in raitha. I wish a potato dish were available and more paneer options, but it was good as usual. The service was good and though they forgot the naan, it was remedied quickly after being pointed out.
(4)
Cassie W.
Great food, friendly smiles! Staff was extremely nice and helpful. I ordered chicken masala and vegetable masala and it was excellent. It was around $11 for the chicken masala and my sister ordered the vegetable masala thali style, a little bit more expensive ($13) but it came with lentils, potatoes, yogurt sauce, and a little dessert. Both entrees came with naan and rice. We also ordered the aloo tikka--little curry spiced fried potato fritters that were SO good. Overall, super good Indian food and a beautiful building.
(5)
Brian W.
When they first opened, the restaurant's food was good. Over time, the food has suffered in taste. I really also feel that most of their dishes are overpriced. The one thing that I can say, is the service has always been good. The last two times that I had take-out, the meat was tough. I understand this cuisine. I cook it myself at home. Recommendation is - Skip this place. The Canton and surrounding areas have much better Indian food offerings.
(2)
Mike R.
Staff is great super friendly and the buffet is the best indian buffet ive been to. Nice choices and the meat dishes where not all picked through like so many plqces. Curry goat and butter chicken dishes where full of nice big chunks of meat. Fresh nan bread brought to you table side all in all very good.
(5)
Chrissy J.
Best Indian restaurant in the Metro Detroit area, hands down! Been here a zillion times, and they've never had an "off" day. Everything has been consistently awesome. They have a lunch buffet, which is fairly inexpensive, and offers the staples as well as a changing selection of less-common fare. They do Indo-Chinese very well, and often have the vegetable manchurian on the buffet. If they do, get it, because it's perfect and awesome. Spicy and flavorful with an almost kind of meaty texture. Most items on the buffet are vegetarian, and the ones that aren't are set aside in their own corner of the buffet. If you come for dinner (or just don't want the lunch buffet), be prepared for a rather extensive menu with cuisine from all over India. There are descriptions of everything below the name, so you won't get your makhnis confused with your masalas and so on. Many of the entrees are available Thali style, which means that in addition to your entree, rice, and naan, you also get some side dishes. Last time I was there it was raita, dal, some kind of veggie soup, and for dessert some banana pudding which wasn't overly sweet and was a perfect ending to a delicious meal (i had the bagara baigan). Thali style is only a few bucks extra, and totally worth it. I'm always able to stretch my meal into a filling dinner and a pretty hefty carryout for later. Oh, and they put papadum and an array of sauces on the table before your meal comes, which is a nice (and delicious) touch. They offer a full bar, with a fairly limited selection. Excellent prices, but I haven't ever ordered anything to drink besides water. The place is very clean inside, the buffet is well maintained, and the bathrooms are kept up as well. Speaking of the bathrooms, if you have to go, be prepared to basically walk through a labyrinth of twists and turns to get there. It's kind of unintentionally fun. Everything here is great, but to me, the service is the best part. Every single person from the host, to the waiter, to the guy that fills your water is extremely friendly and helpful, but not in a fake or pained way. I feel like I'm just hangin in my friends' restaurant whenever I go here, the way everyone is so cool and nice. Lots of parking, so don't worry about that. The place is usually at least 1/2 to 3/4 full when I'm in there, but I've never had to wait for a table. Good crowd, good for families too, if that's your thing. Last time I was there the waiter high-fived this little kid who was in a highchair and the kid was so freaking happy about it. It was cute. So yeah, go here for Indian food. It's the best. This is only my second five star review. I'm super picky, but I love this place. Could not be better! Oh, and they have a banquet room too. I don't know anything about that, but if I needed to host an event, there's a decent chance I'd give them a call, based on how satisfied I've been with everything else.
(5)
Lisa W.
Went for the buffet, there was a lot of variety to choose from. Some of the items tasted like they had been re heated and then some tasted fresh. The Naan was not cooked enough and was doughy on one side. The mango juice was really good. Nothing on the buffet was super hot so when I got back to the table my food was warm at best. The chutneys very yummy. The decor and service were wonderful.
(3)
Dave G.
This high quality Indian buffet sticks with the classics. 3 meat dishes, 4 veggie dishes and 3 kinds of rice. The naan was excellent and my water glass was kept full. The service is the highlight of Ashoka, all the waiters are very friendly and everything is perfectly clean.
(4)
DanNCheryl S.
Went last night with a party of 5. The service was good and the food was even better. We had two appetizers #1 and #14 on the menu, both were good and plenty to split between 5. We shared a variety of dinners, tandoori chicken, shrimp curry, lamb curry, a rice/shrimp dish and another chicken dish. Enjoyed all the entrees and sides. Only thing we didn't care for is that they tacked on a 20% automatic gratuity for a 5 person table. We would probably have tipped more, but were a little taken aback. Would recommend and will go back!
(4)
Rabiya L.
love the lunch buffet!! but a little over priced!! great Naan
(4)
Emma C.
Stopped in with my wife wanting to go somewhere different from all the chain places in the area, we were pleasantly surprised. We decided to go with the buffet they had out in order to try several things in small portions. Pretty happy with the majority of what we tried, but the stand out was their naan! I had gone back to get take out a couple weeks ago, they messed up my order but it was still good.
(3)
Chris O.
I have to admit the service and food were both very good. The problem is that they are not just $$ but more $$$-$$$$. For the money, the place was grungy looking and there were flys buzzing around. We went on a Sat. afternoon and the place was empty, they sat us near a doorway with swinging doors which happened to swing open 2-3 times smacking me in the back and arm. I say get takeout and forget eating here.
(3)
Cybill R.
Chicken tikka masala, butter chicken, aloo gobi, the list goes on...all YUM!! Make sure to order thali style for some extra tasty morsels. They have recently remodeled - it was overdue. Looks very nice.
(4)
Scott N.
Ashoka is a very good Indian restaurant with an extensive menu of authentic cuisine. The service and the food is spectacular.
(4)
Seoung L.
I was in Canton area and I was craving Indian. I really had high hopes for Ashoka since it had some good reviews and I heard that the one in Troy was really good. Well it wasn't a good experience and I probably won't be back anytime soon. We walked in around 8:15pm on a Monday night and it was packed in the waiting area. I thought this was a good sign meaning it's good here. Well, it was basically empty in the actual dining area and they had no clue on how to seat people. The hostess started seating people that came after us. Not a good start. We sit down around 8:30pm (after waiting about 10 minutes to be seated in an empty restaurant), there was crumbs on the seats and the table wasn't totally clean. We didn't get menus when we sat so we had to wait for that. We basically had to wait for everything. Lot of time to wait for anything you need. My girlfriend and I order an appetizer and Chicken Tikka Masala to share. Wow. long wait until we get the appetizer. We eat that then long wait for the meal. About 45 minutes from when we ordered until the tikka msala came out. I don't mind waiting if it's cooked fresh but I never waited that long at any Indian place. During this time, a fly was buzzing around and it happened to land in my gf's glass of water. Now it's not there fault that a fly flies into the water but it is an issue if you have bugs flying around. (more bugs coming up in this review) Now I have to say the good thing was that the nann bread was really good. The Tikka Masala was not bad in flavor. Not the greatest curry I had but decent. We finished the curry and I look out the window and that's when I see few huge black ants crawling around the window sill. Kinda creeps you out when the our food wasn't too far away. We didn't get out until 10pm. They took forever even paying the bill! With all this negatives, I really can't recommend this place and that's too bad because they had some Indian/Chienese fusion items on their menu that I would like to try. however, I probably won't go back.
(2)
Srinivasa Reddy J.
I had the lunch buffet. The Naan was good. The pakodas were good, the Dosa was OK. The curries were not that great. No taste , just gravy with spices and meat. The wait staff were eating while I was there. They were coming in my way from the opposite direction and were not following the order in which guests go around the buffet table. Worse, they were using the same plates over and over again. This place needs to improve or shut down.
(2)
Sanjiv B.
Ashoka is a really tasty, predominately North Indian, restaurant. The buffet is above average, but not great. What really wins it for this place is the dinner menu. The kormas, paneer, tandoor and a few others, really make this place special for me. I have eaten here dozens of times and do so everytime I come back to Michigan. The ambiance is clean and conservative, but nice. The staff are friendly, courteous and efficient. I'm not sure what the deal is with people commenting that there are major code issues, because that has not been my experience. Up there as one of my absolute favorite indian food places and I highly recommend it.
(5)
Jaclyn B.
It has been awhile since I last went to Ashoka although I like it I might not return for another long while.... I was meeting up with my hubby and my buddy for a nice lunch.... We heard there was a new vegetarian Indian place that opened on Canton Center just north of Ford so we figured we would try it out. Upon arrival, we discovered it wasn't open on Mondays. Grr....For our second thought, we tried to go to Neehee's as it is a local favorite.... And it was closed and boarded up! What?! It says that it will be re-opened soon... Gosh, I hope so. In a last ditch effort, we decided on Ashoka's for a nice Indian meal. During lunch, Ashoka has a large buffet of goodness. Our friend was not able to do the buffet as it is not vegetarian and my husband isn't interested in food cooked in mass quantity that has been touched and breathed over for awhile so we grabbed a few menus. Even though they do have the lunch buffet, I was interested in a couple of other lunch specials of which I found none. Our friend decided on Idly (yum) and we decided to split a meal because the price was $18 (for lunch?! Whatever.... Even split it is still almost $10 a person!). When we ordered the lamb vindaloo we asked for the hot on the spicy scale to which the waiter looked at us "whites" (as my Indian friend calls us) and cocked his head to the side, to which our Indian friend said "yeah, make it Indian spicy." We were also sure to ask for Thali so that we can get a couple more extra dishes of Indian goodness. The food came out in a decent amount of time, not too quick, not too slow.... But our order wasn't right. We did not get the extra Thali dishes and we given a small portion of lamb vindaloo and two small pieces of naan. Our friend enjoyed his Idly but made the comment that his wife makes the absolute best Idly in the world (we will have to try that sometime). Although I enjoyed the dish it was small, not correct and super expensive for the size. Please note: Once the dish was on the table, the waiter immediately came up to check on us to ensure the meal was palatable. It absolutely was! When we got the check the gentlemen obviously heard just the dish and not Thali because we were charged accordingly ($14.95 for a small dish and an additional $1.95 for naan- what?! The $15 for a small dish doesn't include the bread?) and the idly was $5.95. I doubt I will be back.... The place needs a serious cleaning (menus sticking together and the glass table covered with some sort of grease), coupled with super expensive lunches.... Maybe if we use the entertainment passbook coupon (buy one meal, get the second half off).... That is still a $30 dinner for two. Meh, I would rather go to Neehee's and get a thali lunch for $5.95 (or maybe it was less)- with all their great flavor, I do not miss the meat.
(2)
emeril l.
Very lackluster, on last trip here I overheard a regular forgo the mediocre buffet spread in favor of ordering off the menu. Why, oh why, didn't I follow suit?
(1)
Sagar T.
Cosy setting and relaxing ambience..impressed by the items on the vegetable menu ...
(4)
D A.
I would recommend the lunch buffet. The items do change, so it's a surprise each time, but I haven't been disappointed as yet. The service is very good, naan hot, and the food very tasty. I haven't been here for dinner as yet, but I think I might have to try it sometime.
(4)
Jessica F.
I read many reviews, trying to find a good Indian restaurant for my parents, me, and my husband. My step-dad is very impatient, and the food must arrive quickly, and piping hot. My mom has a sensitive stomach when it comes to greasy foods. My husband is a vegetarian, and I am pregnant. So, I did my research before settling on Ashoka. My step-dad ordered the shrimp curry. He was very pleased with the flavor and the level of spiciness, and it was fresh from the kitchen, so it was hot. My mother ordered the Seekh Kabab, and it was delicious (I tried a bite); it was nice and lean and full of flavor, not grease. My husband got the Jaipuri Allo; he enjoyed it but it didn't completely fill him up. He felt like something was missing. I ordered the chicken korma as it is my favorite. The korma sauce was rich without being too sweet or powerful. Being in my first trimester when we visited, I was very picky about the food I ate. The chicken was perfectly cooked, as it melted in my mouth with the delicious korma flavor bursting out of every morsel. The rice was perfect, the naan delicious, and overall, it was a fantastic experience. We decided to try the "Thali" option as we wanted to try something new. Overall, the soups and side dishes weren't really for us, but we were glad we tried it. However, next time, we probably will just stick with the basic meal. I was really pleased to find a restaurant that fit the needs of 4 picky ppl very well, and I cannot wait to go back!
(4)
Scott W.
The Navratan Korma is out of this world. Creamy & spicy & sweet. Naan is best in class. The Paneer Makhani is like the Chicken Tikka Masala for vegetarians. Very tasty. Definitely get the "Thali" option on the dinners, for $2 more you get a bunch of tasty sides and sauces to add to your main course. I almost always order carry out here. Too bad they use so much styrofoam, would be nice if they used something recyclable or biodegradable for the carry out orders. Ashoka, for me, is the best tasting Indian food in the area.
(4)
Chiwei L.
This place is dangerous. I always eat waaaayyyy to much, because I really love the food here. It's spicy hot, rich and delicious. My favorite is the Saag with cheese in it, along with the large range of Chicken Curries. I've eatten at the lunch buffet, but the entries are much much better. My only issue is I wish they would carry a few lighter dishes, or have some curries that use a little less ghee (clarified butter), but it does taste damn good. Anyway, when I'm in the mood for Indian, this is our place to go!
(5)
Peter S.
Ashoka has very good food. We enjoyed the butter chicken, chicken tikka masala, palak paneer, and lamb curry. All were delicious. The naan and garlic naan were good too. I would not criticize the food; the only thing holding this place back from five stars is the neglected ambiance--sticky menus, torn seat cushions, and run-down facilities. However, none of that would keep me from going back to enjoy the food...that's what is most important.
(4)
A W.
We first started eating here about 5 years ago right after they first opened. After a few initial bumps, they seemed to get their act straightened out and for a few years this was our absolute favorite place to eat. The weekend lunch buffet was fantastic - $7.99 for a huge assortment of freshly prepared dishes which tasted great. Our little one got to eat free of charge, and our oldest daughter (12 and under pricing) only cost around $3.99. The naan was plentiful and refilled before you even had to ask. I think the lunch buffet is up to $9.99 now for everyone, even my 4 year old. That's way overpriced, in my opinion. Unfortunately, their prices have steadily increased and the service and food quality have steadily decreased. I have not had the experience other Yelpers have discussed - namely the old or "recycled" buffet food, probably because we usually go for the buffet and the food is all made fresh. But it just does not seem as high quality as it used to be. More grease, more salt, more sloppy overall. It just doesn't taste fresh. The naan is usually small and overcooked to the point of being crunchy, and they only bring out 1 piece at a time, cut into quarters. The menus and tables are sticky, and the bathrooms are horrible. The worst experience we had was a dirty, stained, food-covered tablecloth covered by a glass table topper. The tablecloth had large, obvious mold blooms on it, so we asked for a different table. They didn't bother to replace the tablecloth before they sat the next couple there, even though we pointed it out. We have not been back much since that. As much as I still feel somewhat loyal to this place, I can't justify the risk of a food-borne illness because someone doesn't understand how to clean up. There are other, cleaner restaurants in the area, so we go to those now. I give them 2 stars for loyalty, for old time's sake. I hope they can recover, because it used to be really good.
(2)
Wendy C.
I really want to like this place. Some of the reviews were good to great; and I need to find a good northern Indian place to alternate with pretty fantastic southern Indian food I know where to find (Namaste Flavours) The food is ok, not terribly good nor terrible; a little on the bland side if your taste buds are used to more authentic good Indian. I did notice quite a few wait staff are non-Indian and most customers are non-Indian, so the restaurant obviously knows where their business comes from. For a place that caters to "mainstream" and charges "mainstream" price, I'd expect better and more efficient services. We didn't get a menu for 20 minutes and waited for over an hour from the time we walked in to the time food arrived. To put things in perspective, I rarely comment about lack of services in an "ethnic" restaurant because I prioritize food/taste above all other criterion. But.....
(2)
Hitesh C.
I've been to the Troy branch which i enjoyed very much, i decided to try this branch out as the reviews on canton branch was slighty higher. My first impression was this is a nice place, but felt a little dark and dingy.. The waitress put some complimentary popadoms on the table along with 3 chutney dips to accompany the popadoms. The 3 chutney dips were 3 little round pots which was about half filled, but the top half had dried guey old chutney sauce which looked like it hadn't been cleaned for a few days.. I was hungry so went try the sauce but this was very lumpy! not like the troy branch where the same chutney had the same consistency to all 3 dips. The main curry i ordered was shimp masala but the actual curry base tasted as if it originally had meat chunks in it.. I was thinking maybe as they do buffets in the afternoon they had used that curry base and removed the meat chunks and put my shrimps in there? Clearly at this point i was paranoid.. For dessert, i ordered my favourite,, Ras Malai!! - i specifically asked the waiter i'm only ordering if its fresh and made today.. he assured me i will love it as its fresh and made at the very restaurant.. So went ahead and ordered.. "Ras Malai for those who don't know is soft spongy dumplings made from cottage or riccotta cheese soaked in sweetened, thickened milk with cardamom and served chilled.." What i got was ras malai that had either been made a week ago or made same day but left out "room temp" for to long, the rai malai dumpling was not soft and spongy, it was just crumbling in my mouth. I asked for a different dessert at this point and had the Kulfi pista ice cream which was devine but i guess it was probably not made in house.. When i came to pay the bill, the waiter must have noticed all my displeasures with them so he didn't charge me for the ras malai.. fair play to the lad. Bottom line is.. hygienically this restaurant has some issues from my experience.
(2)
TINA F.
Whats not to love about Ashoka?? From the round dining room to the naan and tikka masala. This place is fabulous! I must confess though that I have never been to another Indian restaurant so if you have a recommendation for me to branch out to let me know. But I just love the atmosphere and the food here. The Thali platters are a complete meal with dessert and if your not a huge eater could even be split with someone making for a really affordable dinner! They also serve one of my favorite wines, Piesporter, which is hard to find at other restaurants. I always order the Chefs Special Chicken Tikka and its just the right amount of heat (order mild) and creaminess....mmm so good. I adore the rice pudding! Unlike traditional rice pudding its more like a soup of sweetened milk poured over rice but so delicious and light. I've tried the Chicken Korma (perfect for no spice eaters), the lamb with cardamom and a vegetarian dish I can't remember the name of. Oh and they serve a dish that is much like a creamed spinach which was delicious but certainly more appropriate as a side dish than a main meal. Love this place!
(4)
Shelly M.
The food is still excellent, but the last couple of times I have went there the service just keeps getting worse and worse. I can take it most of the time if the food is good, but if it slides any further down hill, you will be running to the kitchen yourself to get your order, or you may never get it. And don't expect your check or boxes anytime soon, you could wait up to a half an hour for that. It's fine if you have two or more hours that you can kill for dinner.
(3)
ryan k.
Ok so Ashoka's food is great, no doubt about it. However, I have a friend whom I trust a great deal who works in the industry, in the capacity that he would certainly be exposed to such information. He tells me that Ashoka's kitchen is repulsive. He said they have had 20 health code violations, 11 of which were critical. I independently verified that this information is correct with Wayne Co Inspections. I'm am aware that this information will be a total buzz kill for some as it was for me. You can see my previous review of Ashoka. Now, knowing what I know, I cannot continue to eat food that the health department of Wayne Co. considered dangerous on so many occasions. allfoodbusiness.com/heal… Do your own search above to verify the information if you wish. The reason Im going with two stars here is because it says "Meh. I've experienced bettter." Which is the truth. The food is outstanding, but the place is pure filth. I've experienced better.
(2)
Sara G.
I agree with Chiwei, this place is dangerous! Deliciously, decadently dangerous. I was here with my lady friends and we ordered a TON of food, starting with appetizers: pakora and aloo tikka. The aloo tikka were my favorite: fluffy, moist and spiced so delicately it snuck up on me. For my main dish I ordered baigan bartha (eggplant stew). It was warm and filling (and spicy). My friend ordered malai kofta and it was tasty, the cheese perfectly cooked--soft yet firm. Everything we ate was seasoned really, really well. The real star of the show? The rava masala dosa. So big it takes up an entire plate. The crispy crunchy crepe edges dangle over the plate, daring you to tear them off. Inside: hot, moist and spicy potato mixture with caramelized onions. Diabolical! Most Indian restaurants (justifiably) have a reputation for notoriously bad service so I must point out that our waiter was attentive, our beverages were always replenished and the manager checked up on us a few times! Oh Indian food, I love you so.
(5)
Erica C.
My boyfriend and I ate here yesterday for the lunch buffet, and we really liked it! We've been here before with his family and I remember being pleased with the taste:) Their vegetable korma was my favorite, and the gulab jamuns were hot and sweet! The staff was nice and responsive, and the buffet food, I noticed, was replaced when needed, which is a huge plus! Naan was always ready when asked, and water was always refilled, which, to me, is very important! Their coconut chutney tasted really fresh and was really lovely on the naan, as well as their tamarind chutney :) There could have been more spice in the food, but I can handle very spicy dishes ;) I was not disappointed! :D
(4)
Anson P.
After what can only be described as a weekend of gluttony, I decided to go to an Indian buffet. This was described to me as the best Indian food closest to me. And I write this review from a reclined position because I'm having a hard time breathing normally after everything I ate this weekend. According to the website, this is the largest Indian buffet in town. Not the biggest Indian buffet I've seen, but definitely bigger than Haandi's. They had at least 4 vegetarian options. Palak paneer (spinach with cheese) is one of my favorite dishes and the version here was pretty good. The chicken tikka masala was pretty good as well. The goat curry was good and they did it the right way, with the bones still in it. The fried lentils were tasty. I didn't really like the noodles they offered. The rice was a little undercooked as well, as there were some hard pieces in it. They had gulab jamun for dessert as well as some banana custard stuff which I didn't care for. I also had a mango lassi which was pretty good. Weekend lunch buffet was 10 bucks, definitely one of the cheaper ones that I've been to. The service was excellent. I like this trend of serving up fresh naan to your table. It makes more sense to me to serve it up fresh rather than leaving a bunch of it at the buffet. Drink refills were handled in a timely fashion. I would definitely recommend this place for anyone in the area.
(4)
Sanj S.
Food and service is excellent. One might have to wait a bit for the order during weekends, but otherwise their service is pretty quick. Their Chicken Dum Biryani is something that i can kill for. Some of my south indians friends complained that this is not the traditional chicken biryani. But i told them, to hell with tradition...if God ever made biryaani ..this is what it will taste like. I think i did little to much praise :P ..but seriously ..i live in Lansing MI, 80 miles from Canton and i have to drive more than an hour to reach here. But its worth the drive.
(5)
Steven W.
By far, the best Indian food I've come across. A little on the pricey side, but very much worth it. I usually go for the Chicken Tika, or the Butter chicken. Usually get carry out here once a week, and I've a very particular palate.
(5)
GoBlue J.
Three strikes, they are out! There's a definite pattern going on here. These guys may have been decent before, but like so many buffet joints, the food quality degrades. I just came back for a lunch buffet and I will NOT go again:( It's not only the quality of food in general, it's everything including the service. These include 1:had to ask for more bread three times just to get two more. 2:dirty. the place wasn't this bad before. 3:grilled chicken was rancid, definitely leftover from previous nights. Believe me there are more, but like I said it was my third time and there will NOT be a fourth time. Avoid!
(1)
David P.
This place helped my wife and I fall back in love. Fall back in love with Indian Food that is. Yum... I love the butter chicken, so hot and perfectly spiced. My wife usually gets the tandoori chicken and then we dip the naan in any sauce they place in front of us. Our last visit we picked up a dosi to go and had it as late-night snack after a late night of running errands. Whenever we have an Indian craving or whenever we find ourselves in that area, we usually get pulled in for an Indian feast. The service has always been perfect. We like to ask lots of questions and they always take the time to explain it, and then make sure we're satisfied after our dinner is served. Whether you already like Indian food or your taste buds are just bored, you will enjoy the food and service. Enjoy!
(5)
Helen L.
Lunch buffet was alright. Cost was like $9.99. I was a little disappointed with the tandori chicken. Those should be kept in a closed container to keep moist and hotness vs out in the open where it becomes cold and dry. They do have chicken tikka masala which was good. I'd also like the dessert - banana pudding and those cake balls soaked in ginger syrup or something like that.
(3)
Janice K.
We went here for dinner on a Friday night. Our food took a LONG time to come out. This is nasty... while we were waiting, we couldn't help but notice the fruit flies or gnats buzzing around!!! Disgusting.
(1)
Jon B.
In town for work asked around and came up with this place, Food was very good and the service was too.
(4)
Chandra P.
The food is still good but the service has gone downhill. They are always pretty busy but seem to only have a few waitstaff. Also, the wait for the food the last time we went was RIDICULOUS. I'm sure we waited at least 45 minutes. Also, they took everyone else's order who came after us before taking our order. Very annoying. I KNOW they're not making the food fresh to order so what gives?
(3)
Erik A.
I have only eaten the lunch buffet, and I was impressed with both the quality of and number of the selections. The buffet could be a little cleaner, don't get me wrong it isn't like pigs at a trough...It's my only little nitpick.
(3)
H K.
Ordered takeout consisting of chicken tikka masala, aloo mutter, and palak paneer. Probably the worst Indian food I've ever had. The chicken in the chicken tikka masala was definitely NOT oven roasted and was chewy, just chunks of chicken breast tossed in sauce. I am used to very tender pieces of chicken in a thicker, buttery sauce. The taste and consistency of the sauce was runny and was more like a curry. Same goes for the aloo mutter. Palak paneer was okay. We moved from Cincinnati and the Indian there is much better - I was so looking forward to this, and was very disappointed. Overpriced for the portion size. The only plus is that the a la carte option comes with naan. We won't be going here again any time soon.
(2)
Rosa N.
As my husband would say, yum yum give me some. I love this place...great mango lassis and I really love the chicken tikka. I miss going to this place : (
(5)
Mo S.
This place is definitely authentic Indian food. The overall ambiance is well balanced and there are some Indian pieces that nicely add to their decor. I've never had "real" Indian food so I was quiet surprise that I really enjoyed it. Some of the food is a little spicy, however the waitress informed me that most of the food on the buffet was very mild compared to most of their other dishes. The buffet did have an array of veggie dishes to choose from. They also have different offerings in their buffet every day of the week, which is nice for their regulars who like to mix it up. They serve bread that has a nice flavor to it and is similar to pita bread expect it is actually made with yogurt. They had a few different dessert dishes when I went, including banana custard, hawal (grated carrots with sugar and peanuts), and this type of bread pudding. I tried all three and must say they all had a unique taste. Their service was great as well. Their servers are very attentive and stop by frequently. Their buffet is relatively cheap at roughly $9 a person. This is the best Indian restaurant I've been to and I would recommend that everyone should give it a try.
(5)
Binks P.
I went to the Ashoka in Canton, not Troy, last week. *Awesome!* The food was excellent as well as decently priced. The wine list included some Michigan wines, which I found impressive. My only beef was that the bathroom (at least in the ladies' room, no idea about the men's) didn't have a diaper-changing station, and our group had a 6-month old baby with us, so we had to change her on the fly while standing up (no room at the sink to lay down a baby either). Otherwise, it's a very family-friendly restaurant. We were there on a Saturday night, and there were a lot of other little kids running around everywhere. Friendly staff, great atmosphere. Rockin' food!
(4)
Anon A.
This place has the most amazing Indian food I've ever had. Every single dish I've tried has been simply amazing. This is a must have for Indian food enthusiasts.
(4)
Matt W.
I'm nervous because I'm the first to review Ashoka Canton - that's how much I like/LOVE this place. It's my favorite restaurant in the Metro-Detroit area. Considering it's 2:45am, I'll just tell you that I'm a real normal white fella that loves Indian food. If you're a novice, try Ashoka's lunch buffet (but check the hours, they close mid-day) to get a superb sampling of Indian food. Come back for dinner for the most fresh and tasty, not to mention visually appealing Indian meals in the Midwest.
(5)
MN K.
Reserved private room, owner said would hold until she got deposit. In case someone wanted same day and time, she would call me. Well she got a bigger event the night before and called to say she couldn't do our party. This was very unprofessional and lacked integrity all around. I had to scramble on a Sunday evening to get another place. Lucky didn't do the invites yet. Btw, I am out of state and haven't eaten there in years. Many said this was a blessing in disguise, as their quality of food has gone down. They said to go to House of India or Bombay Grill - their food is much better!!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
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.
Jason S.
Excellent food with a friendly staff. The food is delicious. The buffet is great for trying different things if you are new to Indian food. I have only eaten in there a couple times as I tend to get carry out more. I have tried numerous dishes here and have never been disappointed. I'm not a big fan of the raita that comes when you order thali with your entree, but I think that may be more of a personal taste than anything due to the restaurant. The naan is a bit greasy but still delicious. Every time I have eaten in, which has been about four or five times, the place has been clean and service has been courteous.
(5)Billy J.
This is a nice place to go to try a lot of different Indian foods. You can get the buffet for only $10 during lunch. This is great because for $10 you can try all of the Indian food. Now you can't go by my taste on this, mainly because I dislike Indian good. However they did have a good dessert section. Now when I say good, I don't really mean good, I mean you can deal with it.
(3)Trent B.
Not much to write here sorry. We arrived just after opening and were greeted and ushered to our table and given a glass of water each. That's the best our experience got. We waited for over 15 mins to have anyone come back to our table to either give us some wafers and chutney and take our order with no luck Prior to leaving. I even got out from my seat and searched for a waiter, made eye contact to encourage him to come to our table about 5 mins prior walking out. The table cloth was stained and music was loud. Poor, poor, poor service.
(1)Zahraa H.
Amazing food, best Indian in Michigan so far Not up to date on decor and set up inside but not too bad. Very friendly staff.
(4)Hark B.
I travel a lot and have had many different Indian restaurants. Tonight I ordered carry out tandoori chicken, I had recovered about 8 pieces which cost 20$, which for you mathematicians it came to 2.50$ a Piece. Don't get me wrong i paid it but I was hoping to get a nice piece of tandoori chicken which should not be hard to cook for indian restaurants. The chicken had a pink color to it which I have never heard of tandoori being floral pink. It should be red. Nevertheless it was very dry and too expensive for the small amount of meat on them as well. Still have four pieces left... Any takers?
(2)Evie B.
Found my 2nd favorite place for Indian cuisine. Service was very nice and fast. Tables and buffet area were clean. I can't remember all of the dishes but there were many choices and a balance of meats and veggies. I felt like the options were well prepared and kept hot. Unlike some other Indian buffets that serve you watered down, skimpy versions of entrees, this was the real deal. The meat dishes didn't just have a piece here or there and then lots of cream curry...they had a great balance. Our water glasses were kept full and we were given a basket of naan. I like the buffet option because it allows me to try a bunch of different items and if I don't care for something, I don't have to be bummed that I spent too much $$ on it. Plus because of the richness of some of the entrees it's not like you can heap your plate over and over...
(5)Megan M.
I got the vegetable koorma thali. The sauces were excellent as was the naan, but man. Canned veggies and canned fruit in my main dish? A meijer donut soaked in juice for the dessert? Just some major turnoffs. Restaurant was also very dirty. Would not return.
(2)Allison K.
The food was great but it is honestly the dirtiest restaurant I have ever been to. There were flies and garbage everywhere, rotten smells, and a carpenter ant ran across my table while I was eating.
(3)Chet G.
Excellent place to eat some real good Indian food. I and my wife love to frequent this place, birthdays, anniversary etc. Service till this day is excellent, prices are decent. Decor is nice, lots of parking attached to their land, so it is free for customers.
(5)Susan A.
Our favorite Indian restaurant by far. This location seems to have a better chef than the Troy restaurant. Tonight we enjoyed Chicken Koorma (a creamy sauce) and Kadai Paneer, the Indian cheese in a tomatoey sauce, both medium heat. Fantastic. This has become our go-to place near Metro airport.
(4)Pam M.
The staff was very friendly and the buffet had many delicious choices whether a carnivore or a vegetarian. Although I generally don't like buffets this one was well taken care of and clean. Very affordable for lunch. We' ll be back on our next trip to Ikea.
(4)L S.
The food was good, except for the naan. I see other reviews here rave about it, but I think the naan here was the worst I've had. In one piece of it, parts of it would range from doughy to crispy like a cracker. The cooking was very uneven. The whole thing was covered with oil, too. Much more so than I've ever had at any other Indian restaurant. Besides the naan, the other problem I had there was the bill. Paying by debit card, I decided to put the tip on the card, too. They ended up charging my account twice, once with the tip and once without. Their bank finally took the amount that included the tip, but they didn't release the amount without the tip, so my bank still shows that amount as "pending". I've never had a problem with putting a tip on the debit card, but I think this is an example of why it should be avoided. Apparently, some of the staff at Ashoka don't know how to process payments correctly. I've learned from this experience. Use only cash for tips.
(4)N P.
I posted a lot of information about the food at Ashoka on my review of their Troy branch. I felt that one was close to a 5 star rating. I've been to the Canton one less, maybe five times total. We went three times for the lunch buffet but the first and last visits were for dinner. At the first visit, the dinner staff was pleasant but confused a lot. It took us awhile to get food late in the evening but thankfully the food was impressive in presentation and flavor. The last dinner visit, years after the first one, was somewhat similar. The staff was fantastic and kind but it felt like they needed to be reminded to check on you. The lunch visits were fine. Initially I loved the buffet. There was such a mix of food and it was so filling. The food here is very rich and I loved that! As I noted in my longer review of the Troy restaurant, I love the vegetarian paneer dishes and the koorma dishes. They are creamy with a hint of sweetness. I also love the desserts, which are just plain sweet but not too sweet. I also really enjoy the hot and sour, vegetarian soup. All the Indo Chinese dishes are tasty (and as noted in my other review, Ashoka was one of the first places I remember to introduce these type of dishes). Other favorites are the South Indian selections, such as the dosas. They are all delicious with flavorful fillings. What I didn't like at the buffet is that the meat dishes and the vegetarian dishes were not very well separated and the buffet was kind of a mess. Please don't get wrong. The staff is wonderful and very kind. It just felt a little less organized. I don't know how things work in the kitchen and probably it is silly but even if they had separated the vegetarian stuff a little better outside for the public, I would have felt better. The place also seemed too big for me, especially since it was never busy on the five times I went there. I greatly prefer the Troy location. I'll probably be back at both but probably more regularly to the Troy location.
(4)Richard F.
Indian Buffets can be pretty mediocre. This one was really good. The food was highly seasoned and not toned down for the American palate, There was such a wide variety of dishes that after three trips back to the buffet line, I hadn't tried them all. The palak paneer was creamy and spicy. The various chicken dishes were diverse and tasty. The Tandoori Chicken was very tasty. And I detected the indicator that the food was going to be good. There were chili peppers in several of the dishes and whole roasted indian spices in others. In fact, one of the dishes was sections of a hot green pepper served in a spicy sauce. I had not seen this one before, but it was really good. The cross-section of the pepper contained the always spicy seeds and internal flesh. There were soups and salad, side dished and a host of vegetairian items. The weekend lunch buffet was just under $ 10 per head and well worth it. The next time we are in Canton or stopping at Ikea, I know where we are going for Indian food.
(4)Three Dog Night T.
My first visit to Ashoka during the summer of 2013 left me with so-so feelings. At the time, the lunch buffet offerings ran the gamut of average to sub-par. Actually, it was after visiting the Swedish marvel of consumer engineering across the street, IKEA, that I found myself drawn to the place. Well, I returned yesterday after more than a year and found the parking lot packed! Good sign, I thought, and yes, so it turned out to be! The buffet offerings all exceeded my expectations. Vegetarians will find themselves well if not equally represented on the hot tables. The two animal proteins, chicken curry and tandoori chicken, were moist dark meet, rather than the white breast meat which tightens up into hard nuggets if not prepared and presented carefully. OMG, the flavors of each of the offerings remained distinct on the plate, and even more pleasing on the tongue. Two lunches for seventeen bucks? Ann Arbor (Raja Rani, Madras Masala and Suvai buffets) better wake up a bit. Ashoka seems to be the new neighbor ready to expand westward, as it has expanded northward into Novi. PS. The naan, brought to the table, could not have been thinner and crisper. Forget the cheap Swedish reindeer meatballs in IKEA, and head over to Ashoka.
(5)Matthew L.
This place was actually my first experience with Indian food and after a Saturday buffet, I was sold! I've come here several times since then but have so far only gotten the buffet, so I can only give my review of the restaurant and the buffet food. The place seems like it is kept up pretty well and the service is always great. The buffet counter food always seems freshly made and good quality.
(4)Anne Y.
The food here was pretty good. I stayed in India for one month on a medical mission trip so I tend to compare to that. Most places in the states tend to over spice their food. Here.. the spice is just right.. based on the few things I've tried. I tend to not like going to Indian restaurants unless it's for the buffet because you get more for your money. Plus you get a bunch of veggies and meats to complete your meal. However you don't find a dinner buffet very often ( i think i've only seen on in INdiana and California). What I like about here is that some dishes have a Thali option and a A LA CARTe option. The Thali option is a south Indian traditional meal which includes your entree along with vegetable curry,dal,sambar, raita, rice, Naan and a dessert. SUPER filling. I ended up taking more than half of it home for lunch the next day. It's just $3 more. I tried the aloo gobi and the chicken vindiloo. Like i mentioned before, the spice is just right .. not too heavy or strong but just right. The Naan which is probably the BEST bread ever.. was fantastic.. they bring it out fresh. The garlic naan is even better. I like this place alot... will be back to try the lunch buffet. Parking is easy. Service is super friendly and attentive. The place is spacious and clean. I gave minus one star because like the other yelpers... I wasn't fond of the flies trying to take my food. My friend and I kept waving our hands to shoo off the flies.
(4)Crystal W.
I was in here for a private event. Very dirty and bugs everywhere. Gross. Will not eat here again.
(1)Ali M.
Pretty good lunch buffet. This place is my favorite lunch spot. The restaurant has a present old house seating arrangement and is very conveniently located. Good vegetarian choices.
(4)Sean R.
I have had a hit or miss with this restaurant. Whenever I am in the Canton MI area then I try and either eat dinner at the restaurant or order a carry-out and take it to my hotel and eat it. I like the way the restaurant is setup. It stands on its own with its own parking lot and that is rather rare when it comes to Indian restaurants. I usually order the dishes from the Tandoor which are: 1. Tandoori Chicken 2. Seekh Kababs 3. Chicken Makhni (Butter Chicken) 4. Naan and Rice The Seekh Kababs are generally consistent in taste and texture over time however the tandoori chicken and the butter chicken is a hit or miss. The tandoor chicken during most times can be soft and juicy and sometimes it can be tough and dry. The chicken makhni most times is tasty and melts in your mouth and at times it can also be dry and may dominate with a spice that is not designed to be dominant. The restaurant bar is functional and provides good service to the patrons most of the time. I can remember that on occasion the staff did not know how to make a margarita however that was because the bartender was missing during the early evening. I think if some of these nuances are taken care of and a little attention is paid to details then this restaurant can be a good restaurant in the area. The pricing is competitive.
(3)Sarah R.
We tried Ashoka for the first time and loved it. We were served the indian version of chips and dip in the beginning. Although not a huge fan of tamarind sauce, theirs was very yummy. That was my 18 month old favourite part of the meal. My hubby and I tried vegetable samosas, butter chicken and lamb koorma. We had mango lassi for drinks. Everything was delicious and well made! Meals came with naan and rice, which I appreciated. Plus we ordered one of the meals thali style, so it came with different sauces and a small desert, we liked most and enjoyed the variety! Portions were big, we have plenty of leftovers for later. Service was great! Well those were too many greats in one review, needless to say we're definitely coming back!
(4)Alex R.
You have to know what to order. For example, order the tandoori chicken, but not the "Chefs Special Chicken tikki masala"
(4)Guru Kaustubh T.
A regular stop for us when we lived in canton.. Had our engagement party here.. No complaints about the food.. Food is really good.. Would be my first pick for Indian food around Detroit area..
(4)Bharat S.
Very good indian restaurant :) Good ambience, prompt service and good taste Good for any kind of get togethers. My Favs and Recommendations: chi biriyani, chi chilli masala and butter naan. They also do takeaways, very prompt.!!
(4)Daniel F.
Went here during lunch last week for the buffet. Really enjoyed everything. Had a good selection of entrees and they really kept the naan coming. Would recommend and will definitely return when I'm in the area.
(4)Meera S.
I used to go there in the past 5 years ago and I moved from detroit. Yesterday I visited Detroit again but the same customer service is not there. The 2 ladies up there does not even give a smile on their face. They dont even ask how is the food. The Biryani is served too much in a small plate and some of it spilled as we take it with the spoon. When the Biryani is left over the lady gives us a small container to fit all the Biryani in that small container. Then we had to ask her to bring the big one. If the restaurant is busy then we can think since its busy may be they neglected us but the restaurant is not busy and still not a good customer service at all. 5 years back food is good, customer service is very good. Not everything fell off. Not good one.
(3)Terri B.
We walk in and didn't know if it was open appear dark when we got inside many people were there and getting the food was excellent service was excellent and you cannot beat the price. I highly recommend this to anyone even beginners
(5)Nikhil T.
Me and my buddy went to this restaurant looking at the rating in yelp. The food was definitely worth the money, but the service wasn't up to the mark. The servers were not paying attention to refilling the glass of water.
(3)Jenna N.
Great food! After our honeymoon we got hooked on Indian food. We decided to try this place after moving to Canton a few weeks ago. So the ambiance isn't the best (reason for the 4 stars) seems like a huge restaurant for not a huge crowd? Anyways, the food was delicious. I got the butter chicken and my husband got another really spicy dish. Both were amazing as was the naan. The naan was the best naan we have ever had! You could tell it was fresh and homemade. The restaurant was pretty dead for a Friday night with large un-occupied rooms (assuming they may be banquet rooms) and the music was not on for awhile, a little awkward. But besides that the food was great! We will be coming back soon.
(4)Mike D.
Stopped in today for my favorites. My plate had tandoori chicken, vegetable 65, chick peas, rice, spinach paneer, peppers,and some great naan dipped in raitha. I wish a potato dish were available and more paneer options, but it was good as usual. The service was good and though they forgot the naan, it was remedied quickly after being pointed out.
(4)Cassie W.
Great food, friendly smiles! Staff was extremely nice and helpful. I ordered chicken masala and vegetable masala and it was excellent. It was around $11 for the chicken masala and my sister ordered the vegetable masala thali style, a little bit more expensive ($13) but it came with lentils, potatoes, yogurt sauce, and a little dessert. Both entrees came with naan and rice. We also ordered the aloo tikka--little curry spiced fried potato fritters that were SO good. Overall, super good Indian food and a beautiful building.
(5)Brian W.
When they first opened, the restaurant's food was good. Over time, the food has suffered in taste. I really also feel that most of their dishes are overpriced. The one thing that I can say, is the service has always been good. The last two times that I had take-out, the meat was tough. I understand this cuisine. I cook it myself at home. Recommendation is - Skip this place. The Canton and surrounding areas have much better Indian food offerings.
(2)Mike R.
Staff is great super friendly and the buffet is the best indian buffet ive been to. Nice choices and the meat dishes where not all picked through like so many plqces. Curry goat and butter chicken dishes where full of nice big chunks of meat. Fresh nan bread brought to you table side all in all very good.
(5)Chrissy J.
Best Indian restaurant in the Metro Detroit area, hands down! Been here a zillion times, and they've never had an "off" day. Everything has been consistently awesome. They have a lunch buffet, which is fairly inexpensive, and offers the staples as well as a changing selection of less-common fare. They do Indo-Chinese very well, and often have the vegetable manchurian on the buffet. If they do, get it, because it's perfect and awesome. Spicy and flavorful with an almost kind of meaty texture. Most items on the buffet are vegetarian, and the ones that aren't are set aside in their own corner of the buffet. If you come for dinner (or just don't want the lunch buffet), be prepared for a rather extensive menu with cuisine from all over India. There are descriptions of everything below the name, so you won't get your makhnis confused with your masalas and so on. Many of the entrees are available Thali style, which means that in addition to your entree, rice, and naan, you also get some side dishes. Last time I was there it was raita, dal, some kind of veggie soup, and for dessert some banana pudding which wasn't overly sweet and was a perfect ending to a delicious meal (i had the bagara baigan). Thali style is only a few bucks extra, and totally worth it. I'm always able to stretch my meal into a filling dinner and a pretty hefty carryout for later. Oh, and they put papadum and an array of sauces on the table before your meal comes, which is a nice (and delicious) touch. They offer a full bar, with a fairly limited selection. Excellent prices, but I haven't ever ordered anything to drink besides water. The place is very clean inside, the buffet is well maintained, and the bathrooms are kept up as well. Speaking of the bathrooms, if you have to go, be prepared to basically walk through a labyrinth of twists and turns to get there. It's kind of unintentionally fun. Everything here is great, but to me, the service is the best part. Every single person from the host, to the waiter, to the guy that fills your water is extremely friendly and helpful, but not in a fake or pained way. I feel like I'm just hangin in my friends' restaurant whenever I go here, the way everyone is so cool and nice. Lots of parking, so don't worry about that. The place is usually at least 1/2 to 3/4 full when I'm in there, but I've never had to wait for a table. Good crowd, good for families too, if that's your thing. Last time I was there the waiter high-fived this little kid who was in a highchair and the kid was so freaking happy about it. It was cute. So yeah, go here for Indian food. It's the best. This is only my second five star review. I'm super picky, but I love this place. Could not be better! Oh, and they have a banquet room too. I don't know anything about that, but if I needed to host an event, there's a decent chance I'd give them a call, based on how satisfied I've been with everything else.
(5)Lisa W.
Went for the buffet, there was a lot of variety to choose from. Some of the items tasted like they had been re heated and then some tasted fresh. The Naan was not cooked enough and was doughy on one side. The mango juice was really good. Nothing on the buffet was super hot so when I got back to the table my food was warm at best. The chutneys very yummy. The decor and service were wonderful.
(3)Dave G.
This high quality Indian buffet sticks with the classics. 3 meat dishes, 4 veggie dishes and 3 kinds of rice. The naan was excellent and my water glass was kept full. The service is the highlight of Ashoka, all the waiters are very friendly and everything is perfectly clean.
(4)DanNCheryl S.
Went last night with a party of 5. The service was good and the food was even better. We had two appetizers #1 and #14 on the menu, both were good and plenty to split between 5. We shared a variety of dinners, tandoori chicken, shrimp curry, lamb curry, a rice/shrimp dish and another chicken dish. Enjoyed all the entrees and sides. Only thing we didn't care for is that they tacked on a 20% automatic gratuity for a 5 person table. We would probably have tipped more, but were a little taken aback. Would recommend and will go back!
(4)Rabiya L.
love the lunch buffet!! but a little over priced!! great Naan
(4)Emma C.
Stopped in with my wife wanting to go somewhere different from all the chain places in the area, we were pleasantly surprised. We decided to go with the buffet they had out in order to try several things in small portions. Pretty happy with the majority of what we tried, but the stand out was their naan! I had gone back to get take out a couple weeks ago, they messed up my order but it was still good.
(3)Chris O.
I have to admit the service and food were both very good. The problem is that they are not just $$ but more $$$-$$$$. For the money, the place was grungy looking and there were flys buzzing around. We went on a Sat. afternoon and the place was empty, they sat us near a doorway with swinging doors which happened to swing open 2-3 times smacking me in the back and arm. I say get takeout and forget eating here.
(3)Cybill R.
Chicken tikka masala, butter chicken, aloo gobi, the list goes on...all YUM!! Make sure to order thali style for some extra tasty morsels. They have recently remodeled - it was overdue. Looks very nice.
(4)Scott N.
Ashoka is a very good Indian restaurant with an extensive menu of authentic cuisine. The service and the food is spectacular.
(4)Seoung L.
I was in Canton area and I was craving Indian. I really had high hopes for Ashoka since it had some good reviews and I heard that the one in Troy was really good. Well it wasn't a good experience and I probably won't be back anytime soon. We walked in around 8:15pm on a Monday night and it was packed in the waiting area. I thought this was a good sign meaning it's good here. Well, it was basically empty in the actual dining area and they had no clue on how to seat people. The hostess started seating people that came after us. Not a good start. We sit down around 8:30pm (after waiting about 10 minutes to be seated in an empty restaurant), there was crumbs on the seats and the table wasn't totally clean. We didn't get menus when we sat so we had to wait for that. We basically had to wait for everything. Lot of time to wait for anything you need. My girlfriend and I order an appetizer and Chicken Tikka Masala to share. Wow. long wait until we get the appetizer. We eat that then long wait for the meal. About 45 minutes from when we ordered until the tikka msala came out. I don't mind waiting if it's cooked fresh but I never waited that long at any Indian place. During this time, a fly was buzzing around and it happened to land in my gf's glass of water. Now it's not there fault that a fly flies into the water but it is an issue if you have bugs flying around. (more bugs coming up in this review) Now I have to say the good thing was that the nann bread was really good. The Tikka Masala was not bad in flavor. Not the greatest curry I had but decent. We finished the curry and I look out the window and that's when I see few huge black ants crawling around the window sill. Kinda creeps you out when the our food wasn't too far away. We didn't get out until 10pm. They took forever even paying the bill! With all this negatives, I really can't recommend this place and that's too bad because they had some Indian/Chienese fusion items on their menu that I would like to try. however, I probably won't go back.
(2)Srinivasa Reddy J.
I had the lunch buffet. The Naan was good. The pakodas were good, the Dosa was OK. The curries were not that great. No taste , just gravy with spices and meat. The wait staff were eating while I was there. They were coming in my way from the opposite direction and were not following the order in which guests go around the buffet table. Worse, they were using the same plates over and over again. This place needs to improve or shut down.
(2)Sanjiv B.
Ashoka is a really tasty, predominately North Indian, restaurant. The buffet is above average, but not great. What really wins it for this place is the dinner menu. The kormas, paneer, tandoor and a few others, really make this place special for me. I have eaten here dozens of times and do so everytime I come back to Michigan. The ambiance is clean and conservative, but nice. The staff are friendly, courteous and efficient. I'm not sure what the deal is with people commenting that there are major code issues, because that has not been my experience. Up there as one of my absolute favorite indian food places and I highly recommend it.
(5)Jaclyn B.
It has been awhile since I last went to Ashoka although I like it I might not return for another long while.... I was meeting up with my hubby and my buddy for a nice lunch.... We heard there was a new vegetarian Indian place that opened on Canton Center just north of Ford so we figured we would try it out. Upon arrival, we discovered it wasn't open on Mondays. Grr....For our second thought, we tried to go to Neehee's as it is a local favorite.... And it was closed and boarded up! What?! It says that it will be re-opened soon... Gosh, I hope so. In a last ditch effort, we decided on Ashoka's for a nice Indian meal. During lunch, Ashoka has a large buffet of goodness. Our friend was not able to do the buffet as it is not vegetarian and my husband isn't interested in food cooked in mass quantity that has been touched and breathed over for awhile so we grabbed a few menus. Even though they do have the lunch buffet, I was interested in a couple of other lunch specials of which I found none. Our friend decided on Idly (yum) and we decided to split a meal because the price was $18 (for lunch?! Whatever.... Even split it is still almost $10 a person!). When we ordered the lamb vindaloo we asked for the hot on the spicy scale to which the waiter looked at us "whites" (as my Indian friend calls us) and cocked his head to the side, to which our Indian friend said "yeah, make it Indian spicy." We were also sure to ask for Thali so that we can get a couple more extra dishes of Indian goodness. The food came out in a decent amount of time, not too quick, not too slow.... But our order wasn't right. We did not get the extra Thali dishes and we given a small portion of lamb vindaloo and two small pieces of naan. Our friend enjoyed his Idly but made the comment that his wife makes the absolute best Idly in the world (we will have to try that sometime). Although I enjoyed the dish it was small, not correct and super expensive for the size. Please note: Once the dish was on the table, the waiter immediately came up to check on us to ensure the meal was palatable. It absolutely was! When we got the check the gentlemen obviously heard just the dish and not Thali because we were charged accordingly ($14.95 for a small dish and an additional $1.95 for naan- what?! The $15 for a small dish doesn't include the bread?) and the idly was $5.95. I doubt I will be back.... The place needs a serious cleaning (menus sticking together and the glass table covered with some sort of grease), coupled with super expensive lunches.... Maybe if we use the entertainment passbook coupon (buy one meal, get the second half off).... That is still a $30 dinner for two. Meh, I would rather go to Neehee's and get a thali lunch for $5.95 (or maybe it was less)- with all their great flavor, I do not miss the meat.
(2)emeril l.
Very lackluster, on last trip here I overheard a regular forgo the mediocre buffet spread in favor of ordering off the menu. Why, oh why, didn't I follow suit?
(1)Sagar T.
Cosy setting and relaxing ambience..impressed by the items on the vegetable menu ...
(4)D A.
I would recommend the lunch buffet. The items do change, so it's a surprise each time, but I haven't been disappointed as yet. The service is very good, naan hot, and the food very tasty. I haven't been here for dinner as yet, but I think I might have to try it sometime.
(4)Jessica F.
I read many reviews, trying to find a good Indian restaurant for my parents, me, and my husband. My step-dad is very impatient, and the food must arrive quickly, and piping hot. My mom has a sensitive stomach when it comes to greasy foods. My husband is a vegetarian, and I am pregnant. So, I did my research before settling on Ashoka. My step-dad ordered the shrimp curry. He was very pleased with the flavor and the level of spiciness, and it was fresh from the kitchen, so it was hot. My mother ordered the Seekh Kabab, and it was delicious (I tried a bite); it was nice and lean and full of flavor, not grease. My husband got the Jaipuri Allo; he enjoyed it but it didn't completely fill him up. He felt like something was missing. I ordered the chicken korma as it is my favorite. The korma sauce was rich without being too sweet or powerful. Being in my first trimester when we visited, I was very picky about the food I ate. The chicken was perfectly cooked, as it melted in my mouth with the delicious korma flavor bursting out of every morsel. The rice was perfect, the naan delicious, and overall, it was a fantastic experience. We decided to try the "Thali" option as we wanted to try something new. Overall, the soups and side dishes weren't really for us, but we were glad we tried it. However, next time, we probably will just stick with the basic meal. I was really pleased to find a restaurant that fit the needs of 4 picky ppl very well, and I cannot wait to go back!
(4)Scott W.
The Navratan Korma is out of this world. Creamy & spicy & sweet. Naan is best in class. The Paneer Makhani is like the Chicken Tikka Masala for vegetarians. Very tasty. Definitely get the "Thali" option on the dinners, for $2 more you get a bunch of tasty sides and sauces to add to your main course. I almost always order carry out here. Too bad they use so much styrofoam, would be nice if they used something recyclable or biodegradable for the carry out orders. Ashoka, for me, is the best tasting Indian food in the area.
(4)Chiwei L.
This place is dangerous. I always eat waaaayyyy to much, because I really love the food here. It's spicy hot, rich and delicious. My favorite is the Saag with cheese in it, along with the large range of Chicken Curries. I've eatten at the lunch buffet, but the entries are much much better. My only issue is I wish they would carry a few lighter dishes, or have some curries that use a little less ghee (clarified butter), but it does taste damn good. Anyway, when I'm in the mood for Indian, this is our place to go!
(5)Peter S.
Ashoka has very good food. We enjoyed the butter chicken, chicken tikka masala, palak paneer, and lamb curry. All were delicious. The naan and garlic naan were good too. I would not criticize the food; the only thing holding this place back from five stars is the neglected ambiance--sticky menus, torn seat cushions, and run-down facilities. However, none of that would keep me from going back to enjoy the food...that's what is most important.
(4)A W.
We first started eating here about 5 years ago right after they first opened. After a few initial bumps, they seemed to get their act straightened out and for a few years this was our absolute favorite place to eat. The weekend lunch buffet was fantastic - $7.99 for a huge assortment of freshly prepared dishes which tasted great. Our little one got to eat free of charge, and our oldest daughter (12 and under pricing) only cost around $3.99. The naan was plentiful and refilled before you even had to ask. I think the lunch buffet is up to $9.99 now for everyone, even my 4 year old. That's way overpriced, in my opinion. Unfortunately, their prices have steadily increased and the service and food quality have steadily decreased. I have not had the experience other Yelpers have discussed - namely the old or "recycled" buffet food, probably because we usually go for the buffet and the food is all made fresh. But it just does not seem as high quality as it used to be. More grease, more salt, more sloppy overall. It just doesn't taste fresh. The naan is usually small and overcooked to the point of being crunchy, and they only bring out 1 piece at a time, cut into quarters. The menus and tables are sticky, and the bathrooms are horrible. The worst experience we had was a dirty, stained, food-covered tablecloth covered by a glass table topper. The tablecloth had large, obvious mold blooms on it, so we asked for a different table. They didn't bother to replace the tablecloth before they sat the next couple there, even though we pointed it out. We have not been back much since that. As much as I still feel somewhat loyal to this place, I can't justify the risk of a food-borne illness because someone doesn't understand how to clean up. There are other, cleaner restaurants in the area, so we go to those now. I give them 2 stars for loyalty, for old time's sake. I hope they can recover, because it used to be really good.
(2)Wendy C.
I really want to like this place. Some of the reviews were good to great; and I need to find a good northern Indian place to alternate with pretty fantastic southern Indian food I know where to find (Namaste Flavours) The food is ok, not terribly good nor terrible; a little on the bland side if your taste buds are used to more authentic good Indian. I did notice quite a few wait staff are non-Indian and most customers are non-Indian, so the restaurant obviously knows where their business comes from. For a place that caters to "mainstream" and charges "mainstream" price, I'd expect better and more efficient services. We didn't get a menu for 20 minutes and waited for over an hour from the time we walked in to the time food arrived. To put things in perspective, I rarely comment about lack of services in an "ethnic" restaurant because I prioritize food/taste above all other criterion. But.....
(2)Hitesh C.
I've been to the Troy branch which i enjoyed very much, i decided to try this branch out as the reviews on canton branch was slighty higher. My first impression was this is a nice place, but felt a little dark and dingy.. The waitress put some complimentary popadoms on the table along with 3 chutney dips to accompany the popadoms. The 3 chutney dips were 3 little round pots which was about half filled, but the top half had dried guey old chutney sauce which looked like it hadn't been cleaned for a few days.. I was hungry so went try the sauce but this was very lumpy! not like the troy branch where the same chutney had the same consistency to all 3 dips. The main curry i ordered was shimp masala but the actual curry base tasted as if it originally had meat chunks in it.. I was thinking maybe as they do buffets in the afternoon they had used that curry base and removed the meat chunks and put my shrimps in there? Clearly at this point i was paranoid.. For dessert, i ordered my favourite,, Ras Malai!! - i specifically asked the waiter i'm only ordering if its fresh and made today.. he assured me i will love it as its fresh and made at the very restaurant.. So went ahead and ordered.. "Ras Malai for those who don't know is soft spongy dumplings made from cottage or riccotta cheese soaked in sweetened, thickened milk with cardamom and served chilled.." What i got was ras malai that had either been made a week ago or made same day but left out "room temp" for to long, the rai malai dumpling was not soft and spongy, it was just crumbling in my mouth. I asked for a different dessert at this point and had the Kulfi pista ice cream which was devine but i guess it was probably not made in house.. When i came to pay the bill, the waiter must have noticed all my displeasures with them so he didn't charge me for the ras malai.. fair play to the lad. Bottom line is.. hygienically this restaurant has some issues from my experience.
(2)TINA F.
Whats not to love about Ashoka?? From the round dining room to the naan and tikka masala. This place is fabulous! I must confess though that I have never been to another Indian restaurant so if you have a recommendation for me to branch out to let me know. But I just love the atmosphere and the food here. The Thali platters are a complete meal with dessert and if your not a huge eater could even be split with someone making for a really affordable dinner! They also serve one of my favorite wines, Piesporter, which is hard to find at other restaurants. I always order the Chefs Special Chicken Tikka and its just the right amount of heat (order mild) and creaminess....mmm so good. I adore the rice pudding! Unlike traditional rice pudding its more like a soup of sweetened milk poured over rice but so delicious and light. I've tried the Chicken Korma (perfect for no spice eaters), the lamb with cardamom and a vegetarian dish I can't remember the name of. Oh and they serve a dish that is much like a creamed spinach which was delicious but certainly more appropriate as a side dish than a main meal. Love this place!
(4)Shelly M.
The food is still excellent, but the last couple of times I have went there the service just keeps getting worse and worse. I can take it most of the time if the food is good, but if it slides any further down hill, you will be running to the kitchen yourself to get your order, or you may never get it. And don't expect your check or boxes anytime soon, you could wait up to a half an hour for that. It's fine if you have two or more hours that you can kill for dinner.
(3)ryan k.
Ok so Ashoka's food is great, no doubt about it. However, I have a friend whom I trust a great deal who works in the industry, in the capacity that he would certainly be exposed to such information. He tells me that Ashoka's kitchen is repulsive. He said they have had 20 health code violations, 11 of which were critical. I independently verified that this information is correct with Wayne Co Inspections. I'm am aware that this information will be a total buzz kill for some as it was for me. You can see my previous review of Ashoka. Now, knowing what I know, I cannot continue to eat food that the health department of Wayne Co. considered dangerous on so many occasions. allfoodbusiness.com/heal… Do your own search above to verify the information if you wish. The reason Im going with two stars here is because it says "Meh. I've experienced bettter." Which is the truth. The food is outstanding, but the place is pure filth. I've experienced better.
(2)Sara G.
I agree with Chiwei, this place is dangerous! Deliciously, decadently dangerous. I was here with my lady friends and we ordered a TON of food, starting with appetizers: pakora and aloo tikka. The aloo tikka were my favorite: fluffy, moist and spiced so delicately it snuck up on me. For my main dish I ordered baigan bartha (eggplant stew). It was warm and filling (and spicy). My friend ordered malai kofta and it was tasty, the cheese perfectly cooked--soft yet firm. Everything we ate was seasoned really, really well. The real star of the show? The rava masala dosa. So big it takes up an entire plate. The crispy crunchy crepe edges dangle over the plate, daring you to tear them off. Inside: hot, moist and spicy potato mixture with caramelized onions. Diabolical! Most Indian restaurants (justifiably) have a reputation for notoriously bad service so I must point out that our waiter was attentive, our beverages were always replenished and the manager checked up on us a few times! Oh Indian food, I love you so.
(5)Erica C.
My boyfriend and I ate here yesterday for the lunch buffet, and we really liked it! We've been here before with his family and I remember being pleased with the taste:) Their vegetable korma was my favorite, and the gulab jamuns were hot and sweet! The staff was nice and responsive, and the buffet food, I noticed, was replaced when needed, which is a huge plus! Naan was always ready when asked, and water was always refilled, which, to me, is very important! Their coconut chutney tasted really fresh and was really lovely on the naan, as well as their tamarind chutney :) There could have been more spice in the food, but I can handle very spicy dishes ;) I was not disappointed! :D
(4)Anson P.
After what can only be described as a weekend of gluttony, I decided to go to an Indian buffet. This was described to me as the best Indian food closest to me. And I write this review from a reclined position because I'm having a hard time breathing normally after everything I ate this weekend. According to the website, this is the largest Indian buffet in town. Not the biggest Indian buffet I've seen, but definitely bigger than Haandi's. They had at least 4 vegetarian options. Palak paneer (spinach with cheese) is one of my favorite dishes and the version here was pretty good. The chicken tikka masala was pretty good as well. The goat curry was good and they did it the right way, with the bones still in it. The fried lentils were tasty. I didn't really like the noodles they offered. The rice was a little undercooked as well, as there were some hard pieces in it. They had gulab jamun for dessert as well as some banana custard stuff which I didn't care for. I also had a mango lassi which was pretty good. Weekend lunch buffet was 10 bucks, definitely one of the cheaper ones that I've been to. The service was excellent. I like this trend of serving up fresh naan to your table. It makes more sense to me to serve it up fresh rather than leaving a bunch of it at the buffet. Drink refills were handled in a timely fashion. I would definitely recommend this place for anyone in the area.
(4)Sanj S.
Food and service is excellent. One might have to wait a bit for the order during weekends, but otherwise their service is pretty quick. Their Chicken Dum Biryani is something that i can kill for. Some of my south indians friends complained that this is not the traditional chicken biryani. But i told them, to hell with tradition...if God ever made biryaani ..this is what it will taste like. I think i did little to much praise :P ..but seriously ..i live in Lansing MI, 80 miles from Canton and i have to drive more than an hour to reach here. But its worth the drive.
(5)Steven W.
By far, the best Indian food I've come across. A little on the pricey side, but very much worth it. I usually go for the Chicken Tika, or the Butter chicken. Usually get carry out here once a week, and I've a very particular palate.
(5)GoBlue J.
Three strikes, they are out! There's a definite pattern going on here. These guys may have been decent before, but like so many buffet joints, the food quality degrades. I just came back for a lunch buffet and I will NOT go again:( It's not only the quality of food in general, it's everything including the service. These include 1:had to ask for more bread three times just to get two more. 2:dirty. the place wasn't this bad before. 3:grilled chicken was rancid, definitely leftover from previous nights. Believe me there are more, but like I said it was my third time and there will NOT be a fourth time. Avoid!
(1)David P.
This place helped my wife and I fall back in love. Fall back in love with Indian Food that is. Yum... I love the butter chicken, so hot and perfectly spiced. My wife usually gets the tandoori chicken and then we dip the naan in any sauce they place in front of us. Our last visit we picked up a dosi to go and had it as late-night snack after a late night of running errands. Whenever we have an Indian craving or whenever we find ourselves in that area, we usually get pulled in for an Indian feast. The service has always been perfect. We like to ask lots of questions and they always take the time to explain it, and then make sure we're satisfied after our dinner is served. Whether you already like Indian food or your taste buds are just bored, you will enjoy the food and service. Enjoy!
(5)Helen L.
Lunch buffet was alright. Cost was like $9.99. I was a little disappointed with the tandori chicken. Those should be kept in a closed container to keep moist and hotness vs out in the open where it becomes cold and dry. They do have chicken tikka masala which was good. I'd also like the dessert - banana pudding and those cake balls soaked in ginger syrup or something like that.
(3)Janice K.
We went here for dinner on a Friday night. Our food took a LONG time to come out. This is nasty... while we were waiting, we couldn't help but notice the fruit flies or gnats buzzing around!!! Disgusting.
(1)Jon B.
In town for work asked around and came up with this place, Food was very good and the service was too.
(4)Chandra P.
The food is still good but the service has gone downhill. They are always pretty busy but seem to only have a few waitstaff. Also, the wait for the food the last time we went was RIDICULOUS. I'm sure we waited at least 45 minutes. Also, they took everyone else's order who came after us before taking our order. Very annoying. I KNOW they're not making the food fresh to order so what gives?
(3)Erik A.
I have only eaten the lunch buffet, and I was impressed with both the quality of and number of the selections. The buffet could be a little cleaner, don't get me wrong it isn't like pigs at a trough...It's my only little nitpick.
(3)H K.
Ordered takeout consisting of chicken tikka masala, aloo mutter, and palak paneer. Probably the worst Indian food I've ever had. The chicken in the chicken tikka masala was definitely NOT oven roasted and was chewy, just chunks of chicken breast tossed in sauce. I am used to very tender pieces of chicken in a thicker, buttery sauce. The taste and consistency of the sauce was runny and was more like a curry. Same goes for the aloo mutter. Palak paneer was okay. We moved from Cincinnati and the Indian there is much better - I was so looking forward to this, and was very disappointed. Overpriced for the portion size. The only plus is that the a la carte option comes with naan. We won't be going here again any time soon.
(2)Rosa N.
As my husband would say, yum yum give me some. I love this place...great mango lassis and I really love the chicken tikka. I miss going to this place : (
(5)Mo S.
This place is definitely authentic Indian food. The overall ambiance is well balanced and there are some Indian pieces that nicely add to their decor. I've never had "real" Indian food so I was quiet surprise that I really enjoyed it. Some of the food is a little spicy, however the waitress informed me that most of the food on the buffet was very mild compared to most of their other dishes. The buffet did have an array of veggie dishes to choose from. They also have different offerings in their buffet every day of the week, which is nice for their regulars who like to mix it up. They serve bread that has a nice flavor to it and is similar to pita bread expect it is actually made with yogurt. They had a few different dessert dishes when I went, including banana custard, hawal (grated carrots with sugar and peanuts), and this type of bread pudding. I tried all three and must say they all had a unique taste. Their service was great as well. Their servers are very attentive and stop by frequently. Their buffet is relatively cheap at roughly $9 a person. This is the best Indian restaurant I've been to and I would recommend that everyone should give it a try.
(5)Binks P.
I went to the Ashoka in Canton, not Troy, last week. *Awesome!* The food was excellent as well as decently priced. The wine list included some Michigan wines, which I found impressive. My only beef was that the bathroom (at least in the ladies' room, no idea about the men's) didn't have a diaper-changing station, and our group had a 6-month old baby with us, so we had to change her on the fly while standing up (no room at the sink to lay down a baby either). Otherwise, it's a very family-friendly restaurant. We were there on a Saturday night, and there were a lot of other little kids running around everywhere. Friendly staff, great atmosphere. Rockin' food!
(4)Anon A.
This place has the most amazing Indian food I've ever had. Every single dish I've tried has been simply amazing. This is a must have for Indian food enthusiasts.
(4)Matt W.
I'm nervous because I'm the first to review Ashoka Canton - that's how much I like/LOVE this place. It's my favorite restaurant in the Metro-Detroit area. Considering it's 2:45am, I'll just tell you that I'm a real normal white fella that loves Indian food. If you're a novice, try Ashoka's lunch buffet (but check the hours, they close mid-day) to get a superb sampling of Indian food. Come back for dinner for the most fresh and tasty, not to mention visually appealing Indian meals in the Midwest.
(5)MN K.
Reserved private room, owner said would hold until she got deposit. In case someone wanted same day and time, she would call me. Well she got a bigger event the night before and called to say she couldn't do our party. This was very unprofessional and lacked integrity all around. I had to scramble on a Sunday evening to get another place. Lucky didn't do the invites yet. Btw, I am out of state and haven't eaten there in years. Many said this was a blessing in disguise, as their quality of food has gone down. They said to go to House of India or Bombay Grill - their food is much better!!
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