If I could write a one- word review, it would say "yum!". We love the lunch buffet for busy days, and dinner for quiet evenings. We go so often that the staff knows our order when we walk ( or call) in. I only wish the buffet started earlier and went later.
(4)
J H.
Excellent food!! Big fan of Indian food, have had it on both coasts, and this place holds up.
(4)
Lilian O.
One very cold and snowy Saturday night a few weeks ago, we decided to head over to Taj Palace for the first time to warm ourselves up with some spicy Indian food. It was our first time inside of the place after driving and walking by it many times and we were glad that we did. For 7 PM Saturday night, the place wasn't crowded at all though it may have been due to the snow. We had no problems getting seated and enjoyed the Bollywood videos that were playing on the TVs. Even though we weren't that hungry, the vegetarian dinner for two at the great price of $28.95 caught our eye. Definitely one of the cheaper platters that I've seen and included two pieces of vegetable Samosas, Muligatany soup, Saag Paneer, Malai Kofta, Raita, Naan, Basmati rice, and Kheer for dessert. Everything was really good! And they even had 3 types of chutneys with the free pappadums including my fiancee's favorite of onion and tomato. Also, we were pleasantly surprised that they gave us garlic naan. We thought that plain naan would be included in the platter. I don't normally eat naan because of the carb content, but I couldn't stop eating the delectable, fluffy, garlicky awesomeness of Taj Palace's garlic naan with flecks of parsley. We also took home tons of leftovers. Definitely a good portion of food for the price. In case you couldn't tell from all of my other reviews of Indian restaurants around KC, we LOVE Indian food and are vegetarian. So I can't speak for the meat dishes though I'm pretty sure they would be probably spiced unlike Masala's in OP. I think this place has overtaken Swagat as my favorite Indian restaurant in the KC area. Especially after my most recent experience there (you can read all about it in a separate review). If it weren't for the fact that I've eaten at some absolutely incredible and cheap Indian restaurants (I'm talking about under $5 for an entree) in the Little India section of Houston, I would have given it 5 stars.
(4)
Starr A.
I've eaten at a lot of Indian restaurants all over the country, and Taj Palace is right up there with the best I've had. We had recently eaten at Korma Sutra and were disappointed by the lack of depth in the flavors. We were so happy to find Taj Palace! We had the kids (age 2 and infant), and they enjoyed the food, too. The restaurant was empty, and the service was attentive, if a little awkward (honestly, i've rarely been to an Indian restaurant with comfortable service--at least the servers weren't lined up against the walls staring at us like I've witnessed at some places). We licked the plates on our vegetarian dinner for two, and if we hadn't been complete gluttons, we would've had left-overs. The Malai Kofta is to die for!
(5)
victoria l.
My daughter and I love finding new places ,especially varying ethnic cuisine and family owned restaurants instead of corporate chains--with that said--I LOVED THIS PLACE!! I had the Chicken Korma--lovely--rice pudding?/ doesn't get fresher than this..plus the chai tea..a wonderful drink on a stormy night for sure. My daughter had some vegetarian dishes that were spicy,but not quite enough spice for her..but the gentleman who waited on us could not have been better..and he let her know next time to say"hot" when ordering really spicy..The saddest thing is the place wasn't half full---Too bad so much of KC lives on BBQ and burgers(sigh) Seriously they are missing out!! For Indian food?? my NEW FAVORITE PLACE!!!!
(4)
kate b.
The only reason this place is not the full 5 stars is because the decor, and wait staff are not at great as the food. I'm so willing to look past both of those. The decor is lacking, but I do love the fabric that is hanging on the walls, I always think about what I could make it into. I also enjoy the music videos that play in the background. My only real complaint is that they are very quick to take away the chutneys. The give you some kind of sesame cracker bread stuff and once you eat the crackers the whisk in and grab it. The chutneys are so good too. I have eaten both the buffet and ordered off the menu. Both are great. I have never had anything I didn't adore. I have been to lots of Indian restaurants in the KC area and have found that many places seems to dumb down the food. And by that I mean that it isn't as spicy, or doesn't have enough flavor. I guess you could call it Americanized :-/ I like my ethnic food, ethnic. If it should burn your mouth off, that's how I want it!
(4)
Anush J.
Really good food. Came for a lunch buffet and everything that I took was good - especially the chicken dishes. and all for $10!
(4)
Craig E.
It's the first Indian restaurant I have tried in town, so there is nothing I can compare it to. That said, I found the lunch buffet to have a great selection. The naan was fresh, doughy and warm. I sampled a bit of everything but found the mushroom mattar makhni worthy of a second trip through the line. The Basmati rice was studded with carrots and peas and really held the sauce. If that isn't enough, a little Hindi-language Bollywood film is on the big screen in the corner. I'm not sure what the theme of the movie was, but it sure looked like a lot of fun!!
(4)
Gracielle N.
best indian food hands down
(5)
Jenn D.
I went here for dinner once and was very disappointed. Both the food and the service were lacking in quality Maybe I was just spoiled by Korma Sutra...
(3)
MEnKC r.
Woo hoo!! YAY!!! Yes, this is literally what I say when my boyfriend suggests we have the lunch buffet and Taj Palace. Then I orgasm while eating the food...
(5)
elliot d.
i have never loved an indian restaurant as much as i love taj palace. the service is always friendly and pleasant and their food (the naan especially) is the best i've had anywhere in kansas city and it's up there with my favorites in the country (although i haven't eaten everywhere in the country, i guess).
(5)
Chanti G.
Went for dinner last night. The food was fine, not outstanding, but decent; it was the atmosphere that left us disgusted. Our server, an older man, was noticeably surly to us and borderline abusive towards the staff. The conversation at our table was interrupted by the same man loudly chiding a young woman for how she was cleaning the tables. The way he spoke to her made us so uncomfortable that we considered pulling the young woman aside to ask if she was OK. She seemed frightened and embarrassed, and we left without approaching her. We won't be returning to Taj Palace.
(1)
Jen D.
I didn't realize that I hadn't written a review for one of my favorite Indian food places, Taj Palace. Whether I indulge in a lovely dinner or the lunch buffet, Taj Palace never lets me down. The service is always friendly and the food is always fresh. The lunch buffet is plentiful and delicious, with numerous vegetarian and dishes including meat (lamb, chicken and goat). I love butter chicken and vegetable korma, as well as the saag. I was pleasantly surprised when I asked about garlic naan, it was not on the buffet, but upon our request the cook brought a special order to our table, free of charge. Talk about service! When dining during supper hours, expect the same great service with portion sizes large enough for leftovers the next day. Who doesn't love left over Indian? Even though I love chicken korma, whenever I am at Taj Palace I declare that I could easily become vegetarian, as their lentils, vegetables, and other vegetarian offerings are simply phenomenal.
(5)
DJuan L.
Korma Sutra was my favorite Indian restaurant in Kansas City until I tried Taj Palace. I'm a big fan of Indian food and this places knows how to make it. Good! The buffet had a large variety and everything I had was good. Highly recommended.
(5)
Crystal C.
I wanted so badly to like this place! I'm not saying its awful but as far as eating authentic Indian food.. No way! For example, chicken tikka masala was sweet & no way had a tomato base sauce. I mean I was shocked quite frankly! Butter chicken was okay but sauce was super watery and lacked any kind of Indian seasoning. We did eat the buffet so not sure if there's a difference in quality when ordering via the menu. I am also super surprised to see so many 4 & 5 star reviews. I just didn't not taste Indian cuisine at this establishment. :( Even the chai tea was dull in flavor! How can chai tea not taste like chai? It's such a potent flavor! I've had better chai tea at Starbucks! I can tell you why it was lacking the flavor is because it probably came out of a box. I hate even writing such a poor review for Taj but if you love Indian cuisine & have eaten it many times before then right away you're left very disappointed. It's all about the wonderful aromatic spices of turmeric, cardamon, masala, & cumin! That's only a few simple yet strong spice of Indian cuisine & I didn't taste not one!
(2)
Misha U.
This was always my go-to Indian place in Kansas City when I lived there for about ten years (through different owners/managers) and I absolutely love it. I have yet to find a place that I like as much in the United States (believe me, I've looked). It is always at the very top of my list of places to go when I return to KC for a visit.
(5)
Kaleab G.
Amazing food great service everything is just perfect the curry chicken and the lamp are just ridiculously good by far the best Indian restaurant I been too
(5)
Amanda H.
Food was very tasty and the portions are huge they have lots of vegetarian options and great masala tea!! Very clean and great service.
(5)
Chad C.
Excellent lunch buffet. Parking was a little hard to find...but the food is well worth it.
(4)
Jane H.
Taj Mahal is the best!!! The owners are very nice and I love going to support them. They are always there and friendly. The food is delicious, full of flavor, fresh, fast, reasonably priced, perfect amount of spice... love their mulligatawny soup, vegetable samosas, pakoras, malai kofta, saag paneer, and garlic naan. The restaurant is nice and warm on cold winter nights and a great place to go. The foods flavor, the reasonable prices and the great service make Taj Mahal my favorite indian restaurant in midtown Kansas City. Taj Mahal is far friendlier and less expensive than Korma Sutra in Wesport too. Thank you so much for always being such a great place to eat!!! Hope they don't ever leave 39th St.
(5)
krysztof n.
Taj Palace is actually unassuming; it's not a place you go for ambiance, although there is an awesome TV that plays Bollywood stuff (more on this, later). But what you do go there for is summed up in two words : Butter Chicken. Not only am I addicted to Taj Palace's Butter Chicken, but I've made my children addicted to it, as well. We are a family of Butter Chicken addicts. If there was a Butter Chicken Anonymous group, we'd have to go weekly. If Taj Palace's Butter Chicken were available like any street drug, we'd have an epidemic in this country that not even the Nancy Reagan and Mr. T. could thwart. Seriously. Addicted. When my kids come over on Friday nights, I see the glaze in their eyes, the salivation, the need....it's a fix that their 10 and 6 Year Old stomachs need more than anything they've ever tasted...and I can hear them rumbling before they even get to the door... "Daddy, you know what sounds good for dinner?" they ask, wide eyed and faux-innocently... "Hmmmm, I bet I can guess? Does it start with Butter and ends with Chicken?" And with that, we're in the car, less than a mile to 39th, and in through the doors of the happy Pink and Green walls of Taj Palace. "Ha-LLLLO!", we are greeted with by the manager, who knows us by now, and takes us to our regular table, in clear view of the earlier-mentioned TV with Bollywood films. The kids are FASCINATED by these films, and stare transfixed, partially due to hunger, partially due to the fact that they're being exposed to a cultural offering they are happy to absorb. Water is brought. Naan is brought. Kids' eyes and faces light up in anticipation. They know it's coming. And when it arrives, they sit and look at it, golden and orange in a brass bowl with the slightest hints of green sprinkled over the top. I know how to draw this out for them : I ladle the rice onto their plates, then spoon the rich concoction of chicken and whatever-godlike-sauce Taj Palace concocts to let it stew in all over the rice. And, simply, they devour. But savoringly, not like Piranha. They're good kids, polite, and wouldn't make a scene. Plus, they know where there concentration should lie : spooning that incredible food into their mouths to nourish their needful souls... And, folks, if these kids (and their dutiful Dad) are this obsessed with this stuff, you really need to check it out for yourself. The lunch buffet is good, too, but sitting down to a solitary bowl of this amazing stuff at dinner is probably one of the greatest food-thrills I've had in this city. Go eat it. Watch some Bollywood. Take the kids. You'll see us there, too.
(4)
Ted G.
This is the best Indian food I've ever had. My girlfriend and I got a Non-veggie dinner for two to go. Every single part of the meal was spot on. The chicken tikka masala was the highlight, but every item was excellent . Sometimes, I feel Indian food can be dry or just caked in seasoning. Not here. Every dish was well balanced and genuinely impressive. Additionally, I thought that the price was just fair, until I saw the portions and realized I had just purchased two days worth of food for the two of us. The service on the phone and while picking up was very friendly. To give you an idea of how much i enjoyed this meal: I created this Yelp account just to write this review. I highly recommend, and will be a adding this to my list of regular dining spots.
(5)
Billie H.
When I go to 39th Street my decision on where to eat is usually decided by where I find a parking spot as a majority of the places in the area are good choices to dine at. Today there was a spot across from Taj Palace so being I have not tried them previously I decided to stop in today. Overall the buffet was pretty good. They have a nice selection of chicken, vegetarian, and also goat. There are options that are spicy and some that are a little tame for the unadventurous. They offer a couple of samosas, a small salad bar with a variety of chutneys, and a couple of desert items. Drinks included with the buffet are chai tea and mango lassi. The food was pretty good. A couple of the items were a bit heavy on the salt, but otherwise the flavors were great. Everything was fresh. The chicken in the various chicken dishes was juicy. The goat was a little lacking in goat and a lot of bones, but still great flavor. The naan was fresh, the lentils perfect. I tried a couple of the little pastry things that were doused in sauce. A little to sweet for me, but good. I was a little disappointed that there was no rice pudding which is generally a staple at Indian restaurants and a favorite meal ender, but tried carrot dessert. I was a little skeptical. The dish was like a carrot pudding, more like a bread pudding than a mouse-like pudding in consistency. It was delicious! With a little chai tea it was the perfect end to the meal. The gentleman working up front was very nice, but did spit into a trash can in the dining room at one point which was a little inappropriate. The Bollywood music videos were entertaining. Unfortunately I was seated next to a group of young men who had no clue what appropriate conversation in a restaurant includes and even though it did make for a poor dining experience, I can not fault the restaurant for this. The lunch buffet is right at $10.
(4)
Marcellus S.
Dear Yelp Family, I must warn you there may be an overuse of the word muligatany. I'm just sayin'! The husband and I were in a mood for Indian cuisine tonight. I searched Yelp for some suggestions and the Taj Palace seemed like a good idea. *Muligatany* The restaurant was decorated with tasteful cultural items and not at all overbearing. Our host, and whom I assume was the owner, were very gracious and nice. In first perusing the menu, I noticed muligatany as one of the soups being offered. Aside from hearing muligatany on Seinfeld's infamous 'Soup Nazi' episode, this was the first time I'd seen it on a menu. The soup consists of lentils, garlic, coriander and other yummy spices. It was absolutely magnificent!!! The muligatany was served piping hot, with a small garnish of basil. Every mouthful, and I mean EVERY mouthful was absolutely exquisite! The wonderful flavors of the muligatany just, just, well it just made me very happy! We also got this fried onion thingy for an appetizer. It's called Onion Bahjee and it too was very, very delish! You're also served three dishes of delightful sauces, each with their own unique flavor and all with a bit of heat behind them. *muligatany* For the entree, both of us had a difficult time deciding what to have, because everything looked amazing! *muligatany* After several minutes, we both decided on lamb. You can NEVER go wrong with lamb. Once that was done, we spent another ten minutes deciding which lamb dish to go with. We practically had to leave it up to chance, and just go with it. So I decided on the Lamb Bhuna and Damian had the Lamb Makhni. The bhuna is boneless lamb served in an incredible brown gravy of goodness, while the makhni is served in a creamy tomato sauce, which is just unbelievable! You're also served a small oval platter of rice to accompany your dish. Of course, nothing would stop you from eating your entree naked. Well, not literally naked, just without the rice! *muligatany* We also had some fresh baked flatbread (paratha) which was filled with spinach, garlic and herbs. *garlic!* Again, everything was just amazing! Damian is a professional chef and he was scraping the bowl. Trust me when I say, there was not so much as a grain of rice left on our table! And to top it off, the prices at Taj Palace make it uber affordable for anyone. Trust me, you do not have to break the bank for an incredible meal which will leave your belly quite, quite happy. So what are you waiting for? The muligatany should be calling you by now, or perhaps it will be in your dreams. Sleep well.
(5)
meli l.
We tried Taj Palace for our weekly Monday Night Takeout Date. I had the lamb makhani and spouse had lamb roganjosh (we were in a lamby mood); we also ordered an epic pile of naan. We both had enough leftover for lunch the next day! It's not our favorite rice from KC Indian spots, but the food was perfectly tasty, generous, and quickly prepared. Also, when we went to pick it up, the service was speedy and friendly! We'll be back. And in spite of your warnings, I'm totally going to check out the lunch buffet. I'm a sucker for an Indian lunch buffet.
(4)
Gretchen P.
Food is great. My favorite is chicken tikka masala and lamb saag. Service could use improvement. I usually go with my husband. The servers never address me directly even when I hand them my card to pay. It's probably a cultural difference, but when in Rome treat the Romans like Romans....not like tourists.
(4)
zio t.
Had to update to 4.5 stars. I really like this place for lunch special. Been back too many times to count and always satisfied (and full). how can you beat $11 all you can eat w very nice variety and quality dishes, veggie options too. Good chai and lassi are part of the deal, and desserts too (tho I don't often indulge in the sweets myself). It's not the fanciest place and the Bollywood flics on the tv... Well, it is perfect for a work week lunch, let's leave it at that.
(5)
David S.
Hands down the best Indian food in Kansas City. My friends and I come here often and the food is delicious and comforting. Chicken tikka masala, extra spicy chicken biryani, matar paneer, and garlic naan are some of our favorites. The owner (Resham) is one of the friendliest people I've ever met. He always checks to make sure everything is prepared properly.
(5)
Amanda S.
Good grief! I am in looooove. Please add Taj Palace to my food crush list. I had a horrible Indian food experience about 10 years ago and haven't been back. My squeeze loves Indian food and has patiently waited for me to get over my "thing". The wait paid off today. Oh my....it's been about 4 hours since I had the lunch buffet. I am still loving what I had and really can't wait to go back. I don't know what I had before but it was trash compared to today. I had a little bit of everything off the buffet during lunch. The Chilli Chicken, Tandoori Chicken and Chicken 65 were heavenly. They had the perfect blend of spiciness and goodness. I surprised myself by loving the Chholle Saag. I am not, not, not fond of spinach but this was one of the most seasoned and tasty dishes I have had in a long time. I paired it with the onion chutney....AMAZING! I appreciate having a pitcher of water left on the table. I can't get enough water during a meal. The wait staff was gruffly attentive. The price seemed to be ok to me considering I left pleasantly full. I have been converted over to the Indian side and that's just fine with me.
(4)
Logan Locke B.
Meh... My friend had carryout from Taj Palace tonight. Chicken Marsala and Mimosa. (Much) better than I remember. 39th St W. is lucky to have such a diverse amount of restaurants for everyone's taste. However, delicious Korma Sutra is just 3 blocks away--- why mess with Indian restaurant perfection??
(3)
Joi B.
It would not be fair to not give credit where credit is due. After my experience on Saturday night, I'm convinced: Taj Palace is my favorite Indian restaurant. In the world! Flavor: absolutely on par with the best Indian restaurants in Jackson Heights, Queens. I am not joking, people! I took my brother and SIL, in town from NY, and they agreed that Taj Palace was absolutely as good as, if not better, than what they are used to in NYC (there are at least four Little Indias in the NY-LI area). My order: saag paneer. Extra spicy. Oh yes. Oh yes yes yes yes yes. I just enjoyed round 2 of this dish a few days later and it was so good, I was compelled to write an update and correct my star rating. So, yelpers, I say skip the lunch buffet and order the real deal. Seems like a lot of less stellar reviews here are for the buffet. I still feel you're just not going to get the same quality of food on a buffet (I haven't tried Taj Mahal's buffet and I probably won't). I daresay it's impossible. Indian food needs to be made to order, so you can indicate the correct degree of spiciness, so the vegetables are just right. You can't argue with the fact that fresh food is just going to blow away the offerings of a tray that has been under a heating lamp for a period of time!
(5)
Meghan M.
After reading the mixed reviews, I was hesitant to try the lunch buffet, but buffets are my favorite way to eat at Indian restaurants (picking 1 entree is just too hard!). We were immediately impressed that many of the negative comments had been addressed by the restaurant. For example, there was ample naan on the buffet (garlic & plain), and the chai was no longer watery and tasteless. So hats off to a business that seeks out and responds to feedback! On to the food! I thought everything was very good, and completely on par with other good Indian restaurants (Korma, Taj Mahal, Masalas, etc.). I loved that they had saag on the buffet and several veggie options. All of their meat dishes had generous meat portions and were very good. I found many of their sauces to be a bit sweeter than other places. I particularly enjoyed their chicken tikka masala, mushroom matar, and the gulab jamon, which I think should be mandatory on all buffets. All in all, I would be happy to eat here again, and it is, at the very least, just as good as it's well established competitors. My only wish is that they provided complimentary mango lassis like some of their competition.
(4)
Brenda M.
Have been twice recently and both times had their lunch buffet. The decor is not fancy but it is clean and plenty big. The parking can be a struggle but I have both times found a parking spot relatively quickly across the street. My favorite dishes have been the butter chicken, chili chicken, rice, mango lassi, and rice dessert (basically everything lol). This may not be a huge buffet but the variety makes it interesting to try new things and it allows anyone to find something they like. I can truly say that all their dishes have tasted fresh and well seasoned. My only complaint is the naan bread does not taste fresh when it's been sitting under a lamp. At another indian buffet that I frequent they ask you at your table if you'd like a couple pieces of fresh naan bread and I like that way better as the bread is heavenly when it's hot and fresh. The price seems reasonable at just $10 so I'll be returning but I'd really give them 5 stars if that naan bread was fresh.
(4)
Brent K.
happened to be in the neighborhood today and though I think i've been here before, I couldn't really remember it. let me first say, that upon entering Taj Palace, the first thing you notice is the smell of a wet basement. to me, that says mold, but I'm not going to insunuate they have mold, just that it smells like a wet basement. now the food, a much smaller buffet than Korma WP, but a tad bigger than Korma OP. They had a nice variety of appetisers, as well as chutneys for dipping. the entres were very bland, and i mean super duper bland, though there was some flavor there, it just wasn't nearly as intense as Im used to when eating Indian food. It did seem like there were more veggie options over meat ones, which doesn't bother me either way. the goat was goaty and the chicken was chickeny, but it was all pretty bland tasting. desert was delicious but the free Chai tasted weak and watered down. Also my big pet peave for Buffets, the bread was on the buffet and not served fresh, which means hard and dried out. No Bueno. Price for the buffet is your typical 10 bucks. All in all, I can't say it was aweful, but Korma Sutra it was not. I'll probably mark this down as a lesson learned and go back to Korma next time.
(3)
Cassie A.
I absolutely LOVE the lunch buffet here!!! You absolutely cannot beat the price, and the food is all super delicious. The owners of this restaurant are from northern India, near Kashmir, so that explains why the sauces are cream based and a little bit less spicy. I love this place sooo much more than other Indian restaurants in the area, and one of the reasons is because of the super friendly but not overbearing service - I like feeling welcome in an establishment. To the people complaining that the buffet items are too saucy and don't have enough meat.... well, to keep items on a buffet fresh and delicious without them burning up, there has to be a lot of liquid. I'm sure if you asked one of the super friendly people working there they would be happy to change out the item.
(5)
E S.
It's probably a good thing that my husband isn't as into Indian food as I am or we would eat here constantly. They have a wonderful lunch buffet that comes with complementary chai and lassi, and their regular dinner menu is fantastic, too. It's definitely my favorite KCMO Indian restaurant.
(4)
Kristin P.
My husband and I stumbled upon Taj Palace when driving around searching for a place to eat that's new to us. And it was a happy stumble indeed! I have only had Indian food a few times in my life. I don't remember anything tasting this good! We got the meal for two with meat. Everything that came in it was delicious. It was more than enough food, we will have left overs when we eat our left overs. My 9 year old daughter tasted our leftovers on the way home from the sitters and demanded that she gets to come with next time. So approval all the way around. One thing was off, like others have said, the wait staff is a little different. But it wasn't enough to bother me, we will go back for sure!
(5)
Jake C.
Since I've moved to the 39th st area, I walk by Taj Palace almost every day. It doesn't look like much from the outside, and the entrance is kind of tucked away, but this is a nice little gem in the neighborhood. Taj Palace is a sparsely decorated oasis of tasty food. I went for the lunch buffet (ends at 2:30pm, around $11) and was pleasantly surprised. The spread is pretty large, with at least 5 different veggies, masala, chili chicken, korma, and deserts. Everything was well seasoned and kept fresh at the buffet. Their naan was piping hot and awesome. Service was a little gruff by some of the waiters. Not rude or poor, but... distanced? I'm not sure how to describe it, but I got a cold vibe from most of them. The man at the counter, however, was friendly. All in all, one of my new favorite lunch spots.
(4)
Erica W.
A group of my co-workers decided to get out of the office for lunch the other day and picked on Taj Palace, based on a recommendation from a friend. It was a little hard to find, as the front of the restaurant is a bit nondescript and the sign is smaller than most. We had a group of six and were seated at a round booth that you could only access from one side. This wouldn't normally be an issue, but the buffet is the only option for lunch, so it made it awkward when someone on the inside wanted out to get food. Now, the food. One thing I enjoy about a buffet at ethic restaurants is the opportunity to try new things. I don't eat Indian food all that often, so I'm really just familiar with the basics like Chicken Tikka and things of that nature. I tried quite a few vegetable based dishes, but can't remember the names specifically. The eggplant and potato dish was yummy, as was one that had chickpeas and other veggies. The Tikka was also good, but one of the other chicken dishes (one without sauce) was pretty dry and not enjoyable. Would I go back to Taj Palace? Maybe. With so many other Indian options, I would more than likely try those before making a repeat visit.
(3)
Sarah G.
I've had their food before and it's very good - however, when I attempted to grab a quick dinner at 8:35pm last night (they close at 9pm), the host was reluctant to seat us, mentioning they close at 9 while looking at his watch. They must do a great lunch service to not need our dinner business. We did not stay.
(3)
Erin M.
We were maniacs and decided to brave the sub-zero temperatures and slick roads to get take out last night. I had a random Indian food craving and almost punched my laptop screen when I read on Korma Sutra's website that they're closed Mondays. I quick jump on Yelp led me to Taj Palace. The man who greeted us at the front was extremely nice and excited to see us--probably because no one else was ridiculous enough to be driving around in that weather. We decided on the mushroom mutter makhani for me, chicken curry for boy I was with, garlic naan and onion naan. Our wait was kind of long...I'm sure we could have hurried up the process by phoning our order in, but their website doesn't have their full menu. We were offered some delicious warm chai for the wait, which was nice. We were also serenaded by some catchy song playing in the Boliwood movie that was being projected in the dining area. The food ended up being $31 in all and was still warm by the time we got home. Food isn't labeled, which might be a problem if you're getting something you haven't tried before. My dish was very delicious, but my naan was burnt on the bottom. Big frown-factor, as I looooove me some garlic naan. The chicken curry was ordered medium spicy, but apparently was as mild as they come. All in all, Taj Palace was tasty enough, but I'm definitely a Korma Sutra girl.
(3)
jennifer j.
Me and buffets will never see eye to eye. I just believe in quality over quantity and that is that. However, we I decided to hit Taj, I read the reviews here and they all pointed to the lunch buffet. I kind of find the idea of gorging on a lot of rich and spicy Indian food for lunch, then going to work, a bad idea. But, since I keep my own schedule I went for lunch. The last time I was in this space it was a much fancier Indian restaurant with dark cozy interior. Now it has been cleared out and decor is pretty lackluster. Old Bollywood movies play on a flat-screen and people speak in hushed tones due to the lack of music. While the older gentleman at the door and the younger waitress were both very kind, I felt their eyes on me constantly. Watching everything I put on my plate, what I had eaten off my plate and how much I was eating. While I appreciate the concern, it made me sort of self conscious to the point that I couldn't relax. Customer service can be a fine line. The buffet- OK, so I tried a small portion of just about everything so I could give it a fair review. Lentils were great and there were two types of chicken, one in a masala and one in an even spicier sauce. Both the chicken dishes had incredible flavor. Some of the vegetarian items were also tasty, but I just need protein with my meal. Now I totally get why vegetarians love Indian food. Plenty of flavor keeps you from missing the meat. The only thing I did not enjoy was what must have been some type of sweet potato mash up that was then fried into a little nugget. I didn't like the taste or texture and I love sweet potatoes. The rice was cooked perfectly. The nann might have been good at some point, but it tasted too dry and cold. I love nann, so this was a real disappointment. Overall I was pleased with the flavors. Now that I know what dish I like best, i would rather just order that off the menu at dinner time. There might have been the usual clusterf**k of 39th street parking, but it was presidents day, so we got a spot right in front. There are a few other Indian places I plan to hit before I decide if I will return to Taj.
(3)
Reed N.
Really a nice buffet... and I'm sure the menu items are better as they always are. The "Chili Chicken" on the buffet is the spice bomb and just killer. All the standards are there... so Indian food freaks will be just fine. Add friendly smiling owners/staff to the equation and things are just that much better. : )
(4)
Josh M.
I have been eating here for over a decade, and they still have the best homemade Indian cuisine in Midtown, even through a couple management changes. Lunch buffet is a great way to try many different dishes if you've never had Indian food before. Individual dishes are even better at dinner. Delicious bhindi masala (okra), saag paneer (spinach + cheese), Chicken 65, and absolutely THE BEST malai kofta I've ever had. The owner is kind and welcoming. Taj Palace deserves way more customers than it gets. I can only assume the herd constantly eating their McDonald's-owned burritos at Chipotle is clueless as to what they're missing just across the street. Highest recommendation!
(5)
Bill C.
Alright, It's been awhile and I need to write a review. I just left Woodside and thought I would pop in some place after failing to secure a last minute date on POF. Poor me. I walked in at 9:26 PM and noticed as I was doing so it was empty and the Yelp app told me they were only open until 9:00 PM. A gentleman greeted me and I asked about getting food. He said I could get it to go. Alright, that's fair I suppose. I asked for a recommendation and he wanted to know chick or vegetarian. I said I could go either way, but hey let's do Chicken. He said the Chicken Tikka Masala was popular and I said cool. Didn't ask about spiciness so I assume this dish has no degree of spiciness. Too bad, I was really looking for that. I should have said something. I took it home and it was quite good. I have not had an Indian dish like this before. Can't wait to go back another time and get something else. And the seconds for lunch will be great I am sure. Now, if I could just score a date to take, but that's a different problem...
(4)
Katy R.
Yelp, we've known each other for awhile now. Have I mentioned I'm an Indian food snob? Well, I am. Utterly and completely. My husband and I have visited most of the Indian restaurants in the metro area, and we have strong opinions about each. After reading a review of Taj Palace on a Midtown blog, we decided to stop a few Saturdays ago to sample the Indian restaurant mecca, otherwise known as the lunch buffet. He's a vegetarian, I'm not, so the lunch buffet is the happy meeting of both worlds. As I worked my way through the line, dipping up small helpings of chicken briyani, chili chicken, vegetable korma, chole saag and a slice of naan, I couldn't wait to dive in. The verdit? Taj Palace is good. Really good. The vegetable korma might top the best in the city--Korma Sutra. The chili chicken is spicy enough to demand a dollop of cooling raita -- or a mango lassi. The other dishes were equally flavorful--the saag and chicken tikka masala both come immediately to mind. My only disappointment? The chai. We've been spoiled by Swagat, and Taj Palace's chai is a bland, watery liquid that I find unpalatable. Otherwise, Taj Palace is fantastic and the 39th Street neighborhood is one of my favorite places in KC. You'll enjoy people-watching while you eat if you're lucky to score a window seat, and the eclectic district is a great place for a post-meal stroll, especially if you've over-indulged (and at an Indian buffet, haven't we all?)
(4)
Larry L.
Awful. Is there a 0 star option? Went in there at 8:40 PM on a Sat night - called in advance to make sure that was ok since they closed at 9:30. They said it's fine (and it should be). Got there, sat down - our server was a psychopath gringo white gal who condescended to us about the food and service. For example, when my wife asked for ice water, the gal went on a rant about how indian people don't like ice in their water (white gal, remember). Our food came out - the Tikka was blood red and lukewarm. Disgusting. The other food (saag, veggie korma) was also bland and lukewarm. Our psycho server continued to rant about "how great the other table was", I think, because we were clearly unhappy with the subpar service and appalling food. Then finally, in an amazing finale, 9:25 rolled around, we were finishing up, and the owner and our brainiac server started standing around staring at us for us to go. THEN, she had the audacity to verbally declare/admit "Sorry to rush you out, it's been a long week". REALLY? Unprecedented. I'm not sure I've had a worse restaurant experience in the past 10 years ANYWHERE, let alone the worst indian food in town. Don't waste your time or money. Go down to Korma or Taj Mahal. At least the food will be hot and the servers will leave you be and treat you with respect. Sorry to be a downer. Just sharing my experience.
(1)
Jenny M.
I love Indian food and I love Taj Palace! The crazy thing about Indian food and maybe this is just me but after I eat it I crave it insanely for days. I become almost an Indian food junkie or fiend that just has to have it. Then eventually those cravings subside and I am fine, that is until I eat it again and the vicious cycle starts all over. Taj Palace does a great job with their Vegetable Samosa unlike another unnamed place that used wonton wrappers the last time I had carry out. One of the best parts of a Samosa is the awesome chick pea batter. That was almost sacrilege. My favorite items to order are the Saag Panner with its creamy spinach and firm little homemade cheese cubes, the Malai Kofta, with what I call it's vegetable donuts covered in a perfect creamy curry and the Navratan Korma, which are veggies in a cream sauce. As with any Indian place if you do want some heat added to your food make sure to tell them, I think they lean towards the mild on most items unless you tell them to spice it up. So don't walk but run to Taj Palace for dinner, you won't be sorry or disappointed. What could be better on a chilly dark autumn night than some spicy Indian food and a big bottle of Indian Lager. Besides a little clarified butter never hurt any one.
(5)
Danielle S.
I had a free evening this week so I decided to take myself out to dinner. But where to go? After doing a little research I decided to return to West 39th for good eats, and felt it was a toss up between a few places. I decided to park and see where the spirit led me...and it brought me straight to Taj Palace. It's easy to miss if you're driving by, because the buildings are set together so closely here, but there's some real goodness inside. When I first walked in, I was the only one for dinner at 7pm on a Wednesday night, which was a little odd at first, but the Indian music videos playing in the background kept me company. I was seated in a booth and given my own pitcher of water, which is always something I love about Indian restaurants--I wish more restos would pick up this habit, because instant refills are a definite plus. After looking at the menu I decided on the Chicken Tikka, which came out sizzling on a platter heaped high with onions, tomatoes and green peppers. Served with some yummy naan, it was definitely different than any tikka I'd had prior. Unlike most restaurant dishes, I thought this one was actually undersalted, so I ended up adding some of my own which greatly enhanced the flavor. The food was more along the lines of three stars, but the incredibly kind service definitely pushes it over the top. A man whom I presume to be the owner came over to my table several times to make sure the food was up to par and presented me with a complimentary dessert after my meal. The tiny slice of cold mango pastry was great, and just the right size for an after-dinner taster. I ended up taking half my chicken to go because the portion was just that huge. Loved the staff here; a very pleasant experience.
(4)
Michelle B.
It pains me to say this, because the wait staff there was incredibly nice and attentive, but if you're going to drive to 39th Street, there are so many better options than Taj Palace. And if you want good Indian food, Korma Sutra is only a mile or so up the road. I had been to Taj maybe 3 years before this on a date and remember feeling pretty underwhelmed. Like the date, I remember thinking the food was pretty mediocre. But like many lukewarm dates of my past, I gave 'em another chance thinking it'd be "different" this time. And I'm here to tell you it's never different. You get burned every time, whether figuratively or literally and you know what I'm talking about because I'm talking about Indian food. My company excluded, the food experience still felt like a weird, uncomfortable date. It was awkward when the waitress sat a pitcher of water at our table, but intermittently would come back to fill our waters with different pitchers. It was awkward when a man took our orders and a different woman came back to ask us if that's really what we ordered. It was awkward when my favorite chicken tikka masala came out and sort of resembled something the color of orange Crayola wax. It was awkward to taste a sweet, familiar flavor out of the dish that I couldn't quite place but knew it didn't belong in that dish. And since I depend on Indian food to give me a big spice kick in the face, it was awkward to not get any of that whatsoever. I don't want to completely knock this place though. Like I said, the service was nice and the food wasn't terrible. So like that timid young single gal I used to be, I may be tempted by its friendly charms and sucked back in with the abounding possibilities of enchanting Indian spices and perhaps a better lunch buffet (I seem to be one of the only low reviews on this place, so if 30 Helens agree, maybe). But like the happily almost married woman I am today, I know I can do better.
(2)
Ryan A.
I would like to apologize in advance for what you're about to read. I was inexplicably compelled to write this review in rhyming verse. one can argue the spices are sometimes subdued, and the flavors don't pop like they should in the food; perhaps the cooks lean a bit heavy on sweet, while Americans frown and pout, "Not enough meat!" still, sometimes the food shines and the flavors come through, garlic naan from the tandoor and lamb vindaloo; but the reason I keep coming back from afar? Harry rocks, even if the food's sometimes subpar.
(4)
Susan H.
This breaks my heart, having been devoted to Taj Palace since the day it opened. There seem to have been changes in staffing that changed the atmosphere. And the food just isn't the same. The last three times I've stopped in for take-out, it's been so disappointing. My favorite lamb biryani was totally over spiced & dry this time, too. I will not give up on them...just hope there is some return to past glory.
(2)
James U.
I really loved this place. We tried several of the dishes, and they were all really good, but it might have been the all the cheap wine they drank (and the wine really was cheap!). The other reviewers seem to hate the buffet, but uh... why would you ever eat at an ethnic buffet? It doesn't work for chinese food, thai food, italian food, or greek food... why would you think it would work for indian food?
(4)
Brenna P.
I stopped in here on a Wednesday afternoon for the lunch buffet. YUM! First of all, I was excited because the buffet was properly labeled, especially since I was trying to explain to my date what all the different types of food were. The vegetarian section was clearly defined, which was also a bonus. So many Indian buffets have food which may be good, but looks scary, and without the labels, well, you know... I easily filled up after only one plate of food. There was garlic naan on the buffet, so of course I overindulged. The kormas were great, and so were the various sauces. The price was what I'd expect for this type of buffet, and I'd definitely return here in the future.
(4)
David S.
Went here recently for dinner with a coworker since I had fallen in love with the 39th street neighberhood after visiting a few other restaraunts and given my love for Indian food, I wanted to try this place. Unfortunately, this reminds me of Indian food by people who have given up. The place was empty and they had TV blaring Bollywood music videos in an attempt to give a warm vibe but with a pretentious interior. Additionally the food lacked seasonings, it all tasted the same. There was no highs or lows and the naan was sad drop from what I have come to expect from an Indian restaraunt. Overall I didn't hate my meal, but there is nothing really worth going out of your way for. Given the number of outstanding restaraunts in the vicinity, I would be hard pressed to give Taj Palace another shot.
(3)
Rhett H.
Look, there really isn't a better Indian restaurant in the midtown area. Give it up, I've looked. Korma sutra, not really; the New Tandoor Cafe, it's not bad; but this is the place. Look no further. Price: Cheapest buffet of them all. For $7.99 at lunch you get all the good stuff, tikki masala, a bunch of vegetarian dishes (even the spinach/chickpea goo actually tastes wonderful), the naan bread (brough fresh to your table, and after you eat it all, they bring you more! Suckers), and that white stuff with chewy pebbles in it for dessert. The people: And after the food, this is what's important. The people who work here are just happy folks. I get a smile and a "how are you today" every time I walk in. And then I walk in enough, and they start to remember me! I mean, who am I? (except for the fact that I write a bunch of yelp reviews) But really, it's nice to at least think people enjoy seeing you. The decor. Clean, neat, which actually all the indian places are this, too. What is the deal with indian restaurants and the nice napkins and the dressed up staff? I wonder if the indian restaurants in India are like this? Do the McDonalds over there have linen and silverware and waiters in black-tie? Anyhow, this place is nice to look at, too. Over all, because it's so cheap and good, I have to restrain myself from going there too much. I try to either wait until I can't stand it any longer or I'm going to treat myself or I have something to celebrate. At any rate, I hope it doesn't go away anytime soon. Tip: For dessert, try the white rice pudding stuff (cold buffet side) with a brown ball from the brown balls floating in sugar water (hot buffet side). Technically, it's called getting some badami kheer and putting a gulab jamun in it. Check out the review in the pitch about it at pitch.com/2006-12-21/din…
(5)
Karen R.
Great place. Everything I tried from the buffet was really good. Cool music videos/excerpts from old Bollywood playing, good service, very clean. Definitely will be back!
(4)
Andrew W.
I've been here twice for dinner and once for the lunch buffet. Every time I'm in, I absolutely HAVE to get some of the creamy, delicious Chana Saag. Today at the lunch buffet I also tried their Navatran veggies, a bit spicy but perfect if you're a fan of a bit of heat. I also liked the veg samosas. The veg pakoras were a little dry but then again, I did get there 10 minutes before they closed the buffet (2:30 on the monday that I was there).
(4)
Lindsay S.
We had such an odd experience here. My friends and I had been craving Indian all day and had planned to go to Korma Sutra. Well forgetting that they are closed on Monday's I jumped on Yelp to find plan B. We came early at 6pm and the place was empty. Only one other table of 2. The older gentleman was very confused about our wine order and once I received my Chardonnay the glass has lipstick that wasn't mine on it. I asked for a new glass and he left for a while returning with a new glass and the whole bottle of wine to prove to me that it was a fresh pour. After that we waited and waited and waited for one of the 4 staff members to come take our orders. Finally a woman came over and we ordered Vegetable Pakoras, Shrimp Korma and Shrimp Masala mild and garlic naan. The Pakoras arrived and were super greasy dense dark balls. You could not distinguish vegetables just batter. While we waited for our entrees my friends and I noticed that the same Bollywood movie was on loop playing the same Bollywood song over , and over and over like slow Bollywood water torture you could not escape. We all prayed we would not have Bollywood nightmares when we slept that night. It was irritating and did not create a nice atmosphere. The food came relatively quickly but the shrimp was the tinie tiny salad shrimp. So that was immediately a disappointment and red flag for me on quality. The Masala was a much brighter tomato red then I am use to but the flavor on both sauces was really nice. The rice portions are skimpy but the naan was crispy hot and delicious. Definitely better Indian spots in town for taste, quality, service and ambiance.
(2)
Sarah B.
I love the food at this restaurant, and I hate Indian food. The end.
(5)
Mike F.
Lunch buffet is a good choice to sample a vareity of Indian cuisine. I like it spicy and this is a little less than my palette would prefer. Make sure you grab a mango lassi.
(3)
Julie D.
I am new to Kansas City and was so excited to find a buffet. I went for the lunch buffet. The naan was good. Texture was perfect. I LOVE paneer, and there was a dish that was labeled as paneer. However, I found absolutely no paneer in it. I also tried the korma, which was supposed to have chicken in it. I found no chicken in the korma. In both cases it is not that I just happened to not get and paneer or chicken in the portion that I served myself, but there really was no paneer or chicken in the dishes that were in the buffet. I was sooooo looking forward to paneer, so needless to say I was quite disappointed.
(2)
Tim W.
Had my lunch buffet here yesterday. the food is ok, but the attitude of waiter is really bad. I won't be here again.
(2)
Alberto S.
My favorite Indian restaurant in KC. Amazing chicken tikka and lamb.
(5)
Lorena M.
YUM! I went here with a couple friends for lunch one weekend and it was excellent. They have the lunch buffett that is full of different dishes that came out and fresh and delicous. The staff was really friendly and they place is very well kept inside. Give it a try...it's worth it!
(4)
Katja G.
Went for lunch buffet. Very nice Indian food, also fresh vegetables, complimentary chai and mango lassi. Naan was more crisp than i like but otherwise, very good experience. Quiet lunch atmosphere. Chai creamy and spicy, a little sweet. Mango lassi comparable to others but would be vastly improved by adding some ice and "shaking".
(5)
Sanketh B.
I donno why people have given such good reviews about this restaurant !!! I had the wrst experience ever !!! Improve the quality of food u serve ! It's better to stay hungry than to eat at this palace !!!
(1)
Anna K.
I'm not sure why people give this restaurant such high marks It is a pitiful example of really good Indian food. Everything is laden with heavy cream. The pappads were the worst ever so was the naan which was burnt and the mango lassi and the chai were just watery and too sweet. I will never go there again or recommend it to anyone either
(1)
Bill B.
This restaurant has long been my favorite Indian restaurant in KC. But there have been frequent changes in management, and our most recent experience here was shocking. After dinner, we asked for the remaining Roti bread to be wrapped for us to take home. The server picked it up with his hands, wrapped it in paper, and put it into the take-out box with our other food to go ---- with his hands on the Roti!! If this is what the servers do at the table, I wonder what goes on in the kitchen? Perhaps the Health Department should inspect this restaurant. We removed the Roti from the take-out box and put it on the table, when we left the restaurant. Indeed I've seen this done before by street vendors in India, but never before anywhere in the world in a restaurant --- including the restaurants in India.
(1)
Johnathon B.
Best indian food in the city. The owner is wonderfully hospitable and the chef makes the most delicious chicken tikka Marsala I've ever had. The lunch buffet is a great way to try new things, but it's the most enjoyable at dinner with a bottle of wine and serene atmosphere. Must try's: garlic and onion naan, onion bahjee, lamb vindaloo (very spicy. Very special), and the mixed tandoori grill (which I like to call them indian style fajitas). A personal favorite. If you are iffy about Indian food, then try the buffet and see what you like. If you're like my husband (who can't handle spicy), then the chicken tikka masala will become an Indian food staple. Enjoy my friends!
(5)
Benjamin R.
Indian food is a huge part of our vegetarian diet. When we are feeling the need for one or two items, we make variations on it at home, but quite frankly, NOTHING beats the wide variety of tastes and textures on Indian buffet for lunch, and there are very few places that do it like Taj Palace. We consider other places in the city for our Indian fix, but we usually go with Taj Palace for a couple of reasons: it's cleaner, less cramped, and more fully stocked with amazing veg dishes than most competitors. Taj Palace is one of those rare places where I get a nice big scoop of EVERYTHING on the veggie side (which is half of the buffet), load up on fresh naan, and cover everything in tamarind chutney, and can't wait to get back to the table to start scooping everything together in piles and shoving it in my face. Service is always polite and attentive - water glasses are filled constantly, plates removed quickly, and staff and management inquire about your experience. Granted, I have been more than satisfied on the several times we've come to Taj Palace in the evening and ordered from the menu, but for my time, money, and enjoyment, there are very few places in Kansas City that leave me as satisfied and stuffed as Taj Palace!
(5)
Michael H.
The BEST Indian I have ever eaten! When I am sick I want Taj Palace, when im healthy I want Taj Palace, when I get back in town from vacation ... I want Taj Palace. The buffet is EVERY day for lunch and is a great way to 'test the waters'. The Chicken Tiikka Masala is INSANE and the Naan is perfection! Do yourself a favor and eat here ASAP!
(5)
Vamsi B.
Food was not upto the mark. Taste of the food was not satifying. hope there will be some improvements
(1)
Daniel K.
Came for lunch buffet... 7 days a week @ $11... 11am-230pm... Something about being brown and hitting up a buffet seems so natural... There arent many of buffets of any type in Hawaii... They lose so much money... They cost about $35 for lunch and $50 for dinner... BWahahaha The pakora and samosa were good. They had good selection of veggie and meat dishes. The chicken tandoori was my fave as well as the chicken squash?melon? something! was good. You should come early because its a buffet. Quality is not fantastic... Its a buffet. So theyre really friendly here. After my fourth plate I think they succumbed that they were going to be losing money on me... But they still smiled! So if you want good flavor and to fill your stomach where you have "I ate too much food" pains for the next 6 hours... This is your spot!! Was it worth it?? YES!
(4)
Irma S.
Definitely must try the mushrooms if you like mild food. You also can have the butter chiken, the carrots, the nan, the white rice and the spinach. The lentil bread is a little bit spicy but not to much, very good. Excellent customer service. I also recommend the mango lassi that is included in the price of the buffet.
(5)
Christine K.
I am not sure I have the wordsto describe how wonderful this place is. This is the best Indian food in the entire city. Don't even bother going elsewhere. The buffet is where it is at! Everything is fresh and worth the $13. You will not leave disappointed. Definitely go for the Chicken Tikka Masala. The service is AMAZING. Everyone is so kind here and will be at your table multiple times to make sure you have everything that you need. They also have authentic Bollywood music videos playing as well which is a real treat!
(5)
Jennifer G.
The past two times I have been here the person who worked the register and seated me was rude. The last time I apparently did not sit at the table he pointed to and he told me I was supposed to sit at another table. It left me feeling like I was in trouble. This visit I asked if there was carry out for the buffet and he said no. Then I asked if I could order off the menu. Then he finally gives me a to go box and says just kidding. The man always says something rude to me and then comes back with a just joking. I love this place but I don't like how I am treated. I am not sure if he is in management but he really needs to learn customer service skills. Food is great customer service bad.
(3)
Keanon L.
It feels weird giving a buffet 4 stars. Like somehow buffets are "lesser-than." And for full-disclosure, I've never eaten a proper menu-ordered meal here. What I have had is really great, though. Some might see the fact that the items on the buffet never change as a down-side, but I love it. I know exactly what I want and exactly how it will taste, and that it will taste great. I love the mushroom mattar, lentil soup, veggie korma. The biriyani is fantastic, as is the goat curry, if you're feeling adventurous. The staff with whom you interact, the man at the register and the server who might refill your water, are always friendly and attentive. And the price is right. As a pretty big guy who gets hungrier than the giant from the movie "Big Fish," you can't beat 11 dollars for all you can eat, authentic Indian food. The atmosphere isn't much to speak of. It's a fairly unadorned room save for some tapestries. I really love the Bollywood flicks and music videos that play on the corner television, though. I also love the sign above the buffet about not wasting food. It gives me an excuse to eat every last bite. There are dishes I prefer at other Indian spots, but I will rarely turn down an invite to this place. I've not had a bad experience here yet, other than the fact that the food is delicious and I often walk away from here, headed back to work and feeling like a beached whale all full up on tastiness.
(4)
Melisa V.
Continuing a NYD tradition we started when I lived in Portland, my family and I met some friends and their kids (kids being toddlers) for the lunch buffet today. We arrived around 11:30 and watched the restaurant fill up as we enjoyed our food. The servers were also very patient with our squirmy kids. Everything I tried was delicious, but I wish there was a little more of a variety. There were four chicken dishes (including a biryani) and no lamb dishes. Wish there was a little more of variety in the veggie dishes too. The pakora and samosa were both really good and I like that they had a variety of naan. Also had mango lassi and chai available too (our kids LOVED the mango lassi!) We will definitely be back next year for NYD and for dinner soon!
(4)
Andrew M.
It's been nice to have a decent Indian restaurant around the corner all these years.... I have had dinner here numerous times as well as the lunch buffet, which I did as recently as today. The decor is pretty basic, but that's not really what I come here for anyhow. The buffet selections today were pretty good -- all the carb-loaded sides you would expect as well as plenty of choices for both vegetarians and carnivores alike. The dinner service is usually fine, albeit a bit awkward at times. Hard to explain... Anyhow, there's nothing particularly amazing about this place but it sure hits the spot when it's 1:00 in the afternoon and you're famished!
(4)
Alicia R.
This is a great place to satisfying your craving for Indian food. My companion and I went at 7ppm on blustery evening and there was no wait to be seated, in fact there were quite a few empty tables. My friend had recommended this as one of the better Indian places in town and I was excited to be able to sit immediately. The decor is nothing to write home about, but when I want some soul-satisfying food, I would be happy to eat in a closet, so this did not throw me off. I will focusing on my plate, thanks. After being sat, we actually had two servers taking care of us; I think partially due to the huge party that had been seated right before we arrived. We were brought papadum and delicious chutneys (both the sweet onion and the mint were super delicious; in fact the onion might be the best I have ever tasted) to snack on while our order was being taken and our food prepared. We shared the Taj Platter (chicken samosa, veggie pakora, fried veggies and paneer, potato patty), and I had the chicken tikka masala. Again, due to the large party, our appetizer took quite a while, but one of our servers checked on us several times and apologized for the wait (and then compensated with extra goodies on the platter). I love all things fried and the platter did not disappoint; the fried cauliflower and the samosa wee again, some of the best I have had. This is a lot of food...I advise splitting this or you will not have any room for your entree (and believe me, you want to save room). My chicken tikka masala was so rich and sweet ( a little sweeter than most that I have had), but so delicious with the naan and the basmatti rice. All white meat chicken was a plus in my book, as was the serving that was plenty to split or take home as left overs. I will totally be back to try the lunch buffet as well as the lower-calorie options that they tout on their menu.
(4)
Brandi C.
Taj Palace is definitely A-Ok to me. It's not, by far, the BEST Indian food I've ever had, but it's also not, by far, the WORST Indian food I've ever had. A craving for Indian food hit the other day, so we met some friends here for lunch. It was our first visit in, as we tend to be loyal devotees of a couple of other Indian places around the metro, and I'm glad we gave Taj Palace a try. As is the norm at Indian places, the buffet had a good selection of vegetarian and meat friendly items, though I do have to say that a lot of the offerings seemed a bit...overly soupy. My plate had quite a lot of sauce on it after I had finished the different things I tried. I had a wisdom tooth extracted the day before, so I was actually happy that so many items were so mushy, but I can see that being an issue on a future trip in, when my mouth isn't in pain. Everything that I ate had a good flavor, but there was definitely no heat, which I expected, as the buffet does need to cater to everyone's spice tolerance or lack thereof. So, I spiced mine up with some of the condiments on offer, which made things closer to my preferred level of heat. I mostly stuck with the vegetarian options, and the okra and saag paneer were probably my favorites. My husband also liked the okra dish, as well as the butter chicken and the lamb samosas. I didn't have any problem at all with the decor, or lack thereof. The service was friendly enough, our water glasses were always kept full, and dirty plates were removed quickly. All in all, I'd make a return trip, but I do have other Indian places that I prefer to frequent.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
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.
Jennifer O.
If I could write a one- word review, it would say "yum!". We love the lunch buffet for busy days, and dinner for quiet evenings. We go so often that the staff knows our order when we walk ( or call) in. I only wish the buffet started earlier and went later.
(4)J H.
Excellent food!! Big fan of Indian food, have had it on both coasts, and this place holds up.
(4)Lilian O.
One very cold and snowy Saturday night a few weeks ago, we decided to head over to Taj Palace for the first time to warm ourselves up with some spicy Indian food. It was our first time inside of the place after driving and walking by it many times and we were glad that we did. For 7 PM Saturday night, the place wasn't crowded at all though it may have been due to the snow. We had no problems getting seated and enjoyed the Bollywood videos that were playing on the TVs. Even though we weren't that hungry, the vegetarian dinner for two at the great price of $28.95 caught our eye. Definitely one of the cheaper platters that I've seen and included two pieces of vegetable Samosas, Muligatany soup, Saag Paneer, Malai Kofta, Raita, Naan, Basmati rice, and Kheer for dessert. Everything was really good! And they even had 3 types of chutneys with the free pappadums including my fiancee's favorite of onion and tomato. Also, we were pleasantly surprised that they gave us garlic naan. We thought that plain naan would be included in the platter. I don't normally eat naan because of the carb content, but I couldn't stop eating the delectable, fluffy, garlicky awesomeness of Taj Palace's garlic naan with flecks of parsley. We also took home tons of leftovers. Definitely a good portion of food for the price. In case you couldn't tell from all of my other reviews of Indian restaurants around KC, we LOVE Indian food and are vegetarian. So I can't speak for the meat dishes though I'm pretty sure they would be probably spiced unlike Masala's in OP. I think this place has overtaken Swagat as my favorite Indian restaurant in the KC area. Especially after my most recent experience there (you can read all about it in a separate review). If it weren't for the fact that I've eaten at some absolutely incredible and cheap Indian restaurants (I'm talking about under $5 for an entree) in the Little India section of Houston, I would have given it 5 stars.
(4)Starr A.
I've eaten at a lot of Indian restaurants all over the country, and Taj Palace is right up there with the best I've had. We had recently eaten at Korma Sutra and were disappointed by the lack of depth in the flavors. We were so happy to find Taj Palace! We had the kids (age 2 and infant), and they enjoyed the food, too. The restaurant was empty, and the service was attentive, if a little awkward (honestly, i've rarely been to an Indian restaurant with comfortable service--at least the servers weren't lined up against the walls staring at us like I've witnessed at some places). We licked the plates on our vegetarian dinner for two, and if we hadn't been complete gluttons, we would've had left-overs. The Malai Kofta is to die for!
(5)victoria l.
My daughter and I love finding new places ,especially varying ethnic cuisine and family owned restaurants instead of corporate chains--with that said--I LOVED THIS PLACE!! I had the Chicken Korma--lovely--rice pudding?/ doesn't get fresher than this..plus the chai tea..a wonderful drink on a stormy night for sure. My daughter had some vegetarian dishes that were spicy,but not quite enough spice for her..but the gentleman who waited on us could not have been better..and he let her know next time to say"hot" when ordering really spicy..The saddest thing is the place wasn't half full---Too bad so much of KC lives on BBQ and burgers(sigh) Seriously they are missing out!! For Indian food?? my NEW FAVORITE PLACE!!!!
(4)kate b.
The only reason this place is not the full 5 stars is because the decor, and wait staff are not at great as the food. I'm so willing to look past both of those. The decor is lacking, but I do love the fabric that is hanging on the walls, I always think about what I could make it into. I also enjoy the music videos that play in the background. My only real complaint is that they are very quick to take away the chutneys. The give you some kind of sesame cracker bread stuff and once you eat the crackers the whisk in and grab it. The chutneys are so good too. I have eaten both the buffet and ordered off the menu. Both are great. I have never had anything I didn't adore. I have been to lots of Indian restaurants in the KC area and have found that many places seems to dumb down the food. And by that I mean that it isn't as spicy, or doesn't have enough flavor. I guess you could call it Americanized :-/ I like my ethnic food, ethnic. If it should burn your mouth off, that's how I want it!
(4)Anush J.
Really good food. Came for a lunch buffet and everything that I took was good - especially the chicken dishes. and all for $10!
(4)Craig E.
It's the first Indian restaurant I have tried in town, so there is nothing I can compare it to. That said, I found the lunch buffet to have a great selection. The naan was fresh, doughy and warm. I sampled a bit of everything but found the mushroom mattar makhni worthy of a second trip through the line. The Basmati rice was studded with carrots and peas and really held the sauce. If that isn't enough, a little Hindi-language Bollywood film is on the big screen in the corner. I'm not sure what the theme of the movie was, but it sure looked like a lot of fun!!
(4)Gracielle N.
best indian food hands down
(5)Jenn D.
I went here for dinner once and was very disappointed. Both the food and the service were lacking in quality Maybe I was just spoiled by Korma Sutra...
(3)MEnKC r.
Woo hoo!! YAY!!! Yes, this is literally what I say when my boyfriend suggests we have the lunch buffet and Taj Palace. Then I orgasm while eating the food...
(5)elliot d.
i have never loved an indian restaurant as much as i love taj palace. the service is always friendly and pleasant and their food (the naan especially) is the best i've had anywhere in kansas city and it's up there with my favorites in the country (although i haven't eaten everywhere in the country, i guess).
(5)Chanti G.
Went for dinner last night. The food was fine, not outstanding, but decent; it was the atmosphere that left us disgusted. Our server, an older man, was noticeably surly to us and borderline abusive towards the staff. The conversation at our table was interrupted by the same man loudly chiding a young woman for how she was cleaning the tables. The way he spoke to her made us so uncomfortable that we considered pulling the young woman aside to ask if she was OK. She seemed frightened and embarrassed, and we left without approaching her. We won't be returning to Taj Palace.
(1)Jen D.
I didn't realize that I hadn't written a review for one of my favorite Indian food places, Taj Palace. Whether I indulge in a lovely dinner or the lunch buffet, Taj Palace never lets me down. The service is always friendly and the food is always fresh. The lunch buffet is plentiful and delicious, with numerous vegetarian and dishes including meat (lamb, chicken and goat). I love butter chicken and vegetable korma, as well as the saag. I was pleasantly surprised when I asked about garlic naan, it was not on the buffet, but upon our request the cook brought a special order to our table, free of charge. Talk about service! When dining during supper hours, expect the same great service with portion sizes large enough for leftovers the next day. Who doesn't love left over Indian? Even though I love chicken korma, whenever I am at Taj Palace I declare that I could easily become vegetarian, as their lentils, vegetables, and other vegetarian offerings are simply phenomenal.
(5)DJuan L.
Korma Sutra was my favorite Indian restaurant in Kansas City until I tried Taj Palace. I'm a big fan of Indian food and this places knows how to make it. Good! The buffet had a large variety and everything I had was good. Highly recommended.
(5)Crystal C.
I wanted so badly to like this place! I'm not saying its awful but as far as eating authentic Indian food.. No way! For example, chicken tikka masala was sweet & no way had a tomato base sauce. I mean I was shocked quite frankly! Butter chicken was okay but sauce was super watery and lacked any kind of Indian seasoning. We did eat the buffet so not sure if there's a difference in quality when ordering via the menu. I am also super surprised to see so many 4 & 5 star reviews. I just didn't not taste Indian cuisine at this establishment. :( Even the chai tea was dull in flavor! How can chai tea not taste like chai? It's such a potent flavor! I've had better chai tea at Starbucks! I can tell you why it was lacking the flavor is because it probably came out of a box. I hate even writing such a poor review for Taj but if you love Indian cuisine & have eaten it many times before then right away you're left very disappointed. It's all about the wonderful aromatic spices of turmeric, cardamon, masala, & cumin! That's only a few simple yet strong spice of Indian cuisine & I didn't taste not one!
(2)Misha U.
This was always my go-to Indian place in Kansas City when I lived there for about ten years (through different owners/managers) and I absolutely love it. I have yet to find a place that I like as much in the United States (believe me, I've looked). It is always at the very top of my list of places to go when I return to KC for a visit.
(5)Kaleab G.
Amazing food great service everything is just perfect the curry chicken and the lamp are just ridiculously good by far the best Indian restaurant I been too
(5)Amanda H.
Food was very tasty and the portions are huge they have lots of vegetarian options and great masala tea!! Very clean and great service.
(5)Chad C.
Excellent lunch buffet. Parking was a little hard to find...but the food is well worth it.
(4)Jane H.
Taj Mahal is the best!!! The owners are very nice and I love going to support them. They are always there and friendly. The food is delicious, full of flavor, fresh, fast, reasonably priced, perfect amount of spice... love their mulligatawny soup, vegetable samosas, pakoras, malai kofta, saag paneer, and garlic naan. The restaurant is nice and warm on cold winter nights and a great place to go. The foods flavor, the reasonable prices and the great service make Taj Mahal my favorite indian restaurant in midtown Kansas City. Taj Mahal is far friendlier and less expensive than Korma Sutra in Wesport too. Thank you so much for always being such a great place to eat!!! Hope they don't ever leave 39th St.
(5)krysztof n.
Taj Palace is actually unassuming; it's not a place you go for ambiance, although there is an awesome TV that plays Bollywood stuff (more on this, later). But what you do go there for is summed up in two words : Butter Chicken. Not only am I addicted to Taj Palace's Butter Chicken, but I've made my children addicted to it, as well. We are a family of Butter Chicken addicts. If there was a Butter Chicken Anonymous group, we'd have to go weekly. If Taj Palace's Butter Chicken were available like any street drug, we'd have an epidemic in this country that not even the Nancy Reagan and Mr. T. could thwart. Seriously. Addicted. When my kids come over on Friday nights, I see the glaze in their eyes, the salivation, the need....it's a fix that their 10 and 6 Year Old stomachs need more than anything they've ever tasted...and I can hear them rumbling before they even get to the door... "Daddy, you know what sounds good for dinner?" they ask, wide eyed and faux-innocently... "Hmmmm, I bet I can guess? Does it start with Butter and ends with Chicken?" And with that, we're in the car, less than a mile to 39th, and in through the doors of the happy Pink and Green walls of Taj Palace. "Ha-LLLLO!", we are greeted with by the manager, who knows us by now, and takes us to our regular table, in clear view of the earlier-mentioned TV with Bollywood films. The kids are FASCINATED by these films, and stare transfixed, partially due to hunger, partially due to the fact that they're being exposed to a cultural offering they are happy to absorb. Water is brought. Naan is brought. Kids' eyes and faces light up in anticipation. They know it's coming. And when it arrives, they sit and look at it, golden and orange in a brass bowl with the slightest hints of green sprinkled over the top. I know how to draw this out for them : I ladle the rice onto their plates, then spoon the rich concoction of chicken and whatever-godlike-sauce Taj Palace concocts to let it stew in all over the rice. And, simply, they devour. But savoringly, not like Piranha. They're good kids, polite, and wouldn't make a scene. Plus, they know where there concentration should lie : spooning that incredible food into their mouths to nourish their needful souls... And, folks, if these kids (and their dutiful Dad) are this obsessed with this stuff, you really need to check it out for yourself. The lunch buffet is good, too, but sitting down to a solitary bowl of this amazing stuff at dinner is probably one of the greatest food-thrills I've had in this city. Go eat it. Watch some Bollywood. Take the kids. You'll see us there, too.
(4)Ted G.
This is the best Indian food I've ever had. My girlfriend and I got a Non-veggie dinner for two to go. Every single part of the meal was spot on. The chicken tikka masala was the highlight, but every item was excellent . Sometimes, I feel Indian food can be dry or just caked in seasoning. Not here. Every dish was well balanced and genuinely impressive. Additionally, I thought that the price was just fair, until I saw the portions and realized I had just purchased two days worth of food for the two of us. The service on the phone and while picking up was very friendly. To give you an idea of how much i enjoyed this meal: I created this Yelp account just to write this review. I highly recommend, and will be a adding this to my list of regular dining spots.
(5)Billie H.
When I go to 39th Street my decision on where to eat is usually decided by where I find a parking spot as a majority of the places in the area are good choices to dine at. Today there was a spot across from Taj Palace so being I have not tried them previously I decided to stop in today. Overall the buffet was pretty good. They have a nice selection of chicken, vegetarian, and also goat. There are options that are spicy and some that are a little tame for the unadventurous. They offer a couple of samosas, a small salad bar with a variety of chutneys, and a couple of desert items. Drinks included with the buffet are chai tea and mango lassi. The food was pretty good. A couple of the items were a bit heavy on the salt, but otherwise the flavors were great. Everything was fresh. The chicken in the various chicken dishes was juicy. The goat was a little lacking in goat and a lot of bones, but still great flavor. The naan was fresh, the lentils perfect. I tried a couple of the little pastry things that were doused in sauce. A little to sweet for me, but good. I was a little disappointed that there was no rice pudding which is generally a staple at Indian restaurants and a favorite meal ender, but tried carrot dessert. I was a little skeptical. The dish was like a carrot pudding, more like a bread pudding than a mouse-like pudding in consistency. It was delicious! With a little chai tea it was the perfect end to the meal. The gentleman working up front was very nice, but did spit into a trash can in the dining room at one point which was a little inappropriate. The Bollywood music videos were entertaining. Unfortunately I was seated next to a group of young men who had no clue what appropriate conversation in a restaurant includes and even though it did make for a poor dining experience, I can not fault the restaurant for this. The lunch buffet is right at $10.
(4)Marcellus S.
Dear Yelp Family, I must warn you there may be an overuse of the word muligatany. I'm just sayin'! The husband and I were in a mood for Indian cuisine tonight. I searched Yelp for some suggestions and the Taj Palace seemed like a good idea. *Muligatany* The restaurant was decorated with tasteful cultural items and not at all overbearing. Our host, and whom I assume was the owner, were very gracious and nice. In first perusing the menu, I noticed muligatany as one of the soups being offered. Aside from hearing muligatany on Seinfeld's infamous 'Soup Nazi' episode, this was the first time I'd seen it on a menu. The soup consists of lentils, garlic, coriander and other yummy spices. It was absolutely magnificent!!! The muligatany was served piping hot, with a small garnish of basil. Every mouthful, and I mean EVERY mouthful was absolutely exquisite! The wonderful flavors of the muligatany just, just, well it just made me very happy! We also got this fried onion thingy for an appetizer. It's called Onion Bahjee and it too was very, very delish! You're also served three dishes of delightful sauces, each with their own unique flavor and all with a bit of heat behind them. *muligatany* For the entree, both of us had a difficult time deciding what to have, because everything looked amazing! *muligatany* After several minutes, we both decided on lamb. You can NEVER go wrong with lamb. Once that was done, we spent another ten minutes deciding which lamb dish to go with. We practically had to leave it up to chance, and just go with it. So I decided on the Lamb Bhuna and Damian had the Lamb Makhni. The bhuna is boneless lamb served in an incredible brown gravy of goodness, while the makhni is served in a creamy tomato sauce, which is just unbelievable! You're also served a small oval platter of rice to accompany your dish. Of course, nothing would stop you from eating your entree naked. Well, not literally naked, just without the rice! *muligatany* We also had some fresh baked flatbread (paratha) which was filled with spinach, garlic and herbs. *garlic!* Again, everything was just amazing! Damian is a professional chef and he was scraping the bowl. Trust me when I say, there was not so much as a grain of rice left on our table! And to top it off, the prices at Taj Palace make it uber affordable for anyone. Trust me, you do not have to break the bank for an incredible meal which will leave your belly quite, quite happy. So what are you waiting for? The muligatany should be calling you by now, or perhaps it will be in your dreams. Sleep well.
(5)meli l.
We tried Taj Palace for our weekly Monday Night Takeout Date. I had the lamb makhani and spouse had lamb roganjosh (we were in a lamby mood); we also ordered an epic pile of naan. We both had enough leftover for lunch the next day! It's not our favorite rice from KC Indian spots, but the food was perfectly tasty, generous, and quickly prepared. Also, when we went to pick it up, the service was speedy and friendly! We'll be back. And in spite of your warnings, I'm totally going to check out the lunch buffet. I'm a sucker for an Indian lunch buffet.
(4)Gretchen P.
Food is great. My favorite is chicken tikka masala and lamb saag. Service could use improvement. I usually go with my husband. The servers never address me directly even when I hand them my card to pay. It's probably a cultural difference, but when in Rome treat the Romans like Romans....not like tourists.
(4)zio t.
Had to update to 4.5 stars. I really like this place for lunch special. Been back too many times to count and always satisfied (and full). how can you beat $11 all you can eat w very nice variety and quality dishes, veggie options too. Good chai and lassi are part of the deal, and desserts too (tho I don't often indulge in the sweets myself). It's not the fanciest place and the Bollywood flics on the tv... Well, it is perfect for a work week lunch, let's leave it at that.
(5)David S.
Hands down the best Indian food in Kansas City. My friends and I come here often and the food is delicious and comforting. Chicken tikka masala, extra spicy chicken biryani, matar paneer, and garlic naan are some of our favorites. The owner (Resham) is one of the friendliest people I've ever met. He always checks to make sure everything is prepared properly.
(5)Amanda S.
Good grief! I am in looooove. Please add Taj Palace to my food crush list. I had a horrible Indian food experience about 10 years ago and haven't been back. My squeeze loves Indian food and has patiently waited for me to get over my "thing". The wait paid off today. Oh my....it's been about 4 hours since I had the lunch buffet. I am still loving what I had and really can't wait to go back. I don't know what I had before but it was trash compared to today. I had a little bit of everything off the buffet during lunch. The Chilli Chicken, Tandoori Chicken and Chicken 65 were heavenly. They had the perfect blend of spiciness and goodness. I surprised myself by loving the Chholle Saag. I am not, not, not fond of spinach but this was one of the most seasoned and tasty dishes I have had in a long time. I paired it with the onion chutney....AMAZING! I appreciate having a pitcher of water left on the table. I can't get enough water during a meal. The wait staff was gruffly attentive. The price seemed to be ok to me considering I left pleasantly full. I have been converted over to the Indian side and that's just fine with me.
(4)Logan Locke B.
Meh... My friend had carryout from Taj Palace tonight. Chicken Marsala and Mimosa. (Much) better than I remember. 39th St W. is lucky to have such a diverse amount of restaurants for everyone's taste. However, delicious Korma Sutra is just 3 blocks away--- why mess with Indian restaurant perfection??
(3)Joi B.
It would not be fair to not give credit where credit is due. After my experience on Saturday night, I'm convinced: Taj Palace is my favorite Indian restaurant. In the world! Flavor: absolutely on par with the best Indian restaurants in Jackson Heights, Queens. I am not joking, people! I took my brother and SIL, in town from NY, and they agreed that Taj Palace was absolutely as good as, if not better, than what they are used to in NYC (there are at least four Little Indias in the NY-LI area). My order: saag paneer. Extra spicy. Oh yes. Oh yes yes yes yes yes. I just enjoyed round 2 of this dish a few days later and it was so good, I was compelled to write an update and correct my star rating. So, yelpers, I say skip the lunch buffet and order the real deal. Seems like a lot of less stellar reviews here are for the buffet. I still feel you're just not going to get the same quality of food on a buffet (I haven't tried Taj Mahal's buffet and I probably won't). I daresay it's impossible. Indian food needs to be made to order, so you can indicate the correct degree of spiciness, so the vegetables are just right. You can't argue with the fact that fresh food is just going to blow away the offerings of a tray that has been under a heating lamp for a period of time!
(5)Meghan M.
After reading the mixed reviews, I was hesitant to try the lunch buffet, but buffets are my favorite way to eat at Indian restaurants (picking 1 entree is just too hard!). We were immediately impressed that many of the negative comments had been addressed by the restaurant. For example, there was ample naan on the buffet (garlic & plain), and the chai was no longer watery and tasteless. So hats off to a business that seeks out and responds to feedback! On to the food! I thought everything was very good, and completely on par with other good Indian restaurants (Korma, Taj Mahal, Masalas, etc.). I loved that they had saag on the buffet and several veggie options. All of their meat dishes had generous meat portions and were very good. I found many of their sauces to be a bit sweeter than other places. I particularly enjoyed their chicken tikka masala, mushroom matar, and the gulab jamon, which I think should be mandatory on all buffets. All in all, I would be happy to eat here again, and it is, at the very least, just as good as it's well established competitors. My only wish is that they provided complimentary mango lassis like some of their competition.
(4)Brenda M.
Have been twice recently and both times had their lunch buffet. The decor is not fancy but it is clean and plenty big. The parking can be a struggle but I have both times found a parking spot relatively quickly across the street. My favorite dishes have been the butter chicken, chili chicken, rice, mango lassi, and rice dessert (basically everything lol). This may not be a huge buffet but the variety makes it interesting to try new things and it allows anyone to find something they like. I can truly say that all their dishes have tasted fresh and well seasoned. My only complaint is the naan bread does not taste fresh when it's been sitting under a lamp. At another indian buffet that I frequent they ask you at your table if you'd like a couple pieces of fresh naan bread and I like that way better as the bread is heavenly when it's hot and fresh. The price seems reasonable at just $10 so I'll be returning but I'd really give them 5 stars if that naan bread was fresh.
(4)Brent K.
happened to be in the neighborhood today and though I think i've been here before, I couldn't really remember it. let me first say, that upon entering Taj Palace, the first thing you notice is the smell of a wet basement. to me, that says mold, but I'm not going to insunuate they have mold, just that it smells like a wet basement. now the food, a much smaller buffet than Korma WP, but a tad bigger than Korma OP. They had a nice variety of appetisers, as well as chutneys for dipping. the entres were very bland, and i mean super duper bland, though there was some flavor there, it just wasn't nearly as intense as Im used to when eating Indian food. It did seem like there were more veggie options over meat ones, which doesn't bother me either way. the goat was goaty and the chicken was chickeny, but it was all pretty bland tasting. desert was delicious but the free Chai tasted weak and watered down. Also my big pet peave for Buffets, the bread was on the buffet and not served fresh, which means hard and dried out. No Bueno. Price for the buffet is your typical 10 bucks. All in all, I can't say it was aweful, but Korma Sutra it was not. I'll probably mark this down as a lesson learned and go back to Korma next time.
(3)Cassie A.
I absolutely LOVE the lunch buffet here!!! You absolutely cannot beat the price, and the food is all super delicious. The owners of this restaurant are from northern India, near Kashmir, so that explains why the sauces are cream based and a little bit less spicy. I love this place sooo much more than other Indian restaurants in the area, and one of the reasons is because of the super friendly but not overbearing service - I like feeling welcome in an establishment. To the people complaining that the buffet items are too saucy and don't have enough meat.... well, to keep items on a buffet fresh and delicious without them burning up, there has to be a lot of liquid. I'm sure if you asked one of the super friendly people working there they would be happy to change out the item.
(5)E S.
It's probably a good thing that my husband isn't as into Indian food as I am or we would eat here constantly. They have a wonderful lunch buffet that comes with complementary chai and lassi, and their regular dinner menu is fantastic, too. It's definitely my favorite KCMO Indian restaurant.
(4)Kristin P.
My husband and I stumbled upon Taj Palace when driving around searching for a place to eat that's new to us. And it was a happy stumble indeed! I have only had Indian food a few times in my life. I don't remember anything tasting this good! We got the meal for two with meat. Everything that came in it was delicious. It was more than enough food, we will have left overs when we eat our left overs. My 9 year old daughter tasted our leftovers on the way home from the sitters and demanded that she gets to come with next time. So approval all the way around. One thing was off, like others have said, the wait staff is a little different. But it wasn't enough to bother me, we will go back for sure!
(5)Jake C.
Since I've moved to the 39th st area, I walk by Taj Palace almost every day. It doesn't look like much from the outside, and the entrance is kind of tucked away, but this is a nice little gem in the neighborhood. Taj Palace is a sparsely decorated oasis of tasty food. I went for the lunch buffet (ends at 2:30pm, around $11) and was pleasantly surprised. The spread is pretty large, with at least 5 different veggies, masala, chili chicken, korma, and deserts. Everything was well seasoned and kept fresh at the buffet. Their naan was piping hot and awesome. Service was a little gruff by some of the waiters. Not rude or poor, but... distanced? I'm not sure how to describe it, but I got a cold vibe from most of them. The man at the counter, however, was friendly. All in all, one of my new favorite lunch spots.
(4)Erica W.
A group of my co-workers decided to get out of the office for lunch the other day and picked on Taj Palace, based on a recommendation from a friend. It was a little hard to find, as the front of the restaurant is a bit nondescript and the sign is smaller than most. We had a group of six and were seated at a round booth that you could only access from one side. This wouldn't normally be an issue, but the buffet is the only option for lunch, so it made it awkward when someone on the inside wanted out to get food. Now, the food. One thing I enjoy about a buffet at ethic restaurants is the opportunity to try new things. I don't eat Indian food all that often, so I'm really just familiar with the basics like Chicken Tikka and things of that nature. I tried quite a few vegetable based dishes, but can't remember the names specifically. The eggplant and potato dish was yummy, as was one that had chickpeas and other veggies. The Tikka was also good, but one of the other chicken dishes (one without sauce) was pretty dry and not enjoyable. Would I go back to Taj Palace? Maybe. With so many other Indian options, I would more than likely try those before making a repeat visit.
(3)Sarah G.
I've had their food before and it's very good - however, when I attempted to grab a quick dinner at 8:35pm last night (they close at 9pm), the host was reluctant to seat us, mentioning they close at 9 while looking at his watch. They must do a great lunch service to not need our dinner business. We did not stay.
(3)Erin M.
We were maniacs and decided to brave the sub-zero temperatures and slick roads to get take out last night. I had a random Indian food craving and almost punched my laptop screen when I read on Korma Sutra's website that they're closed Mondays. I quick jump on Yelp led me to Taj Palace. The man who greeted us at the front was extremely nice and excited to see us--probably because no one else was ridiculous enough to be driving around in that weather. We decided on the mushroom mutter makhani for me, chicken curry for boy I was with, garlic naan and onion naan. Our wait was kind of long...I'm sure we could have hurried up the process by phoning our order in, but their website doesn't have their full menu. We were offered some delicious warm chai for the wait, which was nice. We were also serenaded by some catchy song playing in the Boliwood movie that was being projected in the dining area. The food ended up being $31 in all and was still warm by the time we got home. Food isn't labeled, which might be a problem if you're getting something you haven't tried before. My dish was very delicious, but my naan was burnt on the bottom. Big frown-factor, as I looooove me some garlic naan. The chicken curry was ordered medium spicy, but apparently was as mild as they come. All in all, Taj Palace was tasty enough, but I'm definitely a Korma Sutra girl.
(3)jennifer j.
Me and buffets will never see eye to eye. I just believe in quality over quantity and that is that. However, we I decided to hit Taj, I read the reviews here and they all pointed to the lunch buffet. I kind of find the idea of gorging on a lot of rich and spicy Indian food for lunch, then going to work, a bad idea. But, since I keep my own schedule I went for lunch. The last time I was in this space it was a much fancier Indian restaurant with dark cozy interior. Now it has been cleared out and decor is pretty lackluster. Old Bollywood movies play on a flat-screen and people speak in hushed tones due to the lack of music. While the older gentleman at the door and the younger waitress were both very kind, I felt their eyes on me constantly. Watching everything I put on my plate, what I had eaten off my plate and how much I was eating. While I appreciate the concern, it made me sort of self conscious to the point that I couldn't relax. Customer service can be a fine line. The buffet- OK, so I tried a small portion of just about everything so I could give it a fair review. Lentils were great and there were two types of chicken, one in a masala and one in an even spicier sauce. Both the chicken dishes had incredible flavor. Some of the vegetarian items were also tasty, but I just need protein with my meal. Now I totally get why vegetarians love Indian food. Plenty of flavor keeps you from missing the meat. The only thing I did not enjoy was what must have been some type of sweet potato mash up that was then fried into a little nugget. I didn't like the taste or texture and I love sweet potatoes. The rice was cooked perfectly. The nann might have been good at some point, but it tasted too dry and cold. I love nann, so this was a real disappointment. Overall I was pleased with the flavors. Now that I know what dish I like best, i would rather just order that off the menu at dinner time. There might have been the usual clusterf**k of 39th street parking, but it was presidents day, so we got a spot right in front. There are a few other Indian places I plan to hit before I decide if I will return to Taj.
(3)Reed N.
Really a nice buffet... and I'm sure the menu items are better as they always are. The "Chili Chicken" on the buffet is the spice bomb and just killer. All the standards are there... so Indian food freaks will be just fine. Add friendly smiling owners/staff to the equation and things are just that much better. : )
(4)Josh M.
I have been eating here for over a decade, and they still have the best homemade Indian cuisine in Midtown, even through a couple management changes. Lunch buffet is a great way to try many different dishes if you've never had Indian food before. Individual dishes are even better at dinner. Delicious bhindi masala (okra), saag paneer (spinach + cheese), Chicken 65, and absolutely THE BEST malai kofta I've ever had. The owner is kind and welcoming. Taj Palace deserves way more customers than it gets. I can only assume the herd constantly eating their McDonald's-owned burritos at Chipotle is clueless as to what they're missing just across the street. Highest recommendation!
(5)Bill C.
Alright, It's been awhile and I need to write a review. I just left Woodside and thought I would pop in some place after failing to secure a last minute date on POF. Poor me. I walked in at 9:26 PM and noticed as I was doing so it was empty and the Yelp app told me they were only open until 9:00 PM. A gentleman greeted me and I asked about getting food. He said I could get it to go. Alright, that's fair I suppose. I asked for a recommendation and he wanted to know chick or vegetarian. I said I could go either way, but hey let's do Chicken. He said the Chicken Tikka Masala was popular and I said cool. Didn't ask about spiciness so I assume this dish has no degree of spiciness. Too bad, I was really looking for that. I should have said something. I took it home and it was quite good. I have not had an Indian dish like this before. Can't wait to go back another time and get something else. And the seconds for lunch will be great I am sure. Now, if I could just score a date to take, but that's a different problem...
(4)Katy R.
Yelp, we've known each other for awhile now. Have I mentioned I'm an Indian food snob? Well, I am. Utterly and completely. My husband and I have visited most of the Indian restaurants in the metro area, and we have strong opinions about each. After reading a review of Taj Palace on a Midtown blog, we decided to stop a few Saturdays ago to sample the Indian restaurant mecca, otherwise known as the lunch buffet. He's a vegetarian, I'm not, so the lunch buffet is the happy meeting of both worlds. As I worked my way through the line, dipping up small helpings of chicken briyani, chili chicken, vegetable korma, chole saag and a slice of naan, I couldn't wait to dive in. The verdit? Taj Palace is good. Really good. The vegetable korma might top the best in the city--Korma Sutra. The chili chicken is spicy enough to demand a dollop of cooling raita -- or a mango lassi. The other dishes were equally flavorful--the saag and chicken tikka masala both come immediately to mind. My only disappointment? The chai. We've been spoiled by Swagat, and Taj Palace's chai is a bland, watery liquid that I find unpalatable. Otherwise, Taj Palace is fantastic and the 39th Street neighborhood is one of my favorite places in KC. You'll enjoy people-watching while you eat if you're lucky to score a window seat, and the eclectic district is a great place for a post-meal stroll, especially if you've over-indulged (and at an Indian buffet, haven't we all?)
(4)Larry L.
Awful. Is there a 0 star option? Went in there at 8:40 PM on a Sat night - called in advance to make sure that was ok since they closed at 9:30. They said it's fine (and it should be). Got there, sat down - our server was a psychopath gringo white gal who condescended to us about the food and service. For example, when my wife asked for ice water, the gal went on a rant about how indian people don't like ice in their water (white gal, remember). Our food came out - the Tikka was blood red and lukewarm. Disgusting. The other food (saag, veggie korma) was also bland and lukewarm. Our psycho server continued to rant about "how great the other table was", I think, because we were clearly unhappy with the subpar service and appalling food. Then finally, in an amazing finale, 9:25 rolled around, we were finishing up, and the owner and our brainiac server started standing around staring at us for us to go. THEN, she had the audacity to verbally declare/admit "Sorry to rush you out, it's been a long week". REALLY? Unprecedented. I'm not sure I've had a worse restaurant experience in the past 10 years ANYWHERE, let alone the worst indian food in town. Don't waste your time or money. Go down to Korma or Taj Mahal. At least the food will be hot and the servers will leave you be and treat you with respect. Sorry to be a downer. Just sharing my experience.
(1)Jenny M.
I love Indian food and I love Taj Palace! The crazy thing about Indian food and maybe this is just me but after I eat it I crave it insanely for days. I become almost an Indian food junkie or fiend that just has to have it. Then eventually those cravings subside and I am fine, that is until I eat it again and the vicious cycle starts all over. Taj Palace does a great job with their Vegetable Samosa unlike another unnamed place that used wonton wrappers the last time I had carry out. One of the best parts of a Samosa is the awesome chick pea batter. That was almost sacrilege. My favorite items to order are the Saag Panner with its creamy spinach and firm little homemade cheese cubes, the Malai Kofta, with what I call it's vegetable donuts covered in a perfect creamy curry and the Navratan Korma, which are veggies in a cream sauce. As with any Indian place if you do want some heat added to your food make sure to tell them, I think they lean towards the mild on most items unless you tell them to spice it up. So don't walk but run to Taj Palace for dinner, you won't be sorry or disappointed. What could be better on a chilly dark autumn night than some spicy Indian food and a big bottle of Indian Lager. Besides a little clarified butter never hurt any one.
(5)Danielle S.
I had a free evening this week so I decided to take myself out to dinner. But where to go? After doing a little research I decided to return to West 39th for good eats, and felt it was a toss up between a few places. I decided to park and see where the spirit led me...and it brought me straight to Taj Palace. It's easy to miss if you're driving by, because the buildings are set together so closely here, but there's some real goodness inside. When I first walked in, I was the only one for dinner at 7pm on a Wednesday night, which was a little odd at first, but the Indian music videos playing in the background kept me company. I was seated in a booth and given my own pitcher of water, which is always something I love about Indian restaurants--I wish more restos would pick up this habit, because instant refills are a definite plus. After looking at the menu I decided on the Chicken Tikka, which came out sizzling on a platter heaped high with onions, tomatoes and green peppers. Served with some yummy naan, it was definitely different than any tikka I'd had prior. Unlike most restaurant dishes, I thought this one was actually undersalted, so I ended up adding some of my own which greatly enhanced the flavor. The food was more along the lines of three stars, but the incredibly kind service definitely pushes it over the top. A man whom I presume to be the owner came over to my table several times to make sure the food was up to par and presented me with a complimentary dessert after my meal. The tiny slice of cold mango pastry was great, and just the right size for an after-dinner taster. I ended up taking half my chicken to go because the portion was just that huge. Loved the staff here; a very pleasant experience.
(4)Michelle B.
It pains me to say this, because the wait staff there was incredibly nice and attentive, but if you're going to drive to 39th Street, there are so many better options than Taj Palace. And if you want good Indian food, Korma Sutra is only a mile or so up the road. I had been to Taj maybe 3 years before this on a date and remember feeling pretty underwhelmed. Like the date, I remember thinking the food was pretty mediocre. But like many lukewarm dates of my past, I gave 'em another chance thinking it'd be "different" this time. And I'm here to tell you it's never different. You get burned every time, whether figuratively or literally and you know what I'm talking about because I'm talking about Indian food. My company excluded, the food experience still felt like a weird, uncomfortable date. It was awkward when the waitress sat a pitcher of water at our table, but intermittently would come back to fill our waters with different pitchers. It was awkward when a man took our orders and a different woman came back to ask us if that's really what we ordered. It was awkward when my favorite chicken tikka masala came out and sort of resembled something the color of orange Crayola wax. It was awkward to taste a sweet, familiar flavor out of the dish that I couldn't quite place but knew it didn't belong in that dish. And since I depend on Indian food to give me a big spice kick in the face, it was awkward to not get any of that whatsoever. I don't want to completely knock this place though. Like I said, the service was nice and the food wasn't terrible. So like that timid young single gal I used to be, I may be tempted by its friendly charms and sucked back in with the abounding possibilities of enchanting Indian spices and perhaps a better lunch buffet (I seem to be one of the only low reviews on this place, so if 30 Helens agree, maybe). But like the happily almost married woman I am today, I know I can do better.
(2)Ryan A.
I would like to apologize in advance for what you're about to read. I was inexplicably compelled to write this review in rhyming verse. one can argue the spices are sometimes subdued, and the flavors don't pop like they should in the food; perhaps the cooks lean a bit heavy on sweet, while Americans frown and pout, "Not enough meat!" still, sometimes the food shines and the flavors come through, garlic naan from the tandoor and lamb vindaloo; but the reason I keep coming back from afar? Harry rocks, even if the food's sometimes subpar.
(4)Susan H.
This breaks my heart, having been devoted to Taj Palace since the day it opened. There seem to have been changes in staffing that changed the atmosphere. And the food just isn't the same. The last three times I've stopped in for take-out, it's been so disappointing. My favorite lamb biryani was totally over spiced & dry this time, too. I will not give up on them...just hope there is some return to past glory.
(2)James U.
I really loved this place. We tried several of the dishes, and they were all really good, but it might have been the all the cheap wine they drank (and the wine really was cheap!). The other reviewers seem to hate the buffet, but uh... why would you ever eat at an ethnic buffet? It doesn't work for chinese food, thai food, italian food, or greek food... why would you think it would work for indian food?
(4)Brenna P.
I stopped in here on a Wednesday afternoon for the lunch buffet. YUM! First of all, I was excited because the buffet was properly labeled, especially since I was trying to explain to my date what all the different types of food were. The vegetarian section was clearly defined, which was also a bonus. So many Indian buffets have food which may be good, but looks scary, and without the labels, well, you know... I easily filled up after only one plate of food. There was garlic naan on the buffet, so of course I overindulged. The kormas were great, and so were the various sauces. The price was what I'd expect for this type of buffet, and I'd definitely return here in the future.
(4)David S.
Went here recently for dinner with a coworker since I had fallen in love with the 39th street neighberhood after visiting a few other restaraunts and given my love for Indian food, I wanted to try this place. Unfortunately, this reminds me of Indian food by people who have given up. The place was empty and they had TV blaring Bollywood music videos in an attempt to give a warm vibe but with a pretentious interior. Additionally the food lacked seasonings, it all tasted the same. There was no highs or lows and the naan was sad drop from what I have come to expect from an Indian restaraunt. Overall I didn't hate my meal, but there is nothing really worth going out of your way for. Given the number of outstanding restaraunts in the vicinity, I would be hard pressed to give Taj Palace another shot.
(3)Rhett H.
Look, there really isn't a better Indian restaurant in the midtown area. Give it up, I've looked. Korma sutra, not really; the New Tandoor Cafe, it's not bad; but this is the place. Look no further. Price: Cheapest buffet of them all. For $7.99 at lunch you get all the good stuff, tikki masala, a bunch of vegetarian dishes (even the spinach/chickpea goo actually tastes wonderful), the naan bread (brough fresh to your table, and after you eat it all, they bring you more! Suckers), and that white stuff with chewy pebbles in it for dessert. The people: And after the food, this is what's important. The people who work here are just happy folks. I get a smile and a "how are you today" every time I walk in. And then I walk in enough, and they start to remember me! I mean, who am I? (except for the fact that I write a bunch of yelp reviews) But really, it's nice to at least think people enjoy seeing you. The decor. Clean, neat, which actually all the indian places are this, too. What is the deal with indian restaurants and the nice napkins and the dressed up staff? I wonder if the indian restaurants in India are like this? Do the McDonalds over there have linen and silverware and waiters in black-tie? Anyhow, this place is nice to look at, too. Over all, because it's so cheap and good, I have to restrain myself from going there too much. I try to either wait until I can't stand it any longer or I'm going to treat myself or I have something to celebrate. At any rate, I hope it doesn't go away anytime soon. Tip: For dessert, try the white rice pudding stuff (cold buffet side) with a brown ball from the brown balls floating in sugar water (hot buffet side). Technically, it's called getting some badami kheer and putting a gulab jamun in it. Check out the review in the pitch about it at pitch.com/2006-12-21/din…
(5)Karen R.
Great place. Everything I tried from the buffet was really good. Cool music videos/excerpts from old Bollywood playing, good service, very clean. Definitely will be back!
(4)Andrew W.
I've been here twice for dinner and once for the lunch buffet. Every time I'm in, I absolutely HAVE to get some of the creamy, delicious Chana Saag. Today at the lunch buffet I also tried their Navatran veggies, a bit spicy but perfect if you're a fan of a bit of heat. I also liked the veg samosas. The veg pakoras were a little dry but then again, I did get there 10 minutes before they closed the buffet (2:30 on the monday that I was there).
(4)Lindsay S.
We had such an odd experience here. My friends and I had been craving Indian all day and had planned to go to Korma Sutra. Well forgetting that they are closed on Monday's I jumped on Yelp to find plan B. We came early at 6pm and the place was empty. Only one other table of 2. The older gentleman was very confused about our wine order and once I received my Chardonnay the glass has lipstick that wasn't mine on it. I asked for a new glass and he left for a while returning with a new glass and the whole bottle of wine to prove to me that it was a fresh pour. After that we waited and waited and waited for one of the 4 staff members to come take our orders. Finally a woman came over and we ordered Vegetable Pakoras, Shrimp Korma and Shrimp Masala mild and garlic naan. The Pakoras arrived and were super greasy dense dark balls. You could not distinguish vegetables just batter. While we waited for our entrees my friends and I noticed that the same Bollywood movie was on loop playing the same Bollywood song over , and over and over like slow Bollywood water torture you could not escape. We all prayed we would not have Bollywood nightmares when we slept that night. It was irritating and did not create a nice atmosphere. The food came relatively quickly but the shrimp was the tinie tiny salad shrimp. So that was immediately a disappointment and red flag for me on quality. The Masala was a much brighter tomato red then I am use to but the flavor on both sauces was really nice. The rice portions are skimpy but the naan was crispy hot and delicious. Definitely better Indian spots in town for taste, quality, service and ambiance.
(2)Sarah B.
I love the food at this restaurant, and I hate Indian food. The end.
(5)Mike F.
Lunch buffet is a good choice to sample a vareity of Indian cuisine. I like it spicy and this is a little less than my palette would prefer. Make sure you grab a mango lassi.
(3)Julie D.
I am new to Kansas City and was so excited to find a buffet. I went for the lunch buffet. The naan was good. Texture was perfect. I LOVE paneer, and there was a dish that was labeled as paneer. However, I found absolutely no paneer in it. I also tried the korma, which was supposed to have chicken in it. I found no chicken in the korma. In both cases it is not that I just happened to not get and paneer or chicken in the portion that I served myself, but there really was no paneer or chicken in the dishes that were in the buffet. I was sooooo looking forward to paneer, so needless to say I was quite disappointed.
(2)Tim W.
Had my lunch buffet here yesterday. the food is ok, but the attitude of waiter is really bad. I won't be here again.
(2)Alberto S.
My favorite Indian restaurant in KC. Amazing chicken tikka and lamb.
(5)Lorena M.
YUM! I went here with a couple friends for lunch one weekend and it was excellent. They have the lunch buffett that is full of different dishes that came out and fresh and delicous. The staff was really friendly and they place is very well kept inside. Give it a try...it's worth it!
(4)Katja G.
Went for lunch buffet. Very nice Indian food, also fresh vegetables, complimentary chai and mango lassi. Naan was more crisp than i like but otherwise, very good experience. Quiet lunch atmosphere. Chai creamy and spicy, a little sweet. Mango lassi comparable to others but would be vastly improved by adding some ice and "shaking".
(5)Sanketh B.
I donno why people have given such good reviews about this restaurant !!! I had the wrst experience ever !!! Improve the quality of food u serve ! It's better to stay hungry than to eat at this palace !!!
(1)Anna K.
I'm not sure why people give this restaurant such high marks It is a pitiful example of really good Indian food. Everything is laden with heavy cream. The pappads were the worst ever so was the naan which was burnt and the mango lassi and the chai were just watery and too sweet. I will never go there again or recommend it to anyone either
(1)Bill B.
This restaurant has long been my favorite Indian restaurant in KC. But there have been frequent changes in management, and our most recent experience here was shocking. After dinner, we asked for the remaining Roti bread to be wrapped for us to take home. The server picked it up with his hands, wrapped it in paper, and put it into the take-out box with our other food to go ---- with his hands on the Roti!! If this is what the servers do at the table, I wonder what goes on in the kitchen? Perhaps the Health Department should inspect this restaurant. We removed the Roti from the take-out box and put it on the table, when we left the restaurant. Indeed I've seen this done before by street vendors in India, but never before anywhere in the world in a restaurant --- including the restaurants in India.
(1)Johnathon B.
Best indian food in the city. The owner is wonderfully hospitable and the chef makes the most delicious chicken tikka Marsala I've ever had. The lunch buffet is a great way to try new things, but it's the most enjoyable at dinner with a bottle of wine and serene atmosphere. Must try's: garlic and onion naan, onion bahjee, lamb vindaloo (very spicy. Very special), and the mixed tandoori grill (which I like to call them indian style fajitas). A personal favorite. If you are iffy about Indian food, then try the buffet and see what you like. If you're like my husband (who can't handle spicy), then the chicken tikka masala will become an Indian food staple. Enjoy my friends!
(5)Benjamin R.
Indian food is a huge part of our vegetarian diet. When we are feeling the need for one or two items, we make variations on it at home, but quite frankly, NOTHING beats the wide variety of tastes and textures on Indian buffet for lunch, and there are very few places that do it like Taj Palace. We consider other places in the city for our Indian fix, but we usually go with Taj Palace for a couple of reasons: it's cleaner, less cramped, and more fully stocked with amazing veg dishes than most competitors. Taj Palace is one of those rare places where I get a nice big scoop of EVERYTHING on the veggie side (which is half of the buffet), load up on fresh naan, and cover everything in tamarind chutney, and can't wait to get back to the table to start scooping everything together in piles and shoving it in my face. Service is always polite and attentive - water glasses are filled constantly, plates removed quickly, and staff and management inquire about your experience. Granted, I have been more than satisfied on the several times we've come to Taj Palace in the evening and ordered from the menu, but for my time, money, and enjoyment, there are very few places in Kansas City that leave me as satisfied and stuffed as Taj Palace!
(5)Michael H.
The BEST Indian I have ever eaten! When I am sick I want Taj Palace, when im healthy I want Taj Palace, when I get back in town from vacation ... I want Taj Palace. The buffet is EVERY day for lunch and is a great way to 'test the waters'. The Chicken Tiikka Masala is INSANE and the Naan is perfection! Do yourself a favor and eat here ASAP!
(5)Vamsi B.
Food was not upto the mark. Taste of the food was not satifying. hope there will be some improvements
(1)Daniel K.
Came for lunch buffet... 7 days a week @ $11... 11am-230pm... Something about being brown and hitting up a buffet seems so natural... There arent many of buffets of any type in Hawaii... They lose so much money... They cost about $35 for lunch and $50 for dinner... BWahahaha The pakora and samosa were good. They had good selection of veggie and meat dishes. The chicken tandoori was my fave as well as the chicken squash?melon? something! was good. You should come early because its a buffet. Quality is not fantastic... Its a buffet. So theyre really friendly here. After my fourth plate I think they succumbed that they were going to be losing money on me... But they still smiled! So if you want good flavor and to fill your stomach where you have "I ate too much food" pains for the next 6 hours... This is your spot!! Was it worth it?? YES!
(4)Irma S.
Definitely must try the mushrooms if you like mild food. You also can have the butter chiken, the carrots, the nan, the white rice and the spinach. The lentil bread is a little bit spicy but not to much, very good. Excellent customer service. I also recommend the mango lassi that is included in the price of the buffet.
(5)Christine K.
I am not sure I have the wordsto describe how wonderful this place is. This is the best Indian food in the entire city. Don't even bother going elsewhere. The buffet is where it is at! Everything is fresh and worth the $13. You will not leave disappointed. Definitely go for the Chicken Tikka Masala. The service is AMAZING. Everyone is so kind here and will be at your table multiple times to make sure you have everything that you need. They also have authentic Bollywood music videos playing as well which is a real treat!
(5)Jennifer G.
The past two times I have been here the person who worked the register and seated me was rude. The last time I apparently did not sit at the table he pointed to and he told me I was supposed to sit at another table. It left me feeling like I was in trouble. This visit I asked if there was carry out for the buffet and he said no. Then I asked if I could order off the menu. Then he finally gives me a to go box and says just kidding. The man always says something rude to me and then comes back with a just joking. I love this place but I don't like how I am treated. I am not sure if he is in management but he really needs to learn customer service skills. Food is great customer service bad.
(3)Keanon L.
It feels weird giving a buffet 4 stars. Like somehow buffets are "lesser-than." And for full-disclosure, I've never eaten a proper menu-ordered meal here. What I have had is really great, though. Some might see the fact that the items on the buffet never change as a down-side, but I love it. I know exactly what I want and exactly how it will taste, and that it will taste great. I love the mushroom mattar, lentil soup, veggie korma. The biriyani is fantastic, as is the goat curry, if you're feeling adventurous. The staff with whom you interact, the man at the register and the server who might refill your water, are always friendly and attentive. And the price is right. As a pretty big guy who gets hungrier than the giant from the movie "Big Fish," you can't beat 11 dollars for all you can eat, authentic Indian food. The atmosphere isn't much to speak of. It's a fairly unadorned room save for some tapestries. I really love the Bollywood flicks and music videos that play on the corner television, though. I also love the sign above the buffet about not wasting food. It gives me an excuse to eat every last bite. There are dishes I prefer at other Indian spots, but I will rarely turn down an invite to this place. I've not had a bad experience here yet, other than the fact that the food is delicious and I often walk away from here, headed back to work and feeling like a beached whale all full up on tastiness.
(4)Melisa V.
Continuing a NYD tradition we started when I lived in Portland, my family and I met some friends and their kids (kids being toddlers) for the lunch buffet today. We arrived around 11:30 and watched the restaurant fill up as we enjoyed our food. The servers were also very patient with our squirmy kids. Everything I tried was delicious, but I wish there was a little more of a variety. There were four chicken dishes (including a biryani) and no lamb dishes. Wish there was a little more of variety in the veggie dishes too. The pakora and samosa were both really good and I like that they had a variety of naan. Also had mango lassi and chai available too (our kids LOVED the mango lassi!) We will definitely be back next year for NYD and for dinner soon!
(4)Andrew M.
It's been nice to have a decent Indian restaurant around the corner all these years.... I have had dinner here numerous times as well as the lunch buffet, which I did as recently as today. The decor is pretty basic, but that's not really what I come here for anyhow. The buffet selections today were pretty good -- all the carb-loaded sides you would expect as well as plenty of choices for both vegetarians and carnivores alike. The dinner service is usually fine, albeit a bit awkward at times. Hard to explain... Anyhow, there's nothing particularly amazing about this place but it sure hits the spot when it's 1:00 in the afternoon and you're famished!
(4)Alicia R.
This is a great place to satisfying your craving for Indian food. My companion and I went at 7ppm on blustery evening and there was no wait to be seated, in fact there were quite a few empty tables. My friend had recommended this as one of the better Indian places in town and I was excited to be able to sit immediately. The decor is nothing to write home about, but when I want some soul-satisfying food, I would be happy to eat in a closet, so this did not throw me off. I will focusing on my plate, thanks. After being sat, we actually had two servers taking care of us; I think partially due to the huge party that had been seated right before we arrived. We were brought papadum and delicious chutneys (both the sweet onion and the mint were super delicious; in fact the onion might be the best I have ever tasted) to snack on while our order was being taken and our food prepared. We shared the Taj Platter (chicken samosa, veggie pakora, fried veggies and paneer, potato patty), and I had the chicken tikka masala. Again, due to the large party, our appetizer took quite a while, but one of our servers checked on us several times and apologized for the wait (and then compensated with extra goodies on the platter). I love all things fried and the platter did not disappoint; the fried cauliflower and the samosa wee again, some of the best I have had. This is a lot of food...I advise splitting this or you will not have any room for your entree (and believe me, you want to save room). My chicken tikka masala was so rich and sweet ( a little sweeter than most that I have had), but so delicious with the naan and the basmatti rice. All white meat chicken was a plus in my book, as was the serving that was plenty to split or take home as left overs. I will totally be back to try the lunch buffet as well as the lower-calorie options that they tout on their menu.
(4)Brandi C.
Taj Palace is definitely A-Ok to me. It's not, by far, the BEST Indian food I've ever had, but it's also not, by far, the WORST Indian food I've ever had. A craving for Indian food hit the other day, so we met some friends here for lunch. It was our first visit in, as we tend to be loyal devotees of a couple of other Indian places around the metro, and I'm glad we gave Taj Palace a try. As is the norm at Indian places, the buffet had a good selection of vegetarian and meat friendly items, though I do have to say that a lot of the offerings seemed a bit...overly soupy. My plate had quite a lot of sauce on it after I had finished the different things I tried. I had a wisdom tooth extracted the day before, so I was actually happy that so many items were so mushy, but I can see that being an issue on a future trip in, when my mouth isn't in pain. Everything that I ate had a good flavor, but there was definitely no heat, which I expected, as the buffet does need to cater to everyone's spice tolerance or lack thereof. So, I spiced mine up with some of the condiments on offer, which made things closer to my preferred level of heat. I mostly stuck with the vegetarian options, and the okra and saag paneer were probably my favorites. My husband also liked the okra dish, as well as the butter chicken and the lamb samosas. I didn't have any problem at all with the decor, or lack thereof. The service was friendly enough, our water glasses were always kept full, and dirty plates were removed quickly. All in all, I'd make a return trip, but I do have other Indian places that I prefer to frequent.
(3)