Spice Junction
2335 Augusta Rd, West Columbia, SC, 29169
Spice Junction Menu
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Visit below restaurant in West Columbia for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in West Columbia for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in West Columbia for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
2335 Augusta Rd
West Columbia, SC, 29169 - Phone (803) 708-9158
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 8:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : No
Categories
India is the birth place of Chicken Tikka Masala and Curries. Indian foods are prepared with a blend of finely mixed spices quite popular across the region. The spices develop the rich taste in Indian food enough to boggle your mind. The ever-increasing fan base of Indian food around the New York city is steadily increasing because of the large number of Indians who traveled to the land of dreams. The Indians also brought their very own vibrant, colorful, and aromatic authentic dishes for the people in the West. While most of the Indian population is Vegetarian, Indian food is great for people who are looking for vegan or vegetarian food option. If you are a Meat lover, don't get disappointed yet. Indian food also boasts of some popular non-vegetarian dishes too. Few examples are the famous Butter Chicken, Mutton Biryani and Tandoori Chicken are enough to satisfy your taste buds.
Indian food has gained reputation all over the world especially in the United States. You can find many places serving the appetizing Indian food across all major cities in the US. India is a diverse country with different food culture originated from different parts of the country. While the Northern region boasts tandoori dishes and korma offering royal taste, the Western Ghats offers sea foods that is made in naturally sweet tender coconut milk. The South Indian food servers a quality of different dishes made from rice accompanied with spicy chutneys, curries and famous sambhar. Also, the Indian sweets are a delight to relish. If you ever want to have a burst of sugar syrup in mouth, don't forget to try few Bengali Sweets. Be it spicy, tangy, or sweet flavor, you can find everything in the Indian cuisine. Be assured that the melody of spices will surely bring delight to you.
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Beth And Jim S.
He said: place is buffet only. Family running it seems nice. Naan brought to table and very good. Curry chicken spicy. Butter chicken delicious. Goat biryani tasty but spicy. Mint chutney spicy. I guess the locals found out about this place because by 6, half the tables were full. Tandoori chicken a little dry but good flavor. The semolina dessert was really tasty. Will be back. She said: We had the dinner buffet. Not a bad selection for the price ($8.99), The butter chicken was very good, as was the fresh naan.
(3)S W.
Sooji Halwa (semolina porridge) is possibly the best thing that I have ever tasted. Go read the comments about the butter chicken; yes, it really is that good, but did you know the secret? It's cashew nuts. Still the tastiest Indian food in Columbia or the Midlands.
(5)Hung D.
3 went for lunch 1st time. I guess they serve buffet all day. Seat yourself. Lady brings out fresh naan. Awesome. Everything self serve including seating, utensils, & drinks. Good selection & very tasty. I had no issues with signs & cameras. Here's another angle: many signs because there's only 1 person on the floor to do the cashier, bring out the naan, & clean tables. As for the # of cameras, probably bought as a kit from Sam's or Costco so came with all those cameras. Again we had no issues & enjoyed it very much. We did not notice other customers having issues. They all seemed to enjoy including some retired folks.
(5)Katharine K.
My favorite place for Indian in Columbia. I would recommend eating at the restaurant instead of getting it to go so you can really take advantage of the buffet and get a better sample of their many great offerings.
(4)David B.
We left the interstate in search of this gem, and were not disappointed. They brought fresh Naan to our table, but everything else was conveniently self-serve. The buffet is quite extensive with lots of variety. The location is a little hard to find if you are not familiar with the area, however we called on the phone and the owner was very gracious in helping us find our way.
(4)Anita M.
Excellent, fresh homemade food. We ordered off the menu and were not disappointed. This place is a hidden gem. The owners are warm and friendly. I was pleased to see items that I had not seen on an Indian menu before. We ordered a spread of 6 dishes and appetizers and each tasted everything. The food makes you feel happy, like it was made with love. Don't let the strip mall exterior fool you; you need to try this place. As an added bonus, their food safety rating is 100%. How many places can say that? :)
(5)Anna D.
$40 for two small plates and an order or chicken tandori. hmmm, i was really hoping this was a lunch buffet like most indian places that i'm used to. Apparently though, they used to have it but decided on regular lunch plates. My hubby and i ordered: chicken tandori (not white meat!) which makes it a thumbs up in my book. I HEART DARK MEAT. whenever it's white meat it's just too dry. So when this came out I welcomed it without having to drink any extra water or soda just to get it down. combo curry dish (lamb and your choice (spinach curry)... good but small. i mean, i can't complain about the taste. i just wish it was a little more bang for your buck. Remember though, this is coming from a person (piggy) who is used to all you can eat indian buffets) Overall, i liked the food and not the amount or price for the portions. I also didn't like that there wasn't refills on drinks and that the location was kind of in the middle of no where. The good thing about being in the middle of no where... you get a ton of parking options. LOL
(3)Rick T.
Stopped in for lunch today and the owner was nice enough to let me sample the three curry dishes and explain their menu options. I opted for the hot which has a nice red silky hot flavor and the brown which is mild that has a totally different flavor I cannot place. Two types of rice are served with the chicken curry dish for 6.99 and that comes with naan bread. The bread was warm and buttery perfect for dipping into the curry and rice. I tried to buy two more smaller pieces of naan but the owner said it was no charge as I asked nicely. So when you come here be nice not because you get free food because it's the right thing to do and the restaurant business is hard enough without people barking out demands.
(4)Penelope B.
Spice Junction had, without exception or exaggeration, the worst biryani I have ever had in my life. Too hot, not seasoned properly, a small amount of very sad frozen vegetables buried under a large amount of rice. Avoid.
(1)Keith K.
Times here: 5 or so, alas. The bottom line: Spice Junction used to be a halfway decent strip-mall Indian buffet with really tasty fresh Naan bread, and this in a town that cries out for decent Indian food. (Sadly it was more way than half, but so be it.) Perhaps 3 stars on a good day, then. But now the place is no longer a buffet, but a cafeteria that serves sub-par fare on Styrofoam plates under harsh fluorescent lighting. You get a bunch of (cheap) starches and pathetically small cups of curry-slop reheated, which you get to spoon out of your kiddie cup with the cheapest plastic utensils imaginable. For the questionable pleasure of this you are charged $9 - $12. The food is edible, but completely unjustifiable. I'm sorry, but I cannot in good conscience recommend going here. For that price you can toodle on down to Trader Joe's and buy a handful of their frozen Indian dinners and sides, which, frankly, are superior IN EVERY WAY to what you'll find at Spice Junction. For an example of what $12 can get you in another town, try the Sunday lunch buffet at the sublime Mela in Asheville. Fresh, made in house dishes and chutneys with lots of vegetarian options for the same price simply puts wretched places like Spice Junction to shame eternal. Save your money, kids.
(2)Rae H.
I have been a fan of Spice Junction for years now, and it's absolutely my favorite Indian restaurant in town. It's a little hidden gem, and while in West Columbia, is still convenient to most places because it's so near I-26. It's always clean and airy, and the food is always hot, fresh, and flavorful. I went there last night and was surprised that it's no longer a buffet, so I felt it appropriate to write a review to tell y'all alllllll about it: The menu options are basically the same classics that I know and love, but now it's actually even more affordable. I got the chicken and vegetable Thali--it came with a chicken curry of my choice (butter chicken YES), two vegetable curries (spinach, mushroom, and corn in a creamy sauce, and daal), semolina pudding, bread (paratha), vegetable appetizers, and it was more than I could eat. I think I got more ordering the Thali dinner than I would had I gotten it off a buffet, and now you can take your extras with you. Everything is still delicious, it has an amazing selection of classics and that semolina pudding is worth going there for alone. It's so much saffron, so much cardamom, so much amazing in my mouth. They seriously make the best naan in town. I often take "novice" Indian food eaters here because the family that owns it is so wonderful at describing everything and while it has the complicated spice and taste profiles I love in Indian food, it's "accessible" to people who aren't adventurous eaters, too. As is common with Indian cuisine, this place is great for vegetarians. Not so sure about how well they accomodate other dietary needs, but as helpful as they are, I'm sure a quick call ahead might make some things workable.
(5)TheGlamMadame K.
My husband and I were devout customers of the restaurant which serves delicious food. However, with the changes to the business model where this is no longer a buffet, and with the limited choice of plates served to you by the owners that they plate for you from the buffet... was too much change for us. The whole dining experience is non-existent. This was especially hard at lunch time where I only get an hour to travel there and had to wait in line for the owners to dole out the trays...one by one. Although I love their food, there were only a few specific dishes that I would eat. Since I can no longer pick & choose what I want for the price, it's just not worth it. We admire the owners, but it they cared about their business...they would return the restaurant to the original buffet. It would bring in the regulars.
(1)TIM V.
Our family visited this gem tonight. My wife and I each ordered and devoured the platter (both with the chicken Tika and the spinach/corn dish). Just the right amount of heat. My daughter and mother-in-law ordered the small platter with butter chicken. Excellent. Our new go-to Indian restaurant now that Punjabi Daba is gone.
(5)Joshua H.
Just came, super excited, to the only damn Indian buffet in town with good food, after they were closed for two weeks, and they're not a buffet anymore. Same exact food but they're set up with a menu where you get less food for more money, and cant even try all the options. 0/10 don't waste your time.
(1)Lissa J.
Finally had a chance to try Spice Junction recently and was delighted. As soon as you walk in the door you are enveloped in the delicious curry-based aromas of Indian cooking. BTW what is it with those people who say they can't stand the smell of curry? I think it's one of the tastiest, most mouth-watering aromas in the cooking world. Must be one of those genetic things like licorice (yuck) and cilantro (yum!). Anyway - since I am a new customer, the buffet idea was long before my time, so I can't say one way or another if its passing is to be mourned or celebrated. This is a family-owned business, so the staff who greets you actually owns and runs the place. They are wonderfully friendly and very helpful with newbies like myself. They suggested one of the sampler platters aka 'thalis', so I got to try different types of curry and rice together. Disclaimer: if I have gotten any of the names of the foods wrong, that's on me. The menu is very complex and I am very new to Indian cuisine. First let me say something about the rice. I am not a very good cook, and I don't eat a lot of carbs, so rice is not exactly in my culinary wheelhouse. After eating the rice at Spice Junction, I don't know why I would ever want to cook rice at home again. The thalis come with biryani rice and cumin rice. I'm not sure which is which. One is the simpler version, with just some herbs and very light seasoning. The other has more seasonings and is more colorful with hints of yellow and orange. Both are outstanding. The way they prepare their rice, it is light and fluffy, not at all sticky. I had the impression that if I wanted to sin with some carbs, if I did it with this rice, it would hardly be sinning at all. On to the stars of the show: the curry. I had the chicken tikka masala; the butter chicken (I think?); the vegetable; and the spinach/corn. All of the curries have a heat rating, mild medium and hot. The chicken tikka masala was medium and was pretty hot IMO. I am looking forward to trying one of the hot varieties as I love spicy food. I think the others were rated mild. When trying to describe curry to an SC friend, I told her it was similar to the SC dish called hash that is served over rice. The curry is in a thick gravy-type base with meats, vegetables and spices depending on which one you order. The base may come in different colors depending on what you order; for example the chicken tikka masala was a deep orange-red; the butter chicken was more of a golden orange, and the vegetable curries were even lighter and more neutral in color. The two meat curries had generous chunks of meat. The vegetable curry was similar to a very thick veggie stew. The spinach curry was not quite as thick as the others but was very tasty. I never thought of pairing spinach with corn but the corn really sweetened it up. All of these are very good on their own without the rice if you are watching your carbs. Speaking of carbs, the naan was also very good. You know those Mexican restaurants that offer fresh-made tortillas on premises? Naan is very similar, a little lighter, maybe more of a pita or lavash flavor. They also garnished the thali platter with a little chip-like thing. I am not sure what it was. Think lighter, fresher, tortilla chip seasoned with some type of herb, maybe? IDK but it was great. I was too stuffed to enjoy much of the mango dessert but it was good also. Now that I have had a delicious introduction to Indian cuisine, I am looking forward to going back and having a run at their complex menu and ordering something else. Def want to try something they consider 'hot'.
(4)Heather J.
Spice Junction has been my favorite Indian restaurant in town since it opened. They used to have a buffet, but now they are a menu-only establishment. At first, this upset me, because I am way more experiential with my food choices when I know I can try a bite of this and that, and not have to commit to something that I may not like. However, I discovered that in addition to some delicious-sounding menu items, they also have meal platters (Thalis). This was the best option for me! You could pick how many different curries you wanted, and of what variety (veggie, chicken, lamb, etc.). In addition to the curries, the meal platter came with two different kinds of rice, an appetizer of your choice, papaddam (fried lentil cracker), 1/2 a piece of paratha (griddle bread), and a dessert! You also could pick two different chutneys to go with your meal. When the tray full of my hand-selected goodies was given to me, I was astounded by the amount of food...there is a LOT of food!! In this respect, the menu-style is better than the buffet because with buffets, you're not allowed to take home left overs. I don't know about you, but I can only fit so much food in my tummy at one time...regardless of how DELICIOUS it is! I was able to get another whole meal just from my left overs! And, to add the icing to the cake, all of this food only set me back 11 bucks! There are plenty of other items on the menu (to include an entire page dedicated to vegetarian choices), and I will definitely be back to explore them, but in my opinion, you really can't go wrong with the Thalis. And don't let the price of this one particular meal fool you. What I ordered was the 2nd most expensive item on the menu (2nd only to the lamb meal platter). Everything else on the menu is easily under 10 bucks. Go forth and eat my friends! You won't regret it!
(5)Claire E.
This place is NOT a buffet. You pay more than a buffet ($17.22), get less food, and less control over portions and where you would like your food. I like my rice smothered in Tikka Misala and to have enough to dip my Naan in and that does not happen at this restaurant. The owners are very kind people. I don't think they understand what the concept is in having a restaurant in America. They do not make their own tea, it comes out of the soda fountain, and they do not do refills on soda. You stand at a counter and choose from a menu what food items that you want. You cannot see the food, as it is in plastic food bins at a buffet type table (food is already prepared) behind the counter. You choose one/two or three dishes and then everything is individually charged after that. $2.49 for rice, and either .99 or $1.99 per plate of fresh naan. They make it fresh for you. I was in there at 12:20pm for an hour and I was the only customer. There was one man who came in for takeout. The food was "ok." I would not make the effort to return, as there are two other indian restaurants in the Columbia area that are several dollars cheaper ($10.95 vs. $17.22) and have much better ambience than this place. And those two places make their own iced tea. What restaurant in the south doesn't make their own tea? Us southern folks don't want tea out of a Coke machine. It is like the inside of an office conference room. Very boring, without ANY indian colorful pictures on the walls. The walls are gray....not very inspiring at all. Tables set up as though it is a conference room. Not an issue for me, but they don't serve beer or wine. If I went for dinner, that would be an issue. If your in the area, the food is "ok" and nothing special. I would not go 10 feet out of my way for this place.
(2)Brandon D.
Don't let the location turn you off..this is one of the best Indian places I've ever been to. The selection is on the smaller side, but the food is fresh and very tasty. It is run by a family who makes you feel at home when you come into their restaurant. They will bring fresh, straight from the Tandoor oven Naan bread to your table. The Naan is the best I've ever had. The butter chicken is delicious, something I didn't think I would like, but I loved it. My other favorite dish is tandoori chicken, which was also delicious. My only problem was that they serve strips of the chicken, and not pieces like other places do, but still it was excellent. Plus the pace was extremely clean. If you love Indian food, you will love Spice Junction!
(4)Chris C.
There is no longer a buffet, but all of the lunch menu items are under $10. I had the Chicken Thuli. It came with chicken curry, 2 veggies, 2 different rices, naan, a samosa, and some other things that I am not familiar with. I cleaned my plate. It was fantastic.
(5)Adam B. J.
Can't say anything bad about the food. It is excellent, clean, and fresh naan to the table. Was my favorite Indian in Columbia. The owners are sticklers to a fault about cleaning your plate. They have signs up stating you will be charged for un-eaten food. I haven't been back in almost a year after they charged our friends an entire adult buffet price after they gave their three year old a left over piece of naan. I just thought that was wrong. I'm still trying to get over that, but until I do we've been taking our business else where.
(3)Matt P.
Rahana and Hakeem, the owners we just met today, are super friendly! Their food is super tasty! For a selection of some of their dishes, they welcome giving you little spoon samples to try before you buy. We had the butter chicken curry, chicken tikki marsala, lamb curry, and a variety of chutneys and appetizers along with a nice desert. Everything was top notch! If you haven't tried Indian food, then get out of your bubble and try this out! I've had numerous different Indian food experiences and this was one of the best!
(5)B D.
This place was good as a buffet, but when they started putting up all the signs we got annoyed. Then they always seem so damn cheap... Omitting things from the buffet over time, then closing for 2 months and coming back as a plastic and styrofoam overpriced menu only option. We went there for years... Walked in and saw the menu without the buffet and the rip-off prices... Then we looked at her with disappointment and walked out. You cheap ass bunch of greedy bastards. We have been there a hundred times, but NEVER AGAIN!!!
(1)sambriddhi w.
This place is legit!!! I had the spicy chicken curry and it was amazing!!!! I can't wait to try everything else
(5)Ingrid P.
Great food! Great people! Come and try it! We had a variety of chicken, lamb, and vegetable dishes with appetizers and desert. All was good!
(5)Andrea G.
Great flavors and the owners are really nice. Very consistent food, Naan is excellent and the restaurant is super clean!
(5)Kevin S.
What a terrible disappointment to arrive for dinner after being devout, happy customers who drive a lot of business there, only to find that the entire business model has changed for the worse. What used to be a phenomenal, top notch buffet-only establishment that allowed customers to experience a variety of Indian cuisine is now an overpriced, menu-only restaurant. The combination plates on the menu are utterly confusing. Our group of four was so disappointed with the drastic change that we opted to walk out and probably never return. For years, we've been willing to overlook the saturation of signs with ridiculous rules, regulations, and policies; however, this is the straw that broke the camel's back for us. So, we're now sitting in Mai Thai, lamenting the end of an era over a delicious bowl of Coconut Soup and excellent Pad Thai.
(1)Lori J.
At first glance, you'd never walk in here. It's shaded windows make it a mystery if you drive by. But park, go in and EAT some of the best Indian I've ever had at a restaurant. I make curry at home and I'm dying to know some of their receipts. Love the fresh naan and the lentil curry, the savory rice and I could eat my weight in the cauliflower nuggets. The roti bread is delicious and I like to wrap my tandoori chicken in it with a little lettuce and chicken curry. Mmmmm I'm hungry now
(5)Nawfal A.
Really my favorite restaurant in W. Columbia. Food is always fresh and tasty. People who do not like buffets because they fear stale crusty items ought not be afraid to dine here. I adore the biryani rices. The buffet may looked smaller - only if compared to Ryan's. However, each item here is fresh and delicious. Also, the owners are very conscious of the ingredients that they use and are knowledgeable about allergies, sensitivities, etc. The owners are extremely open, helpful, and kind. They pleasantly greet customers and assist in making buffet choices if asked. They have mastered the skill of customer service in restaurants.
(5)Kelsey T.
Classic Indian cuisine. Got the thalis platter. It was really good. Next time I would get double butter chicken, instead of two different chickens. It was the best butter chicken I've had. The platter comes with enough food to make lunch and dinner so it's a pretty good price considering that.
(4)Andy L.
Food was as good as any of these good reviews. Part of the restaurants name in "ultimate spice combinations - how true. I had only been to Indian restaurants while living in China. Like most foreign tastes the Chinese try to imitate China's version was sad. This place wow- awesome. You better like spicy food - this takes spicy seriously. Not a lot of dishes but my tongue was on a roller coaster of fun. We had the lunch for 8.99 and it was worth it. I had almost everything. Are there too many cameras for the size place? Yes. Did that change the taste, my actions, or the experience - NO. Go here ~ it is different and you will enjoy. The west side of Columbia can be a bland place in the culinary environment. This is not bland.
(5)Chef R.
YES!! Go Here! We visited the SJ for the first time today. I expected to see tons of signs and a strict restaurant operation. What we got was a clean and tidy place with a pleasant decor. As for the service, we were greeted as soon as we walked in, you seat yourself and order at the counter. We were treated to a wonderful selection of traditional Indian dishes. The two of us ordered different combo meals and ended up with a personal buffet of sorts. The meals come with chutney, appetizers, rice, noodles and dessert. Really good fresh, not over the top hot, just flavorful curry, the butter chicken, tiki masala and mutter paneer, naan all really good. I will be a regular and want to turn folks on to this place. She did the right thing by closing the buffet, to me buffets are a potentially hazardous food. She has better control of her product and cost this way. Restaurant business is not easy or equipped with huge profit margins. I'll support this small business owner!
(5)Carmen T.
This was the most delicious Indian food I've had. I ordered a platter with chicken tikka masala and two veggie curries, which I chose to be paneer/green pea and chick pea. The platter comes with every carb product available, two chutneys, and the mango dessert. It was amazing, as was the $8.99 price for all of that. I want them to open one in downtown Cola ASAP, but I definitely will drive back out here for this.
(5)Emily A.
What a huge disappointment. I don't know how a restaurant can change their entire business model and expect their customers to be happy. I'm not one for buffets but this one was good because you could try so many different things. If people weren't paying then why the heck didn't you pay before you ate your dinner. We also spent more money and didn't get to have anywhere near the options that you previously would have had with the buffet. This is ridiculous we will probably never go back.
(1)Karen S.
A group of us had dinner here last night for a friend's birthday. I was not too overly impressed with this place. This is essentially a buffet restaurant. It seemed like they did a good job keeping the rices and meats stocked, but when it came to the side items, things could be better. I was expecting a little more for a $10+ buffet. Also, beware: they have a camera watching to see if you are eating off of others plates! You are not allowed to share buffets with anyone else - each adult needs to pay for their own meal. One person in our group was not going to eat. At one point, she was biting at one of her fingernails and when she left, the owners approached someone else in our party thinking she had eaten (from what they saw on the camera) and made someone pay to cover the buffet. Pluses was the bread that they brought out unlimited bread. They were also good about taking a reservation for our groups reservation.
(1)Christopher K.
Spice Junction is a buffet-only Indian restaurant. The food is clean and fresh tasting but obviously geared toward an american pallet. The space itself is probably the cleanest, best kept Indian restaurant in town. The Naan is made fresh and they are willing to bring out as much as you want to eat. The appetizers on the buffet are constantly running out but that just means that they are throwing fresh ones in the deep frier all the time. Nobody wants cold samosas. The selection on the buffet was probably the minimum I would be happy with, only three vegetarian dishes and two of them were in heavy cream. Spice levels were very low for my taste, but again it is a buffet. If this were the only game in town, I could make it work but I will likely be taking my business to Bombay Grill for freshly made Dosa and spicier food.
(4)Farid A.
This is a disgrace to Indian food. By far worst Indian I've had in my life. All curries were burnt when adding spices this gives the bitter taste. Chicken samosas store bought and disgusting. Naan store bought and way too much butter. When walking in I was excited thinking it was a buffet instead you order pre-made food. Drinks are no refill but lady seemed to make it up by hardly putting ice in it. That is the cheapest thing I've seen. Drinks out of fountain at 12c cost. She is losing money when people turn down drinks. Also got haleem as you could guess worst haleem ever. Haleem should be sticky from the pounding and grinding of meats barley and lentils. This was more of a thick soup with a chicken base flavor. I never wrote posts but this was a waste of money and horrible. A disgrace to such a beautiful food culture.
(1)Simon T.
Best Indian food in the capital city. Immaculate, clean.
(4)Geri D.
I came here via yelp reviews. So glad I did. That naam bread is addicting. Pleasant owner that comes to check on you and reccomend great things to try. Great buffet set up so you can try multiple dishes. Good option for those new to Indian Food.
(4)Jimmie B.
So disappointed that my favorite Indian restaurant is not the same! The business model has changed. What was a buffet with a great assortment of Indian dishes for all palates to enjoy is now an order by menu cafeteria-style restaurant. Cafeteria style because the food is not made to order but dished out on a plate in front of you. The menu is very confusing and the meals are full of carbs-two dishes of rice, noodles, etc. We sent a lot of business they way-especially people just wanting to try Indian for the first time. Unfortunately we have to say goodbye because we can't afford to pay $40 for a meal we used to pay $22 for. Don't get me wrong- I'll pay good money for good food but not for an Indian cafeteria.
(1)Camille B.
No longer a buffet. The food is still delicious, but you have to select combinations from a menu now. Our favorite part was being able to try a little of everything. Also, the food is served on styrofoam with plastic utensils, which is disappointing. The owner changed format because she was losing money due to people taking advantage and not paying. I hope this works out for them. We aren't eating there as frequently as we used to. I really like the variety of the buffet. It's a shame some people had to ruin it.
(4)Npk K.
"One among the worst you will experience, customer handling is worse"
(1)Janet A.
Excellent food and the BEST naan I have EVER had! Highly recommend!
(5)Rachel O.
Delicious Indian cuisine hidden in a strip mall in West Columbia? Absolutely!!! I grew up in West Columbia and it's not exactly known for its culture scene. Usually you have to take a trip across the river into downtown to find something as wonderful as Spice Junction but not anymore! Now, I was hesitant to try a new Indian place because I found true food happiness at Delhi Palace but now it has some competition. The dining area is decorated minimally but that's fine by me because the family and food here are the stars. The family that runs Spice Junction could not be more pleasant. They welcomed us, explained the dishes on the buffet and kept the hot naan coming to our table. The buffet at Spice Junction is not super extensive (I wish there would have been at least one seafood option) but what is offered is delicious and varied. There is a section of sauces (the tamarind and cucumber yogurt are delicious) and desserts then some rice and side dishes and then the main dishes. While I was talking to the gentleman about the items on the buffet a customer that was eating actually came up to me and asked if it was my first time there and I told him it was. He asked me to try the spring rolls with the sauce. He took off his wedding ring and told me that every time he comes in here he tries to get the woman that was running the restaurant to marry him because everything is so delicious! She just laughed and waved her hand at him dismissively. Hilarious... but back to the food. The samosas were devine (chicken and veggie both) and the guy wasn't lying about the spring rolls - delicious! I also tried the spinach and corn main dish which was totally new to me but had a great flavor and surprisingly a nice texture. The best thing (besides the naan which is delivered hot and fresh to your table as long as you ask for it) was the butter chicken. I had 2 plates! I was so full we didn't even try the desserts but the lady did mention to us that the chatty man from before would use some of the mango dessert and mix it with some ice and make a smoothie out of it every time he comes in... he keeps trying to get her to put it on the menu. It's a fantastic place and we will definitely be going back for lunch sometime. Boyfriend actually said today with a breathy tone that people usually reserve for talking about mystical places like OZ, "That Indian food yesterday was wonderful!" So we will be seeing you again soon, Spice Junction. This time I'll try to save some room for dessert!
(5)Tessa G.
Seems they have changed their restaurant from buffet to combination platters only (at least for lunch). You now have the option of several combinations (veggie, chicken, or both) and can also order single orders of their items. I ordered a combo lunch which comes with one chicken dish and two veggie dishes along with rice, samosa, small piece of naan, papadum, and something else (sweet) that I don't know the name of. All was good especially the veggie dishes but not great. Naan could have been a little fresher. Overall I enjoyed it and will most likely go back for lunch again but I wouldn't say it quite lived up to expectations.
(3)T H.
Best Indian in Columbia, and I have tried them all. Great family owned place with excellent and consistent service and immaculately maintained. But the food is the best part. The complimentary naan is provided fresh from the oven instead of cold on the buffet. Great value and one of my all time favorites in town.
(5)angela l.
Butter Chicken is the Best in Town. This Indian scrumptiousness will make you want to become the adopted child of the family that own the restaurant, even if that means you will have to run the register part time. Despite the weird paranoia of all the cameras mounted to the ceiling and walls this family is very pleasant. If they are not real familiar with you they may "linger" around the buffet while you make your plate but I believe it is out of helpfulness in case a newbie comes in and does not know what the dishes are. They do have a concern of the typical American that will over fill and waste a plate without respect, and the general rule is if you leave a plate of food uneaten you will have to pay extra. This ain't no Golden Corral folks! However with that said if you appreciate food and the ones that put their hearts into it than there will not be any food left on your plate. This family truly seems to want to share with you a little piece of their culture and home so that you can find peace in the butter chicken and joy in the samosas. In case you didn't get the clue, the food is amazing! They bring you fresh hot naan to your table which is a special treat if you are having a buffet. Our usual plan of action is to get a bite or two of everything, taste and then try to decide what to fill up on. Our second trip to the buffet is to get a plate full of our favorites, our third trip is to get just a few more bites of the one thing we will be thinking about for the rest of the week, and then our fourth trip is for the mango semolina dessert. This beautifully orange colored stuff is a yummy finale to a fantastic dinner, buttery, sweet and fruitful you may want two bowls. My words of wisdom is open your mind and try it all you may find a surprise in the roasted cauliflower or a wow in the weird -what is that?- corn mixture. And be nice to the family and they may very well take you in.
(5)Martina G.
I rarely rush home to write a review but I just want to shout from the rooftops about how wonderful Spice Junction is. It was well worth the drive across town, and before I leave Columbia, I will go out of my way to eat there again. $8.99 for lunch/dinner buffet for a spread this size is a great deal. It's delicious too. There are different rates for children's buffet and take out. As you enter, head towards the rear of the restaurant to the buffet line. There is always someone there to answer any questions about the food or help you with anything else. Water is also self-serve. We filled a pitcher with ice and water. What a cool concept! My favorite items were the naan, butter chicken, almond chicken, fruit salad in pudding, semolina pudding and the vegetable samosas. But everything was delicious. Next time I will try one of their salty lassis. The most impressive thing about Spice Junction is the great customer service. Reheena (I'm sorry for the misspelling), the owner, is an incredible hostess. She greeted us warmly and brought fresh naan to our table. She offered us more bread and checked on us regularly. Her sons help out at the restaurant also. The youngest one at the register is very sweet. Another reviewer mentioned that there wasn't much of an atmosphere. I would have to disagree. It was quiet and perfect for conversing with others at your table. My husband and I did not have to talk over any loud music or TV. The place is simply but tastefully decorated. If you're looking for something fancy, this isn't it. I've been living out of a suitcase for weeks now and I'm grateful for places that have good food without prevention. Lastly, I judge a business on how clean its restrooms are. Spice Junction did not disappoint. It was very clean.
(5)Greg W.
First I'm just going to say, this place was a little hard to find. I had an address, but no description/map (I was navigating via phone), so I drive by it twice (the exterior signs were very hard to see in the traffic pattern that I was following) before I found it tucked away in the strip. If you're looking for it as a first time customer, it's South of Carolina Wings, almost at the corner. With that out of the way: Wow! This was my first foray into the world of Indian cuisine, so I didn't know what was in store for me. I had my own preconceived assumptions and expectations (I was thinking spicy and hot), but was completely off in what I had imagined. The flavors of each dish were boldly spiced, but I found everything to be sweeter than I thought it would be. A couple people in my lunch group had mentioned heat, but I didn't get that at all (maybe my senses are dulled from years of abuse...). Everything else has already been explained in previous reviews, so I'll just add to the notion that I can't wait to go back!
(4)Jackie P.
Can't get enough of this buffet. Loved the fresh naan, the paratha, all the delicious curries, and that yummy mango purée. Best Indian buffet I've ever been to. Wanted to go back the next day for round two, but they are closed on Sundays :(
(5)Monica M.
without a doubt the best Indian food around!! I was hesitant at first, after reading reviews of harsh buffet rules...but tried it anyway. I can honestly say, the rules listed (will be charged full plate price for too much food left on plate) are there because of a small few. My daughter had never tried Indian food before, and we were told not to worry about that rule, that a sample plate was acceptable for first timers. Its too bad a small few have to spoil for the rest of us, but I wanted to clarify that rule for others who may be considering this restaurant. Excellent service, a great family restaurant with caring, professional, attentive staff and AMAZING currys and Naan :)
(5)Tim N.
The definition of "hole-in-the-wall". Family-owned restaurant with fantastic service. The food is fresh and delicious with lots of vegetables. Clean, simple dining room filled with happy customers. Can't recommend this place enough!!!
(5)Jane D.
There is a lunch buffet marked with what each dish is.
(4)James G.
Was looking for $$ to $$$ restaurant, this place kept coming up with good ratings. So what the heck. This was my first time eating Indian food so judge from there. I was greeted with a smile and warm welcome, told them this was my first time eating Indian fair, they gave me some directions and away i went. It was buffet, I got a little of every thing my plate could hold. Every bite was wonderful, warm bread was brought out, went back for a sample of the rest again it was wonderful. The only problem I had was my last trip to the buffet was to choose again. This is a Mom & Pop place two young sons working also. Food is prepared by the Husband and Wife with a little friendly competition. I would eat here once a week if I didn't live in B'ham.
(4)Kel B.
I was SO excited to try this place because of all the great reviews. I had never eaten Indian food before and really wanted to try it. All of the food was good! They didn't have a big selection, but I tried everything on the buffet and everything was delicious! Worth the ten bucks a piece for the food. The naan was sooooo good - the other reviews are right!!! BUT!, what in the heck is up with the owners staring you down the ENTIRE time?! As soon as we walked in we were glared at by the woman behind the buffet who just stared at us and followed as we walked down the buffet...... It was so awkward! Also there were about seven video cameras pointing at the dining area. It's a TINY one room restaurant. Also, violently worded signs all over the walls about the buffet rules. What in the world!? It was very creepy. I liked the food, but jeez... pretty sure I won't be coming back due to the prison-like atmosphere.
(3)Gregg W.
Great food and great service! The proprietor was genuinely nice and friendly. She was pleasant to talk to and was a positive addition to the meal. She was a great server and great help. She helped my wife navigate the buffet, since my wife has never ha Indian food before. The naan is great...as is everything else I ate, which was just about everything! This is a small and humble restaurant that delivers the perfect match of cuisine and customer service....I left the restaurant feeling very satisfied gastronomically and emotionally....a great local business to support instead of another shoddy national chain.
(5)B H.
at first glance, I was skeptical, the exterior and the fact that it was empty when we went in made me a little worried. But I was thoroughly surprised. LOVED the food. so good. Would go back again and again. I've eaten indian food in various parts of the country and this is top notch. very nice employees and it was a clean place.
(5)Denise K C.
This restaurant has a 99% approval rating on Urban Spoon. We have been a fan of another Indian restaurant near Dutch Square, and we still are. But when the family wanted Indian, we decided to venture out to somewhere new. Spice Junction has NO Atmosphere, but it buffet style, prices are cheap and the food is delicious. And the Naan - WOW! Yes, I'll have more please.
(5)Thomas B.
Excellent naan. Buffet style...owner keeps the hot fresh naan coming. Ask for less ghee on it BTW. Vegetable dishes better than the chicken. Chicken rather dry. Incredible value. Dinner $9.62. Was so cheap I left a $5 tip. Excessive largess?
(4)John P.
Have tried 3 different Indian restaurants in Columbia and this one is the best. I introduced my girlfriend to Indian food and now she suggests that we go here every Sunday. Food: 5 stars Great selection of some of my favorite Indian dishes. All spiced well and good variety. Love finishing my buffet lunch with the mango pulp and rice pudding, very refreshing. Atmosphere: 4 stars Simple decor, but its all about the food. Service: 5 stars The owner goes to the kitchen to fix a fresh naan as soon as we walk in and they are always willing to explain dishes and answer any question that we have.
(5)Becca D.
This is, without a doubt, one of the best restaurants in town. I've been here more than a handful of times, and the quality has never changed. The fresh naan is delicious, and they have added a warm, spicy tomato soup to the buffet which is really nice for the cold winter months. I am a vegetarian, but my boyfriend says that the buttered chicken is somewhat like tikka masala and is one of the best things that he's ever eaten. This is a $9 all-you-can-eat buffet, but the quality of the food is akin to the most expensive Indian food that I've eaten in cities like New York and London. I don't remember the exact price for carry-out, but it is less than the mediocre per-pound hot lines at places like Whole Foods and Earth Fare, and obviously the food is way better. A carry-out box would definitely hold enough food for two meals. I like Spice Junction so much that I've asked my parents to bring me here for my college graduation dinner. And as a bonus, the sweet family that runs the restaurant is almost as much incentive to love it as the food itself. In response to the post about being charged for a second adult buffet if you don't clean your plate - I saw the signs but assumed that they were a joke. My boyfriend and I both left some sauces and pickles on our plates, and no one batted an eyelash. I don't think it would be unreasonable for a restaurant to have extra charges for customers who repeatedly waste significant amounts of food.
(5)Cassie M.
Found this little gem here on yelp. Food was amazing and reasonable. We had the lunch buffet, which runs $8.99. The owners are extremely friendly and kept the hot naan coming to our table. Just make sure to finish your plates, kids, or you'll pay for the buffet twice.
(5)Jo I.
Don't let the strip mall location fool you - the food here is excellent. Buffet-style Indian like you've never seen it. Choices change daily, so there's always something for everyone. Fresh bread is brought to you as soon as you sit down, and keeps coming for as long as you can keep eating it. The restaurant is clean and the owners are friendly. This is the only place I'll go for Indian!
(5)Paul G.
Food is always good, although it'd be nice if they offered some variety and changed the items a little. They're always pretty much the same. But that's not what this review is about. This is about their odd customer service. They are extremely strict about their 'no wasting' ruke even going as far as pointing out to you that it's strict whike you're getting food from the buffet. They always watch you with evil looks in their eyes, like thinking you're always up to something. They're paranoia is further enhanced by the 15 cameras all over the whole restaurant. Very weird indeed for a small restaurant. Anyway, like I said... Good food, they just need to stop being so... Weird.
(3)Arulram S.
Amazing quality of service. Food on buffet was kept fresh and stocked, and the fresh naan that is brought with dinner is wonderful. The fare at Spice Junction is fresh and has a wide variety for vegetarians.
(5)Kama A.
WOW! What a Gem of a place! We stumbled across this Indian restaurant & decided to give it a try as Hubby & I enjoy spices & bold flavors. Absolutely delicious! Very clean restaurant, even the ornaments on the walls are polished clean & not a speck of dust to be seen. :) You sit wherever you want. (Or you can get it to go). They have a Buffet set up at the back of the restaurant. Grab your plate & pile on your selections. They also have an excellent array of vegetarian options, even if you are not vegetarian, you will still enjoy the delicious flavors of this type of cuisine. Mom & Pop style restaurant. Very friendly & helpful. If you are not sure of the dishes, the wife is more than happy to explain. I love the different salad dressings too...especially the mint chutney. :) They continue to bring out the yummy hot naan bread to your table & you can refill your plate until you are satisfied. Don't worry if you get to the buffet & your fav dish has run out. They will cook more for you. Help yourself to the free water station. You can refill by the glass or jug. Sodas are also available for purchase if you want. The food is so yummy & flavorful & we always walk out completely stuffed. :) We have been coming here regularlyfor 3 weeks now & we absolutely love it. It is well worth the drive. Sometimes hubby will go out of his way to stop here after work & pick up dinner. If you love spice, flavor,vegetarian options, friendly & clean restaurants...then this place is for you!
(5)Abraham L.
When it comes to Indian food in Columbia, this is the only game in town. This is the only Indian buffet in the area that doesn't saturate their dishes with ungodly piles of salt. Their use of spice is very sparing--too sparing for my tastes--but they do provide ample options for adding spice, such as green chiles and assorted chutneys. The buffet is a bit heavy on chicken, but they seem to always have one (fairly good) goat dish for the fowl-phobic among us. Plenty of vegetarian and vegan options too. Nothing exceptional, but everything is consistently palatable, which is (again) more than I can say for other Columbia-area curry dens. The folks who work here are pleasant, helpful, and apparently dedicated to providing good customer service. And at 9 bucks for a dinner buffet, the price is right for a night of all-you-can-eat curry.
(4)Scott G.
This Indian buffet is off the charts compared to the others in Columbia! Super clean, amazing, gracious, kind owners who seriously love their customers. Oh yeah the food, well it is amazing in its own right. The tandoori chicken it's actually served spicy on the buffet and is awesome along with everything else.
(5)Tabitha S.
Great place. Good food. Amazing prices. The owners and their sons are the only people I've ever seen working, and they are fantastic. The restaurant is run incredibly efficiently, and they bring fresh naan out to your table. A great gem in West Columbia.
(5)B D.
This was our favorite place for Indian for the last year. The last two times we have eaten here we have had to RUN home to the bathroom. Please change back to the old food recipe and we will come back. Until then we are DONE!
(1)Karen D.
Fabulous fresh food, the best I have had in a long time. Very nice and friendly family owned place.
(5)Taylor T.
the food is most definitely DELICIOUS! but, and a big BUT, the crazy rules is what can really push you away. i walked in to get a to-go box and a young man says to me, "do you know how the buffet works?" i think to myself, yes....you get what you want, they weigh it, you pay and everyone is happy??right? NO! but i have the kid enlighten me on the rules of the buffet once more, you HAVE to chose 4 items or more, and you HAVE to have 1lbs or more of food. once you are ready to pay, you will be paying a pretty penny for your to-go box. another thing i don't like, its how they charge for uneaten food, and watch you very VERY closely while eating. i thought it was just me feeling out of place until my boyfriend says to me, "is it me, or are they really watching us". what a shame the food is great, but the rules can leave you feeling a bit uncomfortable :/
(3)Todd T.
Went here one Sunday night. Great food!! The owners are really helpful in describing the food. Great variety of options on the buffet
(5)Kevin S.
What a terrible disappointment to arrive for dinner after being devout, happy customers who drive a lot of business there, only to find that the entire business model has changed for the worse. What used to be a phenomenal, top notch buffet-only establishment that allowed customers to experience a variety of Indian cuisine is now an overpriced, menu-only restaurant. The combination plates on the menu are utterly confusing. Our group of four was so disappointed with the drastic change that we opted to walk out and probably never return. For years, we've been willing to overlook the saturation of signs with ridiculous rules, regulations, and policies; however, this is the straw that broke the camel's back for us. So, we're now sitting in Mai Thai, lamenting the end of an era over a delicious bowl of Coconut Soup and excellent Pad Thai.
(1)Lori J.
At first glance, you'd never walk in here. It's shaded windows make it a mystery if you drive by. But park, go in and EAT some of the best Indian I've ever had at a restaurant. I make curry at home and I'm dying to know some of their receipts. Love the fresh naan and the lentil curry, the savory rice and I could eat my weight in the cauliflower nuggets. The roti bread is delicious and I like to wrap my tandoori chicken in it with a little lettuce and chicken curry. Mmmmm I'm hungry now
(5)Nawfal A.
Really my favorite restaurant in W. Columbia. Food is always fresh and tasty. People who do not like buffets because they fear stale crusty items ought not be afraid to dine here. I adore the biryani rices. The buffet may looked smaller - only if compared to Ryan's. However, each item here is fresh and delicious. Also, the owners are very conscious of the ingredients that they use and are knowledgeable about allergies, sensitivities, etc. The owners are extremely open, helpful, and kind. They pleasantly greet customers and assist in making buffet choices if asked. They have mastered the skill of customer service in restaurants.
(5)Kelsey T.
Classic Indian cuisine. Got the thalis platter. It was really good. Next time I would get double butter chicken, instead of two different chickens. It was the best butter chicken I've had. The platter comes with enough food to make lunch and dinner so it's a pretty good price considering that.
(4)Andy L.
Food was as good as any of these good reviews. Part of the restaurants name in "ultimate spice combinations - how true. I had only been to Indian restaurants while living in China. Like most foreign tastes the Chinese try to imitate China's version was sad. This place wow- awesome. You better like spicy food - this takes spicy seriously. Not a lot of dishes but my tongue was on a roller coaster of fun. We had the lunch for 8.99 and it was worth it. I had almost everything. Are there too many cameras for the size place? Yes. Did that change the taste, my actions, or the experience - NO. Go here ~ it is different and you will enjoy. The west side of Columbia can be a bland place in the culinary environment. This is not bland.
(5)Paul G.
Food is always good, although it'd be nice if they offered some variety and changed the items a little. They're always pretty much the same. But that's not what this review is about. This is about their odd customer service. They are extremely strict about their 'no wasting' ruke even going as far as pointing out to you that it's strict whike you're getting food from the buffet. They always watch you with evil looks in their eyes, like thinking you're always up to something. They're paranoia is further enhanced by the 15 cameras all over the whole restaurant. Very weird indeed for a small restaurant. Anyway, like I said... Good food, they just need to stop being so... Weird.
(3)Npk K.
"One among the worst you will experience, customer handling is worse"
(1)Janet A.
Excellent food and the BEST naan I have EVER had! Highly recommend!
(5)Arulram S.
Amazing quality of service. Food on buffet was kept fresh and stocked, and the fresh naan that is brought with dinner is wonderful. The fare at Spice Junction is fresh and has a wide variety for vegetarians.
(5)Todd T.
Went here one Sunday night. Great food!! The owners are really helpful in describing the food. Great variety of options on the buffet
(5)Becca D.
This is, without a doubt, one of the best restaurants in town. I've been here more than a handful of times, and the quality has never changed. The fresh naan is delicious, and they have added a warm, spicy tomato soup to the buffet which is really nice for the cold winter months. I am a vegetarian, but my boyfriend says that the buttered chicken is somewhat like tikka masala and is one of the best things that he's ever eaten. This is a $9 all-you-can-eat buffet, but the quality of the food is akin to the most expensive Indian food that I've eaten in cities like New York and London. I don't remember the exact price for carry-out, but it is less than the mediocre per-pound hot lines at places like Whole Foods and Earth Fare, and obviously the food is way better. A carry-out box would definitely hold enough food for two meals. I like Spice Junction so much that I've asked my parents to bring me here for my college graduation dinner. And as a bonus, the sweet family that runs the restaurant is almost as much incentive to love it as the food itself. In response to the post about being charged for a second adult buffet if you don't clean your plate - I saw the signs but assumed that they were a joke. My boyfriend and I both left some sauces and pickles on our plates, and no one batted an eyelash. I don't think it would be unreasonable for a restaurant to have extra charges for customers who repeatedly waste significant amounts of food.
(5)Cassie M.
Found this little gem here on yelp. Food was amazing and reasonable. We had the lunch buffet, which runs $8.99. The owners are extremely friendly and kept the hot naan coming to our table. Just make sure to finish your plates, kids, or you'll pay for the buffet twice.
(5)Jo I.
Don't let the strip mall location fool you - the food here is excellent. Buffet-style Indian like you've never seen it. Choices change daily, so there's always something for everyone. Fresh bread is brought to you as soon as you sit down, and keeps coming for as long as you can keep eating it. The restaurant is clean and the owners are friendly. This is the only place I'll go for Indian!
(5)Taylor T.
the food is most definitely DELICIOUS! but, and a big BUT, the crazy rules is what can really push you away. i walked in to get a to-go box and a young man says to me, "do you know how the buffet works?" i think to myself, yes....you get what you want, they weigh it, you pay and everyone is happy??right? NO! but i have the kid enlighten me on the rules of the buffet once more, you HAVE to chose 4 items or more, and you HAVE to have 1lbs or more of food. once you are ready to pay, you will be paying a pretty penny for your to-go box. another thing i don't like, its how they charge for uneaten food, and watch you very VERY closely while eating. i thought it was just me feeling out of place until my boyfriend says to me, "is it me, or are they really watching us". what a shame the food is great, but the rules can leave you feeling a bit uncomfortable :/
(3)John P.
Have tried 3 different Indian restaurants in Columbia and this one is the best. I introduced my girlfriend to Indian food and now she suggests that we go here every Sunday. Food: 5 stars Great selection of some of my favorite Indian dishes. All spiced well and good variety. Love finishing my buffet lunch with the mango pulp and rice pudding, very refreshing. Atmosphere: 4 stars Simple decor, but its all about the food. Service: 5 stars The owner goes to the kitchen to fix a fresh naan as soon as we walk in and they are always willing to explain dishes and answer any question that we have.
(5)Kama A.
WOW! What a Gem of a place! We stumbled across this Indian restaurant & decided to give it a try as Hubby & I enjoy spices & bold flavors. Absolutely delicious! Very clean restaurant, even the ornaments on the walls are polished clean & not a speck of dust to be seen. :) You sit wherever you want. (Or you can get it to go). They have a Buffet set up at the back of the restaurant. Grab your plate & pile on your selections. They also have an excellent array of vegetarian options, even if you are not vegetarian, you will still enjoy the delicious flavors of this type of cuisine. Mom & Pop style restaurant. Very friendly & helpful. If you are not sure of the dishes, the wife is more than happy to explain. I love the different salad dressings too...especially the mint chutney. :) They continue to bring out the yummy hot naan bread to your table & you can refill your plate until you are satisfied. Don't worry if you get to the buffet & your fav dish has run out. They will cook more for you. Help yourself to the free water station. You can refill by the glass or jug. Sodas are also available for purchase if you want. The food is so yummy & flavorful & we always walk out completely stuffed. :) We have been coming here regularlyfor 3 weeks now & we absolutely love it. It is well worth the drive. Sometimes hubby will go out of his way to stop here after work & pick up dinner. If you love spice, flavor,vegetarian options, friendly & clean restaurants...then this place is for you!
(5)Abraham L.
When it comes to Indian food in Columbia, this is the only game in town. This is the only Indian buffet in the area that doesn't saturate their dishes with ungodly piles of salt. Their use of spice is very sparing--too sparing for my tastes--but they do provide ample options for adding spice, such as green chiles and assorted chutneys. The buffet is a bit heavy on chicken, but they seem to always have one (fairly good) goat dish for the fowl-phobic among us. Plenty of vegetarian and vegan options too. Nothing exceptional, but everything is consistently palatable, which is (again) more than I can say for other Columbia-area curry dens. The folks who work here are pleasant, helpful, and apparently dedicated to providing good customer service. And at 9 bucks for a dinner buffet, the price is right for a night of all-you-can-eat curry.
(4)Scott G.
This Indian buffet is off the charts compared to the others in Columbia! Super clean, amazing, gracious, kind owners who seriously love their customers. Oh yeah the food, well it is amazing in its own right. The tandoori chicken it's actually served spicy on the buffet and is awesome along with everything else.
(5)Tabitha S.
Great place. Good food. Amazing prices. The owners and their sons are the only people I've ever seen working, and they are fantastic. The restaurant is run incredibly efficiently, and they bring fresh naan out to your table. A great gem in West Columbia.
(5)Monica M.
without a doubt the best Indian food around!! I was hesitant at first, after reading reviews of harsh buffet rules...but tried it anyway. I can honestly say, the rules listed (will be charged full plate price for too much food left on plate) are there because of a small few. My daughter had never tried Indian food before, and we were told not to worry about that rule, that a sample plate was acceptable for first timers. Its too bad a small few have to spoil for the rest of us, but I wanted to clarify that rule for others who may be considering this restaurant. Excellent service, a great family restaurant with caring, professional, attentive staff and AMAZING currys and Naan :)
(5)Tim N.
The definition of "hole-in-the-wall". Family-owned restaurant with fantastic service. The food is fresh and delicious with lots of vegetables. Clean, simple dining room filled with happy customers. Can't recommend this place enough!!!
(5)Jane D.
There is a lunch buffet marked with what each dish is.
(4)James G.
Was looking for $$ to $$$ restaurant, this place kept coming up with good ratings. So what the heck. This was my first time eating Indian food so judge from there. I was greeted with a smile and warm welcome, told them this was my first time eating Indian fair, they gave me some directions and away i went. It was buffet, I got a little of every thing my plate could hold. Every bite was wonderful, warm bread was brought out, went back for a sample of the rest again it was wonderful. The only problem I had was my last trip to the buffet was to choose again. This is a Mom & Pop place two young sons working also. Food is prepared by the Husband and Wife with a little friendly competition. I would eat here once a week if I didn't live in B'ham.
(4)Beth And Jim S.
He said: place is buffet only. Family running it seems nice. Naan brought to table and very good. Curry chicken spicy. Butter chicken delicious. Goat biryani tasty but spicy. Mint chutney spicy. I guess the locals found out about this place because by 6, half the tables were full. Tandoori chicken a little dry but good flavor. The semolina dessert was really tasty. Will be back. She said: We had the dinner buffet. Not a bad selection for the price ($8.99), The butter chicken was very good, as was the fresh naan.
(3)S W.
Sooji Halwa (semolina porridge) is possibly the best thing that I have ever tasted. Go read the comments about the butter chicken; yes, it really is that good, but did you know the secret? It's cashew nuts. Still the tastiest Indian food in Columbia or the Midlands.
(5)B D.
This was our favorite place for Indian for the last year. The last two times we have eaten here we have had to RUN home to the bathroom. Please change back to the old food recipe and we will come back. Until then we are DONE!
(1)Karen D.
Fabulous fresh food, the best I have had in a long time. Very nice and friendly family owned place.
(5)Chris C.
There is no longer a buffet, but all of the lunch menu items are under $10. I had the Chicken Thuli. It came with chicken curry, 2 veggies, 2 different rices, naan, a samosa, and some other things that I am not familiar with. I cleaned my plate. It was fantastic.
(5)Adam B. J.
Can't say anything bad about the food. It is excellent, clean, and fresh naan to the table. Was my favorite Indian in Columbia. The owners are sticklers to a fault about cleaning your plate. They have signs up stating you will be charged for un-eaten food. I haven't been back in almost a year after they charged our friends an entire adult buffet price after they gave their three year old a left over piece of naan. I just thought that was wrong. I'm still trying to get over that, but until I do we've been taking our business else where.
(3)Matt P.
Rahana and Hakeem, the owners we just met today, are super friendly! Their food is super tasty! For a selection of some of their dishes, they welcome giving you little spoon samples to try before you buy. We had the butter chicken curry, chicken tikki marsala, lamb curry, and a variety of chutneys and appetizers along with a nice desert. Everything was top notch! If you haven't tried Indian food, then get out of your bubble and try this out! I've had numerous different Indian food experiences and this was one of the best!
(5)Claire E.
This place is NOT a buffet. You pay more than a buffet ($17.22), get less food, and less control over portions and where you would like your food. I like my rice smothered in Tikka Misala and to have enough to dip my Naan in and that does not happen at this restaurant. The owners are very kind people. I don't think they understand what the concept is in having a restaurant in America. They do not make their own tea, it comes out of the soda fountain, and they do not do refills on soda. You stand at a counter and choose from a menu what food items that you want. You cannot see the food, as it is in plastic food bins at a buffet type table (food is already prepared) behind the counter. You choose one/two or three dishes and then everything is individually charged after that. $2.49 for rice, and either .99 or $1.99 per plate of fresh naan. They make it fresh for you. I was in there at 12:20pm for an hour and I was the only customer. There was one man who came in for takeout. The food was "ok." I would not make the effort to return, as there are two other indian restaurants in the Columbia area that are several dollars cheaper ($10.95 vs. $17.22) and have much better ambience than this place. And those two places make their own iced tea. What restaurant in the south doesn't make their own tea? Us southern folks don't want tea out of a Coke machine. It is like the inside of an office conference room. Very boring, without ANY indian colorful pictures on the walls. The walls are gray....not very inspiring at all. Tables set up as though it is a conference room. Not an issue for me, but they don't serve beer or wine. If I went for dinner, that would be an issue. If your in the area, the food is "ok" and nothing special. I would not go 10 feet out of my way for this place.
(2)TIM V.
Our family visited this gem tonight. My wife and I each ordered and devoured the platter (both with the chicken Tika and the spinach/corn dish). Just the right amount of heat. My daughter and mother-in-law ordered the small platter with butter chicken. Excellent. Our new go-to Indian restaurant now that Punjabi Daba is gone.
(5)Joshua H.
Just came, super excited, to the only damn Indian buffet in town with good food, after they were closed for two weeks, and they're not a buffet anymore. Same exact food but they're set up with a menu where you get less food for more money, and cant even try all the options. 0/10 don't waste your time.
(1)Brandon D.
Don't let the location turn you off..this is one of the best Indian places I've ever been to. The selection is on the smaller side, but the food is fresh and very tasty. It is run by a family who makes you feel at home when you come into their restaurant. They will bring fresh, straight from the Tandoor oven Naan bread to your table. The Naan is the best I've ever had. The butter chicken is delicious, something I didn't think I would like, but I loved it. My other favorite dish is tandoori chicken, which was also delicious. My only problem was that they serve strips of the chicken, and not pieces like other places do, but still it was excellent. Plus the pace was extremely clean. If you love Indian food, you will love Spice Junction!
(4)B D.
This place was good as a buffet, but when they started putting up all the signs we got annoyed. Then they always seem so damn cheap... Omitting things from the buffet over time, then closing for 2 months and coming back as a plastic and styrofoam overpriced menu only option. We went there for years... Walked in and saw the menu without the buffet and the rip-off prices... Then we looked at her with disappointment and walked out. You cheap ass bunch of greedy bastards. We have been there a hundred times, but NEVER AGAIN!!!
(1)sambriddhi w.
This place is legit!!! I had the spicy chicken curry and it was amazing!!!! I can't wait to try everything else
(5)Ingrid P.
Great food! Great people! Come and try it! We had a variety of chicken, lamb, and vegetable dishes with appetizers and desert. All was good!
(5)Andrea G.
Great flavors and the owners are really nice. Very consistent food, Naan is excellent and the restaurant is super clean!
(5)Chef R.
YES!! Go Here! We visited the SJ for the first time today. I expected to see tons of signs and a strict restaurant operation. What we got was a clean and tidy place with a pleasant decor. As for the service, we were greeted as soon as we walked in, you seat yourself and order at the counter. We were treated to a wonderful selection of traditional Indian dishes. The two of us ordered different combo meals and ended up with a personal buffet of sorts. The meals come with chutney, appetizers, rice, noodles and dessert. Really good fresh, not over the top hot, just flavorful curry, the butter chicken, tiki masala and mutter paneer, naan all really good. I will be a regular and want to turn folks on to this place. She did the right thing by closing the buffet, to me buffets are a potentially hazardous food. She has better control of her product and cost this way. Restaurant business is not easy or equipped with huge profit margins. I'll support this small business owner!
(5)Carmen T.
This was the most delicious Indian food I've had. I ordered a platter with chicken tikka masala and two veggie curries, which I chose to be paneer/green pea and chick pea. The platter comes with every carb product available, two chutneys, and the mango dessert. It was amazing, as was the $8.99 price for all of that. I want them to open one in downtown Cola ASAP, but I definitely will drive back out here for this.
(5)Emily A.
What a huge disappointment. I don't know how a restaurant can change their entire business model and expect their customers to be happy. I'm not one for buffets but this one was good because you could try so many different things. If people weren't paying then why the heck didn't you pay before you ate your dinner. We also spent more money and didn't get to have anywhere near the options that you previously would have had with the buffet. This is ridiculous we will probably never go back.
(1)Karen S.
A group of us had dinner here last night for a friend's birthday. I was not too overly impressed with this place. This is essentially a buffet restaurant. It seemed like they did a good job keeping the rices and meats stocked, but when it came to the side items, things could be better. I was expecting a little more for a $10+ buffet. Also, beware: they have a camera watching to see if you are eating off of others plates! You are not allowed to share buffets with anyone else - each adult needs to pay for their own meal. One person in our group was not going to eat. At one point, she was biting at one of her fingernails and when she left, the owners approached someone else in our party thinking she had eaten (from what they saw on the camera) and made someone pay to cover the buffet. Pluses was the bread that they brought out unlimited bread. They were also good about taking a reservation for our groups reservation.
(1)Christopher K.
Spice Junction is a buffet-only Indian restaurant. The food is clean and fresh tasting but obviously geared toward an american pallet. The space itself is probably the cleanest, best kept Indian restaurant in town. The Naan is made fresh and they are willing to bring out as much as you want to eat. The appetizers on the buffet are constantly running out but that just means that they are throwing fresh ones in the deep frier all the time. Nobody wants cold samosas. The selection on the buffet was probably the minimum I would be happy with, only three vegetarian dishes and two of them were in heavy cream. Spice levels were very low for my taste, but again it is a buffet. If this were the only game in town, I could make it work but I will likely be taking my business to Bombay Grill for freshly made Dosa and spicier food.
(4)Farid A.
This is a disgrace to Indian food. By far worst Indian I've had in my life. All curries were burnt when adding spices this gives the bitter taste. Chicken samosas store bought and disgusting. Naan store bought and way too much butter. When walking in I was excited thinking it was a buffet instead you order pre-made food. Drinks are no refill but lady seemed to make it up by hardly putting ice in it. That is the cheapest thing I've seen. Drinks out of fountain at 12c cost. She is losing money when people turn down drinks. Also got haleem as you could guess worst haleem ever. Haleem should be sticky from the pounding and grinding of meats barley and lentils. This was more of a thick soup with a chicken base flavor. I never wrote posts but this was a waste of money and horrible. A disgrace to such a beautiful food culture.
(1)Simon T.
Best Indian food in the capital city. Immaculate, clean.
(4)Geri D.
I came here via yelp reviews. So glad I did. That naam bread is addicting. Pleasant owner that comes to check on you and reccomend great things to try. Great buffet set up so you can try multiple dishes. Good option for those new to Indian Food.
(4)Jimmie B.
So disappointed that my favorite Indian restaurant is not the same! The business model has changed. What was a buffet with a great assortment of Indian dishes for all palates to enjoy is now an order by menu cafeteria-style restaurant. Cafeteria style because the food is not made to order but dished out on a plate in front of you. The menu is very confusing and the meals are full of carbs-two dishes of rice, noodles, etc. We sent a lot of business they way-especially people just wanting to try Indian for the first time. Unfortunately we have to say goodbye because we can't afford to pay $40 for a meal we used to pay $22 for. Don't get me wrong- I'll pay good money for good food but not for an Indian cafeteria.
(1)Camille B.
No longer a buffet. The food is still delicious, but you have to select combinations from a menu now. Our favorite part was being able to try a little of everything. Also, the food is served on styrofoam with plastic utensils, which is disappointing. The owner changed format because she was losing money due to people taking advantage and not paying. I hope this works out for them. We aren't eating there as frequently as we used to. I really like the variety of the buffet. It's a shame some people had to ruin it.
(4)Hung D.
3 went for lunch 1st time. I guess they serve buffet all day. Seat yourself. Lady brings out fresh naan. Awesome. Everything self serve including seating, utensils, & drinks. Good selection & very tasty. I had no issues with signs & cameras. Here's another angle: many signs because there's only 1 person on the floor to do the cashier, bring out the naan, & clean tables. As for the # of cameras, probably bought as a kit from Sam's or Costco so came with all those cameras. Again we had no issues & enjoyed it very much. We did not notice other customers having issues. They all seemed to enjoy including some retired folks.
(5)Katharine K.
My favorite place for Indian in Columbia. I would recommend eating at the restaurant instead of getting it to go so you can really take advantage of the buffet and get a better sample of their many great offerings.
(4)David B.
We left the interstate in search of this gem, and were not disappointed. They brought fresh Naan to our table, but everything else was conveniently self-serve. The buffet is quite extensive with lots of variety. The location is a little hard to find if you are not familiar with the area, however we called on the phone and the owner was very gracious in helping us find our way.
(4)Rachel O.
Delicious Indian cuisine hidden in a strip mall in West Columbia? Absolutely!!! I grew up in West Columbia and it's not exactly known for its culture scene. Usually you have to take a trip across the river into downtown to find something as wonderful as Spice Junction but not anymore! Now, I was hesitant to try a new Indian place because I found true food happiness at Delhi Palace but now it has some competition. The dining area is decorated minimally but that's fine by me because the family and food here are the stars. The family that runs Spice Junction could not be more pleasant. They welcomed us, explained the dishes on the buffet and kept the hot naan coming to our table. The buffet at Spice Junction is not super extensive (I wish there would have been at least one seafood option) but what is offered is delicious and varied. There is a section of sauces (the tamarind and cucumber yogurt are delicious) and desserts then some rice and side dishes and then the main dishes. While I was talking to the gentleman about the items on the buffet a customer that was eating actually came up to me and asked if it was my first time there and I told him it was. He asked me to try the spring rolls with the sauce. He took off his wedding ring and told me that every time he comes in here he tries to get the woman that was running the restaurant to marry him because everything is so delicious! She just laughed and waved her hand at him dismissively. Hilarious... but back to the food. The samosas were devine (chicken and veggie both) and the guy wasn't lying about the spring rolls - delicious! I also tried the spinach and corn main dish which was totally new to me but had a great flavor and surprisingly a nice texture. The best thing (besides the naan which is delivered hot and fresh to your table as long as you ask for it) was the butter chicken. I had 2 plates! I was so full we didn't even try the desserts but the lady did mention to us that the chatty man from before would use some of the mango dessert and mix it with some ice and make a smoothie out of it every time he comes in... he keeps trying to get her to put it on the menu. It's a fantastic place and we will definitely be going back for lunch sometime. Boyfriend actually said today with a breathy tone that people usually reserve for talking about mystical places like OZ, "That Indian food yesterday was wonderful!" So we will be seeing you again soon, Spice Junction. This time I'll try to save some room for dessert!
(5)Tessa G.
Seems they have changed their restaurant from buffet to combination platters only (at least for lunch). You now have the option of several combinations (veggie, chicken, or both) and can also order single orders of their items. I ordered a combo lunch which comes with one chicken dish and two veggie dishes along with rice, samosa, small piece of naan, papadum, and something else (sweet) that I don't know the name of. All was good especially the veggie dishes but not great. Naan could have been a little fresher. Overall I enjoyed it and will most likely go back for lunch again but I wouldn't say it quite lived up to expectations.
(3)T H.
Best Indian in Columbia, and I have tried them all. Great family owned place with excellent and consistent service and immaculately maintained. But the food is the best part. The complimentary naan is provided fresh from the oven instead of cold on the buffet. Great value and one of my all time favorites in town.
(5)angela l.
Butter Chicken is the Best in Town. This Indian scrumptiousness will make you want to become the adopted child of the family that own the restaurant, even if that means you will have to run the register part time. Despite the weird paranoia of all the cameras mounted to the ceiling and walls this family is very pleasant. If they are not real familiar with you they may "linger" around the buffet while you make your plate but I believe it is out of helpfulness in case a newbie comes in and does not know what the dishes are. They do have a concern of the typical American that will over fill and waste a plate without respect, and the general rule is if you leave a plate of food uneaten you will have to pay extra. This ain't no Golden Corral folks! However with that said if you appreciate food and the ones that put their hearts into it than there will not be any food left on your plate. This family truly seems to want to share with you a little piece of their culture and home so that you can find peace in the butter chicken and joy in the samosas. In case you didn't get the clue, the food is amazing! They bring you fresh hot naan to your table which is a special treat if you are having a buffet. Our usual plan of action is to get a bite or two of everything, taste and then try to decide what to fill up on. Our second trip to the buffet is to get a plate full of our favorites, our third trip is to get just a few more bites of the one thing we will be thinking about for the rest of the week, and then our fourth trip is for the mango semolina dessert. This beautifully orange colored stuff is a yummy finale to a fantastic dinner, buttery, sweet and fruitful you may want two bowls. My words of wisdom is open your mind and try it all you may find a surprise in the roasted cauliflower or a wow in the weird -what is that?- corn mixture. And be nice to the family and they may very well take you in.
(5)Martina G.
I rarely rush home to write a review but I just want to shout from the rooftops about how wonderful Spice Junction is. It was well worth the drive across town, and before I leave Columbia, I will go out of my way to eat there again. $8.99 for lunch/dinner buffet for a spread this size is a great deal. It's delicious too. There are different rates for children's buffet and take out. As you enter, head towards the rear of the restaurant to the buffet line. There is always someone there to answer any questions about the food or help you with anything else. Water is also self-serve. We filled a pitcher with ice and water. What a cool concept! My favorite items were the naan, butter chicken, almond chicken, fruit salad in pudding, semolina pudding and the vegetable samosas. But everything was delicious. Next time I will try one of their salty lassis. The most impressive thing about Spice Junction is the great customer service. Reheena (I'm sorry for the misspelling), the owner, is an incredible hostess. She greeted us warmly and brought fresh naan to our table. She offered us more bread and checked on us regularly. Her sons help out at the restaurant also. The youngest one at the register is very sweet. Another reviewer mentioned that there wasn't much of an atmosphere. I would have to disagree. It was quiet and perfect for conversing with others at your table. My husband and I did not have to talk over any loud music or TV. The place is simply but tastefully decorated. If you're looking for something fancy, this isn't it. I've been living out of a suitcase for weeks now and I'm grateful for places that have good food without prevention. Lastly, I judge a business on how clean its restrooms are. Spice Junction did not disappoint. It was very clean.
(5)Greg W.
First I'm just going to say, this place was a little hard to find. I had an address, but no description/map (I was navigating via phone), so I drive by it twice (the exterior signs were very hard to see in the traffic pattern that I was following) before I found it tucked away in the strip. If you're looking for it as a first time customer, it's South of Carolina Wings, almost at the corner. With that out of the way: Wow! This was my first foray into the world of Indian cuisine, so I didn't know what was in store for me. I had my own preconceived assumptions and expectations (I was thinking spicy and hot), but was completely off in what I had imagined. The flavors of each dish were boldly spiced, but I found everything to be sweeter than I thought it would be. A couple people in my lunch group had mentioned heat, but I didn't get that at all (maybe my senses are dulled from years of abuse...). Everything else has already been explained in previous reviews, so I'll just add to the notion that I can't wait to go back!
(4)Jackie P.
Can't get enough of this buffet. Loved the fresh naan, the paratha, all the delicious curries, and that yummy mango purée. Best Indian buffet I've ever been to. Wanted to go back the next day for round two, but they are closed on Sundays :(
(5)Kel B.
I was SO excited to try this place because of all the great reviews. I had never eaten Indian food before and really wanted to try it. All of the food was good! They didn't have a big selection, but I tried everything on the buffet and everything was delicious! Worth the ten bucks a piece for the food. The naan was sooooo good - the other reviews are right!!! BUT!, what in the heck is up with the owners staring you down the ENTIRE time?! As soon as we walked in we were glared at by the woman behind the buffet who just stared at us and followed as we walked down the buffet...... It was so awkward! Also there were about seven video cameras pointing at the dining area. It's a TINY one room restaurant. Also, violently worded signs all over the walls about the buffet rules. What in the world!? It was very creepy. I liked the food, but jeez... pretty sure I won't be coming back due to the prison-like atmosphere.
(3)Gregg W.
Great food and great service! The proprietor was genuinely nice and friendly. She was pleasant to talk to and was a positive addition to the meal. She was a great server and great help. She helped my wife navigate the buffet, since my wife has never ha Indian food before. The naan is great...as is everything else I ate, which was just about everything! This is a small and humble restaurant that delivers the perfect match of cuisine and customer service....I left the restaurant feeling very satisfied gastronomically and emotionally....a great local business to support instead of another shoddy national chain.
(5)B H.
at first glance, I was skeptical, the exterior and the fact that it was empty when we went in made me a little worried. But I was thoroughly surprised. LOVED the food. so good. Would go back again and again. I've eaten indian food in various parts of the country and this is top notch. very nice employees and it was a clean place.
(5)Thomas B.
Excellent naan. Buffet style...owner keeps the hot fresh naan coming. Ask for less ghee on it BTW. Vegetable dishes better than the chicken. Chicken rather dry. Incredible value. Dinner $9.62. Was so cheap I left a $5 tip. Excessive largess?
(4)Denise K C.
This restaurant has a 99% approval rating on Urban Spoon. We have been a fan of another Indian restaurant near Dutch Square, and we still are. But when the family wanted Indian, we decided to venture out to somewhere new. Spice Junction has NO Atmosphere, but it buffet style, prices are cheap and the food is delicious. And the Naan - WOW! Yes, I'll have more please.
(5)Anna D.
$40 for two small plates and an order or chicken tandori. hmmm, i was really hoping this was a lunch buffet like most indian places that i'm used to. Apparently though, they used to have it but decided on regular lunch plates. My hubby and i ordered: chicken tandori (not white meat!) which makes it a thumbs up in my book. I HEART DARK MEAT. whenever it's white meat it's just too dry. So when this came out I welcomed it without having to drink any extra water or soda just to get it down. combo curry dish (lamb and your choice (spinach curry)... good but small. i mean, i can't complain about the taste. i just wish it was a little more bang for your buck. Remember though, this is coming from a person (piggy) who is used to all you can eat indian buffets) Overall, i liked the food and not the amount or price for the portions. I also didn't like that there wasn't refills on drinks and that the location was kind of in the middle of no where. The good thing about being in the middle of no where... you get a ton of parking options. LOL
(3)Rick T.
Stopped in for lunch today and the owner was nice enough to let me sample the three curry dishes and explain their menu options. I opted for the hot which has a nice red silky hot flavor and the brown which is mild that has a totally different flavor I cannot place. Two types of rice are served with the chicken curry dish for 6.99 and that comes with naan bread. The bread was warm and buttery perfect for dipping into the curry and rice. I tried to buy two more smaller pieces of naan but the owner said it was no charge as I asked nicely. So when you come here be nice not because you get free food because it's the right thing to do and the restaurant business is hard enough without people barking out demands.
(4)Anita M.
Excellent, fresh homemade food. We ordered off the menu and were not disappointed. This place is a hidden gem. The owners are warm and friendly. I was pleased to see items that I had not seen on an Indian menu before. We ordered a spread of 6 dishes and appetizers and each tasted everything. The food makes you feel happy, like it was made with love. Don't let the strip mall exterior fool you; you need to try this place. As an added bonus, their food safety rating is 100%. How many places can say that? :)
(5)Penelope B.
Spice Junction had, without exception or exaggeration, the worst biryani I have ever had in my life. Too hot, not seasoned properly, a small amount of very sad frozen vegetables buried under a large amount of rice. Avoid.
(1)Keith K.
Times here: 5 or so, alas. The bottom line: Spice Junction used to be a halfway decent strip-mall Indian buffet with really tasty fresh Naan bread, and this in a town that cries out for decent Indian food. (Sadly it was more way than half, but so be it.) Perhaps 3 stars on a good day, then. But now the place is no longer a buffet, but a cafeteria that serves sub-par fare on Styrofoam plates under harsh fluorescent lighting. You get a bunch of (cheap) starches and pathetically small cups of curry-slop reheated, which you get to spoon out of your kiddie cup with the cheapest plastic utensils imaginable. For the questionable pleasure of this you are charged $9 - $12. The food is edible, but completely unjustifiable. I'm sorry, but I cannot in good conscience recommend going here. For that price you can toodle on down to Trader Joe's and buy a handful of their frozen Indian dinners and sides, which, frankly, are superior IN EVERY WAY to what you'll find at Spice Junction. For an example of what $12 can get you in another town, try the Sunday lunch buffet at the sublime Mela in Asheville. Fresh, made in house dishes and chutneys with lots of vegetarian options for the same price simply puts wretched places like Spice Junction to shame eternal. Save your money, kids.
(2)Rae H.
I have been a fan of Spice Junction for years now, and it's absolutely my favorite Indian restaurant in town. It's a little hidden gem, and while in West Columbia, is still convenient to most places because it's so near I-26. It's always clean and airy, and the food is always hot, fresh, and flavorful. I went there last night and was surprised that it's no longer a buffet, so I felt it appropriate to write a review to tell y'all alllllll about it: The menu options are basically the same classics that I know and love, but now it's actually even more affordable. I got the chicken and vegetable Thali--it came with a chicken curry of my choice (butter chicken YES), two vegetable curries (spinach, mushroom, and corn in a creamy sauce, and daal), semolina pudding, bread (paratha), vegetable appetizers, and it was more than I could eat. I think I got more ordering the Thali dinner than I would had I gotten it off a buffet, and now you can take your extras with you. Everything is still delicious, it has an amazing selection of classics and that semolina pudding is worth going there for alone. It's so much saffron, so much cardamom, so much amazing in my mouth. They seriously make the best naan in town. I often take "novice" Indian food eaters here because the family that owns it is so wonderful at describing everything and while it has the complicated spice and taste profiles I love in Indian food, it's "accessible" to people who aren't adventurous eaters, too. As is common with Indian cuisine, this place is great for vegetarians. Not so sure about how well they accomodate other dietary needs, but as helpful as they are, I'm sure a quick call ahead might make some things workable.
(5)Lissa J.
Finally had a chance to try Spice Junction recently and was delighted. As soon as you walk in the door you are enveloped in the delicious curry-based aromas of Indian cooking. BTW what is it with those people who say they can't stand the smell of curry? I think it's one of the tastiest, most mouth-watering aromas in the cooking world. Must be one of those genetic things like licorice (yuck) and cilantro (yum!). Anyway - since I am a new customer, the buffet idea was long before my time, so I can't say one way or another if its passing is to be mourned or celebrated. This is a family-owned business, so the staff who greets you actually owns and runs the place. They are wonderfully friendly and very helpful with newbies like myself. They suggested one of the sampler platters aka 'thalis', so I got to try different types of curry and rice together. Disclaimer: if I have gotten any of the names of the foods wrong, that's on me. The menu is very complex and I am very new to Indian cuisine. First let me say something about the rice. I am not a very good cook, and I don't eat a lot of carbs, so rice is not exactly in my culinary wheelhouse. After eating the rice at Spice Junction, I don't know why I would ever want to cook rice at home again. The thalis come with biryani rice and cumin rice. I'm not sure which is which. One is the simpler version, with just some herbs and very light seasoning. The other has more seasonings and is more colorful with hints of yellow and orange. Both are outstanding. The way they prepare their rice, it is light and fluffy, not at all sticky. I had the impression that if I wanted to sin with some carbs, if I did it with this rice, it would hardly be sinning at all. On to the stars of the show: the curry. I had the chicken tikka masala; the butter chicken (I think?); the vegetable; and the spinach/corn. All of the curries have a heat rating, mild medium and hot. The chicken tikka masala was medium and was pretty hot IMO. I am looking forward to trying one of the hot varieties as I love spicy food. I think the others were rated mild. When trying to describe curry to an SC friend, I told her it was similar to the SC dish called hash that is served over rice. The curry is in a thick gravy-type base with meats, vegetables and spices depending on which one you order. The base may come in different colors depending on what you order; for example the chicken tikka masala was a deep orange-red; the butter chicken was more of a golden orange, and the vegetable curries were even lighter and more neutral in color. The two meat curries had generous chunks of meat. The vegetable curry was similar to a very thick veggie stew. The spinach curry was not quite as thick as the others but was very tasty. I never thought of pairing spinach with corn but the corn really sweetened it up. All of these are very good on their own without the rice if you are watching your carbs. Speaking of carbs, the naan was also very good. You know those Mexican restaurants that offer fresh-made tortillas on premises? Naan is very similar, a little lighter, maybe more of a pita or lavash flavor. They also garnished the thali platter with a little chip-like thing. I am not sure what it was. Think lighter, fresher, tortilla chip seasoned with some type of herb, maybe? IDK but it was great. I was too stuffed to enjoy much of the mango dessert but it was good also. Now that I have had a delicious introduction to Indian cuisine, I am looking forward to going back and having a run at their complex menu and ordering something else. Def want to try something they consider 'hot'.
(4)TheGlamMadame K.
My husband and I were devout customers of the restaurant which serves delicious food. However, with the changes to the business model where this is no longer a buffet, and with the limited choice of plates served to you by the owners that they plate for you from the buffet... was too much change for us. The whole dining experience is non-existent. This was especially hard at lunch time where I only get an hour to travel there and had to wait in line for the owners to dole out the trays...one by one. Although I love their food, there were only a few specific dishes that I would eat. Since I can no longer pick & choose what I want for the price, it's just not worth it. We admire the owners, but it they cared about their business...they would return the restaurant to the original buffet. It would bring in the regulars.
(1)Heather J.
Spice Junction has been my favorite Indian restaurant in town since it opened. They used to have a buffet, but now they are a menu-only establishment. At first, this upset me, because I am way more experiential with my food choices when I know I can try a bite of this and that, and not have to commit to something that I may not like. However, I discovered that in addition to some delicious-sounding menu items, they also have meal platters (Thalis). This was the best option for me! You could pick how many different curries you wanted, and of what variety (veggie, chicken, lamb, etc.). In addition to the curries, the meal platter came with two different kinds of rice, an appetizer of your choice, papaddam (fried lentil cracker), 1/2 a piece of paratha (griddle bread), and a dessert! You also could pick two different chutneys to go with your meal. When the tray full of my hand-selected goodies was given to me, I was astounded by the amount of food...there is a LOT of food!! In this respect, the menu-style is better than the buffet because with buffets, you're not allowed to take home left overs. I don't know about you, but I can only fit so much food in my tummy at one time...regardless of how DELICIOUS it is! I was able to get another whole meal just from my left overs! And, to add the icing to the cake, all of this food only set me back 11 bucks! There are plenty of other items on the menu (to include an entire page dedicated to vegetarian choices), and I will definitely be back to explore them, but in my opinion, you really can't go wrong with the Thalis. And don't let the price of this one particular meal fool you. What I ordered was the 2nd most expensive item on the menu (2nd only to the lamb meal platter). Everything else on the menu is easily under 10 bucks. Go forth and eat my friends! You won't regret it!
(5)