We've been coming here for years, and Aabha is hands down the best Indian food in Carmel. Every meal is consistently fresh, flavorful, and absolutely delicious. We've honestly never had a bad experience. I also wanted to thank the staff for being so gracious and kind after a little mix-up yesterday. Your professionalism and genuine care meant a lot, and it's just another reason we'll keep coming back. Highly recommend to anyone looking for incredible Indian food and wonderful service! read more

My first Indian lunch buffet and it was a great experience! Aabha Indian Cuisine is located in the bustling Barnyard Plaza and has bright yellow interior, gracious service, and good food. The lunch buffet consists of ~8 banquet style hot dishes ready to scoop, plus salad greens and unlimited fresh herby naan brought to your table. On the Friday we went options included fried onions, mushroom masala, tandoori chicken, butter chicken, mango pudding, yellow daal, basmati rice, and a chickpea curry. Everything was well spiced and flavorful without being too salty or spicy, and we really enjoyed soaking up all of the sauces with rice and naan. The naan had anise seeds and other herbs in it and was crispy and fresh from the oven. On the side we also ordered an eggplant dish and mango lassi and found both to be excellent, especially the mango lassi which was naturally sweet and creamy. Everytime you get more food you are to use a new plate so it's very hygenic. Service was so kind and accomodating especially as we had two little ones dining in our party. Naan always came out quickly and the professionalism of the staff makes it feel like an elevated restaurant experience. read more

Aabha Indian Cuisine - From top left clockwise: Butter Chicken (Delhi Specialty), Yellow Dal Tadka, mushroom masala, eggplant dish - Indian Near Me - Carmel, California

We ate the buffet at Aabha Indian Cuisine and it was pretty good. This is one of the places serving decent Indian cuisine in the area. read more

Aabha Indian Cuisine - Buffet - Indian Near Me - Carmel, California

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Happened to find out the only restaurant open on thanksgiving night...and boy were we glad to try out their take out service as we had cut close to their closing time. Great friendly service, spacious and ethnic ambience and our order was ready on time for pickup. Noticed fairly busy during this chilly night in Carmel. We ordered basket of fresh yummy variety of breads, paneer butter masala, plain rice, which were all very tasty- they also packed paper plates and advised neighboring options for a bottle of cab when inquired. Definitely bookmarked for our next visit to the beautiful Carmel! read more

Aabha Indian Cuisine - Outside - Indian Near Me - Carmel, California

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I had a great experience at Abha Indian Grill. The food was incredibly fresh and full of flavor. We ordered the lamb biryani, samosa chaat, naan, spicy shrimp and more , and every dish was excellent. The biryani was perfectly seasoned, the samosa chaat was fresh and delicious, and the naan came out hot and soft. On top of the amazing food, everyone was very welcoming and friendly, which made the experience even better. If you're looking for authentic, fresh Indian food with great hospitality, I definitely recommend giving Abha Indian Grill a try. I'll definitely be coming back! read more

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Visiting Monterey and Carmel by the Sea for the weekend, we were craving a hot, late night meal after an entire day of exploration. We hit the jackpot with Aabha Indian Cuisine! With many other restaurants closed, this gem was still open and it was so quiet around we even thought they were closed. Glad we decided to step right on in. Food was simply delicious. Medium spice chicken Tikka masala made us feel right at home! Garlic naan was fresh out of the even and tasted superb. Every bite of the other dishes were incredible and we enjoyed every bit of the entire meal. Plenty of parking right out front, service was prompt and fantastic, place was cleaner, ambience is great for any occasion including families, and we were nicely seated right next to their fireplace on a cold, cold night. We were extremely happy to have found this Indian restaurant during our weekend visit to Monterey and will definitely return the next time we're in the area! read more

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We were EXTREMELY happy to find this spot for a great lunch in the Carmel area. We stopped in for lunch and enjoyed their lunch buffet that was hot, fresh, and very affordable. There was a great selection of dishes including a Tofu Masala, butter chicken, Chicken biryani, some lentils, salad and rice dishes. The naan was delivered to your table and very tasty as well. The big hit for me was the dessert. They had a mango pudding that was out of this world. I may be calling the restaurant if they can give me a hint of how to make it. read more

Aabha Indian Cuisine - Butter Chicken, Chicken Tandor and Broccoli Pakora. Lunch buffet is fantastic! - Indian Near Me - Carmel, California

We ordered takeout from here, had a problem with my order (my fault) and they were super accommodating and got my order made quickly. The food was great! Our favorite was the Baigan Bharta. While we didn't dine in, I did notice the restaurant seemed very spacious with good ambiance. read more

The food here is delicious. The service was good. I was met with a professional, polite, and efficient attitude. The ambiance is inviting and calm, but the dialogue can get quite loud gradually while seated near a window. The paneer was fresh with delectable spices and delicate, subtle flavors that go hand-in-hand with the naan. The naan was cooked well without being burned or overly toasted and the spices were complementary to the dish. Well done. I enjoyed this place and am looking forward to returning. read more

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I have GOT to say, WOW. I've now eaten here three times with family. Each time, the food was OUTSTANDING. This time around we had lentils, butter chicken, lamb korma, chipotle chicken, spicy cauliflower, samosas, and some delicious chocolate nan! (I think I'm forgetting a few dishes lol) it can be overwhelming when I see huge menus, but the staff is so great at making suggestions. I have never liked Indian food, but now I'm a huge fan. The chef apparently studied at a Michelin star restaurant in London for over a decade! The food is bright and colorful, with a ton of gluten free options too. There is also outdoor seating with fire pits, perfect for a date night. This place is a hidden gem, and I don't know why more people aren't talking about it. I can't wait to go back. read more

We went to this restaurant because we were staying at the nearby Carmel Mission Inn. We love Indian food, and this restaurant looked promising. The food was yummy, a lot of locals were eating there, which was a good sign. Sadly, the service was not up to par. There was only 1 waiter in the whole restaurant, so we got slow service. I believe we waited 15 minutes to order and then another 45 minutes for our food. I get that when you're short staffed, it can affect service. But I think if they are this short staffed, they should consider just closing early rather than giving bad service. The ambiance of this restaurant wasn't bad, but I really think they should clean up the front desk area, it's filled with dusty chochskis, dusty wine bottles, and stacks of papers. This made it seem like the rest of the place might not be cleaned regularly. Also, everyone other table was given white dinner plates with their food, but they gave us these weird, tin, charger-type plates, which was disconcerting. They looked like they hadn't been used in a while. It seemed like they ran out of clean plates. Anyway, would I go here again? Probably not... but I could see ordering take out from here. read more

Sadly, Abha has significantly fallen. After they shortest us on two orders in the past couple months I realize this is an endemic issue with the restaurant. Their excuses on why the orders were shorted were dismal. With the prices for ordering food so high, there should not be such haphazard behavior. From this point forward it's back to Namaste in Monterey. read more

The patio with the heater is pretty awesome! The service is very friendly, and I appreciate that it was dog friendly outside. Food-wise, it was pretty standard Indian fare and a nice find in Carmel when you're craving South Asian flavors. read more

Went on Tuesday night. It was pretty dead but we ordered for pick up. Placed an order in the phone was ready quick. Fried my greeting when I got there. We order samosa, so good! Saag paneer, little too salty but good. Butter chicken, little spicier than expected but was good. Chicken was juicy. Would eat here again. read more

This was just okay - pretty salty and very pricey for the portion sizes (and did not come with rice).

Service was ok, atmosphere was good, in beautiful Carmel area California. We went there on Saturday and was among the first arrived there, Buffet looked full and looked ok, Now the flavors were off completely and to my surprise all dishes were sugary sweet which is not common in savory Indian dishes, Buffet had 3 or 4 chicken dishes all sweet with the exception of tandoori chicken which was cold and felt like old leftovers from the day before. They had a fish stick appetizer that was ok, but the rice was under cooked and cold as well. We are local restauranteurs and our specialty is Indian food. A totally disappointing experience , Sorry not for me!!!???? read more

Ordered to go but I should've just eaten there bc the restaurant is so cute. The entire shopping center is so cute. I love that cute Carmel ambiance. The veg biryani was loaded with veg! Large portion, it was 3 meals for me. With the raita it was pretty good. For my tastes i would've liked a little more spice. Samosa were just ok. I didn't like the salmon with mango glaze. Only bc I didn't realize it was in a batter. I think if it was grilled for pan fried i would have loved it. read more

Aabha Indian Cuisine - Indian Near Me - Carmel, California

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The worst restaurant we have been to so far! The service was terrible, to make it worse the food was awful. They made us wait for 30minutes before giving us a seat. The food was uncooked and the kheer was spoilt. The final straw was the price! It's ridiculously expensive!!!! The only thing going for them is the ambiance. What can one do with ambiance when the food and the service is that bad! ‍ read more

Aabha Indian Cuisine - Uncooked bajji - Indian Near Me - Carmel, California

During our mini getaway to Carmel, we checked out this delicious Indian restaurant! Their menu was stacked with SO many choices, especially vegan & vegetarian options. We ordered more than enough food, had leftovers for the next few days! We started with samosas, crispy pastries filled with spices, potatoes, & green peas. They're always the first thing we order at an Indian restaurant because they never disappoint! Then we ordered chili garlic tofu tikka, hand pound garlic, chili, tofu, & kasoori methi (or dried fenugreek). It came with a side of veggies, a salad, & a side of rice, too. It had so much flavor! Just wish it was as spicy as they made it sound like it would be lol Of course we had to get some naan to eat with our food, so we picked the garlic naan, which also included rosemary in its ingredients. We also ordered some saag paneer, spinach, desi cheese, garlic, & fenugreek. Perfect for vegetarians, packed with lots of flavor, & overall, healthy! We finished off by ordering some lemon rice, Basmati rice, yellow lentils, lemon, & turmeric! We were seated immediately by welcoming staff, who were very attentive towards us. We got a table outside since it was so nice out, & their patio is beautiful! We would love to come back, should we ever take a drive through Carmel any time soon. read more

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We visited on Sunday. They were open for buffet. More chicken, lamb, fish items. Less options for vegans. Even the three vegetarian dishes had cream: cheese. So we could not eat but it could be a good option if your food choices are not restricted. They are open on Sunday and plenty of parking around them. read more

Aabha Indian Cuisine - Indian Near Me - Carmel, California

What could improve ??? Everything !!!!! Quality of food and dishes offered on the buffet menu need to improve. Have a good mix of veg and non veg. Make few but make them better please. Palak paneer or aloo palak or something like that would be nice. Meat fab a need to be cooked well and done correctly Food is supposed to be finger licking good not otherwise. 2/5 is my score read more

Three years ago, I fell in love with this place. I told my fiancée the only reason I'd come back to Carmel was to eat here again. And finally, that moment arrived. My first stop? Aabha--where thankfully, not much has changed. It's still just as damn delicious. I even found a new favorite: the Coconut Prawn Curry. Easily a 10/10. The service? As great as ever. Tomorrow's my last day here... and guess who's coming back to grab some to take home to SF? read more

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I'm always on the quest for Indian deliciousness and after reading all the high-five reviews I decide to make the 1 hour plus drive (busy summer weekend traffic) to check it out. Arrived about 1:30pm on a Saturday afternoon. The place wasn't too busy and noticed most diners seemed to opt for the buffet it was easy breezy getting seated. Weekend buffet ($24.99) I was told comes with a beverage, which includes champagne, but most people opted for a soda or chai which is what I chose. Interior of the restaurant is a bit long in the tooth, dingy yellow walls, outdated Indian-themed artwork, worn tables, dirty floor, and even exposed wiring in the walls. Tables by the windows offered a reprieve from the mostly dark interiors. The front dining courtyard seemed inviting on this beautiful Carmel summer day. There were about 6 entrée choices, up "one extra" according to them from the weekday buffet. Today's meat choices were chicken, chicken and chicken. The other 3 options were vegetarian and of course basmati rice. Appetizer was an odd chicken pakora, guess a take on a "Indian chicken nuggy" if there is such a thing and a "vinegary" tasting artichoke pakora. The butter and tandoori chicken was OK, nothing special. The salad area consisted of just a bowl of mixed greens (nothing else) and 4 condiments which I felt was pathetic for the more expensive weekend brunch buffet pricing. I didn't try the vegetarian entrées this time. The naan was brought to the table cold, thick and didn't see any the glossiness from the ghee I'm used to. It almost looked like I was served leftovers from previous diners? I've had worse, but this place falls on the low end of the spectrum for the lack of variety, flavors and spices. It was a big underwhelming experience overall compared to the other nearby Monterey spots. I could barely taste the spices in the chai, as it looked and tasted like mostly watered down milk...(shrugs) The final nail in the coffin was the dessert, which which was Galub Jamun, but oddly each ball was cut in half which resulted in many of the pieces getting broken up by diners causing a mushy nasty mess in the serving chafing dish...what the heck! Services was non-existent once you're seated, served your beverage and naan bread. I had to go up to the front to pay because I wasn't brought my bill after finishing. No beverage refills on anything, including water! I wished the $30+ bucks I dropped here went somewhere else... Warning! The ONE BATHROOM (fairly clean) apparently is coed so be prepared to share ladies...and gents...! There's simply no excuse for this type of questionable dining quality, service and experience at the Carmel Barnyard. Value: 1 out of 5 Atmosphere: 2 out of 5 (one star boost for outdoor dining courtyard) Service: 1 1/2 out of 5 Bathroom: 2 out of 5 Verdict: barely 2 out of 5 read more

We had the worst experience from this Resturant. We love Indian food and every time we travel to Monterey & Pacific Ocean we go & have Indian food and always were very happy of food, service, cleanliness and the taste of the food. This was the first time we went to Carmel and the Resturant name was Aabha and we decided to try it. Unfortunately was terrible experience. Serving dishes was almost empty and was told he is going to bring more food. It took 20 minutes to bring Chicken Tandoori & was not cooked. No salad, hardly rice, the dessert bowl was dirty and had red stain like blood on the lip of dessert bowl. We asked for manager & the guy claimed he was manager but when we asked his name he refused. & said manager is not here and wrote the issue to show it to him. No apology & very rude. Be aware of this Resturant. read more

Food was great, service was really helpful. Overall vibe of this place was great I recommend to Indian food enjoyers! read more

Aabha Indian Cuisine - Indian Near Me - Carmel, California

The price is outrages for what you get... 30$ for tandoori chicken and they give you 4 pieces.

We were holiday inn Carmel by the sea and wanted to try some Indian food around. This place popped up on Yelp and wanted to keep this a try. The menu looked good and went with chicken biryani, naan, and chicken curry. This place is located in a nice neighborhood. The ambience is really cool and the outdoor seating is beautiful. The service is all right, but the food is not up to the par. The chicken biryani was more like a flavored rice with chicken pieces. We weren't very happy with the curry either. The pricing is a little expensive given the taste of the food and overall, it's just a miss for us. read more

Dined in on a Thursday night. 2 other parties were finishing their meal and we were the only table left. The person who greeted us sat us in a partitioned area off on the side and literally forgot us. After about 15 min, we had to get up and let them know we wanted to order. He profusely apologized and said he'd make it right to us for his oversight. We ordered our 6 dishes for the two of us. Bill came and we paid. He never made it right with any kind gesture for forgetting us after we were seated. read more

Great outdoor seating and friendly staff! Decent indian food in carmel is hard to find especially if u have vegeterians in the family and the positive is that they dont close between lunch and dinner so its perfect for indian lazy late lunch shile u r in the vicinity :) In $54 (excluding tip), we got: - lunch meal paneer tikka masala from the lunch menu - it comes with naan and rice 5/5 - regular menu chicken tikka masala 4/5 gravy was more puree than fresh tomato but chicken quality was good and spices were on point - rosemary garlic naan 5/5 sooo yummy and soft - we asked for some cut green chilli on side and they charged $5 for it. I feel any indian restaurant shouldnt charge so high for just chopped onion (50 cents a pc) and green chilli (2 cents a pc) just feels bad Clean restrooms and ample parking right outside the restaurant. Will definitely come back to try more on their lunch menu #supportlocal read more

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We went there for lunch, but turned out they do buffet, so ended up having a buffet They were almost closing the host was very nice and even ordered fresh for us since the buffet was almost over. Food was 3.5 since it was arnd closing of the buffet , so dry and some dishes were empty . But very nice host read more

These guys are the worst. We went as a family of 5 (4 adults and 1 child) around 7:50pm reached there on a Saturday evening...only 2-3 people Inside dining, and the young Indian guy there was telling us 3-4 times 'just before we sat down on a table' - that they close at 9pm, and kitchen closes at 8:30pm...we acknowledged it when we entered in, which was 1 hour and 10 minutes prior to advertised 9pm closing time! But he still then kept saying same thing and we felt awkward even sitting down and we left, since he then told us 'We normally don't take any large groups after 8:15pm'? Lol...it was 7:50pm and was a group of 4 adults and 1 child considered 'large' lol. Plus we are usually quick in ordering and leaving...it's sad - seems these guys don't want anyone's business...probably will go out of business one day the way they treat customers and their business hours. read more

Walking into the restaurant, we were immediately greeted at the door and seated at our table. Our table was clean, comfortable, and complete with beautiful lighting on the walls and on our table. There was live music that created a wonderful atmosphere. Every dish that we ate was so delicious and left us wanting more - SERIOUSLY! Best service, amazing food, truly recommend this place if you are looking for Indian cuisine in the Carmel area! read more

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Food is good. Staff is nice. We've eaten here a few times. Maybe better for carry out. The restaurant is dark, surfaces are sticky and it seems generally unclean. Bathroom was dirty. read more

Delicious Indian food served family style. Everything we order was very tasty. We got medium spice and it was spicy, but a good spicy. Go for mild if spicy is not your thing. Salad and rice were big enough to share as were the entrees. Will definitely return to try more menu items. Very dog friendly here with outdoor and indoor seating options. Lots of people to serve you and make sure you leave happy. read more

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Dined on a weekend night and surprised to see only 4 other tables at peak time. Only one waiter for the entire restaurant seating, taking orders and bussing so service was extremely slow. It took over an hour to receive our food. When it finally arrived we did enjoy it and portions were generous but not worth going back for. read more

A friend Treat Me to There My First Time Went in Afternoon Buffet. The Food Was ok since I never Had Indian Food before. Its not a Place to Frequent Interior of Place Plain Looks Dirty was not busy. Since a Buffet No Service read more

Fabulous food. Very fast takeout service. Large portions. Wide variety of dishes on the menu to appeal to everyone. Many vegetarian options.

I wish I could leave this restaurant a million stars! If you love Indian food, you will LOVE this restaurant. We tried the dumplings - tandoori momos (not pictured) and they were heavenly, full of flavor! It was served with a side salad with mango dressing, sooo tasty! We also ordered the Butter Chicken Biryani, Chicken Tikka Masala, Garlic Nann and Aloo Kulcha. Everything was deliciously prepared, full of flavor and the perfect amount of spice/seasoning - and, there was a generous amount of chicken! The staff are so kind and go above and beyond to ensure you've had a pleasant dining experience. Our server surprised us with a traditional Indian desert to try, which did not disappoint! If you're in the area, or live in this general area I highly recommend stopping in and grabbing a bite! Your taste buds will thank you! read more

Aabha Indian Cuisine - Butter Chicken Biryani, Chicken Tikka Masala, - Indian Near Me - Carmel, California

If you are out of oil at your place, please order the veg biryani, remove the vegetables and extract the oil. It should last you a couple weeks. If you are out of dough, order their samosa and throw away the filling. You should find enough raw dough in there. Enough said. read more

Aabha Indian Cuisine - Raw dough in the samosa - Indian Near Me - Carmel, California

Overall, poor dining experience. Food was not fresh; stale tasting and mushy. Curry was not curry, hard to describe but maybe tangy. Vegetables tasted rotten in dishes. Service was just ok, not very attentive. This place is small and dingy. Don't use the bathroom. We do not recommend. read more