I came here for lunch with a friend. Like many Indian places, they do shut-down between lunch and dinner. They close at 3pm and reopen at 5pm. We were headed to Amber Spice for a late lunch, and fortunately, we made it in before the 2:45pm cutoff (I called ahead to check). Since it was almost lunch closing, they did request that we place our orders soon after being seated. We already knew what we wanted to order, so we didn't feel rushed otherwise. We started with the veggie samosas ($6, two pieces), which were served with the traditional tamarind sauce and spicy cilantro chutney. The samosas were packed with the potato and pea filling and had a lightly crisp exterior. They were as good as any. For my entree, I ordered the butter chicken ($20), which is served with a side of basmati rice. When ordering, the waiter didn't ask about spice level. I did find their butter chicken to have some heat to it, but it wasn't anything crazy - I'd say a 3/10 for spiciness - I felt the warmth. The chicken was super tender and moist. I would be happy getting this again. I also ordered the garlic naan ($5), because you have to have something to sop up the curry goodness. The naan was hot and fresh; you could also taste the garlic. One basket came with four pieces (one whole naan), which is perfect for sharing. I finished the meal with the gulab jamun ($6) for dessert which came with three pieces of the fried dough balls served in a sweet syrup. My friend ordered the mango kulfi and loved it! She described it as a mango lassi, but frozen, which made it that much more light and refreshing. Amber Spice is a casual dining spot and it has the service to match. We were brought a carafe of water for the table to start, so it was self-serve the rest of the way. Food was brought out quickly and plates were cleared at the end, but we weren't checked on during the meal. Perhaps since we arrived near lunch closing, service was winding down, but we got what we needed. I enjoyed the food here and would come again. Everything that we had was not only super tasty, but also reasonably priced. There's also plenty of parking in the shopping center. read more

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(4.15) ~ Very good & consistent Northern & Southern Indian cuisine & service. DRINKS: ** Water (tap) = (4.15) Very good, must be filtered;) ** Mango Lassi = (4.15) Very tasty ** Masala Chai = (4.15) Very good FOOD: ** Rasam Soup = (4.15) Hot & spicy. Good for a cold day;) ** Lamb Vindaloo = (4.15) Very tasty ** Onion Kulcha = (4.15) Very good ** Raita = (4.15) Very good ** Basmati Rice = (4.15) Very aromatic ** Rasmalai = (4.15) Very good * Mint Chutney = (3.75) Good * Tamarind Sauce = (3.25) pretty good, but definitely watered down & we prefer the thicker consistency versions. read more

Whenever we are in Laurel, we stop by Amber Spice for takeout so I can't speak to the ambiance or service beyond coming in and out. But I will say that our food is always delicious, fresh, and hot! Here is what we ordered: - Chicken Samosas: Fresh, hot, and plentiful! They had a really good flavor and I loved every bite. - Garlic Naan: Best garlic naan we've had in a while! And made in house. - Saagwala Lamb: I am always a fan of this dish and I love how they make it. It's not spicy, very rich, and delicious. They were a little skimpy with the lamb pieces so would suggest chicken possibly. - Butter Chicken: It had a beautifully complex flavor profile! And it had a nice buttery creamy taste: Overall, I think it's worth a try if you like Indian, riding near by, and/or curious about Amber Spice! read more

A group of us gathered for an excellent lunch at Amber Spice. The vegetable pakora were delicious, warm, crisp, with a spicy batter. The Dahl tadka was smooth and tasty, the baked eggplant had an interesting dark sauce, the vegetable gel freeze was very nice, and the okra fried was good, but not as crispy as it should have been. The garlic naan was a little bit bready, the chapati was delicious. Service was great. All in all, we had a very good time. read more

This restaurant is wonderful! I'm upset I didn't discover it sooner. My friends and I tried their samosa chaat, dosa, chicken 65, tandoori chicken, hakka noodles, and of course some delicious butter and garlic naan! They were all 10/10 dishes and perfect place for a feast! Oh and the mango lassi hits too. Just went back and tried the salmon tikka masala and my mind is blown. Perfect amount of sweetness to it, but flavorful at the same time. The butter naan? Spectacular. I could eat just the naan and be satisfied!! The ambiance is a very typical family run restaurant/nothing too crazy with the decor but is nice and enough space for a larger group. There is also a small bar in case you want to come solo. The servers were very patient. You'll want to bring your whole family when you taste their food! read more

What amazing flavors I enjoyed yesterday as I had lunch at Ambers spice!!! I apologize I didn't get to take pictures but the food the service the ambience was all top-notch read more

Flavors that hit every note -- an Indian food experience to remember! From start to finish, everything we ordered was absolutely delicious. The chicken biryani was the standout -- perfectly cooked basmati rice layered with tender, juicy chicken and a blend of spices that packed heat and flavor without overwhelming the dish. Every spoonful was rich, aromatic, and satisfying. The chicken samosas were golden and crispy on the outside with a warm, flavorful filling inside. You could taste the freshness and quality of the ingredients in every bite. The garlic naan was soft, buttery, and had just the right amount of char -- ideal for scooping up bites of biryani or dipping into chutneys. To top it all off, the lassi was cool, creamy, and refreshing -- the perfect balance to the spice of the meal. The service was friendly, and the atmosphere was cozy and inviting. If you're craving bold, authentic Indian flavors, this place is a must-visit. Highly recommend! Service Dine in Meal type Dinner Price per person $30-50 read more

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I really don't even wanna write a really good review for them because I wish I could keep this place to myself, but I also want them to succeed! When I say the best butter chicken, I've had in takeout I really mean that. Sometimes you sit at a restaurant and the food seems to taste really good but then sometimes she can order takeout and it's doesn't seem fresh or something. I happen to see them as I came off the highway and I decided let me try them because I saw their sign many times. I've had good Indian food in Reston and Rockville and even in Asia, this place, this family and their food reminded me of being and living in Asia. So so so good really nice people lovely clean restaurant friendly service spacious, did I mention fast!? I called in the order. They told me 20 minutes. I went in there in 10 minutes and the owner was like oh yeah it's ready! Beautiful, beautiful food, beautiful people and they were pretty busy actually it was Saturday night after all. I can't stress that the food was just as good as when I lived in Asia I got butter, chicken, plain naan, I asked for chicken Samosa, but they gave me beef, but they were still delicious and I love the sauces with it the green and the vinegar sauce . I almost went back again today, but I still had so much food left. The portion size is a lot for a single person. Definitely can eat 2 to 3 meals for one person. I am so happy I found this family and this business! read more

Amber Spice - Samosas Naan Butter Chicken - Indian Near Me - Laurel, Maryland

This is my favorite Indian restaurant by far. The flavors are robust and the food is fresh. The managers and waiters are friendly and on top of things. The restaurant is nice and clean and spacious. I've been here like 5 times in 3 weeks. My favorites: AMABER SPICE WINGS- amazingly crunch on outside but not dry on inside. The flavor was so savory with a lil kick to it. Maybe my fave wings in DMV. EGG CURRY WITH CEYLON PARATHA- the egg and the curry were so flavorful and smooth without being thin or too chunky. The CEYLON PARATHA was AMAZING. It's goes perfectly with the curry but I was eating it by itself too. Nice crisp but soft and a great taste to it. POORI BHAJI- this dish was so refreshing. One of the fresher dishes I've eaten. Seems like they grew all the ingredients themselves. Such a rich consistency. Cilantro put it over the top. VEGGIE FRIED RICE: Couldn't believe and Indian spot made better veggie fried rice than the chines spots I've been too. Everything was so fresh. SUKKA WITH PRAWNS- The prawns were really good. And fresh and had good size to it. The flavor of the sauce was a lil sour. But still kind of good. PALAAK PANEER- this was ok, decent flavor. Idk if I would get it again tho. BAGARA BAINGAN- I wouldn't get this again. The flavor was just weird, like too tangy. Only dish I don't like at all. read more

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These wings were cooked to perfection! I can't wait to go back and try some other menu items read more

Amber Spice - Four pieces of fried chicken with crispy, seasoned coating are served in a black takeout container, accompanied by a green dipping sauce in a separate container. - Indian Near Me - Laurel, Maryland

Fabulous experience. Phenomenal food. Super flavorful cuisine and lovely ambiance. Me and a colleague dropped by here for lunch yesterday since we were in the area. He comes here all the time and I told him I had it on my Yelp list so we came here just before their 3p mid afternoon closure. They reopen for dinner though, but we'd be gone from the area by then so we got here right about 2:35p. The owner Moses was there and helped serve us. Very nice gentleman. Very hospitable and humble. We had a smorgasbord of delights too! I had curry goat and basmati rice, some wonderful chicken wings, and Long Island iced tea. Those wings were crispy 'n hot. Burn your mouth fresh out the oil hot. We both split a LAMB KHEEMA DOSAI. Wonderful! Imagine a long crepe roll stuff with rice and lamb. Delicious! And definitely unique. Thin, crispy rice & lentil crepe stuffed with spicy ground lamb. Served with Sambar and Coconut Chutney. First time trying it and super tasty! LAMB SUKKA was on the menu too. And these two creamy desserts: Both reminded me of crème anglaise, which I love. KHEER Rich, creamy, decadent sweet rice, broken wheat and vermicelli pudding, flavoured with cardamom, raisins, saffron, cashews and pistachios RASMALAI Sweet, saffron milk infused cheese curd ( chhena ) flattened dumplings, soaked in cardamom infused clotted cream ( malai ). Garnished with pistachios I eat lots of Indian food and this was some of the best I've had in a while. Get yourself here if you haven't been and even if you have. Beautiful interiors, lovely bathrooms, nice onsite parking in the small strip mall area next to the restaurant. Everything is two thumbs up here. You can tell the pride that's taken in this business. read more

Amber Spice - Basmati rice, curry goat, lamb Kheema Dosai - Indian Near Me - Laurel, Maryland

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The food was awesome! We had a group of 8 and had a variety of dishes. Everyone loved their food! The samosas for appetizers were flakey and spicy. I loved my lamb. We had people who are vegans they were happy with their options as well! The wait staff was very attentive, keeping our glasses filled and checking that we had all that we needed. I will most definitely eat there again soon. read more

Went here to get dinner and ordered vegetable biryani, chicken biryani, aloo gobi and spinach kofta. I ordered the food to take home and it was ready in 15 minutes. They also provided 2 extra containers of white rice but no naan. That is one item I wish they would offer without you having to pay for it separately. Despite that we enjoyed the food and will order from here again. read more

Amber Spice - Receipt of items purchased - Indian Near Me - Laurel, Maryland

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I love this restaurant so much! You know a restaurant is doing something right when no matter what you get on the menu it tastes good (in my opinion of course). My favorite meal is the lamb chops. But I've also had their vegetable korma, fried fish, and spicy lamb tibs. I've enjoyed them all the same. My main gripe is the portion size. While the food tastes amazing, I feel like for the price paid we should get more food. Also the staff could be a little friendlier. I understand when it's busy you might not greeted with a smile but I've come at different times and it's always the same level of disinterest. Other than those two things, I still think the food is yummy enough to keep coming back. read more

Packed Friday night crowd for dinner and food & service were impeccable. My friend ordered Butter Chicken and complimented how well balanced the flavors of savory and seasoning were so exact to how she would want it. The lightly fried Bindi- ochra with onion and seasoning was a plentiful serving and very satisfying. My order was Tandoor Chicken with sweet onion slices and a few red and green pepper slices. Delicious! We each enjoyed a large glass of Mango Lassi. So refreshing. The location is so perfect for a date. Or calling ahead and setting up for a large or small group of all ages. Easy access in and out, with a handicap accessable restroom, and diaper changing station. Always perfectly prepared food. Always attentive and polite staff. The large dining room has very pleasant decor. read more

This was neat find. We were just driving around and the restaurant sign caught our eye. We weren't terribly hungry so we got a few items to share. All of the items we ordered were good and tasty. -Chaat Samosa: flavorful, but really saucy. They cut up one samosa and topped it with chickpeas, yogurt, onion and the tamarind sauce. -Mulligatawny Soup: this one had so many layers of flavor, even though it was just a lentil bean soup. -Paper Masala Dosai: thin, crispy lentil crepe filled with spiced potatoes? delicious. The coconut was really spicy, but the soupy sauce (sorry, can't remember the name) was perfect to dip. -Palak Paneer: mild and creamy. We actually used the dosai to scoop up the palak. Very tasty. -Fresh Lime Soda: I haven't seen this on any meny before, so I had to try it. This drink was very refreshing. It says they sprinkle a little bit of salt, which I think helped to augment the sweetness of the lime. The servers were friendly and not over-bearing. It was a perfect balance. The food came out in a timely manner and was still warm when it arrived at our table. The restaurant sits on a busy intersection of route 1. The parking is a little weird, but there is plenty of spots. Inside has a lot of seating. Very well-lit and clean. Price is fair for the portions and quality of food. read more

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I loved the chicken biryani! It was so flavorful and tasted so good. And a great portion. Will be coming back immediately! read more

Amber Spice - Garlic Naan - Indian Near Me - Laurel, Maryland

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Wow, wow, and one more wow! I absolutely love Indian food and have had quite a few great experiences in the area. There was something a bit different and special about the experience at Amber Spice. First off, parking is plentiful. Located in a large shopping center. Always a win. Next win was the overall vibe. It's casual but still has a fancy component to it. Also has a bar with about 6 seats. The food was the star of the show! We split a few different apps and entrees. They have quite an extensive menu with options you don't always see at Indian restaurants. My favorite items were... 1-The vegetable Pakoras- first time trying these. Yummy!! Good size to share. 2-Mulligatawny soup- felt adventurous and wanted to give it a try. WOW. Flavor explosion. Reminded me of a spilt pea soup as far as the consistency goes. Has a kick to it, so make sure you're ok with spice. It was so good I used some of it over my rice. 3- Lamb chops- comes with a side of rice and what seems to be a masala sauce (not 100% sure). 3 nice sized, perfectly cooked and seasoned chops. Another WOW. Our server was really nice and helped with making some of our food selections. Two thumbs up for me!!! read more

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Before seeing a movie, I was hungry... decided to check out this Indian place that I had been eyeing for quite a while! It's easy to see from the main street (Route 1), but depending on which direction you're going, it can be tricky to get into that plaza haha. I was meeting a friend, but I was first there. When I said it was just two of us, I was told I could sit wherever I liked. I picked the closest booth, and got a carafe of water. My buddy came and got settled, and we got to reviewing the menus. We got samosas, chaat, and idli (which I've never had before). Idli was good, but the sambar was the true highlight -- and samosas and chaat never disappoint me! For our entrees, my friend got tandoori chicken and I got Special Rava Masala Dosai -- the crepe was made with cream of wheat!!! I couldn't resist trying something new, so that was awesome -- and I got more sambar, so I enjoyed dipping the crepe in that. I got to taste my buddy's chicken too -- that was GREAT, flavorful and moist. There's a lot more to explore on the menu, but I am curious about how other things are?? This was one of the few times I didn't have naan or paratha, so that's a must for next time. Looking forward to my next visit. Be mindful of their closure from 3:00-5:00 PM! read more

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UPDATE: I've by now made more than 2 visits and will continue coming back...question I always fight with is: Do I try something new or order what I've already enjoyed? Since I first started coming here, I can say with conviction that my favourites are: Chicken samosa, chicken 65, chicken tikka dosai, ceylon paratha, Haleem and Naan, gulab jamun, and rasmalai. Service is always fantastic - friendly, patient, quick. read more

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Came here for dinner one night and had a good experience. Ample parking in the plaza. Well lit restaurant. Service was okay, took a while for someone to take our order. We ordered a Mango Lassi, Chicken Tikka Masala, Dal Makhni, Garlic Naan and Tandoori Roti. Everything came out promptly and tasted great. The only downside was I found a piece of plastic in the Mango Lassi - but the server brought us another glass. Would still come here for the food, but probably not the lassi. read more

Amber Spice - Chicken Tikka Masala Dal Makhni Garlic Naan Tandoori Roti - Indian Near Me - Laurel, Maryland

This my my cousin and her husband's go to place for Indian food. We had take out and the rasam soup which I've never had before was fabulous. The chicken vindaloo was tender and delicious and wasn't overwhelming with spices. The chicken curry was good and so was the chicken tikka masala. I can't comment on the service or ambiance since we had our food delivered but I would definitely come back again and try the other food on the menu. read more

It's really a shame that they did not bring back the buffet due to the pandemic. The pandemic is over. In my opinion that's just pure greed. Many other restaurants started back their lunch buffet. This says a lot about how they feel about their clientele. read more

As someone who ate native Indian cooking at home, this place is really tasty. We've been twice, and the food was excellent each time read more

This is good Indian food. Not the best I have ever had, but definitely will be returning. The prices are good, this won't break the bank, and the portion sizes are nice. read more

This place is spectacular!!! Customer service was amazing, food was delicious, I have nothing bad to say. There's plenty of free parking, this location I clean and very spacious. Everything we ordered, from appetizer to main entree was served hot. Food tasted great. It was such a lovely experience. Employees were attentive. I want to go back and eat here again. read more

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Lamb and chicken Biryani is bomb! Butter chicken is so good. Everything is good. Pricey but good. Everything on the menu def makes you want to slap your mom. Seating is decent and very nice vibes. Service is good and never have to wait too long for food to arrive at our table read more

We still enjoy our favorite local Indian restaurant! The consistency in taste is always the best part. The Amber Spice fried fish is my families favorite. The seasoning and the crunch.. yum. The service is great as usual, I actually prefer to sit in so we get all the attention, fast service ;-) and fresh food. We finally decided to try something different, the Bombay Fish which was interesting, I actually loved the way the fish was fried but not a fan of the sauce, it was a lot for my palate to handle but I look forward to returning to continue exploring the menu! read more

Amber Spice - A white bowl holds a round, brown dessert with a liquid sauce and crushed nuts, placed on a wooden table with food dishes nearby. - Indian Near Me - Laurel, Maryland

Really good authentic Indian cuisine. I ordered my favorite dish, Butter Chicken and it's delicious! However, they make it a lot spicier than other Indian restaurants, but it's still really good. This restaurant has alot of Seating available and the staff is nice and attentive. It's not a fancy place but the food is really good!! read more

Amber Spice - Butter Chicken - Indian Near Me - Laurel, Maryland

The food was great! The prices seemed a bit on the high side. I ordered the chicken biryani. It was perfectly spiced and a pretty large serving. Including the tip, though, it cost me just over $20! For that much, I would have liked more chicken. My coworker, who eats considerably less than I do, had enough to take home for dinner. The restaurant was relatively empty. No, it was empty--just me and my coworker after the mom and daughter table left. Another dozen or so take out orders came in while we were eating. I'm torn. It was good food, but I'm not sure I can afford to go back often. read more

Amber Spice - Chicken Biryani - tasted great but needed more chicken - Indian Near Me - Laurel, Maryland

I was disappointed with my meal from here a few nights ago. Heard good things about this place and read some great reviews but it didn't live up to the hype for me. I will stick to my go to spot for Indian ("The Curry Place") in White Oak! So I came in to place a take-out order for chicken tikka masala (comes with rice) and I oredered a side of garlic naan. I specifically asked that it be made extra spicy! I was told it comes "medium spicy." I like mine spicy spicy. It was not a hint of spice in the food. The total came to $21! Kinda pricey!! Was a 20 minute wait for my food to be ready (not terrible). I went home and it was not a far ride. I dug in right away and my food was cold. I had to put it in the microwave! Now onto the actual taste of it. Not great at all. The flavors were very bland and it looked and tasted like butter chicken. Perhaps I got the wrong order? Or maybe they gave me butter chicken thinking I won't know the difference? Speaking of chicken, there were literally a few pieces of chicken swimming in lots of flavorless sauce! Sigh! Very sad about this meal. The garlic naan tasted undercooked. The quality and price wasn't worth it! I did not finish this meal and did not enjoy :( The employees were friendly. The place was moderately packed and they had a table with lots of orders to go so they must be popular! It just wasn't for me! read more

Amber Spice - the front of the store - Indian Near Me - Laurel, Maryland

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Let me start by saying how much I love, love, love the customer service! They greated every person that came in the door, for dine in or carry out with great respect. The restaurant was extremely clean and the tables are spaced apart. I came during the lunch hour and it wasn't crowded. I was seated and after a few minutes they checked to see if I was ready to order. I'm sure they laughed because my table for 1 ordered soup, 3 apps, an entree, and 2 deserts. Yes, I tend to go overboard the first time I try a new spot because it's either an epic win and I'll return, or a loss and I won't be back. In this case it was a win! The pastachio ice cream was velvety and packed with flavor. It had a seasoning I could not put my finger on to save my life but it added to the ice cream in a very unique and exotic way. I'd definitely order this again. The rice pudding was also creamy and lovely. Naturally I could only consume a few spoonfuls after the ice cream but my daughters would love it. Glad I tried this place and got my family a few orders for carry out. I'll definitely be back and encourage others to try this place. read more

I've had Indian food from many places in Maryland, but this one might be my favorite. I don't know how to describe it except they're just one notch better somehow. Maybe it's the ingredients, maybe it's the technique, but they have a way about cooking and preparing the food that sets it above most of the others. I tried a few dishes over the past few weeks, and I will say, the spice level is a little higher than I'm used to. But, it's not overwhelming or to the point that I couldn't continue. My spice tolerance isn't all that high either. But, that being said, the food was still amazing. I've had the butter chicken with idli to start, and then we did catering with them with chicken korma, chicken tikka masala, aloo gobi, and a dahl dish. We also had appetizers (more idli, pakora, and a gluten free lentil donut that was really tasty). Their chutneys (sauces) are standard, but well made. Be warned, some of them are very spicy! Just be sure to check with the server first before diving in without warning. They have a lime soda that they make in house, which I'd honestly never seen anywhere else before. It's not too sweet and it's extremely refreshing. Definitely worth getting again. Overall, it's a nice place to visit, although a bit hard to find. Trust your GPS and give it a go if you're in town. read more

Whether I order Deliver or Dine In everything is always good The Staff are friendly and quick to help if I order a dish which has cheese and need to replace it with potatoes (Staff suggestion) Love the Chicken Somosas read more

Food was great and portions were enough to allow us to have multiple meals from our order. Very happy.

Lovely place! The food was delicious, the workers were very kind, our food came out extremely fast and it was a very nice/clean establishment. Will be back if I'm in the area again! read more

I love Amber Spice! The food is delicious and reminds me so much of the Indian we could get in England. (Yes, I know that's weird but it's like their national food). Anyway, my favorite things to order are Chicken Korma, Butter Chicken, and Garlic Naan. My husband just randomly orders anything and it is always good-but I want guaranteed good when I am hungry! No, it is not especially cheap, but what is these days? McDonald's is like 10 bucks for one and I would much rather eat this. We most often get takeout as it is on the way home from my husband's work, but we have eaten inside and the service has always been good. Give this place a try; you won't be disappointed. read more

I was looking forward to coming back before finishing my meal - that's how good the food is here. High quality, delicious food, full of flavor and yes, spice. The portions are fantastic. I had the Saagwala (spinach based curry) with chicken which was very tasty. The entree came with a bowl of fragrant jasmine rice and I ordered the chickpeas (channa) for a side. I've heard that their house special breads were good so I tried the Kulcha (onion) and I was not disappointed. The onions, herbs and spices were ample throughout each piece and was a perfect pairing with my meal. The service was quick and attentive. 5 stars all around. read more

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The Egg Curry with Ceylon Paratha drew my wife to Amber Spice just as it had drawn her previously to Curry Leaf. Truthfully, the Ceylon Paratha bread is so flaky and tender that it could be devoured alongside any of Amber Spice's entrees or by itself. The Chicken Chili, served with Basmati rice, combines spicy masala chicken with tomatoes, green peppers, and onions; and the goat curry is equally memorable. Although we have yet to experience their all-you-can-eat buffet, we imagine we will be just as excited as Bilbo Baggins' dwarf-guests from "An Unexpected Party" in J.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit (without being nearly as unruly or loud!). One year later, on an extremely temperate, fifty-degree, Christmas Eve day, we headed back to Amber Spice on Route 1 in Laurel, Maryland so that my wife could partake of their deservedly renowned buffet and I could order the Chicken Chili. She sampled Butter Chicken, Tandoori Chicken, Vegetable Pekora (a fried appetizer that she loved), Adoo Gobi (a cauliflower side dish), Palak Paneer (a spinach dish), and Kulcha (a leavened bread with scallions). Whether you are an eclectic vegetarian or a nitpicky omnivore, like myself, Amber Spice will provide you with a phenomenally memorable and tasty culinary adventure. read more

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I like the food selections, and I will be back. I love samosas. It's a great change of pace from local Asian buffets.