I have yet to come across better Indian food on the island so far. My girlfriend and I love the food, the friendly staff, and the general vibe and ambience of the restaurant as a whole. Our go to order is the Tandoori Party Platter to get our protein in, then we get the Lamb Korma with Plain Naan, and sometimes we'll throw in some of the vegetarian Samosas. As you'd expect with Indian food, nothing lacks in flavor but I have yet to come across something I have tried that was even just "okay," assuming you order correctly. Do not underestimate the portion sizes here either as everything is extremely well portioned and is best eaten family style. Ask the staff questions on what to order if you're unsure but do try as much as possible. It's a staple and will be for a very long time! The pictures attached are from our first visit showing the Tandoori Party Platter and the Garlic Cheese Naan which was also very very good but also very heavy lol. read more

Cafe Maharani - Garlic Cheese Naan - Indian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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We were already seated when my friends and I arrived at the restaurant. This was the first time I had gone there and tried the food. I ordered the Lamb Masala Curry with Plain Naan, and my friend ordered Pepper Chicken with Coconut Naan. The Naan was so big. I didn't expect it to be that big. The Lamb Masala Curry was good. If I continued eating the curry, it was spicy. Overall the food and service were great. I would come again and order the same and try some different food. read more

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If I Could only Recommend One Indian Restaurant? It would have to be this Family Owned Cafe Maharani, they've been serving up authentic Indian Food to Hawaii March 5 will make 25 years. Step into the vibrant flavors of India at Café Maharani From sizzling Tandoori dishes to crispy samosa, rich curry, cheesy naan fresh out of the tandoor, and fragrant Lamb , every bite is a journey of bold spices and authentic taste! Indulge in refreshing lassis like Mango or Falooda for the perfect pairing. Located on South King Street in Honolulu, next to Down to Earth, across from Longs, this cozy spot is known for its generous portions, friendly service, and unbeatable prices. No reservations needed--just come hungry and ready for a feast! read more

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Very excited to try bec of very good reviews, the guy server very accommodating called us right away to be seated. But our server was different and went downhill fr there. Wanted to order bread sampler, bec very busy got turned down they "usu dont serve it on busy times" she said. But when are you not busy? Maybe there are other hours you are not. Very confused. Never checked up on us the whole time if we ever got our orders or how out food was not until we asked for check. Four other tables after us that got seated got served food before us, a couple sitting across were just ordering fr the menu and they got their samosa right away while they were actually still putting in their Order. Wow what service to others but not to us at all? Did not check our table even once. While we finished our meal, nothing came not even the garlic cheese naan. Our separate order of tikka masala did not come with a separate rice on the side which should have come with. After we saw four other tables that got seated after us got their full on orders, we tried to follow up, we were shutdown and got told by the The girl server "you have to be patient" which was a RED flag for me bec we really waited patiently and were happy customers. Mind you, we just got an appetizer , then there was just 35 min drought of no food coming out for us on our table but all the other 4 tables got there full on orders COMPLETE. Like mindblowing this guy putting out the food just wanted to give this family another palak paneer that they already had. That is how concerning this is. We ordered TIKKA MASALA but got buttered chicken. got told by server that it was tikka masala and the buttered chicken is supposed to be darker in color. Girl please. tasted and looked like butter chicken. Stop confusing people. No refills on water, very bad service. Food was not the best. I have tried other places way better, the people who make the restaurant really is important and i hope they try to do something about it. I understand it is a busy day, but thats their opening hours! so that should be expected. But the service we got from the girl server was the cherry on top and was below the belt bad taste in our mouth(an understatement). Not coming back. Good we tried it for what it was-underwhelming read more

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I don't really eat Indian food but this place changed me. The best Indian food I ever had. I will definitely come back whenever I'm back on the island. Everything we had was so Ono. Great customer service and love decor and ambiance. read more

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The food is good but 3 star is for the bathroom. I was happy to see that this place had remodeled, and the bathroom was cleaned up a bit from the unbearable, never come back state it had been previously. But the dirty black gate, the disgusting hallway and feeling dirtier after using the restroom than before. Hoping the Owners realize this bathroom experience also speaks to the staff being able to properly wash their hands during work. Cafe Maharani, you want to be so instagram.... Please clean up the bathroom and area leading to it. Please add paper towels. Please add a trashcan that opens. It makes your Customers think about all the disgusting things happening in the kitchen and storage areas that we cannot see. read more

Portions are massive and the food is prepared spicy by default. Sooooo good and perfect for sharing read more

Cafe Maharani - Lamb Kebab, Lahori Karahi Lamb, Chicken Tikka Masala - Indian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

What a find this restaurant is. The wait staff was very good. The food was amazing. Chicken Tikka Masala, Chicken Boti Kebob and Shahi Korma, vegetable samosas and saffron rice. A lot of food for two but we have dinner for tomorrow. They have appetizer and kebob platters that are huge and very reasonably priced. They do a lot of take out too. We will be back. read more

Cafe Maharani - Indian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Come here every few months, and we LOVE the vegetarian options. Malai kofta is only done on weekdays but so worth it. Cauliflower tikka masala or eggplant tikka are also our favorites. The samosa chaat is definitely top-tier appetizer. Overall, haven't had somethingwe don't like, and I looooove seeing uncle chef come out and give our food without saying a word. what a cute and special moment every time. read more

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I've driven by for 25 years. Never ate here till now. Parking is very difficult. 5 stalls in back that are always filled. The chicken sampler was tasty. Although they took all the sauces away before the next dishes. The stews were ok. But tasted better the next day. Service was strange. No one asked if we wanted dessert, coffee or tea. And was quite hot inside. It will prob be another 20 years before I go back. I parked on Coolidge and it took 25 minutes to find that spot. read more

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I really like it here, just not stroller/kid friendly. The briyani portion is hugeeeeee and everything is tasty. Service is okay. It is a tight location though which just makes it a little tough for me to love it for dine in. read more

If you're looking for amazing Indian food in Honolulu, MAHARANI is the place to go. This was hands down the best Indian restaurant I've ever been to. The butter chicken was out of this world--perfectly creamy, flavorful, and just the right amount of spice. I could honestly eat it every day. I also tried one of their entrees (I went with the onion one), and it was just as impressive--delicious, and packed with bold, authentic flavors. You can really taste the quality and care they put into their cooking. The staff was super friendly and attentive, and the atmosphere was cozy and welcoming. They are also a BYOB so that's another great thing to add. Whether you're a local or visiting Honolulu, do yourself a favor and eat here. MAHARANI is a must-visit for any Indian food lover! read more

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First theres very little parking avail, its street parking or walk. The place is way smalles than the pics make it look. The wait to be seated was fine but theres no order. The wait staff seems overwhelmed! They helped a few other tables before us and we were sat first. The food was ok. But for the price...ah I wont return. The inside is kool with the decor and lights but too stuffy/cramped. People walking in & out right by where you eating, its not comfortable. They should make the check in/sign in sheet at the door to keep the crowd to a minimum. read more

The food has always been top notch. It's our favorite Indian restaurant. Suggestion: bring your own glass containers for leftovers.

We ordered a bunch of different menu items that weren't that memorable. Service was friendly. Please note, this establishment does not accept AMEX. read more

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Flavorful curry and tasty naan. Some pieces of chicken are hard in the butter chicken though the curry is tasty. Palak paneer (spinach and cheese cubes) has mild spiciness, and it's a scrumptious dish. Chicken masala curry has a hint of lamb taste, which I didn't fancy as I personally don't like lamb. The cheese naan is good, and the table next to us got butter naan that looked really nice and fluffy too. Recommend the mango lassi, but it's more sweet than tart. Authentic Indian restaurant. Seating is a bit tight and the lighting dim. Portions are huge! We did street parking that's free at night; it seems like there's a paid parking structure next to Down to Earth market. If you go near closing time, they will ask you to order quickly and you may feel rushed. Food comes out fast and you will leave with yummy leftovers to enjoy later. read more

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YES I LOVE YOU my husband drunkenly requested we get his favorite Indian on his birthday night, so I ordered it for pick up. Enjoy these pictures of him swimming in your butter chicken read more

Cafe Maharani - One with the sauce - Indian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Haven't been here in months and finally made it last Thursday (10/23/25). Noticed the new decor. It's brighter inside. Looks more festive and you can see the food now. It was delicious. As usual. There was a slight difference but it was good. The food was a little richer than usual. I'm not sure if they're under new management/ownership. Menu hasn't changed. Portions are the same. The condiments still come with the appetizers. For a party of 5 or more there's 18% service charge. We were a party of 6 and there was a group of 5 waiting for our table and the staff could have put 2 tables together to accommodate them but made them wait instead. It felt uncomfortable knowing they were waiting for us. They should have been accommodated. There were tables available. The service was ok. A little slower than before. But it's still good old maharani. I'm rating the stars based on the overall experience not just the food. We forgot about the 18% service charge and left a tip on top of that so keep that in mind. read more

Second review here because this restaurant deserves it! The cost of dining out is quite high but if the cuisine is good and consistent it is well worth it. Cafe Maharani is one that falls in that category. To top.it off, portions are generous and the staff are friendly. Just wish that desserts were available. I mean they must be really good because they're always sold.out read more

Cafe Maharani is so good! I didn't have huge expectations coming into the restaurant. We haven't tried Indian food in Hawaii before the figure why not take a shot? Coming into the café the place is really small and there's not a lot of staff, but it's cozy and I like the setting plus all the Indian music videos are playing on the screens add to the vibe. Many here is huge and can feel daunting, but but the waiters didn't seem to mind us taking our time. In the fact they seem a little short staffed so things come out a little slower. I appreciate that we didn't feel rushed. We tried the eggplant pakora as an appetizer. We have no clue what it was faster having it. I think we're addicted. It's light and crispy and comes with three amazing sauces. After that. We had the saffron rice with the butter chicken on the saffron. Rice was so flavorful I could've eat it on its own. The butter chicken was rich and surprisingly I didn't get sick of it despite that we had an amazing experience here and definitely will be coming back! read more

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OMG!!! If you go to O'ahu and plan to be in Honolulu, you've GOT to go to Cafe Maharani! Just went tonight with my wife, daughter & son, for my 2nd visit, and it was absolutely mouthwatering!!! Any and all of the plates we've eaten there have been more than works can describe!!! Thank you, @CafeMaharani - we will be back every time we come back to Honolulu. The portions are very large and the dishes & staff are perfect. You'll definitely have leftovers that will NOT go to waste - although they might not last until the next day! One last piece of advice - try to make a reservation or get there or get there early (open at 5 and close at 9 (I believe)). I promise you'll thank me later - I only review when someplace rocks my world like Cafe Maharani or places that the with their service or lack of quality! Cafe Maharani ROCKED our in Hawaii ! #Aloha read more

My fiancé has been convincing me to try Indian food since we first met 9 yrs ago. In hopes that I'll like it as much as he does. So, I finally agreed he can take me for V-day since it was just weeks away. As we arrived at Cafe Maharani I was bummed that the restaurant was quite small. Nothing wrong with that! My first impression was that it was just smaller than I expected. It's what I consider a hole in the wall type of place. The paintings on the wall and bright colors were nice tho. There is free parking space in the back of the restaurant, not much stalls provided but you may also park at the WholeFoods parking garage too. We ordered their Tandoori chicken wings, Tikka masala, Nan bread, samosas, butter chicken and mango lassi drink. I was pleasantly surprised to enjoy all the dishes we ordered. Every plate came in shared portions so it was a lot, we just packed the rest home to have again later. Service is AMAZING, the 2 waitresses working that day are great! Although our waitress mentions she's newly hired, I felt that she was still knowledgeable about the menu and attended to us and other customers throughout the evening. Both waitresses were helpful and friendly. Overall I definitely enjoyed my first Indian meal experience, I recommend Cafe Maharani to everyone. Chef's kiss!! read more

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I was told by a handful of people that this was their to-go place for Indian food and it really lived up to the hype! Everything we tried was amazing. I especially liked their butter chicken and shrimp tikka masala, and the garlic cheese naan was so good! Their food was slightly spicy compare to other places I've tried, so just be prepared in case you're not a spicy food person! They're a small shop, so if you plan on dining in, then be prepared for a little bit of a wait. read more

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Cafe Maharani did not disappoint. Delicious food and good portions. Would recommend and will be back!!! read more

Cafe Maharani - Indian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

It's a warm restaurant so be ready for that. For the smaller space, we got a table for 4. Service was good. And we didn't realize the portions are pretty big so we thought we were being smart by getting a dinner for 3 set and added a stuffed cheese garlic naan. Portions were huge and the dinner set came with 3 naans (we opted for garlic) and rice (we chose saffron). Appetizer sampler was good, lots of different fried foods. We picked butter chicken, lamb saag and a veggie korma. Everything was tasty and especially with the stuffed naan. We had so much leftovers! read more

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The food was good but it feels like the chef changed. I didn't see the usual workers either. The basmati rice was a different color. Usually there are spices I have to pick out but this rice was just white and yellow. The chicken saag was less green than usual. More tomatoey. The vindahloo was also more tomatoey. And my online order was ready but I did not get notified like usual. So... It's still good but not as it was the last times. Will try again later but hoping it returns to its usual self. read more

I was craving indian food very intensely one night and STARVING. Calling up multiple places that I've been to previously, they all had a 35-45+min wait times. Only this place had no wait so we headed directly here. Right off the bat the vibes were slightly off, we walked in there was no acknowledgement, we assumed they were decently busy so maybe we just had to walk up to the back where the register was. We sat down to wait as there was a customer at the counter and was eventually greeted and sat at a table. We were handed two menus and no explanation so we didn't realize till later that the menus were different and one had all the naans and other things inside (maybe that was self explanatory ... idk). Before I get into the food some main complaints I had: - Weird that there isn't smaller sized garlic cheese naan. The waitress was nice enough to request for me so my only option was to get two smaller sized garlic cheese naans for ~$7. Not a bad deal but I honestly would've just wanted one. - Why doesn't the curries come with rice? Even just basic rice? I feel like that is the norm in all of the other restaurants i've been to, so I was a bit confused when they asked us to order a rice as they do not come with any? (that's mother ~$7+ upcharge). The food: - The curries were good, both were flavorful. I liked the shrimp korma more than the lamb one as it was the style i'm more used to. I feel like the plates are HUGE (at least for the shrimp) but there was a lot of veggies and curries and not as much meat as it looks like it does. Overall the experience was just alright. I just feel like the price is a bit too much for comparable indian establishments within the mile radius. My main gripe was honestly over the rice LOL. read more

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This was definitely a great experience! Although not the 5 stars I would still recommend to try it out! We got there 15 minutes before opening and there was already a line. The restaurant filled up quickly. Food is delicious!! We ordered the 4 person combination-- it was soooo much food we took home containers full! Naan is the best I ever had! Mango Lassi was so yummy!! Service is where I minus out a star. Service was ok. Had to ask for more water a couple times. I think what stood out more is the server not having patience for us to ask questions about the menu and food. Great little "hole in the wall" kind of place! I would definitely recommend and will return! The fat cells definitely did the happy dance on this experience!- Especially for the Naan! read more

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Awesome Indian food. Having been to India twice, I would put Cafe Maharani at the same level as several restaurants I dined at in India. The butter chicken, so ono. The chicken tikka masala, superb, the naan, wow! Overall, great food. Chris, the lead host and waiter was very accommodating and provided outstanding service. Since we had a bigger party, we had to wait but it was worth it and Chris took our order while we were waiting. We got our food soon after a table opened up. Portions were huge so go hungry. I will be back soon. read more

Cafe Maharani - Indian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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We ate like a maharaja and maharanis Paranthas were awesome Chicken curry was great and big portions Best Indian food in long time maybe ever We are cooking back tonight 3days later read more

Cafe Maharani - Curry chicken - Indian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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I had this restaurant bookmarked for a while and I'm glad I finally got to try it! Every time I passed by this place it was always packed, but surprisingly it wasn't busy this past Saturday night. You can park on the street or at the Longs lot across the street. Our server was good, she seated us quickly and gave us enough time to look through the menu. It was honestly hard to choose what to eat because everything sounded delicious. We definitely over ordered, but it was so worth it because we had enough leftovers for the next day. We had the butter chicken, palak paneer (vegetarian), shrimp tikka masala (my favorite), saffron rice, butter naan, and garlic cheese naan. The flavor and spice level for all the curries were PERFECT. Also, if you're a protein lover then this place is for you because they serve pretty big pieces. We definitely got our moneys worth and left with happy full bellies! read more

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My third time here and still love it. Probably the only proper Indian place on the island. They have a few parking spots behind their store. There's also usually a wait but line isn't too long. Their maharani dinner for 2 is still my fav item to order for $60. It definitely is enough to feed 4! Comes with two dishes of your choice (only one can be seafood) and from their menu - you start with vegetarian samosas, eggplant or onion pakora. Served with rice and naan, or one stuffed naan for extra charge. Or one kabli naan. Only one lamb and seafood choice please. Flavors are great and portions are great! I also ordered the mango lassi and it's huge as well. I liked their garlic naan more than cheese naan though. read more

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Me and my wife really, really wanted to love it -- after all, it's much closer to our home than the other Best Indian Food on the Island- (also I used to frequent this establishment back in the early 2000's -- and -- I'm sorry but it sort of sucks now. Look - we left Maharani's with half of our leftovers packed up - because they do have quite generous portions -- however we threw all that shit away the very next morning. It was a perfect amount of leftovers-- That should say it all -- we dumped probably $30 of food (or more) into the trash ‍ Sadly - it's going to be a No - from both of us - This is 'maybe' a Two Star Indian Food Restaurant However, there is a very solid Four Star Indian Food restaurant on Oahu I've lived abroad in places with amazing Indian food (Singapore, Malaysia) and have travelled to India several times. So, take that ad you may - but I've got extensive experience in eating really good and authentic Indian food. Anyways, here's the thing: There is an Indian restaurant on Oahu which is at least Twice as Good. So - why settle for second best? Should You eat at Maharani's? Sure - but only because it's less wait time at the other -- much better place! Also, it's not necessarily terrible -- but it's not necessarily good either.! If I had to guess; this place was Amazing back in the late 90's -- but now -- as with so many other establishments-- it's crusty - And -- I haven't even gotten to the part where I'd gotten terrible diarrhea from the food there. ‍ Won't Be Back -- Sorry read more

Cafe Maharani - Maharani's Food - some was ok - most was just meh. - Indian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

What time is it?! Time to check out some new things at Cafe Maharani. They revamped the menu with a new look and added new food items from the variety bread baskets and tasty kebabs. They have assorted tandoori mixed grill made to order - from the tandoori to your plate! They also added many new naan dishes as well. Looks delicious, savory, cheesy, and mouth watering. Definitely pair it with one of their curry dishes. It's naan time! read more

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Staff is always friendly and service is efficient! Love coming back here. Take out side is always busy! And the dining side gets busy around 5:30pm. This restaurant is never slow nor empty and that shows how great the food is. read more

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This was my second time visiting Cafe Maharani, and the food is delicious every time! The service was great--super friendly staff who gave us amazing recommendations. The portions are HUGE, so we had plenty of leftovers... which actually lasted me about a week! Definitely worth it! read more

Cafe Maharani - Indian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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The portions were INSANE. My party of five ordered the Maharani dinner for four and we still had enough leftovers for dinner the next night! We tried the vegetarian appetizer platter, eggplant tikka masala, chicken tikka masala, shrimp coconut korma, and I believe the lamb vindaloo. Of those dishes, of which there were many, my party unanimously loved the eggplant tikka masala the most. Something about it was so delicious and saucey. Also, this place has the biggest naan bread I've ever laid eyes on. We got a buttered naan before our main dishes and it lasted the entire meal. However, it wasn't as buttery as I was hoping, and next time I will probably try the garlic naan instead! This place is so great and I can't wait to come back. The atmosphere, portions, and food were so awesome. My personal recommendation is to order the mango lassi with your meal, which helps with the spice :) read more

We use to love coming to this restaurant. Until we had the worst and unprofessional experience ever. There's a sign that stated to inform the server of allergies. As we informed the server of our allergies, they first laughed, and then was told they could accommodate. First disappointment was we were first to order, and the whole restaurant got their food before us (they were all white). Even a second wave came in and got their food. Second disappointment was one of the individuals in the party with an allergy started coughing, and showing signs of an allergic reaction. Server came by later and we asked if there was the item in the dish and noted I guess it does. Notified we will have to take the person to the hospital because their throat is closing. Server just said looked at us and said oh sorry. No sympathy nothing. Third disappointment was saying they couldn't comp the dish because it was part of the special. Ask what they could do. Kindly stated to comp the meal because of the lack of care and Next Steps that follow. They comped only the price of the dish by adjusting the drink costs. Finally the charge of each special item was significantly higher than the price on the menu and they would not adjust. Totally disappointment and sad to see the restaurant decline in customer service and need to make situations right. read more

After recently dining at all the new Honolulu Indian Restaurants during the last two months I just revisited Maharani. In the last few years, the following have opened: 1) Spice Up 2) Kamana Kitchen 3) Tadka Indian Cuisine 4) Namaste Indian & Nepalese Cuisine 5) New Kamana Kitchen All these other places are pretty good, but I have to say that Maharani is still the best. And best of all its not so crowded due to the increased competition. Reasons for this assessment: 1) Largest portions 2) Prices still reasonable 3) Naan is BY FAR the best 4) No other place does seafood as good. The fish here is moist and perfectly done. The shrimp is succulent. Service wasn't bad. They no longer let you put your name on the waiting list when you're on your way there. But there's no wait, so it doesn't matter. read more

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It is our first time in Hawaii and we had the pleasure of dining in Maharani Indian restaurant. We thoroughly enjoyed the ambiance and the food was delicious. The quality and quantity were both outstanding. Service was excellent and very welcoming. Thank you for your hospitality read more