Our "go to" in our home town of Ann Arbor. No other Indian place is as good in terms of the flavor and food quality, not just in Ann Arbor, but just about anywhere. Friendly welcoming environment and fast service. Of course you need to come say "hi" to Jay the bartender who always takes care of us. A "must visit" if you are in town for a game or a meeting. read more

Delicious food, decent ambiance for a stripmall restaurant. The service by our waiter, John, was exceptional. He answered all our questions, made suggestions from the menu and was very helpful. We enjoyed the popadums as a starter, chicken tikka, chicken curry, and seekh kabab. We enjoyed the non-alcoholic drinks: nimbu pani, mango lassi and Rishi iced tea. read more

Solid Indian food! Lots of seating and good variety on the menu. The cocktails also had a good mix of Indian flavors read more

Cardamom - Chaat - Indian Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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Ok Indian restaurant near UMich. Space was very cozy and casual. Service was ok, but a tad on the cold side. - Lamb saag (hot): 10/10 (flavorful curry that's on the spicier side) - Chicken tikka masala (medium): 7/10 (very tomato heavy... I wish it had a stronger curry flavor) - Chicken biryani: 5/10 (rice was overcooked and the biryani was kinda flavorless) - Butter naan: 4/10 (naan just tasted like... bread) - Ice tea: 1/10 (tasted like water) read more

Cardamom - Chicken Biryani - Indian Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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Service was good. Food was good. We were traveling through town and this seemed like a great choice for dinner. We got Chicken Korma and garlic naan. Everything seemed freshly prepared. Tables are close together, but they weren't so busy that others were right on top of us. read more

LOVE Cardamom! Delicious Indian food, slightly elevated (ie very well executed, and on the pricier end). My all time faves: - Steamed Chicken Momos. A must. The chutney it comes with is so good and all around this is a flavorful, staple starter. I get them every time. - Karahi Goat. The meat is so tender and savory, complemented perfect with fresh veggies and herbs. From there, pretty much everything is a good bet! Mix and match and eat it all together. This time we also got Lamb Vindaloo, Chicken Biryani, Palak Paneer, and Bhindi Masala. Side of Garlic Naan and some Mango Lassi never hurts! (Except when it literally hurts because you eat too much because it's so delicious oops.) read more

Cardamom - Indian Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

How spicy do you like your food? You can choose between mild medium and hot. I chose the medium and it was perfect for me and too hot for my friend. We were the last customers of the evening. It was a beautiful environment. The service for an end of the day was great. The food was delicious. I am pretty partial to particular flavors when I have Indian food and this was on point. I will go back earlier in the day. read more

Cardamom - Kerala Shrimp Curry - Indian Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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Wow!! Truly an Ann Arbor staple!! There was a line out the front door though it moved quickly and we were seated pretty fast. Hostess and server were patient when asking questions about the menu. The food was of excellent quality - savory flavors and the dishes we ordered complimented one another. The dishes appear small yet we found them filling. The garlic naan and paneer are personal favorites! Pricing was on the higher end though it wasn't unreasonable - something to keep in mind though didn't hinder the experience. The atmosphere has dimmer lighting and small table arrangements but that doesn't mean they aren't able to accommodate larger size parties. Our party of six fit comfortably in their booth as well as I noticed there was covered outdoor seating as an option. read more

Cardamom - Indian Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

Cardamom has always been my favorite Indian restaurant in Ann Arbor. The food is ridiculously delicious and portions are generous. That being said, this was the first time, in a while, that we dining in. 5 stars for food, 3 stars for service. While the server was nice, we had to ask for things multiple times before receiving them. For example- we needed an extra water and place setting, and were waiting until after appetizers were eaten to finally receive them. The food is better when eaten fresh but might just get takeout next time. read more

Cardamom - Chicken Biryani - Indian Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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Ann Arbor contains many Indian restaurants, and I'm hoping this review places Cardamom at the top for your choice. Phenomenal!! The menu is very extensive and contains a variety of region-specific dishes not commonly found at all Indian restaurants. No matter what you get, it is guaranteed to be delicious. Portions are very generous, and pricing is quite reasonable. Despite the fact that there are no reservations, we were seated fairly quickly and service was overall excellent (note, if you have a larger party, expect that the wait might be slightly longer). Spice levels are very accurate, you will not be surprised with something that is much milder or hotter than you anticipated. The restaurant is beautiful and well organized so that even when it is busy, the noise level remains reasonable. Overall, we really enjoyed our dinner here and we will definitely be coming back. Also, I highly recommend ordering the chai! read more

Cardamom - Indian Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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Just what we needed!!! I don't usually write reviews but I just had to for Cardamom. I went the weekend of Thanksgiving, right around 5 PM when they open, not sure what to expect. WOW. The menu, the ambiance, the servers--it was all amazing!!! At first we were hesitant to get the chicken biryani because other Yelp reviewers had said it wasn't good. Those other reviewers were wrong! If you get the biryani in the mildest spice level and then complain it has no flavor, you're the one who asked for less flavor. We got it spicy and it was perfect. We also got the chicken mukhani spicy and it was fabulous. Excellent rice, even more excellent garlic naan!!! read more

Cardamom - Garlic Naan Chicken Biryani Chicken Makhni - Indian Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

Cardamom is a delicious cute Indian food establishment located in Ann Arbor. Our service was excellent and quick. We started off with the onion appetizer which was so yummy, and the sauces complimented it perfectly. Then we shared the paneer makhni and the chicken tikka masala. Both were so flavorful and creamy. The medium spice was very tolerable. And garlic naan of course as a side was very good. Also enjoyed mango lassi to drink which was delicious. This hit the spot for us last night. A warm and flavorful meal. read more

Cardamom - Onion Bhaji - Indian Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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Such a delight! We ordered various dishes, but the Naan- fluffy, light bites of deliciousness!! Everything we had was outstanding (goat curry, bengan bharta, papadam) but I'm not sure if I have had better naan before. The flavors of all the dishes were spot on, the service was spectacular (our waitress even followed us into the parking lot for a forgotten item), and the reception staff was so welcoming. Definitely go there if you are in Ann Arbor. read more

Cardamom - Indian Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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Wonderful Indian food! Good service. Summer seating includes outdoors under an awning. I usually order take out because I dine alone, but I've had dinner there with friends and we all enjoyed it. Very fresh vegetables! Spice level can be adjusted, from No Spice to Hot! read more

I finally ate here in person instead of just getting carryout. It was fantastic. The drinks are just as good as the food, the service was excellent, and the whole operation was run like a well oiled machine despite operating at maximum capacity. These are the dishes that blew me away: Seafood korma, Karahi goat, tandoori chicken. read more

Cardamom - Tandoori Chicken, Kerala Shrimp Curry - Indian Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

Good experience. Looks plain from the outside. Very well designed interior. Good food. Spice level is light. Ordered mild would definitely order medium next time. Very good service. Would return. read more

Food is pretty good, so I went back to this restaurant even it was a long way to go and even waited for opening as they do not take reservation. But usually the service is blunt and even rude. I felt uncomfortable as a waitress was talking so rough and blunt, even felt like as if she were ungly or upset about us. They came often checked on us as if they made us feel that we need to order more, or leave soon. I don't think that I will go back there again to feel rudeness and uncomfortable dining. read more

WOW! It has been a minute since I have left a review on Yelp but my goodness i needed to get on here and let you all know about my phenomenal experience at Cardamom. First of all, I got confirmation that the food is halal from the owner, which is always exciting. Secondly, the food was absolutely fire. It was so fresh and warming. With the weather getting more chilly this was the ultimate comfort and cozy dinner. Thirdly, the vibe. This place was bustling but they had enough seating for us. Every single table was full and honestly happy. It was so nice to see so many packed tables with so many happy and satisfied people. I will most definitely be coming back soon! read more

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Everytime I go to an Indian restaurant in the area that isn't Cardamom I instantly regret it. Best food and service as far as Indian food goes! read more

Fantastic food, great service and a beautiful decor earns them a 5 in my book! I had some super delicious chicken tikka masala that had a great flavor and the quality of the chicken was top notch too. You could taste the freshness in everything that was served! I ordered it hot, but would probably order the medium spice level next time. My other favorite was their cardamon infused old fashioned! Soooo good Their rice and naan were good as well. I wasn't blown away by their samosas but I'm not a huge fan to start. If you are in search of a great Indian restaurant in the Ann Arbor area, I highly suggest that you check them out ! read more

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Delicious food! This place is awesome. Every item we got was full of flavor. I don't remember what we got exactly, but I would recommend going with some friends and ordering a few items that sound good to you. Share them all, and eat it together! Definitely recommend getting the garlic naan. read more

Cardamom - Indian Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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Very delicious food. Small place with well decorated. Good service. The naan is a bit overpriced but it's Ann Arbor. Recommend.

This is my favorite Indian restaurant in town. In this trip, I had the Samosas, the Palak Paneer (medium spice), and a mango lassi. All were yummy. Our service was great, too. I must admit that I enjoy the Samosas at Everest Sherpa (another favorite) better and the mango lassis there are bigger, so I'm noting this for next time so I can try some other things at Cardamom. Alcohol isn't present at Everest Sherpa, so it might be worth trying one of the yummy-sounding alcoholic beverages as a treat. In past visits, I've tried all the naan. My favorites are the onion and Kashmiri. I consider the Kashmiri to be too much of a pastry-like dish that I prefer it to be dessert instead of something to accompany my meal. As a special treat, I enjoyed my leftover Palak Paneer with a fried egg atop for breakfast the next day. Next time, I may order a complete dish for takeout for just that purpose for breakfast the rest of the week. You can thank me later for that tip! Note, Cardamom won't take reservations, so be prepared to sit and wait for a table during busy times. It will be worth the wait, though!! read more

I have been coming to Cardamom frequently throughout my post college years and have enjoyed every single visit. This review specifically is to encourage every single yelper to order and try their roasted vegetable salad. There aren't that many photos and reviews of it so I was a bit reluctant to deviate from my normal fare but it did not disappoint! Talk about eating the rainbow! It is gorgeous!!! Beautifully assembled and looking salad. They give you three dressings on the side. My favorite was the yogurt dressing very closely followed by the lime dressing. The paneer is a really nice touch to the salad. I also added tandoori chicken. I also had a side of roti. I was so full the remainder of the evening. Definitely consider getting this salad! read more

Cardamom - Roasted vegetable salad with tandoori chicken. Delicuous! - Indian Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

food was good, service was good, ambiance was cozy- entrance area was quite cramped, bathrooms were nice and clean.

The food was pretty mediocre for the price we paid. The Chettinad Lamb curry was pretty good and quite flavorful. The garlic naan was alright but also pretty mediocre compared to other naan I have had. The chicken biryani was pretty underwhelming. They provided some sort of white sauce on the side for the biryani but it barely has any flavor. The biryani itself was also pretty flavorless. I was told that biryani is usually default spicy but what I got wasn't spicy at all. We came before the dinner rush (5:30pm) on a weekday so we were able to get seated right away. The ambiance inside is nice but the tables are all really close to each other. read more

Cardamom - Chettinad Lamb Curry + Garlic Naan + Chicken Biryani - Indian Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

We've had the opportunity to sit in both indoors and outdoors! They both have unique charm and atmosphere. The service both indoor and outdoors were very fast, friendly and pleasant experience! For appetizers we tried both samosa and momo. The samosas felt gourmet samosas. Haha it felt more premium than any samosas I've ever had. They were very large and filled with lots of filling. The momos are essentially dumplings but with unique filling and sauce seasoning that can't be found in East Asian dumpling palettes! If you're feeling something simple and cleaner I'd recommend the momos, something slightly heavier I'd recommend samosas but both are great choices! We've tried both tikki masala and makhni! Both were phenomenal, The chicken tikki masala had a stronger tomato base, little tart/acidic little less creamier. Whereas the paneer makhni had more creamier, richer mouthful. What we typically know of as tikki masala was closer to the makhni. Both proteins were cooked perfectly! The lamb saag was a perfect blend of meat and and creamy saag. Meat was extremely juicy and the garlic naan complimented very well with the dish! Chicken biryiani was my least favourite thing that we've Ordered. It's not necessarily bad but there are so many great items on the menu that it would just not be my first choice or repeated choice. read more

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They open to start taking orders at 4 pm and you are given a pickup slot when you order. We ordered carry out at about 4:15 on a Friday night and our pickup time was 6:30. Plan ahead! I had the baigan bartha (eggplant) and it was very good. The medium spiciness was too hot for some of us, but I thought that it was a nice combination of spicy while maintaining a nice flavor. The naan and the Kashmiri Naan which was stuffed with almonds, pistachios, and mango chutney were both delicious. read more

First time trying cardamom was delicious. The adjustable spice levels and my lychee tequila drink paired perfectly together.

Ordered carry out last week and I don't know if I got them on an off night but it was just a little lacking. I ordered the chicken tikka masala, chicken momos, and the Kashmiri naan. The tikka had a delicious sauce and the portion was very ample but the chicken itself was tough and a little dry. The momos were very good and I definitely scarfed all those down posthaste. The naan was interesting but I guess I was expecting more of a flavorful punch given the fillings (almonds, cashews, pistachios, raisins and mango chutney; sprinkled with coconut). Online ordering was easy and my order was ready about 10 minutes before I expected but even though I got there late it was still hot when I got home. The service was pleasant and pick up was super easy. I'll definitely go back and try them again but after not eating there for a while I had higher expectations and memories of previous meals. read more

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I have been a strong fan of this restaurant since it opened: the food is beyond amazing. It is halal and uses only the best ingredients. It was a lifesaver with takeaway during the pandemic and I was delighted to return after not having visited for some time. Again: food is consistent and memorable. My favorite is kirahi goat, and the Nan could not be better. Pleasant service! read more

Cardamom has the most diverse menu and is consistently good. I think it's fair to say that Cardamom has the best Indian food in Ann Arbor. So, why the 3 star review? I can't get past the SUPER long wait times. Right now, they are take out only. You order online, but the system won't tell you exactly when your order will be ready until after you complete your order. Once you check out, it gives you a notice on when your order will be ready. Sometimes, I have had to wait TWO HOURS. We don't order the most extravagant things on the menu either. Our standard order is chicken tikka masala for my husband and butter chicken for me. One time I also ordered their okra dish, which I absolutely love, but we aren't going crazy here. I have no idea why their food takes so long to prepare, but it is the main barrier between me and ordering their delicious food. read more

We've been dining at Cardamon for many years and it is definitely our choice for Indian food. The atmosphere is lovely, the wait staff is attentive, and the food is delicious. read more

The restaurant was busy on a Friday night around 7:30, but they were able to accommodate us after waiting for about 20 minutes. The restaurant has a nice interior and when you walk in the aromatic smell of Indian spices are in the air. They have a small bar to the right when you walk in, and the dining room is small as well and is in the left. The tables are close. The food itself was great, but not excellent. I would say it was Americanized since I have eaten traditional Indian food in India as well and with Indian families. I will say, even the momos were good but not spicy and definitely needed the chutney to have some flavour. The onion kulcha were delicious and nicely seasoned. The karahi paneer was mediocre. The paneer was not a fresh paneer, but processed. The sauce tasted like it was made more from tomato paste Vs fresh tomatoes. The chicken tikka masala was tender, nice flavour and again the spice was Americanized. read more

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First time here because Shalimar was closed. The papadum was a bit stale. The samosas were a bit chewy but flavorful insides. Unfortunately the chewiness made it hard to enjoy and left half of them uneaten. Partner felt the same way about the samosas. We got the tikka masala and the paneer. The flavors are pretty good but it just lacks something. The naan wasn't fresh. It feels like everything is just sitting in warming trays in the back and things aren't really fresh. Atmosphere is good. Not like sixth street in manhattan but ok for a Michigan Indian. I give the edge to shalimar on this also though. Service is friendly. I probably would pick another cuisine if shalimar is closed next time however. read more

My friends swear by this place being the best in AA so I came one evening. It was ok, but I didn't like the food that much. I ordered the chicken tikka masala. It tasted ok but also a little bit weird for me compared to all the other places I've had. The price is also not the best. I would probably go to other Indian places instead here. read more

While visiting from out of town, my boyfriend and I got lunch at Cardamom with my brother and his family. We had a party of four adults and three kids, and were seated right away just before noon on a Saturday. The menu at Cardamom is large and includes several dishes I'd never tried before, which was exciting. I also liked that the menu includes the restaurant's story, interesting information on Indian food and pairing with wine, definitions of some cooking techniques, and personal anecdotes from the chef. I think that really added to the experience and I would love to be able to take the time to read everything next time! My boyfriend and I ordered the lamb saag and the paneer makhni. We also got a bunch of naan to share. The lamb saag has boneless lamb in a tomato curry sauce, and the paneer makhni is cubes of cheese in a creamy tomato-cashew sauce. We both ordered our dishes medium spice, which was the perfect amount of light spice for us. Our food came out fairly quickly which was great. At first I thought the portions were small for the price, but realized it actually was a good amount of food with the naan and all the rice that comes with each dish. Some of the lamb in my dish was a little tough, but the flavors were amazing. The paneer makhni was definitely my favorite; super creamy and rich, with lightly melty paneer. It took quite awhile for us to get the bill at the end of the meal; we had to flag our server down. Otherwise the experience was very good and I would visit this restaurant again for some specialities I haven't seen before. read more

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This is my favorite Indian restaurant in Ann Arbor :) this might be a touristy thing to say since it's so popular (but I've lived in Ann Arbor for nearly 9 years...) but I love the cozy vibe and the delicious food there. I would always recommend the garlic naan, so good with any curry. I typically get a lamb/goat curry with a bunch of vegetables to help even out the large amounts of meat. What I appreciate most is that the curry is not overly oily/heavy compared to other restaurants. Would definitely recommend! Doesn't hurt that there's a nice boba place nearby :P read more

Best Indian food in Ann Arbor, hands down. They're super popular for takeout and will even shut down their phone lines when busy.. can't speak to the ambiance since I've never dined in (it's in a strip mall). read more

I love this place. I don't know why I don't why I don't come here more often. I came here for lunch and had the chicken thali plate. My friend had the lamb. It was awesome! I had a piece of chicken random, tilapia mandala, 3 vegetables, naan, Rita and rice pudding. It comes in little bowls on a big platter What I Love about this place is that everything can be prepared mild. They will make it spicier for you, but for people like me who need their food mild, this place is the best! When I order mild at most other Indian restaurants it comes medium. I love Cardamom's fresh sauces they are so flavorful. read more

Cardamom - Bill for lunch - Indian Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan