It is well worth the wait as the food is made to order. Charminar Express is our go to Indian Restaurant when we want to relax and enjoy some good company. The garlic Naan is amazing. The owners are extremely friendly and want to make sure you have a great experience. Excellence can't be rushed so go with the mindset that waiting a few extra minutes is worth the quality. read more

Came here to have dinner and was blown away once again by the quality and taste of all the dishes. To start, we ordered the veggie samosas, and veggie pakora. My husband ordered his favorite butter chicken, and I ordered a chicken dum biryani. Everything was excellent- the butter chicken was creamy and flavorful, and the biryani had all the delicious spices and bone in chicken baked into it. I would order both again with a side of their delicious garlic naan. Also, Jay and everyone else is always so nice and attentive to customers and their experience. Lastly, the restaurant itself is spacious, clean, and very aesthetically pleasing. I think they just added a large TV, which was appreciated to watch the World Cup game on. Excellent experience today and always. Highly recommend because everything is awesome. read more

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Outstanding catering for a 50+ person surprise party We hired Charminar for a surprise party celebrating my wife's Master's degree, and the food was the highlight of the night. They set up a live dosa station and made fresh dosas on site throughout the event, paired with soft idlis, flavorful sambar, and a spread of chutneys that guests kept coming back for. The Cauliflower 65 and Pav Bhaji were cooked fresh on the tava right in front of guests, and the aroma alone had people lining up. For dessert, the Ras Malai was rich and perfectly sweet, served alongside authentic Indian masala tea that tied the whole meal together. Every guest commented on the variety and freshness of the food. Nothing was pre-made or reheated. This team clearly takes pride in their craft, and it showed in every dish. Highly recommend for any event, large or small. read more

This used to be one of my favorite Indian restaurants over the past couple of years, but my recent experiences have been disappointing. I visited the Temecula location around 2 PM and the food was just okay and quite bland -- not what I expect from Indian cuisine. The service was very poor. There were only one or two tables in the restaurant, yet no one came to our table even once to ask if we needed water or anything else. We didn't even get a water refill. I had to ask for yogurt and it took almost 10 minutes to arrive, and I also waited around 10 minutes just to get a fork while my food was already on the table. What was more frustrating is being charged a service fee when there was barely any service provided. I've also noticed the food quality at both the Mira Mesa and Temecula locations has declined compared to how good it used to be. I hope the management takes this feedback seriously and improves both the service and food quality. read more

**DISCLAIMER: LUNCH SPECIAL ENDED 12/25/25!** Charminar Express in Temecula offers delicious, savory Indian cuisine conveniently located in shops surrounding Promenade Mall. We came in after having a hearty dinner reunion with friends few days ago, and loved their various dishes. The server was kind enough to honor the lunch special after Christmas; sad to see it go but glad we got to try it for the last time! **Food review** Ghee dosa (5/5): Thin crepe with savory dips to pair with. A fun hands-on dish. Butter Chicken (5/5): A great creamy and buttery staple. Chicken Tikka Masala (5/5): I honestly can't tell this and butter chicken apart but I love both. Goat Chettinadi (4.5/5): Savory, dark goat meat with a complex blend of spices and heat. Chicken 65 (4.5/5): Surprisingly potent spicy chicken in savory yogurt-based sauce. Vegetable Samosa (5/5): Like savory empanadas or fried dumplings; couldn't tell it was vegetarian. Gulab Jamun (4/5): I wished they were more spiced and bigger for each donut. Mango Lassi (5/5): Must order for me. Loved the thickness and rich mango flavor. Overall, I love Indian food and curries in general; Charminar in Temecula offers both in a convenient location near the mall. I do think it can get pricey at $20+ per entree but they have good portion sizes. read more

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This was the tastiest, most flavorful Indian food I've had. Every bite was just delicious! Service was great, very patient explaining different dishes and recommendations. Highly recommend. Just try it, you won't regret it. read more

Spice, laughs, and... room temp water?!?!?! - What the...!!!! Met up w some Elite Yelpers at Charimar Express last Sunday.... Temecula's shiny new Indian spot, and let me just say... our taste buds were thriving!!! We ran the table w Veggie Korma (plant-based perfection), Butter Chicken and Chicken Tikka Masala (basically flavor twins, but we weren't mad), Saag Paneer (a little shy on the flavor front), and Chicken Ghee Roast (on fire and fabulous). Of course, we carb-loaded w Garlic Naan and Basmati Rice like the queens we are. Dessert? Oh yes!! Gulab Jamun... sweet, syrupy donut holes from heaven. Service? Five stars.!!! Owner Amir made us feel like VIPs, checking in like we were on a culinary red carpet. Now, for the quirks: * Entrees come solo. No rice. No naan. It's like ordering a burger and getting no bun. You'd have to order rice & naan separately. Just be prepared!!! * No ice. I repeat: NO ICE!! We got room temp water bottles like we were hydrating mid-yoga. So I cracked open a chilled Sprite and kept it classy. The "no ice" issue was huge deal breaker for me!! * The scent wafting outside this restaurant is less "appetizing aroma" and more "who left the dumpster open during a heatwave?" It's not exactly the welcome mat one hopes for before a meal. Might want to tackle that stench so guests don't lose their appetite before the first bite!! Overall, food slapped, service sparkled, and my girls' lunch was a spicy success!! Just maybe toss an ice cube or two into the mix next time !! read more

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I invited some YELP ELITES to join here for LUNCH and we were so glad we came here because the food was delicious, the company was even better and the VIBE was just all stars around... SONG of the DAY to play along to this YELP REVIEW: VISION of LOVE by MARIAH CAREY... This beautiful restaurant itself was a VISION of LOVE! We got there early so we decided to do our YELP DUTIES and take some pictures! The owner was so nice to help us take a group picture and a picture with him too! They have 9 locations and the TEMECULA location is the newest one that just opened 3 months ago. This gem is a nice addition to our town! Everything ordered was delicious! 10/10 NOTE: Please do kindly get some ice! My party really needed ICE! Also, please be careful when leaving the door open because the flies will come in. I will have to bring my fly zapper next time!! SERVICE: A++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PARKING: PLENTY and no need to fight for it! MUSIC: Very danceable!!!! ROCK ON CHARMINAR EXPRESS!!!!! read more

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I came here with some awesome Yelpers and had a great time. We got to meet the owner who was a super cool guy. The service was great! Everyone was very friendly and patient with our questions. I didn't take the best notes so I'm hoping the captions of my photos capture the dish name accurately. The food came in beautiful handi serving bowls which made the dishes even more appealing. The portions were generous. I was just really confused between the Chicken Tikki Masala and Butter Chicken. Even after dish verification, the Butter Chicken tasted like Chicken Tikki Masala to me and vice versa. But not a big deal. The taste was outstanding either way. I am definitely coming back here again. read more

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Came back finally on the weekend to try Goat dum briyani and it can be served family style which was just amazing. The side curry alone was so authentic and spectacular, I forgot to ask what type it was but it's very similar to Hyderabadi mirchi that I've had in my travels and it also has a hint of roasted chili peppers in it. No where else serves this with briyani so you know how legit this is. Most places just come with Raita. Spectacular stuff and it made to share read more

Charminar Express - Indian Near Me - Temecula, California

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Enjoyed sitting at the restaurant and eating delicious food. Charminar is our go-to Indian restaurant because their flavors are authentic, bold and they are not afraid to say that they can't make things mild and still maintain the integrity of authentic Indian flavors. We ordered chicken 65 and vegetable pakoras for appetizers- both delish. For mains we got Hyderabadi goat curry, naan and bezawada biriyani. The biriyani is awesome and the family size portion is huge. The goat curry was good but not spectacular. The naans are a little thin but flavorful. Service is good though I wish they served cold water. Also while the ambiance is cool and casual, perfect for a family dinner, but their choice of music can sometimes be a bit too loud and intrusive. Softer music would be much better for conversation and ambience. All that said, great food, bold flavors, unapologetically authentic. read more

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Sunday, 8-10-2025: Another way overdue review. My dear Yelp friends and I gathered here for a nice lunch get together. The place was very clean and inviting with a simple aesthetic. The food was very tasty and the owner and server were very attentive. The downside was lukewarm water bottles. Despite that I would definitely return! read more

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New restaurant opened near the temecula mall. The food is yummy , the flavors are good, be aware food is spicier so recommend asking for mild ( which will still be spicy) All the dishes we ordered were tasty. Johnnie was our waiter and he had excellent customer service . Attentive and friendly. read more

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Went for the lunch special...so worth it for 9.99...ill come 3-4 a week ordered chicken biryani and aloo gobi...Soo yummy! Food was plentiful and comes with a drink, rice, naan, yogurt sauce. Only complaints...too cold in there ...the temp is chilly...and the food has bits of bay leaf and star anise the whole star and cardomom pods...it def makes the dish more flavorful but I wish I was chomping bits of that :( Other than that I'd give it 5 stars read more

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As always Charminar Express is a Temecula staple and one if my wife and I's favorite lunch spot. We appreciate the staff and always feel so welcome. Could not recommend this place more because it's truly that good. read more

Been seeing the restaurant a lot when driving by and finally got to try it today. I got a butter chicken and a chicken 65 biryani. The butter chicken sauce was thicker than usual and tasted very tomato like. Didn't really care for that much. The chicken 65 biryani was just okay, the flavor was just not that good. However the chicken in it is boneless which was good. The restaurant is very spacious with plenty of seating and it's very clean which is good. I went in on a Saturday afternoon and it wasn't very busy. The host wasn't very easy to communicate with either; language barrier. Personally I think that there are 2 other Indian restaurants nearby that are way better. I probably won't be back here. read more

Located near the mall. Nice and new Indian restaurant. Staff are really nice and welcoming. The food is delicious. I love the naan. The butter chicken is the family favorite. The dessert was a perfect ending to our wonderful meal. Prices are decent. We will be back! read more

Charminar Express - Gulab Jamun - Indian Near Me - Temecula, California

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Charminar Express, 26480 Ynez Rd, Suite C, Temecula, CA92591. I cannot say enough about the Goat Sukha dish which is consistently well executed. This place has become my go-to if I crave for Goat Sukha. read more

Charminar Express - Indian Near Me - Temecula, California

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This review is not about the food, but about the lack of attention to cleanliness in the men's restroom. I visited yesterday and went to wash my hands, and I was honestly surprised by how dirty it was. The sink had visible hair and residue, the floor was sticky and dirty, and the trash bin lid was broken and lying off to the side. Restroom cleanliness is a vital part of a restaurant experience. I strongly recommend assigning a staff member to regularly check and maintain the bathrooms. read more

I loved what I ordered!!! Butter chicken was delicious, the Garlic Naaan was buttery and on point and the Malai Kofta was awesome! I will forever Recommend Veggie Samosas!! read more

The man who greeted me was very nice. The service for takeout was on the slow side. The food was good I especially liked the Dum Ka Chicken 5 stars. It was flavorful and the consistency of the curry sauce was thick and not thin and runny like other places. Chili garlic nan had good flavor but the texture of the nan was flat and and lacked leavening- 4 stars I also had another chicken entree that was marinated in yogurt and herbs which was not my cup of tea. Looks like they have a great dine-in lunch special. read more

Charminar Express - Indian Near Me - Temecula, California

My wife found out about this place through family (family is from India). The place is next to Firehouse Subs. The interior holds maybe 75 people. The interior was clean. The food was amazing, as well as the portions!!!! The service was great as well! Great Indian food spot and we are definitely going back. Thank you again! read more

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OMGGG THE FOOD WAS SOO FLAVORFUL! ME AND MY FRIEND GOT THE BUTTER CHICKEN AND THE CHICKEN SUKKA. And seriously even writing this is making my mouth water. Omg also I just need to say the music in there was awesome like really added to the vibe it was this dj playlist of covers with beats that made me feel like aye ayee if you know what I mean. Omg the cashier was soo funny and added to the over all experience I wish I knew his name so I can give him a shout out!!! read more

SCAM!!!! They overcharge for everything, the website and the menu shows lower prices but when you go in charges are different . Our first and last time here. Chicken Seekh kabab was 15.99 but was very small portion, maybe one small skewer was cut in few pieces. The chicken 65 was advertised as $12.99 but we were charged $15.99 and it was very spicy we couldn't even eat it even though requested for mild spice. Mango lassi is advertised as $2.99 but was charged $4.99. Very disappointed. read more

Charminar Express - Indian Near Me - Temecula, California

Went in to order food to go and they had 1 person at the front to greet you and then a giant iPad to place your order to eat in or to go. I used the pad to place my order. Heads up their entrees do not come with rice so order a side of rice! After 15-20min I got my order. Got home to discover my order was incomplete! 1 of my main dishes (for my kids) was not in the bag! Now I have 4 containers of rice with no entree and it's now 6:45pm on a Friday. My husband got the only chicken curry dish and the first bite he took and he couldn't even enjoy the dish because the spice level was too intense! And we eat spicy, this was next level! I called and got refunded on the missing entree ($16.99) and was told that I could use the rice with other meals I make. And when I complained about the spice level of the chicken curry they asked me who told me to order that?!?! Well sir, it's the ONLY chicken option under curries. I spent about $60 and no one got to enjoy their meal. I know they are new and that's why I'm giving them 2 stars. Caution when ordering. Probably won't be back until they work out some of these details. read more

Charminar Express - 5 side of rice, 1 chicken curry (spice level intense), order of samosas. Missing is the chicken tikka masala. - Indian Near Me - Temecula, California

We had dinner at Charminar Express this weekend. I actually didn't know of this place, but noticed it the other night when we dined at another establishment in the same shopping center. The restaurant is clean and modern, and we were greeted right away by a gentleman sitting at one of the tables. Our server brought out 2 bottled waters right away and offered us a menu. He was friendly and made a few recommendations. We ordered garlic naan bread, and I had the chicken tikka masala while my husband had the chicken sukka. Everything was very good. My chicken was tender and flavorful. I cannot handle a lot of spice and this was perfect for me since it was not spicy at all. My husband really liked his chicken, but had a couple of bones in it that he bit into. The garlic naan bread was perfect. The only thing I would critique is that there was only one other party dining at a nearby table that night and it felt like we could hear their conversation and they could likely hear ours which felt a bit awkward. Maybe some background music would be better, but overall if you like Indian food then give this place a try! read more

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Charminar is hands-down the BEST Indian spot, no question. We had them cater our wedding from their San Diego location, so when we saw they were opening one nearby, we freaked out, we're seriously so happy to have it close! This location has the exact same quality and flavor as the original. Everything is just as good, and that's hard to find. You cannot go wrong with the Chicken 65, the curry leaves, the lemony kick... It's spicy, yes, but in that addictive way where you just can't stop eating it. The Butter Chicken is chef's kiss, and the Goat Biryani? It's literally the GOAT....it takes me back to my childhood! Also, the server was super attentive, and he just made the whole experience even better. You can tell he cares. :) Suggestion for the owner (for dine-in experience): -Consider adding some background music to create a more welcoming, lively atmosphere. The music was on and off, so it is a bit awkward when it's so quiet. -It also feels a bit off when the owners are sitting at the front on their phones while the server is busy and tables need clearing. I watched a pair come in, and the owner told them to find a seat anywhere, and the pair was looking for a clean table while the owner just went back to sitting in the corner. Jumping in to help would go a long way toward creating a smooth, polished experience. As a new business, the food is a fantastic foundation, but the overall experience, ambience, pacing, and attentiveness is what will set you apart and keep guests coming back. If the goal is to operate more as an "express" concept, as the name suggests, consider getting on delivery apps like Uber Eats or DoorDash to better serve those looking for takeout. read more

Charminar Express - Goat biryani, butter chicken, chicken 65 - Indian Near Me - Temecula, California

We ordered several dishes, but they were not served at the same time. Some items took a very long time to arrive, and by the time the biryani was finally served, most of my family had already lost their appetite, so we had to take it home. While the food itself was good, the customer service was very poor. To make matters worse, the family platter wasn't available for dine-in, which was quite disappointing. read more

SERVICE: 3.3/5 The place was empty and pretty quiet when I went. Service wasn't too great and the workers weren't particularly welcoming nor super helpful. ENVIRONMENT: 4.7/5 The place's interior was well done, with a nice modern design with some Indian touches. FOOD: 4.3/5 As for food, I ordered the 2 Item Lunch Special available Tuesday-Fridays from 11:00am-2:30pm. It costed $9.99 for a choice of 2 curries, plain white basmati rice, choice of naan, raita, and a soda can drink. The MangoLassi I ordered costed $2 as an add on to the lunch special. It was delicious, it was really creamy, and not too thick. The food came out fairly quickly, and was nice and hot. The raita was really good, the rice was decent, and the butter naan was good. I ordered Butter Chicken and Paneer Butter Masala, I also tried the Chicken Tikka Masala, and Chicken Sukka that my friend ordered. My favorite was the Paneer dish, the curry was delicious. My second favorite was the Chicken Tikka Masala, then Butter Chicken, and then Chicken Sukka. I overall loved the food, and found the quantity good for the price. OVERALL: 4.1/5 read more

Charminar Express - Lunch Combo: Mango Lassi, Butter naan, Rice, Raita, Butter Chicken, Paneer Butter Masala - Indian Near Me - Temecula, California

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This place was a surprising and delicious find! Went to the area for a place that was closed and gave them a try. Everything we ate was delicious. It was a calm and inviting environment and with very few other guests we felt perfect for our little family. The server was attentive and gave our little toddler a special treat (mango lassi). They made us feel like family. Definitely give them a try! read more

food is so good best indian food in the area tastes authentic and very cute inside i always enjoy the food and mango lassi from here and would recommend coming super clean and nice staff read more

A HIDDEN GEM IN TEMECULA.... Their food is beyond excellent, the quantities are adequate, the food was prepared to our spice level, their tandoori Chicken was among the best we have ever had and they even gave us FREE DESSERT...good job guys...keep it up...we will be back. read more

The lunch combo was so worth!!! Went to get lunch with my family and we ordered three orders: two lunch combos and a goat sukka. Usually my dad does not like Indian food, but he loved this place! We like to try different Indian restaurants around the area and this was one of the best :) definitely will come back read more

Charminar Express - Lunch combo - Indian Near Me - Temecula, California

10/10 dining experience Food service restaurant all 10/10 Highly recommend you try it out read more

Owner is not very friendly or professional. He was very confrontational when asked a question. Would definitely avoid this establishment.

The butter chicken was soo good probably some of the best I've tried, the cheese naan was so good and blended perfectly with my meal, the inside was clean and all staff was very nice and super attentive overall it was a 10/10 dining experience I recommend to anyone willing to try! read more

Charminar Express - Butter chicken with rice and a side order of cheese naan - Indian Near Me - Temecula, California

This is the third time we've ordered here. Our first order was just a few days after the grand opening, and we were genuinely excited to finally have a Charminar in Temecula ,especially since we've been regular patrons of the original Sorrento Valley location. Unfortunately, the quality has gone downhill with each visit. Biryani: Always extremely dry. It feels like eating plain white rice with a few pieces of chicken thrown in. There's barely any masala or flavor, which is surprising for a place known for its biryani. Chicken Tikka Masala: This time it was truly disappointing ,the chicken tasted stale and had an unpleasant smell. The curry itself lacked depth and seasoning. At this rate, it's hard to imagine this location lasting long if the quality doesn't improve. It is nowhere close to the OG Charminar in Sorrento Valley, which we love. Really disappointed and hoping they make some major changes soon. read more

First I'll say the food is really good, the price is wonderful, $9.99 for lunch special is hard to come by. Only gripe was the service and cleanliness of the place. Coming in the first time the place had a strong smell of cleaner, pine sol I believe, it was almost suffocating. On my way to the restroom the floors were almost water logged, I almost slipped walking down the hallway to the restroom. The restrooms itself were mopped but basically sopping wet with no wet floor sign in site. The toilets were also dirty, with visible feces on the rim and back of the toilet seat. There was confusion on if food was able to he made vegan or not, we were not given a physical menu until after asking bunch of questions, even though on the menu things were clearly labeled. Food took a really long time to come out, drinks we had ordered came out after we were basically done with food, water came in tiny plastic cups and there was no water refill the whole time we ate. The food here is really good, and the lunch special cannot be beat, but I don't recommend this place as a dine in, only takeout. read more

Over the weekend, I was really craving Biryani, so I checked Yelp and this place stood out--I decided to give it a try. I ordered the family-size Goat Biryani over the phone for takeout. It was fantastic! The rice was super flavorful, the goat was tender and well-seasoned, not dry or overcooked, and it wasn't oily at all. The spice level was medium, which was just right for me. I'll definitely be back to try other dishes. Big thanks to the chef--keep up the great work! read more

Charminar Express - Goat Briyani - Indian Near Me - Temecula, California

Service was friendly, Food was great, garlic naan and biryani was my favorite. Restaurant was clean and neat, ambiance would be nicer if they play some songs. Overall, I would recommend this place, thank you read more

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