Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Cilantro Indian Cafe

    4.4 (445 reviews)
    ModerateIndian, Halal, Seafood
    Closed 4:30 pm - 9:00 PM

    Order Cilantro Indian Cafe Takeout or Delivery

    Cilantro Indian Cafe Photos

    CILANTRO INDIAN CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Cilantro Indian Cafe

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Close up lamb biryani
    Denise D.

    A first time visit and unexpected a very pleasant surprise. The parking was busy in the shopping center mid-week after 6pm. A nearby walk towards the aromatic smell, Wow, impressive inside did not expect from the outside! I was promptly greeted by a young man at the counter. I did not really look at the menu as I was craving lamb biryani...only request without egg. Fortunately, they have 2 types. The man mentioned it would be medium spice level, okay and also ordered a mango lassi sans ice. While waiting for food, I observed both a decent of patrons who dine-in and take out. Very impressive the young man stating to "Mr ...," after he paid, that he may wait in car and will bring right out when order is ready. Excellent customer service, not sure if the owner, relative or employee! The ambiance was lovely and even semi-private to enjoy and I will definitely recommend and return. I was surprised that some patrons left food uneaten, odd not to pack up. It looked good but not sure if good appearance but not taste so I was a little concerned. Finally, my order arrived and the appearance was a little unusual as I did not expect plain rice on top. The dish had some kick in the spice level plus s extra salt ... glad for the raita. I knew I would have leftovers to modify the excess salt...I went back to the counter to get the Gluten Free chocolate cake and a side of buttered potatoes both to go with container to pack up leftovers. The guy asked me how I liked the spice level and I do believe I said "call the fire department " --Good spice level cleared my sinuses and warmed my body! All good, a compliment! Please, use less salt it was too much and quite higher than any restaurant in the area. I would enjoy another visit-- this one 4 stars! The order for take out buttered potatoes went to another table. The owner apologized and they came out. There should be a better way when a mistake like this happens to rectify, especially for a first time visit. I will need to request less salt, unless that is from the clarified butter not sure but the tip of my tongue felt it before the heat from the aromatic spices. A refreshing sorbet, kulfi, or gelato to cleanse the palate would be ideal! I would like to try a tea or coffee at another visit or lunch. Overall rating breakdown: 4 stars Greeted and welcomed promptly = 5 stars Ambiance = 5 stars Quality & Portion = 4 stars Price = 3.5 stars , gluten free cake $12 expensive just okay Customer service and experience = 4 stars - improve when error occurs

    Ambience
    Pallavi S.

    A cozy Indian cafe with beautiful setting , attentive staff and awesome food. We went around 6:30 PM on a weekday and got seated immediately. We ordered couple of entrees - vegetable biryani, egg curry, paneer makhni and paneer Achari and all of them especially egg curry were awesome. Medium spice level was as expected and our 6 year could eat it. I liked how the entrees are accompanied by rice , nan , chutney and chickpea salad making it a whole meal in itself.

    aloo dum
    Aditi K.

    ordered takeout, but the ambiance inside seems really nice! i also saw some nice looking desserts in the case but refrained from picking anything up this time. maybe next time though! we ordered veg samosas, moroccan hummus, and dum aloo. both the entrees came with roghani naan and rice. usually indian restaurants don't give free naan, so i thought that was really nice! the portions are also huge (which is good because each entree is on the pricier side). we were also offered free cilantro chutney with the samosas. the samosas were excellent - obviously not as flaky since i picked up my order like half an hour after it was ready but that's my own fault. the chutney was really nice and spicy. i enjoyed both entrees too, but i have to take a star off because neither of them is anything like their name. the moroccan hummus clearly engenders some confusion because when i ordered it over the phone, the guy on the other end described the dish to me in detail and asked if that was ok. it was ok because i knew what i was ordering, but why not just call it chana masala? there's no other chana masala on the menu so i don't know what the purpose is of calling it something different. the dum aloo is also not real dum aloo. dum aloo is supposed to be whole baby potatoes in a spicy gravy. the "hummus" was spicier than the aloo and the potatoes were not whole baby potatoes and also were not completely cooked to satisfaction - this dish was more like aloo matar makhani. everything was delicious, just mis-advertised, and really for seemingly no reason. i would still go back though!

    Erin T.

    Delicious food and amazing service. The owner(?) came out to ask our son how he liked his dish. He was honest and said it was a little spicy and he brought him a more mild dish - which he definitely didn't need to do! However, it ensured my son had a delicious time. Will be back!

    Chicken Korma Dinner
    Morgan W.

    This was genuinely one of the best restaurant experiences I've ever had. Our first time going in there, and my personal first experience with Indian cuisine and I was left amazed. My fiancé got the Tikka Masala and I got the chicken Korma. I was most definitely not used to the spices but the flavor was incredible and "Pops", the owner, was one of the kindest gentlemen I've ever met. Great service, great food, beautiful atmosphere. I can't say anything negative.

    Karahi Paneer Dinner
    Christine W.

    I ordered the karahi paneer, which they warned me would be spicy. I had a mango lassi to go with it, and the manager/owner came out to check on us and gave me a yogurt to help it go down, which was really kind of him. That karahi paneer is not something to be trifled with; it's got a slow burn that builds with each bite. The flavors were wonderful, although the green sauce was only okay. I liked the naan with my paneer. The chickpea salad was quite refreshing. The decor was interesting--major quotes by a number of famous people. But overall, the service made up for the slightly more expensive price!

    Pan Seared Catfish Dinner
    Breyana D.

    A great place for fast casual dining! Parking is easy as it's a shared lot with other businesses. The menu is pretty extensive so there is something for everyone and various dietary needs. It didn't take long to order. I ended up choosing the pan seared catfish. I would estimate the food takes about 15-20 minutes. When the food arrived, I was surprised at the large portions. My entree cost $22 so this was a good deal to me. I am not a fan of spice at all. I can typically handle things that are mild like a 3 out of 10. This dish was definitely at least a 6. The rub on the fish was spicy and the rice was spicy as well. I ended up using a yogurt sauce to balance the heat. Despite the heat, the food was excellent. It was fresh, flavorful, and filling. This place is worth checking out if you're in the mood for Indian food!

    Oily chicken tikka masala
    Rick S.

    1/23 Update After my previous review we gave the restaurant a few months and decided to try again. We ordered Chicken Biryani, Moroccan Hummus, and Chicken Tikka masala with Mango Lassi. The chicken biryani was delightful and hands down our favorite dish that we ordered. It was tasty and had good balance with appropriate spices. The Moroccan hummus was just average and has slightly more oil than we would have liked. The chicken tikka masala was made how it usually is and had good flavor. The spice level was perfect for the dishes (we ordered mild and it still had plenty of spice! ) Good job!

    Chicken Tandoori Wings Dinner
    Angela A.

    I was visiting the area for work, and I was looking for a highly rated location to grab good Indian food. I stumbled upon Cilantro Café in my search. Might I say, I am glad that I came here for dinner. As soon as you walk in, you're greeted by a casual café, one where you walk up to the counter to place your order. Once your order is placed, you're given a number that you then bring to your table, as your food will be brought to you. The first thing that I noticed about my entrée is how fresh everything tasted. In the past at other Indian establishments, I've experienced super oily dishes, but that was not the case here. On top of the already delicious food, the manager came to check on how I was doing. That personal touch really added to the overall experience. I could not say better things about the spot. If you're looking for fast, easy, and quality Indian food, than this is THE place to go!

    Chicken Jalfrezi Dinner

    See all

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lisa A.
    14
    16
    5

    1 month ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Loveeee this place forever and always! First time trying take out here and I was thoroughly impressed - just as yummy as dine in!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Denise D.
    70
    224
    317

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Cilantro has great food, speedy and friendly service. Spacious environment as well. I'll be back for sure!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Erin T.
    1
    29
    13

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Amazing food and service. The guy who answers the phone is so sweet and helpful! Definitely recommend.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Great place! Excellent service, they are the nicest people and the food is fantastic! The dining room is very pretty and spaced for privacy!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Flavorful with just the right amount of spice. Staff was so friendly. Will definitely come back.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    The food was amazing and the staff was so friendly and caring, I totally recommend this place to any wanting good Indian food.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Saloni V.
    1
    72
    139

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 12

    Ask the Community - Cilantro Indian Cafe

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Indian 5,563 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Tasty Halal Eats - Chicken plate

    Tasty Halal Eats

    4.5(26 reviews)
    4.7 mi

    This food truck definitely lived up to the hype! After landing at RDU and needing a late-night bite…read morebefore midnight, I'm so glad I stopped here. They offer a great variety of options at very fair prices, and the owners are incredibly kind and welcoming. The food itself is outstanding. I ordered the chicken platter, and it really hit the spot. The yellow rice was perfectly cooked with a soft, ideal texture--and in my book, if you can nail the rice, you know the rest of the food is going to be good. The chicken was tender, juicy, and full of flavor. I'll definitely be back to try the rest of the menu!

    Everything form my previous review stands. Tasty food, good prices, friendly service. Got the gyro…read morethis time, sauce usage was generous which was fantastic but did make for a slightly messy meal, the portion of fries was also fairly generous and well seasoned. The only slight qualm I had this time was the wait times. In my opinion food trucks are supposed to be fairly quick, especially when there appears to be not much of a rush. Took them almost half an hour to prepare my gyro, after they said it would take 10-15 minutes. I think they were prioritizing pickup orders from DoorDash which I guess I understand, but was a tad frustrating given it was night, cold outside, and there was otherwise no apparent rush.

    Photos
    Tasty Halal Eats
    Tasty Halal Eats - Lamb Gyro with spicy chutney

    Lamb Gyro with spicy chutney

    Tasty Halal Eats - Lamb, chicken, yellow rice, tomatoes, shredded lettuce, white sauce, spicy sauce.

    See all

    Lamb, chicken, yellow rice, tomatoes, shredded lettuce, white sauce, spicy sauce.

    Big Mikes BBQ - Always great 2 meat plate but were out of sausage. Smoked potato salad!

    Big Mikes BBQ

    4.1(810 reviews)
    3.4 mi
    $$

    Listen... I'm not saying I'd elbow someone out of the way for Big Mike's burnt ends, but I am…read moresaying I'm not sharing them. With anyone. Ever. These things are otherworldly -- melt-in-your-mouth tender with that crisp, caramelized, candy-coated exterior that should honestly be illegal. I happily make the 90-minute drive from Moore County because this BBQ is that good. The chicken? Juicy. The brisket? Fantastic. But the burnt ends? Those are the reason I'm blocking off my schedule and grabbing my keys like I've got somewhere holy to be. The fries were perfectly cooked (crispy but not trying too hard), and their spin on potato salad was surprisingly delicious -- they smoke the potatoes, and somehow that makes the whole thing taste like comfort food's cooler, more interesting cousin. If you're thinking about going... go. Just don't expect me to share my burnt ends. I meant what I said.

    Great restaurant with an awesome menu. We came on a Sunday around 2pm thinking it might be quiet…read moreand it was absolutely packed, which makes sense after eating there. The only real downside was they were already out of pork BBQ, which I'm guessing is their main item and they just ran out for the day. The burnt ends were incredible though, literally fell apart in your mouth. Service was good and they have really nice indoor and outdoor seating. Highly recommend the potato salad and the fried brussel sprouts, the sprouts had this perfect mix of sriracha and honey that was so good. It is a bit pricey for lunch but that's kind of expected with BBQ these days. Definitely will be back.

    Photos
    Big Mikes BBQ - Sitting are up front

    Sitting are up front

    Big Mikes BBQ - BBQ Nachos

    BBQ Nachos

    Big Mikes BBQ - Inside dining area

    See all

    Inside dining area

    Afghan Kebab - 2 - SAMOSA

    Afghan Kebab

    4.6(30 reviews)
    2.3 mi

    Grabbed lunch from here recently and had a great time!…read more First, parking is easy because Afghan Kebab is part of a strip mall. Inside, it was relatively austere, but the seats were very comfy! You order and pay at the counter and then they deliver your food to your table - I'm a fan of this setup because I can leave quickly and not have to wait for the server to give me the check :) It took maybe ~15 minutes to get our food, but it was piping hot and fresh when it arrived. It was so tasty! My wife and I split the Goat Karahi, which came with "two naan bread" (those naan must be huge, because it seemed more like five naan bread to us!) in a separate basket. The goat was flavorful and the sauce was delicious. The naan were fluffy and tasted really good too. The staff were nice and helpful throughout the meal. This will definitely be one of our new lunch spots, and I'm excited to come back!

    Was surprised with Afghan Kebab…read more.... Let's just say it was a good surprise :-) Location is tucked away in a shopping center In a corner store front ... so if you dont look for it... you'll miss it .. So went inside and was greeted my a nice smiling gentleman behind the counter and place is very clean and simple. The gentleman behind the counter was very accommodating and helped with explaining the menu which is a small no frills menu which is a good thing .. Orders the mixed platter with an order of Naan.. Was told to have a seat and he would bring it out and to enjoy a complimentary cup of tea (green tea) ... i was disappointed it wasn't the traditional Rose tea that I am used to at other Afghani Kebob joints but it was ok ... The food came out pretty quick and looked simple and delicious.. The chicken was flavorful and moist .. just needed a lil bit more sumac and a pinch of salt .. The Naan is your basic Naan so nothing to share there.. Overall a good experience with no frills and thrills kebobs... Definitely will come back and try another dish ... Time to now find a place that serves beef Paya. Like I was used to from Kabob Palace back in Arlington VA :-)

    Photos
    Afghan Kebab - 8 - CHICKEN KARAHI

    8 - CHICKEN KARAHI

    Afghan Kebab - 11 - CHICKEN KOBIDAH and 12 - CHICKEN TIKKA KEBAB

    11 - CHICKEN KOBIDAH and 12 - CHICKEN TIKKA KEBAB

    Afghan Kebab - Complimentary green tea

    See all

    Complimentary green tea

    Cilantro Indian Cafe - indpak - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...