Pay by the pound vegetarian Indian buffet. Take out boxes are readily available so you can grab and go. A few must have favorites are the broccoli and mushroom curry, the banana pudding, and the spiced tofu. And I'm usually very critical of tofu dishes. One beef I have with this place: you end up spending $10-$12 for your meal, and you don't get any meat. I know it's vegetarian, but there's other places nearby you can spend a similar amount, and get meat. read more

Very good food. Flavors are well-developed and spicy without going too far. I had five or six items and each was right on the money. I was especially happy with the garden salad, which had plenty of cabbage. I like to get something in the brassica family every day, and it was refreshing to see a cruciferous vegetable on my plate that wasn't broccoli, cauliflower, or the now curiously ubiquitous kale. The dals were very satisfying. The decor is very "college town", but comfortable and clean. The owner was also very pleasant and, as I was the only one there, kindly indulged my chattiness as I dined solo. All in all, and speaking as a vegetarian, this place is a star in Ann Arbor. If you are a meat eater, give it a try because you won't be sorry. Update: Back in town on business. The food here is even BETTER. The masala tofu is amazing and the bhindi is better than Okrah Winfrey. Seriously, if you pass this place up because you love meat, uou made a huge mistake. The food is sooo good. If I had a place like this at home, I'd give up cooking. read more

Food here is generally tasty with a few minor misses. Buffet style, pay by the pound. I always seem to have the eyes bigger than the stomach problem here. My heavy plate inevitably ends up meaning I leave paying more than I had planned. However, the prices are certainly fair. Ooooh, and the banana pudding. Best damn stuff ever. It's vegetarian. I like not having to ask if there's meat in every single dish. Ah, simple luxuries. read more

Dinner, Saturday night. 6 lovers of Indian food, 2 vegetarians, and a few who had eaten their last 5 meals out, and were hankering to save a little money. Earthen Jar didn't necessarily rock any of our worlds, but it certainly fit the bill. I think it's fair to say that the place grew on us as we stayed. We knew it was a takeout friendly buffet before going, but when we first entered, our first reaction was that some of this stuff seemed to have been sitting out for a bit... Let's be honest, Indian food is awesome, but doesn't necessarily LOOK that great--fancier places dress it up with lovely atmosphere and fancy place settings. Earthen Jar doesn't have any of that stuff, so you just have to put your faith in the food--and pretty much, you won't be disappointed. The price can't be beat at $5 a pound--if you fill your plate like a normal, civilized person, you'll probably be right around the 1 lb. mark. most of us were at about a pound and a half. It could have been a little hotter (temperature I mean)...some dishes were closer to room temperature than anything else. But, everything was tasty, and we were even surprised at the spice of some of the dishes. Everything is clearly labeled mild, spicy, and very spicy, but we were pleased when the kick turned out to really pack a punch--for example, the fried potato dumplings--yum! The naan was a little disappointing, but I suppose just about what it should have been for this kind of set up: it's in a refrigerated case, and mocrowaved when you order it at the counter. So you get soft, hot bread, but the texture and puffiness just isn't quite there. It's also $.75 apiece, as opposed to $2 at Shalimar (which has awesome naan) or similar. Plates were disposable, which disappointed some of us, but we realized halfway through the meal that reusable plates are available (or you can bring your own) as long as you wash them yourself in the back room. This attitude sort of sums of the Earthen Jar well: they provide tasty food at a rock bottom price, you make of it what you will. We wound up sitting at the table for long time, eating and laughing with our friends--and while we were there, the flow through the place was nonstop. Something about Earthen Jar keeps folks coming back, it seems--and for a quick, easy, and cheap lunch, I'd be back again. Note: the patio outside that looks like it belongs to Earthen Jar actually belongs to Jerusalem Garden next door. Sorry Charlie! read more

Found this place entirely by accident. It's around the corner from Seva, where we were headed but it was closed because Seva is moving. So, on the way back to the parking deck we were freezing and here it was, and in we went. A little tiny restaurant with a tiny little 25-item buffet where you pay by weight (the loaded plate's weight, not yours). They have a good selection of desserts and drinks in the cold box, though - carrot cake, pumpkin pie, mango lassi (regular and soy) and a variety of other things. There are just a few tables, but it feels like a little family business, which it is. It was quiet, just a little Bob Marley ? playing in the background. (Yeah, I don't get it, either.) At first glance it looks kind of funky and dingy, the decor well-worn, the paper plates are made from recycled paper and cutlery is plastic, but the food is a great value! Zero complaints about the flavor, it was all well prepared - and the degree of spiciness clearly indicated on the label for those who prefer blander flavors. If I was a U of M student, I'd eat here a LOT! Well done, Earthen Jar. read more

Earthen Jar is a real cute vegetarian restaurant, in the sense that it is unique. It is setup in buffet style. There is a hot bar with lots of delicious Indian dishes (e.g., masala, paneer,......), cold bar (salads,.....), and dessert bar. They also save lassi's, which are delicious, and lots of other vegetarian offerings. There are 3 things one must mention in reviewing Earthen Jar: the seating area is very small so if you get there when it is crowded you could be out of luck; you have to weigh your food which I always find kind of not-so-great (though lots of other places do the same thing so we are kinda' used to it by now), and the place is definitely family run (which is a nice touch) by an Indian family. Overall, this is a unique place for people to try vegetarian and vegan food. And the food is usually of high quality. read more

Oh Earthen Jar, how I do miss you. The food was the reason I fell in love with Indian food 7 years ago. After trying Raja Rani I swore I never would touch it again. I'm so glad someone talked me into trying earthen jar first. The food is consistent. They have gluten free options. Some vegetarian some vegan. Friendly people. Cute atmosphere. Love read more

I came here for their lunch buffet, as I was really excited to have some good vegetarian food. Although the food seemed fresh, it wasn't very flavorful. I felt like it lacked enough spice and perhaps some salt. I was especially disappointed by the broccoli and mushroom dishes that looked super creamy but were kind of bland. read more

I dislike that you pay by the pound, and I dislike how crowded and chaotic it can be at dinner time. The food ranges from mediocre to very good, with most of the dishes I had being on the very good end of the spectrum. I would not suggest getting the pakoras; they're not as delicious and very dense, meaning they add to your bill quickly. Items I particularly liked: the baingan bharta, the bhindi masala, the chana masala. There's a small room near the bathroom and sinks where there are two tables isolated from the rest of the chaos in the front of the restaurant. That's where you should eat. read more

Let me qualify my two stars by saying that I've been to Earthen Jar several times, and I wouldn't be surprised if I go back. What's the story then? While every time I eat there I think, "Meh," there's always something appealing about a by-the-pound food bar, especially with ethnic food. So where is this "meh" coming from? Blandness. Nothing is overly spicy, overly sweet, overly tangy... it's all just middle of the road. I want my mouth to be on fire! I want a cooling yogurt sauce to tame that fire! I want something deep and savory! I want crunch and crisp and texture! I get none of this from Earthen Jar. It's also just a big, mild mush. I DO get a big tab. I always hold back when choosing food, nonetheless, I end up paying around $15. That's a $15 lunch that leaves me going "meh." Again, though, ethnic by-the-pound... hard to pass that up. read more

Real simple. If a place truly is good, you only need to visit once to figure it out. (Places that don't always hit well, I'm willing to give a second chance but it'll take some time). I'm not a vegetarian by any means, but occasionally I do get cravings. Ann Arbor is known to have some of the best Indian food and a lot of the servings did happen to be or resemble that food and culture. (On the side next to the cups, I did sneak a peak at the mac-n-cheese). I briefly glanced at the item name markers and if it looked delicious, I put it on my plate. Some of the flavors just burst in your mouth. You wouldn't normally get these combination of tastes and spices in any other food. What's neat is some of the food might taste strange at first, but then your brain decides that its truly delicious. I filled my plate up with a good amount of food and it cost barely over $6. Not a bad deal so I'm definitely bringing my friend here next time. read more

It's cheap, and quick because you pick from a buffet. However, flavor is just somehow off or odd on many dishes. There are much tastier options all over AnArb. read more

My second visit to this gluten free and vegetarian gem! The food is delish and you pay by the pound so the portion is just right.

This place is gross! I ate their 3 years ago and it was gross then but just recently a friend of mine told me they had improved. Sadly enough, it's still gross. If you like gross this is the place for you. The appearance screams out for improvements! The owners have done nothing to improve it! Lazy!! The food is gross and I can't say enough about it. It's pretty much the same food from 3 years ago. It's buffet style, therefore, when the food dries out it cakes over, worst yet, their people just add water to it and mix in the caked parts! Who knows how long it's been caked over. Their selections are boring. I was expecting more and it didn't taste very good. Earth in a jar is pretty much what that is. Dirt food! Don't go here, ever. If you like run down, dirty, caked over food, and gross is your thing then go here and enjoy yourself. I'll never come back to this place, ever! read more

Our lunch place in Ann Arbor. Everything is tasty and healthy. Mango lassi is a must to have! The only suggestion is that hope the hot food is warmer. read more

Earthen Jar - Eat by the weight - Vegetarian Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

Not your typical Indian buffet! Great vegetarian & vegan selection. Nice atmosphere. read more

Love this place . Truly a hidden gem in Ann Arbor. The bread pudding is to die for. A must visit place when in town read more

This place is one of my favorites, and I eat here two or three times a week. The best dessert in Ann Arbor is hiding here -- you have to assemble it yourself. Take a small, flattened scoop of suji halva (a grey, slightly sweet wheat pudding) from the loose tub near the soda cooler. Then go down to the buffet cart nearest the door and find the famous banana pudding. Scoop out a bit of pudding -- make sure you cut vertically to get all the strata -- and lay it on top of the suji halva. The combination has a rich, buttery bottom taste lacking from the banana pudding alone. I never get tired of it. read more

I stopped in the other afternoon for lunch after walking past here dozens of times in the past four years, and I wish I had come sooner! The buffet had many delicious options and is fairly-priced (&7.99/lb). Everything was flavorful, but could have been a little more spicy for my taste. The owner was very pleasant to chat with, and it was lovely to sit outside in the sunshine and enjoy my meal. As a vegetarian, this is definitely a place I will be visiting again! read more

Cheap, no-fuss, and delicious, I think I can actually try to be a vegetarian if I can eat from here every day!

Solid homemade vegetarian Indian food at a good price: $5.99/pound. For how small the restaurant is, the variety of dishes was really impressive. I liked the cozy, quiet, home-like atmosphere too. My only complaint was that none of the food is spicy - it seems like they've kept all the food mild to appeal to a wider audience. Not a real problem, as everything I had was still quite tasty, but I would have enjoyed it if some of the dishes were a bit spicier. read more

Amazing, authentic, delicious vegetarian Indian food. I was surprised to find out the buffet is priced by the weight of your food. I had to get two plates to try everything I wanted. Which then sort of discouraged me from going back for more of something I really liked since you have to weigh and pay for it again? Totally worth it though. Tiny place, so be aware during busy "normal" eating times. read more

Earthen Jar - Random buffet options - Vegetarian Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

Great vegetarian options. The broccoli shahi korma sabzi and the zucchini were my favorite dishes. PRO TIP: head to the back room for reusable dishes and silverware instead of using paper plates and plastic ware. read more

There's a lot to like about this place. For a vegetarian it gives lots of options and you can choose how much food you want. And it has a nice hole-in-the-wall vibe to it. And another plus is that they have a very good record with restaurant health inspections. I for one appreciate this and applaud the owners for taking this health issues seriously. But ... the food, as others have noted, is overly spiced and MUCH TOO SALTY, which really detracts from it. Some dishes border on unpleasant. With some slight adjustments it could be a much better place, and I'd visit much more often. I hope the owners are listening! read more

I don't trust vegetarians. There's just something wrong with people who don't eat meat. Every time a vegetarian has invited me to dine out with him/her, I always end up regretting it. Wheat gluten forced to resemble beef brisket? That's just wrong. Soy hot dogs, soy patties..I mean. C'mon. If you want stuff that tastes like meat, then just eat meat. Animals are meant to be hugged, and then slaughtered as a delicious delight. With that said, you should realize that if I'm such a carnivore, then the fact that I'd be happy to eat at Earthen Jar should tell you something. The food there is delicious. They use the spices the way you should use them: to make non-meat items actually yummy to eat. Most of the time though, I don't eat there (because I love meat too much and end up at one of the Indian buffets in town). I do go in and get their mango lassi. Best in town, hands down. N.B. This is not a romantic joint. It's in an old house and you pay for your food by the pound. I can just imagine a date there: "Honey, I don't have enough money for that much food. How 'bout you do my wallet and your waistline a favor and get less food?" read more

Earthen Jar has the most flavorful food in the city. I'm not even a vegetarian but I come here to eat Indian food. It's delicious and has an amazing price point. It's a buffet, but you can't go wrong with any of the choices. They use fresh ingredients and everything is authentic. I don't live in Ann Arbor anymore but when I visit, it's the first place that I want to eat. I'm sitting here right now and I'm already missing it! I look forward to the next time I come to town! read more

I haven't lived in Ann Arbor for over three years, but this is the restaurant that I miss the MOST. First of all, the concept of paying for your food by weight? Awesome. Second, I'm not consistenly vegetarian mainly out of ignorance of hearty vegetarian meals, but their all-vegetarian (vegan?) fare always filled me up. I had multiple favorites at this place, but unfortunately, because they did not label their dishes (until the very last few months I lived in Ann Arbor -- not long enough for me to commit to memory), I never knew what my favorite dishes were called! The broccoli-mushroom thing smothered in creamy yellow goo. The potatoes+peas dish. That red chickpea dish. The giant potato balls, of which I'd sometimes order six at a time, eat two on the spot, then take the rest home to microwave for a savory late night snack. The lemony cold green salad thing. The banana dessert. My stomach and plate were never large enough, so I just had to return to eat at Earthen Jar as often as I could. I hope Earthen Jar stays in business forever and their recipes don't change so I can go back and feast when I get another chance to visit. read more

I loved my visit to the Earthen Jar today! I filled my plate with variety. I don't know the names of most of what I put on my plate, but I can tell you that that potato dumpling was AHmazing. It had a great little kick of spice, and goodness knows that I love potatoes. The salad was great, the basmati rice was yummy before I threw a lentil something-or-other on top of it which made it more yummy. The best part, of course, was leaving feeling healthy and energized. Love you, Earthen Jar! read more

JAs another poster said, the feel is old school college town, no frills. The aroma and food, delicious! Each spiced in a different way with texture and flavor. The heat level is there on some dishes if you're looking for it, still flavorful. I suggest dining in or getting your own buffet carry out so you can try the variety offered. I've been with my daughter and our plates, *loaded* usually run about 13.00$ Per plate- we really don't waste our time with the bread so I can't comment on that. There are two rices offered, we save room instead for the dishes themselves. One of our favorite places to treat our senses especially our palate! We have only tried the vegan offerings, there are also vegetarian. Most offerings are gluten free. ***parking- there is surface and underground parking next door and street parking nearby read more

Earthen Jar gets raves all over town, and I can see the appeal. A cheap, quick, varied mostly-vegan mostly-South Asian food bar where you pay for your nosh by the pound. Seating inside is limited, and the patio is adorable but rarely very crowded, likely because most people drop in to fill up a to-go container and then get back to their jobs or classes or homes with a quantity of healthy, nourishing, reasonably tasty food custom-designed to fit the size of their hunger. A plate that will satisfy me after hours of forgetting to eat costs between $5-$6, with a few extra quarters for a piece of naan or a samosa, which they wisely make as needed rather than letting them get stale in the buffet. Mango lassis live in the cooler behind the few tables, and they get bonus points from me for offering soy lassis (but also carrying formerly-of-cow-udder yogurt for "normal" lassis and the raita). The cashier is a very kind man in a turban who seems geniunely invested in making people comfortable, happy, and well fed. But I can't in good conscience give more than three stars for such mediocre food. The dishes labeled "spicy--hot" have a mild kick. The ones labeled "not spicy" lack are apparently not seasoned at all. A whole plate of food doesn't even make me thirst. The black-eyed peas with fresh tomato is objectionably bland, the muttar aloo that substitutes potato for the more traditional paneer is unable to compensate for the lack of cream and cheese, the "spicy" chick peas aren't, and the spinach and tofu tastes like those are the only two ingredients--an indavisable culinary choice. I'll probably go back, and when I do, I'll take far less of anything that looks like it's just drowning in tomato sauce, because it is, none of the dishes labeled "not spicy," and a lot more of the dal. This begs the question of when I'll be in the mood to pay the cost/lb just for lentils, but it's nice alternative to delis and greasy spoons for cheap quick eats downtown. read more

*Fantastic buffet*, very flavorful, tons of variety. Perfect level of spiciness! Vegetarians and omnivores alike in our group raved over the food, and even the 1 year old with us was begging for more. Will definitely be back! read more

Earthen Jar is like a good friend you can always depend on. E.J. offers a variety of vegetarian Indian food, appropriately labeled by spice level (thank you!). The food is tasty and rarely leaves one feeling overindulged (as happens at Taste of Suvai when you eat too much at the buffet). Though you have to pay by weight the price is reasonable and it's probably actually better to pay for what you're really going to eat, rather than forcing yourself to return to the table at an all you can eat buffet. I always feel healthy when I eat at E.J. and I enjoy the vegetarian options. Tip: If it's nice out, grab a to-go container and head over to Liberty Square (park) just down the street. Picnic in A2! read more

This is one of my favorite places to eat in A2. It is definitely not the fanciest place, but the food is soooo good. Everything is vegetarian and most things are vegan, but every meat eater I've taken to eat there have loved it. The lentils with spinach is the best- never known anyone not to like it. It is nice that everything is by the pound so you can try a little of everything. This is especially good for children. My 5-yr-old and 3-yr-olds both love this place. All the people who work here are also very nice. Very relaxed, homey enviroment. Too bad they don't have the couches anymore, though. read more

Highest rating for food quality and satisfaction. The Earthen Jar is a friendly, hole-in-the-wall buffet restaurant that offers yummy, nourishing food quickly and painlessly. Better than its neighbor, Jerusalem Garden, their lentils are actually flavorful rather than flat and their naan bread is warm, soft, and oh-so-just outta the oven. And for someone who isn't prone to chowing down on large lunch meals, the weighing-in on what you get + a little extra for naan bread brings me to around $4. Fan-freakin'-tastic. read more

The ideal restaurant. Pay by weight? Genius. Delicious food, Healthy too. Love washing my own dishes, family atmosphere. Beautiful place. Heaven on Earth. read more

Disclaimer: I'm an Indian American who was raised in a pretty traditional Indian household, and my mom used to cook everyday, so I guess I have a slightly different palate than the average American who frequents this place. To go off of that, I don't really see what the big deal about this place is. All the food is pretty bland and tastes identical. They seem to have their go-to combination of spices which they season EVERYTHING with, and it really makes all the dishes feel identical. They also seem to be pushing this pseudo-Indian vegetarian/hippie vibe a bit too hard, at least for my tastes. If you are vegetarian, and want great tasting Indian food, I'd recommend Cardamom or even Madras Masala. However, if you found the food at this place to be delicious and flavorful, you might find the food at the other places I just mentioned a bit overwhelming. read more

eee!!! i was so excited to finally try and must the courage to eat indian food !! Earthen Jar was the bomb!!! 1. im really into spicy food- just about every dish is spicy, and 2.it makes me feel better about eating a vegetarian/vegan meal - *** healthyy *** theres 3 buffet sections set up right when you walk in - you pick up a plate , or there is carry out containers - $5.99 or something like that per lb - being a beginner to indian food this was cool! cuz i got to try a lil bit of everything. my colorful plate can be found via photo from Anne A. - we went together :D theres an open seating, really social community eating - on each table theres little inspirational poems and messages, we read them outloud to eachother. for drinks - they have some pop cans and than water from a big jug where you drink from a lil silver can cup - i was into this for some reason. NO STENCH - you dont smell when you leave !! best part. I wish it was all you can eat - i wanted refills on some dishes i liked, but than again thats why it was an experiment tasting and il go back forsure!! now i know what i like and dont like - makes me wanna go out and try other indian spots !! love this one. the guy is super friendly, the restaurant feels like ur in the back of his home, or he lives upstairs - dont kno if he does or doesnt ahha but feels like it. read more

This place is expensive. Who pays $5.99 per pound for steamed rice!? Rip off

Earthen Jar was my default kitchen for almost two years. I lived next door and later a block away, and whenever I craved fast, delicious, cheap, healthy food, Earthen Jar came to my rescue. Always got the eggplant in tomato sauce - it melts in your mouth just as it hits with a bang of spicy. Other amazing dishes include the chickpeas in spicy tomato curry, the broccoli and mushrooms in creamy yogurt sauce, the cauliflower with cardamom and turmeric, the spinach and tofu, the salad, all the relishes and sauces, the tofu chunks, and - most importantly - the funky red pepper swirly sweet things! Basically, now that I have moved away from Ann Arbor, the one food thing I miss the most is Earthen Jar. That's right - more than Zingerman's! Earthen Jar, you kept a piece of my heart ... and my appetite! read more

A different tasting Indian awaits you at Earthen Jar. Definitely worth trying if you like Indian food - the experience alone is an interesting one but the food is okay, too. I'm torn on my star rating... just don't think it was good enough for 4. The staff is very hands-off and allows you to go through the routine which, if you've read the reviews, is pretty simple. Of course, if you're new to EJ, it might be nice to have someone explain it. I'll do that for you since no one did it for me. First, sanitize your hands. This alone makes me want to give a 5-star rating. There is a small bottle of hand-sanitizer atop the buffet. After that grab a plate or to-go container depending on your goal. Curries start, then rice and into the dishes. There were some things that looked really poorly prepared - to the point I wouldn't even try them. This included the tofu saag. The tofu chunks were huge and looked undercooked. My dining companion loved the curried squash which was mild (he can't handle spice). I loved the fact that there was a choice of white or brown rice. As you make your way through the buffet everything is clearly labeled with its traditional name, English translation, whether it's vegan or vegetarian, and how spicy it is. I found that the "mild" dishes weren't just mild, they also lacked flavor. The medium and spicy dishes, however, were both hot AND flavorful. I got a little bit of nearly everything because it was my first time and I wanted to try things out - next time I'll stick to what I liked. While I'm noticing super-high ratings and lots of raving, there were several things about the food at EJ that didn't work from me. The blandness of some of the dishes was really weird. Also, the fritters were way too overdone on the outside but raw on the inside - as if they'd been thrown into too hot a fryer. The larger samosa-like dumplings were pretty good - spicy. There is a huge selection, enabling you, once visiting a few times, to get things you like. The naan, which has to be ordered separately, is made fresh and pretty good though doughy. I like a little crispness around the edges. The desserts sounded good but the choco-chip cookies looked a little raw. The authentic desserts (those balls in honey syrup) looked amazing. I don't know, friends, it just wasn't all that phenomenal. The Chana Masala, a favorite dish of mine, clearly had too much tomato paste and tasted like something you'd get at target in a foil pouch. I will be back, though, so see if maybe it was just an off day. read more