My Iowa City favorite! Affordable, quick, and tasty! The service here is always fast, the food comes out hot, and takeout is reliable when you have a busy day. Buffet is a bit cold depending on when you go (I'd recommend coming at 11am exactly for lunch), but it's $14 for all you can eat! That's a steal! Seating is usually a booth, but there are tables in the middle. read more

India Cafe - Indian Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

Tonight my favorite takeout for a night in. I frequented this place in college for the lunch buffet, but now I prefer delivery. My go to is chicken tikka masala, vegetable samosa, and plain naan. Absolutely delicious and I always order it spicy. read more

India Cafe - chicken tikka masala, vegetable samosas, plain naan - Indian Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

Our senior group from church recently had lunch here. The buffet was good. Everything prepared well and not too spicy for the American tastes. My spouse is not an adventurous eater, and he liked all the chicken dishes, desserts and potato-based offerings. Definitely a place to visit for good Indian food. read more

We are big fans of Indian food when it comes to a ordering food to go or for delivery kind of night, we've found it usually travels well. We decided to give India Cafe a try and we were unimpressed. I was surprised that everything we ordered had underwhelming flavor. We have made more flavorful Indian food in our own kitchen. We will hit up another Indian restaurant when craving those bold Indian flavors. read more

This place has been around for so many years since I was a kid in high school. It's the best Indian food in my opinion, especially for the budget of a buffet. That's all you can eat for 15 bucks. They have all the classic staples, including chicken, tiki masala, and chicken tandoori. They also have amazing naan-bread. For the vegetarians you will find dal, lentils and other assorted options that are not chicken entrées. read more

India Cafe - Sample photo of the daily buffet that ends at 2pm and opens up later around 5. - Indian Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

See all

I've eaten Indian food for four years straight like it's a personality trait, so trust me when I say this: whatever I got today was not chicken tikka masala. It looked like someone whispered "spice" over a pot of hot orange water and called it a day. No creaminess, no flavor, no dignity. I've had breakups that hurt less. This was the worst Indian food I've ever tasted, and I'm honestly offended on behalf of every actual tikka masala out there. If I could rate it below zero, I'd be digging for numbers underground. Never again. Calling it "bad" feels too kind. This was easily the worst Indian food I've ever had, and I regret every dollar. read more

Food. Ambiance. Food dry and poor selection. They had 3 meat items among 6 vegetarian options. While dining here you could hear a pin drop. No music playing at all. Sketchy looking and it's definitely not one that ends up being good. Not sure how they messed up tandoori chicken with chicken thighs. Really dry. read more

We have been dining here for more than 20 years. The dishes all have a thick and flavorful base with delicious vegetables, legumes, and meats. The samosas are decadent; perfect spice blend, satisfying texture of peas and potatoes with buttery taste, with a perfect crispy outside. The buffet is exciting and has a great variety. It never disappoints. The service is straight forward and kind. The atmosphere is simple and sufficient for any type of dining experience. Don't miss out on tasting what this restaurant has to offer. This is a great place to hang your hat and come to eat anytime you are downtown. In fact, it's the only place to go. See you there! read more

Pretty good indian food, have tried take out a bunch of times and is never disappointed. Tried the lunch buffet and it was very good, lots of vegan and gluten-free options which are clearly labeled. Not much of a selection but it is normal for lunch buffets. Restaurant was very clean and quiet. The man working was very kind and attentive to our needs and brought out refills as they were getting low. read more

India Cafe - Lunch buffet - Indian Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

The food was good. The restaurant was clean and tidy. The gentleman working checked on me multiple times and was pleasant. One thing I really appreciated was that the restaurant was quiet. I went in at an odd time during Jazz Fest, and I ended up having the place to myself for a period of time. There wasn't any music playing or tv's creating background noise. It was a delightful change. read more

India Cafe - Lamb Vindaloo & Garlic Naan - Indian Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

My family ate at the tail end of a Sunday buffet. The owner who served our food and beverages outside of the buffet was extremely kind and attentive. The food was delicious, chai tea was flavorful, and Whoah the bill was cheap! read more

We moved to Iowa City almost a year ago and have been tasting our way through the different Indian restaurants in IC/Cville. India Cafe will definitely be our new go-to when craving Indian food. We tried several dishes and they all had great flavor and everything seemed very fresh. I also appreciate that the menu denotes GF items. They also offered their own delivery service, which was inexpensive and arrived quickly. Our food was clearly packaged with care and still very hot when it arrived. read more

Claims you can order takeout, but does not offer such an option on website. Only option is delivery, but since I do not have a current residence in IC I could not buy from this restaurant. No reason to not have takeout option other than to charge scummy delivery fees. No thanks. read more

Holy smokes! I have been eating at Masala in Iowa City for years! But last night we decided to try out India Cafe! We wanted to be close to the Englert Theater cause, we were going to see Nick Offerman for our wedding anniversary but wanted to get a nice meal before the show! Ashley was craving Indian food, and I'm always craving it so we hit up India Cafe! And dang I'm glad we did! And Im about ready to start an 8 year love affair with this restaurant! They had a ton of Vegan options and they were all listed very well on the menu! I choose to get something I have never ever tried Vegetable Jalfrazi which is Fresh mixed vegetables cooked with spices fresh onion, green peppers and garlic with herbs and spices. I got it 7 out of 10 spicy and it was maybe the best Indian food I have ever tasted in my life! It was amazing and perfect flavor! We also ordered a couple samosas, and ROTI vegan bread! Both meals came with rice and were very filling! The service was top notch and for awhile we were the only ones in the place! Our whole meal, two samosas, 2 meals, and roti bread came to 26 bucks! How amazing is that! Some of the best food I have ever ate and a great price! Great way to top off a great day! I'm jealous that Iowa City has two great Indian places whithin 4 blocks of each other! read more

See all

Pretty good Indian buffet. $10 for lunch all you can eat. Not much for variety but that is normal for lunch buffet.

Food is overall not bad but the service Is terrible. Also I paid 3 dollars for a mango lassi that was 70 percent foam and 30 percent drink. read more

India Cafe - Mango Lassi (mostly foam) - Indian Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

I cannot overstate how much I LOVE LOVE LOVE India Cafe for Indian food. I've been to others, like Masala and others in Cedar Rapids and Ames, but India Cafe beats them all, hands down! My friend introduced this place to me back in college. We would get the Maharaja (sp?) dinner, which came with endless rice, steamed meat/veggies, chicken curry, spinach curry, bean curry, endless naan with dipping sauces, and chai tea. Now, it's not cheap, but the money is WELL worth what you pay for. read more

Gave it 2 stars on Travel Advisor, but my spouse reported her impressions from the restroom and quick glance into the kitchen perspective......glad I didn't hear her details prior to driving the next 300 miles. Poor excuse period, let alone in a University town. Don't use the Cleaver on Chicken! and then bury it in Saag?!? Choking on Bone Splinters thinking back. No charm, Zombie staff. Good luck Hawkeye Engineering Dept if this is the Staff of Life ! read more

Just could not get into this place. The furnishings are late '90s diner and they used the wrong compact florescent lights in the fixtures. They gave off a harsh white tone that did nothing to enhance the food or the ambiance. I don't recall any music being played, so it was like a library. The staff was largely indifferent, so when the food came out, it was hard to be enthusiastic about it. I had the lamb rogan josh, and while I ordered medium heat, it was spicier than that. The garlic naan wasn't very garlicky. In all, it's decent, and cheap. But I'd have a hard time believing that this is the best Indian in town. read more

maybe it's because i haven't had Indian for a long time, but this joint hit the spot. it isn't on the top of my list as far as indian food is concerned but it is a $8/person bill. they offer quite a bit of vegetarian platters but none come with a enough heat for me (so you have to bring on the mint sauce). the chicken curry was quite good, the lintel & the saffron rice also. the chicken tandoori i thought was the best, but i think its a hit-or-miss depending on when you hit the buffet, because it didn't look that good when i went for dessert. note: starting with the Naan is probably not a good way to get an impression of the what the food will be like. for dessert, they've got your typical rice pudding and also have this indian cheesecake they labeled as Farti, which despite its name is real good. read more

India Cafe - the outside of the restaurant - Indian Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

See all

India Cafe has the best Indian food buffet in town. Most of their buffet offerings are vegetarian, and usually they have tandoori chicken and another meat dish. They aren't afraid to make the food a bit spicy, unlike Masala where the buffet is bland. (Though I went to Masala for dinner once and ordered off the menu and was pleased to find the food spicy and much more interesting). They have many dishes to choose from and I've never been disappointed in the food. The atmosphere at lunch time is usually bustling, but for dinner I find it too empty and kinda sad. Also, there's often a bad smell (like some sort of floor cleaning fluid smell) that is too strong and off-putting. Otherwise, a great place for lunch and yummy food. read more

Closer to 2.5. I'm not a big buffet person, but I've been to this place twice for lunch. They do offer free parking close by so no need to park on the street. But just make sure you read the sign for parking "instructions." I've only seen one guy run the place at lunch - he is the host, server, Buffett runner & cashier - so have patience when you come. It's probably best to come for lunch not only because they offer special lunch pricing (certain drinks are included with your buffet), but it's a no frills look on the inside so you just kinda want to get in & out. Basic place settings. Basic seating - a combo of booths and tables. Once you're greeted and seated, you can get to the buffet quickly. So, THE FOOD... it's good. Solid (my favorite reviewing word). Not memorable. There's chicken, vegetables, maybe a lamb dish, potatoes, naan, sauces. I think the selections available vary depending on the day. It's tasty enough to go back for additional helpings if you have room in your tummy. I've never felt sick after eating here, so that's a GREAT sign for buffet eating. Don't know about their regular menu or if they even have desserts. If you get a craving for some Indian food, try em out! read more

Very solid option for lunch. The okra is bomb, the tandoori is tender, the tikki masala was proper. Type of spot you like a lot more on Saturday afternoon when you had a long Friday night. Decor and ambiance downright abject. But Iowa City is low on consistent, solid, affordable eateries, and you know what you're getting here each time you go. read more

Went for dinner and there was no one there. I wasn't expecting much but it was mind blowingly good. I tried some of what everyone ordered and it was all amazing and the garlic naan was the best I've ever had. Very reasonably priced and will be going back very soon! read more

India Cafe - (Top) chicken sagwala (Bottom left) lamb mushroom (Right) chicken tikka masala Garlic naan - Indian Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

I went to India Cafe this week for the lunch buffet. The food was very good, the service was what I expected. Its kind of a cross between a restaurant and a buffet. I think the general business they do is with students, and down town workers, as a quick place to get a tasty bite. The Nan seemed fresh, and the buffet was nicely manicured. The wait staff was attentive, but at one point when collecting plates, they placed another half eaten plate on our table. While disturbing, it was momentary and I think even the server thought they had made a mistake. The rice was fluffy and light, not oily in any way. the sauces all seemed to be fresh and as expected. I wouldn't say its the best indian food I have ever had, but I think I could pass through every few weeks for lunch and be quite satisfied with my investment. As the prices were quite reasonable. read more

I have never made a physical pilgrimage to Anantapur, India rather a tasty trek courtesy India Café. Hot pink arches lacking any sort of trampe-l'aeil affect are the cherry atop this tacky palace off. What the place lacks in décor is made up ten fold in service and food. I would frequent this restaurant even if the dining room were housed in an old refrigerator box in an alley. The spices were perfectly balanced, the naan was delicate and the dessert was spectacular. I highly recommend this gem. read more

Their malai kofta is as good as any I've tasted - and you can order it hot, if you want to cry while you're eating it (I made that mistake once and now order it medium - and I like it hot). Anyway, The samosas unfortunately are inconsistent. I wonder if they sometimes freeze them and then throw them in old oil? When they're fresh they're awesome though - wish they'd throw out the old ones cuz it was a bummer tonight when I bit into one that had an off flavor...Anyway, overall - great though - and the lunch buffet on Fridays features their malai kofta (the only day of the week they serve it in their buffet). read more

Went here for a Sunday lunch buffet over Masala because we were in the mood for some meaty Indian food. Maybe it was because we arrived 45 minutes before the end, but there wasn't much of a selection. Only one meat dish, the rest were veg. This would not be a problem if the food has seemed a little fresher, but most were down to the dregs and tasted a little bland. But it was a buffet, I guess, so what can you expect? read more

The best Indian in Iowa City. The buffet could be called uneven, but it only varies from good to excellent--never had a bad meal here. The Chicken Tikka is outstanding. On one of my visits they had some completely delicious Malai Kofta (vegetarian meatballs) that were meatier than meat itself. The nan bread is good, too. Service is friendly. Yes, I've had better--I used to live at Devon and Western in Chicago and could walk two blocks to a wide assortment of Indian buffets. But India Cafe is a good choice and the best in the area. read more

Disgusting. Went on a Sunday at lunch time, but have gone there before, usually work lunches. Food on buffet tasted like old leftovers and was not warm enough. "Boneless" chicken curry dish was not boneless. Food upset my stomach. Dull flavors, not spicy or tasty as Indian food should be. Only waitstaff was on his phone, loudly, the whole time we were there. Kitchen staff with facial hair handling food without hair covers. Waitstaff our entire involved hand in ice reservoir to get ice into cups for mango lassi. Tap water from pitchers had no ice and was room temperature. Condition of dining area is terrible, dirty stained ceiling, dark and dingy atmosphere. No redeeming qualities. Lots of restaurants in downtown Iowa City are a bit run down but this is extreme. I can't imagine they would pass any type of inspection for food handling. read more

I highly recommend this restaurant if you're looking for good Indian food in Iowa City. After trying sag paneer at multiple places around town, I kept coming back here since it was the most authentic I could find. The buffet is good, but also recommend trying it not during buffet hours to have them make the dish just for you. You can pick your spice level out of 10, which adds a level of customization that I haven't found at other restaurants. I'm always able to get multiple meals out of one order since they make so much food! read more

I really like this place. The food is great, and the workers are friendly. I usually get curry lamb or chicken bryanni. But all of the dishes that my dining companions have ordered have also been good. The flat bread is a must. read more

Being from Chicago (famous for the Indian joints on Devon Ave.) I was a little skeptical about trying Indian food in Iowa City. However, I really enjoyed India Cafe. There was a lot of food for a good price. The service is adequate at best, but it doesn't really matter once you're scarfing down their delicious Tandoori Chicken. I highly suggest that and their Vindaloos, in case you're in the mood for spice. For dessert, they have Gulab Jamun, served cold but definitely tasty. The atmosphere is a little dingy and the place looks like a hole in the wall, but the food makes up for it. Overall, it's good Indian food in a town where you'd least expect it. I'll definitely be going back. read more

This is our favorite biriyani place. We come here atleast 2 times a month to have biriyani. To us, this is the best biriyani in US yet. We traveled a bunch of states and different places but any of the places couldn't beat the biriyani of india cafe. read more

Went here for the lunch buffet, and it was one of my first times trying Indian food. Ate with a large group of my coworkers and were accommodated by the friendly staff. You definitely get a lot of food for about $10 here. The buffet was nice because you were able to try a bit of everything. I loved the Tikka Masala and their naan. I am interested in going back for dinner where they have more options available for purchase that are not offered at the lunch buffet. Generally good experience, and left me intrigued to try more and go back again. read more

The weather here in Iowa City has been pretty brutal this last week, only slightly warmer than the vacuum of deep space. So, when we went out for dinner the other night, we decided that something hot and spicy might afford us a brief but welcome respite from the cold. As you can see from my previous review, I haven't eaten at India Café for some time because it is a bit dirty, run-down and depressing. Instead, I've limited myself to carry-out orders. I'm sorry to report then, that nothing at all has changed. At 6.30pm on a Friday evening, the place was literally empty. You might imagine that, given the shocking cold, a lot of people had decided to stay home; but when we moved on to a next restaurant (I'll get to that in a minute), we had a twenty minute wait for a table, so that theory doesn't seem to hold much water. Within five minutes of being seated at India Café, we had sighted two roaches, one on the wall and one on the adjacent table. Time to leave. The waiter was baffled; he tried to move us to a different table as if the roaches were limited to only one part of the restaurant. I felt a bit sorry for him actually. His English was very spotty, and it was hard for him to convey anything meaningful. In the end he just offered a "very sorry," and we took off. He watched us from the window as we headed west up Washington Street, and he looked quite melancholy. Oh dear! At this point, after nearly two decades of patronage, I'm pretty much done with India Café. read more

How the heck is this place not rated higher? Admittedly, in all the times I went to India Cafe, I never did the buffet. Maybe that's the difference. Anyway, sadly my wife moved back to Boston and we have no reason to visit Iowa City, but I still think about India Cafe all the time... their benghan bharta...mmm, so very very good. I really can't say enough about it. I know my wife was crazy for the veggie pakora. Oddly enough I never had any problem getting spicy food, every time I went I asked for the benghan bharta extra spicy, and it was pretty reliably very spicy. Admittedly once it was so hot I could barely eat it, but I was quite happy to get just what I asked for, and managed to devour it all. One more comment before I stop with the gushing... when my wife graduated from med school we had a party at India Cafe, and the whole thing was really awesome. We still daydream about being able to stop in for dinner... read more

I have been a regular customer of 'India cafe' and I have noticed the food getting worse over the years. Today, during the lunch buffet, I experienced something really disgusting. The server was coughing, clearing his throat and spitting at the sink near the buffet area. I lost my appetite due to this. I will never dine in this place again. read more

India Cafe was (past tense) my favorite Indian restaurant in Iowa City. That was until I found a hair in my Tandoori Shrimp Masala. I've worked in the food industry. Hairs occasionally find their way onto food. It sucks, but it's not intentional. While gross, this single hair in my food didn't make me change my view of eating here. However, when we complained about the hair, the following happened. 1. The waiter was aghast and apologized 2. He went back to the kitchen. 3. A woman with long hair (owner?) came out of the kitchen and looked at us. 4. Woman went back into the kitchen. 5. Waiter walks out of the kitchen, and back to our table and says "No one in the kitchen has long hair". Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. No customer finding hair in their food wants to have their intelligence insulted, on top of getting bad food. The hair had to come from SOMEWHERE. Note: I'm bald. I'm sure that they wanted to avoid having to comp the meal. I can afford to eat here. I don't need food comped. I do, however, find this restaurant's response incredibly rude and obtuse. I won't be eating here again. read more

I adore this place. This was my favorite Indian restaurant in town when I was a UI undergrad, and after 14 years of living in NY, I still dream of this place when I'm craving Indian food and judge every new Indian place I eat at across the US with this place. India Cafe wins almost every single time. Please partner up with UnitedMileagePlus Dining rewards program, and I will travel the 30 minutes to eat there even more! read more