Delicious food every time! India Palace is a favorite stop when in Ames. The Lamb Mushroom Curry, Veggie Samosa, Keema Samosa, Lamb Shahi-Korma, Shrimp Curry, and Naan are all winners. You also get to customize your spice by choosing a level 1-10. read more

This place is amazing! I have never tried Indian food until last month when my boyfriend took me and I'm hooked! Prior to trying it, I was a little nervous because I didn't know how limited my choices were or if I even had any considering I'm vegan but the waitress really helped me out and catered to my needs!! And it was just more convenient for me on what to get cause she was vegan herself!! So if you are as well, they do have dishes for you :) the atmosphere is great and it's very modern on the inside. Can't wait for it to get warmer so I can eat outside. Staff were so nice as well and it was good service! read more

India Palace reopened recently, so I decided to give them another try. Apparently the Asian restaurants in Ames are all going authentic and letting the appropriating trash chains serve up the Americanized crap. Admittedly the only times I ever went to India Palace before was for the lunch buffet. The buffet is no more, the dining area is more upscale, and the menu is pretty delicious! It's authentic Indian food in Iowa; definitely some of the best you'll ever get in Iowa. Absolutely stopping in again and thankful there's good Indian food in town. What impressed me the most is that the waiter asked for our preferred spice level from 0-10. I told him to look at our table (we're a Black family) and to not B.S. us. Well I guess the owners didn't want me trashing them on YELP because they delivered on the spice. And it wasn't merely heat for the sake of heat, there were a multitude of seasonings one expects from Indian food. It was cool seeing an East Asian server in a South Asian restaurant. The various naan breads we ordered were wonderful and complemented our order nicely. My favorite was the samosas and the sauces that came with them. It isn't cheap, but I wouldn't call it overpriced. The restaurant and restrooms were really clean as well. Welcome back to business! read more

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This is just so delicious! I don't actually know why I eat anything other than chicken makhany.

Best spot in Ames to get some Indian food. The prices are a bit high but it is similar to other Indian restaurants. I have had both their butter chicken and chicken misala and they were fantastic. A couple of cons about this place is the serving sizes and the fact that they run out of naan and other bread items quickly. There have been a handful of times where they were inlY serving a quarter of their menu. BUT, that being said, the food is worth the try and it's a good spot for Indian food for Ames. read more

A change in ownership, and a world of difference in the quality of food. After my latest visit here, my initial impression from a few years ago changed greatly. This is one of the most unique and tastiest restaurants in the Ames area. A couple of notes: we visited for dinner and didn't do the buffet. My first visits here a couple of years ago were for the lunch buffet and I thought it was enjoyable but hardly something I would write about. That has changed, and I am giving this place a definite must-try review. The menu options are vast. We had the Chicken Tikka Masala, and a peas and paneer curry with a very interesting rose flavored yogurt drink. Both were fantastic and met our definition of "spicy." The naan are made fresh and we really enjoyed the fact that there is a wide choice of breads to choose from instead of the standard plain tandoor naan. Only issue keeping this from a 5-star review is the fact that both of our dishes were pretty much in the same curry sauce, and would have appreciated a little more guidance on choosing a contrasting vegetable instead of the identical curry with varying featured ingredients. If you've got an adventuresome palate you have to visit this place. read more

Wow. Amazing. This is the best Indian restaurant I have ever been to. Food was so good! The service also wonderful. It is cute and quiet in the beat kind of way. when we first got there I see that there is only one server working and he is a bit flustered when he sees there were no menus to seat us with. He runs some drinks then takes us to a table and then brings us menus we stared with the vegetable plater. I'm not sure what everything on it was but it was really good. So we get the starter and put in our order. I got the paneer masala and my boyfriend got an eggplant dish. We got our food and wow! The paneer was really good. And there were a few chunks of green pepper and onion. Just enough to make it super tasty. The rice was cooked perfectly and so was the naan. My boyfriend ordered his hot and it WAS!! So we're eating and the server cam over and asked how it was. I tell him how much I like it and comment that it's way better than Indian delight. We then proceed to have a 5ish min conversation about how overpriced and bad it is. We talked about other things and just had a good time. He is really cool! So we got the pistachio ice cream and at first glance it looked really snall. But the flavor was out of this world. The pistachios helped counter the sweetness of the ice cream and made it perfect. The food was so amazing and we will be going back a lot. I recommend this to everyone. I was going to get pictures but it was to good. :) read more

I have only been to India Palace once, but I cannot wait to go back! It was my first experience with Indian food, as I am not someone who can handle much spice. The ambiance of the restaurant is wonderful, although the restaurant is small. This means that during peak times for dinner, you may have to wait over an hour if you want to dine in. Otherwise, they do offer the option to dine out if you are looking at a longer wait. I had the Chicken Biryani that comes with Raita. I cannot gush enough about how delicious this dish was! I was able to choose my level of spiciness, so the dish was manageable for me. The dish itself was a wonderful mix of flavors, but once I added some of the Raita over top, it completely changed the flavor and heat of the dish. I was able to switch between flavors by adding more of the yogurt whenever I wanted something cooler, or eating sections untouched by the Raita when I was ready for some heat. I also had some of their classic Indian bread, but I can't remember for the life of me what it was called! It was also delicious and the sizes were large enough to share the bread and have some leftovers of your main dish to take home. For the amount of food I got, speed of receiving said food, and the extremely helpful staff, the price of my meal combined with tip was well worth the money. I 100% recommend trying out this restaurant, whether you are a lover of Indian food or a newbie like me! read more

One of the best dining options in Central Iowa. Friendly staff, wonderfully flavorful food and very reasonable prices. read more

I ordered the garlic naan and butter chicken. I called about 25 minutes before close and the woman who answered was so nice and sweet. The food was piping hot and I enjoyed the best garlic naan I've ever had. Could not recommend this place enough! read more

Excellent food. Fluffy rice and the naan is very crispy and buttery. It is a small olace so you may have to wait, but, they do take reservations. read more

This is definitely the go to spot in Ames for Indian food. Their curry is delicious and we didn't have to wait very long for our food. Add some sides like naan or samosas for a great meal! read more

My family has been coming to eat at India Palace since they first opened in Ames. I think it's been about a decade. The food is always delicious, and flavorful. It's comparable in price and quality to other Indian restaurants we've eaten at in the Des Moines area, and out of state. The owners are the nicest people you could ever meet! There's few dishes I haven't tried yet, I think the eggplant and okra are the only ones. Not a fan of either of those vegetables. I'm so glad they are re-opened! Ames wasn't the same without India Palace :) read more

Recently updated! Used to have a lunch buffet which was good but not amazing (read on). Since the renovation, they changed the whole restaurant and ditched the buffet. Now, you can order reasonably priced yummy Indian dishes. Boyfriend got vegetable briyani and I the aloo mataar. (Sorry if spelling error) You can gage the spice level to your liking. We both got ours relatively spicy. Both dishes delicious and flavorful. Also ordered samosas and warm naan, also wonderful. The samosas get an extra special shout, we almost called for another order of those before deciding we already had more than enough food. The owners are wonderful as well, both the husband and wife asking us if the spice level was okay, how we were doing, etc. We hadn't seen them for more than a year and they welcomed us back. They really do remember their customers, and they also waved hello at the grocery store before. The waiter was also helpful and friendly. I love supporting an honest business like this that provides reasonably priced delicious food, and with the new update, I will be returning often. read more

While not the best Indian I have ever had, this is the only place in Ames that actually gets near any sort of flavor. The lunch buffet is worth your time. If you are scared to try Indian food, head there for lunch a couple of times. Try everything they make and then make your decision. The buffet changes, but they do a great job with vegetarian fare. Their paneer is good, but not great. The malai kofta is fairly good, but also not my favorite. I would go with the paneer dishes if you are new to Indian, or check out one of their meat dishes. You really can't go wrong as the flavors are milder than other restaurants. The owners are awesome and will remember you. That is always nice. Also, the atmosphere is calming and you will enjoy your lunch time away from the snow and people. read more

The butter chicken is so good and the staff is amazing! Especially Ty, he is very helpful! I would eat here every day if i could(:

I arrived at India Palace the Friday evening after it's reopening. The place was packed, and we were warned that there would be a long wait time. Despite the long wait, the waiter was friendly and quick to refill the waters. When the food did arrive, it was well worth the wait. Unlike the buffet (prior to its closing), the food had more flavor and spice. It hit the spot. I'm anxious to go back again. read more

Some of the BEST Indian in central Iowa! Attentive service, excellent presentation and rich, complex entrees. I wish we lived closer to campustown! read more

Food took 90 minutes to get to us. After an hour I went to tell a worker we were going to go elsewhere. Turned out she was the manager. She proceeded to lecture me that "good Indian food takes times". Food was unremarkable and didn't seem a good value. Sad, because I loved this place when it was a buffet. read more

The food was tasty and the meat was good quality. We had the chicken tikka, lentils, tandoori chicken, spinach, and naan. All was very good. read more

I have never needed to write a yelp review before. However, when I stumbled upon this diamond in the rough, I felt obligated. I was walking down Hayward Ave on my way to campus for a walk. I am in town to visit a good friend of mine who lives nearby. Shame on me for finding myself at an Indian buffet after going out for a walk. I had no intention of eating away from my friend's place, but I was drawn by the waft as I was passing by. As a native of France, I was never exposed to Indian style cuisine as a child, but after a storied life and broad travels I've learned that I quite like it. My experience at India Palace transcends "like." The Chicken Korma was velvety, properly spiced, and just slightly sweet. The Aloo Ghobi was sautéed to perfection. If there's one facet of Aloo Ghobi that must be perfect, it is the consistency. I really don't care for potatoes "al dente." The naan was by far the best I have ever had. It was flaky, but not firm with the perfect amount of garlic. You couldn't find better naan in the heart of Punjab provinces. I found myself at the buffet simply trying to decide what next to put on my plate more often than actually eating. 10/10. The ambiance could not have been more authentic. I felt as though each and every employee was genuinely concerned about each and every guest. The serving bowls were the traditional thin steel that you would expect at an authentic Indian restaurant. I am also a huge fan of generic padded table cloths. There is something so surreal about setting your plate down in silence. I don't plan on being in Ames very long, but should I ever return I plan to eat at the India Palace. -JP read more

Some coworkers and I eat here on a weekly basis, even when we say we won't, we keep coming back. I'm no Indian food expert, but everything I've tried has been delicious, hot and out quickly. I get the mango chicken curry most often b cause I like the sweet/hot combo. The naan is also a must. My only complaint would be the pricing/portions. I don't want bigger portions, but for over $10/meal there isn't much meat, but lots of sauce (which is why you need the naan!) Definitely worth a trip, but it's becoming an expensive habit. read more

Every single time I walk down the steps of India palace, I am always welcomed by a smile of the owner of the restaurant! The buffet for lunch never disappoints and is always kept with hot, delicious food! Best Indian restaurant in Ames, for sure read more

Love, love, love their food! I go almost every week, and the owners are so hospitable and friendly!

Nice owners, food Is bland and lacking flavor and authenticity. But it is Iowa so I'm not surprised that it would be a disappointment. The whole state gives me the creeps. read more

Being white and from America the food looks less appetizing but oh my God when I actually tried it it was amazing! It's always hot, they never run out, and it is DELICIOUS! Best place to eat on campus, no contest. They have a lot of not spicy options too for people like me that can't stomach a jalapeño. read more

I am a foodie and I always appreciate good food. This place is very well maintained and renovated but they need to work on serving good tasty Indian food. I have been to this restaurant 2 times, first time when we were there I thought we might have ordered not the good option they are good at. So we went another time and ordered different food to check whether we can visit again or not. And the answer was NO. This is worst Indian restaurant I have been in USA. All item has different taste than that should taste like. Unwanted cream and own style of cooking. I never saw an chicken dum Biryani which is messy without any flavor. And please don't them Samosa, it giving wrong impression of Samosa. Chicken Pakora was not at all marinated, its just dipped in corn flour and fried, so the taste was blunt. Fish Pakora again no marination and straight fried. We had Non-Vegetarian Platter, Vegetarian Dinner(for Two), Chili Chicken, Tandoori Chicken and none was tasting the way it should taste. I am just giving 2 stars for the location and serving person, who is so friendly. It's a complete NO NO if someone really want to taste the greatness of Indian food. read more

Excellent Indian cuisine. We recently moved to the area and were pleasantly surprised by how good their food was. Pompadums are terrific and crispy as they should be. Vegetable samosas are the best I've ever had. We've lived in Dallas, North Carolina, and South Dakota and this is the second best Indian restaurant we've ever eaten at. Everest Cuisine in Rapid City, SD is the best. The garlic Naan is Not too soft Chicken Tikka Masala is very good, I like mine with just a bit more chicken but minor detail there. Shrimp Biryani is also excellent. Highly recommend! read more

Amazing Indian food for such reasonable pricing and great service. Just a hidden gem in Ames. Paneer Masala is to die for!!!

Best Indian food ive had in the Midwest. Handmade naan, awesome samosas with fresh mint chutney and a sweet tamarind sauce. Delish! Have only gone for dinner, always pleased. Casual. read more

Great food at a reasonable price. Newly renovated. A gem in campus town. Service is great and we felt welcomed when we walked in the door.

Loved the food and the service. Ordered chicken tikka Masala and saag paneer with butter naan.

First off, I'm happy that there is an Indian restaurant in Ames. It's perfectly decent, just not all that fabulous (basically: if you have a craving for Indian, it will do; if you've never had Indian, wait until you're in a metropolitan area with better options). I've tried a couple of curries and they are fairly average: the chicken tikka masala was fine, not that spicy (I asked for medium-hot). I really didn't like the naan (I've had better grocery store freezer naan). I'm still waiting to try the lunch buffet, which, if nothing else, promises a good amount of food for a reasonable price. read more

Although I spent four years as a student in Ames, I never went to India Palace until after I graduated. I went for dinner and the food was good and the owners were very helpful and very friendly. I really like the experience because they were helpful with the menu and very kind. I would recommend this if you are looking to try some Indian food in Ames! read more

Awesome papadam and pretty god indian food! Awesome and friendly service. Really good Naan too!

Delicious food! I always stop here when I come to Ames.

Nice portion sizes for those who want to be full, but not to overeat. Good variety of dishes, including cuisine for both omnivores and vegetarians. And if there's an ingredient you can't stand (in my case cilantro), there's usually a few other options available to you. They also know to vary the level of spiciness according to different pallets. The owners are incredibly friendly- they always seem to remember us! I should note that I have not tried the lunch buffet- this review is based only on their dinners. read more

This is the first time I have tried this restaurant. The ambiance is a little lacking but the food, people, and service were great. I ordered the lentil soup, shrimp vindaloo, assorted pickles, and the garlic nan. Every thing orders exceeded my expectations. I can handle food spicier than most people and asks the waiter to make it fairly spicy. The cook delivered on this request. The lentil soup was perfectly flavored and the shrimp vindaloo was very flavorful and the extra heat was perfect. The chef even came out to make sure he got it right. This place is worth trying and I am planning to come back on my next trip to Ames. read more

My favorite part of this place is the vegetarian friendly menu. My boyfriend and I have been going here about once a month the past year or so, and the owners always remember us and make it a point to say hello and make sure our meals are to our liking. The service has always been fast and friendly and the food delicious. read more

Great Indian buffet. Stick with the lunch buffet and you'll end up eating there 3-4 times a week. Its excellent and the variety is nice too. Great people and clean. read more