With out exaggeration, this is my favorite restaurant in Cleveland. Didn't expect it, went in for…read moretraditional Indian flavors but instead experienced the most insanely well curated menu with unexpected bites, perfect textures, and exceptional cocktails. I went with a group at 5:30 and put our names in (definitely expect a wait, but fear not there are bars near by to kill time). There's no better word to describe the interior besides "cool". It's just truly so cool. We had the pleasure of meeting Morgan who was so attentive and helped me navigate dishes with an allergy. Now the food. Holy moly was every bite incredible. We got a variety of dishes and all paired so lovely. Carried and savory and everything you want in a small plates dinner. Group favorites: fried zucchini, string beans, ghee shrimp, popcorn chicken, crispy puris. Cannot recommend enough

Small plates are my thing and Amba delivers Indian "tapas" in a setting that is dark, moody, modern…read moreand a total vibe. I visited while in Cleveland and was super happy I listened the folks on online forums I researched before my trip, because it delivered! The menu is more Indian-fusion rather than your super traditional Indian fare, weaving in classic flavors with a few twists and inspiration from the mediterranean and middle-east. It's special-diet friendly, with a wide range of vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free dishes and I would suggest ordering 2-3 small plates per person, unless you opt for the opt for their "chef-curated menu's." We went with four dishes plus bread to share between the two of us: 1. Clay Bread ($6): Ambas version of Naan bread, just a bit less charred than I would prefer. Despite each table getting a little dish of (delicious) mango chutney, no bread service is offered so this is definitely needed if you're ordering any dippage. This tasted more like pita bread than naan and could've benefitted by a brush of ghee and sprinkle of sea salt. Rating: 3/5 2. Warm spinach dip - lemon, garam masala, yogurt ($10): A classic but with a warm and spicy spin, this was absolutely delicious and a perfect thing to dip their fluffy clay bread. Garam masala added a depth that made it addictive and the hint of fresh lemon added brightness and acidity. Definitely order this. Rating: 5/5 3. Lentil donuts - spicy serrano chili jam, coconut chutney ($13): Round little pucks of cooked red lentils shaped into mini donuts and fried, the texture and heft were a bit mushy and heavy, but the flavor was good. The serrano chili jam and coconut chutney added a sweetness and spiciness that was appreciated, and we used that to add some sweetness to the chicken tikka. I probably wouldn't order again but a good option for the vegan and gluten-free crowd. Rating 3/5 4. Lamb kofta - kohlrabi, pickled shallot, quinoa-carrot pilau, parsley ($19): These were perfectly fried, simple but super flavorful kofta's that really let the star of the show (lamb) shine. The shaved kohlrabi, pickled shallot, pilau, and parsley added freshness and brightness that balanced everything beautifully. One of the standout dishes of the night and if you're there, get this! Rating 5/5 5. Herb grilled chicken tikka - creamy tomato sauce, yogurt, chives ($20): Juicy chicken thighs were coated in a tomato-forward cream sauce that gave vibes of chicken tikka but not as spice-forward as a more traditional version (which I would have like/appreciated). Despite the description saying the chicken was grilled, it only had just the slightest hint of char and so this was one of the least favorites of the night. Good, but definitely room for improvement. Rating 3/5 Overall, Amba is absolutely worth checking out if you're craving Indian-inspired flavors in a more modern, small-plate format. The ambiance is perfect for date night, celebrations, or dinner with friends, and the menu offers enough variety and flex to explore while also being wallet-friendly.

Finally tried in person and it was so so so good!!…read more Super soft, fresh, warm garlic naan, really good and large veggies samosas and amazingly flavorful and tender chicken tikka masala. Was a really nice portion as well, two people split those 3 items and it was plenty of food. Also we did spice level 2 and it did have a little bit of a kick but perfect for me! Very intimate vibe, it's a small restaurant so you feel really well attended to and like you're part of the family. Everything came out fast and so so fresh, great experience!

I wanted to try a new spot for Indian food and unfortunately was pretty disappointed. I ordered the…read moreBiryani chicken, mixed pickled veggies, butter chicken, and garlic naan. The biryani chicken usually comes with the chicken bone in, this did not which was surprising. Flavor was pretty bland. Their take on butter chicken was like nothing I've had before where I actually thought I had the wrong order. Not a fan. The mixed pickled veggies were thrown away immediately after trying. The only thing I enjoyed was the garlic naan! Portions were also very large. Unfortunately I don't think I'll be returning here. Pros: parking was fine, service was quick, restaurant seemed clean, portion size

We dined in, but we were the only ones there and it seems like people typically order takeout. A…read morelot of people came inside to pick-up. The dine-in experience was great - I would recommend it The food was so so so good! We also ordered samosas, mango lassi drink, and cheese stuffed garlic naan - which were to die for. The samosas were a tad overcooked, but still delicious. I will say, my boyfriend and I ordered the same spicy level for our dishes (I'm white, he's not) and my food was significantly less spicy than his It was still really good, even though it wasn't as spicy as I wanted it to be. So keep that in mind when ordering! Our waitress was kind and attentive. They played Indian music & music videos on the TV. Everything was clean and it wasn't too loud or quite inside. Overall rating: 4.8/5 stars

Food overall at this establishment is good. Good prices…read more However, service is extremely slow. The interior is worn down. I would come back, but I hope their service improves. Took 45 minutes for the first dish to come out.

Very good food and service to match! The ambiance is nice and menu is simple and very well…read morebalanced. A+

This place is delicious! Definitely will come back when I'm in Cleveland again. Hole in the wall…read moreplace (so if you are looking for a fancy place don't come here). Employees are nice. The picture may not see like a lot of food but it filled me up. I did ask for it spicy but it wasn't that spicy. Price is like any other place, paid $20 for all in picture

Their food is very delicious. Customer services is very nice friendly staff area restaurant is very…read moreclean. It was very nice experience.

I dined in with a college friend during a weeknight in early May 2026. It was an impromptu dinner…read morebut I'm glad that I was able to finally visit this Yemen-based restaurant. My friend and I were the only ones in the big restaurant upon arrival. I noticed about 2 different people during the night come in to pick up their to-go order. AMBIANCE -- Cultural music plays in the background. I love all the colourful photos on the wall and the unique light fixtures. FOOD -- I ordered the Mixed Grill ($24.99) - 1 Kafta (beef), 1 Tawook (chicken), and 1 Kabob (lamb) which was served over white rice with 1 tomato, 1 green pepper, and 1 big onion. I don't like onions so I set that aside. The Mixed Grill was a good meal for dinner. It comes in a large plate so it definitely was too much food for me. I gladly took a to-go box home with my leftovers. All the meats were cooked well and tasted good. The lamb was my favourite. The rice served appeared to be a rice pilaf. The complimentary lamb soup was served lukewarm (almost cold) and I didn't like the taste. It's an acquired taste for sure. My friend and I commented that maybe if the lamb soup was warmer that it would have tasted better. I also ordered the Maloog bread as a side dish which is similar to Indian naan bread. The Maloog bread would have tasted better with some butter on it. I asked for butter but the server said she didn't have any. SERVICE -- Complimentary lamb soup was offered and complimentary tea is provided which is nice. The tea is up at the front counter so you serve yourself the tea. The service was good but could be better. The young woman from Afghanistan greeted us at the table with a toothpick in her mouth which was kind of funny but still slightly unprofessional. She laughed and apologized but I said it was fine. I asked for a glass or cup of water and they don't offer that service which was odd. I had to buy a bottled water for $1. Buying the water didn't bother me as it was just $1 but I'm used to most restaurants just offering water on the house. The young hostesses did check on my table a few times which was good. I can see myself ordering food from Dar Alyemen again but I'll get takeout instead of dining in. The neighbourhood where this restaurant is located is a bit secluded. I do love that this is an ethic restaurant that showcases an immigrant business. **** GOAL of 250 reviews in 2026 - 85/250 total reviews in 2026 - 926 total Yelp reviews - Reviewed on 15 May 2026

Have been here twice in the past week, and they are a very convenient and delicious fast-casual…read morestyle Indian restaurant within easy walking distance to both Playhouse Square and CSU campus. The folks who work here are very attentive and even though it took a bit of time to get our food, you know that they are cooking fresh and from scratch so very much worth the wait. First time through I had a chicken tikka masala and second time we share both a vindaloo chicken and a palak paneer. All their dishes have a sauce on the thicker side (making them easy to scoop with rice and naan) that were hearty and filling. The garlic naan was decent and we both liked the piping hot veg samosas. Each dish came with a side of either basmati rice or naan, so take your pick. Portion sizes were generous, so much so that we had plenty of leftovers for another meal at home. Well worth your time to pop over here for either a sit down meal or easy takeaway.

I love this place. Fast and friendly staff. I love the palak paneer and the chicken biryani. They…read morealso have dosa's and vada that are so good. Definitely recommend

Amazing small business owners with flavorful Indian food. I liked that with the service they helped…read moreexplain the menu to me and suggested some new items to try. Its not a dine in restaurant and is for take out only. But knowing everything was cooked to order with takeout made it worth the wait. Will definitely be back. The owner and Chef are a great duo who create cuisine authentically to their culture. Everything was delicious. I ordered the chicken tikka masala, butter chicken and chicken curry. DELICIOUS!!!! oh the raita was good too. Samosa were cooked to perfection

not so amazing. I love Indian food I love the taste, and presentation. I ordered curry goat, the…read moregoat itself was nice the meal was nothing like the picture in the men. Chicken Biryani was dry and had rice knots ie rice clump. Not worth the price. Will not be returning.

Stopped here for dinner on a cross country road trip. Extremely satisfied with the food and…read moreservice. The food was delicious and our server was notably cheerful, kind and accommodating. 10/10 recommend!!

The exterior of the place is unassuming, but the decor inside is lovely, and the tables are covered…read morewith white tablecloths. And most importantly, the food is DELICIOUS. For lunch, my friend and I split a pani poori appetizer, thali with goat, and chicken jhol momo. Before our appetizer arrived, the server presented us with complimentary bowls of lentil soup. The soup was warm, flavorful, and comforting, perfect for January weather. Next came the pani poori. The little crispy balls were served cold and made for refreshing & tasty treats. They were great on their own and even better when dipped into the accompanying "sour water," which was a bit spicy and equally refreshing (FYI - the sour water is heavy on the cilantro, so if you don't like cilantro, just be aware!). The thali came with an abundance of food, and we enjoyed almost everything on it. The platter came with a few different curries that were all delicious and well-spiced. One of them had a good portion of tender goat, and another had fried cauliflower and potatoes I couldn't get enough of. The thali also came with a scoop of rice. When we were done with the scoop of rice but only halfway done with the curries, the staff was sweet enough to bring us an extra plate of rice to soak up the rest of the curries. The platter also came with a piece of gulab jamun, which was sweet and rich. In addition, the thali came with a small serving of mango achar. I took a bite, and the pickled mango took my tongue on a journey, LOL. First, I got hit with the super saltiness, then the super sourness, and finally the lingering, intense spiciness. I can't say the mango achar was to my liking, but I don't regret trying it! The chicken jhol momo was fantastic as well, and I couldn't get enough of the tender steamed dumplings and that excellent broth!

Stopped into Choolaah on W 25th in Ohio City for a quick lunch. I'd been once years ago in another…read morecity and decided to give it another try while passing by hungry. You can order either at the front counter or through a self-serve kiosk. I chose the kiosk and honestly wish I had ordered at the front. I ordered a half masala, half rice, a piece of naan, plus two drinks--a mango lassi and a flavored lemonade. When I tried to check out, the kiosk wouldn't let me complete the order. The girl working said it was probably because I added drinks and ended up checking those out separately, which felt a little clunky. The food itself was flavorful and satisfying. Not the best Indian food I've ever had, but it definitely did the trick for lunch. The space is super cute with great ambiance and decor--bright, modern, and inviting. Overall, it's a solid fast-casual option. Not amazing, but good, convenient, and I'd come back.

Fast casual Indian restaurant that is absolutely delicious! Took my workmates here and we have come…read moreback many times! Shout out to awesome staff member Savannah here. Chicken Tikka Masala an Butter Chicken are my top 2 favorites. The Choolaah bowl with salmon was also great. Mint Ginger Lemonade...oh yes! The Chocolate Truffles...the bomb! The Malai Kulfi ice cream - uniquely good. Hot Chai and Mango Lassi were decent.

Absolutely amazing experience here. Had the chicken biryani and as usual, the food was flavorful…read morewith the right amount of heat. You get a ton of food for the price. Service is friendly and prompt! I highly recommend the garlic naan!

As an American, medium spice means something different to me than it does to an Indian…read morerestaurant...but that's a failing on my taste buds and capsaicin receptors. A bright, cheery setting with an Al fresco offering and a beautiful table spread makes you feel like royalty. We each ordered something different and there were positives and negatives for each. The tandoori chicken was good but the texture was a little off-putting. The goat fry biryani tasted incredibly unctuous and meaty, but was surprisingly light. The issue, however, is that it was cooked on the bone and said bones were left in the dish (same with the chicken biryani). Having to fight getting the meat off the bone was a chore, but the occasional bone sliver in a rice dish made for a less than pleasant eating experience (and a dangerous one at that). Finally, the cashew chicken was delightful, but even ordered mild, it was painfully spicy. The food came out at different times, like 5-7 minute intervals for each diner and the pacing was....hmm....let's say it was not concerned with speed...at all...even a little bit. For the money, it was worth the price as the portions were gigantic. The real question...would I go again? If I'm out that way and want Indian cuisine...sure. Would I go out of my way...not so much.