Really loved the experience, the Cochin Chicken Curry was spot on - I hail from Kerala and get good…read morequality Indian food in Dallas which is where I live these days, so trust me on this dish. Had it with Naan, crispy and fresh. I also had a Chicken 65 which was also nice. Servers were energetic, the restaurant was almost full even though I was probably the last customer to walk in for dinner tonight. Customers at the restaurant included people of Indian origin and other ethnicities which to me is a good indication of the popularity of the restaurant.

Came on a busy Valentine's Day and was able to get two seats at the bar. I ordered the chicken…read moretikka masala, and we shared the samosas and vegetable fritters as appetizers, then tried a dessert as well. All the food was so good, and the owner was very friendly in sharing information about the dishes. Both the samosas and fritters were nicely cooked and crispy. The mint sauce and chutney tasted fresh and complemented the appetizers well. I asked for medium heat for the chicken tikka masala, and it came with rice. Both the curry and the rice were hearty portions. The chicken pieces were lean white meat, cleanly cut, and tender. The bell peppers and onions were well coated in the curry sauce while still maintaining their crunch and texture. Overall, a very solid meal, especially for sharing several dishes.

This place has been on the top of my list to try for a while and I was finally in the area, so I…read moredecided to make the 20 min walk to Ssaanjh. The restaurant offers a beautiful ambiance and you're warmly greeted by their wonderful team as you walk in. The menu boasts unique speciality dishes that you won't find in most places. The owner, Manju, curated a blend of flavors for me to try that paired perfectly together. This truly elevated my experience. I enjoyed every dish here. I had a difficult two days, but being here at Ssaanjh was healing. I embraced my time here and look forward to coming back with family, friends, or even myself. Thank you to the lovely team here, keep on rocking!

Saanjh presents itself as a fine dining Indian restaurant -- white tablecloths, elegant plating,…read moreand a chic, modern atmosphere -- and in that sense, they definitely deliver. The space is clean, stylish, and thoughtfully decorated, blending a chic Indian vibe with subtle Italian-inspired décor. It's a lovely setting, especially for date night or a more upscale dinner. That said, the food itself was... fine, but not standout. We spent about $60 on one appetizer, one shared entrée, and two pieces of naan, which feels a bit steep for what we got. I also left hungry. Highlights: The dahi puri was the star of the meal -- super refreshing, flavorful, and a perfect bite between richer dishes. The naan was well-seasoned, crisp on the outside, fluffy inside, and genuinely delicious. The butter chicken had a nice kick of spice but was otherwise surprisingly bland and lacked depth of flavor. If you've had a lot of Indian food (especially in the Cambridge area), this may fall a bit short. There are several nearby spots that offer more memorable flavors. If you're staying in or near Boston proper, Shanti in Dorchester and Sher-a-Punjab in Quincy are both stronger options. That said, Saanjh is very convenient for its location, which gives it an edge. Service: Service was quick, efficient, and genuinely warm. We had the pleasure of speaking with Saj (?) who was an absolute highlight of the experience. He was friendly, engaging, and went above and beyond -- even staying about 15 minutes past his break just to chat with us. He clearly cares about the guest experience and deserves serious recognition (and probably a raise!). Overall: Come here for the ambiance, service, and convenience. If exceptional Indian food is your top priority, there are better options nearby. Still, a pleasant experience overall, especially thanks to the great service.

I stayed at the CitizenM hotel in Backbay and just needed something to eat. I planned on going to…read moreanother place on the street but Don't Tell Aunty caught my eye and am I so glad it did so! The food was phenomenal. Hands down, no notes, fantastic. The portions were shockingly large. The atmosphere was club like which felt a little odd but also added to the vibes. Service was quick, recommendations were given without fanfare and they were absolutely correct. Absolutely would go back in a heart beat and I was texting friends with upcoming Boston trips to make sure to stop in.

Was really looking forward to coming here after seeing all of the hype on instagram and…read moreTikTok...only to get confronted with the hard truth: don't come here if you're looking for authentic Indian food. If you're looking for a vibey place with interesting twists on Indian food (not spicy by any means) then this is your place. If you're looking for authentic Indian food (sweet butter chicken????) then maybe consider going someplace else....I do have to say that the staff was kind enough to ask if I wanted something else, but tasting the food let me know that most likely anything else wouldn't be my type. I will say that the fish fry was pretty decent but definitely order some chaat masala on the side for some extra flavor. The chutney that came with it was very watery. Also the 2 naans was too funny, never been to a restaurant that gave less than 4 pieces.

This was GREAT! My husband is Indian and we eat Indian a lot- we had ordered takeout from here…read morebefore but never dined in- it was SO nice! Such a pretty and nice ambiance for a date night, they even had live music from a local singer- Miranda Rae! She was amazing and so talented! Now the food, again, we eat a lot of Indian- so we can have high expectations. But WOW. We were absolutely blown away. We had ordered the lamb shank masala and butter chicken, it was SO good! That was the best lamb I've ever had- hands down. This is our new favorite spot. The owner, Madhu, was so kind and sweet. He explained that for every dish on the menu he and his wife had studied how to make it perfectly through cooking classes they had taken across India. And the lamb had no added tenderizers and it was SO TENDER. I'm so impressed, we will be coming back here! Thank you, Crystal Spoons!

We picked Crystal Spoons for a family member's graduation as it looked quite fancy from the…read morepictures. Ambience-wise, it indeed was very fancy and upscale, with beautiful vivid blue plush chairs and florals and crystal light fixtures hanging from the ceilings. (There was a giant screen with bollywood trailers blasting which was a little jarring but the rest of the restaurant was beautiful.) Food-wise, it was average, not incredible, but service was painfully slow, which was the biggest problem. We also missed bowls of rice that were specifically ordered to come along with our dishes. We had to ask repeatedly, and still did not get all of the rice to come out. My in-laws also asked for chai repeatedly but did not end up getting it served despite asking 3-4 times. I got the malai kofta -- would skip this one; small tiny dumplings, sauce OK. The veggie and chicken rice palou dishes were nicely seasoned and came with raita. My favorite here was the saag paneer which had a nuttier creamy texture (it actually wasn't even on the menu but the kitchen was able to offer it upon request). We also did like the aloo tikki chaat (potato appetizer) which was served warm with nice chutney. Samosas were ok (price on the menu is for a set of 2).

Mela on Tremont Street has been open since 2006 and after one visit it is very easy to understand…read morewhy it has stood the test of time. Whether you are a student, a local or just someone in the South End and Back Bay area looking for good affordable Indian food in Boston, this place consistently delivers. Worth mentioning upfront for students -- Mela offers the weekday lunch buffet for $11.99 with a valid student ID, available through March 2026. The regular weekday buffet is $14.95 and the weekend buffet is $17.95. For a full Indian buffet in the South End Boston that is genuinely one of the better deals you will find in the city right now. The ambiance was warm and inviting, the kind of place that feels comfortable the moment you walk in. The owners were friendly and you could tell they genuinely take pride in what they do. We started with the aloo tikki chaat which was really well done. The balance of spice and sweetness was spot on and the depth of flavor made it feel thoughtfully prepared. It is one of those dishes where every bite feels complete and it set the tone for everything that followed. The mango lassi was just as good. Thick, rich and satisfying without being overly sweet. It felt authentic and filling, not the watered down version you sometimes get at other places. For the main we went with the vegetarian dinner for two which is one of the best value options on the menu at this South End Indian restaurant. It comes with soup, two gravies, basmati rice, naan, raita and two desserts, so you get a full and complete meal rather than just a single dish. We chose the malai kofta and saag paneer. The malai kofta was the standout, creamy, rich and deeply flavorful in a way that genuinely reminded us of food in India. The saag paneer had a fresher and lighter taste that balanced the richness of the kofta perfectly. The naan came out hot from the tandoor, soft and slightly doughy, and worked beautifully with both gravies. Everything on the table felt cohesive and well thought out. The desserts were the highlight of the whole meal. The malai kulfi is made in house and you can taste exactly why that matters. Rich, smooth and perfectly sweet. The gulab jamun came out warm and soft enough that it melted the moment it hit your tongue. Both were outstanding and the kind of ending that makes you want to come back just for dessert. If you are a student at Northeastern, BU, Berklee or Emerson looking for affordable Indian food near campus, Mela is exactly the kind of place you want in your regular rotation. The student buffet deal alone makes it worth knowing about. Between the food quality, the warm atmosphere and the strong vegetarian friendly options at this affordable Indian restaurant in Boston, it is easy to see why this place has lasted nearly two decades. We featured our visit on Instagram @bostonvegeats where we cover the best vegetarian and vegan friendly spots around Boston and Mela earned its spot on the page without question.

Another great Indian buffet experience! Hearty flavors, appropriate saltiness and spiciness, and…read moreminimal greasiness. The goat in the Goat Curry was amazingly tender. Their lunch buffet is only on weekdays from 11:30-3, $14.95/person. Show your student ID for an additional 20% discount! What a steal, recommend for sure

Five stars five stars! Went here after another community event and I'm so glad I did. Staff was…read moregreat when I couldn't decide and I was very grateful for all of the vegetarian and vegan options! Prices were very reasonable and the portions were HUGE. I'm very glad. Each dish was really meant to be shared (based on size alone). Ambience is really relaxing. Warm lighting, cloth napkins, footed water glasses. All in all it would be a really cute date night spot too.

I have been fortunate to be able to find and dine at several Himilayan/Nepalese restaurants in the…read moreBoston area, and every one of them has so far been a great experience. Tonight, I added Momo Masala to that list. I was also fortunate to have friends who live nearby, and when I mentioned to them I was going (hopefully to invite them), they said it was one of their regular places for take-out. But they also informed me that they did not have a liquor license. But that recently changed!! They now offer beer, wine, cocktails, and whiskey pours - none of these are huge amounts, but there are certainly enough options for any of these. Our group of 4 did sample several cocktails. They aren't super fancy (though some drinks do have garnishes or salty/spiced rims), but everything is well crafted. Momos first, if course. They offer several varieties, but if you prefer yours steamed, read the menu carefully, as not all varieties are available steamed. We got vegetable and chicken momos, the chicken ones in a broth. Their medium level of spiciness provided a nice but not overwhelming kick. Our entrees continued the high quality. Their chicken tikka masala has a very dark and rich sauce, and the chicken chunks were tender. The lamb was equally good. The naan here (we got garlic) is very crisp, just the way I like it. This is a popular take-out spot, but there are enough tables to accommodate people who dine in conveniently, with a relaxing ambiance. This is another great add to the wide variety of dining options in Jamaica Plain.

What I liked: Good location at the Kendall T-stop…read more Fast service. Reasonable prices for wine by the bottle. Good amount of lamb in the lamb saag. What could be improved: Wine selection. I suspect they are limited by screw cap wines, but there may be better quality Cabernet Sauvignon on the market.

Back in Boston so had to come back here again. Tonight the food was delicious and perfect! I asked…read morefor extra chilies in my chili naan and they delivered! The achar was great as always! I said this before but the free onion chutney is so amazing. The Lamb Rogan Josh was very spicy and mouth watering ! Loved it all!

Okay, so I'm a little torn…read more This is gonna sound conceited, because it is, but Jersey Indian food just crushes the competition. And by competition I mean the rest of the country. Give it to Jersey, it's basically all we have. So when I come at an Indian place here it's like a rebound after a bad breakup - I'm expecting to be disappointed. And Boston (Seaport, specifically) is well-supplied in disappointment. But Madras is...good. Not great. It's wickedly expensive, $20 for a dosa with a base set of ingredients, but that's kind of normal price levels for the area. But the quality is decent and when they say spicy they don't mean Taco Bell Fire sauce. Madras' spicy hurts good. Dosas come with a set of sauces, which each have something to say - it's a whole culinary conversation. Besides the price, I think the dosas are a little dense - when I've had them before (yes, in Jersey), they tend to be crispier, more crackly and able to handle their fillings better. So - not the best, but I'd definitely go back.

I speak as a person with more of an Indian palate... don't do it unless you want to be…read moredisappointed. The dosa was incredibly disappointing. The dosa itself was a strange texture - it reminded us more of paper than a dosa which should be crispy yet fluffy at the same time. I'm not sure what this place uses for batter. The sambar was ok, but the chutneys were waaaaay too sweet (could have been a dessert itself lol). The potatoes in the dosa masala also didn't taste seasoned. The samosa chaat was very one note. A chaat should be a balance of textures, flavors, and temperatures yet this was one pile of weird mush. The samosa itself was soooo soggy it added nothing to the dish. The sev wasn't crispy enough either, and the chutneys again too sweet. The place serves chai (through a machine, not brewed by a person). It's got a small seating area to eat inside. Again, save your dosa cravings for elsewhere.

I admit that I'm addicted to Indian food, especially "street food." High on my addiction list is…read morechaat, and while my homemade samosa chaat is good, Wow tikla is AWESOME. To make good samosa chaat requires good samosas and liberal use of spices and chutneys. These folks prepare it perfectly. Just order it and start your addiction.

We ate chicken tikka masala and were underwhelmed. Not much sauce, some questionable pieces of…read morechicken, and we weren't able to adjust the spice level. A disadvantage for my non-spicy wife (well - she's spicy in other ways but I digress...). Anyway, not highly recommended.

This is an outstanding, relatively new, addition to the Arlington, MA food scene. I have now eaten…read morethere three times and ordered takeout about a half a dozen. It's pretty much the consistently best Indian food I've had in the Boston area, but often nearly empty when I have been there. This restaurant really deserves to succeed! The service is always patient and friendly and the atmosphere is comfortable and roomy. Everything is prepared carefully and none of the food has that bland, "phoned in" quality that you sometimes encounter in restaurants. The chicken tikka masala is creamy, lightly sweet, full of flavor with perfect small pieces of tender chicken. The spinach dishes are wonderful and the appetizers really tasty. Highest recommendation!

The first thing that hits you as you walk in is the smell of toasting spicy and the allure of the…read moreup coming feast! The staff is so friendly and they are happy to answer questions. Drove from Bangor, Maine and will return.