I moved away from NYC 30 years ago. And while I lived here, Jackson Diner was my favorite Indian spot. Every time I come back home I try to get to Jackson Heights for a meal. The place has undergone quite a few changes, as well as physically moving, over the past three decades. It now sits in a more modern, smaller space. We met friends there for dinner. We started with the samosas, which were thick and filled with potatoes and peas and so satisfying, especially with a dabble of tamarind sauce. For our main meal we had the Goad Kadai, which was excellent, along with the Chicken Lajawab, the Chicken Korma, the Chicken Biryani, and the Paneer Kadai, all of which were proclaimed "very good." Service here is always excellent. From the minute you sit down, when we were given Indian crackers and dips, throughout the meal. You don't even have to ask for containers for the leftovers. They are brought to you as soon as the servers notice you are done eating and there is food leftover. Dinner for four with five entrees, a beer, an appetizer, tax, and tip was around $152. read more

See all

Mediocre cuisine catering mostly to non-South Asian clientele. Eight of us were celebrating a Galantine's party. All of us had eaten here and seven always ate here when shopping in Jackson Heights. I am not one of them. Appetizers, curries and naans were ordered. Cocktails of Mai Tai and Margheritas were being drunk with joy. I only liked the mango lassi which was served in a tall fluted glass and was refreshing. All the curries had the same flavor which my friends realized that the cuisine here was pseudo authentic. We skipped dessert as we had brought chocolates to share. Sharon, the lovely server who has been here for ten years was patient and pleasant. read more

See all

Last time we were at Jackson Diner was at least 15-20 years ago. We have been talking about it ever since. Maybe over the years Jackson Diner lost its magic but it's still a great dining experience. My first "bhel puri" ever was at Jackson Diner. Now it's a dish I order at any Indian place. The drinks, wings, chilli chicken and tandoori are great! The biryani and bhel puri this round was average but still enjoyable. The tikka masala curry was not the most flavorful I have had. Jackson Diner is casual dining and they have enough people on the service team. Parking is an issue and you have to find a lot. But it's fun to explore the small shops as you walk if you are not from NYC read more

See all

My favorite Indian takeout. You can't go wrong with any of the chicken curries - we get the Kadai and the Lajawab and love it every time. The chicken biryani is to die for. read more

Jackson Diner - Chicken Kadai Sauce Special - Indian Near Me - Jackson Heights, New York

See all

Not sure about their buffet menu, but my sister and I strolled into Jackson Diner on a Saturday and decided to go à la carte. We were a group of four, and the food was spectacular. The staff were friendly, helpful, and basically our culinary spirit guides since we were clueless about what to order. The bill came to around $100 for four people, which was more than reasonable given how absolutely stuffed we were by the end. * Papadums with Dips These were gone faster than we could say "papadum." Amazing. Thank you for your service. * Tasting of Three ($14) A little sampler platter of joy. The chicken was tender, the fish was delicious, and the samosa? An absolute bombshell. No complaints - just good vibes and great food. A solid 5/5. * Chicken Tikka Masala ($17) Perfection in a bowl. We opted for medium spice, and they nailed it - spicy enough to feel alive but not spicy enough to feel attacked. Unlike some places (cough Angel cough), they actually ask for your spice tolerance and adjust accordingly. Respect. Another 5/5. * Matter Paneer ($15) Delicious! Loved the creamy sauce and those satisfying blocks of cheese. 5/5. * Goat Biryani ($22) The goat was so tender it practically fell off the bone with a gentle whisper. Every bite was bursting with flavor, and I found myself shamelessly hunting for more meat. Worth every penny. Absolutely a 5/5. * Naan ($3/order) We got two orders for $6, and it was the perfect amount for the four of us. Soft, warm, and carb-loaded happiness. Paired perfectly with the masala and paneer. Overall, Jackson Diner is a gem. As someone not super familiar with Indian cuisine, I can't claim to be an expert, but this meal was a total win. Highly recommend! read more

See all

This place was good not great. Definitely hits the spot but it's not life changing food. I got the paneer pasanda which had a fantastic gravy but the paneer had this weird coating on it that was soggy and off putting. The naan was super fresh and soft though! My bf got the sheekh kebab which he loved and the samosa chaat was also good. In general, a great place to satisfy your Indian food craving but don't expect it to be anything more than Indian diner food. read more

See all

3.5/5 Newly renovated restaurant of the original 1983 classic, Jackson diner offers a pretty standard Indian meal experience. The service is very good - warm & gracious throughout. The menu is an interesting mix & we tried sabudana tikki, tandoori paneer tikka, sarson da saag & lachcha paratha. While the food tastes good & portion size is large, it's not extraordinary or remarkable enough to compel a second visit. It might be a dependable choice in the neighborhood for Indian food craving, but overall lacks the addictive or wow factor. Legacy can only take you so far, it's time for Jackson diner to spice it up and take things to next level. read more

Used to love Jackson Diner! Was afraid after they moved locations that the flavor and food quality wouldn't be the same but it was just as delicious...WAS... being the operate word. Not sure what happened but the quality and flavor of the food definitely went down. Doesn't taste the same anymore and has lost some of its spice and unique flavor. When asked the server if they changed the chef, they said they changed the manager but all the chefs were the same. Not sure if the new manager started cutting down cost on spices and ingredients but after multiple visits... still doesn't taste as good as it used to be. Now I have to find a new go to Indian restaurant. read more

See all

Jackson Diner has always been my go to Indian food restaurant for as long as I can remember. When I first walked toward their restaurant and saw the place closed. I felt a pang of disappointment and sadness. I thought another great restaurant was gone. Then I noticed that they moved directly across the street from their old place. Their old location was much larger but it was very dark and dated. Their new location is bright clean and very colorful. I was so happy to see them across the street. Their food for me has always been consistently delicious. My favorite is their Chicken Tikka Marsala, and Sag Paneer, eaten with rice or scooped with naan bread always hits the spot. They may be in a new location but their food was as delicious as it always has been. It is so well worth the trip to Jackson Heights. read more

Jackson Diner - Indian Near Me - Jackson Heights, New York

See all

Always a great experience with food, friendly service and ambiance. Manchurian cauliflower and garlic naan were amazing and full of flavor. Loved it. A must to-go place for authentic Indian flavors! ‼ read more

See all

I've been to this northern Indian spot a handful of times. The first time was ages ago when they were still in their old (old) location. The name "diner" was more accurate back then as it did actually resemble an old-school diner at least in the old looking tables and food areas and stuff (not as much the decorations of course.) The place back then was known for it's AYCE buffet and back then there weren't that many good Indian spots in the area (at least that were popular among white folks like me) and it was tasty. They recently reopened in a new spot and I went there back in September with a group where we shared a bunch of dishes. The new location is super clean and modern looking but perhaps lacks a little bit of a charm from their old spot. The service was perfectly fine. From what I can tell they got rid of their buffet which is unfortunate. I had a sweet lassi which was fine. It was $6.50 which was a bit much (though it was the same price for the mango version) and it could have been a bit thicker. They gave us some papadum to munch on along with the usual mix of chutneys; onion, tamarind, and cilantro. The chutneys were fine resembling those of most generic Indian spots though the cilantro one was a bit watery and the papadum was more on the salty end than with any of the black cardamom. They were okay to munch on but on the lower end in terms of spots and especially in the neighborhood. The Sabudana Tikki Chat (or normally chaat) for $10 listed as topped with chickpeas, chutneys, yogurt, onions, tomatoes was good. There was a surprising amount of yogurt compared to most chaats I've had. Sabudana refers to tapioca and it added a new texture to the dish. This was pretty tasty though I've had better but fine for the price. For curries, we got two with one being meat and the other being vegetarian. Of the two, the Chicken Lajawab for $17 was my definite preference and the 2nd best dish probably. Listen as tender morsels of dark meat chicken cooked with tomatoes, ginger, and cilantro, this was well flavored with a tiny bit of heat. The tomato paste wasn't as thick as masala or similarly sweet which I was happy about and it had a slight kick from the remaining spices. The chicken while dark meat was tender and flavorful. I would recommend it. Much worse for $15 (as with every other veggie curry) was the Chana Sag (or more commonly Saag) or simply chickpeas and spinach in a slightly creamy gravy. The spinach as well as the chickpeas were just bland and it wasn't thick enough for my liking and table didn't finish it even though a bunch of us usually like saag. I wouldn't call it horrible but it was bad. We also went with two of the Tandoori dishes which were both tasty but one was much better. There was the Salmon for $27 for 6 pieces listed as Ajwain flavored boneless fish as well as the Lamb Chops which I don't see on the menu but there were 3 for $17. The former was much better as the salmon was perfectly tender and very juicy and was noticeably good even compared to many other spots in the area. This was likely our favorite dish and a notably good version at that though there's some spots in Manhattan which can give it a run for the money but for a bit more. The chops were fine with pretty tender meat but there are much better spots nearby for juicier lamb. We also got a Garlic Naan for $5 which was fine but I've had better. Good and warm though with enough garlic so hard to complain much. The curries also came with Rice Pulao which is normally $4 on the menu. The place here is alright. This is one of those places that I really wish I could give 3.5 Stars because it's just about the exact definition of that. Most dishes were alright with one very good one (the salmon,) one good one (the chicken,) a couple fine ones, and one pretty bad one (saag) and the prices match at least most of the spots in the area at least when you dine in. If this was in any other area but Jackson Heights, I would likely get this place a 4 but they happen to be just a few blocks away from one of the best Northern Indian places if not the best in the city and other spots that are cheaper and just better for certain dishes they offered here or cheaper for similar quality. 3.5 rounded down. read more

See all

Delicious food all around and friendly wonderful service! Can't wait to come back. Came with a bunch of friends so we ordered everything - it was all so savory and the meat was tender, and the sauces were so flavorful and especially good with the rice and naan. Clean and spacious inside as well and looks modern. Loved this place!! read more

Jackson Diner - A table that brings delight! - Indian Near Me - Jackson Heights, New York

I've been a loyal customer of Jackson Diner for over 10 years. The food is consistently delicious, especially the chicken tandoori--it's incredibly flavorful and well-prepared. Their quality and taste keep me coming back time and again. Highly recommend! Julie P read more

The best Indian food I've ever had. I have and will always come to this restaurant. The service is great. They are friendly and very fast. My kids love it too. Would definitely recommend. read more

Jackson Diner - Chicken Biryani, chicken tikka masala, Kashmiri Kabab - Indian Near Me - Jackson Heights, New York

See all

It's hard to go wrong with all the options in Jackson heights, so we decided to check out Jackson diner on a whim. The name threw us off a bit but they definitely are an Indian restaurant! We were seated right away and ordered a mango lassi, samosa chaat, chicken lajawab, garlic naan, and gulab jamun for dessert. The mango lassi was delicious! It was the perfect balance of sweet and tangy, and very refreshing. The samosa chaat was good too. I wish they gave two samosas instead of one to balance out all the channa, but still good regardless. Finally for the entree the chicken lajawab was delicious. It paired well with the garlic naan. We had enough to pack and take back for leftovers too. Finally we finished our meal with gulab jamun for dessert. It tasted like any restaurant gulab jamun, so no complaints here. It was served warm. Overall it was a great lunch. Service was good and the employees were nice and very helpful. I like that there is a sink outside of the bathrooms as well for people that only need to wash their hands after the meal. read more

See all

Been awhile since coming to Jackson Diner. Everyone knows where it is on 74th near Broadway close to the 7 train stop. This is where I first ever had Indian food over 25 years ago. Unfortunately one of the Covid casualties was the buffet here. No more lunch buffet. The food is still good. You can ask to increase the level of spice depending on what you need. They were still pretty busy. The malai kofta was good but only four pieces for $14. Bhindi was excellent. They are moving across the street to a smaller location so budget must be somewhat tight. Still very good option in little India. read more

See all

The quality of the food has gone down since I had their food back in October. The chicken tikka masala sauce tasted watered down and the samosas didn't taste as well spiced. There's a lot of competition in Queens for good Indian food so I hope they get it together. read more

Delicious food! Great service! Very attentive and welcoming. A true find! Loved every minute of our meal!! Thank you for a great time! We will be back read more

I ordered over the phone and the guy that answered was very clear and helpful and asked a lot of clarifying questions to make sure our order was exactly what we wanted. Took 15-20 minutes to prepare, enough time for me and my wife to hop on the train and pick up. The guy was super nice when we picked up the food. The food was perhaps the best food I've had in my time here in New York. The portions were more than sufficient. read more

Jackson Diner - Chicken tikka masala with garlic naan, samosa, and rice - Indian Near Me - Jackson Heights, New York

I was a little underwhelmed by the food. I felt like there wasn't tons of flavor and spices. I got the samosas which came with no sauce to dip it in, which I've never experienced and it just tasted like mashed potatoes inside. Barely any seasoning. My main dish was the saag paneer which was good but not mind blowing. We also got the bread basket which has naan, parthi, and garlic naan. It was good. Overall, the food was good but I was expecting more from a place in Jackson heights which is known for great Indian food. read more

See all

Note: Google Maps has NOT updated their address. Their new address is: 37-40B 74th Street Jackson Heights, NY 11372 (across the street from their old location) I've been going to the Jackson Diner since back in the 80's, when they literally took over an American diner; red & white checkered table cloths and all! They became very popular and even got written up in Zagats. They eventually moved down the block to a much more modern & larger space. Well, it was fantastic for many years....then I stopped going because they became very Americanized, in my humble opinion, due to their Zagats popularity. The food was still good but not as great as it was originally. Fast forward to 9/2023, post- COVID-19, and they have re-opened at a new location, right across the street from their old location. Their new location is much, much smaller but more modern. The biggest disappointment....THEY NO LONGER OFFER THEIR LUNCH BUFFET!!!! Why???!?! Please bring back your lunch buffet!! Tonight, my party of 12 returned to Jackson Diner to check out their new space and new menu. We found some dishes to be fantastic and other dishes just ok. Overall, very good but not great. Tonight's Shared Menu: - Papadam (complimentary): I usually love Papadam but surprisingly, these were awful. So bland and salty. Even the sauces couldn't save this Papadam. What happened?! ~ Sabudana Tikki Chat ($10): so good. Who doesn't like a good chat?! Great starter to awaken your taste buds. ~ Baby Lamp Chops (3pcs/$17): these chops were perfection; tasty & tender. Get this! ~ Tandoori Salmon (6 pcs/$27): I usually order their tandoori lamb kebabs but these salmon kebabs were delicious. It comes on a hot sizzling platter, so be sure to remove the salmon from this platter ASAP, or it will get overcooked quickly! It came with a massive amount of grilled onions and a lemon wedge. Definitely squeeze the lemon juice on the salmon for great added flavors. ~ Chicken Lajawab ($17): this was everyone's fave dish of the night. We've never had this dish before, and it was a nice surprise. Great flavor and just delicious. Get this! ~ Chana Sag ($15); this was everyone's least fave dish of the night! The only dish that remained uneaten by all. The spinach seemed overcooked and just bland & boring. Wasted calories! lol You get the picture. ~ Garlic Naan ($5): basic but good. ~ Rice Pulao: complimentary with entrees. Overall, I'm really glad Jackson Diner has reopened. It's been a staple of Jackson Heights for so many years! Good luck in your new location!....and again, please bring back your lunch buffet!!! read more

See all

We were vey disappointed with the dishes we ordered, which were bigan burta, chicken curry, and a mixed vegetables vindaloo. None of these dishes had any discernible flavor, leaving us highly unsatisfied. It is imperative that the chef exercises meticulous attention to the quality and taste of the food served to their customers. I would not recommend however you can try for your self read more

I'll start by saying that service was just fine. We walked in as a group of 6 on a busy Sunday afternoon during lunch hour, and they managed to accommodate us within less than 10 minutes, highchair and all! The diner is very spacious, clean and nicely decorated inside. I found out that is a new location, and they previously had a location that was more "diner-like". I've heard nothing but good things for the last few years and how I "have to go eat at Jackson Diner, the food is so good!" I don't know if it was over-hyped, or if things have just changed over time, but I wasn't overly-impressed with the food taste here. The quality was good - it was fresh, well-made and presentable, but I have had more authentic flavors elsewhere. We ordered apps for the most part - samosa, garlic naan with hummus, chaat papari, sabudana tikki chaat, samosa chaat, paneer tikka and a couple of mango lassis. The mango lassis were good, but I didn't realize they came with so much ice in them, so if you're sensitive to ice (like me) be sure to tell them before you order as they won't remake it for you. The food itself was presented well, but I felt the flavors were lacking. The samosa were overly dry and spicy, but not a depth of flavors that I am used to. The paneer tikka came out sizzling out, but again, it didn't taste like the paneer had been seasoned or marinated enough. The chaat papri was crispy, beyond that I didn't taste much. Sadly, I don't think I'll be going back as there are so many other Indian restaurants closer to me that offer the same menu items with more flavorful food. If you're in the area, it's still worth checking out if it's your first time! read more

Came here for lunch on a Wednesday with a group of 6 people! Food: Recommend doing family style if you can, so you can try as many dishes as possible! The dishes did come with rice, but I also recommend getting naan too for dipping. - Garlic naan: standard and got the job done - Aloo Gobi: Cauliflower and potatoes - decent portion size. If you can't handle too spicy, then this might be a good option for you. - Sag Paneer: Those little white blocks are cheese and not tofu! Another good option for those who do not want too spicy. - Murg Malai Kabab: White meat chicken marinated in ginger, garlic, and coriander. It's dry Indian BBQ style meat. It comes out sizzling hot with quite a few chicken pieces. You could probably get one or two portions to share with the table. - Raita: Indian yogurt which is good for a side dish to dip things in Service/Ambiance: Service was nothing to write home about, but our food came out quickly. The space is bright and clean, which I was surprised about since the more authentic places in Elmhurst typically have more hole in the wall vibes. Overall: Great place for Indian food with a group of people! Still trying to understand why it's called Jackson Diner though... read more

Honestly we ordered 6 various dishes and I would only recommend getting the Chicken Tikka Masala with side of white rice and Raita (Indian yogurt) and also the Indian Chai masala was delicious. Other dishes did not hit it well for us sadly. Do not get the okra at all it's deeply fried, the street food chaat and aloo tikki were both disappointment ... not worth the money. The ambience is great soft Indian music playing in the back and clean restaurant. With friendly staff! However, I wouldn't recommend it here.! read more

Jackson Diner - Indian Near Me - Jackson Heights, New York

See all

Visited Jackson Diner for lunch on a Saturday. It was pretty busy, but we managed to get a table. It looks like a normal diner, but they serve Indian food instead of the usual diner fare. The restaurant is spacious, but it also looks a bit beat up. We tried the sag paneer, goat biryani, aloo gobi, bhindi masala, malai kofta, chili chicken, and a basket of assorted breads. The food was pretty average as far as Indian food goes. It wasn't too spicy, portions were a bit small for the price. It's not bad, but I wouldn't go out of the way to try it when there are plenty of other better Indian options. read more

See all

Maybe they had an off day or maybe my expectations were off since I recently returned from Singapore which has amazing Indian food, but I didn't taste much flavor in the dishes. My friend and I tried the pana poori, saag paneer, garlic naan and another curry (I forget name). The mango lassi was tasty though. read more

My friend, who use to live in the area, recommended this spot and it was incredibly delicious. We ordered the samosa, the tandoori chicken and the chicken tikka masala and garlic naan. Service was swift, we didn't have to wait long for a seat and the food came out piping hot (so good). You can tell this is a true neighborhood staple, and while the ambiance is so-so, the service and the food make up for it. Also, every single table (other than ours) had a Mango lassi. Alas, my lactose intolerance prevented me from ordering it myself. But there's a reason it was a popular item on the menu! read more

Jackson Diner - Samosa 1/2 Tandoori Chicken chicken tikka masala Garlic Nan Bread - Indian Near Me - Jackson Heights, New York

Decent India food. My favorite is the goat korma. Paneer pansada is pretty good too. The portion is pretty big and has lots of meat. I don't really like their garlic naan because the garlic is a little raw and the naan itself just doesn't taste as good as other place's. Price is reasonable and the restaurant is spacious. read more

Jackson Diner - Goat korma Paneer pansada Chicken biryani - Indian Near Me - Jackson Heights, New York

See all

Jackson Diner is a staple in Jackson Heights known for their weekend lunch buffets pre-pandemic. Nowadays, I feel like there's less of an appeal to dine here, probably due to the abundance of other great options and it's tendency to attract more tourists. We planned to go to another nearby restaurant around 7:45pm on a Saturday, but settled to dine here since there was no wait. The restaurant looked barely full since it was so large. We ordered the Mango Lassi, Butter Chicken, Lamb Vindaloo, and Garlic Naan. Overall the food was good and tasted like your typical Indian takeout. However my friend felt sick after he went home. I'm not sure if I would be returning. read more

Jackson Diner - Chicken Tikki Masala, Goat Vindaloo & Garlic Naan - Indian Near Me - Jackson Heights, New York

See all

An old time restaurant in Jackson heights but the food quality and portions could be better Food: we had a feast! They start you off with papadum and I really enjoy the chutneys that they provide! The samosa chaat was my favorite, so much flavor and the beans are really good! They just have one samosa in the chaat. For our mains we got the malai Kofta, tandoori mixed grill, and chicken tikka! The malai kofta was not done well! The koftas themselves felt really old and oddly sticky! The chicken was fine but not as flavorful and normal chicken tikka. The mixed grill was also not my favorite, the chicken felt rubbery l. I did like the lamb tho, that was very flavorful! The naans and onion kolcha were small. Price: I think it is reasonably priced but given that it is Jackson heights I would expect to pay less. Ambience: it's really fun down, the chairs were ripped and the tables and jugs look dirty. Service: the service was fine read more

See all

I ordered the food through Ubereats, it says 15-30 mins for the order but it took me one hour until I received it This time I ordered papadum and Sag Paneer The papadum is very crunchy and a bit salty taste inside. The Sag Paneer is a great surprise. Very smoothy and couple of chunky cheese inside. Tasted and smelt amazing!!! The portion is big too. A dish that I would try again! read more

Jackson Diner - Sag Paneer Papadum - Indian Near Me - Jackson Heights, New York

See all

For the longest time, I thought Jackson Diner would be a typical American diner, so I was surprised to go inside and see they sold Indian food lol We got the samosa chaat, chicken biryani, and mango lassi for lunch, and it was alright. Honestly, with the abundance of competition nearby it's hard to stand out. But overall, no complaints here, the food was fine, ambiance was chill, servers were kind and accommodating. Be sure to leave a good tip. As for the seating, the inside is huge, lots of tables for both small and big groups. Onto the food: The mango lassi was kind of runny compared to others I've had, and although sweet, had a bit of an olive taste to it? It was interesting to me, but my friend liked it. The samosa chaat was fine, wish there was more samosa and wish it was spicier and tangier but it was alright. Definitely my favorite thing out of what we ordered though. The biryani was okay but tbh after having so much amazing biryani for cheaper I was a bit disappointed, I expected more of a flavor punch. It's pretty mild so if you can't handle spice, you may enjoy it. I liked that they provided raita on the side but wish they provided some chillies or lemon too. read more

Jackson Diner - Samosa chaat and chicken biryani - Indian Near Me - Jackson Heights, New York

See all

I can never get enough of their biryani & I haven't found another restaurant that lives up to my standards so that's already saying a lot - I usually get chicken but just tried the shrimp & it didn't disappoint. (I always request without the nut garnishing) Combo that with the palak paneer (spinach) & you can't go wrong. The flavors are so satisfying & filling - I never do mild, always medium spice. Gives it that little kick but isn't overbearing. I'm Indian & I say it's one of my favorite restaurants in Jackson heights- it was my bfs moms birthday yesterday so I had a big take out order & they loved it even though they mostly eat Chinese food. That should say something. I like how spacious their indoor dining is- def Covid friendly. If the take out is this good, imagine how much better it is all fresh in person. :) read more

Jackson Diner - That spread! - Indian Near Me - Jackson Heights, New York

See all

Came for lunch. Food was ok, not great. But what REALLY caused me to leave this bad review, and I'll NEVER go back , is that they automatically include a 18% tip on the check. Was that written on the menu?? Yet when the bill comes there is the line on the credit card receipt to INCLUDE a tip! NOT very honest. What if I hadn't read it carefully? That's really not cool. BEWARE of this stuff. Don't support dishonest businesses. Especially when the food was just so so and the prices were high to start with. read more

Jackson Diner is a known Indian spot in Queens. It's on a lot of social media lists and my friend from Queens has posted about eating there. I was for some reason surprised that it didn't look more like a diner or even a cafeteria. The ceilings are high and the decor seems old and very beige with burnt Orange accents. Samosas were $4 and entrees were around $20 and shareable which is what we did. The food really is good, the staff is kind and the place clean enough but it still seems like a dive. Not that that's bad. The trip on the E from manhattan isn't that painful and the neighborhood is mostly Indian which is fun. read more

Jackson Diner - Tiki masala with naan and samosas - 12$ a piece shared - Indian Near Me - Jackson Heights, New York

This place held fond memories for my wife, but I was honest with her: it was lackluster in "Little India" of Jackson Heights, Queens, NY, we should have gone elsewhere. It's a tired old restaurant with crotchety staff and the AC was turned down on like the hottest day ever. The decor was meh and it made me question the overall cleanliness. This place is big -- if they own the building they should rent it out or sell it because the restaurant was empty on a Saturday night holiday weekend and yet other places around the corner were hoppin'. To be honest, the food was the main reason I give this a low rating. I think I've had the same quality of Indian food at a middle-rated Pittsburgh place (in fact it very much reminds me of a place called India Garden). Everything tasted like Makhani chicken, even if it was dal. The saag sagged. I got exactly two glasses of water. One before the meal, and one during the meal. Wait staff was boring. The hostess who seated us and took our order disappeared. The indian dudes who showed up with the food didn't respond well. The owner/manager came by and said "Everything alright?" in a way that I thought "Does it really matter to you?" I had that thought at the end of "man, I need some water" ... Meh. Will not return. Good luck. read more

I'm not sure how or why I haven't reviewed Jackson Diner by now. Perhaps it's because it's a legendary establishment that's been reviewed a million times, but regardless, it's been a favorite of mine since I relocated from Brooklyn to Queens in 2019. I had dined here once while I was still living in BK and had also visited the location by Union Square back when that was open, but little did I know that it would become such a staple in my life. The food here never disappoints. The saag is some of the best I've ever tried, and my husband is a huge fan of the vindaloo, but the sleeper hit has to be their tandoori wings. They are so tender and flavorful and fall off the bone. They're served on a bed of onions on a sizzling skillet, so the onions get charred and caramelized in the fatty juices and spices. Exceptionally delicious. The restaurant recently relocated across the street from where they've always been, and the new digs are updated and modern. The staff members are all friendly and attentive. One minor note is that they automatically add an 18% gratuity to all checks, so it's good to be mindful of this when dining in person. It's confusing because there is still a gratuity line that doesn't actually say "additional" gratuity, so you wouldn't know the gratuity is included unless you closely look at the itemized bill. I'm not really a fan of that practice, but I can let it slide since I love this place so much otherwise. read more

See all

I came here many many years ago when they were across the street and had the buffet. I definitely waited too long for a second try! Ordered chicken saag delivery and it was fantastic. Here is what I liked about it: they were very generous with the chicken and every piece was plump, moist with no gristle or fat. Second, the spinach was rich and nicely creamy. Finally, though there was no option to select spice level, it was just how I like it -- I'd say a medium level. It came with a large portion of basmati rice. The garlic nan was also good -- these breads don't survive delivery that well but it was good and in the restaurant it would be great. read more

We often order from here for take out, and have lots of leftovers. Service is attentive and they refill your water often. Aside from the main dishes, I recommend getting papadum and raita to break up the flavors. The decor is pretty dated and wished their bathroom was in better shape. read more