I was pretty excited to try this place - but I was disappointed when I finally did. Now, I don't know a ton about Indian food - authentic, Americanized, or otherwise. But I do know that when I go to Aab or Amul, I am always happy with my food and feel like it's a good value. We got takeout a few days ago and ordered chicken tikka masala, aloo gobi, and naan. It was $20. I think the tikka masala probably had seven chunks of chicken - it was mostly sauce. It just wasn't what I was expecting flavor-wise. We also got two huge containers of rice...the portions were just really strange. The people working there were really nice, according to my boyfriend (who picked up the order). Overall, I think $20 was too much money for what we received and I don't think we'll go back. I will stick with Aab and Amul! read more

After all the attempts we made to get to Layla's Kitchen for a meal (including showing up on Eid to crash their family party), I took nearly as long to write a review. Darn good! So close, yet so far away! While we live fairly close to their Cleveland Avenue location, we rarely find ourselves in the area. It's easy to locate, though, on a corner a little north of Morse Road, opposite the strips of shops near Minerva Park. The space is on the smaller side, but they've made the most of it, and there is a patio area out front. You can bring your friends, though. Spotlessly clean, bright from all the windows, Layla's feels cheerful. The staff were cheerful as well, and were happy to see new faces. We ordered tea and Chicken 65. Lots of curry leaves here, and their Chicken 65 is my favorite. They have plenty of vegetarian-friendly soups, appetizers and dishes, too. Goat Bhuna - the dish of choice for the Yelp-set for good reason - was delicious, spicy and made with obviously high-quality ingredients. The spice level was a bit less than at other places, but the balance between the spices themselves was spot-on. I soaked the sauce up with garlic naan until I could hardly walk - and had enough left over for the next day's lunch. We may have to plan on getting to this spot more often - it's definitely great food! read more

I'm used to Indian home cooking. This place reminded me of meals cooked by friends in the best tradition! We ordered kadai paneer (cheese and veggies), only a slight bit of visible oil wonderful crisp veggies and tons of curry leaves and robust spice. We also ordered chicken korma which was a nice counterpoint to the spicier paneer dish, a silky cashew sauce. We talked to an India gentleman that had discovered Layla's four days prior and eaten there everyday since. I'll be back!! read more

BEST INDIAN FOOD in Columbus. If I crave Indian Food, Layla's is where I will go. This is a clean, newly upgraded restaurant on Cleveland Av between 161 and Morse. Between me and my wife we got; Chicken 65 - I want more. A bit more spice and it would have been perfect. Tandoori Chicken - Awesome. Moist, soft and cooked just perfect Aloo Gobi - This was just OK. I like my Gobi crunchy and it was just like it is in all Indian restaurant overcooked(for me). Maybe for an Indian my crunchy gobi will seem raw. Goat vindaloo - Love it. Best Goat vindaloo I've had. Naan - The best Naan I've had. Soft, and fresh. It was Perfect. chole bhature - This comes with chickpees(chole) and a 2 bread(bhature). Nothing special about the chole but the bhature was the best I've ever had. It was fluffy, fresh and perfect with the Chole. Service - Just remember, this is not fast food, this is fresh food. Price - We ordered 6 different items and the bill was under $50. The quality of food was worth twice that. Definitely a 5 star for me. I'd recommend this over all other Indian restaurant in town and I will be back again. read more

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This little spot is next to me and reasonably priced so I go not too infrequently. Everyone has always been nice when I've gone in to grab my order (I always get to-go). That being said, when I order it is always hit or miss as to whether my request for spicy is honored, several times my naan hasn't been included, and the last time I ordered buttered chicken they had clearly changed the type of chicken they were using and I had to pitch it after I bit into my third bone because they were little bones (I think ribs?) and I stabbed myself with them, so that was fun. As a result, I think unfortunately I'll have to find a new place. read more

Delicious food, great price. The heat level was just right. I definitely plan on going back when I'm in the area .

This is the best Indian in town! I have tried so many Indian restaurants, and not a single place comes close to the quality of Layla's. Customer service is great and they always take care of us. I usually go in with larger groups 6-10. Most of the items on the menu I have tried, but their lamb chops really stand out. read more

The four star rating is based solely on the food. Layla's Kitchen is a small, intimate restaurant with pretty wood flooring and minimal decor. The menu is decent in size, and almost everything brought to our table was absolutely delicious. We started with a samosa chaat appetizer, then had a bowl of "chicken corn soup" (which was basically a few pieces of chicken, a thick broth and a ton of egg whites; no corn to be found. Stay away.) For dinner, we had an order of naan (fluffy and delicious), tikka masala, delicious basmati rice and some sort of chicken in yogurt and tomato sauce (please forgive me as the name of me dish has slipped my mind). We also each had a masala chai tea, which was meh. It tasted like it was a pre-made powdered tea. While all of the food was a bit too salty, it was rich and complex in flavor. I would have to say that the entrees themselves were the best Indian dishes I've had since moving to Columbus. The downside is that service was painfully slow, and our server/s were non-attentive. One of the young men was up front texting on his phone through most of our meal. Add a couple of servers who give a sh** about their jobs and it will totally kick things up a notch. I'd go back for another meal any day, just minus that soup! read more

Oh myyyy goodness! This place is ah-mazing! So, my son and I were in the area.....yelped a "nearby bomb ass spot to stop in and fill our bellies" and Yelp told us that this was the spot to be. Thanks Yelp! This place is what's up!!! First off, don't let the awkward location deter you. The people, are so nice!!! Attentive. We were waiting for our food to come out and they cane over and said, "hey - would you sample some food and give us feedback?" We were like, "hell yea." It was soooo good! Between us, we ordered lamb sheesh kabobs, chicken & corn soup, naan, chai, rice pudding and chicken tiki masala. All of it was incredible. The most popular Indian spot around these parts is Aab - which I love, but this place......10x better!!!! I can't wait to come back here...cause, you bet your sweet ass, I will be back to enjoy this sweet spot of Columbus!!! read more

This has got to be one of the best all around experiences I have had in a long time. I decided to ry this place for lunch today as my second Indian experience ever. The first left a lot to be desired but this one made top 5 overall restaurants in Columbus. I walked in and was unsure what to do because of my lack of Indian food knowledge. The menu has options without being overwhelming and has some pictures. I decided to go with the Chicken Tikka Masala because I had heard it before. I got a mango juice and Masala Chai tea as well and he told me if I wanted to sit he would bring it shortly. I sat down and he brought me a small plate with a crunchy bread like item on it. I tried it and it was very good. A few mins later he brought out my main course. The main course was so huge that it comes out on 3 plates/bowls. The actual Masala was in one, a bowl of rice in another, and a plate of naan. He brought out a separate plate to combine it and eat on. I tried it a couple ways and it was all delicious so I put it all on my plate and dug in. So good. It was just another gentleman and I in the dining area but the owner stayed around and told us about how he got his recipes from his mom and the difference that America is from home. I finished everything and wrapped up and told him how good the food was and headed out. It was nice dining experience with great food and service but I made it to work with 10 mins to spare on my hour lunch. Yu could totally do carryout and be back in 30. I suggest that if you have time that you get the Chai tea as a desert. It def had cinnamon in it and was so good to sit, relax, and sip your tea and you digest. A couple notes: I got all of this for 12.00 Even though the owner is from another country his English is great. They open at 9 for breakfast and their breakfast menu has BBQ chicken Samosa as an item. Who doesn't want BBQ chicken for breakfast? Thus place may not look like a 5 star restaurant when you are flying by on Cleveland but it is a must stop. read more

Layla's Kitchen - Menu 1 - Indian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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Update! The restaurant has been remodeled & it is gorgeous. There is a lot more room for seating. They actually had a family of forty coming in for a private party as I was leaving. The buffet is amazing! So delicious! They only have the buffet Friday - Sunday from 11:30 - 3:00 for lunch $11.99. You have to try this place! The buffet provides a great sampling of many different dishes that would be great for first timers. The staff is lovely, helpful, & kind. It was kind of like going to a friend's home for dinner. The restaurant seems really well run. Update: Lee is no longer a part of the staff here. This is for the best. I am so glad I tried the buffet. I will now order so many more things when the buffet is not open. I tried goat for the first time & loved it. The amazing naan is included & comes out fresh to your table. The soup, paneer, & mango pudding were also delicious. There were some tasty vegetarian dishes too. I am looking forward to returning soon. read more

They renovated in April 2017 and now have a lunch buffet option--sign says Fri/Sat/Sun 11:30-3 pm. I haven't tried the buffet yet. I do "order ahead thru Yelp" and then pickup through the drive-thru. Great option for weeknights when I'm busy and starving. Most of the food was still delicious after the renovation, but the French fries were floppy and a little more spicy (I get them for my young kid, and he's not picky about his fries, so he eats them.) read more

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First, the food is delicious. I can't discount that. And I've only ordered delivery, so hopefully a dine-in experience is better. But every time I've ordered (like I said, the food is great), it is always late. And not just a few minutes; 20-30 minutes. So, keep that in mind. But, I find their chicken 65 to be outstanding, their naan & samosas are delicious. I don't think I've ever had anything bad, honestly. So as long as you're not in a hurry for your delivery, I recommend them. read more

My first time having been and I will definitely become a regular. I ordered the vegetable curry which comes with rice and it was fabulous. .zucchini, cauliflower, carrots, peppers, onions, potatoes smothered in curry and spices which literally made my mouth feel like I was eating the earth. It tasted so fresh and healthy, I was grinning from ear to ear. Some people cannot tolerate curry but I absolutely love it! The rice was also very tasty, even by itself. You have the option to let the chef know if you like it spicy or not and they prepare accordingly. I also ordered a cup of the vegetable soup extra spicy and man....it was the BEST vegetable soup I have ever had. So tastefu, so fresh and so natural..that's why I love Indian food. I could tell it was prepared with love! I took a masala tea to go and requested them to prepare it with the amount of sugar they would do for themselves..The tea was amazing. The staff were tremendously friendly and very helpful answering my questions and helping me with suggestions. This joint even has a drive through! The dining area isn't incredibly huge but is enough space for a few families at dinner. Extremely clean inside. This place has recently opened and I will definitely be a regular here. Winter is on its way and that vegetable soup will be calling my name. Located right off Cleveland ave about middle of cleveland ave between Morse road and 161. The price is more than fair and extremely generous portions. This is my new favorite place! read more

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I've eaten here a few times now and I can say with certainty that this is, by far, my favorite Indian restaurant in Columbus, OH. In fact, this restaurant reminds me of a similar style restaurant in Arlington, VA (Ravi Kabob) -- people who've had Ravi Kabob know what I am talking about- simple menu, great food. Layla's is much cleaner than Ravi however, with better (and friendlier) service. Although small, the restaurant is attractive with tiled decorations, lots of windows and tables that don't wobble. The menu is simple but the combination of quality and authenticity of the food is perfect. Given the quality and quantity of the food, the price range is a bargain. Below is a list of items I've tried at Layla's that I highly recommend. My favorite is the chicken biryani. I don't remember having better biryani, maybe because I forgot what it was like to go eat in those big cities, or maybe, because it is the best biryani I've ever tried. You be the judge, but definitely try it. It is authentic and made right. Other dishes that I've tried: Tandoori chicken (I've only tried the boneless) - 5 out of 5 Beef Kabobs - 4.5 out of 5 Beef Samosas (pastry fried in oil) - 5 out of 5 Chicken Biryani 6 out of 5 Rice pudding 4.5 out of 5 read more

Great flavorful Indian food. The buffet had a nice selection of great food highly recommended.

I was excited to see this place mentioned in "11 Restaurants In Ohio To Get Ethnic Food That'll Blow Your Mind"--they've earned the notice. http://www.onlyinyourstate.com/ohio/ethnic-food-restaurants-oh/ read more

After moving into the Forest Park neighborhood, we were driving around when we noticed Layla's, and most importantly the magic word "DELIVERY". A little bit of googling when we got home lead to their website and menu, and an hour later we were enjoying an awesome meal in the comfort of our new home. The goat vindaloo and chicken korma were fantastic, and we really enjoyed the flavor of their kebab - my wife claimed it's one of the best she's had since moving back from the UK. If their delivery was that good, I can't wait to dine in! read more

I came here on the recommendation of my friend. I was lamenting the lack of options for inexpensive Indian food in Columbus. We have a lot of great more expensive Indian restaurants, but not a lot in the way of take out. My coworker and I came here for lunch this week and had an awesome experience. I ordered chicken korma, garlic naan and a veggie samosa. First of all, the naan was warm, crispy/fluffy and delicious. We got four big slices in an order, pretty generous. The food comes at a very basic mild and you have to ask for a specific spice level. We got take out for our friend who said she wanted it "spicy but not SPICY" still said it was super spicy! I ordered my korma very mild since it was lunch time and I didn't want to deal with heartburn later. The food arrived quickly and was super fresh. I was happy to see that just because it had a bit more of a take out nature that the sauces were still delicious and not oily/low quality. There's no lunch portion, so I took home some leftovers. The building looks humble, but you can tell that the staff put a lot of energy into remodling it. There was brand new floors and fancy digital menu boards. The staff was friendly and helpful! I'll definitely put this on my regular roation of lunch places! read more

I'm not sure what happened to this place. I used to love their food, but I think they must have gotten new owners who are struggling. It's beyond issues related to COVID. I'm writing this review after 3 poor experiences in a row. I have only ever ordered food from this restaurant to go. I've been a loyal customer since they were in their original location. I always call to place my order and then it's typically ready within 20ish minutes for me to pick up. The last 3 times I ordered here, I arrived after 20 minutes and then sat for another 30-45 minutes waiting for my food. The first time there was a man who had already been waiting and was already mad when I arrived. They asked him numerous times what he had ordered and he repeated himself numerous times. I got my food before him. It was not flavorful at all and so was very disappointing. The second time, I paid and waited for my food that was "almost ready". 15 minutes later they said it'd be ready soon again. 20 minutes later I asked again and they realized they never put my order in when I called. Then when I got home, the food was bad. We ate the chicken korma but the buttered chicken was so bland and soupy that we threw it out. The last time, I waited forever again and there were multiple people also waiting. The floors were not clean and after a spill a guy came out without a mask and began cleaning it up. I kid you not, he coughed without covering his mouth! Also the food was terrible again. It's really sad that the new owners/ employees have ruined this restaurant. read more

Layla's is a little gem on the northeast side of town. The staff was fast, professional and very friendly. Papadum: almost paper thin half moons of dough, laced with cumin seeds, fried to perfection and served with a spicy, chunky tomato sauce(chutney?). A sizeable stack was served for $1.25. Bhel Puri: a substantial pile of puffed rice, sev, papdi, tomato, onions and who knows what else. Served with a (tamarind?) sauce. Really good. Aloo Gobi: this was served in a tomato based sauce, not dry as stated in the menu. I didn't care. The potatoes and cauliflower were cooked well and the sauce was spicy and flavorful. Side of rice was great. It was phenomenal. Lamb Seekh kebab: yep, this is GOOD. It's just a ground lamb kebab with onions so it's wise to get an order of rice or bread to eat with it. I would say this is roughly a pound of lamb, laden with a copious amount of delicious spices, impeccably grilled to well done while retaining the tender juicyness of the lamb. Again GOOD. Naan: also great, nice and bubbly with a good chewy texture read more

When you are in doubt, go to Layla's! We have visited this place multiple times and they have never disappointed. The quality of food and service have helped them overcome limitations like lack of prime location and limited seating over the years. The recent upgrades like increased seating, patio and buffet lunch over weekends make this place a must visit for people who appreciate Indian food. Other positives include- well balanced menu that caters to vegans and meat lovers alike. Easily my favorite Indian lunch place in town. read more

Oh my god! By far the most flavorful Indian food I've had in Columbus! The price point is JUST RIGHT. The food is savory. We tried the chicken tikka masala, butter chicken, veggie pakora, garlic naan-all of which were delicious! You can order on their website and there's a nice drive thru window! The only downside: they forgot our mint pakora sauce! Oh well! They were still yummy. read more

BEST AUTHENTIC Indian food in Columbus, Ohio. I have been eating Indian food for most of my life, and can tell you in a few minutes if the food is as good as it is made in india. The food at Layla's kitchen stands out because it has all the essential flavors of indian cuisine. And it's not about how spicy the food is. I ordered mildly spicy 'Bhuna Goat' curry. I was ready to break into my happy dance after my second morsel. The spices had mesmerizingly blended in the curry. The meat was really soft, just short of melting in your mouth. The 'Naan' was soft and fluffy and was awesome. Even the 'Chai Tea' was delightful. One of the best masala chai, I had here in the states. In short, if you want Indian food, the way it is made in India, Please please drop in at Layla's Kitchen. It's a small place, but the service and the food quality is all Indian(humble and tasty). read more

Quiet little place with excellent service and delicious food. Both the chicken and the goat were tender and flavorful and the garlic naan was perfect. Needless to say, I overate but it was worth it. The veggies in the goat korma were still crisp (this was a welcome surprise since they are frequently overlooked and mushy at other places) and the chicken saag was probably the best I've had. The only thing I wasn't super thrilled about was the rice pudding but it was a nice, sweet ending to the meal but after so much delicious entree it felt like I was just eating a bowl of cereal just to eat it after I was already over-full. That's my problem though lol. Check this place out though- good for conversation and great food- also, it's clean and I even liked the art on the walls! :) read more

Disappointed...chicken tikka masala-meat undercooked and tasteless Chicken 65-pretty good, a little bland Naan-nice and soft, very good Chicken samosa-incredible! Very flavorful Potato samosa-very good read more

I came here for twice, one for lunch buffet, one for dinner. They have delicious food, helpful waiter and quiet environment. I definitely recommend this place. read more

Layla's Kitchen - Goat curry, Aloo Palak, Tandoori Naan - Indian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

They season their food well. I liked the tandoori chicken and chicken samosa. Biryani was pretty good though I wish there had been more protein in our order. The palak paneer was average. Chicken tikka masala was pretty good. They have a weekend lunch buffet $11.99. They have a drive thru which is novel and convenient. People were friendly and our food came out pretty quickly for carry out items we picked up outside the buffet. I think I still like Cumin better but this was a good alternative. read more

Their biryani, chicken Karhai, and naan are to die for. So, so good! The naan is buttery and fluffy in just the perfect way. The Karhai is spicy, but oh so good. I also ordered the chicken samosa based on other reviews but was disappointed. It was soggy and the ground meat was not flavorful at all. read more

We're lucky enough to live in the area, but hadn't seen Layla's Kitchen before noticing it on yelp. We figured we had to check out a place where all the ratings were 5's. With 2 small children we were unsure how things would go, but I love Indian food so we took a chance. I'm glad we did. The food was delicious! So flavorful and colorful. It was not spicy by any means, which may have been more of a disappointment if the food hadn't been so good. With great prices and generous portions, we'll definitely be coming back soon! The staff was also very friendly, and genuinely cared about what we thought. read more

Had what used to be my regular order- chicken korma and palak paneer. Not bad, but not especially good either. Very bland flavors compared to previous experiences here. Everything prepared quickly and hot, but just okay. read more

Very good Indian food in an old hot dog place. The food is authentic and you smell the spice the minute you walk in. It's a small place with less than a dozen tables but there is a drive through. They were out of the meat and chicken samosas so we settled with the veggie. It was larger than others we've had, tasty and served with a sweet chutney. The aloo paratha (fluffy flatbread stuffed with potatoes) was light and very tasty. The aloo tikki chaat (potatoes with sweet and spicy toppings) was the favorite of the meal. Chaats are savory street snacks and the aloo tikki is one of the most popular. The first taste tells you why. The lamb tikki is pretty much square lamb kabobs with spice. Good taste but a bit toothy. The special biryani wasn't our favorite. The spices were odd and there were chunks of fatty, gristly, bony goat meat interspersed. There are plenty of other options to explore and you get excellent food at a great price. A beer would be nice to quench the spice, but you'll have to settle for a lassi. Water is served (warm and on tap) but that really doesn't help with the spice. Service was Ok. We will be back. read more

We stopped by at the restaurant for a pickup based on a previous positive experience a while back. We were passing by Columbus and wanted to pick dinner. However it was a tremendous disappointment when we opened the food for warming. I could tell from the looks it was bad food. The taste was absolutely horrible. We have eaten a lot of bad Indian food and this was the worst. I do not think they even have a cook who can cook Indian food. They do not seem to own a tandoor also because the garlic naan we ordered was a frozen Deep naan. Lachcha parantha was a lump of dough. We ended up throwing the food and ordered a pizza instead. I thought of disputing the charge but decided against in the spirit of Christmas. Avoid at all cost. read more

We've lived on the Indian subcontinent several years. This is one of the best Indian restaurants we've eaten at anywhere. And in our neighborhood, an added bonus. Warmly recommended. read more

After being a repeat customer for a number of months, they have disappointed me on too many occasions as of recent. The food can be hit or miss. Just don't ask for extra spicy or not spicy. I was told by the owner that when I asked for extra spicy that they didn't make it very spicy because I was white. I received an extra bland dish instead. Then the noodles that I expressly asked for go-to to be very mild for my wife, turned out to be hotter than what they serve on the buffet. I won't be going back. read more

Layla's Kitchen is a wonderful, small restaurant serving up excellent, flavorful Indian cuisine . The lamb vindaloo and chicken tikka was fabulous. Our waitress was kind, courteous, and prompt. Great experience! Love this place! read more

Great little spot in Minerva Park (Coumbus). We had Palak Paneer and Goat Curry which were both excellent. As someone else said, you can definitely taste all the delicious distinct spices in each of the dishes. The curry was more of a rich broth than a sauce - which I thought was fantastic! The service was amazing and the prices are very reasonable. read more

I'm rather clueless when it comes to Indian food, only having in recent years even tried it. But, I have to say, I'm a huge fan of this place. I liked them when they had their smaller restaurant further south on Cleveland Ave., and just love the buffet. I've tried a little of everything both times I've visited since they moved (there were some different things from one visit to the next), and there was only one dish I wasn't partial to (goat curry, don't know why, just wasn't a fan of that one). Delicious. I ate WAY too much both times, but was fat and happy! We're going back during Christmas week, for sure. read more

This place was delicious. This is the type of place that should open up more locations. Maybe franchise and stomp out fast food places like Burger King and Wendy's. This place would dominate. Or, at least it should try. Eat here now. Don't look for anything else. read more

Ok, so I'm a serious lover of Indian food! A friend and I wanted to try a new place and ended up at Layla's (on a Saturday night). The restaurant is like an old Taco Bell or something... it has a drive through window. WEIRD. We walked in to grab a table and were shouted at from the counter "dine in or take out?!?" in which we replied that we would like to dine in. I think the strangest part about the whole experience was that we were only offered bottled water... which we had to pay for!!! My friend asked for more water after her first bottle was gone and the second bottle was even reflected on our check. SUPER WEIRD. We ordered the chicken 65 appetizer, which was good. I ordered the chicken tikka masala and my friend ordered mater paneer. We each ordered naan as well. The food looked great when it came out and we were each given one dish of rice. Overall, I don't have many complaints about the food. It was good, but not the best I've ever tasted. The service was awful. The waitress or whoever she was came to our table about 6 times while we were eating. She was very soft spoken and I could hardly hear her... it was just an awkward interruption every 5 minutes. We eventually asked for to go boxes and I asked for an additional dish of rice. She told me that I could pay for more rice, but they don't "just give rice out". SERIOUSLY??? That rice costs pennies and I just payed for BOTTLED WATER in a restaurant!!! Whatever. I think Aab will always be my favorite Indian restaurant in Columbus. read more