I always enjoy Indian cuisine with one of my favorite colleagues. Royal India did not disappoint! When you walk through the door you are transported. The owner and staff are welcoming. The food was great, I barely got pictures. We had masala tea, prawn patio, garlic naan, lentils, tikka masala. The owner has had celebrities from Michael Jordan to Robert Deniro, presidents and government officials. He came and spoke with my colleague and I, really made us feel welcomed I will definitely be back! read more

See all

This was our third or fourth visit. I know that there are a lot of newer and also delicious Indian restaurants in Raleigh but we return to Royal India for the food-always delicious, the service-always friendly and attentive, and extras-like easy parking and atmosphere. I especially want to mention the fish dish I had with snapper. The sauce was amazing and you always have the option to chose your spice level. We also had an appetizer with tofu which was scrumptious. Their naan is puffy, a little blackened and really good. It takes a little effort to get to them on Capital but, really, the last time we tried to go to a place on Hillsborough, there was no parking and you could hardly hear over the din in the restaurant. Instead, Royal India has ample parking and a quiet, beautiful atmosphere. And the owner comes to your table to greet you. Can't wait to return! read more

Owner replied in my previous review so I reached out. I sent two separate emails a week apart and still haven't heard back. Lol this place puts on a good facade read more

Bottom line: This is a Bait-And-Switch restaurant with cheaper menu prices outside their door. The menu they offer once you sit down is about 20% more expensive. The food is pretty good but not as good enough to justify the already high door price, let alone the Bait-And-Switch prices. The dish was tasty, the service was good for Indian standards, and the ambiance/cleanliness of the restaurant was good. My Paneer Butter Masala was priced at $18 at the door menu (already high), and was $22 on the menu I was given. The small dessert I was given (I didn't order it) at the end was nice, but not worth the pricing deception. read more

This restaurant has amazing food. It's good every time we go. The waitress was nice, the atmosphere is nice and the furnishings are beautiful. The chef greeted us today and thanked us for coming. We always have good experiences, and we will continue to go. read more

If you want authentic tasty Indian or Pakistani cuisine this isn't for you. If you like westernized very greasy and heavy dishes? It will suit you. Also makes me feel heavy and sick. Compare it to authentic places like agas in houston and there is no comparison read more

The food is stellar. The buffet is incredible but expected to visit only once. We like to be able to taste a little bit of this and that, then go up with a new plate and dish up our favorites. We were told 1 visit is enough by owner. The dessert table is hard to choose! Decor is fantastic, ornate! The Owner is showed with Famous people pictured on the wall, nice! Be ready to leave at closing so come early. Everything is delicious, well done, fragrant The Best on Capitol Blvd. Lots of parking. read more

Very disappointing visit here. Like many other reviews noted, I also was upcharged without explanation. I was the only patron in the restaurant between 11:30 AM and 12:30 on a weekday. There was one DoorDash order picked up. I can see why this place is doing poorly. I will not return. I ordered a lunch special which was $18 on the Internet and $19 on the menu inside. OK, no big deal, some places don't keep their Internet updated. The menu and drink menu were dirty and the corners worn off, had holes in them, and had writing all over them. They clearly don't want to spend the money to reprint their menus. The food was decent, but nothing special. The chicken curry was served on the bone and you had to chew off little pieces of chicken. I ordered extra spicy, but the curry was bland. The butter chicken was better, extra spicy as I ordered. The Samosa was tiny, but good. The naan was greasy but tasty. When I went to pay, the bill i was charged $19.67. I asked why approximately 4% was added. (there was also an up charge to the soda). The waitress, who was Hispanic and did not speak good English, did not know. I asked her to go get the manager or owner. She went to the back, came out and said there was no one there, but the cook and the cook didn't know either. I had no choice but to pay the up charge. She acted like no one had ever brought it to her attention. Very sharp business practices. I wonder if this is a new owner, the old guy used to come out and meet people and I cannot imagine him ripping people off like this. At least I know why there was only one person (me) in that restaurant in one hour. Unfortunately, any Goodwill this owner had left is gone with me and apparently most of his other former patrons. With so many new Indian restaurants open in the triangle since the pandemic ended, I can't see this guy staying in business. His demise will be well deserved. read more

Royal India - Indian Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Amazing service and incredible food- it's one of the city's highest rated Indian restaurants for a reason. I don't get too crazy with Indian cuisine, but this was by far the best Indian I've had in the Triangle. Chicken Biryani and garlic kulcha is all I'll ever need. 10/10. read more

Royal India - Indian Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Simply plentiful delicious food, and courteous service. Great lunch menu, too. Located on Capitol Blvd. read more

I entered to eat after my flight arrived in Raleigh, this was close to my planned route and I am so glad I stopped in. Service was very friendly, fast, recommendations were amazing, the perfect amount of spice. Music was easy to listen to, the volume was not overwhelming, it would have been easy to have a conversation. I had the Chicken Xacuti, with Royal naan made with lamb. Food was prepared to perfection. Dessert was the Glaub Jamun, it was delectable, talk about slowing down to enjoy your senses. I can't wait to come back to Raleigh for dinner read more

See all

This restoCame in for lunch and ordered #3 it has 3 different viants Chicken curry, Palek Paneer and another chicken. Basmati rice, samosa, salad , bread and a dessert. For all that food it's a little more than a regular lunch budget but you'll still have some for take home. Gulab Jamun is the dessert it's like a round donut with syrup. Ambience is nice and server is nice. I order medium heat when they ask but I recommend mild. They also have other lunch sets. I've been to other Indian restaurants but for a lunch with this offer it gives you a taste of everything without needing to order for everything separately. A must try if your in the area. read more

See all

My first time @royal.india.nc was a very memorable one. Royal India has served the Raleigh area for over 30 years and offers an array of unique dishes. The food was incredible and I was so excited to try their lunch special #3, which included: Butter Chicken: Aromatic juicy tandoori chicken prepared in a buttery tomato based cream sauce full of flavor and a silky smooth rich texture. Samosas: These are pyramid shaped flaky puffed pastries. Inside is hiding a delicious blend of potatoes, peas & spices. My first bite into it was a surprise of flavor that I could not get enough of. This is the perfect appetizer for this meal. Bhuna Goat: tender fall off the bone savory meat, tossed in a rich flavorful brown sauce. You are greeted with garlic, cumin, and a bit of bitter that rounds everything out nicely. This goes especially well with the yellow rice. Palak Paneer: fresh homemade cheese cooked in a creamy spinach sauce with delicious earthy flavors. It's perfect for eating by itself, but I liked it best with their fresh baked naan. After finishing my wonderful meal, I was given a tour of the restaurant and shown the process of how Royal India makes their naan from scratch. I learned that they bake the naan in a tradional clay oven known as a Tandoor and it was super cool watching as the naan rose and bubble as it baked. I can't wait to return to @royal.india.nc for more delicious dishes. read more

See all

My friend saw a tik toc about this place and we decided to give it a try. It is the definition of classic. They are one of the oldest Indian joints in NC. Their food is on the pricey side but worth it. The service is here is very hospitable. Our server was very patient and understanding. We had little knowledge about Indian cuisine and he was more than willing to give us some history lessons. The place has a very classy, boujee look to it. It is adorned with timeless pictures of royalty. Before the bathrooms, you see pictures of the owner with celebrities and political figures. The owner is well-known in the community and it shows that the place has an ingrown network. Very impressed and would recommend anyone wanting to try traditional Indian food. Sidenote: I've never had Indian beer before. Let me say. This is the best beer I've ever had. Honest read more

See all

The fiance and I decided to stop in even though we were originally in pursuit of an Indian buffet and we were not disappointed! There was an abundance of selections on the lunch special list but we went for the #1- Butter chicken, tandoori chicken, curry chicken, samosa, naan bread,, and rice. I opted for double of butter chicken on my plate because curry is sometimes too spicy for me and they were happy to accommodate. :) Everything came out on one large plate minus the Naan bread that was in a side basket and dessert came at the end of the meal. The portion size was perfect that we left full and happy even without a buffet spread. We will definitely be back when we next crave some authentic Indian cuisine!! read more

Royal India - Butter chicken is the star here! - Indian Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

See all

Please go elsewhere. Do not buy into social media. Called my order in which included vegetable samosas, palak paneer, chicken curry, and garlic naan. Upon arrival, there was no one attending the front desk. I waited a few minutes and then decided to peek into the restaurant area. A man, I'm assuming the owner, was serving. When he saw me he nodded his head, I thought I would at least be greeted. 5+ minutes pass and still no one has the decency to at least greet me. By this time, it had been about 50 minutes since I placed my order and was told it would be 30 minutes. And the restaurant was not even half full, so they weren't that busy. ...Still no one bothers to greet me. I contemplated leaving but decided to give them 5 more minutes. I decide to go and stand by the entrance to the dining area so they could clearly see me waiting. A few minutes later...the owner finally comes with my order. I'd read reviews about bill discrepancies, so I wanted to check each item. They had added a service fee for using a card, which he ends up removing. Now about the food...hands down the worst Indian food I've had. The samosas were greasy and lacked flavor. I've had much better frozen samosas. The chicken curry only tasted like onions, nothing else. Palak paneer seriously lacked flavor. It was cream and spinach, nothing else. And the garlic naan, worst everrrr. My first amateur attempt at home was much better. Nothing tasted fresh. Never ever again would I return here. ****AND their sanitation score was in the low 90s..I definitely should've just left when I saw that.**** read more

Royal India - Order of vegetable samosas, chicken curry w/basmati, palak paneer w/basmati, and garlic naan. All VERY subpar, nothing tasted fresh. - Indian Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Amazing authentic indian food made from scratch. we came late at night and got food to-go. the owner was super nice and made sure everything was done right. Me and my friend ordered everything vegan and Gluten free. Spice level was perfect, sweat and tears, just how i like it.. lol. The pakoras could have more substance cuz it was mostly just spinach it tasted like. The rice was especially delicious Very nice environment too. next time we'll dine in my recommendations : stuffed baby eggplant - this was hands down my favorite thing aloo gobi masala - very intense flavors read more

Royal India - Stuffed Baby Eggplant, Royal Dal Tadka, Tofu Paneer, Aloo Gobi Masala - Indian Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

See all

A Treat I enjoy the lunch platter. Its enough food for two and offers a variety of finely prepared dishes. The naan tastes wonderfully fresh and the sauces are bold and flavorful. the atmosphere is elegant and confortable. The staff has always been courteous. Treat yourself... Ive never left disappointed. read more

My first impression is that the food is fantastic. This was my second visit to the restaurant, although I had some reservations because of previous discrepancies between the menu prices and the final, somewhat obscure bill. The dishes offer authentic Northern Indian flavors, the service is prompt, and the setting is nice, albeit more overwhelming than cozy and relaxing. The dining experience was disrupted by the owner's cell phone ringing loudly during dinner service, which detracted from the overall atmosphere. Additionally, another employee was speaking loudly about business matters near the seated customers, adding to the noise. The large projection television playing loud national music also made it challenging to have a conversation during dinner. The ambiance was excessively noisy, especially considering there were only a few customers present. A significant drawback was the pricing: two butter chicken dinners, two iced teas, a serving of garlic naan bread, and a light appetizer totaled nearly $90, excluding tip. Furthermore, there was no detailed written bill provided, and all payments were processed through a handheld POS system that didn't offer an itemized receipt. I don't have a problem with paying for quality food and service. However, there seems to be a recurring issue with the prices not matching the menu, as this is the second time I've noticed this discrepancy. I really enjoy the food, but I'm reluctant to go back because the prices I'm charged don't seem to align with what's listed on the menu. read more

I won a gift certificate for this place so we decided to try it on Diwali eve. Probably not a good decision on our part because my first impression of the owner was he was rude and unwelcoming. Anyway, we walk in and I stated I was there as part of a gift card and his first question was "well, where's the gift certificate, I don't know what this is about!". For a second I was stunned and taken aback. He then proceeded to say "the person you dealt with is not here yet, but he stated a family is coming so that might be you". He proceeded to seat us and eventually took our order. I asked him what he recommended as veg entree dishes and he just pointed to the entire vegetarian section of the menu (not very helpful). We ordered the following: Drinks - mango lassi: had rose syrup filling which was unappetizing - sweet lime juice: very sweet. All i could taste was syrup/sweetness and no other flavor. Free papad: had some burnt texture/flavors but it was ok. Chutney that came with it wasn't good. Apps: Tandoori chicken: terrible. Lacked flavor. Almost seemed like chicken wasn't cooked Paneer tikka: decent tasting. Had good flavors. Big chunks of onion that could be been cut smaller, however not a bad dish Entree: -butter chicken: tangy and unappetizing. Lacked flavor. Didn't taste anything like how butter chicken should taste -malai kofta: pretty good. Gravy was flavorful and the kofta itself was also good Chicken biryani (spicy): this was too spicy (I guess we expected that) but disappointing in taste. We could tell they just mixed plain rice with some masala. The biryani flavor was lacking and the flavors didn't go well together Dessert: gulab jamun on the house. Pretty good! Overall the decor was pretty and ambience was good. They had Bollywood music/videos running at the back with some classic songs playing and paintings of all royal people/mughals. Unfortunately i wouldn't go back and I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone either. read more

I ordered take out. Chicken tikka masala and an order of plain naan. The entree was $19 and naan wqs $5.00. The total should have been $26 tops after tax. And happy to tip as well but we were told the total was $33. Gave him $34 cash and he walked away with the money and came back about 15 minutes later with the food. The food was excellent. Perfect balance of spices, heat sauce and chicken. Even the rice had some lovely spices. BUT... why the huge up charge? And the portion was small compared to other places that I have ordered this from. Happy to pay that much for a large portions but $34 for one small chicken entree and bread? Definitely won't be coming back since normally I would be ordering for 3 people. read more

amazing food great service quiet eating area nice employees must try here best indian quisenee

The Valentines Day Service was very decorated and serene. The food was good and the portions matched the price size. (Sometimes restaurants overcharge with their small portions) Though the attention to detail was PREVALENT in here. The decor was very romantic and the staff consistently asked us about our well-being. I would recommend to a friend! read more

Royal India - Royal India - Indian Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

My husband and I decided to have dinner here before heading to a concert later that evening. He chose this restaurant because he loves Indian food, and the location was convenient for our plans. Unfortunately, our experience was far from pleasant. The first red flag came when I was served ice water with a bug floating on top. As if that wasn't bad enough, a trip to the restroom revealed an even more alarming sight--about 10 small roaches scurrying around. While the food might appeal to some, the unsanitary conditions are a severe concern. If you choose to eat here, do so with caution. This is a restaurant experience we won't be repeating. read more

Despite our being very respectful and complementary, the waiter disappeared in the middle of service. Owner (his brother) came in mid-meal and proceeded to watch something on his laptop in the dining room that drowned out the music that was playing. I was served a water with a fly in it. We had to wave down a waitress to take my fly water away and to bring us the bill. She indicated that she didn't speak English by mumbling and waving hands. I left and went out to the car before they finally brought the bill to my husband. There were only three people in the restaurant, so it was embarrassingly empty. The food was good but the service was deplorable and we will never go back. They act like they absolutely hate customers. Suggest getting in a different line of business if customers piss you off. Or maybe they should go to family therapy and work power dynamics out. read more

Wonderful food & service! We came in late but didn't feel rushed, rather we were encouraged to take our time.

The food is tasty. Good selection. One of my favorite restaurants. Good service. Go here every chance I get.

Had wanted to check out this restaurant for a while. I had stopped in about a year ago to check out the menu and was excited to see a beautiful, white table cloth sort of place which had been voted one of the best, maybe the best, Indian restaurant in Raleigh several years in a row. Had the opportunity to return for lunch today with a friend while my car was being serviced close by. I brought him along, knowing he enjoyed Indian food, hadn't been there and I wouldn't have to eat alone! We were amazed - the food, the service (though not that busy at 11.30 in the morning) were both excellent and the 'lunch special combinations' extremely reasonable for the variety of extras, including naan, a dessert, samosas and various condiments. I can't wait to bring other friends to experience the food and ambiance, especially one evening. Nice joint; an aficionado won't be disappointed!! read more

Great spot! I used to come here for the lunch buffet but since that is no longer a thing they have created specials for $14.99. My husband and I ordered it the other day and we got the tandoor chicken, chicken curry butter chicken with a samosa and rice and naan and it was amazing! It also came with a dessert of the rice pudding! It was more than enough food we will def be back! read more

See all

dawg my sisters phone died and they pulled up with a charger so this place is legit. FOOD 5/5 ATMOSPHERE 5/5 SERVICE 6/5. Of your reading this it's a good to have good eat read more

Been going to royal India for years. The food great the service matches the food. We will return. read more

Royal India - Royal Chicken Curry - Indian Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

If you want, authentic Indian cuisine, this is the place to be. We went for the first time, and enjoyed the experience! The food, excellent. The weight staff, fantastic. Overall ambience, impressive. You will not be disappointed. We enjoy our time food and experience every time we go. read more

Food was fantastic, service was outstanding. We will be back for sure! Love this place. I got chicken saag and garlic naan. My boyfriend got butter chicken. Both were delicious! read more

Great atmosphere and very attentive staff. The food was outstanding, I highly recommend the butter chicken, best I've ever had. This restaurant is beautiful on the inside, you can't tell from the outside what you're getting into but the place is wonderful. Highly recommended. read more

Royal India - Beautiful inside! - Indian Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

The food is amazing. Some of the best Indian food I have had in the states. Please is very well decorated and welcoming. I love spicy and that's what I ordered. This was spicy! I even broke a small sweat with the spices. Good portion sizes and the chicken tikka masala was plentiful on chicken and serving. The naan was hot and fresh. Very good and highly recommend! read more

See all

Delicious flavorful colorful food! Met a friend for lunch here on Sunday expecting (or hoping for) the buffet. We got something better! No line, no serving utensils that 1579 others had touched, no, we got combo lunch meals!! There are several options to choose from which offer to try three different plates! Not too much food, and if it is get a to go box! We will def be back! read more

Royal India - Indian Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

The reviews are all deceiving!! Absolutely not good !! For starters: Marinated Paneer tikka was not marinated . It was just thrown onto oven and brought all burnt . Then , chai - the worst chai ever . Then samosa - frozen & half fried . People could fall sick if you eat that . DO NOT WASTE TIME COMING HERE . read more

Royal India - Indian Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

See all

The food was amazingly spicy and tasted authentic. My only issue is the service is just horrible. The owner was literally blowing his nose without a mask every time he came to our table. Him and the waitress would give us lots of attitude. I didn't even ask for anything outside the typical restaurant experience- got drinks, ordered, and asked for take out containers. I had a lot of food to pack up. I had 2 curries, naan, and rice left over- she gave me 2 clam shells. I asked for small containers for the curries and the waitress rolled her eyes... I don't even know why. The owner was laughing and joking with the other people in the restaurant. But at our table, he wouldn't even interact with us. Which is fine. But when he came by to re fill our water, I said thank you. He just rolled his eyes and blew his nose. Also, he didn't even give us a receipt. He just brought his card reader and we paid. At this point I was just over this place. I will never go back. read more

Went to Royal India for a Company dinner on December 16. All of the dishes were prepared well, and the service was timely. Unfortunately, the waitress had a hard time with English. The environment is nice, but antiquated; in a way, it's a part of its charm. They could improve their drink selection, and outdoor appearance, but neither would deter me from returning! read more

The ambience was very clean and service was fast. The food was full of flavor and you can definitely feel the spice. If you like spice I recommend medium; if not, get mild! read more