I love Indian buffets so much that I actually convinced another mom to start trying different Indian buffet restaurants with me and now she's officially my Indian buffet buddy! This restaurant was so delicious that I came back to try both the lunch buffet and the dinner buffet within just five days. Everything was flavorful and satisfying, and I really enjoyed both experiences. The service was amazing! Maria was so attentive, kind, and accommodating, and she made our dinner experience especially enjoyable. The ambiance was great too. The restaurant was clean, welcoming, and I really loved the ceiling decorations, they added such a nice touch to the space. If you're in the Lake Forest or Irvine area, you definitely have to give this restaurant a try! If you love Indian food and buffets as much as I do, you won't want to miss it. read more

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I really wanted to like this place because the quality of their food is actually solid. But tonight we went for their dinner buffet and confirmed that the kids price is half the adults for the buffet before eating. After the meal they charged us $23 per person for 4 people. 2 adults, a 9 year old and a 11 year old. They said that the kids price is under 8 so they charged all of us as adults. If they had charged our kids the kids price I honestly could have been a repeat customer here but this quickly became a very expensive meal for the amount of food we ate: $115 total for a family of 4 and no leftovers to take home. One of the more expensive dinners I paid for this year for the amount of food our family ate. Wouldn't recommend this place for anyone with kids but if you are a hungry adult then it may be worth it I guess. Not the best affordability in this economy. read more

Unfortunately, the food needs improvement. The chicken tikka masala sauce tasted mostly like plain canned tomato sauce. Chicken tikka masala normally has a rich, aromatic flavor from spices such as garam masala, cumin, coriander, turmeric, ginger, garlic, chili and sometimes fenugreek. I really didn't taste those flavors in the sauce. The grilled/barbecue chicken was also overcooked . And no taste. The bread was another disappointment. When we were seated, I wish we had been asked right away if we wanted garlic naan or bread so it could have been prepared while we were waiting. Instead, about 7-10 minutes went by before we were asked, and by the time the bread arrived, I was almost finished eating. My wife and I also felt the bread tasted undercooked and a little like raw flour. I'm writing this because I actually hope the restaurant improves. Being in Mission Viejo, I think there is a great opportunity to have a very successful restaurant here if more attention is given to cleanliness, maintenance, service timing, and especially the preparation and seasoning of the food. I really wanted to like this restaurant, especially because it appears to be a family-owned business, and I hope the owners take this review as constructive feedback Another thing that really needs attention is the restroom. The bathroom doors are very dirty and badly need to be cleaned and repainted. More importantly, the lock on the main restroom door was broken. I tried to lock it and couldn't, which made me very uncomfortable because I was worried someone could open the door while I was inside. That should definitely be repaired as soon as possible. I hope the owners take these comments positively and make some changes, because I would much rather see a family-owned restaurant improve and succeed than fail. read more

It's been a while since I've visited Royal India and saw they had a 35% off promo on doordash and ordered in! We ordered the chicken korma (mild), chicken biryani and garlic naan. The chicken biryani box was PACKEDDD, very shocked and pleased with the portion size. I'm not sure what the default spice level is on doordash since it didn't give me an option to select, but I think it was mild. I liked how even though the spice level was on the milder side, the overall flavor was still pretty good! Feel like you sometimes lose flavor when choosing mild at some places. The chicken korma container looked small but was also pretty packed with a lot of chicken pieces and just the right amount of sauce. The chicken was very juicy and cooked nicely. The garlic naan was tasty but due to the delivery aspect, texture didn't hold up as well as the other items with the drive over, but was still pretty tasty. Of course would be much better when dining in and eating immediately. This order definitely hit the spot! Have to go back in to try their lunch buffet again. read more

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Another delicious buffet lunch at Royal India in Lake Forest. The selections were great from tandoori chicken to various curries to desserts. Staff were very nice and attentive. Ambiance is casual and comfortable. read more

Royal India Restaurant - Indian Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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Pretty decent AYCE India buffet for the price. Fresh garlic naan bread. Wasn't very busy when we went so limited turnover of items, would recommend arriving around the starting times for the freshest selection. They have a good selection of curry and things like tandoori chicken. The salad and dessert sections are a bit lacking. Tables were clean, service was good with refills. read more

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First time coming to this restaurant and I'm definitely coming back. I went with my coworker and he said it's Nepal and India food. Quite delicious. The lunch buffet was under $20 and included the garlic naan bread. I like how hot food items were refilled frequently and their tandoori chicken was moist and not dry. Thank goodness for their small desserts as I got to try different ones without filling up too quick. Service was ok. Took a long time to get our waters refilled and for my Mano lassi to come. Regardless will be back soon as the food is delicious! read more

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Absolutely delicious! We thoroughly enjoyed everything. The chicken tikka masala, lamb biryani, goat curry and butter chicken were fantastic! Also The garlic naan's were soft and so tasty! We will be back soon! read more

My friend and I have been on a mission to find the best Indian buffet restaurants in the area, and we just discovered Royal India. We have been so impressed that we've already been here twice in one week. Once for lunch on Sunday and now also dinner. We love how light and crisp the garlic naan is. They have a good variety on the buffet between vegetarian and non-veg offerings. I think their chicken tikka masala is very flavorful, and their other dishes are very good. Maria is a wonderful host; she is friendly and accommodating. The dining room is casual and spacious. We will be back! read more

Sunday, October 19, 2025 / Approx. 2PM I have had Indian food all over the globe, and my criteria for judging a good restaurant cover the following three (3) categories: 1) Is the Naan good? At this restaurant, the Naan is served fresh & warm, has the perfect consistency and flavor, and the initial serving is plentiful. 2) Is the Goat Curry good? Actually, some all you can eat Indian restaurants don't even serve goat curry, but this establishment serves a very spicy and yummy goat curry, which made me sweat a little. 3) Is the Gulab Jamun decadently sweet? Yes, the GJ here is served warm, sweet & sticky. CONCLUSION: if you're ever on Interstate 5 near Lake Forest, and you have a craving for some authentic Indian food, this place is a must visit. (Also, the AYCE buffet is under $20.00, which is a bargain in this era of inflation!) read more

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This is the only restaurant I ever get Indian food from. Their buttered chicken and garlic naan are my absolute favorite! I can't tell you how many times I've ordered food from here. Trying their buffet is next on my list! read more

Never gets old. This time we substituted cream sauce with coconut cream as a vegan option for the kaju koya and vegetable korma dishes. Both excellent. The lemon rice was a nice compliment to our meals with a slight crunch-interesting and tasty. Good service as always. Waiters are kind, polite, and attentive. Very clean restaurant and orderly. Will be back for sure! read more

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For a $16 dollar all you can eat Indian food lunch special - this is really a great deal! The food was very good, service very kind, I think I'm just used to having Indian music, maybe the TV showing Indian dances, etc. Also an Indian waiter was missing. The food was very good as mentioned, it's just that some of the items didn't taste like authentic Indian food. (based upon my experience with frequenting, so many Indian restaurants all over Orange County) Being more familiar with the previous Indian restaurant that was here decades prior, I had a familiarity. But don't get me wrong, the food was very good and there were lots of choices. However, One of the choices that I would not ever select is the Goat Meat (It just doesn't sound or looks appetizing for me.) In addition, I'm used to the rice pudding having rosewater in it, & more flavorful. In summary, perhaps the main issue was - flavors were off. Also familiarity with the cuisine, is important. I need to remember that 4 stars is great. Side Note: We have a family member who's part of the autistic spectrum and she used her visual aid vocabulary cards (pictured). read more

Royal India Restaurant - Indian Food makes her hungry - Indian Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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Flavorful and delicious indian food at a reasonable price! They offer lunch buffets. The interior is neat enough and the servers are warm. read more

Royal India Restaurant - Indian Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Food was really good and came out fresh. Service was quick even though it was pretty busy. Definitely a place I'd come back to.

Tikka masala was very sweet with no other complex notes. I've never had tikka masala like that. Not good. Samosas were too thick and bland. Lemon rice had unsalted pale peanuts. I love lemon rice, and one of the joys of it is having the salted browned peanuts. Disappointing. Dal makhani was okay. Hard to mess that up. Naan was great. Atmosphere was not my favorite. It's very close to the freeway and it feels like it. Cold and minimal. Service was very sweet and I'm sorry to leave a bad review. But there are so many other Indian places in Orange County that are also family run, whose food deserves more attention. read more

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We got some food for pickup tonight and it really hit the spot. We got the: Veggie Samosas: great seasoning, good spice Rogan Josh: fall-apart lamb in a super tasty sauce Veggie korma: great variety of vegetables in a creamy coconut sauce -- delicious Chicken biryani: simple, classic and tasty Garlic naan: always a banger Missi roti: made using garbanzo bean flour, great for mopping up all the sauces Everything was super satisfying and filling! Medium heat was plenty spicy. Excited to try more dishes from this spot since it's affordable and good quality. read more

Terrible quality I ordered Veg Tikka Masala, but it was loaded with old, perhaps previously in the buffet, meat. The vegetables had a moldy taste, and I had to throw it away. Total waste of my money. I don't recommend this place to anyone. read more

Food: 4/5 There are a few curry options to choose from: tiki masala, chicken curry, goat curry, lentil soup, and tandoori chicken. They also have some fried goodies: egg rolls, fries and samosas to choose from, which were delicious! Service: 5/5 Waiters were very attentive and provided garlic naans and water when low. The took empty plates away as soon as we were done. Ambiance: 5/5 Nice and clean! read more

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this place is legit. excellent food and very friendly and accommodating staff. we've stopped by this place a handful of times over the years, and the food is always excellent. best saag paneer I've had in years. read more

Delicious dinner buffet with all the classic Indian dishes and fabulous service. Warm and cozy setting and we're so happy they offer a dinner buffet in addition to the typical lunch buffet. Definitely check them out! read more

The service was amazing!! Our server was very patient and helpful. It was our first time there and we had a great experience. The food was delicious! Quite pricey but delicious. The ambiance was quiet so a romantic dinner is nice. The place is very clean too. read more

Royal India Restaurant - Lamb Korma & Chicken Tikka Masala - Indian Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Ok so this place recently changed names/ownership but the food and service are still outstanding! They have lunch buffet every day from 11-2:30 (3pm on weekends) and the price is now only $15!! This is the best price around for Indian buffet and the quality is super. We came in for a late lunch around 2pm on Sunday and there was still lots of hot food and I saw them replenish a couple dishes. There are booths lining the sides of the dining room and tables in the center (most patrons opt for the booths as we did). I like that it doesn't feel so crammed. Service was very attentive with someone constantly coming by to bring drinks and naan, clear plates, refill drinks, etc. The food itself was very tasty. They have over a dozen hot items... highlights were the tandoori chicken (so moist and flavorful), chili cauliflower, chicken biryani, saag paneer and goat curry. The chicken tikka masala here was a little bit of a disappointment as the chicken used were blocks of unmarinated chicken breast. The sauce was fantastic but I recommended to my husband and son to get the sauce and use it on the tandoori chicken. I finished my meal with gulag jamun which was super! read more

Royal India Restaurant - A little bit of everything... and fresh, hot naan brought to the table. Weekday buffet $9.95... awesome deal! - Indian Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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I like their buffet the best in OC. I also notice the buffet price is lower than most places in OC. They have varieties dishes and I love their tandoori chicken is the best. They are very moist and great flavor. They also serve really good nans. Music is not too loud and very calm atmosphere and I can enjoy the quiet meal here. I noticed their workers are same from before but I believe their owner or chef must have changed bcoz their foods taste lot better then before. I wish many people will give a try this place and we can keep this restaurant stays in business. Because I just love their foods ! read more

I went here for the first time on a Monday evening and ordered the gobi manchurian, shahi paneer, malai kofta, garlic naan and the gulab jamun. The service was really good and the ambiance was very cozy and inviting. The food itself was amazing. The garlic naan was very tasty and buttery. My favorite was the shahi paneer but everything overall was a 10/10. I will be going back for the lunch buffet snd definitely recommend this, especially if you are in the Lake Forest Area! read more

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Yum! The only thing I did not like about Royal Rasoi is that is is far from me. My husband and I wanted to try something new so we decided to make the drive to check out this establishment. We came on a Saturday for lunch and it was busy but no wait. I liked that they had their lunch buffet even on the weekends. And on Sundays they include champagne. The self service area had a large variety including a whole section of vegetarian options. Everything I tried I enjoyed. The foods were full of flavor and always refilled. All the meats we had tasted tender and delicious. We got a choice between regular and garlic naan which we got garlic. It was yummy. Oh and we got a lassi drink as well but I don't recommend it since it tasted off. Service was great and they made sure to give us more drinks and take away our finished plates. The inside is pretty spacious which makes getting the food easy. We would definitely come back. read more

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The staff was courteous and cordial and there was a good variety of food at the buffet. But YIPES!! Most dishes (tandoori chicken) tasted old and dried/reheated, rice had hard dry chunks dried out. The pakora fritters ( sitting next to a small dish of sad french fries ) were so old and dry I couldn't chew thru them. The sauced dishes, like tikka masala just seemed runny and watered down. I like mom and pop restauraunts but this one was really subpar. .... read more

Really good dinner buffet with lots of variety for $28 and it includes naan. The owner or maybe manager was lovely as well, and we're looking fwd to returning with our kids! read more

The food here is incredible and tasty! Please keep it up! Buffet selection was decent and you can tell they put a lot of love and thought in their food. highly recommended! read more

This is a review for DoorDash delivery. Vegetarian samosas: so excellent. I love these I always get four personally for my own consumption eat two the first night I get them and then squirrel the other two to eat half at daily intervals with my much less scrumptious homemade Indian fare 5/5 Chicken tikka masala: this is definitely a staple dish for the white girl dabbling in Indian cuisine. I don't care if I'm adhering to a stereotype, I love CTM. The sauce is always reliably excellent at royal Rasoi. However, when you get it for takeout or delivery, the chicken is a bit more overcooked than what you will appreciate with a dine in or buffet experience. 4/5 Daal Makhani: very good, some of the lentils are a little more firm, others are very soft, that is intrinsic to the dish when you order it from this restaurant. Very buttery highly recommend. 5/5 Saag Paneer: also very solid choice. I got it as a mild spice level in an attempt to entice a child to eat it, I probably should have gotten medium, because the flavor profile was good, but it was just a bit bland without the added peppers. 4/5 read more

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Food was amazing and service was too! Great family friendly restaurant. I tried the buffet and highly recommend it.

Best naan hands down!! The food here is top notch and the atmosphere is cozy if you sit by the burgundy wall! They treat you like family here ime even though the only words I know are Indian food words! Royal India is the best buffet deal on the planet! The quality of their menu far exceeds the price they charge! Tip well and get some champagne once in a while and they treat you even better and better on every new visit! read more

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Good food. Nice service. The weekday lunch buffet is a good value.. with enough options. Mostly quiet and air condition a steady flow of customer. We've been here a couple times and they've been consistent. read more

Royal India Restaurant - Our food selection. - Indian Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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Can't beat the $16.95 all you can eat lunch buffet. Great selection and bountiful well cooked and flavorful variety of your Indian cuisine. Outstanding! Must give it a try. And if you like tea, try the Indian tea. Excellent! read more

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The food was fantastic. From the Lamb Korma to the Mango Lassi to the Chicken Vindaloo, every dish was fantastic. Prepared just how you expect! The nanns were on point and the service was excellent. We came in quite late and there weren't a ton of people -- a shame everyone not here is missing out -- and the service was excellent and food fresh and excellent, clearly made fresh to order. The wait staff hit that perfect balance of making certain your drinks were refilled without being too pushy. A note my friend with OCD wanted me to add was that the staff wore gloves and every dish, plate and utensil was sparkling clean. Ambiance was also very pleasant. Nothing over the top, but it was very pretty and the booths were comfortable. We were there for dinner, but they have a lunch buffet that must be incredible. I will be back for sure!!! read more

I am glad my friends recommended this place! I went for my 30th birthday and I am glad I came to eat. I got a few dishes comprising of lamb curry, butter chicken and a masala dosa. Food had great flavor! The service was nice and inviting. When it came to the ambiance, it had a warm feeling. One that resembles a home. I can't wait to be able to visit again soon and bring close friends/family. read more

Royal India Restaurant - Naan, Masala Dosa, Lamb Curry, and Butter Chicken - Indian Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Food is fair but their Naan is fresh and delicious!! Service is amazing and ambience is quiet but colorful read more

Royal India Restaurant - Fresh garlic naan - Indian Near Me - Lake Forest, California

My husband and I go to this spot almost every weekend. The staff is so nice and the food is AMAZING. So flavorful. The best Indian buffet out there and you can't beat the price read more

We thought we would venture out and were craving Indian so decided to try a new (to us) restaurant we haven't been to. (Unpopular opinion) I thought I was going to enjoy the food a lot more than I did based on all the 5 star reviews. The dishes ordered were a version of their butter chicken, goat curry, and garlic naan. The curries were somewhat watery, had lots of the normal spices but at the same time it tasted a little bland to me. Usually we order the same dishes at all Indian restaurants and they've all tasted very very similar. This place tasted very different to me and I personally felt it was too bland. The goat was cooked perfectly though. The garlic naan however, was delicious and you get a big order for $4. Great deal. Customer service was great, they were fast, polite and very friendly. I would still come back and try something else. read more

Royal India Restaurant - Indian Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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Went here for the weekday buffet, and wasn't really impressed. I don't know what has changed since they were Royal Rasoi when I went a couple years ago. It seems like on Yelp it might just be a name change. It's pretty affordable at $16 for weekdays, and $18 for weekends, but I feel there's better options. Most of the items at the buffet felt like it could use more seasonings. The chicken tikka masala, which I was looking forward to was a bit bland. The naan was nice and hot, but could have used more garlic. Service was very friendly and prompt. read more