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Royal India

3.8 (1.5k reviews)
ModerateIndian, Vegetarian, Halal
Open 4:30 pm - 9:30 PM

Royal India Reservations

Order Royal India Takeout or Delivery

Royal India Photos

Business Info

ROYAL INDIA ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Good for groups
Good for kids
Outdoor seating

Recommended Reviews - Royal India

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Raj S.

Tried Royal India in San Diego and left with mixed feelings. The food was overall average -- the pakoda was the highlight, crispy and flavorful. Unfortunately, the rest of the dishes, especially the chicken items, were quite bland and lacked the expected spice and depth. Biryani was good . Naan and veggie curries were average . Chicken tikka was bland. . Achari chicken was good. Service was very slow -- it took about 45 minutes for our food to arrive, which was frustrating. The atmosphere wasn't great either; the tables were cramped and it felt a bit overcrowded. They do have some beer options, which was a plus. Not a terrible experience, but definitely room for improvement in both flavor and service. Average experience . 3 stars

Chicken korma
Luke F.

I travel for work and am always looking for great Indian restaurants. Royal India has been consistently excellent during my month here in San Diego. My go-to dish at any Indian restaurant is chicken korma, and theirs is terrific. The naan is also fantastic-- nice and light with an almost flaky consistency. Really some of the best naan I've ever had. And the basmati rice is perfectly prepared in the traditional Indian style. Don't skip on the vegetable samosas to start! I brought a couple of work friends here, and they were also impressed by the restaurant. If you're in the area and looking for great Indian food, look no further!

Tandori Butter Chicken, Lamb, Napa
Anh P.

Royal India in San Diego touts itself as #1 in San Diego at the front door but my experience fell a bit short of expectations. They have a nice ambiance and a central location in the Gaslamp Quarter near the convention center. Parking: As expected for downtown, parking can be challenging. Street parking is limited, and nearby garages can be pricey, so plan accordingly. I got the butter chicken with naan. The flavors were decent but nothing really stood out. I felt like I've had better flavors from take-out Indian food locations in SoCal. I also felt that the portions were small for the price. It was one piece of drumstick and one thigh for the portion with a bit of rice. The naan was crispy instead of chewy but still tasted good. Overall, the food felt average--nothing bad, but nothing memorable either. Service: Service was okay. There were not a lot of people in the restaurant and it was slow. It wasn't bad, but again, average. Overall, if you're desperate for Indian food in this area, this place has decent food. But the portions and service make it feel overpriced for what you get. I wouldn't go out of my way for this place.

Tiffany D.

I came in for quick take out order. They don't particularly have the restaurant set up for take out, but we were able to place our order at the front and wait at one of the tables for our food to be ready. I got chicken tikka, samosas, and garlic naan, which was all pretty tasty. The dining area was pretty nice, so next time I would prefer to dine in to experience the food fresh from the kitchen

Dal tarka
Noopur D.

I wasn't insanely impressed by the food or service here, but we were in the area and were hungry for dinner. The dishes were pretty good tasting and portions were good since we had leftovers for the next day. We got naan, paratha, biryani, daal, and butter tarka. Each was pretty good and quite filling, but a little pricey. I also can't blame the restaurant for this, but there was one very loud table next to us and I also didn't like our server as she did some impolite things and I didn't like her attitude. The other staff were very friendly though and since the food was good I'd give 4 solid stars.

Lamb Biryanis
Mariah R P.

The service was amazing with the staff being so attentive. They gave us a complimentary desert which was amazing and so was the ambience. The food was sooooo good. Definitely recommend the Lamb Biryani, Butter Chicken and Garlic Naan!

I took my son here to celebrate his 21st birthday, and we couldn't have asked for a better experience! From the moment we walked in, the service was warm, welcoming, and attentive. The staff made us feel special and made sure every detail of our visit was perfect. Every dish was bursting with flavor, cooked to perfection, and beautifully presented. It was hands down some of the best Indian food I've ever had. Can't wait to come back!

Risto K.

After the first visit - I declare Royal India my favorite Indian restaurant in San Diego!!! Located in the Gaslamp district interior is organized to look old fashioned and "Royal". Bright lights, chandeliers and Royal-style chairs! Food was to die for. I did indulge in vegan dishes starting with Samosa and followed by Aloo Tikki which I had for the first time! Main dish was Channa Masala with extra hotness to it. She had Aloo Gobi which was to die for. Service was good. However - there is a correct stereotype about Indian waiters regardless of the country in which the restaurant is. Good service with fiat personalities. Still always nice!

Bliss W.

Me and my family visited California and had to try this spot great food and awesome service great hospitality as well we even tried the desserts for the first time soo good!!

Naan Bread , Samosa , Masala Chili Fries , Mango Lassi , Chicken Tikka Masala , Chicken Biryani

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1 month ago

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3 months ago

Delicious food! Comforting, authentic, and yummy! and also excellent, attentive service.

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29 days ago

We had a really nice time with a group of 8 so we were able to enjoy quite a few dishes

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4 months ago

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5 months ago

I thought the food was excellent, love those large, cold bottles bottles of Taj Mahal beer. The atmosphere is nice and service was good.

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5 months ago

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2 years ago

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7 months ago

Good food. Wine was good. Service excellent. We had the saag paneer and dal tadka. And the chilli naan was delicious

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10 months ago

Everything was so good from atmosphere to service to food! Perfect blend of flavors. When I'm in town this is a must stop!

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2 years ago

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Royal India Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Royal India

Is there any parking information?

Will you ever be resuming the lunch buffet?

Thank you for your interest in our buffet. Since inflation is so high and Royal India does not compromise on quality. We cannot afford to provide buffet in current situation.

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Tahini - The Esquire Pita Sandwich with chicken Sriracha Tahini, French fries and mango lemonade.

Tahini

4.6(1.4k reviews)
8.4 miKearny Mesa
$$

We've been to Tahini before but decided to make a special trip to Tahini to support them after…read morehearing they've been constantly harassed with hate messages/crimes -- which is so horrible and sad. The food is was great and one of my favorite spots when I'm craving middle eastern wraps- I did built your own pita so of course I like the ingredients. I loved my pita bread (it's much different from the Greek style if you haven't tried it before!) and the enjoyed the steak in particular. It had a lot of warming spices (nutmeg and cinnamon maybe?) and the flavor is pretty unique! I added bell peppers, pickled cucumbers, lettuce, tomato, red onion, tahini sauce, and garlic sauce. I also got a piece of falafel - I always gotta judge a place by their falafel and this one was crispy on the outside and soft in the inside which was perfect. Next time I need to try the halloumi cheese stix with fig jam! Place was very clean and the decor was nice. I also love the Finjan coffee spot next door.

The food here is genuinely outstanding - fresh, colorful, flavorful, and made with care. Every time…read moreI eat here I'm reminded why I keep coming back. The staff is also consistently warm and kind, which makes the whole experience feel good from the moment you walk in. My only real frustration is with the wait times on online orders, and it's significant enough that I have to mention it. I work 10 min away and only get a 35-40 minute break. The app consistently quotes around 20 minutes- but honestly, 20 minutes shouldn't even be necessary. I've stood there and watched them make a bowl. It takes about two minutes. Other similar restaurants have my order ready in five minutes, consistently. So when the app quotes 20 and then I still end up waiting at the 20 minute mark on top of that - in a nearly empty restaurant - something is off. Today this happened (I hit the 20 min mark with no food), and I had to go up and ask them to make my order. This isn't a one-time thing either. It's happened enough times over the years that it genuinely deters me from coming here on my break. To their credit, there was a stretch where it seemed like they had it figured out, so I know they can do it. I just wish that consistency would stick. If you're not on a time crunch, absolutely go. The food alone is worth it. But if you're relying on a quoted pickup time, build in a buffer- a bigger one than you'd think you'd need.

Photos
Tahini - Interior of the restaurant

Interior of the restaurant

Tahini - Close up of the OG Pita. Packed will delicious meat!

Close up of the OG Pita. Packed will delicious meat!

Tahini - Interior

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Interior

The Kebab Shop

The Kebab Shop

4.3(2.3k reviews)
0.3 miEast Village
$$
Healthy dining
Halal

Food was amazing! Came out quick and fresh…read more Went out for lunch with my coworkers and everything was great.

I was on jury duty today and I wanted to have some Shawarma so I looked up on yelp and found the…read moreK-pop shop was about a 20 minute walk away. The menu was a bit confusing, but I know that I like grilled veggies and Greek salad and then Ike was able to pick my protein that I wanted so that seemed easy enough. The base price with falafel or chicken Shawarma was Close to $16 but since I chose the meat, they added two dollars to my total. It took about 10 minutes for them to assemble my meal, but my veggies were cooked fresh on the stove, which was really nice. They tasted very freshly cooked just as they would as if I had cooked them myself at home. I was there about 1245 on a Monday and there were a few people there and they had some takeout orders so my order took about 10 minutes before I could walk out the door with it. They had a nice condiment bar where you could pick out some yogurt with dill sauce and then they're famous garlic yogurt sauce, as well as a jalapeño sauce And another spicy hot one that I would never try. When I got back to the jury room to eat my meal, I saw that there was a nice quantity of the fresh salad and the grilled vegetables but the meat was piled high! The employees were working efficiently and the place was spotless and orderly.

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The Kebab Shop
The Kebab Shop
The Kebab Shop

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HillCrust Pizza

HillCrust Pizza

4.7(424 reviews)
2.5 miHillcrest
$$
Vegan friendly
Halal

Great pizza and great atmosphere! And they always have new types of pizza and salads the are…read morecreating so make sure you about it!

Horrible, horrible customer service. The pizza was good but will not be patronizing this…read moreestablishment again based on their response to an issue I had. I ordered a cheese pizza with fresh ricotta for delivery. I received a margherita pizza. I contacted the platform I ordered through and they told me they spoke with the manager, and he said he "could not refund because that's how they make their pizzas". When I replied that was not true with photo evidence, the restaurant then said they had made another pizza and "a guy" came to pick it up. I told them I neither received another pizza, nor was I even informed I would be getting another pizza. Then they said the manager told them that *I* came and picked up the pizza. 1 - I'm female. 2 - I was too sick to leave my house to walk to the restaurant across the street, I was absolutely not getting in my car to drive anywhere. It's unfortunate because I would have come back here because the food quality was good but I work in hospitality myself and it's clear these people don't care about retaining customers. There are enough other pizza places to choose from that treat you way better.

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HillCrust Pizza - Golden Hill Pizza

Golden Hill Pizza

HillCrust Pizza - Introducing Our  New Veggie Pizza Parkview!

Introducing Our New Veggie Pizza Parkview!

HillCrust Pizza - Paradise Hills- Steak Pizza with Mushroom, Onion, Green and Red Bell Peppers Topped off with Our White Sauce!

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Paradise Hills- Steak Pizza with Mushroom, Onion, Green and Red Bell Peppers Topped off with Our White Sauce!

Khyber Pass Zarparan - Cover photo

Khyber Pass Zarparan

4.4(967 reviews)
2.5 miHillcrest
$$

Incredible restaurant in the heart of Hillcrest! So hearty and flavorful - absolutely adored…read moreeverything we ordered: - mantu: topped with ground meat, these were so savory and delicious - aushak: bright flavor profile from the leeks made it a perfect pairing for the yogurt dill sauce - aush: comfort food soup with noodles! - the chicken and beef were spiced + charbroiled to perfection. too good with the upgraded raisin carrot rice. accompanied with heart and a spicy pepper. the service was amazing. absolutely above and beyond. the dining room featured high ceilings and unique art. can't wait to return.

I was planning a lunch date with a dear friend today, and she mentioned she'd never tried Afghan…read morefood. Since we were going to be in Hillcrest, we chose Khyber Pass - and wow, what an incredible decision. This was easily some of the best food I've had in a very long time. We started with the Bolani. Absolute perfection. It had a beautiful crunch, perfectly seasoned filling, and none of that sogginess I often run into with Bolani elsewhere. We could've ordered another plate and been thrilled. Next came the Aushak with ground beef: one of my all-time favorite Afghan dishes. Think of it like delicate leek-filled ravioli topped with savory meat and tangy yogurt. It hit all the right notes. We also shared the Kofta Kabob, served with grilled vegetables and fluffy basmati rice. The seasoning was spot on, and the meat was juicy and tender, similar to Persian koobideh, but truly memorable in its own way. Our server recommended the Afghan Yaghoot Chalao (Cherry Curry) with chicken. Yes, cherries! Sweet, sour, rich, bright. I had to resist the urge to literally lick my plate clean. And then: the Qabuli Palao with lamb. I do not like lamb. My friend loves it, so I agreed...and I'm so glad I did. I genuinely loved this dish. The saffron-coriander rice with carrots and raisins was aromatic and comforting, and the lamb was tender and flavorful. If you're hesitant about lamb, trust me, this dish might convert you. Portions were generous, we came hungry, and still left with leftovers. I also ordered the house-made Doogh, a mint yogurt drink. It's not for everyone, but it's pure comfort to me. We finished with hot tea infused with cardamom, black for me, green for my friend, and it was the perfect close to a perfect meal. I told our server that this food was even more delicious than what my mother makes. I'm Afghan born and raised in San Diego. That is not a compliment I give lightly. I believe the restaurant is under newer management since around 2020/2021. I last ate here in 2015, and even back when it was on Convoy in the late '90s, and this is the best it has ever been. I highly, highly recommend Khyber Pass to anyone: adventurous eaters, first-timers, comfort-food seekers, well everyone. I'll definitely be back, and next time I'm saving room for dessert.

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Khyber Pass Zarparan
Khyber Pass Zarparan
Khyber Pass Zarparan

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Lezat Indonesian Kitchen - kwetiauw goreng

Lezat Indonesian Kitchen

4.6(35 reviews)
1.9 miBarrio Logan

I ordered the Nasi Kuning and it was incredible! The combination of flavors not experienced…read moreanywhere and the depth of flavor was impressive. Im coming back for sure. The owner came out and she talked to me and gave me a free drink. So kind and personable

Lezat isn't so much a restaurant as it is a Black Mirror episode with sambal. Forget the warm…read morehospitality of Indonesian dining this is a ghost kitchen where human contact has been deleted from the code. Pickup process: Your food is locked away in a metal cubby, accessible only by QR code. It feels less like dinner and more like retrieving contraband from a sci-fi vending machine. Atmosphere: The "front lawn" is a holding pen for Uber drivers, idling like NPCs in a dystopian video game. Sketchy doesn't even begin to cover it. Food quality: Mediocre at best. The flavors are muted, the textures uninspired. It's Indonesian cuisine stripped of soul, reheated for efficiency. Customer service: Nonexistent. If they forget utensils, hot sauce, or half your order, there's no hotline, no counter, no human to plead with. You're shouting into the void of automation. Overall vibe: Dining here feels like being beta tested by an AI overlord. It's not hospitality.... it's a transaction in a dystopian future where food is rationed by QR code and empathy has been deprecated. Verdict: If you're hungry for an actual meal, look elsewhere. If you're hungry for a glimpse into the bleak future of humanless dining, Lezat is your cautionary tale.

Photos
Lezat Indonesian Kitchen - Beef rendang, fried rice, grilled Sate Ayam (Chicken Satay)

Beef rendang, fried rice, grilled Sate Ayam (Chicken Satay)

Lezat Indonesian Kitchen - Turmeric rice with lots of protein

Turmeric rice with lots of protein

Lezat Indonesian Kitchen - Exterior

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Exterior

Wet Tacos - WET TACOS

Wet Tacos

4.9(54 reviews)
1.9 miLogan Heights

I usually don't just crave tacos but mannnn! I had these for the first time on Sunday and came back…read moreTuesday just for some more! Service is always fast and friendly! A lot of seating outside. Only street parking. I got the trio. So the beef, garlic shrimp and fried the veggie one. Update on my veggie tacos: came back and Marco fixed it anddd I just want to say I'm going to be so sad when they leave!! Thank you for everything! We will be back!!

I'm not even sure if I had ever tried a wet taco before I had theirs. It's been a while since my…read morelast one, but I still remember how phenomenal it tasted. And their customer service has always been on point. I remember one time I ordered through IG or over the phone and there was a mix-up. I thought I was ordering tacos, but ended up getting their quesadillas instead, and it was a lot of food. Needless to say, I had lunch for days lol. Honestly, it was a pretty great accident. It's been a while since the Mrs and I grabbed tacos from them since we moved from The Enclave, so I think we're definitely overdue. Also, they're big dog lovers, which is a huge plus for us. They always showed so much love to our black German Shepherd every time we pulled up. Their food is something special...always handled with care and made with obvious love. I really hope we start seeing them around Chula Vista more in the near future. If you're reading this, please support them. They're great people making great food, and it won't hurt your wallet either. Thanks guys! And RIP THOR!!!!

Photos
Wet Tacos - At Plant Stock 2025

At Plant Stock 2025

Wet Tacos
Wet Tacos

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Royal India - indpak - Updated May 2026

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