Shalimar, Woodbridge - Worth the Detour Finding parking in Manhattan can feel nearly impossible--unless you're willing to pay what amounts to a full night's hotel rate just to stop for a short meal. On our way back to DC, we finally decided to stop somewhere more practical where parking wouldn't be a hassle. We ended up in Woodbridge and initially stopped at Shah's. Since my wife and I weren't in the mood for fast food, we asked the staff for a recommendation. Without hesitation, they pointed us to Shalimar, saying it was the best option in the area despite there being several Desi restaurants nearby. After a 10 min drive we arrived with fairly low expectations. The surrounding area felt a bit worn and unremarkable--but the moment we stepped inside, that impression completely changed. The restaurant was clean, modern, and felt recently renovated. Since we still had a long drive ahead, I asked for their specialty dishes. The initial interaction with the staff felt a bit rushed, as if they had somewhere else to be on a Friday night--but we managed to place our order. And then the food arrived. The sizzler was outstanding--perfectly seasoned, incredibly flavorful, and with a texture that really stood out. The chicken was juicy and tender, paired beautifully with buttery naan. The portion was massive--easily enough for four people, and even with our best effort, we still had leftovers. Asked for extra sauce to go but that came in as a no show. We also tried the Chapli kebab, which was equally impressive. Crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and packed with flavor. The combination of red onions and green chili on the side elevated the dish even further. Service was a bit mixed. The younger staff seemed quite busy and not especially attentive, but the manager noticed and stepped in, which improved the experience. Before leaving, we grabbed a mango lassi and a falooda to go--both excellent and perfect for the drive back. Overall, the food, portion sizes, ambiance, and pricing were all outstanding. Even if the service wasn't perfect that evening, the quality of the food alone makes this a place we would absolutely return to when in the area. read more

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Very good food. I love the mint drink. Butter chicken is great and love the saag! Service is phenomenal and atmosphere is a mix between casual and fine read more

We heard so much about Shalimar and their food that we decided to try it out when we were in the area. We went to try their indo/chinese food as well as their indo-pak food; however, only after we sat down and started to order were we told there's no indo/chinese food as the chef didn't show up. That was the start of their lack of communication and poor service which continued throughout the night we ordered the chicken tandoori and a chicken handi plus samosa chaat. we also ordered tandoori naan, roghni naan, garlic naan and roti. the samosa chaat came out first along with complimentary papri. the samosa chaat was decent with good chole and samosa flavor and the papri tasted fresh. the tandoori chicken was average with some pieces being undercooked and others overcooked, but the flavor was decent. the worst dish was the karahi as it tasted as if the masala and the meat were cooked separately and then added in later. the karahi was not cheap so for that price expected better quality. the naan and roti were very good. overall, horrible customer service coupled with poor quality food and high prices. my suggestion is save your time, go to Houston and taste quality food! read more

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Made a quick pit stop at shalimar for some chaat. I ordered the dahi puri. It was pretty vibrant and had a good presentation. Pretty solid in taste. I noticed that they had an afternoon buffet also. They have a pretty big section for mithai/ sweets. Service was on point and there is plenty of parking available, right across the street. read more

Shalimar Restaurant - Dahi puri chaat - Indian Near Me - Iselin, New Jersey

I have generally enjoyed the food from this restaurant, but my experience today was very disappointing. I ordered takeout, including goat curry, chicken tikka masala, and chicken haleem. Unfortunately, the chicken tikka masala had a rotten smell and was not suitable to eat. When I called the restaurant, they acknowledged the issue and offered to provide another item of equivalent price during my next visit. In addition, the chicken haleem was served cold and did not taste fresh. It seemed as though it may have been prepared the previous day. While I have liked this restaurant in the past, the quality and freshness of the food today were well below expectations. I hope the restaurant takes this feedback seriously and improves its food handling and quality control. read more

Food is good special chicken biryani and achari chicken Service is excellent Both are good Best food for ever read more

I have lived in the area for years and Shalimar is very well known name. Growing up my family would go to their sweets shop or their small meat and grocery store. This location is their restaurant which I can't remember ever going to before but they recently did a renovation so it's a fairly newish building. Nice and clean. It's actually a great place for sit down eating. I saw flyers around for a buffet promotion. It was a very appealing idea so I went with a group. It was actually very reasonable. A waiter came and asked if we wanted fresh puri, when they returned later someone at my table requested aloo paratha which the staff accommodated. They had a long table with different dishes like rice, braised beef, chickpeas and so on. One side had juice and gulab jamun, another had an omelette bar, breakfast items and a chai dispenser. This was for suhoor during Ramadan so maybe options can change but it was a very wide variety of choices to choose from. And it was all good, not the most flavor filled or indulgent restaurant but I really enjoyed my time here Overall everything was excellent. The food, the ambience of music playing, accomodations if you ask. My stomache didn't seem to agree with me the next day but it wasn't bad enough where I wouldn't come again. If another opportunity arises to come here I will happily come back. Or maybe even get those who have never had Pakistani food to try it read more

New and improved space! I come here every year and always look forward to the seekh kebab and the bihari kabob along with the lamb chops They have recently expanded to offer more seating which is a huge bonus The previous set up was cramped and didnt have great ventilation Now there is ample space and good ventilation We tried the Gola kebob this year as well and were left a little disappointed I ordered the mint mojito which had an eastern twist and I really enjoyed it Overall I would rate this a 4/5 Food is good but unfortunately this time the bihari kebob felt a little under seasoned I'll definitely come back next year! read more

Watch out for the prices. Dinner for 3 ppl. My invoice came out to be $159.73 after adding $23.07 self added tips which is 18%. The meat part is affordable but watch out when you order Naans or anything else. Its astronomically expensive. We ordered 3 Naan for 3 people and 1 none to go. But they charged us 9 Naans which costs $33. Naan is not that great either. Costco sells better Naans. Faluda was okay but not at $7.21 per glass. They should not charge more than $5 for Faluda. Tea is more expensive than 5 star hotels. Also their pricing structures are weird. Attached the receipt and take a look at it for yourself. read more

Shalimar Restaurant - Bill attached - Indian Near Me - Iselin, New Jersey

Good consistent quality food. Chicken Hakeem is one of my favorite along with pari chat

My son an I decided to get some take out . This place has lots of varieties of dishes to choose from. The aroma in the place made you salivate!!! The girls behind the counter were very friendly and professional . We placed our order and decided to get some sweets as well. When we left there ... we had food for 6 people the servings were healthy which we like. Couldn't believe the vast improvement with the establishment. They have upgraded the place. It looks so beautiful. The decor is what makes you want to eat there . The buffet room has an elegant flair . Nice job Shalimar Overall the experience was a good experience read more

From the moment we walked in, we were treated like VIPs. Quick seating, friendly smiles, and impeccable timing on every course. Specially Miss Asifa treated us as a guest. read more

My family and I visited Shalimar over the weekend after being in the area for the day. We saw a sign that said grand opening and decided to check it out. I think they renovated recently because some of the pictures on yelp for this location look older. When walking past the door you may think it's only a spot for take out and desserts, but if you step further in you see a huge dining area to be seated. The outer area has large display cases with tons of sweets and entree options. There's also a few tables and benches in this area as well. The main dining room is connected to this area. It is very modern. Everything was very clean and the waitresses were very nice. The vibe was lively because of all the groups of families and friends. For drinks, the mocktails on the menu weren't available yet. However, the offered 2 free mint mojitos per table (any after that were to be paid for). So we ordered those and some of us went for the mango lassi. The mango lassi was very smooth and not too sweet. The mint mojito was very refreshing and wasn't overpowered by the mint. Both were delicious. In all we ordered the sweet and sour chicken, shrimp fried rice, fries, mutton charsi karahi, palak paneer, butter chicken, naan (tandoori and garlic), chicken biryani, chicken cheese handi, and aloo paratha. Everything was delicious! The sweet and sour chicken was tender. The shrimp fried rice had a good amount of shrimp and wasn't overly salty. The fries were crispy. The mutton charsi karahi was fall off the bone. The palak paneer was well balanced. The butter chicken was creamy and tender. The naan and aloo paratha were fresh. The chicken biryani was perfectly spiced. The chicken cheese handi was tender as well. You really can't go wrong ordering any of these. I can't choose what my favorite was. I will say some of the item are spicier than others and to just be aware. However, it was nothing too bad. The mango lassi helped to keep the spice level at bay. For desert we got the rasmalai ice cream, tiramisu, and regular rasmalai. The ice cream sounded interesting and it really did taste like rasmalai. I was afraid the flavor would be too weak but it wasn't. The regular rasmalai was good too. The tiramisu was a little icy but it was still good! I would definitely return to try more off the menu. Everything was delicious. We ordered a lot but I'm happy we were able to sample different items. read more

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Shalimar is amazing! They have excellent food. The chicken Bihari kebab is wonderful. The sweets are really good. There are free parking lots. Very good food and good service. Prices are reasonable. read more

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Stop in!! wonderful customer service, some good things are happening here... I had to come and try a few different yummy items! Jalibiii. Yum read more

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Excellent service and a huge upgrade from before! Their seating area is large, renovated, and clean, and the food is better than ever. A must visit for authentic Pakistani food. read more

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Shalimar Restaurant in Iselin is a hidden gem who do not go there for how it looks from outside. . The food here is not just great; it consistently satisfies the taste buds and is reasonably priced. The Biryani, kababs and Haleem are truly out of this world. Despite being a "hole in the wall" kind of place, the incredible flavors make it a must-visit. Service is quick, and they remain open well into the night. read more

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My favorite South Asian food is Pakistani food and this place does not disappoint! When traveling North from the Mid-Atlantic, I always stop here to have a biriyani in the restaurant and then take away a few days worth of food. I typically get biryani, chicken tikka, chicken tikka masala, & chicken kabobs. I find that the prices are reasonable and the portion sizes are good. That being said, if I'm nitpicking, I wish they would have fresher salads, use desi chilis vs jalapeños and I've noticed that they cut back on the amount or raita they give you (they will give you more if you ask for it though). I would also like to see (suggest) them sell doogh for people that dont want sugary drinks or water. Overall, the food is excellent, the staff is competent despite how busy the place can get, and you get good value. read more

So disappointed. I was really looking forward to this place since it had a lot of reviews . The portions were SO small and expensive and the lacked in flavor. I ordered butter chicken and it did not taste like butter chicken at all . Also ordered Gobi, chaat and garlic nan and the again lacked in flavor read more

Shalimar Restaurant - Did not taste like butter chicken at all . $16 for this small plate and did not come with anything at all . No naan or rice - Indian Near Me - Iselin, New Jersey

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Very good the photos is very good and the ambience is suitable for large number of people and a highly recommend for the days they have and the customer service very kind and humble read more

The ambiance is good. Service is poor compared to last year. They don't even come and check if everything is ok. Cleanliness is good. We asked for water from a pitcher that is free in the most expensive NY city. The waiter said " only bottled water". We had to ask for glasses and there was no ice cubes. They even charged a lot for a tiny bit of salad we requested and this is free in NYC for all. . The food is good but the biryani had bony mutton with not much meat and the rice was ok. For an average restaurant with poor service and no frills, I find it's very expensive, esp the surcharge for paying by credit card. read more

New venue is awesome. Pulao is amazing and they did a great job of the renovation. Really happy about it and will keep coming back. read more

Shalimar Restaurant - Indian Near Me - Iselin, New Jersey

chicken shish kabab is I like that Special is Ramadan time make good service . I like to go for special for kabab and biryani . read more

Went back again . Today the food was good . Nice and quick too. Only issue is they keep microwaving the food. Wish they can use a tawa and reheat it with all tawa. We all have thrown microwave from homes , but they still in use in hotels . Biryani was good . Service was good today read more

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Delicious Indian food. Amazing flavors and great portions. The samosas are incredible and the Chana is always perfect. Try the red curry if you want something spicy read more

Shalimar Restaurant - 58. Chana Curry - Indian Near Me - Iselin, New Jersey

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Delicious food, excellent customer service over all we had a fantastic experience after a long time i found a decent pakistani restaurant which met my expectations. read more

The best lamb chops in New Jersey. No contest full stop. Everything at Shalimar is great, but the lamb chops are god tier. Shalimar is my family's go to place for lamb chops. read more

Great buffet in the area, but due to covid its on hold for now. Normally I order the butter chicken, chicken tikka masala, garlic naan and kabobs. Food here is always top notch. I love coming here on sat or sun afternoon, then follow it up with a food coma nap. Side note: They have the best red chutney on oak tree road. read more

Shalimar Restaurant - Shalimar Heaven :) - Indian Near Me - Iselin, New Jersey

I come here once in about 2 years for the Chicken Behari Kabab. Never disappoints. Steaming hot, tender AF, spicy and so delicious. Tried the Chicken Karahi and it was nice as well - almost like a spicy Indian/Pakistani homemade chicken curry. Naan was good as well, more fluffy than the Indian counterparts on Oak Tree Road. I really dislike their service - people don't seem to want to listen to you, people management is bad and god help you if you walk in here when it's crowded. Despite yesterday having less than 3 parties eating in the restaurant, it took 25+ mins for 2 items to arrive. Also, many curry dishes are made and kept on display, they simply heat it up in a microwave and serve it, so I'm generally not a fan. Previously I've tried some curries and the spice/oil level seems to be a little too high for my desired cholesterol levels, but I won't judge you. 5 stars for the kabab. As for the service, you've been warned. read more

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Walking around this area of Iselin, I came across Shalimar and it looked like a good place to get some food to go. There is a sit down restaurant portion on the left side, but I did not go into that part of the restaurant. Instead, I went to the take-out section where the left side is dedicated to sweets while the right has an L shaped counter/display area featuring various entrees ready to go. Still other dishes are made to order. I picked up a few things since I had never been here before, but wow, if these few items are representative of the rest of the food here I cannot wait to return! From the pre-prepared food section I tried out the Butter Chicken. Now, much of the time Butter Chicken tastes rather bland to me. I've had it in Jackson Heights, Queens, fine dining and mom & pop places in Manhattan and the dish rarely impresses me. *This* version however did! The chicken was very tender, which is always a great start. The sauce (an unusual creamy, almost pink color) was smooth, flavorful and comforting. This is the best Butter Chicken I've ever had and it really lives up to its name. The other dish I had was Lamb with Mushrooms. This is made to order and consists of spiced lamb cooked in a wok with mushrooms. It is served with a side of rice and it is incredibly flavorful. It does have a kick, but they can adjust the spiciness to your taste, just ask. For dessert, I tried their Kheer (basically a wonderfully seasoned rice pudding). I have had many examples of this in the past and half the time it tastes like someone just took regular rice pudding from a supermarket, tossed a bit of spice on it and called it a day. *This* kheer however had a deep, sweet and savory flavor. You could taste all the spices and that was such a wonderful change from what I have experienced elsewhere. I actually wound up getting the last container and now I know why there was only one left! One warning: this place is *busy*. There was a small crowd inside when I got there (so be conscious in terms of social distancing) and even once I was the only person standing at the counter they were getting so many phone calls for orders the staff was scrambling. That said, once they did attend to me everyone was very friendly and sweet. Unsolicited "Happy New Year" cheers were unexpected but very welcome. I can't wait to go back to Shalimar and see what other delicious items they have to offer! read more

3 stars This place has deteriorated over the years. The quality of the food went downhill. Ordered chicken korma, eggplant, okra, chana....seems like they were cooked on the same sauce with different ingredients cuz they look alike once packed in a plastic container for take out. They also microwave the food in a plastic bowl or plate that looks like they bought it from the dollar store, then pour it on a (toxic) styrofoam plate and serve it for eat in. Will not buy from here again. read more

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Shalimar restaurant is a very authentic pakistani restaurant. The ambiance is ok but the food is tasty and filling. Our fav is lamb chops which I feel are steal for the price they offer + quantity + taste. Add mango lassi to feel refreshed. The service is not that great, expect order delays and slow service but I would give them levy since they are short-staffed, however, the servers are polite. Have a sweet tooth? They have a wide range of indian desserts which cannot be missed. They have street parking + public parking a block away. If its a weekend, street parking may be tough but you can find a spot at public parking. read more

Good food, honest and reliable service. Thank you Abid Bhai and Staff for all your help and patience in planning/making our events go beautifully. read more

Went in and placed an order for a chicken cheese kebab roll food was very tasty and service was excellent, the staff were also very kind and helpful. read more

Our family found hair in our food from a prior takeout order so at the next visit we complained and they compensated us by giving us one free dish. We got some other food and dessert to go as well, and upon getting home we found this in a pre packaged ras-malai container AND the chutney separately. We were sick to our stomach and horrified. Safe to say we are not ordering from them ever again. It's one thing if the food is not tasteful or service is bad due to people working there or other circumstances, but this restaurant straight up compromises on hygiene and that's not okay. With the amount of hair we found through multiple items in the order, this may even have been almost intentional as backlash for us complaining. We've been long time customers of this restaurant but never again. read more

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Update on the tandoori chicken which looked like turkey legs. it was not marinated. went bad in the fridge in two days flat. Avoid. avoid. avoid. read more

AMAZING! Shalimar is a culinary delight that captures the essence of Indian and Pakistani cuisine. Every dish is thoughtfully crafted, and the attention to detail is evident in both the presentation and flavors. The staff is attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about the food they serve. From the moment we were seated, our server guided us through the extensive menu, providing insightful recommendations and ensuring our glasses were never empty. The owner is one of the most loving and friendliest person ever, constantly going around and checking on everyone and just overall making the Shalimar Experience even better. If you're ever on Oak Tree Road in Iselin, Nj make sure you go here if you love Desi food. A blessing to your tongue. read more

Excellent food, good service, nice catering. We used him for wedding and he was the best.

The very worst. Service staff is rude. Food is pretty mediocre. Overcrowded

My husband and I drove through this lovely area and were looking for a place for dinner. We were meanwhile dreaming to try chapli kabobs after reading a NY Times article that very morning describing this most incredible and perfect kabob. We literally stumbled upon this restaurant and a kind gentleman turned to us and said, 'the food here is the best and especially the chapli kabobs'. What a coincidence!! Did he literally read our minds and purpose the past 30 minutes and day, hoping that our near future involved trying this delicious Pakistani favorite? This meal was absolutely delicious!!! We ordered, of course, the chapli kabob along with garlic naan, spices sautéed okra and also a dish of chicken biryani. The food was so fresh, flavorful, aromatic, spicy and delicious!!! The spiciness (which I love but am not accustomed to; I grew up eating Persian food which is never spicy) was wonderful but for me pleasantly cooled with a delicious mango lassi and faluda dessert. Everything was absolutely delicious, and I could imagine my beloved grandmother, who is the best cook in the family and who poured all her love into her food, having made a similarly delicious meal. The chapli kabob was my favorite and the portions were huge. We definitely could have shared the chapli kabob and naan alone. However, we ordered more food than we could eat as we wished to try different things (and our eyes were too big for our stomachs once we saw the various buffet items and menu, oh my!) And we wished to try even more things (basically everything, and especially the lamp chops, tandoori chicken, and chicken and cheese kabob). But we will have to come again to do so. And, so we are planning a family trip!! :-) Thank you for your hospitality, kindness and delicious food!!! read more

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