I returned to Shalimar after about three years, hoping for a better experience than in the past when I was disappointed with their hygiene. Unfortunately, it was still a mixed visit. I placed a to-go order with two tandoori chicken breasts (butterfly), two leg quarters, two chicken sheek kabobs, and chicken biryani. When I arrived for pickup, I found out they had forgotten to make the biryani. I had to wait while they hurried to prepare it, and as a result it tasted more like pulao than the flavorful biryani I was expecting. The overall taste of the food feels hit or miss and not as good as it used to be. The service was lukewarm and there wasn't much of an apology for the delay or the oversight. Shalimar still has potential, but more consistency in flavor, attention to orders, and friendlier service would go a long way toward making the dining experience worth a return. Lastly, ambience is basic. read more

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I called the meat company that's delivers their chicken and they stated the chicken is not halal despite shalimar being advertised as that.

Very bad service, food quality was awfully bland. Prices were on high end which is according to economy inflation. Your service and food quality matter for customers to return and spread good words out in community. read more

Decided to try this Indian restaurant due to recommendations that I saw. Unfortunately that was a mistake. The food was a major disappointment and probably the worst Indian food I've had. We ordered the butter chicken and beef skewers. Butter chicken did not taste like butter chicken. Beef skewers were not what we expected it to be and did not have flavor. Don't waste your time coming here; there are better options to choose from in Sac. read more

Shalimar Restaurant - Indian Near Me - Sacramento, California

Food quality and service is good. It's definitely a bit pricey. But overall a good place to enjoy Pakistani food.

An oldie but a goodie! This place is your classic family owned restaurant and I'll love it for being one of the first actually good halal restaurants in sac. Food comes semi quickly and service is not too bad/good and the food is always to standard. read more

Delicious food from the chicken, Naan, and the Rice! Flavorful and quick Service, you get served immediately and sit to wait for your order to come to your table! Medium size location that can accommodate a party of six or more. They even chai on tap! A+ if you're willing to get out and enjoy a delicious meal that isn't your typical east asian meal! read more

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Niharee, Chicken Tikka Masal is the best, all other items are also good. They have good service and the staff is very professional. I am sick , thyis is why I am ending my message here, there is lot which I could say about this good restaurant. Talat Abbas Abbasi read more

We have been waiting to come to Shalimar for years, based on a friend's recommendation. He visits the SF location with his father and has for 2 years, I think! That says a lot! Oh, and they are Pakistani...so if they say it's authentic and delish, I'm a believer! We missed our change to visit the SF restaurant but caught this location on our way home. The dining room needed some attention, like a broken booth covered in plastic and several dirty tables, but we were hungry and still interested in trying the food we've heard so much about for so long. The wait was relatively short, and our friend showed us the hidden treasures - a sauce fridge and hot chai-style tea that was complimentary with your meal. Perfect on a cool early fall day! We ordered chicken kofta, 3 seekh kebab murghs, bunha gosht, a chicken biryani and 2 orders of garlic naan. Chicken kofta are lovely tender meatballs in sauce, the kebabs are formed spiced chicken cooked on skewers, bunha gosht is a spiced goat stew...all of these were new to us! Chicken birynai is chicken cooked on the bone cooked in savory, lemony rice, and of course, no meal is complete without garlic naan! Each dish was flavorful and hearty, and plenty to share for our party of 3, plus some leftover to bring home. Overall, it was quite a value, especially after spending 4 days dining out in the Bay Area! Our whole bill for 4 entrees and naan was $73 with tip!!! Bottom line, this is good, no-frills, homestyle Indian/Pakistani cooking. A hearty stick to your ribs meal but the dining room could definitely use some more frequent bussing and table washing. read more

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Probably the worse food and the service in natomas unfortunately. Every time something is bad probably 5 days old. read more

Worst shalimar - their money making comes first above customer service and their food preparation . The food is absolutely disgusting . I went at 5:45their tea expired and I asked them for new tea- they said "oh , the tea is cold, let's renew the tea".... This is when their 15 customers already had used their expired tea and they didn't care until I told them to renew the tea. By the way , I been a shalimar customer of 20 years ( San Francisco , Fremont , Dublin ) and I love the food there and their customer service . But the one in Sacramento is totally opposite and absolutely disgusting . Also , they charge a dollar for their expired tea . This was my first time going here and last - I would not recommend it to anyone . The chicken was raw , the bread was raw , the chicken tikka masala was sweet ... NO to this disgusting food . Zero for review . read more

Not as expected, heard a lot of things about this restaurant and food. But it was not worth the visit and drive. Meat was too chewy and lacked flavours. read more

My favorite spot to eat at this place my favorite dish is brain masalah, Bar B Q with Garlic Naan Recommended for everyone who loves Desi food. Good service! read more

I've been coming here for yeeears. If not this location then the original location in Fremont. I've rarely had a problem with their food but the last couple times the workers have messed up our food. I come to enjoy a day off with my family but then end up getting cold food or food that's been warmed in the microwave. That's not what I come for. If I'm paying for my meal, respectfully make it fresh. Anytime the owner is there , I have no issue or problem but when the owner is not there is when I do. This time the workers decide to undercook my chicken. After letting them know, you'd think they make a new one. I waited for at least 10 minutes and guess what. They gave me the same one but put it in the microwave, dried out the chicken and on top of that they tried to make it look like it was a new one by sticking it into the oven for a couple seconds. When I then confronted the cashier guy, the worker agreed that that's what happened. By that time my entire family was done with their food and I couldn't even get a fresh chicken that I paid for!!!! Ruined my night tbh. Again, I'm trying to enjoy a night off with my family and just want fresh food that I'm paying for. Please stop giving microwaved food. read more

Had din in on Sunday naan bread was fine but chicken kardhai was so blend and chicken was under cook,, malai tikka was so tasteless ,,don't waste your hard earned money and time at this place read more

We moved from the Bay Area to the valley and since we loved the food at the Fremont Sharlimar we thought to give this place a try. Our favorite at the Fremont Sharlimar was Chicken Tikka Masala. We ordered the same at this restaurant and were highly disappointed. It wasn't what we were used too plus the serving size is smaller as well. We also ordered the Biryani and this is the reason why Iam giving it a 2 star. The chicken biryani we ordered smelled stale, when the food was brought over we could right away smell that the biryani had a stale smell. My husband still wanted to try to see if it was maybe just a weird smell but when he ate it he said it didn't taste fresh at all.... We paid for the biryani but no one ate it. The service wasn't as great either, we drove 35 mins to try this place out and it was a disappointment. Never again. read more

I have frequented the SF and Dublin locations many times over the years when I have visited the Bay Area. This is my first time in Sacramento, and low and behold there is a location across the street from my hotel (and not too false from the airport). I wasn't sure if it was affiliated, a lot of South Asian restaurants use names interchangeably or with a slightly different spelling. The menu is the same. And the food tastes the same The food is great, and is as authentic as it gets. read more

Shalimar Restaurant - Indian Near Me - Sacramento, California

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Hands down my favorite spot for chicken tikka tandoori breast and leg. Freshly cooked to order, with a proper char and smokey flavor imparted on the meat. Too many imposters out here that oven cook their bbq, other than using a tandoor. The deception ! Beef seekh kabob is properly spiced and their lamb chops are great as well. Service is prompt and all the brothers that work there are kind and attentive. This review is strictly about the tandoori, I've had the salan (curry) plenty of times, all delicately cooked and enjoyable. Oddly enough their Daal masala is one of my favs, along with the saag gosht, ginger chicken, and oddly enough, brain masala. read more

Shalimar Restaurant - Murgh Tikka Lahori. Ig: @mosaicmotivs - Indian Near Me - Sacramento, California

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If you are looking for the most authentic Pakistani style food in Sacramento, stop! You have found it here. Sure, it may not be the most glamorous location, but the preparation techniques and seasoning is identical to that which you will find on the streets of Pakistan cities. Anybody who actually knows the food scene here in Sacramento will have to admit-- there is no better place than this. read more

Portions has gone down and price is up. No longer good value. Food quality also gone down. We ordered the Chicken Briyani and we also received two pieces of checken n each dish whch were cold on the inside! read more

Can't beat this place if you want authentic fresh Pakistani food. They have all kinds of dishes that are made fresh, they also have fresh naan and chai. Great quality halal meat and the sweetest most respectful staff. read more

Shalimar Restaurant - Pakistan - Indian Near Me - Sacramento, California

I'm waiting for my friend's flight to arrive at SMF in the evening with a two-hour gap. Looking for a place for dinner and found Shalimar Restaurant in Natomas with good reviews on Yelp! Perfect location too! I love Indian food. Shalimar sounds exactly what I want! I'm lucky enough to have a parking space right in front of the restaurant. Many Indians were waiting for their orders or enjoying their yummy meals when I walked into the restaurant. I know I am in the right place. The food must be good! I ordered the Chicken Tikka Masala and Shalimar Chawal. It is ready in less than 15 minutes. Oh, yes! It is delicious! I'm almost finished with all the rice. I have to force myself to stop even though I'm too full already! Lol! The dining room is elementary, with almost no decorations. But it is pretty big and clean. I'm sure I'll come back again! read more

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It is a very busy restaurant during Ramadan, but their kababs are really good! Haleem, naan, goat, and plenty to select from their menu! The ambiance is okay to consider when you have tasty Indian/Pakistani foods in front of your table! read more

Came here for dinner with a friend. Stood by the door forever since we didn't know if we were to sit or order first and then sit. Then sat at the table and with a giant menu and was told to order at the register when ready. They have some interesting menu items I decided to try Brain Masala, garlic bread, onion bread with side of rice. Brain Masala: **** (very good, spicy) Garlic bread: **** (garlicky and great with the brain Masala) Onion bread: * (the onion inside the bread wasn't very good which made the bread not good) Rice: *** Service: ** Decor: * (looked like a rush job, no specific theme for a decor, have a single painting in the corner, old diner tables and chairs with dizzy vinyl flooring...) 15 out of 30 stars or 50% rating... 2.5 stars but I'm dropping my rating down to 1 star for one main reason: they didn't give me the right change back and acted like it didn't matter. read more

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Delicious food! They give you complementary chai which is great. If you plan on bringing your dog make sure you have someone with you to go inside to order because they will not allow you to bring your dog inside. But you can sit outside. This place does get packed! Their food is delicious! And very reasonable! It was 30$ for two dishes. read more

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Best Chicken Kabab in Natomas Sacramento CA, Eat with sweet sauce , so yummy and tender read more

Alright, sadly I have to update my review. This used to be THE place to go for good Indian/Pakistani food. And now it has gone down hill. I recently ordered all the stuff I usually order and it was BAD. Seekh Kabab and tandoori chicken were both flavorless, maybe they forgot marinate, not sure. Chicken kofta was decent but not as good as it is usually. Karahi was bland. What's worse is the old bald uncle who keeps licking his fingers while packing/serving food is still there and still licking his fingers. It is completely inexcusable. He's in his own world, chewing I don't know what with his mouth open while warming up dishes on the stove. Then he will serve it in a plate and taste test everything except he uses his freaking finger to lick it and then dips the same finger in the next dish. Almost threw up when I first saw it a year ago. Pointed it out to the guy in charge and he apologized and sent the guy to the back. Didn't return for about a year and I finally visit again after a year to see the dude is still there doing the same thing. And while he's the worst offender, he's not the only one. I'm not the only person who's noticed this either cuz they do it out in the open in front of everyone. Read the other reviews... Don't think I can recommend this place anymore. Y'all need to clean up your act. read more

We have been here 3-4 times. The food is hot and fresh. Most importantly it's very tasty The staff are friendly and helpful. read more

Chicken Tikka Masala... absolutely disgusted. We ordered two servings and brought them home today because we were fasting so unfortunately they were closed already before I could call them about this. Apparently they're mixing old and new chicken together in their tikka masala. Some pieces were soft and others hard as a rock to break. This was one of the hard ones and has black mold looking substance all over it. Will not be going back . read more

Shalimar Restaurant - Chicken Tikka Masala - Indian Near Me - Sacramento, California

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A no frills restaurant serving great food. I love that they cook it right there behind the counter.

This place is so under-rated. I ordered the mango lassi and chicken masala and both are absolutely delicious. The mango lassi was thick and flavorful while the butter chicken was authentic. This restaurant has quality food, definitely recommend! read more

Shalimar Restaurant - Menu - Indian Near Me - Sacramento, California

This place is absolutely authentically delicious! Wow, what a hidden gem, you can't go wrong

The tikka masala, naan, and butter chicken are absolutely out of this universe good. Y'all I am so serious, get you some Shalimar.

It was a chilly day and we were in the area actually wanting to go to a different restaurant. We were super hungry and decided to come here instead since this place was previously recommended to me! We stopped by around 6:30pm on a Saturday and they were pretty busy. The few tables they had out were all taken. Luckily, we only waited 5-10 minutes for a table and at that point, we already placed our order at the register. We got the Sindhi Chicken Biryani ($9), Nihari (~$11), Tandoori Chops (~$13), and a side of Garlic Naan (~$3). It took about 20 minutes for our food to prepare which felt longer than usual. The Sindhi Chicken Biryani is Shalimar's basmati rice made with chicken, spices, and cilantro, peppers, and mint. It is a super aromatic dish! The Nihari is beef shank cooked slowly in mixed spices and topped with ginger, peppers, and cilantro. The Tandoori Chop is 4 lamb chops marinated in a blend of spices and barbecued perfectly. The Garlic Naan is a light dough baked with garlic. The Chicken Biryani and Tandoori Chop were definitely my favorite! The biryani was super flavorful and aromatic. The lamb chops were tender and seasoned well. The Nihari tasted too fatty and the sauce had an oddly thick consistency. It went well with the Garlic Naan, but honestly, we could have done without it. Finally, we got the Mango Lassi (~$2) as our dessert and to cool our mouths down a bit. None of the dishes were overly spicy but they definitely had a cook. The Mango Lassi is thick enough to fill you up yet light enough to cool your mouth down. Overall, Shalimar does offer delicious flavors in their variety of dishes! The dishes are authentic and the prices are fairly reasonable. I would recommend stopping by if you're in the area! read more

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I called to place a large order and the guy who answered didn't understand what I was saying. I was saying loud and clear of what I wanted so he just passed the phone to someone else. That guy also didn't understand and just hung up on me. I'm not trying to be rude but please have people answer the phone speak English. A lot of the customers do not know Urdu or Hindi. You will lose a lot of customers like this. read more

Owner and workers all changed since before covid. Menu is the same but food is a world apart. My favorite used to be their aloo paratha, which was always freshly made and spiced very well but now it just tastes like a typical microwaved aloo paratha. Food is not tasty anymore, really sad. read more

Having the luxury of being a Bay Area resident I used to go to Shalimar Fremont all the time. Since I've moved to Sacramento, I was overjoyed to know that Shalimar had a Sacramento location. It is the same great taste, and the best part the restaurant is so simple. You walk in, you order, you eat, and then you pay. Chicken Tikka masala, Palak Paneer, Biryani, Achari chicken, garlics naan. Whatever you get, you can't go wrong. Stop reading, and rush to Shalimar to experience fine Pakistani food! read more

During my last visit to the shalimar I was impressed with the waiters service and the overall cleanliness. Food was good. Naan was extra ordinary. Chicken tikka was marvelous. This time I tried chicken maali booti and I believe it needs more flavoring. read more

Shalimar Restaurant - Malai Boti - Indian Near Me - Sacramento, California

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Wow.....it is not often that I give one star reviews, but this overall experience was just terrible. Like...bad. My fiancee and I love Indian Food, and as we needed a quick dinner, we thought we'd give this place a shot. After our experience, we are wondering if we went some weird time space loop when we arrived, as this cannot be the restaurant on Yelp that is averaging over a 4 star rating. I will separate this into two ratings....food and ambiance. Food: She wanted the chicken tikka masala, I ordered the lamb spinach dish. When she ordered the tikka, they immediately started to plate it, and then when they realized we were ordering together, they poured it back into the "pot." (Two red flags: How long has this been sitting around....and is there a reason, me being white and her being Asian, did they not think we were together? But I digress). I asked if it was spicy, explaining that, due to medication, I can't handle spicy food. He assured me not at all. So we waited......and waited.....and waited. About forty minutes later, we were served my dish and her 40+ long "sitting around" chicken tikka. The chicken tasted like it had been boiling (not simmering) all day. It was dry, and there was so much oily....but no tikka flavor. Just oily red coloring. And guess what....my spinach lamb had 3 pieces (one of lamb, one of lamb fat, and one of bone with very little meat) was so spicy I became pale and had to go to the bathroom. Which leads me to ambiance.... While I appreciate a family business, having your family members (including kids) running around the restaurant like its their living room is not a good restaurant experience for your guests. While nauseous and pale from the over spices lamb bone, I knocked on the bathroom door, no answer, so I walked in....AND A FAMILY MEMBER WAS STYLING HIS HAIR IN THE BATHROOM, AND GAVE ME A LOOK LIKE I WAS INTERRUPTING HIM. He came out, and joined the rest of the "family festivities." So, essentially, we paid $27.00 for terrible food that made me sick to essentially go to someone's living room during a rugby match, and get nauseous for the cherry on top. Stay away! read more

Shalimar Restaurant - Flavorless tikka, way overspiced spinach (with lamb BONE...no meat), and a side of basmati rice we had to pay $3 for - Indian Near Me - Sacramento, California

A great place to eat delicious Indo/Pak food. Worth the time and money. Don't miss it, their chicken tikka is awesome