I've been hesitant to try a new Indian restaurant because there's so many around the valley it feels like a gamble. I came across this restaurant one morning when I was nearby scarfing down pastries at a nearby bakery. From the outside street view and sign, I assumed it wasn't that great and thought I'd see a lot of mixed reviews. To my surprise, there were some pretty loyal customers who raved about it. My husband lived in India for a couple years for work and misses the authentic food. He's had a hard time finding a place he likes. I sent him the restaurant link and he said he wanted to go that night (this is a guy who I can rarely get to a restaurant). Despite being full still from my massive pastries earlier in the day, I went along with an open mind. I wasn't sure I'd eat much though. The inside was quaint, cozy and clean. My husband (who never does this) ordered 6 items off the menu and we shared everything. The food was 11/10. We barely talked during our meal because we were so entrenched in our food. Pretty much the only thing we said was "this is so good." We've both since told several people about this restaurant. We ordered: -Garlic Naan 10/10 -Peas pilau rice 20/10 -Chicken masala 9/10 -Tandoori mixed grill 9/10 -Paneer tikka 9/10 -Daal Maharani 10/10 If I had any negative, it would be I wasn't a fan of the shrimp and the food was a little oily. We didn't get pictures before we started digging in, so I'm not going to post pics of half eaten food. read more

Star of India -- A 20-Year Love Affair I've been eating at Star of India for over two decades, and it remains hands-down the best Indian restaurant in Arizona. I've had Indian food all over the world, and this place is in a class of its own. Yes, it's a hole-in-the-wall -- nothing fancy about the space -- but that's part of the charm. What matters is what comes out of the kitchen, and it's incredible. I'm a creature of habit there: the Paneer is always perfect, the Malai Kofta is creamy and delicious, and their Chicken Tikka Masala is exactly what it should be. The samosas are crispy and flavorful, and a cold Mango Lassi is the perfect way to finish a meal. But the real secret? Prete, the owner. He's not just nice -- she genuinely cares about every person who walks through that door. After 20+ years, I'm not just a customer; he treats me like family. That kind of hospitality is rare and it shows in everything she does. If you're looking for authentic Indian food with heart, don't let the humble exterior fool you. Star of India will not disappoint. It's become my standard for what great Indian food should be. read more

Masala Mastee in Davidson NC is my bench mark for comparison You can read the review on my page. Food. Chicken Vindaloo is my go to. The spices were very different from any k have had. It was ok. Sauce was in the runnier side. Chicken pieces were small cubes and not very tender. Rice was excellent. Puri bread ok Naan was good. Mango lassi was too sweet but has nice flavourful Service. The owner took our order was. Very pleasant. The wait staff , hmm. Was not on top of the game. No real interest in us. Ambiance was good , nothing fancy Pricey $74 plus tip. Two people. He has been in business over 30 years which In itself is a huge win. Congrats on that, sir. My hats off to you. You are doing something right. You were very hospitable. So would the question is would we come back ? No. There are others to go To and then my bench mark is Masala Mastee. Should you try it ? Hmmmm. Up to you. read more

Star of India - Indian Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Brought the family in on a Wednesday night to try the place out. Very friendly service, nice ambiance, and an authentic vibe. Food was served sizzling hot and ever so fresh! We loved everything we ordered: Garlic naan Chicken Tikka Chicken Kabob Chicken Tandoor Gulab Jamun Mango Lassi read more

Star of India - Chicken Tikka - Indian Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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We have been looking for great restaurants in the area and decided to give Star of India a try. The restaurant is small but quaint. Ordered the chicken tikka and chicken vindaloo, both were a disappointment, no flavor. Service was slow, it took an hour from the moment we order to the time we received our food. read more

Star of India - Indian Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Hole in the wall gem best Indian food in phoenix without a doubt I just got back from London so iykyk. It is absolutely delicious and it's competitive with it out there. Family owned for over 20 years they're so friendly, funny, and personable make you feel like family! read more

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My friend & I ordered to-go and were pleasantly surprised! It's actually a good serving of food (the containers & photo angle make it look small) but we had this for dinner and even had enough for leftovers the next day! The only small hiccup was that we asked for medium spice level for the chicken tikka masala, but honestly I think they just gave us mild. Regardless all of the other spices & flavors in the dishes were so good! Can't wait to try more dishes! We'll probably eat there next time, since their interior looks nice and clean. read more

Star of India - Chicken Tikka Masala & Palak Paneer - Indian Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Service was amazing and fast. It was really clean and fancy inside as well! It's overall just peaceful here! Food was also amazing.

I've been going to this place for over 10 years and it's always great. I've tried many places in the valley but Star of India is hands down the best. read more

Star of India - Indian Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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We were very disappointed ! It was expensive and we had to wait for a long time like about 30 minutes for the food! It's not worth the price! The Tandoori chicken was terrible, it didn't taste that the chicken even touched the fire at all, it was just Trader Joe's box chicken breast added some tandoori sauce! This is not Tandoori chicken at all! Looked like something from Panda Express. The lamb curry was also not good, it was very watery, and the lamb tasted like microwaved meat. The mango lassi was watery and way too sweet, got that fake sugar after taste, I don't think there were real mango or milk in it. The Naan tasted like frozen pizza crust that had been microwaved. One star at least for the good service from our waiter. read more

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This restaurant has been there for a while, right next to Trader Joe's. Never got to try it till a few months ago. The Good: 1. Service is definitely their best asset. We were seated immediately and looked after well 2. Ambiance is also very pleasing, with good distance between tables to hold conversations 3. Clean and neat environment including the utensils The not so Good: 1. Food taste is mediocre at best, with some of the dishes tasting as if they were made days in advance and just reheated to serve. Common for Indian restaurants, but not acceptable at this price point 2. Price is a bit on the higher side, esp. for not so fresh fare. 3. Some of the gravy dishes resemble each other more than not. While the mother sauce can be the same, the taste difference has to be there to set them apart. Nothing wrong, but if you want to taste Indian fare, especially vegetarian, there are much better restaurants in the valley. If you are for some reason, stuck inside the Ahwatukee area, your choices may be limited and you have end up hitting this one for Indian food. read more

Came here with friends the night before Covid19 lock downs. I am not that into indian food but I was very pleased with my meal. Owner was present and very friendly. The food was delivered hot. The naan was very delicious. They have a variety of menu items for those that dont like curry (me). I got the ginger chicken and was really happy with my meal. The rice was made just right and the bill total wasnt bad either. Friends of ours go all the time. They have been back since the quarantine was lifted. I don't live close by but I would eat here again. read more

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The food has always been delicious, but popularity has killed this restaurant. The previous time we dinned in Star of India, we ordered a bunch of starters which never arrived. We were charged for them, but they were removed after we asked. Tonight we were seated promptly, given water and then the wait began. We waited for over twenty mins as other tables were serviced, multiple employees looked at the table but never came over to say they were busy or that they would be with us shortly. We eventually just got tired of waiting and left. As we walked out the manger just watched us leave, without saying a word. read more

Awesome service! Their friendliness really stood out to me. My husband and I loved the food as well. We shared a plate and it was the perfect amount for us. Decor was lovely too, felt higher-end and very very clean. What a gem of a place! :) read more

Nice family restaurant. This was my 2nd time having Indian cuisine and it was very interesting and flavorful with spices as I remembered. The Garlic Nana Bread was great. Go try it- you might just like it. Not my cup of tea. read more

Service here is great. Food is great. Got the chicken tikka and it was very good. Music is not too loud in the restaurant. There's even a small bar area for some cocktails if you want. read more

The food here is outstanding! I can't wait to go back and try more dishes. We ordered the naan, chicken tikka masala and the chicken makhi. 10/10! read more

First off let me say best Indian food in this area!! The ambiance and everything was magnificent! The man in the store who I refer to as uncle is so caring and his customer service was excellent. He helped an old lady who was carrying bags to her car. It was so heart warming. The food is amazing it's not too tomatoey and just has complex spices and flavors that just make sense. My go to is the paneer masala and the garlic naan, with medium heat it was so perfect. The mint chutney and tamarind sauce are the best I've ever had. My fiancé gets the chicken masala and the garlic naan and she absolutely adores it. We also get the tandoori chicken and the flavors are out of this world. For finishers we get dessert. We've had the gulap jamun and rice pudding and it's so good!! I cannot stop raving about this place and if you have to think twice, don't. The food takes a while but everything is made from scratch and I can tell. So be patient and enjoy the ambiance and company you have. To uncle, thank you for always being so kind and caring and we will forever be regulars due to your kindness and your amazing food so, thank you. read more

We usually get take out from this place and the food is always good. However, the dining in experience was the complete opposite. Between the two of us, we ordered 1 appetizer, 1 main and 2 naans and the food took FOREVER to arrive. Over 45min easily. Every time we tried to hail a server, they just seemed to ignore us. Finally my husband went up to the kitchen entrance to ask about our food and only then did the appetizer show up. And eventually the main curry (Shahi Paneer, a sad watery curry ... not creamy and rich like it's supposed to be). And the portions were really small for the price. Unfortunately this dine in experience did not live up to our previous take out experiences. read more

We've been dining at this family-owned restaurant for many, many years, but in the recent year past we have not made it over. Well, we did last night, and the meal was FANTASTIC as usual. Everything was bursting with flavor, freshness, and all homemade, by family members. We've known this family and restaurant for years! The service is on point, restaurant is very clean, and everyone is very happy to see you, THANK YOU Star of India, we will see you soon. For the record we had Curry Chicken, Chicken Saag, Vegetable Biryanis, and Garlic Naan. read more

Star of India - Indian Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

amazing food. the Chicken tikka masala was delicious. the workers there helped me pick my food, and overall gave great service.

The food is absolutely amazing. The tikka masala is filled with so much flavor and the garlic naan is absolutely delicious. I tried 3 new things here the mango drink was delicious ,the lamb boti masala was amazing,and the rice pudding was delicious to. The service was amazing everyone that works there was so nice. The ambiance was pleasant and I recommend everyone to come here .Thank you so much for an amazing experience. read more

Our entire family loves Star of India, meat eaters and vegetarians alike! We ordered the tikka masala (one chicken, one tofu) and both were tasty. We also ordered veggie korma, which was amazing. Naan is always on point. Veggie Samosas are delicious too! Customer Service is consistently friendly and professional. They will make your dish as mild or spicy as you prefer. read more

The food was beautiful and delicious. This restaurant is so comforting. The service made us feel special and I noticed the same from tables around us. Highly recommend! read more

Indian home cooking at its best!!! We have been visiting this Ahwatukee gem for a while now and we only had stellar experiences! Their food tastes incredible, has that "home cooked" feel, unlike most Indian restaurants we've visited before. My favorite dish is Bhindi Masala (Okra Stew) which is an old favorite since I was a kid. Flavors blend so well and is to be had with their Basmati rice. Had their Lamb Korma, Tikka Masala and Tandoori Chicken as well. Can't go wrong with any dish on the menu. On top of that, the owner and the waiter crew are extremely friendly, always trying their best to accommodate and please you. The cooks are the owner's wife and her mother and they are the best Indian food cooks we've ever experienced. This place should be on everyone's bucket list! read more

Best Indian food in Arizona. Try the Chicken Tiki Masala and the Saag Paneer. Don't forget the Veggie Samosas!

The food is always excellent from here. We've always gotten take out and have tried a variety of items. Our usual is the Tandoori Chicken, Lamb Vindaloo, Garlic Naan bread and an order of the Veggie Samosas. The food is always fresh and made to order. The only down side is sometimes they take longer than expected when picking up a to go. The staff is very courteous though, I believe it is family owned and operated. read more

Food is excellent! The chicken tikka masala and naan is perfect every single time we order. We always get takeout but definitely will eat in one day. The staff when picking up is always friendly and when calling the order in the staff is always helpful. The location is convenient to home which is great seeing how great indian seems to be hard to come by. Highly recommend this location to anyone looking for genuinely great Indian food. read more

We ordered togo, The staff were all very friendly. The chicken curry and sag paneer were both great.

amazing food! The young man server is awesome did not catch name. Pri the owner is awesome! Food is impeccable will be returning soon. We got chicken tikki masala, chicken tandoori, and chicken saag, garlic naan, and the pastry balls! All soooooooo good!!!!!! Can't recommend star of India enough read more

Waited about an hour for food, insisted it was only a few minutes. A few minutes turned into thirty minutes, then turned into an hour, and still no food. Others who came before us still didn't receive theirs so I would imagine they were waiting an hour and half. Took the hint and cancelled my order and left. I hope the food is good because waiting that long didn't seem worth it. Be prepared to have nothing to do for 3 hours if you want a meal here. read more

Amazing, flavorful Indian food with great customer service. Every dish we've tried have been delicious. Our go-tos are chicken makhni (similar to butter chicken), saag, garlic naan, and samosas. We've also tried and enjoyed the biryani, fried paneer, and tikka masala. read more

I have always wanted to go here since it is by Trader Joes' and Pomegranate Café, and I finally got the chance to check it out the other night.  I must say that this is one of the best places for Indian I've had yet.  We started out with the Tandori chicken.  The chicken had a lot of flavor and it was cooked perfectly.  There were plenty of onions and peppers to accompany the dish.  For the main course, we had the Chicken Tikka Massala with rice.  The dish was fragrant and full of taste.  We didn't really want to have dessert, but the owner brought out a little taste of 'sweet balls', I don't know how else to describe them, but that was a really nice way to end the meal. This place also has a good selection of Indian beers if you are into those. read more

Star of India - Great Indian food - Indian Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Food is really tasty but it takes a while to prepare. Even for take out expect to wait.

Absolutely delicious. One thing I would like to see change are the take out containers. The styrofoam must go. That's said, the people and the food second to none. read more

The food was amazing! Everything was delicious and authentic The owner is SO sweet and welcoming. The service and food is a 10/10 The chicken tandoori and chicken tikka are amazing! read more

Star of India - Chicken tandoori - Indian Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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We had an incredible dining experience tonight! My fiancé and I are very picky with our Indian food. Before dining in tonight we read through a lot of other reviews to help us decide if it was worth trying this spot. We also only live 5 minutes away and have passed it so often. We decided well we finally better try it. The service was very friendly! We enjoyed the ambiance of the restaurant as well, it felt we were dining in someone's home, it was very clean and felt cozy. Overall the service was a bit slow but it was because they were in the back cooking. The food did take longer than other restaurants to prepare but it was truly worth the wait! The also accommodated our special requests to our dishes. We enjoy the chicken tikka masala and the paneer tikka masala very much! We ordered them both in a medium spice and it was perfect and rich in flavor, creamy and no overkill of tomato flavor. Only the chicken tikka came with rice though not the paneer which we felt was odd but we ordered more and let me tell you just the basmati rice plain is SO good and flavorful. The tandoori chicken was also a show stopper! It had a sweet like glaze on it and was juicy! They serve it in a sizzling fajita style pan. We HIGHLY recommend trying both of there chutneys - the mint and tamarind were equally very delicious, we like dipping our naan bread in them. Better than any other chutney we have had. The mango lassi was also very good, not as thick as others we have tried and very sweet. Ahwatukee - if you enjoy Indian food, give this place a try! A true local hidden gem. We certainly be retuning soon. read more

The food here is amazing, I understand that there maybe a wait. It is a small family owned business. Trying to serve the best quality food. It is well worth the wait. The service is always outstanding, I recommend this to all my friends and family anytime they ask about delicious Indian cultural food. read more

I love this place! Has the best service and the food is amazing no Indian food in the area will compete with this place. A must try for sure don't sleep on this place read more

I can't say enough good things about this place. Not one bad thing. Food service people all Grade A.