The highlight for me was their $20 buffet with 20+ items so many options to try, and everything tasted fresh and truly authentic. From crispy dosas to flavorful sambar, curd rice, and even traditional dishes like curry dosa, you can really tell they focus on maintaining real South Indian flavors. And I have to mention their crab curry was absolutely delicious! Rich, spicy, and full of flavor... definitely one of my favorites. The vibe is simple and welcoming, perfect for family dining or casual outings. If you're in Seattle or nearby areas like Bothell/Bellevue, it's worth the drive. read more

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Casual restaurant. We went around 12 PM on a Sunday, and it wasn't very crowded only about 7-8 tables were occupied. The place is quite spacious with plenty of seating. I didn't have very high expectations. I initially wanted to try the baby corn stir-fry, but they were out of it, so I ordered a medu vada and a Hyderabad masala dosa instead. The sambar tasted more like a North Indian style, which I liked, though it could have used a bit more salt. Overall, the experience was decent. We had to wait a few minutes both to place our order and to check out, but it wasn't too bad. The servers seemed a bit overwhelmed. I would definitely go again. read more

The Chennai Cafe - Hyderabad Masala Dosa - Indian Near Me - Shoreline, Washington

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More like 3.5/5 Dropped by this place after seeing some Instagram reels featuring their South Indian food. As someone who absolutely loves Medhu Wada, I was excited to try it. I'll admit I was a bit disappointed. The coconut chutney and sambar were really good and full of flavor, but the wada itself felt a little too dense for my liking. My daughter ordered the idli -- it was soft and almost melt-in-the-mouth, though still slightly denser than what we're used to back home in India. We also tried the filter coffee. It tasted good, but it was served in a glass instead of the traditional brass tumbler and davara, which took away a bit from the authentic experience. The baby corn was the highlight of our meal -- absolutely delicious and something we truly loved! The masala dosa arrived quite late and was served slightly cold, although the taste itself was enjoyable. Service was quite slow overall, and in the end, we decided to walk up to the cashier to settle the bill instead of waiting at the table. That said, I do see potential in this place. The flavors are there, and with some improvements in texture and service, it could be excellent. I'd consider visiting again to try some more options! The place itself is quite clean and maintained! read more

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A great place to try South Indian which is not that far from Seattle. The place is big with a lot of tables and has a lot of parking near the restaurant. We tried the vada and also I had the ghee masala dosa. Though sambar was a bit bland but everything else was great! I would highly recommend this place. The staff was nice but the service was a bit slow probably because there were a lot of people. read more

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Indian Spice Bistro was a nice surprise. The shahi paneer was really good, and the mango lassi hit the spot. Service was good, no issues there. The ambiance feels nostalgic, like the kind of Indian restaurant you might have gone to as a kid. Cozy booths, laminated menus, just straightforward and familiar. Nothing over the top, just solid food in a comfortable setting. I would come back. read more

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I would have not even given 1 star. Failed as South Indian. Buffet has no appetizers just main courses. Vegetarians pls don't ever opt buffet waste of money. I ordered chennai spl veg kurma, tasted raw coconut chaka chakai ah, gravy was not smooth. Husband ordered goat briyani tasted bland, a few meat pieces that too bones and full of rice. We made a wrong choice today :( read more

The food itself is pretty good. Butter chicken, tikka masala and the naan are delicious The location has no heat as of 11/5 - so it's freezing on the inside. Better to order to go! Service was wonky and it was just me and another group. read more

While I'm not an expert on South Indian cuisine, everything here is delicious. They offer an insane amount of options that you don't typically find at other Indian restaurants. ​If it is your first time, I strongly recommend the Paper Dosa, Madurai Kari Dosa, and idly. read more

I just discovered this Indian food place in Shoreline! Indian Spice Bistro is a total hidden gem. If you're looking for authentic Indian flavors and generous portions, this is your spot! It is definitely a good contender with Everest Kitchen. I like the Goat Biryani and Lamb Vindaloo which are both huge and full of flavor! The restaurant was a bit cold and needs better lighting. The service is quite fast and everything was hot! read more

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On this cold and somewhat rainy Saturday evening, we decided on Indian cuisine. We were recommended a South Indian Bistro in Lake City by a friend. We had to try their standards: dosa, curry, naan, and chai. The menu was extensive with some unlikely items such as fish and chips. There is definitely something for everyone. Samosa chaat: 3.5/5 needs more substance in terms of samosa, garbanzos ( chole), and fresh ingredients such as onions and coriander. Too much tamarind sauce, some yogurt, and not enough textures. The sprinkles of sev( chickpea crunchies) kinda melted after mixing the sauce. Chutneypudi masala dosa: 5/5 crunchy, savory with ample spiciness, aloo masala filling not too salty, and generous condiments. We enjoyed the freshly prepared coconut chutney and sambar. Highly recommended. Lamb tikka masala ( mild 2*): 4/5 somewhat underwhelming sauce. Ample amount of lamb enough for 2 with the rice. Garlic naan: 4/5 mild garlic spice, soft, and not burned underneath. Masala chai: 5/5 a proper cup with refill. Staff was attentive and kind. Restaurant had plenty of seating, washrooms clean, and good parking in back. Overall price was reasonable for dinner and entertainment. There was live music this evening, a guitarist and singer. We were told there is a guitarist and/or singer every Friday-Sunday 6pm- 9pm. This restaurant seems like a neighborhood gem. read more

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I really enjoyed our meal here. The restaurant was freezing and I believe I over heard the gentleman tell a different table their heater is broken or malfunctioning. If we were told this earlier I probably would've just done to-go. They were out of the mango lassi but it happens! The butter chicken and garlic naan were the stars of the show. We didn't have any leftovers because we couldn't stop eating it!! The atmosphere was a bummer but the food made up for it. I'll definitely be ordering take away from here in the near future. read more

I found myself sitting in a window booth at Indian Spice Bistro this afternoon enjoying the coconut curry. Classical Indian music in the background. Very pleasant and professional waitress. Delicious coconut curry with tofu and basmati rice. I'll be back. read more

The Chennai Cafe - Coconut curry. - Indian Near Me - Shoreline, Washington

Indian food with good serving size, friendly service and savory tastes. Would return. Tried this a few months back, our first visit under the new ownership. Parking in the back lot was easy. We were greeted and seated promptly. They have a large menu, we went with some non-spicy choices and they were accommodated. For starters we tried the pakora. Some places have vegetables or chicken. Not Indian Spice. They have a gamut of pakoras and we chose egg. It was wonderful. Lightly breaded and with a savory blend of hard boiled egg and spice. Would try different varieties. For entrees we tried butter chicken and chicken Saag. Butter chicken had large tender pieces of chicken in a creamy tomato sauce and was mildly spicy. Chicken Saag had tandoori style chicken in spinach sauce. Both entrees had enough portions for leftovers. We also had garlic naan on the side and it was delicious. Would return if in the area. read more

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Happy to find good Indian food so close to home. The basil naan wasn't as fluffy as other naan I've had, a little more flat/deflated and crispy on the bottom. But great flavor. The Paneer tikka masala was super yummy although the Paneer itself was a little dense. I'd say I have a pretty good spice tolerance so I got 3/5 spice level and it was a true perfect medium for me. I'd try 4/5 next time. My partner got the chicken biryani and the portion was HUGE! It could have fed 4 or 5 people. He ate as much as he could and took leftovers but there was still so much extra. Service was a tiny bit slow toward the end when we were done eating and waiting for the check. Ambiance inside is nice and clean; they even had heaters at each booth since it was a chilly day. We will likely be back! read more

This place changed chefs and / or management and it's very mediocre now. The curries used to be the best in town and now they're not better than some lunch buffets while costing more. The biryani and dosas were still good last I went so it may be worth going for a few select items but I cannot recommend this restaurant anymore due to how sharply it fell off. The previous time I went here the food was so bad and over spiced that we sent both curries back to the kitchen. The butter chicken had too much butter in it and was a thick unpalatable sludge the likes of which I've never seen before or since. We were comped a dessert but still charged for the meal. This time was an improvement from that low point but considering how our food was inedible last time it's a low bar to clear. read more

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Very good food. Highy recommend for paniyaram and mutton biryani and to try their buffet . With live dosa counter. Service was too good and ambience was so quiet. read more

The Chennai Cafe - Indian Near Me - Shoreline, Washington

Went there for the first time and it was very good. Food was tasty. Asked for mild (spice level) and it was fine. Service was good. Place was almost empty. read more

I drive by this place almost every day and have been meaning to try it for a long time. Tonight I ordered online and was looking forward to it. When I picked it up I was surprised at how light the bag felt but when I opened up the container I couldn't believe my eyes! $24 for this? The chicken was nothing special either. It was dry as well but I'll give them a pass on that because it was breast meat and I was running late so it sat for an extra 10 minutes. I understand costs of doing business have increased significantly but sorry, this small portion and high cost for an average meal means I won't be coming back. read more

The Chennai Cafe - Chicken - Indian Near Me - Shoreline, Washington

Five of us went for dinner there tonight. It was very disappointing. First off, the restaurant was freezing cold. We all kept our coats on and had to keep our hands in our pockets. We were the only people there and we got very poor service. We had to remind the waiter several times of parts of our orders that were not complete. He also never cleared any of the plates from the table so in order to have room we eventually had to stack our own plates on the table because they never got picked up. The waiter spent the night playing on his cell phone. It was horrible service and the food was marginal. It was way overpriced for what we got. We won't be back. read more

I'm often driving on Hwy 522 and new signage caught my eye at the former location of Yu Shan. I decided coming back from Lake Forest Park to detour and check out, Indian Spice Bistro (9/22/23). I was warmly greeted and handed a menu which I perused in the reception area. I decided to go with fave baseline entrees to experience their versions of Lamb Korma, Lamb Tikka Masala, basmati rice, and Garlic Naan. I was able to chat with the gentleman at the host stand. He has been here for 1.5 years with previous stays in Bermuda and Bahrain, if I recalled correctly. Clearly resourceful having taken my order, dealing with a finicky POS system, and other phone orders all with a professional demeanor. I would have preferred to dine onsite, especially in a bright dining room filled with natural light. But with perishables in the car trunk on this warm sunny afternoon, I opted for takeout for this initial visit. While I was waiting, I was offered a refreshing glass of ice water served on a cloth lined tray. A nice and welcomed gesture. This spot is indeed new having had their soft opening last Saturday. I am amazed how vast the interior is, which I was told underwent a major renovation. They are awaiting their liquor license, so hopefully their bar counter area will be up and going too in the near future. The food was freshly prepared, piping hot, and nicely packaged for takeout, which was greatly appreciated. The accompanying basmati rice was generous for the two entrees ordered ($22 each). I enjoyed the Lamb Korma, creamy flavorful sauce with tender, succulent chunks of lamb. I tried a small piece of the garlic naan ($5), that too was spot on. Later The Homie, reported that he too enjoyed the Lamb Tikka Masala, basmati rice, and garlic naan. He especially pointed out that the garlic naan was "the real winner". We will definitely return to dine onsite. In addition, the menu piqued our interest about Indo-Chinese entrees also listed. Plus we'll have to try some chai and their dessert offerings. Indian Spice Bistro is located adjacent to Flo-Anna's and Botteco Brazil on Bothell Way, close to 145th at the Seattle - Shoreline border. Parking is located at the back of the building. A welcomed culinary spot in Shoreline! read more

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We ordered takeout. The Gobi Manchurian was very well seasoned with a great chili base and a slight sweetness. The batter was an impressive combination of chewy and crispy. The medium spicy Malai Kofta was delicious: it was creamy and savory with a nice hint of spice on the finish. The koftas had a great mashed potato like consistency inside but a tough enough exterior to stay together in the curry. The Coconut Curry was thinner and not as coconut-forward as others I've enjoyed, but it was still very satisfying. read more

The food was fresh and delicious. The garlic Nann was exceptional. Great service. We will definitely be going back to try some of the more authentic cuisine. read more

Dal Makhani was undercooked. You could bite into the chana daal. Malai Kofta was probably cooked in old oil. The koftas had a weird taste and the gravy after the first bite was inedible. Too salty and no flavor. Palak paneer (forgot to take a picture) was also underwhelming. Paneer was old, hard and chewy. The palak was old too and the taste was devoid of the deep flavors it should have. Gulab Jamun, oh boy. These were probably sitting at the back for at least 2-3 months. It was hard, very cold from the inside (even though it was served warm) and just hard to cut through in some spots. Left it as is. Service is decent. read more

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This restaurant is amazing and is definitely in the top spots for Indian food across Seattle. We have been looking for a solid spot for awhile and we have finally found it! The service was amazing and it was because of our waitress. I think she is the owner I'm not sure. Our food was absolutely great along with the mago lassi. She recommended the methi Malala mutter and it was so good. The flavors are amazing. The music is so calming here. If you haven't been, I would recommend coming! read more

The Chennai Cafe - Chicken Tikka Boti Kebab Platter, Methi Malai Mutter - Indian Near Me - Shoreline, Washington

Yayyy! I have found a DELICIOUS Indian restaurant so close to home! I like to order the butter chicken and chicken Tika Masala the first time I try an Indian restaurant because I've noticed some places make them exactly the same... Each dish was unique and so good in different ways! The garlic naan was light and fluffy, unlike a lot of other places that make them doughy. Hopefully they do SO WELL that they can upgrade their menu papers... They were kind of wrinkly and splotchy... I'll still give 5 stars because the food is so good! read more

This place was hella good. Very spacious. Had some chinese fusion dishes in their menu. Bathrooms were clean and plenty of parking in the back. The salty and sweet lemonade was pretty good! read more

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Great unique Indian food with a huge variety of Indian dishes. Very nice people, clean.

The most fantastic food! The Indian beer was also super tasty. We absolutely loved our late lunch at Indian Spice Bistro. Our waiter was helpful and very charming. My only regret is that I don't live closer! read more

Food was great, perfect level of spice and flavor that I was craving. Great staff and appreciated the ambiance.

So happy this place opened near us since I am very picky and find a lot of resturants in Seattle to be quite disappointing. However, I am being honest that I think this is the best Indian food I ever had. It might be one of the best Indian resturants in North Seattle. I had the goat curry with medium spice and it was the perfect spice but not too spicy level for me. The goat was wonderfully tender and flavorful. My husband who was afraid of Indian food got the butter chicken medium spice which was creamy and sweet. He ended up loving it as well. The garlic nan was warm and fresh. The mango lassi tasted like sweet ripe mangos. The basmanti rice was super fragrant and moist too. It had an extensive list of vegetarian meals too that I will have to try one day. Prices are high but the food was delicious and the service was great. Paul, our server, was very friendly and we really enjoyed talking to him. I highly recommend this place if you don't mind the cost. Definitely come here for truly delicious Indian food. read more

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Absolutely delicious food, with a mix of North Indian and South Indian specialties on their menu. So far I have visited twice and tried four of their dishes: egg curry (rare to find), gobi manchurian (also somewhat rare, but more common than egg curry), dal makhani, and dosa. As a front note, the service at this restaurant is incredible. Both times I have gone (Nov '23 and Jan '24), I heard the owner checking in with other tables and they were raving about how good their food was. Good confirmation to how I felt with mine. On my second visit, the owner said 'welcome back' (I was surprised he remembered me) and made a point to introduce himself and ask my name. Starting with the dosa, it comes with a sizable portion of crispy dosa, cooked perfectly crunchy. There is also rasam, which I found to my liking: clear, slightly spicy, and with hearty root vegetables. Two chutneys accompanied it, a tomato based one and a coconut-cilantro based one with curry leaf. Both excellent to dip the dosa in. Dal makhani was ordered as 'spicy', and they delivered on heat - as well as savoriness, which contributed to it being a very flavorful dish. Gobi manchurian - not much to say on this, since I have had it only a handful of times. It was good, presented well, and had nice flavors. Egg curry - a unique one for the area, I enjoyed it but this was also the only time I have had egg curry from a restaurant. It seemed to have a lighter, coconut base and so did not leaving me feeling as full as other buttery Indian curries do. They are a relatively new establishment, so some things are still being worked out: staff are being trained, the liquor license is in progress, and decor is being improved. The other note I will say about this restaurant is that accessing it from the south is a little challenging - a u-turn on 522 is needed if not using an alternate route on residential streets. read more

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It's rare that I downgrade my rating only a month after my stellar review but it had to be done for Indian Spice Bistro. We returned today to celebrate my husband's birthday but our experience was a let-down from our initial visit. Reasons for removing 2 stars: Restaurant has only been open for 2.5 months and they have already increased prices on some menu items using whiteout. Given their prices were already on the high side to begin with, this was a BIG turn off. We ordered meat Samosas ($11), vegetable Samosas ($7), mango curry with chicken ($20; $24 if you want shrimp), butter chicken ($20), Aloo Gabi ($17), butter naan ($4), and Kashmiri naan ($7). Although Chai tea was not on the menu, the manager offered to make it for hubby. Flavor and size: We asked for everything to be mild but our mouths still burned. The mango curry came with 4 chili peppers and paprika oil floating on top. The curries came in 5" shallow bowls with maybe 5 chunks of chicken; the aloo was mainly potatoes. Flavor was decent albeit spicy for mild. Portion sizes were small coupled with stingy proteins. The naan were tasty but oily (we should have asked for paper napkins to blot out the grease but didn't). Hubby said the small cup of chai tasted like burnt milk. On the positive, the staff were still friendly and helpful. Manager comped a birthday dessert (3 fried donut holes in syrup). Conclusion from second visit: Not a good value for what you pay. It appears the owners are pushing the boundary on prices given most main items start at $20. The total bill including tip for our party of 3 came to $112. Even factor in inflation, that is a bit steep for Indian food. I was initially optimistic about ISB becoming a regular dining spot for us but it will not be the case after today's visit. read more

I was up in Seattle moving my daughter into her apartment at UW and we were in the area picking stored items at my friend's house in Kenmore. We stumbled upon this restaurant for a very late lunch (4:30pm) so it wasn't crowded and it looked like some people were setting up to play live music for the dinner crowd. The wait staff was friendly and attentive. We ordered chicken tikka masala, palak paneer, rice and 2 orders or naan for my daughter, her roommate and myself. At first the portions didn't look very big and we were worried there wouldn't be enough food since we were all starving. It turned out we had more than enough food and even had leftovers! Maybe the serving dishes were an optical illusion! Unfortunately, I didn't take any pictures because we dug in right away but everything was delicious. We chose level 2 out of 6 spiciness for the chicken and it was perfect, even for all of us who like spicy food. The naan was slightly crispy on the outside and chewy in the middle and the palak paneer was a good consistency, had great flavor and a good amount of paneer. I'll will be visiting Kenmore often since my friend lives there and it's not too far from UW. Indian Spice will definitely be in my rotation! read more

First time trying Indian Spice Bistro. We had a great meal there. The food tasted freshly prepared, well seasoned and arrived hot. Each dish we had was delicious. The wait staff was charming and helpful. We'll be adding this to our list of regular restaurants to visit. read more

The Chennai Cafe - Vegetable Korma, palak paneer, butter chicken. - Indian Near Me - Shoreline, Washington

We absolutely loved this place. The garlic and plain naan, chicken tikka masala, and butter chicken were equally delicious. The mild was a bit spicier than other places we've tried, but it was just perfect. Portions were really generous, too. Everyone we interacted with was friendly and attentive. When we asked for a container for leftovers, they offered additional complimentary rice to go with - a really great touch and much appr The facility was clean- my only ding was for a less cozy vibe. Definitely try for a booth to counter that and you'll be fine! Will definitely go back! read more

The Chennai Cafe - Butter Chicken Chicken Tikka Masala - Indian Near Me - Shoreline, Washington

We had a great dinner here last night. The food was really flavorful. The dosa was crispy and oozing ghee, the samosa was hot and full of tasty vegetables, and the paneer pakoras were amazing. I think the best dish was the Aloo mutter, which was the best I've ever had. Our server Paul was very friendly and attentive, and all of the staff were welcoming. We will definitely be coming back! read more

The Chennai Cafe - Plain Dosa - Indian Near Me - Shoreline, Washington

Food was good but won't be back. The place was not clean. The menus were dirty and tattered plus carpets were in dire need of cleaning. They continue to be severely reprimanded by the health department for not complying with the health department's food safety regulations. I doubt this restaurant is sustainable. read more

Don't go when you are really hungry-it takes about 30 minutes to get the food. The portions are smaller than when we originally came. Still love the Manchurian cauliflower but this time it was miniature pieces and less on the plate. If there are only two of you dining, the rice portion seems fine but they do not give more when there are three or four dining. They say cocktails but still have no liquor license. We've been three times and asked. Their response is always "next month". You can get beer or wine. Chana masala was full of flavor as was the coconut curry. The tiny piece of roti was good but again smaller than other Indian restaurants. They have portable heaters at each table. While appreciated, they are bright! The light above the table is also too bright for evening dining. The ambience is lacking. read more

It really makes a difference when an Indian place mixes their own spices. The korma and the curry wont taste like the same dish. The naan had a buttery crisp to it. So good. read more

The Chennai Cafe - Garlic naan - Indian Near Me - Shoreline, Washington

We came here for dinner and got veggie pakoras, idili, mango lassis, kids cheese dosa, veggie noodles, paneer makhni, and chicken korma with garlic naan. Everything was really salty especially the noodles and the portions were very small compared to other Indian places. It was pretty expensive for the quantity. Service was friendly and seemed clean but had a musty smell. I think the building is just on the older side. There are better Indian places. We'd go to saffron grill or Bay Leaf in Bothell over this place. read more