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    Vanakkam Pdx

    4.4 (54 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 2:30 pm, 5:00 PM - 9:30 PM
    Updated 2 months ago

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    VANAKKAM PDX ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Vanakkam Pdx

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    Cathy S.

    I've heard a lot of great things about the lunch buffet here so finally got to come try on a Tuesday for the weekday lunch buffet. It's a pretty small place with limited seating but there are some small tables outside for nicer days. Drinks are not included but I got my toddler the mango lassi and it was super creamy! I would say for $15, there was a good selection of apps, Briyani, naan, and vegetarian and meat curries. My friend is gluten-free and she was able to eat most of the buffet items. Service was friendly but they did seem to get busy with takeout orders and there was a constant stream of lunch patrons while we were there. Bonus they had their tv playing baking videos which kept my toddler entertained so thank you for that lol It's a great value for the variety of food you get. My favorite wad the goat curry. Come support this local business when you're craving Indian food!

    Patrick W.

    The tiny but mighty lunch buffet that can! Delicious and spiced for westerners but also fairly authentic in depth, it's a superb bang for the buck if you are craving a quick in and out Indian Buffet. Chicken 65 and goat biryani are my favorites but the vegetable pastry is a must try. Chicken curry is legit! I wish they would serve mango lassi as part of the buffet but they have premade drinks in the fridge for a small price. Definitely coming back for the buffet. But normally don't entree Indian cuisine even for takeout. Calibrate your expectations, this isn't a large spread by any means, but IMHO it's also priced to reflect this. Pro tip: use the bowls! They serve their purpose very well!!!

    Thattu Idli
    Akshay S.

    Exceeded Expectations -- A Must-Try Spot in Portland! We were on vacation in Portland and decided to try this place based purely on Google reviews -- and oh boy, it more than lived up to the hype! What We Tried: Idly, Mysore Masala Dosa, Pepper Chicken, Mango Lassi The Verdict: Idly - Perfectly fluffy with just the right tang. Paired beautifully with the chutney and sambar (which, by the way, has that signature Tamilian flavor that really hits different!) Mysore Masala Dosa - Crisp, flavorful, and the potato stuffing deserves a special mention -- spiced just right. Pepper Chicken - Spicy, bold, and absolutely delicious for those who like a kick. Mango Lassi - The jewel in the crown! Smooth, sweet, and heavenly. Don't leave without trying it. It's a no-nonsense restaurant, so don't expect fancy ambience -- but the food speaks for itself. Service can take a bit during peak hours, but honestly, when the food is this good, it's more than worth the wait. Final Word: This is definitely going to be our go-to whenever we're in Portland again. Highly recommended for anyone craving authentic South Indian flavors with a punch of spice and soul!

    Filter Coffee (8 Oz)
    Ash A.

    Small South Indian restaurant with very good food. Medium Spice level was a little higher than typical American medium spice levels. I also ordered the mysore podi Masala dosa which was tasty and a pretty good portion. Their Mango lassi was yummy. The biryani combo was well worth the money spent, a wholesome combo with dessert. Service was quick with courteous staff The place was clean and neat with lot of parking. Definitely worth a visit!

    AJ E.

    Best Indian buffet in the PDX area! I was surprised with how many options they had for such a small space, and they are always making sure that everything is coming out FRESH and hot- even when it was closer to closing time! Most of the time when you go to buffet within the last hour all of the food is dying and dry, but that's not the case here. Everyone working is very kind and you can tell they want to make sure you enjoy your meal. The price cannot be beat either. I went 3 times in a week to this spot and I can't wait to go back.

    Restaurant
    Saurabh S.

    Very good buffet. Multi-cuisine: poori, sabji, Dosa, Upma, sweets and many more options. Nominally priced.

    Just some of the selections from the buffet.
    Frank C.

    Amazing lunch buffet, had few different choices of meat, different veggie curries, all the dishes had distinct differences in flavor (). Everything tasted fresh and the place felt very clean. Guy behind the counter was friendly, we didn't need much attention from him but it looked like he was servicing others at the table when the depleted dishes became available. Also one of the most reasonable prices that I'm aware of in the area. Will definitely come back again.

    Priya T.

    I came in on a weekday to try their buffet for the first time. I would say it was a satisfying experience. Just the right amount of items(not too many), the tamarind rice was flavorful, the non veg curries had a good South Indian flavor, very flavorful rasam and dessert was just the right amount of sweetness. They could turn up the flavor quotient on the veg curry though, which was paneer at the time. Overall I enjoyed the food and the server asked me if wanted some food to go and graciously offered some for free. Come in here for a soul satiating food experience, I would again!!

    Sunday brunch buffet
    Lee C.

    Sunday brunch at "you're welcome!". Tidak kedekut for sure. GOAT, chicken, even crab! Papadum very fresh. One of the best prices in town for the food quality and portion. Thank you to my Punjabi friend for introducing us to this restaurant. A good meal after a good hike at Washington Park. Families eat here.

    Nithisha R.

    First things first, a new place altogether. Feedback is based on the service. Been to this place couple of times, and each time they had some or the other changes in the way the food is available. We tried buffet both times, the food is good with good portion sizes. Veg and non veg has decent amount of items. Definitely try their filter coffee, it's amazing My only request to the people is to update online about your specific offerings because every time they had some or the other excuse for something which was in their menu. We went in the morning time for some breakfast and they mentioned that they aren't serving breakfast and they only have buffet in the morning which doesn't have any breakfast items. Second time, the chef wasn't available until evening 6:30 pm for ordering dosa's. Either have them or add a note on google about these or remove them from menu. I hope they resolve these things and be a little consistent with the new place. Ambiance is really good. Although space inside is limited which I guess will be improved based on the demand.

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    4 months ago

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    5 months ago

    Authentic south Indian food at its best. I wonder why Seattle restaurants don't have such quality, and Portland ones do !

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    3 months ago

    Good food, nice vegetarian food in buffet. So many veg curry options. Worth to try if you are in this areas.

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    1 year ago

    Decided to pop in for the lunch buffet and it was great. Good selection and excellent value. I'll definitely come back!

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    1 year ago

    Had the buffet late on Sunday afternoon and it was fantastic! Very flavorful. It was also quite busy which is also a good sign

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    Page 1 of 2

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    Biryani Corner

    Biryani Corner

    3.5(236 reviews)
    2.0 mi
    $$

    We had a wonderful experience at the Restraurant . The food was amazing - tried the goat biryani…read morewhich was very flavorful . The dosa and the gobhi Manchurian were also delicious. Highly recommend the place .

    This turned out to be a very disappointing experience…read more We went expecting an Indian buffet not very different from others we have tried elsewhere in the past. What we got was unexpected and not good. I was looking forward to the Butter Chicken that was on the buffet menu. What I found was a restaurant tray with a bit of sauce in it, and not a single piece of chicken. I thought, "No problem. I'll go again when they bring some more out." We were there about an hour. That pan was never changed or added to. I tried the sauce over some rice and it tasted good. It became obvious the longer I waited that they weren't going to refresh this dish. (The buffet still had over an hour before closing). Then there was a dish called Garlic Chicken. This consisted of small, very bony pieces of chicken that were very dark, having had any tenderness cooked out of them long ago. The boniness was a concern that even my wife mentioned without my prompting. It looked as if someone had taken a meat cleaver to a chicken and just hacked away at it. Jagged pieces of bone all over. Not good! There were some vegetarian options that I didn't try, and a dessert similar to Kheer, but made with skim milk, I think. It was runny like gruel. There were two employees there, I have no idea if a chef was hiding in the back, perhaps ashamed to show his or her face. These two were more interested in chatting and sitting than in doing something so ridiculous as updating the hot dishes. I am on a mission now to try and find a decent Indian Buffet. We haven't been to a good one since Sagat stopped serving the buffet during Covid. Oh, one last note: They had a sign instructing customers to reuse their plates. Really? They were too damn lazy to wash the dishes, I guess. We used new plates. As for this hole-in-the-wall, we will NOT be back!

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    Lamb biriyani

    Pataka Indian Fusion Cuisine - Paneer chili perfection  the ultimate blend of heat and savory goodness! Who's ready to dig in?  #foodiefavorites

    Pataka Indian Fusion Cuisine

    4.5(32 reviews)
    3.0 mi

    Best. Indian. Food. Ever…read more Seriously. I've lived (and eaten copious amounts of Indian food!) in NYC, LA, SJ, SF, ATL, and PDX and this chef and his fusion cuisine is on a whole new level of culinary mastery and taste bud ecstasy. They even have an ordering app where you can earn rewards points towards apply to orders! And they are only 1/2 a mile away! We are so very blessed to have such mastery in the neighborhood, so much so that now I must go order from them just thinking about the deliciousness!!

    This is my 300th review on Yelp! Yay!…read more Anyway, we came here on a friend's high recommendation because everything sounded amazing! Mexican and Indian fusion?! I mean come on! Best of both worlds! I want to give a little grace in this review since perhaps I came in with high expectations so some of the dishes fell a little short because of that? It was empty on a Tuesday around lunch time but we were greeted warmly by who I assumed were the owners. The decor is fun, vibrant, and colorful in the small space. They are also popular with takeout and delivery. I actually really enjoyed my Lamb Vindaloo Tacos! The lamb was tender and it did have a good amount of spice. My friend and I both thought the Dirty Chicken Masala Fries and her regular Chicken Tikka Masala could have had more flavor. BUT with that said, my leftovers tasted better the next day! It really is a local mom and pop spot with such a cool concept and the food was good! I look forward to coming back on another day to try something different!

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    Pataka Indian Fusion Cuisine - Savory, aromatic, and oh-so-delicious! This lamb biryani is the ultimate feast.

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    Savory, aromatic, and oh-so-delicious! This lamb biryani is the ultimate feast.

    Vanakkam Pdx - indpak - Updated May 2026

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