India House

Traveling for business from California, I happened to come across this place while driving to my hotel. Hands down, the BEST dinner I have had in months, not to mention the best Indian food I’ve ever experienced. Everything was perfectly delicious, and the staff were equally as amazing. My only complaint is that they aren’t located in California ;)

Terrible food. We ordered vegetable jalfrazzi and it came as a curry with long strips of potatoes and bell peppers. The description mentioned paneer and there wasn’t any. We also ordered Chicken 65 which was red as red can be with food color with only 5 small pieces of chicken and lots of onions. Not at all worth $ 10.
All in all, they’ve lost a customer in me

Horrid experience here a few months back. My friend and I LOVE India House in Hoffman Estates and downtown, so when we saw a groupon for this location, we decided to grab it thinking it would be just as good as the other two. NOT the case. We came for the lunch buffet and everything was overcooked from the veggie platters to meat. Literally there were only two platters we could stomach so we decided to order butter chicken off the menu. First, the portion size we received was nowhere near the size the other locations give you– for $ 16 it was was a joke. What’s worse is the chicken was RANCID. We both took one bite and spit it out. We won’t be back.

I had never been to an Indian restaurant before, so I honestly went in with no expectations. I was pleased with both the food and the service. Since we had no idea what we were doing we ordered haphazardly and everything we got was delicious, so I assume everything they have must be pretty good. I would happily go back again.

Finally got a chance to eat here after seeing it for years. I stopped on a Thursday night a little after 6 PM. The place is huge with tons of tables but only a handful of people there eating. Strange I thought but OK I will give it a go. I had the chicken 65 appetizer which were little globs of deep fried chicken and onions in a red curry type sauce and it was awesome good. Very tasty. Then had the tandoori platter that for $ 21 came with two different kinds of tandoori chicken along with shrimp, a bowl of the rice and a big bowl of these excellent lentils to mix with anything that were the best lentils I have ever had. Also included was a basket of naan bread that was piping hot and chewy good. A lot of food for $ 21 and enough to take home afterwards. Despite some other reviews, the service I received was very good, friendly and attentive. The place was clean and has a huge menu and I see some type of lunch buffet happens here also. Overall I really liked everything I had and would certainly go back next time I’m in the area.

I would like to re-​review this restaurant, they have really improved their quality of food, their buffet items as well as their excellent service. We have been here several times in the past few months and have been extremely satisfied with a good Indian meal!

First time here. Came on a Sunday and was surprised to see they had a buffet. I enjoyed this very much because I was able to try small samples many Indian dishes. I especially liked the goat curry! There was also chicken which had a grill taste to it which was delicious. The desserts were delicious as well. I would go back again if I’m in the area.

I have never felt at ease in India House Restaurants, I do not like the manager there. I do not feel welcomed, and the food bloats you up afterwards, I bet they are using bottom shelf ingredients. The service on the other hand is excellent, really good. Go to Udupi instead, read my reviews on Udupi.

Last time I visited the place was to have lunch buffet. Based on the poor service and below average food had decided to avoid it in future. However visited the place again yesterday with the group and experience was really bad. Paneer tikka was served with tomatoes… navaratan korma contained potatoes. Bread sampler basket didn’t contain variety of breads as per the menu… Overall end result — highly disappointed. once again :-(

Food good
Service ok
Biggest problem I have is its so expensive to eat here on your own. Way too expensive!

One Unilocaler called it Americanized Indian Food, another said the sauces were watery — I have to agree with both. The good Indian sauces I’ve had are creamy, thick and savory, with lots of spice. India House appears to be taming the food down, either by watering down the sauces or by not including any good spice. I realize that a buffet has to cater to the masses and maybe my palate falls outside the norm.
Overall, my lunch experience was relatively good. The food was, at least, edible and there was a good selection. The Saag was very good. The service was good as I wasn’t kept waiting for water refills. The entire lunch experience was about $ 16 — a little steep — but what the heck, it was a buffet!
I would go there again, unless I find a better one in the area.

Excellent friendly service, plentiful buffet, good for satisfying the Indian food cravings.
I have my Indian food cravings from time to time. India house in Chicago was my first foray into the delectable cuisine of India with the awesome naan bread and several options both vegetarian and meat curries.
So to quell my hunger and need for Indian, I came upon India House in Buffalo Grove.
They have new lunch hours during the weekend 12pm-​3pm. Which is unusual as I’m hungry before noon. Guess people in the burbs who have Indian food cravings like myself like to eat breakfast prior to gorging on buffet. We came during the busy art fair which probably reduced traffic into the restaurant.
Fully stocked bar with an impressive wine display. Figure mostly whites since most dishes are spicy. The buffet items changes daily, so if you work in the area, probably could have different items each day to try the entire menu!
I like how the tables did not have the typical white table cloth, I feel like that’s too old school. I arrived just before they actually opened, so the air was still kind of stale, but the ac kicked on shortly after and no issues. The owner/​manager welcomed us by personally opening the door and let us sit where we were comfortable. Nothing like fresh naan bread out of the oven brought out in wicker baskets and refilled at your request. The steam trays were loaded with dishes like chana masala (chick peas,) sag paneer (spinach and cottage cheese chunks), tandoori chicken, goat curry, and chicken curry, cauliflower). The chutney and sauces lacked definition, but thats minor, the heat of the sauces were there!
The flavors for some of the curries were not quite all there for me. Perhaps lacking some seasoning, but the tandoori chicken was very flavorful with a bit of heat and a hint of smokiness that was great served with the rice. The somosas were refreshed three times during my lunch, so that is a good sign of their turnover. Goat curry was very tender, you gotta work at the chunks of meat, very satiafying. There were two chicken curries, one with chicken breast (dry — can’t do much with chicken breast and the flavor was blah, a thin sauce): The other curry with drums — fall off the bone succulent and so flavorful, always get with bone on, its more flavorful.
The mango ice cream, freshly prepared each day was a welcome dessert for after meal. What was disappointing was the super sweet dough balls that are usually a brownish color drowning in a honey syrup, this visit had white balls, which my palate hinted at dish soap.
I have had both dinner and buffet lunch at India House. The dinner items are really really tasty, whereas the lunch is a good starter for novices and folks like me who like the variety. If you come for dinner and have no clue what to get, the manager seems to be helpful as he was very accommodating for a caller who asked about the dishes available.
This is a good place to cater from.

All I have to say is… RUDE service!!! The host/​cashier/​waiter should not be in public but in the kitchen instead he grossly had to share that he was having a bad day.
The food was just ok, mostly sauces that weren’t refilled and lacked meat.

We went there for the lunch buffet today. Had the worst attitude by the manager I’ve ever witnessed. We asked for a booth, there was 2 available he said people were sitting there. In the 40 minutes spent there the booths remained empty. Then then he slams our cokes on the table to serve us. The food was ok, it was all cold by 1:15 and the chicken dish was nothing but sauce left. Naan was good and fresh though. Finally the manager walks away from the cash register when we were going to pay n leave we waited 5 minutes for him to get back, I was so fed up I nearly just threw a 20 down and left.
I will never go back here again. In the past I had decent service and the food was better. This establishment is well on it’s way down.

Tried buffet lunch. From starter chiken tandoori is very bad and it is stale food. But from main course chicken and mutton curries tasted good. Other than tandoori chicken I got good food.

A relative hosted a rehearsal dinner here. So this review is from that experience.
From a catering perspective, it was set up like a buffet. They quickly ran out before the group had all served themselves, leaving a portion of the guests waiting while they made more. Maybe a 10 minute wait but still awkward and not right for a group. They should know how much to have available.
To get served any drinks, guests has to walk out of the room into the main restaurant. At least the bar was right outside but still it wasn’t necessarily the best set up.
The staff was friendly. But the overall experience was very middle of the road.

My husband and I usually go to the Hoffman Estates, so I was expecting the food to be the same. It’s not.
It was ok, just missing the full flavor I expected. The chicken had a lot of cartilage still on it. Which grossed me out, which I can admit is really American of me.
Very nice people who work there though :)

It’s difficult for me to convey how the cuisine here can take you on a journey. It’s nearly impossible to describe the layers of fragrance, texture, color and spices without leaving many holes in the complexity of this truly transcending experience. It’s just THAT incredible.
I want to compare it to a ‘once in a lifetime’ romance. The kind that has your head in the clouds, and your heart beating out of your chest, as you sit anxiously on the edge of your chair, white knuckled grip, in anticipation of what comes next.
When you walked in, you were teased by the sweet, spicy perfume of other patron’s love stories. It piques your interest, and flushes you with guilt and excitement, as though you were intruding on a very private moment. Every table you walk past, leaves you feeling the exact same way.
You’re seated at a table with a white cloth. It’s a stark contrast to the colors of the room. You worry that your passion will render it tainted, beyond compare.
Centered is a circular metal tray, holding four smaller circular metal bowls. Inside each, a different experience. This is where it begins.
You take your coat off, and rest it on the seat to your right. You can smell everything, and can’t specifically determine it’s origin.
One green rich sauce, one thick deep purple, one yellow with some form of pepper and the last dish has onions, painted magenta by the vinegar-​like sauce they’re swimming in. You’re provided with paper thin flat-​crisps. They are naked until you paint them with the color and flavors of the metal dishes. Your artistic side is awakened, and you become the Picasso of your own plate.
You order. The waiter is the only thing standing between you and this culmination of sensations.
The minutes between his leaving and returning, take an eternity. You’re making small talk, as your eyes scour the room. Your legs are nervously gaining momentum beneath the table. It’s only been 13 minutes.
It arrives. Three entrees in metal chalices, a side of rice and two baskets of Naan. (Garlic, and cheese). The Chicken Saag has this dark green forest of spinach, spices with high and low notes, that both warm, and bring out the freshness of the leafy delight. It’s smooth, and delicious, and hearty, and tucked inside it, are these most tender chucks of chicken. You swoon with each bite, rocking back in your chair, with a smile on your face.
Your next adventure is surrounded with a bit more tension. It’s bright orange in color, and the sauce has a creamy decadence to it. You layer spoon after spoon of it upon some Basmati rice and take a deep breath. It’s aroma is sweet, and distracts you from remembering that chili-​pepper warning flagged next to it’s name, in the menu. You shovel a heaping spoon full; rice, sauce and shrimp remarkably layered and ready to be devoured.
GLORY. Pure joy overtakes you, warming you from within, before the heat of the spices takes hold, and you feel your eyes weld. These are happy hot tears, of your food-​gasm. You feel satisfied and yet, you yearn for more. Shrimp Masala, what have you awakened in me?
The red dish. Red, the color of passion, the color of love. Dare you? You do. You left all inhibition at the door. This sauce has a texture all it’s own. It’s almost thick, let easy to maneuver through until you hit the hidden treasure chunks of boneless Lamb hidden within. You spill some of the sauce over the edge of the bowl. You’re slightly embarrassed, all the while, moreso overtaken with eager angst to navigate the portions to your plate. No rice for the Rogan Josh. Just the two of us, just as we are, about to become one.
Before you let your lips touch, you breath it in. The succulent lamb morsel almost melts in your mouth, and the sauce is a dream, and you relinquish all control over to the food. The experience consumes you, and you keep revisiting each dish, layering, combining, topping Naan and rice as it beseeches you.
There is no shame when it’s over. You’re left with this remarkable sense of satiety, yet an overwhelming feeling of overindulgence. What’s done is done, it was between you and the food.
There is no room for dessert.
That white cloth is the only evidence of ravenous love-​fest that took control over you. You wonder if anyone else noticed what happened there.
You pay, feeling that this mere penance isn’t enough for the joy, the passion, the full body experience you just had. So you leave an extra generous tip.
This is what food has the power to do. If you haven’t had this dance yourself, India House can provide you the opportunity. I, obviously, highly recommend it.

This is the most frequented restaurant of my wife and I.
The food is always excellent!!!
We love the buffet because there is almost always something new to try.
Occasionally there have been slight issues with the service, but nothing too serious.

I had never eaten Indian food before, and I came here with a co-​worker to give it a shot.
The lunch buffet is a pretty good deal at ~$ 12. They have a variety of dishes including chicken and goat curry. I tried basically everything to see what I liked and we also ordered some samosas.
I really liked the tandoori chicken. It was so tender and juicy with a good smokey flavor. They also had some delicious potato dish that was very good. I also loved the naan.
The samosas were tasty with a flaky crust. They were very filling though.
They had a dessert which I can only describe as fried balls (of what I am not sure) dipped in sugary syrup. It is called gulab jamun and it is incredibly sweet.

The 3 stars are solely for the service… their food is at least 4 stars! Their lunch buffet has a wide variety of food which was great. They have both vegetarian dishes along with goat and chicken meat. Their naan is pretty good and they keep it coming!
Now the bad… Went with a group of friends for their lunch buffet and everything was great until we got the bill. A group of 4 of us got an 18% gratuity added to the bill automatically. We thought it wasnt fair to get that added given its a buffet and it was just a party of 4. We didn’t argue and just paid it. We did get a meal for free using the Unilocal app so keep an eye on that!

This is a good Indian buffet. It’s priced right and the food is good. There is plenty of variety of food, including appetizers and curry dishes. If you have had home cooked Indian food or have gone to high end Indian restaurants before, please just remember that this is a buffet, and as such you won’t be disappointed.
So yes, a good Indian buffet that is well priced. I’ve been to a number of Indian buffets around the city, and this is one of the best. If you are in hunt of a home style Indian meal, go to Tava.
The lunch crowd can be a bit intense. Expect to wait just a few minutes if you arrive between 11:50 & 12:15. The tea is good, but I prefer water.
The service is consistently good. Enjoy!

Came here w the company and client for lunch.
Food: pretty good variety of food. A lot vegetarian food. I do wish they have some lamb dishes because they had none. ³⁄₅
Services: pretty good services. We had 12 people. They refilled our water and naan very consistently. They sat us down very swiftly too. ⁴⁄₅
Atmosphere: it was pretty busy. They have a very big place. The buffet line was setup very efficiently. Overall, it was a good place to have lunch.
The price was very fair per person for lunch