One of the worst experience i ever had visiting San Diego and a big disappointment with the wait staff and food. I will not recommend this to anyone . Few points i have experienced - The waiter popped a piece of chicken from my next table guests plate while getting the order from the kitchen. I din’t to tell anything, bot sure what he would have done with my order. - They had few scotch on their shelf, but the bar tender only gave one option of whiskey and said they don’t have any scotch. No Red Wine. - Margarita: A very basic drink every bar tender knows. We got our drinks after 25 mins appetizer were served. I think the one i made at home for the first time was way better. - Average appetizers - Nan: please check the pics yourself. Not done at all, they microwaved them and served. - I lost my patience after seeing a used dried serving spoon in Jeera rice.

Hands down, the best Indian cuisine in San Diego, very authentic.... Butter Chicken is definitely not soupy and made from a jar like most of the Indian restuarants. However, the selection of menu items are very limited. If you want something specific such as Gobi Manchurian go somewhere else or at least look at the menu before you go. The night we went the service was HORRIBLE!! Waitress had no clue of her own menu. Not sure if she has ever eaten Indian food. Chefs leave early and our waitress didnt tell us.... so we could not get more than one order of nan bread. Make surebyou check your bill, waitress overcharged several tables, including ours. If it wasn't for the amazing quality of the food, I would have given this restuarant a one star.

I don’t think I would have ever said this about an Indian restaurant. It’s one of the worse Indian restaurant ever I have been in my entire life. To begin with the server said the seating is only outside and inside is closed. Few minutes later few other people walk in and they are seated inside. We ordered butter chicken bone in, tandoori roti, Karahi chicken. The butter chicken bone in order was mistaken and instead boneless was brought, after sending it back, the waiter said they don’t have any bone in and we can order something else. We ordered another Karahi Chicken, it was the worse Karahi chicken ever, the cold pieces of chicken were just put in the curry and brought on the table while the rest of roti got cold as well. There was no apologies for mistakes or trying to fix the problem it was more like we can’t help you. With this grade of customer service and food quality I would rather give zero stars to this place. Avoid it at all times. This place should be closed as service uncooked cold meat is a severe hazard to health.

Seriously disappointing 😞 Not just was the quality of food pretty average, starting from the pappadam being soggy, palak paneer being very tart, dal makhani (black dal) being watery and bland. But what felt even worse was the customer service. For four of us, we were given a tiny square table, despite several other empty tables around. When the food was served, I tried returning the smaller, appetizer plates to the person who served the food, who now had an empty tray going back. Her response was "the server would come and collect that". And no one showed up. We finally ate the tasteless food on the tiny overpacked table and could not pay and leave sooner than we did. For a place with over a dozen best restaurant and best Indian cuisine awards, this service and food quality is quite a bummer, nowhere close to royalty expected from a Royal India.

Really great quality Indian food and friendly staff They can make it as spicy as you want!!

It is a beautiful place and fresh ingredients. It was a little cold, as though they didn't want us to hang around. The food was delicious, but we wondered why they weren't full of guest. Our waiter was awesome. There was a waitress that would come out periodically, which was a little disorganized. But, all and all, we enjoyed our time.

Went there for Saturday lunch, it was completely empty for 45min I spend there. I can understand why after tasting the food. Even though the ambience was good. They charge price for great food and provided average taste food. Looks a good place for indian restaurants but they need to upgrade the taste for that price.

FOOD: food not authentic but own creation. Like Butter Chicken is not how it is supposed to be. Service: was the worst of all. Very ubfriendly water. Who really didn't want to help us from. The moment we entered the restaurant. There were three other tables occupied. It was around 5:20 PM. Atmosphere: cold, Dry, not lively. For a restaurant t showcasing it awards or recognition its not worth it at all. I am South Asian and know the dishes as well as how they are supposed to taste and how the are not supposed tobtake. There was nothing buttery Bout the butter chicken. It was watery and didn't have the correct taste. Looked like either out of the correct ingredients or just not trained on how to make a butter chicken. The samosa wasn't tasty. There was less filling. The salade on the Lamb curry plate with was a Happy Hour dish. It was not worth the price. Filling the plate with rice and white cabbage and a small cup with a few pieces of lamb isn't a lamb plate. Naan bread was tasty. The water really didn't want to work or didn't like us. I still wonder. We were two adults and three kids. Youngest slept all the time so only two kids at the table. He put us at the back and on a table set up for three persons. He He want to help us with the menu made faces and was getting annoyed. When the other serving waiter came with our food she latterly slammed the food on the table and put everything athe the corner of the table where she could find empty space. You can see in the photo how she put the Naan bred at the corner of the table and the plate half tilted. It could fall. After she left, we had to put every dish properly and neatly. Whe the waiter came back asking if we need anything else, I asked him if I could also get a plate and cutlery as there are FOUR people at the table bot three. He just picked up from the side table and asked me if this was OK? Ther were were helped by an older lady who was somewhat friendlier than the guy. But she was in a hurry to take the empty plate from the table. We felt like dispite paying for our food we were not welcome. Rush to take our plate away seemed unnecessary and push for us to leave. When the waiter came asking us for tea or desert I asked for Desi tea and he said sorry, we are out of milk. 1: it was 6pm. It wasn't even busy but they ran out of milk. So that was a lie. But there are 7-Eleven and other shops around. It's not a big deal to complete your kitchen if you have ran out of anything. We skipped the extra order and asked for the bill ( cheque in the U.S.). I asked if I could be cash $100 bill, he said sorry we don't have change. Then I said I will pay with credit card. Do you have a credit card machine so I can swipe. He again said, sorry only cards with a chip are accepted. So we paid with a card with a chip. He took the payment and left. I see that the awards are old so, I guess the daily operations of the restaurant now are no longer important. Our experience was overall bad..

One of the oldest dining experience I have ever had. Very expensive but very bad food. Worst food I have ever had in any. The interior was looking good in a good location so we thought let's give it a try, the service was okay, but the food was very bad. We ordered shrimp biriyani, veg korma, and tawa chicken. Chicken was okay but simp biriyani was inedible. I wouldn't recommend this restaurant to anyone.

I have ordered and eaten at the restaurant and it's usually good. I really wanted samosas and decided to get an order. The samosas were burnt inside, it was very disappointing.

The service was really great and the food was perfect. Lots of vegetarian options that were top tier. It’s a perfect place to come to for a celebration or a romantic date. I would come back.

Probably the worst place to get Indian food. And we have tried a lot of Indian food! Got Butter Chicken and Veg Malai Kofta for takeout, and both dishes were not at all authentic. Butter chicken is supposed to be the cooked chicken pieces and a creamy gravy. What we got here was chicken in gravy which had peppers and onions and what not (not a smooth creamy gravy). I called the restaurant to ask about this and complain because this is not what an actual butter chicken is supposed to be. The guy who spoke on the phone was very rude and insisted that this is how they do their butter chicken and have been really for years. Moreover, the dish was also very oily. A lot of oil was floating on top. Same oily complain about the Veg Malai Kofta: Oil floating on top. The curry also didn't taste as good. This was also not authentic at all! The Kofta are supposed to be Paneer + Potato, but this seemed to be made of potatoes and some vegetables. No actual paneer involved. Very big disappointment.

Found a metal ribbon in my food on Thanksgiving day dinner. The service response was extremely poor and they weren’t professional in their response. EDIT: They did give me a 20% discount at the end and Refunded the dish that had the metal ribbon.

3 star for food. I'd give fourth star for great service something which has been going downhill in covid everywhere. They kept kitchen open extra time for us late arrivals. Food arrived on time. Paneer Tikka masala and paneer naan were the best dishes. Paneer Tikka masala had aromatic gravy and not heavy on cream. Paneer naan was very soft. Side serving of pickle and onions and papad reminded me of Punjabi home cooked meal.

Ordered both regular naan and garlic naan - both extremely tasty. The chicken Tikka masala was great.

Really wanted to like this place cause it's the only big Indian option in downtown. Sadly, the flavors were a little lacking and nothing to write home about. The meal wasn't bad, it just wasn't restaurant quality food in my opinion. Indian cuisine is supposed to be a symphony of spices and aroma and I just didn't get that. Staff was friendly, though, and service was quick. Also pretty nice dining atmosphere.

I dined at the Royal India, and it was Amazing! I would highly recommend the lamb with ginger and the chicken korma. I had the pleasure to be greeted and helped by Satya and Vanessa... who were both so nice.. you will enjoy your dinner if you come here

Very nice place to have Indian food. surprisingly we got our foods very fast. in spite of few staff seen. they were efficient. décor and ambience are good. worth visiting.

One of best places for Indian cuisine. We loved everything we ordered, from paneer to lamb to chicken dishes were AMAZING! The staff was very professional and provided great service. We came in just before their last order for the night and they were able to sit a large group and get our food ready in record time. Highly recommend!

By far the best Indian cuisine I’ve had in the United States. It’s a must try if you’re around. Shahi paneer was delicious. And when they say spicy, they mean it!! Their service is really great too!! Lots of Jain and vegetarian options.

Delicious food. It was quick to get in, looked very upscale. The service was good, and when we got our dish “extra spicy” rather than mild it was corrected immediately. When we left the place was nearly full. Cute outdoor area too. I’d come here again for sure.

We tried: Chanda Masala (garbanzo bean dish) Aloo Gobi (my favorite cauliflower and potato dish) and Dal Tarka (yellow lentil dish) with starters of Veg Samosa and Papadum. Y’all, it was so hard to pick a favorite 😅 The Channa Masala came in a close second to the Aloo Gobi but damn these dishes are PACKED with flavor! I love how clear their menu is on what items are vegetarian that can be made vegan (eight total dishes!!!) Usually I’m stoked to see just two vegan dishes on a menu! Anyway, the ambiance, the drinks, the food, the servers. Everyone is top notch. I can’t wait to go back and try the Vegetable Mango Pineapple dish 😍

Excellent Indian food. You can opt for your spice level. Friendly, courteous service. Fab location. Value for money.

Nice restaurants good food. I like the shrimp briyani so good and reasonable price.

My recent lunch experience at Royal India in San Diego was a delightful culinary journey. The restaurant's inviting ambiance and attentive staff set the stage for a memorable meal. The menu offered a diverse selection of Indian delicacies, each dish bursting with authentic flavors and spices. I indulged in the Chicken Tikka Masala, a creamy and perfectly seasoned delight, accompanied by fragrant basmati rice and warm naan bread. The culinary craftsmanship was evident in every bite. The restaurant's commitment to quality ingredients and traditional recipes shone through, making it a must-visit for anyone craving an exquisite Indian dining experience in San Diego.

The Best Indian food, both, regular and Jain in California so far! They have a bunch of Jain options too. #जगात_भारी PS- If you ask for a spicy version, it is genuinely spicy!

Excellent service, pretty decor, relaxing atmosphere and delicious food. The samosa Chaat packed enormous flavor and excellent textures. The Aloo Gobi was spicy and flavorful with tender potatoes and cauliflower cooked just right. The black lentils and garlic naan were divine. The wine list was nothing to write home about but the food more than makes up for it.

The smell of delicious curry hit me before I found this delicious downtown favorite! We were not disappointed with the spicy & tasty butter chicken, cauliflower & the fried onion plate with two tasty sauces. Don't forget the naan (garlic or plain).

Really good food. Tuğba, Turkish lady was great and very friendly with great recommendations.

What a gem this place is!!! Excellent service, clean interior, and overall just a lovely time. Conveniently located near gaslamp. I had the chicken chettinad, garlic naan, and mango lassi. The chicken chettinad was beautifully flavorful and spicy, with moist chicken thigh pieces and a great texture to the gravy. The rice was very fragrant. The staff really went above and beyond. I can’t wait to come back!

I am giving two stars for its ambience. For food and it’s respective taste Royal India is OVERATED Indian restaurant in SD!!

The folks at Royal India are incredibly professional. The food is amazing! I was in Guam for 4 months and never ate Indian food because I knew I had this restaurant to come back to! Highly recommend!

Great curry... and even better service.

I came first time san Diego. I found this restaurant near by my hotel . I got dinner and Rasmalai as well . 3 order Rasmalai i got in small amount . Look this picture

I’ve tried a lot of Indian restaurants and this one was amazing! Good was fresh and authentic. The ambiance and service were also awesome. The chicken tikka masala was delicious and the vegetable samosas! I’d definitely come back.

My recent group dining experience at Royal India in San Diego left an indelible mark of satisfaction. The inviting ambiance coupled with impeccable service set the stage for a delightful evening. Opting for the vegetable samosa and chicken kebab was a culinary triumph; the samosas were perfectly crisp, with a flavorful medley of vegetables encased within, while the chicken kebabs were succulent and expertly seasoned. The menu's diversity catered to various tastes, accommodating both vegetarians and meat enthusiasts. The attentive staff ensured our every need was met, contributing to a seamless dining experience. Sharing this gastronomic journey with a friend amplified the joy. Royal India in San Diego continues to exemplify excellence in Indian cuisine, making it a must-visit for those seeking an authentic and satisfying culinary adventure, especially in a group setting.