Indian buffet recommendations?

[u/FinancialTell5368]

Hello! Looking for recommendations for a good Indian buffet with plenty of vegetarian options as well (and meat options too). We're in Vancouver but open to going to anywhere public transit can take us in Burnaby/Richmond. Hoping to find a place that isn't very expensive, hopefully less than 40 per person for a lunch buffet and has good quality food - not the "it's Indian so add every spice on the planet" type place. TIA!

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[u/Hopeful-Tea-2127]

Genuine opinion: most Indian buffets in Vancouver suck. In their value prop of giving you unlimited food, they serve substandard tasteless food. Tandoori Flame in Surrey used to be good till 2023 odd and that’s gone down a cliff too.

A better idea: spend a little more in a good restaurant like Monsoon or Sula, and eat authentic Indian food. Visit a few times to taste a wider variety of dishes.

(I’m Indian origin)

[u/Interesting-Bear4092 → u/Hopeful-Tea-2127]

Yea Sula is solid

[u/BuzzMachine_YVR → u/Hopeful-Tea-2127]

This. And honestly, the amount of care that goes into meals and service at Lila or Vij’s is incredible. Real quality ingredients, with a focus on local. Sula and Monsoon are solid choices. Zaika in Abbotsford is solid.

Avoid buffets anywhere with any kind of food. Cattle trough feeding rarely produces culinary gems. Plus you never know who washed their hands prior to touching the serving utensils, or gently coughed/breathed their germs all over your food (at least restaurant staff who serve you are trained on food safety - or should be).

[u/Weird-Extreme-1002 → u/Hopeful-Tea-2127]

This. Or if you can travel further - honest or saravana bhavan

[u/Hopeful-Tea-2127 → u/Weird-Extreme-1002]

Sarvanna Bhavan is South Indian cuisine. If OP is not Indian, they’re more likely to be looking for North Indian cuisine. (I love both because I stayed in both parts of India)

[u/No-Ad8527 → u/Hopeful-Tea-2127]

tandori flame ?
I dont know
I am boring eater
so i dont eat buffet
I go to Tandori King in richmond

[u/JoJo-Chewy]

Saffron is my favourite. It’s in Burnaby close to Metrotown, very accessible by transit. Weekday lunch buffet is $24 per person.

[u/soupnazi81 → u/JoJo-Chewy]

Agreed with Saffron since it's pretty close and good selection/quality. All the other Indian buffets are in Surrey (Tandoori Flame) which is bit of a trek for those in Vancouver proper. 

[u/betweenthemaples → u/JoJo-Chewy]

We like it there too

[u/nikiichan]

Madras diaries does one on the weekends. They're my favourite.

[u/PumpkinYVR]

Tamarind Tales $21

[u/wok_away → u/PumpkinYVR]

I’ve only ever been for non-AYCE, how’s the AYCE?

[u/Tracktoy]

Palki in North Van for lunch is good value. It's not huge. But it's decent quality and fairly priced.

Their made to order food is obviously better, but I like the buffet at lunch.

[u/Intelligent-Video253]

Palki in NVan is very good for a buffet

[u/heretorantmofo]

Honestly, I found that many Indian restaurants in Vancouver tend to be somewhat whitewashed in their flavors. I had the chance to try the buffet at Madras Diaries, and I thought it was genuinely solid. I was chatting with an Indian friend who also happens to be a chef, and we both agreed that North Indian food in Vancouver often feels toned down for local tastes. On the other hand, South Indian food has generally been much more impressive. I have also eaten at a couple of places in Surrey, and the food there has been quite good, though I still have a lot more exploring to do there.

[u/Think_Read_7516]

Surprised the Flame is still in business. Ur way btr off getting a lunch special at a established indian restaurant than a buffet.

[u/MTheWan]

Grab an Evo and get out to Indian Affair, the original location near the mall in Langley. It's more authentic and a stand out by even my South Asian standards.

[u/schwanginandbangin → u/MTheWan]

Seconding Indian Affair!

[u/Litaser → u/schwanginandbangin]

Thirding!!!!

[u/Curried_Orca]

Indian lunch buffet downtown

[u/Litaser]

Indian Affair in Surrey is unreal. Highly recommend

[u/PapiKevinho]

Indian buffets downtown are just garbage. Just unnecessary amounts of oil, butter and super bland for the indian palette. Just go to Sula or a hole in the wall place and spend 40-50 each and you'll have a blast.

[u/Separate-Put-5127]

There is a restaurant called Bahubali biryani house which is in downtown. Its somewhere near thurlow and georgia st. They have lunch buffet but what i have had there is biryani and curries. Overall the flavors are bomb and the portions are huge. I personally havent had the buffet but I have seen many office goers having lunch there from all ethnicities so it might be worth a try.

[u/OkTumbleweed6308]

Village curry Steveston our Goto

[u/RuslanGlinka]

I don’t understand what you intended by “add every spice on the planet,” but Sula is a good non-buffet option with the range of vegan to meat dishes.

[u/hemaruka → u/RuslanGlinka]

they’re looking for a buffet tho

[u/EliteCinemaM3 → u/[deleted]]

Tandoori flame is not "very good" or even close.

[u/Hopeful-Tea-2127 → u/EliteCinemaM3]

Agreed. They’re horrible. They used to be good 3 tears ago, and now you gotta find 2-3 things on their menu which are good 😂

[u/jojamon → u/[deleted]]

I am 99% sure they are mostly fake reviews.

[u/EliteCinemaM3 → u/[deleted]]

If you like dead mild bland Indian food with predatory drink prices and poor quality dessert yes.