Raja’s Tandoor

I’ve probably only eaten Indian food twice in my life & this was the second time for me. Food is really tasteless tbh though, but yay for naan! The cucumber yogurt dressing literally just tasted like water down plain yogurt): Probably the last time that I have Indian food though, never been a fan, so semi bias, but honest opinion review? Lol.
Pros:
— Owner is super sweet
— a buffet for only $ 7?! Thats such a steal for broke college students and the location is right across the street from Campus on 3^rd and A street by Sharetea & the Death Star
— Wide selection of food
— Vegan and vegetarian friendly
— Lines go fairly quickly for a buffet
— You can opt out of the buffet & eat from their menu
— Bike parking is available, if you can find it of course
Cons:
— Food is super bland, I really wanted to love the Chicken Masala though):
— Literally no parking here unless you’re lucky
— Packed during lunch = have a friend find a table while you guys rotate to get food

I freaking LOVE Indian food.
The only thing i don’t like is how incredibly heavy and fatty it is.
BUT Raja’s is the solution.
It’s not like the fatty indian food so it tastes different.
If i’m really craving some heavy indian food this won’t hit the spot.
But if i’m craving a flavorful healthy lunch that’s kind to my wallet, this place is great.
Pick and choose what you like, everything’s pretty good.
If you’ve never tried Indian before, Raja’s would be a good first step into the world, but keep in mind that other indian restaurants will be pretty different!
One note, last time I was there, i was picking a spoon out of the utensil tray and between two spoons was some really soggy and wet spinach that i assume was stuck between the two when it went through the dishwasher. It was slightly unappetizing but I got over it and ate my meal normally.

I enjoy coming to this place because of the hospitality and the price! You can’t beat a $ 6 all-​you-​can-​eat buffet especially when you’re a broke college student. Not to mention, the host of this place is the sweetest guy ever.
But in all honesty, this place has it’s flaws. And it if weren’t for the two factors listed above, I wouldn’t come back. The food here is watered down. The Chicken Tikka Masala and the Chicken Curry is so bland it makes me cry. These two dishes are meant to have a thick sauce packed with flavor. But instead these dishes are bland and are drenched in «sauce» that has the consistency of water. The naan can be a hit or miss. If you’re dining from the menu and not from the buffet, I recommend trying the other flavors, such as garlic naan.
My two favorite dishes from the buffet are the Chana Masala and the rice pudding (kheer). Their Chana Masala is one of the only dishes that can satisfy my tastebuds but then again maybe it’s because I have a thing for chickpeas. As for the kheer, the kheer lacks the spice compared to your typical Indian rice pudding however the kheer they serve here reminds me of something I used to eat as a child (LOL). The kheer tastes just like evaporated milk, which I love, so sorry if you end up hating it!
If you find yourself opting out of the buffet and ordering from their menu, the samosas here are pretty good, but it could be better. The tandoori chicken is also not bad. My tandoori chicken came with legs and thighs and I was satisfied with the flavor and of course the price.
As much as I dislike the food here, I do find myself coming back because a $ 6 buffet just can’t be beat. I just wish this place wasn’t catered to western tastes and if you love spicy Indian food then I am sorry this is definitely NOT the place to go. Make sure you get a stamp card when you pay for your buffet (in case you find yourself a regular customer). If you collect enough stamps you can earn yourself a free mango lassi and I believe a free all-​you-​can-​eat meal. This place gets pretty dang busy especially during lunch and dinner hour so obviously people love coming here. To each their own. Enjoy!

$ 7 Indian buffet for lunch and dinner = satisfied customer. The food here is good, and Raja’s is also involved in the Davis community as a host of many fundraisers and caterer for many school events.
My favorite items here are the chicken tikka masala which has nice chunks of meat, the naan which is toasted and seasoned, and the chickpeas with a nice texture and flavor. They also have chicken curry, vegan coconut curry, lentils, fries, and rice pudding which are pretty solid. Samosas are only part of the buffer brunch on Sunday’s. I’d recommend going at lunch when the food is slightly more fresh.
If you’re craving Indian and can eat a lot of it, this is the place to go in Davis!

I’ve heard nothing but good things about this place and I finally got to try it here & I love it. The $ 5.95 buffet is such a great deal & is super good. UGH my mouth is just watering. The food is just wow. & the owner is super nice & sweet. I even wanted to buy one of their T-​Shirts! I just love this place, good deal, great food, lovely owner. This place is always busy but offers both indoor and outdoor seating so its good. Plus it’s super close to campus! Literally on campus actually. I would recommend this place to anyone & everyone.

This is the post-​workout-​bulking place to be at. For way under ten dollars, you get unlimited rice, chicken (tiki masala or curry), naan, veggies, fruits and more! The owner is also immensely sweet and cares about your experience.
Basically, it’s Indian buffet all day long for I believe… 7 dollars? Give or take 1. I mean, that in itself is already amazing.
There’s also indoor AND outdoor seating. I mean wow 2 in 1!
5 cause them gains.

Awesome buffet for $ 6!
If you’re looking for the spicy kicker with lots of oil and intense flavor, this might not be the place.
What we found was delicious, home-​cooked, mild Indian cuisine that allowed for seconds and thirds without feeling guilty. The dal was awesome, so was the coconut soup. The bone-​in chicken tasted fresh and seasoned so well! The raita and chutney were both good too. Yummmmm. It’s advertised as ‘healthy indian food’ and they hold true to it, without sacrificing the quality or taste.
I’d say the only thing that totally disappointed me was the nan. Just eat everything with rice instead. Suggestion to owner — please make chapati or roti instead of the nan, or in addition to the nan since you already have a tandoor in the back. Those breads are even healthier and would taste really good with your food!
The wrap to lunch — Usually I don’t like the super heavy sweet rice dessert, but I actually went for seconds for that too. Thumbs up from me!

Taranbir is the man. I love this establishment with a fiery passion, such that if I could afford it, I would literally eat here for 3 meals a day, all days of the week. The food is consistent, delicious, and healthy. As much as you might be tempted to «get your money’s worth» by devouring chicken, filling up on the chickpeas, veggies, and saag will leave you feeling great for the rest of the day.
Walk in, expect a warm hello and a firm handshake from the man who makes getting by in college just a little bit easier and truly enjoys doing so.

pros
–good food
–nice selection to choose from, with the popular ones constantly in rotation
–accommodating to large groups
–vegan and vegetarian friendly
–owner is very pleasant
–bike parking (if you can find it)
–right across campus
–affordable
cons
–hard to find parking (duh, because it’s Davis)

Stopped in here today while driving home.
While there may be better Indian spots (for example, there is no Tandoori Chicken, biryani, etc), generally speaking, if you need a quick Indian fix you won’t be disappointed.
The gentleman (owner) is *extremely* helpful, nice, attentive, humble, etc. You just wanna hug him.
Several of us ate and were pleased… Tho, one of us later did experience some minor stomach issues. Not exactly why. But wanted to impart this.
Thanks

For the price, fantastic. A $ 6 buffet is every college student’s dream.
I lived next door to this restaurant, and ate here on numerous occasions– at least 40 times over my 5 years in Davis.
The owner is fantastic and kind, however recent recipe changes caused me to write a somewhat negative review. The chicken tikka masala just does not taste good as of my last visit. Five star value meal prior to the change though!

Raja is the finest restaurant owner in the city
A couple years back, my friend was standing in the checkout line in Safeway in south Davis. In walks the man himself, Raja. Upon his entrance, everyone standing in the lines, perhaps some 40 – 50 shoppers, began applauding! Raja, always a man of charm and poise, didn’t even break stride, just smiling, waving, and saying thank you to no one specifically.
Raja: I know the man; now you know the legend
Oh, and yeah, his tandoor is great, too

Amazing and incredibly affordable little buffet right across the street from the South side of campus. Unlike most of the people who posted, I actually adore every single dish they have! But maybe that’s because I don’t like overly salty or spicy stuff.
Everyone else has already described what the food is… and I’m lazy… sorry. Lol.
All but two dishes (which are both chicken?) are vegetarian and most of them are actually vegan! Good news for my lame-​o vegetarian self. I always get at least two heaping plates and leave stuffed and happy. For $ 5.95, you can’t go wrong.
P. S. The owner is SO sweet — he makes my day every time I stop by with his cheerful personality!

Average place.
You get what you pay for, and the price is pretty good. About $ 6 for all you can eat. They say there’s 15 items to choose from but i would say there are less options. Rice was ok. Their spinach dish and i think daal? was very good! Chicken masala should have been their best but i did not like what they had. The curry was thin and there wasnt enough flavor… as well as the chicken being cold. The coconut curry dish was not bad.
They emphasize everything being vegan and healthy which is great, but i would have loved to have some paneer dishes!
They do have drinks, chai tea, and a mango special for an additional charge.
Not bad for a quick cheap fix on your Indian food craving.
Also super close to Davis campus, can bike over there no prob!

I went to the buffet with my friend, and was really excited by the number of vegan options they had.
That excitement was soon to wane off… Their food isn’t really Indian food. It’s just a derivative geared towards western tastes. It’s soo bland. Even the green «spicy» chutney doesn’t help. I guess it’s better to sweeten everything with tamarind sauce?
The reason for my three stars is their fried pakoras… those are delicious and fresh.
Also, the price really is affordable — $ 6 for an all you can eat Indian buffet. For $ 6, you would usually get a single serving meal.
Overall, I would say I wouldn’t come back unless my friends really want to go.

When I came here for the first time, it was just a regular restaurant without any sort of buffet style. Compared to my first time here and my recent visit, the food isn’t as good as back then. I don’t know how to describe it but the flavoring of the food tastes different. I miss their samosas! Samosas are no longer included in their buffet =(It’s what I typically look forward to at the buffet. However, the chicken tikka masala was pretty decent. Overall, Raja’s is a pretty good buffet if you’re looking for something inexpensive and fulfilling. Overpriced campus food or Raja’s that’s right across from Death Star? Mhmm. I say Raja’s!

A co worker recommended this place and it sure didn’t disappoint. Let me start by saying that they actually enjoy their customers here! Very sweet and friendly man that running the place and the food kept coming out got and fresh. I will definitely be coming back again soon

This place was made for broke ass college students. They offer a great deal on an all you can eat buffet. Selection is quite scarce but with what they have, you can get all the necessary things for a decent meal.
Owner is super nice will spark up conversation sometimes. Their naan is tasty too! Only thing that was wrong was when I went for dinner, their chicken masala was clearly not warmed up properly. The chicken was cooked, but the inside was pretty cold.
TLDR
— cheap indian food for bargain price
— enough choices to get you full

It’s $ 5.95 for AYCE. You can’t beat that price anywhere!
It’s a good solid place for college kids, but not the best Indian buffet I’ve been to. The naan was not very fresh or crispy. The curry was more watery than I am used to (maybe it’s because they don’t use butter). It seems very healthy though (no MSG or artificial flavoring) and not too heavy (no butter). Did I mention that it is only $ 5.95?!
You have to pay before you eat though and the owner Raja is very nice. :)

You can’t beat Raja’s for the price. At $ 6 for a buffet and a location right by the UCD campus, you can understand why students rave about it in their Unilocal reviews. Raja’s also makes sure their limited buffet has all the best selling items of an Indian restaurant — Samosas, Chicken Tikka Masala, Mango Laasis — and has options for vegetarians and meat lovers.
The food, however, is very mediocre. It’s Indian fast food, which makes sense at the price. If you’re looking for authenticity or trying to impress a foodie or Indian person, venture further downtown.
That said, Raja’s functions well as a business. They have excellent hiring practices, the owner is very sweet, and the restaurant caters to convenience and students in every way. Those qualities have brought me to the restaurant repeatedly even though I’m not a fan of the food. And again, the price can’t be beat! For less than the cost of a burrito anywhere downtown you’ve got an all you can eat buffet. Go here if you and a good friend are hungry and have a couple of hours to kill before class. If you’re trying to impress someone, try elsewhere.