Annapoorna

Food was good, so was the service. Nice ambience though. Will definitely visit them again.

This place is usually a 4.5 star for me and but I have recommended this place to others in the past.
But after today’s service I don’t think I would visit this place again and at a restaurant service is important otherwise I could go to other Indian restaurants.
I asked for one drink and later when I asked for a refill, the server brought it in a different glass. By then the check was already brought to our table too and when the person picking up the check saw two cups instead of one he basically picked up the check and went and changed it to two drinks. When I asked him about it he goes oh someone put two drinks!
I don’t really care for the price, it’s more about the kind of service you provide to your customers. I left more than enough in tip just to show you that it’s not about the price or I don’t wanna pay it but to let you know that it’s not the right service.
Won’t be coming back

Found another pretty good place for Indian buffet. This place get busy at lunch so it’s always good to arrive slightly early. The service is pretty efficient, plates are cleared and water refilled in a timely manner. They have a pretty decent selection — pakora, samosas, spring rolls, aloo gobi, Saag, chicken tikka masala, curries, chicken biryani, gulab jamun etc. They also serve naan and you can ask for plain dosa. I do wish that the food comes in smaller chunks so it’s easier to sample without feeling sooo full. Very reasonable price for the selection, taste and quality.

We were in the mood and craving Indian and so we stopped by to partake in their lunch buffet.
Food was good; there was a great variety of dishes and the staff was quick to constantly refill our naan and dosas!
There was a slight wait for the table but in general the service was fast and friendly and we satisfied our Indian fix.
Keep in mind that the restauran is on the other side of the shopping center facing Walnut and not Culver.

Food is quite average when compared to other similarly priced lunch buffet options in the area. My main gripe with the place is that it’s overcrowded and quite small and definitely not worth the extra 10 – 15 mins you have to wait in line. To make matters worse it was raining the time I went and there is not a good arrangement outside for waiting.
Another strange but unfortunate thing I found was that it’s South Indian cuisine are really bad. Idli was brittle and bland. Also they don’t offer Dosas but you have to ask for it. And when we did, they seemed unprepared and actually cooked it in a containing with fish oil. That made the dosas taste really bad.
Never going back again and will advice people to avoid if they can. I have noticed this Indian restaurant has quite hype around it which it really doesn’t deserve.

This is good place for Indian cuisine
Good value for the money
Their buffet is quiet good. My kids like their spring rolls very much.

Love these restaurant, Delicious, incredible service, highly recommend. Indian cuisine, with a great variety of menu dishes.

I would recommend this place only for the buffet. This seems to be their best selling point and the food shows the care.
If you are looking for items on a la carte menu, I would not go here.
Apparently, a crisp burnt tortilla is a tandoori roti to these guys, let alone pay $ 3 for one. If I want to burn my food I prefer to do it myself, and for free!

Its been awhile since I had indian food, I don’t have a lot of friends who like indian so its tough to go on your own. Order the potato dosa, garlic nann, goat curry, and the okra. Everything was well season but the okra did need a little more salt to bring out the flavor. All in all it was a good meal and it reheat well the next day. I think my favorite dish was the dosa, it had a good crunch and paired well with the various chutneys.

This restaurant has gone down and down and down to the bottom of the barrel… ordered chili chicken and they gave me bone in chili chicken SKIN ON … In a weird watery gravy … I know what chili chicken is and how its made… I was so disgusted threw away the whole order and Did not order from them again … For a good 6 months
Today thought of them giving them another try… Ordered chili paneer … Money down the drain … Again … 4 super big pieces of paneer… No batter not fried again in a watery gravy … With quarter tomatoes … WHO PUTS TOMATOES IN CHILI PANEER … Ridiculous … If you don’t know how to make the stuff stop making it and take it off your menu …
Save an item or two … The food here sucks … They want to make everything but don’t know how to … STOP TRYING!!! I wish i could tell you how disgusted i was by there food !! Not going back … For a long long time at least !!!

They really have to work on their service which gets worse and worse… Unfriendly, chaotic, rude. Don’t let this gem be affected by guys not knowing how to handle customers!!!

Most friends resort to Phở the day after a night of serious raging, but my friends… well, we always crave some Indian food for a good hang over cure. Luckily there’s Annapoorna right across the street from where we live. The restaurant is pretty small so we usually arrive when they open (11AM) for guaranteed seating. If you come later there’s usually a small wait. I’ve never gone here for dinner, their AYCE lunch buffet is the only thing I’ve tried. For those who have never gone to an Indian food buffet in Irvine area, don’t expect a giant selection like Home Town Buffet. There’s only about 10 main dishes to choose from (not including their mini salad bar). The best thing about this place is their garlic naan. Holy moly are they good. I know I shouldn’t be stuffing myself with meat instead of bread, but I really can’t help myself. I love dipping that in their tiki masala sauce.
There is another Indian food buffet on the other side of the plaza (next to Boiling Point), but that place doesn’t compare. There is more seating, but the dishes are much more flavorful at Annapoorna… but, if I had to pick the BEST Indian food buffet in the OC area, it would have to be India Kitchen in Tustin. Of course, most of the time, we end up choosing Annapoorna for the sake of convenience. Nobody is trying to drive to Tustin hung over.
Overall, I give this place an A. Love it, but not the best.

Indian!!!
I love their garlic naan — so flavorful and beautifully crisp. If you’re looking for a fairly decent Indian restaurant in Irvine, Annapoorna is a great pick! I thought the curries had wonderful spice and depth. We ordered the standard — butter chicken/​chicken tikka masala, lamb vindaloo, and the goat curry.
I will say this — I feel like «ethnic» restaurants in Irvine are too pretentious. This is a white linen establishment that serves traditional curry: DO AWAY WITH THE TABLE CLOTHS AND FANCY SILVER, it’s just not believable! It’s okay to eat with your hands even this one time.
Come here for the food and the delicious, unsweetened chai — check your inhibitions at the door.

Took my Mom to Annapoorna and here is her review.
This charming, intimate Indian Cuisine Restaurant tucked in the corner of a shopping center at Culver and Franciscian in Irvine is an outstanding place to have lunch. Not only are their neatly groomed waiters filling water glasses, stocking the bread baskets with crispy flat breads and moving quickly about the restaurant but across from the sumptuous buffet is a small well stocked bar. Very unique, very classy.
Elegant tables are set for diners at this «all you can eat» lunch buffet brimming with crisp fresh salad, interesting and delectable dressings, delicate fried vegetables, and lots of bright orange, yellow, gold and green colored curry stews. A restaurant with beautiful décor, Authentic Indian music and a wonderful welcoming atmosphere will make your lunchtime a special memorable experience.

Upon arrival, I can see that it’s a busy restaurant. I walked in and waited for about 5 minutes before someone greeted me. There’s no hostess stand. You’re pretty much walking on people eating since the tables are near the entrance door. A server came up to me, asked for my name, and told me it’ll be 5 – 10 mins.
After they sat us down, water was given immediately. I noticed the telephone ringing constantly. Sometimes they pick up, and sometimes they don’t. The servers were pretty slow, and under a lot of anxiety. I say this because when my order was taken, I felt rushed. I asked for suggestions, and my server seemed annoyed that I asked. Or more like I wasn’t ready to put in my order.
Food: The curries that came out was ok. The nanny, however, did not live up to my standards. It tasted like day old naan. It didn’t come out hot. Its as it it been sitting there for a while and then it was served to us. The mango lassi was yummy.
Customer service was slow. I asked for the check 3 times until i decided to walk up to their table and ask for the check myself. They also took a long time to give me boxes to go. I can see that this is a popular spot for Indian food, but I don’t think I’ll be coming back here again anytime soon.

I LOVE Indian food. I love Indian food so much I’ve been to India just to have the authentic thing. I also credit it for helping establish the initial bond with my now loving Indian husband.
So, after moving to Irvine and I found this restaurant on Unilocal,we decided to come over for dinner on a Friday night since it’s just a few blocks from our apartment. When we walked in, we weren’t very sure if there was a list to be seated. The place is very small and almost cramped, and because of the good food it’s usually very packed. We waited for like 20 minutes for a table for two and were sat in one of the booths. Being the first time there, we decided on sharing the Butter Chicken with a side of naan. It was a perfect portion for my husband and me. It was creamy and perfectly executed.
Since the first time was such a success, my husband really wanted to try their Saturday buffet. So on the following week, we came over and there was a long wait of about 35 minutes for a table. We waited outside in the sun and were seated half an hour later. The food tasted pretty good, though the samosa I had tasted very odd. I barely was able to eat much since I felt really bloated after eating just a bit of curry and rice. It wasn’t just me since when we got home, my husband was also not feeling very well from the food. Both of us felt terrible for the rest of the day with bad stomach aches. We didn’t even eat that much.
Concerning the service, it’s not the best. I was very confused with who my server was and no one really approached us to ask what we wanted to drink in both of the times I visited.
Overall, I would recommend Annapoorna if you come for dinner and order off the menu. The food is very tasty when it’s fresh. However, I wouldn’t recommend it for the lunch buffet. Just because I got sick, I’m not ready to give it another go.

Came here for the weekend lunch buffet $ 11 and walked out uncomfortably stuffed. The lunch buffet is pretty standard with 5 – 6 different curries, tandori chicken, samosas/​eggrolls, rice/​mango pudding, mixed greens and basmati rice as well as a chicken biryani dish. Garlic naan is also available by the basket.
Nothing memorable. The aloo gobi was a bit bland and had too much potatoes. The samosas were not crisp and the filling was all potatoes mixed with a very strong spice that I am not acquainted to. Avoid if you want to have room to try other things. The lettuce/​salad didn’t look or taste fresh. The chicken tikka masala was decent. Be aware of the small bones in the goat curry. Garlic naan was fresh but lacked the crisp and strong garlic taste that I crave for.
Buffet is starting to become a bad idea now that I can’t eat as much and I don’t have leftovers to take home.

Seems like this place is popular for their lunch buffet. Been here twice for dinner and wasn’t blown away.
*Mushroom masala: very good, creamy and sweet. I usually have the Chicken tikka but the mushroom was a good variation
*Lamb Vindaloo: a little spicy but that was it. I didnt taste any other flavors that caught my attention
*Rice was ok, not as soft and fluffy as it can be
*Garlic naan also wasn’t as soft and warm as other places. Maybe it was made earlier in the day?
Overall, decent but I’ve had better. I’d maybe come back to try their lunch.

I had the buffet lunch here priced at $ 9.99. It was just okay overall. Some items were four stars. But, the majority were three stars.
There was a fairly large assortment of entrees to choose from. The garlic naan was good along with the mint and sweet chutneys. They had a very good coconut chutney that I have not had before. The saag paneer was not good. It was very watered down and the paneer was not that great. They served another type of red and spicy paneer that was just okay was well. The chicken tikka masala had a good, fairly flavorful sauce. But, the chicken was cubed, very dry and flavorless. The chicken tandoori was very good and had that nice, red pungent flavor. The vegetable pakoras were good. The samosas were not very good.
What stood out were the desserts. The rice pudding was excellent. And, the mango pudding was pretty good.
Would I go back? Am I fan? Not really.

All you can eat lunch for $ 9.99? Come to mama! Weekend lunches are a dollar more. Nonetheless, still a great deal.
Charming but very small, Anapoorna seems to be the better Indian go-​to place in Irvine. It has garnered quite a big fan base where an early arrival is required for you to get seated (unless waiting during your limited lunch break is not an issue). I’ve seen a table or two on reserve while we were there so that might be a smart thing to do if you’re with a big party. Call ahead, that is.
Their buffet spread is rather impressive. Lots of vegetarian options which my fave will have to be the VEGETABLE CURRY. There’s just something about the sauce that’s magical and addictive because I couldn’t seem to stop eating it with rice and naan. Oh the GARLIC NAAN! A basket of these is what will greet you on your table, fresh and warm from the oven. Good stuff! Other dishes I enjoyed was the GOAT CURRY and TANDOORI CHICKEN but if I had to pick only one meat dish, it will have to be the CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA. A little heat would be much appreciated but granted the general palate is what they need to cater to, I shall be the understanding patron. After all, the flavor entirety of this dish makes up for it.
Don’t skip on dessert. As my friend, Michael C. says, that was the best part of his meal here and I don’t blame him. The GULAB JAMUN is like a ball of moistened pancake soaked with syrup, while their MANGO PUDDING, you ask? It’s sweet, fruity, and oh so delightful.
I couldn’t resist ordering a glass of MANGO LASSI. For me, it’s always the highlight when eating at Indian restos and theirs did not disappoint. It’s an additional $ 2.95 well-​spent.
There’s nothing to complain about service. In fact, I shall commend the staff for being so systematic. I’m truly stoked Irvine has a good Indian place to be proud of.