Taj Mahal

2013 best in Pittsburgh places to eat… not anymore. I knew the moment I walk in, I stood there for about 5 minutes before a young guy came over and acknowledged me. He pointed over to a two seater and told me, «sit over there.» The table was dirty. I sat at the table for 10 minutes until I had to wave down a server to take my order. Once my order was placed I was given crackers. After taking the first bite I realized little human hairs baked into the crackers. When I pointed out to the waiter that there were hairs in the crackers he proceeded to do his own investigation of the hairs at my table. No apologies. I should of left. It was late I was tired and hungry. The water was tap, no ice and in a dirty glass. Exactly one hour after I arrived I was still waiting to eat. I couldn’t take it. I got up and left. This was a slow Wednesday night. Biggest disappointment. Disgusting place. And lazy people.

Delicious food, Many varieties, Friendly staff and very economical. By far the best in Pittsburgh. I would strongly recommend this Indian restaurant.

Outstanding food! I have always ordered takeout but the dinner buffet looks good and there is always a good crowd. Some of the best Indian food I have had.

I came to this place several times and every time I come the food they bring taste and look like leftovers. Not coming back never ever again

Food quality is very good weather its the buffet or your ordering food.
They have alot of vegetarian/​vegan options which is very great! They have meat too .
They also have spicy options so everyone in my group felt accommodated.
I was very full after eating here and I felt healthy after eating here its all veggies and beans it was very filling and satisfying.
They have a good location near the mall so you can eat and then shop off the gain or you can shop to build an appetite and then eat. They have a lot for parking so thats nice. only con is that the location is small so you will feel crowded if its busy. and the buffet hours are brief
I recommend to all my friends, and I’ll def be coming back

Best place to get authentic Indian food in the North Hills area! I’ve been here on multiple occassions and ordered a variety of different lamb and goat dishes and more, and they were all excellent. The menu selection is huge. I have yet to have their lunch buffet, but I hear good things!

Being an Indian, I mostly find it difficult to appreciate Indian food here. I always find Indian food here too greasy and buttery. That being said, Taj mahal is one of the better places in Pittsburgh for Indian food. I had the dinner buffet, which has a huge variety of items, and is very economical.

Food is ok. But service is terrible. Our table was wobbling and when asked to fix it or replace it the response lil weird as in there was nothing wrong.
We were not even introduced with the names of our servers so I am not sure with the names but surely they were not very helpful.
We end up in ordering some extra breads which was apparently funny for one of our waiter. After 3 – 4 times asking the same thing about breads, Joke wasn’t funny honey.
I would have appreciated more professionalism.
Overall my experience was not very good and felt more bad as It was a day of celebration turned out to be a disaster.

Loved it here! Recommended by some friends on the north side. This place has a weekend buffet from 7 – 9 and it is very busy!
We went here one Saturday afternoon. We thought they’d have a buffet but they didn’t so we decided not to go there but while in the parking lot changed our mind and went back inside.
After looking over the menu we chose the non-​vegetarian platter and chicken vindaloo which was plenty for two to share. The platter came with so much food it was enough to make two meals. *check picture*
I don’t remember everything that was on it but it all tasted great! It was hot, fresh and delicious. Our waitress was very kind and accommodating convincing my husband to buy two beers instead of sticking to water. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone who is an Indian lover.

We have tried several Indian restaurants in Pittsburgh. This buffet and everything we have ever ordered off the menu is by far the best!
In addition to fantastic fresh food, the service is always delightfully friendly.
Never want to go anywhere else!

This place gets pretty packed. The Indian food was okay. I’ve been to other restaurants with more options, particularly for vegetable, appetizers, and dessert dishes. The spices and flavours are not as strong as what I’m used too. I agree with others that this is definitely «American Indian» food rather than authentic, and I absolutely love authentic Indian food. This place does have a lot of meat options though. The restaurant gets really busy so make reservations.

I am not a fan of Indian food. However, this place was actually really good! The buffet had a ton of choices. Tons of vegetarian options. Everything was fresh and really tasty! My only complaint is that they never refilled our drinks.

This is one of my favorite Indian restaurants. They have a variety of vegetarian and vegan choices, as well as many meat dishes.
You can easily drive past this place unless you know where it is (Right beyond Mad Mex and a Mattress store as you drive south on McKnight Road – before Ross Park Mall). They have a parking lot that fills up on weekend evenings, but you can park nearby without a problem.
I love the owners of this restaurant. They are charming and very pleasant. They visit the tables and make sure guests are happy. The waiters/​waitresses are mostly attentive and friendly. We’ve had a few problems with not getting food we ordered or getting the wrong food. I chalk this up to the fact that the place is usually busy and little mistakes happen. They are quick and willing to correct mistakes.
There is a buffet that most people seem to opt for. I see people making multiple trips with plates piled with their fragrant, steaming choices. The aroma makes my mouth water! Smells so delicious! We typically order from the menu because I’m a big fan of leftovers, which (like all places) you can’t take if you visit the buffet.
During our last visit, the three of us – without discussion with each other – all ordered the chicken tikka masala. Something must have inspired us (the aroma of someone else’s food?) and it turned out to be a great choice. The sauce was creamy with the perfect amount of spices. Not too overwhelming, not at all bland. Our friend who accompanied us is 2^nd generation Indian and she gives it her hearty approval. She has dinner here with her parents fairly often. The nan was warm and tender – great for scooping up those last bits of sauce.
Rather than eating at the many chain restaurants nearby, this is great choice for authentic Indian food. The service is prompt and the food is delicious. We always leave happy.

This was the best Indian buffet that I’ve been to. I’ve passed this restaurant so many times being from Pittsburgh but never gave it a try. Now after one visit, coming back to my home in VA I miss it so much! Other Indian buffets that I’ve tried just don’t compare. The size is larger and the taste is authentic. Service was great and servers were kind. Inside is not that large though. But still, I can’t wait to return!

Not sure if I ate at the same place as all of the other reviewers or maybe I went on an off day (Was at the Buffet on Monday around 3:00) but the food here was just not great.
The chicken curry was decent, nice flavor but the chicken was a little dry.
The tandoori chicken again had good flavor but was extremely dry.
Goat curry was not bad.
I forget the name of the spicy chicken that was out but it was not spicy at all.
Both of the rices that were out were under cooked.
The Nann was super dry and very crunchy. We asked for fresh and they did bring a basket to the table so that was a plus.
The Gulab Jamun was also good.
Overall it was just decent, not great. The place was clean and the server/​host was nice. The food could use some work. Maybe I will give it another try just to see if I was there at a bad time.

The BEST Indian Food and Buffet in Pittsburgh area (still Udipi is my favorite). They have so much variety with very expensive Vegetables like cheese cubes, okra, Malai Kofta, Korma, Egg Plant, Green beans and Goat/​Lamb curry. The Buffet price is reasonable as well. The best part is that if you don’t like the Naan Bread which they keep in Buffet, You can request for Garlic Naan and they DO NOT charge for it and you get Fresh and Hot Naan Bread (of course I add the price in Tip). I have visted this place many times and see the place is busy every time. The owner lady is very friendly and takes care of customers. I love Palak Paneer and Veg samosas. The mango Drink (not in Buffet) is the Best, other Restaurants offer very thin watery Lassi. Gulab Jamun (Dessert) are Huge and very fresh. They have daily Lunch Buffet and Dinner Buffet on Monday/​Thursday and Saturday. I used to like Tamarind in Cranberry, which is near to my House, but I wont mind driving 10 Miles to Taj Mahal for wide variety and fresh curries and desserts for $ 15 Buffet. Keep it Up… Mark

My five stars are for their weekend lunch buffet. So I am a critical eater when it comes to Indian food, especially in the states. I think in general there tend to be many places that have what I’d call «American Indian» food, and this is great and all, but I’m a fan of authenticity. This place has both authentic food from multiple regions across the country, but also does them really, really well. I don’t know if they ever have a menu, but I strongly encourage you to take a culinary tour of India with Taj Mahal.
The best thing I tried was the okra — I’m not always a fan of this veggie, and they had two different options, one with eggplant, and one solo but with lots of spice. Both were excellent. The naan was warm, fresh, and buttery. My dinner companions tried the goat curry and were raving about it! The chicken options were all very good. To top it all off, we ordered masala chai, which is EXCELLENT here! Do yourself a favor and get some chai!
If you are adventurous, they offer relatively mildly spiced options in many different styles. They would be a great place to take a vegetarian or vegan friend, too, since they are primarily vegetarian with vegan options. Bring a huge appetite, because they do not disappoint with quantity, and come on, it’s a buffet!
Two huge thumbs up for the great job they do here! Worth the trip!

I come here all the time for my lunch hour. Today I have a horrendous sinus infection causing me to cough continuously. The table busser noticed and brought me a dish of lemons to help sooth my coughing. I love this place!

My hubby swears by this place. He absolutely loves it. I wish I could eat spicier things but, alas, I cannot. The buffet is wonderful though and the smells of the spices filling the air… smells amazing!

Love their buffet! All the food is really excellent. Big fan of the naan, spinach, potato, and chickpea dishes. (Yes common ingredients in a variety of dishes, but any combination always tastes really good!) The rice is a delicious compliment to all of the above. Lots of options for vegetarians and meat eaters. If you have a tree-​nut allergy I’d probably steer clear as some of the dishes have creamed tree nuts (cashew) in them.

Delicious food at moderate prices. I don’t go to Taj Mahal often enough. I took my mom to Taj Mahal to warm up on a cold evening. We had a delicious dinner of Lamb Vindaloo and Chicken Tiki Masala. The naan was delicious and well made. The portions were very generous, and while the service was somewhat awkward, they were very nice. They ask how spicy you prefer your food (important with older moms in tow), and it was prepared perfectly. It was obvious that the staff knew several of the repeat customers. Honestly, this is the best Indian food in Pittsburgh. I need to remember this when I can’t decide where to eat!

This is probably my favorite Indian restaurant in town. I went for the lunch buffet. They had a huge selection for a weekday buffet. Their food was all so delicious. It wasn’t overly spicy. It was very mild and perfect for me. I think my favorite thing there was the goat curry! I definitely suggest trying this place ASAP!

This is my absolute favorite place to get Indian Food! I have tried many Indian restaurants in Pittsburgh but this is by far my favorite one! The buffet is awesome during lunch time and offers so many different things. Coming for dinner is always delicious as well. The mango chicken curry is one of my favorites and the naan bread is always soooo good!

The food is excellent. The menu is quite extensive with a variety of options and traditional Indian fare. However, the service is not the quickest and it wouldn’t hurt them to have a few extra employees working during peak dinner hours. Nonetheless, if you have the time to stop in and enjoy a meal it’s definitely worth the wait or call ahead and order take out.

This place is so good, it’s scary. I mean all you can eat Indian buffet. The food is also really good, and hot. The desserts are also insanely delicious. Don’t go to the mall food court, come here!

Quite possibly the best Indian buffet in the Pittsburgh area. It’s a bit far out but it’s worth the drive. The space is large, bright, and pretty clean, while the service was very welcoming. In terms of food, the selection is huge and everything is delicious. They have multiple chicken trays, a bomb goat curry, rice and noodles, as well as a number of vegetable curries and dishes. I think it’s quite possible to get full before getting to try everything. Not to mention the fresh naan that they bring over to your table and the large choice of desserts. It is definitely a great value for the price of the dinner buffet.

I’ve been to the buffet many times, as it’s one of my dad’s favorite places so we go each time he comes to town.
The food at the Taj is tasty, but it’s extremely unhealthy ~ often swimming in butter/​grease. Not only that, but the spiciness of the dishes is often inconsistent from visit to visit. I assume this has to do with different cooks on different days.
That said, the variety on the buffet is great and recently we have seen some new and interesting vegetable dishes added to the mix. I would absolutely love to see samosa on the buffet more often. It’s rare and they’re small, but it’s like Christmas for my mouth when I see them.
Because of the greasiness and inconsistency, I don’t really order off the menu, as I assume it would be much of the same and more expensive. I got the vegetarian thali platter once and it was OK, but I could tell they took items from the buffet and put them on my plate.
If I had one wish, I would love to see the food at the Taj become a healthier.

Awesome lunch buffet place with lots of options. There was plenty of vegetarian and some vegan dishes as well as the usual meat dishes like chicken marsala and tandori chicken. Everything very delicious.
I’m normally not a big fan of Indian cuisine so I can’t tell you whether its authentic or not but who cares; the food was good! Food wasn’t too spicy but had nice heat.
The owner lady was a real sweetheart. She made sure we were well taken care of there. There’s very few places to get ethnic foods in Pittsburgh and this place is a gem.

Best Indian lunch buffet I’ve ever had. They don’t cut corners or put out boring dishes just because it’s a buffet.

Awesome authentic Indian food! Great buffet! Never looked at the menu and I don’t think I ever will! Great service! They always keep the water coming for the spicy food! Just good stuff on the NE side of Pittsburgh!

This is the best Indian buffet that I had in Pittsburgh. I came here with a friend on Saturday during lunch. The parking lot is pretty small and spaces are pretty limited. We were seated and you were able to grab food right away. I really enjoyed the variety they had available. I tried almost everything including the lamb curry which I enjoyed. The selection ranged from vegan food to chicken and lamb. I also like the dessert that they had, especially the one with rice and a sweet white paste. I would definitely recommend this place during their lunch buffet which was $ 10.99

Writing all these reviews has made me realize how much we go out to eat! Nothing bad to say about Taj Mahal. Great food, great service and the mango lassi here is the best one around in my opinion. Nope, nothing bad to say about it.

Cast aside any fear you may have of Indian cuisine and get to this place! The buffet is the freshest, most appetizing array of eastern delicacies you will find in Pgh!
The service is terrific, the atmosphere calm and pleasant and overall very clean!
I love this food so much, I now crave it!
Wish I lived closer, they would know me by name.

My boyfriend and I came to Taj Mahal on a Saturday night for dinner per the suggestion of a Unilocaler from Pittsburgh and we were not disappointed. Taj Mahal was definitely the best Indian food that I have ever had.
The manager greeted us a few minutes after we sat down and asked us «What do you like and are you vegetarian?» before providing his suggestions. We followed all of his suggestions and thoroughly enjoyed our meal.
For an appetizer, we had the non-​Veg platter which was a platter of chicken strips, shrimp, a Samosa and lamb. The samosa (filled with meat and not just veggies like I am used to) was the best of the platter to me. I thought that this platter was good but could do without it next time.
For entrees, we had the Chicken Tikka Masala and the Manager’s Special: Shrimp in a yellow peanut and almond sauce. Both were delicious! I have had the Chicken Tikka Masala a hundred times and always found it to be too tomato sauce-​y for me however this version was much more creamy and tasted similar to a curry. I loved it! I was a little skeptical about how exactly shrimp in a peanut and almond sauce would taste but it was soo good! I would order again and again. We also ordered a side of Garlic Naan that tasted great dipped in the sauces of our entrees.
Overall this Indian food was delicious and the beat meal that I had in Pittsburgh. Go with the Manager’s suggestions and you won’t be disappointed.

I’ve recently discovered my love for Indian food and I am on a mission to try all the Indian restaurants in the area. This one is down the street from where I live so it was next on my list.
First off the service was absolutely amazing. The gentleman there pulled out my chair for me when he stated us, was very attentive, and all around did an amazing job.
The menu is huge! Seriously so many options for each course! We started out with the vegetarian fried sampler. This had a good mix of options but I was most excited to try the fried cottage cheese. It seems super weird but it was actually pretty good! It’s an odd texture but I would get it again.
I had been craving chicken tikka masala ever since I first had it, so I had to try it here for my main course. The food came out in about 20 minutes in these cool boat things that had a candle under the plate with the food in it so it kept it warm. I loved that, never seen it before so I thought it was an awesome touch! My food was super creamy and flavorful. I had the spice at a level 6 and it was just enough spice. I would order this again in a heartbeat!
I love that this is super close to me and on my way home. I am sure I will order from here again sometime soon!