Taj Express

This is some of the best tasting Indian food in the area. The problem is that at the price point the portions need to be bigger. I always appreciate getting some left overs from my Indian meal. But when we order food from here there it is more of a lunch portion and is barely enough to satisfy the meal. Each dish comes in a small round container, which I think is really designed for soup. Then the rice portion is pretty meager also.
Shame, because their food is very tasty and more of the Northern Indian style which I like and similar to the UK. I much prefer this type of food to the Southern Indian cuisine which most of the Indian restaurants in the WestEnd provide.
I would like to see them either lower the price to match the portion provided or just supply a little more food in a larger container. If so, we would order food from here much more often.

I had a disappointing experience at Taj Express.
I was in the area around lunchtime and found Taj Express on Unilocal.It had a 4 star rating, based on 14 reviews.
When I walked in the door there was an older woman who appeared to be associated with the restaurant sitting at a table staring out the window, but nobody else in sight. I walked to the counter, stood for a bit, then sat down at a table. I could see a man in the kitchen, and he noticed me a couple times, but remained in the kitchen. Finally the older woman got up and handed me a menu, then sat back down. I thanked her but it was apparent that she did not speak English, which is not normally much of a problem for me anyway.
I spent several minutes looking over the extensive menu (or so it seemed), and finally sat the menu down and began looking in the kitchen again. Eventually a man comes out and stands at the counter, so I stand up and go to the counter to order (evidently there is no table service)
First, I asked for an order of vegetable samosas, but the man mumbled something back. I wasn’t sure what he said, so I again asked for vegetable samosas but this time he said «no, vegetable pakora» and pointed to the menu. I took this to understand that he did not have vegetable samosas. OK, whatever, I ordered the pakoras. Then I ordered my main course, the Eggplant Bharta. He replied that he does not have it (it was on the menu). After looking at the menu again I asked if he had Chicken Korma, and he said that he did, so I told him I’d like that.
About 10 minutes later the older woman brought both dishes out at the same time, which is rather annoying since one was ordered as an appetizer. There was no silverware on the table, so I motioned to the woman that I needed a fork. She returned with a flimsy plastic spoon, and walked away. I stood up to go see if I could find a fork, and at this point she noticed what I was doing and went to the kitchen. She returned with a metal fork.
After I ate I went back to the counter to pay. The man from earlier, who seemed to be in charge, told me how much it was, and I paid in cash (as I try to do at small family owned restaurants). After paying I told the man «thank you», but he just turned around and walked back into the kitchen without acknowledging that I said anything at all.
The vegetable pakora was hard, not great, but not bad either. The chicken korma was actually pretty good. I imagine this place has positive reviews based on take-​out, because the dine-​in experience is rather dismal. I won’t be returning.

Taj Express is some of the tastiest Indian cuisine I have ever had. Everything is fresh and prepared when you order it. The staff is very friendly and willing to help suggest some of the finer dishes.
Curry chicken and garlic non is some of the best around. All the appetizers and sauces are fantastic. Garlic Chicken is fantastic and they keep your glass filled with water.
I can’t say enough good about this restaurant, you have to try it for yourself. Everything is good! Do yourself a favor and try it!

Since moving here from Philadelphia I have been searching for a good Indian restaurant and this place is definitely worth it! Very good and tasty Indian cuisine. I had the vegetable samosa, Chicken Vindaloo and chicken tikka masala. I’m giving it only 4 stars because the chicken tikka masala that I ordered was not the tikka masala I’m use to and I don’t think was it, but I ate it anyways and it was delicious. Check this place out!

Does this place need a face lift? When we brought our LivingSocial coupon a month or so ago, the shabbiness put us off. The food is great! IMO the negative reviews come from a simple fact that many of us taste first with our eyes. We also had to wait for our food since the owner cooks from scratch and this wasn’t off a steam table.
The goat curry – Indian hot for me – was as good as I’ve had in the USA. The naan breads baked perfectly and the the renditions of Eggplant Bharta and Saag Paneer were also as good as you can get in Richmond.
I just saw another coupon on Living Social $ 12 for $ 20 to spend on two dinner entrées at any time of day is worth trying.

Used a LivingSocial coupon to check this place out. Absolutely delicious. My first experience with Indian food, and I was looking for something authentic, with a very different flavor profile from the usual American fare. I got exactly that. I got garlic nan, which was perfect, and Lamb Saag, which was a delightful, sour, spicy dish which accentuated the natural flavor of the lamb. My husband got the goat curry, which was phenomenal. The waitress was very friendly and helpful. It is a very small place, so there is sometimes a bit of a wait for service, as she is all alone — but we didn’t mind that (and it wasn’t that long). It’s true that we were given plastic utensils, which was a bit odd. I suppose with just the two people working there, the time that’s saved in not having to wash many utensils is worth it — no big deal. It’s also true that the prices for entrees were on the high side — but so was the quality. And the prices for sides and appetizers were low. The food is amazing — you get what you pay for. We didn’t leave with leftovers beyond a few pieces of nan, but we were stuffed and very happy.

I went once, and had chicken vindaloo. The food was very good, but the problem here is that it is over-​priced. My dish, and their other curry-​type dishes, are 12.99, and that does not even include naan. The Indian place right next door to Taj charges 2.00 less and includes naan. Bottom line, Taj needs to lower the price, or increase the amount of food.

Awesome food! Reminds me of my Indian friend’s mother’s cooking. Lots of spices and flavor, but not hot spicy, just tasty spicy.
No atmosphere whatsoever but really who cares. Owner/​chef barely speaks to you and yes, you eat off paper plates and with plastic silverware; the TV blaring some really cheesy indian melodrama doesn’t help the atmosphere, and the food does take a while (but really? The man is cooking it back there after you order it…) but did I already mention how great the food is?. Chicken tikka masala was outstanding. Do yourself a favor and stop by– take out if you don’t want the downscale dining «experience» ;)

I ordered the chicken tikka masala and the butter chicken both of which were very good but my favorite was the butter chicken with the garlic naan. This would be my go to place for butter chicken and naan when I’m Craving indian my only gripe would be the price/​portion ratio it’s a fairly small portion for almost 13 dollars I’m talking comparable to lunch portion wonton soup size (half quart) but other than that the flavors are on point.

The food was actually very good, and having gone on multiple business trips to India, it seemed pretty authentic to me. The sweet corn soup was awesome, and the chicken tikka masala was very good. The mushroom bhaji was okay, and the garlic naan was good. The reason for a lower rating is the restaurant just isn’t very nice. I can get past the lack of aesthetics, but eating soup with a plastic spoon, the meal off paper plates, and the very slow service was all negative. My recommendation would be to order take out. The food is good enough to enjoy at home, and that way you wouldn’t have to eat there.

I’m not Indian so I can’t speak to the authenticity, but the food here was really good! I had a rice bowl with lamb and korma masala. plenty to eat at a decent price without feeling too heavy. naan was warm and tasty. food was ready fairly quickly but not as «express» as fast food. plain, no frills set up and décor, but the food and prices will bring us back.

The guy here serves people with passion for his cooking as well as the love for the food… awesome place to eat out… especially authentic n ethnic Indian cuisine…

Amazingly inexpensive Indian food. Very authentic and flavorful. The staff was very nice. The atmosphere is not the best but it was very clean and tidy. You can tell management is putting their money into the food. Wasn’t crazy about the fact that the food was on styrofoam plates — seems like a waste of resources but at the same time it made you feel like you were at a picnic with extended family. Definitely worth it and I’ll be back!

After living in Richmond for close to 3 years and being from South india — I will say the food at Taj Express is one of the tastiest North Indian food I have had in some time. Indian food can be heavy but I surprisingly felt light after having a full meal of thali (meal with sides including rice, naan and sweet). The best item was paneer tikka with almonds in it. Yum! The naan was also fresh and tasty.
The dining experience is ok because it’s small and feels a little cramped. But there was a warmth that you feel with the owners and host that makes up for that.

Best indian food in Richmond. Best North Indian food in have had in a long time, and I eat indian often. Every menu item is good, paneer ad naan seem to be made in house. They also have a lunch and dinner thali. I highly recommend, much better than any other indian place in the area.