Taj Mahal Restaurant — Restaurant in Calgary

After reading a plethora of glowing reviews online, our group decided to treat ourselves to the lunch buffet at Taj Mahal, lured by the prospect of a delightful culinary experience. We were a lively party of three adults and two spirited toddlers, accompanied by two cheerful infants. While the buzzing atmosphere hinted at their bustling popularity — a solid number of nearby office workers seemingly eager for a midday feast — our anticipation soon nose-dived into disappointment.

As the clock struck lunchtime, the hustle and bustle settled us in, ready to savor a smorgasbord of flavors. However, to our dismay, we found that most of the offerings were simply lackluster. While buffets always spark excitement, it was hard to shake the underperformance of the dishes.

The tandoori chicken was a primary culprit of our dissatisfaction; devoid of the rich, aromatic spices we had hoped for. It not only seemed unseasoned, but the sight of a blackish bone added further concern, leaving us to wonder if it was thawed from a previous frozen state. The scorching exterior beckoned, but beneath was a lack of the juicy, flavorful experience typically synonymous with tandoori.

Other items mirrored this mediocrity, falling flat on flavors that would have complemented our festive lunch vibe. The burgeoning excitement around us grew staler with each unfulfilling plate we piled high, making it all too apparent that our expectations had been set quite high by the community reviews that had initially led us there.

Now, I must mention the temperatures—it was noticeably cooler than I expected. While some might find the chilly environment adds to the charm, I couldn’t help but feel my meal was competing with the cold for attention. Unfortunately, my plate lost the battle shortly after hitting the table, and I found myself swooping in on a rather chilled lunch.

Something that  stood out more than the food was our server, who seemed to take on the role of a watchful guardian over our plates.

Every time I filled my plate, I felt her eyes keenly fixed on our meals, almost as if she was monitoring our dining habits. At one point, she questioned my spouse, glancing at his unfinished food ( which he had put away) if anyone was going to finish it before she took it away. It felt a bit like eating at home under the watchful eye of my mom—certainly endearing, but also slightly prying. We felt that this attention was undesired and intrusive.

Needless to say that this place charged our table for the infants too!

Based on our encounter, we left the table hungry for quality and flavor — sadly, the allure of 'the Taj Mahal' turned out to be just a name rather than a reflection of an exceptional or even a decent dining experience.

Save your palate to taste authentic and fresh Indian...

Taj Mahal Restaurant catered two events for our daughter’s wedding week in July and it was amazing. The quality of the food and service was exceptional.

The owners did a sensational job. From start to finish, working with the duo(Naresh Ji and Manu Ji) was an easy process. They listened closely to our wants and needs, communicated often and respected our concerns. The transparency they provided on prices helped us budget for all aspects of our daughter’s wedding. They achieved everything we were hoping for - punctuality, professionalism and great food! It was a stress- free event for my family as they took care of the catering with attention and detail. Truly impressed by their commitment to going the extra mile of the after event clean-up at the Sikh temple.

The food was delicious, bursting with flavours. At the Sikh temple event, Taj Mahal Restaurant gave us some of the best vegan food variety. Some of our guests who were devout carnivores had amazing things to say about the vegan dishes!

For our sangeet event at the community hall, the food was the highlight of the evening. It blew us away with every bite. We received compliments from guests at the event. Our guests particularly enjoyed the goat curry. The classic traditional Indian kheer was a showstopper! Its delicate creaminess taste was inexplicable, just heaven!

Your staff truly did an amazing job. A shoutout to Judy, our bar tender, for the amazing cocktails at our sangeet night. She went above and beyond to make sure all the drink needs were met.

Thank you so much Taj Mahal Restaurant for the excellent job of catering. Your top-notch service and delicious food made our...

If you're looking for the best Indian restaurant in Calgary, you need to check out Taj Mahal Restaurant. We went for their Mother’s Day dinner buffet and had such a memorable experience with the family! While they usually only offer a lunch buffet daily and a dinner buffet on Wednesdays, they had a special buffet for Mother’s Day, and it was incredible!!

We started with a variety of Indian appetizers—the vegetarian pakora and chaat were absolutely delicious and packed with flavor. I also loved the Indo-Chinese options like the Manchurian and honey chilli gobi—crispy, spicy, and so satisfying!

For the main course, I tried the beef curry, which was tender and rich. My mom loved the kheer (Indian rice pudding) for dessert—it was creamy, lightly sweetened, and the perfect way to end the meal.

The nimbu soda (Indian-style lemon soda) and the cold coffee were refreshing and unique—highly recommend trying both!

If you're in Calgary and searching for a highly-rated Indian buffet, this place is a hidden gem. The lunch buffet is just $21 and the dinner buffet is only $25—an amazing value for an all-you-can-eat Indian buffet. It has an amazing selection of vegetarian and meat dishes. The food is always fresh and flavourful.

Taj Mahal Restaurant Calgary is one of the top places to enjoy authentic Indian food. You’ll leave with a full belly and happy taste buds—definitely one of the best Indian food...