Hola Indian Restaurant Jaco — Restaurant in Jacó

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Hola India in Jaco, Costa Rica, and I must say, it was an unforgettable experience. From the moment we made a reservation for our group of 15, the staff displayed an exceptional level of accommodation. Despite the restaurant's smaller size, they expertly arranged the tables to comfortably seat us all together, creating an inviting atmosphere that set the tone for the evening.

The service we received from the waitstaff was nothing short of outstanding. They were attentive, efficient, and incredibly knowledgeable about the menu. Every request, from dietary preferences to recommendations, was met with a smile and a genuine desire to make our dining experience enjoyable.

What truly stood out was how our group, predominantly consisting of Indians from India, found the food at Hola India to be a delightful journey down memory lane. The dishes were hailed as not just delicious, but authentically reminiscent of the homemade creations of their mothers and grandmothers. It's a testament to the authenticity and care that goes into every plate served.

The culinary highlights of our evening were aplenty. The sesame masala fries were an unexpected yet delightful twist on a classic, providing a satisfying crunch and an explosion of flavor. The tomato soup was a comforting start, showcasing the restaurant's attention to detail and commitment to quality ingredients.

The main courses were a symphony of flavors that left everyone at the table in awe. The chicken tikka masala was a perfect blend of tender chicken and a rich, aromatic sauce that had us going back for seconds. The beef seekh kebab and lamb seekh kebab were both succulent and expertly spiced, showcasing the chef's mastery of Indian grilling techniques. The rawat kebab platter was a delightful surprise, showcasing a variety of flavors and textures that pleased every palate.

The machi tikka was a seafood lover's dream, with perfectly cooked fish bathed in a marinade that struck a perfect balance between spicy and tangy. The butter chicken was velvety and indulgent, while the lamb keema sizzler was a delightful medley of flavors and textures.

The shrimp masala showcased the restaurant's ability to handle seafood with finesse, highlighting the natural sweetness of the shrimp against a backdrop of aromatic spices. The kulcha, lamb biryani, garlic naan, and cheese naan were the perfect companions to our meal, each offering a unique twist on familiar favorites.

In summary, Hola India in Jaco, Costa Rica, is a gem that brings the warmth and flavor of authentic Indian cuisine to Central America. The accommodating reservation process, thoughtful table arrangements, impeccable service, and incredibly delicious food made for an unforgettable dining experience. It's a place where culinary enthusiasts and those seeking a taste of home will find themselves equally delighted. I wholeheartedly recommend Hola India to anyone looking for an exceptional dining...

Way too expensive! Period. Hola India can certainly charge whatever they want, and whatever a customer is willing to pay for rather small portions, but I am not sure to what extent they know that their pricing in combination with the small sizes of their portions is limiting their business. The food is good, no complaints about that: most of the things I ate were tasty and except one piece of chicken I had usually of good quality (I ordered via Uber Eats - this review is about their food and pricing not about the restaurant). However, the first time I was surprised to not get more for my bucks, but the second time (with already low expectations) I felt simply betrayed. The rice on the picture is considered to be sufficient for 2-3 people and costs more than 7 USD (¢ 4500). Excuse me?! I have read in their comments to the reviews that the reason for their higher prices are expensive spices that they would import from India, but rice?! Come on, guys. Don’t be foolish! I get the same portion of rice at a Thai restaurant in town for 80 cents! (And don’t argue that the quality of your rice is nine times better than theirs since you charge exactly nine times as much… FYI, the regular price for the depicted meal is 35 USD plus (!) delivery and fees for Uber Eats; the beverages are displayed for a size relation.) Hola India is expensive! Period. And everyone I spoke to mentions this first (the response I got was always: “expensive, but the food is good.”) Anyway, as I have mentioned, they can charge whatever a customer is willing to pay and they think is sufficient to keep their business running; this is just something a customer should bear in mind when going here. Also, you may have a different opinion, and find their pricing justified for Indian food that you don’t find very often at this side of the earth and may even consider outstanding. After all, the food is good (4 stars in my opinion), yet the prices (1 star) and the portions (2 stars) aren’t. Hence 2...

What a nice surprise find in Jaco!! We had an awesome new year eve's dinner at Hola India during a heavy rain storm in Jaco on Dec 31, 2020! We were staying a block away from the outdoor shopping mall. This restaurant is easy to miss as it is located on the back side of the shopping mall. We were fortunate enough to discover it during a walk through the mall earlier in the day. I know Pakistani and North Indian cuisine very well as talked to the guys working in the open kitchen during lunch hour. I could tell just by the sights and smell that this place was genuine and hence decided to try out the place for dinner.

Although it was pouring rain on this past new year's eve and the seating is outdoors, there was enough overhead ceiling that prevented us from getting wet. There were three or four other tables that were occupied and families were visibly enjoying their dinner.

We ordered Lamb Rogan Josh, Daal Tadkha (Yellow Lentils my fav!) and Roti and I must say that the food far exceeded my expectations!! These guys are serving the authentic North Indian cuisine. The portions were big, the Lamb was tender and the sauce was OMG delicious. The Roti was also awesome. Whoever was cooking in the kitchen, knew what she or he was doing!!

We are not vegans, so we didn't look through the entire menu to see if they have options for vegetarians. We didn't try the appetizers but they had a good selection of typical Samosas, Pakoras etc.

Too bad we only discovered the place on last day of our stay in Jaco. If it weren't for that, we would have gone back for lunch the next day!

I know Indian non-vegan cuisine and H I G H L Y recommend this place to the connoisseurs of authentic cuisine.

I would recommend the owner to perhaps put more signage on the main strip (Pastor Diaz) to advertise the place as the sign board right outside the open air shopping mall is...