Ashoka Indian Restaurant - Miami — Restaurant in Doral

This is by far one of the most disappointing food experiences as far as Indian cuisine is concerned. None of the items on the menu are what they should be. Kerala beef fry had no taste of kerala ( the bare minimum of ingredients you expect in a mallu dish are mustard seeds and curry leaves. It had only one flavor : cumin. No fennel, no mustard seeds, no curry leaves. I’m surprised they atleast had beef in that dish. Other than that there was NOTHING that made it even remotely be associated with kerala beef fry). Super bland tandoori chicken ( and we made the gross mistake of ordering a whole chicken. Nobody wanted to finish it coz it was that tasteless). Chettinadu chicken again had no signature flavors that make it chettinadu. It looked like butter chicken and tasted like butter chicken without the sugar and far less tasty. Kadhai chicken again missed the signature ingredients of ginger and coriander seeds. Kottayam fish curry was such a joke. Anybody who claims to know what kottayam fish curry is would know about the first thing about its consistency/texture. They should relabel it as goan fish curry coz that’s what it REMOTELY tasted like. Again no flavors. No aroma in any dish that we ordered. You don’t need to be a chef/culinary expert/foodie to know these basic things. Every Indian dish has certain flavors / signature ingredients that make it what it is otherwise they would all taste the same. The naans were terrible. The frozen grocery store ones are better than what they served.

Usually what one lacks in taste/food one makes up in service. Not this place. It was not at all crowded ( Saturday night ), may be 5-10% of its capacity was full. Yet the waiters ( I believe there were 4 people on staff ) were super slow. Our every request ( cold water/ salt etc) would take 5-10 mins to be addressed. However, that was still something I can get past as I’m very patient. But the waiter ( don’t know his name, but he seemed to be the oldest one there) didn’t have the best attitude. Even while taking the order any small customisation request felt like an argument ( I requested if a certain dish that’s served very dry could not be so dry so it’s easier to swallow. If he “can request the chef to try and make it a tad bit moist if possible. If not that’s okay too”. He could have said yes let me check with the chef but no it was a long rant to say no. I didn’t give up ( given his bad attitude) and eventually he did say he said he will talk to the chef. After tasting the food we were all disappointed ( even though we were starving) and ate only 20-30% of each of our respective orders and he asked how was the food and I very politely told him “ it’s lacking flavors, may be the ingredients are not very fresh “ and he went on to rant about how everyone in the restaurant is happy and they have good reviews on google. I explained that I answered his question on HOW I LIKED the food and that it’s not on him but he won’t budge and would drag out the conversation. When we asked him to bring to-go boxes for our barely eaten food( which is now my property coz I bought it from them)to giveaway to a homeless guy. He asked me why am I packing it if I didn’t like. Talk about hospitality/service! First I pay you for a terrible food and service then I have to be dragged into a whole conversation about why your food sucks and then when I take the stuff I bought from you you have the audacity to ask me why am I taking it with me? Don’t understand what was worse the food or the service /hospitality. No reason to go back there ever again and never recommending it to anyone.

The only thing I liked about this restaurant was the decor. It wasn’t as tacky as most Indian restaurants are with their orange /red color schemes. I liked all the faux plant decor. The bathrooms were nice and clean. I appreciated that this restaurant had a distinct aroma of incense rather than the typical Indian spices. Then again, given that their food was just as bland, it makes sense that the air was devoid of any vibrant...

A Culinary Masterpiece in Miami: Ashoka – Where Flavors and Emotions Collide

Last night, our family gathered at Ashoka in Miami to celebrate my brother-in-law John’s birthday. We were a party of 13, and though managing a group of that size could be daunting for most restaurants, Ashoka welcomed us with warmth and grace, treating us not just as guests but as family. What followed was not just a meal but an unforgettable journey of flavors, memories, and emotion that left us all teary-eyed—not from the spices, but from sheer joy.

The moment we walked in, the ambiance enveloped us like a comforting hug. Warm golden lights reflected off intricately carved wooden panels, and the faint melody of a sitar played softly in the background. Every detail of the décor whispered authenticity and care, setting the stage for a night we would never forget.

Then came the food—oh, the food. It’s hard to find words grand enough to describe the feast that Ashoka laid before us. The appetizers alone were enough to bring tears to our eyes. The crispy samosas with their flaky crusts and perfectly spiced fillings were like a love letter from the chef. The tandoori platter, sizzling as it arrived, was a celebration of charred perfection, each bite of chicken, lamb, and paneer melting in our mouths.

When the main courses arrived, we knew we were in for something extraordinary. The butter chicken was so velvety, so rich, it felt like a warm embrace. The lamb vindaloo, with its fiery spice and tender chunks of meat, was a thrilling symphony of heat and flavor. The dal makhani, slow-cooked to creamy perfection, was the unsung hero of the evening—simple yet soul-stirring. And the naan—garlic, butter, and plain—was pillowy and warm, a vessel to scoop up every last drop of sauce on our plates.

For John’s birthday, Ashoka surprised us with a dessert spread that felt like a crescendo to an already breathtaking symphony. The gulab jamun, soft and syrupy, tasted like childhood nostalgia. The mango kulfi was so refreshing it felt like a sweet sigh of relief after the rich meal.

But what truly set Ashoka apart wasn’t just the food—it was the love and care infused into every moment. The staff, attentive without being intrusive, went out of their way to make John feel celebrated. At the end of the night, they brought out a cake for him, accompanied by traditional Indian drums and a heartfelt chorus of “Happy Birthday” that had us all clapping, laughing, and yes, crying.

Ashoka isn’t just a restaurant—it’s an experience, a reminder of the power of food to bring people together, to create memories that last a lifetime. If you’re in Miami and haven’t been yet, go. Go with family, with friends, or even alone. Go hungry, and prepare to leave with a full stomach and a fuller heart.

Thank you, Ashoka, for making John’s birthday a celebration of love, family, and the very best of Indian cuisine. You didn’t just serve us a meal—you gave us a night...

Good food, but misleading and somewhat predatory service experience.

We came to the restaurant for dinner as a party of 7. We were greeted by a friendly waiter, Jay. It took a while but our appetizers order was finally taken. Jay suggested/asserted some appetizers for the group. It was taking a while for us to get appetizers, and we were really hungry, so we asked to order mains after waiting for about 20 mins without being approached. Jay told us he can’t let us order mains until we eat appetizers. We agreed thinking they want to encourage us to have a relaxing dining experience though we were quite hungry. Finally appetizers came and they were quite good. When we ordering mains until dishes, Jay kept pausing the orders and telling what he will bring for a person instead. We thought he was being friendly by suggesting things he thought we would like. The main dishes were good, though our plates were almost never cleared until we asked. Finally after we ate the food, Jay came around asking if we wanted dessert. We all said we were too full and didn’t want any, we clearly stated we didn’t want dessert. Jay said he can’t let us leave without dessert, and left. He brought back dessert that we enjoyed, and we thought it was complements of the house since we had a big order. When we went to pay we discovered we were being charged for dessert we were forced to get, and had a mandatory 18 percent gratuity for the group.

Though the food was good, I would not go back or recommend the place, unless you would like to be told by waiters what to order and be charged for things you are...