Namaste Indian Food — Restaurant in Kauai

This is a food truck located on the parking lot of a separate establishment; we hadn't realized this so when we got there for a moment we thought the business had closed or moved until we noticed the truck and three tables next to it. It's a one-man show, or at least it was when we visited in late October 2023, but he's very good at what he does and the wait time was short - although I'm not sure how this works if/when things get busy, hopefully he has help! The food was freshly cooked and tasted rich and very flavorful - it far surpassed our expectations, considering our prior experiences with vegetarian food in Hawaii. In fact, I'd easily rank Namaste's food among the top 5 Indian restaurants I've ever been to, and I've been to many. Furthermore, if you ask for spicy, you WILL get spicy, which we both appreciated. The mango lassis are a bit small but very tasty, packed with fresh mango chunks. My partner and I got two vegetarian dishes (which came in to-go boxes with rice), two lassis, and an order of naan. The total was $79 - a bit steep for a food truck anywhere else, but not in Hawaii. I'm taking a star off not because of the price per se - again, the delicious vegetarian food was totally worth it for us at the moment - but because the way the payment was handled felt a bit fishy. There were no price lists anywhere on site (the ones online do not reflect what you will be charged), and the owner wouldn't tell us how much we owed until we had finished our food - presumably because he was busy helping other customers. In any case, had the owner handled this in a straightforward manner, it would have been a 5-star experience. I'm only posting this review in the hope of helping him reconsider: Namaste has a great potential - a talented chef with flavorful recipes in a place that desperately needs them - and does not need to be operated like some shady tourist trap. Also, to others considering this place, please do check it out: if you like Indian, you'll love the food, just know what to expect and demand to be given the price in...

Let me start out by saying, this food truck along with Kauai Thai Food Trunk is the best on the island. The cuisine is amazing. Even better than any other Indian food we’ve had. The flavors are well balanced and delicious. So delicious and addictive. We have been coming to Namaste for several years and have never had anything negative to say about the service, the food or the price but this time was an exception. Apparently our chef likes to decide what price to charge you after you’ve eaten the meal. We thought he was being nice until we over paid with our credit card. There were no prices listed on the truck but online we saw much lower prices. For instance online Chicken Curry was $16 and when we paid the receipt showed $22. That felt deceiving.

Our suggestion to you dear customers when you order ask for the total bill and pay before delivery of food. That might give you the opportunity to either pass on it due to the higher prices or decide it’s worth the extra expense. The food is definitely delicious and special. When you eat his Indian dishes you know it’s made from the heart and full of flavor.

Not sure why he has started doing this, maybe out of desperation? But he shouldn’t have to deceive his customers in this way. It felt shady when we looked at our receipt. Why not full disclosure from the start. We would have walked away feeling more aloha. And we probably still would have paid his price though we might have questioned why such an increase?!

I’m even sad writing this review for a chef we respected but after reading other reviews we realized we were not the only ones deceived. It puts a very bad taste in our mouths. What a pity because his food is sublime and his naan is better than anything we have ever tasted. The whole experience has changed for us. We are sad to...

Buyers Beware !!! Read this before you decide to visit this food truck for Indian food craving in kauai. Don’t make the same mistake we did.

This food truck turned out to be a shocking disappointment. Imagine expecting casual street food prices and instead getting hit with upscale restaurant bills! We ordered paneer tikka masala, daal fry, lassi, two naans, and chapati, assuming it wouldn’t break the bank. But here’s the twist: unlike typical food trucks, this one doesn't take payment upfront. You’re asked to sit and enjoy, only to be stunned with the bill at checkout. Our total? $72, with each dish priced at $22. Unbelievable, right?

What’s worse, there’s no menu or receipt, and the prices you see on Google reviews are outdated, adding to the deceit. Basically the charge of 22$ is what he says right there. There is literally no place where this price is mentioned. This place is somehow still in business despite numerous reviews echoing our experience. For paying using card, he had the POS machine facing himself and tipped himself 15% without asking me to select that option. I would not tip at such place which is deceiving about its price. Plus it is a complete self service. The posted charge on my card was higher as such. Please check your credit card for posted charge( which appears about 1-2 days or later on card) This is a complete scam. Google maps shows 10-20$ as price point per person which is definitely wrong. If one dish is 22$ and the naan is 5$ , there is no way it can be 10-20$ per person. Buyers beware and locals should report this food truck to authorities.

While the vendor wasn't outright rude, he lacked any warmth or friendliness. Unless you're ready to pay a premium for food truck fare, steer clear...