Original Indian Kitchen — Restaurant in Tempe

After a very lackluster initial experience with the quality of Nandini’s food, I gathered some friends and family, some of whom had dined with me the first time, and returned to give Nandini a second chance. After all, with so many positive reviews online, I figured the failures of the first visit must have been a fluke. Unfortunately, that was only partially true…

Compared to my first visit, the food was indeed better the second time around. Not great by any means, but definitely improved from before.

The Paneer was in cubes, rather than the left-over ground up curds we received the first time. The Makhani, although severely lacking in spice and flavor just as it was last time, was far less overpowering with the butter and cream, which made it much easier to eat and far easier on our stomachs afterwards (the first time was rough on all of us!).

The Tikka Masala was still only "ok". Definitely under-seasoned as it was before, but far better than the Makhani, which was virtually tasteless in comparison. The chicken was cooked nicely and there was plenty of it to go around.

The Naan was made much, much better this time, as well. It wasn't burned to a black crisp like it was on our first visit. Sadly, the Garlic Naan had absolutely no hint of Garlic or seasoning, which was disappointing since there is an upcharge for it. However, the Paneer Naan and plain Naans were as expected.

Oddly enough, the Samosas Chaat, while far from perfect, tasted great. The Samosas themselves were rock hard and there was so much sauce on the plate (and so few chickpeas) that it was more like Samosa soup! Nonetheless, the taste was there and the extra sauce, though a bit visually unattractive and watery, tasted good on the extra Naan and rice we had left over toward the end.

Service was slightly better the second time, as well. As before, only a few tables came in while we ate and one server was tending to everyone, but the pace was perfectly acceptable and we never felt neglected by our server. Food arrived rather quickly and the atmosphere was the same...plain and casual, but reasonably comfortable.

My conclusion...

Even with one of the many discount vouchers available online, the prices at Nandini are still quite high for the quality of food they serve. While each of the dishes was generally more palatable than they were on our first visit, they weren't without some major flaws.

The curries, which were among the most expensive items on the menu, for instance, remained very "one-dimensional" in flavor, especially compared to most Indian food I have eaten here, abroad and even in India. When you go for Indian food, you go for the unique flavors…enough said. Along with presentation, flavor is where Nandini continues to fall short.

Still, there were enough improvements to the overall experience that I feel I can offer an improved rating of “average”.

Nandini is merely "decent" in my book, not "great" and certainly not "excellent". There are better Indian restaurants around, especially for the price. However, Nandini is far from the worst and perhaps I will return a third time in the future to see if things continue to progress.

Until then, I hope the owners will take my words to heart and continue to improve the quality, flavor and overall value...

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Nandini Indian Cuisine: Straight FLAVOR and VIP Vibes in Tempe! 🍛✨

Me and my dude pulled up to Nandini last night and… WOW. We walked out in a full-on food coma of happiness. This place is a hidden gem tucked in Tempe that absolutely delivers bold flavors, warm vibes, and top-tier service.

The vibe inside was super chill, cozy booths, crisp table settings, and that lowkey ambiance that makes you wanna stay all night and talk about life over curry and cold beer. 🍻🪷

Let’s talk food (cuz that’s what we came for, right?): We started with crispy veggie pakoras — golden perfection with a crunch that hit just right, especially when dipped in their green chutney and sweet tamarind sauce. That combo? Insane. 🥦🔥

Then came the main event: • Chicken Tikka Masala — creamy, bold, perfectly spiced, and rich without being too heavy. Like it hugged the rice. • Basmati Rice — fluffy, aromatic, and a perfect sidekick. • Garlic Naan + Butter Naan — LITERALLY the best naan we’ve ever had. Flaky on the outside, soft inside, and full of that fresh-outta-the-tandoor flavor. You will fight your date over the last piece.

And don’t even get me started on the drinks — that signature chilled beer they served? Perfectly crisp, refreshing, and paired so well with the spices. 🍺

We wrapped the night with Gulab Jamun (aka fluffy syrup-soaked sweet bombs from heaven). One bite and we both went, “YUP.” Soft, warm, and dripping in syrupy goodness. No better way to close it out. 🍯🍩

The service? 100/10. Our server made us feel like we had the whole place to ourselves. Super knowledgeable, gave us fire recs, and checked in just the right amount. We felt like royalty on a flavor tour. 👑💫

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Final Thoughts: If you’re in Tempe and want a night out with good energy, beautiful flavor, and plates that make your soul happy — Nandini is that place. Bring your bestie, your date, your whole squad — you’re gonna talk about this meal for days.

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📍 Nandini Indian Cuisine 1845 E Broadway Rd, Ste 101, Tempe, AZ 85282 ⏰ Closed Mondays | Open Tues–Sun 🌐...

This is my favorite all time Indian Cuisine Restaurant I go to and in fact one of my top favorite food places in general. I always go for the lunch buffet and have been going here for 2+ years now. The variety is very good and sometimes they switch it up but for the most part the food items are pretty consistent. The food is amazing and top notch quality! The food is always on point and consistent with the quality. I have brought so many of my friend over the last 2 years and every single one of them fell in love as I did and they have started to bring more of their friends as well. I have had many other Indian Buffets before but non of them compare to this place. When I first started coming the prices were very good and I really liked it but recently the price has gone up (Especially on weekend they often have specials now with champagne and it is much more expensive than the week days) Even with the price increase this place is too good not to come and I still try to go often even though I moved a little bit further away.

Oh and the mango smoothie is included with lunch buffet and is delicious and unlimited garlic nun is dangerous because it is so addicting and good!

Our main server is very friendly always welcomes me back warmly and usually recognizes most of the friends I have brought in over the years since they have all become repeat customers. I'll sure be going soon after I write this review and I suggest you go and find out what you have been missing...