Vayal's Indian kitchen (RESTAURANT & CATERING) — Restaurant in Phoenix

A Hidden Gem for Authentic Indian Food in Phoenix – Vayals

Since the day my friend and I arrived in Phoenix, we’ve been on a mission to find the perfect Indian restaurant—one that truly captures the essence of homemade Indian food. We’ve explored countless spots across Chandler, Scottsdale, Tempe, and Phoenix, but nothing quite hit the mark. That was until today when we finally discovered Vayals in Midtown Phoenix, and I can confidently say our search is over.

From the moment we stepped inside, we were welcomed with warmth and hospitality that immediately set the tone for an exceptional dining experience. The staff was incredibly friendly, making us feel right at home.

We started with Gobi Manchurian, Veg Samosa, and Paneer Tikka Dry for appetizers. Each dish was served hot and fresh, bursting with flavors that transported us straight back to India. The crispy samosas, the perfectly spiced Gobi Manchurian, and the smoky, well-marinated paneer—all were simply outstanding.

For the main course, we ordered Dal Makhni with Butter Naan, and this is where Vayals truly won us over. As someone who is a tough critic when it comes to food, I don’t say this lightly—the Dal Makhni was perfection. Every small detail in its preparation was meticulously executed, from the rich, creamy texture to the deep, well-balanced flavors. It wasn’t just a dish; it was an experience. If there’s one thing I could recommend to anyone visiting Vayals, it would be this Dal Makhni—it’s worth dying for.

To end our meal on a sweet note, we indulged in Rice Kheer and Carrot Halwa, both of which were the perfect finale to an already spectacular meal. The Kheer was rich and creamy, just like how it’s made at home, and the Carrot Halwa had just the right amount of sweetness and texture.

I cannot thank the chef enough for bringing such authentic Indian flavors to Phoenix and for doing full justice to Indian spices and tradition. If you're searching for genuine, soul-satisfying Indian food, Vayals is the place to be. This isn’t just a restaurant; it’s a culinary homecoming.

10/10. Highly, highly...

Finally a legit Indian restaurant in Central Phoenix (yes, I know India Bazaar, over by Bandaids - great grocery but bad kitchen; and don't even bring up Flavors of India on 16th St - they were garbage and they're gone now anyway). I know Indian food, believe me - I've eaten it everywhere (other than India itself, but I have no desire to go there) - "Curry Hill" (2nd Ave in the 20s, NYC), London (supposedly the best in the world), elsewhere in the EU, Los Angeles (Sweets & Spices on Venice), SE Asia, etc. - and I can tell you, without fear of contradiction, that Vayal's literally stands up to the best Indian cuisine out there. I'm vegetarian - my main dishes are Palak Paneer, Chana Masala, Aloo Gobi, along with Samosas/Pakoras/Naan. I always thought it was peculiar that Phoenix (a real foodie city - much more so than LA) didn't have a great Indian place. For instance, we've got 5 or 6 incredible Thai places in Midtown alone. But now we've got one and it is really, really great. I've been there for dinner and lunch probably 10 times already and they're only been open less that 6 months I think. They were a food truck before, from what I understand. One thing is the decor/ambience - they're gotten better but still a little ways to go. Big TV showing Bollywood and music videos is cool but I'd prefer some Ravi Shankar or Ali Akbar Khan on the hi-fi and dimmer lighting. But I'm not complaining. Anyway, I literally thank Jesus Christ and Lord Krishna for blessing us with a fantastic Indian restaurant in Central Phoenix (the food capital of the West - prove me wrong). Note: Vayal's spice level 5 is actually more of a 7.5. I'm fine with that but keep...

I'm so confused as to how this restaurant has such a high review. I got the masala dosa and the chicken tikka masala. The masala dosa only had a small amount of filling in the very middle - it wasn't evenly spread out so only 4 bites contained the filling. The rest of it was hard and stale and inedible. The chicken in the tikka masala was hard and dry even though it was drenched in sauce. The amount of rice I was given was laughable. It was about half of a small portion for a single person and that's being generous. They couldnt even properly bag the food. There were 6 small containers all at the bottom of the plastic bag and the large styrofoam container was on top. The poor grubhub driver was doing her best not to have everything spill out when picking it up. It was super difficult to even walk with it to get back to my apartment. NEVER EVER will I order from here again. $30 on 2 items and that's not including the fees and tip for the 3rd part delivery. Very expensive for seriously horrible food. Extremely disappointed especially since I was so excited for this meal. I ate here so you...