Restaurant Review: Taj Indian Cuisine

Restaurant: Taj Indian Cuisine

Address: 265 E. Township Line Rd., Havertown, PA 19083
Rating: (3.5 out of 5 stars): ★★★1/2
Style: Indian buffet
Food: Tasty Indian vegetarian and meat entrees
Atmosphere: Wide open buffet hall with Indian paraphernalia
Parking: Lot
Service: Attentive for a buffet
Price Range: Affordable
Unique Features: Indian desserts, tea/chai and kid’s dining discounts

When I think of American buffets I think of a meat bonanza, starches piled high to the heavens, plenty of soft drinks and dozens of sweets. Taj Indian Cuisine is a far cry from the typical American buffet. This Indian buffet features numerous vegetarian options, relatively few starches, the standard beverages are chai and ice water and the desserts are rice pudding and fresh fruit. After a particularly grueling workout (how I manage to stay fit despite my occupation) I headed to Taj to get my Indian grub on.

I ordered a mango lassi, grabbed a plate and surveyed the buffet options. Needless to say I grabbed a little of everything and returned to my table. A basket of freshly baked naan arrived shortly before my mango lassi. The mango lassi was a fluorescent orange color that looked like actual mango and the consistency was a bit thinner than other lassis that I have tried. It was decent but not one of the better ones I’ve tried. The naan was excellent. Light, pillowy soft on the inside and slightly charred in spots on the outside, the bread was an ideal starch to pair with my full plate.

As expected, the vegetarian dishes were stellar. The vegetable pakoras were tasty. Expertly fried fritters with no trace of greasiness, these are vegetables that even your kids will want to eat. Though there was a sign for samosas, I never saw any… The steamed basmati rice had a nice nutty flavor and good texture.

The saag paneer was very good. This Indian version of creamed spinach with chunks of high protein cheese was rich and creamy with intense flavors. The mushroom entrée was equally delicious and something I have never seen before. The aloo gobhi , potatoes and cauliflower in a tomato sauce, is a surprisingly satisfying dish and executed quite well at this buffet. The chana masala (chickpea curry) was delicious. Savory and well seasoned with nicely cooked chickpeas, this dish allows me to understand how vegetarians live without meat.

The meat dishes paled in comparison to the vegetarian options. The goat curry was a bit chewy and stringy and I didn’t really enjoy it. The chicken kebab was dried out and lifeless. The chicken curry was fairly good and paired well with the basmati. The star of team meat was the tandoori chicken. Succulent and bursting with flavor, the bright red chicken stood out visually and culinarily. I would go back to Taj just to have this chicken again. 

In addition to my mango lassi I had a cup of the complimentary chai which was enjoyable but on the weaker side. I added a dash of sugar and drank it with my dessert. The rice pudding was quite runny and I could taste hints of cardamom. It was cool, creamy and tasty but I will admit that I prefer the thicker, richer American version of rice pudding.

The service is pretty attentive for a buffet. Dirty plates were cleared immediately and a la carte items from the kitchen emerged quickly. The hostess/server/cashier was quite friendly and knowledgeable though she appeared to be quite young.

I thoroughly enjoyed my lunch at Taj and can’t wait to take my girlfriends there when any of us has a craving for tasty Indian food. The best part is that it’ll satisfy my vegetarian friends as well as my omnivorous ones.