Ishtar Mediterranean & Indian Buffet

My mom and I just finished up our late lunch at Ishtar. Their food was very very good. I ordered the tawook plate and my mother ordered the chicken shawarma. The plates come with the meat, rice, hummus, and a salad.
The salad we got was good, fairly typical middle eastern style salad of lettuce, cucumber, and tomato with a lemon and olive oil herb dressing.
Our meals were delicious. The shawarma was tender and moist. The tawook was also tender and moist and flavorful. They offer a plain white rice on the plate, which is ok, just not what you expect when thinking middle eastern rice. They brought us a sample of their gyro… Let me tell you something. It is delicious. Seriously, super flavorful!
We devoured the meal. They’ve always been so accommodating to me when I’ve come in, very friendly and welcoming. I still highly recommend eating here. Give it a chance, try a couple of different items.

I usually go to India House on La Palma and Valley View but they were closed today and I was REALLY craving Indian food. My husband had been wanting to try this new place since it was a bit closer to home. We walked in at 6:30pm and it was completely empty (usually not a good sign). I should have asked to take a look at their buffet table first but instead we just paid and went to find our seats. On our way I remembered to ask about Naan and where I could get some. I was told their oven was broken and they didn’t have any naan bread but they could give me pitta bread. I was very upset as the doughy garlic naan dipped in the curry is literally my favorite thing. So then we walked over to their buffet and there were like 5 items to chose from. $ 15 buffet and you have FIVE items!!! The AMAZING buffet that India House offers is $ 5 less and they have 3 times the selection. So we decided to ask for our money back. The VERY nice gentlemen asked why and we told him we wanted the naan bread and we’re just not really happy with what they had. He offered to make us the naan bread on their broken oven and I thought that was nice of him to try and please us. So because no one was there and I could see the desperation in his eyes, we decided to stay. We paid $ 32 for two ppl with no drinks and the food was not very good. The rice and ONE chicken dish was good. The rest was very very bad. The chicken tikka masala was sooooooo dry and hard I couldn’t even eat it. It’s almost as if they should only sell Mediterranean food and not advertise the Indian food. The so called naan was gross! It was NOT doughy but instead it was thin and flaky, almost like a cracker. No wonder he kept telling me the pitta bread was better. The food is eatable but I would not have paid more than $ 8-​$ 9 TOTAL for this food. Then I wanted to redeem the Unilocal check in offer and as many have mentioned, they were «out». It’s almost as they are trying to use it as a hook to get ppl in the doors but then they don’t actually have it. Again the very nice man offered to give us both free soda instead. The one star is only because I have to give them something and also that worker earned the one star lol but besides that I will NOT be coming back. If anyone is looking for some GOOD Indian food you MUST try This little hole in the wall called India House on Valley View. Check out their Unilocal reviews and pictures. Please don’t waste your time and money coming here, I really don’t know how they have 4 stars. Must be people who have never tried any other place. Oh! And the spice level is non existent. Indian food is known to be spicy. I don’t eat spicy food but when I have Indian I expect a little punch and this has no spice at all. Also the TV and music was so loud we couldn’t even hear the guy when we asked him questions. Overall very bad experience, can’t wait for the weekend as I will be going to India House to really satisfy my craving.

Great buffet and tasty food. ahmed was very nice and friendly. Definitely will come back

This is by far the worst Indian lunch buffet I have ever been to. First, I showed up and wanted to redeem the Unilocal check-​in deal for the free mango lassi. I told the guy at the register I wanted to get the free mango lassi deal and he said yes, then I clicked check-​in and showed him the screen with the offer and then he said «oh we are all out of mango lassi». Already a bad start, I thought, but stupid of me to stay anyway. I walked in and noticed the buffet station was only half-​stocked. The soup pot was empty, the salad had no dressing, and of the 8 items on the buffet table, 3 were different types or rice. The rest, if you aren’t familiar with Indian food, good luck figuring out it since nothing was labeled. I got some chicken tikka masala, saag paneer, some cabbage stir-​fry and sat down. The guy brought me some garlic naan later. I started with the chicken tikka masala. It tasted so funky, I started to think maybe it was fish I was eating. The saag paneer was fine but it wasn’t hot, warm at best. The other options were regular chicken curry and a bone-​in chicken dish that I can’t remember exactly what it was, just that it didn’t look appetizing enough to put on my plate. I finished with the rice pudding which had a layer of gooey stuff on the top from sitting out too long.
To top it off, when I went to pay, it came out to over $ 11 plus tip (over $ 12). Sad, since I probably ate $ 1 worth of food at best. I told the cashier the selection was very limited and nothing was labeled. Then he asked me if everything was good and I said «no». Lol. He asked me why at which point I told him everything I mentioned above. He asked me to show him what I meant and walk over to the buffet table with him. He said «everything is chicken». I said, well, how would I know without the labels?
Anyway, TL;DR. Never again. You fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice… shame on me.

Great! First time here and staff very friendly and everything looks and taste delicious.

My girlfriend and I were in the area earlier and while I wanted Mediterranean food, she wanted Indian food. We took to Unilocal and stumbled upon this perfect combination of a place. We had their lunch buffet and couldn’t have been happier. The food was delicious and Mike was such a pleasure to talk to. The mango lassi and baklava were soooo good. I can’t wait to go back

Waste of money sign outside said $ 10.99 for lunch and on a small sign at her cash register it says lunch $ 14.99 when asked why I was charged that price at 2pm I was told ask day Friday is $ 14.99 did was not worth it no flavor and not a big selection for the price as it was hot as hell in there! For those prices turn the a/​c on

My husband and I were in a rush to fill our empty stomach and we craved Indian food so much. we stumbled on this place on a Saturday around 12. There was only us, and one other guy who was talking on his cellphone very loudly.
We had a lunch buffet and showed the owner that we want to claim the free mango lassi Unilocal deal. Honestly, food wasn’t all that bad. But for a picky eater like me who doesn’t really know Indian or Mediterranean food all that well, I wish the food was labeled so I at least know what kind of meat or curry it is.
Also, I felt so cramped sitting in the tiny little booth… I am a pretty petite person but oh mang, the tables were tiny! It was difficult to even breathe sitting at one of the booth tables. Also, the ambiance of the restaurant did not feel like a restaurant at all to me. The wall color, random paintings just felt very warehouse-​like. Mango lassi wasn’t that good either but I couldn’t complain because it was free.

This place is the best. It’s like going to moms for dinner without going to moms lol. Highly recommend

Absolutely delicious! Everyone is so nice, too! We’re definitely coming back!
We had the lunch buffet. Totally a great value.

Went here today sorry but don’t try their buffet!
Right when I got there the service was not good. But decided to taste the food because it smelled good. So we sat ourselves we asked For water and the water Never came. Another group came in after us they got their water first. We asked again for water the owner said it was from the tap so we asked for lemon on the side the water came and it had oil in it so we decided to just buy a bottled water. The food was not good the nann was stale and had a weird smell… I just wanted to get up and leave.

Great food, great people. go for the lunch buffet
Although it might look weird at first glance (since it used to be a Carl’s Jr.), this place serves really good food and the staff is genuinely friendly. The place is not very crowded at all and there’s a great variety of food. There’s also lamb (which I love). The food is always fresh. If you haven’t tried it, you should.

First time here. Got the buffet lunch. Guy at the counter was welcoming. Asked what I liked and showed me the different items and explained what they were. Everything was fresh and hot. Funny that my favorite dish was a vegetarian option. It’s had eggplant, mushrooms and cauliflower. Definitely make my way back and try the regular menu.
John

I paid $ 14.99 for a weekend buffet dinner. This is an interesting place because there just aren’t many dinner buffets with indian or Mediterranean here in SoCal.
The highlight of the dinner was the lamb shank dish. That was very good. This place is good for a casual dinner if you’re hungry and like these tastes.

Where to start? Well I decided to come here because it is right around the corner and fairly new. While ordering a lady comes in and ask for an employment form. The owner/​chef came out being rude and saying how he has no more cashier spots open. While preparing our food we notice the chefs didnt wear gloves, and was coughing. The majority of the food didnt seem fresh. The bread is packaged and not handmade and the food tasted stale. The meat, and bread were not even warm. And when we began to eat we noticed a hair. The buffet food didnt seem fresh and looked old. So many wrongs with this place. I would suggest avoid and drive a few miles to brookhurst.

The place is amazing and the food was Excellent, very tasty in addition to friendly service and staff .I recommend this place to everyone that wants to get a marvelous Mediterranean food and Indian food as well. There are lots of varieties at an affordable price that all we need.

They have very small l selection an Few vegetarian dishes. The food was ok but salad looked old.
We arrived to this place wanting to check out the food first, when we decided to eat there we were seated, immediately a group of three people were getting there also checking out the food and what they had. We were already eating waiting for our drinks and naan. But these people who came in after us for their naan and drinks as soon as they got to their table which was very unfair because I was there first. Maybe because they looked Indian idk but I thought that was very rude. We had to ask the waiter like THREE times for out naan and water. When he brought the water it was oily, dirty very nasty I didn’t even drink that. Not coming back here if you want Indian food go somewhere else. Not worth it here

Awesome food and great people! Honestly some of the best Mediterranean food I’ve had in a while! I love the flavors of the food.

Great taste okra with rice
Must check out this restaurant, great customer service
Definitely coming back with my friend

Not real Indian food in buffet
It’s tasty, but doesn’t have the Indian spice people look for.
Did not try the Mediterranean food.
One thing I did not like was that they had the buffet all day. Don’t think it’s such a good idea in my point of view, they should have a lunch and then a dinner (different items).
I’ve had Indian food all my life and know how to make it, maybe being a little to picky here. Unfortunately would not return.

Unilocal challenge 2016 ¹³⁄₁₁₆
A once fastfood joint transformed into an all day AYCE Indian buffet and Mediterranean resturant on Lincoln Ave between Brookhurst and Euclid in Anaheim. Nothing fancy inside. Just about 20 or so tiny tables and booths.
For a price tag of $ 10.99, the AYCE buffet is decent with a good selection of grub. Hot and fresh Naan bread made to order and dropped off at your table. Dishes were all in the mild side. Out of everything the Chicken Curry and Chicken Masala were my favorite. The Curry was really mild and was mixed with some chopped vegetables. The Masala sauce was thick and flavoful, perfect for dipping the Naan in. My only real complaint was, the trays were never replenished while we were there, and the food was getting bare. Towards the end my second plate was not as hot as I like it to be. When we left I noticed the flame was out on some of the dishes. I am sure if there were more people eating they would be on top of keeping their food supply filled. But who is going to refill the supply if only 2 people were eating it?
So whatcha get in the AYCE buffet is:
Tandori chicken
Chicken curry
Chicken Tikka Masala
Vegetable Korma
Aloo Gobi
Spinich Paneer
White rice
Chicken saffron rice
Salad
Yougert
Desert
Plain naan
Garlic naan
Plus a few more dishes
Full menu available that includes a few snacks, Kabob plates, salads, soups, wraps, Swarmera, half chicken, falafel, ect. Most plates were on the pricey side, around $ 16.99. Wraps were about $ 6.99.
Service is okay. The owner gave us a little tour of the buffet and explained what everything was. Everything is Hahal and made with fresh ingredients. If you want extra naan or water you need to ask. They don’t walk around offering it. They also don’t engage in a whole lot of conversation. Maybe it is just their personality. If you need to use the bathroom, ask for the key.
Lunch/​Dinner for 2 was $ 23 and some change.
To ensure enjoyment Im sure best times to eat would be when they open or for dinner.
A-​Okay buffet. For $ 10.99 it was well worth it. I mean you get what you pay for.
3.5 stars. I am just a little stingy usually giving out 4s and 5s. But I will return forsure.
#829

Tried the Indian buffet and it’s really really good. Specially the Masala dishes were excellent.
Very affordable prices for the food they offer .
Make sure u give it a try. U won’t regret it.

I tried their Indian Buffet and ordered their Mediterranean food to go.
Indian Buffet $ 10.99
Tried everything from the rice to the dessert. Overall I give this place a 5 star. It is great value for money for what you are getting for $ 10.99.
Curries: flavorful and distinctive spices. Tastes great. The flavor are on the milder side in terms of spiciness and strength. This is good if you plan on eating here often as its not over powering and won’t make you smell for days. You won’t have garlic and spices oozing out of your pores. This is especially important if you have to go back to the office for meetings.
Chicken curry and stir fry veggies stood out as being the best part of the meal. The chicken was super tender and the curry was perfectly flavored.
Rice: a little on the bland side but pairs great with the curries. I was expecting the yellow rice to have some flavor but it was mostly subtle.
Garlic nan: fresh and hot but the garlic wasn’t infused into the nan like other places. They had garlic pieces on top of the nan with a good toast to it. Overall it was good. Call in to order their nan in advance. I was more than half way through my main plate by the time it came out. It was worth the wait though because you know that it’s being freshly made to order.
Salad: wish they had a better variety of veggies. They chopped the leafy greens which is probably why they became limp and soggy pretty fast. The yogurt dressing was watery and bland.
Rice pudding: it was bland and had texture of elmer’s glue. Not a fan of this particular dish at Ishtar.
You have to remember that they are charging $ 10.99 and you are getting freshly made food. You are getting a great value for what they offer. The value exceeds the price. This place makes a good everyday casual joint for lunch or dinner. It’s a good place to have a celebration because of their ample parking and available seating.
Mediterranean food
Beef and chicken wraps
We bought three wraps and took them home for dinner. Both were delicious. The bread was outstanding. I will definitely be going back for their chicken wraps.
I would highly recommend that you give this place a try. Go for the food. It’s good value for money.
Update
Went back a second time to pick up more chicken wraps along with two other dishes.
1. Lamb over rice. Super tender lamb! It was delicious.
2. Beef over rice. Excellent. Worth a try!

Had a great time celebrating my «birthday» (was long overdue). Lots of parking spot (free), great food, u can’t beat great Indian buffet for $ 10.99 we went for dinner. They also offer nonbuffet food which my friends ordered. Generous portion & good Mediterranean food. Great service & staff. The sign is not too clear in the dark, just follow Google map directions, u’ll be just fine

Went to this place for their buffet. The first thing I noticed was that this place was once a Carl’s Jr! I think décor needs a bit of work. The buffet is a great value and the food was great. They needed to refill the Tandoori chicken and maybe have another dressing for their salad, but I was satisfied. The naan was great and the chicken tikka masala was tasty. I would return. For a new business (which will probably get better) I feel positive about this place. Service is also great.

Food is amazing, very friendly crew with good customer service and affordable prices. My friends and I are in love with the Indian food they serve in the buffet. Variety of dishes and lots of vegetarian food

I like it, the food was tasty and clean, the service was fast, the people were friendly.
Amazing restaurant, best of luck

Everything was very good in this place
The food
The service
The price
We asked the guys about if they have soup
In the buffet
They say no only in order
After we were eating on the buffet they did bring us some soup for free from inside they didn’t charge us for it
i really like this place and they’re very nice team
5 stars

Came here for the first time after always seeing their sign for awhile now. This rating is just for the Indian buffet portion of their restaurant. I wasn’t impressed by their selections of food. There was only 2 choices of rice, 2 choices of meat (chicken tikka masala and chicken curry), and 2 vegetable dish. Their dessert selection were also limited. I definitely have been to better Indian buffets with more selections for the same price. The flavor of the food was also lacking. The chicken tikka masala wasn’t very soft, creamy or flavorful. Overall, I think they need more selections in the buffet and more flavor in the food.

They opened this place in place of sub-​way and they actually invested in the location, Upgraded the parking lot and put some trees around
i found this place on Unilocal over weekend and was surprised to see a Indian place near to home but unfortunately food didnt impress me much :(
It’s not I am too picky and especially not with Indian food but unfortunately Chicken curry I ordered wasnt good enough and was little pricey for this place
Might give few thoughts before trying this place again

This is a new restaurant. The fellows at the front were very nice and helpful. They have the option of ordering from a menu or getting the buffet. We ordered from the menu.
We started with samosas with chutney. They came out hot and fresh. They were very, very good, and the chutney was amazing. It’s spicier than I expected, but that made it a very happy surprise. Very flavorful.
For our main meal we ordered the chicken biryani and chicken tikka masala. The biryani was, again, very, very good. Both dishes were excellent, actually.
I would definitely recommend coming here for a delicious meal. We will definitely be back!

Good stuff! We tried the buffet. Would recommend this place. Polite service, great food. Two types of rice to choose from, chicken Tikka Masala was amazing! A+.

2^nd visit by the wife… they only gave 2 pita bread. Still food was good. Ordered a whole chicken and some accoutrements.
3^rd visit, our Tabula and salad had ZERO lemon juice in it. 3.5 stars. The Shawerma was moist this time around. The first time it had been a bit dry.

It’s at the intersection of Lincoln and Muller and if you’re really lost, just look for the old Carl’s Jr. Star on top of the sign. Indian buffet for 2 people with a fountain drink came out to $ 27. Since it just opened last week it’s still empty here, but the food was good. My Indian food recognition isn’t that great but here’s a list of a few items I saw/​had: 2 kinds of rice, chicken tikka masala, pork curry (?), spinach paneer (?), gulab jamun (didn’t try), Kheer (Indian rice pudding; didn’t try). There were no labels on the dishes so it’s open the lid and see what it is. You also have to ask for Naan since they make it fresh. The naan was a little doughy/​raw but it still tasted good.
Only complaint was we were waiting at the counter for 6 minutes before anyone came to help us. The lady in the kitchen came around front but only to grab some supplies. There were a few guys out front sitting and eating and later they came in and decided to help us. Other than that, it’s a legit Indian food buffet. They’re open at 6 a.m. and serve breakfast. I haven’t tried the Mediterranean menu, but since it’s closer than Zait Zatar I might try it next time and update my review then.