Cafe Alina

We were just passing through State College and read that this little hidden gem had the best Indian/Pakistan food in area. Parking was a nightmare but once we got into the restaurant we were greeted warmly The food was absolutely amazing! The best I have eaten in a long time! I had the lamb kabob bowl (I requested not spicy) it was prepared exactly to my liking, My husband had the chicken changa and he said it was excellent also. I highly recommend this restaurant if you have a craving for fresh never frozen Indian food

A Wonderful Taste of Home! The staff at Cafe Alina are incredibly friendly and always make you feel welcome. The food is consistently delicious and high-quality, and the prices are very reasonable. For us, it's the only place in State College where we can get a true taste of home—the Indian dishes are wonderfully authentic and taste just like they were made back home. We are so grateful to have this gem in town. Highly recommended!

Good quality food that tasted like home cooked. We had Biryani, Butter Paneer, Naan and Chai. Everything tasted delicious. The only shortcoming we found was the smell. The table was cleaned with the most stinkiest rag that I was about to puke 🤢🤢🤢 We had to change our table. Bathroom was smelly, too.

We were traveling to New York for the holidays and needed to stop by for lunch so found this gem . Owner is so warm accommodating. Food is really delicious. We left with happy tummy happy heart .

I ordered the chicken karahi and the mutton biryani. The chicken karahi was a bit bland, but the mutton biryani was comparatively better—though it still could have been improved.

The food is really good. I love their "lamb over rice" and also the owner is really a friendly guy. I highly recommend Cafe Alina if you are looking for South Asian food

This is truly the best place to eat in state college. Not only is the food amazing and they only use clean and healthy ingredients.The atmosphere is what makes this place so much better than the other places. You are made to feel at home and that is the goal of the owner. The chia (milk tea) you have to try.

Cafe Alina is a hidden gem that brings the true essence of authentic Indian cuisine to life. From the moment you step inside, you're greeted with warm, inviting decor and a distinct aroma of freshly prepared spices that instantly transports you to India. The menu is an impressive showcase of traditional dishes, each crafted with a perfect blend of flavors and spices. Whether it’s the tender, marinated tandoori meats or the rich, creamy curries, every dish is made with the highest quality ingredients. The attention to detail in both presentation and taste reflects a deep understanding of Indian culinary traditions, making each bite an absolute delight. What truly sets Cafe Alina apart, however, is the exceptional service. The staff here are not only kind and attentive but are also incredibly knowledgeable about the menu and happy to guide you through the offerings. Their genuine passion for the food they serve is evident in every interaction, making the dining experience feel personal and memorable. With such a dedicated team and exceptional food, this restaurant is deserving of recognition on a much larger scale. It's the type of place that should be open in every city, allowing more people to experience the depth of authentic Indian cuisine and the warmth of its hospitality.

The food is off the chain. Absolutely wonderful atmosphere inside but half the time I get takeout. The meat is always tender and juicy, the rice is SOMETIMES inconsistent but often very delicious and moist but with a little bit of toastedness... just perfection. The BEST PART though is the affordability. I oftentimes expect to spend 20-25 for the amount of food I get at Cafe Alina for 14-17 dollars (Plus tax!). And they have never left me hanging with the portions. The container is so full that the rice, pressed up against the lid, will take on the shape of the lid after I remove it and sometimes spill a little (which I'm not complaining about!). My favorite part though is that the food tastes clean, and depending on what you get obviously, most of the menu (for a great price) can get you a nutritionally wholesome meal. Sometimes the rice has a little bit extra oil than might be necessary but that is the price you sometimes pay for food that tastes this great. Anyways this place is gas come here.

Food was excellent and so was service. Got naan, Dahl, samosa chaat, chicken Karahi and chai. Highly recommend going to this restaurant. Everything was just hands down delicious and on point. Ambiance was great as well, lovely decor with good vibes. Parking was easy but could see it being a problem on a crowded night or weekend. Can't wait to go back again!

Really fantastic spot. The atmosphere is cozy and welcoming, and service was lovely. I tried a chai and one of the bowls (paneer tikka, spicy) and really loved it. Excellent flavor, extremely fair portion. The chai will keep me coming back day after day. So delicious. Great spot for dinner, lunch, quick drink, for anything! Immediately one of my favorites in town.

While I agree that the ambiance is nice, the food was horrible. I ordered chicken tikka masala. It wasn't on the menu and I asked if they could make it. I was told that they could. The order came out very quickly which I was surprised by. But, nevertheless, I tried it. It was bland and uninspiring. I ate about a 1/3 of it and asked for a to go box as to not offend. It was also very expensive for the portion I was given. $14.95 was ridiculous. I wish I had taken a photo but I didn't. I will not be returning.

Fantastic food! We ordered the paneer tikka roll, the chicken kebab bowl and lychee lemonade. The chicken kebab bowl was exceptional. The spice levels were perfect, great mix of chicken, veggies and rice in each bite. The paneer tikka roll was perfectly built. The paneer was soft and the yogurt dip that came with the dish complemented it well. The lychee lemonade was great too. Highly recommend as a great Indian/Pakistani/Middle-Eastern joint.

We visited Café Alina while we were visiting the area and we had an incredible experience! I got the lamb kebab bowl and my husband got the chicken charga and we both were blown away. They were filled with so much flavor and the portions were huge. Additionally we had wonderful service with the staff; they were especially kind given that we had a restless toddler who wanted to roam. While this is a small restaurant tucked away in state college, it is truly a gem. My only regret is that we only got to have it once on our trip!

Excellent food at reasonable price. Staff is friendly and helpful. Highly recommend. Clean and comfortable ambience.

Very kind owner, could have taken more money from my order but recommended I get something of value.

Cute and beautiful! The food was amazing good! I personally can't take spicy but it's so good I forced it down my throat lol

My food was amazing! The portions are large!! The woman at the register was super nice and explained the sauces to me and it was ready really quickly!! Great environment inside and the mint lemonade is great too

Awful. Dried chicken biranyi and burnt nan and an inedible amount of food and a warm coke to boot.

I love this place! Tried the chicken charga, chicken karahi, the samosa chaat bowl, chicken biryani and the chicken tikka and everything has been *chefs kiss* I'm so delighted to have found a gem like this here.

My girlfriend and I came here for a celebratory dinner on a Saturday night. The service was attentive, the food was beyond excellent, and the atmosphere was warm and welcoming. We had the samosas, chicken tikka, half chicken charga, and mint lemonade. It was our first experience with Pakistani food, so there's nothing for us to use as comparison, but every dish was delicious. My best bite was the drumstick on the chicken charga; insanely tender and flavorful. I love that the location is tucked away on Calder because it makes Cafe Alina feel like a well-kept secret; a hidden gem. Still, the owners and staff here deserve to have this place filled to the brim every night. It's easily one of my top two or three places to eat in town.

Very nice place to eat. The owners and staff are very friendly and will go out of their way to ensure customer satisfaction. I ordered the Lahori Fried Fish which came with rice. This was my first time eating this style of food. Personally, it will take some getting used to for me, but others from the group I was with raved about how wonderful the food was. If you find yourself in the downtown State College area, it is well worth the trip to Cafe Alina!

Really like this little cafe and the owners are as kind as can be. I found the lychee lemonade very refreshing and the naan soo soft. My wife and I both ordered the chicken tikka and sadly felt the chicken was very dry. The seasonings were on point, the rice and vegetables saved the meal. I'm glad I was able to have two sauces to dip my chicken in or I might not have finished it. All around great place, just wanted more tender meat for the price. Will definitely come back and update in case that's not the norm!

Tried the Chicken Tikka bowl and the Samosa Chaat bowl with Naan and Raita sides for lunch. Very flavorful food, and charming atmosphere. Nice outdoor seating as well.

Amazing food with hardworking people providing a great service for an excellent price! Drop by and enjoy it!

The people there were very friendly and helpful :) the bowl was so delicious and tasted very fresh. It had a nice kick to it and all around good flavor. They had many interesting vegetarian options which is super nice! Plus, the vegetarian options didn't sound boring at all--they were very fun and unique. The bowl was a pretty generous serving of deliciously seasoned and tender chick peas on top of some potato samosas. The samosas and chickpeas were a yummy combo of textures. The fresh veggies on top were a nice little fresh touch. The vegetable pakoras are hard not to like..: fried veggie fritters. Overall a really good experience for a very good price! Highly recommend.

This place is a hidden little gem. I absolutely love the decor in the restaurant. The food is amazing. I mango lassi is one of the best I've ever had. The prices are great! Don't miss out!

Wow! Wow! Wow! We just had the best Southeast Asian food we've ever had in Pennsylvania! This was an incredibly lucky find! The best naan I have ever eaten (bits of char, soft and fluffy) and my chicken biryani was AMAZING! I love a bit of spice, and the owner suggested it! My daughter and I also loved their samosas and she said her Dal Makhani with black lentils and rice and her mint lemonade was amazing, too! Fresh mint! Gorgeous food! Everything was top-notch. The restaurant is small but feels roomy and light, and is in a great location on E. Calder Way. So cozy and beautiful and friendly! We are already planning a return trip with my husband, who had to miss out today! So happy! Highly recommend!

Absolute best Desi food ever! We were on a road trip so we asked Alina for her choices and I'm telling you that their is no better Desi food than this joint!! Charga was amazing chicken tikka had a smoky flavor and biryani was unbelievable!! I will drive back from chicago just for this meal I know it!

Beautiful ambience and great service. Place is family run and good is great. Many different options and clean bathrooms!

The food is excellent, spiced perfectly, and tastes home cooked. The quality of the meat is truly excellent and very fresh. Very courteous and warm owner / staff: makes one feel very welcome. The portions are large and make for great leftovers. I went there with a coworker and then with family. We plan to make this a staple, and it's our new favorite State College restaurant.

Love this place; especially the mutton karahi and chicken charga. Be careful though, their food tends to be very spicy. I learned that while several dishes are called karahi, they came out very different. The mutton one is fantastic but the ground beef one is not enjoyable. I will definitely try all the other things they have.

Really good food and ambiance! We ordered vegetable pakora, samosa bowl, chicken biryani and chicken chargha. Everything was delicious and well prepared. Very friendly people. They make you feel at home

The food was delicious and the staff was really friendly and walked us through the menu. For anyone coming here the first time I recommend trying the chicken tikka as a bowl or a wrap. The server also recommend the chicken biryani, the chicken charga, and the channa bowl. The matcha latte was one of the best I've had (definitely on the sweet side tho so keep that in mind). Basically everything is made in house including their desserts. I'll definitely be coming back soon!

Still amazing. It's been way too long... Highly recommend chicken tikka, lahori fish, and lamb kabob bowl. Will be back as soon as possible.

Great and friendly service! The food is extremely fresh and delicious! The mango lassi and chicken tikka bowl are my personal favorites but honestly everything is a good choice!!

Compared to other indian restaurants this one is much much better. Tried their biryani, charga and liked it. Also liked their little outdoor seating.

Had to wait 28 minutes for 2 coffees. Not worth the wait when Starbucks is right across the street