Cilantro Indian Cafe | Indian Restaurant in Cary NC

I loved Cilantro its an awesome place with incredible authentic Indian fare. Yesterday was my first visit with my brother I had the Lamb Briyani and he had the Samosa Chat along with mango lassis. The food was so good, lamb was very tender and tasty with the rice and mint yogurt raita. The cilantro chutney was so fresh. Mango lassis sweet and refreshing. The service was top notch with the staff super friendly and accommodating. They also have extremely beautiful and tasty desserts with some slices of cheesecake and mostly these boxed cakes in their own plastic container about 6×6 in. They're visually stunning and taste even better I absolutely cannot reccommend this place enough I will be coming back soon. 10/10. Let me also comment on the comfortable atmosphere being contemporary in decor but also very cozy. Oh, and the prices are very affordable for the quality.

The decor inside was beautiful, I loved all the quotes on the walls. Amazing food! We had the eggs, vegetable samosas, butter salmon and butter chicken. Everything was delightful, especially the sauces! We took home some tiramisu cakes to try later and they were also tasty, made with chai tea instead of coffee, a unique twist. It’s family owned, one son was at the counter taking orders, and I assume it was his father walking around, chatting with customers and checking on how everything was tasting and if anything was needed. Amazing experience, will certainly come back for more.

My boyfriend and I make this a must-stop every time we’re in Raleigh. The food is incredible, but the service truly takes it to another level! Special shoutout to Gibbs—he’s incredibly kind, easy to talk to, and so helpful when it comes to answering questions. I didn’t catch the name of the gentleman who checks in on guests to make sure everyone is happy with their food and experience, but he was wonderful as well. If you’re on the fence about coming here, don’t hesitate—you won’t regret it!

Excellent dinner here! Some of the best Indian food that I've had in the area and will definitely go back. I had the Chicken and Lentil Stew, which was absolutely delicious!

This is such a nice place! I came for lunch and really enjoyed my chicken tikka masala. Service was super friendly and personable. The restaurant is decorated really nicely. I got desserts to go and they are fabulous. Thank you!!

I’m usually not one to rave about service bc imo food is the most important thing but mustafa changed that for me!! He was so kind and attentive considering you order the food at the front counter and pay before you have your meal. But don’t let my first comment fool you, the food is absolutely delicious!!! Omg especially the deserts.. pls listen to them and also go to their bakery location in Raleigh. We got the pistachio cloud cake and I swear i dream about it lol. Not too sweet, moist, and decadent. Let the pictures speak for themselves— it’s cute for insta, tasty for the belly, and good on your wallet lol. Quick note, the mango lassi here is the best we’ve had here in NC, we’re from nyc. Trusttttttt.

Amazing food and even better atmosphere! The owner and his son were awesome and took great care of us! Highly recommended!!

I am not a person who usually reviews restaurants but after i left the restaurant, i decided i will give a review asap. The food was delicious, presentation was great, ambience was amazing as well as the service. The owner is such a humble person. This is much different than the typical indian restaurants i have been before. My whole family loved eating here.

A first time visit and unexpected a very pleasant surprise. The parking was busy in the shopping center mid-week after 6pm. A nearby walk towards the aromatic smell, Wow, impressive inside did not expect from the outside! I was promptly greeted by a young man at the counter. I did not really look at the menu as I was craving lamb biryani...only request without egg. Fortunately, they have 2 types. The man mentioned it would be medium spice level, okay and also ordered a mango lassi sans ice. While waiting for food, I observed both a decent of patrons who dine-in and take out. Very impressive the young man stating to "Mr ...," after he paid, that he may wait in car and will bring right out when order is ready. Excellent customer service, not sure if the owner, relative or employee! The ambiance was lovely and even semi-private to enjoy and I will definitely recommend and return. I was surprised that some patrons left food uneaten, odd not to pack up. It looked good but not sure if good appearance but not taste so I was a little concerned. Finally, my order arrived and the appearance was a little unusual as I did not expect plain rice on top. The dish had some kick in the spice level plus s extra salt ... glad for the raita. I knew I would have leftovers to modify the excess salt...I went back to the counter to get the Gluten Free chocolate cake and a side of buttered potatoes both to go with container to pack up leftovers. The guy asked me how I liked the spice level and I do believe I said "call the fire department " --Good spice level cleared my sinuses and warmed my body! All good, a compliment! Please, use less salt it was too much and quite higher than any restaurant in the area. I would enjoy another visit-- this one 4 stars! The order for take out buttered potatoes went to another table. The owner apologized and they came out. There should be a better way when a mistake like this happens to rectify, especially for a first time visit. I will need to request less salt, unless that is from the clarified butter not sure but the tip of my tongue felt it before the heat from the aromatic spices. A refreshing sorbet, kulfi, or gelato to cleanse the palate would be ideal! I would like to try a tea or coffee at another visit or lunch. Overall rating breakdown: 4 stars Greeted and welcomed promptly = 5 stars Ambiance = 5 stars Quality & Portion = 4 stars Price = 3.5 stars , gluten free cake $12 expensive just okay Customer service and experience = 4 stars - improve when error occurs

A cozy Indian cafe with beautiful setting , attentive staff and awesome food. We went around 6:30 PM on a weekday and got seated immediately. We ordered couple of entrees - vegetable biryani, egg curry, paneer makhni and paneer Achari and all of them especially egg curry were awesome. Medium spice level was as expected and our 6 year could eat it. I liked how the entrees are accompanied by rice , nan , chutney and chickpea salad making it a whole meal in itself.

Great service in a nice restaurant. The food is good and the atmosphere is good. The smell gets you as soon as you walk through the door. Really enjoyed!

Cilantro Indian Cafe is a solid spot for a casual Indian meal. The food is flavorful and reliable, with a decent variety of options on the menu. We came for dinner on a week night and it was not busy at all. It's not the most mind-blowing Indian food you'll ever have, but it's definitely worth a visit if you're craving a a bit of Indian and are in the area.

I was visiting the area for work, and I was looking for a highly rated location to grab good Indian food. I stumbled upon Cilantro Café in my search. Might I say, I am glad that I came here for dinner. As soon as you walk in, you're greeted by a casual café, one where you walk up to the counter to place your order. Once your order is placed, you're given a number that you then bring to your table, as your food will be brought to you. The first thing that I noticed about my entrée is how fresh everything tasted. In the past at other Indian establishments, I've experienced super oily dishes, but that was not the case here. On top of the already delicious food, the manager came to check on how I was doing. That personal touch really added to the overall experience. I could not say better things about the spot. If you're looking for fast, easy, and quality Indian food, than this is THE place to go!

If you're looking for an exceptional Indian dining experience in Cary, North Carolina, I highly recommend checking Cilantro. From the moment you walk in, you're greeted with warm hospitality from the staff. The menu is loaded with flavorful dishes, and the spices are perfectly balanced to create an explosion of flavor in your mouth. The heat level is just right, so be prepared for a bit of a kick, but it's definitely worth it. The parking is also very convenient, so you won't have to worry about finding a spot. Overall, Cilantro is a must-try for anyone who loves authentic Indian cuisine.

I ordered the karahi paneer, which they warned me would be spicy. I had a mango lassi to go with it, and the manager/owner came out to check on us and gave me a yogurt to help it go down, which was really kind of him. That karahi paneer is not something to be trifled with; it's got a slow burn that builds with each bite. The flavors were wonderful, although the green sauce was only okay. I liked the naan with my paneer. The chickpea salad was quite refreshing. The decor was interesting--major quotes by a number of famous people. But overall, the service made up for the slightly more expensive price!

ordered takeout, but the ambiance inside seems really nice! i also saw some nice looking desserts in the case but refrained from picking anything up this time. maybe next time though! we ordered veg samosas, moroccan hummus, and dum aloo. both the entrees came with roghani naan and rice. usually indian restaurants don't give free naan, so i thought that was really nice! the portions are also huge (which is good because each entree is on the pricier side). we were also offered free cilantro chutney with the samosas. the samosas were excellent - obviously not as flaky since i picked up my order like half an hour after it was ready but that's my own fault. the chutney was really nice and spicy. i enjoyed both entrees too, but i have to take a star off because neither of them is anything like their name. the moroccan hummus clearly engenders some confusion because when i ordered it over the phone, the guy on the other end described the dish to me in detail and asked if that was ok. it was ok because i knew what i was ordering, but why not just call it chana masala? there's no other chana masala on the menu so i don't know what the purpose is of calling it something different. the dum aloo is also not real dum aloo. dum aloo is supposed to be whole baby potatoes in a spicy gravy. the "hummus" was spicier than the aloo and the potatoes were not whole baby potatoes and also were not completely cooked to satisfaction - this dish was more like aloo matar makhani. everything was delicious, just mis-advertised, and really for seemingly no reason. i would still go back though!

Great place! Excellent service, they are the nicest people and the food is fantastic! The dining room is very pretty and spaced for privacy!

A great place for fast casual dining! Parking is easy as it's a shared lot with other businesses. The menu is pretty extensive so there is something for everyone and various dietary needs. It didn't take long to order. I ended up choosing the pan seared catfish. I would estimate the food takes about 15-20 minutes. When the food arrived, I was surprised at the large portions. My entree cost $22 so this was a good deal to me. I am not a fan of spice at all. I can typically handle things that are mild like a 3 out of 10. This dish was definitely at least a 6. The rub on the fish was spicy and the rice was spicy as well. I ended up using a yogurt sauce to balance the heat. Despite the heat, the food was excellent. It was fresh, flavorful, and filling. This place is worth checking out if you're in the mood for Indian food!

Delicious food and friendly service, plus a really pretty interior. We got the Moroccan Hummus (not actually hummus, it was full chickpeas but still tasted incredible), Bihari Lamb & Coconut Curry, and Chicken Jalfrezi. Love that they had vegan options. We will definitely be back!

Superb customer service! Decor and ambiance simply amazing. Food is so flavorful and packs a punch. Totally recommend for a date night or family outing!

Flavorful with just the right amount of spice. Staff was so friendly. Will definitely come back.

First time trying this jewel, had an excellent lunch experience. Hubby had Chicken Tilkka, I had Mediterranean Hummus, both were delicious. Presentation was very inviting, owner asked how everything was, seemed to genuinely care that we liked our entrees.

1/23 Update After my previous review we gave the restaurant a few months and decided to try again. We ordered Chicken Biryani, Moroccan Hummus, and Chicken Tikka masala with Mango Lassi. The chicken biryani was delightful and hands down our favorite dish that we ordered. It was tasty and had good balance with appropriate spices. The Moroccan hummus was just average and has slightly more oil than we would have liked. The chicken tikka masala was made how it usually is and had good flavor. The spice level was perfect for the dishes (we ordered mild and it still had plenty of spice! ) Good job!

The phone did not eat first, but my mouth did and the food was delicious and flavorful. Naan was to die for, not to be confused with pita bread. The little green sauce was delectable. The rice was ricing. Staff was very helpful, friendly and attentive. Very clean and aesthetic. Great place for date night.

This place is awesome. The staff members are very attentive and extremely nice. We loved how organized and clean this place is. The food was delicious and the serving size is pretty decent. Mustafa came to each table to introduce himself and to ensure there were no issues with the food.

This restaurant not only has delicious Indian food, they also have outstanding customer service. We have consistently tasted delicious dishes here from biryani to their meat dishes. They also have very good desserts including some tasty gluten-free options. However, while excellent food is one thing, upholding a high standard of customer service is really what makes Cilantro a place we will frequent again and again!

What a great place to eat. The staff is so friendly and helpful. My wife and I have eaten here twice on dates now and the manager has come out to personally say hello each time. The gentleman that took our order was so kind and reassuring as well. It was a pleasure to order. They also ask if you want certain food items to come out sooner or later than others, which is really nice. The room for seating is fairly large and there is always a place to sit. There are nice flowing curtains spread through out. They have really nice Indian music playing softly which does not interfere with general conversation. The food is very tasty. They ask you what spice level you want. Be advised that the spice level is Indian style, not American, so it is a bit spicy but not overbearing. I've also tried their mango lassi, which was very nice and refreshing. I also tried one of the Indian desserts and it definitely had Indian spices in it; quite nice. We will return to enjoy the food, service and environment again!

I'm always excited to find new restaurants, especially Indian restaurants. The staff is so kind and the food is so good. We ordered the Chicken Korma, Butter chicken, Chicken Jalfrezi, and Chicken Saag. Everything was wonderful! I love that the meals come with rice, naan, and a salad with chick peas. We'll definitely return!

Fabulous food and super nice service. We eat Indian/Pakistani food a lot and this place rocks with intense flavors and a very informed, helpful staff. Very small place with a large menu. Quality.

Very good Indian in the triangle! Each dish came with a small chickpea salad, rice, and naan. Large dinning room that could accommodate almost any size group. Overall food was excellent and would recommend to anyone

Service and food is amazing. The best authentic Indian cuisine in the area! Support all family owned businesses.

I'm so glad my friend told me to try this place!! I was a little thrown off when I first entered as I thought it was a traditional sit down restaurant but it is more of an order at the counter and then find a seat somewhere. Their menu is so large and there's so many options! The place is also super cute and clean inside. They have a dessert case too with tasty looking desserts but I didn't try it. I was initially sad because their menu didn't have vindaloo and I asked for guidance. They didn't seem annoyed either when I asked for something they didn't have but were SO kind as to helping me find something I might like. We landed on the coconut chicken curry with potatoes because I also can't have dairy. It was so delicious, I couldn't stop thinking about it for days and went back a couple days later with my sister! Her and her partner got the other two dishes and they were all so yummy. The whole staff is so friendly and welcoming and all the food I tried was tasty. I'll definitely be going back and telling everyone else to try them too!

I'll start off by saying if I could give more than five stars I would this place truly has a great atmosphere and a greater taste. The customer service is above and beyond that exceeds expectations. The owner of the restaurant is almost always there. He checks in with you make sure everything 's to your liking. If there's a problem, they reconcile it straight away truly recommend this place my personal favorite. Lamb tikka masala, and the Samosa chat are my go too's

Great food and service. The restaurant has a nice vibe and ambiance. Highly recommend.

Cilantro Indian Restaurant makes amazing and delicious food. This is the second time going to Cilantro. The flavors are on point. The front staff was kind and greeted you with a smile and was genuinely happy I decided to get their food. The restaurant has a lot of Indian memorabilia which really makes you feel you're in India. I had dishes with lamb and chicken and also got their vegetarian dishes and all of the food items were flavorful. If you're in Cary, NC and have a craving for Indian food, I recommend Cilantro.

Awesome service great food! Menu was both vegetarian and gluten free friendly. Staff were helpful finding the right amount of spices

We arrived a half an hour before they were closing and asked as we entered if they would serve us . They told us only to go orders now so ok fair enough we just wanted two samosa chaats and a Dal Tadka . Cost us about $40 ( ok I understand Cary is high rent ) the portions were small . The samosa chat was honestly the worst that we have ever had -ever !! The Dal Tadka was swimming in grease and was not yellow Dahl . The decor on the restaurant looked very modern and nice but really we have been eating Indian food for fifty years and all over the east coast. This was so bad that we could not finish it . The service was friendly and the people there were great so maybe just try other menu items .

Went there for lunch. The restaurant is done up really well. Spacious. You order upfront and then they bring the food out to your table. The food was excellent. Each dish you order comes with rice, salad and a roghani naan. Check them out.

If you haven't been here, I urge you to go! I do not know hardly anything about Indian food but I can tell you this food is delicious! The flavors, presentation and atmosphere are exceptional. Family owned: Mom does all the cooking and baking (I could write a whole other review about the desserts), son takes your order at the counter and is so helpful for those of us that don't know how or what to order and Dad comes around to each table to make sure you are enjoying your meal. I can't say enough good things about my experience here. Although I have lived in Cary for some time, I have not been here til recently and have already been back twice! Everything any of us have tried has been such a delight. You will not be disappointed!

The food was pretty good. We liked the Achari Lamb a lot. The service was excellent. Very friendly all round. The place was nice and chic - maybe a bit bright in terms of lighting but not too much. Will def go back to try other things on the menu.

Again, surprised that I haven't reviewed this place. My husband loves Indian food. We decided to have date night. What goes with watching Dr. Who. Curry. We had lamb Korma, eggplant curry and tandoori chicken. So good. The food was ready for pickup when I arrived and it was still hot when I got home 30 minutes later. Just amazing.

Consistently high quality and flavorful food. Cardamom tea and samosa chaat is probably the best in town. I love that they have small side dishes that come with the main meal.... I wish other restaurants would do this. Friendly, fast service. I have yet to try the gorgeous cakes. This place is always worth the drive.

Garbage food. I understand they are serving food for the American palate but even then it's trash. The samosa chat was the only thing edible but nothing to rave about. The spicy potato fries have fake red chilli on it. The green chutney is way off and has color with no flavor. The paneer makhani and chicken saag was super oily and chicken cubes too big and hard. Service was fine but all the tables had dirty dishes left on them and most of what I saw people had left the curry dish. Horrible food!!

Although I like this restaurant very much, I've noticed that lately there's a lot of sauce and very little protein in the entrees, at least that was the case in my butter and tija Masala chicken in my take out order. Not even the rice was. abundant. People notice this kind of thing. I hope the manager reads this review. I'd hate to see a good place go down.

The best Indian food hands-down! As an Indian American, I've tasted my fair share of Indian food. This food is distinct and not typical Indian food. To top it all off, the dessert is above and beyond. They need to have a full bakery. Will sure be to be back on my next business trip. Thank you Yelp for helping me find this spot! I may now move here

Cilantro is always a must go to when in the Raleigh area. The food is delicious and the staff is super kind and friendly. If you don't like spicy food, I highly recommend their butter chicken.

Delicious! Ordered the chicken jalfrezi, korma, lentil soup and all were very high quality with good portions. Cute interior and friendly service.

Best Indian/Pakistani restaurant in the triangle! The menu is loaded with a variety of Indian/pakistani dishes and has something for everyone! We tried the chicken biryani, Achari Chicken and the samosa chat, simply delicious. Each dish was made with a perfect blend of spice to bring out flavors without overpowering the taste. Most dishes are spicy so do make requests to turn down the heat if you don't like spicy food. Large portions, great food presentation, lovely seating area, friendly and attentive staff!

Food is always good and tastes fresh. Good size portions at reasonable prices. Closed on Monday.

This was a great experience. Spacious place, clean and well maintained. You have to order and seat yourself, smart in current labor market. We ordered egg biryani and veg korma. The serving was sufficient for a person. We liked both of our dishes and finished it. Will go back on my next travels.

Absolutely amazing experience at Cilantro. Ordered the spicy potatoes, vegetable samosas, shrimp biryani, and butter chicken. We also got Oreo cheesecake to go as well. The food came very quickly and was very flavorful. The staff was so kind. The desert was the perfect evening treat when we got home. A friend from India recommended this place and my partner, who is half Indian, says this place is the real deal. We are definitely coming back!

This used to be an excellent restaurant, just until a year back. Something has changed the restaurant for worse. Both the curries we got, had an onion tomato spicy base with 70% of the dish being peas! The paneer and alo were in the minority. Also both dishes had the same flavour - of stale curry sauce. Instead of naan that used to be served here in earlier times, we got pita bread being masqueraded as naan! The salad of chickpeas and mint dressing was quite good.

I had the lentils,rice which was exceptional. Definitely not spicy I also got naan bread with yogurt sauce. It had a little bite but it was also delicious. I do not like spicy food, however this place helped me make a selection and I will gladly go back. Looking forward to trying different things on the menu

Amazing food and service! 10/10 recommend!! I always order the vegetable samosa- try this place!

We tried this place for the first time tonight. The guy that helped us (which apparently was the owner's son), was extremely friendly and very kind! The atmosphere of the place is nice and calm feeling, but I felt comfortable having my kids there, including my one year old. The food was also very delicious! We will definitely be back again!

Phenomenal food! Would be nice if there was some way to adjust the heat of each item and I don't recall anything on the menu to indicate spicier items.

I got the paneer tikka masala and it was decent. The portion size is small and the price is big which is why I only gave it 3 stars. I'll be trying other Indian places in the area before returning to this one.