Hilal Grill | Indian,Pakistani and Afghani Cuisine in Phoenix

Indian restaurant · Rancho Hermoso

Hilal Grill | Indian,Pakistani and Afghani Cuisine in Phoenix

Indian restaurant · Rancho Hermoso

1

1638 N 40th St, Phoenix, AZ 85008

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Hilal Grill | Indian,Pakistani and Afghani Cuisine in Phoenix by null
Hilal Grill | Indian,Pakistani and Afghani Cuisine in Phoenix by null
Hilal Grill | Indian,Pakistani and Afghani Cuisine in Phoenix by null
Hilal Grill | Indian,Pakistani and Afghani Cuisine in Phoenix by null
Hilal Grill | Indian,Pakistani and Afghani Cuisine in Phoenix by null
Hilal Grill | Indian,Pakistani and Afghani Cuisine in Phoenix by null
Hilal Grill | Indian,Pakistani and Afghani Cuisine in Phoenix by null
Hilal Grill | Indian,Pakistani and Afghani Cuisine in Phoenix by null
Hilal Grill | Indian,Pakistani and Afghani Cuisine in Phoenix by null
Hilal Grill | Indian,Pakistani and Afghani Cuisine in Phoenix by null
Hilal Grill | Indian,Pakistani and Afghani Cuisine in Phoenix by null
Hilal Grill | Indian,Pakistani and Afghani Cuisine in Phoenix by null
Hilal Grill | Indian,Pakistani and Afghani Cuisine in Phoenix by null
Hilal Grill | Indian,Pakistani and Afghani Cuisine in Phoenix by null
Hilal Grill | Indian,Pakistani and Afghani Cuisine in Phoenix by null
Hilal Grill | Indian,Pakistani and Afghani Cuisine in Phoenix by null
Hilal Grill | Indian,Pakistani and Afghani Cuisine in Phoenix by null
Hilal Grill | Indian,Pakistani and Afghani Cuisine in Phoenix by null
Hilal Grill | Indian,Pakistani and Afghani Cuisine in Phoenix by null
Hilal Grill | Indian,Pakistani and Afghani Cuisine in Phoenix by null
Hilal Grill | Indian,Pakistani and Afghani Cuisine in Phoenix by null
Hilal Grill | Indian,Pakistani and Afghani Cuisine in Phoenix by null
Hilal Grill | Indian,Pakistani and Afghani Cuisine in Phoenix by null
Hilal Grill | Indian,Pakistani and Afghani Cuisine in Phoenix by null
Hilal Grill | Indian,Pakistani and Afghani Cuisine in Phoenix by null
Hilal Grill | Indian,Pakistani and Afghani Cuisine in Phoenix by null
Hilal Grill | Indian,Pakistani and Afghani Cuisine in Phoenix by null
Hilal Grill | Indian,Pakistani and Afghani Cuisine in Phoenix by null
Hilal Grill | Indian,Pakistani and Afghani Cuisine in Phoenix by null
Hilal Grill | Indian,Pakistani and Afghani Cuisine in Phoenix by null
Hilal Grill | Indian,Pakistani and Afghani Cuisine in Phoenix by null
Hilal Grill | Indian,Pakistani and Afghani Cuisine in Phoenix by null
Hilal Grill | Indian,Pakistani and Afghani Cuisine in Phoenix by null
Hilal Grill | Indian,Pakistani and Afghani Cuisine in Phoenix by null
Hilal Grill | Indian,Pakistani and Afghani Cuisine in Phoenix by null
Hilal Grill | Indian,Pakistani and Afghani Cuisine in Phoenix by null
Hilal Grill | Indian,Pakistani and Afghani Cuisine in Phoenix by null
Hilal Grill | Indian,Pakistani and Afghani Cuisine in Phoenix by null
Hilal Grill | Indian,Pakistani and Afghani Cuisine in Phoenix by null
Hilal Grill | Indian,Pakistani and Afghani Cuisine in Phoenix by null
Hilal Grill | Indian,Pakistani and Afghani Cuisine in Phoenix by null
Hilal Grill | Indian,Pakistani and Afghani Cuisine in Phoenix by null

Highlights

Pakistani, Afghani, Indian bites, great paya, nihari, big portions  

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1638 N 40th St, Phoenix, AZ 85008 Get directions

hilalgrill.com
@hilalgrill

$20–30 · Menu

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1638 N 40th St, Phoenix, AZ 85008 Get directions

+1 602 275 1815
hilalgrill.com
@hilalgrill

$20–30 · Menu

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Last updated

Aug 8, 2025

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@eater

Phoenix’s 12 Best Indian Restaurants | Eater Phoenix

"After relocating to Phoenix, chef Mamoona Hilal and her husband Muhammad Hilal Safi opened Hilal Grill to bring the flavors of home — Pakistani, Afghani, and Indian — to a part of town that didn’t have much of it. For $23.99, the all-day Sunday buffet is one of the best ways to sample this family-run spot’s Pakistani specialties — from rich haleem to tender nihari and fluffy, spice-packed biryani. The menu mixes regional influences: buttery-soft eggplant, smooth palak paneer, and steamed beef mantoo dumplings topped with spiced yogurt and tomato sauce. In cooler months, Friday barbecue nights take over with chapli kebabs, chicken tikka, and other grilled favorites served out on the cozy back patio. It’s a family spot with food that’s anything but watered down — rich, layered, and satisfying." - McConnell Quinn

https://phoenix.eater.com/maps/best-indian-restaurants-food-phoenix
View Postcard for Hilal Grill | Indian,Pakistani and Afghani Cuisine in Phoenix

Aj W

Google
I ordered a take meal from here through door dash. I also called the restaurant to make sure it was non spicy. I placed my order at 2:55pm but I didn’t receive the food until 4:15pm. All of the food was cold when I received it. I never received any updates from the restaurant regarding when I would receive the food. The food also was very spicy! The food did have some flavor. I would only ordered from here again if I was dining in.

Razin

Google
One of the best paya dishes I have ever eaten in my life! Everything else was good too. I highly recommend the paya and nihari!!

Russ and Nic

Google
Delicious! Big portions. We loved it. Update: 4-8-25 came back for more deliciousness.

Asim Ali

Google
Delicious food and the atmosphere was classic. It's a great option for dinner with friends, especially on Friday evening when we went and there was a BBQ special.

sigray2734

Google
10/5/24: Short version - the food was decent and there was plenty of it!, the service was all right (more on that later), and the decor was pretty typical (beautiful rugs and paintings). There was not anything that made Hilal stand out for either of us which means if someone asked if we would return, our answer would be no. Longer version - Food: this was our first time at eating mantoo (steamed beef stuffed dumplings, topped with yogurt, meat sauce ad mint) so maybe it is eaten cold (?). Regardless, it was flavorful and was presented on the plate very well. All of the naan was hot but it was also thinner than many other Indian restaurants (we love bread so the thicker the better); the mango lassi was good but it also felt like it was at room temp (I prefer mine chilled) and I am pretty sure they had it pre-made, set up in cups in a display case; the water bottle did not arrive at our table until the meal came out (why was it not the first thing delivered?); the paneer biryani was a huge portion (I'm going to have it as leftovers for at least 3-4 more meals) and boy was it spicy (for me, anyway); my sister's lamb kabab w/ rice was tasty and she enjoyed it. We opted not to try any of the desserts. Service: we were greeted immediately and told to pick any seat so we opted to head to the back of the restaurant. The greeter followed us and gave us the menus. I would say about five minutes passed before anyone returned to the table. It was the same gentleman who sat us, yet he says "I didn't know you were back here." Huh? He asks for our drink order and my sister asks for a Sierra Mist (they had a self serve station, we saw it), but the guy didn't know what that was until she pointed it out on the menu, to which he then says "we don't have that anymore" so she opted for the mango lassi. Two minutes later, my sister sees another customer walk by with a Sierra Mist (it was not water as it was bubbly so what else could it have been as she walked from the self-serve fountain machine). Huh? times two. The guy brings us our pre-made mango lassis and drops off two straws. My sister says "no straws" and hands them back to him, then he says "you need straws" and leaves them on the table. Huh? times three. We immediately popped off our lassi lids and drank w/o straws. Parking: we arrived around 2 o'clock and the small parking lot was already almost full. There were a couple spots open but they were in a location that essentially blocked another vehicle. There was street parking and maybe double parking (see photo), but regardless the parking lot is not large enough for a big crowd. Parking is a deal breaker for us. If it sucks, we won't be back -- although Hilal's lot didn't suck, it is not a parking lot we would be eager to park in again.

Edith Basir

Google
Family visiting today and needed a place for lunch. Took a chance on Hilal Grill and was not disappointed one bit! Outstanding buffet with a nice variety of dishes and service was outstanding . The place was friendly and inviting. Definitely going back. No complaints from the 4 of us!

Jennifer Koester

Google
Hilal Grill impressed me with its rich blend of Indian, Pakistani, and Afghani flavors. The spices were authentic, and the dishes were full of aroma and taste. The staff was welcoming, and the service was efficient. A must-visit for anyone craving bold, flavorful South Asian cuisine in Phoenix.

Tonni Das Jui

Google
The food is good. However probably Afghani style food is a little less roasted with spices. It's my habit to have spicy things, so i felt like some of the things needed more cooking. I added additional chilli in every dish cause i found them a little less spicy. But overall i wouldn't say the food has something wrong. But there was surely a shortage of items for a buffet. Probably 12 or 14 items and I don't eat any other meat than chicken, so I looked for chicken items only, so for me there was only chicken curry. The environment looked shady from outside but it was nicer and cooler inside. The service men were very energetic about maintaining everything for a small scale business. I would say they are doing a good job. The buffet is only on Sunday, and it is $24 for each person.
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Nikole G.

Yelp
What went well?? EVERYTHING!!!! I've driven by this spot so many times and never even considered going in- I've wronged myself! I've in all honesty been missing out!! This place is delicious!!! HANDS DOWN DELICIOUS!!!! Gone in the wind is any diet idea! I'm being pleased with this food! Even the juice drinks are top notch! Everyone working here is sweet! I love it here and never want to leave! It's a buffet, but I couldn't bring myself to take pics of my plates, but I ate them too fast! Everything is FANTASTIC!
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Tad D.

Yelp
Really nice people but really uninspiring visit. Half-decent chicken biryani, boring and slightly chewy chicken tikka. The inside is really dated and dreary. It would take a lot for me to go back, although it is convenient to airport hotels and has safe surroundings. Again the kid who worked the desk and seemed to do everything was really nice.
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Dez N.

Yelp
Wow! What a great way to experience Indian Cuisine for the first time! Amazing 10/10 service and food I could not wait to grab a bite I had to pull over to a park to enjoy my dinner.. the cheese naan is to die for the chicken tikka masala and the chicken handi were all phenomenal
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Roni K.

Yelp
First stop on Wednesday for lunch... had to bring friends back on Saturday! Very good food . We tried buttered chicken- flavorful with good portion of chicken, baked eggplant- butter soft with a hint if spice- eggplant shone through; palak paneer- great flavor.. very smooth; lentil main- a little soupy but added to afghani rice was perfect. Service was great- checked on us to make certain spice level and flavor good. Ambiance is nice with traditional music, art and rugs on walls. O my frequent list. Side note: a large non-profit was meeting after we left. They accommodated an entire conference !!!
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A. B.

Yelp
The food was outstanding! We came primarily for Afghani fare but everything was on point, including the nihari and freshly baked naan. Friendly, homey feel. Amazing!
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PJ S.

Yelp
The rice pilau was good. Veggie options on the buffet are limited, mostly meat. $36 plus tax etc, this was too much for what I could eat. I would not return. The environment is family friendly and locals here.
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Madiha S.

Yelp
The town's best barbecue nights and Pakistani cuisine. Hilal Grill is a great place to go if you're craving real Pakistani food in Arizona. The owners are amazing and sweetest people Try the Friday night tandoori grill and Sunday buffet, which have a lovely atmosphere and delectable fare.

Samina R.

Yelp
Excellent, flavorful Indian, Pakistani and Afghani cuisine, highly recommend. I love their chicken handi and Kabuli rice.
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Susan G.

Yelp
10/5/24: Short version - the food was decent and there was plenty of it!, the service was all right (more on that later), and the decor was pretty typical (beautiful rugs and paintings). There was not anything that made Hilal stand out for either of us which means if someone asked if we would return, our answer would be no. Longer version - Food: this was our first time at eating mantoo (steamed beef stuffed dumplings, topped with yogurt, meat sauce ad mint) so maybe it is eaten cold (?). Regardless, it was flavorful and was presented on the plate very well. All of the naan was hot but it was also thinner than many other Indian restaurants (we love bread so the thicker the better); the mango lassi was good but it also felt like it was at room temp (I prefer mine chilled) and I am pretty sure they had it pre-made, set up in cups in a display case; the water bottle did not arrive at our table until the meal came out (why was it not the first thing delivered?); the paneer biryani was a huge portion (I'm going to have it as leftovers for at least 3-4 more meals) and boy was it spicy (for me, anyway); my sister's lamb kabab w/ rice was tasty and she enjoyed it. We opted not to try any of the desserts. Service: we were greeted immediately and told to pick any seat so we opted to head to the back of the restaurant. The greeter followed us and gave us the menus. I would say about five minutes passed before anyone returned to the table. It was the same gentleman who sat us, yet he says "I didn't know you were back here." Huh? He asks for our drink order and my sister asks for a Sierra Mist (they had a self serve station, we saw it), but the guy didn't know what that was until she pointed it out on the menu, to which he then says "we don't have that anymore" so she opted for the mango lassi. Two minutes later, my sister sees another customer walk by with a Sierra Mist (it was not water as it was bubbly so what else could it have been as she walked from the self-serve fountain machine). Huh? times two. The guy brings us our pre-made mango lassis and drops off two straws. My sister says "no straws" and hands them back to him, then he says "you need straws" and leaves them on the table. Huh? times three. We immediately popped off our lassi lids and drank w/o straws. Parking: we arrived around 2 o'clock and the small parking lot was already almost full. There were a couple spots open but they were in a location that essentially blocked another vehicle. There was street parking and maybe double parking (see photo), but regardless the parking lot is not large enough for a big crowd. Parking is a deal breaker for us. If it sucks, we won't be back -- although Hilal's lot didn't suck, it is not a parking lot we would be eager to park in again.
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Heena S.

Yelp
Best Indian/pakistani food in town. A hole in the wall sort of joint. The Sunday buffets are the jam. Affordable and tons of variety. Service is a bit lacking but food more than compensates for it. I would make reservations to guarantee a seat for Sunday lunch. highlights of the food - Nihari, Paya, Grilled Chicken and halwa/puri.

K K.

Yelp
Food was amazing!! The service was wonderful the atmosphere was gorgeous. First time here and will def be coming back again with more family and friends.
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Steve G.

Yelp
Great menu selection. Excellent service. Had tikka and cauliflower and Afghan rice. All had great flavour and lots of food. Huge naan was good. Would go again if I lived in the area.
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Aaron W.

Yelp
Been wanting to check this spot out for the longest time and finally was able to go. So so good great service flavors delicious and just a good valley spot for great Indian food. Can be intimidating from the outside and parking is difficult but don't pass by get in and support another great spot in the valley

Maribel C.

Yelp
Awesome food!! Real homecooking. Very authentic. The staff were friendly and atmosphere was nice. Went for their Ramadan buffer

D S.

Yelp
This is one of the only Pakistani restaurants in Phoenix and it's great. I've been going for years and while the nihari can be hit or miss, everything else is spot on every time. The Sunday buffet is all you can eat and they usually have their best dishes. The staff is nice but theres usually only a few people working, so wait times can feel a little long, but the food makes up for it. This is a great place to try Pakistani food if you've never had it before. If you're going for the first time, definitely get the goat curry, nihari, and the chicken karahi.
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Yun-Wen L.

Yelp
Food/Taste/Flavor: 4/5 - note that the curries do not come with rice but you can order it on the side or some nan. Chicken Tikka Masala and Tandoori Plain Nan were great! The curry was very creamy with a hint of garam masala closing out each bite. The chicken pieces were large but varied in tenderness and flavor. The nan was fluffy and soft. Chicken Biryani was yummy overall but the chicken pieces were on the drier side. Ambience: n/a - ordered food to go. Large space that is well lit in the front but dark in the back. Faint music from the cashier area. The set up in the front looks like there's buffet style at certain times Service: 5/5 - professional and invited us to sit while we waited for our food Value for price: 4/5 - reasonable price but was a little disappointed by the portion size and the amount of protein given.

Sadia Z.

Yelp
Attended a private event at the Friday night BBQ! Food and ambience was amazing. Outdoor heaters make it a nice cozy setting for AZ winter evenings.
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Veronica A.

Yelp
Excellent , authentic food. Courteous service in a clean environment. Sunday buffet is a must try !
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Veeral K.

Yelp
Christmas is supposed to be a happy and jolly time, and this place drained my spirits away with their hospitality and wait time and quality of food. Ambiance was non existent.

Nadya M.

Yelp
We hosted a friends dinner event at Hilal grill delicious fresh authentic Pakistani food. They have a live bbq Fridays and our guests really enjoyed the bbq so many items and the ambiance and servers was amazing! The owners Mamoona and her husband are there to see that the event executes with perfection! We had such a great time!
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Roxell C.

Yelp
The food was okay, but I wouldn't order again unfortunately.The chicken curry was , but the tandoori chicken was good.The naan was good as well.The chicken tikka masala was missing something, therefore it wasn't good.Maybe it needed more yogurt or something, but it didn't taste like the good chicken tikka masalas I've had at many different Indian restaurants in the west coast and east coast.It's lacking in flavor.The chai tea cup size is tiny.It is smaller than your standard coffe cup, and smaller than the smallest size at Starbucks.I've hard larger cups from other Indian restaurants.The other issue is that it didn't taste good.It tasted like plain tea, no spiced flavor, and no sweetness.I've had much better chai tea from other Indian restaurants. I will try my luck with other restaurants now.
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Abhishek S.

Yelp
I wish I could give this place a 6/5 stars. I went for the buffet today & I tried everything they had on their buffet offerings. The Jeera Aloo (cumin potatoes), chicken tikka, butter chicken, Daal fry, goat curry, goat paaya (trotters), nihari, Halwa, poori, phirni, Naan, everything is on-point and taste so yummy. The basmati rice is cooked so well, as soon as I opened the lid of the cooker, it smelled so fragrant and tasted just like home. Unlike many restaurants that serve different meats in the same curry, this place has a blend of spices that reminds me of food back home in India (similar to Pakistani food). This continues to remain my favorite South East Asian food restaurant in the area. Even after filling up on all the food, I don't feel overstuffed or lazy, it's really something I would recommend to anyone looking for authentic flavors, in a heartbeat.

Lee H.

Yelp
The best place to eat Afghan Pakistani Indian 100% Halal food delicious dishes fare prices the perfect weekend special buffet all you can eat for $26 is the best i have seen in Arizona very friendly services nice facility remind me back home when ever i go there
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Lisa C.

Yelp
Came in to take out chicken tiki marsala and where the register comes up and you're supposed to put a tip in or no tip I hit no tip she automatically put on 10%, I caught her doing it so FYI make sure you check your receipt. I will never come back. I don't like dishonest people

John G.

Yelp
Food taste was amazing. And presentation was wonderful. Great seasoning. Excellent service. It's not a fancy restaurant. It's food with a ton of love. Try you will love. Not far from PHX airport. They do take out and catering.
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Urooj T.

Yelp
Best Pakistani buffet in all of Phoenix.From the nahari, halwa, pulao and chicken tikka all tasted amazing. Great setup for large parties to enjoy a delightful meal together. The servers were attentive and made sure we had hot puris the second we asked. Decor is simple but effective makes you feel like you're at home. If you're looking delish food I highly recommend the Sunday buffet. The price is just right. Great job to entire team of Hilal Grill.

Janifa A.

Yelp
Yummy food. Nice environment. Friendly staff. Variety food, fruit drinks and hot tea, coffee. Definitely going back again.
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Jessica P.

Yelp
This place is such a gem!! I was looking for some authentic Indian food for take out and this place did not disappoint! I got the butter chicken with rice and garlic naan bread and it was delicious! Definitely will be coming back here
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Julia G.

Yelp
I reviewed this restaurant years ago before when it was called Tahoora Grill and the name it had before that. So I have to post a new review now. One of my favorite things to do is come to their Sunday buffet. As far as I was told, this restaurant came about when a sister and sister-in-law went into partnership to open another favorite of mine, Khyber Halal nearby. In the first 8 months, they clashed and severed their partnership, and one of them opened Tahoora Grill (had a different name I can't remember, so many name changes this place had). The menus were almost identical even to every picture. Tahoora Grill became Hilal because I was told by management, that some restaurant in Chicago, so far away, had the same Tahoora Grill name and they were complaining that Tahoora Grill in Phoenix took their name. So Tahoora was changed to Hilal, and with a (wrong or at least unconventional spelling) of Halal, that no other business would wanna spell Halal as Hilal. So I guess Hilal is gonna stick. When it was Tahoora Grill, I hosted several Wild Dining MeetUps for groups of 20 people to eat the Sunday buffet. Owners were so nice to give us reservations when they are so crowded on that day. You know the place serves truly authentic cooking of the ethnicity it represents, when the only white people eating there were the people in the MeetUp who signed up for my Sunday Buffet event. When standing in line to pay in advance, I asked Pakistanis and Indians and Afghanis if this cooking was what I would expect their mom to prepare at their home, in their country or origin. They all said yes. And one of them said "We drove all the way from Tucson, just to eat here!" Another overheard, and exclaimed "This is the best restaurant in ALL of Arizona!" My favorite dish is Goat Paya, a stew cooked with goat feet and lots of dark gelatanous gravy I like to put on my rice. I love "feet" of pig, chicken, goat, and beef, cos of the gluten, gelatin, and the knuckles, good source of collagen. Anyhow they have Goat Paya all you can eat at the Sunday buffet. Goat is expensive and their buffet is a great price for all those traditional dishes including fountain drink. I also love their grilled fish, so much grill flavor ! But the portion wasn't much, cos we (in the picture below) shared that dish off the menu between three people. I brought Kashmiri Indian friends who sold handicrafts from their country at Tucson Gem show and Scottsdale Arabian Horse show, to eat at Hilal. Now we eat here together every time they come from NYC to sell their country's (Kashmir. India) handicrafts every February. They say food is very good and authentic, and come to eat here several times a week during the shows, and buying their groceries next door.

Teresa S.

Yelp
We flew in from Seattle and came across this restaurant by chance. The food was delicious and service wonderful. The staff was hospitable and made us feel at home! We had wanted very much to try the Sunday buffet, unfortunately our travel schedule didn't work out. Will definitely dine here again next time when we visit family in Phoenix!
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Suleman A.

Yelp
One of my favorites and always a go-to spot when you crave any Pakistani/Indian food. The service is quick, you receive your food in a timely manner and the staff is very friendly. The ambiance is very cultural with its decorations and very relaxed. It gives you the feeling that you're at a friends house more than a restaurant. The food is mouth watering and jam packed of unique flavors that would have your taste buds dancing. If you've never tried this type of food, this is a great place to try as you'll receive the best experience from here. Highly recommend a visit.
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Zahra L.

Yelp
Best place for Sunday buffet in town! Have them cater so many parties and they bring a 100% every time :-) highly recommend!
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Jacqueline H.

Yelp
Female owned and operated by Chef Mamoona Hilal -this restaurant offers Afghani and Pakistani dishes, made with love from family recipes passed down through generations. This restaurant is as authentic as it gets! Don't expect ambiance and decor...this place is really just about the food! Try the Mixed platter with rice, the butter chicken and chicken tikka masala, palak paneer, and ABSOLUTELY must try the Mantoo (afghan dumplings filled with beef and onions, topped with a creamy herbaceous sauce. For a true authentic foodie adventure, come here!

Kamie F.

Yelp
Happened upon this place while in Pheonix for a class. Some of the best Indian food I have ever had. Authentic and delicious. Have been back for the Sunday brunch which was also amazing.
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Callista F.

Yelp
The best butter chicken I've had in ages. Absolutely delicious! I will be ordering again
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Kristen W.

Yelp
Amazing food. They play fun music. It's big enough to dance or skate around. :) Great use of space. Really cute partition so the staff have their personal space. I'm sad I didn't come sooner, I've lived in the area for a couple years. Hidden treasure for sure. They open at 11:00 close at 8:00 come eat. If they have a dance night I will see you there.
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Unisha M.

Yelp
Quality food! Went for a take-out order but we ended up also dining in. We had the samosa chat, paratha, the lamb kabab with Afghani rice, and chicken kadhai. The flavors were shuttle and each item tasted delicious. The chat was not the typical north Indian Delhi style chat but rather different. I liked it though not too spicy or tangy, had a taste of its own. The rice, kabab, and chicken kadhai were amazingly good. Tender meat and rich gravy. The rice was flavorful too. Portions were good too! Four stars for now! The decor and seating arrangement not so great! Bdw the staff were wearing masks!
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Arlene G.

Yelp
I've been coming here for years. My best friend is friends with the family. We typically order catering from here: chicken tikka is just mouth watering and a great hit for guests especially when trying new foods. I recently ordered take out. Got my chicken tikka and also ordered a biryani. Both were amazing and flavorful. I'd consider this spot my go to for Indian/Afghan.
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Kat V.

Yelp
Always thought about trying this place but never have a chance to visit. So we got delivery order! I am craving for curry and got three veggie curries. They have uniquely complex and delicious flavors. My love to paneer cheese made me order paneer every time i tried a new restaurant. It is kind like my test to the restaurant. This paneer curry is tasty. Paneer is soft and moist, not dry and hard. Curry sauce tastes sweet and savory. Okra curry is also good, different from what I had before, but I love this flavor. I am surprised that I like potato and pea curry. Usually I didn't like potato but the way they made this curry make me change my mind. It is hard to decide which curry I like the most. I like them all. They compliment each other. I did not know that the food did not come with rice or naan, so I heat up frozen naans I always had in my fridge. Then I enjoy my favorite rasmali (cheese curd floating in sweet milk cream) and gulab jamun (fried dough ball soaking in syrup) desserts. I wish I get a big bowl of rasmali!
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Abir L.

Yelp
The crave yesterday was for afghani food and it was because of TikTok! A lady I follow was enjoying afghani food in a different state so much, I had to try it for myself. So I went to my trusted Yelp and found Hilal Grill. My husband went to order and get us take out. I know what mantoo is in principle (I tried Manti in Dubai and it's yummy- this is very similar). We also ordered their famous badenjan dish and asked for recommendations on what to pick for the mixed grill platter and we got the tikka chicken, another chicken grill (probably mint chicken?) and two types of Kababs, one was definitely beef. We also got a couple of plain naans. The food was packaged really well with plastic wrap on top too so nothing spilled and everything looked good when it arrived. If I was to rate each dish separately, the mantoo got 5/5, the badenjan 5/5 and the grills and rice 3/5. The mantoo was delicious, melt in your mouth goodness with yogurt and dried mint on top. They are pillowy dough bites filled with ground beef and topped with yogurt and sauce, delicious. The badenjan tasted almost identical to the Lebanese version of Mousakka, also very very tasty eggplant topped with yogurt sauce. The grills and the rice were not entirely my favorite. The chicken tikka and the green (probably mint grilled chicken pieces) were very good. The kababs were just ok, they had a flavor that I am unable to explain and that was not my favorite. The rice, to my surprise, had vermicelli which we normally enjoy but again, the flavor was very foreign to us and was not particularly appealing. Although the grills on the menu say they come with salad, it's basically fresh onions, lemon wedges and some greens, not an actual salad with dressing. The naans were huge and were not greasy which is what we prefer. Prices are slightly on the higher side. We paid $67+ before tip. The portion were ok, the grills plate was pretty big. We are definitely craving the mantoo and badenjan dishes again today. We will be giving the restaurant another try and will order curries next time and another type of rice.
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Ifrah F.

Yelp
I'm on a mission to find good Pakistani/Indian food in Phoenix. We arrived here on a Saturday around 7:15PM and the place wasn't very busy but people started pouring in shortly after. We ordered paye, chicken tikka, beef biryani, chicken handi, and garlic naan. The serving sizes were on the smaller side in my opinion but four items for four people seemed to worked out. The chicken tikka was moist and tender but just on the verge of being undercooked, and it was pretty mild in flavor. With more spice and more cook time, it would be perfect! Everything else we ordered was pretty good. The garlic naan was superb! It was so fresh and delicious. They might be understaffed because our servers seemed flustered. When ordering, the waitress had warned us that our food would take anywhere between 35-55 minutes. It ended up coming out in 15, which was nice. She had also said that chai would take 45 minutes, which was confusing because right then another waiter said he would make it in 5. Overall the service is hit or miss, but the food is definitely worth a visit!
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Michael R.

Yelp
Here we are, post-pandemic, and Hilal Grill is STILL a great choice for Indian/Pakistani/Afghanistani food. Actually, I wouldn't just limit it to ethnic origins... this place is a fine choice for lunch or dinner, no matter what your expectations might be. So good! We had 3 people, including myself, for a meeting over dinner. We took a table in the far corner of the spacious dining room, so as not to disturb their main service. It was a weeknight, and the place was about half full most of the time we were there. Very comfortable, and the server was happy to let us have our discussion before taking the order. Chicken Tikka Masala, Butter Chicken, and Beef Biryani were all excellent, and the sides were great across the board. Garlic Naan, Afghani Rice, and a side order of Chana Masala (a chickpea curry that is usually a main dish), were all hot, fresh, and tasted so distinctly spiced (no Americanized versions here!) that we didn't talk much after the food came! Too busy enjoying the spread. Mamoona is an expert chef and the food never disappoints. Do yourself a major favor and support this wonderful neighborhood treasure. I suggest the Sunday All-Day Buffet, so as to get a wide sampling of the dishes coming from the kitchen. Not the cheapest, but certainly the best.
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Estrella D.

Yelp
Really great mango lassi. Me and my gf came here for lunch and we were really excited for the food. It came out fairly quickly but it was more of pakistani flavors than indian food.
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Michael E.

Yelp
Authentic food! Great service, great food, just amazing over all! Definitely coming back soon!
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Mehdi N.

Yelp
It is a really nice and quiet place to get some real Indian food in Phoenix. Food was amazing and the service was good. The menu offers plenty of options
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Christina B.

Yelp
It's really a 4.5, but given the lack of good food in AZ, I'll bump it up;) First time here. I was craving Indian, typed Indian food in Yelp and saw this and was intrigued. It hasn't yet been bookmarked so was super new to me. Looking at the inside pix, I thought maybe I had been there before, but once I parked, I realized I had never been here. It's easy to miss the entrance for parking so be careful. They have multiple parking spots, but if they were ever super busy, you'd probably have to park in the neighbor on the streets? I walked in and there were only two tables of people. I was greeted and seated at a table. It is very casual dining tables and decor in a big room. Menu is huge, but finally decided on beef samosas, chicken curry, Afghani eggplant, garlic naan and mango lassi. I was super excited that they had Afghani food as I have missed that so much and didn't think they had that in AZ! The food came out SO fast. I wasn't expecting that and for the most part, tasted fresh. I dunno how they got the food out so fast! I enjoyed the mango lassi as it tasted like fresh fruit so wasn't super sweet like at most places. It tasted like even the yogurt was freshly made. The beef samosas were noms. Airy fried if that makes sense vs the typical Indian heavy fried dough so it didn't feel heavy eating it or super oily. High recommend. The chicken curry was just okay. Nothing wrong with it, but didn't blow me away. Naan was good. Eggplant looked small serving at first, but then realized when eating it is quite dense so actually a good portion. I had to ask for Togo containers for my leftovers. Bathroom is in the back and was basic and clean. You have to go up to the front to pay. Overall, I was pleased with the food and service and price and will come back to try other items!

Cal M.

Yelp
As a white man who really enjoys indian cuisine this might be one of the most bland, apathetic, expensive, and sad attempts at indian cuisine. I payed $45 for a lamb kebab, rice, and chicken tiki masala (which was 25% oil and lacked any sort of flavor). That being said, I could've bought more flavorful microwaved meals from walmart for a tenth of the price. Both me and my egyptian girlfriend have upset stomachs and ordered mild or medium meals. The only reason this place is getting two stars is because the gentleman taking our order was really helpful by getting the door and we came in while they were closing so I'm trying to give them the benefit of the doubt. That being said I wouldnt recommend going here and honestly would like a refund as a struggling college student.
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Lola L.

Yelp
Food was very tasty. As far as decor and vibe, well you prob wont be impressed but its clean, big and the staff friendly and professional. Food didnt take long to come out either.
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Danielle R.

Yelp
Came here for the first time due to the good reviews. Their online ordering system doesn't work right now so I called in the order. I settled on the Chicken Handi. The chicken pieces were good and fresh. I was disappointed that it didn't come with white rice. Also, I saw jalapeños in the dish and was surprised that there was no indication of the dish being spicy on the menu or when ordering. Every Indian entree I've ever had in my life has come with white rice for free. Every Indian place has asked what spice level I want when ordering, I had no idea this was spicy or had jalapeños. When I got home and opened the container, I was shocked by the amount of oil pooled at the top. It was disgusting. I had to strain the oil off and it still didn't help. The garlic naan was good. It's hard to want to try anything else here based on this first experience unfortunately.