Punjabi Junction

I enjoy Pakistani food, so when in areas with Pakistani restaurants, I try to try new ones… I recently came in here with a colleague for lunch. The place was clean, I could even see in the kitchen and it looked nice. Service was fine. The menu is filled with the typical Pakistani/Indian delights. We tried their chicken tikka (boneless) kabob. The flavors were really good and the meat was tender. It came out perfect. The naan was incredibly soft and perfect texture and density too. Their veggie biryani was more of a mix of curry into the rice, versus the right way of making it with curry folded into the rice with some other colored rices folded in as well. The flavors were just a messy/overall single flavor, rather than tasting the different flavors. The karahi was really just a stewed chicken curry, versus a freshly made stir fried (in a karahi) style curry with fresh tomatoes and chicken. I could tell by how melty and stewed down the chicken was. Overall, the flavor was ok, but it didn’t resemble the karahi I’m familiar with from making ir and eating it in Pakistani family kitchens over the years. I still enjoyed the visit and if I came back, I’d stick with kabobs

Amazing food, wonderful experience! Firstly, Paa ji welcomed us warmly. The restaurant is cozy and welcoming. We ordered paneer delicacies and the paneer was perfectly cooked. Chole bathuras were the BEST! Have thoroughly enjoyed them. The pricing is very economical For the price, they served good quantities. Definitely worth coming in. We will come back for sure.

After discovering this restaurant, I'm HOOKED. Had multiple dishes and appetizers and each one was spiced right and savory. My orders so far to date - Tangy Aloo Chat, Aloo Tikki Chaat, Goan Fish Curry (Amazing), Chicken Vindaloo (Amazing), Chicken Karahi (Amazing), Lacha paratha bread, and Naan. Thank you, Jogi, Mom, Dad and the Chef. So far, I have really been impressed and will continue to come back for tasty and delicious Indian Entress. Will provide photos of my future dishes that I will be DEVOURING.!! :) CHEERS..!

I had such a great experience at this Indian restaurant. The butter chicken was absolutely delicious it was rich, creamy, and packed with flavor, paired perfectly with the fluffy white rice. The samosas were golden and crispy, and the tamarind sauce and chutney took them to another level. The garlic naan was soft, warm, and perfect for scooping up the sauce. On top of the amazing food, the service was truly outstanding. The staff were so friendly and attentive, making the whole meal even more enjoyable. Everything tasted fresh and authentic, and the portions were generous without being too heavy. I’ll definitely be coming back, highly recommend this spot if you want incredible Indian food and excellent service!

Punjabi Junction was an excellent source of authentic Indian cuisine! From the Byranis to the Tandoori, appetizers and desserts alike are simply delicious. The staff and servers work well as a team to ensure the customer has a great experience. Punjabi Junction has the best filtered tap water!! This is reflected in everything they offer and it makes this restaurant the first choice go-to for any occasion. Overall the restaurant is very clean and tidy. Punjabi Junction also offers accommodations for large parties. I definitely recommend Punjabi Junction, there is simply no place better.

I went on a weekday with my wife to post a movie for dinner. The ambience of the restaurant was pretty good. The food I thought was bland with very less salt and they don't provide salt and pepper on the table. (Which you guys should). After adding this, the food was manageable. The Tikki and Paneer Pakoda in the assorted platter was very good though.

Very tasty food, friendly service, and good size portions. The Goan fish curry was our favorite. We will definitely add this place to our favorites.

Hands down the best chicken tikka masala in the area. It’s cooked in a typical Punjabi way with well balanced spices (I’m so glad the gravy isn’t on the sweeter side). The entrée also came with a side of naan/rice. My husband had the chole bhature and absolutely loved it. Everything tasted so fresh and delicious. Another big plus is the cleanliness of the restaurant & the beautiful ambiance. We will definitely be visiting this place again.

After discovering this restaurant, I'm HOOKED. Had multiple dishes and appetizers and each one was spiced right and savory. My orders so far to date - Tangy Aloo Chat, Aloo Tikki Chaat, Goan Fish Curry (Amazing), Chicken Vindaloo (Amazing), Chicken Karahi (Amazing), Dal Fry (Fabulous), Methi Paneer (Oh My Goodness), Lacha paratha bread, and Naan. Thank you, Jogi, Mom, Dad and the Chef. So far, I have really been impressed and will continue to come back for tasty and delicious Indian Entress. Will add photos from my future dish delicacies I will DEVOUR. !!

I enjoy Pakistani food, so when in areas with Pakistani restaurants, I try to try new ones... I recently came in here with a colleague for lunch. The place was clean, I could even see in the kitchen and it looked nice. Service was fine. The menu is filled with the typical Pakistani/Indian delights. We tried their chicken tikka (boneless) kabob. The flavors were really good and the meat was tender. It came out perfect. The naan was incredibly soft and perfect texture and density too. Their veggie biryani was more of a mix of curry into the rice, versus the right way of making it with curry folded into the rice with some other colored rices folded in as well. The flavors were just a messy/overall single flavor, rather than tasting the different flavors. The karahi was really just a stewed chicken curry, versus a freshly made stir fried (in a karahi) style curry with fresh tomatoes and chicken. I could tell by how melty and stewed down the chicken was. Overall, the flavor was ok, but it didn't resemble the karahi I'm familiar with from making it and eating it in Pakistani family kitchens over the years. I still enjoyed the visit and if I came back, I'd stick with kabobs

We ordered from here through Uber Eats. The food was good, but it wasn't great. Probably my shortest review ever, but I will probably order from this restaurant again not sure though...

Butter chicken, other vegetables dishes, the tandoori roti, garlic naan, and lacha parantha is so tasty. Friendly staff. Service is fast and attentive. Clean and cozy inside. I enjoy coming here.

The mango lassi is great. It's perfect amount of sweetness, no sour or tart flavor and has a milky taste. Although I was picking up Togo, the aesthetic of the restaurant really made me want to come back and sit in sometime. Unfortunately that's where the good review stops. I got the tandoori mix grill. They ran out of Salmon so I subbed in an extra lamb chop. The meat is seasoned too strongly. It's not even spicy but the overwhelming taste of the spices made it less appetizing just off the smell of the spices. The meat texture itself was either too hard or too soft. A lot of inconsistency

A simple but elegant restaurant that is obviously a favorite for business men to families. Service was excellent , quick and friendly. The Chicken Tika Masala is phenomenal, I enjoyed it with fresh Nan! The location is in a strip mall with good parking.

Absolutely the best Indian food in the VA area. The quality and taste don't fade, you're going to be satisfied and know what to expect if you're a regular.

Authentic tasting Indian food. I have done few caterings and they have been consistent for the food quality and quantity. Jogi (owner) has been a one-stop shop providing punctual and courteous home setups for catering orders. Tips: ask them to make thinner edges for Naan and certainly controlled use of cream if Lactose intolerant.

I've visited Punjabi Junction 3+ times now and have never been disappointed. The food is incredible, portions are large and the prices are very reasonable. The inside of the restaurant is cozy and spacious, definitely feels like a "sit down" restaurant (even though their carry out area is always super busy). The servers are always in a good mood, helpful and attentive. Food came out in less than 15 min. Everything was incredibly delicious. Forgot to take a picture of the Gajar (carrot) Halwa but it was to die for, along with everything else. Shout out to the guys in the back making all this delicious grub you're really doing gods work xo

Solid Indian spot in Nova! The inside is very cozy, and I like the booth. They were having a party on a Sunday night, and that kind of added to the festivities of the restaurant. The service was incredibly fast and the food came out quickly. You will be in and out within an hour for sure. I tried the saag paneer, which was decent, but you couldn't really taste the spinach because it was a little bit mushy. I also tried the butter chicken, which had a very good flavor in the curry and was super creamy but the chicken itself was dry pieces of chicken tikka kebabs. Last I tried the malai kofta which had a few big kofta pieces - which was really tasty as well, but definitely spicy, even though we asked for mild. I like these dishes, and they were not greasy at all. You will have a lot of leftovers!

My family loves Indian food! We have enjoyed coming to Punjabi Junction for years but disappointed that they no longer offer the lunch buffet. They stopped during covid shutdown. The food is amazing but we like to try a little of all the options.

Swung by for lunch and was surprised by quick friendly service and some of the best curry chicken I've had in a long time. I will be returning here ! Strongly suggest give it a try!

STERLING, VA 06/15/19 WEEKEND LUNCH BUFFET +The tandoori chicken had a nice spicy kick to it. +They also offer butter chicken and two other chicken dishes. +The naan was piping hot and fluffy; we ordered 3 baskets because it was so good. -The service was slow even though there were like 5-6 waiters. -The dessert offerings could have been a little better. -The floors were a bit dirty. -The dishes weren't all that clean. Overall, I would return for the weekend lunch buffet because they offer a good amount of variety and the pricing is not too bad. Check them out, or DM me some other spots to check out!

Ordered butter chicken and kheer, some of the chicken pieces were stinky. I'm not sure if it was just old meat or not cooked properly. I've had better elsewhere. The kheer confused me because it was like a watery milk with boiled rice grains. Didn't taste like the kheer I've always eaten at home or other places. It was disgusting, I threw it away. I was hoping for good food but was disappointed. Won't be returning here. Nor will i recommend it. Palm Royal has better butter-chicken and kheer.

Ordered on Uber eats and everything was hot and fresh with all the necessary sauces and accompaniments. The goat curry was delicious and the naan were OK I would've preferred them to be a little thinner but overall they were fine. The chicken Seekh kabob was also good

I would give a half star if there is an option. I called in for a take out order. The lady who picked up the phone was rude and consistently "huh" me with a loud voice when she wasn't able to understand what I said. I slowly repeated my order which was a butter chicken curry and a tikka masala curry. After repeating for 4~5 times my order she finally understood and asked me if I want a naan or rice. I asked if I could have both. She raised her volume and huh me again, and I have to repeat another 2-3 times I wanted both rice and naan. The entire call took me more than 5 minutes and the lady was rude and impatient. When I was picking up my oder at the restaurant, the lady told me not to laugh at her when ordering food. I had no idea when I had laughed, I spent most of my time in the 5 minutes call repeating "I want to have a butter chicken and a tikka masala curry". Also, I was asked for my credit card information during the phone call before I arrived at the restaurant. I was then asked AGAIN to pay at the restaurant from the same lady on the phone call. It seemed to me they wanted me to pay twice. I didnt not get charge twice after checking my bank account, but it felt weird. The food was also not good. Butter chicken curry was very sour and the chicken was dry. Naan was overcooked. No utensils were provided. The portion was small for the price. The service and the food are not worth the money. Please DO NOT waste your time and money at this place.

Great food. Over the course of few visits, we have tried mixed grill, chicken tikka, butter chicken, chicken biryani, fish, some curries and daal. Everything was amazing. Service is great. Family operated business - lady was super sweet and checked often to make sure we didn't need anything. They seemed super busy with catering orders as well.

Amazing fresh food, pure Punjabi style Always makes me remember Delhi food, servers and owner very friendly must have and highly recommend

Very good Indian food. The restaurant is nice with comfortable seating. The staff are friendly and attentive. Food is very good and reasonably priced.

Best indian food, food was so delicious, excellent service, servers are attent and nice. , clean place

Northern Virginia has many Indian restaurants. But Punjabi Junction has one of the best lunch buffet. Punjabi Junction, I like that name. They bring a basket of naan as a starter. The buffet has pretty much all the most common Indian dishes. My favorite is the butter chicken. Service is top-notch. They're always fussing over the buffet. The employees are constantly refilling items and keeping the buffet clean. They're always coming around filling up your drinks. It's pretty spacious. There's a little bar all the way in the back but I've never seen anybody use it. The decor is simple. 5 stars.

I made a point of traveling out to sterling VA from DC because I heard great things about Punjab Junction, especially their buffet lunch. However I came for dinner. I have never had authentic Indian Food before so I wasn't sure what to expect. I must say WOW, the food was wonderful. It was brought out hot and sizzling! It was made from scratch for sure. Butter chicken is my new comfort food. The owner served us beer imported from Indian and it was great to hear his story / background and how the restaurant came to be. I highly recommend the garlic naan bread and the tandoori mixed grill. It's seafood and poultry / beef. It came out sizzling! I can't wait to go back and have the butter chicken, it was truly delicious

Love this place. Their food is delicious for takeout or sit-in, during buffet hours and otherwise. The service is impeccable, with people courteously checking in and promptly removing plates and getting what you want. I love coming for the weekend buffet, which has my favorites constantly. I recently tried the tomato soup which was such a treat -- creamy but not bisque-thick, WITH a nice spicy kick. They provide delicious made-upon-arrival buttery naan and the buffet includes fried bread. The samosas aren't my favorite but very good. My favorites include the vegetable rice, paneer (in masala sauce or paneer), butter chicken. The sauces have perfectly developed flavors and all the meat is tender and done just right. Discovering the yelp checkin free dessert was a treat. I really love coming here and eating my fill of quality food.

Chicken Biryani was perfectly Medium spice. Vegetable Samosa was deliciously flaky and still warm when delivered. Also went with Dal Shorba and a side of garlic naan perfect for rainy cold weather.

Fantastic dinner tonight. We were looking for a place to eat nearby and Punjabi Junction is in a small strip mall next to our vet. I usually order butter chicken at new places as my litmus test, and PJ did not disappoint! Even the basmati rice was fragrant and delicious, but the garlic naan was TO DIE FOR. I had to order more for my leftovers! Hubby had a wonderful chickpea and spinach dish that had a good amount of spice. He raved about it, along with the aforementioned rice and some really fresh pappadum. Prices were very reasonable and the staff were friendly and provided great service. We'll definitely go back.

Good food with reasonable prices. Definitely not the best Indian food around by any means but they're at a convenient location off of 606. They could certainly improve on the taste to get more long term customers.

This is definitely not a RECOMMENDED place near Loudoun with RUDE EMPLOYEES and their food isn't that good. There are bunch of better Indian restaurants compare to this one. Employees are extremely racist. Btw can you guys imagine the same receptionist tried to charge us twice on the phone and then in store when she knew it was us ordered the food. For the price of the food I EXPECT THE FOOD TO BE BETTER. look at the naan picture... It gives me diarrhea after consuming the butter chicken (stinky)...HIGHLY NOT RECOMMENDED, DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME AND MONEY HERE AT THIS PLACE!!!

My wife and I love this joint! When you dine in, as a pre order they give you a few sauces with these very crispy sesame crackers. They really don't go well together and to an American palate don't taste well. But you are thinking, how are you going to give them a 5 star and pan their appetizer thing. Easy, the food. First, the vindalo is solid. Good stuff. But I judge Indian food based on the chicken byrani and the chicken korma. PJ has the best we gotta around here.

Chicken Methi - chicken was soft and moist. Perfectly cooked. Goat curry - also good. Careful of the pieces of bone though. Butter Chicken - okay. Chicken seemed oveecooked as it was pretty dry though. Service was okay but we had to ask for things multiple times.

Unfortunately, they no longer have the buffet. Had to order a traditional meal. I had the lamb biryani and it was terrific

Everything on the menu is phenomenal! Haven't experienced the lunch buffet, but if it's anything like takeout, you're in for a treat. Ordered the following and I give it all a 5 out of 5 for a first time order: - CHICKEN TIKKA MASALLA: Make sure you call for mild if you're not into spicy. Medium level has a kick to it. I loved it, but be prepared. Also, order a side of rice if you select naan, which is also amazing. - CHANNA MASALLA: Great veggie option full of flavor and super filling. Again, be cautious of the level of spice you order. - GARLIC NAAN: A must order. The regular (butter) is just as good.

We were excited to see the menu and when we got there for the weekend buffet, we were very disappointed. Despite 4* their food taste, variety and quality is extremely bad and stale.. They had idli which was rock hard Black dal tasted like left overs and was cold The knl6 decent thing was their naan and paratha but beyond that rice quality, Chinese Hakka noodles and fried rice and other curries were very bad Will not be returning to this place The only dessert they had on the weekend were crystallized gulag jamun

Excellent and very authentic North Indian food . Service was great too. They followed all the COVID precautions ( gloves , mask and social distancing ) etc . Would recommend highly.

I've ordered take-out from here several times and ate their lunch buffet. I've never been disappointed with their take-out, it's always been very good. Their lunch buffet is small but very good! Among some of the options was chicken curry and goat curry, which is what I wanted and they both tasted great. The husband had the butter chicken and he said he loved it. Mind you, he doesn't stray from the hot dog and ketchup or cheeseburger too much so that's saying a lot. The lunch buffet was $10.99 a person and each entree I ordered for take-out in the past we're reasonably priced. The ambiance was nice and by far, one of the cleanest restaurants I've been to. Service was ok...but it was fine for the buffet. We both really like this place and do plan on coming back.

Nice food and quality is good too. Excellent service. Haven't been disappointed by my visits in past 2 years

This place is authentic, I've been to enough Indian places except India. The chicken here is not ever oily, but so tender and moist. The Curry they create here is not salty at all, it's literally pure spices that decorates my tastebuds with joy. The bread is amazing, if I get critiqued for not calling it Naan or pita or Indian bread I'm gonna flip. Anyhow, this is place is top 3 Indian places.

The food and service was excellent. Very family friendly and accommodating. Highly recommended.

Amazing service best Indian food in town! Will highly recommend!! Highly recommend Kofta curry!

Maybe their buffet is better than their Al a carte food, really. We ordered a couple of appetizers and nothing was great, honestly. The chaat did not have enough yogurt and the pakora was dry and very sad looking. Service was pretty much non-existent, even though they were not super busy. Not likely to come back.

Punjabi Junction has been getting progressively worse as a delivery option for some time. It used to be the best in local area. Last night was the last time. The very cheapest meats: fatty chicken and the lamb korma was actually goat. Either that or the lamb has suddenly become very stringy and goat-like. The chicken curry was simply awful. The sauce was watery and flavorless. The last time, it wasn't great but at least has some flavor. This time it was one of the worst so-called "Indian" curries I've ever had. The vegetable pakora was from the freezer and certainly not made in the restaurant. The naan was stodgy, wet, and inedible. So, a message to the Punjabi Junction: your food has become terrible. It used to be much better. If you're offering a lamb curry then make sure it's tender lamb and not stringy goat. Put some pride into your food. I doubt even you would have eaten the muck you delivered to me last night.

This is a decent Indian buffet. The selection is not huge, by generally pretty tasty. The paneer and the sauce it was in was very good, and so was the chicken masala. Nice looking restaurant with attentive, if slightly awkward service. Look into their lunch and Saturday special prices. Worth stopping by if you are in the area and hungry for some Indian buffet. I'd like to give a 3.5 Star

Update: Been here several times after my previous review with some advice for potential diners. 1) Don't order the pakoras. They've been burned/overcooked every time. A call to the manager gets you a "oh okay" without any recourse to fix the issue. 2) Whatever you do, DON'T GO WHEN THEY HAVE A FUNCTION PLANNED. They are too focused on the party and don't care about watered-down, poorly cooked, and flavorless food that they give you for take out. Won't be going back after several experiences of this.

Definitely recommend this place if you are in the mood for a casual weekday meal. This place has never disappointed with their good choices on true Punjabi inspired dishes. Biryani and chole are excellent, as well as their other poultry dishes. Reasonably priced.

I ordered a meal yesterday - here is feedback on it. Paneer Pakora- so hard that I had to throw them away. Pakora Kadhi - very spicy Gajar halwa - I have tasted better. Overall a big waste of my money.

Back for another visit. Fantastic as usual. Papdi Chaat and Somosa Chaat (Medium Heat) to start followed by Lamb Vindaloo (YUM)!

Came here for a Saturday brunch buffet; we've been here several times as it's close to home, has a decent selection and good quality food. We hadn't been here for awhile and were pleasantly surprised by some new remodeling and the service was markedly better. We asked if there was new management as the quality and taste of the food was similar, but also seemed a bit fresher and more flavorful. Price was about the same: we were gladly able to fill up two voracious eaters for about $30. Will be back again!

We usually order from here but tonight, 8-14-2020, I ordered at 8:10pm and the restaurant indicated that they close at 10:00pm. That is plenty of time to have food made and delivered, however, our food NEVER came. I called the restaurant and a man answered, rudely told me it was on the way and the food never came. SO disappointed. I hope Punjabi Junction does the right thing and refunds my money. Until then, I will not update this review until this whole situation is rectified by this restaurant.

Foods really good here. One of the best butter chickens I've found in a while. Their food is always fresh. Would definitely suggest trying their butter chicken and their biryani as well.

Ordered 3 vegetarian curries for dinner today. Average tasting food. Too much sourness in all 3 curries. Baingan Bharta in particular was too sour, and wasn't made the Punjabi way with flame roasted eggplants. Kofta and Paneer gravely was too liquidy! We love eating raw onions with Punjabi food. I asked while picking up if they can pack some, and the lady at front said yes, they already packed plenty!! Nothing at all when I opened the food.. They have a 10 % Yelp check-in coupon, but don't bother using it. They don't accept it. When I showed, the lady said they don't accept it. Why post it when there is no intention to accept?? Hope management reads the reviews!