Punjabi Tandoor (San Diego)

Punjabi Tandoor has been my favorite Indian restaurant ever since I came to San Diego for college in 2010. I graduated 2014 and moved out of SD, but since then, every single time I’ve come back it has never failed me. I just had a dinner combo tonight because I’m visiting SD for Labor Day weekend and I almost cried from how delicious it still is!! The women working there are also so friendly and sweet. Thank you Punjabi Tandoor for making me so happy for the past 15 years!

I had the unfortunate experience of dining at Punjabi Tandoor on Activity Road in San Diego, and I have to say it was an absolute disappointment. The poor quality of food served here left a lasting negative impression. Firstly, the samosa I ordered was nothing short of a disaster. The outer crust was incredibly dry and the filling tasted as if it had been sitting out for days. It had a strange, unpleasant smell that made it impossible to even take a second bite. Next, I decided to give their carrot halwa a try, hoping for something better. However, it was an absolute letdown. The halwa was overly sweet, mushy, and had a distinct taste of stale carrots. I couldn't finish more than a couple of spoonfuls before giving up. Thinking that maybe the main course would redeem my experience, I ordered the chole bhature. Unfortunately, it was yet another disappointment. The chickpeas were undercooked and lacked any flavor, while the bhature was greasy and heavy. It was evident that no effort was put into making this dish appetizing or enjoyable. Even their tea, which is usually a saving grace at some places, was a complete letdown. It tasted like it had been brewed with stale tea leaves and had a weird aftertaste that lingered unpleasantly. To make matters worse, the overall ambiance and cleanliness of the restaurant were subpar. The tables were sticky, and the place felt dirty and dingy. It was definitely not a pleasant environment to enjoy a meal in. All in all, I cannot recommend Punjabi Tandoor on Activity Road in San Diego. The poor quality, stale food, bad taste, and strange smells made it a regrettable dining experience. Save your taste buds and money, and avoid this place at all costs.

For good reviews of "Punjab Tandoori," use words like "delicious," "flavorful," "authentic," "tasty," "excellent," "amazing," "superb," "friendly," "fast," and "well-prepared". Positive comments also include phrases like "good value for money," "friendly service," and "well-portioned," suggesting a good overall experience. Here's a breakdown of good review words categorized by what they describe: Food Quality: Delicious: "Delicious recipes" and "super tasty food". Flavorful: "Always very flavorful," indicating the food has rich and complex tastes. Authentic: "The best authentic Indian

This was such a weird experience. Ordered takeout of two simple things - Dal and Sag Paneer. Specifically said keep the spice level as mild for both. But the spice level was not mild at all. And the quantity of each curry for the price that is charged is just not worth it.

Delicious & mouth watering food that I had from this restaurant on Dec 19, 2024 night. “Quality & quantity both good at good price” Friendly & respectful staff. Highly recommended.

It pains me to rate this place so lowly because it has a great story and family behind it. But in this day and age, you expect to get what you pay for. Punjabi Tandoor doesn't deliver. The food is affordable and quick (read: too quick). Every dish seems hastily prepared, lacking real depth and flavor. I've had the channa masala, saag paneer, and various chicken dishes. They're all watery, salty, and bland. The chicken has a funky smell to it every time and was overcooked on a couple occasions. The vegetable dishes remind me of what you can get from a readymade packet. Service and ambiance are average -- it's really more of a takeout spot.

The food was great for that price. Me and my friend had not eaten all day, and we went to their restaurant at 6pm and got the combo #2. It was amazing. Aunty and Didi were so nice to us.

I always feel great after eating here! (You know sometimes after eating Indian food from some places, you feel kinda sick afterwards?). I've come here many times and never had a problem! i WILL say, it's "hit or miss" depending on when you come or who's the chef that shift. MOST of the time, the food is consistently great & will taste amazing, and then a couple times it has been "fine"/nothing special. (I'm not sure if it's a "lunch vs dinner" thing, or "weekday vs weekend" thing, I haven't figured it out yet.) For example, their Naan is legendary & usually made-to-order for you; you CAN tell the difference, it comes to you soft, warm, and fresh. Then those other times, you could tell it was sitting for a bit... My friend who grew up in SD has been coming here since highschool & says it has always been the Hit or Miss thing, but overwhelmingly the majority of the time this place holds up to its reputation!! TIP: make sure to sign up for Clover rewards so you can collect POINTS every time you order! The staff doesnt seem to really know about the loyalty program, but just use your cell/the app, and you can keep track on your own :)

TL;DR: ...and STILL hands-down best Indian food I've had in SD Got the chicken dinner for two and wasn't disappointed All the dishes were delicious but more than the food was the friendliness of the owners - felt like walking into a home instead of a restaurant Coming back anytime I'm in the area :) Cheers, Punjabi Tandoor!

I was craving Indian and found this place on Grubhub. The meal did not disappoint! I got the 2 meat curries for $15.99. Any upgrades of protein is an upcharge, but there are plenty of options included in the base price. I had the chicken curry and vindaloo, and both were flavorful and delicious! The portion size was very good and included a small portion of rice pudding and a huge piece of naan. Overall, a great option for Indian food!

In my opinion this is the best place to go for value, authenticity and taste when you're craving Indian. You can't beat their combos which for around $13-15 will give you rice, naan, raita or kheer, and 1-2 different types of curries. The variety is outstanding and they have something for every taste and enjoyment. I strongly recommend their paneers and especially their lamb rogan Josh. The family that work here are great, friendly and provide fantastic service. This is a place that's probably more for take out but you'll find a comfortable seat inside or out if you want to eat here. It might be out of the way but it's worth the drive. Definitely worth visiting and filling up on some authentic and delicious curries.

I called this place and asked if they have halal options on their menu and the manager said to me " We are not Pakistanis and India does not have halal food." I was so shocked by his response so I said to him that I am neither Pakistani nor Indian, India does have halal food, and he is ignorant. I will not be spending a single cent here.

Reading Claudia P's review made me realize how much I miss this place so decided to go here for dinner tonight. I agree with Claudia, this is some of the best Indian food I've had in the US and I've spent extensive time in India. It's a family operated business and the staff is super friendly. This is off the beaten path in an industrial complex that might get overlooked. It gets incredibly busy for lunch. There is limited seating and a cute outdoor patio area. The food is flavorful and delicious. The portions are huge and I usually have plenty of leftovers. Love it here!

ABSOLUTELY THE BEST INDIAN FOOD IN SAN DIEGO!!!! I found this hole in the wall 10 years ago and it's one of my favorites. I've been to their Sorrento Valley location and it's good too. This location is my go to. I've ordered everything and it's all so good. I recommend their mushroom dish with the tamarind and green spicy green sauce with the garlic nann. I love this place!!! A must try and you'll love it too!!

Located in the business center. Private parking lot. Ample seating inside and outside. Everything we ordered was good. At first I got a 3 item combo plate. Comes with rice and naan bread to share with my husband. And then my husband decided to get his own combo plate because it was so good lol Chicken Tikka masala Chef's choice Lamb dish Veggie samosa- they give u two sauces. I ended up combining the two. Would def come here again. They have fountain drinks and can beverages. I forgot to take photos. Next timed will def come here again.

Very disappointed the last time we ordered here. I used to work nearby and would be STUFFED from a 3 chicken curry combo. My go to is the butter chicken and chicken vindaloo. My husband loves the lamb curry and mushroom masala. This recent order, we decided to get the 2 person combo which came with a side of tandoori chicken and samosas. SUCH A DISAPPOINTMENT AND RIP OFF!! The chicken was so dehydrated, it was not edible - felt like they served us leftovers that they left out overnight from yesterday. Samosas were cold and soggy. Then, on top of that, the curries were mostly liquid with hardly any protein. Sad. We'll chalk it to maybe an off day and give it one more chance. Will update next time.

Great lunch deals. Delicious curries. Garlic Naan was bomb. Will be adding to my lunch rotation. Conveniently located right outside the base.

Good curry for the price. For $15 you can get a combo of 2 curries, rice, and naan. Chicken Vindaloo was nice and flavorful.

This was my favorite Indian place. Looks like it's gone downhill. Burned naan. Greasy samosas.

I've been coming here for many years and it's always been one of my favorite local places. It's a hole in the wall restaurant located in a business center, with a patio and seats with umbrellas outside. I usually get one of the lunch or dinner combos which includes 1 chicken and 1 vegetable curry, rice, and naan. My favorites are the Chicken Makhani and Mushroom Masala curries. The naan is also very delicious. I also get the Saag Paneer curry but it can be a little watery sometimes (as other people have mentioned, the quality isn't always consistent). I've also noticed the spice level of the curries can vary wildly, sometimes the spiciness is mild and other times it's extremely spicy. Their portions are usually quite generous, though they seem to have shrunk slightly after the pandemic. The staff/owners are not the friendliest, but they are quick and efficient (I've also ordered takeout from here many times). I will definitely be coming back here regularly in the future!

This place doesn't show their lunch combos online.. I tried to order an entree and side over the phone, and the guy asked if wanted rice too, then if I wanted to make it a combo. I agreed, thinking it would probably be a similar price, maybe even a bit better. When I got there I was charged $18, well over the entree price and side of garlic Naan. By the time I realized I was just getting my food, and asked what I was charged for (I wasn't offered a receipt). Her reason was she gave me the dinner combo price, not the lunch combo price. And it's on me because I didn't ask for the lunch combo (I ordered like 15 minutes after they opened at 11 in the morning) The picture is what they charged me $15 for. Then another $3 or more for garlic naan. I just left because the lady was too difficult to deal with for the few bucks I would've saved

Easily one of my favorite Indian food spot in town! Their curries are unmatched as well as their combo deals Chicken tikka masala is made so sweet, creamy, and perfectly every time and their butter chicken is so rich and flavorful. Their saag is pretty good as well, and I love to get that if I want to break up from the creamy curries for a while. The portions you get here are enough for 2 meals, however, it is always so hard to save some when it is just so good.

No-frills Indian joint serving up good food at affordable prices. Punjabi Tandoor is a hole-in-the-wall restaurant oddly tucked away in a business center just off of Miramar Road. It's casual. The ambiance is what you would expect. Food is served in styrofoam containers with disposable utensils. Don't come here to impress a date or hang out with a large group of more than 8 people. ___F O O D___ While their menu is a bit more limited than their competition, Punjabi Tandoor still serves up the usual crowd pleasers. Their food really hit the spot, especially on a chilly San Diego night! My wife and I ordered the samosas, lamb curry, chicken tikka, garlic naan, tea, and a side of rice. The lamb was boneless, quite tender, flavorful, and not gamey at all! Their chicken tikka was also quite tasty. We enjoyed the sauce for both. The samosas were nice and crispy on the outside with a decent amount of filling. I think their tamarind chutney is better than their mint cilantro chutney. Their tea cam out hot and unsweetened. I was hoping for a bit more spice in the tea, but it was still satisfying. And for what it's worth, the rice was soft and fluffy. ___E X T R A S___ -We thought their patio was kinda nice with their decorative lights. It was a cold night and I don't think they had a heat lamp, so not an option for us. But it seemed like it would be nice spot if it was a bit warmer. -Restroom was clean. Overall, the wife and I enjoyed our time here and we wish there were more spots like this in the south bay.

The menu! The food was still amazing as always! The people here are very welcoming and kind. The ambience feels nice like at home.

Quality and recipes have changed. I'm so sad and disappointed!! Portions are much smaller. The Naan dry and hardly palatable. Tandoori was also dry and the chicken so small. The samosas are still delicious.. the curries weren't the same but still ok tadting... not my favorite though. We are sad to see this place change so much from what we recall reading pre covid for so many years.. 2.5 find up. We are hard pressed to return with the options around.

The food was delicious! The staff is amazing! The outside setting was so nice and cool for the day. We loved all the plants. Make sure to get a wide range of food so you can try a few!!

Small "Indian mom and pop" business , food speaks for itself. Don't get fooled by those fancier type Indian restaurants, this might resemble a local 24 hr taco shop (in comparison) but man oh man is the good great. It has that authentic look and feel to it (disclaimer: I've never been to India) but this place packs everyone in, all races creeds and colors have found out about this local gem that's been around for years. Try it! Venture up to the Miramar area, you will certainly not be disappointed. Please trust me on this, this will be your spot to tell your friends about. Happy eating!

I got the lunch special #4 ($10.49) Combo (choice of 2 meat curries) which was Chicken Makhani aka butter chicken and Chicken Tikka Masala with rice, Naan Bread and substituted Kheer for Raita. I also got the vegetable samosa which was had a crispy exteriors and was served with chutney and tamarind sauce. Overall, the food was a large portion and delicious but unfortunately, service was not that great. Parking was plentiful for a Saturday afternoon.

The rogan Josh was good but the portion size was very small. The naan was extremely dry. The owners were friendly and helpful.

Savory tikka masala and butter chicken curry! Chicken was a dry on the inside and some pieces were hard. The owner was difficult to understand and he hung up after a misunderstanding. Not the friendliest customer service. Will come back for the curry!

I spend over $77 plus tip on the following items: veggie pakora, half tikka kabob, tikka masala, mushroom masala, lamb biryani and 4 naans. If there was negative star to take away their existing stars just like Uber or Lyft, that would be plus for us consumers to rate the restaurateurs. The food was meh. Tikka masala was not even tikka masala and mashoom tikka. Biryani was just gross. The kabob didn't even had taste. The nana was undercooked as well. It was the worst Indian food experience. Trust me I know food. I can cook including Indian food as well. Oh no I'm not Indian.

Whenever I crave Indian, this is my go-to! I love lamb so I always get their lamb curry and rogan josh. So flavorful and soft, tender pieces of lamb Their samosas are reallyyyy crispy and they changed up their sauces from the last time I had it and I really enjoyed the sauces this time! I sat outside on their patio area and it was really nice since it was covered.

We got to-go on a Wednesday evening, perfect since it took me about that long to drive there. I got a lamb curry and brought my own rice, my friend got a shrimp biryani with a mango lassi drink (which I tried). They threw in a free small scoop of kheer (unless it was a mistake). The lamb curry was really good! They didn't ask for my spice preference and it was on the spicier side for me, but it was very tasty. The mango lassi was really good too, perfect to cut through the spice. So was the rice pudding, I would buy that a La carte next time I go. Just to note, though, their actual prices don't match the prices on the website, my total before tax was about 15% more than what was listed on their website. But I don't blame them with the rapid inflation lately. Our total was $31.22 for a solid meal for two people. Also! There is outdoor seating, but we decided to eat a local park.

NOTE: this Punjabi Tandoor is right above Miramar, its not the Morehouse location! i've noticed some people mistakenly review the Morehouse one here. Anyway, I always feel great after eating here! (You know sometimes after eating Indian food from some places, you feel kinda sick afterwards?). I've come here many times and never had a problem! i WILL say, it's "hit or miss" depending on when you come or who's the chef that shift. MOST of the time, the food is consistently great & will taste amazing, and then a couple times it has been "fine"/nothing special. (I'm not sure if it's a "lunch vs dinner" thing, or "weekday vs weekend" thing, I haven't figured it out yet.) For example, their Naan is legendary & usually made-to-order for you; you CAN tell the difference, it comes to you soft, warm, and fresh. Then those other times, you could tell it was sitting for a bit... My friend who grew up in SD has been coming here since highschool & says it has always been the Hit or Miss thing, but overwhelmingly the majority of the time this place holds up to its reputation!! TIP: make sure to sign up for Clover rewards so you can collect POINTS every time you order! The staff doesnt seem to really know about the loyalty program, but just use your cell/the app, and you can keep track on your own :)

Punjabi Tandoor is truly a hidden gem. Amazing indian food quality. Great service and patient waiters who are willing to answer questions. Nice and lowkey area with indoor and outdoor seating. There are many selections here and many combo plates. I ended up getting a combo which consists of 2 curry choices, rice, and pudding, and I got tikka masala and butter chicken as my curry choices. Extremely flavorful while it being nice and hot. The naan is amazingly fresh too. Pudding is a bit too sweet and creamy for me, but it is refreshing after a curry meal. If you do not want too much meat, there are also vegetarian options such as the spinach or shrimp options. This is definitely is an underrated Indian food restaurant. Check it out if you love Indian curry! I know I'll definitely come here again to try other curry options.

The owners are wonderful. Delicious food. I really enjoy chicken saag and especially the chicken tikka. Much love!

This is a hidden gem in the miramar area. A hole in the wall Indian restaurant serving authentic North Indian dishes prepared fresh from the kitchen. The food is tasty, quantity is on the higher side and prices are so reasonable. Their chicken makhani and mutton Rogan Josh are a must try. Also do try their stuffed paratha which is very satisfying. They have plenty of sitting inside as well outside the restaurant. It is a must try kind of place if you want tasty Indian food

The lunch special is cheap and they had a good amount of seating both inside and outside. I liked the flavor of the butter chicken and the tikka masala chicken curries. The only bad part is that the chickens were a bit rough and dry. But, the garlic naan and the curry made up for that.

I had this place saved for a reason don't know why...food was okay. When I came in they were nice but were like in a hurry to explain the lunch special...he ended up choosing it for me. I just asked what that was an he scooped it into my plate..I was suppose to get two chickens instead I got a chicken and a vegetable side. I didn't understand it until I sat down and looked at the menu again but I really wish he didn't just stare at me with the plate already in his hand not wanting to explain the lunch special...he had already put rice on the plate when I did not want that I wanted just naan. I won't come back mostly for the food because it wasn't that good but that just topped it off. Lol

Great lunch spot! One of my favorite Indian restaurants in Mira Mesa/Mira Mar area. I love the Chicken Tikka Marsala and Garlic Naan. The Chicken Vindaloo is very good as well. If you like spicy make sure to ask for extra spice.

I have been here for lunch many times and they are always great quality and very delicious. The food is always hot and fresh. The chicken curry and tikka masala are great together for creamy and spicy. So glad they open later now and can come for dinner.

Punjabi Tandoor is a convenient spot for those who work at the nearby suites and warehouses in the Miramar area. They are currently not allowing any seating inside, but there is a covered patio out front with several tables that can hold about 20 customers who want to dine on-site. Parking is not an issue at all as there are two long rows of spaces to serve the industrial complex. I think I came here several years ago after our group played trampoline dodgeball in a building not far away. A menu was posted on a front window with a disclaimer stating that "Prices have been changed. Please check inside." The combination plates were the most popular for lunch and quickest as long as you selected from one of the several items on display in the heated bins. I decided to order the Shrimp Saag, which the cashier said would take the kitchen 15 minutes to make, and plain naan for my meal. About six pieces of shrimp were included in the mix with sauteed spinach, ginger, and spices. Interestingly, they never asked how spicy I wanted my dish to be prepared. It turned out that it was hotter than I liked, and that made it difficult to finish in one sitting. I brought the leftovers and half the naan to finish at home later in the evening. The quality of the saag was average compared to other Indian places where I have sampled this entree.

Seating - Outdoor seating is available. Indoor seating is crowded. Food - I got the combo # 4. Chicken Tikka Masala was flavorful (highly recommend) and the Chicken Curry was delicious (would have liked a bit more but still very delicious). I would definitely commute from Oceanside to dine here again!

Wanted this to be much better than it was based off of reviews, the overall vibe, and authenticity upon entrance but darn. The chicken was slightly over cooked on the chicken masala The mushroom masala used what appear to be canned mushrooms Saag was just ok. Utterly average in contrast to the reviews that say that this is an authentic awesome find The best part of our meal was the naan. Maybe we had an off day

What a treat!!! The food and flavors only surpassed by the warmth of the staff. This place is a hidden gem. Give them a try as they won't disappoint.

Oh my! What a disappointment. The service was quick, but with no pleasantries. The 3 women who worked the service - cashier, orders, plating and cooking served as the triad. No emotions. Exuded a - I don't want to be here kind of vibe. Oh well, hopefully the food is good. I ordered combo where get one meat and one veggie dish. I also ordered a mango lassi. First the lassi. It was poured out of a gallon container which was clearly bought. The color of the lassi was almost cream in color. Most Indian restaurants who serve lassi do so from a pitcher which at least gives the impression it was homemade. And those looked very orange in color. Suffice to say this store bought lassi was not great. Now for the meal. I got mushroom veggie and chicken tikka masala. Flavors were just okay. Kinda of bland actually. The chicken was awful. It was so dry I nearly couldn't chew it. The mushrooms had a very rubbery texture. This meal did not appear to be fresh at all. The portion of chicken was small, but in retrospect am glad because it was inedible. Overall the meal with the fake lassi was a failure. Oh the naan. Was ok but very very chewy. Suspect this was old naan that was reheated. Ambiance. If not for the outdoor seats I'd say the place was just okay. Seemed fairly clean though. The outdoor seating is nice. I will not be visiting this restaurant ever. There's a few other Indian restaurants nearby that are much better.

The husband and I happened to be in the area after a happy hour and decided to grab dinner at Punjabi Tandoor. It's located in the Activity Business Center and there was plenty of parking when we went. Like other Yelpers have mentioned, it's a bit of a hole-in-the-wall place but you can't miss the outdoor seating they have out in the front. After perusing the menu, we decided to order the vegetable samosas, chicken tikka masala, lamb curry, basmati rice, garlic naan, and masala chai. The vegetable samosas came with mint chutney and tamarind chutney. The filling was flavorful and not dry at all. The chutneys were a great accompaniment to the samosas. The chicken tikka masala was a little on the sweeter side for me but it was still delicious and the chicken was tender. The lamb curry was boneless and not gamey at all. It was our favorite of the entrees. We were also glad we got the basmati rice and the garlic naan. It was a pretty cold night and the masala chai hit the spot. Service was friendly and the food came out fast. This was a great experience and we can't wait to go back to try some of the other entrees. Highly recommend!

The food here is OK if you work closeby and need something to go. Expect buffet style quality and flavor. Their Naan bread is actually really good and they do have a nice biryani if that's your thing though.

Chicken Makhani, Rogan Josh, and Mushroom Masala are always great. Nice atmosphere and very friendly staff. A go to spot for take-out.

The GOAT. I miss coming here so much. Best Indian food you'll have! Since when do I need 85 characters

Used to go here a very long time ago but hadn't been here in ages. So glad I got to re-explore this place. Food is still super flavorful, and delicious. Both the vegetarian as well as the meat dishes are equally tasty. Portions are reasonable for the price. Probably due to the pandemic, there's even nice seating outside now. Would definitely recommend.

I had this for delivery after not having it for so long and I'm glad I got to enjoy it. Samosas: A nice, beautiful golden brown, and perfectly cooked outside with a moist, well seasoned vegetable mixture accompanied by a wonderful light and flavourful tasting sauce. Chicken Tikka Masala: Nice chunks of chicken surrounded by a savory and flavorful sauce. Rogan Josh: A little different than what I recall but it was still tasty with the chunks of lamb in a savory and tasty sauce. Rice: Nicely cooked basmati rice with bits of coriander scattered throughout. Naan: Nicely cooked fluffy naan cut into 4 pieces. Overall, I really enjoyed having this again and will have to stop by at another time.

Ordered 2 orders of Meal for 2. Consistently delicious for 15+ years. Especially love the lamb palak and okra. Yum

Super yummy, good service and to go packaging. Didn't go inside so I didn't see the environment but seems great. Loved the paneer masala!! Chefs kiss

My friend recommended this place for me to try out being it was going to be my first time trying Indian food and I am glad to say, it was delicious! The flavor and spice alone accompanied with chicken was like a burst of flavor! I got the 1 meat and 1 vegetable combo--chicken masala and mushroom curry. The combo also came with rice and a side of garlic naan. The garlic naan was nice and chewy. You can either use the naan as a wrap to eat with your dish or simply dip the naan into your curry spice sauce. I tried both ways and I prefer to dip the naan in the sauce. My friend and I actually ordered to-go during this pandemic and got it delivered. Glad this place is doing to go orders! The amount of food is quite generous leaving more for later. Definitely will be back!

This place is so good!! It's in an industrially area so you can definitely miss it, but once you find it, it's amazing!! They have indoor and outdoor seating and tons of parking. Their service is super quick and everything tasted so good! We were craving Indian food and this place was recommended to us. We ordered Mango Lassi, Chicken Tikka Masala, Naan Bread, Rogan Josh, and rice. Definitely recommend and will be back for all our Indian food cravings!

Was a common customer in my student days, and it is nice to see that the quality has not changed. The place is still small, but now they have expanded seats outside the restaurant. The quality of food is unmatchable, and the meat will melt in your mouth. It is nice to have the combination plates as an option also. Would highly recommend.