East India Grill

Went in after seeing reviews. I have no idea how this place won best in federal way so many times. Maybe it’s the only Indian place there. Or maybe it was a really bad day. Went in for a weekday lunch buffet. Had a 9 year old who was priced as an adult but figured food gotta be good based on the ratings Dang, I was wrong! Google let me astray this time. The 2 medical places in the same plaza should have been a sign! Appetizer was a dry veg pakora A couple of vegetarian options were zucchini and broccoli tossed with what looked like Italian seasoning. Then a carrots and peas that looked identical. A third option was mushrooms with sauce. None of these I’d consider Indian My kid is vegetarian and the best part of his meal was naan and dal. His soup option was the same dal, just more watered down. Meat options were not much better. Most of the goat was chewy. The curries tasted like meat thrown into packaged curry sauce. Food was lacking in salt for the most part. In keeping with the tradition, desserts were low in sugar… Naan was the only decent item in the buffet.

The staff at East India Grill were very attentive and friendly. They quickly cleared the buffet dished and kept our drinks refilled. The buffet food was hot and fresh, and there were plenty of options. Most of the dishes were very mild and not spicy. The bread was excellent, and the chicken biryani was a hit. The pepper chicken and the lamb were also excellent, as were the unnamed appetizers that were being grilled (topped with spices, onions, chickpeas, and tandoori sauce with yogurt). The vegetarian section was fresh and stuffed full of options, including tastu vegetable pakoras and a zucchini dish. The restrooms were well-kept and very clean, as was the rest of the restaurant. At $20 per person, it's a reasonable price. We would gladly visit again (but we might need to ask for a spicy sauce)!

The food is reasonably tasty if you’re into greasy comfort food. But unless you enjoy scooping rice off your doorsteps, do not order delivery from this place. This is the second time I’ve made the mistake, and they somehow managed to stuff $150 worth of food into a single paper bag, like they were packing a lunch, not a dinner order for multiple people. Predictably, the bag couldn’t handle it. Containers burst, liquids leaked, and by the time my food got to the door, it looked like a curry crime scene. One rice container literally exploded. A container of tikka spilled out. The sidewalk got more of my meal than I did. And the wild part? The exact same thing happened with my last order. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, I’m writing this review. If you’re thinking of trying this place, go eat inside. But whatever you do, skip the delivery unless you enjoy disappointment with a side of sidewalk masala.

I really love Indian food and have traveled to India a few times, so I have a sense of what to expect. This was my first visit back to East Indian Grill after moving away from the area about ten years ago, and I was excited to try the lunch buffet again — but overall, it was just okay. Some dishes were empty when I went up, and a few items on the line were cold. The spice level is extremely mild, which I understand may suit local tastes, but I was hoping for a bit more flavor. They do have a small container of hot sauce by the salad bar, which helps a little. Drinks aren’t included with the buffet, so I ordered a chai. I love authentic Indian chai — but at $6 for one small cup with no refills, I wish I’d known the price beforehand. (Also, just a small note: “chai” already means tea in Hindi, so “chai tea” is a bit redundant!) I was surprised that Indian pickle wasn’t included on the buffet. I asked for some on the side and was charged $4.50 for about a half-cup. I love pickle with my food, but at that price, you could buy a jar or two to enjoy at home. The restaurant’s atmosphere has changed a lot since my last visit — the traditional murtis (Hindu deity statues) are gone, and now there are TVs on the walls. There are also quite a few signs posted about things like using cell phones and different prices for cash vs. credit card payments. My total came to over $30 for the buffet, one chai, and some pickle, which felt high for the experience. I see other Indian restaurants in the area doing well, and I’ll be trying them soon. As for East Indian Grill, this will likely be my last visit — and my last cup of chai here.

Very welcoming and friendly staff👍🏽🙂; extremely, flavorful food options😋. This was my first visit here with a good friend who recommended we try East India Grill for lunch. We dined buffet style, which I would recommend to those who may be new to Indian Cuisine. The buffet includes many options of protein dishes (Coconut Chicken was my favorite), a few rice options, a few vegetable entrees, a separate section of salad toppings, and a few deserts options. I will definitely be returning to East India Grill for more of their delicious foods. I honestly now understand why they were voted Best of Federal Way, 2021 to 2025, and I agree to that voting!!

Food was pretty good. Lots of posted signs. Although I *love* the food here (second visit after first one 3 years ago), I can't return. It is too salty for my blood pressure. It doesn't taste salty, but something hits about 30 minutes later.

I've heard a lot about this place and my friends brought me here for my "Indian stamp of approval" and I'm very sad to say it was very disappointing... Nothing felt authentic, palak paneer is hard to mess up but was flavorless, some things didn't even look Indian. Veg korma also was not good. The chicken biryani and the mango chicken curry were really the only things I liked. Buffet is only $20 which is a great deal.

Good food and a good selection on the buffet. The mango in the lassi and ice cream was a little stronger than im used to getting at an Indian restaurant.

I was in town for work and decided to try this place after seeing it had a good selection of vegetarian (of course it did). The restaurant is very comfortable and welcoming. The service was very good. I had the paneer tikka masala, aloo gobhi, and jalapeño naan. For the two dishes I de led in level 4 of 6 heat. The food was served over candles in metal dishes which kept the food hot the whole time. Everything was delicious and just the amount of heat I wanted. The paneer tikka masala was filled with spice and depth. The aloo gobhi was cooked very well, not over done, and very flavorful. The jalapeño naan was crispy and delicious with fresh jalapeño at the right heat. Highly recommend!

Consistently authentic delicious Indian Food! Service is always great. Lunch buffet is small but flavorful. I don't recommend much but this is a must and a hidden gem in my book.

Visited the restaurant with a friend and tried the lunch buffet. The variety was decent, but the dishes were extremely mild--ideal for those who prefer little to no spice or strong flavors. Personally, I found the food underwhelming, especially the non-vegetarian options, which lacked taste--though the chili chicken was slightly redeeming. On the bright side, the service was attentive and the atmosphere was pleasant.

Update Review Food: Amazingly flavorful and very tasty. We ordered the Lamb Curry Bone in 5/5 Curry Muscles 5/5 Garlic naan 5/5 Cucumber salad 5/5 Samosa 2 huge ones 5/5 They served the house soup, it was delicious. I'm so glad they are consistent with thier food taste. We drove a few miles to get there but it was worth it. This is one of our favorite place to eat. The do have the buffet but we missed it. I think it ends at 3 pm. I love the buffet, just enough dish to satisfy your appetite. Everything was so fresh and flavor some, that it made me want to eat some more but we didn't finished our meal. Huge portions. Service 5/5: All servers were very attentive and friendly They keep on checking in with us if we needed anything. Ambiance 5/5: Very classy and fancy ambiance with bright warm colors and decor 1/3/2025 Plenty of seating Lots of available parking Easy access to the I-5 freeway I would totally recommend this for some East Indie cuisine

The buffet is good. Reasonable price. If you are super hungry food is already prepared. Most items on buffet are also main dish entrees.

Best Indian around! And, is our favorite place to go! They are a must to try!!! Try their chicken tikka masala and mango chicken curry. Amazing!!!

Ever since COVID, it has been a tremendous challenge to find Indian restaurants that still offer buffets at lunch. The ones that I've tried have, for the most part, been disappointing, with high prices for just average quality. However, I was pleasantly surprised when I recently had the opportunity to visit the East India Grill and enjoy their standard but quite tasty luncheon buffet. In advance, be aware that you'll experience nothing spectacular here, but you will enjoy a nice selection of traditional Indian favorites at a reasonable price, with friendly and welcoming service and very good overall quality. Really, at this point in time, with so few choices to be had, I can hardly ask for more from an Indian buffet. You can be assured that I will be visiting the East India Grill fairly often in the months to come - and I'd suggest you do the same. I think you'll leave both pleased and pleasantly full. PS: I was amused by the signage at this restaurant and, though I agree with the sentiments expressed in the photographs, I did find it slightly bizarre to have this much signage in a fairly standard typical strip mall restaurant. (I did my best to avoid screaming, by the way. )

The food is delicious! Definitely 5 star! And the buffet is great! Mango dessert is delicious and my favorite! I want to end up trying all of their dessert options for obvious reasons but I'm not going to lie, the chai could be better (I've had better). There isn't anything special or outstanding with the ambiance. I wish there was, so I can give this place a 5 star. Out of the 4 times I've been here, it's always very clean! So the service is good except for today. This waitress was straight up getting into it with this customer. She was very unprofessional and my daughters and I overheard the whole thing. Hard not to, she was very loud. It's wild explaining to my children how some workers are rude and that's not ok, especially since the elderly man didn't do anything wrong. She just didn't like where he was standing. This place is pricey. Pro-tip: pay with cash. They change a lot more for card payments. Also: buffet is like $20. Totally worth it.

I wish I can give them zero stars but anyways I ordered aloo naan (stuffed potatoes bread) and requested extra green chilies not jalapeño she ( whoever took my order) didn't told me that asking for few more chillies( which I never got it) will be extra. What was the purpose not telling over the phone when I pick up my food it cost me $13:79 for just one freaking naan. In this inflation if she told me that little request will be $2 more to my total bill may be I will canceled my request. But she lost one customer and I think many more who trying to survive in this hard world so please inform customer about extra charges you putting on there bill for no reason. Never going back

We are buffet, the food quality was okay, didn't look freshly cooked. The gravies were too sweet & creamy. Naan bread & kheer was good. Service was good. The furniture was very old & uncomfortable.

This place is one of the icons of Federal Way. They've been around for I want to say decades. I always hit the buffet and the food is very consistent. Delicious and top quality, nice location, lots of parking l, great ambiance and music inside.

A family member recommended this place to me. This is a fun find right off the exit for federal way. It's diagonally across from Red Robin. The ambience is decent and the noise level was moderate. It looked like they have a buffet during the day time. Service was kind and patient. The quality of the food unexpectedly surpassed my expectations. I was expecting food court level however this is definitely above average. We had the grilled lamb, lamb curry and butter chicken. I loved how they brought it out on the little candle heaters to keep them warm. The lamb was tender and a little on the saltier side. The dipping gravy sauce has some sweeter notes which balanced it out. Garlic Naan was hot fresh and on point. The lamb curry and butter chicken had spices and savory creamy textures which I took some home for lunch the next day. I would come back to try other curries and grilled items.

This is one of the best restaurants around. I LOVE their food. Service is great also! The ambience is ok, but the food makes it all worth it!

Arrived to Federal way for a one-night work trip. East India Grill was walking distance from my hotel. Ordered my usual: chicken tikka masala and naan. So delicious and they give you a huge servings!! Highly recommended.

Always great food. The service is friendly and amazing. I have tried many other restaurants they are the most consistent food. Their lunch buffet is awesome and you can try many of their dishes. Recommend this place 100%.

I can't believe we've been coming here since their opening in 2009. We don't come here as often as we like to due to distance and leading a busy life. However, everytime we go here, we absolutely love it. Everything is delish. My fav: lamb curry, chicken marsala,.veggie fritters, all the desserts. You can't go wrong. I just wish I had a bigger tummy to fill up! Way back when, they used to bring naan at your table, now they have it at the buffet. I like this better because it's a choice! Parking is easy peasy - park in the back or front. They lightened it up since we last visited. I remember it being very dark, mysterious, and semi- romantic. They really perked it up by removing the curtains and painting the walls white. My kid especially liked the peaceful nature-filled show that was on TV. Also, no kids beyond a certain point because there's hot food and nobody wants to see them hurt. We met the owners (original ones since 2009) and they are super sweet and friendly. See you next time!

My husband has been going here for years, and I'm so happy he introduced me to this place. The food is absolutely gourmet and the music gives a pleasant, calming ambiance. To top it all off, the waiters and waitresses are very attentive and the owner will even come out and give you a friendly greeting! Excellent service! You won't find a better Indian restaurant in Federal Way. Definitely come for the lunch buffet! PS we LOVE the vegan options!!! Also many gluten free options too!

I love buffet, but unfortunately can no longer eat as much as I want. But this place is such a good value for the variety it offers (look at the pictures). My only complaint is none of the dishes are spicy enough. Also the ice cream machine was broken during both of my visits.

Let me start by saying that I LOVE Indian food in all its forms. I grew up eating Indian food so I've had burnt food on occasion etc. etc. etc. So, seeing this little place I was excited! Got there and there was just one gentleman making sure he got some with his meal. They sat him down and it was sometime before anyone asked to sit. That should have been a sign since the restaurant was almost empty...(after lunch but before dinner). She showed where to sit like a teenager forced by a parent to do something after they've gotten in trouble... it felt like, should I even be here? So awkward! Ordered veggie samosas, the filling was off... not quite potatoes not quite beans? It was the weirdest samosa in my life! Ok, no sweat the food would be good right? Wrong! The only decent thing was the naan bread... I should have just ordered that or skipped this place all together... This whole experience felt like "Am I being punked?" It was bizarre, and honestly, I regretted every penny I spent here. The prices were insanely high, the service was awful, and the food? Absolutely terrible. As I spent a few days nearby, I couldn't help but think of all the cute places I could've gone to instead. I definitely should've driven a little further instead of just walking here.

First time trying this spot. The naan and paratha was nice but that's the extent of it. We tried this highly recommended dish on the menu called 'magnificent paneer ' but it was far from it tasted very much like sweet tomato ketchup and we didn't like it at all. Also I found this board asking to use silverware and not use hands very amusing. I have been to many indian fine dining restaurants and never seen such a sign anywhere. How do you eat roti with cutlery? Also the ambience didn't feel like fine dining as such, so not sure why it's called that. Service was fine, they didn't bother asking if we wanted something else or dessert before handing us our bill and thats saying something #iykyk

Oh YUM! This was the best Indian food I have ever had. So much so, that I'm giving them 5-stars even though they didn't give me what I ordered. I ordered the mixed seafood grill, which was supposed to include salmon and shrimp. However, there was no shrimp to be found. The salmon was perfectly cooked. Oh, how I love you Pacific Northwest! The mild curry sauce was so flavorful, but not overbearing. I ordered their mango mousse for dessert because it seemed so enticingly different. I don't think that's what I received. Once I returned to my hotel, it seemed like they gave me rice pudding. It was decent, but not worth the $8.00 I'd spent to get the more interesting dessert.

Disgusting.food is poor quality. Old vegetables sauces watered down. Spoiled dairy products. Gross. Do not go here.

Nice Indian Punjabi food. We walked in and little did we know - they had buffet at lunch and the options were amazing and delicious. There were soups, salads, vegeterian, meat options and desserts. The service was great. The place was clean and tables were cleaned quite often. They charge $9.95 for child buffet and regular is $17.95. For the food options available was great deal.

We are longtime customers here. Food is always delicious whether you order menu items or eat from the Buffet. The owner and staff are Wonderful and treat us like Family. Each dish has its own unique flavor. The food is scratch made in house, fresh every day. Buffet has a couple different kinds of rice along with about 10-12 different items, plus a small salad bar, 2 soups. Dessert is homemade ice cream, vanilla, mango or swirl, plus mango lassi and cashew halwa. Definitely give East India Grill a try and you'll leave with a Very Happy Tummy. The owner used to do cooking classes on Saturdays. Back in 2012 I attended 12 different times. Each time, he gave us his recipe, while we watched as he prepared 2 dishes. Then he gave us a serving to enjoy, as well as the spices to prepare the food at home. He said today you watched me, tomorrow you cook it and you'll always remember. I love his food, his TLC and his Beautiful Heart

Our favorite Indian place by far. Delicious curry, we get the same butter chicken + Tika + Garlic naan every time as it's what our kids like. Service is fantastic, we have been going enough the servers know us and our kiddos well.

I've been coming here for the last 15 years. The food is always consistent delicious and the right amount of portions. The staff is family, friendly and always accommodating. The interior is spotless and always clean. I've never been disappointed here. The flavors are amazing.

Everything is absolutely splendid! The food is delicious, it is clean, the buffet is well stocked and the staff are very friendly, especially the owner. We are truly thankful to call this place a weekend speciality!

My family and I have been coming to this exceptional restaurant since they opened many years ago. The food is always superb and the owner and wait staff are always kind and gracious. It is a warm and inviting restaurant. You won't be disappointed dining here. Best Indian food in the area, no contest!

I have been to this restaurant many times, and the food is always excellent! I had heard years ago, that this family run restaurant used to be in downtown Seattle, and at that time was considered the #1 Indian restaurant in the city. My understanding is they only moved out of downtown due to high rents, etc. They still are the best around. My ONLY negative would be that the staff is not very friendly. They barely say a word to you. But, the food makes up for it.

I have known Kabal for several decades and have eaten at several of his Indian restaurants. His food is the best Indian cuisine I've ever experienced. The varieties of flavors and spices are incredible. He and his staff have always taken great care of me. The atmosphere has always been peaceful and pleasant. I highly recommend East Indian Grill. Aaron Schuster

I loved the gimmick of keeping the food warm with tea lights. Really loved it. The coconut chicken was good and the meat samosas

I stopped by here because I was craving Indian food, but good Indian food. I saw this place had good ratings and fellow Yelpers you did not disappoint. I did a to go order of matar paneer, channa masala, aloo gobi and tandoori roti. My pics don't do it justice because I couldn't wait. I had to dig in. Oh, and the service was great. Greeted with a smile and great service. I will come back again.

We stopped by East India Grill for lunch and were pleasantly surprised. If you're going for lunch, they offer a buffet spread, available from 11am to 3pm. Some of the items included naan, a couple of chicken curries, a lamb & fish curry option, and several non-vegetarian dishes along with rice. I was impressed by the curries; they were creamy and thick, with a good amount of flavor. I also appreciated that the food in general wasn't very spicy, although it was a little bit more garlicky that I prefer. My favorite items were the MajestIc Chicken and the eggplant dish. The only thing I would say is that it would have been nice to get naan brought out hot as needed versus just kept on the buffet. Their options were different than the usual items that you see at Indian buffets, so I liked that! Service was alright as well. The restaurant itself is quite old .. tables and decor were a bit outdated. I thought the price was a bit on the higher side at almost $18 per person. However given the food quality and taste, I would say it was worth it (just come hungry).

I haven't had Indian cuisine is a long time and finding East India Grill really hit the spot! They had their lunch buffet available til 3pm on Saturday. I called to inquire before heading over. What a great way to try their dishes! They had a huge selection - vegetarian and various meat selections, with various rice options and Naans. Plus desserts (mango mousse, rice pudding, sweet watermelon, cashew pudding (can't remember what it's called but it was good)), salad, sauces and soups! The flavors are on point. I was so into the dishes that I forgot to take pics except I took a pic of the mango lassi drink -yum! My favorites were mushroom massala, majestic chicken, chicken karahi, lamb curry, and tikki chicken massala!! The staff are very welcoming and the manager is sweet...makes you a special potato cheese appetizer with all the fixings. Will definitely be back!

Love this place! And the lunch buffet is a great deal at $20 everyday. Although I wish they had samosas in the buffet

the staff was not nice i found a roach egg in the rice pudding i had post this before ....." as much as i love eas indian foods i will not be going back there!!!! " beware-not sure for they got best restaurant award unhappy customer!

Great lunch time buffet. They consistently have garlic naan, lamb, chicken masala, tandoori chicken, coconut chicken, Indian style Chinese chicken, etc... One of the best naan places around. My personal favorites are the coconut chicken. One item that many people miss out on but is a must have are the desserts. The combination of yellow cashew dessert + mango ice cream + white Indian style dessert sauce is fantastic. The service is also incredibly professional, considerate and timely!

A local gem!!! Amazing food, cocktails and service. I can't wait to come back!!! The cucumber cooler, majestic chicken and jalapeño naan were my favorite.

Visiting my daughter in Tacoma and craving Indian food today, she highly recommended East India Grill and I wholeheartedly agree its is the best in Tacoma! My favorite dish was the Chicken Korma made with cashews and my second favorite was the Chicken Tandoori. Everything was superb though and service fast and friendly. Highly recommend this restaurant. Lots of free parking too. Had a very nice dinner experience!

OMG! My new favorite. Great service and a huge variety of choices on the buffet table. They also have salads and a few choices desserts. Thank you for having us.

Good food and good service. It is on the pricier side for indian food but the atmosphere is fancier than other places. The butter chicken ,tikka masala , lamb medallions , chicken vindaloo and naan (all flavors of naan ) are all great options.

Recommend East India Grill Fresh and Tasty flavourful food Vegan and Vegetarian friendly

Went here for Valentine's day dinner for the first time. Staff was very kind, food was well portioned and tasty. We had butter chicken, chicken korma and garlic Naan. All delicious. They gave a rose to the ladies for the holiday which was a nice touch. $20 for daily lunch buffet (yes on weekends too!) We'll be back

This is one of my favorite local places to get lamb biryani. The lavender kamikaze is something I get every now and then as well. *cheers* You can expect a slower environment throughout the day and attentive service whenever you dine in. The staff are pretty friendly and accommodating.

Half-empty on a Saturday night, here's why... Overpriced: The prices here are super premium. For a family of two adults and three kids 9-13 our bill was $150 for three entrees we split, two appetizers, and some naan. Small portions: I understand that typical american portions are oversized, but this was ridiculously the other direction. $21 for butter chicken, literally each of us had a small soup spoon scoop because that was all there was. Pretentious and tacky: Sings, yes literally signs all over the restaurant saying that it was a fine dining establishment and admonishing people to use silverware to eat (I'm not kidding), while they have plastic chandeliers... Automatic gratuity: doesn't say anywhere on the menu, but they tack on 18% gratuity AND then ask for additional tip. The food was good, but absolutely not worth the cost, which is why it was half empty.

These jokers call themselves 'fine dining' Which fine dining has: - Hostess running all over the place not knowing where to sit - Dirty non-dusted seating - Lukewarm food - Cook (apparently he is the owner) yelling at guests & staff - Not provide enough utensils/napkins for the food on the table

The food is excellent, always tasty, and a large variety. The atmosphere is wonderful, and one is always greeted with a warm inviting smile from the staff. I love the idea that they provide hours for buffet style followed by fine dining. Wish more people knew about this place as we don't want this business to leave our area. I am trying to submit a request to Evening Maz." to do a story on this restaurant. Jim and Eltrina Rose, Federal Way

Overall, I liked my experience. Will I be back? Maybe. The prices are noticeably higher than every other Indian restaurant I have been to. Other than the candle warmer under my dish (which I thought was cute lol) I'm not sure what justifies the price other than them claiming to be finer dining. The majestic paneer ($19.95) was good, and I can't believe I'm saying this, but it almost had too much flavor, like they needed to add cream to it like you do with tikka masala/butter chicken; it was too concentrated for me. The spinach naan was amazing though, loved it. The signs saying not to eat with your hands are still there, which is interesting given the cultural context. The service was fine, I did pick up some vibes that were sliiiightly unwelcoming, but idk overall the people were nice. I would go here again if I didn't feel like driving too far or if I had a "might as well" moment but it wasn't an experience that I necessarily am yearning to have again. (Other than the naan lol)

My family and I were happily surprised to find East India Grill. We love to come here for their buffet. The food is delicious with a great selection. The made-to-order appetizer is an especially fun addition. The staff are pleasant and helpful and the owner delightful.