Tandoori Vibes - Indian Restaurant & catering

I came to San Diego for a weekend getaway and a doctor's appointment nearby. I stopped for a quick lunch at Tandoori Vibes, an unassuming, Indian restaurant in a strip mall with a supermarket and a bunch of little restaurants with cuisines from around the world that demonstrate California's diversity. The place itself is what you would expect of a small restaurant in a strip mall. Nothing fancy. But the place was clean and the food was fresh and delicious. I had the lunch special, for which I chose butter chicken, and accompanied it with a veggie samosa and a mango lassi. it really was outstanding. The service was also very personable and the server very kind. Would I come here for the atmosphere on a date night? No. Would I come here with my wife who also loves Indian food and whom would enjoy the quality of the food? Absolutely! Lunch was fast and delicious. I left happy and full. Thank you!

I came to Tandoori Vibes with my friends for the first time today. We arrived around 4pm and there were only about 4 other patrons there. The restaurant is somewhat small, seating probably about ~14-15 people max, and isn’t particularly decorated or anything, but it’s clean and simple. We ordered mango pineapple chicken, goat curry, tikka masala, cheese naan, roti, and mango lassis. My mango pineapple chicken was awesome! It was super flavorful, and since I got it really spicy, the interplay of the fruit and spice worked wonders. The chicken was very juicy, and the curry was complex, rich, and hitting on all cylinders. The goat curry was really good, too. The goat itself had a good char on it and the curry was earthy and a little smoky. The roti was nicely cooked and worked well as a wrap for the curries. The rice comes free with your order, which is a really nice touch since many Indian restaurants often charge $2-3 per rice serving. Overall it was a really nice meal and the restaurant displayed a thoughtful presentation of Indian food that was consistently delicious.

Tandoori Vibes truly lives up to its name. The food is flavorful, fresh, and tastes very authentic. The tandoori dishes were perfectly cooked, juicy, and well-seasoned. The curries were rich, aromatic, and felt like proper home-style Indian food. The naan was soft and fresh, making the meal even better. The staff was polite and attentive, and the service was quick. The ambience is clean, comfortable, and family-friendly. Overall, a great place for anyone who loves authentic Indian and tandoori cuisine. Highly recommended, and I’ll definitely be coming back!

OMG! I've been craving some delicious Indian food and this place did not disappoint. I ordered via DoorDash and it came nice and hot. The food was absolutely delicious. Such great flavors and good portions as well. Unfortunately, I devoured my food before I could snap a picture of it all. I'm definitely ordering from here again!! Food review: Chicken tikka masala: (5/5) Such great flavors, not too spicy and good amount of actual chicken pieces. Vegetable samosas: (5/5) Yumm!! It was a buy 1 get 1 free deal on DoorDash. So happy I got the deal. These were perfectly crispy and were soooo good! The dipping sauce is always my favorite. Wish they had more sauce in the containers. Garlic naan: (5/5) These were on the thinner side, but packed with flavor and soft/buttery and yummy.

This Indian restaurant is an absolute gem! The food is incredibly delicious—rich, flavorful, and perfectly spiced in a way that keeps you craving more. We’re visiting the area and ended up coming here twice in just three days, because instead of exploring other restaurants, we couldn’t resist coming back. Every dish we tried was outstanding, and it’s clear that the chef is exceptionally talented. The staff, all from North India, are warm, welcoming, and add to the authentic experience. Their hospitality made us feel at home, and the entire atmosphere perfectly complements the amazing food. We finished off our meals with a traditional masala chai, which was fragrant, spiced to perfection, and the most delicious way to end the dining experience. Truly unforgettable!

The chili paneer was stellar. Nice and crispy outside, soft inside. The butter chicken was also delicious. The Dahi Bhalla was moist and flavorful. I guess that's the crux of it. All the dishes were full of flavor. The tandoori roti was the right thickness and prepared properly. The restaurant is fairly small so we had to wait for a few minutes but not long really. The bathroom was sketchy, for what that's worth. The service was friendly and helpful. So, whatever they are doing in the kitchen is magic and I will go back for sure.

I came here for lunch with friends because of the good reviews. They do have a weekday lunch special for $12.99 but unfortunately we came on a holiday when it was excluded. We ordered lamb karahi, chicken vindaloo, chicken tikka marsala, and a mushroom marsala with garlic and regular naans. The curry dishes came with white rice too. The food was really good. We ordered everything in the medium spice level and there definitely was a kick. The lamb was nice and tender. The two people who were working there were really nice. They made sure we had everything we needed and enjoyed our meal.

I took my wife to eat there for the first time and she loved it. She fell in love with the food and the mango Lassi. It took a while for them to bring out the food but it was worth the wait We have to go back to try everything else on the menu

OMG! I've been craving some delicious Indian food and this place did not disappoint. I ordered via DoorDash and it came nice and hot. The food was absolutely delicious. Such great flavors and good portions as well. Unfortunately, I devoured my food before I could snap a picture of it all. I'm definitely ordering from here again!! Food review: Chicken tikka masala: (5/5) Such great flavors, not too spicy and good amount of actual chicken pieces. Vegetable samosas: (5/5) Yumm!! It was a buy 1 get 1 free deal on DoorDash. So happy I got the deal. These were perfectly crispy and were soooo good! The dipping sauce is always my favorite. Wish they had more sauce in the containers. Garlic naan: (5/5) These were on the thinner side, but packed with flavor and soft/buttery and yummy.

I came to Tandoori Vibes with my friends for the first time today. We arrived around 4pm and there were only about 4 other patrons there. The restaurant is somewhat small, seating probably about ~14-15 people max, and isn't particularly decorated or anything, but it's clean and simple. We ordered mango pineapple chicken, goat curry, tikka masala, cheese naan, roti, and mango lassis. My mango pineapple chicken was awesome! It was super flavorful, and since I got it really spicy, the interplay of the fruit and spice worked wonders. The chicken was very juicy, and the curry was complex, rich, and hitting on all cylinders. The goat curry was really good, too. The goat itself had a good char on it and the curry was earthy and a little smoky. The roti was nicely cooked and worked well as a wrap for the curries. The rice comes free with your order, which is a really nice touch since many Indian restaurants often charge $2-3 per rice serving. Overall it was a really nice meal and the restaurant displayed a thoughtful presentation of Indian food that was consistently delicious.

The service is very quick and exceptional. Very attentive for dine-in or takeout. They have a fantastic Monday - Friday lunch special if you are visiting on a weekday but the quality of the food is outstanding. Everything tastes fresh and top quality. My husband and o have been in 3-times now and tried new things on each visit. Our favorite appetizer is the Samosa Chaat, no question about it. All the flavors packed in a small dish that packs a punch with the flavors. His favorite dish so far is the Lamb Masala and the outstanding Vegetarian dish was the Malai Kofta. Please do yourself a favor and try the Mango Lassi! The dine in experience was phenomenal. The staff are great and the seating area is always impressive, clean, and welcoming.

The food is really good but my fiancé and I could not finish our meal due to lost appetites because of the uncleanliness of the place. They set plates on all the dine-in tables immediately after bussing the table, so the plates sit there and collect dust and debris until someone else sits down. There was a dead fly on our table, dust and debris on the top of our soda cans that I couldn't remove with a napkin, and the wall next to our table was filthy as was the floor. We asked the server for clean plates and I watched him take them and wipe them down with a rag before bringing them back. I hope the rag was not the same one used to wipe down tables but I'm not optimistic. Like I said, the food is good, but not good enough for me to come back.

I just tried this restaurant for the first time because they had to buy one get one free deal on mango lassis. My order showed up with 0 mango lassis instead of 2 and that was the only thing my partner wanted, so that kind of set the tone and it went downhill from there. The best thing we got in our DoorDash order was the saag paneer. It was really good and probably the best I've had in San Diego -- heavier on coriander than others I've had. The butter chicken was just average to me and my favorite dish, malai kofta, was unfortunately not the flavor profile I'm used to and I didn't really enjoy it. The naan was fresh and fine. Given that the dishes didn't really blow me away and the deal that lured me in was completely missing from my order and necessitated a DoorDash correction (and left my partner with nothing), I just wasn't impressed. I was hopeful that this would be my new Indian spot because it's so close to my house, but I'm sticking with Bhojan Griha where I know everything is gonna slap every time.

I came here for lunch with friends because of the good reviews. They do have a weekday lunch special for $12.99 but unfortunately we came on a holiday when it was excluded. We ordered lamb karahi, chicken vindaloo, chicken tikka marsala, and a mushroom marsala with garlic and regular naans. The curry dishes came with white rice too. The food was really good. We ordered everything in the medium spice level and there definitely was a kick. The lamb was nice and tender. The two people who were working there were really nice. They made sure we had everything we needed and enjoyed our meal.

This food was "perfect" per my daughter. The service was good. They were pretty busy. We ordered our food to go and were told it would be ready in 15-20 mins. The ambience was welcoming. There was an Indian family sitting down eating dinner. There were also other people of different ethnic backgrounds eating there as well. We ordered: Chicken Tikka Masala (5/5) Tandoori Chicken (4/5) 2 garlic naan (4 pieces total) (5/5) 2 vegetable samosas (5/5) Side note: if you pay cash the price of your food is 10% cheaper. They ask how hot you would like the food. We ordered medium for both entrees. Overall, great food.

The place is nice, and I can see why people enjoy it. My prior review was because I was charged the full price of the meal when I could have gotten a lower price if I paid with cash. After I ordered and paid... I was told I could get a discount for the lunch special. However, when I first ordered within that time frame- it didn't apply. It was confusing for me. Service was okay.

Another great chef in town. San Diego just got better with this restaurant, and right in heart of where I lived in my previous life. So far, everything I would not go to any other place in town but outside town, I tried here and it's good. Period.

Good quality Indian food in the College area! The mango lassi is addictive! Everything we've gotten there is good from butter chicken to lamb vindaloo to sag spinach with tofu, this place is on point! Ambience is casual not tablecloth kind of place and the service is good.

Wow they have great lunch specials. You get the best value in price, quality and quantity. Monday to Friday 11am-3pm $12.99 plus tax for a plate of rice, naan, soda can and a curry dish. We got veg korma and chicken tikka masala and added veggie samosas for $1.99 each. We also ordered a plate of butter chicken to take home. I love how all the flavors soaked into the protein. We got a level 8 in spice but it wasn't at all spicy. I'm working up my spice tolerant and it wasn't spicy for me. I would definitely come back here many more times for lunch.

Very very tasty I must say. Full of flavor and spice. Huge menu. Clean and the parking is excellent. Very easy on the wallet, under 12 dollars 11 AM to 3 PM.

College area Mom and pop shop Strip mall parking Vegan options Restrooms Air conditioning Friendly service Lunch specials Light music playing Indian food Curry spice adjustable

If you like Indian food this is a must try. I had the Tikka chicken masala. The chicken was cooked perfectly, . So tender and juicy. The sauce was incredible and creamy. So good. Not overly salty. Also got the garlic nann and hummus. Amazing fresh and garlicky. Everything tasted fresh. The rice was tender, moist, and not dried out. So happy! And it's real close to me. Keep up the great work. I'll be back!

I loved the Food, But for the price The size of the item is ridiculously small Very very small The appetizer was larger than the entrees This was delivery,

Wow, first time here. The butter chicken is phenomenal. Had lunch special and custom make it so you can order on a spicy 1-10 scale. Flavor amazing. One entre per order but with rice , naan as well as soda it's well priced and plenty of food. Super nice people and clean, pleasant dining room. Get here now!

Ordered the garlic naan off DoorDash and it only came with 1 piece--it usually comes with 2 when I ordered in the past. Called and asked to speak to a manager, not to complain but to ask for clarity since it seems like it's a common occurrence based on other reviews. Was told no manager was working. Asked the same for a shift lead--was told no shift lead was working by Rohan. So it seems like there's a management problem where people aren't trained correctly and everyone is not on the same page.

Expectation exceeded and then some. We had the Chicken 65, cheese naan, goat biriyani, and the butter chicken. We ate in the restaurant service was good. The food was so good... i got emotional. I was so excited with each bite. I'm sure i looked like a crazy person. Probably the best indian food i've had in years.

NOTE: This is for a food delivery order so this only captures the experience of the takeout and does not include handling and delivery experience TL;DR pretty good food, although the lamb was lacking in the dish, probably about six pieces total which is a detractor, and the spicy levels were potent but not overpowering the flavors of the lamb vindaloo This place had some of the smallest portion-looking sizes I've received from an Indian restaurant in a while, however, don't let that facade trick you since there's a large of food inside the container. That said, I do wish I had known the portion size of the rice since it came in one of those small paper takeout containers and it was not nearly enough rice to soak up the flavors of the lamb vindaloo As for the lamb vindaloo itself, it was quite good, there was a nice kick that would get most people sweating, and I had to stop eating a few times to catch my breath. If you're afraid of the lamb gaminess there is still a slight aftertaste of gaminess despite the melody of flavors so just a heads up. This isn't unusual, however, some people can be more sensitive and want to give that heads up In total this was a good meal, there was some level of wishful expectations that it would have more food but I guess everything has increased in price lately. For context, they provided their takeout menu in the takeout which showed that the food delivery app charged an extra $3 but originally the price for the lamb vindaloo would have been $17.99. The meal itself was sufficient and I would consider coming back but if the usuals I go to aren't available since the portion sizes were a little lacking and while the flavors were good many other great Indian restaurants around San Diego equal this place and has more lamb

Debated between a 3.5 and a 4. My test Indian curry for a new place is always chicken tikka. Chicken was plentiful and tender. Sauce was a little creamier than I like, but that's just my preference. I asked for 6/10 spicy level but it was really not spicy at all. Guess I need to go higher next time! Portion size was decent. Garlic naan was fresh and tasted great! Generous portion of two big pieces too.

Authentic Indian food. Chicken tikka masala is delicious! Reasonably priced. Will definitely go back.

The chicken tikka masala was pretty dry but I like their cheese naan. I'll probably only come back for the cheese naan.

Since moving back to San Diego in 2023, we've been in search of a Tandoor restaurant that is close to southeast. The other day we tried Tandoori Vibes for the first time (we order on Slice). I didn't get a chance to take pictures. We ordered the following: butter chicken, chicken korman, vegetarian simosas, and mango mouse for dessert. Everything was seasoned to perfection, food showed up fast and still very hot, portions were good size, and price was reasonable. Highly recommend Tandoori Vibes! 10/10

Best and cheapest Indian food I've had in San Diego. Straight forward, amazing service, and actual SPICED food. (Not to be confused with spicy) it's my NEW go to spot for Indian food that isn't all the way up in Mira Mesa. Ate family style with 4 others && left stuffed while only paying $20 each (including 20% tip!) not a fancy sit down spot & ambiance isn't the trendiest but food is solid, seating option is available and service is sweet. Honestly that's all I need at the end of the day. Pictured: Sagg Wala Paneer, Daal Soup, Chana Masala, Chicken Vindaloo Table favorite: Sagg Wala Paneer

There was a different family running this business, but it just got taken over. It's way better now. The service and food were both excellent. The menu has changed as well. It's a me of the best Indian food I've ever had. We started with the vegetable samosas. They were moist and juicy inside. The crust was flaky and crunchy. I believe they're also served with various types of protein as well. The green sauce on the side was herbaceous and tangy, the brown sauce was sweet, almost a little smoky. Both paired perfectly with the samosas. For lunch we both ordered the lunch special. At $11.99 we were amazed by the large portion and quality. Babe had the chicken tikka masala, I had the saag paneer. Both of us received large portions filling up the entire plate. They asked us what spice level we each wanted, they both hit the mark. Babe likes a one, I'm more of a 5-6 kinda spice level guy. Her chicken was moist, the sauce was perfect. My saag paneer, heavenly. We had regular naan and an order of garlic naan. Both came out hot and fresh. The new owners know exactly what they're doing, we will be back for dinner next week. I can't wait to taste the rest of the menu. The server told us they'll be opening an all you can eat buffet for lunch sometime in March. The inside was remodeled as well. The chairs were comfortable and the tables were spotless. The music was relaxing and everything felt new and clean. Can't wait to go back. Amazing.

Tandoori Vibes has been under new ownership and management for over 3 months, however, it was my first visit for lunch and my review as follows... Like many eateries on this side of San Diego, this small restaurant is located in a large strip mall, off of El Cajon and College, minutes from the SDSU campus. Haven eaten an many Indian restaurants throughout the years, my selections are the ever popular favs: white meat chicken tikka masala, Saag paneer, basmati rice and naan. These were offered as Lunch specials and the portions were generous. The chicken was tender and fresh tasting, the tikka masala curry was topped with coconut flakes and slivered almonds a nice touch to a rich aromatic dish. Saag paneer tasted perfect just as I like it, in color, texture and authentic Indian spices taste, just how I remember it tasting and from my travels in London. Too bad I can't fit much into my belly, I'm excited to try other selections from their menu, next time Korma, Chana, and the Tandoori! The restaurant appeared clean, has limited indoor and outdoor dining. Service was good. You enter the restaurant, order and pay at the counter and the cashier is also the server presents the food to your table. Would have preferred to sit, and had the waiter take my order from the table. I sat at the only outdoor table which faces the busy parking lot and busy walkway, no eater privacy. This restaurant does offer takeout and delivery via other services. The food remarkably delicious and the dishes I ordered deserves 5 stars and worth trying.

I've been in the mood for Indian cuisine lately & the last two places were mediocre in quality, taste & portion size. I came here after searching and got the Butter Chicken lunch special & paid $1.00 extra for the Garlic Naan. (Plain Naan included) They made it to order & it exceeded my expectations. I was very pleased with the portion size, it was delicious & the garlic Naan was very very hot and so good. Thank you for coming through on my craving. I'll be back !

This is a fairly new Indian restaurant in the college area that took over the old restaurant. It's much better quality and the environment is now more comfortable if you want to eat in. We enjoyed it

I made a to go order because I was really craving curry and this place did not disappoint me at all the service was amazing they explained the heat level very well and if you pay in cash it's a little cheaper as well! The wings amazing definitely try them 10/10 The chicken masala and the curry 10/10 The naan I got plain cheese and garlic and all were very tasty not to overwhelming and did not take away from the food Overall I will definitely be coming to this place again I really didn't get anything wrong especially for a to go order!

Tandoori Vibes is a part of the Campus Plaza Shopping Center in Rolando where Mirch Masala 2 GO used to be located. The parking on this side of the plaza can fill up quickly if you want to get a space close to the suite. The inside had enough seating capacity for about 30 customers. The menu was fairly standard for Indian cuisine with a broad array of offerings. There was a $10.99 weekday lunch special from 11:00 am to 3:30 pm. Rice, naan, and select vegetarian and non-vegetarian entrees were included in the deal. I stopped in to get some dinner to go. My choice was the Shrimp Saagwala from the Meat Lovers category. Five pieces of shrimp were cooked in pureed spinach and herbs. White basmati rice came with the order while I asked for mild spiciness. The amount of protein for the $17.99 price was not great. It didn't match the menu photo which showed seven shrimp in the serving vessel. The flavor of the saag was okay but didn't stand out. I guess my standard for Indian fare is different than what others experienced at Tandoori Vibes.

Me and my girlfriend tried this place on a whim and were not disappointed! The service was excellent! The waitress was very nice and accommodating, and they gave us free water bottles! We got the Tandoori chicken and chicken masala, both were very tasty, season well, we would definitely come back!

Best naan ever! They have lunch specials, where you can pay with cash and get a discount. Flavor was really good for the chicken tikka masala as well.

Tandoori fish was great, so was butter chicken. Great staff, and chill ambiance. overall great place

We came in last night for kaju mushroom, navratan korma, cheese naan, and tandoori roti. Everything was delicious. I had never had kaju mushroom before and boy was I in for a treat. We got takeout out so I didn't experience the dine in service but my experience was nothing but positive.

Excellent Butter Chicken and naan. Lunch special is a great price. I love your chai tea too! Thank you for bringing authentic Indian Cuisine to San Diego. I come from the SF Bay Area where Indian food and buffets are everywhere. I really miss that, but this place brought back the flavors I was missing. My only hope is that one day you will have a lunch buffet

This place was very delicious! We ordered Vegetable Samosas, Malai Kofta, Paneer Tikka Masala, Baingan Bharta, Chicken Kebabs, and Tadka Dal. The chicken was so fresh and tender and the paneer tikka masala was fantastic! The bharta was slightly sweeter than I would have preferred, but still great! The samosas were so delicious and not oily at all. The service was amazing, and the food was fresh and piping hot when it came out. I will definitely return.

This is one of my new favorites and go to places. The food was very authentic and delicious. Probably some of the best Indian food I've had. Very fresh and flavorful. The service was excellent. Very friendly and attentive. They know they have good food, and they are happy to share it with others. The place itself is not overly decorated, and is very clean. I highly recommend.

So I have to qualify my review. Indian food is not my strong suit and not my go to. Also, I'm rating this based on it being a casual restaurant. I can't speak to authentic. I came here for a quick meal and enjoyed this spot. Saw it randomly while in the shopping center and the reviews were good. One photo of the food was good and the interior pictures made me laugh. The photo was from the security camera. Walked up and ordering was simple. The staff was very friendly. The spicy scale was 1-10 and I called their bluff with the chicken vindaloo at an 8. I order garlic naan too. You order, pay and then have a seat if you are dining in. The food came out reasonably well timed. The garlic naan was not as garlicy as I would have liked. The spice was lacking. I would say that's a 4. I did like the flavor though. The staff was very friendly and I think in total checked on us 3 times after we got our food. They were playing jazz and it was a nice vibe for a very casual place. I would recommend giving this place a chance.

Really great food and really great people! I recommend the butter chicken with the garlic naan and the aloo tiki and samosas. Those items are my go to

Good place with good food. I ordered the chicken tikka masala as the test case food for all Indian restaurants now. I'm turning into my friend Khann. It was very good. The right proportions of rice to bowl of chicken, though there was an excess of sauce. We could use the leftovers for something. Maybe more chicken. I also ordered the garlic naan which did hit the spot, though I thought there would be more of it instead of just two loaves. What I can't quite figure out is how their "lunch specials" work.

Tastes like real home cooked Indian food!!! Amazing flavor and good price!!! Will be a return customer now!!

Chicken karahi was amazing spicy and tasty. Nan bread gorgeous. We went with a large group and every single person was praising their food. They happily made individual bills and even have us free desserts

I ordered the Chicken Tikka Masala. Even though I ordered a mild spice level, the flavors were still quite pronounced in a good way. The dish tasted fresh and was savory. The chicken was moist and tender, even though it was breast meat. The rice (basmati, which is usually served in the Subcontinent) was tender and fluffy. Decent North Indian fare for a San Diegan who's been to the Subcontinent and hopes to return there, and to this establishment soon.

I'm just mad we haven't tried this spot sooner. We ordered to go a few nights ago and had questions about the menu and how much food it might be to bring home for 4 of us. The staff was friendly, patient and very helpful. We got a few chicken dishes and a veggie dish. Lots of naan. The flavor was so good and it was lots of food. I didn't not want to stop eating it! Can't wait to come back.

the tikla masala was absolutely delicious! the naan was nice and thick and the spice level was on point. would definitely come back

Today is the first time I tried one of their entrees. (Chicken Tikka Masala) I've previously tried their homemade Naan bread and Samosas. Everything is superb! The gentleman who waited on me was incredibly sweet, kind and attentive. I'll be back again and again!

SOOOOO GOOD! The aloo tikka masala was to die for. I'm literally stuffed but want to keep eating it. The samosas are spectacular and the naan and hummus are incredible! I've ordered from here twice in one week and I'll probably do it again next week!

Our server was attentive and the over serve was great. The food was delicious. Next time I'll have to try the desserts.

This place is under new management, replacing the previous Indian restaurant that occupied the space. I'm not sure of the specifics of this transition, but I can definitely say it's been for the better. Had the lunch special, and each of the entrees was actually cooked to order rather than lingering within a steam table. You have to wait a bit for your dishes to be cooked, but it's definitely worth it. I ordered the Black Pepper Chicken and Saag Paneer, and I can honestly say they're far better quality than what you'll find in most San Diego Indian spots. Even the included naan was tastier than the standard fare. Will stop by again for the lunch special and some of the unique Indian-Chinese dishes that they offer on the menu.