Tikka Express Gainesville

I love this place! We live in Ocala (45 min away) and we make sure to stop here whenever we come to Gainesville. The BEST chicken curry! The flavor and spice levels are always perfect. The owner’s are also very friendly and welcoming!

I'd give it five stars on everything but it really is an express, so it doesn't have a fancy setting. I think they probably get a lot more to goes than they get people that eat there, but I don't know that for sure. When I was there, everybody was getting their food to go. Not sure where they parked. I know it was quite a chore for me. I think that would be the only thing that I'm not crazy about. That being it's so hard to find a parking space just to go in for 10 minutes to get something to take away. It's the busy part of town and they're doing work on the roads which doesn't help, in the end it was worth it. I got curry chicken and I believe they were called samosas. It was really good. Just because it's a takeout place that doesn't mean it's not well prepared and delicious. It is. Apparently they have a buffet during the week and I went there on a Saturday so I had to just order one thing. I would love to come back and try some of their other options. If I can get to Gainesville again I will definitely hit this place again. I definitely recommend this place. Even though it looks like a little hole in the wall, it's really good food. And the guy that worked there was very nice. He didn't rush anybody when they were trying to make a decision and he was very helpful explaining what each of the dishes were. He was also good about making sure that he followed what you wanted. Specifically I did not want my curry chicken too hot. He did it perfectly. I think there's just a couple of people working there. I saw someone else that was bringing food out and probably cooking behind the scenes. Give it a try if you like Indian food. I think this Indian food is very good. Everyone else seemed to like theirs too. The portions are quite large also. You'll probably have enough for two meals. Very nice!

Noori is such a warm and lovely person, and you can tell how much care and intention is put into the food she makes (which also happens to be quite delicious). Highly recommended if you like good food made by good people!

ALLERGY FRIENDLY! The proprietor is so friendly, had no problem answering my food allergy questions. And making recommendations. It is virtually nut free (only cashew milk in a few dishes.) Halal, so no alcohol/vinegar. She makes everything in house. Several vegetarian options. The food itself was delicious! And huge portions. Our bill was $30 and we both ate our fill, and still brought home more than we ate there!. I highly recommend!

Very delicious! Got the tandoori chicken and matar paneer to go, it tasted amazing! The woman that runs the restaurant is extremely kind and warm. I will say the atmosphere is fine except that there are some sketchy people that may come by. The restaurant owner shared her fears of that with us and was very sorry about that even though it's out of her control. I highly recommend getting food here.

Parking is horrible but the food is so good here I will make the effort when I simple would not visit other places. The flavor of the food is that good. The size is plentiful. You do bus your own table . The buffet is fast, hot and exceptionally flavorful and so is ordering off the menu in the evening. Some of the best Indian food I've had here and you can pick the level of spice you want so all enjoy.

This lil spot on University Ave is an underrated gift. Top tier offerings while keeping prices super fair. On top of that, ownership is consistently there helping keep things running smooth and has always been generous with their kindness and hospitality during our interactions . Hit them up for their lunch special (or really any time).

I come here very often; the food is always amazing, the workers are very nice, and it’s a wonderful calm change of pace from the bustling traffic outside. The lunch specials are an awesome touch too. I definitely reccomend!

We ordered delivery from here for the first time and it was good. Food traveled well and good portion. Only bad thing is the menu is limited for delivery. For starters we chose the garlic naan bread and Samosa Chaat. The garlic naan bread tasted old and was really hard to eat. Samosa Chaat was good but could be better. For entree we had the goat curry and that was delicious and perfectly spiced with basmati rice.

This is one of my few go-to's for dinner to go in the area. Great food and quick service - and I've never been disappointed by a meal from them. The prices are on point for the portions. Easy front street parking.

One of the best Indian restaurants in the Gainsvelle area. Pre-ordered some tandoori and chicken biryani; great portions, amazing flavors and overall delicious food. Will definitely come back!

Food does not taste good. Service was not good. Ambience is not good. Location is a bit sketchy.

I'm sad to say that the food here was not good by any standard, I love Indian food so so much, but this was hard to consider Indian food. The quality of meat was very poor and worst of all, the sauce was terrible. The Naan and overall food quality tasted undercooked. To make it all worse, it is one of the most expensive meals I have had in a very long time for the quality and quantity.

Finding good Indian food in Gainesville is quite the challenge. I've tried Tikka Express twice now and both times I thought the food was just ok. I ordered the butter chicken on my first visit and the meal was decent but the flavor was lacking. On this recent visit, I tried the chicken tikka masala and I was left underwhelmed. There was another review that mentioned chef boyardee taste, and I think that was spot on for my experience with the chicken tikka. If you truly enjoy the bursting flavors in Indian food, I don't think this place will be able to satisfy that need.

My friend took me here and I ended up getting the chicken korma. The food is satiating, warm and homey, and delicious. The chicken itself could stand to be more flavorful, but the sauces are vibrant. Also do not be deterred by the prices on the menu for the portions are very reasonable given the price. I left quite full just ordering the medium portion. The staff is friendly and always does a good job to make you feel like a welcome guest. Definitely a solid Indian spot in Gainesville.

Not authentic. I think it's too much red chilli powder and too spicy and not as per my expectations. The chicken was not cooked well. Totally I am not satisfied with biryani and naan was having bit issue with un cooked

Delicious, inexpensive Indian food on University Avenue. The front desk staff are always friendly and have good recommendations. The only thing is I wish the dishes could be more spicy.

For Indian food in Gainesville, FL, it's not bad. Ordered butter chicken take out. Sure flavors were there, which is the hard part. Was very disappointed in the actual amount of chicken. Don't be charging $19 and putting in 4 pieces of chicken. That's disrespect.

So yummy guys, this place has the best Indian food ever! And 12÷10 would recommend to people in the Gainesville area for a cheap and good Indian food. Also the people that work there are so nice, yumm

Food was great! We ordered and stepped out to bring the car to the front of the business as to not have to cross the street again, and the guy who took our order actually brought the food out to the car. It also very quick service. So nice! I will definitely back. We had the Tikka Marsala with rice and garlic naan

Came here for takeout this evening. Ordered the Vegetable Samosa and Chicken Saag with Naan Bread side. Very flavorful with more than enough portion. I had rice at home so I chose the naan but it was suggested to have rice as a side. The vegetable samosa was also very flavorful. Overall would definitely come again.

Great Indian takeout restaurant in downtown Gainesville. Street parking was easy to come by, and the order was ready when we showed up. Nice size portions for the price. Great selection of vegetarian items. We tried the Samosa Chaat for the first time. Make sure to ask for it hot. It was good once we heated it up. We also got an order of vegetable samosa which we reheated the next day - so good. A medium size order of vegetable Tikka Masala and Malia Kofta was more than enough for the three of us to share. The Naan bread pieces are very big and delicious.

i am a huge fan of indian food and i was very disappointed. over priced and i felt so sick afterwards. the lamb was not good quality and the sauce tasted like they poured hot sauce into it. i would not come back again

A delicious option for Indian food in the Swamp! I'm so ashamed to say that I had never truly had Indian food up until about a year ago beyond Naan! Shame on me! I have been around so many similar cuisines and cultures, I'm unsure why it never made it to my plate until I came to Gainesville. Well, lucky for me (and our entire city) that we have so many great options and Tikka Express is definitely an amazing choice! Located right in the heart of downtown Gainesville and the UF area, Tikka Express is a not-so-hidden local gem. With ample indoor and outdoor seating, you'll definitely find your place here whether solo or with friends/family! With so many menu offerings, you will leave happy!! From Samosas, delicious garlic naan, and a host of traditional entrees, there's truly something for everyone! Want it mild or so spicy that your face turns red? Lucky you, because you can choose your spice level!! My regular order? Medium-Spiced Chicken Tikka Masala with Rice and Garlic Naan. The portions are huge, the meals always fresh and the team is always so welcoming and kind! So whether you're an Indian food connoisseur or a total newbie, Tikka Express is worth a try!

This place is SOO bad. Underwhelming food, rude employees, high prices, the list goes on. Came in early in the evening and they turn away customers because they're lazy and dont want to cook past 7 pm. Stay away because they may not even be open.

Tikka Express, I was VERY excited; I like Indian food. I wanted to say Yummy!! Per my incident, I ordered from the menu, but maybe you should follow the host's advice and have food from the all-day buffet deal. From my initial experience, the vibe at Tikka Express is a buffet-style focus. Maybe the handmade signage everywhere advertising the Buffet special for less than $10 also gave it away. Seemly amiable host, I found it interesting how he pushed the Buffet first. The overall location is a hole-in-a-wall dive in the university area. It seems grungy at first, but the place is clean, and outdoor seating is available. If a parallel parking spot in the front is too much, there is more accessible parking in the back alley and a back door entrance. The menu is vast with variety and seems easy to read. The food, moderately priced for quality compared to others in town. Probably should have stuck to the Buffet, I read great reviews, but I had the following: - Vegetable Samosa for Starters - Deep fried and crunchy craving satisfied! - Chicken Biryani for dinner - Huge portion! I was expecting a Saffron-flavored basmati rice dish; what I got was a clash of flavors too intense for my tastebuds. The disarray of dry rice, overcooked chicken pieces, and crunchy spices/bites of cloves throughout made this an unedible dish for my taste. - Garlic Naan - Any Problems? Naan, it was great!! I will consider checking out again, ordering something different because maybe it was just a lousy rice day. I might do the Buffet!

The food is very flavorful, but for the price, you don't get enough of it. Service was very polite and the place has some character even if it is in a strip mall.

The Chicken 65 we just tried is AMAZING!!!! Unbelievable sauce, so full of flavor and spicy just the way we like it. Thank You!!!!

I've been wanting to try this place for a while and never have the chance to. I did a couple of weeks ago and it didn't disappoint. Definitely very flavorful tikka masala. The garlic naan was great!

This place is such a gem. We got the chicken korma and veggie paneer and loved both. Huge portions and very friendly staff. Witnessed them very kindly and patiently walk a guest through the menu who had never had Indian food before. My lunch was just as good today for leftovers. I could eat a thousand of those samosas. Fast and easy as well. Will be back.

My husband and I went here after his doctor appointment for the first time. We shared the butter chicken and the chicken nihari. They didn't disappoint! The flavors and spices were on point! We will definitely be coming back here!

This place is more than a restaurant, it has treated me like family the past 3 years. Welcoming me with open arms, greeting me by name and getting to know me and my friends. They always have the best food, served hot and fresh to your liking. Their Saag paneer, Daal lentil, and naan is unbeatable. This family-run restaurant goes above and beyond for their customers and cares about the Gainesville community. I cannot thank them enough. Since graduating, I haven't found another Indian restaurant that even comes close to Tikka. You will not be disappointed!

If I could give this restaurant 1000 stars I would! The lamb Marsala was amazing! Thank you again!

While I cannot say it was the best Indian cuisine I've ever had, it was alright and their menu offers a lot more diversity in dishes than many American Indian restaurants provide. I had the lamb korma, vegetable samosas, and an order of garlic naan. The korma, which I requested spiced hot, was spicy and fairly flavorful but alas not the best cut of mutton--now, I know lamb is tricky to get good and not too fatty meat from, but this was just a bit tough. Well-seasoned, however. The samosas were flavorful but rather small in size, the garlic naan was fine. My college room-mate in San Francisco was Indian, as in from India and just came to the States for school. We had Indian food a lot whether eating out or cooking at home. So while not an expert, I'm well-versed in Indian cuisines. I feel like the food here is very authentic, but felt its quality fell just a little short. However, it may have been an off night for them and I did get it to go so there is also the issue of driving home with it. I will certainly try them again and eager to try some other, rarer, dishes as well.

I didn't realize how much I missed Indian food until I had tikka express a couple weeks ago...and now I'm addicted and can't stop thinking about that chicken tikka masala. I wish I could go every single day, but for now it'll just be a weekly indulgence. Their menu is extensive, and everything I've tried has been absolutely delicious (chicken 65, chaat, chicken tikka, butter chicken, and lentils). Their prices are on point - an entree (with rice) is ~$11-13. There's indoor and outdoor seating, but it's more of a take out spot in my opinion. Definitely my favorite restaurant in Gainesville - hands down.

I agree with other posts about this not looking like much from the outside, though their signage and logo out front is very clean and professional. The food is a 10/10, I've had very traditional Indian cuisine and the flavor of the chicken tikka masala is so satiating and wonderful! Spot on and would definitely go again.

First time eating here and I loved the food and the people working there. They was super nice and the food was amazing. Best Indian food I've had ever and in town. I'll definitely come back. The price for everything was a great deal.

Best Indian buffet I've ever had! Do yourself a favor and come visit this place. The food is delicious and there are over 15 dishes to dry. The goat was my favorite as well as the chicken tikka masala. I would go again just for the freshness of their food. Not to mention the owners are a married lovely couple. They're so friendly and kind and treat you like family. I wish I lived here cause I would come all the time. Very casual place with indoor and outdoor seating. The buffet is only $9.95 and it's from 11:30-5pm. Come eat and be merry!

I have been a fan of this place since day one. Most of our dinner was great. The paneer had a bad taste like it was old. It squeaked against my teeth as I chewed it. Samosas were great, vegetable korma was great, and the daal was decent. I tried to call them to tell them the paneer should not be served rather than review them but no one answered.

Take 2: All who know me understand that I love, love, love great Indian food! This is my 4th visit to Tikka Express(via Bite Squad this time) and even though I couldn't go there myself today the food I had delivered is outstanding!!! Nothing short of incredible actually. I normally stop eating when I'm full, today I found myself eating stuffed - just because the flavor is so delicious! The vegetable Samosas are really yummy too. The food is nothing short of terrific! The chicken masala and fish curry at Tikka Express is hands down the best. I know I will be ordering from them again. Hopefully the world will calm down soon and I can go back in the restaurant. Holt

Came again for their lunch buffet and it was still as good as I remembered. The lunch buffet starts at 11am, so try to get there before 12:30pm if possible. For $10.95 you get unlimited naan, soda, and lunch buffet options. My favorites were the chicken tikka masala, goat curry, and veggie chana masala. The spiciest being the goat, then the chana masala, and finally the tikka masala with almost no spice at all (but very good flavor). The lamb was also good, but not as good as the goat- in my opinion. Tip- When you try the samosas, get some of the green sauce from the chilled section (near the salads) and dip it in that. It is the best ever, the flavors remind me of a pesto mix, but no garlic and a lot more Indian spices. What was great about this visit, compared to the last, is that we had to wait a while for the naan. Whereas this visit, our naan came out within seconds of sitting down, and then we were re-filled just as we were about to eat the last slice. Absolutely great service during the lunch rush. Lastly- don't mind the photo where the rice is empty. Within moments of me snapping the buffet line pics, and noting to the head server that the rice was low, he brought out more. Although, I did miss the vegetable basmati rice that they had the time before. This day the only rice option was the plain basmati rice. PS- they are also now more environmentally friendly with re-usable plates and silverware. Still using styrofoam cups, but I guess that is good if you want to take your drink with you after you finish eating.

Good lunch specials and food was good. My issue is they gave tortillas instead of naan of which i was looking forward to. Nice people and good service!

Blandest Indian food I've ever had. Garlic naan was delicious and had ten times the flavor of the butter chicken. It reminded both my daughter and I of chef boyardee!

Such a great buffet! Try to make it in time, it closes at six and they stop putting out fresh food by five. Even if you miss the buffet times, their dinners are amazing and plenty of food. I'm a huge fan of their chaats and naan. Great customer service and fairly fast food!

I was super excited to try a new Indian restaurant with buffet options! My friend and I visited Tikka at around 1PM on a Wednesday; the small shop had a decent amount of customers, but there were still tables available. We were kindly greeted by the desk attendant, and we immediately got food after paying. After tax, the buffet is $10.65, which includes a refillable drink! As for the food, they have a decent number of options, including a salad bar, two rices, vegetable samosas, chicken tikka masala, etc. The serving area kept the food extremely hot, which I really appreciated, and I saw employees refilling dishes as necessary. However, you have to ask for naan, but they bring it out to you pretty fast! I thought the food was flavorful, but I wish it was spicier. I mainly ate the chicken tikka masala, and it wasn't spicy at all, which is probably for customers that can't handle spice. If they could make a spicy dish, and a mild dish, this place would literally be perfect. As for the service, a lot of it is self-serve. You grab styrofoam and plastic utensils, which isn't really environmentally friendly. Otherwise, the employees are very consistent in asking if everything is good; I was able to refill my tables naan four times. You do have to walk to the counter to get your drink refilled though, but they're free! Overall, I'm really glad to have this addition in Gainesville; it's definitely worth the price, and seems to be a family-owned local restaurant!

If you want good Indian food made from scratch this is the place. I definitely recommend this place.

Although I didn't actually get to eat here, I wanted to review them based on the experience I did have with them. I have seen their dinner buffet advertised as til 7:30 and til 8. Regardless, we arrived at 6:30. The man at the counter said that they would not be refilling the buffet from its current state and to take a look at it before purchasing my meal. I am glad he did! The buffet was wiped out. There was almost no meat left and absolutely no rice. I commend this employee for his honesty before taking my money for a nonexistent buffet. However, this restaurant is wrong for advertising a dinner buffet that they then do not refill. I would like to actually try their food so I will be back with an update eventually but this really wasn't a great first impression.

I have eaten here a handful of times as it's located right near my job. There were never any issues though nothing stood out either. My issue came from the last time I ordered takeout. I ordered the Express Biryani and in a few hours, I had become extremely ill. I was ill throughout the night and didn't fully recover for a few days. I have not been back since unfortunately. I don't want to give this restaurant 1 star because I didn't have any previous issues. However, I have heard stories from coworkers who have eaten here that think they also got sick from the food.

Great Indian spot. Moved to Gville in the middle of the pandemic and I have loved all of my takeout meals from this place! I haven't even had time to try any of the other Indian places in town because I keep coming back here! Try the Chicken ANYTHING from the menu. + Samosa Chaat + Garlic Naan

I was disappointed. The butter chicken had odd flavor and I even found the garlic naan lacking. Maybe other dishes better but I can't waste more money to find out. Would have been great to have found good Indian food but that didn't happen

I had a great experience at Tikka Express. I have never tried Indian Cuisine before, I have found something new I like... I met Mehfooj Kahn, the owner and head chef is an amazing and talented chef. He and his wife Noori own the restaurant and their son Abdul manage it. Can not wait to visit again and experience some new flavor. I am loving Tikka Express.

This restaurant is more than just a restaurant. They care about their customers, quality of food, and staff. Every time I go in, I get greeted by my name with a great smile on their faces asking if I'm getting the regular. They have become a part of my weekly routine and could not imagine going to any other Indian restaurant. They are a family run business that work very hard to make some of the best food I could ever eat. The meals are so comforting, hearty, flavorful, and delicious.

Yes yes! This place was so good upon finally getting to check it out. The location is across from the Bank of America on university so there is decent street parking on the weekends. Upon walking in, you notice that it's small but has a homey feel because it's family run. The utensils and cups are styrofoam which isn't very environmentally friendly, but it must save on dishes and staffing expenses. The food is GREAT. There are a lot of options and I prefer this place over Andaz. They have a good variety and the service is good. We got the $9.95 deal with unlimited drink (soda) refills and naan (brought to your table). I give 4/5 because even though it is unlimited naan brought to your table, we weren't given a refill of ours (unlike stated in other reviews). Overall I would rate 4/5 for great food, cleanliness (eating area & restrooms), staff friendliness, and great price!!! Worth checking out if you like Indian and reside in Gainesville!

I quite enjoy coming in here as it is pretty cheap for the amount and quality of the food. And if you want it done pretty quick this is the place to go. They'll finish your order in about 15 minutes in my experience. The employees are always nice. Check this place out.

The food here is DELICIOUS and the hospitality and customer service of the owners and staff are incredible. Highly recommend! Not to mention, everything is super affordable. Definitely a Gainesville gem!

Went to Tikka Express with a small group of friends recently. This is in the old location for Gyros Plus, and you can still see some of the old store in there. The furniture has been changed, and a lot of things have been improved, so that is nice. However, these are not the important thing. The important thing is the smell when you first walk in... it is amazing! When you open that door and get the first wafts of the food within, you know that you are in for a good meal! They offer a modest buffet bar, which is a fair price for what is there. I went for that as did most of us, and that went well. The buffet is nice because it gives you an opportunity to eat a variety of different things, and if you are unfamiliar with Indian food it gives you a chance to try a variety of different things. There was a steady flow of people coming into the restaurant for food, both sit-doiwn and take-out, and I saw many of the 3rd party delivery drivers come in to take orders out, so it is certainly popular even after being open for so short a time. The buffet closes down about an hour or so before actual closing. What this means is that they stop selling plates for the buffet, but those that are still there that got in under the wire are welcome to continue filling their plates from it. I spoke with the owner, who was very nice, and she was concerned that I enjoyed the food. They take pride in their work, and want to be sure that what you are getting is what you want, which I find lovely.

Menu is not priced accurately. I was charged more than the prices listed on the menu. I asked the staff and they didn't know why there was a price discrepancy but I was charged the higher price anyway. I ordered my food mild and they still made it spicy. Samosas aren't very good either, not sure why others have said they are. I've eaten Indian food other places that had better flavors for a similar price range. Will not be back.

Tikka Express has excellent food and fast friendly service too. Everything is made fresh!!! The sauces were on point.