Karma Restaurant & Bar Reviews

Decided to try on our visit to philly. It arrived at our hotel fast, fresh and hot!. We ordered the butter chicken and lamb kebobs. Both were excellent and perfectly spicy! I would recommend this place!

Everything was delicious; waiter fun and great. First time in 22 years I have found great Indian food in US- I lived in London GB before where the I dian food is amazing, so it’s nice to come to Karma and enjoy!!! Lamb Chetinad was sooooo yummy!!!

We were cold and wet after the March for Science and stopped here for lunch. Although it was crowded, the service was friendly and the food was delicious. We tried two of the soups, a stuffed naan and the veggie samosa. Warmed our tummies in a very satisfying way.

Every time I get to Philadelphia I try to go to Karma. I enjoy it each time. Folks are friendly the menu is reasonable. I strongly recommend this place.

Its a fair 3 star. Perhaps with a dash of indulgence. Decent, a bit too pricy for what they actually put on the table. The staff seemed very bored... The mango lassi was the highlight of the day :) Good food, but had definitely had better. I am underlining that, definitely.

the staff was very pleasant and helpful. Our waiter (Moni) went through every item on the menu because most of our party were dining Indian cuisine for the first time. To our luck we went during restaurant week which we did not know when we made the reservation. For $25 we chose and app, bread, entree, and dessert. everything was delicious! The best part of my meal was my entree which was shrimp tikka masala. everything was done with the best service and I will surely dine at Karma again!

The food was really mixed - some good some not so great. the lighting was terrible and depressing, the wines expensive and not that great. I don't know, it just wasn't great overall. I'd say skip it.

Tried their buffet on a weekend. Looks like the same management that owns Tashan. Food is good, a bit overpriced (maybe). Will visit again.

Nice authentic indian food finally after visiting tons of indian restaurant in different states of USA Awesome fresh soft naan,tasty veg kurma, very tasty kheer,raita...overall everything In veg combo was awesome and economical

Went to celebrate a birthday. The atmosphere was friendly, nice but not formal. Wait staff was very nice and attentive. Food was good.

I will make this brief. My date and I went to Karma for a late lunch/early dinner. We noticed there was a buffet. My date ordered the buffet. I looked at the buffet items and noticed they went cheap in that there were no protein items other than tandoori chicken and "butter" chicken (both dried out and not replenished). The rest of the items consisted of a lentil dish, rices and salads. I opted to order from the menu while my date dined from the buffet. Not even ten minutes into starting to eat, my date was informed they were going to shut down the buffet. Knowing he was going to be out of luck, he got up to get another item or two. The same waitress then scrambled to the table to take away his uneaten plate of food he left waiting there. I urged her to leave it and asked why they would offer a buffet then close it. She rudely announced the buffet hours to me. She remained rude for the rest of our dining experience. Upon finishing what we were allowed to eat, she took away our plates as well as the paprichat appetizer we had planned on finishing. It was clear we were expected to dine fast and minimally before being rushed out the door. That's OK because the buffet was all starches and the lamb I chose off the menu featured one bite of lamb in a bowl of sauce. (The lamb would lived and not even needed a Band-aid had that been all the meat they took off him.) Go elsewhere. I have been to a couple other much better Indian restaurants in Philly with FAR better buffets.

This place gets excellent reviews on at least one major social media site, but was hugely disappointing. Overpriced, and perhaps aimed at extracting money from tourists who won't be back to complain. A lifeless lunch buffet and a diet Coke cost me $16 before tip. Karma is heavy on vegetable dishes, but for that price it's insane that they offered only chicken tikka masala and a madras fish. Both were boringly average, and the veggie offerings were no better. Dinner prices looked too high as well; after the unsatisfactory lunch I wasn't going back, of course.

Great food. I also went with my kids who have nut allergies and the staff and manager (Mani) were knowledgeable and very helpful in this regard. We had an excellent meal!

Amongst handful of option of Indian food in Philadelphia , this is close to Exhibition centre. Point to note they are recently relocated from their previous location Average food taste more towards sweet (For veg preparations) but very large portions need kept in mind before placing order

Enjoyed chicken tandoori with rice. Excellent, could not finish my portion. Friendly staff, casual, relaxed down home environment, not fancy but clean, great prices and would definitely go back.

My husband and I stopped here on a whim tonight while looking for another Indian restaurant in the area. We each had the $20 special, which consisted of 1 appetizer, 1 entree, and a glass of wine. The foods in the special had to be vegetarian or chicken, but there was still plenty to choose from. We had mutter paneer and saag paneer. The food was delicious and service was supreme. If I lived in Philly, I would definitely return.

Just checked out a great Indian restaurant, Karma. The restaurant had all the right elements. 1. Great food- All my dishes were spiced just right and cooked to perfection. 2. Superior Service - From the moment I walked the staff took care of me. The waiter filled my glass every time it was low, reviewed the specials with me, explained what each dish was, and checked if I needed anything else. 3. Price - The price was just right!

The food was great and the service was even better! My daughter is a connoisseur of Indian food so we figured we should try some while in Philadelphia. This was within walking distance of our hotel (even in the rain) so we decided to check it out. For the first couple of moments I was not sure how the service was going to be as both servers were helping a table that arrived after us but they seemed to realize that we needed service as well and then everything was spectacular. Make sure you check out the art work on the walls--- the pendulum was a huge surprise! Also, our server gave the best of recommendations which is always a positive! (I just wish I could remember his name!)

We were really impressed with the buffet at Karma. Excellent selection, clean, very friendly waitstaff.

walking distance from the 2nd street stop on the septa MFL line. this is in old city which is a really cool place to be social in philly. chicken tika marsala was great and the nan was just huge! one order is enough for two people. nan is usually half that size everywhere else. highly recommended.

Little bit on the expensive side & the portions are smaller than other places I've been but the food is worth it. Definitely try the lamb biryani.

Arrived at 9:30pm just got there in time. The staff were very helpful and attentive. The menu was a little limited at first glance however there were three of use and we were all easily able to pick a meal. The quality was excellent.

Staff is friendly and always smiling. The food is amazing. My husband and I are fans of the lunch buffet because of all the yummy options. I've read other reviews that stated that they're a little expensive but I don't think so. It's worth the price and 3 hour drive to us!

We stop here during every Philly visit. They apparently moved to Market Street 4 months ago. Kyle, our host, recommended amazing cocktails (see menu photo) based on our usual drinks. We all enjoyed the Slumdog Millionaire, The Ramble and PM's Cup. All the staff are very friendly, kind and helpful. We ordered the salmon and Paneer tikka appetizers. Cocktails and appetizers are half off before 7pm. We ordered Lamb Rogan Josh, Butter Chicken and Sag Paneer, medium spice. Perfect. The naan, rice and mango chutney were also perfect. The new restaurant layout has the eating area in the rear past the kitchen. Very tasteful and subtle. We will be back!

Me and my city boiiis went to this bar and had a great time, i would rate it MAYBE a 6-7 out of ten, city boiiii, city boiiii. I indeed got what i deserved, thank you mason.

Came here with my uncle from out of town who wanted to eat Indian food in Philly. We would have gone to Cafe Spice around the corner but we were drawn to this new place. We ordered up some Pakoras with sauces a Chicken Thali, Vegetarian Thali and a Lamb Thali. For beverages we had chai and lassis. We all enjoyed our meals and it was quite filling!! The service was also very good. Have nothing bad to say about this place which I found our relocated from around the corner and wish them luck. I think they will do very well.

I came in here and immediately saw a huge buffet and all of the food looked unbelievably delicious. I asked the price and was really surprised to see that it was only 12.95...all of the food on the buffet was incredibly delicious but the buttered chicken and chicken tikka masala were way better than any other Indian restaurant I've ever been to, they were definitely the superstars of the buffet... I like that the buffet is only from 1130 to 230pm because the restaurant is so nice looking that I look forward to returning for a sit down meal

Went to this restaurant for dinner. It was great food and the portions were plentiful. They also bring complimentary steamed rice with the curries. I ordered an aloo papdi chaat, malai Kofta, naan and the rice was on the house! The mango martini was refreshing. The pistachio kulfi was ok. Will definitely visit again!

Karma has the best Indian food I've had anywhere (including in India). Amazing flavors and the right spice level combined with a unique menu and friendly, efficient service makes Karma the best Indian restaurant in Philadelphia. The ambiance is of upscale elegance (without being pretentious) with amazing artwork by local artists. Karma has a excellent menu with dishes that you would not find anywhere else, for something different try the Salmon Raita and Tandoori Rack of Lamb. For drinks enjoy the Mango Martini. Karma has a surprisingly good website that has their menu as well other info.

My friends and I had dinner here recently and from start to finish - it was a superb evening. The restaurant is lovely, well decorated and pleasing to the eye. The staff was SO accommodating and helpful. Our waiter Mani was amazing -- what a memory!! He got every order perfect and was friendly & helpful -- even taking a photo of us all. The food was delicious, we tried many new dishes and were not disappointed. I would definitely come back to Karma - if I'm ever back in Philly.

What a find! This unassuming Indian gem sits right on Market Street, in the center of the Old City of Philadelphia. Offering a wide ranging menu of traditional dishes, from Naans to Biryanis Tandooris and curries, Karma serves up delectable food in generous portions. Some additions could be made to their wine list, but the food is the draw. After the meal, virtually the entire staff from both the front and back of the house, came to thank us. It was a warm finale to a wonderful dinner. Highly recommended.

Went to meet a friend’s kid who was studying in UPenn and took him to Karma for lunch The set meals both vegetarian and chicken Thai was sumptuous and good except the gajar halva was not up to the mark The Delhi dream drink was very good but the virgin pina colada was too sweet

The food and service were both good. I thought the serving sizes were good. We went for dinner and were happy with everything.

I was sceptical about the idea of a buffet for indian food but finally I loved it. Very original. Enables to taste all kind of various dishes. Good quality

This is a very fine restaurant, it offers a diverse menu of options, and the three of us who dined there were all very happy with quite a diversity of dishes. The atmosphere is intimate, and the staff are both friendly and helpful. A fine dining experience.

Karma is hands down the best Indian restaurant in the city. My husband and I eat Indian food a couple of days per week as he himself is from India and misses the food if he hasn't had it in a couple days. We have brought his family from India to eat at Karma and they absolutely love it. The service is average and I would agree that it's good to get a table in a spot where you are visible from the bar where the waiters seem to congregate. What Karma lacks in service it makes up for with the food. Karma has a lunch buffett on weekdays and on the weekends which is very reasonably priced. It's good, but I like my food a bit more spicy so I prefer to order off the menu instead. The food is the kind of authentic Indian food you'd get if you went out to eat in India - not like home cooking, it's a bit more rich. Portion sizes are nice and the dishes are not too heavy on the cream. If you order one entree it will come with rice and it is enough for 2-3 meals for me, more like 2 meals for my husband. Our favorites are the lamb roganjosh, chicken or lamb korma, and chicken saag. Let me tell you that anyone I've recommended the chicken saag to has come back to tell me that they found it to be absolutely to-die-for. Order it slightly spicy at least and get it with some raita and roti and you will not be disappointed. If you're into the heavier breads go for the onion kulcha or garlic naan. They are awesome as well. Enjoy!

Karma has been my favorite Indian restaurant for a couple of years now. I've come so much I have a "usual!" The service here is friendly and quick. It's great for lunch or dinner. The spice levels ranks from 1-10. I like spicy food but can't handle it very well but still get 8. I would recommend starting here if you like spicy. A friend of mine is good with spicy and tried the 10 right off the bat and regretted it. My "usual" is the chicken tikka masala with garlic naan. Their naan is very buttery and crispy which is why I like it so much. We have also tried a verity of their lamb options. Our favorite is the lamb vindaloo and lamb korma.

Some of the best Indian food I have eaten in the US. I had tandoori lamb chops which were perfectly cooked and delicious. If you are used to eating Indian food with an authentic level of spice, then I would advise you to ask them to cook your food with an Indian level of spice. This way you will avoid the rather mild version of the original that you generally get in the US. If I recall correctly, our waiter asked us how spicy we wanted our food, so it was not as if I had to make a special request. On the other hand, if you do not like hot food, then they will oblige; one of our party had a simply delicious mild (I know, it should be mild) butter chicken dish.

We went here for dinner after visiting the Museum of the American Revolution. Most of the clientele were people from India or of Indian descent. Good sign, right? The sign out front said "First timer recommendations" which caught our interest. I like the indian food I have had but not a lot of experience. I try to avoid fried foods so that ruled out about 3/4 of the menu items. But there were still many healthy choices. I had the baked Cauliflower appetizer- a tiny bit spicy and delicious. For an entree I had Saag Paneer (a spinach dish) with chicken, I asked for medium spicy which was as hot as I could stand. The chicken was a little dry and tough but there was plenty of spinach sauce to go with. The guy I was with had Lamb Korma and he was very happy. We wished we had ordered a side of bread. But portions were large and we brought home about half of it. The service was excellent, back ground music was just right, enjoyable, not too loud. I would give this 4 stars because of dry chicken but that might result in bad karma.

The place is awesome and serves some great Indian food. Loved the ambience. The food was perfect for Indian as well as International people looking for Indian food. The bar offered all kinds of cocktails. The owner Mani is a great guy and we loved him as a host.

Love Indian food, especially for the large selection of vegetarian options. Headed over to Karma because it was close to our hotel and was well-rated on TripAdvisor. Looked empty from the street, but don't let that fool you - the main dining hall is toward the back. While you'll find many of the "standard" Indian offerings, there are some you are not likely to see elsewhere, such as the fish pakora. Kitchen is happy to "mix and match" meats, fish, and vegetables for others in most of the dishes. You can also specify the "heat" for the dishes - we ordered it "medium" and it came perfectly - just shy of no longer palatable! Nice selection of breads, too. A good choice in Old Town for Indian.

We are new in indian food, but we loved this place We were a group of 6 persons, all eating too much of buffet. Missing a bit more spicy feeling, but we are amazed of how Indian food can use spices to fit to correct taste experience

My wife and I were staying at the Sheraton located about 1 1/2 blocks from the restaurant. We were in the mood for some indian food and found this place. Far from fancy, but very good indian food at reasonable prices. Nice menu selection with a cozy atmosphere. If you're only in town for a night, I can't really recommend this place, but if you're close and craving some indian, I think you'll leave with a happy belly.

Excellent Indo-Chinese food served hot. Ambience and hospitality are equally good. They serve buffet at lunch which give good food for the prices charged,

This place had a very disgusting smell when we walked in . Do not recommend food was horrible. We just took one bite and left it was very bad.

We decided to give a Philadelphian curry a go and were pleasantly surprised. This is a very good restaurant with quality food that isnt too expensive. The butter chicken and tikka masala we had were as good as any we have had in any country. We would eat here again.

Karma makes the best homemade Chutney.. HANDS DOWN What is the Karma Chutney ? It is a condiment or sauce used in the cuisines of the Indian subcontinent. The best part is they are handmade at the restaurant and they have 3 different varieties. I like to dip the soft bread in the different chutney's. This place has the best TAKE OUT ....due to Covid. The indoor seating is closed. I made it just in time to be the last pick up for lunchtime as they close between 230pm and open back up for dinner at 430pm Karma is located on the right side of Chestnut street right before Front Street next to Buffalo Billiards. YOU have to try this place for the Chutney. I had the Chicken with vegetables platter in a tomato base and it was perfect. Everything was super fresh, tasty & flavorful. The service was great and my order was ready when I got there. The owner works the place along with the kitchen staff so everything is done right. I will continue to order Take Out from this place.

The staff was friendly and helpful in guiding us through the menu. The food was good and our large party served at the same time. We would go back for Indian food again.

The lunch buffet at $12.95 per person is well stocked with a variety of cold and hot dishes as well as chutneys, soups, salads, and desserts. You could not want for the assortment. Some of the food (aloo gobi, vegetable korma) was very soggy and cold others are delightfully flavorful and fresh (butter chicken, saag paneer) tasting. The service is neither bad nor extraordinary. You have to order your naan--the good part is it is fresh and hot when it comes out; the bad is if you don't ask for it, they don't remember to give it to you. It is also very dark in there so don't expect to read anything or really see the full effect of what is on your plate. All in all, it's a nice experience but won't have you saying "WOW".

great food, good location, cheap buffet, some interesting mix of music

Food was very below average . We dint enjoy their food options and the service was not great either! Wouldn't go back !

Good food for good price. We had a buffett in the afternoon. It is also close to the Phlash Downtown Loop bus stop @ Penn's landing where you can park your car too. One intersting fact I learn't from one of the server : Karma is an Indian restaurant owned by a Chinese and ran by Pakistanis!

the first time there and every time since. The food and the service are welcoming and enticing. Nothing is too much trouble to keep the customer happy, This has become my favorite after or before movie dining place and even if the movie lets me down, Karma never does.

I love Indian food. Or just food for me. This place really does serve good authentic Indian food. Moreover the service is good too.

A group of friends, who happen to be vegetarians, came to visit. I am a meat and potatoes kind of guy -- so I was at a loss as to where to go to meet everyone's needs. They suggested Indian, so went to Karma. When we walked in the door, we were greeted by a friendly, but quiet, host who made great eye contact and flashed us a great smile. We felt at home being seated in an over-sized, plush, comfortable booth in the back of the restaurant -- which was large enough to accommodate our party. The booth was great as the adults could have "grown-up" discussions on one side of it, while the kids entertained themselves at the other end. My friends ended up finding 7-8 various appetizers and main courses to satisfy their needs. They were thrilled (especially the kids). I sampled their dishes that featured flavorful potatoes, cauliflower, naan and other vegetarian goodies. Everything tasted great. When it came to my own dish, I ordered the Chicken Tikka. The meat came out steaming hot from the kitchen. It was perfectly cooked! It was attractively set on a plate with potatoes. The meat itself was expertly seasoned and tender! The servers that helped us were incredibly patient and attentive. We never had to ask for water refills. They brought us ample sauces. They returned quickly when we ordered more bread. They made great recommendations to accommodate everyone's needs. Most importantly, they made us feel like we were the only one's in the restaurant. The service was five star, as was the food! The decor and atmosphere were great too! If you can, check out Karma. Karma also has a great buffet during lunchtime.

Had dinner here last week and everything was great. From the garlic naan to the mixed grill, my dinner was tasty. Overall a nice dining experience!.

I was in the mood for Indian food, and decided to try this place, based on the positive reviews. I had high expectations, only to be woefully disappointed. This is not Indian food! One of the WORST "Indian" restaurant we've ever been to, and definitely the worst we've been to in PA. The Butter Chicken was SWEET - ew! The sauce tasted like barbecue sauce. The Chicken Tikka tasted bland and fake, like it was from one of those bottles in the grocery store. The only thing that tasted good here was the naan. And how bad can you screw that up? This places tastes like someone not familiar with Indian food is making what they think Indian food is. Great for people who are afraid of real ethnic food, and want something Americanized and "safe". For those of us who know what Indian food should taste like, this was gross, over-hyped and overpriced. Avoid.

Really good Indian food. The buffet was a great way to try all different dishes.Excellent selection. Nice and clean and good service. Very friendly and we got a seat straight away. Good value too.

I want to note on my travels I try and find a good Indian food restaurant. I have several reviews from New York City, lee Massachusetts and now Karma. I found this restaurant clean great service including the chef that came out and talked to us and answered questions about cooking, the food was incredible I was extremely happy. I recommend this place to everyone. The drinks were good too. The chef also could change many dishes around so if you see goat curry yes they can do chicken. If you see lamb vindeloo yes they can do chicken etc etc .

I found this restaurant close to my hotel and stopped in for a wonderful meal. I ordered the vegetarian thali for $11.95 (included appetizer and soup not pictured). The quality and amount of food was well worth the price. The wait staff was incredibly friendly and the restaurant was clean with an upbeat ambiance. When I am back in town I will definitely return.

Based on the rating we choose Karma during our visit to Philadelphia. We were quite disappointed . The small restaurant was dark, there was no host or server present when we entered. When someone did appear, we were shown to a small booth and noticed that the restaurant was almost deserted. Nevertheless we ordered, and waited. Our server may have been the cook based on the length of time he disappeared. When we were finally served, the food was mediocre at best. I'm sure Phillie has better Indian choices to offer.

This isn't the best Indian food I've had, but the service was great and it was just what we were looking for during a trip to Philadelphia. They were great about bringing our food out quickly - we were with our toddler, so getting in and out of a restaurant quickly is important! The location was what made the place great though - if you're sight-seeing by the Liberty Bell and other historic attractions it's a short walk away. Good vegan options too!

We went here for dinner with friends. All the vegetarian items were great. Restaurant is little small and congested but service is good. I would say this is little expensive though. Daal makhni and Palak paneer was greattt.

First time here. Son recommended. Place is clean and bright and warm. Food was served hot, I did not get the spicy. The Nan was good. I got a chicken dish it was tasty. Wife got lamb, son got Chilly and Son-in law got chicken Marsala. We split 2 deserts, rice pudding and Karma delight.

Great food and nice service! Try the Madras Chicken and the Lentils. They're awesome.The saag chicken and the Lamd Biriyani are also highly recommended

I have a hard time eating in restaurants that only acknowledge my husband as a customer. That set the tone for a mediocre experience. We made reservations well in advance and were seated right next to the kitchen door, even though there were plenty of tables available. The cauliflower appetizer was bordering raw, so that wasn't up to expectations. Our entrees were just ok, but nothing to rave about. There are many other better options in the city where the staff is polite to all members in the dining party.

- We had great service and and the food was better than most other restaurants. Reasonable prices and a great service staff make this a place to add to your rotation when dining out.

Having only started eating Indian food over this past month I must say dining at Karma was a treat. The food was fresh, not overly seasoned and the wait staff and owner very friendly and helpful.

I arrived a little after 4, the buffet had ended. My friend was due around 4:30... delightful aromas, pleasant atmosphere to sip coffee (a perfect brew for me) while I waited. The staff was great... engaging in a non-intrusive way... the gentleman I chatted with was very knowledgeable about how food was prepared (my friend is vegan). The food was no less than excellent and they will make modifications if you ask. Neither of us had been there before. My friend found it in a quick search for vegan cuisine in the area... I am not but opted for a vegetarian dish... we will be back!

My husband and I had been to Karma a few days ago for lunch. The restaurant is compact with closely placed tables. The hotel is dimly lit and the washrooms are clean and big. The menu offers a sufficient variety of Indian dishes. We opted for the buffet. The buffet offers a good variety of starters, main course and two desserts. The Naan and Rotis are really soft and well made while Idlis are not so great. The desserts tasted good. There were a variety of chutneys to choose from. The biryani and Paneer butter masala were the best dishes in the buffet. The best part of the hotel is the hit bollywood numbers that play in the background and give you a feeling of being back in India. It is a good place to have Indian food and it would be wrong if I forget to mention that the spices are all just right for all the dishes. I would recommend this to friends.

I wouldn't call it great, but it was very good. Went with my wife and daughter. I'm always a bit suspicious when restaurants are not more crowded, esp. in a heavy reataurant area. There was only one other couple at 7:00 on a Tuesday night. However, we had a cauliflower dish and chicken tikka with some naan, which was enough for us to share. It's a quiet place, with good food.

I recently started appreciating Indian food being spoiled by Razika and The Bombay Club in DC. With them not here in Old Town Philly I decided to try Karma based on the reviews. You start by meeting Mani, the manager, who tells you their history. When Mani recommends, pay attention, and enjoy. I went there for dinner two nights in a row, had the same items; the second night proved it was no mistake. Get in line for a remarkable dining experience!

We were at Karma for a big celebration before the wedding. We were a lot of people despite that the service was excellent. The food was very good when you consider the food which was prepared and served as a buffet. Bartenders were also very fast and proficient in making drinks.

I wasnt planning to have Indian food but walking past saw a sign that offered a food and wine combo. Can't go wrong with the wine so stepped in and found the quality of food pretty good. It seemed fresh and hot and the service was excellent. 'Try the black dal and butter chicken with naan bread. Pretty standard Indian fare.

I had a long layover and decided to explore Philly. I walked by the Karma on Marketplace and saw that they had a lunch buffet. They had several vegetarian options and even more non vegetarian items. I totally enjoyed my vegetarian meal and even ate 2 full plates of food. I would recommend a stop there if you like Indian food!

Karma had all tasty selections! The service was fine but the restaurant was not full either. I loved the combination plate and spice was right on. ConsumerMarineSupply

We were pleasantly surprised by the excellent food and spices that Karma Restaurant & Bar had to offer. We would recommend everything. The atmosphere was very Indian and liked the decor, especially the elephant.

Authentic Indian flavor . They do take great pride in their restaurant and work hard at perfecting the flavors and presentation Had catering from Karma twice and each time, the guests raves about the food .

Walked into the restaurant at about 4:45 on a Friday afternoon. A woman clutching a purse and cellphone asked if we wanted a table for two (it took a second to realize that she worked there and wasn’t a customer). We were seated in the back section where it sounded like there were some loud construction-type sounds coming from the kitchen area. It was so loud that it interfered with with my wife and I’s conversation. I asked the waiter what was going on. He went to the kitchen area and came back stating “they are making sauces, it’s a mixer, it will be running for another 10 minutes”. Fair enough. We asked if there was a quieter table and were moved to the front of the restaurant. After about three minutes in the front section the restaurant phone started ringing...and ringing...and ringing. No one answered it and it never went to voicemail. Finally after about thirty rings a waiter shows up and he is talking on a cellphone! He doesn’t answer the restaurant phone and seems very distracted. After enduring loud annoying sounds for about 15 minutes my wife and I gave up and left. This restaurant is obviously short staffed. I have a recommendation: if you aren’t ready to serve dinner at 4:45 pm, don’t open your doors...many nice restaurants aren’t open between lunch and dinner hours. Not a pleasant experience.

Unbelievable food, terrific staff, beautiful atmosphere. I hosted a private dinner here and the GM, Mani, was the ultimate host. Though I pulled together this dinner last minute, Mani went above and beyond to plan our menu, set up the room just as I wanted, and make sure our night went perfect. Karma serves excellent Indian food, the service is always attentive and on point, and I know I can trust them to provide an impeccable dining experience. Additionally, our team has had countless large lunch outings here and it is one of our favorite Old City restaurants. Definitely check this place out for their wonderful lunch buffet or a special dinner out. Thank you, Mani and team!!

First time eating Indian food, we needed guidance. The waitress new nothing about the food and was blase. Lucky for us we chose well and what we ordered was very tasty. Maybe different waiter and different day. I would try again.

Everything was tasty and delicious. Up there with the best Indian meals we've had. The decor is; well, different. Not what you'd expect for an Indian restaurant. More beer selections would have been nice. The location is teeming with other restaurants, and this one seemed to be doing pretty well despite the competition. I'd have to say the draw must be the food.

We were visiting Philly and since all of us are Indian vegetarians the sight of an Indian restaurant itself makes us feel assured and at home.. We went to this restaurant on three nights in a row and finally we had enough of the attitude of the staff and we tried to complain to the person who introduced himself as the owner of the restaurant and looking at his response we understood why the old servers were so rude .. So if you want to go to a decent place to eat than this is not the place especially if you looking for an environment or ambience than this place will be a disaster . You have no choice get yourself a parcel and eat in a safe and in your own environment.sad a place which should practice hospitality is lacking it absolutely..

The food at Karma is really tasty and fulfilling. I had the chicken Thali and it comes with a lot of side dishes to satisfy your hunger. Good Indian restaurant. The only thing that I didn't like was the decor. It was not bright in colors. I wish they had a shade of white inside to make it look big and bright. I hope someone reads my feedback does a color change.

Absolutely, the best for catering Indian food. This is the second time our family celebrated a special event with food from Karma. The most important aspect of this place is the pride they take in what they do. The shrimp, pakoras and chicken 65 appetizers were so good. However, the Malai kofta and the salmon curry is beyond delicious. Very professional to deal with and prompt too. Hands down, five stars!

My kids and I love to meet my husband for lunch here whenever the kids are on a school break. The lunch buffet and the service are great. tasty food and top notch service. The last time we went the price was higher than we remembered so lunch for 4 with tip and only water for beverages was $63. great for business lunch or a treat every now and then.

It’s worth the visit. The food was excellent and the service was also excellent. All the dishes were delectable but the curried goat is highly recommended.

Authentic Indian spices and flavorful dishes. We all enjoyed the variety of dishes we got. Appreciated the atmosphere and food.

For an indian buffet that's cheap, it has everything you need...butter chicken...white and veggie rice...soup...salad...tandori chicken, ect. The buffet was only filled once while we were there, and there were a lot of people. Not a bad place to eat though.

My cousin found this place online and decided to take her friend and I. I got the chicken biryani, she had the chicken tikka masala, and friend had the southern chicken. As an appetizer we had the chicken wings. It was a different twist on one of my favorite foods and was ckooked and seasoned perfectly. We had garlic naan that came with our meals. I've never had garlic naan before and it was a great enhancement for a wonderful meal. The chicken in the biryani was a tad bit spicy for my taste, but it was still delicious. The rice was light and seasonings of the masla was better than any other that I have had. The other two said the thoroughly enjoyed their meal as well. The service and staff was excellent as well. If I am ever back in the city I will definitely stop.

Awesome high quality Indian food. My wife is allergic to many things and they did a great job offering her options

Our vacation rental (apartment) was near this location and I was looking forward to having dinner there one night during our time in Philadelphia. After a long day of sight-seeing with an exhausted child, I looked up their number and placed a take-out order as we walked back to the apartment. They were very helpful answering my questions (how many samosas, naan in an order) and asking our spice preferences. We ordered saag paneer and chicken korma with samosas, naan, and mango lassi. Everything was delicious (and very well packaged); we had enough food for 2 adults and 1 child to eat for 3 (!) meals--which I think offsets the $$$$ classification. I will gladly recommend Karma to friends and family visiting the Old City area.

I've done several reviews of Indian restaurants in several states and countries, including in my own community, which has a large and vibrant Indian and Pakistani presence. So, I was looking forward to sampling the food in this popular restaurant in the Old City area. The bottom line is that the food is unremarkable. The frozen Indian meals from Trader Joe's have more flavor. The venue is comfortable and relatively quiet. Service was very good and the wait staff helpful. They have a liquor license and a good selection of wines, although the beer list was lacking. If you want Indian food in that neighborhood, it is convenient, but if location isn't an issue, there are better places in this city of culinary excellence.

We went with friends and a child we were made very welcome. There is a very extensive menu. There was butter chicken and mango lassi for our 7 year old who doesnt want it spicy and we had a wonderful selection of curries from very spicy to moderate. We had some wonderful cocktails to top off our good times. We were welcomed and felt totally relaxed and comfortable there. Our friends go most weeks and we have returned a number of times, it is always good.

The Karma Restaurant (114 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19106, http://karmaphiladelphia.com/) is a well-known destination for Indian cuisine in Philadelphia. The location is a pleasant walk from the Liberty Bell, about half a mile. I went for an early lunch and so the restaurant was not crowded yet. I was seated immediately and the server was quite pleasant. The décor and ambience were appropriate. I tried out the lunch buffet and the experience was up to my expectations. The appetizer included aloo tikka, potato pakora, and cauliflower pakora. There were no samosas on the appetizer menu but it was compensated for by delicious aloo chat. The lunch menu was typical of any good Indian buffet. Basmati & lemon rice dishes were accompanied by dal tadka, vegetables, chicken curry, tandoori chicken, etc. I was happy to see a fish curry preparation which is usually not a standard item on a typical Indian lunch buffet. The food was tasty and not overly greasy. The preparations were moderately spicy, suitable for a broad range of palates. The dessert dishes included gajor halwa (carrot preparation) and a fruit custard. I enjoyed both items; the custard was especially delicious. This is a moderately expensive place but is certainly worth it. I would place the restaurant in the ‘very good’ category.

A group of us went for the lunch buffet. There was a nice variety of dishes with a few vegetarian choices. The waitstaff were attentive, always ready to refill drinks, replenish naan, or remove plates. My main disappointment was the food. Not that the food was bad; it was just lacking, or rather bland. Karma can't hold a candle to Royal Taj in Columbia, MD, or Coriander in Voorhees, NJ.

Small room but nice atmosphere. Extensive choice of dishes, some we'd never heard of such as Aloo Papri Chaat, although we've spent time in India. Also had good chicken curry.

Had dinner at Karma last night with two colleagues on a business trip. We all had the dinner special of an appetizer, main course and drink (we all had Kingfisher Beer) for $20. The food was delicious - we had Butter Chicken and Chicken Tikka Masala - with Samosas for appetizers. Plus their $11 bread basket which had regular and garlic naan plus paratha and another bread and was way more than the three of us could eat. The restaurant is attractive and they have a full bar. Service was good as well. We will be back!

I like curry! And when on business, always search out a curry restaurant. This was great - I had the Chicken Jalfrezi, which was nice and hot with lots of fresh chopped ginger in it. Bread was good too. Service very attentive. Would recommend.

I keep teasing them the Karma level isn't hot enough, one day they are going to hit me with a ghost pepper. Excellent Indian food, some of the best I've had. Buffet at lunch is nice for a quick eat and wide selection. Great and friendly service.

Good Indian food, not to expensive and not to fancy. good value

We arrived around 7:30pm on a Saturday night, and were seated in about 10 minutes. The section of the restaurant we were in was intimate (with about 10 tables). My wife had the chicken tika masala, while I had the lamb korma. My wife asked for a mild preparation, while I asked for medium. Both entries were spicier than we expected, but both were very good. The sauce added a lot of flavors to the meat and rice. When delivered to the table, I thought the portion was a little small, but that was my error. I was able to finish, but was quite full. My wife took some of her entree home for leftovers. I thought the service was also pretty good, and we were not rushed, finishing our dinner around 9:00pm.

Arrived at 2:30pm for lunch got there in time. Buffet line with lots of choice for veggie items The quality was excellent.Great authentic Indian food. Extremely friendly staff and great service. Must visit this place.

I did not think I would like Indian food until I went to Karma. 2 Things that you need to know about this place. SERVICE & FOOD. 1. The service at this place is good and they care. If they make a mistake they take the time to talk about it with you. I watched as a couple near us had a complaint and the way the waiter took they time to talk with them about it and not just pass it by as OH WELL like other places. 2. GREAT food for the price. The grilled shrimp and garlic knot are a favorite of mine. for a couple expect to pay around $60.00 with drinks. ALSO if you don not like spicy food MAKE SURE YOU ask for mild other wise expect to get it on the HOTT and SPICY side. Location is great LUNCH....buffet Dinner specials at set price. Parking lot across the street Jerry Ehrlich from the Great City of Philadelphia.

I was going to eat at the restaurant, so me and my fianance we walked in around 5:00 pm, right when they open, and none of the servers or back of the hosue employee who where in the front, said hello, they all look at us like, what are we doing here. The service is horrible...

Service is an important aspect in restaurant business and Karma really lacks in service. I had to flag them to get their attention. As soon as I entered I was seated but then for 10 odd minutes no one turned up to serve water or take order. I had to spend about 1.5 hours for a simple meal- is this the service? It’s high time management take note of this n improve the service before inevitable karma catch them. Food was tasty, priced economically with generous portions which made up for the bad service.

Ordered for New Year’s Eve and was surprised at how bad this food was. Papadams were stale, nan bread had no flavor and the vindaloos had no flavor. I would not recommend this for anyone looking for authentic Indian food.

They have an appetizer, entree and glass of wine for $20 deal that can't be beat. However it must be noted that the service while friendly is super slow. The naan was great, and there was not one food complaint among my party of 7. The lentils, chick peas and tandoori were all great. Perfect place for a big group in a great location between old city and society hill. A gem!

I don't understand the negative reviews. I've been to every Indian restaurant in the city but keep coming back to Karma. The food and the prices are the best by far. Easily the most flavorful Indian food i've had outside of Central New Jersey. The service is always good. I can't comment on their lunch buffet but their dinner is always fantastic. I'm a regular customer that can't say enough about how good the food is. I have never been disappointed. Definitely my favorite restaurant in Philly.

Tasty food, good variety, buffetts are the best value during the day night time dinners can be expensive if you order sides etc. etc.

I stopped here for a business lunch. The service was prompt and attentive. The food was well done. Inviting eatery. Worth a visit.

I recently had dinner here. The food was just so so. For example, while the lamb vindaloo was hot as requested, there was no other flavor than heat. One might expect the flavor of tomatoes or cilantro or onions. And the lamb was slightly overdone. Service was good: friendly but not fake friendly. Overall, I don't think I will return.

This is an Indian restaurant. We visited with 2 medium sized groups and they coped well with serving the food rapidly. I would particularly recommend their mango lassi drink.

Following a show, we decided to meet two friends for dinner. They suggested Karma which is located near the Ritz Theaters where they were going following dinner. We had walked there from the Arden Theater. It was a convenient location for those venues as well as the historic district. Parking, of course, can be difficult. Two of us had the Thakali Shorba as a starter. It is a roasted tomato and garlic soup. It was very good and served hot. Two others shared the Kandhari Naan (naan stuffed with pistachios, raisins and almonds. I tried it and thought it was very good. My main course was lamb vindaloo served with rice. It was very good with very tender lamb. It was not as spicy as I anticipated. One had the Hara Bara kebab of coriander, chilli and ginger marinated chicken. It looked great and she liked it. I do not recall the entrees of the others. we all enjoyed our meals and we had a pleasant evening together. The service was very good and very helpful answering questions. With four entrees, three starters, and two glasses of wine our tab before gratuity was $104. A very reasonable price for a very good meal in center city Phila. I would go again.

If you are walking around Old City, trying to find a place to eat, you may be drawn so some of the more well known or safer selections, but on this block of Chestnut Street there are some interesting options. There's Han Dynasty for excellent Chinese and there's Karma for a good Indian meal. We went early in the evening on a Saturday night and were among only a few other diners, which was nice. It was getting more crowded as we left around 7:00. We enjoyed the complementary papadum while waiting for our chicken dishes: korma, tikka masala and sagwala. All were good with a nice spice mixture and not too salty. The staff was nice and attentive. They also have a bar here, which was unexpected. In addition to Indian beers (Kingfisher and Taj Mahal) they had a few craft selections, wine and cocktails.

Went with my husband on Sunday night. The service was friendly, helpful, and good overall. The food was outstanding, and the best Indian food we've had yet in Philly. They have a nice wine list and the decor and atmosphere are lovely. We've already recommended this place to several friends and family, and we'll definitely be going back before long.

Great authentic Indian food, extremely friendly staff and good service. Must go if in Philly! Does takeout as well.

Following an afternoon at the Arden Theater, had a very nice dining experience with friends and family in this authentic Indian restaurant. The waiter was helpful with interpretations and defining level of spice added to dishes. All meals were served with a nice presentation and everyone commented on the quality and tastefulness of each dish. Water glasses were refilled repeatedly without asking....salty rather than overly spicey food accounted for the extra water needed. Reasonable price and good quality. Will return.

This was one of the best Indian restaurants I've been to, highly recommended. All the food we had was perfect and delicious. Also amazing service, not too much and not too little. If you are looking for great Indian food in Old City go here!!

ok I heard a lot of good things about this place but they undersold it. A great experience both from a food and service standpoint. We were treated special from the moment we entered. We have eaten Indian food many times before but we were treated to the best Indian food presentation ever. From the discussion of the 'hot and spicy' levels of the food to the wine I brought in [corkage fee is a reasonable $20.00] the people experience was top notch. Each dish was special from the lamb dish to the lentil dish to the soup and cauliflower appetizer. Can't wait to return with a small group and have the waiter 'order' for us. Don't miss this great experience !!

Had lunch buffet here. Food was good but I gave it average rating because buffet had very few items and they were charging higher prices because of weekend. Service was below average. They ran out of plates and I had to tell them to get the plates. Didnt come quick enough. They had sign idly and sambhar, but idly was no where to be found. They ran out of pakodas on the appetizers, p.s. was only one of two items in appetizers. Someone asked for it and they brought so little that it was all gone after couple of people grabbed it. Very few items for vegetarians. I had to chase down the server to pay my bill and had to walk to him to hand the signed bill.

Went there with two friends and we enjoyed the food very much. Good atmosphere, friendly staff and good service. Food was very good, truly authentic Indian food.

Our large group descended onto Karma on Wednesday night to make use of their upstairs banquet area. We dined in both their front and back rooms, and because there was so many of us, we were a fairly demanding group. The staff at this restaurant took it all in stride, working hard to provide us with the best service possible. Everyone enjoyed the food to be sure, but it was the service that stood out in my mind! I'd like to give a shout out to the manager Mani who made our visit to this Philadelphia restaurant special. He was personable and professional, a hard mixture to pull off. If I came back again to this restaurant when I was back in this town, it would be for how hard the employees worked to pull off a successful dinner. Bravi, Karma workers!

Went to this restaurant after several years with my wife and some other friends. We were in mood for some good old Chicken Tikka Masala and Rumali Roti. The food was great, but my overall experience at the restaurant was rather disappointing due to extremely poor service. I ordered a Kingfisher beer and it took a full 30 min for it to come. The place was only moderately full and definitely not at full capacity. We were busy talking to our friends so I didn't realize it had been this long. All this while, no one had even come to take our order. When someone did come, I expressed my displeasure. In response, the waiter very curtly (borderline rude) asked, "So what would you like?"...almost ignoring what I had just said. So I repeated myself and the waiter once again just simply asked what we wanted... My wife has some good memories associated with this place and that's why we decided to go, but definitely not going back again.

My wife were not real hungry so we bot had soup and salad. She had the Indian chicken soup which she thoroughly enjoyed and I had a lentil soup which was spicier than I would have liked. (Disclaimer: I am not as big on Indian food as the rest of my family). The salad was delicious. The kids both had the meal described as "The buffet comes to you". She had the chicken and he the goat. They thoroughly enjoyed the meat dishes but some of the sides I noticed were left untouched. The vegetable samosas and the garlic naan were both exceptional.

Good Food, Service is OK , menu is limited - Buffet is best option to try different items at good price.

This long time local restaurant relocated from a few blocks away. The new digs are modestly changed from the ill fated original restaurant which built the entire restaurant years ago. Design was expensive, creative but not to my taste. Nevertheless, it is heartening that Karma chose to make few changes (not spend a lot to redesign and construct like many restaurants wastefully do), although it did bring the unusual art from the prior location. Food is fairly standard in selection and well made and tasty. I do not need evolving cooking most of the time. I just like good cooking. Karma is solidly good but not special.

My second visit to Karma after an excellent first one failed to impress. I realize that most Indian restaurants fail to impress due to lack of consistency. The cooks change and they do not follow a fixed recipe to emulate the same taste over and over. Plus the cooks would not follow a recipe given to them. My past review - Good food for good price. We had a buffett in the afternoon. It is also close to the Phlash Downtown Loop bus stop @ Penn's landing where you can park your car too. One intersting fact I learn't from one of the server : Karma is an Indian restaurant owned by a Chinese and ran by Pakistanis!

While taking a walk on Market Street and after hogging on to the cheesesteaks, we wanted a takeout for dinner and karma seemed to be the best option in that neighborhood. We took chicken biryani and seekh kebab and were asked for the spice level for the food. We being Indians thought that we can handle the heat, but here is the word of caution and they really take these numbers of spice level very seriously. We opted for a 6 on a scale of 10 and would recommend a lower if you cannot handle the heat. Other than this food was good and well cooked. The server was kind enough to give us some spoons and knives for takeout. Overall would recommend this place if on Market Street.

I have been to this establishment many times, almost always for lunch. They offer a traditional Indian buffet lunch for a very reasonable price. The buffet includes the predictable variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes as well as a dish or two prepared specially for that day based on the chef's whimsey and the availability of fresh ingredients. For a lunch offering outstanding value and very good food, head over to Karma, on the East end of the Old City district of Philly just off of Front Street.

Visiting from UK, we get great Indian food. Service was great, asked about something not on menu and it was made and great, very attentive service. Food was really good, meat good quality and sauce was great. Would recommend a visit.

Curry you like you will find the different amounts of curry and other wonderful spices that marry the chicken or lamb or just veg this is a romantic start to the new year This is my number ONE Indian restaurant here in Philadelphia near the old city nice walk before or after you meals !!!!!THOMAS PAUL comedy!!!!!

Excellent Indian food. Wide selection, food well prepared. Only have great things to say about this restaurant. Our meal was exceptional, from the greeting and service-very attentive yet not intrusive, to the presentation. Even my husband-a meat and potato type of guy ate with gusto! This place is not to be missed! We were there 10/25/12... Had a restaurant.com coupon that we used. Felt "guilty" because the bill was so reasonable. Dont miss this restaurant!

Awful food . I had been there for dinner last night. The tandoori items did not seem to be freshly made. The chicken was hard and tasteless. Even the tikka masala was disappointing and inauthentic . The only good thing was that the people were friendly. Will not go here again.

We looked at a couple of options before selecting this place... Excellent choice! The wait staff was very friendly and gave good recommendations. We ordered Vegetable Samosas as our appetizer it was excellent. For the entree We ordered shrimp maharaja, it was filled with flavor and spices. My friend ordered hers at a level 4 spice range (out of 10), I don't so spicy food so I am at a 0. We both enjoyed out dishes. To top it off, we ordered garlic nana Whig I dipped the sauce of maharaja . Great place to dine, this was my first but not the last.

Good food and beer in the touristy seaport area of Philadelphia. Good service and tasty lamb chops and butter chicken. Reasonable prices.

Good, flavorful Indian food. Menu a bit limited, service is only so-so.

The restaurant in old city Philadelphia appears well patronized. The food from the menu however is both reasonably expensive and not that good. This remembering that Indian food is all about several side dishes so when an entree alone comes in at almost $20 that makes for an expensive meal.The chicken based dishes we ordered for our mains were bland, not well marinated and the chicken was clearly cheap and gristly. We have eaten her once before quite some time ago for the week-end buffet and that was much better food, better prepared and good value. My comments however relate simply to our recent experience.