Swagat Indian Cuisine Reviews

This is the best Indian food that I have had since we returned from India several years ago. The ingredients were fresh and the dishes were delicious. The servers were helpful and friendly. We cannot wait to go back on our next visit to Portland!

This forgettable distraction only serves a buffet at lunch which alway makes me leery as buffets are usually sub-par when compared to menu items. No big surprise here. Vats of room temperature offerings filled with 70% vegetarian choices. Only two meats and the usual bright red and this time COLD, greasy tandoor chicken. I asked what I saw to be the closest thing to a waiter milling about boundlessly for some fresh naan. The barrel-full they had put out before lunch was, of course, cold and limp, or dried hard...or both. I tasted each sauce reluctantly with the saddle leather like naan and, seeing the good for nothing boy dressed like a waiter had made no efforts to obtain some fresh naan, I just got up without a word, walked out to my car, and drove off.

Nice atmosphere and excellent service. The menu will give you plenty of choices with or without meat. Chicken Makhani (butter chicken) was fantastic. Same with the Aloo Gobi. Nan was good. Didn't care for the tandoori shrimp. Didn't seem fresh.

I have had Indian food all over the country - can't comment about authenticity, but the quality is excellent.

While staying in NW Portland, we walked around the neighborhood looking for a lunch spot and happened to see this restaurant. We were rewarded with a large buffet of choices including veggie curries, meat curries, salad and dessert in a comfortable garden room good for watching the locals pass by.

We visited early, about 5:30pm on the weekend, and there were several young couples seated by the front window. Although there was plenty of room in the main dining room, we were relegated to another room. It seems older people and families got seated in the back rooms. We sat near a young couple with a child who apparently was not taught to how to use his "inside voice." He yelled the entire time and his parents were oblivious to other diners. Our server was perfectly lovely, however, and she did her best to make us feel welcome and help with the menu choices. They offer a la carte and dinner options at good prices, and we recommend the latter which includes naan, sides and dessert for just a few dollars more. One entree, the chicken curry, was supposed to be mild and the other, chicken tikka masala, was ordered spicy, but they both ended up quite spicy and it was too much for Michael. I did love my chicken tikka masala, however. Our dinners were served on round metal trays with rice piled up on it along with bowls containing the entree and side items. It seemed a bit odd vs. plates, but we rolled with it. We enjoyed the service, the broad menu and beverage options, the spaciousnes and decor of the restaurant. We've heard the lunch buffet is the greatest, so maybe we will give that a try. And if they seat us next to loud kids again, we are moving.

I use to love this place - anymore it is not as good as it use to be. Sorry Swagats.

Driving up to this restaurant it just looks like a little hole in the wall, but when you go in it has a sprawling layout. Tastefully decorated, we were very lucky to get a Friday night that was not very busy. We had a "Foodie Group" who came and visited the restaurants, all 10 of us got the back section by the bar and there was nobody else in that section. The papadum and tray of chutneys greeted us at the table upon arrival. The first thing you eat at a restaurant goes to show you if there is going to be much flavor found there. This little appetizer heightened our anticipation of the main course. A green herb chutney, red spicy chutney and white butter garlic sauce to dip our papadum in was an explosion of flavor with each bite. Everyone ordered a different dish and most of them took home leftovers because of the amount of food. We ordered it with the extras for the meal not à la cart. Every dish had incredible flavor and transported us to India due to its authenticity. We had the lamb vindaloo and mixed grill tamburri. The flavors for each dish were intense. We also had lamb samosas that I unfortunately had to share with five other people. It came with two samosas but I wish we would've ordered five more. They were huge perfectly crisp and filled with lamb and a few peas. If you have children they will love the little pieces of batter dipped deep fried chicken, could be called Indian popcorn chicken. Delicious and our table of adults devoured the plate. I cannot wait to go back and try their lunch buffet. For under $7 you can sample many of their delicious menu items. Go try it! Even if you have never tried Indian food before there are many items on that menu for the not so brave foodie out there, as well as the experienced.

Beautiful restaurant! Great lunch buffet! Terrific service! This is a must for great Indian food in the heart of Portland.

My best friend had her birthday there and I was a little nervous at first since I had never branched out in that kind of food before but I was pleasantly surprised! I don't know my curries well enough but I do know I loved the bread, cucumber sauce, and the red chicken drumsticks (still can't remember the name but OMG SOOOO GOOOD). The staff was a little quiet and I felt like they were not as approachable as other restaurants. area of the building we were in was beautiful, decorations flowed nicely and the bathrooms were just as impressive! LOL I got the impression they weren't so keen on the beer or drinks side of things but as for their food and atmosphere, on par! I do hope to get back in that area to eat again!

Often, Indian buffets are merely old leftover food that the restaurant needs to get rid of....and for all I know, that may be the case here too. But it sure does taste great!! Everything at least SEEMS freshly prepared.

This restaurant was a great find. The food was excellent and well balanced. The sag chicken was particularly good. The service was simple and efficient.

I can only assume the positive reviews come from clueless people that have never eaten good Indian food. Extremely disappointed. Let's break this review into two sections, service and food. Service: If you are going to open during a pandemic, please do not run your restaurant on Skeleton staff, where the server feels the need to rush patrons from the point of touching the menu to finishing their meal. I felt utterly rushed by the server through the entire experience, rushed to order, eat, and pay. The result was a very uncomfortable and unrelaxing experience. Even if the food were good, the service would not make me come back. Food: My son does not like spicy food (however, he loves Kormas), and as we all know, a Korma is a very mild dish, which would be a good choice. When I asked if they made a chicken Korma, I was told the chicken curry was the same. This dish was far from a Korma; this was not a thick gravy braised with yogurt or cream as a Korma should be; it was instead a generic curry sauce with spice. Ok, what's with popadoms with no mango chutney?! This is blasphemy where I come from (united kingdom). And what is with the main dish surrounded by a multitude of condiments? Where am I meant to put this? The small helping of rice barely balances with the sauce from the main dish. Two, naan bread does not even begin to justify the overuse of condiments. The whole configuration of the dinner here is way off. My malai Kofta was ok, nothing more. Sum-up: This Americanised Indian food is subpar at best. I highly recommend you try another place.

Excellent food, good atmosphere, good waitstaff.

We have had had Indian cuisine all over the states, England too and this one is near the top. Great service, good prices, nothing unusual, just typical North Indian cuisine.

Been here quite a few times, but always a little disappointed that we didn't make the extra effort and go to Bombay Cricket where we always leave content. Swagat is just ok.

Belly stuffing goodness.

I would not put a restaurant I didn't like on here unless I REALLY didnt like it.

Food here is mediocre at best. If you want good Indian food, you have to go to the suburbs. Chennai Masala in Hillsboro is the best. But unless you have a absolute craving for Indian food, don't bother in Portland. So many other things that we do better. One exception, if you want the hipster fusion-y version of Indian, Vindalho on Clinton St. is quite good.

Wonderfully hot & fresh naan bread; real Indian flavours; friendly service. Truthfully, I went there not expecting the food to be any good because I wasn't thinking Portland is a place known for Indian cuisine but I have to say I left very happy & full.

Love Indian food? This is a great place to sample lots of different Indian delights. We've been there several times, always have a great experience. Enjoy!

fave Indian food in town, just make sure you get Take Out and call way ahead.

Four of us went to Swagat for an early dinner recently. The restaurant was immaculately clean and the serving staff was friendly and helpful, explaining the various dishes and sauces. We started with Assorted Vegetable Pakoras and a Masala Dosa. Both dishes arrived quickly and were hot and tasty. Then we shared four a la carte entrees. The entrees were all very different, ranging in heat from mild to quite spicy, and had unique flavors. All were very good. I particularly liked the Chana Misala and the Shrimp Vindaloo (very spicy). Make sure to get a spoonful of the fennel seeds and sugar in a bowl by the cash register as you leave.

This is the consummate lunch buffet if Indian cuisine is your thing. A dozen different Tandoori, Basmati rice, sweet creamy vegetable dishes to choose from and you can eat until you can no longer move! Lots of Intel engineers from eastern regions dine here for lunch - a good sign of authenticity, eh?

We went there for lunch on a Saturday. It wasn't too busy and they offer a cheap lunch buffet. The quality of the food seemed ok. They only thing I was missing was filtered or bottled water. They serve tap water which contains a lit if chlorine in Portland so I prefer to drink filtered or bottled water. But unfortunately they don't have any bottled water at the restaurant.

Craving for Indian food, me and my friends ended up at this restaurant. It was a warm welcome and food was served on time. It became too loud at one point (thanks to a large group sitting adjacent) ruining the dining experience. Food was average, and it was strange to see the cobwebs hanging right above your head as you try to eat food. Suggested to get that cleaned up, not sure what happened next. I don't think I will be going there again.

After driving all around the neighborhood, I really appreciated that Swagat had its own parking lot. Portions were generous, service was friendly, food was very good. The Thali plate was huge - couldn't possibly eat it all - would be good to share. We had 2 small children and they put us way in the back corner in kind of a awkward table, but otherwise everything was great. Might have had a little better table if we were up in the front dining room.

Consistently good!

They have a very expansive buffet selection. You can have a great selection of either vegetarian or meat dishes. All very flavorful for a low price.

The weekday lunch buffet is a pretty good deal

I busy all you can eat buffet. It seemed to be very popular with the staff at the nearby Good Samaritan hospital. 9.995 lunch. Very good

The restaurant was clean and had a nice atmosphere. Immedicately felt like this was nice place to eat. The servers were attentive and knew their menu.

I'm not fully versed in Indian food. Most of my experience comes from places in east London where "spicy " means highly seasoned and not necessarily hot. The food at Swagat was really tasty and fast. So fast, in fact that there must be a steam table in the kitchen holding prepared food. This place offers a buffet at lunch and I can't help but think the food may have been held. The lamb was oh so tender and the curry was savory. However my dish couldn't have been prepared after I ordered it, there just wasn't enough time for a cook to make it. Maybe that's the way of Indian restaurants? The naan was great and my wife said the sweet lassi was excellent. If you're tight on time, it was 18 minutes from sit down to walk out.

The road name is Lovejoy. The restaurant is just at the corner. I had one of my best vegetarian food in Portland. The food is well made and very safe for dedicated vegetarian. The price is very reasonable. You can try little bit each at first then choose you like most there. The staffs are very friendly too. You have choice to stay inside or outside. I enjoyed my lunch under the umbrella while feeling the peaceful atmosphere around me.

After a search for recommendations on Indian food we decided on Swagat. Not sure if we just ran into an off night. The chicken in chicken Tikka was too large, tough and flavorless. The sauce was good but not enough to put this on our list of places we will return to.

Not my favorite Indian restaurant in Portland. But I only ate their once. Prices are OK, but the food was not memorable.

The food at Swagat is very tasty. We went during the lunch buffet so we could sample a variety of Indian foods. Fantastic!

The atmosphere is perfectly done. Service was outstanding. I ordered a dinner rather than alla cart and had to take half home,the portions were more than enough and delicious!

I love Swagat. It's close, their quick, and the food is wonderful. We always order Garlic Naan, Chana Masala, Tandoori Chicken, and Veggie Samosas. Yummy every time and consistently excellent.

Very tasty food! The Mango lassi and the bhendi masala did not disappoint. The wait staff was very attentive. If you are staying in the downtown area you can get to the restaurant using the light rail (get off on NW Lovejoy and 21st).

Love the lunch buffet

Booked a table and visited on a Saturday evening for our anniversary. After being seated, waiter took our drinks order, and responded, "Sorry we are out of coke". We asked what other soft drinks were available and after responding with 'diet coke and Sprite', the waiter then replied, 'we really don't have much selection of soft drinks.' We order a Sprite. After placing our order of Meat Samosas for appetizers, Chicken Vindaloo and Lamb curry, we waited, for quite a long time - which is fine by us, but waiting this amount of time for appetizers started to worry us a little. After about 20 minutes wait, the waiter arrived with our main course - he'd forgot to order our appetizers. As he proceeded to place the main course down at our table, and presumable go and order our appetizers, we promptly asked him to return the main course dishes until we had received, and eaten, our appetizers; he did this, but here's the strange part - he offered zero apology. Not a thing! So, our appetizers eventually came, followed by our main course. My Chicken Vindaloo was disappointing, having more of a 'stew-like' appearance, heavy on tomato, and not really all that spicy (this dish is supposed to come 'hot' as standard). My wife then tasted her Lamb curry and was stunned by how spicy it was, in terms of heat - and yes, it was actually hotter than the vindaloo. We then waited a good 5 minutes for the waiter to appear, expressed how hot the dish was, while reminding him we had asked for it to be 'mild', to which he replied 'the curry is pre-made and so we can't make it any differently'. He offered a different meal, but there were none other that my wife cared for and, honestly, she did not want to wait to eat a different meal, effectively, separately from myself. Again, no apology offered. When the bill arrived, the Lamb Curry had been comp'd but with no explanation and no apology from anyone. The waiter, in general, seemed disinterested, unfriendly and detached. The appetizers were good, but the Chicken Vindaloo was bland, and the Lamb Curry was overly-spiced. We have visited this restaurant several times in the past and had a better experience - maybe we'll give them another try...

SOOO Good!

My wife and I have spent time in India - see her 'Ameripeans On The Go' article in Come Fly With Us Magazine - and appreciate the wide range and straightforward choices in a good buffet restaurant. Swagat is a favorite and very reliable.

Went to the buffet lunch. Cannot order from the menu during the buffet time. But the selection on the buffet items was just so varied and good it didn't mater! Reasonable price too.

A five for food: consistently awesome Indian food. BUT>>>I've reviewed this place before highly as it has been a staple for my Portland visits. But the last three times I have eaten there, the wait staff I had just seemed sluggish. I was in at non busy times on purpose. I was ready to order very soon, but waited a long time all three times. There' was kind of a smirky way, like, you know, we should be grateful they are willing to serve us rather than them being grateful for the business. I, myself was friendly and didn't complain, but come on...It is basic, swagat team, smile. Put your shoulders back, don't slouch like a spoiled teenager... and move your buns. Yes, the food is cooked to order, for that I'll wait, but not for wait staff jibber jabbing at the little tables near the kitchen, which they've always seemed to do. Get to your table right away without exception and see if people are ready, then check back soon to make sure all is there to the customer's liking, then when they're done, clear the food and get them the check. (ESPECIALLY IF YOUR NOT EVEN BUSY) These are basics that can't be missed. Every meal is a fresh time to be attentive and upbeat or to demonstrate that you don't care about customers' buisness. I'll try you again, but after my experiences this time, I sought out other Indian even though I LOVE your food. I went to Bollywood, and not to Swagat please improve service speed and upbeat friendliness.

It's not like little India in New York, but it's as close as you get in Portland. Beaverton has quietly become full of cool ethnic food--Indian, Korean, Thai, and Japanese.

If you’re looking for a really good Indian restaurant in Portland and you’re around the 21st street, Swagat is a great option to look into. The Tikka Masala is great and if you order it in combo (I can’t remember the name) It comes with various small dishes to mix with your food. Not the best Indian, but still really really good!

We walked past this restaurant a few times before deciding to try it. My husband took one look at the menu and got really excited (he is from South Asia). We decided to get take out so we could relax at our hotel with our young son, it was late. We ordered and took a walk around the neighborhood. We came back 30 minutes later, everything was ready. We mostly tried the South Indian dishes, the Masala Dosa and idil was amazing. Our Son ate it up and loved it too. Loved the Chicken Vindaloo also. We will be visiting again on our next trip to Portland. If you love Indian, you have to eat here!

Service here wasn't the best... waitress didn't listen to what we asked for.. certainly not the best Indian food I've had but it was good.. chicken Marsala was a touch too spicy.. portion size was ok.. plenty of choices on the menu..

We were visiting a friend in the area and she suggested a nearby vegetarian restaurant. Instead, we all decided to try Swagat and are thankful that we did. Yes, the prices are a little higher but reasonable for Indian food. Several of us had the thali dinners and this made it almost a value proposition. One member of our party did not like spicy food and asked for assistance with the menu. Unfortunately, even the paneer turned out to be a bit much for her. On the other hand, I love spicy food and was delighted by the shrimp vindaloo. The vegetarian dishes were also well received by other members of our group as was the lamb. I wouldn't recommend the mango dessert as it was like a sweet, radiant orange baby food puree with grapes and other fruit pieces. The gulab was very well made, however. I only wish that we had the opportunity to try the lunch buffet as the food, overall, was delicious and the service was excellent. Our next visit to Portland will include a return to this gem.

My favorite Indian restaurant in Portland. I love the Lamb Vindaloo for Dinner. I also love the lunch buffet. For $10 the buffet is well worth it. They have plenty of food choices. Parking is an issue, but Swagat's gives you the most bang for your buck.

Not too bad for a lunch buffet. They have all the basics and you can get in and out of there quickly, assuming you can find a parking space. Not the best Indian food I've had, but certainly good enough to take care of my butter chicken cravings.

Good indian buffet. load up on your favorites or try something new. A bit pricy.

Their lunch buffet, for $11.95 is an amazing value. Tons of dishes to choose from, and all excellent. I pretty much tried every dish at the buffet and found everything to be delicately/well spiced making everything really flavorful. My favorites were the eggplant and the chicken in cream sauce. Delicious and great value.

The restaurant was close to our AirBnB. We were looking forward to some delicious food and this place did not disappoint. We were seated right away on a Sat evening. The decor was nice with paintings and statues. Our waitress was super nice and friendly. She didn’t hover but was around when we needed her. We ordered lamb pasanda and tandoori mixed grill both with the dinner option. It was a lot of food! Rice, naan, beetroot curry, raita, lentil soup and a dessert came with the dinner option. The lamb was very tender and the sauce was very flavorful. The mixed grill was tasty. The naan was crispy but didn’t have much flavor as it was plain. This place is worth a stop. You’ll get good food probably with no wait.

Outstanding service. Everyone in our party of 6 on Christmas Eve was treated with great consideration and care. My family was composed of 4 adults and two young children (as young as 4 and a half). The setting is great and well decorated with sophistication and care (beautiful wood carved panels hand on the walls). The dining room seems to be broken up in three distinct se tuons for the comfort of the guests. It feels wonderfully cozy there. The menu is rich and diverse, catering to all tastes (vegetarian, pescatarians or carnivorous). The fish for example can bd served with a set of sauces and curries guaranteed to contain no meat or meat juices. The lamb is beyond belief in its being tender and tasty. The halibut tandoori was delightfully tasty and the tandoori chicken was tender and moist, a rarity in Indian restaurants in the Pacific North West I have frequented. The appetizers were wonderfully tasty, from super hot to mild as one chose. The service was efficient and rapid without being rushed. Our waitress was attentive to everyone’s needs, including those of the children. I give a 100% endorsement to Swagat. Great evening!

We were in the neighborhood and craving Indian food when we spotted this place. It's a very clean and nice looking restaurant as was the buffet food. The selection of food was nice and seemed to be fresh. Service was good and we feel like we got a good deal and were able to try a lot of different foods.

I had the chicken tikka, my old standby in Indian restaurants. It was quite tasty - creamy, not hot. My wife had a GIANT crepe-like dish (don't recall the name), which was great. Service was attentive, not obtrusive.

Love to visit this place for a long lunch! Great flavors, very consistent, lots of variety - always a little bit different and unique. I've been here at least 8 times, with my wife and alone, and I'm never disappointed. Don't get there too late or some of the best items might be gone!

Great food, very filling and decently priced. My famly and I came here for our first night in portland for dinner (aussie tourists) and we weren't expecting much, but they proved us wrong. I had the lamb with butter sauce, my wife had the lamb with a pepper and onion type sauce and my son had a chicken vindaloo, non of us could finish our dinner, so luckily they provide you with take home packs. DEFINITELY RECOMMEND

This is an okay restaurant with good service. We had an Indian hot drink to warm up which helped. Then we ordered tandoori chicken with fresh crunchy vegetables.

Portland does not have a large number of Indian restaurants and this is one of the better ones. Usual long menu with the usual stuff, basically combinations of proteins and sauces/preparations. Like most Indian restaurants, most things prepared in advance and combined when you order it.

Excellent food, great neigborhood location. I enjoy getting takeout or meeting friends for dinner.

We had a wonderful lunch here. Each of us ordered the luncheon special- one goat, one chicken and one vegetarian. We had plenty of food and it was delicious. We could have used a lesson on how to use the sauces, but we put everything on and it was tasty. The nam (bread) was especially tasty. We ended up taking the left overs home and we got several more lunches out of it. Due to the rain, we ate inside, but the tables were completely separated and we felt safe. The staff was helpful and we will come again.

We only ate here for dinner and really enjoyed our meal. There were a good number of vegetarian entrees. I would recommend getting the thali dinner version of the entree since it includes curry, dal, sambar, raita, rice, nan, papadam and dessert for only $4 more. We enjoyed our meal and the mango shakes we ordered were yummy as well. Service was quick and the atmosphere was nice while still being pretty casual. We took the streetcar here although they have a parking lot as well. This was not the best Indian we've ever eaten but it was very good.

If you are looking for a great Indian restaurant in Portland, this place is for you. The restaurant has a wide selection of delicious Indian food. This is especially great if you are a vegan. I found this restaurant on here because my sister is vegan. I had to make sure that we could eat somewhere where she could eat vegetarian while visiting in Portland. The food was plentiful and delicious. I could feed my two daughters, my sister, and me for an inexpensive price. My only complaint is the small parking lot. Just trying to find parking in Portland can be difficult, and the small parking lot didn't help. When I was backing out to leaving the parking lot, I felt like the car was already on the road. Fortunately, my driving skills prevented me from ending up there, but that is my only complaint. I would say that this restaurant is worth visiting, even though it has awful parking.

We recently went on a weekend trip to the Portland area from Seattle. For the first night we ordered to-go dinner consisting of Paneer Tikka Masala, Garlic Naans, Vegetable Biriyani and Idly/Sambar from this place. Except the Paneer Tikka Masala rest of the items were below-average. The naans were really rubbery and hard to chew on; the idlies seemed to have been frozen and then heated up (may be not - but that is the feel we got); Sambar - we personally have pretty high standards - on a scale of 10 we can only rate this one probably a 4. Veg Biriyani lacked flavor. We may not try this place again with the other options around this area, if we come by Portland again. May be a we were not so lucky, but this review is purely based on our personal experience.

Fortunately, we ate with someone experienced with Indian food so she ordered for all of us. We had the chicken tikka masala, Chana masala, sambar, mango lassy, vegetable samosa, naan, and rice and some kind of mango drinks. All well prepared and delicious. Our friend eats there often with her Indian coworkers, so that's a nice stamp of approval for authenticity.

As someone who has tried her fair share of Indian buffets, Swagat is by far the best! Affordable Indian food in a richly decorated, cozy environment. Food is piping hot & fresh, the space is clean, you don’t feel rushed, but you’re also not bothered! Come at exactly 11:30 am when they open up: this way, you’ll get a parking space (out of 8) right out front, and the food will not have been sitting out too long. Try their Mango custard dessert!!!

The restaurant is near old Portland closer to water front and the down town. Very spacious and nicely furnished . Has limited parking facilities within the premises . Service is good and food tasty .

Foods were great. Not exactly like India but still can manage. I tried south Indian dishes like Sosa & onion pakoras. Should definitely try onion pakoras if you want to taste the Indian tounge.......

I don't usually enjoy buffets because my appetite isn't large enough to get my money's worth. But here, for just $10.95 I got to enjoy tastes of lots of different dishes. And for people with larger appetites, this is unbeatable. I'm giving it 5 stars for the great value. Wide variety to choose from. And service was friendly, too.

This place is great during their lunch time buffet. They offer a great variety dishes to choose from. The vegetable biryani was my favorite dish to taste. If you want a little adventure in trying new foods, definitely give this place a try during the lunch buffet which is reasonably priced.

We regularly get a take away meal from here. Consistently good food, would like a bit more variety and more vegetable dishes, otherwise it's good.

This place is in a house and felt intimate. It was packed the night we ate here with family. I love Indian food but this was really underwhelming. The eggplant Pakoras were greasy and tasteless. I had the lentil soup, which was OK. My wife had the veggie Biryani which was bland and not nearly as interesting as others I've had. I tasted the Saag Paneer that our son ordered and that was good. Naan was fine, but would have been better with a little ghee on it. It was a cold evening and the bathrooms were freezing.

There are several Indian restaurants in Portland but few with south indian offerings. Swagat has three restaurants in PDX now and still offering the best or near best on all South Indian food offerings. Go Srimanth!

The buffet luncheon offered a huge variety of main dish food choices. I just had to sample every single dish. The chicken dishes were tender and juicy in a creamy sauce. The food was spicy but not "tear jerking". There were also vegetarian food choices available. The weather was perfect so that we could sit outside and enjoy a pleasant Portland day. The staff was friendly and pleasant. They gave us time to just sit and visit.

I go here occasionally with work colleagues for lunch. The people working there are friendly and the buffet is a great value. Food is tasty and they keep the extensive buffet filled with fresh, authentic Indian fare.

The lunch buffet is a great value...reasonably priced with quality food, and you can usually get seated right away. Service is friendly and attentive. Parking in that area is easier than it appears at first glance...we typically find a spot nearby on the street.

Excellent lunch buffet, probably best Indian meals I have ever had in USA. The buffet is best experienced on Friday-Sunday. Small parking lot, in downtown, so drive around if you cannot find parking. They have branches, but not as good. I would park somewhere between here and Powell bookstore, bring quarters though to feed the meters. About 1.1 miles from Powell's City of Books at Burnside. (Huge 1 city block, 2 story high bookstore, used and new. Feel like you are inside library at Hogwarts)

Overall, you can count on this place for great Indian food. If Manager had a quality control system it could be a five star. (chai freshness, restroom, smiles on staff) One of my favorite Indian restaurants anywhere and I'm a fanatic for Indian. For the food in it's pure taste, you must go. Now for the little stuff...Service varies. Some can get persnickety, others gracious and warm. Employees use a tall table near kitchen to sit and chat at ( I assume at their break time) that customers in the main dining area and bar can see and feels awkward. Front room or outdoor are best seating areas. There is a back room that lacks charm and is dark, but not in a romantic way. They do have South Indian (Madras) dishes for the Dosa/Sambar/Idli connoisseur. Always a treat, fabulous flavor and excellent chutneys. I could drink the coconut chutney. Dosa can be a little skimpy on fillings even for those used to the expected huge extending dosa shell. Ask if they skimp. I did and they graciously brought more filling. Wish they had chicken korma. Chai not always fresh, if not ask for fresh. I think they make a big batch and hang on to it until someone mentions something. Restrooms? What is it with Indian places? This is better than some, but they don't seem to realize that the restroom is part of the whole experience. Women, especially, use the restroom a lot before or after a meal. It needs regular attention, cleanliness and a touch of beauty (verses feeling like you'd get your purse snatched in there) would be helpful. This one doesn't match the restaurant and should be gutted.

Visited for dinner this summer, liked interiors, food was good and staff was nice.. Little overpriced, but not a lot..

It's such good food full of flavor and color . There was many dishes lots of vegetarian too. Nice atmosphere , really cute place . They have a few parking spots available . The price for buffet was 9.95 what a great value for Portland . I would have given a 5 star if the service would have been better . Barely got a water refill ( half a glass) I would have ordered a drink but never got a wait person to come around . But good was fantastic can't wait to go back .

Swagat has been one of our favorite Indian restaurants for years. It had been awhile since we had dined there, until recently. I learned to love South Indian food while my husband and I spent several months teaching at a college in Pune, India, years ago. South Indian sounded good to me, so I ordered the Swagat South Indian Combo. This includes a masala dosa, idli, urad vada and sambar, a soup. The dosa was great, as were the idli and urad vada. The sambar had good flavor, but the vegetables were in huge chunks, and the carrots hadn't been peeled. Eeew. All good chefs know you peel carrots, for Pete's sake! The peel was actually coming loose in little rings. Sambar should be thin with only a few veggies, cut in smallish pieces, because mostly you want to use it to moisten the other items. The waiter was kind enough to bring me more broth with less veggies, but I got the impression the careless chef just wanted to take a shortcut and roughly chop the veggies and throw them in the pot. I expect the chef(s) at this caliber of restaurant to take care with all their preparations. My husband ordered Lamb Vindaloo, the thali meal. He said it tasted good, but thought the portions were a little small. Maybe it was because the little individual dishes didn't fill up the thali tray, so there was a lot of empty space, which made it look like less? Can you tell we take our Indian food seriously? Maybe these concerns won't be a big deal to you, thus the 3 star (3 dot?) rating.

Lots of locals here and the food is true Indian, hot and spicy. The wait staff was perfect and served us well. The Nan bread is out of this world- get the garlic nan. Parking was easy, within walking distance, and they have a few spaces in front of the restaurant too.

The chicken makhani is my favorite. It's all you can eat at lunch time, and everything is delicious. I go at least once a month. The servers are helpful, friendly, attentive. This is one of the best places to eat in NW Portland.

Visited Swagat on a Saturday afternoon buffet..BUffet spread was slightly mediocre, or im used to larger spreads in california and New jersey and there was only three non-Veg varieties. Chicken Tandoori was good, Lamb was not that great. Standard dessert - Rice Kheer and Mango pudding. For South Indians the spice and Hotness is very average but im sure other country people will like it better as i saw from the crowd there were more non-desi's. This place suddenly pops up near a residential area so if your GPS takes you thro small narrow streets dont worry just follow the instructions. There is dedicated parking space but only 3-5 slots, its also shared with another restaurant in the complex so it will get full quickly, plan for street parking.

Visiting fro the East, I made it a point to eat buffet lunch here. Beautifully appointed in a shiny brass tureen, each buffet offering is clearly marked with a card in a brass holder. Classy. What knocked me out was the "Beet Curry." In all the years, countries I've eaten Indian Buffet at lunch, this is the first time see beets. This restaurant has great courage to serve beets, which many establishments shy away from because the lowly beet monopolizes the plate, stains your shirt, bloodies the kids faces, etc. I've heard it all. The rest of the customers were crowded around the beets. They also have a full bar and 6 draft beers.

Food prep was delicious. Between rge four of us,we sampled appetizers, family style items and fixed menu, in all cases, the foods were unique, tasty and quite filling. The ambience was date worthy and service friendly and attentive. Sold us a return trip.

They really know how indian food is cooked!!! We tried vegetarian food only and it tasted out of the world. The gravy looked so delicious and home made. It did not have any artificial flavour or color (which i have observed in many other indian restaurants and is my primary concern). Right from the starters to main course to dessert, it was totally indian is taste and flavour was mouth watering, I cant write enough here. Must try if you happen to be in Portland. And yes they have a friendly staff (added bonus :))

Love the aloo saag and bhindi masala...Mangoritas are pretty great too.

Swagat's is a good place for a quick, cheap meal. The food is hardly something to rave about but it isn't horrible either. I have eaten here many times. I usually go with friends that enjoy eating here. I wouldn't choose to eat here on my own but then I don't vehemently object either (which I will do if the food is terrible). I always go for the buffet so that could affect the food quality. The butter chicken is pretty good and so is the naan.

We went for the lunch buffet on a Sunday and the food was very good. Checking in/getting a table was a little chaotic, but the food was very good. They wouldn't serve me a beer with munch (didn't say why), but very attentive.

Used to like Plainfield's Mayur, but it closed last summer. It was a very upscale Indian restaurant--a bit expensive but very classy. It is now gone. That leaves Swagat as the choice for Indian in Portland. A group of 8 of us ate at the Beaverton location a couple of weeks ago, and it was outstanding, both food and service. We have eaten at Swagat's two locations over the years, and the food had been consistent and good. Recommend it if you like Indian cuisine.

Lunch buffet rocks!

Haven't been here in a long time, so I don't really remember how good it was. I should go again

A bit run down inside but great for a quick buffet lunch

These guys do OK Indian food and a very fair price. The lunch buffet has a lot of choices and a lot of food. Like most buffet food, it's just OK. I think that my biggest compliant about the food is that, for Indian food, I'd expect more flavors, more "life" in the food. Swagat's food seems like institutional Indian food that was cooked a little to long and was not prepared with any flair or love. C+ Indian food with minimal atmosphere.

I love Indian food and enjoy eating here. This is not the best lunch buffet but is the most consistent. The food quality is always good and they do change the menu a little everyday. I don't go for dinner but that's just because I like Indian food for lunch. Buffet allows for more options on food choice.

Nice interior, very friendly staff and a kitchen that really knows it's stuff. All results in a very good Indian meal experience. I would be very happy to go back

We went early on a Friday evening. They were having a big group in the back room (our preference for seating), so we sat in the front, which for a while we had to ourselves, Service was efficient, but not particularly personable. Cocktails were O.K., but not great (Oh, we miss you Bombay Cricket Club!) ... samosas and chutneys (as always) were tasty, but main dishes were totally mediocre and at 15 bucks a shot for veggie dishes, it felt too expensive. Tab came to around 65.00 dollars for two, not including the tip. Atmosphere is nice ... somewhat elegant. But, the taste vs. cost will probably keep me away.

The lunch buffet is consistently good for an Indian cuisine fix at lunch. Price is reasonable for what you get.

Went to dinner with my family and we went to this place at the recommendation of my nephew. He wasn't wrong! He definitely has the "good taste" gene in our family! Tried the tandoori mixed grill dinner with all of the sides. You get rice, two types of curries, soup, some type of sauce that complimented the very well seasoned samples of lamb and chicken. The meats were tender and flavorful! The garlic naan was good too, but I like mine more garlicky. Tried the dessert which not too sweet; a mango fruit blend that tasted like a very thick smoothie. All in all, a very good meal. I'd go back!

Lazy after a day so we just tapped near me. So lucky, phenomenal food. Some authentic, some less so and all great. Must try dosa

My wife is of South Indian heritage and we try to search out South Indian food when we travel. So, we were delighted to find Swagat within a short walk from our hotel. Service was prompt. We were served a couple poppadum with assorted dips. My wife ordered a plain dosa, and I had a masala dosa, plus we ordered a chicken curry to share. Both dosa were large and nicely crisped. The potato masala was a bit bland to my taste, and I didn’t see any chiles as I would expect. The sambar was also excellent: thick with vegetable, and nicely seasoned without the over-reliance on cumin that I sometimes see. The biggest downer was the chicken curry, which seemed to use a tomato base and an odd mix of spices. Maybe the chef was going for some kind of fusion approach that I didn’t quite get. Overall, though, we were happy with the meal. It’s always nice to find a great dosa and sambar. The restaurant had a nice ambiance and very good service. I’d go back.

EXCELLENT Indian restaurant (and I've been to India). Been there twice now and both times it was good with decent service and everything fresh and served hot.Price is about average.

Been there no of times and every time the food is always great. Lunch buffet are the best and dinner is great too. We went dinner last Monday and the food was really good. The goat curry was made really good. I personally thanked chef, his name was tilak for making our family night special.

This is a Delivery review with Grubhub. Food was delivered hot still and within the frame of time first promised. We ordered two different dosas, and some Samosas (things I cannot or do not make at home). We ordered some chutneys because it wasn't clear if the food came with them, and there were countless chutneys in the bag, so I am guessing they do include chutneys normally. No need to have ordered extra. Food was ample and tasty. Someone forgot to include plates, napkins. We were in a hotel, so I had to run around and find some downstairs. Would I order Swagat's again? Absolutely!

Your average indian place, fair number of dishes on offer at the buffet- edible but not special. Service was minimal, you serve yourself, and I even saw a lot of people clearing their own table by dropping off the used plates at the station up front prior to bringing back the next helping. There are other options with better indian food in the city, will not be back.

My husband and I just went to Swagat to have dinner and had a good time there. The staff was very smiling and welcoming. On the menu, there were the usual Indian dishes (appetizers, vegetarian and non vegetarian dishes). You can choose "a la carte" (it is served with rice) or thali dinner (it is served with rice, naan, lentils, soup, raita and dessert of the day. My husband chose the chana masala (beans with tomatoes and onions) and he said it was good. I chose the palak paneer (spinach with Indian cheese) which was good too. The price was not expensive. We paid 50us (including tip) for two thali dinner and a beer. Good food

I went here with a friend for dinner one night. Service was friendly and fast. I love Indian food and get it often. This was about average for Indian. It was good, but not the best I've had. It wasn't very flavorful, though, the quality was pretty good. The setting was nice, though, you had to walk aways to get to the restroom in another part of the building. Other than that I thought it was well-decorated.

We usually eat at least once a month or more at Swagat. Everything on the menu is spiced just right, not to hot , but spicy enough. My favorite is the Chicken Tikka Masala. So good. the service is always very good.

As good a buffet you'll find

After reading reviews by others on TripAdvisor, we chose Swagat Indian Cuisine over a few others noted driving around Portland, and what an AWESOME choice. Wonderful atmosphere, excellent service, and amazing food. Stereotypically wet evening, parking wasn't the best for we out of towners who insist on driving. Regardless, this is a place not to miss if you appreciate this type of cuisine or are curious at all. GREAT selection of items available on the menu, generous portions, and fair prices.

six take-out visits this year; heavenly malai kofta, mellifluous palak paneer, aloo gobi, onion kulcha....

I have been a fan of Swagat for many years. Sadly, we moved far away from Portland and I am only able to dine here when i am visiting the Rose City. Last night we enjoyed a meal at Swagat in NW Portland. Every aspect was utterly delightful. The hostess, recognizing that we might like a more private space, seated us away from families with active children. Shortly after sitting down we were plied with papadum and the three Swagat chutneys (green, red and white, like the Bandera Mexicana) And then dinner arrived. Everything was delicious: Chicken Saag, Pallak Paneer and Eggplant Curry. Yummers! As always, the portions were so generous that there was plenty to take home for a snack. And the price was soo reasonable. If you like great Indian cuisine, this is the place for you.

If you love Indian food, Swagat's great $9.99 lunch buffet will fill your Ned & your tummy! I tried most everything, detected several favorit flavors (all curry) and only two i didnt like...both contained peas!

This place was awesome. It was cozy and adorned in carved wood. I got the Thali dinner platter and ate for what seemed like hours. Warm, hearty food and really inexpensive for the TON of food you get. Awesome awesome Indian food.

Eating family style, we tried four dishes. The spices in the curries were complex and delicious without being overbearing. The meats in the meat dishes were tender. Service was prompt and helpful. I like to try Indian restaurants and this was high on my list. I would definitely like to go here again when in Portland.

My friend and I make it a tradition to come here after pedicures on NW 21st. It feels decadent, while still being reasonably priced. Their buffet is delicious and inexpensive at $9.95, but their dinners and drinks are also delicious and well-priced. I got the thali plate tonight and was really impressed with the diverse flavors and ample portions. We like the back room the best, with its lovely colors, art, and warm feel.

We all liked the lunch buffet - though they don't have biryani in the buffet, all in all it was a good experience and wonderful taste of food. Kids charged half the price of buffet

Swagat never fails to please. We now live far away from Portland and only have a chance to dine at this wonderful Indian restaurant when we are in PDX visiting relatives. I'm here to tell you that nothing has changed. We dined there last night with my son, ordering Lamb Vindaloo, Chicken Masala and Chicken Saag. The service was prompt and friendly. The food delightful. The food at Swagat differs from many Indian restaurants, in that each dish tastes different. It is such a bummer to go to an Indian restaurant and find that essentially the same sauce is poured over everything and only the name on the menu is different. As an added bonus, the price is still very reasonable for what you get. We dined at the restaurant in NW Portland (there is one out in Beaverton as well) Everything remains perfect.

I have gone to the location in Hillsboro but recently moved downtown so I decided to give this location a try. Totally disappointed with the experience overall. First, I was seated by the hostess and left unattended for about 10 minutes. The hostess showed up and said she was the waitress. Then, as I ordered my food, she indicated that they were out of certain things (i.e. tamarind sauce for the samosas). What kind of Indian restaurant runs out of key ingredients for their business? The service for the rest of the meal was just ok, and very untimely. I had to ask for refills rather than being checked on. If you are looking for great Indian food, it's far worth the extra 15 minutes to get to the location in Hillsboro at Orenco Station.

Great authentic indian food at fair prices

What more can I say. I’m salivating just thinking about this restaurant. Staff was great food was amazing definitely worth your time.

Among the better Indian restaurants I've tried. Good menu, with lots of vegetarian options. Good service. Nice ambiance.

Returned after 5 years back East only to find the same high quality Indian cuisine that we lucky people have enjoyed for 30 years. My takeout curry put me in orbit it was that much a surprise and delight. Even though Covid eliminated the lunch buffet, this is still the best Indian cuisine in Portland.

Can't attest to the table service, but the take-out we had was outstanding. Try the mixed pakora appetizers, delicious chicken tikka masala and lamb biryani!

This is the best Indian food I have ever had in the US! I have no idea where they are from but I felt like I was eating a home cooked meal. Some of their curries tasted a lot like Sri Lankan food to me. Their beet curry and the dhal curry was nothing but authentic Sri Lankan in look and the taste. I cant pin point one dish as ALL the dishes taste wonderful and food of spice and taste like food from India. Unlike most Indian buffets I've tried, these dishes actually taste different from one another. If you are in Portland and love Indian food, this is a must try! I will definitely go when I am in portland again. Please keep up the good work!

We had a lovely experience here! The waitress was full of good suggestions for food, and the food was amazing! We would absolutely come back.

The food was good, we ordered 3 different courses from the menu, all was very good. You need to like this style though, it is irreverent from mainstream food. Worth a try!

The lunch buffet is the way to go, I'm a very picky eater, and not big into veggies, but there's still plenty of stuff here I really like. Nice place, clean, nice booths, good stuff. No complaints. They do close between lunch and dinner, so check the hours.

They have an extensive lunch buffet for $9 per person. It's a bit on the spicy side, so be forwarded. Servers whisked dirty plates away quickly. A bit cheaper than the other Indian restaurant in the neighborhood.

You know how Indian food can sometimes taste too heavy and overladen with oils and spices? Not this place! The meals were light, fresh and absolutely delicious. The Chana Masala was heavenly. The naan was baked to perfection. The basmati rice was like a bowl of floating, celestial clouds. And the service was fantastic! Our server has a twin sister who works as the bartender. It took us a few moments to realize they were two different women with the same face. It was a delightful and unexpected surprise.

Best Indian in PDX. Never really had an issue with bad food quality - I've ordered some things I personally don't like, but that's my own fault :) Another one of those places for me though that I prefer to get it to go than to eat there. Nothing wrong with the place, just my preference.

Buffet is pretty inexpensive, with much variety and all items are very good.

I love Indian food and this place is one that has been around a while. Pretty reliable food and not too bad price wise either. However, Namaste on the NE side of Portland is one of the best in my estimation.

good for the price.

We shared several dishes with a group of friends. The food was good but it was all the same spice level. My husband likes it a little spicer and he was disappointed. The drinks were good but little alcohol.

Called as close to our hotel. Lovely ambience and large table for two on Friday night with no wait. Starters were immense and we had lots boxed, lunch tomorrow sorted! Tandoori chicken and mixed grill mains were served on sizzling skillets and were very tasty. Pleasant and efficient service. Great meal, hit the spot.

yum

I had the South Indian platter and enjoyed it, good vegetarian food.However the meat and chicken dishes were average. Good service, barman was very helpful.

My husband and I LOVE this place. Especially the daily lunch buffet. You can try new dishes and enjoy your favorites, too. We try to go at least twice a month. The food is tasty, consistent, and the wait staff very attentive. Been to other Indian restaurants. This is the best.

We lunched at swagat during our Portland trip. The food was amazing, I still relive the taste though it was 4 months back. Easily the best Indian food I have had in a restaurant in US

The food is flavored well, but chicken, etc., is not always prepared well. Expect weird chewy things that don't seem like a good idea to swallow.

Their food is amazing! The portions are huge. I love how they serve you a variety of dishes on a large round serving tray. The sauces served with the delicious lamb and rice, and the vegetables was so good. Their mango yogurt drinks are so good I could drink several. The service was wonderful; the decor was beautiful. Everything about this restaurant was spectacular!!

The lunch was fantastic! The raita was on point. The butter chicken was to die for. It came with naan as well. Good price, too!

Great lunch spot, easy to get in and out and usually not too crowded. The buffet has plenty of offerings for vegetarian and carnivore alike. SPices are well balanced.

Its the same typical Indian foods. Food was tasty but bit expensive and was prepared within 15 minutes. There is not enough parking space available.

We had a highly disappointing experience at this restaurant. Although the front seating area was largely unoccupied, the staff initially tried to place us in a secluded, partially blocked-off section. The seating there was worn, and the floor was dirty, so we courteously asked for a table near the reception at one of the many vacant tables. However, they declined our request and instead directed us to another isolated spot on the opposite side of the restaurant, right next to a table with soiled linens, despite the numerous empty tables in the front. The food was underwhelming. The dals and curries were bland, overly reliant on chili powder, and lacked depth of flavor. The garlic naan was only marginally acceptable.

We enjoyed our first visit here. The food was good and the service excellent. Their chicken tika marsala was delicious, as were the lamb samosas

great down home for the buttery, creamy side of you

Everything we ordered was so flavorful! I can't wait to go back! Our server was attentive and helped us with menu choices. The only downside is the parking situation in this neighborhood.

Food was delicious and service was amazing. Really lovely place, too, with warm wood and a great bar.

Have been there twice in the last few weeks and both visits were great. Fantastic food for the entire family our 2 kids enjoyed the food as much as we did. Why not 5 stars, because they have to make sure the restaurant, the plates and glasses are clean, we experienced some dirty plates and the couches showed some food from previous guests.

We had the generous and inexpensive luncheon buffet. Carefully prepared dishes. We particularly liked the Tandoori (butter) chicken. the dal, and the goat curry, my personal favorite.

I think their $9.95 buffet lunch (all you can eat) is really good, and definitely worth it. They had about 10 different main dishes to try out, both meat and vegetarian. I am not an expert on Indian cuisine, but the flavor and quality seemed very good to me. It is located in the cool Northwest part of Portland on NW 21st and NW Lovejoy, near the 23rd street district of Northwest Portland. The street car stops within a couple of blocks, so it is easy to get to with mass transit too. So I think this is a good place to meet for lunch with friends or for business too.

Had dinner here Thursday and it was delightful. Lovely naan, papadums and chutney-to-die-for with a ridiculously reasonably priced Temranillo. Then, dinner! Chicken tikka Masala, lamb biriyani, and vegetable korma. No wonder we needed take home boxes. Food is delicious, aromatic, and just perfectly spiced. Wait staff were attentive, informed, and gracious.

Our son took us to Swagat in Portland Oregon for a family night out. I will freely admit that I have never been a big fan of Indian cuisine. Our dinner this evening has made me rethink that attitude. Simply put, I had the best Indian restaurant experience of my life! I ordered the Tandoori mixed grill. The enormous steaming platter arrived heaping with chicken, lamb, shrimp, and vegetables. Accompanying it was a large serving of rice with a spicy Indian sauce. I loved every single bite! The rest of the family loved their choices also. The next time we visit Portland Swagat will be high on our list of places to eat. A word of advice...come hungry. The ala carte portions are huge. If you are brave, for $5 more you can get a full meal that includes enough extras to feed a posse.

We got there super late after all the day’s events and literally walked in minutes before the last seating of 930pm We were super hungry and super worn out and hoping to get some good Indian food.....and boy we sure scored as the service was awesome and the food was delicious....chicken tikka was so yummy and tender and not too overly rich....just perfect. My wife ordered a dosa and it was really good. And my daughter had a paneer saag with rice and she loved it too. Excellent!!!

We had a family dinner here and ordered a number of dishes for the table to share. The portions on the entrees were very small and not meant to share. We wound up filling up on rice and the sides. The food was ok - not amazing. On the positive side, the waiter offered to show us the tandoori oven which was a big hit with everyone.

I love the Hillsboro location of this restaurant and go on just about every trip to the area, so hen I was in downtown Portland for a recent conference, I decided o give this location a try and the food did not disappoint me. Parking is a bit of a challenge, as they have a very small lot that is hated with a cafe, so you need to look for street parking in the surrounding neighborhood. The food was just as good as the Hillsboro and Beaverton locations, and service was very good, too. However, the ambiance is best in Hillsboro. I would, however, go back to this location just or the Oi, nd would recommend it to anyone in the area.

What a wonderful Indian restaurant tucked away on 21st Street! The service was friendly and efficient. When you sit down, they offer you a free papadum as an appie along with three different kinds of hot sauce (mild, med, and hotter). The menu is your usual fare and the food is well prepared. I tried their veggie pakoras and the chicken saag. You can have your entrée as a complete thali dinner or a la carte which comes with either naan or basmati. I was surprised at how reasonable the bill was. At lunch they offer a 9.95 buffet. The next time I'm in Portland, I will definitely try lunch!

Lots of food. The curry wasn't advertized as spicy, so I wish they'd asked if I wanted it mild, medium or hot as I would have preferred mild. The presentation is a bit odd on a non-stainless steel decorative metal platter where the rice is placed directly on the metal and everything else comes in little bowls placed on the platter. You end up mixing your main dish with the rice on this decorative metal platter. Both my husband and I thought it was awkward to eat off the metal and would have preferred a porcelain plate. Also, they use containers that are no longer recyclable and it would be great for them to upgrade to biodegradable.