Tarka Indian Kitchen Reviews

This is just good quality Indian food, they don't have everything but have a simple good selection of dishes that are always good.

First time here. WIsh there were more all over the country! Too crowded for me at the time I came. (Sunday lunch) No tables available. After I gave my order I had to sit and eat in the "pick up your order" area. I didn't mind because I was alone. I ordered the MEDIUM hot curry but was disappointed so I recommend the VERY hot. Overall I really enjoyed it!

Have perhaps once been slightly disappt'd by take out from Tarka, which we have gotten very often. Love the veg dish of peas & paneer, and chic korma alway good. Naan is a bit dull, and must always ask for sauces on the side.

Chicken Marsala was delicious. The Saag Paneer was also very good. Lamb Kabab, not great, but pretty good. Naan was little on the dry side, but good enough (for dipping) Nice service and friendly staff! You order at the counter and pay and they bring your order to the table. They serve beer and wine . Surprisingly good and we will be back!

This is some awesome Indian food. The nannini is my favorite and the vegetable pakora is a great appetizer. It's to go Indian food so it is convenient, and they always have the order ready for pick up when they say they are going to. A little longer of a wait if you go in and order take out, but well worth it. They're very friendly as well, and it's a great atmosphere. Just love the place all around and would recommend it to anyone.

My wife, daughter and I had lunch here because my daughter needs to eat gluten free and dairy free, and they have this kind of food here. I ate vegetarian, my wife had shish kabob. Can't remember what our daughter ate. Good food.

I love Indian food and Tarka is a excellent choice for it. The service is fast and the food is delicious. There is a wide variety of vegetarian and meat dishes. One of the few places that my entire family loves.

Been there several times for their delicious Korma items. All of the Korma items are really good and best in Austin. Kebab items are very dry though. Always serve food pretty quickly and the restaurant is always clean.

Ate at the domain. We loved it. Great flavors. Had the tikka masala and the dal. Add a bunch of naan of course. Thought it was so good we went to another location south of Barton springs. Same good food. Really liked the quality. Genuine Indian dishes served fast and casual. Would eat here once a week if lived in Austin.

Tarka offers the authentic flavors of India with a contemporary spin and manages to be better than most traditional Indian restaurants. My faves are the boldly-spiced Madras Soup, the savory Vegetable Samosas (you can also get a 'chaat' version), the succulent Lamb Naanini (comes with masala fries or salad), and the fragrant spinach-based Saag Paneer curry. They offer free 'raita' (yogurt/cucumber sauce) on request, which I use as a dressing for my salad or to cool a spicy curry. They also have a lovely mango lemonade on tap, as well as several flavors of fruit 'lassi', a yogurt drink made right at the counter. And, nothing takes over 10 minutes to be delivered to your table. I'm always a satisfied customer here.

We tried the garlic naan (appetizer), Tikka Masala with mild heat and chicken with heavenly Basmati rice. All was very delicious! You get to choose a protein and heat index for which next time we will go medium heat and see if that suits us. The ambiance of the restaurant is really nice and the selection of unique drinks are really awesome. We recommend the lemon - acai soda and pineapple cream soda.

This restaurant serves my very favorite food in Austin. But the inside of the restaurant is so noisy I can't really enjoy it there. So I use this place for takeout and enjoy it as a picnic or at home. I've tried almost everything on the menu and have liked everything. Tiki Masala and Mango Lemonade are two favorites.

This place is good for an Indian food newbie like myself. They had several non-scary items like pita sandwiches and some good soups. Also their curry isnt overly hot, though we did ask for mild at the register.

Good place to enjoy desi food at reasonable prices. Quality and hygiene are good, tastes like home food. You may get a complimentary drink as well.

I would actually give this place 3.5 stars....My boyfriend and I met some friends here for dinner. We got there around six pm on a Saturday. There was no line so we were able to order quickly. They have a decent menu and the I settled for the tiki masala with chicken. The others in my group ordered a variety of student dishes including some appetizers. The food came out quickly enough and overall was pretty good. I have had better Indian food and I have had worse so for me this was kindof in the middle. The mango lemonade was awesome though! One complaint....The tables were dirty and we had to clean our own table off in order to have some place to sit. This is a kid friendly environment which is fine except kids being kids means half their food ends up on the floor. So overall the restaurant wasn't the cleanest at the time we visited. I would stop in here again and maybe get take out.

This is one of the chain for restaurants in the Austin area. You walk up to the counter and order from a menu on the wall, and they hand you a token and bring your food to the table. Service from taking the order to receiving your food is excellent. I have tried a variety of dishes from their biryanis, to their kababs and have liked everything I tried so far. The atmosphere is elegant yet informal, and they have a patio if you want to sit outside in the summer. I liked the vegetable pakoras for starters, the sheesh kabob for the entree, and the gulab jamun for dessert.

Hard to find anything good here if I was pressed to it would be the interior decor and to go packaging. They say this is Indian and it may look Indian but it isn’t. It’s a very watered down version of Indian food which might be good but this is not. No flavor, just bland and boring. If your starving and haven’t eaten in many days this might taste good.

If Indian food came in a can, this is what it would taste like. Ordered chicken biriyani, chicken tikka Masala, mulligawtaney soup and mango lassi. We finished the lassi. It was not hot, not colorful, not tasty. It wasn’t even at fast food standards. Skip this location. Good luck at the others.

Absolutely delicious food. Depending on your craving that day, they offer a great selection of different curries, kabobs and other options. It's a counter service restaurant FYI.

We love this restaurant. It's a great place to get really good Indian food when you are in a hurry. The menu has plenty of variety and many items that he kids love. Our kids have brought friends that have never eaten Indian food before and they come out loving it and bringing their parents too! Our faves are chicken biryani and the aloo ghobi. The chicken and veggie pakoras are amazing. They have a great mango lassi too! Everything we have tasted has been super yummy!! Definitely eat here!

We made our first trip last year and we are very impressed since. Wonderful freshly made food, lots of vegetarian and vegan choices but meat verity as well. Small but nice, great service. Good choice for lunch or dinner. One of our favorite Austin spots.

My beautiful wife and I have lunch here on a Regular basis. We try to order something different each visit, all choices have been very good. My favorite is their Vindaloo, I'm partial to their Chana Marsala, too. My wife mostly stays with the Saag Paneer. It is also very good. Highly recommend this place for anything on the menu.

First thing you will notice when you first open the door is the very STRONG curry or spice smells that permeates the restaurant. Not a pleasant thing, I tell you. After about 5 minutes or so, you become noseblind to it, though. My cousin and I dropped by because she'd mentioned this was started by the people that did Clay Pit. Not sure if that is true or not, but I've had Clay Pit in Dallas and thought it was pretty good, albeit pricy. We ordered the Shrimp Biryani and the Mirch Masala for our main meal and the mango lemonade for drinks. The shrimp biryani had a strange aroma and lacked flavor...shrimp was a bit too shrimpy/fishy smelling, too. The Mirch Masala was a bit better tasting, but I've made better Indian/Pakistani food at home (and I'm not Indian). The mango lemonade didn't taste like lemonade but tasted like the really strong mango puree/juice you get added to some sweet lemonade. It definitely needed more tartness to cut the sweetness, but I was thirsty after a hike so I drank a lot (refills are free, which is nice). Overall, it was alright, but I doubt I would go back.

I am a fan of the tikka masala, saag and korma preparations. The spices are tempered and not as hot as regular home made indian food but that's the way I have started liking it. Wifey likes the chicken biryani and the mango lemonade. My parents who recently visited from India also liked the food here.

Tarka is incredible! It's fast and fresh. Great to dine in or do takeout. (You can order online!) I love everything here, and I've tried almost everything. The briyani's are great. If you order spicy, it's actually spicy. They chicken tikka and vindaloo are excellent. If you're a vegetarian this place is GREAT for you! The Tarka daal, Chana masala, saag aloo are all great. I order them as sides to my curry dish every visit. The samosas and kabobs are great. The vegetable kabob is actually a falafel like dish, in case you want just vegetables on a skewer. LOVE this place. I eat here over any other Indian restaurant for the freshness, convenience, speedy service and good prices!

First visit, for lunch. This local mini-chain is fast casual, i.e., order at the counter, find a seat, and someone brings your food after searching all over for you. Gotta be a better way, but they all do it. Seems like each ethnicity is opening a place, and it's all good. Gourmet it's not, but tasty, fresh, and fast works for me. Mulligatawny soup and garlic naan for me; the naan was flabby, but good with the soup. My daughter had samosas. Also good. Lots of Indians eating there, and we'll be back.

My mother and I ate at Tarka based on the recommendation from an Indian employee at Target. What a treat. The menu clearly describes the dishes so we chose a spinach curry called "saag" and a naanini (like a pannini) which were both fresh, nicely presented and tasted great. Our bill was only $21 for those dishes,, two drinks, and a basket of naan. It was kind of noisy from music playing and the ambient sounds which made it difficult to converse with her, but we both enjoyed it and will go back again on another visit to Austin

I took dinner couple of time it is great and sometime they mess with your order since i am Indian and my pronunciation of Indian food is different and person who is taking order is not an Indian guy.

A local friend of mine took me here just couple of days ago.. I actually wanted to go to a mexican restaurant.. afterall who wouldn't want to taste the local favourite for its proximity to Mexico.. but I was very pleasantly surprised by Tarka.. Simply.. one of the best I have ever had.. in Top 5 I can say.. both in india and in US.. Actually its a very simple restaurant, no frills, no great ambience, no serving waiters, no big menu items etc.. a very simple one.. essential.. carefully hand-picked, i guess, menu items.. I ordered a Veggie Biriyani - one of my favourite food.. have to order and pay first.. go to your seat.. food will come searching for you.. piping hot and delicious.. Instantly i fell in love with the food.. biryani made using basmati rice, spices fully soaked in rice.. actually melted into rice.. all the right ingrediants in right quantity.. just superb.. also ordered naan with a side dish.. equally fantastic.. drinks come with the food.. no coke nor pepsi family drinks.. mango juice, lemonade, ice tea and few local favorite root beer type drinks.. very nice.. you know the best part - I didn't see a single Indian in the kitchen.. fully manned by mexicans If you happen to be in Austin - do visit here.

The restaurant serves Indian food with spices. Though it is not fully Indian, it provides feel of India away from home. Good options available, both for vegetarians and non-vegetarians. Basmati rice was long grain only, not real basmati.

My daughter and I enjoyed an evening together and we settled on Indian Food. We started with the Vegetable Naan which was very good. We also ordered Lamb Kabobs, Coconut Curry with Chicken, and Naan. Everything was really good except the Lamb Kabobs - the texture was really strange and they didn’t have much flavor. We ate an early dinner so we could manicures and pedicures, so there weren’t many diners there for a Friday evening. The food was served quickly and the service was friendly, but I was underwhelmed!

This is the best Indian food I’ve ever had!!! I got the chicken coconut curry and the chicken tikka masala. Loved it ! Huge portions. Made with love . Absolutely delicious. Rice comes with everything it seems even if you just order a small curry you get side portions of rice. I love that! Clean space and speedy service.

I never thought I would find a nice Indian cuisine place in south Austin, Texas. Until recently. I was skeptical, but that evaporated as soon as I had my first chicken curry....they have several varieties, and several proteins to choose from..not to mention great Naan and Veggie options.... Expect a crowd at lunch dinner and the weekend...it is that good... Ask for it hot, it is not atomic hot, but a slow burn that I enjoy when it comes to this type of eating. They now options to order online for take out, plus they have free wifi just I case you want to browse on those solo dinner or lunch runs...

Stumbled upon this place online and glad I did! The food was very tasty with the right amount of spice we requested for. The curries were delicious and they have a lot of veggie options. The ambience is quite nice and the restaurant is roomy. The portions for the curries were good. The samosa chat we ordered was very good but less in portion. All in all, a great experience. I'll be back!

This restaurant has limited menu options and the spread is not as much. The outdoor seating was nice given the COVID 19 situation. However, the food taste was just ok (coming from an Indian, I always look for authentic taste). The Malai kofta was good, but the paneer tikka was just ok. The biggest downside was no jain food or no garlic food being served in the restaurant. It is a shame that they pre-cook everything and do not even have one option available.

After reading the reviews, my wife, a friend, and I went here for dinner. We ate two orders of bread with three dishes and then went again to order a fourth dish with more bread. The food was excellent, and the service was friendly and informative. We are all selective about spice and seasoning, each of us being different from the other, and none of us felt the 'medium heat' was under or overwhelming. We were all impressed with the quality and value and have since made it a regular spot for going out. Many local-native Indian people were dining here on our visit, which speaks for the reputation.

Food was okay,a they server basic indian taste but not super.If someone likes hot spicy food than i will not recommend this place otherwise it is okay place and can be tried.

Good food, always served hot. The Naan bread is great with a good blend of flavors. it is best when dipped in the curry sauce. You pick the meat you desire & they make the dish for you. They are always friendly & very efficient. I prefer the Hot curry sauce. There is a full menu of kabobs & other items, I just love the curry. The prices are very reasonable. SERVED WITH BASMATI RICE 1. Choose your favorite curry 2. Pick a protein: (Chicken, Lamb, Shrimp, Vegetables, Paneer) 3. Select a spice level: (MILD, MED, HOT) Tikkka Masala - Mouthwatering creamy tomato curry infused with fresh herbs and ground spices.

Our son took us & his housemates here after a show. Had a gluten-free menu which makes wife very happy! Everyone was happy, but can't recommend the cocoanut water.

in these scary times, take out food is so essential. no human contact, pleased to see they offer to gos and take out. i enjoyed this food! do the garlic naan!

I have to Tarka for the second time. The restaurant was clean, the staff were good and foods was nice. I had chicken pakoras, aloo gobi and nans. Recommended for casual lunch or diner.

My nephew took us here---thank you, thank you! Nice atmosphere and lots of choices (also can choose how hot you want your spices). My chicken biryani was really good--nicely spiced, lots of big pieces of chicken. If I lived in Austin, I'd be back here all the time.

The food is excellent, servings generous and the prices reasonable. I particularly recommend the Coconut curry and the Garlic Naan. The service was a bit tardy in terms of getting us the cutlery and plates.

This unassuming restaurant in an outdoor mall has "caught on." When I started going there in July, there were just a few people, but now on weekends it is almost standing room only. I have eaten at many Indian restaurants and appreciate the menu at Tarka. Basically is a limited "assemble" menu where you choose your basic dish, then add meat or vegetables, and decide how "hot". There are appetizers also on the menu. They will make it for you and bring it to your table. There are also some non-traditional dishes such as the "Naanini" (like a Panini made with Naan bread). I can also recommend the awesome Mulligatawny soup. Its all excellent. I have had nothing in which I was disappointed. My goal is to try everything. I am only half there.

The biryani is just rice mixed with masala and meat nothing special and is more like a pulav than biryani. The chaat tasted more like chole masala than chaat. Overall it was mediocre Indian food and wouldn't recommend it for Indian food!

My daughters and one of my granddaughters and I enjoyed a leisurely lunch on the patio to celebrate Mothers Day. It was really hard for me to choose what to get - it all sounded wonderful! Your choices are on boards when you enter and you place your order st the counter, then the bring your food to the table. This is a great place for good gluten free entrees! One of my daughters had the Tikka Masala and my other daughter and granddaughter had gf dishes. I had my favorite Madras Soup and Chicken Kabob Salad. A daughter and I shared some Naan and Vegetable Samosas (not gf). This was my first time to eat here, but I'll definitely be back.

Indian food is not "native" for me, but I see enough people at Tarka for whom Indian food might be native that I trust their judgment as to the authenticity. I like the flavors of the items I have tried, and also like the fact that menu items can be ordered with Mild, Medium, or Hot seasoning. I've tried several curries, and have been happy with Medium spiciness — but of course, that's a matter of individual preference. I usually go about 1:30 or 2 p.m. when it isn't as crowded.

Stopped in for lunch while out shopping. I ordered the lamb skewers and they were h hot and freshly prepared. Served over grilled vegetable and with rice. Delish!

A quick place to grab basic Indian fare...but, not real Indian and a bit "gringo-chain style," to fit the mall. Ok for a quick lunch, but not an authentic Indian restaurant.

We were headed for Mexican but decided to try out Tarka Indian Kitchen. It was delicious and plentiful. The Samosa Chaat were a new treat and we gobbled it up. The Samosa topped with onions, garbanzo beans, chutneys, and roti crisps was very tasty. My husband enjoyed his Chicken Masala and I really liked the vegetarian Channa Masala. The roti, whole wheat flattened bread with fresh cilantro on top was also tasty.

You may think this is bland, storefront food but you'd be wrong. Excellent is a better description. If you find yourself in Austin, TX and craving some Indian food this is the place. Eat in or take out - can't go wrong either way!

I stopped by Tarka the other afternoon for a late lunch (2pm). The place was super clean and not crowded (maybe 5-10 others). I ordered a side garden salad, which is by far the best salad and salad dressing ever. Also got 2 vegetable samosas and saag chicken curry. Look at the pics...Best lunch ever. I ordered too much for for one, but I ate it. I will definitely be back and will bring friends the next time.

Tarka is amazzzzzzing! I know they have that fancy big sister downtown and I've been there for a special occasion or two but Tarka is where I eat, ummmm, about once a week. :) I seriously can't get enough of their amazing tikka and the samosas chatt. Tender garbanzo beans, fresh purple onions, the soft potato...flavor explosion! I've tried the saag also and although it's tasty, I'm a creature of habit and primarily order the chicken tikka masala, hot. Hot gets you three big jalapeño slices on top of your rich, creamy, wonderfully spicy tikka. The rice is not sticky and is presented in a dome shape next to your warm bowl of tikka for use as you see fit. I usually opt for water but every once in awhile, Tarka's mango lemonade calls my name. Try it! I can't think of any place else that offers something like it. Sweet and a little tart at the same time, yum! The staff are always super great and their online ordering is also super simple for pick up. I'm glad the've added an outdoor covered patio area and have taken the pup there so she can enjoy an outing too. I would say though, if you're from out of town, don't expect a calming backyard oasis as the Brodie location is in the Sunset Valley shopping area. Love, love, love Tarka!

Ate here twice on my recent visit to Austin. It reminds me of Pei Wei. You order at the counter and they bring the food out. Great chicken briyani, chicken vindaloo & naan. Will definitely return.

Staff was very knowledgable about gluten in their food. Many of their dishes are naturally gluten free, which is fantastic. I had the chicken kabobs which were fresh and amazing, as well as some kind of chick pea fried veggies- onion, zucchini, cauliflower. It was like being able to eat onion rings again. Delicious! I had no negative reaction after eating here. I was even able to taste the meals of the people I was with and they were all delicious. Would highly recommend!

Great food. A lot like Pei Wei in concept. Quality dishes. Only iffy thing was the bus-person came by and whisked our Naan out from under our eating fingers. Guess we were done but just didn't know it!!

Ate at the domain. We loved it. Great flavors. Had the tikka masala and the dal. Add a bunch of naan of course. Thought it was so good we went to another location south of Barton springs. Same good food. Really liked the quality. Genuine Indian dishes served fast and casual. Would eat here once a week if lived in Austin.

The kabobs are incredible and the veggies they are served with are a great compliment. Easy to get in and out for a nice lunch with friends.

Absolutely wonderful, also try the dessert Rasmalai! Quick service, reliable taste, not too much variety, but great for a quick meal.

I like Tarka's food very much. My dining partner is a vegetarian and I am an omnivore, but we always find something we both can enjoy. My favorite is saag with lamb and no rice. We always enjoy veggie samosas and garlic nan. But service is very inconsistent. Sometimes friendly, sometimes unfriendly. Sometimes prompt and sometimes late. We continue to dine here about once a month because it is convenient and the food, if not the service, is consistently good.

Was here with an American friend of mine. He said it would be good and it was great. A nice quick way of having Indian food.

Decent place to get Indian fast food. Vegetable pakoras were delicious. They offer nice range of options for vegetarians.

The atmosphere in this establishment is excellent; clean, quiet and the service, whether you order online or order, is quick and friendly. The food makes you want to come back and tell others about it. I really appreciated the fact that I did not have to wait long to be served.

Was looking for some spicy food in the area, based on Urbanspoon reviews choose to try this restaurant. The menu selection is pretty nice, and the serving size is perfect. Its a fast food restaurant, you order, pay and find a table for yourself. They will bring you order to you, the ambiance is great and well maintained. Menu choices are good, recommend trying their "NAANINI" rolls. Taste is authentic and the prices are perfect.

Food though priced low has fillers like pieces of potatoes which is not Indian! Very ordinary food! It’s more people who don’t know Indian food! We had paneer curries - full of potatoes! It’s True! Dal Fry had some weird taste! No wonder we didn’t see any Indians in this Indian restaurant! Indian cuisine trying to copy other Cuisines!

Love the food here and the ambiance. If you want to try Indian food but, less heat the typical Indian food has this is the place for you. My 10 year old typically complains when we want to eat Indian food but, he is a fan of this place :).

They serve awesome Indian food, fast and good. What surprise me is the interior of the restaurant, it doesn't look like an Indian restaurant, modern and cool interior with light music. After paying the order, food will be served on our table but we pay the fast food price. I like it a lot.

What a wonderful surprise! We were missing eating Indian food (visiting from NY) and we were so happy to find Tarka! Delicious food and it was served quickly and with a smile. The staff was extremely friendly and the whole experience was wonderful! Wish we had these in NY!

A little bit fast food like, but not bad. Coming from the UK I spend so much time trying to find decent Indian food in Texas. This place is pretty decent. The surroundings and service could be better but the food is good.

The restaurant has wide varieties of Indian menu and good sitting place. Rates are little high and taste needs improvement. Service is OK.

Frankly we have not been back to Tarka since October of 09. While sitting around on a Friday night, I got a whim for some Indian close to home. Tarka is in the hood so I thought about checking out the menu online. One of the past problems was being put on hold for an entirety. I noticed an online order option this time around and decided to give it a shot. It was a pretty easy process to order a couple of things and place the order. Suzie left the casa to pick it up and I was really wondering how this would actually play out... would it be ready?. did they receive the order? Suzie called from the car to tell me she would be home shortly and everything smelled great!..We got the garlic naan which was tasty. The Veggie Samosas were also quite flavorful with the mint-tamarind-yogurt chutney for dipping. I ordered the tikka masala hot and it was well prepared and yummy. Suzie got the Combo Kabob and she was very pleased with her dish. I am really happy that they have turned this around from our first experience almost 2.5 yrs later. We will definitely be checking them out some more and if all continues, I'm sure that the stars will continue to rise. Nice turn around Tarka.

One person ordered a bowl of soup and the other ordered lamb biryanis. Small cup of COLD soup arrived 10 minutes before the Biryanis. So much for a quiet lunch together. When we questioned the server about the size of the serving of soup she called a manager and it was replaced with a bowl of hot soup. Why couldn't they get this right from the start. Insult to injury out of a large selection of beers they only had 2 available today......and one was Bud Light. Bud Light!!! Please.

No chicken pieces in chicken tikka. A very small bowl, mostly filled with curry soup. Tiny chicken (like ground chicken) at the bottom of the bowl. Same thing for lamb Biriyani. Looks like made of ground lamb. No solid pieces. Bad taste. Vegetable tastes awkward. The dishes were worth of no more than $15, but we paid about $35. This was our first visit to Tarka and we will never ever go there again.

Worst food I ever had in my life. It's better to spend your money in buying packaged Indian food because they are far more tasty than the food we get at tarka. It was a total waste of money. We ordered a biriyani and it was like some rice mixed with curry. The rasmalai was straight out of the packet we get at Indian stores over here. And we also ordered a samosa chat which was merely potato and bean mixed with no samosa in it.

This place combines quick and convenient counter ordering, an affordable menu, trendy and comfortable decor and absolutely fantastic seasoned indian food. This is probably one of the most tasteful (food and decor) indian places I've ever been too. Rather than the usual traditional, formal indian sit down meal, this is a more americanized experience where you order up front as you enter the restaurant and then you pick your own table and they bring it you you. We order the vegetable samosas for starters and they were the best we've had. The meal was also excellent, just the perfect spicing for our tastes. The interior is comfortable and perhaps a bit on the loud side given it was very busy when we were there. But, we returned the next day for another round of samosas. Highly recommend if you like indian or you want to try something a little outside the normal Austin selection.

This is good Indian food in a fast food type atmosphere. Not all the authentic dishes are available here but what they have is pretty good.

We ate lunch here September 11, 2016. I had the vegetable Korma, my dining partner had the lamb Biryani, and we shared order of naan and garlic naan (a definite must try). The food was plentiful, the flavors were spot on, but I found it just a little odd that naan is not included with entrees. Regardless, the prices weren't crazy, and we will definitely go back.

What more can I say besides quality food for a great price? The flavors are simple yet amazingly different from dish to dish. I have yet to have a dish here that wasnt delicious and the naan is some of the most consistently awesome naan found in any Indian restaurant in Austin. Its a simple menu but they do it right!

I try to eat here every time I'm in the Austin area , the food is great , atmosphere and wait staff excellent. I never really cared for Indian food until my son took me here and it was so delish !!

I love this place -- I come from a part of upstate NY that is starved for Indian cuisine, so when I walk into Tarka and it all smells exactly right, it's hard not to get excited. And in fact the enthusiasm is not misplaced: Tarka delivers on a fast-food conception of Indian that has the flavors, textures and selections exactly right. At the same time it is inexpensive and quick enough that you can easily make a quick lunch out of the place and go away very happy. Order at the counter from a simple menu that still offers lots of variations, take your table number, and within a few minutes it's korma time, or whatever else strikes your fancy. While it is not high-end expense-account Indian, a couple of visits have won us over. By comparison to past visits to Clay Pit (great the first time, no better than so-so the next), Tarka is a place where I know I can indulge myself in great South Asia flavors for a very happy-making price. When weather allows, you can enjoy their outside tables; the indoors is typically busy but tables open up quickly. We make it to Tarka every time we're in Austin, and I hope to continue that tradition --

I was pleasantly surprised by how tasty the food was. One coconut curry chicken was enough food for 2 so great value as well!

Best, most approachable Indian food I can find in these parts. Love their naan, masalas, their paneer and the lassis. Can't beat the chill environment either.

It's easy to find delicious, vegan, Indian food at an affordable price. Portions are generous. Mango lemonade is a must have.

Fast service, great food, good atmosphere. The vegetable biryani and mulligatawny soup was excellent.

I was desperately looking for some veg Indian food near Brodie Lane and glad I found this restaurant, it's an Aawesome place for cheap authentic Indian food

Did not enjoy food. Flavors were missing tried chicken tikka and kababs. The only thing I loved was chicken pakora.

Tarka is an interesting place. The food is acceptable but the customer service is horrible. I am amazed that it is still in business. If you get there you're lucky to get a reasonable customer service then you're in good shape but the food is still only acceptable as the flavors are muddy and the quality of the ingredients is average. I have nothing further to say you have to judge for yourself. Good luck.

What a great idea! Fast, great tasting Indian food! This restaurant is parented by "The Clay Pit" another Austin institution for great Indian food, and with a parents like that how could you go wrong? The location is easy to get into with ample parking. The interior modern and comfortable (when was the last time you sat of a couch while eating dinner at a restaurant?). The ordering is counter style, that is to say look at the menu board, make a difficult meal decision, cause they are all delicious, pick your level of curry heat and speak your peace. Be sure to order Naan (bread) as it is not included with your order. I'm a fan of the mild Vindaloo with chicken. The spicy dishes are VERY spicy....so just a word to the wise! My wife often will get a kids meal because the portions are very generous and the kids is just the right size for smaller appetites. The counter staff will give you a number, place it on your table and get ready to dig in when your meal arrives. As far as drinks go, try the Mango Lemonade, I would go there for that alone!

Kind of an Indian Chipotle and taste is more of South Indian preparation.I reached the place around 11:40 and was asked to wait. Service can be a bit slow

Found this while in the area shopping. The concept is somewhat different. One orders at a cash register point from a menu and the dishes can be adjusted for hotness! The food was very good.

We ordered veg pakora and chicken curry with masala sauce. It came with rice which was ok and the curry was really good. Will definitely visit again !

Easily one of the best Indian restaurants in Austin. Not a traditional place at all; you order from a counter, and they deliver to table, and the menu is much smaller and better focused than a typical Indian restaurant. Not typical counter service either- far from it, this place is new, clean and nice atmosphere/interior. Kabobs are good here, as is the Biryani. The food is fresh and well prepared, and the service is quick. They also excel at take-out. Never had a complaint.

This is one of my go-to Indian Restaurants. The menu is easy to order from and the service is fast and consistent. I’m not sure if it’s a chain or not. You stand in line to order and then they bring it to your table. I’ve had several dishes here, everything has always been superb, and I like that it’s kind of basic, clean and not overly ornate. I can justify grabbing some quick Indian food AND get a glass of wine without making it an “event.” I’ve been alone several times and with friends- always a nice experience.

I loved this place. The food was amazing. I was afraid it would be too spicy but you can choose your heat level. I would recommend this place to anyone

I was visiting Austin, TX and found this restaurant on my GPS, then I looked it up on Tripadvisor. The reviews were good so I was set to go there. The food was great, very tasty and delicious like any first class Indian cuisine. The restaurant style is something different, more like a fast food style. You order your dish when you enter, pay and have a seat. The waiter will serve your order when its ready. The portions were good size for the low price. Just one little advise, do not get the chai tea, it is not even close to what chai tea is. Over all very good and I went back the following day for dinner.

we love this place....everything is tasty and portions are generous. we stop by often to eat there or to take out.

I love everything about this place. I have tried almost everything on the menu, and have not been disappointed. The ingredients are always fresh and you can choose your heat level.

A bit difficult to find this place for first time visitor. But the food is amazingly delicious.worth trying and good for my pocket:).

Went for early dinner after looking up that it has 4.5 stars and 20+ reviews. The ambience is good and service was nice too. Dirty restrooms were a put off. Food tastes ok. We ordered a Tarka dal which tasted stale. The other two dishes tasted good but I was really not happy by the portion sizes. Big portion of rice but the main dish portion is too small for the price. Did not find the place very clean as well. Saw many house flies enjoying their time in there too.

Limited menu, but tasty offerings. Good fast food spin for Indian cuisine..trendy, casual & low-key. Menu includes most popular Americanized Indian cuisine flavors. Good for lunch. Patrons order @ cashier & food brought to table. Ambiance compares with Pei-wei (for Chinese cuisine).

The food is adequate. The atmosphere is a fast food restaurant with zombie like employees trying to find the number that corresponds to your order. There are better choices in Austin for lunch. Any Indian buffet including Clay Pit or Bombay Grill offers much greater variety and healthier options (salads, fruit, soups) at a lower price with infinitely better atmosphere and service. Also, the food is heated and served in plastic bowls and plates.... probably at source of BPA. It would be better to use glassware or some type of ceramic dishes.

One of our favorites -we usually get take-out to eat at home - the Tikka Masala is SO good. Great service and a variety of food and levels of spicy-ness to choose from. Highly recommended.

always looking forward on friday night to grab something on this delissssh place. i'm a bit sensitive to curry taste but this has been the best for me. i miss the place and i hope we can have it here around AsiaPac!

As an expat from England and having visited India last year we have been craving a good curry so we thought to try Tarka. What a poor experience, the place is tired and dirty and the quality of the food was terrible. The flavour has no resemblance to Indian spices, it’s was all very bland. The naan was probably the best part but even this was not light and fluffy as it should be. Still on the search for good quality Indian cuisine.

This place is awesome. When I first went I Thought the prices were high until I Got the food. You got a lot for what you pay for. The customer service is at the top. There isn't anything wrong.

For me, the best Indian food in Austin. Quite a number of variety and service is fast. This is my second time visit and its never failed me.

We went here for lunch and the food was really good. My wife and son aren’t huge Indian food fans but hey both loved it. Wish there was one closer to our house.

Great lunch stop. Food and service were excellent. I will return when visiting Austin. Although I have only had one other experiences with Indian food, Denver and Chicago, and even though this was more informal - - it was the best so far.

Traditional Style Indian Restaurant? No. Modern and trendy Indian Restaurant? Yes. Chain Restaurant? Yes -- in multiple locations in the Austin area and Houston. While some call it fast food, I found it was fresh, scratch made to order, authentic Indian food that is can take up to 10 minutes to prepare and get delivered to your table after you order and pay for it at the service counter. Being familiar with Indian cuisine I ordered one of my favorites, Chicken Korma, medium spicy, with an order of garlic naan bread. To my delight it was very good, surpassed my expectations, and was reasonably priced. The next time I'm in town again I will definitely be back.

Beyond terrible phone skills and customer service by Castro. Tried to place an order and he was beyond rude. Kept talking over me while trying to tell our order, was short and then at the end, didn't give a total and hun up the phone on me... left me on the phone listening to... nothing. The food is decent, but Castro is beyond terrible. TARKA - if you read this, consider firing Castro. He is terrible and is likely chasing your customers away. I'm doing you a favor by letting you know of this experience. And also put your employees through some basic phone etiquette and customer service training. We don't have to give you our money. It's really simple - be nice, be polite, thank us for ordering from you.

You know how sometimes you have to choose between good food and atmosphere? Tarka has such a wonderful seating arrangement, you can be seated with friends comfortably, with your honeybunny or family here and enjoy good food among a great atmosphere. Its FUN to see so many people enjoying the great food of Tarka. The seating allows for me and my husband to sit, eat and read books or just chat. We take family and friends and enjoy the comfortable arrangements of chairs and tables. I see entire families sitting down to hearty meals. Now the food: you will absolutely love the marriage of traditional Indian foods with American sensibility. I eat nothing else but the Saag, with shrimp HOT. I am never disappointed by the heat of the food, the warm cozy feeling from well-prepared, well-seasoned foods. The service is reasonable. Fridays are our day to go because it doesn't get busy until after 8 p.m. but we've never felt abandoned by the wait staff. The rice (basmati?) is always loose and cooked well, complementary to the dishes that you may mix together. The creaminess of the sauce does not overtake the spinach or shrimp and I always feel satisfied after my meal without the heaviness of carb overload. Everyone I take to Tarka, for the first time or repeatedly, LOVE the place and end up going on their own as well as introducing new friends and family to the place. I love Tarka Kitchen... love love love!!

This is our "go-to" place when we don't want to cook, don't want to spend a lot, but want something that tastes really good. It's casual and inexpensive--yes, you could say it's Indian fast food, but so much better than typical fast food. You stand in line and order from a menu posted on the wall. Then you order at the counter, seat yourself, and the food is delivered to your table pretty quickly. Wisely, they keep their menu limited so they can be efficient. I have never been disappointed, but of course you must understand this is not and doesn't try to be fine dining. Another new Indian restaurant opened up in the area which is traditional full menu, seated service, and I think Tarka's food is actually better. Love this place.

They have great sauces. Delicious Mango Lasse. I have been to both locations several times and it is has always been consistently good.

I stumbled upon this place and am quite impressed with their quality. They could stand to have a mixed platter or assortment plate like a 'thali' that would allow people to try more than a single dish however I guess that means you can eat there multiple times and never get the same thing twice. Fresh flavor and true Bollywood music in the background, Not an Indian in site which makes me wonder???? Who is doing all of the cooking???? Regardless - the food if a must try when in Austin. MANGIA

We have been thinking about trying this place since we drove into the parking lot and noticed it was packed one day. I have never had Indian food. Admittedly when we tried it today I was unaware it was a kind of fast-food style restaurant. I ordered the chicken Biryani and garlic Naan. Loved the bread and the chicken dish was more Basmati rice than chicken, but very flavorful, perfectly spiced and quite fresh. The yogurt herb dipping sauce was also very good. I am already thinking of what I'll order next time we go back. My husband ordered chicken curry, which I tried and did not like as much. He also tried Mango Lassi, which was delicious and refreshing. We were pleasantly surprised!

Great little restaurant. My friend and I just happened to drive by and stopped in to try it. It is a combination of sit down and fast food. You order at the counter and then your food is served to you with the help of a order number. Although there is a limited menu, there are enough choices to satisfy most people. The prices were reasonable and the food was excellent, very fresh and tasty. You have a choice of spice level and there are vegan options.

Was a little confused by the ordering system - order, then find a table and they bring it to you. But once you figure it out, it's easy. Very tasty, well seasoned food. If you like spicy, order spice level up - I ordered spicy but it could have been spicier. Overall very good. Would definitely recommend and would go back.

We use to love to eat or take home food from Tarka off Brodie. I had not ordered for few months as we were traveling, and missed the authentic taste we are use to at this place. This past week, I called in an order for Samosas, Vindaloo with chicken, lamb kabobs, a vegetarian curry with chicken, and garlic nan; very dissapointed when we got it home and started eating. The Vindaloo and Samosas were best thing we tasted. The lamb was flavorless, and even more flavorless was the curry; no flavor which was disappointing. The nan was also very dry. I am not sure what happened, but I noticed the workers cooking this time did not look like they were from India... and perhaps that's part of the problem...not trying to stereo type that good food requires native cooks, but I do believe if your not experienced in a particular style of cooking/spices, it can impact the way a dish is flavored.

The food was fantastic. Usually Indian restaurants don't serve a Indian food in an Americanized way. I loved that this restaurant doesn't do that. We had Chicken Tikka Masala and it was yum..!!