Royal Taj

You will not find a better dining experience in the Columbia area. They have it all — phenomenal food, brilliant service, and impeccable atmosphere! Yes, there’s a wait, especially if you did not make reservations. But trust me, it’s worth it!
This is a must try! Wait, I mean it sucks … don’t go there. ;)

There is not enough room in the human stomach to fit all of the delicious food they have to offer at the Royal Taj. I know because I tried. The lunch buffet is a great deal and offers a wide variety of authentic Indian fare.
The staff are very attentive and treat all guests as royalty (even if you forgot your tiara at home). If you are ever in the area, considering being in the area, or even just vaguely aware that this area exists, I highly recommend stopping by for a meal.

Absolutely amazing lunch buffet for $ 14 per person. Run, do not walk to this Indian gem!!!

Great food but needs more meat variety.
Traveling to Maryland from California once a month, I always make it a point to come here. One of my favorite restaurants in the Columbia area. The place is great, has excellent service, and friendliest owner. The vegetarian selection is great; however, it would be nice if they kick it up a notch on the protein selections as they tend to only offer chicken dishes (prepared 4 ways). Maybe add goat, fish, or lamb once in a while. While at it, paneer.

This is first time i went to the new location with my co-​workers and I must say the ambience, the food, the drinks, the service are outstanding. Being a vegetarian my friend and I ordered some bullet naan, veg jalfrezi and paneer tikka and it was just the most delicious veg jalfrezi I have had in the longest of time. The service was great, my friends and I had a good evening at royal taj.
Definitely not any other indian restaurant, this is worth a try if you are around!

Royal Taj would be the top Indian restaurant in this area, but I’ve definitely had better in other places like Philly. My walk-​in was encountered by a grand entrance décor, the exterior of the restaurant is definitely not an accurate reflection of the interior. The service was wonderful, and I liked how the servers offered free chai tea latte since I didn’t even know it came with the buffet.
Overall, good experience. Highly recommended, indeed :)

I was really excited to go to Royal Taj when I read that it was one of Unilocal!‘s top 100 places to try in the US, and I definitely wasn’t disappointed.
The brunch buffet was absolutely amazing, with a plethora of north and South Indian dishes ranging from finger food to more involved options like Saag and Chicken Tikka Masala. To be honest, the food was as good as most great Indian restaurants. What sets Royal Taj apart is the sheer grandeur of eating there.
When you walk in, the door is opened by an impeccably dressed doorman and you are immediately greeted by one of the owners who makes everyone feel as if they are family. The other thing that will immediately strike you is the ornate decoration with beautiful portraits lining the walls and rich cream and gold décor. There are servers constantly circling the floors pulling out chairs for people as they sit down, filling glasses, and taking orders to complement your buffet style meal.
Walking into Royal Taj was like walking into an Indian palace. I felt a sense of nostalgia and awe when I walked in that lasted well past the moment I left.
If you’re looking for a place to be pampered while enjoying some really reasonably priced and amazing Indian food, Royal Taj is the place to go!

Beautiful new location. It’s like Indian food at the Piazza. Lol.
Service is incredible. They refill waters & clear tables at lightening speed.
Food is ok. I wish it was a little more authentic with the funky super flavorful traditional dishes. Still this is a good safe bet.

This place is absolutely amazing! I came here for the lunch buffet and I was simply blown away by the service, venue, and food.
The first thing you notice as you walk in is the opulence of the decorations. There’s a regal red carpet on the floor and a huge glass chandelier hanging above the buffet table in the center of the room. The chairs in the main room are a very modern black and white and are juxtaposed next to elegantly carved baroque– esque chairs in the adjacent dining room. There’s a cosy fireplace tucked in the corner next to a bookshelf with leather bound encyclopedia sets and other aristocratic knick knacks.
I would have felt like British royalty if i hadn’t dressed like a total slob. I had no clue that this place would look so fancy (oops). I was ambivalent about the décor. On one hand, I liked how spacious and classy it looked but on the other hand it felt a bit ostentatious and gaudy.
In the end, I didn’t even care because of how good the food and service was.
All the workers were very welcoming and diligent. Everything was stocked to the brim even though I came here around 2pm (the buffet ends at 2:30pm). All the food was delicious, though I did think the chicken was a bit dry, and I loved the wide variety of curries and other fried goodies and meats. There was a crêpe– looking thing filled with curry potatoes that was particularity good.
The best thing i had was the kheer, hands down. Oh my lord. Something about that kheer was extraordinary, I don’t think I’ll ever have rice pudding this delicious ever again. Don’t get me wrong, I love me some kheer, but it’s not usually something I get second servings of. This recipe was like crack. I went back 3 times to refill my bowl! The coconut milk flavor was really strong but it wasn’t overwhelming as you could still taste hints of almond and I think Chai. It paired perfectly with a very milky house Chai tea and was a smooth and rich finish to the meal. Heavenly.
I can’t wait to come back. This is the best lunch buffet I’ve been to yet!

This is the place that has you coming into work the next day raving about a restaurant.
Funny story — I didn’t know Royal Taj had moved. I really liked the old place, but hadn’t gone in a while. When my parents came to down, I didn’t look closely at directions and was convinced I remembered the name wrong when I pulled up to a thoroughly unfamiliar location. We decided to go in anyway, and immediately recognized the owner. Our very friendly waiter let us know that the owner had bought the new location and spent the last year and a half remodeling it only opening it 4 months ago. The old location was a rental, so Royal Taj is here to stay, and profitably judging by the large, filled, dining room.
The dining room: Ambience overload. They put in a gas fireplace surrounded by candles. While many locations are using LED candles, Royal Taj has gas lamps on every table and is putting tea lights on book cases. A beautiful chandelier graces the ceiling, and the gold painted accents on the walls would be over the top if it weren’t for the name of the place. This is the freakin Taj — you have to go big. Expect large comfortable chairs, a lively environment that isn’t overly loud — much like the original.
Some changes have been made. First off, for anyone who loves indian food knows that the mouth watering smells of the spices can sometimes sit on your clothes for a while after you leave. Not the case, at all, here. They did something magical with the kitchen and the ventilation, because on a cold night in February, you only smelled the food in front of you. This is nothing short of miraculous, and he could probably make a fortune patenting whatever magic he employed to make this happen.
The second is the food. It was always good — but I’m guessing the new kitchen has allowed them to up their game. Our table had a tandori salmon that was cooked to perfection, and a tandori lamb that was one of the best cuts of the meat I’ve ever had. The shrimp dish at our table was ordered medium, but while delicious, I’ll warn the fellow Unilocaler it was on the spicier side of the spectrum. The Chaat can’t be missed, and my mom was raving about the coconut chutney. Ask for it if you get the samosas, it goes perfectly.
My only complaint was that the vegetables that came with the tandori dishes weren’t cooked. They were tasty, but I think I’d ask for them to be cooked a bit if they would (and judging by how customer service centered they are, they will). Also, they messed up by NOT charging us for the bottle of wine we ordered. I think my dad thoroughly confused the staff by insisting that it be added back the bill. After all, they had just given us a free round of dessert wines with our dessert (very tasty Gulab Jamun — don’t read the description just have an order, them message me to say thanks)
This is a true gem in Columbia.

I went here for a friend’s going away lunch. I was the first one there and greeted by I think it was the owner. (We’ll refer to him as plaid shirt guy.) I said we needed a table for 6 and he was quick to get that set up for us even though I was still waiting on the others. We went around 1pm on a Sunday, it was very busy. He told me to sit at the bar and wait until the rest of the party gets there.
Two others show up, and the plaid shirt guy said «6 people? That will be 1 hour. 10 min per pesron.» We thought he was being forreal but he laughed when he saw our confused faces and said «I’ll get something together in 2 minutes.» The 3 of us sat down and we waited for the rest to get there. The servers were very attentive. We all ordered a mango lassi. Very tasty. The food was delicious, buffet style with many options. I would say it is pricier than most Indian places, but this is also a fancier restaurant. Would definitely come back again if I lived closer or if I was visiting Columbia! Great food and first time experience! :)

Perfect as it was during my last visit. Amazing service and always everything is fresh, fresh, fresh. Love this place.

Love love love this place! The staff is very friendly and efficient. Drinks are great and they also have a good wine selection (rec Côte du Rhone). Ambiance is nice for dinner. They have a nice selection if you choose the buffet. This is our go to Indian place in the area. By far the best!!! Go now, what are you waiting for!!!

We had lunch here before the snow storm– our first trip to the new location. I had high expectations and was still blown away. They renovated the old Applebees and now have twice as much seating as the old location. It is also supurbly decorated with side rooms and a beautifully decorated bar overlooking the main seating area. There is plenty of space between tables and you can serve yourself from both sides of the lunch buffet. They have many staff ready to refill your drink, remove your plate or provide you with whatever you need. And of course the food is still amazing. Royal Taj’s agressive move with this new location combined with the quality of their food has made this the ‘go-​to’ Indian restaurant in Maryland.

Royal Taj consistently exceeds expectations in both service and food. Regardless if you come in for lunch or dinner, from the moment you walk in to the moment you leave, you always feel welcomed by the staff. The owner is almost always at the front of the restaurant to personally shake your hand and greet you as you walk into the restaurant. As you get seated, the waiters are attentive and helpful to making recommendations. Here, your water glass will never get below the halfway mark before a waiter fills it up for you. This new location is even more beautiful and elegant than the last, making you feel like you are dining in a palace.
The lunch buffet is awesome. There are many options that are on rotation so there is a variety of different things to try between trips. For the price and quality, the lunch buffet can’t be beat.
Dinner is just as good, if not better. The pricing is still very affordable (and even if it wasn’t, I would be more than willing to pay for it.) My go-​to is the lamb korma, but I have also tried the chicken tikka masala, tandoori chicken, and lamb vindaloo for dinner. They are all amazing. The meats are always extremely tender and the sauces are full of flavor. If you run out of rice, the wait staff always offers you more at no extra charge.
I usually find that restaurants compromise the quality of their food in takeout. Not here. On the several occasions I have ordered takeout from here, the portions are just as large and just as tasty as you would get at dinner.

For my boyfriend and me, this is our «go-​to» choice for eating out.
Binda and his team are incredible. Even when the place is packed, which is almost always, they remain coordinated, efficient, and beyond gracious. They treat you like royalty, and the beautiful décor only furthers that feeling.
One problem I have with most restaurants is that my water glass never gets refilled. At Royal Taj, I rarely get to empty my glass before it is refilled. I never feel neglected nor smothered by the wait staff. The level of service is perfect.
The food itself is also lovely. Perfectly seasoned and balanced. I have ordered several different things from the dinner menu, as well as sampling the lunch buffet. It was all divine. Moreover, the portions are generous. I always eat until I am more than full and still have enough left over for lunch the next day. The pricing is very affordable, and I’m always pleasantly surprised how reasonable it is for the feel of the place and quality of the food.
They also offer takeout. At many restaurants, take out is a sloppy, poorly presented version of what you would get dining in. Not so at Royal Taj. The food has the same great taste, and you get a generous portion of rice.
When you leave, Binda always makes a point of opening the door for you, shaking your hand, asking how your meal was, and thanking you for coming. I cannot stress enough how great a place this is in every aspect. I never write Unilocal reviews, but Royal Taj is too great not to share.

Updated review for the updated location:
If i could give over 5 stars I would. Royal Taj hits and passes the mark every time. I really appreciate that they are CONSISTENTLY amazing. Not 1 time have I dined here or had take out an the food was sub-​par. Always fresh, always flavorful, including the buffet. Service like you won’t find anywhere else. Owner Binda always a genuine sweetie… like does he ever have a bad day? lol. I have seen a couple reviews mentioning Rasika in DC («Royal Taj might be better than Rasika».)…NEWSFLASH — It IS! I think ppl hesitate to compare it/​push it over city establishments because it’s not in the city. But if you packed up this new location and put it in DC, R.T. would give EVERYONE a run for their money.

Excellent atmosphere and customer service! They take very good care of you and make sure you are truly enjoying your meal. The taste of the food is also exquisite and genuinely north Indian. The spice and kick is absolutely perfect.
The only drawback is that for the amount you pay, the portions are small. The servings could definitely be larger. They were just way too small for me.

Okay, I just have to say, I love, love, love the Royal Taj. Everything about it is classy. The décor is stylish, beautiful, elegant and refined. I feel like I’m high class, baby when I walk into this place. The servers are very attentive, considerate, welcoming and friendly. You are warmly greeted when you arrive, as well as leaving. I can’t think of one thing that I don’t love about the Royal Taj. The food is delicious too. We went for the lunch buffet, which was very, very delicious. The food is fresh, spicy and soo good! They don’t cut any corners. The Royal Taj is one of my favorite restaurants, ever. As good as it gets; I absolutely love it!!!

Never have I ever eaten Indian food. I am so glad that I chose here to «pop that cherry»! My husband loves Indian food and has been trying to get me to try something new for years. Several of the physicians I work with recommended I try here. What can I say, I followed what the docs said and made reservations for his birthday.
Absolutely astonishing décor. This place used to be Applebees. Unlike other establishments, for example Dunkin donuts that used to be a bank and you know what they used to be because of the drive thru awning, nothing about this place says «used to be Applebess». Everything says time, effort and elegance. It is so welcoming. Classical piano pieces played throughout our dinner by the fireplace with dimmed lighting.
We enjoyed every bite of our dinner. The wait staff was helpful in helping us decide what we wanted. I now know that I could survive on Naan which is now my new favorite food. I had the Chicken Briyani which is a spicy chicken and basamati rice dish with sliced almonds. Every bite had me wanting more and before I know it my dinner was gone and I was fork deep into my husband’s dinner. He order the Lamb Vindiloo. Superb bites of tender lamb in a spicy red sauce.
The wait staff are all super. They were extremely helpful and attentive. it is very evident that they enjoy their jobs. I mostly appreciated the team effort approach they took in tending to our table. Our glasses stayed full and we essentially never wanted for anything. oh and trust them when they say its spicy!
To Binda, the manager/​owner, whom we had the opportunity to meet, job well done. I am so excited to add this restaurant to my rotation. The menu is plentiful without being overwhelming, the ambiance makes you never want to leave. Consider this 5 star review my love letter to Indian cuisine and the fact that this place has got it going on.
I refuse to keep them all to myself, so consider this my longstanding invitation to experience Indian cuisine 5 star style.

Read some reviews on this place before actually sitting and dining, and they were spot on. The manager and wait staff treat you with so much respect and make you feel like royalty (pun intended). Their chairs make you feel like you’re on a throne. Its a good blend of classy and casual.
The host brings you to your table and its already lit with a candle and has the complimentary flour chips ready to go for you with its sauces. The sauces range in flavor, from the minty green chutney, the sweet brown chutney, and the chunky sweet and spicy chutney. Good stuff!
My friends and I ordered:
Meat Samosas — samosas filled with shredded lamb. 4/​5, a little gamey, but still very flavorful. Crust was crunchy
Salmon Tiki Masala (Spicy) — 5/​5, the salmon was cooked perfectly, the sauce mixed with rice was on point. You have a scale of spice level, and I asked for Spicy, but it wasn’t spicy enough for my liking. Still really good though
Chicken Tiki Masala (Medium) — 5/​5, I want to say the spice levels were mixed up because my friends dish was a little spicier that mine. But still good with rice!
Lamb Vindaloo (Spicy) — ⁵⁄₅ Yum
Also got complimentary indian milk balls, and these were the best I’ve ever had. Other indian restaurants go heavy on the ginger flavor, but Royal Taj does it right and their milk balls tasted delicious.

Favorite Indian restaurant in MD. New location but service is still awesome and food is still amazing. The lunch buffets have alot of selection, chai tea is great, and food is always fresh. This place is larger and nicer inside so the wait isn’t as long. I’ve been here several times for dinner as well and it is great.

This is one of my favorite Indian buffets! Good quality food, reasonable prices, and excellent service — this place has it all!
I went here on a lunch date with friends. We arrived promptly at 11:30am and were the first ones to arrive, but the restaurant quickly became packed in no time. The buffet bar was small, but similar in size and variety compared to other Indian buffets. I wish there were more meat options, but I thoroughly enjoyed all of the meat dishes that were available, especially the tikki masala. The dessert was not as enjoyable — I think Indian dessert takes getting used to in my case.
What impressed me the most about this restaurant was its EXCELLENT customer service. Despite the busy lunch buffet environment, our water glasses were consistently full. Our used plates were quickly whisked away. The food trays were quickly replenished. We were constantly greeted with smiles from all of the workers. Whoever makes hiring decisions is quite smart in terms choosing of number of people to staff and who to staff.
The bill was around $ 14 per person, which was reasonable considering we were stuffed to the brim by the end of the meal.

Hands down the best Indian food in the area.
They just moved to a new location in the old Applebees in Columbia.
Love their lunch buffet but go early because it get very crowded!
Dinner is great and the host/​manager is very friendly and welcoming.

This place is wow! We walked in and out jaws literally dropped. The food was still great. Service was still fantastic. Kinda sad they couldn’t transfer over all the amazing help reviews from the other account.
Same royal taj as down the street but bigger and better!

This place is always worth it! ALWAYS :)
Their lunch buffet is so so good! Went there on a Friday around 1pm and it was packed! People waiting around outside as well. We had to wait but it wasn’t too bad. Like I said, it’s worth the wait!
Food is amazingggg, customer service is excellent, and the new location/​environment is super nice! The tea that they serve complements your meal and it just really hits the spot! Super friendly staff, you just feel so welcomed! Can’t wait to go backkkk!

Perhaps I set my expectation way too high but I thought Royal Taj was great but not outstanding.
My family and I came for the infamous buffet after a full morning of Black Friday shopping. The line was snaking around the corner by the time door opened. We were among the first group to be seated and saw the initial, beautiful presentation.
The spread — veggies or chicken. That’s basically all the options. Chicken vindaloo, masala, tandoori, mixed veggies, paneer, chickpeas, fritters, potato pancakes — even though they were all beyond delicious, perhaps I was spoiled by indian buffets in the city — coming in expecting goat and seafood… All that chicken and veggies just didn’t cut it for me.
Having gone to other indian buffets where they serve piping hot naan basket to the table, I was disappointed to see soggy, lukewarm tray of them at the buffet station. My grandma kept complaining that they were too tough to chew/​eat. I was so turned off by the presentation that I didn’t bother to fill my stomach with any.
Desserts — rice pudding and galub jamun. A nice balance to all the savory dishes! I was hoping they would have mango or pistachio pudding/​dessert. But I really enjoyed the rice pudding.
Unlimited Chai tea was a major plus. Silky, smooth, comforting, and not too much spice to it! My family must had drunk a whole pot of it!
Overall — In terms of indian buffets in the DMV, Bollywood bistro in VA had Royal Taj beat. Nevertheless, a great option for Indian treats!

Still excellent when it comes to the cuisine. However, I’m not real fond of the new location — perhaps it’s just because I went when it was still being «pulled together», but it seemed overcrowded and rather dark, definitely darker than the old location. This may seem like a strange thing to nitpick about, but I like to actually see what I’m eating, and if a room is too dim, it’s difficult for me to notice my surroundings, which is some of the atmosphere when I’m dining out. The space is definitely larger and can accommodate more people, which is exactly what they needed — I think that as time goes on and they make cosmetic improvements, it’ll definitely feel more intimate and «cozy». As it is, people were tripping over one another all over the place, which is a bit awkward.
For parents: no changing tables available here, which is actually a bit of a shock considering how popular this place actually is. High chairs can be turned upside down to hold a car seat, which was very handy, and they are very understanding about taking a little extra time to help an infant feed, etc.
The owner, as usual, was on hand to meet and greet, which is a nice touch. And the food hasn’t changed a bit — still excellent. The chai in particular was delicious this go-​round!
As stated, I think that they’ll definitely make this new location work for them. I look forward to seeing the improvements over time.

The service here is REALLY GOOD. From the host/​manager/​owner who literally gave out hugs to almost every customer, to the waiters who are very attentive, to the bus boys/​girls who cleaned up everything quickly.
We had a big group for a birthday dinner, but the staff made sure that everyone felt well taken care of. They would even come by and fix our jackets that were hanging from the back of our chairs or pick up a scarf if it fell on the floor. The manager/​host even gave my friend (who’s birthday it was) a free bottle of wine on our way out! Now that’s great service and will definitely make your customers loyal and keep them coming back.
Food was good, I’m pretty critical when it comes to Indian food, so it wasn’t the best I’ve ever had, but it was definitely up there. I wish the menu stated that there would be certain ingredients in the food. My lamb biriyani came with raisins, and I’m not a fan of raisins, and it wasn’t listed in the biryiani description. But other than the raisins issue, I thought the lamb was cooked really will with right amount of flavor that didn’t overtake the taste of the meat.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST — THE INSIDE IS BEAUTIFUL! You would never think you were inside an old Applebee’s in the middle of open shopping center in the suburbs. They have huge chandeliers and gold accents, and marble everything in the bathrooms!

⁶⁄₅ stars.
What more can I even say that hasn’t been said about this place? From the moment you walk in the (usually crowded) door, you’re greeted like an old family friend with a warm smile and the best handshake you’ll ever have.
Now, take a moment once you walk in and gawk at the beautiful, refined architecture of the interior. Now, I’m down for any dank, dingy hole in the wall that can serve up some mean korma, but the atmosphere here is just the best! You really get the fine dining experience, at a fraction of the cost.
Now, that said, just because you’re getting a good deal doesn’t mean you’re getting some low quality eats. This may be because I’m coming from Texas, but this place has the best Indian food I’ve ever had. Bar none. From the tikka masala, to the paneer, to the naan… I’ve never been disappointed.
It’s worth the drive from DC every time. And I’m definitely going to keep making it.

This place is an absolute GEM! We came here for a late night dinner with friends, and when I stepped inside, I could not believe that we were in an old Applebee’s next to a Bob Evans. The place is 5-​star beautiful, down to the all marble restrooms.
A supremely friendly man, who I presume to be the owner, greeted us at the door and checked in on us all evening. I saw him stop by every table and treat everyone like they were dear friends. When we mentioned it was our first time at Royal Taj, we recieved complimentary glasses of dessert wine at the end of our meal. What a way to do business! No wonder the place was packed. All the other servers were also extremely polite and prompt; my water glass was NEVER empty and our food came at an unrushed but speedy pace.
The food was absolutely divine. We split some meat samosas for our appetizer, and four dishes for entrees between four people: chicken tikka masala, saag paneer, lamb vindaloo, and a spicy ground lamb dish. We recieved a large platter of rice and ordered some naan on the side. Everything was AMAZING and flavorful; the spicy dishes were spicy without loosing taste, the lamb was fresh and rich, and the rice was perfectly cooked and fluffy. The naan bread was also delicious and served warm.
I am taking a star off since it was a bit pricey and the wait was a bit long, but I am very much looking forward to visiting again, perhaps for a buffet lunch.