Bukhara

Bukhara was great, and so sad that it closed.
The owners own other restaurants, this one is close, not quite as good, but you can order old Bukhara favorites from the menu instead of the hot bar —

I tried this place for dinner after reading the reviews here. I have no idea what others are eating in the Indian food category but this food was BLAND. All 4 people at my table, both vegetarians and meat eaters, agreed. Maybe for buffet this place is OK for the amount spent but dining in for dinner was ridiculous. $ 80 PLUS TIP later and of the many Indian restaurants I have been to, I was massively disappointed with the food.
As for service, it was fine, nothing great, nothing horrible, but mediocre. And that warrants the one star.
Definitely let down.

Oh so glad I found you! There aren’t very many Indian places to choose from around HB/​GG/​Westminster and I was starting to get depressed that Usmani was my only choice.
$ 8.99 AYCE lunch buffet is all I ever need when it comes to Indian! Garlic naan — check, chic tiki masala — check, saag paneer — check, basmati rice — check, samosa — check, and other veggie curries — check!
My only complaint was they ran low on stuff cuz we went at the tail-​end of lunch, and the server seemed as if I was bothering him when I asked for more. Maybe that’s just his personality but it just caused me to feel the need to keep asking him more questions just to bug him more. I think I got him to loosen up a bit after a while.
Nonetheless, I will be back again and again for my Indian fix! So dude, you better get used to me cuz we’re gonna be BFFs, like it or not!

Indian Lunch Buffets are a dying breed and Bukhara has been around long enough that I feel like I should give them an extra star. The food itself is probably a 3 star but for $ 10 lunch buffet you can try a variety of items, for that I am grateful.
The main/​best items to get are:
Rice
Chicken Curry
Palak Panner
Egg Plant Curry
Chicken Tikka Masala
Aloo paratha
Naan (ask for extra garlic)
BBQ Grilled Chicken
Salad
If you just ate a scoop of each of the listed item’s you should be fairly happy by now. I was able to make 3 full plates disappear with pleasure.
They have a cilantro chutney and tamarind chutney… Both are very good here, I like to mix it ⁵⁰⁄₅₀ and dip my garlic naan in it time to time, try it out!

Rating based on takeout
Everything was ready for pickup in 25m. Here’s the rundown:
Chicken Biryani– their version is actually pretty good. Greasy but good flavor and a lot of chicken. Not dry by any means.
Chicken tikka masala– not too much cream, so I liked it a lot. Vibrant red sauce with again a good amount of chicken. Good amount of tartness from the tomato with a touch of sweetness from just a little cream. I don’t like when this dish is really light in color, ‘cos it’s too rich. Theirs is good.
Malai kofta– sauce was a bit too creamy for me (like the way the chicken tikka masala can be — the way I don’t like lol) and was really light in color due to the volume of cream. The vegetable fritters were lightly crunchy and flavorful. A little dense but goooood.
Chicken vindaloo– sauce was thin and watery so I didn’t care for it. I prefer deeper flavor and body to the sauce. Meh.
Aloo paratha– loved the way they made it. Many places make it bland, overly greasy, or faintly spiced. Theirs was filled with a lot of potatoes, was spicy and really flavorful without being overly greasy (though it’s not a healthy bread by any means).
Naan– flat in presentation. I like my naan puffier and with more char but it was fine.
The order comes with regular basmati rice, pappadum, pickles, chutney, and raita as well. Not too shabby for takeout, so I would consider dining in next time.

The buffet is nothing short of outstanding. I’ve circumnavigated the globe three times, so I am not at all new to Indian food. Bukhara (along with Saagar in Newport, is owned by the same people) arguably puts out the best Indian food in Orange County.
The Naan, Chicken Masala, Samosas, Palak Paneer, Tandoori Chicken, Lamb curry, etc are all terrific. I highly recommend coming to Bukhara for the drive, if nothing less (if you are in the HB vicinity, it’s closer than going to Saagar)!!!

So, I’m not an Indian food expert or aficionado. To be honest, I don’t really know jack-​shit about Indian food. My first visit to Bukhara was my very first Indian food experience. While I don’t know much about Indian food, I do know about flavor profiles… I can tell what’s «bland» and whats full of flavor. Bukhara’s lunch buffet is definitely full of amazing flavors.
Came here with my FedEx rep (who’s always introducing me to new restaurants) who’s been wanting to take me to experience some good Indian food. Walking in around 1:20 PM, the place was relatively empty. The feel of the place is pretty minimalistic to say the least. No ambient music, quite small, somewhat worn down appearance.
The buffet is quite small as well, but most of what I tried was really good. Unlike some of the other reviews, I didn’t experience anything that was overly bland. The Chicken Tikka Masala was excellent! Seriously my new favorite dish (must learn how to make it). Really enjoyed the Naan bread, with it’s herb and garlic spread… perfect for sopping up the curry and other sauces that occupied my plate. As someone new to Indian cuisine, attending a buffet lunch is honestly the way to go… it allows you to try a taste of everything, only to return for seconds for the items you really enjoyed.
Service was on point for the most part. The male server was attentive, but short on words (not necessarily «rude», just «to the point»). The older woman was very, very sweet and nice.
Lunch buffet runs about ten bucks per person… all you can eat. Had a Taj Mahal beer, which was about 7 bucks (a little expensive but it was a 22 oz bottle… kind of fucked me up a bit). I really enjoyed the experience and look forward to more Indian food experiences.

Everything was absolutely amazing, fresh, and delicious. All food items were packed full of flavor, spices and the aroma was just to die for. Try their chicken korma (yellow), tandori, mango and mint chutney, veggie pakora and chicken pakora, onion bhaji, garlic naan, palak paneer (green), lamb vindaloo (red).

Bukhara looks and smells like an authentic Indian restaurant as I enter the doors. I have not gone for dinner yet, but they have great variety and options during their buffet. Usually when you go to buffets, the food can be a little bit bland or mild. In Bukhara, they put just enough spices, but not too much to overwhelm customers who can not handle the spice. Their garlic bread is one of the best I have ever tried. I have been here several times in the past, and I have had all very good experiences.

We love this place. I adore Indian food — I know how to cook it and I’ve had it at many restaurants (but not in India)…I think this is just the best. The Chicken Makhani is rich and coconutty — I could drink the stuff by the bucketful. We tried a new dish, Lamb Pasada — chunks of lamb in a rich, thick green sauce with plenty of herbs, chilies and garlic. Just delicious! Their garlic naans are hot out of the oven and loaded with garlic. The meal comes with a pappadams, cilantro — mint chutney, and a chopped carrot relish. With the leftovers, we had 2 full meals each — a good deal for the money. Highly recommended.

Ive been to numerous Indian restaurants, including ones in Cerritos and Anaheim. I know what good Indian food tastes like. I have always been curious about this place and finally got the chance to check it out for lunch with the girlfriend. I was very much disappointed. There was a huge variety but EVERYTHING was bland. Their chicken marsala was the worst I have ever tasted.
As for their customer service, they were on top of things and was pretty good.
It was $ 10.00 per person for the lunch buffet, which gave us a total of $ 21.95 for two with out tip. i believe it was not worth it. I was really rooting for this place since it was so nearby my house, but unfortunately, I will not be coming back.

Went in for lunch on a Saturday, because my bff said it was decent. Lunch is all you can eat for like $ 9.99. 3 of us, bill was $ 30. As a fan of Indian food, not much spicy foods to accommodate those who can’t handle spicy food. Well worth the price, had a good variety of buffet style Indian food. Good and cheap. Love the lamb, okra, and spinach cheese here. When we got there, it was one other table dining. During eating, at least a good 5 tables filled up. Place isn’t too big nor small, perfect fit.
Would definitely go again. Not sure about dinner time.

Best Indian place in the OC — Huntington Beach area. The lunch buffet is very reasonable and quite tasty. I use to go 2 – 3 a month when I worked nearby.
Garlic Naan, lamb curry, chicken curries, and spinach are my favs. If you’re looking for an Indian fix in that area, it’s definitely worth it!

You always remember your first!
I’ve been a patron at Bukhara for 22 years now. (Damn do I feel old admitting that.) I was taken to dinner here by family friends in 1988. I believe this was my very first exposure to Indian food as well. I fell in love with it. Since then I’ve been all over Artesia (Little India) and to a variety of Indian restaurants throughout the Golden State (that would be CA, in case anyone forgot). But through it all Bukhara has always made my most favored dishes just the way I like them.
For many years I only ate vegetarian when I was at an Indian restaurant. Not sure why, it just happened that way. I’m most definitely an omnivore. In the last few years I’ve incorporated chicken dishes to my list, but to this day most of my favorite dishes are vegetarian.
Unlike many of the reviews, I’ve never actually had their buffet! I’ve always gone for dinner. I’ve never been disappointed in the food I’ve ordered here.
My fave choices are:
Samosa — crisp pastry filled with mildly spiced potatoes and peas
Garlic Naan — leavened bread lightly sprinkled with fresh garlic
Aloo Paratha — whole wheat bread filled with mildly spiced potatoes and peas
Bharta — spicy eggplant
Plalak paneer — Creamed spinach with homemade cheese
Chicken korma — Chicken in a delicate cream sauce with cashews
Mango Lassi — a refreshing yogurt drink with mango
Sometimes, depending if the person I’m dining with is interested in sharing, we’ve ordered the dinner for two, vegetarian. It’s always been delicious.
The location itself is a strip mall store front venue squeezed between an AT&T store and a Subway facing Bella Terra. They have fairly good seating. I’ve seen groups as large as 8 seated together. If need be, they could seat more. I believe they can seat a maximum of 50 in the whole venue.
If it’s too crowded or you’re not in the mood for a sit down experience they do offer «To Go». I’ve done that a time or two here as well.
The one thing I consider a downside is that their décor is dated. Tables are clean with pink table cloths, and cloth napkins, virtually nothing has changed since the first time I visited. However, over time there has been food splattered all across the wallpaper along one side of the venue that’s been there for years. It’s not glaringly obvious, unless you happen to look at the wall long enough.
That aside, I still love this restaurant. They’ve always treated me well, the food is delicious and the price is resonable.

Totally satisfied my Indian food craving today. I had their lunch buffet for $ 9.95.
Garlic Naan — very good in flavor, except I like mine thinner and this place makes it a little doughy.
Chicken curry — good flavors and a hint of spice, but the curry itself was a little too runny for my taste.
Lamb curry — I was enjoying this a lot, but I had one piece of lamb at the very end that was gamy, so that threw off my palate for a bit.
Samosa — YUM! I only had a small bite of this because I’m «trying» to eat better, but I’d have to say that it was DELICIOUS!
Okra — good if you like okra
There was a mushroom dish with peas that I enjoyed a lot. I don’t remember what it was called, but it tasted great!
Overall, not a bad experience. I wouldn’t mind coming back if I was in the area and craving Indian food. I love going to Indian food buffets because I love trying a little bit of everything. Service was ok. Only one guy there to take care of everything. It was quite busy for a Saturday afternoon.

I drove by this place everyday on my way to work and never noticed it until I received the entertainment book a while back. This little jem is pretty unnoticeable.
The inside is small, a little outdated and plain in the décor, and service is hit or miss. I’ve never seen the place with more than 2 tables, and sometimes it takes forever for the waiter to come by (and other times the service is spot on). The FOOD, however, is what keeps me coming back.
I looooove spicy food and I can say their spicy is SPICY. Not that you have to have it spicy. You can order any dish, and make it mild, medium, or spicy. It’s great! The chicken makhani is nice and mild (if you want it to be), with just the right amount of cream in the sauce. The lamb vindaloo can be made super spicy so you’ll feel like you’re eating in in the middle of India; you are drenched in sweat, eyes watering, mouth burning, and you should stop eating, but can’t stop eating this delicious curry.
Make sure you order garlic naan to soak up any leftover liquid. yummmm.

— Locale destination —
Across street from Bella Terra. Right next to AT&T shop. It was dead when I went there (weekday night). My co-​worker never tried an Indian food and tried here after worked out at 24 hour fitness at Bella Terra.
It’s kinda fancy décor for the establishment. They got some booths, which I love :) Friendly service.
— Gluttony expedition —
Eggplant curry: Many eggplant and vegetable. Not bad but meh.
Chicken Tikka masala — I expected more creamy one with yogurt.
Samosa: Good
Spicy dipping sauces: Nice kick and pretty good.
Garlic Nann: Good.
Mango Rassi: Good as always.
— Conqueror’s deduction —
It’s a lot of foods. Decent food. I didn’t know about lunch buffet, so I wanna try.

Great little family owned Indian restaurant.
I never get the buffet since I just don’t like the idea of having my food sit idle in a big metal pan for all to molest.
I always order the chicken masala ticca, garlic naan and aloo (forgot the name but it’s a eggplant and potato dish with light curry).

I came here once before a few years back for dinner with friends and remembered everything being decent. But this time around, it wasn’t so decent. I was in the area and wanted to hit up their lunch buffet for $ 8.95 and OMG HORRIBLE SERVICE and horrible food! As soon as I walked in all I saw were other diners at their tables eating away and no one else was to be found to seat me, there was no hostess/​host, busboys or servers in the restaurant, all I saw were the cooks in the kitchen since there’s a glass window that divides the kitchen and dining area.
After waiting for a good four minutes someone finally came out, it was a lady in Indian attire and she was quite rude, she said, «How can I help you?» (Um…dumb lady! I’m here to eat, that’s how you can help me, I need a table. DUH??) But I didn’t say that of course, I said a table for one please. So she sat me down, and left without asking me if I wanted a drink or anything. So I figured I just help myself with the buffet at that point, so I chose my favorite items, the basmati, chicken tikka masala, samosa, etc. I was ready to eat until I realized I didn’t get my nan yet, so I politely asked someone if I could get some water and nan. I know nan takes awhile to come out but doode, their nan takes eternity to come out! I kid you not it took ten minutes before I finally got it and by that point I was halfway done with my meal.
Oh I forgot to mention that I didn’t get any water at this point either, so I politely asked for some water and somehow I guess that me being thirsty pissed her off. Attitude lady came and slammed a wine glass right next to my plate and yes she slammed it since I was startled by the slamming of the glass and she quickly poured water spilling it all over the table cloth right next to my plate. F’n RUDE!!! At that point I just asked for my check, paid, and left.
Oh and BTW, their food also sucks! I know I’m not an Indian Cuisine connoisseur, but I however do enjoy Indian food and I have it often and in my opinion I think their buffet items were a bit on the spicy side, bland, with no distinctive flavors at all. Good bye Bukhara, I will never step foot in this establishment ever again and here’s a bad review for your bad service and food!

I think that I’ve been blessed and even spoiled with good, decent, and even excellent service! However, even after being fortunate with such awesome service… my luck seems to have run out today.
Only one word to describe my feelings right now and it is LIVID! I am absolutely livid! But let’s not get ahead of ourselves and start from the beginning. Despite their rundown interior and disgusting tableware, I have always been a fan of Bukhara’s chicken tikka masala and their garlic naan bread! I usually come for their lunch or brunch buffets, which is cheap and yummy.
With this in mind, I thought that it would be a fabulous idea to share this experience with my family. We walked in to an almost empty restaurant with only one occupied table, we were told by the COOK who saw us from his window to seat ourselves. Waited about ten minutes and saw the waiter attend to the other consumers and didn’t even look at us. We saw the togo menu, and grabbed it ourselves figuring that he was probably busy. Read through the menu twice, even though I already knew what I was ordering because I was trying to kill time before he came to us with real menus.
Again, we waited forever before his return so that we can PLACE our order. He was busy attending to the other consumers (the only other consumers), and working togo order of other customers. I’m not faulting him since he is the only one there working but there was another girl sitting at one of the table folding napkins… since it is a family-​owned restaurant, I assumed that she was the daughter and probably doesn’t deal with waitressing.
Our waiter seriously looked constipated the entire time that he served us, and didn’t look like he ever knew the definition of good service or how to smile. But, I figured that it was just apart of his personality. So, eventually we get our food. I kindly asked the constipated waiter to take our family’s photo… but was rejected? O_​_​_​_​_​O! Granted that the restaurant at this point had more customers so again, I gave him the benefit of the doubt and just assumed that he was busy and I guess a click was just too much to ask.
Our meal was decent, I wasn’t impressed. My mango lassi was warm and gross. As we were getting ready to pay for our bill (which also took forever to get), I watched him service this family that sat in front of us. He had a smile slapped on his face and was pampering them by scooping each of their food items on to everyone’s individual plates. Did I mention that he just threw our food on our table and walked away? Not cool. I don’t need you to pamper me, but I do not want to see a difference in service. Was it because we were the only Asian family in the entire place? Aren’t Indian people considered Asian too? I don’t need to understand the reason, but it is definitely unacceptable to be displaying a completely different type of mannerism and service to different tables. I seriously thought that he was constipated, who knew he could smile?
If I could give minus stars, I would… but I guess I’ll just have to settle with one star. Bad service leaves a bad taste in your mouth, and definitely can ruin your day…