University Area

• Taj Mahal Cuisine of India is in the Altura Shopping Center, a few blocks from the University of New Mexico. It is open seven days per week and features a daily lunch buffet from 11 a.m., to 2:30 p.m. Dinner service begins at 5 p.m. One of the dishes on Taj Mahal's varied menu is the tandoori khoobiyan, a mixed grill of tandoori chicken, shrimp and lamb kabobs. The restaurant also features a vegetarian menu. Another option near the University of New Mexico is Rasoi-An Indian Kitchen. The restaurant offers a lunch buffet daily from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and dinner beginning at 5 p.m. Among the highlights on the menu are the saag panner--a spiced spinach-and-Indian-cheese dish, and chicken masala, which is prepared in a lemony sauce with potatoes and chilies. Rasoi also serves thalis, combination plates for a fixed price.
  
  

Eastern Albuquerque

• On the east side of Albuquerque, visit the Taaj Palace. Like many of the city's other Indian restaurants, the Taaj Palace offers a daily lunch buffet. However, it also offers a dinner buffet, as well as an a la carte menu, nightly from 5 until 10 p.m. The Taaj Palace also offers meals for two people for $33, as of January 2011, featuring various items on the menu, such as lamb vindaloo and chicken masala. For a vegetarian-only cuisine, stop by Annapurna's World Vegetarian Cafe and Chai Shoppe. In addition to tasty Indian food, Annapurna's also offers cooking classes.
  
  

Westside Restaurants

• India Palace is a family-owned restaurant on the west side of Albuquerque. The restaurant offers a large lunch buffet and an a la carte menu. Open seven days a week, lunch is offered from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and dinner starts at 5 p.m. Food can be ordered prepared any way from mild to extra spicy. India Palace offers a variety of Indian dishes from tandoori-grilled meats to rich curries. A little farther out in Rancho is Namaste Restaurant, offering both Indian and Nepali cuisine. You can look on the restaurant's website to see what it is serving on its buffet each day. Open since 2008, Namaste also offers a combination platter for less than $20, as of January 2011, where you can sample various items from the menu.
  
  

North Albuquerque

• Saffron Tiger-Indian Food Express is in the northern part of Albuquerque. Featuring food from East India cooked in an open kitchen, Saffron Tiger features 21 menu items and focuses on fresh and healthy preparation. Saffron Tiger offers combination platters where you pick two or three entree selections that are served with a side dish. You can also opt for the Saffron sampler, where you can pick five different entrees to taste.