Great Himalayan Indian Cuisines in Oklahoma City: North Indian cooking with house-made breads and lunch buffet pricing
Great Himalayan Indian Cuisines is a full-service North Indian restaurant that specializes in tandoori and curry dishes, with all breads made fresh in-house daily. Located in Oklahoma City, it operates as a casual dine-in and takeout establishment, occupying a modest storefront that seats roughly 40 to 50 guests and serves a lunch buffet alongside an à la carte menu.
What Great Himalayan actually is
The restaurant focuses on North Indian regional cuisine, centering on dishes cooked in the tandoor clay oven and slow-cooked gravies built on aromatic spice bases. The kitchen does not attempt to replicate a full menu across regional Indian cooking; it narrows to what North Indian kitchens do well: tandoori proteins, paneer preparations, dal and chickpea curries, and naan, roti, and paratha breads. This specificity means fewer total dishes but deeper technique on what appears.
Menu, pricing, and the lunch buffet advantage
The lunch buffet runs daily from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and costs $11.99 per person. It includes three to four rotating curries (typically a meat curry, a vegetarian option, chickpeas or lentils, and rice), and customers can order fresh naan or roti at the buffet counter at no additional charge. This is significantly lower than ordering equivalent dishes individually; a single tandoori chicken or paneer curry with rice and bread runs $13 to $16 à la carte.
Dinner à la carte pricing ranges from $12 to $18 for entrées. Signature dishes include tandoori chicken (bone-in pieces marinated and clay-oven roasted), paneer tikka masala, chana masala (spiced chickpeas in tomato sauce), and lamb vindaloo. Vegetarian options are substantial: paneer tikka, aloo gobi (potatoes and cauliflower), and baingan bharta (roasted eggplant) all appear. Spice levels can be requested and are honored; the kitchen will adjust heat for diners who want mild to very hot.
Breads are priced separately: naan (plain or garlic) costs $3, while parathas and rotis are $2.50 each. Tandoori breads are worth ordering because they emerge visibly charred and puffed, indicating the clay oven is reaching proper temperature.
How it compares to other Indian restaurants in Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City has two main competitors in North Indian cuisine: Sheesh Mahal, which occupies a larger dining room with more elaborate décor, and Saffron, which emphasizes South Indian dosas alongside North Indian curries.
Great Himalayan's lunch buffet is the strongest value proposition among the three. Sheesh Mahal does not consistently offer a lunch buffet, and Saffron's buffet, when available, is priced at $13.99 and rotates fewer items. For weekday lunch under $12 with fresh-made bread, Great Himalayan is the most practical choice.
Saffron excels if you want regional variety within a single meal (dosa, uttapam, and North Indian curries all on one menu). Sheesh Mahal appeals to diners seeking a more formal atmosphere and larger wine list. Great Himalayan prioritizes straightforward execution of North Indian standards and speed of service; tables turn quickly at lunch, and dinner service is efficient without rushing.
For dinner, Great Himalayan's à la carte prices align with Sheesh Mahal but undercut Saffron by $1 to $2 per dish. All three restaurants source halal-certified or ethically raised meat where feasible, though only Great Himalayan makes this visible on the menu.
Who it suits and who it does not
This restaurant works best for lunch crowds, families with young children, and diners who want straightforward North Indian food without elaborate plating or fusion touches. The buffet format suits groups of four or more ordering different curries; it also suits solo diners or pairs hesitant about what to order because they can sample multiple dishes cheaply.
It does not suit those seeking vegetarian Indian cuisine exclusively; while the vegetarian menu exists, it is secondary to the meat-focused kitchen. It also does not suit diners who want a bar program; Great Himalayan does not serve alcohol, though BYOB is permitted.
Spice tolerance is not a barrier; the kitchen is responsive to requests for heat levels and does not assume all customers want medium.
What the first visit involves
Arrive during lunch buffet hours (11 a.m. to 2 p.m.) to assess the full menu at lowest cost. A server will seat you, point to the buffet line, and bring water. Load a plate with curry, rice, and vegetables, then return to order fresh bread; this takes five to seven minutes total. Dinner service is à la carte only; expect a printed menu and a typical order-and-wait cycle of 15 to 20 minutes.
The dining room is casual: metal chairs, laminate tables, no tablecloths. Background music is Bollywood film soundtrack or instrumental Indian classical, moderate volume. Cash and card are both accepted.
Hours, parking, and logistics
Great Himalayan is open Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (lunch) and 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. (dinner). It is closed Mondays. Parking is street-level on the surrounding block; no dedicated lot exists, though spots are typically available.
The restaurant is accessible by car from I-35 and surrounding neighborhoods; public transit options are limited in the immediate area.
Great Himalayan fills a straightforward role in Oklahoma City's Indian dining landscape: consistent North Indian cooking at lunch-buffet prices, executed without pretense or delay.
