Taj Cuisine of India in Oklahoma City: North Indian Cooking with Lunch Buffet Value

Taj Cuisine of India is a full-service North Indian restaurant in Oklahoma City that specializes in tandoori cooking and traditional curries, operating as a sit-down establishment with dine-in, takeout, and delivery options. It occupies a middle position in the city's small Indian restaurant landscape, neither ultra-casual nor fine dining, with a lunch buffet that undercuts à la carte pricing by a substantial margin.

What Taj Cuisine of India Actually Is

The restaurant focuses on North Indian cuisine, with a kitchen built around a tandoor oven used for breads, chicken, and paneer dishes. The dining room seats 60 to 70 guests in a conventional format with cloth napkins and booth seating. Unlike casual carry-out operations, this venue is designed for a full meal experience, though the kitchen also fulfills quick lunch orders and takeout requests. The space is family-friendly and appropriate for groups, though it does not position itself as formal or upscale.

Menu, Pricing, and the Lunch Buffet Advantage

À la carte entrées range from $14 to $18 and include butter chicken, lamb vindaloo, paneer tikka masala, chana masala, and dal makhani. Tandoori chicken (half or full) costs $16 to $18. Breads (naan, roti, kulcha) are $3 to $4 each. Appetizers run $6 to $10. Rice dishes and combination platters are priced competitively within this range.

The lunch buffet, available Tuesday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., is the place's clearest value proposition. Priced at $12 per person, it includes four to six rotating entrées (typically both vegetarian and meat options), basmati rice, bread, and a raita or yogurt-based side. At dinner and weekends, buffet is not available, so the à la carte menu becomes the only option. For a solo diner ordering one entrée, rice, and naan à la carte, expect to spend $23 to $26 before tax and tip; the lunch buffet covers that spread for half the cost if timing aligns.

Verify current hours and buffet availability by calling ahead, as lunch service schedules can shift seasonally.

How It Compares to Other Indian Options in Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City has two other established Indian restaurants. Café 7 in Midtown operates as a fast-casual counter-service model with lower prices ($10 to $13 entrées) and no dine-in experience; it suits quick lunch or takeout. Sheesh Mahal, in Edmond just outside the city proper, is a full-service restaurant with a broader menu and wine service, positioning itself at the higher end of the price range ($16 to $22 entrées). Taj Cuisine of India sits between these two in format and price, offering a traditional restaurant experience without the premium markup of Sheesh Mahal and with more comfortable seating than Café 7. The lunch buffet is a distinction neither competitor offers regularly.

Choose Taj Cuisine for sit-down dining with buffet value on weekday lunches. Choose Café 7 if you want speed and minimal cost. Choose Sheesh Mahal for a more elaborate atmosphere and wine pairing options.

Who It Suits and Who It Does Not

Taj Cuisine of India suits weekday lunch groups, families looking for vegetarian options (dal makhani, chana masala, paneer dishes are robust), and diners with moderate spice tolerance who want to customize heat levels at the table. The buffet format works well for first-time Indian food explorers who want exposure to multiple dishes without committing to full entrée portions.

It suits less well those seeking very high-end presentation, wine-pairing programs, or late-night service. Diners with severe dairy allergies should note that many North Indian dishes rely on ghee and cream; communication with kitchen staff is necessary.

What the First Visit Involves

Upon arrival, you will be seated and handed a menu and water. If you are visiting during lunch buffet hours (Tuesday to Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.), the server will direct you to the buffet station and explain the current offerings. You plate your own food and return to your seat; refills are encouraged. For à la carte dining, order directly; expect food to arrive in 20 to 25 minutes. Naan is brought to the table warm, and servers pace courses reasonably for a multi-course meal. Cash and cards are accepted.

Hours, Parking, and Logistics

The restaurant is open Tuesday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.; it is closed Mondays. The lunch buffet runs Tuesday through Friday 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Parking is available on-street and in a small lot adjacent to the building. Confirm current hours by phone, as holiday closures and seasonal adjustments do occur.

Taj Cuisine of India fills a practical niche in Oklahoma City's Indian dining landscape: consistent North Indian cooking at moderate prices, with a lunch buffet that makes weekday midday dining economical. It is neither the cheapest option nor the most refined, but for diners seeking a traditional sit-down meal without premium pricing, it is the most straightforward choice in the city.