Shahi Pakwan

Reviews

• Veggie M.

  star star star star star_border 7 September 2026

  Takeout only, so I can't comment on sit-down service.
  
  The vegetarian menu is expansive with many of the dishes being vegan or vegan-customizable. The man I spoke with was very friendly, accommodating, and helpful. Food was prepared quickly and overall tasty, though a tad lacking in terms of depth & complexity of flavor.
  
  I always hope Indian restaurants could use soy or coconut cream to sub for dairy instead of eliminating dairy when preparing vegan dishes. The lack of richness was notable. Four stars for their vegan-friendliness.
  
  The Dosa was a highlight -- I highly recommend!

• Nabeel N.

  star star star_border star_border star_border 5 September 2026

  Yeah right!  Had high hopes given that this was Ithaca and I'd find some decent ethnic food in the area.  Boy was I wrong.  
  Hit their lunch buffet which had absolutely no flavor whatsoever.
  
  So I ordered something off their menu - masala dosa.
  Lacked the crispiness and masala one would expect from the dosa!
  
  2 stars for service.  Not the food.

• Kamala E.

  star star star star star 3 September 2026

  This is the best Indian restaurant I have ever been to. As a Sri-Lankan, I know good food and I know good south Asian food. Not only is the service amazing, the food is absolutely delicious. I have ordered this food almost once a week since I moved to Ithaca two months ago. I am obsessed. So far my go-to meals are the Lamb curry, Tikka Masala, Channa Masala & Poori. My only small small complaint is the mango lassi needs some improvement as it is too sweet and more like mango smoothie than traditional Lassi. I love this place I will never order from another Indian restaurant in Ithaca again.

• Selvakumar S.

  star star_border star_border star_border star_border 3 September 2026

  Most horrific, horrible and horrendous Indian food I've had in my whole life. The owner and his way of talking to customer is the worst I've ever had in my life. We were a group of 10 + 2 kids. Officials, take note- They only had one high chair. I think this violation of law right there.
  
  We ordered few appetizers,  4 biryanis and a few breads and some veggie curries. The Samosas were okay to start with. The biryanis arrived slowly thereafter. We had a huge discussion to figure out which of them were chicken vs vegetarian. First time in my life we had this discussion. They added carrots, green beans, chole to the chicken biryani. That says it all. We asked for medium spicy. This one was atrociously spicy. When we informed the owner, he tried to be the rudest he could be. He yelled stating that we asked for medium and that was medium spicy. He followed by yelling to other tables asking them to reconsider medium as that was their spice levels. He went saying that North Indians eat the most spiciest food in India and therefore these levels. North Indians living across the world.. I leave it to you guys.
  
  We informed him that we were not going to eat the biryanis. He did not have any empathy and just wrote the cheque. We did not care to tip, and I would urge everyone the same. If you can avoid this place, that will be one good deed completed in your life.
  
  I see people write horrible reviews about this place on yelp, google etc, except for those paid reviews they have generated. I also see the owner reply to those reviews in the most in-appropriate way. Change yourself and show empathy and fix your restaurant rather write replies like that on social media.
  
  University folks, if you are eating this yucky food in this town, it's time you save some embarrassment for the Indian community.
  
  If you are hungry and don't find any food and this is the only restaurant open, just consider starving and saving your health.
  
  If the owners claim that I was not at this restaurant as they have in other reviews, I'm adding the photos of the close-to-garbage biryani and the wonderful receipt. You can't figure what you bought unless you remember things you ordered. Look at the receipt and see for yourself. We ordered 29 items at this Pakwan and was cheated.
  
  Challenge: figure out veg vs chicken biryani from the picture. Carrots in chicken biryani.. can't get over it till now!! Oh lord.. save Ithaca!
  
  I've also updated the picture of the private reply he has sent to me for this review.

• Nicole R.

  star star star star star 3 September 2026

  I've been to Shahi Pakwan many times. Raj remembers us and treats us like royalty. We love this tiny restaurant! The food is very authentic and the level of spice is amazing! We always go for the evening menu, for the price is very good.