12 New Jersey Indian Buffets Worth The Drive For The Full Spread
I never thought I’d measure my road trips in naan and samosas, but then New Jersey happened.
Somewhere between a questionable GPS detour and my third plate piled high with butter chicken, I realized that Indian buffets here were less about “all-you-can-eat” and more about all-you-can-experience.
Each spread was a little treasure trove of spice, color, and “wait, what even is this amazing thing?” moments.
Suddenly, driving 45 minutes felt like a warm-up lap for flavor. Forget casual dining.
These buffets demanded commitment, a second stomach, and maybe a forgiving waistband. And honestly, I didn’t mind. Because in New Jersey, if you’re chasing the full Indian buffet experience, every mile, every bite, and every overly ambitious dessert plate is absolutely worth it.
1. Chand Palace Piscataway
I rolled into Chand Palace at 1296 Centennial Ave, Piscataway, NJ 08854 and immediately clocked the glow of steel trays like trophies.
The buffet leaned vegetarian, which made the colors pop brighter than a Holi reel: palak paneer emerald, dal tadka sunshine, chana masala copper. The aroma of ghee and cumin felt like a welcome handshake, and I grabbed a plate the size of a dream board.
The dosa station hummed, batter sizzling, while a cook handed me a crisp lace-edged masala dosa with a wink.
Coconut chutney cooled, sambar warmed, and the tangy tomato chutney nudged me back for seconds. I layered basmati with navratan korma, each cashew landing like punctuation on an enthusiastic sentence.
You should come for the balance: clean spice, soft heat, nothing muddy or tired. Gulab jamun sat in syrup like tiny suns, and I respected them appropriately.
Service moved fast, dishes refreshed often, and the crowd had that content silence that only great buffet rooms earn.
If you are vegetarian-curious or full-time plant-powered, this lineup makes the case without preaching.
The paneer stayed tender, the okra kept snap, and the rotis were stacked like freshly minted coins. I left plotting which friend I would bring next, because some places are better as a shared story.
2. Chand Palace Parsippany
At Chand Palace, 257 Littleton Rd, Parsippany, NJ 07054, I walked in and heard the soft chorus of serving spoons against steel, the soundtrack of a buffet reaching prime time. The chaat counter was my first stop, because crispy and tangy is a mood.
A spoon of tamarind, a snowstorm of sev, and suddenly I had crunch with a thesis statement.
Vegetarian dishes wore their spice with charisma: paneer tikka masala creamy but confident, baingan bharta smoky, dal makhani silk-smooth.
I chased bites with garlic naan that arrived blistered and persuasive. The staff slipped fresh trays in like stagehands changing scenes, and the rhythm never stuttered.
I admired how the buffet felt curated, not chaotic.
Labels were clear, flavors stayed distinct, and nothing tasted like it had been waiting on a plot twist too long. The kheer whispered cardamom and memory, so yes, I ladled generously.
Bring someone who thinks buffets cannot be precise and let this room nudge them gentler than a lecture. The space is bright, the service sure-footed, and the spice heat sits in the pocket, warm rather than bossy.
I walked out with the kind of happy focus that only comes when every dish knows its line and delivers.
3. Moghul Restaurant
Moghul Restaurant at 1655 Oak Tree Rd #195, Edison, NJ 08820 had that sleek hush of a place that knows its reputation. I stepped in and clocked glistening trays of chicken tikka, lamb rogan josh, and saag paneer arranged like a tasting syllabus.
The naan came puffy and char-kissed, landing at the table like applause.
This buffet felt like a tour through North Indian comfort, guided by a chef who respects restraint. Nothing was over-spiced, just layered.
Basmati fluffed apart, biryani carried aromatic swagger, and the kebabs tasted like smoke had college degrees.
I appreciated the seafood options, each piece tender rather than surrendered to heat. The salad bar offered bright relief, and the chutneys were calibrated, not chaotic.
Dessert leaned classic: gulab jamun, ras malai, and a kheer that tasted like someone had time and patience.
Moghul is where you bring folks to prove buffets can be elegant.
The flow is clear, service is present but not hovering, and refills arrive before you even consider glancing around.
4. Cinnamon Indian Restaurant
I rolled into Cinnamon Indian Restaurant at 2920 NJ-10, Morris Plains, NJ 07950 and immediately spotted the tandoori tray gleaming like a campfire invitation.
The buffet was compact but intentional: chicken tikka the color of sunset, aloo gobi with honest crunch, dal that felt like a hug. Everything smelled like someone toasted spices with affection.
I made a plate that was basically a color wheel and sat where I could watch the steady parade of refills. The kitchen kept rhythm: fresh naan, refreshed curries, rice fluffed without clumps.
Service moved with that friendly small-town confidence, like they already knew how your second round would look.
Highlights? The lamb curry had real depth, not just heat.
The spinach dishes stayed bright, not muddy, and the chutneys felt like little plot twists.
Dessert was simple and heartfelt: kheer, warm gulab jamun, and a square of halwa that tasted like celebration.
If you need a buffet that feels personal rather than sprawling, this is your stop.
It is the kind of place where flavors hold hands, not elbows. I left with spice lingering, in the happy way that keeps conversations going long after plates are settled.
5. Pooja Exotic Indian Cuisine
Pooja Exotic Indian Cuisine at 1075 Easton Ave, Somerset, NJ 08873 welcomed me with the soundtrack of sizzle and laughter. The buffet stretched confidently, a runway of dals, curries, biryani, and a dosa corner putting out crisp, golden crescents.
I started with sambar, coconut chutney, and a dosa so airy it practically edited my mood.
Naan arrived hot, and the chicken curries carried spice like a good story: rising action, layered middle, memorable finish. Vegetarian options stood strong, including a korma that tasted like it negotiated with sweetness and won.
The goat curry had quiet depth, not a loud burn, and I respected the balance.
Dessert felt playful: gulab jamun, ras malai, and a pudding that tasted like cardamom wrote poetry. Staff kept the line moving without rush, a kindness I noticed as families circled back for seconds.
Everything looked refreshed, nothing wilted or glossed with fatigue.
If you are chasing a buffet that lets you bounce between North and South Indian comfort, Pooja is your set list.
The energy is bright, the flavors coherent, and the pacing unhurried.
6. Kurry Zone
Kurry Zone at 120 Cedar Grove Ln, Somerset, NJ 08873 had a buffet line that announced its intentions early.
I spotted Indo-Chinese favorites tucked beside curries, which meant I could stage a sweet-sour-spicy subplot. First plate: gobi Manchurian crisp, chili chicken glossy, then a pivot to dal and chicken curry because balance matters.
Rice was properly separated, and the biryani wore saffron like a signature.
I grabbed naan and felt smug about my plate geometry. The servers floated efficiently, trading empty trays for full ones before anyone had to point.
Flavors leaned bold but not brash. The paneer dishes held their shape, and the okra stayed bright, a small victory against buffet fatigue.
Dessert was an easy yes: gulab jamun and a small bowl of kheer with just enough cardamom to linger.
Come here when you want options that zig and zag, especially if you crave that Indo-Chinese spark.
The space is casual, the vibe easy, and the lineup makes room for cravings to change mid-meal.
7. Aroma Restaurant
Aroma Restaurant at 53 Mountain Blvd, Warren, NJ 07059 greeted me with calm confidence and the warmth of a well-tuned dining room. The buffet offered smart variety without sprawl: tandoori chicken vivid, dal makhani glossy, saag paneer with leafy swagger.
Naan landed soft and blistered, the kind you absentmindedly tear while planning round two.
I noticed how the kitchen kept textures honest. Vegetables had snap, not surrender, and meats stayed tender under sauce rather than hiding in it.
Biryani came aromatic and persuasive, every grain a separate thought.
Chutneys felt tailored: mint cool, tamarind tart, onion bright.
Dessert treated sweetness like a finish line, not a sprint, and I liked that restraint. Service had that sixth sense for timing, swapping trays before anyone started narrating scarcity.
If your buffet expectations are high but your mood is mellow, Aroma threads that needle.
The flavors feel composed, the room inviting, and the flow efficient without stealing attention. I walked out feeling steady and satisfied, like I had found a reliable favorite worth detouring for.
8. Rasoi I
Rasoi I at 810 Newark Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07306 felt like a neighborhood party that just happens to serve great food. I slid into line and watched trays of butter chicken, chana masala, and paneer dishes refresh at a brisk clip.
Naan arrived in waves, soft with just enough char to make every bite sing.
The flavors leaned crowd-pleasing but never lazy.
Dal carried depth, the spices tasted freshly woken, and the biryani had that whisper of saffron that keeps you curious.
Salad and raita did real balancing work, not just plate decoration.
It is an easy yes for groups, especially if you have varied spice comfort zones in your crew. Desserts stayed classic and comforting, from kheer to gulab jamun, each portion an invitation rather than a dare.
Staff moved fast, all hands and smiles, and the line never felt stuck.
Come with an appetite and a friend who tells good stories, because this room rewards conversation between bites.
The energy is upbeat, the spread dependable, and the flavors linger just long enough to make the walk back feel shorter.
9. Rasoi II
Rasoi II at 1567 Oak Tree Rd, Iselin, NJ 08830 welcomed me with that familiar Oak Tree buzz and a buffet line that meant business.
I grabbed a plate and anchored it with biryani, then looped through buttery gravies and bright veggie dishes like I had trained for this. The naan was quick to the table and quick to disappear.
Chicken dishes balanced richness with spice, and the vegetarian lineup stayed lively: palak paneer verdant, aloo gobi textural, chana masala warm and steady.
The raita and salad station did real cooling work. I appreciated the reliable pace of refills, which kept flavors vivid.
Dessert leaned comforting rather than flashy, which fit the room’s easy mood. Kheer tasted like an old recipe done right, and gulab jamun kept its soft bounce.
Nothing felt overwrought, just honest and satisfying.
If you are cruising Oak Tree Road and want a buffet that plays the hits with care, Rasoi II is your chorus.
10. Rasoi III
Rasoi III at 620 Georges Rd, Monmouth Junction, NJ 08852 struck me as the dependable sibling who always shows up with good food and good timing.
The buffet line offered a tight set of favorites: butter chicken, saag paneer, dal makhani, a biryani worth a second look. I grabbed naan and got to work, one scoop at a time.
Everything tasted fresh, not reheated or resigned.
The chicken held its bite, the spinach stayed green in spirit, and the dal rolled like velvet. Chutneys were clean and decisive, a little detail I always appreciate.
Service kept a calm tempo, refilling before you wondered.
Desserts came in tidy portions, polite but persuasive, and I respected the moderation. The room felt family-forward, which made the buffet line hum with friendly momentum.
If you are after a reliable buffet day that feels unrushed and reassuring, this is your stop.
The flavors speak plainly and well, and the experience lands gently. I walked out satisfied, already outlining excuses to circle back.
11. Swadist
Swadist at 715 Newark Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07306 surprised me with a buffet that quietly smuggled in Nepali joy. I saw momos alongside curries and knew I would be handling round two.
The dumplings were tender, with chutney that sparked like a conversation starter.
On the Indian side, chana masala held steady, palak paneer carried freshness, and chicken curries tasted bright rather than heavy. Rice grains stayed separate, and naan arrived with appropriate warmth.
The salad station offered crisp relief, a small but vital kindness.
Dessert choices were modest but heartfelt, and I liked that restraint.
Kheer leaned creamy, and a bite of gulab jamun landed like a friendly encore. Service was swift and observant, the kind of care that keeps a buffet feeling alive.
Come when you want variety without excess and spices that speak clearly.
The room is filled with neighborhood energy, and the trays rotate fast enough to keep curiosity up.
12. Maharaja Indian Restaurant
Maharaja Indian Restaurant at 3003 English Creek Ave Unit E2, Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234 felt like a road-trip reward.
The buffet greeted me with color and intention: biryani aromatic, butter chicken glossy, saag paneer bright. I mapped my plate carefully, then ignored my plan and added more.
The spice profile leaned welcoming rather than daring, which made seconds feel inevitable. Naan arrived quickly, blistered and soft, and the dal had that slow-cooked patience you can taste.
Chutneys were dependable, raita cool, and the salad bar did more than pretend.
Dessert had personality: ras malai delicate, gulab jamun plush. The staff moved with purpose, swapping trays before any lull settled in.
Everything felt looked-after, which matters in the realm of steam and timing.
If you are down the shore or cruising the Parkway, this buffet is worth the detour. It delivers the classics with clarity, and the room carries an easy calm.
After sampling plate after plate, one thing was obvious: New Jersey’s Indian buffets are full-on flavor adventures you actually plan your week around. And honestly, my only regret was not coming hungry enough.