I never post reviews but seeing that this place has 4.1 stars is upsetting. I recommend this place to friends all the time.
1. This place does not claim to be 100% authentic Indian which I think is obvious with the amount of guac and cheese in their dishes. It’s like going to Moe’s and getting mad that their tortillas aren’t being hand made in the back.
2. I’ve come here around 7x and the service has never been bad. In fact, one time a woman passed me to order and the person taking my order was so apologetic once it was my turn. You could tell she felt bad.
Any other time we have been met with smiles and enthusiasm about the food. Maybe going at a time other than Saturday night at 7pm may help? We just went today on a Wednesday at 7pm and there was no line and the food was fast. It is a small place, so expecting it to be smooth sailing all of the time is unrealistic in my opinion.
3. Last but not least, their food is amazing! We’ve had quite a few burritos, bowls and street snacks. The mango lassi is great! My only suggestion with it would be to add some spices. As for desserts, the ice cream is SO good. So if you’re really skeptical about the food, I would 100% recommend going just to get the “Hot Balls on Ice,” or just the ice cream on its own.
All in all, this place is great and I hope the silly reviews won’t stop you from at least going to try their ice cream (+Hella Vegan Bowl or Tikka Masala Burrito). We will be back!!
Gaurav Kasar
Aug 16, 2024
3
Visited this new spot with two friends, excited to try their street food. We ordered six dishes: Deconstructed Samosa Chaat, Kachori Chaat, Papdi Chaat, and three Chole Bhature. Only the chaats (Deconstructed Samosa Chaat, Kachori Chaat, and Papdi Chaat) arrived on time. Instead of the three Chole Bhature we ordered, the server brought us three Samosa Chaats—completely wrong. We then again waited 50 minutes for the Chole Bhature, which completely ruined our dining experience.
The food itself was 3/5—decent but not authentic Indian, clearly developed to attract a diverse crowd. However, the service was shockingly bad. The staff was overwhelmed and couldn’t keep up with the orders. For a place that charges premium prices for street food, this kind of service is unacceptable.
I won’t be returning, and I can’t recommend it based on this experience. A disappointing visit.
Sampada Chavan
Jul 23, 2024
3
So, we were on our way back from the Gurudwara and stumbled upon this place - it's a pretty casual, modern joint serving up all sorts of North Indian eats. We ordered a variety of food here.
First up, the pani puri. Look, I'm gonna keep it real - it was just kinda meh. Not super authentic or anything, it was more like a jal jeera water situation rather than the traditional pudhina water. Not a dealbreaker, but not the star of the show either.
But then the chat papdi was absolutely delicious! The flavors were on point.
We also tried out their vegetarian Thali. It was... fine. Nothing too mind-blowing, but a solid, wholesome option. The chicken 65 inspired dish was not great either.
But the real standout was the naan tikka pizza! I've gotta admit, I was a little skeptical at first, but that combination totally won me over. It's just such a clever, delicious idea - the savory, charred naan as the "crust," topped with all those classic tikka flavors. Seriously good stuff.
All in all, this place is a great spot for some casual, tasty North Indian eats. The vibe is laid-back, the menu has a nice variety, and while not everything is great there are some real winners. I'll definitely be coming back for more!
Gwendolynn B
Jul 8, 2024
5
We got the Meat Sweats Thali with Burnt Chili Naan Bread and the Tandoori Fried Chicken Sandwich. The meat was very tender, the flavors + spice were delicious- overall a great experience! Definitely going back to try some more options.
Ravi Gupta
Jul 2, 2024
4
First few reviews are family/friends so don’t trust them.
Went on grand opening day with a couple others. Ordered 3 burritos all together: the Chicken Tikka, Makhni Butter (which is an oxymoron because Makhni means butter), and the vegan.
For the chicken, they were filled with maybe 15% chicken and the rest was Indian-seasoned rice and chick peas and veggies. Not worth $13 that’s for sure and the taste is sooo Americanized. The chicken tikka and Makhni butter burritos tasted exactly the same lol. This place is a joke. I’m laughing as I’m writing this.
They were passing out little samples of mango lassi (sweetened mango yogurt-based drink) that didn’t taste like it should. It was fine because it’s so easy to make but didn’t taste like mangos nor was it sweetened enough.
Even the worst Indian places would have better taste. Clearly, it’s catering to non-Indians which is fine, so take my review with a grain of salt if you don’t appreciate Indian flavor or want to eat a rice burrito even though you order one with chicken
Updated review:
Returned twice now since my 1 star review (now 4 stars)
I'll keep this short for once. The actual "street food" items were amazing.
The tandoori chicken sandwich is my favorite hands down. Never had anything like it cuz no one makes such a sandwich. The seasoned fries it comes with are amazing too.
Tried some different "chaats" and they were really tasty too. Tried their guac out of curiosity and it was fresher than most Mexican places.
Glad I gave this spot another chance. I didn't try the burritos again because that's too much risk to pay for it and be disappointed so I suggest the items I mentioned!
Mohammed Al Saffar
Jun 23, 2024
3
Curry Up Now in Durham boasts a fantastic location and a welcoming atmosphere. The staff were friendly and attentive, adding to the overall pleasant dining experience. The ambiance is vibrant, making it a nice spot to grab a quick bite.
However, when it comes to the food, the experience is somewhat mixed. While some items were enjoyable, the menu features several twists that stray far from authentic Indian flavors. Dishes with stuff like jam on rice, mozzarella on curry sauce, and curry burritos with avocado, although creative, didn't taste good, and miss the mark for Indian cuisine enthusiasts, in addition of being overpriced for what they offer.
If you're in the mood for a quick and casual meal, Curry Up Now might just do the trick. But for those craving a true taste of Indian cuisine, this might not be the spot. Despite the lack of authenticity, the overall dining experience was still enjoyable thanks to the great staff and lively vibes.
Sahil Chokshi
May 29, 2024
5
We had a great experience at Curry Up Now. The food was great and great service. We ordered the thali, Pizza, Vada Pav, Kathi roll and Pani Puri. The food came out quickly. Their Dragon Fruit and Strawberry Lemonades were amazing.
