Akbar Cuisine of India

(310) 586-7469

2627 Wilshire Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90403 34.03645 -118.476911

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Neighborhoods: Northeast, West LA

AKBARCUISINEOFINDIA.COM

Price:

$$

Last updated 6.20.11

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, Discover, Diners Club, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Local Favorite, Family Style Dining, Date Spot

Cuisine:

Indian

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Akbar Cuisine of India

Featured Review

Mar Yvette

Contributor

In Short – Once a dark, divey dining haunt, this local Indian favorite has transformed into a decidedly brighter, more sophisticated space with cream-colored walls, modern canvas art, earth-toned linen pendant lamps and a brand new wine wall. But if the new look and front hostess don't clue you in to the restaurant's more polished turn, the menu and service certainly will. Guests start off with an amuse bouche (often a sampling of the daily soup, a new feature) and can choose from the menu that still offers old favorites (think chicken tikka masala, grilled lamb and saag paneer) as well…

Editor's Tips

Know Before You Go:
At the top of the menu is the "one to five chili meter," a key to the spiciness of each dish. Lamb in a green-peppercorn sauce, for example, earns a high five rating, while the milder saag paneer is rated two.
Parking:
There is metered parking along Wilshire Boulevard as well as some street parking along 26th Street and Princeton.
ambiance
87.5% positive
  1. “The decor is phenomenal- a low-lit environment with very warm colors all over.”
  2. “The ambiance is pleasant and comfortable and it's in a great location - easy parking in back, in meters out front or on side streets.”
  3. “The Marina branch had always been my favorite due to superior quality of food and decor, though Santa Monica was always a fine option as well.”
  4. “used to go to the Pasadena location and have always loved the food.”
  5. “Love Akbar, not this location.”
  6. “love the paintings on their wall and the ambiance is romantic and stylish.”
  7. “While only having eaten at Akbar's Pasadena location and new Beverly Center one, I can still say that Akbar is the best at what they do.”
  8. “Nice decorations - food bland and oily - great Nan and chutneys”
dessert
100.0% positive
  1. “The food may not be the most authentic by some people's definitions, but from my experience with Indian food the lightness and fresh ingredients (olive oil, chicken breast, fresh herbs and not GHEE, butter and heavy cream sauces) make Akbar way better tha”
  2. “Been eating in a bunch of differents places , specially Indian cuisines , I found Akbar in Santa Monica the best of the best food I ever eat in my life, everything was excelent since the appetizer untill the desert, the food was amazing, their selection o”
  3. “Save room for dessert - their mango cheesecake is excellent.”
drinks
83.33000183105469% positive
  1. “Best LA Indian food, great dishes, friendly service and amazing wines, you got try theis Chilean sea bass, chicken tikka masala and the magnific Tandori Lamb chops, you must go.”
  2. “The food is absolutely delicious, the owners and staff efficient and friendly, the selection of wines is wonderful and the price is very reasonable.”
  3. “Been eating in a bunch of differents places , specially Indian cuisines , I found Akbar in Santa Monica the best of the best food I ever eat in my life, everything was excelent since the appetizer untill the desert, the food was amazing, their selection o”
  4. “Once they figured out that we weren't big spenders (we didn't order wine, only water), they paid no attention to us.”
  5. “And don't forget to wash down your meal with a retarded beer called Karma from some unknown region of India, because this restaurant is too good for Taj or King Fisher beer.”
  6. “Akbar in Santa Monica just re-opened this week ,they remodeled the restaurant "looks amazing" and the food and the wines are sooooo good, you got go there to see the new place and new dishes.”
food quality
83.71999740600586% positive
  1. “Some of the best Indian food on the Westside.”
  2. “And don't forget to wash down your meal with a retarded beer called Karma from some unknown region of India, because this restaurant is too good for Taj or King Fisher beer.”
  3. “The food was cold.”
  4. “And the food matches the impressive surrounds.”
  5. “Best Indian restaurant in town, the food (all dishes) are great, they have the best Chilean Sea Bass in the world and the Chicken tika masala is excelent too.”
  6. “The Chicken Saag last night was unbelieveable, we wanted to eat every bit of the delicious spinach sauce and the Chicken breast pieces inside were moist and buttery on their own accord!”
  7. “sat down and was greeted with a spoonful of this amazingly delicious squash soup, seasoned with a bite of garlic, reminding me of a visit to Spagos.”
  8. “Best Indian food ever!”
  9. “Some meals very hot and spicy - but I am not a big fan of hot & spicy.”
  10. “It all blends perfectly with the warm and deep flavors of the food.”
  11. “The food was cold, the portions were tiny and the nan was chewy.”
  12. “Along with a yummy dish of Chicken Tika Marsala and hot Nan Bread, I was given a twirly thing with Indian condiments: fresh mint cilantro, chutney, coconut chutney, fresh tomato chutney and mixed vegetable; my favorite was the coconut chutney.”
  13. “Lately I've been hooked on the Chicken Kati Roll, but I've never had anything less than an excellent meal.”
  14. “The Marina branch had always been my favorite due to superior quality of food and decor, though Santa Monica was always a fine option as well.”
  15. “Akbar in Santa Monica just re-opened this week ,they remodeled the restaurant "looks amazing" and the food and the wines are sooooo good, you got go there to see the new place and new dishes.”
  16. “Nice decorations - food bland and oily - great Nan and chutneys”
  17. “It is definately the best Indian food I'ver had in Los Angeles and the service is always friendly and helpful!”
  18. “Fresh, tasty and generous portions.”
  19. “the dishes we selected should have been really good, but instead of giving us the flavorful concoctions that we came for - it was bland and oily.”
  20. “the appetizer was great and so were the sea bass entree and the eggplant and potatoes dish.”
  21. “There are so many other great Indian restaurants that have good food AND good service.”
  22. “We had delicious chat something, plus some amazing lamb tandoori and chicken akbari with cashews mmmmmm.”
  23. “Authentic Indian food.”
  24. “Although the food (other than the samosas) was good, the service was awful.”
  25. “I've been to this Akbar many times and the food was always good.”
  26. “The food may not be the most authentic by some people's definitions, but from my experience with Indian food the lightness and fresh ingredients (olive oil, chicken breast, fresh herbs and not GHEE, butter and heavy cream sauces) make Akbar way better tha”
  27. “Each dish stands on its own and has its own unique flavor- never repeating something else.”
  28. “We ordered number 3's all around on the spice level and the food that arrived ranged from baby food mild to inedible lava (and my wife's a Bengali and no wuss when it comes to eating spicy foods way beyond my tolerance).”
  29. “Indian food is really good if it is made well.”
  30. “dined in the newly renovated Santa Monica restaurant last night and had a truly great meal.”
  31. “used to go to the Pasadena location and have always loved the food.”
  32. “The pieces of naan are huge (one order can feed for people), the chutney's are rich and spicy, and the rest of the menu follows suit.”
  33. “The food was decent.”
  34. “Akbar has not only amazing food but the service is really great, which makes the experience just so much better.”
  35. “First - the food is amazing.”
  36. “The Tanddori Sea Bas and other seafood items are always incredible too.”
  37. “cold food leaves something to be desired”
  38. “Best LA Indian food, great dishes, friendly service and amazing wines, you got try theis Chilean sea bass, chicken tikka masala and the magnific Tandori Lamb chops, you must go.”
  39. “We have adventured many cities in the US and abroad tasting Indian cuisine and this has to be one of the worst restaurants we've visited.”
  40. “Been eating in a bunch of differents places , specially Indian cuisines , I found Akbar in Santa Monica the best of the best food I ever eat in my life, everything was excelent since the appetizer untill the desert, the food was amazing, their selection o”
  41. “The food is absolutely delicious, the owners and staff efficient and friendly, the selection of wines is wonderful and the price is very reasonable.”
  42. “The food was awesome.”
  43. “Speaking to the chef, Avinash Kapoor, I learned that Akbar is now preparing daily specials with fresh, seasonal soups & fish, using Farmers' Market vegies.”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “The food is absolutely delicious, the owners and staff efficient and friendly, the selection of wines is wonderful and the price is very reasonable.”
  2. “Been eating in a bunch of differents places , specially Indian cuisines , I found Akbar in Santa Monica the best of the best food I ever eat in my life, everything was excelent since the appetizer untill the desert, the food was amazing, their selection o”
  3. “The pieces of naan are huge (one order can feed for people), the chutney's are rich and spicy, and the rest of the menu follows suit.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “Akbar in Santa Monica just re-opened this week ,they remodeled the restaurant "looks amazing" and the food and the wines are sooooo good, you got go there to see the new place and new dishes.”
  2. “want make sure my new favorite restaurant flourishes.”
  3. “This is my favorite Indian restaurant.”
  4. “Really great place!”
service
83.33000183105469% positive
  1. “There are so many other great Indian restaurants that have good food AND good service.”
  2. “Also, Juan Carlos is one of the best hosts/waiters out there.”
  3. “Best LA Indian food, great dishes, friendly service and amazing wines, you got try theis Chilean sea bass, chicken tikka masala and the magnific Tandori Lamb chops, you must go.”
  4. “The service has always been outstanding.”
  5. “Service is friendly fast and good.”
  6. “The food may not be the most authentic by some people's definitions, but from my experience with Indian food the lightness and fresh ingredients (olive oil, chicken breast, fresh herbs and not GHEE, butter and heavy cream sauces) make Akbar way better tha”
  7. “Been eating in a bunch of differents places , specially Indian cuisines , I found Akbar in Santa Monica the best of the best food I ever eat in my life, everything was excelent since the appetizer untill the desert, the food was amazing, their selection o”
  8. “Service is friendly and professional if a little overintrusive (I felt like we had about 3 waiters last night).”
  9. “Although the food (other than the samosas) was good, the service was awful.”
  10. “Great Indian - Great service”
  11. “cute place, sketchy service”
  12. “The food is absolutely delicious, the owners and staff efficient and friendly, the selection of wines is wonderful and the price is very reasonable.”
  13. “Also the service is great - attentive without being annoying.”
  14. “It is definately the best Indian food I'ver had in Los Angeles and the service is always friendly and helpful!”
  15. “Akbar has not only amazing food but the service is really great, which makes the experience just so much better.”
  16. “This might have been the most attentive service I've received in a long time.”
  17. “The pieces of naan are huge (one order can feed for people), the chutney's are rich and spicy, and the rest of the menu follows suit.”
  18. “Once they realized we weren't big spenders this night the service was literally non existent.”
value
75.0% positive
  1. “Fresh, tasty and generous portions.”
  2. “The food is absolutely delicious, the owners and staff efficient and friendly, the selection of wines is wonderful and the price is very reasonable.”
  3. “The pieces of naan are huge (one order can feed for people), the chutney's are rich and spicy, and the rest of the menu follows suit.”
  4. “The food was cold, the portions were tiny and the nan was chewy.”
wait time
100.0% positive
  1. “This might have been the most attentive service I've received in a long time.”
4 Star Rating: Recommended

06/02/10

AWESOME!

by jocelynperez1985 at Citysearch

Indian food is really good if it is made well. I have been to some pretty bad Indian restaurants. Akbar has not only amazing food but the service is really great, which makes the experience just so much better. Really great place!

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

07/01/09

amazing!!!

by Mizar at Citysearch

I just love everything about this place!! It is definately the best Indian food I'ver had in Los Angeles and the service is always friendly and helpful!!

I go at least once a week!!

  • Pros: the food was spetacular, ambiance was great,friendly service
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

09/07/08

Delicious Food, Great Ambiance, Fair Prices, Friendly Attentive Service - A++

by juddweiss at Citysearch

Wow! I've just found my new favorite Indian Restaurant in Los Angeles. The ambiance is very modern and detailed, yet warm and inviting. And the food, one bite and you know this is quality. Fresh, tasty and generous portions. Even the Iced Tea which looks perfectly normal suprises you when you taste its exotic spices. They can make pretty much any Indian dish you request, whether it's on the menu or not. My favorite is the Lamb Korma, but the Chicken Tikki Masala is also awesome. This might have been the most attentive service I've received in a long time. I like to drink a lot of ice tea, and the glass never went empty; they must have come around to refil it 5 times. It's great to be at a restaurant where the servers pay attention to you and make sure you're taken care of. Including the owner Avinash and Manager Gustavo. Both extra friendly and personable and came by our table and talked with us for a good 5 minutes or so, I hope they do well with this business, it's obvious they've poured thier heart into it. This is my favorite Indian restaurant. I will be bringing friends and any future dates here. None of this is an exageration, I just had to write a review. Check it out for yourself. And tell your friends. I know how hard it is to make a restaurant successfull. I want make sure my new favorite restaurant flourishes.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

08/28/08

Indian Food Re-Invented with a Modern Twist of a Gormet Flavor & Zip

by karenlg at Citysearch

I walked into the newly remodeled Akbar in Santa Monica, saying "wow, it's clean, fresh & crisp." I sat down and was greeted with a spoonful of this amazingly delicious squash soup, seasoned with a bite of garlic, reminding me of a visit to Spagos. Speaking to the chef, Avinash Kapoor, I learned that Akbar is now preparing daily specials with fresh, seasonal soups & fish, using Farmers' Market vegies. Along with a yummy dish of Chicken Tika Marsala and hot Nan Bread, I was given a twirly thing with Indian condiments: fresh mint cilantro, chutney, coconut chutney, fresh tomato chutney and mixed vegetable; my favorite was the coconut chutney. While I was a fan of the old Akbar, the new, improved version transforms Akbar into a hidden gem of gourmet food at neighborhood prices. It's perfect for all occasions from a date to business.

4 Star Rating: Recommended

08/24/08

Great Indian - Great service

by JoKaS at Citysearch

We were intrigued by the new trendy decor at our local indian joint. It's been upgraded really nicely! And the food matches the impressive surrounds. We were worried that on a Saturday night this restaurant was empty but not long after we sat down 4 more parties were seated. We had delicious chat something, plus some amazing lamb tandoori and chicken akbari with cashews mmmmmm. Not completely authentic but fresh and tasty. We will back for more! Love it!

The Details on Akbar Cuisine of India

Place Categories:

  • best indian food
  • great service
  • favorite best indian restaurant
  • favorite coconut chutney
  • comfortable ambiance
  • really good dishes
  • warm flavors
  • generous portions
  • worst indian restaurants
  • great appetizer
  • favorite tandori sea bass
  • amazing wines
  • just love everything
  • not love akbar
  • recommend chicken akbari
  • excellent meal
  • fresh ingredients
  • not order water
  • amazing tandoori
  • favorite chicken tikka masala
  • excellent mango cheesecake
  • flavorful concoctions
  • cold food
  • not big spenders
  • loves everyone
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