Curry Craft
The lunch buffet at this San Marcos spot is what brings people back. The chicken tikka masala draws the strongest praise, with the chicken tender and the sauce hitting the right balance. Basmati rice and naan are both on point. Vegetarian options on the buffet are genuinely well-represented, not an afterthought. It runs as a casual, family-friendly room, and the staff keeps service moving at the lunch pace.
What to orderChicken Tikka MasalaGarlic NaanLamb Biryani Call DirectionsFull review & visiting detailsRead the full review & visiting details
San Marcos Indian That Earns the Repeat Visit
The Chicken Tikka Masala is the signature order here, a rich, creamy dish that anchors the menu and draws the most consistent praise.
Garlic Naan is the bread of choice and a natural companion to the saucier mains, pulling double duty as a utensil and a dish in its own right.
The Lamb Biryani pairs tender lamb with basmati rice in the layered style that defines the dish across the subcontinent, a full meal on its own.
Curry Craft sits in San Marcos, up the 15 corridor in inland North County, and it runs like a neighborhood room that has figured out exactly what it does well and does it consistently. The kitchen's reputation centers on the Chicken Tikka Masala, which comes up again and again as the standout: the chicken is notably tender, the sauce has real depth, and it reads as the kind of dish that turns a first visit into a regular habit. That says something about execution in a cuisine where the same dish name can mean very different things from kitchen to kitchen.
The naan lands as the right companion, properly blistered and soft, and the basmati rice is exactly what the plate needs, cooked clean and fragrant rather than as an afterthought. The lunch buffet is the operational anchor here, drawing repeat regulars on weekdays and offering genuine range for vegetarian diners. The veggie options on the buffet get specific mention from the people who come back for them, which matters in a cuisine where the vegetarian side of the menu should be as serious as the meat side.
The room runs casually and the price stays moderate, so this is accessible everyday Indian food at a price point that makes the repeat visit easy to justify. For North County residents who know the drive from coastal San Marcos into the inland strip, this is the kind of local spot that gets added to the rotation and stays there. No theatrics, no occasion required, just consistent, well-executed Indian cooking in a neighborhood that benefits from having it.
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The weekday lunch buffet is the move, especially for the vegetarian options and the Chicken Tikka Masala. The naan is worth ordering on the side even at the buffet.
