The portions for takeout and dine-in differ significantly. That said, I don't know if the prices are different. If you are ordering online/togo then expect to overpay.
Other than that, the food is more than OK, less than best.
Food: 4
Tejeswar
Greatly disappointed!! Enter this place with full of hunger but leaving with half tummy and with lots of leftovers. Ordered Vada,Ghee mini Idly, Poori Masala and Chicken dum Biryani. Not even a single item was good. Better avoid if you want to have a good Indian food.
Mahathi Ch
Food is great, tastes very much like food you have in India. However, the spice levels are insane. A medium = very spicy. So beware before ordering
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
PRIYADARSHINI GHOSH
Ordered poori sabzi, chola bhatura, masala dosa and uttapam, gulab jamun and andhra chilli chicken Other than the uttapam and chilli chicken, everything else was horrible. The poori and bhatura was extremely hard. The chole had no taste and the aloo sabzi had a weird smell. The gulab jamun was stale and smelled bad. Masala on the dosa was the worst we’ve ever tasted. We fell sick the next day. HORRIBLE FOOD AND BEHAVIOUR OF THE PERSON AT THE FRONT DESK. We also ordered some kababs for take away. We requested them to pack the kebabs nicely, either in a plastic container which they usually use to pack biryanis or wrap the paper box with a plastic because we were going on a long road trip. The person at the desk was extremely RUDE and refused ti pack the food in a plastic container. Aweful customer service. However the server at our table was very polite, no complaints there.
Food: 1
Service: 1
Monika Fulzele
We ordered chicken pulao and we found bandage in pulao. They gave me trauma that I am scared to eat outside. If you care about your health don't go to this restaurant, they are not at all hygienic
Neal D
Found a nasty bandage from someone’s finger on the bottom of my chicken pulav ! So damn disgusting! Never eating here again and recommend the same. They should be shut down!
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
Nani Chow
Extremely Disappointed – A Shadow of Its Former Glory
I used to consider this the best Indian restaurant around Irvine—an easy 5-star place back in 2022, 2023, and even pre-pandemic. But sadly, the standards have taken a nosedive, and I can no longer overlook the repeated disappointments.
Todat, 03/09/25, was the last straw. I ordered Haleem, a dish that holds deep cultural and culinary significance, especially for a Hyderabadi like me. What I received was mutton curry. If I had wanted a mutton curry, I would have ordered one! This level of carelessness is inexcusable. It’s not just about one wrong dish; it reflects a complete deterioration in the authenticity and attention to detail that once set this place apart.
I’ve already had multiple bad experiences with the taste of the food over the past few visits, but I gave it the benefit of the doubt. But messing up Haleem? That’s sheer negligence and ignorance of what makes Indian cuisine truly special.
I would ask management to figure out what has changed in the past two years. You were exceptional before—what happened? Bring back the quality, flavors, and authenticity that once made this place a standout. Until then, I won’t be returning.
- Rakesh
Venkat V
Food is too spicy even though we opted for medium spicy
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Chakri Ayyalasomayajula
Usually your food is so good. But in today's uber order, in Veg Biryaani, there is sand in it. You know how tough it is for the body to digest the sand. Thanks
Vegetarian options: Veg biryani
Food: 1
Vijaya Sri
We had dinner on Saturday. Ambience was good but that’s about it, food and service below average. We ordered garlic naan, panner tikka and shahi paneer and paneer pulav, it was average tasting. We were served pulav first and appetizer, naan in the last, service is so bad they don’t even know appetizers need to come out first??!! We had to remind them for naans multiple times and when they arrived, they were cold. None of the dishes had salt in them. I wont be visiting this place again and wont recommend to anyone either.
Initially we are served with tea. Ordered menu for dining in. Paneer Vegetable biryani is somewhat better. Paneer tikka and other curries with non roties. Not upto the mark . No salt. Raita not good. Paneer tikkas no salt. Service is poor.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Tikka
Akhila Yennam
One of the most ridiculous service I have ever seen in Indian restaurants. Being in service industry they don’t even want to keep up the service. The service guys were soo soo rude they kept talking all the slangs words about us, we had an issue with the order I was trying to discuss with the guy in the front. They were using rude language and slang words on the back. I donno about the food quality I would never even consider going to such a place again.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
raina kaur
Their service and hospitality is just as nasty as their food. The staff is rude, tables left unclean and they don’t know how to talk to their customers . Never order from here again
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Joanne Chen
If it’s your first time to eat Indian food, prepare to experience the spicy hot flavor. The food we ordered were delicious but they were still on the spicy side for us even we ordered them all in mild spicy level. Location is great, plenty of parking space. Restaurant is warm and cozy.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
Viji Sanjay
“Disappointed with the Malai Kabab and overall experience.”
We visited Southern Spice in Irvine, and while most dishes were okay, the Malai Kabab was a big letdown. It had an odd, chemical-like taste and seemed old—not fresh at all. This was very concerning, especially since we were dining with kids.
When we brought this up to the server, they promptly took the dish away and mentioned they would speak to the chef. They did inform us that the dish would not be included in the bill, which we appreciated. However, there was no apology or acknowledgment of the issue, which made the situation feel poorly handled. Serving such a dish in the first place is unacceptable—how can something with such an odd taste even make it to the table?
The other dishes—Dosa, Puri Masala, and Chole Bhature—were okay but nothing special. Overall, the experience was disappointing. I hope Southern Spice prioritizes quality control and takes customer feedback seriously moving forward.
This review is only for takeout.
The portions for takeout and dine-in differ significantly. That said, I don't know if the prices are different. If you are ordering online/togo then expect to overpay.
Other than that, the food is more than OK, less than best.
Food: 4
Greatly disappointed!! Enter this place with full of hunger but leaving with half tummy and with lots of leftovers. Ordered Vada,Ghee mini Idly, Poori Masala and Chicken dum Biryani.
Not even a single item was good.
Better avoid if you want to have a good Indian food.
Food is great, tastes very much like food you have in India. However, the spice levels are insane. A medium = very spicy. So beware before ordering
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Ordered poori sabzi, chola bhatura, masala dosa and uttapam, gulab jamun and andhra chilli chicken Other than the uttapam and chilli chicken, everything else was horrible. The poori and bhatura was extremely hard. The chole had no taste and the aloo sabzi had a weird smell. The gulab jamun was stale and smelled bad. Masala on the dosa was the worst we’ve ever tasted. We fell sick the next day. HORRIBLE FOOD AND BEHAVIOUR OF THE PERSON AT THE FRONT DESK. We also ordered some kababs for take away. We requested them to pack the kebabs nicely, either in a plastic container which they usually use to pack biryanis or wrap the paper box with a plastic because we were going on a long road trip. The person at the desk was extremely RUDE and refused ti pack the food in a plastic container. Aweful customer service. However the server at our table was very polite, no complaints there.
Food: 1
Service: 1
We ordered chicken pulao and we found bandage in pulao. They gave me trauma that I am scared to eat outside. If you care about your health don't go to this restaurant, they are not at all hygienic
Found a nasty bandage from someone’s finger on the bottom of my chicken pulav ! So damn disgusting! Never eating here again and recommend the same. They should be shut down!
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
Extremely Disappointed – A Shadow of Its Former Glory
I used to consider this the best Indian restaurant around Irvine—an easy 5-star place back in 2022, 2023, and even pre-pandemic. But sadly, the standards have taken a nosedive, and I can no longer overlook the repeated disappointments.
Todat, 03/09/25, was the last straw. I ordered Haleem, a dish that holds deep cultural and culinary significance, especially for a Hyderabadi like me. What I received was mutton curry. If I had wanted a mutton curry, I would have ordered one! This level of carelessness is inexcusable. It’s not just about one wrong dish; it reflects a complete deterioration in the authenticity and attention to detail that once set this place apart.
I’ve already had multiple bad experiences with the taste of the food over the past few visits, but I gave it the benefit of the doubt. But messing up Haleem? That’s sheer negligence and ignorance of what makes Indian cuisine truly special.
I would ask management to figure out what has changed in the past two years. You were exceptional before—what happened? Bring back the quality, flavors, and authenticity that once made this place a standout. Until then, I won’t be returning.
- Rakesh
Food is too spicy even though we opted for medium spicy
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Usually your food is so good. But in today's uber order, in Veg Biryaani, there is sand in it. You know how tough it is for the body to digest the sand. Thanks
Vegetarian options: Veg biryani
Food: 1
We had dinner on Saturday. Ambience was good but that’s about it, food and service below average. We ordered garlic naan, panner tikka and shahi paneer and paneer pulav, it was average tasting. We were served pulav first and appetizer, naan in the last, service is so bad they don’t even know appetizers need to come out first??!! We had to remind them for naans multiple times and when they arrived, they were cold. None of the dishes had salt in them. I wont be visiting this place again and wont recommend to anyone either.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 1
Restaurantji Recommends
Initially we are served with tea. Ordered menu for dining in. Paneer Vegetable biryani is somewhat better. Paneer tikka and other curries with non roties. Not upto the mark . No salt. Raita not good. Paneer tikkas no salt. Service is poor.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Tikka
One of the most ridiculous service I have ever seen in Indian restaurants. Being in service industry they don’t even want to keep up the service. The service guys were soo soo rude they kept talking all the slangs words about us, we had an issue with the order I was trying to discuss with the guy in the front. They were using rude language and slang words on the back.
I donno about the food quality I would never even consider going to such a place again.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Their service and hospitality is just as nasty as their food. The staff is rude, tables left unclean and they don’t know how to talk to their customers .
Never order from here again
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
If it’s your first time to eat Indian food, prepare to experience the spicy hot flavor. The food we ordered were delicious but they were still on the spicy side for us even we ordered them all in mild spicy level. Location is great, plenty of parking space. Restaurant is warm and cozy.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
“Disappointed with the Malai Kabab and overall experience.”
We visited Southern Spice in Irvine, and while most dishes were okay, the Malai Kabab was a big letdown. It had an odd, chemical-like taste and seemed old—not fresh at all. This was very concerning, especially since we were dining with kids.
When we brought this up to the server, they promptly took the dish away and mentioned they would speak to the chef. They did inform us that the dish would not be included in the bill, which we appreciated. However, there was no apology or acknowledgment of the issue, which made the situation feel poorly handled. Serving such a dish in the first place is unacceptable—how can something with such an odd taste even make it to the table?
The other dishes—Dosa, Puri Masala, and Chole Bhature—were okay but nothing special. Overall, the experience was disappointing. I hope Southern Spice prioritizes quality control and takes customer feedback seriously moving forward.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 1
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