India Spice House in Chattanooga: North Indian Cooking with Daily Lunch Buffet

India Spice House is a casual North Indian restaurant on Gunbarrel Road that serves tandoori meats, curries, and breads at moderate prices, with a lunch buffet that runs seven days a week and remains the most affordable way to sample the menu in Chattanooga.

What India Spice House actually is

India Spice House focuses on North Indian cuisine, emphasizing tandoori preparation and cream-based curries. The space is modest, built for quick lunch service and takeout rather than lingering; tables are close together and decor is functional. The kitchen handles a high volume during lunch, particularly weekdays between noon and 1 p.m. It sits in a strip mall alongside other service businesses and does not command the neighborhood presence of downtown Chattanooga's larger dining destinations.

Menu and pricing

The lunch buffet costs $10.99 per person and includes 5 to 7 curries, rice, naan, and a small salad bar. Items rotate but typically feature chicken tikka masala, paneer butter masala, dal, and a meat or vegetable curry. Buffet runs daily from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is the format most customers choose.

Dinner entrees range from $12 to $16 and are ordered individually. Signature dishes include chicken tandoori (bone-in pieces finished in a clay oven, ordered by weight), lamb rogan josh (tomato-based with warming spice), paneer tikka masala (cottage cheese in a creamy tomato sauce), and chicken tikka (marinated chunks without sauce). Vegetarian options are substantial: paneer dishes, chana masala (chickpeas in tomato), and aloo gobi (potato and cauliflower) appear on every menu. Sides like saag paneer and dal are $4 to $6. Breads (naan, roti, paratha) are $2 to $4 each.

Spice levels are adjustable; the kitchen accommodates requests for mild through very hot. Prices verified as of late 2024; confirm current lunch buffet rates by phone.

How it compares to other Chattanooga Indian restaurants

Chattanooga has limited Indian options, making direct comparison difficult. Curry in a Hurry, also on the south side, offers a similar buffet model at comparable pricing but emphasizes South Indian dosas and idlis alongside North Indian curries, appealing to customers seeking regional variety. Masala, located downtown near the aquarium, carries a more extensive dinner menu and fuller bar service but operates primarily for dinner and lunch service is limited. India Spice House's advantage is consistency and speed during weekday lunch; its disadvantage is lack of ambiance and no alcohol license. Choose India Spice House for an affordable, no-fuss lunch buffet. Choose Masala for a more complete dining experience or evening service. Choose Curry in a Hurry if you want South Indian items like dosas.

Who it suits and who it does not suit

India Spice House works well for weekday lunch crowds, office workers seeking quick service, families with young children, and anyone building a meal from buffet combinations. It does not suit customers seeking alcohol, detailed plating, or quiet conversation. The buffet is built for speed, not lingering. Dinner service is slower than lunch and the restaurant empties considerably after 8 p.m.

What the first visit involves

Arrive during lunch (11 a.m. to 2 p.m.) and expect to pay at the register before seating. A server will bring water and show you to a table. The buffet line is self-serve; grab a plate and move through the hot containers. You can return to the buffet as many times as needed. Naan and other breads are brought hot to the table as you eat.

If you visit for dinner, order at the table from a printed menu. Service is slower because food is prepared to order. Expect 20 to 30 minutes for entrees.

Hours, parking, and logistics

India Spice House is open for lunch daily from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dinner hours run Tuesday through Sunday from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.; the restaurant is closed Mondays. It is located on Gunbarrel Road in a strip mall with ample free parking directly in front. No reservations are accepted. The space seats approximately 40 people, so weekday lunch can involve a brief wait between noon and 1 p.m.

The restaurant does not have a liquor license; you cannot bring your own alcohol.

The buffet at India Spice House remains the only seven-days-a-week lunch option for North Indian food in Chattanooga, making it the practical choice for consistent midday access to tandoori and curry dishes at under $12 per person.