Oak Tree Road might be the best place in New Jersey to show up hungry. The stretch running through Edison and Iselin is packed with Indian and Pakistani restaurants, and several of them put out buffets that let you try a little of everything.
That matters, because a buffet is the easiest way to sample biryani, korma, naan, and dessert without guessing what to order. Here are six spots where you can fill a plate, go back for seconds, and leave very full.
1. Moghul Restaurant, Edison, NJ
If Oak Tree Road had a gold standard for a polished Indian lunch buffet, Moghul would be a strong pick for the title. The dining room leans upscale, yet families, groups, and solo diners all fit right in.
The kitchen covers North and South Indian dishes, along with Pan-Asian plates. Buffet spreads include both vegetarian and non-vegetarian choices, and Indian desserts round things out at the end.
Diners with food restrictions get real options here. Plenty of dishes are gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, or vegan, and there is a full vegetarian menu too.
On the regular menu, look for Patiala Tandoori Shrimp, lamb chops, fried fish, and paneer pasanda. The Moghul Veg Samosa and Samosa Chat are both vegan.
Plan ahead on hours. Moghul is closed Mondays and serves lunch from 12 to 3 PM Tuesday through Sunday, then reopens for dinner at 5 PM.
Saturday evenings get busy, so dinner reservations are recommended. Thursday afternoon tends to be the calmest time to stop by.
2. Shalimar Restaurant – Pakistani & Halal Cuisine, Iselin, NJ
Walk past the big display case of sweets at Shalimar without stopping, if you can. It is one of the first things you notice inside this Pakistani and Indian storefront in Iselin.
The weekend buffet is the main event. Expect a mix of meat and vegetarian dishes, fresh fruit salad, and lassi, with goat korma and chicken biryani standing out as favorites.
Everything is halal, and prices stay friendly at around $20 to $30 per person. The breads get plenty of attention here, and the lamb chops are known for being tender.
Shalimar also opens early. Doors open at 9 AM on weekends and 10 AM on weekdays, so breakfast is on the table too.
Off-buffet favorites include Beef Nihari, Goat Korma, Garlic Naan, and a Beef Seekh Kabab roll. Finish with falooda if you still have room.
Saturday afternoon and Sunday evening bring the biggest crowds. Free Wi-Fi and high chairs make it easy for families to settle in.
3. Amma’s Kitchen, Edison, NJ
Banana leaf instead of a plate? At Amma’s Kitchen, the unlimited South Indian spread is served that way, and it changes the whole meal.
The lineup is long. Appetizers, soup, biryani, rice, dal, sambar, parotta, salan, curries, raita, and buttermilk all show up, along with fish fry, chicken 65, chicken curry, and fish curry.
Vegetarians are covered with dishes like aloo gobi and baby corn pepper fry. The buffet has run about $20 for more than 20 items, including seafood, desserts, tea, and buttermilk.
Hours are the other big perk. Amma’s opens at 9 AM on weekdays and 8 AM on weekends, then stays open until 1 AM every night.
That makes the Breakfast Combo and a late biryani run equally possible. Pomfret Fish Fry and boneless Chicken 65 are standouts on the regular menu.
Weekend afternoons are the busiest. Wednesday morning is usually the quietest stretch.
4. Chamkila Express, Edison, NJ
Some buffets live in a small dining room. Chamkila Express sits inside the large Chamkila Building on Oak Tree Road, with modern decor to match the size.
The weekend brunch buffet is unlimited and covers a wide spread of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. Goat korma, chicken Karachi, and lahori fish are among the picks.
Vegetarian cooking is a strong suit, and the naan earns its own praise. Prices land around $20 to $30 per person, which keeps it one of the more affordable buffets on the strip.
The kitchen has also offered a special buffet for Diwali. Halal food is available too.
From the menu, try Amritsari Fish, Tandoori Chicken, Dhaba Special Kadai Paneer, or the Chamkila Special Daal Makhani. Garma Garam Gulab Jamun is a warm way to finish.
Late hours help. It stays open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.
5. Chef’s Table, Edison, NJ
A lunch buffet around $16 a person is hard to beat for an easy weekday meal. Chef’s Table, farther west on Oak Tree Road, offers just that in a warmly lit, easygoing room.
The spread is colorful and varied. Saffron rice, noodles, tandoori chicken, chicken tikka masala, and several vegetable curries have all appeared, and the appetizers get plenty of attention.
I like this one for folks who want a mix of Indian classics and a few playful twists. The dinner menu includes Pav Bhaji Fondue, Paratdar Paneer Tikka, Chicken 65, and a vegan Som Tom Salad.
Desserts are a highlight. Kulfi Falooda and Gulab Jamun are both on the menu.
Chef’s Table is closed Mondays. Lunch runs 12 to 3 PM and dinner starts at 5 PM, with Friday and Saturday nights drawing the biggest crowds, so a short wait for a table can happen.
6. Spice House, Edison, NJ
Here is the one off Oak Tree Road. Spice House sits on Lincoln Highway in Edison and mixes Indian cooking with Indo-Chinese favorites and signature momos.
The weekend lunch buffet rotates through several curries, plus chicken with a smoky grilled flavor. Spice levels lean mild, which makes it an easy pick for anyone still building up a tolerance.
Do not skip the mango lassi. It comes thick and flavorful.
Portions are generous, and the price range of about $10 to $20 per person keeps it budget friendly. Chicken Tikka Masala, Chicken Biryani, Chilli Garlic Naan, and Chinese Bhel are all regular menu highlights.
The dining room tends to be casual and quiet. Parking is free and on site, and the restaurant opens at 11 AM daily.
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