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Food is very good, but I always find this place to be a bit overpriced.

Karma has been a favorite of my wife and I whenever we're in Old City. The food off the menu is consistantly very good and the service has always matched it. Aside from the great entres (never had one there I didn't like), don't forget the kulcha or alu papri chat, which really set up the rest of the meal. I've only been in for lunch once (it's buffet style) and was a bit let down, as the quality was a notch below the usual dinner fare. Then again, that's pretty typical of buffet style food anywhere: OK food at good prices. We frequently take out of town guests to Karma for dinner and it has never failed to impress. The biggest problem with going there is the parking, but that's pretty much the case anywhere in Old City.

I don't know what the previous reviewer was talking about, but I have never had food served with plastic-ware at this restaurant in the dozen or so times I've been there. It is the best Indian restaurant in Philly that I've been to (I am not Indian and cannot attest to how authentic it is). Depending on what night you go for dinner, they may be very busy and yet always make the time to refill your water the moment it's less than 3/4 full and are very amenable to refilling your rice and whatever else you may need (they are very accommodating if you need to alter something slightly in the dishes you order). They may not hand you your bill immediately when you finish your meal -- I don't find that to be a bad thing. Nothing kills your dinner mood more than a request for money the moment you put your fork down. In fact, their service is better than most restaurants I've been to in this city. The only other place that compares in my experience with regards to service is Morimoto, but that's a whole other type of cuisine at a price that ends up being 4-5 times higher than your bill at Karma at the end of a night. As far as the food, the quality is superb and consistent. The meat is always very tender, unlike at their competitor/neighbor Cafe Spice; in my 5 or 6 trips to Cafe Spice, the same dish was different every single time, which was not a good thing, and the chicken was gamey the last 3 times, despite the fact that I complained about it the second to last time (hence I never went there again). The sauces at Karma have very distinct aromas that are not overwhelming (and they are very flexible with spiciness!) -- all very good, although I avoid all coconut-containing sauces because I'm just not a coconut fan. Most importantly, none of their food is greasy! That is huge! I give Karma a 5.0 rating in all aspects (food, service, etc.) except for value, which I give a 4.5 only because I am a student, and going there on a weekly basis is kind of expensive for my budget (about $45 for 2 people), but it is still well worth it when all is said and done.

Consistently super food. Great taste and no trans fats. I eat here regularly and have never been disappointed.

I don't know what the other "indian" reviewer was talking about - i'm indian too and this place is the best indian place I've been to in philadelphia. (new jersey has some better but this is pretty close to them). i did not find the wait staff to be rude on the occasions that I have been there. The decor and ambience is not as high class as the other indian restaurant in Old City, but the food here is definitely better as far as flavor/indian-ness goes.

Dinner was great! Chicken tikki masala hit the spot. My husband had the lamb rack which he cant wait to go back for. Definitely a good choice for a dinner spot.

My friends and I walked in on a Saturday to check out the lunch buffet menu and were met with a glare from one of the staff members as he snarled "we're not open for another 20 minutes." Couldn't he have simply let us look at the table that we were already standing in front of? Not using our better judgment, and because we wanted some indian food, we went back to check it out an hour or so later. Food was decent, lots of selection, slightly on the salty side but since Philly lacks in quality Indian cuisine, this place will have to do for now (though I prefer New Delhi in Univ. City). The staff members were all rude, it took 20 minutes before anyone noticed that we were trying to ask for the bill and then when my friend asked for change for two 20's, we were told he could only break one bill! So weird, so we paid, left and will never go back there again. Oh yes, and there was also all those screaming children but that of course is not in the restaurant's control.