NC Triangle Dining Food Blog

The Best Restaurants and Bars in Raleigh, Durham, Cary, and Chapel Hill

  • NC Triangle Dining Food Blog
  • Home
    • Blog
  • Best Restaurants and Bars
    • The Best Restaurants in Raleigh, NC
    • The Best Restaurants in Durham, NC
    • The Best Restaurants in Cary – Apex, NC
    • The Best Restaurants in Chapel Hill – Carrboro, NC
    • Best Food Specials and Deals in Raleigh, Durham, Cary, and Chapel Hill
    • The Best Bars and Lounges in Raleigh, NC
  • News
    • Coming Soon to the Triangle – New Restaurants and Bars
    • New Restaurants and Bars in Cary and Morrisville
    • New Restaurants and Bars in Chapel Hill and Carrboro
    • New Restaurants and Bars in Durham
    • New Restaurants and Bars in Raleigh
    • New Restaurants and Bars of the Triangle, 2021
  • Index of Reviews
    • Cary – Restaurant and Bar Reviews
    • Chapel Hill and Carrboro – Restaurant and Bar Reviews
    • Durham Restaurant and Bar Reviews
    • Raleigh Restaurant and Bar Reviews
    • NC Video Reviews
    • Travel Reviews
  • Food Photos
    • Food Event Photos
  • About
    • NCTD Blogger- Ron Wen
    • NC Triangle Dining Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
    • NC Triangle Dining Blog Policy
    • Working with NC Triangle Dining
    • NC Triangle Dining Blog and Social Media Statistics
Restaurant & Bar Reviews » Cary » Cilantro Indian in Cary Grows Up But Still Dishes Out Delicious Eats!

April 1, 2014 by Ron Wen 2 Comments

Cilantro Indian in Cary Grows Up But Still Dishes Out Delicious Eats!

Entrance to Cilantro Indian in Cary, NC Triangle Dining
Entrance to Cilantro Indian in Cary, NC Triangle Dining

A while back I had reviewed Regency Kitchen, a little take-out Indian eatery at a gas station that surprisingly served up really good ethnic eats.  Given how close it is to my workplace, it quickly became a regular part of my lunch rotation.  Fast-forward to 2014 and looks like a lot of other people agreed with me because that little gas station Indian cafe has moved up in the world to MacGregor Village as Cilantro Indian Cafe!  Losing their great Indian food for two months while they moved had me craving it even more so you can bet we were ready to eat right after they opened on February 28!

Interior at Cilantro Indian in Cary, NC Triangle Dining
Interior at Cilantro Indian in Cary, NC Triangle Dining

Cilantro Indian Cafe is located in a quiet spot of MacGregor Village on the left-hand side of the plaza.  At the entrance you’ll find a bright green archway leading to their order counter.  First thing you’ll notice is that the place is B-I-G, big!  Large open tiled space, four tops around the edge and even a second floor for increased capacity.  But even with all this space, Cilantro is still an order at the counter, casual spot.  Prices on the menu seem mostly the same at about $9 per entree and I go with my usual tandoori wings with Moroccan hummus.  Grab a number, grab a drink and then grab a table.  The food here does take some time but at least you know it’s fresh.  The owner (Mustafa) says they are working on ways to improve service speed which will be important given the number of tables they have.

 

 Tandoori wings at Cilantro Indian in Cary, NC Triangle Dining
Tandoori wings at Cilantro Indian in Cary, NC Triangle Dining

Our food arrives on a silver platter in white, modern ceramic dishes.  Everyone’s food looks great!  We’ve got a saag paneer, and chicken tikka masala along with my meal at the table.  I’ve got five wings, a serving of the hummus, basmati rice, four squares of naan and a cold salad starter (cucumber, chickpeas, red onion, basil, cilantro) which I think is chana chaat salad.  The starter is excellent bursting with citrus, herbs and flavor, wonderful stuff.  The tandoori wings are coated in a thick, red spicy rub and as delicious as I remember it.  Paired with the spicy Moroccan hummus (like chickpea tikka masala), I get to sniffling but it’s all good.  Cilantro has always been on the higher side with their spicing and heat so if you’re sensitive to spiciness be careful.

Chicken tikka masala at Cilantro Indian in Cary, NC Triangle Dining
Chicken tikka masala at Cilantro Indian in Cary, NC Triangle Dining
Saag paneer at Cilantro Indian in Cary, NC Triangle Dining
Saag paneer at Cilantro Indian in Cary, NC Triangle Dining

All I can say is that I’m glad to have Cilantro Indian Cafe back in business and feeding the Cary area their spicy deliciousness!  I need to explore the menu some more but I think their food can compare with the better known Indian restaurants in the area but in a different way.  Cilantro reminds me more of the hole-in-the-wall type Indian places I enjoyed in SF so if you’re willing to forgo the fancy silverware and table cloths, I think you’ll be happy.  The only thing that’s really missing is fresh-baked naan which I believe is key to any good Indian restaurant.  I do know that they currently don’t have plans to do a lunch buffet so don’t get too hopeful there.  Otherwise I can fairly say that Cilantro Indian is a deliciously, spicy casual meal that warrants making an effort to eat at.  So welcome back, Cilantro!  We certainly missed you…

 

Cilantro Indian Cafe

MacGregor Village

107 Edinburgh S Drive, Ste 107

Cary, NC 27511

919.234.1264

Location on Google maps

Save

Related

Filed Under: Cary, Restaurant & Bar Reviews Tagged With: Indian Restaurants

Comments

  1. Capi's and Regency Kitchen, Cary for Quick, Tasty Eats and Gasoline! says

    August 30, 2014 at 12:14 am

    […] Kitchen has closed down and been moved as Cilantro Cafe in Cary)  Who woulda thunk it?  A nice sandwich shop and good Indian food at a gas station? Well […]

    Reply
  2. Best New Restaurants in the NC Triangle, 2014 says

    December 27, 2014 at 5:27 pm

    […] out west to Cary, I’ll have to say I still love the refreshed Cilantro Indian Cafe out in MacGregor Village.  Super-spicy and flavorful, Cilantro does some of the best Indian […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe to NC Triangle Dining

Popular Reviews

Brecotea Baking Studio in Cary for Asian Pastries, Boba Tea and a Relaxed Meeting Spot

Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls, Raleigh – A Taste of New England Seafood in North Carolina

Sam Jones BBQ Arrives in Raleigh Offering Up Top-Notch Barbeque, Ribs, and Sides

Don’t Miss

  • Coming Soon to the Triangle – New Restaurants and Bars
  • New Restaurants and Bars in Cary and Morrisville, Now Open
  • New Restaurants and Bars in Chapel Hill and Carrboro, Now Open
  • New Restaurants and Bars in Durham, Now Open
  • New Restaurants and Bars in Raleigh, Now Open
  • New Restaurants and Bars of the Triangle, 2021 Edition

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

New Reviews!

  • The Willard Rooftop Lounge in Raleigh for Cocktails and the Golden Hour
  • A’Verde Cocina and Tequila Library Offering Up Fruity Cocktails and Fanciful Food Presentation
  • PrimoHoagies in Raleigh for Stuffed Sandwiches with a South Philly Flair!
  • CowBar Burgers & Fries in Raleigh for Beefy Perfection at North Hills

Connect with NCTD

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

NCTD Email Subscription


Handcrafted with on the Genesis Framework