Vegan-friendly
Lacto
Indian
Buffet
Beer/Wine
Delivery
Take-out
Veggie restaurant since 1983 and under ownership since 2015. Specializes in traditional South Indian vegetarian cuisine and thali. All-you-can eat buffet at lunchtime. NOTE: Booking system reported to be unreliable. Open Mon-Sun 12:00-14:30, 17:30-22:30.
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2-3 St. Patrick Square (at Nicolson St), Edinburgh, Scotland, EH8 9EZ
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Last update on 04 Jan 2022 by craigmc
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73 Reviews
First Review by feorag
Desertwillow
Points +38
OK - Edit
If you’ve not had South Indian food before, you’re in for a treat. If you have and you loved it, you may find this just OK. Service pleasant but variable.
Read moreGuest
neil7908
Points +436
Dropped in quality - Edit
I've been several times over the years but last time I went, I have to agree with the review below that it was incredibly bland.
Read moreThe lunch all you can eat felt like I was in a school cafeteria - tasteless, lukewarm food served in big vats. Wasn't even particularly cheap and cash only is a pretty big inconvenience these days.
I would give dinner a try again as that's when I've enjoyed it before and that's also why I've been generous in my star rating but wouldn't be back for lunch.
Guest
deadpledge
Points +13257
Battle of the bland - Edit
After reading some glowing reviews I had been looking forward to visiting Kalpna. Sadly we left really disappointed after our lunch buffet. It wasn't that the food was awful, it was just bland and I suppose we were expecting a lot more. Two of the three curries on offer were vegan (daal and a chickpea saag) but both were lacking a depth of flavour and spice. The chutneys and sauces were very nice though, as were the bhajis. I would visit again but not for the buffet, as I suspect the evening menu would be more to my liking and a truer reflection of what they offer.
Read morePros: Inexpensive
Cons: Bland buffet, Cash only for buffet
Guest
RoryMcK
Points +261
Great lunch buffet - Edit
Every time I've been to the buffet, all of the curries have been vegan, the rice obviously is too. Some of the best curry I've had in Edinburgh.
Read moreEdit: just asked and occasionally one of the curries is just vegetarian, but mostly they're all vegan
Guest
MichalFallach
Points +13
מסעדה נעימה עם אוכל טוב - Edit
הגענו לצהריים לארוחת הבופה. היו אופציות רבות: אורז, מש, פטריות, סמוסה ועוד.
Read moreהיה נחמד מאוד.
Guest
EmmaFaeEdinburgh
Points +1399
Try the vegan thali - Edit
Even before I went vegan, I absolutely loved this place. For me, the vegan thali is an absolute must. This beautiful Indian platter comes in two sizes: the regular (which is big); or the “raj bhog” (which is absolutely monstrous).
Read moreI love the thali here because it looks absolutely gorgeous but it changes from time to time so you never get the exact same meal twice. For me, the mushroom based curry is always my favourite, but I also have a lot of time for the comforting taste of the tarka dahl. With a starter, main and dessert all on one plate, you don’t need to order anything else, and you’ll find yourself satisfyingly stuffed for the rest of the evening!
Guest
petrinemcshane
Points +219
Fantastic - Edit
Lots of vegan options at the fantastic vegetarian/vegan Indian restaurant. Also has vegan wine list. Friendly service too!
Read morePros: Great food , Great service , Menu clearly marked with vegan 🌱 & gluten free opt
Cons: Can’t think of any
Guest
Mandarina1
Points +104
Delicious buffet - Edit
The vegan buffet was super delicious and filling. Loads of tasty food to stuff your face with. The staff was incredibly friendly as well. Hope to go there again soon!
Read morePros: Vegan / vegetarian Buffet, Loads of options, Affordable
Guest
claret
Points +33
No credit cards - Edit
I've been coming here for years but just not as good the last few times. They say they take cards and always gave before but at the point we were paying the bill they suddenly said they would only take cash 'today'. I've spoken to others and that has happened to them too. Something not right.
Read morePros: Good food lots of vegan options
Cons: Says takes cards but cash only
Guest
curioustraveler12
Points +605
Delicious - Edit
I came here for lunch after reading some reviews. I had such a craving for Indian curries and this lovely place satisfied all of my wishes with wonderful vegan food. On top of that it was a buffet and I was able to try everything I wanted. Again! :D
Read morePros: Informed Staff, Buffet , Nice vibe
Guest
Muuuuu
Points +3230
all you can eat lunch - Edit
affordable and almost 100% vegan
Read moreGuest
Womble93
Points +33
Disappointing ethics - Edit
Recently visited kalpna, one of my favourite places to eat since 1992! I know there have been changes over the years but I was really saddened to discover at the back of the menu an advert and menu for another restaurant. A seafood restaurant that also served lamb, beef, chicken amongst others!! I could hardly believe my eyes! I find this quite offensive. Surely other ethical vegans will agree that this is hardly an appropriate or considerate thing to do. For this reason and as a true animal lover I doubt I will eat here again. I believe for me it's a no brainer. I show my disgust by stopping paying into the system. Real shame because the food is still amazing and good value and service was excellent....... yes I stayed !! because I didn't want to cause a scene (I was with a group), but in future, now I have this information I won't go back.
Read morePros: Great food, Reasonably priced , Clean toilets
Cons: Advertisement of meat menu at back of menu, Supporting animal exploitation
Guest
BigSixBass
Points +527
Excellent food - Edit
Great Indian vegan food here. Love it !!
Read moreGuest
vetveg
Points +21
very good dishes, but ... - Edit
cozy and well-furnished room
Read morePros: Very good dishes, A lot of veg & veggy dishes, True Indian cuisine
Cons: Poor table service (I must wait 1 hour for eat), A little bit expensive
Guest
RenéeRos
Points +392
Very nice thali! - Edit
Very friendly place. We ordered the big vegan thali and a smoked eggplant dish. Both were really nice, but the food could have been a bit more spicy for me.
Read morePros: Lots of vegan dishes, Very friendly
Cons: Food could be more spicy
Guest
EuanBass
Points +162
Great Vegan Curry - Edit
This is the 2nd time we have eaten here, great food and reasonable sized portions
Read morePros: Loads Of Vegan Options, Helpful Staff, Reasonably Priced
Guest
poppyseed
Points +86
Great curry! - Edit
I have loved Kalpna since forever - always been a great place for vegetarians / vegans. Friendly staff and delicious food! Also looks nice after the revamp.
Read moreGuest
ClaireC
Points +101
Really delicious vegan thali - Edit
We both had the large vegan thali and it was GREAT! Really recommend it. It is quite a lot of food though!
Read morePros: Lots of vegan options , Menu clearly marked, Delicious
Guest
Ghiribizzo
Points +224
When in Edinburgh... - Edit
Always good. One dish was cold today - better management of the tray warmers needed, a pity. But the recent re-decoration makes a huge improvement to the front area of the restaurant.
Read moreGuest
falafffel
Points +3169
Great lunch buffet - Edit
I went here for lunch and they had a buffet for 8.50 pounds. There were 3 curries, rice and naan and salad with three different chutneys. Everything tasted really nice.
Read moreOne caveat: I asked them about the vegan options and was told that the buffet is vegan, apart from the yoghurt sauce. In my book this is great for a vegetarian place. On the table I then saw a little sign saying that everything in the buffet would be vegan - I was glad that I asked, because I would have assumed the youghurt to be plant based otherwise.
Pros: Great vegan lunch buffet, very reasonable price
Cons: not all things are vegan , despite a sign stating this
Guest
radiocaz
Points +960
lovely food - Edit
Very nice indian food for lunch buffet. Seems authentic and healthier than more typical Indian restaurants. Nice variety of dishes.
Read morePros: all vegan lunch buffet good price £8.50, nice decor , glass bottles of tap water available
Guest
missLape
Points +1267
Lots and lots... - Edit
Went there on my first evening in Edinburgh and we loved it all.
Read moreWe asked if the rice portion was small or would be enough for 3 of us, the waitress said it's for 1 person. Well, probably for one person who grew up in a household eating rice daily :D we love rice but we hardly finished the two dishes, even with the help of our friend who didnt order anything because she wasnt so hungry :D hehe
So would recommend sharing the dishes. :)
Guest
Nicola.W
Points +132
Popped in for a lunch buffet - Edit
Lunch buffet is all vegan and reasonably priced. They provide 2 starters, rice, 3 mains and salad and bread. Food was very good, tasted freshly made and full of flavour. I could have eaten a full plate of the battered cauliflower alone!
Read morePros: Not having to worry what you can have., Reasonably priced, Flavour full
Cons: Some of the food was warm but not hot.
Guest
DamienRistow
Points +20
Great food, poor service - Edit
The experience is severely let down by poor service. We had a very rude and incompetent waitress, and sat for nearly a half hour waiting for our bill. All other aspects were great; the vegan food was clearly labelled, food came out promptly, taste and authenticity were excellent.
Read morePros: Great food
Cons: Poor Service
Guest
vegangrace
Points +139
Great staff, fab vegan options! - Edit
We had the vegan set menu which was a big platter with many small dishes. It was delicious! It wasn't super hot (temperature) but it was so yummy we didn't mind. Definitely will be back. It was great to have some vegan dishes marked on the menu :)
Read morePros: great vegan options
Guest
trisarahtops18
Points +97
Good pre-theatre vegan option - Edit
We loved the atmosphere at Kalpna, and the vegan thali we had was delicious. It was clearly marked as vegan on the menu, which is always a bonus! We really enjoyed the food, but found it a little pricey for a postgrad student's pocket!
Read moreCons: Expensive
Guest
d.vegan
Points +843
Lovely all Vegan buffet - Edit
They do an all Vegan buffet from 12-2pm and it was so worth the £8.50 I paid! Great selection of Vegan dishes that left me super full
Read morePros: Cheap
Guest
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