Gujarati Thali · Artesia
By Monty Khas, Anonymous Critic. Pays every bill.
Pioneer Boulevard in Artesia is Southern California's Little India, a few blocks of sari shops, jewelers, sweet shops and restaurants that feel like a world apart from the rest of Los Angeles County. Plenty of spots here are worth a visit, but if you only have time for one meal, make it Rajdhani.
How it works
There's no menu to wrestle with. Rajdhani serves a Gujarati thali, a silver platter ringed with small bowls, and waiters move through the dining room with pots and baskets, refilling everything until you wave them away. It's not a buffet. The food comes to you, and the hospitality is the point.
What to eat
The thali changes daily, so every visit is a little different. Expect daal, the gently sweet and sour lentil soup that defines Gujarati cooking, and kadhi, a yogurt-and-chickpea-flour curry that's tangy, warming and worth asking for seconds of. A few vegetable dishes round things out, such as spicy bhindi, chole or palak paneer, alongside rice and khichdi, the soft rice-and-lentil comfort food.
The breads come hot and keep coming: puffy puris and thin chapatis. On good days you'll find khandvi, delicate rolls of chickpea-flour batter tempered with mustard seeds, and chaas, a cool, salty buttermilk that helps with the spice. Sweets are part of the meal, too, so finish with a gulab jamun or the rose ice cream with basil seeds.
The room
Rajdhani sits on the second floor of a strip mall, with a patio and a dining room that's simple and spotless. It's busy with families on weekends, and the waiters move fast, so don't be shy about asking for what you want more of.
Before you go
Rajdhani is at 18525 Pioneer Boulevard and closes on Mondays. Lunch is the easiest time to visit, and weekend hours can be shorter than you'd expect, so check before you go. Afterward, walk Pioneer Boulevard and stop at Surati Farsan Mart, a few blocks away, for Gujarati snacks and sweets.
Why it matters
Gujarati cooking is one of India's great vegetarian traditions, and Rajdhani serves it the way it's eaten at home: in abundance, with a little sweetness in every dish. For many desi families in Southern California, a trip to Little India isn't complete without a stop here.
The Quick Fix
What to order: The thali (it's the only real choice); extra kadhi; khandvi; puri; khichdi; chaas; gulab jamun; rose ice cream with basil seeds
Pricing: Budget to mid-range. One set price, unlimited refills.
Best for: Vegetarians, families, big appetites, first-timers to Gujarati food and anyone exploring Little India
How it compares: Artesia's essential sit-down meal; more home-style than anything else on this list; the best vegetarian meal in LA, and the best value
See where Rajdhani ranks: The Best Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi Restaurants in Los Angeles: Our Top 10 for 2026
The food was always this good. We're just paying attention.