The Second Wife Indian Restaurant in North San Jose is a good choice if you want a wide variety of Indian food, especially during the lunch buffet. The restaurant is clean and comfortable, with a warm atmosphere that works well for families, friends, or a casual meal.
The buffet is one of the main attractions, with a large selection of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. Popular choices include butter chicken, chicken tikka masala, biryani, tandoori-style dishes, curries, naan, and several vegetarian options. The fresh naan is especially good, and the mango lassi is a nice way to balance the spices.
If you order from the regular menu, the butter chicken, goat biryani, chicken tikka masala, Jafrani seekh kebab, and samosa chaat are all worth considering. The flavors are rich without being overwhelmingly spicy, which makes the restaurant approachable even if you do not eat Indian food often.
Service is generally friendly and attentive, and the buffet is kept stocked during busy periods. Prices are a little higher than some other Indian restaurants in the area, but the variety and quality make it reasonable, especially if you come hungry for the buffet.
We’ve been to Second Wife Restaurant before and really enjoyed their buffet, so this time we decided to try something different. We ordered the Jackfruit Masala with soft Rumali Roti, and it was absolutely delicious! 😋 The flavors were amazing, and the rumali roti was perfectly soft. Such a yummy combination!
A special shoutout to Ria, who was absolutely amazing! She was so friendly, attentive, and made our dining experience even better.
Definitely a place we’ll keep coming back to!
I visited The Second Wife, an Indian restaurant in San Jose, and had a really good experience. I enjoyed the atmosphere because it was a nice place to sit down, relax, and enjoy a meal. I ordered butter chicken with garlic naan, which is one of my favorite combinations of Indian food. The butter chicken had a rich, creamy orange gravy with a mix of spices that gave it a lot of flavor. The chicken was tender, and the sauce had a smooth texture with a slightly sweet and spicy taste. The garlic naan was soft, warm, and covered with butter and garlic, which made it even more delicious. I liked dipping the naan into the butter chicken gravy because it brought all the flavors together. Another thing I appreciated was that the food came out quickly, so I did not have to sit around waiting for my meal. The staff was attentive and made sure everything was going well, which made me feel comfortable during the visit. Overall, I enjoyed the food and service, and I would recommend The Second Wife to people who like Indian cuisine. I would be happy to visit again and try some of the other dishes on the menu.
We visited Second Wife for Sunday lunch . The buffet offered a good variety, with approximately 10–12 cuisines and food selections. Standout dishes included the Goat Curry, Goan Fish Curry, Butter Chicken, Vegetable Biryani, and freshly prepared plain naan served at the table.
While the food was generally flavorful with fair seasoning, the non-vegetarian selections were poorly stocked and not replenished quickly. The Goat Curry had mostly bones remaining, while the Goan Fish Curry had very little fish and was dominated by curry sauce and chilies. Some buffet trays appeared to sit out for too long rather than being refreshed with new batches.
The salad and condiment station could also use improvement. It looked somewhat messy, and smaller, better-organized containers would help. Spilled food around the buffet wasn’t promptly cleaned, and during our visit, water spilled on the floor by another diner was not immediately addressed, creating a potential safety hazard.
The servers and attendants were welcoming and friendly, although we had to get their attention to have used plates cleared from our table. On the positive side, the restaurant had a comfortable noise level, pleasant ambiance, and adequate seating space.
At $26.99 per person + 15% service charges (which was not disclosed prior) + tip , the buffet did not feel like good value considering the food quality, slow replenishment, and cleanliness issues. There are other places where the same price could provide a better overall dining experience.
Verdict: Good variety and friendly service, with a few tasty dishes, but buffet maintenance, cleanliness, food replenishment, and value for money need improvement before I would consider returning.
AH
Amelia Herb
Sep 27, 2026
Absolutely wonderful experience — there were so many dishes to choose from, it felt like a full celebration of flavors. From chaat to daal to a whole range of veg and non‑veg sabzi, everything was incredibly vibrant. Each dish had its own personality, and the flavors were so bold and present.
The tarka on the daal was especially beautiful — you could taste the warmth of the spices the moment it touched your tongue. There was even chili potato and samosa chaat, which added that perfect mix of tangy, spicy, and comforting. Every bite felt layered, thoughtful, and full of life.
It was one of those meals where you just sit back for a moment, smile, and let the flavors make you happy. Thank you so much for the delicious meal that brought a smile to my soul! 😊