Idly Express - Almaden in San Jose, CA

4.5(395)$10–20San Jose, CA
True Hidden Gem 💎
CallDirectionsWebsite
Highly rated

Highly rated at 4.5 stars with 395 reviews.

  • Family-friendly
  • Budget-friendly
  • Quick service

Best for / Not ideal for

Best for

  • Families
  • Budget dining
  • Quick meals
  • Large groups

Not ideal for

  • Romantic dinners
  • Quiet atmosphere

At a glance

San Jose, CA • Price $10–20 • 4.5★
Idly Express - Almaden is an Indian buffet located in San Jose, CA. This establishment has earned a 4.5-star rating from 395 reviews. They offer dine-in, takeout, and delivery service options. The price range for meals is between $10 and $20. Idly Express - Almaden provides a dining experience with a focus on Indian cuisine, serving the San Jose community. For those seeking an Indian buffet in the area, this restaurant is a well-reviewed option.

Good to know

  • Idly Express - Almaden has a listed address in San Jose, CA, so visitors can confirm the exact location before going.
  • The page includes a 4.5-star rating from 395 reviews.
  • Website and phone details are available for checking current menu, hours, or availability.
  • Service details include takeout, delivery.
This family-friendly Indian buffet welcomes diners of all ages. As a budget-friendly option, this buffet offers affordable dining.
Address
4750 Almaden Expy Ste 104, San Jose, CA 95118, San Jose, CA
Phone
(408) 440-2401
Today
8 AM–9:30 PM
Price
$10–20
Rating
4.5 (395 reviews)

What stands out

🍽️Delicious food

Multiple reviewers praise the taste and flavor

👥Friendly service

Attentive and helpful staff

✨Fresh, quality food

Multiple reviewers mention the freshness

📋Huge selection

Lots of options to choose from

View reviews →

Before you go

🚚Delivery available

Delivery service offered

🍽️Dine-in available

Eat in the restaurant

🥡Takeout available

Order to go

Not the Fastest

Score 37/100 · 3 positive signals
Quick bite score37/100
Speed signals
0/30
Grab-and-go
0/25
Budget-friendly
17/20
Time commitment
15/15
Convenience
5/10

What works

  • Budget-friendly pricing
  • Under $16 per person
  • Ideal for quick meals

Keep in mind

  • No takeout option

Scored from service speed, takeout options, pricing, meal format, and lunch availability.

Trusted Rating

⚖️ 4.4 weighted · 395 reviews
4.4weighted · raw 4.5 from 395 reviews(↓ 0.10 from raw)
Needs More Reviews
Review volume vs. city median395 / 534 median
02,670 (Rock Solid threshold)
Rating spread on Yelp
5★
4★
3★
2★
1★

Relative share of Yelp ratings by star — bar length shows how ratings skew, not exact counts.

The trusted rating blends this place’s raw score (4.5) with the city average (4.32) using a Bayesian formula. Places with fewer reviews are pulled toward the city mean; places with 2670+ reviews carry their rating at nearly full weight.

Photos

1 photos

Hours & Location

Status: Hours available

Regular Hours

7 days
friday
8 AM–9:30 PM
monday
8 AM–9:30 PM
saturday
8 AM–9:30 PM
sunday
8 AM–9:30 PM
thursday
8 AM–9:30 PM
tuesday
8 AM–9:30 PM
wednesday
8 AM–9:30 PM

Pricing

Price range $10–20
Price range$10–20

Amenities & Services

Accessibility, service options, and dining details

Accessibility

Wheelchair, parking, and more
 Wheelchair accessible entrance Wheelchair accessible parking lot

Amenities

Available facilities and features
Validated parkingDogs allowedAlcohol

Atmosphere

Ambiance and setting
 Casual

Service Options

Dine-in, takeout, delivery
DeliveryDine_inTakeoutReservations

Takeout service is available. Delivery service is offered.

Payment Methods

Accepted payment types
 Credit cards Debit cards N F C mobile payments

Highlights

Special features
 Serves local specialty

Planning

Reservations and groups
 Accepts reservations

Reviews

395 reviews

Reviews

Customer reviews available

Loading full reviews...

Frequently Asked Questions

Common answers about this buffet

What is the rating of Idly Express - Almaden?

Idly Express - Almaden has a 4.5-star rating based on 395 customer reviews.

🍜Cultural Food Hub

A vibrant food district with diverse eateries, cafes, and cultural landmarks.

A vibrant food district with diverse eateries, cafes, and cultural landmarks.

Food & Dining
22
Miscellaneous Services
17
Retail & Shopping
15
Healthcare & Medical
7
Recreation & Entertainment
3
Transportation & Automotive
3

73 nearby places across 10 categories

Nearby Places

Local services, shops, and points of interest

73 places nearby (arts & culture, tech, finance, food, healthcare)

Place Of Worships

Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses

Place Of Worship

1188 Branham Lane

~0.2 mi

Post Offices

The UPS Store

Post Office

4750 Almaden Expressway

~97 ft
PostalAnnex

Post Office

1177 Branham Lane

~0.2 mi
Robertsville Post Office

Post Office

1175 Branham Lane

~0.2 mi

Banks

Patelco Credit Union

Bank

5185 Cherry Avenue

~0.3 mi

Restaurants

Mahalo Hawaii B.B.Q.

Restaurant

~80 ftMo-Su 10:30-21:00
Round Table Pizza

Restaurant

1118 Branham Lane

~523 ft
Vitality Bowls

Restaurant

5110 Cherry Avenue

~0.2 mi
One Pot

Restaurant

5120 Cherry Avenue

~0.2 miMo-Fr 11:30-14:00,17:00-21:00; Sa,Su 11:30-21:00
+1 408-677-3456
Noodles & Company

Restaurant

5130 Cherry Avenue

~0.2 mi
Dough Zone

Restaurant

5130 Cherry Avenue

~0.2 mi
+1 408-440-1929Website
La Victoria Taqueria

Restaurant

5015 Almaden Expressway

~0.2 miSu-We 07:00-00:00, Th-Sa 07:00-03:00
+1-408-978-7666Website
Nick The Greek

Restaurant

5019 Almaden Expressway

~0.2 mi11:00-23:00
+1-408-622-8720Website

Fast Foods

McDonald's

Fast Food

4800 Almaden Expressway

~175 ft06:00-19:00
+1 408-979-9783Website
Erik's DeliCafé

Fast Food

4611 Almaden Expressway

~409 ftMo-Sa 10:00-20:00; Su 10:00-19:00
+1 408-265-1818Website
Jack in the Box

Fast Food

4602 Almaden Expressway

~483 ft
+1 408-723-3845Website
Carl's Jr.

Fast Food

1101 Branham Lane

~0.1 mi
+1 408-978-3562Website
Panera Bread

Fast Food

5110 Cherry Avenue

~0.2 miMo-Sa 06:00-21:00; Su 07:00-21:00
+1 408-267-1290Website
The Habit Burger Grill

Fast Food

5018 Almaden Expressway

~0.2 miMo-Su 10:30-22:00
+1 408-613-2578Website
California Fish Grill

Fast Food

5120 Cherry Avenue

~0.2 mi
+1-408-618-0664Website
MOD Pizza

Fast Food

5130 Cherry Avenue

~0.2 miMo-We 10:30-22:00; Th-Sa 10:30-23:00; Su 10:30-22:00
+1 669-400-5744Website

Bakerys

Paris Baguette

Bakery

1112 Branham Lane

~439 ftMo-Su 08:00-21:00
+1 408-440-8445Website

Bars

The Branham Lounge

Bar

1116 Branham Lane

~479 ft
Brittania Arms

Bar

5027 Almaden Expressway

~0.2 mi

Cafes

Starbucks

Cafe

5150 Cherry Avenue

~0.2 miMo-Fr 04:30-21:30; Sa,Su 05:00-21:30
+1 408-313-1839Website
Starbucks

Cafe

~0.6 mi

Ice Creams

Yogurtland

Ice Cream

5011 Almaden Expressway

~0.2 mi

Veterinarys

Wildwood Veterinary Hospital

Veterinary

1115 Luchessi Drive

~0.1 mi
Website
Banfield Pet Hospital

Veterinary

5353 Almaden Expressway

~0.6 mi

Dentists

Cherry Family Dental

Dentist

4984 Cherry Avenue

~0.2 mi
David E. Erickson DDS Dental Corp

Dentist

4860 Cherry Avenue

~0.5 mi

Clinics

Carbon Health

Clinic

5120 Cherry Avenue

~0.2 miMo-Su 09:00-19:00
+1 408-780-2532Website

Pharmacys

CVS Pharmacy

Pharmacy

1125 Branham Lane

~0.2 mi
Website
CVS Pharmacy

Pharmacy

1125 Branham Lane

~0.2 mi
Website

Beautys

Lovely Design Nail Spa

Beauty

4750 Almaden Expressway

~36 ft
Blossom Nail Spa

Beauty

1122 Branham Lane

~0.1 mi
Paradise Nails

Beauty

1095 Branham Lane

~0.2 mi
Naomi’s Beauty Salon

Beauty

1095 Branham Lane

~0.2 mi
Jessica’s Beauty Salon

Beauty

1095 Branham Lane

~0.2 mi
Unique Hair & Nails

Beauty

1107 Branham Lane

~0.2 mi
Emerald Nails Spa

Beauty

1183 Branham Lane

~0.2 mi
Lucky Foot Relaxation

Beauty

4991 Cherry Avenue

~0.2 mi

Hairdressers

Cookie Cutters San Jose

Hairdresser

4750 Almaden Expressway

~111 ft
Website
The Salon

Hairdresser

4996 Cherry Avenue

~0.2 mi
Robertsville Barbers

Hairdresser

1105 Branham Lane

~0.2 mi
Website
Robertsville Barber Shop

Hairdresser

1105 Branham Lane

~0.2 mi09:00-17:00
+1-408-723-9946
Unique Hair & Nails

Hairdresser

1107 Branham Lane

~0.2 mi
Jenny's Beauty Salon

Hairdresser

1187 Branham Lane

~0.2 mi

Tattoos

New Generation Tattoo

Tattoo

1189 Branham Lane

~0.2 mi

Animal Boardings

Dogtopia

Animal Boarding

1191 Branham Lane

~0.2 mi

Dojos

Ralph Gracie Jiu-Jitsu

Dojo

4607 Cherry Avenue

~0.5 mi

Parks

Erikson Park

Park

4961 Oyster Bay Drive

~0.6 misunrise-(sunset+01:00)
Website
Russo Park

Park

~0.6 mi
Terrell Park

Park

~0.7 mi

Second Hands

Savers

Second Hand

4950 Almaden Expressway

~472 ftMo-Su 10:00-20:00
Website
American Cancer Society Discovery Store

Second Hand

1103 Branham Lane

~0.2 mi

Supermarkets

Safeway

Supermarket

4950 Almaden Expressway

~0.1 mi06:00-01:00
+1 408-267-1200Website
Sprouts Farmers Market

Supermarket

1130 Branham Lane

~0.1 miMo-Su 07:00-22:00
+1 408-833-1152Website
Walmart Supercenter

Supermarket

5095 Almaden Expressway

~0.5 miMo-Su 06:00-24:00
+1 408-600-3072Website

Conveniences

ampm

Convenience

4995 Almaden Expressway

~0.2 mi

Car Parts

AutoZone

Car Parts

4580 Almaden Expressway

~0.2 mi
Website
O'Reilly Auto Parts

Car Parts

1111 Branham Lane

~0.2 mi
Website

Dry Cleanings

Nice Cleaners

Dry Cleaning

1181 Branham Lane

~0.2 mi
Imanuel Cleaners

Dry Cleaning

5029 Almaden Expressway

~0.2 mi

Delis

Kalinka

Deli

5025 Almaden Expressway

~0.2 mi
+1-669-221-5350

Floorings

Silicon Valley Flooring

Flooring

5031 Almaden Expressway

~0.3 mi

Alcohols

Total Wine

Alcohol

5140 Cherry Avenue

~0.3 mi09:00-22:00
+1 408-445-8750Website

Variety Stores

Dollar Tree

Variety Store

5041 Almaden Expressway

~0.3 miMo-Sa 08:00-22:00; Su 09:00-20:00
Website

Musical Instruments

Guitar Center

Musical Instrument

5140 Cherry Avenue

~0.3 miMo-Fr 11:00-21:00; Sa 10:00-21:00; Su 11:00-19:00
+1 408-269-1681Website

Fuels

Rotten Robbie

Fuel

4962 Almaden Expressway

~0.1 mi
Almaden Arco

Fuel

4995 Almaden Expressway

~0.1 mi

Car Washs

Robertsville Company

Car Wash

5005 Almaden Expressway

~0.2 mi

Waters

Aloha Coffee & Pure Water

Water

1179 Branham Lane

~0.2 mi