The Most Delectable Indian in Oakland

JotMahal Palace of Indian Cuisine

★★★★★ 4.5 (726) • $$

"Amazing (and affordable) Buffet in BerkeleyMy wife and I have come here twice in the past month for a lunch buffet. Both times the food, and service was excellent. A good mix of staples, lamb curry, chicken Tikka Masala, vindaloo, saag paneer, samosa. I mean, all your favorites. They also have many deserts, including an ice cream machine.Also, it's just a cute place, no frills atmosphere. Great people watching spots all along the front, looking down on Shattuck. So if you have a lull in a conversation you can just look out at the people and start talking about what you see.The folks running the place seem very friendly and they come by often for water and to se if you need anything else.TL;DR: Great food at a great price."

Taste of the Himalayas

★★★★☆ 3.9 (918) • $$

"We have eaten in a few times and get takeout about one a month. Consistently good, fresh food; and super warm, welcoming, and professional service."

Aangan

★★★★☆ 4.3 (723) • $$

"We've been several times. Both done in and take out. The last time we were here was take out and it was just okay, not great - maybe takeout doesn't travel well?So we chose to dine in on January.We called a reservation for 6 on a Friday night. Street parking was easy. The restaurant was pretty quiet with just a few occupied tables, I think they had a few deliveries/take outs picked up while we were there.We had a great dinner! Everybody was happy with their meal. My Chicken Tikka Masala was delicious. I ordered it medium spicy, and it was just a right level of heat for me.I would come back here again!"

Taj Grill

★★★★☆ 4.2 (742) • $$

"My favorite and the best Indian food spot in all Vallejo , I would rather not venture out anywhere else anymore because the taste is not always the same. My go to is the Butter Chicken with Garlic Naan , but I do know they have other dishes that are as well very good , like there fish and the paneer and also the Lamb dish (sorry cant remember the exact names for them). My husband and I very much enjoy there dishes and the portions are perfect to enjoy for dinner."

Swaad Indian Cuisine

★★★★☆ 4.1 (777) • $$

"From the outside, you wouldn't expect much from this place. The building is old and the decor is well aged. The building looks like it was built some time in the 80s and is in desperate need of renovation. That said, the food and service, which are what a restaurant pride themselves on, are second to none. I have tried a few Indian restaurants in the South Bay, and I would not call myself very knowledgeable about the cuisine, but I know what tastes good, and the meals are always top notch. We usually go for the garlic or butter Naan, tandoori chicken, and lamb korma and have never been disappointed. The prices are also fantastic, you'll get a great meal and it won't break the bank."

Flavor of India North & South Cuisine

★★★★☆ 4.1 (767) • $$

"2. Lamb Curry Veggie Biryani Rice2. Vegetable Pakoras6. Fish PakoraVegetarian tikka masala27. Butter ChickenGarlic NaanNice flavors- light and well seasoned Total: 120Friendly staff. Nice and clean dining area.Would recommend for very good Indian food!"

India Palace

★★★★☆ 3.9 (836) • $$

"There aren't a lot of good Indian restaurants in the area, but I did like I did Palace.Staff and Service:- We came here soon after opening time on a Thursday evening and got seated right away. Seats started to fill up around 6:00pm- Our server was very niceFood and Drinks:- Mango Lassi: not the typical mango lassi I've had in the past. Not as creamy as usual - more on the tart side. - Tikka Masala Curry: so good! Creamy, flavorful, abundant, etc. I could have eaten this whole thing by myself - Garlic Naan: also delicious and flavorful- House Salad: this was almost a meal in itself. We thought this would be a small side salad, but there was enough for 3+ peopleMiscellaneous.- Parking is available via street parking (there is a parking lot connected to the restaurant, but this is for the apartments only)- Good for small and large groups - Pretty quiet restaurant"

Mumbai Chowk

★★★★☆ 3.6 (916) • $$

"Omg..my first time trying butter chicken. I figured I'm in California I've got to try it before I leave. It was DELICIOIS!!!! Chicken was tender, gravy was DELISH, the garlic naan bread was to die for!! Lentil soup had a hint of spice that my pallette appreciated. The lime soda was really good and even the rice pudding was good (I don't typically care for it).Treat yourself when you are in the area!! It's delicious!"

Udupi Palace

★★★★☆ 3.8 (821) • $$

"We really love this place, but it's been a while. Today, we picked up three different dosas that we ordered over the phone. The woman on the phone was so kind and accommodating as we asked a number of questions. We ordered the Mysore Masala Dosa ($12.50), the Udupi Special Spring Dosa (requested no potatoes- $12.95), and the Spinach Paneer Dosa ($13.95). All of the dosas come with the coconut chutney, sambar, and spicy sauce. I always order the masala dosa, and as usual, it was perfect! Classic choice. The spring dosa was probably my least favorite of the three (and it was still good, to be clear). This may have been because we asked for the potatoes to be nixed. The vegetables could've been sautéed for a bit longer. The spinach paneer dosa was a surprise favorite. Whoa! The seasoning and textures were unexpected and worked perfectly. I forgot how good this place was (it's very no-frills in terms of decor) and my mom, sister, and I all agreed we'd be back very soon!"

Great Indian Cuisine

★★★★☆ 3.9 (770) • $$

"This is my go to place for Indian food. At 17.99 for the buffet you can not beat this quality of food. LIFE HACK!! I'm not sure how much a value meal at McDonalds is at the moment but I'm sure this is only a few dollars more and this is real food and you can eat as much as you want . These people treat my family and I like family and it's always clean and consistent . Try this place NOW!!!"

Moon Indian Cuisine

★★★★☆ 3.9 (754) • $$

"My favorite place to order Indian food in the east bay!Customer service here is quick and seamless --They are really hospitable and quick to refill glasses of water. Very attentive and ready to add any additions and make suggestions if you want to try new things. Only positive things to say about their customer service.Butter chicken is a must, but the goat curry is perfection --Butter chicken here does not miss. Has perfect balance of spices and ghee. Pair it with garlic naan and that's already a fire meal.Also ordered goat curry and lamb vindaloo. Not a fan of the potatoes but there was not much. The meat portions are always really high.EACH dish comes with rice but keep in mind, it's a lot of rice. THE wings are a must try too. So much flavor and affordable.Overall, well worth the visit. This place also has a plethora of desserts ready to buy too!"

Pizza & Curry

★★★★☆ 3.9 (749) • $$

"The most authentic Indian curry topping pizza. Plenty of vegetarian choices, and custom orders available. Family owned business. Hosts/owners are caring and thoughtful people. Tandoori Potato, Paneer Tikka, Pav Bhaji, Aaloo Gobi have generous amount of toppings unlike other pizza places where they throw a few on top to check the box. Think crust makes it more like sabzi on chapati, which is light and delicious."

Curry Kona- Fusion Food

★★★★☆ 4.3 (611) • $$

"I've seen Curry Kona in the large shopping center on Hopyard and decided to give them a try. Going in not having a clue what was served, realized it's essentially an Indian Chipotle style concept. You choose a base ie.. rice bowl wrap etc.. then a protein then toppings. There are tons of choices on the menu board and the counter all with an Indian name. (No description) So we wound up taking our best guess at what the items were. Lamb Keena because we knew the word lamb and Chicken Marsala because we heard that before. They actually microwave to heat up the food. The rice bowls are $12. Minimal service. Plastic bowls and utensils. The lamb Keena was good. The chicken Marsala was not. Plenty of parking. "Better description of the offerings would definitely be helpful""

East Bay Spice

★★★★☆ 4 (692) • $$

"This was my first time at East Bay Spice Co since they moved. The first thing I noticed was how cold it was; they leave the door open to the elements and there wasn't a heater or anything to keep things warm. The second thing I noticed was that all the drinks were completely different, but the food items were the same (with some new editions, like the chicken wings which were DELICIOUS!!!).I arrived for happy hour and the place was pretty empty. There isn't as much seating as the old place and it filled up pretty quickly once five o'clock rolled around, so get there early. I had the pisco sour (pretty good) and the daiquiri (excellent) to drink, both new cocktails. I am excited to come back and try the rest of the menu. EBSC is known for their cocktails and this new spot hasnt yet disappointed!"

Ajanta

★★★★☆ 3.9 (715) • $$

"My friend and former colleague brought me here for lunch. It was my first time here. I have been in the area several years ago for the Solano Stroll and never noticed Ajanta. I haven't had chicken tikka masala for quite some time, as in pre-COVID. The ambiance is comfy and casual, quite quaint. The lighting fixture is unique in design. Eats: Chicken tikka masala with jasmine rice, garlic naan and mango lassi. The entree was okay. The spice level was medium. I couldn't really pinpoint what exactly was missing that it did not taste the same as what I had years ago at another Indian restaurant. The garlic naan and mango lassi were on point. However, the entree left a lit to be desired. Inasmuch as I wanted to give a better rating (4 star), I wasn't quite feeling up to doing so. The service was okay. It could have been better if the employees were a tad more attentive. My friend had to remind them that she was supposed to have the cardamom ice cream for dessert"

Mount Everest

★★★★☆ 3.9 (704) • $$

"Found this spot while casting about for a spot my friend and I both wanted to try, near my hotel and my last night in town. And Mt Everest did not disappoint.We had the momo dumplings, pakora and tikki mandala paneer and it was all delicious! I had never had Nepalese food before and while all our dishes were familiar (to someone who loves Indian food), they were all just a little different which I loved. Service was good and the restaurant is cozy. Parking was easy on the street."

Curry Up Now

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (983) • $$

"Unexpectedly surprised by this spot, had been here in the past when they first opened up and just thought of it as ok. BUT noowww though, yall better not walk and run that azz to your nearest Curry Up Now! The revamped menu from Chef Bikram is hittin with all the spices and flavors and I can guarantee there's something for everyone. Some heavy hitters for me were the:- Spicy fried chicken (that cilantro chutney cooked with them onions really made that sandwich)- Indian flatbread (never had something like this before, pleasantly surprised and would def order again)HOT TIP: this location is one that also has a bar, I had an early lunch there so I didn't wanna TU that early but that won't stop me next time LOLLService was great with that staff being very helpful in explaining all the dishes to me. Vibes def were there, I could see that being a nice spot to hit up after work with your coworkers."

Aama's Kitchen

★★★★★ 4.7 (467) • $$

"I can't say enough about the service! They are welcoming, willing to converse with you on where they are from, and super accommodating! We came in around 8pm and it was just us. But more people started rolling in around 9pm to eat. This is a popular place to have traditional Indian/Himalayan/Nepalese dishes!We came for the Momo - -- so glad we were finally able to try these, they were pretty darn good. Little pockets of chicken goodness dipped in their sauce put me in a happy spot."

Cafe Raj

★★★★☆ 3.9 (653) • $$

"Ordered a late night meal and it was packed to the brim. The chicken tikka masala was flavorful, creamy, and had the perfect blend of seasonings to warm my stomach. And the garlic naan was light, fluffy, and delicious!While I was waiting for the food, I had a conversation with the owner Raj and he offered me a hot cup of chai, which was delightful considering how warming it was for the cold night.This is now on my go to spot for Indian food in Albany, and I hope to return many more times!"

Annapurna Restaurant and Bar

★★★★☆ 4.3 (537) • $$

"Located at the corner of 10th & Clay, I've walked past this place many times and opted to have lunch here with a colleague.As shown in the photo, this place serves Indian and Nepalese Cuisine.The Chai tea is decent, the interior decor clean and fresh with a gorgeous bar and a pleasant vibe excellent for one on one conversations.For appetizers, we tried the mixed Nepalese dumplings (chicken, lamb and vegetarian) or Momo. They are served with a tomato based sauce and were excellent.For the main course, I had the chicken Marsala which tasted delicious.For lunch, this place is a tad pricier costing $80 for 2 after tip but you'll leave filled up.Excellent and friendly service. Would come here again."

Tandoor Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.2 (541) • $$

"Consistently good food. I order the butter chicken, chana sag, and tandoori chicken."

Aroma Indian Cuisine

★★★★☆ 4 (532) • $$

"The King has returned.Aroma used to be me and my girls go to back in the day. And unfortunate fire during covid led this place to close and Benicians has been dreaming for its return. I feel like its been like 2-3 years but Im so happy this place is finally back. Benicia has always had some good Indian Food in town but what I appreciated about Aroma is that their dishes always had a little extra oomph than other places Ive tried. The Masala just has a deeper tomato sauce and spice to it. The Chicken Korma uses chicken thigh rather than the usual chicken breast. No matter what I eat though, it just tastes like the dishes have been through many generations of being made. This particular I went they were out of Samosa Chaat. They recommend the Aloo Tikki Chaat which tasted similar but now I want to get again someday to switch it up. Makes me want to try even more stuff next time. Also I don't know if it's a new thing but the minute we got there is smelt like sage which Im always a fan of. If someone wasn't from Benicia and they wanted me to recommend one Indian Place in town. I feel like Aroma might be the place."

Urban Momo

★★★★☆ 4.2 (466) • $$

"A hidden gem at San Pedro Square! Not sure how I never tried this place before out of all the numerous times I've been here. But finally got down to it, and boy it was worth it!FOOD:----------I would describe the food as a combination between Chinese and Indian influences, flavor wise.First of all, had to try the *Chicken Momos* for which they are famous. And rightly so! Deliciously stuffed with a solid ratio of meat to veggie, and filled with delightful herbs and spices. Really supple and tasty.Their *Chicken Chow Mein* reminds me of Singapore style chow mein. Great taste, good meat/veggie to noodle ratio, and super filling, which is great when you have hungry hungry people with you.We were recommended the *Chicken Tikka Masala* which I thought might be a standard version, but this one really punched my mouth with superb flavor. The portion was very generous and I couldn't stop stuffing myself with this dish.SERVICE/AMBIANCE:-----------------------------Service was great and they gave excellent recommendations. Ambiance is pretty vibrant on the back side of the market without being too rowdy. This is the calmer side of San Pedro Square so you won't be disturbed by (too many) drunken interruptions.TIP: You can always order to go, so that you can pack up the leftovers even after you eat here.DATE TIP: Definitely a great place to order and share lots of tasty morsels. That to-go box will come in handy so you and your date don't overstuff yourself!"

Kabila-Union City

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (705) • $$

"Amazing samosas. We also got the chicken tikka masala, butter chicken, and the garlic naan. Samosas are always a winner in my mind comes with a red and green sauce, a must when you have them. The tikka masala was very yummy and the piping hot fresh garlic naan was fluffy. Goes great with both the tikka and butter chicken. Both chicken dishes cooked tender and not dried out at all. A very fulfilling meal. Need to come back and try their lunch buffet."

Indian Tadka

★★★★☆ 4.3 (432) • $$

"Can't believe I haven't reviewed Indian Tadka yet! My husband, a true biryani addict, has been searching for "the one" ever since COVID shut down his go-to spot at the Belmont Sports Complex. After countless biryani disappointments, he's finally found his match here--and it's conveniently right next to his favorite market, Hankook.Here's our routine: we drive 30 minutes (yes, just for Hankook), he orders the biryani, we shop for 30-45 minutes, and pick up our food as we're leaving. Timing perfection!Quick tip: they don't open for dinner until 5:30 p.m. Today, we arrived at 4:30 p.m., finished shopping by 5:15 p.m., and ended up waiting in the car until they opened. Totally worth it, though--the biryani was demolished as soon as we got home. No pics this time, but I'm sure we'll be back for more soon!"

Biryaniz - Milpitas

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (752) • $$

"Service was great! Huge pani puri line outside on a Saturday evening!! Cashier was friendly, foo"

Komala Vilas

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (749) • $$

"Amazing food, consistent taste! Idli is always soft, sambar piping hot and chutneys with perfect balance of spiciness. The dosa, vada, uttapam everything is always spot on too. Filter coffee smells so good and tastes even better. Service is also very courteous and prompt. Ambiance is pretty basic. This is our go to spot for South Indian food for years now!"

Kabila Sweets and Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.3 (413) • $$

"We were really craving Indian food and I wanted to pick something up on the way home. They have an impressive menu and a lot of different options I don't usually see at other traditional Indian restaurants that I frequent in the area. I ordered the garlic naan, butter chicken, bhindi masala (okra), and the karahi goat (came out to be about $58 total before tip). My order was ready by the time I arrived for pick up and it was still piping hot. The butter gravy/curry that came with the goat was outstanding in flavor. There were small chunks of bell peppers and onions that melted in your mouth. The butter chicken and garlic naan were also solid and tasty. I love a vegetable on the side and usually it's hard to find something that isn't curry based or pureed down, so I didn't know what to expect with the okra but it was definitely a great addition to the meal. The okra was sauteed withe spices, onion, and tomato and still held a bit of a crunch. I ordered it to be mild spicy and it really held it's flavor well. Definitely impressed and I am excited to go back and try some other things on their menu. They are also known for their popular sweets and desserts that I didn't get to try this time, but will next time."

Shahi Darbar Indian Cuisine

★★★★★ 4.7 (332) • $$

"This is a decent Indian food place overall. They had special food items advertised at the table but it ended in December & they no longer had the food items. They were on every table, but they still didn't take them off the tables. I had several entrees as seen in the photos. The food was pretty good, the chicken was a bit salty for some reason, but not terrible. The service was ok, the waiter wasn't friendly/but wasn't unfriendly...they were just there to do the job and I get it. I'd come back & try other items on the menu for sure. If you enjoy the heat of spice, this might be a place for you to check out."

Everest Kitchen

★★★★★ 4.6 (341) • $$

"One of my favorite places to go if you want amazing food and now has an amazing HH menu and craft cocktails. Can't wait to both dine in with the HH nibbles or grabbed takeout and have a lovely drink at the bar."

Surmai

★★★★☆ 4.4 (365) • $$

"Got the Surmai Thali - it was sooooo delicious. The perfect amount of spice as well! Highly recommend!"

AappaKadai

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (683) • $$

"Tried appakadai and so glad we did! This place specializes in appams and all sorts of Indian dishes and is as authentic as it can get! We ended up going here on a Saturday - the ambiance here is cute and simple and service was quick.Once we were seated we ended up ordering:*chicken 65: these were dry and crispy and quite well seasoned. The chicken pieces were not too big but there was plenty to share with the table*chili chicken: if you are looking for something more saucy this was actually delicious and flavorful! The chicken was also quite juicy *chicken lollipop: these were my less favorite apps, and I would skip. The chicken was nice and juicy but I found the seasoning to be lacking* baby corn app: this had the chili chicken sauciness which I liked and this was nice and crispy which was really nice* appam with chefs special chicken curry: the appam was nice and fresh and well made! The chicken curry was yummy and the chicken was juicy and flavorful * mutton roast : this was really yummy and one of my favorites we ordered! This was super well made, juicy and really well flavoredOverall awesome food today and would recommend to go back!"

Mirchi Indian Grill

★★★★☆ 4.1 (416) • $$

"This has become my absolute favorite restaurant to indulge in the finest Indian cuisine. The samosas here are exceptionally crispy and flaky, with a tantalizing filling that is simply unbeatable. Without a doubt, butter chicken has secured the top place on my list of favorites here; its delectable flavors make every bite a true delight. Moreover, the coconut masala shrimp embodies the perfect fusion of flavors, surpassing all expectations one may have for this phenomenal dish. It is safe to say that the restaurant's rendition of the coconut masala shrimp is simply extraordinary, leaving an everlasting impression of culinary excellence."

Guru Curry House

★★★★★ 4.5 (335) • $$

"What a wonderful experience.Easily accessible location near Lake Merritt, Oakland. The establishment is clean, spacious, and beautifully decorated. Comforting colors and esthetics with a picturesque mural on the back wall. Looks like a geat location for a family meal.I can tell this a small operation however I am sure if the owner will prepare for large groups when contacted ahead of time. Anyway, I was there for lunch.We ordered Samosa Chaat to start, which I found to be very good. Those Samosas were well made and the different textures of the dish complemented each other well. The other dishes we ordered were Baingan Bharta (eggplant), Prawn Karahi, Garlic Cheese Naan, basmati rice, and (for fun) Acher. The prawn dish, spice level (optional) "hot", delicious !!!! Two stars there. The rice was perfectly cooked, the Naan was hot and tasty. Now, the eggplant was pounded or processed into almost a paste, seasoned well, but once I tasted that prawn dish, the eggplant came second. I love eggplant and missed the bite of it that I usually get. Overall, a very good meal with great customer service.The server was so nice he gave me four quarters for my meter when I asked for change which I thought was very sweet. He insisted that I keep my dollar bill-super sweet. He also guaranteed that the Prawn Karhari dish would be good and said to let him know if it wasn't however it was! He made good on that!Oh, Complementary Chai Self Serve station! Awesome"

ID Company

★★★★☆ 4.2 (366) • $$

"Pav bhaji dosa was fab. Their packaging is excellent. Amazing presentation. Service was good. Not much crowded when we went."