19 Best Indian Restaurants in San Francisco, CA in 2024
San Francisco is the commercial, financial and cultural center of Northern California. With a population of over 808,000 people, it is the fourth most populous city in the state of California and the 13th largest city in the United States. San Francisco is best known for the iconic Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island but it is also home to many amazing international foods, including authentic Indian cuisine.
If you love a good curry, then you’re in good company. To help you make the most of India’s incredible and diverse cuisine, we’ve put together a list of the 19 best Indian restaurants in San Francisco so that you don’t have to.
Jump to Section
Find the Top Indian Restaurants in San Francisco
Discover all the delicious Indian foods in this famous city with food tours in San Francisco. These experiences offer you the opportunity to explore the city and learn its history and culture from a certified guide while indulging in delicious foods and drinks.
The 19 Best Indian Restaurants in San Francisco
1. Besharam
Located in the Dogpatch neighborhood is Besharam, a delightful Indian restaurant in San Francisco owned by food incubator La Cocina graduate, Heena Patel.
The Vibe
Hailed as one of the greatest Indian restaurants in San Francisco, this spot uniquely blends vegetarian Indian meals with a Californian twist. Besharam roughly translates to “shameless.”
What to Order
Indulge in playful and colorful dishes such as the kaju masala and butter beans. For something to drink, enjoy one of the many cocktails, wines, beers and various libations.
Besharam | 1275 Minnesota St., San Francisco, CA 94107 | $$$
2. Copra
The latest restaurant from two-Michelin-starred Chef Srijith Gopinathan is Copra, an Indian restaurant that serves authentic street food and family recipes from his home state of Kerala.
The Vibe
This restaurant boasts a lush design with climbing vines, hanging macrame ropes and floor-to-ceiling shelves stacked with pots and ceramics. The breathtaking venue is fancy but remains laidback and comfortable.
What to Order
Discover your new favorite Indian restaurant in San Francisco with meals that will have you rolling up your sleeves, such as the crab curry.
Copra | 1700 Fillmore St., San Francisco, CA 94115 | $$$
3. Ettan
According to the Michelin Guide, Ettan is one of the best Indian restaurants in San Francisco. The high-end Indian eatery is brought to you by the highly regarded Chef Srijith Gopinathan.
The Vibe
This upscale Indian restaurant in San Francisco features a bi-level seating area with wood plank floors, indigo-dyed fabric and floral wallpaper decorating the airy and relaxing skylit dining room.
What to Order
For a taste of delicious Indian food in San Francisco, try the kulchas stuffed with peak-season peas and ricotta, served with bright green kale chutney.
Ettan | 518 Bryant St., Palo Alto, CA 94301 | $$$
4. Saffron
Indulge in some of the best Indian food in San Francisco at Saffron, a contemporary Indian restaurant established in 2003 and owned by Ajay Walia.
The Vibe
This modern Indian restaurant in San Francisco offers its guests a unique and homey environment with a stylish, inviting and breezy vibe that draws you in.
What to Order
Take in the vibrant flavors of Indian cuisine at this San Franciscan restaurant with dishes such as lamb curry — made with a leg of lamb slow-braised with over 21 Indian spices.
Saffron | 1143 San Carlos Ave., San Carlos, CA 94070 | $$
5. Curry Leaf
For a spice-forward Indian restaurant in San Francisco, head to Curry Leaf. Established in 2014, Curry Leaf offers authentic Indian and Pakistani cuisine in a bring-your-own-bottle-style restaurant.
The Vibe
Located in the Russian Hill neighborhood, this Indian restaurant in San Francisco is quaint and has an atmosphere that is a mix of refined and rustic.
What to Order
The enormous menu at Curry Leaf will leave you in awe, with each dish full of flavor. Indulge in the chef’s favorite dish, the bengan bharta simmered in a garlicky tomato sauce.
Curry Leaf | 943 Columbus Ave., San Francisco, CA 94133 | $$
6. Rooh
For a romantic restaurant in San Francisco, head to Rooh, an upscale, modern Indian restaurant. The name “Rooh” means “soul” or “spirit,” as the restaurant brings the spirit of India to San Francisco.
The Vibe
The jewel-toned dining room with velvet chairs and colorful pillows, creates a vibrant, artistic, relaxed and sophisticated atmosphere at this Indian restaurant in San Francisco.
What to Order
This inventive Indian restaurant offers delicious and exciting dishes, especially its small plates, such as the rich koya and ricotta-stuffed black morel mushrooms slathered in yakhni sauce.
Rooh | 333 Brannan St., Ste 150., San Francisco, CA 94107 | $$$
7. Tilak
Located on Mission Street in Bernal Heights, Tilak is an Indian restaurant that is a must-try spot. It’s owned by renowned Chef Tilak Gurung, who has previously cooked for Justin Timberlake and the Prime Minister of Singapore.
The Vibe
This impressive Indian restaurant in San Francisco offers destination-worthy food in a low-key, relaxed setting in Bernal Heights. It is a hidden gem for delicious San Francisco foods.
What to Order
The quaint Indian restaurant offers a variety of delicious Indian cuisines, including dahi puri chaat, which is fully loaded with yogurt, tamarind, mint and sprouts.
Tilak | 3501 Mission St., San Francisco, CA 94110 | $$
8. Viva Goa
For delicious Goan cuisine, the best place to go is Viva Goa. This North Indian restaurant in San Francisco brings you hearty Goan meals you won’t find anywhere else.
The Vibe
This restaurant is never overpacked and always has tables open, making it perfect for a last-minute dinner out with friends.
What to Order
Viva Goa offers its patrons the best North Indian food in San Francisco, with dishes such as the prawn xacuti, a coconut-heavy curry that is slightly sweet with generous amounts of delicious shrimp.
Viva Goa | 2420 Lombard St., San Francisco, CA 94123 | $$
9. Pakwan
For a top-notch Pakistani and Indian restaurant in San Francisco, head to Pakwan, located in Tenderloin, Mission. The popular restaurant is famous for its “bring your own alcohol” policy, so make sure to bring your favorite drink with you.
The Vibe
This casual and comfortable Indian restaurant is always packed with people chatting and passing around plates of delicious Indian food.
What to Order
Indulge in any one of the enticing and mouthwatering dishes. Whether it’s a biryani or a creamy curry, you are sure to find something you love here.
Pakwan | 3180-82 16th St., San Francisco, CA 94103 | $$
10. Keeva Indian Kitchen
Another beloved Indian restaurant in San Francisco is Keeva Indian Kitchen, opened by the husband-and-wife team Ajeet and Rita Mehta. This neighborhood gem on Clement Street offers a casual spot to enjoy popular Indian foods.
The Vibe
The upbeat, bright, casual and fun restaurant in San Francisco is perfect for large groups, so bring along your family or friends for a night to remember.
What to Order
Dig into the colorful and large portions of mouthwatering Indian meals served at this Indian restaurant in San Francisco. American favorites include butter chicken and chicken tikka masala.
Keeva Indian Kitchen | 908 Clement St., San Francisco, CA 94118 | $$
11. Sunset Indian Cuisine
Nestled in the vibrant Bay Area, Sunset Indian Cuisine is a locally owned Indian restaurant in San Francisco that serves authentic cuisine from the Himalayas, India and Nepal.
The Vibe
This captivating and delightful Indian restaurant is welcoming and surpasses expectations, with Chefs Harry and Lekhnath meticulously crafting dishes with a dedication to quality and flavor.
What to Order
The dishes served here are well worth the cost and deliver on a mouthwatering culinary journey, with options including generous two-person thali which includes an array of lamb boti, gulab jamun and chicken tikka masala.
Sunset Indian Cuisine | 642 Irving St., San Francisco, CA 94158 | $$
12. Golden Gate Pizza & Indian Cuisine
A unique hidden gem in the Bay Area is Golden Gate Pizza & Indian Cuisine. This Indian restaurant in San Francisco serves a unique fusion of classic Italian and Indian foods.
The Vibe
This quaint family-run Indian restaurant has been open for many years and is located in an unassuming plaza. You can order online or pop in to grab a takeaway from the friendly servers.
What to Order
This restaurant serves truly unique fusions of pizza and popular Indian dishes, such as the delicious vegetarian Indian pizza. You can also order one of the traditional Indian dishes, such as fish biryani.
Golden Gate Pizza & Indian Cuisine | 1388 46th Ave., San Francisco, CA 94122 | $$
13. Udupi Palace
Located in the Mission district, Udupi Palace is a vegetarian South Indian restaurant in San Francisco. It brings the flavors of authentic South Indian vegetarian cuisines to the heart of Silicon Valley.
The Vibe
This South Indian dining establishment is simple with no frills but delivers large-portion meals bursting with flavor.
What to Order
Udupi Palace is well known for its batura, an enormous crispy fried bread that puffs up like a beach ball. The thali is also popular — a platter filled with a variety of delicious dishes.
b | 1007 Valencia St., San Francisco, CA 94110 | $$
14. Aurum
Another Michelin-guide-recommended Indian restaurant in San Francisco is Aurum. Owned by Anupam Bhatia and run in collaboration with Chef Manish Tyagi, Aurum features a menu that pays homage to India's forgotten recipes.
The Vibe
As you enter this beautiful Indian restaurant, you will be enveloped by bright walls, eclectic stained glass, leather seats and gorgeous fresh flowers. The atmosphere is welcoming and comfortable.
What to Order
The flavorful and varying dishes are striking and delicious. If you get the chance to order The Feast, you’ll be served a delectable three-course meal.
Aurum | 132 State St., Los Altos, CA 94022 | $$$
15. Little Delhi
Established in 2005, Little Delhi is an Indian restaurant in San Francisco that serves dishes with rich, developed flavors that keep customers coming back for more.
The Vibe
This modest restaurant has beautiful wooden floors and a large wooden mural with dark blue backlighting on a sky-blue wall. The atmosphere is comfortable and inviting.
What to Order
The food served here features a fusion of Indian and Nepalese dishes. Indulge in delicious curries, biryani and breads, try some delicious dumplings called “momos” and wash it all down with Indian beverages like lassis.
Little Delhi | 83 Eddy St., San Francisco, CA 94102 | $$
16. Amber India
One of the few locations in San Francisco that offers a buffet is Amber India. This Indian restaurant in San Francisco also serves an à la carte menu in the evenings.
The Vibe
Come to this Indian restaurant in San Francisco for a refreshing and sophisticated dining experience; stay for its inviting and intimate atmosphere.
What to Order
Indulge in the daily lunch buffet or the “endless brunch buffet” on weekends. For a delicious dinner, order from the à la carte menu, which includes dishes such as Awadhi lamb korma and highly-rated naan.
Amber India | 25 Yerba Buena Ln., San Francisco, CA 94103 | $$$
17. Shalimar
An Indian restaurant in San Francisco famous for its Indian-Pakistani cuisine that keeps locals and visitors coming back for more is Shalimar.
The Vibe
This popular indian restaurant in San Francisco is completely casual, giving you the option to dine in or take away.
What to Order
Stop by for affordable, authentic Indian-Pakistani meals that are full of flavor and character, including the tandoori chicken and goat karahi.
Shalimar | 532 Jones St., San Francisco, CA 94102 | $$
18. Raavi
A curry-oriented Pakistani and North Indian restaurant in San Francisco that is widely popular and loved by locals is Raavi.
The Vibe
Open for over 13 years, this Indian restaurant in San Francisco is a casual, locally-owned spot known for its delectable and affordable curries.
What to Order
You can find a wide range of carb-based side dishes and curries along with delicious kebabs and tandoori items. The most popular item on the menu is the classic chicken tikka masala.
Raavi | 533 Jackson St., San Francisco, CA 94133 | $$
19. Aaha Indian Cuisine
For a hunger-busting meal, try Aaha Indian Cuisine, an Indian restaurant in San Francisco that offers a modern twist on traditional Indian meals.
The Vibe
This clean-cut and modern Indian restaurant in San Francisco gives diners a casual dining spot with a refined.
What to Order
You can expect spicy and enticing meals featuring notable dishes such as tandoori pomfret, a crispy whole fish dish or a delicious masala dosa.
Aaha Indian Cuisine | 3316 17th St., San Francisco, CA 94110 | $$
Join 200,000+ Culinary Enthusiasts
San Francisco’s culinary scene is teeming with diversity, and this list of Indian restaurants is a testament to that. It’s also home to an array of sightseeing locations and cultural hubs for you to explore and try.
Whether you live there or are simply planning a visit, with our guide to San Francisco’s Indian restaurants, not to mention the plethora of things to do in San Francisco during your stay, there’s lots to sink your teeth into and help make the most of your time in America’s Golden Gate City.
For even more ways to explore San Francisco and beyond, check out other experiences happening on Cozymeal.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT?
Join the conversation.