Rasa - Burlingame

8 Michelin-starred Indian Restaurants Around The World

"In a bustling tech corridor that's also home to Indian expats with high culinary standards, Rasa has managed to find the perfect middle ground. No-joke dishes that aren't toned down for Western palates cater to the likes of software execs and area couples, and though the bi-level space boasts a gorgeous, minimalist-mod décor with bright splashes of orange, sleek pendant lights, and stylish dark wood fittings, the focus here is on food. The kitchen excels in elevating the cuisine of South India with solid technique and superlative ingredients. Get the party started with dahi vada (crispy fried lentil fritters buried in smooth yogurt), before savoring a basil-chutney dosa starring a crisp rice-lentil crêpe stuffed with potato masala and served with basil chutney as well as an ultra-spicy ghost chili version-to be risked by hardcore hotheads only. Each plate is carefully composed, as shown in the complex Andhra chicken curry, enriched with coconut and bobbing with tender dark meat. Sop up the pungent sauce with a flaky Kerala paratha, and then cool down over a creamy and smooth chikku frappe, which blends the eponymous pear-like fruit with vanilla ice cream and candied rice puffs for a captivating finale." - Azimin Saini