Indian Cuisine in San Francisco (2025)

Chef-owner Heena Patel’s vibrant Gujarati restaurant inside the Minnesota Street Project blends Bay Area seasonality with regional recipes. Featured in The Washington Post and named Restaurant of the Year by Eater SF, it’s a singular Dogpatch experience.

Sujan and Pujan Sarkar’s modern Indian spot brings tasting menus and cocktails inspired by SF neighborhoods. Recognized by the Michelin Guide and covered by Eater SF, it’s an elegant Marina destination with California produce at the core.

Chef Srijith Gopinathan celebrates Kerala flavors—appams, seafood roasts, chutneys—through Northern California ingredients. Lauded on the San Francisco Chronicle’s best restaurants list and packed nightly, it’s a South Indian showpiece with strong neighborhood ties.

In Bernal Heights, chef Tilak Gurung serves chaat, curries, and tandoori alongside dishes shaped by a global career. Praised by Eater SF’s editors, this independent spot doubles as a neighborhood gathering place night after night.

Marina locals lean on this independently owned specialist for Goan staples—prawn curry, xacuti, vindaloo—plus North Indian comforts. Consistently recommended by Eater SF, it’s a rare window into coastal Goan flavors in the city.

A San Francisco original since the 1980s, Zante popularized Indian pizza—think masala-sauced pies with chutneys—alongside North Indian standards. Featured by Eater and beloved in Bernal, it’s quirky, historic, and distinctly local.

Union Square’s longtime Indian dining room, led by chef-owner Ranjan Dey since 1988, is officially on the city’s Legacy Business registry. Frequently cited by local press, it hosts fundraisers and community events alongside classic North Indian dishes.

Family-run on Clement Street, Keeva wins fans for goat specialties, okra, and bang bang egg curry. Included on Eater SF’s best Indian lists, it’s a warm Richmond District staple with loyal neighborhood regulars.

This independent Indo-Nepalese spot was called the most interesting Indian restaurant in San Francisco by the San Francisco Chronicle. Creative thalis, house chaats, and seafood curries reward a sit-down visit near Van Ness Station.

A North Beach go-to for North Indian and Pakistani dishes, Raavi grills over mesquite for deep tandoori flavor. Frequently cited by local roundups, it’s independently owned and known for generous curries and halal options.

Inner Sunset’s late-night Indian and Himalayan eatery offers momos, pakoras, and big thalis. Noted by Eater SF when it replaced a longtime spot, this independent team has reenergized Irving Street’s South Asian options.