Aaha Indian Cuisine

"At this South Indian restaurant, you’ll tear into showstopping dosas, shovel back coconutty prawn curry, and pop fiery chicken 65 into your mouth like it’s candy. The laidback spot, with its bright orange walls and twinkle lights, is the best back pocket restaurant in the area. It’s easy to walk in, great for groups, and you’ll likely have leftovers that’ll motivate you to make it through the day tomorrow. Know that a visit here isn’t complete without the tandoori pomfret, a whole fish that’s smoky, charred, and ridiculously flaky. " - julia chen 1, lani conway, ricky rodriguez

"The arm-length dosas at this South Indian place in the Mission are works of art. They give a satisfying crunch when you tear into one, and are the perfect vehicle for the tomato-y chutneys and sambar. Showstopping dosas are part of what makes a meal here great, as are the coconutty prawn curry, biryani loaded with goat or lamb, and the spicy, deep-fried chicken 65. Bright orange walls, twinkle lights, and gold streamers make the room look like a party on New Year's Eve—it certainly makes sharing a meal with friends downright fun." - julia chen 1, lani conway, ricky rodriguez

"Put the city’s best new restaurants in a high school yearbook, and Aaha Indian Cuisine would win senior superlative for The Best Back Pocket Restaurant Of 2022. Which is exciting, since getting a seat at most restaurants these days requires you to book tables weeks in advance and possibly throw together a spreadsheet. Casual weeknight dinners at this Mission spot are simple—walk in with a group of friends and take a seat. South Indian dishes, like deeply charred tandoor pomfret and tangy uthappams, make a lasting impression. And the fragrant dosas will keep you coming back again and again. Perhaps the best part is that you’ll spend less than $25 per person here on a filling meal and leftovers. " - julia chen 1, lani conway

"Southern Indian dishes are the attraction at Aaha Indian Cuisine, which debuted in the Mission in 2022. There’s a healthy dosa section, with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options, and the menu also boasts a Madurai chile fish and chile shrimp made with the chef’s own chile sauce. The restaurant also received a nod from the Infatuation as a best new restaurant in San Francisco for 2022." - Dianne de Guzman, Paolo Bicchieri, Eater Staff

"Dining out in SF could be an Olympic sport. You have to coordinate group reservations around the schedules of multiple friends and the play dates of their two-month-old puppies. And setting multiple reminders to land reservations at hyped restaurants is like trying to score tickets to a Warriors game, courtside, during playoffs. Aaha Indian Cuisine is relief from this chaos. It’s always easy to walk in and grab a table. Your reward for doing so? Dishes that leave a lasting impression from the first bite to the last. The dishes that arrive in front of you at this Mission spot will compel you to jump out of your seat and declare them the best things you’ve eaten since the last leap year. The mostly South Indian menu is impressive. Appetizers like the deep-fried chicken 65 and fiery andhra chili chicken are so flavorful you’ll forgo all manners and throw yourself across the table to snag the final piece. Dosas and tangy uthappams are attention-grabbing centerpieces, supported by a cast of chutneys and sambar. And the charred skin on the tandoor pomfret is so shiny you can pretty much see your reflection. photo credit: Carly Hackbarth This is a basic set-up with an abundance of orange paint and swirly tassels hanging above. But it doesn’t matter. The point of a meal at this spot isn’t to pose with a glass of champagne or dine by candlelight. You’re here to walk up with friends and have a fantastic meal that takes as much effort as hitting the snooze button on a Monday. The only complication you’ll have at Aaha is shuffling around baskets of flaky parota and bowls overflowing with biryani to make more table space. So next time you’re looking for a restaurant for an impromptu group dinner and would rather walk barefoot across a pit full of wood chips than scroll through another reservation app, make life easy. Get to Aaha. Food Rundown photo credit: Carly Hackbarth Tandoor Pomfret Ordering this fish will transform you into the Friend With Really Good Judgment for the night. The fish is perfectly cooked, charred and smoky. Spiciness will sneak up on you. A trip isn’t complete without this. photo credit: Carly Hackbarth Andhra Chili Chicken Say hello to our favorite appetizer. The bite-sized fried chicken pieces are fiery in both taste and color. You’ll finish off the entire dish, served with herby green chutney, in two minutes flat. photo credit: Carly Hackbarth Onion & Tomato Uthappam The fermented dough has the ideal amount of tang, balanced by bits of tomato and onion. Getting this, along with the tandoor pomfret, is the best decision you’ll make all day. photo credit: Carly Hackbarth Cheese Dosa You really can’t go wrong with any of the dosas on the menu, but we like the one with cheese filling (the ghee roast dosa is also fantastic). photo credit: Carly Hackbarth Malabar Fish Curry This is a nice lighter curry option. The fish falls apart with a nudge of your fork. Goat Biryani There are over a dozen biryanis on the menu, but stick with the goat. It'll turn heads like a presidential motorcade making its way through the dining room." - Julia Chen