Amber India Restaurant

Beautiful spot for dining, indoor and outdoor. Excellent service. Food is presented nicely, just rather bland for my tastes. I really prefer the spicier Indian food, but the flavor was lacking here. Very clean everywhere. Please note that the tip is already added to the bill, and so is a "Healthy San Francisco tax" or something....

Easily the best Indian food I’ve had in the United States! Amber offers an exceptional spread, outstanding quality, and excellent service. It doesn’t get more authentic than this. Every dish is thoughtfully crafted—more a work of art and skill than mere cooking. Compared to other restaurants, the prices are very reasonable. I thoroughly enjoyed their buffet, and the Indian sweets were truly out of this world. Amber is a true ambassador of India’s rich culinary heritage and incredible flavors. This is my first 5-star rating for an Indian restaurant.

During my trip to San Francisco, this spot was conveniently close to my hotel, so one evening we decided to give it a try for dinner. The place was packed — likely thanks to a big conference happening nearby — and with no tables available, we ended up seated in the lounge. The vibe was busy and a bit loud, but still comfortable enough to hold a conversation. Service-wise, things were a bit on the slower side and definitely had room for improvement. We started off with cocktails, which were both solid and well-made. Since neither of us were too hungry, we kept the order simple. We began with ‘Bhapa Maach’— a dish close to my heart as a Bengali. Traditionally, I expect a steamed or smoked fish served dry, but here it arrived in a soupy gravy, made with what seemed like flounder or another white fish. The flavors were okay — not memorable, but not bad either. Oddly, the broth came without any accompaniment, which felt a bit incomplete. Next, we ordered kulcha alongside a goat meat (gosht) curry. This dish really delivered — rich, spicy, and packed with flavor, it instantly took me back to wedding-style ‘Kosha Mangsho’ back home. The portion was generous, but again, we weren’t too hungry, so it was just the right amount. We wrapped up with desserts: my friend had the Rasmalai, which tasted pretty much like standard store-bought fare. I went for the mango yogurt, expecting a baked version, but instead it resembled a simple parfait — mango pulp at the bottom and plain yogurt on top — underwhelming.

Serves a modern take on Indian food (I am not sure why other reviews say it is traditional food, but maybe the lunch buffet is). The overall experience was great, with really flavorful food and attentive service. The ambience is nice and welcoming too. We had an eggplant dish with scamorza cheese filling, bhel, paneer, and a variety of their naans. Definitely worth a visit!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ In all areas I’ve been coming to Amber for over 13 years, and it remains one of my favorite Indian restaurants in the Bay Area. When I lived here, I was a regular, and even now, I make it a point to visit whenever I’m in town. The ambience is inviting, the seating is comfortable, and the service is among the best I’ve experienced at any Indian restaurant. I’ve dined here countless times—whether for their daily buffet or à la carte dinners (at least 50+ times!)—and they have never missed the mark on taste or service. Whether dining solo, with a small group, or with a large party, my experience has always been exceptional. As a vegetarian, I’ve tried nearly everything on their menu over the years, and I’ve never been disappointed. But this time, they surprised me! Since I was dining alone, they introduced me to their Thali menu for dinner, which I didn’t even know existed. It’s a perfect option for solo diners—highly recommended! (See the menu attached.) I ordered the Vegan/Gluten-Free Thali, and every dish was superb. The Kale Kofta Curry could have been better, but overall, the meal was excellent. As always, the service was stellar. Amber SF remains a must-visit for me whenever I’m in the Bay Area. Looking forward to my next visit!

The Indian buffet was delicious. I kept eating Tanduri chicken and curry with nan. It was the memorable experience due to the food quality. I love the Indian food culture including curry in this restaurant. I would like to highly recommend this restaurant if you want to try Indian foods.

I had heard a lot about Amber Indian Restaurant, so I decided to give it a try. The ambience is very good, and you feel the positivity as soon as you enter. Walk-ins are allowed, but on busy days (especially weekends), they do accept reservations. Please note, you need to look for street or a public garage parking. Personally, I felt it is very pricey. Since I had a late lunch, I decided to go with starters and ordered just two items: Shrimp Ambotik and the Tandoori Sampler, along with Coke, Jeera Soda, and Lemonade. The total came to $100, including tip. The food was well done and the quantity was right. Quality-wise, it was satisfactory—nothing particularly amazing. They do serve liquor, if someone is looking for that option. Overall, the experience was good with attentive service. Food lovers can give it a try, but be prepared for the final bill.

Had lunch here in early Feb' 25, because it was the closest Indian restaurant near our hotel. It was easy to locate using Google maps. Went straight to the mains and ordered daal, rice, butter rotis, papas and vegetable. Food was mediocre, daal was too tangy and vegetable was tasteless. Service was prompt and the place was hospitable and welcoming. Will we go again? Probably, probably not.

Amber India is always highly regarded for its authentic North Indian dishes and remains one of my "go-to" restaurants in San Francisco. The Papdi chat was crispy in texture, light and pleasantly sweet because of its mango chutney filling. My duck kappa starter was also crispy and the curry paste surrounding the meat bone was mild spicy and had balanced flavors. I thoroughly enjoyed the Peshwari (coconut) Nan bread. My lamb kehbab was complimented by a sweet tamarind and a refreshing mint sauce. The small salad and side of quinoa were equally delicious with the sauces and seekh kehbab. The restaurant's temperature felt chilly inside so I'd recommend that management increase the heating, particularly during San Francisco's windy days. The service was relatively efficient and ambiance quiet.

We came here on a week night and it was not as busy at 5 pm but the place was pretty packed when we left around 7:30 pm. This is an upscale Indian restaurant that costs a pretty penny. For two people with drinks and two appetizers and two entrees it cost almost $90 a person. We ordered the samosas, cheese naan, garlic naan, chicken tikka masala, and the palak paneer. Everything was very good quality and pretty tasty. I do think that the palak paneer and the samosas were more on the bland side and could have had a little more flavor. But the naan and the chicken tikka masala had such good flavor. Everything was tasty and the service was great. I would come back and try other things.

The palak chaat was incredible!! I highly recommend that dish! The cauliflower was good but the sauce was a little too tangy for my taste. I was excited to try the kale kofta and they were good but the kofta were too big and it felt like the kofta to sauce ratio was off. The restaurant was busy on a Thursday night but it wasn't loud or overwhelming. The space is bigger than it seems from the entrance. Our server was attentive and checked in on us after every course. I would come back to try more options.

Came to Amber India on a weekday for dinner with a friend. The service was friendly and attentive, which was nice. The restaurant was pretty quiet and spacious as well. We ordered 2 dishes, butter chicken and saag paneer, and 1 thing of rice which we ended up getting a second one of. The flavors of the dishes were pretty good but didn't come out hot enough in my opinion, soon they were cold and not as tasty to eat. I was also unaware of how expensive dinner is here, having only been here for lunch before. Butter chicken for $30! That seems much more expensive than other sit down Indian places I like in San Francisco. Without drinks, appetizers, or naan (only rice and the two curries) our total after tipping was $100. Normally I would expect to receive a lot more food for that amount of money. I probably would not return for dinner only because of the price, but I recommend the lunch buffet here.

Amber - Los Altos helped me host a memorable client lunch event. The organization, food, venue was all stellar, Thank you to Ravi and your team.

Went for their bottomless mimosas buffet ($48 pp). The interior is nice, clean, and the staff were very attentive. The food was ok but my favorite were the chicken wings (very moist/ flavorful) and the butter chicken. I wished there were a bit more options. Overall, a decent experience. The mimosas were nice and bubbly. The staff also makes sure your glass is always filled ;) Great place for groups or large parties. Good vibes + ambiance to chill and chat.

I recently dined with a group of 10. The interior is beautiful and the service was great for our large group. Several of us ordered mango lassis which we quite enjoyed - not too sweet or salty. I also ordered the Tandoori Chicken and Feta & Onion Kulcha for myself. The chicken was mostly well-marinated, but some pieces were dry inside and it seemed like a small portion for the price. I also felt that the kulcha was a bit heavy on the feta and light on the onions for my taste.

So we came to here because my friend India. wedding coming soon, so we do food testing, they printed menu and gave us pen, from app to Dessert they really hands on. The manager talked us through and he introduced the chef too, for any adjustment on the real rehearsal dinner. Overall this was good experience. Food really strong in flavor and spice, make sure you hungry when you visit here because our leftovers stayed for 3 days lunch Menu for tonight - APPETIZERS  Samosa Avocado and corn Bhel Veg pakora Karavali shrimp Lucknawi Seekh Kebab Chicken manchurian - MAIN COURSE Amber's Butter Chicken Ghosht Vindaloo Lamb Roganjosh Kadhai Paneer Bhindi Masala Aloo anardana - DESSERT Gulab Jamun Chocolate mousse in chocolate tulips -Dal Makhni, rice and naan for side dish this set for 4 people testing food

Great food. Beautiful lighting. Friendly staff. It was just a few blocks from our hotel & was a great find!

Good service but very disappointing food. It's over priced and mediocre at best. I returned to Amber India for the first time in over a decade, and it has truly gone down hill.

Our server was incredibly attentive like I'm pretty sure we became best friends. I asked if they could make paneer makhani (i love butter) and they did. Lobster curry was on top, just creamy lobstery goodness. We ordered their maraschino cherry naan which at first seemed a bit crazy (bad) and then after I bit into it I realized it was crazy (good)

Amber provides a modern Indian dining experience without compromising on traditional flavors. We came late at night and had to wait a bit for a table to open up. The place is dimly lit by warm candles on each table living up to their name. We end up ordering all of their specialty dishes although I would come back to try the rest. The garlic and chili naan was fresh and fluffy. The seasoning helps compliments the sweet and soft dough. The saag paneer was definitely the highlight. I've had paneer before but Amber's paneer is truly on another flavor dimension. The rich blend of kale and collard saag has a subtle leafy yet light flavor complimentary of the chewy paneer. The result is a masterclass in seasoning and textures. Amber's butter chicken is drenched in rich sweet and savory sauce. Perfect for dipping their naan. The biryani has so much value. Not only is the bowl massive enough for 2-3 people but it's also covered in a thick layer of fresh dough and served with a complimentary bowl of fresh cucumber yogurt. The price is quite reasonable for the quality and serving size.

The atmosphere, service and food at Amber all are classy - the atmosphere and service are significantly better than your run of the mill Indian restaurant and the food is at par with some of the better places I've tried. The chicken bum Biriyani was good but the number of chicken pieces were too few. We tried the palak paneer and although it was different than most I've had, I really loved it. The naan was good too but lacked the smokiness of the tandoor. The entire experience was very nice even though it was on the more expensive side of the spectrum for the food we got.

Food amazing , service terrible terrible terrible , but food amazing ! Slow and I had to ask for my order after being seated for awhile

If I could give this place more stars, I would! The dining experience is top notch! I came here on a Friday night and started off by parking in the mission and 5th garage. It's a really short and easy walk from there but there may also be a closer garage. I was really excited to try all the drinks and new menu items and it didn't disappoint. We started with the chaat. I especially liked the pani poori and samosa chaat so I'd highly recommend those. For drinks, the Bombay confidential and the Hyderabad tonic were both so flavorful. All the drinks are really thought out and incorporate Indian flavors. For the food, you honestly can't go wrong with any of their items. I really enjoyed the fish curry, butter chicken, and their feta and onion kulcha. My husband thought the lamb chops were the kind that would melt in your mouth. Overall, I loved it! The food is really authentic and everything was so well done! Will be back.

delicious event lunch buffet today in SF ! The food was warm, delicious in this boutique style very nice restaurant . We enjoyed the back private room for our lunch meeting and the service was great too! Very clean and the location is next to Sf Center, Ross, Peets coffee on Market St. so parking is best a few short blocks away at Mission parking garage connects thru Bloomingdale's back door the menu items were all cooked perfectly I highly recommend this restaurant

The food was awful and a major disappointment. The Chilean sea bass was overcooked and had a 'fishy smell'. The lamb curry was below average with a thin gravy. The staff are fantastic. The decor is lovely. My birthday was acknowledged. I chose this restaurant for my birthday celebration and the food was really disappointing.

Excellent Indian option, very close to Marriott Marquis and Moscone center. Got a carry out order of Lamb korma and roti. Food was delicious, carry out was carefully packed. It was a great lunch

This was some of the best Indian food I've ever had. We came for a business dinner and ordered the chicken biriyani, butter chicken, cod in coconut curry, goat biriyani, papdi chaat, and gulab jamun. The butter chicken was beyond delicious- strong and sweet, tomato paste-like flavor and the raita was amazing. I wouldn't get the papdi chaat again- it came as 6 little chips with toppings instead of the traditional format, and the gulab jamun was just okay. Overall, I would definitely come again and recommend this to both Indian food lovers and anyone looking to try Indian food for the first time.

Servers were great and food was good, but not sure how they can sleep at night giving only like 7 TINY pieces of meat in a dish at their prices. I'd rather make my own at home. Garlic naan was my favorite thing there, though.

I haven't been here in over six years and it did not disappoint. I was a little skeptical about coming due to some reviews about the small portions/price point. The appetizers were about $22 and the entrees $30+. We had the somosas, lamb chops, butter chicken, naan and rice. The butter chicken could have had more meat, however, by the end I honestly felt very satisfied and could not have eaten any more and had considered ordering one more entree at the beginning (there were two of us). The food was delicious. I was glad to be back. Service was good. There were several large parties while I was there and they all seemed to be receiving adequate attention, even though they got in late and it was already closing time.

The food was bad. They added tomato ketchup vs really curry. Please do not go. Also very expensive. Kuntal

food and ambiance was very nice. Service was kind and respectful. lamb was cooked very well !

Came here to have an early supper after a visit at the SF MOMA. We chose to sit in the enclosed greenhouse area under a heat lamp, which kept us comfortably warm. The service here is of high-quality as the people are well trained. They generally pay attention to clearing, finished dishes, as well as checking on you. We began with three appetizers. The lamb chops were tasty and a nice size. The cauliflower appetizer was also good as well as the salad that came served on a leaf of iceberg to keep it neat. I have posted a picture of all three. I had the Armenia cocktail, which was a good start, a glass of Tempranillo for dinner, and to accompany dessert, the French connection. In cool weather it is nice that the French connection is warmed so that it provides additional warmth while drinking. Compare this to how they serve it at Broadway Masala which is still chilled. Note that they are named differently at each restaurant. For our entrée, we have the kale kofta and the roti basket, which had a plentiful number of bread quarters for our table. For dessert we had the ras malai and as a nice touch, they brought a serving spoon and three plates, so we could portion it among ourselves rather than having to share the same serving bowl. This is why I especially like eating at Amber. The quality is excellent and for the quality the price is reasonable.

Went there on Saturday evening and got a table instantly. It got busy around 8pm so probably it's better to use reservation, especially for bigger parties. The place is very spacious, has several large areas and all of them are very cosy and intimate. I liked the menu, as it wasn't too large and it was pretty easy to find what you're in the mood for and make an order. We went with Tandoori Chicken, Malabari shrimp and Garden collage from tandoori. All the dishes were delicious and the presentation was great too. The service was also good. We had our water refilled without having to ask and our waiters were knowledgeable and friendly. I'm definitely putting this place to my to-go list for Indian food and can recommend it for cosy dining experience in SF downt

The food was ok, but was room temp The service was typical for Buffett. Ambiance nice. The price was outrageous!!!! $7.00 for a small Soda Almost $40.ea for Buffett with very limited options!!!! Never again!!!!

I was in The City for a Future of Food Technology conference, and after a full day of talks and networking, had to step away for some peace, reflection, and a bite. Firing up my Yelp app in the hotel lobby, I noticed that Amber India - a restaurant I'd heard a lot of good things about - was only a block away. Twenty minutes later, I settled myself into a quiet corner table, observing large parties order their food, and classy wait staff bustle about efficiently but without a lot of fuss. I was lost in my thoughts when I heard a discreet cough at my elbow, and it took all my self control not to yelp! "What can we get for you, sir?" said the waiter. I wasn't super famished, so ordered a paneer Kulcha (naan stuffed with soft Indian cheese) and Chicken 65 - a spicy dry chicken snack which originated in Madras (now called Chennai) in South India. This was served with two excellent chutneys. The food was superb. The chicken was not too spicy, though the green chutney made up for it with its fieriness. The paneer Kulcha nourished my soul, which sometimes aches for the country I grew up in. Service was top notch, bathrooms were clean and well maintained. The bill was a very reasonable $26 (before tax and tip). Will certainly be back next time I'm in the area!

Very good tasty. Service is very punctual as well. Ambience is great. Overall a good experience.

Something with the buffet isn't right here -- I didn't eat much but I got full really quickly. Same with the friend I was with! We suspected they put baking soda in their curries to make customers full faster. I also felt slightly sick after eating here so not a pleasant experience! The staff are friendly tho and service is decent.

Service is great. Ambiance is good. Food was just watered down Indian fare. Curries were overwhelmingly sweet and lacked authentic Indian flavors. Naans were mostly well made and the Parda biryani was surprisingly good. Kadai paneer tasted more like a achaari dish. Bottom line is that when something as basic and staple as butter chicken doesn't meet the mark, it's a deal breaker for me.

Was in town for a conference so I sort of stumbled on this place at my lunch break. So so glad I did. While easily the most expensive Indian lunch buffet I've experienced, it was well worth it. Service was great, and the small space is lovely. The food was beautifully presented, very fresh, and every item had a signage not only identifying the dish but main ingredients and common allergens. I really wish I had a bigger stomach, as I was only able to try about half the items. Even the dessert was a winner - they had a sort of warm lentil bread pudding that was truly amazing - I'd never had anything like it. They do have an extensive ala cart menu as well - I'll try that next time I'm in town.

The worst service in sf. Sat at the bar took over 25 min for an espresso martini which I didn't even receive cause I had to leave to go back to work and it wasn't even busy ... didn't get to eat nothing but drank a cup of water.

We stumbled upon here late night when we were craving some Indian food, we were seated very quickly! We ordered a lot of dishes, and majority were good! I prefer more salt and spiciness to my food, so this was kind of bland for me.. but I do realize they keep all consumers in mind. I asked for some salt which did make it better. It was hard to get attention of servers and we did have to wait around quite a bit for help. Nice ambiance inside though. Cool that they had some Indian fusion cocktails, very desi! Might be an okay Indian place to try if you're not of North Indian descent and don't like spicy food!

Went on a Saturday night and despite the rush, we were able to get seated quickly. We chose to sit in the lounge area, where the bartender Ebenezer was our server. He was really nice, quick and thoughtful. Try sitting in that area if you're a small party. The ambiance was pretty upscale. I subtracted a star for the food because I felt it was a little bland compared to what we expect from Indian restaurants. I understand that it is possibly because they cater to all types of audience so they probably mellowed it down. However, to me that removed the authenticity from the experience. We ordered chicken 65, rogan josh and chili naan and garlic naan. The chicken 65 was a little overcooked. The lamb of rogan josh was very tender and nice to eat but the curry wasn't that great. It was a little less salty than what I prefer. The chili naan had some red pepper sprinkled on it.

Amazing indian food! I went for the lunch buffet and I totally loved it! Best butter chicken in the city yet! Great breads, desserts, fish and snacks! I will definitely go again. For around $30 a person, it exceeded expectations! Service, ambiance and location are great too! A good place for all kinds of occasions!

Came here at the tail end of APEC, and got some butter chicken and saag paneer. Overall food and service were solid. I highly recommend the butter chicken, its good for most everyone, and very approachable for anyone new to Indian food. Mango lassis were solid as well, and overall a solid option for nicer Indian food in the area. Im still waiting to give the lunch buffet a try. Prices are on the higher side, but feel its fair overall, and reflects the quality of the ingredients, Portion side is good as well.

Amber SF has been consistently good and is yet to disappoint me. A few visits over the years. Great menu, lot of choices. Service is good - a tad slow for us on a weekday night but pretty good otherwise. Good ambiance as well as good presentation of both appetizers, entrees and great job on drinks. This last visit was with few guests from Europe and they had a blast with the food. Prices are decent and a great experience always. Have good space for larger groups as well. Highly recommend.

We had a wonderful time! Excellent food! Everything was full of flavor, we ate saag paneer, chicken biryani, lamb korma, and keema naan. Highly recommend all of it, plus the service was great with beautiful lighting.

Grateful to have secured a large party table here for a friend's birthday at super short notice. They were wonderful to us -- the waitstaff not only treated our newly aged pal with a complimentary whiskey shot (lending solidarity to our get-him-drunk theme), but also bolstered our small cupcake cutting ceremony with their own candles, fanfare, and complimentary berry flavored ice cream! The food was really great, and service quick. I need to call out the Kadhai Paneer as a standout (I need to try learn how to make something like it at home). Filling portion sizes too - I split two entrees and rice with another person and I couldn't think about eating anything more for a good bit.

Beautiful ambience. The service is excellent by all. Our server was friendly and very attentive. The food is superb. Not at all greasy and just the right amount of spice.

Love Amber India. San Francisco location was first time for me as my usual go is their los Altos' location. My favorite butter chicken did not disappoint me!

This place is delicioussssssssssssssss. I went with my coworkers who handled ordering for our large group of 10, and I don't know the name of everything they got, but everything was yummy!! For appetizers, we got the palak chaat and two other vegetarian ones which I don't remember the name (sorry not helpful but just order all the veggie ones!!)... they were all so tasty. We got a variety of naan, vegetable biryani, murgh parda biryani, butter chicken, some lamb entree, and more... and everything was again soooooo yummy. I was SO FULL after dinner. I got to take the leftovers home which I ate for dinner the next day. I can't find the cocktail I ordered, but it was some tamarind one that tasted great! The only con with this restaurant is that service is slow. We were already one hour in by the time they cleared out our appetizers and we were waiting to order our entrees. Perhaps it was because we were a large group and they wanted all the food to come out together, but just make sure to allocate 2-2.5 hours if you're coming with a large group!

Amber is easily my favorite Indian restaurant in the Bay Area, though granted I haven't really had much in the "fancy" department. The curries and side dishes are absolutely fantastic and mouth-watering; they are also at a level of spicy that feels more authentic and had me sweating. We ordered appetizers, main courses to share (with lots of naan bread), and desserts and everything was delicious. One tip I would recommend is to make sure to order lots of the naan, you're definitely going to need it to sop up the sauces.

The food was really good and there was a lot of it. The table was a little high and made eating feel strange as the table literally came up to my clavicle. While I thought this would protect from dropping anything in my lap, it meant that my shirt sleeves ended up in food when I reached for items not directly in front of me.

Overpriced, underwhelming, and undercooked food To say I was disappointed would be an understatement

Came here twice for bottomless brunch on a weekend with large groups, and it still hasn't disappointed! There is a large selection of food, and drinks like mango lassi or mango mimosa are included in the buffet. Everything was delicious and they were very generous about refills. Only thing is that coffee is not included in the buffet.

We came here today for the Thanksgiving buffet (which included unlimited champagne). Every single thing that we ate was OUTSTANDING! The dosas were made fresh right there and were light and delicious, and the accompanying sauce was spicy and amazing. The dal and samosas were incredible. Service and atmosphere were top drawer. A+++++++++!!!!

I ordered the iconic dish of Chennai, Chicken 65 from Amber today and was totally shocked to receive achari flavored Chicken and the masala comprising of ginger, garlic and onion paste was half cooked. Either a wrong dish was sent to me or they have deliberately named a dish Chicken 65 without knowing how It is made. The entire world knows that Chicken 65 was first made by Buhari restaurant of Chennai and the recipe is available on YouTube. Chicken is marinated and then deep fried. Never is it soggy. I had ij the last given a 5 star. Have to scale down the rating to 1 star because this is totally misleading a patron by serving some half cooked dish and calling it Chicken 65. I called the restaurant to let them know and the person who picks up the phone tells me to call up the manager later and let him know if I wanted to complain. Being in Hospitality industry, this attitude is just disgusting.

TLDR: The food is good but expensive. Came here on a Saturday night and was pretty easy to get a reservation day of and/or walk in without a reservation. The staff is friendly and service is pretty quick. We ordered way too much food because the portions were bigger than we thought (especially the biryani). My favorite dishes were probably the bhindi masala and the butter chicken. Overall I would go back but it's pretty expensive (a basic martini was almost $20).