Banana leaf - South Indian Restaurant in Redondo Beach

Every dish we tried was delicious!! I highly recommend their Vegetable Spinach Pakoda - so crunchy and the perfect amount of spice. We had Tofu Tikka Masala, Saag Aloo, and Gutti Vankaya Curry. I really enjoyed all the flavors and it was cooked to perfection.

I am so gald that I found this restaurant on my way back to LAX, we had grill shrimp, FISH pulusu, Dosa, butter chicken and some Nanns. We family of 5 each of had a different level of spice level we eat and they made it as per our request from mild to spicy. Its been so long that I had a good spicy food and I heart felt so so happy. Exclent staff and very well maintained. Will surely visit again on my next visit to CA.

Enjoyed the food and ambiance. The service was great. Outdoor seating added to the ambience of the place. Today they had Onam celebration meal and served on banana leaves The menu is a great mix of vegetarian and non vegetarian, so an ideal place for gathering.

Had this restaurant on my hit list for a while. I think I saw their ad on IG or FB. I had such high hopes for it. The restaurant is on PCH in Redondo... Great location! They have free self parking lot in the rear. They have plenty of indoor seating as well as outdoor patio. My friends and I arrived there on Saturday around 7:45pm is expecting the restaurant to be lively and full of customers... There were only a handful of people and was very quiet. I think they occasionally feature live entertainment but it's not clear when they do that. I thought it would make sense to offer that on a Saturday evening. The restaurant is clean and well decorated. The staff is super friendly and attentive. The menu has lots of options. The food was good but not as good as other Indian restaurants I've visited in the past. The one dish that stood out is a chicken dish that looks like popcorn chicken. It was hot crunchy and full of flavor. The other dishes we ordered were good, but nothing special about them. Portions and prices are reasonable. I wish they would post somewhere when they're hosting live entertainment as that's what popped up first in other people's reviews. Perhaps this restaurant would be best for lunch as it seems they offer a lunch buffet and the outdoor patio would be nice to hangout at on a beautiful sunny SoCal day.

Get the dindigul biryani! Ask for off-menu items. They had a delicious biryani and halwai yesterday from a catering gig, and we got to savor it. 🙂 Very friendly staff and delicious food. We went for the paneer tikka and got so much more.

We ordered Chicken Majestic, Mutton Chettinad Curry, Spicy Chicken Biryani. Majestic was very tasty. Liked the Mutton curry with Parotha. Biryani was good but felt the rice cld have been more flavourful but nonetheless good experience and will definitely recommend for Indian food in Socal.

Food is authentic, service is great! We tried the special lunch on banana leaf, it was so delicious! I highly recommend this restaurant for authentic South Indian cuisine!

A great find for our Christmas lunch! Sushmitha (great staff) helped us explore the menu including gluten free items (not specified yet plenty of choices) We had rice coconut, tamarind leaves chick , mushroom Korna & Goat Curry. And to go - the shrimp biryani, rice coconut, etc. & naam for dinner. The BananaLeaf in Redondo Beach has a simple ambience , food is yummy & gut friendly (for me.) I totally recommend it! Btw, We both have gone back twice this week 😍

Banana Leaf Restaurant in Los Angeles delivers an experience that feels both expansive and assured--an establishment that understands its culinary roots and presents them with clarity rather than excess. The meal opened with Rooh Afza falooda and a mango lassi, each thoughtfully composed. The falooda was aromatic and layered without being cloying, while the mango lassi struck an ideal balance between fruit, dairy, and sweetness--refreshing and composed, not dessert-heavy. The transition to savory dishes was seamless. Pani puri arrived crisp and well-structured, with a pleasantly sharp, clean pani that avoided overpowering acidity. The chicken 65 followed--crisp on the exterior, tender within, and seasoned with confidence. The spice was assertive but controlled, allowing the dish's texture and flavor to remain the focus. For the mains, both the mutton biryani and chicken biryani were commendable. The rice was aromatic and distinct, the proteins well integrated rather than buried beneath spice. Each biryani stood on its own, demonstrating careful layering rather than relying on heat alone. The standout of the meal was undeniably the lamb vindaloo. Rich, deeply spiced, and unapologetically bold, it delivered complexity without heaviness. Paired with soft, well-cooked naan, it was the most memorable dish on the table and a clear indicator of the kitchen's strength with traditional preparations. The meal concluded with two varieties of dosa, both expertly executed--crisp, light, and evenly cooked, served with flavorful chutneys and sambar that complemented rather than distracted. While the service was a little slow, it felt more reflective of the care taken in preparing each dish rather than inattentiveness. The pacing ultimately allowed us to enjoy the meal without feeling rushed. Banana Leaf succeeds not by spectacle, but by consistency, authenticity, and technical precision. For diners seeking serious South Indian cooking with depth and integrity, this restaurant stands out as a reliable and rewarding choice in LA.

Great new place for good food amongst a row of restaurants. The ambiance is spartan with plain wooden tables & chairs and a TV playing movie trailers & music videos. The menu has many offerings... We sat near the front of the stage floor. It would be nice to come & hear a band here some day! There is also an attached bar behind a partition, named differently than the restaurant... Sadly, the Chicken 65 Biryani we ordered was too spicy. We ordered mild. They gave us extra rice after our meal and while we were paying... because we complained that the chicken was sooo spicy, it was nearly inedible. We needed to drink all the water provided to us... It would have been nice if the waitress had come back to give us more water and asked us about our meal.... We were the only ones that late night. The cool, white, creamy sauce didn't make the dish any less spicy. Though we made sure we repeated that our order was to be mild, it was given to us spicy. The basmati rice served under the fiery chicken was very nicely cooked otherwise ... They tried to compensate with some rice to take home but the fiery taste affected our taste buds, we had to go for some ice cream afterwards. We took the rest home, we'll wash off the chicken and feed it with the rice to our dog, Hanz. He loves restaurant leftovers... The tandoori chicken (not on the menu) that was on the website was very good, sumptuously spiced but not too spicy. There were also 4 big pieces of thin, garlic buttered naan that were also good. The odd part is that we expected the naan to be served with the tandoori chicken. It took awhile for the spicy biryani to be served and the naan was given to us last... Maybe that's how it's suppose to be? We may consider going back for their Special Monthly lunch special... stay tuned!

Awesome lunch this Saturday... veggie onion uththappa and Dosa stuffed with chettinad chicken fry inside .. awesome taste

Was looking for a good restaurant that was open on a holiday, and this was the one that fit the bill! We came with our dogs and friends and they were super fast at seating and serving us! The food was super savory and the outside seating was nicely shaded. Definitely somewhere I can see myself coming back to if I was in the area.

Love the fact they have so many vegetarian options!!! We got the paneer butter masala which was delicious and I dipped everything into the gravy. They also made malai kofta for us which I don't think was on the menu but so yummy as well. Appreciate the fact they could accommodate us since it's one of our favorite dishes! Really enjoyed the mango lassi too.

Food was okay. The server was really friendly and attentive. The place is very well decorated

The food is off the charts incredible! We got chicken, rice, garlic naam, and a fried chicken appetizer. It was a lot of food, so we had plenty to take home. The service staff is very helpful, kind, knowledgeable, and patient (we had a lot of questions). They add to a really wonderful dining experience that is rare. The chef even came out to ask if we wanted to try a boneless chicken in 1 of our entries, so we could taste the difference of bone in vs not. Super impressive. Easy parking. I can't wait to go back!

Chef Andra Pradesh's stuffed tindora (okra), and biryanis are delicious with different toppings and varying degree of spiciness. Generous portions that serves 2-4 people. Highly recommend!

Went here for lunch with a large group. I have a sensitive stomach and didn't think I could enjoy spicy Indian food. But the food wasn't too spicy. I tried a huge variety of mostly vegetarian food. We had our meal family style so I was able to try many of the entrees. Everything was flavorful, healthy, and delicious.

My beautiful daughter Lexie chose this place by the 4.0 rating on Yelp. Let's begin with the food we ordered; Aloo Gobi Sauteed Cauliflower and Potatoes with spices, butter chicken , Dindugal Thalappakatti Halal Goat Biryani, Dindugul Halal Goat Biryani icon, garlic nun, and white rice. The food is definitely delicious, they have a great cook, excellent What is great about this restaurant is one can choose the three varieties of hot or spiciness We chose mild. And the portions are large and prices are reasonable and affordable. Saving the best for last, this is for management please read what I write this is for your business health and continuity for the restaurant. We arrived at super low-peak hour so it was like 3pm and not one soul or anyone eating and to me that is rather strange, but I it had great reviews. Also I was confused there are two businesses run in par with each other. They have a bar next to their restaurant and so we were confused which one was banana leaf ? I suppose they are owned by same company. This restaurant is lacking professional services. We asked the server about potential allergens with any of their dishes but the server that look more like a soccer player than a professional server never mentioned cashews in the goat or lamb dish which we had ordered. My Daughter is allergic to nuts but the server's response was; "You asked if any of the dishes had peanuts, not cashews." But isn't cashews a nut or part of the family of nuts or allergens. This shows this server was not well trained. Last, he asked for a tip ? Or request a tip. I felt embarrassed because we always tip 16-25% of gross bill. No receipt was given until i requested the breakdown of the food ordered. Lack of service personal hygiene, this the honest truth he looked like coming from Gym or something like that Overall, I don't think I will return until they improve their service Thanks for reading Ps I ordered a Merlot - no wine menu was offered or brought to me until I asked Give me a break what kind of business are you running ??? You can't find their Letter ? A, B, C?

This place was such a gem! I'm always on the lookout for a Southern Indian restaurant because they are so rare, but the food from that region is fantastic. This place popped up when I was perusing Riviera Village for a lunch spot, and I couldn't pass it up! We had the goat curry Rogan Josh, the tamarind leaf dal, the idli, and the spicy paneer dosa. All were so deliciously flavored and reminded me of the home-made southern Indian cuisine I've had in the past. The place was pretty dead, since it was a Monday afternoon, but the staff mentioned live music and discounted dosa on Thursday evenings. Bummed we missed the Diwali celebration last week, I bet it was fun! It's a bit expensive, so I don't think we'll be coming too frequently, but whenever I have a craving for southern Indian, I know where to go!

Food is authentic, service is great! We tried the special lunch on banana leaf, it was so delicious! I highly recommend this restaurant for authentic South Indian cuisine!

Idli, coconut chutney & sambar are yum. Will come back. Dosas are good too. Humble people work here. Nice overall experience.

Overall good. 3.5/5 in all categories. Most dishes are delicious, just need less salt and sugar. One feel like going to restaurants and told they cannot accommodate because sauces are already made! Why can't they dilute the sauce or put less into the dish being ordered? These days restaurants are just looking for general public who are more into sweet/salty food to possibly get good rating? Not much choices for eating out when can't even accommodate simple requests. I don't believe this type of restaurants are fast food restaurants.

Service was great. There were some dishes I'd never seen before and the server was very good at explaining them. Very interesting menu of southeast Indian food. All the dishes we had were delicious! Interior is decorated well, but we sat outside as we had a dog. So dog friendly too. All in all an excellent and interesting experience!

My friend and I came in on a Saturday evening and we honestly didn't know whether or not to stay because we were the only ones there. Boy am I glad we stayed! Don't let an empty restaurant fool you. We knew we were in for a treat as soon as the first dish came out. Everything was tasty and seasoned just right. Overall, the vegetable dum biriyani was my favorite and it' made it to my top 3. I enjoyed the food so much I brought my mom for dinner later in the week. The young woman so served us both times was really nice :) I was really sad to learn that the other Banana Leaf locations have closed.

Absolutely delicious food! Many dishes we had not heard of or tried before. Every single item was outstanding. Inviting atmosphere with extensive vegetarian and vegan options. Phenomenal service as well. Can't wait to come back and try more dishes!

The food is sooo goood! We got the chicken 65 biryani and the chicken tikka masala, both were delicious! The biryani was probably the best I've had in LA! We did takeout so cant say much about the ambiance and service, it seemed alright!

update: still so good. The lady who served us was so sweet and the food was amazing. Indian food can be a new experience for some but i think everyone could find something they love here

After a day at the beach, we were craving Indian food and this spot hit the mark. It was a Monday night and there were several patrons dining in. The service wasn't super quick or attentive, but our server was sweet and welcoming. We ordered the Aloo Gobi and Paneer Tikka Masala--both were flavorful and satisfying. Great vegetarian options, and honestly, you won't miss the meat. Solid choice for a relaxed, tasty meal.

We tried the Banana Leaf for the first time and ordered naan, the chicken curry and chicken dosa (on recommendation of the waitress). Both of us were thinking it was some of the best Indian food we have ever had. The crepe element of the dosa was the standout for me. Unique and so tasty. Also one of those small (probably family owned) restaurants that gave us a couple chocolate almond as a little extra treat. Super appreciated that little extra element of thoughtfulness that is so lacking. Definitely a place to revisit and try new items. Also dog friendly!

Excellent service. Great food. We decided to order family meal. Excellent food. It's definitely enough for 4 to 5 people. Generous portion sizes. Service was great. Highly recommend this gem of a place. Location is great with parking in the back. Restaurant is beautifully decorated. Looking forward to our next visit.

The pepper chicken is well-seasoned and has a good amount of spice, adding a nice contrast to the rasam rice. The chicken pieces are tender, with a bit of crunch on the outside that gives a great texture. The ambience was great and service was on point, I will surely visit again

My wife and I just had a wonderful dinner at Banana Leaf in Redondo Beach. The food was amazing. So flavorful! The staff was very patient to help us navigate the wide selection of dishes. My wife had a Dora, which was wonderful, and I had a Dindugul Halal Goat biryani which filled my mouth with an explosion of fragrant spices and tender meat.

Banana Leaf just opened in RB, so I decided to check it out: I went as soon as they opened and was the first customer. I opted for the hyderabadi biryani, medium spicy. To my surprise, it was spicy; Banana Leaf does not mess with heat!!! It was tasty and flavorful with spices, although I will admit that the heat detracted from fully-enjoying the flavor of the dish, as it was just heat and more heat...while I can handle heat decently, I think I overestimated my abilities! Met the owner, who was super nice and offered to make sure the dining experience was great, even offering pakora and samples of Indian donuts. Next time, I'll have to definitely request for spice-level adjustment to truly enjoy the meal!

The food was delicious. Some of the dishes were new to us and the wait staff was very kind in helping to explain the menu and how to go about eating some of the items.

We came today for their special Breakfast Diwali Event. The portions were a good size and the food was very tasty. Not too spicy, and everything tasted fresh. I do wish the masala chai was slightly bigger (appeared to be 6 to 8 oz.) but not a huge deal for a $15 special event meal. Unfortunately I have to give it 3 stars because towards the end of the meal we discovered there was a long grey (possibly blonde) hair found embedded in the dosa. While I do also have blonde hair, it was unmistakable that this was baked into the food. I don't feel comfortable making a big scene, nor am I looking for freebies. So perhaps that was on me for not saying anything to the staff while we were there. But upon reading other reviews, this appears to not be the first time a customer has found hair in their food- so I did feel like it was necessary to write a review. Health code violations like this are easy enough to fix with the right reminders to employees to wear protective food safety/hygiene gear, so I'd be willing to try to eat there again. Not a deal breaker for me, as this generally seems to be more and more common in all restaurants. Hopefully they will take corrective action immediately after reading this review.

I recently tried Banana Leaf wasnt too pleased The butter tofu was okay, but lacked flavor . The naan was standard--nothing special, but it did its job. I enjoyed the tofu tikka the most, as it had decent flavor. However, I've honestly had better Indian food from the frozen section at Trader Joe's, which says a lot. The vegetable biryani was a bit overwhelming--too strong with the spices, making it unpleasant. On the bright side, parking was easy to find, , overall, the food wasn't memorable enough for me to want to come back anytime soon.

Called to place an order. Don't know what happened but upon arriving after 15mins. Guy is confused doesn't have my order in the system. It happens but you know at least apologize. Just kept making excuses "manager probably didn't put it in". How are you gonna blame the manager. And he's not even there lol. You're the only guy working so just lied straight through your teeth. So I said ok put in my order but can you make it a priority because I need to get back to work. Gave him 5 mins to prepare a combo bowl, chicken biryani , rice and nann. Seems reasonable for the type of dish I'm requesting. He then said 10mins? Dude why are you negotiating with me after making a mistake already. On a slow Saturday afternoon unacceptable.

the food was great! and the service was fast and very nice. and i also loved the vibes of the restaurant, with the decorations, amazing food, and very friendly staff, this restaurant is truly a hidden gem!

Came by here late one night--found them off Yelp. Staff was very accommodating and super friendly. They helped us with all the questions we had. They were so helpful in making special orders and substitutions. The young lady who served us was very detailed with knowledge and getting us the order we specifically requested. She even asked the chefs questions and reported it back to us. Despite being the only customer there, they were still very attentive, and gave us all we needed. The food was good, but it wasn't as flavorful as expected. I love Indian food and think it's one of the most flavorful cuisines but the food here was okay. It was decent. High pricing was expected considering the location. Overall service was great and food was decent.

Recently moved to the area and was craving Indian food. Found this place on Yelp, and honestly wasn't a big fan of the quality of food that we received. The chicken tikka masala and palak paneer tasted off.. Also, the amount of food was so small compared to traditional Indian restaurants I've had in the past. I will not be eating here again.

The food was so good! I got a chicken tikka masala and it was packed with flavor. I also got a side of garlic naan as well. Our waitress was very nice and attentive. The inside was clean and the ambience was nice.

Amazing day at the Banana Leaf Redondo Beach location. The food and experience was AHHHMAZING. Sri out did himself ..... AGAIN 5 of the 19 dishes we tried- yes NINETEEN *Stuffed Tindora *Mixed Veggie Bajji *Masala Dosa *Stuffed Eggplant *Dosakaya Dal Inside restaurant. Outdoor patio. Street parking. Ocean breeze. Highly recommend.

Horrible experience dining in this restaurant tonight. We arrived an hour before closing and the restaurant was sparsely populated then. There was a long delay in taking our orders. The lady waitress was attending to friends/family in the table next to us while we were kept waiting. She came with the plates and spoons after a while. One of the plates and spoons had food on it. I kept waiting for the plate while she engaged in friendly conversations with the next table. Food arrived staggered. The gentleman delivering the food to the table did not know we had rice and naan on the order. He gave different explanations each time we asked about the delay. He brought us mango lassi to make up for the delay which we did not even touch. We were rushed towards the end because the kitchen was closing, while the lady kept going with her friendly conversations in the next table. Customer service is horrible and a solid nightmare. Food was okay, nothing extraordinary. The owner seems to argue back in the negative reviews when all he should focus on is train his staff on what good customer service should look like. Not only are we not going to go the second time, we will spread the word to friends and families all around. This restaurant will go down if customer service does not improve, as history has proven in the past.

We were a bit nervous stepping into an empty restaurant on a Sunday evening. We got to pick our table and started to browse the menu. After placing our order, the food took about 20 minutes to make it out but it was fantastic. We had the Hyderabad Paneer and Chicken 65 appetizers. Both had a great flavor but weren't overpowering in spice. We also ordered the Saag Paneer and tried the chicken biryani which had a really strong kick even though we got it medium. We did not mind! We really enjoyed all the flavors and thought this was a hidden gem of a restaurant. Definitely will be back again!

This was our first time dining at banana leaf and food is really tasty. We ordered their family meal and good for 3-4 people easily. Lilly was very friendly and offered great service. They have lot of vegan and vegetarian options in the menu. It was very clean place and try stuffed eggplant dish We ordered samosa, stuffed eggplant, veg biryani, okra curry, spinach dal, gulab jamun

The food here is delicious and I saw a lot on the menu that haven't seen on other Indian food restaurants and I can't wait to come back to explore the menu. One suggestion that I'd like to make to the restaurant is to revise the menu and include descriptions for each item, including ingredients and provenance. They have American/North Indian style classics like Butter Chicken etc. but it would be nice to have those separated from a South Indian section. I'm a Californian of non Indian ancestry and I have issues with auditory processing so I so wanted to ask more questions about the menu but I felt horrible asking more questions because I had difficulty understanding our server because of her accent. The service was great but I feel bad making people repeat themselves because of my disability. That being said I look forward to coming again.

Food was excellent i ordered the spicy chicken biryani and it was v spicy and v delicious. Definitely would go again

Stopped here after a walk at Hermosa Beach pier. I was greeted with a hello and a smile as soon as I stepped in which made me feel welcomed. I've always wanted to try Indian food but have been too intimidated by all the dishes and the flavors... so today I had enough courage to get over it and finally try it. A friend had recommended Pav Bhaji (I even spent some time working on my pronunciation ) but they didn't have it in their menu, so I ended up ordering the chicken tikka masala with a side of rice and a garlic naan. Ahhh the chicken was so tender, the sauce was creamy and flavorful. The garlic naan was perfectly seasoned. On another note, the service was very friendly, polite, and attentive. Also, this place has a relaxed vibe and they had Indian music which elevated my first time experience. The place is spacious and clean as well It would be nice if there was a menu with a full description of the dishes for those like me who want to try something new but don't want to order something they're not sure they'll like and shy away from Indian food altogether. Anyway, will definitely will return!

1st time for everything. I had never had a food item with Jackfruit after moving to the US. This restaurant was/is the first such restaurant to offer this delicacy. Just for that, the place gets a 5 star!!!! Our friends from Torrance recommended this. We ordered food while we were on the 91 freeway. By the time we arrived at the restaurant, our takeout order was almost complete. Jackfruit Biriyani was unique. I dig. (+2) Chicken Biriyani was alright. Okra Fry portion was generous. (+1) Navrathan Kurma and Goat curry were decent. Not spicy but they did the trick. Naan is very small by Indian standards. (Almost like a Pita Bread) (-1) P.S: Location. Parking is terrible? Street signs are not present. Address is the key to finding this restaurant.

Hidden gem! Excellent Indian food with a lot of options. Our server patiently explained the dishes. We will definitely be coming back to try more of the vast menu.

This place is relatively new so I thought I'd try it. It was a rather anemic experience and I'm rather sorry I did. The Lamb Saag had barely any lamb in it. The chicken in the so called "highly recommended" chicken tikka was very dry. Not a little dry, Sahara dry. The naan was small and MUST have been microwaved because it was stiff as a board and dry. I was able to knock it against the table. I've never had the opportunity to knock naan on the table, so that was a different experience. Both dishes needed some salt. Neither had any memorable amount of flavor so it was quite the experience. It was the food delivery of regret and sadness. Save yourselves.

Banana leaf is a restaurant serving authentic Indian cuisine! They have an abundant variety of dishes and for the ones I've tried, they greatly satisfied me! I come from Singapore and have greatly missed the hawker (food court like) dishes, noticing the roti paratha, curry, and dosai I knew I had to come try their dishes. I was eager to try their dosa but unfortunately it was sold out. In spite of that, I was able to try Andhra Chicken Curry (The server's recommendation and at spicy spice level) ), roti, paratha, and garlic naan, of which I greatly enjoyed. Their Andhra Chicken Curry exhumed herby and soothing spice aromatics and was buttery, comfortably spicy, with a thick and flavorful gravy, dipping their crispy and starchy roti into the curry made a perfect combo. Banana leaf's paratha also reminded me of Indian flavors being fluffy, having a stretchy tear with some aromatics. The garlic naan had its own flavors that hid in the curry but by itself was fresh, slightly savory, bubbly, and delicious. The server also consistently checked up on me, which is appreciated! I have definitely missed out on Banana leaf and will one-hundred-percent come back to try another dish (Hopefully the dosai!).

Too spicy. Deserted when i visited. Ask e for veggie oothapam. But only onions and green chilies

Authentic South Indian food! From a Sri Lankan-American.. you're welcome I felt my mom through their cooking. I miss her.

This food was so yummy! I came here to eat with my mom today and the whole set up was lovely, we felt like we were in costa rica or somewhere tropical haha. The workers were so nice!! Thank you to them and compliments the chefs ! Our food was delicious, 10/10 butter chicken , dal, nan, chicken 65, & the eggplant dish was so yummy.. EVERYTHING was so yum. We will be returning, forsure! THANK YOU FRIENDS!!!

How's this 2 orders of naan ? Also ordered 1 order of roti and you guys gave ONE tortilla looking roti

Came to this restaurant because there was an article in the newspaper about how great it was. Well I have to say I probably wouldn't come back. The service took forever. There was another couple at a table besides our party of 5. Our family commented that they may have gone to their other location to get the food because it took so long. We ordered butter chicken, good sauce but couldn't find much chicken. The garlic nan bread it was ok nothing to write about. My father in law got a coffee and it was horrible. It says instant on the menu but I've had instant coffee that tasted better. Overall disappointing because we were hoping for a good Indian food restaurant near us