Pakwan Restaurant

Pakistani restaurant · Westwood Park

Pakwan Restaurant

Pakistani restaurant · Westwood Park

3

1140 Ocean Ave, San Francisco, CA 94112

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Pakwan Restaurant by null
Pakwan Restaurant by Pakwan Indian Restaurant
Pakwan Restaurant by angela n./Flickr
Pakwan Restaurant by null
Pakwan Restaurant by null
Pakwan Restaurant by null
Pakwan Restaurant by null
Pakwan Restaurant by null
Pakwan Restaurant by null
Pakwan Restaurant by null
Pakwan Restaurant by null
Pakwan Restaurant by null
Pakwan Restaurant by null
Pakwan Restaurant by null
Pakwan Restaurant by null
Pakwan Restaurant by null
Pakwan Restaurant by null
Pakwan Restaurant by null
Pakwan Restaurant by null
Pakwan Restaurant by null
Pakwan Restaurant by null
Pakwan Restaurant by null
Pakwan Restaurant by null
Pakwan Restaurant by null
Pakwan Restaurant by null
Pakwan Restaurant by null
Pakwan Restaurant by null
Pakwan Restaurant by null
Pakwan Restaurant by null
Pakwan Restaurant by null
Pakwan Restaurant by null
Pakwan Restaurant by null
Pakwan Restaurant by null
Pakwan Restaurant by null
Pakwan Restaurant by null
Pakwan Restaurant by null
Pakwan Restaurant by null
Pakwan Restaurant by null
Pakwan Restaurant by null
Pakwan Restaurant by null
Pakwan Restaurant by null
Pakwan Restaurant by null
Pakwan Restaurant by null
Pakwan Restaurant by null

Highlights

Generous Pakistani portions of biryani, tikka masala, and naan  

Featured in Eater
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1140 Ocean Ave, San Francisco, CA 94112 Get directions

pakwanrestaurant.com

$10–20 · Menu

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1140 Ocean Ave, San Francisco, CA 94112 Get directions

+1 415 841 8400
pakwanrestaurant.com

$10–20 · Menu

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Last updated

Aug 18, 2025

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@eater

The Best Indian Restaurants in San Francisco | Eater SF

"Pakwan is usually an excellent no-frills destination for anyone seeking a night out in the Tenderloin, Mission, or Ocean Avenue, and it’s just as satisfying delivered to the comfort of your couch. (The generous portions leave ample room for leftover biryani lunches.) Plus, the restaurant is famously BYOB, making for a scandalous night of insanely quality South Asian food." - Paolo Bicchieri

https://sf.eater.com/maps/best-indian-restaurants-san-francisco
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@eater

15 San Francisco Restaurants Dishing Out Comfort Food for Takeout and Delivery

"SF’s king of no-nonsense late-night Pakistani serves better-than-solid versions of standards like saag paneer and chicken tikka masala. The lamb biriyani is pure, fat-glistened comfort, and the garlic naan might be the most satisfying version in the city. Pakwan’s Mission and Tenderloin locations are also open — call the location nearest you, or order delivery via DoorDash or Uber Eats." - Luke Tsai

https://sf.eater.com/maps/best-comfort-food-restaurants-sf-takeout-delivery
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@eater

The Best Restaurants on Ocean Avenue in San Francisco - Eater SF

"Pakwan is arguably San Francisco’s favorite mini-chain for affordable Pakistani and Indian eats, and some say the Ocean Avenue location is the best in the city (but let’s not upset the Mission). Suffice it to say, all the hits are here, too, including those buttery tikka masalas and biryani that are bigger than your face — both good for dinner, great for takeout, and even better leftover the next day." - Becky Duffett

https://sf.eater.com/maps/best-bars-restaurants-ocean-avenue-san-francisco
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Salamat Tussupbek

Google
If you’re looking for authentic halal Indian and Pakistani food in San Francisco, Pakwan Restaurant on Ocean Avenue is a must-try! I ordered the lamb biryani and a mango lassi—the biryani was rich, aromatic, and flavorful, with just the right amount of spice (a bit spicy 🥵 for my taste, but still amazing). The mango lassi was creamy and refreshing, perfect to balance the heat. The food is halal, the portions are generous, and the service is quick and friendly. Whether you’re dining in or ordering takeout, Pakwan delivers consistently great quality. Highly recommended for anyone craving authentic halal South Asian cuisine in San Francisco!

Anna Ng

Google
I used to come here all the time with my family. We’d order a whole bunch of different dishes and my favorite is always their chicken tikka masala, tandoori chicken, garlic naan, and goat Karahi. This time we got the tandoori chicken, tikka masala , beef kebob, and garlic naan & aloo naan. Everything is always so flavorful & you can really taste all the spices they put into their dish. Flavors are very bold and aromatic. I love the smokey and earthy taste of the tandoori chicken. I love the rich and creamy sauce of the tikka masala, just one con is the chicken is slightly to dry. Their naans are so big which is rare, definitely can feed 2-3 people!

vikas sarangal

Google
🌟 A Rare 5-Star from Me! I rarely leave Google reviews—and when I do, it’s usually when I’m unhappy with a service. But today, I’m making an exception. I just ordered food from this place and… wow. Hands down, some of the best Indian-Pakistani food I’ve ever had in the US. The flavors were authentic, the portions were generous, and every bite reminded me of home. I’m from Punjab, right near the Pakistan border, and I’ve often joked about wanting to cross over just for the food. Well, today, it felt like I actually did. It was slightly different from typical Indian food—but in the best way possible. Rich, flavorful, comforting. I tried just two or three dishes, but they were absolutely delicious. I’m sure the rest of the menu is just as amazing. If you’re even thinking about trying this place—do it. You won’t regret it.

Hussain Ali Mirza

Google
I am a big fan of the authentic Indian restaurants and Pakwan is a well known chain in the bay area. This is one of the restaurants of that chain with a nicer ambience and service. Food is very good.

pheiona Gaynor

Google
Although there’s three locations in the city, this is my favorite one. The food is always great, especially with consistency. I dined in so my little brother could experience his food fresh and he enjoyed it. Garlic naan, and the curry chicken great combo

David Hodgson

Google
Absolutely great. Food was very tasteful and so enjoyable. Service was good and quick to be served. Just thoroughly recommended!!

Corina Deng

Google
I ordered in person and dined in, and when my order of chicken biryani was announced ready to pick up, I was shocked by the size of this dish. The plate was heaped over. Even better was the fact there were chunks of chicken throughout the dish. The large portion size for the price point is an excellent value. The interior is nice, clean, and minimalistic. There is plenty of seating for dining in, but it's also conveniently located for takeout, as there is plenty of street parking.

E Lee

Google
Great spot for a small group with booths for 4-6 people and also tables for 2. Order at the counter and get a number. The goat curry was really good and even came with bone marrow in our dish. Lamb biryani was large and leftovers lasted another couple days. Appreciate the naan and whole wheat roti option. Saag dal had large buttery lentils. Great casual spot.
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Anna N.

Yelp
I used to come here all the time with my family. We'd order a whole bunch of different dishes and my favorite is always their chicken tikka masala, tandoori chicken, garlic naan, and goat Karahi. This time we got the tandoori chicken, tikka masala , beef kebob, and garlic naan & aloo naan. Everything is always so flavorful & you can really taste all the spices they put into their dish. Flavors are very bold and aromatic. I love the smokey and earthy taste of the tandoori chicken. I love the rich and creamy sauce of the tikka masala, just one con is the chicken is slightly to dry. Their naans are so big which is rare, definitely can feed 2-3 people!
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Candace R.

Yelp
I've ordered from them occasionally over the last few years but this was my first dine in experience. My husband and I decided to split the lamb briyani and chicken tikka masala, with a side of naan. The interior was clean and pleasant. We grabbed a booth and our food was out after not too long. I forgot that I think the chicken tikka masala here is just fine. The amount of chicken you get for the price isn't a ton, and this plate specifically tasted very smokey, which is not a flavor profile I love. I'd never had lamb briyani and I really enjoyed it. The serving was huge and the lamb was plentiful and flavorful. The naan was solid. Overall I think you probably have to work your way around the menu, but I'd come back and try out different dishes.
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Jasmin C.

Yelp
Located across the street from Whole Foods. Simple menu but offers a great variety. Chicken briyani was MASSIVE, that dish alone could feed 4-5 people. My only complaint was there it was a bit dry and could use a tad more seasoning. Chicken tikki masala was tender, the sauce was the best part and perfect for dipping the naan in. They make their naan in-house so make sure to try the garlic naan! Qeema (ground beef) naan was okay, I would skip it and get the garlic naan instead. Samosa was crispy, filling was flavorful. The cashier was very nice and helped us pick popular items on the menu as it was our first time there. Utensils, napkins, plates/dishes, and water cups are all self service. Spacious seating area.
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Doug T.

Yelp
Pakwan is our go to place for Indian food. We used to go all the way to 16th street before they opened up on Ocean Ave. Spacious restaurant with plenty of table seating. Order at the counter and get a number before seating. Self serve cutlery, napkins, water and cups at the dedicated counter at side of restaurant. Once your order is ready you pickup at the order counter. Order is freshly prepared and served quickly. Note to self... the dine in portions seem larger than take out. So if you have time eat in and take home leftovers. We always have leftovers. Containers and bags are self serve and free This last visit we had Samosa for appetizers, Nihari Beef curry, Eggplant Bartha, Lamb Saag Gosht and regular Naan. Samosas were great! Wife loves the eggplant dish we always get. First time getting the beef curry and I loved it. For sure will order again. We also often order the Lamb Biryani Rice which is super delish and huge portion. Don't order too many Naan to take home. They don't keep well and get hard after a day or two at home. Regular and Garlic Naan are good value but the other stuffed Naan not worth it since their dishes are so flavorful there is need to get stuffed Naan you don't taste. Get extra green sauce which cuts the heat a little and adds a herbal flavor to each bite
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Arnoldo M.

Yelp
I was disappointed today, order lam briyani rice, sadly the meet tasted like beef, nothing soft, hopefully you can lift the lamb briyani rice to previos level. I order many times before, I love your food, but today, specially my mother in law, rejected the meat, as well as my wife, in our opinion It was not lamb, and if it was, then is low quality lamb, Looking forward to a better experience!!!!
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Anvita S.

Yelp
Goat Biryani is delectable and a huge huge portion. We loved the kebabs as well, not so much the butter chicken and goat curry. Stick with the biryani and kebabs here - they're phenomenal! And you'll probably have leftovers :)
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Eric L.

Yelp
Pakwan serves up solid Indian/Bangladeshi food with massive portions. We definitely ordered too much, so the sticker shock was on us--one dish here can easily be two or three meals. Flavors were good, and it's definitely a spot where you'll leave full. The downside? The service. For a counter-service place, it was really slow, and tables weren't getting bussed regularly. They might be short-staffed, but it definitely took away from the experience. If you're looking for a filling meal and don't mind waiting, it's worth a visit. Just don't expect great service or a quick turnaround.
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Chelsea Y.

Yelp
My go to spot for Indian food. Everything is bursting with flavor and meat is so tender. Cheesy naan is my favorite. I also really like the chicken biryani but it's pretty spicy.
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Esther K.

Yelp
I haven't tried the food yet, this is a review for the food pick up experience. I went in already with my food order on the phone, i stood in the pick up line for a while and the cashier completely ignores me. She even helped people who came in after me and started packing food even though there was no one else cashiering. I finally stood in the order food line and she finally acknowledged me and lets me check out... this was a quite frustrating experience to say the least.
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Cara L.

Yelp
I want to like this place and their food is good.. but the girl cashiers are just rude and awful and make it such an unpleasant experience just to order that I can't make myself go back. I have never been to a restaurant with people who so obviously don't want to be there. I have tried several times hoping it was just an isolated thing, but every time is awful. As I can see from other reviews, I am not the only one that feels this way. Please get better staff because I would love to get food here again and it is so close to my house.
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Kathleen P.

Yelp
Parking is limited and metered. Place your order with the cashier at the front and pay immediately after ordering. You'll receive a number, and when it's called, you can pick up your order at the same spot. Plates, utensils, napkins, and water are available for self-service by the wall next to the fridge filled with drinks. However, on my last visit, the cashier kindly brought water to my table. To-go containers are also conveniently located near the ordering station for you to take as needed. After your meal, leave your dishes at the table. I've consistently enjoyed the meals here, with generous portions that never disappoint. Recently, I had the Chicken Qeema Naan with Daal Chana. The combination of dipping the naan into the spicy daal chana was delightful, and the ground chicken inside the naan was a new and thoroughly enjoyable experience for me. As someone still building their spice tolerance, I found that the daal chana's spiciness mellowed to the perfect level when enjoyed as leftovers. This dish could easily satisfy two people, though adding an appetizer or dessert would ensure a more filling meal. One note of caution: avoid ordering through Yelp as they upcharge the prices, even for pick-up orders. I recommend calling in your order directly if you plan on picking up.
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Soroosh P.

Yelp
Over the years I continue to dine in here and find it relatively consistent. I recommend this place to all, even if spicy and flavorful food isn't your thing. Get the lamb biryani dum style, where they add fresh chopped jalapeños. The way the fat profile of the lamb mixes wit jalapeños, rice and tamarind sauce is to die for. Their prices remain reasonable, ambiance is decent and service is friendly. Also this spot is low key byob, don't advertise it too much though.
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Dominic N.

Yelp
I really liked: $14 Tandoori Fish $14 Chicken Achar I liked: $5 Garlic naan $5 Onion naan $10 Mango Lassi $15 Chicken Tikki Masala The chicken tiki masala is a bit dry but excellent sauce for the burgers we got at Beep's. The fish is so soft while packing a flash of spice. I can't rate this place higher individually because of the tough competition of Indian food in the bay but I wouldn't be mad if we ended up here. Service was fast, and while we did need to pick up our food from the counter, they bussed it at the end. There's plenty of room to sit and eat, creating a comfortable atmosphere for diners. The restaurant's layout and seating arrangements contribute to a relaxed environment.

Marcos R.

Yelp
The food at Pakwan is absolutely amazing! The staff is wonderful as well. We have tried all the Pakistani restaurants in the bay and they are by far the best! I highly recommend you try them!
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Carrie Z.

Yelp
Great South Asian food! I used to go to the Downtown SF and Mission locations, but this new-ish location is a lot more convenient and just as good! I've tried and enjoyed it all: appetizers, naan, tandoori meats, biryani. A few favorites... The tandoori kebabs are great! You just can't duplicate that smoky flavor at home. With the side of onions and chilis, it's great with curry and some naan. Also, we love the biryanis with big chunks of meat and potatoes surrounded by fragrant, spiced rice. Saag paneer is a go to for us to keep the meals balanced with some veggies. And lastly, you can't go wrong with the curries. It's just whatever you fancy for the day. Tikka masala, vindaloo, nihari. We enjoy their lamb quite frequently. I'm always here with a group of friends to share all the great dishes. See y'all again soon!
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Kriti S.

Yelp
Our go to for Indian food in SF when we don't have time to go to South Bay. You pay at the counter and pick up food when your number is called at this casual eatery. Portion sizes are very generous if you eat in vs taking out. Quality of food is pretty good, we usually get chicken tikka and saag paneer which are very reliable here. Biryani is also a good option at Pakwan
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Wendy D.

Yelp
This is the place to go for Biryani in the Bay Area, in my humble opinion. We discovered it on our way back from a day at Ocean Beach, and it's quickly become one of our favorites. Living in Berkeley, our kids often joke about DoorDashing Biryani from here to our home--though, given how much they talk about it, I wouldn't be surprised if they're serious! I'm not sure if that's even possible, though. We try to plan our visits when heading to the beach or the airport, and sometimes we even plan trips just to have an excuse to eat here. Pakwan became a refuge for us during COVID. We'd head to the beach and then get takeout from Pakwan, enjoying our meal at a nearby park. With a Whole Foods next door, we'd often stop by for a few essentials before picking up our food. Our go-to order is: -Chicken Biryani -Lamb Biryani -Chicken Tikka Masala (CTM) -Dal Saag (lentils with spinach) -Plain White Rice -Garlic Naan (for those of us who are not gluten-free for eating the CTM) We've also had their Bhindi Masala, which is spiced okra with onions and tomatoes, and it is really good. We tend to order it during okra season in the summer, as we know the best okra comes during that time. Not sure if that matters here, but it's a great seasonal dish. Sometimes, I also get their Saag, Aloo Palak, or Chana Masala with Palak. I love the addition of spinach to the lentil or bean dishes. As I've said before, I might just be Popeye's granddaughter! This spread gives us a hearty meal with leftovers for a couple of days--except when our growing teenage boy decides to raid the refrigerator at night and eats all the leftovers. More than once, we've been left hoping for a second helping of this amazing food only to find it's disappeared! Apparently, the leftovers are just as good cold too, as our midnight snacker would say. The food is fantastic, the portion sizes are generous, and the leftovers are just as good. The staff is always kind and helpful. Just be aware that parking in the neighborhood can be challenging, so allow some extra time to find a spot. Note: The only thing I wish were different is that I hope the management moves to biodegradable to-go packaging. I feel awful when I get food in plastic. This review is for the Ocean Avenue location only. We've tried other spots in the city with the same name, and this is our favorite by far.
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Megan J.

Yelp
Pakwan is easily a staple in my household favorite. It's so good that I drive from the East Bay over to eat. Chicken Tikki Masala and Achar Gosht is what I order along with basmati rice and garlic nam every time. I'd give the food a 4.5/5. Half point knocked off due to portion size vs pricing. The service is ok. I'd give it a 3/5. You order at the front and pick up your food once ready. You also grab your own utensils at a station.
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Dawn L.

Yelp
The place is easy to find with signage. There's a lot of seating inside and some outside! The room is wooden decor. There is a fridge with drinks, water and sauces! All the plates and utensils are by the front. Primarily self serve. Cafe style! I love the food and the choices are plenty! You can also tell them the spicy ness levels. My favorite part of our meal was the kebabs!!! You have to try this food!!! Seriously, delicious!!! The sauces are delicious!! Street parking. Semi-clean restroom.
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Jojo P.

Yelp
Tried more things! Recommend: Mix vegetable curry (spicy) Achar Gosht (Lamb curry with roasted pepper, very spicy)
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Dana J.

Yelp
I am a frequent eater at Pakwan. I bring many different people here to try it. They all walk away, exclaiming that Pakwan is their new favorite restaurant. The service is a null point as you order at a counter and pick up your food when your number is called, and the food is ready for you to bring to your table. I MUST SAY the order takers/cashiers are very nice and are helpful with people who do not know how to navigate their menu. I love this place. THE FOOD IS DELICIOUS AND THE PRICES ARE GREAT!
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Hope D.

Yelp
The service is okay, it's fast casual, nothing fancy. The food is great, super filling and tasty. The tikka masala came with more sauce than chicken, which I enjoy. It does not come with basmati rice, so you do have to order it. I also got a goat biriyani, it was okay but I think I'd prefer chicken.
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Benny W.

Yelp
Once we entered the restaurant, we were greeted by a friendly cheerful cashier. This place is a self service restaurant. The cashier took our order and then gave us a number. When the food was ready, she called out our number, and we had to carry all the food to our table ourselves. We helped ourselves to utensils and water. They have an extensive menu. We ordered two Chai teas ( free refills), samosas, garlic naan, chicken leg tandoori, chicken biryani, and chicken saag. All the dishes were very tasty and flavorful. The samosas were fried to ordered. We were surprised that it came with a tasty side of garbanzo beans, which we liked. The chicken leg tandoori was moist. The chicken biryani was kind of spicy, which added a nice kick to it. We enjoyed all the dishes that we ordered. They were generous with the portions and reasonably priced. We will definitely be back to try their other dishes.

Amir A.

Yelp
Love their goat biryani. You should try it. Also their kheer is good. I would ask you to try their nan too
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Faisal K.

Yelp
If you are intimidated by Indian/ Pakistani food and need training wheels but also want incredible flavor go to Pakwan. With tons of flavors that are not common to the Western pallet, Pakwan makes your favorite dishes seasoned perfectly and makes you want more than the Tikka masala you're heating up from Trader Joes. Ocean Ave's Pakwan is amazing, all you need to do is take the K and suddenly you're right there no need to worry about parking, go in, get your food in their beautiful dining area, and when you're done get a cup of Philz coffee to round out the night. I come to Pakwan when I want something that feels like a home-cooked meal. It's a perfect place to go with your family, and an incredible spot for Ramadan. The staff is kind and accommodating, and if you ever need a recommendation always ask! Be sure you order extra Naan because it's so good, and no meal from there is complete without a plate of rice. I always order the Tikka Masala and the tandoori Chicken leg.
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Corina D.

Yelp
I ordered in person and dined in, and when my order of chicken biryani was announced ready to pick up, I was shocked by the size of this dish. The plate was heaped over. Even better was the fact there were chunks of chicken throughout the dish. The large portion size for the price point is an excellent value. The interior is nice, clean, and minimalistic. There is plenty of seating for dining in, but it's also conveniently located for takeout, as there is plenty of street parking.

Deborah F.

Yelp
Samosa - the samosas were good, but they came with a small side of channa masala that was very salty Chicken seekh kabob - flavored nicely and was relieved that it was not reheated and rubbery tandoori chicken leg - delicious; my new fave Naan - soft and pillowy Garlic naan - disappointing, so thin it was more like a cracker with a thicker outer edge Music was loud Tables were greasy; when we wiped the one we sat at with a napkin, the napkin came away with a dirty handprint on it
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Ashley F.

Yelp
This is good food. You can see from the picture that we ate everything on our plates, licked the sauce, and my boyfriend even had to stop me from going after the pieces that were accidentally dropped on the table. Generous portions at very reasonable prices, with excellent taste. Two people shared the nihari, a hyderbadi dum biryani, raita, and three garlic naans. This was definitely more than enough to fill us up. The nihari was exceptionally tender, and the sauce combined in one scoop of naan with some of the biryani was just HEAVENLY. All self service so you order at the counter and pick up your food when your number is called, and they have a counter where you grab your own plates/utensils/water etc. Our food came out super quick as well. If we didn't live so far away, we would come back to eat here very regularly.
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Justine Ray M.

Yelp
This my favorite restaurant legit. It has been my soul food when I'm feeling up and when I'm feeling down. I have noticed prices go up. Like the food order apps are always up but even in store it has raised. My main orders are: 1. Chicken tikka masala 2. Vegetable Biryani. 3. Vegetable Korma 4. Samosa 5. Garlic naan Those are my order every time honestly and I never get anything else. How did this happen I don't know. But whenever I go here I always get those and they never fail. The rice is packed tot he brim and so are the other contents. I love this spot with a passion and the spacious place with Hella tables and airy atmosphere high ceiling. It's cold so bring a jacket! I recommend!
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Mike S.

Yelp
One of our try go-to spots in the neighborhood. Very tasty and great prices. Have never dined in, but they are good at quickly preparing orders to go.
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Priscilla Y.

Yelp
Came here cuz my parents like the Fremont location so we decided to try this one in Daly City closer to us. As my first time to this restaurant chain, I'll say that it was a culture shock to me that we had to grab everything we needed. Normally I wouldn't mind if it's a buffet, but this place threw me off. You order at the front and get your own seating. Maybe it's the area but dining areas were very spread apart and have underconstruction vibe. Food was 3.5/5. Nothing stood out. I'd say the better items to get are saag gosht (lamb cooked w spinach), lamb biryani. Other items we tried that you could skip on were chicken biryani (dry chicken and more chunks of potato than chicken) , chicken tikka masala (only sauce was good), chicken kebab, and tandoori chicken leg (not worth $5). FYI we did order a plate of rice and naan (regular and garlic). Both were standard. Be aware that you have to grab everything for your table: napkin, utensils, cups, and even carafes of water on the right side of the restaurant. I made the mistake of giving 15% tip at the register cuz I didn't know everything was self serve. This meal ended up costing $100. I'd rather go somewhere else for Indian food. Not sure why this place has 4 stars...
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Brian P.

Yelp
I have ordered from Pakwan more than any other restaurant in San Francisco. And it is for one reason - Bhuna Gosht. It is a tomato based lamb curry on steroids. The sauce is heavily reduced to a thick consistency so the flavors are turned up to 11. The lamb biryani is phenomenal as well.
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Irene L.

Yelp
Great food and prices! You definitely get more than you pay for and the portions are excellent. We got our food quickly on a Tuesday night. The ambience was lacking but we didn't mind. Got the paneer tikka masala, garlic naan, and lamb briyani that became several meals.

Mohammad A.

Yelp
Food is consistently great. I have tried the beef kebabs, Lahore cholay, chicken achari, biryani and recommend all of those things. The only downside is that the place is crowded.
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Joshua C.

Yelp
Fast casual with flavorful food--the portions for the biryani and naan are great in particular
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Judy S.

Yelp
Pakwan is my favorite restaurant in the city for Pakistani and Indian food. This location is a bit less busy and less noisy than their 16th street location. The interior is bright and spacious and there is plenty of seating available during dinner time on a weekday. All of their vegetarian dishes are solid, and I also like the biryani and chicken tikka masala.
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A A.

Yelp
Taste of food is consistent. I like there chicken curries, dal palace and palace paneer. Other vegetarian items I didn't enjoy very much. Samosa are good, pakorads were hard and dry. Service is fine, since it takes time to prepare the food. It's self service restaurant, who cares about the ambiance.
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Holly N B.

Yelp
I walked in today and thought I'd have lunch there. Ordered, sat, and was hit with an allergy attack. The first thing I noticed upon entering was the intense smell of disinfectant. Kinda weird, given that spices are typically the first thing one smells in a restaurant like this. Food was ready and I had to take it to go. My sinuses were acting way up. As soon as I left I felt immediately back to normal. Has anyone else experienced this at Pakwan on Ocean Ave?
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Samrah K.

Yelp
Patron of Pakwan for several years mission and ocean ave. However ocean ave is hit and miss ranging from very good to disaster. Today biryani, saag and chai were all bismal. New folks and customer service is non existent. We left the food on the table and we have never done that before. I will be driving to mission now
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Binny S.

Yelp
Friendly staff and excellent tasty food. Loved their kebobs. Have tried 2 other branches and good food both places.
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Louisa D.

Yelp
So satisfying. Good portion sizes, quick efficient service and went home with leftovers. There used to be unlimited chai at one time. It's still available for purchase. My one complaint is the ambience. The door was really dirty and the menu board had disappeared when we last visited. Not sure what's going on there. I know the food is good so I will be going back.
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Joey Y.

Yelp
Food was bomb. A must try place! The service is more of a self-serve place. I loved the samosas the most and the side it came with! I would come here again.
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Ziad A.

Yelp
Alright honest review time So first step walking into this restaurant you are greeted with an artwork painting/photography of people of Pakistani influences. It was strange and intentionally Placed that Muhammad Iqbal and Jinnah are places in the back and far left but Malala was in the front and center... They had music playing at this pakwan branch which was unusual as the other locations do not have music. My recommendation is to not have music at all. The plates were different had a clay like feeling and texture. Very unique lol Anyways to the food ... The naans were really good. Standard practice of pakwan , no complaints. The bbq was also on par with other locations . The chicken legs were huge which was a surprise , and the chicken seekh kebab were good as well. The nihari was a complete dissapointmwnt. It was so watery and just a masala liquid as an excuse for nihari. Barely close to what nihari is. (For reference I go to Karachi yearly so my tastebuds r up to date). The aloo chicken qeema was like a 7/10 rate (I didn't eat it but my friends did so asked them for their rating). The chicken kabab Karahi, never heard of that but we tried it and it was okay. They didn't have haleem today which I normally get at the Fremont location but that's fine The chai was accessible behind the counter so u have to ask staff for refills etc. also I saw that gulab jamun was in the fridge. Not sure why that's so because if I wanted it it would be cold and not soft and warm. Took a look at the mango lassi and it's pretty much mango pulp drink lol not as much lassi , but that's normal so not a negative lol The outside environment is okay, although I think jones street pakwan tastes better lol even though it's in tenderloin district
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Xinyu L.

Yelp
Affordable Indian/Pakistani restaurant in the Mission at an affordable price. We came on a Monday evening and it was packed with people dining indoors and picking up takeout. We ordered the Chicken Biryani, which came with a a lot of rice and chunks of chicken that were juicy and packed with flavor. The Karahi Chicken dish was especially rich and heavy.
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Polina L.

Yelp
In the seek of spinach. For the first time in my life, I tried tikka masala with naan and fell in love. It was delicious, I'll tell you, BUT... At the beginning, I wanted to eat something with spinach and I saw a chicken saag on their menu. I was in anticipation of my spinach delight, but instead I got an extremely spicy, jalapeño dish that killed all my taste buds! Why do they use this pepper when the traditional recipe doesn't even contain it? Also, I was negatively surprised by the prices, which I don't think meet some of the criteria. At least I don't want to take my food from the table where people are ordering. Their terms are very weak for making a customers feel comfortable and understand what exactly they are paying for. The establishment is not just about the food, but also about the employees, the atmosphere, and the service. Yes, I was a little upset, but my boyfriend in some way saved the situation by sharing his dish. Overall, I was left with a good opinion. A good opinion of Indian food, not of this place.
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Bonnie C.

Yelp
I have tried pakwan on 16th and now I am.hlad to have one closer to me. They are located in an aera where parking is a bit packed and hard to find a spot. The one thing I can say it the store is clean. They have wife and bright window seats. I often find myself people watching and with a good dish it makes it more fun. This time I got the tiaka masala , bastamic rice, samosa, garlic nan bread and vegetable curry. I can say that the I am not a fan of the vegetable curry at all. I like veggies but it didn't have the curry consistency. I felt that it was watered down and that it was rhe left over scraps of a soup. It was watery. The tika masala of course is my favorite and I would say most others favorite curry dish. It had good amounts of chicken chunks and also thick curry sauce and good amount of spice level. It if I could I would of asked for more spicy. The bastamic rice was bland. I usually opt for chicken biyarni. The samosa was nice and warm. The dough was nice and flaky. It was so warm and delicious. I can honestly say thay I might like the 16th street one more. But overall I'm glad I was able to try it.
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AJ T.

Yelp
The server got my order wrong twice that I went here. The first time, I paid for four seekh chicken kabob and got two. Second time, the dude charged me for four nans instead of four seekh chicken kabobs. What's frustrating is he took over the tablet and gave himself a huge tip. Then he placed the four order chicken kabob that I have to pay for yet again because he lacks the skills and screwed it up. The guy didn't deserve the tip at all, pathetic dishonest guy. Whoever that guy is should not be working there. Terrible service, never coming back!
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Bryant C.

Yelp
Clearly becoming a staple of the SF food scene, I had to keep trying this at different locations just to make sure - I had previously tried the one in mission and had pretty similar results. One of those joints where you order up front, and find all your own utensils and seats and wait for your grub. FOOD: We got a couple of specials that I forgot what they were called: Roasted eggplant dish. So good. The char from the roasted eggplant flavor was really present with a huge amount of flavor that we perfect for eating with naan. Can't go wrong. Something with okra. Huge amounts of spices with perfectly fried okra. Crispy, oily, and massively flavorful, and something I wish they had all the time. Tandoori fish. Somehow huge flavor with the grilled fish with a great grill flavor with all the right condiments to make this one of my favorite things on the already stacked menu. Will always try to get this. Garlic naan. A staple of most places and this is no different. Grilled perfectly with the right amount of oil and garlic to give the naan that extra kick. Overall, one of the powerhouses of SF eating. Elite Pakistani food that is just so consistent and everything on the menu is so good. You'll find me back here regularly.
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David K.

Yelp
Pakwan is a proudly Pakistani restaurant featuring a meat-heavy menu of curries and tandoori items. We started with the Chicken and Beef Seekh Kebabs (made of spiced ground meat) and the Tandoori Chicken Leg, all of which were juicy, smokey, and flavorful, and served with sides of raw sliced onions and lemon. For our mains, we had the surprisingly spicy Bengan Bharta Pakwan Style, made of puréed smoked eggplant cooked with cream of tomato; and the earthy Saag Gosht, a puréed spinach curry with chunks of tender boneless lamb. Both of these went nicely with the freshly-baked tandoori breads we ordered on the side including the Whole Wheat Roti, the Aloo Naan (stuffed with a spiced potato mixture), and the Qeema Naan (stuffed with a layer of spiced ground beef). The whole wheat roti was on the thin and dry side, but the naans had perfectly puffy/chewy edges and flavorful fillings. Overall, this was a great restaurant for experiencing authentic Pakistani flavors with a colorfully decorated dining room and friendly staff. However, the food was on the salty side and left us quite thirsty afterwards.