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.