Sam & Curry

Just flew in. Staying nearby. Walked here and was welcomed the moment I walked in the door and smelled the hot food. He helped me fill my rice bowl with all different options. Lamb and everything else over the top... Indian burritos. Who would have guessed. I know where I'm stopping next time I'm San Jose

Chipotle style indian food. Good veg options available., worth the $, definitely recommend a try., Close to San Jose Airport (5 mins max), Could be a good grab and go option given the service is also quick and packed well., Limited dine in space, great for pick ups / door delivery

Had been wanting to try this place for a while and glad I enjoyed it too. Very similar to make your bowl/salad kind of model. Ingredients tasted very fresh, loved the flavor of dressing, chicken and paneer was well cooked. Service was good too.

This is chipotle for Indian food. Actually first time could get a high protein low carb tasty Indian food. I got a salad bowl with chicken curry.

Awesome place! Great options for veg and you can make it perfectly spicy and flavor full. 10/10. Definitely recommend. Please open a branch in Seattle as well!

Great Indian fusion food, served in a a refreshing and novel way! I visited Sam & Curry twice on my trip and had a burrito and salad bowl - both were fantastic and can be recommended. The ordering process gives you lots of choice - where you can select exactly what you want as you walk down the counter as your food is made. The chicken curry is great and the various sides all bring great flavour to accompany it. I went for medium spice and this was probably the sweet spot. I like hot food, and this had the right amount of chilli:flavour.

I never was a big fan of Indian food, I’m Mexican food all the way, Never eating outside of My culture but to My surprise? Im in love with this food . “amazing” I’m glad I made this choice. I wasn’t disappointed. It was worth the drive. The service was great Daniela and the cook did an excellent job. Keep up the good work.

The food is super tasty and the server was super sweet and helpful as well!

I absolutely love Sam & Curry. It reminds me of a Chipotle style setup but for Indian and Mediterranean food. The customization is great, the spices are balanced, and everything tastes fresh. I came back this year and Maria remembered me from before, which says a lot about the customer service. I tried the tacos this time, just like I said I would, and they did not disappoint. Every bite was flavorful and cooked perfectly. Five stars every time.

Would like to give it a second chance in the future, but the flavors and freshness of the food were not great. I tried a chicken curry burrito and a chicken tikka bowl, both of which came lukewarm and almost cold. The flavors left a sour aftertaste in my mouth which wasn't the most enjoyable. Samosas were stale with barely any filling. Mango Lassi was my favorite item. Workers were nice and patient! Very casual ambience: literally think chipotle!

This is a very unique and creative restaurant. It's exactly chipotle style where you can add everything you want to your meal. There's options for burritos, tacos (made of puri) and burrito bowl. The puris didn't look too fresh so I was deciding between bowl and burrito. We got 2 different bowls with different items including rice, lettuce, chutney, etc. We also got the 3 mini samosas which were good. Service was really good too. I would come back here.

We had this place for a work lunch, and it was a total hit! The bowls were packed with flavor and really hit the spot. It felt like a Chipotle bowl, but with an exciting kick that made it stand out. The team loved it, and it was definitely a fulfilling meal. Service was on point too--everything came together perfectly. We'll definitely be ordering again!

Literally so good!!!!!! Love the build-it-yourself concept and how many options for sides/add-ons they have. I did a chicken tikka salad bowl with basically all the sides (minus the tamarind and cilantro) and it was truly amazing. I got butter chicken sauce on the side, which was perfect for dipping my individual bites into. The onions + potato (quite spicy, but super yum) and chickpea sides were SO good and flavorful, along with the perfectly cooked fajita veggies. The corn was also amazing. Would highly recommend the yogurt and dried chickpea flake topping as well. The chicken itself was incredibly juicy and flavorful, as well as plentiful, so every bite was practically perfect. The woman helping us was super kind and patient with explaining everything to us, as it was our first time. First of many!!!!!! Obsessed with how good these bowls are fr and think it would taste equally as good, if not better, in burrito form. 10/10 would recommend!!

We're vegetarian, so we tried a handful of different items in order to try most of the vegetarian menu choices. The samosas were the three tiniest samosas I've ever seen. Disappointing. Maybe 1 teaspoon of filling inside? Hopefully getting them with the toppings is a better deal. We weren't fans of the saag filling. The lentil filling was alright, and I could see how it would work as a burrito. While I liked it fine, I wouldn't go out of my way for it. The chana was ok. The paneer tikka was tasty and makes more sense for their menu. Since the owners are going for an Indian-burrito fusion type menu, I wish they'd thought about what works for vegetarian taco fillings, rather than picking classic Indian dishes like saag and pretending that anyone ever has used cooked spinach as a main taco filling. For example, I've multiple times had great vegetarian tacos with a cauliflower or a potato filling, and I've also many times have had great Indian cauliflower or potato dishes. Therefore they should swap their menu for cauliflower or potato dishes, as a better idea for vegetarians and vegans. Personal preferences: I think the cilantro rice is better for a burrito or taco than the vegetable rice (which was fine in the bowl version), I didn't find the mild salsa to do anything, but liked the medium options.

Stumbled upon this place as we wanted something quick and cheap for dinner. This place took me by surprise by how delicious and quick the service was. This is literally Indian version of chipotle!!! The portion sizes were plentiful and the flavors were rich and strong with a balance of freshness from the toppings. I wished they would open up more locations, especially in southern CA because I already miss this place!

Would go crazy in a college town! Very good curry's and great spice options with chutneys!

Nice people. Even though the line wasn't long, it took a while for the customers to order because they couldn't decide and since it's a chipotle type place, you're stuck waiting in the assembly line. I thought the food was good. Yelp had an offer for free bread which was nice. They don't have naan here just as an fyi. Wasn't thrilled with the food.. wasn't bad but just not my taste.

Food was amazing!!! Chicken curry was tender and delicious. Plenty of seating, clean dining room. Will be back soon!

Had an amazing burrito made by Manuel! Thank you for such an excellent meal and great service! Manuel thank you again for such friendly and engaging conversation while you prepared our meal. We are traveling from the central coast but now have a favorite lunch spot when we are in the San Jose area!

Sam and Curry is such a good fast casual option! It's fun and fresh. They have bowls, burritos, and salads. I'm always satisfied with my bowls here and love how you can pack in the veggies since they have a lot of vegetarian options. The toppings and chutneys really brighten up my bowls. The portions are generous. Menu items are less than $15. Parking is pretty limited but I haven't had any issues when I've stopped by.

It's like chipotle for Indian food! The decor inside is so vibrant and artistic! The food comes out fresh! Lots of great veggie and meat options. Portions are decently big too! Service is pretty efficient as this is a fast casual setting.

The chipotle of Indian food. The concept is the same as Chipotle. The worker was very helpful and kind in letting me know what options I have to pick. I enjoyed the chick peas which seemed to be a side dish and not a protein option. The Chicken Tikka meat was tender and good. I tried multiple sauces, and still can't decide which would be best for my salad bowl. Maybe I can get the sauces in a separate container next time. The spicy hot sauce was a bit too hot for me, I could eat it, but I'll pass next time. I do appreciate that they have a hot sauce that is actually spicy! Will be back when I'm in the area.

Delicious Indian style bowls, good portion sizes and decent prices. Well worth a try.

Figured I should do an update since my original review was when they first opened and they were looking to impress. I'm happy to say I go nearly every week for lunch and it's still just as good as the day they opened! My personal favorites are the paneer or the lamb burritos.

Good food here, with a unique twist in Indian & Mexican cuisine fusion food. Walking in, it felt similar to a Chipotle experience than I expected. It had a line with open view of the food and kitchen. Filled with art work across the restaurant. It's made fresh with a roti bread and Indian rice and protein. With the only exception of salsa. It's really a great take on Indian meets Mexican. It's not a bad price either, their cheapest isn't as cheap as Chipotle. But, the flavor in spices and options take it away from me. Overall, good spot for something fast and new. Might be a good place to eat at picking someone up from the SJO airport. *parking isn't best here* Would come back here.

As many others have said this is basically Chipotle except the protein options are Indian curries (and I think I remember some non curry ones) and the "bean" equivalent is different types of potatoes. Luckily I had learned my lesson in the past at new places and went for "spicy" and not "very spicy". My head was sweating and my lips were tingling (in a good way). I had the lamb curry which was very good. Now, I rated this five stars for what it is - a quick place to grab lunch or dinner. It is not a fine dining Indian restaurant but it is much better than the Chipotle that used to be in this location.

Service was quick! And they were very helpful with recommendations. Portion is huge! The bowl is 2 meals for me. Flavors are amazing and spice is legit. When they say spicy, it is spicy! Mango lassi is made in house, I almost wanted to order another one to go! I can't wait to come back!

This place is INSANELY good. It's set up exactly like Chipotle but the food is Indian and absolutely delicious. Definitely an unexpected gem on my visit to San Jose.

My friend and I came here for lunch on a Sunday afternoon. It wasn't busy so we were able to order right away. Food: The restaurant is modeled after the Chipotle style where you pick the type of meal you want (burrito, bowl, salad, etc) and you go through the lineup to decide what to add. I got the burrito with paneer and extra tikka masala sauce. I added their veggie rice and chickpeas to my burrito as well as some different sauces. I thought my burrito was really good! I'll need to go back to try to figure out my "perfect combo" of flavors. Service: Service was quick and friendly. You cannot ask for more at this casual place. TL;DR - build your own style with Indian flavors.

Came here to try out a rice bowl with cilantro rice. It had potato/channa masala combo with lamb and all the fixings. Was very filling and the lamb was tender and flavorful. This was a very delicious dinner and I will be coming back! The worker making the bowl was very helpful with letting me know what all the toppings were.

I ordered the bowl with the veggie rice, but you can do half/half of veggie rice or cilantro rice (both looked suuuper yummy!) There's so much to choose from and today was my first time trying so I didn't even know what was what, but Maria helped me out and named literally everything for me. She was SO sweet!!!! She told me what all of her favorites were as well as what's popular and I went with her recommendations n this place is definitely my new go-to spot. Indian-American fusion in the sense that you can get a bowl/burrito similar to Chipotle! There's lamb, chicken curry, roasted chicken, and lentils.

My friend and I arrived here to order Indian food to go. We arrived in the plaza around 4:30 pm on a Thursday afternoon. PARKING: Lots of parking in the plaza, but it's somewhat tight and narrow so be careful!! AMBIENCE: My friend told me that the previous venue was a Chipotle, and I'm so glad to see how Sam and Curry was innovative to repurpose the space into new ways. Lovely wall decor with colorful menus that are eye catching. Lots of seating inside with natural light flowing through from their clean windows. SERVICE: My friend and I were the only customers there, so service was fast and efficient. ORDERS: I ordered their 3 roti tacos with: chicken tikka, Kachumbar Salsa, Cilantro Chutney, Romaine Lettuce, Yoghurt, and extra tikka Masala sauce for $15. Definitely worth the value with the freshness and quality of ingredients. The rotis were thick and crunch and held the weight of stacked ingredients well. They did become soggy due to the wet ingredients. Nonetheless, everything was refreshing, filling, and so many flavors going on. I would definitely come again to this place for my fill on Indian food. RATING:

This is a chipotle styled indian restaurant with options for a burrito, a bowl and the options are laid out in front of you. The portions are really sizable for the price. They're huge. I got the Saag bowl and it was really bad. The Saag itself was so bitter and just did not taste good. That being said, the rest of the bowl was phenomenal.

This was my first time trying this restaurant. It's sort of like an Indian Chipotle. The owner (I believe) helped me with the selections. He was super nice and patient as I tried to make the best food selections. He even brought over a sample of a dish I didn't select. The restaurant is small but clean. I'll definitely be back!

this is a 6 out of 5!!! fantastic lunch stop without breaking the bank! the staff helped us order and everything was fantastic! friendly staff and great food with a fusion offering. thank you!

Honestly better than chipotle because they actually give you a decent amount of meat, plus you can get extra toppings for anything you like with no extra charge just like chipotle. Additionally the cilantro rice is far superior as well as most of the toppings being much more flavorful. If you've tried the salsa at chipotle on its own you would know it's not that good on its own unless it is mixed with your other food, but each sauce/topping in the bowl here is very good

Easy parking in the lot in the back. Smelled like yummy Indian food when we walked in. I got the veggie rice, chickpeas, tikka chicken (cubed chicken), all 3 veggies, with yogurt and cilantro sauce on top. The food is very filling. It was good but very saucy/soggy. My friend said the same except hers was even more saucy because she got the curry chicken. Plenty of seating inside.

First time. Great prices, sounded like there are more options I havent tried yet from these other reviews. Will definitely go again.

Warning: This will be a bit of a lame review since I visited them a month ago and just saw the pics on my phone and realized I forgot to add a review. But since I liked the place I wanted to give them the kudos they deserve, even with limited details. Was on business in San Jose and needed a quick bite with my business partner. Before we walked in I told my buddy that from reviews I thought this would be the Indian food version of Chipotle. When we stepped up to the counter we asked how this works and the server said, "it's like Chipotle but different food." The buddy and I got a kick out of that. The very nice server lead us through the choices and levels of spice heat. She was very patient as we figured out what we wanted. Pick rice, veggies, protein, sauces, toppings. You know the drill because you have been to Chipotle a million times! Don't recall what I specifically ordered, but know that we both enjoyed the food and the beer. I would go again, and will, since it is in the same parking lot of the hotel I stay in every time I visit SJ for biz. I recommend you try it out. Go. Eat Well. Have Fun!

Omgggg I absolutely love Sam and curry. Me and my mom go all the time and get a bowl with extra cilantro chutney. The portions are decent but the food is amazing and fresh always. Also their mango lassi is very thick, I wish it was a larger cup.

Same concept as Chipotle! 1. Bowl/burrito/salad 2. Pick your rice - white or spicy veggie or half&half 3. Chickpeas/potatoes/grilled peppers & onions (included) 4. Protein - lamb/chicken/saag/paneer - prices vary based on protein - can do half&half 5. Other toppings, spice level sauces You definitely get your veggie fill with a bowl! Loved the different heat levels for sauces. There's definitely a kick on the extra spicy one. Everything was tasty. Great meal. Friendly staff. Clean place. Saw there's also a free poppadum if you check in, but I did not redeem for one.

tl;dr Indian Chipotle! Lots of options, food is hot and fresh, fast service, decent pricing, but the ending rice bowl was very wet and mushy after stacking it all together I got a rice bowl with half and half of the rice bases (the yellow stuff with potatoes in it), lamb curry, and basically all other included add ons, topping it off with the yogurt sauce. Everything individually tasted pretty good for the first several bites, but by the last 15% of the bowl, everything had mixed in together and was rather wet. The portion is huge, so by then I was also pretty full, but I ultimately couldn't finish the bowl because of how much food there was and the wetness. I would still consider going back but getting only rice as a base or some other modifications to make it less of a mixture of many different tastes.

This place is so close to my place, not sure why I waited so long to try it out despite reading all the good reviews. I got their saag rice bowl with potato onion curry, spicy sauce and raita. It's like Indian version of chipotle. A big bowl, filled to the top with food, so very filling. I wasn't able to complete the entire bowl and ate leftovers next day. One interesting thing is, they also have different rice options, like plain white rice , cilantro rice and masala rice. I opted for masala rice and it turned out to be khichdi, yummm. I got my food through doordash. The food comes in some kind of paper / cardboard based compostable bottom. The food and the box got a little soggy. I think I will try to eat in the restaurant next time. Definitely will be coming back again to try their other options.

I miss chipotle at this spot but these guys are also not bad good try with Indian food, it's a self service restaurant, parking is bit tricky, hit or miss

Chipotle-style with Indian food. I just had some cilantro rice and vegetable rice as base, add fajita, veggies, protein, etc.

Absolutely outstanding!!!! The food is unbelievable so much to pick from. The staff are so welcoming and friendly. Wish I knew about this place earlier

The idea is good.. Indian fast food. The food is not up to the mark. It's fusion food. If you are not Indian, you will probably not know the difference.

Best Mango lassi in the town. In general I'm not a fan of packed mango lassi but owner asked me to try and said you will not find it like other places. Based on his word, I tried it and it turned out to be amazing. Next best thing is the small samosa and chutney that comes along with it. Tried this place with my team based on a colleague's recommendation. Food is good, you have the option to choose from three types of rice and curries like chickpeas, palak saag, lentil for veg. Crispy orange color paneer is not so great. A little bit on the chewy side. Multiple toppings available like a chipotle bowl. Chutney's are the best. Decent indoor seating available.

Delicious! Great prices and quick service. This is a very easy and convenient meal that I can enjoy during my workdays. Consider it a South Asian Chipotle-esque type of place. Fast and casual. This visit, I tried out the rice bowl with Paneer and Tikka Masala Sauce (+$1.50). The chickpeas and yogurt sauce were great additions. The paneer was flavored pretty well, so I would actually recommend getting it without the extra sauce!

I had the build your own bowl and it was absolutely delicious. The guest service provided was quick and super friendly. I prefer my food extra spicy and this place does not dull down flavor. So excited to see more variety here. Would recommend the paneer and saag with the extra spicy sauce.

If you've ever wanted to go to a Chipotle but with Indian food, your wish has been granted! Came here for lunch on a Monday afternoon and was able to order pretty quick. There's a bunch of seating inside and outside. There's tacos, burritos, bowls- but all are Indianized lol. The carb, protein, toppings, and sides are desi staples. We got the roti tacos (paneer) and a burrito bowl (half chicken tikka, half lamb curry). The roti shells on the taco were ingenious- a cross between a soft taco shell and a poori. The protein was popping with paneer tikka kinda flavor and the toppings were classics straight outta an Indian restaurant. The burrito bowl was a baddie too. The cross between lamb curry, tikka, and chickpea masala was heavenly and will remain with me for quite some time. Adding to that were the cucumber yogurt, tamarind chutney, and some the potato subzi- it was a symphony of flavors. If not for the food, i'd insist on going here just to look at the quirky artwork all over the joint lol. 10/10 would go again!

Ok, not great. Somewhat sweet in flavor. Good choices otherwise and interesting concept. Good vegetable toppings and huge portions, good value for price

Ordered tacos and mango lassi to pick up. Got there 15 min early and the food was already waiting. Got CT, lamb curry, and paneer tacos. Lamb and paneer were good, CT was meh. I loved the tamarind sauce on side. Lassi was decent, needed something else to kick it up.

Indian food, but Chipotle style! Choice of tacos, burritos, or salad bowls. Choice of protein: chicken tikka, lamb curry, shrimp curry, paneer tikka, and there was one more that I don't remember. Then there's a bunch of sauces, chutneys, and topping you can add on top. The food here definitely has lots of flavor, but I'm not the biggest fan of eating everything together like that. It kinda gets lots and I don't know what I'm eating. Still delicious, but I just prefer eating my curries alone. Service was great. The place was clean and the artwork is THE BEST. Absolutely love it.

Went here for lunch with family. I tried to like it but it just too much sauce that my food got flooded. The flavor became unrecognizable!

This restaurant is exactly Indian Chipotle - we are convinced the bowls and platters are the same! When you arrive, you're taken to a Chipotle-style line where you select your base and all of the toppings you're interested in, but all Indian food. There is a good variety, the flavors are good, and the food was tasty. You'll pay for your food at the counter right after they make your bowl, and clean up your table when you are done. There's seating inside and some available spots outside. I wouldn't drive out of my way to visit, but if I was in the area again I would eat here more frequently.

It's Indian Chipotle! If I remember correctly, this used to be a chipotle few years back. Same concept with Indian ingredients. Love the concept. Great service. Staff was very courteous. Ambience was just like Chipotle. Food was delicious. Will definitely come back to try out different combinations!