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Chutney
Categories: Restaurants Indian Restaurants Pakistani Indian, Pakistani [Edit]
511 Jones St(between Ofarrell St & Geary St)
San Francisco, CA 94102
Neighborhood: Civic Center/Tenderloin
(415) 931-5541
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11 am - 12 am
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Brski B. said: "Well, I liked it - it was as tasty and fulfilling as I wanted it to be. The joint spices heartily - in the best way. Some might argue for more delicacy, but for me, I like to eat something that makes me take notice, remember, and crave…" read more »
726 reviews for Chutney
Review Highlights
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"You must try the Chicken Tikka Masala." In 151 reviews -
"Their Garlic Naan is also incredibly delicious." In 95 reviews -
"The mango lassi drink was SO delicious." In 38 reviews
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- A Yelpy Insight: Vegetarians go nuts for this spot. See more places they like.
726 reviews in English
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Review from Kristina L.
Millbrae, CA
Updated - 5/1/2012
We go to Chutney at least once per month, either for dine-in or take-out. Anything with tikka masala is pretty good. The chana masala is super tasty, as is the bengan bhartha. The spinach and potato curry is spiced a little differently than other places, but it's also less greasy and has more flavor.
I've noticed that if you call in an order for carry out and they tell you it will be ready in 10-15 minutes, they almost always have your food bagged up and waiting for you at the counter when you walk in. If you're eating in, it seems like you wait a bit longer for your food.
On a recent visit, I got some karayla masala, which is bitter gourd or bittermelon. Compared to other times I've had bitter gourd, this tasted a lot less bitter. I think the spices did a good job of both highlighting the slight bitterness but also mellowing it out so that it didn't activate my gag reflex. At first, it was reminiscent of chayote, but the more I ate, the more I could taste the bitterness. Oddly enough, it was really quite pleasant, which I can't say for most of my bitter gourd experiences. I'll have to order it again to make sure it wasn't a fluke, but if this is what bittermelon can be like, then perhaps I've found a new favorite dish.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/15/2010
Oh, Chutney. If only you weren't so inconsistent... I've had really good meals here, and a few… Read more »
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Review from Mike N.
San Francisco, CA
5/17/2012
Solid 2 stars.
For first-timers aka lost souls, here's the process:
1) Order you food and get a number
2) Seat yourself (and get free self-served chai tea)
3) Food will come to you
4) Eat
5) Take number, go to register, and pay
No one will help you figure this out. So, there you go!
Chicken Tikka Masala... aka SAUCE CENTRAL with NO chicken. Maybe three small pieces, if you're lucky. And yes, I tasted the MSG, folks.
In other news, the place was clean and tidy.
"Meh. I've experienced better." -
Review from kathy c.
San Francisco, CA
5/15/2012
If I didn't have a long history with Chutney, this would be a 1-star review.
Tuesday night, 8:30PM Call Chutney for take-out. I'm told it will be 10-15 minutes.
8:45PM: Fifteen minutes later, I arrive at Chutney. I'm told my order will be done shortly. I'm double parked, so I decide to find a real parking spot for my car, but the Chutney manager tells me it will probably be OK (glad I did not take his advice).
9:05PM: Food is finally ready, but I notice that the mint chutney sauce has exploded out of its container all over the bag. Chutney manager says he will fix it. I see him dish out a new container of rice. The cashier won't let me pay at this point even though I want to get out the door because he can't recall how much my bill is and won't tally it up again since the manager already did it.
9:10PM: Finally get my food and pay and on my way. This is a full 40 minutes after I called and 25 minutes after the promised time. Out the door, I notice that the chutney sauce is still all over the bag. Ugh.
9:25PM: Arrive home to see that the mint chutney sauce has seeped inside two dishes that I ordered, and there's pretty much unwanted sauce everywhere.
Also, the bengan bharta (eggplant) turned out pretty gross.
Chutney: I am so glad you are busy and your business is thriving, but why are you so inconsistent?? When you're on, you're really on, but when you're off, it's really horrible.
Don't set expectations that it will be 10-15 minutes, when it's more like 45 minutes. All would be forgiven if the service was better - maybe a smile and "sorry it's taking so long" or actually caring that the sauces didn't explode all over my dinner and fixing it. Or even if the food was top notch, then I could forgive all these missteps but sadly, it's not tonight.
I hope you fix your glitches. I've been going to Chutney for a long time, and I want to keep coming. I'm sad to be writing this review. -
Review from Zach L.
Henderson, NV
5/9/2012
The chicken tikka masala had low spice and tasted like canned spaghetti O sauce.
Very disappointed.
I will try them again in a few weeks and hope they improve. -
Review from Tashe S.
San Francisco, CA
5/23/2012
We love this place! Chicken Tikamasala is bomb! Best Mango Lasi i've had!
My hubby and I are regulars. the only reason i dont give this place 5 stars is that the bathroom isn't clean. I really think that this place is sooo much better than that, and it would raise their level if they would dress up the bathroom. Paint it, put in a glade plug in, paper towls, and clean the floor please!!!! -
Review from Libby H.
San Francisco, CA
5/21/2012
Maybe they were having a very busy night, but I'm a little puzzled by all the good reviews. We had three meat dishes all of which were fatty, oily, gritty and full of bones. It was like having fish with the bones still in, except you had to pick out the fat as well. We were even picking bones and grit out of the rice dish. We chose to throw out most of the food rather than eat it.
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Review from Enjella L.
Los Angeles, CA
4/18/2012 2 photos
Convenience.
General tips:
1. Walk up to the counter and place your order and take your number/tab
2. Seat yourself at any empty table of your choice
3. Food will be served
4. Walk up to the counter after you are done with your order receipt and pay
Food - overall, this is the creamiest Indian food that I have ever eaten.
Saag Paneer:highly disappointing. Bland bland city. No flavor whatsoever and very creamy.
Chicken Tikka Masala: Mostly sauce and a few big pieces of chicken. Again, very creamy.
Mango Lassi: generous large glass for $2 - done!
Free hot chai: go serve yourself, it's in the back next to the fridge, paper cups should be next to the dispensers
Also, I suspect they might be using msg. :(
Definitely a hit or miss with the dishes so it really is all about trial and error.
I appreciate that it is clean compared to other Indian restaurants in the area. -
Review from Lizzy M.
Oakland, CA
4/16/2012
The food is goooood! but they are slooooooooow! I guess that's okay when it's good though. The only thing I didn't like was the couple watching some movie on their laptop together like it was their home in front of the TV.
Alright maybe I should say I just thought it was sad and I fear everybody will be doing this soon.
Everything is good here.
I took some Chai home with me. -
Review from James B.
4/29/2012
I was in San Francisco on a business conference and didn't want to have crappy buffet food one particular night for dinner. Walked from my Union Station hotel with a coworker, picked up a Lagunitas IPA 6 pack from the liquor store, and made our way to the bum infested Tenderloin. This place was large, dirty, packed with people, but our noses confirmed this was the oasis we had been looking for
We ordered the chicken tikka masala, chicken vindaloo, lamb briyani, and garlic naan at the counter and took a seat. We must have waited until the end of the world but finally our food arrived. The vindaloo was extremely flavorful and had the perfect amount of spice. My favorite dish, the lamb slipped right off the bone in the briyani. Naan perfectly complimented the soupy tikka masala and there was none to be found by the end of the meal.
Indian food done right and cheap. No frills. It's better that way. -
Review from Cassandra J.
San Francisco, CA
4/3/2012
Mmmmm Indian. Not my cuisine of choice, but every few weeks, I get a massive craving for Tikka Masala. Not normally the restaurant I go to, but for something different I said why not. My friend and I both ordered Tikka Masala (chicken for him, paneer for me), and garlic Naan bread.
First off, garlic Naan bread? Holy snickerdoodles, it's Naan with *HUGE* chunks of garlic spread all over. I've not had anything like that before. Yum yum!
The Tikka Masala was tasty tasty awesome. It's extremely saucy (SAUCY!) so I wound up taking advantage of the bread and rice far more than other restaurants with a similar dish. This is quite ok though cause the Tikka Masala sauce is tasty awesome in a dish.
Service is done a bit weirdly here... you order at a counter and then sit down, with a waiter bringing your food out. The issue is you don't actually pay until you're done eating. Because of the way it's set up, it's pretty easy to not actually pay and walk out. It's definitely a bit odd and easy to forget that you didn't pay at the counter. Make sure you do though! This place is quite good and worth the price (which, I might add, is pretty reasonable!) -
Review from Jenny L.
4/1/2012
Don't know where to eat late at night in SF? Try the chicken or lamb tikka masala here with some garlic naan bread. If you're afraid of the spice, counter it with a mango lassi. Line up to order and grab a seat. You can nibble on lettuce, tomatoes, and onions until your food is served. Luckily, it's not a long wait. Enjoy the meal and then pay.
Service is a bit slow, but company keeps you occupied. Parking can be tough on the street. -
Review from Drew V.
San Jose, CA
5/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
As everyone else had pointed out, the garlic naan is great. A true evaluation of this place would be incomplete without a comparison to both Shalimar and Pakwan, however. Shalimar is clearly the greasiest, which has its own appeal. Pakwan is the spiciest (on par with Lahora down the street. Chutney has the freshest ingredients. While it may be more pricey that the other Indian/Pakistani restaurants on the block, it has excellent decor/atmosphere, friendly staff, and of course, superb dishes.
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Review from Sam M.
Pleasanton, CA
5/5/2012
Sub-par Pakistani/Indian fare. There are a whole bunch of these style eateries in the city where you get great non vegetarian, tandoori style cuisine that are hand over fist superior to Chutney even within a block radius of this one. No reason to go here!
Our food was distinctly "charred" and I'm not talking meat--the lentil 'Chana daal' was under cooked yet was yucky and charred. The rest of the food was lacking in salt and generally tasteless. The naans were good and the helpings are not bad.
Won't go again given such wonderful choices in the city. -
Review from Zain D.
3/16/2012
The blandest Indian food I've ver had. Curry had no spice or kick to it. The naan was cold and dry (probably because they wrapped it up in a torn paper bag, instead of in foil).
You're MUCH better off going 1 block down to naan n curry. -
Review from Quentin J.
San Francisco, CA
2/29/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Chutney's a decent cheap eats escape from the overpriced Powell Street madness a few blocks away. I recently enjoyed the lamb vandaloo (6.99) which was pretty good. The nan was meh ($1). And the rice was well rice ($1).
This spot offers counter service with the twist that you return to the counter after your meal to pay, which means if its crowded you're waiting in line twice, once to order then again to settle up. Seems a bit flawed.
In keeping with a counter-table service hybrid, someone beings your place settings, water, and a "salad" comprised of chopped veggies on a bed of romain lettuce.
Chutney's relatively cheap and tastes okay, but honestly Trader Joe dishes would rival the cuisine. While I didn't leave unhappy, I'm not dying to come back. -
Review from Shauna S.
Mesa, AZ
3/24/2012
Slow service, creepy vibe - I was the only woman in there for a solid thirty minutes and I was alone, but should that matter - and they used spice to cover up a lack of flavor.
Not sure what the hubbub is about on here... Perhaps it was an off day? -
Review from Becca I.
San Francisco, CA
4/16/2012
The chicken tikka masala!! Their naan is huge!! Love this place. It's so close to my work.
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Review from Alison C.
2/26/2012
Had dinner here on Friday night. It was about 7pm when we walked in the door and were able to sit down right away.
We went for the basics:
two orders of chicken tikka masala with rice
two mango lassi
The flavor of the chicken tikka masala was so good. This was my first time, but my bf had claimed it was the "best chicken tikka masala ever". I can understand why he claims it as so because the flavor was spot on. The chicken, however, was pretty dry. Even between the two bowls there was some inconsistency. So I'm holding out hope that the next time we go, the chicken will be tender and juicy.
The mango lassi (lassis? how do you pluralize that?) were HUGE. And only $2.50 if memory serves me right. After destroying the tikka masala, the mango lassi was a lovely dessert/drink to finish it off. Filled me to the brim, too.
All in all, I'm pretty sure this will be a new staple in my diet when I'm up in the city.Listed in: San Francisco
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Review from Talia G.
2/26/2012 1 Check-in Here
Weirdest system ever:
1. Order at the counter
2. Sit down
3. They bring you plates, a pitcher of water, a "salad", and your food
4. Stand in line again to pay
Really wish I could just pay when I order to avoid wasting time standing in line a second time. I wonder how many people just get fed up and skip out on the bill?
In my opinion, the best thing about this place is the price. Most entrees are $6.99 and veggie entrees are $5.99! Naan and rice come separately for $1 each. Not bad!
The food is pretty 'meh', in my opinion. Almost all the chicken entrees except the Chicken Tikka Masala come on the bone. This wouldn't be so much of a problem if the pieces were cut better, but as it is I always end up with oddly-shaped pieces of bone floating around the dish! The baigan bharta (eggplant) is ok, but quite oily. I usually like the naan, but yesterday the naan was dry and overly floury. Not good. -
Review from Shira H.
2/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
Why hello there, what's your name? Oh, Naan is it? Well you tasty, delicious, fluffy Naan, do you come here often? Because after one bite of you, I think this may be my regular spot.
Sorry for hitting on the naan folks, but it is that good. And sopping up all the sauces and deliciousness with it just makes everything (tikka masala sauce, eggplant curry, etc) better. This place is also super affordable, who cares that you have to step over a few bums and run away from a crack head or two, if you're like me and you like a bargain, it is worth it.
You can also be sure to head here after a jaunt at Bourbon and Branch and pay less for your whole meal then you did for your one drink. You're welcome.Listed in: The TL
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Review from Trinh P.
San Francisco, CA
2/17/2012
I don't understand the good reviews for this place. They must not for the food. The place is located in a not so nice area, but that's is fine if the food is good. Well, it is not! We came at noon and the whole big place has 1 table. We were scared when we saw that, but we trusted Yelp reviewers. We ordered our food on the counter and waited 29' for it. That's ok, we were patent people.
The food came, most of our dishes were tasteless, service was equally bad. Nobody ever came and checked if we needed anything. In fact, there was not any service, it was just like the Indian food court.
The best thing I had that day was a HUGE mango lassi which I love, it was good, and I never had one that big before, so I felt less angry about it :)
Two stars instead of one for the Mango Lassi. -
Review from Scuba Z.
San Francisco, CA
4/24/2012
Solid 4 star goodness. Food is good and cheap. They do have great Goat Curry. I've heard the biryani can be hit or miss...today it was a hit. Will be back for a late night curry craving.
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Review from Christal B.
San Diego, CA
2/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
Had dinner here last night.
Solid 4 stars.
Getting here was super easy, it was only a couple of blocks away
from the hotel we were staying in.
Anyways, a couple of things I'd mention:
Ordering was a little confusing.
You walk in and there's the register that says "Order here, pay here"
Yet, it was obviously a sit down place.
After we ordered the lamb vinadloo, chicken tikka masala, garlic naan, and an order of basmati, we got out number and took a seat.
Chutney is not a quiet place, which I liked for it being a Friday night.
Prime place to people watch as you're waiting for your food too.
While we were seating, the we were given a couple of plates, utensils, and two empty glasses. But, out glasses weren't filled.
Curiously, we saw pitchers of water in the refrigerator.
A couple of minutes later we were given a salad plate and out pitcher of water.
Very much a self-service place, patrons treated Chutney like a second home.
The plates and utensils were just against a wall, so customers would grab any additional things they needed.
I also saw a couple of people grab their own pitchers and even a couple of sauces from the refrigerator.
The food was delicious!
My lamb was fall of the bone cooked and the chicken tikka masala was some kind of wonderful. It had this orange color, which really did not disappoint in flavor. Rich, creamy, tomatoey..yum!
The side of rice we had was sweet and had a spice I couldn't place my finger on.
The naan was just okay. It was fluffy, but by the time we got it, it was cold.
No worries, just dip that sucker in the tikka masala sauce.
I saw some of the customers go to the back and help themselves to some canteens in the back.
Not wanting to miss out on the experience, I did the same.
What I had was some delicious chai.
Definitely a winner in my book.
For the price and location, I'm glad we stopped by. -
Review from Stephen C.
San Francisco, CA
2/26/2012
I don't even want to know the real name of this place. I didn't remember it until I found the listing here on Yelp, and I plan to promptly forget when I'm done writing this review. The only way I have ever and will ever refer to it is "the best tikka masala ever."
I moved to SF last week and have been exploring the food options near my new apartment. I stumbled across The Best Tikka Masala Ever late one night after parking my car nearby on Jones Street. It was meant to be.
While I'm sure there are other fabulous items on the menu, all you need is one order of chicken tikka masala, a side of rice, and a mango lassi. Your soul will be reborn in the tenderness of chicken and imbued with a grander sense of purpose by the sweetness of the sauce. I don't even really know what that means, but I'm sure you get the idea. -
Review from Jess R.
Updated - 12/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
Maybe it's my new LA 'tude, but I have to dock Chutney's a star! GASP!
I was back in San Francisco for only two days after not being here for almost two years since moving away.
I planned a lunch at Chutney's with all of my best friends!
We all ordered, sat, and waited. The food that DID come out was just as delicious as I remembered it. Really fantastic. BUT the problem was a lot of the food didn't come out!
I had to get up and ask for our rice and naan twice. A curry with no rice or bread is... well... soup. And even after the second time of asking, it was still awhile before they came out, at which point my Paneer Tikka Masala wasn't hot anymore.
Sad belly means one less star. Sorry Chut's, our reunion was lackluster. :(1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/14/2009
Cheap food, great taste, and quick service!
What is there not to love?!
Huge menu, lots of choices.
… Read more »
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Review from Javier S.
San Francisco, CA
5/13/2012
*** DO NOT EAT HERE!!***
I will NEVER again go to this place. I was completely appalled by the attitude I received from the owner of this establishment. I was yelled at in front of my girlfriend for a mistake made in my order.
1. He approached me with the wrong tone of voice
2. Told me that I was at fault for the mistake of the order
3. Explained how the cooks where mad at him( Probably for previous mistakes) and he is losing money by writing down an incorrect order.
4. He expressed that I needed to pay for His mistake.
5. Cursed at me and said " I don't give a $h!# "
The owner came to my table and had the nerve to tell me that everything was my fault for an issue that could have easy been resolved. I took a stand and expressed how his LACK OF CUSTOMER SERVICE is affecting his business and that KNOW ONE especially a customer should be treated like this. I WAS a frequent guest at Chutney... I enjoyed many meals here but this is now my last visit. To Top it all off before leaving in the middle of our meal... I told him I was gonna go out of my way to write a yelp review and he responded in " I DON'T CARE ABOUT MY REVIEWS! "
If it was possible I would have put 0 star...
Lets see who's laughing now. -
Review from M D.
San Mateo, CA
5/12/2012
This is my favorite restaurant ever. I wish to eat there every week, but I have to drive if so. Food always the same taste, as expected, and clean, I always request well done for the chicken booty. The Masala dish is good too. prices are very cheap. And the meat/chicken is Halal.
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Review from Jamie T.
San Francisco, CA
2/17/2012
uhnomnomnom...
Just finished my takeout order from Chutney's and I am one happy camper! Samosas, naan, and lamb vindaloo.
When I arrived, the place had a good number of people enjoying food, which is always a good sign. I was quoted a quick EPT of 15mins, but wasn't able to get to the restaurant for about an hour due to an unplanned shopping trip; so I'm hoping this is the reason why my to-go bag was waiting for me on an unoccupied table near the register, rather than behind the counter? This was my first visit here, so perhaps they use that area regularly for pickups. But, I'm happy to report, this was the only raised eyebrow moment I had during my experience.
To the food:
Samosas (2/order) were a filling, hefty size (compared to other places) filled with soft potatoes, peas and a nice blend of spices for flavor. The sauce had that nice sweet 'n sour taste that makes the samosas that much more delicious.
Naan, oh naan, oh.naan! It's really good. There's two other places in the immediate area and I'm willing to bet dollaz that this place has the best naan. Soft (even when it's not straight out of the oven hot) and fluffy. mmmmmm.
My lamb vindaloo was also good. Though, I think because it had to be packed to-go, there was something to be desired that I can't quite put my finger on. The lamb was tender and soft off the bone, and there wasn't too much fat to pick around on the bone. The potatoes were good and the sauce was tasty as well. -
Review from D M.
San Francisco, CA
4/8/2012
BYOB and great Indian.
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Review from Shirleyanne Z.
San Francisco, CA
1/5/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Three chicken tikka masalas, four garlic naans, two basmati rice = $36
I have been here twice already and they haven't let me down yet. The chicken was so tender and the sauce was amazing. It was so tasty that I drank the sauce. Yes. I drank it like it was Gatorade. I don't care if the cream clogs up my already cholesterol laden blood vessels. The naan was so soft, fluffy and had the perfect amount of garlic. The rice was perfectly cooked and seasoned.
The first time I went there, they didn't put enough chicken in my chicken tikka masala. That didn't bother me because the sauce was extremely yummy. We ate there after a night at Bourbon and Branch and I must say that the Chutney cashier was much more pleasant than our Bourbon and Branch server. The Chutney guy was super nice and the restaurant looked really clean.
Today was a different experience, but pleasant nonetheless. I ordered my meal to go and the guy who took my order was so kind enough to ask what time I will be picking it up because he wanted to make sure that my order was made fresh and that it is hot when I pick it up. Bonus: They gave me a lot more chicken in my order. I'm definitely going to be a regular here. -
Review from Rachel A.
San Francisco, CA
12/13/2011
Chutney's one of those funky places where you order at the counter, your food is brought to you, and then you pay at the counter on your way out. Also one of those places that, given one too many whiskeys, you might stumble out post meal, light a cigarette, and remember that you should probably go back inside and pay.
The food here is awesome. All of the Tikka Masalas that I've tried have been great - my lady's hooked on the Bengen Bharta in a serious way. Usually a meal for the two of us (two dishes, rice and naan) comes to about twenty bucks, with enough left over for lunch the next day.
And wait. Did I mention the bottomless chai? The consumption of as many cups as possible during your visit is a delicate art - it goes fast, but keep an eye on it throughout your meal and they'll keep fillin' the thermoses in the back up with super hot, spicy delicious chai. (Don't forget to fill up a paper cup on your way out and take it for the road.) -
Review from Nadeem A.
12/9/2011
Based on a glowing review from a friend, we made this our last meal in SF before we moved to the burbs.
The chicken tikka masala was sweet and very runny. I don't want my CTM to taste like ketchup, and I don't want it to be like a soup.
The chicken botis were moist, yet they lacked flavor.
The seekh kabob was gamey.
The naan was big, but way too thin.
And the chai was not milky enough.
After this experience, we're reconsidering our friendship with the aforementioned reviewer. -
Review from Mira L.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 3/22/2012
I don't come here anymore, I go to Pakwan just across the Street. They drove me away the last time I ordered Chicken Keema and somehow the cook didn't put any spices in it whatsoever, it was throughly bland and tasteless. Also I once ordered chicken vindaloo and it consisted of one chicken neck with absolutely no meat and a bunch of pieces of potato.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/12/2007
I decided to give this place a second (maybe third chance) to get its act together and serve the hot… Read more »
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Review from Sam M.
Belmont, CA
4/2/2012
I'm giving this place 5 starts only because of the food, its the best indian food I have ever ate....EVER. As far as service...horrible, and seems to get worse the more you go (we tip good too!) even though the same people work the counter they are always difficult.
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Review from Alex F.
Los Angeles, CA
1/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
If you can go to an Indian restaurant with an Indian and they like it, you know it's good.
I had a smattering of delicious, bargain Indian food. I don't remember exactly which dishes I ate, but I do remember leaving very satisfied. The hot chai was great! -
Review from Van W.
Oakland, CA
11/8/2011
been here several times and sure to be back. Their chicken tikka masala is tasty, get it extra spicy. Like their hot fresh garlic naan.
points deducted because service can be spotty (we were told to sit the first time we went there and then ignored. A line formed at the counter and we were quickly forgotten) and also their water half the time tastes really awful.
it's a good place for groups though.
Oh, and apparently they have goat brain curry. I'm not brave enough for that =) -
Review from Rox G.
12/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
LOVED:
Chicken Tikka Masala: (though it would have been nice to have some more chicken in all the sauce).
The BBQ chicken: (I'm not sure what its really called) was literally the best chicken I've ever had in my life. Not necessarily in terms of flavor, but the texture was absolutely perfect. It was tender and flaky, and just perfect.
The price: $19 for all this, including sodas for two people.
LIKED:
Rice: Not bad... It's rice.
EH/NO.
Lamb: in lamb's defense, I don't like lamb. But my husband swore that lamb is delicious in Indian cuisine. Well we tried it, and it was rubbery. So, no.
Naan (Garlic): It was kinda dry.... I love everything with garlic and cilantro. But it was pretty dry.
Naan (paneer): The cheese was really flavorless and had an odd texture. Maybe that's what authentic should be? But I wasn't too crazy about it.
Salad: idk if it should even be called a salad. Before we got our food we got a plate of lettuce, with three slices of tomato, and 2 slices of onion. No dressing, nothing. It was kind of awkward lol. -
Review from Jennifer Taelin L.
San Francisco, CA
3/14/2012
Found this spot 2 years ago when I was working in the area, recommended from a friend. Favorite spot in SF for good eats, love it here! Every time I come in for a bite, I am always introducing the cuisine to a new friend. Order at the counter- usually Chicken Tikka Masala (sauce and meat is amaaaazing), Biriyani (chicken or prawn), 2-3 Garlic naan (or regular), Sikh kabob, and a new random dish every time (this time it was an eggplant dish and Indian pickles on the side). To wash it all down, LOVE the Mango Lassi (cant believe its only two bucks for a large glass) and Chai tea (free refills). For dinner tonight, it all came out to $32 for a party of 3 (and plenty of leftovers) Parking garage is next door, usually $8 for a few hours.
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Review from Alice L.
We got the lamb biriyani, chicken tikka masala, aloo ghobi and two naans. The food here is definitely a step up from naan-n-curry and I like that it's not as chocked full of large pieces of inedible spices that I have to spit out.
Everything here tasted great. The naans were large and fluffy; the chicken tikka masala, well, I can dip bread in that sauce all day. The rice in the biriyani was el dente and they actually had a few large pieces of damn yummy lamb in there. The potato in the aloo ghobi was waxy and creamy and the cauliflower was tender but not too mushy.
Next time, i'll probably do a takeout order. It's not exactly the cleanest of restaurants and can get loud. -
Review from Nika T.
10/2/2011
Pros:
Inexpensive
Generously portioned
DELICIOUS
Quality
One of the best deals in San Fran for a huge heap of inexpensive and yummy food.
Cons:
Noisy and loud inside. A bit crowded too. (Totally worth it, though. Plus: there's always take-out!)
Here's what we ordered:
Somosas (potato, peas and spices stuffed in a thick folded dough, then fried)
Pompadoms (super thin crispy 'wafers' dotted with fennel seeds)
Chicken Tikka Masala (white meat tandoori chicken cooked in a thick red creamy sauce, tastes a bit tomato sauce-y and yogurty)
Bodi Chicken (tandoori chicken, breast meat chunks served with sliced onions and lemons with a savory thin "sauce" and chopped cilantro
Aloo Mattar (potatoes and peas in a flavorful curry sauce)
Plain Naan (soft and tender flat bread)
Garlic Naan (flat bread topped minced garlic and cilantro)
We loved everything. We(2 of us) actually were able to make 5 meals out of what we got--- and we were ravenous when we first tucked into our hot, fresh food so it's not like we were eating like birds or anything.
I was a little less enthusiastic about the Chicken Tikka Masala. I found it a little too creamy and felt like some of the flavor was a little diluted. But not bad at all. It was still yummy.
The Bodi Chicken was fantastic!! Only drawback? The to-go container was the soft papery kind (great for the environment and ideal when used properly) and all the liquid slowly absorbed into it and dissolved out. Fortunately we put napkins under it in anticipation. Missed dipping chicken into that liquid though.
Aloo Mattar was incredible. This isn't one of my commonly ordered entrees but it is one of my favorites and Chutney did it so well. No hint of bitterness (from using too-old spices) as is occasionally found. A touch of sweetness and a lot of seasoning.
The somosas weren't the best I've ever had but they were up there. I like mine not too spicy and seasoned heavily and these fit the bill. Great dipped in tamarind sauce or the green chutney stuff.
The pompadoms were pretty good. I ordered them more for nostalgia than anything.
The Garlic Naan was the best I've EVER had. Crunchy. Garlicy. Cilantroy. Soooo Flavorful. Sooooo Good with the food. Order 2.
So.... Here's the thing. I almost didn't come here. In fact I was going to go to their main competitor (so I assume: Shalimar) because soooo many people complained of a rude guy in a Giants hat. Well people: He was not there today. Or if he was, he was hatless and nice as can be. :P I chose Chutney over the other in the end because a lot of yelpers said the other place was greasy and had tiny bits of meat.
Chutney had generous, flavorful portions. I would be happy to go here again. However I have one little annoyance: Rice didn't come with my dishes and it wasn't obvious until we were far away. So if you want basmati rice, make sure you order it.
For what it's worth I've eaten Indian all across the country and this is a standout establishment, food wise. I will be back here on my next visit to the area. My guy even said to me "Do you think we should start ordering more Indian food back home?" Does it get better than that?
To the yelpers: I love ya'll but if an employee is rude to you please don't just write a review... Call the management and let them know. If someone lies to you: give management an opportunity to resolve it. If someone is not polite: talk about it with someone who can do something about it. Don't just diss the place and close the book forever. You're short changing yourself in the end. -Usually- owners and mangers do care and would like to know if their staff is turning people off.
