17 Best Indian Restaurants in Oakland

“ID Cafe Oakland is one of those hidden gems that deserves to be much better known. From the moment we walked in, the staff made us feel welcome and took the time to answer questions and provide recommendations.

The food was outstanding. The dosas were fresh, crispy, and generously filled, while the chutneys and sambar tasted authentic and full of flavor. You can tell that a lot of care goes into maintaining traditional South Indian recipes while still making the menu approachable for everyone.

What impressed us most was finding such authentic South Indian food right in downtown Oakland. It's a great option whether you're grabbing lunch during the workday or meeting friends and family for dinner. Our kids also enjoyed the meal, which is always a huge plus. Great service, authentic food, and a warm atmosphere make this one of our favorite South Indian spots in the Bay Area.“

“The karahi was full of flavor, perfectly cooked, and tasted just like homemade food. The saag was fresh, rich, and went so well with the naan. Everything was served hot and the staff was very welcoming too. Definitely a place I’d love to visit again with family and friends. Highly recommend if you’re craving authentic desi food!“

“great food & atmosphere! 5 stars!!“

“Absolutely delicious cuisines, lovely ambience, excellent customer service and friendly staff. 100% recommend!! ❤️“

“Wonderful food on a comfortable patio with very friendly staff. Thumbs up 👍🏾“

“The signature Momo dumplings were outstanding, fresh flavor with a beautiful savory sauce. Lamb shank was melt off the bone deliciousness. awesome outdoor seating & excellent friendly service“

“Best food in town. If you love Indian food then you should go and try their authentic Indian food. I am pretty much sure that you won’t be disappointed. I give them 5 out of 5.“

“We have eaten here four times since Ginger took over the restaurant from the previous owners. The food is excellent — fresh and tasty, the menu offers lots of options, and the service and atmosphere are very nice. I highly recommend this restaurant highly.“

“Marigold has become my go to Indian spot in Temescal! The owner is an incredibly kind and welcoming woman who always takes good care of her customers. I have been obsessed with the Madras Chicken in particular. They also have a great lunch special with rice, naan, and choice of two entrees for an unbeatable price.“

“Great selection of curries, naan, and appetizers. I really like the Kabuli naan, and I haven't seen any other place that has it in Oakland. And the prices are affordable.

My only complaint is that the curry is burning hot when they serve it. I hate it when hot food burns the top of my mouth and I spend the week with swollen gums. Just give the bowl of food an ice bath for a minute before serving it.“

“Our kids really wanna try food here as they have seen the menu and pictures. Finally we manage to go on her birthday to celebrate with family and friends . We had Mango lassi, pani puri , samosa, chicken Momo, Briyani, paneer lababda, muglai chicken, butter naan, butter chicken,jeera rice ,Chicken Briyani, tres lache cake and lal Mohan with ice cream . Of course gentlemen had wine 🍷 too.All the food were yummy , desent portion . I was expecting 8 pieces of Momo but it was only 5. Shout out to Briyani . It was yummy . Do visit this place . I bet you won’t regret.“

“Best Food by Chef Jay... Good place for Indian cuisine, If you are craving for Indian food this is the place to be... Best food reasonably priced...“

“I stumbled across this place after officiating a wedding nearby, and I'm so happy about it! I'm currently sitting in my car afterwards with a full and contented tummy.

I decided to have Thalia as I didn't know what it was. To my delight, it was several small bowls with scrumptious dishes.

The lamb in coconut was so tender. The creamed spinach was incredible and the veggies with perfectly flavored, allowing their natural flavor to shine. The channa massala was nice and spicy, maybe medium level. It kicked but was still full flavored. The yogurt side was so good that I ate it alone, lol. The rice pudding was delicate, a perfect balance to the full flavors of the other dishes. And the na'an was to die for!

Nita, my server, was such a sweetheart! I can see why this place has been around for 18 years with such excellent service and food!!“

“Bopping in to town to see Harry Mack at Fox Theater, we parked around the corner and wanted something to eat. I saw the phrase Indian Street Food on the window, mentioned it to Brian and it was immediately decided. I am stoked, because the food was delicious!! The tikka masala was great, mango chutney to die for, salsa with my rice (sooooo good, you have no idea!!), and if I wasn't on a diet I'd have the El Jefe burrito, which is a burrito made with naan!!! Check this place out if you're anywhere near one! I believe they have multiple locations.“

“Came across this restaurant while looking and it had good reviews so decided to try. Almost didn’t go in because it said Pakistani (along with Indian and Nepali) on the sign outside but went in as I saw owner was Nepali. I chose this spot because they had veggie momos on menu, but sadly they weren’t there when I got there so I got the Hakka noodles instead which were still pretty good, could use more salt, but other than that was fine.“

“Royal Kitchen Indian Restaurant is a wonderful place to enjoy authentic Indian flavors. The menu features classic dishes like butter chicken, tikka masala, and flavorful curries served with fresh naan and rice. The spices are rich and well-balanced, giving each dish a deep and satisfying taste. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, and the staff are friendly and attentive. Overall, it’s a great spot for anyone looking to experience delicious and comforting Indian cuisine.“