Shalimar Reviews

boti kebab to die for!

I went with a well-respected colleague, who'd eaten there the day before. Maybe it's what I had, but I didn't really care for this place. The ginger chicken (one of two boneless chicken dishes) was a collection of fatty bits of dark-meat chicken swimming in grease. That fairly describes the atmosphere, too. The bathroom was positively scary -- even as the Tenderloin goes. It's not exactly inexpensive, either; I've had a number of better meals in SF for as little or less (e.g. , and I've certainly had far better Indian.

The food was fine, average pricing, good sevice. It was very warm inside the restaurant , which took away from the nice atmosphere

Come here for the great food. Not the ambiance. This little hole-in-the-wall place serves great Indian food at a reasonable price. The staff was friendly.. I'd go back!

Fantastic value for money Good in-dining and take-away Fantastic Indian preparations Butter Paneer to die for

always good. rich, spicy, smoky. yum.

Great Indian-Paki! Tandoori and eggplant are the best!

Weighed up all the reviews for Indian restaurants near to our hotel and chose this one. All the reviewers were correct as far as, don't expect too much from the inside. The food, well, nothing to get too excited about here. I had Jafreizi, which was just ok, a little spicy which was fine, plenty of chicken. My wife had Chicken Massala, which she said was too spicy and lacked the tomato flavours. It is amazing how the same dish can vary from country to country. I'm afraid the UK beats this hands down.

Recently went here with friends for dinner. A simple looking place with a bit of a wait but this place has great Pakistani food.

It was a bit like being in India where I travelled two years ago.. Very authentic and busy atmosphere with guests and staff in constant conversation, always finding solutions.. Very tasty and typical Indian/Pakistan food to prices you almost won't believe..

Having read some really good reviews we thought we would try this authentic restaurant on Jones St and we were not disappointed.. It was probably the best meal we had on our US trip and also one of the cheapest. Basic in many respects - put in your own order and help yourself to drinks but the food was fabulous and that's what mattered.

The low-frill fly on the wall experience is one of the best in the city, it's authentic and delicious. BYOB but order extra naan bread. Chai tea is self-refill.

The neighborhood isn't good, the service isn't good, the seats aren't comfortable, you'll go home smelling like Pakistani food, but Shalimar on Jones services some of the most delicious food in SF.

We were visiting from Florida. This restaurant is famous all across the country and we find out its for the right reasons. We had Tandoori chicken tikka, seekh kabab, chicken kabab, Beaf Nihari, and brain masala, lamb chops. This is authentic Tandoori food. Well balanced masala (spices), full of flavors.

This place is definitely overrated. It is nothing more than a pit stop for a quick bite with average Indian food. It thrives on a quick turnover and consequently very little attention is paid to service. The place is definitely busy but you would think with the amount of money they make that they could afford to update the premises and give it a lick of paint and improve the general cleanliness. There are at least two other halal Indian places on the same road which in my opinion are much better in terms of both food quality and have a more relaxed atmosphere for families.

Had Boti with Naan and Tea. Price at USD13 is reasonable in that area. Finding desi Tea was a blessing. Did feel bit heaviness. Maybe my stomach is no longer used to heavy Pakistani food.

Absolute chaos, but worth it! Yes this is what we experienced today but the food was superb, spicy, tasty, and cheap to eat! The kids loved it too, but due to the busy nature of this place, plus it was after 6pm and most stores are closed, we had to take away our food and eat at our hotel!! For a brief moment I thought of a certain "Seinfeld" episode (no soup for you) as we were standing in the wrong spot as we were trying to order, but we moved around and still got to order without being penalised 6 months, ha! Aussies would live this curry place and we recommend this place to all who visit the Tenderloin district for Curry! Well done Shalimar!

If you love to eat Indian food, this a place to go. It is very small. Not up scale. It probably whole less than fifty people max. The prices of the dishes are very reasonable. Dishes are small but you can share and sample. Very taste.

Don't go for the service or ambiance - go for the food. You won't be overwhelmed with the detour and the service is rationalized but friendly and suited for purpose. The food is awesome and from my perspective, being a guy from Eastern Canada, totally authentic. I seriously don't know if it was authentic, I just know it was good and, tip in, under $40.

best Indian Food in town

We were in San Francisco for three nights and visited Shalimar twice. The first visit, we walked to the 532 Jones location. The second visit, we tried the restaurant on Polk. We loved the food at both places. Some might find the ghee to be overwhelming, but that makes the taste that much richer. The garlic naan was some of the best we ever ate. The prices are low compared to most Indian places in San Francisco. The only downside is that they do not accept credit cards except for catering. Highly recommend!

Really, I'm sure some folks will be turned away by the ambiance from the street and fairly plain accommodations, but you can't beat the food or the prices. Step up to the counter and order (and remember to return back there when it is time to pay), sit down and be prepared for some delightful and favorable foods, all hot and made to order. You can appreciate the authenticity of the food by the "local" clientele.

Great food. The owner is friendly and the place was clean. Much better then Chutni or Naan and Curry. The food has Authentic Lahori taste. I recommend Brain Masala and chicken tikka. Garlic naans are very good too.

I keep coming back here every time i visit SF. This place reminds me of the 'dhabas' in the sub-continent, specially Lahore. All meat and the breads are freshly made after order, there is free flowing tea. The decor and service are nothing to talk about, but the food is worth it. Personally recommend anything from the tandoor over any of the curries.

I would never go in without a recommendation. The place looks very cheap and not too welcoming for a business tourist. I am happy we went there. Excellent Indian food and welcoming service. The price was a fraction from many other places that would offer not as good food.

We came here after the receptionist at our hostel recommended it. She told us it was a bit of a dive but the food was great, so we knew what to expect when we walked in. The food was delicious, the restaurant was a bit run down but generally fine and the staff were friendly enough. Would eat here again for sure.

The Best Kebabs I ever had. The garlic Naan was also well prepared and so was mutton curry. Abundant quantity of tea is available.

Go to Shalimar for the food--not the ambiance. Or perhaps the lack of ambiance is the ambiance. As always, my wife and I loved the salad, naan, vegetable curries, and chicken. Some of the best Pakistani food outside of subcontinent. Also great prices and good service.

This place literally makes you wait on a weekend evening, atleast half an hour. But the food is worth the wait. untidy table , clumsy waiters could be a turn off for some. But the food served could tickle your taste buds. "Nehari" a spiced soup with meat and herbs is a must eat.

This restaurant offers some of the great dishes from the Indian and Pakistani origin and their taste is superb. The chicken tikka masala, nihari and the goat curry are one of the best dishes here. I am definitely their fan for life.

If you want amazing Indian/Pakistani food in San Francisco and are not looking for decor, this is the place. The neighborhood is sketchy but safe. You order at the counter and then they bring you the food. Flavors and variety are amazing. Staff is quite friendly. Expect to wait during busy times but only 10 - 15 minutes max.

I visited this place after a few years. This used to be my go to place few years back...it has remained the same. Just awesome food ..no ambience .. No frills..

This may not be gourmet Indian food, but it’s authentic home style food. Very tasty, large portions. The price can’t be beat. This appears to be a local cultural hangout, which makes it feel even more authentic. Very festive atmosphere. This place is a gem definitely worth going to.

You may have walked by this place, but it's a classic hole in the wall that doesn't look like much from the outside, but has great dishes on the inside.

This is a must go place for any visit to the Bay Area, despite the shabby canteen with worn out interiors to bring on a street where you get pestered by unwanted characters this place serves food that is simply one of the best in the world for Pakistani and North Indian foods. If they are too improve the ambience and physical quality of the restaurant it will be one of top restaurants in San Francisco. The prices are quite cheap and i highly recommend sampling 5-6 items at least on the menu including the tikkas, biryani, kebabs, haleem and one or two curries. I guarantee if your tastebuds are working and you don't mind flavor and spices a visit to this place will be very memorable, so shut down your mind to the surrounding and enjoy the food!!

my all-time favorite indian in the city. worth the parking fiascos..take a friend to circle the block slowly and take out

It looks dirty, but it tasted good. I went there last night and Chiken Kahari was my favorite. It's a bone-in chicken, though (that's why it tastes so good)

poor service, great food, budget-friendly prices in a neighborhood which sits between the glamour of Union Square and the misery of the Tenderloin.

Visited this place again after 10 years since the last visit. It hasn’t changed a bit and the guys running the place are the same from all those years ago. If you looking for real curry at great prices then this is for you. The clientele tells you enough about its authenticity. The decor hasn’t changed a bit and on first visit looks tired and shabby to say the least. Given that they queue for seats plenty of people agree. Do not be put off by decor or the fact they have no liquor licence. Just pop next door and grab some beers. Pick your food, order at the counter. 4 of us ate for around $50! In SF, come on! Went there twice in 5 days and is on my list for every SF visit in the future. A must visit restaurant.

The food was just OK. It wasn't terrible, but nor was it amazing, especially considering just how terrible the ambiance was. It was like a notch below fast food in terms of the set up and the dress of the people in it. This is an area of San Francisco with a large homeless population and I think many of them eat at this restaurant. It is quite cheap, so while that is understandable, it may dissuade others from wanting to go. I would not go back personally as there are other better curry houses that are a stone's throw from this one that are still quite cheap and with much better ambiance.

Food is fresh good price for your money!!!!!! We are regulars for Shalimar Restaurant we also visit their location in Sacramento. Love their Brain Masala and Fresh Nan!!!!

Accidentally found an indo/paki restaurant.Believe me was eating from supermarket from last couple of days. I changed hotel to holiday inn and that's blessing what a taste kadai chicken awesome. Biriyani was OK portion are big value for money.Kudos guys the restaurant darbar is waste n tasteless.

Go there for their Tandoori chicken and veg curries. If you like spicy and Indian food this is a good hole in the wall. ok for takeout but the food does not taste good if cold. Just eat there even though it is not the Ritz

Yummy Indian-Pakistani resturant even though the term does not make sense. Must try the curries, Saag Gosht and Nans.

This place has remained consistently top-notch. They use a real tandoor for their bread (naan) and meat, like chicken. Not a lot of places do this anymore, which is unfortunate, because a tandoor makes everything taste delicious. You can't go wrong with ordering -- from veggie to meat items, and even their chai is amazing. You add your own sugar. If you want to know what real South Asian cuisine tastes like, go here. The decor is simple, but the food is complex, fresh, and delicious.

I lived in India for 4.5 years and love Indian food. I had already tried Shalimar from take out at friends house but this was the first time I went to the restaurant. The location of the restaurant is my least favorite (tenderloin neighbourhood) because it is a bit unsafe but we were hungry and at 10pm you don't have too many options in the city because it's too late for dinner. The three of us went to Shalimar and the place was pretty small and crowded so had to wait briefly for a table. I must say, I wasn't impressed with the place at all because it was a bit dirty :( and having lived in Mumbai for so long, I don't like to be reminded of that but this is something you can expect if you want to eat this type of cuisine, I've had a similar experience in Santa Clara too at another Pakistani/Indian restaurant and I guess it's ok for once in a while eating out at these joints. We ordered dal fry (which was ok but I expected way more flavor from that dish) but also i'm biased because I get to eat Indian food at home all the time so perhaps i'm too demanding :P, mutton gosht which my husband (who is indian) loved it but i wasn't too happy about it and also because mutton is a not my first choice of meat or dish, tandoori chicken legs was probably what I enjoyed the most - succulent and not too spicy and shared tandoori roti, garlic naan and alo paratha - the garlic naan stood up and was soft and fluffy and some of our friends say it's just the way its served in Pakistan too so must be authentic. Overall I liked it but wouldn't say this was a great experience. Ah, and what can upset me most of all is not having fresh cut lime to pour on top of the food - they had this sad lime juice in a bottle instead :'(. Friendly and helpful staff and fast service but I just can't get over that it wasn't clean enough!

Shalimar is another of our must visit places in San Francisco. The goat curry is outstanding and all other dishes were very good. The decor leaves a lot to be desired but the food more than makes up for it. If you like Indian food, I can recommend Shalimar. We regularly bring our own wine with us on our visits.

Neighborhood is rough folks, not pretty. I arrived at about 330 pm to an empty restaurant less 3 people. The waiter recommended the Chicken Tika, so I took the recommendation also with garlic naan and eventually rice. The entrees do not include rice, which is fine , but not recommended by waiter. Food was excellent but skimpy. Garlic naan had no real garlic just garlic powder. Naan was a bit thick, but fresh and tasty. Rice was good, chicken tender .but only 4 pieces in an entrée. All in all, scary neighbors, excellent food and marginal service. Definitely better places to eat in San Fran, but in a pinch......Shalimar is acceptable

Oooo baby this place is good. is the place pretty, absolutely not, but if you care more about what it looks like then what it tastes like you got bigger issues. But if you are a fan of Indian food get ready to lick the damn plate cuz damn this spot is so legit. Don't mess around grab 5 friends and order everything on the menu. Don't forget to get the little dixie cups of chai tea (very important)

Down to earth setting but heavenly food! Could be the best Indian-Pakistani food in California. Totally delicious! Get a variety of dishes and share. Don't forget the Naan and basmati rice.

As a Brit abroad you know after a few days you need a curry, so was delighted to find this place. Its not your typical tandoori restaurant, but more of a cafe. Its also not in a great area of San Francisco but do not let that put you off. The food is great, especially the kebabs and the prices are very reasonable.

One of the few authentic Mughlai style (reminiscent of the period when the sub-continent was ruled by Muslim rulers) food. Pros: - Extremely delicious - Extremely cheap in San Francisco standards Cons: - Slightly dirty - Food is greasy and spicy (not for daily consumption) Note: do not visit if health and cleanliness is a priority for you. Being an Indian I can vouch for it's quality. Eaten multiple times and satisfied each and every time.

Since I have returned from the Army, I have become an insufferable SNOB. Why? LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO EAT ROTTEN FOOD, to put up with RUDE or STUPID PEOPLE or to seek entertainment that is not enlightening. In other words, I have a low tolerance factor for stupid or boring things. Deal with it, baby!!! If you are in the mood for Indian food (FYI, Indian food is the next Mexican Food for all you hipsters out there), this is the joynt you go to. TWO CAVIATES: First, this joynt is located smack in the middle of the Tenderloin District---so leave your Phillip Patek watch and your Tiffany Diamonds in your dresser. It also wouldn't hurt to kept yer cell phone near by and your girlfriend closer. Second Caviate: YOU ARE EATING INDIAN FOOD!!! For Christ Sake, don't go dancing afterwards. Curry will bubble up through your pours!!! I took my date to Shalimars and then we went dancing at Top of the Mark afterwards---you know, where you exchanged partners? During break, all the guys in the men's room were complaining about the cute blonde chick with the bad hygene---"JEZ, it smells like she just skipped the shower and came right over. I had to say something to defend my date's honour. "Maybe someone should ask their girlfriend to take her aside or something...I could never say something to her". Ya Live; Ya Learn!!! Anyways, SHALIMARS makes my mouth water just describing it. Take this dish, for example. You start off with a ball of flower that they slap onto the side of a clay pot and fire roast. You haven't lived until you've eaten FRESH Cooked Naah (the unleavened bread that looks like a chewy tortilla). As for the Merg Boti Tanduri, think chicken chunks that are placed on a skerer and marinated before placed in a fire clay pot and cooked to perfection. Served on a bed of Balsamic Rice (long grain) it is paradice to eat. DON'T YOU DARE POP ONE OF THESE THING IN YOUR MOUTH FROM A FORK---THIS AIN'T NO SWANSON'S TV DINNER!!! It sure as hell ain't no KFC!!! You sneak up on the morsel by picking it up in your hand, carressing it and then taking a small 'love peck' out of it-----Hmmmmmmmmmm!!!!! The explosions of ginger & Curry and god knows what just has your mouth in utter worship of Shalimars. I've been around the planet and NO INDIAN RESTURANT tastes as good as my Shalimars. I am told they have other great dishes but WHO CARES---NOTHING BEATS MY MERG BOTI Tanduri with rice & Naan. Out the door, you are out $10.00. A meal fit for the GODS and you're only paying $10.00?!! In San Francisco, no less??!!!! It's off O'Ferrell & Jones near the epicenter of Crack Cocaine use in San Francisco so watch yerself!!! Bon Appotite!!!

If you like indian food dont subestimate this place by its apperance. You would only have eyes for the food. We almost give up when we get there because we read various local and fodors reviews of the place and the reccom. were great: best indian food in SF. But when we get there we did not like how it looks. Is just really cultural. We give them a chance to try the food and it was just delicious. We tried the chicken tandoree and lamb chops. Delicious. The naan is stufed with garlic...OMG...yumi. They served a mango shake, a must try it. Be prepared to order in the counter and to self serve your beverage. Is different but worthy!

Truly a frightening part of town but really good food! And so reasonably priced! The raita was $1!!! Our entire was check was $23! My husband's lamb sag was fabulous!

Stop in and you feel that you are in the midst of a family kitchen with the cooks and other personnel engaged in animated conversations. This is really a no frills place.

Cheap and greasy indian. Some people swear by it...not me.

Really good food - we tried the biryani / tandoori chicken / lamb / naan / butter chicken. The food was excellent. The ambiance is not good at all - so go with low expectations there.

We had chicken tikka masala, naan, daal, spinach and tandoori chicken. It was all very tasty and good. Very authentic northern Indian-Pakistani. I will come here again.

A wonderful Pakistani and induan restaurant with outclass envirnoment. We were basically in search of a halal restaurant when we came across this restaurant while our visit to san francisco. Delicious food and cultural look of the restaurant making it stands out. Overall a good package yo eat at a bit crowdy and freindly place .

For authentic Indian food, this place is a great find and excellent pricing. I was with a party of 7 and we all enjoyed everything we ate!! I had one of the curry dishes and it was so tasty I wanted to lick the bowl when I was finished.

Place does not look like a restaurant we use to.... but like a real Indian restaurant and it just make you travel there... Food is really good, discover the real taste, no substitution to fit local tastes it is just a wonderful experience of simplicity and great taste.

Two stand outs for us were the Aloo partatha Delhvi ( naan stuffed with spicy potatoes) and the Bhuna Gosht (lushishly sauced lamb). The mango lassi was also very good. A small place, can't see it for large groups. Okay with kids. A bit of a dive, but very tasty if dives don't freak you out.

Not sure what all the rave reviews are for, but this was one of my worst Indian meals ever. To start, the naan bread was hard and dry, the rice was decent, and the raita was oddly spiced. I only ordered the palek paneer, and it had no flavour - just heat. I tend to judge Indian food on these key dishes, and they did not deliver. You have better Indian options in this city. The dining room was also filthy dirty. Windows and mirrors looked like they had not been cleaned yet in this calendar year. Yuck. Make a detour around this place.

EXCELLENT FOOD - I used to live na few doors down- haven't been there in a year but when I did go there-DON'T EAT THERE- dirty place, mice running around on the floor - take out place-Legendary in SF for good Indain/Pakastani- heard it opened to cater to pakastani/indan cabbies so they didn't care about ambiance- but ewww -

I had been here almost a decade ago and on a short visit to SF, looking for some variation in cuisine, we ended up at Shalimar. Not being very hungry we had chicken and beef seekh kabab, dal and naans. All were pretty good. I'd visit again if I'm in town.

The best Indian food in SF...and it's cheap!

Its a cheap Pakistani food place ( sometimes people don't understand the difference between Indian and Pakistani food so they also say Indian food but let that not fool you. Its more for Kebabs, Naans and Curries. Don't make the mistake of going here or else you will come out smelling like a Chicken Tikka. They have a disorganized way of taking orders where you queue up and place the order and hope they got it right. In the meanwhile someone else has taken your table to sit. The food is average but hygiene looks bad. The guy at the counter was very rude and also kept making mistakes by returning less cash than he should. When I pointed it out that he was missing USD 5 , he did not even have the courtesy to say sorry. There are many other places that serve good Indian food so I would not go to Shalimar again.

I went to the one in Fremont and the food is excellent! It is kind of a hole-in-the-wall place where you have to seat yourself, order at the counter, and then pay at the counter after you're finished eating.

We found Shalimar just around the corner from our hotel and were pleased to see it frequented by south Asian folks - a sign of good quality food when the 'locals' of a cuisine choose to eat there! The service is quick, the food was absolutely delicious and incredibly cheap. Oh my word, the garlic naan was amazing. One point: Shalimar is a dry restaurant so if you like a beer with your curry you will need to delay until you can get back to your hotel room, or to a nearby bar. But the mango lassi was very tasty indeed.

I never go to an Indian restaurant but Pakistani restaurants are always reliable. This one is no exception and it stays open till late. Go for the naans and whatever curries look good. Chai is free.

Authentic, tasty and extremely affordable!

the okra dish!!!!!

I have lived in Kenya and visited India several times and I can say this is excellent, "authentic" cuisine. No, no frills, but the taste was exquisite. Not a tourist restaurant for sure and I'm pretty sure nobody eating there was consulting trip advisor, but this is a gem that was packed with happy customers

I ate there twice. first time i tried the Qema Nan and Chicken Tikka. Both were decent. I wont say they were as good as you have it in Pakistan but considering SF, it was decent meal. Second time, i tried Chicken Tikka Masala. The curry was horrible to my taste Maybe it is US thing but i didnt enjoyed it a bit. Thanks good there was complementary green salad and mint raita to save the meal. I saw alot of desi and american customer. It looked a decent place and price are Ok.

Spicy indian food...original.

I have been going here for years. They really don't need this review - their following is long term and consistent. Tikka Marsala, Tandoori makes me want to jump in the car and drive the 50 miles to get it. 3 foot skewers with multiple chicken legs lowered into the clay oven, Naan slapped onto the clay. Simple open kitchen diner, nothing fancy but really delicious.

If you are staying around downtown SF, need a night where dinner does not cost a fortune, love great northern Indian cuisine, and really do not mind a somewhat seedly setting (or have travelled Rajasthan and can transport yourself to a hole-in-the-wall in Jaipur or Jodhpur)--this is for you! The saag dishes (spinach) are exquisitely seasoned with hints of ginger and cardamom coming at you. Even the curried lamb dishes (which you might hesitate to order given the setting) are tender and sit in sauces that will make you sure to order extra naan. Tandoori chicken, is cooked just right--add cilantro sauce from tabletop squeeze bottles for perfection. No alcohol, BYOB corner bodega--and there are many in this 'hood... (The neighborhood is safe--as long as you feel you don't have to every person who thinks you might have a buck for them..)

Very good food, location isn't the best in the world but it seems safe enough. I ordered the Garlic Naan, which was the best I've ever had I think. The garlic is baked right into it. I also ordered the chicken Sagg as hot as he could make it, and was very satisfied. I didn't get a drink but everyone else there was ordering the tea. The only negative is that I had to pay for rice, usually it's included. At least with every other indian place I've been to. The prices were very good $12 for the spiced rice, Naan, and Sagg.

Good Indian and Pakistani food. Love there Chicken tikka's.

I would say food was very good, but this restaurant needs more lights and cleaning. most Pakistani restaurants have same problems. I would highly recommend the owner to do this for sake of Pakistan's reputation, and presentation we could be proud of. thanks.

Cheap and good.

This was a fantastic restaurant. The daal masala, the saag, and the haleem were incredible! I am much more impressed with the flavors of food rather than the ambiance and this place was a wonderful treat. It is a busy place and rather small but if you want really good Indian/Pakistani food, this is a great place to try!

Very delicious food but a bit spicy (hot), friendly and a bit loud. A good sign that this place is appreciated. Great price, customer must read the menu and walk up to the counter and place their orders. It's real Indian food with a variety of spices. You will appreciate the flavor of the many Indian spices. My daughter and tried the following dishes... Naan-A-Akabar, Garlic Nan with Chicken Tikka Masala, Bengen Bhujia, (Eggplant)and Shalumar Chawal (Basmati rice with savory spices)

Yummy, yummy chicken tikka masala. Was staying at the Hilton a couple blocks away and went & tried this place. Loved it. Went back two nights later. Loved it again.

I travel alot and pride myself on finding good dives. Don't be intimidated by the appearance or location of this place, the food more than makes up for the lack of ambiance. When you go in, the place is, more often than not, filled with a smokey haze from all of the delicious meats roasting in the authentic ovens. Just grab a menu, walk up to the counter and order one of the best meals you are going to have in San Francisco. Then, take a seat, because you don't pay until you are finished. I'm still amazed at how they keep track of everything in a packed restaurant, but its always worked out fine for me. Everything I've had here has been delicious. Try every meat they offer, you won't be dissapointed. The vegetarian dishes, especially the Dal, are excellent too. Whatever you order, don't forget the garlic nan. Unlike most other places, Shalimar bakes large chunks of garlic into the bread, instead of on top of it. The result is a nan that is crispy and savory on the outside, and steaming with garlic on the inside. I crave this place often and have flown to San Francisco on a whim to satisfy my cravings. Sad but true.

The restaurant is situated in a very bad neighborhood. Scary walk to the restaurant. Negative stars for cleanliness and customer service. Saw the pots/pans and the cook's apron. Dirty! But surprisingly, the food was really good. I would recommend doing take out and ignoring the dirtiness. Ordered a few curries and great tasting kebabs.

I went here with my friend. Though I am vegetarian my friend and his wife are omnivorous and with good taste. We had ordered Naan, Dal, Chicken tikka masala, Murg Tikka Lajori. The food was average, may be because we taste the original in India so our standard is high. For newbie to Indian food, the standard would stand out to be good. The price was very reasonable for the amount of food served. So overall an occasional place to go. Location is very good as its in heard of SF.

Awesome food.... chicken tikkas, seekh kebabs, biryani and palak all are yummm. These are dishes from the sub-continent but tasted way better in Shalimar, sanfrancisco. The complimentary tea after the food is a plus... one thing the restrooms are not very hygeinic!

Its not a very nice place to eat. Just tables and chairs to sit. No waiters . But the food is really good

After reading many good reviews about this place, I decided to give it a try. I could not eat spicy so I bought katoori chicken (no 6 in the menu) and rice. I read on the internet, katorri chicken is seasoned in a day so I assume it would be tasty. However the chicken tasted not seasoned at all. The rice was so so too. With the price near 9 usd, I could have better food in Vietnamese restaurant.

One of the best Tandoor's in the area. Tried Buna Gosht, Boti Tandoor and Onion Kulcha. Loved it. Great food and Great taste!

I had heard about Shalimar 8 years ago and was craving to go to this restaurant to try out the tandoori chicken. I have to say that it did not disappoint. A hole in the wall in the tenderloin district of San Francisco. We had Goat Karahi, Goat biryani and Chicken Boti Tandoori. The food was fabulous and very tasty. A typical Indian or Pakistani restaurant has spicy food, but food here wasn't very spicy, but was very tasty. The chicken was very juicy and succulent. The goat was very well cooked and very tasty as well. Will highly recommend this place to all tourists who like Indian food.

I have been going to this place for over 12 years and frankly it may not be the best looking but food is excellent and most authentic !! Cooked to perfection and great taste . Reasonably priced and tasty !!

Awesome Desi food and nice staff. Though a lot homeless people are around but i love to go again and again. decent place for families.

Food is very authentic and freshly made. Biryani is average. Brain masala and bhuna gosht were probably my favourite dishes in this restaurant. Naan are also very good. Please keep in mind that it is not a fancy restaurant, not well decorated and mostly relies on self service for getting water, tea, chutney or paying bill. However, for the location the price is very reasonable. I highly recommend it to people who like desi/Pakistani/Indian food.

Totally worth a trip to the 'hood.

If it is SF it must be Shalimar. If you are Indian and have never been then you are not Indian. If you like good Indopak food and you have never been then..... :)

Was ok. We eat Indian regularly and heard such rave reviews about this place. It has an 80% sanitation score. The tikka masala was the worst we've ever had. Bland and runnier than it should be. Naan was a little too burnt on the bottom. The staff was really nice. We were confused as to why we kept hearing we "had to eat there"; maybe the recommenders don't usually eat Indian?

went sunday eve, place is small , hard to get seated, but took 10 minutes for table to empty. atmostphere and service are not expected, but got good food as expected.. Fremont location is just as good,

This restaurant is a mus, great food, good service and great value. This restaurant is not the best looking and everything is served on plastic plates but you cannot fault the food highly recomened and recomened by a local and the place was packed

The food really is delicious!! Everything was hot, flavorful, and tasty. You MUST get the chai when you go! The atmosphere on the other hand wasn't the greatest.

The place is very functional - a working man's cafe, and definitely not a date-night destination. The food is the draw - very tasty, very authentic, with decent meat and vegetarian options (all halal). It's only *fairly* cheap, but in a city as expensive as SF, that's already pretty good. I ate there at least twice on my last trip, and will certainly be back

Went with a mixed group... Tikka masala was ok... The tandoori was one of the best I have had! Naans are greasy... If u want cheap indian/ Pakistani food... Choose this place.. Waiter was nice... The group like the food

This is my 2nd visit to Shalimar this year and I am so glad I found it. Pakistani food is almost identical to Indian food that many of us are already familiar with, so the menu will definitely look familiar. The service is no-nonsense and to the point, you order at the cashier and they bring you out your dishes. Prices are reasonable, and the portions are adequate, they are not huge. For 2 hungry people a couple of proteins (if you're a meat eater) and a veggie dish should be good with an order of rice, raita and, of course, naan to clean the sauce off the plates which is exactly what I did! Get your own water from the refrigerators by the cashier and they also have hot chai tea for the grabbing (not sure if they charge, if they do, its $1). Flavors seem fresh, authentic and satisfying. I'd love to try everything, yet so far the chicken with spinach, goat dish, tandoori and spinach dishes are awesome. Can't say enough. Everyone talks about the Tenderloin location as being shady - well maybe just a tad but overall very safe to walk to but as in any part of the city - be wary of your surroundings.

We had the brain masala, lamb dish, some naan and basmati rice. It was definitely one of the best Pakistani food that I have eaten. The spices was so tasteful, it was spicy as well. It definitely suited the cold weather of San Francisco. Would surely recommend it to anyone going SF.

I visited Shalimar restaurant back in 2002 when I visited San Francisco for the first time. I remember the food being very good. This time I brought my wife and my 20 month old son to this restaurant. I have lived in Chicago and Houston and I have been to hundreds of Pakistani/Indian restaurants. The service was quick and we were seated in 10 minutes. Its a very small restaurant so usually every one has to wait in the evening time. I ordered Chicken Tikka and Chicken Seekh Kabob. Chicken tikka was very bland. Seekh kabob was better but spicy. My wife ordered chicken Jalfreezi and it had too much Masala and too many different spices in it. Not Good. Their naans were great, both the regular and the Garlic naan was just awesome. Their are certainly better Pakistani places to eat in the Bay area and I was very disappointed with my return visit to this restaurant.

Visiting SF and disappointed as a friend raved about this place . I had Bhuna gosht , it was oily and very spicy( not in the right way )I also felt it was salty.Naan was cooked to perfection and the Lahori kabob was yummy . It is very bland looking place and service is blah ... The guy forgot my order and asked me again after 10 minutes what I ordered. Also curry came first and naan came after 5 mins :),they forgot. I drafted this review waiting for bill, I guess I will remind them :). Also there is a sign which says no alcohol but guy next to me bought his own corona so they are discreetly BYOB . For now 2 stars but maybe I will come back to give a second chance. Better Indian/Pakistani places in SF for sure!! Try Pakwaan I gave it 4 stars based on my dinner there.

This is by far the best Indian / Pakistani restaurant I had in the bay area. They have branches in Fremont and Dublin (newly opened), and the quality of food is equally good in all of them. Lamb biriyani and goat karahi are the best. The only negative (though not to me) is the place looks very crowded and not suitable for formal occasion. But I go there mostly with my family and friends for good food and we always had good experience.

I have been going to this restaurant since 1997, when I lived in the Bay Area. I have moved to Boston, however on my SFO visits, I try to make here once in a while. The Chicken Kebab, daal and the naan are out of this world. Masala tea on the house is an added attraction. However, this location on the Jones street is not a place for a family visit for dinner. Lots of bums, homeless people on the street asking for money and sometime very rude. I will not venture out in the area during late night, however the food is worth a trip during day time.

This place is very small but serves very tasty Indian and Pakistani food. There is no place to park and they do not validate parking. I suggest do a takeout and enjoy this delicious food.

No frills but always delivers! Remember numbers 6, 9, 20 & 23...you can't go wrong! The chicken tikka is delicious. A sketchy part of town but don't let that deter you.

I loved this place for its food! Its like a typical "dhaba" where you would get awesome food for low prices. If you are looking for good service and ambiance over food, this may not be the place to go. Its all about great food. I used to drive from San Jose to SF only for its authentic North Indian food!

Went here with experienced Indian/Pakistani eaters and we were blown away. No romance or elegance but food is top notch and a good price. Will definitely return. Chicken Tikka to die for.

seekh kabab and bhunna ghost are really good

This is not a restaurant to me. More like a canteen?! It was so disorganized: they should write somewhere that you need to order at the counter because the waiter only brings the plates. And even that was messy since he first brought the wrong ones and had trouble finding our order! In addition to that, it’s noisy and a bit cramped. The food was good, especially the rice, but it’s not worth this kind of experience! I don’t mind to pay a bit more for my piece of mind!

The President of my company is from India and I only know of 2 places that he considers good Indian food. This is number 1.

Best indian food in western world

Not the prettiest place to look at inside or outside. But busy with locals and Indians. A real traditional meal tjat was quite tasty. Service is fast

We good good fresh food and excellent service Food taste was great specially BBQ & Goat Shalimar have few locations SF, Fremont Dublin & Sac

Absolutely as good as it gets Indian food, but the place is definitely a hole in the wall.

terrific food.

You will smell like tandoori smoke when you leave. Pakwan is across the street, and I like it slightly better.

The food is about as aunt emetic punjabi as you can get. Known for its kabobs ( I think the chicken dishes are better than the lamb and beef), but have greater veggies including the channa dal and palak paneer. The place is really divey as you would expect at this price point.

This hole in the wall, counter service Indian/Pakistani restaurant is located in the Tenderloin neighborhood of San Francisco. If you don't mind working your way past a few 'desperate people' you will find an inexpensive and flavorful little cafe. You have to be a bit assertive to get an order in, and then you wait for it to be delivered to you. Some things are self serve like grabbing a bottle of chutney. The nan is some of the best, and the curries are pretty hot so you will have to eat as the natives do: a little bit of curry and a bunch of rice helps to fill the belly. As for the prices: the owner told me he can't charge more or nobody would come in! Take advantage of the neighborhood and get stuffed for cheap. Just don't expect to eat off the floor.

Shalimar had good yelp and trip advisors reviews and we were looking for authentic Pakistan or Indian food. Ma pa ren. Well this was it. I ordered lamb chop that's what I got four. Everything was a la carte ..nan bread rice. The lam chops were not edible. We couldn't chew them and so spicy burned our mouths ...I told the man I ordered from MILD. VERY VERY MILd....he got annoyed ...I can not believe this dump ever got a zagat rate.....ten tables, dirty, inferior food....people eat here cuz the portions are huge, cheap prices...this was the worst....oh did I tell you we pride ourselves on eating at any authentic family owned restaurants all over the world. We will never go back here.

We love authentic Pakistani food and this is THE place for it. You can order anything on the menu and it will exceed expectations. Nihari, Chicken Tikka, Biryani, seekh kabab, you name it. The place is tiny, and usually there is a wait but let me tell you, it is worth the wait! Don't forget to sip chai. Tiny gem!

One of the most authentic purely Punjabi restaurants that I have ever visited. Though it is technically a restaurant, back in India we would call it a 'dhaba' as it is basically self service and lack what is called... finesse. However if you are a true foodie you would go to a restaurant just for that... and here you get that... plenty of it... and it will never pinch your pocket no matter how much or what you order! Be it kebabs or be it curries... everything is extremely delicious. Being an Indian, you can take it from me that it is quite unlike any other run of the mill Indian restaurant.

The food was excellent and the prices low. What you get, along with the excellent food, is a chaotic set-up, dirty kitchen and apathetic staff. You basically show up at the door and get ready to dash for an empty table and somehow get your order in to the cashier. Why the restaurant finds it so hard to clearly spell out their procedures is beyond me but it is what it is. Take a bat to fend of line-jumpers.

At the most popular Indian Pak eating joints intersection of O’Farrell and Jones , three out of four the four corners of which once had an Indian/Pakistani restaurant , Shalimar , Nan and Curry and the Pakwan ( though am not sure if all three are still there ) and at least ten to fifteen similar joints within a ten minute walk , it sure has to be good to be noticed , been there a lot of times and have always like there tandoori stuff , however could do better on the curries , always prefer to go across the street to Pakwan for less elaborate but better tasting and healthier curries .

Greasy

The place looks beaten down. Food is decent and economical. When we were there a lot of people walked in. It seemed like a famous place among locals.

This is a great place to get “take out” Indian food . The restaurant itself isn’t much and it’s BYOB for those who want an alcoholic drink. We tried an Indian place just down the street and found this one much better and less greasy. The Korma is the best sound and it would be my first recommendation. The owner even remembered my family members when he came to pick up the order, even though he had not been there in sometime.

Shalimar is a place that when you walk in you say "hum do I want to eat here". Located in a classic sf neighborhood parking is hard to find and the locals make getting there interesting. There is someone just outside giving parking advice in the voice of darth vader. Ignore the force. The food is awesome. The chicken is tender and flavorful the biryani is to die for and the chicken makani is the best you will have. We have tried all the locations and for us the quality and taste of the food here beats all their locations. We had to get take out as our kids had to have it for dinner. Now that is a statement.

The Nihari is authentically made and was delicious. The decor needs improving but it's ok. If you are looking for a Pakistani meal which is well made and don't mind basic surroundings this place is great.

Came here on the recommendation of a friend who told me the food was amazing but be prepared for ample H&H (homeless and hookers). I encountered neither. Food was amazing and they even brought me out masala for free as I clearly had not bought enough food (they were right and I happily scarfed it down). Highly recommend.

Normally I'd walk right past a place like this, but based on other reviews I went in. I'm so glad I did. The place was packed and remained packed for the hour I was there. People standing in line anticipating the joy their pallets were to receive. The tables and chairs are old and used. The floor is dirty. You order your food at the counter like and episode out of Seinfeld. The waiter may stop over to bring you water if you wave your hands enough. If you don't go get a pitcher out of the cooler yourself. The food was amazing. 2 plates a side of rice and 1 order of nan is enough for 2 people unless you're really hungry. Net-Net: Go.

Both are as good as each other. Not much to differentiate between the two. Tasty food, low prices, authentic dishes, halal. Only thing to add would be a golden paratha and halwa puri for breakfast.

the prices cant be beat! i went there with 5 ppl and the total for our meal was approx $35

Self service, rather affordable. Great mango lassi and fresh naan. Fair warning that while most dishes are tasty, they are also really spicy!!