Viva Goa Indian cuisine Reviews

Had the Goan fish curry and the Goan chicken curry - medium to hot was quite hot... But they were both yummie, and so was the onion nan! Good service and friendly staff. Good value for money.

They have a buffet lunch that offers great value. We also go here for dinner and we love the navratan korma and the spinach paneer. Vegetarians are also welcome as they have lots of vegetarian options. The staff is very friendly and tend to remember those who'd come back. One thing you should not miss if you go here is the mango lassi!

A few days ago, the wife & I were in San francisco, and happened upon this place on Lombard Street. They have regular menu items, as well as a lunch buffet. We had the buffet ( $8.99 on weekdays, $10.99 on weekends ). Don't ask me the name of most of the dishes, I just know they were very tasty. The naan was warm and chewy. The Fish Curry, Tandoori Chicken, etc., were very well spiced (delicious!) I can't wait to go back!

I drove here hoping for authentic food. The mulligatawny soup was good with delicate complex flavours and not at all spicy. I then ordered lamb vindaloo medium (I hate the "how would you like it?" With chilli then l stirred in at the last moment as chillies really need to be cooked in from the beginning to taste right). It arrived as a tomato puree sauce with vinegar and so unspicy it could be used as baby food. Certainly not the fiery dish I'm used to from UK restaurants which typically has little or no tomato in it and gives you an endorphin rush.

I love Indian food and I always want to eat the Malai Kofta. As a vegetarian I was never disappointed with Indian cuisine. The service was great. They were very friendly and asked about the spice and everything. The food was excellent and more than enough for one person. The restaurant is very clean and I felt good in there. I liked it very much.

Yes, UK we love our curry houses more than fish n chips and this one was one of the better ones we have ever been in. Amazing mussel starter which was followed by 3 amazing curries. The nan breads also were especially good as was the service and price :-)

After two weeks on the road in the USA, we really missed a good Indian curry - being from the UK, we usually eat a curry at least once a week. Viva Goa was a short walk from our motel and turned out to be an excellent choice. The starters were both large portions and very tasty. I had the beef chops which were very similar to Kashmiri Kebabs in the UK (spiced mince balls covered with mashed potato and fried) whilst my wife had some very tasty vegetable samosas. We shared a lamb rogan josh and Goan chicken masala for our main course and both were excellent and of a standard we'd expect in a good UK Indian restaurant.

We saw this Restaurant from out Tour Bus. The stop was just a few blocks from this, so we got off and walked back here for lunch. The meal was a Buffet which had a lot of options -- mostly North Indian and not Goan. But, everything we tried had a multi-layered variety of spices with the end result being very satisfying. The Naan was fresh and hot, and paired well with the spicy curries. The Gulab Jamuns and the Vermicelli Kheer ended our meal very nicely. Our servers were all very polite and efficient. The prices were so reasonable for such a touristy area. Worth visiting.

Viva Goa is a good Indian Restaurant on Lombard Street near Fort Mason. The food is from Goa so they use a bit of different spices that what you regularly find. It does't change the food a lot, but it is intriguing to try to taste the nuances. The servings are very nice and the wait staff are pleasant and helpful. This is a very good Indian Restaurant but I wish it was more centrally located or, even better, in the East Bay so that we could frequent it more often.

Needed an indian fix and did the trick...we even took some back to Ramond to our wonderful front desk whom recommed it!

Came here for dinner during a weekend in SF. Food was excellent, service was attentive, atmosphere pleasant, interesting decor, mostly photos of area around Goa. Ordered 2 dishes and rice and couldn't finish it all between the 2 of us. Had one vegetarian dish, one with chicken, both really good. You can choose your spiciness level and we were pleasantly warmed by "medium".

This seems to be a small family restaurant - but the dishes they turn out are fabulous. The cuisine of Goa - a spicy delicious mix of Indian and Portuguese recipes - is showcased in the menu, and it's quite different from the other Indian restuarants in the city. The chicken saag, the regional dishes, the kormas, anything you'd like to order comes perfectly cooked, succulent, and in a good portion size. Dinner for two with mango lassies, naan, and rice, comes to about $30 including tip, so it's a great bargain to boot. Nice, attentive service, and a clean and relaxed atmosphere make this our first choice for Indian food. We'll drive across the City to eat here; it's always special.

Feels like you are back home in Goa/ India. The service is great and friendly staff. The food is amazing and you get kingfisher at this place.

Viva Goa is located on Lombard Street, just a five minute walk from the Lombard Gate at the Presidio. We ate here twice during our 10-day stay in San Francisco, and partook of the buffet. There are many items to choose from, all cooked to perfection, and the Goan fish curry is simply delicious. Samosas and pakoras on the crispy side, and rasogollas on the sweet, round out the buffet. The under $10 price tag for the buffet was a delightful surprise. Service was excellent, the buffet was kept full, and the owners were friendly and professional. All in all, a memorable, great value-meal.

I ate lunch at this nice location. I was on the one of the City tour bus trip. The tour bus dropped us off near Viva Goa. It was delicious and fast! I hope to return soon!

Goa was under the Portuguese, so I note the difference between Goan and Indian. My favorites at Viva Goa are the Butter Chicken, Beef Seekh Kabab and the Tandoori Chicken; however, my favorite appetizer is the Malabar Jinga; give me the Malabar Jinga and some naans and I'll make a meal on that. The Beef Assado is tender moist roast beef and very common in Portugal - try this dish too. VIva Goa has lovely desserts that are decorated nicely. The kulfi is delicious and I won't spoil the surprise as to how it is plated - you just have to order it. Enjoy!! Staff are pleasant so not sure why 1 review was contrary.

Great Indian food. Delicious, authentic and tasty. Really pleasant experience with helpful and friendly staff. Highly recommended.

Taste of the Himalayas, on Lombard in the Marina District, Is a special experience. Reasonably priced, nothing fancy, great food -- a bit like Indian, only more subtle -- and Shrawan, the proprietor, is The Nicest Man In The World. (When he's not running this sweet little place, he has an orphanage back in Nepal.) Forget service -- this is friendship. Go. Eat. Be happy. In a great restaurant town, this is unique.

I have had many curries (even in India), this meal was very authentic and tasted great. Highly Recommended, must eat place - if you are staying in the Marina District on Lombard Street.

4.5. ingredients are well balanced, the heat is perfect and much lighter than indian food.

Looked for a place within walking distance of the Presidio's Lombard entrance, and we were lucky to find the Taste of the Himalayas. It's also called Shangri-La on other review sites and at the restaurant. My husband and I both had the lunch special - chicken tikka masala with rice, naan, and lentil soup. All was very tasty. We also had a soft drink - all for $13.09! The place was empty and the decor was well-styled. Our server could have been friendlier.

Very good food and nicely affordable for SF. We found them using the nearby section of the mobile app. We were staying in the marina neighborhood so it was close. It's on Lombard and one block from Chestnut so it's close to the bus lines. If you are thinking of eating at the places around Chestnut or the places on Union this should go toward the top of the list. It does not look as slick as Chestnut but maybe location is what helps keep the prices lower than Chestnut (but it's right around the corner). Lombard is real busy here. If walking I would approach Viva Goa from a side street not down Lombard. I walked down Chestnut and ran into a sandwich board sign that pointed toward Viva Goa at the corner of Scott. I like Indian food and occasionally will go looking for it. I did not know Goan food. The sauces or curries were wonderful. Really flavorful with just a hint of heat (we had asked for medium heat) - it was perfect. The menu indicated the traditional Goan dishes and the waiter was pushing them. I'm a big fan now. Viva Goa goes on my most go when in SF list. It's like that!

Best Indian Restaurant for Goan Food in SF! This hidden gem in the Marina, SF, is a must-visit for anyone craving authentic Goan flavors. Every dish we tried was bursting with rich, bold flavors and cooked to absolute perfection. The cozy ambiance adds to the experience, making it a great spot for both casual dining and special occasions. Some of my favorites include the Pork Sorpotel, Chicken Korma, Butter Chicken, Chicken Xacuti, Chicken Lollipop, and Malai Kofta—all perfectly prepared with authentic spices. For a delightful snack, their Samosas, Vegetable Pakoras, and Chai are unbeatable! To end the meal on a sweet note, I highly recommend trying the Bebinca—an absolutely delicious dessert that perfectly complements the rich flavors of the meal. The staff here, including the friendly and welcoming manager Nick, truly elevate the dining experience with their warm hospitality. Highly recommend this place for its delicious food and exceptional service!

I grew up on Goan food and in 40 years have not seen or tried Goan food outside India. Pleasantly surprised!

I just went there 2-3 times and tried different Indian food each time. But I did not like it. It seems food was not cooked properly. As there was no other Indian restaurant nearby, I went there again otherwise I would not go there. Although service & environment was good.

I can see why this place has 4.5 stars. The food was really good and they have great service. We were going to do take-out but decided to dine-in instead. It was not too busy as it was a holiday weekend, but the ambiance was just lively enough. Upon arrival we were greeted by a gentleman and then a young lady took our order shortly after. I can’t believe the bill was so low considering we ordered so much. And best of all, the corkage was just $12. Reservations not necessary but I would make one to be safe. I would definitely come back.

We have visited a couple of times for dinner and we ordered vegetarian food. Food was great and served quickly. The restaurant is on the busy Lombard street but surprisingly serves as a quiet place. People are friendly !

The smells were enticing but the reality was not out of the ordinary. Some people have written very enthusiastically but our Goan dishes were nothing spectacular. Our garlic naan was very dry and the garlic butter was on the mean side! It was warm and clean and very quiet, which is always a plus, but overall we would rate it as average.

We were looking for an Indian and Then we saw this. Didn’t expect Too much of it, but it was delicious and relatively cheap! Would recommend!!

We went to SFO over thanksgiving break in 2015. We really enjoyed the food. The curries had Goan touch a little different from North Indian style but not bad at all. The pakoras and mango chutney were good. Nice location close to golden gate.

I was in town alone and got a take out. The butter chicken and naan bread was awesome. Staff were very friendly. Spoke to other guests that say they come across town for this Indian Food. Was recommended by my hotel manager.

Excellent food, good service. The lighting in the place is too low for my liking. Apart from that, I totally recommend.

I was not familiar with Indian cuisine, and was under the impression that all food was spicy. Quite the contrary. We visited during lunch, and had the buffett.The food was excellent and gave us the opportunity to try different foods to see what we liked. The price was reasonable, food was plentiful, and the service was SUPERB. The servers very attentive; made you feel valued. This restaurant is located next to the Super 8 motel on Lombard street where we were staying.

Worst Service EVER!!!!!!!! The servers are ultimate RUDE and impolite!!! Talked to us very badly and not just one server....two! Went in to celebrate Mothers day! Food came in so late......just because we wanted another table ( cause we had a toddler)..... They got so openly irritated! they did not change the table sheet, no fresh glasses, no silverware....had to ask for every single thing!... WE WILL NEVER GO THERE AGAIN...n Will NEVER recommend it to anyone! DID not enjoy the food cause of the service! such a horrible 'celebration' !

We had Prawns curry, Fish curry, Rice and chicken tandoori sizzler. Goan fish curry rice is popular dish in Goa which is state of India. It has it's way of preperation and this hotel could manage in same manner the test. Fish was also fresh. Prawns preparation was little spicy which is desired. However management should look into preperation of tandoori chicken sizzlers dish as same could not meet to the standard of fish curry rice. Chicken cooking and marination was balance. Service was normal. Hotel ambience was fine. Location is prime and if overall upliftment in cooking, ambience, service is done then it can fetch more business.

The food here was more of indian I felt not very very authentic goan except for a few items. But the dishes were good and tasty

Not planning to go back again, the Goan pasty of the restaurant is completely missing from the taste and menu. Buffet is mediocre.

Been to goa. the food this restaurant serves is certainly not Goan. DO not have the typical Goan dishes and what they have, with Goan names is very bad. We could not eat the food we ordered. It was so bad. Just paid the bill and left. We did tell them that they should not claim that they serve Goan food,

If you are looking for Indian food with a Goan taste then this is the place you must go. Great location (Parking might be a issue if you are having your own car), great staff and good food.

We have been in SF for vacation and found this rest. If want indian food this is your distenation, and don't miss the chicken ticka masala and bryani ?

We were visiting San Francisco and craved some tandoori chicken. Fortunately, this restaurant was close to our hotel, so we ordered some food to take out. Pleasantly surprised. The chicken was moist and flavorful, and the vegetable dishes we ordered were very good (okra and eggplant, respectively). Ample portions, tasty mint chutney. We will return if we are back in SF.

I didn't know what to order, so my daughter took over and taught me some things. I LOVED the Tikka Masala chicken and the garlic Naan. Be brave! Their descriptions are well-written, so go for it. We ordered it delivered and it was fantastic and priced well, with nice leftovers.

I went there for the buffet lunch on a Sunday. The food was average, except for the very unusual and delicious Goan fish curry, but the quiet atmosphere and good service made the experience pleasant. There were also vegetarian, cheese, lamb, and chicken dishes. The fish and vegetarian dishes I ate were not at all spicy. I was told by another patron that the fish in the curry is sole. I would return if I were in the immediate area and wanted Indian food.

My husband and I being Brummie are a bit particular about our Indian food. The guy in our motel recommended Viva Goa and he was spot on. Service was excellent as was the food. This is our sixth year touring America and the first good Indian meal we have had!!!!!!

Sometimes when we travel a lot we forget to write about the places in our own backyard. This is my neighborhood Indian restaurant and I love it! The food is wonderfully flavorful, the staff is incredibly kind, the service is efficient and the prices are very reasonable for San Francisco. They even have a small but decent wine selection for people like myself who prefer wine to beer (they also charge only $10 for corkage if you prefer to bring your own wine). They offer home delivery and its alwasy been very fast and the food has arrived hot. A really great Marina restaurant and my local favorite.

Fresh tasty and very reasonably priced. Best Indian food that I have eaten! The waiter was lovely and made good suggestions and the Goan dishes that we had were very very good.

We went here on our first night in San Francisco and we had been told it was a good one. We really enjoyed the food here. The service was good, and staff knowledgeable about the dishes. The food came out quickly and despite that it was cooked very well, my prawns were very tender and the curry really flavoursome - wish I lived in SF so I could go more frequently. Definitely somewhere to visit if you enjoy Indian food - and it's not too expensive either!

A visitor from rural Michigan and newcomer to Indian cuisine, I noticed Viva Goa while exploring the city on foot from the Marina District and decided to try the lunch buffet. Very much enjoyed the many well-presented and delicious flavors in a quiet atmosphere with superlative service. I plan to return to San Francisco in December and will invite my family to join me for an encore. No complaints whatsoever!

We saw this restaurant out the window while riding on a bus from Golden Gate Bridge toward Fisherman's Wharf. Had to get off and try it. Goa is the Portuguese part of India, so we figured it would be something different, and we were so hungry a buffet sounded great. This place did not disappoint. For a nice selection of vegetarian and chicken and fish offerings, it was only $10 for lunch, and everything I tried was tasty, especially the mushroom curry and the fish curry. Great sauces and condiments and warm naan bread also. Highly recommended instead of the more touristy and expensive places around the Wharf!

The food is a fusion between Indian and Chinese. You have to be in the mood to socialize, if you are going to go here, because the owner will sing and talk to you.

I had dinner here while attending a conference. It was really wonderful to taste authentic Goanese flavors after a long time. I nejoyed the SHrimp Xacuti and Pork Sorpotel.

We had never had Indian food before, so didn't know quite what to expect. The food was very good, I had a shrimp something that came with rice, nice and spicy, my husband had the butter chicken, he wasn't sure about it, but he liked it too. Good for carry out, dine in and delivery..

They don't know how to treat their customers. It was a very bad experience and is never expected from an Indian. After interacting with there very intelligent attendant we cancelled our reservation. Will never ever visit them again.

We got our Indian food fix here. It was not exceptional in taste but was average because the paneer tasted like it was frozen/old. The naan was good and the sauce for the paneer was tasty. We ordered to go and got the food quickly.

Lovely Indian food & good value. Tasty food, nice service and everyone enjoyed their meals. Vegetarian samosas were to die for. Paneer Tikka Masala was also great

We were walking by and noticed the Michelin sticker in the window, so we decided to give it a try. The buffet was enticing and inexpensive, but we wanted to order from the menu. We had a fish curry and a traditional Goan lamb dish. The food was excellent and the portions generous. AND, prices were very reasonable. The staff couldn't have been nicer. If we were San Franciscans, we'd be eating here a lot!

It’s not a typical Goan restaurant so we thought of trying some vegetarian dishes and we were not disappointed. A value for money restaurant in the heart of SFO

The waiters were very nice and friendly. We had lunch here. The food was fresh and tasty. And all for a good price.

Dined here one night while on holiday in San Francisco , the food was very good I really enjoyed it and was not that expensive by San Francisco standards I would say . I would recommend this restaurant to all .

In San Francisco for a short visit and meeting a friend for dinner. Friend is a local and suggested Viva Goa. We ordered take out and pick up was easy. Our friend ordered the Chicken Tikka Masala and said it was excellent and always is. I ordered the Matter Paneer and thought the spice levels and flavors were just right. My partner ordered the Channa Masala and was impressed with the flavors. Great Indian food, would recommend.

It is a hotel offering Indian cuisine but seems to have attracted a lot of local people. The food is tasty and not spicy. Goan fish curry and vindaloo chicken taste awesome. They also provide tasty and healthy raithas-sort of pickles to help digestion. The buffet price at about $14 is very reasonable for the nice and selective spread. Good variety of beers add to the pleasure. Service is quick and efficient. Try parking the car on the road any where near the hotel and walk the distance to the hotel

In my travels and sojourn through Asia, I have become rather familiar with the varying cuisines. In India, for instance, there was a distinct difference between Indian cuisine and Goan cuisine. The latter cuisine, it appears, took the Indian cuisine a step further by adding unique hand ground spices, coconut vinegar and coconut milk (thanks to the Portuguese influence) resulting in an altogether original cuisine. Viva Goa restaurant, having opted for that name, ought to have focussed wholly on providing traditional Goan dishes instead of conflicting the menu with Indian dishes. There are plentiful Indian restaurants which are more qualified in serving savory Indian specialty dishes to their customers. Another comment: Don't ever expect to savor the same mouth watering dish created in the country of origin and replicated elsewhere. It doesn't work that way. Therefore, expect the expected disappointment. If you crave for true Goan dishes, book a flight to Goa. Additionally, we live in an age where demand exceeds natural production. If some reviewers are bitter about the curries served here that appear to have no coconut milk incorprated, guess what? Who in this day and age has the time to grate a coconut and extract the milk to favor you with a curry made with authentic coconut milk? As for the ready made coconut milk which comes in cans, do the math. Most of the canned coconut milk comes from Thailand, and these too by the millions. How many coconut trees are there in Thailand to feed the world's demand for coconut milk? The result? You guessed it: synthetic coconut milk which make most curries at restaurants taste like they were not made with coconut milk.

Definitely a come-back place. Three of us shared Fish Ambot Tik (a "spicy and sour" Goan dish), Chicken Vindaloo, and Lamb Saag. Accompaniments: onion naan and garlic naan, and basmati rice. Each dish was unique and delicious, with lively spicing and plenty of sauce to sop up with naan. The naan was made in the tandoori oven and was beautifully crisped and hot - much better than any other Indian restaurant I have eaten in (and there have been many). The service was attentive, friendly and unobtrusive. The restaurant has a neighborhood feel, not overly upscale but nicely decorated and quiet. I highly recommend it.

Great Restaurant with a very simple decor and yet the aroma and the smell of the spices as you enter will make you drool to taste every dish. Great wine selection..reasonable prices and the service was very attentive...will be back.

We love this place. We enjoyed it on Mother's Day...The place was very busy, quality food is at top notch compared to some Indian restaurant we have been to. Seafood Biryani is well balanced and delicious. Hot Garlic Naans with spinach and Okra were great too.Love it

Good food, good service and good value. We prefer to dine different venues but this pulled us back the next evening for the reasons stated and pure conveniece

We were very impressed with the simplicity of the place and were very satisfied with our meals, Party of 6 and each of us ordered different entries and appetizer to share. It was great and well presented plates. The butter chicken and fish Masala were on the top of the list. There is no better place like Viva Goa in the Entire Bay Area.Period.

We are from India and loved the food at this place; we ordered pakoras, palak paneer, mattar paneer, biryani and naans. Every item was excellent -- pakoras were tasty, palak paneer not too creamy; mattar paneer not to watery, just perfect; biryani well spiced and naans were good. Attentive staff, efficient service and good ambience. Highly recommend.

The food here was pretty decent. Being from UK, it was slightly different to what we get home but tasty all the same. The staff were extremely attentive and polite and the price was reasonable too. The only criticism i'd have is that the decor was very old fashioned and dingy. Other than that, well worth a stop off.

This restaurant was located almost next door to the Super 8 where we stayed for a couple of nights. We visited the first night because we were too tired to look for anything else. We came back the second night because the food was so good. The menu provides a broad range of meat, chicken and seafood meals. All appear to be reasonably priced and the ones we ate were delicious. The wine list is reasonable in terms of coverage and price. My favourite meal was the Biryani.

I looked for a restaurant close to our hotel and thought this looked interesting we have never tried Indian food in the USA before and my husband was very sceptical. It was very good, we had Goan lamb masala, chicken saag, allo Gobi, basmati rice, raita, naan bread and papadums, the spice was not too mild or too hot. A thoroughly enjoyable experience and reasonably priced.

We visited this restaurant to taste some authentic home style dishes from Goa. The food was great. Service was also very courteous especially since we landed at the restaurant about 15 min prior to closing. If you do go here, try the pork sorpotel. This is by far the best preparation I have had in a restaurant.

I'm one of those terrible San Franciscans who has a hard time taking anything on that ugly stretch of Lombard seriously. Well, that attitude is a big mistake when it comes to Viva Goa (and everything else, bad me). It's pretty subtle, but Viva Goa gives you a slightly different take on Indian food. The Portuguese influence from Goa does come through. That said, our favorite dish was the traditional tandoori fish. The fish was crisp on the outside but still tender and moist inside and cooked with wonderful spices. Yummy. Oh, and another difference from most Indian restaurants -- sizable portions. You won't leave here hungry.

I'm not a tremendous fan of Indian food, but when Bloomspot offered a nice deal for Via Goa, I thought it might be fun to try the Goan variation. My wife and I ordered the Goan specialties including one with organ meets that was described as a delicacy. I was concerned whether I'd like this, but I'm adventurous and wow was it wonderful. I just wish the restaurant was easier for us to get to on public transportation from where we live in San Francisco.

For an indian buffet it was nice for the price. Most buffets/all you can eat at this price are low quality but this was surprisingly good for the price. The staff were nice and attentive and the food was good. Not the greatest Indian I have ever had in my life but definitely not the worst. There was a decent selection, they refreshed it when necessary, hygiene within the restaurant seemed quite good. Complimentary naan and endless water refills. Some options were delicious but some options lacked those extra spices which really makes or breaks good Indian food. But hey if your in the neighbourhood and want to satisfy a major appetite at a reasonable price... this place should do it.

Reasonably priced for the area, good food quality, and very tasty though not spicy. Preferred items included butter naan, tandoori chicken and a Portuguese style fish. Rice pudding dessert was also very pleasant after the meal.

If you're looking for delicious Indian food in San Francisco, this is your place. The buffet lunch is wonderful and a great value. Everything on the steam table is freshly prepared and the offerings range from salads to desserts, with a nice compliment of chutneys and pickles. The tandoori chicken is scrumptious, as is the fish. The vegetable dishes are perfectly prepared, from spinach to chickpeas. Leave room for a few dollops of mango pudding for dessert.

We order 1 main dish and biriyani with a glass one wine which comes around $50 They food taste is good however the place is little warm which looks like the AC was not properly working. We didn't get goat meat here though its written in the menu. Its on Lombart street so the place is very safe they also do home delivery if its within 2/3 miles from the location. Opens till 9:30 pm

Lovely decor, friendly service. Offers lunch buffet. Prices reasonable. Food OK, but not anything special.

I cannot recommend this restaurant more! I had originally found it on a SF Dining website while I search of something new near the Presidio, and Taste of the Himalayas fit the bill. It's just a short walk down Lombard from the Lombard Gate to the Presidio. A small, quaint restaurant with an awesome vibe! Traditional Nepali music plays while you dine, and you feel as though you have been transported away from the hustle and bustle of the city outside. As the previous reviewer stated, the owner is definitely one of the nicest people in the world! As my fiance and I were unfamiliar with Nepali cuisine, he personally explained every dish available on the buffet line. He filled us not only with delicious food, but also with tales of Nepal and inquired about us while we ate, but without being intrusive or keeping us from enjoying our meal or our own conversations. No to mention, they were very reasonably priced! We will definitely be eating here on our next visit into the city!

I AM GOAN! Born in Dar-es-Salaam. My dad's from Mapusa, Goa. My mom, from Margao, Goa. Those are my Credentials. I live in Glendale, which is a part of L.A. County. Goan Restaurants DO NOT exist in L.A. I happened upon Viva Goa! roughly 5 years ago while in S.F. I now take my family to Frisco just to eat GOAN FOOD at Viva Goa! Alcatraz can wait! Don't waste your time eating 'regular' Indian food while dining at Viva Goa! Get that elsewhere. Drink Kingfisher Beer. Drink Taj Mahal Beer. Listen to GOAN Music! EAT GOAN FOOD: Fish Cutlets, Beef Chops, Beef Samosas (with Lemon Juice Squeezed on them, Goan Style), GOA SAUSAGE, Goan Seafood Biryani, Fried Masala Fish, Goan Fish Curry, Goan Shrimp Curry, Goan Chicken Curry, Beef Chili Fry. Pork Sorpotel. Fish Ambot Tik. Chicken Xacutti. For dessert, Bebinca

I am rather bemused, having read a string of good reviews for this establishment, as it provided us with the worst meal in our two week tour of a State where the cuisine is generally of the highest standard; without wanting to sound pretentious, I can only assume that the other reviewers do not know what good Indian food tastes like! We live in the English Midlands, where thriving Indian communities make us very aware of their superb cuisine - and the Viva Goa goes not serve good Indian food! The sauces were sloppy and generic, not made-to-measure with fresh herbs and spices. And the naan bread was terrible, dry, stale and with little attempt to invigorate with a decent peshwari covering. Surely there must be much, much better Indian restaurants in SF? Or perhaps they need to come to Leicestershire for some training!!!

Good selection of well cooked Indian cuisine. Staff very attentive. Prices are reasonable although a tip is always extra and is expected. We went twice to this restaurant while on a short trip to San Francisco.

We had the buffet on sun. Good food...very good service....only con is the limited choices...........

I can't understand the previous review as this was honestly the best Indian dinner I have ever had!! Now I get taken to lots of Indians with my husband, and we spend 3 months in southern, so I am fussy. We went here both nights that we were staying both times same lovely fresh Indian food, very friendly staff, traditional atmosphere and good value, go!!

Tried both the Lunch Buffet and dinner Ala Carte menu food was flavorful and authentic Indian food. Had a good variety of vegetarian options as well. I highly recommend the place.

Very friendly staff and excellent service Karachi chicken had amazing flavour and spice, brown rice and garlic naan - Lamb rogan josh was very flavoursome with white rice and roti bread. Would recommend if you are around the area.

Viva Goa was such a quaint and lovely little Indian restaurant. We were looked after so well. Our waiter learnt we were Kiwis and joked with us and was so accommodating! The food came out promptly and was so delicious! Such a great location and prices too. I would definitely eat here again. YUM!

authentic indian food, a few Goan delicacies, no one can miss "aam-ras". value for money. In proximity of the Golden Gate bridge.

We went here as it was very close to our hotel. The food was lovely and a really good price for Indian food, which can be expensive. The staff were very welcoming and gave a great service.

My friends and I were very excited to try this cuisine but was dissappointed (will NEVER come back) - We waited about 1hour for our order! Overall bad experience

Visited this restaurant twice on a recent trip to SF. The food was really lovely and the staff were very attentive. Special mention for the Chicken Tikka , the kids couldn't get enough of it!

Sorry but our experience wasn't great. The food was only average but at least it was hot, Our starter came out smothered in white pepper which made it hard to eat. The mains were ok but nothing to make us want to go back i'm afraid. Can't put my finger on why - it just lacked something The worst about this place was the awful plinky plonk style music they played. It belonged in a German cafe not an Indian restaurant and it was very strange indeed.

Love their fresh selection and topping it with attentive service.. Chicken Tikka Masala is outstanding, Okra and Onion Naan are very delicious. Thank you Viva Goa, we will be back.

We went here on our recent trip to San Fran and the food was gorgeous , it was not to busy the night we were there so we could have a nice conversation over some good food

Its not all about goan cuisines but also different indian cuisine. Overall some good food place. Staff is nice and friendly

We were in San Francisco recently and on the last evening of our visit, we discovered this restaurant by sheer coincidence. We are from Goa, India and hence the name of the restaurant played the role of a magnet to all of us. And trust me, it proved to be indeed a good magnet. The food was typically Goan { Goa is a very lively state in India, full of fun, frolic and beaches and it also thrives on tourism } We ordered a variety of food. Their stuffed pomphret { a Goan delicacy } was extremely good. The Goan fish curry was equivalent to the similar curry that one could have in one of the top restaurants on the famous Goan beaches. A little more effort in selecting the rotis { Indian bread }would go a long way in fulfilling the palate of a good fish eater. Also, some good desserts would complete the meal and make it more heavenly. Kudos to the management. Keep up the Goan Indian gastronomical flag fluttering high on the beautiful bay of San Francisco.

I guess I'm your average ignorant American who makes no distinction between Goan food and other Indian food. I didn't notice the part of the menu with Goan seafood specialties, and the waiter didn't say anything about it, so I just got the same stuff I usually get: Aloo gobhi, matter paneer, samosas, that sort of thing. Food was pretty standard, perfectly good but nothing to write home about. I give extra points, though, for the very friendly and attentive service. When our matter paneer came out, it had a garnish of slivered almonds in it (which was not mentioned in the menu); my girlfriend is highly allergic to tree nuts, and they took it back and quickly made a whole new batch. They were extremely nice about it and kept checking back to make sure everything was good. We left full and happy. If for some strange reason I stay in that neighborhood again, I would definitely go back.

Dropped in for dinner after a Google search, warm welcome by friendly if somewhat shy staff, my husband and I tried a couple of dishes we didn't recognise from Australian Indian restaurants. We were asked what spice level we liked and they were pretty close to the mark (could have been a bit spicier). Overall a nice restaurant, good food and good service.

We came across this restaurant while taking a stroll in San Francisco, and the gamble paid off! There were 3 of us in the dining party. We ordered 3 entrees and 3 appetizers: each delicious and flavorful. Tandoori chicken was juicy, and was a particularly generous portion. Lamb Vindaloo and Aloo Gobi had us licking our fingers. Staff was attentive and friendly. The whole experience was a delight.

Used to be frequently in this neighborhood but never stopped in this restaurant. My loss! The place is fantastic. Some of the best Indian food I have ever had. The family also loved their selections and for San Francisco this was not a bad price either. The service was friendly and prompt.

Service is the best part. The host sings Nepalese songs for the guests.

The staff was friendly and very helpfull. The food was fantastic - very tasty indian food!. One of the best restaurants we have ever tried.

I was very disappointed in this restaurant. Some co-workers had gone a few months ago and liked it. However, I'm sorry to say that my meal was not good at all. I ordered the buffet "all you can eat" lunch and I didn't go back for seconds for anything for a simple reason: everything (aside from the naan bread the waiter served) was COLD. I don't know if there was a problem with the heating unit on the steam table or what, but nothing was even lukewarm. Blech. Also, aside from tandoori chicken and one chicken curry dish, everything else was vegetarian. I do not plan to go there again -- too bad.

This hole-in-the-wall, seedy dump of a restaurant is one of the reasons why I love San Francisco. It's very difficult to find Nepalese cuisine and it's one of the cuisines that we don't have back home in New York City. This blend of Indian and Tibetan cooking is excellent. My partner and I went for the lunch buffet and I could not stop eating. The owner was the nicest person I met in the city. Truly a memorable dining experience. I can't wait to go back. Nothing to offer as far as atmosphere but, in this case, who cares!?

While the restaurant has many traditional dishes from all over India, it's the on specialties that are worth trying because they are not available at every other Indian restaurant. Viva Goa has regional cuisine, and it is delicious, with different spices and ingredients. The chicken xacutti was so tender and wonderful as was the vegetable caldin, and the naan was very light and buttery. The dal fry was delicious too.