Indian Buffets in San Francisco

Indian lunch buffets at $5.95-$7.95

There are a growing number of Indian restaurants in San Francisco, and they compete fiercely with one another. One means of competing is the offering of lunch buffets – i.e., all-you-can-eat – with as many as 20 different food items, e.g., meat and lamb dishes, vegetarian dishes, nan-bread, salads etc.

If sampling one of these buffets inspires a visit to an Indian restaurant for dinner, here are a few ways to keep the price affordable. Each Wednesday edition of the S.F. Bay Guardian or S.F. Weekly – both available free all over the City – carry ads of several Indian restaurants who offer discounts or 2-for-1 dinners, i.e., buy one entree and get one free. These are great values.

The Gusto Rewards Card – which offers a 25% discount on the food — includes 9 Indian restaurants, from low–to high-priced ones. The Gusto Rewards Card is free to subscribers of the S.F. Chronicle, but can also be purchased by others for an annual fee (info, call 1-877–944-8786). Some restaurants also have take-out menus that advertise discounts.

India Palace
1740 Fillmore St (Post), 567-7789
Lunch buffet $6.95, 7 days, dinner 11am-10:30pm.
A small, cozy restaurant that serves first-class Indian food
click for full review with pictures

Tandoori
869 Geary St (Larkin/Hyde), 345-1011.
Lunch buffet $5.95, 11:30am-3:30pm, 7 days, dinner 5-11:30pm.
A simple restaurant that specializes in Tandoori dishes.
click for full review with pictures

Star India
2127 Polk St (Broadway), 292-6699
Buffet lunch $6.95, 11:30am-3pm, 7 days, dinner 5-11pm.
A typical Indian restaurant with Indian decor.
click for full review with pictures

Gaylord
1 Embarcadero Center, 397-7775
The buffet is sumptuous in its choice of North Indian delicacies.
click for full review with pictures

Two low-priced, high-quality Indian restaurants without buffets

Nan n' Curry
478 O’Farrrell (Jones), 775-1349
Indian and Pakistani cuisine, noon to midnight, 7 days.

The menu includes: nan stuffed with potato $1.99, nan stuffed with ground beef $2.99, plain nan layered with butter $1, roasted eggplant with onions, tomato, spices $3.99, lamb with bitter lemon $5.99, skewered ground beef cooked in a clay oven $7.99, rice pudding $1.99.

These prices can’t be beat, and the food is first-class.

Shalimar
532 Jones St (Geary/O’Farrell), 928-0333
Lunch, noon-2:30pm, dinner 5:30-11:30pm.

The menu includes: chick peas in red sauce & butter $3.95, eggplant, onions & tomatoes $3.95, tandoori beef cubes $6.95, tandoori lamb chops $7.95, chicken korma $4.95, Indian rice pudding $2.

More Indian restaurants with lunch buffets

India Garden
1261 Folsom St (8th/9th Aves), 626-2798
11:30am-2:30pm, 7 days, $7.95.

Tandoori Mahal
941 Kearny St (Columbus Ave), 951-0505
11:30am-2:30pm, 7 days., $7.95.

India Clay Oven
2435 Clement St (26 Ave), 751-0505
11:30am-2:30pm, 7 days, $6.95.

Bombay
2217 Market St, 861-6655
noon to 3pm, 7 days, $6.95.

Great India
6127 Geary Blvd (25/26 Aves) 751-4433
11:30am-3pm, 7 days, $5.95.

Raja
500 Haight St (Fillmore), 255-6000
11:30am-2:30pm, 7 days, $7.95.

Star India
3721 Geary Blvd (Arguello), 6669-4466
11am-4pm, 7 days, $6.95.

India Curry House
441-8855, 1040 Columbus Ave (Chestnut St)
11:30am-2:30pm, 7 days, $5.95.