San Francisco's 5 favorite spots to find affordable Indian food

San Francisco's 5 favorite spots to find affordable Indian foodLahore Karahi. | Photo: Ann S./Yelp
Hoodline
Published on August 20, 2019

Looking to satisfy your appetite for Indian fare — and your budget?

Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the best affordable Indian restaurants around San Francisco, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of the best spots to meet your needs.

1. Lahore Karahi

Photo: ann s./Yelp

Topping the list is Lahore Karahi. Located at 612 O'Farrell St. (between Harlem Alley and Leavenworth Street) in the Tenderloin, the Indian and Pakistani spot is the most popular budget-friendly Indian restaurant in San Francisco, boasting four stars out of 1,398 reviews on Yelp.

The eatery offers many cheap options, with most of the menu priced under $10. Try out the popular tandoori fish, a classic curry or a vegetarian specialty like bindi masala (okra cooked with spices and herbs).

2. Curry Up Now Food Truck

Photo: Curry Up now food truck/Yelp

Next up is the Financial District outpost of food truck Curry Up Now, situated at 225 Bush St. (between Sansome Street and Treasury Place). With four stars out of 928 reviews on Yelp, the mobile eatery has proven to be a local favorite for those looking for a low-priced option.

At this fusion-forward food truck, Yelpers praise options like the Naughty Naan (topped with mozzarella, caramelized onions, shaved jalapeño and a choice of protein), the deconstructed paneer samosa (garbanzo beans, pico and chutney dressed with mini samosas and either chicken paneer or lamb) and the Sexy ries (cross-cut sweet potato fries, cheese topped with chicken tikka masala or paneer tikka masala). 

The 225 Bush St. truck can be found every weekday from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. To locate Curry Up Now's other trucks, visit their online calendar. 

3. Raavi

Photo: raavi/Yelp

Chinatown's Raavi, located at 533 Jackson St. (between Kearny Street and Columbus Avenue), is another top choice, with Yelpers giving the affordable Indian eatery four stars out of 468 reviews.

According to the business's website, Raavi aims to "bring the best in Northern Indian cuisine with a modern twist." On the menu, look for budget-friendly favorites like chicken vindaloo (chicken cooked with hot spices and vinegar), lamb tikka masala (lamb cooked in a creamy tomato-based sauce) and daal saag (yellow lentils with spinach). 

4. Bini's Kitchen

Photo: giulio c./Yelp

For a taste of Nepalese cuisine, which has many Indian influences, head to Bini's Kitchen, a FiDi food stand with four stars out of 201 Yelp reviews. It's located at 1 Post Plaza (between Lick Place and Montgomery Street), with a second brick-and-mortar outpost at 1001 Howard St. (at Sixth Street) in SoMa.

This lunch spot offers a small menu centered on curries, momos (Nepalese dumplings served with a spicy tomato sauce), Nepalese-style chili and a chicken curry burritos. Beverage options include chai and a mango lassi. 

5. Chanvi Eatery

Photo: cherylynn n./Yelp

Finally, check out Chanvi Eatery, which has earned four stars out of 187 reviews on Yelp for its location at 1063 Market St. (between Golden Gate Avenue and Taylor Street).

Popular cheap eats here include the chicken curry (chicken cooked in onion-based gravy with Indian spices), palak paneer (spinach and cottage cheese) and vegetable biryani (slow-cooked vegetables with basmati rice). Check out the rest of the menu here. 


This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.