A restaurant serving cuisine from India's Seven Sister States has opened its doors in downtown Sunnyvale, marking what is being described as the Bay Area's first dedicated Northeast Indian dining spot. Khaar sits at 193 S. Murphy Ave., in a space that formerly housed The Oxford Kitchen & Gastropub, and it's the creation of chef Nandana Hazarika, who traded software engineering for the kitchen after nearly two decades in tech.
According to Palo Alto Online, Hazarika was born in Assam and has lived in the Bay Area for almost 18 years, working as a software engineer and data analyst before enrolling in culinary school. She interned at The Oxford Kitchen & Gastropub before eventually taking over its Sunnyvale space to open Khaar. Separately, she auditioned for MasterChef India in 2022 but was cut before filming began, a detour that didn't stop her from pursuing a culinary career.
Khaar opened on Murphy Avenue on August 14, followed by a grand opening on September 12, and the restaurant now seats 135 people inside with additional outdoor seating, per the same account. Khaar's own founding account names Hazarika and entrepreneur Biswajit Lahon as its founders and says Hazarika left a 17-year corporate engineering career.
What's on the Menu at Khaar
The restaurant's name comes from “khaar khuwa axomiya,” literally meaning “the Khaar-eating Assamese people” and used to describe a native person from Assam; Khaar itself is an alkaline extract made by burning sun-dried banana peels and filtering water through the ashes, the article notes. Khaar uses Assamese alkaline rice, and the kitchen leans on ingredients over heavy spices, creams, or dairy — a philosophy Hazarika has said defines Northeast Indian cooking generally.
Signature dishes include a khaar croquette filled with flaky fish and fermented mushroom for $18, a bamboo blaze with fried chicken wings, lotus stems, tofu or paneer, and a black sesame heritage plate of slow-cooked chicken or pork with sticky rice for $29. The chef's special golden blossom, stuffed squash blossoms served with cracked wheat pulao, runs $32. Desserts range from $7.49 to $13 and include chilled mango tapioca, black sesame cheesecake, black rice pudding, and Assam tea creme brulee, the report states.
Beyond the dinner menu detailed by Palo Alto Online, Khaar also pairs traditional Assamese staples with fusion dishes such as duck confit curry with ash gourd, lobster with smoked Naga chili butter, and a Naga smoked chili cauliflower steak, alongside a mango pani puri starter. Much of Northeast Indian food is naturally gluten-free and dairy-free, emphasizing rice-based grains, meat, and fish, and Khaar offers vegetarian and vegan options alongside a full bar with mocktails priced at $11 and cocktails at $15. Wine by the glass runs $10 to $20, bottles run $42 to $76 from a California-focused list, and draft beer costs $10 per pint or $6 per half-pint.
A Cuisine Rarely Seen Stateside
Khaar specializes in cuisine from the Seven Sister States, the cluster of seven contiguous northeastern Indian states, and the food draws influences from Nepal, Myanmar, and China. The style relies on ingredients like black sesame, fermented mustard, mustard oil, and fermented bamboo shoot rather than the North Indian curries or South Indian dosas that have long dominated the region's Indian food scene, per Palo Alto Online's reporting.
Northeast Indian food remains relatively unfamiliar to many diners, while Tribal Gourmet has held pop-ups featuring the cuisine, as The NE Stories reports. Hazarika has said she hopes Khaar will introduce people to Northeast Indian flavors and expects restaurants like hers to become more prevalent nationwide.
Murphy Avenue's Growing Food Scene
Khaar joins Murphy Avenue's downtown Sunnyvale dining scene.
Hours and Lunch Service
Khaar is open Sunday and Tuesday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Following its August soft opening and September 12 grand opening, the restaurant has added midday service. Diners can reach the restaurant directly at 408-212-4704.
