We have a couple of Indian restaurants closer to us that we like, but we ventured out a little further this time. We were having dinner with a friend that eats Halal food and Bismillah popped up on Yelpas a good option. Being the uncultured person I am, the only reference to Bismillah that I knew of was from Bohemian Rapsody, so I had Queen running around in my head for the week leading up to this dinner. We walk in on a Friday night, the lights are off, there are no customers, and an older gentleman greets us at the register. It's not the most welcoming environment, but we are hungry, so we order our food and grab a window side table lit by the setting sun. Two modifications to our order - they ran out of mango lassi , and when I asked for Raita, the gentleman recommended the chutney instead. Also, no tap water, but you can buy bottled water. Turns out the guy behind the counter is the chef and waiter as well. We ordered Chicken Tandoori (leg), Lamb Biryani, Palak Paneer, Chicken Karahi, and Chicken Tikka Masala for our entrees. My favorites: Chicken Tandoori - nice char, flavorful and tender Chicken Karahi - kind of like a hearty chicken stew Onion kulcha and Roghni (sesame) naan - the garlic naan was actually a bit disappointing (on the dry side). So when we ordered more naan, we tried the other varieties and liked them better. Pricing was very reasonable. read more

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Do not pass this up. I cannot find a comparable place that makes mixed veggies or tikka masala as they do. Honestly, I've gone as far as Sacramento and none hits like home like Bismillah. We are a frequent for many years. In the early 2000's when they first opened. Of course it's changed a lot in dining styles but the quality and service the same since day one. Same order every time, mixed vegetables, chicken tikki masala, rice, one plain and one garlic naan. This can feed four females, two teens and two adults. Plenty of parking in the plaza. There is a discounted rate of you use cash. read more

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Sad to Share - It's their Last Day To-Day !!! Apparently a Different Type Cuisine have ' purchased the Eatery. Maybe American - Continental (?). Am ' unsure of the Details !!!! Bottomline : "" Very Last Day to Step-In & Grab Chef Salim's Downhome Desi Punjabi Cuisine !!! U may wanna call to check / order your favorite dish dere first !!! Chef Salim ! U will be 'sorely missed ' - For Your Wonderful Curries, Grills & Nan Breads + Killer Chai Tea !!!!! "" Last but Not Least "" ...... Mucho GRACIAS 4 all the Incredible Meals over the past decade +. Remain Blessed Chef Salim !!!!! Hard to believe !!! What an "Incredible Sppt "" !!! """ MAGIC HANDS CUISINE """ !!!! read more

Tried this place on a whim while I was working down the street. The owner was very nice. The prices were fantastic so I brought home two entrées for my wife and I to enjoy for lunch. The Bhuna Gosht was FANTASTIC with the boneless lamb, one of the best Indian dishes I've ever had. Too bad the restaurant is not in my own neighborhood. I will be stopping in every time I pass through this part of the bay. See you Sunday! read more

This food was so good like every bite I took was goodness. The garlic naan oh don't let me get started that was bomb. And the chicken tiki Marsala almost made me buss out my clothing it was so good. 10/10 I really do recommend read more

Bismillah Restaurant - Indian Near Me - San Pablo, California

My husband says, in the style of Queen: "Bismillah, no! We will not let you go!" We stopped here on the way home from fishing, there's a counter you order at and then you sit down and they bring the food to you. There was only one guy working, and the chai tea thing was broken so it didn't heat. We got butter chicken and Shahi paneer and some garlic naan. I heard a microwave while our food was being prepared, so I'm not thinking it was fresh. The sauce was thin, watery even, and there were only a few pieces of meat or cheese in each, but it was reasonably spicy and flavorful, not the best, but not the worst I've had either. There was no salt to be found either. My husband has even stronger opinions about the food, he said the one positive was that he didn't overeat. The bathroom was out of paper towels and TP and only one was working, the soap was also watered down. All in all, it was meh at best for me, husband says worst ever for him. The second star is awarded for making me realize how good I have it in Sacramento. read more

I've been coming to this restaurant for about 5 years. The food is always fresh and amazing. Service is always perfect. The owner is very easy to deal with and gives great recommendations on what to eat! The restaurant is pleasant to sit and dine in, lighting is low which I like. Ample parking in the shopping center ! Definitely a San Pablo staple! read more

Absolutely the best Indian restaurant around! The owner will be changing locations so keep an eye out for the new restaurant opening soon! This place you don't want to miss out on! The owner cares about his customers experience! read more

Unfortunately, my experience wasn't great--though I truly wish it had been. The owner was warm and welcoming, and the pricing is very reasonable. I ordered the Masala Special, which included Tikka Masala, rice, and naan. Unfortunately, the dish didn't meet expectations. The chicken appeared to be made from old tandoori, the sauce was thin and spicier than expected, and the rice had been reheated--there was visible water pooling in the to-go container. The naan was undercooked and doughy, and overall the meal lacked freshness. I was also disappointed to see that samosas weren't offered, which feels like a big miss. I tried to order a mango lassi listed on the menu but was told it wasn't available. Unless the place undergoes a revamp--both in the kitchen and on the menu--I likely wouldn't return. That said, I genuinely hope this business succeeds. read more

I been coming here for 5 years and the chicken Tikka Marsala is the best I always get it spicy and the garlic naan bread ! I love it.

They guy that works there is an amazing hard worker. Food is flavorful and vibrant. Lamb vindaloo and butter chicken are my go-to's. The interior is a little dark and run down but has nothing to do with how delicious the food was. read more

Food: 2/5 There is a lot of dining area inside, I noticed it was empty but decided to take a chance. I took a seat and ordered chicken boti kabob, palak paneer, and onion kulcha. The gentlemen there seemed to be working alone who took my order. I asked for water which he replied with bottled water only is available, I requested for the chicken to be spicy. 15-20 minutes later, he brought the food. The item brought to us was incorrect, chicken seekh kabob instead of boti. I pointed this out, and he seemed to not understand what I was saying. He did not offer to bring the correct item until I asked three times, he mentioned it would be another 15 minutes wait, which I was okay with. When the chicken was finally brought out it was burnt. I pointed this out as well along with it tasting incredibly dry and chewy, not spicy at all. The server/cook replied with "that's just how it is" in Hindi. I drizzled the chutney available onto the chicken to try to counteract the dryness and lack of flavor but it was also very watery and bland. Service: 2/5 I felt overall this was very poor customer service. Not sure if the place is seriously understaffed, it's the language barrier, or some other factor as well because I saw plenty of good reviews from a few years ago. I had to ask multiple times for every thing and somehow still there were errors and no apology or resolution. Ambiance: 2/5 Inside was very quiet, empty, the entire time I was there I did not see anyone come in or order. The plate which had the palak panner on it was incredibly dirty/stained, the restaurant itself seemed unsanitary and like it had not been cleaned recently. I would not want to dine here again. read more

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Dear Owner, My message is solely for improvement. Please pay attention to your business. Customers give their time and hard earn money expecting to receive if not top class but just a decent experience. Just another horrible desi try.. we reached mid afternoon around 2pm. First we asked for Nahari they were out, then we checked haleem they were out then we asked for pulao they were out. We ordered kadhai, seekh kabab, so called biryani.Food below average. Service was fast because everything was microwaved other than nans (hence 1 star).. Don't even getting me started on the ambiance and cleanliness. They are serving food in melamine ware that's getting use for repetitive microwaving that you can easily see in the plates food was served. Super dirty, unhygienic, unequipped restrooms. My words can't do justice hence attaching pictures. YOUR BUSINESS NEEDS YOUR ATTENTION. STOP PLAYING WITH CUSTOMERS HEALTH AND HYGINE. read more

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When we walked in it was very quiet and dark, but we didn't let it deter us. The gentleman behind the counter was very attentive and helped us through the menu and ordering. He then turned around and began doing all of the cooking and served us in a timely manner. Thank you for sharing your story with me and my friend. Let's all do our part to support local businesses and keep longstanding restaurants in service! read more

THE BEST!!! Alhamdulillah!! Great service! Good food. Clean environment. It's a winner for sure! read more

Bismillah Restaurant - Lamb biryani, palak paneer, garlic naan. - Indian Near Me - San Pablo, California

My favorite Indian food around town! So flavorful. My go to is Chicken Tikka Masala and the mixed veggies. The gentleman who I think may be the owner is so sweet and always remembers me as well, great customer service! read more

I was craving Indian food and decided to stop by Bismillah's. I ordered the chicken biryani, chicken tikka masala and naan bread. Everything was very delicious. Chicken biryani: 4/5 This dish gives you such a generous amount of rice. It was freshly made and delicious. Chicken tikka masala: 2/5.... They definitely skimped on the chicken for this dish. The container was packed with masala sauce but there was only a few chopped up pieces of chicken breast. If you look at the picture, you can clearly see that the container looks like it has soup instead of a chicken dish. I wouldn't necessarily say it was worth the money because I have tried chicken tikka masala at other Indian restaurants that gives you a good portion of meat for the same price or cheaper. But the sauce was good and flavor was there. Naan bread: 4/5 I tried the garlic naan bread and it was very good. I would recommend that you try the green sauce. It goes good with the food and is so flavorful. Atmosphere: Located in a busy business food and shopping center. Parking is limited sometimes. Overall: I would say that my experience would be a 3/5 stars. read more

Bismillah Restaurant - Chicken biryani, chicken tikka masala and garlic naan bread - Indian Near Me - San Pablo, California

Food is good. Owners hospitality is good. Quiet and peaceful. Parking is easy. Owner let you pray Salah in restaurant. read more

Bismillah Restaurant - Chicken sekh kebab, garlic naan, palao - Indian Near Me - San Pablo, California

Food is delicious just wish I saw more hand washing after taking my money before cooking my food! I be taking chances for them lentils, yum!

I ordered a few items for a small birthday party and I was extremely pleased at the quality and tastiness of the food. My guest really raved about the grilled chicken boti kebab. It was soft and juicy with a nice smokiness. I also ordered channa masala and aloo palak. The channa was very fragrant and tasty and the chickpeas melted in your mouth. Another dish that people raved about was the aloo palak. Somehing so deceptively simple as spinach was transformed into a delicious and wholesome spiced spinach dish that complemented the soft and fluffy naan perfectly. I definitely plan on ordering more food from Salim in the future. read more

Mr. Salim provides excellent customer service and prepares high-quality, delicious meals. The ambiance is very relaxing and peaceful. Mike read more

Mashaalah... Good Chicken Sekh Kabob tender and tast was good with a good Tandory bread I recommend this place is better then Shalimar. In Shalimar 3 out of 5 times went there left disappointed till I decide not to go there at all . Bismillah Restaurant made me happier. Will come back again. read more

Bismillah Restaurant - #4 Chicken Seekh Kabab and bread - Indian Near Me - San Pablo, California

I forgot to take pictures before digging in to eat so the pictures don't do it justice. It was delicious! My daughter had Chicken Korma (not poctured), and it was just as delightful. I would be a regular if I lived in the Bay Area. The service was great and very friendly. They offer free complimentary tea! :) The prices were very inexpensive for the quality, especially compared to similar restaurants in California. read more

Bismillah Restaurant - #10 Garlic Naan The best nann I have ever had in my life! - Indian Near Me - San Pablo, California

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Bismillah Restaurant has the BEST Indian food in all of San Pablo. The food is consistently fresh, flavorful, and made with care. I always leave full and satisfied, the baingan bharta and chicken tikka are must-haves, and the naan is perfect every time. The service is friendly and fast, and the vibe inside is clean, calm, and welcoming. Whether you're grabbing takeout or eating in, they never miss. If you're craving solid, comforting desi food, this place should be at the top of your list. read more

I absolutely love this place. The gentleman that helped me and prepared my food seemed like a very kind and genuine human. The palaak Aloo was delicious! As was the garlic naan! I have to also mention that the complementary CHAI WAS DEVINE!!!! I had three cups! Not because it was free haha! it was just so good and homey. Anyway, I highly recommend this joint! It's not Poppin in there when you enter, but it's peaceful and delicious. Amen! ya' ll have a beautiful week!!! read more

Absolute lovely establishment great food calm and beautiful atmosphere will continue to come here for the rest of my days family oriented business that shares love thru food to their community read more

Y'all just know you wrong. I ordered Paneer Masala and Garlic Naan from this spot and was beyond disappointed. The Paneer Masala was gritty and devoid of flavor save an off-putting aftertaste, and I have no idea where the garlic was supposed to be in that naan, but as far as I could tell, it was just thick, underwhelming bread--and there are few things worse than underwhelming bread. Except maybe an entire underwhelming meal that you've spent your hard-earned coins on in a moment of weakness. Bismillah, if this naan is the kind of dough you churn out, you won't be getting any of mine. And if this Paneer Masala is the best you can do, you need to go back to the drawing board and try a little harder. read more

Everytime I'm around San Pablo area this is my favorite place to go. Food is great and peaceful ambience.

WONDERFUL place for Pakistani and Indian food! Very authentic and affordable. Friendly service. Large enough to bring your family or a group of friends. They cater, too! read more

Bismillah Restaurant - Shahi Paneer Masala and Sesame Naan "Shahi" is the wonderful red sauce. - Indian Near Me - San Pablo, California

A bit run down on the inside but man are the flavors good! The garlic naan has to be one of the best I've had around. Tikki masala was spicy and delicious over the basmati rice. Saag paneer was typical but good nonetheless. Prices are great as well. Totally satisfied my cravings for Indian food. read more

Bismillah Restaurant - Yum! - Indian Near Me - San Pablo, California

Food was great. The gentleman taking orders and making the food was very friendly. I'll definitely stop by again next time I'm in the area.

I've eaten at fancy restaurants and holes in the wall on four continents. The lamb I just had with garlic naan may be the best meal I've ever had. There is zero ambiance but the cooking is honest and authentic. Go! read more

Microwaved Food! I did an online order here of aloo keema and when I came to pick it up, the guy opened the microwave which had a bowl of the aloo keema and he packaged it. This is not freshly made food it's food from who knows how long.. read more

Best in town!! I've been coming here for years. Tasty food, and always get the chicken tikki masala with rice and garlic naan.

The food and service was excellent. The gentleman at the counter was very pleasing and was attentive to our needs, we had taken our food to go but had a few bites while we were there. Had a lovely tea and the food was amazing. The spices and flavor was excellent, and I would recommend this little hole in the wall to anyone. read more

great food spot. owner was nice. The price was justifiable and i would definitely go there again, for my first time visit it was a good experience. read more

I was super excited to try Bismillah as I have been craving Indian food for about 2 weeks. I ordered here after reviewing many places. Upon picking up my food, the owner/ worker... instead of greeted me, yelled at me. He said: "If you were going to pick up, why did you ordered through grubhub? Why not call me? They charged me 15%!" I said, "oh I did not know". He said, "There's your food!" Wow. I've never encounter such rudness. Hello. I am supporting your business in this trying times. I had purchased chicken biryani which was bland, and chicken tikki masala which was a bit spicy. It smelled dilish. The garlic naan was also disappointing! Trader Joe's frozen naan tasted way better than that! I will never be coming back. Disappointed all around read more

I went there two days ago and ordered some Butter Chicken Masala and Garlic Naan. It was my first time trying Garlic Naan and I must say it was an amazing meal. The food was served quickly and it was a quiet place to relax and enjoy your food. read more

tried for the first time on Sunday ....food was Delicious.....Great prices......Highly recommend ...... Thank you for your kindness, definitely will be back read more

The food was super yummy and the customer service is incredible! I went when it wasn't too busy but I would definitely come again!