Yummy food. Friendly service. We had never eaten here before, but had noticed crowds outside when…read moredriving by. We had lunch here today at around noon. Very efficient ordering process and delivered to your table. Tables are numbered. The filtered coffee is really good. We got it medium level (versus strong) with jaggerty (a type of sugar versus regular sugar). The coffee chef pours the coffee into small tin cups and then pours hot milk on top and tops it with frothy milk foam. My husband and I ordered a Masala Dosa which came with a white chutney and red chutney and sambar (soup); and a Mega Tiffin which had a more tightly rolled Masala Dosa (with potatoes, greens, onions inside, sambar, the 2 chutneys, 1 idyly (white bun), 2 vadais (donut shaped savory fritter), pongol (creamy grain - lentil and rice combo). I also had a mango lassi. The dosas were crisp and fresh and the filling was not too spicy for us. We really liked the dosas and the variety of other dishes that are also served. The coffee was very good. We had considered getting the Mylapore dosa, but the cashier mentioned it is spicy so we opted for the Masala one instead. Staff were friendly and helpful as we told them it was our first time there. We parked in the parking lot. Our server said often the parking lot is full and people park nearby and walk in. The restaurant was fairly full at that time with only a few tables available. Ambiance was casual and nice with high ceilings, booths or tables. We sat in a booth. Table was pretty and lots of natural light. You go in and get a table number. You take the menu and table card to the cashier and order. Then, you get your coffee and/order mango lassi (or other drink) and take it to your numbered table. A server brings your food out to your table.

Phenomenal eating experience for all homesick South Indians and just anyone searching for legit…read morefood from a Tamil-speaking staff. What a pleasure to order thayir vadai, filter coffee, and tiffin combos in Tamil! Also, don't sleep on the sugar-free ice creams, which were a delightful touch for us diabetics (who are probably 50% of the clientele ... no cap, as the kids say).

Came with a coworker who was curious to check it out since we're both veg*n only to find a sign on…read morethe door that they've started serving meat, so that was a little disappointing. But we were undeterred and ordered anyway. I'd gotten the palak paneer, my favorite Indian dish and my usual basis for comparison, with kulcha naan and it was okay, but nothing to really write home about. The palak paneer was a bit sweeter than I had expected, but other than that, just fine. My coworker and I also split vegetable pakora that came with a somewhat spicy sauce (I am a spice wimp, but he is very much not), and those were pretty good. I don't quite remember what my coworker got as his main, maybe one of the dal dishes, but he also thought it was fine. The location itself is pretty small, and seems to be more for takeout than sit down diners, although that is what we did. Parking was pretty easy in the plaza, but that might be because the pizza place next door appeared to be closed? Things felt slightly dingy, but I think maybe in truth things were just a bit worn, right down to the Corelle plates which seemed like they had been in service for a long time. Decor is pretty sparse, but the lady behind the counter was nice enough when we were ordering. Overall, not a bad experience, but also not much of a draw for me. But if you like your Indian food a little on the sweeter side, maybe this is the place for you.

Good food served by a humble team in a casual setting. Vegan/vegetarian friendly food is cooked in…read morea home style kitchen and has authentic flavors. The service is quick. I would recommend them to everyone looking for a vegetarian meal.

This place is a hidden gem! We loved everything we ordered. The jackfruit cutlets were crunchy with…read morea soft filling which melted in the mouth. The paneer lababdar was the best we've eaten in a while. Overall the food had a very Indian dhaba vibe. Even the garlic naan was well made - soft in the middle and crunchy on the edges. Must try! Will come back for sure. The gentleman serving our table was also super sweet!

Tried their jackfruit cutlet (vegan) after seeing great reviews on Yelp. Didn't disappoint- 5 stars…read moreit comes as 4 cutlets. It was tasty, not too oily, not too spicy. A great appetizer. Also got the aloo chaat - 4 stars as chana/chickpea was cooked but little tough. Since their green chutney has yougurt, they substituted it for ketchup and tamarind sauce. Overall good food, was a quick takeout. Although I didn't dine in, the space looks new, clean. Will come back to try other items on the menu.

The BEST onion pakora in the bays area - hands down! It's a cloud kitchen place - just come in and…read morepick up your order. I have got it for 2 parties and it's a hit! My only request would be to have them provide a chutney / sauce with it. The pakoras are gone before I can photograph them

Flavors: 10/10 Portions: 10/10…read moreCustomer experience 10/10 Drive from Hayward to Sunnyvale to pick this up: totally worth it. Tonight I was craving a home style chicken and rice dish similar to what my mom makes . Now I know it's not possible to get that from a restaurant, but the closest to that is the Donne biryani preparation that a few places offer in the Bay Area. So I looked up Yelp and found this spot. The fact that it already had 4.9 stars was reassuring but I didn't put too many expectations on it. But what I did was call the place and make sure they'd be open by the time I made that 28 mile drive. I spoke to a person named Sagar who took my order and told me to take my time getting there and drive carefully! Husband and I got there around 9:30pm and it's a cloud kitchen setup with kitchens in the back and a point of sale kiosk and counter at the front. As instructed I called Sagar and he came up to the counter with my food, and also let me know he had added a free dessert since I drove all the way from Hayward . Husband and I got home and immediately dug in and what can I say, the flavors totally took me back to my mom's kitchen. The Donne biryani was bursting with taste, and what made it superb was that the flavors were in balance, with neither the spices nor the aromatics being overpowering in any way. The other dish, the pepper chicken was epic by itself, and should have been enjoyed with a bread of some sort, because the biryani didn't need any accompaniment. As if this meal wasn't divine enough the cherry on top was the pineapple kesari dessert that Sagar kindly added to our takeout bag. Thanks Nalapaka, for a taste of home, away from home !

If you are looking for that elusive combination of home-cooked taste and simple, soul-warming food,…read morethis place takes the cake. It has officially become our family's go-to dinner spot, and for good reason--they truly never miss a beat. The Standout Dishes The menu is a celebration of authentic flavors. Some of our absolute favorites include: Millet Dosa: Perfectly crisp and a great healthy alternative. Mini Idli Podi: Bite-sized bursts of flavor with the perfect spice blend. Pesarattu: Authentically prepared and incredibly satisfying. The Pro Tip: The real star of the show is the ginger chutney served with the Dosae. It is the perfect zesty accompaniment that ties the whole meal together. Service & Atmosphere Beyond the food, the service is exceptionally efficient. Even during busy dinner rushes, the staff is attentive and ensures that nothing is overlooked. It's rare to find a place that feels this consistent and welcoming. Highly recommended for anyone craving a nutritious, delicious, and soulful South Indian meal!

Weekday lunch in this neighbourhood- as name suggests this restaurant has delectable menu items…read morecovering 4 southern states of India- Karnataka, Andhra/telangana, tamilnadu & Kerala. Quickly seated in this no fancy, no frills with fast service. Being on a thali quest - this was more than enough for me and no need for any extra servings..ordered..while eating noticed they had ragi mudde (made of ragi millet flour- steamed and interesting method of eating) along with bassaru (soupy dal/ green soup) and with a dab of ghee. I had not had this item in over couple decades, ordered for takeout for later evening meal. However, best to have it hot and fresh when served.‍ All items were adequate, tasty and spice level is slightly on higher side..in case if you prefer mild. The menu itself is exhaustive and will have to come try exploring their dosa offerings next visit. Plenty of parking in this little strip of variety of stores including the pool / billiards lounge next door.

Be transported to South Asia at this authentic roadside-style colorful wonderland! All of the meats…read moreare from their organic farm, just 20 minutes from the restaurant. The warmth of the staff mirrors the warmth of the fabulous chai served from a teapot into clay pot cups. The flavors are varied and absolutely delightful. The meats are tender and expertly cut by their in-house butcher. No need to hurry. After your meal, linger at the Chowki and play games while you enjoy lovely comfort desserts. This amazing place is also a full butchery and offers full catering! This is our new favorite place!

Solid curries and naan! Really nice service and even better dishes! I think they also do buffets,…read morebut we just came for dinner. There are many tables for parties of 4 and a bar area for the buffet. The mango chicken tikka was a little more on the sweet side, but we really enjoyed the lamb skewers and paneer saag. Their naan was also came out fresh and hot.

Some of the best restaurant discoveries happen by complete accident…read more We were actually on our way to AnnachiKarahi when gps informed us it had moved and been replaced by Charminar. While my husband drove, I quickly pulled up the Yelp page. The menu immediately caught my attention, but I'll admit I was hesitant. There were only a handful of reviews, and the ratings didn't quite match the ambition of the menu. Still, Hyderabadi cuisine is one of India's great culinary traditions, and it's surprisingly underrepresented in the Bay Area. Curiosity won. I'm so glad it did. Having visited Hyderabad, I know it as a city obsessed with food, a place where recipes reflect centuries of Nizami, Mughlai, Persian, and Telugu influences. While many restaurants here advertise themselves as Hyderabadi, they often stop at biryani. Charminar embraces the breadth of the cuisine, with everything from mandi and gongura specialties to chicken sukka, Mughlai curries, and, on weekends, freshly made rumali rotis. That alone made me stop and take notice. The restaurant itself is warm and inviting, with tasteful artwork celebrating the Hyderabad cityscape and the iconic Charminar. The staff matched the atmosphere: genuinely welcoming, knowledgeable, and eager to guide us through the menu without ever rushing us. The meal began with refreshing drinks before quickly moving into what became one of the highlights of the evening: the kebabs. The Lasooni Kebab and the Malai Kebab were exceptional. Both were astonishingly tender the kind of tenderness that only comes from patient marination and careful cooking. The Malai Kebab, in particular, was outstanding. Delicate notes of ginger and garlic layered into a creamy marinade, finished with the unmistakable whisper of charcoal smoke, created a kebab that was elegant rather than heavy. It was one of the finest versions I've had in the Bay Area. For the mains, we ordered the Chicken Sukka and Lal Chicken alongside the weekend rumali rotis. Paper-thin, almost like silk, they arrived impossibly soft and stayed that way throughout the meal. Anyone who has searched for authentic rumali roti in the Bay Area knows how rare that is. Too often they become rubbery within minutes. And it's rare to find it on menus so get your hands on it (weekends only!) The Chicken Sukka was my favorite curry of the evening. Layers of roasted coconut, deeply caramelized onions, warming spices, and beautifully cooked chicken came together in a dish that was both rustic and deeply satisfying. The Lal Chicken surprised me. Given the name, I expected assertive heat, but instead found a curry that leaned sweeter and tangier than anticipated. Not a flaw, just a different interpretation than I had expected. And then came the dish that reminded me why Hyderabad occupies such a revered place in India's culinary landscape. The Gosht Dum Biryani. If you visit on a weekend, don't overthink your order. Get it. Anyone can pile onions and masala onto rice and call it biryani. True dum biryani is a lesson in restraint. Every grain of rice should carry the perfume of saffron, whole spices, stock, and meat, without relying on excess seasoning. The rice itself should be compelling enough to eat on its own. Charminar gets this exactly right. Every spoonful was fragrant and beautifully balanced. The lamb was meltingly tender, yielding effortlessly from the bone, while the mirchi ka salan added earthy warmth and the raita brought just enough freshness to complete the experience. It was, without question, the standout dish of the evening and among the better Hyderabadi biryanis I've had in the Bay Area. The most exciting part is that we barely scratched the surface of the menu. Finding a restaurant that doesn't simply borrow Hyderabad's famous name but genuinely celebrates the diversity of its cuisine is rare. Charminar feels like it was built by people who understand what makes the city's food so beloved. What a wonderful addition to Sunnyvale. I sincerely hope the community gives this restaurant the attention it deserves. We'll certainly be back Congratulations to the Charminar team.

Unlimited pani puri is a joke here. They donot want u to breath or sit while they serve so u eat…read moreless. They use chat curry as stuffing and only one type of pani. Very rude service Adding samosa chat is another joke. Please do not waste time and just enjoy pani puri at apni Mandi