Good takeout / self serve type of service. Water out front and extra cutlery and plates too. The food was pretty good and super filling as expected. I really liked the naan here, it seems house made! Also huge. Curries hit the spot. Chicken saag was a bit too heavy / oily for my liking but the chicken was super tender yummmmmmmmm. Really awesome prices for the amount of food you get and the quality of it. For dine in it does get pretty hot since the restaurant lacks some ventilation. Theres a few outdoor tables which are awesome to eat at on a nice day. Great place to drop in after a long day for a super filling meal read more

Pakwan Restaurant - 16th Street - Chicken Saag, Chicken Tikka Masala - Indian Near Me - San Francisco, California

With so many choices in the mission this standout for Pakistani food draws crowds for a reason. Upon entering, que up to the register and place your order. Tonight's selections were Lamb Biryani, Chicken Tikka Masala, and samosas. Once issued you buzzer, spin around to collect beverages, sauces, plates and silverware. Find a seat till the buzzer does its thing. Our food was prepped within 5 minutes and piping hot. The volume of food was amazing for the cost. The lamb was large pieces in a mix of basmati rice, herbs, spices and perfectly tender. The heat from this dish alone didn't require much. Samosas were serviceable and could stand more crispiness. The garbanzos were flavorful and tender. I'm read more

See all

Dreamt of this place since 5 years ago when we last visited and so happy to say that it didn't disappoint! We loved the lamb biryani and lamb chops just as we remembered. Tried the balti chicken this time and it was just ok. It could improve on service..while waiting for our food we wanted to order more and had asked the guy working there (packing all the food) if it would be a long wait to add 1 more thing and he just said they're too busy and can't....mind you there was an hour still before closing almost so this was a little disappointing. However, their food is always delicious and packed with meat! The lamb biryani is easily shareable between 3-4 hungry adults. Can't wait to return back! read more

See all

I came in for one thing. I came in for a good biryani and they delivered. I ordered the Hyderabadi dum biryani and I must preface, that although I've had a decent amount of Biryani, I'm no expert in the matter. But, I think the flavor was good. True, it could've used more spice but squirts of the chutney and tamarind sauce on the table made the flavor just right for me. But, what I loved about this place is the portion! My picture don't do it justice, but portion was huuuge. It could've been a portion for two at other skimpier place. All this, for like $15 bucks in SF. Stealing a viral phrase, this plate is absolute "Justified". The staff were friendly and helpful. The vibes in the restaurant had a right mood. Looking to come back again. read more

Pakwan Restaurant - 16th Street - Indian Near Me - San Francisco, California

Received unexpected news that my dad has to be hospitalized pending his lung transplant. We're facing months in the hospital. Not the best but happy he's headed toward getting a transplant. We had time to kill until a bed was ready for him, so we decided to order Indian food and take it to a park to eat. I ordered the food and the gentleman was so friendly on the phone and took my order quickly. I went to pick it up and they were still so friendly even though they were so busy. The place was busy but a cool and fun environment. Thank you Pakwan for allowing us to enjoy amazing food during such amazing weather all while our hearts are a little broken. We are humbled. read more

Pakwan Restaurant - 16th Street - My parents enjoying Indian food at Dolores park while we wait for my dad to get admitted for his lung transplant. - Indian Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Okay, Pakwan!!! I see why you are so raved about here. Loves: + Good food for good value. Two entrees for two people could easily be two meals. I loved the chicken tikka masala ($15), garlic naan ($4), and mango lassi ($5). If you're into lamb curries ($16) they are also good and have some spice to them. + Quick service. Food comes out fast and they crank out orders fast. When you dine here, you can see it all unfold. One thing to note if you dine here: it's a fast casual spot where you order at the counter, get your own water and drinks from the fridge, and seat yourself. Beyond this location, there are two more in SF (Balboa Park & Union Square) in addition to Fremont and Hayward. read more

Pakwan Restaurant - 16th Street - Chicken Tikka Masala, Saag Gosht, mango lassis, and two sides of rice - Indian Near Me - San Francisco, California

Pakwan Restaurant, San Francisco: 2026 Feb 10 (5 of 5) Pakwan Restaurant can be found in several locations. We went to the one on 16th Street in San Francisco. The weather was cold and it was drizzling so parking wasn't too bad. Once inside, you can view the menu on the wall to the left. The menu is easy to read, and very quickly, we all picked what we wanted. The charming lady behind the counter was friendly and accommodating. Her name is Siru. When I commented on how pretty her garment is, she came from behind the counter so I could see her outfit up close. When asked if I could take a photo of her in the dress to put on social media, Siru agreed as long as I covered her face, hence the smiling balloon. Lol. We ordered 3 dishes: Tandoori Chicken: We bit into the most flavourful charred, smokey exterior to reveal tender, juicy meat. There were 'oohs' and 'ahhs' all round. (5 of 5) Naan (fresh oven baked bread): This popular, leavened flatbread had soft, chewy, and pillowy texture with slight charring. It has a mild, slightly nutty taste. It is light and airy, featuring soft bubbles on top and a crisp, smoky bottom. Naan can be eaten warm or cold. This came cold, but I prefer mine warm. (4.75 of 5) Lamb Biryani (lamb cooked with spices and tomatoes layered in basmati rice): This amazing dish is so filling. Tender chunks of lamb meat hidden among fragrant, long-grain basmati rice, yogurt, and aromatic spices like saffron, cardamom, and cinnamon. The flavour profile is a complex mix of savoury, aromatic spices--such as saffron, mint, coriander, and fried caramelized onions - infusing both the rice and meat. (5 of 5) Lamb Curry (traditional tomato based curry cooked in a wok): Rich, aromatic dish featuring tender, slow-cooked lamb in a savoury, spiced gravy. The thick gravy creates a deep flavor profile. (5 of 5) Drinks: Near the order booth is a cannister of hot chai. This rich, aromatic beverage is traditionally made by boiling black tea, milk, sweetener, and a mixture of warming spices. It has a bold, creamy, and sweet flavour profile characterized by notes of ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, and black pepper. On this rainy, cold day, this is a perfect marriage to our spicy eats. The warm, comforting, and slightly peppery taste warms our tummy. (5 of 5) read more

The a ambiance was amazingggg but the food was such a let down especially for the prices. And at this price point I feel like the service should have been better rather than the self serve fast food vibe it had. Sac desi food scene over Bay Area hands down read more

Pakwan is my go-to place for comfort food. The Pakistani-Indian influence here is strong, and their passion comes through in the flavor of their dishes! I get the lamb briyani every time I come here and it's sooo good. The portion size is ginormous and 100% worth it for the taste and cost. It's flavorful and comes with an ample amount of tender lamb. I've also tried an assortment of their curries, appetizers, and their chai -- they're all pretty good as well. Service is fast and efficient. read more

Pakwan Restaurant - 16th Street - Lamb Briyani - Indian Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

This has been one of my go-to spots in the City! The staff is so friendly and the food is consistently delicious every time! I always get the chicken seekh kebab as an appetizer - the meat is super tender and flavorful (I could honestly eat like 3 of these). The samosas are also great - they come with some chana masala, which is my favorite! Don't forget to grab the sauce bottles from the front of the restaurant (the green chutney is amazing!). For the main dishes, I've gotten the Hydrabad Chicken Biryani before, which has so much flavor and the portion size is huge! The chicken tikka masala is also a classic, which pairs perfectly with the garlic naan. I will definitely be back when I'm craving some comfort food! read more

See all

I've heard a lot of rave about this place, including from people I actually know and from social media. I do want to preface there is a difference between Pakistani and Indian food and I understand that I just feel like the food was subpar. We went on a Friday night and it was relatively busy like there was a lot of people eating there, but there wasn't a lot of people waiting for their food. We ordered one paneer tikka masala and a gosht lamb plate with one plain naan and one garlic naan (crispy). We didn't know what crispy meant, but it pretty much means not fluffy. We sat down at our table and under three minutes. The food was ready to my surprise. The food was barely warm, which makes me believe that it was already prepped and just waiting to be served, but wasn't even like on the burner for it to be hot. Both dishes were extremely oily and just lacked flavor. The naan was extremely doughy and not to be rude, but it seems like they're using low quality dough. Unfortunately, I would not be going back. read more

Pakwan Restaurant - 16th Street - Lamb gosht, Paneer Tikka Masala, Garlic Naan, plain naan - Indian Near Me - San Francisco, California

A friend recommended this spot, so I gave it a try through Postmates and the delivery was faster than expected, only about 30 minutes! Honestly, I think this might be one of the best Indian restaurants in San Francisco. Everything I ordered had a nice spicy kick (in the best way) and the portions were generous, especially with the protein. My top picks: Chicken Tikka Masala, Basmati Rice, Samosa, Chicken Biryani, Garlic Naan, Onion Naan, Qeema Naan, Bhuna Gosht, and Saag Paneer. I also tried the Mango Lassi, which tasted like fresh mango! Easily one of the best I've ever had. Overall, such a great experience. I'll definitely be ordering from them again! read more

See all

I stopped by on a Sunday for lunch. Beef nihari was my favorite item here. Beef was cooked very soft, and the curry was very flavorful. Dum biryani was excellent, and came in good quantity. Garlic naan was really good. I liked the tea. Chicken leg was also flavorful. Overall food was flavorful and reasobly priced. They give good quantity of food. read more

See all

It was busy on a Friday night, it was busy inside but we were able to get a table outside. Our favorite dishes were the samosas, must add the green sauce for better flavor! We really enjoyed the chicken tikka masala and tandoori chicken. The garlic naan could have been more garlicky but still tasted fresh. I will definitely come back to try other dishes here. read more

Pakwan Restaurant - 16th Street - Garlic naan, basmati rice, Samosa - Indian Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Great go-to spot for curries! There is plenty of seating inside and also does BYOB! - saag gosht: delicious saag with perfect kick of spice, the lamb was tender and plentiful - chicken tikka masala: nice smokey flavor on the chicken, can't go wrong with this choice - garlic naan: would like more garlic flavor but naan itself is great. Order only comes with one read more

See all

it was my first time trying Pakistani food, and this one in the city was a find i saw as i drove through. the inside is spacious, and menu is available hand held, or on the wall too i ordered chicken biryani, pieces of chicken tikka and a seekh kebab. all the dishes, amazing! chicken biryani (9.5/10): slice dish dish, generous portion, seasoned deliciously and some caramelized onions too! chicken tikka (9.5/10): juicy, pieces of chicken, drowned in marinated yogurt seekh kebab (8.5/10): minced meat, packed with spices, herbs and served with lemon and onions: super good flavor an elite experience for me, and puts Pakistan on the map. service was okay, not over going, and ambiance was calm and nice, here in the heart of SF. me come back soon! thx, pakwan read more

See all

not very many vegan options, got the chana masala and wheat roti (only vegan carb outside of rice). th chana masala was soicyyy read more

Pakwan Restaurant - 16th Street - Chana Masala - Indian Near Me - San Francisco, California

This is a hit and miss joint. One day the food is great , other days it's awful. I'm not sure why there is no consistency read more

Pakwan is one of my go-to spots in San Francisco whenever I'm craving authentic Pakistani/Indian food. The portions are generous, the prices are reasonable, and the food consistently delivers on flavor. I especially enjoyed the biryani and chicken tikka masala--both were well-seasoned, flavorful, and satisfying. read more

This is one of our favorite restaurants. Totally unexpected find while in San Francisco. All street parking so good luck! Tuesday dinner and they had lots of to go orders. The same for a Saturday when we went. That means this place is good. The place was decently decorated but I think they concentrate on their food more. Only one cashier but friendly and helpful service. My kids approved as well. That means a lot. Everything we ordered was excellent from the Garlic Naan, samosas, lamb chops, chicken Tikka Marsala, mango Lassi drink, Saag Paneer, tandoori chicken, but I love their cilantro green sauce on everything! It makes it all even better! Wish they sold the bottle! I would so buy it. Hehe very good portions so be aware to not over order. You will be full fast! I would definitely recommend this place but I would rather eat my food there for freshness. [70R,2024] read more

See all

Love this place! Great for late eats . I grabbed the onion nan, a mango lassi, and tika masala . Always yummy warm and fresh . Later evenings this place place is busing with groups of family and friends the devour is updated and the front area is nice and neat. Warm friendly cashier service and quick delivery of dishes make this a crowd pleaser location! read more

Pakwan Restaurant - 16th Street - Dining area - Indian Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Hard to tell which dish was the best... After an initial disappointment as the Goat Biryani special and the pakoras was sold out, we quickly chose a lamb biryani as plan b. We also had a tandoori chicken leg and a Seekh Kabab. Biryani was majestic! Perfectly balanced spices and a LOT of melt-in-your-mouth pieces of lamb. The Tandoori Chicken leg alone was worth the trip. I was not a huge fan of the beef kabab but the bar was so high by the other two dishes. The only way to further improve the experience would have been a stellar dessert and the Kheer sure delivered! We will be back soon! Highly recommended read more

I still don't understand what people see in this place. I find their curries to be rather bland. I got the paneer tikka masala and added rice. I must say the rice portion is pretty ridiculous. But in general the curry leaves my tastebuds wanting. The best part of my meal was adding the tamarind and mint chutneys to my rice to give extra flavor to everything. There's better places to be. read more

Pakwan Restaurant - 16th Street - Paneer tikka masala - Indian Near Me - San Francisco, California

This place is pretty dang good. Solid service. Good to very good food. Just don't expect spicy. 6 of us came for dinner and we ordered a lot. They said they were having trouble with payments so even though I bought they split the check 3 ways with me tapping to pay 3 times. Weird but okay. Then they asked later if I actually got charged and I checked and had been. I get it computer systems can have issues. Not a great start but they came back strong. After that was over the food started coming out and it was all good except the chicken tikka masala. I think table wide it was considered the worst out of the 7 dishes we ordered. The spicy lamb one was considered one of the best. I didn't try it, I don't eat lamb. The chicken biryani was another contender. Great spice, flavor and texture on the biryani. Flavors are a little different from what I'm used to and it was awesome. read more

Pakwan Restaurant - 16th Street - Indian Near Me - San Francisco, California

This is a must try place. The portions are huge, prices are fair, service is friendly, and the food tastes amazing. We always get the saag paneer, lamb biryani, one of their many yummy naan, and a mango lassi. We ask for everything spicy. So good! This is a casual place so you order at the front, grab your own cutlery, plates, and water, and seat yourself. They'll call your number when your order is ready and you pick up from the counter on the side of the register. After coming here so many times, I've never been disappointed. Such a great meal each time that has me challenging my beliefs of how much I can eat lol! Pro tip tho: grab the chutneys (tamarind and mint) in the squeeze bottles by the mango lassi under the refrigerator. They definitely take the food to the next level. read more

Pakwan Restaurant - 16th Street - Cheese naan, lamb biryani, and Saag Paneer - Indian Near Me - San Francisco, California

This is hands-down my favorite Pakistani restaurant. The Mission location is by far the best one. I've tried their other locations, but nothing tops this spot. I always order the chicken tikka masala, saag paneer, naan, and a chicken tandoori leg, and it never disappoints. Everything tastes fresh and made with care. The portions are generous, and the flavors are consistently amazing every single time I come. If you're craving authentic Pakistani food, this is the spot! read more

Pakwan Restaurant - 16th Street - Saag Paneer Chicken Tikka Masala - Indian Near Me - San Francisco, California

Pakwan still slaps. My go-to has become their Chicken Biryani, which is a literal mountain of food. They are remarkably consistent in terms of seasoning and flavor profile. The chicken is always soft and moist. The fried onions round out the texture. I also really enjoy their Saag Paneer, which is also a great portion size and has more depth of flavor than other restaurants employ on this dish. Sometimes, it can be a little too oily, but I'd say that's the exception, not the norm. Definitely come here to get your Indian fix while in SF! read more

See all

I've been a regular here for 7 years now and so, this review is long overdue. Unfortunately this is going to be a limited review in that, in the 300 or so meals I've had from this place, I think I've only ordered something other than the chicken Tiki Masala and Spinach Paneer maybe once or twice, not including the basmati rice and naan, which are both delicious in their own, right. But the reason for this review is simple. I consider myself a chicken tiki masala connoisseur of sorts. I'm very particular about the chicken (only white meat, no exceptions) as well as the sauce, (the creamier the better) and this place nails it each and every single time. The decor is unassuming while the neighborhood is whatever, but the chicken tiki masala that they cook up here is inspired and, quite frankly, heavenly. In retrospect, I think the most impressive thing about this restaurant is the consistency... knock on wood but I've never had a bad meal from here. I've never bitten into a chunk of crystal or found a hair in my sauce or any thing like that, and that's over a seven year span. Did I just jinx myself? DOH!!! read more

How the mighty have fallen. I visited this restaurant back in 2023, and I loved the food. I came back yesterday and was grossly disappointed in how awful the food was. The curries were bland and tasted lukewarm. Almost as if someone heated the curry in the microwave. The naan was also lacking flavor and was slightly lukewarm. The lamb was extremely dry and lacked flavor. The food was bad we took a couple of bites and left. I would not recommend this place if you are looking to eat delicious SEA food. read more

Pakwan Restaurant - 16th Street - Paneer Tikka Masala, Lamb Briyani, Basmati Rice, and Garlic Naan - Indian Near Me - San Francisco, California

Surprisingly it's been years since I last went to Pakwan but the food is still so good! I love the self service type vibe and the workers are nice. The food as I mentioned amazing and still so reasonably priced. If you're in the area and want good, Indian food, check them out! read more

Pakwan Restaurant - 16th Street - Samosas, lamb curry, Paneer Tikka Masala, garlic naan and a side of basmati rice - Indian Near Me - San Francisco, California

Absolutely delicious, flavor-packed food. Got the chicken and lamb biryanis (super succulent), best paneer sak I've had this year, and large garlic nans. Definitely returning with an empty stomach! read more

One of the best restaurants in SFO for desi food !! I'm so glad to have tried their food, best memory of SF. Tastes just like the flavours from back home. Great ambience, the portion sizes were good too. I tried their biryani and it was delicious, the meat was so tender with fresh herbs! The naan was soft, chicken karahi and tikka masala was phenomenal. Good chunky pieces of chicken, very flavourful!!!! Their tandoori chicken was to die for *mouth-watering!!! Also got myself a mango lassi - it was rich and creamy, I happen to try their masala chai which definitely makes you go for a second cup! When it comes to their service, their process was quick and very organised despite having a lot of customers! Their dining process was self service, you grabbed your own plates, silverware and water from the counter at the front. The food is reasonably priced with a great ambiance that provided seating indoors and outdoor by the sidewalk. read more

See all

No frills at all, order, get your water, utensils, sauces, bus your plates. Late night hours which keeps the nightlife going in SF, accessibly priced and huge portions. Biriyani is pretty good, the best thing I've had here and have not had at other Indian restaurants they way they do it at Pakwan is their Moong Daal Tadka (yellow daal), it's the best in the city in my opinion, the flavor and texture is well done. Support this SF establishment! read more

Massive portions and very yummy food! We got the chicken biryani, naan and sag paneer. All of which were tasty and flavorful! Need to go back and try some other dishes. Only complaint is how hot it is in the restaurant read more

I wanted to like this place but it left me with a lot more to be desired. This one of the several Pakwan Pakistanis restaurants in the city of SF. I can honestly say this is probably the weakest link of them if you may. First of all, the sketchy location. The stench of urine and garbage is not ideal when you're about to eat some dinner and does a number on your appetite.I don't feel 100% safe here . I did park in a tiny self park pay with plate small kiosk your license plate thingy. I could accept that as long it's not out in the street being vulnerable to who knows what a break in vandalism. Here you can pay and order the human cashier or use the touch screen ordering system they have connected which is convenient. Portion sizes decent. The tables inside was packed on a Friday night we got seated next to the bathroom in the back rear which I do not recommend. The bathroom was filthy and had sticky everything , dust . I washed my hands several times. I ordered the beef nihari . I rarely leave food on the table and I didn't simply like the taste of it. The cheese naan and tandoori leg was fire though that's what salvaged and save my meal. Next time I will go simple and safe and order the goat curry. The noise levels was very high-another thing I hate. Just by location wise I wouldn't recommend by only for takeout. The service was I didn't real service expect for asking for dipping sauce bottles which weren't even on the table 3/5. A tad bit expensive but that's common for being in SF. read more

See all

It's definitely gone slowly downhill over the years. Used to be very good, but now mediocre. Unfriendly service, vegan dishes are way too drenched in oil, naans are good. Got one dish that had hard undercooked vegetables. Dirty plates. read more

delicious pakistani/northern indian cuisine. it's a casual, pay-upfront-first kind of restaurant. everything was so flavorful. portions were just right. bellies were filled. read more

3 reviews in one? We suggested our friends Faiza and Hannah meet us here, only to discover there was nowhere to park. We settled for a block away which I take as a good sign, not to mention how crowded they were, although it a Friday. Both ladies felt the food quality has gone down while the prices have gone up. I thought the food quite good with the exception of the chicken and beef which were dry and light on taste. For years this was the creme de la creme of Indian/Pakistani cuisine and both my guests felt they are "riding on the coat tails of their reputation" and no longer putting forth the effort. I'm a bit leery of serve yourself operations but followed through. When in Rome, as it were. Personally, I didn't care for the atmosphere. I had one taste of Hannah's Tandoori Fish (Basa Fillet) and loved it! As stated, the Chicken Saag was dry and dull, but Faiza's Saag Paneer was wonderful. Lastly, the Bihari Kabob did not consist of tender beef slices. Maybe the take-away is to avoid the chicken/meat dishes? Anything cheese/spinach/fish rocked! The onion and garlic naan were a bit overcooked for me, but were an excellent compliment. The bottomless tea was nice. We love tea with our food. While the parking sucked, the bathrooms were surprisingly clean. 01/25 read more

Service was quick and staff was friendly. We ordered the Saag Paneer and Karahi chicken curry. I am not that familiar with Indian food and my palate was limited. The Karachi chicken curry would fit most people's palate and I liked it. The Saag Paneer was average and not my favorite( I find it a bit bland) but overall I like the meal. Will come back for their biryani. read more

Why are there no six-star options?? Pakwan deserves it. I always joke that my body is made of Pakwan . This place is my default whenever I crave something that real, flavorful, satisfying, and complete. The food hits every note: exceptionally prepared, generously portioned, and very affordable. One togo biryani can be split into 2-3 meals, if you add fresh vegetables. They use butter instead of lard, halal meat, and everything is consistently excellent, no weak links, no regrets. It is also hands-down one of the best spots for a laid-back group parties. Pull a few tables together, eat like royalty, and bring your own wines without worrying about corkage fees. Amazing? Yes. Say what you want, I believe this is the best Indian-Pakistani food in the entire state. read more

See all