If you're looking for no frills Pakistani restaurant, then Shalimar is the perfect place to go to. We ordered two orders of garlic naan, tandoori chicken, chicken tikka masala, and chicken Karahi. Everything was delicious and had the right amount of heat. I loved the free chai tea (hard to come by in this economy ). Service was fast. read more

Shalimar - 13. Garlic Naan - Pakistani Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Ordered in via a delivery app after a friend who lived here years ago recommended it to me. Not sure if it was an off day or they've gone downhill, but this was fairly disappointing. Murgh Tikka Lahori (breast)- this was a surprisingly large amount of food for the price. Didn't have much complaint on this and would get again. Although I might go for the boneless option next time Chicken Kofta- the gravy was incredibly oily (I had to use a paper towel to soak up the thick layer on top. The kofta itself was soft, but didn't have super strong flavor. Chicken Jalfrezi- the flavor for this was decent, but once again super oily. I also had to use a paper towel to soak up the oil. I had gotten this as it sounded healthier- just stir fried chicken, veggies, tomato sauce, and spices- but the oil really over powered here. Shalimar Chawal- basic rice with some spices/flavor. For the price it was good. I'd be open to trying again in the future, but really hoping it's not as oily next time. read more

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Had a feast here earlier this month! Not sure we ordered all the right things... but goat karahi and seekh kabob were top notch. My friends enjoyed the brain masala. Aloo Keema and chicken biryani were a pass, the biryani was not fresh. But the fresh naan is excellent! Pass on the desserts, kheer and gulab jamun are served cold and also didn't seem fresh. It's really a hole in the wall dhaba style place but food comes out fast! I have had the nihari and karahi chicken before and would probably order or the haleem that next time if I were to return! read more

Shalimar - 9. Seekh Kabab Mughlai - Pakistani Near Me - San Francisco, California

I used to have a Shalimar meal once a week before the pandemic. Then I gave up eating out until the pandemic's end. I am happy to report that Shalimar's food is the same as ever. No loss in quality, only a slight increase in price. The staff has changed, the recipes have not and the skill to prepare the food right is in full force. read more

I stopped by for lunch on a Sunday noon. The place was not full. I got a seat right away. Murgh tikka lahori and Seekh kabab was my favorite items here. Seekh kabab is spicy. Murg tikka lahori is relatively mild, still flavorful. The garlic naan was very nice. Brain masala was a good one. I think I should have ordered beef nihari, generally that is the best dish in Pakistani restaurants. Haleem was of chicken. It should have been beef haleem. Chicken haleem was ok. It has many small bones in it. Plus lacked the flavor of beef. They have complimentary tea. Tea was ok. read more

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I remember when Shalimar was PACKED ALL THE TIME, no matter the hour, and we had to fight to get a table. It used to be a very divey spot - no frills, just good food. Well, that was then and covid changed the world. I highly anticipated my dinner at Shalimar... only upon arrival, I found the restaurant quite empty. Mmm... Between the two of us, we ordered: * Lamb Brain : This used to be Shalimar's specialty and a rare dish to finds And it sure isn't what it used to be. Just tasted off. We didn't finish it. * Chicken Tikka Marsala: A classic dish, and usually cannot go wrong with it. However, the chicken was bland and dry, and the sauce lacked the spiciness and flavors that it used to have. On top of that, the sauce quickly separated into a layer of oil on top, with the Marsala sauce towards the bottom. An ok but wasn't very appealing. * Okra: Spices and flavors are - again - just ok for this dish. However, many of the okra pieces were just too old and too stringy, so not chewable or eatable. Very disappointed. * Rice: Shalimar's rice used to be one of my favorites. Again, something is missing but it's overall ok. * Plain Naan: The naan is good, even though it's a bit too burnt on 1/4 of one side. Sadly, the naan was the best part of our meal. :( Honestly, nothing tasted good nor what we remember it used to be. probably won't be back. read more

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We've been going to Shalimar for years. We used to go to the Polk Street one but since it closed we go to the TL. Not my favorite area so it's strictly takeout for us but we love the food. We get chicken tikka Marsala, garlic naan, chicken tandoori, rice and raita. All good. I rub the naan with olive oil and sprinkle black garlic on it and heat it up briefly. Love the sauce the chicken Marsala comes in. Our only miss is the chicken biryani. Tried it this time and I much prefer the regular rice. Ask for some chutneys too. The guys working there are nice and the food is delicious. read more

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Always great food. I am vegetarian so tried veg options only. 1. Noone goes to Shalimar for Ambience and Candle Light Dinner 2. Once you are over point 1, Shalimar is great place for foodies. 3. You get free chai (tea), Onions, Lemon, Mint Chutney and Sweet Chutney always. Please look for them in the right places like fridge, side and on the counter where they take orders. 4. Had Alu Palak was just awesome. 5. Also had Okra which hmm was in wet gravy which I personally dont enjoy else it was really good. 6. Naans are out of the world. 7. Potato Naans are out of the universe. Just a great place always welcoming and smiling and open till 11:00pm read more

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This is it ! The best Pakistani Restaurant in San Francisco. I totally love this place . Because the food is tasty and cook to perfection. Authentic and fresh from the stove . Eating 3 x a week never gets me tired . Highly recommended, fast service and good price .Comfortable place to sit and eat . The chef and the staff are all Pakistanis, that's how authentic the place and food is . You really feel like you are in pakistan!! Thank you so much for the great service and delicious food !! read more

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Tried the goat karahi and palak paneer- both very tasty curries. The goat curry was phenomenal in terms of flavor and had lots of goat pieces. Palak paneer was also good. Paneer cooked perfectly and curry loaded with spinach. Both curries were very oily, especially the goat. read more

I just visited Shalimar restaurant and ordered Nihari with one naan. Honestly, this was one of the worst Nihari and naan I've ever had. The naan was poorly made (almost like cold naan) and not enjoyable at all. On top of that, the cashier was extremely rude, which made the whole experience even worse. I definitely do not recommend Shalimar restaurant for Nihari and naan. Save your time and money and try somewhere else. read more

Shalimar - Cold naan - Pakistani Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Food was consistently undercooked (tough, chewy) and over oiled (seriously like an inch thick layer of oil on top). We got it delivered so maybe it's better there? Probably one of the worst south Asian meals I've had. Pakwan can be hit or miss sometimes but would go there every time over this. read more

Favorite place for Pakistani & Indian food!! The onion accoutrements they serve on the side really elevate your dining experience. I love getting their chicken biryani, chicken tikka masala, and garlic naan! So simple yet so GOOD. I frequent the location in Fremont as well but both of these location's food & service is amazing! Don't expect the ambiance to be anything modern and such, it just feels homey and you can literally see them making the food ! read more

Just ate goat Karahi at Shalimar on Thursday. Usually my favorite dish, but this time the goat was pretty tough. Been eat here for years. The service is prompt. The neighborhood is sketchy for the faint of heart, as you walk by homeless, drug addicts, and drug dealers. Be careful out there. read more

Ordered some food to go. The naan bread I got was not made fresh, appeared to be reheated as they were all burnt. Be careful.

This is the spot for authentic India and Pakistani food. This will warm your body and soul. It's been my staple for decades. Highly highly recommend. read more

This is a solid no frills spot for Indian-Pakistani food. I ordered takeout, so I can't add much to the dine-in experience. But what I do know is that the food here is tasty, and prices are very reasonable. I ordered the saag chicken, daal masala, chana masala, garlic naan, and a side of rice. My favorite was the daal masala. Everything tasted flavorful and had a slight kick to it, which I thoroughly enjoyed. But the food was a bit too spicy for my friend with a very low spice tolerance. This was also the first time that I've had garlic naan made in a way that the garlic is stuffed on the inside of the naan. While the naan itself tasted just fine, the garlic wasn't spread evenly. Overall though, I enjoyed the food here and would order again in the future. read more

Shalimar - Clockwise from top left: daal masala, chana masala, rice, saag chicken - Pakistani Near Me - San Francisco, California

Soo delicious and affordable. Great for big groups for a casual dinner. Free milk tea which is to be expected at legit Pakistani eateries. Also everything is halal. Loved the nihari the most, especially the freshly sliced ginger on top. Order at the counter, really friendly people, support local businesses:) read more

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Another excellent choice for Indian food in this area. The prices were reasonable and most of the dishes (besides the rice dishes) were not overly large so that allowed us to get many items family style. Very happy with the quality of our dinner. Small no frills place, would love to come back on our next visit. read more

Shalimar - Pakistani Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Shalimar is an amazing Pakistani restaurant in the San Francisco area. I hadn't ever had Pakistani food and the friend I was visiting San Francisco with grew up in Pakistan so he wanted to show me his cultures foods. I loved it and the whole staff seemed like they were family owned they were all very kind and you felt like you were in a family friendly family operated dining destination. I'll be back the next time I visit San Francisco I was won over completely and didn't leave a bite uneaten even on my plate! read more

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Where the area is not so tender , they do have the most tender beef curry I ever tasted. The beef shank was super soft and tender. The naan bread is fluffy and spongy I was craving a masala chai. The tandoori grill makes the bread truly unique . The spices and smell of the masala is strong here although watered down a bit. I am interested in trying a thicker curry base next time I highly recommend their kabobs. The chicken bryiani was decent 8/10. The rice was flavored well and the chicken bone in was soft and tender. I will be sure to try request it to be spicier next time I remember ladies wearing niqab here when I was dining in a couple of times. Truly an authentic experience with good food. Uber eats is also online if you can get it delivered to your location for that peace of mind experience with them promotions! read more

Shalimar - Naan - Pakistani Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Food was ok. I ordered Extra spicy and it came out very mild. When when asked to make it spicy, they gave me onions chili powder and jalapeños, which did not have enhance the flavor nor the spice. Very disappointed. Garlic naan also okay. I was also charged before I ate and other people weren't, not the first second or third time this has happened to me in San Francisco read more

Shalimar - Chicken tikka masala and garlic naan - Pakistani Near Me - San Francisco, California

I came here in 2009 as a freshman in college, fast forward 2025 and countless visits to many countries, I'll always crave and cherish this original location of Shalimar, if your looking for authentic no bs Pakistani food it doesn't get any better than this. If you're expecting a fine dining experience this is not for you, keep walking, this is even better without that fluff. read more

This is the only Shalimar location that is actually good. The Sacramento and Dublin locations are pretty low quality. This is the complete opposite with the food being fresh and actually authentic. The service is nothing special but I know how desi service is so it's fine. Ambiance is alright and I could care less about that as long as the food is amazing which it is. The garlic naan, chicken tikka masala, goat karahi, and malai boti are amazing. Just a heads up though this is a rough location in SF and better to go before night time. read more

Food was good. Service was good. Environment good. Pretty cool place to chill and hang out

Amazing Punjabi & Avadhi cuisine. Everything is authentic. Had the goat curry, saag ghost and haleem. They were all perfect renditions. No frills, you come here for the food. read more

Whenever I visit I stop here for a consistent and delicious meal. Nice staff and good food selection. Strong tea.

This place is incredibly delicious. I just an amazing dinner. I have traveled to India many times but not to Pakistan, but for what I was told is more Pakistani style. The species, the taste, the naan. I will be back. We had the daal masala, the paneer, naan the beef single skew. We ate it all!! read more

Shalimar - Daaal Masala, Paneer - Pakistani Near Me - San Francisco, California

It used to be OK even though the restroom is always very dirty, but the food used to be ok good in the past now horrible, very oily / no taste :: very little spices and filled with lots of cream, read more

I have been patronizing Shalamar since I moved to the city in 1995. I used to go to the one on Polk Street but now that it's closed I've been going to the one on Jones and I must say that though the food it still tasty, the amount of oil they cook with is vomit inducing. After I had poured about half of it down my sink, I realized I should keep it and perhaps cook something with it so I saved the rest. This photo is 1/2 of how much oil was used in one container of tikka masala and one container of saag chicken. read more

Shalimar - 1/2 cup of oil used to make chicken tikka masala - Pakistani Near Me - San Francisco, California

authentic food .. service was good Price was not bad Very Old restaurant Old Ambiance read more

Shalimar - a man and a woman in a restaurant - Pakistani Near Me - San Francisco, California

Its pretty authentic here. Food is authentic too. Vibe is kinda authentic too. Actually vibe is too authentic for me. Would really prefer bright lights though than run down light. But that's what makes this place feels authentic. read more

Shalimar - Chicken biryani - Pakistani Near Me - San Francisco, California

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An absolute hole in the wall, with great food. My favorite go-to when I'm craving Indian wedding food, Mughlai style.

Alright an honest review. I am reviewing based on the food we had that day. We came in on a Saturday lunch time at around 1pm, restaurant was empty so service was fast. The menus were the large big paper menus they gave (some were stained) which they collected back from our table after we had ordered. We ordered: naan, bhuna ghosht, nihari, and chicken biryani and 3 soft drinks. They were out of haleem that day. My standard for comparing is food i had eaten a while ago (few months recently) back in pakistan in both lahore and karachi and in bay area ive eaten at lot of desi places such as pakwan (fremont) etc. The naan was okay, overcooked and crunchy as compared to soft and fluffy. Typically see this type only at shalimar including fremont and dublin locations. This naan at sf was not as thick, but it was overcooked. The nihari looked as if it was one day old as when you have nihari thats not fresh if u leave it still for few min it generates a stale texture of the salan/liquid curry. The boti pieces were generous in the nihari though. But flavor wasnt there as it felt old, wasnt fresh even though we went at early lunch. Bhuna ghosht was not bad actually, i dont have much to say here, it was the best of the 3 dishes had at the place. Though if i had to compare it with a karahi ghosht at other places, it wasnt as good. Too many bone pieces and less of the actual meat. The biryani was a disappointment, it was made with basmati rice instead of long grain rice like SELA. Plus it was definitely old, probably made on day before as the rice was not warm and the chicken pieces were as if it was leftover. We did not get a chance to order any bbq items like seekh kebab or chicken leg/breast so i am giving 3 stars with benefit of doubt that those items can be good still. But i would recommend not to try the dishes i had but go for bbq items as those will always be fresh as they have be cooked on the spot. My advice is make sure the salan dishes are fresh and biryani is fresh day of and not leftover. Overall its def lost touch if its supposed to feel like pakistani food, but to people whose standards are lower in food it can pass. read more

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I have been eating at Shalimar for over twenty years. The food is fresh with fabulous Vegetarian dishes, the naan is perfect and one can drink unlimitedL cups of chai. The food, spices and attentive service is always a delight! read more

Average food We ordered biryani(didn't taste fresh), mutton was good but bit spicy Haleem was a big NO Channay was also a big NO read more

My belly is very happy right now. Last time I was here was 9 years ago and it's as good as I remembered. Chai tea and green is still FREE 5 stars for authenticity. True Pakistani dishes and ambiance. 5 stars for service (it's self serve ) 5 stars for value (dishes ranged from $3.5-$14.95) 2 stars location (very sketchy but what do you expect ‍? ) read more

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Hole in the wall Indian food spot. Easily my favorite, they are above all. I have lived all over CA and I always come back here for the food. read more

Been a few times. Always tasty. Today got the Goat Karahi- solid. Also Chicken Tikka Masala- not a fan. More tomato and tangy vs buttery and smooth. read more

The smokey tandoor is the first thing that hits you when you walk in; pretty much every regular you'll see is eating some sort of meat coming from it. Very reasonably priced for San Francisco, considering how tasty the food is. This place definitely owns its diveyness, in a good way. Seekh Kabab Mughlai: Very nicely spiced. Long and thin, to maximize the surface area in the tandoor. I initially thought the free cilantro yogurt chutney would be a good pairing, but so much flavor was going on in this kabab that I didn't need it. Especially reasonably priced given the size and quality. Chicken Tikka Masala: I feel like CTM is to Indian/Pakistani restaurants as the PSL is to Starbucks. It's a comfort order that is very basic, but still tasty enough to cause people to own their basicness. The chicken cubes seemed cooked in the tandoor, so I was generally sticking with their strong suit. It looked like about one skewer of boneless chicken swimming in a plate of creamy tomato sauce. The sauce paired great with the naan, giving you a lot of flavor to soak up. I especially appreciated how it was mildly creamy but not overboard to make you feel icky. Garlic Naan: Large and thick and fluffy. One side was brown and toasted and the other side was whiter and more doughy. Might had been a few seconds too long in the tandoor, but was still fine. The garlic was kinda raw and in the middle of the bread. Very generous serving and a lot more exciting than rice. read more

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