One of my new favorite Indian restaurants in the area! Delicious, quick service, and in my neighborhood. Ordered the Sev Puri Chat (yum!), butter chicken, tikka masala, lemon rice, and bread basket. Had food to take home and enjoy the next day. It was a busy restaurant, but we got a table early because we ate on the earlier side. Lots of big groups came after and lots of people picking up to take out there orders. Can't wait to go back and try other items in their menu. Watching all the orders for the other tables made me drool with envy. read more

Tilak - Sev Puri Chaat - Indian Near Me - San Francisco, California

Delicious food! I recommend the butter chicken & saag paneer. The bread basket was also delicious. Service was a little slow but we came during a busy time (Saturday evening). read more

Very casual atmosphere. Lots of folks did take out. Food was great! Was able to order the level of heat you want in your food (mild, mild, mild) and it was perfect! Service was good; people are very nice. read more

Really yummy garlic naan! Lamb Tikka masala Butter chicken Mango lassi Lamb Birayani Those are some of my favorite things!! One of my favorite Indian restaurants! It gets packed during rush hours but I've never have to wait (I try to come a little bit before 6 or after 7). There is ussually street parking read more

We ordered the lamb korma and chicken tikka masala along with the breadbasket and saffron rice. Though the raita only comes with the Biryani we requested it and they gave it to us on the side. Chai was not available for dinner and I disciplined myself against the mango lassi which by the way comes in one of those really tall glasses you would get an island resort. Everything was delicious and food was out on our table in about 20 minutes probably less though. Staff is kind, courteous, and sweet though they were a little reserved. Don't expect to bond, which is ok - respect their social boundaries :-) Everything was clean, and I didn't I didn't get the Indian restaurant smell that could would be expected. We're going to try the salmon tikka and prawn Biryani next. Delicious! read more

Tilak - Entrance - Indian Near Me - San Francisco, California

What happened to this place? We used to order all the time from here and have always loved it.Last night everything we ordered was terrible. The butter chicken was flavorless and greasy at the same time (we also asked for chicken breast instead of dark meat, which they said they could do, but didn't). The veggie pakoras were cold and tasted of old grease. The naan was stodgy and I couldn't taste any garlic. I'd like to think it was an off night, but we ordered early and they weren't busy, so I'm not exactly sure what happened. Super disappointed. read more

realllllly enjoyed this place!! delicious really comforting! we really liked the butter chicken and chicken korma! the garlic naan was delish. the mango lassi is spiced which was something I hadn't had before. if you like thing spicier, definitely ask for it! read more

I just bought chicken tika masala and lamb rack. The lamb rack was overcooked, even though it was previously said and cooked medium rare, and the lamb rack was not fresh, my nose is strong enough to smell it and it smells very bad, and the presentation was not as complete as before, and today there was no hummus and only a few vegetables.and chicken tika masala it was good and my favorite extra spicy I like read more

Really not my favorite Indian food by any means. I ordered the Saag Paneer and Chicken Korma. Saag was watery/bland and the Korma was very very oil lacking depth of flavor. Considering all the great reviews, I'll assume I just happened to get food on a bad night. Ordered takeout-- no feedback on service or ambiance. read more

Wrote a review for them when they first opened and figured I'd update it... since I basically eat here once a week on average. It's still one of the best Indian restaurants in the city. Easily. Everything is so good and flavorful... from basics like dahl and butter chicken to more unusual dishes like masala lamb racks and goan prawns. If something on the menu looks a bit unusual, that you don't recognize from other Indian places, I recommend going for it. Tilak himself and the rest of the staff are friendly and awesome, but the food... Just great stuff all the way down the menu. (I'm not Indian, so I can't tell you if it's 'authentic'... but I love Indian food and have it had it many places, SF, NY, London, Amsterdam, and Tilak's compares with the best I've had. Is it a bit different than most Indian places? Yes. So perhaps it's not exactly what you would get in India. But as with most awesome SF restaurants (and what gives SF a reputation for great restaurants), it seems Tilak goes beyond the basics and creates dishes that are more interesting and flavorful (imo). e.g. they used to have something on the menu called Himalayan Tuna which was masala rubbed sushi-grade tuna, which was amazing. I guess not enough people ordered it... But, omg, it was good. But it's an example on how he does creative takes on Indian food.) read more

I used to really like this place when it opened. It may still be one of the better Indian/Pakistani restaurants in the area, the dishes are interesting, pretty well cooked, and spiced. The problem is everything is loaded in SUGAR! Why? It's like they took their good food and then ruined it. It's as if you are trying to get a young child to eat something. I'm an adult, I would like adult food please! I don't think sugar even belongs in this type of food in the first place, and they have made it taste like candy. Can't recommend. read more

So the other night the lady and I were craving some indian food and stumbled across this spot and it was really close to my house. We walked it and they had just opened so we were one of the very few people at first that night. We proceeded to look over the menu and then ordered the eggplant (forgot the name of the dish), saag paneer, saffron rice, the bread basket and butter chicken. Yes, I know it sounds like a lot, and it was. Everything was so good!! I loved the eggplant and saag paneer as those are what I really wanted. The saag was cooked different that I have had it before and appeared to be made with fresh spinach and had a better flavor. The butter chicken was really good but usually it's not my #1 dish to order. The bread basket was really great with everything we ordered. We for sure had a great amount of leftovers after all this which was enough for dinner the next night. Lastly the prices were not bad at all and only ended up spending around $80 that night for 2 people but with probably 4 people worth of food lol. read more

Friendly service, informal setting, with very fresh and tasty food. Recommended! We definitely plan to return. read more

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Food is great. Delivery times are hit or miss. We had a 2 hour wait for our most recent order.

My family and I had a wonderful dinner here about a year ago, but when we ordered food for pick up today, our food tasted overly sweet and the garlic naan was thick, dense and completely devoid of crispiness. The saffron rice was still good but every other dish was sadly disappointing compared to our meal there last time. I'm not sure what happened. read more

I've only ever ordered delivery. The food is delicious. However, $16 for the tandoori veggies is highway robbery. You get maybe 2 pieces of broccoli, 2 pieces of cauliflower, a quarter of a red pepper, 2 slices of red onion, and 4 pieces of paneer. It should cost $7. That and delivery a few blocks away always takes an hour. But like I said, the food is delicious. read more

One of the most enjoyable meals I've had lately! I often have a hankering for Indian food and Tilak, recommended by a friend, did not disappoint! The place was packed on a Sunday night around 7pm but we were seated almost immediately, thanks to a group that was on their way out. They're known for their butter chicken so it's a must. We ordered three other dishes, a naan basket (plain and garlic), rice, mango lassi, and chai. Everything exceeded my expectations and I would love to come again soon and try the other items on the menu. Dishes are reasonably priced, service is kind, the vibe is unpretentious, and parking isn't impossible. A rare find these days in the city. read more

Tilak - they're known for their butter chicken, but honestly everything we ordered was delicious! - Indian Near Me - San Francisco, California

After reading the yelp reviews and general reviews, I was excited to try this restaurant when my mom was visiting. We're Punjabi and always looking for good Indian food in SF and I thought this might be it. Nope, sadly this was some of the worst Indian food we've had. Let me preface by, this was take out - not dine in. *Samosas: super oily. Filling was good. Chutneys we're good. *Dahi Puri Chaat: not good for takeout. Filling was dry and there wasn't enough chutney for this and the samosas. *Saag Paneer: this was the worst. Like nothing I've ever seen. And I've been to tons of Indian restaurants, home cooked meals, India, Gurdwara, etc. it was whole leaf spinach, sautéed down with cream and minimal spices. Texture wasn't what I'm used to and lack of flavor. *Tandoori chicken: OK. Flavor was good. But it was dry - the lemon helped. *Saffron rice: I've never been to an Indian restaurant and not had basmati rice. This was regular white rice with saffron (?). The flavor was off so I didn't eat it. *Onion kulcha: usually my favorite. Again, it was okay. It was a little dense/rubbery and not much flavor. I REALLY wanted to like this place, especially since I convinced my mom to drive 30 minutes to get there (I live in a north neighborhood). But we were all disappointed. I'm still looking for an authentic SF Indian place. My moms fave is Star Chaat in Dublin. If anyone had any SF suggestions, I'll take it! read more

My boyfriend and I came to Tilak for dinner following a strong recommendation from a friend, and it may just be my new go-to Indian restaurant in San Francisco. We started with the dahi puri chaat; while it made for messy eating, the appetizer was an interesting dish with a unique medley of flavors. The Paneer Tikka Masala was deliciously creamy and flavorful with a touch of sweetness. The chicken vindaloo was delightfully smooth and the right amount of spice. Their garlic naan came out fresh as well. The complimentary rice (which was also very fragrant) with entree was a welcome change for an Indian restaurant in SF. Service was excellent; they kept our water glasses full and were attentive without being intrusive. I can't wait to come back again! read more

Tilak - Garlic Naan Paneer Tikka Masala Chicken Vindaloo - Indian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Why do I always crave Tilak on a Tuesday when they're closed. Writing an update just to express my sadness and reminisce. lol. Other updates: Dahi puri chaat is delicious. They make amaaaazing chutneys. I wish I had some right now. We always order this with butter chicken, saag paneer rice and garlic naan. This place is absolute perfection. Except they dare to close on Tuesdays. lol. read more

Some of the best Indian food in the Bay Area. Wonderful options for vegetarians. The chaats, paneer pakora, lemon rice, bengan bharta, saag paneer, and gobi mussalam are some of our go-tos. read more

It's been awhile since I really good Indian food! The curries are on the pricier sides but definitely worth a try! FOOD: Upon ordering our food we were give free papadums (crunchy roti looking) with sauces like many other Indian places. We ordered the follow: + Chicken Biriyani $13: this was alright. It taste liked Indian rice mixed with herbs and protein. Reminded me of fried rice, but Indian style. + Butter Chicken $14: very smooth, creamy and full of flavor. The chicken was tender and juicy! + Lamb Tikka Masala $14: as creamy and smooth as the butter chicken! Flavors were delicious and lamb were very tender! + Plain Naan $2&Garlic Naan $3: very fluffly and warm! The garlic naan wasn't over powering with garlic. SERVICE: Pretty attentive, although my hot water did take some time to come out. The food came out in a reasonable time and servers were friendly. AMBIANCE: They have a decent amount of tabels that can accommadate large parties probably up to 20 people. Lighting is like many Indian restuarants - a little dim but suits the interior well. Verdict: I would come back to try their other currys! read more

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Found this great Indian restaurant down the street from my apartment in SF, and it was great food! I really liked the Sev Puri Chaat, and the Aloo Tikka chaat, the latter of which was really unique! Also had the Saag Paneer, Vegetable Korma, and Okra Masala here, all of which were really good! The Gulab Jamun was pretty good, but nothing too special. Overall a great Indian joint in Bernal Heights, and would recommend to anyone in the area! read more

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I wish I could give this place 6/5 stars for great customer service matched with good food. My wife ordered food from here a few days ago. After I realized that she ordered here, I called the hostess about certain ingredients we were worried about in the food due to my wife being pregnant and she clearly explained every ingredient in the food after asking the chef about the dishes we ordered. She realized that two of the items we ordered had ingredients we were not comfortable with and then sent other options so that she can accommodate our order, even though our delivery was already on the way. Above and beyond great customer service and the food was really good. read more

Tilak - Biryani, samosas, lemon rice - Indian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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The best Indian food in SF. No competition. Great seasoning and perfectly spiced/spicy! Also get the lemon rice. read more

This place is so good - definitely my go to for indian takeout around my house. A bit hard to find parking, but food is amazing! read more

Tilak - Garlic naan, chicken tikka masala, Saag Paneer, Samosas - Indian Near Me - San Francisco, California

Best Indian food in SF! The dishes are so full of flavor and the naan bread is perfect texture. Am lucky to be close enough for take-out on the fly, but it's always best to eat in the restaurant when the food is fresh from the kitchen. read more

Anyone who says they've had a bad meal here is a lying liar. I could post this review annually. read more

The staff is extremely friendly and they have really great options for chaat! Would recommend if you're in the area and want to try some authentic Indian food read more

I had a great dine-in experience at Tilak. Be warned that parking is not the easiest, but it's worth the effort. We did family style between 4 people and ordered dahi puri chaat, butter chicken, lamb biryani, tandoori veggies, fish tikki masala, and an onion bread (not offered on the menu). My favorite was the dahi puri chaat. It was a light starter and an experience to eat. The yogurt added a refreshing tang and soft texture to the crispy puri. The presentation with a warm mix of colors was also aesthetic. I appreciated our waiter reviewing our menu selections to prevent food waste, and helping us select a good variety of options. For someone who has poor spice tolerance, mild was good for all dishes. None of the meats were dry or overcooked, but were still thoroughly flavored and paired great with the baked rice. We opted to order bread instead of extra rice per the waiter's recommendation. We were also recommended an onion bread that seemed to be like naan but had chopped onions incorporated into the dough that added more flavor compared to a regular naan. Overall, I would visit this location again both for food and great service. read more

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I have pretty high standards for north indian food and Tilak is my favorite indian restaurant in SF. I've tried a few places, but the kadai paneer, saag paneer and lachcha paratha at Tilak are unbeatable. Even my parents wanted to get the recipe of the saag paneer from the chef. The service is quick and the staff is attentive. read more

We ordered from Tilak for the first time yesterday and have to say that we have never eaten worse Indian food anywhere. We ordered paneer pakora, paneer tikka masala and a bread basket. The paneer pakora was inedible - the batter was not cooked fully and had ZERO flavour, felt like all that was used was chick pea flower + water in which the paneer cubes were quickly immersed before frying them incompletely. The paneer tikka was way too sweet to eat and had absolutely no flavour, except for the excessive sweetness. On his website, chef tilak claims to have cooked for numerous celebrities, however this food was absolutely inedible and we ended up throwing our entire order. Wouldn't recommend this restaurant to anybody. read more

I was just bashing on North Indian food in the Bay Area with some of my friends this past week and wow does this place give me a pleasant surprise. Food quality, taste, and presentation is a solid 4.5 as shown by all of these reviews, but obviously I am not going to give this place just a 4. This place SCREAMS presentation. I mean, just look at the pictures. Of course it's just mostly leaves on top, but even the dishes they use are copper and bronze, kind of giving it a fancy Indian feel at a budget price. The appetizers were pretty good, but the big surprise was the Aloo Tikka Bites. There is no other place I potatoes flavored so well. If there is one dish I would ask anyone to try at this restaurant it would be this. The Dahi Sev Puri was pretty good too. The yogurt from both dishes were light and not overpowering like it sometimes is in other places, and they really got the right quantities of all the chutneys to give it a nice blend of tangy, sweet, and spice. It's just that to me, Aloo Tikka Bites stole the show. Now for the entrees. We ordered 3 curries, the Gobi Mussalam, Veg Tikka Masala, and the Bengan Bharta. The Gobi Mussalam is a cauliflower dish that is immersed in spiced gravy. It was pretty much a blend of tomato, onion, and cashews, giving it a slightly thicker feel but spiced well. The Veg Tikka Masala was a mix of a bunch of vegetables and paneer and had some sweetness to it, but still spiced. The Bengan Bharta was our favorite, as this restaurant cooked the eggplant on point and spiced with well, still highlighting the taste of eggplant and spices. All of these curries were not too greasy or too creamy at all, and that is a sign of a quality Indian curry. We opted in for the bread basket as we got 3 naans to try (plain, garlic, and onion) for the price of 2 garlic, so it is definitely worth it if you wanted to try them all. The naans were fluffy and crispy on the outside, but there were some parts of the naan that got a bit too thick and dense. Still really good naan. And here is the kicker. The curries were $11-12, the bread basket and appetizers were $6 each. That is so hard to expect from SF, and to be able to get this much food, I was ecstatic! This restaurant really wowed me for the price, quality, and taste, and boy if I am in this area again I would definitely come again and would recommend this place to everyone in the Mission area! read more

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OH myyyyy. I'm hooked on Indian food now after having tried Tilak. Since my newfound obsession for South Asian food, I've been on the hunt to find the best Indian food in SF (I'm not claiming myself as a connoisseur in this field by any means, but I know what's good to me when I taste it). Tilak is a nice, quiet dining spot in Bernal Heights, just after getting out of the Mission, so street parking is comparably bearable here. It's nothing fancy or trendy, but still nice enough to grab dinner on date-night. Entrees - Like most other reviews here, absolutely get the Tikka Masala and/or Butter Chicken. Each dish is perfect for 1-2 people, depending on your hunger-level. My husband and I both worked up an appetite coming from work, so we ordered 1 of each. Both so creamy and savory with juicy dark chicken. If you have to choose one of the two dishes, go with the Tikka Masala if you're looking for a more interesting, flavor-punch! If you're not too keen on savory/salty-packed dishes, go with the Butter Chicken, which is more mild. Naan - OH BABY. Butter and hot damn. I chowed down like 3 pieces of naan w/in 2 minutes. Just get the plain ones, and I assure you you'll be happy. Basmati rice (white lemon rice) - can't go wrong here! Service was good but nothing wildly memorable, but the lack of remembrance here is clearly not my deciding factor when the food trumps all! read more

Tilak - Naan bread basket - plain, garlic, and onion. All delicious but the plain is all you really need and you'll be happy! - Indian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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All I can say is yum! Perfect date night spot! the Goan shrimp is my fave!!!! And their breadbasket! It's perfect read more

Tilak - bread basket, Saffron rice, Goan Prawn Masala, Chicken Tikka Masala - Indian Near Me - San Francisco, California

Went here last night and had a good experience. Upon entering, we were immediately greeted and seated. We got a cute table in the corner that in hindsight was slightly too small but we made it work. We ordered: 1) Papadums: these were somehow better than at other places, although I'm still not sure what it was that made them better. 2) Tikka Paneer: This was okay. The sauce was a tad too sweet for me and was missing some of that tang. 3) Saag Paneer: This was yummy. Rather big pieces of spinach, which is not for everyone. 4) Garlic naan: Good, not too crispy, not too doughy, the right amount of garlic. Service was really friendly, but as we were sitting in a corner, they did tend to overlook us which required some awkward arm gestures. read more

Fantastic restaurant! It is a smaller hidden gem, but definitely a must visit. They have great vegan options and the service was very good. The bengan bharta was my favorite, but everything was super tasty. Highly recommend this place! read more

So far the best Indian restaurant in SF. Puri Chaat's my fav, butter chicken is great too. Def recommend trying the Indian beer. read more

Tilak - Sev Puri Chaat - Indian Near Me - San Francisco, California

Okay WOW!! This place is IT! Sam was very friendly and already knew the answers to all my questions about the meal! The food was spicy and amazing. There are plenty of vegetarian options! I'm so glad we stumbled across this place! 10/10 (We ordered the Tadka Daal (which is vegetarian), Lamb Vindaloo, garlic naan, tandoori roti, saffron rice and Aloo tikka chaat bites which aren't pictured here but were extremely delicious) read more

Tilak - Indian Near Me - San Francisco, California

First time coming here, honestly being Indian it's hard to discover Indian food that actually doesn't taste the same as every restaurant. The butter chicken was good and the curry they have it in is actually different and I'd say it's one of the best entrees on their menu. However the best thing here is say is there two appetizers that they mark as their specials on their menu! Both are super yummy! Definitely would come back if I'm in the area. read more