This is the best Indian food available in the Bay area and my previous review was wildly enthusiastic. However, on the past three occasions I have been here there have been issues with COVID protocols, with workers behind the counter and in the kitchen not wearing masks. They put on the mask when asked, but do not keep them on. I will never be back. Local business who are unwilling to follow emergency health mandates for the sake of the public good should shut down and go elsewhere. Not okay, Vaishnu. Go away. read more

Great food the staff is so nice my grandchildren and I love eating here this is their first time eating Indian food and vegetarian

Stopped in after hearing that they are a vegetarian restaurant. Was very impressed with how really good the food is. If you're looking to try some homemade Indian food, I highly recommend. We will be back for sure. read more

AMAZING is all I can say. Reminiscent of travels in India and South Africa. VERY authentic and super affordable! We ordered 5 things and every one was beyond our expectations. I'm NOT vegetarian and I live in SF, and I would eat here multiple times a week if I were closer. read more

Amazing food, always freshly made! Not much of an interior, it's a hole in the wall place with very good food

In a tiny hole-in-the-wall on a desolate strip mall in what looks like the middle of nowhere lies a hidden gem. Like an oasis in a desert, Vaishnu, or VEC as it's affectionately known, provides the hungry traveler en route to Sacramento or Lake Tahoe or I guess you could live in Vallejo too, Indian chaats so tasty and authentic, you'd feel like you've been transported to the streets of Old Delhi. Ohmygosh! Their chaats are so delicious. Did I say that before? Never mind. It's worth emphasizing again. Their chaats are amongst the best I've had in the Greater Bay Area. Most of the Indian restaurants here in the US get their chaats wrong - the portion sizes are too big, the price point is too high, there is either too much yogurt or too little, it is either too spicy or completely bland. But Vaishnu gets it right. The right proportion of chutneys. The right size. The right price point. $4 for a Chhole Bhatura! 75 cents for a Chai! These are prices unheard of in the Bay Area. The 4 of us ate to our heart's content - we almost ordered all the chaats on the menu and ended up with a bill of just $36 dollars in total. $9 per person for a culinary acid trip (that also fills up your stomach). I'd take that any day. My only worry now is that since I've popularized this business with a rave Yelp review, will the wait times go up? Will the prices go up? Will the quality of food go down? Only time will tell. But the owners of this place are so nice and seem so committed to their craft that I doubt the quality will go down. read more

VEC Indian Cuisine - Dahi Batata - Indian Near Me - Vallejo, California

I love this place! The food is delicious and is very reasonably priced. The chole bhatura is my top pick. I'm also crazy about the picked carrots that they serve with meals. So yummy! read more

It's a hidden gem in Vallejo in the same plaza as Popeyes. The place itself is quiet and basic. The vavavoom is all in the prices and food. When I think about vegetarian food, I imagine pricey Whole Foods where I'll end up spending all my future plane ticket money. But here, I get to have a delicious vegetarian meal and my credit card says I can still go to Hawaii. They've been here for awhile and the food is still consistently good. My go-to is the paneer tikka (rice included) and a mango lassi. To be honest, I forgot about this place and actually came here for a donut from the place next door, but now that it's back on my radar I plan to be back more often. I hear the samosas are da bomb.korma! read more

HOLD UP! Hold the phone! Cheap vegetarian Indian food in Vallejo? IN VALLEJO of all places?! And it's (excuse my Vallejo-ism about to come out here, but) HECKA good?! Aw yeah, that. Is. DOPE!!! If you know me, you know that I enjoy one of the best chaat creations ever... uhh... created. That my friends is the fiendishly snack-o-rific dish known as Bhatura Chole. This big 'ol puffed up dough thing, served with Indian pickles and spiced garbonzo beans aka chickpeas. Love this dish. Looooooove it. But up until, I had to travel to Berkeley (aka Berzerkeley aka Bizerkeley) for it. Now, that seems like it may no longer be the case (don't worry Viks, i'll still be there for the chicken kathi kebab!) This place is extremely unassuming, located in the same plaza as Popeyes, "CJ's BBQ", a donut shop, and a Ghettro wireless. Yeah, you sorta get the feeling as to this place's location. But who cares! Don't worry folks, it's plenty safe. If you're from Vallejo or are passing through, I also say that it is TOTALLY worth it! The inside is super simple. No fancy decor, just a few tables, chairs, and the counter where you order your food. Seems like they have daily specials as well. But for me, I ordered the bhatura chole and a samosa. SUPER cheap meal. $3.99 from the bhatura chole and a bargain price of 75 cents for the samosa (which is about half the size of my fist, so it's big, yes.) Food comes out super quick. Before I forget to mention it, the people working here and super polite and friendly. But back to the food. Bhatura chole? Just as tasty as the one at Viks in Berkeley! The samosa! Big and filling! What more can I say than I left extremely satisfied. All on vegetarian food. What a concept right? Not much more needs to be said. With food this cheap, I am definitely going to be a regular here. I hope that it's here in Vallejo for the long run! Love it!!! read more

VEC Indian Cuisine - Samosa and bhatura chole - Indian Near Me - Vallejo, California

I finally got to check off a Vallejo must have. I'm down here for work, and work too much but I made time tonight, and I am sure glad I did!! I ordered the paneer tika masala to go, along with two somosas. WOW, AMAZING, HOLY SHIZZNIT, hmmmm what else can I say..... delicious. I am in no way a vegetarian, but it doesn't matter. This is bar none the best Indian food I've ever had! Go get ya some, I can't wait to return!! read more

VEC Indian Cuisine - Paneer tika and a somosa - Indian Near Me - Vallejo, California

Try the samosas! Vegan friendly and tasty! So cheap and quick service! I am such a fan of this place. I'm usually in here once every other week to satisfy my craving for samasos and aloo tikka (I hope I spelled that right!) Everything on the menue is flavored with mild spices. Not too hot, not too mild...just right to the taste! Everyday there is a special, as if the prices aren't reasonable enough! ...on a side note...The woman at the register always compliments my makeup, even when I am wearing barely zero to none...talk about customer service! All items are vegitarian. some are vegan...but you must ask. read more

INDIAN FOOD IS AMAZING! I have got to say underrated spot in Vallejo! Absolutely amazing!

Vaishnu is most likely Vallejo's first Indian vegetarian restaurant, and quite possibly, Vallejo's first vegetarian restaurant, period. You can imagine my delight when I heard of its opening. It's kind of a fast food-type dining experience. Even their name dictates this ("Express")--very casual, sparse interior, cheap prices. The food, however, is decent. The menu consists of chaat, curries, and a variety of desserts. I've tried the chana masala and veg korma, and felt them to be fairly standard. The pakoras weren't as crispy as I would've liked. But I was enamored with the samosas, which were very tasty, huge, and at 75 cents a piece, a real bargain. The portions are so generous that one appetizer in addition to a curry lunch entree with rice proved to be too much. It's tucked off of Sonoma by the freeway on-ramps in the shopping area where Popeye's is located. You would never find it unless you were actively looking for it; they don't even have a sign above their restaurant (it's next to the donut shop). They're likely relying strictly on word-of-mouth for business. I hope they're able to garner enough interest to sustain themselves, because Indian food is seriously lacking in this area. Whether you're veg or not, Vaishnu is an asset to the community, and it'd be nice to have them around for years to come. read more

VEC Indian Cuisine - Indian Near Me - Vallejo, California

See all

Indian fast food in Vallejo--this is basically what it is. Food is cheap, fast, and tasty. There's a lot of space in the middle of the joint that could be utilized. I believe it's all vegetarian. I think that's literally what vaishnu means. If you've ever been to an Indian temple lunch, that is what it felt like being here. I'd say this is a gem in Vallejo--hopefully it'll be around long-term. read more

Vaishnu Express is a relatively new little store front cafe offering fresh 100% vegetarian Indian food to order. Notably these days, the cafe doesn't offer a lunch buffet-- something you find nearly everywhere. Our Samosas were so good! Also, even though it wasn't on the menu, the cook went next door for ingredients when I requested a bowl of Sambar. There were lots of South Asian folks stopping by to pick up orders. Worth a try, and I'd definitely return. read more

See all

This place might be a little bit hard to find, but it's in the same plaza as Popeyes, along the row of shops near the Subway and Allstate. It's a pretty small business, the first time we tried to come here it was actually closed because they were on vacation. They also close relatively early so don't try to have a late dinner here! Food here is good and so cheap! I had a chole bhatura for $4 and that pretty much filled me up. The chole comes with sauces which were a bit more liquid-y and less garbanzo bean-y than I've had at other places. Samosas are 75 cents each, they have delicious chunky potatoes on the inside. Both of these had cilantro but it was easy for me to pick out because it was not chopped up into tiny pieces :) They also have curries, check the take out menus for a list because I don't think they always list it on the menu boards. read more

VEC Indian Cuisine - Chole bhatura - Indian Near Me - Vallejo, California

Now that I've been here about a dozen times, I want to update my review. Everything I said before still stands: - With it's clean, no-frills atmosphere, Vaishnu focuses on what's most important: the food. -Everything is reasonably priced, good-sized portions And would like to add: - Quick, friendly service - Favorites: Mix Vegi Pakoras, Samosa, Samosa Chaat (yumm!!), Chana Masala, Chana Saag Even non-veg family and friends enjoy their food. In particular, getting a tray of pakoras and somasas for parties is a popular choice. read more

VEC Indian Cuisine - Indian Near Me - Vallejo, California

See all

My parents were looking for a vegetarian Indian restaurant and found this place on yelp. They are all into trying highly-rated places on yelp, so they decided to go here. I met them here on a Sunday afternoon. It is a small restaurant with 8-10 tables, in a strip mall. It's kind of hard to find because the sign above the door says VEC or VEG in big letters instead of the name of the restaurant, Vaishnu. We got a couple samosas and an order of pakora to start. I ordered vegetable korma and paratha, and my parents ordered chole bhature and masala dosa. I love Indian food, but some restaurants make it too spicy for me. The samosas and pakora came out first. The samosas tasted different than any I've had, but they were delicious! Very fresh and yummy. Pakora is not my favorite, but it was great here too. Our entrees came out shortly after. In fact, all the food came out very quickly, but was obviously fresh. The vegetable korma order came with rice, a bit of salad, some yogurt thing, and a chutney. The paratha was more like a chappati, but I loved the vegetable korma. I told myself I would only eat half, but I ate it all! My parents agreed that the masala dosa wasn't the best, but we all agreed that the chole bhature was fantastic! Great food, and all for only around $25. read more

See all

During my last few hours of work yesterday I was searching for veggie eats in Vallejo or nearby. And found this spot in my Yelp search. From the reviews of others I had to skip straight to the pictures. OH MY, the Samosas are huge. And the price isn't big at all $.75 each! I ordered for my first visit Paneer Tikka Masala, Chana Masala and the Chole Bhature. Oh yea and 2 Samosas. Shared between two people this was more than enough food. It all came with two orders of rice and we split one yet had enough rice and Paneer Tikka Masala and Chana Masala left over for two more plates the next day. This is my favorite type of food and then on top of that its Vegetarian. Just like the others have mentioned this place isn't too keen on the decor, but its more of a family style if you ask me. Very basic and simple: Chairs, Tables and a few pictures on the wall. All in all this place is worth your time and money if you love this style of food. Although my meat eater (dad) wouldn't even come near the food I know plenty of other meat eaters that would still love this food and be just as full. read more

VEC Indian Cuisine - Chole Bhataura, samosa, paneer tikka masala and chana masala - Indian Near Me - Vallejo, California

Vegan. Really quick and delicious food! No meat but sauces and dishes taste amazing without meat. GREAT PRICING! Samosas are hugee and homemade and filling! read more

Great place for a quick bite at an affordable price. All vegetarian and def have vegan options. The mango lassi is the best. Ambience is chill and quiet. It's been a while since I've been here. Love coming back every time. read more

Vaishnu Express Cafe, one of the most awesome hidden gem of Vallejo. This place is an Indian vegetarian "fast food" that is tucked away in one of the plazas in Vallejo. They serve vegetarian only and you might say that it is not in a gorgeous plaza, but don't let that stop you from trying this gem. I go here specifically for their samosas. Don't get me wrong, the rest of their food are really good as well with amazing price. But their samosa stole my heart. What's so awesome about their samosa is that it's not only huge (about the size of a tennis ball), really really tasty and surprisingly very cheap, but the two kinds of sauce they provide it with are what takes it to the next level. Yes, you've heard me. THE SAUCE. It comes with tamarind sauce (red and sweet with a little bit of tang) and their mint sauce (green, hint of mint and somewhat spicy). You get both of the sauces and it's up to you to try it with either sauces. My advice is to use both at the same time. You'll get the best of both worlds. You're going to end up telling yourself "This is the best samosa I've ever had." I kid you not! Vaishnu Express is such a gem that will surprise everyone. Definitely a must try. They provide such wonderful food that will never break your bank. Vaishnu Express Cafe will be forever my samosa dealer. Lol. read more

Love this place! Can't believe I didn't know about this place earlier. I'm not a vegetarian but all their food has so much flavor that I don't mind not having meat! They also have lunch specials during the work week which give you a variety of sides. I would definitely recommend coming here. Favorites - paneer tikka masala, aloo saag, samosa chaat, mango lassi read more

Not the best Indian food I've had but it was better than nothing around here. Mainly came here to catch up with a friend who loves to come here so I thought "why not?". We ordered the Chana Saag, samosas, and naan bread. The taste was alright...rice was a little dry and not the most flavorful Indian food I've had...the good news is everything is super cheap here but I guess the taste quality is exactly what you paid for. Will I come back again? May be not unless my friends wanna come back lol read more

See all

"Indian vegetarian fast food" is not what you'd expect in Vallejo, especially in a grimy strip mall. Unlike most fast food, the entire menu is vegetarian- and one can have vegan by request. They are more than happy to "make it vegan" according to their menu. While the saying "you get what you pay for" is used to drub cheapness, Vaishnu Express Cafe pairs high quality with low prices. 75 cents for a spicy, invigorating chai. The mutter paneer is excellent with a rich tomato sauce&filling chunks of homemade cheese. It comes with a small salad, a yogurt raita side, along with a savory yellow sauce (I am curious), and some sort of pickled carrots. A harmonious, filling lunch, with rice included. The Express Cafe draws families, Kaiser employees, an assortment of people. Tho the restaurant does NOT look promising- the dining area is rather bland, the open kitchen looks cramped, the food&the service make up for it. Everything is delicious. Everything IS awesome- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StTqXEQ2l-Y read more

Amazing. Simply amazing. I love this spot! Been coming here for a couple of years now. Never dissatisfied. I absolutely love how yummy and inexpensive they are at the same time. They make everything taste so good meatless like I'm vegetarian but if I wasnt I would still come because they are absolutely great with the spices! read more

VEC Indian Cuisine - Indian Near Me - Vallejo, California

I love the food. I really do. It just makes me sad how much styrofoam they use. Styrofoam plates, bowls, cups EVERYTHING! The only thing not styrofoam is the plastic utensils . They also close so early I can never get it for dinner. Food is so good though read more

The food taste good but the bathroom and kitchen looks very dirty and not sanitary. Dining area needs lots of improvement.

My go-to for Indian food and I'm not even vegetarian. The food here is super cheap, flavorful, and filling. Our favorites are the samosas, paneer tikka masala, paneer saag, chole bhature, mango lassi, and the desserts. We always get an extra dish or two to pack for the next day! The spice level is just right and the filling in the samosas are so flavorful and well-seasoned. The outside crust is so delicious and the mint chutney is too good. read more

So glad to see this business open agai during covid. New hours are 11-4 everyday. I ordered a lot; 2 orders veggie pakora 1 order samossa chaat 1 order dhali buta 2 orders saag paneer 1 order tika masala paneer 1 Mango Lassi 2 pieces of Indian fudge milk and pistachio flavored. I wish they would have the to go boxes w compartments so the food is like how you get if you ate at the restaurant. The food i got for thr lunch special just came w one to go box of basmati rice and the main entree. Samosa chaat and dhali bhuta they packed everything together which meany my puri was soggy and mushy as was my samosas when I got home, next time ill tell them pack the liquid separate. Samosas will order again the filling was a bit chunky but flavorful. Pakoras were mostly flour i was expecting more veggies. Favorites was the paneer tika masala the curry base was delicious and the saag paneer so tasty. Indian fudge was new to me and not overly sweet next time ill try the coconut. Lassi was delicious on a hot day. Service was friendly. read more

This restaurant is in a strip mall off of Hwy 37 in Vallejo. What a pleasant surprise! The food is terrific. My friend said this was great. I have not had better Indian food. Don't let the setting fool you. The food is delicate, well made and delicious. Nice people and great inexpensive prices. read more

I'm surprise I haven't left a review for this place yet seeing as I stop by maybe once every two weeks or so. The food here is delicious. I'm not a very picky eater so I normally get the lunch special(s). No matter what I ordered it was always a generous portion for a affordable price. I've also gotten to try dishes completely new to me and loved every single one. Some dishes I recommend is the masala dosa Imagine a fried crepe with a spicy potato filling. Along with the paneer tikki masala. :) read more

VEC Indian Cuisine - Can't remember the name of this particular dish but it was on the lunch special and it was fantastic. - Indian Near Me - Vallejo, California

I ordered the Paneer Tika Masala and the Samosa Chaat, as well as the Mango Lissa for my drink. The Paneer Tika Masala, had tofu instead of meat. Not sure if that's the reason why, but I thought this dish could have been more flavorful. I've had better versions of this dish in the bay area. The Samosa Chaat was amazing. I loved everything about it...the sweet and spicy carbanzo bean sauce, the crispy brown delicious outside and soft potato goodness in the inside of the samosa was amazing. As for the Mango Lissa, I didn't expect it to be super sweet. It had a thick mango yogurt flavor, which I did enjoy, but I would have rather ordered another drink and had the Mango Lissa for my dessert. Overall, my experience was great. The service was welcoming, the place is nearby where I stay and it's a place that can fulfill my cravings. read more

See all

A true hidden gem of Vallejo! They offer amazing Indian food at an amazing price. $5.99 for a dinner special! Of note, this place is vegetarian only, but don't let that deter you from some delicious Indian food. I always get whatever is on special for the day and have never been disappointed. Even when I order over the phone, and am not too sure what the special items are, I just pick one at random and have yet to regret my choice! Also, be sure to get a samosa. At 0.75 cents a piece, you can't go wrong! I also love that they serve your meal on a little lunch tray - just like cafeteria style. And though it may not look like a ton of food at first, I have always left more than satisfied. I promise you, you'll love this place. read more

Great food and price. All vegetarian option and nice people, usually have food to go.

I was curious with their vegetarianism..it was a spontaneous Doordash order of an eggplant dish with the yummy chapati. I ate the whole dish but to my surprise how solid and nondigestible this meal is to my stomach!! I was crying out for tums the whole night after the fact. It's sounds like Strangers in my nighty LOL. read more

The floors are sticky and everything is served on cheap styrofoam plates. But, if you can get over that, the food is delicious! We ordered saag curry, veggie pakoras, samosa chaat, and roti. I really loved that there was so many vegan options, these were all clearly marked as "non dairy" on the menu. The flavor of the curry was delightful except that I would order the Chana version next time to add some texture to it. We loved everything and are definitely coming whenever we're in the area read more

Vallejo is a barren place for good ethic cuisine. That's why this place is so welcome. Authentic inexpensive well prepared homey Indian food. The menu includes Chaat - Indian street foods- and curries. The chaat we tried were variable but mostly good. We liked their version of Masala dosa and have ordered it multiple times. Another favorite is the chole bhatura - big puffy bread with chickpea curry. Chole palak - a mixed vegetarian curry with spinach and chickpeas was excellent. read more

FINALLY A DECENT INDIAN FOOD NEAR ME! I'm very particular about my Indian food, I go to higher end restaurants just to actually enjoy the taste... little did I know, the best one is hiding in Vallejo. I totally overlooked it until one of my girlfriends told me she loves ordering food from here. I will be coming back over and over. keep it up Vaishnu! BTW, you can not come here without trying their Mango Lassi. It is the best Mango Lassi I have ever tried. They don't skimp you on the mangos, which I love. Most places will put more yogurt than mango, just to save on money. But Vaishnu is very sweet and refreshing. can't thank this place enough. read more

Fast service. Great samosa. Delicious curries. If you are trying it out for the first time, get a samosa and either chana masala or vegetable korma. read more