Raja Cuisine Of India
(415) 255-6000
500 Haight St
San Francisco,
CA
94117
37.7721
-122.4305
Neighborhoods: Central North, Hayes Valley
What People Are Saying About Raja Cuisine Of India
The Editor
Contributor
Citysearch
The Scene
The interior is done up in mustard yellows, burnt oranges and deep maroons, with painted-on columns and chaste versions of Kama Sutra-style prints on the walls. Faux-glass chandeliers hang overhead, and white-clothed tables host a crowd as diverse as its Lower Haight locale. Service is sometimes slow but always sweet.
The Food
A casual ambience belies the top-notch, tantalizing cuisine regularly turned out by the kitchen. Tandoori platters arrive sizzling and piled with meats, and the saag paneer--delicately spiced, sauteed spinach with hunks of house-made cheese--is near perfect. Rich curries and hearty vindaloos burst with flavor thanks to copious seasoning. Kheer, cumin-infused rice pudding topped with pistachios, makes for a perfect sweet ending. Some renditions of stuffed naan, such as the version with chicken, pesto and cheese, are overwhelmed by too many ingredients, but the poori--deep-fried flat bread--is downright delicious.
User Reviews
seriousfoodie5674
March 13, 2009
OK, so...Has anyone ever eaten Indian cuisine? Does anyone remember the worst Indian meal they had ever eaten? Now waste $30-40 on Raja Cuisine of India and watch your memory slowly justify that all of them were better than anything here. First, the garlic naan...tasteless, looked like yellow curry powder stained one side, a lot of it, but inedible... Second, the veggie samosas...greasy, no veggies, all potato, no sauce so you could really taste the grease. I think they at least change the fryer grease a few times a week. Third, (main course) Mattar Paneer.... kind of like a cheap, jared, store-bought vodka sauce. Buttery, flavorless, old peas, one giant piece of super dry paneer. So thin and watery... they didn't even try to cover up that they cut ingredients out of the recipe to save money. Next, Lamb Saag, three tiny pieces of dry, tough meat. Oily & tasteless, cut with what seemed to be Heinz gravy...plus the rice was overpowering and dry. If anyone has had the pleasure of eating at Devi or Brick Lane Curry House in NYC, you know how amazing these dishes can be... but quite honestly no food is as bad as Indian food that is poorly prepared. So just go down Valencia and eat at Dosa, or Maharaja and pay for something that will leave you satisfied...do it for your palate.
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Anonymous
December 17, 2008
The indian bread was very fresh and the food in general was very pleasing. There was enough spices in the food and sufficiently satisfied my craving for good indian food.
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SenorTilo
June 11, 2008
My wife and I ate here due entirely to the notoriety it has received on Citysearch. It didn't take us long to realize that the reviews that mention the less than spectacular service were not exaggerated. They were not busy, so this appeared to just be a work ethic issue on the part of the staff. Drinks went unfilled and it took around 40 minutes from when we sat down to when the meal came. So why four stars? Because the food was unbelievably good. Good enough that I would gladly eat there again and put up with the exact same service. I ate until I was quite uncomfortable, and then I ate more. It is easily the best Indian cuisine that I have ever had, but because of the service I could not give five stars with a clear conscience. Also, we found that their beer selection was not quite as plentiful as the menu initially suggested. This is definitely a place where a little extra effort would go a LONG way.
read full reviewThe Details on Raja Cuisine Of India
Save Money:
The lunch buffet--offered 11:30am-2:30pm weekdays--is perfect for Indian food neophytes thanks to its staggering array of dishes.
The Extras:
Raja's free delivery covers just about any zip code within the city with a $15 minimum order.
What to Drink:
Skip watery lassis and opt for hot chai tea instead. Or choose from bottled beers (including Indian brews like Maharaja) or an abbreviated wine list.
Category:
Payment Methods:
American Express, Visa, Discover, Diners Club, MasterCard
Restaurant Special Features:
Local Favorite, Buffet, Family Style Dining, Group Dining, Food Delivery, Cheap Eats
