8 Restaurants with the Best Butter Chicken in San Francisco
The cultural, commercial, and financial capital of California, home to the magnificent golden gate bridge! A City booming with life, home to the second-largest Indian community in the United States, finding the Best Butter Chicken in San Francisco shouldn’t be tough.
Rich in culture, dotted with boutiques, cafes, restaurants, pubs, and clubs. There is always something interesting to do in San Francisco for everyone.
Join me as we hit the streets and explore some of the culinary delights and treasures this beautiful city and its people have to offer.
We have rounded up 8 Restaurants serving lip-smacking silky Butter Chicken to die for!
1. Curry Leaf – Indian and Pakistani Cusine
Location: 943 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133
Website: https://curryleafinsf.com/
About the Restaurant:
First up on our list is curry leaf, a contemporary north west frontier cuisine restaurant, specialising in recipes derived from the regions of Sindh and Punjab. They serve only halal meat and are considered a hot spot amongst the ex-pats from both countries.
Curryleaf’s Butter Chicken: Known for their traditional recipes and expert use of the tandoor, tender chunks of boneless chicken are skewered and cooked slowly before being slathered generously with a creamy sweet and nutty tomato sauce topped with a hearty serving of butter and cream. And one portion is good enough for two. Goes amazingly well with the butter or garlic naan.
Cost: $11.99 is a dam good deal for a massive portion of butter chicken, perfect for those office lunches or a weeknight stress-free dinner.
2. Viva Goa – Indian Cuisine
Location: 2420 Lombard St, San Francisco, CA 94123
Website: https://www.vivagoaindiancuisine.com/
About the Restaurant: Known for their Goan cuisine, a beautiful fusion of coastal influences from the western coast of India, with Portuguese colonial heritage. One of the most flavourful and tantalizing cuisines’ of India.
A humble establishment is known for its hearty selection of seafood.
Viva Goa’s Butter Chicken: The Chef here whips up a mouth-watering butter chicken dish, cooking the chicken in butter, followed by smoking it and then finishing it through with a deep red tomato sauce with hints of cardamom and piquant notes of fenugreek. Garnished with a hearty serving of fresh cream. Truly a delight for the senses. A suitable contender for the title of best butter chicken in San Francisco.
Cost: Priced at $13.99 it’s a steal deal for a tasty and filling entree.
3. Pakwan – Pakistani & Indian Cuisine
Location: 3180-82 16th St, San Francisco, CA 94103
Website: https://pakwanrestaurant.com/
About the Restaurant: A hidden gem according to the regulars who visit this restaurant, they serve no-frills authentic northwest frontier cuisine, with hearty portions of haleem, boneless lamb curry, kadhai gosht, and malai boti. Traditional food is served with love and attention to detail. With 5 branches in the bay area, they have steadily built a strong reputation for themselves.
Pakwan’s Butter Chicken: called the Murgh Makhanwala, its tender boneless chunks of chicken thigh, cooked in the tandoor and topped with a spiced tomato sauce and dollops of butter. A favourite amongst patrons and is best paired with the butter garlic naan bread,
Cost: $11.99 is a steal for this amazing dish, with a portion size to satisfy even the hungriest of tummies don’t miss this hidden gem if you’re ever in the bay area.
4. Keeva – Indian Kitchen
Location: Inner Richmond Area, 908 Clement St, San Francisco.
Website: https://www.keevasf.com/
About the Restaurant: Taking the time and giving the utmost attention to detail, Keeva believes in implementing traditional Indian recipes tried and tested over time and perfected by vendors, mothers, and master chefs of famous Indian kitchens. Whether it is slow cooking the lentil stew or marinating meat in hung yoghourt or gently cooking meat over live coals, the time and attention given to the food are reflected in its flavour.
Keeva’s Butter Chicken: Keeva has a unique take on their butter chicken using shredded chicken simmered in a rich and creamy gravy, with hints of honey, butter, and fenugreek. Truly a treat for the tastebuds and a hot competitor for the title of best butter chicken in San Francisco.
Cost: $14.95 it is worth every penny and is perfect for those weekday nights or a quick lunch to go on a busy day.

5. Curry Up Now
Location: 659 Valencia Street, San Francisco
Website: https://www.curryupnow.com
About the Restaurant: One of the fastest-growing restaurants in the country with over 250 locations nationwide, they have a trendy laid back and contemporary Indian vibe. Known for their fusion of trending dishes with a uniquely Indian twist. Originally started as a food truck known for their chicken tikka masala burrito.
Curry Up Now’s Butter Chicken: Called the Ghee Malkhani Butter Chicken it’s available as a bowl paired with rice, cauli rice, naan, or roti and is an absolute treat for the senses and is light on your pocket too. Flavored with clarified butter and velvety thick and creamy tomato sauce.
Cost: $13 for the entree. It is an absolute steal and is worth the try. Perfect for those working lunches or a quick meal on the go.
6. Tilak Indian Cuisine
Location: 3501 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94110
Website: https://tilaksf.com/
About the Restaurant: The brainchild of Chef Tilak, he brings to the table his extensive experience in catering to A-listers and celebrities, with his own unique blend of flavors, traditional cooking techniques. The restaurant is perfect for that family meal or an event you’re planing. With the comforting ambiance, delicious food, and meticulous service, tilak is the place to be.
Tilak’s Butter Chicken: A mild cashew cream sauce paired with a deep and spicy puree of onions and tomatoes, forms the base for this mouth-watering dish. Tender chunks of red chicken meat, cooked gently in the tandoor are coated with this silky sauce and topped with a serving of fresh cream and butter.
Cost: $17 makes this dish one of the more moderately priced dishes, but the experience is worth it when you’re looking for a cosy and family-friendly restaurant.
7. Spice Of America
Location: 1655 Market Street, San Francisco, CA USA 94103
Website: https://www.spiceofamerica.com/
About the Restaurant: Modern Indian cuisine made with the freshest produce from California, made with expertise, and the use of contemporary cooking techniques to transform your dining experience and give you a whole new perspective on what can be called Indian food. Definitely a hot spot for the best butter chicken in San Francisco.
Spice Of America’s Butter Chicken: A succulent and flavorful dish made with red chicken meat, cooked gently in clarified butter and then topped off with a base of onions stewed and blended along with rich creamy tomato gravy and topped off with butter and fresh cream.
Cost: $15.95 moderately priced and a relatively small portion compared to the rest of the competitors on the list. But truly a treat for the senses, everything from the presentation to the aroma and the taste is spot on.
8. Rooh – Progressive Indian Cusine
Location: 333 Brannan St #150, San Francisco, CA 94107.
Website: https://www.roohrestaurants.com/sf-dinner
About the Restaurant: Gaining recognition quickly amongst the big names of the fine dining industry, you will find this restaurant mentioned in the Michelin guide, eater, and globally recognized publications.
A modern bistro set-up paired with trendy cocktails, progressive and modern Indian cuisine.
Perfect for that special date or just a night out to treat your senses, Rooh has got you covered.
Rooh’s Butter Chicken: A twist on the traditional butter chicken Rooh uses smoke red bell peppers that are blended with a creamy onion and tomato sauce, topped with powdered butter. Served in a cast-iron bowl. Sweet and mildly flavored, it is one of their best-selling entrees.
Cost: Priced at $28 dollars it is definitely steep but worth the dinner including the ambiance, the service, and the overall experience. A truly gourmet dining destination to experience the wonderful creations crafted by their team of Chefs.
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