Shalimar

I’ve eaten Shalimar’s twice — once inside and then to go. I’m going to make this post short.
The food is great! Probably some of the best Indian food I’ve ever eaten.
However, this is the kind of place you go for the food and not the service. The service is decent at best. The other thing I didn’t like so much was the restaurant doesn’t look appealing at all. When I went there, it was not busy at all and the place didn’t look clean. A lot of empty tables that needed to be wiped down, especially the floor.

Horrible service! This place was so loud that you cannot even eat a peaceful meal. Very dirty place.

I dont know how they run this place i wish i could give them –5 for costumer service!
They are super rude and unprofessional, guy at the counter taking orders have no communication skills what so ever, how to talk or even how to be nice to people walking in your restaurant to have a meal.
Place was super dirty when we got there and we requested to get a table cleaned up and the response i got from cashier was «find a table that is clean» seriously you must be f****** kidding me.
I go there just for food but i don’t think all this is worth the nonsense we have to out up with.
So family decided to stop ordering what so ever from them.
Hope they realize what they are loosing day per day.
Will not recommend this place to anyone.

Customer service sucks! The person who is on reception Mr Omar very very rude and unpleasant in talk! We had a bad experience!
We called and ordered on phone as we r returning from somewhere and told him we will be in 15 mint and will eat there ! We reached and he packed the stuff that’s ok sometimes on phone it’s not clear. My husband said we will be eating here can u serve us here ! He said on phone they just take to go order and we already packed so go out and eat how can one be so rude with a customer !
Also food was not good
Shalimar Fremont is better!
Would never go there !

We have ordered from this Shalimar location 10+ times. We usually order Chicken Sheekh kababs, Chicken breast, and Chicken Leg. The kababs are great here. This place gets crowded during Friday and weekend evenings. This place is also slightly dirty.

I’ve been going to Shalimar with my family for the past 16 years and I take every negative comment personal. Shalimar is our staple restaurant — and frankly speaking, if you don’t like the food there, then you aren’t ordering the right things. Not every restaurant is good at everything. This restaurant is great at making typical Lahori street food. Sorry vegetarians, the only vegetables on our table are onions and jalapenos, so this review is not for you.
Here’s what to order:
Naan (they sell naan for freaking $ 1 each. Other restaurants charge up to $ 2.50)
Seekh kabab (beef ones are good, chicken ones are amazing)
Nihari
Paya (the Fremont restaurant makes better paya than the Dublin restaurant)
Maghaz Brain Masala
Chicken Tikka Leg Quarter
Chana Daal
Raita (yogurt sauce) Naan
Kheer (dessert)
Drizzle your plate with the Mint and Tamarind Chutneys and onion slices and you’re set.
Don’t order Biryani, or Chicken Tikka Masala or Palak Paneer or Bhindi — there are other restaurants out there who do a better job with those dishes. Hope this improves your outlook on the restaurant.

If you like great Pakistani food and don’t care about the service the restaurant provides then this is your place.

Just had chicken breast, and beef seekh kabob… both tasty with fresh bread…
They have now remodeled the place… the place has better ambience décor…
Great server… with smile on his face… didn’t want his name on review…

Customer service sucks.
No courtesy and no friendly approach.
Would never come bk again and won’t suggest this to anybody.

Honestly this place used to be good. Now it serves generic Pakistani food that you can find in Walmart freezer section. Everything is too oily and there is no flavor at all.
Also at once occasion I placed and order to go and asked for a small container of green sauce which they complimentary and was denied.
I honestly will never eat there again. I have given it plenty of chances but it just keeps getting worse. As seen on the trending low Unilocal reviews.

This is for the food only, folks. It’s good. I’ve been to the one on Jones in the city, the one in Fremont, and I appreciate the spaciousness of this Dublin location.
I got my usual, rice, chicken tikka breast, bengan bharta (bengen bhujia on their menu). Excellent. Mango lassi was good, too.
But, décor sucks, pictures askew, and the floor is filthy.
The women’s restroom had a tampon applicator on the fake potted plant. Hey guys, I know you’re all dudes who hustle. It’s a busy place, but pay attention to the housekeeping. Please.
You’re making money hand over fist; you’re rent is probably high, but hire someone to clean up the place.
The food came out really quickly.

Here is my take on Shalimar, with Pros and Cons. While trying to remove some sticky stuff off my shoes…
Pros:
1. The price are reasonable, maybe a bit higher, but reasonable, just like any other Indian/​Pakistani restaurant in the same category. That is all I got…
Cons:
1. The food is just OK, I am not sure why all the high reviews?! Many other similar restaurants with similar dishes, I believe have better taste, a bit more spice. Can’t give you a example, because «The Man» will probably pull my review.
2. The place is NOT clean (Sticky stuff on my Shoes), the tables are wiped down with dirt clothes and they are in very poor shape. This is a surprise, because this place seems to be making some fat cash, at least fix the tables and chairs.
3. Some of dishes have this huge amount of oil in them, so if you don’t grease dishes, be careful what you order.
4. If ordering meat, You should check your Tandoori Chicken or meat, the table next to me and my dish was raw! Not good, ask for Well Done!
4. The customer service, is not really there, when you order, they person taking your order is rude.
We my conclusion to Shalimar, the food is OK, but the server is not really there, but try it yourself. I will not be going back.

Good food, good size portion, good pricing
Once had food poisoning on Jones location and lost 15lbs and had diarrhea for 3weeks. I should have called health department and go to the court. This was 10years ago.
I get beef seekh kebab, garbanzo beans, chicken botti, eggplant dish and of course nasn mostly. All finger licking good. Appreciate the complimentary tea!

Shalimar has the best chicken breast tundori. I have been to their Fremont and Dublin locations. Somehow I like the one in Fremont better. Don’t know why but their chicken Breast tundori is better.
I love their freshly baked naan and of course the Indian tea is my all time favorite

would not recommend this place to any one. Food smell is very welcoming, but the same doesnt apply to its taste.
ORDER: the guy who took the order is very arrogant. Doesnt pay attention to what u are ordering and only takes half the order.
SERVING: The guy does not serve you water till you eat all your food, unless you ask.
FOOD: Everything is plain and very oily. curries literally have a layer of oil floating on top.
vegetarian curries have lot of color added in them.
There are better places around here

Whether it’s a seekh kabab, a tandori chicken, regular or garlic naan, Shalimar (both Jones St in SF or Dublin location) gots it locked.
Not the cleanest, but most certainly the meanest. These are hard working group of folks that know how to cook or grill it out.
If you’re ever on the run, and you’re near that place, go it, order two seekh kabab wrapped into one naan, pay your $ 6 or $ 7, leave full and happy. Beats any fast food joint.

A great place for Pakistani food in east bay. The food is freshly made everyday. The naan and tandoori dishes are made to order. The portion for the price is great. They also serve free tea like a typical Pakistani restaurant. The tandoori chicken is juicy and fresh and not of much heat. The biriyani is what I like the most especially chicken. The rice is basmati. The meat is tender and succulent. The naan is little bit dry but I am comparing it based on naan’s that I had in south India so i may not be right on this. The Karahi chicken is juicy and full of spices. The portion is good for the price all dishes are less than 10 bucks.
The reason for 4 vs 5 stars is due to cleanliness. The restaurant can be kept little bit more clean. I have seen its chain in SFO food taste the same but the restaurant is maintained well.

For a very casual and inexpensive restaurant, I admire the quality of service and food that they offer.
My hubby and I loved their Saag Paneer, Naan, Goat Curry, and Tandoori chicken. What they lacked in food presentation, compensated for the taste of their food. at first glance, I found their tandoori chicken dry and even burnt. But the moment I tried it, I was proven wrong. The chicken was tasty and juicy. I noticed that many of their patrons also ordered the Tandoori chicken.
I am a big Paneer fan and would try any Paneer in Spinach sauce that has it. I can confidently say that this place is by far my favorite. I usually just eat the Paneer and dip it in the sauce. But foe their version, I couldn’t help eating the leftover spinach sauce when the Paneer was all gone.
Our kids loved their Naan, and so did I. It came out fresh from the oven. It was crunchy, but not hard.
I was never very particular with ambiance or fancy resto settings. So the fast food atmosphere was quite all right with me.
I hope they could help improve the communication barrier. My hubby had a hard time getting his orders taken. But at the end of it, we ended up getting all our orders served, but in installation.

popular casual indian spot… but hella filthy dirty tables, floors, & bathrooms… garbage everywhere… see my pic… gross…ruin dining experience… pointed out to the busser & he said he’d clean, but nvr did…
THE VIBE | café-style…order at the counter, tell them where u r sitting, pay cashier at the end, grab ur utensils, naps, fixings/​condiments (onions, jalapeños, lemon juices), & drinks frm the fridge case… food follows right away… pre-​made…
THE FOOD | see my pic of:
Goat Karahi | 10.95 …Khyber Pass region delicacy w/​Northern spices, herbs & tomatoes… spicy…some bone-​in pieces how i like it, but also w/​boneless pcs, eh
Chix Tikka Masala | 7.95 …bbq cooked w/​butter in Shalimar spices… on the sour side… i dont like my masala that way… buttery kind is better
Shalimar Chawal | 2.5 …basmati rice cooked in a rich stock of savory spices, brown onions & made aromatic w/​touch of exotic saffron… average
Naan-​a-​Akbar | 1… unleavened bread baked in clay oven… average
CONCLUSION | dishes r kinda on the small side… tried frm reco, but prob won’t return
out the door for 2: $ 25…no need to tip here…

The cleanliness is going down the tube. Neve seen a dirtier restaurant!
Where is the health department when you need them? Is this some kind of racist acceptance of brown people’s living standard?
I thought I live in america ??
These people love to claim that they sell halal food, but they should realize that cleanliness is one of the requirement of faith!
The toilets are filthy, and you run the risk of getting yellow turmeric stains on your pants if you sit and eat there.
They are also racist. If you have fair skin you get served last.
Lastly, why don’t they have woman working at any of the Shalimars? How could the owner Who is making millions can get away with gender prejudice?
Two star because the flavors are great and the Naan is fresh. But man I can not take the dirtiness.