Chutney
Category: Indian/Pakistani [Edit]
Neighborhood: Civic Center/Tenderloin511 Jones Street
(between Geary St & Ofarrell St)
San Francisco, CA 94102 (415) 931-5541
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11:00 a.m.-12:00 a.m. - Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Dinner
- Alcohol: None
107 reviews
Neighborhood: Castro
"I can't speak about their menu b/c I never order off of it. I freaking love their buffet (and I'm not big on buffets). My favorite is the…" read more »
283 Reviews for Chutney
Its been quite awhile since my visiting of this little known Indian joint, 1 year probably to be exact.
I've only ordered the Chicken Tikka Masala and it was quite tasty. The sauce was rich but not overwhelming, the rice was moist but not mushy and the chicken was tender. Not much to say about the place itself, just a bunch of tables and chairs, the people are kinda rude and the food takes at least 12-15 minutes.
I wouldnt find myself going there often.
When I'm downtown and craving some Indian food, I prefer Chutney over Naan n Curry. This place is just nicer and has a cleaner feeling to it. The prices are cheap and the service is very good. Chutney is a very popular place to dine at night.
I ordered a chicken spinach dish. It was good, but not possible for me to eat unless I had some naan because I couldn't even handle the mild spices! I suck. So I just ate all the chicken and couldn't finish all the spinach. Oh well, you should still try it!
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
WTF happened Chutney?!?!??!?!?! I know you used to have delicious food! I swear! It couldn't have been drug induced psychosis; nothing I've hallucinated has tasted this good.
I've been coming here for about two years and twas my fav indian spot in the city despite the sketchy area. Well tbh my friends live on Jones and Ellis and I love bringing people to the heart of the TL.
Anyway, time before last that we patronized this establishment, the food was so-so and they ran out of RICE. NO RICE IN AN INDIAN RESTAURANT? So I ran down to Pakwan and got a large rice to go for us to eat at Chutney. Mistake... we should have known there was something off.
The chicken tikki masala was not spicy anymore, the garlic naan no longer crispy, and worst of all; the lamb was mushy. I'm not sure if there's some sort of mutiny from the kitchen staff or new owners changing everything but nothing tastes the same. Now I'll have to go to the mission for mah curry :(
Also there was a large party and someone's car got towed which caused some random b*tch to shove me hard into the door while running to yell at the poor tow guy. Dude it's your own GD fault that you can't see through ten layers of mascara and eyeshadow... yeah that's a red zone. Learn how to park in the city or go back to Castro Valley. Hella TRASHY. Ugh. Her friends tried to apologize but the staff didn't bat an eye. *sigh* enough is enough.
Thank you very much Chutney for once being so awesome but I'm gonna have to say goodbye now. Sometimes you just have to hit it and know when to quit it.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
When I get Indian food I expect to have some heavily sauced dish where after I'm done eating the main entree I can wipe the plate clean with my warm naan bread. Chutney unfortunately was a bit too 'clean' if that makes sense. The okra dish I ordered was okay but there wasn't too much of it and it left behind zero sauce on the plate after I finished it.
The rice and the naan were fine. Free tea is always welcome and their's is quite good. This place is more Pakistani than Indian as the owner explained to me. He said they market it more as an Indian restaurant because that's what people are more familiar with. I wish they'd market it how it really is so I can expect the right food.
One thing I do expect is I won't go to this place again soon just because there are lots of other options within 1 block of here, including Lahore Karahi, one of my faves.
Hoorah for Chutney!
This place...
- is cheap
- is delicious
- lets you BYOB
- gives you really decent portions
- has the best tandoori fish I've ever tasted
Yum. Yum. And more Yum.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
I always like a place where I can see the food being cooked. Right behind the counter you can watch your order going into the tandoori. The aromas coming from the tandoori are very enticing. My favorites here are the spinach with potatoes and fenugreek and of course fresh hot naan bread.
Not a "Fine Dining" establishment. If you are looking for that go elsewhere. But if you want tasty, spicy, cheap Indian food this is a good spot for it. Every time I've been here there have been a lot of Indian men eating here. That is always a good sign to me.
With an all-Hispanic staff and Latino music playing on the stereo during lunch, Chutney is losing its authentic Indian/Pakistani feel. Along with it's loss of authenticity comes big chunks of inedible spices left in the meals, bones in meals that should be boneless, watery curry, watery sauces, and inconsistent meat portions. What a disappointment, as I've been eating here since they opened, but now I'm left searching for a new favorite Indian/Pakistani restaurant. Quality-wise, you just never know what you're going to get when you come here anymore...
I think Chutney used to have better food. Standard spread of Indian Fare with a few daily specials. The first few times I went here I couldn't get enough but more recently it seems that their food has gone down in quality. Well not quality but flavor at least. I could care less if it were low quality for the price it was sold for but I do demand flavor. As always with Indian restaurants in the bay, somehow you can magically bring booze into this place free of charge and ridicule.
Extra story that you might not care about:
This was the first restaurant I ever "yelped" before visiting. The yelp article I read said something about how the costumer had walked in and saw a cockroach on the floor and was totally disgusted and left.
On my very first visit I walked in and was telling my friend that exact same story when a cockroach scurried out from underneath the front counter. The gentleman at the counter proceeded to walk around the counter and crush it, after which he returned to his place behind the counter and asked us what we would like to eat. It was totally hilarious.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
I really wanted to like Chutney. I was so incredibly hopeful upon seeing the spacious dining area, complete with pleasant interiors and tandoori smoke free air. The salad bar and nice waiters impressed me, as did the chai, which actually tasted like chai. And the man at the counter was so friendly! Seriously, what a difference from other Indian restaurants in the same 'hood.
But. it always comes down to.the food. It may have been an off day, like a really off day, because otherwise I have no idea why so many people love this place. The naan was limp and the chicken tikka masala was almost tasteless- I think they forgot an ingredient? Something was seriously wrong with this dish. And it contained exactly two small pieces of chicken, as did the korma curry, latter also not very good.
The samosas were decent and I really liked my $1.99 skewer of seekh kabab, both of which saved the meal from being a total letdown.
Later that night we both felt a little sickly. I'd give Chutney the edge over Naan and Curry, but just barely.
So, I hate to break up a string of good reviews for this place but a girl's gotta do what her stomach tells her to...which is how we ended up here, in 2 starland. The menu of this place always looks enticing but I just keep being disappointed in the quality. Avoid the Tikka Masala in my view and if you're still reading this, may I also suggest that you avoid the garlic naan- unless you are prepared to kill people for a week as a result of it's...potency...
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
I went back to Chutney again for maybe the 40th time. This time I tried the kheer for desert. It was savory and delicious. I'm going to get it again soon. The veggie wrap is still as awesome as it has ever been. New cashier since last time I went, he speaks Spanish and English and he was very nice. The whole staff is nice. If you love Indian food, then you probably already know that Chutney's quality of food cannot be beaten considering the low price. When you're broke and starving head to Chutney.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
07/06/2007
Awesome food, great place for vegetarians that like spicy food. Prices are awesome. If you are by… Read more »
What an awesome find! I had the audacity to ask a taxi driver where to find good Indian food. After enthusiastically urging us to have dinner at his home with his family, he reluctantly suggested Chutney.
Let me just say it was simply awesome. Decided to share multiple dishes with a friend... it was so cheap we ordered practically half the menu. Tandoori chicken, lamb sausage, curry shrimp (Bombay style), lamb curry, mango chutney, and of course fried rice and too many pieces of naan. Wow.
So the verdict is great food, friendly staff, and decent decor for an ethnic restaurant. Although if you're a germophobe (and don't like semi-dirty glasses that make you feel like you're drinking straight from the Ganges) or feel uncomfortable trekking around Tenderloin (there was a large bullet hole in the window by our table) I'd suggest you skip it. But hey, be daring! This is food worthy of a last meal any day.
Oddly enough, when we went back to the hotel to rave about the place to the concierge, he seemed truly aghast that us n00bs had ventured into Tenderloin without the benefit of firearm protection... but I never felt at risk.
Personally, I'd eat there again and again. Delicious!
Chutney is not located at the best areas, but the food is worth it!
Good Stuff:
* Chicken Tikka Masala
* Onion Naan
* Lamb Vindaloo
* Chicken Biryani
* Tandoori Chicken
* Rice Pullao
I just came back from a 10 day trip to India - New Delhi and Mumbai.
I ate fantastic food everywhere I visited...and I still think Chutney has some of the best Indian/Pakistani food on the planet.
It's so good, I brought colleagues to Chutney for a business meal, we brought in a fantastic bottle of wine and drank it out of warm glass tumblers.
Cost of wine: $56.00
Cost of dinner for four: $50.00
The colleagues LOVED it, they were tired of eating at places that stretch the expense account - places just like you'd find anywhere else (who really needs a hamachi appetizer anyway?).
I love Chutney. Jaden loves Chutney. Chutney is rad.
So the business dinner worked out - after dinner took a strange twist when I took the out of towners to the glass dildo shop...but that's another review altogether
I have been going to Chutney at least once a week for the past 2 months or so, and so far Im a fan. I work in the area and when I need a quick Indian fix this is the place I turn to. Sure I like Lahore Karahi a bit more, but that place takes forever. Also I think being a frequent customer helps out too, its always pretty good.
Chutney is another CHEAP EATs place. There place gets crowded during lunch and dinner, as the food is GOOD and CHEAP. SImilar to Pakwan, but much larger like a large cafeteria. Do not expect service, as you are visiting for good cheap Indian/Pakistani food.
Too bad Los Angeles does not have a Tandooriloin.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
Ok so I'm a BIG fan of hole-in-the-wall places with excellent food. For me, that's what Yelp is all about: Those secret spots with all the good dishes. Chutney is one of those places.
The Tikka Masala sauce is AWESOME and will have you dipping your Naan bread into it to get every last drop. (I am partial to the Chicken Tikka Masala) Couple it with the Tandoori Prawns and you'll be fighting with whoever you take there for the last morsel. The prices are good, the staff is efficient, and the ambiance is.. well it's not about the ambiance! (Hole in the wall.. remember?) The neighborhood is kinda sketch, but I've never had a problem parking there. It's all worth it for the best Indian food in SF. Eat here. Claim victory over mediocrity!
People thought this was:
Cool (1)
Chutney's has some ok Indian food. While the food quality is good, the quantity can sometimes be straight stingy...it's a hit-or-miss.. sometimes you get decent quantity of food, other times, you'll be thinkin', wtf is the rest of my food. Definitely worth trying if you've never had Indian food before. But if you want some Indian food that's a bit better in quality and much cheaper, you should check out Shalimar.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
My boss decided to take me here one friday. Alright, so I have never really eaten Indian food but I decided to try it. I think this place was Gyoood! We ordered the lamb kabob, chicken bbq, Tikka Masala and naan. I loved it. I am definitely recommending this to my friends.
My friend introduced me to this place last week. It was really busy- always a good sign. The food was great. Love that naan! I ordered the lamb mesala, which was tender, juicy and full of flavor. I wish they gave you more, though!..haha Still, load up on some more naan, have a few cups of the free, self-serve chai, and check out other treats on their hefty-size menu. You'll love it!
Bon appetit!
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
This place is amazing. I eat here at least once every two weeks.
The food is consistently the best Indian I've ever had. Every dish I've had on their menu is delicious, filled with flavor; they know how to cook with their spices.
The atmosphere is what I look for in a restaurant that I want to visit on a regular basis. It smells wonderful and is always filled with a lively crowd. The food comes quick and is very reasonably priced. They also have excellent Chai that is actually free of charge; my only complaint is that it goes quick and it seems l'm always waiting for a fresh brew.
Don't tell me there is another place in San Francisco with better Indian until you've tried Chutney.
If they gave more meat in their dishes, they would receive top ratings.
Everything else is delicious. I love this place!
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
Chutney's never let me down.
Yay Paneer Tikka Masala !!!!!!
So I rarely rave about any restaurant, because so many places in SF are overrated or overpriced scenes. But this place definitely gets 5 stars. So much better than competitors. Move over Naan & Curry, there's a new sheriff in town.
Already been said, but fantastic food at great prices. Dishes are full of flavor and very fresh, portion sizes are perfect, and it's a fantastic value. No booze, but you can BYO and they don't charge corkage. And unlike N&C, the tikka masala is NOT the only good dish on the menu.
I personally prefer the vegetarian dishes here (vegetable biryani and the okra dishes are outstanding) but the meat dishes are great as well. Where else can you find goat brain on the menu? Nowhere, that's where. So get at it. Highly recommended.
The only reason I don't give this place a full five stars is because the ambiance is non-existent. Other than that the food is great. The tikka masala is great, the lamb curry is yummy, and all the different kinds of naan (pita bread) is mouth watering! the garlic naan is sooo good and the cheese one is to die for. The staff is friendly. Definitely try it!
The food here is great. I wish I can give them 6 stars. I don't eat too much Indian food, and when I do, I usually go to Naan-n-Curry. But I think I found a new Indian spot to go to for my fix. The chicken tandoori was so tasty, and juicy. You can tell they use good product here. The naan was good too. If you can get pass the land of crackheads, deadbeats, and the weird known as the Tenderloin, then go. Just remember it will be spicy and will give you the shits. Not a good first date spot.
Still a winner after all these years! I think I went around 5 years ago, and recently hit up Chutney again. Great curries, delish naan, and fast service. SO cheap too!
1 Previous Review:
-
04/05/2007
Great prices, good food, and VERY clean!
I wanted to pick a better spot for my 400th review, however it is what it is... I can't believe I wrote that, because I really hate that overused saying!
I've been going to Chutney since it opened. By no means am I an expert on Indian/Pakistani/Halal food. I like having the chicken tikka masala or the chicken boti with naan. I enjoy the salad that comes with the meal and the hot milk tea which is gratis. I think the joint is fairly clean and comfortable, especially compared to Shalimar across the street.
The significance of the number 400. Well, I'm a baseball fan and the last player to hit .400 was Ted Williams in 1941. Chipper Jones is batting .420 64 games into this season. The chances of Chipper finishing the year @ .400 are as good as the Giants signing Barry Bonds for the rest of the season...
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
I love hanging out on the filthiest corner of the tenderloin surrounded by piss, shit and pigeon feathers, talking to an insane man with no teeth because our to-go order is taking so goddamn loooong to come out. Does lamb take longer to cook than chicken? According to the dude at the counter it does but I think he might have lied. And actually, I don't love hanging out on shit corners of the loin and am really thankful that I have a toothbrush and cable TV.
Admittedly, my Tandori chicken salad was extremely tasty. According to my companion his lamb wrap was worth the wait. (Which I'm not kidding was over a half hour). So I am going to be nice and still give them three stars, and make a mental note that I have time to score some crack and get a reasonably priced Thai "massage" while waiting for lamb to cook because they obviously have thicker flesh than other animals.
People thought this was:
Useful (24)
Funny (31)
Cool (26)
The best PAKI/INDIAN food I've ever had is at Chutneys. Great service, great portions, great prices. I've never had a bad experience here when ti comes to ordering food .
The Chicken Tika Massla is off the hook and the best I've tasted ever.
YUM! for the 3 or 4 days that my boyfriend and i stayed in san francisco, we ate at least one meal here EVERYDAY lol. he had been here a few years back, but he said it expanded. we love indian food, and this was a great, quick, casual, easy-on-the-wallet spot to get it. the food just seemed way tastier than the food @ na'an & curry..
eat here!
Great Food, Great people and by far the best Prices. I have been to this place many times and never thought to write a review. But just remembering their flavors and craving for their food compelled me to write a review.
If you don't mind taking a stroll in the Tenderloin, check out Chutney! There are quite a few Indian/Pakistani restaurants in the Tenderloin and Chutney definitely is one of the better ones. Last time I was there I had the naan, basmati rice, spinach w/ cheese cubes, tandoori chicken, mango chutney and lentils. They were all delicious. The naan was perfect - not too burnt or dry.
I like Indian restaurants in general where you can grab your own drinks, plates, and utensils and pack your food to go at will. It makes everything so much easier and much more efficient.
SUPER DELICIOUS!!! Tons and tons of food!!! ( well, 6 plates) and some other couple bought us someone else that was tasty. First time in a long time that i had food from this part of the world and it was delicious. I can't wait to go back. Not only is the food tasty, but seeing the hookers and the passed out street kids and cracked out people twitching out on the street corners and doing the meth-head shuffle always make me smile. This place is San Francisco.
This is - by far .. the BEST Indian resto I've ever tried! Nothing beats Chutney and it's Chicken Tikka Masala! (thanks to Pashmina who introduced me to this down to earth - hole in the wall greatest Indian resto!). My must have menu there: chicken tikka masala, garlic naan and biryani rice - drink: mango lasii and Indian chai tea (free, btw!). OK, sometimes I ordered lamb tikka masala, just bcoz I'm not a big fan of white meat (YES, I'm a dark meat lover, babee ..) - but what makes the Tikka Masala the BEST in the whole world (so I believe) is the sauce! I can just live with the sauce, and garlic naan and biryani rice! :)
My fave time to lunch or dine is either early lunch or early dinner (around 11-11.30 for lunch and 6.00 for dinner) - to avoid the wait.
I had Tikka Masala with no meat, just potatoes and tofu. But I don't know if the guy misunderstood me or just forgot, he did not put potatoes in my tikka masala which made me sad :(. so i just had tofu. but the sauce is good, a little creamy. There was a lot of sauce so i had to save the other half for lunch tomorrow. All in all, I think its pretty good and most likely will come back again.
Kind of dirty, but that's to be expected with the order-at-the-register-then-sit-down-then-they-brin g-the-food-then-go-back-to-the-register-and-pay-th ere model of South Asian restaurant. More importantly, the food wasn't good. My sister had a tandoori chicken that was bland and salty. I had a *tiny* portion of chicken tikka masala that tasted like campbell's tomato soup. Boo.
People thought this was:
Funny (1)
I love this place, I live just around the corner and can barely keep myself out. when the first opened I was in there 2 -3 times a week. I had to force myself not to go. I have a few favorite dishes.
1. Chicken Tikka Massala
2. Chicken or lamb Saag
3. Lamb Birianni
4. Bindhi Massala
add in a Na an
and a good buddy and you have a great little meal.
Chutney used to be my favorite Indian restaurant in the city, however, I've gotten sick after eating there the last two times. While tossing and turning with stomach cramps, I decided to look up their health code score. They received NINE health code violations and a very poor 68 from their January '08 inspection for violations including vermin (rats), inproper hand washing stations, and improper food storage. That enough to make me wanna throw up.... and never eat there again. Don't get me wrong, I love this place, but it's not safe to eat there. Beware!
Health Department Report: http://www.dph.sf.ca.u...
People thought this was:
Useful (5)
Funny (1)
The Chicken Tikka Masala is very good.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
People Who Viewed This Also Viewed...
-
-
-
Sukhi's Authentic Indian…
7 reviews
Neighborhood: Civic Center/Tenderloin
Category: Indian/Pakistani -
-
Related Lists
-
Halaloin
Who knew? The Northeast corner of the Tenderloin… -
My Neighborhood
My local dry cleaner, watering hole, deli, cafe,… -
Top Restaurants
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the… -
Number of stars/Divide by…
These places are just... meh! Just your average 3… -
My quest to find "my"…
I'm still looking for a Indian place I can get… -
Indian Food! Indian Food!…
I eat Indian food 3-4 times a week... I just can't… -
when the wallet's a bit…
these are the places where i can drop a few mad… -
The first hundred:…
When having 20 friends was the norm, and before…
Hot and New
- Okina Sushi
135 reviews
Neighborhood: Inner Richmond
- Woodward's Garden
100 reviews
Neighborhood: Mission
- BIX
418 reviews
Neighborhood: Financial District
- Foreign Cinema
1068 reviews
Neighborhood: Mission
- Maruya Sushi
33 reviews
Neighborhood: Japantown