Pakwan Restaurant

San Francisco 16th St Menu. IMG_0320. o (6). Appetizer. Samosa $5.99. (Vegetarian). Papadum (2 Pieces) $3.99. Pakora $5.99. (Mix vegetables fritters).

Pakwan Restaurant – Pakistani Indian Authentic Cuisine

Locations – Pakwan Restaurant

FREMONT · (510) 226-6234 · 41068 Fremont Blvd, Fremont, CA 94538 ; Hayward · (510) 538-2401. 25168 Mission Blvd Hayward, CA 94544 ; San Francisco O`Farrell · (415) …

Reviews

Dilorom Abdu

We love Pakwan. I mostly order to go and I am always happy with the quality of food and the consistency. I like their chicken tikka masala with garlic naan, and also the tandoori chicken leg.
I wasn’t the fan of seekh kebab, but overall a good experience.

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Mohammad M Islam

We visited on December 24th after reading so many rave reviews, and Pakwan completely delivered. The consensus is right—this is some of the most flavorful food I’ve had in many years. Also, it is halal.

We ordered Goat Biryani, BBQ Chicken Legs and Breasts, Chicken Shikh Kebab, Chicken Boti Kebab, Garlic Naan, Cheese Naan, and Plain Naan. The goat biryani came in a huge portion—definitely enough for two people to share. It was incredibly aromatic, with perfectly cooked rice and tender meat. The Chicken Shikh Kebab was okay, nothing extraordinary. The Chicken Boti Kebab was good, but for me, the BBQ chicken was the star of the show: very flavorful, moist, and tender, checking all the boxes for truly great food. All the naans were fresh, fluffy, and delicious.

The service was efficient, and the food came out quickly. As many have noted, it’s a no-frills, casual spot with an average ambiance, clearly focused on fantastic food and great value. There are plenty of seating arrangements available, suitable for both small and large groups, and portions are generous for the price.

It can get very busy and loud during peak dinner hours, but that’s a testament to how good it is. This is now my go-to spot for a satisfying, flavorful meal in San Francisco.

Highly recommended!

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Nij Chawla

Got Uber eats delivery.
Very quick to deliver. Like 20 minutes!
Stellar authentic Pakistani food flavor

A little extra greasy though

Loved – must do again

* Nihari
* Palak Ghosht Mutton
* Naan

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Essam Abdelazim

One of the best Pakistani food in town. Everything I had over here tasted as authentic as it can be but also has a touch of fusion from some of Pakistan’s neighbor countries. Clean places, good access to tables, plenty of seating, best mango lassie in town. Food is delicious and perfectly flavored. Naan-bread is really good especially the cheese Naan. BBQ chicken and beef was amazing and the curry goat was out of this world. Finally all to be sealed with a seriously delicious veggie biryani that had the perfect spice level. Love this place and I’ve been coming here for the past 14 years and with every visit I find myself thinking about how soon I can be back.

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Zohaib Patoli

Last night, I stumbled into Pakwan for dinner, a casual Pakistani spot that somehow manages to feel both unpretentious and deeply nostalgic. There was no rush, no line, and plenty of open tables both inside and out. The kind of place where time slows down just enough for you to notice the little things: the soft hum of conversation, the sizzle of the open kitchen, and the aromatic swirl of cumin, garlic, and smoke that instantly reminded me of Lahore.
The owner himself was behind the register, greeting guests with that quiet hospitality that makes you feel more like family than a customer. Watching the kitchen from my table, I could see the flames leap as the chefs worked, each flicker echoing the street food stalls of Bun’s Road. The air carried that unmistakable perfume of char, chili, and masala that every Pakistani knows by heart.
The menu struck the perfect balance, authentic, diverse, and focused. I ordered lamb chops, chicken karahi, chicken tikka masala, chicken boti, and naan. The lamb was tender, smoky, and perfectly seasoned, each bite pulling apart like a slow confession. The chicken karahi was a soulful, tomato-forward masterpiece, brimming with ginger and green chili heat that built slowly, never overwhelming. The tikka masala had that rare honesty you rarely find outside a home kitchen, creamy, spiced just right, with depth instead of sweetness. The boti was grilled to perfection, juicy and kissed by fire, and the naan… golden, crisp on the edges, soft in the middle, the kind that makes you forget utensils exist.
Everything together felt like a sensory homecoming. For a moment, I wasn’t in San Francisco. I was back in Lahore, sitting on my grandmother’s veranda, her hand running through my hair as the smell of karahi drifted from the kitchen. That’s what Pakwan does. It doesn’t just feed you, it transports you.
If you’re looking for something real, something with heart, skip the white tablecloths. Come here, sit down, and let the food remind you what authenticity tastes like.

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Burhan Tokhay

I asked the staff if the food was fresh before ordering, and they assured me it was. Unfortunately, when the food arrived, it was extremely cold (almost like it had been sitting for a long time). Since I am fasting, quality and freshness are very important to me, and the food did not meet expectations.

We ended up not eating it. Very disappointed with the experience. I hope the restaurant improves their food quality and freshness in the future.

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Imran Shaikh

Pakistani restaurant
Fast service – event peak hours
Self-service
Medium priced
Food portions – are big enough to share
Sad ambiance – need some love & maintenance
Washroom – needs cleaning & serious upgrade
Staff – counter staff needs some American hospitality, they still feel behave as if they are in IÑdįÅ/Pakistan. Lack of welcoming gesture and smile.
But there is my most fav person HASHIM he always welcome with a huge smile and win everyone’s heart

Food:
Nihari – must try – Excellent
Achar gosht – decent taste good
Hydrabadi Dum briyani – not authentic
Chicken biryani – good
Daal Chana – very basic
Tondoori chicken leg – Excellent
Boneless chicken boti – Excellent
Samosa – ok types
Pakor – don’t ever try plz
Chai – don’t ever try plz
Regular naan – Hot, fresh & fluffy – Excellent

Best choice in the city & highly recommend

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Deep B

The food here is too good. Had the opportunity to try the Biriyani as a special and it was just beyond delicious. Very aromatic and not too oily but with the right flavors and tender meat. It was great. I would also recommend trying the kebabs since they are known for that. Recently they have toned down the spice but the taste is great.

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Food Date

A nice restaurant on the 16th street, San Francisco downtown. It has self service. They have good mutton kebabs. We tried these. We also tried naan with chhole, which was average. Chhole were bland. Veg food is expensive though. One good thing they give unlimited tea. For someone who is a tea lover it’s good. Music was good. Washrooms were neat.

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Jonathan Paugh

Excellent service! Great food! Staff is friendly and helpful. I asked for lemon to add to my dish, and they gave me lemon and two other things to match my dish. Very practical! Had biryani and Nihari, and loved both. As always with Indian place is, the portions are family-sized, so plan to share your plate; extra plates available at the register.

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SF 16th St Menu – Pakwan Restaurant