Tucked away in a strip mall, it's easy to drive by unless you're looking for it. It's a cozy space, which pretty much says, come here for the food not for the ambiance. And yes, it absolutely delivers on the food. We went here on a Friday evening for their special biryani and enjoyed it! The portions are generous, one biryani can easily feed two people. It a self serve place where they bring your food out to your table, but you pick up your own plates, silverware etc. The Kaachi mutton biryani was packed full of flavor and it was easy to see why they had a steady stream of pick up orders. We also got the kosha chicken which is spicy but not overpoweringly so. To end off our meal, we got the norer gul rosohogulla, a good flavor and mildly sweet. Overall, a solid place for take out and eating at home, since you will not want to move after you've indulged! read more

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We stumbled upon Bongo's during my husband's ongoing quest to find the best Bengali food in the Bay Area. Bongo's serves authentic Bangladeshi cuisine, which is very close in flavor to Bengali/Kolkata-style food--so we were excited to try it. Our first impression, honestly, wasn't great. It's a very small place with just a few tables--I wouldn't even quite call it a full-fledged restaurant. But since it came highly recommended by several people, we decided to dine in anyway. We started with the fish chop (cutlet) and chicken Mughlai paratha, and both were amazing. The paratha does take a while to prepare, so be prepared to wait--but it's absolutely worth it. Freshly made, rich, and indulgent. For the mains, I tried their Kachi Biryani (available only on Fridays), and my husband ordered the fish dopiaza with polao. The biryani was hands down the best dish of the night--succulent goat pieces, fragrant and flavorful rice, mildly spiced, and perfectly balanced. It was pure comfort food. My husband thoroughly enjoyed the fish curry as well and said it was very delicious and authentic. Overall, the food was amazing, and the service was good too. That said, given the limited space and setup, next time I would probably opt for takeout instead of dining in. If you're craving authentic Bangladeshi/Bengali flavors in the Bay Area, Bongo's is definitely worth trying--just adjust your expectations about the ambience and focus on the food. read more

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I wasn't sure what to expect because I'm not familiar with Bengali food. I ordered the molag chicken and it was really good! The worker even gave me some samples of goat and yogurt. I was sitting by a guy who was from Bangladesh and he told me this is real authentic Bengali food. If you have locals telling you its good then you know you got the real deal. Prices are pretty reasonable to. read more

Vegetarian reviewer: I got a delivery order of Roshogulla and mishti doi with a friend . Being from Kolkata and having eaten the actual mishti doi - this was a little disappointing. It was thick, which was great, but I felt like the orangish color was food-color. The yogurt was properly sour and had sugar in it but not jaggery, I think. My point either you make it with sugar and sell the white colored mishti doi or the naturally brownish colored mishti doi - with jaggery. The Roshogullas were big enough but not too soft to melt in mouth. My friend also liked the it better than the doi -pretty big and filling. You can control the sweetness as per your liking .. by squeezing out the syrup. Prices seem to be fair. NOTE: They care about their business and replied to this review. On the same day! Love that, they are definitely looking to take care of their customers! read more

Bongo's - Mishti doi (large) - Indian Near Me - Fremont, California

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I would have given them 10 out of 5 if I could . Can't praise their gurer Rosogolla enough . Absolutely the best . In fact I think theirs is better than most of the gurer Rosogolla I had in Kolkata . Lil on the pricy side but totally worth it because of the taste and the size of each Rosogolla. I have ordered the sorshe ( mustard) fish curry and it was scrumptious too . It is not an upscale place but it definitely beats lots of upscale place when it comes to taste . Absolutely recommended!!! read more

Bongo's - Indian Near Me - Fremont, California

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Our review for Bongo's Bangladeshi restaurant in Fremont - Price point: $ (~$15-20 pp) ***Pro tip: On Fridays, they serve Kachhi goat biriyani! - : Bangladeshi (Bengali) - : Interior is small and can accommodate upto 4 ppl per table. It is clean and service is good. They have Bengali folk music on most of the time, which really elevates the experience. We prefer to generally order to-go and eat at the comfort of our home! - : 1. : Try this if you are a Kolkata biriyani fan. Honestly we think this is better than most Kolkata biriyani (Arsalan, Aminia, Shiraj, Dada Boudi, etc). The goat is super tender, juicy and perfectly cooked. The portion size is huge (comes with an egg) and can be easily shared by 2 ppl (10/10). 2. : This is very similar to Kolkata chicken biriyani, but has a unique taste. It comes with a huge chicken leg piece and egg. This is the closest to Kolkata chicken biriyani you will get in bay area (9.5/10) 3. : A very specialized Bengali dessert, the rosogollas (cheeseballs soaked in sugar syrup) are soft, sweetness is perfectly well balanced and the flavor of gur (jaggery) is strong (9.5/10) 4. : Another classic Bengali dessert, mishti doi (caramelized yogurt) is not as good as rest of the items we have tried here, but if you are really craving for it, this is the one of the only options we know in bay area (9/10). Give them a try, if you are local and love Bengali Cuisine! OF COURSE, WE WILL BE BACK (Overall, 10/10)! Recommended for: Bengalis, Biriyani lovers read more

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Unassuming spot, but unbelievably flavorful food and great service! My favorite was the goat rezala but we also got the urad dal paratha, pulao, fish in mustard gravy, and dried fish with eggplant (sorry that I don't remember their names! I'll commit to learning them the next times I come back... and I WILL be back!). The server asked us if we were sure if we wanted the dried fish with eggplant -- it seems that maybe non-Bengalis find the taste too strong. But both my partner and I come from cultures that enjoy strong fish tastes, and it didn't disappoint! Reminded me of some Filipino or other Southeast Asian dishes. Make sure you add some of the raw red onion and lime to your food--it really helps balance all the tastes. Both the desserts--the dough balls and the yogurt--were a nice end to the lunch. The yogurt reminded me of ice cream! Can't wait to try the other things on the menu. Thank you, Bongo's! read more

they have such great bangladeshi and kolkata food and the taste & quality very solid. read more

Bongo's - Indian Near Me - Fremont, California

We are regular customer of this restaurant for their Morog Pulau (Chicken Pilaf), Rosogolla (bengali signature desert), Misti Doi (Sweet Yogurt), Hilsha with mustard sauce. They have very authentic Bangladeshi test - the beauty of Bangladeshi version of Indian food is - they not goanna burn your tongue or stomach; it is very flavorful and tasty - good for western people who is trying for the first time. For our university reunion of 230 people, I have ordered Morog Pulau and Rosogolla with special request to use less oil and no nuts. They handled all the requests professionally. Food was created with same consistency - everyone loved it. They delivered on time and professionally loaded boxes in our cars. I am very impressed with their service. I learned it is a family owned, managed restaurant. That explains why there is so much care in the service. This is the place to go for the real taste of Bangladeshi Food. read more

If this place had opened in Oakland or SF, with a shiny interior, professional branding, and a perfunctory natural wine list or cocktail program, it'd get written up as one of the most exciting developments in the Bay Area's food industry. Cue the Beard nomination. But we all know that all that stuff is bullshit and the best food is found elsewhere...right? Instead, it's quietly doing what great "ethnic" food restaurants have always done--serving excellent food, at affordable prices, in humble settings put together through slow accumulation in response to ever-shifting necessities. It's worth nothing that service here was also really good. Super friendly, inviting, and attentive, with helpful suggestions on how to pair the foods. If my guy was wearing some formal FOH attire (or baggy pants with Salomons), he could easily be the FOH face of the aforementioned hypothetical restaurant. read more

I've been ordering takeout from Bongos in Fremont for the last 4 years and it never disappoints. The goat rezala is the standout--take it from a Bengali foodie, it's the best rezala around. Also love the chicken kosha. Consistently flavorful, comforting, and worth repeat orders. read more

Sadly not many Bengali, bangladeshi restaurants in the Bay area. This one is definitely one of the consistent Bangladeshi food restaurants. We have probably been here 20 times in the last 5 years (if not more). There is a difference between west Bengal and Bangladeshi food and this one embodies bangladeshi food. If you want to explore new food and want genuine, flavorful food- this is your spot! Give it a try. In door dining is very limited and can get crowded depending on the time of the day and weekend. Other items to try are moghlai porotta, fish or mutton chop, chicken roast, any fish dish. You will not be disappointed, Put those knives, forks and spoons away and enjoy it with your hands. You will thank me later! read more

Bongo's - Kosha mangsho - Indian Near Me - Fremont, California

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Bongo's fish dishes are best They make authentic Bangla fish dishes I have tried the Rohi, Elish fish dishes, all are delicious read more

I ordered the Mughlai Paratha. Half of it is inedible, the other half tasty, that's why I gave it a 2.5 (average of 0 and 5)! Read on for more details. The mughlai paratha supposed to be thin and filled with minced chicken, egg, etc.. The chef here apparently missed the "thin" part. The bottom side is edible, but the part inside the top part has raw dough inside (see picture). My biggest question is why make it so thick?! Secondly, this supposed to be deep fried in oil, not cooked in oven. Even the shape of the paratha is strange, it was always rectangular, not square. Come on this is not Sephard's pie! Overall, this is not Mughlai paratha, it's a doughy version of it, avoid it! read more

It's very rare that you'll eat food from Bongo's but won't have a stomach upset or a heartburn. Not sure if it's the oil they use or repurpose old oil or the spices or their hygiene... The food tastes good in general, that's the reason we order from here once in a while but I guess I would have to give it a break for a while now. I hope the owners see this and take some actions towards the food and hygiene quality. read more

Food: Authentic Bangladeshi food in the Bay Area. You find items like "Kacchi biryani", "Chicken Roast", and "Goat Rezala" which are very uncommon. IMO, Bangladeshi cuisine is more meat-heavy and somewhat less spicy compared to Indian cuisine. If that sounds good to you, you must check it out! Ambiance: You don't come here for the ambiance. The setup is very ad-hoc with 2-3 tables only. If that's not your vibe, order takeout. Service: Very fast, contactless payments. If you are ordering takeout, you will be in and out within a few minutes. Parking: Huge parking lot outside! read more

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A super chill spot with delicious + authentic dishes and great staff! Everything was a hit for me, including dessert! read more

Bongo's - Indian Near Me - Fremont, California

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TLDR: Good food but really greasy! Chanced upon this Bengali food joint in Fremont. Known for their sweets Bengali fish is famous for their curries made in mustard oil. Not the fanciest joint and we decided to take the food to go. Tried their Fish in mustard oil -Sorshe Illish, Goat Rezalla and misthi doi! Absolutely loved the flavors and had the right amount of spice. Only concern was the amount of grease in the curries! Had to drain a good amount of grease before digging in. read more

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Very good and prompt service. The food is awesome and authentic. We tried shorso illish (Hilsa fish in mustard curry), fish dose and goat rezala. All were very tasty. The parathas were little oily. Food reflects labor of love for the owner and chef. Not too expensive. Ambience is normal. read more

Must visit for Bengali food lovers. Go there for the food not for service or ambiance. Tight place with good bengali food We ordered: 1. Fish chop 2. Fish cutlet 3. Chicken Kathi roll 4. Chicken biryani Fish chop, fish cutlet were good apps with mustard and tamarind sauce. Chicken biryani Bengali style was great, don't expect spicy Hyderabadi flavor. It's a mild but flavorful Bengali style. Chicken Kathi roll was disappointing with very dry chicken filling. Overall a good experience. read more

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We tried Bangladeshi foods from the East Coast, Mid US, and West Coast- Bongo's is probably the best restaurant for Hilsha, Rui, Dal, Vaji, Rice, Doi, Misti, Morog Polao, Porota, Goat Curry and their service and people! They have limited seating capacity but are good enough to have 15+ people inside and 10+ people outside! read more

Great for to gos as the place is cramped inside. Fish chops, chicken and mutton dishes are yummy. The mishti doi ( sweet yogurt) is delicious and light. Regular haunt for us. Boydi is so good as are the rest of the staff. read more

My first time here. I did a takeaway. When I reached home, I was charged for large fish... when I really got a very small one..small size. I was cheated, considering that I told them that I drove all the way from Campbell Very very disappointed read more

Too good that, I went to San Francisco for 4 nights, I was craving for Bangladeshi food. So I did uber an hour away to eat some "Shutki bhuna, Daal, Beef Kosha, Chicken Roast". The food was so good that we set aside our other plans to go eat there on the 4th night of our stayover. They food feels like homemade quality. Note: I also had their "Kalojam" sweet too. It was heavenly. Also, the overall customer service was beyond above because the first day went, we went to closing hour, they took our order over phone. However, they were extremely friendly and welcomed us with a happy face. I will always come to this place. This place is way above comparing to any Bangladeshi restaurants in NYC or LA. Must Visit!! read more

Bongo's - Kalo Jam - Indian Near Me - Fremont, California

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Small place with Bengali cuisine. We tried the egg and chicken roll which was good and not oily at all. Fresh ingredients and paired well with the chutney. Matar kachori is a must try item here. We loved it with the chicken gravy. The hilsa fish mustard gravy was okay, the gravy lacked the depth of flavor that I was looking for. The rasogulla were disappointing as well as they had become hard. All items were decently priced except for the fish but I do understand those are expensive in general. read more

Bongo's - the inside of a restaurant - Indian Near Me - Fremont, California

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Still a 5 star but wanted to let everyone know their Kacha Biryani is the show stopper! It is available every Friday after 6 pm though. Their mishti doi quality is not the same but it's still fresh. The place is best suited for take outs. read more

Bongo's - Indian Near Me - Fremont, California

Really good murog polao! Great mix of flavors from the kishmish, the nuts, the beresta, all with the savory delicious chicken. Great portion too! Also got the mishti doi and that was good too, came in a cute little cup. read more

Was visiting the Fremont area and so finally ordered in from Bongo's to satisfy my Bengali fish curry cravings. I ordered the Hilsa curry ie shorshe illish. The taste of the curry itself was definitely a 3.8 star. The hilsa fish was a little over cooked but I am happy to have found it's curry in mustard paste and oil in the Bay Area. I cooked some steamed rice and had a good meal out of it. Would want to try other items on their menu. Btw, beware - there was an extraordinary amount of oil floating on top of the curry, I was able to drain out just 1/3rds of it ( see picture ). read more

Bongo's - Drained out excess oil from Shorshe Ilish. - Indian Near Me - Fremont, California

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Food was ok i have their sweet item i love sweet but it is good for non veg people as i am vegetarian. Service was good and ambience was ok

I was missing bengali food so I came to Bongos for dinner. Got the chicken roast and pulao, the lamb curry and this soft fried paratha stuffed with egg and chicken. Whatever was in the food or however the food was handled, affected me negatively the next day... don't think i'll come again. but i appreciated the Bangladeshi art inside. It was nice Also got the doi and it was pretty tasty. read more

I was super excited to try Bongos because I am a big fan of Hilsa. Having said that we also wanted to try some of their other items like the chicken roast. The restaurant itself was quite small. It had a small to medium seating area. We went to pick up our food but gave us a good idea of the place itself. Anyone who is familiar with Bengali cuisine would be excited to find some of the dishes in their menu. We ended up ordering the chicken stuffed Mughlai Paratha, hilsa, Chicken roast and Roshgullas. The Paratha was delicious but also very greasy. The chicken roast was really yummy as well.. it had so much flavor, I loved every bit of it. The roshgullas were delicious too. I think the part which I am not happy about was the Hilsa itself! I was really looking forward to this and unfortunately neither the fish nor the gravy had any taste. To pay $15+ for one piece seemed extremely expensive, especially when it didn't have any taste or flavor. I was rather dissatisfied with this. If I were to visit again, I would probably stick to the Roast chicken only! read more

Authentic Bangladeshi food with items not found in typical Indian restaurants. A little on the pricey side for what you get, but their specialty dishes are not generally found elsewhere. The standard fish curry and roast chicken are generally good, but the kacchi biryani can be hit-or-miss, sometimes being the meat being dry and less succulent and the rice not being fragrant. read more

There aren't many Bengali restaurants in the Bay Area so Bongo's is a treasured spot. If you haven't had Bengali food before, it's similar to Indian food you might find more commonly here but generally less spicy and more meat-centric. I also find that cloves and cinnamon are common spices in the cuisine, so a lot of dishes have that sweeter fragrance. The standout dishes during lunch today were the goat biryani, goat curry, and various fried breads--radhaballabhi and kachori. The popular local fish, hilsa, is yummy in its mustard curry but a feat to eat with all the fine bones. For a dessert, try the mishti doi, a sweet yogurt. Generally Indian sweets are too sweet for my tastes but this one I enjoy very much! Bongo's is small restaurant with a hole in the wall feel. But I hope the community continues to support it! read more

The only authentic Bengali spot in the Bay Area! The food is absolutely delightful and reminds me so much of my grandma's cooking- so if you're craving a taste of home, I highly suggest! The only sad part is that the menu has a handful of options and it's too far away from where I live. I really hope they open more locations cause Americans are really missing out on what the cuisine has to offer! As for the bad reviews, I think a lot of Indians are expecting West Bengal food but this is Bangladeshi food which is quite different. read more

Had been wanting to try Bengali food as it's been a while and found this place on Yelp. Ordered bunch of items to try and I would say I had mixed reviews. Some food items were really good (goat biryani, egg chicken roll and fish chop) but the rest were disappointing - mughlai paratha was way too oily and didn't have any flavor to it (felt like eating oil), Shorshe Ilish was decent but again too much oil in the curry. Will be coming back though only for their rolls and biryani and will try their chicken dishes next time. It took around 40 mins for our order to be ready in a weekend so make sure to order in advance. read more

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Ordered 10+ dishes including mishti Doi and Hilsa and gurer rasogolla which are not pictured . Closer to authentic side of Bengali taste. In particular, mishti doi, goat biriyani , ratha are our top three favorites. Total spending 150USD without tips as they do not take tips . read more

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Bongo's food is hit and miss. Some food items are good and many of my favorite items are below average. Ambiance is below average. Service is average.. read more

5 star for the rosogollas and 4 star for Chicken kosha. The fish fry and mughlai paratha however, was thoroughly disappointing.

After a year, I decided to buy some Bangladeshi food. Food quality gone down. I bought goat rezala which was nothing like rezala. It was more like goat curry and had an uncooked potato in it. Meat was hard. I had morog polau where the rice was hard as well. Instead of a whole chicken leg piece, there was two dry drumsticks in morog polau. Only fish chops were ok. After dinner, later at night I woke up with stomach pain and same with my other family member. Stay away from unhealthy, not cooked food. read more

Radhaballabhi- a lentil stuffed bread, and potato curry combo is to die for! Their mishti doi(sweet yogurt) is also very yum. The wait here can be really long so always better to order ahead and pick up. It isn't really built as a sit down diner. read more