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    Desi Express

    4.2 (102 reviews)
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    DESI EXPRESS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Desi Express

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    Renee L.

    I ordered a chicken tikka (8 oz) and garlic naan. The flavor was there but the chicken seemed processed and not fresh. The garlic naan had a nice garlic flavor. Could be that I didn't quite order the best item on their menu. Ordering was on a kiosk and this is located within a food court.

    Chicken tikka masala bowl
    Julianne R.

    This is located in a food hall, where most of the vendors take orders through a self-serve kiosk. I didn't get any smiles from the person who handed me my food which would have been appreciated. The chicken tikka masala bowl cost $18 (including tip). I will say the flavor is quite delicious, but the rice wasn't the best quality and there was something off about the chicken texture.

    Menu on the displays does not have details on what's in the dish
    Anagha J.

    Not one dish was tasty. They used the same potato stuffing for puff and sandwich. The tea was really the worst I have had in the Bay Area. Items tried: 1. maharaja sandwich 3/10 2. Veg puff (with no veggies but only onion potato masala) 2/10 3. Ginger Tea 0/10 Edit: adding the following to answer the rude response from the owner: Yelp is a platform to give honest feedback. I gave the feedback based on my experience, but it looks like you only yearn for positive feedback. Negative feedback is an opportunity to improve, but looks like you don't like constructive feedback. 1. Your menu displayed on the monitors does not have description for veg puff (photo attached) or maharaja sandwich 2. Aloo puff is not the same as veg puff. A standard veg puff has aloo usually with carrots and peas. Aloo in a puff is spiced different than aloo masala in a sandwich. 3. The chai was so over steeped, it was bitter. I have had and liked good sandwiches and tea from other place to whom I have given 5 starts. I usually do not give poor reviews and certainly not 1 star but unfortunately your food fell really short on taste.

    Chaats
    Bindi S.

    Amazing desi version of sandwiches and chaats. My husband and I got the paneer tikka sandwich and the jumbo Bombay sandwich. They both tasted anazing-just like back in Mumbai but were a bit small for the price.The jumbo Bombay sandwich was a bit fluff and could have done with more stuffing. I tried my friends samosa chaat and dahi papdi chaat and they tasted great. Good value for money for the chaats and I'm getting that next time.

    Our Special 5 Paani Golgappe
    Manika N.

    The gol guppe were very good! I'd say the water was the yummy part, however the masala that goes into the gol guppet can use some more spice. It felt a little bland. The chicken tikka rice bowl was really delicious and the flavour was spot on. The pav bhaji was okay as compared to the other places here in the southbay. It lacked the basic flavor of pav bhaji masala. The rose tres leches was good, it was a little too sweet after a couple of bites so I'd recommend sharing it between atleast two people! The service was fairly quick and it is inside the SoFa market so the ambiance is more like a foodcourt. Overall, I'd say it is a nice place for some indian snack items. I will definitely come back for the golgappe and try some chaats and sandwhiches next time!

    Paneer combo plate w/ a side of samosas.
    Joselyn M.

    Food was sooo good. Flavors on point, so many diff flavors from toppings to sauces to the main dish. So happy and satisfied that I came here today. Service was ok. Once they helped me after awhile, they were nice and friendly. Not sure if they thought I wasn't ready or something, but then again you order through a kiosk. Guess it just took longer than what I expected to prepare during my 30. Took nearly half the time, so I only had 15mins to eat and then leave. Luckily I was just working at the Convention Center, so it wasn't too bad. Ambiance was cute. Great place to dine in, but the outside was even better!! It was a perfect day for it. With that said, I'll def be back and I highly recommend it.

    Dahi Sev Puri
    Keerthi D.

    Desi Express is a vendor in the SoFA market in downtown San Jose. Parking is limited, they take Apple Pay, and you can order in line, in store via kiosk or UberEats. There's plenty of place to sit in the food court if you choose, but we ordered takeout. The Dahi Puri Sev is flavorful and well balanced - it held well for takeout. The prices are also good for the quantity of food as well. I'd recommend this place if you're looking for an inexpensive Indian street food meal.

    Aloo Tikki Sandwich
    Evelyn T.

    For ~$15, you can get the following: - Aloo Tikki Sandwich ($9.99) - Chips (comes with sandwich) - Mango Lassi ($3.99) Given most food and drink combos at other restaurants would be $20, this DEFINITELY is worth your money for the quality and quantity of food. I came with a friend on Tuesday 4 PM, where it wasn't busy. Our food came out in five minutes, and we delightfully chomped away at our meal. The sandwiches are pressed, where your teeth will dive right into the crispy texture of the bread. The sandwich was filled to the brim with chutney, potatoes, red onion, tomato, and some other fillings that made it such a hearty meal! A sandwich may not seem filling, but do not underestimate how the bursts of flavors and various textures will fill your mouth. The mango lassi was a really fair size! It was creamy, rich, fruity, with a slight tang of sour. I personally am not a fan of sweet drinks, but this was perfectly refreshing to me! I finished it in minutes. Overall, my experience here is so pleasant! I would surely come by again to try their other options, as there's much to select from!

    Latest menu Jan 2023
    Anna B.

    I was super excited seeing the menu and picked a variety of sandwiches to try on a cold rainy evening. The order arrived quickly. Each sandwich came with a mini bag of lays potato chips! The bread and the toast on the sandwiches was really impressive and delicious. However the filling left a lot to be desired. Pizza sandwich - the paneer and veggies were cut too chunky, oregano was too much, sauce was too mild and the cheese was merely sliced as opposed to being grated. Grating the cheese makes the cheese hold the sandwich together, but here it kept falling apart with each bite. Flavor was 2/5, tasted nothing like a pizza. Schezwan sandwich - tasted nothing like schezwan. The veggies were too chunky and sloppy cut, they kept falling out and the slippery Mayo made it so hard to keep things in place. But I still liked the peppers and the overall Mayo sandwich vibe. Just don't call it schezwan. Mumbai sandwich - had all the right components but giant thick chunks of cucumber and bland potato. Really good green chutney. Overall I don't know. Not the best Indian sandwich, I'll not crave it or remember it. I will be back though, to try some of the chaats.

    Dahi Bhalla Papdi Chaat
    Pratima M.

    A tasty chaat spot tucked into the back of SoFa Market! I stopped by with some friends for a Sunday lunch and the food came out super quickly. The servers were really sweet and brought the food to our table. I got a Dahi Bhalla Chaat and it was really solid! The lentil patty was unique and the dahi was SO good. There are obviously a lot of chaat options in the Bay Area, but this one was pretty decent despite looking unassuming. The portion sizes were large and filling, and my friends got the sandwiches which looked delicious too. I would definitely come back if I was in the area!

    Self Ofer station
    Amanda N.

    The serving size here is moderate so it's not large portion or too small, just enough to satisfy your appetite. Item one: First bite of the tomato sandwich it was super Tasty!! Item two: The avocado toast was full flavor and not dry Highly recommend!

    Paneer Tikka Sandwich,  Aloo Tikki Chaat and Viral Dubai pistachio dessert truffle.. everything was spot on.

    So many dishes to choose from! It was a quick lunch and great food and experience.. the taste was spot on.. yum.

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    3 months ago

    Best customer service and the food is amazing. So many veggie options and drinks. Dev was soooooooo good

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    Ritika D.

    Thanks for visiting Amanda! We hope to see you again.

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    Ritika D.

    Thank you for trying our food Sunil. We hope to see you again.

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    Both my friends who got the milkshakes came down with terrible food poisoning. I had the Mango Lassi and it was very good.

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    Page 1 of 3

    Desi Express Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Desi Express

    How does the catering for a party work? If we order chaats like bhel, papdi chat and pani puri. We wanted something like a stalls in our backyard.…

    Hey Suchitra, we do accommodate the chaats as catering items. And are you looking for live catering for pani puri?

    Can these dishes be made without onion and garlic?

    My grandma follows a Jain diet which includes not eating onions and garlic. We just ordered one item for her (Dahi puri or sev puri) and they were able to accommodate her.

    Do you have Vegan options?

    Yes we can always make vegan items as per your request

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Haveli Kabab & Grill

    Haveli Kabab & Grill

    4.3
    (321 reviews)
    5.2 mi

    The best Indian restaurant I've ever been to!! The food here is amazing and the best I've had. The…read morerestaurant is super pretty, clean, and spacious. I loved the decorations and the music. I ordered the palak paneer which I've had at multiple spots and only one so far has been great. I ordered it extra spicy because I don't like it otherwise and they made it perfect for me. The palak paneer was so creamy, rich, spicy, and the cheese was so yummy. My boyfriend ordered the tandoori chicken which was super juicy and flavorful. The green sauce on the side tasted a little minty but was great with it. I love the basmati rice and the butter naan. Everything was super affordable and the server was very nice and friendly. The palak paneer is the best here and I will be coming back very soon!!

    Went on Friday night for dinner without any reservations. Got seated immediately. They seem to have…read morechanged their name to Royal Haveli. They had a new menu as well. And Their staff is always pretty friendly. We ordered a variety of food. Chili Fish - It was meh. Not sweet thankfully but didn't taste appetizing Chicken Fried Rice - This was good Chicken Malai Kabab - This was good too Tandoori Roti - The size seems to have reduced than how it was before Chicken Do Pyaza - It was not how it's usually made. Won't order it again.

    Photos
    Dining room is large. Behind me is another open sectioned off area for private party.
    Dining room is large. Behind me is another open sectioned off area for private party.
    Bullet naan & garlic naan
    Bullet naan & garlic naan
    Kid's paneer with naan

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    Kid's paneer with naan
    Jubba

    Jubba

    4.5
    (1.6k reviews)
    5.2 mi
    $$

    I got the chicken wrap and honestly it was really good ! It had great flavor and was very filling!…read moreA+ ! But unfortunately it took really long for just one wrap and the customer service wasn't the best. The younger lady there was very friendly and had a great attitude and spirit. On the other hand when we would ask questions to the older lady we were met with what seemed to be an attitude. This was our first time here and maybe it wasn't her best day so I understand but it was unfortunate that this was our first impression. Other than the place was very lively and in good spirits!

    wow words do not do…read morejustice to this meal. some of the tastiest food in the south bay is in an incredibly unassuming restaurant next to the VTA station. Jubba is serving up some of the best food i've ever had. As a newbie to somali food, I am now hooked. we came in on a friday around 6:15 and there was a steady group of people enjoying their food. we ordered at the counter and took a seat outside to enjoy the weather 1 Sambusa 1 chicken wrap 1 beef plate the sambusa arrived first and initially I thought Samosa in my head. But the sambusa has a better structure, holding its shape after multiple bites. the Dough is softer but still crispy. it came with beef , chilies and other vegetables. so so good. the perfect appetizer for us. it came with a spicy green sauce that seemed to be the common sauce for every dish then the stars of the show. The sizzling hot beef plate served with veggies, rice and a salad was unbelievable. add on a lemon and some more greens sauce and you're in for a treat. the rice alone was so flavorful and it tasted like there was meat drippings on top. the beef was so tender and fell apart in 1 bite. I was blown away with the dish the chicken wrap... man. I'm not sure what kind of bread, pita was used but it was fantastic. a huge wrap with lettuce, onion chicken, sauce and other veggies. It was so messy and hard to eat with your hands so we resorted to eating with a fork and knife. Unreal. Unreal. massive portions again which are a theme here. But holy smokes this was so good. The chicken has a nice char, but is also juicy and saucy. the spongy pita neutralizes the bombardment of flavor from the meat, and the veggies compliment everything with some crunch and texture. Service was great and very helpful. They were extremely friendly and a delight to talk with. We will be back 5/5

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Sports Plate with goat and beef
    Sports Plate with goat and beef
    Jubba chicken wrap  IG @AmyNsEats

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    Jubba chicken wrap IG @AmyNsEats
    Saapaaduu

    Saapaaduu

    4.2
    (275 reviews)
    7.5 mi
    $$

    Love coming here. Our favorite is apollo chicken, chicken lollilop and flakiest parotta you will…read moreever have.

    Delicious, fresh vegetarian flavors. The thali is sooo goooood. Changes regularly and always well…read moredone. One of the few Indian restaurants that doesn't taste like they have three main sauces they pull from with no effort to make flavors differentiate or pop. The dishes here taste like the chef's actually care about the food. Service is polite and simple. Very low maintenance. Not a restaurant if you like to be picky. Come to enjoy it as it is. My only complaint (and it is minor) is that, because they do a lot of take out, they have a lot of drinks and other items prepared to just grab and go for you. This doesn't work if your order anything other than water to drink at the table. They offer really interesting and refreshing tea/lemonades, yet when they bring the drink it comes prepared to go in plastic cup, sealed, with boba style fat straw (as opposed to the very elegant picture on their menu). It stood out as massively tacky and ugly, especially because of how thoughtful the design choices are for the table scape and the rest of the dining experience. Strange place to cut a corner. Even opening the to go cup at the counter, pouring it into one of the lovely water glasses (which is what I did, lol) would be easy and streamline the beautiful experience.

    Photos
    Front
    Front
    Chatti Choru
    Chatti Choru
    Meen (Pomfret) Fry

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    Meen (Pomfret) Fry
    Meenakshi Bhavan

    Meenakshi Bhavan

    4.4
    (48 reviews)
    5.7 mi

    Recently visited Meenakshi Bhavan. Food was excellent. Several vegan dishes. Tried their upma idli…read morecombo as well as masala dosa. Upma was excellent, potato masala in the dosa was not too spicy, tasted great. It comes with tasty chutneys and sambar. Service was very quick on a weekend morning. Give it a try

    Weekend breakfast at Meenakshi Bhavan has the right soundtrack. Tamil film songs at a comfortable…read morevolume, two or three tables already into their meals, the steady clink of steel tumblers filling the room just enough to feel alive without tipping into noisy. For a Saturday morning, the energy was calm -- a good sign for a small spot that could easily get overwhelmed. The waitress set the tone early. Warm, unhurried, she asked how we had heard about the place before taking the order -- the kind of question a restaurant only asks when it is still building its crowd and actually wants to know the answer. Filter coffee arrived without delay, hot, no shortcuts. The upma and mini tiffin combo followed. Portions were generous and the food arrived warm. But dish after dish played it safe right up to the edge of forgettable. The upma had correct texture with none of the assertiveness that makes a good upma worth finishing slowly. The sambar leaned thin. The chutneys were there, present and accounted for, doing the minimum. Everything assembled correctly, nothing bold enough to make you look up from the table. Meenakshi Bhavan gets enough right on a weekend morning to be worth knowing about -- clean space, genuinely warm service, honest portions. The waitress clearly takes pride in the hospitality side of things. The kitchen needs to match that energy with a firmer hand on the seasoning. Good enough for a familiar weekend breakfast. Not yet good enough to become a habit. The paintings on the walls that were Indian and Tamilnadu related was great, but the other art work seemed out of place, not sure what the thought process there was with the management. Things where this could improve: Coffee taste can improve (may be sourcing from a different coffee vendor may help, seemed like a standard Narassu's powder from a grocery shop near by that probably was at least a few months old) Chutneys need a certain kick and that was definitely missing. Cleanliness can be improved for sure.

    Photos
    Meenakshi Bhavan
    Onion Rava Dosa
    Onion Rava Dosa
    Meenakshi Bhavan

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    Fitoor

    Fitoor

    3.9
    (403 reviews)
    3.5 mi

    Not sure how I hadn't heard of this place until recently, but I'm really glad I finally did. I'd…read moresay this is one of my favorite Indian spots. First off, definitely not for the spice-averse lol. Everything had a solid level of heat, but in a really flavorful way rather than just being spicy for the sake of it. The food was also plated beautifully, which made the whole experience feel a bit more elevated even though it still worked perfectly as a casual lunch spot. Service was great too - our waitress had solid recommendations and helped guide us toward a good mix of dishes (especially when it came to estimating portion sizes vs number of people in our party). No wait, smooth experience, and just a really nice, relaxed lunch vibe. The Water Chestnut and Green Pea Kulcha was my fave! Everything we ordered was delicious, and it's the kind of place I'd happily return to just to work my way through more of the menu.

    Came here on a weekend, mainly because we accidentally missed our baekjong reservation, and it was…read morepretty empty... a little sad, but wanted to give it a try anyways. They're in santana row, so the usual cute pretty aesthetic. We ate on their outdoor seating. We got the butter chicken, lamb shank and two cocktails. The food tasted pretty good, and we actually weren't able to finish it. Service was good, not too overbearing, which some places can get when there's no one else.

    Photos
    Lush Inside
    Lush Inside
    Kataifi Crusted Labneh Croquette
    Kataifi Crusted Labneh Croquette
    Asado Branzino

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    Asado Branzino

    Desi Express - indpak - Updated July 2026

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