We really enjoyed our lunch at Kohinoor Indian Cuisine in Pleasant Hill. The food was fresh, hot and delicious! We had the eggplant and Okra veggie dishes as well as a Tandoori mixed meat plate, Butter Chicken, Basmati rice and Naan. All of the dishes were excellent. Service was good. We highly recommend! read more

Sometimes things just work out. We were looking for a new place to eat after our nap on an achingly beautiful Sunday afternoon, and settled upon a new Indian/Indian fusion restaurant in Pleasant Hill. They have indoor seating and spacious outdoor seating, and I agree with a previous reviewer who termed Kohinoor's standard dishes, such as butter chicken, tikka masala etc. "uniquely delicious". It's easy to miss in the strip mall, but well worth it. Kohinoor has been open in three months in Pleasant Hill, and we want them to flourish! read more

I've been here a few times already and have had a pleasant experience each time! I always start with the masala chai and veggie samosas. The doing is so crispy and the filling is gently spicy. I do think there's progress to be made with the service as it can be slow and unorganized. I'd recommend that they use two devices to take orders vs. one. The parking here can be limited depending on the time of day. There is seating inside and under a covered area outside. Would I go back? Yes, I would and I would make sure that I'm not in a time crunch. read more

KOHINOOR Indian Cuisine - Indian Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

Awesome and clean Indian restaurant that opened only 2 months ago! They have indoor and outdoor sitting. We sat outdoor which was perfect for the weather. The menu here is very fascinating, whether you're here just for the classic like butter chicken or want to try their fusion menu, give it a go! The service is also very friendly and welcoming! If you end up going I recommend getting the lamb khonai with their basmati rice (incredibly fragrant or tasty!) alongside their garlic naan. The portions for the garlic naan are a bit small considering the price but very tasty nonetheless. I also got the butter chicken, I will say it was a bit bland and somewhat lacking seasoning, they give you the option for the spice I recommend doing above mild because it was not spicy at all. Will be coming back! read more

KOHINOOR Indian Cuisine - Lamb khonai, butter chicken, garlic naan - Indian Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

We have found the Best Indian restaurant in the area. We have visited them multiple times and the food has been very consistent and delicious. I recommend giving them a try. read more

All of the food is AMAZING but especially the butter chicken loaded fries. A must try!! read more

KOHINOOR Indian Cuisine - butter chicken Loaded Masala Fries - Indian Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

They have a vast menu and we both decided no chicken dishes. We ordered Goat Curry, Fish Vindaloo, Basmati rice, and Assorted Naan. The 3 kinds of Naan we chose: Cauliflower, Kashmir and Spinach. They have 18 varieties of Naan, but of the 3, Cauliflower was the winner! I liked their Masala Chai and requested a glass of ice to have Iced Chai. To our surprise because they were busy they gave us complimentary Papadum, served with Mint and Tamarind Chutney. Very good appetizer, though it's a side dish on their menu. For dessert we ordered their house-made rice pudding which had a different texture of rice that our Latin culture uses but it was good with the dried fruits. I was pleasantly surprised at the old Jazz music they were playing at an Indian restaurant. The place is small but they also have outdoor patio seating. I recommend this place and can't wait to try their other dishes. read more

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Tucked into the strip mall semi behind Wences and Wisegirl, but I hope people don't miss it. Delicious. It was quiet when we went on a Wednesday but the service, food, and ambiance were lovely! Loved all of the dishes we ordered - usually butter chicken and chicken tikka masala taste similar at a lot of restaurants I eat at, but here, they were both uniquely delicious. The naan and platha were a little thinner than I'm used to, but both tasty. Cant wait to come again and so happy we have a great local Indian restaurant in PH! read more

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Brand new, just opened in Pleasant Hill. They have a huge outdoor patio with sun shades and TVs, and a redone interior with booths. They are still working out some stuff so that's expected in a soft opening/newly opened restaurant. Servers were very nice and attentive. Our food was delicious, friend got a butter naan wrap and I got veg korma. The wrap looked skinny, but friend said it had tons of meat and was filling. The portions are large and perfect for sharing. I love starting the meal with crunchy papadum and their yummy chutneys. We had been to the Benicia location and had the same experience there. Happy to have a well priced, tasty Indian restaurant nearby. They have some good looking fusion items we want to try soon. I hope they consider a happy hour with their fusion items (fries, nachos, tacos). read more

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It's a new restaurant in a strip mall, unfortunately tucked away in a lane. A sign still says "Thai Food"! First, the food was tasty and fresh. Second, the service was excellent. Third, the place is clean, but for lunch, it was empty! So, why only three stars? To send a message to the owners that they need a lunch menu that can be ordered by a single customer. Indian food requires multiple dishes to be complete. An appetizer, a protein, a daal, a vegetable and raita, accompanied by rice and naan/roti are typical elements of an Indian meal. Followed sometimes by dessert. If one is in a group, no big deal. For a single diner - even two! - it's a challenge to order a "typical" Indian meal à la carte. Hence, many Indian restaurants do a buffet, or a thali for lunch when office workers drop by for a quick lunch. Given the low traffic, a buffet does not make sense but a thali should be no big deal. I'd happily pay $22.95 for a veg thali or $25.95 for a non-veg. They also need to learn from Mexican restaurants to provide complimentary papad ($4.95) and onions, chili and lemon ($3.00). Recommendation: go in a group, not solo, if you want to enjoy Indian cuisine. read more

My four star review is based on two dining experiences. My first visit was about three months ago, during the restaurant's soft opening. My second experience was takeout, last night. Before I start my review, I want to say that I worked in restaurants as a manager, waiter, bartender, busboy, and line cook for about 12 years. Based on that life experience, I ordinarily assess restaurants on circumstances that I expect are within the operator's control, and try to be mindful of those circumstances that are generally outside the operator's control. Food: I'll start with the food because that is paramount to all else. On my first visit, I ordered chicken tikka masala, cilantro naan, and rice. My girlfriend ordered palek paneer. My chicken tikka masala was flavorful and came in a decently sized portion. I enjoyed it and would recommend it as, what I understand to be a fairly universal Indian dish in the U.S. The rice was good. It didn't blow my head back, but I am not sure it was supposed to. It did pair well with both the chicken and palek paneer; it didn't overpower either. My girlfriend, who is vegetarian, very much enjoyed her palek paneer. She found it to be very flavorful as well. The cilantro naan stole the show! The naan had a marvelous chew to it. It was seared on the bottom, which gave it a more complex flavor and varied texture. And the cilantro flavor was bold and delicious. Last night, we ordered takeout. I ordered a spicy cauliflower dish, a trio of naan (garlic, jalapeño, and cilantro), and rice. The cauliflower dish was absolutely delightful. I believe it was lightly battered and deep fried. It had a nice mild spice and a great bite and mouth feel to it. My girlfriend was equally impressed with the dish. This time she ordered paneer tikka masala. She found the sauce to be "too buttery." I disagreed, and I believed the richness paired well with the naan, rice, and cauliflower. The sauce also had a subtle sweetness to it. The rice was, again, good. The cilantro naan was just as good as the first time, and the garlic naan was tasty. The jalapeño naan was a bit spicy, but the raw jalapenos added a bright flavor. My girlfriend and I look forward to eating at/ordering from Kohinoor again, and I look forward to venturing into the rest of the menu as I acknowledge I have ordered only "basic" dishes. Service: On our first visit, the service needed a lot of work. I would have rated it a one or two out of five. But, as I stated above, our first visit was during the restaurant's soft opening. We sat on the patio, where there are about 12 tables. We saw two employees (who we gathered were both waiters) and a middle-aged man who we learned was the owner. Of the 12 or so tables on the patio, a few had been pushed together to accommodate two different parties of perhaps five to eight people. The wait staff failed to bus the tables for at least 30 minutes. This, in turn, resulted in a large party of about 10 having no where to sit. I could see they were annoyed. The waiters failed to communicate with each other, so after we ordered from one waiter, the other came a couple minutes later. No big deal. I know those sorts of things happen all the time. The two waiters were amiable. I heard the owner talking to a few patrons. He was very nice and accommodating. At the intersection of food and service is the time is took to get our food, which was perhaps 25 minutes. I know that if wait staff have put in the order on time, there is very little they can do to get food out faster, that's the kitchen's job. Whatever the reason, my girlfriend and I would have appreciated a brief update, a water refill, or being asked if we would like another drink. All in all, the food is delicious and I look forward to going again. The minor hiccups we experienced should not deter anyone from trying this restaurant. A few recommendations: 1. Bus tables as quickly as possible. It makes the restaurant look cleaner and the wait staff attentive, (I recognize the restaurant may have already addressed this in the several weeks they have been opened). 2. Attention to detail from the waitstaff. Knowing who is assigned to which table so all patrons are accounted for and orders are taken and delivered on time. 3. A quick check in from the waiter if food or drinks take longer than 10-15 minutes. 4. Heaters on the patio. We enjoyed the patio when the place was under different management. They had heaters so we could enjoy a crisp evening on the patio instead of indoors. read more

The goat curry was very good. If you like to suck bones this dish is perfect. Not too many places have goat on their menu. Totally will go back the fish curry was delicious too. I usually order mile heat and it was . We order the combo naan dish. You can order 3 types. Perfect for the curry dishes The service is good and attentive Nice place inside and there is outside patio. Parking can be difficult because there a few restaurants in the plaza read more

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Tried the newly opened restaurant for a work lunch, and it did not disappoint! We sat on the patio and got to watch the soccer game while enjoying our food. The cheese naan, tikka masala, and okra masala were all delicious. Our server was very attentive and took my friend's allergies seriously. She even made sure my dish was prepared without cashews as an extra precaution. We'll def. be back read more

KOHINOOR Indian Cuisine - Indian Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

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An absolute gem of a culinary experience, tucked in the drowsy neighborhoods of pleasant Hill, don't let that dissuade you. , this restaurant is a celebration of flavor and freshness and unique choices . For lunch I had the roasted Jackfruit tacos and just wow. The sauces could be an entre themselves ! It was so good that I actually came back for dinner! And that did not disappoint either ! Wow. Think I have a new favorite place ...! read more

KOHINOOR Indian Cuisine - Jackfruit tacos with tamarind sauce .(comes with three) - Indian Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

Always delicious..consistently on point. Great service as well! We started with the Benicia location and happy to see one is now much closer to home. read more

It's a new restaurant in the neighborhood and it is delicious. The food is very fresh and the spice level is right on my husband likes mild and I like spicy. We were both happy. The owners are very nice people also. We just loved it. read more

KOHINOOR Indian Cuisine - Indian Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

I didn't really care for my mushroom curry dish but the shrimp curry was bomb! The staff was very friendly and welcoming. I have only been here once and ordered to go. read more

I wanted to try a highly rated Indian restaurant in Pleasant Hill today, so I decided to stop by for lunch. Apparently, their original location is in Benicia, and with all the 4+ star reviews, I went in with pretty high expectations. I started with the mixed pakora. Unfortunately, they looked and tasted like they may have been previously prepared, cut up, and then fried again. They were pretty dark and didn't have that fresh, crispy texture I was expecting. The chutneys were also disappointing and didn't really add much flavor to the pakora. I also ordered a lassi, which was extremely thick. It wasn't bad, but definitely thicker than what I'm normally used to. The chicken biryani was probably one of the better items. It had a decent amount of spice but seemed to be lacking salt and some of the deeper flavors I expect from a good biryani. The chicken itself tasted more like pieces from a chicken curry that had been mixed into the rice rather than being cooked together as part of the biryani. I also tried their Indian-fusion tacos. They were okay and an interesting concept, but nothing that really stood out or would make me order them again. Overall, I was a little surprised considering the number of 4+ star reviews. Maybe the flavors are intentionally adjusted for the local demographic rather than leaning toward a more traditional Indian flavor profile. For someone looking for milder Indian-inspired food, this might work well. But if you're familiar with authentic Indian food and looking for stronger spices and deeper flavors, you may find it a little underwhelming. The prices also felt high for the overall quality and flavor. The food wasn't terrible, but for the price and ratings, I expected considerably more. There are several other Indian restaurants around the Bay Area that I think offer better flavor and value. read more

I customized my jackfruit tacos to veganize them by removing the cheese. They were mini tacos and did not fill me up. I don't know if the chutney was vegan though. What I absolutely hate is they group the vegan and vegetarian dishes together! They should have a separate vegan menu. I will not be supporting this business again. read more

Absolutely loved the flavors! The staff was super nice and helpful when picking up our order! We ordered the masala Mac n cheese and I will def be ordering that more often!! read more

I'm absolutely delightful restaurant that has come to the neighborhood! We are so lucky to have it nearby. We just came for our first visit and absolutely loved everything that we ate and the very kind team was so thoughtful in how they communicated and guided us through the menu :) We will definitely be back to try more!! highly recommend to anyone nearby who would appreciate hearty and yummy Indian food! I truly enjoyed sitting on their outdoor patio in the sun, reading a book and enjoying my meal with such kind humans and such tasty food read more

Kohinoor Indian Cuisine in Pleasant Hill is a welcome addition to the neighborhood! The butter chicken was packed with tender, juicy chicken and a rich, flavorful sauce. The tandoori chicken was another standout; it was moist, tender, and perfectly seasoned. The basmati rice was perfectly fluffy. I kept it classic with plain naan, but next time I'm branching out because they offer around 18 different naan flavors! As a sweet surprise, they treated me to complimentary homemade rice pudding, and it was the perfect way to end the meal. If you're craving delicious Indian food, this is a place worth checking out! Service was attentive and friendly. If you enjoy my restaurant recommendations, please consider following me on Instagram @robinmwood https://www.instagram.com/robinmwood/ 1910 Oak Park Blvd., Pleasant Hill. This is the former Sol y Luna location in Oak Park Center. Sol y Luna has moved into Ann's Sunshine Cafe. Kohinoor Indian Cuisine's menus are included in the post. read more

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I ordered Paneer Tikka Kebab, Vegetable Biryani, Malai Kofta, and Tandoori Roti from KOHINOOR Indian Cuisine, and the meal was deeply disappointing. The Paneer Tikka Kebab was completely wrong. Instead of properly marinated paneer cooked dry in a tandoor, it arrived swimming in an excessively sweet, tangy sauce that was practically a gravy. Paneer tikka should not resemble a sugary curry. I complained to the owner, and to her credit, she had it remade--but the second attempt was essentially the same dish with slightly less sauce. Reducing the quantity of a bad sauce does not fix the recipe. The Vegetable Biryani was nowhere close to biryani. It was a bland, uninspired mixture of rice, paneer, and vegetables, with none of the layered spices, aroma, or depth that define a good biryani. Calling it biryani feels extremely generous. The Malai Kofta was merely passable. It was neither particularly good nor terrible, although the kofta balls should have been much softer and more tender. Overall, this meal showed a disappointing lack of understanding and execution of basic Indian dishes. Even after giving the restaurant an opportunity to correct the paneer tikka, the replacement was barely different. For a restaurant presenting itself as Indian cuisine, these dishes missed the mark badly. I would not order from KOHINOOR again. read more

So glad we have a good Indian Restaurant in Pleasant Hill finally. This trip we only did Bismanti Rice, Garlic Naan, Raita and Mint Chutney. It was outstanding. I simply cannot wait to go back and try their butter chicken, saag paneer, Samosas and other Naan's. Keep it up Kohinoor...PLEASE!!!! read more

My girlfriend and I got dinner here tonight. Absolutely amazing! Ordered the tandoori chicken, butter chicken, and the naan bread. Really fresh ingredients and great quality. Will definitely be back! read more

Sure it might be "hot and new" but that does not mean you should order from here. I saw that tag and was proven wrong. Got the Butter Chicken and the chicken was unlike any other I have had from an Indian restaurant. I am nervous to say I think it was frozen cutlets they got from a store and heated up, putting some curry over it. The naan was overcooked/too crispy on the edges and too soft/flimsy in the middle. And either the rice or curry had fennel in it which is not a personal favorite of mine. I would not come back here. read more

I have made special trips to Benicia to eat at this restaurant. We tried today and it's just as good. Seriously good. Had Butter chicken, vindaloo chicken, garlic naan and rice- all were perfect. Limited seating so plan to make a reservation as people find out about it. read more

Went here one time... the location was hard to find.. which is okay.. the food was horrible... the kababs I got were dipped in salt.. never had a saltier labab.. and the lassi was sour... it was gross... I think the place has potential but the food has to be good for me to visit the same place twice... I will give this place one more chance because I like the location.. and staff is friendly too... wanted to try the jackfruit tacos but they were out of those...very good ambience and decoration... but the food needs to be fresh at least... let's see if they improve read more

New favorite Indian restaurant! Ive been to all the indian restaurant in the WC/ph and concord area and this just takes the cake! The sauces are just bursting with flavor but so indulgent and rich! So full! Will definitely be back! read more

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Excellent edition to this neighborhood. The food is very well prepared. We had the Samosa chop, eggplant, purée, and Gould curry. Very tasty and satisfying. Unlike some Indian restaurants where the flavors and spices were flat, this restaurant does everything just right read more

We went today and it was yummy and a nice place too. I just enjoyed the experience. We got our current favorites...mild chicken dishes: korma, methi malai, and coconut chicken. All were good but the coconut was the lesser one for us. Chicken was so tender and perfect. All dishes were totally mild. Service was awesome. The hostess/server was friendly and attentive. We felt the serving size was really nice with plenty of chicken in each dish. NAAN and PAPADUM: I loved the buttered naan; it's nigella seeds in it so it looks fancy. But also...that was the best papadum. I actually saved the papadum to enjoy with my food and it was so good that way too! We chose a booth inside but the outside seating looked so nice as well. Inside was cool and clean. WHERE IS IT? It's tucked in under the awning. They're still working on getting a sign on the door but it's there. read more

We went to this new restaurant for my husband's birthday and it was great! He had a sizzling plate of tandoori lamb that was delicious, and my paneer butter masala was really lovely. The waiter--partner of the business--was very kind and attentive, had lots of recommendations. The ambiance is a little casual for a $100 dinner, but we had two large Taj Mahal beers so we didn't really care about casual! And it was a perfect evening to eat outdoors. I do recommend Kohinoor...the only Indian restaurant in PHill! read more

Everything very fresh, spice levels to perfection! Very friendly staff, quiet ambiance. Very happy to have this restaurant new to the neighborhood! read more

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Great tasty fresh food, nice atmosphere and great service. This is the place to dine if you want to satisfy your eating eperience.

The service was great but the food was very bland. Not the flavorful Indian food we love. It's too expensive for sub par food, probably won't be back. read more

OMG SO GOOD!!! I got the tandoori chicken. I've never had it before and it made me fall in love with it. I rarely am impressed, but this is literally amazing. I'm so glad me and my bf found this restaurant. The spices were delicious and flavorful, the sauces were the best compliment to the dish. And the chicken was so juicy and tender. 10/10 I hope they get a lot of business!! read more

The food was delicious. The butter chicken tasted really good. She asked me spicy. It was spice. Good I would definitely come here again. It is a family friendly place. The service was really quick and good food came out hot. They've only been open in three weeks. Very clean. read more

KOHINOOR Indian Cuisine - Butter, chicken, garlic, and rice - Indian Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

This place is AMAZING! They have a lot of really interesting Indian fusion options. I got jackfruit tacos, and my wife got masala Mac and cheese. Our two year old got the butter chicken fries and loved them. We'll definitely come back here many times so we can explore the menu. read more

KOHINOOR Indian Cuisine - Butter chicken fries - Indian Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

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Just had the butter chicken and aloo tikka chaat and it was excellent. First time trying this place and I will be back to try other things . I did carry out but next time I want to dine in read more

Such terrific food! Very interesting fusion dishes, we tried the Pura Shots (??) which were very unique but absolutely delicious! There were 4 of us & we fought over the 2 extra shots after we each had one. We got assorted Naan, and each flavor was exceptional, Garlic Goat Cheese being the standout. For entrees we were more traditional, Butter Chicken, Shrimp Coconut Curry, Chicken Tikka, and a Paneer Curry. All got raves, and my own Chicken Tikka was one of the best I've ever had. We eyed the desserts longingly but the large portions of everything else precluded another course. Next time, and there will be many next times, we might start with dessert. Oh, and the Mango Lassi was scrumptious. read more