We were there December 31st for their lavish preset Menu. The food was fabulous and the service great and each dish of the 6 course meal was fabulous. My little one is a fussy eater and even she absolutely loved it. GREAT JOB!!. read more

Delicious, unique food. Make sure to reserve in advance - you can't walk in. Every dish we tried was great.

Please go and eat at this place! I've known about them for some time, but didn't go because I'm lazy and I usually end up going to the restaurants in my gourmet ghetto neighborhood. When I finally ate at Munch India, I ended up going again within just a few weeks. They have a small menu, but the food is just the right medium between home cooked and restaurant style cooking. Not overly greasy or fatty, delicately flavoured, and very satisfying. Their dosa-blinis with caviar were to die for. They change the menu often, so the second time I went, they didn't have those. But if they're on the menu, and if you like dosas and/or caviar, do yourself a favour and order it. It's just that tiny bit out of the way of where you'd expect to go when you go out to eat in Berkeley, and the place itself is very small and can feel cramped. But the food more than makes up for these things. And while they don't serve alcohol, I think they're okay with byob. read more

This place is the epitome of comfort food. It's by far the best Indian food I've ever had, the staff is incredibly nice and welcoming, and they've completely changed my views on like pickle (theirs is incredible!!!!!!!!!). I'm so happy they survived this last year, and I can't wait to continue eating their delicious food through out the winter. read more

Munch India, what a find in the East Bay! Original, tasty dishes, beautifully prepared, attentive but not intrusive staff that knows the food and how to explain it to the novice, different dishes every night, excellent, actually enjoyable vegetarian dishes that even a non-vegetarian can enjoy and a quiet, small setting in a cozy, familiar atmosphere. We, three people, never felt rushed, the bill came only AFTER we asked (a nice friendly touch unknown to other American establishments) and we were left undisturbed to enjoy the great food in peace. WOW! One word to all those complainers about arriving at a closed restaurant. The Munch India states clearly on the website that reservations ARE A MUST! So, please don't arrive without one and don't complain that you did not get any food. You can only yourself to blame. read more

This place is an adorably modest culinary delight! Really innovative chef creating carefully envisioned fresh local Indian with a California twist. Menu changes often, based on ingredient sourcing, which is just such a welcome delight for an ethnic restaurant. Definitely will make this one of my hidden treasures. read more

Love this place and would give it 5 stars, but I've been trying to make reservations for later this month, and couldn't do it because the dates further out than 7/13 were closed down. Sent them an email 10 days ago, and got no response. I may have left a voicemail too. It is now impossible to make reservations more than 2 days away. Someone is not keeping up with the reservations page, and since they are now a reservations only restaurant, that's very frustrating. read more

You must call ahead to choose a meal rather than just walking in or making a same day reservation. Takes some planning, but food is good read more

I am Indian and this place is legit and superb. The dishes skirt along established norms with delicious variations. It's tiny, though, so you may have to wait a bit to get a table. read more

Excellent food. Munch India might have given me the most tender chicken I've ever eaten in my life.

Food is absolutely exquisite, the presentation is amazing, so Elegant. The ambiance is great and the service impeccable. Even the dinnerware is to die for. read more

The best Indian food around. Will amend to five stars when they start taking cash, not a fan of cashless businesses.

Came here after they converted to takeout only and it's soooo good. Super blown away by the flavor. Can't wait to try more. Super friendly staff too! read more

Finally, a restaurant in Berkeley that's doing something original with Indian food and breaking the mould. They have a fresh, honest, deceptively simple and amazingly flavorful menu that they innovate on every week. I like how they are not only innovating on the food but also bringing recipes hardly ever seen in the United States before, from the heart of various cuisines and cultures in India, to your table. Highly recommended! read more

I've been eating Indian food for many decades. My husband and I ate at Munch India tonight. It is not cheap, but it is the Best. Indian. Food. I've. Ever. Eaten. Truly. Lamb Kebab, Basmati rice, Mango Lassi, all utterly delicious. Aloo Parathi hot for my palate, but still good. Excellent service. read more

I have been a regular visitor of Munch India's food truck and have always loved the care at which the chef prepares the meals. This restaurant takes the food truck experience a notch up. I ordered Aloo Tikki and breaded eggplant with yogurt mustard, both were really fresh and delicious. The crispy outer layer of breaded eggplant with the mushy eggplant inside takes you to a world of many textures! The service was great, the interiors probably can be worked upon more, but I am sure they will get there. Be prepared to wait after you order, as every meal experience is diligently prepared. This according to me is one of the best Indian restaurants in the bay right now. read more

This new Indian neighborhood place should be supported. Wonderful food, perfectly spiced, beautifully presented and passionate owners who know and care about cooking. Good selection of vegetarian and meat main courses. We shared the prawn main and a cauliflower dish with peppers. No beer or wine yet. Bring your own. Should have a beer and wine license within the next two months. Definitely will return. read more

We gave a try to this new Indian place that opened in the neighborhood. What a surprise!!! Amazing Indian food with lots of flavor, style and creativity! Everything we tried was super tasty! Prawn samosa was full of flavor, chicken tandoori was so tender, the pudding dessert is a big surprise! In addition to the tasty food, it's a family style restaurant with lovely people, charming place, modern and quality furnitures... We loved it. It may be a bit pricy compared to other Indian restaurants, but its totally worthy! Way above the top! read more

I loved Munch India! I live in the area and stumbled upon this restaurant. I went with my partner and we quickly decided that this was going to be our new neighborhood spot. The place is adorable, staff is friendly, and food is WONDERFUL! We loved our food, but also were jealous of all of the people around us whose food also looked amazing. We are planning on becoming experts of the menu :) read more

Wow!! So excited about this place! All the vegetarian food is YUM!! Haven't tried the non-vegetarian yet but will be back very soon. The menu is limited but the dishes are flavorful and outstanding. Kiddos loved it too. This one's a keeper. It's a small place so get here early if you want a table. read more

Slightly upscale, well-executed, pan-Indian spot. Reservations only with a revolving menu. I keep thinking back to the mutton curry. Hopefully they have something Goanese or Sri Lankan next time I go! read more

The best Indian food I've had. Better than "high end" Indian restaurants in the South Bay (large Indian community). The beef cubes were tender and the gravy rich and complex. Chicken cubes on a skewer were perfectly grilled and delicious. Only dish that didn't blow me away was the shrimp momo appetizer. Despite the spices it was encased in that kind of cheap gelatinous skin that you find in cheap low end Chinese restaurants and tasted like low end dim sum. My suggestion is to get rid of the momo and replace it with samosas or something that better fits the menu and caliber of the food. The mango lassi was also the best and perfect. Not too sweet with a hint of rose. Service was a little slow despite being only half full. Only complaint is no alcohol yet. They're working on getting a liquor license. read more

Had dinner atMunch the other and by far this is the best Indian food I've ever had although it was also the most expensive Indian food ever ordered. Despite the fact the food is so very good they are gouging their customers by charging everything a la carte. C'mon now when you pay $39.00 for a fish dish you expect it to come with either naan bread or rice and condiments but at Munch they charge between $4.00 and $7.00 for these items. Their okra dish is fantastic but six piecesof Okra for $22.00 is rather steep. I will only go back to Munch if someone else is payng for it and even then I'd complain at the prices. Excellent food & service but outrageoulsy priced. read more

6 stars! One of the best restaurants I've ever been to. Small, all dishes cooked by the owner. Beautiful interior and small, focused menu. We tried 3 different dishes and an appetizer. All of them were knockout. One of the things that is fun is that they have dishes from all over India and list the region of origin. So you can learn interesting facts like Kolkata had the original Chinatown! I'd never liked Indo-Chinese until I tasted their spicy Haka noodles. The eggplant and cauliflower dishes were also wonderful! The mango lassi also one of the best ever. Go to this restaurant with good friends to catch up or on a date. You will not be disappointed! read more

Nicely improved restaurant in the former Smokey Jay's. Homey and cute and a great addition to the neighborhood! We went on a Friday night and loved everything! The croquette like Urulai Kizhangu Bonda was my favorite and so light! Rajkoti Para Sabzi was unlike anything I ever had before and so filling! The vegetable korma was also delicious and included carrots and daikon. The chefs/owners and servers were so sweet and accommodating. We can't wait to go back! read more

I had a fantastic meal here this week. The food is seasonal and sustainable/local. They have meat as well as vegan/veggie options. The restaurant only accepts credit cards when I went and have a $20 per person minimum. The quality of food is high and their space is warm and inviting, with an intimate neighborhood feel. They are still working out their systems and staff is still being trained but even so, I found the server to be very knowledgeable about the dishes and able to make great recommendations. I hope they remain a fixture in South Berkeley. read more

Tried Munch India for the first time last night. We loved it. Felt like we were walking into someone's kitchen/dining room (saw a review that said "cramped"...perhaps...I think it was more cozy than cramped - the food was so darn good I didn't care if I had to eat it in a closet). Chef Diana Afroza came to our table to take our order - answering questions about the menu in a way that only a chef can - cause she then went over to the kitchen to cook our meal! The food looked beautiful and tasted even better. Heads up - tap or sparkling water are you choices for beverage. So if you're looking to spend $15 on a fancy cocktail, don't make a reservation here. But if you want delicious Indian food - make a reservation (and be sure to take a credit card - they are cashless) - from my experience, you won't be disappointed. read more

An intimate family-run restaurant, Munch India offers wonderful authentic Indian dishes, made from excellent local ingredients and exquisitely spiced. While the menu is relatively small, it changes bi-weekly and always offers half vegetarian options. For early birds, the prix fixe dinner costs only $29 and is an excellent way to learn more about Indian cuisine. The quiet, well-appointed space offers an environment for conversation as well as for unrushed savoring of the food. Reservations are required, and can be made up to 4 pm the same day. read more

Absolutely outstanding. Very unique non-traditional dishes, which may not be familiar to non-Indians. Small and cozy place. Need to reserve. No walk ins. Great cod and vegetables. Excellent service. Will be back there soon. Great addition to restaurants in East Bay. read more

The best Indian food I have had in the bay area. The menu is small, but everything we ordered was excellent

Simply the best Indian food I've ever eaten. The presentation was beautiful. The service warm and friendly. The flavors of every dish meant to be savored and enjoyed. A visual and delicious exquisite feast, and each dish was obviously made with great care and delight. What a jewel! Make a reservation. read more

The seasonings used here are exceptionally tasty. I liked everything except the overcooked chicken kabob, and the relentless upselling from the server. read more

I have gone to this restaurant twice in its first two weeks of operation. Both times I was astonished that it was not more crowded. This is Indian food the way I imagine Indians make it at home, for their own families--only the best, freshest, most local and seasonal ingredients; no two sauces alike; menu items you don't see anywhere else. The lentil dumpling appetizer was a revelation. It was light, cool, and popping with subtle flavor (I know that sounds contradictory, but it's a study in contrasts). The flatbread is ethereal. Every dish we had--game hen, eggplant, chicken. fish--was completely different and so tasty. Plus the wait staff is super friendly and helpful. It's clear this place is a labor of love, and i will love going back again and again, and bringing friends. read more

A friend of Indian descent invited us to join him for dinner at Munch. Great choice! The food was excellent, with a shrimp samosa (I didn't record the Indian name but it was one of two appetizer choices) being one of the best appetizers I have ever had. Service was good with apparent family members doing the honors. We had three shared main dishes, a lamb kebab, a chicken leg and thigh dish, and a vegetable medley. All were superb and apparently cooked to order, as it did take a while for them to come out. Portion sizes were reasonable so we didn't have leftovers but had enough to eat. Four stars because the place is BYOB, plus a bottle opener or corkscrew. They are very careful about not serving any alcoholic beverages since they don't have a license. I'm not an Indian food expert but this was the best Indian meal I can remember. Top recommendation. Also, it's walking distance from the Ashby Avenue BART station. Reservations only, so call ahead. read more

Amazing place for Indian food! Family owned and operated, it's so nice to come in and support Berkeley locals. Dishes were amazing and a changing menu always has you wanting more. They'll definitely see us soon. The place is very cute and cozy. read more

This's one of a kind Indian restaurant. It serves the most flavorful food I have ever had outside of India. Every dish has the aroma and the taste of fresh spices. We have been there twice and plan to go there many more times. read more

Been twice now for dinner to this new Indian restaurant. It is a family business and they seem dedicated to quality. They are kind and friendly, and explain as much as we wanted. And best of all the food was supremely delicious! The servings were original, creative, and combine subtlety with great taste. And they change their menu frequently, so I will never be in the position of ordering those one or two things I like. I like it all! It is small and cozy, with ample street parking nearby. This delicious restaurant is bound to become to go to place for interesting, delicious Indian cuisine. read more

When we arrived at 5:30 on Valentine's Day at this small but elegantly styled restaurant. We were the only other patrons along with another couple. We were seated immediately and offered Saratoga sparkling water. The ambience is cozy and festive, but it took a good half hour before we received our first course. The restaurant does not have a liquor license yet, but on our way out I saw one table had a 6 pack of beer. The couple had brought their own, and said the restaurant does not object. All courses are small but very elegantly served and tasty. Our first course was a high grade tuna piece, the second "the highest grade" tenderloin beef piece on a bioche. Both were once again very tasty but both my beef and my husband's were stringy. Mine was especially chewy. The duck was excellent, especially if you like crispy skin. I must say my 64 year old husband wondered if he was going to leave hungry as the courses are small as noted. But I gave him my duck skins and the two candy pieces along with the lovely little cake piece at the end and he was fine. Expect to pay pricey sum... our bill was $250. Each glass of Saratoga is $5.00. This was more expensive than I remember at Chez Panisse with alcoholic drinks. But if you love gourmet and Saratoga water it might be fun to try. read more

Sublime food prepared with so much respect that every bite demands that it be savored slowly to allow the subtle flavors of India make their magic happen. The door to this unpretentious and cozy, hole in wall is a gateway to artistry in fine dining married to the warm touch of hospitality. The regularly refreshed menu captures the authentic delicate nuances of freshly made spices inspired by dishes from the sub-continent. Tonight my wife and I had aloo tikki, eggplant-yogurt, malai kofta , dal, phulkas, pullao and lemon pickle (couldn't resist ordering an extra entree to bring home). A delightful dinner experience, again, that was much appreciated by us. read more

Sooo good but I'm reluctant to share this rave review since it is also sooo tiny so easily overrun with people; but the family running it is so lovely and the food so unusual and delicious. Not your typical Indian food menu. read more