Hidden in a shopping plaza. Arrived at around 5pm and seated quickly. Place filled up at around 6pm. The dosa was yum. The garlic naan arrived piping hot and crispy - great with the butter chicken. Had to try the masala fish as it was noted as one of their popular dishes - spiced well and flavorful. Also ordered the Bhindi Masala - the okra had quite a kick but good. Service was great in that they checked on us often. Food arrived pretty quickly after placing our order. Ended our meal with a cup.of the Chai. read more

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Drop by to grab some garlic cheese naan! Huge portion size for one piece in my opinion This went really well with chicken tikka masala :) yum Plaza parking and friendly, speedy service. Thank you! read more

Tabla Indian Restaurant - Cheese Garlic Naan - Indian Near Me - San Mateo, California

Tuesday evening & we were seated right away not busy at all, but within the hr, door dash, orders to go & some people coming in. Located in an outdated strip mall, with some businesses and lots of other restaurants to chose from. Lots of parking! Pricing for the food, seem decent, for the portions. Everything we ordered came out, it was nicely put together presentation (plated) all the dishes had there own unique yummy flavors & yet, they all paired together, very well I love me some Indian food, so whenever I'm in town & need my craving fulfilled, I will definitely be visiting this place, to try more things on the menu, They did not disappoint read more

Tabla Indian Restaurant - Chicken Dosa Butter chicken Paneer (spicy) - Indian Near Me - San Mateo, California

Someone recommended this place for good dosas. The mini square mall looked old fashioned. As we entered the restaurant, it was full and smelled strongly of food. I was thinking poor ventilation or something worse. He said that's a good thing, right? I immediately said no. We ordered our dosas. His arrived promptly while I had to wait around 15 minutes. Perhaps my dosa was prepared to be more crispy? It finally arrived and it looked more browned than other dosas I had, like more time on the skillet. Took a slice and it was super crispy indeed which I prefer. I always request the potatoes be served separately and not inside the dosa. The dosa had a mixture of grilled onions. I found the potatoes and sambar (soup) a bit spicy. He was already on his 2nd sambar while I barely touched mine. Next time if we ever return here, I'm just gonna order the plain onion masala dosa with no potatoes. Still bothered by the smell emanating from the kitchen to the dining area. read more

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We enjoyed this meal so much - I didn't want hubby to make a mess of my clean kitchen so I said HEY! DELIVERY! We ordered mango lasso, naan, chicken tikka masala, palaak paneer, goat biryani, and little potato pancake thingies - also extra chutney and mint Chutney - all tasted so good but as usual for an Indian restaurant, not enough protein! Chicken tikka didn't have enough meat forn3, the biruani was borderline, and the cheese soinach was really only ok - love the flavors - this is great for -2 people not 3 - my kid had to find more food in a refrigerator after dinner - not really ok when spending over $100 for food. But wow the flavor was good. I'm annoyed but happy - maybe they have a buffet - why is it like this with Indian restaurants here? Come on! This is CA - MORE PROTEIN read more

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A long pending updated review - the "new" version of Tabla restaurant compared to my previous review is a definite 5 star Been going here few times and just love their taste and service consistency for past 3-4 years now. My family loves all the dishes tried so far and have taken few outstation guests there as well - a less spoken hidden gem. Sprawling restaurant tucked inside the shopping center on Norfolk /San Mateo has simple and clean interior deco and very attentive / friendly owners. Items frequently ordered include- bread basket (their butter roti , naans are all just tasty), navratan kurma(mix veg curry with paneer chunks), egg masala, chicken curries, biryanis, pav bhaji and masala dosas. All their dishes are mostly medium spicy, just let them know while ordering if you want mild or more spicy . Best part is complementary hot masala chai which is just refreshing with pre or post meal and did I say their service is quick and attentive? Plenty of free parking in the front parking lot. read more

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This has been my go to place for biryani for years, which makes what happened recently especially upsetting. I placed a to go order that included Kadhai Paneer, Veg Paneer Vijayawada Biryani, Chilli Garlic Naan, and Garlic Naan. While eating the Kadhai Paneer, I suddenly bit into something sharp and hard in the curry and discovered it was a bone fragment. I am a strict vegetarian and both dishes I ordered were vegetarian. Finding a bone in the food was extremely distressing and honestly felt like a nightmare situation. This was not just unpleasant. It was also a choking hazard and a serious food safety concern. After this happened I immediately stopped eating and did not continue with any of the other items in the order. I contacted the owner right away and shared photos when requested. I was told they would check with the chef and get back to me. I also sent a detailed message explaining how serious and upsetting this experience was. Unfortunately I did received any follow up response after that. Restaurants often say their vegetarian and non vegetarian preparation areas and utensils are separate. An incident like this raises serious questions about cross contamination and kitchen handling practices. As a long time customer this experience was very disappointing and has shaken my trust in the restaurant. read more

Tabla Indian Restaurant - Bone piece in Kadhai Paneer - Indian Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Consistent reliable biryani every time. Good helping of chicken along with rice. Definitely on the re-order list

The food was amazing love their indo Chinese food. The staff is so kind and polite 10/10. Everybody needs to try this place. Great service.

Ordered takeout - naan and chicken tikka curry. The curry was really good but the chicken was a little fiberous. The naan was very good and remained soft a while after I ordered! Edit - It was not chewy even after I heated in a microwave the next day - I've never experienced that before! Reasonable prices for the peninsula too! read more

Tabla Indian Restaurant - Indian Near Me - San Mateo, California

Really great food in a hidden area. The food was 100% delicious and everything had the right amount of heat. Garlic Nan was perfect and the chicken dishes were outstanding without having to break the bank. Forget the pricey Indian places. This place is legit and I recommend it 100%. read more

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Amazing Food, Awesome Fish and Dosa! Dario Is The Best Waiter10/10. Very Shareable Portions. Try Ordering A Few Different Dishes, Best Way To Eat With A Party Of 4! read more

Food was genuinely excellent, but the service completely ruined the experience. We came all the way from Mountain View to eat here because we had heard great things about Tabla. We ordered Manchurian, a masala dosa, and a Mysore masala dosa. Instead, a ghee roast dosa arrived. My partner does not eat ghee, so we asked the staff if this was actually our order. We were told yes, and when we checked again, we were told the same thing. To avoid any issue, I said it was fine and asked them to just cancel the Mysore masala dosa and bring a regular masala dosa instead so she could eat. We were not trying to argue or get anything for free--we just wanted to eat peacefully. Then Jitesh, who had taken our order, came over and started arguing about what we had ordered. He didn't even seem to clearly remember who ordered what, yet kept insisting we were wrong. To avoid further conflict, I even said, "Okay, sorry, maybe it was our mistake," even though it wasn't. What made this completely unacceptable was that he said, "She's lying" not once, but twice. That is not how you speak to customers. That crossed the line, and I lost my appetite. Then instead of handling things professionally, he said, "Okay go, you don't need to pay the bill," which felt dismissive and insulting, as if we were there for free food. We were not. In fact, I insisted on paying the full bill, and I did pay. The food is top notch, but dining out is not just about food--service and respect matter. Being called a liar when we were trying to stay calm and cooperative is unacceptable. I hope management takes this seriously and provides proper training. One staff member's behavior can completely ruin what would otherwise be a great restaurant. read more

My family and I get takeout from here pretty often, solid spot for weekend takeout! Sometimes the spice levels could be more accurate, but overall a good spot for takeout rotation! read more

Order multiple takeouts from here, food is really good. Service is also prompt and they added utensils on special request. Really liked garlic naan and palak paneer. Paneer biryani was good but can use some more veggies and more raita will definitely be appreciated. Parota with chicken curry was very good. Recommend that for non vegetarians. read more

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Mother's Day!!! This place is packed!!!!!!! It's packed with people because it's Fantastic!!!!! Not only is the food amazing...the service is WONDERFUL. Im so happy I called for reservations for our family of 4. Since this is such a great Indian restaurant if you have a large group call in advance!! I have told all our friends to come here!! I always feel so welcome here. Love this reatauran read more

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Good food, friendly/attentive service, and affordable. Love everything we have tried from the menu and can't wait to go back. My 6 year olds favorite restaurant :) The owners/staff are very nice and they serve fresh chai tea. Tabla is great! read more

I came to this restaurant after my husband was raving about their lamb biryani. Our waiter, Dario, was great. He was very friendly and funny. We ordered chaat, fried peppers, aloo dosa, butter chicken, lamb biryani, and chili fish. Since we went with two other people we shared the food family style. We all were full and every dish tasted great. Hands down, one of the better Indian restaurants I've eaten at. Not only was the food amazing, Dario, our waiter, added to the experience. I will definitely be coming back. read more

Ordered 3 different curry dishes and they were all good. Their naan was probably one of the best I've had. Sadly, I came for the Thali lunch that they no longer serve. No free hot chai either. It was also not cheap enough for me to come back often anymore. read more

I was charged twice for my order at Tabla through Uber Eats. When I reached out to Uber Eats, they told me the restaurant had denied the refund for the second charge and that I'd need to contact Tabla directly. I called and spoke with Mani, who gave me the owner Sam's phone number. Sam asked me to send proof of the double charge and screenshots from my bank statement, which I did immediately. He told me he'd "look into it," but never got back to me. Since then, he's ignored every call and text I've sent. Getting charged twice and then brushed off like this is unacceptable. Be careful ordering from this place. The owner is unprofessional and refuses to take responsibility. read more

I have been living in this area for over ten years. The first few times we went to this place a few years ago it was fine. Until we constantly experienced food poisoning and upset stomach/ diarrhea. And then we stopped. For a good five years. But since there are no Indian food joints in the area we started visiting this place again. And the food was not bad. The service though.... Over a few visits it was clear they had no interest in service ... There were times we would be sitting for 30 minutes for .. anything, nothing And I went back for dinner a few times. All i wanted was a hot plate of food. It came and until I needed accompaniments..5 min..10 min...15 min...20min ..I might as well have been invisible. No one came to enquire... Although they were 2 ft away facing the other table asking for their preferences (ethnic prerogatives apply) And finally I had to leave... Went and told the manager?/person at the counter how disrespectful this was and his first statement... " Did you ask us for service?"... Yes ladies and gentlemen, make sure when you are at a restaurant, you ask the staff to attend to you..in this place it is your responsibility not theirs (if you after reading this David and co, .Be Better..Please.. else it's a shame ) read more

Tabla Indian Restaurant serves a variety of dishes from across the subcontinent, including a number of South Indian specialties that you won't find elsewhere! Their dosa selection was extensive, and the Onion Rava Masala Dosa was a thin, crispy fried batter made of semolina, rice, and wheat flour, filled with caramelized chopped red onions, and served with sambar (a creamy lentil vegetable stew), coconut chutney, tomato chutney, and potato masala (mashed spiced potatoes with onions, peas, carrots, dal, and cashews). The sambar and potato masala were both deliciously creamy, though the chutneys were a bit lacking in flavor and freshness. The best part by far was the rava dosa, which was perfectly crispy throughout and was complemented nicely by the sweet crunch of the onions. read more

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We always cater from Tabla for our company events, and every single time they exceed expectations! The food is consistently fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented -- our team always looks forward to it. A huge shoutout to Sam and Jitesh, who go above and beyond to ensure everything is perfect. Their professionalism, attention to detail, and genuine care for customer satisfaction make all the difference. From timely delivery to accommodating special requests, they make the entire experience effortless and enjoyable. If you're looking for top-quality Indian cuisine with even exceptional service, Tabla is hands down the best choice. Highly recommended! read more

AMAZING experience! I've been searching for authentic Indian cuisine from San Francisco down to San Mateo, and this place is the one. Huge shoutout to Dario for being such a fantastic waiter--attentive and welcoming. The food was absolutely delicious with zero complaints. I can't wait to come back and try even more dishes next time! read more

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Excellent food, wonderful service, very friendly staff and very reasonable. I like their mutton curry and chicken Biryani.

Absolutely DELICIOUS!!! Had the bangan bartha butter chicken saag pander and Robin monchurian all soooo good!!!

I went to Tabla Restaurant during our trip to SFO and didn't have any particular expectations, but it turned out to be quite decent. We were seated quickly, and the food also came pretty quickly. The staff were friendly and attentive to our table, and the ambiance was inviting as well. We ordered the set dosa, which came out hot and fresh. Even though the dosa was a little thick, I loved the chutneys and sambar though. We also ordered malai kofta curry with garlic naan--both were good. The naan was flaky and soft, while the curry was rich, creamy, and mildly spicy. Finally, we ordered the Vijayawada chicken biryani. It was a bit spicy, but the flavors were well-balanced, and the rice was fluffy and fragrant. As a bonus, they offer complimentary chai (Indian tea) for all customers. read more

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What happened?! This used to be my go to biriyani place but now I would only recommend the ulavacharu biriyani :( They've worked on their decor but it's completely confusing. This is a South Indian restaurant yet there are cut outs of reindeer's everywhere and super cheap tacky decor. A simpler, cleaner approach would've gone a long way. Indian design is so beautiful, rich and can be both minimal and maximal but It's definitely got no reindeer. I usually order out from here but that's become less frequent. I hope the place goes back to what it was. read more

I gave this place 5stars because it is 5 stars for what it is. The food is always yummy and comes out fast and the guys/servers are so kind. If you don't know what to order they will Definitely help you. The restaurant is a decent size and clean. I've love all the foods I've ordered so far and they have chai hot tea free of charge :) kids are also welcomed. Ps: they have sweet chocolate dosa :) read more

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The ambiance is ok. Quite casual and furniture is fine. The service is top notch! They did ask us once to try to not be so loud , which was odd. But the service is very good and the host and servers are very nice. Jitesh is very kind. The food is delicious! Many of the dosas are a big hit with our family, including ghee roast, Mysore masala, masala, and rava. The tandoori chicken leg is awesome and what a deal!!! We ask for our food mild and it still has a little kick so just know that when ordering. The goat curry is really perfect when it's "mild." The biryani and saag are delicious as well. The naans are all very good. I don't eat it but hear that the gobhi is very good. We come here almost once a week. Highly recommend read more

First off the moment you enter this restaurant you'd get a feel of a typical Indian restaurant popular for butter chicken and creamy Indian curries( according to me they're not Indian curries, perhaps they're made to balance non Indian crowd) The ambience is ok, I'm sure they could make the place look more modern, good wall hangings, neater and cleaner tables etc. We ordered goat biryani - I'd give 2/5 because it is not Hyderabadi biryani, it was very oily, rice was over cooked and the meat was dry, it missed the core parts of what biryani should have. We ordered Andhra chicken curry- It was 4/5 only thing we didn't like was excessive oil. Fried fish- 5/5 it was delicious To be honest the service was good, they're very nice staff, and don't forget to grab complimentary chai tea(FYI they both mean same ) read more

Tabla Indian Restaurant - Fish Masala - Indian Near Me - San Mateo, California

5 stars! My partner and I have visited Tabla a few times before and always had great experiences--but our most recent visit really stood out. We brought a large group of friends for dinner, and everything from the food to the service was exceptional. The menu is thoughtfully organized into vegetarian and non-vegetarian sections, which is a big plus for anyone with dietary preferences. One of our friends is vegan, and our server, Dario, went above and beyond to help identify which dishes could be modified to be vegan-friendly (by removing ghee or cream). With his help, we ordered the Poori, Chapathi, Baingan Bhartha, and Channa Masala, all of which were delicious! For the non-vegans in our group, the Aloo Tikki Chaat and Chicken Chettinadu were definite highlights. Beyond the incredible food, the service was warm and attentive, and it honestly felt like we were being welcomed in as family. The pricing is reasonable, parking is easy, and the atmosphere is relaxed and inviting. What more could you ask for? Can't wait for our next visit! read more

Avoid! We ordered a significant amount of take out for a party. The kadai paneer was super fried and greasy (and looked terrible) and so was the korma. We had to throw out 80% of the food because hardly anyone touched it. read more

The food here was great - thoroughly enjoyed everything! The service could be a little friendlier and happier. Also the place could be done up a little nicer with more modern and pretty decor. This takes away from the nice food and experience a little bit. The food was good, so will keep this in mind next time I'm in the area! Don't forget to get some of the complimentary chai that's near the entrance on your way in - it's yummy! read more

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This place is just awesome. Food is fantastic, very affordable dishes, good people working here. The goat Briyani is da GOAT!! Garlic naan is a must. The curry is delicious. I could not be more satisfied when I walked out. Went with my family, I ordered too much because I just wanted to try everything, but Dario, our waiter convinced us it was too many dishes. And of course, he was right. But I still walked out of the place stuffed and completely satisfied and my bill was only $46!!! Our family is definitely coming back, and next time, I'm going order one of everything . Shout out to Dario, he's da man. Love this place! read more

I ordered the Paneer Biryani on Grubhub for pickup. In 15 minutes it was already ready to be picked up, so very quick and easy. For some reason on grubhub when I ordered the biryani and had to choose the spice levels, it said cannot be made mild. I'm not sure why that is but it would be nice if there was a mild option. I went with medium and it was a lot spicier than I expected. I love spicy food so I enjoyed it, but I think their medium level is spicier than what most people would get and I read from other reviews that the mild is still quite spicy. Next time I would get the mild if possible so I can also taste more of the other flavors. Great first time trying paneer biryani and would order again! read more

Tabla Indian Restaurant - Paneer Biryani - Indian Near Me - San Mateo, California

IlOn our way to SFO, we stopp into Tabla Indian Restaurant while passing through San Mateo. The food and the service was excellent! Highly recommende read more

Tabla Indian Restaurant - Indian Near Me - San Mateo, California

Really good food! Authentic South Indian biriyani. I had the vijayvada and goat fry biriyani. Really tasty! Just did pickup but staff seemed friendly. Restaurant was clean and would try to eat there next if we are in the area. Parking right outside. Food was soo good I forgot to take pics lol read more

This place is great! The food is authentic and tastes wonderful but what makes the place stand out above the rest is its high level and standards for good service. From the minute i walked in with my elderly mom, Sam and Dario were constantly checking to see if we were okay. We enjoyed the fresh and warm Dosas as not all places make these. I also enjoy the cleanliness and orderliness of this restaurant, i think having everything set-up so easily helps let the servers do what they do best and that's tending to their paying customers. read more

We have tried coming here twice for dinner and they have turned us down every time. The first time we came around 9:05pm on a Sunday (it closes at 9:30) and the owner (or whoever he is) said dine in is closed and they're only doing take out. We asked if they could make an exception because we were craving their dosa so bad but he said no. So we quietly left, hungry and disappointed but understanding. Today, I called at 7pm to confirm what time they close and what is the last time for dine in to make sure we would be able to eat there. The person who picked up said yes you can but please come before 9pm. We reach at 8:50pm and we walk in, the waiter asks us how many and even almost seats us when the same owner comes out and says sorry no, no dine in now. We said we even called and asked earlier but he did not budge. I was told to be there before 9pm and that's what we did. Mind you the restaurant was still pretty packed, it wasn't like it was empty and they were closing or cleaning up?? I said we called and asked but he was acting all confused and said that they don't get calls to the restaurant. He was basically implying that I was lying about the phone call, even though I had the call log in my phone! I spoke to an actual human who said to come before 9pm. I'm sorry but this is just disappointing as a customer who genuinely wants to eat at your restaurant. We made an effort to come back twice and both times we were turned down even though we had half hour left till closing. Assuming I, the customer, was lying about a phone call is also just demeaning. If I were you, I wouldn't come here. There are better dosa places with better customer service! read more