From the moment we walked in the door of this hidden gem and were cheerfully greeted by Chef Paddy Rawal (of "Beat Bobby Flay" fame) along with mouth-watering aromas that wafted from the kitchen, we knew we were in for a real treat! Indeed, everything from the attentive service to beautifully presented & delicious dishes lived up to our initial impression & exceeded our expectations. Santa Fe has a lot of great restaurants but is woefully lacking in Asian cuisine, so Tulsi's Indian (with a touch of Thai) cuisine is much appreciated. We have returned again & again to work our way through the menu and have never been disappointed...whether for lunch, dinner, or take-out, we cannot recommend Tulsi any more highly! read more

A Love Letter Written in Disappearing Ink There is a particular kind of optimism that drives a person into an Indian restaurant on a Saturday evening in Santa Fe -- a city that, bless its adobe heart, does not exactly overflow with subcontinental options. You settle in with the quiet confidence of someone who once spent a month in Mumbai and now believes they understand spice. You are ready. Reader, I was not prepared. Let us begin, as all great tragedies do, with the Vegetable Pakora. The pakora arrived looking less like the airy, craggily fried vegetables one typically encounters and more like someone had convened a committee about pakora and emerged with a dense, dough-forward compromise. Imagine if a samosa and a falafel had a child, and that child had structural anxiety. The texture was fine. The flavor was onion. The vibe was: lunch. The portion count deepened the intrigue. They arrive in orders of three. Three. Not four, which would split evenly at a table of four. Not two, which would behave like an appetizer. Three -- as if the kitchen is conducting a long-running study in social friction. We ordered two plates and found ourselves staring down six substantial dough spheres before the meal had begun. We had ordered snacks and received a commitment. Then -- plot twist -- Paddy's Chicken Tikka Masala arrived and redeemed roughly forty percent of the evening. This dish is excellent. Genuinely. Charred white meat, not the rubbery pallid cubes that haunt lesser tikka masalas, sitting in a tomato sauce that is smooth, tangy, and wrapped in cream with the casual confidence of someone who has always known they were beautiful. The spice balance is impeccable: heat that suggests rather than insists, sweetness that arrives and then politely exits, a buttery richness that begs to be eaten with naan. Which, tragically, we will get to. The Lamb Vindaloo, ordered hot, was the moment the evening reconsidered its direction. Vindaloo should feel like drama. Goa via Portugal. Fire and vinegar and slow-cooked depth and bright spice. It should leave your lips gently smoldering and your palate alert and grateful. You should need a quiet minute afterward. This vindaloo asked nothing of me. The heat was theoretical. The sauce was what I would charitably describe as present. And the lamb -- I say this with full respect for the animal -- was tough. Not rustic. Not hearty. Tough. I worked for that lamb. The lamb did not want to be eaten. The Gobhi Aloo arrived as a meditation on texture and its quiet disappearance. The pleasure of this dish is contrast: cauliflower with toasted edges, potatoes with yielding interiors, both retaining their individual dignity. Here, both vegetables had transcended identity and achieved a unified softness I can only describe as philosophical. The spices were warm and pleasant but the texture had left the building. Then came the Paneer Makhani, which I did not receive. What arrived instead was Saag Paneer -- a dish I do not order, have never ordered, and specifically pointed to on the menu while saying the words not that one, this one, here, I am pointing. Three times. Nevertheless: spinach. My companions enjoyed it. I watched them the way one watches people board a train you were supposed to be on. And now, the naan. Good naan bends. It yields. It smells faintly of yogurt and smoke and the particular satisfaction of bread doing its job. It behaves like a partner. This naan resisted. It stretched before tearing in dry, fibrous protest. When folded, it cracked. When chewed, it demanded effort -- not the pleasant effort of good bread, but the jaw-working persistence of something baked earlier that had since made peace with its circumstances. When deployed to scoop curry -- its entire reason for existing -- it snapped and leaked like a bread-based betrayal. I wanted to soak up that transcendent tikka masala and instead found myself doing structural engineering. The rice was fine. The rice showed up, did its job, and asked nothing of me. The rice deserves stability and health benefits. A few notes: every person must order an entrée or pay a six-dollar surcharge -- enforced at tables designed for two people with no dishes and excellent posture. Four of us were pressed against the wall with neighbors close enough to critique our naan in real time. Gratuity appears at the server's discretion. Ours was so swamped as to be theoretical -- food arrived via supporting cast, the paneer went uncorrected, and most critically, I could not order another beer while I still wanted one. Reservations strongly advised. The verdict: The tikka masala alone may justify the trip. Everything else is a negotiation. One star for Paddy's Chicken Tikka Masala, which deserves better company. One star for the rice, which showed up and never complained. Filed from Santa Fe, with a beer I eventually obtained at home. read more

Important note for families: Tulsi does not allow dine-in for children under 6 and does not offer high chairs. If you're traveling with toddlers, plan accordingly. I've been to restaurants that do not have a high chair. But to have this statement that children under 6 are "not allowed." You have lost my business. I will never dine here and will share the message. read more

Tulsi - Asian Fusion Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

Charming chef, delicious food, attentive service; 5 stars. Just recommended to a friend for his anniversary dinner

We went here and tried the chicken saag which is our test for a great Indian restaurant. The saag was ordered medium spicy but it was bland and not spicy. I ordered some mint chutney to go with it and was charged and extra 4 dollars which was a lot for 1/8 th cup of chutney. The chicken was dry and rubbery too. Maybe it was late on a Sunday and that was the problem? We were charged 22 for Chicken Saag, 4 for chutney, 1 piece of dry naan was 4and the rice was extra 4. All and all it was disappointing for 55 minus tax and tip. We drank tap water. Maybe try something else? Hopefully more flavor will be had. Staff was excellent and friendly. That's a plus. read more

The food, the service, the atmosphere - all amazing. Highly recommend the crispy spinach and mango salad! Our server, Rob, was really fun and made some really good suggestions. The chef, Paddy, visited with us as well and is charming and entertaining! The whole experience was five stars! read more

My daughter took us to Tulsi for my birthday. Food was fabulous, service was attentive, and we left feeling like we had more than just dinner at Tulsi. read more

Upscale Indian restaurant that is only a couple of blocks away from SF Plaza. Somewhat hidden in the back of a small shopping plaza with free parking. The Indian food, service, and staff were impressive; so was the chef/owner who visited us at our table to see how we enjoyed our lunch. Not open for lunch on Sundays. Looks like it's closed all day on Monday. I Googled Tulsi, or Holy Basil, which apparently is a sacred plant in India, an earthly manifestation of a Goddess Lakshmi. read more

In November, we visited our son in Rio Rancho for his birthday. We let him decide where to go in Santa Fe for his birthday. He is such a foodie and he chose Tulsi where he had gone before. My wife and I love Indian cuisine so his choice was perfect for all of us. I eat primarily vegan food and Tulsi offers a great selection. Everything we had was delicious and the service by Mayur was exceptional. The owner visited the tables, which is a great customer service practice. I mentioned to him that about 10 years ago when visiting Santa Fe we had dined in an Indian restaurant that I couldn't find. I described it to him and he said that he was the owner of that establishment. He mentioned to us that he had tried to retire but his clientele brought him back so he opened Tulsi. We had vegetable samosas, Baingan Bhartha, Hyderabadi Chicken Korma, Tulsi Chicken Biryani, garlic naan, Basmati rice and Mango Lassi. The birthday luncheon celebration was superb! On our way out we chatted again with the owner and I took a picture of him with our son. read more

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The food at Tulsi is excellent. Vegetables fresh, spicing complex and flavorful, ingredients well matched. The service was attentive but not overbearing. Great location with easy parking. Bright clean ambiance with good music read more

Very good food! We had a set plate (thali) and the lamb. The plate was ok but the lamb was fantastic! Very chatty owner who walks around and engages with the diners. Also, he beat Bobby Flay! This was my second visit. Outside seating was nice. read more

Unbelievable flavors and top-tier service. We tried the fried okra (a must-order!), the butter chicken, and the Baingan Bhartha--all were delicious. What really sets Tulsi apart is the hospitality. Chef Paddy Rawal actually took the time to stop by our table and chat, which made the evening feel special. The staff is incredibly friendly and welcoming. Santa Fe is lucky to have this spot. read more

If there's one thing I know, it's Indian food...and the food at this charming restaurant can only be described as a symphony. The eggplant sublime. The desserts are freshly made and so elevated. Chef Paddy is personable and charming and his staff is beyond gracious. I may visit have to return to Santa Fe just to return to this restaurant. Some restaurants are famous for the ambiance or the location. This one is all about the food and service. A very well deserved five stars. read more

Absolutely delicious, incredible flavors and the very best service, too. Virendra is excellent!!

These guys are the real deal I have been in India and eaten Indian food in NYC Dc Miami and these guys are TOP DRAW

This place has always been a 10/10 for me and my family. The chicken tiki masala is incredible, as well as their eggplant dishes as well. I love the Pad Thai and Dal dishes too. This please also offered a great okra dish that pairs very well with the pico they serve it with. The service is warm and welcoming as Chef Patty always comes out to greet me and my family personally every time we come by. Highly recommend coming here if you have not! read more

lovely ambience, identical roses per table, cloth napkins & table coverings. The food is consistently delicious , we're half way through the menu! The staff is professional & friendly! Today, Mayur served us pleasantly. Easy parking, we keep going back read more

We really wanted to like this restaurant. First the positive, the service was very good. Unfortunately the food was a total miss. The lamb dish was inedible. The pieces of lamb were tough and could not be eaten. For a $30 dish this was truly disappointing. The eggplant dish was ok. The naan was a bit too crispy and not soft and fluffy as it should be. Overall we were disappointed with the food read more

The food is outstanding! Anyone who loves Indian food must try this restaurant. It's an absolute hidden gem in Santa Fe, walkable from anywhere in and around the Downtown District. Chef Paddy Rawal is so engaging. He must have stopped by our table at least 3 times to make sure everything is to his standard. Plus, he has a delightful sense of humor. Be prepared to laugh while savoring your meal. Our server was very attentive and accommodating too. The dining room is very clean and comfortable. You will absolutely love your experience there. read more

One of the most horrible experiences I have witnesses. Me, my family and my friends wanted to eat a nice fusion Indian restaurant and Tulsi seemed like a good choice. But we were served with bland food, and the waiters were very slow in getting our food. The service was terrible; the waiters weren't caring, and they didn't care in taking care of the guests. They charged an extra $6 for split-plate charges for no reason. Even after all of that, the owner was being so headstrong wasn't taking any criticism from us. He even called the cops for no reason and soon we had to pay the unnecessary extra money. I definitely do not recommend this. Please share this with family and friends. read more

We have ordered takeout/delivery from Tulsi several times since it opened. We were big fans of the Chef's prior restaurant Raaga Go and were so excited to hear he was returning to open Tulsi. The food is great - especially the saag paneer and the curry. I thought the chicken tikka was very good too, especially if you order it spicy. If you like spice, this is a great spot - the "hot" option is quite hot and I am not sure I am ready to try the "fire" option. The spice adds heat but doesn't change the flavor of the dishes - so it is very well done. You have to get the garlic naan as well - it is always great. Remember dishes do not come with rice, so be sure to add that to the order as well. We have not dined inside but do want to try the great looking lunch specials (only available for dine in). read more

On a windy morning we found this spot and as vegetarians we were thrilled. We enjoyed the pakora and samosas. The owner and chef came to chat about the food. We recommend this spot. Lunch specials are the perfect portions. I decided to order paneer with a butter naan. The chai and mango lassis were delicious. read more

Tulsi - Asian Fusion Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

We've given Tulsi a chance twice now and won't be returning. Our server was pleasant enough, but to start, we ordered a $30 bottle of wine that turned out to be half a bottle instead. The menu didn't say that, and we sent it back because the full is only $14 at Total Wine to begin with. So for $60, we got two small entrees, hard naan that didn't have much flavor, and basic rice. The butter chicken was good, but the entrees all run about $5 more expensive than India House down the street, with less flavoring. The alcohol prices are also high, like $7 for Heineken, Blue Moon, and other low-ABV beers. We were unimpressed with the meal, but things got worse when we saw a 3.5% fee had been applied for using a credit card. In NM it's illegal to do that without stating it on the menu. This led to a very uncomfortable process of canceling the card transaction, getting change, paying in cash, and then waiting for the owner to explain the problem. Instead of thanking us and saying he'd fix it, he kept asking if restaurants were notified about this law that has been in place since 2013. It's like he was challenging us or didn't believe us--it's a restaurant owner's job to know the laws! This place has been open more than a couple weeks at this point and there is no excuse for what felt like overpriced, underhanded penny-pinching the entire night. We'll stick with India House from now on. read more

When in Santa Fe, run and don't walk to Tulsi for some of the best Indian Food in New Mexico. Service is top notch and the chef only adds to this culinary experience!! 10/10 read more

Tulsi - Chicken Tandori - Asian Fusion Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

We've eaten in the restaurant a couple of times and it was average. But we did takeout today and it was not good. We got one piece of garlic naan that was stale. The vegetable pakoras were over cooked and tasteless. My husband's chicken was over cooked. And my saag paneer was stringy and tasteless. I always get the saag paneer and this was the worst I've ever had. Will not return. read more

The best food and service. Nice ambiance. The chef made recommendations and explained all of the dishes. Our meals were wonderful and dessert was divine. Food was fresh and light-perfect combination and ratio of spices. Lots of choices for vegans/vegetarians. read more

We arrived ~30 minutes before closing and were nonetheless welcomed warmly (we were fairly oblivious to the fact that many restaurants in Santa Fe close at 8pm). Food was truly excellent and unique. The flavors of the Palaak Paneer were unlike any other version I've had-- nutty, roasted... very enjoyable. The green curry was plated with wide, chewy noodles-- again unique and excellent. Mango Lassi- ridiculously good. It was sweet, without being too sugar-y. The owner/chef was checking in with tables (seen blowing kisses to departing customers, which we thought was cute/sweet). Eat at Tulsi! read more

I don't understand these reviews? The food was rather flavorless and the naan is not made in a tandoor. Definitely not authentic food. Try somewhere else. read more

Wonderful lunch dining at Tulsi. Delicious prearation and presentation. Friendly staff who expressed appreciation for our patronage. Nice atmosphere and extensive Indian menu. Lunch special was plentiful and a moderate $16. Delightful. Will return. read more

Tulsi serves some of the best Indian food I've ever tasted. We stopped in for a lunch and tried the lunch combo and methi chaman. Everything in the lunch combo was very flavorful and the methi chaman was super fresh and very well seasoned. The service was great and Chef Paddy even came out to say hello, chat, and check that everything was to our liking. This place is definitely a hidden gem and has a lot of parking which is an extra bonus. read more

Tulsi - Lunch Special - Asian Fusion Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

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Very bad food and service. Had to wait for one hour to get chicken Briyani which wasn't a Briyani and dal tadka with no salt. Briyani didn't have any accompaniments either read more

We had dinner tonight at Tulsi after reading the marvelous review in the New Mexican. The room is bright and charming, the service was personable and attentive. The food was fabulous! The spinach and mango salad was so much more than its name, the fried okra was light and crispy, the tandoori chicken was perfectly seasoned and juicy. Garlic naan, basmati rice and vegetable pickle complemented the chicken well. We finished with an excellent mango sorbet (mango was definitely a theme to the meal). Chef Paddy stopped by our table to talk, marvelous guy with a great sense of humor. Couldn't have been a better mid-week meal. read more

Best Indian food I've had in the States! Paddy met me & my wife at the door, he's quite a character; charming, great sense of humor, and especially accommodating. The wait staff was exceptional, answered any & all questions re: the cuisine and provided great recommendations. As well as the greeting & service was the food was even more exceptional. My wife and I usually share our meals, I was having second thoughts about sharing my Tikka Masala until I tried her Malaysian Shrimp Curry;-) Santa Fe has numerous great restaurants, Tulsi's is unique & stands out from the rest. read more

The food, service and ambience are all excellent! Chef Paddy came to our table to greet us personally and warmly! Being Santa Fe the clientele during our recent lunch at Tulsi ran the gamut of interesting. Both locals and tourists. At the table behind us was sitting a very famous actress from Love Story, that beautiful film of yesteryear. When in Santa Fe we always visit Tulsi. read more

First time at Tulsi today for lunch. The food is delicious. Spiced to order, mild, medium or hot. Generous proportions. Ambience is nice, cloth napkins and table cloths but relaxed. Excellent service. The charming chef/owner stopped by to be sure everything was ok. Its located just a block or two off the plaza and surrounded by a few nice shops to peruse. read more

Small portions and kind of expensive for what you get. Nice patio. India Palace is better.

After having eaten here twice and enjoying it, I returned w. a friend last night and had a very disappointing dinner. We each had a chicken dish - chicken masala and chicken curry - and the pieces of chicken in each dish were tough, chewy and pretty much inedible. The naan we ordered did not seem fresh or warm. And, minor point, the prices at the restaurant were a little higher than on their online menu. read more

Chef Paddy is extraordinary and has surrounded himself with a staff @ Tulsi that is attuned to every detail. The okra was a revelation! The chicken tikka masala was so tender & perfectly spiced. And, the saag!!! The saag was so delightful I ordered extra to take home with me to Colorado!! I only wish I had ordered more: the perfect souvenir for a perfect first visit to Tulsi. I'll be back, Chef! (With a bigger cooler.) Special thanks to Stephanie & Aktar for adding the perfect accompaniments to Chef Paddy's legendary talents. See you all soon. read more

I like Chef Paddy's expert cooking a lot, especially at Raaga and take out on Old Santa Fe Trail. Finally got to have dinner at Tulsi's. The food is very clean but it was lukewarm, it was not hot. It also seemed that the meal had parts added in but not cooked together to absorb the complex layers of spices for that exquisite Indian taste. The rice was dry and had a lot of hard pieces, and the nan was stale. Oh, so disappointing as this was supposed to be a celebratory meal. My friends didn't realize that the tip was already included. We had asked how to include a tip and the waiter said to add it after the card was run thru, not telling us the tip was already taken out - so he got a $40 tip, $24 over the amount automatically deducted on a $76 bill. What was also unsettling was that one waiter constantly stared at us throughout the whole meal. I want to give Paddy's another go as he is an excellent cook. Not sure if I can. I wish him every success, but some work needs to be done. 1) Stop waiter staring throughout whole meal, 2) Have waiter inform us that tip is already included 3) Hot food 4) Hot food 5) Hot food 6) Suggestion -Pre-warm plate 7) Flavor temperings, spices melded together with food 8) Serve soft, fresh rice, 9) Serve freshly cooked nan. 10) Suggestion -Vegan option for Chai Thank you. Until I get news that Chef Paddy is back on his game, I'll be going to Paper Dosa which is and has been consistently excellent everytime - food, service, ambiance, price. Right now, my Tulsi food experience was " lackluster". read more

I really wanted to like it, and I feel bad leaving this review, but they need to work on things. I ordered Veggie Biryani and it was fragrant! But nearly inedible for all the cardamom pods in there. Gross. And my friend said her samosa seemed off... the oil was rancid maybe, and she got sick from it. Yuck! They need to be more careful about what they serve to people. read more