My spouse & I hadn't been here for many years. There has been a change in ownership since then but it is still thankfully, a family owned restaurant. We got several dishes for a birthday weekend extravaganza and every single one of them was stellar. The folks here were kind and service was prompt. Sure, it is still in the same spot that isn't ~the safest~ but the ambiance inside is cozy, clean and warm. Dishes tried: -Samosa chaat -Paneer tikka masala -Butter chicken -Dal makhani -Aloo saag -whole wheat chapati You are able to adjust the heat level on the dishes which is great and they did so without an issue. Samosa chaat was a touch spicier than expected but dang are the samosas the size of a small planet and packed with delicious. Butter chicken was well, buttery so heads up for acid issues if you have them :) The taste was so freaking good though. Dal makhani was delightful and if you're a fan of dal, you won't be disappointed. Paneer tikka masala was tangy, perfect and chock full of paneer. Aloo saag was fresh and yummy though I wish it had a bit more potato. The whole wheat chapati were so warm, soft, fresh and perfect for the curries. They all came with fluffy basmati rice. We literally had so much leftover we ate for 2 more days AND froze some of the food for later. This is because we bought so much but it was a birthday extravaganza ;) Their phone lines were randomly down this day due to a new internet line install but they were open! Older menu's show certain days as closed but they are not closed on Wednesdays. I attached clear pictures of their new and improved menu! Overall, heck yes. Recommend. read more

VEC Indian Cuisine - Menu Page 1 - new menu as of November 2025 - Indian Near Me - Vallejo, California

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Came here recently with family and learned that there are new owners, but it is still a family business. While some of the prices have increased, the menu has also expanded. We were served pretty quickly and the waitress was super friendly and helpful! She made great recommendations, and was super sweet helping us out with choosing desserts. There was light cultural music also playing in the background. A small space, but can easily accommodate at least 8 tables. Solid choices: mango lassi, samosa, butter chicken, lamb curry. The dishes come with white rice, but I recommend getting at least one bread to pair with the food. A bit cheaper price compared to other Indian places in the area, but it's more of a single person's dish, rather than sharing size. Flavor is solid, and I definitely will be back to try other dishes! read more

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07/02/25 -- Been coming here for two years now. Great spot for a quick, authentic Indian food craving. The new owners have improved both the service and the overall flavor of the dishes. They do tend to keep the spice level pretty low (borderline bland), so if you're looking for that real Indian heat, I recommend asking them to make it spicy. The place gives off a hole-in-the-wall vibe--simple setup with regular tables and chairs. Nothing fancy, but it gets the job done. My go-to dish is the Aloo Paratha and a cup of Masala Chai Tea . Taste: 7/10 Vibes: 5/10 Service: 9/10 read more

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I've always heard they had the best Indian food in the area but until about the past year they were strictly vegetarian. We ordered Chicken Tikka Masala, Lamb Curry, 3 orders of Butter Chicken, 3 orders or Garlic Naan and Chapati. which were very good. The portions of protein in each dish was significantly more than every other Indian Restaurant we've been to recently. Each order came with a side of rice which adds value to already a great price for each entree. Everything came out to less than $92. Only complaint is that I ordered the CTM spicy but it was mild at best. Overall, was a very good experience . Looks like they are mainly a take out place, as I saw people dining in were eating on paper plates. read more

VEC Indian Cuisine - Chicken Tikka Masala - Indian Near Me - Vallejo, California

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Have been going to VEC for years every time I'm in town and it never disappoints. They offer authentic, flavorful, and affordable Indian food in a friendly atmosphere and it's nice supporting a family run business. My go to is the dhai papdi, chole bhatura, and the samosas but the menu has lots to choose from. It appears the ownership may have changed as it used to be vegetarian only, but now have meat options as well. Everything is still delicious and well worth a visit! The staff is super friendly as well! read more

VEC Indian Cuisine - Menu - Indian Near Me - Vallejo, California

My East Asian friend recommended this restaurant and I really enjoyed goat biryani rice dish; I did ask for spicy but I didn't get the heat I normally get when I ask for spicy at other Indian restaurants. It's fine, though! The rice was perfectly cooked and goat was tender. We also ordered the noodle dish but was bit on the sweet side. I just wasn't expecting it. It was still pleasant to eat. Mango lassi was refreshing. Staff was very kind and helpful, food arrived good timing. It's a plaza that is low-key but when you enter you get a nice welcome of colors, warmth and comfortable dining space. read more

I think this Indian restaurant is the best in the Benicia Vallejo area. The taste is better and the dishes are less greasy than other Indian restaurants. Two downsides are that they don't sell naan and the area is not that great. We are take out customers. The chicken tikka masala is smooth and flavorful. Our favorite dish is the Chana masala. The saag paneer has large fresh chunk's of cheese. Rice comes with each entree so there is no need to order rice. read more

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Literally my husband and I's favorite restaurant right now. Such a hidden gem and I have a feeling I'll be spending a lot of the next 6 months here. So far we've tried, the butter chicken which comes with rice (11/10 chicken is not dry and the sauce is *chefs kiss*) the samosas with the tamarind and mint sauce (I've never had a mint sauce with a mild heat and it's amazing, + the samosas are the size of my head) We tried the Dahi Papdi Chaat which was very refreshing and unique. The Aloo Prantha also really yummy Something came with the pickled mango and that is a new favorite we'd order that again and again. The masala chai and mango lassi are perfect. I've been let down by restaurants having some things good and one of my favorite items not so good. But this was an across the board yum sesh. The only thing I noticed is the first time we went was a Sunday and the second time a Friday and we did prefer the food the Sunday more? So not sure which is the more typical flavor But either way we'll be back! Bonus! The desserts are fun to try! Thanks to one of the owners for letting us try one our first time. Oh and bonus bonus - they serve everything in to go containers even if you eat in and I think it's great because I'd rather enjoy the good low costs then have fancy platters read more

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We hadn't been back in 2 years since we moved and were so excited to eat this again, but it's not as good as before. It seems like there are new owners and they changed some of the recipes. Veggie Pakora - 1/5 stars - these used to be so good but they are way to salty to eat and were fried too long so they were hard to bite Paneer Tikka Masala - 5/5 - this one is still really good Saag Aloo - 3/5 - we ordered mild and I think they forgot as it was too spicy to eat, the potatoes were cut too small so you couldn't really find then Garlic Naan - 1/5 - there was no garlic taste and they were cut so unevenly Overall, I'm very disappointed by the changes in the recipes and hope they can fix them. But I'm still glad they are still fully vegetarian. read more

Stopped by to satisfy a craving and got the butter chicken, samosa chaat, and chai. The butter chicken was good, the sauce was creamy and flavorful, but there wasn't much actual chicken. Maybe a handful of pieces, which felt a little off for the price. The sauce itself was solid, though. The samosa chaat had a good portion size and was definitely saucy, but the seasoning was a little underwhelming compared to others I've had. Not bad, just could've had more depth. The chai was probably my favorite part. Really good milky, spiced flavor, and the price was actually reasonable. A lot of places overcharge for drinks, but this one was fair considering the size and quality. No complaints there. The place was clean, staff was friendly, and the menu was simple enough. I'd come back to try more, but I do really wish the butter chicken had more protein. read more

VEC Indian Cuisine - Chai (asked for it sweetened) - delicious! Just wish it was filled a bit more. Price was solid though - Indian Near Me - Vallejo, California

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Use to go from time to time as they served Vegetarian dishes! They have new owners and added a few more meat dishes! I tried their butter chicken, Biryani chicken rice and lamb curry! Been back 3 times as my palate loved their lamb curry! The other two dishes were good as well! Must try some other dishes next visit! read more

I've been doing the carnivore diet for about three weeks and the one thing I've been missing is a bit of vegetables in my diet however Indian food is one of my favorite foods and this place is a great place to get my fix read more

VEC Indian Cuisine - Saag paneer is a creamy spinach cheese dish - Indian Near Me - Vallejo, California

Love this place- if you want affordable Indian food- here you go! Mostly vegetarian but they have incorporated some non-vegetarian items for those that eat meat. read more

Highly disappointed with the food taste. Had high expectations seeing the reviews but food was meh. Aloo paratha was ok. Kadhi was just red chili for spicy preference. Chana masala was creamy and could feel undercooked spices with raw garlic smell. Tea pathetic. Ambiance is ok. Being Indian so sad to see such bad taste food. The only thing to be praised is the honesty of the person who had accidentally charged for water and came to car to return that. Impressive it is. I wish food was also such. read more

Updating my glowing review from several years ago: This place used to be amazing. All veg, mostly Vegan. The prices were right and the food was excellent. It was one of my favorite places in the entire Bay Area to grab a meal to go. I even forgave their over reliance on Styrofoam products since the food was worth it. They now started serving meet like any other restaurant around. It's no longer special. I can go to any other Indian restaurant for the same thing. They messed up a good thing and I won't be going back. It'll be a sad day when they close, but they should've done that and reopen instead of just changing the menu. Shady. read more

This vegan Indian resto has been here for over a decade, and so has its unchanged menu and prices. Conveniently located in a plaza just off the freeway coming from Napa, it's easy to order takeout from. The paneer tika masala and samosas make eating vegetarian a treat! read more

Even after changing ownership, this place is still just as good, if not better. I love their paneer curries and lassis. I always get a rose or a mango lassi. So good! Prices are lower than your typical Indian restaurant. read more

VEC Indian Cuisine - Menu - Indian Near Me - Vallejo, California

Food was very good. I really liked it, samosa and chicken Tikka where awesome! The padpi chart was different than what I expected; I've had it before and it was totally Served different than other places. Good Indian food I highly recommend it. Flavor is there and for an affordable price. People are great, I really liked the service specially on a weekday not crowded and a great spot to hang out during lunch. read more

I lived in Vallejo my whole life and I have never tried this place out, until I saw the amazing reviews on this place. Lots of the curries at this place is under $10 & all curries comes with rice. The service was good, I told them that this was my first time here & they told me that all of their food here is vegetarian & all of their curries are delicious. I ordered the Chana paneer masala & the pani puri. Chana paneer masala was delicious. The food came out pipping hot, it had the perfect amount of spice to it. I really like the paneer as it has a nice texture to the dish(similar to tofu) while having a cheesy taste to it. I never had pani puri before & I'm glad that I got to try it! The pani puri is crispy & adding the Chickpees & spiced water adds a slight salty & savory flavor to the pani puri. I'm definitely planning on coming back here to try the other dishes! read more

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It breaks my heart to read the other comments that the old owners and cook are gone. We loved their food sooo much and would pick up dinner at least once a month for the last few years. A few days ago I placed our usual family order and was surprised that a younger lady with no accent took my order and asked for the spice levels - both not what I was used to at Vaishnu's. At pickup, a friendly young man rang us up who we didn't recognize. When we got in the car there was an unfamiliar Cajun-like smell coming from the food bags. Veggie pakora: The Cajun smell had come from these. They looked more like nuggets in shape, and darker in color. They tasted like Louisiana Rub from Wing Stop. This was my husband's dish, and he couldn't eat it. Dahi papdi chaat: Much blander than usual. Not as creamy, more like congealed/separated, hard to describe. Chips were thinner, almost as thin as Ruffles chips. I almost dropped a tear realizing that while this was barely edible, I wouldn't be enjoying the leftovers later and wouldn't be ordering it again. Paneer tikka masala: I love tomato soup. So this was edible to me like a soup. But spooned over rice? Not a good experience. Our family favorite was watery and bland compared to before. Hubby ate a serving before getting upset and swearing never again. Rice: The proof that there were new owners and not just fill-in coverage for a holiday vacation (like I was hoping). The grains were longer, so long they curve. Seemed dryer while eating, but maybe it was because the tikka masala was so thin. Saag paneer: Lighter in color but heavier in texture. Hard to describe, but the consistency was more goopy/shiny. It didn't taste as good, less savory, more bitter. Chole bhature: The bread was less like a chalupa and more like tortilla. I didn't mind it but hubby thought it was blander. The chickpea dish was just as good, if not better than before. I would still order this if I come back. In summary, the new staff seemed like nice people but the food was so different we didn't eat a lot of it. I'll probably only return for the chole bhature and maybe give our other favorites one more try. Mourning the change but wishing the new management the best. read more

VEC Indian Cuisine - Veggie pakora - Indian Near Me - Vallejo, California

The best chaat somasas I ever tasted! No other place compares to this! Good customer service! A lowkey ambiance, love it.

It was Very good service and food! Would come back. I like spicy and a vegetarian; it had a lot of curry options that I could eat also. read more

VEC Indian Cuisine - This was all that was left from my paneer - Indian Near Me - Vallejo, California

Service is not the best. To avoid washing dishes, they use plastic utensils! Very unprofessional! They say their food is fresh but it DOES NOT taste like it! The workers there have bad hygiene with one blowing his nose, and the other coughing without covering his mouth! The waiter was on the phone and unattentive! Overall- I would rather go to other Indian restaurants that are more professional! Just my opinion, no Hate! read more

Do not sleep on this place!!! Located in the Popeyes parking lot off Sonoma Blvd, it's so easy to miss because the sign on the building says VEC. It's right next door to the donut shop, which also has a sign that only says "Donuts". This is a no frills mom and pop shop. Walk up to the counter, pay for your order and then take a seat. They have a self serve station for water, utensils, napkins - everything is styrofoam and plastic including the dishware. This is far from environmentally friendly, but this is how they keep the price point low. All curries are basically $10, and all other items under $5. The menu board is a chalk board. It's a little hard to read, lots of abbreviations. They do have paper menus at the counter that are more helpful in explaining what each dish is though, so stick with that until you figure out what you like. This place is vegetarian only. Meat eaters, do not come here looking for meat! Some dishes are veggie only, or have paneer. The chunks of paneer that they throw into their dishes are so huge, and give me firm tofu vibes. For those of you are who new to paneer, its a "cottage cheese" which doesn't melt so it keeps its shape during cooking. My favorite items here are the paneer tikka masala, chole bature, and the samosa chaat. You can buy samosas individually and they serve them with mint and tamarind chutneys on the side, SO good! The chaat version has the chutneys thrown on top of two samosas, along with a chick pea curry. It's delicious, hearty, and super filling! They really get the tikka masala sauce right here. It's sweet and creamy, with lots of flavor. The chole bature is a fried bread that is so crispy on the outside, but soft and fluffy on the inside. It comes with a spicy pickled carrot and more chick pea curry for dipping. I like to dip the bread in my tikka masala though. TBH low key like this better than naan now. My world hasn't been the same since I've tried chole bature. FYI - all curry orders come with a side of rice. Wash down your meal with a mango lassi! They're $2 for a big cup. They're pre made and sitting in the mini fridge behind the counter, self serve. It's a hole in the wall, so don't come expecting high end service, ambiance, or decor. But for a nice homey meal, this is your new spot! read more

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While there are a plethora of vegetarian and vegan options, I decided on the Delicious biryani made with goat. So tasty. Huge portions. Friendly service in this tiny cafe. Quiet little spot had a ton of character. Loved it. read more

VEC Indian Cuisine - Goat biryani - Indian Near Me - Vallejo, California

We have been going to VEC for years, and were worried about the changes now that it's under new ownership. Some of the prices have gone up, but there are more options. The food was flavorful and good portion sizes. Chicken tikka masala was one of the best I've had in a long time. Our group tried lots of different dishes and all the food was great. So glad that we have this gem in the area! read more

Found this place on our way to Redding and loved the food. We were there on a weekday around 12pm and they were taking orders. We were able to get the food inside the restaurant as everyone was following covid protocols and social distancing was followed. We ordered chole bhature, aloo paratha, samosa, and chai. Loved all the food. Chole bhature were the best of all as they the bhature was freshly fried, chole were topped with green and red chutney. Aloo paratha came with raita and pickle, both the sides complimented the paratha well. Samosa came with red and green chutney, it was a good snack for the road. Chai was fresh and the quantity was huge. Staff was polite and the place was clean. This place is located in a plaza with other businesses and parking is huge! Overall a good spot to get some vegetarian Indian food. Will try more items if we are in the neighborhood. read more

VEC Indian Cuisine - Chole bathura - Indian Near Me - Vallejo, California

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I loved their paneer tikka masala and rice, it was cooked perfectly and very flavorful! I also ordered the samosa chaat which was good, however there was barley any chutney and toppings so it tasted more like samosas and chickpeas instead of a chaat, which needs sauce along with its components I order to be a true chaat. More chutney, onions and toppings would have made it enjoyable. I ordered extra chutney on the side, and it tasted like water. It looked like they water it down in order to have a larger quantity, which was highly disappointing. I ordered the chai which was very disappointing, tasted more like milk and sugar with barley any chai flavor coming through. It's unfortunate when businesses cut corners like this, as it make for a negative overall customer experience, even if some of the dishes are very good. read more

VEC Indian Cuisine - Inside - Indian Near Me - Vallejo, California

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The first sign to leave should have been the non existent aroma of Indian spices permeating the air! The male worked had no customer service skills...zilch! The appetizer was brought on paper plates, in addition they tasted commercial and were gummy on the inside. I order a chai tea because it was described as having cardamom, fresh cloves, & cinnamon. It was bland, pre packaged-no spices and served in a paper to go cup. When the entrees arrived they were brought in to go containers. Huh! Customer service was non existent from the server as well. We had to go look for our own plastic forks and napkins. The food was most definitely commercial. As a family we eat a lot of Indian food as this was DISGUSTING! Upon payment, she had the audacity to ask did we enjoy the food! Apparently not since I only ate one fork full of the curry! When I told her the food was terrible, her response was that they switched owners a year and a half ago. How is that an excuse. Human kindness would have been for her to advise us. It to waste our time and money there. People save yourself the disappointment. read more

Vegetarian Indian food in Vallejo! This is the go to Indian food restaurant for my coworkers. The location can be a little difficult to find based solely on GPS directions. The sign above the store is VEC rather than the full Vaishnu Express Cafe. But parking should be ample since in a strip mall type location. I'd had several different dishes here over a couple years and everything was a hit. According to my very picky Indian friend the food was okay. (In other words, it's probably pretty darn good!) My favorite is probably the Chana masala. The samosas are pretty large and a touch spicy. I liked the mango lassi. The only gripe I have is with large orders. Since it's a small mom and pop type place it can be hard to get through by phone. The one time I ordered over the phone for a work lunch only one out of about 10-12 orders were labeled... So that was an adventure having my friend taking a look at each container and trying her best to match up the order to who probably ordered it. Of the Indian places I've tried so far in Vallejo this is probably my favorite! Good prices, good portions, friendly people, good selection. read more

I am so sad to write this review. I visited yesterday, Sunday 3/24 and noticed changes in the restaurant: decorations, tables, and staff, but didn't think much into it. I ordered my usual dishes (vegetable pakora, samosa chaat, vegetable korma, gulub jamun, mango lasi). The gentleman ringing me up said that they remodeled, but didn't mention new management. While sitting and waiting, someone mentioned that there are new owners. I began panicking on the inside, regretting my order afraid it won't be the same. But, decided to give it a try. The taste is completely different and not in a good way . What is still good: 1. mango lasi - tastes like the original owners as far as look, taste, and consistency. 2. Gulab jamun - a bit firmer and has more syrup but still really good. What wasn't good and why: 1. vegetable pakora - crispier/harder texture + very salty. 2. samosa chaaat - the dough is thicker and not as thin and crispy, flavor of the filling is just okay, and not enough of the red sauce that makes it sweet. Also, the garbanzo beans were hard. Samosas are also significantly smaller. 3. Vegetable korma and rice: I don't even know where to start or what needs to be done to correct the flavor. I took one bite and couldn't finish it. The flavor is so different from the vegetable korma the previous owners made. It's bitter but also lacks flavor/spices. Felt rushed and again, things were hard and not fully cooked. I like the new look of the restaurant and the packaging containers for the food, the staff were nice as well. But these things are not enough for me to continue coming here for food. A pricey lesson. If possible, change the name or let customers know that the ownership has changed before they order so they can prepare for things to taste different. Wishing you all the best! Also, if anyone knows of the old owners have a new restaurant, please let me know. read more

Giving two stars because service was really good. I wanted to give this old time favorite a try despite the negative feedback I've been hearing regarding the taste difference from previous management. I should have listened. Ordered the aloo saag along with samosa. Samosa was okay, but a little on the dry side. The aloo saag was disappointing. Lacked the flavors it used to have. :( Have to find a new alternative to this place now... read more

VEC always has reliably excellent food. It is a modest little take out place. What they lack in ambiance they make up for in quality, flavor and value. Today I called in an order of samosa chaat, paneer tikka masala, aloo saag, extra rice and two mango lassis. Everything was hot and ready when we got there. Flavors were amazing. And more than enough food for lunch tomorrow. All for $30. I'm so glad this little gem survived the pandemic. read more

VEC Indian Cuisine - Ask about what's not in the menu. The counter person, Rose makes great suggestions - Indian Near Me - Vallejo, California

All vegetarian Indian hike in the wall restaurant with delicious food. I always get the samosa Chaat and the vegetable pakpra. This time I got the vegetable Korma - has enough of everything - Bell peppers, cottage cheese(tastes like tofu to me), and cauliflower. And the chana saag. Stews smell and taste great. The mint chutney has a little kick which I love On the samosa. I found the sweet sauce with the pakora tastes great. The pakora was a little salty this time, but otherwise still crispy with a nice bite to it Mango lassi has plenty of mango but not too much. I'd get it every time read more

It's a sad day in Vallejo for Indian food. Clearly the new owners have gotten all their friends to load up Yelp with 5 star reviews. Don't be fooled. The old owners are gone and the food quality has plunged. I gave them a few tries hoping they would get it together but I finally have to admit that the food is horrible, not at all the wonderful food that it used to be. For those of you who loved the old place, go find something new and let all of us know about it. And if the old owners relocated to a new spot, please share that info too. read more

The best samosas and the best dips that go with it. So delicious, always freshly cooked and piping hot. I have to try other items on the menu but I couldn't go past the samosas which deserve five stars!! read more

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Can't rave enough about this place. Conveniently located near intersection of Highway 29 and 37. There's always parking available. Their food is wholesome, authentic, and truly some of the best Indian food I've tasted. They have a daily special that range from 4.99 to 6.99, that serve filling portions. See pictures below. Just go. You won't regret it. read more

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Past this place on the way home from grocery shopping, so stopped in to get a snack. The potato samosa was huge and tasty. The portion of the dipping sauces looked small but it was just right. I preferred the tamarind sauce but liked the slight kick of the green sauce. 5/5 Need to come back for a meal! read more

VEC Indian Cuisine - Perfect mid afternoon snack, samosa and mango lassi. - Indian Near Me - Vallejo, California

Very friendly small family owned business.............self service affordable price for quick lunch!!

I've been eating here since 2012. Popped in & ordered the veggie korma w veggies & samosas w chai. Great price but it wasn't the korma I remember. Maybe it was just me. Of course I grabbed some sweet treats to go. read more