Curry Up Now

This is nice bar! I had gone with my best friend when I was visiting SFO. Good cocktails, non alcoholic drinks and snacks. The bar can get crowded, and the space is small. However I strongly recommend trying it. I think we had the pisco punch and bees knees and also got the chicken tikka pizza. I’d definitely recommend he chicken tikka pizza.
Great place and nice bartenders.

I came here today after hearing many good things about the place. I was happy to see that their menu had gluten free items that I could choose from. We decided to get the sexy fries with chicken tikka as the protein and the chicken Kathie roll.
I liked both items. The sexy fries were really tasty, and the roll was pretty decent with the gluten free tortilla. However, the reason I give this place three stars are because two reasons: 1) their level up scanner wasn’t working and it seems like they’ve had this problem for a while now and haven’t done anything to fix it (sometimes places will give you a discount or throw in something to your meal to makeup for this, but we didn’t in this situation) and 2) our fries came out pretty quickly but we waited quite a while for our kathie roll. There were only a handful of others at the place at this time and no staff was busy putting together making more meals, so we decided to check in on our order (though we were right in front of their counter with our order number clearly displayed on our table) and it turned out they forgot about it/​never made it. Actually really annoying because we were starving and also we wanted to head out of town soon.
The food was good, but the service wasn’t great so I stand by my 3 stars.

I knew better. I really did. It has been my experience that Asian restaurants with punny little names like Curry Up Now never, ever are any good. But it had great reviews and I wanted to believe. Heart over ruled brain and gut and I went. What a missed opportunity for Indian food this evening.
The place is a «quick» service kind of place. The décor is a kind of industrial like a Chipotle with quickly menu items that would be what a corporation or some-​hipster wannabe would think actual hipsters would think are cool. i don’t think a true hipster would darken the door. Oh, you get to drink water our of a mason jar. So very clever — 15 years ago.
I have to start with the service. While everyone was nice enough, it was a disorganized mess. It’s like you were supposed to have undergone some secret diner training program to know what to do. I do to the counter to order and try to order a drink. I am quickly told that i must order that in some bar in the back. Who knew!!! I ask if i can get it all on one bill and am told, DUH, you order dinner back there too.
I proceed to the bar in the back with the different name. It is loud and crowded but all patrons seem to be thrilled. I wait. And wait. And wait. Why did I not leave. Well, finally some guy talks to me. Again, really nice, but in over his head. He takes my order. And then starts making drinks for other people. He comes over to take my credit card, but starts sorting out someone else’s bill. Another bar tender comes up to see what’s wrong, but is quickly told by the first bar tender he’s all over it. He tells me to find a table. I ask if I need a number — all the other tables have numbers. He acts like I’m dreaming up procedured — heck, I don’t need a number. OK. Why didn’t I leave.
So I find a table back in the restaurant. And wait. And wait. And wait. Finally my food comes. I mean it has been a really long time. The order of the vegetarian thali is right. Wait? Is it. Is that chicken in my tikka masala. The bar tender assures me it is paneer. It looks strange.
So I proceed to eat. Is it terrible. Not really. I it good. No. Do I wish I had gone to some mom and pop Indian place with a nondescript name like India Garden or Star of Bombay? Yes. It really is the most disappointing Indian restaurant experience I’ve ever had.
The paneer tikka was not good. Tough paneer and the sauce seemed like it was from a jar. The saag paneer was better, but still that tough paneer. The channa masala was the best part. You get one piece of naan, which was NOT restaurant quality an didn’t seem to have that nice grilled look or taste. You get a papadom.
Perhaps I erred ordering traditional stuff. There is all kinds of fusiony stuff on the menu. It seemed most of it was an Indian take on mexican. Indian burrito bowls, desconstructed samosa bowls and the like. Again, it is trying to be the south Asian Chipotle. It must be doing something well as it was really busy.
I ventured back to the secret back area bar when one goes to order food if they want a drink with it to pay my bill. And wait. And wait. And wait. The nice but overwhelmed bar tender finally deals with me. I get to pay and leave.
I returned back to my hotel with a tear in my eye that I had wasted an evening at a quirky little pun of an Indian restaurant with baffling service and sub par food. Seek out the tacky little place with a name like Shalimar or Little Madras is where you need to be. When it comes to Curry Up Now, Goa Goa Away. Sorry.

We come here on a regular basis for eat in or for to go.
We have tried almost all dishes (vegetarian versions) overtime and the food is usually good.
Today we ordered food to go. Being vegetarian, we usually confirm twice that entire order is vegetarian. Even then we received a chicken dish. Its one thing to just receive aloo tikki instead of samosa and a completely different to get chicken when I ordered everything paneer! I understand they are busy for the weekend night but they should be careful and mindful about taking order and respecting people’s diet restrictions. They serve indian food, they should atleast know that a lot of indians are vegetarians for religious reasons.
And if you call them to let them know about the mix up, they barely even recognize it being an error let alone a big one. They are in service industry and these things matter…
I agree with other reviewers about paneer being tough, and sauce taste to be inconsistent. One star is for a very casual response I received from them for this mistake.

This review has been overdue. I have been visiting this restaurant for around 4 years now, and boy, has it evolved! Their food has always been fun and tasty (love the Sexy Fries), but ever since they had a makeover and opened Mortar and Pestle in the back, they have really taken Indian street food experience to the next level.
The pairings of street food with the unique and imaginative cocktails work like magic. The ambiance is very classy for a street food restaurant. The fried cheese ravioli with the tikka masala dip and the naughty naan bites are our go-​to apps. Everything on the menu is consistent in flavor and quality, and oh-​so-​delish!
The cocktails are epic here. My faves are the Junkyard Heart, Mortar and Pestle, and Ambika’s Grove. They source locally made bitters of all sorts, which are really flavorful and add a whole new dimension to their cocktails.
A must-​visit no matter what your diet restrictions might be. They can accommodate pretty much everyone, with yummy food and drink options. If you are looking for a cool cocktail bar with a twist of fun food, this is it!

I really liked the cool way they have presented Indian street food. Although they could spice up things a bit more and make it yummier, it was a pretty good experience. They have a bar behind which looked impressive but we didn’t get any drinks. Chicken Kati roll was a bit bland but I liked the idli munchurian a lot.

This was my second visit here. I tried their papdi chat, kathi roll, and the idli manchurian. The papdi chat was authentic. The kathi roll was not that great — it had some curry in it which made the roll soggy and dripping fluids. It was difficult and messy to eat the kathi roll. The idli manchurian was very interesting. It was like nothing I’d had before.
They have a nice ambience and service is fairly prompt given the big crowds they see.

I remember when this was just a truck and the food was so good. That was then, this is now.
The punjabi bowl I got tonight as take-​out literally looked like slop. A gooey liquidy mess of green pukey-​looking and very runny paneer slop, with some slop chana. I can honestly say it was the most visually unappealing and worst-​tasting curry I have ever had, if you can even call it curry. I didn’t eat more than a little bit. This is NOT an overstatement.
It was about $ 26 for both uninspired dishes (the other was marginally better) and a total waste of $ 26.
You know the feeling when you are totally taken advantage of? This is how I felt, it was that bad. To actually put THAT in a box was disrespectful. I will 100% will never be back.

Love love love
Awesome for a quick delicious meal or to go
Current fav is tacos with chicken. Also love the kathie rolls with lamb.

Came in today with my best friend. We are Indian food lovers, so we decided to give this place a try. There was a line going out the door right when we walked in, it’s poppin. I ordered the tikka masala burrito and it was eh. I normally go to Tava in Palo Alto which is MUCH better, so I was a little disappointed? You pay a lot for what you get, I’ll says at. This place is very interesting, very hipster.

I have tried Curry Up at this restaurant and at their food truck and both left me unsatisfied. I prefer lots of curry with my rice however in a burrito form, I assume they don’t want to saturate it with curry as it will make it soggy in the long run. Thus every bite I take I feel like I’m barely eating any tikka masala but rather mostly rice. An interesting food truck concept but not so much for dining in.
If I crave Indian now, I will just visit the numerous other Indian restaurants around.

Pure awesomeness.
Pros:
— i’ve pretty much ate everything on their menu (including beverages) and it’s all consistently well-​made, delicious, flavorful, and filling!
— best meal to order is the 8 item platter as you can sample a bit of mostly everything the restaurant offers: naan, rice, papadum, salad (similar to pico de gallo), saucy chickpeas (tikki masala???), and 2 sides that you pick.
— sexy fries are a must. Order it.
— mango lassi is bomb. A little thicker than what I’m use to but still very good… and filling.
— interior: fairly spacious, plenty of seats and tables; clean
— staff/​service is consistently very pleasant and kind.
— the restaurant is connected to a full bar (Mortar and Pestle). You can order Curry Up from here if the mango lassi is not gonna do it for you.
Cons:
???

Decided to try this place since it was recommended by other Unilocalers. Not bad for a quick and tasty Indian food. There were plenty to choose from. Loved the ginger mint lemonade, very refreshing. Also enjoyed the samosas. Very flavorful and tasted great with the chutney’s. Ordered the 8 item thali platter. I wanted to try a little bit of everything and thought this would be a good start. The tikki masala gobi cauliflower was very good and the kadhai paneer was tasty. Naan served with the platter was fresh and warm and tasted great with each item.

Of all the Curry Up Now location, this is my favorite one.
1) They’re attached to my favorite watering hole.
2) They serve the best Deconstructed Samosa.
3) They give me hella sauce because I’m a saucey type of person.
I hope you give this tasty place a try and join me next door for some drinks. Cheers!

Dear Curry Up Now,
I dined here on my most recent trip to SF with a few friends. We took the liberty of sitting in the back bar area and got super excited to see all the tasty happy hour bite options.
Your prices are reasonable and the quality of food is spot on. Our group ordered just about everything off your happy hour menu, and a few drinks on the side. The bartenders & staff were very knowledgable and were quick to answer any questions we had.
My one question: when are you opening up a venue in LA?! I’d literally dine here at least once a week. The modern indian cuisine wave is one I could definitely ride. An Indian style inspired burrito… Sexy Fries? Sign me up! Thank you for filling up my belly with tasty eats and drinks. I will be back… hopefully. :)
Love,
Juanita

I used to love this place, but not any more.
We went there on saturday and ordered an unburger, a kathi roll and a quesadillix. The quesadillix took 30 minutes to arrive, and when it did, it had a 2X2 piece of plastic wrapper inside the filling! After choking and gagging, my husband pulled it out of his throat and politely told the staff of his finding.
They took it away, offered to get him another one, and at any time, didn’t sound even slightly apologetic. I expected a better treatment after the blunder they made, I guess I am just going to stay away. The rest of their stuff is also less awesome than it used to be earlier anyway.

We ordered Veggie burger, kathie roll (Paneer) and burrito bowl (Paneer), mint lemonade and two cups of tea.
The food sucked in taste. The size of the paneer has reduced dramatically. The plates were like we were having food in the prison. Those lame and unpolished aluminum plates.
The tea was tasting very bad. Actually it was brown water. Please buy better milk (vitamin D). This will help.
Overall, it ruined my experience since I had come specially from LA to have it.

I generally like their food (especially the fusion burrito and the lentil halwa) but I read a story today that it has been closed because it did not pass the health inspection (link below). That is sad! I hope they sort out their issues, meet the standards soon AND maintain them. Waiting to relish the treats again without worrying about hygiene issues !

Food tastes very good! The menu is a bit confusing if you are not familiar with Indian food names.

Vegan friendly woo! Tried the deconstructed samosa. delicious. Suggest trying the mint ginger lemonade drink they have — very refreshing. We’ll be coming back =)

The food had a multitude of spice and flavor! I like that they call their vegan options «hella vegan» on the menu. The gulab balls had a subtle sweetness to them and the texture was such an adventure! The reason why I’m giving this location a 4 and not a 5 is because the same thing was charged 3 times and there were some complications with the payment. In the end, things were settled and everything was ok. My order came pretty quick but a friends’ order took a while… Overall though, the food they ordered was certainly worth the wait!

While I did not care for their food truck, I am glad to say that the store experience was better.
I was considering getting the tikka masala burrito to compare but then the unburger caught my eye and knew I had to try
In a nutshell, the flavors were robust with a nice hit of spices and heat that made we go back for another bite. The texture was too soft for my preference but wasn’t a deal breaker.
Good amount of seating for large groups and plenty of options to cater to your needs
Overall Thoughts
Storefront is definitely better than their trucks

I typically steer away from getting typical dishes at fusion places as such because I feel like you can find something similar at a mom and pop shop elsewhere for $ 3 – 5 dollars less. However, the samosas (not unreasonably priced at $ 5) were my favorite by far.
Samosas — ⁵⁄₅ Not too bland, not too salty. Delicious with the two chutneys.
Kathi roll w/​chicken — ⁴⁄₅ A fusion wrap of sorts, but not a burrito. The dosa and egg was light especially with how flavorful the chicken is. I wouldn’t get again, but I can appreciate that it’s well balanced and not too heavy as a food item. Mint chutney would’ve gone better with it than salsa.
Sexy fries w/​chicken −3÷5 Super disappointing! Especially with how much people raved about it. Portion was TINY for 9.50. I’ve never had criss cut sweet potato fries and who could resist fries that are both sweet potato and criss cut?! That aside, it was essentially fries dressed with cheese and chicken (and whatever sauce the chicken was marinated in). It was boring and lazy.
Naan w/​chicken — ⁴⁄₅ They call it an open face sandwich, I call it was a pizza.
Clearly I wasn’t very adventurous in my meat choice.
Overall, I think it’s a solid place that’s worth trying. The service is great, the ambiance is very casual, plenty of seating, and it’s connected to a cute bar (see review for that).

The chicken masala burrito is a great fusion thing.
It has a nice set up and a nice bar in the back.
I would definitely go back.

Curry Up Now was attached to the Mortar and Pestle bar and there were a bunch of tables available. Their menu was simple and a few things sounded good. We ordered the Deconstructed Samosa ($ 8.25) because Owie told us to. We found out that we they ran out of the large samosas that were supposed to be in it so we ordered the Sexy Fries with beef on top ($ 9.50) and the Kathi Roll with chicken ($ 8.50). Somebody at our table still got the Deconstructed Samosa so we were still able to try it.
I had some help with taking the pictures as somebody’s cell phone’s flash was turned on to light up the food. The Deconstructed Samosa was pretty good and I would recommend that if you’re not sure what to order. The Sexy Fries were just okay and were dry to me. The Kathi Roll was good and everything tasted well with each other.
Come check this place out if you’re in the area!

Food is great and very tasty. I usually get and recommend the Naughty Naan and Deconstructed Samosa to my friends who have never been here before. If you are a fan of Indian Cuisine, this place will sure give you a gastronomic experience. It’s a good take on the traditional Indian cuisine foods you’ve tasted but stays true and authentic to the flavors and spices that is synonymous to good Indian food.
The service is great, and they are always open to helping you understand the menu and ensure you are getting what you expect. Plus after, if you’re feeling it, Mortar and Pestle Bar is just a hallway down to top off the meal at night.

Great restaurant, doesn’t matter what location you go to.
Chicken Tikka Masala Burrito & Sexy Fries!!!

12.2015
Brick n Mortar location is in a nice area of San Mateo nestled bewtween other places worth checking out to eat, drink, etc… Yet to visit one of the four foodtrucks so thought I’d try this spot.
Colorful chalk board style menu is pretty simple to understand. The cashier was friendly and helped confirm the order (Pics).
*Mango Lassi was refreshing and had a smoothie consistency.
*Self Serve water near the register.
*Sexy Fries with lamb — smaller portion than expected. Indian Nachos may be more appropriate as there is nothing really sexy about these criss cut sweet potatoe fries with goodness spread all over. Overall the fries were good but not something out of the ballpark and worth returning for.
*The lunch item with 2 protiens was a good value. The opportiunity to try several types of items in one sitting without feeling stuffed at a reasonable price is always good. The Naan tasted just fine — not super authentic. Then again I can be wrong as I’m not a Naan enthusiest.
The rice on the other hand was not very flavorul and seemed dry. Maybe this is how their rice is supposed to be but I was not a fan at all.
I think I’ve read comparision to Chipolte… I would disagree as most folks know what they are walking into. I’d describe as a Chipotle with Flare. It’s nice to visit a spot that thinks out of the box — this place is a ⁵⁄₅ on that scale.
If I am in the area or lucky enough to order from a truck I’d really like to try one of thier «Burritos». Until then this place is A-​OK in my book.
***Be careful of the sublte yet uneven flooring between the planters near the entrance. They should have yellow tape to prevent a gnarly fall.

Food’s delish, love the digs, quick service and very friendly.
The guy was super friendly and everyone’s very accommodating.
Must try!

Just updating my review because I finally ate on the actual Curry Up side instead of the Mortar side!
I mean, food comes from the same kitchen and whatnot but it’s just a different environment. I only opt for the bar side because I want the bar environment and drinks with the food! The Curry Up side is much quieter, in a good way — I can actually hear myself talk!
Food is still awesome as always, just wish the portions were a bit bigger for the price. I do just eat a lot though… I got the Unburger again last night, this time with chicken. I usually get it with paneer but glad I got to try the chicken.
Yummy place, quick service, quick food times as well. Cool connected bar. What more could you want?

Highly recommend the naughty naan! It is so yummy and is basically curry up now’s version of pizza. I got it with chicken but I would imagine any of the protein toppings would be great!
Their mango lassi is also great and very refreshing and delicious. The atmosphere is perfect and the décor is so cute! There’s also a lot of space in the restaurant so it’s perfect for groups or couples. It’s loud but casual and perfect for a night out or a casual grab and go meal.
+ wifi available as well!

I am so glad that Curry Up Now has a storefront. I remember I first discovered Curry Up Now when they served out of their food truck at Off the Grid at Fort Mason. I was craving for a burrito and my friend suggested to try the burrito from Curry Up Now. Since then, I fell in love with their food!
The restaurant has a larger menu selection and the décor is very modern. They serve a unique twist to Indian food. It’s also great for vegetarians since they have an extensive menu for a vegetarian option! All in all, I am more than happy to come to the restaurant when I am unable to chase down their food trucks at events hehe
Some of my favorites:
(Chicken) Tikka Masala Burrito
Deconstructed Somosas
Naughty Naan
Fried Cheesecake bites for dessert!

Yummmmm!!! I don’t eat indian food much, but when I do, I always go for the chicken tikka masala. So naturally, I had to try the chicken tikka masala burrito from Curry Up Now!
You order first, grab a number and then they will deliver your food to you (they deliver takeout to you as well, nice!). I ordered the tikka masala burrito ($ 9.25) with chicken, a wheat tortilla, and brown rice. I love how you can customize your burrito with healthier options! It also comes with garbanzo beans and onions.
I got the burrito only after waiting around 5 minutes. They bagged it, and I made sure I took all the sauces they had to offer! There is a super spicy orange sauce, a sweet brown tamarind sauce, a green cilantro sauce, and even pico de gallo! They have all the sauces in very convenient containers for you too. I got back to work and dug in, happy to find out the burrito was still really hot. I don’t even mind a room temp burrito, but the hot temperature assured me that this was made to order!
I took the first bite and I was in tikka masala heaven!!! The sauce had the perfect kick and wasn’t too spicy, the chicken was very moist and in bite size pieces, and the onions and beans were present enough but not overwhelming (I can’t stand too many onions). I was glad to see the burrito wasn’t dripping in sauce either, because when you think of tikka masala you definitely think of something wet. The rice and meat were able to soak allllla that saucy goodness up and make a very delicious burrito. I think I ate half of the burrito in 10 minutes and I was already full… But that meant I got to save some for later!
I definitely want to come back to try those sexy fries and the naughty naan!

This food is out of this world. My personal favorite is the sexy fries. I love them so much. Such a great location too, right next to Philz and the movie theater.
The only downside is the price. But the vibe is so hipstery and cute.

Yummy Indian food! It was my first time here and I’ve always seen their trucks at off the grid but finally decided to try this place out while in San Mateo.
First impression: The interior designer is definitely appealing to the hipsters that dine here! From the reptile printed chairs to the mason jars available for water I immediately fell in love with the décor and layout of this place.
Food: I don’t eat too much Indian food and up until now, I’ve only ever had Tandoori Oven, Naan n’ Curry and the other fast food Indian spots. This place was a pleasant surprise. My friend and I ordered the sexy fries (sweet potato fries with your choice of meat), kathi roll (the wrap was soooo good!) and this cold cheese chip appetizer which I forgot the name of :(
Overall: I don’t frequent much around Indian restaurants but this might become my go to whenever I’m feeling Indian food or recommending Indian to friends.