Kolapasi South Indian Cuisine
The best Indian food I've had in the Bay Area so far, with a meal that compared favorably even against fancier and more expensive spots.
I'm calling it now — Kolapasi is the best Indian restaurant I've been to in the Bay Area, and that includes the pricier fine dining spots like Eilan in Menlo Park and Ettan in Palo Alto. This place just gets it right.
The podi dosa was a standout, especially compared to other dosa I've had in the Mission. Crispy, flavorful, and they give you two generous portions. The podi seasoning runs a touch salty, so honestly you could just get a plain dosa and enjoy it with their excellent coconut chutney and sambar. The kozhi rasam was fantastic — I'm told it's non-traditional because of the big chunks of chicken at the bottom, but I couldn't care less. It was incredibly flavorful, though it could have used just a touch more tamarind.
The Vijayawada chicken biryani was so good I was genuinely excited to eat the leftovers for lunch the next day. Big portions, perfectly executed, and easily the best I've had in the Bay Area (the second best being at Pakwan, which I'll review soon). The dal tadka was fine — not a crazy standout, but solid if you're into dal dishes.
One pleasant surprise was the mango lassi. Don't expect the super-sweet, almost juice-like version you get at most places. This one's thicker and more yogurt-forward, which I actually preferred. It's different in a really good way.
Food Rundown
Podi Dosa
Crispy, flavorful, and generous — you get two. The podi seasoning is a touch salty, but the coconut chutney and sambar are excellent. A Mission standout.
Kozhi Rasam
Non-traditional with big chunks of chicken, but incredibly flavorful. Could use slightly more tamarind, but still fantastic.
Vijayawada Chicken Biryani
The best biryani I've had in the Bay Area. Big portions, perfectly executed, and leftovers that you'll actually be excited to eat.
Dal Tadka
Solid but not a standout. Fine if you love dal dishes, but you can skip it for the stars of the show.
Mango Lassi
Thicker and more yogurt-forward than most — not the super-sweet juice-like version. Different in a really good way.