Pakwan

Jamil Qureshi

Aug 4, 2025•2 reviews

5

This is one of the best Indian/Pakistani restaurants in San Francisco. The neighborhood is on the bad side at night, but no one bothers you. We had the lamb biryani, chicken biryani, and goat kadahi. Amazing flavor and delicious. It is a small place and you have to order on your own. Highly recommend for great authentic food.

Probably the best restaurant in town. Although bad neighbour hood is nearby but it\'s corner location makes it feel safe. Price is slightly higher then nearby restaurants but portions are also larger. We tried tikka, malai boti, fish 🐟, goat curry 🍛. It was served with hot naan so everything was good except goat curry. Place is very clean and big from inside although bathroom are ok, service is of course self. It\'s a must try place in this town.

Parking is a mess so it is best to order delivery or to have one more person with you so you can take food to go. Food was incredible. Truly authentic taste. Would go back if I\'m ever in San Francisco Tandoori Chicken Breast was great. Truly captures the taste of Chicken Tikka that you would find in Pakistan. The spice might bother some people though. The Tandoori Chicken Boti and the Bihari Boti Kabab were really good. Get it with naan. Avoid the Biryani. It is always a letdown when restaurants add potatoes to it. Completely messes up the taste. It is better to call your order instead of doing it online to make sure they have the item in stock. If they are out of an item it makes it a mess trying to get a refund.

We tried the lamb biryani, chicken tikka and seekh kebab and naan. Everything was delicious. Since it was a Friday night they were really busy and their phone was ringing off the hook all the time we were there but despite a little bit of a wait everything was great. I would highly recommend this to anyone who likes fresh, cheap and delicious food.

Finger lickin food ! A must try place for authentic Pakistani food

I was a little bit wary of going to this place after going to Shalimar. The food wasn't as good of course but it wasn't bad. I ordered the chicken tikka. daal and naan. Chicken tikka was ok, while the daal was really good. Naan was awesome as well. the place was much cleaner than Shalimar. Service wasn't as good though.

A cheap, self-served, dirty little place...how long are we going stand places like this. Not a good atmosphere either. I was traveling from far and looking forward to sit and eat a halal meal but was not able to as the restaurant management allowed alcohol and drunkards in the restaurant. I should have walked out but I had promised my friend and brother a halal meal. Drunks walked around and the folks who were eating were terrified that if any of these inebriated folks hit the table then the curry would be in the air. I would rather go to Taco Bell and eat the veggie options than go to a place like this. AVOID AT ALL COST! ALCOHOL ALLOWED AND DRUNKS! Our meal was ruined and had to leave during the meal! Management refused to deal with the drunks.

The food was ok. The place is a little dirty but that's applicable to most desi places.

Not bad, my husband likes it, we usually go to the one on 16th street, Mohammed the owner is very nice guy, prices reasonable and hey it is close to where I live.

Food is very good and delicious. I took a friend of mine as well and we were both impressed. Be caution in your surroundings when walking in the neighborhood. Avoid driving and utilize public transportation since parking is difficult. Over the food was excellent and I recommend it.

South Asian food in the heart of the city. It's in the Tenderloin area, so it's not a very nice neighborhood but its still worth going to. The seating is extremely limited, but food is okay. It is more of self-serve place . It is also close to the Jones and Golden Gate Masjids.

Went here for lunch today. They give you a good size plate (old school tray like in the village) for the lunch special. The food was decent. Had the butter chicken with daal. Service was fast. Chai (tea) was complimentary. The area is bad and hard to find parking as others have said already.

Been there once. Service was good. Food was good. Prices were go. I'd go back.

Pakwan is your stereo typical paki restaurant. Food is ok. I ordered chicken tikka masala and garlic nan. It took half and hour to get my food ready, maybe I caught them on a bad night. You have to go down stairs to use their restroom which is a little creepy.

Good, spicy and a little heavy Pakistani food. The paya and kababs are excellent. Reasonably priced.

Nice place. Their food is good but nothing compared to Shalimar across the street. But the service of Pakwan is better then Shalimar. Their Tandoori Fish is excellant you should try it.

I realy enjoy going there 5 times a week.I love their Goat curry

Liked this place - tasty food, very clean and good service. I have been to the Pakwans in Misson (2nd choice) and Hayward (last choice), and think that this one is the best of the lot.

Excellent taste and fresh food, and chiken nihaari was awesome. Chiken tikka was good.NO COMPARISON with other Restaurants when it coms to Variety and Taste. Definately recommend it to try.

Pakwan has the best food among Pakistani & Indian restaurants. They are profesionals and their food is realy authentic. One of the review by Mr.Amir don't make any sense because he was plain biased since in his other review for other restaurant not that he mentioned owners name he pray for them :) as far as Halal desi Restaurant's bathroom is concerned blame should go to us Desi who love to make all the bathrooms filthy and blame restaurant management for that because I have never seen any desi restaurant toilet in good order.

I think the service used to be good but last time I visited and ordered chicken roll kabab and to my amazement it had small chiken bones and there was no paratha being used. Basically they wrapped chicken probably from tikka in a nan and called it a kabab roll. Beef seekh kabab was good. Chicken tikka lacked chiken too. I shouldn't go there again.

I suffered from severe food poisoning from this place (hospital + 8 days of Cipro). Regardless, I will try and be as objective as I can. I decided to try it as an alternative to Shalimar down the street. I had overheard good things about Pakwan and I had been to the one in Hayward. Pakwan is not very clean (bathrooms are good indication). The kebabs were fine but a little tough. The chicken boti was good. The naan was a little tougher and they don't brush it with butter at the end. Their soft drinks are fountain based and all you can drink. I liked that. I won't go there again for obvious reasons.

Pakwan in the tenderloin is back. Right down the street from Shalimar. Does anyone know if it's still in the Mission as well?

Good Pakistani place.

Catty-corner to Shalimar across the street, standard Pakistani grill with many varieties of Lahori-style kebobs and entrees, plus tandoori bread. Neighboorhood is well known for vice and parking is extremely tight; use caution but worth the trip.