oChef » Aaha – San Francisco » Aaha – San Francisco – Reviews
Aaha - Reviews
3316 17th St, 90110 San Francisco
All reviews at a glance
381
Reviews
71.1%
Satisfaction
83
negative
27
neutral
271
positive
What people say about Aaha
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Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Group Type
- Friends
Service Type
- Dine-in
10
Incredible South Indian Flavors!
Introduced to Aaha by my South Indian friend who swears by it, and she was right! My experience was fantastic. The okra fritters and goat soup were incredible!
It’s also BYOB, but you’re not allowed to bring your own goat soup, which is totally fine because they serve their own delicious goat soup!
- okra fritters10
- goat soup10
- BYOB7
Visit Type
- Regular Visit
Service Type
- Dine-in
8
Great Food, Halal Certification Needed
My experience at AHA Restaurant has been consistently positive, as it's one of our favorite spots in the Mission area. The food tastes great, and we genuinely enjoy almost all the dishes they serve. The restaurant is particularly popular within the Muslim community, with many of us dining here regularly.
Our primary concern is the lack of HAFSA Halal certification. Most Muslim customers seek this certification before ordering meat dishes. Consequently, we typically opt for fish and vegetarian items.
We are confident that if AHA obtains HAFSA certification, even more members of our community will visit daily to enjoy the excellent food and service. Thank you for the wonderful dining experience!
- food10
- dishes9
- meat dishes6
- HAFSA Halal certification3
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Dinner
10
Absolutely Loved This Place!
My experience at this restaurant was fantastic! I had the pleasure of trying the mango lassi, garlic naan, bhindi masala, and a taste of the palak paneer. The food was exceptional, and the service was both attentive and friendly.
I loved everything so much that I wished I lived here, and the locals are truly lucky to have this gem. The atmosphere was also very pleasant.
- mango lassi10
- garlic naan10
- bhindi masala10
Price per Person
- $11–$20
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Group Type
- Friends
Group Size
- Small Group
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Dinner
Noise Level
- Moderate
8
Outstanding Breads, Flavorful Chettinad, Okay Butter Curries
I was really craving Indian food and came across Aaha Indian Cuisine. It looked interesting, so we decided to give it a try for Punjabi-style food. We ordered three curries: Butter Paneer, Butter Chicken, and Chicken Chettinad, along with a mix of different breads.
The Chicken Chettinad was the highlight — super flavorful, with the perfect kick of spice and South Indian-style richness. However, the Butter Chicken and Butter Paneer were just okay; both tasted too tomato-forward and didn’t have that deep, buttery flavor you’d expect. I'm taking one star off for that.
Now, the breads — absolutely outstanding! We ordered Chili Garlic Naan, Cheese Garlic Naan, Cheese Chili Garlic Naan, and Onion Kulcha, and every single one was fire 🔥. They were soft, flavorful, and very close to what you’d get back in India.
We also tried their Chapati/Roti, which was decent but not great — the edges were a little hard and dry, so I’d definitely recommend sticking to the tandoori breads. The vibe of the place was casual, nothing fancy — a decent spot for a laid-back meal. I liked the open kitchen concept, but I do think they could be a bit more organized with the space — there were some unused boxes and clutter that could be cleaned up to improve the overall experience.
Overall, it's a solid place if you’re in the mood for Indian food, especially for their breads and Chicken Chettinad. I would go back, but would probably skip the butter-based curries next time.
- Chicken Chettinad9
- Butter Chicken5
- Butter Paneer5
- organization of the space3
Price per Person
- $11–$20
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Group Type
- Family
Group Size
- Small Group
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Dinner
Wait Time
- Short (6–15 min.)
10
Authentic South Indian Gem in the Bay Area
Finally, a South Indian restaurant that truly lives up to the hype! We discovered Aaha by chance after a long day, and it was an absolute revelation. Unlike many 'highly recommended' South Indian spots that have disappointed me before, Aaha broke that cycle.
The staff was incredibly kind and happily accommodated our children with less spicy options while we savored fiery, authentic flavors. Every dish was fresh, hot, and perfectly blended with the right ingredients. The menu is genuinely well-curated and rivals specialty establishments.
Their parotta was best in class, even better than those I've had in Virudhunagar. The mutton chukka was superior to Konar Kadai in Madurai, and the meen polichathu transported me straight to Kerala. Even our kids' paneer and naan were outstanding.
We're already planning to return today to try their tandoori chicken. For a Chennai native now in Dallas, finding this level of authentic, top-notch South Indian food at fair prices in the Bay Area is a dream come true.
- parotta10
- mutton chukka9
- meen polichathu10
Price per Person
- $11–$20
Visit Type
- Family Dinner
Group Type
- Family
Group Size
- Small Group
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Dinner
Wait Time
- Short (6–15 min.)
9
Amazing Food and Great Service!
We had an amazing experience at this food place! We tried a variety of dishes including Gobi Manchurian, Chana Masala, Dosa, Mutton Chukka, Chicken 65, Tawa Pomfret, Tandoori Paneer, Vada, Biryani, Cheesy Garlic Naan, and Parotta. The food was really good, and the service was great.
Our kids really enjoyed it too! 🫠
- food10
- Gobi Manchurian9
- Chana Masala9
Price per Person
- $21–$30
Visit Type
- Regular Visit
Service Type
- Dine-in
3
Hygiene Issues Mar Former Favorite
My experience at this restaurant was disappointing. While the food itself was not bad, there was a significant problem with hygiene, particularly in the restroom. This used to be a favorite restaurant of mine, but things have changed.
I probably won't be back, and I'm sorry about that.
- food6
- hygiene2
- restroom2
Price per Person
- $21–$30
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
Wait Time
- Immediate (0–5 min.)
Noise Level
- Moderate
10
Incredible Meal, Will Be Back!
My experience at this restaurant was incredible! The cauliflower Manchurian was insane and I would return for that alone. Every bite we had was excellent, and I'll be back again and again.
- cauliflower Manchurian10
- every bite9
Price per Person
- $11–$20
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Lunch
9
Biryani Perfection in SF!
My experience at this restaurant was fantastic, especially for their biryani. I feel this is the only place in SF which does biryani some justice. The food was rated a 5, and the atmosphere was also a 5.
For lunch, the price per person was between $10–20. Vegetarians are somewhat recommended. Overall, a great experience!
- biryani9
- food10
- atmosphere10
Price per Person
- $21–$30
Visit Type
- Regular Visit
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Dinner
9
Delicious Food, Great Service!
My experience at this restaurant was fantastic! The food was really delicious and served at a reasonable price. We always feel well taken care of by the staff, making for a great dining experience.
The atmosphere was also excellent.
- food9
- price8
- service9
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