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oChef » NEWA – San Francisco
NEWA - San Francisco
Photo from NEWA
NEWA at a glance
San Francisco South of Market
- 🥟 Nepalese Restaurant
$$
Price per Person $21–$30
mentioned by 3 of the guests
#2045 out of 2403 places to eat in San Francisco
#8 Nepalese Restaurant out of 9 in San Francisco
Good
6.4 out of 10
Food
Service
Ambience
Value
223
Reviews
59.6%
Satisfaction
Often praised
- Authentic Food
- Food Quality
- Fair Price
Frequently criticized
- Poor Ambience
- Dirty Environment
- Slow Service
The restaurant NEWA invites you to discover authentic Nepalese cuisine right in the heart of San Francisco’s vibrant South of Market neighborhood. You’ll find a casual and welcoming atmosphere perfect for a quick bite or a relaxed meal.
This spot is celebrated for its diverse menu, thoughtfully including Halal food and excellent vegetarian options, ensuring there’s something delicious for every palate. Whether you’re craving traditional flavors or exploring new tastes, NEWA offers a genuine culinary journey.
Overview: Introducting NEWA
NEWA offers a compelling culinary experience, particularly for those seeking authentic Nepalese food and well-prepared Indian dishes. Many appreciate the friendly service and the quality of items like their fresh naan and momos, making it a solid choice for a meal focused on taste.
However, the dining environment at NEWA presents a notable challenge, with concerns about cleanliness and a less-than-ideal ambience. While the food often shines, issues with slow service and occasional order inaccuracies suggest a mixed experience for some patrons.
Good
6.4
out of 10
223
Reviews
59.6%
Satisfaction
72
negative
18
neutral
133
positive
Overall, NEWA earns a respectable 6.4 out of 10, placing it in the average category. Customer satisfaction sits at 59.6%, indicating a mixed reception among diners.
This assessment is drawn from 223 customer opinions, with 133 positive remarks balancing against 72 negative ones, suggesting a noticeable split in experiences. Diving deeper, the Food (7.1) is clearly a strong point, often praised for its quality.
Value (6.7) also performs reasonably well, offering fair pricing. However, Service (6.1) is more of a mixed bag, while the Ambience (3.3) is a significant area for improvement, frequently cited as a drawback by patrons.
What people like
- Authentic Nepalese food
- Good food quality
- Reasonable pricing
What people don't like
- Poor ambience
- Cleanliness concerns
- Slow service
With a recommendation score of 6.7, NEWA presents a compelling case for its culinary offerings, especially if you prioritize taste and value. It’s a place where the authentic Nepalese and Indian dishes often impress, making it a worthwhile consideration for your next meal.
However, be mindful of the dining environment and occasional service hiccups. For the best experience, consider NEWA for take-out or delivery, as this often bypasses the noted issues with ambience and seating, allowing the food to truly shine.
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Verdict: Our expert take on NEWA
Food (7.1 out of 10)
mentioned by 98% of the guests
When it comes to the food, this spot generally hits the mark with a good score of 7.1 and a good customer satisfaction of 70.3%. Based on 109 positive remarks out of 155 total comments, many diners rave about the delicious and authentic Nepali and Indian dishes. Highlights include the flavorful Newari khaja set, fresh naan, and perfectly spiced chicken momos, all praised for their quality and taste.
However, not every dish is a winner. With 35 negative comments, some experiences point to inconsistencies. Concerns arose regarding bland food, disappointing veg momos with potato stuffing, and unflavored noodles.
A few found the choila underwhelming or the meat, like in lamb dishes, to be quite chewy, and some naan bread was noted as recooked.
Food
155
Reviews
70%
Satisfaction
35
negative
11
neutral
109
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Authentic Nepali/Indian
- Delicious momos
- Fresh, flavorful naan
What people don't like
- Inconsistent food quality
- Bland dishes
- Chewy meat
Often praised
- foodMy experience at this restaurant was marked by truly fantastic food. However, the quarters were cramped, and the seating was cafeteria-style, which might not be comfortable for everyone.
- Indian farestaple Indian fare are also better than average
- Nepalese foodserved authentic Nepalese food
- Nepali menuorder from the Nepali menu
- Paneer Tikka MasalaPaneer Tikka Masala was amazing
- food qualitythe price tag and with the food quality absolutely fair
- fresh naanAmazing fresh naan
- garlic naanMy experience at the restaurant was fantastic! I tried the butter chicken and garlic naan, and I absolutely loved it! The garlic naan and butter naan were different than other naans I've tried, but delicious nonetheless!
- good foodrecommend this for it's good food
- momosBest, freshly steamed momos I've had in a while!
Frequently criticized
- foodFood 2/5. Ordered momo. I think you really need to try hard to get it wrong.
- CTMCTM I ordered were pretty meh
- ChowmeenChowmeen was not that flavored as we expected
- Daal bhaat thaliThey didn't have achar so they just replaced food items with kheer.
- Momosforgot initially
- Nepali spotsbetter Nepali spots in the area
- Newari setThey didn't have achar so they just replaced food items with kheer.
- ThukpaThe item “Thukpa” was totally nightmare to me
- acharThey didn't have achar so they just replaced food items with kheer.
- chicken curryAll we received was the naans and momos. This meal is useless
Overall, if you're craving authentic Nepali and Indian flavors, especially dishes like the Newari khaja set or momos, this place is definitely worth a try. Just be aware that some specific items, like certain veg momos or meat dishes, might be a bit hit-or-miss, so choose wisely!
Service (6.1 out of 10)
mentioned by 33% of the guests
When it comes to service, it seems like this spot offers a bit of a mixed bag, landing an average score of 6.1 with customer satisfaction at a mixed 58.3%. Many folks, in 14 positive remarks, really appreciated the friendly staff and helpful waitresses. Whether youre grabbing something to go or getting delivery, the service often gets a nod for being quick and efficient, with good packing and generally nice people.
However, not everyone had a smooth experience, with 7 negative comments highlighting some bumps in the road. Issues like slow service, long waiting times, and problems with delivery, including missed items or drivers not attempting to knock, popped up. Some even mentioned a bad smile from staff or difficulties reaching them via a busy phone line, suggesting theres definitely room for improvement in consistency.
Service
24
Reviews
58%
Satisfaction
7
negative
3
neutral
14
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Friendly staff
- Quick takeout
- Good packing
What people don't like
- Slow service
- Delivery issues
- Long waits
Often praised
- servicefriendly service. Great food, better service
- staffThe staff were good and polite
- deliveryFast delivery was the only positive aspect.
- friendly peopleMy experience at this restaurant offered good food and authentic Nepalese food, served by friendly people at reasonable prices. It's best suited for takeaway.
- packingdid really good packing
- peopleThe food and the people never let me down
- take outGreat place for door dash or take out
- take-out or deliverytake-out or delivery are great options
- to goget something to go. It's completely worth it
- waitresswaitress was so nice and friendly
Frequently criticized
- Uber Eats orderAll we received was the naans and momos. This meal is useless
- apologizeat the end didn't even apologize
- bad smileMy experience at the restaurant was very negative. The service was lacking, with a very bad smile from the staff. The cleanliness was also a major issue, as there was no cleaning around the kitchen and floor.
- deliveryFailed to deliver. Driver did not attempt to knock
- phone lineThis meal is useless to eat without the main dish. I have been trying to call them for 30 minutes, but their phone line has been busy. I will be reporting this restaurant.
- serviceSlow and sloppy service
- waiting timeWaiting for an hour
If you're considering this place, be prepared for potentially friendly staff and efficient takeout, but also be aware that delivery and in-house service can sometimes be a bit hit-or-miss. It might be worth trying for a quick grab-and-go, but perhaps temper expectations for a flawless dining or delivery experience.
Ambience (3.3 out of 10)
mentioned by 42% of the guests
A couple of diners found a silver lining in the ambience, appreciating the unique touch of food served on Nepali Tapari. Some even described the spot as cosy and quiet, offering a brief respite. These positive observations, though few, highlight a potential for charm.
However, the overall sentiment paints a starkly different picture. With a poor score of just 3.3 and customer satisfaction at a dismal 5.9%, it's clear the ambience is a major concern. Out of 34 comments, a whopping 28 highlighted significant issues like cramped seating, a sketchy neighborhood, and serious cleanliness and sanitation problems, making the atmosphere quite unappealing.
Ambience
34
Reviews
5%
Satisfaction
28
negative
4
neutral
2
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Cosy and quiet
- Unique servingware
What people don't like
- Sketchy neighborhood
- Poor cleanliness
- Cramped seating
Often praised
- Nepali Tapariserved on Nepali Tapari
- cosy and quietCosy and quiet
Frequently criticized
- neighborhoodBetween the beaten rice and the ultra-crisp fried meat it can get pretty dry without some sauce. You can probably dine in for lunch, but beware that the seating is very limited for busier hours, and it's not the nicest neighborhood. Otherwise, take-out or delivery are great options, too.
- locationthe location in Tenderloin is not one you want to visit
- seatingBetween the beaten rice and the ultra-crisp fried meat it can get pretty dry without some sauce. You can probably dine in for lunch, but beware that the seating is very limited for busier hours, and it's not the nicest neighborhood. Otherwise, take-out or delivery are great options, too.
- cleanlinesscleanliness 1/5. - very dirty. It smells very bad 🤢
- ambienceAmbeince not so good
- areaLots of crack heads in the area
- atmosphereThe restaurant's atmosphere was not that great
- dirtsthink about the dirts
- entrancepropped open their door with a traffic cone, making it difficult to enter
- hygienicI'm unsure how this establishment has garnered multiple 5-star reviews, as my dining experience was horrid and unhygienic. We dined in, and the dumplings were cold inside, like frozen cold.
If a cosy, quiet spot with unique servingware is your top priority, you might find a small positive here. However, be prepared for significant drawbacks regarding seating, cleanliness, and the surrounding neighborhood, as these are major dealbreakers for most.
Value (6.7 out of 10)
mentioned by 17% of the guests
When it comes to value, diners generally find this spot to be quite a steal! With 8 positive remarks out of 10 total, many rave about the reasonable prices and great prices, often noting the price tag is absolutely fair for the quality. The overall sentiment is good, reflected in a solid score of 6.7 and a strong customer satisfaction of 80%.
However, it's not all perfect. A couple of experiences, specifically 2 negative remarks, point to issues where the restaurant reportedly refused to refund for failures or offer a discounted price. While these instances are few, they suggest there might be room for improvement in handling customer dissatisfaction regarding pricing adjustments.
Value
10
Reviews
80%
Satisfaction
2
negative
0
neutral
8
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Reasonable prices
- Great value
- Fair price tag
What people don't like
- Refused refunds
- No discounts offered
Often praised
- pricereasonably priced for San Francisco
- great priceshighly recommend this for it's great prices
- places nearbyfar above the busier and more expensive places nearby
- price tagthe price tag and with the food quality absolutely fair
- pricesPrices are cheaper compared to other Indian restaurants
- reasonable pricesMy experience at this restaurant offered good food and authentic Nepalese food, served by friendly people at reasonable prices. It's best suited for takeaway.
Frequently criticized
- discounted pricedidn't even try to give us a discounted price.
- refundRestaurant refused to refund anything for their failure
Overall, if you're looking for good food at a fair cost, this place generally delivers excellent value. Just be aware that if something goes wrong, getting a refund or discount might be a challenge, so manage your expectations on that front.
How are the prices at NEWA?
On average, you’ll spend around 21 $ per person, based on what 3 guests reported. That places this Nepalese spot comfortably in the $21–$30 category. For a Nepalese Restaurant, thats a mid-range price point – not a steal, but not bank-breaking either.
The price distribution shows a bit of a spread, with some diners opting for a more budget-friendly meal and others spending a bit more, rather than everyone clustering right around the average. Since we only have data from 3 diners, its a good indication, but keep in mind it’s a small sample.
Here’s a quick look at what guests spend per person, based on the latest 3 reviews. Since we only have data from 3 diners, its a good indication, but keep in mind its a small sample.
How this Nepalese restaurant’s value stacks up against similar spots in San Francisco.
Considering San Francisco’s dining scene, we think the pricing here feels pretty fair for a Nepalese restaurant. It offers a good balance, so you can enjoy a tasty meal without breaking the bank.
Customer Reviews: what people think about NEWA
Price per Person
- $41–$50
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Takeout
3
Disappointing CTM and Chili Chicken
My experience at this restaurant was underwhelming. I ordered both the CTM and chili chicken, and unfortunately, both dishes were pretty meh. I've had better experiences at other Nepali spots in the area and even within the city.
- CTM2
- chili chicken2
- Nepali spots3
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Delivery
8
Great Food, Avoid the Location
My experience at this restaurant was primarily focused on the food, which was excellent. I particularly enjoyed the veg momos and the achar sauce. The aloo saag was also very good.
However, the location in Tenderloin is a significant drawback, and I would recommend delivery to avoid the area.
- veg momos9
- achar sauce10
- aloo saag8
- location2
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Group Type
- Couple
Group Size
- Couple
Service Type
- Takeout
9
Excellent Indian/Nepalese Takeout!
I ordered takeout from NEWA and my experience was excellent! The paneer tikka masala was super good, and while we ordered it spicy and were humbled, that's exactly what you'd hope for from an Indian/Nepalese restaurant. The vegetable momos were unlike any I've had before; they were super flavorful with a great texture and came with a punchy dipping sauce.
I definitely have to order from them again!
- paneer tikka masala9
- vegetable momos9
- spicy8
Price per Person
- $11–$20
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Delivery
Meal Type
- Dinner
9
Fantastic Delivery Experience from Newa
I recently ordered from Newa through Uber Eats, and it was a fantastic experience. I tried the Chicken Momo and Chicken Saag, and both dishes exceeded my expectations. The Chicken Momo was absolutely delicious—juicy with the perfect balance of spices.
The dough was soft and held up well even after delivery, which is often a challenge. The Chicken Saag was creamy, rich, and full of flavor. The chicken pieces were tender and cooked to perfection.
Despite being a delivery order, the quality and freshness of the food were excellent.
- Chicken Momo9
- Chicken Saag9
- dough8
Visit Type
- Delivery
Group Type
- Friends
Group Size
- Small Group
Service Type
- Delivery
9
Wonderful Food, Great Quantity!
My experience at this restaurant has been a blessing, especially since I started ordering delivery during COVID. The food is wonderful, with great quantity and spot on taste. I highly recommend this place!
- food9
- great quantity9
- spot on taste10
What NEWA offers
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
Popular for
- Dinner
- Lunch
- Solo dining
Offerings
- Halal food
- Vegetarian options
- Quick bite
Dining options
- Dinner
- Lunch
- Catering
- Dessert
Service Options
- No-contact delivery
- Takeout
- Delivery
- Dine-in
Atmosphere
- Casual
FAQs
What kind of food and dietary options does NEWA offer?
At NEWA, you can enjoy delicious Nepalese cuisine with a focus on inclusivity. They proudly offer Halal food, ensuring a wider range of diners can savor their dishes. Additionally, you’ll find excellent vegetarian options available, making it easy to choose a meal that suits your dietary preferences. It’s also a great spot for a quick bite.
What dining and service options are available at NEWA?
NEWA provides flexible dining and service options to fit your schedule. You can enjoy a delightful lunch or dinner, or even plan catering for your next event. For convenience, they offer no-contact delivery, standard delivery, and takeout services. If you prefer to dine in, you’ll find a casual and inviting atmosphere.
What is NEWA's overall rating and how do its key aspects score?
NEWA holds an overall score of 6.4. Its strengths lie in **Food** (7.1) and **Value** (6.7). **Service** scores 6.1, while **Ambience** is a notable area for improvement at 3.3.
Is NEWA suitable for dining in, or is it better for takeout?
Based on customer feedback, NEWA is often recommended for **take-out or delivery**. While dining in is an option, many find the seating limited and the overall ambience less appealing.
Are there any concerns regarding the dining environment at NEWA?
Yes, some patrons have expressed concerns about the dining environment, citing issues with **cleanliness** and a less-than-ideal **ambience**. This is a recurring point in negative feedback.