oChef » Spice of America – San Francisco » Spice of America – San Francisco – Reviews

Spice of America - Reviews

1655 Market St, 94103 San Francisco
All reviews at a glance
442

Reviews

64.9%

Satisfaction

126

negative

29

neutral

287

positive

What people say about Spice of America

Price per Person
  • $21–$30
Visit Type
  • Food Exploration
Group Type
  • Couple
Group Size
  • Couple
Service Type
  • Dine-in
Meal Type
  • Dinner
Wait Time
  • Long (31+ min.)
Phil C.
Review date: 09/12/2025
2
Appalling Service, Mediocre Food
My experience at Spice of America was overwhelmingly negative, marked by appallingly bad service and horribly mediocre food. Despite online recommendations, my visit was a disappointment. While the ambience upon entering was decent, with a large bar, several tables, and nice lighting, the food and service quickly overshadowed this. We ordered Butter Chicken and Paneer Tikka Masala with Basmati Rice, Garlic Naan, and Roti. The wait for our food was nearly an hour, which is ridiculous for simple dishes. When the food arrived, it was clear something was wrong. The Roti was not authentic, resembling whole wheat naan, and the Garlic Naan was burnt, bitter, and flavorless. Both curries tasted identical, like canned tomato sauce with cream and very few spices. The only redeeming factor was the Basmati Rice. The service continued to be poor, with a 20-minute wait to pay the bill in an empty restaurant. I cannot recommend this establishment based on this experience.
  • ambience4
  • Basmati Rice8
  • service1
  • food1
  • wait for food1
Price per Person
  • $11–$20
Visit Type
  • Food Exploration
Service Type
  • Dine-in
Meal Type
  • Dinner
Wait Time
  • Immediate (0–5 min.)
Jamie W.
Review date: 08/22/2025
9
Delicious Lamb Tikka Masala & Garlic Naan!
My experience at this restaurant was absolutely DELICIOUS. We ordered the lamb tikka masala, garlic naan, and chicken momo. Everything was incredibly fragrant and flavourful. I will definitely come back again!
  • lamb tikka masala10
  • garlic naan10
  • chicken momo10
Visit Type
  • Food Exploration
Service Type
  • Dine-in
Kial S.
Review date: 08/14/2025
9
Absolutely Delicious - Will Return!
My first time eating here, and the new owners have been open for 4 months. The inside is very nicely decorated. I had the Paneer Pakora appetizer, and I couldn’t get enough! My entree, the Baingan Ka Bharta (Eggplant dish) with Nan, was also amazing. It was absolutely delicious, and I will definitely return!
  • inside decoration9
  • Paneer Pakora10
  • Baingan Ka Bharta9
Service Type
  • Dine-in
Hao G.
Review date: 07/26/2025
2
Shocking Closure, No Communication
My experience at Spice of America was extremely disappointing. We had made a reservation through Yelp, anticipating a pleasant meal. However, upon arrival, we were shocked to find the restaurant completely closed. There was no notification, no cancellation, and absolutely no courtesy message to inform us of their unexpected closure. It’s incredibly frustrating that they didn’t care enough to give us a heads-up, especially since they had our reservation details. This lack of communication reflects poor management and a disregard for customers’ time and plans. I hope they take this feedback seriously and improve their customer service. Until then, I cannot recommend this restaurant to anyone who values reliability and basic courtesy.
  • reservation1
  • notification1
  • cancellation1
Visit Type
  • Regular Visit
Service Type
  • Takeout
Meal Type
  • Dinner
Wait Time
  • Long (31+ min.)
AHHSF
Review date: 07/11/2025
2
Disappointing Decline in Quality
My recent takeout experience was truly sad. The quality of the food at SOA has plummeted. This place, which had been a regular go-to for delicious food for at least six years, disappointed significantly. The food arrived 30 minutes late. The naan was dry and hard, and the momos were dry with no sauce. Both the paneer and molai kofta were watery and bland, and the chicken curry was flavorless. The Szechuan chicken was dry, lacked sauce, and was not as described. We ordered extra for leftovers, which will likely be tossed. It feels like the owners must have changed. It's sad to say, but a favorite has disappeared.
  • naan2
  • momos2
  • paneer2
Price per Person
  • $41–$50
Visit Type
  • Casual Outing
Group Type
  • Friends
Group Size
  • Small Group
Service Type
  • Dine-in
Meal Type
  • Dinner
Wait Time
  • Short (6–15 min.)
Sangita B.
Review date: 07/11/2025
1
Horrible Food and Service
My experience at this restaurant was extremely disappointing. The food was insipid and tasteless, and definitely not authentic Indian cuisine. The egg curry was surprisingly sweet, which was quite unpleasant. Furthermore, there was a mix-up with my order; I requested zeera rice but received plain rice instead. This, coupled with the overall poor food quality, made for a horrible service experience.
  • food1
  • egg curry1
  • zeera rice2
Price per Person
  • $11–$20
Visit Type
  • Food Exploration
Service Type
  • Dine-in
Meal Type
  • Dinner
Wait Time
  • Immediate (0–5 min.)
amd R.
Review date: 06/16/2025
9
Authentic Pakistani/Indian Flavors
My experience at this restaurant was fantastic! I enjoyed delicious Pakistani/Indian halal food with rich flavors and authentic spices. The biryani was perfectly cooked, and the kebabs were juicy and tender. The service was great, and the environment was clean. I highly recommend this place for anyone craving real Pakistani/Indian taste!
  • Pakistani/Indian halal food10
  • rich flavors9
  • authentic spices9
Price per Person
  • $61–$70
Visit Type
  • Food Exploration
Service Type
  • Dine-in
Meal Type
  • Dinner
Wait Time
  • Immediate (0–5 min.)
Naim A.
Review date: 06/16/2025
10
Best Indian Food in the Bay!
I highly recommend this place! My experience was fantastic, and they serve the best Indian food in the bay. Everything tasted absolutely delicious. It's also worth noting that the meat is Halal, as the ownership has changed recently.
  • Indian food10
  • food10
  • meat9
Price per Person
  • $21–$30
Visit Type
  • Regular Visit
Service Type
  • Dine-in
Wait Time
  • Long (31+ min.)
Noise Level
  • Quiet
Debby T.
Review date: 06/12/2025
9
Great Food, Worth the Wait
My second time dining here, and my experience was fantastic. The food and service were amazing, truly top-notch. While the wait time was a little slow, it allowed for some quality time to sit back and enjoy the good food. I highly recommend this restaurant, especially for vegetarians.
  • food10
  • service10
  • recommendation for vegetarians10
  • wait time4
Visit Type
  • Food Exploration
Service Type
  • Dine-in
Meal Type
  • Dinner
Ankita M.
Review date: 05/22/2025
9
A Gem for South Asian Food Lovers!
Spice of America is one of my favorite food places in the city! It's a minority-owned business that specializes in South Asian food. I particularly loved the sandwiches and the momos. The host is really lovely and makes you feel at home. Highly recommend!
  • South Asian food9
  • sandwiches9
  • momos9

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