A guide to South Asian food in Dublin and the Tri-Valley
Dublin has changed fast. Over the past fifteen years this East Bay suburb, along with neighbouring Pleasanton, San Ramon and Livermore, has become home to a large and growing South Asian community, many of them families working in Bay Area tech. The restaurants followed. What used to be a handful of North Indian buffets is now a scene with South Indian specialists, chaat counters, biryani houses and a fair amount of Indian-Californian fusion, curry pizza included.
Our Dublin listings cover the city itself and the nearby Tri-Valley towns: Pleasanton, San Ramon and Livermore.
Where the restaurants are
Dublin's Indian food is spread along a few main roads rather than packed into one district:
- Dublin Boulevard has the largest cluster: Star Chaat Cuisine, Baithak and Curry Pizza House are all on this road.
- Village Parkway is home to Raya, a counter-service South Indian spot for biryani, dosa and parotta, and to Khyber Pass Kabob, an Afghan restaurant with floor seating on low tables and cushions.
- Amador Valley Boulevard has Rasraaj Indian Cafe, a North Indian cafe.
- Tassajara Road, in east Dublin, has Pippal, a more modern, sit-down restaurant with a cocktail list.
- Summit Road has Anjappar Chettinad, part of an international chain known for the fiery cooking of Tamil Nadu's Chettinad region.
What the Tri-Valley does well
South Indian food. The Tri-Valley's large Telugu and Tamil communities mean that South Indian cooking here goes well beyond dosa. Look for Andhra-style meals, Chettinad chicken, and parotta served with salna or kurma. Anjappar's kizhi parotta, flaky parotta wrapped and steamed with curry, is a dish you won't find on many menus in the US.
Biryani. Around seven Dublin-area restaurants lead with biryani. Styles vary: Hyderabadi dum biryani is layered and slow-cooked, while Andhra-style versions tend to be spicier. Biryani Bistro on San Ramon Road also serves Indo-Chinese dishes, a combination you'll see often in the area.
Curry pizza. This is a Bay Area invention and Dublin has several versions. Curry Pizza House and Tandoori Pizza top a pizza base with things like butter chicken, tikka masala and palak paneer. Purists may object, but it's a real local speciality and a good choice for mixed groups.
is the go-to for pani puri, bhel and samosa chaat in a casual, colourful room.