Lahore Karahi, An Excellent Pakistani Restaurant
by Michael Babcock
612 O'Farrell St. (at Leavenworth)
San Francisco, CA
Read The Underground Concierge's Review of Lahore Karahi or visit the Lahore Karahi Website
Click on each image to see a larger version.
For 
many 
years, our favorite Indian restaurant was a small place on San Pablo in Richmond called Taj Kesri. Since it closed many years ago, we've been hoping to find a place to replace it. We've finally done so in the restaurant Lahore Karahi in San Francisco, located plunk in the middle of the Tenderloin.
We've eaten there several times and always been pleased with the variety of well-cooked dishes that we ate. Guddhu, the owner, is obviously passionate about using the best ingredients – in contrast to all-too-many restaurants, the prawns used in the Prawn Masala were large and succulent, and tasty in their spicy tomato mixture. Like all of the food, it had a freshness to it that is very appealing.
We've enjoyed everything we've tried. We're partial to lamb, so enjoyed the Lamb Korma ("Boneless lamb cooked in mildly spiced curry sauce"), and also eggplant, enjoying the Bengan Bhartha ("Roasted eggplant cooked w/ onions, tomatoes & cream"). My recommendation is to go and just see what sounds good and give it a try. Or ask Guddhu (the owner) what he'd recommend – justifiably proud of his restaurant, he's always willing to suggest something. For bread, we recommend the Roti with sesame seeds.
For desert, try the Kulfi, the Indian style ice cream. I'm not sure how it's made, but I believe it has ground up pistachio nuts that give it a richness more reminiscent of a gelato than ice cream. Definitely yummy.
Entrees range in price from $4.00 to $10.95, with the majority around $6.00 to $8.00. Servings are generous – two people can easily have a feast for around $25.00 or less.
None of the dishes are incendiary – but they are all very flavorful. If you want extra spice, request it.
It's a great place to have a birthday party: set it up ahead of time with Guddhu and he'll prepare you a feast!
Here's the relevant information:
- Lahore
Karahi
612 O'Farrell Street (at Leavenworth)
San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 567-8603 - Open Monday 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Open Tuesday through Sunday
11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. - Cash, Visa and Mastercard accepted (minimum payment of $10.00).
No checks, please. - 100% Halal meat is served.
Before you go:
- Check out the menu at the Lahore Karahi Website.
- Read another review of the restaurant originally found at San Francisco My Way – The Underground Concierge. There are some more pictures of food here, as well.
- Yelp.com reviews (100+).
- Chowhound Post.