New Indian Restaurants in Santa Clara (July 2026)

TL;DR 🍽️

• El Camino Real is the backbone of Indian dining in Santa Clara, with more than ten restaurants along this single boulevard
• Cuisine styles run from Chettinad South Indian to Hyderabadi biryani, Udupi vegetarian, kebabs, and Maharashtrian specialties
• The Yellow Chilli by Sanjeev Kapoor on Monroe Street brings a celebrity-chef brand to the city
• Phone numbers and verified addresses are listed for each of the 16 spots covered here

Why El Camino Real Is Santa Clara's Indian Food Street

Santa Clara sits in the heart of Silicon Valley and has one of the largest concentrations of South Asian tech workers in the United States. That demographic reality has driven the growth of Indian restaurants across the city, and El Camino Real has become the clearest expression of it. The boulevard runs east to west through Santa Clara, and more than ten Indian restaurants have addresses on it, spanning addresses from 1855 in the south all the way to 3739 in the north. If you are eating Indian food in Santa Clara, there is a good chance you will end up somewhere along this road.

The list below covers all 16 Indian restaurants currently operating in Santa Clara, organized by cuisine focus. Every address is listed exactly, and phone numbers are included wherever available.

South Indian and Chettinad 🥘

Aappakadai Indian Chettinad at 2725 El Camino Real is one of the few places in the Bay Area dedicated to Chettinad cooking. Chettinad cuisine originates from the Chettinad region of Tamil Nadu and is known for complex spice blends, slow-cooked kuzhambu curries, and dishes that use dried meats and preserved ingredients more extensively than other South Indian traditions. It is a distinct cuisine that stands apart from generic South Indian menus.

Star Udupi Cafe at 2690 El Camino Real offers the vegetarian tradition of Udupi cooking from coastal Karnataka. Udupi cuisine centers on dosas, idlis, vadas, sambar, and coconut chutneys. It is among the most approachable and affordable categories of South Indian food.

Ulavacharu Tiffins at 3530 El Camino Real, reachable at +1-408-666-7772, brings the tiffin tradition — lighter South Indian breakfast and lunch preparations — to a dedicated location. The name Ulavacharu refers to a lentil-based rasam from Andhra Pradesh, suggesting a Telugu culinary influence.

Brundavan at 2798 El Camino Real also serves South Indian food and sits within the central El Camino Real stretch, a few doors down from Malabar Coast.

Malabar Coast at 2777 El Camino Real, reachable at +1-408-475-0475, takes its name from the northern coastal strip of Kerala. Malabar cooking is known for its use of coconut milk, black pepper, and dishes like Malabar parotta and fish curries.

Insider Tip: For the most complete South Indian experience, visit two or three different spots along El Camino Real. A tiffin breakfast at Ulavacharu Tiffins, followed by Chettinad lunch at Aappakadai Indian Chettinad later in the week, will show you how different sub-regional South Indian cuisines can be.

Biryani, Kebabs, and North Indian

Paradise Biryani Pointe at 2961 El Camino Real (+1-408-564-7876) is part of a regional chain that focuses on biryani in its multiple forms — Hyderabadi dum biryani is the signature preparation, slow-cooked in a sealed pot to let rice and meat flavors develop together.

IGrill Kebabs and Biryani at 3170 De La Cruz Boulevard combines a grill-focused menu of kebabs with biryani preparations. The De La Cruz Boulevard address puts it slightly off the main El Camino Real strip.

Kabab & Curry's at 1498 Isabella Street (+1-408-247-0745) pairs grilled proteins with curry-based preparations at a location on Isabella Street, another address outside the main corridor.

Shan Restaurant at 3739 El Camino Real can be reached at +1 408-248-8433 and is open Monday through Thursday from 11:30am to 10:30pm. The name Shan carries associations with North Indian and Pakistani cooking traditions.

Swaraj India at 1855 El Camino Real anchors the southern end of the El Camino Real Indian restaurant stretch. The name Swaraj — meaning self-rule — is a term with deep roots in Indian political history.

Celebrity Chef Concept and Full-Service Dining

The Yellow Chilli by Sanjeev Kapoor at 3555 Monroe Street is a branded restaurant from India's most widely recognized celebrity chef. Sanjeev Kapoor built his reputation over decades through his television cooking show "Khana Khazana," which ran for many years on Zee TV, and through dozens of cookbooks. The Yellow Chilli brand operates at multiple locations internationally, and the Santa Clara location brings that brand to Silicon Valley.

Sakoon at 3701 El Camino Real has been part of the South Bay Indian dining scene for years. It serves weekday lunch from 11:30am to 2:30pm. Sakoon is known for a more refined approach to Indian food and draws a lunch crowd from nearby offices.

Kish Indian Kitchen & Bar at 4150 Great America Parkway adds a full bar to its Indian menu, making it distinct from most others on this list. The Great America Parkway location puts it near the northern end of Santa Clara close to the convention center and hotels.

Golkonda Indian Cuisine at 5350 Great America Parkway is also in the Great America Parkway corridor. The name Golkonda refers to a historic fort and region in Telangana, suggesting a South Indian or Hyderabadi influence.

Specialty and Neighborhood Options

Puranpoli at 3074 Scott Boulevard (+1 408-404-5439) takes its name directly from a Maharashtrian sweet flatbread made with jaggery and chana dal. This is a clear signal of a regional Maharashtra focus, which is relatively uncommon among Bay Area Indian restaurants that tend toward generalized North Indian or South Indian menus.

Deedee's at 341 Lafayette Street is the only restaurant on this list with a Lafayette Street address, putting it in a distinct part of Santa Clara away from both El Camino Real and the Great America Parkway area.

FAQ

Q: How many Indian restaurants on El Camino Real are in Santa Clara? A: At least ten of the sixteen restaurants in this guide are on El Camino Real: Swaraj India (1855), Star Udupi Cafe (2690), Aappakadai Indian Chettinad (2725), Malabar Coast (2777), Brundavan (2798), Paradise Biryani Pointe (2961), Ulavacharu Tiffins (3530), Sakoon (3701), and Shan Restaurant (3739).

Q: Which Santa Clara Indian restaurants have verified phone numbers? A: Ulavacharu Tiffins (+1-408-666-7772), Paradise Biryani Pointe (+1-408-564-7876), Malabar Coast (+1-408-475-0475), Kabab & Curry's (+1-408-247-0745), Puranpoli (+1 408-404-5439), and Shan Restaurant (+1 408-248-8433).

Q: Is there a purely vegetarian Indian restaurant in Santa Clara? A: Star Udupi Cafe focuses on South Indian vegetarian food. Puranpoli's Maharashtrian specialty name suggests a vegetarian-friendly menu. Always confirm dietary options directly with the restaurant.

Q: Which restaurant is associated with a celebrity chef? A: The Yellow Chilli by Sanjeev Kapoor on Monroe Street carries the brand of chef and television personality Sanjeev Kapoor.

Q: What are the confirmed hours for Santa Clara Indian restaurants? A: Shan Restaurant is open Monday through Thursday, 11:30am to 10:30pm. Sakoon serves weekday lunch from 11:30am to 2:30pm. Call ahead for current hours at other locations.

Bottom Line

Santa Clara's sixteen Indian restaurants give diners one of the most varied South Asian food selections in the Bay Area. El Camino Real concentrates the majority of options in a walkable and drivable corridor, from Swaraj India at the south end to Shan Restaurant and Sakoon in the 3700s. For a specific regional focus, Aappakadai Indian Chettinad handles Chettinad, Star Udupi Cafe covers Udupi vegetarian, and Puranpoli on Scott Boulevard offers Maharashtrian flavors. The Yellow Chilli by Sanjeev Kapoor on Monroe Street and Kish Indian Kitchen & Bar near Great America Parkway offer more upscale sit-down settings. With phone numbers listed for six of the sixteen, calling ahead remains the most reliable way to confirm current hours and daily specials before making the trip.