Authentic Indian Restaurants Across California Serving Festive Menus
California’s diverse food scene is home to some incredible Indian restaurants that go all out during festival seasons. From Diwali to Holi, these eateries transform their menus to showcase special dishes that Indians traditionally enjoy during celebrations.
I’ve traveled across the state to find places where you can experience authentic festive flavors without booking a flight to Mumbai or Delhi.
1. Amber India’s Royal Feast in San Francisco
Located in the heart of San Francisco, Amber India transforms into a celebration hub during Indian festivals. Their special thalis feature regional delicacies rarely found outside India, with recipes passed down through generations.
I love how they decorate the restaurant with traditional rangoli patterns and diyas during Diwali. The staff wears festive attire, adding to the authentic experience. Their Undhiyu (mixed vegetable curry) and Puran Poli (sweet flatbread) during spring festivals are absolutely mouthwatering.
Did you know? The owner personally travels to India each year to bring back rare spices and new festive recipes to keep their seasonal menus authentic and exciting.
2. Adda’s Street Food Festival in Los Angeles
Tucked away in downtown LA, Adda brings the vibrant street food culture of Indian festivals right to Southern California. During celebrations like Holi and Navratri, they set up food stalls mimicking India’s famous chaat corners.
What makes this place special is their commitment to authenticity. The chef imports specific ingredients like black salt and dried mango powder directly from India. Their Ragda Pattice and festive Thandai drinks transport you straight to Mumbai’s festival streets.
My favorite part? The live cooking demonstrations where they show how to make festival specialties like colorful Holi gujiya pastries or Diwali’s savory namkeen mixes.
3. Punjabi Traditions at Shalimar in Sacramento
Shalimar in Sacramento truly captures the spirit of North Indian festival celebrations. The aroma of slow-cooked biryanis and kebabs hits you the moment you walk through the door during festival seasons.
Their Baisakhi menu in April showcases the hearty flavors of Punjab with special sarson da saag (mustard greens) and makki di roti (cornmeal bread). Family-style serving is their specialty, encouraging the communal dining experience that’s central to Indian celebrations.
If you’re lucky enough to visit during Lohri in January, you’ll witness the traditional bonfire ceremonies they host in their outdoor patio, complete with folk dancing and special winter delicacies like rewri and gajak.
4. South Indian Celebrations at Madras Cafe in Sunnyvale
Madras Cafe stands out as Silicon Valley’s go-to spot for authentic South Indian festival specialties. During Pongal (the harvest festival), they serve traditional sweet pongal and vadai that rivals anything you’d find in Chennai.
The owner, Auntie Lakshmi as regulars call her, decorates the entrance with elaborate kolam patterns drawn with rice flour during festivals. Her Onam Sadhya feast in September features over 20 different dishes served on banana leaves a truly immersive experience!
Though small and unassuming from outside, this place fills up quickly during festivals. I recommend making reservations at least two weeks ahead if you want to experience their special Ugadi (New Year) menu in spring.
5. Bengal’s Sweet Traditions at Bansari in Berkeley
If you’re craving authentic Bengali festival sweets, Bansari in Berkeley is a hidden gem worth discovering. During Durga Puja in October, they create special sandesh (milk-based sweets) in shapes and designs specific to the festival.
Their fish preparations during Poila Boishakh (Bengali New Year) showcase the delicate balance of flavors that Bengali cuisine is famous for. The chef uses mustard in creative ways that will surprise even those familiar with Indian cooking.
When I visited during Kali Puja, they served a special midnight menu featuring traditional items like luchi (deep-fried bread) and kosha mangsho (slow-cooked mutton) that Bengali families traditionally enjoy during late-night festival gatherings.
6. Gujarat’s Festive Flavors at Vik’s Chaat in Berkeley
Vik’s Chaat transforms into a Gujarati festival paradise during celebrations like Navratri and Uttarayan. The casual market-style eatery becomes vibrant with specialty foods that are hard to find elsewhere in California.
During the nine nights of Navratri, they serve traditional fasting foods like sabudana khichdi (tapioca pearl dish) and special thalis that follow religious dietary restrictions. Their handmade fafda-jalebi combination during Dussehra brings back childhood memories for many Gujarati expats.
My personal favorite is their Uttarayan (kite festival) special menu in January featuring undhiyu and puran poli. The owners even organize community gatherings where they teach customers how to make traditional dishes at home.
7. Royal Rajasthani Feasts at Mantra in Palo Alto
Mantra in Palo Alto brings the royal heritage of Rajasthan to life during festival seasons. Their Teej and Gangaur special menus feature elaborate dishes once served in palaces, like ker sangri (desert beans and berries) and gatte ki sabzi (gram flour dumplings in yogurt curry).
The restaurant’s regal décor, with mirror work and colorful textiles, complements the festive experience perfectly. During Holi, they host special brunches with thandai (spiced milk drink) and traditional sweets like ghevar and malpua that are central to Rajasthani celebrations.
What impressed me most was their attention to detail serving food in traditional copper thalis and offering hand washing rituals before meals, just as you would experience in a Rajasthani home during festivals.
8. Coastal Celebrations at Tanjore in San Diego
Tanjore brings the coastal flavors of South India to San Diego with spectacular festival menus. During Onam and Vishu celebrations, they create authentic Kerala feasts featuring avial (mixed vegetable curry with coconut) and karimeen pollichathu (fish wrapped in banana leaf).
The restaurant’s beachside location adds to the coastal vibe that perfectly complements their seafood specialties. Their Chettinad festival menu showcases fiery spice combinations that are hard to find elsewhere in California. Are you a fan of traditional cooking methods?
They use clay pots and banana leaves for specific festival dishes, preserving authentic cooking techniques that enhance flavors. During Pongal, they even demonstrate the traditional way of making sweet pongal in clay pots over an open flame.
9. Vegetarian Temple Food at Udupi Palace in San Jose
Udupi Palace in San Jose creates special sattvic menus during Hindu religious festivals that follow temple cooking traditions. During Janmashtami (Lord Krishna’s birthday), they serve authentic fasting foods and special prasadam items like panchAmrit (five-ingredient sacred mixture).
Their Ganesha Chaturthi offerings include modak (sweet dumplings) made in the traditional style with rice flour shells and coconut-jaggery filling. The restaurant even brings in temple cooks from South India for major festivals to ensure authenticity.
What’s unique about their festival menus is the absence of onion and garlic in accordance with temple traditions, yet the dishes burst with flavors from carefully balanced spices and ingredients. Their special temple-style payasam (sweet pudding) during festivals uses hand-ground rice and slow-cooked jaggery.
10. Mumbai’s Street Flavors at Bombay Local in Santa Monica
Bombay Local brings Mumbai’s famous festival street foods to Santa Monica with incredible authenticity. During Ganesh Chaturthi, they recreate the experience of visiting Mumbai’s pandals with special modaks and street snacks like ragda pattice and pav bhaji.
The restaurant gets particularly lively during Holi, when they serve special thandai (spiced milk drink) and gujiya (sweet dumplings) that are staples of the festival. Their outdoor patio transforms into a mini-Mumbai during these celebrations, complete with bollywood music and festive decorations.
If you visit during Diwali, don’t miss their special chaat platter featuring five different street snacks that Mumbaikars traditionally enjoy during the festival of lights. The owner personally selects spice blends that match the exact flavors found on Mumbai’s Chowpatty Beach.
11. Kashmiri Wazwan at Kareem’s in Anaheim
Kareem’s in Anaheim is perhaps the only place in Southern California where you can experience an authentic Kashmiri Wazwan feast during festivals. Their special multi-course meal during Eid features traditional preparations like rista (meatballs in red gravy) and gushtaba (meat dumplings in yogurt sauce).
The restaurant brings in special Wazas (Kashmiri master chefs) during festival seasons to prepare these elaborate feasts. Their tabak maaz (crispy fried ribs) and aab gosht (lamb in milk gravy) showcase the subtle yet distinct flavors of Kashmiri cuisine.
During winter festivals, don’t miss their kehwa (Kashmiri saffron tea) served in traditional samovars with special nuts and dried fruits. The restaurant’s decor features handmade Kashmiri carpets and copper serving vessels that enhance the authentic experience.
12. Goan Christmas Specialties at Viva Goa in San Francisco
Viva Goa in San Francisco is where the unique Indo-Portuguese flavors of Goan festival cuisine come alive. During Christmas and Easter, they serve special vindaloo and sorpotel preparations that showcase Goa’s Catholic culinary traditions.
Their Christmas feast features authentic Goan sweets like neureos (sweet dumplings) and dodol (coconut and jaggery cake) that aren’t commonly found in other Indian restaurants. The chef marinates meats in special spice blends and palm vinegar imported directly from Goa.
When I visited during their Easter celebrations, I was delighted by their special pork dishes and bebinca (layered pudding) that take hours to prepare. The restaurant’s beachy decor and Portuguese-influenced artifacts create a mini-Goa atmosphere that enhances the festive dining experience.
13. Indo-Chinese New Year at Hakka in Oakland
Hakka in Oakland celebrates the fusion of Indian and Chinese traditions during Lunar New Year with special festival menus. Their unique take on Indo-Chinese cuisine shines with dishes like special Manchurian preparations and hakka noodles that have become festival favorites in many Indian-Chinese communities.
During Diwali, they create fusion sweets that blend Indian and Chinese flavors think gulab jamun cheesecake and red bean halwa that perfectly represent cultural crossovers. The restaurant’s red lantern decorations mixed with traditional Indian elements create a unique festive atmosphere.
My favorite discovery was their special Tangra-style preparations dishes created by the Chinese community in Kolkata that have evolved into their own distinct cuisine. Their festival dumplings filled with Indian-spiced fillings are absolutely worth trying!
14. Parsi New Year at Niaz in Palo Alto
Niaz is the only restaurant in Northern California dedicated to Parsi cuisine, and their Navroze (Parsi New Year) celebrations are truly special. Their festive menu features traditional dishes like dhansak (meat, lentil and vegetable stew) and patra ni machhi (fish steamed in banana leaf with green chutney).
The restaurant decorates with traditional Parsi symbols during Navroze, including the ceremonial table setting with specific items representing prosperity and good fortune. Their salli boti (meat with potato straws) and berry pulao showcase the unique sweet-sour flavor combinations that define Parsi festival cooking.
Did you know? They serve traditional Parsi desserts like lagan nu custard (wedding custard) that are rarely found outside Parsi homes. The chef shared that some recipes come directly from his family’s 200-year-old handwritten cookbook!
15. Chettinad Harvest Festival at Anjappar in Milpitas
Anjappar in Milpitas brings the fiery flavors of Tamil Nadu’s Chettinad region to life during Pongal (harvest festival). Their special Pongal menu features traditional sweet pongal rice with jaggery and cardamom alongside savory preparations.
During Thai Pongal in January, they create elaborate kolam (rice flour designs) at the entrance and serve food in traditional banana leaves. Their festival-special Chettinad chicken and mutton dishes showcase the region’s famous complex spice blends featuring star anise and kalpasi (stone flower).
If you’re lucky enough to visit during Panguni Uthiram festival, you’ll experience their special temple-style preparations including adhirasam (rice flour and jaggery sweet) and kavuni arisi (black rice pudding) that are traditionally prepared during this spring celebration.
