This California Indian Restaurant Just Ranked Among America’s Top 5 Best New Restaurants Of 2026
A refurbished rickshaw from India sits inside this dining room, wrapped in colorful fabrics. Above the central tables, three full-size faux olive trees form a leafy canopy.
That alone would get my attention. Then Yelp ranked this California restaurant fourth on its list of America’s Best New Restaurants of 2026.
The chef behind it once held two Michelin stars. His food here leans on a wood-fired grill and Cal-Indian ideas you won’t find on most menus.
I’m a fan of places that don’t follow the usual formula. Butter chicken made with tomatillos and Cornish game hen? I have to give that idea some credit.
The name itself means proclamation in Hindi. Honestly, it’s hard to think of a better fit for a restaurant that announced itself this loudly in barely a year.
A Top 5 National Ranking Arrived In Barely A Year
Fourth place in the entire country. Eylan earned that spot on Yelp’s list of America’s Best New Restaurants of 2026, only about a year after opening in January 2025.
That’s a fast climb for any restaurant. It’s even more impressive for one sitting along El Camino Real in Menlo Park, California.
The name fits the moment almost too well. Eylan means proclamation or public announcement in Hindi, and the restaurant certainly made one.
Behind it are chef Srijith Gopinathan and restaurateur Ayesha Thapar. The pair already have a strong track record in the Bay Area, with Ettan, Copra, and Little Blue Door on their resume.
Their goal here goes beyond copying past hits. They want to push the Cal-Indian story forward with design-led spaces, ingredient-driven menus, and thoughtful hospitality.
The Michelin Guide also recognized Eylan, awarding it a Bib Gourmand for good-quality cooking at a good value.
What makes the honor fun is the mix of voices behind it. Diners helped push this place onto a national list, which says a lot about how many people walked out impressed.
Expect plenty of company once word spreads even further.
The Chef Behind It Helped Invent Cal-Indian Cooking
Srijith Gopinathan is often credited with pioneering the Cal-Indian style of cooking. He earned two Michelin stars in an earlier chapter of his career, so expectations were high from day one.
At Eylan, he aims for a lighter, more nuanced take on Indian flavors. California produce and premium proteins do a lot of the talking.
Consider the butter chicken. He swaps in tomatillos and Cornish game hen, explaining that the tomatillos remind him of the sourness of Indian tomatoes.
That’s a clever bit of problem solving. Instead of chasing an ingredient that tastes different here, he found a local match with the right tang.
He also brought something personal along. His grandmother’s coconut-curry sauce, a favorite from his two-star days, shows up with a lobster seekh kebab.
I love that there’s a little more to the story on that plate. Family recipes rarely travel this far, or land in such fancy company.
The menu also introduces dishes that rarely appear around the Bay Area. If you like learning something while you eat, this kitchen hands you plenty of chances.
Curious eaters, this is your playground.
You Can Taste The Smoke From That Wood-Fired Grill
Flames run this kitchen. A signature wood-fired grill sits at the center of Eylan’s cooking, adding char and a gentle smokiness to many dishes.
The range of what lands over that fire is wide. Lemongrass-scented Gulf shrimp, chili-glazed celeriac and pineapple kebabs, and even whole sea bream have all taken a turn.
Want the full fire story in one sitting? The Sigdi Menu is a four-course, family-style tasting built around live-fire cooking.
It’s named after a traditional charcoal-burning stove. Each course explores a different side of smoke, char, and flame.
Better yet, those dishes don’t appear on the regular a la carte menu. That gives repeat visitors a real reason to come back and try something new.
The everyday menu is designed for sharing, too. You’ll find snacks, breads, small plates, and large plates meant to be passed around the table.
My advice is simple. Order a few small plates, add something from the grill, and let the table decide its favorite.
Arguments over the last kebab are very much encouraged. Just maybe keep it friendly.
Crispy Chicken And Crab Flatbread Steal The Spotlight
Fried chicken at a fine Indian restaurant sounds like a curveball. The Eylan Crispy Chicken uses boneless thigh meat in a light, crunchy batter with a house chili crisp sauce.
The heat builds slowly instead of hitting all at once. It’s the kind of starter that disappears faster than anyone admits.
Seafood fans have their own reason to grin. The Dungeness Crab Mutabar is a layered flatbread stuffed with crab, fennel, poppy seeds, and mint.
It arrives with a warm, curry-like sauce for dipping. Breads in general get playful treatment here, with fresh riffs on traditional styles.
Other names worth knowing include the Kohlrabi and Pineapple Kebab and the Anar Chicken Sigri Kebab. The Eylan Chicken Yakhni Pulao rounds things out on the heartier side.
Oysters show up too, paired with a fermented passion-fruit chili. Tropical fruit and spice on an Indian menu is a rare combo, and a fun one.
Vegetarians aren’t left out either. Taro root chaat appears on the menu, and a vegetarian seasonal tasting option has been offered.
Plenty to explore, whatever you like to eat.
Three Olive Trees Grow Right Over The Dining Room
Most dining rooms stop at nice chairs. This one added a canopy of three full-size faux olive trees over the central seating area.
Ayesha Thapar shaped the look, and she leaned into art deco style. The result feels modern and timeless at once.
Color does a lot of heavy lifting. Forest green and terracotta set a warm, earthy mood throughout the space.
Underfoot, black and white vintage tiles meet bold geometric patterns. Overhead, colorful handmade chandeliers add a playful glow.
There’s even a macrame art installation in the mix. Every corner seems to have its own little detail waiting to be spotted.
The dining room holds 148 seats, so it’s a lively space. Expect energy and buzz rather than library quiet.
That works in your favor on a celebration night. Birthdays and big group dinners fit right into this setting.
Planning a quieter date? Ask about other seating areas when you book. A little planning can shape the whole mood of your evening.
The Patio Brings Sofas, Greenery, And Heaters
Sofas on a restaurant patio feel like a small luxury. Eylan’s heated, partially enclosed patio pairs comfy seating with lush greenery.
Heaters help keep things cozy on cooler California evenings. That makes the patio useful well beyond the warmest months.
Inside offers even more choices. You can sit in the main dining room, the lounge, or at the bar top.
Each area changes the feel of your night. A bar seat suits a quick bite, while the lounge fits a slower, chattier evening.
Groups get special attention too. A family-style prix fixe menu is available for parties of four or more.
Bigger crowds have options as well. A five-course tasting menu is offered for parties of seven to sixteen guests.
That makes Eylan a strong pick for office dinners, reunions, or milestone birthdays. Everyone shares, and nobody stresses over splitting appetizers.
Reservations are a smart move, especially for special occasions. Mention any dietary needs, since the staff helps guests navigate the menu.
Finding It Is Easier Than Snagging A Table
El Camino Real isn’t famous for ambitious dining. Eylan clearly didn’t get that memo.
You’ll find it at 500 El Camino Real, Suite 100, Menlo Park, CA 94025. It sits inside The Villa Menlo Park, a newer retail and business development.
Parking is refreshingly simple here. The Villa offers underground parking, with an entrance off the intersection of El Camino Real and Middle Avenue.
Anyone who has circled a Bay Area block for twenty minutes will appreciate that. Covered parking also beats a rainy dash from a side street.
Timing matters too. Dinner runs from 5 PM to 9 PM Monday through Thursday, and until 10 PM on Fridays.
Weekends add lunch from 11:30 AM to 1:45 PM on Saturdays and Sundays. Dinner follows both days, running later on Saturday.
Lunch is a handy way to try Eylan in daylight. It’s also a nice option if evening tables are hard to land.
Menlo Park sits right in the heart of Silicon Valley. Pair your meal with a stroll around town and make a full outing of it.
Save Room, Because Dessert Gets Creative Too
Cardamom and dark chocolate make a smart pair. Eylan has featured a dark chocolate cardamom cremeux, blending a classic Indian spice with rich cocoa.
The dessert list follows the same playful thinking as the savory side. Indian milk cake ice cream has appeared, turning a beloved sweet into something cold and creamy.
Frozen shrikhand takes a similar path. Tender coconut payasam offers a nod to a traditional South Indian treat.
Menus here shift with the seasons, so options may change. That’s part of the fun, since each visit can bring a new surprise.
Celebrating something? The restaurant has served an Eylan Celebration Treat, a fitting finale for birthdays and anniversaries.
My suggestion is to order one or two desserts for the table. Sharing keeps things light after a meal full of kebabs and breads.
It also lets everyone vote on a winner. Friendly debate over the last spoonful is practically tradition by now.
A national ranking earns attention, but the last bite leaves the lasting impression. At Eylan, the kitchen clearly wants that final note to sing.
