Restaurants in Pleasanton

Anarkalee Restaurant borrows its name from the doomed heroine Anarkali, a slave girl who fell in love with a prince and was loved by him in return. Their relationship infuriated the prince's father, the Mughal emperor Akbar, who responded by sentencing his own son to death. To save the prince’s life, Anarkali sacrificed herself: she was buried alive between two brick walls (though some say she actually escaped through a secret passageway).

Anarkalee Restaurant translates the fiery spirit of its namesake into the spicy flavors of regional Indian and Pakistani cuisines. Besides North Indian standards such as palak paneer and chicken tikka, chefs craft more exotic fare such as lamb-brain masala or Himalayan goat karahi for their daily specials. Morsels of grass-fed lamb also fill two types of gosht, or Pakistani meat stew. Both vegetarian and non-vegetarian entrées are served in copious helpings, whether as separate dishes, a buffet, or a color-coded map of the Indian subcontinent.

Saigon Bistro piles plates with lemongrass chicken, using cuts juicier than a tabloid article about Hollywood’s best smoothie shops. Appetizers also please palates inside this casual Vietnamese eatery, with selections such as spring rolls and calamari. Dinner dishes include pho and ba nam noodles with tomato meat sauce, which can sate ampler appetites.

Behind a façade of yellow bricks and twinkling string lights is Citrus Indian Fusion, a hub for North and South Indian dishes. Through the glass doors, aromas strike first––indication that morsels of marinated lamb, chicken, and fish are curing in a tandoor grill. Scents of ginger, garlic, and Andhra spice waft through the air, prompting guests to sop up zesty curries and their tears of joy with whole-wheat roti or warm naan.

Flavors from North and South India—and a hint of Indochina—infiltrate the fresh-cooked meals at Bawarchi. Naan and white rice accompany each meal to help customers completely clean up plates of chicken biryani, vegetable curry, and lamb vindaloo. Fourteen varieties of dosas—India’s answer to crepes—pack everything from roast goat to chili cheese, and wraps envelop chicken and veggies. At lunch, customers can make like middle schoolers and line up for a buffet-style spread of tandoori chicken, egg noodles, and shrimp masala.