Restaurant in Oakland, United States
Subcontinental Fast-Casual
Curry Up Now on San Pablo Ave is Oakland's most accessible entry point for Indian-inflected street food — counter service, no reservation needed, and flavor output that outpaces the price tier. Go for a casual group meal or a low-key weeknight dinner. Walk-ins are the norm, and the format keeps things simple without sacrificing quality.
Curry Up Now at 1745 San Pablo Ave is worth knowing about if you want Indian-inflected street food at a casual price point in Oakland's Uptown corridor. The format is fast-casual, the portions are generous, and the booking difficulty is as low as it gets. Walk in, order at the counter, and eat well without a reservation. For a relaxed weeknight meal or a low-stakes group outing, this is one of the easier calls in the neighborhood.
Curry Up Now built its name on the idea that Indian flavors translate well into street-food formats — think stuffed burritos, bowls, and handheld wraps rather than a traditional plated subcontinental menu. The San Pablo Ave location is the brick-and-mortar expression of a concept that started as a food truck in the Bay Area, which means the kitchen has been refining these combinations longer than most casual spots in the city. The atmosphere skews informal: counter service, fast turnaround, and no dress code to think about. If you are coming from a celebratory dinner mindset, recalibrate — this is not that kind of occasion venue. But for a birthday lunch, a casual group gathering, or a date where the priority is flavor over formality, the format delivers comfortably above its price tier.
The location on San Pablo Ave places it within reach of Oakland's broader Uptown dining cluster, which also includes spots like Agave Uptown and alaMar Dominican Kitchen for anyone building a longer evening around the area. If you want coffee before or after, Alem's Coffee is nearby. For a fuller picture of what Oakland's dining scene offers across price tiers, the full Oakland restaurants guide covers the range from quick counters to longer-format dinners.
The scent from the kitchen is the first signal you are in the right place: warm spice, toasted cumin, and something faintly charred from the grill line hit before you reach the counter. It is an honest preview of what the food delivers. The menu has evolved since the truck days , additions and refinements over the years mean the current lineup reflects a more settled kitchen identity rather than a concept still finding its footing.
For context on how this fits the wider casual-excellence conversation: Curry Up Now is not competing with destination restaurants like The French Laundry in Napa or Le Bernardin in New York City. It is competing with every other fast-casual counter in Oakland, and on that measure it punches above its weight. The same logic applies when you compare it regionally to what Lazy Bear in San Francisco does at the other end of the price spectrum , the categories are entirely different, and Curry Up Now wins on access and value in its own lane.
If Oakland's broader dining, bar, or hotel options are relevant to your planning, Pearl has dedicated guides: Oakland bars, Oakland hotels, Oakland wineries, and Oakland experiences. Nearby counters worth knowing include 3 Bottled Fish and 8th St Cafe for different flavors in the same accessible price band.
| Venue | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Curry Up Now | — | |
| Daytrip Counter | — | |
| Sirene | — | |
| À Côté | — | |
| Peña’s Bakery | — | |
| Puerto Rican Street Cuisine | — |
Key differences to consider before you reserve.
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