Namaste

About Namaste

Namaste is an Indian restaurant at 447 California Avenue, on the main street of Palo Alto's California Avenue district. Its OpenTable listing calls it Namaste Indian Cuisine and describes it as upscale casual dining. It serves lunch and dinner every day, with a menu built around the North Indian standards most diners know: tandoori dishes, fresh naan, biryani and curried entrées, along with wine and beer.

The listing names Tejindra Tulachan as chef. It also highlights halal dishes and vegan options, which makes Namaste a useful choice for groups with mixed dietary needs.

What is on the menu

The restaurant's OpenTable description lists four pillars of the menu:

• Tandoori: meats and other dishes cooked in the tandoor, the high-heat clay oven used across North India
• Naan: leavened flatbread baked in the same oven
• Biryani: layered, spiced rice dishes
• Curried entrées: sauced dishes served with rice or bread

If you are new to Indian food, a simple way to order for a table is one tandoori dish, one or two curries, a biryani and a basket of naan to share. Ask your server how spicy each dish is and whether the kitchen can adjust the heat. The full menu is on the restaurant's website. Menus change, so check there for current dishes.

Halal, vegan and gluten-free options

OpenTable lists the restaurant under three cuisines: Indian, vegetarian and vegan, plus halal. Its feature list also includes gluten-free options. Indian cooking offers many naturally meatless dishes built on lentils, chickpeas, paneer and vegetables. Vegan diners should ask which dishes are made without ghee, cream or yogurt, since those are common in North Indian sauces. Our halal food guide and vegetarian and vegan guide cover more choices around town.

The dining room and patio

The OpenTable listing describes both indoor and al fresco seating and lists patio dining as a feature. It also tags the restaurant as dog friendly. Check with staff before bringing a pet. Other listed features include beer and wine, takeout, a corkage policy for your own bottle, a gender-neutral restroom and a non-smoking space. The suggested dress code is smart casual, which is typical for California Avenue.

Reservations and takeout

Namaste takes reservations through OpenTable, which showed bookable tables for late October 2026 when we checked. You can also call the restaurant at 650-272-6941. Takeout is available for a meal at home. Hours on the listing are lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. every day and dinner from 5 p.m., closing at 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 9:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Call ahead to confirm, especially on holidays.

Who it suits

Namaste fits several kinds of meals. A weekday lunch works well for people who work around California Avenue or in the nearby Stanford Research Park offices. Dinner suits families and groups, since Indian food is made for sharing and the menu covers meat eaters, vegetarians and vegans at the same table. The smart casual dress code plus beer and wine make it suitable for a relaxed date or a dinner with visiting relatives. If you would rather eat at home, takeout is an easy alternative on a busy weeknight.

Larger parties should call ahead, especially for Friday or Saturday dinner when the restaurant stays open later. Even with OpenTable booking, a quick phone call helps the restaurant plan tables and timing for a big group.

Tips for visiting

The restaurant is a short walk from the California Avenue Caltrain station, which OpenTable lists as its nearest transit stop. Parking is on the street or in the public lots around the district. California Avenue hosts a farmers market on Sunday mornings, so plan extra time to find parking on Sundays. Our California Avenue guide covers the street and its parking, plus the cafes and dessert spots within a short walk for after dinner. For more Indian restaurants around Palo Alto, see our Indian food guide.

Location and getting there

Namaste is at 447 California Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94306, in the California Avenue area of Palo Alto. Our California Avenue guide covers what else is around.

The nearest train stop is the California Avenue Caltrain station, about 0.3 miles away. That is roughly a 7 minute walk.

Parking: street spaces and city garages with posted limits (see parking in Palo Alto).

What is nearby

• Kali Greek Kitchen, quick-service spot, under 0.1 mi
• Leaf & Petal, store, under 0.1 mi
• Christian Science Reading Room, shop, under 0.1 mi
• Vin Vino Wine, food shop, under 0.1 mi
• Palo Alto Eyeworks, practice, under 0.1 mi
• College Terrace Library, 0.3 mi
• Bowden Park, 0.4 mi
• Peers Park, 0.4 mi

Other restaurants nearby: Ramen Kowa (under 0.1 mi); La Bodeguita Del Medio (under 0.1 mi); Jin Sho (under 0.1 mi); Terún Pizzeria (under 0.1 mi). Browse the full restaurants list.

Before you go

• Popular dinner spots in Palo Alto fill up on Friday and Saturday nights, so book ahead where the restaurant takes reservations.
• Many kitchens close earlier than in big cities. Plan to order by about 9 p.m. on weeknights unless the posted hours say otherwise.
• If you have allergies or dietary needs, call ahead or check the current menu on the restaurant's website.

About this listing

Checked October 30, 2026 against OpenTable listing for Namaste Indian Cuisine, Palo Alto; Namaste Palo Alto website. How our listings work. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

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