Curry Up Now — Restaurant in Oakland

Curry Up Now turned out to be a big bait and switch. When it first opened the tikka masala was made with white meat chicken breast, as it's supposed to be....as it is at every other Indian restaurant....as it is traditionally. But Curry Up Now decided to be cheap and sneakily start using brown meat chicken thigh instead. I found this out by ordering from the Oakland Curry Up Now, after confirming with them that it was indeed white meat in the tikka masala. They said it was. However when it was delivered to me, it was disgusting brown meat chicken thigh. I hate brown meat chicken and this chicken thigh meat was particularly disgusting and gristly. I called them back and the guy argued with me and said tikka masala has always been made with brown meat chicken. Well that's a lie!! No, it never is! I also asked for my money back just for this one dish, but they rudely refused. I thought it had to just be this one location, because shortly prior to this I went to another location and the tikka masala was made with chicken breast. So today I went to the Alameda location. Again they told me it was definitely white meat chicken breast in the tikka masala. However, when I received the order it was once again brown meat chicken thigh (of which there were maybe five tiny little chunks of meat, which I gave to my dog). At least the Alameda location was friendly. I was late to work so had no time to go back and ask for a refund however. Generally I would say don't go here, especially the Oakland location. They charged me $16 (chutney duo added) for this gross slop that they call a tikka masala bowl...and for that price they can't even give you what it's supposed to be ...white meat chicken! I will never go back and I will write more reviews because I think this is a really nasty bait and switch tactic. To lure customers into your good graces only to pull the rug out from under them, and then not acknowledge doing so, is beneath reproach...

The food is incredible for a trendy Indian spot. It isn't a table service spot, you order and find a table, they bring it out.

This place has a large menu, with various sizes and styles of dishes. What I really like is that it can accommodate good options for a quick lunch, some pre-concert snacks and appetizers, or a dinner.

A couple highlights from my memory:

Pani Puri - Fried bubbles of dough (Puri). Poke a hole in the top, fill with chickpea mixture and pour the green watery liquid (Pani) and fill the bubble. Eat all in one bite. Great flavor and unique treat that reminds of me of being 10 years old again.

Bhel Puri - This is cold spiced chickpeas with onions and cilantro, covered with tiny little pieces of fried chickpea flour. Comes out in a paper cone. Be sure to scoop a little of everything in each bite. The mixture of the flavors is what brings it all together.

Vada Pav - This one also takes me back to childhood. Its a mashed potato patty that is filled with spices and green onion, then lightly fried and crisped up on the outside and still soft on the inside. This version is updated fusion version that puts the patty in between a slider bun, which makes it easy to scarf down.

Thali (various options) - Thali refers to the metal platter this comes on, but is really just a combo option. I recommend for newbies. Comes with rice, naan (bread), and three small entrees. We did the Death by Tikka Masala, which is a popular option with three types of tikka masala.

Dynamite Wings - I like spicy, but these wings are on another level. I recommend asking for a side of yogurt, or a mango lassi to wash this down. Great flavor, and couldn't eat more than 1 or 2. Great for sharing with 2-3 other people.

Go here and try some stuff....

I just left from here, I have been going to curry up now for over a year and always order the same exact order : butter ghee chicken rice plate.

i got my order and was suspicious of the darker color of meat, it even made the sauce look darker than normal, i was confused, and asked to make sure my order was chicken - i was assured it was.

i began eating but the dark color, weird texture and very off taste made me suspicious, i noticed the meat was charred in a way that chicken could never be. i asked the cashier/service for an order of butter chicken to go, since i received (we think lamb - my two other friends tried it, looked at it, pulled it apart and agree - it was not chicken) something other than that originally, he agree but warned that i would simply be getting the same order since the dish was certainly chicken (he never looked at it) and offered that i accept the tikka masala chicken instead, i was confused, but agreed since i did not feel like i had another option.

it was not. chicken. for some reason the cashier refused to give me an order of butter chicken even though that’s the only thing i actually like, insisting it would be the same. overall, awful customer service. if you think it isn’t what you ordered, you’re...