About Us
About
Amber India balances traditional Indian cuisine with a contemporary atmosphere. A Bay Area legacy for nearly 25 years, our menu is prepared fresh daily from ingredients selected with an eye towards sustainability and a focus on local purveyors. A curated collection of contemporary Indian art sets the stage for an experience rooted in tradition and delivered with a fresh approach. An inspired selection of wine, beer and craft cocktails is specifically designed to complement the menu.
Our History
A Bay Area Legacy for Over 25 Years!
The first restaurant to introduce “Butter Chicken” over twenty-five years ago, Amber India has become a Bay Area legacy, paving the way for elevated Indian cuisine. Hewing to tradition while catering to contemporary tastes, Amber India remains an enduring favorite that spans generations.
The first location opened in Mountain View in 1994, earning great acclaim and being named Best Indian Restaurant in the Bay Area by the San Francisco Chronicle within weeks of opening. Amber India went on to be named one of the Top 100 Restaurant in the Bay Area for many years.
Throughout the years Amber India has remained popular in the local community, becoming a familiar favorite, a chosen caterer for private events, and a frequent location for business meals.
Amber India opened a second location in downtown San Francisco, just steps from the MOMA museum and the Yerba Buena Gardens, to be followed by a third location in San Jose’s Santana Row.
About the Owner
Vijay is a well-known restaurateur and entrepreneur in Silicon Valley. His noteworthy success, Amber India, represents Indian cuisine at its finest level and on par with other global standouts. The Amber India group of award-winning restaurants in Northern California represents a class of distinctive and innovative culinary offerings. In addition to overseeing the restaurants, Vijay devotes his time to continuous study of innovative Indian cuisine, with the objective of articulation in North America and elsewhere. Vijay received his early culinary education in India, followed by advanced education in Switzerland, Germany and France.
Our Team
Founder and owner Vijay Bist personally selects the best classically trained up-and-coming chefs in India to lead the restaurants. With extensive knowledge and experience working in India’s best hotels and restaurants, our chefs bring a wealth of experience and knowledge of traditional Indian cuisine married with a modern appreciation towards hospitality and service. Pulling from diverse backgrounds, each is able to contribute new ideas and bring new inspiration. Combining Indian culinary techniques and flavors, with local ingredients, each chef is responsible for preparing not only long-standing Amber India favorites but also new seasonal dishes. Many Amber India alums have gone on to head the kitchens at prestigious Indian restaurants throughout the United States.