Namaste Indian Cuisine is a highly rated Indian restaurant in Santa Cruz, CA, serving flavorful lunch, dinner, catering, and dessert options in a casual, cozy setting. Located at 1501 Mission St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, this Santa Cruz Indian restaurant is known for fast service, dine-in convenience, outdoor seating, takeaway, delivery, and no-contact delivery.
Guests can enjoy a wide range of menu options, including comfort food, healthy choices, vegan options, vegetarian options, small plates, coffee, beer, and alcohol, along with table service and reservation availability. With wheelchair-accessible parking, entrance, seating, and restroom access, Namaste Indian Cuisine offers a welcoming dining experience for solo diners, families, and groups.
To experience one of the best Indian restaurants in Santa Cruz, CA, visit Namaste Indian Cuisine at 1501 Mission St or call +1 831-316-7032 for reservations, catering, or delivery details.
Popular Items
Frequently ordered and highly recommended items at Namaste Indian Cuisine
Our Story
Welcome to a place where great food meets warm hospitality. We believe dining is more than just a meal - it's an experience to be savored and shared.
Our kitchen is dedicated to creating dishes that bring people together, using recipes that honor tradition while embracing innovation.
Photos
A glimpse of our restaurant experience
Food & Drinks
Crisp cracker made with lentil.
Crispy, golden-fried fritters made with a delightful mix of seasonal vegetables and gram flour.
Crisped cauliflower, onion, tomato, bell pepper tossed in soy, garlic and cumin.
flavorful patties, crafted from a perfect blend of corn, potato, cheese, and onions. Lightly fried to a golden brown
Cottage cheese, bell pepper, onion marinated in spices and skewered in a clay oven.
Fresh dice Avocadoes, spiced potatoes, yogurt, sev and pomegranate.
Savor the flavor of tender chicken thigh meat marinated in rich roasted garlic and our chef's unique masala
Nepalese famous chicken dumpling served with tomato & sesame chutney.
Succulent shrimp tossed in a zesty blend of spices and cooked with bell peppers, onions, and green chilies.
Nepalese famous veg dumpling tossed with tomato chili sauce
Yellow lentil, coconut milk, curry leaf, mustard seed.
Yellow lentil, coconut milk, curry leaf, mustard seed.
Organic baby arugula, beet, cherry tomato, goat cheese with raspberry walnut vinaigrette dressing.
Seasoned Basmati rice tossed with mix vegetable.
Basmati rice, mustard seeds, coconut milk and curry leaf
Basmati rice, cumin seed and cilantro
Yogurt with cucumber, mint & toasted cumin seed
Butter naan, garlic naan and Potato & peas kulcha
Whole wheat bread stuffed with potatoes and peas.
Australian Lamb Rack Marinated in hung yogurt & exotic spices skewered in clay oven.
Ground lamb, ginger, mint, spices skewered in clay oven.
Chicken-leg in A Traditional Classic Tandoor Marinade skewered in clay oven.
Chicken breast marinated in hung yogurt and homemade garam masala skewered in clay oven.
Lime juice, garlic, cumin marinated in hung yogurt, and spices skewered in a clay oven.
Tiger Prawns marinated in yogurt and spices, skewered in clay oven served with chutneys.
Grilled salmon fillet flavored with pesto, herbs and spices skewered in clay oven.
Tiger prawn, salmon, sea bass skewered in clay oven.
Seekh kebab, salmon, sea bass, tandoori chicken, and rack of lamb skewered in a clay oven.
Broccoli, red pepper, pineapple, cauliflower marinated in yogurt and pickling spices skewered in clay oven.
Combination of yellow and red lentils tempered with garlic, red chilies, turmeric and cumin.
Garbanzo beans cooked with onion and tomatoes.
Organic red skin potatoes, Watsonville cauliflower, onion, tomato, ginger, cilantro.
Crispy fresh fried cut okra, onion, tomatoes, lime and mango powder.
Indian eggplant, roasted peanut, poppy seed, mustard seed, coconut milk and curry leaves.
Seasonal mixed vegetable sautéed with curry leaf, mustard seed spices and coconut milk.
Seasonal mixed vegetable sautéed with curry leaf, mustard seed spices And coconut milk.
Oyster Mushroom, curry leaf, mustard ,coconut milk & spices.
Whole black lentils simmered on low fire with red chilie, ginger, garlic, tomatoes and ghee.
Cottage cheese, green peas, onion & tomato masala.
Homemade cottage cheese simmered in special cashew and onion tomato sauce.
Home made cottage cheese and vegetable dumpling cooked in tomato and cashew sauce.
Watsonville spinach cooked with cottage cheese, garlic and cream.
Roasted chicken breast, slowly simmered in tomato cream sauce.
Shredded tandoori chicken, slowly simmered in tomato cream sauce.
Boneless chicken cooked with cumin, turmeric, ginger, garlic, onion,tomato and cilantro.
Chicken sautéed with bell peppers, onions, and green chili finished with a blend of aromatic spices.
Braised slow cooked deep flavored brown rich mutton gravy delights
Goat cube, cooked in a robust blend of roasted spices, coconut, and fresh herbs.
Six hour braised Colorado lamb shank cooked in chili and vinegar sauce.
Boneless lamb cube, curry leaf, mustard seed, garlic and coconut milk.
Stewed Colorado lamb chunks, blend of spices, brown onion & tomatoes.
Wild Salmon cubes cooked in tomato, mustard seeds, garlic, curry leaf, coconut milk and spices.
Succulent shrimp simmered in a fragrant coconut milk sauce infused with aromatic lemongrass, ginger, and a blend of spices
Chilean seabass cube Kerala-style coconut curry tempered with mustard seeds and curry leaves.
Saffron basmati rice, mixed vegetables, mint, fried onions, cooked in dum style.
Saffron basmati rice, chicken, mint, fried onion, cooked in dum style
Saffron basmati rice, lamb, mint, fried onion cooked in dum style.
Saffron basmati rice, bone in goat mint, fried onions cooked in dum style.
Hear from our valued guests
This food was amazing! Definitely come here, the pizza was amazing and very unique. (This is what my kids wanted me to write here. I agree! We loved the butter chicken pizza and saag penir)
This food was amazing!! Got chicken tikka masala, lamb vindaloo, tandoori chicken, Raita, rice, garlic naan and mango lassi. The mango lassi was so good my daughter order another to go after drinking hers and half of mine. Lamb was soft and vindaloo sauce was the perfect amount of spicy and tangy. The tandoori came on a sizzling plate and was tender and flavorful. Chicken tikka was also delicious. Definitely would eat here again! Parking was tight at this location but sounds like they have a bunch of others which seems amazing bc this place was so fantastic it’s hard to imagine keeping this quality.
Update 5/18/25 This place has changed and is not what it used to be. Every dish we ordered was different and not what we were expecting. (Different ingredients, different preparation, different presentation) The plum sauce was absolutely disgusting and inedible. When we asked a new server we had never seen before we were told they have a new chef. (We noticed all the staff seemed to be different) We were also disappointed by an extremely loud birthday party going on in the middle of the restaurant that made it impossible to hear the server or ourselves converse. We will not be returning again. From 8 months ago... You know it's beyond fabulous when you go for the first time and then go back the very next night for your second visit because your taste buds need more! Everything we've tried so far is finger and plate licking good. The best garlic Naan I've ever had, and it worked great to sponge up every drop of the delicious sauces. The avocado tower we got both nights, and I will certainly crave it again and again. I will likely go in on occasion for just that as a snack or order togo to add to dinner. Same with the samosas. They are some of the best I've had. Perfectly flaky and crispy with 3 delectable sauces if wanted. The veggie marsala was fantastic, as was the steamed Jasmine rice. Then there were the monster size prawns smothered in a heavenly sauce and also cooked to perfection. We had more stuff, all absolutely wonderful, so I am sure you get the point. I think anything you order here is gonna be so pleasurable..it may be beyond words. For me..I believe this is the best Indian food I've ever had. My new favorite restaurant in Santa Cruz.
Stopped in for a quick brunch and the food was very delicious, by far the best buttered chicken and garlic naan I have had. Highly recommend! I left very happy and satisfied.
A fantastic dining experience at Namsate Indian Cuisine! My friends and I had a truly wonderful meal here, and I can't recommend it enough. For starters, we ordered the Chicken momos chilly, which were absolutely delicious and a great way to begin our meal. For the main course, we shared the Lamb Malabar and the Chicken Tandoori. The Lamb Malabar was spectacular—tender, flavorful, and served with a perfect portion of rice. The Chicken Tandoori was also a standout; the portion was generous enough for the three of us to share, even with our other dishes. Masala chai (tea) was too good, we got to know at the end that's its FREE refills lol. Beyond the incredible food, the service was exceptional. Our attendant, Pranjal, was attentive, friendly, and made our evening even more enjoyable. His service was 5/5 without a doubt. Overall, it was a five-star experience from start to finish. We can't wait to come back and try more dishes.
Delicious and flavorful Indian cuisine with a wide range of vegetarian dishes. They also offer many vegan- and gluten-free-friendly options, all clearly marked on the menu, which makes ordering easy for those with dietary preferences. I highly recommend the onion chili kulcha—it’s a standout! The chana masala and matar paneer were both perfectly spiced and full of rich flavor. Service was fast and efficient. While you’ll need to find street parking, the restaurant’s inviting ambiance and popularity make it well worth the visit. Overall, a fantastic dining experience!
I’m a delivery driver and the inside of this building is so beautiful. It’s such a nice atmosphere. I’ve never had been here before. They were really nice. They were dressed really stylish and professional. I’m definitely looking forward to coming back again when I’m off work thank you guys for the food tonight that you gave me you did not have to do that and I appreciate it very much. Thank you. Namaste! The god in me see the god in you!
I'm not a big fan of Indian cuisine, but my family loves it. The dishes I tried at Namaste were the best Indian I've ever had. I had the Baigan Ka Salan with a peanut- and coconut-based sauce which gave it more of a Thai flare. I tasted the Tarka Daal which—as expected as a lentil dish—was more of a stew or sauce than the other dishes, but had amazing flavor. I was told cheesy naan typically isn't very cheesy, but here it had large sections of soft, flavorful cheese. The Gobi Munchurian was also fantastic, just a bit small. I still wouldn't choose Indian Cuisine as a top choice, but the dishes they made at Namaste were amazing. I would definitely go back if in the area.
We went here on a memorial day weekend. This was one of the Indian restaurants on our way to North State Beach. We reached here around 2:00 PM. We ordered gobi manchurian for starters and Bhindi Masala and Tandoori roti with no butter. Gobi Manchurian was flavorful and was not just tomato sauce, it had ginger, garlic and the Gobi was perfectly fried and coated. However the quantity was very less. Tandoori roti and Kadai bhindi were also good. The staff were friendly.
I ordered the saag paneer, dal makhani, and the bread basket, and everything was delicious. The dishes were nicely spiced — you could really taste the depth of the flavors and I ordered mine Indian hot, which they nailed perfectly. The bread basket came with three different types of bread; all were good, but the one with peas was definitely my favorite. The prices were reasonable, and the service was excellent. I called twice with questions, and both times they were patient, kind, and helpful. My parents were in the Indian food industry, so I know good food when I taste it and this place definitely delivers. I highly recommend it!
Common questions about Namaste Indian Cuisine
Namaste Indian Cuisine is located at 1501 Mission St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, United States, Santa Cruz, CA, United States.
You can reach Namaste Indian Cuisine by calling +1 831-316-7032.
Namaste Indian Cuisine has a rating of 4.4 out of 5 based on 292 customer reviews.
Namaste Indian Cuisine features the following accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible car park, Wheelchair-accessible entrance, Wheelchair-accessible seating, Wheelchair-accessible toilet.
Namaste Indian Cuisine features the following service options: Outdoor seating, No-contact delivery, Delivery, On-site services, Takeaway, Dine-in.
Namaste Indian Cuisine features the following highlights: Fast service.
Namaste Indian Cuisine features the following popular for: Lunch, Dinner, Solo dining.
Namaste Indian Cuisine features the following offerings: Alcohol, Beer, Coffee, Comfort food, Healthy options, Small plates, Vegan options, Vegetarian options, Wine.
Namaste Indian Cuisine features the following dining options: Lunch, Dinner, Catering, Dessert, Seating, Table service.
Namaste Indian Cuisine features the following amenities: Restroom.
Namaste Indian Cuisine features the following atmosphere: Casual, Cozy.
Namaste Indian Cuisine features the following crowd: Groups, Tourists.
Namaste Indian Cuisine features the following planning: Accepts reservations.
Namaste Indian Cuisine features the following payments: Credit cards, Debit cards, NFC mobile payments.
Namaste Indian Cuisine features the following children: Good for kids, High chairs.
Namaste Indian Cuisine features the following parking: Free street parking, Somewhat difficult to find a space.
Business Features
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