Curry Up Now

About Curry Up Now

Curry Up Now is a fast-casual Indian restaurant at 321 Hamilton Avenue in downtown Palo Alto. It is one branch of a chain that started on the Peninsula and now has restaurants in several states. The tagline it uses everywhere sums up the idea: Indian born, California raised.

The company was founded in 2009 by Akash and Rana Kapoor, a husband and wife team. It began as a single food truck parked at Howard Avenue and Primrose Road in Burlingame. Before the official launch on September 26, 2009, the couple tested the menu by cooking for about 200 guests at their daughter's birthday party. Akash picked the launch date because it was his father's birthday.

The about page says the chain has ten restaurants across six states: California, Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee. Bay Area branches include San Francisco, San Mateo and San Jose. The company's philosophy is that Indian food does not have to be slow, formal or fussy. Every dish is made by hand. All meat is halal.

What is on the menu

Curry Up Now takes Indian flavors and serves them in formats Californians already know. The menu names its own categories:

• Burritos: the tikka masala burrito is a signature item and is listed as a popular order on the Palo Alto page.
• Bowls: including the tikka masala bowl and performance bowls such as a protein bowl with tandoori chicken and lamb rogan josh and a keto bowl with kadhai chicken and saag paneer.
• Naughty Naan: what the menu calls Indian pizza, built on naan.
• Sexy Fries: fries loaded poutine style.
• Kathi rolls: a Kolkata street food wrap.
• Street snacks: vada pav, California chaat and a fried chicken sandwich.

Limited-time items rotate through. When we checked in October 2026, the Palo Alto page featured a Chutney Crunch Chicken that comes in tacos, salads, bowls, wraps or nuggets. Menus change, so check the website before you go.

Dietary notes

The menu is built to flex for mixed groups. The Palo Alto page lists vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, keto-friendly and nut-free options. All meat is halal. The company posts an allergen chart on its website. The homepage also flags a set of vegan dishes. If you have a serious allergy, check the chart and tell staff when you order.

Dine in, takeout and catering

You can eat in, order for pickup or get delivery. Orders go through the Curry Up Now website or its app for iPhone and Android. The app also runs a rewards program that earns points on each order. The Palo Alto page gives delivery estimates for Menlo Park, Mountain View, Los Altos and Sunnyvale.

Catering is a big part of the business. The company caters office lunches, birthdays and weddings with individual meals, family-style spreads or live cooking setups. Halal, keto and gluten-free dishes are available for catering. Office orders for 15 to 50 people can be requested online or by calling the catering line at 650-239-6625. The Palo Alto branch also lists private events.

Who it suits

Curry Up Now suits a quick lunch near the downtown offices, a casual dinner before a movie or a meal for a group with different diets. The burritos and bowls travel well, so it is an easy takeout stop. It is counter-style food rather than a formal Indian dinner. For an upscale Indian meal downtown, see our page on Ettan on Bryant Street. Our cheap eats guide has more casual options.

Tips for visiting

• The restaurant points drivers to metered street parking on Hamilton Avenue and to the city garages at Cowper and Hamilton and at High and Hamilton, about two blocks away.
• It is open daily. Hours are not posted on the Palo Alto page, so check the app or call before a late visit.
• Order ahead in the app at lunchtime to skip the line.
• Our downtown Palo Alto guide covers what else is within a few blocks.

Location and getting there

Curry Up Now is at 321 Hamilton Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301, in the Downtown area of Palo Alto. Our Downtown guide covers what else is around.

The nearest train stop is the Palo Alto Caltrain station, about 0.3 miles away. That is roughly a 8 minute walk.

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

What is nearby

• Bella Beauty Salon, salon or spa, under 0.1 mi
• The UPS Store Bryant Street, service business, under 0.1 mi
• Chase Hamilton Avenue, service business, under 0.1 mi
• Timothy Adams Chocolates, bakery or dessert shop, under 0.1 mi
• DUXIANA, store, under 0.1 mi
• King Plaza and City Hall, under 0.1 mi
• University Avenue, 0.1 mi
• Pacific Art League, 0.1 mi

Other restaurants nearby: Zola + BarZola (under 0.1 mi); Ramen Nagi (under 0.1 mi); Curry Pizza House (under 0.1 mi); Ettan (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 29, 2026 against Curry Up Now Palo Alto page; Curry Up Now about page; Curry Up Now home page. How our listings work. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

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