Day 333: New Delhi Restaurant, San Francisco, California
📌APIA Every Day (333) - Located in San Francisco’s Union Square district, the New Delhi Restaurant is one of city’s oldest operating Indian dining establishments. Founded in 1988 by Head Chef Ranjan Dey, the restaurant first opened in the historic Hotel Ramona, built in 1914. Over 35 years, the restaurant has served as a popular gathering space for the local South Asian community and is renowned for serving specialty dishes from across India with a San Francisco twist.
Ranjan Dey originally began his restaurant career at the age of 14, working in hotels in Kolkata and New Delhi. Eventually, Dey moved to Hong Kong, where he met his wife, Kodi Gamble, while working at the Viceroy of India. In 1984, Dey opened his first New Delhi Restaurant in Kowloon, and its success led the couple to launch three more locations in Hong Kong and Bangkok by 1987. After the birth of their daughter, the Deys moved to Kodi’s home country of the U.S. and settled in San Francisco. The following year, Ranjan Dey consolidated their existing international businesses to establish the New Delhi Restaurant in San Francisco.
The restaurant’s grand opening in 1988 was attended by then-Mayor Art Agnos and has since remained a popular destination for celebrities and politicians including Kamala Harris as well as Bill and Hillary Clinton. Various local South Asian organizations, including Non-Stop Bhangra, the South Asian Bar Association, and the Gulabi Gang, have also held foundational meetings and events at the establishment. In 2007, the New Delhi Restaurant launched the Compassionate Chef’s Cafe initiative, donating proceeds to support children in San Francisco’s Tenderloin After-School Program and the Gandhi Ashram in Ahmedabad, India.
In 2020, the New Delhi Restaurant was officially designated a San Francisco legacy business, becoming the first Indian-owned establishment to be included on the register. However, in 2025, the business is currently struggling with potential closure as the city’s downtown faces reduced foot traffic since the 2020 pandemic. In response to this challenge, Dey continues to explore creative strategies to attract new customers—such as hosting live events like “Curry-Oke” nights—to keep the restaurant’s cultural legacy alive.
Written by Avneet Dhaliwal
LEARN MORE:
About | New Delhi Restaurant | Indian Food | San Francisco
San Francisco Heritage: AAPI Heritage Month Legacy Business Spotlight: New Delhi Restaurant
San Francisco Legacy Business: New Delhi Restaurant
SF’s Oldest Indian Restaurant New Delhi Is In Danger of Closing Permanently
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