Ajay Walia Wants to Change the Way We Look at Indian Cuisine

Owner Ajay Walia and Chef de Cuisine Vijay Kumar sought to change Americans’ perceptions of Indian food when Rasa launched in 2014, and if the restaurant’s critical acclaim is any indication, they’ve succeeded. The year Rasa earned its Michelin star, in 2016, San Francisco Chronicle food critic Michael Bauer dubbed Rasa “The Bay Area’s Best Indian Restaurant.” Those who think of Indian food as casual, take-out eats will find a revelation at Rasa. With a name that means “essence” in Sanskrit, the Burlingame restaurant honors South Indian cuisine while taking it to new heights with sustainable ingredients and sophisticated, modern twists. See how this New Dehli–native breaks the Indian cuisine mold in California.