Christy’s 5-star review:
I freakin' love Pakwan.
Honestly, I've had nothing but truly excellent meals here. From quiet lunches for two, to big (15+ people), loud, long dinners, they are very accommodating, and the food is always awesome. The Bengan Bartha and the Paneer Tikka Masala are my favorites. But the Saag Paneer and lentils and naan and everything else is amazing.
I like how dive-y it is and that it's BYOB. If out-of-towners like Indian food, this is where I take them. Sure, the atmosphere can bit a little off-putting, but the food is completely worth it. Plus, it's cheap. Plus, it's 3 blocks from my apartment. Thus, it has pretty much all the features needed for it to be my favorite.
Personal note: when I was camping in Canada for two months, the folks from the Bay Area and I used to reminisce about the awesomeness that is Pakwan-- there's a real statement.