The Best Indian Restaurants in New York City

New York's Indian food scene has finally caught up to the rest of the world. For decades, the narrative was that you had to go to London or stick strictly to Queens for a proper curry. Now, the city is packed with regional specialists, unapologetic spice levels, and tasting menus that book out weeks in advance. It is no longer just about standard chicken tikka masala (though we love that, too). From coastal South Indian crab feasts in Greenwich Village to hawker-style street food in the East Village, this is where to eat the best Indian food in New York right now.

Semma

Greenwich Village · 60 Greenwich Ave · $$$ WebsiteMap

Chef Vijay Kumar brings the deeply personal flavors of South India to this Michelin-starred room, completely changing the conversation around Indian fine dining in the city. You will not find the usual northern staples here, and there is zero pandering to mild American palates. Instead, expect complex snail curries, perfectly cooked venison, and an incredible whole Dungeness crab meant for two. The spice levels are completely unapologetic, building a slow, rewarding heat throughout the meal.

Go for: The gunpowder dosa and the Kanyakumari crab feast. Know before you go: Reservations open 15 days in advance at 9 a.m. and disappear instantly.

Dhamaka

Lower East Side · 119 Delancey St · $$ WebsiteMapProfile

Located inside Essex Market, Dhamaka forced Manhattan to rethink its expectations of Indian food. The kitchen ignores the standard restaurant playbook and focuses entirely on the provincial side of India, serving dishes you rarely see outside of private homes and roadside stalls. The energy in the room is loud, the colors are bright, and the food commands your full attention from the first bite. Before hitting a Lower East Side bar, start your night with their fiery mutton and rich paneer dishes.

Go for: The legendary Rajasthani khargosh (whole rabbit), which must be ordered days in advance. Know before you go: Walk-ins are accommodated at the bar if you show up right at 5 p.m..

Adda

East Village · 107 1st Ave · $$ WebsiteMap

After a beloved run in Long Island City, Adda moved across the river to the East Village in 2025. It brought along its unpretentious, canteen-style charm but dialed up the ambition in the kitchen. The walls are still plastered with Indian newspapers, keeping the casual vibe alive while the menu pushes new boundaries. The biggest draw is a highly sought-after Butter Chicken Experience that reclaims the classic dish and turns it into a massive tableside event with smoked tomatoes and house-churned butter.

Go for: The smoked butter chicken experience. Know before you go: You need to book specific tables online just to get the butter chicken.

Bungalow

East Village · 24 1st Ave · $$$ WebsiteMap

Chef Vikas Khanna designed this space to feel like a vintage Indian country club, and it delivers on every single front. The room is gorgeous, packed with rich jewel tones, plush seating, and natural light spilling into the back dining room. The food spans the culinary traditions of India's 28 states, leaning heavily into complex, deeply spiced curries and spectacular breads. It feels like an all-out celebration of regional diversity, served with a massive dose of hospitality.

Go for: The viral spice-roasted pineapple with coconut curry and yogurt kebabs wrapped in kataifi pastry. Know before you go: The waitlist regularly hits the thousands, so plan your booking exactly 20 days out.

Kebab aur Sharab

Upper West Side · 247 W 72nd St · $$ WebsiteMap

The Upper West Side was in desperate need of a heavy-hitting Indian restaurant, and this spot from Salil Mehta delivered exactly what the neighborhood wanted. The focus here is on Punjabi street food, clay oven cooking, and serious cuts of meat. The baby goat kebab is legendary, formed around a skewer that gets dramatically unspooled right at your table. It is dark, moody, and stays open late, making it a rarity for this part of town.

Go for: The Famous Butter Chicken cooked in a tandoor and the doori kebab. Know before you go: The restaurant is closed on Mondays.

Jazba

East Village · 207 2nd Ave · $$ WebsiteMap

Brought to you by the team behind Junoon, Jazba intentionally drops the fine-dining formalities in favor of loud, messy Indian hawker food. This is a direct homage to the century-old street food stalls of New Delhi and Punjab, where vendors perfect a single dish over generations. You eat with your hands, wipe your chin, and order another round of cocktails spiked with Indian coffee and spices. It perfectly captures the casual, late-night spirit of downtown dining.

Go for: The roadside-style fried chicken and complex, crunchy basket chaat. Know before you go: They stay open late, making it a perfect final stop after drinks.

Kanyakumari

Flatiron · 20 E 17th St · $$ WebsiteMap

Restaurateur Salil Mehta focuses strictly on the coastal towns of South India at this beautifully designed spot near Union Square. Named after the southernmost tip of India where the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and Indian Ocean meet, the menu is understandably heavy on seafood, coconut, and sharp coastal spices. The dining room feels incredibly warm, washed in honeyed light and outfitted with intricate woodwork. It is the kind of place where you want to settle in and order way too much food.

Go for: The Kerala-style duck and crab sukka with coconut rice. Know before you go: The cocktail menu is just as thoughtfully crafted as the food, so come thirsty.

Vatan

Kips Bay · 409 3rd Ave · $$ WebsiteMap

Walking into Vatan feels like stepping into a rural Gujarati village courtyard, complete with thatched roofs, painted murals, and a giant banyan tree anchoring the room. The restaurant serves a strictly vegetarian, all-you-can-eat menu that comes out in traditional thali style on large silver platters. Even if you normally spend your weekends hunting down the best vegan restaurants in NYC, this massive feast of rich curries, crispy samosas, and tangy chutneys will completely win you over.

Go for: The pure joy of eating endless amounts of perfectly spiced vegetarian food. Know before you go: You will be eating an enormous amount of food for a set price, so skip lunch.

Gulaabo

Theater District · 250 W 47th St · $$ WebsiteMap

Finding great food near Times Square is usually an uphill battle, but Gulaabo solves the problem completely. The team behind Baar Baar opened this massive, bi-level space dedicated to the rich, hearty cuisine of Punjab. The room is stunning, filled with blush pink brick, green banquettes, and striking gold ceilings. The food relies on dairy, dried fruits, and aromatic spices to build intense, comforting flavor profiles that stick to your ribs.

Go for: The homestyle goat shank curry and the heavily stuffed kulcha breads. Know before you go: It is an ideal spot for a pre-theater dinner, but book well in advance.

Indian Accent

Midtown West · 123 W 56th St · $$$$ WebsiteMap

An import from New Delhi, Indian Accent takes global ingredients and applies strict Indian flavors and techniques. The result is a highly progressive menu that feels totally unique to the city, blending nostalgia with serious culinary ambition. If you are burned out on standard dining formats, their Chef's Tasting is a brilliant alternative that will challenge everything you think you know about Indian food.

Go for: The sweet potato shakarkandi and the potato sphere chaat with white pea mash. Know before you go: The wine pairings are heavily curated and absolutely worth the upcharge.

Chola

Midtown East · 232 E 58th St · $$ WebsiteMap

Since 1998, Chola has been quietly turning out some of the most consistent and authentic Indian food in Manhattan. The massive menu spans both coastal and northern Indian dishes, meaning you can get a flawless, creamy chicken tikka masala right next to an aggressively fiery vindaloo. It remains a total staple for midtown office workers and neighborhood locals who want big flavors without chasing a trendy reservation.

Go for: The coastal seafood dishes and the exceptionally hot phall curry. Know before you go: The lunch specials offer some of the best value in this part of town.

Seva

Astoria · 34-11 30th Ave · $ WebsiteMap

This laid-back Queens spot has built a fiercely loyal following for its comforting, absolutely no-fuss Indian classics. The portions are huge, the prices are incredibly fair, and the flavors are exactly what you want when you crave a hearty curry. It is a true cornerstone of the Astoria dining scene, offering a massive menu that caters to vegans and serious meat eaters with equal care.

Go for: The chicken tikka masala and an order of garlic naan. Know before you go: They offer a fantastic four-course dinner special for about $20.

Tamarind

Tribeca · 99 Hudson St · $$$ WebsiteMap

Celebrating over two decades in the New York dining scene, Tamarind is an absolute classic. The Tribeca dining room is massive, gleaming with marble, and filled with a calm, professional energy that is hard to find these days. The open kitchen still executes refined, region-spanning dishes with total confidence. It is a place for expense accounts, major celebrations, and flawless, old-school service.

Go for: The smoky lamb chops straight from the tandoor and the rich crab curry. Know before you go: The restaurant enforces a strict business casual dress code.

Angel

Jackson Heights · 75-18 37th Ave · $ WebsiteMap

Chef Amrit Pal Singh cooked in some of Manhattan's top Indian kitchens before striking out on his own in Queens. This unpretentious dining room serves food that adheres to a philosophy of simple, regional cooking without heavy creams. The flavors are remarkably clean, letting the spices and the quality of the produce do all the heavy lifting. It is easily one of the best reasons to explore the food scene in Jackson Heights.

Go for: The housemade paneer and the incredibly tender dum biryani. Know before you go: It is 100 percent halal and strictly focused on the food, not the decor.

Junoon

Flatiron · 19 W 24th St · $$$$ WebsiteMap

Junoon helped prove to New York that Indian cuisine deserves the absolute highest level of fine-dining respect. After over a decade in business, the restaurant is as sharp and focused as ever. The service is flawless, the wine pairings are exceptional, and the cooking is a masterclass in modern Indian technique. It manages to feel incredibly luxurious without ever losing the soul of the traditional recipes it builds upon.

Go for: The tandoori lobster or the tile fish Assamese curry. Know before you go: The striking dining room features pendant lights strung with thick grass ropes and vintage mirrors.

Masalawala & Sons

Park Slope · 365 5th Ave · $$$ WebsiteMapProfile

Restaurateurs Roni Mazumdar and chef Chintan Pandya opened this Park Slope restaurant as a tribute to the homestyle Bengali food of Roni's father, Satyen. The kitchen skips the expected restaurant staples to focus on traditional clay-pot cooking and the pungent use of mustard oil. It is bright, festive, and regularly packed with diners eager to try recipes that are rarely seen on commercial menus.

Go for: The slow-cooked kosha mangsho mutton curry and the macher dhim. Know before you go: Reservations remain competitive, often releasing at midnight 30 days in advance.

Temple Canteen

Flushing · 143-09 Holly Ave · $ WebsiteMap

Located in the basement of the Sri Maha Vallabha Ganapati Devasthanam, one of the oldest Hindu temples in the United States, this canteen is an absolute Flushing institution. It operates as a no-frills, cafeteria-style dining room serving incredibly pure, vegetarian South Indian food. You order at the counter, sit at communal tables, and eat some of the best, most authentic dosas and idlis in the city off styrofoam plates.

Go for: The massive, paper-thin dosas and baseball-sized samosas. Know before you go: You should take off your shoes for the temple upstairs, but you can leave them on in the canteen.

The Shout NY Take

You can eat incredibly well across all five boroughs, but the current wave of Indian dining in New York is specifically focused on regional pride. Forget the generalized menus of the past. If you want coastal seafood, head to Flatiron. If you want Punjabi hawker food, stay in the East Village. Pace yourself, order too much bread, and never ask the kitchen to turn down the heat.