Aside from its beautiful landmarks, stunning architecture, and vibrant nightlife, New York City is home to plenty of Indian restaurants. From south Indian stews like dosa to street food like chaat, you can find scrumptious Indian delicacies to feast on. 

If you’re wondering which Indian food spot you should visit to satisfy your taste buds, look no further. 

Whether you are an Indian immigrant or planning to visit New York for a relaxing vacation or work trip, check out this list of ten best Indian restaurants in New York City that are deserving of the hype. 

Best North Indian: Bukhara Grill 

Bringing together the exotic flavors of North India and a classy dining experience, Bukhara Grill has earned its spot as one of the best North Indian culinary landmarks in New York City.

This upscale restaurant is located close to the U.N., serving mouth-watering cuisines like chicken tandoori, pickled mushrooms, fish tikka, dal, grilled veggies, naan, and so much more.

Its famous black lentil dal bukhara, packed with flavorful Indian spices and rich cream, is always a crowd-pleaser. Plus, it offers a daily all-you-can-eat lunch buffet for $14.95. With such affordable prices, you can save yourself a lot of money. 

Best South Indian: Ganesh Temple Canteen

If you are looking for authentic South Indian dishes, venture out to Ganesh Temple Canteen in the Flushing area. Nestled in the basement of the Hindu Temple, this spacious cafeteria-style counter dishes out a total of about 20 different versions of dosa. 

The canteen caters to those with a strict vegetarian diet, with the dosas filled with ingredients like potato, onions, and Indian spices. 

What started as a place to prepare food offerings for Gods has now become a casual dining area for temple-goers and visitors to enjoy classic South Indian dishes in NYC. 

Best Indian Vegetarian Restaurant: Usha Foods 

Floral Park in Queens is home to an Indian food haven, Usha Foods, that specializes in pan-Indian, vegetarian food suitable for all diners. 

This all-vegetarian restaurant boasts of making all its dishes with the finest ingredients, such as pure ghee and pure mava for a rich and flavorful taste. Offerings include South Indian dosas, Gujarati snacks like dabeli and fafda, Punjabi dishes like baingan bharta, and so on. 

This is one of the best vegetarian Indian restaurants in New York City, proving you don’t need chicken or meat to have a wholesome feast. 

Best Indian Non-Vegetarian: Moti Mahal Delux

When it comes to trying Indian non-vegetarian food in NYC, you can never go wrong with Moti Mahal Delux. Inspired by the Mughlai cuisine of India, this restaurant is situated in the heart of the Upper East Side. 

Moti Mahal Delux is famous for its tandoori chicken, seafood, and dal makhani. Plus, its unrivaled butter chicken, served with creamy tomato sauce, is to die for. 

Besides, its menu spans a wide variety of Indian delicacies from different regions of the country, such as paneer makhani, kadi patta jheenga, khumb kebab, and more. 

Overall, this casual eatery is assured to offer you the best non-vegetarian cuisines from various parts of India. 

Best for Large Groups: Junoon

Located in the Flatiron District is another Indian restaurant, Junoon, famous for its innovative take on traditional Indian cuisine. 

Junoon, meaning ‘passion’, is the brainchild of renowned Indian chef Vikas Khanna. This luxurious Michelin Star restaurant couples a multitude of contemporary Indian dishes with an elegant dining experience. 

All the dishes are Indian-inspired but come with a modern twist. Plus, they include a wide range of interesting ingredients and fresh spices that are hand-ground daily by the chefs in the spice room. Some unique offerings include lotus root salad, jackfruit chaat, keema pav with stuffed chicken, and goan piri-piri shrimp.

So, whether you want to have dinner with your friends or a business lunch at Junoon, you will not be disappointed by the lavish decor, ambience, and food of this restaurant. 

Best Indian Curry House: Brick Lane Curry House 

If it’s curries you crave, head to Brick Lane Curry House, a spicy Indian joint famous for its habanero curry, known as phaal. It features nine curries on its menu that are ranked in terms of spiciness. 

Phaal is considered the world’s spiciest curry, which uses up to seven different types of chillies. The curry house hosts a phaal curry challenge for every diner, where they’re given 30 minutes to finish the whole thing. Those who complete this challenge have their photos added to the P’hall of Fame. 

So, if you’re looking for an adventurous dining experience, give Brick Lane a try. 

Best Punjabi: Dhaba 

Craving Punjabi cuisine? Plan to dine at Dhaba, a pleasant Punjabi destination in Midtown East’s Curry Hill. Dhaba is one of the unique Indian restaurants in New York City owned by Shiva Natrajan and managed by Michelin-starred chef Hemant Mathur. 

From Punjabi tandoori chicken and South Indian seafood to Rajasthani curries, Dhaba offers a variety of dishes on its menu, featuring over a hundred items from all over India. 

You can try biryani or tikka masala during the lunch buffet, which costs just $13. However, if you’re here for dinner, focus on the tandoori section of the menu to explore a variety of Punjabi flavors in your meal. 

Best Indian Biryani: Adda

Nestled in Long Island is a buzzing Indian restaurant, Adda, which means ‘hangout spot’. This new concept restaurant by owner Roni Mazumdar and chef Chintan Pandya focuses on Indian home-cooking techniques. 

The menu isn’t long, but you can still find a wide variety of options, ranging from saag paneer, garlic naan, deep-fried kale, rice dishes, curries, and so on. Covered in a layer of baked dough, the famous goat biryani is quite impressive and a must-have on your table. 

You can have a great but affordable sit-down lunch or dinner here for under $20. Plus, the all-day student special takeout lunch box comes for just $6.43. 

Best Indian Street Food: Desi Galli

Desi Galli, roughly translated as ‘Indian alley’, is a go-to destination for Indian street food. From mango lassi and chicken tandoori to Mumbai bread pav and nizami rolls, this cafeteria-style spot is the perfect place to satisfy your cravings for Indian soul food. 

Desi Galli is located in two locations — Kips Bay and the East Village. It offers various options in both vegan and non-vegetarian and caters to the Indian taste palate with a unique style of healthier, gluten-free cooking. Since the menu is affordable, it is an excellent choice for those who are low on budget. 

Best Indian Cocktail Bar & Restaurant: Baar Baar 

Looking for a fun spot to spend a night with your friends or on a date? Baar Baar is the place to go. 

Located in Manhattan’s East Village, Baar Baar offers a sprawling menu of mouth-watering delicacies from the subcontinent. All the Indian dishes in the restaurant are authentic but are spiced with a modern New York spin. The exotic cocktails are just one-of-a-kind and pay homage to the Indian culture and spirit. For example, the New Delhi sour cocktail made with rose hip shrub, egg white, bourbon, and bitters is a pleasing feast for your taste buds. 

When it comes to the decor, it’s modern and colorful. The dark, spacious dining area is enhanced by a beautiful fresco painting of an Indian woman adorned with jewelry. 

New York City is a beautiful place, and exploring various Indian restaurants here is guaranteed to make your stay more enjoyable. So, the next time you want to dine at wonderful Indian restaurants in New York City, we hope our list comes in handy.