Los Angeles, the second-largest city in the US, is known for its Mediterranean climate, cultural diversity, and the world-famous Hollywood entertainment industry.

From high-fashion boutiques and expensive beaches to extravagant nightlife and a vibrant atmosphere, there's plenty of things to do and places to explore. 

The beautiful city also offers an equally incredible experience for foodies, with its dizzying array of local and international cuisines. So, if you are looking to try out some authentic Indian food in Los Angeles, look no further. 

Whether you're a visitor or a local, you can find some of the best Indian restaurants in Los Angeles that are worth a visit and are enough to entice you with their flavors. 

Best Indian Vegan: Samosa House 

First on our list of the best Indian restaurants in Los Angeles is Samosa House, an eatery in Culver City that offers both Indian vegetarian and vegan food at affordable prices. 

Started as a grocery store in 1979, Samosa House used to serve mouth-watering samosas at the counter. Later, it expanded into a full-on dine-in restaurant with widespread vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options for its guests. 

The chef uses oil instead of ghee (clarified butter) while preparing vegan dishes. We recommend the curried jackfruit with thick savory sauce and rich spices — absolute perfection. 

Samosa House also offers catering services for almost all kinds of events, including small weekend get-togethers, birthday parties, and even big fat Indian weddings. The 8,500 square feet Samosa House West (also known as Bharat Bazaar) is the largest Indian grocery store in Southern California that offers a wide range of spices, fresh fruits and vegetables, rice, lentils, and so on.  

In a nutshell, Samosa House is an Indian cafeteria-style restaurant with a fantastic market attached, making it your one-stop-shop for Indian vegetarian/vegan food and groceries. 

Best North Indian: Electric Karma 

If you’re craving north Indian food, give Electric Karma a try. 

Electric Karma was started by chef Paramjit Singh and his brother chef Lakhvir, and is located in the Beverly Grove neighborhood of Los Angeles. This captivating, low-lit Indian eatery is popular among Hollywood celebrities and locals, who love its authentic Punjabi dishes with an LA twist.

The menu includes varied non-vegetarian and vegetarian delicacies, from butter chicken, lamb tikka, saag paneer, and bhartha to authentic curries like coco curry, vindaloo, and nirvana curry. You’ll also enjoy your meal alongside the Bollywood movies projected above the dining area.

Electric Karma’s tandoori platter is the perfect choice for BBQ lovers to enjoy some of the best tandoori dishes the restaurant has to offer. In addition to this, the authentic Punjabi desserts available include carrot pudding with golden raisins and almonds and homemade mango or pistachio ice cream.

This upscale restaurant also boasts an open-air courtyard and candle-lit dining room, offering a warm and romantic atmosphere. 

Best South Indian: Udupi Palace 

Next on our list of best Indian restaurants in Los Angeles is Udupi Palace, a south Indian food heaven in LA. 

Based on Pioneer Boulevard street in Artesia, Udupi Palace has been serving mouth-watering south Indian food in Los Angeles for more than a decade. Their wide variety of famous dosas (Indian crepes) and idlis (steamed rice cakes) are served with delectable curried potatoes, coconut chutney, and spicy sambar. 

The south Indian vegetarian thali is a must-try, as it comes loaded with a variety of items, including vegetable curry, rice, yoghurt, pickles, dal (lentils), and roti (flatbread). The restaurant also serves an 8-feet long dosa on special occasions, which takes three people to carry. And when it comes to beverages, their authentic south Indian coffee, mixed with hot milk and sugar, is enough to tantalize your taste buds. 

The spacious and comfortable setting and extremely helpful waiters make the overall dining experience at Udupi Palace one to remember.

Best for Casual Outings: Badmaash

Looking for a spot to have a casual dinner with friends or family? Pay a visit to Badmaash. 

With a name that roughly translates to 'hooligan' or 'badass', Badmaash is an Indian gastropub started by renowned Punjabi chef, Pawan Mahendro, and his two sons, Arjun and Nakul. Their aim was to build an eatery that was accessible to most people and satisfied Indian food cravings at an affordable price in LA.

The menu offers a perfect balance of traditional Indian food combined with some innovative dishes that you may have never heard of before, such as crispy yoghurt puffs, spiced lamb burgers, spiced mango pork belly, ghost chilli lamb vindaloo, and many more. 

Its unique chicken tikka poutine, dipped in hot beef gravy and topped with cheese curds and cilantro, is enough to make you drool. Plus, you can find an assortment of unique beverages, including Bombay cutting chai, Indian glass bottle sodas, and local wines and beers. 

Overall, the friendly staff, modern decor, and hip-hop music sessions make Badmaash a go-to restaurant for your next evening out with your squad. 

Best Indian Street Food: Bollywood Bites

While living in LA, it is pretty challenging to find real Indian street food — that is, unless you know where to look. Nestled in Westwood Village, Bollywood Bites is the brainchild of esteemed chef Sanjay Patel. The restaurant serves up Bombay-style Indian fare that serves lip-smacking Indian street food with no fusion. 

From traditional Indian dishes like chicken tikka masala, saag paneer, and biryani, to authentic street food like pani puri, sev puri, and Mumbai's vada pav, you’ll find many delicacies to munch on here. 

And if you don’t feel like waiting for a table at a sit-down restaurant, the Bollywood Bites food truck rolls through Los Angeles to satisfy those urges to eat Indian roadside delights on the go. The menu is also quite affordable, making it an excellent hotspot for people on a tight budget. 

From chicken tikka and samosa, to pani puri and biryani, as well as chana masala and south Indian stews, there's a vast variety of Indian food you can enjoy in LA. Just make sure you keep our list handy for your next visit to the city — you won’t regret it!