New York has been a hotspot for Indian food since at least the early 1900s, but Indian food in the city has never been this good, or this varied. The newest Indian restaurants are more ambitious, more creative, and more specialized than ever, with many aiming to bring distinct regional flavors to wider audiences.
Savor the flavors of Punjab at Ambassador’s Club, an opulent space that feels like walking into a grand Mumbai mansion. Experience a twist on a classic Kerala toddy shop at Chatti. Get a taste of Tamil Nadu at Semma, Anjappar, or Kanyakumari. Or, dine your way across India with Tamarind Tribeca’s monthly lunch series.
Whether it’s a multi-course fine-dining experience, an iconic Indian street food tour, or spicy cocktails you crave, you can have it in New York City. Start with these 10 magnificent spots, both old and new.
Semma
Semma is one of the hardest reservations to get in New York City, and for good reasons. Inside the restaurant you’ll find flavors of Tamil Nadu’s farming communities showcased in the West Village, all thanks to chef Vijay Kumar, who hails from the region. The star of the menu is the Gunpowder Dosa, a crispy rice and lentil crepe folded into a perfect triangle and served with chutney and sambar.
The cocktail also impresses with drinks such as the Madurai, a mix of vodka, rasam, cilantro, and bubbly that’s named after the temple city near Kumar’s hometown of Natham. Also try the Kumbakonam, a mix of rum, betel leaf, pineapple, and milk punch. There’s also a strong mocktail list featuring ingredients like coconut, green chili, and sarsaparilla root. 60 Greenwich Ave., West Village, semma.nyc
Junoon
Junoon has been elevating Indian food in New York for more than a decade, going well beyond affordable takeout or spicy buffet fare and positioning curries, tandoori meats, and chaat as fine dining. Created by restaurateur Rajesh Bhardwaj, Junoon remains one of the prettiest restaurants in the city, while the presentation of each dish matches the decor.
Try the tellicherry duck or the tandoori octopus, whose tentacles are marinated in spices and cooked for three hours at a low temperature. Or opt for the elaborate seven-course dinner tasting menu or the two- and three-course prix-fix menus for lunch, which offer items not available a la carte. Pair your meal with a cocktail flight, which includes a Kaapi, the restaurant’s version of an espresso martini, and the Paan, an Old Fashioned-inspired drink incorporating paan nectar and smoke. 19 W. 24th St., NoMad, junoonnyc.com
Kanyakumari
Take an epic journey across India from Mumbai to Kanyakumari, a coastal town at the southern tip of the Indian subcontinent, all without leaving Manhattan. A rarity among Indian restaurants, shellfish stars on the menu here. Try the Maharashtra-style mussels, the Toddy DuckRoast, or the slow-cooked Black Gold Beef, which is crispy on the outside but oh-so-soft on the inside.
Don’t skip the Samrat Vada Pav, a spicy potato sandwich that’s one of Mumbai’s most popular street foods. Also on the menu, the thin and crispy Guruprasad Dosa and the Hopper, a sort of crepe made with fermented rice batter and coconut that can be topped with an egg. 20 E. 17th St., Union Square, kanyakumarinyc.com
Tamarind Tribeca
Formerly known simply as Tamarind, this upscale restaurant with white tablecloths has been serving up polished Indian cuisine in Manhattan for more than two decades. It also has one of the best lunch specials in the city. For just $37, you can try an appetizer, two half-sized entrees, and a dessert.
Consider the Lobster Masala, Nalli Gosht (slow-braised lamb shank), the Kerala Fish Curry, a seasonal catch simmered in coconut sauce, and Tandoori Mixed Grill to taste a range of dishes. The restaurant also hosts a monthly lunch series that spotlights cuisine from different regions of India for $38. Eat your way across the country without having to take a long-haul flight, and for a fraction of what you might pay for airfare. The restaurant doesn’t allow children under 10. Hudson St., Tribeca, tamarindtribeca.com
Bungalow
Founded by chef Vikas Khanna, formerly of Junoon, and veteran New York restaurateur Jimmy Rizvi, Bungalow is among a crop of new Indian restaurants with some of the hardest restaurant reservations to get. It’s inspired by the idyllic garden of a grand Indian bungalow while dining under a glass-pane roof in a room with greenery climbing up the walls.
Feast on ghee-roasted plantains, roasted pineapple, tandoori prawns, paneer, chicken, or pulled lamb. Whatever you decide, don’t skip the Smoked Sweet Potato Chaat starter or the Rose Kulfi Falooda for dessert. The restaurant’s cocktail list is also one of the most interesting in the city, with options like a Clarified Mango Lassi and a sour made with paan chutney, 24 1st Ave., East Village, bungalowny.com
Jazba
Created by the team who opened Junoon, this East Village restaurant aims to highlight the forgotten flavors of several regions of India. The menu features a variety of street food inspired by India’s roadside dhabas, beach shacks, railway stations, and street food vendors.
Try the Green Chili Chicken, Railway Mutton Curry, or the fried chicken that’s served in a newspaper nest. Don’t skip the Delhi ki Tikki Chaat, that’s as close to Delhi as you can get without the 15-hour flight from New York. If you can’t decide, consider the two- and three-course tasting menus, and sip the Paan, the restaurant’s twist on an Old Fashioned with rye whiskey, paan nectar, cherry bitters, and applewood smoke. 207 2nd Ave., East Village, jazbanyc.com
Ambassador’s Clubhouse
Straight from London comes the NYC location of Ambassador’s Clubhouse, and the inside feels massive by New York standards. Located in NoMad, the 8,000-square-foot space has 150 seats across two floors. Step inside for a warm welcome to Punjab, a Northern Indian state known for its slow-cooked dals, tandoori breads, and iconic dishes like butter chicken.
While the vibe remains high end, the sleek space offers a “budget” four-course lunch tasting menu for $55. At dinner you can get elaborate four- and five-course dinner feasts, or choose from an à la carte menu with a variety of chaats and dishes from the tandoor. The cocktail list is not to be skipped and features an Old Fashioned with Afghani saffron and a Tandoori Margarita with pineapple tikka. 1245 Broadway, NoMad, ambassadorsclubhouse.com
Chatti
Chatti brings a taste of northern Kerala to Midtown in Manhattan. Founder and chef Regi Mathew set out to recreate the classic Kerala toddy shop, eateries serving up bold spicy flavors alongside a toddy, a drink of fermented coconut palm sap. Chatti, named after a type of earthenware used in traditional Keralan cooking, levels everything up a notch.
Try the Coconut Fry with seafood, Taro Fry, the fresh grilled seafood, jackfruit cutlets, or the Calicut Mussels. The cocktail menu is also exquisite. Don’t miss the Malayali Old Fashioned with toasted coconut and jaggery or the Sam Bar with clarified sambar, curry leaf powder, and vodka. 252 W. 37th St., Midtown, chattinewyork.com
Anjappar
Anjappar is part of a Chennai-based chain that started in 1964 with a goal of bringing the Chettinad cuisine to the world. These rich, meat-based dishes use unique spice blends to create bold, strong flavors unlike anything else in India. Anjappar’s chefs hail from Karaikudi in the Chettinadu region of Tamil Nadu and make the curries from scratch. Try the Chicken 65, Chettinad Pepper Chicken, or the Meen Kolambu. Make sure to order a Paper Masala Dosa or a Mutton Keema Dosai for the table.
Find this unassuming eatery on Lexington Avenue in Murray Hill, a neighborhood also known informally as Curry Hill because of its high concentration of Indian restaurants. 116 Lexington Ave., Murray Hill, anjapparusa.com
Panna II Garden
A meal here is one of those classic New York experiences you’ll never forget. This restaurant is tiny, and the decor and vibe are its biggest draws. If the restaurant hawkers don’t draw you in the bright glow from the windows will. Once you step inside it’s like you’ve entered a party. And now, it has television fame thanks to a scene in FX’s Love Story, about John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette’s relationship.
The space, which has just about a dozen tables, is covered in colored Christmas lights, mirrored balls, and illuminated chile peppers. The BYOB restaurant menu is both extensive and a little creative. Sample a few things by ordering the Panna special dinner, which includes an appetizer, soup, paratha, entree, and dessert for under $20. It’s not fancy, but you’ll never forget the experience. 93 1st Ave., 2nd Floor, East Village, pannatwo.com
